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Volume: 119 No.149, June 28, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS TRADER

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VAT includ

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

EMBARGO REMOVAL COULD BE SOLUTION

PETER YOUNG: MORE THAN A TALKING SHOP

- SEE PAGE NINE

PM sees opening up Venezuela trade as answer to gas crisis

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis believes the key to relief for Bahamians concerning escalating gas prices and higher energy costs is wrapped up in the removal of sanctions on Venezuela.

“Once the valve is released for Venezuela to provide fuel we will see a very significant downward trend on the cost of fuel,” Mr Davis said yesterday.

In comments to reporters, the Prime Minister said small island developing states like The Bahamas have agitated at both the

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda and at the Summit of the America’s in Los Angeles to lift the sanctions on Venezuela, noting that more factors than the Russian invasion on Ukraine bolstered increased gasoline costs.

He said the sanctions on Venezuela played a vital role in rising cost of fuel for The Bahamas.

Mr Davis was asked yesterday to speak to the gripping cost of fuel and the government’s position on higher electricity bills that is expected to come through a fuel surcharge adjustment.

SEE PAGE THREE

WHEN WILL WE LEARN?

HOME FUEL SUPPLIERS DEMANDING RATE HIKE PMH INCIDENT - LET’S

AN image from video showing conch shells being loaded onto the mailboat Capt Gurth Dean. The video has prompted questions over regulation of conch harvesting. See PAGE TWO for the full story.

By NEIL HARTNELL and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporters

STRESSED dealers are pleading with the government for a 68 percent increase in the price of cooking gas to secure the industry’s survival in an “horrendous” climate where some are losing up to $500,000 per year.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or propane retailers said the sector is in “dire” straits due to inflationary pressures that have increased wholesale prices by 51.8 percent. And the impact, the dealers explained, has been worsened by price controls that have held retail prices flat for at least the last decade.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

WAIT FOR THE FACTS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said an alleged incident involving a minor at the Princess Margaret Hospital raises alarm and sheds light on security at the hospital.

The day after Equality Bahamas called for a full investigation into the matter, the minister said it raised questions, but he admitted that because police were still investigating, all of the relevant information was not available.

SEE PAGE FOUR

PINTARD ASKS BRAVE TO EXPLAIN DUTY CUT OPPOSITION leader Michael Pintard has called on government to explain its rationale for removing the ten percent duty on pleasure sailing craft.

And in a letter to Prime Minister Phllip Brave Davis, Mr Pintard demands to know why the government appears to have

ignored parliamentary rules to remove the duty.

At a time when the country is facing an increasing battle with rising costs, Mr Pintard argues that giving a new unexplained tax break that only benefits the wealthy will be hard to stomach for struggling SEE PAGE FIVE

MOTORISTS’ MISERY ONLY JUST BEGUN

By JADE RUSSELL jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Works and Utilities said the Village Road Improvement project is slated for completion at the latest in November as some citizens complain about the inconvenience of road repairs and closures in the area.

The road project was started in hopes of rehabilitating and improving utilities. It is also designed to install new electrical

ROAD works at Village Road yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial and water utilities along with improving traffic control.

However, the work has created traffic delays affecting hundreds of motorists throughout the day and evening.

The Tribune reached out to the ministry for an update on the project.

Resident engineer Albrion Symonette said: “As for right now we are crossing East Bay Street and we intend to be progressing more towards Village Road.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FACE TO FACE: REACHING THE LOST AND RESHAPING LIVES

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE IMAGES from the viral video showing conch being loaded onto a ship.

‘When will we learn?

By RENALDO DORSETT rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A VIRAL video has called into question the regulation of conch harvesting and overfishing practices despite consistent warnings of “serial depletion” in recent years.

The recent video shows fishermen loading crammed pallets of conch shells onto the mailboat “Capt Gurth Dean” at an undisclosed location while debating the size of the haul.

Eric Carey, executive director of the Bahamas National Trust, said that while the action in the video does not implicate illegal activity, it does display that further conservation measures must be scrutinised and regulated.

“The video raises concerns obviously because there is certainly a lot of conch being harvested,” he said.

“Without being able to inspect the catch itself, one can’t assume that they are doing anything illegal because once the conchs are mature, unfortunately, we currently do not have any limits on the number of conchs that can be harvested.”

With conch harvested in many remote locations throughout the country, Carey said a working relationship between the local fishing community and the Department of Marine Resources can improve regulatory practices and ultimately, the conservation of the species.

“With that video, it would have been very easy to have a fisheries officer visit that community when these large numbers of conch are coming in and do a visual inspection of

the stock to see whether or not most of the stock is mature. Once they satisfy themselves that the vast majority are mature then they can satisfy themselves that no laws are being broken. Until we can carry out inspections of those large harvests, and until we can inspect the conch in the shell then they cannot verify the conch is mature,” he said.

“If you are going for a large haul like that, it should be required by law that you inform the Fisheries Department, and tell the Department of Marine Resources that you are bringing in a large shipment into a certain location, therefore you request an inspection. The government must then respond to that because you can’t have fishermen with thousands of pounds of conch waiting to be inspected.”

Through the “Conchservation” project, several recommendations were made to the government of The Bahamas, including banning the export of conch, mandating that all conch be landed in its shell, and increasing the minimum lip thickness of harvested conch.

“We want to ensure that there is a size limit set in place with respect to the thickness of the lip - that is what is really important in terms of the breeding and determining whether the conch has reached sexual maturity.,” said Mr Carey.

“We also recommended that they land in the shell so that you have an opportunity for a fisheries officer from the Department of Marine Resources to inspect the catch to ensure that the vast majority are mature. The problem that

we are having is that we are harvesting too many - we are seeing localized shortages of conch and we are harvesting too many immatures.”

“Exports were banned, but that is only a small part of the picture. It was a positive move by the government. There are in draft regulations now, mandates to increase the lip thickness to ensure that we know that fishermen are hopefully targeting mature individuals and the third thing is that we believe they have in draft regulations that conch must be landed in the shell.”

The Community Conch project commissioned a study from 2009-2017 measuring over 3,000 conchs from over 40 sites throughout the country.

The study’s findings, published in “Reviews in Fisheries and Science and Aquaculture”, discovered the country’s population of mature conch failed to reach the minimum number required for long-term sustainability.

“We have played ‘Russian Roulette’ with our fisheries for a number of years and until and unless we decide that more effective management is necessary then we will put fishermen’s future at risk. If we don’t work with them to secure their future to ensure that they are harvesting sustainably, then their livelihood, their industry, is going to be short lived because the system is going to collapse,” Mr Carey said.

“It is in their best interest to work with the Department of Marine Resources to ensure that the catch is sustainable, otherwise there will be no future for conch in The Bahamas.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 3

Embargo removal could be solution from page one

He spoke fresh from Rwanda in the VIP Lounge at the Lynden Pindling International Airport where reporters fielded questions about national issues.

“As you would have heard me earlier speak about the energy crisis and what we’re doing as Small Island Developing States at these conferences is to have the United States and the industrialised world to remove sanctions in particular for Venezuela, which is now working, that we hope would be a step in relieving the cost of fuel to Bahamians,” Mr Davis said.

“In respect to our meetings with the petroleum dealers we did make some movements during the budget exercise particularly to assist Family Island dealers and we are still working out what else we can do recognising that most of the cost related to fuel is not within our control.

“What is in our control and which I have been doing is letting our voice be heard about some of the initiatives and policies in some of the industrialised world that is causing the increase in oil. Quite apart from the invasion of Ukraine there are also other issues like the sanctions on Venezuela that

impacted the cost of fuel particularly for us.

“So, if those sanctions are lifted it helps and so we have been agitating.

We have had two major meetings in respect to that - one at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago and one at CHOGM now where Canada and the UK were present in there where we made our voices known.

“Both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Justin (Trudeau) left our meeting to go to the G7 and they are now there and they are charged to carry our voices with them and hopefully we should see some relief on that.”

“I know that other

meetings would have been held with the petroleum industry with the financial secretary and Michael Halkitis but I’ve not been briefed on those discussions. I will seek to find out if there was any new matters after.”

Regarding a coming BPL increase, Mr Davis again pointed to the grip being loosened off of Venezuela.

“We are looking at ways and means. In fact both at the Summit of the Americas and at CHOGM, the issue of energy security loomed very large in our discussions.

“So, for example the voices of SIDS were being heard about the sanctions being placed

on Venezuela and we are now seeing movements to relieve the sanctions so that the Venezuela oil and other related products could now be exported from Venezuela. So, our voices are being heard with respect to that.

“Trinidad for example they have a reserve of gas which was being stagnated because of the relationship they have with Venezuela.

We have made strong representations to the US to lift the sanctions with respect to that and we hope to see that move very soon.

“So, if our efforts to remove the other pressures that feed into the increasing the cost of fuel, if those are released as we expect

them to, then there will be no need for us to consider raising any further bills on the backs of Bahamians but these are some of the things that we do when we travel.

“And so from the Summit of the Americas you would have noted that since then the Americans have allowed Venezuela to export to the European Union.

“The next step now is to deal with our situation in the Caribbean and hopefully we just have to follow through with that. We are to deal with that this weekend in sSuriname. That’s high on the agenda - energy security.

“Because once the valve is released for Venezuela to provide fuel we will see a very significant downward trend on the cost of fuel,” Mr Davis said.

Back in May, it was reported that the United States would ease some sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for continued dialogue between President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition.

The sanctions relief allows Chevron Corporation to negotiate the terms of its licence and potential future activities with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, according to international news reports.

In October, Maduro

help us. We are at an inflection point, a moment when we can see our fortunes changing. We are now in the kinds of discussions where we can not only make our needs known, but have our requests honoured.

“The global idea of The Bahamas is shifting and people want to do business with us. This kind of influence and these kinds of outcomes have become possible because of our decision to make our foreign policy work better and harder for us. For example, the pressure that we have been applying in terms of receiving funding and support to protect ourselves against the impact of climate change, that pressure is yielding results.

“Before too long, we will be able to say more about the specific offers of funding and support that we have received. In terms of the big

picture, there’s still a way to go before the polluting countries fulfil their stated obligations, but slowly and surely, The Bahamas is starting to benefit.”

Mr Davis went on to note that some areas of international partnership have been formed.

“The Green Climate Fund, the executive director, we met in Glasgow last November and at that time The Bahamas was barely on the map for them then though Dorian we had experienced, which they were aware of, and this meeting I could safely say they’re going to be responding to us,” he explained.

“We just have to make some applications and as I indicated specific details of that’ll be made known later but they have now committed to do some things with us before now and December and hopefully before

COP27 because they’ll like to be able to speak to it.”

“I can also say our voice is being heard in that since coming from COP, the climate fund has invested $125 million in a project in Grand Bahama, the Coral Vita, and they have another project to deal with agriculture in Grand Bahama where they’re also investing a huge sum of money.”

Mr Davis noted an area of expertise The Bahamas could provide.

He said: “In our meeting with the president of Botswana, we agreed to mutually support each other by them helping us to develop our livestock industry, and us offering them support, again in developing their tourism product.”

“As with so many of the African leaders we met, we recognised in each other’s faces, people who not only look like us, but people who

remind us of specific individuals at home. And as the president of Botswana said, they want to reconnect and strengthen ties with our brothers and sisters who were so cruelly taken from us hundreds of years ago.

“He has accepted our invitation to attend some of the celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of independence, and in return, invited us not just to engage in the technical issues of mutual interest, but also to get to know a little of their culture.”

The Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP highlighted opportunities for Bahamians. “If we continue on this path, and succeed in The Bahamas becoming a kind of bridge between the Caribbean and Africa, opportunities for Bahamians and The Bahamas will continue to grow manifold.

In time, I hope that many

more Bahamians can be facilitated to visit, and even work for a while, in some of these countries with whom we share so many ancient ties,” Mr Davis said.

“We were pleased to host a dinner for a small number of Bahamians who are already living in Rwanda or neighbouring countries.

Travel certainly broadens the mind, and our country will be richer from the kind of exposure these experiences will bring to each of us.

“In wider discussions about strategies about managing the economy, dealing with crime, improving housing and access to financial services, better protecting and managing the resources in our oceans and seas, time and again, the voice of the Bahamian people was strongly heard, and people expressed their enthusiasm in working with us.”

experiencing at the time we were not minded to follow the recommendations at that time,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday. “The report is nothing new. We expected the same report.

“They are the technocrats that are advising us. We are the directorate. We have to find ways and means of softening any increases that are put on the backs of the Bahamian people.

“I have not seen the latest report nor that I am surprised by it, but upon reviewing it and having regard to all of the other initiatives that we have in growing the economy and seeking other means of revenues for the country we’ll take that into account to determine what best and how best to address the national insurance issues.”

Asked to say whether an increase, as suggested was on the table, Mr Davis said: “A recommendation has been made. It doesn’t come off the table until we decide whether or not to accept that recommendation.

We have not yet done that.

“As indicated we have to assess all of our other fiscal issues, ie, how the economy is going to be growing, will we be obtaining new revenues, how effective our collection efforts through the new Revenue Enhancement Unit, will be to determine how we will address that and if we could find a ways and means to alleviate the burden on poor Bahamians or on the worker we will do so.”

“We’re holding the line, that’s what we’re doing, we’re holding the line,” Mr Davis said when asked by The Tribune if there were any mitigation factors on

the government’s part.

“We hear the experts.

We do not discount their concern nor do we discount their recommendations but our responsibility is to see

how we could keep relief (for) the least among us and that’s what we are doing.

“We are just searching to try to find initiatives that may cause us to avoid

having to do what is being recommended or if we do that what safety net we are going to put in place for those persons who are going to be impacted by

any increases.

“Those are the things we’re looking at and I think that’s what I have to do. I think that’s our responsibility as well.”

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday.

Photo: Moise Amisial

suspended talks held in Mexico with the country’s opposition leaders in retaliation for the US extradition of Alex Saab, a close ally of the Venezuelan leader who is accused of laundering money.

A senior administration official stressed the measures are being taken at the “request of the Venezuelan interim government and the ‘Unity’ platform of opposition parties.”

The official said the United States supports a peaceful and negotiated outcome to the Venezuelan political, economic and humanitarian crisis.

“We are going to calibrate our sanctions policy accordingly, to increase pressure or alleviate pressure on the basis of ambitious, concrete and irreversible outcomes that empower the Venezuelan people to determine the future in their country through democratic elections,” the official said according to NBC News.

The move came after US officials had traveled to Venezuela in March to meet with Maduro as it sought to isolate Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. Russia is a close ally of Maduro.

It was the highest-level US visit to the socialist country in years.

Two jailed Americans were freed after the meeting.

PM: ‘INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS BEARING FRUIT’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says not only do world leaders want to strengthen their relationship with The Bahamas, but they also see the country as a viable option to invest.

Mr Davis told reporters that international efforts were “bearing fruit”. He made the comments following his trip to Rwanda where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 was held.

I am happy to report that our international efforts are bearing fruit. Our voice is being heard,” the prime minister said. “Other countries want to strengthen their relationships with us.

Other world leaders and business people want to invest in us and international organisations want to

DAVIS SAYS GOVT WILL ‘HOLD THE LINE’ ON NIB INCREASE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

AN increase in National Insurance Board contributions will not come off the table until the Davis administration decides whether or not to accept the recommendations of experts regarding the sustainability of the NIB fund, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

Mr Davis said the decision will come down to an assessment of fiscal issues and a determination of how to alleviate the financial burden on poor Bahamians.

Back in April, The Tribune exclusively reported that the 11th actuarial review of the National Insurance Board predicted that the fund could be depleted by 2028 should officials neglect to take urgent action. That report had reduced the fund’s potential depletion timeline by one year, as the 10th review had made a prediction of 2029.

Despite this, Mr Davis said at the time that an increase was not being considered by his government.

However, the issue was rehashed yesterday after a local daily reported the recommendation is to increase the contribution rate by two percent next month and continue increases every two years until 2036 to ensure the fund’s financial sustainability.

Mr Davis said the findings of the report were not new and until a decision is made, the government will continue to “hold the line”.

