04302021 BUSINESS

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FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

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Flowers defeats web shop Vaccination critical to open Bahamas’ chief’s $1m dismissal claim ‘tourism floodgates’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

C

RAIG Flowers’ FML web shop chain has defeated a $1m constructive dismissal claim by a former senior executive who was found to have “abandoned” his post following a probe into “irregularities”.

Justice Keith Thompson, in an April 20, 2021, verdict found that Deyvon Jones, FML’s former chief operating officer, was not terminated but instead “never returned to his employment” after an investigation was conducted into a scheme to allegedly inflate his compensation payments from

• Ex-FML executive found to have ‘abandoned’ post • Move followed probe into purported ‘irregularities’ • Same-day deposits/withdrawals inflated earnings

CRAIG FLOWERS the web shop chain.

The ruling details how Mr Jones and two colleagues obtained permission to form a company, Blue Star

Holdings, which was to manage FML’s 19 “express stores” from November 1, 2017.

The performance-based compensation agreement struck with Mr Flowers and FML meant that the higher the daily amount/volume of customer deposits at those “express stores”, the greater Mr Jones’ share of daily profits.

However, FML launched an investigation after realising that deposits made in the morning were being withdrawn that very same evening. Suspecting

that this was a scheme to unduly inflate compensation paid to Mr Jones and Blue Star, FML ultimately terminated the latter’s management agreement for the “express stores” via a February 23, 2018, letter.

This prompted Mr Jones, who helped bring the former Fantasy web shop chain to Mr Flowers and integrate it into FML’s business, to file his claim for constructive dismissal on the basis that the latter had stopped paying his monthly

SEE PAGE 4

Hutchison ‘ratcheting up’ on Royal Caribbean talks

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A CABINET minister yesterday said Hutchison Whampoa is “ratcheting up their game” to enable protracted negotiations for the Grand Lucayan’s sale to finally conclude.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that the Hong Kong-headquartered conglomerate “understands the urgency” to facilitate the hotel deal by reaching agreement with the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture for Freeport Harbour’s redevelopment.

“I’m advised that it’s imminent,” the minister said of the harbour agreement.

“The local company [Freeport Harbour Company] is almost completely done with its negotiations with ITM

• Minister: They ‘understand urgency’ on Grand Lucayan • Admits ‘tough task’ to raise $50m-$60m for airport • Govt ‘couldn’t conceive’ anyone else buying gateway

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. It’s very close. I’m advised that it will then be to Hong Kong for the final blessing.

“I’ve been advised they [Hutchison] understand the urgency that the government is applying, and are now

Businesses ‘stunned’ by water cut-off threat

By NEIL HARTNELL and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporters

“STUNNED” Bahamian businesses in three Family Islands yesterday blasted the potential loss of water supply from Monday as “disgusting”, and said: “The government needs to step in like yesterday.”

Thomas Sands, the Eleuthera Chamber Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business that the island’s private sector was “blindsided” by Aqua Design Bahamas’ warning that it will cease water production from May 3 and

leave residents/businesses in the island’s south without a potable supply.

“The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce is stunned to learn of the statement by Aqua Design in relation to the intended decommissioning of water plants, specifically South Eleuthera,” Mr Sands messaged to this newspaper.

“Based on my recent conversations with residents and business owners, no one in Eleuthera knew this was coming. The situation is dire, and we are calling on our government to

SEE PAGE 9

Doctors Hospital ‘going miles to be investor magnet’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net DOCTORS Hospital’s tie-up with the Cleveland Clinic “will go miles to becoming a magnet” for The Bahamas to attract high net worth investors concerned about healthcare, its president said yesterday.

Dr Charles Diggiss, pictured, who is also the BISX-listed healthcare provider’s largest shareholder, told the Grand Bahama Business Outlook that “one of the more significant things” in its alliance with the $11bn global

conglomerate is the ability to “reassure” persons wanting access to high quality medical care should they relocate to this nation.

Suggesting that the partnership will “create a magnet effect” for foreign

SEE PAGE 6

ratcheting up their game to make it a reality.” Tribune Business has long reported that ITM/Royal Caribbean, and their Holistica joint venture, will not close the Grand Lucayan’s purchase until they have sealed the harbour’s redevelopment.

Closing on one before the other would give either Freeport Harbour Company, which is 50 percent owned and managed by Hutchison Whampoa, or the government the power and negotiating leverage to squeeze more concessions from ITM/Royal Caribbean knowing that the joint venture will be increasingly desperate to wrap up

negotiations on the last component for its project.

The Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Port Group Ltd affiliate owns the remaining 50 percent in Freeport Harbour Company, whose agreement is vital to enabling the expansion of cruise ship berths and development of a water-based adventure park that will accompany a revived Grand Lucayan.

Mr D’Aguilar’s assessment was echoed by Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for Grand Bahama, who told yesterday’s Grand Bahama Business Outlook

SEE PAGE 4

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE tourism “floodgates” will open if The Bahamas can tell its core visitor markets that its population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a top government official asserted yesterday.

Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, told a Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference panel discussion that achieving so-called herd immunity and mass inoculation would “be the best marketing tool that could be handed to us” in reviving an industry estimated to generate around half of all Bahamian jobs and economic activity.

Adding her voice to growing warnings that the Bahamian economy will never be able to fully recover from the pandemic’s devastation unless the majority of its population become vaccinated, Mrs Jibrilu said her ministry’s primary goal had always been health and safety especially that of front-line tourism workers interacting with foreign visitors.

“For The Bahamas to be able to say that we, as a nation, our population is fully vaccinated and our country is a safe place to visit, that would open the floodgates as people would want to travel, but health and safety is a big concern,” she added.

“That would be the best marketing tool that could be handed to us at this time, but that goes hand in hand with having to protect citizens.”

