06222021 NEWS, FEATURES, BUSINESS

WOMAN & HEALTH TUESDAY

THE

BTS MEAL HIGH 90ºF LOW 79ºF

i’m lovin’ it!

Monday,

February

CARS! CARS!

8, 2021

The Tribune Established

Being Bound To

Swear To The Dogmas

1903

Of No Master

The Tribune

Volume: 118 No.143, June 22, 2021

L A T E S T

N E W S

tise Call

To Adver

-2351

601-0007 or 502

Starting at

$33.60

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

ed

VAT includ

Established 1903

O N

T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M

Biggest And Best!

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

BIRTH RIGHT

Judges uphold landmark ruling over citizenship for Bahamian men’s children

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has affirmed a landmark Supreme Court ruling allowing Bahamian men to automatically pass citizenship to their children, regardless of whether their child is born out of wedlock to non-Bahamian mothers.

However, Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday that the ruling will be appealed to the Privy Council, citing the division among the five Court of Appeal judges who heard the case.

Justices Maureen

Crane-Scott, Jon Isaacs and Roy Jones affirmed Justice Ian Winder’s ruling while Court of Appeal President Sir Michael Barnett and Justice Milton Evans dissented from their view.

Mr Bethel said yesterday that the ability of all Bahamian men to automatically pass citizenship to their children “remains an open question” despite the new ruling.

“The Court of Appeal was clearly divided on the matter,” he said. “The order now demands a full appeal to the Privy Council so it can be fully and authoritatively decided.”

SEE PAGE TWO

TOP fisheries processors, boat owners and foreign workers have lost their bid to block the Fisheries Act’s implementation despite arguing it would cause the “possible collapse or bankruptcy of their businesses”.

Justice Indra Charles, in her ruling yesterday, said that granting the group’s request for an injunction to halt the Act’s enforcement would “cripple” Parliament and the Government’s

ability to make and pass laws for “the ‘peace, order and good government of the country’”.

Her verdict thus gives the go-ahead to today implement an Act that bars foreigners from working in the Bahamian fisheries sector. However, Justice Charles said the way remains clear for the exporters, boat owners and others behind the action to challenge the new law on constitutional grounds now it has been enforced on June 22, 2021.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL men were arraigned yesterday in connection with five separate homicides.

Philip Taylor, Zevargo Gaitor, Marvin Augustin, Romero Rolle, Justin Curtis and Allen McKinney all faced court accused of a number of different murders.

SEE PAGE TWO

FACE-TO-FACE

TRUE GRIT, GUTS AND GLORY

SEE PAGE EIGHT

FISHING INDUSTRY BAN ON FOREIGNERS BEGINS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SIX FACED COURT ON MURDERS

JOHNSON WAVES OFF CRITICISM

CUR-PHEW: PM EASES BACK PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis shows off a Roc with Doc T-shirt he had for PLP deputy leader Chester Cooper during his contribution to the Budget debate today. Dr Minnis also announced a relaxation of the curfew. See PAGE THREE for the full story. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

$350M INVESTMENT FOR GB SHIPYARD

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CARNIVAL and Royal Caribbean cruise lines are planning to invest some $350m in the Grand Bahama Shipyard that will allow for the rebuilding of two new and bigger docks “capable of handling and servicing the largest ships in the world,” Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed in the House of Assembly yesterday.

GRAND BAHAMA SHIPYARD Calling the project “one of the biggest investments” in the island’s history, Dr Minnis said

the multimillion-dollar development will provide a much-needed economic boost for Grand Bahama’s ailing economy.

The announcement will likely come as welcoming news for Grand Bahamians given the many setbacks the shipyard has suffered in recent years.

In 2019, a crane collapsed in the Grand Bahama Shipyard, causing SEE PAGE FIVE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

HANK Johnson, Free National Movement’s candidate for Central and South Eleuthera, along with his constituency association chairman have dismissed calls for him to be recalled as the party’s candidate for the area, citing it as someone’s “personal beef”.

The Tribune spoke with an FNM executive member who said members of the Central and South Eleuthera SEE PAGE FIVE

PETER YOUNG

TIME TO SHOW BEST WE HAVE TO OFFER

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Judges uphold landmark ruling over citizenship for Bahamian men’s children from page one Nonetheless, attorney Wayne Munroe, who brought the case, said the practical implications of the ruling now have immediate effect.

“I imagine it’s in the tens of thousands, the number of people affected, because it’s going all the way back to 1973,” he said. “The law of the land is what the ruling says. Anybody whose father is Bahamian should go apply for their passport and their voter’s card. Because that’s from the Court of Appeal, every Supreme Court judge will be bound to rule in accordance with it.”

The prospect of amending the Constitution so Bahamian fathers of children born out of wedlock to non-Bahamian mothers could automatically pass citizenship to their children

was one of several possibilities Bahamians rejected in the 2016 constitutional referendum.

Legally, the case revolves around the interpretation of Article 6 of the Constitution and whether the reference to “father” in article 14 (1) of the document is applicable when interpreting article 6.

Article 6 says: “Every person born in the Bahamas after 9th July 1973 shall become a citizen of the Bahamas at the date of his birth if at that date if either of his parents is a citizen of the Bahamas.”

Article 14 (1) says: “Any reference in this chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 10th July 1973, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.”

Justice Winder’s ruling

last year contradicted the ruling former Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall made in 2009 when attorney Wayne Munroe first brought a similar case.

Mr Munroe represented several children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men whose mothers were either Jamaican or Haitian.

Justice Crane-Scott said the result of “forcing” Article 14 (1) into the “clear language of Article 6 is to give Article 6 a strained construction which the framers never intended.”

She wrote: “Read in the manner contended for by the appellant, such a construction runs counter to the fundamental rights protections of the Constitution itself, affording different treatment to persons born in the Bahamas simply on the basis that they were born out of wedlock. I therefore agree with the learned judge that such a

construction would result in the disentitlement to automatic citizenship of an entire class of persons born on Bahamian soil to Bahamian men, merely because of the marital status of their parents at the date of their birth.”

Lawyers for the Office of the Attorney General argued that Justice Winder erred and misdirected himself in law by deciding that the correct interpretation is to “preclude any reference to Article 14(1) by indirect reference to Article 6.”

Justice Crane-Scott, however, said their grounds for appeal “failed to particularise any specific error or misdirection of law anywhere in the decision capable of showing that the conclusions identified in grounds 1 and 2 were plainly wrong.”

She noted that among other things, Mr Munroe supported his and Justice

Winder’s conclusions with a comparative analysis of corresponding provisions in the constitutions of other commonwealth countries.

“Mr Munroe referred to the Privy Council decision in Bowe and Davis v The Queen where in construing the Constitution of the Bahamas, the board indicated, inter alia, that the most important consideration is that those who are entitled to the protection of human rights guarantees should enjoy that protection,” she wrote. “Adopting the same approach, Mr Munroe submitted that Winder J was plainly correct to have adopted a liberal and purposive approach to the interpretation of a right and status conferred by Article 6 of the Constitution itself.”

For his part, Sir Michael wrote that while he accepts that a liberal construction

of the Constitution should be adopted when dealing with provisions relating to fundamental rights and freedoms, such approach is not necessary when interpreting other parts of the document.

He wrote: “In construing Article 6, the role of the court is to determine the intention of Parliament.

The intention is ascertained by looking at the language used, the purpose of the statute and taking into account certain canons of construction which have been applied by the courts over the years and which Parliament must be taken to have been aware of when it enacted the legislation.

“In my judgment in 1973, it was not the intention of the framers of the Constitution to give the father of a child born out of wedlock the ability to give his citizenship to that child born out of wedlock,” he wrote.

TEENS ACCUSED OF RAPE OF 47-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FROM left, Justin Curtis, Philip Taylor and Zevargo Gaitor outside court.

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

SIX FACED COURT ON MURDERS from page one

Philip Taylor, 21, and Zevargo Gaitor, 22 appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.

Prosecutors say Taylor caused the death of Leonardo Nottage on May 1. He was not required to enter a plea and will return to court on September 28.

Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

Gaitor is accused of causing the death of Elvardo Deveaux on June 4, while being concerned with others.

He was also accused of the attempted murder of Jameson Jacob, Glen White, Justton Campbell and Kevin Solomon. He was also not required to plead to the charges. He

was denied bail and is expected to be back in court on October 5.

It was also noted in court that Gaitor had an outstanding warrant of arrest for another matter. He is due back in court on June 28 for that incident.

In a separate hearing before Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr, Marvin Augustin, 21, and Romero Rolle, 22, were accused of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

They are accused of being concerned together on June 14, 2021 and causing the death of Stervante Moss.

They are also accused of possessing a rifle which they used to endanger the life of Chesanique Bethel. They were not required to plead to the charges and are expected back in court on October 6.

Justin Curtis, 20, and Allen

McKinney, 21, were arraigned by Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis for separate murders. Prosecutors maintain that on June 13, 2021, McKinney caused the death of Francisco Smith. He was remanded into custody and is expected back in court on August 16.

Curtis was charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm intending to endanger life.

It was claimed that on June 11, 2021, Curtis caused the death of Lamond Johnson and attempted to cause the death of Tanikea Johnson.

He is also accused of having a firearm that day with intent to endanger the life of Ms Johnson.

He was not required to plead to the charges and is expected back in court on August 16.

The accused men have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

TWO teens, one of which is a minor, were taken to court yesterday to face charges in connection with the rape and armed robbery of a 47-year-old woman.

William Dean, 18, along with a 16-year-old boy, appeared yesterday before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

One of the accused teens wore a neck brace and a cast on his arm in court yesterday.

It was claimed that on June 16, Dean and the minor, being concerned with another, had sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent. It was alleged that they, armed with a handgun, also robbed her of a blue Samsung A21S phone valued at $250.

According to court documents, the two were accused of the armed robbery of Nathaniel Butterfield. The pair will return to court on August 9.

Dean also faced charges for the May 24 armed robbery of Kwaski Wilson.

The 18-year-old was accused of robbing Mr Wilson of his blue 2009 vehicle while concerned with others and armed with a handgun.

Meanwhile, another 18-year-old, Stephon Rolle and Dean were also accused of other offences.

According to court documents, on June 15, while concerned together and with others, and armed with a handgun they robbed Kennett Beneby of his brown leather wallet which contained $15 cash and his black Samsung A-10 cell phone valued at $150.

They are also accused of robbing Anthony Thompson of his brown leather wallet that contained $10 cash and his Black ZTE cell phone valued at $100 on the same day.

Rolle will be back in court on August 13.

He is accused of robbing Hubert Bowe of $14 on June 15 while concerned with others and armed with a handgun. He is also accused of robbing Sitenie Green of his 2013 Buick Lacrosse and $700 cash while being concerned with others that same day.

MAN STABBED AT FISH FRY

GRAND Bahama police are investigating a stabbing that occurred at the fish fry in Eight Mile Rock on Sunday.

Police said a young man was stabbed in the shoulder during an argument involving a group of men.

Police received a report of a fight in Sunset Village, Martin Town, shortly before 10pm.

When police arrived at

the scene, officers separated the fighting men.

“One of the males received injuries to the right shoulder and was transported to the Rand Memorial Hospital for medical attention,” police said.

The victim is listed in serious, but stable condition in hospital.

An investigation is ongoing.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 3

Cur-phew: PM eases back

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday relaxed a number of COVID-19 restrictions for New Providence, Grand Bahama and several Family Islands, including new curfew hours and a variety of additional benefits for fully vaccinated people.

The new measures push New Providence’s curfew back one hour, to 11pm. The loosened restrictions come as daily COVID-19 cases in the country continue to trend downward, with the nation’s overall count now at 12,364 after 14 new cases were recorded on Sunday.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis touted the nation’s progress in its fight against the deadly virus, partly attributing the drop-in virus numbers to the nation’s vaccination programme.

Dr Minnis said it’s because of this “level of progress,” the government has decided to ease restrictions for several islands and implement more vaccination perks for fully vaccinated people.

Fully vaccinated people can now engage in private gatherings and other social events in homes and elsewhere provided that all attendees are also fully vaccinated.

He added that wedding receptions can now take place in New Providence and Grand Bahama but only if all attendees have been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

“Hosts and guests will be subject to fines for noncompliance,” Dr Minnis told the House of Assembly yesterday as he wrapped up the 2021/2022 budget debate.

“COVID-19 ambassadors will continue to carry out patrols to reinforce adherence to Emergency Orders.

DAVIS DISMISSIVE OF PM STATEMENT

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in the House yesterday.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff All performance groups and about the Berry Islands, artists, including bands, Jun- South Andros and Mankanoo groups, dance troupes grove Cay, Dr Minnis said and acting groups may there will no longer be a perform at all activities per- curfew for those islands. mitted under the Emergency Yesterday, Dr Minnis also Powers Order, provided removed the COVID-19 that all performers are fully testing travel requirement vaccinated.” for Cat Island, Grand The revised measures, Bahama and Andros, noting which went into effect yester- that travellers will no longer day, also include new curfew have to take a negative hours for New Providence, RT-PCR testing when travGrand Bahama and Cat elling from those islands.

Island. Dr Minnis announced He added: “Mr Speaker, New Providence’s curfew currently, there is a $10 will not start from 11pm to charge for all Bahamians 5am daily instead of its usual who are vaccinated and 10pm to 5am curfew. travelling back home, there’s However, he told Parlia- a $10 charge for our travel ment that depending on health visa. Those returning the capital’s progress, the home — that is those indicurfew may be pushed back viduals who are vaccinated to midnight, noting health — this fee will be removed officials will be monitor- effective July 1, 2021.” ing the situation. He also Dr Minnis also announced moved Grand Bahama’s that moving forward, funercurfew from 11pm to 5am als and memorial services in to midnight to 5am; while New Providence will now be Cat Island and North and permitted in a church proCentral Andros’ curfew was vided they follow Bahamas changed to 10pm-5am.

Christian Council guidelines In Abaco, Dr Minnis approved by the Ministry of reinstated curfew hours for Health.

Abaconians after lifting the “There is no requirement restrictions on the island to be fully vaccinated. Masks back in May. It is not clear and physical distancing are what prompted this change, still required. Please note, however, Abaco’s curfew repasts are still not permitted now begins at 11pm to 5am. on New Providence and ParSpeaking specifically adise Island, Grand Bahama,

PLP leader Philip Davis was last night quick to be scathingly dismissive of the Prime Minister’s budget statement.

Included in his own statement released last night Mr Davis said: “In the real world, our country faces a very serious crisis, one that urgently require a major response, including a plan to take on $10 billion in debt and a plan to kickstart our recovery, create jobs and make our economy more dynamic and more inclusive.

“But the Prime Minister can neither produce nor execute such a plan. He has never shown the capacity or inclination to think past

his own short-term political interests. So instead of confronting the country’s problems, he has presented a budget disconnected from reality; one that does nothing to move us forward as a nation. What a waste of time – one that will cost us more money and leave us deeper in the hole.

“This is a government that has routinely missed its own budget projections, beginning long before Dorian and COVID. Their latest budget projections are based on wishful thinking and election-time math.

That’s why you can’t find a single serious voice who thinks this budget adds up or does anything to solve

our most urgent problems.

“The Prime Minister’s dishonesty about the depth of crisis we face underscores his contempt for the Bahamian people. He doesn’t respect Bahamians enough to tell them the truth.

He is hoping that electiontime giveaways, purchased with money we will have to borrow at staggeringly high interest rates, will be enough to make Bahamians forget that he has already borrowed billions with nothing to show for it.

“The PM’s favourite word is ‘unprecedented’ – he is desperate to use Dorian and COVID as an excuse.”

mainland Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Great and Little Exuma,” he said.

Dr Minnis also said the number of people who can assemble in groups on beaches and parks has expanded from five to 15.

This rule applies to those in New Providence and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, mainland Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Great and Little Exuma.

Meanwhile, as for his proposed ‘Vaccination Day’, Dr Minnis said this will take place once health officials determine that a sufficient number of Bahamians and residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

To date, more than 79,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in the country, including over 25,000 second dose shots.

Yesterday, Dr Minnis said those fully vaccinated will now be able to show their vaccination status via their smartphone devices thanks to a new “cutting edge technology” recently acquired

by the government. It is believed the new digital tool will help limit the possibility of people using fake vaccination documents.

“The new Ministry of Health Vaccination Certificate, which is now called the Vaccination Pass, will allow users to show their vaccination status on their smartphone,” the Killarney MP told Parliament.

“Businesses or government agencies can verify Bahamians’ vaccination status in seconds using the vaccination checker on the website: vax.gov.bs.”

Explaining how it works, Dr Minnis said: “The system will generate a VAX Pass after completion of two doses and users can download the same after login to the system.

Users can save the digital Vax Pass to their mobile devices, and it can be presented to the business owner or agency for verification. It will be saved to their phone wallet for storage.

“While the QR code scanner can be used on mobile devices with cameras, any business or government

user can verify the validity of a Vax Pass by simply entering the code manually to view the status details.

If the Vax Pass is invalid, the system will show a message ‘invalid Vax Pass’ to the business or government agency user,” he added.

“All anyone has to do is go to vax.gov.bs, click on the vaccination checker, scan the QR code or enter the BCV code and instantaneously verify the validity of the digital vaccination certificate issued after their second dose. No special equipment is needed, and no fee is charged to users.”

Dr Minnis said the more people get vaccinated, the more “we can open up” and further encouraged Bahamians to do their part in helping defeat the infectious disease.

He said the government is hoping to fully re-open the nation’s economy in several months.

He said this can only happen “if various conditions are met and advised by health officials”.

government is also working to achieve a public private partnership for the installation of the infrastructure in the community.”

In April, Dr Minnis said the definition of young professional is broad.

“We consider a professional as someone who is accomplished in his or her field, sufficiently independent to sustain a mortgage or financial responsibility for a residential dwelling in a community,” he said at the time. “This community is not restricted to particular type of academic or professional training. You don’t have to be a lawyer, you don’t have to be a doctor or an engineer to qualify. A

the government will make available.

He noted those selected will pay no stamp tax and no real property tax for two years in addition to other concessions.

Those eligible for one of the 250 available lots must be younger than 45-yearsold and resident in The Bahamas. Other islands are also included in the government’s serviced lots initiative, part of the Minnis administration’s commitment to advance land ownership.

