business@tribunemedia.net
TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021
$5.00
Atlantis ‘close to 90%’ occupancy in coming weeks By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net ATLANTIS will operate at “close to 90 percent occupancy” over the next few weeks, its top executive revealed yesterday, with all properties apart from the Beach Towers having reopened post-COVID. Audrey Oswell, Atlantis’s president and managing director, told Tribune Business that the Paradise Island mega resort is currently operating at 75-percent plus occupancies. She added: “All of the resort, with the exception of Beach, is now open and we expect to run close to 90 percent occupancy over the next few weeks.” Comparing this July to 2019’s record-setting year, Ms Oswell added: “Atlantis is pleased to report that we are approaching 2019 occupancy levels. The booking window is much shorter and airlift continues to be a challenge, but booking pace has increased steadily over the past few months. Coral (Towers) is now fully open along with the Cove, Reef, Harborside and Royal (Towers).” “Widespread vaccination throughout the US has contributed to the increase in tourism. More important is that Bahamians are also starting to get vaccinated. Tourists want to know that the people they come in contact with in The Bahamas are also vaccinated. Full vaccination of the hospitality industry is imperative to full recovery of tourism for The Bahamas. We all need to do our part.” Atlantis has also reopened its The FISH, Carmine’s and Chop Stix restaurants. Ms Oswell’s remarks echo the position taken by Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, and Michael Maura, the Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive, who told Tribune Business yesterday that tourism is “back with a vengeance”. Mr D’Aguilar said “we’re bringing tourism back” as the relaxation of international travel restrictions and the continued roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations - especially in key visitor source markets - gave persons increasing confidence to again vacation abroad. Describing The Bahamas as “a destination of choice” for Americans who have been emboldened to travel, he added: “Tourism is bouncing back, and more
SEE PAGE 5
$5.09
GB airport revival pegged at $200m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A
$200M investment is required for the “comprehensive redevelopment” of a Grand Bahama International Airport (GBIA) that lost more than $13m in the two-and-a-half years before the government acquired it. The extent of the potential liabilities facing Bahamian taxpayers as a result of that purchase, which closed as recently as June 1, was fully exposed during yesterday’s briefing for private sector groups interested in bidding on public-private partnerships (PPPs) to redevelop, finance and manage Grand Bahama’s major aviation gateway and six other Family Island airports. Data disclosed during the briefing reveals that Grand Bahama International Airport generated an operating profit in just one of the five years prior to the sale to the government, providing further insight into why its
• Govts latest buy lost over $13m in 2.5 years • Hutchison/GBPA liability switched to taxpayer • All seven PPP airports suffer operating losses
WESTERN Air terminal at GBIA after Dorian. former owners - Hutchison Whampoa and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Port Group Ltd - were both so reluctant to rebuild it post-Dorian and so eager to offload a regular loss-maker to the taxpayer. The financials, based on audited and unaudited financial statements for Grand Bahama Airport Company, reveal that it suffered an operating loss (based on earnings before interest,
taxation, depreciation and amortisation or EBITDA) of $5.567m during the 2019 calendar year. Some $9.608m in revenues were dwarfed by $15.1276m in total operating expenses, of which $3.69m related to staff costs and $11.486m to non-labour expenses. Those figures likely resulted from the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Dorian inflicted on Grand Bahama International Airport, and
A CABINET minister says he would “take a cut hip any day” for selecting Kanoo as the Bahamas health travel visa’s payment processor as opposed to delaying tourism’s late 2020 restart. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that the political opposition’s complaints were “pretty pitiful” as its members refused to let the issue drop amid more finger-pointing and assertions yesterday. While the minister declined to respond directly to the pledge by Philip Davis, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) leader, to scrap the health travel visa if the party wins the upcoming general election, he reiterated just prior to that announcement his belief
its closure to income-generating commercial and private aviation traffic for several months. And the COVID-19 pandemic, with the closure of international and domestic aviation traffic for a significant portion of last year, was probably the major contributing factor that plunged Grand Bahama Airport Company into a further $6.663m operating loss for 2020. Total revenues, both aeronautical and non-aeronautical, dropped by almost two-thirds year-over-year to $3.046m, while total operating expenses were down by more than one-third at $9.708m. However, the ‘red ink’ continued to mount with a further $1.105m worth of operating losses during the first four months of 2021 to end-April.
SEE PAGE 4
Bahamas to ‘recalibrate’ airlift with airports PPP By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas is seeking to “recalibrate the aviation asymmetry” that results in more than two-thirds of international flights coming to Nassau as opposed to other islands, it was revealed yesterday. Jim Lew, managing director of LeighFisher, the consultants hired by the Government to develop the tender process for outsourcing seven Bahamian airports via the publicprivate partnership (PPP) model, told a briefing for potential bidders that the project was vital to boosting tourism as “there’s a huge cohort of hotels nowhere near at capacity”. Driving increased direct international flights will be a key remit for the successful bidder(s) in a process that has presently separated Grand Bahama International Airport into
• Aims to cut ‘asymmetry’ of Nassau dominance • As ‘huge cohort of hotels nowhere at capacity’ • Govt already reviewing Out Island airport fees
ALGERNON CARGILL a separate bid from six Family Island gateways in Abaco, Exuma, North Eleuthera, San Salvador, Long Island, and the Berry Islands. Bidders can submit offers for either Grand Bahama or the Family Islands “bundle”, or both, but were warned that “it’s not possible to cherrypick put a single airport”
from the latter group via a tender document that will be released in a 2021 third quarter that begins this week. Mr Lew, in his presentation, said it was vital that The Bahamas’ key aviation infrastructure and its management/operation be enhanced and expanded to enable it to cope with the increased tourism growth that is anticipated once the COVID-19 pandemic recedes. He added that better airport facilities are essential to both aiding and encouraging tourism industry expansion, especially in the Family Islands, given that there has been $5.4bn in “indicative approved inflows” of foreign direct investment (FDI) into
‘Cut hip’ for Kanoo over tourism delay
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
$5.07
• Minister blasts opposition claims as ‘pretty pitiful’ • Hails health travel visa as ‘tremendous success’ • Will likely remain until COVID-19 ‘settles down’
DIONISIO D’AGUILAR that the initiative has been “a tremendous success” and helped to keep COVID-19 infection rates relatively low. And Mr D’Aguilar also questioned how The Bahamas could continue permitting non-vaccinated tourists to enter, and verify
that they had complied with this nation’s testing requirements, without having the health visa vetted to validate all this. Responding to the opposition’s outcry that the health travel visa will stay in place until the 2022-2023 fiscal year, as per the budget estimates, Mr D’Aguilar said it was likely “to stay in place until things settle down” and more persons worldwide - especially in The Bahamas’ key source market - become inoculated against COVID-19. While the opposition has become obsessed with the absence of any health tourism visa revenue from the 2020-2021 budget’s
approved forecasts, those estimates were put together pre-May 2020 - well before the need for the visa was realised in the year’s second half. Of more significance, though, is the absence of any health travel visa revenue being shown for the July 2020-March 2021 period despite the Ministry of Tourism last week revealing that some $9.8m in health travel visa revenue had been collected and $7.4m in related expenses paid, leaving a $2.4m surplus. Mr D’Aguilar, though, said that $9.8m in revenue had been included in “other
SEE PAGE 7
the seven targeted islands between 2017 and 2021. Such a figure may surprise some observers, and was not broken down into projects, although Mr Lew attributed some $3bn of this sum to Grand Bahama. Another $900m was allocated to Long Island, some $700m to North Eleuthera, and $400m each to Abaco and Exuma based on data said to have been provided by the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA). “This is all about upside, unlocking value in assets to generate incremental growth in line with tourism projects under way, aligning with the tourism and hospitality sector to maximise the potential in these assets,
SEE PAGE 5
$5.01 Six airports to need more than $150m funding By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net SIX Family Island airports will probably require a greater collective investment than the $150m a Bahamian merchant bank is seeking to raise from local investors, it was revealed yesterday. Jim Lew, managing director of LeighFisher, the aviation consultants hired by the government to develop the private-public partnership (PPP)M process for outsourcing these assets to private developers/ managers, told a bidders’ briefing that they would likely have to raise excess capital beyond the sum RF Bank & Trust is putting together. Describing the award of this contract to the former RoyalFidelity as a “prestep”, Mr Lew said the investment bank had been asked to raise the financing so that Bahamians “can invest in this project”. While the $140m-$150m “can be a source of financing” for the winning bidder, he added: “There’s a strong indication the $150m will not be sufficient to cover, so the private sector will have to find their own lenders to cover the shortfall.” Mr Lew also said the financing for the six Family Island airports will be separate from the $200m now estimated as necessary for Grand Bahama International Airport’s complete transformation and rebuild after Hurricane Dorian. With the North Eleuthera and Exuma airport revamps estimated to involve $65m each, the $10m price tags for San Salvador and Abaco, as well as $18m for Long Island and $15m for Great Harbour Cay, take total projected capital investment costs to $183m - well above the $140m-$150m to be raised by RF Bank & Trust. Meanwhile Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told the briefing that by packaging the six Family Island airports together the government was mitigating the risk to bidders posed by a Hurricane Dorian-style storm wiping out one or two of these assets. Describing the Family Islands as the fastestgrowing and most resilient segment of the Bahamian tourism industry, he said: “Tourism has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are roaring back at a phenomenal rate. As Americans become
SEE PAGE 8
PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
COLINA UNVEILS A $6.3M BOTTOM LINE TURNAROUND COLINA Holdings (Bahamas) yesterday said its financial performance is rebounding in line with the economy’s post-COVID re-opening as it delivered $4.5m in 2021 first quarter profits for ordinary shareholders. The BISX-listed life and health insurer, unveiling its unaudited results for the three months to end-March 2021, disclosed a $6.3m turnaround from the $1.8m loss suffered by its ordinary shareholders last year. It attributed a 2020 first quarter loss, which was equivalent to $0.07 per share, to the market
TERENCE HILTS volatility that arose with the start of the COVID-19 income, which resulted in its $600m-plus portfolio of investments taking a hit to the value of its holdings. Colina Holdings (Bahamas) said the recovery in market conditions enabled
it to generate a $0.18 per ordinary share profit for the three months to March 31, 2021, with net investment income for the quarter standing at $8m compared to the prior year’s loss of $6.1. This represented a $14.1m turnaround, with premium revenues having risen to $31.7m for the first three months of 2021 compared to $31.5m in 2020. Total first quarter revenues rose by $14.7m, totalling $41.9m for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to total revenues of $27.2m for the same period last year.
