05272020 BUSINESS

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020

$3.27

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR

Bahamas targets January 1 launch for overflight fees

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas is aiming to levy fees on aircraft flying through Bahamian airspace by January 1, 2021, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday, adding: “We think we’re close to a solution.”

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, said the government’s consultants were preparing to submit recommendations on how such overflight fees will be structured, priced and collected in a bid to progress long-running ambitions to monetise the country’s air space.

He added that the government was hoping to release the proposed fee structure by July 1, 2020, so that the aviation industry will be given the mandatory six-month notice period to digest, study and adjust their own operations and ticket prices accordingly.

Hitting that date would enable The Bahamas to start charging by New Year’s Day 2021, thereby generating a new government income stream at a time when the Public Treasury requires every cent available.

“What the government did was we hired a consulting firm to guide us on what to charge, how to charge, how to collect,” Mr D’Aguilar told assembled reporters outside the Cabinet Office. “Obviously we have never done this before, so we had to get some advice on how best to do that. That consultancy is almost at an end, and they are ready to make their recommendations.

“So, once we receive that recommendation, we will roll out a fee structure, hopefully by July 1, because it takes six months for it to take effect. You have to advise the airline industry at least six months in advance before you impose a charge on them so they can adjust their ticket prices accordingly. So, even if we were to roll it out on July 1, it wouldn’t take effect until January 1.

“We’re heading towards that deadline, but it is very interesting, very fascinating. We have done a lot of work on it, and we think we are close to a solution on how to finally make something off of our God given airspace.”

The new dates are the timeline Mr D’Aguilar said he was targeting when he revealed that the government and its evaluation committee had rejected all bids seeking to operate the overflight fees regime on the government’s behalf.

These fees have long been seen as a potential multi-million dollar revenue stream that The Bahamas has failed to tap due to the fact thousands of aircraft travel through its air space annually due to this nation’s location off the Florida/US east coast and its position on major transatlantic aviation routes between Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

While current earnings would be low due to the reduction in aviation traffic as a result of COVID-19,

SEE PAGE 7

$3.27

$3.28

‘Three weeks from oil drilling.. then COVID’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A

Bahamas-based oil explorer yesterday revealed it was “within three weeks” of drilling its first well until COVID-19 intervened as it unveiled a revised timetable taking its operations into the 2021 first quarter.

Simon Potter, Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) chief executive, told Tribune Business the pandemic-enforced delay may have worked to its advantage after the company announced it had signed “a definitive contract” to secure the rig that will drill its first exploratory well in waters to the south-west of Andros.

Besides a 15 percent drop in the cost of BPC’s Perseverance One well, Mr Potter said the deal with Stena

• Pandemic ‘intervened on cusp’ of well • BPC’s new timeline goes into New Year • Seeks June 2021 licence extend ‘clarity’

SIMON POTTER Drilling would now see the rig provided on an “unconditional” basis as opposed to the conditional terms attached to an earlier deal when it was targeting the 2020 first quarter to begin drilling.

He added that the new rig contract signing meant BPC is now committed to

drilling a Christmas 2020 well in the 47-day “window between December 15, 2020, and February 1, 2021, which means that the Government will have to agree to extend the company’s licence terms beyond their current end-December expiry.

BPC previously invoked the “force majeure” contract in its licence agreement, which deals with “unforeseeable circumstances” preventing one party from fulfilling the terms of a contract, and said in its statement announcing the rig contract that it is seeking “clarification from the government” that its licence terms can be extended until “at least

June 2021”.

The government has made no public comment on whether it has accepted BPC’s “force majeure” request or if it will agree to extend the licence beyond end-2020.

Mr Potter confirmed that the government had acknowledged receipt of BPC’s request, but Romauld Ferreira, minister of the environment and housing, has not returned Tribune Business calls or messages seeking comment despite having ministerial responsibility for the matter.

Mr Potter, meanwhile, described the rig contract signing as “a decisive step”

A MAJOR Bahamian events planner yesterday voiced concern about the “horrible situation” facing its staff and other workers due to delays in National Insurance Board (NIB) benefit payouts.

Tony Appleyard, Wildflowers Events & Occasions co-founder, told Tribune Business the company had been forced to lay-off its 100-strong staff after the tourist-related weddings and corporate events upon which it relied were shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet despite supplying NIB all necessary information to facilitate unemployment benefit payments, Mr Appleyard said payouts had been inconsistent with some staff receiving two to-date, others one and some none at all.

“The second one should have come through on April 26 or somewhere around there, but there’s been no payment since then. My concern is obviously for my employees, but everybody seems to be in the same boat. What do they do? It’s just a horrible situation.

“Some of our employees haven’t got a penny, yet some received a couple of payments. I’ve made calls to people at NIB, and on the last call they said our staff would be paid. They said it was because they were all so busy at NIB. They said it would go out last Friday, but Friday came and went and nothing happened.”

Mr Appleyard said one employee had informed him they received a third

Budget must have private sector’s back

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

payment yesterday, which he suggested was likely the one due for end-April/ beginning of May, which coincided with NIB’s decision to open facilities at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium and call persons to come and collect their benefits.

Unable to comprehend the weeks’ long delay, Mr Appleyard added: “Once they get the first payment, why isn’t it just like a standing order. You’d think if they got it right it would be a standing order with the same bank. If one has to sit there and pull the trigger...

“I get text messages and What’s App messages from our people, how are you doing and what have you,

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 9

SEE PAGE 6

• 100 staff in ‘horrible situation’ on benefits delay • Pandemic fall-out like ‘wild imagination’ from film • Says business ‘booming’ until February/March Revealing that some workers had yesterday reported receiving their third NIB payment, with the first fortnightly payout having been received on April 7, he added that conversations with other businesses and employers suggested “everyone is in the same boat”.

“We’ve had about 100 employees we’ve had to lay-off because we have zero business,” Mr Appleyard told this newspaper.

“Our business depends on foreigners coming in for weddings and corporate events. Our human resources people were very diligent about getting everything submitted, and a number of people received their first benefit on April 7.

JEFFREY BECKLES

THE government is being urged to “drive confidence” by using today’s 2020-2021 budget to show the private sector it will do whatever it takes to “undergird the economy” and prevent its collapse.

Jeffrey Beckles, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive, told Tribune Business that the Minnis administration needs to use “the budget of all budgets in recent memory” to send the message that it has the business community’s back on the road to COVID-19 recovery.

