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DAWN RAIDERS Abaco shanty town The Farm is target of huge multi-agency operation

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net LAW enforcement descended upon The Farm shanty town in Abaco yesterday in a joint sting operation, confiscating generators, food supplies, personal items, illegal contraband and arresting several residents for various alleged infractions.

Before dawn, officers of various agencies swooped into the illegal community near Treasure Cay, Abaco, handing out notices of eviction and as the sun began to rise, a 40ft container, flatbed trucks and

forklifts moved in.

Officials could be seen removing food and boxes of personal items, which were loaded into the container.

Several generators and at least one chest freezer were also loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken away. The operation was carried out in a shroud of secrecy.

As it unfolded, no official – police or an administrator – in Abaco would publicly give details regarding what was taking place. The Tribune understands the area was cordoned off with officers standing guard.

SEE PAGE THREE

‘AG OFFICE HAS DUTY TO GIVE COURT ANSWERS’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said the Office of the Attorney General should do what it is paid to do and provide answers in court cases.

His comment to The Tribune yesterday came after seven asylum seekers were released from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre on Wednesday.

Attorney Fred Smith took legal action last month, seeking to make the government prove it acted

lawfully when officials detained the refugees, who had fled Cameroon over persecution fears.

The government was given until April 7 to explain why the asylum seekers had been indefinitely detained, but an explanation was not given and during a virtual hearing before Justice Bernard Turner this week, a government lawyer said arrangements were made to release the refugees.

Mr Symonette said yesterday: “I don’t know how or why the Attorney SEE PAGE TWO

A TRUCK loaded with generators departing The Farm shanty town in Abaco yesterday in this image from video. Photo: Silbert Mills

‘HIGH’ SCHOOL STUDENTS ON MARIJUANA COOKIES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL students on Eleuthera fell sick after consuming marijuana laced cookies which were shipped to the island, police reported yesterday.

However, the Royal Bahamas Police Force did not indicate how many students ate the cookies nor the school the students attended.

Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said she was told the incident involved students from Preston Albury High School, but said it did not occur on the school’s campus.

“It is not clear as to whether it was by mistake or intentional but it is said to have occurred in the community and not on the schools premises,” SEE PAGE SEVEN

PLP REVIEWS CAMPAIGNING TO COPE WITH COVID RULES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell said the party’s leader has ordered a review of all campaign practices after Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan said gatherings should not be taking place outside of Emergency Order protocols.

When asked about the

issue, Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Carl Culmer would only tell The Tribune he is “complying with the what the government is saying”.

During a Ministry of Health press conference on Wednesday, Dr McMillan said “there should not be gatherings that are above and beyond what is agreed upon in the Emergency Orders.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

PAY INCENTIVE TO TAKE THE VACCINE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA Mar has strongly encouraged its employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, offering staff members who receive two doses of the shot a half day’s base pay.

However, the resort has said a vaccination will not be a mandatory requirement.

A letter from Baha Mar

BAHA MAR COURTYARD President Graeme Davis sent to Baha Mar associates, and obtained by The Tribune, urged employees

to get the vaccine, saying vaccinations “are a vital step to attempt to safeguard the health of our associates, their families, our guests and the community.”

“The COVID-19 vaccine will be a critical tool in our effort to return to normalcy,” Mr Davis wrote in the April 7 letter. “Here at Baha Mar, we attempt to provide and maintain a workplace that is free

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FOUR

BIG APPLE GIVES MARIJUANA THE GREEN LIGHT

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Friday, April 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

SOME of the asylum seekers leaving detention.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

‘AG office has duty to give court answers’ from page one

General’s Office didn’t answer, unless they didn’t think they had an answer. The government has a responsibility to respond to the courts and someone should give the public an answer as to what happened.

That they were released doesn’t prove that they were legitimate asylum seekers, but the Office of

the Attorney General is representing taxpayers.

“This has nothing to do with the Attorney General of a particular administration, it’s just a matter of justice for these people and justice for the Bahamian people. We pay these bills.”

The detainees, who left the detention centre shortly before 2pm on Wednesday, said they were shocked by the “brutal and hostile” treatment they received

and were traumatised by their experience in custody.

The refugees had reportedly fled sectarian conflict in Cameroon where they were targeted as members of a minority group.

Group members said they were interviewed by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and were in the process of having their political refugee status officially confirmed when they were detained.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 3

Abaco shanty town The Farm is target of huge multi-agency operation from page one Local reporters were not allowed in and officials required residents moving in and out of the area to produce identification and/ or proof of status along with a receipt of payment for documents.

When the issue of the removal of personal effects and generators was put to Immigration Director Clarence Russell, he said several government departments had carried out their lawful duties, but suggested the generator removal was not related to his department.

“The Department of Immigration is a constitutionally appointed group of individuals, hired with a particular lawful mandate,” he said. “The confiscation of generators does not fall under our purview of duties or responsibilities. A very unlikely story.

“However, a joint law enforcement, multi-agency operation was launched on the island of Abaco in the early hours of this morning where several government departments would have conducted their lawful duties.

“A number of suspected illegal migrants were in our custody for processing and where necessary further action,” Mr Russell said.

Several hours later, the Ministry of Public Works confirmed the multi-agency operation in a statement.

“The Ministry of Public Works co-ordinated a multiagency operation, with the assistance and advice of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF); the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF); Bahamas Customs Department; the Bahamas Department of Immigration; Bahamas Power and Light (BPL); and private sector partners in the unregulated community known as ‘The

ANOTHER truck leaving the shanty town loaded with items including generators and a refrigerator in this image from video.

Farm’ near to Treasure buildings. The signs warn Cay, Abaco,” the statement inhabitants of the legal read. prohibition of any new “The operation resulted construction, and of the in the arrest of illegal intention of the governimmigrants and other per- ment to demolish all of sons who are the illegally suspected of ‘The confiscation constructed being involved buildings. in various of generators does “The Royal criminal not fall under our Bahamas offences; the purview of duties Police Force seizure of susand Royal pected stolen or responsibilities. Bahamas goods; and A very unlikely Defence Force the discon- story.’ will maintain a nection of a presence in the large quantity Immigration area to enforce of illegally Director Clarence these notices operated genas officers of Russell erators and gas the Ministry of tanks.

Public Works “The illegally constructed carry out their legal manaccess roadways were date during the upcoming closed; and signs written in weeks.”

English and Creole were The magnitude and comerected. Signs were also plexity of the operation posted on illegally erected was something one Abaco

resident said she had never seen before, but insisted it was long overdue.

“They had the perimeter of The Farm blocked off and they were not allowing anyone in, not even the news reporters,” the resident said.

“If you’re coming out you have to show ID and work permit and they were also asking for the receipt where it was paid for.”

She continued: “It’s long overdue because even though officials were in there several weeks ago, the building has not stopped.

They keep building as if there is no respect. Up to last night truckloads of building supplies was still going there.

“They have pieces of property sectioned and cordoned off saying, ‘This is my piece of property and you cannot come in there.’

Bahamians can’t do that.

“This was a real concern for us down here because residents were concerned that they were getting too close to the airport strip and that would be a big problem and not only that they are on our water table because some of the cesspits that are being put in there you could see the water clear as day because that is the farmland.

“This is our country you come in now taking over our farmland? No, no.”

In early February, Works Minister Desmond Bannister along with other government officials toured some parts of The Farm shanty town. Noting the situation will not be an “overnight fix”, Mr Bannister pledged to Abaconians that the government will take the necessary action to deal with unregulated

Photo: Silbert Mills developments on the island.

Aerial surveillance, released by Abaconians earlier that month, showed new construction taking place, with buildings being built more strategically and sturdier than what was seen in the irregular communities pre-Hurricane Dorian.

Before Hurricane Dorian decimated them last year, shanty towns across Abaco had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

However, two weeks after the storm hit the island, the government issued an immediate ban on the construction of any new buildings in the four major shanty towns on Abaco.

Despite the government ban, unregulated homes continued to spring up on the island.

‘NO JUSTIFICATION FOR ILLEGAL INVASION OF HOMES’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HUMAN Rights Bahamas has condemned what it called an “illegal” and “regressive” invasion of homes at a shanty town in Abaco yesterday.

In a brief press statement, the local human rights group said there was no legal justification for “brute force” to enter people’s homes and remove personal items.

The organisation rebuked the government yesterday following a joint operation at The Farm shanty town near Treasure Cay, Abaco.

A multi-agency sting

resulted in the arrest of illegal immigrants and other persons who are suspected of being involved in various criminal offences; the seizure of suspected stolen goods; and the disconnection of a large quantity of illegally operated generators and gas tanks.

Eviction notices were also handed out to residents.

“Human Rights Bahamas utterly condemns the illegal, aggressive and regressive invasion of people’s homes in Abaco and the theft of their property at gunpoint,” HRB said in a brief statement.

“There is no legal justification for breaking and

entering into family homes and removing personal belongings. People who have struggled and suffered through Hurricane Dorian yesterday had their groceries, their personal items and appliances cruelly stolen from them by the government authorities.

“It is nowhere near enough for the Ministry of Works, which is not a law enforcement agency, to claim that the residents are guilty of this or that offence. Everyone in the Bahamas is innocent until proven guilty. Where is the court order that allowed this heinous action to take place? As far as we know, it does not exist.

“This was nothing but a display of brute force and intimidation, calculated to try and frighten and scare off the targeted victims.

The intended audience for this shameful spectacle is clearly a political one.

“The government has already tried to demolish these poor, suffering people’s homes several times. They have been met by a legal challenge in that regard, and so now they are pandering to the

shallowest, most crass and xenophobic elements of our society. The government should not think they will get away with this. It will end up being yet another acute embarrassment of the Bahamas both in the courts and on the international stage. In the end, justice will be done.”

A statement from the Ministry of Public Works said illegally constructed access roadways were closed; and signs written in

English and Creole were erected.

Signs were also posted on illegally erected buildings, the government’s statement said. The signs warn inhabitants of the legal prohibition of any new construction, and of the intention of the government to demolish all of the illegally constructed buildings.

The armed forces also will be on the ground to maintain a presence and enforce eviction notices.

PAGE 4, Friday, April 9, 2021

PLP reviews campaigning to cope with COVID rules

from page one

“Those types of gatherings should not be occurring and certainly individuals have a responsibility to protect themselves and others by not availing themselves of such events, be they political, be they a party, be they a gathering of family,” she added.

Yesterday, the PLP chairman issued a statement saying the party “takes note of the public comments” attributed to the Chief Medical Officer regarding “political gatherings in the current COVID environment and attendant health and safety regulations.”

“In light of these comments, the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party has ordered a review of all the campaign practices,” Mr Mitchell said. “In all campaign activities, the party seeks to adhere to all of the health and safety protocols already in place.