Net policyholder benefits paid out totalled $21.3m, a $3.7m reduction compared to the year before period’s $25m. Additional reserves to cover future policyholder benefits, totalling $2.9m, were charged during the 2021 first quarter to further increase the provisions for future payouts net of reinsurance assets ceded. “During the first quarter, the company continued rebalancing its investment portfolio and facilitated some disposals of securities,” said Terence Hilts, Colina Holdings Bahamas’ chairman. “Proceeds from these sales are reflected in
the increase in cash at quarter-end relative to the prior period.” The life and health insurer’s total assets at March 31, 2021, were $797.9m, with invested assets accounting for 75.6 percent of the total. In April 2021, the Board of Directors approved the first and second quarter dividend distributions to Class ‘A’ preference shareholders, and further approved dividends to ordinary shareholders of $0.16 per ordinary share. These distributions will be reflected in the 2021 second quarter financials to coincide with the dividend approval dates.
“Overall, we are pleased that the company’s financials are beginning to reflect the positive economic effects that the reopening of The Bahamas is expected to bring,” said Mr Hilts. “Colina Holdings Bahamas continues to focus efforts on strengthening its balance sheet and capital position to provide the company with the flexibility it needs to continue to meet the needs of policyholders and customers within this changing economic environment.” Colina Holdings Bahamas has more than $780m in total assets and $200m in total shareholders’ equity.
PICTURED from are: Mistry Adderley, operations manager, Grand Bahama Red Cross; Derek Newbold, senior manager of business development for GBPA and Invest Grand Bahama; Atxaendrio Gonzalo, disaster manager for Latin America & Caribbean, IFRC; Angelique Saunders, SBR grant programme officer, Grand Bahama Red Cross; and LaShawn Dames, business services manager, GBPA.
programme close-out interview with Atxaendrio Gonzalo, International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disaster manager for Latin America & Caribbean, and Grand Bahama Red Cross representatives, Misty Adderley and Angelique Saunders. “GBPA remains extremely grateful to our implementing partner, the BRCS, as well as to IFRC for their support of the SBR grant programme,” he added. “Together, we designed and implemented a comprehensive programme, bridging the gap between existing economic recovery grant programmes and the island’s most vulnerable business sector - micro and livelihood businesses, comprised of vendors, artisans, fishermen, farmers and others.”
The SBR grant programme officially launched in May 2020 as a partnership initiative between BRCS and the GBPA. It later received support from the Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre (SBDC). The programme’s primary goals focused on funding and providing business resiliency training to a minimum of 80 micro and livelihood businesses. Grants were awarded in amounts of $3,000, $4,500 and $6,000 to successful candidates based on the level of impact and need. The programme successfully concluded in October 2020 after two rounds of funding to more than 100 businesses, injecting over $400,000 in recovery funding into the economy.
GB GRANT RECIPIENTS: 70% RESTART FIRMS MORE than 70 percent of grant recipients from Grand Bahama’s Small Business Recovery (SBR) initiative have restarted operations, its organisers have disclosed. “Hurricane Dorian was an historically catastrophic event requiring unprecedented levels of aid, funding and support for recovery for those residents and businesses who were severely impacted,” said Derek Newbold, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) senior manager of business development and Invest Grand Bahama. “The initiative received
high praise from both programme partners and donors. We began developing the programme details in early February 2020 but, by March, the reality of COVID had set in and we had to pivot from a manual programme to conducting all activities virtually. “The entire process became digital, including gathering documents, vetting, evaluating and scoring of applications, as well as the training programme for grantees. However, to learn that more than 70 percent of grantees had restarted their businesses, and greater than
BTVI PARTNERS FOR OVER THE HILL CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVE
THE Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership initiative partnered with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to hold several courses in construction project
management recently. Two successful groups joined the trainees in their graduation ceremonies on Friday, with keynote address given by the Prime Minister at the Edmond Moxey Community Centre. Dr Hubert Minnis (fourth
85 percent felt confident in managing their operations and were more equipped to face future challenges as a result of this undertaking, is a true testament to the programme’s success.” The Small Business Recovery (SBR) grant programme was implemented
through a partnership between The Bahamas Red Cross Society (BRCS) and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) that began more than a year ago. Mr Newbold made his comments during a recent courtesy call and
right) is shown with Jeffrey Lloyd, minister of education (fifth right); BTVI president, Dr Robert W Robertson (third right); and other officials including the executive manager of the Over-the-Hill Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, Samita Ferguson (fifth left), together with course graduates. Photo: Ulric Woodside/ BIS
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, PAGE 3
Financier warns over Delivery provider eyes home port ‘backdraft’ ‘digital storefront’ app By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
AN international financier with experience in infrastructure projects in The Bahamas yesterday warned that the “backdraft” from cruise home porting can have a “sucking effect” on other types of tourism. Andre Wright, executive vice-president of Standard International Group, told Tribune Business that the check-in back-ups that resulted at Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) last week when hundreds of cruise passengers tried to fly out at the same time are not the only thing the government needs to be concerned about. While that problem has now been resolved, Mr Wright argued that The Bahamas needs to plan ahead for when the cruise lines change course and end their home porting initiative. He added: “What’s going to be the backdraft of all of this, and what happens when the cruise lines decide to pivot and go back the other way? These airports in these islands have costs that are associated with the current activity, and how
AN online delivery provider yesterday revealed it is creating an app to provide “digital storefronts” for small businesses struggling to develop such solutions of their own. Granville Collie, MUTRU’s managing director, told Tribune Business he is “providing a solution” for clients who want to use his delivery service but do not have a website through which to sell their products. The “MUTRU app” will launch next month in a bid to help Bahamian micro and small businesses sell their goods online while also employing his delivery service at the same time. Mr Collie said: “Over our time in business we realised that a lot of our clients that we would have been approaching didn’t have a website or any way to sell products online. So the app is pretty much a direct response to one of the biggest challenges we’ve seen in terms of small business while we have been in business. So we are just providing a solution for them. “We understand that a lot of small businesses can’t afford to pay for a website or afford to have an online presence, so we decided to invest the money into the app so we can have a
BFSB CHIEF AWAITS TALKS OVER ‘STRUCTURAL REFORM’ By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A SENIOR Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) chief executive yesterday said she anticipates wide-ranging talks on “overall structural reform” to make the economy more resilient will take place shortly. Tanya McCartney, the BFSB’s chief executive and executive director, told Tribune Business that such discussions will likely go beyond tax reform and the implications of the G-7’s 15 percent minimum global corporate tax agreement as she hailed the financial services industry’s resilience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Central Bank’s Quarterly Economic Report (QER) indicated that the overall sector remained relatively stable and we concur with that view. The sector has shown tremendous resilience during this pandemic,” she said in responding to the findings of that document. The Central Bank report said the financial services
NASSAU Cruise Port. much of an impact will that have on their budget?” Arguing that this “sucking effect” could happen in less than two years, and possibly within the next six months, because cruise lines change their itineraries as frequently as that, Mr Wright added: “I think things can change within six to nine months, depending on the length of the voyage, so if you’ve ramped up to accommodate that then you have to be careful.” Noting that other Caribbean islands are not facilitating home porting, such as the US Virgin Islands which can take up to 12 ships per day, Mr Wright said: “Their docks are empty, but their air travel is packed. They are doing 20 flights on Saturday and those are extended industry had lost almost 160 jobs in 2020, with the banking sector suffering multi-billion dollar declines in “balance sheet” and “fiduciary” assets. It added that the “business footprint of the sector remained structurally challenged” with the COVID-19 pandemic adding to the ever-escalating regulatory pressures on the international segment. However, Ms McCartney said: “The Bahamas is still an attractive IFC (international financial centre). We continue to engage with international advisers and service providers to inform as to why The Bahamas remains a jurisdiction of choice for international financial services. “In so doing we speak to the progress that we have made to implement global regulatory requirements, we emphasise our strengths as a jurisdiction, which
stay visitors who are spending money like taking taxis, going to restaurants and bars, and it’s been a boom for their economy.” Besides the pressure being placed on airports due to the sudden increase in arrivals for the home porting, Mr Wright added: “I think the vaccination protocols, and the re-entry protocols, are going to be very important for the cruise lines for both the country as well as for the passengers. “The transfers will have an impact. If any of those islands that are home porting were destinations previously, where those passengers want to explore and spend money on the island but now they’re going there for home porting, that’s a big difference.”
TANYA MCCARTNEY include our location, expertise in trust and fiduciary services as well as our ability to innovate. “BFSB continues to use multiple channels to promote the jurisdiction, even during the pandemic. We have undertaken a number of marketing and promotion initiatives for the year 2021, and we have several planned for the remainder of the year. BFSB is already looking at marketing and
SEE PAGE 4
Financing For Viable Projects International sources of funds wishing to finance Bahamian projects in the Resort, Housing, Energy, Maritime, and Agriculture Sectors. $2 million and above. Must provide Executive Summary, with three years financials, management and marketing capabilities, and collateral offered. Infrastructure projects based on PPP’s also wanted. Serious inquiries only. Email us at inquiries@ bahamasbusinessnetwork.com
Telephone: (242) 698-0634 / (242) 815-9118
solution for them.” The MUTRU app is launching next month, with 20 small businesses currently in the process of being on-boarded. Mr Collie said he is looking to “increase that significantly” before the end of July. “Everything will be launching at the end of the month in terms of the marketing and the store, so we’ll be taking The Bahamas by storm to try and get as many businesses on board as possible,” he explained. Pledging to “bridge the gap” between MUTRU and its customers, Mr Collie said what he is offering is a “digital storefront” for small businesses “where they can have their products showcased on our app. Customers will be able to go into the app to pick out any store in The Bahamas and select the products they want, and pay for it right through the app and then have it delivered by us”. He added: “This doesn’t really make our job that much easier. This is just really a solution for our clients. The only part of it that would make our job easier would be in the case of customers that we collect cash on behalf of. Because when everything is now sent through the app, we wouldn’t have to manually calculate those numbers and figures as the app would do it all for us.”
MUTRU has no plans to move away from cashon-delivery as some clients still prefer this option, but Mr Collie said his digital payment services provider, SunCash, has enabled the business to accept electronic payments. Mr Collie added: “I don’t really have any complaints about SunCash, except for maybe it takes too long to get paid from them. You have to get it in a cheque or, if it goes directly to your bank account, it takes a few days, so for a small business that is a bit difficult, but it is what it is and you just have to deal with it. “If you’re a small business owner, you may not have a storefront, or if you do have a storefront, as simple as getting online and having a website online and having the ability to accept transactions online, there’s a lot of hoops you have to run through for that. “The exchange control, Central Bank issues and PayPal do not really exist for Bahamians unless you jump through the hoops that you need to, but a lot of businesses can’t do that.”
