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Volume: 119 No.139, June 14, 2022
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GIBSON FACES 56 CHARGES By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
SITTING Member of Parliament for Long Island Adrian Gibson and six others, were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday on corruption charges in connection with his tenure as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation under the Minnis
ADRIAN Gibson outside court yesterday.
JUNKANOO RETURN IS ON THE CARDS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said he expects that Junkanoo parades will not only be held in New Providence this year, but in Grand Bahama
and the Family Islands after a two-year hiatus of the cultural event. “Junkanoo is a true Bahamian celebration, a unique cultural phenomenon that reflects the proud spirit of the Bahamian people,” Mr Bowleg said during his budget contribution in
the House of Assembly yesterday. “It is the biggest cultural festival of The Bahamas, celebrated in two spectacular parades. The breath-taking costumes made from cardboard, wire, and crepe paper,, SEE PAGE FOUR
administration. MP Adrian Gibson, 37, himself a lawyer, was represented by attorney Ellsworth Johnson. He was before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans to face 56 charges. While Mr Gibson faced 31 of his 56 charges alone, he along with the remaining six accused, faced a combined 101 charges. SEE PAGE THREE
SCHOOL STAY AWAY AS THOUSANDS DROP OUT By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says thousands of students have still not returned to campuses since schools were reopened during the
COVID-19 pandemic. She expressed “grave” concern about the high number of school dropouts and described the situation as a serious crisis during her budget contribution in the House of Assembly. The minister called for “all hands on deck” to
address the issue. She also revealed that her ministry plans to reach out to those students in the days ahead to either get them back in the classroom or, depending on the students’ ages, encourage them to take advantage of SEE PAGE FIVE
BLAZE RIPS THROUGH GB JUNKYARD BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A MASSIVE blaze broke out at a car junkyard yesterday in the commercial industrial area of Queen’s Highway, Freeport. Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen rising into the air just west of the Grand Bahama International Airport. The fire is believed to have started around 5am,
THE FREEPORT junkyard blaze. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn according to one business owner in the area. The site was being used to store thousands of derelict vehicles which were destroyed during the
Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The vehicles were awaiting export off the island. It is believed an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles were on the compound. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle confirmed the fire did not affect any businesses or flight operations at GBIA. Even though airport employees reported smelling smoke, they said flights were not interrupted SEE PAGE TWO
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PETER YOUNG: BORIS, THE CAT WITH NINE LIVES
- SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
BLAZE RIPS THROUGH GB JUNKYARD from page one or cancelled. The Royal Bahamas Police Force Fire Department responded to the scene and called in excavators and backhoes to assist with containing blaze. Heavy-duty equipment operators cut and clear a path to stop the flames from spreading to the other nearby businesses in the area. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, unconfirmed reports suggest that trespassers were onto the property cutting wires from the vehicles which may have ignited. Aron Long, of Long’s Marine, said he received a call around 5am about a fire near his boat business, located next to the junkyard. “I started getting calls around 5am from people who knew me about a fire nearby, he stated. “I had heard that some guys were there cutting up car wires and may have ignited the flames,” he claimed. Mr Long rushed out to his business and was able to secure his property as best he can. “I cleared out the yard in case it (the fire) came, he said. We have lost a business day today and will end up losing tomorrow as well
because we will have to put things back in place. We are watching and keeping our fingers crossed that the wind does not change,” said Mr Long. He said that firefighters had to call in heavy-duty equipment operators to assist them in containing the fire at the junkyard. “The excavators and backhoes cut a clear path and stopped the fire from jumping to my property,” he said. Mr Long is not happy that derelict vehicles being stored so near his business. “It is getting worse, he said. I’ve been complaining about it for years because I run a nice well-established business here and we are surrounded by junk.” On June 1, a Grand Bahama Port Authority official had addressed the issue of derelict vehicle removal. In a recent update, Troy McIntosh, City Manager and Deputy Director of the Building Development Services Department at GBPA, had last reported that around 5,000 to 7,000 vehicles were at the site on Queens Highway. He also said that they are working with the local vendor there to ensure they clean up and move those derelict vehicles at their premises. Mr McIntosh stated that the vehicles were not only an eyesore, but an environmental hazard.
THE JUNKYARD blaze in Grand Bahama yesterday. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
AF ADDERLEY SHOOTING VICTIM WAS ON BAIL By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE man shot and killed on Sunday outside of AF Adderley’s gymnasium was on bail and being electronically monitored, according to Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle yesterday. A relative at the scene of the incident identified the man as Randy Williams, 29. Asked to confirm the man’s criminal history, Mr Rolle said it was a fact that he had been charged earlier this year with rape and burglary along with other individuals. “He was charged with rape of a lady and burglary with a couple of other individuals and he was on bail,” Mr Rolle said during a Royal Bahamas Police Force press conference yesterday. “He was electronically monitored and he was shot and killed.” The commissioner said he was unsure of when Williams had been released on bail. This murder was the third to occur in the capital
A BODY being removed from the scene at AF Adderley on Sunday. within a 24-hour period in New Providence. It happened shortly before 1pm on Sunday. Police press liaison Superintendent Audley Peters told reporters that police were called to the school as a result of the shooting incident which
happened in the vicinity of the gymnasium. Officers responded and were directed to the area just outside the gymnasium where they found a male lying on the ground with wounds consistent with gunshots. As he was unresponsive,
the medical team was called in, Mr Peters said at the time. Following their assessment, they concluded that there were no signs of life. The victim was killed after a basketball game and was leaving the campus, according to the initial investigation.
Mr Peters said on Sunday: “Our initial investigation indicates that there was a game being played at the school that had concluded and the victim was leaving the campus in a vehicle when he was approached by two gunmen armed with firearms who discharged those weapons in his direction hitting him, fatally wounding him. We are following significant leads at this time.” Supt Peters added that the evidence suggested the assailants went to the compound for “a specific purpose”. Asked if gang activity was involved, he said: “There’s nothing that suggests that at the moment, but we are open to anyone who has information that would point us to that direction and we’re open to any eventualities.” Before this murder, there were two other homicides on Saturday within hours of each other. Supt Peters told The Tribune that before 11pm police were called to Pigeon Plum Street and Ficus Street
in Pinewood Gardens as a result of a shooting incident. “There was a couple that had arrived at home. Once they approached home, some persons came out of a bushy area, two individuals that is, and discharged a weapon hitting a male passenger of the vehicle who succumbed to his injuries,” he said. The victim was in his mid-20s, Mr Peters said. Hours earlier shortly after 1pm, police were called to the scene of a shooting on East Street opposite Coconut Grove Avenue. “On the officers’ arrival they found an unresponsive adult male on the porch of a residence with multiple gunshot wounds,” police said in a press statement. “The victim was later examined by Emergency Medical Technicians who concluded that there were no signs of life. “Initial investigations revealed that the victim was sitting on the porch, when a lone gunman approached him and shot him before fleeing the scene on foot. This matter remains under active investigation.”
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 3
FNM ‘in solidarity’ with Long Island MP By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement stands in solidarity with Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, party leader Michael Pintard said yesterday, adding the organisation was of the view that the parliamentarian was innocent until proven guilty. Mr Pintard released a press statement following Mr Gibson facing 56 counts on allegations that he did not declare his interest in contracts awarded by the corporation. While he was granted
$150,000 bail, The Tribune was told Mr Gibson was remanded as bail was not posted. “It has come to the attention of the Free National Movement that charges have been brought today against a number of individuals in the Magistrate’s Court,” Mr Pintard said in a statement. “Among those reportedly charged is Free National Movement Member of Parliament for Long Island Mr Adrian Gibson. “Given the sensitivity of the matter, I will limit my comments to the following: Mr Gibson is first and foremost a member
in good standing with the Free National Movement and is also an active and important member of our parliamentary caucus. “We in the Free National Movement stand in solidarity with Mr Gibson and believe that according to the laws of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas he is innocent until proven guilty and that he is entitled to due process and a fair trial. “The FNM will therefore work to ensure that Mr Gibson’s rights are observed and not abused and we remain resolute in our position that at the end of this process, justice and truth shall prevail.”
his interest in contracts awarded by the WSC. Mr Gibson is alleged to have illicitly gained over more than $1m from contracts granted to Elite Maintenance and Baha Bay. It is alleged that he gained a financial advantage of a collective $1,279,532.97 after he received a variety of payments in cheques and wire transfers. This money was then allegedly laundered through the purchase of properties and vehicles, including those used in Gibson’s Rental Company in Long Island. Gibson, along with his coaccused were not required to plead to the charges as their case would proceed by way of Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI).
The defendants were also informed that their case would proceed before the Supreme Court. While bail was granted to all seven defendants, with Mr Gibson’s set at $150,000 with one or two sureties, the defendants were remanded into custody until their bail is signed. Under the conditions of their bail the defendants are expected to sign in at the nearest police station every Friday by 7pm, with Adrian Gibson expected to sign at Nassau Street Station. As MP Gibson failed to post bail at the time, he was forced to spend the night in custody. Service of the defendants’ VBIs is expected on September 14.
GIBSON FACES 56 CHARGES from page one Three of the other accused stood before the court in connection with this incident and their relations with Mr Gibson. They were Elwood Donaldson Jr, 54, WSC’s former general manager, Gibson’s cousin, Rashae Gibson 28, as well as his campaign general, Joan Knowles, 56. The remaining three defendants were Jerome Missick, 54, Tonya Demeritte, 43, and Peaches Farquharson, 39. These charges, which range from false declaration, bribery, fraud, receiving and money laundering stem from Gibson’s failure to declare
FORMER Water & Sewerage executive chairman Adrian Gibson.
DIGITAL COURT RECORDING SYSTEM IN GB BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A NEW digital court recording system has been installed and is now operational in both the Supreme and Magistrate Courts in Grand Bahama. Ken Cook, consultant for the National Centre for State Courts, was in Freeport on Monday providing training to members of the judiciary, including magistrates. Stephana Saunders, Deputy Registrar Office of the Judiciary, was also present. Mr Cook said the FTR system is very beneficial because it uses technology that can record
voices from microphones. The recordings are stored on the computer’s hard drive in a digital format. “This is the first phase,” he said. “The magistrate’s systems are up and running and we are here showing them how to use it. All systems are up and running.” He stated that the judiciary will hopefully soon be able to transfer those digital recordings on the hard drive to cloud storage. “The Bahamas is prone to natural phenomenon so all this information will be stored securely,” Mr Cook said. In the magistrate courts, stenographers are not in the courtroom
and the magistrates must write notes. Another important aspect of the system, he said, is the speech to text feature. “It is very exciting to the judiciary because what will happen is that automatically this recorded information will be converted into a rough transcript,” Mr Cook explained. He noted that members at the judiciary will soon be able to have online access through an authorised and secured URL. “The idea is to expand it to include attorneys and other individuals, but those are the decisions that are being made right now,” he said.
Mr Cook said the FTR system allows the judiciary to share information more efficiently so matters can move through the justice system and cases can be heard quickly, resolved, and moved forward. Having information available to create verbatim transcripts is necessary, he said, if it needs to go to the court of appeals or if something needs to be reviewed. “Often magistrate’s court deliver summaries. There is a certain level of trust that is engendered when the people know this information is being captured verbatim. It does not matter who you are, what the
case is. It is being captured electronically,” he said. Mr Cook said the National Centre for States Courts is an organisation, in conjunction with the US government, to set up systems that promotes the increasing ability for places in the Caribbean to provide justice. He indicated that it is important that technology is implemented in conjunction with the processes that work here in The Bahamas. Mr Cook, a 25-year veteran of digital court recording systems, said he has been working on implementing this system at the judiciary since 2018/2019.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
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JUNKANOO RETURN IS ON THE CARDS from page one are paraded through the main streets to the pulsating sounds of the goatskin drums, horns, cow bells and whistles. “We are optimistic that after a two-year hiatus, Junkanoo parades will be held this Boxing Day and on New Year’s Day, 2023, in New Providence. It is also expected to be held in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.” The Boxing Day and New Year’s parades were
put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic. After assuming office last year, Minister Bowleg said the Davis administration hoped to have the events scheduled this year. Yesterday, the minister maintained that plans were underway to facilitate the return of the parades and advised jukanooers to get ready, saying “Junkanoo is back.” He added “Valleyboys, Saxons, Music Makers, One Family, Roots, prepare yourself.” In his contribution, Mr
Bowleg also pledged more support for the Junkanoo Development Programme through the NJC National Junkanoo Committee for Junior Junkanoo and Family Island Junkanoo organisations. “We know that our creative communities need a place that they can call home,” he said. “The way forward and only solution, as stated earlier by my colleague from Englerston, is a national school for the creative and performing Arts. I echo the words articulated by
our Prime Minister… and I want everyone in The Bahamas to know that active steps are being taken to make this vision a reality. “Young people, we got you. Our Blue Print for Change clearly shows this fact and more. It speaks about creative spaces, and the fact that culture, the heartbeat of our country, will get more support. We are providing grants for the creative entertainers and the performing arts and grants of half a million dollars has been allocated for
this initiative.” He said as a result, creative Bahamians will have more financial support and have access to more opportunities for exposure among other benefits. “The cultural sector makes a huge contribution to this economy and has a great impact, although it isn’t considered or viewed as important by many – and this government is going to change that. We are going to change the narrative,” the minister continued. According to Mr Bowleg, the ministry has
received a 25 percent increase in its budget allocation, equating to “just a little over $5.8m.” He said the funds will be divided among three departments under his remit, including youth, sports and culture. “This will allow my ministry to further educate, impact and empower lives of our youth, bring economic boost through the impact of sports in paradise while preserving and cultivating the authenticity of Bahamian culture,” he added.
ONE YEAR ON AND EXUMA MARKETS CELEBRATES EXUMA Markets has celebrated its first year anniversary and official grand opening. Central and South Abaco MP John H Pinder II, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, was in attendance to cut the ribbon and mark the special occasion. AML purchased the Georgetown store last May and has continued to build on the strong foundation established by the Minns family, the original owners who operated the store for more than three decades. Over the past 12 months, there have been a number of significant changes at the location that have had a positive impact. These include a $300k investment to remodel the store, putting in a new point of sales system, registers, and front end, installing new flooring and lights, upgrading the air conditioning, and increasing the capacity of the warehouse to accommodate greater storage.
The store operates under the Solomon’s neighbourhood format, but one change that was not made was to the name. “Exuma Markets has been iconic to this community for decades and we wanted to retain the tradition of the location’s name and the direct link to the island,” said Gavin Watchorn, CEO & President of AML Foods. “Later in the year, we will begin to replace the dairy cooler and install 24ft of new refrigerated doors, increasing the capacity and variety in the dairy department. In all, we expect to invest close to $500k in renovations”. Since taking over operations, Exuma Markets has increased arrivals of fresh produce and dairy products to the island and added over 2,000 new items to their assortment. Customers can also order from Fresh Market and Cost Right in New Providence and have items delivered for pick up or delivery.
JOHN H Pinder II MP in attendance for a ribbon cutting to mark one year of Exuma Markets.
$50,000 DONATION TO HELP FARMING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT NATION OFFICIALS from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources receive a $50,000 donation from Agricultural Development Organization for the development of agriculture in 21 schools across The Bahamas.
THE Agricultural Development Organization (ADO) has announced a $50,000 donation in supplies to boost farming at government schools throughout The Bahamas. Announcement of the partnership between ADO Bahamas, a non-profit launched in January with a $1.1m grant from FTX Capital Markets, and the Ministry of Education was made during a press conference at Ministry headquarters on Thompson Boulevard. “We are very pleased to share the good news that following numerous planning meetings and discussions with senior Ministry of Education officials in the agriculture in school programme and our consultant, the Agricultural Development Organization will fund existing or new farming initiatives at 21 schools on six islands in The Bahamas,” said ADO Deputy Chairman Karen Casey. “We are excited about this partnership which we believe will help plant the seed in the minds of many young people that farming is not just for commercial farmers, it is for all of us who are capable of growing something in our own backyard or within our community to contribute to national food security.”
ADO engaged in field visits to schools with existing poultry and produce programmes and worked closely with a team headed by Patrice Green at the Ministry of Education developing the audit and inventory of needs. Those needs ranged from roto tillers to shade houses, topsoil to chicken pen repairs. Several schools in New Providence operate successful poultry farm initiatives, selling eggs to generate revenue to support feed and other supplies while students benefit from the experience. “Initiatives like those at CI Gibson and TA Thompson help to plant the seed of an idea when it has time to grow so whether the students who participate become poultry farmers on a commercial scale or raise chickens so one day their children will enjoy farm-fresh eggs, they will in their own way contribute to making The Bahamas a more food secure nation,” said Casey. “If COVID with high unemployment colliding with supply chain interruption taught us one lesson that we will never forget, it is this: that we must produce more of what we consume and one thing we can produce is much more of our own food.” According to Minister of
Education, Glenys HannaMartin the programme has numerous benefits, ranging from the health of individual Bahamians to the sovereignty of the country. “The more and more we think about this sovereignty and how we are able to feed ourselves, the more we position, strengthen and bolster our people,” she said. “It’s very important that we cause for our children and young people to begin to have some reality checks about what it is we need to do to advance. “Agriculture is essential, and going into the schools is critical, because that is where you are going to change the world.” Schools that will benefit from the funds include CV Bethel, CC Sweeting, LW Young, DW Davis, HO Nash, Government High School, Anatol Rodgers, CH Reeves, AF Adderley, TA Thompson, Stapledon School, and Programme Sure, all in New Providence. Family Island schools that will benefit include Huntley H Christie, Central Andros High and South Andros High, all in Andros, Preston Albury High in Eleuthera, Arthurs Town Comprehensive and Old Bight in Cat Island, NGM Major High in Long Island and LN Coakley High in Exuma.
