04062021 BUSINESS AND FEATURES

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021

$4.81

$4.85

$4.81

$4.85

‘We have to exercise a bit of faith in the government’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

T

he new RT-PCR COVID-19 testing requirement for Eleuthera will have an impact on visitors coming to the island, but one airline executive said “we have to exercise a bit of faith in the government”.

Anthony Hamilton, Southern Air’s director of administration,

told Tribune Business he just has to go with what the government is trying to accomplish with the travel restrictions to Eleuthera and, while it has impacted passengers booking flights, safety comes first. He said: “We rely on the guidance of the government because we are not specialists in that particular area. So, for the sake of a holistic and practical and relevant approach, we subscribe to the approach being taken by the government, predicated on

what their experience is because we don’t have that expertise.”

“We have a reduced schedule now dealing with Eleuthera... It’s a very complex situation that we’re dealing with. Aviation, as I often say, is that if you look at how fast the plane is to take off on the runway, the industry moves equally as fast and in some instances even faster than that so we try to make prudent decisions primarily based on the safety in the first instance and then the

business in the second. “We have to exercise a bit of faith in government even though sometimes communication isn’t clear and we have to work out the kinks, but we would rather err on the side of safety and caution.”

The government announced late last week that starting April 1 anyone over the age of 10 years travelling from Harbour Island and Eleuthera must undergo a RT-PCR COVID-19 test in order to obtain a travel health visa.

This new testing requirement will “certainly have an impact” on flights to and from North Eleuthera, said Mr Hamilton.

Southern Air used to fly three times a day in and out of North Eleuthera.

But, as a result of these COVID-19 restrictions, the airline has cut flights down to twice a day as well as cut the number of days in the week from seven to five, cutting out Tuesday and Thursday from the flight schedule.

ANDERSON: LOCALS WILL ‘SUPPORT’ CRYSTAL CRUISES INITIATIVE

By YOURI KEMP Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net CRYSTAL Cruises’ president has sought to allay fears that this summer’s planned visits to Exuma and Harbour Island don’t fit the islands’ tourism model and believes locals will “support” his company’s initiative.

Jack Anderson, interim president and chief executive officer of Crystal Cruises, told Tribune Business the cruise line is “working with many local partners in The Bahamas to ensure our current plans for Luxury Bahamas Escapes are aligned with the best interests of the island communities we will visit.”

He said: “We met with local leaders in Exuma on Monday this week to listen to concerns and share key

information about ourselves and our guests. We are finding that the support and enthusiasm for the itineraries and the benefits they will bring are growing once more people understand the Crystal Difference. We will also be holding community town halls in the next few weeks to further the open dialogue and communicate the nuances that make Crystal different from the enormous, mass market ships.”

Crystal Cruises’ intention to sale to Harbour Island and Exuma has been met with aa frosty response from businesses on both islands who say they don’t want cruise ship passengers or large cruise ships docking in their harbours.

Crystal Cruises started marketing their Luxury Bahamas Escape Itinerary on March 18 with

A VIEW of cruise ships.

Harbour Island and Exuma slated firmly as destinations.

Mr Anderson said: “It’s important to note that the ship we are bringing to The Bahamas, Crystal Serenity, is significantly smaller than mass market, ‘mega’ cruise ships, accommodating less than a quarter of the number of guests of such

mega ships and offering a true luxury all-inclusive cruising experience. She also accommodates just a fraction of the number of guests compared to ships of similar size and the ship will also be operating at a reduced capacity of 900 guests (normally the ship accommodates 980).

Concerns raised over SERZ ending in June

By YOURI KEMP Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net AN international homebuilder in Abaco has raised concerns over the Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ) ending in June as “we need to do whatever we can to get Abaco back on its feet”.

Ian Bishop, head of growth at international homebuilder, Homebound, told Tribune Business that reconstruction post-Dorian continues to be a challenge and companies still need help. “If you look at some of the futures on things like lumber and also appliances and things like that, it’s really difficult to predict what future pricing looks like,” he said.

“One of the advantages that Homebound brings to the table is the scale of our operation. We build in markets all over the world and we have relationships

directly with manufacturers and suppliers of building materials. We’ve actually been able to weather the material pricing volatility really well.

“One of the things that was key to bringing scale to the Abaco operation was to start building as many houses as possible and really build a strong link logistically between Florida and Abaco.”

Homebound has been on the ground in Abaco since October, 2019 and Mr Bishop is concerned that the benefits of the Special Economic Recovery Zone (SERZ) - which he called “amazing” – will expire leaving the work they have begun in limbo.

“Marsh Harbour is one of our most important economies in the country, we need to do whatever we can to get it back on its feet,” said Mr Bishop.

The SERZ orders are set to expire at the end of June,

something that residents on Abaco, particularly the president of the Abaco Chamber of Commerce, Ken Hutton, have been trying to bring to the attention of the government, so they can have some certainty on their reconstruction efforts.

Sebastian Bethel, general manager of Homebound’s Abaco operations, said he was just in “shock” when he saw the devastation of his home island after Dorian.

He said: “It was just a devastating time and myself with my cousin from Nassau, we were up there three days after the storm as soon as the water allowed us to get there and we started bringing supplies, helping people with things.”

Homebound does not release information on how many homes they have rebuilt in any of their projects, but Mr Bishop said: “We’re working with

dozens of homeowners in Abaco.

“They are in all various stages of development.”

Mr Bishop said: “Nobody was prepared for this and this is not uniquely Bahamian, but this is true after every natural disaster.

Dorian was worse than anybody ever expected, so in the beginning there was a fair amount of chaos, but that’s to be expected. We had to get the infrastructure in place to enable things to work.

“The port was an issue.

It was difficult for them to handle the capacity of things that were coming in, but they have figured it out now.”

Mr Bishop says that as of mid-summer 2020 they had got past all of the logistical hurdles and operational bottlenecks with bringing items into Abaco, despite the COVID-19 pandemic setting in around the same time.

“Crystal’s guests are sophisticated and well-travelled. Their average age is 55-64, they are college-educated and are professionals.

They have three or more foreign trips over the past three years and some of them have sailed with us hundreds of times. They typically visit a destination several times after a cruise, staying in hotels and B&Bs and have a second or vacation home. They are the perfect target market guest of islands such as Great Exuma and Harbour Island.

“They travel seeking connection with the destinations and authentic experiences far different from those offered with mass market cruise lines. We are confident that their spirit of discovering the heart of each destination, combined with Crystal’s meticulous

planning, rigorous and robust health and safety protocols and experiences offered including a welldeveloped capacity control plan to bring people ashore, will contribute to successful visits in The Bahamas positively impacting the islands’ local economies.

Crystal Cruises has won many accolades from various international travel journals, with cruise critic rating it at “very good” with 4.2 out of 5 stars and US News and World Report saying that in 2020, “Crystal also separates itself from other luxury liners with its low passenger-to-crew ratio, which allows for more personalized service.”

Mr Anderson continued: “As we continue our discussions with the local communities we will, of

SEE PAGE 5

PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

A CUSTOMER enters a store with a face mask required sign displayed in Dallas March 2. Although nearly a fifth of US states don’t require people to wear masks to protect against COVID-19, some businesses are requiring employees and customers to be masked on their premises.

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

A MAN leaves a convenience store while wearing a required face mask in Houston on June 25, 2020.

(AP Photo/David J Phillip)

SOME BUSINESSES WANT MASKS ON, EVEN AS STATES DROP MANDATES

By JOYCE M ROSENBERG AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Several weeks have passed since Texas ended its COVID-19 mask mandate.

But if you want to pick up a snack at Soul Popped Gourmet Popcorn in Austin’s Barton Creek Square Mall, you’ll still be turned away if you aren’t wearing

a face covering. “We cannot afford to take chances with the lives of my staffers.

They’re young people and their parents have entrusted me with their care,” says owner De J Lozada. She’s also concerned about her 85-year-old father, who will soon return to his part-time job in the store.

Eighteen states currently have no mask requirements, including some that

have never made face coverings mandatory. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted his state’s mask mandate on March 2, and Indiana expects to end its mandate on Tuesday.

But many business owners like Lozada are keeping their own rules in place, requiring staffers and customers alike to wear masks for the sake of protecting

everybody, particularly their employees.

And the law is on an owner’s side. A company’s premises are private property, so owners can insist that customers wear masks, just as restaurants can require that diners wear shoes and shirts in order to be served, says Michael Jones, an attorney with the law firm Eckert Seamans in Philadelphia.

“Storeowners, business owners have the absolute right to require customers, vendors, anyone who comes onto their property to wear a mask,” Jones says.

It’s legal as long as owners don’t enforce their requirements in a discriminatory way, he says.

If a customer enters a store without a mask, is asked to leave and doesn’t, that could be trespassing under the law.

Lozada says she would call 911 if faced with that situation.

Most retail chains require employees and customers to wear masks. One exception, Foot Locker, says each store is following the requirements of the state where it’s located.

Employers have an obligation under federal law and some state laws to provide a safe workplace for their employees, and that can include requiring everyone on the premises to wear masks.

In the COVID-19 section of its website, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration notes that employers are required to have a workplace “free from recognised hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

When employees at Inteplast Group question why they have to wear masks, managers at the plastic products manufacturer can point to the law, says Brenda Wilson, senior director of human resources and communications of the Livingston, New Jerseybased company that has facilities in 22 states. At this point, masks to protect against COVID-19 are as important as the eye and ear protection that factory workers must wear. But she says Inteplast’s customers also need to be protected.