Mrs Jibrilu also defended The Bahamas’ requirement that, prior to tomorrow, all visitors had to produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within five days of travelling to this nation.

JOY JIBRILU This measure will be relaxed tomorrow for all visitors who can prove they are fully vaccinated, meaning they have received two COVID-19 jabs, but the policy has come under fire from repeated letters to this newspaper - especially from Canadians - complaining that the PCR test is too costly, difficult to access and makes the logistics of arranging travel just too cumbersome and uncertain.

The Ministry of Tourism’s director-general said people had questioned whether The Bahamas was “mad” for insisting on a negative PCR test, amid suggestions that it would deter what little tourism business there was during COVID-19, but argued that the opposite occurred because persons wanted to visit a destination that was safe and taking the virus seriously.

However, Dr Monique Pratt, a fellow panellist, conceded that The Bahamas has “a ways to go” to get its vaccinated population up to a level where it can achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 with even her fellow medical professionals sceptical about taking the jab.

The Kidney Centre consultant said: “I had to convince a few of my front-line doctors to take the vaccine. It was a very

SEE PAGE 6

PAGE 2, Friday, April 30, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 30, 2021, PAGE 3

BAHAMAS ‘LEFT BEHIND’ IF FAILS TO COMPETE DIGITALLY

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahama businesses.

Explaining the rationale for the “Discover app”, which will launch this summer, she added: “What we wanted to design was a way that can empower tourists to go out and explore and discover The Bahamas for themselves, and also it’s a great way for locals to discover The Bahamas themselves.

“This concept is not unique to anything we’ve done; this is the wave of the future. So this is something we started working on about three years ago. All of the museums, all of the cultural sites all around the world, the Louvre, etc… everyone has been doing the same thing.

“Everybody clearly had been working on similar sorts of projects over the

past few years, finding new ways to connect visitors to their countries or domestic tourists themselves with authentic ways to experience a country and the culture using both digital and real life experiences,” Ms Brown continued.

“The most important thing about apps like Discover app is that all of this is downloadable and you can go to the Aliv Discovery maps on either the Google Play store or in the Apple store and download this app today.”

When users download the Discover app they can expect to be taken to different locations across The Bahamas. It is designed as a homing beacon that will drive customers to businesses, offering 3D virtual experiences where persons

can have an “augmented reality experience”.

The Discover app will allow businesses to “design” their customer’s journey particularly for demanding customers, while “The List app” will be introduced to Grand Bahama in the upcoming months.

The List app, which has been trialled in New Providence, allows qualified Aliv subscribers to receive rewards from participating partners in their MyALIV app. Once customers have achieved a qualifying level of spend, they are automatically enrolled and become eligible for discounts on goods and services from companies.

Ms Brown said: “The List is really just a way for Bahamians to transform how they engage with

loyalty rewards. So we all have things like the Starbucks card or this card or that card, and just a dozen cards in your wallet, if you get right up to it, or you have to keep track of this number or that number.

What The List does, it simply aggregates all of that into one tool or one app that gives you access.

“Up until now we’ve piloted it in Nassau, so dozens of retailers across four to six product areas, with everything from food to travel experiences and discretionary items.” Aliv has more than 180,000 customers that use its platform, with The List providing a way for customers to reach out to local businesses and give them an opportunity to showcase their products and services.

Govt approves $130m GB investment project

Baltimore. This newspaper was previously told its Discovery Bay investment could be just the first stage in a much bigger vision that could potentially see Weller Development fill the vacuum created by Hutchison Whampoa, and its Grand Bahama Development Company (Devco) affiliate, when it comes to real estate-based ventures that could regenerate Freeport’s and, by extension, Grand Bahama’s wider economy.

Elsewhere, Mr Thompson confirmed Doctors Hospital’s strategic partnership with the Cleveland Clinic will result in a “flagship” hospital/medical facility being constructed in Grand Bahama for 2022. He described it as the BISXlisted healthcare provider’s “most advanced” project,

adding that it will become “a centre of excellence” in Cleveland Clinic’s network.

“Adding to the growing list of non-traditional investor projects coming to Grand Bahama is Doctors Hospital’s flagship facility, a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic,” the minister added. “In January of this year, Doctors Hospital announced it had formed a strategic advisory council with the renowned Cleveland Clinic to broaden its scope of healthcare services and enhance delivery throughout the country.

“A new facility, planned for 2022, is slated for construction in Grand Bahama.

It is expected to be Doctor’s Hospital’s most advanced. It will take its place as a center of excellence in the Cleveland Clinic network.”

Dr Charles Diggiss,

Doctors Hospital’s president, told Tribune Business earlier this year that the proposed Grand Bahama healthcare facility will be “comparable to our New Providence” assets. He added that development of a private “in-patient” care facility in Grand Bahama had already required six months of planning work at the time.

“It will be at least comparable to what Doctors Hospital in New Providence is, but we’re looking at an ability to expand it and consideration given, due to our relationship with the Cleveland Clinic, whether that becomes the flagship Doctors Hospital/Cleveland Clinic facility in Grand Bahama,” he told this newspaper, adding that a 2022 opening date is being eyed.

approach to doing business, and we came to the realisation that we not only need to rebuild our businesses so that we can continue to provide needed goods and services to our customers here on the island, but we also needed to be more creative and progressive in our

thinking,” Mr Laroda said.

“So Dorian actually signed all of us up to be participants in this race called the digital transformation. It’s no longer if we’re going to do it for our business in order to continue, but it’s how we’re going to do it. As far as

the retail sectors are concerned, online shopping is here. It was here prior to Dorian and the pandemic, and it’s even here in a bigger way now.

“So in order to compete, we must not only rebound but we have to rebound stronger.”

THE Bahamas is “in danger of being left behind” unless it exploits the same digital tools that foreign competitors are using to sell goods and services here, a senior Aliv executive warned yesterday.

