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Volume: 119 No.131, May 31, 2022

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

DOMES FOR RENT

Emergency homes in Abaco have been secretly rented out

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net DISASTER Reconstruction Authority executive chairman Alex Storr said investigations launched on the dome project on Abaco, initiated by the previous government administration, found some residents were renting the temporary housing structures for monetary gain.

Mr Storr said he was alerted to the situation during his first visit to the island. An investigation was launched shortly afterwards, he added.

“The first dome we stopped to and (a man) told us that he was renting the

‘LIVEABLE WAGE’ IS UNION’S AMBITION

dome from someone else which caused me to launch an immediate audit on the occupants for the domes. We now have that report where we know who’s supposed to be in the domes and who’s actually not so we’re dealing with all those situations.”

Mr Storr said he was also received reports that some dome tenants have even rented their homes.

“I also got report that there was somebody who was renting their house that moved into a dome because they’re renting their house so there’s a lot of stories, some could be substantiated and some can’t but we will try to deal with it on a SEE PAGE THREE

LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Public Service Union president Kimsley Ferguson says the union hopes to meet with government officials “in the next week or so” to discuss the proposed minimum wage increase, saying the proposal “is not much of a difference” from workers’ current wage.

Last week, Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis revealed that government had submitted a proposal to BPSU to increase the minimum wage in the public sector, with incremental increases starting in July.

SEE PAGE FIVE

‘DID BRAVE REALLY NEED TO MAKE ALL THE TRIPS?’ OPPOSITION Leader Michael Pintard last night questioned the number of official overseas visits the Prime Minister has made since taking office.

Mr Pintard’s questioning came after it was revealed the budget for government international travel has increased by just over $4 million.

Mr Pintard said the need for each person joining a government trip should be established from the outset.

“We certainly acknowledge that there are certain trips that are required by any administration as it seeks to do business on

behalf of the country,” he said.

However, he argued the government has not done a good job in explaining if all of those making the trips were “absolutely necessary” based on the specific of objective of that meeting.

“The size of the delegations have been very large and the question is can they justify that each person that is on the trip has a specific purpose that delivers on behalf of the Bahamian people. So they have not given adequate explanation to that.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

FACE TO FACE: ISSY’S AIMING TO BE A- SEESTAR PAGE EIGHT

BACK TO THE BALL

FOOD DUTY CUTS WON’T BALANCE INFLATION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

CHARLYNE Sealy and Lorraine Elliott show off their outfits on Saturday as the Cancer Society returned with its first in-person ball since the start of the pandemic - with a masquerade event to mark the occasion. See PAGE TWO for more.

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

POLICE CONFISCATE BAIN’S RIFLE POLICE investigating outspoken politician Lincoln Bain have retained two firearms after he was questioned over a video showing him brandishing a rifle.

And last night Mr Bain apologised to anyone who had taken offence at the video in which he accused members of the Haitian community of burning down parts of the bush to make coal.

Mr Bain was taken in for questioning last week after

LINCOLN Bain in the video. his video received spread coverage on media.

Mr Bain revealed currently have two

widesocial police of his

firearms after a video of him brandishing a weapon.

“The police I guess were curious about what was going on so they started their own investigation,” said Mr Bain.

“I don’t know there to have been a complaint. So, there shouldn’t have been a reason to apprehend me… they spoke to me. We had a good conversation and that was it.”

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

The Budget’s tariff cuts “can’t compensate” fully for the 20 percent increase in food prices since late 2021, Super Value’s principal said yesterday, although they may cover “half of what was lost” by the return of breadbasket VAT. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PETER YOUNG: SAME GAME ON OTHER SIDE OF WORLD

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

PICTURED at the Cancer Society ball are, clockwise from top left, Lydia and Neville Adderley; Brenda Freckelton; Indira Adderley; Jayde Richardson and Mia Bowe; Shameka Rolle and Dawn Coakley; and Alyson Morris and Shannette Cash.

BACK TO THE BALL ON SATURDAY, the Cancer Society returned with its first in-person ball since the start of the pandemic. To celebrate the occasion, the organisation chose the theme “Escape” and turned the gala event into a masquerade ball.

The 20th annual Cancer Ball took place at Atlantis, Paradise, in the Imperial Ballroom, with COVID-19 protocols strictly in place.

“We welcome being able to celebrate the Cancer Society as well as volunteers who have tirelessly supported the cause especially on this the 20th anniversary of the ball. Each year we honour two awardees with two prestigious honours – the Susan Andrews Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Marcia Johnson, ball committee member for public relations.

Guests danced the night away to the sounds of the Visage band and in-house deejays. There was also a raffle, a silent auction and other surprises.

Lovern Wildgoose, past-president of Cancer Society of and co-chair of the ball, said it is an awesome feeling to host to be able to host such ab extravagant event for so many years. The Cancer Society of the Bahamas is a non-profit organisation, established in 1976 to serve the public through education programmes aimed at bringing awareness to early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer, while offering temporary accommodations as well as providing for the social and emotional needs of cancer patients in a peaceful, secure and supportive environment.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 3

Police Commissioner Rolle to leave office on July 5

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle confirmed yesterday that he is demitting office on July 5, after months of speculation on the date.

Commissioner Rolle, speaking to reporters at the Caribbean Commissioner’s of Police Conference, finally revealed his intentions to fully retire after first having announced he was leaving the Royal Bahamas Police Force back in March.

The Prime Minister has to now select a new Police Commissioner to replace Rolle who was as appointed in March, 2020 and would have spent 40 years in the RBPF after having joined in May, 1983.

Deputy Commissioner, Clayton Fernander, has acted in the capacity of Police Commissioner when Mr Rolle was out of office.

Mr Rolle said about his departure that he was not forced out of office and it was his decision to leave on his own, saying, “Forced out by who?” He added: “Nobody could force the Commissioner out. I said when you’ll asked me in December that I will leave when I’m ready.”

Commissioner Rolle had at most times an amicable relationship with the media, despite some gaffes and abrupt statements on matters he was unable to address at certain times.

These included when he said “weak men” were at fault for their own suicides,

POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle.

He added that if reporters but apologised shortly thereafter for the comments wanted to be mischievous then “three could play this after public uproar.

Commissioner Rolle also game and I enjoyed playing said: “The cabinet through it”.

He was referring to the the Prime Minister will announce who the next barrage of questions he Commissioner will be and I received when first announcwould just ask the members ing his retirement and how of the press to wait for that he felt some reporters were and let it be done properly. making more out of the As I indicated, we serve and announcement of his deparI don’t like when we get to ture than warranted.

“Youngsters, who was the end of your tenure and people are making mischief.” just born yesterday, most of

them aren’t even 30 yet and they are putting questions to me about when I’m leaving? That’s not appropriate and I took issue with that.”

Nonetheless, Commissioner Rolle said he was “pleased” with his service over the years and is looking forward to his retirement.

He will leave behind a very different police force compared with when he first entered some 40 years

ago, where officers now have increased options for training and re-training in all crime fronts.

Issues like cyber crime and illicit drugs are things he has made a hallmark of his tenure, with noticeable narcotics seizures along with increased surveillance on cyber crime.

He has also managed the political minefield of his position, having been the lead investigator on several

high-profile fraud, corruption and abuse of power cases, two of which he is overseeing currently.

Commissioner Rolle said that he had to change tactics of the officers under his command after seeing the influence of US police brutality spilling over into The Bahamas.

“After the killing of a young man in the United States, his name escapes me, by the police officers, the world is now a small place and that we saw it spilling here and I had to pull out all the stops. Essentially change our tactics and message to try to get into community and re-sensitise our police officers of the need to work with persons in the community. I led the charge and went out to try to repair and to build the relationships with the communities.”

Acknowledging that the RBPF had some negative interactions with some members of the public he said there was a great need to change that image and reinforce into the minds of the public that police officers are also members of the same communities they serve.

One of the last initiatives before he leaves office is with organising a “regional ballistics laboratory”, something Commissioner Rolle feels would assist with tracking firearms that move from one country in the Caribbean to another. “The thought is to have a central database or repository where all of this information can be deposited and we can do a cross country search,” he said.

EMERGENCY HOMES IN ABACO HAVE BEEN SECRETLY RENTED OUT from page one cases by case basis and see how we can bring a resolution to each one,” he added.

This comes as the authority is seeking to find alternative housing for Abaco residents who are still living in the domes.

Yesterday, Mr Storr said officials want to transition dome dwellers into permanent homes “within the next few months”, adding the government is willing to provide as much support as possible.

He said: “The Prime Minister is trying to make the best arrangements and see how best he can assist those persons that in the domes to get them out of there as

soon as possible. Because, it never was intended to be long term housing and many of them have been in there over a year or more now and we’re trying to see what their individual circumstances are and how we can best assist them to see how they can get out of the domes and into their houses as quick as possible.”

The Minnis administration spent more than $6m on nearly 200 domes that were supposed to be used as temporary housing for Abaco and Grand Bahama residents after Hurricane Dorian.

According to Mr Storr, some 39 dome structures have been erected in Spring City, Abaco to date.

“When I last checked,

ROUGH WEATHER IN COMING DAYS A BROAD low pressure trough straddling the Northwest and Central Bahamas will linger over the area for the next few days. This trough will eventually lift and move northeastward into the open Atlantic Ocean by Thursday.

Periods of scattered showers and isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are expected during the week.

Heavy downpours, strong gusty winds and frequent lightning activity will accompany severe thunderstorm activity. Prolonged rainfall resulting in localised flooding in low-lying areas is anticipated.

Some improvement in weather conditions is forecast for the extreme Northwest (Bimini, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama, Abaco) and Northwest Bahamas (North Andros, New Providence, Eleuthera) tomorrow and continuing on Thursday.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology is also closely monitoring the possibility of a broad area of showers and thunderstorm, associated with the remnants of Hurricane Agatha presently located of the southeast coast of Mexico.

Development of this disturbance is expected near the Yucatan Peninsula and the southwest Gulf of Mexico

by Wednesday.

Weather forecast models are indicating that this disturbance could develop into a low pressure system and begin moving toward the northeast Thursday night.

This low pressure system is further forecast to deepen and move across Central Cuba on Friday and into the Northwest Bahamas early Saturday morning.

There is a possibility that this could develop into a tropical depression or storm as it approaches The Bahamas.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology will continue to monitor and update the public on any possible development. In any event, residents in the Northwest and Central Bahamas should prepare for intense thunderstorm activity with excessive rainfall beginning on Friday night continuing into Sunday.

The public should note tomorrow begins the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season and is therefore advised to continue preparations.

there are at least four (domes) that are possibly vacant. I don’t know how many residents are in each of the domes that are occupied… but going by that, I’ll say there are 35 families.”

Asked how the domes will be used moving forward, the DRA chairman suggested the agency wants to find another purpose for the housing structures.

However, he said a decision in that regard will ultimately be made by Cabinet.

“We are going to re-evaluate the use of the domes and it is my opinion and persons on my project team is that the way those domes are installed right now is quite problematic and there are some persons that have

issues with molds and other issues in the domes,” he told The Tribune.

“I don’t think that they were properly installed on the plywood footings that they had them on... because the way there were installed there’s no way they can survive a 135mph hurricane and so we want to re-evaluate the domes and perhaps even re-purpose them.”

“But right now, the use of those domes was by a cabinet paper and mandated by Cabinet so we would have to go back to Cabinet with a solution before we could come up with other uses for them.”

Yesterday, Mr Storr also spoke on the agency’s plans to further

reconstruction efforts on the island.

“The main two projects right now would be the restart of the Abaco centre which is the hurricane shelter on Abaco,” he said, “and we have met with the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and hope to sign off on an agreement/ donation this week and that will enable us to restart that project. It’s going to re-design that project because there were issues with the design that was being used. Hopefully, once the shelter has been done properly, they can then be duplicated around the country because you know we have no-purpose hurricane shelters.”

Plans are also underway to resume the agency’s Small Homes Repair programme, he added.

“We are getting ready to start the assessments for those that are qualified for the small home repair programme. We are going to restart that but we’re also revamping it and our aim is to close up as many houses as soon as possible with the upcoming hurricane season,” he added.

Hurricane Dorian hit Abaco on September 1, 2019, as a Category 5 hurricane before barreling toward Grand Bahama.

The storm left thousands of homes either destroyed or damaged and hundreds of residents displaced.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘Did Brave really need to make all the trips?’ from page one “This is what the public pays most of the attention to.

“You have a good sense of how many technical persons are required to obtain the information required on behalf of the Bahamian or to participate in workshops or panel discussions on behalf of the government.

“Some trips that the Prime Minister has take,

clearly we could see that local diplomats in that general region could have attended on behalf of the government. Some trips don’t require a Prime Minister. Some trips don’t require a minister, but a diplomat who may be based in Europe who can then act on behalf of the government.

“If you want a good way to measure whether or not Prime Ministers must be present it’s really to look at

the corresponding officials from other countries.”

The opposition leader questioned whether the government clearly prioritized its work.

“Much needs to happen... is this trip adding value which is a reasonable question to ask in the midst of a hard economic time. Is this trip adding value to what we are trying to accomplish with that particular domestic issue?” he questioned.

“So, all we want to know

is whether or not we are getting a return on the investment because obviously this is a significant investment.

“This is not as what the government has represented that we don’t appreciate the value of in-person contact - we certainly do. We just want to make sure in the midst of a hard economic period that they’re taking into consideration whether or not it’s the best not just of the

LEADER of the Opposition Michael Pintard and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at the Cancer Ball at the weekend.

finances but more importantly their time.”

Prime Minister Davis himself addressed the issue yesterday saying a distinction needed to be made between the budget for travel and what actually ends up being spent.

“We don’t know what travels we’ll have in the coming year and until we understand it, it is an allocation. Doesn’t mean that it will be used,” said Mr Davis.

“The fact that we

allocated doesn’t mean that it has to be used. It is there to cover unforeseen travels that may come up.

“There are certain travels that have to be made by ministers that’s related to their specific portfolios.

There are certain travels that I have to make that relates to me as a leader of the country - leaders summit throughout the year that I have to attend and the allocation is to ensure that it is covered.”

Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

‘WE’RE WORKING WITH US TO TRACK ILLEGAL FIREARMS’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday he is working with the United States on tracking firearms that enter into the country illegally but they still “need to do more”.

Speaking to reporters outside the Caribbean Commissioner’s of Police Conference, Mr Davis said

that with collaboration with the US government, the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security were able to track guns that were used in violent crime in the country back to “certain shops and manufacturers” and have even identified the people who have bought the guns.

Discussions have gone as high as the White House, Mr Davis said, but did

not confirm which White House official he has been in contact with on the matter.

He said: “We are saying to the Americans they need to do more and to realise that we don’t want to get involved in their domestic issues about the right to bear arms. We are concerned that purchasers of guns are not just buying it to bear, but are buying to export and to traffic.”

The US has now appointed an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) attaché at its Nassau Embassy to assist with identifying and tracing firearms and those responsible for trafficking them.

Mr Davis noted that the majority of the people trafficking arms into the country from the US have “Bahamian roots” and in many instances have “dual nationality” in terms of

having some status in the US or are connected to The Bahamas in some way.

What is worrisome about tackling this heavy influx of firearms is that within the Caribbean it is estimated 70 percent of all murders are as a result of a firearm.

Mr Davis said: “More than 90 percent of guns confiscated and used as murder weapons in The Bahamas can be traced back to American manufacturers

and gun shops. The production of small guns, ammunition and their components is illegal in The Bahamas. The stringent nature of The Bahamas’ gun possession laws creates a gap between statistics and reality. Despite the enormous burden of policing a country that forbids the manufacturing and possession of guns, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, has done much.”

WIVES of Caribbean Police Comissioners paid a courtesy call on Ann Marie Davis at the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS

WARNING OVER COVID PHONE SCAM HEALTH officials last night warned the public to be on their guard against a COVID phone scam that tries to extort money from families.

In a statement the Ministry of Health & Wellness said: “Persons have been receiving WhatsApp calls from the telephone number (1-450-232-2565) where the caller is claiming to

represent the Ministry and offering money in exchange for personal information.

“The public is advised that the number does not belong to the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Ministry does not offer money for information. This is a scam and members of the public should not provide any of their details to the caller.

“The public is reminded

to be cautious when answering calls, emails or text messages and releasing personal and financial information to strangers.”