“Specifically, the leadership is directing all campaign teams to remind

all canvassers and pollsters of the protocols, to reinforce them by ensuring consistent compliance.

Principal among these health and safety practices are the wearing of a mask, proper and frequent hand sanitising and physical distancing.”

He added: “Further, canvassers are urged where possible to speak to electors or constituents on or from the outside of their homes.

The party is also reviewing outside political gatherings to ensure that the exuberance of the campaign does not violate these rules.

We have also caused for a manual to be printed which offers guidance to campaign teams as we reinforce these COVID-19 rules. Upon further review, we will amend as necessary.”

Meanwhile, the FNM’s chairman was asked if he was going to put out a statement on the political gatherings issue.

“The government has issued a statement on gatherings,” Mr Culmer told The Tribune. “No, I will not

be sending out any statement on local gatherings because I’m complying with the what the government is saying.

“The government gave parameters on gatherings,” he also said.

There has been major backlash over both political parties having large gatherings while there are still COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

After receiving 33,600 additional doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine last month, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis urged Bahamians to follow social distancing protocols, especially during the Easter holiday period.

When asked to respond to criticisms of the hypocrisy of his calls for small gatherings while large political gatherings are occurring, Dr Minnis said at the time: “You would’ve seen them still spacing out somewhat and each and every one, regardless of the political organisation, each and every one was wearing a mask.”

THE TRIBUNE

TOTAL CASES

TOTAL DEATHS

9,339 189 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES WEDNESDAY 43 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE 27 GRAND BAHAMA 12 ELEUTHERA 2 ABACO 1 BERRY ISLANDS 1

TOTAL TESTS

78,952

HOSPITALISED

31

CASES IN ICU

4

of known hazards, and to minimise the risk of infectious disease in our workplace. We strongly encourage all associates to receive this vaccination to minimise this risk.

In making this decision, the executive leadership team has reviewed recommendations from organisations such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the CDC’s

Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices and the Bahamian government.

“We look forward to having as many of you vaccinated as possible so that we can do our best to attempt to create a safe environment, as well as build confidence with our guests that we are one of the safest resort destinations in the industry. Our business level will certainly increase if we can advertise to our guests that our resort team are fully vaccinated. This would be our ultimate goal.

“An increase in business levels is beneficial for all employees of Baha Mar,” Mr Davis continued. “As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, we are increasing our investment to not only recognise your contributions, but also encourage you to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available. With this in mind, Baha Mar will pay all directors and below half a day’s base pay for all associates who present adequate confirmation of having received the

A Private Graveside Service for

VANDERLETA MILLER, 83 of Carmichael Road, West, will be held on Friday 9th April, 2021, at Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road. Officiating will be Pastor Basil Sturrup, assisted by Pastor Danhugh Gordon.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited to Forty (40) persons.

Vanderleta is predeceased by her Daughter: Remona.

Left to cherish her fond and loving memories are her Children: Ray, Paula, Anthony, Michael, Debbie and Laverne Miller; Daughters-In-law: Sandra and Petrona Miller; Grandchildren: Darren Darville, Daphne and Samuel Sylvestre, Ashley Miller Sonovia Lundy, Michella, Anya and Katrel Miller, Krystal and Devin Miller, Koolie and Delphene Johnson, Jade and Otis Bodie, Anthony, Santonia and Antonio Miller; Great-Grandchildren: Ethan and Evan Sylvestre, Aiden and Zuri Darville, Rinaya, Symphony, Arion and Kayvon Lundy, Kamari Paul, and Lisette; Sisters: Vernice Forbes and Leoma Burke; Brothers: Amos and Rodney Flowers; Nieces: Joey, Bonnie, Cleo, Deidre Pierre, Talva Shipp, Lana Russel, Cheryl Flowers, Janet Dorsette, Julie Sawyer Verna Fortune, Miley Roberts, Pinky Flowers, Brenhilda Lightbourne, Tanya Penn, Natalie Forbes, Aneka Edwards, Nasal Garland, Erica and Kimberly Smith, Beverly Morris, Elaine Forbes, Karen, Ettamae Johnson, Chiquita Thompson Una Delancy, Alelia Adderley, Karen Green, Katherina Flowers, Elizabeth Lynes; Nephews: Elnathan, Lester, Andy, Wayne, Jason and Devon Flowers, Renward Wells, Deon and Jermaine Morris, Mercedes Smith, Kiffer, Gunther, Joel, Marcus, Lavorn, Wilshire, Michael, Whitney and Elwood Flowers, Locksley, Benji, Lynden, Dennis Forbes, Kareem Hanna, Victor and Orlando Flowers, Tracy and Kenrick Flowers, Earl Miller, Rickey and Andy Miller, Chaz and Cameron Miller, Anwar Adderley; Brother-In-Law: Arlington Miller; Close Relatives and Friends: Dr. John Carter, Pastor Danhugh Gordon, Pastor Gervon Marsh, Pastor Basil Sturrup, Nathaniel Adams, Stephanie and Anne Wells, Vanria, Yvonne and Hymeon Flowers, Evelyn Darville, Newton Family, Mrs. Culmer and Family, Alfonzo Adderley, Bruce Delancy, Orlean Flowers, Rose Miller, Dorothy, Iva, Janette, Vernita McKenzie, The Good News SDA Church, Johnson Park SDA Church, The entire Carmichael Road Community, The Millers Height Community, The entire communities of Kemp’s Bay, and Driggs Hill, South Andros and others too numerous to mention.

May Her Soul Rest in Peace Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street, on Thursday April 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

8,814

43 NEW CASES CONFIRMED ON TUESDAY HEALTH officials confirmed 43 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Twenty-seven of those cases are in New Providence, 12 are in Grand Bahama, one is in Abaco, two are in Eleuthera and one is in the Berry Islands. Three of the Grand Bahama cases and the Berry

Islands case have travelled within the past 14 days of testing positive.

According to the latest information from the Ministry of Health, 31 people are in hospital. One hundred and eighty-nine people have died from the disease.

PAY INCENTIVE TO TAKE THE VACCINE from page one

RECOVERED

recommended two dose COVID-19 vaccine.”

Yesterday, an official at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island responded to Baha Mar’s vaccine incentive for its workers, with the former saying it does not have to force resort staff to “do the right thing.”

“At Atlantis, we are not compelled to pay our associates to do the right thing,” the Atlantis official said. “It is in our DNA, part of our core values and who we are as Atlantis team members.

It comes natural to us and is never forced or coerced.”

On Wednesday, the government’s National Vaccine Consultative Committee expanded the vaccine programme to include hospitality workers.

This means that hotel and resort employees, public transportation workers, staff at Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau Airport Development Company, Nassau Cruise Port, the Straw Market, port and beach vendors and tour operators can now make appointments to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot.

Teachers, students and athletes studying or competing abroad, coaches and other support along with homebound physically

disabled people are also eligible.

“The health and wellbeing of our associates, guests and the whole Bahamian community is Baha Mar’s utmost priority and at the core of every decision we make,” Baha Mar said in a separate statement to The Tribune yesterday.

“As a responsible employer, it is our duty to utilise all means available to us to offer protection to our associates. We are grateful to the government of the Bahamas for including the hospitality industry as a priority group to help move an integral part of the economy forward.

“Baha Mar’s executive leadership team has extensively reviewed recommendations from organisations such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, including the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices and the Bahamian government and strongly encourages all associates to receive this vaccination as another progressive step towards stopping the spread of COVID 19 in the workplace and our community.

“While we believe that the vaccine is an important tool on the road to recovery for the tourism industry

and the entire Bahamian economy, and we highly recommend for all of our associates to receive the vaccine, being vaccinated will not be a mandatory for Baha Mar employees.”

Local infectious disease expert Dr Nikkiah Forbes has said the benefits of taking the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine still far outweigh the risks associated with the jab.

Her comment during a Ministry of Health press conference on Wednesday came after the United Kingdom announced that it will offer AstraZeneca alternatives to adults under 30 after European regulators identified a possible link to rare blood clots.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr Pearl McMillan has said a small number of people — 69 — who have been vaccinated in the country have reported “non-serious and mild” side effects.

Beginning today, hospitality workers can get their shots at Baha Mar in Cable Beach or the Atlantis resort. The bridge toll will be waived for those receiving the vaccine at Atlantis, however proof of appointment will be required. To make an appointment for the vaccine, visit vax.gov.bs.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 5

Senate to debate home ownership resolution

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net WHEN the Senate next meets it will debate a resolution recently tabled in the House of Assembly which is designed to bring home ownership to young Bahamians.

The Senate met briefly yesterday and leader of government business, Attorney General Carl Bethel gave notice to Senate president,

Dr Mildred Hall-Watson that the debate will take place at its next sitting.

“I would like to renew all notices standing in the name of the government on the agenda,” he said.

“And, I give further notice that at the next sitting of the honourable Senate which will be next Thursday, a week from today, that the resolution will be debated.”

Senator Bethel read the resolution for the upscale community which will

grant certain exemptions to prospective homeowners.

The lots in western New Providence, valued at $150,000 each, will be available for purchase at a cost of $50,000 for multifamily lots, and $40,000 for single-family lots, Prime Minister Minister Dr Hubert Minnis previously announced.

The land for the development is located on the western side of Prospect Ridge road in the vicinity

of Baha Mar and consists of 83 acres. Homes built by those qualifying will have to be completed within two years of purchasing the properties.

This, the government says, will ensure the development is completed in a timely manner.

The community will include walking paths, two parks, a community centre, a swimming pool and will also be ecofriendly with minimal change to the existing

tomography of the land, the resolution says.

Those who are approved to build in the area will be granted certain exemptions to make the construction of the homes more affordable, such as the waiver of customs duties on all the building materials and appliances and stamp tax, and real property tax for a minimum of two-years post construction.

Pre-approved architectural designs can also be

purchased by landowners at a cost of $1,000.

Dr Minnis has said that young professionals have always been ignored or put on the sidelines in the discussion of making home ownership more affordable.

So, he said, these 150 lots will be available during the first development for them, 40 percent being multi-family lots and 60 percent for single families.

The Senate was adjourned until 10am on April 15.

FROM left, St Paul Methodist College alumna Valerie Smith; June Hutcheson, executive director of GBCH; Sarah Kirkby, public relations director for GBCH; alumna Catrice Robinson, and alumnus Rick Mucklow.

Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff

STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY TO RAISE $2,500

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE students and alumni of St Paul Methodist College donated $2,500 to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home yesterday.

Alumni Catrice Robinson, Rick Mucklow, and Valeria Smith made the presentation to Sarah Kirkby, public relations director at the GBCH, who was amazed by how the funds were initially raised.

