06092021 BUSINESS

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

$4.91 Freeport in $200m boost to Treasury

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT contributed close to $200m in taxes and National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions pre-pandemic despite its reputation as a freetrade zone, a report by the KPMG accounting firm has projected.

The document, prepared for the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Revitalisation and Economic Expansion of Freeport (REEF) committee, also estimated that the city contributed some $1.4bn to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) - or 10.2 percent of economic output - despite the battering it received from Hurricane Dorian.

“We estimate that for the fiscal year 2018-2019, Freeport contributed approximately $1.4bn in GDP, 10.2 percent of the total GDP of The Bahamas, and $197.1m in government receipts and NIB contributions,” the report, entitled Vision 2025: Planning for a prosperous future, said.

“Further, Freeport’s fiveyear cumulative GDP contribution stands at an estimated $7.2bn, averaging $1.4bn for each of the last five years.

“Freeport’s gross financial contribution to the Bahamian economy, in terms of government taxes and fees, is estimated to be $153.1m plus $44m in NIB contributions. Although the provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement exempt Freeport from certain taxes and fees, there are many taxes and fees that are still assessed and collected in Freeport.”

The report broke the city’s tax contribution down into $61.3m from VAT; $24m in stamp taxes; $20.9m in excise taxes; $18.4m from import duties; and $10.6m in immigration fees as the major sources of government income.

The total sum collected was pegged by KPMG at slightly higher than the $143.5m generated for the Public Treasury in 2014, some five years earlier.

However, in a sign of Freeport’s economic and workforce/population stagnation, the report showed NIB contributions declining from $45m in 2014 to $44m in 2019 just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pointing to Grand Bahama’s declining GDP share, the report said: “Despite a drop from 16.9 percent in 2016 to 13.8 percent in 2019, Grand Bahama has proven to be an important economic pillar contributing more to the GDP than the consolidated total of all other Family Islands in The Bahamas.

“Further we note that the onset of the reduction in GDP contribution corresponds with the October 2016 landfall of Hurricane Matthew, which inflicted significant damage on the island and resulted in the destruction of many homes and businesses, and in particular resulted in the closing of over 1,000 hotel rooms mainly at the Grand Lucayan, and the loss of associated jobs.

“Grand Bahama’s economic activity is led by construction and real estate activities, which each account for 15.2 percent of total GDP for the island. Rounding out the

SEE PAGE 9

$4.91

‘Win for common sense and sanity’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

T

HE Grand Lucayan’s chairman yesterday hailed a Supreme Court verdict dismissing wrongful/unfair dismissal claims by 36 current and former managers as “a victory for common sense and sanity”.

Michael Scott QC, who heads the Governmentowned Lucayan Renewal Holdings, told Tribune Business that the ruling by Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley would also produce savings for Bahamian taxpayers “who have been paying the bills” - running into tens of millions of dollars - to keep the resort open while negotiations for its sale to the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture drag on.

The judge, in a June 3 verdict, denied virtually all claims by the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association

$5.01

Spanish Wells ‘dissed’ over cruise call plans

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

“have homework to do” on resolving airlift access issues that were viewed as an obstacle to growth pre-COVID. “We took a look last week,” he told this newspaper of member properties’ projected performance. “We were anticipating coming in around 65 percent for the January-June period compared to what we did in the January-June period for 2019.

“We look like we will fall short of that a bit. I don’t want to share any numbers, but I can tell you what it looks like we’ll collectively do between January and June. Even coming in below forecast it’s going to be more than 50 percent of what we

SPANISH Wells’ chief councillor yesterday said there is “no turning back” on the community’s opposition to Crystal Cruises, adding that residents felt “dissed” by both the Government and the cruise line.

Robert Roberts told Tribune Business that Monday’s town meeting on Crystal Cruises’ decision to select the island as a port-of-call for its upcoming seven-night Bahamas’ cruises went “extremely well” with most residents maintaining their disagreement with the move.

He added that a register he kept showed at least 190 people, or some 20 percent of Spanish Wells’ population, attended. While acknowledging that Crystal Cruises guests are more upscale than the traditional “red cup, soda” cruise ship passenger, Mr Roberts argued: “It’s taken us seven to ten years to build what we have, and why would you want to mess with something that is not broken?

“We have been building upon that. Even though 2020 has set everybody back in the tourism market, 2019 was probably one of the best years on record. Towards the latter part of las year it definitely picked up. This year, if hurricanes and natural disasters stay away, we will probably exceed 2019.

“I don’t want to say we don’t need Crystal Cruises; we just don’t want them calling on Spanish Wells. We could never say never, but at this juncture the overwhelming majority is very, very satisfied with what we have been able to build over the years.”

Mr Roberts said Spanish Wells was now waiting on Crystal Cruises’ response, and added: “If you are not welcome somewhere, it’s going to be very hard to go there.” The local council has written to the cruise line three times already, asking for information on their itinerary and their plans, but Mr Roberts said they have yet to receive a reply.

Crystal Cruises did pay a courtesy call on Mr Roberts, with the island administrator

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 7

MICHAEL SCOTT QC

• Grand Lucayan chair hails union’s defeat • Claims over June 2020 dismissals denied • PLP candidate’s termination is upheld

THE GRAND LUCAYAN RESORT (BHMA) and its members stemming from the Grand Lucayan Board’s decision to terminate most of the workforce in June 2020 in accordance with the terms of the sales agreement with ITM/Royal Caribbean.

Justice Hanna-Adderley dismissed the case brought by three managers because

they had been retained by the Grand Lucayan, and are still working there, while three BHMA executives and trustees had no standing to bring an action because they were never employed by the resort.

And she dismissed virtually all other claims after finding that most managers

had signed a “deed of release”, barring them from bringing future legal actions against the Grand Lucayan, in order to receive their termination pay and other benefits. Justice HannaAdderley found there was no evidence to support allegations they were “coerced” into signing the releases.

The only BHMA member not to correctly sign a “deed of release” was Kirkland Russell, its vice-president, former Grand Lucayan head chef and now Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) general election candidate for central Grand Bahama.