The public is advised to check for information updates on the Ministry’s website, www.bahamas. gov.bs/health, Facebook – MOHBahamas, Instagram – mohwbahamas or twitter at mohw242.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 5

‘Liveable wage is union’s ambition’ from page one He made the comments while delivering his budget communication in the House of Assembly.

According to Mr Ferguson, the government had proposed a minimum wage increase from $210 to about $250 a week.

However, he said the union wants “nothing less than at least $350 per week” given the high cost of living in the country.

“We got the proposal.

It’s $210 now so I think it may have been an

additional probably $38 or $40. It’s not much of a difference,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “While the government may be seeking to increase minimum wage, the union is more concerned about a liveable wage as opposed to a minimum wage.”

“Based on the fact that salaries were what they were prior to Hurricane Dorian, prior to COVID19 and when inflation has kicked in, the cost of living has escalated. These salaries, for persons who are receiving minimum wage, they really can’t compete.”

Mr Ferguson said many public service workers are left with little to nothing after monies would’ve been deducted from their salaries. As a result, workers are struggling to make ends meet, he added.

“People are just merely surviving and making decisions on whether to pay the rent or put food on the table,” he said.

“Our view is that minimum wage should be nothing less than at least $350 per week. Also, the concern with minimum wage is that we believe that the government is adamant

about increasing minimum wage because those persons who come into the public service and who would then have responsibility for contributing to their contributory pension plans, those monies would actually come from their salaries and persons would find themselves after contributing to the pension plan at less than minimum wage so we’re of the view that after the contributory pension plan has been deducted from person’s salaries that they should leave with a liveable wage.”

Asked yesterday if the union supported the government’s proposal, Mr Ferguson only said that negotiations were still ongoing.

He said: “I wouldn’t want to say that we don’t support it because it’s still an item that’s being negotiated and I would not want to say that I support it, but we’re of the view that the liveable wage should be at least $350 and that is what we like to see the government give to public servants who are at the lower end of the disparity.

“We haven’t gone back

to the table as yet, but we’re hopeful that in another week or so that we will be sitting at the table making some decisions on what public servants perceive as a result of what was communicated in the budget communication so we will reserve our comments until we arrive at an amicable solution.”

Government officials have previously said that phasing the country’s minimum wage into a liveable wage remains a key priority for the Davis administration.

NATIONAL CONGRESS: WE’LL STAY STRONG DESPITE UNION SPLIT

FROM left, Minister of State for Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle; Tonni Ann Brodber, representative, UN Women Multi-Country Office; Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming; chairman of the Bahamas Development Bank Senator Quinton Lightbourne; Denise Antonio, UNDP resident representative, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos; and United Nations resident coordinator Dr Garry Conille.

PROJECT AIMING TO EMPOWER WOMEN A PROGRAMME designed to empower women was launched yesterday with State Minister in the Ministry of Social Services & Urban Development Lisa Rahming reassuring government’s commitment to gender equality and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Celebrating the progress of women in The Bahamas, Minister Rahming pointed to the foundation laid by the Women’s Suffrage Movement: “Women of our generation are proud inheritors of that glorious legacy. We vote in greater numbers; and while we remain committed to doing our part in nation building, the struggle to eliminate gender inequality continues.”

“In that spirit, the principles of this programme are aligned with the ‘leave no one behind’ mandate, and gender equality, driving women’s empowerment forward.”

The United Nations has committed to an investment of nearly $1m into the Joint SDG Fund Joint Programme on “Building Back Equal” Through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

It is designed to empower women, youth, people

MINISTERS of State Lisa Rahming and Pia Glover-Rolle at the launch of the Joint SDG Fund Programme. living with disabilities, and and markets in which we Family Island residents. conduct business and comMs Rahming said this mercial trade.” joint venture, initiated by She congratulated the the Bahamas Development BDB for leading the charge Bank (BDB), marks the as the facility through first successful proposal for which women will be able the Bahamas to the Sustain- to be empowered in the able Development Goal area of agriculture, culture, Fund. tourism and other sec“This joint programme tors. BDB is a part of the recognises that societies 2XCollaborative Gender with higher levels of gender and Climate Finance Taskequality experience faster force, facilitated by UN and more sustainable devel- Women. opment outcomes,” she The UN Mission in town said. for the launch of the Joint “As we economically SDG Programme on Buildempower our people, no ing Back Equal includes social or demographic UN Resident Coordinator grouping is to be left Dr Garry Conille, and UN behind. In doing so, we are Joint Fund SDG Head of to remain sensitive to the Reporting Heewong Kim, customs, culture, way of along with representatives life, values and the integrity from UN Women, UNDP, of the physical environ- UNESCO, FAO, and ment of the communities PAHO/ WHO.

‘MA OR BOOST’ AHEAD FOR GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DONNA Laing-Jones, Partner & Broker, Keys Bahamas Realty, Ltd, believes there will be a major boost in the real estate market on Grand Bahama where two major investments are ready to take off.

In a press statement, Ms Laing-Jones is urging people to ready themselves for the shift.

“From all indications, while there is an air of cautious optimism, we are satisfied that the dynamics of the real estate market are set to take a shift, and we advise clients, potential clients, and all stakeholders to be in a readied position,” she said.

The government recently announced that a buyer has been identified for Grand Lucayan Resort. Electra America, which was chosen as the successful bidder by

DONNA LAING-JONES Lucayan Renewal Holding Board, has entered an agreement to purchase the property for $100M. The buyer also plans to undertake some $300m to redevelopment the hotel property. About 1,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created.

Construction of the $200m Carnival Cruise Port project is also underway in Grand Bahama. The project, which is expected to be completed by 2025, is

also expected to create an additional 1,000 permanent jobs.

Ms Laing said that in view of the thousands of construction jobs projected as a result of the recently announced sale of the Grand Lucayan Hotel and groundbreaking of the new cruise port in East Grand Bahama, local property owners need to act now.

She pointed out that due to devastating hurricanes and various other reasons, the labour force had dwindled in Grand Bahama.

With these major investments, however, Ms Jones indicated that hundreds are likely to relocate to Grand Bahama and will obviously need accommodation which will mean rentals are set to be in high demand.

“We are also finding a high volume of interest in persons wanting to sell or buy abandoned properties as an investment ahead of the significant numbers likely to relocate,” she said.

THE National Congress of Trades Union of The Bahamas says the organisation will remain strong and continue to represent workers in the country after several unions ended their affiliation with umbrella organisation.

During a press conference on Sunday, the president of the Bahamas Union of teachers Belinda Wilson announced the launch of a new trade union congress called the Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress (BNATUC).

The union is comprised of six unions and two associations, including the Airport Airline and Allied Workers (AAAWU), Bahamas Financial Services Union (BFSU), Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU), Bahamians Public Service Union (BPSU), Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU), Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT), Police Staff Association and Correctional Officers Association.

Mrs Wilson will serve as BNATUC president, while Kimsley Ferguson will serve as first vice president.

“Every union you see here was a part of another congress (but) as of today, we are no longer affiliated with any other congress other than the Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress,” said Mrs Wilson.

In a statement yesterday, the NCTUB extended well wishes to the newly formed umbrella union.

The body also maintained that its work will continue.

“Acting President (Dwayne) Woods has affirmed that the NCTUB remains strong and will continue to represent workers of The Bahamas,” NCTUB Acting Secretary General, Daniel Thompson said in a statement. “We will remain resolute and work on behalf of our remaining Affiliates, more than ever before.

As we begin the celebrations of Labour Day 2022, under the theme ‘Labour Marches on and Remains Strong’, our airwaves were filled with announcement of the formation of a new congress.

“The NCTUB is an organisation built predominantly on volunteerism and mutuality of benefits and shared vision. We therefore

wish those Affiliates who have decided to withdraw their support from the NCTUB, God’s speed.

We encourage them, in the spirit of comradery, to submit their decision in writing so that we can make the appropriate adjustments on our register.”

This comes just days before the Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parade on Frdiay, where all unions in The Bahamas traditionally come together in a show of solidarity to support workers’ rights.

Mr Thompson added: “In our Labour Day 2022 church service at the Church of God of Prophesy Cathedral, East Street, Bishop Hulan Hanna reminded NCTUB Affiliates present, about the importance of the work of the unions in protecting the rights and improving the working conditions of Bahamian workers throughout our history. He reminded us of our individual responsibility to be accountable for our own actions as referenced in Ezekiel 20.

Each person must answer for their own action. The NCTUB matches on and remains strong.”

PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited

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Domes should not be empty when people are in need THE domes bought to shelter residents temporarily left homeless by Hurricane Dorian have been a mess from the start.

It took forever for the domes to be made available, there seemed to be an ever-changing plan for what to do with them – and there are still a number that are vacant, as we head towards three years since the storm that prompted their purchase.

And now in today’s Tribune we hear a report that some residents are renting out domes.

These are only meant to be an emergency shelter – not some step onto the ladder of being a landlord.

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Presumably the person renting it out is living with a roof over their head somewhere else – so they don’t need the dome. Give it to someone who does.

In fact, with domes still vacant, there should not even be the possibility of a market for renting out domes. If people are in need, the empty domes are right there.

The Minnis administration bought nearly 200 of these domes. In Spring City, Abaco, how many have been erected so far? Just 39. And four of those are vacant.

What an absolute waste of time and money and energy.

Even with some of those that have been put up already, there are apparently claims of mold and other issues.

These should be emergency accommodation, not still being discussed nearly three years after the fact.

Why are any still empty if there is a need for them? How can people be in need of somewhere to stay and domes still packed away and not assembled?

As for anyone renting out a dome?

Take it off them and give it to the person staying there instead.

If these claims are true, there is absolutely no justification for such behaviour – and the people doing it should be ashamed of taking advantage of those in need of the most meagre roof over their heads.

It is not acceptable, and it should be stamped down on. If ever there was a sign of bureaucracy failing the people,

it has to be domes gathering dust while people go in need.

Minimum wage The Bahamas Public Service Union is aiming much higher than the government’s plan for an increase to the minimum wage.

The government has reportedly proposed an increase from $210 a week to about $250. The union is aiming for “nothing less than at least $350 a week”.

It doesn’t take a genius to note that those are a significant distance apart.

In a week, too, where the Budget has already come into question over the optimism in the government’s ability to raise enough revenue to cover its spending, there is an obvious thing to ask too – where’s the money going to come from?

There is, of course, nothing wrong with being ambitious in what can be achieved – but on the back of the major financial blows of Hurricane Dorian and the pandemic, the union could also do with a healthy measure of reality in their goals.

That said, there is a question of affordability on the other side too – how can someone afford to live on minimum wage at a time when inflation is surging and supply chain shortages are affecting the price on the shelf?

Talks are still ongoing, but as we noted in yesterday’s editorial, union relations are a far cry from the happy camp depicted by the PLP in the run-up to the election.

Solving the problem of raising a minimum wage enough to have an effect, while still keeping a rein on the nation’s finances at a time when revenues remain down will be no easy task.

That’s just the public sector too – if the government expects the private sector to follow suit, there are plenty of companies that have not experienced the full rebound after the pandemic yet, and may struggle to raise staff salaries to meet a minimum wage requirement.

Money is tight – and solutions are not easy to come by.

RETIRED US Navy Yeoman First Class Mark Stallins plays “Taps” for the family of a fallen soldier at a graveside in Fort Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, Colorado, yesterday.

Photo: David Zalubowski/AP

Forward, Upward, Onward...

EDITOR, The Tribune.

TOURISM Minister Chester Cooper rightly noted that there is fatigue regarding the stubborn persistence of COVID-19 that refuses to go away.

In the first 21 days of May there have been 700 new infections recorded.

In April, 287. The numbers are climbing.

Within one month the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US moved the COVID-19 level from 1 to 3. I believe another upgrade and a possible fifth wave are imminent, with the highly anticipated Labour Day parade scheduled for June 2 and the Dexter Daps concert in Freeport on June 4, or thereabouts.

Combined, both events have the potential to draw thousands, possibly causing another massive outbreak in Nassau and Freeport.

I get that the PLP is labour friendly, in the tradition of the legendary Sir Randol Fawkes. I recall the PLP and the Trade Union Congress and National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas signing a MOU in August - weeks before the election.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net I encourage the PLP government to continue dialoguing with the unions regarding the implementation of a living wage for working-class Bahamians.

Investopedia defined living wage as a “theoretical income level that allows individuals or families to afford adequate shelter, food, and other necessities”.

According to the website, the “goal of a living wage is to allow employees to earn enough income for a satisfactory standard of living and prevent them from falling into poverty”.

As Labour representatives have rightly complained, Bahamians can no longer survive on the current minimum wage, especially with record breaking inflation on food, medicine and fuel.

External factors, such as the questionable decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to flirt with NATO, which led to the Russian/Ukrainian War, and the Leftist policies of US President Joe

Biden, have both led to the inflationary crisis that is eroding the Bahamian middle class.

Having said that, I think the PLP should tread carefully with allowing the TUC and its affiliates to stage a large parade, even if they promised to enforce strict standards and health protocols.

Since the opening of the Bahamian economy, we have rebounded well. We cannot let our guards down at this stage.

With a projected $11.6bn national debt, the state is no longer in the financial position to dole out hundreds of millions to unemployed Bahamians, via NIB and Social Services, in the event a COVID-19 outbreak frightens away hundreds of thousands of stopover visitors.

I’m all for the Labour Day theme of Forward, Onward, Upward, Together with Labour. However like other concerned Bahamians, I am just not willing to do the same with COVID-19.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama May 26, 2022.

Seize the opportunity EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS PRIME Minister Philip Edward “Brave” Davis and his New Day Government thrive, flourish and grow abundantly, opportunities continue to pop up in favour of our country’s economy and by extension, the PLP government.

With the recent purchase of the Lucayan Resort and “Carnival’s Ground breaking” ceremony, Prime Minister Davis; though hit the ground running immediately after the 2021 General Election; up to this point he hasn’t stopped yet, which means, many more great things are going to happen for The Bahamas.

Are these investors who are flocking to The Bahamas, blessings or coincidence?

In any event, Prime Minister Davis is ensuring that the Bahamian people at the lower end of the spectrum,

enjoys and reaps the majority of the benefits from our country’s economy.

My personal view and opinion, Prime Minister Davis is another Sir Lynden Pindling, in that he carefully choses his cabinet with smart, dynamic and dedicated young men and women.

Particularly young women like: Jobeth Coleby Davis, Pia Glover Rolle and Glenys Hanna Martin.

With regards to Minister Coleby Davis; having met with her on about four or more occasions, am confident and convinced that she is a strong, great, dedicated and committed young woman.

I, therefore, call upon Minister Davis to seize the opportunity and convince the Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues to purchase the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity, those two cruise ships that are registered in

The Bahamas and are up for sale. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for our country and economy.

The purchase of the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will cause the Bahamas to increase its revenue; more job opportunity for Bahamians and an improved tourism product.

Perhaps this concept is unprecedented, but wouldn’t it be just as our National Airline Bahamasair? We would now have our own “National Cruiseline” which in my opinion is long overdue. We would be able to service our seven hundred islands, the Caribbean and the United States, which gives the Bahamas an advantage over all other cruise lines. So let’s do this, Minister Davis.

NICHOLAS JACQUES Nassau, May 29, 2022.

E

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 7

Man told to take anger management after attack on his sister A MAN was ordered to attend anger management classes yesterday after assaulting his sister and another man.

Hakeem Saunders, 21, faced Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, on two counts of assault and one of stealing.

Sometime in May in New Providence, Saunders is accused of stealing his sister’s $350 black tablet.

He was also accused of assaulting Ms Clayvonna Lockhart and Zaveon Brice at 9:15pm on May 27. On that evening the accused is reported to have pushed his sister for poking him in the face and also punched Brice on his hip.

While neither complainant reported any injuries

in relation to the incident, Saunders admitted assaulting them during the official police record of interview.

In court, Saunders pleaded guilty to all three counts against him. However, he told the magistrate he didn’t steal the tablet, but that a friend he had taken to his sister’s house had.

When the magistrate moved to change Saunders‘ plea for theft to not guilty the accused insisted on keeping the plea the same, as he offered to take financial responsibility for the stolen item.

The accused also said he accepted responsibility and was remorseful for his actions.

Magistrate Allen ordered the accused to compensate his sister the value of the stolen tablet and return to court on June 17 to confirm that the debt had been paid.

Saunders was further placed on a conditional discharge for both assault charges. He is expected to register himself to attend anger management classes for six months at the Department of Rehabilitation Services on JFK Drive.

