04192022 BUSINESS

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

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‘Place consumers ahead of votes on price control’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ELIMINATING price controls “would more than offset” soaring inflation, a Bahamian retail chief is arguing, but politicians remain too obsessed with “perception” and election votes to allow consumers to benefit.

Jason Watson, Automotive Industrial Distributors (AID) president, in e-mailed replies to Tribune Business questions said Bahamians are paying more for pricecontrolled products than they would otherwise if this “outdated” government policy was ended.

Revealing that AID would sell automotive goods at prices up to one-third cheaper without price controls, he explained that besides the financial advantage to consumers, the retailer would

• AID chief: Elimination to ‘more than offset’ inflation • Retail co-chair: Lower concessions for duty cuts • Top finance official: Duties ‘very, very inefficient’ enjoy a higher gross profit while being able to finance higher inventory carrying costs.

“Currently, Bahamians are actually paying higher prices because of price control. The same automotive item that AID sells for $60 would be sold for $40 without price control,” Mr

Watson said. “AID would manufacture that item rather than buy it from a wholesaler, and use a higher mark-up than what is currently allowed under price control to finance higher inventory carrying costs and an appropriate profit margin.

“The consumer benefits from a much lower price, and the company benefits from a higher gross profit.

Why would a consumer care about what mark-up was used when they bought the same item for $20 less than they would have otherwise? Bahamians are sophisticated consumers, and modern logistics has made price control completely outdated. The benefit of removing price control would more than offset rising prices, but politicians are worried more about the perception and votes rather than the economic benefits.”

Mr Watson said pricecontrolled companies were finding it increasingly difficult to absorb ever-increasing business costs and remain profitable.

Citing the near-inevitable increase in National Insurance Board

SEE PAGE 6

Bill, Tony and Tom to elevate digital ‘front runner’ Bahamas

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A FORMER US president and ex-UK prime minister, plus a recordbreaking Super Bowl winner, are heading the speaker line-up at a conference that will next week seek to elevate The Bahamas’ position as a digital assets “front runner”.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd US president, will be joined by Tony Blair, UK prime minister from 1997-2007, as both men give their views on “the world today” in rounding off

Thursday’s formal agenda at the firstever Crypto Bahamas conference, which will take place between April 26-29 at the Baha Mar resort.

And, closing out Wednesday’s panel discussions and presentations, will be the NFL’s GOAT (greatest of all time), seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady, who will participate with Sam Bankman-Fried, chief executive of Bahamas-based crypto currency exchange, FTX, for a session simply entitled “winning”.

FTX Digital Markets, together with thought leadership network Salt, are the event’s two prime organisers.

TOM BRADY

BILL CLINTON

Valdez Russell, FTX’s vicepresident of communications and corporate social responsibility, told Tribune Business yesterday that the conference is forecast to produce an immediate $12m boost to the Bahamian economy via both its attendees and the activities they will undertake

SEE PAGE 7

Highest US COVID rating ‘paves way’ for test ease

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR hotelier yesterday voiced optimism that The Bahamas’ achievement in attaining the highest-possible COVID rating with US health regulators “paves the way” for both to review the testing protocols required to enter their nations.

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president, told Tribune Business that the ‘Level One’ or ‘low risk’ designation from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could enable the US to view this nation as “a preferred destination” and relax the 24-hour COVID test requirement for its citizens to return home as well as for Bahamian visitors.

Suggesting that The Bahamas, too, could look at easing its 72-hour test requirement for visitors coming to the destination, he added that the latest CDC move potentially gives The Bahamas a competitive advantage over rival Caribbean and worldwide tourism locations by sending a message that this

SEE PAGE 4

ROBERT SANDS

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‘Misunderstood’ on gasoline VAT cap • Chamber chief: We weren’t calling for tax cuts • Top official says dealer margins ‘kind of low’ • Industry doesn’t want ‘band aid’ solutions

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ABACO’S Chamber of Commerce president believes the Government may have “misunderstood” calls for it to cap - not cut - the amount of VAT it earns on gasoline sales in a bid to ease inflationary pressures in the Family Islands.

Ken Hutton, in a recent interview with Tribune Business, said suggestions by his and other Family Island Chambers to cap VAT at 45 cents per gallon of gasoline appeared to have been misinterpreted as calls for tax cuts based on statements by the Prime Minister and other Cabinet ministers.

Reiterating that the private sector was not suggesting that the Government forego revenue, especially given its debt and fiscal crises, he said the cap would provide a modest offset to Family

KEN HUTTON Island gasoline prices that have already hit $7 per gallon amid volatile global oil markets that have been further upset by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pointing out that Family Island business and living costs have always been higher than Nassau’s, Mr Hutton told this newspaper: “Fuel is up at $7 a gallon here. You name it, it’s a huge chunk out of people’s pocket books now. It’s up 70 percent from a year ago....

“We’re still all for it.

All the Family Island

SEE PAGE 3

PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

DIVE SHOP OWNER CALLS FOR PERMIT LOGJAM END A BAHAMIAN dive shop owner has added her voice to calls for the Government to reform legislation that has brought marine, conservation and scientific research in this nation to a near-standstill.

Shannen Miller, the proprietor of Shannen’s Scuba Safari, is urging the Government to break the research permit logjam - and cut through the extra red tape - that have inadvertently resulted from the

Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge Protection and Sustainable Use Act’s passage into law on April 1 last year.

The law was designed to protect The Bahamas’ natural resources, ensuring they would not be exploited by foreign commercial prospectors under the guise of research while this nation earned not a single cent.

But the Act has had an unintended consequence,

suspending the work of world-class scientists from institutions who sought to help Bahamians and businesses rebuild and rehabilitate underwater habitats while they study the marine ecosystems here.

Aside from negatively impacting both local and foreign scientists, the permit crisis is also preventing Bahamian graduate students engaged in research from fulfilling requirements for their degrees.

Ms Miller’s business provides marine adventures ranging from underwater explorations to a PADI Reef Rescue Diver Specialty Course, which allows participants to gain dive certification while engaging in reef restoration projects around New Providence.

“Our mission is to create more Bahamian divers, and to promote awareness and involvement about our oceans to aid in the protection and conservation of marine life,” said the Nassau-born, Androsraised business owner. She believes there is no shortage of reasons to protect the ocean – biodiversity, recreation and livelihoods.

Much of Ms Miller’s coral restoration work is done in conjunction with the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and its flagship coral restoration programme, the Reef Rescue Network (RRN), which supported her at critical junctures on her professional path.

However, for more than a year, the Perry Institute and the RRN have waited on research permits from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP). While the network and its partners have continued to maintain their growing coral nurseries, planting new corals to expand healthy coral communities has ground to a complete stop.

“The Perry Institute and the RRN are our friends, not our foes, in the fight to preserve marine resources in The Bahamas. I don’t understand why our government is choosing to cripple conservation nonprofits and those that have done nothing but help restore coral reefs and ocean ecosystems that are important to our culture and economy,” said Ms Miller.

“When you look at the coral nursery, and you’re ready to clean it and you see how dirty it is, covered

SHANNEN Miller is a marine conservationist, dive instructor, boat captain and owner of Shannen’s Scuba Safari. She is lending her voice to those of marine scientists, ocean advocates and environmentalists urging the Government to issue research permits to non-profit organisations such as the Reef Rescue Network, which is dedicated to coral reef restoration. in algae, you feel like it’s going to take forever. But then when you’re done cleaning and out planting, it looks so wonderful and you get that feeling like ‘yes I did a good job, I just helped save the ocean’. It’s amazing.”

Ms Miller is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and sustainable aquaculture, with a concentration in animal nutrition and behaviour, from Unity College. Her love for the ocean began long before she established her dive shop in February 2022.

“I used to work at Atlantis as an aquarist. All I wanted to do was to drive boats and be a boat captain, which I did. There were hardly any female boat captains at that time. In 2018, I switched gears and worked at Stuart Cove’s as an open water instructor.

That’s where I met Hayley [Jo Carr, a PADI master instructor and director of the Reef Rescue Network], and was inspired to become the first Bahamian PADI

course director,” explained Ms Miller.

“Throughout my life I’ve worked in a maledominated field, where women are constantly overshadowed.

Only 2 percent of dive instructors in The Bahamas were women when I first started out. There is a lot of negativity that comes from people. There are a lot of males that say that you cannot do it. The only way to progress and thrive is for you to believe in yourself until you succeed.”

Ms Miller, against all odds, opened her dive shop at a time when reefs, the principal underwater attraction, are under sustained attack from global warming and the ravaging impact of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), which is wiping out hard coral reefs throughout The Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean.

Moreover, the international partners she has come to depend upon have been largely sidelined. Not one to sit idle, Ms Miller

SEE PAGE 4

THE TRIBUNE

GOV’T TOUTS 26% VAT RISE DESPITE RATE CUT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Finance’s top official has touted a 26 percent VAT revenue increase, compared to preCOVID numbers, for the first two months of calendar 2022 as a signal that the rate cut has not impacted government revenues.

Simon Wilson, the financial secretary, told the weekly press briefing by the Prime Minister’s Office that the $212.6m in combined VAT revenues collected for January and February 2022

exceeded sums collected during the same two months in 2020 by some $47.1m.