Gravette Brown, the mobile phone provider’s chief commercial officer, told the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference that those companies able to “future proof” their operations the best will be those with the strongest connections with their customers.

Referring to “the struggle of being left behind and the possibility of being left behind”, she added: “Future-proofing your

business, and designing what it looks like for the next two, three or even five years from now is critical.”

Ms Brown urged Bahamians to shed the mindset of thinking, whenever they see foreign companies employing new and innovative business practices, that things will never be done like that in this nation.

“The world is moving that way, the world is increasingly global, and coming in the backdoor with products, services and competition,” she warned. “And unless we in this tiny country take these tools and use them, we are in danger of being left behind.”

Ms Brown said Aliv has launched two apps, the Discover app and The List app, which will shortly be made available to Grand

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday confirmed the government has approved a $130m investment, previously revealed by Tribune Business, to help “revitalise” Grand Bahama’s economy.

Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for finance, told the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference that Weller Development’s project at Discovery Bay will create

GOVT FINANCING AIDS ALMOST 200 GB FIRMS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama micro, small and medium-sized firm (MSMEs) have to-date attracted just under four percent of the $50m made available to the sector this fiscal year, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for finance, told the Grand Bahama Business Outlook: “The government has allocated some $50m for the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) this budget year alone. To-date some 192 businesses in Grand Bahama have benefited, representing a total of $1.8m being injected into MSMEs. “More and more businesses have begun to shift to technology and

around 100 jobs locally although he did not break this down between construction and permanent posts.

The project will be

located on the 30-acre Barbary Beach site previously owned by Marriott, and Mr Thompson said: “The government has now approved the mixed-use development, which is slated to include a small format marina, retail pavilions, for-rent villas and for-sale estates. The total capital investment planned is approximately $130m with a projection of creating approximately 100 local jobs.”

Weller Development is presently spearheading a 235-acre waterfront redevelopment project in

digital-based services.

Lessons from Hurricane Dorian, as well as the unprecedented onset of the pandemic, made this shift almost a necessity for our local businesses.

The government has taken the position to encourage businesses to continue this trend as we aim to digitise our services and improve the ease of doing business and efficiency in our country.”

Describing small businesses as “the economic heart of our communities”, Mr Thompson added: “The success of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) keeps our islands alive. To use the Bahamian vernacular, ‘mom-and-pop shops’ help to keep food on the table and children in school for many Bahamian families.”

Gregory Laroda, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, told the same conference: “When we speak about rebounding, and rebounding better, as far

as businesses are concerned you really have to be looking at digital transformation.

“Prior to Dorian, and prior to the pandemic, we did a lot of talking as it relates to digital transformation. Some of us opted to get into the race and try to improve our businesses, but others didn’t and were quite content with keeping funds to run their business under the same mattress with the funds that they used to run their households.”

Mr Laroda added that, as a consequence of Dorian and COVID-19, there remains a need to raise capital to rebound from these twin impacts and the “dire situation” Grand Bahama finds itself in. However, many companies have been unable to access credit from established financial institutions because they lack up-to-date financial information on past company performance.

“This highlighted the importance of taking a new

KWASI THOMPSON

PAGE 4, Friday, April 30, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Flowers defeats web shop chief’s $1m dismissal claim FROM PAGE ONE $30,000 salary as of November 2017.

Mr Jones also alleged that he was unable to perform his job from February 23, 2018, because he was “locked out” of the web shop’s computer system while FML had also “started an unsubstantiated rumour” that he “was engaged in fraudulent activity”.

He claimed damages that included $720,000, or two years’ salary; some $120,000 in unpaid wages between September 2017 and February 2018; and other sums that included accrued vacation and three months’ termination notice. The total amounted to more than $1m.

FML, though, countered with a defence that asserted Mr Jones’ computer access was only restricted “in order to facilitate an

investigation of irregularities involving the operation of the ‘express stores’”. The probe “disclosed unauthorised behaviour and internal fraud taking place..... that would benefit [Mr Jones] under the new compensation arrangement”.

The web shop chain added that apart from the restricted computer access, Mr Jones was never barred from coming to the office, but instead he “never returned to his workplace after the investigation started” and therefore “abandoned his job” without notice to FML. The scheme to inflate deposits was reported to the Gaming Board, with FML alleging that - at the time - it had already incurred $50,000 in legal and accounting costs for doing so and these were continuing to mount. These claims, though, were vehemently denied by Mr Jones

who alleged that Fantasy’s eight outlets increased FML’s footprint by onethird, taking it from 16 to 24 stores.

He also claimed that the same-day deposit and withdrawal of monies at FML’s express stores “was a feature I had asked several times to be addressed, as based on the compliance rules under the Gaming Board this is not permitted”.

Asserting that he was “blindsided” after being informed that an investigation had already been underway into these transactions for two to three weeks, Mr Jones alleged: “I asked Mr Flowers to give me a few days to get to the bottom of what was going on, as I am sure there had to be a logical explanation.

“At the surface, and to be absolutely clear, there was no win or loss to FML as a whole as no funds would have been gained

or lost in this exercise.”

FML, though, in its original defence did not see it that way by alleging that the “overpayment” of compensation to Mr Jones was still being determined.

Justice Thompson determined that the case centred around the November 1, 2017, “letter of understanding” whereby Blue Star, a company for which Mr Jones acted as president, was to take over management of FML’s “express stores”.

Describing Blue Star as being “in somewhat of a quandry”, because it was only incorporated 19 days’ later, Justice Thompson agreed that this - together with the fact the arrangement had not been approved by the Gaming Board - meant the arrangement with FML was “void”.

However, describing the case as an employment issue, he said that neither Mr Jones nor FML

produced any evidence or testimony confirming the former was terminated from his post. Rather, “the undisputed evidence is that the incentive-based agreement was terminated,” the judge added.