While finding that Mr Russell was entitled to notice pay, and his wages - minus

SEE PAGE 6

Out Island hotels to miss 65% recovery projection

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FAMILY Island hotels will “likely fall short” of projections they will collectively recover 65 percent of pre-COVID business levels during the 2021 first half due to airlift cutbacks from Nassau.

Kerry Fountain, the Out Islands Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business that tourist distribution had been affected by airlines slashing their inter-island schedules as a result of fewer Bahamians travelling due to COVID-19 restrictions.

He added that the cost associated with obtaining a $150 negative PCR-test, and $25 domestic health travel visa, continue to represent a potential deterrent to domestic travel as it adds $350 to the cost of a two-person trip before even airlines and hotels are booked.

As a result, Mr Fountain

• Airlift cutbacks from Nassau hurt some islands • Promotion Board chief: ‘We’ll be over 50% of 2019’ • Brands ongoing lockdowns ‘rollercoaster’ for tourism

KERRY FOUNTAIN warned that tourism’s recovery on islands only accessible by Nassau is likely to be slower, but he struck a more positive tone in forecasting that The Bahamas and its major industry are now “in the glow of the light at the end of the tunnel”.

Even though room nights sold and room revenue forecasts for the 2021 first half may not be hit, the Promotion Board chief added that member hotels were still on

track to collectively deliver a performance that will be “more than 50 percent of what we did in January-June 2019”.

Acknowledging that the ongoing lockdowns in North and Central Andros plus Cat Island “dampened our momentum” among resorts and tourism-based businesses in those locations, Mr Fountain said the pain had been eased somewhat by the government’s decision to continue permitting tourist access to those islands provided they “vacation in place”.

Revealing that it had been “like a rollercoaster” until the government permitted those exemptions, Mr Fountain acknowledged that the Out Island Promotion Board and its members

$5.01

Bahamas must ‘get even better’ on CDC rankings

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday urged this nation to strive “to get even better” in US health travel advisories in the hope it will lead to further COVID-19 restriction easing.

Robert Sands, speaking to Tribune Business after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) returned The Bahamas to a “Level 3” ranking, voiced optimism that further improvement could pave the way for this nation to argue that tourists no longer need to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before returning to the US. He added that The Bahamas’ upgrade from “Level 4”, which represents a “very high” number of COVID-19 cases, to “Level 3” or “high” could trigger an increase in the number of travellers who view this nation as “a preferred destination” - especially for group business that typically accounts for

• Hotels chief: Could ease visitors’ US return • ‘Level 3’ rating enhances ‘preferred’ status • Could boost return of 25-30% group sector

ROBERT SANDS 25-30 percent of bookings at major hotels.

“We don’t want to stay there; we want to get even better,” Mr Sands told this newspaper of the CDC’s action.”The lower we are on the CDC scale, the more the travelling public view The Bahamas as a preferred destination for travel even though there is pentup demand for our nation.

“While it continues to be a work in progress, we must continue to work to bring those case numbers down.

That will only happen through one of two things: The vaccination programme must continue, and we must continue to manage COVID-19 cases all around. These things will contribute to a lowering of the CDC health monitor.

“The world we are in today, travellers pay close attention to some of these travel barometers and advisories, which augurs well for The Bahamas and I’m hopeful we can now move the barometer to go from ‘Level 3’ to ‘Level 2’.”

Few nations have attained ‘Level 2’ status with the CDC in relation to COVID-19, but Mr Sands said the Baha Mar mega resort where he acts as senior vice-president of government and external affairs currently has a visitor base where “close to 60 percent” of guests have been fully vaccinated.

Those visitors still have to produce a negative

COVID-19 antigen test to return to the US after their vacation, and the BHTA president revealed to Tribune Business: “We’re hopeful that if we continue to lower the CDC ranking, that may be a requirement we can work on to be eliminated as well.”

Mr Sands said The Bahamas’ traditional group, meeting and convention business, which is likely to be among the last to rebound from the pandemic, was particularly susceptible to influence from the CDC rankings and other global COVID-19 health barometers.

“Certainly groups, where you have congregations of more persons collectively, may be paying particular attention to these items,” he added.

“Groups establish a base by which major properties can build on leisure business on a year-round basis.

It’s an extremely important

element for many resorts throughout the islands of The Bahamas, accounting for anywhere between 25-30 percent of business.

“The positive news is that we are moving in the right direction, and we must continue to move in the right direction. I would be encouraged that such an announcement may further increase the forward bookings for the destination and add to pent-up demand.

“I can tell you that collectively many hotels are seeing week-over-week increases in terms of viewings of their websites, persons reviewing The Bahamas as a potential destination, and actual bookings are growing week over week every week. “ Mr Sands said the hotel and tourism industry was measuring booking pace against 2019 and preCOVID levels as opposed to 2020, which he described as “a non-starter year” due to COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions that closed the sector for much of the period.

“We are beginning to get

SEE PAGE 7

PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

AML FOODS TO ‘DOUBLE VARIETY’ AT EXUMA STORE AML Foods yesterday pledged “to double the variety” of produce available at Exuma Markets after completing its $1.75m acquisition of the food store at end-May 2021.

The BISX-listed food retail and franchise group, in a statement issued yesterday, said its total investment in purchasing the business and its trading name will exceed $2m as it plans to spend an extra $300,000 on remodelling the store. Initial plans had pegged the latter figure at $250,000.

The outlet, which will retain the Exuma Markets name, will now adopt the Solomon’s neighbourhood store concept with new flooring, lighting and checkout experiences set to be installed over the next four weeks.

Gavin Watchorn, AML Foods’ president and chief

•EXUMA MARKETS PURCHASE CLOSES FOR $1.75M •INVESTMENT OVER $2M WITH $300K REMODEL

executive, said: “We intend to double the variety of items previously available.

Exuma will be proud of the end results. Every time they come in to shop our customers will notice another improvement, either to the building itself or in the variety and consistency of products on the shelves.”