“The budget is an exercise to demonstrate they’re going to boost confidence, drive confidence that the government is prepared to support the economy, support the business community, and make the decisions necessary to undergird the economy beyond the initial shock,” Mr Beckles said.

“We’ve been saying words after Dorian such as sustainability and resiliency. This Budget had to do just that; help us become more resilient. The expectations are high, naturally so, because we’ve never been a crisis before with this much at stake. The expectations are that the government will invest in initiatives to undergird the economy, provide support to businesses, ensure the MSME community is provided with funding.”

Mr Beckles added that The Bahamas “has a tremendous opportunity since the vast majority of our islands our COVID19 free” to promote itself as a COVID-19 free

Major events planner in NIB payout fears

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$3.23

Govt plans civil service ‘freeze’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE government is planning to freeze all civil service hirings, promotions and salary increases in a bid to limit the size of a potentially massive 2020-2021 fiscal deficit, it was revealed last night.

Kimsley Ferguson, the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) president, slammed the “very insulting and disrespectful” way that he and other union leaders were informed given that it appeared the move had already been taken without any consultation.

Disclosing to Tribune Business that civil service job and/or pay cuts were “not on the table”, Mr Ferguson said it appeared to himself and other public sector union leaders that the freeze was “already written in stone” prior to their Monday meeting with Brensil Rolle, minister with responsibility for the public service, and his senior officials.

“First and foremost, the

• Promotions, pay rises and hirings to halt • But jobs/pay cuts ‘not on table’ after COVID • Union boss: Meet ‘insulting and disrespectful’

KIMSLEY FERGUSON minster indicated that the government was considering some things but, based on what he said, it appears that they’re already written in stone,” he added.

“I asked him whether he called this meeting to consult or inform us.

“They [the government] were recommending putting a freeze on hiring, a freeze on reclassifications, a freeze on promotions moving forward, and a freeze on

increments for this [20202021] budget year.”

Mr Ferguson said Mr Rolle informed the union leaders that all public sector promotions submitted and approved before the end of May - together with the associated pay increases - would be honoured. However, while all promotions submitted after May 31 will be processed, the BPSU chief said the government is planning to defer all salary increases until January 2021.

“The unions were not in agreement with the minister. Trust me, we were not,” Mr Ferguson told this newspaper. “In our view, the minister was very insulting and disrespectful to the unions, and the unions are of the view that the decision was probably already taken at Cabinet level and he came to inform us.”

Besides himself, other

trade union leaders present at the meeting included the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president, Belinda Wilson; her counterpart at the managers’ union; Sloan Smith from the Immigration and Customs union; and representatives for the nurses union, junior doctors and senior doctors.

The civil service wage bill for the full 2019-2020 budget year is projected to be almost $670m, and the $340m paid out during the six months to end-December 2019 accounted for 29 percent - not far off onethird - of the government’s total recurrent (fixed cost) spending for that period.

When forecast allowances of $83.815m are factored in, the government’s human resources costs total more than $750m - some 28 per cent, or more than onequarter - of its $2.688bn recurrent expenditure

budget for 2019-2020. As a result, some observers have suggested that cuts to either civil service jobs or the payroll are inevitable if the government is to hit its ambition of a 20 percent across-the-board spending cut.

James Smith, former minister of state for finance, alluded to this when he recently told Tribune Business: “When you’re cutting you have to go where the meat is. I think they [the government] need to take a national focus, and by that I mean shared pain.

“We’ve got the tourism sector pretty much closed down, thousands of workers have lost their jobs from the major and small hotels, and collectively they represent a larger force than the public service. They’ll be going with hugely reduced incomes or no incomes at all.

“These are fellow citizens. When you cut you have to think about going into the post-COVID-19 period and into the future.

SEE PAGE 5

PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Cruise line pushes back Nassau, Freeport return

B

AHAMAS Paradise Cruise Line yesterday warned passengers its “onboard experience may look a little different” after it announced a further delay in resuming voyages to this nation.

The Palm Beachbased operator said the Grand Celebration will

restart sailings to Freeport on July 25, while the Grand Classica will only resume service to Nassau on October 2. These dates, especially the ones for the Grand Classica, represent a major revision to those announced as recently as late April as the company moves to reduce onboard capacity by 40 percent.

THE TRIBUNE

THE GRAND Classica and Grand Celebration ships.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line said previously that voyages would resume on June 13 for Grand Celebration, and on July 10 with the Grand Classica. However, the further delay is somewhat understandable given that the prime minister recently said The Bahamas planned to re-open its borders for international travel “on

or before July 1”, with the latest dates falling into line with that deadline.

“As things begin to return to normal after months of quarantine, we can all use a quick getaway. When we return, our onboard experience may look a little different to our guests,” said Oneil Khosa, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s chief executive.

“The wellness of our passengers and crew members remains our top priority and, as such, passengers can expect enhanced sanitisation procedures from embarkation to disembarkation so that they can enjoy a relaxing, safe, stress-free getaway. We look forward to welcoming everyone onboard soon.”

Bahamas Paradise

Cruise Line’s cruise and stay programme, which lets guests extend their stay in The Bahamas for up to four nights at one of the company’s resort partners, will also be available for bookings beginning on October 2.

The company is also implementing a variety of new processes to ensure the health and safety of all passengers and crew. The new measures include protocols for guest accommodations; common areas onboard the ships; recreational facilities; and food hygiene.

Besides the 40 percent reduction in onboard capacity that will be achieved through limiting the number of in-use staterooms, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line said elevators will be disinfected every two hours while common areas and facilities will be cleaned ten times’ daily to combat COVID-19.

Tour bus capacity will be reduced by 50 percent, with an extensive and wide-ranging cleaning programme implemented across all operations.

FIRST FEMALE DIRECTOR NAMED FOR COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT

T

HE Bahamas has appointed the firstever woman director of co-operative societies in the movement’s 45 year-existence.

Cheryl Bowe-Moss, a 39-year veteran of cooperative societies, was preceded in her post by three men. She was first exposed to the movement

by her father, Peter Maxwell Bowe, a founding member and management committee member of the first consumer cooperative food store in The Bahamas, which was located in Culmersville.

Ms Bowe-Moss joined the Department of Co-operatives in January 1981 to serve as the co-operative officer with responsibilities

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

for credit unions. After leaving the Department, she held positions on the supervisory committee of both The Grand Bahama Co-operative Credit Union (1982–1983) and the Teachers and Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union.