Using those two months rather than 2021 comparatives, as the former represented pre-pandemic figures, he said VAT revenues had “increased dramatically” despite the Davis administration cutting the rate from 12 percent to 10 percent with effect from January 1, 2022.

“For the period January and February 2022, total VAT collected was $212.6m,” Mr Wilson said, comparing this to the $165.5m collected during the same

two months in 2020. “Even though we had reduced the VAT rate from 12 percent to 10 percent, we experienced a $47.1m or 25.8 percent increase in VAT collections.

“The VAT decrease has not led to an overall decrease in VAT revenue. The VAT performance has actually increased dramatically. Some of that was because of the increase in economic activity because of the economy’s re-opening. Some of that is because of our revenue administration efforts, and some of that is because the lower VAT rate encouraged more consumption.”

The VAT rate cut also eliminated multiple zero ratings and exemptions, which may also have aided revenue collections. While economic activity has undoubtedly increased due to the postCOVID re-opening, it is still early to judge the VAT rate cut’s overall impact along with other associated adjustments.

A better gauge of the revenue effect will come later this month as all VAT registrants - especially quarterly filers who will be submitting their first returns since the 10 percent cut took effect will be remitting the tax they

‘MISUNDERSTOOD’ ON GASOLINE VAT CAP FROM PAGE ONE

Chambers where gas prices are significantly higher than they are in Nassau or even Florida. Every cost in the Family Islands is significantly higher than they are in Nassau. It’s just that we still believe that it’s a good proposal, or good suggestion, regardless of who else is doing it. In the US there are several states cutting back on gas taxes to help the consumer.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis QC, and Senator Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, have both argued that comparing The Bahamas’ response to soaring gasoline prices with that of Barbados is misleading because the southern Caribbean nation made adjustments elsewhere in its budget to offset the revenue foregone by cutting fuelrelated taxes. The Bahamas, they said, would have to find similar compensating revenue elsewhere if it followed suit.

Others have also suggested that capping VAT on fuel would have minimal beneficial impact for consumers and businesses given that the savings would be measured in cents or a small dollar amount. With fuel prices currently over $6 per gallon in Nassau, and VAT at 10 percent, the likely savings per gallon from a 45 cent cap would be between 15-20 cents.

“We weren’t comparing ourselves to Barbados or anything,” Mr Hutton argued. “We were just saying a cap would be a good idea. It doesn’t reduce the Government’s revenue.

It just slows or caps the increase at a higher level than it was before. Maybe they misunderstood what we were proposing. We said 45 cents per gallon.

“What’s going to happen is that the more expensive it gets, the less gasoline will be bought, and the lower tax revenues will be. They need to look at ‘economics 101’ on this kind of stuff. If

it gets too expensive people will not use it, and revenues will be cut back. If we can maintain it at an optimum level by implementing a VAT cap, people will cut back somewhat but still buy it.”

Mr Hutton spoke before Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told last week’s media briefing by the Prime Minister’s Office that the 54 cent per gallon margin earned by gas station retailers on gasoline sales was “kind of low” compared to most other Caribbean nations.

Indicating that adjustments to retailers’ Business Licence fee calculations could be among the relief provided by the Government, Mr Wilson said Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association (BPDA) members were seeking a permanent solution to their woes rather than just “a band aid” that would see them facing the same squeeze whenever global oil prices soar again.

Confirming that the dealers and government will meet again, possibly as early as this week, with the

former to “provide us with some more information on the options available”, Mr Wilson said the Davis administration is seeking to provide what support it can without “adversely impacting the public” via even higher gas prices.

“Everything is on the table,” Mr Wilson said.

“There’s no easy solution.

That was one of the issues that were raised by the retailers yesterday in terms of some type of tax relief.

It’s a fixed margin. As fuel prices increase, their operating margin has now gone down in some cases to less than 10 percent; their gross margin. They have employees, they have overheads and so forth.”

Reiterating that it was “a balancing act” between ensuring gas station retailers earn a return on their business without penalising consumers via higher gas prices, Mr Wilson said one proposal put forward was an increase to the pricecontrolled 54 cent margin.

The other, he added, was the Business Licence, which is based on gross turnover. While the gas

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station operators enjoy a “concessionary rate”, as a high turnover/low margin operation they are penalised by how it is calculated.

When oil prices soar, their turnover goes up because of higher fuel costs but net revenues stay the same. As a result, they end up paying more in Business Licence fees.

“It gives the impression revenues are high, but revenues are tied to the 54 cents they get,” Mr Wilson added. “There were discussions around that, there were discussions around what type of support the wholesalers can provide in this environment....

“It was an open and frank discussion. What they really wanted from the Government was to say we don’t want a band aid; we want a permanent solution.

Yes, fuel prices are going to trend down eventually.

But we want a permanent

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 3

have collected to the Government along with monthly filers. And, given that VAT is calculated as a percentage of the value of goods and services transactions, inflation-driven price increases also have boosted the Government’s coffers.

Elsewhere, Mr Wilson said the $33.1m deficit recorded for February was “approximately 50 percent lower” than that incurred during the same month in 2021.”Even though we had the expenditure increase, the deficit has continued to shrink,” he added.

“For the eight months ending February 2022, the deficit is estimated to be $326.5m, which is 38 percent of the Budget [forecast of $858.6m]. It’s a 62.2 percent, or $537m reduction, from the $863.7m experienced for the prior year period.”

The Government’s net debt rose by $181.3m during February 2022, and by $428.8m for the first eight months of the 20212022 fiscal year, which Mr Wilson said was “a dramatic reduction” compared to the $1.29bn debt incurred during the same period in 2020-2021.

solution. We don’t want a band aid where we do a quick fix here and two years from now, three years from now, we’re back here trying to find out what is the right solution.”

Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, has already ruled out increased margins for gas station dealers as “a non-starter” at this time. The only thing

within the Government’s power to change is the industry’s price-controlled, fixed margin structure and the amount of tax it earns on every gallon of gasoline and diesel sold, which makes the industry a volume-based sector. Business Licence fees, too, it can also seek to adjust.

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PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 19, 2022

DIVE SHOP OWNER CALLS FOR PERMIT LOGJAM END FROM PAGE TWO

THE TRIBUNE

The combined efforts of PIMS and RRN created the Reef Rescue Diver specialty course with PADI. It is a scuba diving certification programme specifically designed for coral restoration, which Ms Miller and other local dive shop operators can offer to guests.

Despite their track record – the Perry Institute alerted Bahamian authorities to Stony Coral Disease’s presence in The Bahamas, and RRN trained 70 PADI reef

rescue diver instructors and created a shareable, digital database of all coral restoration efforts – both organisations have found themselves battling permit problems of late rather than helping turn the tide in the fight against the disease.

Without permits from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Reef Rescue Network could lose more than $1m in research funding from global partners who see the

value in financing marine research and conservation efforts.

“Our country is on the frontlines of climate change, and our coral reefs will be on the brink of collapse if we do nothing. The Bahamas needs all of the allies and financial assistance it can muster in helping to preserve our oceans for future generations,” Ms Miller said.

HIGHEST US COVID RATING ‘PAVES WAY’ FOR TEST EASE

helping us get to this point and achieve our ultimate of helping our government to eliminate the need for a test to enter our country and a test to leave the country to go back to the US.” As to the immediate impact from the CDC’s rerating, Mr Sands said: “It demonstrates The Bahamas is serious about being open for business, and that the people of The Bahamas take COVID-19 seriously. It also demonstrates that we want to remain in this particular position and send a message to the world we take COVID-19 seriously and are open for business.

“It eliminates any discussion from those group business decision makers on booking The Bahamas as a group destination. I think it also puts in place the fact we welcome those groups, we are able to take care of them in an environment that is safe, and they can appreciate the destination of The Bahamas takes COVID-19 seriously.”

While the CDC has yet to upload the full list of ‘Level One’ nations to its website, Mr Sands said the BHTA’s review showed that The Bahamas along with Jamaica was “one of the few Caribbean countries” to achieve this designation thus providing it with a potential competitive advantage.

“It only adds to the fact that, with the increased pent-up demand to visit the islands of The Bahamas, this takes away any possible decision not to travel to The Bahamas, and creates a positive decision to travel to The Bahamas,” he added.

Ministry of Health data showed that some 20 new COVID cases were detected between Good Friday and Easter Saturday, with nine on the former and the remaining 11 uncovered on the latter day. Some 131 cases remain active, with just

five patients in hospital, all of whom are moderately ill.

With these results encouraging the CDC to give The Bahamas what amounted to an early Easter present, Mr Sands said: “It augurs well not only for the tourism industry but The Bahamas as a destination. We recognise there’s some things we have to do to get vaccinated, and this augurs well for a positive, continued recovery of our Bahamian economy.”

He described further increasing Bahamian COVID vaccination rates as “the biggest opportunity we have as a nation” in moving towards so-called ‘herd immunity’. Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, recently said he wanted to increase Bahamian vaccination rates from 50 percent to 70 percent, which was backed by Mr Sands.

“That’s our great opportunity in insulating us from the difficulties that may occur from COVID-19 in the future,” he told this newspaper. “That is the missing piece of the puzzle, and I encourage, certainly as a representative of the major industry in our country and which is pivotal for the economic engine of our country, for Bahamians to heed the clarion call to become vaccinated.”