The BISX-listed group plans to use Exuma Markets to give residents access to products stocked by other AML Foods’ retail formats, such as Cost

Right and Solomon’s Fresh Market.

“Very shortly we will also introduce a programme that will allow customers to order and purchase products sold in Fresh Market and Cost Right for delivery to the store for pick-up,” said Mr Watchorn, “with e-commerce services to follow in the new year.

“Solomon’s has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for three decades, and we are excited to expand our operations to Exuma and deliver this experience to the residents and community. We have listened to the feedback from so many on the island, and we are committed to consistently maintaining an assortment of fresh produce along with a great variety of quality grocery products and meats every day.”

Mr Watchorn, in an interview with Tribune Business in April when the Exuma Markets deal was announced, said the purchase represented a key element in an expansion strategy that aims to drive group-wide sales to $250m by 2030.

He added that the 30 year-old Georgetown-based business also signalled the launch of AML Foods’ bid to establish a network of smaller neighbourhood food stores across several Bahamian islands.

Disclosing that the concept was being developed “throughout COVID-19”, Mr Watchorn revealed that Exuma Markets could be the first of up to seven such stores that are considerably smaller than the larger destination-type outlets the group has focused on todate. While other locations

have yet to be finalised, all will be less than half the size of its existing Solomon’s Yamacraw store.

He added that the group will use its existing store and supply chain infrastructure to drive synergies and cost savings in providing inventory to the smaller outlets, thereby eliminating the need for extensive capital investment in stock room expansion while still maintaining a product range matching that found in AML Foods’ larger Solomon’s and Cost Right formats.

The strategy is also designed to respond to consumers’ desire to shop closer to home, a trend Mr Watchorn said had merely been “reinforced” by the COVID-19 pandemic, and which required AML Foods to physically become nearer

CRUISE PORT: ‘TIME TO SHINE’ AS HOME PORT SHIP ARRIVES Bahamas and Marlins team NASSAU Cruise Port’s top executive yesterday said to honour “this is our time to shine nation’s and place The Bahamas on the home porting map” as heritage Royal Caribbean’s vessel arrived in the capital ahead of Saturday’s launch.

Adventure of the Seas, a fifteen-deck Voyager-class cruise ship that can accommodate 3,807 passengers at full capacity, arrived at Prince George Wharf with no passengers aboard – only crew members. It will leave Nassau on Saturday, June 12, 2021, with a reduced occupancy to begin its first Seven-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day summer voyage series using Nassau as its home port.

The ship was escorted into the harbour via a grand water salute from the Nassau Harbour Pilots Association. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Michael Maura, Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive, about the ship’s arrival.

“This vessel and all the hope that this first voyage will carry out to sea on

ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS ARRIVAL TO NASSAU Saturday have been a long time in the making. We are very appreciative that Royal Caribbean has chosen to partner with us, with the Ministry of Tourism, and all our industry partners to make this home port launch from Nassau possible. As you can imagine, we are all extremely excited and working overtime to ensure that this launch is successful.”

Passengers will be greeted by a Bahamian Party In da Backyard upon their arrival at the cruise port on Saturday, which will include ice-cold Kaliks, live music, Junkanoo performances, and drills by students from the LJM Maritime Academy. The entire event will be live streamed on the

Nassau Cruise Port Facebook beginning at 12 noon.

“I’ve heard of a few Bahamians who will be sailing aboard Adventure of the Seas on this trip, and I’m sure there will be many more of us who will take advantage of this incredible opportunity,” Mr Maura said.

“This is our time to shine and to put Nassau on the map as a home porting destination of choice. We will do so with immense pride, making the Bahamian people proud and making our guests and cruise line partners excited that they chose to start and end their cruise in Nassau. This is the beginning of an incredible voyage for us all.”

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

JASRADO “JAZZ” CHISOLM

BAHAMIANS are being encouraged to attend a Miami Marlins baseball game that will celebrate the country’s heritage this Saturday at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

The game, in which the Miami Marlins will take on the Atlanta Braves, is also expected to highlight The Bahamas’ close relationship with Miami. The celebration will feature a pre-game Junkanoo rush out performance at 3pm, featuring The Bahamas Junkanoo Revue of Miami and legendary Junkanooers Barabbas Woodside, Langston Longley, Ronnie Sands and Pluckers Chipman.

Jasrado “Jazz” Chisolm

Jr, the 23 year-old Bahamian and the first to play with the Marlins franchise and only the seventh to play Major League Baseball (MLB) - will be honoured at the game. A post-game celebration featuring Bahamian songs will also be performed by the Bahamian Steel Band Delight group.

The Heritage Celebration is a collaboration between the Miami Marlins, the Bahamas Consulate General’s Office in Miami, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Bahamasair, the National Sports Authority (NSA) of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA).

“As a destination, the islands of The Bahamas

those communities “we don’t serve” right now.

Revealing that the small neighbourhood store strategy is a key element in efforts to increase AML Foods’ group-wide sales by 45 percent over the remainder of this decade,” Mr Watchorn said: “We have a goal to build our company up to $250m sales or plus by 2030, and these small stores will play a large part in getting us there and achieving that target AML Foods expects Exuma Markets, which had been owned and run by the Minns family, to account for around five percent of total sales within two-three years of the acquisition’s closing, with Mr Watchorn describing the deal as “a good fit” for both Exuma and the company.

are known the world over for their sun, sand, sea and sports. Over the years, we have partnered with numerous elite sporting entities, whose players, families and friends have come to experience first-hand our country’s idyllic beauty and warm hospitality,” said Linda Mackey, The Bahamas’ consul general in Miami.

“We remain resolved in our pursuit to ensuring that the unique and rich heritage of The Bahamas, through these partnerships, is heavily promoted and that The Bahamas is known as the premier destination for sports tourism in the Caribbean. Working so successfully with organisations like the Miami Marlins has helped us tremendously.”

The prime minister and other government dignitaries have been invited by the Marlins organisation to participate in the event.