She has served on the board of directors of the Teachers and Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union from 1990 to the present day. She holds the distinction of being the first female chairman of the Teachers and Salaried Workers Co-operative Credit Union Limited (2009–2010).

Ms Bowe-Moss served as The Bahamas Co-operative

League’s president from 2007 to May 2014, having served on its supervisory committee and the board of directors. She also represented the movement on the advisory committee for co-operatives to the government, and helped to craft the Credit Union Bill 2015.

In 2008, she was elected to the board of directors of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions for an initial three-year term (2008–2011).

During her tenure, she served as secretary to the board and vice-president.

She was re-elected to the board from 2011 to 2014, and served in the capacity of vice-president of the Confederation.

CHERYL BOWE-MOSS

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 27, 2020, PAGE 3

Tourism needs 18 month ‘ramp up’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said the tourism industry could take 18 months to fully “ramp up” following the COVID-19 shutdown.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, pictured, minister for tourism and aviation, told media outside the Cabinet Office: “Obviously we have to get the word out that July 1 is the date we want to open. I am sure it will be fairly low to start off with; a lot of people are probably apprehensive to start off with.

“What we think is to our advantage is that we are a short hop away [from the US] and we have had very few coronavirus cases - and certainly very few deaths comparatively. I think that the social distancing and the sanitation methods we have employed have been successful, and we have to get that message out to ensure that people are willing to take the risk of making a journey. I think we are well positioned to have a ramp up over time, but it won’t be 2019.”

Mr D’Aguilar warned that it could take between one year to 18 months for The Bahamas’ tourism volumes to rebound from the pandemic as he warned Bahamians to “temper” their expectations, particularly given that unemployment in The Bahamas’ key source market of the US now stands at 38m.

Confirming that multiple tourism industry stakeholders have been meeting regularly to develop health and safety protocols for the industry’s restart, Mr D’Aguilar added: “Obviously the marketing strategy has been developed.

“We have been very quiet right now, and just using social media and very inexpensive ways to keep The Bahamas top of mind, but

Minister: 50% jobless rate hit to work permits

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

once we restart the industry we will launch a very comprehensive marketing programme using all of the various forms of media to inform, first and foremost, that The Bahamas is open for business and that we are a safe, wonderful, clean and pristine destination to come to.”

Addressing the permanent closure of Luciano’s restaurant, Mr D’Aguilar said: “What that closure says it that we have to, as quickly and safely as possible, begin to reopen our economy. If you are a business, and you have a certain amount of cash in your bank account at the time of the closure, you have been slowly burning through that cash, paying some of your staff, keeping key personnel employed, paying electricity, paying rent if you have to.

“The longer that goes on, and the longer we keep our industry closed, the less resources will be at the end of this journey to restart your business. Not only is it that we have to reopen the industry, but we have to rebuild our customer base. So it is not just that on July 1, everything is back to normal.

“It’s going to take time for customers to get safe and feel comfortable enough to want to go out and go to a dinner, and go to a restaurant. That journey will be quite difficult for a number of businesses. It just impressed upon me even more that as quickly as possiblewe have to open our economy to prevent such unfortunate events as what happened at Luciano’s.”

A CABINET minister yesterday warned some existing work permits are unlikely to be renewed as The Bahamas grapples with a 50 percent unemployment rate post-COVID-19.

Elsworth Johnson, minister of financial services, trade and industry and immigration, reiterated the government’s long-standing policy that qualified Bahamians who are available to do the work will be given first shot at all jobs which become available.

Speaking to the media outside the Cabinet office, he suggested that enforcing this will assume extra urgency and importance in the wake of the damage inflicted upon the economy and working Bahamians by the pandemic.

“We know that 50 percent of the population is unemployed,” Mr Johnson said. “Some work permits will not be renewed. Wherever you have fit and proper, competent Bahamians to do the job, they will be given that opportunity to do the job.

“What we have done in the interim, because persons are sheltering in The Bahamas, is that the Competent Authority (Prime Minister’s Office) has extended existing annual work permits with the caveat and understanding that we have

ELSWORTH JOHNSON already refused some work permits.”

The minister’s assertion that The Bahamas is suffering from a 50 percent unemployment rate is much higher than the recent 30 percent forecast given by the prime minister. If the minister is correct, that would mean more than 115,000 Bahamians are jobless.

Department of Statistics research showed that around 50 percent of work permits issued in 2017 and 2018 were applied for by private households and homeowners seeking maids, gardeners, handymen and other forms of domestic workers. And more than 60 percent of approved work permits went to Haitians, Filipinos and Jamaicans - the nationalities that typically fill such roles.

Many observers believe Bahamians view such work as beneath them and shy away from such jobs, but others counter that salary rates are too low to interest a population already grappling with the high cost of living.

Mr Johnson yesterday said there had to be better co-ordination between the Immigration and Labour departments over work permit applications and approvals, while available, qualified Bahamians needed to make their existence known.

“We have to work closely with the Department of Labour, and we’re calling on the society to let us know.

They have to now go in the employment exchange to let them know what their qualifications are,” Mr Johnson said.

He added that while there were no particular sectors where work permits may be restricted, there needed to be “due diligence” to ensure no qualified Bahamian available to work misses out on an opportunity before an expatriate is hired.

“We are forcefully pushing the digitisation process.

We’re tired of hearing persons say that they can’t find their documents,” Mr Johnson said of the Immigration Department. “COVID-19, as devastating as it is, reassured us of the urgency to digitise.

“There is no reason why you should not be able to upload your application online, pay online, get a contemporary response, and for the system to produce an algorithm to say within a reasonable time this is when we will deal with your application.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Agriculture eyes technology to reverse import increases

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to boost vegetable production through the use of hydroponic technology in a bid to reverse double-digit import increases, its top economist said yesterday.

Brickell Pinder, addressing the Rethinking Food Security webinar, said: “When we talk about food security we mentioned the first dimension is food availability, and when we look at the availability of food

we are looking at not only the physical availability of food but also the capacity of people, or their economic access to food.

“Prior to COVID-19, here at the Ministry of Agriculture we were actually looking through our import data over the period 2014 to 2018 to try and determine whether there were any trends or any changes with what Bahamians were consuming with respect to food, because we have an idea of what was going on in the domestic sector.