MAN ACCUSED OF HARMING TWO VICTIMS By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday accused of causing harm to two men and assaulting one of them with a handgun. Sily Telisma, 48, with the assistance of an interpreter stood before
Magistrate Shaka Serville charged with two counts of causing harm. He also faced a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon against one of the men. On June 10 in New Providence, the accused is alleged to have caused harm to both Austin Ferguson and Rodrigo Wallace. On the same day, Telisma is further accused of assaulting Ferguson with
a handgun. While the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, he said that he only had problems with one of the complainants. With his matter being stood down until June 15 for continuation of his trial and bail hearing, Telisma was returned to the Bahamas Department of Corrections.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 5
School stay away as thousands drop out
from page one summer educational programmes being offered by the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). “We have now collected through the record in the EMIS (Education Management Information System) and it took a while because they had cross reference with the schools to make sure the record of EMIS was absolutely correct,” she said. “We have obtained the full listing of students, their addresses and contacts who have effectively dropped out from school, some of whom are now adults because they probably should have graduated last year or the year before. “But, Madam Speaker, teams will now reach out to those young people in the next ensuing days to strongly encourage them either to reintegrate into the mainstream school system and if they’re in that age group, they’re going to have to do that or depending on their age, take advantage of an attending free of charge programmes to be offered in the summer by BTVI. “So, we are going to be almost evangelists with these young people to get them back on track because if they meander in the wilderness, it will be a disaster.” With education being a key priority for this administration, she said the government has set its sights on increasing the public school attendance rate to 95 percent by December. However, Mrs Hanna Martin said achieving the goal has become challenging due to the increasing number of students dropping out of school. “I don’t think we’ve seen that rate even in the best of times,” she added, “but what we are now facing,
GLENYS Hanna Martin speaking during the Budget debate yesterday. however, in terms of the alarming numbers of children and young people to whom I have previously referred numbering in the thousands who have effectively dropped out of school during the pandemic and have not returned has taken us well beyond what has been described as a previous chronic norm,” she said. What we are seeing now in terms of the sheer volume of children missing from school is a crisis and an emergency and is a matter of grave concern to the ministry and to the government and to the nation and we only need to open our eyes and listen and see what is happening around us to understand how important this is to get children back on track.” She also pointed to several initiatives created by her ministry to have students re-engaged, including community walkabouts targeted towards children who were otherwise absent.
She said one walkabout saw more than 60 children identified and added that since then, nearly 1,000 public students have returned to schools nationwide. She also added that a study was conducted by the Department of Statistics to discover why children were not attending classes when they were being held virtually. According to the minister, about half of the people questioned in the government survey said they were either unable to sign onto the ministry’s learning management system or had experienced other challenges. Because of this, she said the ministry is now “seeking to build on the foundation already established by creating a solution which will generate greater ease of access for students” and make it more user friendly. “So, we had a system,” she continued. “We’re
TWO NEW SCHOOLS FOR SAN SALVADOR AND EXUMA By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government will build two new schools on the Family Islands at a cost of $16m each, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin announced in the House of Assembly yesterday. Mrs Hanna Martin told MPs the schools will be constructed on San Salvador and at George Town, Exuma. Construction will begin this fiscal year, with completion targeted for the San Salvador school in 2023, she added. “I’m very pleased that in this fiscal year funds have been budgeted for the construction of new schools in the country. This is and, of course, this happens in our collaboration with the Ministry of Works, but we’re going to build two new schools in this fiscal year. “The first is San Salvador High School, which is expected to be completed in 2024 and the second is the George Town Primary School. The school is inadequate and San Salvador has serious serious issues and additionally, they’re estimated at about $16 million each so I’m excited about that.” She also revealed several ongoing school projects are set to be completed this year after experiencing several delays under the previous administration. “The Staniel Cay Comprehensive School, we are hoping to open to finish that by August 2022 at the cost of $1.9m and Holmes Rock
Junior High, we expect that to be finished in September - finally. Lowe Sound Primary, we expect that to be finished in September too.” Other projects scheduled for completion soon include Arthur’s Town High on Cat Island, Coopers Town Primary at Abaco and Emma Cooper Primary in Eleuthera. Officials are working to complete construction on several classroom blocks at those schools. She added: “In the 2023 and 2024 years, we are going to get to complete the East End Grand Bahama and the Inagua Comprehensive schools.” The minister also praised the government’s efforts to complete ongoing school repairs in record time at several schools including Sybil Strachan Primary and CW Sawyer Primary among others. As for other repair works, she said the ministry is hoping to have them all finished by this August, adding that some $15m has been budgeted for school repairs in this fiscal year. Shifting her focus to campus safety, the minister also revealed several of her ministry’s plans to better protect students in the wake of several violent incidents that would’ve occurred on campuses recently. She said: “In the summer, we intend to bring the National Association of School Resource officers to The Bahamas to train officers so that we are able to dispatch fully trained police officers who are not just straight policing, but
they have a nuance that is designed for the school campus. “Additionally, we have recruited roughly 60 security officers and we are going to cause for all of them and the currently serving ones to be trained by the police. They’re not police officers, but they will be more equipped. The school campus is not what it was ten years ago. It’s something different and we want to ensure that we are able to manage and stabilise what is happening on the campus.” She added that officials are also working to improve lighting on schools as well as expand CCTV coverage. The minister also spoke on programmes designed to assist students needing special attention. “In the SURE programme, what we did when we saw these incidents, we got about 30 young people, boys from the very schools who were deemed to need attention, I’ll put it at that and they are now there at SURE and they are getting tested in literacy. They are getting psychological testing or counsellling and the Defence Force and the Ranger programme is also assisting us. “It’s not militaristic, but it’s just helping the level of fitness, etc, and we’re hoping that this more progressive approach to how we deal with young people who are deemed needing more attention that we are able to yield the results that we would like to see, but, of course, this has to be measured also,” she added.
grateful for it but we found out that the children who were missing, almost half of them couldn’t get on or was facing difficulties. That has informed us now that we need to go back to the table to see by way of RFP, to see whether we can invite proposals that we can now measure in hindsight and in foresight in terms of what is required for effective delivery for our young people.” “In the meantime, though, we are grateful. The provider, one on one, in conjunction with Cable Bahamas is continuing to provide an interim solution.”
Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff During her contribution yesterday, Mrs Hanna-Martin also addressed concerns about the pandemic’s impact on education, especially as it relates to learning loss. Mrs Hanna Martin said urgent action is needed. The ministry has published a request for proposal to diagnose all students and create an instructional plan for recovery. “The RFP invited expressions of interest, several of which have now been submitted. A committee to review the submissions has already convened to begin
discussions and deliberations,” she continued. “It is intended that in August training can begin with teachers and in September when children return to school each child at every level will be diagnosed for learning loss and in respect to each child based on the levels of loss, they will have appropriately designed an acceleration programme to allow them to catch up.” However, in the meantime, she said public schools will host summer learning academies to provide “intense intervention” over a four-week period.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
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Snub the rumours, and let courts do their work THE accusations surrounding Adrian Gibson MP have landed in a courtroom. Mr Gibson was yesterday in court to face a total of 56 charges. The accusations ranged from false declarations to bribery to fraud, money laundering and more. He is not alone in facing such accusations. Also in court were former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson Jr, Gibson’s cousin Rashae Gibson, his campaign general Joan Knowles, as well as Jerome Missick, Tonya Demeritte and Peaches Farquharson – with the six facing a combined 101 charges. In numbers alone, the total weight of charges against those accused is striking. However, as with anyone facing court, all are considered innocent until proven guilty. What matters now is a fair trial, for all concerned – with the court given the opportunity to weigh the evidence and come to a conclusion. There will, no doubt, be a trial by social media. A lot of things will be claimed that will not be true. A lot of things may be said that, worse, could influence the outcome of the trial – and no one is a winner if the trial cannot come to a fair conclusion. So be patient and let the process operate the way it is supposed to. During the Shane Gibson case, in which he was not found guilty, the Supreme Court judge was even moved to bar commentary on the case, pointing to radio talk shows, social media and other platforms where debate around the case had reached a degree where court intervention was necessary. It would be no surprise if social media discussion around this case was just as lively – in the intervening years, we have seen rumour fly further and faster even. So if you see commentary or reporting, bear in mind where it comes from. Bear in mind if it is fair, if it is being delivered by a trustworthy source. If something is said that is untrue, how likely is that outlet to be held to account? Here at The Tribune, you can always knock on our door – you know where we are. The same cannot be said for some Facebook outlets that can disappear overnight.
That’s good advice at the best of times – but with the prospect of a high-profile case such as this one, doubly so right now. Let the law operate the way it is supposed to – that’s the only way we can ever ensure there is justice.
Missing generation The news that thousands of students have not returned to the classroom since schools reopened during the COVID19 pandemic is disheartening, to say the least. Where is this missing generation? If they are not in school, where are they? If they are unable to study at home, where are they? If they are too young to be working, where are they? Who are these children turning to instead of turning to the education that can help them to better themselves in this world? Some, no doubt, will be targeted by gangs as recruits, and this is how we become mired in gang warfare for another cycle of years. Some have perhaps been trying to attend virtually but been unable to because of technical challenges – or even just not being able to afford the electric or cable bills. Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin says urgent action is required – and an “instructional plan for recovery” is in the works. There might be a simpler step – simply have those who have been unable or unwilling to take part go through the year again. Reset the clock on the past year’s education, so that they have the opportunity to make up for what they have missed – without shame, without frowning or saying the children have been “held back” a year, simply acknowledging that COVID has stolen lives, has stolen health, and for some children it has stolen their education. Give these children every chance to gain the qualifications they need to find a place in the workforce after they graduate, to give them opportunities they should not be denied because of a virus. This COVID generation needs all the help it can get.
A PROCESSION walks to St George’s Chapel for the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, yesterday. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago. This year, Prince Charles’ wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former leader of the British House of Lords Baroness Amos were all installed in the Order. Photo: Matt Dunham/AP
No evidence for electric car claim EDITOR, The Tribune. WE WRITE in reference to a letter published on Friday. June 10th, in which Mr Kevin Evans opines that Electric Vehicles are unsafe in wet conditions. We are aware that Mr Evans expresses a myriad of opinions in his daily letters to the editor, and certainly we support his freedom of speech. However, he fails to back up his personal opinion with any facts, and sadly appears ignorant about EV batteries, allowing irrational fears to cloud his judgement. A Google search on “Death by EV Electrocution” returns no results that would support Mr Evans’ hypothesis. Surely Mr Evans does not imagine, for an instant, that vehicles would pass the strict regulatory regime of any responsible country if there was a remote possibility of electrocution as described by him? Readers may find the video at https://www.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net youtube.com/watch both educational and entertaining on the subject. The facts are EV batteries are completely sealed from the elements, and built-in safety measures ensure that drivers and passengers enjoy a smooth, powerful ride without danger of electrocution. With an estimated six million EVs on the roads around the world today, you would be very hard pressed to find even one incident of death by EV electrocution in any type of weather, including torrential rain. On the other hand, a quick Google search will reveal that about 400 people perish from fires in gas or diesel vehicles every year in the US alone, yet Mr Evans apparently sees no danger in using a vehicle powered by a highly
inflammable liquid with a considerably higher risk to personal safety. Perhaps Mr Evans might favour a return to the horse and cart. In these times where personal opinions seem to override the facts, it is essential to correct misinformation with measurable data. Regardless of propaganda spread by oil and legacy car companies resisting change and new technologies, the fact is that electric vehicles are safe, cleaner, more efficient and economical than gas cars, and they offer a more sustainable solution to our transportation needs in the 21st century. The EV revolution is on the move around the world. We applaud our Government for getting on board, and empowering Bahamians to dump the pump.
Leaders need to act over Falling into flooding the sewer EDITOR, The Tribune.
WHAT has happened over the last few weeks should now more than ever be a wake up call for our country’s parliamentary leaders. It is time that we make flooding a top priority in this country. Core city neighbourhoods and businesses are dealing with serious drainage issues, and for years it’s been widely ignored and swept under the rug. We need to revise and implement a new coastal management plan. A major modification and a comprehensive plan is needed to cope with these increased risk of flooding to mitigate its impact where possible. These flooding issues involve public safety, public health and the large investments people have in their homes. We can either
continue down this path, or make a collective re-evaluation of how to manage this issue. We need to asses the flooding dangers and take actions like other countries have like: • Adding protection like dunes or bulkhead to flood prone areas • Add tougher regulations that forbid development in flood prone areas • Increase and add more drainage systems to flood prone areas It is time we do away with the old data. Because it has become quite obvious that this frequent flooding means that the past data is no longer an accurate guide for the future. While climate change is no doubt a main factor of what we see today, it should not stop us from being more resilient and
better prepared. Too many factors, including local infrastructure and properties, are being impacted. For years, there has been calls for massive restructuring of the cities drainage system. But it seems like the powers that be are content with just doing cleanup drives and other bandaid solutions. The flooding is of annoyance to many and placing a maintenance call only plugs the hole temporarily to an ubiquitous problem. It’s not going anywhere until we fully deal with the matter at hand. We must make bold decisions to address this serious issue. DR MATHEO SMITH Principal, Achievers Christian Academy Nassau, May 31, 2022.
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IN MY youth and middle years, The Bahamas was a wonderful place to live. Unfortunately, in my senior years I am constantly reflecting on the words of Shakespeare’s beleaguered protagonist, Macbeth, when he said “our way of life has fallen into the sewer”. It is so ironic that when we are honouring a woman of charm, grace and intellect in the person of Dame Janet Bostwick, we are confronted by the crass behaviour of the present Speaker of the House of Assembly. Even worse, we witness members of that august body applauding such behaviour. A few years ago, when
the behaviour of the previous Speaker appalled all right-thinking members of society, I told a member of his party that we would all live to regret not challenging such egregious behaviour. Unfortunately, we allowed Speaker Moultrie to let us sow the wind and we are now reaping the whirlwind with Speaker Deveaux. Unfortunately, this is not the only area of decline in our society. Crime is seemingly out of control as churches, schools and homes are under attack and householders are afraid to leave or stay in their homes. Our children are undereducated and marginalised and our quality and standard of life is falling daily. For instance, when I moved to
PIA FARMER & THE EASY CAR SALES TEAM Nassau, June 12, 2022.
the area of Stapledon Gardens some 40 years ago, the neighbourhoods were quiet and peaceful. Of late, if you can have a weekend without loud music piercing your eardrums and shaking the walls of your home, you fall on your knees to give thanks for several hours of sleep. It is wonderful that the New Day government is making such wonderful progress in International affairs according to their press releases. But what does this profit an ordinary citizen who cannot live in comfort in his or her own home during the declining years. We need to get out of the sewer. JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, June 13, 2022.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 7
Rolle: Officers have to take responsibility By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Paul Rolle says officers have to take “personal responsibility for their integrity” in the aftermath of a police officer facing the courts on drug related charges. Mr Rolle told reporters yesterday that he will maintain his own integrity by taking the appropriate action when officers breach the law. He was adamant that despite such instances placing the force’s integrity in the limelight, the organisation should not be implicated based on the actions of individual officers. “You cannot beat the police force over an action of one individual,” Mr Rolle said. He added: “I can’t babysit no grown man and woman.” The police chief’s comments came in the aftermath of a police officer facing the courts along with two other men in relation to a recent drug seizure. Asked if any measures are being taken to find out if other officers are involved or to prevent others being involved in such activity, the commissioner stressed the importance of integrity. “We conduct our investigation and if the investigation leads to the other persons then they with me. I can’t babysit no grown man and woman. We train our officers in discipline and we stress integrity and integrity is a personal thing. We have to police this country and the commissioner cannot be everywhere at every time. Officers have to take personal responsibility for their integrity, their personal integrity, and the reputation of this organisation which we represent. “I’m saying to you when an officer decides to breach that I am going to maintain my integrity and take the appropriate action to maintain the integrity of this organisation to make sure as I think the question was asked earlier whether or
not people still maintain the respect and the confidence of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “You can’t beat the police force because of an action of one individual. You can’t beat no more than you could beat the Prime Minister for one person in the country committing a crime. So, I don’t want nobody to try to blame the Commissioner because a police officer commits an offence. He does that on his own. I did not send any of them to commit an offence. “We speak to our officers constantly the way you conduct yourself, maintain public trust, maintain your integrity. This is what we do. Now that’s a personal decision and you notice we are free because we didn’t do anything. So, whenever an officer runs afoul of the law we take action and I will continue to do that until my last day, which is very short.” In a police release on Thursday, police said there was ongoing investigation on the island as a result of a drugs seizure. “Police have arrested and taken five male suspects into custody in connection with this incident. They include three Police Officers and two Colombian nationals,” the release said. The commissioner said: “I don’t want to prejudice any aspect of the investigation, but yes, I’m concerned that we have an officer being charged, but let us dwell on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.” He added it is “never a good feeling” particularly when they have to put a senior officer before the court. Nonetheless, Mr Rolle wanted the public to know the RBPF’s executive team were people of integrity who take the “appropriate actions” wherever they find misbehaviour. Mr Rolle insisted the fact that action is being taken should aid in building public trust. “What the public should see is that the police is taking action and the fact they take action against their own. That should help
COMMISSIONER of Police Paul Rolle at police headquarters yesterday. to build the confidence in the public that the police are prepared to do, which is right regardless. We’re also putting before the court a politician for alleged acts done by him. So, it doesn’t matter who the individuals are, we do what we have to do,” he told the media. This is not the first instance recently of an officer implicated in a similar incident. Last December, police arrested two men from Venezuela who landed at the Crooked Island Airport with suspected cocaine. When they were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court, the men, Luis Andres Perez, 29, and Jaime Digiacomo, 64, said a police officer was involved in the matter. The commissioner said no officer had been arrested and the RBDF was investigating the claim. However, Mr Rolle said in February there was not sufficient evidence to prove the officer’s involvement thus the officer returned to active duty.