During Lent, the seventh graders gave up lunch three days a week and raised $147. The story was posted on social media and the alumni saw it

and decided to match the funds.

Ms Robinson said: “We went quite overboard with it and we ended up raising over $2,500 within our WhatsApp chat group of students that went to the school from 1959 to 1980 who are all over the world in the UK, Canada, Italy, and China.

“We understand we are in difficult times right now but whatever anyone can donate, however small, I am sure the home would appreciate whatever donation you can make to assist the children at the home.”

Ms Robinson said it is great that the seven graders took money from their

lunch every week during Lent to donate.

“It shows us that if they can see the need, we should also see the need as well.”

Mrs Kirkby said home officials were very pleased when they learned what the seventh graders had done. “We were very overwhelmed when we went to the school; they gave up lunch three days a week and that was incredible.

And for them to do that and raise $147 was great,” she said.

She said after sharing the story on social media, they started getting calls that the alumni wanted to help.

“So for them to get it up to $2,500 is amazing and

NO FACE MASK? THAT’S $250

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $250 yesterday after police found him at a local establishment without a face mask.

Ashford Bain, 30, pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans after officers saw him at a business called “Wet Money” on Rosedale Street without a face mask on January 25.

The court was told that at 8.52pm that day, officers went to inspect the establishment when they saw the accused at the entrance gate with a drink his

hand, but not wearing a face mask.

Police asked the accused for his mask and then informed him about being in violation of the COVID19 emergency orders.

As a result, Magistrate Vogt-Evans fined him $250 or one week at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

N’kem Taylor, 43, also appeared before Magistrate Vogt-Evans after police found him without a face mask at the same establishment on the same night.

During the hearing, Taylor explained that he was outside his car eating when the police came and questioned

him about his reasons for not wearing a mask.

However, the accused said he told police that his mask was in his car door because he was getting ready to leave.

Taylor said the officer then told him that it was “not his problem” and he would be cited for the offence.

“My car was on. I was getting ready to leave, but I was only eating some food before I jumped in my car,” he told the court.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate Vogt-Evans gave Taylor a warning and discharged him.

it’s all because the seventh graders thought about someone else besides themselves, and I am thankful to the wonderful alumni all over the world who contributed,” Mrs Kirkby said.

She said the money will go a long way at the children’s home, where they have to feed and care for 30 children. “We have a

beautiful new home, but still we have to pay bills like everyone else, such as power, food, water, etc, and it makes a huge difference,” she said.

Mrs Kirkby said people wishing to match the donation are welcomed and can contact them.

“There are people who help us all the time who

don’t get credit for it, and it takes a village to make this home happen. So, every penny counts; we don’t want you to think just because you are not giving $10,000 we are not happy.

With every little amount of money together we are raising these kids in our community and we need everyone to be a part of it.”

PAGE 6, Friday, April 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Nothing adds up in Abaco shanty raid THE raid on The Farm shanty town in Abaco yesterday was a big operation.

Officers showed up with flatbed trucks, forklifts and a 40ft container.

This wasn’t some small venture, this will have come from the top.

So it makes it all the more concerning that there are so many things to criticise about it.

Let’s start with the operation itself.

Local reporters were not allowed in while the raid was under way. Why not?

If the operation is being handled in a legal manner, why would independent observers not be allowed to monitor the activity?

As the operation unfolded, no official – not police, not an administrator – would give details publicly as to what was going on. Again, why not? What reason for secrecy is there for an operation that can be seen to be taking place?

As officers departed, those trucks were seen departing loaded with items – generators, gas tanks, even a refrigerator.

Immigration Director Clarence Russell dismissed the idea that such clearly visible items were being taken away, saying: “The confiscation of generators does not fall under our purview of duties or responsibilities. A very unlikely story.”

Hours later, a Ministry of Public Works press release said the operation resulted in arrests and “the seizure of suspected stolen goods; and the disconnection of a large quantity of illegally operated generators and gas tanks”.

Not such a very unlikely story after all, Mr Russell. And we’d be intrigued to know why a refrigerator was taken away – was it being illegally operated too? How does one even illegally operate a generator? Where will these items that were seized end up, and how can those who had them taken away challenge such a decision? How would you feel if officers came into your home and took your belongings?

That’s the event itself – but let’s look at the bigger picture. Why are suspected illegal migrants in Abaco?

It’s no mystery – Abaco desperately needs workers to rebuild after the damage from Hurricane Dorian. Where will those workers stay as they come to help to reconstruct people’s homes and businesses? Well, that’s the missing link, isn’t it?

There has been no concerted effort by government to create temporary accommodations for those being hired for reconstruction. There’s no tent city that’s been erected, no empty hotel cleaned out for workers to stay in. Flying in and

out every day would be unlikely even without COVID restrictions. So where are they going to stay? Surprise, surprise, shanty towns spring up.

Here’s another thing, though. The bus swoops in and gathers up people detained by immigration, but whose land are these buildings on, and are they making money out of the residents?

So what we saw yesterday is a big operation that doesn’t solve any of the conditions that led to these buildings springing up in the first place.

Until all the dots are joined up and all aspects of the problem are being tackled, all we’re going to see is another shanty town spring up, and another, and another.

And that, Director Russell, is a very likely story indeed.

Answers needed

Well done, Brent Symonette.

The FNM MP is also a former Immigration Minister, so he knows what he’s talking about when he addressed the case of the seven asylum seekers who were released from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre on Wednesday.

The refugees had been locked up for nearly two years before a court challenge forced the government to bring proof by April 7 that it had detained them legally. Instead, the government released them without an explanation.

Mr Symonette says that’s not good enough. And he’s right.

He said: “The government has a responsibility to respond to the courts and someone should give the public an answer as to what happened. That they were released doesn’t prove that they were legitimate asylum seekers, but the Office of the Attorney General is representing taxpayers. This has nothing to do with the Attorney General of a particular administration, it’s just a matter of justice for these people and justice for the Bahamian people. We pay these bills.”

We couldn’t agree more. There should be a full explanation of why these people were deprived of their liberty for so long, and why they were released without a reason or an apology being given.

It is not often that a senior politician will speak up in this fashion against a government run by his own party, and we applaud Mr Symonette for doing so.

Now it’s time for the Attorney General’s office to find a voice – and give that explanation that the Bahamian people deserves.

Your say on latest stories READERS have been responding to the stories making the news on tribune242.com.

After Director of Labour John Pinder estimated that the unemployment rate is now around 20 to 23 percent, Enough said: “Same article, on this very same day, on this very same news site says 75 percent of hotel workers still off. We know they are not receiving full salary and if the government was not protecting the hotels would have gotten a severance package by now.

This alone proves Mr Rolle’s calculations are

way off.”

The Centres for Disease Control in the US has issued new technical guidance for cruise lines looking to resume sailing in 2021.

That prompted this reply from Bobsyeruncle: “I wonder how the cruise ships are going to deal with

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

those ‘all you can eat & any time you want’ buffets, they have on cruise ships.

All those passengers touching finger foods, picking up the same serving utensils, touching plates and breathing over food is asking for trouble. I don’t see a cruise happening anytime soon in my near future.”

And with national examinations scheduled to begin next week, head of the Bahamas Union of Teachers Belinda Wilson says some students are currently “inadequately prepared” to sit the tests.

Moncurcool had this to say: “I would like to see once that the union comes in the paper and talks about something positive. Always complaining.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

The church, the apostle & the prison EDITOR, The Tribune.

MANY of us have been following the letters to the editor and now the March 29th article in the Insight section of your paper in which a former inmate shared his first hand experience at the Bahamas Department of Corrections.

As a God-fearing nation founded on Christian principles, many of us are indeed saddened and ashamed at the way that some of our people are being treated by those who are charged to help them.

Matthew 25:40 tells us that the true test of our character as a people is not in how we treat the well appearing tourist or the wealthy investor.

Our true test is in how we treat those who are most in need; the prisoner, the outcast.

I and many others are deeply disturbed to read and have personal confirmation from officers and civilian staff working at the prison, the level of opposition and disrespect which Chaplin Apostle Leon

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Wallace has received from prison leadership.

This man has spent his entire life doing nothing but good in this country and around the world.

Why are his efforts to help inmates now be the target of unfair and unmoving opposition?

It should be said that God’s Word is clear; touch not God’s anointed.

Apostle Wallace please know that your work at the prison is appreciated by the public and that you have the full support of your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.

In closing I must ask all those who are a part of the Church to not sit on the sidelines this coming election season.

And even worse, do not allow yourselves to be caught up in the emotions and excitement of party politics.

Instead, please take out your mental notes and

judge these candidates accordingly.

Let us look at their record and actions, not their words and promise now that it is election time.

If their record is one of corruption or broken promises; or ignoring the needs of those in need; or absenteeism and failing to lead, judge accordingly at the polls. Let your voices be heard at the polls.

Thousands of Bahamians have passed through our prison system and these people deserve the guidance and decent treatment that can go a long way in helping them to be better citizens.

We must not go into 2022 and beyond giving them the worst and expecting the best. I urge Believers to stand in support of those who are in need and stand in support of those who are doing their best to help those who deserve a second chance.

MICHELLE Nassau, March 31, 2021.

End corruption in Zimbabwe EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT IS tearful that the police, local councils, the vehicle inspection department that issues driving licenses and the education department were among the most corrupt institutions.

The resulting institutionalisation and systematisation of corruption in Zimbabwean political and economic spheres has been extensive. Critics and the opposition accuse Mnangagwa of failing to tackle high-level graft and say endemic corruption is one reason foreign companies are hesitant to invest in the country. President

Emerson Mnangagwa has at times admitted to corruption among his cabinet ministers but lack of the evidence to prosecute.

It is true that corruption is overwhelming in Zimbabwe but we don’t have people who are prepared to give evidence, those causing corruption are those who are supposed to end the corruption in Zimbabwe. Corruption in Zimbabwe mainly consists of public officials demanding bribes for basic services like installing an electricity meter, approving a house plan to facilitating investment.

The heartless, clueless,

careless and corrupt president Emerson Mnangagwa and his ZANU-PF government failed to end up the major causes of corruption such as greed of money, desires, higher levels of market and political monopolisation, low levels of democracy, weak civil participation and low political transparency, higher levels of bureaucracy and inefficient administrative structures, low press freedom and low economic freedom.

KUDZAI CHIKOWORE London, England April 8, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

‘PAY $1,500 FINE OVER DRUGS OR GO TO JAIL’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A 57-year-old man who was found with over four ounces of marijuana last week was yesterday ordered to pay $1,500 or spend eight months in prison.