Upon completion of the courses, the accused is to return to court on December 2 for evaluation of his progress. Failing to attend these courses would result in Saunders facing three months in prison on each assault count.

FOUR FACE COURT ON DRUGS CHARGES FOUR men were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on separate drug charges.

Dino Lafleur Jr, 20, represented by Ian Cargill, along with Omar Atkinson, 21, and Ashton Wilson, 20, all stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a shared charge of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

At 5.30pm on May 26 police acting on a warrant searched 40 Cowpen Road where the three accused were present.

There they found suspected drugs in a bedroom on a dresser and contained in a black and red sneaker box

in a plastic wrap and six foil wrappings.

These drugs were later positively identified as a collective 25 grams of Indian Hemp.

In a subsequent interview, Lafleur admitted to solely owning the drugs for his own personal use.

In court, Lafleur pleaded guilty to the charge while the remaining accused pleaded not guilty.

In view of this, the magistrate ordered Lafleur to pay a fine of $500 or risk three months in custody.

Both Atkinson and Wilson were discharged.

Marvin Bodie, 52, of Mason Addition, also stood before Magistrate

McKinney on drug possession charges with intent to supply.

On May 28 at his residence, Bodie was arrested after he was found with 12.3 oz of Indian Hemp.

In court, he pleaded guilty, telling the court he bought the drugs for $350 for his personal use. He further explained that he and his brothers are Rastafarians who smoke regularly.

The accused also alleged that during his arrest officers threatened to arrest his whole family for the drugs, including his mother.

The magistrate ordered Bodie to pay a $800 fine or risk four months in custody.

18 MONTHS IN JAIL OVER 9MM PISTOL A MAN was sentenced to 18 months in prison yesterday for firearms and ammunition offences.

Everette Richardson, 33, represented by Tamara Taylor-Storr, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

At 5.10pm on April 5 on Market Street, Richardson, driving a Burgundy coloured Nissan March, was stopped by officers on mobile patrol who suspected him of harbouring dangerous drugs or firearms.

After attempting to flee authorities, police said the

accused was found with a 9mm firearm magazine in his waist and a 9mm pistol in his right trouser leg. He was also found with 17 live rounds of .40 ammunition.

In court, Richardson changed his earlier plea and admitted all three counts against him.

During attorney TaylorStorr’s plea of mitigation, she indicated that her client was a gainfully employed father, whose fiancée, the mother of his child, had both come to court to support him.

She implored the court to

have mercy on Richardson due to his plea of guilt and remorse for his actions.

In view of this, Magistrate McKinney sentenced the accused to 18 months in the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) on the firearms charge. Richardson is also expected to pay a $7,500 fine for the ammo charge or face an additional six months in custody.

The accused was also sentenced to three months in custody for the component part to be served concurrently with the rest of his sentence.

VAGRANT DENIES STEALING $60 IN BAG A MAN was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of vagrancy and theft.

Samuel Stevens, 32, was arrested for being in the area of Elizabeth Avenue without being able to give a satisfactory reason for being there. On the same

day, he is also alleged to have stolen a brown paper bag containing $60 belonging to Raymond Stevens.

In court before Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr, Stevens pleaded guilty to the vagrancy charge, but pleaded not guilty to the

theft charge.

The magistrate fined the accused $100 for the vagrancy charge or risk seven days in prison.

For the theft charge, he was granted bail at $500.

Stevens’ trial is set for June 13.

CANADIAN ACCUSED OF RAPING TOURIST A CANADIAN MAN was remanded in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on rape charges against a female American tourist.

Wayne McCann, 28, of Ontario, faced Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans accused of raping a 21-year-old American woman in New

Providence on May 26.

Due to the nature of the offence he was not required to enter a plea in the Magistrate’s Court and was told that his case would proceed by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).

The accused was also told that his case would be heard before the Supreme

Court where he can apply for bail.

Until bail is granted he will be returned to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

McCann is expected to return to the Magistrate’s Court on August 4 for service of his VBI.

LINCOLN Bain firing his weapon in this image from video.

POLICE CONFISCATE BAIN’S RIFLE from page one “They let me out. I have not committed a crime.

“They have not implied to me that I have committed a crime. My gun is licensed as always … but curiously though they wanted to hold on to my gun, firearms, and so I allowed them to.”

In The Tribune, former Senator Rodney Moncur yesterday called on police to revoke Mr Bain’s gun licence. However, Mr Bain labelled calls for his gun to be confiscated as “political mischief.”

“It’s political mischief because I think that the person who called for that

is fully aware of the law and I did nothing outside the law. If a Bahamian can’t apply for a licence, get a gun, and be able to shoot that gun. I should be able to... show people how to go hunting. I should be able to do a live with a licensed gun, and go on range and show people how to properly use a firearm.”

He maintained he has never hurt anyone with a gun and never done anything wrong with a firearm.

Asked if in hindsight he regretted releasing the video, Mr Bain said he would like to apologise for offending anyone with his action.

“I did everything legally,” he said.

“I did everything by the book, but, of course, I’m a public figure and I’m leader and if doing something bothers the general public, of course, I would be regretful of that, but the majority of persons I’ve spoked to, almost everyone, they don’t have a problem with it because the gun was licensed.

“Persons who’ve objected to it, I guess they haven’t reached out to me, but if I offended anyone I would like to apologise for offending anyone with my action because I would not want to offend persons being in the position I am.”

PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

In the pool or off to the planets - Issy’s aiming to be a star Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

HOW often do you hear eight-year-olds talking about their ancestors and those who have gone before them? When Isabella Munroe started speaking on these terms, I was impressed. She spoke articulately about her family-oriented foundation and her future... not in a way that seems forced, as if she were trained to do so. She naturally expresses herself well and is wise beyond her years.

She swims competitively and is often ranked among the top three in her age group nationally. In a recent swim meet, Issy, as she is affectionately called, won all her races, dropping times in all of them - 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke,

50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle. If Isabella continues on her current trek, she could very well be representing The Bahamas on the international stage in swimming.

“I swim almost every day,” Isabella told me.

“I don’t get tired of swimming every day. We (my swim club) practice all the strokes and do drills. My mother (D’Atra Munroe) and my aunt (Amanda McPhee) taught me how to swim in my grandmother’s pool when I was a little baby.”

“Isabella is the definition of excellence,” D’Atra said of her daughter.

“She has been swimming competitively since the age

ISABELLA with her great grandfather, Solomon Watson, and her grandfather, Drexel Munroe.

of four and is currently the fastest in the Caribbean for her age group. She is a strong-willed, focused, respectful, and extremely passionate young lady.

From birth, she was a force to be reckoned with, so it comes to me as no surprise to see where she is, and I can envision where she is going.”

“Her ability to connect with animals, regardless of the species, shows her enormous heart. She is an honour roll student who finds school an adventure.

She plays the violin and religiously attends lessons.

She is musically gifted. She loves to dance. She loves

her family and loves to make everyone smile.”

I asked Isabella about family.

She told me she loves spending time with them because she learns so much about her history. She stands on the shoulders of ancestors, such as Juanita Watson (née Carroll) of Long Island, whose generous nature, business savvy and indomitable spirit gave her a big personality, much like her great granddaughter has today. She loves spending time with her great grandfather, Solomon Watson, a well-known contractor and businessman who also hails from Long Island, and her great granduncle, former Deputy Prime Minister, Frank Watson. Her grandmother, Linda Watson-Munroe is well known in the field of beauty and aesthetics as a seasoned professional. She also enjoys spending time with and gaining wisdom from her grandparents Amos and Stella McPhee.

Stella enjoys helping Isabella with her homework every day, and devotedly takes her to and from swim practice.

Learning of the lives of her great grandparents Errol and Irmath Munroe also helps to enrich her life experience and give her an edge over other youngsters who may consider learning of their ancestors a boring or arduous feat. Isabella told me that she also loves to talk about her aunt, Sabrina Wright - known to family as ‘Nana’ - who passed away, because “keeping the memory of our loved ones alive is important”.

Her grandfather, Drexel Munroe, has passed on many talents to Isabella.

“All the members of my grandfather’s family play an instrument,” she told me.

“My instrument is the violin. My grandfather plays the piano.”

In fact, Drexel is a veteran musician and well-loved pianist. Isabella also found a love for horses and enjoys horseback riding because of him.

Isabella dreams one day of becoming an Olympian in swimming. Currently, she’s a star swimmer at Mako Aquatics, where her father, Travano McPhee is head coach. Her personal coach is Dwayne Davis, Jr. I wanted to know how she manages to stay motivated every day to get into the water and swim.

Even when she is not in the pool, she enjoys swimming in the ocean. But for Isabella, it’s really all just fun. She has found something she is excited to do every day. She told me if she practices every day and “stays focused”, she’ll get faster.

Her aunt Amanda is also a swim coach, who has watched her blossom into a medal-earning young athlete.

“She showed a lot of potential at a very young age, no fear of water,” Amanda said.

“When she was about two, she was swimming better than most fouryear-olds. As she swims competitively I let her know that there is always room for improvement. We haven’t seen the world yet...

we haven’t been ISABELLA chalMUNROE lenged, we don’t know other competition.

So, don’t get complacent and try to be the best. She has to maintain a balance between schoolwork and swimming, and it will take her far.”

As if the lofty goal of becoming one of the world’s best swimmers wasn’t enough, Isabella also has her eyes set on outer space. She expressed no fear as she talked about exploring the planets.

“I like science because my mom is actually a scientist,” she said.

She went on to tell me about fun she performs at her school, Genesis Academy, including a recent one where she and her class made a pulley using counterweights.

Like a normal eight-yearold, of course Issy has many things she can see herself being when she grows up.

Another one is a veterinarian. She loves animals and they seem to love her, too... so much so that her mom calls her an “animal whisperer”.

D’Atra is prepared to support Isabella, helping her to become all she can be: “I continue to instil in my daughter that everything is impossible until it’s done - so get to doing. Like my father always says - where there is a will, there is a way.”

ISABELLA holds her honour roll certificates from Genesis Academy, surrounded by loved ones. From left, her mother, D’Atra Munroe; grandfather, Drexel Munroe; aunt, Denise Munroe; grandmother, Linda Munroe; uncle, Errol Munroe; grandmother, Stella McPhee; and father, Travano McPhee.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 9

The other side of the world but how similar is the game being played GIVEN the US media’s well known preoccupation with domestic affairs, it is perhaps no surprise there was sparse coverage this side of the Atlantic of Australia’s federal elections ten days ago. Political developments including a general election in this wealthy nation of some 25 million which plays a major role in the Indo-Pacific region are inherently significant globally – all the more so in this case since there was a change of government and the country is now likely to be going in a different direction.

Interestingly, some observers are also now suggesting there might be some potential parallels with Britain’s ruling Conservative Party following the performance of the incumbent Liberal/National coalition government, with the Liberals said to be the Australian version of the Tories at Westminster.

Australia has a new Prime Minister. Anthony Albanese was sworn in on May 23 as the nation’s 31st holder of the office.

But the path of his winning Labour Party has been unusual. The ruling Liberal Party led by Scott Morrison sought to win a fourth consecutive term – after he himself became party leader and then won the most recent federal election in 2019 - but has now suffered severe losses with its lowest ever share of seats in the House of

The Peter Young column Representatives in a big lurch to the left.

According to reports, support for the two major parties has never dropped so low at the federal level as independents won seats on platforms like climate change and anti-corruption including a swing towards the Greens. This resulted in the highest ever level of independents entering parliament, and it meant the major parties can no longer take any seat for granted so that there are no safe ones left.

It seems voters gravitated towards candidates advocating action to slow the effects of climate change because - as a result of the recent widespread floods and fires and the dependence of the country’s economy on fossil fuels

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden yesterday.

Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP importance to the country Taiwan hung over this and mining and as a large to the Tories in the UK. Amid all this, it struck me of this diplomatic network - Quad summit. While statexporter of coal – this has become a matter of huge as particularly interesting also described as a strategic ing publicly in Tokyo that concern. Other major issues that one of the first tasks of security dialogue - which is the US agreed with Beiwere the rising cost of living the newly-installed PM was committed to supporting a jing’s One-China policy and political integrity, as to attend the summit meet- free and open Indo-Pacific but that Taiwan should Morrison was accused of ing of “Quad” – known that is both inclusive and not be taken over by force, walking away from conserv- officially as the Quadri- resilient; and membership Biden also said the US ative and liberal policies lateral Security Dialogue of the group reflects the sig- would intervene militarily thus disillusioning his politi- – between the leaders of nificance of Australia’s role if China attacked the democal base. So, the general Australia, India, Japan on the world stage as well cratic self-governing island verdict seems to have been and the US. This infor- as in the region. The Quad of some 23 million. His Australians overwhelm- mal group is widely seen summit launched a new ini- comments were later downingly voted against the as part of US efforts to tiative for collaboration in played by the White House, sitting PM rather than for a counter China’s reach and relation to maritime issues, saying there had been no encroachment space, climate change, change in US policy which Labour government. Hence territorial the suggested possible simi- in the Indo-Pacific region, health and cyber security has remained intentionlarity to what could happen and the summit took place while also issuing a veiled ally ambiguous about in Tokyo on May 24 at the warning to China about whether it would intervene end of President Biden’s “coercive, provocative or militarily in the event of a first trip to Asia whose unilateral actions that seek Chinese attack. But some broad purpose was to unite to change the status quo commentators argue the partners and allies against and increase tensions in the most effective way of deterChina’s rising influence in area”. ring Beijing from taking the region.

Another recent example military action is to issue The group met for the of Australia’s new inter- such an explicit warning first time last year so this national cooperation was - and, while perhaps learnwas its second in-person the signing of the AUKUS ing a lesson from Russia’s an increasing use of knives summit – and, like the agreement in September failures in Ukraine, draw in attacks on individuals. Australian elections, there last year - a trilateral stra- attention to the difficulty The British experience appears to have been rela- tegic security pact creating of invading an island which does seem to show the tively little media coverage a defence partnership with is more than 100 miles off availability of guns makes apart from reporting on the UK and US, under the coast of China and is the terms of which those already receiving from the a potentially bad situation Taiwan.

Australia’s participatwo countries will help US the military means to worse and that gun control works insofar as mass kill- tion in Quad is said to be a Australia acquire nuclear- defend itself. Biden has key pillar of the country’s powered submarines and said an invasion of Taiwan ings have been prevented.

Despite America’s very foreign policy. An indica- also cooperate more widely would “dislocate the entire different history and back- tion of that was Albanese’s in the Indo-Pacific region region” and he has made it ground, people ask why readiness to undertake a against China’s increasing clear publicly that US commitment to Taiwan remains this is a lesson that too trip to Japan so soon after threat.

Inevitably, tensions over as firm as ever. many there refuse to heed, taking office. It shows the with views entrenched on either side of the debate despite the latest opinion polls indicating public support for some greater form of gun control that amounts to common sense in the face of repeated mass killings. Studying the UK press over the weekend, it is clear many find it incomprehensible that the National Rifle Association and its supporters and the proponents of the Second Amendment are able to prevail over a majority wanting action to limit the availability of of Imperial Park will be held on Thursday, 2nd guns, in particular the type of semi-automatic weapon June, 2022, 11:00AM at Holy Cross Anglican the shooter in Texas was Church, Soldier Road. Officiating will be Rev. able to purchase. Many are Canon Peter Scott, assisted by Rev. Canon Norman genuinely puzzled at the Lightbourne, Deacon Cameron Saunders and hold the NRA holds over other ministers of religion. Interment will follow in the entire country.

Woodlawn Gardens.

Perhaps a new interpretation of the Second She is survived by her children: Zenovia Amendment is needed as Marie Coakley-Mills, Theodore Amos Albert, people wonder whether Jannifer Marie Thurston (Dwayne); grandchildren: the Founding Fathers, who created it as the right of Melanese McKenzie (Carlos), Amina Coakleythe individual to keep and Cooper (Tavian), Makeda, Makonnen, Menelik, bear arms in self-defence, Tafari, Judah, Dawit Thurston; greatgrandchildren: would not have been Matthew Gay, Aveian Burrows, Tyler Penn, Mahlia Thurston, Ciara Thurston; appalled that, in modern godchildren: Valerie Smith, Kay Davis, Beth Burrows, Marva Deloris, Chelera times, this could include Bateman, Marva Deloris Sears, Churchill Bethel, Fr. Delano Archer and in an unstable 18-year-old particular Dr. Indira Jones; cousins: Isabella Thompson, Mae Spencer, Rosalie shooter being allowed Hall, Larry Sawyer, Marjorie Archer, Maria Neely, Shirley Cooper, Sharon to acquire a lethal miliMulgrave, Debra Symonette, Christopher Cooper, Earlymae and Sheila McPhee, tary-type weapon for the Raynard, Ernest, John Kendal, Marlon, Lindlop, Sidney (Moon), Gladstone purpose of mass killing.