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
BFSB CHIEF AWAITS TALKS OVER ‘STRUCTURAL REFORM’ FROM PAGE 3 promotion initiatives for 2022.” Ms McCartney continued: “We concur with the informed outlook and conclusions made by the Central Bank of The Bahamas in its quarterly economic review, which was published last week. The financial sector has been quite resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic with firms leveraging existing contingency/business continuity plans, resulting in relative stability. “As 2021 progresses, we look forward to engaging with policymakers on the various international initiatives impacting the sector, including but not limited to the proposal for a global minimum corporate tax. We would anticipate that very shortly there will be broadbased engagement with all relevant stakeholders inclusive of, but not limited to BFSB, AIBT (Association of International Banks and Trust Companies) and the Chamber of Commerce on the need for overall
structural reform to augment not only the international financial services sector but the economy as a whole to withstand economic shocks and respond to changes in the global regulatory environment.” Asserting that the Bahamian financial services industry still has a “real opportunity” to “increase competitiveness” as an IFC, Ms McCartney cautioned that this can only be done “provided that key enablers are implemented, refined and leveraged”. “Industry stakeholders have made recommendations to policymakers through the economic recovery committee (ERC), and a recent industry policy action summit hosted jointly by BFSB and the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration,” she added. “We have highlighted the opportunities to improve our competitiveness and realise returns from potential growth areas. Ultimately, this has to be driven largely by policy action. BFSB will continue to execute on our primary mandate of promotion of the jurisdiction and advocacy for and on behalf of industry stakeholders.” Ms McCartney was also optimistic on the value that financial technology (Fintech) can bring to financial services as it allows for “innovation” as opposed to replacing established asset management, trust administration or other traditional services offerings.
THE TRIBUNE
GB airport revival pegged at $200m FROM PAGE ONE As a result, Grand Bahama International Airport has collectively generated some $13.3m worth of operating losses in the near two-and-ahalf years immediately prior to its acquisition by the government, and further multi-million dollar taxpayer subsidies may well be required to ensure the facility remains a “going concern” until a private sector developer is found to take over all responsibilities. The government, in defence of its position, will likely argue it had no choice but to take over the airport given that Hutchison and the GBPA had signalled early on that they had no intention of investing the significant sums necessary to rebuild an aviation gateway that is vital to Freeport’s survival as a city and economy. While the government has sought to place much of the focus on the $1 purchase price, many observers believe that Hutchison and the GBPA have effectively been allowed to abandon their developmental
obligations to Freeport under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement by offloading a loss-making asset on to taxpayers while retaining all the profitable ones. The government also agreed to “reimburse” Hutchison Whampoa for half the costs it incurred in paying due severance and other benefits to the airport’s 60-70 staff, a sum subsequently pegged at $1m. And there have been suggestions that the airport’s Dorian insurance claim payout may have been as high as $25m, a sum that the former owners have been allowed to keep rather than invest in the rebuilding. One Grand Bahama business community source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of yesterday’s data revelations: “I’m flabbergasted. Where’s the investor going to come from for an airport that lost you millions? “The government sold the public on getting that airport for $1. It’s a damned disgrace. It’s an awful, awful story. The government seemed to have swallowed the Port Authority’s argument that they don’t have
responsibility for the airport, and they’ve [the Port] been required to give up nothing. They got that money and they ran, but they still kept the harbour and all the land.” Jim Lew, managing director of LeighFisher, the consultants hired by the government to structure the PPP and advise on aviation industry reform, yesterday urged potential bidders to focus on the future and “upside value” that can be unlocked by outsourcing Grand Bahama International Airport’s management and redevelopment to the private sector. Acknowledging the massive damage inflicted by Hurricane Dorian, and that all repairs to-date are only temporary, Mr Lew said “significant investment” is required by the successful bidder on both “the ground side and the air side” to not only rebuild Grand Bahama International Airport but make it sufficiently resilient to withstand future natural disasters. He added that “around $200m” is needed to “replace the facilities and ground infrastructure to capture the growth sorely needed at this site”. This was reiterated in the accompanying project information memorandum, which added: “The airport suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Dorian in 2019. “An FBO (fixed base operation) building was repurposed as a temporary terminal. A comprehensive site-wide redevelopment solution (around $200m) is required to replace damaged facilities, unlock commercial potential, and operate the airport as a profit centre.” The $200m figure is far in excess of the $50m-$60m that Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, previously estimated would be required to transform Grand Bahama International Airport into what is required. And the memorandum made clear that the $200m is for capital expenditure only, and does not include what will have to be spent in furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). Elsewhere, Mr Lew said further post-Dorian improvements worth around $10m are required at Marsh Harbour’s Leonard M Thompson International Airport from a successful bidder. That airport generated positive EBITDA or operating income of $885,000 and $663,400 for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal
years, respectively, which run from July 1 to June 30. However, post-Dorian, that airport has sustained operating losses of $477,500 and $446,500 for the 20192020 and 2020-2021 fiscal years. Meanwhile, the LeighFisher chief added that Exuma International Airport’s $65m upgrade which has already started under the government - is due to be completed in the 2023 third quarter. The financing to kickstart construction has come from an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan, and Mr Lew said the burden of repayment would have to be assumed by the successful PPP bidder. “An operations solution is required to optimise sitewide functionality, unlock commercial potential, and operate the airport as a profit centre,” the PPP memorandum said. Exuma’s airport generated an operating profit of $186,500 in the fiscal year immediately prior to COVID-19, but subsequently suffered losses of $208,300 for 2019-2020 and $314,100 for 2020-2021 to-date, which covers the period to March/April this year. As for North Eleuthera’s $65m transformation, Mr Lew added: “This facility no longer meets demand. Its traffic growth is constrained through acute congestion. There is not enough tarmac space for parking.... Exuma can be used as a model. There is significant upside at this site, and the opportunity is to enter into a long-term agreement to take command of the airport and drive that growth as well.” North Eleuthera, too, has suffered low-six figure operating losses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two other Family Island airports included in the PPP package, Deadman’s Cay in Long Island and Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands, projects which have been pegged at $18m and $15m, respectively, currently only cater to domestic and private aviation flights. Mr Lew described the final airport, San Salvador, as “like some of its sister island airports, the airport facility no longer meets demand. Traffic growth is constrained by the capacity of the infrastructure... The asset is insufficient to service the demand”. A $10m investment was cited for San Salvador, which was sustaining significant operating losses prior to COVID-19. Operating losses of $405,700 and $406,600 were incurred during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 fiscal years, and this morphed into $649,400 for 2019-2020 and $454,900 for 2020-2021 to-date. Currently, none of the airports included in the PPP are generating an operating profit for the government.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The ad in the paper should state that Allecia Williams is NO LONGER an employee at The Medi Center Clinic and therefore she is no longer allowed to conduct business on its behalf.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, PAGE 5
Bahamas to ‘recalibrate’ airlift with airports PPP
FROM PAGE ONE
and unlocking future growth potential,” Mr Lew explained, adding that “it’s critical to the economy” that the seven airports be transformed into “the best possible capacity”. Bidders, he added, will be required to operate all airports as “profit centres”, which he acknowledged is “a little different to how they are managed now”, and increase revenues and control costs to earn a bottom line return. Private sector developers/operators will likely introduce a passenger facility user fee, similar to the one levied at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau, as a critical income stream for generating a return on their investment and paying for all the upgrades they undertake. No such fee is presently levied at many Family Island airports, and Bahamians and residents who live there - as well as tourists - will likely have to soon get used to paying one via their airline ticket. Algernon Cargill, director of aviation, told Tribune Business that the government is already reviewing the present fee structure at the airports subject to the PPP. “If you invest money, you have to pay for it somehow,” he said. “The government is reviewing all of the airport fees because, at some of the airports, the fees have not changed in more than 30 years. There are very few changes proposed for Grand Bahama; there are more changes proposed for the Family Islands airports.”
Mr Cargill also confirmed that Bahamian bidders are free to joint venture with their foreign counterparts, explaining: “There are absolutely no limitations. This is a process open to the entire world, and if Bahamians want to partner with foreign investors to have a stronger response, that’s perfectly acceptable.” Mr Lew, meanwhile, said the government is also looking for bidders to make airport infrastructure more resilient against natural disasters such as hurricanes given the devastating impact that Hurricane Dorian had on facilities in Abaco and Grand Bahama. Noting that 5.3m passengers were transported throughout The Bahamas by air in 2018, including 3.7m international departures and arrivals, Mr Lew said there were some 141,000 aircraft movements that year. Some 70 percent of these were international flights, with the remaining 30 percent domestic, and generating around $57m in recurrent revenues. He added that 17,627 hotel rooms were served by that airlift, with the sector’s average occupancy standing at 62 percent. “We’re trying to enhance and incrementally grow airlift passengers,” Mr Lew said. “There’s a huge cohort of hotels that are nowhere near at capacity. There is a need to recognise the potential uplift” Some 69 percent of international flights in 2018 terminated in Nassau, with 22 percent going direct to the Family Islands and just eight percent to Grand Bahama. “You see the
ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND
Atlantis ‘close to 90%’ occupancy in coming weeks FROM PAGE ONE
and more people are being called back to work, and more and more people are earning tips and gratuities.” While everything is relative, and The Bahamas has some way to go to match 2019’s record tourism numbers, the strength and speed of the industry’s recovery will determine how rapidly the economy recovers from the COVID19 pandemic’s ravages. The Bahamas’ mass market tourism, and especially its mega resorts, have been the slowest segment to recover from COVID19, as Mr D’Aguilar acknowledged. “Our larger hotel properties are, of course, the slower component of the tourism sector to bounce back,” he said. “It’s good to see Americans feel comfortable enough to travel. I’m advised that at one hotel the levels of vaccination are in excess of 70 percent of visitors coming into the hotel. All of the food and beverage facilities are getting very buzzy, the nightlife is getting buzzy. I think we’re handling this very well.” Anticipating that tourist purchases of Bahamian travel visas in June will exceed the 110,000 recorded for last month,
Mr D’Aguilar said: “With these kinds of reports coming out of our larger facilities, I’m very optimistic and upbeat, and as they look forward they’re seeing more and more growth. “People are telling me they’ve never seen a summer so busy, but it may be because last summer was awful. We’ll see what the final statistics look like, but Americans are becoming emboldened to travel and are picking The Bahamas as a destination of choice.” Mr Maura, meanwhile, added: “We see things really ramping up this Friday, July 2. Between July 2 and July 10, which includes US independence day on July 4 and Bahamian independence, we will have 14 cruise ships come in with well over 13,000 cruise passengers.” “We’re well on our way now. We’re seeing a return. They’re all coming back. We have Virgin committed to calls at the end of the third quarter going into the fourth quarter, Disney coming back in August and Norwegian Cruise Line coming back in September. “Everything is coming back with a vengeance. The Bahamas, given our geography, we are the partner of choice, especially given our proximity to south Florida. It’s huge. A number of these ships like the Celebrity Edge and Freedom of the Seas will be making multiple calls and sailings.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, SARAH RACHEL BENEBY of #28 Pear Street, Sir Lynden Pindling Estates, P.O. Box N-8558, New Providence, The Bahamas, Parent of SANAII RENE’ O’MAIRA MILFORT A minor intend to change my child’s name to SANAII RENE’ INDERIA CURTIS. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
asymmetry in the destinations, and that’s why we’re looking to recalibrate that to align with foreign direct investment happening in the tourism product space,” Mr Lew said. Explaining that the seven airports have been picked “for their upside potential and ability to drive growth”, he said that in 2018 they had seen a combined 1.26m in passengers supplied by 16 airlines, who produced 42,000 aircraft movements. Total recurrent
revenues stood at $17.8m, and 5,114 hotel rooms with an average 49 percent occupancy served. Grand Bahama that year catered to 440,000 passengers and 14,900 aircraft movements, producing $13.8m in revenues and catering to 1,694 hotel rooms with an average 50 percent occupancy. The six Family Island airports accommodated a combined 820,000 passengers via 28,000 aircraft movements, producing recurrent
revenue of $4m and serving 3,420 hotel rooms with a 48 percent occupancy. No forward projections, though, were provided due to the difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was also no mention of the legal action launched by commoners that could tie-up land needed for North Eleuthera’s airport expansion. The prize for successful PPP airport bidders is the award of long-term concessions for up to 30 years,
which will see them operate, manage, develop and maintain these facilities that will be leased to them by the government, which will retain ownership of the asset. Mr Lew pledged that the bid will be “market driven”, with structure determined by the level of interest from the private sector. A decision on the successful bidder or bidders will be taken in the 2022 first quarter, with commercial terms also agreed in that period.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
SUPPORT THE BLOOD BANK
SAVE A LIFE GIVE THE GIFT OF
BLOOD
BECOME A REGULAR DONOR
1 PINT CAN SAVE 3 LIVES GIVE BLOOD - GIVE LIFE
SOME HELPFUL TIPS BEFORE YOU DONATE:
