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‘DYING PEOPLE TOO SLOW TO SEEK HELP’

Darville says patients not seeking medical aid until it is too late

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville has lamented the country’s rising COVID19 death toll, saying local health experts believe it is the result of people seeking medical intervention too late in their illness when help is less likely to yield results.

He also said the government is looking at procuring additional drugs that are currently unavailable in the country to treat people sick with COVID-19.

More than 640 people

have died from COVID19, with 12 new deaths recorded on October 21. The deaths occurred between September 23 and October 14. A 16-yearold boy was among the victims.

Dr Darville is expected to give full details of the health situation tomorrow when he delivers his first speech as health minister in the House of Assembly.

He said with deaths increasing on an almost daily basis and new virus cases seemingly on the decline, the ministry is concerned.

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power & Light’s (BPL) efforts to outsource electricity generation on New Providence were “oblique” and not fully transparent over a deal ultimately won by Shell North America.

A report by international consultants, reveals that even BPL’s then-chief operating officer “questioned the transparency

and fairness” of a process that resulted in the multinational energy giant’s North American arm winning the contract to install 220MW in new generation capacity.

The FTI Consulting report also found that an earlier review by the EY (Ernst & Young) accounting firm detected “several deviations from best tendering practices” in how a process that attracted 19 total bids was handled.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

‘POLICE FORCE TRIBUNALS SHOULD NOT BE SECRET’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the outcome of Royal Bahamas Police Force Disciplinary Tribunal proceedings should not be kept secret from Bahamians unless a compelling rationale exists.

His comment yesterday came after Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle declined to tell The Tribune how the RBPF disciplined Courtney Hall, a constable who admitted to punching Pedro Morley in his mouth, damaging his teeth in a recent case that saw the Supreme Court award $82,856 in damages and costs.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

SEE PAGE TWO

QUESTIONS WERE RAISED OVER FAIRNESS OF BPL SHELL DEAL

FACE TO FACE: A MOTHER’S STORY

MOORE: HOLD FNM CONVENTION FOR ALL OFFICERS

MY NINE-MONTH FIGHT TO BEAT BREAST CANCER

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

ANYA Adderley with her son Andre. The single mother tells today of her nine-month battle to beat breast cancer - and also pneumonia, COVID-19 and more. See today’s WOMAN section for the full story.

THIEVES RANSACK HUMANE SOCIETY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THIEVES broke into the Bahamas Humane Society on Sunday night, ransacked the place and left more than $20,000 in damage at the animal shelter.

BHS general manager Percy Grant said no animals or people were hurt during the break-in, but said the shelter is financially set back as their surveillance

INSIDE the Humane Society after the break-in. system was stolen which will cost about $15,000 to replace.

Then there is the estimated damage of $8,500 for the doors and filing cabinets which were damaged during the incident.

On its Facebook page, BHS said while it does not keep large amounts of cash on its premises, at least $500 was taken during the break-in.

Yesterday, Mr Grant said he got a call on Sunday night about the incident.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FOUR

FREE National Movement founding father Maurice Moore says he does not support the decision to seek a new leader next month as the move was sparked by some “emotional” FNMs who remain hurt over the party’s crushing defeat at the polls in September.

SEE PAGE FOUR

PETER YOUNG: ISLAND STATES SHOULD SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

- SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

‘Dying people too slow to seek help’ from page one

advanced stages of the disease and COVID is one of those slippery slopes.

“If you are one of those individuals who are on that slope and the medical emergency team executes medical protocols to save you, there is going to be some individuals who are not going to make it, unfortunately. That is the danger with this variant and it’s not something new to The Bahamas. It’s reflective of COVID throughout the world.

“We’ve seen it in the developed countries. We’ve seen it in India. We’ve seen it all over and our job now is to ensure through public education the importance to respond very quickly when you’re diagnosed with COVID and you are at home in isolation and you start to develop symptoms.

“We have to find a better way to interface the public medical community with those individuals. We have a plan on how we intend to do that because early detection and early treatment is paramount in order for survival with COVID-19.”

On the issue of getting additional drug therapies in the country to fight the

disease, he said: “The public healthcare system is now discussing the procurement process for these drugs that will be a very, very important tool and once instituted at the appropriate time I think we’ll have better medical outcomes and see a reduction in the cases of death as a result of COVID.” He also revealed that free COVID-19 testing will begin in Eleuthera this week as officials zero in on several areas of concern on the island.