“If you took into context what I said then was that coupled with all of the challenges that the Bahamian people were

PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

PMH incident - let’s wait for the facts

PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL from page one The incident happened on Friday and the Public Hospitals Authority has not said what kind of assault allegedly took place or given any further details.

The Public Hospital Authority and the hospital have both said the matter was turned over to police.

However, police have given no details. There have been claims that the incident was of a sexual nature, but this has not been confirmed.

“We are aware of it, but we are waiting the report from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and upon their report we step in,” the minister said yesterday.

“But we are aware of the situation and we are awaiting details.”

Mr Wilchcombe also said: “Obviously it tells you we have to be deeply concerned about security.

“It tells you that who is monitoring and how could it happen, but I’ve learned something in life that unless you know all the details it’s

difficult to arrive at a conclusion, but it alarms us.”

He said further: “I think what is happening in our country, because there is more media, more dialogue is taking place. I think what’s happening is we are becoming more aware of these issues, but very obviously if we’re reporting since 2019 more than 1,400 cases it just tells you how severe the issues are.

“So, when we hear of things we have to find ways to deal with it and if it requires the Princess Margaret or any of our hospitals or clinics to have more security or more monitoring then it has to happen.

“I think what we must do as a nation is our reaction has to be to solve the problem. I find that what we do is we hear of the issue and then we want to blame every single person that we could possibly find.

“I don’t think that’s the right way to do things. I think the way is to recognise that a lot of things have happened over the years.

There are a lot of cracks in the system and we have to seal the cracks.”

TWO BOAT THEFT SUSPECTS RESCUED AS VESSEL DRIFTS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO suspected boat thieves were rescued at sea after the vessel, which it was believed they had stolen, was discovered drifting in waters off Grand Bahama earlier this week.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle said police received a report of a vessel in distress ten miles from West End shortly after 8am on Sunday.

Officers from the Marine Support Unit, Mobile Patrol Unit, and Bahamas Customs Department were

dispatched to the location to investigate.

ASP Rolle reported that on arrival, officers found a green and white Aqua Sports vessel drifting with a single engine attached.

He said that two men were onboard the vessel, which was adrift 14 miles off West End. Mr Rolle said that the vessel in question was reported stolen on Saturday, June 25. As a result, a Jamaican and a Bahamian were arrested and taken into police custody.

Investigations are continuing into the matter.

46 NEW CONFIRMED CASES FORTY-six new COVID-19 cases were recorded in The Bahamas on Saturday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, 40 of them were on New Providence, while four were recorded on Grand Bahama. There were also

two new cases on Abaco.

Additionally, 42 people are in the hospital and considered moderately ill.

Deaths due to COVID19 remain at 817 and 35,881 virus cases have been confirmed in the country since the start of the pandemic.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 5

Motorists’ misery only just begun from page one “We’ve been doing our best to update the public and ensure persons know what routes to take.”

When asked about the completion date of the project, Mr Symonette responded that it is estimated to be fully completed

by November 2022.

The project is aimed to finish the majority of the repairs, installations and improvements by September 2022.

“In a worst-case scenario we want to be completely finished with everything by November, just in time for school to reopen, which is our intention.”

In response to the complaints of the traffic delays, Mr Symonette explained the Ministry of Works has made the necessary steps to inform the public of the project’s traffic managing plan.

He said the ministry has provided citizens with notices to avoid certain areas that are under construction or closed.

However, Mr Symonette added there will be some challenges as the workers carry out the repairs needed.

“Once we’re done with the road work, the road work will improve traffic flow on Village Road as well as the other adjoined streets,“ Mr Symonette said.

The Ministry of Works also plans to implement new traffic signals that are going to be adaptive to the flow of traffic. The usage of traffic signals and

ROAD works at Village Road yesterday.

Photos: Moise Amisial smart cameras will aid in the safety and awareness of what is happening in those areas.

For more information on the Village Road Improvement Project people can visit the official site - vripbahamas.com or the Ministry of Works & Utilities official Facebook page.

PINTARD ASKS BRAVE TO EXPLAIN DUTY CUT from page one

ordinary Bahamians.

In his letter to Mr Davis, Mr Pintard wrote: “ We are dismayed that the Minister of Finance would issue a memorandum that would seek to implement a change to the tariffs for pleasure craft outside of legal requirement that any such adjustment be approved by Parliament.

“We are further dismayed that the Financial Secretary is indicating that he is operating under direction - a direction which could only come from the Ministerial level.

“We cannot find any

LEADER of the opposition Michael Pintard. provision in the law to allow such a tariff adjustment to take place other than through Parliarmentary approval. We would ask that your office provide us with the legal justification for this initiative. If there is none, we demand to

know who issued this directive and what disciplinary action is to follow for this apparent breach of the law.

“We further demand to know why such an initiative would be executed without informing the public on the measure and the policy rationale for same. We fully understand why any policymaker would be embarrassed to put forth such a measure to give a tax break to wealthy boat owners while asking Bahamian pensioners to pay VAT on medicine. But that shame does not give the government licence to attempt to change tax policy by stealth.”

SUMMER CAMPS UNDER WAY

CHILDREN at the Karate Kids summer camp, run by instructor Darien Sears.

Across The Bahamas, youngsters are taking part in summer activities as schools close their doors for the year.

Photos: Moise Amisial

PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

The Tribune Limited

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Once more, Venezuela touted as a solution THE price of gas may be around $7 a gallon right now, but Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has a solution, it seems – Venezuela.

Mr Davis is hoping that the lifting of sanctions on the nation will see the price of fuel start to drop.

As he arrived back in The Bahamas yesterday after his trip to Rwanda and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, he said: “As you would have heard me earlier speak about the energy crisis and what we’re doing as Small Island Developing States at these conferences is to have the United States and the industrialised world to remove sanctions in particular for Venezuela, which is now working, that we hope would be a step in relieving the cost of fuel to Bahamians.”

He added: “What is in our control and which I have been doing is letting our voice be heard about some of the initiatives and policies in some of the industrialised world that is causing the increase in oil. Quite apart from the invasion of Ukraine there are also other issues like the sanctions on Venezuela that impacted the cost of fuel, particularly for us. So, if those sanctions are lifted it helps and so we have been agitating.”

Readers with good memories will remember Venezuela being the hope of lower fuel prices previously for The Bahamas – when former chairman of what was then the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), Leslie Miller, under a previous PLP administration, sought to lower electricity costs by importing Venezuelan oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Indeed, Mr Miller prior to that wanted The Bahamas to join Petrocaribe, a

Venezuelan oil association. Back in 2012, he said: “We need to now look at an oil producing country to satisfy the demands of BEC and throughout the country as a whole.”

His move won little favour, just as his efforts to bring LNG to the country were largely frowned on.

Yet here we are coming full circle under a PLP administration again to see Venezuela as our nation’s hope of saving money.

Will it be a fool’s errand? We shall wait and see – but one of the causes of a spike in oil prices of course is the war between Ukraine and Russia. Venezuela’s oil production rate doesn’t match the Russian rate – but unlocking it could help. Would The Bahamas, though, be at the front of the queue? Or would we be taking our place along with everyone else?

Any reduction brought about by Venezuela reserves being made available would be a global one, and might take time as the oil begins to flow.

Will it be likely to come in time to stop the talk of price increases at BPL? Or will this government have to bite the bullet and impose those rises on citizens? That would go alongside the prospect of rises in domestic gas, as we report in today’s Tribune, the price rises on food, the possibility of greater contributions to NIB and so it goes on and on.

The Venezuela issue is a prospect worth exploring – but there’s no magic wand that will restore our money to our pockets any time soon.

The proof will be in the gas prices we report every day. Will they still be about $7 in two months’ time? We’ll mark August 27 in our calendar to report back.

Banking options EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHY is it that the same handful of Canadian banks continue to hold the Bahamian people hostage after all these years? Why are these banks even operating in The Bahamas when they clearly don’t want to interact with or have anything to do with our citizens and only serve customers grudgingly, as if they were doing us a favour?

One, or if you’re lucky maybe two tellers on duty, no matter how long the line is. Everyone in the background seeming to be always on lunch break.

No one at the “Help” desk. Replacement cards never, ever ready on time.

Near impossible to get a loan for anything. Totally impossible to talk to a real person in a timely fashion. Laughable banking hours. Terrible attitude and zero customer service.

It appears that all they want is for us to deposit

our savings, so they can seemingly use our money to make their bosses in Canada rich, and then they are done with us.

And the worst part is, our own domestic banks have begun following this example, sliding into the same terrible, dismissive, negligent practices, the same culture of disregard for regular customers.

I recently visited an American friend and got a glimpse of the totally different world that is banking in the United States. It was a revelation!

I accompanied my friend to her branch, on a Saturday no less, and witnessed the prompt, helpful, courteous service (with a smile!) that she enjoyed, just as any patron of any business should. She was made to really feel like her patronage was valued, as did everyone else in the branch that day. It truly was like day and night compared to The Bahamas. According

to my friend, this was nothing new or special, it is how customers are regularly treated by banks in America.

Is there any good reason why we don’t have American banks in The Bahamas?

If there is no legal barrier, we should invite all to come here post-haste. We should roll out the red carpet for the American banks, and for any other international commercial bank that knows how to treat its customers with respect and dignity.

At the moment, we are stuck with terrible service because of a lack of choice, and the banks know it full well. They are no doubt laughing at us. But I would just love the see the faces of their executives when a bright, shiny Wells Fargo or Bank of America opens up in Nassau.

RICKY JOHNSON Nassau, June 27, 2022.

Need to know EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN THE Minnis Administration we had a High Commissioner to CARICOM... full time working at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Caught this gentleman’s comment today during the

Budget debate from the Senate where he certainly inclined that he was the promoter for the RBPF/ Ministry National Security acquiring that computer listening system - The Shooter.

In his capacity as High Commissioner to

CARICOM was he permitted to be involved in private business promoting Ministry of National Security to acquire such equipment?

Public needs to know.

JACOB MOSS Nassau, June 23, 2022.

CORAL reef restoration ranger Yatin Patel measures an artificial reef structure in the Indian Ocean near Shimoni, Kenya, yesterday. The marine area off the coast of Kenya at Wasini Island, jointly managed by a foundation and the island’s community, has been planting over 8,000 corals a year since the early 2010s and placed about 800 artificial reef structures in the channel in a bid to restore Wasini’s coral gardens.

Photo: Brian Inganga/AP

Struggling to buy gas?

Blame Biden EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHO would’ve thought that Bahamians would have to pay an astounding $7 for one gallon of gasoline?

A 2022 Chevrolet Equinox gasoline tank holds 14.9 gallons. For Equinox owners in New Providence to fill theirs would cost $110.11, which is over half the minimum wage. With Nassau’s daily traffic jams due to heavy congestion, motorists are consuming large amounts of fuel with no relief in sight. On Mayaguana, gasoline costs $9 a gallon, which means that an Equinox tank would need $134 to fill. This fuel crisis is beyond the control of the Bahamian government, and is impacting virtually every aspect of the economy.

This is the inflation nightmare we are currently experiencing, in large part because of US President Joe Biden’s climate change policies which have frustrated US domestic oil producers since his inauguration in January 2021.

Biden has attempted to ram his climate change policies down the throats of Americans and it has had disastrous consequences. One of Biden’s first moves as president was the canceling of the important Keystone XL Pipeline project, which would’ve provided the US with over 800 thousand barrels of oil per day out of Canada. In recent days, Biden seems to have eaten his own climate change words, as he has reached out to oil giants such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Marathon Petroleum, British Petroleum and Phillips 66, asking them to use their high profits to invest with the aim of increasing their capacity in oil production. It is these oil producers who have endured a hostile environment since the advent of the Biden presidency, living under the constant threat of new taxation on windfall profits; termination of federal oil leases; the obstruction of constructing new pipelines and the imposition of onerous

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net environmentally friendly requirements. It is these oil producers who have been demonised by climate change lobbyists, many of whom are staunch Biden supporters.

With inflation at 8.6 percent - a 40-year high coupled with the national average price of $4.98 for gasoline, Biden has seen his overall approval rating plummet to 39 percent, according to Reuters. He is currently more unpopular than former President Jimmy Carter. The midterm elections are scheduled for November and the Democratic Party is in grave danger of losing control of the Senate. One of the most vulnerable Democratic senators is Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who has supported the Gas Prices Relief Act in the Senate, which is only a discount of 18 cents per gallon. Americans are placing the blame for the oil inflation nightmare at the doorsteps of 1,600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. They’re not blaming the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In all things considered, Biden is probably now realising that the average American household cannot afford his climate change pipe dream. Wealthy celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Watson and Prince William and Princess Kate, who attended COP26 can, but most people are financially unable to. This can explain why 56 percent of Americans, many of whom voted against Donald Trump, disapproves of Biden’s performance. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Biden is scheduled to meet with OPEC head Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next month in order to prod OPEC to ramp up oil production.

This is the same Saudi leader Biden had called a

pariah, due to allegations that Saudi authorities were involved in the demise of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 in Istanbul.

Biden had once promised to reduce his country’s reliance on Saudi oil, perhaps in keeping with his green earth rhetoric.

I read that Biden also wants to ease sanctions on Iran and Venezuela -- two OPEC countries at odds with the US. However, Iranian and Venezuelan oil has a higher sulphur content than US oil, as US oil firms are under stricter regulations than OPEC. This fact alone has led some US observers to query if Biden considers OPEC oil to be better than American oil? Another thing, if OPEC member states such as Iran, Kuwait, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia ramp up production, wouldn’t that harm Mother Earth?

These countries share the same planet with the US. Remember, the average price of gasoline in California in 2020 was $3.04. That was when Donald Trump was president. California is a Democratic Party bastion.

It is the home of Governor Garvin Newsom and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Biden won California’s 55 electoral votes on 68 percent of the votes. Today, the average price of gasoline in The Golden State is $6.38.

Understand, the ongoing fuel inflation nightmare was brought upon us by the anti-fossil fuel policies of President Joe Biden. When you pay $134 in New Providence to fill up your Chevy Equinox, remember that.

Remember that it is his climate change policies which have brought this crisis on us, not Putin or Volodymyr Zelensky or COVID-19. It is his administration’s cumbersome regulations which have tied the hands of US oil firms, resulting in this limited supply and high demand crisis.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama June 26, 2022.

Marine turtles EDITOR, The Tribune.

WHILE it is not surprising that Kim Aranha would respond vigorously to my letter deploring the Ingraham government’s insensitive and unnecessary ban on turtle meat consumption, it is disappointing that, in doing so, she either overlooked or chose to ignore its principal points.

Those points are that nothing in the CITES treaty requires the banning of non-commercial consumption in traditional communities and that, in introducing a total ban, the then-government acted in contrast to neighbouring territories, all of which chose not to criminalise the eating habits of lawful

citizens, while adopting CITES recommendations.

Instead of addressing these facts, Mrs Aranha simply doubles down on the desirability of conserving our marine resources.

In doing so, she is preaching to the choir. In fact, our petition against the total ban specifically called for an enforced ban on commercial harvesting or sale of turtle meat. It received 5,000 signatures, including more than half the population of Spanish Wells, our leading fishing community.

Yet still Mrs Aranha seems unwilling to perceive the disagreement in anything other than terms of enlightenment vs benightedness, with those opposing her either defending barbarism, denying the value

of living turtles or trying (in her words) to “stir the pot and cause doubt and trouble”.

Of the many gravely damaging decisions taken at the expense of Bahamians since 1992, banning turtle meat may seem like a small one. But it contains a grain of the same susceptibility to being shamed that has led to so many other bad decisions.

In her forceful denunciations of a cause I am not advocating, Mrs Aranha will find me unsusceptible to shame – which may explain her off-base detection of vitriol in my comments.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, June 27, 2022.

THE TRIBUNE

MAN GUILTY OF HOUSEBREAKING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN ANDROS man was sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday on charges related to housebreaking, stealing and damage.

Perez Pickstock, 32, of North Andros, represented by Attorney Howard Thompson, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain to face the charges.