Calling on Bahamians to obey the remaining COVID19 protocols, Mr Sands said ‘Level One’ status with the CDC will further boost forward bookings. And, while it will aid the return to pre-COVID tourism performance, the BHTA chief said it was imperative that still-closed resorts or those struggling to re-open be provided with all the assistance they require so that The Bahamas’ room inventory can meet demand.

Safari joined the RRN, the largest coral restoration initiative in The Bahamas.

She is contributing by maintaining her own coral nursery, and has committed to working with RRN staff and local volunteers to grow and plant corals to regenerate the reefs around New Providence. Shannen’s Scuba Safari is one of more than 30 Reef Rescue Network partners, growing

nearly 8,000 corals on 14 different islands, 12 of which are in The Bahamas.

The dive shop’s relationship with RRN spun out of Ms Miller’s ties to PIMS, the non-profit scientific organisation specialising in ocean research, conservation and education for more than 50 years. The Perry Institute launched the Reef Rescue Network in 2017. Hayley-Jo Carr, PIMS’ marine conservationist and its PADI

course director, serves as director of the network.

Through PIMS, Ms Miller completed her Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Instructor Development Course (IDC) staff instructor, a certification which allows her to train new PADI leaders. PIMS is also supporting Ms Miller on her journey to becoming a PADI master instructor, following in the footsteps of Carr.

FROM PAGE ONE country is both safe and “open for business”.

Mr Sands said the latest CDC action, which means The Bahamas has been reduced from a ‘Level Three’ or ‘high’ COVID risk to low-risk in just three weeks, eliminates any reason group planners and other travellers have for selecting other destinations based on health grounds. He added that it will further solidify “pen-up demand”, translating into increased forward bookings and a faster return to pre-COVID business levels.

However, the BHTA chief also urged Bahamians to continue complying with COVID-19 health protocols given recent outbreaks in China and parts of Europe.

And he acknowledged that achieving so-called ‘herd immunity’, where 70-80 percent of The Bahamas’ population is fully vaccinated as opposed to the current 50 percent, remains “the missing piece of the puzzle”.

“I think this puts us in a very good position for the Government of The Bahamas, and perhaps the US, to view The Bahamas as a preferred destination and begin to have discussions on what other protocols in place for travel to this destination can be eliminated,” Mr Sands told Tribune Business.

Confirming that he was referring to the COVID tests required to enter The Bahamas, and return/travel to the US, he added: “I think it absolutely paves the way for them to revisit the need for those two issues to remain in place. I think it’s important to say ‘thank you’ to the people of The Bahamas for

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 5

Stocks and wars

By CHRIS ILLING “BUY when the cannons roar. Sell when the violins are playing.” This stock market wisdom comes from Carl Mayer von Rothschild (1788-1855), partner in the Frankfurt banking and trading house, M.A. Rothschild & Sons. “Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful,” Warren Buffett also said.

The basic idea behind these quotes is that of counter-cyclical investing.

Investors try to generate returns by buying stocks when sentiment and the outlook are gloomy, and then selling them when the stock market is rosy.

But it also means that shortly before or at the beginning of a war is a good time to start investing. Because at this time, in theory, there should only be short-term price declined and, shortly after the outbreak of the military conflict, prices should rise again. But how do stock exchanges react in the event of war? Here are some examples.

First World War: In the six months after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the leading US index, the Dow Jones,

fell by more than 30 percent. As a result, the stock exchange was closed for half a year. The Dow Jones then rose nearly 90 percent in 1915, and more than 40 percent overall by the end of the war in 1918.

Second World War: When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the Dow Jones rose by 10 percent the next trading day. On the other hand, there was a small dent after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It went down almost 3 percent. Overall, however, things went up during the Second World War. In 1945, the Dow Jones was 50 percent higher than in 1939.

Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: The attacks in the US also shook the stock markets, which fell by almost 15 percent in the days that followed. However, the losses were made up within a few months.

Iraq War: On March 20, 2003, the US, together with

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the “Western Coalition”, attacked Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein. The stock exchanges rose 2.3 percent the following day, and the Dow Jones recorded a gain of more than 30 percent over the course of the year.

Investors hate uncertainty. And Vladimir Putin is currently causing a great deal of uncertainty with his invasion of Ukraine, because he is destroying a decades-old peace order. In response, the US, in co-ordination with the European Union (EU) and other allies, imposed tough sanctions on Russia, including on the largest banks and the Russian central bank.

However, according to statements by Western politicians, the consequences for the country’s own

STOCKS AND WARS economy are not yet foreseeable.

Global stock indices have fluctuated wildly since Russia invaded Ukraine. It looks like the markets are repositioning themselves for this new, old world that includes a return of war and inflation in Europe.

Let us look at the MSCI World - the global stock index. It has fallen by 7.4 percent since the beginning of the year. However, individual sectors such as oil and gas, but also aviation and defense, have increased significantly over the same period.

Wars, at least for the stock market, do not seem to be poison. One could also say that they do not play a major role in the development of the stock market, but that economic issues in particular influence prices.

At least the markets do not always react to geopolitical events first with a discount and then with rising prices.

The bottom line is that it is difficult, if not impossible, for investors to find the perfect entry and exit times.

Now, it is important to have a balanced investment in the stock market.

Anyone who invests

worldwide and relies on the large, well-known global stock indices will not feel it nearly as badly as, for example, Russian-dependent company investors. One should not look at the next few weeks here, but at the next few years.

Investors are now primarily protecting themselves against longerlasting inflation, i.e. currency devaluation. The rising gold price shows that many investors are currently fleeing to this socalled safe haven, which is typical in times of crisis.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘PLACE CONSUMERS AHEAD OF VOTES ON PRICE CONTROL’ FROM PAGE ONE (NIB) contribution rates as one such example, he added: “Any increases to NIB will have a generally negative effect on our economy.

“The negative effect is even greater on companies that sell goods which are price controlled, such as automotive goods, since we are not allowed to pass higher NIB costs on to the consumer. This has gone on for decades, where we could not pass on higher Business Licence rates, NIB rates, real property tax revaluations, wages, insurance costs, utilities and credit card fees as more customers pay by card rather than cash.

“When VAT was introduced we were told how Business Licence fees would become a nominal

fee, and how Customs duties would be reduced significantly. Seven years later and none of that is true. VAT was increased and we are still paying 60 percent duty for auto parts.”

Price controls were imposed by the Government decades ago to prevent what it viewed as an unscrupulous merchant class from exploiting lower income Bahamians by unreasonably hiking the price of food staples and other essential products, thus placing them out of reach while undermining living standards.

However, opponents argue they are an anachronism that have no place in a modern 21st century economy. The private sector views price controls as an inefficient, distortionary

mechanism that creates more unintended consequences than the supposed problems they solve.

They can result in product shortages, while retailers and wholesalers have to increase prices and margins on non-price controlled items to compensate for selling these goods as effective “loss leaders”.

Mr Watson, besides further strengthening the case to eradicate price controls, also revealed to Tribune Business that while shipping costs from China have reduced significantly from their COVID peak they are still more than one-third higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“Ocean freight from Asia has been reduced significantly but it is still 35 percent higher than preCOVID levels,” the AID

president said. “Ocean freight from Europe as well as Central and South American ports remains significantly higher than pre-COVID levels. Inland freight in the US remains extremely high but ocean freight from South Florida is comparable to pre-COVID levels.”

The latter aspect may help to ease some of the imported inflationary pressures, with Mr Watson adding: “Sales are stronger now than this same period in 2021 and 2019. Usually there is a lag between higher prices and when consumers adjust their spending habits, but it would be less noticeable for AID since the mix of products that we carry perform well during good or poor economic conditions.”

Meanwhile, Tara Morley, the Bahamas Federation of Retailers’ co-chair, told Tribune Business that the implications for the Public Treasury arising from the sector’s call for duty cuts on multiple high-tariff items could be eased if this was accompanied by reduced tax breaks/ concessions.

Essentially calling for a rebalancing, she argued that reducing such incentives would help to broaden the tax base and thus enable lower import tariff rates to be charged across a wider variety of goods. In so doing, the Government’s tax revenue streams would not be negatively impacted.

“If we had lower rates of duty we could also enable less tax concessions being needed,” Ms Morley said.

“We could then charge across a broader tax base at an average rate of, say, 15 percent. There’s a huge number of codes at 30-45 percent duty.

“If we were to bring down the cost of importing goods into the nation, reduce some of the concessions and make it less of a burden for people to pay, then you don’t have to rely on a lower number of people paying the duties because you’ve broadened the tax base.”

Ms Morley, while not wanting to be held to this, said she recalled a seminar from eight years ago where a consultant revealed that the Government relinquished a sum equivalent to around one-third of its total tax revenues via incentives provided for various developments and industries.

“If we’re able to broaden it by reducing it across the board for everyone,” she added of the tax base, “but not give up so many concessions, that benefits the cost of living for everyone as opposed to a few individual projects. If everything is at a lower duty rate and spread across a wider base, that seems a fairer policy.