“They are depending on us to get the products out.

If we have an outbreak and that results in losing manufacturing capacity, then no one’s going to win,” Wilson says.

Many employees want their bosses to require masks. The 16 massage therapists who work for Amber Briggle cannot maintain the recommended six-foot distance from their clients and still do their work. She requires masks for everyone at her two Soma Massage locations

in Denton, Texas. She told her customers in a blog post, “these same masks have kept all of us healthy since we reopened in May — we haven’t had a single COVID case transmitted here despite the thousands of people we’ve seen.”

When some clients objected, saying they wanted to be more comfortable and weren’t worried about safety, Briggle has stood firm.

“I’ve told them, ‘you can put your mask on or you can leave.’ And they’d leave. We’d offer them a mask, and they’d leave,” she says. But requiring masks has brought Briggle new customers, including some who cancelled memberships at spas where masks are not required.

Even with masks, Briggle and her staff have had three COVID-19 scares, when clients called after appointments to say they’d tested positive for the virus.

The three therapists were taken off the schedule and their clients were notified.

Neither the therapists nor their clients tested positive.

But some owners don’t want their customers or clients to feel uncomfortable.

When clients at Vanessa Perry’s Houston-based credit counseling service ask if they can take off their masks, she says OK. “We are keeping our distance and letting our clients do what makes them comfortable,” says Perry, owner of Impeccable Credit Services. Perry and her staffers remain masked.

Perry did research before deciding on her maskoptional policy for clients.

The increasing numbers of vaccinated people in Houston, and the fact that the majority of Perry’s clients are seen online, have convinced her that the chances of a client spreading the virus are diminishing.

But when a prospective client comes to Justin Hill’s San Antonio, Texas, law office without a mask, Hill takes them out on the patio for their conversation.

He often finds that when he and a would-be client disagree about masks, it’s a sign that they might not work well together on a case.

“Some of them, we’ve realised might not have been the perfect fit,” says Hill, whose practice specialises in personal injury cases.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 3

$19.5m Little Ragged Island is ‘sale pending’

By YOURI KEMP Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE $19.5m Little Ragged Island is “sale pending,” as of last week after an auction was held by a US luxury real estate company.

Concierge Auctions, a New York based residential real estate company, told Tribune Business “Little Ragged Island is sale pending and the auction has closed. Generally speaking in the Concierge process, if the property does not sell at auction, it will remain on the market and be available for offers.”

Concierge does not disclose the information on the new owners or the final sale

price, but the lot was listed at $19.5m and Bahamas Realty was the local agent involved in the process.

Laura Brady, co-founder and chief executive of Concierge Auctions, said: “Our specialty is creating the ideal environment to pair the world’s most capable buyers with extraordinary luxury properties, and as the largest private island in the Bahamas, Little Ragged Island is no doubt extraordinary.

“The Concierge Auctions model garners a market-driven sale within a designated timeline — We are a tool to deliver the certainty that traditional real estate models alone can’t. The auction of Little Ragged Island was a great

success and one of several tropical destinations we look forward to matching with their perfect buyers this Spring.”

Private island listings during the COVID-19 pandemic have been high as of late with international country music recording artists Tim McGraw and Faith Hill deciding to sell their 20 acre “Goat Cay,” in the Exuma chain for $35m.

Concierge Auctions release continued, “Long before the pandemic forced traditional real estate companies to get on board selling sight unseen, Concierge Auctions hosted virtual tours and online auctions with bidders globally. Since, 2015 our auctions have been held

online through our fully digital bidding platform. In 2020, Concierge Auctions’ buyer interest reached an all-time high and the average number of bidders per auction remained strong.

“Concierge Auctions’ ability to pair sellers and the most capable buyers together to auction the most unique properties on the planet hasn’t changed during the pandemic. We already had tools in place to make remote buying and selling of luxury properties easily accessible around the world.

“Concierge Auctions’ experience with top luxury properties means we’re able to reach elite global buyers. The traditional brokerage model does

have limitations, especially in luxury real estate. In the rarified air where the buyer pool is limited, Concierge helps to get a market response from an elite pool of global buyers and can accelerate the process with high-caliber bidders and a team of experienced marketers behind each auction to make the most of every sale, which was the case for Little Ragged Island.”

Crawfishing season ended ‘pretty good’ with prices holding up throughout

By YOURI KEMP Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net CRAWFISH prices had a nine percent spike three weeks before the end of the season.

Keith Carroll, the National Fisheries Association’s (NFA) president, told Tribune Business the crawfishing season ended “pretty good” with prices holding up throughout.

Mr Carroll said: “The weather was mostly bad for the last month of March, but I wasn’t complaining. I think overall the season was pretty good. The price held up good.”

Crawfish season ended March 31 and fishermen are now tallying up their seasonal take.

“Prices held for $13.75 for the whole season, and last month it went up to $15.”

In January there was a 45 percent increase in crawfish prices up to $16 per pound, but in February it dropped to as low as $13.75.

Mr Carroll also there was little to no problem with poaching this season, something that he has praised the recently passed Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act for helping to eradicate.

Paul Mailis, a director at the NFA, agreed with Mr Carroll and said: “I would say that a lot of the fishermen have done well, and we’re blessed and grateful to be able to fish throughout the pandemic. Because the prices of seafood have remained so good and demand has gone up so much, I couldn’t get enough crawfish to sell. “The same could be said for pretty much every lobster supplier, demand was very

high. We were able to do very well and we’re grateful, but the season closing is important and critical time for the fishery.

“This is the time when even into March the lobsters begin to produce eggs and bear them and so we have to be very careful not to spear egg-bearing crawfish. They’re going to have four or five months to lay and produce and replenish the fishery for next year.”

Crawfishing season begins again in the first

week of August when fishermen will be harvesting crawfish that have spawned from “two to three years ago,” said Mr Mailis.

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

EMAIL

Newprospectivejob@gmail.com

Want to increase your Sales?

Advertise your Business in The Bahamas leading newspaper in circulation, or on Tribune242.com. Call our Advertising Department on 502-2350/502-2394 for more information.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

EDUCATORS STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH BEST LEARNING ADVANTAGES AS learning environments around the country continue to adapt virtually due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, educators and administrators alike are struggling to provide students with the best possible learning advantages.

Recently, the students of the Louise McDonald High School, on the island of Bimini, were given the opportunity to join that digital age courtesy of one of the country’s leading independent marine pilot firms: Independent Maritime Services (IMS).

Since becoming licensed by the Ministry of Transport and the Port Department of The Bahamas to operate and pilot vessels in the Greater Bimini Area including Ocean Cay, the company and its team of trained and qualified pilots have made it their goal to

SUPPORT THE BLOOD BANK

SAVE A LIFE GIVE THE GIFT OF

BLOOD

BECOME A REGULAR DONOR

1 PINT CAN SAVE 3 LIVES GIVE BLOOD - GIVE LIFE

SOME HELPFUL TIPS BEFORE YOU DONATE:

4 You must have eaten at least once for the day.

4 You need at least 30 minutes between your last meal and donating blood.

4 You will need at least 10 minutes rest after donating blood.

4 You can donate blood every 8 weeks.

4 The Blood Bank will do FREE Pre-screening tests to make sure you are healthy enough to donate blood.

BECOME A REGULAR DONOR

PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE BLOOD DRIVES

make a difference in and around the surrounding communities.

As part of that effort, the company donated 15 new tablets to the school, giving the students access to the tools needed to prepare them for life in a technology-driven society.

“Since the very beginning, IMS has worked along with civil society, the church, and other non-profits to give back where there was a need,” explained IMS president and chief pilot, Kendall Williamson.

“This time, we wanted to do something that would positively impact future generations and make access to digital learning easier, as well as safer for students who cannot come to school due to COVID19 illness with them or their family.”

Pilot Williamson was the guest speaker at a special ceremony held at the school’s campus to mark the donation and encourage young Biminites to consider the marine industry once graduating high school.

Since 2015 IMS, from its base of operations on Grand Bahama Island, has provided pilotage services in addition to a slew

of other maritime industry services such as STS (lightering) and special operations on the anchorage of Grand Bahama. To date, IMS has also provided pilotage services to vessels in Eleuthera, San Salvador, Long Island, as well as Bimini.

Now, the company’s president is looking to the future and anticipates rapid industry growth.

“Part of our mandate as a company is to facilitate the continued growth of the sector and create opportunities for future generations of qualified maritime industry professionals,” explained Pilot Williamson.

“I was especially pleased to speak with the 11th and 12th-grade students about career opportunities awaiting them in the maritime industry.”

“Shipping is essential to Biminites because 99 percent of the goods imported to the island come by ship” he explained.

“More often than not, persons have little to no idea about the varied jobs available to them from deck officers, engineers, marine inspection, to maritime lawyers, to naval architecture

and so our hope is that we are able to spark that interest in young Bahamians at an early age and guide them toward having successful careers in the maritime industry.”

On hand for the ceremony was school principal Demetrius Wildgoose as well as the island administrator Deidre Fox and chief councilor Robbie Smith who all heralded the donation as welcome and timely.

“We are always elated when the business community makes an effort to engage with the wider public,” said Fox. “IMS is to be commended for stepping up in this way even as we continue to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on our island our country.”