REMEMBER DUNBLANE AND TAKE AWAY THE GUNS IT IS a sad truth that, despite the outward manifestation of public grief and solidarity across the country in response to last week’s mass shooting in Texas, all too often Americans seem to be becoming almost inured to yet another such atrocity. That applies, in particular, to those expressing vicarious sympathy to people unknown to them - but not, of course, to those who have had the misfortune to have been personally involved in the tragedy in some way or experienced the pain and devastation of losing a loved one at the hands of a crazed killer.

The evidence now suggests the frequency of such horrific events in the US - with, for example, the recent shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, still very fresh in the minds of everyone - dulls people’s emotions and feelings. But it is said these turn readily into growing frustration and anger among ordinary people at the lack of meaningful action by those in positions of influence and power to try to prevent these disasters occurring again and again.

The killings at the Robb Elementary School in Texas - in which 19 children and two adult teachers were murdered by an 18-year-old male with a semi-automatic weapon - was the worst school mass shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012. Now, with the arguments for and against gun control being repeated endlessly, it would be superfluous to add to the debate in this column.

But it might be interesting for readers to know of

the experience of a terrible mass shooting at a school in Scotland 26 years ago that led to a tightening of gun control laws in Britain and, subsequently, to a significant reduction of gun killings in the country.

This horrific incident happened in a small town called Dunblane near Stirling. On March 13, 1996, a lone gunman, who lived in the town, invaded the local primary school and, armed with several handguns, shot to death 16 young children and their teacher and wounded 15 others before turning a gun on himself. A motive for the killings was never determined. It was the deadliest mass shooting in British history.

In the aftermath, a public campaign was mounted for a change in Britain’s gun laws. Despite hostility from the gun lobby and many on the right of politics who opposed change, legislation was passed in 1997 banning private ownership of handguns. These changes reduced the ready availability of a dangerous type of weapon and signalled the direction the UK wanted to take. Two priorities were established; namely, in order to limit or stop such shootings it was essential to restrict severely the legal availability of guns and that public safety should always be top of the nation’s agenda and should override claimed individual rights to possess arms.

Reportedly, since the late 1990s, levels of gun crime in Britain have fallen significantly, gun homicides are rare and there have been very few multiple shootings though there has been

Last Rites For Retired Principal

Marietta Margaret Armbrister-Coakley, 94

PASSING OF A RACING LEGEND THE news over the weekend of the death of England’s famous retired champion jockey, Lester Piggott, at the age of 86 will have come as a shock to many. He was known as one of the greatest jockeys the sport has ever seen and, as an iconic figure in the horse racing world since the 1960s, he seemed to have been forever a part of the lives of people in Britain.

He was regarded by many as the finest jockey ever to ride on British turf.

Lester Piggott’s record was extraordinary. He rode

4,493 winners in Britain – including 30 British Classic races – and more than 850 elsewhere during a career spanning 47 years, with major successes in other countries like France, Ireland and the US as well as Singapore and Hong Kong.

He won the Derby in England a record nine times and was named champion jockey no less than eleven times between 1960 and 1982 during which period he dominated the sport. He did not finally retire until 1995.

As is being mentioned in obituaries that are already

appearing, Piggott’s career was also affected by controversy that led to a jail sentence for tax fraud in 1987 together with withdrawal of his OBE. But, for most people, what really mattered were his memorable achievements as the outstanding jockey of his time – amazing accomplishments that speak for themselves and outweigh all else. He was a legend and a hero who became a household name throughout the land – a name that will surely never be forgotten.

(Moon/Coach), Arnold McPhee, ASP Donald and Willamae Lotmore, Juanita Armbrister, Susan Demeritte, Phyllis Albury-Garaway, Wendell and Deborah Rose-Munnings, Sharon Rose-Hutcheson; other relatives and friends: Patricia Coakley, Yvonne Coakley, Peter, Stephanie and Robyn Armbrister, Avery Burrows, Judy Francis, Pierre Ferguson, Mallie Ferguson, Ethel Davis and family, Lynne Marche and family, Rosemary Archer and family, Marge Culmer, Dorothy Bethel, Udean and Paul Sattem, Arnette Chisolm, Andrew Braynen and family, Betty Roberts and family, Byron Coley, Laverne Butler, Camille and Robb Sawyer, Dr. Richard Knowles, Mrs. Edward Burrows and Family, Dr. Anna Burrows, Sonia Cox Hamilton, Sidnell Cox and family, Sonja Ford and family, Serena Miller and family, Gina, Gary and Patrice and William Thompson, Dr. Kandis Bannister, Sally Grist and family, Dr. Geoffrey Sweeting and family, Marvin Hepburn, Deidre Turnquest, Janice Evans, The Cooper, Armbrister, Sawyer, Rose families, the Central Baptist Church family, Mrs. Adina Munroe and the Royal British Legion family, The Progressive Liberal Party, Bishop Laish Boyd and family, Canon Norman Lightbourne and family, Deacon Eric Miller other Ministers of the Holy Cross Parish family.

The body will repose at Curtis Memorial Mortuary, Robinson Road & 5th Street on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 11:00am to 4:00pm and at the church from 10:00am until service time.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL IN MEXICO

THE TRIBUNE

32 DEAD AS BUILDING COLLAPSES IN IRAN

MEXICO CITY Associated Press AGATHA, the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific, swept ashore on a stretch of tourist beaches and fishing towns in southern Mexico yesterday.

Torrential rains and howling winds whipped palm trees and drove tourists and residents into shelters.

Oaxaca state’s civil defense agency showed families hustling into a shelter in Pochutla and a rock and mud slide that blocked the highway between that town and the state capital.

Agatha made landfall about five miles west of Puerto Angel as a strong Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained wings of 105 mph. It was moving northeast at 8 mph.

Near Puerto Angel, gusts of wind, heavy rain and big waves began lashing the beach town of Zipolite, long known for its clothing-optional beach and bohemian vibe.

“There is a lot of rain and sudden gusts of strong wind,” said Silvia Ranfagni, the manager of Zipolite’s Casa Kalmar hotel. “The ocean is really stirred up, and it’s raining a lot,” said Ranfagni, who has decided to ride out Agatha at the property. “You can hear the wind howling.”

MILLIONAIRE VS REBEL IN ELECTION VOTE BOGOTA, Colombia Associated Press LEFTIST Sen Gustavo Petro celebrated his firstround lead in Colombia’s presidential election in the way most politicians would: in a conference room packed with hundreds of supporters as confetti rained down upon him.

The man he’ll meet in a June 19 runoff had a different approach.

Rodolfo Hernandez sat at his home kitchen table and spoke to his followers for five minutes on Facebook Live.

“Today the country that does not want to continue with the same politicians, that does not want the same people who have brought us to our current situation, has won,” he declared.

The 77-year-old populist rode a wave of disgust at the country’s condition to what until just weeks ago would have been a shocking place in the runoff, surging late in the campaign past more conventional candidates.

He ran an austere campaign — unaffiliated with any major party — that was waged mostly on social media with a message that centered on reducing corruption and cutting wasteful government spending, He is now positioned to mount a serious challenge to Petro — a former rebel who himself has long been seen as a political insurgent and who would be Colombia’s first leftist leader if elected.

21 BODIES FOUND IN NEPAL CRASH KATHMANDU, Nepal Associated Press RESCUERS searching a mountainside in Nepal yesterday recovered the bodies of 21 of the 22 people who were on board a plane that crashed a day earlier, officials said.

The search is continuing for the remaining person, Kathmandu airport spokesman Tek Nath Sitaula said.

Recovery efforts were delayed because some bodies were pinned under the plane’s wreckage. Rescuers working with their bare hands had difficulty moving the metal debris.

RUINS of a tower at the Metropol Building after it collapsed in the southwestern city of Abadan, Iran.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Associated Press PROTESTERS angry over a building collapse in southwestern Iran that killed at least 32 people shouted down an emissary sent by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking a crackdown that saw riot police club demonstrators and fire tear gas, according to online videos analysed on Monday.

The demonstration directly challenged the Iranian government’s response to the disaster a week ago as pressure rises in the Islamic

Republic over rising food prices and other economic woes amid the unravelling of its nuclear deal with world powers.

While the protests so far still appear to be leaderless, even Arab tribes in the region seemed to join them on Sunday, raising the risk of the unrest intensifying. Already, tensions between Tehran and the West have spiked after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard on Friday seized two Greek oil tankers seized at sea.

Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari AleKasir tried to address upset mourners near the site of the

Photo: Iranian Senior Vice-President Office

10-story Metropol Building but hundreds gathered on Sunday night instead booed and shouted.

Surrounded by bodyguards, the ayatollah, in his 60s, tried to continue but couldn’t. “What’s happening?” the cleric stage-whispered to a bodyguard, who then leaned in to tell him something.

The cleric then tried to address the crowd again: “My dears, please keep calm, as a sign of respect to Abadan, its martyrs and the dear (victims) the whole Iranian nation is mourning tonight.”

The crowd responded by

shouting: “Shameless!”

A live broadcast on state television of the event then cut out.

Demonstrators later chanted: “I will kill; I will kill the one who killed my brother!”

The Tehran-based daily newspaper Hamshahri and the semiofficial Fars news agency said the protesters attacked the platform where state TV had set up its camera, cutting off its broadcast.

Police ordered the crowd not to chant slogans against the Islamic Republic and then ordered them to leave, calling their rally illegal.

Russians and Ukranians fight block by block in eastern city KRAMATORSK, Ukraine Associated Press RUSSIAN troops pushed farther into a key eastern Ukrainian city and fought street by street with Kyiv’s forces Monday in a battle the mayor said has left the city in ruins and driven tens of thousands of people from their homes.

Military analysts painted the fight for Sievierodonetsk as part of a race against time for the Kremlin.

The city is key to Russian efforts to complete the capture of the eastern industrial region of the Donbas quickly — before more Western arms arrive to bolster Ukraine’s defense.

Weapons from the West have already helped Kyiv’s forces thwart a Russian advance on the capital in the early weeks of the war.

That failure forced Moscow to withdraw, regroup, and pursue the more limited objective of seizing the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists already held swaths of territory and have been fighting Ukrainian troops for eight years.

“The Kremlin has reckoned that it can’t afford to waste time and should use the last chance to extend the separatist-controlled territory because the arrival of Western weapons in Ukraine could make it impossible,” Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.

But in a potential setback for Ukraine, President Joe Biden appeared to dismiss reports that the US was considering sending longrange rocket systems to the country.

In addition to pleading for weapons from allies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also repeatedly insisted that European countries and others must punish Russia for its aggression, with sanctions and embargos on Moscow’s lucrative energy sector. In a video address Monday to European Union leaders, Zelenskyy asked the 27 nations of the bloc to target Russian oil exports, so Moscow “feels the price for what it is doing against Ukraine”.

The leaders are considering an embargo on Russian oil — but struggling to find consensus.

Russia has also sought to use its energy exports to its advantage, cutting off natural gas to a handful of European countries in what was seen as an effort to punish and divide the West over its support for Ukraine. In its latest move, Russian state gas giant Gazrpom said it will halt gas supplies to Dutch gas trader GasTerra starting on Tuesday.

The Russian military’s focus on Sievierodonetsk has already left the city “completely ruined”, Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said. Artillery barrages have destroyed critical infrastructure and damaged 90 percent of the buildings, and power

UKRAINIAN tanks move in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, yesterday. and communications have been soldier, who is accused of killing largely cut to a city that was once a man and raping his wife in Bohdanivka, a village northeast of Kyiv, home to 100,000 people.

“The number of victims is rising will be tried in absentia, officials every hour, but we are unable to said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian milicount the dead and the wounded amid the street fighting,” Striuk tary said Russian forces reinforced told The Associated Press in a their positions on the northeastern phone interview, adding that Mos- and southeastern outskirts of Sievicow’s troops advanced a few more erodonetsk, 90 miles south of the Russian border in an area that is blocks toward the city center.

He said that only about 12,000 the last pocket of Ukrainian govto 13,000 residents remain, shelter- ernment control in Luhansk.

Luhansk Gov Serhiy Haidai said ing in basements and bunkers to escape the Russian bombardment the Russians were also pushing — a situation that recalls the siege toward nearby Lysychansk. In addiof Mariupol that trapped residents tion to the journalist, two civilians and led to some of the worst suffer- were killed in the latest Russian shelling, he said. ing of the war.

Three civilians were also killed Striuk estimated that 1,500 civilians have died in his city since the Monday in the Donetsk region, war began, from Russian attacks which together with Luhansk as well as from the dire condi- makes up the Donbas, the govertions, including a lack of medicine nor said. Authorities in Kharkiv or medical treatment. More than reported one dead in the latest 20,000 are feared dead in Mariupol. shelling of Ukraine’s second-largest A 32-year-old French journal- city.

The Russian advance in Sievieroist, Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, died Monday near Sievierodonetsk donetsk and Lysychansk on either when he was hit by shrapnel from side of the strategically important shelling while covering Ukrainians Siverskiy Donetsk River is part of evacuating the area, according to an all-out push, Zhdanov said.

The intensity of the latest fighting his employer, French broadcaster and the fact that Russia has poured BFM TV. Beyond long sieges of cities, Rus- troops in from their far east have sia’s troops have also been accused come as a surprise to the Ukrainiof carrying out targeted killings and ans, who are trying to hold out until other atrocities in areas they briefly more weapons can arrive, Zhdanov held around Kyiv early in the war. said.

On Monday, Biden told reporters On Monday, prosecutors submitted the first rape case of the war to a that there are no plans for the US court — the last step before a trial to send long-range rocket systems begins. The 31-year-old Russian to Ukraine, amid reports that the

Photo: Francisco Seco/AP move is being considered.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said that was a “reasonable” decision.

He said that “otherwise, if our cities come under attack, the Russian armed forces would fulfill their threat and strike the centers where such criminal decisions are made”.

Medvedev added that “some of them aren’t in Kyiv”.

Russian pressure also continued in the south on Monday. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said an artillery strike on a shipyard in the southern port of Mykolaiv destroyed Ukrainian armored vehicles parked there.

In the Kherson region, the Russia-installed deputy head of the regional administration, Kirill Stremousov, told Russia’s Tass state news agency that grain from last year’s harvest is being delivered to Russian buyers, adding that “obviously there is a lot of grain here”.

Ukraine has accused Russia of looting grain from territories its forces hold, and the US has alleged Moscow is jeopardising global food supplies by preventing Ukraine from exporting its harvest.

Russia, meanwhile, has pressed the West to lift sanctions against it as it seeks to shift the blame for the growing food crisis — which has led to skyrocketing prices in Africa.

Zelenskyy urged France not to succumb to such “blackmail” as the Ukrainian president met Monday with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.

SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

Demeritte named men’s track and field coach of the year

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A

n historic season for the Life University Track and Field programme yielded another accolade for head coach Dominic Demeritte.

Demeritte was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year.

In the programme’s inaugural season of competition, Demeritte led the men to the NAIA Outdoor Championship last weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Life U compiled 52 Kentucky, with 177 points, three individual points, while the womtitles and three other en’s team repeated as All-American honours. champions with 167 Demeritte’s season points. of milestones also In February, included leading the Demeritte was also Eagles to the 2022 named the United Mid-South Conference States Track and Field men’s and women’s Cross Country Coaches titles.

Association’s South In February he was Region Women’s Coach named the Conference of the Year.

DEMERITTE Men’s and Women’s Demeritte accepted Coach of the Year. the title of Director His Running Eagles men’s team of Cross Country and Track in captured their first champion- the Summer of 2021 after being ship crown at the James H Taylor tabbed as the leader for the II Stadium in Williamsburg, restored Life University men’s

programme and an assistant for the women in 2020.

The women captured their first Mid-South Conference Outdoor Championships title while the team tallied 16 total All-Conference honours, including eight individual champions.