A part of food security is

ensuring there is sufficient, nutritious, safe food.

She said the analysis showed the importation of vegetables into The Bahamas was growing at 14 percent. Sheep and mutton consumption grew at 13 percent, while egg imports rose by 12 percent. The study also revealed that lettuce was the main imported vegetable during that period, followed by tomatoes, onions, sweet pepper and broccoli.

Ms Pinder added that after the Ministry of Agriculture looked at production

Fishermen oppose forced sales to local wholesalers

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN fishermen are opposed to COVID19 restrictions that force them to sell their product to wholesalers at prices that make it difficult to gain a proper return, an industry representative said yesterday.

Adrian LaRoda, the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance’s president, told the Rethinking Food Security webinar: “The fisheries sector in The Bahamas is thriving, but under challenges. We feel that we are over-managed

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

by policies that impact fish production and fisher livelihoods. COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of the sector in terms of food supplies and the access to fresh seafood for our citizens.”

He added that the domestic seafood market was “unfortunately affected” by the government’s “cookiecutter approach” to containing COVID-19’s health impact, which closed the markets used by fishermen to sell directly to the Bahamian people. All sales instead had to be channelled through wholesalers.

Mr LaRoda said: “The shutdown did affect fisheries harvests. The COVID-19 rules required fishers to go out and harvest seafood, but it had to be sold to a wholesaler.

Of course, that affected production and a lot of operators didn’t see the

need, or didn’t feel they would have gotten the yield and wouldn’t have been able to maximise the economics by going out and harvesting their product just to sell to a wholesaler.

“Due to economies of scale, the wholesaler would not have given them what they felt would have been worth the effort. Given what has taken place, our sector is now duty bound to demonstrate that we have always employed best practices and have always had a measure of self-governance.”

Mr LaRoda said the fisheries industry has always been self-regulating, and pointed to the lobster harvest control rule. This limits the amount of lobster that could be exported from The Bahamas, and does not affect domestic sales. He added that the industry has also controlled

systems, it was determined that Bahamian farmers can do some of the items on the list “quite well”. However, in terms of lettuce and broccoli, in particular, there would have to be changes before farmers can produce locally.

Taking into account the Ministry of Health’s food and nutrition policy, Ms Pinder said the Ministry of Agriculture is now looking at how The Bahamas can build food security from a local and community level as opposed to doing it from the “global/national level.” the “gear type” employed to catch fish to ensure the industry’s sustainability and prohibit illegal practices.

The main fisheries industry management system in The Bahamas is the “seasonal closures,” which regulate when persons can harvest - particularly for lobster, grouper and stone crab.

Mr LaRoda said despite the seasonal closures, and the ban on catching turtles and sharks, the entire marine-ecosystem is “under-utilised” and there are other fisheries products that can be profitably and sustainably harvested.

He argued that the Bahamian fisheries sector can supply 100 percent of the country’s needs without importing products such as shrimps.

Although imported seafood is still a “big part” of the fisheries sector, Mr LaRoda voiced optimism that The Bahamas can begin to chip away this if it can remove “non-traditional” products from the Bahamian diet.

She added that the ministry “came up with a strategy to look at increasing the food groups, such as the starchy vegetables like the sweet potato, and supporting layer production and bringing food security more closer to households and communities.”

Hailing the increasing affordability of hydroponic cultivation, Ms Pinder said it can make vegetable production more easy and affordable in The Bahamas.

“In islands like Andros and Abaco, to a certain extent, we do not have a land issue,

but in many, many other islands there are issues in terms of access to land,” she added.

“So we have to look at systems that could be used in a much smaller land space that are not as extensive as what we were once using. COVID-19 has now presented us with an opportunity to roll-out this issue of agriculture - not in the way that we knew it before for vegetable production, but using technologies that have now come down in price so that they are much more accessible to the average person.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 27, 2020, PAGE 5

BORCO owner to give $100k COVID-19 help THE owner of Grand Bahama’s BORCO oil storage terminal yesterday said 50 percent of its $200,000 COVID-19 donation to Caribbean countries will go to The Bahamas.

Buckeye Partners, in a statement sent to Tribune Business, said “it is making $200,000 in charitable contributions across the Caribbean to help local non-profits provide longterm support, and assist communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Buckeye’s local teams in the Caribbean identified eight influential non-profits that are making a positive impact in the fight against the pandemic. The donations are part of more than $1m in charitable contributions being donated across all operating areas.”

Clark Smith, Buckeye’s president and chief executive, said: “The health and

well-being of our local workforce, and the communities where we operate, are our top priority at Buckeye Partners. Given the impact this national medical emergency is having on so many of our communities, we’re proud of our employees and their support for all of the volunteers and organisations working so hard to assist those in need during this unprecedented time.”

Gregory Laroda, Buckeye’s senior director for government relations, said of the donation: “We feel like it’s something we should do in order to help out at this time. You know how COVID-19 is affecting all of the Caribbean islands, so what they decided to do is donate funds to areas where we do business in the Caribbean, The Bahamas being one of them.

“We also donated money specifically to The Bahamas

as well. About $100,000 of that $200,000 is coming here, but we have not made it public yet to where this money is going yet because we have not told them yet.”

“I think it’s a good thing for the company to do. We know a lot of these areas need all of the help they can get. So we decided to identify some persons in the community that are doing good things in terms of helping with the recovery process, helping folks in need and businesses, so we decided to reach out and give a little hand.”

Buckeye’s donations, which are coming from its general operating funds, will benefit food banks, hospitals, COVID-19 testing efforts and other local charities in the Caribbean. Its local affiliates will choose non-profits that have been key in providing assistance to pandemic victims.

Govt plans civil service ‘freeze’

that remain unresolved.

Criticising Mr Rolle and his team for failing to provide the unions with sufficient data at yesterday’s meeting to support the government’s case, Mr Ferguson said: “The BPSU is very concerned that the government expects the unions to give them support at a time where there are a myriad of issues in the public sector that have not been resolved despite us informing the Department of Public Service on numerous occasions.

“There are various anomalies that the union has expressed concern about.

I’ve personally represented some things to Public Service and have not gotten a reply.

I have a young lady who was diagnosed with cancer.

They put her on administrative leave for two years and coded her salary. She’s back in hospital again, not receiving a salary and cannot purchase the medicines she needs.”