“In the Central Pines extension on Abaco, 18 lots are presently being prepared, with an expansion planned in 2022 for

an additional 40 lots,” Dr Minnis said yesterday.

“In Spring, City Abaco, 21 lots with homes are presently being prepared with the necessary works, with an extension of an additional 115 in 2022. On Grand Bahama, we have made the decision to proceed with the McClean’s Town housing project started under the prior administration and to add these properties to the serviced lots initiative.”

He said the government has completed water infrastructure in the community and will move to complete the electricity installation.

The McClean’s Town Subdivision has 40

residential lots, seven multifamily residential lots, and five commercial lots, Dr Minnis said.

The residential lots will now also be eligible to the concessions available under the Access to Affordable Homes Act. “Additionally, being sensitive to the hardships faced by the families in East End, we have also decided to offer the properties at 50 percent of the assessed value. The properties range in size from approximately 13,000 to 20,000 square feet. They were assessed at $10,000 to $20,000. We will make them available to potential homeowners at $5,000 to $10,000.”

APPLICATIONS FOR PROPERTY AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said applications for the Prospect Ridge community for young professionals will be available online in the first week of July.

A committee will keep the application process open for a full six weeks.

“This will allow prospective applicants to become familiar with all criteria and have an even opportunity to collect all of the requisite documents and to obtain financial qualification letters from their financial intuitions,” Dr Minnis said. “The

$4.2M TO INNER CITY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said as of May this year, $4.2m in tax concessions have been granted to inner-city communities affected by the Economic Empowerment Zones Act. “These have included waiving business license fees and stamp and real property taxes,” he said while closing debate on the budget in the House of Assembly yesterday.

“This facilitates lower costs for the purchase of commercial vehicles and building materials. I would like to remind residents of the Over-the-Hill community that under the Economic Empowerment Zone Act of 2018, you are also eligible to access tax concessions for the building and repairing of homes and other buildings.”

The Over-the-Hill initiative was launched in 2018 to great fanfare from the Minnis administration and was among Dr Minnis’ main proposals as leader of the opposition. Through the programme, people can import materials for constructing, equipping and completing buildings without paying taxes if they qualify.

Dr Minnis said: “We are also continuing to invest

in our inner-city communities. Increasing water connectivity in Over-the-Hill communities is one of the commitments of this administration. To achieve this goal, the installation of water mains and lateral lines, as well as repairs to damaged infrastructure are ongoing.

Such works are completed on Quakoo Street. On Wednesday, June 16, works began on Bola Avenue and are scheduled to be completed in upcoming weeks.

Forthcoming areas also include Filnest Close and Spray Team Lane. The Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative is also currently working alongside the Water and Sewerage Corporation to facilitate residents getting their water turned on.”

He added that the Overthe-Hill Initiative continues to partner with BTVI to enrol inner city residents in certification courses and job readiness programmes.

Such initiatives, Dr Minnis said, promote employment and contribute to the social empowerment of these residents. The graduation of the current cohort of Over-the-Hill residents is scheduled for June 25. Additional BTVI and Small Business Development Centre courses are being planned for cohorts specifically from the Overthe-Hill community.

barber properly qualified is a professional. A plumber properly qualified is a professional. A beautician with proper qualifications is a professional. Police, Defence Force (officers), they are professionals. A teacher is a professional and that’s just to give a few examples, and so is a farmer. He is a professional so I don’t want people to misconstrue that a professional is only a doctor, lawyer or accountant, no, a professional has great definition.”

He said those selected will be able to save up to $29,000 by spending $1,000 to purchase one of ten architectural designs

PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

‘CONCERNS’ DELAY CAMPAIGN FINANCE LEGISLATION, SAYS MINNIS PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says campaign finance legislation has been drafted, but due to “concerns” about the proposal, the draft has not yet been finalised.

He was responding to questions from Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, who asked if campaign finance

legislation would be brought to Parliament and put into effect before the next general election.

“We had drafted a bill and there were still lots of concerns and debate moving back and forth, it’s still in its drafted form,” Dr Minnis said.

“There were concerns about what had been

drafted. . .as soon as that is completed, it will be brought forward.”

Dr Minnis also suggested concerns were raised by opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis, however Mr Davis rose to his feet to interject, telling Parliament he had not seen any legislation relating to campaign finance or public disclosure.

In 2020, Dr Minnis told reporters his administration was working on the campaign finance legislation, which was a major promise of the Free National Movement in the lead-up to the 2017 general election.

“I got seven more years,” he replied at the time.

“We’re working on it.

What I am concentrating

on now is to close that gap in income inequality and to allow more to share in the wealth.”

In 2018, Dr Minnis had promised the legislation would come in this term.

“I promised,” Dr Minnis said in December 2018, referring to the promises the FNM made on the campaign trail to implement

campaign finance laws once elected.

“You also promise me five years. My five years ain’t up yet and you will promise me another five years. So, I have five years to put in the campaign finance reform, and I have another five years for you to see it working properly.”

Now Wells hopes herd immunity

by August

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Health Renward Wells says the government hopes the country achieves herd immunity against COVID19 by August.

He spoke to reporters at Odyssey Airport when thousands of Oxford-AstraZeneca doses were shipped to the Family Islands yesterday, as part two of the vaccine programme for those islands. The Rhode Island National Guard handled the delivery.

Earlier this month, Mr Wells estimated that 120,000 people need to be vaccinated in order for the nation to”be in a good place”.

Most other experts believe herd immunity won’t happen until 320,000 people have been vaccinated.

Asked yesterday if people who have been infected with COVID-19 previously will be taken into consideration, he said: “Obviously we are going to take those individuals into consideration as well because they are a part of the overall national profile as individuals who would have received vaccinations, who would have developed antibodies against COVID19 but we also have a very large part of the Bahamian populace who would have been exposed to COVID. “Our COVID numbers are around 12,500 persons and if you take in those who are symptomatic and asymptomatic and those who are being vaccinated - I believe as the Prime Minister would have said, by August we’re looking to have achieved herd immunity in The Bahamas. That’s our goal, that’s what we’re

seeking to do.”

As the Minnis administration continues its vaccination push, there are mounting concerns about the Delta variant being in the country, a strain which is highly transmissible and spreading fast around the world. Mr Wells said officials suspect that a COVID variant is in the country based on trends during the third wave. However, samples have been sent abroad for testing to determine which variant is in the country.

On Sunday, health officials revealed that as of June 19, 79,246 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered.

Mr Wells said more than 7,000 doses are set for the Family Islands this week.

“Currently, there have been 79,246 doses of the vaccine administered to Bahamians,” Mr Wells said. “Through the acts

HEALTH Minister Reward Wells in the House.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff “We found a lot of Baha- 8,000 doses between second of kindness displayed by RING today, there will mians on the Family of dose and first dose.”

Asked when another vacbe some 7,640 more doses Islands who were hesitant, of vaccines deployed in initially, and have now cine brand will arrive in approximately 13 of our stepped forward seeing that the country, he said: “I can so many individuals glob- only tell you that all of the Family Islands this week.

“Bahamians in Acklins, ally have been vaccinated. I powers that be are workCrooked Island, Maya- think it’s around 2.7 billion ing as hard as they could to guana, Inagua and Andros persons who would have get vaccine supply into this will receive additional vac- received at least the first country. So it’s just ongoing. cine doses today, 21st June. jab of a particular vaccine. We’ll keep you updated.

On 22nd June, residents of So I am beginning to lend You’ll know when we know.

Long Island, Cat Island, some sense of confidence That’s the best I can say San Salvador, Exuma and to Bahamians that the vac- right now.”

He could not say specifithe Berry Islands will cines are safe.”

While speaking in Par- cally how many people have receive COVID-19 vaccine doses. Eleuthera and liament yesterday, Prime not turned up for second Rum Cay can expect to Minister Dr Hubert Minnis doses of the vaccine, but receive some vaccines on said there are 2,682 citi- said the uptake for the final 23rd June, and Bimini will zens and residents of the shot has been “fairly high”.

“We know that as we receive their supply on the Bahamas who opted to be vaccinated against COVID- move along, the eligible 25th June, 2021.” vaccines stay constant. That He told reporters the 19 in the United States.

Also on site for the vac- means something in like 80 government is impressed by the amount of Family cination deployment was percent level are getting Islanders coming forward Ed Fields, a member of the vaccinated and that’s even national vaccination com- prior to us adding in the to get the inoculations.

“We are extremely mittee. He spoke about Family Island vaccinations. encouraged by the amount the Family Island vaccine So second dose uptake is fairly high.” of Bahamians who are step- initiative.

“We did about 4,500 first Mr Fields said vaccine ping forward inside the Family of Islands for the doses last time,” Mr Fields registration is ongoing even jab,” he continued. “We said. “So obviously we though there was a slight have had an extreme inter- are looking at about 4,500 glitch when transferring est and the question has second doses, plus we have data to a new platform. He been when were we able to gotten strong indications said it is a smooth process come back to the Family of that other folks want to do now.

To register for the vacIslands to give many Baha- first doses. So we are preparing for about 7,000 and cine, visit vax.gov.bs. mians that second dose.

TWO HELD OVER HUMAN SMUGGLING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Bahamian men suspected of illegal human smuggling were intercepted and apprehended, along with 13 migrants, in US waters last week.

According to reports, US Coast Guard officials transported the migrants to Grand Bahama on Friday.

The Bahamian men were transported to the US where they are expected to be prosecuted in relation to illegal human smuggling.

On Friday, Bahamas Immigration officials proceeded to Freeport Harbour around 11.30am where the 13 migrants were turned over to their custody by officers of the USCG Crocodile.

The group was intercepted in US waters in an apparent smuggling attempt to enter the United States.

According to initial reports, a 35ft Intrepid with twin 250hp outboard engines with 15 persons on board was intercepted by US officials last Wednesday some eight miles East of Hanover Inlet, Florida.

The vessel - named “It’s A Southern Thing” - had six adult Haitian females, one Haitian female, four adult Haitian males, one Jamaican, and one Colombian on board. Two Bahamian males, ages 56 and 28 years were also discovered on board the boat.

The vessel reportedly left Freeport sometime on Tuesday destined for the US. The Bahamians were kept by US officials for further investigations.

The migrants were processed at Immigration Headquarters and examined by members from the Infectious Disease and Surveillance Unit of the Public Hospital Authority.

• Two New Providence men were charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Monday with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Terrell Gregory Williams, 36, of Rustic Road, and Roland Jetson Strachan, 38, of Robinson Road, appeared before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

It is alleged that on June 18, at Freeport, the accused men were found in possession of suspected marijuana.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial.

Williams was granted $3,500 bail and was ordered to sign in at the Carmichael Road Police Station on Mondays and Thursdays.

Strachan was also granted $3,500 bail. He was ordered to sign in at Central Police Station in Freeport on Mondays and Thursdays.

DON’T FALL PREY TO ROMANCE SCAMS THE Financial Crimes Investigation Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has advised the public not to fall prey to online romance scams/fraud.

“Fraudsters are contacting persons, usually retired/ mature or vulnerable females, under the guise of friendship and companionship,” police said last night.

“The fraudsters fabricate a relationship by building trust over time through constant communication, romantic intention, and encouragement, usually portraying themselves to be wealthy businessman, or vulnerable widowers.”

Police said a scam of this

kind is a social engineering tactic that entails the “engineering” of a friendship or relationship for fraudulent or financial gain.

“Once a level of trust and comfort is achieved, the fraudsters promise to marry the victims and/or enter into business opportunities with them.

“The fraudsters then begin to ask for personal information such as government (identification), and bank account information with the promise of instant wealth, gifts, marriage, or lucrative business opportunities.”

Police issued a warning about the dangers of

sending government identification and personal information, inclusive of banking information, online or through social media platforms to individuals that you have never met.

“Doing so exposes you to potentially becoming victims of fraud, theft, stolen identity, and sometimes in extreme cases, physical harm. Victims of romance scams also run the risk of being culpable in facilitating money laundering offences,” police said.

The public is urged to be vigilant and cautious with people that they communicate with online and on social media.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 5

$350m investment for GB Shipyard from page one extensive damage to the property’s main dry dock and visible damage to the world’s second largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.

The incident also resulted in eight employees being injured. After the crane accident, Hurricane Dorian later damaged another one of the docks at the facility, further reducing its capacity.

However, yesterday, Dr Minnis insisted that Grand Bahama is “on the move” and “coming back.”

“I am pleased to announce that Carnival and Royal Caribbean have agreed to a new combined investment of approximately $350m in the Grand Bahama Shipyard,” Dr Minnis said in his opening remarks yesterday.

“To understand the scale of this investment, the House may recall that the original investment and other investments to date in the shipyard have totaled approximately $250m,” he added.

“The new investment will match this and exceed it by $100m. The proposed infrastructure works will replace the two damaged docks with even larger ones. The new docks will be capable of handling and servicing the largest ships in the world.

“This will result in a notable increase in employment and economic activity on Grand Bahama and for local businesses throughout Freeport and Grand Bahama. So let me say so all can hear, Grand Bahama

is on the move and Grand Bahama is coming back.

The government and the owners of the shipyard will work on a new partnership agreement that benefits the people of Grand Bahama.

More details will be presented in the weeks and the months ahead.”

Dr Minnis also said expansion works on the Grand Bahama Shipyard are set to begin as early as October.

“This is a sign of progress, a sign of hope and a sign of confidence,” he added. “Grand Bahama, like the entire Bahamas, is on the way back. This is one of the biggest investments in Grand Bahama in its history.”

However, this was not the only promising news announced for Grand Bahamians yesterday.

While speaking in Parliament, Dr Minnis also revealed several upcoming projects aimed to assist with the island’s post-Dorian

and COVID-19 recovery, highlighting plans for a new “mixed-use” resort and a private hospital for the island.

He said: “I am pleased to announce that the government has approved the new Discovery Bay Project in Grand Bahama. The Weller Group intends to develop a mixed-use resort consisting of a 25-key boutique hotel and restaurants, 30 residential estate lots, 12 townhouses, 12 bungalows, a beachfront rental pavilion, a 30-slip marina, to be situated in the existing canal system, and a back of house facility.

“It is estimated that this investment at the end of all its phases will exceed $100m.”

The Killarney MP also said: “I note that Doctors Hospital has announced their new hospital project in Grand Bahama. Work on this new private hospital will begin this year and is being done in partnership

PLP candidate for Pineridge Ginger Moxey. with Cleveland Clinic.”

He also announced the extension of the government’s current tax relief order aimed to support reconstruction efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

The relief order, which is known as the SERZ, will continue to the end of December 2021, he reminded parliamentarians.

He also spoke on the government’s purchase of the Grand Bahama Airport

earlier this year, noting that work has already begun to find the best partner for this project.

As for the Grand Lucayan hotel, Dr Minnis said: “Our administration signed an agreement for sale and a heads of agreement for the Grand Lucayan in Grand Bahama, for a $200m hotel and cruise port project with Royal Caribbean Cruise line and the ITM Group.

“Both projects have been delayed because of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19. However, both developers have confirmed they are moving forward, and we expect the final negotiations for the harbour project and the hotel to be completed shortly.”

• The Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for Pineridge Ginger Moxey said the Minnis administration has left no achievement in Grand Bahama over the past four years.

She released a statement after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis outlined plans and investments in the pipeline for Grand Bahama, including a $350m investment in the Grand Bahama Shipyard by two major cruise lines; a boutique hotel and a private hospital.

“The Prime Minister tried to pretend he cared about the fate of Grand Bahama today,” Ms Moxey said.

“But believing that he cares would require us to ignore the evidence of the last four years; Minnis leaves behind here no achievements, only a record of neglect and incompetence.

“Not only have we had to endure the ravages of Hurricane Dorian, but also the

gross mismanagement in its aftermath, coupled with the extreme measures taken against this island during the longest business-killing lockdowns during the pandemic,” she said.

Her statement said to date, the island “does not have a functioning hospital; people are still living in tents; and hurricane relief has not reached the Bahamians who need it the most.”

The Grand Bahama Shipyard project referred to in the Prime Minister’s address is simply a replacement exercise for docks from the accident that took place in April 2019, as dry docks normally take years to build, she said. It has finally reached this stage, so this is nothing new, she said.

“Grand Bahama and its people are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the pandemic and the disastrous response by the FNM administration and their five Grand Bahama MPs. With the extreme restrictive measures forced upon this island, in particular, many of our people are jobless, hungry, homeless, and hurting.

“The challenges facing Grand Bahama are enormous. We need a government that knows how to make and execute a plan.

We need a government that cares all the time, not just at election time. This government has shown us only contempt and neglect.

We are not so naïve as to imagine they will suddenly discover the capacity for competent, compassionate governance.

“It’s time for a change,” she said.

SOUTH ELEUTHERA MP HANK JOHNSON WAVES OFF CRITICISM from page one

Constituency Association are not impressed with Mr Johnson’s “lacklustre” performance as an MP or associated “drama” and want him gone as the candidate.

The source said a team was sent to Eleuthera over the weekend to meet with furious party members who disagree with Mr Johnson’s ratification.

“We sent a team over to Eleuthera to do a listening tour and their findings were not favourable for the candidate at all,” the executive member said.

“The association has issues with Hank and some of them went as far as to tell the team they will abstain from voting if we run him as a candidate.

“It seems like there is some sort of war going on down there. Those who

did the listening tour will have no choice but to recommend that Mr Johnson is pulled from the line-up of candidates. We have to listen to the association on this.

“Hank had a major push from our leader,” the source claimed. “There were some issues when he was to be ratified. The leader really pushed for him to be where he is. The leader is not the one voting for him in elections and that should be noted. The people complaining are the ones to give the FNM that seat.”

When contacted, Mr Johnson at first declined to comment and said his chairman, Ricardo Dean, would be the best person to ask about the allegations.

Mr Dean denied there were widespread complaints about Mr Johnson and gave insight into what the infighting was all about.

“It was a four member

team from the Free National Movement that came here,” he said.

“It was the former Member of Parliament, Alvin Smith (and three others). They did in fact do a listening tour of the island.