Dwight Strachan was arrested after officers discovered $420 worth of Indian hemp in his home on April 3.

He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.

The court was told that sometime around 8:55 pm a team of officers, armed with a search warrant, went to a home in the Black Village area.

Upon arrival, officers informed the defendant of their search and began their investigation with the assistance of a police dog.

The prosecution said officers, while carrying out their duties, found a clear plastic bag containing a quantity of suspected marijuana.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station where he admitted the offence and claimed he had bought the drugs at Kemp Road for $200 for personal use.

During yesterday’s hearing, Strachan told the magistrate that he smokes marijuana occasionally for medicinal purposes, saying he uses it to help lower his blood pressure.

When asked by magistrate which doctor prescribed him the drug, the defendant claimed that a physician at Fleming Street told him he could boil marijuana to treat his blood pressure.

“I went to Fleming

Street because I does have lil’ nausea and headaches and…he asks me if I does smoke and I told him ‘yeah’ and he say ‘boil some marijuana,’” he told the court.

In response, Magistrate Vogt-Evans asked him the doctor’s name. To which, he replied: “Dr Rolle.”

Magistrate Vogt-Evans said she found it unlikely that a registered physician would make such a recommendation to a patient at a government clinic.

She also told the court while she has heard marijuana has several medical benefits, it’s important for Bahamians to understand that use of the drug is still illegal in The Bahamas.

She also reminded him that legislation on marijuana reform has not yet been finalised despite discussions on the issue and advised him to follow the law until such changes are made.

Strachan was fined $1,500 or eight months behind bars.

Rudolph Russell, 19, also appeared in court on drug charges yesterday.

Russell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs after he was found with three grams of marijuana in the area of Yamacraw Road on April 2.

When given the chance to speak, Russell admitted to smoking the drug for personal use and told the court he has been smoking marijuana for two years.

After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate VogtEvans granted Russell a conditional discharge on the agreement that he would attend drug counselling.

She warned him that if he failed to comply with the conditions, he would be fined $500 or risk spending three months in jail.

‘HIGH’ SCHOOL STUDENTS ON MARIJUANA COOKIES from page one she noted in a statement yesterday.

Mrs Wilson referenced a marijuana incident which took place at SC McPherson Junior High School in March and claimed a similar incident recently occurred at a Long Island school.

“You would be aware that recently a 14-year-old boy was charged before the court for edible drugs at SC McPherson Junior High School. There was also a similar incident at North Long Island High school recently,” she said.

She complained that the Ministry of Education is “not forthcoming” on these “very serious” and “troubling matters” in her view.

Regarding the Long Island incident, The Tribune contacted district education officer Malinda Pratt to confirm but she said she could not speak on the matter and advised this newspaper speak to the principal, who was out sick.

Meanwhile, Mrs Wilson said there seemed to be “a trend” starting and urged the ministry in these “early stages” to address this matter forthwith. She also urged parents to get more involved in the day

to day activities of their children.

“Talk to your children about drugs and alcohol and its possible negative impact. I am supporting the police in their endeavours to investigate these matters fully and bring the culprits to account so that they can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We must protect our children at all cost,” said Mrs Wilson.

“I remind our teachers to continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour. The Bahamas Union of Teachers is prepared to work with the Ministry of Education, the police and school security and other stakeholders to devise plans on how to combat this serious issue.

This must be addressed now.”

The 14-year-old charged in relation to SC McPherson allegedly sold marijuana infused Rice Krispie treats to the students, four of whom fell ill at school and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance for medical attention. Later in the day, three more students complained to their parents about not feeling well.

Police said they also admitted to eating the marijuana infused cereal and were taken to hospital for treatment.

MAN ACCUSED OF YEARS OF INDECENT ASSAULTS DENIED BAIL

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 43-YEAR-OLD man accused of indecently assaulting a 21-year-old female over a period of several years was remanded to prison yesterday.

Earnest Edgecombe appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with six counts of indecent assault.

Officers allege that he committed the offences against the complainant sometime between January and December in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

He was not required to enter a plea to the charges

and the case was adjourned to May 28 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Jason Saunders, 43, also appeared before Magistrate Forbes yesterday.

It is alleged that Saunders, while being concerned with others, caused grievous harm to Kadeem Saunders on February 7.

During yesterday’s hearing, Saunders pleaded not guilty to the charge and his case was adjourned until July 27 for trial.

Bail was granted at $2,000 with one or two sureties.

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 7

Nygard denied bail in extradition fight

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PETER Nygard will remain in jail while fighting extradition to the United States.

Nygard was charged in the Southern District of New York in December on various racketeering and sexual assault offences.

In Canada, Manitoba Court of Appeal Justice Jennifer Pfuetzner recently dismissed Nygard’s appeal of a lower court’s bail decision.

CBC Canada reported that Nygard had argued that the first judge, Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg, made several errors in principle in her decision and that changes in bail plans since then made his detention unnecessary.

The addition to Nygard’s bail plan involved constant monitoring of his computer and cellphone.

Nygard’s defence had submitted that the court order more conditions, like restricting his visitors to only medical and professional advisers, who would be monitored by a guard.

However, the appellate judge found that would bar Nygard’s sureties

CANADIAN fashion mogul Peter Nygard at an earlier hearing. from supervising him, making the plan as a whole “impracticable”.

“She said she wasn’t convinced the new plan addressed the flaws Greenberg noted in the original,” CBC Canada reported.

“But Pfuetzner said even if she’s wrong on that point, Nygard’s detention is still necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.

“I say this having regard not only to the revised bail plan, but to all of the factors considered by the application judge, including the

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff ‘extreme’ nature and scope and tamper with potenof the allegations which tial witnesses against him.’ paint a picture of criminal The letters claimed that conduct that was planned, included paying witnesses financed and executed on a to provide information staggering scale.

Nygard knew was false, “Nygard’s appeal also monitoring contact between argued Greenberg improp- victims and US law enforceerly relied on bail letters ment and providing false from the United States information to witnesses.

Attorney for the South“The appeal claimed ern District of New York those letters were an — an assertion Pfuetzner attempt by the United dismissed.

States to exaggerate the “Those letters alleged strength of its case for that over the past sev- extradition and provide eral decades, Nygard ‘has a false impression that repeatedly engaged in Nygard is unwilling to efforts to obstruct justice follow court orders.”

PAGE 8, Friday, April 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Big Apple gives marijuana green light

A Private Graveside Service for

LAWRENCE CHRISTOPHER ADDERLEY, 76 of San Souci, will be held on Thursday 15th April 2021, at St. Agnes Cemetery, Nassau Street. Officiating will be Archdeacon Keith Cartwright.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited to Forty (40) persons.

Lawrence is predeceased by his Parents: Charles and Louise Adderley and his Brothers: Louis and Cedric Adderley.

Left to cherish his memories are his Wife: Deborah Ann Adderley; Sons: Galvin, Dwayne, Gerren, LaVaughn and Jaquay Adderley; Daughters: Sharmaine Adderley-Lightbourne and Lyndsay-Dawn Adderley; Daughters-In-Law: Pamela, Cassandra, Rebekah and Kina Adderley; Son-In-Law: Leslie Lightbourne; Grandchildren: Bria, Tiahara and Gyles Adderley, Alana Adderley, Alexis Lightbourne, Nicholas, Savanna and Kennedy Adderley, Blake and Cameron Adderley; Sisters: Rosie Adderley, Queen Ve-elcer and Sherlyn Miller; Aunts: Vernell Adderley and Beatrice Wilson; Uncles: Williard Gibson and Steve Wilson; Sisters-InLaw: Rosemary Adderley, Velma Edwards, Jacqueline and Andrea Jenoure, Claudine Butler, Chantell Wildgoose, Gloria Whyms, Prisca Gibbs, Willimae Evans, Marilyn Johnson, Denise Sands, Linda Duncombe; Brothers-InLaw: Paul King, Derek Whyms, Adrian Whyms, Lothario, Maxwell, Rupert and Antonio Jenoure, Bryan Butler and Xavier Wildgoose, Sr.; Nieces and Nephews: Oryntia and Elward Collie, Michelle and Phillip Sears, Lorna and Derek Hall, Kendrick and Urshula Capron, Christopher and Shenique Rahming, Valencia Dean-Brown, Antilla, Heston and Broshemer Dean, Leonardo Adderley, Lertarrio and Nathalia Miller, Leonisa Edwards, Nickara Pratt, Shanee Sampson, Shonalee Johnson, Chanaki Nottage, ElShonique Jenoure, Lotario Jenoure Jr., Eulisa Mackey, Eugina Wilson, Chante Wildgoose, Taneya Shavers, Jael Edgecombe, Lavance Adderley, Yves Edwards, Akeem and D’Lavante Gibson, Lothario Jenoure Jr. and Xavier Wildgoose Jr.; Cousins: Bernard “Strings” Wilson, Felix Adderley, Ezekial Adderley, Doyle Adderley, David & Alphonso Adderley, Fr. Patrick Adderley, Lulamae Smith, Foxie & Agnes Glinton; Other Relatives and Friends: Nurse Natalie & Edgar Bonimy, Dr. Ingrid Bonimy, Hannah and Robert Dames, Shirley and Simeon Ambrose, Talmage Pinder and Family, Hilma Martin and family, Princess Margaret King, Sophia Cooper, Latavia Adderley, Durran Adderley, Lynn Austin, Carolyn Patton, Haily Flowers, Carolyn & Harris Gibson and family, Rhoda “Elaine” Munnings and family, Wendy Russell, Sherry Sweeting-Jeffries and Jay Jeffries, Anna and Daniel Forbes, Andy & Louise Gomez, Dorothea, Gaynor & Anita Gomez, Christine Russell, Joyce Anne Mackey, Marjorie Gibson-Culmer, Carmel Dean, Annette Seymour, Elizabeth & Stanley Brown, Sandra Russell, Bryant, Brittany and Bruce “BJ” Russell, Rudolph “Rudy” Wildgoose, Rufus Johnson, Julian Sawyer, Bernard Davis, Clemetta Miller, Reginald and Gaylene Pinder, Carolyn Kinglocke, Omese Lightbourne, Michelle Reckley, James Pinder, Sylvester “Chico” Wesley, James “Kid Freeport” Tynes, Wilson Roberts, Evelyn “Evie” McKenzie, Vivian “Vivie” Solomon, Rt Hon. Perry Christie & Bernadette Christie, Philip Brave Davis, Obie Wilchcombe, Pleasant Bridgewater, V. Alfred Sears, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt. Fran & Chosen Levarity and family; Family friend and caregiver Mary Rahming, Mervin & Elaine Pinder, Father Joseph and Mary Mycklewhyte, Maurice Moore and family, neighbours, family and friends of Burnt Ground, Long Island, neighbours, family and friends of Pinder’s Point, neighbours, family and friends of Coral Reef Subdivision especially Patrick and Mercynth Ferguson, Madge & Edroy Morrison, Donna Singh, Tina & Simeon Anderson, Winn Dixie friends and colleagues, Elite Construction family, Sean Smith, Lynden Lundy, Simeon “Willy” Dawkins, Anthony Smith, Brad Scott & Family, Roslyn Russell-Ingraham, Yvette Robinson, Desmond Greenslade, Christ The King Family, Fr. Norman Lightbourne, Archdeacon Harry Bain, St. Agnes Family, Archdeacon Keith Cartwright; Princess Margaret Hospital staff and administrators; Special thanks to Denise Brown, the doctors and nurses of Male Surgical I, especially Dr. Judith Hall.