The donation of 15 tablets will go a long way in helping students engage with their course material at a deeper level, a perk which according to Principal Wildgoose, is the icing on the cake. “Now more than ever our students need access to digital learning tools, they need to be prepared for the world as we know it and we are proud to make an investment in our young Biminites.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 5

The fragility of the monster BORN in 1460 in Sines, a small town on Portugal’s West coast, Vasco da Gama is one of the greatest explorers of all time.

His journey by sea, from Western Europe to India via South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, was an incredible feat of courage and seamanship. Sailing through seas never before navigated, Da Gama eventually reached the Indian port of Calicut on 20 May 1498, almost a year after setting off from Lisbon.

After an initially indifferent welcome, Da Gama and his crew had to fight and overcome the opposition of belligerent local leaders, who opposed the Portuguese’s desire to establish a commercial outpost in Southern Asia that would allow them to trade European textiles in exchange for the most prized goods of the time; pepper, cinnamon and other spices.

By creating a sea connection between Europe and Asia, the expedition started a process that transformed Portugal, previously an obscure European backwater, into one of the most powerful and richest countries of the sixteenth century. This route allowed

CRUISE FROM PAGE 1 course, review our current itinerary plan and adjust to befit the best interests of all. “We have had a wonderful response to our announced plans of delivering a 100 percent allBahamas experience and our valued guests are looking forward to sailing again after more than a year away from our ships and their beloved officers and crew.

“We are confident that a large majority of residents and businesses on these islands will support our entry into the market. We understand that it is incumbent upon us to curate all elements of the itineraries, taking into consideration the most beneficial plans for all parties involved. Our team has worked hard to ensure that Crystal Serenity’s calls will help support local businesses without overwhelming them, while offering our guests memorable experiences.

“We also have plans in place to provide supplemental infrastructure in certain ports when and where it is needed,” said Mr Anderson, addressing something that is a concern to Exuma businessmen worried about the possibility of massive construction and dredging at the harbour.

the transport of spices in a much quicker and costeffective manner than the ancient land routes run by horse and camel caravans, filling the coffers of the Portuguese kingdom with unimaginable riches.

But Da Gama’s journey is remembered for more than just the opening of new commercial routes, it also marked the beginning of globalization, inspiring other European nations, such and Spain, England and Holland, to set out to sea and establish their own lucrative commercial empires. For all the good and the bad they helped create, today’s political maps and interconnected way of life owe much to the seafarers and adventurers of the sixteenth century.

Over the last five centuries the planet’s interconnectivity grew, with technology advancements and global trade deals creating increasingly sophisticated supply chains, in which sea shipping plays a vital role, accounting for 80 percent of the global trade volume.

The recent episode of the Ever Given, the giant cargo ship that became stuck while crossing the Suez

Canal, blocking it and creating a build-up of almost 400 ships at both ends of the waterway, served as a reminder of how important sea routes are.

The Suez gives passage to about 12 percent of world trade, with around 1 million barrels of oil passing through the canal every 24 hours.

It is estimated that for each day the Ever Given was stuck the cost run up to $10 billion due to the backlogs it caused in global shipping.

Oil prices went up as investors, fearing a protracted crisis, started pricing-in the cost of tankers having to navigate through longer routes.

Meanwhile, fears grew over potential knock-on effects to the global supply chain, driving up the cost of booking sea-freight, and increasing inflationary fears that were already lingering due to an expected boom in economic activity in the aftermath of the pandemic.

This crisis reminded us of the colossal size of today’s global trade. ‘=But it also exposed the fragility of the ‘monster’, with one single stranded ship causing global disruption.

Mr Anderson said: “I read a comment about dredging… and I want to assure you and your readers that there will be no dredging at all. We will be at anchorage in the Family Islands and we are working closely with Commander [Berne] Wright on our positions. Crystal Serenity will be helmed by Captain Vorland Birger, a 17-year veteran of Crystal and he has more than 45 years of mariner experience. The Captain and the Bridge officers will utilize electronic charts as well as local yachting charts and will use sonar technology to monitor our position at all times.

“In an effort to reach out to local Bahamian entrepreneurs for potential partnerships, we are working on a portal specific to our new Luxury Bahamas Escape itinerary. When vendors click on the web link, it will take them to a landing page on our website where we will give an overview of what we are looking for with these partnerships, and then allow them to submit their contact information and overview of their business proposal. This will be launched very soon.

“It is also our responsibility to effectively communicate the benefits that we will bring, and we look forward to presenting our vision with the Bahamian residents and

local entities before we arrive in July. “Our itinerary planning team is always reviewing potential destinations for our guests and will we share any changes to our announced plans as appropriate.”

Taking COVID-19 into consideration Mr Anderson said that they will spread guests around the island by “staggering tour departure times,” which he feels would control the number of guests on-island at any time.

“Guests going ashore will be limited by the capacity and frequency of the tenders. We can control the speed of the tender operations so there is a limited flow of guests arriving on the island and Crystal Cruises will never have two tenders ashore at any given time. “We find that 100 to 200 guests usually choose to stay aboard the vessel per call.”

He concluded: “We recognize the immense privilege we have to explore the waters around the world and deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests.

With this privilege comes the responsibility to operate with the greatest care in the communities and destinations we visit. We are committed to being responsible corporate citizens and respecting our world’s resources and the cultures we encounter.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

NORWEGIAN CRUISES ASKS CDC TO ALLOW TRIPS FROM US IN JULY

By The Associated Press undefined

THE Norwegian Cruise Line is seeking permission to resume trips from US ports on July 4, requiring passengers and crew members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before the trip.

The Miami company said its precautions go well beyond steps taken by others in the travel and leisure industry that have already reopened, including airlines, hotel, restaurants and sporting events.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd plans to begin US sailings at 60 percent of capacity and raise that to 80 percent in August and 100 percent in September. Norwegian also

operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

The company’s shares jumped 7.2 percent Monday and pulled the shares of rival cruise lines higher.

Carnival Corp. rose 4.7 percent and Royal Caribbean Group gained 2.9 percent.

CEO Frank Del Rio detailed the request in a letter to Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC has blocked cruise ships from US ports with a no-sail order since March 2020, after outbreaks on several ships around the world.

On Friday, the CDC updated its guidance to say that fully vaccinated people can travel within the US

IN this May 8, 2013, file photo, people pause to look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway, on the Hudson River, in New York. Yesterday, Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for permission to resume cruises from US ports on July 4 by requiring passengers and crew members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before the trip.

(AP Photo/Richard Drew) without getting tested for the coronavirus or going into quarantine afterward.

It also issued more technical details around its conditional plan to allow cruise ships in American ports, but it did not say when cruise lines could resume sailing.

Still, Walensky urged caution and said she would “advocate against general

NOW HIRING MEDICAL ASSISTANT - MEDICAL OFFICE Duties and Responsibilities

• Obtaining & recording patient medical histories, vitals, test results, and other information for medical records while maintaining strict confidentiality.

• Coordinating the daily administrative activities, including scheduling, patient check-in and check-out, and patient medical record maintenance.

• Preparing treatment rooms for clinical examinations and assisting procedures and other patient care. practitioners with medical p • Phlebotomy collection for lab services • Preparing & administering medications for patients as directed by physicians.

Requirements • • • •

Certification from a medical assistant program or related program One to two years of experience in a medical setting.

Have a high school diploma or equivalent. Associates Degree preferred.

A basic understanding of patient care, medical terminology, coding procedures, reference tools, and appropriate clinical pharmacology for medical assistant practice scope.

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and customer service skills.

• Familiarity with electronic medical health care record systems.

travel overall” given the rising number of infections.

The CDC said yesterday that it “is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising” following a phased approach.

“Cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is difficult,” especially with concern over

new variants of COVID19, the agency added.

An industry trade group, the Cruise Lines International Association, blasted the CDC’s updated guidance and called for the agency to lift its no-sail order.

“The new requirements are unduly burdensome, largely unworkable, and seem to reflect a zero-risk

objective rather than the mitigation approach to COVID that is the basis for every other US sector of our society,” the group said.

It said the CDC’s requirements are hurting nearly half a million American workers at businesses that service cruise ships, “with no reasonable timeline provided for the safe return of cruising.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 7

Yellen calls for minimum global corporate income tax

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen yesterday urged the adoption of a minimum global corporate income tax, an effort to at least partially offset any disadvantages that might arise from the Biden administration’s proposed increase in the U.S. corporate tax rate.

Citing a “30-year race to the bottom” in which countries have slashed corporate tax rates in an effort to attract multinational businesses, Yellen said the Biden administration would work with other advanced economies in the Group of 20 to set a minimum.

“Competitiveness is about more than how U.S.headquartered companies fare against other companies in global merger and acquisition bids,” Yellen said in a virtual speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods.”

The speech was Yellen’s highest-profile so far on international affairs, and came just as the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund began in a virtual format.

“It is important to work with other countries to end the pressures of tax competition and corporate tax base erosion,” Yellen said.

President Joe Biden has proposed hiking the U.S. corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, partially undoing the Trump administration’s cut from 35% in its 2017 tax legislation. Biden also wants to set a minimum U.S. tax on overseas corporate income, and to make it harder for companies to shift earnings offshore. The increase would help pay for the White House’s ambitious $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal.

Yellen’s remarks essentially serve as an endorsement of negotiations that have been underway at the 37-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for roughly two years, said Alan Auerbach, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley.