4 You must have eaten at least once for the day.
4 You need at least 30 minutes between your last meal and donating blood. 4 You will need at least 10 minutes rest after donating blood. 4 You can donate blood every 8 weeks.
4 The Blood Bank will do FREE Pre-screening tests to make sure you are healthy enough to donate blood.
BECOME A REGULAR DONOR
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE BLOOD DRIVES
THE TRIBUNE
‘Cut hip’ for Kanoo over tourism delay FROM PAGE ONE
income” collected by the Treasury Department. That line item showed the latter collecting $18.561m in “other income” for the nine months to end-March 2021, compared to forecast income of $1.606m. Again accusing the government’s political opponents of “trying to create hay where there is no hay”, Mr D’Aguilar reiterated that it was the Ministry of Tourism’s software developer, Think Simple, that recommended hiring Kanoo “at the last minute” to act as the payment bridge between the health travel visa website and the Ministry of Tourism. “We had to factor what it was going to cost and buildin the fee. It happened at the very end,” he added, explaining that the health travel visa concept and website were created in a rush given the pressures to re-open Bahamian tourism last November and the airlines’ refusal to vet COVID-19 test results from passengers. Mr D’Aguilar said Think Simple had recommended Kanoo because the two had worked together on the feeding network initiative, and knew it could provide the
solution within the required timeframe. “I’ll take a cut hip for that any day than delay the opening of tourism,” the minister told Tribune Business. Kanoo’s principals include Keith Davies, the Bahamas International Securities Exchange’s (BISX) chief executive; Nicholas Rees as chairman; and its chief financial officer, Herbert Cash. Their identities have been in the public domain for some time, but also among the company’s directors is Dr Nigel Lewis, the Free National Movement’s (FNM) national campaign co-ordinator for the upcoming general election. Tribune Business also last December disclosed that Dr Lewis is chairman of PublicPrivate Investments (PPIL) group, the entity that has received the Cabinet’s goahead to generate $1.5bn in revenues via a multi-million dollar proposal to revive and restore Nassau’s key heritage sites including three forts, the Queen’s Staircase (66 Steps) and Water Tower, and the Pompey Museum. Mr D’Aguilar, though, again dismissed Opposition claims of cronyism and favouritism involving Kanoo’s selection. “When
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, ANGELA MARIA SMITH of No. 33 Trinidad Avenue, Elizabeth Estates, P.O. Box N-7148, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to DONNA ANGELA MARIA SMITH. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice. LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
NAXOS, CORP.
In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, NAXOS, CORP. is in dissolution as of June 24th, 2021. International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Withfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.
LIQUIDATOR ______________________ LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE ROLLER SKY LIMITED N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:a)
ROLLER SKY LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4)of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23 June, 2021 when the Articles of Dissolutionwere submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
c)
The Liquidator of the said company is OCTAGON MANAGEMENT LIMITED, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.
Dated this 25 day of June, A. D. 2021 _________________________________ OCTAGON MANAGEMENT LIMITED Liquidator
Kanoo was selected, it was not who are the shareholders? Are they FNMs or PLPs. That just did not happen, not that they will ever believe me. It just did not happen,” he said. The minister also suggested that the grievances were coming from rival digital payments providers whose shareholders have PLP links, although he did not name them. Chester Cooper, the PLP’s deputy leader, is a principal investor in Cash n’ Go. With the Opposition arguing that the health travel visa acts as a tax on both Bahamians and visitors, is a deterrent to travel and no other Caribbean nation has it, while also complaining that the money is not directly going to the government’s Consolidated Fund, Mr D’Aguilar sought to focus on the positives. “It’s been seamless, worked very well, and given
people the impression it’s safe to come to The Bahamas,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “There are four things we look for on the test: It’s the right test, in the right time period, with the right result from an accredited laboratory. “It’s kept COVID-19 down to a reasonable level and worked for us. Focus on the success. We were able to re-open tourism, and kept COVID-19 to a reasonable minimum. It’s been a tremendous success.” As for how long the health travel visa remains in place, Mr D’Aguilar said of the budget forecasts, which show $40m in revenues for the upcoming fiscal year and $22.32m in 2021-2022: “It’s a budget. It’s a forecast. Estimates change. I see it staying in place until things settle down. We don’t know how long this will last.”
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, PAGE 7
PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Six airports to need more than $150m funding FROM PAGE ONE vaccinated, they are yearning to travel and our tourism sector is roaring back at a phenomenal pace.” Describing the growth potential of the selected Family Island airports as “substantial” in the postCOVID era, Mr D’Aguilar added: “There isn’t sufficient headroom in our Budget to do these airports out of the public purse..... The Government wants to enhance the infrastructure that visitors meet in these islands. “The first impression is the airport infrastructure, and in most instances the growth of airport infrastructure has not been able to keep up with demand. Our Family Islands are very highend, very boutique and we like to say they are designed for social distancing. “That component of our arrivals is most resilient. No matter what happens, the attractiveness of our Family Islands grows unabated as people look for more off-the-beaten path types of activities. That part of the tourism arrivals has the greatest potential for growth.”
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
THE TRIBUNE
Judge dismisses govt antitrust lawsuits against Facebook WASHINGTON Associated Press A FEDERAL judge yesterday dismissed antitrust lawsuits brought against Facebook by the Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of state attorneys general, dealing a significant blow to attempts by regulators to rein in tech giants. US District Judge James Boasberg ruled yesterday that the lawsuits were “legally insufficient” and didn’t provide enough evidence to prove that Facebook was a monopoly. The ruling dismisses the complaint but not the case, meaning the FTC could refile another complaint. “These allegations — which do not even provide an estimated actual figure or range for Facebook’s market share at any point over the past ten years — ultimately fall short of plausibly establishing that Facebook holds market power,” he said. The FTC said in a statement that it is “closely reviewing the opinion and assessing the best option forward.” The agency has 30 days in which to file a new complaint. Boasberg closed that avenue for the states, however, in dismissing outright their separate complaint. The US government and
THE THUMBS up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. A federal judge has dismissed antitrust lawsuits brought against Facebook by the Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of state attorneys general, dealing a significant blow to attempts by regulators to rein in tech giants. Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP 48 states and districts sued Facebook in December 2020, accusing the tech giant of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors and seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff of the social network’s Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services. The FTC had alleged Facebook engaged in a “a systematic strategy” to eliminate its competition, including by purchasing smaller up-andcoming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. New York Attorney General Letitia James said when filing the suit that Facebook “used its
NOTICE
monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition, all at the expense of everyday users”. Facebook, in an e-mailed statement, said: “We are pleased that today’s decisions recognise the defects in the government complaints filed against Facebook. We compete fairly every day to earn people’s time and attention and will continue to deliver great products for the people and businesses that use our services.” Richard Hamilton Jr, a former prosecutor and Justice Department antitrust attorney, said the judge, while finding the FTC’s arguments insufficient, gave the agency a sort of road
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JOEL SIBI MARK, of Buccaneer Road Little Blair, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 22nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that WILGENS EUGENE, of Mount Royal Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 29th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com
MONDAY, 28 JUNE 2021
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:
CLOSE
CHANGE
1987.12
13.13
%CHANGE
YTD
YTD%
0.67 -105.34
-5.03
(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320
BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 6.50 33.95 1.62 2.90 1.78 6.00 6.96 3.60 5.90 3.98 6.16 12.00 2.75 7.75 10.71 9.01 14.44 4.10 8.97 16.00
52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 1.46 1.62 1.44 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.25 2.75 5.00 9.75 2.10 4.90 9.50 8.00 13.00 3.42 8.00 15.20
PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00
1.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 10.00 0.90
SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Bahamas Limited Focol Finco J. S. Johnson
SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ
LAST CLOSE 6.44 39.95 1.60 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.50 2.85 5.95 9.98 2.52 7.75 11.26 9.01 13.99 3.75 8.19 15.50
CLOSE 6.50 39.95 1.60 2.61 1.44 6.00 6.96 3.53 4.50 2.85 5.95 10.20 2.44 7.75 11.22 9.01 13.99 3.75 8.30 15.50
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB
LAST SALE 100.00 100.00
CLOSE 100.00 100.00
CHANGE 0.00 0.00
BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407 BSBGR1210255 BSBGRS880378 BSBGRS900283 BSBGR1322498 BSBGR1341506
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.22 100.00 100.14 100.98 100.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.22 100.00 100.14 100.98 100.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Bahamas Class A Focol Class B
BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB
CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00
52WK LOW 100.00 100.00
115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00 101.08 100.49 100.74 100.98 100.00
104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 101.08 100.00 100.14 100.00 100.00
52WK HI 2.43 4.47 2.17 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.81 1.78 1.12 8.58 10.26 7.35 14.59 12.84 10.31 10.00 10.43 14.89
52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.67 1.73 1.75 1.03 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20
SECURITY Fidelity Bank (Note 22 Series B+) Bahamas First Holdings Limited
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)
MUTUAL FUNDS
MARKET TERMS
Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y BGRS FX BGR121025 BGRS FL BGRS88037 BGRS FL BGRS90028 BGRS FX BGR132249 BGRS FX BGR134150
FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Financial Conservative Fund Leno Financial Aggressive Fund Leno Financial Balanced Fund Leno Financial Global Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks 52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume Change - Change in closing price from day to day Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings
CHANGE 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 (0.08) 0.00 (0.04) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00
VOLUME 1,000
1,470
2,000
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.110 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
VOLUME
NAV 2.43 4.47 2.17 202.18 190.86 1.69 1.75 1.76 1.03 8.58 10.14 7.35 14.59 12.64 9.99 N/A 10.43 14.89
DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.030 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
P/E 27.2 42.9 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.9 -8.1 32.1 15.5 13.3 14.1 23.9 16.6 17.4 12.4 17.1 18.5 8.8 24.6
YIELD 2.62% 3.15% 1.25% 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 3.74% 0.00% 0.00% 4.21% 3.70% 7.06% 17.79% 0.77% 2.92% 2.66% 3.86% 3.20% 2.41% 3.94%
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%
19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025
6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25% 4.13% 4.43% 4.39% 5.65% 5.69%
20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022 23-Feb-2025 26-Jul-2037 10-Dec-2028 15-Oct-2049 17-Jan-1950
YTD% 12 MTH% 1.85% 4.26% 0.77% 1.44% 1.14% 2.84% 0.14% 5.02% 3.25% 31.13% 1.04% 0.20% -2.27% -3.15% -0.08% -0.57% -1.94% -3.33% 1.14% 4.22% 1.09% 3.04% 1.01% 4.65% 4.93% 42.27% -1.56% 0.80% -0.60% -4.90% N/A N/A 3.00% 25.60% 7.90% 48.70%
MATURITY
NAV Date
31-May-2021 31-May-2021 28-May-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-May-2021 31-May-2021 31-May-2021 31-May-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 28-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021 31-Mar-2021
YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths NAV - Net Asset Value N/M - Not Meaningful
TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | CORALISLE 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333
map for how to bulk up its case in another round. “Whether government or private entity, you still need to sufficiently plead the case,” Hamilton said. He noted that as Boasberg saw it, the FTC failed to demonstrate how it arrived at the claim that Facebook controls 60% of the market in social networking and how that market power is measured. Alex Harman, competition policy advocate for Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, said: “Courts really have a hard time with that market definition for some reason. It’s Exhibit A for why we need the laws changed.” Rebecca Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University who specialises in antitrust, said the ruling “illustrates the problems regulators face right now bringing antitrust suits in markets without prices, like Facebook’s, but also Google’s, and in markets where huge, dominant firms offer suites of products that don’t neatly fit into the mold of
well-defined markets like aluminum ingot or crude oil.” An ambitious package of legislation to overhaul the antitrust laws, which could point toward breaking up Facebook as well as Google, Amazon and Apple, was approved by the House Judiciary Committee last week and sent to the full US House. “As the FTC and 48 state attorneys general have alleged, Facebook is a monopolist and it has abused its monopoly power to buy or bury its competitive threats,” Rep Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, who heads the Judiciary panel, and Rep David Cicilline, D-RI, the legislation’s lead sponsor, said yesterday. “In the weeks ahead, we will work to advance this legislation to restore choice, innovation and opportunity for American businesses and consumers.” Rep Ken Buck of Colorado, the chief Republican sponsor of the legislation, said the ruling “shows that antitrust reform is urgently needed. Congress needs to provide additional tools and resources to our antitrust enforcers to go after Big Tech companies engaging in anticompetitive conduct.” Last October the Trump Justice Department, joined by about a dozen states, brought a landmark antitrust suit against Google, accusing the company of using its dominance in online search to stifle competition and innovation at the expense of consumers. As it stands, the case isn’t scheduled to go to trial in federal court for nearly three years.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, LAQUAN DETAVION RICHARDS of Gambier Village, P.O. Box CR55864, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to LAQUAN DETAVION ROLLE. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that KEVANNA VALCIN of East Street, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 29th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that UTILE MARKINSEY, of Wulf Road, Nassau, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 22nd day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that CHARLENE MARIE GRAY-MOTT, of #18 Taylor Street, P.O Box N3841 Nassau Village, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 29th day of June 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
BODY AND MIND
Enjoy the outdoors this summer, but be mindful of the sun By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
Summer is in full swing. And after 14 months of varying lockdowns and restrictions, Bahamians are more than ready to embrace the great outdoors. While fun and relaxation await us, there are also some dangers associated with spending more time outside that we should all be mindful of. With the record-breaking temperatures all over the world over the last few years, there are increasing concerns surrounding skin health and the sun’s harmful UV rays. Dr Naiara Braghiroli, a dermatologist at the Miami Cancer Institute who specialises in skin cancer, has dedicated her career to research and the use of reflectance confocal microscopy for the diagnoses of different types of benign and malignant skin lesions. Dr Braghiroli believes with the Bahamas being a tropical climate where people spend a lot of time outdoors, it is essential to know about sun safety, including the appropriate way to apply sunscreen and other protective measures, such as wearing a hat or UV protective clothing. And she said it is during the summer months, particularly during the hours of 10 am and 4
DR Naiara Braghiroli pm that the sun’s UV rays are at their most intense. She advises everyone, regardless of skin colour, to wear sunscreen and a hat while outside, as well as be vigilant about moles and sores on your skin. “If you see any new or changing sores, as well as nodules or scars that don’t heal, it can be a potential sign of cancer,” said Dr Braghiroli. She recommends a product with an SPF of 30 or higher and to apply it at least 15 minutes before going outside and then reapplying at least every two hours. “A general rule to check for suspicious legions are asymmetrical in shape; the border is not smooth, but rather jagged, raised, or appears irregular; if it begins
to change colour, become darker or look uneven diameter, or if it grows in any way and an evolving appearance. “Although many believe that Black people cannot get skin cancer, the possibility is present. While it is true that skin cancer is less prevalent in dark-skinned populations, anyone regardless of their skin colour or heritage can develop skin cancer, especially when they are exposed to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds for an extended period,” she said. Dr Braghiroli said genetics and family history can also play a part. For example, those with a family history of skin cancer should have their bodies examined by a healthcare professional annually. And when it comes to melanoma, one of the types of skin cancer, individuals who have three or more first-degree relatives diagnosed with melanoma are at a higher risk of developing it themselves. Other risk factors include having many moles, more than 50, and scars from previous wounds. Additionally, individuals who have HPV, smoke, or are immunosuppressed, are also at greater risk for developing skin cancer. “Skin cancer can also show up in places that are rarely, if ever, exposed to sunlight. These include areas between the toes, on the soles of the feet, in the eyes, known as ocular melanoma, and on genitalia,” she said.
Slow down the effects of arthritis By DR FELICIA ADDERLEY, RPT, DPT, CKTP, MLD-C, CHC Physiotherapist and certified health coach According to the Arthritis Foundation, one in thrr people between the ages of 18 and 64 have arthritis. Some 54.4 million people in the United States were diagnosed by their physician as having arthritis between 2013 and 2015. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The impact on your day-to-day activities may vary depending on the type of arthritis you’re dealing with. For example, if you’re diagnosed with osteoarthritis, which is the most prevalent form of arthritis globally, you may struggle with pain in the joints in your knees, hands, hips or spine. All hope isn’t lost, even if you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Arthritis is defined as swelling and tenderness in one or more of the joints. The symptoms can be managed, so the pain that comes with this disorder need not be debilitating and disruptive to your lifestyle. The damages that it could leave on your joints cannot
be reversed. However, you can always slow down its progression, so it doesn’t reduce your quality of life. Now, just like other ill-health conditions that would reduce your quality of life, the most practical way of knowing if you’ve developed osteoarthritis is looking at your symptoms. If you have symptoms which suggest that you have osteoarthritis you should then schedule an appointment with your doctor for a detailed examination of the symptoms. Here are some of the symptoms which may warrant an appointment with your healthcare provider to be assessed for possible diagnosis of arthritis. • Swelling around the joints • Grating sensation when you use your joints or feeling of “bone rubbing on bone” • Joint pain, especially after or when moving around • Joint stiffness, especially when you wake up in the morning or after some period of inactivity • Tenderness on the joints when light pressure is applied near the joint or on the joint • Limited range of motion: In this case, you’d feel like you lose
flexibility would experience difficulty moving the affected joint through the normal full-range motion You may be at risk of osteoarthritis if: you are older than 50 years old, you struggle with obesity, you have a history of joint injuries, you are a smoker or if your joints are exposed to repeated stress. Protecting your joints should be your primary focus if you have any of these risk factors. Here are a few tips that you may find helpful if you wish to slow down the effects of arthritis. Watch your weight: You will need to ensure that you do not gain excess weight as any extra weight would only add more pressure on the joints. Protect your joints: You can prevent your osteoarthritis from getting worse by only using your strongest and largest joints for carrying or lifting. You may also consider supporting the joints with braces prescribed by your healthcare provider. Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels: This is important because high blood sugar levels increase the rate of formation of molecules that impact your
cartilage, making them more sensitive and stiff. You can maintain your blood sugar levels within safe limits by keeping yourself hydrated, exercising regularly, and increasing your fibre intake. Aim for a healthier lifestyle: Just like most conditions, osteoarthritis can be managed by choosing to live healthily. The foods you will typically need to avoid, in this case, run the gamut from alcohol to added sugars, red meats, high-salt foods, and glutenrich foods, among others. The bottom line The key to managing osteoarthritis and slowing down its effects is knowing your risk factors and how you can manage the situation. If you suspect that you could be at risk or already struggling with this condition, you can schedule a call with the therapist by reaching out to us at Adderley Physiotherapy at (242)326-3052, info@adderleyphysio.com or like us on Facebook (Adderley Physiotherapy) to watch our livestream every Thursday.
DR Felicia Adderley Photo/Keva Creary Photography.