The BPSU chief said other grievances included an outstanding increment owed to

Airport Authority workers, plus “what was agreed by Dr Duane Sands [former minister of health] on behalf of people on the front lines of fighting COVID-19”.

“To me, in now saying to these persons that they’re putting these items on hold when they’re already owing these individuals hundreds of thousands of dollars, only compounds the situation and lowers the morale of the public service,” Mr Ferguson blasted.

“The union is quite aware of what we’re facing on the heels of Dorian and COVID19, but the country has to be run. We cannot expect civil servants to be disappointed and still run the country.”

He also expressed displeasure that the public sector unions were only given a few hours by Mr Rolle to provide alternative cost savings suggestions to the government. The BPSU chief reiterated previous calls to slash “exorbitant” allowances and the “humungous sums of money” being paid out to consultants.

FROM PAGE ONE

We cannot have the safety net of the public service not contributing to the tightening. That’s all I’ll say about that, but we have to look at it because we’re sending a message to the economy.”

Others, though, argue that cutting public sector jobs, wages or both will only increase the burden on the National Insurance Board (NIB) from increased unemployment while also depressing consumer spending/aggregate demand at a time when this is abysmally low due to the private sector’s struggles.

Mr Ferguson last night argued that the government’s “freeze” threatened to undermine civil service morale at a time when its role in administering The Bahamas was crucial due to numerous outstanding pay, promotion and other issues

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, JESSE JACANO LEE PAUL of Garden Hills #2 situated in the Southern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, intend to change my name to JESSE JACANO LEE KEMP. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

LEGAL NOTICE

GENTIAN DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED (In Voluntary Liquidation) BVI Company Number: 1032663 Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 204(1) (b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that the Company is in voluntary liquidation.

The voluntary liquidation commenced on 18 May, 2020. The Liquidator is Michelle Addison of Traubenweg 43, 8700 Kusnacht, Switzerland.

Michelle Addison Liquidator Notice of Appointment of a Liquidator pursuant to section 204(1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended) for

ST. EMILIUS LTD (In Voluntary Liquidation) (the “Company”) BVI Business Company No. 2002032 NOTICE is hereby given, pursuant to section 204(1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 204, that Yvette Elaine Francis of No. 4 Teal Street, Pastel Gardens, PO Box N-9934, Nassau, Bahamas has been appointed as voluntary liquidator of the Company on March 10, 2020.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

(242) 323-2330

TUEDAY, 26 MAY 2020

(242) 323-2320

ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,140.76 | CHG: 0.21 | %CHG: 0.00 | YTD: -90.85 | YTD%: -4.07 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.45 22.65 7.00 6.75 2.60 2.00 5.47 12.77 6.17 4.50 10.30 3.64 5.10 10.88 8.15 16.99 9.40 4.25 15.21

52WK LOW 3.35 20.91 5.50 5.39 1.78 0.67 2.00 10.21 5.60 3.62 5.41 2.53 1.85 8.00 6.63 13.04 6.98 3.14 13.90

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

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

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

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

CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

PREFERENCE SHARES

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00

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

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

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) +

SYMBOL FBB22

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

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

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

LAST CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 1.78 1.62 2.98 11.26 6.10 4.03 6.01 2.92 5.10 9.24 8.15 14.50 8.97 4.00 15.20

CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 1.78 1.62 2.98 11.26 6.10 4.03 6.01 2.93 5.10 9.49 8.15 14.50 8.97 4.00 15.20

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.90

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.90

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00

CHANGE 0.00

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

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

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

VOLUME

VOLUME

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

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

P/E 14.9 18.7 N/M 18.1 N/M N/M -6.8 15.6 13.6 21.9 42.9 28.7 10.9 14.7 11.2 17.8 9.6 19.7 24.1

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

YIELD 4.79% 7.23% 0.00% 3.89% 0.00% 1.23% 0.00% 6.39% 3.61% 2.98% 0.00% 14.81% 1.18% 3.46% 2.94% 3.72% 2.23% 3.00% 4.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022

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

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

YTD% 12 MTH% 1.04% 3.87% 0.61% 2.93% 0.50% 2.50% -1.34% 2.23% -12.71% -5.79% 0.94% 3.72% -3.46% 2.09% -0.11% 3.43% -3.33% 1.53% -0.32% 10.20% -1.58% 15.37% 0.88% 5.22% -4.91% 10.77% 1.89% 6.75% -1.95% 0.38% N/A N/A -10.90% -4.30% -18.80% -12.00%

NAV Date 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 27-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.31 4.40 2.10 198.39 168.29 1.67 1.85 1.76 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.00 12.15 12.58 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 1.67 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.61 1.75 1.70 1.14 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

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

NAV 2.31 4.39 2.10 192.52 145.55 1.67 1.79 1.75 1.16 8.31 10.07 7.00 11.42 12.58 10.52 N/A 8.31 10.01

MARKET TERMS

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

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

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

31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020

PAGE 6, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

‘Three weeks from oil drilling... then COVID’ FROM PAGE ONE that removes “any kind of ambiguity”. He added that it should demonstrate to sceptics that BPC and its project were “real”, given the years and millions of dollars spent on investigating commercial oil prospects below The Bahamas’ seabed.

Recalling how close BPC had come to hitting its original April 2020 deadline to spud a first exploratory well, Mr Potter said the company had secured the drilling rig; the assistance of two major oil services companies, Haliburton and

Baker Hughes; acquired the necessary funding, sourced all needed equipment; assembled the necessary workforce and opened an office in Houston.

And, with the required Environmental Authoristion obtained from the government, he told Tribune Business: “With all that bottled together we were on the cusp of drilling the well.

We were within three weeks of starting when COVID-19 intervened.”

He explained that the pandemic meant BPC was unable to guarantee the health and safety of the rig’s crew, while the closure of international borders threatened to impede the

movement of staff in and out of the vessel. And the impending start of hurricane season on June 1 meant that all drilling activity had to be pushed back beyond its November 30 close to avoid further disruption.

“There were double gates that we had to pass through,” Mr Potter said, “which meant that when we packed up shop in March this year we wouldn’t realistically be able to drill the well until NovemberDecember this year because of COVID-19’s impact and hurricane season.”

He added that the rig contract with Stena Drilling had now “fixed a time

window” between December 15, 2020, and February 1, 2021, when Perseverance One will be drilled.