17 ARMED ROBBERIES IN THE PAST WEEK By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net OVER the past week, a total of 17 armed robberies were recorded, according to Police Commissioner Paul Rolle yesterday. The incidents were mainly in the Carmichael Road, southeastern and eastern areas of New Providence, he said. “We have in custody two males that are being questioned in relation to some of these armed robberies,” Mr Rolle said during a press conference yesterday. “One of note is a telephone store on Carmichael Road where culprits relieved the proprietor of some 21 iPhones and we believe that is related to
at least one other armed robbery that took place in the Carmichael Road area where a number of jewellery items were taken. “So, we’re following some significant leads with that.” Meanwhile, the commissioner noted two male suspects are in custody and being questioned in reference to a murder that occurred at Pigeon Plum and Ficus Streets in Pinewood Gardens over the weekend. He also told reporters on Sunday that police found a high-powered weapon in the Colony Village area. “Police were able to stop a vehicle with three males and on searching that vehicle we were able to recover
a firearm along with some ammunition. Those three individuals are in custody.” The commissioner further informed the press of another incident that took place Sunday night. He said officers who were on an operation in the area of the race track observed a male with what appeared to be a firearm. The male got into a vehicle and sped off. Officers then got into a short chase. “This male must have tried to evade the police, crashed into a wall and officers were able to recover from him a .40 pistol along with some ammunition.” Mr Rolle said the individual is in custody and was expected to go before the courts yesterday afternoon.
SEX OFFENDER’S DEATH ‘NOT CLASSED AS MURDER’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE death of a recently released sex offender has not been classified as a murder, Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said yesterday. Mr Rolle said at a press conference there was no blunt force trauma to the man’s body. Last month, Superintendent Audley Peters told The Tribune that Alden Scott, 55, was found on a track road in Yellow Elder Gardens suffering from injuries about the body. Scott was removed and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
He died of his injuries on Wednesday, May 25. He was released from prison on May 20. Asked about the man’s death yesterday, Mr Rolle said: “The individual was suffering from medical conditions, a number of medical conditions according to the doctor. So, that is not classified as a murder. I cannot disclose the medical condition. That is ‘privileged information”. Scott’s release was announced to the press by National Security Minister Wayne Munroe last month. The minister revealed at the time that Scott was released after an indecent assault conviction, for which
he had been sent to prison for two years. The incident involved touching the hips of a nine-year-old girl. His previous offence involved raping a 17-yearold for which he was imprisoned in 2014 and released in 2020. The minister also said that the registrar of the sexual offenders list and the commissioner of the correctional institution considered him a significant risk to public safety. Having seen their submission to him and hearing the offender, Mr Munroe also determined that he was a significant risk and said he would be directing public notification of his release.
Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
VETERAN POLICEMAN AND TWO COLOMBIANS ACCUSED OVER DRUGS By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A VETERAN police officer - who has now been relieved of his duties - and two Colombian men were arraigned in Magistrates Court yesterday accused of importing 181 pounds of cocaine and 31 pounds of indian hemp into Acklins last week. Former Assistant Superintendent Sonny Miller, 45, who is also a former Police Staff Association chairman, stood before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney on eight drug related charges. Asst Supt Miller was represented by attorney Bjorn Ferguson. The two Colombian men
- Christhian Garcia Aristizabal, 34, and Christhian Gaviria Aragon, 32, both represented by attorney Tonique Lewis, were also accused in relation to the same drug charge. While all three accused faced a shared six charges for possession of, as well as conspiracy to possess and import dangerous drugs with intent to supply, only the Colombians faced importation charges. Asst Superintendent Miller faced two counts of abetment to importation of dangerous drugs. Sometime between May 9 and June 7 the accused are alleged to have conspired to possess and import 181lbs of cocaine and 31lbs
of indian hemp into The Bahamas. On June 7, the accused were arrested for allegedly being found with these drugs in Spring Point, Acklins. In court, all three accused pleaded not guilty to all charges against them. However, while Asst Superintendent Miller was granted bail at $100,000 with one or two sureties, the remaining two accused were remanded into custody. Aristizabal and Aragon were sent back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. The accused are expected to return to court on July 20 for possible reassignment of their case.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
A couple who shared their life building a family and the nation IT is always extraordinary when you come across entire families that have a legacy of nation building. When matriarchs and patriarchs put service above self, they leave indelible marks - not only on their families - but on their country. In this case, I share the heritage of the Coakley family as they say goodbye to their matriarch, Marietta Margaret Coakley. Livingstone and Marietta Coakley were the quintessential Bahamian couple during the dawn of majority rule and Independence. When the Progressive Liberal Party won the government in 1967, Livingstone was named Chairman of the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation. He went on to serve in the Cabinet of Sir Lynden Pindling as Minister of Works, Education, Tourism, Health, Labour, and Youth, Sports and Community Affairs respectively. He served in political leadership from 1969 until his retirement from active politics in June 1987. During that time, he served as Member of Parliament for George Town and Ragged Island. The Coakleys established a big and beautiful homestead in the Imperial Park area. There, they hosted countless parties for the movers and shakers of the day. But their home was more than that. It was the homestead for their children, who remain with precious memories of their parents. The Coakley homestead also became the abode for family members and friends in times of need. In this way, the Coakleys offered their hearts and hands in service to all who came to know them. Both Livingstone and Marietta were educators. Livingstone, who was born in Simms, Long Island on April 3, 1925, became a student teacher in the George Town Public School in 1937. Some time later, he enrolled as a student at the Agricultural Department, Windsor Farm. During World War II, he served in the Bahamas Battalion as a Sergeant and Educational Instructor. Following the war, he served in several capacities, including: assistant teacher at the Eastern Senior School; principal of Glinton Public School; assistant manager of Centrauld Limited; assistant accountant at Sassoon Banking Company; principal of Prince William High School; assistant secretary in the Ministry of Finance. By the time he came to politics, he already had a seasoned career in national development. After retirement, Livingstone served as The Bahamas’ non-resident High Commissioner to five Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean - Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Grenada; Guyana; and Trinidad and Tobago between July 1987 and August 1992. It was in 1948 that Marietta met her first and only love, while attending the Donald Davis Institute. Principal Donald W Davis was a mentor to the young Livingstone. Mr Davis suggested Livingstone should “sit near her, maybe you would do her some . The rest is history, he did do her some good.” He adhered to the Principal’s suggestion. His intelligence, good looks and chivalrous ways didn’t hurt either – he was debonair. Needless to say, they were the twinkle in each other’s eyes. The love at first sight was mutual, and they were engaged in September of 1949. They were joined in holy matrimony at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church on April 11, 1950. It was only death that separated them, when Livingstone passed away on June 11, 2006 at the age of 81. Prior to his death, one of Livingstone’s parliamentary colleagues, who grew up and went to school with Marry, jokingly asked him: “Hey Sir Coaks, how come you, an island boy, won the heart of the ‘Princess of Okra Hill!” Livingstone even converted from an Exuma Baptist to a Nassau Anglican for his beloved Marietta. Her exquisite fashion sense, gained from her mother, a seamstress, combined with a sweet personality gained her the nickname ‘Princess’ when her parents Edward
ABOVE: Dr Livingstone Nathaniel Coakley, CBE, receives an award with his daughters Zenovia and Jannifer. ABOVE RIGHT: Bahamian education pioneers and nation builders Livingstone and Marietta Coakley. LEFT: Marietta Coakley, matriarch and educator. RIGHT: Livingstone and Marietta Coakley with their children - Douglas, Melbourne, Zenovia, Theodore and Jannifer. and Estelle had a homestead in Okra Hill. She and Livingstone spent 56 glorious years together before he departed. All those years after he passed, Marietta was still keeping the flame alive. Always poised, well dressed and elegant, she maintained a sense of grace and dignity and an attitude of national service. She exemplified what their family was all about, and she ensured that everyone under her roof did the same. Marietta was born on January 1, 1928. She was laid to rest on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the age of 94. Trained at Donald Davis Evening Institute, The Teachers Training College, and University of Miami, she was successful in obtaining the Cambridge Junior Certificate, the Bahamas Teaching Certificate, several music certificates and her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She became an Education Officer at the Ministry of Education as an Assistant Teacher, Teacher, Vice-Principal and Principal, educating the young people of the Bahamas for 49 years. She served at several schools, including: Sandiland’s Primary; Glinton All-Age School (Long Island); College School (Demonstration School) Oakes Field; Palmdale Primary; Thatchberry Primary, and E.P Roberts Primary School. After she retired as a Principal, Marietta returned to the classroom as a music teacher at the then Willard Patton Primary School. There, she would record various selections on the piano, making up her own tracks on cassette tapes in preparation for her music classes. As a mother, Marietta was dedicated to her family. Being a teacher allowed her the flexibility of having her children with her once school was dismissed, and sometimes in school when she may have been their teacher. She helped to cultivate her children’s appreciation for the arts and was the actual chauffeur for the piano, guitar, dance lessons and band practice. She also ensured that her children received spiritual guidance, guaranteeing their participation in regular Sunday school, worship services and youth groups. Marietta enjoyed gardening, and the Coakley
BELOW: The Princess of Okra Hill meets Queen Elizabeth the Coakleys greet the Queen with Sir Lynden Pindling looking on. BOTTOM OF PAGE: The Coakley home was often filled with joyous guests - from fellow citizens to international diplomats. homestead is evidence of that. She took great pride, even to the time of her passing, cutting the flowers and vines out of the yard and making unique floral arrangements daily. Her green thumb produced a yard filled with fruit-bearing trees, including mango, soursop, sugar apple, papaya, bananas and more. I enjoyed visiting the Coakleys and leaving with my box filled with the sweetest fruit from their yard. By planting seeds with love, Marietta’s hand will still be feeding her descendants and their friends in time to come. The evidence of the spirit of excellence that Livingstone and Marietta poured into their children and by extension, grandchildren and great-grandchildren is evident. Together, they were parents to five children Douglas and Melbourne, who predeceased their mother; Zenovia; Theodore and Jannifer. Their two daughters became dear friends of mine. Jannifer, a well-known Marketing and Events Consultant, has been a mentor and through the years, has emanated the selflessness and generosity of her mother. Zenovia has served effectively in the public service and has moved from strength to strength, currently serving as Director of the Family Island Division and Disaster Management Unit of the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. Theodore is the owner and manager of Daily Grind Restaurant and Bar. Marietta’s passing reminds us that many of the powerhouses in the movement for Independence and the myriad of nation builders who paved the way are passing away. Their history and legacy serve to teach us about our past and inspire us in our own quest to contribute positively to the development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 9
LIKE A CAT WITH NINE LIVES BORIS SURVIVES AGAIN - BUT THE ROAD AHEAD LOOKS BUMPY The Peter Young column
AFTER all the superlatives about The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last week and the lifting of people’s spirits throughout the country, the politicians and the trade unionists in Britain have managed to bring the nation back to earth with a bump. Not only has there been the high drama of a vote of confidence in the sitting Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, but militant unions are threatening widespread industrial disruption during the summer. The contrast could not be starker - on the one hand, a display of public unity in the glorious celebration of a beloved Queen’s record 70 years on the throne while, on the other, serious division at the heart of the ruling Conservative government BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving the Houses of Parliament, in London, after a no-confidence vote that he won - but with a significant proportion of his in an attempt to remove its party not giving him their backing. Photo: David Cliff/AP leader, and politically motivated trade unionists also would be better off without two critical by-elections later this month which will seeking to depose him by him. Despite what appears put more pressure on him if causing economic chaos. The confidence vote was to have been a significant the Tories lose. A confidence vote for a triggered by what has been rebellion, the PM declared described as a rudderless the result was a decisive vic- Prime Minister who won bunch of Conservative MPs tory and he claims he now a thumping majority as THE words of a famous song -- “yesWith the awareness that things are with a wide range of gripes has a fresh mandate to put recently as December, 2019, terday is history, today is still a mystery finite, the right approach for adults is and grievances against Mr the friction within the party is a big deal. His removal but what a day it’s going to be tomorrow” not to view existence as a sort of dress Johnson. Discontent with in the past and a chance would be undemocratic - speak of optimism, expectation and con- rehearsal for a future of perceived conto focus on since huge numbers voted his style and fidence in the future. But it seems more tentment in some nirvana. Instead, one ‘A confidence issues of con- for him only two and half performance and more people of a philosophical bent should concentrate on the moment and cern to the years ago. There is also no grew after a vote for a Prime are stressing the need in modern times show gratitude for existing blessings and public while clear-cut successor waiting critical report for seizing the moment and living in the appreciation of them. One can regret the getting on in the wings so his departure into lock- Minister who present – known as carpe diem. past and learn from it but not allow it to with gov- would bring considerable down parties won a thumping With this in mind, I found it interesting overwhelm enjoyment and fulfilment of erning the political uncertainty. It could during the majority as recently to read recently in the UK press an article the present. country. But usher in a new coalition COVID panby, Oliver Burkeman, a columnist in The It struck me that this reflects the guidothers regard government of Labour, the demic and he as December, 2019, Guardian newspaper who has a number ance given by Sir William Osler, the it as an Liberal Democrats, the has also been is a big deal. His of books to his name. His piece carried an Canadian physician and co-founder of Greens and even the Scotuncomfortcriticised for removal would intriguing title “In your own time: how to Johns Hopkins Hospital, in his famous ably narrow tish National Party. It could not followlive for today the philosophical way”. address on “A Way of Life” to Yale be undemocratic also herald the end of Brexit, margin. ing a true He begins with the advice that what is students in 1913 when he said : “Live neisince huge numbers They say and this poses the question Conservagone is gone but people should not waste ther in the past nor in the future, but let his author- whether people really want tive agenda. voted for him time worrying about that or dwell on each day’s work absorb all your interest, ity has been an unwilling nation dragged There are what comes next because there is no way energy and enthusiasm. The best prepaonly two and half back under the undemoseriously also, of of knowing what lies ahead. ration for tomorrow is to do today’s work weakened, if cratic yoke of the EU against course, num- years ago. There is Although this applies to younger and superbly well”, and “the chief worries of not irrepara- the wishes of the 17.4 million bers of Tory also no clear-cut older people alike, he goes on to suggest life arise from the foolish habit of looking bly damaged, who voted for Brexit in the MPs who are the ideal way to age is to concentrate before and after”. successor waiting so that his 2016 referendum – a deci“Remainon the moment rather than focusing too “A Way of Life” was judged to be ability to lead sion to leave the EU by a ers” and in the wings so his much on the future. Old age has been one of the most inspiring addresses ever has been small though clear majority have never departure would described as reaching the crest of the hill heard at Yale and, of course, it has been compromised which was reaffirmed in the forgiven him and there stretching ahead is the down- widely quoted over the years. In today’s bring considerable – and that 2019 General Election. for taking ward slope with the end of the road in troubled world, the advice surely remains So, the survival of Mr he seems the UK out political sight. as sound as ever. to be losing Johnson as PM is about of the Euro- uncertainty.’ his allure more than the career of an pean Union. as a proven ambitious politician who in there have been no resig- vaccination programme and authority must surely have Under the party rules, if 15 percent of winner and is therefore no the past has always man- nations. Moreover, having showing global leadership been weakened in the short term, but he is clearly solaged to pull off a comeback won the confidence vote, over Ukraine. his MPs write to the influen- longer an electoral asset. In spite of past victories, diering on regardless with What is more, he is not in the face of failure or set- he cannot be challenged tial 1922 Committee saying they have no confidence in yet in the clear as there back. Arguing that he has again for a year. Despite his the allure of electoral suc- the support of his closest their leader, a vote can be are other challenges con- been given an endorsement well-known flaws like being cess can be ephemeral. colleagues and a majority called. All 359 Tory MPs fronting him. He still has to by his MPs, he shows no disorganised and having a But, love him or hate him, of his party. Events in the voted in a secret ballot, with face a parliamentary privi- sign of quitting. Unlike the capacity for self-destruction, Boris Johnson has a certain coming months will doubt211 supporting him and 148 leges committee inquiry in circumstances of Margaret he has major achievements charisma thanks to a vivid less determine his future. voting against. That means to whether he lied to the Thatcher’s downfall in 1990, to his credit; for example, personality even though for But, yet again, he has defied four out of ten of his own House of Commons about members of his Cabinet delivering Brexit, presiding some people he does not expectations – at least for MPs consider their party “Partygate” and there are seem to be behind him and over a successful COVID inspire trust. Overall, his the time being.
LIVE FOR THE MOMENT
KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON PUTIN IN WRITING yet again about Ukraine, there is an obvious danger of repetition. But it is such an important issue and the situation changes all the time. So I hope readers might welcome insights into international opinion as reflected in the world’s media, and I should like today to follow up my short piece last week about possible weakening of the West’s resolve in relation to the crisis. There is a school of thought that Western countries have been wrong to condemn Russia so strongly for its invasion of Ukraine and to impose such severe sanctions. Critics point to the large number of abstentions on the UN Security Council resolution condemning the invasion and on the separate resolution
excluding Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. These included countries like India, Brazil, Egypt and South Africa, to name just a few. They will have had their own reasons for doing so. But I, for one, find it hard to understand why so many appear heartlessly to discount the sheer horror, brutality and evil unleashed by Putin against the people of Ukraine, including the indiscriminate shelling and cluster bombing of civilians and destruction of buildings and infrastructure which may amount to war crimes. This unprovoked terrible action is indefensible and unforgivable. Claims that the West has become somehow isolated now seem wide of the mark and it was interesting to read recent remarks by commentators that
the entire international community including the developing world is now beginning to turn on Putin because he is alleged to be stopping grain exports from Ukraine, which is known as the breadbasket of Europe, by blocking its Black Sea ports. If this is true, reports that it is creating enemies among developing countries sound credible given the global dependence on Ukraine for wheat, particularly in parts of subSaharan Africa where there is apparently already a prolonged drought as well as a shortage of food. More generally, a significant development over the weekend was that, following the surprise visit to Kyiv by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine is poised to be let in to the
EU process of becoming a member of the bloc. With Brussels said to be set to decide next week whether to recommend the nation for admission as a candidate for EU membership, the danger of Western countries taking their eyes off the war while becoming preoccupied with their own economic problems appears to have receded. The Russians may regard this as a provocation, but President Zelensky has expressed fears that “all of Europe is a target for Russia”, and he continues to plead for more weapons and other military equipment and supplies, especially long range rocket launchers, in order to fight what has become a bloody war of attrition. So the quantity and speed of delivery of these is crucial.