Special promotional links have been created for Bahamians to purchase tickets for the game and receive a Bahamian

SEE PAGE 6

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 3

Storm insurance must Jet skis ‘hammered’ cover debris clean-up by COVID closure

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

AN insurance executive yesterday urged Bahamians to factor debris clean-up/removal into their annual coverage after Dorian revealed this could equal ten to 15 percent of their property’s value.

Tim Ingraham, Summit Insurance Company’s president, speaking at a Chamber of Commerceorganised webinar, said businesses and homeowners also have the option of incurring higher deductibles - the amount paid for reconstruction before insurance coverage kicks-in - if they wish to reduce their annual premiums.

Encouraging Bahamians not to gamble with their major investments, especially in Hurricane Dorian’s aftermath, Mr Ingraham said: “Studies have shown that many businesses do not survive catastrophes - whether it’s a fire or hurricane - and they fail at a fairly high rate. Those without insurance, however, fail at an even higher rate than the ones who do have insurance.

“So if you look at the businesses in Abaco, and if you’re in Abaco and you

‘TEED OFF’ OVER LACK OF LOCKDOWN INFORMATION

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net AN Andros resort owner yesterday said she was “teed off” because critical information concerning the island’s COVID-19 lockdown is not being shared equally among all businesses.

Sheila Blatch, owner/ operator of Love at First Sight Hotel and Restaurant in North Andros, told Tribune Business this was causing many companies and residents to miss out on details that can lighten the lockdown burden and make the health restrictions more understandable.

She said she was unaware resorts could apply for exemptions to still bring in guests as another Androsbased property has been doing.

A representative of Robby’s Beach Lodge in North Andros said it has “guests coming in” through an exemption to the lockdown as the property is in a remote area miles away from other residents. “We applied to the Competent Authority for an exemption and we have been fortunate enough to have been granted those concessions,” they said.

Speaking after the Prime Minister extended the North Andros and Cat Island lockdowns into a third week lasting until June 14, Ms Blatch said of the exemptions for hotels: “I didn’t know that. If that’s the case, I had a guest that was supposed to come in during the first week of the lockdown because he was already in Nassau.

“My daughter tried to reach him but he already went back to his home because his mission was to come here, not stay in

had insurance, it’s much easier for you to get back on your feet than if you now have to go out and raise the money to get started all over again.”

Noting that debris cleanup may now comprise a significant portion of hurricane rebuilding costs, Mr Ingraham said: “What we found in Abaco, which hadn’t really been a major problem before, was with debris removal. When you insure your home you usually will take the rebuilding cost of it, based on square footage, you add a little bit extra for inflation over time, and that’s usually good enough.

“But what happened in Abaco, when buildings got totally demolished they then incurred another cost to just remove that debris. So you could incur up to ten percent to 15 percent of the cost of the building just to have debris carted away if your home is totally destroyed. If you have a significant building, and you think there’s a chance it can be totally knocked down by an event, then debris removal is a critical thing to add to that.

“Location, construction and type of business will make a difference,” said Mr Ingraham when it came to

Nassau. This information about the exemptions, I did not know that. My thing is if there is information, we are supposed to have a tourism office but I am not sure if it is open. That’s with everything on the island. We have to wait until the lockdown is over.”

“To be honest with you, I don’t hear much news because I only hear the news that comes on in the morning time,” Ms Blatch added. “I really don’t know exactly what is happening, and what is what. I am living in the middle of Stafford Creek where I get no information, so I personally don’t know why the lockdown was needed. I only heard it was about the COVID-19.

“But to me, personally, I

property and casualty insurance premium costs. “If you have a wooden house on the beach, you’re going to pay a lot more than the fellow with a country house on a hill.

“If you have a gas station or a business selling wood, you’re going to pay a lot more than the fellow in the bank down the street.

So the type of business, the location, the construction will all factor into it. You can save some money on your insurance if you decide to take larger deductibles in Abaco.”

Ken Hutton, the Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president, said Dorian represented the third time in history that Marsh Harbour and central Abaco have been inundated by flooding. As a result, he said it was time to consider moving the district to higher ground.

Mr Hutton said: “I think it was the third time, the central business district of Abaco in Marsh Harbour, has been inundated with water from a storm. So we need to look at relocating things like the business district, housing districts and where people live to higher ground away from the main shoreline.”

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

JET SKI operators yesterday blasted as “foolishness” the continuing COVID-19 restrictions that prevent their sector from operating amid the tourism industry’s re-opening and rising visitor numbers.

Astra Nottage, director of sales and marketing for My Own Watersports, told Tribune Business she is “disappointed” that the government’s emergency orders still prohibit jet skis from operating especially given that it has been shown COVID-19 is less likely to be spread in outdoor settings.

“Our operations are fully accountable given that all of our sales are conducted digitally,” she added. “We have implemented a COVID-19 declaration form to ensure all guests who book the activities are in good health.

Our guests are transported within their travel cohorts and have little contact with our agents, and are returned in the same manner.

“Additional protocols including masks and sanitisation have been implemented as well. In the unlikely event that a guest or employee has been in only could feel a little bit teed- contact with a COVID-19 off about it because I have a positive person, we are able gentleman here doing some to contact trace as all guests provide their full name, work for me, and he needed phone number, e-mail me to get out. I need to go address and hotel.” to the the other stores to get Ms Nottage continsome lumber and other build- ued: “With the minister of ing materials and I can’t get it.” tourism noting that tourism

LEGAL NOTICE In Accordance with the Articles and Restrictive Covenants of Via Della Rosa, this is to inform The Owners of Lot numbers: 10, 16, 18, 27, 31, 117, 262, 277, 289 will be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder on Tuesday, June 15th 2021. Please contact the office at 393-7370

is on a positive trajectory, we could only hope that the providers could be considered. Our business is being hammered.

“We are willing and able to operate within guidelines and regulations, should they be implemented. A blanket approach prohibiting tourist activities not only affects businesses and Bahamian families, it discourages tourists who are complaining about the lack of activity and wanting to enjoy our beautiful island. We do hope that the government takes a more comprehensive look at this and offers a viable solution.”