Between June 13–14 Pickstock was accused of breaking into Samuel Russell’s home on Sir Henry Morgan’s Drive in Nicoll’s Town, North Andros, causing $100 worth of damage to two window screens and $150 worth of damage to a glass windowpane.

While at Russell’s residence Pickstock was accused of stealing a 32” Toshiba Flatscreen TV valued at $350, a Rev Cable Box worth $45 and a $400

DVR box.

In court, the accused pleaded guilty to all three charges.

During his plea of mitigation, Mr Thompson said his client had sold the stolen items to finance his cocaine addiction. It was because of his client’s drug problem that Thompson asked the court to be lenient in its sentencing of Pickstock. He also asked for drug rehabilitation for his client.

In view of this, Magistrate Swain sentenced him to nine months in prison for both the housebreaking and stealing charge and three months for the damage charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

While in custody, the magistrate says that Pickstock will be enrolled in drug treatment and counseling classes.

The accused has within seven days to appeal the court’s decision.

BAIL OVER DEATH THREATS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN and a woman were granted bail in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on separate charges of threats of death.

Sylvanus Larramore, 30, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain for allegedly threatening his aunt, Monica Miller, with death on June 22 in New Providence.

On that day at around 11am, the court was told, the accused went to his aunt’s house where the two got into an argument, which led to Ms Miller claiming her nephew said he was going to kill her.

After pleading not guilty to the charge, Larramore said he doesn’t try to cause problems and

stays to himself. He further explained that on the day of the incident he and his aunt got into an argument over someone they both knew and while the accused admitted to saying hurtful things to her, he claims he never threatened Ms Miller with death.

The magistrate then granted the accused bail at $2,000 with one surety.

Larramore’s trial is set for October 3.

Kevianner Pinder, 29, also stood before Magistrate Swain on a threat of death charge.

On June 6 in New Providence, Pinder allegedly threatened Curlene Thompson with death. She pleaded not guilty.

Pinder was also granted $2,000 bail with one surety and her trial is also set to commence on October 3.

MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services yesterday after he faced a rape charge.

The victim is a 20-yearold woman.

Bayano Fede, 24, stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain accused of having sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent on June 22 in New Providence.

In court, Fede was

informed that his case would proceed by way of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment (VBI) and that he had been denied bail.

The accused was also told that his matter had been fast tracked to the Supreme Court where his trial will be heard and where he can also formally apply for bail.

Until bail is granted the accused will be sent back to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS).

Fede is expected to return to court for service of his VBI on August 2.

JAILED FOR BID TO STEAL BUMPER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to three months in prison yesterday for trying to steal a man’s car bumper.

Douglas Moss, 19, stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on a charge of attempted stealing.

Between June 22 and June 23 Moss attempted to steal Ryan Payne’s front

bumper from his 2011 Nissan Cube, with the part being valued at $759.

Footage from the complainant’s security system revealed the accused as the man who attempted to steal the item.

In court, Moss pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to three months in custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Moss has within seven days to appeal.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 7

PM warns of court backlog of cases

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the courts have to “pay more attention” to persons who are granted bail and pointed to an “astronomical” backlog of cases, which in his view is nearing collapse.

Mr Davis spoke to the issue as attention has been drawn to the near frequent occurrence of people on bail being murdered.

While the victims in such cases await their cases to be adjudicated in the courts and in some cases are known to police, Mr Davis said “all lives are important”.

Mr Davis said: “Sadly, for too long, and this is nothing new for me because I’ve been at forefront of attempting to find answers (to) what’s happening amongst our young people, particularly as it related to violence.

“I’m not one to take any glee in the fact that the person who may have been killed is known to police or is on bail. All lives are important to me and it’s a multi-faceted situation.”

Mr Davis then honed in on the issue at the courts, particularly the case backlog.

“The courts have to pay more attention to persons who are going to be out on bail. The court has to take control I think of their trials so that people can have trials and then the backlog of cases is just astronomical and it’s almost nearing the brunt of collapse in my view and so the courts have to step up and they need to hear these cases,” he said.

THE BODY of Randy Williams being removed from the scene of his murder earlier this month. He was on bail for rape and burglary and was being electronically monitored.

“The community, Bahamians, And that other leave is a bit more effihave to appreciate as well that in cient than the lower level and it’s a the administration of justice they very vexing issue. I know that tomorhave a very critical role to play row I’m going to (tell) Cabinet to raise and that is to be, when called upon, an issue in respect to our national to be jurors. They have to step up security vision and decide how we to be jurors and not be giving excuses deal with this. because if you don’t have jurors to “When you deal with a person on hear the cases the cases are not going bail, it means that he is accused of an to be tried.” offence. That means an offence would Mr Davis, a QC himself, recalled his have been committed. We need to time practising law when he was doing now pay more attention to prevenmurder cases three days a week. tion and so we’re hoping to put more He added: “If a murder trial takes resources in that aspect of the criminal a week, that’s too long. Trials (are) justice system where we look to prenow taking months and two months. vent events from happening and we I still can’t understand why trials want to put more resources in what I take so long, but that requires judges call preventative measures, that’s pretaking control of their court and con- ventative and rehabilitative measures, trolling their court. At the end of the where we can stop the recidivism. We day, they need to get the cases done, try to redeem our young men and finished and if there’s anyone by any women who are finding themselves on decision there’s another leave to go to. the other side of the law.”

PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

‘Reaching the lost and reshaping lives’ AS QUEEN Elizabeth II enjoys her Platinum Jubilee, one group in The Bahamas is commemorating the occasion in a special way. The Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild is hosting a “Service of Thanksgiving in Recognition of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee” this Thursday at 11am at The New Lively Hope Baptist Church. This is a joyous occasion for a guild of men and women, many of whom have been serving the community together for decades.

Dr Flossie Mae Cooper (nee Moss), current president, lovingly describes her journey of selfless service with the Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild, which began when she joined 45 years ago.

“I fell in love with it,” she said.

“When I joined, I was energetic. I enjoyed the camaraderie, the fine dining, the warm hearts and giving back to the community. The elderly ladies who invited me to join, encouraged me. They were as much of a blessing to me as I was to them. They were passing on wisdom to me and I was physically able to help them distribute more of their handiwork because I was younger.”

Back then, it was known as the Queen Mary’s Bahamas Clothing Guild. Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest charities, founded in 1882. Guilds are now located all over the world. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, became the Royal Patron of the guild and served with dignity and love until the time of her death.

They are known for making quality, hand crafted items for those in need,

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

including: everyday wear garments; scarves and tams to keep warm in the winter; beautifully designed household linens; newborn baby items; and warm and cozy bedding. The guilds build a network with other charitable organisations in each country where they exist.

Through this network, they try to meet the needs of the community by giving these items, made by their hands, to the various charities, which provide for those in need.

The Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild (QMCG) thrive because members enjoy spending time together. It’s so much more than just making fine personal and household items. Throughout the years, Apostle Flossie Mae gained many lifelong skills for the hands and the heart.

She loves to crochet, and so her personal contributions often come in the form of hats and tams for all ages.

But she has also learned the value of friendship, appreciation for national service, the art of fine dining and good deportment, and overall self-development.

She had a gang of big sisters, if you will, watching over her and helping her blossom into a woman who is now a church leader with a PhD in Chrsitian Counselling, a wife and mother, and current President of the Guild. Its purpose has been to support those most in need. They are powered by knowing that the gift of new

clothing and bedding provides warmth and comfort, helping to restore dignity and self-respect.

Under Flossie Mae’s leadership, the Guild consists of at least 50 active members, 150 students from various schools who make up the Junior League, and a host of volunteers who help to distribute the garments all over The Bahamas.

Guild members usually held their monthly meetings at Government House. But two setbacks have resulted in a hiatus from using that venue. Initially, the building was undergoing renovations. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Flossie Mae and her colleagues resorted to regular zoom calls to keep each other inspired and to show off their handiwork. Through the support of volunteers, they were still able to get the goods out to the various charities who were active during the pandemic.

Now that restrictions continue to be lifted, the group meets at various restaurants until they can return to their beloved Government House and continue serving the community, the way the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild has done worldwide for centuries.

Less restrictions also mean that the guild could continue its work to build a thriving Junior League.

The QMCG was approved by the Ministry of Education to be attached to the

FLOSSIE Mae Cooper standing next to former Governor General Lady Marguerite Pindling (fourth from right) with members of the Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild at Government House.

Family and Consumer Science after school programme. They launched the junior league in a number of high schools in the country. The students are involved in volunteerism and they learn or are able to improve their creative skills in needlework, sewing, crocheting.

Students have made beautiful patchwork quilts and newborn clothing, including onesies, pyjamas and blankets. The aim is to source the best materials so the receiver feels they have truly been given a gift. In the case of newborns, this material must be soft DR Flossie and dye-free, Mae Cooper among other well requirements. as some of the most The junior league difficult times in her includes young life. ladies as well as young She and her husband, men. The aim is to create Pastor Jeffrey Cooper, entrepreneurs, give stualong with their children dents hands-on experience; and extended family took increase awareness in a hard blow when they effective communication lost their son, Pilot Frahand practical skills; and kan Cooper. He was a create an atmosphere well-loved, vibrant young where students can grow, man with a great career share, care and learn to be ahead of him. He was self-sufficient. co-piloting with Captain Flossie Mae says memStanley Thurston through bers are only able to a rainstorm when their produce the best quality plane crashed with Dr gifts because of sponsors Myles Munroe pastor and individual and corporate, motivational speaker, and who help to provide the founder of Bahamas Faith materials needed. Their Ministries International time and skills are free.

Fellowship. Everyone died “As we embark on this in that crash - nine in total, new journey, note that the including senior pastor and goals ahead are many,” she wife of Dr Myles, Ruth said.

Munroe, and senior vice “However, some of our president and pastor Richimmediate goals are the ard Pinder. It was a tragedy purchasing of materials the entire nation felt. and resources, salaries and Flossie Mae found solace life-long mentoring supin God’s word and learned port. All of these will help to let go of her pain by us to continue our mantra crocheting for the Queen - reaching the lost and Mother’s Bahamas Clothreshaping lives.” ing Guild.

“The budget for this pro“I find comfort in croject is astronomical, hence cheting,” she told me. we are calling on persons in “It helps increase my the community along with mental capacity. (When friends and well wishers of Frahkan passed away) our organisation to assist I spent half my day just by helping to alleviate the crocheting. It helped me cost. Your contributions mentally to bring a balance will go a long way in helpto the hurt, pain and loss a ing us meet our targeted mother goes through.” goal.”

“I encourage people if She invited the genthey are going through eral public to Thursday’s stress, anger, a loss or thanksgiving service at grief, being a part of an New Lively Hope Baptist organisation that deals with Church, 23 Jerome Avenue handicraft is very theraand Chesapeake Road. You peutic and gives you the can find them on Facebook opportunity to stay on top as Queen Mother’s Bahaof the water.” mas Clothing Guild or call “This pandemic allowed Dr Cooper at 809-0629. us to dig deep into our Crocheting with the pockets, stay on our knees QMCG has been a source and to reach out to many of great comfort for Flossie people,” she added.

Mae, giving her something “Because of this panpositive to pour her energy demic, there are hearts that into. It has helped her have become hardened. through the good times, as

GOVERNOR General Sir CA Smith, centre, viewing handicrafts made

by Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild at Government House.

THE TRIBUNE

There are hurting hearts, broken hearts. There are so many out of work, so many homeless. Our commitment is to serve God, our country and our fellowmen. We are grateful for the outpouring of service and donations.

We need your prayers, we need more members, including men, and we need more donations to continue to thrive.”

Flossie Mae is the fourth Bahamian president of the Guild. Former presidents include: Naomi Pinder (1997-2009); Ann Beas (2009-2012); Calliope Maillis (2012-2018) and Flossie Mae Cooper (2018-present).

Some of those guiding sisters in her life are still alive and serve as advisors for the Guild. They have close affiliations with a number of charities in the Bahamas.

Among them, The Ranfurly Homes for Children. It was created out of an urgent need and crisis.

In the mid-1950s, downtown Nassau experienced a devastating fire. During the aftermath and clean up, Lady Hermoine Ranfurly, wife of the then-Governor-General, the Earl of Ranfurly, discovered a group of homeless children sleeping in cardboard boxes in buildings and alleys near the burnt buildings. Lady Ranfurly was moved by what she saw and used her local and international contacts to make a change.

Together with the Queen Mary’s Sewing Guild (now the Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild), Lady Ranfurly began galvanising worldwide support for the creation of a home.

Just six months after securing a spacious property on Mackey Street with room for children to play under the shade of poinciana and sapodilla trees, the patrons and caregivers at Ranfurly welcomed the first residents into their full-time care.

It’s relationships like these that the guild is seeking to continue to make in this country. In addition to sharing their handiwork, they offer hearts full of love and joy to those they meet. Flossie Mae has found a way to give back, not only by pastoring with her husband and pouring out her love on her family, she has also become an author to help share her love around the world. She is a motivational speaker, former educator, and chairman and founder of The Bahamas National Allied Health Provider Association. Her latest book “Let It Go” is designed to help those who feel unspeakable grief from the loss of a loved one, find their voice and let go of the pain, replacing it with service to humanity.

MEMBERS of the Queen Mother’s Bahamas Clothing Guild during their first in person meeting since the onset of the pandemic.

THE TRIBUNE DETERMINING different and interesting topics to write about in this column can be challenging. But today it was a simple task to decide to concentrate on the weeklong Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known as CHOGM, in the Rwandan capital Kigali which ended last Sunday.

This was an important event in the international calendar because it represents effective collaboration and mutual assistance on a massively varied scale that is of significant benefit to its member countries. It was the first in-person meeting of Commonwealth leaders since 2018 because the biennial CHOGM planned for 2020 was cancelled as a result of COVID restrictions. So, last week’s event assumed even greater significance than its intrinsic importance as a gathering of the leaders of 54 countries with their 2.5 billion citizens making up a third of the global population and with an estimated collective GDP of about $14 trillion.

Readers of The Tribune will have seen the excellent

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 9

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis in Rwanda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Letter to the Editor last Commonwealth to both week from British High The Bahamas and Britain Commissioner Sarah Dick- alike and to their workson setting the scene. She ing together on a range of also wrote about the then- issues, as well as to each Foreign Secretary, Boris of its other member counJohnson, at the time of tries – not least because of CHOGM in London in the system of consensus in 2018 ordering the re-open- reaching decisions so that ing of the High Commission the voices of the smallest in Nassau. Many here at count as much as those of the time believed this was the organisation’s larger misguidedly withdrawn countries. when the Blair government The Tribune carried as reportedly closed more well the same day a comthan 20 overseas posts in prehensive report by 2005, purportedly to save columnist Alicia Wallace money. She also drew about various official events attention, in particular, which took place before to the importance of the the high-level meetings; for example, the Commonwealth People’s Forum and the separate Women’s change and global warming, and Youth Forum. There this is not good news. Only was also a Business Forum among other last November at COP26 meeting it was being said with cer- formal gatherings.

In the absence of The tainty that “the end of coal is in sight”. Forty countries Queen, who is, of course, – not including the US or Head of the CommonChina – pledged to phase wealth, Prince Charles over this out coal as the dirtiest fossil presided fuel. Environmentalists say CHOGM. Some in the coal is the most polluting UK press seemed gleeway of producing energy. fully to be anticipating that It is the single biggest his visit would be oversource of planet-warming shadowed by a row over carbon dioxide emissions reported remarks he had worldwide and therefore made privately criticisan important target for ing the UK government’s replacement in transition scheme to send asylum to renewable alternatives. seekers to Rwanda. But Ending its use was a major such potential embarrassissue at the Glasgow ment was avoided. Before the conference, however, summit.