Justice Thompson, having heard evidence from Philip Galanis, the HLB Galanis & Company managing partner, about “the gush of deposits and withdrawals at the express stores”, also backed FML’s decision to lock Mr Jones and others out of the web shop chain’s computer system while it conducted its investigation.

“The evidence does not disclose that the defendant terminated the plaintiff,” Justice Thompson found.

“What it does disclose is that an extremely thorough investigation was carried out once the suspicious activities were brought to its attention.”

This resulted in Mr Jones receiving the February 23,

2018, letter from Mr Flowers’ son, Jason, which said the Blue Star management agreement - and not his employment - were being terminated.

“It has come to my attention that there has been a falsification of the accounting system operating under the 1Click Platform, which handles the day-to-day operation,” Jason Flowers wrote. “Further that, based on this falsification, percentages have been manipulated to benefit [Blue Star]. Furthermore, your company has admitted to and acknowledged that this has occurred.”

Finding that Mr Jones never returned to work after the investigation began, Justice Thompson ruled: “The fact is that there was no termination of the plaintiff by the defendant.

The plaintiff just never returned to his employment right up to the time of trial.”

Hutchison ‘ratcheting up’ on Royal Caribbean talks FROM PAGE ONE conference: “I am pleased to report that Hutchison and Royal Caribbean/ITM Group have reported progress in their agreement to create a new cruise port. The Government is also working to finalise the hotel portion.”

One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this newspaper: “The important thing is that Royal Caribbean is coming to buy the hotel. I think within 30 days it might be done. Hutchison is going to sign the deal. It hasn’t been signed yet, but it’s going to be done in a few weeks.”

Mr D’Aguilar declined to be drawn on a timeline for completing all negotiations, given that the initial agreements were signed in early March 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the Bahamian and

GRAND LUCAYAN COURTYARD world economies, including the cruise industry. This newspaper, though, understands that a 30-day closing may be too optimistic and that early to mid-summer is more realistic.

The tourism minister, meanwhile, admitted that the government and private sector partner that will ultimately be selected

to manage Grand Bahama International Airport face “a tough task” to raise the $50m-$60m in capital required to revive the Hurricane Dorian-devastated gateway.

Speaking following yesterday’s formal signing that saw the government take over the 2,500 airport’s ownership, Mr D’Aguilar said:

“We don’t want to buy the airport and come to a dead stop. We have to ascertain how to proceed.

“The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has provided some funding to hire LeighFisher, an airport consultant that will help us to craft a request for proposal (RFP) to engage an investor capable of entering a private-private partnership, raise funds and operate the airport.”

That RFP is due to be issued within the next 60-90 days, but Mr D’Aguilar declined to be drawn on criticisms that Hutchison Whampoa has been able to off-load its two nonperforming Grand Bahama assets, the airport and the Grand Lucayan, on to the government and Bahamian taxpayer together with their associated costs and liabilities.

The taxpayer has already kicked-in more than $100m to keep the Grand Lucayan afloat since the government bought it in September 2018, but Mr D’Aguilar said of the airport: “I think that on the face of it the government got a good deal.

“They got an operational asset for around $1m, and based on what has been invested in 11,000 feet of runway and ramps, the Freeport Harbour Company/Hutchison brought the airport back - not to its past glory, but they

operationalised it.”

He then conceded: “Airports cost tens of millions of dollars to operate. While the immediate outlay might be considered a good deal, we are in a for a tough task to raise the money to reconstruct and rebuild the airport for the island of Grand Bahama.

“But we couldn’t conceive anyone else buying that airport. It had to be the government. The vast majority of airports, ports and ports of entry around the world are all owned by the government.”

The magnitude of that task is illustrated by the fact Grand Bahama International Airport is presently generating minimal cash flow due to the lack of airlift, hotel rooms and tourism activity on the island.

While much of that is driven by Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, figures released yesterday showed less than 4,000 arrivals for each of January, February and March 2021, which will generate nowhere near enough revenue to service the $50m-$60m debt financing that will fund the airport’s redevelopment.

“We need to build something that accommodates US pre-clearance,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “Grand Bahama had pre-clearance before Nassau. It had it for a considerable period of time, and was one of the

Legal Notice International Business Companies Act, 2000

FIONIA LIMITED Notice is hereby given that in the accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of FIONIA LIMITED was completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the dissolution was 30th December, 2000.

Amicorp Bahamas Management Limited Bahamas Financial Centre, 3rd Floor, Shirley & Charlotte Street, P.o.Box N-4865 Nassau, Bahamas

Legal Notice International Business Companies Act, 2000

Knight Reserve Ltd. Notice is hereby given that in the accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of Knight Reserve Ltd., was completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the dissolution was 30th December, 2000.

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few airports that had it. We want it rebuilt, and will build whatever we need to build to ensure pre-clearance returns to Grand Bahama.”

Mr D’Aguilar said neither the Airport Authority, nor the eventual operator of Grand Bahama International Airport, will be subject to GBPA licence fees. Companies operating within the airport, such as retailers and restaurants, will also be exempt from these for five years with the possibility of a further five-year extension.

The prime minister, in his address at the airport handover, said the government will pay $1m towards staff severance costs as they transition to Airport Authority ownership.

“The Freeport Harbour Company has invested $1.6m to convert the Fixed Based Operation or FBO into a new temporary terminal, and has been subsidising the monthly operating costs of this facility,” Dr Hubert Minnis said.

“After the transfer date, and until the new PPP is identified through the RFP process, the government has committed to continue to carry these costs.”

The government is also investing $1.5m to rebuild the Customs Warehouse, carry-out elevator and make structural repairs to the Air Traffic Control Tower, plus secure office space for the airport management team and airlines.