“What has been happening is that our former chairman of the association, before I took over… he has a personal beef with Mr Johnson. So he has been calling the party in Nassau and suggesting that they come and do this listening tour. They came as a result of his beckoning. I am the chairman of the association and no one advised me that they were coming.

“They came and were picked up by the former chairman, who has the beef with Mr Johnson, and he took them to people who think like him. They promised to talk with me and they never did. They never

spoke with any of the association’s members. I don’t know what their trip here did to the rank and file of the party. If they just left yesterday then I think it’s too soon to have had a discussion to suggest the removal of Mr Johnson.”

Mr Dean said the reality is Mr Johnson was ratified by the FNM months ago.

In order to “un-ratify” Mr Johnson, Mr Dean said, the matter would have to go back to the candidates’ committee.

Asked if the disgruntled FNMs in Eleuthera have someone else in mind as a candidate, Mr Dean said he suspects so.

“I heard that they do,” he said. “Our executive committee here in our association has received no report to say why the team came here. When two or three members of our executives here got wind that they were coming, they

went to the Rock Sound Airport to meet them just to question them as to what was their mission.

“Those members went on their own to meet them to see what their beef was.

That is the only interaction any of our members had with them. There was never any official complaint from South or Central Eleuthera about the candidate.”

The Tribune asked Mr Johnson if he was “cherry picked” by the leader of the FNM against the wishes of party members in Central and South Eleuthera. He denied it.

“I let you speak to Mr Dean so I won’t be blowing my own horn,” Mr Johnson said. “At the appropriate time I will have a statement on it. It is not so. My name went to every level of the party and the votes were taken. I was then informed that I was chosen unanimously. There was no

influence from the leader.

“Let me backtrack a bit,” he added. “The only person who came up against me at that level was that same lady who was in Eleuthera (on the listening tour). She was the only one against my nomination. Minnis didn’t do Hank Johnson no favour. (A female FNM member) was the only one to try to protest against me when I was being ratified.

“I am not surprised she was in Eleuthera doing what she was doing. Some people have agendas. I stand behind Mr Dean and his leadership and my people in Eleuthera. The Prime Minister did not do me any favour. It was a fair process.”

Meanwhile, The Tribune’s source said a report is being prepared for the party’s executive committee to review, which they do not expect to be favourable to Mr Johnson.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Born to a Bahamian man?

The court says you’re Bahamian WHEN the Supreme Court ruled in May last year that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men and foreign women are citizens at birth and do not have to wait until 18 to apply for citizenship, Attorney General Carl Bethel vowed to appeal.

Yesterday, he lost that appeal.

After the earlier defeat, he said he would appeal “in the public interest”.

Yesterday, he said that despite the new ruling, the ability of Bahamian men to pass on their citizenship “remains an open question”. He plans to take a full appeal to the Privy Council, it would seem.

Attorney Wayne Munroe, meanwhile, says the ruling will affect “tens of thousands” of people, because it goes all the way back to 1973.

“The law of the land is what the ruling says,” said Mr Munroe, adding: “Anybody whose father is Bahamian should go apply for their passport and their voter’s card. Because that’s from the Court of Appeal, every Supreme Court judge will be bound to rule in accordance with it.”

At the heart of the case is the meaning of the word father. Article 6 says simply: “Every person born in The Bahamas after 9th July 1973 shall become a citizen of The Bahamas at the date of his birth if at that date either of his parents is a citizen of The Bahamas.”

However, Article 14 says “Any reference in this chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 10th July 1973, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person.”

The word father doesn’t even appear in Article 6, but Article 14 is being used to affect the application of the earlier article.

Ahead of this ruling, we wrote in this column that we hoped the outcome would help those left on the sidelines, uncertain of their citizenship.

Whether or not this does go to the Privy Council remains to be seen. But if it does, what happens to those people if the ruling goes against them? We know the problems referendums have faced in the past, and the difficulty any future ones might face – but what would each party do to try to eliminate these inequalities? As we draw ever closer to election season, what will those seeking your votes do for those who are excluded in this way?

Is it truly in the public interest to keep such inequalities in our society?

Opening up

If you need any further incentive to get your vaccination, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was eager to offer it yesterday.

In relaxing restrictions for a number of islands, including new curfew hours, he showed a path ahead – but taking that path is up to us.

There were also other perks for those who are fully vaccinated – such as being able to have private gatherings with others who are vaccinated. Wedding receptions can take place with fully vaccinated guests. Junkanooers with the jab can perform, and so can other performers and artists.

It’s a cue that we’re taking from elsewhere in the world – big name musicians are back to touring in the US for crowds with their vaccinations, for example.

He also dangled the carrot for further easing of restrictions. The curfew may have moved back to 11, but he said it could move back to midnight if we keep making progress.

As Dr Minnis says, the more people get vaccinated, the more “we can open up”.

The vaccine is free, and it’s the key to getting past the pandemic. The cost of not opening up will be far greater.

It’s up to us.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net

The Tribune welcomes letters from readers on all subjects. Send your letters to letters@tribunemedia.net or deliver them to the Tribune office.

Readers have their say online READERS have been taking part in the debate over issues in the news online.

After Dr Nikkiah Forbes warned that we are not yet past the third wave of COVID-19, readers online gave their views.

Tribanon said: “Meanwhile Minnis and D’Aguilar are welcoming the return of the humongous floating hotels that are filthy pathogen laiden incubators.

For decades the behemoth floating hotels have been contaminating our territorial waters, destroying our marine life and polluting our air, while contributing nothing (on a net basis) to our nation’s economy.

“But don’t expect Forbes to criticize Minnis and D’Aguilar for giving the likes of Royal Caribbean and Carnival the opportunity to bring the highly transmissable Delta variant of the Wuhan Virus to our shores.”

Whogothere added: “Top ten leading causes of death over 12 months in 2014 -- 667 related to cardio vascular disease and/or poor diet...

“12 months of COVID in (April 1st 2020- April 1st 2021) - 188 deaths..(And thats with MOH earnestly looking for and mislabeling covid deaths...under WHO directives)..

“Dr Forbes when are you going to be worried about fried chicken and lack of exercise...? It astounding how medical community has complete blinders on while evaluating comparative risk... ultimately you’re more than 3-4 times more

likely to die of heart disease than of covid...and those that are already struggling cardiac diseases and diabetes are more likely to perish of covid... In fact 78% of the deaths and hospitalisation in the USA were clinically obese..The Healthy and the young just don’t really have much worry about when it comes to this virus.”

TalRussell added: “All this positivity, It’s Healthy in the Bahamaland might make good pre-general election propaganda but it speaks fly in its face when the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Travel Advisory has the Bahamas at its *High-Risk Level 3. which is but one notch below it’s Level 4: Very High-risk of countries, which include a dire warning not to travel to Iraq, India, Somalia, and Haiti.

“This government must be held answerable for a lousy job at securing and distributing life-saving vaccinations, yes?”

After PLP chairman Fred Mitchell criticised the FNM for leaving “unfinished projects”, readers had their own views on the topic.

Bahamianson said: “Seriously? The overpriced baseball field should have been completed by April in a pandemic that killed

millions, stopped shipping, stopped supplies distribution and the world’s economy should have been completed by April?

“It has to be the silly season and this gentleman just woke up. He is really going to stand up and find something to say that is totally useless.

“Next, he will complain about the planes that stopped bringing tourist to our shores. No one is trying to hear this.”

Hrysippus added: “Did Mitchell ever finish the complete reform of the Civil Service that he promised a couple of decades ago? I can’t quite remember. LOL.” Tribanon said: “Minnis rejoices everytime Mitchell comes out of his closet to speak to the public. We can therefore expect The Tribune to give Mitchell plenty of press coverage with photos in the coming months. lol” Sage replied: “Did he forget the $10,000 Star Acedemy on Wulff Road that costed some $30M, and no one knows where the money went.....and it still is not opened.

“Did I forget the classroom block in AF Adderley that never had a contract.... and was unfinished?

“The nerve of this professional tick on the Bahamian society! Go get a job!”

MOJO supported Mr Mitchell, however, saying: “the baseball field would of been completed if the current gov. did not cancel it and then give double to their people to complete which still isn’t complete.”

THE TRIBUNE

Accused: I wasn’t angry with officer

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net ABLE Seaman Jevon Seymour denied being angry with Petty Officer Percival Perpall for reporting him absent without leave when he was questioned in police custody following the marine’s murder, a jury heard.

Seymour is charged with the shooting death of PO Perpall, along with the attempted murders of Marine Seamen Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming.

According to police reports, the three officers were attacked while on duty at Government House.

They were said to be in a guardroom when an assailant entered and opened fire on them around 2.30am Sunday, April 28, 2019.

Seymour has maintained his not guilty plea during his trial before Senior Justice Bernard Turner.

Yesterday, Sergeant Sherwin Braynen said when he visited the Government House compound that morning, he was led to the guardroom where he saw PO Perpall “semislouched” on a couch with several gunshot wounds about his body. He said he also observed several cartridges, fired casings and unfired rounds of ammunition on the floor.

Sgt Braynen said after he and his team conducted a physical search of the property, he received information in reference to two people being in custody in relation to the offence.

The officer said he interviewed Seymour around 5.41pm that day at the Criminal Investigations Department. He said when he asked the accused how long he had been attached to the military, he told him seven or eight years.

He said Seymour also acknowledged a deployment to Ragged Island in

March of that year with Marine Seaman Butler, Marine Seaman Storr and PO Perpall. He added the accused told him he did not stay in Ragged Island for the whole month because he had an “accident” when a fishing hook got stuck in his finger.

The court heard Seymour stated he returned to the capital on or about March 19 and received a sick slip from the RBDF’s sick bay for a “few days”.

Sgt Braynen said when he asked the accused if he was contacted by Petty Officer Cummings who informed him he was in breach of his duty, he said he was never contacted by PO Cummings, but was told to report to prosecutions by his guardroom commander in reference to an AWOL incident.

According to the officer, Seymour denied ever being charged and said while they called it that, they were supposed to go back to court on May 9.

He also claimed he was told to stand down after his sick leave since the matter would be handled when everybody returned from assignment. He said he called PO Perpall on speakerphone at prosecutions who repeated the same information in their presence.

Sgt Braynen said when he asked the accused if he became angry with PO Perpall because he did not give him permission to not report to work, he responded: “Negative, negative.”

He also said when the question was put to him, Seymour denied becoming “enraged” at his superior after he was prosecuted by the RBDF and stated: “That’s a negative.”

The officer said at the conclusion of Seymour’s record of interview under caution, he exercised his constitutional right by electing not to sign the interview statement.

The case continues today.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 7

ABLE Seaman Jevon Seymour at court previously.

POLICE OFFICER TELLS OF INJURED GUARD AT NIGHT CLUB

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE officer testified yesterday how she met an injured security guard restraining a man when she responded to an altercation in the parking lot of a night club last year.

Valentino Bodie was arrested after he was accused of causing harm to a woman and assaulting a security officer with a deadly weapon at Club Waterloo in August 2020.

He denied the allegations during his initial

arraignment before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis and the case was adjourned for trial.

When Corporal 3862 Shakara Forbes took the stand, she said she was dispatched to investigate a disturbance in the bar’s parking lot around 7.35pm.

She said when she arrived at the scene, she observed a large crowd, and when she approached, she saw a heavily built male in a Waterloo security shirt subduing Bodie on the ground.

Cpl Forbes said the security officer identified himself as

Ednel Pierre and told her the accused, who he was detaining, had stabbed him in his right lower leg and right finger. She said the man’s injuries were visible as he spoke to her.

The court was told that Mr Pierre then handed the officer a yellow handled knife with a broken blade, which he claimed was the instrument with which Bodie had stabbed him.

Cpl Forbes said her partner then cautioned and arrested the accused. She added that night she spoke with a woman who told her she

was also beaten about the body by Bodie. Cpl Forbes said the young lady claimed the accused attempted to stab her with the yellow handled knife while she was in her vehicle attempting to leave the area.

When the woman gave evidence under oath, she also alleged that Bodie had hit her eye which had caused her to have problems with her vision. She also said she knew the accused because she was friends with his girlfriend, but stated that their friendship ended because the

woman had rushed to Bodie’s side to “check up on him” after the incident, even though she was the one who had been assaulted during the altercation.

During his testimony, Corporal 4159 Rashaun Jones said when he interviewed Bodie in custody at the Wulff Road Police Station, he initially declined to comment. Still, Cpl Jones said Bodie eventually told him he was involved in an altercation with one of his girlfriend’s friends. He said the accused claimed the young lady cursed

him out before chasing him to Waterloo’s parking lot where an argument followed.

The court was told Bodie told Cpl Forbes the woman then produced the knife, which he tried to take from her. He said Bodie claimed he pulled out some of the young woman’s hair during the struggle. Cpl Forbes said Bodie also said the security officer came a short time later and confronted him after he saw him with the knife.

The case continues on July 5.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

True grit and guts have brought Donovan glory D

ONOVAN J Rolle spent this Father’s Day in reflection and celebration.

He is the proud father of two pairs of twins - London and Donovan Jr, Jaylen and Jayden. He is also the proud author of his second book, “The Heart of a Spartan” an accomplishment he will celebrate with an official book release this week.

With his hands full of kids and a heart full of laughter this Father’s Day, Donovan was able to reflect on his own life and the path that brought him to this point - a husband, father, businessman, athlete and an author. He was also in celebration mode.

His book sets down most of the things he would want his children to know about life.

The book is about just one event in his colourful life; but sometimes, it takes just one event to make a paradigm shift.

For Donovan, this one event was the Spartan Trifecta. The Trifecta is “the ultimate annual challenge – a complete mind and body transformation that commits you to three race distances in a single year”. By completing all three, one can earn the most coveted medal in Obstacle Course Racing, and entry into Trifecta Tribe.

The first race to compete in is either the Spartan Sprint or Spartan Stadion, which covers a 5k run with 20 obstacles.

The second, the Spartan Super, is a 10k race with 25 obstacles. The last race that Donovan competed in to win the trifecta medal was the Spartan Beast, which covered 21k and 30 obstacles.

The races are spread over a rugged terrain. Failure to overcome an obstacle will result in 30 burpees in order to move on to the next obstacle.

At the finish line of each race, every athlete receives a medal with a magnetic Trifecta wedge. Once the athlete completes the third race and receives that medal, the three wedges will snap together for the ultimate prize for a Spartan athlete.

When Donovan started out in this challenge, he had every expectation of

completing it with nothing more than strong determination and sheer willpower.

He is a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer and the proprietor of Jay Fitness. He has competed in numerous races and amassed numerous awards and medals. But he ended up facing a battle that would make the Trifecta the most difficult race in his life.

But he has a belief: “There is nothing I cannot do physically. To me, it is never a matter of whether I will finish; it is only a matter of how much time it will take me to finish.

“I have found that this leads me to be competitive in anything I undertake. Whether it is due to nature or nurture, competition is in my blood. My thirst for competition led me to enter the Spartan race. I had never done anything like it before, but I knew I could do it simply because there is nothing I physically cannot do.

“If another human being can do it, then I know I can do it. Give me ample training, sufficient time and the proper parameters, and I will accomplish the task. I firmly believe that if you put your best foot forward, give maximum effort and do not give up, there are few things you cannot conquer.”

So Donavon took off to Bunnell, Florida in May of 2017 to compete in the Spartan Sprint and Spartan Super. It was gruelling and intense, But he completed each challenge! It was a fitting accomplishment that left him in fitness ecstasy, as he had just completed the Ironman Half Triathlon the year before. Donavon was meeting personal goals while setting an example for all his Jay Fitness clients that they

THE front and back of the Trifecta medal.

could literally do anything they put their minds to.

When he returned home, he continued to participate in various local races and events. As a proud member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, and serving as their Director of Social Action, state of The Bahamas, Southern Region, he gladly took part in an obstacle course race they planned. All these events were good train-

ABOVE: Donovan J Rolle is the proprietor of Jay Fitness.

LEFT: Donovan with some of his Jay Fitness members, all sporting medals.

ing leading up to the ultimate Spartan Beast. Little did he know, this race would be like no other.

Donovan recalls: “Boom!

I got the baton and I was off, up and over the ten-foot inclined wall. I ran about 30 meters on the sand, under an obstacle, over another, high knees through some tires, and over a four-foot wall. And then, there was the last obstacle - a six-foot inclined wall. Up to that time, I had never had a major injury before. But as soon as I began to climb the wall, I knew that something was wrong. I felt the snap and heard it in surround sound simultaneously.”

It was a pain he called “indescribable”. But he couldn’t decide if it was his knee, or not finishing the race, which gave him more pain. He went home to ice his knee and rest his leg. His wife, Kimberley, family and friends convinced him to go to the hospital. There, he discovered that he had popped his quadriceps tendon. It is said to be a common injury for middle-aged men, and he was 39 at the time. Surgery was required. This active go-getter couldn’t believe he would have to bear six weeks of recovery time before he could even begin rehabilitation. With half of 2017 already gone, it seemed near impossible for Donovan to

be able to complete the Spartan Trifecta, which must be done in a single year. He could have very well called it quits.

He had every right to. But it’s just not in his blood.

Just three days after his surgery, Donovan signed up for the Spartan Beast. He was in a tremendous amount of pain, and the memory of the surgery was fresh. But he did not allow his mind to stay just where he was. He focused on where he could be. He geared his mind up to face one of his biggest challenges in life. He set his goal using the SMART acronym: Specific - Spartan Trifecta Measurable - Spartan Beast Achievable - For sure Realistic - Apparently only to me Timely - December 9, 2017 He went into physiotherapy six weeks later with his goal in mind: “I have learned that whatever you set your mind to; your body will follow. My mind was focused on my recovery, so my body would follow.”

He took it slowly, followed doctor’s orders, and followed his physical therapist’s advice to pace himself and trust the process.

“Life is not just about accomplishing the grandscale events,” he said.

“Life is made up of many small races that we must complete in order to get to the next level, the next chapter, or in my case, the next competition.”

On December 9, Donovan was on the course at the Spartan Beast event in Mulberry, Florida, making

ABOVE RIGHT: Donovan receiving his third Spartan medal after successfully completing the Spartan Trifecta.