It seems inevitable from parts of the press quesall this that reliance on coal tioned the suitability of will continue in the foresee- Kigali as a venue because able future. The meeting of of Rwanda’s past human targets agreed at COP26 rights record. At the time for phasing out fossil fuels Rwanda became a member will at best be delayed and in 2009, its repressive could never be achieved. A regime was considered by report in the UK’s Guard- some not to meet Commonian newspaper warns China wealth standards – and it is is planning increased pro- claimed that its foreign and duction of coal to stave off domestic policies will now more blackouts as early come under closer scrutiny summer heatwaves have prompted record electricity usage. This will hamper China’s ability to meet its promises on emissions reductions. The country is a major investor in wind and solar power but still relies heavily on coal-fired power.

In such circumstances, the assistance required

by Small Island Developing States including The Bahamas for financing and building infrastructure to protect low-lying areas from rising sea levels has become, arguably, all the more urgent. So, public demand to know what action the government is taking may well increase in particular, as noted in a separate piece on this page about last week’s CHOGM in Rwanda, what is being done in the Commonwealth context.

WHEN TIMES ARE HARD...

ACCORDING to reports, one of the consequences arising from the Ukraine war is the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Europe. Despite European efforts to scale back dependence on this gas, Russia still provides some 45 percent of the European Union’s imports through natural gas pipelines which cross Ukraine from Russia.

The West started importing large amounts of gas from the then-Soviet Union in the late 1980s.

It is said Russia does not want to cut off this supply of gas completely because it represents an important revenue stream. But in response to Western sanctions it has imposed its own sanctions on the European subsidiaries of its main distributor, Gazprom, and has reduced levels of supply.

This has included Germany while supplies to Bulgaria and Poland have been stopped completely. Supply has also been affected by war damage to the pipelines in Ukraine.

While Germany and others are looking for alternative suppliers, it is reported Germany, in particular, is now concerned that the reduced levels are resulting in severe shortages and this will force it to fire up coal plants to generate electricity. It plans to limit use of natural gas for electricity production -- in order to build up its reserves in anticipation of higher demand during the coming winter – and burn more coal for a “transitional period”. Alarm bells are also ringing in other European capitals. Italy, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands are reporting supply reductions and have indicated that coalfired plants could be used to compensate for these cuts ahead of the winter.

In the context of climate

NEW BALLS PLEASE - AND A NEW PM? HAVING written only two weeks ago about the political fortunes of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, I hesitate to return to the subject today. But the issue of his failing leadership has broadened into a debate about a Britain that is on the wrong path and, in so many ways, is not functioning properly as a country. To name just some of the problems: the economy, inflation and the cost of living crisis, crime, immigration, growing pressure on the National Health Service, overcrowding and chaos at airports and continuing problems over Brexit. To make matters worse, there is now the danger of a return to the prolonged industrial unrest of the 1970s. To many, the country now seems rudderless with a leader who lacks the determination, resolution and capacity to get it back on track.

Whether or not this is really the case, perhaps the outcome of two byelections last week was a reflection of the public perception that things are going wrong, with voters blaming a deeply unpopular Conservative government which is lacking purpose, competence and coherence.

In both polls the Tories suffered shattering defeats with massive swings to the opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.

Many say this was nothing short of a humiliation for Mr Johnson who was already a battered figure, further undermined by his own MPs, and is now limping from one crisis to another. While he continues to contribute effectively on the international stage – on Ukraine, CHOGM, the G7 and the current NATO summit – his domestic political prospects have been severely damaged.

There is no space today to examine all this further.

But these are troubled times. So, for merciful relief as I write this column, what a joy it is to see the start of Wimbledon in all its glory and to look forward to watching two weeks of the best that tennis offers – in the hope as usual, of course, that the notoriously unreliable English weather does not spoil everything. But thank goodness, at least, for the Centre Court roof!

• Peter Young OBE is a retired career diplomat living in Nassau. He is aformer British High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

THIS IS MORE THAN A FRIENDLY TALKING SHOP BUT SOMEWHERE REAL WORK IS DONE The Peter Young column because the CHOGM host country becomes the Commonwealth’s chair-in-office until the next meeting.

There has also been press criticism of the Commonwealth’s alleged lack of concerted action on the important issues facing the world. But, in my view, that is to misunderstand fundamentally its nature. It is not a treaty-based organisation and its decisions on a large range of issues are not legally enforceable.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of nations - with common values, historical links, a shared language, similar legal systems and close trade and economic ties seeking consensus on an enormous variety of issues.

These include democracy, human rights and good governance, investment and trade, debt and inequality, climate change, empowering young people through improved education and strengthening its existing network of technical

and professional associations including cooperation and exchanges. It also, of course, deals with health issues – for example, specifically at this CHOGM, a commitment to work towards the elimination of cervical cancer, to ensure access to good quality eye care and a pledging of funds to fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

Nonetheless, since such work is often achieved behind the scenes without drama and controversy, there is all too often media indifference because it is not deemed to be newsworthy and does not grab the headlines. Even CHOGMs themselves - the Kigali gathering comprised high-level events and fora involving around 5,000 delegates discussing some of the most important issues of the day - are seen by some cynics as strong on pomp and rigmarole but not amounting to much more than warm words and encouragement.

Such criticism is surely both grossly uninformed and wholly unjustified.

The importance and value of the Commonwealth should never be underestimated, and it can take firm and decisive action when required. For example, Zimbabwe was suspended from the organisation in 2002 because of its failures in respect of human rights and, at the CHOGM held here in Nassau in 1985, Commonwealth leaders took a firm line in agreeing the imposition of sanctions against apartheid South Africa.

As far as The Bahamas is concerned, it was noteworthy that, in his impressive

address to the Business Forum in Kigali, Prime Minister Brave Davis emphasised the threat of global warming to our archipelago along the lines of his much acclaimed speech at COP26, the climate change conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. As he repeated so eloquently last week, those countries which are the least responsible for carbon emissions that drive climate change are suffering the greatest negative impact.

Stressing that eighty per cent of The Bahamas’ land lies less than 1.5 metres above sea level so is vulnerable to flooding caused by rises in sea levels along with storm surges due to hurricanes, he said that “we are at the mercy of forces far beyond our control”. Thus, The Bahamas needed partners to secure the required funding and investment and technical support for new infrastructure – and it will be interesting to learn the extent to which this can be achieved through Commonwealth co-operation.

Clearly, Commonwealth nations believe they benefit from membership since it is a voluntary association of like-minded countries which is not confined to former British colonies.

Other countries which reject authoritarianism and tyranny are seeking to join.

Mozambique and Rwanda are already part of it and Togo and Gabon are said to be on the path to membership. There can be no doubt that as a well-functioning organisation it continues to be a force for global public good and an instrument for positive change on a huge scale. Long may it thrive.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

RUSSIA MISSILE HITS CROWDED SHOPPING MALL

KREMENCHUK, Ukraine Associated Press

RUSSIAN long-range bombers fired a missile that struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine’s central city of Kremenchuk yesterday, raising fears of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an “unimaginable” number of victims in “one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history”.

Zelenskky said more than 1,000 civilians were inside the mall, with many managing to escape. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke, dust and orange flames, with emergency crews rushing in to search broken metal and concrete for victims and put out fires. Onlookers watched in distress.

The casualty figures were difficult to determine as rescuers searched the smoldering rubble. The regional governor, Dmytro Lunin, said at least 13 people were dead and more than 40 wounded.

At Ukraine’s request, the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York last night to discuss the attack.

The strike unfolded as Western leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine, and the world’s major economies prepared new sanctions PEOPLE watch as smoke bellows after a Russian missile strike hit a crowded shopping mall, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, yesterday.

Photo: Viacheslav Priadko/AP against Russia.

Abortion ruling sets off new court fights NEW ORLEANS Associated Press

THE fall of Roe v Wade shifted the battleground over abortion to courthouses around the country Monday, as one side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures.

The US Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation from all sides.

Much of the court activity yesterday focused on “trigger laws”, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last week’s Supreme Court ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old antiabortion laws that were left on the books and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play.

“We’ll be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day,” Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said on Friday.

A Utah judge yesterday temporarily blocked that state’s near-total abortion ban, after Planned Parenthood challenged a trigger law there that contains narrow exceptions. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of the state’s trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing.

At least one of the state’s three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures today. “We’re going to do what we can,” said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. “It could all come to a screeching halt.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge’s ruling and enforce the law.

“We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature,” Landry tweeted yesterday.

Also yesterday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions and is set to take effect this week. A ruling is expected on Thursday.

Abortion rights activists also went to court yesterday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions.

In Friday’s ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion.

“The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges,” said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school.

As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states — either because of state laws or confusion over them.

In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time.

Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited.

That’s likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court don’t deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law.

SURPRISE JAN 6 HEARING TODAY WASHINGTON Associated Press

THE House January 6 panel is calling a surprise hearing this week to present evidence it says it recently obtained, raising expectations of new bombshells in the sweeping investigation into the Capitol insurrection.

The hearing scheduled

for 1pm today comes after Congress left Washington for a two-week recess.

Lawmakers on the panel investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection said last week that there would be no more hearings until July.

The subject of the hearings is so far unclear. A spokesman for the panel declined to comment on its substance.

SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

Junior girls hope to ‘get back into medal round’

CHAVEZ YOUNG NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

H

ead coach Varel Davis said the Bahamas junior girls national team is a very young team, but they are performing as best as they can at the FIBA Centrobasket Under-15 Girls Championship.

The week-long championships, which follows the boys under-15 tournament played last week, is also being played at the Coliseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.

On Sunday, the Bahamas opened up play with a huge 101-20 loss to Puerto Rico, but bounced back on Monday and played much better despite suffering a 79-45 defeat at the hands of the Dominican Republic.

Davis, who was assisted

by Shakira Farrington and Anton Francis, said the team, comprising of players as young as 11 years and as old as 14, got a “good experience” and an “eye opener” in the two games played so far. “It’s not easy because the other countries

FIBA Centrobasket Under-15 Girls Championship

SEE PAGE 18 GO TEAM BAHAMAS! - The Bahamas under-15 girls basketball team at the FIBA Centrobasket Under-15 Girls Championship at the Coliseo Fernando ‘Rube’ Hernandez in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. didn’t experience what we did with COVID-19,” Davis said. “Sports is just opening up for us in the country and the little time

that we had, we used to get the girls ready for this tournament.

“They are in good spirits.

They know that we have

to work every game to get into the medal round.

There are only four teams in the tournament, so our job is to play Mexico

tomorrow (today) and hopefully we can get back into the medal round.”

SEE PAGE 17

CORRINGTON MAYCOCK VOTED IN AS NEW PRESIDENT OF BAHAMAS ASSOCIATION OF ATHLETIC COACHES

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IN a keenly contested election of officers on Saturday, Blue Chips Throwers Club founder and head coach Corrington Maycock was voted in as the new president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches.

Maycock, in replacing out-going president Shaun Miller Sr, won the post over Bernard Rolle in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium during a break in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Track and Field Championships.

CHAVEZ Young has excelled with the Buffalo Bison since his return to Triple-A baseball and was recognised as the club’s Player of the Week.

In six games, Young hit .368, scored six runs, with three stolen bases a .478 on base percentage and a 1.004 OPS. The Bison are 4-2 over that timespan and currently lead the International League East at 41-30.

The 24-year-old Toronto Blue Jays outfielder is in the midst of a five-game hit streak and has made highlights defensively in the field to coincide with his production at the plate.

In a June 21 8-7 win over the St Paul Saints, Young

Rolle was eventually elected to serve as the first vice president, Myriam Stapleton as second vice president, Dionne Burton as secretary-general, Sherry Francis as assistant secretary-general, Daron Lightbourne as treasurer.

The board members are Andrew Tynes, James Rolle, Mikhilo Strachan and Waldon Whyms.

“Everyone is on board.

Sometimes you have some concerns, but I’m not overly concerned,” Maycock said.

“I believe that we will work together to get the job done.”

Already, Maycock and his executives have some plans to put into motion.

MAYCOCK “We’re going to start with our coaches’ education and we are going to work with our constitution

because there are some loopholes that we have to fix,” Maycock said.

“Also our goal is to fix our middle and long distance running programmes.”

When asked about the field programme, which he specializes in, Maycock quickly quipped that “we’re good. We don’t have to worry about that right now. We sitting pretty with that.”

As for the Family Islands, Maycock said that is one of the critical points they will be addressing during their coaches’ educational forum.

“We want to make sure that they are up to par with Nassau and Freeport

(Grand Bahama),” he pointed out.

If there’s anything the coaches can look forward to from Maycock and his administration, it’s transparency.

“The main thing is we want to be fair and transparent across the board,” Maycock insisted.

On the work done by his predecessor Miller Sr, Maycock said he believes they got handicapped because of COVID-19 and they couldn’t execute all of their plans.

“We’re going to piggyback on some of their plans,” Maycock said. “We want to be one of the best executive boards to cross the finish line.”

BIG3 SET TO RETURN TO THE BAHAMAS

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE BIG3 is set to return to The Bahamas in 2022 and will highlight its fifth season of professional 3-on-3 basketball by hosting its All-Star festivities at the Atlantis resort.

Week 12 of the season will include the league’s first All-Star Game, to be hosted Sunday, September 4 at the Imperial Arena.

The BIG3s fifth season tipped off on June 18.

The regular season will include two weeks in Chicago, Illinois, and seven in Dallas, Texas before the playoffs and championship game.

“With so much gamechanging news from our league over the last month, we are thrilled to be sharing our schedule for this summer,” said BIG3 CEO

SEE PAGE 18

England looking WNBA star Brittney forward to India after Griner ordered to sweeping New Zealand trial Friday in Russia LEEDS, England (AP) — An England team transformed by new leadership and a new attitude will face India in the rearranged test at Edgbaston this week convinced of success after sweeping the series against New Zealand yesterday in style.

England took only 65 minutes on the last day at Headingley to knock off the 113 remaining runs and achieve its victory target of 296 in the third test.

The morning session was washed out but England wasn’t fussed. Jonny Bairstow flayed the Kiwis with an unbeaten 71 from 44 balls, while Joe Root finished a more sedate 86 not out. Ollie Pope was clean bowled on 82 in the day’s first over but England won by seven wickets.

The English won all three tests of a gripping series

By JIM HEINTZ Associated Press

ENGLAND’s captain Ben Stokes, centre, holds the winners trophy as he poses with his teammates after their win on the fifth day of the third cricket test match against New Zealand at Headingley in Leeds, England, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Rui Vieira) with the world champion by pulling off last-day chases.

They reached the target of 277 at Lord’s, 299 at Trent Bridge, and 296 here, all in stunning comfort.

The team came home from the West Indies in

March humbled and embarrassed after losing that series 1-0, a fifth straight series defeat. In came new coach Brendon McCullum, the former New Zealand

SEE PAGE 16

MOSCOW (AP) — Shackled and looking wary, WNBA star Brittney Griner was ordered to stand trial Friday by a court near Moscow on cannabis possession charges, about 4 1/2 months after her arrest at an airport while returning to play for a Russian team.

The Phoenix Mercury centre and two-time US Olympic gold medallist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. Griner could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. Fewer than one percent of defendants in

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medallist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, yesterday.

(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the US, acquittals can be overturned.

At yesterday’s closeddoor preliminary hearing at the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, Griner’s detention was extended for another six months.

Photos obtained by The Associated Press showed the 31-year-old in handcuffs and looking straight ahead, unlike a previous court appearance where she kept her head down and covered with a hood.

Her detention and trial come at an extraordinarily low point in Moscow-Washington relations.

She was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport less than a week before Russia sent troops into Ukraine,

SEE PAGE 18

PAGE 16, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

Pauline Davis: ‘What Jonquel said about BTC in America was wrong’

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net OLYMPIC champion Pauline Davis said it’s unfair for Grand Bahamian Women’s National Basketball Association star player Jonquel Jones to attack the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) over her sponsorship in the manner that she did.

Jones, the reigning WNBA most valuable player (MVP) with the Connecticut Sun, was quoted in a feature with ESPN’s Katie Barnes that said she believed her relationship with BTC ended due to her openly identifying as a lesbian and her “non-traditionally feminine” style of dress.

“What Jonquel said about BTC in America was wrong,” said Davis as she came to the defence of the giant local telecommunications company.