Kamar Chandon, general manager of KC Watersports, said that while his jet ski operations are closed down he still has the boating side of his business to keep it afloat.

He acknowledged, however, that some of his jet ski employees have found other jobs and does not expect them to come back to an industry that may be shut down at a moment’s notice due to COVID-19 concerns.

Mr Chandon said: “The

only thing I could do is reach out to them in the event anything changes. But for now everything is on hold.”

Another jet ski operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the business fields “a lot of calls every day” from tourists looking for something to do on their vacation. They have to direct them to the Ministry of Tourism for an explanation as to why they cannot enjoy water sports activities.

The operator said: “With tourism starting to turn around this prohibition on jet ski operators is pure foolishness.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

LEGAL NOTICE

N O T I C E EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION MOZAMBIQUE (DEEPWATER) LIMITED Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved and struck off the Register pursuant to a Certificate of Dissolution issued by The Registrar General on the 18th day of May, 2021 Dated the 9th day of June, 2021.

DWAIN D. KENNEDY Liquidator of EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION MOZAMBIQUE (DEEPWATER) LIMITED

NOTICE In the Estate of KENNETH WALLACE a.k.a.

KENNETH JOSEPH WALLACE a.k.a.

KENNETH J. WALLACE a.k.a. CHAS EDWARD WALLACE late of Saunders Road in the Western District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, deceased NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demand against the above estate are required to send the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 26th July, 2021 after which date the Administratrix will proceed to distribute the assets having regard only to the claims of which she shall then have had notice.

AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

Leslie Vernon Rolle 19 Clarke Lane off Mackey Street Attorney for the Administratrix New Providence, Bahamas (My. 26, J. 2, 9)

PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Bahamas and Marlins team to honour nation’s heritage FROM PAGE TWO Heritage Chisolm Jr. t-shirt to be worn at the game. A donation to the BBA, and access to the pre-game Junkanoo band and post-game Steel Band Delight performances, are included in the promotional package.

General game tickets do not grant attendees access to the exclusive Bahamian Heritage Celebration t-shirt. The links are: Bahamian Heritage Celebration - NSA (fevo.com); Bahamian Heritage Celebration - BBA (fevo.com) Bahamasair has also created special round-trip heritage packages to the game for persons travelling to Florida from Nassau and Freeport.

Tickets, using promotional code 00MXDF1F and purchased on bahamasair.com, are $270.09 from Nassau to Miami or Fort Lauderdale and $266.17 from Freeport to Fort Lauderdale. These include round-trip airline transportation, game ticket, heritage t-shirt, and postgame entertainment.

The Ministry of Tourism encouraged Bahamian to bring their goat skin drums and flags. Noise makers, including cowbells and wind instruments, are prohibited in the stadium.

THE TRIBUNE

‘Win for common sense and sanity’ FROM PAGE ONE unemployment benefit payments - for the three-month period between the COVID19 shutdown in March 2020 and his termination, Justice Hanna-Adderley said he was not released because of redundancy but the “temporary cessation” of the Grand Lucayan’s business due to the global pandemic.

As a result, this meant Mr Russell’s wrongful and unfair dismissal claims, as well as his bid to be reinstated and the BHMA’s claim that the resort breached the Employment Act by failing to consult with it prior to the terminations, all fell away.

Mr Scott told this newspaper that he felt “vindicated”

by Justice Hanna-Adderley’s verdict, saying: “I have been abused in the media by Mr Russell, and now I feel vindicated.

“I regard this as a victory, not only for the hotel but I regard it as a victory for common sense and, by extension, for the people of this country who have been paying the bills. The common sense decision lends sanity to employer/employee relationships in this country.”

Obie Ferguson, the BHMA president and attorney for the 36 managers, indicated to Tribune Business that the Supreme Court’s verdict will be appealed.

“That is very likely. I’m taking some instructions on that,” he confirmed. “There

are some areas that trouble me. We intend to look at it very carefully.”

Justice Hanna-Adderley, in her ruling, noted that the dispute took place against the backdrop of the government’s efforts to sell the Grand Lucayan to ITM/ Royal Caribbean’s Bahamas Port Investments vehicle, as well as the resort’s COVID19 induced temporary closure and placement of many staff on furlough.

The Lucayan Renewal Holdings Board, headed

by Mr Scott, elected to dismiss 33 middle managers, represented by the BHMA, in June and completed the termination exercise in September 2020 after allocating some $3.3m in taxpayer monies to cover the necessary payouts. Mr Russell was the only one not to correctly execute the “deed of release” or pick up a termination letter.

The now-PLP election candidate alleged in an affidavit that the Grand Lucayan/the government breached the 2017 changes to the Employment Act by failing to consult with the BHMA aid of the terminations. He added that the dispute deepened when the middle managers attempted to return to work on Monday, June 29, 2020 after the Prime Minister said a week earlier that “all public servants are to resume work duties” on that date.

“Mr Russell states that the

NOTICE

members of the first plaintiff [BHMA] have suffered damages due to their wrongful dismissal by the first defendant’s failure to pay them wages and benefits for the period between March 20 and June 24, 2020,” the judge noted.

“He also states that the laying off of the first plaintiff’s members without pay is a breach of the common law and unfair dismissal, and that due to the failure to give notice to the minister in the case of redundancy pursuant to section 26A(4) of the amended Act and the unfair dismissal, each member is entitled to compensation.”

Each BHMA member claimed five-figure sums averaging in the $40,000$50,000 range, taking the total sum sought into the $1m-plus range.

However, Mr Scott, in his evidence, argued that the employees were “not being dismissed as a result of redundancy” but were terminated with notice under the Employment Act’s section 29 to facilitate the sale to ITM/Royal Caribbean. As a result, he argued there was no need to consult with the union and the law had not been breached.

Veronica Clarke, the Grand Lucayan’s manager, also alleged that the encounter with Mr Russell and his fellow BHMA members on June 29, 2020, when they attempted to return to work despite the hotel’s then-closure may have been a staged confrontation designed to extract certain responses from management.