Another nasty development has been the death sentences handed out to two former British soldiers who were found guilty - by a kangaroo court calling itself “the Supreme Court” of the separatistheld Donetsk region - of fighting as mercenaries. Both men had lived in Ukraine since 2017 and were firmly settled there, including becoming citizens, and were serving in the Ukrainian army. The British government has slammed what it has termed the sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy or legal authority as not being in accordance with the rules of war. It has called it an egregious breach of the Geneva Convention covering prisoners of war. It appears at the moment that the hope – if
not the presumption – is that the Russians will use the two men for a prisoner exchange. As the war of attrition continues mainly in the east of the country, it looks as though any chance of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia in a negotiated settlement is a long way off. A battlefield stalemate is likely to persist unless Ukraine receives new supplies of weaponry. If the EU decides that Ukraine can become a candidate for membership, this will only be a preliminary step because lengthy negotiations will have to follow. But it will be a step in the right direction and a significant boost for this beleaguered country which will know it can continue to count on Western support.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
TRUM ‘ AS DETACHED FROM REAL T ’ WASHINGTON Associated Press DONALD Trump’s closest campaign advisers, top government officials and even his family were dismantling his false claims of 2020 election fraud ahead of January 6, but the defeated president seemed “detached from reality” and kept clinging to outlandish theories to stay in power, the committee investigating the Capitol attack was told yesterday. “He’s become detached from reality if he really believes this stuff,” former Attorney General William Barr testified in his interview with the committee. Barr called the voting fraud claims “bull——,” “bogus” and “idiotic,” and resigned in the aftermath. “I didn’t want to be a part of it.” The House 1/6 committee spent the morning hearing delving into Trump’s claims of election fraud and the countless ways those around him tried to convince the defeated Republican president they were not true, and he had simply lost the election. The witnesses on Monday, mostly Republicans and many testifying in prerecorded videos, described in blunt terms and sometimes exasperated detail how Trump refused to take the advice of those closest to him, including his family members. As the people around him splintered into a “team normal” headed by former campaign manager Bill Stepien and others led by Trump confidant Rudy Giuliani, the president chose his side. On election night, Stepien said, Trump was “growing increasingly unhappy” and refusing to accept the grim outlook for his presidency. The back-and-forth intensified in the run-up to January 6. Former Justice Department official Richard Donoghue recalled breaking down one claim after another — from a truckload of ballots in Pennsylvania to a missing suitcase of ballots in Georgia —- and telling Trump “much of the info you’re getting is false”.
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Shadow industry thrives on migrants fleeing Haiti SANTIAGO, Chile Associated Press WITH jokes, upbeat Caribbean music and vacation scenes of sun-kissed beaches and palm trees, Haitian influencers on YouTube and TikTok advertise charter flights to South America. But they are not targeting tourists. Instead, they are touts for a thriving, little-known shadow industry that is profiting from the US government sending people back to Haiti, a country besieged by gang violence. More than a dozen South American travel agencies have rented planes from low-budget Latin American airlines — some of them as large as 238-seat Airbuses — and then sold tickets at premium prices. Many of the customers are Haitians who had been living in Chile and Brazil before they made their way to the Texas border in September, only to be expelled by the Biden administration and prevented from seeking asylum. They are using the charter flights to flee Haiti again and return to South America. Some, clearly, plan to make another try to enter the United States. Rodolfo Noriega of the National Coordinator of Immigrants in Chile said Haitians are being exploited by businesses taking advantage of their desperation. They “are at the end of a chain of powerful businesses making money from this circuit of Haitian migration,” he said. The airlines and travel agencies say they work within the legal norms of the countries where they are operating from and are simply providing a service to the Haitian diaspora in South America. The thriving business model was revealed in an eight-month investigation by The Associated Press in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley’s Human Rights
HAITIAN migrants wait in line to check-in for a flight to Chile, at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in January. Photo: Odelyn Joseph /AP Center and its Investigative charters were rented by to the US like Mexico, travel agencies in Chile and because they have visas Reporting Program. Haitians sick of the depri- Brazil for flights from Haiti, and other legal paperwork vations of their island home according to flight tracking to get into those countries. resettled in Chile or Brazil, information, online adver- And having lived there, many after Haiti’s cata- tisements matching the they can find jobs quickly strophic 2010 earthquake. flights to agencies and other to make money for the trip Then, last fall, struggling independent verification by north. as the pandemic hit local the AP and Berkeley. Some, like Amstrong Since taking office in Jean-Baptiste, also have economies and beset by racism, thousands decided January 2021, the Biden children who were born to make their way to the administration has sent in South America. The Texas border town of Del more than 25,000 Haitians 33-year-old father of two Rio. There, they ran afoul back to Haiti despite warn- said he spent $6,000 on a of a public health order, ings from human rights harrowing trip from Chile invoked by the Trump groups that the expulsions to Texas, only to be sent administration and con- would only contribute to back to Haiti. tinued under the Biden Haiti’s travails and feed He said he had knives administration, that blocks more Haitian migration to pulled on him, forged rivers migrants from requesting Latin America and the US. that carried others away to Not all of the passengers their deaths and encounasylum. Authorities returned on the charters had tried to tered highway robbers. In them not to South America, immigrate to the US, but the end, he said the Haiwhere some of their chil- based on interviews with tians were handcuffed and dren were born, but to their dozens of travel agents, “treated like animals” by original homeland — Haiti. Haitian migrants and advo- US immigration authoriSome interviewed by the cates, and an analysis of ties. He said his son caught AP said they feared for flight data using the Swed- pneumonia in the immigratheir lives there and wanted ish service Flightradar24, tion detention center. to return to South America. it is clear that the charAs he waited in Port-auBut airlines had stopped ters have become a major Prince for a charter flight direct commercial flights means to flee Haiti. back to Santiago, news Some who took char- from northern Chile underfrom Haiti to Chile and Brazil during the pandemic; ter flights back to South scored why he wanted to have headed go to the United States in their remaining option was America north again on the network the first place: A demonthe charters. The flights from Haiti of underground routes stration against immigrants became a lucrative busi- that wind through Central drew thousands of protestness as restrictions aimed America and Mexico and ers who turned violent and at controlling the spread of that ultimately lead to the destroyed the belongings of the coronavirus decimated United States, according migrants living in a camp. tourism, according to the to immigration attorneys, Would he try to go to the travel agents. Planes arrive advocates and interviews US again? He did not rule empty to Haiti but return to with dozens of Haitians. it out. Many of the Haitians go South America full. “The risks are so numerFrom November 2020 back to Chile and Brazil, ous that this shouldn’t be an until this May, at least 128 rather than places close experience to repeat,” he
said. “However, one should never say never.” Ana Darcelin, a travel agent with Travel VIP, a Santiago-based agency that rents planes for flights from Haiti to Chile, said Haitians who migrated north from the South American country, only to be sent back to Haiti, are scrambling to leave Haiti and get back to Chile again. “Everyone is offering charter flights. There is a lot of demand,” she said. Travel agencies in Brazil and Chile said in interviews that they pay anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 to rent an aircraft. At that rate, the three airlines that rented planes for 128 charter flights between Haiti and either Brazil or Chile would have been paid a total of anywhere from $12 million to $25 million. Meanwhile, some prices for one-way tickets from Haiti to Chile have more than doubled in eight months, from $625 to more than $1,600. In Brazil, many agencies offering flights from Haiti rented from the low-cost Azul SA airlines, which was started by JetBlue founder David Neeleman. Most of the charters to Chile are on planes rented from SKY Airline, owned by the Chilean Paulmann family, which is worth billions. Neither Neeleman nor Holger Paulmann, chairman of SKY, responded to emails and LinkedIn messages requesting comment. SKY also signed a $1.8m contract in April with the previous administration of Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to fly Latin American immigrants, mostly Venezuelans and Colombians expelled from Chile, back to their homelands. SKY earned about $670 for each expelled immigrant it flies to Central and South America. Under the contract obtained by the AP and Berkeley, the carrier must complete at least 15 flights carrying 180 passengers each.
RHODES SCHOLAR PRESENTS BOOK TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SMITH
DR MYRON ROLLE, a Rhodes scholar, neurosurgeon and former NFL player, at the University of The Bahamas last week.
HELPING HAND FOR GOVT HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNMENT High School was the recipient of a number of donations recently - including $5,000 from TIG Investments (Island Games), $500 from the BGHS Class of 1979 and $610 from the GHS Class of 1975 to purchase basketball equipment (poles backboards and rims) for their outside court as well as basketball uniforms for the men’s and women’s teams and basketballs. Pictured from left are Erica Laing, executive director of administration and finance at TIG Investments and member of the BGHS Class of 1979, and Paul Fernander, member of the 100th GHS Anniversary committee and member of GHS Class of 1976.
Photo: Moise Amisial
RHODES scholar, neurosurgeon and former NFL player Dr Myron Rolle presented his book The 2% Way to University of The Bahamas president Dr Rodney Smith last week. Dr Rolle wrote the book as an inspiration for many regarding how the concept of small improvements can better a person’s life and help reach goals. The presentation was made at the Harry C Moore Library and Information Centre, auditorium. Dr Rolle is a global neurosurgery fellow and neurosurgery resident at Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also chairman and founder of the Caribbean Neurosurgery Foundation.
SPORTS PAGE 14
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022
Minister Bowleg produces comprehensive programme By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
W
ith a 25 percent increase that pushes their budget allocation to little over $5.8 million, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg produced a comprehensive programme. Minister Bowleg’s muchanticipated contribution to the budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday touched on the return of the hefty grants to sporting federations, Sports in Paradise, athletes’
subvention and the Bahamas Games. Quoting from the legendary Nelson Mandela, Bowleg noted that while “sport has the power to change the world, to inspire and to unite people in a way that little else does,” it creates hope where once there was only despair and it is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers” as it “laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” National Federation Grants He assured the national federations, which are in compliance with the
BOWLEG Ministry, will have their annual grant of $80,000, which was first established 30 years ago, be restored after it was drastically cut to $20,000 in recent times. All B core sports,
according to Bowleg, will receive an increase of 10 percent in their annual grants this fiscal year as well. Sports in Paradise “My hardworking team and I are revolutionising the Bahamas’ Sports in Paradise and sports tourism brand,” said Bowleg, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, which brings a number of events to the country. “We are encouraging persons to book it, come to the Bahamas - but when you come, don’t forget to bring your sporting gear.”
He also noted that work is being done on the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in preparation for the men’s national basketball team practice sessions for the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers on July 4. While Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield, of the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, has already committed to competing on the team, the BBF is still waiting on confirmation from Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns and
SEE PAGE 17
Warriors take 3-2 lead
Special Olympics, Page 16
9-MEMBER TEAM FOR INAUGURAL CARIBBEAN GAMES By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas will have a nine-member team among the 800 under-23 athletes from 29 countries competing at the historic inaugural Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe from June 29 to July 3. Romell Knowles, president of the BOC, revealed that it will cost about $100,000 for Team Bahamas to compete in the games, which will comprise of seven sports and is organised by the Panam Sports Association. Chef de mission Dorian Roach made the announcement of the team that includes the
SEE PAGE 15
OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY SCHOLARSHIP: 7 ATHLETES TO GET $1,000 EACH A MONTH By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White last night during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Francisco. The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 104-94 for a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 17 (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
THE Bahamas Olympic Committee has gotten the approval for seven Bahamian athletes to receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 each from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship heading into the 2024 Olympic Games. BOC president Romell Knowles made the announcement yesterday as they also revealed the teams that will represent the country at the inaugural Caribbean Games, scheduled for June 29-July 3 in Guadeloupe and the Commonwealth Games, set for July 29-August 7 in Birmingham, England. Ratified and approved from the list of entries submitted for the scholarships to help in their development going into the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France are the following athletes: Devante Carey
SEE PAGE 16
Otabor finishes fourth in Travis Munnings and club win LPB title in Portugal javelin, earns first time All-American honours By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
RHEMA Otabor produced the most outstanding performance by a Bahamian at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships over the weekend at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Otabor, a graduate of Nassau Christian Academy, earned first-time All-American honours on Thursday in the women’s javelin for the Florida International University Panthers. The sophomore threw 183-feet, fiveinches or 55.92m in the second of six rounds in the competition between 24 competitors for fourth place. After finishing in 21st place in her initial appearance last year as a freshman, Otabor became the first FIU track and field athlete since Clarissa Cutliff in 2018 and 2019 to appear in consecutive NCAA Championships. At this year’s championships, Otabor had a series of throws that included 165-0 (50.30m) on her first attempt, a scratch on the third, 173-7 (52.91m) on her fourth, 179-7 (54.75m) on her fifth and a scratch on the sixth. She trailed Ashton Riner, a senior at Brigham Young University (BYU), who won the
RHEMA Otabor is congratulated by FIU head coach Ryan Heberling. title with 191-1 (58.24m) on her first attempt, runner-up Maddie Harris, a
SEE PAGE 15
TRAVIS Munnings and Sporting Lisboa Benfica completed a dominant season in Portugal’s Liga Portuguesa de Basquetbol (LPB) with the 2022 championship title. The club claimed their 28th title in LPB history, clinching a 91-63 win over FC Porto on June 11 to take the series 3-1. Benfica completed the regular season as the top overall seed at 24-4 and had an 8-1 run throughout the playoffs. “There is something so special on the inside of you, that if you are willing to pay the price to bring it out, history won’t be able to ignore it,” he said. “Lord I thank you for watching over me throughout this season and my life. I give you all the honour and glory because if it was not for you none of this
MUNNINGS would have been possible,” he added. In 30 games this season, his third as a pro, Munnings averaged 7.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 60 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Benfica completed a twogame sweep of Povoa in the quarterfinal. In game one, Munnings had five points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 77-59 win. In game two, he had a perfect shooting night from the field (5-5) and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds in a 84-67 win. In the semifinal they defeated his former club UD Oliveirense in a threegame sweep. Munnings did not play in game three but opened the series with five points, five assists and three rebounds off the bench in an 89-72 game one win. In game two he pulled down seven rebounds and dished three assists in a 93-80 victory. In FIBA EuroCup play, Benfica finished just short of the quarterfinals in Group K. In 14 EuroCup Games he averaged 8.7
SEE PAGE 15
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 15
28-member team named to represent Bahamas at Commonwealth Games By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AHEAD of the national championships for track and field and swimming, the Bahamas Olympic Committee has announced a 28-member team of athletes and seven coaches to represent the Bahamas at the Commonwealth Games. The games are scheduled for July 29 to August 7 and according to BOC president Romell Knowles, every so often, they are forced to name the team prior to the national championships. The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships is scheduled for this month and the Bahamas Aquatics’ Nationals will take place from July 7-10, but athletes from both disciplines, along with cycling, triathlon, wrestling, judo and boxing have already been selected to the team. “We could no longer wait until the national championships because this list is almost etched in stone. All of the accreditations, the processing have been done and the system is closed,” Knowles said. “Even if we wanted to add someone, it’s going to be a pain in the butt to try and get Birmingham to open up the system to allow us to make amendments. That’s not prohibited. We could do it on the executive side or the coach’s side, but the athletes, they see it as tampering or cheating.” Having met their quota of 28 athletes, Knowles said in order to replace an athlete, the BOC would
have to fill out a form indicating that the athlete is either injured or not able to travel before they can replace anyone. However, in the case of the team selection, Knowles said double Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo is still contemplating making the trip to Birmingham. If her and her camp decides to go, they have conveyed her interest to the local organising committee in Birmingham to have added to the team. Named by chef de mission Roy Colebrooke as members of the Commonwealth Games team are the following: Athletics - Devynne Charlton (women’s 100m hurdles); Anthonique Strachan (women’s 100/200m); Steven Gardiner (men’s 400m); LaQuan Nairn (men’s long jump); Jahmaal Wilson (men’s 110m hurdles); Terrence Jones (men’s 110m); Tynia Gaither (women’s 100/200m); Ken Mullings (men’s decathlon); Shaun Miller Jr (men’s high jump); Kendrick Thompson (men’s decathlon) and Charisma Taylor (women’s triple jump/100m hurdles). No coach has been selected as yet. Swimming - Izaak Bastian (men’s 50/100/200m breaststroke); Devante Carey (men’s 50/100m free, 50/100m/200m back and 50/100m fly); Lamar Taylor (men’s 50/100m free, 50/100/200m back and 50/100m fly); Luke Kennedy Thompson (men’s 50/100m breaststroke, 200/400/800m free and 200m IM); Lilly Higgs (50/100/200m breaststroke and 200m IM); Katelyn
PICTURED, from left to right are, Commonwealth Games’ chef de mission Roy Colebrooke, BOC president Romell Knowles and Caribbean Games’ chef de mission Dorian Roach. Cabral (women’s 50/100m butterfly, 50m free and 50/200m backstroke); Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson (women’s 100/200m freestyle, 200m IM and 200m breaststroke); Rhanishka Gibbs (women’s 50/100m freestyle and 50/100m breaststroke). The coaches for the team are Andrew Loveitt and Travano McPhee. Cycling - Felix Neely Jr and Lorin Sawyer. Kenton Roker will be the team’s coach. Triathlon - Armando Moss (men’s sprint). Cameron Roach will be the coach. Wrestling Rashji Mackey (freestyle 92 kilogram) and Thorn Demeritte (freestyle 74 kilogram). The coach will be Clinton Burke. Judo - Cynthia Rahming (women’s 57 kilogram) and Andrew Munnings (men’s 73 kilogram). Willard McKenzie Jr will be selected as the coach. Boxing - Carl Hield (junior middleweight); Rashield Williams (junior welterweight). The coach will be Vincent Strachan. With over 55,000 athletes expected to participate in the games, in addition to the coaches and officials, which should push
the amount to over 75,000, Knowles said it will be very costly and that is one of the reasons why the Bahamas, like every other country, has been presented with a quota to meet. Knowles said they don’t have a qualifying standard for the games and while they are still working on a criteria, they are expected about the team selected, based on the recommendations from the national federations, to represent the Bahamas. And with athletes like Gardiner, Strachan and Charlton heading the list for Team Bahamas, Musgrove said it’s good when the calendars don’t clash and the elite athletes can compete for their country. “We are elated to have this quality and high calibre of athletes competing for the Bahamas for the games this time around,” Musgrove said. Musgrove, who has served as chef de mission for a number of national teams in the past, noted that these games will be like no other due to the COVID-19 restrictions with the Games Village for the athletes divided into three venues, for the athletes with the boxers at the NEC Hotel Campus, swimming and track and field at the University of
Birmingham and the University of Warwick for cycling, triathlon, wrestling and judo. “These games are very, very complex and, as a result of that, the management of these teams will have to pull their weight,” Musgrove said. “Myself and the other management team will be spread very thin ensuring that Team Bahamas has the best possible opportunities in each and every sport to do what they need to do. “We want to create an environment as the management team whereas the coaches and athletes won’t have to worry about anything but to compete to the best of their abilities for the Bahamas over the three villages.” It’s anticipated that it will cost the BOA about $200,000 to cover the expenses of the games for all of the athletes, coaches and officials, including their travel, accommodations, insurances and per diem in Birmingham. “We have a responsibility for the athletes to showcase them in front of the world at no cost to their national federations,” Knowles said. “Thanks to our sponsors, Puma, Olympic Solidarity, Pan Am Sports and the Government of the Bahamas.” Due to the COVID-19, pandemic, Knowles said governments are finding it more difficult to sponsor events like this and so they will have to seek more support from corporate Bahamas to assist the national federations in carrying out their commitments to their athletes and coaches for their international events.