US VOWS AGAIN TO BAN MENTHOL FLAVOR IN CIGARETTES, CIGARS WASHINGTON Associated Press US health regulators pledged again yesterday to try to ban menthol cigarettes, this time under pressure from African American groups to remove the mint flavour popular among Black smokers.

The Food and Drug Administration has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from Big Tobacco, members of Congress and competing political interests in both the Obama and Trump administrations.

Any menthol ban will take years to implement and will likely face legal challenges from tobacco companies.

Yesterday’s announcement is the result of a lawsuit filed by anti-smoking and medical groups last summer to force the FDA to finally make a decision on menthol, alleging that regulators had “unreasonably delayed” responding to a 2013 petition seeking to ban the flavour.

The deadline for the agency’s response was yesterday. The FDA said it aims to propose regulations banning the flavour in the coming year and declined to speculate on when the rule would be finalised.

The action would also ban menthol and fruity flavours from low-cost, small cigars, which are increasingly popular with young people, especially Black teens.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 30, 2021, PAGE 5

Govt investing $4.9m in east GB microgrids

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said the government is investing $4.9m to install micro grids across east Grand Bahama.

Senator Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for finance, told the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference that the rollout is part of an initiative to rebuild Dorian-devastated energy infrastructure in a more resilient way

by incorporating renewable energy sources into the grid.

Speaking to the project, which is being led by the Ministry of Finance with financing provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Mr Thompson said: “Micro grids will allow this area to be powered by renewable energy while running independently from the main power grid.

“Solar-powered energy will be used to reduce our

reliance on imported fossil fuels, while simultaneously minimising the impact on our environment. The isolation feature will become particularly useful in the event of future natural disasters as the micro grids can separate themselves from areas experiencing complications, meaning power can still be provided to those in unaffected areas.”

This project will begin later in 2021 and continue into 2022. The first phase, starting in September,

involves Sweeting’s Cay and McLean’s Town, and will enable power distribution into the neighbouring cays and Pelican Point. The second phase will start in November and involve installations in Free Town and High Rock that will also provide power to Rocky Creek.

Mr Thompson said: “In east Grand Bahama, the government has already begun its solar

street lighting project. Solar lights will be installed on poles to provide much-needed lighting for residents of McLean’s Town, Sweetings Cay, Pelican Point, High Rock, Freetown and Water Cay.” The work is estimated to be completed within two months, and up to ten people will be directly employed on the project.

Mr Thompson said additional work will be provided

through sub-contractors, with the hope that these microgrid systems will be a model for every Bahamian community.

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‘Magical’ peninsula available for $23m A “MAGICAL” 80-acre North Eleuthera peninsula is said by realtors to hold “endless potential” for potential buyers who have the means to afford the $23m purchase price.

Gun Point, which has its own beaches, boat docks, boat house, tennis court, main house and caretaker’s cottage, is said to possess one feature no other private island has – a narrow, all-but-hidden road to the mainland.

“The Bahamas is so hot right now, it’s crazy,” said Timothy Smith, a partner at Better Homes & Gardens MCR Bahamas. “The pandemic did not just turn the world’s economy on its side. It made us re-think our priorities and safety, and security most often came out on top.

“Throughout the pandemic, The Bahamas practiced strict protocols and the total number of cases just hitting 10,000 in more than one year [is] a number many destinations hit in a day. There were days when we watched the news and saw thousands of new cases in other places, and we did not have a single one or the count remained in the single digits.

“Add that safety factor to the natural beauty of the country, the friendliness of the Bahamian people, a nearly 300-year history of peaceful democracy and superb airlift - including private fixed base operators (FBOs) throughout the islands - and it is easy to understand the desirability.”

Mr Smith said no listing he has handled has the

GUN POINT, an 80-acre estate at the tip of North Eleuthera, is like a private island with a hidden road connecting it to the mainland. “magic” of Gun Point. The 80-acre estate is located minutes across the water from both Harbour Island and Spanish Wells. It is also a short drive down its hidden road to an airport that handles private jets as well as commercial aircraft.

It boasts nearly two miles of coastline, much of it sandy beaches, and the property rises to an elevation of 45 feet.

“There is a magic about Gun Point,” Mr Smith added. “The acreage and amenities alone are outstanding with beaches on both sides; a main house with 4,000 square feet, and terraces and patios to watch the sun rise and sun set; gardens with your own vegetables and produce; the tennis court; generator; a two-bedroom cottage making a total of six bedrooms; and a very substantial dock and boat house with a smaller dock.”

A deep-water channel leading to the main dock was created to accommodate large, luxury vessels. Originally granted by Great Britain to Lord Beaverbrook in

appreciation for his service during World War II, the property’s history adds intrigue but will not interfere with development.

Mr Smith said: “This property’s best use would be an incredible residential development or a hotel and marina concept. In its current state, the property is partially developed, including a main owner’s house with four bedrooms and 4.5 baths, and 4,000 square feet of living space. Also on the property is a caretaker’s cottage, gazebos, boat house bar and a 210,000gallon rainwater catchment system.

“There is lots of value in the boat dock, suitable for large or small boats. There is lots of room for expansion to create a much larger dock or a marina. This property is a boater’s paradise. The North Eleuthera area is known as a premiere fishing destination that attracts anglers from across the world.

“Gun Point’s potential is endless. It is a perfect canvas for a one-of-a-kind out island development unique to The Bahamas.”

The public may view a full set of the audited financial statements from the Bank, situated at Goodman's Bay Corporate Centre, 3rd Floor, West Bay Street & Seaview Drive, Nassau, Bahamas.

The public may view a full set of the audited financial statements from the Bank, situated at Goodman Bay Corporate Centre, 3rd Floor, West Bay Street & Seaview Drive, Nassau, Bahamas.