Dr Darville told The Tribune if all goes well, beginning tomorrow residents in Harbour Island, Upper and Lower Bogue and other areas of North Eleuthera will be able to take advantage of the free tests.

This comes as health officials last week wrapped up the same initiative in Inagua. While officials have not yet completed the full compilation of test numbers in Inagua, Dr Darville said they were pleased with the turnout.

“If you look at the dashboard you will see that we do have some areas of concern in North Eleuthera

and some in the Berry Islands. So, if all goes well on Wednesday, we will be doing free testing in Harbour Island, Upper and Lower Bogue and some other areas of North Eleuthera.

“Similarly with the distribution of masks I have additional police officers there who are policing because we got word that there may have been some breakdowns in the public health protocols and so surveillance is very important, particularly when you have clusters on the Family Islands where there are limited healthcare facilities.

“So, we will be going into North Eleuthera this week to do a similar pilot that we did in Inagua.

“We will definitely be doing a similar thing in North Eleuthera as it relates to the Ministry of Health partnering with the private sector to assist us with the testing and the distribution of free medical grade masks, which is very important to our protective agenda because that in itself is one of our greatest tools particularly when people are interacting in our community.”

18-year-old Kelsie Gibson urged other young people to not worry too much about side effects. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CONCERNED about the nation’s climbing COVID-19 death toll, Steven Larrimore decided to get his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday.

He was among several people who spoke with The Tribune at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium after getting the jab.

Scenes at the vaccination site were much quieter when compared to previous weeks, which saw hundreds flock to the centre, especially due to “diminishing” vaccine supplies at the time as well as for other reasons.

Yesterday, Mr Larrimore said his decision to get vaccinated was driven by several factors, but mostly by his need to protect himself and his family.

“We’re definitely looking at that. We are very concerned about our death rate and we believe that is directly related to individuals who are COVID positive presenting at our tertiary healthcare facilities at the advanced stages of COVID pneumonia.

“We know that once the body begins to have those low oxygen counts, we start to see areas where there is always the possibility that the lungs itself can now begin to be clogged with mucus plugs and fluid and the transference of oxygen normally could be compromised. “When you put persons on high flow oxygen, they do get some response, but one of the things we’re noticing is that individuals, particularly with this Delta variant, are at home and very ill but because they are stationary, they really don’t know how ill they are.

“They begin to (get) decompensated and have great difficulty breathing.

They call the emergency medical facilities and they present to the hospital with

MINISTER of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville.

‘WHY WE’RE GETTING OUR VACCINATONS’

“Well, my daughter get the full information, would tell me ‘oh, you need you understand for yourto get your shot’ and then self and then you decide the by my wife’s place, I had best thing to do,” she said. some co-workers saying ‘oh, “I wish my kids would get they done get their shot and it, but they haven’t decided who ain’t get their shot too yet.” bad’ and they was throwing Asked for her advice to jabs,” he said yesterday. people who may still har“So I decided and I was bour fears about taking the thinking about it (for a) vaccine, she said: “I think long time because I saw they should get it to be on the news (on) the safe how so many ‘I have two sisters side, because people (were) people been dying. At first, who died from losing two and I was saying COVID, one in three people that I didn’t August and the in the same know it was family so I that serious, next in September. think if you but then I It was rough get it, it would said, ‘oh this be all right.” and you know thing sounds Similar senserious’ and you never get timents were I said let me used to death.’ also shared take this.” by 18-year-old However, Kelsie Gibson, getting vaccinated did not who advised youngsters come without its fears. to not become overly con“I was thinking to myself cerned about the side that it might do more harm effects. than good, but then I said to “There are side effects, myself, I’m an athlete and but it’s not as bad as people plus I trust in the Lord so say it is so it’s a good idea to it can’t hurt me so I wasn’t keep you safe and also your even worrying about that,” family safe,” she said.

Mr Larrimore said.