Over the weekend at the NAIAs, the women captured a gold medal and four other AllAmerican performances, to place fifth. “I never coached for personal goals, so it comes with the territory. It’s a blessing, not just for myself, but my coaches because it’s a coaches’ staff award,

SEE PAGE 18

KENDRICK THOMPSON BREAKS HIS NATIONAL DECATHLON RECORD UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas multi-event specialist Kendrick Thompson broke the national record in the decathlon at The Jacksonville Athletics Club’s Jacksonville Combined Event Qualifier yesterday after amassing 7,788 points over the two-day, 10-discipline event.

Thompson had held the old record set in April of this year at the Miami Hurricane Invitational with 7,762 points. Thompson won every event in the competition, including the javelin segment pictured here. “I am really happy with the record and I know coach is happy for the record,” Thompson said.

“We were looking at going for 8000 points to give us a chance to qualify for World Championships. I fell short in two events but I know how to rebound and go after the goal.”

Photo: UB Athletics

SEE PAGE 18

THE FINALS MATCHUP: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS FOR NBA TITLE

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Somewhere, Gregg Popovich must be pleased.

Ime Udoka and Steve Kerr played for Popovich with of the San Antonio Spurs, both served as assistant coaches under him, and neither makes any effort to hide the affinity they have for the NBA’s career victory leader.

And now, Udoka and Kerr are about to go head-to-head — in the NBA Finals.

The title matchup is set: It’ll be Udoka and the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics facing Kerr and the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors, a series that begins Thursday night in San Francisco. The teams split their two regularseason meetings, each winning on the other’s home floor.

The Warriors have been waiting for an opponent since this past Thursday after needing only five games to beat Dallas for the West title. The Celtics got there the hard way, winning Game 7 in Miami on Sunday night to capture the East.

“We stayed with it. We believed in each other. We made a commitment on the defensive end,” said Celtics forward Al Horford, who, after 141 playoff games, is headed to the NBA Finals for the first time. “That was the biggest thing, defending.”

For the Celtics, it’s a chance at an 18th NBA championship — which would break the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.

For the Warriors, it’s a chance at a seventh crown — which would break a tie with the Chicago Bulls for third-most in league history.

It’s also a rematch of the 1964 finals, when Bill Russell and the Celtics topped the Warriors in five games.

“I’ve said it many times: You go to the finals, it’s almost a two-month journey filled with stress and fatigue and everything else,” said Kerr, who gave his team Friday and Saturday off before bringing them back to work Sunday. “So, if you can get a little bit of a

SEE PAGE 17

French Open lookahead: France blames ticket Djokovic faces Nadal fraud for Champions for the 59th time League final chaos PARIS (AP) — LOOKAHEAD TO TODAY NOVAK Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be meeting for the 59th time when they meet in the French Open quarterfinals. No two men have played each other more often in the professional era of tennis.

Djokovic leads the headto-head series 30-28, but Nadal leads their matchups on clay 19-8 and at Roland Garros 7-2.

Djokovic beat Nadal in the semifinals in Paris a year ago, and Nadal beat Djokovic in the final two years ago.

Djokovic has not dropped a set through four round; Nadal was pushed to five sets over nearly 4 1/2 hours in his previous match.

The match is scheduled for tonight in Court Philippe Chatrier, and Nadal had made it clear he

By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer

SERBIA’S NOVAK DJOKOVIC, left, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal look at each other as they pose for images prior to the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Michel Euler) prefers playing on the red Alcaraz, a 19-year-old from clay during the daytime.

Spain who also beat DjokoThe other men’s quar- vic and Nadal there. terfinal is No. 3 Alexander The women’s quarZverev against No. 6 Carlos terfinals feature an Alcaraz in a rematch of the Madrid Open final won by SEE PAGE 18

PARIS (AP) — French authorities defended police yesterday for indiscriminately firing tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters at the Champions League final, while blaming industrial levels of fraud that saw 30,000 to 40,000 people try to enter the Stade de France with fake tickets or none at all.

After a meeting into Saturday’s chaos, the ministers of the sport and the interior shifted responsibility onto the Liverpool fans while not providing details on how they were sure so many fake tickets were in circulation. People with legitimate tickets bought through Liverpool and UEFA reported struggling to access the stadium.

“There was massive fraud at an industrial level and an organisation of fake tickets because of the pre-filtering by the Stade de France and the French Football Federation, 70% of the tickets were fake tickets coming into the Stade

de France,” Interior minister Gérald Darmanin said. “Fifteen percent of fake tickets also were after the first filtering ... more than 2,600 tickets were confirmed

by UEFA as non-validated tickets even though they’d gone through the first filtering.

“A massive presence of these fake tickets of course was the issue why there were delays, three times the beginning of the match was delayed.”

UEFA launched an independent investigation into what caused the chaotic scenes and said the “comprehensive review will examine decision making, responsibility and behaviours of all entities involved in the final.”

The final, which Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid, kicked off 37 minutes late.

Tear gas and pepper spray was targeted at Liverpool fans, impacting children — a tactic defended by Darmanin to prevent deaths.

“I’d like to thank the forces of law and order, also those who worked in the

SEE PAGE 18

PAGE 16, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

IN the Open Mixed Doubles competition, the pairing of (l-r) Brandon Duncombe and Sydney Clarke defeated the team of Patrice Nairn and DALLO HIGGS, Flamingo Gardens under-12 winner in Sharano Hanna for the championship by scores of 5-3, 4-2. the walk competition.

IN the Men’s Veteran Division, the team of (l-r) Ken Kerr and Bjorn Ferguson held off a strong surge from the runners-up pairing of Mike Butler and Bud Cambridge in short set scores of 4-2, 5-4 for the championship.

FLAMINGO GARDENS YOUTH ENJOY INAUGURAL TENNIS FUND DAY EVENT THE Youth Sporting Clubs of the Flamingo Gardens Community held its inaugural annual fund day event as a fundraiser for the continued success of the established club’s residents in the community.

The day began with a Fun Run Walk and then subsequently the Southwest

Tennis Club Veteran and Open Mixed Doubles Showcase.

Event sponsors included Buttons Formal Wear, Bahamas Bridal, Family Care Medical Clinic Ltd., Bahamas Waste Mgmt., Premier Clinical Lab, A+ Pest Control, MJI Transport Co. Ltd. SYDNEY Clarke and Brandon Duncombe.

PASTOR PAUL BUTLER, winner of The Flamingo Gardens 60 and under walk division.

KEN Kerr and Bjorn Ferguson receive their awards.

FOR HEAT, NO CHAMPIONSHIP MADE SEASON FEEL LIKE ‘A WASTE’

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — A frustrated Bam Adebayo tore his jersey apart as he walked off the court after the final buzzer. Erik Spoelstra made no effort to hide his sadness about how the Miami Heat’s season ended. Kyle Lowry said the year was wasted.

The hope was to spend yesterday flying to the NBA Finals.

Instead, the Heat enter an offseason of decisions.

A team that was assembled with a singular goal of winning a championship will spend the coming months lamenting a chance that slipped away. Miami’s season ended with a Game 7 home loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, denying the Heat a second trip to the NBA Finals in the last three seasons.

“You don’t know how many more opportunities you will have to get back to this, so for me, honestly, it was a waste of a year,” Lowry said after his first season with the Heat ended. “I only play to win championships. It was fun, and I appreciate the guys, my teammates, and I appreciate the opportunity. But for me, it’s a waste of a year. You’re not winning a

championship, it’s a wasted year.”

The Heat had the best record in the East during the regular season, 53-29.

They did it without a player who was voted onto the All-NBA teams — Miami was only the sixth No. 1 seed in the last four decades without a first-, second- or third-team selection.

“You fight so hard, throughout the season, ups and downs, injuries, disrespect and you still find a way to come this close,” said Adebayo, the Miami center who was in the running for defensive player of the year. “It’s rough.”

The NBA award votes were cast when the regular season ended. Had the playoffs counted, Jimmy Butler would have been voted All-World. He joined LeBron James as the only two players in Heat history to have a year with at least eight 30-point playoff games during the first three rounds, capping his playoff run with a 47-point season saver in Game 6 at Boston and then 35 more in the finale.

“We had enough,” Butler said. “Next year, we will have enough and we’re going to be right back in the same situation, and we’re going to get it done.”

If the Heat had won Game 7 over Boston,

MIAMI Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) exits the court after losing to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series on Sunday in Miami.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) nobody knows who they even would have had available to face Golden State in the NBA Finals. Tyler Herro, who was named sixth man of the year, was dealing with a groin injury.

Power forward P.J. Tucker couldn’t finish Game 7, after lumbering through much of the postseason with leg issues. Lowry’s hamstring hasn’t been right for more than a month. Butler clearly

was ailing though insisted he was fine.

“It feels heartbreaking,” said Spoelstra, who finished his 14th season as Heat coach. “We just wanted a crack at it. A crack at Golden State, and just find out, you know, as competitors. I love this group. This team was here to compete for a title. In that regard, I think we lived up to those expectations. But we fell

short. We’ll never know, and that’s the part that we’ll have to live with.”

TUCKER’S FUTURE Tucker is 37, undersized to be a power forward at 6-foot-5 and has never averaged 10 points in an NBA season. That’s often not a great combination. But — assuming Tucker opts out of the second year of his Heat deal, as would seem to make sense — it would be shocking if Miami didn’t fight to keep him, given the enormous impact he made on the Heat in his first year with the club. Spoelstra loves what he brings, as does the rest of the locker room.

THE ROBINSON DILEMMA Duncan Robinson — a 3-point specialist who has often flourished in his Miami tenure — got a contract worth about $18 million per season last summer, lost his stroke at times this year, then lost his starting spot and ultimately his rotation spot.

He scored 27 points in the Heat postseason opener back in April, then scored 46 points in the 17 games Miami played over the rest of the playoffs (and didn’t even get into five of those).

It won’t be a surprise if he’s a trade chip if the Heat, as they often do, test the

market in search of major upgrades.

HERRO EXTENSION Herro didn’t have great postseason numbers, in at least some part because of the groin issue, but had a year that likely exceeded expectations overall. He wasn’t bothered by not starting and understood that the sixth man role has always been a vital part of Spoelstra’s game plans. He is eligible for a contract extension now going into Year 4, and a clear priority for the Heat this summer is figuring out how much they’ll be able to pay Herro starting with the 2023-24 season when the new deal will kick in.

UNDRAFTED FINDS Including playoffs, the Heat got 4,171 points this season from undrafted players — the most by any NBA team in the last 50 years. Max Strus and Gabe Vincent were both key parts of the rotation and remain with the Heat on team-friendly deals for next season.

DRAFT ASSETS Miami has the No. 27 pick in this year’s draft. The Heat forfeited their secondround pick as part of the penalty levied by the NBA after an investigation found that the team began pursuing Lowry last summer before league rules allow.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 17

Al Horford’s wait over, NBA Finals moment looms with Celtics

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — The game was over. So, finally, was Al Horford’s journey.

He grabbed what would be the final rebound of the Eastern Conference finals, threw the ball skyward, sprinted to join his teammates in celebration and then dropped to his knees to slap the floor.

His time has come.

The oldest player — by six years — on the Boston Celtics’ roster will savour this trip to the NBA Finals in ways that his teammates simply cannot. He will finally play in the title series, with the Celtics set to open the matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, one day before Horford’s 36th birthday.

“Nobody deserves it more,” Boston guard Jaylen Brown said.

Nobody in the history of the NBA has played more playoff games without making the finals than Horford; Sunday night’s 100-96 East title-clinching win in Miami was his 141st postseason appearance. When the ball is tipped in San Francisco for the start of Celtics-Warriors, that dubious distinction becomes

Paul Millsap’s possession; he’s been in 130 playoff games, none in the finals.

Horford didn’t know what the moment — making the finals — would be like. Turns out, it was better than he envisioned.

“Just didn’t know how to act,” Horford said. “Just caught up, excited. A lot of hard work. I’ve been a part of a lot of great teams, a lot of great teammates, and I’m so proud of this group. ... I’m really grateful to be in this position.”

Horford had a previous three-year stint in Boston, making the East finals twice, before signing with Philadelphia and eventually getting moved to Oklahoma City. He didn’t play much for the Thunder, and they traded him last summer back to Boston — a move that worked out better than even the Celtics hoped.

His averages so far in these playoffs: 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists while playing nearly 37 minutes per contest.

“Al could care less about the numbers,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “He cares about the wins and this team. When he came back, that gave us a sense of security. We got Al back there, he’s

O W MIKE’S PUTBACK HELPS SPARKS EDGE LYNX

BOSTON Celtics centre Al Horford (42) falls to his knees after winning Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Miami Heat on Sunday in Miami.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) always going to make the right play on both ends, he’s going to calm us down, he’s going to show us what we missed and he’s going to help us learn the game even more.”

Horford isn’t Boston’s best player. But make no mistake: He is the leader.

In practices, timeouts, the locker room, wherever, his voice resonates.

“It’s incredible what he’s done all season,” coach Ime Udoka said. “As I mentioned, came into training camp in extremely great shape, chip on his shoulder, prideful, wanted to come back to Boston. ... He lays it all out there guarding bigs, smalls and everything in between. His leadership goes without saying.”

Winning the East title was hard enough, going through a No. 1 seed like Miami and having to win a Game 7 on the road.

That told only part of the story.

Horford wasn’t himself in Game 6 on Friday night, when Boston had a

chance to clinch the series on its home floor, and for understandable reasons.

His grandfather died the day before, though family members urged Horford to keep playing.

“My grandfather was somebody that I was extremely close with, somebody that I really care for,” Horford said.

“All week my mom, my family were just kind of telling me to just go out there and play. That’s something that he would have wanted me to do, to just continue on and really just try and stay focused and understand that he’s at peace now.”

There was grief. There was joy. The last few days have been quite the emotional pendulum for Horford.

But maybe it was fitting that the NBA Finals ticket came his way in Miami, given that he played his college ball at Florida and is a hero in his native Dominican Republic — where countless people

have become Celtics fans again because of him.

“We’re here in Miami really close to the DR. Everybody is watching.

The country was watching,” Horford said. “I know everybody was there. They were sending me pictures, they were ready for this, and we’re enjoying this time.”

Before long, though, he was already thinking ahead. The celebration in Miami had to end. A new challenge — the ultimate challenge for a basketball player, the one for an NBA title — awaits.

Finally.

“His energy, his demeanor, coming in every day, being a professional, taking care of his body, being a leader, I’m proud to be able to share this moment with a veteran, a mentor, a brother, a guy like Al Horford, man,” Brown said.

“He’s been great all season, really my whole career. I’m happy to be able to share this moment with somebody like him.”

THE FINALS MATCHUP: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS FOR NBA TITLE FROM PAGE 15 break, it’s very meaningful. Hopefully, we can get healthy and have a few days of really good prep and be ready to go on Thursday.”

Golden State won at Boston 111-107 on Dec. 17, behind 30 points from Stephen Curry. The Celtics rolled on Golden State’s home floor in the rematch on March 16, winning 110-88 in the game in which Curry injured his foot — and that’s where his regular season ended.

Curry was ready to go for the playoffs. So were the rest of the Warriors. They’re 12-4 in the playoffs, getting through Denver, Memphis and Dallas to get to the title round.

“It all starts with Steph,” Kerr said.

Udoka has a chance to become the 10th coach to win a title in his first season. Eddie Gottlieb (1947 Philadelphia Warriors), Buddy Jeanette (1948 Baltimore Bullets), John Kundla (1949 Minneapolis Lakers), George Senesky (1956 Philadelphia Warriors), Paul Westhead (1980 Los Angeles Lakers), Pat Riley (1982 Los Angeles Lakers), Tyronn Lue (2016 Cleveland Cavaliers) and Nick Nurse (2019 Toronto Raptors) are eight of the coaches who have pulled off the feat.

The other name on that list is Kerr — who did it with Golden State in 2015, the start of this run of greatness from the Warriors. That was the beginning of six finals appearances in eight years, the two exceptions being when injuries and a roster reset kept them from the playoffs in 2020 and 2021.

“You can’t take it for granted,” Curry said after the West title series. “Nothing’s ever guaranteed. We

CELTICS head coach Ime Udoka gestures during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Miami Heat on Sunday in Miami.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

WARRIORS coach Steve Kerr yells out instructions during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks in San Francisco on May 26.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

understand how hard it is to win. We’ve said that until we’re blue in the face the last two years. This is definitely special. Proud of everybody that is in that locker room, that came with it all year. Now we have an opportunity to go finish a job.”