May His Soul Rest in Peace Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street, on Wednesday April 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

IT HAS long been said about New York, that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

Well it’s time to officially add marijuana to the list, because it is now legal recreationally in the great state of New York.

Gov Andrew M Cuomo signed the cannabis legislation on this past Wednesday, a day after the State Legislature passed the bill following hours of debate among lawmakers in Albany.

New York became the 15th state to legalise the recreational use of cannabis, positioning itself to quickly become one of the largest legal cannabis markets in the nation and one of the few states where legalisation is directly tied to economic and racial equity.

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

DECRIMINALISED The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) provides for automatic expungement or re-sentencing for anyone with a previous marijuana conviction that would now be legal under the law.

No courts, no judges, no lawyers, etc.

Automatic expungement.

Period.

Also New York’s legalisation law stipulates that 40 percent of cannabis tax revenue will be reinvested in communities that have LEGALISED been unfairly targeted by New York’s cannabis cannabis enforcement laws advocates billed the legal in the war on drugs, a war marijuana programme in that has long been considNYC the best in ered racist. the nation.

Previous ‘Hint, hint, One even attempts to legalMr Prime calling it genise marijuana erational and the Minister and were stymied dawning of a new the Marijuana over disagreeera for marijuana ments on how justice, after hard Commission, the tax revenue work and long it’s almost from legal mariodds. juana sales would the perfect Decades of be distributed. legal joust- blueprint for Melissa ing and tense us to follow.’

Moore, New manoeuvering York State finally culminated with the Director of the Drug legalisation of adult use of Policy Alliance, called New marijuana on March 31, York’s MRTA a “new gold 2021. standard”.

Effective immediately “This law comprehenin New York possession by sively addresses the harms adults of up to three ounces of overcriminalisation of cannabis and 24 grams of and establishes one of the concentrate is now legal. most ambitious marijuana The NYPD which seems legalisation programmes in to enjoy stopping people the nation,” Moore stated and cars that allegedly passionately in a recent smell of cannabis, can no interview. longer use ‘the aroma’ as a While tax revenue is not reason for probable cause. expected to exceed $350m What is really sobering is until after the first year, New that 94 percent of all mari- York could actually save juana arrests in New York more than $350m a year from affected African American, the police budget, simply by Hispanic or other people of not arresting people for poscolour in 2020. session of minor amounts of This extremely troubling marijuana. statistic may finally experience a long needed decline GREEN SPACES moving forward.

New York will

reportedly create public consumption spaces and pop up shops, and eventually catering licences will be available.

MEDS The MRTA includes provisions to expand the state’s medicinal marijuana programme (MMJ) however for now, current regulations and programme operations will remain the same.

LICENCING Similar to here at home in the Bahamas, the question of licence distribution has not been decided yet. New York’s new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) which is up and running, and is the body to keep an eye on in this regard.

In addition to information on which towns will be choosing to opt out of the programme, the Office of Cannabis will also eventually include a statewide dispensary locator.

The Cannabis Control Board will conduct a review two years after the first retail sale of cannabis to study the market share in the industry and make licensing adjustments to ensure equity. All while medical cannabis firms would be limited to only eight dispensaries each.

The bill passed the State Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 40 to 23 and the Assembly by a vote of 94 to 56.

Again further proof if it can make it there (New York) it can make it anywhere.

Hint, hint, Mr Prime Minister and the Marijuana Commission, it’s almost the perfect blueprint for us to follow.

Stop politicking and pass it, (the bill) before we miss out on a golden opportunity to flourish on multiple levels as a nation.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 9

Man’s best friend - then it’s time we started treating them properly

ANIMALS being taken care of at Bahamas Humane Society ahead of a storm in 2017. The centre presently has more than 300 homeless dogs and cats.

WHEN it comes to pets, humans can be a downright mess. Even those of us who love our Bellas, Fluffys and Fidos and smugly think we are spoiling them, are doing them wrong.

We say pets are family, yet we call ourselves “pet owners”. We own a refrigerator, but we don’t own family, otherwise we would refer to ourselves as “children owners”.

So why do we refer to ourselves as owners of living, breathing animals that love us unconditionally, that patiently wait for us by the front door, living for the moment when we walk through at the end of a long day and give them a quick pat or, if they are lucky, take them out for a walk?

Fortunately, they have no idea we consider ourselves their “owner” lumping that adorable scruffy-haired,

By Diane Phillips

long-eared, wide-eyed fourlegged pal of ours in with a fridge as things we own.

What difference does it make if we think of ourselves as “pet owners” rather than pet parents?

Why make such a fuss about a word so long as we feed and care for those living, breathing parts of our family? Here’s why. The pandemic is not just affecting us pet “owners”. it’s impacting our pets.

So long as we think of ourselves as pet owners instead of pet parents, we will feel no shame in dropping off a litter we no

longer want to own or feed at the Bahamas Humane Society where there are now more than 300 homeless dogs and cats. So long as we think of ourselves as owners instead of parents, we can slough off the responsibility that goes along with parenting when times are tough. So long as we think of ourselves as owners instead of parents, we don’t have to take charge of spaying and neutering and making sure the pet population does not get out of control as it is today in New Providence. So long as we think of ourselves

The debate goes on JULY will make three years since I wrote the first column about officially naming sailing the national sport so no one is more surprised than me that I am still receiving calls, notes and the occasional comment about the subject which has been touched on a few times since.

Not everyone agrees, including Mike Sands, whose opinion anyone in the sports world would be foolish to ignore. Former 400 metre national record holder and BAAA PR officer among other titles, Sands picked up the phone and called personally to share his disagreement.

Even when Mike Sands disagrees with you on something, it’s good to hear from him.

Why, why would you not want sailing, I asked.

Because, he said, the national sport should be something that everyone can play or participate in.

Sands, who is the recentlyelected first Bahamian to head the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Athletic Federation (IAAF) area representative, has a point, but here’s the counterpoint.

There’s a lot more water than there is land in these Bahamas and it would take little to make sailing part of every school curriculum at some point.

Sailing is part of Bahamian heritage, it’s how folks discovered and later settled the islands, how Bahamians of old transported goods and people, and native sloop sailing is something unique to The Bahamas.

There have been a few, including Dallas Knowles

from Exuma, a sailor himself, who have argued that competitive sloop racing is disorganized, that races start late (absolutely true), that boats say they are going to participate, then don’t show up at all.

Yes, Dallas, you are right about that but sailing is far more comprehensive than racing and once something becomes a national sport the attention it gets raises it to new levels. But no one will argue with the faults you point out.

One of the most interesting letters supporting sailing as the national sport came from a junior sailing programme in Abaco. It’s a copy of a letter they wrote and presented to then Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Danny Johnson.

Dear Sir: This message is addressed to you, with the hope that you will agree that the Sport of Sailing should be the National Sport of The Bahamas.

A National Sport should be part of the intrinsic history of a nation, as well as a current sport enjoyed by all. Sailing holds a unique spot in the country’s history, since as an Island Nation, it was a skill required for daily life. Not only did everyone originally arrive by sailboat, but sailing was the way people traveled, communicated, and sustained themselves.

As always happens, sailing also became competitive. The most important “race” originally was getting fish and other cargo to market faster than the other boat. The sloop racing was an outcome of that competition.

Sloop racing has become a tradition which is being handed down to youngsters. In Hope Town, for instance, the Abaco Rage Syndicate regularly hosts the Junior Sailors who want to learn about sloop racing.

The Hope Town Junior Sailing Programme is one of many youth programmes across The Bahamas with the goal of giving every child an opportunity to learn to sail, affording a whole generation the chance to take part in the historical tradition. I am glad to volunteer with this programme, and there are many other volunteers who are passionate about sailing.

One of the best things about sailing as a sport is that it can be competitive, or it can be recreational.

This makes the sport appropriate for both mediocre sailors and skilled racers.

It is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and all skills. One can sail solo, or with a group. It promotes love of the environment, cooperation, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

The Bahamas Sloop Sailing Federation will be a great step towards continuing the tradition of sailing into the future. The many youth sailing programmes around The Bahamas will ensure that the skill is passed on to the next generation. It seems that the Sport of Sailing would be a natural and unique National Sport, for a country that was built on sailing.

I very much hope that it can become a reality.

Sue Holloway, Hope Town Junior Sailing Secretary-Treasurer

as owners instead of parents, we may not heed the words of experts or the Washington, DC-based Pet Food Institute that spends tens of thousands of dollars every year educating people about the importance of proper feeding and avoidance of potential dangers like cooked bones that splinter in an animal’s insides or foods like chocolate, onions, garlic and grapes that can even kill.

So long as we think

of ourselves as owners instead of parents, some of us would let male dogs abuse a poor female in heat whereas we would never allow our sons to gang rape a neighbourhood female.

And even if we don’t change to pet parenting instead of pet ownership, there are thousands of hungry pets, each of whom is a reason to get onboard with a responsible parenting spay and neuter regimen. We understand

Photo: Donavan McIntosh that BAARK is enlisting the support of local vets in such an exercise that will take place at the Bahamas Humane Society across several Sundays, It’s a great move and deserves cash and volunteer support.

Across the world, there are some 470 million dogs, 370 million cats and countless birds and fish and other domesticated animals and species. You can own yours if you want. I am going to parent mine.

AND AN ANONYMOUS ANGEL STEPS FORWARD IN ANOTHER continuing story, the lady who was about to give birth and sleep on the floor with her newborn is sending prayers and thanks to all who came forward to help.

Mama and baby are doing fine and thanks to a man who fixed her car, she has transportation, and another who repaired her stove, she has a way to cook

and Social Services got her a new stove after all.

Other donations large and small came in, food and diapers from her Fox Hill constituency office and friends she did not know she had. Her Baha Mar family found out about the situation and lent a hand. She is excited about returning to the resort where she worked

for seven years before the pandemic shut it down and nearly took away everything she had worked hard to preserve.