“We want to stimulate foreign direct investment, but it doesn’t mean we have to give everything away for free. If we can reduce the cost of doing business in

the country, we might get a lot more retailers and service providers winning bids because the cost of doing business has gone down.”

Ms Morley acknowledged this will require careful analysis, but said that it at least “opens the conversation” with the Government.

The Retail Federation cochair, though, would appear to have an ally over her call for tariff rate cuts in Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary.

Addressing the media briefing given by the Prime Minister’s Office last Thursday, he branded Customs duties as “a very, very inefficient” mechanism through which to collect taxes.

Emphasising that these were his personal views, and not government policy, Mr Wilson said: “The ministry’s philosophy overall is that Customs duties are a very inefficient mechanism of collecting taxes.

“So one of the things that, certainly for me as an economist I can say, is we have to reduce duties anyhow across the board. That is one of the things I tell my staff all the time when we look at revenue measures; we don’t look at increasing duty rates. They’re very, very inefficient. So that’s my view as an economist. We have to find mechanisms to generate revenues outside of Customs duties. They’re too inefficient.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 7

BILL, TONY AND TOM TO ELEVATE DIGITAL ‘FRONT RUNNER’ BAHAMAS FROM PAGE ONE while here. This will not be confined solely to New Providence, but extend to islands such as Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera via the trips they will undertake.

Beyond the shortterm impact, Mr Russell said attracting premier financial and business executives in the digital assets, blockchain and crypto currency space to The Bahamas is designed to further cement this nation’s position as a leading jurisdiction for these activities. It will also introduce these professionals to The Bahamas, with the possibility of encouraging them to transact business with this nation or even domicile entities here.

“We’re quite excited about that, and what it means for the economy of The Bahamas,” he added of the conference. “We have intentionally sought to bring together some of the world’s top thoughtleaders in the crypto space, and look forward to their insights.”

Describing The Bahamas as “one of the premier” crypto jurisdictions in the world, with the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act

having provided the regulatory platform upon which fully compliant operators can conduct business, Mr Russell said education was critical if the country is to be “a leader in this space” not only now but well into the future.

“The Bahamas has an incredible position right now as a front-runner and leader in the digital asset space,” he told this newspaper. “What we are constantly doing at FTX is maintaining that position so that it results in a competitive advantage and results in improved benefits for Bahamians, residents and the economy.”

Pledging that Crypto Bahamas will become an annual event, with the dates for the 2023 conference to be announced when the inaugural one ends, Mr Russell said: “We conservatively estimate this [conference] will deliver a $12m boost to the Bahamian economy, and not just the island of New Providence. We will have guests arriving early and staying late.”

In the meantime, FTX Digital Markets has continued to strengthen its Bahamas presence. “We continue to increase our talent pool,” he added. “We

had previously indicated that, by the second quarter of this year, we would be up to 50 persons. We have achieved that goal and are moving closer to 60 Bahamians. We also continue to engage the local business community in meaningful ways.”

Mr Russell said the crypto currency exchange’s Bahamas presence has created spin-off entrepreneurial opportunities in industries such as hospitality, transportation, security and food, adding: “The impact of FTX’s economic presence in The Bahamas does not stop at the employees we hire, but also involves the local community in real ways, which is a good part of being here.”

FTX has also just been granted a digital exchange licence in Dubai, Mr Russell said, adding: “We’ve got to strengthen our presence around the world as a crypto leader.”

Besides leading digital asset executives from overseas, Crypto Bahamas will also have a strong local presence. Besides an opening address from Prime Minister Philip Davis QC, the event will also feature a panel discussion on Better Business in The Bahamas including Chester Cooper,

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deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investment and aviation, plus Senator Ryan Pinder, the attorney general.

The other two panellists are a current and former

Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) chief executive, Tanya McCartney and Aliya Allen (now a Graham, Thompson & Company attorney and partner). Rhonda McDeigan-Eldridge, a Bahamian financial services executive,

will moderate the panel discussion.

Other local speakers include Barbara-Ann Bernard, founder and chief executive of Wincrest Capital, and Dr Jillian Bethel, chief executive of OKX Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 9

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

NOTICE

Monday, April 18, 2022

IN THE ESTATE of FRANK PRESTON REID late of the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demands against the above named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of April A.D., 2022, and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; after the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Executor shall then have had Notice.

And Notice is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the aforementioned date.

MICHAEL A. DEAN & CO., Attorneys for the Executor Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street P.O. Box N-3114 Nassau, The Bahamas

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that charlene noreus of Gladstone Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 19th day of april, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

THURSDAY, 14 APRIL 2022

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.70 40.50 2.05 2.90 2.60 6.05 10.05 3.55 9.02 3.10 7.20 14.00 2.71 10.25 11.25 10.75 15.00 4.00 10.00 16.50

52WK LOW 4.55 32.12 1.46 2.20 1.30 5.50 6.00 2.82 4.25 2.27 5.50 9.75 1.99 6.50 10.02 9.00 13.10 3.50 8.00 15.50

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

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 1.00

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

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

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

CLOSE

CHANGE

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

2276.78

-2.69

-0.12

48.54

2.18

SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.62 100.54 99.98 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.98 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.36 100.00 99.98 91.00 90.95 89.02 89.62 89.00 90.24 90.73

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.50 4.67 2.20 207.86 207.68 1.72 1.83 1.81 1.05 9.37 11.83 7.54 16.64 12.84 10.77 10.00 10.43 14.89

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.68 1.73 1.75 1.01 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

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 BGRS69023 BGRS FL BGRS79026 BGRS FL BGRS78024 BGRS FX BGR125238 BGRS FX BGR127139 BGRS FX BGR127149 BGRS FX BGR129249 BGRS FX BGR131249 BGRS FX BGR132249 BGRS FX BGR136150

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGRS690231 BSBGRS790262 BSBGRS780248 BSBGR1252380 BSBGR1271398 BSBGR1271497 BSBGR1292493 BSBGR1312499 BSBGR1322498 BSBGR1361504

LAST CLOSE 5.30 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.50 6.05 9.25 3.30 7.60 2.66 7.16 14.00 2.25 10.13 12.60 10.75 15.00 3.99 10.00 15.50 1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00 LAST SALE 100.00 100.00 107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.62 100.54 99.98 100.00 100.00 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 5.30 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.25 6.05 9.25 3.25 7.60 2.66 7.16 14.00 2.26 10.13 12.52 10.75 15.00 3.99 10.00 15.50 1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

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

VOLUME

1,000 10,600

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.62 100.54 99.98 100.00 100.00 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

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

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 RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Equities Sub Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - High Yield Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

MARKET TERMS

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.25) 0.00 0.00 (0.05) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 (0.08) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

(242) 323‐2330 (242) 323‐2320 EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.140 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

VOLUME

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.080 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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25% 6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.59% 4.53% 4.50% 5.00% 5.00% 5.50% 5.55% 5.60% 5.65% 5.69%

NAV 2.50 4.67 2.20 204.67 199.97 1.72 1.83 1.81 1.01 9.37 11.79 7.54 15.94 12.47 10.74 N/A 10.43 14.89

YTD% 12 MTH% 0.34% 4.30% -0.06% 5.21% 0.21% 2.72% 1.37% 3.18% 8.18% 14.94% 0.26% 2.76% 0.36% 2.37% 0.28% 2.51% -1.31% -3.43% -0.02% 10.36% -0.33% 18.23% 0.22% 3.05% -3.89% 14.76% -1.04% -2.57% 0.81% 4.20% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

P/E 22.2 42.9 N/M 16.5 N/M N/M 25.1 -7.4 54.3 14.5 15.9 19.4 22.2 21.7 19.4 14.8 18.4 19.7 10.6 24.6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

YIELD 3.21% 3.15% 0.98% 3.46% 0.00% 0.00% 2.81% 0.00% 0.00% 4.51% 3.07% 5.14% 19.20% 0.59% 2.62% 2.23% 3.60% 3.01% 2.00% 3.94% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025 20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 9-Feb-2023 28-Mar-2026 22-Sep-2024 15-Oct-2038 15-Jan-2039 15-Jan-2049 15-Apr-2049 15-Jul-2049 15-Oct-2049 21-Apr-2050

NAV Date 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 28-Jan-2022 30-Sep-2021 30-Sep-2021 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021

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

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

NOTICE is hereby given that ANTOLESHA ECCLESTON of P. O. Box N-7840, Orleander Avenue, South Beach, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 19th day of April, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that KAREEM CAMARON JONES, of Reeves Street, Fox Hill, P.O. Box SB-50274, Nassau, 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 11th day of April, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JAVIER IGLESIAS REDOINDO, of Marathon Road, Nassau, 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 twentyeight days from the 12th day of April, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that YVENET ESTELHOMME of Edwpard Avenue off Jerome Avenue, Wulff Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 8th day of April, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, April 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

BODY AND MIND

Mother seeks funding for stem cell therapy to treat autistic son

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamian mother is hoping a necessary stem cell therapy procedure for her son will help improve his development as they navigate through the highs and lows living and managing autism.

However, the major hurdle Torinda Francis and her family faces is being able to raise adequate funds required for the stem cell and integrative therapies.

Ms Francis believes once her four-year-old Sarri Ominski Jr receives therapy he will continue to progress and reach other developmental milestones.