PAGE 6, Friday, April 30, 2021

Vaccination critical to open Bahamas’ ‘tourism floodgates’ FROM PAGE ONE

difficult task to convince them to take it. It’s still not where it should be, and I think it’s [the vaccination rate] pretty low here on Grand Bahama. We have a ways to go.

“As far as hesitancy, it’s a global problem. The same thing here. People are afraid about the effects, short and long-term effects. Social media is not our friend right now. The benefits outweigh the risks of getting the vaccine. We definitely need it to open our economy back up.

“People are hesitant because they are afraid. I’ve

THE TRIBUNE

been there. I was very afraid before I got my shot..... We’re all afraid of the unknown but it’s something we have to do. We all have to do it.

I encourage people to take the vaccine. Social media is not our friend right now. It’s working against us.”

Mrs Jibrilu, meanwhile, responding to concerns that taxi drivers and other vendors may be unable to provide services to Royal Caribbean passengers when the cruise line begins its Bahamas home porting on June 12, which includes weekly calls on Freeport, said that industry was “being particularly cautious and The Bahamas with it” following the on-ship outbreaks seen early in the pandemic.

“Our health resources are limited, and there is only so

much as a nation that we can handle with regard to outbreaks of COVID-19,” she added. “They want to come in and work with that bubble, and if that works they will be able to expand what they are offering.

“Let’s get our toes in. We don’t want a repeat of July last year, when we were overconfident, thought we could re-open the borders and everything crashed.” However, she added that other cruise ships are set to follow Royal Caribbean’s lead, providing further opportunities for Bahamian businesses.

Mrs Jibrilu said airlift, hotel and cruise subsidies offered by the government to operators prior to the pandemic were “costly for our country and have the potential to skew the market demand and tourism product, making it difficult to sell the destination to discerning customers”.

Addressing the difficulties that the Ministry of Tourism experiences in attracting airlift, she said carriers based their decision on whether to service a particular destination on the amount of hotel room inventory and tourism activity that is taking place given that this will passenger demand.

“Airlines are businesses,” Mrs Jibrilu added. “When they see an uptick they will come to the table. That’s the way we want them to approach us. It’s a straightforward business deal. When we go out to the airlines, we’re not approaching them from a position of strength, as we’re lacking hotel rooms and tourist activity on the island. They always say: ‘Who’s going to pay for my risk?’”

Doctors Hospital ‘going miles to be investor magnet’ FROM PAGE ONE direct investment (FDI) by wealthy foreigners, who are seeking “assurances about the quality, safety and reliability of [medical] services”, Dr Diggiss added: “This is really key for those who have considerable means, those who bring a lot of money into the country, to invest it in becoming part of the permanent resident community.

“There’s no doubt this will provide assurance about the quality, reliability and safety of healthcare. This will go miles to becoming a magnet for persons coming in from the global space.”

Dr Diggiss told Tribune Business earlier this year that it planned to develop a Grand Bahama care facility “comparable to our New Providence” hospital by 2022 as part of its deepening partnership with the Cleveland Clinic.

He added that six months of planning work had already been performed on what could become the “flagship” facility for their alliance, and said: “It will be at least comparable to what Doctors Hospital in New Providence is, but we’re looking at an ability to expand it and consideration given, due to our relationship with the Cleveland Clinic, whether that becomes the flagship

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MANOCHKA PAUL, of Treasure Cay, P.O.Box General Delivery New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The

NOTICE is hereby given that WATSON RAMOS LOUIS, of Kitchner Avenue, Freeport, Grand Bahama is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1946.76

-1.91

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

-0.10 -145.70

-6.96

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 5.15 33.05 1.50 2.90 1.89 6.00 6.96 3.60 6.01 4.05 6.16 12.00 2.75 7.50 10.71 9.00 14.60 4.25 8.97 16.00

52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 1.46 1.62 1.50 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.25 2.75 5.00 9.75 2.10 4.90 9.50 8.00 13.00 3.42 8.15 15.20

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

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

LAST CLOSE 5.05 32.12 1.50 2.71 1.59 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.30 2.90 5.67 9.75 2.37 7.00 11.20 9.00 14.00 3.99 8.19 15.50

CLOSE 5.05 32.12 1.50 2.61 1.59 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.30 2.90 5.67 9.75 2.34 6.94 11.21 9.00 14.00 3.99 8.19 15.50

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGRS780222 BSBGRS760240 BSBGRS870288

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.65 100.00 100.86

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.65 100.00 100.86

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 100.00 100.50 100.66

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.97 100.66

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

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FL BSBGRS780222 BGRS FL BSBGRS760240 BGRS FL BSBGR870288

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.10) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.03) (0.06) 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

2,000

2,000 2,050

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

VOLUME

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

P/E 21.1 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.9 -8.1 30.7 15.8 12.6 13.5 22.9 14.9 17.4 12.4 17.2 19.7 8.7 24.6

YIELD 3.37% 3.92% 1.33% 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 3.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.14% 3.88% 7.38% 18.55% 0.86% 2.93% 2.67% 3.86% 3.01% 2.44% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

MATURITY

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

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

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.42 4.43 2.16 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.83 1.78 1.24 8.49 10.26 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.81 10.00 10.43 14.89

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

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

NAV 2.42 4.43 2.16 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.75 1.75 1.03 8.49 10.03 7.28 13.91 12.84 10.05 N/A 10.43 14.89

YTD% 12 MTH% 1.11% 4.62% -0.08% 0.88% 0.64% 2.75% 0.14% 5.02% 3.25% 31.13% 0.72% 0.80% -2.20% -1.87% -0.37% 0.01% -2.48% -11.52% 1.76% 1.76% -1.97% -1.97% 4.91% 4.91% 5.28% 15.75% 0.05% 3.96% -0.35% -6.34% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

NAV Date

31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 26-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2020 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021

MARKET TERMS

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

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

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

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

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

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

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

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

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

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

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

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

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

N/M - Not Meaningful

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

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

Doctors Hospital/Cleveland Clinic facility in Grand Bahama.”