Biden’s U.S. corporate tax proposal includes an increase to the U.S. minimum tax that was included in Trump’s tax law, from

10.5% to 21%. One focus of the OECD talks is whether other countries will adopt similar minimums. Biden’s corporate tax measure would also penalize other countries without a minimum corporate tax by more heavily taxing their subsidiaries in the U.S. Auerbach said that the OECD has helped foster other agreements around issues such as bank secrecy.

“There is precedent for this sort of thing,” Auerbach said. “But this would be a big deal because it would get countries to coordinate their tax systems in ways they haven’t before.”

Also on Monday, Biden said he is “not at all” concerned that a higher corporate tax rate would cause some U.S. companies to relocate overseas, though Yellen’s proposed global minimum corporate tax is intended to prevent that from happening.

“There’s no evidence to that ... that’s bizarre,” Biden said in response to a question from reporters.

According to the Tax Foundation, a right-leaning think tank, the Trump administration’s corporate tax reduction lowered the U.S. rate from the highest among the OECD countries to the 13th highest.

Many analysts have argued, however, that few large U.S. multinationals paid the full tax.

“We have 51 or 52 corporations from the Fortune 500 who haven’t paid a single penny a day for three years?” Biden said. “Come on.”

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., said that Yellen’s proposal was unlikely to make much progress overseas. He also said Republicans should reverse any corporate tax hike if they regain a congressional majority in upcoming elections.

“Spoiler alert: This effort will likely fail and even if there is some sort of agreement, it will be non-binding because it is not a treaty,” Toomey said.

Yellen, meanwhile, downplayed the potential for the Biden administration’s domestic agenda, which also includes a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package approved last month, to spur higher inflation.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, among others, has raised such concerns since the relief bill passed.

“I strongly doubt that it’s going to cause inflationary pressures,” Yellen said,

YELLEN (AP) referring to the administration’s infrastructure proposal. “The problem for a very long time has been inflation that’s too low, not inflation that’s too high.”

Yellen also said the United States will step up its efforts at home and overseas to fight climate change, “after sitting on the sidelines for four years.”

Treasury will work to “promote the flow of capital toward climate-aligned investments and away from carbon-intensive investments,” Yellen said. That approach has raised the ire of GOP members of Congress, who say it threatens the ability of the U.S. oil and gas industry to access needed lending.

Yellen also noted that many developing nations

are lagging in vaccinating their populations, and have also experienced harsh economic consequences from the pandemic. As many as 150 million people worldwide will fall into extreme poverty this year, Yellen said.

“The result will likely be a deeper and longer-lasting crisis, with mounting problems of indebtedness, more entrenched poverty, and growing inequality,” Yellen said.

The Biden administration supports the creation of $650 billion in new lending capacity at the IMF to

address such issues, she said. Many Republicans in Congress oppose the new allotment, arguing that much of the funding would flow to relatively better-off developing countries, such as China.

Yellen acknowledged that the additional credit would be distributed to each IMF member, but argued that “significant resources will go to the poorest countries most in need.” Nations can also donate some of their funds to the hardesthit countries, which she expects many will do, she added.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that COLLIN O’SHEA ANDRADE BROWN, of #6 Cowpen Road, P.O.Box N-10584 New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

US PRESIDENT BIDEN SUMMONS PUBLIC SUPPORT AS GOP BUCKS INFRASTRUCTURE

By LISA MASCARO and JOSH BOAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — With an appeal to think big, President Joe Biden is promoting his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan directly to Americans, summoning public support to push past the Republicans lining up against the massive

NOW HIRING MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST - MEDICAL OFFICE Duties and Responsibilities

• Greet and attend to patients in person and over the phone in a professional and courteous manner that ensures excellent customer service • Maintain confidentiality while professionally assisting doctors, staff, visitors, and patients.

• Schedule, reschedule and cancel appointments • Ensure that stock levels of administrative supplies are adequate and orders are made timeously.

• Complete accurate documentation of patient demographic and insurance information in the practice management system and electronic health record during the check-in process.

• Assist in medical billing, verification of benefits and discharge process

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent with Administrative certification; Associates Degree preferred • Experience at a healthcare facility or related industry in a Medical Receptionist or Customer Service role • Working knowledge of medical terminology, ICD, and CPT coding (highly advantageous).

• Innovative thinker with strong conceptual and problem-solving skills.

• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to multi-task.

• Strong organizational, communication, administrative, and planning skills..

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite

effort they sum up as big taxes, big spending and big government.

Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose the costly American Jobs Plan, saddling the Democrats with ownership of the sweeping proposal and the corporate tax hike Biden says is needed to pay for it.

He wants the investments in roads, schools, broadband and clean energy approved by summer.

“They know we need it,” Biden said of the Republicans as he returned to Washington on Monday.

“Everybody around the world is investing billions and billions of dollars in infrastructure, and we’re going to do it here.”

The once bipartisan source of unity has cracked and groaned under the weight of political polarization. Where Biden sees an urgency in going big, Republicans want a narrow plan that focuses on roads and bridges, and warn that any corporate tax increase would crush economic growth.

The standoff almost ensures a months-long slog as Congress hunkers down to begin drafting legislation and the White House keeps the door open to working across the aisle with Republicans, hoping that

continued public attention will drum up support.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declared plainly on Monday that Biden’s plan is “something we’re not going to do.”

Speaking to reporters in Kentucky, McConnell said Republicans could support a “much more modest” approach, and one that doesn’t rely on corporate tax hikes to pay for it.

A core dividing line is Biden’s effort to pay for infrastructure by undoing Donald Trump’s tax break for corporations, a signature achievement of the Trump White House and its partners in Congress.

The 2017 GOP tax bill, which all the Republicans voted for, slashed the corporate rate from 35% to 21%.

It was supposed to usher in a new era of American investment and job creation, yet growth never came close to the promised levels and the economy fell into a recession because of the pandemic.

Biden proposes raising the rate to 28% and instituting a global minimum rate to dissuade companies from relocating in lower-tax havens. Democratic senators led by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unveiled their own framework for an international taxation overhaul Monday

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JAIDEN MARCO ROLLE, of Gregory Drive, Coral Harbour ,New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 6st day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

that could provide an opening to Biden’s approach.

“We desperately need reform,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., one of those involved in the effort.

Shepherding Biden’s proposal through Congress remains a work in progress, particularly in the evenlydivided 50-50 Senate, where Democrats have the majority because the vice president from their party, Kamala Harris, can cast a tie-breaking vote.

But a single senator can break ranks to influence the size and shape of the package. On Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., indicated he would prefer a corporate tax rate at 25%, lower than what Biden is proposing.

Seizing on Democratic divisions, Republicans have signaled zero interest in undoing the tax cuts they approved with Trump, and instead prefer a smaller infrastructure package paid for by user fees on drivers or other public-private partnerships that share the costs.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of Senate GOP leadership, said Sunday a smaller infrastructure package of about $615 billion, or 30% of what Biden is proposing, could draw bipartisan support.

Administration officials have encouraged Republicans to talk more fully about what they dislike and would do instead, under the opinion that a battle of ideas will only help Biden gain support with voters.

The president has already met twice with bipartisan groups of lawmakers in the Oval Office, and members of Biden’s Cabinet leading the charge on infrastructure have also have placed dozens of calls to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Yet the White House has a fundamental disagreement with Republicans on the definition of infrastructure, such that any outreach is unlikely to yield an agreement.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 9

EATING OUR LUNCH: BIDEN POINTS TO CHINA IN DEVELOPMENT PUSH

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and LISA MASCARO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Pushing for trillions of dollars in development spending, President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers are directing Americans’ eyes to the rearview mirror, pointing to a booming, ambitious China they say is threatening to quickly overtake the United States in global clout and capacity.

It’s a national security pitch for a domestic spending program: that the $2 trillion proposal for investments in U.S. transport and energy, manufacturing, internet and other sectors will make the United States more competitive in the face of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s massive infrastructure-building campaign.

The argument is that competition today with China is more about economic and technological gains than arms — and its outcome will impact the United States’ financial growth and influence, its ability to defend U.S. security alliances and interests abroad, and the daily lives of Americans.

China under Xi has “an overall goal to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world,” Biden said before launching his proposal last week. “That’s not going to happen on my watch because the United States are going to continue to grow and expand.”

That pitch hasn’t won over Republicans. They say his proposal has been loaded down with unnecessary spending projects and that raising taxes will ultimately hurt the U.S. economy.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans could support a “much more modest” approach, one that doesn’t rely on corporate tax hikes to pay for it. Biden’s plan is “something we’re not going to do,” McConnell said Monday.

To varying degrees, addressing infrastructure has bipartisan support.

Americans are experiencing outages, delays and irritations on transport and power systems designed in the 1960s and earlier.

Meanwhile, China’s latest five-year plan calls for hundreds more airports, coal-fired power plants and other standard infrastructure projects.

Xi also is calling for his country’s focus on “new infrastructure,” including investment in 5G networks and other digital infrastructure.

US President Joe Biden. (AP) “Time and momentum are on our side,” Xi told a meeting of the Communist Party last year.

China spends more on infrastructure projects in other countries than the United States spends at home, said Jonathan Hillman, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. That and China’s long-running economic boom, fueled in part by its domestic infrastructure spending, are helping China become more influential internationally, and may give it more confidence as it makes claims over Taiwan and other contested territory or advances its interests, some argue.

Using urgent warnings of a rival’s advances to press for more infrastructure and research spending is a Cold War-tested technique.