Sarri was diagnosed with autism last April. Torinda recognised he was not developing in the way that he should. He was examined and diagnosed with the condition.

So far, the major challenge Torinda experiences with Sarri comes in the area of communication.

“It’s very difficult when you do not know your child’s wants and needs. I do not even know how he feels about certain things because we cannot relate as yet,” she told Tribune Health.

Sarri’s doctor say there is an 80 percent chance he can function as a typical child if he receives stem cell therapy.

Ms Francis has been in consultation with Dr Travis Whitney and the team at Innate Healthcare Institute: Stem Cell and Functional Medicine in Arizona.

TORINDA Francis and her son Sarri The stem cells used in the proposed treatment of Sarri are live umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

“The stem cell therapy treatment we are using comes from the umbilical cords of newborn babies. The reason why we are taking my son for treatment is because the inflammation he has in his brain. Autism has affected his speech and cognitive skills.

This treatment will correct that and we will have better communication with him on all levels,” she said.

The full cost of the entire trip is $15,000. The procedure itself costs $10,000. Ms Francis and her family is seeking assistance from the general public.

“The good thing about the clinic is that price includes followup treatments. A lot of parents

want to do it but it is costly. This is why I am seeking assistance.

The doctor said he has 80 percent chance of functioning as a typical child,” she said.

“My son needs multiple therapies, including ABA therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. At this moment, we can only afford one therapy and we are focusing on speech. We are hoping that the stem cell therapy

will balance his brain to a point where he would not have to take so much therapy.

No outcome is the same when it comes to this procedure, as each child is different. However, and Ms Francis is hoping to see changes in her son’s communication abilities and development.

“Each child is different but some of the things that will come out of it is better communication and understanding, and that is what we want. He will be a bit more independent. This is why his father and I agreed to taking him for treatment before he gets too old. We believe this treatment he will be more independent. Right now he is very dependent on us,” she said.

As April is Autism Awareness Month, Ms Francis shares in the plight of many other parents who are managing their children’s autism. She is hoping there will one day be more resources available locally to assist families.

“It is very challenging, especially when your child needs more than one therapy. Some parents can’t even afford to get their kids evaluated for a diagnosis. It’s also challenging when you have more than one child with autism. Most parents want to send their child to a special school but they do not have the funds. And some parents are torn between expensive school fees and therapies; it’s indeed a lot,” she said.

Anyone interested in assisting the Francis family can contact her at ftorinda@gmail.com.

Seahorse’s autism awareness efforts

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

Over the years, the Seahorse Institute has not only impacted children and their families, the organisation has also been able to successfully place over 13 kids without support into mainstream classrooms, and numerous more with minimal support.

They have, over 12 years, educated the general population and school teachers, with many of the institute’s former employees moving on and using their training at Seahorse Institute to make a positive impact in other arenas.

Dr Michelle Major, executive director at the Caribbean Centre for Child Development, told Tribune Health about the Seahorse Institute’s growth and this month’s Autism Awareness highlights.

“We have had a tough two years during COVID-19, as so many other intuitions have experienced.

In some ways we are starting over in our fundraising efforts.

This month, Dunkin’ Donuts has continued their seven-year partnership with us to raise funds. We also currently have a fundraising art show by the artist Gaby Hahn at the TERN at Island House. Of course, ‘Sunny the Seahorse’ continues to spread awareness across the world, and over the years we have visited countries from New Zealand to Saudi Arabia. We are also participating in international forums educating on autism this month,” she said.

Dr Major said for over a decade now, she and the team at the Seahorse Institute have been doing everything in their power to provide for Bahamian children with developmental challenges and delays, offering the highest level of clinical services to foster their growth and development with a success rate of over 90 percent.

They all take pride to have served children from across the Bahamas and from every walk of life. She said the intensive, individualised services that make a difference to children are costly to provide, and the Seahorse Institute is especially proud, as a fully Bahamian not-for-profit organisation, to always have been able to serve children from both families with means and those who might not be able to afford the services.

“We have provided well over 100,000 in scholarships to families in need. Our intervention programmes have opened up the

world for so many children who deserve to experience all of life’s joys, but would otherwise languish at home, unable to attend public school because of their level of need. These are children and young adults who are capable of so much,” said Dr Major.

She said most people know the Seahorse Institute as a evidence-based centre that provides Applied Behavior Analysis

(ABA therapy) for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. However, it is much more.

For example, they have partnered with organisations such as UNICEF to provide early intervention programmes for the Haitian population in the shelters after Hurricane Dorian, and provided services and training to government children’s homes.

“We currently have partnerships with local schools to provide global screeners, teacher training and program supervision. Our neurobehavioral programme is an annual partnership that local mainstream schools can join in which we assess, train staff and parents, develop individual goals for struggling learners and monitor progress,” she said.

When asked if there is something more Bahamians need to be aware of when it comes to autism, Dr Major said firstly, parents, teachers and paediatricians need to understand the importance of early identification; recognize that at any child demonstrating a language delay is at risk for becoming a struggling learner.

She said it is important that the gatekeepers (teachers and doctors) screen and refer children in early childhood. Early intervention is key to children living a successful academic and typical life.

“Another thing that most keep people don’t understand about autism is what it means to be on the autism spectrum disorder.

Autism affects language, social skills and repetitive/stereotyped behaviours (non-problem behaviours) and that each individual child with autism will vary in their skill set or struggles in those three domains. Also, children with autism do not have an intellectual disability. They are average and in most cases above average

children. These are the children that are transforming science, engineering. My hope has always been that a former Seahorse Institute child will be the one to find a cure for cancer,” said Dr Major.

At the moment, the institute does not have statistics for autism spectrum disorders in the Bahamas. Dr Major said the CDC reports that autism is currently found in one in every 44 children.

And going by her private practice, she said she would concur informally that numbers in the Bahamas are not significantly different than the reported CDC statistics.

However, further studies need to be conducted to better understand the level of all disabilities and mental health disorders in the nation.

She encouraged readers to please help the Seahorse Institute turn adversity into a wonderful opportunity for children and families in need. The team and organsition is grateful for support at whatever level.

Visit the website’s donation page at seahorseinstitute.org/ donate; mail a gift to Seahorse Institute PO Box SS19407, Nassau, Bahamas; or make a direct deposit at CIBC First Caribbean, account number 201619583. Donations can also be dropped off at #85 Soldier Road from 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 11

New available advances in ED treatments Avanafil (Stendra) is the newest erectile dysfunction FDA approved medication available.

Avanafil has shown to work in less than 15 minutes in a large proportion of users. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra which are other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor drugs, typically take 30 to 45 minutes to be absorbed and become effective.

First oral medication for testosterone replacement The most recent innovation in testosterone supplementation is Jatenzo, an oral soft gel formulation of testosterone undeconate.

Previously, testosterone replacement therapies were only available in the form of injections, topical gels, a patch, implantable pellets but no oral form was available until 2019. No oral testosterone medications were previously available because when ingested it was rapidly broken down by the liver before it could be bioavailable and effective as a form of testosterone supplementation. Jatenzo is unique in its formulation in that it is absorbed by the intestine before being broken down by the liver.

Jatenzo is indicated in testosterone replacement for rarer causes of hypogonadism due to specific medical conditions, such as genetic disorders like Klinefelter syndrome or tumors that have damaged the pituitary gland.

Jatenzo is not used to treat agerelated hypogonadism, or low testosterone, associated with advancing age.

Men who have prostate cancer should not have any form of testosterone replacement therapy as the testosterone would hasten the progression of the prostate cancer. Men who have received prostate cancer curative treatment and have been confirmed to have been in prostate cancer remission for two years or more, can safely receive testosterone.

Painless sound wave therapy Outpatient non-invasive painless low intensity shockwave therapy is an effective treatment for men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction; poor erectile function related to poor penile blood flow.

Sound wave therapy leads to neo-vascularidation, new blood vessel formation and aids in unclogging blocked arteries that supply the penis.

A meta-analysis of ten randomised controlled trials involving 873 men, showed that low intensity penile sound wave therapy significantly improved erectile function in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction, in terms of both patient objective and subjective outcomes.

MUSE peri-urethral suppositories MUSE is a locally available sterile, single use transurethral system that gently delivers the medication Alprostadil directly into the male urethra, to provide excellent quality erections.

MUSE enhances the blood flow to the penis to help achieve and maintain a strong erection.

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Penile injections Self-administered, well-tolerated penile injections are a nearly painless third line treatment for severe ED. The penile injections deliver the prescribed drug Alprostadil, Phentolamine and/ or Papaverine into the base of the penis with a very tiny needle. The injectable ED treatments work by relaxing penile blood vessel smooth muscles, causing them to dilate and fill more proficiently with blood. Erections take 10 to 15 minutes to develop and usually last 30 to 60 minutes.

Penile implants Penile implants (“bionic penis”) are state-of-the-art naturally concealed three-part devices that are placed in a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure, that requires minimal recovery. Penile implants have excellent durability even 20 years after placement and require no battery.

The device is not detectable by a partner on inspection or touch.

A simple press of an activator button located within the scrotum, will provide a full erection for as long as the man wishes.

Sensation to the penis is fully intact and a man can ejaculate and have children.