RIGHT: Donovan and his mother Sharon recovering from injuries together. his dreams come true. His book, The Heart of a Spartan, shares the grit, the guts and the glory of achieving this feat.

That day, it was very cold and pouring rain. The mud made the course even more difficult. In the end, Donovan triumphed. He earned the coveted three medals and the three magnetic pieces that click together to make one medal - the badge of pride you earn as a member of the Spartan Tribe.

H

is book is more than just about a three-part race. It’s about the life lessons he learned before, during and prior to this life experience that has taken him to the next level. His nuggets of wisdom can be applied to any life goal. He offers insight into his own life as well as three others who overcame their own fitness struggles to become champions in their own right.

“It was raw excitement,” he says of that day.

“I accomplished it. I overcame what many thought I couldn’t. It was rewarding. Aroo! It was done even though I was wet and cold as ice.”

Through it all, Donovan says his family has been a big source of inspiration. In fact, his mother was in an accident

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that UTILE MARKINSEY, of Wulf Road, Nassau, The Bahamas 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 twentyeight days from the 22nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that AA’KILA LIGHTBOURNE, of #6 Flying Fish Street, Caravel Beach, Freeport, Bahamas 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 15th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

and both of them went through recovery at the same time.

This was a different time in his life. As my classmate at St Augustine’s College, both of us graduating in 1995, I saw him go hard at the things he really wanted. He went hard at Edward Waters College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with an accounting degree. He went hard into becoming certified as an international project manager and becoming a member of the American Academy of Project Management.

And he went hard into fitness, totally transforming his body and then scores of others, becoming a recognisable name in fitness in The Bahamas.

He believes in putting family first. He has great examples in his father, Ishmael Rolle, who is a Green Beret - trained in England for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. His mother, Sharon Kelly, proved her determination time and time again throughout Donovan’s life, and her amazing story of overcoming an injury to take on a special task in the Holy Land is worth the read in his book. His grandfather Basil Kelly showed the meaning of togetherness by keeping the family close. His sisters Melanie, La’Nell, Lesha and Inecia were all competitive in their own right, and theirs was a house full of trophies.

This is Donovan’s second book. He released a book of poems entitled “Diverse” in 2012. Like many through the lockdowns of the pandemic, he had the time to reflect and write about his experience in a bid to inspire others and leave a legacy for his children worth telling.

Community service is also a big part of who Donovan is. Currently, he serves as Centre Manager for the Fox Hill Community Centre, which allows him to be on the ground and in the community touching lives each day. He has volunteered for Hands for Hunger, working at the warehouse assisting with the distribution of meals to hurricane shelters in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. He has also spearheaded several donation drives for youth groups, churches, non profit organisations and schools.

He is also a Distinguished Toastmaster, and he has used his speaking skills to give motivational speeches at various events, with a focus on inspiring the youth.

This Saturday, Donovan will officially launch his book, “The Heart of a Spartan” at the Balmoral Club from 7am to 9am. The event will include a Spartan-inspired workout for guests, a signed copy of the book, a swag bag, light bites, specialty ice cream and mimosas. For more info, email Donovan at jayfitness242@gmail.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 9

Now’s the time to showcase the very best of what we have to offer IT IS self-evident that tourism is an important, if not essential, part of national economies around the world. For host countries, spending by visitors boosts revenue in many sectors, creates numerous jobs and drives growth. Here in The Bahamas, as everyone knows, tourism is one of the twin pillars of the country’s economy - alongside financial services - and is, therefore, vital to the nation’s prosperity.

In the era of mass global tourism, it is generally considered the coronavirus pandemic has caused the most difficult period ever for the industry during peacetime. In 2020, tourism took the hardest hit among economic sectors as a result of the largest yearon-year reduction of global air passenger traffic in aviation history together with a contraction of the services sector involving the hospitality industry as a whole, including travel agents, hotels and other accommodation, tour guides and entertainment.

As restrictions are progressively rolled back and life slowly returns to some sort of normality, it is perhaps no surprise that tourists are gradually returning after being stuck at home for so long. But it was particularly encouraging to read the Minister of Tourism’s contribution to the recent budget debate when he made it clear the tourism sector was, indeed, now bouncing back in The Bahamas. He said almost 300,000 tourists have visited our shores so far this year, both in New Providence

The Peter Young column and the Family Islands, with hotel occupancy rates improving accordingly and, reportedly, he called the rate of increase of visitors phenomenal.

This good news for the whole country has led to questions about what the government can do, in the face of fierce post-pandemic competition from other countries, to support and stimulate such a positive trend while looking at ways of making The Bahamas an even more attractive destination of choice.

For purposes of comparison, I found it interesting to look at what is happening in Britain, even though the scale and circumstances are vastly different, because it is another example of a country where tourism is seen as one of the country’s great success stories, with 41 million inbound visits in 2019. The industry is regarded as an economic, social and cultural asset,

TAKING ON THE WOKES Having written last week about the launch in Britain of GB News, a new antiwoke TV channel, how depressing it is to have to report that it has already run into trouble. Up to ten well-known companies including Vodafone, Bosch, Nivea and Ikea, the giant Swedish furniture firm last week cancelled their advertisements with the new broadcaster following an online campaign by a Left-wing minority pressure group called Stop Funding Hate.

This group has been described as a collection of woke activists who started vilifying GB News months before it went on air because they claimed the channel was ‘designed to create division and demonise people’ by disseminating ‘toxic propaganda’. The group’s approach was to frighten companies into believing that large numbers of its customers would desert them unless their advertisements were pulled.

Stop Funding Hate was apparently formed as an organisation several years ago with the aim of censoring news outlets that it happened to disagree with. It claims to campaign against media companies that ‘indulge in bigotry and prejudice’. But, in reality what it seems to do is target mainstream publications and broadcasters whose views it dislikes. What is more, it adopts strongarm tactics with offensive tweets trashing and harassing political leaders - and labelling, for example, the Conservatives a ‘filthy party of Far-Right scum’.

Delving further in to this,

the evidence suggests Stop Funding Hate consists of an unhinged small group of Left-wing extremists trying to further their own highly partisan political agenda - and it mobilises a mob of internet bullies to intimidate and silence its opponents. But, as a self-righteous lobby group supposedly created to root out prejudice, it is surely guilty of that itself. Perhaps the hypocrisy is lost on its members.

To most people who are wedded to principles of common sense, decency and honesty that are the bedrock of a civilised society, it is baffling that in modern times so much attention is given to self-appointed, unrepresentative minority groups who seek to tear apart the fabric of society and undermine democracy while refusing to tolerate any dissent from their own dangerous ideology of hatred. Yet it is the case that people continue to submit to pressure and blackmail practised by such groups.

Happily, however, this is not the endgame as far as GB News is concerned.

After the uproar of recent days over the gutless capitulation by large companies to a notorious group of activists, it is reported that the firms concerned are reconsidering their policies on the matter. Ikea, in particular, is said to be reviewing its earlier stance that the new channel did not ‘align with its humanistic values’ - whatever the company meant by that! Meanwhile, many people will hope GB News will flourish and succeed in fulfilling its claim to ‘lend an ear to some of

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that AA’NIEH LIGHTBOURNE, of #6 Flying Fish Street, Caravel Beach, Freeport, Bahamas 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 15th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

FIST bumps with Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar as Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis watches on during the return of cruise ships to Freeport at the weekend. indirectly employing some managing COVID-19 which the numbers of people four million people and - as has now been gener- and organisations seeking making an economic con- ally accepted - cannot be to take advantage of the tribution of the equivalent eliminated so that people appeal that Britain offers. will have to This includes the notion of about $100 billion a year ‘It was particularly learn to live that the country has ‘somewith it. A thing for everybody’; pre-pandemic. encouraging to major factor from, to name just a few, Earlier this will be the its history and its cultural month, the read the Minister pace and cov- attractions together with UK govern- of Tourism’s erage of the spectacular and diverse ment, whose contribution to vaccination natural landscapes, a aim is to see programme thriving arts sector, world a growing, the recent budget and the effect famous sporting events dynamic and debate when he of continu- too numerous to mention sustainable ing social but led by the world famous tourism sector, made it clear the distancing Wimbledon tennis champitourism sector published measures on onships - exhibitions, trade its post- was, indeed, now the discretion- fairs and a capacity to host pandemic bouncing back in ary spending large scale business meetTourism power of visi- ings and conferences.

The Bahamas.’

Recovery tors.

According to the report, Plan setting The plan government has an imporout how it will assist and accelerate the process stresses the importance of tant role in developing of restoring the sector. bringing together govern- a strategy for the longThe key, according to the ment and industry to work term recovery of tourism. plan, is to find a way for out ways of showcasing the It needs to develop a a safe return to interna- best of what the nation has framework for a safe tional travel while still to offer and to maximise and sustainable return to

non-essential travel when the time is right. This means lifting restrictions on domestic and international travel as soon as this is considered safe, bearing in mind the government’s prime responsibility is to apply measures to safeguard public health while not allowing the economy to deteriorate further.

In addition to establishing policy on health issues in the best interests of the country, government has to set effective and reasonable border and visa policies and procedures which protect the nation but at the same time offer a welcome to visitors and it needs to ensure these are properly publicised. It is also the government’s role to promote the country internationally by improved official advertising campaigns, to help the private sector as appropriate in marketing their products and to provide support packages and tax incentives for meetings and conferences. But, above all, it is the government’s responsibility to invest in infrastructure throughout the land in order to support tourism more generally.

Such was the overwhelming level of damage from the virus, the report estimates tourism in the UK is unlikely to return to 2019 levels until 2025. Fortunately, the prospects for our own recovery here at home are much brighter, as the evidence already shows.

But, even though the environment and conditions here are so different, the report may reveal some ideas that could be useful in finding innovative ways here of attracting visitors including, as has been said so often, a greater emphasis on ecotourism.

MYANMAR MISERY ONLY GETS WORSE IN A world beset by crisis after crisis, how easily does the spotlight shift to new international troubles and disasters. A month ago, I wrote in detail about the terrible conflict in Myanmar, describing the violence and chaos there following the military coup at the beginning of February and the brutal clamp-down by security forces on pro-democracy protesters that has led to more than 700 deaths and the detention of thousands.

Meanwhile, the persecution of the Rohingya minority ethnic group has been continuing.

But international media interest in this crisis seems to have waned, despite the deteriorating situation with ethnic armed groups now joining in the opposition to the military government.

The Western powers, led by the US, have imposed sanctions and have been ratcheting up economic pressure on the military through targeted measures on individuals as well as on two military conglomerates that control significant portions of the nation’s economy.

Because of Russian and Chinese opposition, the UN Security

Council has been unable to do more than ‘strongly condemn’ the coup and the violence and to express its ‘deep concern’ about the situation in Myanmar and its support for democracy there. However, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has added its voice to the call for an immediate cessation of violence and has urged constructive dialogue. So there has been powerful condemnation of the coup and the military crackdown.

Furthermore, a new development has been the recent UN General Assembly resolution heavily criticising the coup and the military action, terming it ‘excessive lethal violence’, and calling for an arms embargo while also warning Myanmar’s military leaders that, if they keep hold of power, they should resign themselves to pariah status indefinitely. The resolution called, too, for the release of President Win Myint and the de facto civilian leader of the country, Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the National League for Democracy party that won a landslide victory in elections in 2020.

The military junta will doubtless shrug off all this condemnation.

NOTICE

But, in another important development, Aung San Suu Kyi herself is now on trial, some four months after the coup. The junta has invented bogus and politically motivated corruption charges against her. She also faces a separate trial over alleged sedition. If convicted, she faces a long prison term which, given her age of 76, would amount to a life sentence.

This would surely cause international uproar.

Human rights groups have already condemned this trial, but the junta is clearly intent on stopping her running in any future elections which she would be expected to win easily.

This crisis, then, shows no sign of ending. The UN special envoy to Myanmar has said recently that, in the absence of a collective international response to the coup and the violence against the protesters, the situation will continue to worsen and the local administration of the country will come to standstill – leading to a civil war which some say is already happening. While this nightmare continues, what a cautionary tale it should be for the watching international community.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that HERODIANE FICIEN, of General Delivery, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, 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 15th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that JULIANA PREVELUS, of Joe Farrington Road, Nassau, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 15th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that BERNADINE ULYSSE, of Weybridge Road P.O. Box SP-60463, New Providence, 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 15th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that JOEL SIBI MARK, of Buccaneer Road Little Blair, Nassau, The Bahamas 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 22nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

AN ORANGE County resident receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the Florida Division of Emergency Management mobile vaccination site at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

THE TRIBUNE

US hitting milestones on COVID COVID-19 deaths in the US have dipped below 300 a day for the first time since the early days of the disaster in March 2020, while the drive to put shots in arms approached another encouraging

milestone Monday: 150 million Americans fully vaccinated.

The coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the US in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But now, as the outbreak loosens its grip, it has fallen down the list of the biggest killers.

CDC data suggests that more Americans are dying every day from accidents, chronic lower respiratory diseases, strokes or Alzheimer’s disease than from COVID-19.

The US death toll stands at more than 600,000, while the worldwide count is close to 3.9 million, though the real figures in both cases are believed to be markedly higher.

About 45 percent of the US population has been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Over 53 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine. But US demand for shots has slumped, to the disappointment of public health experts.

Dr Ana Diez Roux, dean of Drexel University’s school of public health, said the dropping rates of infections and deaths are cause for celebration. But she cautioned that the virus still has a chance to spread and mutate given the low vaccination rates in some states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Wyoming and Idaho.

“So far it looks like the vaccines we have are effective against the variants that are circulating,” Diez Roux said. “But the more time the virus is jumping from person to person, the more time there is for variants to develop, and some of those could be more dangerous.”

New cases are running at about 11,400 a day on

average, down from over a quarter-million per day in early January. Average deaths per day are down to about 293, according to Johns Hopkins University, after topping out at over 3,400 in mid-January.

In New York, which suffered mightily in the spring of 2020, Gov Andrew Cuomo tweeted on Monday that the state had ten new deaths. At the height of the outbreak in the state, nearly 800 people a day were dying from the coronavirus.

Some states are faring worse than others. Missouri leads the nation in per-capita COVID-19 cases and is fourth behind California, Florida and Texas in the number of new cases per day over the past week despite its significantly smaller population.

The surge is being driven by new cases in a farming region in the northern part of the state and in the southwest corner, which includes the towns of Branson and Springfield.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in southwest Missouri have risen 72 percent since the beginning of the month as of Friday.

The fall will bring new waves of infection, but they will be less severe and concentrated more in places with low vaccination rates, said Amber D’Souza, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“So much depends on what happens over the summer and what happens with children,” D’Souza said. “Anyone who is not vaccinated can become infected and transmit the virus.”

Meanwhile, because of regulatory hurdles and other factors, President Joe Biden is expected to fall short of his commitment to share 80 million vaccine doses with the rest of the world by the end of June, officials said Monday.

14 KILLED IN MEXICO VIOLENCE CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico Associated Press FEAR has invaded the Mexican border city of Reynosa after gunmen in vehicles killed 14 people, including taxis drivers, workers and a nursing student, and security forces responded with operations that left four suspects dead.

While this city across the border from McAllen, Texas is used to cartel violence as a key trafficking point, the 14 victims in Saturday’s attacks appeared to be what Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca called “innocent citizens” rather than members of one gang killed by a rival.

Local businessman Misael Chavarria Garza said many businesses closed early Saturday after the attacks and people were very scared as helicopters flew overhead. On Sunday, he said “the people were quiet as if nothing had happened, but with a feeling of anger because now crime has happened to innocent people.”

“It’s not fair,” said taxi driver Rene Guevara, adding that among the dead were two of his fellow taxi drivers whom he defended and said were not involved in crime.

The attacks took place in several neighborhoods in eastern Reynosa, according to the Tamaulipas state agency that coordinates security forces, and sparked a deployment of the military, National Guard and state police across the city. Images posted on social media showed bodies in the streets.

Authorities say they are investigating the attacks and haven’t provided a motive.

But the area’s criminal

activity has long been dominated by the Gulf Cartel and there have been fractures within that group.

Experts say there has been an internal struggle within the group since 2017 to control key territories for drug and human trafficking.

Apparently, one cell from a nearby town may have entered Reynosa to carry out the attacks.

Olga Ruiz, whose 19-year-old brother Fernando Ruiz was killed by the gunmen, said her sibling was working as a plumber and bricklayer in a company owned by his stepfather to pay for his studies.

“They killed him in cold blood, he and two of his companions,” said Olga Ruiz, adding that the gunmen arrived where her brother was fixing a drain.

“They heard the gunshots from afar and my stepfather told him: ‘son, you have to take shelter.’ So he asked permission to enter a house but my brother and his companions were only about to enter when the vehicles arrived,” Ruiz said.

“They stopped in front of them and started to shoot.”

On Saturday, authorities detained a person who was transporting two apparently kidnapped women in the trunk of a car.

Security is one of the great challenges facing the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He has assured Mexicans that he is fighting the root causes of the violence and since the beginning of his administration in December 2018, he has advocated “hugs, not bullets” in dealing with criminals. He also says he is fighting corruption to stop the infiltration of organised crime among authorities.

PAGE 11

TUESDAY, JUNE 22 2021

Bahamian chef lends international touch to unique catering service

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

Time spent in the food capitals of the world, working with experts in international cuisine, has given Chef Keishanne Evans an edge when it comes to providing her fellow Bahamians with a unique catering experience.

After an internship in France, Keishanne spent time in Italy, Spain, the French Alps, Dubai, Los Angeles and New York. Everywhere she went, she learned about the different cuisines and different forms of hospitality, all of which has helped her to both appreciate her native culture more and to fuse other traditions with her signature style.

“I truly love the experience I’m able to give in each dish. I love in my own small way being able to be a part of so many grand moments in people’s lives whether they may be celebrating an anniversary, wedding, birthday, or any other special occasion, my craft allows me to be a part of their celebration,” she told Tribune Woman.

“Culinary arts is a field that’s always changing and allows you to be unique and creative and express yourself in your work. Not many jobs allow you to do this and that’s why it’s truly my passion.”