“Based on the nature of the exchange with Mr Russell and his demeanour,

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that THEODORE TANIS, of Eight Mile Rock, Russell Town, Freeport, 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 2nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that KASLENA KERSAINT, of East Street, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 2nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1951.31

-0.04

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

0.00 -141.15

-6.75

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 5.20 33.05 1.50 2.90 1.78 6.00 6.96 3.60 6.00 4.01 6.16 12.00 2.75 7.50 10.71 9.01 14.60 4.25 8.97 16.00

52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 1.46 1.62 1.44 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.25 2.75 5.00 9.75 2.10 4.90 9.50 8.00 13.00 3.42 8.00 15.20

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

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

LAST CLOSE 5.49 32.12 1.50 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.27 2.89 5.95 9.75 2.51 7.35 11.53 9.01 14.00 3.99 8.19 15.50

CLOSE 5.49 32.12 1.50 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.27 2.89 5.95 9.75 2.54 7.35 11.44 9.01 14.00 3.99 8.19 15.50

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGRS700246 BSBGRS880378 BSBGR1271497 BSBGR1341407 BSBGR1341506

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.27 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.05 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.22) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 100.05 100.45 100.00 100.00 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.05 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

52WK HI 2.43 4.44 2.16 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.81 1.78 1.16 8.58 10.26 7.35 14.59 12.84 10.31 10.00 10.43 14.89

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

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

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

MUTUAL FUNDS

MARKET TERMS

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FL BGRS70024 BGRS FL BGRS88027 BGRS FX BGR127149 BGRS FX BGR134140 BGRS FX BGR134150

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

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

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 (0.09) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

VOLUME

2,325 400

NAV 2.43 4.44 2.16 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.75 1.76 1.03 8.58 10.14 7.35 14.59 12.64 9.99 N/A 10.43 14.89

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

P/E 23.0 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.9 -8.1 30.5 15.7 13.3 13.5 24.9 15.7 17.7 12.4 17.2 19.7 8.7 24.6

YIELD 3.10% 3.92% 1.33% 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 3.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.15% 3.70% 7.38% 17.09% 0.82% 2.87% 2.66% 3.86% 3.01% 2.44% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.56% 4.43% 5.50% 5.35% 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 9-Jul-2024 26-Jul-2037 5-Jan-2049 17-Jan-2040 17-Jan-1950

YTD% 12 MTH% 1.47% 4.26% 0.20% 0.87% 0.95% 2.82% 0.14% 5.02% 3.25% 31.13% 0.91% 0.68% -2.55% -3.02% -0.27% -0.27% -2.20% -7.62% 1.14% 4.22% 1.09% 3.04% 1.01% 4.65% 4.93% 42.27% -1.56% 0.80% -0.60% -4.90% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

MATURITY

NAV Date

30-Apr-2021 30-Apr-2021 30-Apr-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 30-Apr-2021 30-Apr-2021 30-Apr-2021 30-Apr-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021

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

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

OBIE FERGUSON it is her opinion that the entire encounter was contrived and/or designed to elicit certain responses from management; namely an instruction sending the members of the [BHMA] home in circumstances where they knew the hotel was not operational and open to the general public as a result of the emergency orders issued by the Government due to the COVID-19 pandemic,”Justice HannaAdderley wrote.

She found there was insufficient evidence to support allegations by the managerial staff that they had been pressured into signing the “deeds of releases” for their termination pay, which have now “estopped” or barred any wrongful or unfair dismissal claims.

“There is no evidence that the..... plaintiffs were compelled to execute the deeds of release under duress and, in the absence of the same, the court cannot properly make a finding that they were executed by the plaintiffs under duress,” Justice Hanna-Adderley found.

While “they were told that to receive their cheques a deed of release had to be signed”, she found this did not rise to the level of coercion. “I do not find that there is any evidence from which the court can reasonably conclude that the above-named plaintiffs were coerced into executing the deeds of release or that any duress in any form was exerted on them to cause them to execute the same,” she added.

That left just Mr Russell’s claims to be dealt with.

Justice Hanna-Adderley found he had been “laid off” as a result of the COVID19 emergency, during which the government had suspended the section in the Employment Act requiring workers to be brought back after 90 days or otherwise terminated with due pay and benefits.

While agreeing that the resort should have consulted over Mr Russell’s termination, the Supreme Court said this did not override the decision or cause the Grand Lucayan to incur any financial sanctions. And Justice Hanna-Adderley said the “redundancy” definition only applied to workers being released where the business was closing permanently or if the work they performed was ceasing or being reduced.

Given that the Grand Lucayan was not closing permanently, and that the business would continue to need a head chef such as Mr Russell, she added: “I do not find that the first defendant’s termination exercise between June and September 2020 of [Mr Russell] amounted to redundancy.

“As a result of this finding, section 26A of the amended Act to consult the union and the resulting provisions in respect of compensation do not apply. Therefore, I accept the position by Mr Adams that the first defendant had a right to terminate [Mr Russell] with notice during the termination exercise between June 24 to September 11, 2020, pursuant to Section 29 of the Employment Act.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, SHAVONDA JENVERA KNIGHT of the Balliou Hill Road North, P.O. Box N108, New Providence, The Bahamas. Mother of MIKAYLA MICHELLE BAPTISTE A minor intend to change my child’s name to MIKAYLA MICHELLE BAPTISTE If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that GAVIN JOHN MILTON BERNARD, of #3 Kool Air Subdivision, 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 2nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CLAUDETTE PAUL, of Martin Street, Nassau, 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 9th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CATHERINE ANTONETTE WEEKS, of #26B Palmetto Street P.O. Box N9426, Nassau, 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 9th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 7

Bahamas must ‘get even better’ on CDC rankings FROM PAGE ONE back to 2019 if the forward booking trend continues,” he added. “I think everybody feels, certainly by winter 2022 we should be back to pre-COVID numbers. I would say we’re looking at that for the first and second quarter of 2022.