Past American presidents pointed to the Soviet Union while building up the U.S. highway system, space program and arms stockpiles.

And in the case of infrastructure, Biden’s repeated warnings that China and other countries are “eating our lunch” are borne out by many crucial metrics, and by the observations of almost anyone who’s traveled abroad much. “Almost every day” in the U.S.,

service providers somewhere announce “the power is out, the wi-fi is out,” said Min Ye, a researcher at Boston University whose work focuses on China and the intersection of economics and security.

Pointing to her two decades living in the Boston area, Ye says she has seen no really big upgrades to tired local road networks, no bus route upgrades that would help her get into the city more easily, no rail upkeep that would make a train trip to New York to see friends more enticing.

While Ye was glad to see Boston Logan International Airport launch projects to spiff up its interior and parking, it’s been more than a quarter-century since the United States last built a new major airport, in Denver. Academic studies and economists claim the lost hours of delays in the air and on roads and rails cost billions of dollars in lost productivity.

And the federal government estimates 18 million Americans lack internet.

What internet there is is expensive, compared to that of other big economies.

It all led to scenes of U.S. workers and schoolchildren sitting in fast-food parking lots to do their work online this year as the pandemic shut down offices and schools. Research done for the Group of 20 rich and developing nations estimates China’s infrastructure spending as a percentage of domestic production on track to be more than three times that of the United States.

NOTICE IN THE ESTATE OF JOHN SYMONDS, late of No.16 Crescent Avenue, Grays, Essex County, United Kingdom.

Deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 7th day of May, A.D. 2021 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late JOHN SYMONDS will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executrix shall then have had notice.

AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

Dated this 6th day of April, A.D., 2021. c/o PYFROM & CO Attorneys for the Executrix, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas.

NOW HIRING PRACTICE MANAGER - MEDICAL OFFICE Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee daily practice operations including development of budgets, payroll, appointment scheduling, billing procedures, debt collection and inventory • Ensure annual compliance with physician license and malpractice renewals, business license renewal and facility licensure requirements • Liaise with the accountant in the review and preparation of VAT filings, monthly statements and audited year end statements.

• Works with physicians to develop business strategies and patient services • Participate in the development, review and maintenance of policies, procedures and job descriptions. Ensure these comply with The Bahamas labour law/standards.

• Manage patient records and IT system and ensures client confidentiality • Supervise all clinic staff & promote sound patient/physician/employee relations • Mediate employee issues; serves as the primary liaison to physician leads for hires, terminations, discipline & other matters in accordance with HR guidelines

Requirements • • • • • • •

Degree in business management or related field Management experience preferably in the healthcare sector Medical office billing experience is an asset Proficiency in Microsoft office suite Solid understanding of finance management Strong leadership skills, commitment to quality and attention to detail Excellent written and oral communications skills

PAGE 10, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that MICHERNA E JOSEPH, of Imperial Park, #30 Inspiration Road New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 29th day of March 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Monday, April 5, 2021

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that CHERWING PIERRE, of Soldier Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 6st day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1959.45

-4.33

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

-0.22 -133.01

-6.36

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 5.00 33.05 2.00 2.90 2.10 6.00 6.90 3.60 6.01 4.05 6.16 12.00 2.75 6.85 10.71 9.00 14.60 4.25 8.97 16.00

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

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

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

LAST CLOSE 4.95 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 6.00 6.74 3.56 4.40 2.99 5.67 9.75 2.69 6.84 10.88 9.00 14.00 3.94 8.35 15.50

CLOSE 5.00 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 6.00 6.74 3.56 4.45 2.95 5.67 9.75 2.65 6.84 10.94 9.00 14.00 3.94 8.35 15.50

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGR1200371 BSBGRS710237 BSBGR1322498

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 102.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.04 102.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 97.72 104.00 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 93.92 100.25 100.00

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

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

CHANGE 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 (0.04) 0.00 0.00 (0.04) 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME 3,000

1,000 12,000 617

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

VOLUME

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

P/E 20.9 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.3 -8.1 31.8 16.0 12.6 13.5 26.0 14.6 16.9 12.4 17.2 19.4 8.9 24.6

YIELD 3.40% 3.92% 1.23% 1.03% 0.00% 0.00% 3.86% 0.00% 0.00% 4.07% 3.88% 7.38% 16.38% 0.88% 3.00% 2.67% 3.86% 3.05% 2.40% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

MATURITY

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NAV Date

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

MARKET TERMS

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

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

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

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

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

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

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

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

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

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

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

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

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

N/M - Not Meaningful

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

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

PAGE 12, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BODY AND MIND

FITNESS DURING PREGNANCY - THE DO’S AND DON’TS

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

pregnant bodies and their babies.

Coach Sanford Rolle of Impact Fitness said pregFITNESS and pregnancy nant women should engage may sound like they don’t in fitness exercises, but they go together. After all, we should also proceed with all know that pregnancy is caution.

They stay fit during associated with “eating for two”, gaining weight as the pregnancy by engaging in baby grows, and in general moderate to light physical activity according letting yourself to their current be pampered.

‘A smart level of fitness But studies and recommenhave shown that approach to dation by their moderate exer- fitness gives doctor. cise is beneficial a woman Some women for pregnant a healthier may be conwomen. cerned that A smart pregnancy, physical activity approach to fit- and it might could harm the ness gives a even give baby, however, a woman a healthlittle goes a long the baby a ier pregnancy, and it might even healthier start way.

“Physical give the baby a in life as well.’ exercise is safe healthier start in during preglife as well. nancy.

It can be Health professionals very beneficial for both recommend that moms-tobe find the right amount mother and baby. While of physical activity that pregnant, a mother may want to focus on light is beneficial for their

stretching, especially of the back; light resistance training (using light three to eight-pound dumbbells or five to 20-pound resistance bands), and moderate to easy cardio (brisk walking on a flat or elevated surface 15 to 30 minutes per day). Yoga, Pilates and aquatic fitness can also be very effective during pregnancy.

“All plank variations should be avoided, and jumping, twisting of the mid-section and running are discouraged,” said Coach Rolle.

Before starting any exercise regimen or enlisting the help of a fitness coach, he said, get advice from your doctor.

“The frequency of exercise will vary based on the woman’s current fitness level, health and

recommendation by the doctor. However, if healthy and given the go-ahead by the doctor, I’d recommend light resistance training at least three times per week and a daily stretching and cardio routine (at least 30 minutes).

At different times in pregnancy, different levels of exercise are appropriate,” he said.

“With each trimester it’s more and more important to err on the side of caution.

However, I would recommend simply dialing down the intensity of workouts as the due date draws nearer.

For example, a 30-minute walk may be reduced to 20 minutes in the second trimester, and ten minutes in the third trimester.

“It is inevitable that at some point in the pregnancy exercise will cease

for most women, which makes it even more important to maximise the time in the earlier trimesters.”

Exercises such as pelvic tilts, lunges, stretching in the butterfly pose and walking can help prepare the body for labour, Coach Rolle added.

Workout equipment such as light dumbbells, light resistance bands, bosu balls or exercise balls are acceptable for most women during pregnancy.

“It is important to remember the focus is on a healthy body, healthy baby and a safe delivery, not achieving any fitness goals.

Therefore, any equipment that may cause unnecessary strain or pain should be avoided,” he said.

And for those expectant mothers who have gotten clearance from their

doctors, Coach Rolle is currently into the second week of a 10-week training cycle for 2021.

Unlimited morning and evening sessions are both available. Morning sessions are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6am to 7am. Evening sessions are held Monday through Tuesday from 6.30pm to 7:30pm.

“Individuals of all fitness levels can benefit from training sessions, whether your goal is weight loss, increasing strength, building lean muscle mass or increasing energy, endurance and stamina. Impact Fitness coaching helps you achieve your fitness goals in a safe and supportive and enjoyable community,” he said.

For more information, contact 242-467-4998.

STOP YOUR HOME FROM MAKING YOU ILL

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Reporter cbrennen@tribunemedia.net SPRINGTIME is here and now is the perfect time to not just ensure that your home is looking good, but it’s not making you sick as well.

Constantly breathing in dust can add to respiratory problems such as sinuses and asthma and cause eye and skin irritation as well.

Mold in particularly if exposure is long term can also cause a myriad of health challenges including respiratory issues, headaches, nose bleeds, vomiting and diarrhoea to name a few.

And even the neatest clean freak may forget to clean then biggest breeding grounds for dust and mold as they are often hidden in areas not included in your regular daily cleaning routine.

Mold loves damp dark places which makes under sinks and behind toilets and around tubs and showers a great place for it to settle and multiple.

Mold is usually a sign that there is excessive moisture somewhere, so you always want to be sure that there are no leaks in your plumbing that may be adding to the problem.

It is always best to call in a cleaning expert to permanently

get rid of it, but if you need a quick home remedy to get rid of surface mold use a mixture of water and bleach to get rid of it on the surface and a vinegar solution for more porous surfaces. Be sure to wear glove and a mask when tackling any areas of your home that has mold.

While you are in the bathroom, be sure to check your shower curtain and liner and clean those as well.

There are many areas of your home where dust can accumulate where you may not remember to clean.

Fans and vents are huge culprits because they will

literally spread dust all over the room.

Similarly, the backs of blinds and light fixtures are other areas that can be covered with dust that may not be cleaned on a regular basis. Make sure you are also cleaning the tops of door sills, under rugs, behind furniture and deep inside closets This also applies to the tops of and behind larger appliances such as the fridge, stove and washer and dryer.