“BTC sponsors all of us as athletes at different

times and the contracts only go to a certain point and then they move on to the next upcoming athlete, which is rightfully so.”

However, local LGBTQIA group The DeMarco Foundation, through its president and director Alexis DeMarco, threw their support behind Jones, the 28-year-old 6-foot, 6-inch forward, who was the sixth pick overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.

“Jones believes her decision to embrace her identity as a lesbian and dress more authentically came with material consequences,” Barnes wrote.

“The Bahamas Telecommunications Co., she says, opted not to renew her contract even though her basketball performance in the United States and overseas had improved.”

After the publication of the article, BTC issued a statement refuting those claims.

“BTC has a strong culture supporting equality,

PAULINE DAVIS diversity, and inclusion.

As a company we do not discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ community in any form or manner,” the statement said. “BTC currently has an endorsement contract with Olympian Steven Gardiner.

All endorsement contracts are executed for a specific period of time.”

Jones signed as a BTC brand ambassador in 2017.

As a former executive and lifetime member of World Athletics, the global

governing body for track and field, Davis-Thompson said she was instrumental in getting BTC to sponsor the first three editions of the World Relays held in the Bahamas in 2014, 2015 and 2017 before the fourth edition took place in Yokohama, Japan in 2019.

“BTC has sponsored so many athletes from so many different sports in this country,” Davis said.

“In my eyes, BTC is brand number one, not just when it comes to sponsorship of sports, but other cultural events in the Bahamas.

“So for an athlete of ours to go on the world stage and to throw BTC under the bus is wrong. BTC don’t deserve that.

“As a double Olympic gold medallist, I stand up and salute BTC for what they have done for this great country of the Bahamas, how they have supported us and I want them to know that I appreciate for what they did for us in this country.”

Davis, who turns 56 on July 9, said whenever an athlete excels, BTC stands up and provides them with a lucrative contract, but it’s not a contract that is for life,” Davis said.

“So I want to thank BTC for the support that they have given to our athletes.

“They have been there for us and so I apologise for what has been said

by Jonquel about BTC. I don’t think it is warranted because BTC has been a good sponsor to many of our athletes and to us in hosting the first three World Relays here.”

As a Bahamian company, Davis said BTC is intertwined in the community just like “conch salad and conch fritters and everything else Bahamian that we eat.”

She said she’s quite disappointed in Jones’ remarks and wants to assure BTC that the athletes of the Bahamas appreciate all that they do in sponsoring them.

CRICKET

FROM PAGE 15 captain, and new skipper Ben Stokes. The new leadership encouraged the team to attack and brush off mistakes.

They have a chance from Friday in Birmingham to save the series against India which was cut short last September when India, leading 2-1, went home before the fifth and final test after a coronavirus outbreak in its tour party.

England will resume the series in a much better mood, and Stokes is looking forward to it.

“Trust me when I say this,” he said, “we’ll be coming out with exactly the same (aggressive) mindset, even though it’s a different opposition.”

Stokes didn’t need to bat yesterday, as Bairstow and Root combined for an unbeaten 111 runs in 14.3 overs.

Bairstow hit eight boundaries and three sixes. For the series, he scored 394 from 328 balls, 51 boundaries and 10 sixes.

Root, who averaged 99, was named player of the series.

Stokes praised his team’s turnaround.

“To walk away with a 3-0 series win over the best team in the world is a pretty special start,” he said. “I’ve got to show a huge amount of testament to the team over these three games.

They’ve been absolutely phenomenal.

HARRINGTON HOLDS ON TO EDGE STRICKER AND WIN US SENIOR OPEN BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — Padraig Harrington knew the US Senior Open was in his hands Sunday with a five-shot lead. Part of him hoped for an easy day, a chance to wave to the gallery and maybe even show off with some aggressive play that wouldn’t cost him.

He got the win. It was a lot harder than he wanted.

Harrington went from a six-shot lead at the turn to holding off Steve Stricker, and he delivered with a 30-foot birdie putt and three tough lag putts for par to capture his first senior win.

“It’s tough to lead from the front,” Harrington said.

“It’s even tougher when it’s Steve Stricker behind you.

He tends to have one on me. I’m happy enough to get it done in the end.”

Harrington, who never lost the lead at Saucon Valley, closed with a 1-over 72 and became the third straight U.S. Senior Open champion to win in his debut.

Stricker, who started the final round eight shots behind, began making his run with consecutive birdies to finish the front nine, and he closed with two straight birdies for a 65.

That left him one shot behind, and the Irishman needed only pars to win for the first time on the PGA Tour Champions.

“It was a tough day,” Harrington said. “I said it yesterday, where having a five-shot lead going out there, yeah, if I went out and played great and ran away from the field, I could wave at the crowd and take shots on. If anything, maybe even improve my position.

But golf just doesn’t be like that.

“It always, always — how many times do we see it?

— comes down to the last couple of holes.”

Harrington had to twoputt from above the ridge on the 16th, and he trickled it down to a foot. He was well below the ridge from about 50 feet away on the par-3 17th and, after running that by 6 feet, calmly rolled in the par putt.

On the closing hole, he was pin-high but some 35 feet away with a spine running through the line of his putt. He cozied that to 3 feet and rapped it in for the win.

Harrington finished at 10-under 274.

“After I made birdie at 14 I heard someone say, ‘Well,

PADRAIG Harrington holds the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy after winning the U.S. Senior Open golf championship on Sunday at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. (Joseph Scheller/The Morning Call via AP) we’ve got a game now,’ or something like that. I had a feeling I was getting close,” Stricker said. “And I was just trying to birdie as many as I could.”

Mark Hensby had a 69 to finish alone in third.

Stricker, however, was the only one who had a

chance to catch Harrington.

Stricker missed good birdie chances on the 15th and 16th holes, but he stuffed his shot on the 17th to a foot, and then took on a back-right pin at the closing hole to 5 feet away.

Harrington, who led by as many as six shots at one

point, began the back nine with consecutive bogeys, and then he missed a good birdie chance on the par-5 12th.

Before Stricker could make his final birdie, Harrington made his 30-footer to be assured of staying in front, and his lag putting

was superb when it needed to be.

“I tried to birdie them all coming in,” Stricker said.

Stricker got the best of Harrington without hitting a shot last September at Whistling Straights, when he led a stronger and younger U.S. team to a rout over Harrington’s European squad in the Ryder Cup. That was not lost on Harrington over the final hour.

“It would have to be Steve Stricker chasing me down. ‘Steve, give me a break, please.’ Yeah, Steve’s a tough competitor,” Harrington said. “Certainly he seems to have one on me over the years. So it’s nice to get one back on him this time.”

Harrington won three majors on the regular tour, the first one at Carnoustie in 2007 when he rallied to win the British Open in a playoff. Stricker was in final group that day and shot 74.

Harrington earned $720,000 and earned a spot in the U.S. Open next year at Los Angeles Country Club. Stricker gets another big stage in his home state of Wisconsin next year when the U.S. Senior Open goes to SentryWorld.

Chun perseveres, holds off Thompson to win Women’s PGA

Schauffele wins at Travelers after Theegala’s double bogey

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer

By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — In Gee Chun was an upbeat, smiling presence throughout the Women’s PGA Championship — easy enough when you shoot 64 in the first round and lead comfortably for much of the tournament.

In the final round, all of her positive thinking was put to the test.

“Golf is never easy,” the 27-year-old South Korean said.

Chun won her third major championship, playing her best in the first round on a wet day and then persevering through a steamy weekend at Congressional. On Sunday, she quickly lost what was left of a once-sizeable lead, then rallied to win by one when Lexi Thompson’s putting faltered down the stretch.

Chun shot a 3-over 75 on each of the last two days of the tournament. She finished at 5-under 283, barely enough to beat out Thompson (73) and Minjee Lee (70) by a stroke. “Before start today my coach told

IN GEE CHUN, of South Korea, kisses the winners trophy, after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Terrance Williams) me, ‘In Gee, if you enjoy your game, this trophy is yours,’” Chun said. “Sometimes it’s really hard to keep smiling when my game, I mean, going not good, but I think I hung in there. So I’m so proud now.”

After leading by six at the tournament’s midway point, Chun lost a threeshot advantage in the first three holes of the final round. Thompson was two strokes ahead of Chun after the front nine, but Thompson’s putting problems

were just beginning.The 27-year-old Floridian botched a par putt from a couple feet on No. 14, but a birdie on 15 restored her lead to two. Then she bogeyed the par-5 16th while Chun made birdie, leaving the two players tied with two holes remaining.

Thompson, who declined a post-round news conference, three-putted for bogey on 17. After an impressive approach from the rough on 18, her birdie putt wasn’t hit firmly enough.

Chun’s approach on the par-4 18th bounced past the hole and just off the back of the green, but she putted to within about 5 feet and sank her par attempt for the win.

It was Chun’s first victory anywhere in the world since 2018 and only her second in the United States — her first was the 2015 U.S. Open. She won her second major the following year at the Evian Championship in France.

Now, Chun is the third player from South Korea to win at least three majors, trailing Inbee Park (seven) and Se Ri Pak (five).

CROMWELL, Conn.

(AP) — Xander Schauffele celebrated his one-year wedding anniversary Sunday with a dramatic victory in the Travelers Championship.

The Olympic champion won with a three-stroke swing on the final hole, hitting to 3 feet for birdie after rookie Sahith Theegala took two shots to get out of a bunker and made a double bogey in the group ahead.

A stroke in front entering the day, Schauffele finished with a 2-under 68 at TPC River Highlands to beat Theegala and J.T. Poston by two strokes.

Schauffele had a 19-under 261 total.

“My mind was telling me to hit a good drive and then use your sand wedge or lob wedge in there and make birdie,” Schauffele said.

“To sit there and watch what happened was a bit of a shock, obviously. I really had to try and focus on the task at hand.”

Theegala shot a 67, and Poston had a 64.

XANDER Schauffele holds the trophy after winning the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Schauffele won for the sixth time on the PGA Tour and the second this season after teaming with Patrick Cantlay to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April. It was his first ever win after having a 54 hole lead.

Theegala was lurking near the top of the leaderboard all day and grabbed a share of the lead on 15, driving the green on the par-4 hole and making a 4-foot birdie putt. He overtook Schauffele with an 11-footer for birdie on 17, pumping his fist.

But the former Pepperdine star had a bogey-free

round going until his tee shot on 18 left and into the front of a fairway bunker.

He needed two tries to get out of the sand.

“Somehow my body just, I just straight bladed it,” he said. “I had room there. I don’t know how it looked, but I had room there. Just didn’t think I would let myself blade it. But I guess the moment was — and then from there it’s, like, got to try and make 5 now.”

His 12-foot bogey putt lipped out, and he fell to his knees in agony.

“I did everything I thought I had to do and it just happened to be everything bad culminated on one hole,” he said. “I did so much good.”

Schauffele was consistent Sunday with two birdies and a bogey on the front before mirroring that score on the back.

He takes home just under $1.5 million, not a bad gift for a celebration he plans with his wife, Maya.

“It’s actually happy anniversary,” he said. “It’s my one-year anniversary with my wife. So I’m going to go try and get home and see my wife.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 17

Irving decides to exercise $37m option with Nets, AP sources say

By BRIAN MAHONEY and TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving has decided to exercise his $36.9 million option for the coming season and will remain under contract with the Brooklyn Nets, two people with knowledge of his decision said yesterday.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the Nets had not confirmed the decision publicly.

The Athletic first reported Irving’s decision.

“Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow. I’ve made my decision to opt in. See you in the fall,” the outlet quoted Irving as saying.

On Twitter, Irving posted a separate statement: “I know who I am,” was the message there.

For now, that still means a member of the Nets.

The seven-time All-Star averaged 27.4 points and

5.8 assists this past season for the Nets, with whom he has spent the last three seasons. He’s about to enter the final season in a fouryear, $137 million deal with Brooklyn.

Irving had until Wednesday to inform the Nets of his opt-in decision. It closes one element of the ongoing saga regarding Irving’s future, which has been one of the biggest storylines as the league prepares for the start of free agency later this week.

He appeared in only 29 regular-season games this past season, largely because of his decision to not be vaccinated against COVID-19. That made him ineligible to play in most of Brooklyn’s home games, until getting an exemption to New York City’s mandate in the spring.

The Nets entered this past season thinking they would have a core of Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden. It didn’t work out anywhere near as planned; Irving wasn’t with the team for the majority

FIBA

FROM PAGE 15 Dominican Republic 79, Bahamas 45: For the 2nd straight game, the Bahamas found themselves in a hole they couldn’t dig out of as they ended up losing again.

The Dominican Republic, using its height advantage, took control of the game by outscoring the Bahamas 30-9. In that period, Geontae Simpson scored on a lay-up for a 2-2 tie for the Bahamas, but the Dominican Republic used a 10-0 run to fuel a 12-2 lead.

Terrell McCoy scored on a lay-up and Dior-Rae Scott added another for a 13-6 deficit. For the rest of the period, the Dominican Republic clamped down on the defensive end, forced a few turnovers that they converted into baskets on the offensive end.

After falling behind 37-9 to start the second quarter, Savannah

KYRIE Irving arrives at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP of the season, Harden ended up getting traded to Philadelphia, the Nets needed to survive the playin tournament just to make the playoffs and wound up getting swept in the first round by eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston.

Back in March, Irving was asked if he was planning to return to Brooklyn for next season. He gave no indication otherwise.

“I love it here,” Irving said at the time. “Once that

Turnquest stepped back and canned the Bahamas’ first threepointer and Scott followed with a lay-up to cut the deficit to 37-14.

The Bahamas got another 5-0 run when Turnquest popped a three-pointer and McCoy got inside for a lay-up for a 47-21 deficit, but the Dominican Republic went on to snatch a comfortable 51-22 advantage at the half.

Coming out of the locker room, Team Bahamas played with a lot more urgency and was only outscored 17-15 in the period. But in the fourth quarter, the Dominican Republic managed to put the game out of reach with an 11-8 spurt to seal the deal.

Karina Capellan led a balanced scoring attack for the Dominican Republic, who had four players in double figures. Capellan finished with a game high 22 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

For Team Bahamas, Savannah Turnquest paced the way with 11

summertime hits, I know that we’ll have some conversations. But there’s no way I can leave my man 7 anywhere.”

Summertime hit. The conversations apparently didn’t go as first planned.

And “my man 7” — that meant Durant, who wears jersey No. 7 for the Nets — may have been seeing his point guard departing, a move that certainly could have led to Durant pondering his own future in Brooklyn.

points. Dawynae Knowles was the only other player in double digits with 10 points to go along with six rebounds. Geontae Simpson contributed eight points with four rebounds and Terrell McCoy chipped in with seven points, seven rebounds, four steals and a blocked shot.

Puerto Rico 101, Bahamas 20: Puerto Rico scored one less point in the first quarter than Team Bahamas did in the entire game as the week-long tournament got underway on Sunday.

In the first half, Puerto Rico opened an impressive 19-3 rout and extended their margin to 49-9 at the half. Puerto Rico continued the onslaught, using an 18-6 spurt in the third for a 67-12 advantage at the end of the third and they closed out the door on the massacre with a 34-5 tear in the fourth.

While Puerto Rico had five players in double figures, led by Desirek Pereira with a game high

But with Irving presumably back, and with Ben Simmons — who didn’t play at all this season and was acquired by the Nets in the Harden trade — set to team up alongside Irving and Durant this coming season, Brooklyn could quickly return to contender status.

Irving could have made this all go away over the weekend, or at least turned the full boil down closer to simmer, when asked by Complex News at the BET Awards if he still wants to play for the Nets. He declined to answer.

He wasn’t rude about it, did it with a smile, but didn’t provide so much as a hint.

A tiny one came Monday when the clip was posted to Instagram and Irving was among those to comment.

“When I smile like that, it means there’s more to the story,” Irving wrote Monday, several hours before his opt-in decision was revealed.

“I’ll have my time to address things.”