Keishanne, who operates the small Ambrosia Catering and Desserts company, graduated from Lincoln College with an associate degree in Culinary Arts Summa Cum Laude; from Johnson and Wales University with an associate degree in Baking and Pastry, and a bachelor’s degree in food service management, both Summa Cum Laude. After completing her education, she worked in the United States for a year, in France at the French Alps hotel Annapurna in 2014, and in Malaga, Spain at the Hotel Los Monteros in 2016. Since late 2018, she has worked at Baha Mar. “France in 2014 honestly taught me that I had a lot to learn. So, eager after just graduating, I was ready for the workforce and it showed me how challenging my field of work can be, but it also inspired an even greater desire for me to learn more about it that’s why I went back to school to acquire two more degrees,” she explained.

“In France, I developed such an appreciation for technique and the basics. The father of fine cuisine was a French chef, so being able to work and learn the French cooking methods from the French themselves was truly a unique experience. The wine and cheese tastings were a bonus. Fast forward to Spain 2016, I was ready for the adventure this time. I honestly didn’t notice some days when we worked 14-hour days preparing for events while still maintaining excellent service

KEISHANNE Evans

standards.

Spain taught me the value of hard work and how to manage time, people and events. It took traditional cooking methods and made them into popular dishes and techniques we use today. The jaw-dropping plating was a huge takeaway for me. Both jobs showed me that each country has different forms of service and styles of cooking, and when you’re able to learn those and stay true to their art forms, your end results can be a masterpiece.”

During her travels, Keishanne said she had to naturally stop off at well-known foodie destinations like Paris, Rome, New York, and Los Angeles.

“I stayed and enjoyed the cuisine and learned about the history. In Dubai, my husband and I spent the afternoon at a Bedouin campsite, tried traditional Arabic coffee and had an authentic barbecue dinner,” said the wife, mother and entrepreneur.

Now, Keishanne is using what she learned during her travels to make Ambrosia Catering and Desserts a success here at home. The company focuses on speciality cakes and desserts for every occasion. She also caters to events.

“The two aspects of our business are personalised. A good example would be our

dinners.

We have our team come into your home and transform it into a

KEISHANNE Evans at the Colosseum in Rome

restaurantquality style.

We launched this part of our business during the pandemic. People were a bit hesitant to eat out or sit outside at restaurants, and here we saw an opportunity for growth,” she said.

Keishanne said everything about the dinners is customised to suit the client’s wishes – the décor by Meshelle Moss, the stationary by Tennille Ryan, as well as the menu, of course.

“Our stationery is honestly not your regular menu. For example, for Father’s Day, the menus were printed out on the shape of a tie and embellished with handplaced jewels. Our team has special uniforms with masks with our logos and speciality bow ties from Archipelabows. I go over each meal personally with all my

clients, from the soup to the salad, entrée, dessert, and everything in between. It’s our special touches that make our business so unique and so different,” she said.

Keishanne said her hardworking team helps her make each event spectacular. The team includes her CFO, Nathan Evans; associates Keishelle Francis, Keith Moss Jr, Keiano Moss, Mica Evans and Mark Evans; expert vendors Butlers Pleasantries; the digital graphic photography and stationery experts Kamille Ryan, Germaine Butler, Tryptic Productions, Niche Photography and AT photography.

“What makes our brand so unique, if I could use the analogy of the human body, is that every part of the business works together so effortlessly and seamlessly. We all are playing towards our strengths.

And when you’ve complied a team to do that in your business the sky is truly the limit. We are also unique because of the experiences we’ve been afforded.

Our brand offers inspiration from so many different cultures infused onto one plate, one event, one cake or treat,” she said.

“This pandemic has taught me to adapt, and honestly, it makes me work even harder.

We still want to celebrate the momentous occasions in our lives, we just have to do it on a smaller scale and a bit different, and that’s where we come in.

Ambrosia Catering and Desserts has found a need that we have in the country and a way to supply that need.”

Ambrosia Catering and Desserts can be found on Instagram at Ambrosia242.

How is your “Hot Girl Summer” shaping up?

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

It’s the anthem that many women are living by for the next two months –“Hot Girl Summer” – a concept that at its core is about embracing the summer months with enthusiasm, self-confidence and a sense of fun.

The term was coined by superstar rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It became popular after she released her hit song “Hot Girl Summer”, which also featured Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign in 2019. And ever since then, “Hot Girl Summer” has been the theme for successive summers.

So, what is a “Hot Girl Summer”? What does it mean and how you do know if you are having it?

In an interview with Root, Megan explained: “It’s just basically about women — and men — just being unapologetically them, just having a good-a** time, hyping up your friends, do you, not giving a damn about what nobody got to say about it. You have to be a person that can be the life of the party, and, y’know, just a bad b****.”

Bahamian women who spoke with The Tribune said their “Hot Girl Summer” is in full effect and

AMERICAN rapper Megan Thee Stallion (right) coined the term “Hot Girl Summer” with her 2019 hit single by the same name that features fellow rapper Nicki Minaj (left) shared details of what exactly that looks like.

“Some people hear ‘Hot Girl Summer’ and automatically think you are out here being loose and lewd,” Margo told Tribune Woman.

“They also think it is a carefree mentality when it comes to sexual experiences. But for me, it is not. ‘Hot Girl Summer’ speaks to a mindset: step out of one’s shell, out of your box. Whatever you would usually do during the

summer, do the opposite,” she said.

Timaya said her “Hot Girl Summer” has been strategically planned. “ ‘Hot Girl Summer’ for me is about enjoying oneself during

these months. So, I have been strategic and intentional about having fun this summer. We all know what last summer was like and we were not able to have any fun at all. So, in keeping with the free-spiritedness of summer, I made a point to enjoy myself.

Most of the lounges that are open I have been to. I have trips to the Family Islands planned, dedicated to just chilling and relaxing. I also want to participate in a few boat parties,” she said.

For Tanya, who practically lives her life on the go, her “Hot Girl Summer” will be the opposite.

“My schedule is always full, and I am always doing something, so for me, a ‘Hot Girl Summer’ will look like me doing those things that bring peace, calm and tranquillity. Sitting by the beach during the daytime, booking myself a massage maybe twice a month, and just treating myself to things that make me feel good,” she said.

Mia said for her, “Hot Girl Summer” means saying “yes” to everything – “hanging out with those who bring out the best in you and making the most of every day.”

Charmaine added: “For me, part of ‘Hot Girl Summer’ is drunk girl summer. I’ll be making up for the last year of being at home.”

PAGE 12, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

The godmother question

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

Talk show mogul Oprah Winfrey recently denied rumours that she has been asked to be a godmother to Lilibet Diana, the newborn daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Reports surfaced a few weeks ago that Oprah had been asked to fill the role following her explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earlier this year.

However, Oprah nixed the rumours.

“I don’t need to be a godmother, I’m a godmother by default. I am a neighbour, I am a friend and all that, you probably need someone younger to be a godmother,” the 67- year-old said.

This week, our female readers weighed in on what they looked for in selecting guardians for their children.

Do you select “the celebrity” figure – for example, a wealthy or popular individual – or the tried-and-true friend, or do you ask someone to be godmother or godfather because of a sense of obligation?

“I chose my best friends to be my kids’ godmothers because, at the end of the day, they are women who share my interests,

PRINCE Harry and Meghan pose during a photocall with their newborn son Archie. The second baby for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is officially here: Meghan gave birth to a healthy girl on Friday, June 4, 2021. (Dominic Lipinski/ Pool via AP, file) values and goals. They have proven their friendship to me, and I know they will love my kids like their own,” Prescola told Tribune Weekend.

Alliya said that she looked for individuals who would help her children in the future.

“I want my kids to have people in life who can help open doors

for them. I don’t mean give them money, that’s not what it’s about, but people who have connections to introduce them to people and opportunities where they can

make it for themselves. I didn’t have that and so I want it for my kids.”

Rochelle said the spiritual component is what was important to her.

“The word God is literally in the title. To me, godparents are people who help your child with their spirituality. So, my godparents are strong Christians who I think will help with the moral side of helping my sons grow to adulthood. I know they will pray for and with my kids throughout life,” she said.

The women all said that they want people who will remain a presence in their kids’ life.

“I didn’t want people to just dress up that day (of the Christening) and you never see them again. My godparents are people who in my house all the time anyway,” said Prescola.

Rochelle added: “I do think people just pick godparents for what they think they can give them materially, or just so it looks like they know a lot of people.

But they are missing the point of what it’s about.”

Alliya said she, too, looked for quality over quantity, unlike some Bahamian parents who have up to half a dozen godparents.

“I think it loses its specialness when you ask a multitude of persons to stand with you,” she said.

De’Andra helps businesses grow by design

Whether it’s a bride celebrating a bachelorette weekend, a new start-up launching its business, an organisation planning a companywide team-building exercise or a non-profit seeking to raise awareness, Dream Wild Designs seeks to help customers get noticed.

From her design studio at Farrington House on Gladstone Road, owner De’Andra FawkesHield builds clients’ brand awareness by imprinting logos, names and designs on high-quality T-shirts, tote bags and other promotional items for individuals, schools and businesses.

For someone whose job it is to create corporate swag, the former HR executive took over a decade to gain the confidence necessary to leap into fulltime entrepreneurship.

“I needed flexibility and the nine to five office hours were not for me. It felt too structured and was beginning to weigh on me,” said the married mother of two who started out in customer service, transitioned into computer system technology

LIVING her wildest dreams—De’Andra Fawkes-Hield (Photo/Cay Focus Photography) before working in human resources,” she said.

Deep down, De’Andra knew she was “meant for more.” She had always been artistic, good with her hands and tech savvy. In 2017, she researched and purchased her first printing machine, something “compact and cost-effective.” She remembers her very first order— T-shirts for a birthday tea party.

Not long after fulfilling her first few client orders, she left her job and never looked back.

In the early days, her savings kept her afloat while word of mouth referrals slowly began

to make the rounds. Impressed by her products’ utility and durability, family told friends and friends brought others to her storefront. It’s an organic growth the entrepreneur takes pride in.

“You have to possess the will to succeed in business. To make it through, I took it one day at a time. Every morning you have to get up and know within yourself this is your life-long dream, and this is what you want to do,” she said.

Not surprisingly, COVID19 tested her mental strength and ability to endure an

unprecedented year, but there were a few bright spots. Even in a pandemic, new businesses were popping up and there were corporate entities requiring her services.

Since Dream Wild Designs takes orders big and small, everyone is a potential client – whether its custom embroidered golf shirts for an entrepreneur or T-shirts for a school club, or outfitting an entire department with custom uniforms, there is no minimum order. Customers either bring their own printready images or Dream Wild

Designs can create something new. De’Andra can monogram or personalise most fabrics, can print on glass, metal, wood, and most plastics. She prides herself on providing attentive customer service, expert advice and a quick turn-around time.

Presently, 50 percent of clients are repeat business and 20 percent are referrals. Walk-ins account for the remainder.

Like other businesses, economic disruption marred the past 14 months, but an opportunity also emerged. A grant from the Access AcceleratorSmall Business Development Centre (SBDC) is helping the enterprise become more profitable.

Just before the pandemic struck, De’Andra received funding to purchase new equipment for her growing operation. Designs can now be created using specialty software and a computer and then automatically transferred to the embroidery machine to complete the stitching of the design.

“From the age of 16, I had a goal to get into embroidery. The new machinery opens me up to bigger and better business opportunities.

It’s superior technology. It allows me to do more batch printing and increase my print volume,” she explained.

“For customers, adding custom embroidery to a uniform or golf shirt makes a brand stand-out.

It is a more sophisticated look that makes a statement and help differentiate you from other brands. Who wouldn’t want a walking billboard for their business?”

US Mint to issue quarters honouring notable American women (AP) – Poet and author Maya Angelou, America’s first woman in space and a revered Cherokee Nation leader are among female trailblazers whose likenesses will appear on the US quarter.

The new four-year American Women Quarters Program celebrates women’s accomplishments and contributions to the United States’ development and history, according to the US Mint.

Under the programme, the mint will issue up to five new designs each year from 2022 to 2025.

Honorees will be from a variety of fields and from ethnically, racially and geographically diverse backgrounds, the mint says.

Those chosen for the first year are: • Maya Angelou, celebrated poet and memoirist • Wilma Mankiller, the Cherokee Nation’s first female principal chief • Adelina Otero-Warren, a leader in New Mexico’s suffrage movement

• Sally Ride, the first US woman in space • Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American Hollywood film star Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr and Mankiller’s husband, Charlie Soap, expressed gratitude for Mankiller’s inclusion in the program, saying her influence and leadership made her a fitting choice.

Mankiller became one of the United States’ most visible Native American leaders during her 10 years as chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, from 1985 to 1995. She died in 2010.

“We thank the US Mint for recognising Wilma and the other recipients for such an honour,” Soap told Indian Country Today.

“Wilma was a humble, spiritual, great leader whose leadership was not only for Cherokee people but for all women and races. The real value of this coin is the inspiration POET and Civil Rights activist Maya it brings to Indian people and Angelou women everywhere.”

WILMA MANKILLER, the first woman elected chief of the Cherokee Nation (AP Photo, File, 1985

SALLY Ride was the first American woman in space

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 13

BODY AND MIND

Work up a sweat for the community Free fitness programme aims to improve local lives

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

For the month of June, the Caribbean Sweat Fitness team is hosting what they are calling “We Jammin’ for the Elizabeth Estates Community”.

The initiative, which features strength training, “socamania”, aerobics, and a Junkanoo rush workout, takes place at the park in the back of the Elizabeth Estates Police Station, free of charge, every Monday at 6.30 pm until June 28. “ ‘We Jammin’” is a one-hour outdoor group exercise class for all ages and fitness levels. We were inspired to start the programme after realising that there are so many people who want to make a lifestyle change concerning their health but are unable to afford gym memberships, and others who don’t have the selfmotivation to pick themselves up from the couch for at least 30 minutes of activity,” said Macumbla “Comby” Smith, founder of Caribbean Sweat Fitness.

The programme was also designed with another thing in mind: the high rate of childhood obesity, which Comby said is in part the fault of kids spending most of their time on their phones and other devices.

With “We Jammin’”, the organisation hopes to entice youngsters to get active outdoors while having fun.

In addition to being a certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer with 17 years’ experience under his belt, Comby is also a passionate Junkanoo fan.

“I’m a cultural enthusiast and an avid Junkanooer with a fourtime ‘Junkanoo King’ title. I started Caribbean Sweat Fitness 10 years ago intending to make fitness fun and more accessible

COMBY Smith

“

Some of the health benefits of this programme would be weight loss, muscle building, improving the cardiovascular system, and assisting those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and risk of stroke or heart attack… to the average Bahamian. It’s a fitness movement that promotes an active lifestyle through Caribbean music and dance, particularly soca, Junkanoo, rake n’ scrape and dancehall,” he said.

“People are more likely to commit to activities they enjoy, so we create workouts that are fun but also safe and effective.

What makes us different from a typical gym class is that we cater to people who don’t have time for the gym or simply just don’t like that kind of atmosphere. Our product is unique to the Bahamas, but with a social media following

COMBY Smith of Caribbean Sweat Fitness gets Elizabeth Estates residents all worked up for a healthy lifestyle

of 14,000 the movement is now catching on around the world.”

When speaking of the Elizabeth Estates initiative, Comby said the goal is to change the mindset of the people in the community. The goal is also to create a safe space for participants, not only to get active but to also socialise and become more familiar with their neighbours.

“Some of the health benefits of this programme would be weight loss, muscle building, improving the cardiovascular system, and assisting those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and risk of stroke or heart attack… to reduce the dangers of these noncommunicable diseases, and in the long term to assist individuals in ridding themselves of it.

Another benefit that’s guaranteed is a boost of self-confidence as people will begin to feel good about themselves and their body,” he said.

Comby, who was the 2015 National Fitness Champion and a silver medalist in 2015 Central American and Caribbean Fitness Championships, believes exercise programmes like this can help change the Bahamas for the better.

“This is important to me because we’re ranking in the top 10 of countries that a plagued with non-communicable diseases. I believe the health of the nation is the wealth of the nation. I’d like to lighten the load on the healthcare system, help employees to be more productive on their jobs and take fewer sick days, which will slow the rate of rising insurance costs,” he said.

So far, Comby said, the feedback from the Elizabeth Estates community has been great. The constituents are very welcoming and extremely enthusiastic about it, and the word is getting out that there’s a free workout in the community. He said the number of participants is growing weekly.

“We plan to continue this programme throughout the year and hopefully beyond. We’ve begun in Elizabeth Estates where we’ll be for four weeks and plan to move on to Fox Hill, Kemp Road and other areas on the island,” said Comby.

Bahamians’ worst experiences at the doctor

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

TAKING a trip to the doctor’s office is not exactly a favourite out for most people, and good reason. The experience, which can sometimes involve long periods of waiting, people have to open up about what’s going on with their bodies to a stranger, undergo painful tests, receive injections and sometimes have their worst fears confirmed.

And when the healthcare provider has a less than professional demeanour or is lacking insensitivity, or fails at displaying a good bedside manner, this already fraught experience can become frustrating and scary, and in many cases, affirms people’s fears of going to the doctor.

This has been the experience of several Tribune readers, who were very candid in recounting their worst doctor visits.

For life coach Stanya Davis, her worst experience happened last week when she went for a routine checkup at a local clinic.

She was greeted by a friendly receptionist, who was helpful and accommodating. However, it was her encounter with a doctor at the clinic that left much to be desired.

“I went there to do my annual pap smear…the womanly stuff… and I saw the doctor. I figured he was new to the clinic. But something was off about him, and I felt that. So, when I went into the office we both reached to close the door at the same time. So, I said to him in a not so serious way, ‘You hit my hand’.

He immediately snapped back at me in such a forceful way, saying, ‘Well, you put your hand in the way.’

“After this, I was under the impression that I would be doing

the pap smear. I asked him if he would. He then snaps at me again, ‘No. Well, what makes you think someone wants to look at your vagina?’

“That turned into a back and forth, him out-talking and overtalking. And then I realised that it’s not me. This doctor has some internal issues that had nothing to do with me. He was completely

out of line and over the top,” she said.

Stanya immediately took to her Facebook page to share the experience with followers. Within a short time, a representative from the clinic called her to apologise for the unpleasant experience.