You may not think much about your mattress, but it is a huge breeding ground for dust mites, dead skin cells and hair.

Even if you use a mattress cover, cleaning and flipping your

mattress at least once a year will literally let you rest easy knowing you are sleeping on a clean surface.

An easy way to clean your mattress is to to sprinkle baking soda, let it sit and then vacuum it up to get rid of dust mites and leave it fresh smelling.

And finally, don’t forget the tops of kitchen cabinets which can often be a nightmare of dirt, the baseboards, doorknobs and even light sockets.

You will often be very surprised at just how dirty these forgotten areas of your home can be and just how much not cleaning them can affect your everyday health.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 13

Low testosterone and sleep deprivation THE COVID-19 pandemic has many men suffering from sleep disruptions, and of course we are all collectively living through a very bad dream with sadly no immediate end in sight. Emotional, psychological and financial stresses related to the new world in which we are all living has led to varying levels of fatigue in all of us.

The understanding of the novel coronavirus is an evolving process and there is supporting evidence that people who recover from COVID-19 still continue to suffer from chronic fatigue for varying lengths of time. Post-viral recovery symptoms such as chronic fatigue are potentially a daily affliction for coronavirus survivors, which is further motivation to wear a mask, practice social distancing and ensure proper hand-washing hygiene.

There are many physiological causes for middle-aged men, and older men in particular, to possibly experience fatigue that can be life-altering in that is reduces their quality of the life.

A lack of sleep and low testosterone levels are strongly linked.

Sleep deprivation can lead to lower testosterone and low testosterone can lead to poor sleep.

This vicious cycle has many men feeling fatigued throughout the day, experiencing difficulty in concentrating and falling asleep very easily, even at dangerous times such as when driving.

In adult men, testosterone is important in maintaining muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, sexual drive, erectile function and sperm production.

Most of the testosterone used during the day needs to be replenished at night.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a relatively common condition faced by men in the Bahamas, during which breathing becomes obstructed during sleep and the

sleep cycle is deranged.

Normal sleep is divided into non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM). The normal production of testosterone requires undisturbed, restful sleep that occurs in the rapid eye movement stage (REM) of the sleep cycle.

NREM accounts for about 80 percent of total sleep time, with REM occurring in about 20 percent of the sleep cycle. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have shorter REM sleep and thus lower testosterone production during sleep.

Sleep disturbances can take many forms and are not just related to obstructive sleep apnea.

Nocturia, which is waking up more than twice in the night to urinate, can severely disrupt much needed sleep.

Many middle-aged men live a life of perpetual sleep disturbances with frequent nighttime urination that is often related to the very common condition of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which can be successfully treated by medication or minimally invasive procedures.

Sleep disturbances can be the result of anxiety or stress, and can

lead to poor sleep patterns.

Long-standing sleep disturbances can lead to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol and high cortisol levels lead to lower testosterone.

Symptoms such as waking up more fatigued than when you first went to bed, daytime fatigue, lack of concentration, low sexual drive and erectile dysfunction might be signs of low testosterone. Men who are known to snore loudly at night, then have moments of silence, with interrupted breathing, may have obstructive sleep apnea. Obese men are at higher risk of suffering from this. There is a correlation between obstructive sleep apnea, high body mass index and low testosterone levels.

Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, can have either an organic cause or a functional cause. Functional causes of low testosterone include kidney failure, use of certain drugs, infection or trauma to the testicles or chemotherapy or radiation exposure to the testicle. This could all lead to impaired testosterone production.

Organic hypogonadism involves dysfunction of the hypothalamuspituitary-testicular axis that leads

to low testosterone production, and such patients could benefit from testosterone supplementation. Very rarely, there is a sinister cause for low testosterone in the form of a pituitary macroadenoma tumor, but this must always be ruled out.

The pituitary gland is pea-sized and is located behind the bridge of the nose, and controls the activity of most of the hormone secreting glands in the body. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are parts of the brain that control testosterone production by the testes.

The management of low testosterone is guided by the cause. Secondary or organic hypogonadism leading to low testosterone may be treated by testosterone replacement therapy in the form of testosterone intramuscular injections, nasal sprays, pellets, testosterone patches or gels.

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has shown to increase testosterone levels.

Men of any age may be afflicted with low testosterone, but most men symptomatic for low testosterone are middle-aged or older.

It has been reported that 12 percent of 50-year-olds, 19 percent of 60-year-olds and 28 percent of 70-year-olds fit the criteria of low testosterone.

Feeling constantly fatigued and putting on unwanted weight, losing muscle mass, with worsening erections and lack of interest in sex?

Low testosterone should be investigated as well as possible obstructive sleep apnea.

Stop living life fatigued with poor concentration, disappointing erections and never-ending weight gain.

Seek confidential, compassionate and comprehensive urological care.

• Dr Greggory Pinto is a board certified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He has trained in Germany, South Africa and France, and is a member of the European Association of Urology. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace & Mount Royal Avenue.

Telephone: (242) 322-1145 (6) (7); e-mail: welcome@urologycarebahamas.com, or visit the website:www.urologycarebahamas.com.

WHEN CAN KIDS RECEIVE THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

By JAMES B WOOD Assistant professor of clinical paediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine A BIG question among parents and teachers as more schools reopen is when their kids will be vaccinated against COVID19. Some have wondered whether the vaccine is even necessary for children.

There is news on that front.

In a press release on March 31, 2021, vaccine maker Pfizer suggested its vaccine is as effective in children ages 12-15 as it is in young adults. However the results of Pfizer’s vaccine trials in adolescents have not been fully released or reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, and that will take several weeks.

Dr James Wood, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases, explains what doctors know today about the risk children face of getting and spreading the coronavirus and when vaccines might be available.

Do kids really need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The short answer is yes.

A lot of studies have shown that COVID-19 isn’t as severe in children, particularly younger kids – but that doesn’t mean kids aren’t at risk of getting infected and potentially spreading the virus.

Children under 12 who get COVID-19 do tend to have mild illnesses or no symptoms, while teenagers seem to have responses

somewhere between what adults and younger kids have experienced. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that teens were about twice as likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 as children ages 5-11.

Researchers are still trying to understand why we’re seeing these differences between older and younger kids. Behaviour probably plays a part. Teenagers are more likely to engage in social or group activities, and they may or may not be wearing masks. Immune differences and biologic factors may also play a role.

Non-SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses are common in children, often resulting in upper respiratory infection. Is their frequent exposure to other coronaviruses helping protect them from severe COVID-19?

That is one hypothesis. We know younger kids’ immune responses in general are different from adults, and likely play a role in protection.

It’s important to remember that while most children get only mild symptoms, they still face risks. At least 226 US children with COVID-19 have died, and thousands have been hospitalised.

The key to minimising the risk is to make sure kids eventually get vaccinated, follow social distancing recommendations and wear masks.

Are kids spreading the virus?

In a setting like a school where mask-wearing

and social distancing are enforced, young kids seem to not spread the virus very much when the rules and guidelines are being followed. One CDC review found little difference in community cases in counties with elementary schools open and those with remote learning.

If precautions aren’t being taken, children infected with the coronavirus very well could spread it to adults. What isn’t clear yet is how great that risk is.

To keep schools as safe as possible, continuing schoolwide mask and social distancing policies will be important. With teenagers in particular, mask rules can’t hinge on whether the person has been vaccinated or not. Until herd immunity within the whole community is at a good level, social distancing and masking is still going to be the recommendation.

thousands of young volunteers to assess the vaccines’ safety and efficacy, and the results must be fully reviewed and then authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Pfizer said it expects to submit results from its adolescent trials for review soon. Vaccine manufacturer Moderna also has trials underway with adolescents.

If their vaccines are shown to be safe and effective and regulators authorise them, kids 12 and up could be vaccinated before school starts in the fall.

Realistically, young children probably won’t be eligible for the vaccine until late fall or winter at the earliest. Moderna announced in mid-March that it had started testing its vaccine in children ages 6 months to 11 years. Pfizer said it is also starting testing in young children, but these trials take time.

So, when can kids get vaccinated?

Right now, the Pfizer vaccine is the only one in the US authorised for teenagers as young as 16.

Before kids under 16 can be vaccinated, clinical trials need to be completed in

What’s different about the vaccines kids will get?

The composition of the COVID-19 vaccines for children is the same as used in adults – the difference is that children may require a different dose.

The first step in vaccine

trials is to figure out the right dose. The companies want to find the lowest possible dose that is both safe and produces a target level of antibodies. For example, Moderna uses a 100-microgramme dose in adults. It is testing three different doses for children under age 2 – 25, 50 and 100 microgrammes – and two doses for children over age 2, at 50 and 100 microgrammes.

Once the company determines the optimal dose, it will launch a placebocontrolled trial to test its effectiveness, in which some children will get a placebo and some will get the vaccine.

A rigorous system for paediatric vaccine trials is well established in the US. These trials are key to assessing the safety and efficacy of vaccines in children, which can differ from adults.

I am optimistic that a safe and effective vaccine will be available for children. Thus far, there have not been any safety signals from either the adult or adolescent studies that have been worrying to me as a paediatrician, but the studies still need to be done in children.

How can parents create safe playdates for kids?

When I talk to parents, I explain that it’s a riskversus-benefit question.