A positive approach to pain By HANNAH FOSTERMIDDLETON, BSC (HONS) PHYSIOTHERAPY, MCSP, SRP Genesis Physiotherapy
We all experience pain at some time in our lives, whether it’s a scraped knee as a child or a torn ligament as an adult or any of the myriad accidents or illnesses that might happen to us in life. That’s the bad news. The good news is we don’t have to suffer unnecessarily and there is a whole slew of treatments available. As a physiotherapist this is my job. Any pain is a signal that something is wrong. Your brain is sending you a message calling you to action. No sudden onset of acute pain should be ignored, and you should seek help right away for a diagnosis. Likewise chronic pain, meaning lasting for a longer period of days or weeks, should not be ignored either. Even though tolerance for pain varies from person to person and the ache that you find intolerable might be barely noticeable to another, doesn’t make the complaint from either any the less valid. You might be surprised to learn that the origin of your pain has many components. It isn’t just that you twisted your ankle or cut your hand. It’s partly genetic, partly a result of any of your previous experiences of pain; and it
has emotional and psychological elements as well; how you have dealt with pain in the past and what your tolerance level is. When the brain sends the message, it encompasses all of these aspects, and this will be reflected in your reaction. It is also useful to remember that even when your condition has responded well to therapy, sometimes the memory of pain is still embedded in your brain. As I said in my previous column anything negative or positive creates a neural pathway in the brain and that is why I noted that we take a holistic approach with all our treatments to ensure that the physical, emotional, psychological
and cognitive elements that contribute to your pain response are also taken into consideration and treated. This is especially important when treating long-standing chronic pain as very often after the physical condition has been eliminated, the patient may still experience pain as the brain is still firing the same message and it takes patience and continued work to correct this. As a physiotherapist my job is to make an accurate assessment of the exact nature of your complaint by listening to your story and by examining you physically. The origins of pain aren’t always as obvious or simple as they might appear to be, and it is important
HANNAH Foster-Middleton for me to have all the facts so that I can pinpoint the precise cause of your discomfort. When I have diagnosed your particular issue, I sit down with you and discuss the various treatment options that I think will alleviate your distress. At Genesis, we take the treatment of pain very seriously and give our best efforts to having you safely pain free at the earliest possible opportunity. We have a wide variety of therapies we use but it is essential that you, the patient, play your part by doing what is asked of you when you are at home. All the equipment in the world can’t help you without
your understanding of the role you play in conjunction with the therapist and the recommended treatments. Our therapies include compression; dry needling; cupping; manual therapy; myofascial release; vibration therapy; polychromatic light therapy; corrective exercise and postural re-education. Depending on the diagnosis, some conditions will respond to treatment very quickly and pain will be diminished or alleviated in a relatively short time frame. Other conditions may call for more prolonged therapy but in all cases some relief can be gained from the first few treatments. My goal as a Physiotherapist is to have you pain free and mobile as quickly and safely as possible, but recovery times and progress are highly individual, and my goal is to give you back your mobility and keep you pain free for the long term. Focus and patience on your part will assist in the healing process. We are partners in this and together we can achieve a positive result. • For questions and comments, call Hannah Foster-Middleton at 356 4806, e-mail genesisphysiotherapy@gmail.com, or visit www.physiotherapybahamas. com.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, PAGE 11
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy needs to be addressed The COVID-19 outbreak has become a pandemic for a reason, as we humans simply do not possess the natural immunity for the novel coronavirus. Vaccinations are safe and highly effective at reducing severe illness and hospitalizations from the COVID-19 virus. There is a continued reluctance or outright refusal by a surprisingly high percentage of Bahamians and residents to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine acceptance by the general public and healthcare workers is crucial in being able to successfully control the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The Bahamian economy is heavily reliant on the tourism industry and the COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive negative impact on our number one industry and our economy. The opening up of the Bahamian economy and the hopeful return to normalcy in our society hinges on the effective control of the COVID-19 virus. The amber list The United Kingdom recently placed 16 countries on their travel advisory green list as destinations safe to travel for its citizens and residents. The Bahamas remains on the United Kingdom’s amber list which requires very inconvenient quarantine- at-home or in-place restrictions after return from amber list countries, as well as required COVID-19 testing on or before day two and on or after day eight after return to the UK. Other Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands amongst others have all been taken off the United Kingdom amber list and placed on their green list, which means no mandatory quarantine after return to the UK. Barbados has vaccinated nearly 30 percent of its population and there are an average of four daily new COVID-19 cases per day. Only 10.2 percent of the Bahamas’ population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and are fully vaccinated, and there is a daily average of twenty four new COVID-19 cases per day. Education and open dialogue Unvaccinated individuals can be grouped into vaccine ready, vaccine neutral and vaccine resistant. Vaccine ready individuals can be further categorised into those avidly seeking the vaccine and those who are simply receptive and willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine if it is readily available with minimal efforts required in obtaining it. Simple and straightforward access to the COVID-19 vaccine may be crucial in converting vaccine receptive members of the public to vaccine ready. Vaccine neutral persons are usually in a contemplative stage of deliberation and education may be key in converting many members of this group to vaccine ready. Vaccine resistant persons should have their mistrust, doubts and misgivings regarding the COVID-19 vaccine addressed through education and open dialogue. The term vaccine hesitancy is used to describe the delay or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services. The three ‘Cs’ that can be used to explain the factors related
to acceptance of the vaccine are ‘Confidence’, ‘Convenience’ and ‘Complacency’. The general public’s confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine refers to the trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness as well as the general trust in the healthcare system. Convenience related to the vaccine refers to the affordability, availability and delivery of the actual vaccine in a readily accessible environment without unacceptable time-consuming wait times. Complacency refers to the belief that the COVID-19 virus has a low disease risk and a low risk of serious health complications or death, and vaccination is not necessary. Commonly stated reasons for vaccine hesitancy • Concerns regarding possible long-term side effects and unknown future ill health effects of the vaccine • Concerns regarding the nearly unprecedented speed by which the vaccines were developed and approved • Previous side effects to other vaccines such as the influenza vaccine • General low confidence in vaccines and their safety profile and efficacy • A belief that natural herd immunity can be achieved by the public by exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 vaccine • Lack of trust in the health care system, government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry • COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation often disseminated through social media • A racially based distrust in vaccines based on a medical system that in the United States and the United Kingdom for example, has socioeconomic and healthcare inequalities and inequities Mistrust of the vaccine among the Black population Worldwide, people of colour have, unfortunately, been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher rates of serious complications, hospitalizations and deaths. The United Kingdom Household Longitudinal survey asked 12,035 individuals in November 2020 how likely or unlikely they were to take the vaccine. The survey determined that overall 18 percent of participants indicated that they were unlikely or very unlikely to take the vaccine. However, there was found to be a very high level of vaccine hesitancy in people of Black ethnicity, with 72 percent indicating that they were unlikely or very unlikely to take the vaccine. In the United States, Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are about four times as likely to be hospitalised and three times more likely to die from COVID19 than Caucasians. African Americans have the lowest vaccination rates among all ethnic groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s figures show that nine percent of African Americans have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, compared to nearly 60 percent of Caucasians.
A comprehensive review of 13 published scientific literature (107,841 participants ) that focused on vaccine hesitancy in the United States found that the overall vaccination hesitancy for all adult Americans was 26.3 percent, but for African Americans it was found to be 41.6 percent and 30.2 percent for Hispanics. Black COVID-19 vaccine mistrust might be partially related to the stain of the Tuskegee experiments (1932 -1972) in which Black men with syphilis were promised treatment, but they purposefully given placebos so that the negative health effects of untreated syphilis could be documented by scientists. Many of the Black men in the Tuskegee study went blind, suffered serious health complications or died. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll done in September 2020 found that approximately 70 percent of African Americans felt that individuals are treated unfairly based on race or ethnicity when they seek medical care. The Bahamas is geographically close and strongly influenced by American culture and social media. Thousands of Bahamians and residents have received higher education in the United States or the United Kingdom or have lived in either country at some point in their lives. It is inevitable that a racially based mistrust in the healthcare system abroad will have some influence on the mindset of many Bahamians who are considering taking the COVID-19 vaccine. You can’t compare COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rates The COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rate, like that of all other vaccines, is determined by large clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people who are broken down into two groups: half the participants get the vaccine and half get a placebo. These two groups of persons are unaware who received the actual vaccine and who received the placebo. All the large trial participants are then sent out to live their normal lives, while scientists monitor whether they get infected with the COVID-19 virus. In the Pfizer/BioNTech clinical trial there were 43,000 participants and in the end 170 participants were infected with the COVID-19 virus. How each of the 170 infected individuals fell into either the vaccine group or the placebo group determined the efficacy of the vaccine. For example, if half the 170 COVID19 infected participants were split evenly in the placebo and vaccine groups then the vaccine efficacy would be 0 percent. If all the 170 infected persons fell into the placebo group and none into the vaccine group, then the vaccine efficacy would be 100 percent. In this particular Pfizer/BioNtech clinical trial there were 162 participants who were infected with the COVID-19 virus who were in the placebo group and eight participants in the vaccine group, thus the efficacy of the vaccine was determined to be 95 percent.
This 95 percent efficacy shown by the Pfizer vaccine in this large clinical trial does not mean that if 100 people were vaccinated five of them would be infected by the virus. The efficacy of the vaccine applies to the individual receiving the vaccine, thus a person receiving this Pfizer vaccine is 95 percent less likely to get sick from COVID-19 virus. For each of the COVID19 vaccines, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Sputnik V, NovaVax, Johnson & Johnson and Oxford/ AstraZeneca, the efficacy rates are all calculated in exactly the same way, but each of the actual different vaccine clinical trials might have been conducted under completely different circumstances. The timing of the various COVID-19 vaccine trials and the countries in which the trials took place is vitally important. The Moderna vaccine was performed entirely in the United States in the summer of 2020; the Pfizer/BioNTech was performed primarily in the United States during approximately the same time period. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinical trial, however, took place in October 2020 to February 2021 when the incidence of per capita COVID-19 rates was peaking and much higher than during the clinical trial periods for both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, thus giving participants much greater opportunity to be infected with the virus. The Johnson & Johnson clinical trial also took place in the United States as well as other countries like South Africa and Brazil, where the per capita incidence rates for the COVID-19 virus were soaring and the virus itself was different, with more contagious variants being present in these countries. Most of the cases analysed in the South African clinical Johnson & Johnson trial were of the much more contagious B.1.351 variant, and despite this fact, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine still performed well and had an efficacy rate of 64 percent. Likewise, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trial took place primarily in the United Kingdom and Brazil during a period of peaking rates of COVID-19 and during a time of new more contagious variants of virus. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was found to be 76 percent effective against the symptomatic COVID19 disease and 100 percent
THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...
effective against severe COVID19 disease. In order to make head-to-head comparisons of the various vaccines it is necessary for all of the vaccine clinical trials to have taken place during the same time period, when the COVID-19 incidence rates were approximately the same and the trials need to have taken place in the same countries and with all the same inclusion criteria. The efficacy levels of the COVID-19 vaccines are specific to the clinical trials that produced them. Furthermore, those clinical trials were not conducted in the same ways. If the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccine trials had taken place during the same time periods as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trials, then the efficacy rates would be expected to be much lower. The various published efficacy rates for the various COVID-19 vaccines prove the efficacy that occurred during each specific trial and not what really will happen in the real-world scenarios. It is argued by many experts that the efficacy rate of each COVID-19 vaccine is not the best number to judge the vaccine. The goal of the vaccine is not to get to zero COVID-19 numbers, but to tame the virus and prevent hospitalisations, moderate and severe symptoms and death from the COVID-19 virus. The efficacy rates against death and hospitalisation for each of the numerous COVID-19 vaccines was found to be 100 percent including for the locally available Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as well as for the Pfizer/BioNTech, the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. All data from the various clinical trials show that they are all highly effective in what is most important, which is preventing hospitalisations and death. The best COVID-19 vaccine for you is the one that is readily available, as they all offer nearly 100 percent certainly that if you are fully vaccinated that you would be protected from needing hospitalization or dying from the virus infection. We as a nation must band together and achieve herd immunity through widespread COVID-19 vaccinations, as this is the only light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel and nightmare for our small country.