Udoka played for Popovich and later was a San Antonio assistant. Kerr played for the Spurs, then assisted Popovich with USA Basketball through last summer’s Tokyo Olympics — when the Americans won a fourth consecutive gold medal.

The Warriors’ Draymond Green was on that Olympic team. So was Boston’s Jayson Tatum.

They celebrated winning gold together, and now they’ll try to go through one another to get their

made Green seem prophetic.

After the Warriors won the West, Green visited the TNT broadcast set after the game and was prodded

by Shaquille O’Neal to say which team from the thenundecided East title series that he would like to play.

Green began giving a diplomatic answer, saying

fingerprints on the gold trophy that goes to the NBA champions — the Larry O’Brien.

“This is an opportunity that players dream of,” Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins said.

“To be put in a position to win it all.”

And if nothing else, a Warriors-Celtics matchup

that both the Heat and Celtics were tough. O’Neal pressed him to be honest, and Green — never shy with words — gave in.

“You’re asking me who I want to play. I’m gonna tell who I think we’re going to play: We’re going to play Boston,” Green said Thursday night. “That’s who we’re going to play.”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike’s putback of her own miss with 7.3 seconds left lifted the Los Angeles Sparks to an 85-83 win over the Minnesota Lynx.

Rachel Banham’s jumper with 26.6 seconds to go pulled Minnesota even for just the second time.

The game was also tied at 65 after the Lynx erased a 17-point first-half deficit.

Ogwumike finished with 16 points. Chennedy Carter led the Sparks (4-6), who had lost six of seven, with 20 points.

Liz Cambage added 15 points and Katie Lou Samuelson 13.

Sylvia Fowles and Aerial Powers both had 15 points for the Lynx (2-7).

Augustus was a key player on Minnesota’s four WNBA championship teams. The No. 1 overall pick out of LSU in the 2006 draft played 14 seasons with the Lynx before spending one year with Los Angeles.

STORM 92, LIBERTY 61 SEATTLE (AP) — Jewell Loyd scored 22 points, Jantel Lavender had a double-double and the Seattle Storm routed New York, the seventh-straight loss for the Liberty.

Breanna Stewart had 14 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists for Seattle, which beat the Liberty for the second time in three days despite having three players miss both games in protocol, including Sue Bird.

Lavender had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Briann January also had 12 points and Kaela Davis, in her first game with the Storm (5-3) had 11 points.

Han Xu led the Liberty (1-7) with 13 points.

DREAM 82, MERCURY 54 ATLANTA (AP) — Kristy Wallace had 17 points to lead five Atlanta players scoring in double figures and the Dream beat the Mercury.

The 28-point margin of victory was Atlanta’s largest since beating the Los Angeles Sparks by 30 in 2015.

Erica Wheeler scored 16 points, Cheyenne Parker had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Rhyne Howard had 12 points with six assists for Atlanta (5-3).

Aari McDonald finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The Dream never trailed, took at 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter and limited Phoenix (2-6) to just eight points in the second to take a 50-23 lead into halftime.

Diamond DeShields, the only Mercury player to score in double figures, finished with 23 points. Skylar Diggins-Smith (19.2 points per game) and Diana Taurasi (16.0) — the team’s top scorers — combined for nine points on 3-of-17 shooting.

Phoenix has lost five consecutive games.

TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394

PAGE 18, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

HomeTown Lender new Bahamas Bowl sponsor NASSAU, Bahamas – Bowl Season will begin in the Bahamas this year as the longest-running international bowl game in college football history, the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, will be played Friday, December 16 at 11:30 am ET. Nassau’s 15,000-seat Thomas A Robinson National Stadium will host the eighth edition of the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, which will air in the United States on ESPN. The 2022 Bowl will kick off the first year of a new relationship with HomeTown Lenders as the game’s title sponsor.

“We are thrilled to be the opening game of Bowl Season and to showcase the beautiful islands of the Bahamas through this event, which has been a fixture on the sporting calendar since 2014,” said Bahamas Bowl executive director Lea Miller-Tooley.

“The Bahamas Bowl has provided tremendous competition for our participating teams

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SEASON BEGINS IN THE BAHAMAS ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference, while offering a one-of-a-kind experience for student athletes, coaches and families to travel to a foreign country and be rewarded for a successful season. We know that the 2022 bowl will remind everyone why ‘Bowl Games are Better in The Bahamas’.”

Each year, American football fans travel to Nassau to see their universities compete in the only bowl game currently played outside the United States.

In the inaugural game in 2014, Western Kentucky defeated Central Michigan 49-48 in a memorable offensive shootout.

Subsequent winners have included – 2015: Western Michigan (def. Middle Tennessee, 45-31); 2016: Old

Dominion (def. Eastern Michigan, 24-20); 2017: Ohio (def. UAB, 41-6); 2018: FIU (def. Toledo, 35-32) and 2019: Buffalo (def. Charlotte, 31-9).

After a year off in 2020, the game returned to Nassau in 2021, as Middle Tennessee used a fourth quarter comeback to secure a 31-24 win over Toledo.

The 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl – one of 17 college bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events – will once again feature teams from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.

For more information on the 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, visit BahamasBowl.com.

About The HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl The HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, the

longest-running international bowl game in college football history, will provide student-athletes, conference partners, alumni, fans and sponsors a first-class international bowl experience while promoting The Bahamas and highlighting the educational and athletic opportunities for the youth of The Islands through college football.

The eighth HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl will take place in Nassau, Bahamas on December 16, 2022 at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium between schools from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference. The game will be televised nationally in the United States on ESPN. ESPN Events ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and

operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide.

In 2022, the 32-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, and a college softball event.

These big events account for approximately 400 hours of live programming, while reaching nearly 64 million viewers and attracting over 800,000 annual attendees.

With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Paul Greene commits to Chipola College

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net PAUL Greene is set to transfer to a Junior College basketball powerhouse for the next step in his academic and athletic career.

Greene announced his commitment to Chipola College, a perennial contender in the NJCAA Tournament.

In his first season of collegiate basketball, the 6’8” freshman wing, had an immediate impact with the Three Rivers Community College Raiders.

He was named NJCAA All-Region XVI Second Team when the league announced its regular season honours.

In his debut season, Greene averaged 7.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 29 appearances on 42 percent shooting from the field.

The former St George’s Jaguar also played at the prep level in Canada with J Addison Prep and was nominated for the BioSteel All-Canadian.

Greene will join sophomore guard Deyton Albury on the Chipola roster.

Albury and no.5 seeded Chipola suffered a 70-68 loss to the no.1 seed Salt Lake Community College Bruins in the NJCAA Final Four. He finished with eight points in 14 minutes off the bench.

Chipola finished just shy of a second consecutive appearance in the NJCAA Championship Game.

For the tournament, Albury averaged 6.3 points per game. In his first season with the programme, he averaged 4.4 points on 52 percent shooting from the field.

NADAL

FROM PAGE 15 all-American match between 18-year-old Coco Gauff and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens, who also was the runner-up at the 2018 French Open.

The other women’s match is No. 17 Leylah Fernandez, a 19-year-old Canadian who was a finalist at the U.S. Open last September, against 54th-ranked Martina Trevisan of Italy.

MONDAY’S RESULTS Women’s Fourth Round: No. 1 Iga Swiatek beat Zheng Qinwen 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2; No. 11 Jessica Pegula beat Irina-Camelia Begu 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; No. 20 Daria Kasatkina beat No. 28 Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2; No. 29 Veronika Kudermetova beat No. 22 Madison Keys 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Men’s Fourth Round: No. 20 Marin Cilic beat No. 2 Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 6-3, 6-2; Holger Rune beat No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5,

3-6, 6-3, 6-4; No. 7 Andrey Rublev beat No. 11 Jannik Sinner 1-6, 6-4, 2-0, retired; No. 8 Casper Ruud beat No. 12 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

STAT OF THE DAY 1994 — The last time there were two teenagers in the men’s quarterfinals at a Grand Slam tournament; Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune are both 19 this year.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “It was Dua Lipa, so kind of a guilty pleasure.” — Iga Swiatek, who said that’s whose song she was singing in her head as she came back from a set down and won her 32nd consecutive match.

FRANCE

FROM PAGE 15 stadium because they were very calm and they were able to avoid drama and so thank you for organising the pre-filtering but lifting it when there was too much pressure to avoid a drama,” Darmanin said.

“That was a decision made by the prefecture to avoid any kind of deaths or seriously injured.”

DEMERITTE FROM PAGE 15

rather than a head coach’s award,” Demeritte said in an interview with the Tribune earlier this season. “They do all the work. I just bring everything together.”

A two time NCAA AllAmerican, Olympian and 200m World Indoor champion, Demeritte has used his platform to recruit several Bahamians into his programme.

This year’s roster included Breanna Pratt, Aniqua Darville, Vernord Burrows, Hesley Charlton,

French Sports minister Amélie Ouéda-Castéra blamed fans arriving at the stadium late for the crowd control issues, but did not say when they should have arrived at the stadium on the outskirts of Paris.

“We have seen, we have to improve in risky matches certain aspects with regard to managing the flows, first filtering, second filtering, and we have to make sure we look at electronic ticketing as closely as possible

Nigel Hepburn, Corey Johnson and Nathan Moss.

Pratt and her Life U 4x400m team members - Alesha Wright, Iantha Wright and Brianna Florvilus, won bronze at the NAIAs in 3:45.71 seconds.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re at, even if it’s NAIA division II,” he said. “The only four meets that you won’t compete in with division one talent is our conference and nationals indoors and outdoors championship,” Demeritte said.

Demeritte also coached at the high school level, where he is credited with the development

so we can avoid fraud as far as ticketing is concerned,” Ouéda-Castéra said. “That is something which is absolutely essential.”

There was no apology for the conduct by authorities.

“We are extremely sorry for all the people whose experience was wasted all that evening,” Ouéda-Castéra said. “For the people who had bought tickets and were unable to attend the match. That’s why we have asked UEFA to really

LEWIS HOMERS, FERNANDER RETURNS TO DOUBLE A

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MIAMI Marlins prospect Ian Lewis continues his momentum from his hot start to the season in Single A while Detroit Tigers prospect Chavez Fernander made a return to Double A. Lewis, the no.12 prospect in the Marlins organisation, hit his first home-run with the Jupiter Hammerheads in a 6-4 loss Sunday night.

In 15 games, the 19-yearold infielder is hitting .375 in 15 games for the Hammerheads.

Lewis got off to a blistering start at the plate in his 2022 season and opened the year with a seven-game hit streak in his Single A debut.

On the season he has three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and one stolen base, slugging .650 with a .565 OBP. After starting the minorleague season in extended spring, Lewis made his Hammerheads debut and went 2-5 with an RBI, stolen base and a run scored against the Bradenton Marauders.

He was named the Florida Complex League MVP when the Marlins named their Minor League Award winners for the 2021 season.

In his first season of professional baseball, he played 43 games, predominantly at second base in the FCL. He hit .302, with a .354 OBP, slugging .497 and an .851 OBP. Fernander, a 6’3” right handed pitcher in the Tigers’ organisation, has been reassigned to the club’s Double A affiliate the Erie Seawolves.

Fernander began the season with the Seawolves but was assigned to the High A-affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps on May 3. He spent six games with the Whitecaps before he was recalled to the Seawolves.

In six appearances with the Whitecaps he pitched nine innings with five strikeouts and gave up four runs with a 1.22 WHIP. With the Seawolves he has a 1-1 record in seven appearances, nine innings, a 3.0 ERA and nine strikeouts with a 1.56 WHIP. Fernander spent the previous season with the Connecticut Tigers in the New York-Penn League in the 2019 season.

In 11 appearances with eight starts, he went 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 35 innings.

Fernander was selected by the Detroit Tigers organisation in 2018 the 35th round with the 1035th overall pick out of Polk Community College after his sophomore season. of over 80 collegiate athletes and two New Balance All-Americans, while leading The Marist School to six GHSA Team Championships and 38 GHSA Individual/Relay Champions.

“It wasn’t all a straight line. I took some detours here and there, but I’m truly grateful for the opportunities along the way because it’s made me the coach that I am today,” he said. “Like I always tell my athletes, I gladly failed because failure is the only way you can have true sucess and appreciate the success once you get there.”

work on a compensation system for those people — 2,700, including British people — so that they get compensation.”

UEFA did not raise the issue of compensating fans in its statement about its own investigation.

“Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties and the findings of the independent report will be made public once completed,” UEFA said, without giving a timeline.

PAGE 20, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

E -BACO PRESIDENT IN ‘NON-COMPETE’ DISPUTE FROM PAGE 24 - all allegations that the ex-BACO president “vehemently” denies.

She and Mr Ferguson wrote to BACO’s executive committee yesterday to provide their take on events after Ms Sands’ bid to overturn the injunction obtained by the Institute was decided

by Florida’s third district court of appeal.

The ruling, delivered on May 4, 2022, agreed that the Institute had “satisfied all elements for a temporary injunction by demonstrating a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm and that an injunction would serve the public interest”. Tribune Business understands that the verdict, and its publication, had caused disquiet among BACO and its

members, leading the body to request information from Ms Sands.

However, the Florida appeals court also partially reversed the initial injunction because the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court did not allow Ms Sands to present evidence on what the amount of the injunction bond should be. And Mr Ferguson said the appeals body also declined to extend the injunction beyond its December 31, 2021, expiration.

“AMLFC sought an injunction to prevent Ms Sands from engaging in her profession for two to three years after September 14, 2021, arising from a nondisclosure and non-compete agreement between Ms Sands and AMLFC,” Mr

Ferguson wrote to BACO’s executive committee.

“On September 14, 2021, the trial court issued a temporary injunction against Ms Sands through December 31, 2021, but refused to extend the injunction period beyond December 31, 2021. Ms Sands immediately appealed the trial court’s decision.

“On May 4, 2022, the appellate court issued its opinion reversing the trial court’s order that did not allow Ms Sands to present evidence on the amount of the injunction bond. While the appellate court affirmed the propriety of the injunction, the court did not agree with AMLFC and refused to extend the injunction period beyond December 31, 2021.”

Mr Ferguson sought to present the lawsuit

MARCH AIR ARRIVALS NEAR TO FROM PAGE 24 in the prior year, attributed to gains in the air and sea components, to 31,439 and 259,225, respectively.”

As a result, the Central Bank not surprisingly found that total arrivals for the 2022 first quarter were up by an astonishing 1,061.9 percent compared to the COVID ravaged period the year before. Air arrivals were ahead by 212.3 percent, while sea arrivals increased

by 7,779.6 percent due to the fact the cruise industry was still totally shut down in early 2021 and only resumed sailing in the late second to early third quarter. The only sea arrivals prior were boaters.

“On a year-to-date basis, the destination recovered to 1.347m arrivals, vis-à-vis 115,894 in the comparative 2021 period, a reversal from a 93.2 percent contraction recorded in the preceding year,” the

as a personal falling-out between Ms Sands and the Institute’s chief executive, Michelle Martin, after their relationship “deteriorated within seven months and the parties went their separate ways”. Neither the Institute nor Ms Sands disclosed the reasons for this in their legal filings, but the original injunction barred the latter from using its information, soliciting its customers and vendors and competing against it anywhere in the Caribbean.

Reemberto Diaz, the Miami-Dade circuit court judge who heard the Institute’s original injunction bid, ruled: “In or around 2017, AMLFC sought to expand to The Bahamas.

On November 17, 2017, Sands entered into the non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) with AMLFC,

OF PRE-COVID

Central Bank said. “Supporting this outcome, air visitors increased more than three-fold to 321,328 passengers, contrasting with the 70.4 percent fall-off recorded a year earlier, with all major markets improved during the review period.

“Likewise, sea arrivals recovered to 1.025m visitors, following a 99 percent reduction in 2021.” In similar vein, total air departures were up 236.2 percent for the first four months of

2022, with those to the US up 204.3 percent and non-US international departures increasing by 784.3 percent.

“More recent data provided by the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) for the month of April showed that total departures - net of domestic passengers - expanded to 125,061 from 47,332 in the corresponding month of 2021,” the Central Bank said.