NEW ZEALAND LEADS ENGLAND BY 238 GOING INTO LAST DAY AT TRENT BRIDGE NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — The second test between England and New Zealand was wide open at the end of day four after the Black Caps’ aggressive attempts to create a winning position backfired at times in their second innings at Trent Bridge yesterday. New Zealand reached stumps on 224-7, with a lead of 238, after several batters gave away their wickets in a soft manner — including two sloppy run-outs. The English lost their last five wickets for 23 runs to be dismissed for 539 before lunch and trail by 14 runs after the first innings. Joe Root’s brilliant innings ended on 176, the former captain one of Trent Boult’s five victims. Yet, they now have an improbable shot at the series-clinching victory in Nottingham, having won the first test at Lord’s to start the three-match series. New Zealand made 553 batting first but, remarkably, might not win. There have been only three successful run chases above 200 at Trent Bridge, the highest in 2004 when England’s 284-6 defeated New Zealand. The onus was on New Zealand to
win the test, explaining its attacking mindset in the second innings that was exemplified by Michael Bracewell’s exhilarating 25 off 17 balls. Will Young (56) and Devon Conway (52) made half-centuries. And both will regret how they departed. Young was run out after a mix-up with Daryl Mitchell going for a single, and Conway top-edged a sweep to Jonny Bairstow coming in from square leg, when his reverse-sweeping off spinner Jack Leach had previously been so successful. Tim Southee was the other batter run out after Mitchell turned and started to run blindly for a second, only to stop and leave Southee stranded. The innings started with Tom Latham leaving a delivery from round the wicket from Jimmy Anderson that swung in and splattered the stumps, gifting the veteran paceman the 650th wicket of his test career. Mitchell was 32 not out and Matt Henry unbeaten on 8 at stumps. Earlier, England added 66 runs to its overnight total of 473-5 as Boult, New Zealand’s left-arm fast bowler, claimed his
GAMES
FROM PAGE 14 following athletes and coaches: Athletics (track and field) - Adrian Curry (men’s 100m); Camille Rutherford (women’s 100m); Megan Moss (women’s 400m); Corey Sherrod II (men’s 400m); Oscar Smith (men’s 100m hurdles) and Rhema Otabar (women’s javelin). The coach will be Kennord Mackey. Judo - Danial Strachan (men’s 90 kilogram) and Jasmine Russell (women’s 57 kilogram).
CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE: SENIOR MEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM LOSES 3RD STRAIGHT MATCH THE Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team lost its third consecutive match in CONCACAF Nation’s League play. The team suffered a 4-0 loss last night on the road against Nicaragua in the second game of a home and away series between the two at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua. The home team got a pair of goals from Jaime Moreno (34’ and 45’), and penalties from both Juan Barrera (19’) and Ariagner Smith (74’). The Bahamas went scoreless for the third consecutive game and fell to 1-3 (three points) in the Group C standings. Nicaragua improved to 3-0-1 and leads the group with 10 points. Trinidad and Tobago is second at 3-1 (nine points) while St Vincent and the Grenadines remains winless at 0-3-1 (one point). After a 1-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines at home The Bahamas suffered a 1-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago and a 2-0 loss to Nicaragua in the first matchup between the two teams. The winner of the group is promoted to League A and qualifies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The runner-up goes to the Gold Cup preliminary round.
OTABOR 4TH IN JAVELIN, EARNS FIRST TIME ALL-AMERICAN HONOURS FROM PAGE 14 Nebraska sophomore with 189-3 (57.69m) on her third round and third place finisher Madison Wiltrout, a junior at North Carolina who did 185-3 on her fifth attempt. With her performance, Otabor helped FIU to finish in a four-way tie for 21st in the team standings with Virginia, Oklahoma and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a feat that left Panthers’ head coach Ryan Heberling beaming with excitement. “We’re so proud of Rhema and all that she has accomplished this season,” Heberling said. ”She’s also just scratching the surface of how good she can be. Right now though, it’s a moment she worked so hard for and deserved.”
TRAVIS MUNNINGS AND CLUB WIN LPB TITLE IN PORTUGAL NEW Zealand’s Devon Conway, right, bats during the fourth day of the second cricket test match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England, yesterday. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira) 10th five-wicket haul in test matches. Root started aggressively, hitting a six from a reverse-scoop shot typically seen in white-ball cricket, before hammering Boult to Southee at short extra cover for 176. Root added 13 runs to his overnight score. Mitchell took a diving one-handed catch at slip
Oneysi Portorreal Pons is the coach. Cycling - Felix Neely Jr (road race). Roach, who will travel on the management team with Rickey Davis as the doctor and Jenna Gibson as the physio-therapist, said it has been a long time coming for the staging of the games. “I know for a number of years, we have been trying to put on the Caribbean Games, a games that the English-speaking Caribbean countries can have as their own,” said Roach, a vice president of the BOC. “So we’re excited to see that dream to a fruition in 2022.”
to remove Stuart Broad (9) off the spin bowling of Bracewell. Ben Foakes was run out for 56 after a mix-up with new batter Matthew Potts, who turned back after initially calling for a quick single. Boult (5-106) completed his five-for by bowling Potts through the gate — half of his five-wicket hauls
Roach, who is also the president of the Bahamas Triathlon Association, said they are hoping that the games will be established as one that the athletes can look forward to in the future. The initial games will also include basketball 3-on-3, futsal, swimming and netball, but Roach said they were unable to field any swimmers as the Bahamas Aquatics will be engaged in another event and they won’t have any swimmers available. “This is the first major kind of games after COVID. It’s a youth under-23 age group, so these are our athletes who are preparing for
have come against England — and Anderson (9) was the last man out, stumped off Bracewell. Playing his first test, Bracewell had figures of 3-62. In a bid to fill Trent Bridge for what could be a thrilling final day, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is giving tickets out for free.
the bigger games in the future,” he said. “Guadeloupe is still going through some COVID-19 protocols, but we don’t expect to have any issues. “It’s unfortunate that we don’t have any swimmers and the track and field team is so small, but we have nine athletes who we feel will represent the country very well.” As these games are put on for the Caribbean athletes, Knowles said the Bahamas will support Guadeloupe in making sure that the games are a success and hopefully they can build on what takes place in the future.
FROM PAGE 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Munnings made his pro debut with La Rochelle Stade Rochelais of France’s NM1 League when he averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The following year, he advanced to the LPB and averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for UD Oliveirense. He helped lead the club to a 19-7 regular season record and quarterfinal berth. The following offseason he made the move to Benfica. At the national team level, Munnings recently led The Bahamas to an undefeated FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers performance and participated in the AmeriCup qualifiers in February. He led The Bahamas in scoring in both tournaments as well as led the team in rebounds during the World Cup Americas Pre-Qualifiers.
PAGE 16, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Special Olympics: Athletes bring home medals By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEAM Bahamas returned home after competing in the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. Special Olympics Bahamas claimed six medals and competed in four disciplines at the week-long event, hosted at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The dynamic bocce duo of Vashni Thompson and Stephen Russell won gold in the team event. Individually, Russell won gold in the men’s singles while Thompson won bronze in women’s singles. “It is truly an experience that I’ll never forget,” Russell said. “It was fun to play with [Thompson], she’s really good, she was excited to play and I told her that as long as we kept focusing on the game we would be okay.” Thompson added: “These games were really important to us. We kept our minds focused on training, to pay attention to where the ball needed to be placed. [Russell] helped me to not be nervous, keep my head up high and do what I have to do. He’s an amazing bocce player and I loved working with him.”
In athletics, Deron Forbes won gold in the 400m and was fifth in the 200m. “I feel blessed. They call me the 400m champ,” he said. “We have good fellowship, good teamwork, good coaches, good support and good fans.” In bowling, Bronson Aranha won bronze in the men’s singles division M12 while Austin Green placed fourth in men’s singles division M5. They placed seventh in doubles. “My experience was great,” Green said. “I had a really good time, met some new friends, met some new coaches and I learned new things on this trip. The competition was good but at the end of the day I did my best.” The soccer team won gold and defeated Special Olympics Ohio 4-3 in the tournament finale. “I’m very happy that I get to take a gold medal back to Grand Bahama,” soccer player Justin Miller said. “The teams were pretty hard, there were times when I thought we were going to lose but we had to pull through.” Head coach Mark Hardy said the athletes excelled both on and off the field. “The team has done fantastic. We set a few goals, having fun, meeting new
TEAM Bahamas has returned home after competing in the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The team brought home six medals after competing in four disciplines during the week-long event which was hosted at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. people, building teamwork and camaraderie and we were able to achieve all of those,” he said. “The team had a fantastic time, made good friends so it was just a wonderful time, absolutely brilliant.” The event featured more than 5,500 athletes competing in front of nearly 130,000 spectators and supporters. This edition marked the first year that international countries were invited to participate in the Special Olympics USA Games. Gilbert Williams, national director for Special Olympics Bahamas, lauded the performances of the team across all disciplines, and thanked the Bahamian public for their support of
the programme. “The team performed extremely well in Orlando, and outside of those performances, the athletes thoroughly enjoyed themselves. “For many of them this was their first time travelling to the USA, for some of them this was their first time at Disney, entering the parks and for others this was their first time competing internationally,” he said. “With all that being said, it was a great competition, a great time and it deserves a great celebration. “We appreciate all the support that we have gotten thus far and with your continued support, our athletes will continue to shine and make The Bahamas proud,” he added.
7 ATHLETES TO GET $1,000 EACH A MONTH FROM PAGE 14
THE 53RD Annual Long Island Regatta took place at Salt Pond over the holiday weekend, with Sands sponsoring the Class A Sailing.
LONG ISLAND REGATTA RETURNS WITH MAJOR SANDS SPONSORSHIP REGATTAS are back! One of the country’s major cultural expressions has returned in full force and the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company Ltd. (BBB) is proud to be back in support. With roots deeply woven into the fabric of Bahamian culture, Sands - the country’s truly Bahamian beer - has long been a staple of island festivals and regattas. After a nearly two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, the government announced the resumption of island regattas which saw thousands of Bahamians converge on Long Island for four days of boat races, Bahamian music performances and, of course, authentic Bahamian food and drink. “Sands is the truly Bahamian beer and so we work to remain connected to aspects of everyday Bahamian life that promote authentic Bahamian culture” explained BBB marketing manager for Sands, Valderez Miller, who was on the island for the start of the 53rd Annual Long Island Island Regatta which took place June 1-4. This year’s festivities
attracted scores of the country’s best sailors and top-notch vessels to participate across categories ranging from Class A to G. “The rules require that all participating vessels be locally designed, built, and sailed by Bahamians so each regatta season is an opportunity to test the competitive spirit of sailors while also preserving the boat-building skills that have been passed down through generations,” said Tanya Farquharson, president of the Long Islanders’ Association. “We are so pleased to have the support of brands like Sands who see the value in making sure that Bahamian traditions like regattas survive through the years,” she said. As a major sponsor of the races, Sands provided the prize money for boaters participating in the Class A category. During a cheque presentation held at Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits’ East Bay Street location, officials presented the Long Islanders’ Association with $8500.00. “We’re anticipating fierce competition from all the sailors,” Farquharson noted
PRIZE MONEY - Sands, the country’s Truly Bahamian Beer Brand donated $8500.00 to the Long Island Association as part of its support of this year’s Regatta festivities. The funds were used as prize money for winners of the Class A races. Photos courtesy of Sands for Barefoot Marketing) before the regatta. “After was skippered by Keith that beer-lovers can expect being away for so long, we Brown, and the ‘Running over the summer. “We are know that all of the sailors Tide’, skippered by Stefan excited about what is in will be prepared to take Knowles. After hours on store for the Sands brands home the trophies, money, the water, the crew of the and the community,” said and bragging rights.” ‘New Legend’ claimed the Miller. As expected, the com- coveted first position with “We hope to build on the petitors did not disappoint. ‘Ed Sky’ and ‘Good News’ relationships we’ve estabAmong participants in this placing second and third. lished and work with our year’s Class A category, For Sands, and the Baha- partners to integrate ourwere: the ‘New Legend’, mian Brewery and Beverage selves into almost every skippered by David Company, sponsorship of aspect of Bahamian society Knowles, the ‘Ed Sky’, skip- this major regatta event is and we invite supporters of pered by James Wallace, the first of many unique the brand to come along for the ‘Good News’ which and strategic partnerships the ride.”