Each family has a different tolerance.

From a medical standpoint, the mental health of kids and having them play with other kids is an important part of childhood.

I would say that unvaccinated kids playing indoors without masks on is still not a great idea. The risk is just too high at this point. As weather warms up, I would encourage kids to play outside. Ride bikes, play and socialise – just do it in a safe manner.

We all have pandemic fatigue, including medical professionals. As the weather gets warmer, I think everyone just wants to get back to normal. The worst thing we can do, right as we start to see a light at the end, is fall backward again – because that would just make it that much longer for everyone.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

KEKE PALMER TEAMS UP WITH AMAZON TO PUBLISH SHORT STORY SERIES AMAZON Original Stories, an imprint of Amazon Publishing, announced last week that it will publish entertainer Keke Palmer’s forthcoming series of short stories, based on her popular original Instagram characters and sketch comedy videos, which have amassed over 100 million views. Readers and listeners can download the collection as a Kindle eBook or as an Audible audiobook, performed by Keke herself.

Amazon Original Stories will publish the short story series in late Fall 2021.

At the age of 27, Keke is a prolific content creator, entertainer, businesswoman, and passionate voice for her generation.

Keke first had the idea for her now viral characters just over five years ago, when she wanted to experiment with new types of comedy in the digital universe. She created characters on her Instagram account that tackled issues of class, race, femininity, and culture, with her signature brand of humour. Incorporating feedback from her fans and community on social media in real time, she refined each character to be reflective of her audience and the world around her.

Keke’s most popular character, Lady Miss Jacqueline — who has gained over 60 million views on Instagram alone — is the star of the stories in the upcoming Amazon Original Stories collection. Featuring illustrations throughout, the short, bingeable stories will take readers and listeners into the hilarious and fully realised world of her beloved characters, expanding on their backstories and building a plot that answers the most asked questions from her fans.

The Audible audiobook

will feature Keke playing each of the characters that she has created.

“What started out as an Instagram sketch, led me to one of my most beloved characters, Lady Miss Jacqueline. She’s always been larger than life — and a huge symbol of the moment when I realised I wanted to create worlds for my audience to get lost in. In effect, she was the beginning of my producing journey. The opportunity to share what makes her not only funny, but important, is exciting!” said Keke. “The team at Amazon Original Stories and I have a shared vision and what they have already been able to accomplish pushes me to bring my best and then some. I can’t wait to together share a new side of Lady Miss, her truth, and comedy with the world!”

“We are thrilled to team up with Keke to help expand her unique vision and unforgettable cast of characters into a broader literary universe,” said Julia Sommerfeld, publisher of Amazon Original Stories. “We like to think of Amazon Original Stories as serving as a playground for an innovator like Keke, to bring her groundbreaking characters to life in new ways and to push the boundaries of storytelling.”

Like all Amazon Original Stories, Keke’s new collection will be available to read and listen free to Prime members, as well as Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Readers can download each story individually to their Kindle or Kindle app, or get the whole collection with just one click.

Keke rose to prominence through her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee at age 12, starring opposite Angela Bassett and Lawrence Fishburne.

She is an actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and television host. As a businesswoman, Keke prioritises ownership and originality, and she created a production company for her digital conthe tent and a record role label for music. of She also serves as a producer in TV and film, including in her upcoming movie Alice, starring opposite Common and Johnny Lee ‘The team at Amazon Miller.

Original Stories and I have In 2020, she a shared vision and what received they have already been an able to accomplish pushes Emmy nominame to bring my best and tion for then some. I can’t wait to her work together share a new side as a host on ABC’s of Lady Miss, her truth, GMA3: and comedy with the Strahan, Sara and world!’ – Keke Palmer Keke; released two hit EPs, Virgo Tendencies: Part 1 & 2, from her own Big Bosses Record Label; and hosted Quibi’s “Brynn” Singled Out based on the opposite Pete iconic ‘90s MTV series, Davidson in as well as the MTV VMA Broadway Awards, which garnered Video’s new 4.1 million social media upcomimpressions, the most ing Audible impressions of any event in scripted 2020, other than the Super podcast Hit Bowl.

Job. She She is currently lend- also recently ing her voice to “Maya” starred oppoin Disney+’s revival of the site Jennifer The Proud Family and Lopez, Cardi “Rochelle” in Netflix’s new B, and ConBig Mouth spinoff Human stance Wu in Hustlers.

Resources after appearing Next, Keke will star in in Season 5 of Big Mouth.

Jordan Peele’s new film She can also be heard voicing

opposite Daniel Kaluuya. She will also host and executive produce Disney+’s Foodtastic.

KEKE's Southern Belle alter ego Lady Miss Jacqueline went viral on TikTok

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING IS A WIN FOR ALL WOMEN

By MONICA ORISADARE Assistant Professor of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University

DR NGOZI OkonjoIweala has become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as director general of the World Trade Organisation. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade asks Dr Monica Orisadare, an assistant professor of economics and director of the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria about Okonjo-Iweala’s achievement and what it means.

What does her career rise represent for Nigerian women?

Actually this is a great achievement. Not only from the Nigerian woman’s perspective but the African woman’s perspective as well as women all over the world. Breaking this glass ceiling is an achievement for all women. It means there is still hope, despite what we have on the ground.

Data shows that the number of women in positions of power, the number of women as captains of industry, compared to that of men is appallingly low. By 2030 the world is expected to have at least achieved some gender equality as set out in the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Most times women feel it’s a difficult feat to achieve. There are lots of women struggling to be heard. And despite their efforts they

DR NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA may feel, well, maybe it can’t be, given the patriarchal nature of the world we live in. But what this appointment shows is that governments, organisations and society still believe in women and that they can still be there at the top to manage affairs.

This achievement is not just a day’s work. It’s a kind of investment that she has nurtured for a long time.

Will it have any impact on women in Nigeria?

I believe it will. It’s a kind of impetus, a kind of encouragement for women here in Nigeria. I know a lot of people, a lot of women who are there putting in the effort in every aspect of life here, either

in academia, as captains of industry or in politics, but presently the number the country has is very poor and not encouraging.

Nigeria ranks among the least countries in terms of women in parliament. At present, Nigeria has just 3.63% female representation in parliament. This is a far cry from what is needed – the 35% through affirmative action. When you begin to talk about projects, programmes, that will affect women, we are not there yet.

Her appointment means we should not relent in our fight against gender inequality. We should still put in more effort in order to win the fight and be able to get what we want.

How do you feel about the appointment – as a female academic, a gender scholar, and development economist?

What does it say to me?

I see focus and many years of hard work.For me as a development economist and as an academic, I see her as a kind of role model – which she is. In fact she is a mentor to all women struggling to become achievers.

She’s strong in her focus.

She never gave up, despite the opposition.

I think there are some qualities that she possesses that I learnt from and also respect. Coming from that background, I know that she must have struggled.

She must have worked in situations in which there were always more men than women. I can tell you categorically that that’s what it is like in many work places around the world and in my department here in the university. We have about 30 academic staff out of which only four are female.

It’s like that in most of the departments. So if we are getting few women coming on board, it means putting in more effort and not resting on our oars. By pushing a little bit harder we will get to the point where we will stand out – as she has done now.

She stood out among so many others, even among the men. She is a force to be reckoned with and she is somebody worthy of emulation.

For me she stands out as a person, she is a source of strength, somebody I look

up to and I want to learn from.

How do you explain her rise? What could have been responsible?

The first is her background. Family background, educational background and her experiences. She had good education, which gives her an edge. And then her experiences at the World Bank and also as a finance minister in Nigeria and later a foreign minister, sitting on boards of so many big organisations.

The opportunities she had to experience both worlds of the developed and developing countries which I believe formed her outlook.

I think those are factors – the rich country and the poor country outlook. This could have been a major factor in getting her to where she is now.

Are there tangible benefits Nigeria will derive from her appointment?

Yes, I believe there are.

I will start from the many policies and reforms she helped put in place as a finance minister in Nigeria. She fought corruption.

For example spearheading the negotiations with the Paris Club which led to the wiping out of US$30 billion of Nigeria’s debt, and the outright cancellation of US$18 billion. She helped build an electronic financial management platform, the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System, with the support of the World Bank and the IMF to the Federal Government of

Nigeria. She also started the Treasury Single Account and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, which meant that many ‘ghost workers’ were phased out. Ghost workers are people whose names are on the payroll but are not known to work in the particular organisation. Yet they are paid salaries regularly. By 2019 nearly N200 billion had been saved.

She also initiated a process under which every state had to publish their accounts. She’s mentioned that she’ll be focused on achieving inclusive growth in raising the standard of living for all. And I believe her perspective, the way she sees things, could be different given her dual citizenship. She’s not only going to serve the interests of the developed world, but also those of low-income countries.

I see her facilitating the kind of positive policies that she has been known for in other positions she held.

I also want to have this broad view, that it is not for Nigeria alone, but for lowincome countries, which covers the whole of Africa, parts of Asia and other lowincome regions like Latin America. I see her supporting policies that will drive up their economy and also benefits all – both the low income and high-income countries.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, PAGE 15

ZONTA KEEPS UP ENDOWMENT FUND THE Zonta Club of New Providence has donated $5,000 to the University of The Bahamas (UB) as part of its commitment to the Betty Kelly Kenning Endowment Fund.

The fund, established since 2010 at UB, is earmarked for women aged 25-45 to pursue their tertiary education. To date, seven women have completed their bachelor’s degree in various disciplines at the university.