Advanced penile implants represent fourth line ED treatment and they are readily available locally for Bahamian residents

Dr Greggory Pinto

and for medical tourism in the Bahamas.

A story of hope I have first-hand experience with a patient having success with the world’s first successful penile transplant.

Professor Andre Van der Merwe was one of my urologist specialist professors in training and specialised previously in the same urology residency programme that I did, at a tertiary academic hospital that performed the world’s first successful heart transplant in 1967. Professor Van der Merwe performed the world’s first and third successful penile transplants for men who had suffered traumatic penile amputations. The world’s first successful penile transplant was performed on a Black man with a Caucasian

ALS is only 50 percent genetic – identifying DNA regions affected by lifestyle and environmental risk factors could help pinpoint avenues for treatment

BY RAMONA ZWAMBORN, JAN VELDINK AND PAUL J HOP, UTRECHT UNIVERSITY (THE CONVERSATION) – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects about 1 in 50,000 people. Well-known people who suffered from ALS include baseball player Lou Gehrig, who lived two years after he was diagnosed, and scientist Stephen Hawking, who lived for an extraordinary 55 years after his diagnosis. While the severity and speed of disease progression vary from person to person, most people with ALS die within two to five years after diagnosis. No effective therapy currently exists.

Little is known about what causes or increases someone’s risk of developing ALS. Researchers think it’s only around 50 percent genetic, indicating that there are strong environmental and lifestyle risk factors affecting disease development. But very few of these risk factors have been identified.

Wearea team of neuroscientists with a special interest in epigenetics, the study of how the environment influences DNA. By examining the epigenetics of ALS, we found that differences in metabolism, cholesterol and immunity may play a role in disease progression.

Nongenetic risk factors

Epigenetics opens a window into the role environmental factors play in genetic diseases like ALS. One common type of epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, an on-off switch for certain regions of DNA that shift throughout a person’s lifetime.

The ways these on-off patterns changes are known to be shaped by environmental and lifestyle factors.

To unravel how DNA methylation affects ALS, we analysed DNA samples and lifestyle questionnaire responses from almost 10,000 patients with and without ALS. This data was collected by Project MinE, an international initiative creating a database

donor, who died in a motor vehicle accident. The donated penis was tattooed to match the recipient’s dark complexion. I have first-hand knowledge of the first penile transplant recipient going on to have very good erectile function and subsequently have a child through normal sexual intercourse. A tremendously inspirational story for men plagued with severe erectile dysfunction who have given up hope.

Any man can rise again, even if no erections were possible for many years. Loss of the entire penile organ did not prevent this and other penile transplant patients from rising again. If a man who once had no penis after traumatic amputation could rise again like a phoenix from the ashes, then every man can rise again. Never give up hope and never suffer needlessly in silence.

Reach out for confidential, compassionate and comprehensive state of the art erectile dysfunction management and solutions.

The true tragedy for far too many men in the Bahamas is continuing to allow erectile dysfunction to rob them of their happiness, confidence and self-worth; when you can always rise again.

• Dr Greggory Pinto is a board-certified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon.

He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center #2 Fifth Terrace and Mount Royal Avenue, Nassau, Bahamas; Telephone – (242) 322-1145-7; email: welcome@urologycarebahamas.com or visit the website:www.urologycarebahamas.com Our team also examined DNA methylation patterns that reflect exposure to certain environmental or lifestyle factors (such as smoking or high body mass index), or biological processes (such as aging). Even after controlling for the effects of these other common risk factors, we found that metabolism, cholesterol and immunity were still associated with ALS. Changes in methylation patterns for multiple DNA regions, and especially those related to immune processes, were also associated with survival rates for people living with ALS.

Next steps STEPHEN Hawking lived with ALS for 55 years of the genetic profiles of ALS patients.

We discovered differences in methylation patterns between people with ALS and people without ALS in 45 DNA regions.

When we examined the specific genes located in these areas, we found that people with ALS mainly showed differences in methylation on genes that play a role in metabolism, cholesterol production and immunity. These findings support a recent Project MinE study that showed a causal link between high cholesterol levels and ALS.

Currently, no cure exists for this devastating and deadly disease. Our study helps clarify the biological processes that underlie ALS risk factors and disease progression, and could potentially be used to develop new treatments or preventive interventions.

It is important to emphasize, however, that the epigenetic differences between people with and without ALS that we found were small. Our study also doesn’t prove that changes in genes involved in metabolism, cholesterol production or immunity cause or are influenced by ALS. More research is needed before physicians can confidently recommend lifestyle changes to help cut the risk of ALS.

BTVI presses on with HIV/AIDS awareness efforts

(l-r) BTVI’s nurse, Christon Deveaux; HIV and AIDS Centre representatives Raquel Newbold, Sharon Adderley, Britney Miller and Vianna Williams; BTVI’s nurse, Voreetis Barr, and Ministry of Health and Wellness’ nurse, Uvi Johnson. To the rear are HIV and AIDS Centre representatives, Keith Kemp and Shavantee Bowleg.

THE RAPID tests offered during BTVI’s HIV testing event required only a finger prick and a 15-to-20-minute wait time for status results.

Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) students, faculty and staff recently queued to get tested and know their HIV/AIDS status. On hand to facilitate the free testing were healthcare workers and representatives from the HIV and AIDS Centre of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which gave pre- and post-test counseling.

The rapid test required a finger prick and a 15-to-20-minute wait time for status results.

As BTVI plays an integral role in producing globally competitive and economically independent workers, it also prioritises individual health and wellness. BTVI supports and encourages HIV/AIDS testing and has ensured that its students and campus community can get tested and know their status for the last 11 years.

With HIV/AIDS being one of the leading causes of deaths among young people, BTVI’s efforts are also directly aligned with the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ goal to decrease the spread of the deadly disease through education, protection and treatment, as over 1,000 tests have been completed at the institute’s annual testing event to date.

It is inherently important for people to know that HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence and knowledge can save lives. Hence, BTVI’s Student Affairs department makes the HIV/AIDS testing day a priority on its calendar of events.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, April 19, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

A spotlight on public relations

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FROM the age of 16, Derean Romer has been been building her entrepreneurial portfolio. The skills she cultivated in the photography were the perfect foundation on which to establish one of the Bahamas’ newest public relations firms.

DDPR is a Bahamian-owned marketing, public relations and communications firm led by Derean.

“I started my career in public relations about two years ago when I worked as an intern for my mentor, Sharell Carroll. She trained me and really assisted my professional career through her expertise, guidance and exceptional management skills,” she told Tribune Woman.

Derean said her career is truly “fulfilling”.

“There is something exciting about meeting with clients, assessing their PR needs, creating strategies and executing them,” she said.

“My interest began my senior year in college when I attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. The assignments that we had in my PR courses were a lot of fun and they allowed me to be creative and strategic and I thoroughly enjoyed them.”

While Derean has been developing her skills since she was a teen, the stars did not align for

until recently, and not before experiencing a setback.

“One of the most challenging experiences for me was relocating home due to the pandemic. I was in the middle of getting enrolled in a master’s degree programme and then the world went on a pause. It was hard coming back home and having to start from scratch, but it has been a blessing in disguise because I met my now husband, who is my biggest

supporter, and I was able to find a way to help Bahamian businesses thrive while doing what I love,” she said.

One of the major milestones she has hit so far being in business only for a short time occurred earlier this year when her company was engaged by the US-based National Organisation of Minority Architects (NOMA) to facilitate their annual Leadership

Advance conference which was held at Atlantis.

In early January, NOMA issued a request for Bahamian businesses interested in facilitating the event to submit their proposals. Derean did just that and was selected to be the facilitator for the 2022 Leadership Advance – a two-day retreat that focuses on casting NOMA’s vision for the upcoming year, discussing pertinent industry trends and social issues impacting minority individuals within the field of architecture.

“I was very excited, honoured and proud. I immediately knew I needed to make my company and my country – look good,” she said.

Derean was pleased to learn that both the executive director, Tiffany Brown, and the president elect, Pascale Sablan, are Black women.

“I felt so empowered,” she said. “They were such intelligent, professional, business-minded women. I enjoyed being able to facilitate the flow of their event and moderate the important conversations that were had.”

And it’s experiences like this that make her career very rewarding.

“The most rewarding part of my career has been meeting other business owners. We have so many brilliant, hard-working and talented entrepreneurs in this little country. I feel blessed to be able to network with so many of them, assist them with their PR and marketing needs and watch

Did everyone in Bridgerton have syphilis? Just how sexy would it really have been in Regency era London?

By ESMÉ LOUISE JAMES Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Melbourne (THE CONVERSATION) – The success of Netflix’s Bridgerton is owed to many different factors: an addictive storyline, inspired casting choices, a dazzling costume design… and, of course, the fact the show is incredibly sexy.

Bridgerton has finally satisfied an ongoing craving for historical romance (and borderline erotica) which has existed since Mr Darcy’s wet-shirt moment in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

But how sexy would Bridgerton have been in real life?

The show is set in the early years of the 19th century, placing it in the middle of the Regency period and towards the end of the Georgian era. Around this time, it is estimated one in five Londoners would have had syphilis (or “the Pox”) by the age of 35.