from swimming; Devynne Charlton, Samson Colebrooke, Wendell Miller and Kendrick Thompson from athletics (track and field), Rashji Mackey from wrestling and Justin Roberts from tennis. Knowles said the athletes were selected based on the recommendations from the various national federations and a committee within the BOC selected the talents based on their talent or who has the highest level of potential to qualify in their particular sport. “That information is then sent on to the Olympic Solidarity, who then send it on to international federations from the various sport,” Knowles said. “The International Federation has to approve that athlete. If they approve it, the Olympic Solidarity would accept it.” The athletes will be getting the same amount as athletes from around the world. But at any point, Knowles said the fund could be stopped if any athlete is in violation of doping or if they are not consistent in their training process. “Ther BOC can stop it at any time. There are monthly policy reports and the IOC can question it or they can stop it,” Knowles said. “The whole idea is to help those athletes with the greatest financial need or the highest potential to qualify for the (Olympic) games.” While there are some athletes whom many feel should be considered for selection, Knowles said they tried to select the best possible athletes from the Bahamas to participate in the two-year programme. The programme, according to Knowles, will officially begin as the athletes receive their first pay cheque of $1,000 for the first month.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 17
Wiggins delivers on both ends, Warriors beat Celtics 104-94 By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andrew Wiggins delivered the biggest game yet in his eight-year career with 26 points and 13 rebounds, Klay Thompson scored 21 points and the Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 104-94 last night for a 3-2 NBA Finals lead. Stephen Curry contributed 16 points and eight assists but was 0 for 9 from 3-point range. The career 3-point leader’s NBA-record streak of 132 straight postseason games with at least one 3 ended, along with his NBAbest run of 233 consecutive games with a 3 between regular season and playoffs combined. Exhibiting a determined confidence and grit all evening, Wiggins drove through the lane for an emphatic one-handed slam with 2:10 left to cap his brilliant performance on both ends. The Warriors can win their
fourth title in eight years when the series resumes in Boston on Thursday night. If the Celtics can win at home, the series will return to the Bay Area for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday. All five games so far have been decided by 10 or more points. Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost consecutive games for the first time in the postseason. Marcus Smart was whistled for a technical foul then an offensive foul in a onesecond span early in the fourth. He overcame a slow start to score 20 points. Jordan Poole knocked down a 33-foot 3 from the left wing to beat the third-quarter buzzer as the Warriors took a 75-74 lead into the final 12 minutes after the Celtics roared back in the third. The Celtics found their own third-quarter magic that has long defined
BOWLEG FROM PAGE 14
Kai Jones of the Charlotte Hornets. The qualifier, according to Bowleg, is just one of the many events that heralds the “Sports in Paradise” schedule over the next few months, including the Hoop Fest Basketball Tournament in December when Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James is expected to make an appearance to watch his son play. Bowleg also commended National Football League player Michael Strachan of the Indianapolis Colts for spearheading a list of NFL stars that participated in the inaugural Bahamas AllPro Celebrity weekend that also featured Michael Vick, former quarterback and 2010 Comeback Player of the Year; Los Angeles Charges’ Keenan Allen, a fivetime Pro Bowler and Rashad Fenton, Melvin Ingram and DJ Swearinger., The event was staged on the heels of the Cleveland Browns O-Line players training camp, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. The Bahamas and its Caribbean director Greg Burrows are preparing to stage the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball
Championships, featuring teams from the United States, China, the Caribbean and Cuba, at the newly refurbished Baillou Hills playing field. It’s expected that more than 20 teams in the under-12 and under-6 age group categories will participate in the five-day tournament from July 7-11. Bowleg also signified the commitment by the North American, Central American and Caribbean, headed by Mike Sands, to take their NACAC Track and Field Championships to Grand Bahama August 19-21 at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex. Next year, Bowleg revealed that NACAC will bring the 50th edition of the CARIFTA Games to the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend. The government has earmarked $1 million to ensure that the event is a success. In their Blueprint for Change, Bowleg also disclosed that a technical team will be going to the World Athletics’ World Championships in July in Eugene, Oregon to present their formal communication to have the World Relays return to the Bahamas. Athletes’ Subvention Having heard the cry of the professional and amateur athletes,
O MN O ’S I I By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist GOLF is in the early days of a bitter showdown between the established PGA Tour and an upstart series backed by the repressive Saudi regime, which hopes that throwing around billions will help people forget about its appalling human rights record. If history is any indication, there are unlikely to be any real winners in this battle of the links. IndyCar is still struggling to overcome an ugly rebellion from the 1990s. The NBA’s growth was undoubtedly stifled by its nearly decades-long challenge from the American Basketball Association. The NHL endured plenty of harsh blows while fending off the World Hockey Association. It’s hard to see how golf emerges in a stronger position from its own civil war. “I tossed and turned and lost a lot of sleep last week thinking about what could potentially happen,” said Justin Thomas, who has stuck with the PGA Tour but conceded Monday to fretting about the game’s future. “I grew up my entire life wanting to play the PGA Tour, wanting to break records, make history, play Presidents Cups, play Ryder Cups,” he went on. “The fact that things like that could potentially get hurt because of some of the people that are leaving, and if more go, it’s just sad. It’s
Golden State’s success in the second half. Boston trailed 51-39 at the break before charging back with a 35-point outburst in the third. Al Horford hit a goahead 3-pointer with 6:28 left in the period that made it 58-55 as the Celtics finally found their shooting groove from deep. Grant Williams’ three-point play at 3:55 gave Boston a 66-61 lead. That was Boston’s eighth straight made 3 after missing the initial 12. Jaylen Brown was 2 for 11 to start the game and finished with 18 points on 5-of-18 shooting and missed all five of his 3-point tries. Tatum gave Boston its first 3-pointer on the night 4:34 before halftime and the Celtics were 11 of 32 from deep overall. Golden State wound up 9 of 40 from beyond the arc — Wiggins 0 of 6. Draymond Green had eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists before fouling out with 3:01 remaining.
really no other way to say it. It just makes me sad.” LIV Golf launched this past week with a threeday tournament outside London, presenting itself as an exciting new alternative to the staid ol’ game -- as long as everyone is willing to ignore those who are writing the enormous checks. For now, the PGA Tour seems to have the clear upper hand, with nearly all the top players staying put, far more exposure through its lucrative television deals, and a longstanding history as the prime destination for any pro golfer. The new tour has faced plenty of scorn from those who view it as a second-rate organisation for over-thehill and never-were players looking to cash in on riches beyond their wildest dreams. Rory McIlroy took plenty of not-so-subtle jabs at LIV Golf after his victory Sunday in a compelling Canadian Open, having held off two more of the world’s top-ranked players in Thomas and Tony Finau. “I think it had all the ingredients,” McIlroy said. “It had the golf course. It had the cast of players that you would want to be up there. It had the calibre of golf. And it had the atmosphere. You had everything this week to have a really top-class golf event. “It doesn’t get much better than that.” Of course, McIlroy’s glowing assessment of
KLAY’S DAY Thompson shot 7 for 14 with 5 3-pointers in another shining playoff moment. Monday marked exactly three years since Thompson tore the ACL in his left knee and had surgery before later tearing his right Achilles tendon while working back from the first injury — forcing him to miss more than 2 1/2 years. Thompson was hurt in the deciding Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals as Toronto clinched the franchise’s first championship playing on the Warriors’ previous home floor in Oracle Arena. Entering Game 5, Thompson’s 35.8% shooting was the lowest for any NBA Finals he has played, and he is making just 34.2% from deep — down from 58.5% on 3s in the 2019 finals. HALF-CENTURY MARK In a trip down memory lane, Steve Kerr coached the Warriors on the 25th
who have been pleading for support, Bowleg stated that his ministry will supply a total of $1.4 million into the Elite Athletes Programme to assist more than 100 athletes across 11 different sporting disciplines, inclusive of track and field, swimming, tennis, boxing, cycling, judo, volleyball, basketball, bodybuilding/fitness, golf and baseball. “The objective of the ‘Elite Athlete Subvention Programme’ is to provide financial assistance to our athletes, to reduce the financial burden of cost associated with their training and competition expenses,” he said. “This financial assistance programme has proven to be of valuable importance to our elite and developing athletes, as they are now able to focus more on their development rather than having to concern themselves about where the next dollar is coming from.” Under the (Philip) Davis led administration, Bowleg said they think different and knows the benefits of investing in the country’s athletes, coaches and other stakeholders. “Sports is one of the vehicles we are going to use to build a better tomorrow,” he stated. “To build and prepare our athletes for the world stage, we must start the search at home.”
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anniversary of his gamewinning shot in Game 6 of NBA Finals as the Bulls beat the Jazz to clinch Chicago’s fifth championship. He thought back to that special moment before the game. “An incredible memory obviously. Something every young basketball player dreams of. So to be able to live that was pretty amazing,” Kerr said, smiling. “And then the fact that it’s 25 years ago just makes me feel old, of course.” TIP-INS Celtics: Robert Williams III had 10 points and eight rebounds, starting and playing without limits for the Celtics after aggravating his surgically repaired left knee in Game 4. Boston held a
Bahamas Games To that end, Bowleg said they have commissioned a Bahamas Games Secretariat, headed by former Director of Sports, Martin Lundy, who along with his team, are actively and aggressively engaged in assessing, formulating, and executing plans for the return of an exciting and highly competitive Bahamas Games.” The games, known as the Bahamas Jubilee Games, are scheduled for July 5-16, 2023 in collaboration with the Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary of Independence. It’s expected, according to Bowleg, that 16 sporting disciplines, including softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, field and beach soccer, indoor and beach volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing and golf, will take place. Teams and islands expected to participate are New Providence, Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador and MICAL - Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island and Long Cay. It will be the sixth edition of the mini-Olympic style games that got started in 1989 and continued
O RO
RORY MCILROY, of Northern Ireland, hoists the trophy after winning the Canadian Open golf tournament in Toronto on Sunday. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) the PGA Tour event was meant to imply that LIV Golf’s inaugural, 54-hole tournament -- which featured shotgun starts, no cut, neon-coloured scoreboards, a team competition, and a staggering $4.75 million prize to the winner -- was lacking all the elements that really mattered. There was certainly no denying the field in Canada was much more impressive than the one in England, where Charl Schwartzel (the 2011 Masters champion and No. 125 in the world ranking) held on for a one-stroke victory over fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis (ranked 134th). It was Schwartzel’s first victory on any tour in more than six years. All snickering aside over the quality of its players, LIV Golf has made some surprising inroads into the PGA Tour’s talent base.
GOLDEN State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Francisco last night. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson caught everyone off guard by joining the upstart tour. Major winners Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are coming aboard, too, planning to make their debuts at LIV’s first U.S. event in Portland, Oregon, starting on June 30. And, of course, it was Phil Mickelson who led the way, even after using a derogatory expletive to describe the Saudis and acknowledging they have a “horrible record on human rights.” Others are sure to follow after seeing Schwartzel win more money in three days than he had in the previous four years. Mickelson, who received a reported $200 million to sign up with the Saudis, defended his decision again yesterday — it’s all about the money, if there was any doubt — and held out hope
23-21 rebounding edge in the first half and finished 47-39 on the boards. Warriors: Gary Payton II had 15 points off the bench and Poole 14. The Warriors missed their initial four 3-point tries before Thompson connected at the 5:14 mark of the first. ... Otto Porter Jr started for a second straight game with Kevon Looney coming off the bench. SILVER SIDELINED NBA Commissioner Adam Silver missed the game, entering the league’s health and safety protocols. The NBA didn’t offer further details, such as specifying whether Silver tested positive for COVID-19 or was a close contact with someone who had.
in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001 when the last one took place. Special Olympians praised Bowleg also commended the Bahamas Special Olympics on their return home on Sunday from Orlando, Florida where they dominated the Special Olympics USA Games. The 23-member delegation, inclusive of Vashni Thompson, Austin Green, Bronson Aranha, Stephen Russell and Deron Forbes, was praised for their stellar performance. Bowleg said Bahamas Special Olympics president Gilbert Williams and the entire administration team, parents and volunteers must be commended for their hard work. He also singled out the men’s national soccer team that he watched on Friday night at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium where they played and lost 2-0 to Nicaragua. The team played their home game in the series on Monday night in Nicaragua, losing 4-0. Bowleg also announced that he will not forget his constituency of Garden Hills and will stage the annual Mario Bowleg Care Summer Camp June 27 to July 1 where participants will learn the fundamentals of the games of basketball, volleyball, baseball and swimming.
E NO RE that he would be allowed to play on both tours. But the PGA Tour is playing hardball, suspending LIV players who didn’t voluntarily give up their memberships. Lefty wants his cake, and everyone else’s piece, too. “I’ve earned that lifetime membership (on the PGA Tour), so I think it should be my choice,” said Mickelson, whose debunked image as the “People’s Champion” has earned its place among the great frauds in sporting history. How it all shakes out is anyone’s guess, but the IndyCar split in the mid1990s might provide some useful guidance. Open-wheel racing had risen to unprecedented heights while governed by CART, but Tony George controlled the biggest event in the series -- the Indianapolis 500 -- and wanted more say in how things were run. So, he launched the rival Indy Racing League and, of course, made the 500 the centerpiece of his new series. Most of the top teams stayed in CART for several years, but the lure of Indy eventually became too costly to ignore. The leading drivers began migrating to the IRL, which put the more established series out of business in 2008 but emerged in a much weaker position than CART’s glory days. One has to wonder if LIV Golf’s enormously deep pockets and seeming
INNERS willingness to flush hundreds of millions down the drain to serve the greater purpose of improving Saudi Arabia’s image will provide a crucial bargaining chip against the PGA Tour, much like the 500 was in IndyCar war. Not to mention, if the major championships allow those suspended from the PGA Tour to continue playing in golf’s four biggest events -- which is the case this week at the U.S. Open and will likely be the same at next month’s British Open -- the PGA Tour will look even less attractive to those who can make far more money on the new tour. In the end, it may not matter if the PGA Tour repels LIV Golf (as the NBA and NHL did when faced with rival leagues) or the upstart tour manages to run the established organization out of business (a la IndyCar). The NBA and NHL emerged from their challenges with plenty of ugly scars, from huge financial losses to relocated franchises (in hockey’s case, two franchises were even forced to merge). Those wounds eventually healed. But it took a while. Which is more than we can say for IndyCar, which is still trying to clean up the mess left by its split more than a quarter-century ago. Now it’s golf that appears headed down the same, self-destructive path.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 19
AIRLINES BATTLE COMPETING FORCES ON PRICE INCREASES FROM PAGE 24 but not all, the impact from rising fuel prices, he told this newspaper: “Everybody is trying to cope with it. It’s [the cost increase] inevitable, it’s here and persons are simply working through it. It’s an amazing thing. “Right now we have a myriad of challenges and the operators are trying to survive in the midst of it. We have staff members depending on us to maintain their employment. There’s a genuine commitment on the part of operators to work through it. We have to eat some costs but, in a lot of cases,
we have to work with staff members even if they have to be flexible with their work hours. “There are other challenges with it. The families are being impacted very severely and, if you extend that to the Family Islands, a lot of folks have members there who are depending on them. We’ve had that issue. It’s a matter of doing the best we can to keep them engaged even if it’s flexi-time,” Mr Hamilton continued. “There’s a great deal of uncertainty with it, but we’re looking at the bright end of it, and hope to ride it out. Fortunately, in this
situation, with the staff a lot of them are very conscious of how vulnerable this industry is so they’re prepared to work with you.” Confirming that air fare rises were inevitable amid an environment of escalating costs, the Southern Air chief added: “In some instance some operators had to resort to increasing ticket prices. Aviation the world over right now is experiencing its extra share of challenges. “I would say it’s a minimal increase where we’re simply trying to offset costs because we have to pass that on to some degree, otherwise the operator won’t
be there. It’s extremely difficult. By no stretch of the imagination is it a small thing. Prior to COVID-19 industry challenges existed, and then you couple that with fuel increases, because fuel is a major part of the cost to run an operation. “It’s a day-to-day thing. We’re making adjustments to ensure we can remain in the system because the service we provide is vital to society at large to help the economy to get back. It’s better to stay in the game and fight than fail to stay in it. We’ve given consideration to what the market is able to carry at this point. We’re hoping that we can
ride out of this some time soon. All eyes are watching. It’s very competitive and our margins are very slim.” However, Bahamian aviation operators received some comfort at the weekend after the US eliminated the mandatory COVID test requirement for returning citizens and travellers to enter its borders, thereby ending one obstacle to travel and the free movement of people. “Anything that would decrease challenges with regard to travel is a positive thing,” Mr Hamilton added. “There’s no question about that. If they are ensuring movement there
are quite naturally benefits to be derived from that. Volume movement is a good thing for the industry. “We hope we have a quick response to it, but that’s predicated on the financial ability of the customer base to afford travel. We’ve spoken a lot about pent-up demand, and the ability to engage and capitalise on this is important. What we have now is access, but affordability is another aspect in terms of them being able to capitalise on it. It’s all in the mix to stimulate things a bit, and we look forward to getting some positive results from it.”
RAND AHAMA TO E ‘ RAND A A N’ FROM PAGE 24 “Grand Bahama getting all these projects, you put all the pieces of the puzzle together, if all come through Grand Bahama is going to be grand again. There’s hope for the first time. The truth of the matter is if you sat around with locals at the restaurant, instead of everyone complaining, for the first time there’s hope all these projects will come to fruition although I know we’ve been down this road before.” Real estate prices in Freeport and wider Grand Bahama “bottomed out” as a result of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, and then the COVID-19 pandemic, making them attractive versus elsewhere in The Bahamas
and Caribbean. Mr Sarles, though, suggested that many persons had previously been deterred by questions over why the island was failing to thrive despite its US proximity and existing infrastructure. Describing Grand Bahama as having “always been the diamond in the rough”, Mr Sarles said that while the promised investments “will not make a dent in Nassau” they would “stimulate a lot of activity for a small population” such as Grand Bahama’s if six to seven were to occur at the same time. Meanwhile Alex Thompson, of Island Living Real Estate, estimated that undeveloped land prices and rental rates on Grand Bahama had increased by up to 25 percent in the last
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that MAKEDA ETIENNE of Marsh Harbour, Abaco, 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 14th day of June, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that NARILIEN MERISIER of P.O. Box AP-59247, Cowpen 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 14th day of June, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
quarter. “Investor confidence is up in Grand Bahama,” she said, adding that Dorian has focused significant attention on the island. “We were centre stage and now people saw for themselves what this ‘second city’ had to offer. An efficiently planned city, below market priced properties, access to miles of unspoiled beaches and intricate canal waterways. Everyone finally noticed that what you would pay in Nassau, you can get triple that in property value in Grand Bahama.” Referring to Carnival’s cruise port, she added: “Even though it is 20 miles away from the heart of the island, it will create its own demands. Contractors working on the
project will need places to stay, places to eat, they’ll need transportation, offices, administrative staff. “These monumental projects will also have heads of management, engineers and project directors needing to relocate to the island, so the rental market, which is already strained, will see continued increases in demand. We’ve not had a major investment like this in a very long time. We have always talked about potential in Grand Bahama. Now the potential is real. “ Royal Caribbean and Carnival are also investing $350m in the transformation of Grand Bahama Shipyard with two floating docks that will accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships for maintenance
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, Khadera Zinzi Wright (mother) of #67 Trotter Avenue, Freeport Grand Bahama, Bahamas, parent of KHADENN TA’SHAWN ELVIRO GARDINER a minor, intends to change his name to KHADENN TA’SHAWN WRIGHT. 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, New Providence, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
and repairs. “Throughout the island we see demand increasing and values rising in all areas - in residential, in commercial, in beachfront,” Ms Thompson said. “Before the 2019 hurricane, we had a surplus of listings, now we are short in every stream. “We are a hot commodity right now. Even older condos that sat for years are being sold.. We’ve got over 40 beaches and no matter where you are, you are never more than 15 minutes away from any one of them. Ten cars on the road
is what we call a traffic jam and there’s only about six stop lights throughout the island. Grand Bahama is no longer the illusion of the magic city, it’s all now very, very real.”