“The summer may turn out to be even stronger than it has traditionally been in terms of booking pace. I think the home porting is going to help some hotels during the summer months, and pent-up

Spanish Wells ‘dissed’ over cruise call plans FROM PAGE ONE

in attendance, on May 11 as part of their assessment to determine if Spanish Wells was suitable as a cruise ship port-of-call.

Mr Roberts said he had asked Crystal Cruises for a written outline of its intentions, and it replied with a “generic proposal” that he believes requires more clarification. The cruise line, though, has not responded to the council’s requests.

“This is a huge embarrassment for Crystal Cruises and the government as well; you can’t do an itinerary before consultation,” he argued.

“Even though they still may have gotten a ‘no’ from the Spanish Wells community, it would not have been this messy for all parties involved.

“The way that the district council felt that they were left out of initial decisions

demand will continue to accumulate. I think the ease of travel continues to influence occupancies.”

The CDC move downgrades its warning to US citizens on The Bahamas from “travellers should avoid all travel to The Bahamas” to one where they should “reconsider travel”. The move to “Level 3” occurred once before in January 2021, only for the CDC to place The Bahamas back at “Level 4” when cases increased with the socalled “third wave”.

The prime minister said

back in January: “I am pleased to announce today that following a reassessment by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, The Bahamas will be moved down to a ‘Level 3’ travel health notice from the more serious ‘Level 4’.

“This reassessment came after discussions between myself, other Bahamian officials and the US government. We will, I believe, be moved to ‘Level 3’ because the CDC sees how much progress we have made and are convinced that we will continue to be vigilant.”

without any discussion, that created a whole lot of animosity. So even if people were on the fence and still willing to sit and listen, when your district council was dissed and not brought up to speed with what was going on, there was no turning back. They were pretty upset with that.”

Crystal Cruises earlier this week sought to reassure Spanish Wells residents that its passengers will not overwhelm the community during their weekly call, while also pledging that its vessel will not harm Egg Island’s environment.

Kevin Jones, chief strategy officer for Crystal’s parent, Genting Americas, and the cruise line’s corporate manager, told Tribune Business via an e-mailed response that the cruise line would transport passengers to the north Eleuthera community via “staggered” tenders that would be limited to “fewer than 100 people” so that the number of visitors to Spanish Wells would be restricted.

And, pledging that there will be no dredging to facilitate the Crystal Serenity

anchoring at Egg Island, he said all the anchorage positions had been approved working in collaboration with local ports facilities teams.

“We are reiterating to stakeholders that there would be absolutely no dredging. Crystal Serenity is helmed by Captain Birger Vorland, a 17-year veteran of Crystal who has more than 45 years of mariner experience. The Captain and the bridge officers utilise electronic charts as well as local yachting charts, and would use radar and sonar technology to monitor our position at all times,” said Mr Jones.

As for passenger movements, he added: “Our plan would be to spread guests around the islands by staggering tour shore excursions’ departure times throughout the morning and afternoon, thus controlling the number of guests on the islands at any given time.

“Guests going ashore would be limited by the capacity and frequency of the tenders. Tenders would be limited to fewer than 100 people. We would never have two tenders ashore at the same time, and we would control the speed of the tender operations so there is a limited flow of guests arriving on an island at any given time.”

Out Island hotels to miss 65% recovery projection FROM PAGE ONE

did in the January-June 2019 period.

“The numbers have been negatively impacted or have dropped down because of the hotels that have the issues with airlift from Nassau. If we fix that we will be well above 65 percent of what we did in 2019. We have some homework to do.”

The Out Island Promotion Board had previously forecast that room nights sold for its member properties would be at 65 percent of 2019 levels, and room revenues at 62 percent of what they were, compared to January to June 2019.

Describing the sector’s performance as “a mixed bag”, Mr Fountain added: “Some of our hotels are doing very well. I’m talking about approaching numbers they were experiencing in 2019, and but again - and we talked about this at our meeting last week - those hotels only accessible by airlift from Nassau are the ones that are struggling.

“Why is that? Domestic airlines will not put out, and you cannot blame them, a full complement of flights that they had prior to the pandemic because half of their Bahamian clientele are not travelling like they did pre-COVID.” Citing the cost and time involved with obtaining a negative COVID-19 PCR test and associated approvals, Mr Fountain added: “Until Bahamians start to travel more, the airlines will have shortened schedules.

Those islands only accessible from Nassau, their recovery will tend to be slow, like Long Island, Cat Island, San Salvador, Acklins and Crooked Island.

“I feel bad when I have a hotel reporting back on how well they are recovering,

NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE OF INTENT TO CHANGE NAME

BY DEED POLL TAKE NOTICE that by a Deed Poll dated the 31st day of May, 2021 and now about to be lodged for recording in the Registry of Records of in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, LANA JOE of #80 Albertha Drive, Sunrise Subdivision in the City of Freeport in the Island of Grand Bahama one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, mother and legal guardian of JAZARIA LALIQUE JOE natural born citizen of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas renounced and abandoned the surname of JOE on behalf of the said JAZARIA LALIQUE GIBSON.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, JADESHA SHONETTE KENEICE CULMER of Farmers Hill, Exuma, Bahamas intend to change my name to JADE SHONETTE WILLIAMS. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

LEGAL NOTICE VIA DELLA ROSA Owners of Lots listed below are urgently requested to contact the office at 393-7370.

Lot # 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 27, 31, 33, 37, 107, 117, 262, 276, 277, 278, 281, 297, 301

FINANCING FOR VIABLE PROJECTS Energy, Tourism, Maritime, and Agriculture Sectors. $2 million and above. Must Provide Executive Summary, with three years financials, management and marketing capabilities, and collateral offered. Serious borrowers only.

Infrastructure projects based on PPP’s also wanted SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.

Telephone: (242) 698-0634 / (242) 815-9118 Email us at inquiries@bahamasbusinessnetwork.com

NOTICE is hereby given that NEHEMIE JOSEPH, of East Street, Nassau, 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 9th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

and there is another saying it has been brutal and they’re struggling. It points back to the fact that the sooner we get more Bahamians vaccinated, the sooner there will be recovery for all The Bahamas and not just the islands served by South Florida.