“Specifically, US departures

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that FRANDLAY JULIEN PIERRE of Joe Farrington Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 31st day of May, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that VIOLA BLANC of Marshall Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 24th day of May, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P. O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

MONDAY, 30 MAY 2022

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

2418.16

1.35

0.06

189.92

8.52

(242) 323 2330 (242) 323 2320

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.70 53.00 2.05 2.90 2.60 6.10 10.05 3.50 9.02 3.10 8.00 16.60 2.65 10.25 11.25 10.85 15.20 4.00 11.00 16.50

52WK LOW 4.75 32.12 1.49 2.20 1.30 5.75 6.96 2.82 4.25 2.27 5.94 9.75 1.99 6.50 10.02 9.01 13.10 3.50 8.00 15.50

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

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

LAST CLOSE 5.35 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.25 6.10 9.75 3.35 7.52 2.81 8.00 16.00 2.75 10.25 12.17 10.85 15.20 3.98 10.00 15.50

CLOSE 5.35 39.95 2.04 2.31 2.25 6.10 9.75 3.35 7.52 2.82 8.00 16.00 2.75 10.25 12.21 10.85 15.20 3.98 10.00 15.50

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

5,000

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

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.080 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610

P/E 22.4 42.9 N/M 16.5 N/M N/M 26.4 -7.6 53.7 15.3 17.8 22.2 27.0 21.9 18.9 14.9 18.6 19.6 10.6 24.6

YIELD 3.18% 3.15% 0.98% 3.46% 0.00% 0.00% 2.67% 0.00% 0.00% 4.26% 2.75% 4.50% 15.78% 0.59% 2.69% 2.21% 3.55% 3.02% 2.00% 3.94%

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB9 CHLA FBBA FCLB

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

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

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 101.20 100.26 100.53 100.54 100.34 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

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

VOLUME

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 101.03 100.71 100.53 100.43 100.34 100.23 100.00 100.00 100.98 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.97 100.26 100.28 100.43 100.04 100.00 89.62 89.00 90.24 90.73

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 FX BGR141230 BGRS FL BGRS68023 BGRS FL BGRS70022 BGRS FL BGRS75022 BGRS FL BGRS81037 BGRS FL BGRS88028 BGRS FX BGR129249 BGRS FX BGR131249 BGRS FX BGR132249 BGRS FX BGR136150

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGR1412307 BSBGRS680232 BSBGRS700220 BSBGRS750225 BSBGRS810375 BSBGRS880287 BSBGR1292493 BSBGR1312499 BSBGR1322498 BSBGR1361504

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 101.20 100.26 100.53 100.54 100.34 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 5.35% 4.62% 4.50% 4.43% 4.87% 4.33% 5.55% 5.60% 5.65% 5.69%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 17-Nov-2030 21-Jul-2023 29-Jul-2022 7-Sep-2022 26-Jul-2037 26-Jul-2028 15-Apr-2049 15-Jul-2049 15-Oct-2049 21-Apr-2050

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.52 4.69 2.22 207.86 212.41 1.73 1.83 1.82 1.05 9.37 11.83 7.54 16.64 12.84 10.77 10.00 10.43 14.89

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.68 1.73 1.75 0.99 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 RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund RF Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Equities Sub Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - High Yield Income Fund RF Bahamas International Investment Fund Limited - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

NAV 2.52 4.69 2.21 197.44 202.39 1.73 1.82 1.82 0.99 9.37 11.79 7.54 15.94 12.47 10.74 N/A 10.43 14.89

YTD% 12 MTH% 0.99% 4.22% 0.36% 5.78% 0.67% 2.74% -2.97% -2.35% -4.72% 6.04% 0.83% 2.82% -0.18% 3.72% 0.76% 3.55% -3.55% -3.85% -0.02% 10.36% -0.33% 18.23% 0.22% 3.05% -3.89% 14.76% -1.04% -2.57% 0.81% 4.20% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

NAV Date 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 25-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Mar-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Jan-2022 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021

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 | CORALISLE 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333

which contained several restrictive covenants, specifically, non-disclosure obligations, non-solicitation of employees/contractors, non-solicitation of customers, customer prospects or vendors, and a non- compete.....

“AMLFC presented testimony that Sands interfered with a prospective partnership with an institution in The Bahamas, which AMLFC had been working on creating, and that fell through and never materialised after Sands’ termination.

“AMLFC has also presented testimony that Sands disclosed its road map and future business plans in The Bahamas to its direct competitor, ACAMS, who in 2019 launched a Bahamas Chapter - the first in its 20 years of business - as

well as ACAMS holding an inaugural Caribbean conference in Miami, which it had never done before.”

However, Ms Sands, who heads her own company, Initium Novum Enterprise, an investment and business consultancy providing advice to high net worth clients on regulation, investment and residency in The Bahamas, has refuted all these allegations.

She has also produced a letter from the ACAMS Bahamas chapter, dated August 6, 2020, affirming that she has never been involved with its set-up and management at any point.

One of two signatories to the ACAMS Bahamas letter, in the capacity of co-chair, was BFSB chief executive and executive director, Tanya McCartney.

amounted to 106,773 visà-vis 45,995 a year earlier, while non-US departures advanced to 18,288 from 1,337 in the preceding year.

“On a year-to-date basis, total outbound traffic more than tripled to 400,147, from 119,018 passengers in the previous year - a recovery from the 67.9 percent decline a year earlier. Reflective of this outturn, US departures rose to 342,205, a turnaround from the 63.8 percent contraction in 2021.

Similarly, non-US departures advanced to 57,942, a switch from an 89.2 percent fall-off during the same period of last year.”

As for the vacation rental market, data from AirDNA for the first four months of 2022 showed room nights sold had risen by 71.9 percent year-over-year. The average daily rate (ADR) for hotel comparables was up by 15.2 percent, and ADR for entire place listings was ahead by 8.8 percent.

“In the short-term vacation rental market, data provided by AirDNA showed ongoing gains during the month of April.

Specifically, total room nights sold firmed to 145,137 from 114,718 in the corresponding 2021 period.

Contributing to this outcome, occupancy rates for both entire place and hotel comparable listings increased to 61 percent and 55.6 percent, respectively, from 54.5 percent and 47.7 percent in the comparative period last year,” the Central Bank said.

“Further, price indicators revealed that year-overyear, the average daily room rate (ADR) for hotel

comparable listings moved higher by 13.8 percent to $196.22 and for entire place listings by 6.9 percent to $514.52.”

Giving an economic outlook that was little changed, the Central Bank said: “The domestic economy is expected to sustain its recovery trajectory in 2022, undergirded by an ongoing strengthening in tourism sector output. However, the sector’s downside risk exposures persist, as new strains of the COVID-19 virus emerge which could potentially stall progress made on the international health front and dampen the travel industry prospects.

“In addition, elevated international fuel costs could weaken the travel sector’s competitiveness, while the major central banks’ counter-inflation policies could erode the travel spending means of consumers in key source markets.

Nonetheless, new and ongoing foreign investment-led projects, along with posthurricane reconstruction works, are projected to provide continued stimulus to the construction sector.

“In the labour market, the unemployment rate is anticipated to remain above pre-pandemic levels, with any job gains concentrated mainly in the construction sector and the rehiring of tourism sector employees. In terms of prices, the domestic inflation rate is expected to be elevated in the nearterm, underpinned by the increase in international oil prices, higher costs for other imported goods and supply chain shortages, related to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 21

CABLE IN $169M REFINANCE AMID RETURN TO PROFITABILITY FROM PAGE 24 of dividend payments that have been halted for several years while the group underwent its balance sheet clean-up and paying down of bank debt.

Victor Marcial, Cable Bahamas’ group chief financial officer, yesterday confirmed notices have been issued to investors holding its Series 6 and Series 9 preference share debt advising them these issues will be refinanced at interest rates some 0.25 percentage points below current rates of return.

The Series 6 preference shares, with a $103.5m principal value, carry a 5.75 percent interest coupon and were due to mature in May 2024. Meanwhile, the Series 9 preference shares, worth a collective $65.5m, have a 6.25 percent interest coupon and were due to mature in April 25.

Together, they represent 64 percent or almost two-thirds of the total $264.149m preference share debt on Cable Bahamas’ books at end-March 2022. The Series 6 interest coupon will drop to 5.5 percent from 5.75 percent due to the refinancing, while that for the Series 9 will fall by the same margin to 6 percent.

Describing investor reaction to the planned refinancing as “pretty positive”, Mr Marcial told this newspaper: “We’ve sent out a notice to the shareholders already. It will be about a $500,000 reduction in servicing costs, interest servicing costs. We did have a meeting with the brokerage houses, and with the amount of liquidity in the market, they’re very happy with the rollover...

“The way we’re looking at it, compared to government issues and other issues, the rates are pretty good, so most are happy to rollover especially as they do not have many options in the market.”

Cable Bahamas must give the Series 6 and Series 9 preference shareholders three months’ notice before the refinancing takes effect, and Mr Marcial said he was hoping that would be formally issued either yesterday or today.

That way, from endAugust onwards, Cable Bahamas can pay both the reduced interest coupon and avoid a “double interest” payment through the new preference issues replacing the old securities at that date. “We’re pushing to get the refinancing done by the end of June,” Mr Marcial added.

Mr Butler, meanwhile, said it was too early to determine what impact the Budget’s eliminations and reductions of import tariffs on communications equipment will have on its network infrastructure development plans. The present 45 percent duty rate on telecommunications towers is being eliminated, while the 20 percent levies on electrical cables and fibre optic cables are also going to zero. Optical line terminals will also become free as of July 1.

Import tariffs on base stations will be slashed from 45 percent to 20 percent, while head phones, wi-fidevices and voice handsets will all go to zero from 45 percent (on the first product) and 10 percent on the latter two. And Communications Act fees paid by the likes of BTC and Cable Bahamas, currently set at 3 percent of turnover, will be cut by more than 50 percent in rate terms to just 1.25 percent of turnover.

Mr Butler and Mr Marcial yesterday said they understood the Communications Act fee reduction would only kick-in if communications providers invest in Family

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CABLE BAHAMAS HEADQUARTERS Island network build-out.

The tax breaks unveiled by the Government appear to be an effort to incentivise The Bahamas’ two major communications providers and others to invest in rolling-out 5G (fifth generation) networks by reducing the costs involved.

Revealing that Cable Bahamas plans to press on with its fibre-to-the-home (FFTH) roll-out on New Providence and Grand Bahama regardless, Mr Butler said the investment involved remains pegged at around $80m-$85m.

“We still anticipate it will be somewhere around that number,” he told Tribune Business.

“The Government just gave some concessions to the telecommunications industry by reducing certain tariffs on telecommunications equipment. We spent some time last week reviewing what that means to us, but save and except any duty savings we have from that, we’ll continue with fibre-to-the-home.

“We have a lot of the raw materials on order or on their way. We anticipate that we’ll be in roll out mode very shortly after the close of this financial year, which is June 30. We continue to manage the supply chain; that’s the biggest risk.

But we feel for all intents there’s little risk to us not getting started after we finish this financial year.”

While conceding that Cable Bahamas’ fibre-tothe-home initiative was “a bit of a defensive move”, Mr Butler said of the provider’s main competitor: “Let me say this. BTC, while they are making some progress, it’s not a ton of progress, but we are concerned about making sure we can improve customer service and reduce costs.

“We think with technology upgrades on the back of the pandemic, and the need for video conferencing, and to use technology in very different ways post-pandemic, fibre-to-the-home

is the right one to upgrade our customer experience.”

These developments all come after Cable Bahamas converted a $1.176m net loss in the year-before period into a $1.462m profit for the 2022 third quarter, which closed at end-March.

The group’s results have been weighed down for several years, and driven into losses, by accounting treatments that require it to book depreciation and amortisation losses

associated with its Aliv mobile subsidiary’s network build-out, plus interest costs on the debt that financed this.

And, given that Cable Bahamas has Board and management control at Aliv, its results also have to include the share of losses incurred by the Government on its 51.75 percent stake in HoldingCo, the mobile operator’s parent entity. However, for the three months to end-March 2022, Cable Bahamas’ group profit of $5.031m offset the $3.569m government loss on Aliv.

“We’ve certainly been turning the corner,” Mr Butler told this newspaper of Cable Bahamas’ financial performance, indicating that he expects the third quarter results to be the start of a trend. Cable Bahamas’ revenues for the three months to end-2022 were also up year-overyear by $5m, standing at $54.376m compared to the prior year’s $49.374m.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JULIAN EVAN SIEGRIST of San Andros, North Andros, 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 31st day of May, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

“It’s really important for us to grow our way out of this,” the Cable chief told Tribune Business. Asked when shareholders will likely see the resumption of dividend payments, Mr Butler replied: “Let’s put it this way. We’re closer than we’ve ever been.

“I think we’ve been very intentional in our focus on the business, continuing facilities improvements, customer service improvements, looking at how nimble we can be coming off Dorian and the pandemic, and bringing the right financial stewardship to get us to the point where we have a positive net income.

“All this bodes well to get us to the point of reducing the level of long-term

debt on the Cable side, which sets us up nicely, and in the not too distant future to reward our equity shareholders. I think we’re doing all the right things.”

Voicing optimism in “the outlook for the months ahead” provided The Bahamas escapes a major hurricane and further COVID lockdowns, Mr Butler added: “I think our shareholders have been very patient, and as chief executive I’m delighted to hopefully be crossing the bridge and putting us back on a footing where we create some longterm value and returns to our shareholders. That’s a significant place to be and I don’t take that lightly. I think we’re in good shape.”

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE Danesbury Limited In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Danesbury Limited is in dissolution as of May 27th, 2022.

International Liquidator Services Limited, situated at 3rd Floor Withfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

Windward International Business Limited

Alton Business Management Limited

In Voluntary Liquidation

In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Windward International Business Limited is in dissolution as of May 27th, 2022.

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Alton Business Management Limited is in dissolution as of May 27th, 2022.

International Liquidator Services Limited, situated at 3rd Floor Withfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

International Liquidator Services Limited, situated at 3rd Floor Withfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

PAGE 22, Tuesday, May 31, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

SANDS BEER’S TA ADVANTAGE THREATENED IN BUDGET REFORM FROM PAGE 24 has elected to impose one uniform per liquid gallon rate on the beer manufacturing industry.

He added that the elimination of a “twotier” taxation system would aid existing micro breweries such as Pirate Republic, founded by members of the Holowesko family, and especially those that are already successful and on the verge of expansion, in addition to those that have just launched.

“In essence what we have is a situation where any micro brewery, which because of demand has grown, will have paid a higher rate,” Mr Wilson said of the current system.

“We have a number of successful micro breweries here, so they will be

discouraged if we have a two-tier system.”

The Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, the Sands beer manufacturer which is 100 percent locally owned, has long argued that the preferential tax treatment it enjoys is critical to maintaining its competitiveness against Commonwealth Brewery.

However, Mr Wilson replied: “We are already providing Bahamian Brewery with significant protection with respect to imported beers. Why do we have an unlevel playing field among Bahamas-based companies?

That’s the side effect. We looked at equalising the tax rates. There’s been a lot of interest in micro breweries. Micro breweries are also approaching the level where they are no longer

considered micro breweries. That’s the reason.”

One observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, yesterday suggested the beer taxation reforms were also designed to chip away at Freeport’s status under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and the tax breaks this provides. “The move is to regularise the Port area and Port licensees with government areas,” they added.

“That’s what I think about that. It’s certainly along those lines. Think about it.

Why else would they do it?

It’s really to break the back of Freeport.”

The source said they were also aware of investor plans to open micro breweries in islands such as Eleuthera and Abaco.

However, Jimmy Sands, the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company’s founder, has not returned

Tribune Business calls and messages seeking comment on the planned tax changes and their likely impact.

Intermediaries subsequently informed this newspaper he did not wish to address the matter publicly, but he previously lobbied hard - and successfully - to persuade the last Christie administration to reverse course on reforms that were similar to those now introduced by the Philip Davis led-government.

The present structure, which has existed since the 2010-2011 Budget, gives the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage a $3 per liquid gallon of beer tax advantage over its BISX-listed rival. However, in an interview conducted almost one decade ago in September 2012, Mr Sands told Tribune Business he was

aware the Kalik manufacturer is lobbying to remove this differential so that both companies were taxed on manufacturing at the same rate.

Maintaining the difference, he explained, was crucial to Bahamian Brewery’s survival given that it then incurred $1.04 per case in transportation costs to get its product from Freeport to Nassau - costs Commonwealth Brewery did not have.

Mr Sands said he feared eliminating the tax differential would push Bahamian Brewery into oblivion given the latter’s greater production capacity, which enabled it to spread its costs and generate economies of scale, coupled with the financial and marketing might of its 75 percent majority shareholder, Heineken.