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NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that WINIE MANDELLA BEAUBRUN of P. O. Box N-10584, Mount Royal Avenue, 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 14th day of June, 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, 13 JUNE 2022
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:
CLOSE
CHANGE
%CHANGE
YTD
YTD%
2445.69
13.21
0.54
217.45
9.76
(242) 323 2330 (242) 323 2320
BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.70 53.00 2.05 2.61 2.60 6.10 10.05 3.89 9.02 3.10 8.00 16.60 2.65 10.28 11.25 10.85 15.80 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 5.95 9.75 1.99 7.05 10.02 9.55 13.10 3.50 8.19 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 2.35 2.47 6.10 9.75 3.54 8.15 2.82 8.00 16.00 2.90 10.26 11.91 10.85 15.20 3.98 10.00 15.50
CLOSE 5.35 39.95 2.04 2.35 2.47 6.10 9.75 3.89 8.15 2.82 8.00 16.00 2.66 10.26 11.63 10.85 15.80 3.98 10.00 15.50
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.24) 0.00 (0.28) 0.00 0.60 0.00 0.00 0.00
VOLUME
1,000 2,000
1,000
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 16.8 N/M N/M 26.4 -8.9 58.2 15.3 17.8 22.2 26.1 22.0 18.0 14.9 19.4 19.6 10.6 24.6
YIELD 3.18% 3.15% 0.98% 3.40% 0.00% 0.00% 2.67% 0.00% 0.00% 4.26% 2.75% 4.50% 16.32% 0.58% 2.82% 2.21% 3.42% 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
10
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)
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that GARY LARAMORE of East Storrs Ct., Yellow Elder Gardens, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 14th day of June, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
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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 99.98 100.26 100.53 100.54 100.34 100.00 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) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.66 100.71 100.53 100.43 100.34 100.23 100.00 100.00 100.98 100.00
104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.98 100.26 100.28 100.43 100.04 100.00 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 FL BGRS71023 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 BSBGRS710237 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 99.98 100.26 100.53 100.54 100.34 100.00 89.62 100.00 100.00 100.00
6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.53% 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 22-Oct-2023 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
PAGE 20, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
FORMER CRUISE DESTINATION CHIEF LOSES $335K CLAIM FROM PAGE 24 financial risks associated with start-up ventures and the difficulties they often encounter in becoming established. And Ms Fitzcharles found Mr Bain himself partially responsible for Pearl Island’s initial cash flow difficulties because he was late in seeking to recover a $30,520 debt owed to the company by cruise giant, Royal Caribbean, for use of the destination by its passengers. She determined that, based on his resignation letter, Mr Bain had decided to move on regardless of whether he was paid his due salary because he informed his employer and a client he planed to “pursue business opportunities globally and locally”. Consistent with this, within three-and-ahalf months the ex-Atlantis executive had formed his own rival tour business that was competing directly with Pearl Island for cruise tourism passengers. “In fact, it appears Mr Bain took less time to get established than Pearl did with its business, which demonstrated a remarkable presence of resources and organisation on his part,” Ms Fitzcharles concluded. “It is noteworthy that Mr Bain stressed that his concern was to get paid, but he left Pearl Island (a start-up venture with all its typical risks) to go into yet another start-up venture. “A key difference between the two jobs was that the second start-up venture was his. The Tribunal is not convinced that Mr Bain resigned primarily because he was not paid.
He may have been influenced by that factor, but the majority of his material representations about why he was leaving Pearl, backed up by his actions at, around and within months after the time of his resignation...... was to pursue good business opportunities.” The Industrial Tribunal’s finding that Mr Bain resigned, and was not constructively dismissed, also proved fatal to his unfair dismissal claim. The verdict recalled how he was enticed to leave Atlantis, and join the Pearl Island start-up, in 2015 via a contract that stipulated he was to be paid a basic salary of $6,500 per month or $78,000 per annum. Besides a 2.5 percent annual cost of living adjustment, Mr Bain’s employment terms also provided that he would receive a $2.50 per head commission for all cruise ship passenger sales under 200 persons and $3 per head above that benchmark. Commissions were also due on all other booked visitor business plus harbour cruises, and he was offered a 5 percent equity interest in Pearl Island upon payment of $50,000. The contract stated that Mr Bain’s employment took effect on January 4, 2016, and “shall apply by way of a fixed term for not less than five years”. He was also required to give four weeks’ notice if he resigned. Mr Bain’s initial months were spent sorting out VAT, National Insurance Board (NIB) and Business Licence registration. Pearl Island only started catering to cruise passengers, and opened its bank account at CIBC FirstCaribbean
International Bank (Bahamas), in July 2016. “In its starting months, it seems particularly in July through September 2016, the progress was slow and difficult for Pearl, and the company had oftentimes to look to the partners to contribute significant funds to cover payroll and expenses and other bills,” the Industrial Tribunal found. “A perusal of the bank statement produced in the evidence [of Mr Bain] showed an example of significant funds injected from time to time into the business by one of the shareholders, Olivier Notz. Further, Mr Rebmann [Pearl Island’s managing partner] testified that he injected over $1m into the business and there were 25 investors with an interest. “He testified that the business eventually overcame its start-up difficulties, became profitable and within weeks after Mr Bain departed, all staff were paid.” The Industrial Tribunal said Pearl Island’s equity investors sought to wean the business off their injections of capital to cover payroll and other expenses once it opened to paying cruise passengers in July 2016. “The company had problems in the flow of finances because, among other reasons, Royal Caribbean had patronised the island but owed [Pearl] a relatively large debt of some $30,520,” the verdict added. “Mr Bain was responsible for the collection of these funds and promised the partners on August 8, 2016, that he would ‘follow up with them to determine when’ Pearl would be paid.”
Royal Caribbean was supposed to pay within two to three weeks of the relevant tour/excursion experience being provided to its guests, and Pearl Island was supposed to inform it immediately if no payment was forthcoming within 20 days of an invoice. Both Mr Bain and Pearl Island, via Mr Rebmann, acknowledged there were delays in paying employees at the outset but attributed this to different causes. Mr Rebmann “felt Henry Bain, having promised Pearl’s partners he could produce $1m in revenues, did not produce the level of cruise business (up to the time he resigned) that was needed to get the operation functioning smoothly,” the Industrial Tribunal added. Mr Bain, though, argued that Mr Rebmann’s decision to rely solely on the cruise business to cover payroll was at the root of the problem given that this was then generating insufficient revenue. “The Tribunal is of the view that having only had roughly two months of meaningful commercial activity by mid-September, it is clear that Mr Bain would have to strive with the company for a longer period to bring the dream of profitability to reality,” the verdict read. “The Tribunal accepts that there was some local and touristic business apart from the cruise business, but based upon the bank records produced Pearl did not generate sufficient earnings from these non-cruise passenger activities to cover all expenses and payroll in the difficult July through September 20-16 period.
“Demonstrably, from a study of the bank statements produced at trial, the funds Pearl earned from non-cruise passenger business, such as were generated from events involving local guests, were not sufficient on their own to keep the business afloat. At trial, [Mr Bain] admitted it was fair to say that Pearl’s business model anticipated that its bottom line would be rendered by cruise passenger business.” Mr Bain sent Mr Rebmann, Mr Notz and Stephen Bellot, Pearl Island’s chief executive, an August 8, 2016, e-mail where he raised several “urgent” concerns. These included rental fees for use of the island and its facilities that were owed to the landlord/owner, ALCO Holdings, a company owned by Bahamian businessman, Al Collie, plus a suggestion that the company was overstaffed and “terminations should be carried out”. Many of these concerns were rejected by Mr Rebmann that same day, who argued that “double staff” were needed to avoid paying overtime. He added Royal Caribbean’s failure to promptly pay what was owed was “disastrous”, while Pearl Island needed four cruise lines to be profitable. The managing partner said the destination also needed to do a better job getting its brand identity and name out among hotels, boat captains and tourists. “We have a one of a kind product. All it takes is getting the word out. This we will not be able to do in 90 days. We already have 5,700 Facebook likes; we are on the right route. I will try to raise further money to
support us,” Mr Rebmann said. A September 12, 2016, meeting was held to discuss the issues raised in the e-mail exchange. Several Pearl Island investors, including Mr Notz and Alain Bureau, were present and one said some $650,000 had been invested in the project over the the three months since July that year and they wanted a better accounting of how it had been spent. Total monthly expenses for the development were pegged at between $200,000 to $250,000. The Industrial Tribunal found Mr Bain said nothing at the meeting about his outstanding salary, yet he submitted his resignation the very next day giving only three days’ notice when the contract required one month. He also agreed, during the trial, that Pearl Island had paid around $45,000 of the $52,000 salary due to him when he resigned, leaving a balance of just $7,125 that was unpaid. Pearl Island conceded that Mr Bain was entitled to his salary and commissions earned prior to his September 16, 2016, departure. The Industrial Tribunal agreed, awarding him the $7,125 plus $2,065 in commissions for the 826 cruise guests brought to the destination at $2.50 per head. A further $4,875 was awarded for accrued vacation pay, and $1,733 for holiday pay, taking Mr Bain’s total compensation to $15,798. However, he was “not entitled” to the $335,000 claimed for constructive dismissal on the basis that he resigned and did not give the one month’s notice as required under his contract.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TEPRO TECHNICAL PRODUCTION COMPANY LIMITED In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, TEPRO TECHNICAL PRODUCTION COMPANY LIMITED is in dissolution as of June 10, 2022. International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator. LIQUIDATOR ______________________ LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
HIGHTON INVEST LTD.
VERDE FLEUR INC.
Notice is given hereby in accordance with Section 138(8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, the dissolution of HIGHTON INVEST LTD. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Registrar.
In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, VERDE FLEUR INC. is in dissolution as of June 8, 2022. International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.
Aegis Corporate Services Limited Building 6, Caves Village West Bay Street P.O. Box SP-63771 Nassau, Bahamas Liquidator
LIQUIDATOR ______________________
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
RAY AND CINDI INVESTMENTS LTD.
DEEP THALASSA LIMITED
THREE OAKS LIMITED
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a) RAY AND CINDI INVESTMENTS LTD. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(a) DEEP THALASSA LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(a) THREE OAKS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 13th June, 2022 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 8th June, 2022 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Dizame Consulting S.A., Pasea Estate, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
(c) The Liquidator of the said company is CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas
(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 13th June, 2022 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas Dated this 14th day of June, 2022 _________________________________ Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator
Dated this 14th day of June, A. D. 2022 _________________________________ Dizame Consulting S.A. Liquidator
Dated this 14th day of June, A. D. 2022 _____________________________________ CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator
THE TRIBUNE
‘TA E ULL
THE HORNS’
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 21
M FOR A R CULTURE
a light at the end of the tunnel for some.” The 2022-2023 Budget shows a 31 percent increase in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs’ “food security” budget on the recurrent side, with the near-$1.5m rise taking this from $4.69m to $6.149m in the upcoming fiscal period. That sum is projected to increase slightly over the following two fiscal years, hitting $6.2m in 2023-2024 and $6.3m in 2024-2025. However, just $221,782 of the $4.69m allocation for the current 2021-2022 fiscal year had been spent in the nine months to end-March this year. And, while a further $1m has also been provided for “food security” in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs’ capital budget for 2022-2023, this represents a year-overyear reduction of almost two-thirds compared to the $2.985m allocated for the same purpose in 2021-2022. Of that latter figure, some $1.468m had been spent in the nine months to endMarch 2022. The Davis administration has also held subsidies for the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) constant with 2021-2022 levels at $5m an allocation that will be repeated in the two subsequent fiscal years through
to end-June 2025. Funding for the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is also being kept relatively flat for 2022-2023 at $6.476m, and is another line item expected to change little moving forward. Given the fiscal realities, the Davis administration also appears to be focusing on attracting private capital to help underwrite agriculture’s revival as shown by yesterday’s $3m Israeli partnership. But, asked whether the increased Budget financing for agriculture is sufficient to accomplish the Government’s objectives, Ms Shepherd replied: “No, no, no. This does not. “This increase in the funding will not in any which way be sufficient to accomplish what the Government intends to do, and this is a token that is being handed out to a few farmers who are in the industry and maybe some new persons coming on the block. This definitely does not reflect significant intentional growth for agriculture. “Here it is. We’ve been agitating for the farmers to get assistance. Fine. We’ve already expressed what the farming industry needs to be able to have a significant and productive increase. I know people laugh at me when I say we need $100m, but if we are 40 years behind in the agricultural sector, in order for us to move from
one stage to another you cannot spoon feed the agriculture sector and expect it to produce what you want it to produce,” Ms Shepherd argued. “It’s just not going to work. We have to take the bull by the horns, and decide in our minds that we’re going to put serious funding behind the sector so that we can propel it to where we’d like it to go. We will need to be able to support ourselves, and if we do not put the work in now, years down the road we’re going to be in the same situation that we are in now.” Without the necessary investment, Ms Shepherd said The Bahamas will be “still spinning the same wheel that is not moving; that is moving extremely slow in the direction we would like it to go. We need to make it so that we are able to harness this industry, and have it work for us, and not pet it on the side and pamper it on the side. We need to harness it and make it work for us”. Suggesting that The Bahamas sometimes did not obtain the best-quality food via its import dependency, which was consuming ever-increasing quantities of foreign exchange to purchase, Ms Shepherd said, with the surge in global prices also resulting in the payment of higher taxes. “The Government seriously needs to take the bull
by the horns and harness this industry, develop it and cultivate it into what it needs to be,” she reiterated, “and that is a sector that is developing, advancing and increasing food production. We need at least $100m injected into the agriculture sector to be able to advance some of the goals that we need to accomplish.” An aging farmer population; costs and challenges associated with getting produce to market between islands; consistency of price and supply; security of land tenure; inability of small producers to obtain economies of scale and compete with importers; and The Bahamas’ climate and vulnerability to hurricanes are just some of the factors impacting the agriculture sector. Leroy Major, BAIC’s executive chairman, in his contribution to the House of Assembly debate described the Budget as a “farmers” budget as “more money [has] been allocated to farmers in this Budget than any other Budget previously. More incentives [are] given to farmers in this Budget than any other Budget”. Acknowledging that the Government is appealing to farmers and depending on them to help to “feed the nation, bring down the cost of living and help to reduce the country’s food import bills”, Mr Major added:
“Like many other nations, The Bahamas today is challenged to deal with the intensifying reality – how to supply Bahamians with food at affordable prices while ensuring that farmers earn minimum level of profitability. “The rising cost of energy is having a multiplier effect on the cost of products like fertilizer and services throughout the agri-food chain. The good news that the Prime Minister has announced is that the Government has increased the funding related to food security and will provide farmers with direct support ‘because growing a greater share of our own food will dampen the impact of inflation and provide economic benefits and opportunities’.” Mr Major said the $1.5m increase in the Ministry’s recurrent “food security” budget will finance greenhouses and other smart technology for food production on the Family Islands, plus training for farmers in the use of modern technology. “Farmers will be further supported by the allocation of some $500,000 to secure broilers, and $600,000 for livestock to increase the supply of fresh meats in the market,” he said.
CO D ENTR TEST N TO END ‘E EN F NOT CORRECT’
“Not only will this achieve bilateral parity with our US counterparts; this will immediately put us in line with regional competitors such as Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, St.Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Grenada, US Virgin Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica who have already removed the majority of testing requirements to enter their tourism destination.” Asked how critical it was for The Bahamas to now respond to the US move, Mr Sands told Tribune Business: “It is extremely important because we do not need to put in place impediments to travel, and also impediments that give our competitors a distinct competitive advantage over us. “The bigger issue, certainly from a US perspective, is that trying to find a COVID test to come to Nassau in many of our source markets is becoming increasingly difficult and, more importantly, increasingly more expensive. As an example, I was in Philadelphia last week travelling back to Nassau, and a rapid antigen test cost me $121. Before it was less than $50. The cost has more than doubled, and for a family of four that’s a significant additional expense.”
Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, confirmed that eliminating The Bahamas’ COVID entry testing requirements will “come back on the table” for discussion this week in the wake of the US decision. He told Tribune Business that while the Government wanted to “do away with” all COVID-related travel restrictions and impediments - including the Health Travel Visa - it will only do
so “in a responsible and phased manner”. The Davis administration, he added, is especially concerned to avoid Jamaica’s recent experience where it eliminated the COVID mask mandate only to have to reinstate it due to a rise in infections. Asserting that The Bahamas had made “the right decision” at that time to keep its own mask mandate, Dr Darville said the reduction in local infections over the past week - as well as the US ending
its own COVID entry test protocols - will bring further local easing to the forefront. Affirming that the Government is seeking to “open up completely”, he credited lobbying from the Caribbean as well as from the US aviation industry and other tourism sectors for persuading the Biden administration to eliminate the requirement that all international travellers present a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of their arrival.
FROM PAGE 24 security] is only a tiny step on the route we need to take with respect to making a substantial step. “Therefore, this Budget does not seriously reflect a significant dent in our agriculture sector. We are practically 40 years behind in agriculture right now, and when I say that, a few years ago we were exporters of certain crops and, today, we are not exporting the volume that, 40 years later, we should be exporting at this present time,” Ms Shepherd continued. “As a result, I don’t think within this year’s Budget we will see any significant dent in the imports that are coming into the country. In agriculture, it [the Prime Minister’s comments] gives us a little encouragement. It gives us a little bit of encouragement. However, is it going to seriously put a dent in our agriculture sector? It’s really not. It’s just a drop in the bucket. It’s not reflecting what needs to be done in the agriculture sector. “We’re hoping that it reaches the farmers who have been aggressively farming and not some newsayers who are just coming on to the block and seeing an opportunity for them to hop on the bandwagon. I would hope this seriously touches the farmers in the industry and provides
FROM PAGE 24 plays this because there is a huge demand, in large part coming from the tourism sector, to remove the testing regime. “It will be very, very interesting to see on what basis they make the changes they make. I suspect it won’t be a whole lot to do with data.” Dr Sands said there “always has been” the tension between health and economic imperatives with COVID-19, and protecting lives versus livelihoods, but added that an even greater force is in play now. “I think we’re dealing with a far greater issue right now, and that’s the very real phenomenon of COVID fatigue,” he told Tribune Business. “With the exception of dire circumstances, there’s not a whole lot of appetite for anything to do with COVID at this point. That includes vaccination, that includes mask wearing and testing and so forth, and I pre-suppose we’re at a stage of the pandemic where it may not matter. “That’s a very significant driving force. I think we’re at a point where the science is secondary.” While the US had seemingly made the case to eliminate its own COVID entry testing regime, one of the strictest in the world, where persons had to provide a negative test taken within 24 hours of travel, Dr Sands said he could not draw the same conclusion about The Bahamas given the absence of risk modelling and sharing of data. “Certainly I suspect we will see The Bahamas follow suit in short order,” he added of COVID entry testing’s end. “Whether it’s guided by the data or not guided by the data, I doubt that it will have much of a significant contribution to the decision-making. “Therein lies the rub. I think we are flying, I wouldn’t necessarily say blind, but we are making decisions without vital data. The consequences? Who knows? I wouldn’t be surprised if we follow suit in short order. We are in the midst of another surge right now, and it as not got anyone’s attention.” Dr Sands’ brother, Robert, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA), has been among the most vociferous in calling for The Bahamas to follow the US lead and remove this nation’s own COVID entry testing requirements so that the momentum of the sector’s post-COVID recovery - as well as its competitiveness can be maintained.