“It’s certainly a decisive step for us,” Mr Potter said of securing the rig. “We didn’t want there to be any kind of ambiguity, so we stepped forward and got the contract. It’s a fantastic ship; it’s one of the highestspec rigs in the world. It’s a very modern, clean looking vessel.”

The BPC chief said rig costs had fallen by around 15 percent, from $25m$30m to now $21m-$25m, while the timing and commercial terms were now fixed. And Stena had also been given the opportunity to invest its own money into BPC’s exploratory well project.

“Based upon the licence terms and prevailing regulations (and allowing only for the duration of disruption to operations to-date), the company expects that the current exploration period of its licences will extend until at least April 2021,” BPC said in its statement.

“However, given the likely further continued COVID19 related disruption, the company has sought clarification from the Government on an extension to at least June 2021.”

It added that the COVID19 related delay had created “an additional six months of general working capital needs”. With $12m in cash holdings, BPC said that it

would likely have $9m left when it came time to drill the first exploratory well.

“On the basis of this revised total well cost estimate of $21m to $25m plus potential contingencies, the company’s current funding ‘gap’ for Perseverance No.1 is in the range of $12m to $16m - plus a further $5m to $10m depending on the extent to which potential contingency/provisional costs may be required/ opted for,” BPC added.

However, it pointed to two facilities - worth a combined $34m - previously arranged that are available to be drawn down as and when needed. One is described as a “£16m (approximately $21m) facility with a Bahamas-based family office investor for a zero-coupon”.

“Given current market conditions and the revised drilling timing, the company is now actively seeking to revisit all potential funding sources for Perseverance No.1 with a view to optimising the availability and cost of its funding,” BPC said.

“This includes continuing to pursue a farm-in, and farm-in discussions remain on foot with a number of parties. Stena Drilling has also been granted certain options to invest in BPC or the project.”

BPC’s oil exploration activities remain controversial with Bahamian public opinion split on the issue.

Many observers continue to question whether the company is for real, while environmental activists and others fret about the impact any spill or pollution could have on the country’s environment and tourism industry when it re-opens following COVID-19.

Environmentalists recently celebrated what they saw as a major victory as multiple Florida congressmen and women, including some close to the Trump administration, wrote to US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, urging that he oppose BPC’s oil exploration plans.

Others, though, argue that the economic crisis created by COVID-19 means that The Bahamas cannot afford to spurn the opportunity to discover whether commercial quantities of oil exist within its territorial waters given the potential positive impact this would have for the government’s fiscal position and country overall.

However, “if” remains they key word regarding any prospect of discovery for the time being, with any prospect of economic diversification from BPC’s activities still some way off regardless of whether oil is found. The company said the recent collapse in global oil prices will not affect its activities based on its belief the market will recover.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394 -

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 27, 2020, PAGE 7

Major events Bahamas targets January 1 launch planner in NIB for overflight fees payout fears FROM PAGE ONE

FROM PAGE ONE but I know damn well they’re hurting and have to be hurting. They’re totally reliant on these benefits.

Our income has literally gone to zero.”

Mr Appleyard is far from alone in his NIB-related concerns, even though the government earlier this week was touting that the nation’s social security system had paid out some $28.7m in unemployment benefits to 26,000 claimants as at mid-May. “Additionally, NIB issued $6.2m million in payments to approximately 6,100 recipients of the government’s unemployment assistance initiative for self-employed individuals impacted by COVID-19,” the Ministry of Finance added.

However, Tara Morley, co-president of The Bahamas Federation of Retailers, charged last week that NIB is not paying unemployment benefits to all approved applications.

She said: “Almost none of us have received for our employees NIB payments, so our employees are begging to come back to work but we are not being allowed to open our doors.

It is their money they have been contributing to NIB for years and they are not getting paid.

“Where is that $28m worth of NIB payments going? Because it is not going to the small business owners. I can tell you that some of the larger businesses of our membership, those are the only

ones that I know that their employees have received their benefits.

“I’m not saying nobody has received the benefits, but it tends to be the larger companies. So where I have smaller members that maybe only employ five persons, and even with the members where they have ten different boutiques, I can tell you that out of our ten companies we have 45 employees. Only two out of the 45 have received the benefit, or if we have 21 employees only three out of the 21 have received the benefit.”

And Neal Watson, owner of Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Centre, also confirmed none of his employees have received their unemployment benefits. He said: “None of them have received anything yet. They have all put in their own applications but they had to come get the paperwork from us first. We have done this from last month some time.

I would say most people would have had their paperwork in from about four weeks ago at least.”

Mr Appleyard, meanwhile, said Wildflowers had suffered the cancellation of all corporate events and weddings that had been on its books pre-COVID-19.

With deposits to clients refunded, he added: “I’ve never seen anything like this.

“No one could have experienced this anywhere in The Bahamas or the world. It’s the most horrific situation. It’s something out of a film that someone with a wild imagination

airspace has been managed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with Cuba handling the other 25 percent.

Air traffic within 60 nautical miles of the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), and up to an altitude of 12,000 feet, has been managed by Bahamian air traffic controllers, but the FAA has been the one collecting the overflight fees involving Bahamian air space.

As a result, Bahamian-owned aircraft and commercial flights have been confronted with the ridiculous situation of having to pay the US to fly in their own country’s air space - an anomaly that cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. The Christie administration rectified this during its final months in office through an agreement with the FAA. The US Office of Inspector General stated in its December 2017 audit that the FAA has billed an astonishing $800m in over-flight fees between 2006-2016. It billed an estimated $106m in 2017, with an estimated $126m to be billed in 2019. A significant portion of this revenue will involve flights that have used Bahamian airspace, giving an insight into the potential earnings for this nation.

Mr D’Aguilar, meanwhile, encouraged Bahamians to engage in domestic tourism with the borders closed and the ongoing fear of flying. “I’m sure a lot of people will be very fearful of going far, so I think intrinsically that bodes well for domestic tourism,” he added.

“The government’s finances are strained, but they are challenged so be patriotic. Travel within your country; go and visit your family members, go back to the Family Islands, keep your dollars here, help your brothers and sisters the best you can to rebound.

“I’m sure the Out Island Promotion Board used to have the ‘buy one ticket, get one free’. I’m not sure what promotions they have in mind. They generally drive that promotion, but we are going to encourage as many people as possible to travel within the country. You have to want to; Bahamians like to travel to Miami.”