23 points, Terrell McCoy was the only player for Team Bahamas in double digits with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Reyanah Green and Dwaynae Knowles were the only two other players to score a field goal.

Savannah Turnquest, Tajhanique Morley, Dior-Rae Scott and Tichea James all added a free throw to their ledger.

Team Bahamas was just 7-for-42 from the field and 6-for-16 from the charity stripe, but committed a total of 57 turnovers, compared to 13 by Puerto Rico.

They held a 56-47 rebounding edge.

The other members of Team Bahamas are D’Andra Sears, Andica Curtis and Takeithra Hanna.

Today, Team Bahamas will take on Mexico at 5:15pm in their final round robin game before the playoffs get underway on Wednesday, concluding on Thursday.

BAAA NATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Drumeco Archer pleased with athletes’ performances

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE performances from the cross-section of elite, collegian and locally-based athletes at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Track and Field Championships got the attention of BAAA president Drumeco Archer.

Following the two-day event over the weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Archer was beaming with excitement and was confident that they had produced one of the best nationals ever.

The meet, which was to serve as the final trials for athletes to qualify for the World Championships, was sponsored by Fidelity Bank & Trust International Limited Group and the Oaktree Medical Center.

Archer said while they would have liked to have seen more participation from the crowd coming out of the COVID-19 environment, they were pleased with the product that they had to offer for those in attendance.

At the beginning of every final on the track, the athletes burst

through a curtain draped in the Bahamian national flag colours as they made their entrance onto the track.

The majority of the field competitors were introduced at the start of their particular event at the various stations that they performed from.

While he was really impressed with the performances by the agegroup athletes, Archer said the BAAA is confident that based on what he saw, the senior athletes are ready for the various international meets on the horizon.

“I think the performances we saw over the past two days ravel the world when you compare the performances of our athletes,” Archer said. “So our athletes are ready to go to the World Championships and the World Junior Championships.”

With the nationals now completed, the BAAA is expected to name the teams heading to the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month and the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia in August.

“The athletes select its own team,” Archer said. “We have qualifying standards and the

ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN, left, and Shaunae Miller-Uibo. athletes have to make the standards in order for them to be selected to the team.”

Unfortunately, the Bahamas Olympic Committee has already named the team that will be going to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in August. With a limited quota, the BOC indicated that they had to submit the team in advance of the

Nationals to meet the deadline by the local organising committee.

“It’s unfortunate that the team had to be named before our nationals, but it’s nothing we could have done,” Archer said. “They had a deadline to meet and it’s unfortunate that it came before our nationals were held.”

With the team already selected, Archer said they wish the 11 athletes named to the 28-member team every success at the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 29 to August 7 in Birmingham.

Archer also took the opportunity to congratulate Corrington Maycock, the founder and head coach of the Blue Chips Throwers Club, for being elected as the new president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches, replacing out-going president Shaun Miller Sr. “I’ve had a personal conversation with Corrington and his mandate is very clear. We’re going to raise the standards and he wants to prepare the athletes and the coaches in time for the CARIFTA Games in 2023.”

Archer said they are looking forward to the rest of the year with even greater anticipation.

OKAGBARE DOPING CASE DQS NIGERIAN RELAY TEAM FROM WORLDS

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer SPRINTER Blessing Okagbare’s doping violations will keep her Nigerian teammates from participating in the 4x100 meter relay at next month’s world championships.

The Athletics Integrity Unit, which oversees doping cases in track, announced yesterday it was extending Okagbare’s 10-year ban by a year, and making it retroactive to June 13, 2021. That’s six days before she competed at Nigeria’s

Olympic trials, with her relay squad qualifying for this year’s worlds.

“Over the years, we have repeatedly seen how one person’s actions adversely affect teammates who have trained hard and worked honestly for their results,” AIU head Brett Clothier said in a news release.

The former world champion originally received her 10-year ban in February for being part of an organized doping regimen in preparation for last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Okagbare tested positive for blood booster EPO in Nigeria in June 2021.

This was in addition to another failed test for human growth hormone in Slovakia in July 2021.

She was provisionally banned from Tokyo only hours before she was set to race in the 100-metre semifinals.

In February, AIU handed down a ban of five years for the presence and use of multiple prohibited substances and doubled that penalty for her refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

Evidence for the case had been revealed a month earlier as part of a criminal case brought against US “naturopathic” therapist Eric Lira by the US government under the Rodchenkov Act. That law was passed to go after people and organisations that fund and promote doping schemes.

Okagbare won a bronze medal in the long jump at the Beijing Games in 2008, a medal that was later upgraded to silver when the Russian jumper who finished ahead of her was penalised for doping.

BULLS REMAIN HOPEFUL LAVINE WILL CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN CHICAGO

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls remain hopeful All-Star guard Zach LaVine will choose to re-sign with them rather than join another team as an unrestricted free agent.

Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas has been consistent in saying publicly the organisation wants to keep LaVine. And he did it again yesterday.

“We hope Zach is here for a long time, and nothing changed,” Karnisovas said at a news conference to introduce first-round draft pick Dalen Terry.

LaVine’s situation is obviously the biggest story hovering over the Bulls, with the free-agent negotiating period opening Thursday evening.

Karnisovas wants to keep intact a core that helped Chicago reach the playoffs for the first time in five years.

LaVine averaged 24.4 points and made his second straight All-Star team last year. It ended with his first trip to the playoffs in his eighth year as a pro.

The Bulls lost in the first round to Milwaukee in five games.

LaVine’s four-year, $78 million contract is up and he said after the season that he plans to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after five years in Chicago.

He did not rule out returning to the Bulls, who can offer a max contract worth about $212 million.

The most he can get from another team is approximately $157 million over four years.

How comfortable the Bulls are about offering a five-year deal is another question.

Karnisovas played it coy when asked.

“I’m confident. I’m confident in approaching this free agency the next couple days, sitting down with our group, looking at a lot of things,” he said.

The past season wasn’t exactly an easy one for LaVine. He dealt with a thumb injury early and was in and out of the lineup the final few months because of a left knee injury.

LaVine had platelet-rich plasma therapy, a cortisone injection and fluid drained from his knee in Los Angeles before the All-Star break. He had arthroscopic surgery on it last month.

“I think he’s gonna be healthy,” Karnisovas said.

“I think he’s now progressing great.”

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL MEET TO DISCUSS BID FOR 2030 WORLD CUP LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Soccer officials and government authorities from Spain and Portugal met yesterday to discuss a joint bid to stage the 2030 World Cup. The headquarters of Portugal’s national team was the venue for the presidents of the Portuguese and Spanish soccer federations and government representatives, who finalised details of a bid they said was “entering its final stages.”

Morocco was previously included in talks but was dropped from the project.

Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship and the 2019 Nations League.

Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. It later failed in bids for other Olympic Games.

PAGE 18, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

WIMBLEDON PLAYER COMES TO AID OF FAINTING BALLBOY

Chavez Young named Player of the Week

By CHRIS LEHOURITES AP Sports Writer

FROM PAGE 15 made a spectacular leaping catch over the centrefield wall to rob the Saints’ Jermaine Palacios of a grand slam.

He finished 2-3 and scored a run in the Bison’s 2-1 win Sunday to conclude the six-game set against the Saints.

Over the past two weeks, Young is batting .244 with a .367 OBP. He’s doubled twice and hit a home run while scoring 10 runs and driving in six. He’s walked seven times and on the base paths, has six stolen bases.

In 26 games with the Bison this season, Young

is hitting .233 with eight stolen bases, three doubles, a triple, a home run, and nine RBI. Additionally, his father, Clayton Young threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a June 9 matchup against the Worcester Red Sox. Young initially intended to begin the season with the Bison when he was assigned to the club on April 5, but was placed on rehab assignment with the Dunedin BlueJays in Single A baseball on May 14.

His time in Dunedin was highlighted by a perfect

day at the plate (3-3) and his first home run of the season in the Blue Jays’ 4-0 win over the Daytona Tortugas on May 20 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona, Florida.

In five games with Dunedin he hit .278 and slugged .444 with one stolen base.

Young previously spent the 2019 season in Dunedin and 111 games he hit .247 with 99 hits and 43 RBI. He also had an .669 OPS, slugged .354 with 24 stolen bases, 53 runs scored, 17 doubles, four triples, and six home runs.

Following the pandemiccancelled 2020 season, he

CHAVEZ Young shares a special moment with his father, Clayton Young. progressed to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the AA Eastern League.

He appeared in 78 games with the Fisher Cats and hit .265 with 74 hits and 52 RBI. He also had an .758 OPS, slugged .409 with 20 stolen bases, 41 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs.

In January, Young concluded his offseason in the final series of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional

Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), commonly known as the Puerto Rican Winter League.

He has also spent time in the offseason with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League.

Young was recently a non-roster invitee to 2022 Spring Training for the second consecutive year and spent time with the major league roster in the Grapefruit League.

WIMBLEDON LOOKAHEAD: SERENA, SWIATEK FOR DAY 2 CENTRE COURT WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — LOOKAHEAD TO TODAY SERENA Williams makes her return to singles play on Day 2 of Wimbledon. Williams will face Harmony Tan in the third match of the day in Centre Court. The 40-yearold American, who owns 23 Grand Slam titles, has not played in singles since she was injured in the first round a year ago at the All England Club.

The honour of beginning play in the main stadium on the fortnight’s second day normally goes to the reigning women’s

champion. But Ash Barty, the 2021 winner, retired in March, so instead it will be No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek who gets things started at Centre Court against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett. Swiatek is coming off a French Open title in her most recent outing and carries a 35-match winning streak into today. Next up in that arena will be 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.

Other top names in action today include French Open runner-up Coco Gauff, two-time major champ Simona Halep and

2021 men’s finalist Matteo Berrettini.

TODAY’S FORECAST Cloudy. High of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius).

MONDAY’S RESULTS Women’s First Round: No. 3 Ons Jabeur beat Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3; Marie Bouzkova beat No. 7 Danielle Collins 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; No. 10 Emma Raducanu beat Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4; No. 15 Angelique Kerber beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 7-5; Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat No. 22 Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-0; Kara Juvan beat No. 23 Beatriz

Haddad Maia 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.Men’s First Round: No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz beat Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4; Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8); No. 10 Jannik Sinner beat Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; No. 20 John Isner beat Enzo Couacaud 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; Andy Murray beat James Duckworth 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

STAT OF THE DAY 80 — Match wins for Djokovic at Wimbledon,

making him the first man or woman with at least that many at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “When I play tennis, I put a lot of pressure on myself, because I don’t want to lose first round. I want to win. I want to get back to the highest ranking. I want to keep winning a lot of matches. So the pressure is always going to be there.”

— Wawrinka, 37, a threetime major champion who has struggled to come back after two operations on his left foot last year.

Djokovic makes more history with 1st-round win at Wimbledon

By CHRIS LEHOURITES AP Sports Writer WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — These days, Novak Djokovic makes history just about every time he wins another match. Yesterday, the topranked Serb did just that at Wimbledon.

Djokovic, a six-time champion at the All England Club, beat Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court, his 80th victory at the grass-court major. With it, he became the first man or woman to win that many matches at each of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

“It’s always very unique match to play as the defending champion, first on the grass,” said Djokovic, who won his 22nd straight match at the tournament. “Other than this year that Wimbledon made a change so you could practice before the tournament starts, it was always coming out on the untouched grass. It’s really a unique

and special feeling in our sport.”

Djokovic was playing for the first time since losing to Rafael Nadal last month in the French Open quarterfinals.

It didn’t all go his way on Monday, however.

With the roof closed because of sporadic rain, Kwon was able to pick his spots with his booming forehand. It all came together in the second set, and even continued into the third, but Djokovic stepped it up and played like he usually plays in southwest London — unbeatable.

Djokovic has won the last three Wimbledon titles and is going for his seventh overall. That would put him in a tie for the second most with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw.

Only Roger Federer, with eight, has more.

Another major title would give him 21 for his career. Nadal has 22, and Federer has 20. Most of Djokovic’s Grand Slam

GRINER

FROM PAGE 15

SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic returns to Korea’s Kwon Soonwoo during their first round singles match on day one of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London yesterday.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) singles championships have British player, who won Lesia Tsurenko, in the come at the Australian the US Open last year, was second round.

Open, where he is a nine- playing at the All England French Open finaltime champion. But he was Club for the first time since ist Casper Ruud won his unable to defend his title in retiring from her fourth- opening match on Court Melbourne this year after round match a year ago.

12. The third-seeded Norbeing deported because of “It’s an incredibly special wegian defeated Albert Australia’s COVID-19 vac- feeling to be coming back Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (1), 7-6 cination protocols. here to Wimbledon,” said (9), 6-2.

Despite that issue, the the 10th-seeded Raducanu, Also in the men’s draw, crowd on Centre Court was who beat Alison Van Uyt- No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz of happy to see him back at vanck 6-4, 6-4.

Spain, No. 9 Cam Norrie of Wimbledon.

The first player to reach Britain, No. 20 John Isner “I felt support,” said the second round was of the United States, No. Djokovic, who may be Alison Riske. The 28th- 22 Nikoloz Basilashvili of banned from playing at the seeded American defeated Georgia, No. 23 Frances U.S. Open and again at the Ylena In-Albon of Switzer- Tiafoe of the United Australian Open because land 6-2, 6-4.

States and No. 30 Tommy he is unvaccinated.

Other seeded women Paul of the United States “I guess that motivates who advanced were No. 2 advanced. me more to try to make Anett Kontaveit of EstoThe highest seeded the most out of this tourna- nia, No. 3 Ons Jabeur player to lose was No. 7 ment,” he said. of Tunisia, No. 24 Elise Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

After Djokovic finished, Mertens of Belgium and He was beaten by AlejanEmma Raducanu took No. 29 Anhelina Kalinina dro Davidovich Fokina of to Centre Court for the of Ukraine. Kalinina will Spain 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, first time. The 19-year-old face another Ukrainian, 7-6 (10-8).

BIG3 set to return to The Bahamas FROM PAGE 15 Chris Hannan in an organisational press release.

“Our fans in Chicago, Dallas, and Atlantis brought the fire last year and we can’t wait to welcome them back this summer for our best season yet.”

With The Bahamas as its backdrop, the BIG3

concluded its fourth season in thrilling fashion and crowned its first two-time champion in league history.

The league stages its semifinals, followed by the championship and consolation games at the Imperial Arena. All playoff games aired live CBS and streamed on Paramount Plus.

Jarret Jack delivered an MVP performance with 29

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Quick reactions are a hallmark of being a professional tennis player, and Jodie Burrage showed the Wimbledon crowd she could respond to adversity quickly.

The British player noticed a ballboy who was feeling faint on the sidelines during her match yesterday, then rushed over to make sure he was OK. She first gave him a sports drink, then some nutritional gel before a spectator handed over a bag of candy.

“Just tried to get him some sugar, gave him a Gatorade and a gel. The gel is not the nicest thing, so they managed to find some Percy Pigs somewhere along the line in the crowd, which he got down and then started to feel better,” Burrage said.

“Hopefully he’s feeling better now.”

The match was stopped for about 10 minutes until the boy was helped off court.

Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Burrage, her heroics didn’t help her in the match. She lost to Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-3 on the opening day of the tournament.

Burrage said she noticed the ballboy was in distress and wanted to help.

“I just reacted how I think anyone would. He was not in a good spot,” Burrage said. “I just tried to help him out as much as possible.”

More help came from the crowd in the form of the chewy candy.

“I definitely love a Percy Pig, that’s for sure,” Burrage said. “I was just like, ‘This kid needs sugar.’ He wasn’t liking the gel. I was like, ‘Yeah, definitely need something else.’ Someone just shouted on the side, ‘Got some sweets here if you want.’ They were Percy Pigs.”

points and the game-winning three-pointer to lead Trilogy to a 50-45 win over 3 Headed Monster in the championship game at the Imperial Arena.

Jack, who also finished with five assists and three steals, was named BIG3 Co-Rookie of the Year prior to the game.

Atlantis has hosted NCAA basketball for nearly a decade with

Complete Sports Management’s Battle 4 Atlantis brand, FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers, and Miami Heat training camp. The BIg3 playoffs marked the first professional game hosted at the venue.