Dr Greggory Pinto
• Dr Greggory Pinto is a board-certified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He has trained in Germany, South Africa and France, and is a member of the European Association of Urology. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace & Mount Royal Avenue. Telephone: (242) 322-1145 (6) (7); e-mail: welcome@urologycarebahamas.com, or visit the website:www.urologycarebahamas.com.
Why do I still have acne? By DR DIEDRE NELSON-SANDS Do you have acne and you’re not even a teenager anymore? Don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of company. In my dermatologic practice, acne is by far the most common diagnosis. For those without acne, it may seem like others are making a big deal about a few pimples. But for those of us with acne… we know. It affects every area of our lives. It even causes some of us to refrain from going out, because it seems as if everyone is focusing on our face and passing judgment. I’ve had many women come into my practice and break into tears because they have to remove their makeup so I can examine their skin. I have had a hard time with acne; and this is one of the main reasons why I specialised in sermatology.
Acne is caused by many different factors, but one of the main ones is genetics. This means you’re not at fault - it’s in your genes! Other factors include excess oil production, a bacteria called Cutibacterium Acnes, and plugging of the follicles. Factors that can trigger and worsen acne are diet, stress, hormonal problems, hair products, and cosmetics (some brands more than others). If you have mild acne, there are lots of things you can do on your own to improve it. I recommend that all my patients cleanse their face twice daily, use a facial scrub at least three times per week if they have oily skin, and gentle toner at least once daily. Refrain from trying any and every soap and handmade cream on the market, as some ingredients can have permanent side effects. If you’re already a patient of mine, you know I stress sunscreen - no
take blood tests to determine the source. If these methods do not help to control your acne, please see a dermatologist sooner rather than later to prevent permanent scarring. Remember that consistency and perseverance are key to the improvement of your acne. Good luck on your journey to being acne free!
matter your skin tone. Sunscreen is to be worn daily, even if you’re indoors, if it’s cloudy, if it’s raining, if it’s snowing…you get the idea. In addition, if you notice that certain foods like sweets or dairy cause worsening of your acne, then you must avoid them. You should clean your phone at least once daily and change face towels and pillowcases at least twice weekly. You should also wash make-up brushes and sponges weekly. I also recommend
monthly medical-grade facials that include modalities like light therapy, and procedures like light chemical peels. A medical-grade skincare regimen tailored to your skin, along with short-term use of prescription medication, is one of the most effective acne treatments. A new favorite of mine is a laser treatment that targets acne on the whole face. The results of this last a fairly long time. It may also be recommended that you take birth control pills as a form of hormonal therapy or
DR Diedre Nelson-Sands • The Art of Skin Clinic is located at One West Business Park on Windsor Field Road. Contact 603-1960.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, June 29, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Bahamian moms dream of summer vacations By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
Summer has arrived with a bang and has brought with it rising temperatures and the desire to dream of vacations to faraway exotic lands (especially since 2020’s ‘Hot Girl Summer’ never materialised because of that virus we won’t name). Well, international travel is still somewhat of a challenge right now, but most people will
probably take a week or two off from work to spend time with their families. However, most moms would probably agree that a week away from everyone else sounds even better. Here are the five “vacation” ideas are readers are dreaming of:
1
. The get-it-all-doneat-home week off “I definitely need time to deep-clean and organise my home. Even better if there was no one was around to get in the way,” said Fran.
“There just aren’t enough hours in the day to pressure-wash the driveway, clean the windows and paint, etcetera. I could use about two weeks, to be honest, to really get all my projects done.”
2
. The get-it-alldone-outside-thehome week off “I know I would love to have a week to just do all those things that you can’t do on a lunch hour. There is no way a lunch hour lets you do anything. I need to schedule
my kids’ physicals before school starts. I need to go get a cleaning at the dentist. I been meaning to update some things at my insurance company, but Lord knows it’s never enough time to get it done,” said Kimmy. “Basically, it’s ‘I need time to sit in line without the stress of knowing I’m late getting back to work’.”
3
. The girls’ getaway Miriam would love a week or even a just weekend with the girls. “Listen, I love my family, but yeah, after all this lockdown I am ready to be rid of them for a few days where I am not in mommy or wife mode. I want to sit somewhere cool with my girls, sipping something nice and just talking garbage all day.”
4
. The hubby-andme adult bonding time “My husband and I got married in 2019
Why do women still get judged so harshly for having casual sex? (THE CONVERSATION) – Author F Scott Fitzgerald famously called the Roaring Twenties – which happened on the heels of the 1918 flu pandemic – “the most expensive orgy in history.” Now, as more and more people are vaccinated, some are saying all the sexual energy pent up over the past year will be unleashed, with Yale sociologist Nicholas Christakis predicting a summer marked by a surge in “sexual licentiousness.” Women, however, might face backlash for exploring their postvaccination sexuality. In a new study, we found that women – but not men – continue to be perceived negatively for having casual sex. This stereotype persists even as casual sex has become increasingly normalized and gender equality has risen in the US and much of the Western world. Specifically, both men and women assume that a woman who has casual sex must have low self-esteem. But that perception isn’t based in reality. So what might be driving this unfounded stereotype?
A belief held across religious and political divides Although the idea that women’s sexual behavior is linked to their self-esteem is a common trope in film, television and even some relationship advice sites, we documented just how entrenched this stereotype is across six experiments published in Psychological Science. In one experiment, we asked Americans to estimate the correlation between people’s sexual behavior and their self-esteem. We described those people as being a man, woman or simply as “a person,” without providing any information about their gender. We then described that man, woman or person as having a lot of casual sex, portrayed them as being a serial monogamist or provided no information about their sexual behaviour. We found that Americans tended to associate monogamy with high self-esteem, especially for women. More striking, they associated casual sex with low selfesteem – but only for women. This belief was surprisingly widespread, and across our
studies we found that both men and women hold it. We wondered: Was this stereotype the product of sexist beliefs? Could it be due to participants’ political ideology or their religion? But time and again, we saw that this stereotype transcended a number of markers, including the extent to which someone held sexist beliefs, their political views and their religiosity. What if a woman says she wants casual sex? However, people might believe that women don’t want casual sex in the first place. For example, people might assume that women have causal sex only because they’re trying and failing to attract a long-term relationship. In fact, such beliefs do seem to influence the stereotype about women’s self-esteem. Specifically, the more that Americans believed that women don’t actually want casual sex, the more these Americans tended to associate women’s casual sex with low self-worth. This finding inspired another experiment. We wondered what would happen if we told
participants that a woman was actually perfectly happy with her casual sexual lifestyle. Might that change their beliefs? But even this factor didn’t seem to stop the stereotyping. Participants still saw these women as having low self-esteem. And they even perceived a woman described as having monogamous sex – but who was deeply dissatisfied with her monogamous sex life – as having higher self-esteem. Here’s the kicker: Among our participants – the same ones who showed this stereotyping – we found virtually no association between their self-esteem and their own sexual behaviour. These findings are similar to those of psychologist David Schmitt, who conducted a survey of more than 16,000 participants drawn from all over the world, and also found little association between self-esteem and casual sex. And in our study, it was actually the men who reported having more casual sex who also tended to have slightly lower self-esteem. Do our Stone Age brains play a role?
and when we went on our honeymoon I was actually pregnant,” Tiny told Tribune Woman. “So our honeymoon was also our babymoon. Well, our little boy is now two and I feel comfortable leaving him, so I really want me and the hubby to check in a hotel somewhere and have a lil’ romantic getaway.” And of course, all the Tribune moms agree that the best vacation would be a week of:
5
. The “Leave me alone and let me sleep” week off “I want a vacation where I don’t have to drop off or pick up anyone, cook or clean anything. I want to stay at a resort with a king-sized bed with no kids, order room service, Netflix and chill, and if I have the energy, maybe take the long journey to the spa. No, on second thought, the masseuse can come to the room,” said Nicollette. So why do people hold this negative assumption about women who have casual sex – especially if it doesn’t hold water? The short answer is that we currently do not know, and associations between sex and self-esteem in the real world are complex. Some people might wonder if the media is to blame. It’s true that women who have casual sex are sometimes portrayed as being somehow deficient. But this doesn’t tell the whole story. Even if popular media perpetuates this stereotype, it still doesn’t explain why people would feel compelled to portray women this way in the first place. Another possible explanation is that the stereotype extends from reproductive biology, in which men have historically had more to gain from casual sex than women, who – since they risk getting pregnant – often have to bear greater costs, on average, than men. Yet today, newer technologies – like birth control and safe, legal abortion – allow women to have casual sex without being forced to bear some of those unwanted costs. Perhaps, then, our Stone Age brains have simply not yet caught up. Whatever the origin of this stereotype, it’s likely to foster prejudice and discrimination today. For example, people perceived to have low self-esteem are less likely to be asked out on dates or elected to political office. This stereotype might also have led to seemingly well-intentioned – but ultimately misguided – advice directed toward girls and women about their sexual behaviour. There is a cottage industry built around telling women what sort of sex not to have. (Searching for books on “friendship advice” on Amazon yields fewer than 40 results, but searching for “dating advice” returned over 2,000.) In Western society, women are rarely disparaged for breaking glass ceilings to become leaders, professors, CEOs and astronauts. So why do they continue to be denigrated as they become increasingly open and willing to go to bed with others at their own whim, of their own accord? • This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 29, 2021, PAGE 13
Elin Hilderbrand to retire from writing beach reads in 2024 By ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Elin Hilderbrand, known as the queen of the beach read, plans to retire from writing novels in 2024. The best-selling author’s latest book “Golden Girl” is her 27th book and is now available. Hilderbrand says she deliberately wants to quit while there’s still an appetite for her writing. “A lot of people will follow a writer for a long time and then inevitably they will turn out a book that is not as good as the others,” Hilderbrand told The Associated Press in
an interview last month. “I’ve always said to myself, ‘I will not do that. I will make each book better and better or different in some way.’ I feel myself coming to my natural end of my material.” Hilderbrand, whose past books include “28 Summers,” “The Identicals” and “Here’s to Us” have become a summertime staple, with cover art featuring an idyllic beach scene and stories set in and around the Massachusetts island of Nantucket, where she lives. She says those are the novels she will definitely stop writing in 2024, but someday she may return with a memoir or a cookbook.