Describing the viability of regional tourism as “minuscule”, Mr D’Aguilar said this only accounts for four percent of total visitors to The Bahamas. With North America and Europe accounting for 96 percent of the country’s total, he added that this nation must continue to focus on its core markets to rebound.

came up with. Where does charging overflight fees would likely generate sufit end? How does it end?

“Being so totally ficient income to finance dependent on the US, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Canada and the UK, Authority and this counthere’s not a hell of a lot try’s regulatory regime, we can do. Until flights thereby eliminating the open up and hotels open, need for taxpayer subsidies.

Asked whether the fees and people have the ability subsidise ticket and courage to travel......” would prices for Bahamians wishMr Appleyard said he was ing to travel to the Family especially concerned that Islands, Mr D’Aguilar said: US corporate earnings “Let’s put it this way. The are “going to suffer hor- money that you receive rendously” as a result of from that, you can only use COVID-19 because this it in the aviation sector; you client base was responsible can’t use it to build prisons for generating a significant and schools and what not. amount of Wildflowers’ “The aviation sector has business. been starved of funds for He explained that many years. A lot of our air the company frequently traffic control devices and catered to corporate con- our navigation aids have ferences, meetings and fallen into disrepair. Obvievents to reward staff for ously it will be a revenue sales performance that source for our aviation often attracted between sector so we can enhance 500 to 1,000 guests. “We the safety and oversight did an awful lot of work of the aviation sector. We have a very complex aviaat Baha Mar, Atlantis tion sector, given the fact and the Ocean Club,” the that we are an archipelagic Wildflowers chief said. nation and we have all of “Even if everything opens these islands. It costs a forup it will be a while before tune to run the sector, but that type of business that we never got funds for it.” we were seeing since Baha Discussions surrounding Mar opened up comes the management of Bahaback. mian sovereign airspace “It was booming up until have been ongoing for the February/March. If some- last 25 years. Since 1952, one in January had said some 75 percent of the air that three months down traffic through Bahamian the road we would have no business.... We’ve been prudent so we can sustain UNIQUE VACATIONS LIMITED it. We have the ongoing VACANCY UNIQUE VACATIONS LIMITED expenses of a 40,000 square foot warehouse, SENIOR AIX/LINUXVACANCY SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR maintenance that needs to SENIOR AIX/LINUX SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR be done, and there’s still is looking for a Senior AIX/LINUX System Administrator who will be responsible for defining p Unique Vacations Unique Vacations is looking for a Senior AIX/LINUX System Administrator who will be responsible for electricity and bills that estimate project tasks, and project provide industry knowledge in performing basic industry and advanced associated defining requirements, estimate project tasks, and provide knowledgetasks in performing need to be paid.” basic and associated with responsibilities.

AIX architectu System responsibilities. The Senior AIXadvanced Systemtasks Administrator will administration provide high-level input toThe anySenior system Administrator will provide high-level input to any system architecture changes, security changes, changes, applying security updates, and support to application teams with items such as patch manageme applying security updates, and support to application teams with items such as patch management, support of the applications with their respective vendors. installation, and support of the applications with their respective vendors.

Job Summary:

Job Summary: The Senior Linux/ AIX Systems Administrator installs and manages the AIX operating environment

The Senior Linux/ AIXonSystems Administrator installs and utilizing manages theversions AIX operating environment both both physical and virtual server platforms, current of AIX technologies.

Designson and implements back-up, recoveryofandAIX conversion strategies,Designs as well asand performance and security tuning server platforms, utilizing current versions technologies. implements back-up, recov best practices. and security tuning best practices. strategies, as well as performance Areas of Responsibility

Areas of Responsibility

Extensive System Administration experience in a heterogeneous UNIX environment like AIX/Linux. Work on AIX designs, SOW, development, and supported application solutions to meet Extensive System Administration experience in a heterogeneous UNIX environment like AIX/Linux. Work requirements.

•

•

SOW, development, and supported application solutions to meet requirements.

•

Configuration, management, and support for advanced AIX functionality which includes: HACMP and NIM Experienced in AIX/6x/7x installation, migration, and troubleshooting.

Configuration, management, and support for advanced AIXupgrade, functionality which includes: HACMP and NIM

•

• Experience in managing, troubleshooting IBM P Series hardware.

Upgrade firmware of managed machines, devices, and HMC.

•

Experience in managing, troubleshooting IBM P Series hardware.

•

Lead datacenter• migration a largeI/O midrange Knowledgein- Virtual client LPARenvironment. using HMC.

•

• Knowledge and hands-on experience in Advanced Power Series Virtualization.

Extensive experience in micro partitioning and LPAR, DLPAR.

•

Knowledge - Virtual I/O client LPAR using HMC.

•

Knowledge and •hands-on experience in Advanced Power Series Virtualization.

Work along with SAN Storage Team and Perform Disk Management (LVM).

•

• Experienced in installing andmachine configuring clusters with different resource Support partitioning environment with and IBMupgrading P Series,HACMP manage with HMC.

•

Install, configure, NIM server, using NIM recourses.

• manage, Monitor and manage theand 24x7installing operationsclients to ensure the highest stability and availability.

•

Performed disaster exercises for server environments.

Work along with• SAN Storage Teamrecovery and Perform Disk Management (LVM).

•

Experienced in installing and upgrading HACMP and configuring clusters with different resource groups.

• Design, develop, and install scripts to alert and monitor for system errors, exceptions, system Capacity and Performance Planning.

•

AIX/6x/7x installation, upgrade, migration, and troubleshooting.

• Upgrade firmware of managed machines, devices, and HMC. •

Lead datacenter migration in a large midrange environment.

•

Extensive experience in micro partitioning and LPAR, DLPAR.

•

Support partitioning environment with IBM P Series, manage machine with HMC.

•

Install, configure, manage, NIM server, and installing clients using NIM recourses.

groups. Experienced in AIX Capacity and Performance Planning.

•

Coordinate with vendors, development, business partners, and escalation support teams. performance history, and general systems maintenance.

•

Monitor and manage the advanced 24x7 operations to ensure the highest stability and availability.

• Provide troubleshooting and support associated with the enterprise midrange

•

Performed disaster recovery exercises for server environments.

•

Coordinate with• vendors, development,tobusiness partners, support teams.

Provide documentation users and Service Deskand staffescalation before the implementation of newly

•

Design, develop, and install scripts to alert and monitor for system errors, exceptions, system performan • Assist with establishing policies and procedures necessary for optimal system operations. These general systems maintenance. should include the accuracy and integrity of system backups, automation of manual and routine

environment.