The BIG3 was founded by hip hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams whose

rosters include both former NBA players and international players.

The league has introduced a number of new initiatives including double the number of open tryouts, lowering the minimum player age, and introducing the ‘Bring the Fire’ rule which allows teams one challenge per half determined by an ingame one-on-one.

which aggravated already-high tensions with sweeping sanctions by the United States and Russia’s denunciation of US weapon supplies to Ukraine.

Amid the tensions, Griner’s supporters had taken a low profile in hopes of a quiet resolution, until May, when the State Department reclassified her as wrongfully detained and shifted oversight of her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs — effectively the US government’s chief negotiator.

Griner’s wife, Cherelle, urged President Joe Biden in May to secure her release, calling her “a political pawn.”

Her supporters have encouraged a prisoner swap like the one in April that brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy. Russian news media have repeatedly raised speculation that she could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed “The Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill US citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organisation.

Russia has agitated for Bout’s release for years. But the discrepancy between Griner’s case — she allegedly was found in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil — and Bout’s global dealings in deadly weapons could make such a swap unpalatable to the U.S. Others have suggested that she could be traded in tandem with Paul Whelan, a former Marine and security director serving a 16-year sentence on an espionage conviction that the United States has repeatedly described as a set-up.

PAGE 20, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘Sky is not falling in’ on NIB - yet FROM PAGE 24 “The actuarial report is no surprise whatsoever,” the CG Atlantic Pensions chief told this newspaper.

“If you look at the last several of them, they’ve been continually emphasising the same themes and what have you. But there are things you can do: That’s the good news. “You just have to have the wherewithal and the willingness to stop kicking the can down the road and implement them. There are four things you can do, and probably in some combination, so they are not so draconian.... It’s not like today it’s so bad there are no policy prescriptions you can implement. We still have options, but don’t let it deteriorate until we have none.”

Mr Gibson said raising the official retirement age to 65 years-old would “take a lot of the immediate pressure off” by reducing, and slowing, the number of persons eligible to claim pension benefits. He pointed out that 65 years-old is the generally-accepted retirement age worldwide, but at both NIB and government entities it is presently 60 years-old.

NIB was also urged to continue with the inflationlinked increases in the insurable wage ceiling, the latest of which is due to take effect from Friday, July 1, next week. The ceiling is set to rise from $710 per week or $3,077 per month to $740 or $3,207 per month, with these increases scheduled to happen every two years and based on changes in the retail price index plus 2 percent.

Mr Gibson, meanwhile, suggested that NIB “tweak” the number of contributions that an insured must make, or is made on their behalf, to be eligible to receive benefits from 150 to, as an example. Besides reviving NIB’s foreign currency and overseas investments, he also called for NIB’s relatively high administration costs, which equalled 17.6 percent of contribution income in 2017, the last year for which audited financial statements are available, to be reduced further.

“It’s not like the sky is falling in,” he told Tribune Business, despite actuarial projections that NIB’s $1.6bn reserve fund will be totally depleted in just six years’ time by

2028. “There are definite policy prescriptions. We really need to set up for the long-term. What we need is some commitment to work towards them and address it.

“My message is that there are policy prescriptions and it’s going to be a combination of those factors.

We need to find a way to somehow decouple these decisions with regard to long-term funding of NIB from the short-day political nuances. It shouldn’t be the prime or only vehicle to fund government projects.

“It’s a strategic investment pool to support NIB’s really core objectives.

That’s the social element.

It shouldn’t be operating as a Ministry of Social Services or Housing. We need to look at a genuine longterm strategy that is not attached to a government department.”

Mr Gibson, though, voiced concern that there appeared to be a disconnect over NIB policy direction between the Cabinet minister responsible for the social security system, Myles Laroda, and the Prime Minister. The former has previously stated that critical reform can be

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delayed no longer, but that is exactly what Philip Davis QC said the following day in seemingly contradicting his minister.

“The minister seemed to have a measured and longterm approach,” Mr Gibson said. “I don’t know how that jives with short-term political imperatives. We need to put that [NIB changes] in place now so that by the time of the next election these things are behind us.

“Until we pull our socks up, and sit down in a resolute and mature way and address this, and take the politics out of it... This is a critical juncture for the country, and whether we like it or not it’s going to be reform driven because of successive governments kicking the can down the road.”

Mr Davis, though, reiterated his previous stance on the NIB actuarial report and recommended contribution rate rise upon his return from Rwanda.

“Coupled with all of the challenges the Bahamian people were facing at that time, we were not minded to follow the recommendations at that time,” he said, asserting that the report’s contents had been expected and were nothing new when set against previous actuarial studies going back two-three decades.

“We have to find ways and means to soften any increases that are put on the backs of the Bahamian

people,” the Prime Minister continued. “I have not seen the latest report, but I am not surprised by it...”

He added that any NIB contribution rate rise would have to be balanced with the Government’s efforts to revive the economy and develop new revenue streams for the Public Treasury.

“It’s a recommendation that has been made. It doesn’t come off the table until we decide whether or not to accept that recommendation,” Mr Davis said. “We have not yet done that... If we can find ways and means to alleviate the burden for Bahamians or the Bahamian worker we will do so.”

NIB’s present reality was predicted more than two decades by its seventh actuarial review, completed in 2001, which forecast that “reserves are projected to become exhausted” by 2029 if comprehensive reforms are not implemented to address the fundamental problem of benefit payouts exceeding contribution income. The recipient of that review, which was only one year out, on September 11, 2002, was then-NIB chairman and now-Prime Minister, Philip Davis QC. Now, with just six years left to the NIB Fund’s total depletion, the magnitude of the correction threatens to be that much more severe

for businesses and workers already grappling with surging inflation, COVID recovery, rising gas prices and a potential minimum wage increase.

Mr Gibson, though, highlighted the latest actuarial report’s emphasis on portfolio diversification through targeted foreign currency investments overseas. Many of these were liquidated, with the proceeds repatriated to The Bahamas, to boost the external reserves at COVID-19’s peak when foreign currency inflows via tourism and foreign direct investment had all but collapsed.

“We need more foreign currency investment,” he argued. “It gives us additional liquidity, we can better match long-term assets with long-term liabilities more efficiently. If you look at what has happened with Bahamas government debt, and the ratings on that debt, NIB needs to be the last stop” for financing government borrowing, buildings and other projects in local currency.

“The actuary clearly said we need to do the opposite,” Mr Gibson continued.

“They should not be the sole funder of government projects. It’s long-term liquidity, long-term investment and a buffer against currency risk especially in a country where we have exchange controls.”

THE TRIBUNE

Bahamian among start-ups vying for $15k regional prize A Bahamian entrethan 3,000 small business preneur is among six owners signing up for the Caribbean start-ups with a forums. We also received chance of winning $15,000 hundreds of entries for in cash and prizes at a the business pitch chal“pitch challenge” set to be lenge, and we are excited held this Friday, July 1. to see what our finalists Demetria Turnquest, have in store for us on July of Miracle Health (Baha1,” said Nicolas Collette, mas), was selected among vice-president of business the finalists by the Bahato business at Cable & mas Telecommunications Wireless Communications Company (BTC) and its (CWC), BTC’s immediate Caribbean Flow affiliates. parent.

The contest is being staged Ms Turnquest’s Miracle as part of their Small Busi- DEMETRIA Turnquest Health is an online-based ness Fridays package, organic skincare company. which is taking place throughout Located in Nassau, it provides prodJune via the free InKnowvation vir- ucts for men and women to obtain tual seminar series, held under the smooth, clean skin. Its product line theme ‘Pivot to success: Transform- includes soap, scrubs, toning cleansing your business for the digital age’. ers, lips balms, serums, creams and The other five finalists are Lauren deodorants.

Peters of Nuance Solar (Trinidad); Miracle Health says its products Nima Anvar of GuestChat (Gre- do not include any steroids or alconada); Jovan Miller of PolyCloud hol. It focuses on skin problems such Interactive (Jamaica); Nikolai as acne, spots, marks, hyperpigmenGillezeau of Sphare Marketplace tation, pigmentation and eczema.

(Trinidad); and George Wauchope Customers receive products through of Emailchaser.io (Cayman Islands). delivery services in Nassau, and it They must all submit a two-minute ships to other islands and countries. video to win the opportunity to pitch As for Miracle Health’s rivals, their business ideas to a live virtual Nuance Solar provides residential audience at the InKnovation finale and commercial solar-powered soluon Friday tions such as wi-fi cameras, water “The response to InKnowva- heaters and lighting. GuestChat aims tion has been incredible, with more to increase direct bookings on hotel

websites using its specially designed booking bot.

PolyCloud Interactive is a gaming and animation studio that creates educational content for early childhood and primary levels, while Sphare Marketplace is an e-commerce ecosystem that aims to provide equal benefits for both vendors and consumers. Emailchaser.io is a website that allows you to find almost anyone’s e-mail address, even if the e-mail address you are looking for is not publicly available.

“We have been inspired by the incredible stories of these enthusiastic Caribbean entrepreneurs, and we are inviting the regional business community, especially fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners, to join us on July 1 and be inspired as well,” added Mr Collette.

The InKnowvation series finale takes place on July 1 with Kadeen Mairs, founder of soon-to-belisted microlending service, Dolla Financial, delivering the feature presentation.

Other presenters include online business coach and Flow Ambassador, Keron Rose; chief executive of Jamaica-based online food delivery service QuickCart, Monique Powell; artist manager for musical acts Sheneesa and Ding Dong, Romecih Major; and TV host and content curator, Yendi Phillips.

VAT,

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 21

FROM 24

unfortunate. It’s very sad.”

The Opposition have seized on the Government’s decision to reintroduce VAT on so-called “breadbasket” foods and medicines as an area to go on the offensive, accusing it of adopting an uncaring attitude towards vulnerable Bahamians who are grappling with a cost of living crisis and the continued fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr McCartney’s remarks are likely to reignite what has become a political controversy, although the Davis administration has retorted by accusing the Free National Movement (FNM) of using the issue as a “bully pulpit” from which to bash the Government. It has also consistently argued that medicines and “breadbasket” foods represent just a fraction of the goods and services that attract VAT, and that the rate cut from 12 percent to 10 percent on all other items creates a net effect that lowers - rather than increases - the overall tax burden for Bahamians. And, by eliminating the Minnis administration’s ‘zero ratings’ and ‘exemptions’, it has simplified VAT administration and boosted collections and compliance.

Mr McCartney, meanwhile, said improved tourism numbers and increased economic activity is not “trickling down to the average man on the

street” yet. He told this newspaper: “We’re just hoping for the best and that the economy will start turning around and trickling down to the every-day man. “I see a lot of tourists in town, the numbers are looking good, but it’s not trickling down into the economy so to speak yet. Unemployment is still up there and, of course, the cost of living has increased with food prices together with gasoline. There are a lot of things to take into account.”

Mr McCartney said he still retains “a positive outlook” on The Bahamas’ postCOVID recovery prospects, and is “looking forward” to the turnaround eventually touching all parts of society as he described the Budget’s revenue numbers as “encouraging”.

“But from a business point of view, nothing has trickled down to the every day man in terms of the economy turning around,” he told Tribune Business. “We were in a recession from 2008 and, when we started to see some light at the end of the tunnel, Hurricane Dorian hit and knocked us back and, shortly after that, the pandemic.

“If you look at it from 2008, we’ve really been going through a rough time economically. We started to see some momentum in the economy, and then the hurricane hit and the pandemic. We need a break; we just really need a break in this country.”

Cooking gas suppliers in 68% increase plea FROM PAGE 24 Propane Gas Retailers Association had submitted such a proposal but no reply was ever received from the Government agency. The Association’s last president, he affirmed that wholesale LPG prices have risen by “51.8 percent, and it’s tough to manage that. Cash flow is an issue. I don’t know how many of the folks can survive.

“Our maximum selling price is $3.54 per gallon, but we have requested it to be raised to $5.96 per gallon,” Mr Pratt added, citing the LPG industry as an example of why price controls do not work. “Either the prices are too low or they are too high, and you never have an equilibrium,” he added.

“Only with market forces or competition can you get the correct price.

“We are being really patient with it, and we don’t want to have to resort to draconian measures. Hopefully they would respond favourably to the requested price increase,” Mr Pratt said of the Government. It is unclear if the prices he cited include VAT. Mark Newell, of Nassau Gas and Tanks, described the last two to three years as “horrendous” and revealed he had been forced to borrow money to ensure the company survived. “It’s been an horrendous two to three years for me. I’ve had to borrow money to keep going basically,” he said in reply to e-mailed Tribune Business questions.

“We have had the same selling price in place for the last ten years I believe. In fact, earlier this year, when VAT went down from 12 percent to 10 percent, the Price Control Commission sent inspectors to make sure we had prices set at $92 for a 100-pound [tank] refill or $3.90 per gallon equivalent. They couldn’t stomach us making eight cents a gallon more at the old $3.98 selling price. So basically $3.90 a gallon is the price ceiling we can’t charge more than.”

Confirming that these prices include VAT, Mr Newell said that - while the price increase sought by dealers may seem excessive - in reality it will have minimal to modest impact on Bahamian families. This is because, unlike vehicle gasoline or diesel, LPG for use as cooking gas is not purchased on a daily or weekly frequency. “It’s only every 3 months really that people need propane. So an extra $20 every 3 months surely isn’t going to break the bank,” he added.

Pointing to the soaring costs that all dealers are having to grapple with, Mr Newell said: “All our trucks run off diesel and that price has doubled. The freight to bring in gas and tanks has gone up because of the increase in bunkers. Of course, the actual price of LPG is also high because

of what’s happening in Ukraine etc. It’s a nightmare. We have voiced our plight to the Government’s Price Commission but it has come to nothing.

“I love losing half a million dollars a year, I really do,” he added jokingly.

“So, yes, we need a price ceiling increase urgently.

But we never get looked at for some reason. The gas stations change their prices weekly. We haven’t in ten years. It’s bizarre.

“We have to deliver the product to customers such as yourself, which takes trucks that cost a couple hundred thousand, run by expensive diesel, have two drivers and expensive insurance.... That’s the situation.

It’s dire. And not to mention the supply chain issues of getting gas tanks to supply and sell. They aren’t available until next year. So stealing is rife on the island and we can’t replace tanks.”

Another LPG dealer, speaking on condition of anonymity, echoed Mr Newell’s concerns by saying: “We can’t deal with this any more. We are suffering here. We will soon have to cut staff because we cannot pay for the overhead and the cost it takes to get propane into our tanks without an increase.”

Michael Moss, Moss Gas Company’s general manager, added: “I have sent in letters to them, and they told me that the Cabinet was looking into it and they were meeting and that they will get back to me, but they never get back. When I return a call they never come to the phone; it’s always this runaround.

“We need that price increase, because it is very bad. We are losing money.

We aren’t making any money. We are actually operating at a loss now. We were breaking even before October and now we are at a loss. That’s why we notified the Government of that.”

Moss Gas has terminated three staff over the past 12 months in a bid to reduce expenses and losses. “All of that is in my report. They have to do more or we might have to close after 45 years in business,” Mr Moss said of the Government.

He said the Government is “making it worse” by taking $1.60 per gallon in taxes on propane (LPG).

“That $1.60 is what they tack on to the wholesalers and we buy from the wholesalers,” Mr Moss explained.

“The wholesalers charge me $2.30 for a gallon, plus 22 cents fuel surcharge they add in because they are not supposed to increase, or they can’t increase, the cost of the gas. That’s one wholesaler that does this and they add VAT on to that as well.

“The Government is supposed to get all of that, but you can say that there is 20 cents additional that goes straight into the company’s pocket to cover for their

loss. We can’t increase the price but they can increase it on us. This is what’s going on and it has been going on.”

In common with gas station retailers, the plight of LPG dealers highlights the growing strain facing industries subject to price controls in an environment where inflation is surging to three and four-decade highs globally.