Despite plans to step back from writing, Hilderbrand, 51, wants to stay in the book world. Hilderbrand wants to become a book influencer, where she recommends books to others. To get started, Hilderbrand has created a book club on the subscription site Literati. Hilderbrand joins curators including Stephen Curry, Richard Branson, Malala and Cheryl Strayed who also offer their own book clubs on Literati. “I’m doing a book club called The Beach and Beyond. What I would like it to be, is smart, fun, engrossing books, not too, too heavy, not too
AUTHOR Elin Hildebrand (Photo_Nina Subin via AP) is also interested in spotlighting female writers. Hilderbrand, who says she appreciates what actors and TV personalities Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush have done for the publishing industry with their own book clubs, believes authors are the best people to recommend books because they know good writing.
gritty or serious or dark, but not silly, fluffy either,” she said. “I’m trying to find books that haven’t been picked by the big morning show book clubs,” said Hilderbrand, who
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C
TAMPA
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
A couple of thunder‑ storms
Cloudy with a few showers late
Showers around early; cloudy
Mostly cloudy with a few showers
A few showers early, then a t‑storm
A t‑storm in spots in the afternoon
High: 88°
Low: 78°
High: 88° Low: 77°
High: 88° Low: 79°
High: 88° Low: 79°
High: 90° Low: 78°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
97° F
84° F
97°-82° F
98°-84° F
97°-87° F
101°-85° F
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C
7‑14 knots
S
High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C
8‑16 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C
E
W S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
N
| Go to AccuWeather.com
TONIGHT
High: 91° F/33° C Low: 77° F/25° C
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C
MIAMI
High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C
7‑14 knots
KEY WEST
High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C
NASSAU
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C
N
uV inDex toDay
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau Low
Ht.(ft.)
12:29 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑
High
2.6 ‑‑‑‑‑
6:28 a.m. 6:34 p.m.
0.0 0.3
Wednesday 12:48 a.m. 1:26 p.m.
2.9 2.5
7:19 a.m. 7:32 p.m.
0.1 0.5
Thursday
1:40 a.m. 2:22 p.m.
2.7 2.5
8:09 a.m. 8:32 p.m.
0.3 0.7
Friday
2:33 a.m. 3:18 p.m.
2.5 2.5
8:58 a.m. 9:33 p.m.
0.4 0.8
Saturday
3:26 a.m. 4:11 p.m.
2.3 2.6
9:46 a.m. 0.4 10:31 p.m. 0.9
Sunday
4:18 a.m. 5:01 p.m.
2.2 2.7
10:33 a.m. 0.4 11:25 p.m. 0.8
Monday
5:09 a.m. 5:47 p.m.
2.2 2.7
11:18 a.m. 0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
Today
Ht.(ft.)
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:23 a.m. 8:04 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
none 11:17 a.m.
Last
New
First
Full
Jul. 1
Jul. 9
Jul. 17
Jul. 23
CAT ISLAND
E
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C
N
S
E
W
7‑14 knots
S
8‑16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 88° F/31° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.01” Year to date ................................................. 7.66” Normal year to date ................................... 13.32”
ELEUTHERA
High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C W
“You will not find anybody who reads more critically than a writer. And I would be shocked if you found anybody who loves to read more than a writer,” said Hilderbrand. “The biggest book influencer in the country should not be an actress, nor should it be even Oprah. I love Oprah. I love Reese Witherspoon,” said Hilderbrand. “I really feel like book influencing should be done by writers. And so I should be that person.” The author spoke to the AP before being criticised for a passage in “Golden Girl” in which a character referenced living in an attic like Holocaust victim Anne Frank. Hilderbrand apologised and her publisher agreed to remove the reference from digital versions and future printings.
ANDROS
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C
N
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C
S
LONG ISLAND
tracking map
High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C
H
E
W
8‑16 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C
High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C
N W
N E
W
E S
S
8‑16 knots
8‑16 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR
Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:
WINDS SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots SE at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 7‑14 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots
WAVES 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑6 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 83° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F
SECTION B
TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021
New book seeks to help strained mother-daughter relationships And now that it is published, Dominique wants people to learn about issues she unfortunately was not taught that it may help or at the very least provide guidance to those who read. “Mamma, Do You Love Me?” includes lessons, steps to mend broken relationships, letters to all three of the characters in the book and more. “When you read this book, don’t see me as an excellent writer, don’t see me as a master of poetry, see me as a broken vessel who is allowing myself to be used by God in order to release a book that will help many
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
THE relationship between a mother and her adult daughter is often viewed by society through rose-tinted glasses. There is an expectation that they are meant to always be close, loving towards one another, and have a bond that stands the test of time. While this is true for some, it is certainly not a universal truth, as every family dynamic is different. For many mothers and daughters, their relationship is fractured, strained and needs some form of conflict resolution or even professional help to see reconciliation take place. While there are many self-hope books on the topic out there, Bahamian author Dominique Forbes is taking a different approach. She has released a poetry book on the subject called “Mamma, Do You Love Me?” Through her poems, she seeks to share ways mothers and daughters can overcome conflict and heal the hurt in their relationships. Lessons she wished she had been taught in her childhood, she said, are the source of inspiration for her writing. Dominique said experiences she never got schooled on but still encountered are the subject matters of her poetry. The book was started in Nassau, she explained, then made its way to Bangladesh, Nigeria, the United States, the United Kingdom, then back to Bangladesh, finally back to its starting point before being approved for readers.
AUTHOR Dominique Forbes
people to overcome common challenges that we all may have been faced with at one point or another with our mothers,” she said “My mission is that this poetry book will bring resolution, encourage open and meaningful conversations between mothers and daughters, mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws, as well as between mothers and sons,” she said. Dominique uses her poetry as a way to dig deep into issues that do not get as much attention as she thinks they should. “The themes the book addresses include death, reconciliation, life, social abuse, camaraderie, spiritual abuse, yet they all fall under one banner, and that is love,” she said. Dominique has greatly evolved in recent years. We were first introduced to her as Junior Prodigy, or “JP” for short, a young gospel rapper and mother-of-one seeking to spread her message through music. She has since dropped the title of Junior Prodigy, has developed her singing voice and no longer raps, is a wife, a mother-of-five, and is now focusing on what she sees as her call in life: to guide people through marriage and family life. Apart from her music venture, Dominique is seeking to breathe new life into Bahamian families with her writing.
Bye bye lockdown looks – hello summer hair By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
COURTESY of the COVID19 pandemic and the lack of salon visits last year, many women missed out on the opportunity to spice it up and take advantage of the usual hot summer hair trends. But this year, things are different. Women are going from one hairstyle to the next, switching it up constantly and making certain they have all the summer styles covered. From the popular braid trends to the pixie cuts and bold colours, Tribune Woman readers shared their plans for getting this year’s hottest styles. “I have been growing my hair natural for a while now, and in quarantine last year it grew out a lot. I am happy with the growth, but to tell you the truth, I want to change things and do something different for the summer,” said Olivia Rolle. “I have tried colours before, and it is not something I think I am going to do any time soon again. But I have a little curl to my hair, so I am thinking to make yet another ‘big chop’, as they say, and rock a short curly ‘fro. The sun is hot and I would like nothing more than to feel the breeze through my scalp while still looking all cute.” When it comes to hair, Jan Smith’ main concern is sporting a style that won’t take too much work on a daily basis. “I am not the fastest when getting ready, my sister can attest to this as I am always the late one. But I can say when my hair is done, especially in a protective style like braids, I am so good to go. So for the summer months, something speedy like braids is a must, whether long or short. My go-to are long, black, knotless braids. Even when I am not wearing braids, I always admire how beautiful they look on others,” she said. Jan added: “I am also so happy to see so many talented Bahamian braiders that grew out of the pandemic last year. There are so many, and I am rooting for all of them; the summer is theirs for the taking, and braid styles are one
TOP: R&B star Toni Braxton rocks a platinum pixie cut (Instagram_Toni Braxton) RIGHT: Actress Taraji P Henson sports the extra long ponytail
“I feel like if you are going to do it, you may as well just go for it. I haven’t decided on the colour as yet, but it will be something I have never tried before. I have never, ever strayed away from the colour black in my hair and it is what I am comfortable with. of the most popular styles of this season.” Going for quick and easy look, Allison Knowles said she has already nailed down her summer look: a 30-inch middle-part ponytail. In addition to all the Instagram “baddies” rocking this
look, Allison said she believes the style just screams summer. “Whether the placement is an up-do like look or at the back of the head, I believe it’s beautiful and I cannot wait to try it out. I have worn ponytails before, but never at the length I am going to get. Women are also wearing their long ponytails braided, which is also cute. Last year this time my hair was more than likely tied up all day and night with absolutely no place to go but my home’s workstation and my refrigerator, but this year honey, the goal is to slay all summer,” said Allison. Meanwhile, pixie cut lover Nikki Williams said she has had many hairstyles over the years, as she quickly gets bored with the same look. But shorter hair is indeed a blessing during the hotter months. Nikki said all women need is a great, experienced hairstylist who can master the pixie cut. “I can say though, the commitment to up-keeping a pixie cut is a lot and also very expensive, but it depends on you and your preference. I have worn my hair short for many years and it has become my staple. If I want a different look other than this, there is always a wig to throw on and rock that. Also, advice I would give to those that want to make a big chop without actually cutting your real hair, you can consider a pixie wig. It is not my personal cup of tea, but I have seen beautiful ones out there on others. So yes, all in all, this is a pixie cut summer for me,” she said. Like R&B star Toni Braxton, who recently switched it up to a platinum blonde pixie, Christie Bowe said her new summer look will include a colour change. “I feel like if you are going to do it, you may as well just go for it. I haven’t decided on the colour as yet, but it will be something I have never tried before. I have never, ever strayed away from the colour black in my hair and it is what I am comfortable with. But I would like to break out of my hair shell and try something a bit different; nothing too wild now, but something a tad different than my traditional everyday look,” she said.