We cannot mandate it; we can only encourage people to do it.”

Describing the Cat Island, and North and Central Andros, lockdowns that have been extended for a third week to June 14 as “unfortunate”, Mr Fountain added: “It’s dampened or slowed down our momentum.” While the Out Island Promotion Board has no impacted members in North Andros, three in the central area - Small Hope Bay Lodge, Dream Villas and Andros Island Bonefish Club - are being impacted.

He explained that The Bahamas’ so-called “vertical markets”, such as fly fishing, diving and snorkelling are being impacted most because, while tourists can fly into the lockdown areas they must ‘vacation in place’ and not participate in activities off-property.

“When we first heard

about the lockdowns for North and Central Andros, and Cat Island, that was very alarming,” Mr Fountain said, “but after due consideration the government decided to allow tourists to come in. From one day to the next it was like a rollercoaster, but at the end of the day it was good news.”

He acknowledged, though, that hotels in those islands are “feeling the pinch” from the reimposition of COVID-19 restrictions - especially on Cat Island, where airlift has been further reduced

by Western Air’s decision to cancel some flight from Nassau that had served as “a shot in the arm” for properties based there. Makers Air, which had experienced “off the charts” business in servicing Cat Island from Fort Lauderdale, has also been impacted.

Pointing to the fact that around 50 percent of US adults are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Mr Fountain contrasted this with the latest data showing just 13,000 out of what he estimated is a 250,000260,000 strong Bahamian adult population are totally inoculated.

“They say herd immunity starts at 50 percent, so we have a fair way to go before we even get close to that number,” he added.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that NERPHTALEAN SENOZIER, of Boatswain Hill, Carmichael Road, Nassau, 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 9th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that LOVE HUGSON PREVAL, of Lincoln Street, Nassau, 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 9th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, PAGE 9

Freeport in $200m boost to Treasury

BIDEN TO LAUNCH TASK FORCE ON BOTTLENECKS IN SUPPLY CHAINS

WASHINGTON Associated Press

AFTER completing a review of supply chains, the Biden administration announced yesterday that it was forming a task force to address the bottlenecks in the semiconductor, construction, transportation and agriculture sectors.

Administration officials said the goal of the review, detailed in a 250-page report, was to increase domestic manufacturing, limit shortages of vital goods and reduce a dependence on geopolitical competitors such as China. The officials said the administration wanted to get ahead of crises such as

the computer chip shortage that has hurt automakers this year.

“Our approach to supply chain resilience needs to look forward to emerging threats from cybersecurity to climate issues,” Sameera Fazili, a deputy director of the White House National Economic Council, said at yesterday’s news briefing. “And so we are future-proofing.”

The 100-day review emphasised that supply chains are critical for national security, economic stability and global leadership, noting how the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic turmoil exposed US supply chain vulnerabilities, like when soaring

demand for medical products wreaked havoc on the health care system.

A shortage of raw materials has made it harder for the US economy to recover from the pandemic-induced recession. The supply bottleneck has helped fuel a bout of inflation that the administration believes will be temporary, though it has provided Republican lawmakers and some economists with grounds for criticizing Biden’s $1.9tn coronavirus relief package.

The new task force will be led by the secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture and Transportation to focus on parts of the economy where there is a mismatch between

supply and demand.

Fazili said that the shortages are “kind of good problems to be having” because they mean that demand from consumers and businesses is returning. She said the new task force will be bringing together stakeholders to figure out how to address the bottlenecks, adding that many of the resulting actions might be taken by private companies rather than the government.

“The success of our vaccination campaign surprised many people, and so they weren’t prepared for demand to rebound,” said Fazili, who expects the inflation issues to be temporary and resolved in the “next few months.”

FROM PAGE ONE

top four are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity and gas, and water supply and sewerage, which generated 11.1 percent of Grand Bahama’s GDP, and wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repairs and transport and storage which generated 10.6 percent of Grand Bahama’s GDP,” the report continued.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 72° F/22° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Sunshine with a shower in places

Partly cloudy with a shower

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Nice with plenty of sunshine

Sunny and beautiful

Mostly sunny and beautiful

High: 86°

Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 76°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

95° F

80° F

95°-82° F

96°-82° F

97°-83° F

100°-82° 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.

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

7-14 knots

S

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7-14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

E S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

W

uV inDex toDay

THURSDAY

N

N

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TONIGHT

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

6-12 knots

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

N

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

tiDes For nassau Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

7:54 a.m.

8:20 p.m.

High

Ht.(ft.)

2.2 2.9

2:10 a.m.

1:55 p.m.

0.2 0.0

Thursday

8:33 a.m.

8:58 p.m.

2.2 2.9

2:49 a.m.

2:33 p.m.

0.2 0.0

Friday

9:12 a.m.

9:36 p.m.

2.2 2.9

3:28 a.m.

3:10 p.m.

0.2 0.1

Saturday

9:52 a.m.

10:14 p.m.

2.2 2.9

4:08 a.m.

3:49 p.m.

0.2 0.1

Sunday

10:32 a.m.

10:54 p.m.

2.1 2.9

4:47 a.m.

4:29 p.m.

0.3 0.2

Monday

11:15 a.m.

11:36 p.m.

2.2 2.9

5:28 a.m.

5:12 p.m.

0.3 0.3

Tuesday

12:02 p.m.

-----

2.2 -----

6:11 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

0.3 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:19 a.m.

7:59 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

5:39 a.m.

7:32 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Jun. 10

Jun. 17

Jun. 24

Jul. 1

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

7-14 knots

S

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 86° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 79° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 5.53” Normal year to date ..................................... 9.96”

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 76° F/24° C

“We note that a significant portion of the GDP contribution is derived from industries other than direct tourism, which points to the important diversity that Grand Bahama and, by extension, Freeport bring to the Bahamian economy as a whole.”

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

H

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N E

W

N E

W

S

S

8-16 knots

8-16 knots

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

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

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

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

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

WATER TEMPS. 81° F 82° F 82° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 79° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F