He warned that The Bahamas “stands out like a sore thumb” over its continued measures after the US action, and told Tribune Business the country “cannot be the last man standing” by still demanding that all visitors produce a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of travel when multiple Caribbean rivals have eradicated all such restrictions. Describing the longanticipated US move as “welcome news” for the tourism industry, Mr Sands said the decision by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was “an indisputably clear indication that testing requirements are falling away on a global scale” and urged the Government to follow suit. “The Bahamas cannot be the last man standing in this regard,” he said. “Therefore we strongly urge our Government to make a swift and decisive move to eradicate our own testing requirements for Bahamians and visitors wanting to enter The Bahamas.
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PAGE 22, Tuesday, June 14, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Agriculture’s $3M Israeli move targets poultry output doubling By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday hailed a $3m partnership with an Israeli company as a “red letter day” in The Bahamas drive for greater food security following the COVID-19 pandemic. Clay Sweeting, minister for agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, said the tie-up with Volcani International Partnerships (VIP) is a “step in the right direction” in the Government’s drive to slash the country’s $1bn food import bill. The partnership will see Volcani apply its technical
expertise in “innovative food production” strategies, and developing agricultural entrepreneurs with the ability to export, to The Bahamas. Volcani representatives and ministry officials will travel to Abaco, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera to determine where the company’s efforts will be best directed. The key objectives involve the creation of “cultivation centres” for Eleuthera and New Providence, with plans to expand this to other Family Islands. Mr Sweeting said the initiative will also involve setting up “food kitchens” at these centres, where farmers can process product that will not be sold on the open market.
CLAY SWEETING “We will also add a fish and farm store component as well, which we know is a challenge because these imports are one of the biggest issues why some farmers are not successful in
their country,” Mr Sweeting said. He added that his ministry is “pleased to partner with VIP experts to pinpoint challenges and solutions
to accelerate our country’s food systems. VIP is here to share advisory services through innovative soil testing and other technological advances”. Mr Sweeting said: “In totality, it is estimated [the project will involve investment worth] around $3m for New Providence and Eleuthera, and we have some additional items such as a food kitchen and some other things that would be added to that”. He added that the Government is targeting a 10 percent reduction in poultry imports with Volcani’s assistance through these cultivation centres. Mr Sweeting said: “As you can see, during the Budget debate we were very aggressive. Agriculture was able
Ex-finance minister: No fear on $2.3bn roll over By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER minister of state for finance yesterday said he expects the near$2.3bn in Bahamian dollar debt, which is due for
repayment over the next 18 months, to be rolled over without any alarm. Zhivargo Laing, who held that post during the 2007-2012 Ingraham administration, told Tribune Business it was not unusual for such a significant amount of debt to become due within a compressed time period. “If you negotiate the loan, you would have known that it would come due at that point, and the standard has been for the lenders to roll over that debt as a matter of routine,” he said. Mr Laing added that there had been no indication that the Government’s domestic creditors, including the commercial
banks, insurance firms, pension and investment funds, and credit unions, have any objections to or concerns over such a refinancing. He reiterated: “There is nothing unusual about debt to that order coming due when you negotiated it. So it can’t be a surprise, and it can’t be a surprise to the lenders, because they all would have done their due diligence and have known as a matter of public information what the Government took out as loans to themselves and others.” Mr Laing said a “substantial” part of the Government’s domestic debt is owed to the National Insurance Board (NIB), which it controls,
adding: “One of the things people have to recognise is that on the other side of every government debt is an asset of a company earning income for their own selves for that debt. “You have to ask yourself the question: Are those companies saying we no longer want, or believe we can and should be investing to earn that income, if they are pension funds and the NIB. Where else would they find an alternative to that investment that is safe and lucrative, in the sense of earning interest?” The Ministry of Finance, in its public sector debt bulletin for the nine months to end-March 2022, said of its debt portfolio: “The
to second the budget, which shows that the Prime Minister and our food security will play a pivotal role in how we move forwards. “Some concessions, some incentives, were added in the Budget. We’re going strong to help the poultry industry. Roughly we consume around 70m pounds of poultry in this country, and we only produce 5 percent of that, so it’s a large market. “CARICOM is trying to work together to ensure that every country produces their own poultry that we don’t import, so we’re working very hard with that sector because we feel like there’s some low hanging fruit, especially with the egg layers that we can get going right away.”
average time to maturity (ATM) was 6.8 years at endMarch 2022. An average 23 percent of the portfolio was coming due in one year, given the impact of the short-term nature of Treasury bills and notes, which extended the percentage of the domestic debt maturing in one year to a high of 35.5 percent.” Mr Laing added: “A government cannot by virtue of its Budget, or even its own behaviour, create any new industry or prompt it along. Industry building is an entrepreneurial exercise. Entrepreneurs create businesses and create new industry. Governments can only facilitate them by having laws that encourage, or ensuring there are no processes, procedures or laws that impede.”
Gov’t to double uniform support By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said school uniform assistance provided to vulnerable Bahamian families will increase by 100 percent in the upcoming 2022-2023 Budget year. Obie Wilchcombe, minister for social services and community development, told the House of Assembly during his Budget debate contribution
that the Government will “increase across the board assistance to all of our clients by 10 percent” in the new fiscal year that begins on July 1. “All of our clients will get more money beginning next month,” he added. “All of our clients will get more money next month if you’re single, you’re married. They will get more health assistance. They’ll get more shelter assistance, all because we care. “All because the money has been put in the Budget to provide the assistance, out of the money provided for us, to be able to help our people even more than we’ve done in the past. And
we’re going to spend the $500,000 to build that home shelter for women.” Prime Minister Philip Davis QC, in the original 2022-2023 Budget unveiling, said the Government is increasing social assistance funding for vulnerable Bahamians already struggling with the rising cost of living due to soaring inflation - by 50 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. He also announced increased allocations to select nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) by 10 percent, much of which will go towards the feeding programmes they run.
Mr Wilchcombe yesterday said financial assistance for school uniform purchases will be doubled compared to previous years. “What was $400,000 is now $800,000,” he said. The minister added that only $95,000 was spent for uniform assistance from last year’s Budget, “No child will be left behind. No child will not have the support,” he said. Mr Wilchcombe said his ministry, working with the Ministry of Education, will implement a “breakfast programme” so that no child should go to school hungry and be unable to work.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, PAGE 23
CRYPTOCURRENCY INCUBATOR NAMES COMMUNITY CHIEF A BAHAMIAN blockchain and cryptocurrency incubator has named Tevin Bannister as its community manager with responsibility for developing a framework in which digital asset startups will thrive. Crypto Isle, which also provides a co-working campus, said in a statement that Mr Bannister will develop cryptocurrency and blockchain integration within businesses throughout The Bahamas and the Caribbean. “Crypto Isle is a game changer in the local and regional economy. I’m excited to immerse myself
in this already robust community and help amplify its impact, stimulating economic and cultural growth in the region through blockchain technology and cryptocurrency,” said Mr Bannister, a certified DeFi (decentralised finance) expert and an experienced financial services professional. Before joining Crypto Isle, he spent more than a decade in the financial services industry. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in economics and finance, at the University of The Bahamas, he
relocated to Beijing. There, he attended the University of International Business and Economics, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in economics and was recognised as the Most Outstanding International Student in 2017. Upon returning to Nassau, Mr Bannister re-entered the international banking sector, obtained his Series 7 designation, and registered with the Securities Commission as a trader. He is the 2018-2019 recipient of the Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) Professional of The Year
award, and a consultant within the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister. “Tevin is an innovator and crypto enthusiast with deep project management experience, who thinks strategically and has strong blockchain acumen,” said Davinia Bain, Crypto Isle’s co-founder. “He shares our company’s ethos to amplify knowledge and decentralise information concerning digital assets to make them more accessible to the public. We are excited for the growth that will ensue with him in this role.”
TEVIN BANNISTER
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-DAY FORECAST
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 93° F/34° C Low: 76° F/24° C
TAMPA
TONIGHT
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Mostly sunny with a stray t-storm
Partly cloudy
Mostly sunny and nice
Partly sunny and pleasant
Nice with sun and some clouds
Sunny and pleasant
High: 87°
Low: 78°
High: 87° Low: 78°
High: 88° Low: 78°
High: 88° Low: 77°
High: 87° Low: 78°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
98° F
85° F
96°-85° F
98°-85° F
98°-87° F
99°-86° F
High: 94° F/34° C Low: 79° F/26° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
ALMANAC
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C
6-12 knots
S
High: 90° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C
4-8 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C
E
W S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
N
| Go to AccuWeather.com
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C
MIAMI
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 77° F/25° C
6-12 knots
KEY WEST
High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C
N
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
TIDES FOR NASSAU High Today
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
8:08 a.m. 8:42 p.m.
2.6 3.6
2:21 a.m. -0.4 2:13 p.m. -0.8
Wednesday 9:02 a.m. 9:36 p.m.
2.6 3.7
3:15 a.m. -0.4 3:07 p.m. -0.7
Thursday
9:58 a.m. 10:30 p.m.
2.7 3.6
4:08 a.m. -0.4 4:03 p.m. -0.6
Friday
10:55 a.m. 11:25 p.m.
2.7 3.4
5:03 a.m. -0.4 5:00 p.m. -0.4
Saturday
11:55 a.m. -----
2.6 -----
5:58 a.m. -0.3 6:00 p.m. -0.1
Sunday
12:21 a.m. 12:56 p.m.
3.2 2.6
6:54 a.m. -0.1 7:03 p.m. 0.1
Monday
1:18 a.m. 1:59 p.m.
3.0 2.6
7:50 a.m. 8:09 p.m.
0.0 0.3
SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset
6:20 a.m. Moonrise 8:01 p.m. Moonset
8:40 p.m. 6:13 a.m.
Full
Last
New
First
Jun. 14
Jun. 20
Jun. 28
Jul. 6
CAT ISLAND
E
W
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C
N
S
E
W
8-16 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 ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 81° F/27° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 71° F/22° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 25.72” Normal year to date ................................... 10.70”
UV INDEX TODAY
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C
N
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
TRACKING MAP
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C
8-16 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS
are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C
H
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
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 SE at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots SSE at 6-12 Knots SSE at 4-8 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots E at 10-20 Knots E at 10-20 Knots SE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots
WAVES 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet
VISIBILITY 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 9 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 83° F 83° F 86° F 87° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 82° F 82° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F
business@tribunemedia.net
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022
$6.35
$7.39
$6.97
$6.13
‘Take bull by the horns’: $100m for agriculture By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government is being urged to “take the bull by the horns” and facilitate the $100m investment required to revive a Bahamian agricultural sector that is “40 years behind” where this country requires it to be. Caron Shepherd, president of the newly-formed Bahamas Agro Entrepreneurs Group, told Tribune Business that the Government “cannot spoon feed” agriculture with “token” Budget funding increases that merely “pet and pamper” the industry if it is serious about boosting Bahamian food security and sovereignty.
The Prime Minister, his Cabinet ministers and governing party MPs have repeatedly used the 2022-2023 Budget debate to talk up the administration’s increased financial allocations to farmers, and their ambition to cut this nation’s annual $1bn food import bill against the backdrop of soaring prices and growing insecurity sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Ms Shepherd argued that “giant steps” are needed for The Bahamas to achieve this goal, and the “tiny steps” provided in the 2022-2023 Budget will “not make a serious dent” in the country’s billion dollar reliance on foreign food imports. While not advocating that the entire $100m come from the
Bahamian taxpayer, given the Government’s obvious fiscal constraints, she nevertheless argued that substantially more investment than what is provided for in the Budget is needed to “harness agriculture and make it work for us”. The Government yesterday unveiled a $3m partnership with an Israeli firm to develop farming “cultivation centres” in New Providence and Eleuthera, and Ms Shepherd agreed that its Budget talk - together with the increased “food security” funding for the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs and its agencies in the 2022-2023 Budget - provides “light at the end of the tunnel for some farmers”.
She added: “Speaking about the statement of intent by the Prime Minister, and heavy emphasis on food security and sustainability in this year’s Budget, based on the analysis and numbers that were run for agriculture since 2019, we appreciate the Prime Minister making these tiny steps. “However, we need to make giant steps in regard to agriculture. As it is, in 2022 heading into the 2023 growing season, the Budget is really not reflecting a significant step in food security and sustainability. And the reason for that it is, if we are dealing with $1bn in food imports, the $3.5m-$4.5m that’s allocated in the Budget [for food
SEE PAGE 21
Airlines battle competing forces on price increases By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN airlines have had to increase ticket prices by between 5-5.5 percent to offset soaring fuel costs as they battle to survive continuing COVID-19 and inflationrelated challenges. Anthony Hamilton, Southern Air’s director of administration, and president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business that domestic aviation operators were simply trying to
“ride out” multiple pressures as the local and world economy emerged from the pandemic only to be confronted with new pressures. He explained that the industry has little room
Former cruise destination chief loses $335k claim
for error in balancing competing forces, knowing it has to increase air fares to maintain viability but - at the same time - not passing too much of the aviation fuel spike on to hard-pressed consumers
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN EX-ATLANTIS executive has lost his $335,000 constructive dismissal claim against a cruise tourism destination because its failure to pay his due salary was not the primary reason he resigned. The Industrial Tribunal found that Henry Bain, formerly director of sales and marketing for the Paradise Island mega resort’s marine and water park operations, failed to establish “a sufficiently compelling reason” why Pearl Island should pay
now grappling with the cost of living crisis in addition to COVID-19’s ongoing fall-out. And, while carriers were conscious of minimising costs as much as possible due to “very slim margins”, Mr Hamilton said they were also seeking to avoid staff terminations given the potentially devastating effect this would have on families both in New Providence and the Family Islands. Confirming that ticket prices have risen on average by between 5-5.5 percent to offset some of,
SEE PAGE 19 out the remainder of his five-year contract. Simone Fitzcharles, the Tribunal’s vice-president, in a May 6, 2022, verdict said that while it “does not condone” Pearl Island’s failure to pay Mr Bain his due salary “for a time”, this represented a delay rather than a refusal to make good on what was owed. Noting that Mr Bain had left Atlantis to become managing director of the cruise excursion destination, located off New Providence’s northeast coast, when it was in its infancy in 2016, she added that he should have been aware of the typical
SEE PAGE 20
DR DUANE SANDS
COVID entry testing to end ‘even if not correct’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net COVID “fatigue” and economic pressures will likely see The Bahamas follow the US lead and eliminate entry testing “even if it is not the right thing to do”, a prominent doctor conceded yesterday. Dr Duane Sands, also the Free National Movement’s (FNM) chairman, told Tribune Business that any decision to end the requirement that all visitors produce a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of flying to this destination will likely “not have a whole lot to do with data”. Asserting that The Bahamas is “in the midst of another surge” in COVID infections that has not drawn any attention, although new cases detected on Saturday dropped to just
19, he said this nation will almost certainly follow the US “in short order” by eliminating what the tourism industry views as a major pandemic-related impediment to its recovery. “I’ll tell you it would be incredibly popular,” Dr Sands told this newspaper of an end to entry testing. “That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do. There are many people who would love to see the back end of COVID testing despite the fact we’re in the midst of an unfortunate surge right now. “We have about 30 patients in hospital [actual number 26 as of Saturday], a positivity rate of about 30 percent, and a significant number of people who test positive having travelled recently. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the Government
SEE PAGE 21
Grand Bahama to be ‘grand again’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT realtor yesterday affirmed transactions “are way up” due to revived buyer interest stemming from recent multimillion dollar investment project announcements, adding: “Grand Bahama is going to be grand again.” James Sarles, broker and principal with James Sarles Realty, told Tribune
Business his firm is seeing the highest level of market activity since Hurricane Matthew struck the island almost six years ago with deals such as the pending $100m Grand Lucayan sale meaning “there’s a story to be told about Grand Bahama now”. Besides the resort deal and Carnival Cruise Line’s port, he pointed to Weller Development’s plans to construct a Six Senses resort; the impending
Port Lucaya Marina sale; Western Atlantic Medical University’s build-out; and Doctors Hospital’s new hospital as examples of private sector activity that has revived interest in the island as a real estate investment destination. With the insurer, CG Atlantic Medical, having selected Freeport as “a hub for the Caribbean, Mr Sarles said: “This is creating some interest and we’re getting a lot of people from
Florida, and more so the US, than we’ve seen for a long time.... “Grand Bahama, for the first time, is on the radar and that’s going to increase prices. There’s a lot of transactions and properties. The timing is very good from a real estate perspective. Transactions are way up. There’s a lot of new people saying let’s get in now before prices go up.
SEE PAGE 19