She sends a very special thank you to the anonymous angel who paid her rent for March and April, hoping that the call back to work will come in May. Life is good, says the new mama, so good.

Public Viewing for

SYBIL NAOMI PRATT, 95 of Churchill Avenue, Boyd Subdivison, who died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021, will be held on Saturday 10th April at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cremation will follow.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, social distancing will be strictly enforced.

Sybil is predeceased by her Son: Mr. Calvin Miller; Sister: Mrs. Atlanta Saunders; Brother: Mr. Caleb Hepburn (Katie); Niece: Mrs. Eloise Stubbs (Norris); Nephews: Mr. Hartley & Mr. Philip Saunders; Brothers-in-Law: Mr. Claudius La-Fleur & Mr. Howard Kemp.

She is survived by her Daughter: Mrs. Suzanne Hepburn (Eric); Daughterin-law: Mrs. Jane Turnquest-Miller; Granddaughters: Ms. Kimberley Miller, Dr. Erecia Hepburn, Mrs. Vanessa Hall (Anthony); Sisters: Mrs. Sylvia Kemp, Mrs. Eulie La-Fleur, Mrs. Iris Thompson; Nieces: Mrs. Yvonne Patton (Zack), Constance, Debra & Portia Saunders, Mrs. Lisa Major, Ms. Laverne La-Fleur, Ms. Kaye Hepburn, Mrs. Patricia Pratt-Cook, Ms. Denise Hepburn, Mrs. G. D. Renee Davies & Mrs. Renee Mayers; Nephews: Mr. Theron (Marie) Hepburn, Mr. Dwayne (Crystal) Hepburn, Mr. Caleb Hepburn II and Mr. Claude La-fleur III; Grand Nieces: Mrs. Lee-Ann Dillet (Miguel), Kristena, Kristin, Janelle, Natalie, Christian, Thaer Hepburn; Grand Nephews: Mr. Kyle, Owen, Cameron & Tristin Hepburn, Mr. Trent Davies, Mr. Ricardo Major, Mr. Dominic Clarke; Numerous Familes and Friends: Moncurs, Hepburns, La-Fluers, Blydens and Thompson Families.

Dr. Levar Chrispin Gomez, Nurse Sandra Johnson, Dr. Kayleshia Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Bretta Cartwright. Dr. Cargill and the staff at A & E at PMH and a host of other friends too numerous to mention.

May Her Soul Rest in Peace!

PAGE 10, Friday, April 9, 2021

ST VINCENT WARNS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION

AUTHORITIES on St Vincent said yesterday they believe an active volcano is in danger of erupting and have ordered mandatory evacuations.

The island’s emergency management office switched the alert level to red as officials began to evacuate people who live near La Soufriere volcano to soon place them aboard cruise ships, send them to nearby islands or take them to shelters elsewhere in St Vincent outside the danger zone.

Roughly 16,000 people live in the red zone and will need to be evacuated, Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Centre, said.

The pandemic could hamper evacuation efforts.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in a press conference that people have to be vaccinated if they go aboard a cruise ship or are granted temporary refuge in another island. He said two Royal Caribbean cruise ships are expected to arrive

by Friday and a third in the coming days, as well as two Carnival cruise ships by Friday. Islands that have said they would accept evacuees include St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua.

“Not everything is going to go perfect, but if we all cooperate... we will come through this stronger than ever,” Gonsalves said.

He noted he was talking to Caribbean governments to accept people’s ID cards if they don’t have a passport.

“This is an emergency situation, and everybody understands that,” he said.

Gonsalves added he highly recommends those who opt to go to a shelter in St Vincent be vaccinated.

He urged people to remain calm and orderly.

THE TRIBUNE

‘Lack of oxygen killed Floyd’ MINNEAPOLIS Associated Press GEORGE Floyd died of a lack of oxygen from being pinned to the pavement with a knee on his neck, a medical expert testified at former Officer Derek Chauvin’s murder trial yesterday, emphatically rejecting the defense theory that Floyd’s drug use and underlying health problems were what killed him.

“A healthy person subjected to what Mr Floyd was subjected to would have died,” said prosecution witness Dr Martin Tobin, a lung and critical care specialist at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital and Loyola University’s medical school in Illinois.

Using easy-to-understand language to explain medical concepts and even loosening his necktie to illustrate a point, Tobin told the jury that Floyd’s breathing was severely constricted while Chauvin and two other Minneapolis officers held the 46-yearold Black man down on his stomach last May with his hands cuffed behind him and his face jammed against the ground.

The lack of oxygen resulted in brain damage and caused his heart to stop, the witness said.

Tobin, analysing images of the three officers restraining Floyd for what prosecutors say was almost 9 1/2 minutes, testified that Chauvin’s knee was

“virtually on the neck” for more than 90 percent of the time.

He cited several other factors that he said also made it difficult for Floyd to breathe: officers lifting up on the suspect’s handcuffs, the hard surface of the street, his prone position, his turned head and a knee on his back.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for three minutes, two seconds after Floyd had “reached the point where there was not one ounce of oxygen left in the body”, Tobin said.

As prosecutors repeatedly played a video clip of Floyd on the ground, Tobin pinpointed what he said was a change in the man’s face that told him Floyd was

dead. That moment happened around five minutes after police began holding Floyd down.

“At the beginning you can see he’s conscious, you can see slight flickering, and then it disappears,” Tobin said. He explained: “That’s the moment the life goes out of his body.”

Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death May 25. Floyd was arrested outside a neighborhood market after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill.

Bystander video of Floyd crying that he couldn’t breathe as onlookers yelled at the white officer to get off him sparked protests and scattered

violence around the US. In his testimony, Tobin explained that just because Floyd was talking and shown moving on video doesn’t mean he was breathing adequately. He said that a leg movement seen in the video was involuntary, and that a person can continue to speak until the airway narrows to 15 percent, after which “you are in deep trouble”.

Officers can be heard on video telling Floyd that if he can talk, he can breathe.

During cross-examination, Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson pressed Tobin on that misconception, pointing to earlier testimony that Minneapolis officers are trained that if people can speak, they can breathe.

AUTHORITIES: NFL PLAYER KILLED FIVE, THEN HIMSELF ROCK HILL, South Carolina Associated Press FORMER NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before later killing himself, authorities said yesterday.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson told a news conference that investigators had not yet determined a motive in the mass shooting on Wednesday.

“There’s nothing right now that makes sense to any of us,” Tolson said.

Dr Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara, 69, were pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, nine, and Noah Lesslie, five, the York County coroner’s office said.

A man who had been working at the Lesslie home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside, and a sixth person, who was not identified, was hospitalised

SAN Francisco 49ers cornerback Phillip Adams pictured in 2010.

Photo: Paul Sakuma/AP with “serious gunshot wounds”, authorities said.

At Thursday’s news conference, Tolson played audio of two 911 calls related to the shooting, the first from an HVAC company that employed Lewis and the other person doing work at the Lesslie home. One of them, the caller said, had called him “screaming” and saying that he had been shot, and

that his coworker was shot and “unresponsive”.

“I think there’s been a bad shooting,” a different man said in a second 911 call, saying he was outside cutting his grass and heard “about 20” shots fired at the Lesslie home before seeing someone leave the house.

Tolson said evidence left at the scene of the shooting led authorities to Adams as a suspect. He said they went

to Adams’ parents’ home, evacuated them and then tried to talk Adams out of the house. Eventually, they found him dead of a single gunshot wound to the head in a bedroom, he said.

Tolson said both a .45-caliber and 9mm weapon were used in Wednesday’s shooting.

A person briefed on the investigation said that Adams had been treated

by Lesslie, who lived near his parents’ home in Rock Hill.

However, Tolson would not confirm that Adams had been the doctor’s patient.

Lesslie had worked for decades as an emergency room doctor, board-certified in both emergency medicine and occupational medicine and serving as emergency department medical director for nearly 15 years at Rock Hill General Hospital, according to his website.

A biography page said he and his wife raised four children and were actively involved with their church, as well as with Camp Joy,

which works with children with disabilities.

Adams, 32, played in 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. He joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick out of South Carolina State, and though he rarely started, he went on to play for New England, Seattle, Oakland and the New York Jets before finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.

As a rookie late in the 2010 season, Adams suffered a severe ankle injury that required surgery. He never played for the 49ers again, getting released just before the 2011 season began. Later, with the Raiders, he had two concussions over three games in 2012.

Whether he suffered long-lasting concussionrelated injuries wasn’t immediately clear. Adams would not have been eligible for testing as part of a broad settlement between the league and its former players over such injuries, because he hadn’t retired by 2014.

PAGE 18, Friday, April 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

STOCKS RISE AS LOWER BOND YIELDS HELP LIFT TECH COMPANIES Associated Press

TECHNOLOGY companies led stocks to more gains on Wall Street yesterday, nudging the S&P 500 to an all-time high for the third time this week.

The benchmark index rose 0.4% and is on track for its third straight weekly gain. Stocks within the S&P 500 were about evenly split between gainers and losers, with technology companies driving much of the rally.

Those gains were tempered mainly by a slide in energy stocks and real estate companies.

Bond yields, which had been steadily ticking higher,

continued to inch back from the highs they hit earlier in the month. The yield on the ten-year US Treasury note, which influences interest rates on mortgages and other loans, fell to 1.63% from 1.65% late on Wednesday. It had been as high as 1.75% on Monday.

That pullback in yields took some pressure off technology stocks, which have slipped over the last few months as yields jumped and made the shares look pricey. The sector has also seen choppy trading as investors shift more money into companies that stand to benefit from the economic recovery.

“We expect rates to rise because the economy is looking better,” said Sylvia Jablonski, chief investment officer at Defiance ETFs. “I don’t think that the ten-year (Treasury yield) moving around in the short term is really an issue for the market.”

The S&P 500 rose 17.22 points to 4,097.17. The index also set record highs on Monday and Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 57.31 points, or 0.2%, to 33,503.57. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed 140.47 points, or 1%, to 13,829.31.

Small company stocks,

which have been outpacing the broader market this year, also had a good showing. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies picked up 19.54 points, or 0.9%, to 2,242.60. The index is up 13.6% so far this year, while the S&P 500, which tracks large companies, is up 9.1%.

Big Tech stocks were among the biggest beneficiaries as bond yields cooled off. Apple rose 1.9%, Microsoft gained 1.3% and Amazon added 0.6%.

Investors are showing cautious optimism about the economic recovery, especially in the US, where vaccine distribution has been ramping up and

President Joe Biden has advanced the deadline for states to make doses available to all adults to April 19.