•

Make recommendations for upgrades and new server hardware, peripherals, operating systems. installed products.

operations, ensuring conformance with Information Systems, enterprise, security, and industry standards.

•

Accurately document instances of hardware failure, repair, installation, and removal.

•

Provide proactive communication with vendors to ensure operating system levels and systemlevel patches or upgrades are applied to minimize performance and availability issues.

•

Provide effective capacity planning via standardized processes to collect and record server performance history. Communicate with application support and vendors to understand changes in application workloads and leverage historical performance data.

•

Any other duties/projects as deemed necessary by management

Experience/Skills/Qualifications: • Education: BS in Computer Science or Management Information Systems • Experience: 7+ years of experience managing AIX/ Linux Systems.

3+ years of experience in server virtualization (Xen) • Excellent team, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Must be able to coach junior team members • Clear, analytical thinking, and problem-solving ability.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Interested persons should submit their applications by May 28th, 2020 with curriculum vitae to hrreport6@gmail.com

PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

LEGAL NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000

COVENANT UNITED LIMITED Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of COVENANT UNITED 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 8th May 2020.

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

YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 27, 2020, PAGE 9

CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN AT RANFURLY

T

he Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The Home provides a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned.

YOU can make a difference in the lives of the children at Ranfurly. With your support children can have nutritious food, warm beds and a safe environment where they can discover the joy of being children. For years the children living and learning at Ranfurly have made great social and academic strides.

Their further development requires additional support in the form of a Transitional Home, planned for construction on the Ranfurly property.

This residence will cater to teenagers and young adults who are beyond school age, but need accommodation while they find work and gain independence from the Home.

We look forward to your continued support in this worthwhile endeavour.

MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES Individuals, Families & Corporate Sponsors Children Helping Children - $5 (Individual children from ages 6 - 18) Individuals Helping Children - $50 (Individual adults 18 years and over) Families Helping Children - $100

CIRCLE of FRIENDS Silver: $1,500 - $2,499 Gold: $2,500 - $4,999 Platinum: $5,000 plus

OPPORTUNITIES • • • •

Invitations to Ranfurly events Assist with fundraising events Involvement with special activities Adults are eligible to join the Board after three months • Stay in touch with Ranfurly through website and newsletters

BENEFITS

• Personal fulfillment in knowing you are impacting lives • Ranfurly children’s appreciation and positive response • Continued support provides stability and constant care

For more information visit: www.ranfurlyhome.org Please “Like” us on Facebook Ranfurly Home for Children, Mackey Street P.O. Box 1413 Nassau, Bahamas 242-393-3115

Budget must have private sector’s back FROM PAGE ONE destination to a tourism market where there may be significant pent-up demand for vacations due to the worldwide lockdowns and restrictions implemented in recent months.

The chamber chief spoke out as K Peter Turnquest, pictured, deputy prime minister, admitted that the Bahamian economy and government finances were “in dire straits” as a result of COVID-19’s impact.

Echoing Mr Beckles, he said the theme of today’s budget is one focused on creating a “resilient Bahamas” and setting out a plan for the country’s restoration.

“We are not out of the emergency yet, and the new budget represents our answer now to the difficult challenges we still face,” Mr Turnquest said in a statement. “I want to reiterate that we are going to provide an honest take on where we are as a country.

There is no need to sugarcoat the situation because we all understand the dire straits we are in.

“The reassuring takeaway I want to leave with

citizens and residents is that the government is singularly focused on protecting families, communities and businesses, and stabilising our economy. We demonstrated these priorities in our immediate response, and if there are two words to define the budget I will present tomorrow, they are ‘protect and stabilise’.

“The budget will show our commitment to providing relief now by protecting citizens and residents who are suffering hardship and coping with many levels of uncertainty, and to stabilise the economy that is weakened but

resilient,” the deputy prime minister added.

“Tomorrow I will present a plan for a resilient Bahamas. That is what the new budget represents. In fact, that is what we call it: Resilient Bahamas: A plan for restoration. And I want Bahamians to remind each other we are all in this together.

“As we have proven in our proactive and focused response to our ongoing emergencies, our budget priorities will reflect our values, and lay out a path for transforming this crisis into an opportunity for our future recovery.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 27, 2020, PAGE 11

PAGE 12, Wednesday, May 27, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 73° F/23° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Some sun with a shower or t‑storm

Mainly clear with a shower in spots

Clouds and sun; a passing shower

Mostly sunny, a shower; breezy

Partly sunny with a shower or two

Partly sunny

High: 87°

Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 75°

High: 85° Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 74°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

99° F

84° F

96°-80° F

95°-78° F

95°-80° F

96°-81° F

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

almanac

E

ABACO

S

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

S

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

E S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

W

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

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

W

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

11:55 a.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

High

Ht.(ft.)

2.2 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:05 a.m.

5:55 p.m.

0.2 0.2

Thursday

12:20 a.m.

12:50 p.m.

2.9 2.2

6:56 a.m.

6:52 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Friday

1:15 a.m.

1:51 p.m.

2.8 2.3

7:50 a.m.

7:56 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Saturday

2:13 a.m.

2:55 p.m.

2.8 2.5

8:46 a.m.

9:04 p.m.

0.1 0.3

Sunday

3:14 a.m.

3:57 p.m.

2.8 2.7

9:43 a.m. ‑0.1 10:12 p.m. 0.2

Monday

4:15 a.m.

4:58 p.m.

2.7 3.0

10:38 a.m. ‑0.2 11:17 p.m. 0.0

Tuesday

5:14 a.m.

5:54 p.m.

2.7 3.2

11:32 a.m. ‑0.5 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:21 a.m.

7:53 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

10:35 a.m. none

First

Full

Last

New

May 29

Jun. 5

Jun. 13

Jun. 21

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

S

E

W

4‑8 knots

S

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 ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 72° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 88° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.67” Year to date ............................................... 18.96” Normal year to date ..................................... 8.21”

tiDes For nassau

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map H L

E

W

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

6‑12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

N E

W

E

W

L

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

S

S

7‑14 knots

7‑14 knots

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

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

To advertise ALL your LEGAL NOTICES, call The Tribune’s Sales Department

502-2394

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 79° F 80° F 84° F 85° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 85° F 85° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F