Many observers believe the tie-up between the two medical providers could finally provide the true springboard for The Bahamas to launch into medical tourism, drawing on the strength of Cleveland Clinic’s brand, integrity and reputation for providing quality medical care worldwide.

It also, as alluded to by Dr Diggiss, could pave the way - via the proposed Grand Bahama hospital - pave the way for The Bahamas to enter another market that has been much talked about before, namely providing an offshore warm weather retirement destination for wealthy retirees complete with all the medical care access they may require.

Dr Diggiss also unveiled plans for Doctors Hospital to expand into the wider Caribbean by 2025, but yesterday said neither itself nor Cleveland Clinic could “storm trooper” through the region and expect its growth strategy to work.

While acknowledging that many Bahamian companies will seek to broaden their reach into the Caribbean as they search for growth, he added: “It’s not simply rolling into Grand Bahama and setting up shop. Doctors Hospital has learned that the painful way in our history.”

Arguing that companies needed to understand the needs and concerns of communities they are expanding into first, Dr Diggiss added:

“What is ‘best in the region’ does not mean storm troopering throughout the region.

“Cleveland Clinic tried that and was treated in a similar manner. The benefits to Cleveland Clinic of having a partner like Doctors Hospital is a prudent one and makes it more acceptable to friends in the Caribbean.”

Dr Diggiss said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused Doctors Hospital’s normal patient revenue volumes to fall by between 40-60 percent as its facilities were taken up by treating COVID-19 patients. The healthcare provider has also performed some 14,000 PCR and rapid antigen tests to-date.

Disclosing that Doctors Hospital had been unable to offer COVID-19 PCR tests during the first three months of the pandemic, he added that alliances with the likes of the Cleveland Clinic will help to address such deficiencies in future by providing better access to external resources.

“The intention is to create a disproportionate value in that the result is simply much bigger than adding the sum of the two parts,” he added of the two companies’ partnership.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that ANDRÉ JUNIOR PRÉDÉLUS, of Nassau East South, 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 23rd day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

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

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that BRITTENEY ASHANTY JOSEPH, of Key West Street, 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 23rd day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that ORENT OREE FRANCIS, of Pinewood Gardens, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of April 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 30, 2021, PAGE 9

Businesses ‘stunned’ by water cut-off threat FROM PAGE ONE

not allow this to happen.

Potable water is a basic essential need. Not only will businesses suffer but most families in the community will be negatively impacted.

“Locals are asking: ‘How did we get here? If I pay my bill and others do the same, how do we get to this point?’ ‘How are funds paid and taxes collected being managed?’ ‘Is this bill related to the last 12 months, the COVID pandemic, or did this begin prior?’”

Mr Sand spoke out on the chamber’s behalf after Aqua Design Bahamas, the owner/operator of reverse osmosis plants that supply potable water to the Water & Sewerage Corporation and its customers in South Eleuthera, San Salvador and Inagua, argued it had been “left with no feasible choice but to cease operations” in those three areas.

It blamed the move on the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s failure to settle $3.8m in outstanding debts due to it, although it did not say whether these related solely to the three plants in danger of being decommissioned, with another $740,000 bill coming due for payment on May 8, 2021.

Aqua Design said the second factor driving its pull-out threat is the Water & Sewerage Corporation “showing no interest” in renewing the contracts to operate the three plants, which have now expired.

Acknowledging communities will be put “at risk”, it warned it will “decommission” its plants and remove all equipment that it owns unless the sums owed are settled.

Such a move will effectively make it impossible for the Water & Sewerage Corporation or any other private provider to take over water production at

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

such short notice in time for May 3, but Aqua Design said it had “done everything in our power to avoid this action” but repeated efforts to resolve its grievances with the Water & Sewerage Corporation have proven unsuccessful.

Neither Desmond Bannister, deputy prime minister, and who has ministerial responsibility for the Water & Sewerage Corporation, nor Adrian Gibson, the latter’s executive chairman, responded to Tribune Business calls and messages seeking comment for a second consecutive day yesterday.

Jennifer Brown, president of the Bahamas Industrial, Manufacturers & Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU), which represents line staff at Morton Salt, said she could not imagine the government allowing the island’s water supply to be cut-off as it would “lose Inagua completely” at the upcoming general election were this to occur.

“I’ll have to see that. I don’t think the government is going to allow something like that to happen,” she said. “I honestly cannot believe it. I don’t think the government is going to allow that to happen. This is election time, and they will lose Inagua completely if that happens.

“The prime minister is coming down here tomorrow [today], so I think they’ll have that sorted.

I’m not even worried.” Ms Brown said other Inagua residents shared here views.

While some were “very concerned, when you really think about it it’s not going to happen”. Residents were also used to storing water in tanks and drums for when supply was lost due to power outages.

However, Stephen Cartwright, owner/operator of Nagua Springs in Inagua, told Tribune Business that Aqua Design’s warning that it will cease water production on the island come May 3 is “disgusting”. and further warned the government that election is coming up real soon, so do something about this.

“With all of the COVID19 stuff, and you’re pulling out and closing down, and the whole island depends on that, that’s disgusting,” Mr Cartwright said. Acknowledging the debt said to be owed to the company, Mr

Cartwright added: “The government is dragging their feet. They have to do what they have to do. They have to pay it up.

“I’ll tell you one thing; it’s getting towards election time. So if they should cut the water off in this island, they can call this island off.”

Richara Goulbrune, owner/operator of Leara’s Fashion and the Inagua Drug Mart, said: “This is very depressing, because growing up here all of my life I never knew Inagua to be without running water.”