But it’s clear the economy has much to do when it comes to recovery. The number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits last week rose again last week, as many businesses remain closed or partially shut down due to the pandemic.

Much of the economy is recovering, but employment needs to pick up in order for a full recovery to occur, analysts say. The market will likely continue to be choppy as investors shift money to some of the sectors and

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Sunny to partly cloudy and nice

Partly cloudy

Mostly sunny and more humid

Partly sunny and humid

Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm

Beautiful with plenty of sun

High: 81°

Low: 68°

High: 82° Low: 71°

High: 82° Low: 71°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 82° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

85° F

66° F

84°-69° F

85°-72° F

92°-73° F

88°-68° F

ORLANDO

TAMPA

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 68° F/20° C

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: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C

7-14 knots

S

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 72° F/22° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 63° F/17° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C

MIAMI

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 77° F/25° C Low .................................................... 59° F/15° C Normal high ....................................... 81° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/30° C Last year’s low ................................... 72° F/22° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 2.11” Normal year to date ..................................... 4.94”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

S

E

W

7-14 knots

S

7-14 knots

ANDROS

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

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

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

Tuesday

9:30 a.m.

9:50 p.m.

2.4 2.8

3:35 a.m. 0.0 3:37 p.m. -0.1

Wednesday 10:05 a.m.

10:26 p.m.

2.3 2.7

4:13 a.m.

4:10 p.m.

0.0 0.0

Thursday

2.2 2.7

4:51 a.m.

4:44 p.m.

0.1 0.1

10:41 a.m.

11:03 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:53 a.m.

7:30 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

5:45 a.m.

5:36 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Apr. 11

Apr. 20

Apr. 26

May 3

CAT ISLAND

E

W

companies hardest hit by the pandemic. They are also weighing signs of economic growth against the lingering threat of COVID-19.

“We’re still at the mercy of the virus and the race between the virus and vaccines and getting a sense of the reopening of the economy,” said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab.

In remarks to the International Monetary Fund yesterday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said a number of factors are putting the nation “on track to allow a full reopening of the economy fairly soon”.

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

N E

W

E

W

H

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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

WINDS SE at 6-12 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots SSE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet

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

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

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 19

Florida sues federal government to allow cruises to sail MIAMI Associated Press THE state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately, Gov Ron DeSantis announced yesterday.

DeSantis said the no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as the industry generates billions for the economy and employs tens of thousands of Floridians.

“We don’t believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year based on very little evidence and very little data,” the Republican governor said at a news conference at the Port of Miami.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines last week for companies on how to respond in the event of COVID-19 cases but has so far not lifted its no-sail order.

The lawsuit says the new guidance doesn’t take into consideration another CDC statement made that fully vaccinated people can now travel at low risk to themselves. It also says the new rules increase the frequency of reports of COVID-19like illnesses and require agreements be made between cruise companies and all US ports and local health authorities where

on data and health and medical guidelines, hence that’s why they put it out and why they are regularly updated,” she said.

Michael Winkleman, a maritime lawyer, said that he does not expect such a lawsuit to succeed in court.

But DeSantis’ advocating for the cruise industry in a public way could change the public perception on

NOTICE

FLORIDA Gov Ron DeSantis, centre, speaks during a news conference surrounded by officials and cruise workers, yesterday, at PortMiami in Miami. DeSantis announced a lawsuit against the federal government and the CDC demanding that cruise ships be allowed to sail. Photo: Wilfredo Lee/AP ships have to dock.

The CDC shut down sailing last March when several coronavirus outbreaks were tied to ships worldwide, prompting ports to reject docking plans and leaving some passengers and crew members to navigate for an extended time.

Florida is the nation’s cruise capital with three of the world’s busiest ports: Miami, Port Canaveral near Kennedy Space Center, and Port Everglades near Fort Lauderdale. The lawsuit says industry generates billions for the state’s economy as millions of people typically cruise from one of Florida’s ports each year.

DeSantis has maintained the ban disproportionally impacts Florida and has said that cruising has resumed in much of the

PUBLIC NOTICE

world, forcing Americans to fly to other ports in the nearby Bahamas. Industry leaders say there have been no new outbreaks tied to their ships.

“People are going to cruise one way or another.

The question is are we going to do it out of Florida, which is the number one place to do it in the world, or are they going to be

The Public is hereby advised that I, DARIO PEPI TERRELLI of #64 Rocky Pine Road, P.O. Box CR-55918, New Providence, Bahamas intend to change my name to DARIO PEPI TIRELLI. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE is hereby given that COROL JOYCE CAMPBELL HARVEY, of Ocean Hill Blvd, Freeport, Grand Bahama is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

doing it out of The Bahamas or other locations?”

DeSantis said.

During yesterday’s press briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she did not have a direct response to the lawsuit, but denied accusations the CDC uses flawed data to ban sailing.

“I will just reiterate that the CDC guidance is based

JOB OPPORTUNITY

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, DANIEL JOSEPH, of #81B Tamarind Street, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas intend to change my name to DANIEL RIGBY. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

Cigar and Hookah Lo unge Do wntown - Pompey Sq uare

We are looking for Female Servers & Male/Fema le Bartenders to join our team.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

the matter, and pressure the federal government to resume traveling, Winkleman says.

“The reason why this would be a futile is CDC officials have wide discretion in how they do their federally mandated job,” he said. “From a big-picture perspective, I don’t think there is any reason why cruises cannot sail safely.”

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, KENRICO RASHAD WRIGHT JR, of Johnson Road, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to KEVIN ALEXANDER GRAY III. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

Must be reliable, well groomed with a pleasant attitude.

Serious Inquiry Only Contact Miss Bowe 1-242-806-3287 - Mon-Fr i/ 9-5

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

THURSDAY, 8 APRIL 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1956.74

-5.78

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

-0.29 -135.72

-6.49

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that OSHANE ORANE PHIPPS of P.O. Box N-7970, Hudsons Place, Soldier Road, New Providence, 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 9th day of April, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

52WK HI 5.00 33.05 2.00 2.90 1.89 6.00 6.90 3.60 6.01 4.05 6.16 12.00 2.75 7.00 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 5.00 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 6.00 6.74 3.56 4.45 2.97 5.67 9.75 2.57 6.84 11.04 9.00 14.00 3.95 8.35 15.50

CLOSE 5.00 32.12 1.62 2.90 1.59 5.50 6.96 3.21 4.45 2.97 5.67 9.75 2.57 7.00 11.02 9.00 14.00 3.95 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 BSBGRS780222 BSBGRS760240 BSBGRS870288

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.86

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.65 100.00 100.86

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.65 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

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 100.00 100.50 100.66

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.97 100.66

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 BGRS FL BSBGRS780222 BGRS FL BSBGRS760240 BGRS FL BSBGR870288

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.50) 0.22 (0.35) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.16 (0.02) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

84,850 1,000 1,000 100 75 11,000 2,300

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

465

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 18.9 -7.3 31.8 16.1 12.6 13.5 25.2 15.0 17.1 12.4 17.2 19.5 8.9 24.6

YIELD 3.40% 3.92% 1.23% 1.03% 0.00% 0.00% 3.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.04% 3.88% 7.38% 16.89% 0.86% 2.98% 2.67% 3.86% 3.04% 2.40% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.44% 4.50% 4.33%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 22-Sep-2022 18-Jan-2024 26-Apr-2028

MATURITY

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

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

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

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

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

NAV Date

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

MARKET TERMS

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

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

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

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

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

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

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

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

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

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

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

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

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

N/M - Not Meaningful

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

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

PAGE 20, Friday, April 9, 2021

Jet ski operator ‘turned away’ by Port Authority FROM PAGE 24 that what Ms Nottage is claiming is “not factual”.

The official said: “Jet skis are being licensed at this time. The port department registration process continues for both private and commercial vessels.

“Jet skis at this time, as per the emergency orders, are not being allowed to operate, but the registration

process continues.”

Ms Nottage answered: “They’re saying that, due to the emergency orders, the jet ski operators are unable to operate. But you can get a license of renewal for snorkelling, or a boat tour, or a charter, which we’re not sure that makes sense.

“Because if you’re in a charter for more than a certain amount of time, where five people are on a boat – that seems more risky than

THE TRIBUNE a self-drive jet ski that’s operated and leads to us having limited interaction with the guests. At best, we are in close proximity with guests for 10 minutes to go over safety protocols with them.”

Guests operate the jet skis themselves and are in open water, Ms Nottage explained. She added: “The other thing is that we are fully accountable because our operations are fully online, so obviously, we can’t solicit anybody on the beach as we have stopped doing that a few years ago.”

Ms Nottage went on to further argue that persons in the public transportation

industry and taxi-cab sector are at more risk of infecting their passengers than persons in the water sports industry. “There is no valid explanation as to why we can’t operate,” she said.

“As a business we are frustrated because we’ve been out of work for a year since this pandemic hit last March. Obviously the tourism market has plummeted, but with the opportunity given that the hotels are open and that we are seeing some business, we were trying to take advantage of some of the business. So in December there was a good opportunity as we saw some tourists there.

“We knew that the hotels were still trying to limit the guests bubble. We’ve implemented a COVID protocol.

We’re on the open water, there’s no guest interaction.

We’re social distancing, the machines are thoroughly cleaned and we’re on the open water so why not allow us to operate,” Ms Nottage asked.

She also said: “We just want a level playing field

within tourism, we should look at all avenues and these guests are pretty much asking that when they get to the hotel, what are they going to do?

They want to experience something else. We’re just turning them away.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 9, 2021, PAGE 21

Baha Mar join with free vaccine centre initiative FROM PAGE 24

getting the vaccines.

He said he would send out a voice note by today, letting his members know he had taken the vaccine and encourage them to do the same.

“It’s time for the taxi members to take the vaccine, because in spite of the scepticism, I would rather the taxi guys to be safe rather than sorry,” he said.

“The studies that I have done on the vaccine and the side effects outweigh the negativity, but I can’t

make my members take the vaccine, but I can certainly encourage them by sending out a video showing them that I have taken the vaccine.”

Reverend Esther Thompson, president of the Straw Business Persons Society (SBPS), said she will “not be advocating” for her members to take the vaccine saying there is “too much confusion” and it will be a matter of “personal choice” for her members.

Real estate expert brands govt lot offer ‘exciting’

people between 18 and 45 don’t have $50,000 sitting in a bank account, let alone a credit facility of $300,000 that the prime minister has estimated is required to qualify.

“The whole picture needs to be taken into consideration,” said Mr Sweeting.

“What this community now does is give someone who wants to raise their family in a great community, or they may be a prospective or budding real estate investor, but the land costs are prohibitive. This now gives that someone the ability to do that. I’m calling it a springboard into either development or a great community to living and raising your family.”