If this number isn’t already shocking enough, historians also estimate the number who contracted gonorrhoea or chlamydia was There was no effective cure found for syphilis until the beginning of the 20th century, meaning

if you happened to fall within the unlucky 20 percent of society, there was generally no hope of recovery.

JONATHAN Bailey and Charithra Chandran in season two of Netflix’ Bridgerton

Syphilis in Bridgerton The drama of the recently released season 2 of Bridgerton primarily revolves around the love interest of the eligible Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and the spinsterly Kate Sharma.

However, their enemies-to-lovers romance is complicated by Anthony’s intentions to court the Queen’s favourite and Kate’s younger sister, Edwina Sharma.

Kate’s initial objection to the match concerns Anthony’s objectionable personality – and rumours of his licentious past.

With the prevalence of syphilis at the time in mind, Miss Sharma is rather well justified in rejecting her sister’s match on the basis of the Viscount’s libertine history. As a titillating montage at the beginning of the first episode reminds us, Anthony regularly employed sex workers to help him blow off a little steam at the end of the day.

Brothels and other forms of sex work were prolific across England during this time, commonly referred to as “the great social evil”. Brothels which catered to higher members of society were generally run by women to the

west of London, whereas the bawdy-houses of the East End tended to be run by men.

By the mid-eighteenth century, it was estimated 50 percent of London’s brothels were operated by women. Brothel Madams were generally considered to be more tactful when it came to dealings with clients; frequenting these establishments was something that Lords (and, in some rare cases, Ladies) would regularly do, yet not something that should be spoken of in polite society.

As may well be expected, the spread of syphilis and the popularity of these establishments were not entirely unconnected. Admission records of London’s hospitals and workhouse infirmaries show the disease was particularly rife among young, impoverished, mostly unmarried women, who

used commercial sex to financially support themselves.

With no effective treatment available for the Pox, those afflicted were often prescribed mercury as a treatment (which, with the privilege of our modern worldview, we know to be just as detrimental – if not worse – than untreated syphilis). This led to the popular saying from the period, “A night with Venus, and a lifetime with mercury.”

For this reason, it was common for members of high society, such as Anthony Bridgerton, to have a more exclusive arrangement with a chosen mistress (or mistresses).

This arrangement allowed Lords to minimise their risk of infection without forfeiting this favoured pastime.

Dynamic female duo highlighted by Cable Bahamas The Cable Bahamas Group continues to celebrate its Women in Leadership Campaign, an initiative designed by the Cable Bahamas Group to celebrate 10 of its most senior female executives and expand the conversation about gender parity at every level in the workplace.

The dynamic duo being highlighted this time around share the same title of VP of Finance for sister companies REV and Aliv within the Cable Bahamas group.

They also share a similar start to their career paths in finance, having both begun their professional journey as staff accountants in two of the foremost accounting firms in the world.

Nerika Burrows, VP of Finance at REV, began her career in finance at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a staff accountant. After passing her CPA exams and becoming certified, she moved into the offshore banking industry which led her to the fields of Captive Insurance and Banking and Trust. After consecutively working with a number of foreign entities, Ms Burrows determined that she wanted to take her talents to a local company.

“I remember making a conscious decision back then that I wanted to work for a Bahamian company in the next phase of my accounting career – which landed me at Cable Bahamas as Director of Finance. From there I moved

onto International Finance to understand busiat Paradox Security Sysness and how tems, where I held the every departposition of Global ment in the CFO and General company Manager for the contributes Bahamas Office. to the value The next few years proposition I worked in the of an entity.”

Bahamas SecuriShe then ties Industry at BCSD stepped out of and then I was finally financial operareunited with my former tions and moved NICOLA Ray colleagues back at Cable into the Human Bahamas – after rejoining Resources Division. the company in 2019 as She credits that the VP of Finance,” she experience with said. the cultivaNicola Roy, Aliv tion of her VP of Finance, soft skills via began her journey as the opportua staff accountant at nity to delve Ernst and Young. into human “Fresh out of colcapital manlege, Ernst & Young agement. She was a great training also noted that ground providing strucpowerful female tured training and exposure,” role models made NERIKA Burrows a critical impact she said.

During her time at Ernst and on her journey. “In Young, Mrs Roy completed her both organizations, early on in CPA exams and worked mostly my career I worked along with on financial services clients. After women who held senior roles spending several years there, she from being the first Bahamian joined the finance division of partner in a major accounting Atlantis. firm, to leading the Human “That experience was a Resources Division for the larggood introduction into opera- est single private employer in tions. I quickly learned the the country. In 2016 – I answered benefit of partnering with non- the call and joined the Be Aliv financial operations and the need team shortly after launch as the

Director of Financial Planning and Analysis. Since joining Aliv, I have held the position of Director of Finance and now VP Finance of Aliv. I have had the good fortune of working with a leader who has stretched me and provided opportunities for me to develop and grow by taking an interest in my career and advancement.”

When asked about what she finds most rewarding about her work, Mrs Roy said, “I enjoy being part of such a dynamic industry where there are continual learning opportunities. It’s never boring – every day is a new day.”

Ms Burrows highlighted the profound personal connection she feels to her work and the capacity to make a tangible impact.

“I love that a career in accounting and finance has limitless possibilities. I would also say that the diversity of tasks keeps it rewarding. We enjoy being called on to help predict and prevent risks associated with new products and future ventures, implement and monitor software solutions, analyze large sets of data and help with staffing issues.

Finally, finance work aligns with my personality. I am highly organised, logical, and reliable,” she said. “My job allows me to use both the left (analytical) and right (creative) sides of my brain. At Cable Bahamas, I love being able to work across the teams, I love

their businesses continue to succeed,” she said.

At DDPR, Derean strives to put her customers’ needs first as she focuses on delivering services that are both exceptional and memorable.

“We wanted to be professional and engaging, but with a bit of fun and Bahamian flair tossed in,” she said.

“NOMA really gave me creative liberty to facilitate the event my way. We gave the members a taste of the Bahamas to take home with them in the form of personal rum cakes. It was a huge hit. And the event was a major success.”

Derean’s advice to young Bahamian women in business is: “Don’t discredit yourself. Go after the work you want and know that you have every right to be at the table.

Don’t settle for less than what you truly want.”

And to those who hope to pursue international business opportunities, she said: “Your authenticity is your biggest marketing edge. Be yourself. Make sure your pitches are thoughtful and distinct, pay attention to the details, and don’t be afraid to fail.”

Derean hopes to work with many more outstanding Bahamian and international clients and hopes that her example encourages other Bahamian women in business to chase their dreams as well.

For more information, contact connect@ddpr.co.

Prevention is better than a cure (and also doesn’t exist) It wasn’t just a cure for STIs that was lacking, but also preventative methods. While condoms did exist, they were not anywhere near as widely accessible, encouraged, or effective as we know them today.

One of the major proprietors of condoms within London (particularly for sex workers) was the infamous Mrs Phillips, who held a shop in Leicester Square. These were made of sheep and goat gut, pickled, and fashioned by hand on glass moulds by Mrs Phillips herself.

While certainly better than nothing, the material by which these condoms were made meant that they were generally prone to breaking (and certainly not a sexy addition to any licentious affairs).

It would not be until the 1910s that the first effective treatment for syphilis was discovered through the development of the drug, Salvarsan. Until this stage, mercury remained the primary treatment for the disease. By the 1940s, a safe and accessible cure was established with the production of penicillin.

While Bridgerton is not limited by the often-strangulating bounds of historical accuracy, it is rather fascinating to consider the dirtier environmental factors that did impact this world of balls and fine fabrics.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com that my team and I are the ‘go to’ resource group that provides all the financial intelligence that guides the business.”

Ms Burrows offered this advice to women in any workplace: “Being and bringing your best self – your authentic self to work every day produces the best results for you and the organization. I have learnt that hard work always pays off. Listen to your inner self (which comes from above) and let it guide your decisions. Finally, that growth should be constant, not only in your work life but in every other part of your life.

Mrs. Roy says the secret to her success is seeking to add value, “I always work to add value to my company, my staff, and myself.

Further, I stay grounded in my faith, I do my best to stay humble and to learn from my mistakes instead of beating myself up – and to take an interest.”

She went on to praise the entire Women in Leadership Initiative, saying, “I applaud the Cable Bahamas Group for such an outstanding program. There is much to do to break through the glass ceiling, but it’s through initiatives such as these that the wider community is reminded that women are also capable of successfully holding senior leadership roles.

There are cracks developing in the ceiling and hopefully with continued ‘noise’, focus and hard work, the ceiling will break.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, PAGE 13

Review: ‘In on the Joke’ showcases trailblazing women comics

By MAE ANDERSON Associated Press The first women stand-up comics broke down barriers and paved the way for a multitude of women who followed them. But it wasn’t an easy path. Not only did they have to defy the conventional wisdom that women shouldn’t work at all and just be homemakers and mothers, they also had to face almost certain rejection from the gatekeepers of comedy, from agents to TV hosts and bookers, who resisted the notion that women can be as funny as men.

And yet, a few women defied the odds and broke through.

Shawn Levy’s “In on the Joke” offers a breezy tour through some of the biggest names, from Jackie “Moms” Mabley, a Black comedian who headlined at the Apollo theater and created a wizened old lady persona onstage, to Phyllis Diller, who broke through with a wacky persona and poked fun at her husband and family, and Joan Rivers, the acerbic stand-up comic, who Levy says combines the strands of many of the women comedians before her.