Beyond the lack of professionalism exhibited by some healthcare providers,

Bianca Darville said was also given misinformation and false hope by one of the doctors.

“I went to the doctor for a pregnancy confirmation.

The gynaecologist confirmed my pregnancy. However, the transvaginal ultrasound only showed a gestational sac without an embryo or foetal pole. In other words, they were not seeing a baby.

“However, the gynaecologist said every pregnancy develops differently and the empty sac, which is called a blighted ovum, was not something to be immediately concerned about, at least until a blood test is done. So the doctor ordered a blood test to check the levels of the pregnancy hormone in my blood. The count would tell whether or not my pregnancy was viable,” she said.

Bianca took the blood test as recommended by the gynaecologist.

“This is where it gets interesting,” she said. “The test results were ready, however, the gynaecologist that advised me to do it was not at the clinic to interpret the results. Another doctor read the results to me.

While waiting in the office he walks in and says, ‘What ya problem is?’

He didn’t say, ‘Hello, how are you, how may I help?” The way he said it made me feel like he was talking to one of his boys.”

Bianca then explained that she was there to have her blood test results read to her.

“And then he just seemed confused like he didn’t know anything, or he didn’t know how to read my results to me. So, he says, ‘Oh, your numbers are good, man. Give the baby time to grow.’

Something inside of me didn’t feel completely satisfied. As I got up to leave, he starts asking me personal questions and he is staring at my things and groin area. It was weird

and uncomfortable. I came out of there as quick as I could but happy that according to him my pregnancy was viable.”

However, a few weeks later, Bianca suffered a miscarriage – the usual outcome of a blighted ovum, she later learned.

“I went back to the doctor and saw the original gynaecologist who said my numbers were so low a miscarriage was inevitable.

However, the doctor who read my results in error gave me a false hope that I would be having my first baby,” she said.

Dominic Stuart’s worst experience came at the hands of a dentist.

“That was the roughest teeth cleaning experience I ever had,” he said.

Dominic said he scheduled routine teeth cleaning with a local dentist who gave him subpar service.

“I was the last patient and when the dentist knew that, they said, ‘Thank God, he is the last for the day. I ready to go’. And the dentist cleaned my teeth like they were ready to go. They were pulling my mouth in all directions and scraping my teeth hard. At one point I even said ‘ouch’ just so they would get the picture, but this dentist carried on as usual as if teeth and gums are not delicate already. I’ll never let them touch my mouth again,” he said.

Opal Johnson’s worst experience boiled down to the misdiagnosis of a foot injury.

“I was told my foot was sprained when it was broken. It was no wonder my foot could not heal the way it should have, all because it needed a cast.

“The doctor who I was initially seeing also had a very bad attitude, so I switched doctors and got the proper care I needed,” she said.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

A Bahamian perspective on Men’s Health Awareness Month THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Dr Greggory Pinto

I became a urologist with the aim of improving the quality of lives of Bahamian men, women and children. Bahamian men are unfortunately notoriously poor at addressing their own health needs. Prostate cancer will strike one in six Bahamian men in their lifetime. The Bahamas has the 14th highest per capita prostate cancer incidence in the world.

At least 80 Bahamian men died of prostate cancer in 2019 and more than 200 Bahamian men were diagnosed with prostate cancer that same year. Bahamian men have all the risk factors for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, in being a nation of predominantly men of African ancestry, having a high rate of obesity and have a high incidence of BRCA gene mutations.

Bahamian black men often have prostate cancer on average six to seven years earlier than men of other racial persuasions.

Prostate cancer has an almost 100 percent cancer specific survival rate at five years and 98 percent cancer specific survival rate at ten years, if the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Early diagnosis is key in the fight against needless prostate cancer related deaths in the Bahamas.

Knowledge is imperative if we are going to stop unnecessary prostate cancer deaths in our Bahamas.

Men’s Health Awareness month not only attempts to save lives but also tries to improve the quality of the lives of men.

Erectile dysfunction is a taboo topic that Bahamian men are timid in speaking about it and they are every reluctant to seek the consult of a urologist regarding their erectile dysfunction, which may take the form of premature ejaculation or the inability to achieve and maintain a good quality erection. The possible causes of erectile dysfunction are multiple, which may include an impaired penile blood or nerve supply, low testosterone, performance anxiety, side effects of medications or undiagnosed/ poorly controlled diabetes and/ or high blood pressure. You can

always rise again. The first step in recovering erectile function is seeking the comprehensive, compassionate and confidential consult of a urologist.

Men’s Health Awareness Month focusses on many vital health topics including the management of erectile dysfunction but also includes all major topics related to the good health of Bahamian men.

These topics include any urinary issues, male infertility, kidney stones, chronic pelvic pain, circumcision, vasectomies, blood in the urine, cancers of the prostate, kidneys, bladder and penis, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes mellitus.

The most pressing issues Bahamian men face BPH The other prostate problem, non-cancerous benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the enlargement of the prostate that almost every Bahamian man will face if he is blessed with advanced age. BPH can cause symptoms such as a weak urinary stream, frequent day and nighttime urination, urinary urgency, incomplete bladder emptying, recurrent urinary tract infections and even urinary incontinence/ leak.

Far too many Bahamian endure a poor night sleep because of frequent urination and they have their urinary problems control their lives and rob them often of their happiness. BPH can be managed very successfully with medications or minimally invasive urological procedures. Bahamian taxi drivers should not have to suffer the indignity of driving around with a container in which they urinate because they will never make it to even pulling over to the side of the road to urinate.

Bahamian teachers should not very afraid to drink a glass of water because they can’t teach a class without having to frequently urinate. Bahamian men in general do not need to live their lives sleep deprived because they are waking up five times in the night to urinate. Bahamian men from every walk of life are suffering needlessly with urinary problems and they are unaware that they can regain control of their bladder and their happiness with the aid of a urologist.

Hypertension Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure, and it is well-known to be a silent killer, with no symptoms of uncontrolled blood pressure until often irreversible damage has already been done to various bodily organs.

Long standing hypertension could leave to erectile dysfunction, kidney failure, cardiac failure, stroke among multiple devastating health consequences. Sudden acute spikes in blood pressure could also be fatal or lead to severe medical morbidities.

Bahamian men are often afraid to talk about urinary issues such as a weak urinary stream or urinary incontinence/leak or frequent nighttime urination because they have a great fear that these urinary problems are prostate cancer related.

The reality is the statistically speaking, benign prostate cancer is far more prevalent than prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer should also not be feared because early diagnosis can lead to an almost 100 percent cure rate.

Many Bahamian men are at risk for developing high blood pressure because of poor lifestyle choices, an unhealthy diet, an inactive sedentary existence and obesity.

It is far too common an occurrence for Bahamian men to choose to not be complaint with prescribed high blood pressure medication.

Proper control of hypertension could prevent serious negative health issues and lead to greater longevity.

Heart disease Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for Bahamian men. Heart disease is a broad medical term that includes the various cardiovascular disease conditions such as angina, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, congestive cardiac failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

Heart disease is truly a silent killer with few to no symptoms until the disease has advanced.

Many Bahamian men have risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Annual or bi-annual health physicals, compliance with prescribed medications, regular exercise, healthy well -balanced diet and not smoking nicotine products could all significantly reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Erectile dysfunction is often an early warning sign of heart disease as 70 percent of men with erectile dysfunction have or will develop some element of heart disease.

Diabetes The Bahamas has one of the highest incidences of diabetes in not just the region but the world.

One in seven Bahamian men have diabetes or are prediabetic.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Poorly controlled diabetes could potentially lead to devastating health consequences

Eight ways to manage body image anxiety after lockdown

By TRACY TYLKA Professor of Psychology The Ohio State University (THE CONVERSATION) Being able to socialise again may bring enthusiasm and a sense of normalcy – but it may also increase anxiety over how your body might have changed.

I am a psychologist who has studied body image for over 20 years, and I’ve seen how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect health and well-being in numerous ways, including body image. Gyms were closed. Selfcare rituals may have fallen by the wayside as stress and hardships like homeschooling and strained finances piled up. The pandemic also took away a major way people cope: Social support through physical contact.

Pandemic stress has led many people to turn to other coping mechanisms, with some harmful to both physical and mental health. In one study of 5,469 adults in Australia, 35 percent reported increased binge eating, or eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time, due to pandemic life. In another study of 365 adults in Italy, 25.7 percent reported increased emotional eating over the course of lockdown. And in a survey of 3,000 adults in the US, 61 percent experienced undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic. It’s no wonder that people may feel anxiety over what others think about their changed appearance.

What is body image?

Body image is a person’s “inside view” – or feelings, perceptions, thoughts and beliefs – of their body. Body image can be positive, neutral or negative, and it can fluctuate. Situations that provoke negative body image – like not fitting into formerly comfortable clothes, noticing age-related changes in appearance, seeing an unflattering picture of yourself and comparing your body to a social media influencer – are called body image threats.

Body image threats have been part of the COVID-19 experience for many people. The pandemic has also seen an increase in struggles with eating too much or too little, preoccupation with food, and anxiety about weight and body shape.

Fortunately, there are healthy ways to manage body anxiety and cultivate a positive body image while reemerging from the pandemic.

1. Focus on what you appreciate about your body Rather than focusing on what has changed or what you don’t like about your body, focus on what your body does for you.

This is different for everyone. For example, my arms allow me to hug my dogs, my legs allow me to take them for walks, my stomach allows me to digest food so I have energy and my brain helped me write this article. Your body is much more than its appearance.

Appreciating your body and

what it does for you is central to cultivating positive body image.

2. Engage with others who accept and appreciate all bodies Be selective with who you want to spend time with after the pandemic. Start with people who are “body accepting,” meaning they don’t talk badly about your body, their body or anyone else’s body – they may not even focus on appearance at all. Positive body image increases when people engage with others who are body accepting. You can also practice being a person who shows body acceptance to others and pay it forward.

3. Practice self-compassion People’s bodies have helped them survive the trauma of a global pandemic. It’s important to be kind to yourself and your body if your appearance has changed. Self-compassion is being as kind to yourself as you would to a loved one going through a hard situation. Many studies have found that self-compassion is linked to higher positive body image, and self-judgment is linked to a higher negative body image.

Try to be mindful, or aware, of your experiences without judging them, and understand that others are in these difficult experiences with you.

4. Engage in mindful movement If you are able, move your body in ways that bring you joy and rejuvenation and help you

such as infected diabetic foot, diabetic retinopathy affected eyes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic cystopathy leading to impaired ability to empty the bladder, amongst many other negative health consequences.

Diabetics have a four-times increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction and erectile dysfunction presents on average 15 years earlier in diabetics when compared to non-diabetics.

Annual health physicals are essential for men so that silent non communicable diseases can be detected early and managed effectively. Bahamian men should be screened for type 2 diabetes starting at age 40 years old, and even at an earlier age if there is a family history of diabetes, a history of hypertension, obesity or a history of high cholesterol.

Screening for colorectal cancer should happen in all men 45 years old and older.

Bahamian men need to realise that they may unknowingly suffer silently with no symptoms from common health disorders such as prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and colorectal cancer.

If you have not had an annual physical in the past one year then please do so as having annual physicals and taking appropriate health care actions, may potentially add years to your life and improve the quality of health for the years that you do live.

What issues are Bahamian men afraid to talk about most?

Bahamian men are definitely reluctant to speak about erectile dysfunction because they often feel that they are a failure and less than a man when faced with erectile dysfunction. Almost every man faces erectile dysfunction is his lifetime and the real tragedy is suffering needlessly in silence when you are not alone and with the aid of a urologist, you will always rise again. connect with and listen to your body. Bodies and abilities are different, and what is mindful movement for someone else may not be for you. Some activities, such as yoga, have been shown to promote positive body image as long as they don’t focus on appearance. Move in ways that help you focus on how much you enjoy moving rather than how you look while moving.

5. Practice self-care Ask your body what it needs every day. Bodies need a regular supply of fuel, hydration, relaxation, stimulation and sleep.

Self-care can be hard to fit into a schedule, but it is very important to plan actions and activities that restore you to your best self.

6. Engage with nature Interacting with nature is associated with a variety of health benefits, including higher positive body image. Activities that engage with nature, like hiking, may help you focus less on your appearance and more on how your body functions.

Experiencing the beauty of nature can also help create opportunities for self-care, such as through rejuvenation and mindful movement.

7.

Refrain from body comparison It’s common for people to compare themselves to others.

However, when they frequently compare their appearance to others perceived as more attractive, their body image becomes more negative. Body comparison can occur in many settings, and not just through social media – it can also happen in commonplace settings such as the beach, supermarket and

Are older men more proactive about their health when compared to younger men ?

I find that Bahamian men of all ages are very reluctant to seek management for any health issues, however, with knowledge comes greater understanding and an improved willingness to seek help.

For example, waking up to urinate several times a night is not an inevitable part of getting older and a poor quality erection that is difficult to maintain is also not an inevitable part of being middle aged or older.

At least 20 percent of men younger than 30 years old have faced erectile problems.

Prostate cancer is a very curable cancer, that has an excellent cure rate and there are many curative treatments available.

Bahamian women often pressure the men in their lives to seek medical assistance.

Bahamian men need to take a greater responsibility in maintaining a healthy, long life.

A little knowledge may very well save your life or the life of someone you love.

Bahamian are suffering in silence and despair with dozens of urological ailments that can be treated.

Improve your quality of life and add years to your life.

You can always rise again if you have erectile dysfunction.

You can always regain control of your bladder and your happiness instead of continuing to have urinary issues negatively control your life.

• Dr Greggory Pinto is a boardcertified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon.

He has trained in Germany, South Africa and France, and is a member of the European Association of Urology. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace & Mount Royal Avenue. Telephone: (242) 322-1145 (6) (7); e-mail: welcome@urologycarebahamas. com, or visit the website:www. urologycarebahamas.com. school. When you find yourself comparing your body to others and start to feel negatively about your body, try one of the strategies above to restore a positive body image.

8. Avoid the diet hype Studies show that dieting does not work: It is not associated with long-term weight loss and often decreases overall wellbeing. Instead, focus on fueling your body when you are hungry with foods that provide your body with lasting energy. Eating intuitively – using your natural hunger, appetite and satiety cues to determine when, what and how much to eat – is linked to health and well-being.

Reemerging from the pandemic with confidence There are many strategies to help build a positive body image, and resources are available to help you find one that works best for you. For those struggling with an eating disorder or severe negative body image, professional help is the best path forward.

Positive body image isn’t just about feeling good about your appearance – it’s also accepting and loving your body regardless of how it looks, and engaging in self-care to attend to its needs.

Practice these strategies regularly to promote and maintain positive body image as you safely and confidently reenter your social world.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com

PAGE 20, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

PM fires warning shot over procurement whistleblower FROM PAGE 24

“I read that opinion piece, which was riddled with inaccuracies and misleading statements,” Dr Minnis said.

“I intended to ignore it, as I question the motivation of the writer. But given that the member opposite [Mrs Hanna-Martin] brought it up in Parliament, I will briefly respond.”

Instead of directly addressing Mr Ferguson’s concerns, the prime minister instead blasted the procurement practices of the former Christie administration in what some observers will likely view as an attempt to deflect attention from the issues surrounding his government.

“When we came to office, we found contracts for any number of vendors that did

THE TRIBUNE

not go to the Tenders Board as required,” Dr Minnis said. “We found contracts that did not go to Cabinet as required. Months and months into our term there were people coming forward with contracts that were signed outside of any procurement process.”

Slamming what he branded as “slack processes”, the prime minister added that the Christie administration had promised public procurement reform but had failed to deliver, leaving the present government to instead complete the job with an Act that takes effect on September 1 this year.

“It is an Act that is among the most progressive in the Caribbean, embracing all elements of global leading practices. It will require publication of all contracts,” he said Dr Minnis argued that it was “strange” for Mr Ferguson to argue that the government should have followed the Public Procurement Act’s procedures because it

has yet to become law, yet this is not what the article actually said.

Mr Ferguson instead questioned whether contracts issued by the Ministry of Education had been tendered via the digital supplier registry, which is where Bahamian companies interested in bidding on government contracts can register, obtain information on tenders and submit bids.

“During his budget debate contribution on Wednesday, June 2, Jeff Lloyd, minister of education, practically bragged that nearly $40m was spent by the government on school repairs and that an additional $20m will be added for their continuation. Were these contracts tendered via the e-procurement supplier registry or the print media? Who were these contractors? The public presently has no idea,” Mr Ferguson wrote.

Referring to the Ministry of Education contracts, Dr Minnis said: “The existing policy and legal framework

for procurement has been adhered to in the award of these contracts. These were the same policies the side opposite ignored regularly.

“Where appropriate, the contracts went to the Tenders Board or to the Cabinet for consideration. Even though they used to ignore the guidelines regularly, this administration is using the same guidelines and procedures for procurement that the side opposite left in place. They are the same guidelines and procedures that have been in place under successive administrations for decades.

“The Ministry of Finance is busy putting in place the processes, procedures, rules and training to ensure that the September timeline is met comfortably.” Dr Minnis then went off-script, adding: “We will abide by the law and related regulations.

“The truth is that the operational leadership of the Ministry of Finance recommended to myself and the

minister of state [Senator Kwasi Thompson] that the timeline be pushed back to September because of the complexities of the Act and the significant changes that are required.”

Dr Minnis’ ire, though, was sparked by a further challenge from Mrs Hanna Martin, who argued that the prime minister was using the September 1 deadline as a smokescreen to distract attention from Mr Ferguson’s concerns as to whether the e-procurement supplier registry - which has 763 registered firms - had been used to bid the contracts.

This led to the prime minister’s description of Mr Ferguson as “an angry man” and the references to his government personnel records, with Dr Minnis adding: “There is such a thing as confidentiality. If, after leaving the ministry under whatever circumstances, this confidentiality is breached, who will hire such an individual moving forward as well?”

This prompted another intervention by Mrs Hanna Martin, who cautioned the prime minister against using the House of Assembly and parliamentary privilege to attack someone who was present to defend themselves.

Desmond Bannister, deputy prime minister, also rose to state it was not true that the electronic procurement and tendering portal has yet to be used to bid government contracts.