The prime minister has not said if the government will hire a realtor to manage the sale and distribution of the lots, or if the government will do it themselves through a yet to be identified government agency.

Mr Sweeting said that in order to support this initiative he is willing to offer free consultations on how to go about getting a lot being offered in this government initiative.

“I think people should jump on board,” he said.

some of the restrictions as well.

“I’m going to be sending out a note by this morning, just letting my members know that it is open and then we will see how it goes from there.”

Wesley Ferguson, the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union’s president, got his vaccination yesterday and also has changed his position on promoting the necessity of

FROM PAGE 24 Minnis has proposed the government will develop 83 acres for an upscale subdivision of 150 homes between the northern boundary of Sanford Drive, Prospect Ridge on the west and John F. Kennedy Drive on the south.

The lots, which will have a market value of $150,000, will be sold to Bahamians who fit the government’s demographic and will be priced at a maximum of $50,000.

Mr Sweeting said: “The government is going to do an upscale community and it is going to have walking trails, a community centre and a pool. Something that is unseen from governments.

“On the flipside the location of the property is ideal and this is why I’m endorsing it. It’s next to luxury communities like Skyline Drive, like the Balmoral, like West Grove and near to the US ambassador’s residence, ideally located just off of JFK Drive and close to

the beach too.”

Responding to concerns that people already living in these upscale areas don’t particularly want to be next to families who are of a lower income bracket, Mr Sweeting acknowledged this is a concern .

“I think the government’s restriction of the two-year build out and the cost of construction in that area, and then making it a requirement for application for someone to show proof of ability to purchase is going to eliminate that concern to a degree,” he said.

“The prime minister has also spoken about some restrictive covenants that will disallow people to do work on the property and he specifically mentioned in his announcement that there will be no mechanic work on the property. So I think these two factors are going to considerably affect the level of buyer even though the lot price is considerably low.”

There are also concerns the initiative has little chance of taking off as most

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 22, Friday, April 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

CULTIVATING AN ETHICAL WORKPLACE H AVING strong work ethics makes good business sense because employees want to work for a company which they are proud of and with colleagues they know act with integrity.

Potential clients or customer are also more likely to choose a company which can showcase how they behave ethically because it provides the added “feel-good” factor to any

business transaction.

Here are just a few ways to cultivate an ethical workplace: It Starts at The Hiring Process The first step to solving any issue is preventing it from ever happening at the hiring phase. So, assess whether your current screening and hiring system is adequate. Appropriate screening in the form of background checks is essential. While qualifications

and experience are certainly important, make sure you also pay close attention to values. You want people in your company who share your values and who have strong morals, who are ready to work for your company, not just at your company.

Be a role model and be visible Employees look to the behavior of top management as a model of what’s acceptable behaviour in the workplace. When senior management is observed (by subordinates) to take the ethical high road, it sends a positive message for

all employees.

Communicate Ethical Expectations Ethical ambiguities can be reduced by creating and disseminating an organisational code of ethics. It should state the organisation’s primary values and the ethical rules that employees are expected to follow. Remember, however, that a code of ethics is difficult to maintain if top management fails to model ethical behaviours.

Offer ethics training Set up seminars, workshops, and similar ethical training programmes. Use these training sessions to reinforce the organisation’s standards of conduct, to clarify what practices are and are not permissible, and to address possible ethical dilemmas. Training can be formal and informal.

It might include individual coaching for those who are challenged.

Visibly reward ethical acts and appropriately punish unethical ones.

Performance appraisals of managers should include a point-by-point evaluation of how his or her decisions measure up against the

IAN FERGUSON BY

organisation’s code of ethics.

Appraisals must include the means taken to achieve goals as well as the ends themselves. People who act ethically should be visibly rewarded for their behaviour.

Just as importantly, unethical acts should be punished.

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

Financial Services in review of UK economic agreement FROM PAGE 24

The UK-EPA was signed by The Bahamas in November, 2019 as a response to the UK leaving the EU as a consequence of Brexit. Since that time the UK has been working with trade partners bilaterally to secure the same agreements it enjoyed as a member of the EU under that umbrella union. This has meant re-engagement with former colonies across the Caribbean, Africa and parts of Asia.

Sarah Dickson, British High Commissioner to The Bahamas, said: “The five benefits of this agreement are as follows: “The first is that the agreement gives duty free, quota free access to the UK market for all CARIFORUM goods.

The second benefit of the agreement is asymmetric, and what that means is there’s more benefit for the CARIFORUM countries.

“The third point that I think is a benefit of the agreement is crucial, really

for both our countries, because the agreement is not just about goods.

It provides generous UK market access on services. The fourth benefit that I see from this agreement is that The Bahamas and other CARIFORUM states have additional protections on imports.”

“Lastly the UK-EPA has in it provisions to have the agreement reviewed between the UK and The Bahamas as an institutional strengthening exercise.”

business@tribunemedia.net

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021

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Baha Mar join with free vaccine centre initiative

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

T

HE Baha Mar Resort will now join Atlantis Paradise Island as a vaccination centre free of charge for people registered starting today.

Baha Mar, in a release sent to the media, signed by its president, Graeme Davis, said that as of April 9 to April 15 they would be offering free vaccinations at the Grand Hyatt Convention Centre to anyone who registers to the government’s web portal and booked their appointments.

The government also announced that it has expanded its priority

BAHA MAR vaccination list to now include persons in the tourism sector, including hotel workers, people in public transportation and employees at both the airport and the seaport in addition to

straw vendors.

Harrison Moxey, the United Public Transportation Company’s president, upon hearing the news that his members will now be a priority for vaccination,

told Tribune Business: “I’m going to advocate for my members to get the vaccine, but it will be up to them.

This would probably relieve

SEE PAGE 21

Minister ‘not moved’ by resort threats

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister said he is “not moved” if the owner of Compass Point resort wants to close the resort.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, was responding to intensified moves by the owner of the Compass Point Resort, Leigh Rodney and his intention to close the resort in June next year.

Mr Dionisio told Tribune Business he is not sure what Mr Rodney wants to meet with him on as he has never made it clear what his problems are.

Mr D’Aguilar said: “I can’t get what specifically is his gripe with the government? What is it about the hotel licensing he

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR does not like? What about the legislation that he is unhappy with?

“He wants to have a meeting with me and have the Press present and he wants to record the meeting, obviously he wants to come to the meeting to embarrass the government.”

Mr Rodney has put up a sign on his resort’s

Real estate expert brands govt lot offer ‘exciting’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A REAL estate expert supports the government’s plans to develop the Western portion of New Providence as an affordable upscale subdivision for young Bahamians.

Matt Sweeting, pictured, chief executive officer and real estate expert at 1oak Bahamas, told Tribune Business yesterday the government’s plan is an “exciting initiative”, and that people should not be on the fence about it.

He said: “I understand to a degree people are going to

be a bit trepidatious about the government’s ability to execute on this... considering that the government does not have any track record of doing something like this.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert

SEE PAGE 21

Jet ski operator ‘turned away’ by Port Authority

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net AN established watersports company is “frustrated” by having to turn away customers because the Port Authority won’t license their jet skis.

Astra Nottage, director of sales and marketing for My Own Watersports, told Tribune Business: “From what our chief executive officer is telling me is that he’s turning people away daily. We have been getting more calls for the past two weeks, I don’t know if it is because the

hotels are now full or maybe it was a result of the holiday.

“What he is telling me is that the Port Authority is failing to register and renew the registration of our jet-skis.”

She added: “We were told to write a letter asking for a renewal, which is not policy.

You just go to renew the jet skis, we have a valid business license and everything is in place.”

A senior official at the Port Authority, speaking under condition of anonymity, told Tribune Business yesterday

SEE PAGE 20

doors saying it will shut in June next year if he does not get an audience with the Minister of Tourism.

Mr Rodney, told Tribune Business yesterday: “I think the sign at the entrance says what is needed. You have a Member of Parliament, the Minister of Tourism who does not feel the owner of Compass Point is worthy of having a conversation with either face-to-face or via the phone.”

“For this reason I have decided not to continue doing business where the leaders value the opinions of the people and small business owners with so little consideration.

“Dionisio D’Aguilar will be 100 percent responsible for the closure of Compass Point, causing 60 Bahamians to lose their jobs because he refused to make a phone call.”

Mr D’Aguilar, upon seeing comments directed at him by Mr Rodney, said: “What he’s trying to do is bully and blackmail the government into meeting him under his terms, under the threat that he is going to close the hotel and lay off all of the staff.

“I’m not moved. What does he want to meet with me to discuss? He has not told me what he finds so reprehensible about the government that us causing him to want to shut down his operation and leave. I arranged a meeting between him and the chairman of the Hotel Licensing Board and he showed up with the press, so the chairman refused to meet with him under those conditions.”

Mr Rodney refused to tell Tribune Business what specifically his concerns are.

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Financial Services in review of UK economic agreement

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE United Kingdom’s Economic Partnership Agreement with The Bahamas is under review due to the impact of climate change and COVID-19 challenges.

Elsworth Johnson, Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration, addressing a webinar yesterday said that his ministry is undertaking a review of the performance of the United Kingdom/ CARIFORUM EPA based on the significant issues involving climate change and now the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Johnson said: “We believe that an onward looking innovative trade strategy, as alluded to in the report of the economic recovery committee can contribute to inclusive and sustainable job growth. The United Kingdom remains an important trading partner as The Bahamas seeks to expand its trade exports.

As part of the CARIFORUM group, The Bahamas is undertaking a review of the performance of its trade agreement.”

He noted that while the country is one of the “highest recipients” of UK and European Union (EU) investment out of the CARIFORUM grouping, the results are showing there is a need for improved performance in regulatory and institutional reforms.

Mr Johnson said: “This review is also highlighting the opportunities that have yet been realised but exist particularly in the fastest growing era of service trade and the need to provide trade assistance and support to micro, small and medium

ELSWORTH JOHNSON enterprises. My ministry understands that an important element to the success of the CARIFORUM/UK EPA is to remain engaged with our stakeholders continue to educate the public and address any information gaps as it relates to various trade opportunities in traditional and non traditional sectors. “... The question is all too often asked: Where are the opportunities for The Bahamas in international trade for goods and services?

“We believe that there are opportunities to export professional services such as engineering, architectural, legal, accounting, medical services, financial services, arbitration training and education, information technology and computing, computing or ICT (Information Communication Technology) and Digital Services Research, management and consulting services, maritime health and wellness, cultural and sporting services service in the entertainment or orange economy such as fine arts, music, literature, film, dance and drama, food and beverage goods, painting and handicrafts, manufactured products resort and launch wearing fisheries and green products.”

SEE PAGE 22