Last month, Zonta made the $5,000 donation to increase the fund.

“This presentation adds to the existing endowment fund established ten years ago at the University of

FROM left, Claudine Farquharson, member fundraising committee, Zonta; Cherise Archer, treasurer, Zonta; Marisa Mason-Smith, Zonta past president and the university’s ombudsman; Kandice Eldon, executive director, corporate foundation relations, UB; Teniel Rolle, development officer, office of development, UB; and Jessica Stubbs, board member, Zonta.

The Bahamas that educates women who may not have the opportunity to complete their tertiary studies. These funds are the result of Zonta’s major fundraising event, its annual wine dinner and signature project, which was held on December 5, 2020,” said Marisa MasonSmith, a past president of Zonta and the university’s ombudsman.

Over the years, scholars – who had already earned an associate’s degree and were enrolled in a bachelor degree programme at the University – have successfully transitioned into their careers. Scholarships offered through the fund

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 57° F/14° C

TAMPA

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Sunshine and nice

Mainly clear

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Mostly sunny and delightful

Sunny to partly cloudy and nice

Mostly sunny and pleasant

High: 78°

Low: 64°

High: 79° Low: 66°

High: 80° Low: 68°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 83° Low: 71°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

83° F

65° F

86°-65° F

86°-66° F

86°-68° F

87°-71° F

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

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 65° F/18° C

4-8 knots

S

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 63° F/17° C

4-8 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 62° F/17° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 66° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

6-12 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 73° F/23° C Low .................................................... 60° F/16° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 65° F/18° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 2.11” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.70”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 64° F/18° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 67° F/19° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

N

S

E

W

7-14 knots

S

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

uV inDex toDay

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

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

4:18 a.m.

4:50 p.m.

2.7 2.2

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

Wednesday 5:19 a.m.

5:49 p.m.

2.7 2.3

11:49 a.m. 0.1 11:59 p.m. 0.1

Thursday

6:13 a.m.

6:39 p.m.

2.7 2.5

12:37 p.m. 0.0 ---------

Friday

6:59 a.m.

7:23 p.m.

2.7 2.6

12:50 a.m. 0.1 1:18 p.m. 0.0

Saturday

7:40 a.m.

8:03 p.m.

2.7 2.7

1:36 a.m. 0.0 1:56 p.m. -0.1

Sunday

8:18 a.m.

8:39 p.m.

2.6 2.8

2:18 a.m. 0.0 2:30 p.m. -0.1

Monday

8:54 a.m.

9:15 p.m.

2.5 2.8

2:57 a.m. -0.1 3:04 p.m. -0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:56 a.m.

7:29 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:51 a.m.

2:50 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Apr. 11

Apr. 20

Apr. 26

May 3

CAT ISLAND

E

W

are specifically for women aged 25 or older who have a financial need.

“The Zonta Club of New Providence has demonstrated through the establishment and continued support of this endowment fund that it believes in the transformative power of education,” said executive director of corporate and foundation relations Kandice Eldon.

“Earning a university degree is a life changing achievement for our graduates, their families and their communities.

“We thank Zonta for its leadership and partnership with UB.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 78° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

H

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 72° F/22° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8-16 knots

8-16 knots

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

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 4-8 Knots E at 3-6 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 4-8 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 77° F 75° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 75° F 75° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F

SECTION B

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021

No limits NO TOPICS BARRED IN NEW PODCAST BY AND FOR WOMEN

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net A NEW podcast show created for women by women, promises to pull out all the stops. No topic will be taboo, from personal fears and struggles, to triumphs, healthcare, wealth creation, fashion, makeup, and sexuality - the whole nine yards.

Set to debut this Saturday, the PumPum Panel Podcast will be available on all social media platforms.

Founder Ewurabena Appiah said the show is intended to be a safe space for women to have real conversations, without judgment.

“We’re taking the conversational/co-hosted approach. I’m the host and I have an exceptional group of women who will rotate

in the co-host seat each week. Sometimes we may have a guest, other times we might ride solo, but the idea is to really have dynamic and nuanced conversations about womanhood and hopefully challenge some of the traditional tropes surrounding the fairer sex,” said Ewurabena.

Panelists will include Kenique Miller, Nabila Charlton and D’Vanya Hinsey.

Ewurabena has been a freelance writer and media professional for more than a decade and owns a boutique firm, Media Scribble, which she describes as the parent company of all her endeavours.

“The show has a really funny origin story. It was pre-COVID, almost two years ago actually, I was at a local lounge establishment

CLOCKWISE from top left, Ewurabena Appiah, Kenique Miller, D’Vanya Hinsey and Nabila Charlton with some of my favourite girlfriends and we were sitting at the bar. My friend and I were having a low-key, arguably slightly inappropriate, conversation about one of the bartenders, and he caught on to that fact, at which point he attempted to interject. I said to him, mostly in jest, ‘No sir, this is a private conversation. This is a pumpum panel and we are having a meeting. And my friend and I look at each other and decided at that moment that that would be a great name for a podcast, and I’ve been planning it ever since,” she told Tribune Woman.

The show’s debut date, April 10, also happens to be Ewurabena’s birthday.

“So its launch is kind of a gift to myself,” she said.

Seeing the concept of the podcast come to life, she

said, was like watching a baby take their steps.

“You’re happy to see it, but you’re also cautious because you don’t want the little one to fall and hurt themselves,” she said.

“It’s definitely like that for me with all my creative projects. It’s exciting but it’s also nerve-racking because, what if it doesn’t work?

What if people don’t tune in? What if no one cares?”

Ewurabena is hoping for lots of engagement from listeners.

“I’m hoping that women engage. I want our viewers to get in the comments and leave their opinions and argue their points and just have their voices be heard.

To me, that’s the most important kind of feedback.

Obviously, I want people to appreciate and acknowledge the quality of the

production and the effort that went into creating the show, but I mostly just want women to watch, see themselves as members of the panel, and actively participate in the discussions,” she said.

The PumPum Panel will offer both audio and visual presentations, as it was the creator’s desire to have the podcast available to people on whatever platforms they use the most. The audio version will be available on all the traditional podcast platforms, as well as on YouTube, on Ewurabena’s Isolation Television channel.

Creating the podcast, she said, has definitely been a learning experience for her. Ewurabena said she is thankful to have a core team of really wonderful people who support the

project, but at the end of the day, it falls on her to try and make this the best podcast it can be. This has required her to learn new things, research, and invest in the right equipment.

“I’d like to think that I embraced the challenge.

I hope to be creating and producing even more great content (this year). Season two of Isolation Television’s flagship show ‘Cays to My Heart’ is already in the works, and we’re excited about that, and there are some other major projects that are being fleshed out.

Hopefully, we can get the kind of support needed to bring those projects to life. And we’re still working toward the full launch of our streaming website as well, so there are lots of things currently in the pipeline,” said Ewurabena.

MARRIAGE OR MORTGAGE - WHICH IS YOUR PRIORITY?

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Reporter cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

NETFLIX’S new show Marriage or Mortgage is the perfect binge for viewers who love wedding shows and popular HGTV shows like House Hunters.

Set in Nashville, Tennesse, each show features hosts Sarah Miller (a wedding planner) and Nichole Holmes (a real estate agent) helping a couple decide whether they should spend their life savings on the wedding of their dreams or instead use the money as a down payment for a new home.

To sweeten the deal each host tries to offer the couple an incentive - for instance, Nicole may offer a free home appliance

MARRIAGE or Mortgage hosts Sarah Miller and Nichole Holmes. package - or Sarah gets a venue to lower the cost of catering so the bride can get her dream plated menu reception.

The choice to splurge on an event which may only

be one day but as Sarah puts it, “provide a lifetime of memories vs homebuying which as Nicole puts its – laying the foundation to make more memories is a question every couple has

to decide.

It’s always interesting to see the show’s couple thought’s process and how they come to make a final decision.

“There is no debate for me, “Linda told Tribune Woman, “I want a home, a wedding is a few hours, you spend that money and it is gone forever, all you have are some pictures, but a home is forever.”

Gia who says she has watched all the Marriage or Mortgage shows, says she never understands why the wedding couples decide on such expensive weddings.

“I mean I understand that you want a wedding. I had a beautiful wedding for 50 persons, I spent about $9,000 which honestly was way too much money, but

it was my dream day and I had everything I wanted.

“These couples have budgets of between 30,000 to 40,000 so realistically why can’t you buy your dream home and then still have a nice wedding in your new home. The wedding industry just tries to get you every time that you will regret it forever if you don’t spend thousands upon thousands of dollars.”

Krissie says that her choice would be a wedding hand down.

“I have dreamt of my wedding forever, walking down the aisle of the church I attended all my life, wearing a designer dress with all my family and friends to see us start life together.

If I had the money and a fairy godmother who could use her connections to get

my extra things like on the show, then yes, I am team wedding all the way. I feel like you can do both, you don’t have to be either or, you can have a special day and then save for a few years to have the house.

There is nothing wrong with that.

Tiffany says she doesn’t regret her choice of dream wedding but wishes she had scaled back a little.

“I think my husband and I spent about 60,000 for our wedding which had 300 guests. It was gorgeous and amazing.

“But now that I have hindsight a lot of the things, I swore I had to have like the thousand dollars I spent on favors, they added nothing to the day, I wish I had saved some to go into the house.”