Spanning roughly the decades from the 1930s through the 1980s, Levy touches on the general comedy trends intertwined with several of the women’s careers, such as the debut of the “party record” — raunchy albums of the ’50s and ’60s — and rise of the so-called “sick comedians” like Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl who eschewed the one-liners of comedians like Bob Hope for more observational comedy.

But he keeps his focus on the women’s individual stories, dividing the book into eight chapters that serve as mini profiles of each

comedian. Some, like Elaine May and Joan Rivers, are still well known today. But “In on the Joke” also profiles comedians including Moms Mabley, Belle Barth, Jean Carroll and Totie Fields, pioneers who were once big names but have since faded into relative obscurity.

Levy doesn’t delve too deeply into any individual story. But the overview serves as a useful starting point for comedy buffs wanting to learn more about each of these trailblazing comedians.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 59° F/15° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Intervals of clouds and sun

Mainly clear; breezy late

Strong winds gradually subsiding

Windy with times of clouds and sun

Partly sunny with winds subsiding

Partly sunny, showers around; windy

High: 82°

Low: 72°

High: 80° Low: 71°

High: 83° Low: 72°

High: 81° Low: 71°

High: 82° Low: 72°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

89° F

71° F

81°-68° F

86°-70° F

86°-70° F

86°-70° F

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° 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

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N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C

10-20 knots

S

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

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| Go to AccuWeather.com

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C

MIAMI

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 70° F/21° C

8-16 knots

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 72° F/22° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

N

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

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

10:27 a.m.

10:58 p.m.

2.6 3.3

4:36 a.m. -0.4 4:33 p.m. -0.6

Wednesday 11:18 a.m.

11:52 p.m.

2.4 3.2

5:28 a.m. -0.3 5:25 p.m. -0.4

Thursday

12:16 p.m.

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2.3 -----

6:26 a.m. -0.1 6:22 p.m. -0.2

Friday

12:52 a.m.

1:20 p.m.

3.0 2.2

7:28 a.m.

7:26 p.m.

0.0 0.0

Saturday

1:57 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

2.9 2.2

8:34 a.m.

8:37 p.m.

0.1 0.1

Sunday

3:04 a.m.

3:41 p.m.

2.8 2.3

9:41 a.m.

9:50 p.m.

0.2 0.2

Monday

4:10 a.m.

4:47 p.m.

2.8 2.4

10:42 a.m. 0.1 10:58 p.m. 0.2

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:44 a.m.

7:34 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:03 p.m.

8:52 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Apr. 23

Apr. 30

May 8

May 15

CAT ISLAND

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High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

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6-12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 81° F/27° C Normal low ........................................ 69° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 92° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 70° F/21° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 7.32” Normal year to date ..................................... 5.56”

uV inDex toDay

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

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High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

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LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

6-12 knots

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

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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4-8 knots

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

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

WINDS N at 8-16 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots N at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots W at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNW at 6-12 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots N at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NW at 6-12 Knots NNE at 12-25 Knots NW at 4-8 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NW at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots N at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots N at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NW at 6-12 Knots NNE at 12-25 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 JENNIFER Lopez and Ben Affleck at a special screening of her film “Marry Me. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Is love the second time around even sweeter ?

Ben and Jen set the example and Bahamians agree

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net WHEN Jennifer Lopez announced her (second!) engagement to Ben Affleck last week, there was certainly a feeling of déja vu in the air.

After all, it was two decades ago that the pending “Bennifer” nuptials were all Hollywood was talking about.

But after splitting up and each marrying and starting families with other people, everyone thought the love story was over.

That was until last July, when the pair unexpectedly rekindled their love. They are once again hot and heavy, and apparently ecstatic to try love again.

But is love the second time around actually worth it, or is a recipe for a second helping of heartache?

This week, Tribune Woman readers spoke out on the topic, with many agreeing that love the second time around is even sweeter.

“My boyfriend dated for a year and then broke again. We had a few years apart in relationships that didn’t work out and then about six months ago we got back together,” Ashley said.

“It’s been great. I think the time apart was good for us in that it made him realise that he really loved me and wanted a life with me. Back then, I think he was scared of commitment, which annoyed me, but since we’ve been back together, he has shown me he is ready for this.”

Anitra said after a very nasty break-up and separation, she and her husband have decided to try to make their marriage work after all.

“So, I will say right off the

bat, he cheated on me and that was very hard to forgive, but I feel that it was a one-time mistake and that he genuinely regrets what has happened. We separated for about two years, but neither of us could actually take that final step to finalise the divorce. We were still a big part of each other’s lives. We finally sat down one night and decided that it was all or nothing - either we got divorced and walked away from each other forever or we got back together and put the past behind us,” she said.

“We decided to let the past go and our marriage gets better every day. I realise that while I didn’t cause him to cheat, there were things I did that made him feel I wouldn’t care what he did and he realised how cheating hurt me and we both worked at our relationship more.”

Reuniting after a significant time period is a great idea, Lanae said.

“I think that sometimes you may just not be at the right stage of life to be with someone.

Like when me and my husband started dating, I was younger and still a bit immature, I pushed his buttons a lot because I wasn’t supportive of the fact that he was working and in school part-time trying to better himself. I was just mad he didn’t spend as much money on me as the boyfriends of my friends did on them. It caused a lot of fights. I really had to grow up and catch sense and he needed time to focus on what he was doing for the future,” she said.

“But five years later, his brother passed away. I reached out to offer my sympathy and we slowly got back together. It is like day and night; we are both

in good places, each making good money in jobs we love. He sees that I have matured and have more financial responsibility. And I see how hard-working and amazing he is, so we got back together and things are just awesome.”

Minnie and her soon-to-be second husband have even Ben and Jen beat when it comes to time spent apart.

The two dated as teenagers, but split up in their 20s to marry other people. They lived separate lives and raised their families, but when their respective spouses passed away a few years ago, they reconnected. Now in their 60s, love has bloomed again.

“Never in a million years would I have thought I would ever be marrying by childhood sweetheart, but here we are, some 40 years later and in love,” said Minnie.

A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A UNIQUE AMBITION

By FELICITY DARVILLE TELIAH Glass, pictured, will graduate from high school in a matter of weeks.

Her aspirations lead her to a field few would consider - mortuary science. The average person would be afraid of dead bodies. But Talia embraces the field and hopes to become a business owner with her own funeral home one day.

“From the time I knew myself, I have always been into dead bodies,” said the CR Walker student.

“When I graduate, I would like to start off at the University of the Bahamas majoring in chemistry. Then I want to move on to the University of Mississippi to get my Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science.”

Her goal was born out of tragedy. Teliah had an experience that shook her and changed the trajectory of her life. She lost her mother, Laurene Tamika Glass, at the age of 14.

“Losing her was the toughest obstacle I have ever faced,” Teliah said of her mother, who lost her battle with cancer.

High schooler works towards becoming funeral home owner “She was my number one it was offered in school. It supporter... she’s the love of is likely that she would not learn these skills in colmy life.”

When it was time for lege either. Wanting to give her mother’s body to be herself a head-start in her prepared, Teliah’s natu- career, she chose to take ral interest in the subject the course in order to learn prompted her to ensure the skills needed to run her that the utmost respect and own business.

“The course was amazcare was given to the body.

The funeral home did that, ing! I got to learn the basic and it solidified her interest skill of starting a business the easiest way possible,” in it as a career. she said.

“After losing “The instruc‘Losing (my my mother... and tors were very seeing the money mother) knowledgeable and that undertakers patient. The entire make... it inspired was the process - the entire me more, because toughest experience - is now I can do obstacle I something no one something I am should miss out passionate about have ever on. It also gives me and be wealthy at faced.’ another certificate the same time,” she to add to my portsaid. folio that I can be proud When Teliah heard about the University of the West of.”

Teliah will take another Indies’ Open Campus Bahamas’ (UWIOCB) course with UWIOCB this High School Summer Pro- summer to hone her skills in entrepreneurship even gramme, she jumped at the further. opportunity to take up a “High school doesn’t give course in entrepreneurship you the hands-on training and small business manage- that this course does,” she ment. She said nothing like

explained.

“Also, there are so many opportunities available when you complete the course.”

Teliah said her mother was always a go-getter, and she plans to carry that spirit with her as she continues to pursue her studies, and throughout life.

“She’s always been a person to set goals and accomplish them by any means necessary,” she shared.

Bridgette Cooper, Country Head for UWIOCB, said the institution is committed to helping students like Teliah succeed. The summer programme will be held for five to seven weeks this summer. It is back by popular demand, requested by the students after a successful pilot programme in 2021.

Mrs Cooper is inviting the general public to participate in an event designed to raise funds to provide partial scholarships to high school students who are eager to join the programme but need assistance with funding.

UWIOCB’s first annual

fun run/walk/push event will be held on Saturday, April 30, with proceeds going to the scholarships for these students. Registration is now open for the

5k race. To register, visit www.open.uwi.edu, or call 323-6593/456-6687; on Facebook: UWIOCCSB and Instagram: uwi. oc.bahamas.