Much is at stake over the public procurement reforms, which are designed to provide greater transparency, accountability and taxpayer “value for money” with all government contracts - something that is needed more than ever amid the fiscal and economic crisis produced by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

It is also intended to usher in a meritocracy, with companies able to compete on a level

playing field for government work and the best selected to perform the job. This, in theory, will end longstanding practices whereby administrations often issue tenders to political supporters, family members, cronies and others close to them.

However, Mr Ferguson argued that implementation woes are undermining this effort and may render it all for naught. He asserted that the new procurement system lacks a system administrator, having relied on “an international consultant residing in Cambodia”.

He added that “the training site designed to train government purchasing officers has been non-operational since March, so training was halted.

This will have a devastating effect on the government’s goal to have all agencies use the system by September”.

And Mr Ferguson also noted that the Public Hospitals Authority is requesting integration with its systems to avoid duplication, while connectivity with the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) and National Insurance Board (NIB) systems needs to be established to verify if bidders on contracts are tax compliant. None of these assertions were specifically addressed by Dr Minnis in Parliament.

Mr Ferguson, who in his biography says he led the Act’s drafting team, adds that he is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply with over 25 years of experience in public procurement.

A retired chief petty officer with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), he is a former procurement officer in the Ministry Health and Ministry of Finance, and former component co-ordinator for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sponsored public financial management reform project.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Ambulatory Medical facility in Freeport is seeking, Qualified and Registered Pharmacist with a minimum of 5 years experience.

Contact Human Resource Manager 373-7400 ext. 235 or accounts@lucayanmedical.com

PUBLIC NOTICE

MARKET REPORT

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

www.bisxbahamas.com

MONDAY, 21 JUNE 2021

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

1969.18

0.00

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

0.00 -123.28

-5.89

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.29 33.95 1.62 2.90 1.78 6.00 6.96 3.60 6.00 3.98 6.16 12.00 2.75 7.55 10.71 9.01 14.60 4.10 8.97 16.00

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

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

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

LAST CLOSE 6.29 39.95 1.60 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.25 2.85 5.95 9.98 2.47 7.55 11.25 9.01 14.00 3.75 8.19 15.50

CLOSE 6.28 39.95 1.60 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.25 2.85 5.95 9.98 2.44 7.55 11.34 9.01 14.00 3.75 8.19 15.50

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGRS750241 BSBGRS880378 BSBGRS900283 BSBGR1322498 BSBGR1341506

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.56 100.00 100.14 100.98 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.56 100.00 100.14 100.98 100.00

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

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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 101.00 100.49 100.74 100.98 100.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.60 100.00 100.14 100.00 100.00

52WK HI 2.43 4.47 2.17 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.81 1.78 1.16 8.58 10.26 7.35 14.59 12.84 10.31 10.00 10.43 14.89

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

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

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

MUTUAL FUNDS

MARKET TERMS

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FL BGRS75024 BGRS FL BGRS88037 BGRS FL BGRS90028 BGRS FX BGR132249 BGRS FX BGR134150

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

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

CHANGE (0.01) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.03) 0.00 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME 1,000 50

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

VOLUME

NAV 2.43 4.47 2.17 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.75 1.76 1.03 8.58 10.14 7.35 14.59 12.64 9.99 N/A 10.43 14.89

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

P/E 26.3 42.9 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.9 -8.1 30.4 15.5 13.3 13.8 23.9 16.2 17.6 12.4 17.2 18.5 8.7 24.6

YIELD 2.71% 3.15% 1.25% 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 3.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.21% 3.70% 7.21% 17.79% 0.79% 2.89% 2.66% 3.86% 3.20% 2.44% 3.94%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.43% 4.39% 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 7-Sep-2024 26-Jul-2037 10-Dec-2028 15-Oct-2049 17-Jan-1950

YTD% 12 MTH% 1.85% 4.26% 0.77% 1.44% 1.14% 2.84% 0.14% 5.02% 3.25% 31.13% 0.91% 0.68% -2.55% -3.02% -0.27% -0.27% -2.20% -7.62% 1.14% 4.22% 1.09% 3.04% 1.01% 4.65% 4.93% 42.27% -1.56% 0.80% -0.60% -4.90% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%

MATURITY

NAV Date

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

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

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

The Public is hereby advised that I, AKEEM DANDREA ALEX SMITH of Claridge Road, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to AKEEM DANDREA ALEX BESAY. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

THE TRIBUNE

Bid to block foreign fishermen ban fails FROM PAGE 24

“Now, according to them, that right will be taken away on 22 June, 2021 and, as such, the Acts contravene various articles of the constitution and their unrestricted right to work derived from their spousal permits/residential certificates.”

Mr Sears argued that the case raises “serious questions” regarding discrimination, constitutional breaches and the right of the two fishermen to work.

It also, he added, involved issues concerning whether Geneva Brass Seafood and the other companies were being discriminated against “and their reasonable expectation to continue to contract” the Dominican duo for the benefit of their businesses.

“He argued that with respect to Mrs Johnson and Mrs Perez, because of the absolute prohibition of their husbands from engaging in their profession as commercial fishing divers, the prohibition will in effect be an arbitrary and unlawful interference with the family

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 21 life of Bahamian wives and their foreign husbands,” Justice Charles said of Mr Sears’ arguments.

“Mr Sears QC further submitted that Mr Jackson and Mr Perez, as holders of spousal permits or permanent residency certificates, are being deprived of their reasonable expectation to continue to practice their profession as commercial fishing divers in The Bahamas, in breach of their constitutional right to due process and the secure protection of the law.”

However, Luana Ingraham, representing the Attorney General’s Office, rejected Mr Sears’ assertions by arguing that his clients’ claim was “frivolous and vexatious, and they have failed to prove that their fundamental rights are likely to be infringed with the passing of the Acts”.

While the two Dominicans and their families, together with their employers, “would be adversely affected... the Parliament of The Bahamas has made the economic choice that the benefit of the fishing quota should go to genuine Bahamian citizens”. And Ms Ingraham argued that “the Acts reserved fishing for Bahamian citizens, and so

restrict not only Mr Jackson and Mr Perez but everyone who is not a citizen of The Bahamas.

“In any event, says Ms Ingraham, if the Acts are proved to be discriminatory, which the respondents aver they are not, a claim of discrimination does not apply to persons who are not citizens of The Bahamas.

Therefore, Mr Jackson and Mr Perez’s application must fail. These are powerful arguments,” Justice Charles noted.

Mr Sears argued that passage of the two Acts into law today would cause “irreversible prejudice” to the two Dominicans by preventing them from earning a living in their chosen profession, but Justice Charles said they “have not been deprived of their right to reside and work in The Bahamas”.

The former attorney general also argued that if the injunction was not granted then his clients “will face irreparable harm that cannot be remedied by adequate damages.

“The harm includes possible collapse or bankruptcy of their businesses, interruption of third-party contracts, loss of good will and damage to their

FOCOL ‘won’t go past’ $12m on offer’s excess FROM PAGE 24 (BPL) Blue Hills generation plant, and he added: “We decided to go to the capital markets rather than deal with the commercial banks because this is a longer term play not a short-term play.

Let’s just say we are on a capital expansion programme and new initiatives, that’s the best way I can put it.

“The world is changing,

PM hails $350m Shipyard move

FROM PAGE 24

Acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating fall-out has impacted the ability of the Shipyard’s cruise line shareholders to fund this investment directly, he added that some financing may be raised in The Bahamas to help cover the costs of associated land-based infrastructure work that would accompany the new dock.

Mr Israel, who sits on the Shipyard’s Board representing Carnival as a 40 percent shareholder, with the remaining ownership split 40/20 between Royal Caribbean and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s Port Group Ltd, said investing in a larger dock was under consideration prior to the April 2019 accident involving the Oasis of the Seas cruise liner.

“Royal Caribbean’s ship was being taken only partially out of the water because the dry dock could not carry such a big ship,” he recalled. “The manoevere had been done before, but this time something went wrong and the dock was destroyed. It was a total loss and had to be cut to pieces and taken out.

“That incident causes a lot of setbacks as we were unable to operate on other ships. The shareholders started the process of recovering the wreck and claiming the insurance proceeds. That process has not been completed.”

The accident meant GB Shipyard lost its status as the world’s busiest cruise ship repair facility, having serviced three-and-a-half times the number of vessels seen by any rival yard.

The accident left the company functioning at just 25 percent capacity, especially after Hurricane Dorian damaged another dry dock in late 2019.

Mr Israel, though, said its shareholders had been anticipating “building a larger dock” in response to the increasing size of cruise ships that would have been “the biggest floating dock in the Americas”. Subsequent inquiries confirmed that such a dock has to be built in Asia rather than Europe, but the cruise industry’s enforced COVID-19 closure and billions of dollars in losses has disrupted financing plans.

“We are looking at our options and opportunities to build such a dock in China,” Mr Israel said at the time.

and as the world changes we have got to stay ahead.

I cannot go into detail, but we have to change with the times. The new initiatives are designed to continue the transformation of FOCOL. FOCOL did not reach its current status and standing accidentally.

“During the chairmanship of the late Sir Albert Miller, we went from a trucking company in Freeport to “The COVID-19 situation put a strain on the ability of the shareholders to directly fund it. We’re looking at various options and opportunities as to how to build it and fund it. We’re looking at this process.

“We have to talk to the government in due course as we get more advanced in this process. It [the dock] will definitely be the biggest in the world; by far the biggest in the world. We have a lot of engineers working on it. We have to bring it over from China.

Mr Israel said just 20 percent of the Shipyard’s clients prior to the April 2019 accident were cruise ships, with the 80 percent balance featuring cargo vessels, bulk carriers and naval ships such as Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) vessels.

what we became after the Shell deal. That’s a serious transformation; a big step up.

We continue to transform, and think the company will be significantly different ten years from now than it is today. That’s a process; not a one-stop thing,” Sir Franklyn continued.

“Sometimes we will go to the capital markets for funding, sometimes we will go to the banks. The country is

reputation and creditworthiness, insufficient income to take care of their family, loss of mortgages and the frustration of the desire to maintain marital and family relationships and marital home in The Bahamas,” Justice Charles added.

However, she determined that the government - despite its present fiscal crisis - has the necessary financial resources to cover any damages should their constitutional claim succeed later. Justice Charles said their ability to bring such a case once the Acts are enforced was a key factor in deciding not to grant the injunction.

“The applicants have not demonstrated to me that there are any exceptional or unusual circumstances which justified the court’s interference with the enforcement of the Acts,” she ruled. “Presently, there is no exceptional or unusual circumstance which exists for the court to interfere with the legislative process of preventing the Acts from being passed.

“The law is clear that the court should, as far as possible, avoid interfering with the pre-enactment legislative process for to do so would be tantamount

to meddling in the affairs of the Parliament. Undoubtedly, such challenges would not only open the floodgates for a litany of unmeritorious actions but, more importantly, they would cripple the executive from passing laws for the ‘peace, order and good government of the country’.

“The court does not have jurisdiction to prevent Parliament from making and passing legislation since it is within their purview to do so. The court, as the guardian of the constitution, is charged with the responsibility to interpret and apply enacted laws. Except for that function, the duty of the courts is to administer Acts of Parliaments, not to question them. Our democracy is predicated upon the doctrine of separation of powers.”

Tribune Business previously revealed how the Fisheries Act, and its bar on foreign fishermen working on Bahamian-owned vessels, has caused a split in the fisheries industry. The Coalition For Responsible Fishing (CFRF), a group representing major fisheries wholesalers, processors and exporters, warned that up to $8m would be lost, and some 1,000 persons hurt, if

the reforms went through.

It argued that preventing foreigners working on locally-owned boats “in any capacity” would result in “the unemployment of hundreds of Bahamians” at a time when the country could least afford it. The group’s October 25, 2020, position paper warned that more fisheries businesses will fail without “significant amounts of experienced skilled labour” that are presently not available in The Bahamas.

Arguing that trained potters and divers, in particular, were in short supply, the coalition warned that the ban on expatriate labour proposed under the Fisheries Bill 2020 was counter-productive and could result in the loss of millions of dollars of exportdriven foreign currency earnings just when The Bahamas needed every cent it could get following COVID-19’s devastation.

However, the National Fisheries Association (NFA) said it fully endorsed an Act that “represents the will of the majority of law-abiding Bahamian fishermen” and “puts Bahamians first as the stewards and managers of the fisheries sector”.

in the process of changing, and we’re going to be more active in the capital markets than we have been in the last five years because we have more initiatives lined up, and have more and more opportunities.

“It depends on which of the opportunities we decide to pursue. We’re not going to do everything that comes our way. We’re going to make choices. The directors are a very steady and cautious board. We’re not going to do everything that comes

our way, but we’re going to go to the capital markets for some.”

Sir Franklyn said FOCOL Holdings’ strong track record will stand the company in good stead when it comes to future capital raisings, adding: “The pricing on this [issue] reflects that the market has a high degree of confidence in FOCOL. “We’ve been able to raise money with a dynamic other companies cannot in terms of the rate, the tenor. It’s just confidence in the company.

We’ve not missed one quarter’s dividend in more than 20 years despite hurricanes, pandemics and everything else.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

PEGASUS GLOBAL ASSETS LTD. N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)

PEGASUS GLOBAL ASSETS LTD. 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 17th June, 2021 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 22nd day of June, A. D. 2021

_________________________________ Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

LEGAL NOTICE

BURGUNDY RESOURCES LIMITED (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given in pursuance of Section 138(8) of The International Business Companies Act, 2000 (as amended), the Dissolution of the above-named company has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the above-named company has therefore been struck off the Register.

The date of the completion of the dissolution was the 28th day of May 2021.

Bennet R. Atkinson Liquidator

LEGAL NOTICE BURGUNDY MINING ADVISORS LIMITED (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given in pursuance of Section 138(8) of The International Business Companies Act, 2000 (as amended), the Dissolution of the above-named company has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the above-named company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of the completion of the dissolution was the 28th day of May 2021.

Bennet R. Atkinson Liquidator

PAGE 22, Tuesday, June 22, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

RESTAURANTS PRAISE ‘VAX PASS’ POTENTIAL

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

RESTAURANT owners yesterday said the government’s promised digital vaccination certificate may have a greater impact on their business than the onehour curfew reduction by facilitating indoor dining.

Gwendolyn Cleare, co-owner of Nesbitt’s Restaurant & Lounge, told Tribune Business that the prime minister’s decision to push the New Providence curfew’s start back to 11pm will enable her business to remain open one hour longer.

She said: “The additional hour will make a difference.

We get to keep our employees on a little longer. Having the additional hour is good, but we are really working towards getting the indoor dining going again. We have good take-out; that has picked up, and then we also have outside dining, but it’s limited seats. It’s really the

indoor dining that makes a difference.”

The prime minister, in closing the budget debate in the House of Assembly, pushed the New Providence curfew start back to 11pm.

Grand Bahama’s curfew will now start at 12pm, while Abaco’s will be at 11pm and those for Cat Island, North and Central Andros will begin at 10am.

Dr Hubert Minnis added that the COVID-19 PCR test requirement for travel from Grand Bahama, and Cat Island and Andros, has been removed with effect from yesterday while the $10 health travel visa fee for returning Bahamians and residents who are fully vaccinated will be removed as of July 1.

However, the prime minister foreshadowed that the government plans to move away from the Ministry of Health’s yellow card to digital records that prove Bahamians and residents have been fully vaccinated

against COVID-19.

Labelling this the “Digital Vax Pass”, Dr Minnis said: “In the age of technology, a digital vaccination pass is the most convenient solution for many citizens. A digital record minimises fraud, eliminates having to replace lost and damaged yellow immunisation cards, and moves away from paper usage.

“The new Ministry of Health vaccination certificate, which is now called the vaccination pass, will allow users to show their vaccination status on their smart phone. Businesses or government agencies can verify Bahamians’ vaccination status in seconds using the vaccination checker on the website vax.gov.bs.

“The system will generate a Vax Pass after completion of two doses, and users can download the same after login to the system. Users can save the Digital Vax Pass to their mobile device, and it can be presented

to the business owner or government agency for verification. It will be saved to their phone wallet for storage,” he added.

“The Vaccination Checker module allows business and government users to check the vaccination details of fully vaccinated individuals by scanning the QR code on the Digital Vax Pass and to verify the details.

“While the QR code scanner can be used on mobile devices with cameras, any business or government user can verify the validity of a Vax Pass by simply entering the code manually to view the status details. If the Vax Pass is invalid, the system will show a message ‘Invalid Vax Pass’ to the business or government agency user.”

Responding to the ‘Vax Pass’ plan, Ms Cleare said: “I feel this is okay. I can go with that. It’s a positive going forward.” And Peter Maury, owner of the Green

Parrot and Margaritaville restaurants, said the Digital Vax Pass was what he was “hoping” for.

He added: “We obviously haven’t opened up indoors because nobody wanted to get in any trouble. So the fact that they’re saying that they’re going to allow this is obviously huge for us.

“As far as the vaccinations go, maybe if they allow the vaccinated people to stay open a little longer or allow the business to stay open later it would be good,” said Mr Maury. While concerned about “differentiating” between guests who are vaccinated and those who are not, he added: “That key bar code would definitely help.”

“Obviously the extension of the curfew is a big benefit for us, but everyone is working towards extending the curfew to midnight closing. Those extra couple of hours after dinner makes a big difference in sales,” Mr

Maury said. “A lot of our tourists that are coming in are all vaccinated, and when we kick them out at 9pm they don’t see the point and that’s where it hurts in sales.”

Philip Smith, Compass Point’s general manager, said he has to see how the ‘Vax Pass’ operates in practice while agreeing that the curfew’s extension to 11pm is a “move in the right direction”.

Jacques Carlino, owner/ operator of the Blue Sail Bar & Grill, said he hopes his restaurant can now stay open until 10pm. “This is all good news once we can find out the exact closing time,” he added.

“We were trying to find out from the COVID-19 police on what time do we have to be out of the restaurant, because now we have to be out by 9pm in order to make the 10pm curfew. So if this means that we can now close at 10pm then this is good news.”

VACCINATION STIPULATIONS MAY HIT WEDDING REVIVAL

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN wedding professionals yesterday argued that the COVID-19 vaccination drive will not necessarily succeed in opening up their industry as “the world is 50/50” on becoming inoculated.