Ms Goulbrune said she was concerned about the impact on her two businesses, lamenting that the situation is “very depressing” and that “the government needs to step in from yesterday. I don’t know what they are going to do, but they have to act fast”.

Marlon Leary, Inagua’s island administrator, said: “The community is very concerned about it because that is the only form of potable water on the island.

You had one or two persons who had wells back in the day, but they have since filled them in and they don’t bother with them any more.

“This would be a serious issue because we are still operating under the emergency orders and we are advising people to adhere to the COVID protocols and stuff like that, but with the water being turned off this would make that virtually impossible.”

Allison Mortimer, coowner of J’s Discount in San Salvador, said that while she heard about Aqua Designs leaving the island, she understood the government had already made contingency plans in case this happened.

She added: “We heard about it that they are pulling out from San Salvador, but we just got a new plant that came in. We just got a new plant that came in so I don’t think that will really affect us. I know they mentioned it, but I know they just shipped a new plant in last month.

“We had a problem with the old reverse osmosis plant and they had to put another one in, which is the new one that came in. Even if they pull-out we have a backup with Water & Sewerage Corporation, so we will just sit back and weigh things out and see what happens.”

PAGE 18, Friday, April 30, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

AMAZON’S PROFIT MORE THAN TRIPLES AS PANDEMIC BOOM CONTINUES NEW YORK Associated Press

AMAZON’S pandemic boom isn’t showing signs of slowing down.

The company said yesterday that its first-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago, fueled by the growth of online shopping. It also posted revenue of more than $100bn, the second quarter in row that the company has passed that milestone.

Amazon is one of the few retailers that has benefited during the pandemic.

As physical stores temporarily closed, people stuck at home turned to

reported profit of $8.1bn, compared to $2.5bn the year before.

Earnings per share came to $15.79, about $6 more per share than what Wall Street analysts expected, according to FactSet. Revenue jumped 44% to $108.5bn. Amazon is one of four American companies that have reported quarterly revenue above $100bn. The others are iPhone maker Apple, oil and gas company Exxon Mobil and retailer Walmart.

Amazon said revenue will remain at that level in the second quarter, expecting between $110bn and $116bn.

Part of the reason why: It plans to hold Prime Day, its

AMAZON packages move along a conveyor at an Amazon warehouse facility in Goodyear, Ariz. Amazon’s pandemic boom isn’t showing signs of slowing down. The company said yesterday that its first-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago, fueled by the growth of online shopping. It also posted revenue of more than $100bn, the second quarter in row that the company has passed that milestone.

Photo: Ross D Franklin/AP Amazon to buy grocer- be dying down. ies, cleaning supplies and In the first three months more. That doesn’t seem to of this year, the company

popular sales event, during the quarter. Amazon didn’t specify a date for Prime Day, but said it would happen before the end of June.

Besides online shopping, Amazon’s other businesses grew, too. Sales at its cloudcomputing business, which helps powers the online operations of Netflix, McDonald’s and other companies, grew 32% in the quarter. And its ad business, where brands pay to get their products to show up first when shoppers search on the site, rose about 77%.

Amazon’s growth comes as the company faces activism from within its workforce.

Workers at a warehouse in Alabama tried to unionise,

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 71° F/22° C

TAMPA

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Sunny and pleasant

Clear

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny and delightful

Breezy in the morning

Breezy in the morning; partly sunny

High: 86°

Low: 73°

High: 85° Low: 73°

High: 86° Low: 74°

High: 87° Low: 74°

High: 86° Low: 73°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

95° F

78° F

96°-77° F

95°-76° F

93°-76° F

93°-74° F

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

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8-16 knots

E

W S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 88° F/31° C Low: 73° F/23° C

7-14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 74° F/23° C

S

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

ELEUTHERA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

N

uV inDex toDay

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:10 a.m.

11:42 p.m.

2.6 3.3

5:18 a.m. -0.5 5:16 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

12:08 p.m.

-----

2.4 -----

6:16 a.m. -0.3 6:14 p.m. -0.3

Sunday

12:41 a.m.

1:11 p.m.

3.1 2.3

7:17 a.m. -0.1 7:17 p.m. 0.0

Monday

1:44 a.m.

2:19 p.m.

2.9 2.2

8:21 a.m.

8:25 p.m.

0.1 0.2

Tuesday

2:49 a.m.

3:27 p.m.

2.7 2.2

9:25 a.m.

9:34 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Wednesday 3:52 a.m.

4:31 p.m.

2.6 2.3

10:24 a.m. 0.2 10:40 p.m. 0.4

Thursday

2.5 2.5

11:16 a.m. 0.1 11:38 p.m. 0.3

4:50 a.m.

5:26 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:35 a.m.

7:40 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

11:58 p.m.

9:39 a.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 3

May 11

May 19

May 26

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

6-12 knots

S

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7-14 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 ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 82° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 72° F/22° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 3.25” Normal year to date ..................................... 6.17”

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

NASSAU

saying they wanted better pay and more break time.

But a majority of voters batted down that effort.

This week, Amazon announced it was giving more than 500,000 workers a raise of between 50 cents and $3 an hour starting next month to attract new workers. The company already pays at least $15 an hour.

The online giant has been on a hiring spree to keep up with a surge in orders. It had 1.27 million employees at the end of March, adding more than 430,000 people in the last year.

Shares of Amazon.com Inc., which are up 46% in the last year, rose 3% in afterhours trading yesterday.

ANDROS

N

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

7-14 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

H

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8-16 knots

8-16 knots

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

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

WINDS SW at 7-14 Knots SSW at 7-14 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots S at 4-8 Knots SSW at 8-16 Knots WSW at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots S at 6-12 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots

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

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

WATER TEMPS. 77° F 78° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 80° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F