With production and raw material costs soaring, often-thin margins are being crushed to the point of non-existence as companies are prevented by these controls from increasing prices - and being nimble and flexible in response. Price controls were imposed by the Government decades ago to prevent what it viewed as an unscrupulous merchant

class from exploiting lower income Bahamians by unreasonably hiking the price of food staples and other essential products, thus placing them out of reach while undermining living standards.

However, opponents argue they are an anachronism that have no place in a modern 21st century economy.

The private sector views price controls

as an inefficient, distortionary mechanism that creates more unintended consequences than the supposed problems they solve.

They can result in product shortages, while retailers and wholesalers have to increase prices and margins on non-price controlled items to compensate for selling these goods as effective “loss leaders”.

PAGE 22, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

THE TRIBUNE

‘Huge chunk of change’ needed to rescue NIB

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamian private sector yesterday admitted it has little choice but to outlay “a huge chunk of change” to finance the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) rescue amid an increasingly grim economic economic climate.

Debra Symonette, Super Value’s president, told Tribune Business the supermarket chain and other employers - plus their workers - will “have to do what we have to do” to help the Bahamian social security system remain solvent amid forecasts that its $1.6bn reserve fund will be exhausted by 2028 without substantial, far-reaching reforms.

NIB’s latest 11th actuarial valuation, based on its 2018 financial position but only completed this January, called for contribution

CLIMATE FROM PAGE 24

“Environmental protection expenditure is, however, more heavily

rates to increase by 2 percent come next Friday, July 1. And it urged that these rates subsequently be raised every two years until 2036 if the social security system’s financial sustainability is to be restored.

“This 2 percent is really a huge chunk of change, but in that case we wouldn’t have a choice,” Ms Symonette said. “This is why it’s important we maintain a certain level of sales so we can cover such increases with just keeping our employees employed. This can become a challenge if things don’t go right with these ever-increasing prices.

“We’re just doing our best to get the best prices and keep our customers happy and shopping with us.

We were kind of prepared for this, because we know it had to go up sooner or later, and so we were bracing ourselves for it when it happens. We always knew it was coming. There’s just no way NIB could survive if

the people want to be paid for their pensions. At the end of the day, there is no way they could keep it at the level that it is.”

NIB contributions, which take the form of a payroll tax, are currently split 3.9 percent/5.9 percent between employee and employer, respectively.

They have seen only one increase this century, when the combined rate rose from 8.8 percent to the present 9.8 percent in 2010.

Any new rate hikes, besides increasing business costs, will also cut into employee take-home pay and disposable income just when they are facing soaring inflation.

Despite the 11th actuarial report’s warnings, the Prime Minister earlier this year pledged that no rate increase will be implemented at this time because he wanted the economy, businesses and households to further recover from the devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philip Davis QC said increasing the financial burden on them via higher NIB contribution rates could also depress economic growth.

Clayton Symonette, owner/operator of SignLand, said of the latest call for increased NIB contributions: “To be honest, now is not the best time for this given the climate. But I would have to be ready to do it if it’s required. I understand that they are projected to go broke within the next few years, so it is what it is.”

He added that a contribution rate increase would be easier to accept if NIB was functioning more efficiently and distributing benefits in a more timely manner. “I have been trying to get my NIB sorted out for the past year, and I had just gotten it sorted out, and it has not been for a lack of me trying,” Mr Symonette said.

“My assistant has been constantly trying to get

through to them. It’s like one day I owe a certain amount, and the next day I owe something else, and another I pay too little and another I paid too much. It just doesn’t seem like they have their ducks in a row.

“What NIB needs is proper management, 100 percent. I just think it’s being mismanaged, and the lower level is not aware of what’s going on and how to charge, and they can’t get things right. I have a business of 12 employees and they can’t get my business right, and now they are asking us to accept going up by 2 percent? I don’t think the business owners should be absorbing that when it’s obviously a lack of management.”

Perry Romer, owner/ operator of Novah Flight Services, added: “Nobody could absorb a 2 percent rate increase now with the way fuel is going up and all of that. We’re going to have to see how it goes. I guess

if it’s the consensus that it has to go up by 2 percent, then they don’t give you an option. They aren’t giving us any other choice and to stay in business then this is what we have to do.”

Peter Hale, general manager of Advanced Document Systems, said he had passed the details in the NIB actuarial report on to his chief financial officer to make a notation and had “heard no complaints thus far”.

He added: “If we have to do it then we have to do it. There’s no issue with the 2 percent; we can absorb that.” Another businessman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “I thought the Prime Minister said he wasn’t going to increase the NIB rate. But it is something that we need because, by the time we retire, at this rate the money won’t be there, so in order to save the fund then everybody should get on board.”

directed at climate change as climate change events can precipitate or lead to natural disasters. Acknowledging weaknesses in its ability to monitor the effectiveness of the

Government’s climaterelated spending, the Ministry of Finance said this related to the fact that “the presentation of programme objectives in the

Budget documentation remains limited”.

“This has hampered the opportunities to use programme information for climate and disaster tagging,” the Ministry of Finance said. “Over the medium term, fiscal policy will focus on, among other things, greater spending on resilience as part of a credible medium-term fiscal plan.

“This first tagging exercise, while not perfect, has provided both the Ministry of Finance and budgetary units with a better understanding of why climate change and disaster risk management

expenditures are important for The Bahamas. It has also revealed to respective agencies what can be done to help improve the country’s resilience to climate change and natural hazards, and how important it is for the expenditure to be traceable in the budget and linked to higher-level climate change policies as well as the eventual outcomes of the spend or the anticipated impact. It is expected that Budget submissions in subsequent fiscal years will increase climate change and disaster risk management expenditures.”

The Ministry of Finance, in a statement, added: “In

the aftermath of recent climate change related disasters, the Government has implemented climate change and disaster tagging, which is a tool used to monitor and track climate and disaster-related expenditures in the national Budget. It provides comprehensive data on climate change relevant spending, enabling the Government to make informed decisions and prioritise climate and disaster investments.

“This report will inform the Government of the amount of expenditure allocated under both the recurrent and capital budgets to adequately address the effects of climate change and mitigate against future impact. Additionally, climate and disaster relevant expenditure, when traceable in the Budget, will not only inform the development climate change policies but will also gauge the impact of targeted climate spending on climate and disaster resilience.

“Finally, the Climate Spending Report will strengthen accountability and transparency by improving the Government’s ability to account for, monitor, manage, prioritise and report on climate change and disaster resilient spending and investments.” The Davis administration has repeatedly accused its predecessor of failing to account for all its COVID-19 spending as promised.

THE TRIBUNE

YACHT

FROM PAGE 24

Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Rwanda, confirmed that this newspaper’s instincts were correct by disclosing that the 10 percent “pleasure vessels” tariff is being eliminated to help develop a yacht registry and build the so-called “blue economy” that is based on the ocean.

The move was immediately attacked by the Opposition, who questioned whether the tariff change has any basis in law because it was not approved by Parliament during the Budget debate. Mr Davis, admitting this “omission” had been an oversight, said he will launch an inquiry into how this “fell through the cracks” now he has returned home.

“Let me just say that I did speak in my communication about reducing taxes on yachts,” Mr Davis said in response to Free National Movement (FNM) accusations

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, PAGE 23 that the Government sought to “sneak” through a tax break for the wealthy behind the Bahamian people’s backs. “We are intending to build a yacht registry to permit them to be able to house themselves in The Bahamas. Housing in The Bahamas means more for marinas, housing in The Bahamas means more opportunities for Bahamians to be more directly engaged in that maritime industry.

One of our plans is to develop the Blue Economy.”

Mr Davis said the Ministry of Education has already partnered with the LJM Maritime Academy to provide scholarships for Bahamians seeking a nautical education at the latter, while there were commitments from the cruising and yachting industries - the latter “once they are able to have a home here” - to hire Bahamians certified by that institution.

“So this is all part and parcel of a bigger picture of growing the Blue Economy,” the Prime Minister said, then effectively admitting

that the FNM’s charges over the 10 percent “pleasure vessel” tax break having no basis in law might have some merit.

“The question as to the manner in which the omission during the course of the Budget debate [happened], we’ll have to look at that and see how it fell through the cracks and how best to resolve it,” Mr Davis added. “I’ll do that now that I’m home.

“I’ll sit down with the minister of economic affairs [Michael Halkitis], the financial secretary [Simon Wilson], many permanent secretaries, the deputy prime minister and work out what has to be worked out to achieve the goal that we think is necessary for the development of our Blue Economy.”

Mr Maury said the 10 percent duty elimination may encourage Bahamian and resident boat owners to register their vessels locally, rather than adopt the practice of registering them in the US and elsewhere and bringing them in via a cruising permit that

generates relatively minimal revenue for the Government.

This, he added, could also stimulate greater interest in boating and more work for repair yards and other businesses that supply goods and services to the sector. However, given that 10 percent VAT is still being applied, Mr Maury said the tariff elimination by itself was unlikely to stimulate the Prime Minister’s yacht registry ambitions by itself.

Noting that the marina industry has pressed for years for the “pleasure vessel” duty to be eliminated, Mr Maury said VAT’s introduction in 2015 lifted the effective tax rate to 17.5 percent.

This then shifted to a peak of 22 percent when VAT was increased to 12 percent in 2018, before now reverting to 10 percent once again.

“The Bahamas Maritime Authority, the ABM and some others in the industry had a pretty good plan for a yacht registry,” he told this newspaper. “It was a little harsher than Jamaica’s because of

the red ensign.” That expression refers to The Bahamas’ status as a quality maritime flag state, meaning that it has to maintain certain standards and cannot be seen as a ‘flag of convenience’.

Mr Maury, operator of Bay Street Marina, said this yacht registry plan had involved creating a registrant class known as “private limited yachts”, which was intended to capture all the foreign charter vessels that typically operate in Bahamian waters for three to four months of the year, enticing them to pay something here rather than where they are registered.

“For a yacht registry, registering yachts in The Bahamas, they’re not going to register if they have to pay 10 percent. That’s not going to make a big difference, that 10 percent elimination, because you still have to pay VAT. It’s not going to make much of a difference.

There are too many other flags of convenience that are easier and cheaper. You can get a registration in 72 hours,” Mr Maury said.

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

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Cooking gas suppliers in 68% increase plea

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter

S

tressed dealers are pleading with the Government for a 68 percent increase in the price of cooking gas to secure the industry’s survival in an “horrendous” climate where some are losing up to $500,000 per year.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or propane retailers told Tribune Business the

* Loss-making dealers say their survival at stake * Price-controlled sector in ‘horrendous’ condition * Jobs already cut as no Gov’t reply to request sector is in “dire” straits due to inflationary pressures that have increased the wholesale prices they pay to acquire the fuel by 51.8 percent. And the impact from this cost hike, the dealers explained, has been worsened by the

Government-imposed price controls that have held retail prices flat for at least the last decade.

With this squeeze eroding, if not completely eliminating, any profit margin previously enjoyed by the industry, some

dealers revealed they have already terminated staff and face extinction unless the Government “urgently” grants a price increase. However, they said their plight has thus far fallen on deaf ears with an October 2021 request

for such a rise receiving no response from the Price Control Commission.

Barry Pratt, Island Gas general manager, confirmed to Tribune Business that the now-defunct

SEE PAGE 21

THE Government still has multiple reform options to rescue the National Insurance Board (NIB) from collapse if it acts now, a pensions specialist asserted yesterday, adding: “The sky is not falling in” yet.

Larry Gibson, chief operating officer of CG Atlantic Pensions, and who has long advocated for comprehensive pension and social security reform in The Bahamas, told Tribune Business there are a combination of policy changes that can make saving NIB “less painful” than solely increasing contribution rates for both businesses and workers.

Speaking after the NIB’s 11th actuarial report called for a two percentage point

* PENSIONS EXPERT EYES ‘LESS PAINFUL’ REFORMS * UNVEILS POLICY CHANGES ‘NOT AS DRACONIAN’ * PM: NO RATE HIKE UNLESS BURDEN EASED

PRIME Minister Philip Davis arrives for the Leaders’ Retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday.

(Dan Kitwood/Pool Photo via AP)

increase in contribution rates to be implemented by next Friday, July 1, with subsequent further hikes enacted every two years until 2036 to secure the social security system’s long-term financial sustainability, he said these reform options include raising the “official” retirement age, increasing the contributions required to become eligible for benefits, and further insurable wage ceiling increases.

The Prime Minister, speaking on his return from the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Rwanda, yesterday affirmed his previous

BAHAMIANS TAKE ‘PARTIAL’ LACK OF BUDGET OBJECTIVES MEDICINE ON VAT RETURN HITS CLIMATE SPEND ANALYSIS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader says Bahamians have increasingly been obtaining “partial” as opposed to full prescriptions after VAT was reimposed on medicines with effect from January 1.

Branville McCartney, whose family own and operate Wilmac’s Pharmacy, told Tribune Business that while this trend has been evident prior to the tax change it had become even more noticeable after the Davis administration reimposed the 10 percent levy.

“Many of those medicines are a necessity. We would have seen, though, where persons would come in and, if they are on high

blood pressure medication and it has been prescribed for three weeks, they’ll say: ‘Give me half a month’s supply and I’ll come back for the rest in 14 days’,” he revealed.

“Medication is a necessity in many instances.

People normally get it.

However, we do see where people have to break up their prescriptions in terms of not getting the full amount and get partial prescriptions. We see that more now that VAT has been put on medicines.

“It was there before, but even more now. It was there because of the way the economy was, but we see it more now when persons come in and say: ‘I cannot get a full prescription; can I get a partial prescription?’ It’s

SEE PAGE 21

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE absence of specific spending objectives in the annual Budget makes it difficult to assess whether the $126.5m allocated for climate change and disaster mitigation in 2021-2022 had the desired effect, it was revealed yesterday.

The Ministry of Finance, unveiling its first-ever report on the Government’s climate-related spending, said it was “committed” to assessing the “quantity and quality” of spending in an area that has become a central focus for the Davis administration since it took office in September 2021.

“In 2021-2022, the Government of The Bahamas intended to spend $72.184m or 2.3 percent of

its total budget on climate change.

The projected spend on disaster risk management is lower compared to climate change and estimated at $54.392m or 1.7 percent of the total budget,” the report said.

“Environmental protection is the function of government that includes both disaster and climate change management. In the estimates of expenditure for 2021-2022, the Government provided summary budgets by functions of Government.

Environmental Protection was allocated $108.909m from the recurrent budget and $9.15m from the capital budget, or a total of $118.079m or approximately 3.7 percent of the total Budget.

SEE PAGE 22

EX-MARINA CHIEF DOUBTFUL ON PM’S YACHT REGISTRY AMBITION * Davis: 10% tax elimination ‘fell through cracks’ * Duty-free ‘pleasure vessels’ for blue economy

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

stance that the Government will not implement the NIB contribution increase - which would take the overall rate from 9.8 percent to 11.8 percent, split between employer and employee - at this time while his administration explores ways to ease the financial burden this will impose.

Mr Gibson, meanwhile, said The Bahamas must also “decouple” its reform and funding (investment) strategy for NIB from short-term politically-led decision-making.

He added that the social security system must no longer be “the prime or sole” financier of government projects, or treated as an extension of the Ministry of Housing or Department of Social Services.

A prominent marina operator yesterday voiced doubt that eliminating 10 percent Customs duty on so-called “pleasure vessels” will spark development of a yacht registry as envisioned by the Prime Minister.

Peter Maury, immediate past president of the Association of The Bahamas Marinas (ABM), told Tribune Business that this nation “has a long ways to go” to establish such a facility given the presence of other hurdles as well as intense competition from existing yacht registry jurisdictions.

For although the Government is eliminating the duty imposed on boats and yachts imported for personal use, the 10 percent VAT levy remains.

This, Mr Maury said, was a higher tax rate than the likes of Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, the Marshall Islands and numerous US states levy, with many electing to impose no taxation and simply charge registration and boat fees.

His comments came as Philip Davis QC, upon his return from the

SEE PAGE 20

SEE PAGE 23

‘Sky is not falling in’ on NIB - yet

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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