Cindy Coakley-Knowles, the Bridal Association’s president said: “With the vaccination stipulation we have to be careful or diplomatic to ensure that we are also not turning away potential visitors who are only tested, and for

whatever reason cannot be vaccinated.”

She spoke out after the prime minister yesterday unveiled a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions for weddings. Dr Hubert Minnis, in concluding the budget debate in the House of Assembly, said: “Wedding receptions will now be permitted on New Providence and Grand Bahama, provided that all attendees are fully vaccinated with both doses of the COVID19 vaccine.

“The hosts of wedding receptions, private gatherings and other social events will be responsible for verifying that guests are fully vaccinated. Hosts and

FUNERAL EASE TO GIVE ‘RELIEF FOR THE GRIEVING’

guests will be subject to fines for non-compliance.” This places the COVID-19 compliance and enforcement burden on hosts, who may face a tough task in verifying that all guests are fully vaccinated.

While backing the move as “a step in the right direction”, Ms CoakleyKnowles voiced doubts as to whether this will fully re-open the wedding business following 15 months of COVID-related restrictions due to the stipulation that all attendees must be fully vaccinated. A small percentage of the Bahamian population, just over 25,000, has to-date received two

shots to attain fully vaccinated status.

She added: “I’ve been getting mixed reactions from my clients as far as vaccination, so I’m not certain that’s going to make that much of a difference.

Persons are still very apprehensive about vaccinations and this is not just about locals because most of my business is destinations as well as my other members.

I just don’t know if this will make much of a difference.

“For the month of May to the early part of this month, between the weddings I have done or been involved with, there was only one couple out of eight that were vaccinated. It’s a very

low number and these are destination [tourist] couples. So I don’t know if the vaccination clause is going to help us.

“When you’re dealing with destination clientele you can’t control who’s vaccinated or not. We think that just being tested is enough. I think this will help the market. That’s my opinion. We’re just happy to see that the industry is opening and the tourism borders are opening, but again with the other countries having such high restrictions it still hinders us a bit.”

Canada remains closed for outbound travel, which Ms Coakley-Knowles said was hurting the

destination wedding business. “We had a couple coming in from Europe and they couldn’t fly directly into The Bahamas, and they had to go through Aruba or some other Caribbean country to get here, but they were determined to come here for their wedding,” Ms Coakley-Knowles added.

“The more the government can do on the whole to make us a lot more attractive as it relates to our controls with the social distancing and all of that, the better for us,” Ms CoakleyKnowles said. “I don’t know how much good pushing the vaccine issue will be for us because the world seems to be 50/50 on that.”

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

easing of COVID-19 restrictions on funerals while provide “relief for grieving families” saying farewell to their loved ones.

Kirsch Ferguson told Tribune Business that the government’s decision to permit funerals and memorials to be held in churches, or other indoor facilities, with effect from yesterday means the industry will now be “able to fully service our clients” more than 15 months after pandemic restrictions were first imposed.

The prime minister announced the changes as he concluded the budget debate in the House of Assembly. “On New Providence, funeral and memorial services will now be permitted in a church or other indoor facility in accordance with the health protocols of the Bahamas Christian Council guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health,” Dr Hubert Minnis said.

“There is no requirement to be fully vaccinated.

Masks and physical distancing are still required.

Repasts are still not permitted on New Providence and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, mainland Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Great and Little Exuma.”

The government has gradually eased funeral restrictions during the pandemic. In March this year, it allowed up to 40 persons, not including the officiant and mortuary workers, to attend a graveside service or internment on all Bahamian

islands.

This doubled the previously permitted 20-strong limit.

Mr Ferguson said of yesterday’s changes: “This, too, further relieves the pressure of families wishing to have a burial at particular date and time, and now knowing that they can go ahead with a traditional burial with the body being housed in church. This is welcomed news.”

He added that funeral directors can “revert to traditional customs” and now have weekend funerals, with the industry able to get back to some sense of normalcy with burials.

Mr Ferguson said: “In terms of revenue, as far as that is concerned, that is going to be dependent on a person’s ability to now get back to work as much as possible and to put their financial affairs in order.

“Families are still conscious that, because of financial constraints, they have to be more sensible with their funeral purchases and we encourage them to do just that.”

THE Bahamas Funeral Directors Association’s president yesterday said the

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, PAGE 23

POTENTIAL AIRPORT BIDDERS RECEIVE BRIEFING INVITATION THE government yesterday formally invited potential bidders to attend a formal briefing next Monday on opportunities that will be created by public-private partnerships for seven Family Island airports.

The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, in a statement, said the June 28 event will discuss private operator/developer concessions and related opportunities as the government seeks partners to help finance, develop and manage these gateways to The Bahamas.

Among those whose attendance it is targeting are airport

PPP initiative and present opportunities available to the private sector concerning the transformation, operations and management of these airports.

The airports include Grand Bahama International Airport; Leonard M Thompson International Airport, Marsh Harbour; Exuma International Airport; North Eleuthera International Airport; Long Island International Airport; Great Harbour Cay, Berry Islands; and San Salvador International Airport.

LeighFisher, the government’s transaction advisor, will present an overview of

ALGERNON CARGILL operators, service providers, lenders, construction companies and facility managers. The briefing will be held on Monday, 28 June, at 11am with government officials set to unveil the

the proposed opportunities, partnership structure and the expected timelines.

Algernon Cargill, the Department of Aviation’s director, said: “This is an exciting process for the Department of Aviation to be leading the PPP process for the Government of The Bahamas. After several months of planning, we are unveiling in this market briefing information about the PPP process that will be included in a market-leading request for proposal.

“Over the past several months, we have received a considerable amount of interest from local and international

investors about our airport programme and we encourage all interested stakeholders to attend the market briefing and to follow up afterwards with any questions that may not have been answered during the presentation.”

The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation added: “The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas wishes to focus on sustainable and resilient long-term solutions to rebuilding its airport infrastructure throughout the Family Islands, and is seeking experienced, qualified private partners to update, operate and

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

TAMPA

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

A couple of t‑storms in the morning

Partly cloudy with a stray t‑storm

Widely separated thunderstorms

A t‑storm; breezy in the morning

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant

A couple of morning thunderstorms

High: 90°

Low: 79°

High: 89° Low: 79°

High: 88° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

100° F

83° F

98°-82° F

97°-80° F

97°-81° F

96°-81° F

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

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

S

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

TONIGHT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

MIAMI

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

7‑14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

uV inDex toDay

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.)

6:01 a.m.

6:41 p.m.

2.6 3.5

12:13 a.m. 0.0 12:12 p.m. ‑0.5

Wednesday 6:58 a.m.

7:35 p.m.

2.6 3.6

1:11 a.m. ‑0.2 1:06 p.m. ‑0.7

Thursday

7:54 a.m.

8:29 p.m.

2.7 3.7

2:06 a.m. ‑0.3 2:00 p.m. ‑0.7

Friday

8:49 a.m.

9:21 p.m.

2.7 3.6

3:00 a.m. ‑0.4 2:54 p.m. ‑0.7

Saturday

9:43 a.m.

10:14 p.m.

2.7 3.5

3:53 a.m. ‑0.4 3:48 p.m. ‑0.5

Sunday

10:38 a.m.

11:05 p.m.

2.7 3.4

4:45 a.m. ‑0.3 4:42 p.m. ‑0.3

Monday

11:33 a.m.

11:57 p.m.

2.6 3.2

5:37 a.m. ‑0.1 5:37 p.m. 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:21 a.m.

8:03 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

6:01 p.m.

4:11 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Jun. 24

Jul. 1

Jul. 9

Jul. 17

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

7‑14 knots

S

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

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° 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 ................................... 78° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.25” Year to date ................................................. 6.79” Normal year to date ................................... 11.99”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

improve the portfolio of airports to drive traffic and revenue growth and further enhance quality of service.

“Under this PPP programme, the airport facilities are not being sold.

The government and communities of The Bahamas will retain ownership of the airports, and a private partner will be granted a concession and lease to update, operate and maintain the airports for up to 30 years.”

The winning bidder is likely to be selected, and awarded the contract, by the 2022 first quarter with operations handed over thereafter.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 80° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

8‑16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° 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: 85° F/29° 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

8‑16 knots

8‑16 knots

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

Today: 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 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 7‑14 Knots SSE at 6‑12 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots

WAVES 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

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

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021

$5.00 PM hails $350m Shipyard move

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE prime minister yesterday said the government is working on “a new partnership agreement” with the Grand Bahama Shipyard’s cruise line owners as he hailed their $350m investment in two new dry docks.

Seeking to kick-off his budget debate closing on a positive note, Dr Hubert Minnis said the planned investment by Carnival and Royal Caribbean will exceed their combined capital injection into the Shipyard to-date by $100m.

“I am pleased to announce that Carnival and Royal Caribbean have agreed to a new combined investment of approximately $350m in the Grand Bahama Shipyard,” Dr Minnis said. “To understand the scale of this investment, the House may recall that the original investment - and other investments to-date in the Shipyard - have totalled approximately $250m.

“The new investment will match this and exceed it by $100m. The proposed infrastructure works will replace the two damaged docks with even larger ones. The new docks will be capable of handling and servicing the largest ships in the world. This will result in a notable increase in employment and economic activity on Grand Bahama, and for local businesses throughout Freeport and Grand Bahama.”

Dr Minnis said details on the “partnership agreement” have yet to be worked out, and details will be forthcoming at an unspecified date, but added that construction work will begin at the Grand Bahama Shipyard by October 2021.

Tribune Business understands that this work is to accommodate the two new dry docks, which are being constructed in Asia and will likely be delivered to the Grand Bahama Shipyard in the 2022 second half.

Giora Israel, Carnival Corporation’s senior vicepresident for port and destination development, told Tribune Business earlier this year that Grand Bahama Shipyard will become “the biggest industrial concern in the Caribbean by far” if it proceeds with the investment to build the world’s largest floating dock.

He added that the Shipyard and its owners were currently exploring the “options and opportunities” to build such a dock in China to replace the one that was lost in April 2019’s accident.

SEE PAGE 21

$5.09

$5.07

Bid to block foreign fishermen ban fails

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

T

OP fisheries processors, boat owners and foreign workers have lost their bid to block the Fisheries Act’s implementation despite arguing it would cause the “possible collapse or bankruptcy of their businesses”.

Justice Indra Charles, in her ruling yesterday, said that granting the group’s request for an injunction to halt the Act’s enforcement would “cripple” Parliament and the government’s ability to make and pass laws for “the ‘peace, order and good government of the country’”.

Her verdict thus gives the go-ahead to today implement an Act that bars foreigners from working in the Bahamian fisheries sector. However, Justice Charles said the way remains clear for the exporters, boat owners and others behind the action to challenge the new law on constitutional grounds now it has been enforced on June 22, 2021.

• Act barring non-Bahamian workers takes effect today • Judge rejects warnings of ‘possible bankruptcy’ • Halt to Act would ‘cripple’ Parliament authority

Major wholesalers, including Geneva Brass Seafood, Paradise Fisheries, Fish Farmers and Audley’s Seafood, had teamed with boat-owning corporate entities and two Dominican fishermen working legally in this nation, together with their Bahamian wives, to challenge the Fisheries Act and accompanying Immigration reforms on the basis that they are unconstitutional and discriminatory.

While Paradise Fisheries subsequently appears to have been removed as a plaintiff, the remaining members of the alliance and their attorney, Alfred Sears QC, the former attorney general, had initially sought a “permanent injunction” from the Supreme court to prevent the government from implementing provisions in the new Acts that they deem offensive.

Their case, in particular, focused on sections 31 and 32 of the Fisheries Act,

which bar foreign fishermen - even those in The Bahamas legally with work and spousal permits, or permanent residency - from working on Bahamianowned fishing vessels.

However, Justice Charles ruled that Mr Sears and his clients had failed to show the matter was sufficiently “exceptional or unusual” to warrant the court’s intervention - and interference with Parliament’s legislative functions - at this early stage of the case.

Expanding on an earlier oral ruling she gave on June 11, 2021, she noted that the two Dominican fishermen - Morazan Zuniga Jackson and Jaime Reynaldo Perez - were both “the breadwinners for their respective families” being married to Bahamian citizens and possessing permanent residency status with no restrictions on their right to work.

The duo were employed

as professional divers by the commercial fishing entities that have joined them as plaintiffs in the case, which alleges that the Fisheries Act and associated legal reforms violate numerous provisions of the Bahamian constitution. They are also charging that they breach multiple United Nations (UN) and other treaties/ conventions that The Bahamas has ratified.

“The pivotal grievance of Mr Jackson and Mr Perez is that since they are not Bahamian citizens, when the Acts are passed on 22 June, 2021, their right to work in The Bahamas as commercial fishing divers will be infringed,” Justice Charles wrote. “They say that they hold spousal permits or permanent residency certificates, which give them an unrestricted right to work as commercial fishing divers.

SEE PAGE 21

PM fires warning shot over procurement whistleblower

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE prime minister yesterday seemingly threatened to disclose personnel file details on a former government employee who wrote an article challenging the administration’s procurement reform implementation.

Dr Hubert Minnis, while closing the budget debate in the House of Assembly, blasted Daniel Ferguson as “an angry man” in response to a June 10, 2021, article published in Tribune Business where the latter warned that the “true intent and value” of the Public Procurement Act was in danger of being lost due to flaws in its execution.

An irate Dr Minnis, asserting that Mr Ferguson as an ex-government contractor had “breached confidentiality” with the article’s contents, also suggested the latter would have difficulty finding new

• Slams ex-official as ‘angry man’ in House blast • Threatens to reveal details in personnel files • But fails to address specific concerns raised

DR HUBERT MINNIS

DANIEL FERGUSON

employment or work as he asserted: “Who would hire such an individual moving forward?”

This came just after the prime minister, in thinlyveiled references to Mr Ferguson’s past career at both the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Ministry of Health, indicated he might reveal details from the ex-contractor’s

personnel files held by the government if the public procurement issue continues to be raised. “If you push me enough, I will,” he warned.

Dr Minnis was responding to Glenys Hanna Martin, the opposition MP for Englerston, who sparked the furore when she tabled Mr Ferguson’s Tribune Business article some days

earlier as part of the 20212022 budget debate.

The prime minister sought to portray Mr Ferguson as a disgruntled former employee with a grudge, variously describing the article as “misguided” and “misleading and inaccurate”, but without explaining why or rebutting any of the details contained in the piece.

The only specifics challenged by Dr Minnis were the September 1, 2021, date for implementing the Public Procurement Act, which he denied had been chosen for “political expediency” so that the government could award multiple contracts prior to the new system being implemented.

SEE PAGE 20

$5.01 PM: Borrowing was matter of our ‘survival’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE prime minister yesterday defended the government’s multi-billion dollar borrowing as a matter of “survival” for The Bahamas and the only way to protect the most vulnerable amid COVID-19’s devastation.

Responding to Opposition attacks on the surge in the near-$10bn national debt as he closed the Budget debate, Dr Hubert Minnis said the economic “meltdown” caused by the pandemic meant that The Bahamas was in good company when it came to the rise in the government’s liabilities.

Pointing out that multiple other countries had adopted the same strategy, and incurred significant debts in doing so, he argued that the severity and speed with which COVID-19 struck meant the government had no option but to step into the gap left by the locked down private sector.

“We borrowed to feed our people when the global economy was in meltdown and Bahamians were in need,” Dr Minnis argued. “We borrowed to give our people record amounts of unemployment benefits so they could have some money in their pockets during a global public health crisis. I do not apologise for borrowing to take care of our people “We borrowed so we could support Bahamian businesses. We borrowed to help our people get through these tough times, as a caring government should do. Governments around the world took on debt to support their people. It was a common policy for survival. To not borrow would have meant leaving Bahamians to fend for themselves while the world’s economy was in free fall.”

The government’s own budget data shows that the national debt will have increased by more than $3bn over the three-year period to end-June 2022, driven by a combination of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19. The record $1.327bn fiscal deficit forecast for the current year, which is set to close in eight days’ time, will be followed by a projected $951.8m worth of ‘red ink’ over the next 12 months.

Dr Minnis’ address did not directly deal with the fiscal details, even as it was disclosed that the government is seeking a $200m guarantee from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to underwrite the bulk of its foreign currency borrowing in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

FOCOL ‘won’t go past’ $12m on offer’s excess

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FOCOL Holdings will retain some of “the oversubscription” on its recent $10m preference share issue, its chairman telling this newspaper: “In our minds we will not go past $12m”.

Sir Franklyn Wilson, in a recent Tribune Business interview, said the BISXlisted petroleum products supplier will tap the capital markets for financing more frequently than it has done in the past five years as it invests “in new equipment and initiatives”.

Declining to provide details on what these are, he added that FOCOL Holdings will be “significantly different ten years from now” as it seeks to exploit “more and initiatives and opportunities are lining up”.

Confirming that the company’s recent $10m

• $10m preference share issue oversubscribed • To fund renewable energy, generation move • Company to be ‘much different’ in ten years

SIR FRANKLYN WILSON preference share offering, priced at a six percent annual interest rate and due to mature at end-June 2030, was oversubscribed, Sir Franklyn said: “We will probably not take all of the oversubscription. We’re not going to take more than we think is prudent.

“We asked for $10m,

and may go up to $11m. It appears that the oversubscription was in excess if that, and in our minds we will not go past $12m.” CFAL acted as the financial adviser and placement agent to the offering, which was placed over just two to three days in late May 2021.

One capital markets observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the six percent interest coupon as “a bit thin” compared to the returns investors can get on other securities issues and assets in the present climate.

They added that FOCOL Holdings had informed investors that the offering’s proceeds will be used to finance the

company’s expansion, and diversification, into other industries, principally power generation and the renewable energy sector.

Sir Franklyn did not confirm this or go into details, merely saying: “FOCOL continues to grow and prosper despite the uncertain climate. FOCOL is investing a fair amount of money in new equipment and new industries, and this is basically for that purpose. We bought some engines for the production of electricity.

That’s an example of what we’re talking about.”

Those engines are currently being employed at Bahamas Power & Light’s

SEE PAGE 21