“They want to even the playing field by bringing me up to the same level as them, and if that is done they’ll wipe me out,” Mr Sands told Tribune Business at the time. “I pay a slightly lower duty structure than they do.” He explained that Bahamian Brewery had been able to exploit the additional tax incentives offered by the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, whereas Commonwealth Brewery had chosen to base itself on New Providence.

Mr Sands later reiterated that eliminating the tax differential would have “a drastic impact” on Bahamian Brewery and its products, including Sands, Sands Light, Strong Back Stout, High Rock Lager, Bush Crack Beer and Triple B Malt.

‘FANTASTIC’ FOOD TARIFF CUTS WON’T FULLY OFFSET INFLATION FROM PAGE 24 three times’ higher than the mark-ups merchants such

as Super Value are allowed to apply to chicken and eggs under Price Control regulations. He suggested that egg

LEGAL NOTICE

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000

MIP INTERNATIONAL LTD. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 as follows:a) MIP INTERNATIONAL LTD. is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act, 2000. b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on 24th May 2022. c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Amicorp Bahamas Management Limited whose address is: Bahamas Financial Centre, 3rd Floor, Shirley & Charlotte Street, P.O. Box N-4865, Nassau, Bahamas.

prices could fall by as much as 50 percent compared to what they are now when the 2022-2023 fiscal year begins just over one month from now after June ends.

“I think it’s fantastic without studying it too closely,” the Super Value chief said of the Government’s efforts to mitigate inflationary pressures amid its own fiscal constraints. “What I do understand about it is I would think they have given the consumer back 50 percent of the value of the breadbasket. It’s that big.”

Explaining that the tariff reduction impact will likely equal half the increase in costs that resulted from reimposing 10 percent VAT on breadbasket items, Mr Roberts said the duty slash on eggs will help offset forecast price rises stemming from bird flu in overseas markets.

“I thought it would be about a year before we got the laying hens back up to speed,” he added. “But

the prices have started to come down already, and we’ve already had 1,000 cases of eggs come in at the new duty rate. Eggs will be priced at half of what they were, and fall more as time goes on. That means double the sale of eggs.

“Chicken is the main protein. We bring in a container a week of each part - wings, drumsticks and leg quarters.” Mr Roberts said consumers had been paying “high duty on chicken and eggs” since the last Christie administration, when tariff rates were set at levels designed to protect domestic producers from imported rivals - something that is now set to change.

However, he warned that the tariff cuts are no panacea or cure-all for food prices that have soared since last year due to a combination of surging global demand, supply chain disruption stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, higher fuel, freight and shipping costs, and the rise in commodity priced sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent shortages of staples such as flour, wheat and cooking oil.

“In the past six months we’ve had about a 20 percent increase in the cost of living, cost of food, and the duties [cuts] cannot compensate for that,” Mr Roberts told Tribune Business. “That cannot equal what the cost of living has gone up by in the last six months. It may compensate for half of what they [consumers] lost in value on the breadbasket but cannot compensate for inflation.

“About a month ago the Government asked for suggestions on what to lower

duty on. Chicken and eggs were the big ones we gave them. We were careful not to give them too much or ask for things we would not get, but I’m satisfied on behalf of consumers it’s something intended to help with the cost of living.

“Inflation has not gone away. I still expect it to not start levelling off before the end of the year. It depends.

Cooking oil has not settled and flour has not settled. It hinges on the outcome of Russia’s invasion. If we can get the tankers rolling out of Ukraine, that will help build the food supply in flour and flour ingredients.

That goes into most cooking and baking.”

The Government, in its food tariff reduction measures, appears to have targeted cuts that will have the greatest impact in mitigating the cost of living crisis. Besides chicken and eggs, the rate on pork is to be slashed from 25 percent to 10 percent, while mashed potato will become tarifffree from July 1 as opposed to the present 35 percent rate.

Protein powder is being cut from 40 percent to zero, while flours of vegetable base will also have their existing 35 percent duty completely eliminated. Prepared beef, pork and turkey are being dropped from 20 percent to zero, while raw ground nuts (peanuts) exceeding 10 percent will also become tariff free. Prepared salmon, herring and caviar are to be cut from a 40 percent import tariff to 20 percent - a drop in rate of some 50 percent.

However, the Government has also been careful not to give too much revenue away given its own

fragile fiscal position.

Many food items targeted for duty eliminations were only taxed at 5 percent, so the revenue loss is minimal. Among those products going from 5 percent to zero are yeast and baking powder; cheese; shallots; garlic; cauliflowers; headed broccoli; brussel sprouts; cabbages; lettuce; turnips; salad beetroot; radishes; cucumbers; peas and beans.

The list continues on to asparagus; egg plants; celery other than celearic; sweet peppers; hot peppers; spinach; artichokes; olives; corn; beets; and pumpkins, squash and gourds. All preserved vegetables are to be slashed from a 25 percent duty rate to free, with casava; sweet potatoes; yams; and taro also going to zero tariffs.

“I’m sure the consumer is going to be very happy,” Mr Roberts said, adding that freight costs sometimes exceeded all others associated with putting products such as salt on store shelves.

“The way you bring it in can save you 16 percent on the cost of an item. With a light item such as cornflakes, a 45-foot container can save you 16 percent,” he added.

Referring to chicken and eggs, he added: “The Government was charging consumers 30 percent duty, and we the merchants were only allowed a 10 percent margin by Price Control.

They were charging three times’ the amount in duty that they were allowing merchants to mark up. But I’m really pleased that we settled it. The Retail Grocers Association feels these are good measures and a good move, and the consumer will feel it’s a good move.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 31, 2022, PAGE 23

NEW UNION BODY’S ‘BREATH OF FRESH AIR’ TARGETS MORE MEMBERS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Taxi Cab Union’s (BTCU) president yesterday cited unspecified “political interference” as the reason for why it has defected from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and joined a new umbrella union body.

Wesley Ferguson told Tribune Business that his union and other founding Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress (BNATUC) members decided to split with their respective umbrella bodies, and form a new grouping, to “move ahead of the

political rhetoric.....and look out for the rights of the people”.

And he warned both the TUC and National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB) that the newly-formed Alliance was hungry to attract more affiliates. “We are looking to pull a lot of those other smaller unions away from the TUC and National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU), all the unions that are lagging behind because they will basically have a fresh start with a breath of fresh air,” Mr Ferguson said.

With the move threatening to stoke division and discord in the union movement ahead of Friday’s annual Labour Day

march, he added: “A lot of people think this is being controversial because the Government is very crafty, and you are going to see everything that glitters isn’t gold.

“You would listen to the Prime Minister’s Budget debate, and you would think it was paved in gold, but the whole point is that you can’t listen to everything the Prime Minister is saying because they have a way of working around the unions to try and circumvent the authority of the president.”

This, Mr Ferguson said, often involves the Government making public pronouncements on union matters without consulting the relevant leadership on

such matters. “They think they can just throw you a bone and you would just dive for it, instead of giving us the opportunity to look at matters to see if we can get better out of it or is there more we can negotiate out of it,” Mr Ferguson said.

“As long as the Government could work around the union, then the Government could circumvent the authority of the union, and the next thing you know the union has no teeth. I heard the Prime Minister say during his budget debate that the government is going to give public service drivers a raise, but they also have to remember that public service drivers include taxis.

We are yet to sit down

with the Government to even negotiate or start any conversation about what percentage raise we want.”

Jo-Beth Coleby-Davis, minister for housing and transport, previously said she is seeking to work out an arrangement with the public service drivers, including the taxi drivers, and will come back with recommendations soon.

Mr Ferguson, though, has said he does not want to commit to any fare rise yet due to uncertainty over how high gasoline prices will be six months from now. Prematurely accepting a fare rise, he added, would expose taxi cab union members to further losses if the increase was insufficient to

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C

TAMPA

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly cloudy, a shower and t-storm

Mostly cloudy with a thunderstorm

Variable clouds with a thunderstorm

Partly sunny with a stray t-storm

A thunderstorm in the afternoon

Breezy with a shower and t-storm

High: 83°

Low: 74°

High: 82° Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 75°

High: 84° Low: 76°

High: 85° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

89° F

78° F

92°-79° F

94°-81° F

94°-79° F

92°-76° 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: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

8-16 knots

S

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

8-16 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 89° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 73° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 14.41” Normal year to date ..................................... 8.45”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

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

TIDES FOR NASSAU High Today

E

W

7-14 knots

S

8-16 knots

Low

Ht.(ft.)

2.2 2.9

3:26 a.m. 0.1 3:09 p.m. 0.0

Wednesday 9:49 a.m.

10:12 p.m.

2.1 2.8

4:05 a.m. 0.1 3:47 p.m. 0.1

Thursday

10:29 a.m.

10:51 p.m.

2.1 2.8

4:45 a.m. 0.2 4:26 p.m. 0.2

Friday

11:11 a.m.

11:32 p.m.

2.0 2.7

5:25 a.m. 0.3 5:06 p.m. 0.4

Saturday

11:55 a.m.

-----

2.0 -----

6:07 a.m. 0.4 5:50 p.m. 0.5

Sunday

12:15 a.m.

12:43 p.m.

2.6 2.0

6:51 a.m. 0.5 6:39 p.m. 0.6

Monday

1:00 a.m.

1:34 p.m.

2.6 2.1

7:36 a.m. 0.5 7:33 p.m. 0.7

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset

6:20 a.m. Moonrise 7:55 p.m. Moonset

7:02 a.m.

9:15 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Jun. 7

Jun. 14

Jun. 20

Jun. 28

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

H

Ht.(ft.)

9:10 a.m.

9:33 p.m.

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

UV INDEX TODAY

CAT ISLAND

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cover surges in global oil prices.

He added: “She said she was working on something, but did we sit down and talk about it? Don’t just give it to me; don’t just give me anything. You see, the Government is very crafty with that. Because what if they give me $2 straight across the board, and they think it’s some big deal? But, when you do the studies, you realise the $2 isn’t anything.

“You can get $2 now and, by July, gas goes up again and shoots up to $10 [per gallon]. Then what happens to the $2 if gas was $6.50 when they gave it to us? The $2 would be insufficient, so you are right back where you were before.”

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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

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

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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10-20 knots

10-20 knots

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

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

WINDS E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots SW at 3-6 Knots E at 8-16 Knots S at 4-8 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots SSW at 6-12 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots S at 6-12 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots SSW at 3-6 Knots SE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots S at 6-12 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 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet

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

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

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

$6.35

$6.48

$6.35

$6.13

Cable in $169m refinance amid return to profitability

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net CABLE Bahamas yesterday unveiled plans to refinance $169m in preference share debt, and slash annual interest payments by $500,000, after generating its first quarterly net profit for several years.

Franklyn Butler, the BISXlisted communications provider’s president and chief executive, told Tribune Business he was unable to recall when the last “consolidated” net profit was booked but conceded “it has been a while”.

Speaking after the group posted $1.462m in net and comprehensive income for the three months to end-March 2022, he added that Cable Bahamas has “certainly

been turning the corner” through executing its US exit and using the $301m-plus Summit Broadband sale proceeds to restructure its balance sheet and lay the foundation for new domestic growth.

Besides the preference share refinancing, which will involve existing investors rolling over their holdings at a lower interest rate, Mr Butler said Cable Bahamas will proceed with its

$80m-$85m roll-out of a fibre-tothe-home (FTTH) network after its 2022 financial year closes at end-June.

Acknowledging that this investment was “a bit of a defensive move” responding to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) own FTTH infrastructure build-out, he said the BISX-listed provider was seeking to improve the experience for its TV and Internet clients while also providing a platform for further economic growth.

And, while providing no specific details or timelines, Mr Butler added that Cable Bahamas “in the not too distant future” hoped to reward its equity shareholders through the resumption

Sands beer’s tax advantage threatened in Budget reform

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BUDGET reforms designed to brew “a level playing field” among Bahamian beer manufacturers are threatening to cost one Grand Bahama producer the tax advantage it has long enjoyed over its BISXlisted rival.

Changes to the Spirits and Beer Manufacture Act, tabled among the legislative amendments accompanying the 2022-2023 Budget, reveal that the Government is moving to ensure all beer manufacturers - Commonwealth Brewery, the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company and various micro breweries - pay the same standard tax rate of $2.50 per liquid gallon.

This involves slashing Commonwealth Brewery’s tax rate, presently pegged at $5 per liquid gallon, by 50

March air arrivals near to 75% of pre-COVID

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net TOURIST arrivals to The Bahamas increased almost ten-fold in March 2022 compared to the prior year aided by the continued easing of COVID-related border restrictions and a rebound in global travel, it was revealed yesterday.

The Central Bank, in its update on April’s economic developments, said total arrivals by first port of entry jumped to 632,102 this year as opposed to just 62,765 for March 2021 when The Bahamas was still impacted by multiple pandemic-related measures.

“As major source markets further adjusted to COVID-19 pandemic conditions, initial data indicated that monthly tourism output maintained its growth momentum in March,” its report stated. “Air traffic yielded 147,616, compared to 56,371 in the prior year, regaining 73.2 percent of the volumes registered in 2019. In addition, sea traffic was reinstated at 475,486” from a mere 6,394 visitors in the previous year, when cruise sailings remained suspended.

“Disaggregated by major markets, total arrivals to New Providence amounted to 304,506 in March from 39,093 in the comparative period of 2021. Underlying this outturn, the air and sea segments both rose to 112,719 and 191,787 visitors, respectively.

“Similarly, foreign arrivals to Grand Bahama advanced to 27,932 vis-à-vis 1,973 in the preceding year, as air and sea arrivals measured 3,458 and 24,474, respectively. Further, traffic to the Family Islands resumed at 290,664, compared to just 21,699

SEE PAGE 20

percent. And the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, which also enjoys the incentives provided under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, will see its tax rate increased by 25 percent from the present $2 to bring it the uniform $2.50 per liquid gallon rate.

The “objects and reasons” section of the Spirits and Beer Manufacture (Amendment) Bill 2022 states that the revised rates are designed to “standardise the tax on beer manufactured under the Act, and shandy, to $2.50”.

Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business that “fairness” and equity in taxation was the primary reason why the Davis administration

SEE PAGE 22

Ex-BACO president in ‘non-compete’ dispute

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PAST Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) president was yesterday said to be free to “engage in her profession” after a Florida appeals court refused to extend a noncompete injunction relating to a two-year legal battle.

Fareda Sands and her Floridabased attorney, Troy Ferguson, provided an update to BACO’s executive committee on the the courtroom fight sparked by an April 2020 lawsuit filed against her by an anti-money laundering organisation.

The former BACO president, who still sits on its executive committee and is its education chair for 2020-2022, as well as being a Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) director, has been accused by the Miamiheadquartered Anti- Money Laundering & Financial Crimes Institute (AMLFC) of breaching non-compete and non-disclosure agreements after she ceased involvement with it.

The Institute is alleging that her subsequent involvement with a rival, the Association of

FAREDA SANDS Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), not only violated Ms Sands’ agreement not to do business with a competitor for two years after she left its employment, but also thwarted its efforts to establish a presence in The Bahamas.

In particular, the Institute claims that Ms Sands’ departure resulted in the failure of efforts to establish a partnership with the University of The Bahamas (UoB) to provide certified antimoney laundering courses via the latter. And it also resulted in ACAMS establishing a Bahamas branch of its own in mid-2019

SEE PAGE 20

SEE PAGE 21

FRANKLYN BUTLER

‘Fantastic’ food tariff cuts won’t fully offset inflation

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Budget’s tariff cuts “can’t compensate” fully for the 20 percent increase in food prices since late 2021, Super Value’s principal said yesterday, although they may cover “half of what was lost” by the return of breadbasket VAT. Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business that the Government’s import duty cuts and eliminations were “fantastic” as a mechanism to ease the cost of living crisis for many Bahamians, but warned that soaring inflation was unlikely to “level out” much before year-end 2022.

Revealing that the Davis administration had one month ago sought merchant and wholesaler recommendations for Budget tariff cuts, he described those for chicken parts and eggs as “the big ones” given their importance as a

RUPERT ROBERTS major protein source. The Government duly obliged, slashing chicken import tariffs from 30 percent to 10 percent, representing a two-thirds reduction, while the rate on eggs dropped by over 80 percent - falling from 30 percent to just 5 percent.

Mr Roberts told this newspaper that the 30 percent rates, which are now set to end come July 1, are

SEE PAGE 22