“This is my second shot More than 640 people and I feel good. I feel prohave died from COVID-19 tected and you could catch to date, according to the it, but I know that I have Ministry of Health. the medicine in me to keep One woman, who asked me.” to remain anonymous, told Meanwhile, 13-year-old The Tribune at the vac- Tamarvin Edgecombe, who cination centre yesterday took his first shot yesterthat she lost two sisters to day, added: “I was hesitant the virus in the span of one and…I was kind of nervous month. and then after I take it, it was She said that neither was like ‘oh, that’s was nothing.’” vaccinated, adding that He also encouraged their unexpected deaths others to get vaccinated, motivated her to get the saying “just take it and try shot. to be safe”.

“I have two sisters who However, for some, the died from COVID, one in decision to get vaccinated August and the next in Sep- was not due to fears of contember,” the 64-year-old tracting the virus. woman said when asked One woman, who asked why she wanted to get for her name to be withvaccinated. held, gave this reason for “It was rough and you getting the shot: “Mainly, to know you never get used travel, but other jobs (are) to death and then I work in requesting fully vaccinated the area where I mix with a people so that was probably lot of people so I decided to a reason too.” get it.”

According to the govThe 64-year-old said like ernment’s latest vaccine many other Bahamians, she tracker, 127,567 people in too was at first hesitant to The Bahamas are fully vactake the jab. cinated against the virus “People had all kinds of while 132,240 people have things on Facebook and received at least one vacall kinds of fake news and cine dose, not including stuff, but then when you Johnson & Johnson.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 3

Davis: Climate change an existential threat to nation PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis stressed the impact climate change has on low-lying countries like The Bahamas while calling on international youth leaders to lobby for change.

He made the remarks while delivering a speech to One Young World ambassadors during a virtual conference. One Young World is an international forum for youth leaders.

“The UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, is coming up, as global leaders prepare to discuss measures to get all countries closer to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,” he said.

“As the leader of a small

island state, and a particularly low-lying one at that, climate change represents the greatest existential threat that The Bahamas has ever faced. That threat materialised two years ago, in the form of terrible Hurricane Dorian, which left a path of death and destruction in its wake.

“We also experienced major hurricanes in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Lives and livelihoods have been lost and our fear is that there is no end in sight. This trend will increase as long as global greenhouse gas emissions remain unchanged.

“So, when I speak of the threat of climate change, I am not talking about some far-off catastrophic event that will occur decades

from now; countries like mine are already experiencing those disasters today.”

Mr Davis said hurricanes are not the only threat that climate change poses. He noted that an estimated 15 percent percent of the country’s national GDP and 11 percent of Bahamian people are threatened by the accompanying rise in sea level.

“Our marine life and fisheries are also at risk, as climate change threatens the survival of critical marine habitats like coral reefs.

“We need big, radical changes to abate this trend and save countries like The Bahamas from a perilous fate. Every coastal region in the world has been, or will

be, severely impacted by climate change in some way.

“The world is running out of time if we wish to halt the worst effects of climate change. The summer of 2021 was the hottest on record. As hot as this summer has been, many predict that it may be the coolest summer we experience for the rest of our lives – if decisive action is not taken.

“Each year, as we miss global targets for emissions, we always recommit and promise to do better the following year. There seems to be a running assumption that there is always another chance to turn it all around.

Unfortunately, the day is fast approaching when we will be out of extra chances.

When it comes to climate change, indecision and procrastination are luxuries we cannot afford.

“The time for action is now.”

Mr Davis said change can come in the form of policies in the expected areas like the shipping industry, aviation, and deforestation adding that helpful reforms can also be found in unexpected places, such as food waste.

“Food waste accounts for an estimated 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions – that’s more than the airline industry. Yet, it is rarely discussed within the climate change discussion,” he said.

“We could make a considerable dent in emissions

just by eliminating the amount of waste produced at our dinner tables and in our local restaurants, farms, and factories.

“Of course, my objective is not to single out any single industry, but to point out the need for widespread, multi-sectoral reforms for us to have a real shot at halting and reversing the effects of climate change. We must explore every viable solution.

“I implore you to join me in spreading the word about the urgent need for global climate action, and I am extending a standing offer for One Young World to hold a Youth Ambassador Summit here in The Bahamas to further discuss this issue.”

FRUIT TREES PLANTED IN FOX HILL AHEAD OF CLIMATE CONFERENCE

ANN MARIE DAVIS, wife of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, alongside MPs Fred Mitchell, Basil McIntosh and Clay Sweeting at the Fox Hill Fruit Forest Tree planting ceremony organised by High Commissioner to The Bahamas Sarah Dickson, the Bahamas National Trust and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute.

Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

OFFICIALS from the government, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Bahamas National Trust and the British High Commission recently partnered to plant fruit trees in the community of Fox Hill.

The tree planting was part of an exercise to combat global warming, climate change and capturing more carbon emissions as per COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference.

Taking part in the tree planting ceremony on Friday were Eric Carey, executive director of the Bahamas National Trust; Dr Michele Singh, country representative for the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute; Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs; Basil McIntosh, state minister for the environment; Fred Mitchell, minister of foreign affairs and the public service; Ann Marie Davis, wife of the prime minister; Sarah Dickson, British high commissioner to The Bahamas; and Geof Andrews, chairman of the Bahamas National Trust.

MITCHELL DENIES INFIGHTING BUT SAYS SUPPORTERS MUST BE ‘STRAIGHT SOON’

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net

WHILE accusing the opposition of spreading lies on infighting in his party, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell said it is imperative for party supporters to “be straight soon”.

Mr Mitchell, also minister of foreign affairs and public service, is currently in Rome, Italy, for a CARICOM Foreign Ministers Conference. He blames rumours of the restlessness of party supporters wanting to be appointed in various roles on “Free National Movement trolls using voice notes”.

Last week, a PLP stalwart councilor spoke to The Tribune and expressed serious concern about the new government being slow to appoint boards and key governmental positions to party supporters.

The stalwart councilor also spoke about many FNM supporters remaining in high profile roles in the government who, in their opinion, should have been already removed.

At that time, in response to the stalwart councilor’s claims, Mr Mitchell said those positions will be settled “in as timely a manner as humanly possible”.

The stalwart councilor said supporters were giving the government one week to settle its affairs. That week has passed.

“If PLPs are not careful, we will allow the FNMs idiots spreading the latest stuff about infighting to gain traction by spreading nonsense around,” Mr Mitchell said. “I keep saying, please PLPs, first thing is this stuff is untrue.

Secondly, why would we spread false propaganda on

ourselves?

“Next year this time we will be in a different place under Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.

Everyone complaining will be straight before that, I believe. I believe that. We must believe it can be done and it is imperative for it to be done.

“Remember, the worst day in government is better than the best day in opposition. So let’s put our shoulders to the wheel, ignore the wingnuts and the FNM and their voice notes.

If they were so smart, they would have won the general election.”

The Tribune contacted FNM chairman Carl Culmer to get his reaction to Mr Mitchell’s accusations. He denied the claims saying his party does not use trolls to do its work.

“This party does not use trolls to do our business,” Mr Culmer said. “The chairman or someone from the PR will speak to issues and our names will be attached to what we say. I will not follow up Fred Mitchell on what he is saying.

“The problem I have with Mitchell, which I have said before, he is now a minister representing all Bahamians, not only PLPs. He needs to give up the role of chairman. Why is he afraid to give up that role?

“There are competent people within the PLP who can take on that role until they have a convention. It’s about time he starts speaking on behalf of the people of The Bahamas and not the PLP.” Still lashing the FNM, Mr Mitchell turned his attention to former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis accusing him of poor leadership and governance and recalling contents of a recent statement.

“So Hubert Minnis, the prime minister that was

unceremoniously dumped by the people of the country for his poor leadership and hapless governance has now accepted the inevitable,” he said.

“I happened upon Hubert Ingraham, the former prime minister, in the public square on Friday who said to the press at that

time, it was clear as day that the FNM would have a new leader come November 27, 2021.

“Within hours of that statement, the campaign of Dr Hubert Minnis, to stay on as leader, collapsed and he announced that he would not allow his name to be placed in nomination for

the leadership of the party.

It couldn’t have happened to a finer person and good riddance.”

Mr Mitchell advised PLP supporters to be strong against what he deemed “mischief and treachery”.

“Today I will not dance on Hubert Minnis’ grave, I want to appeal to PLPs to

stiffen their spines in the face of mischief and treachery afoot,” he said.

The PLP stalwart councilor refused to speak to The Tribune yesterday stating that they were “too vexed to speak to anyone”, but their voice will soon be heard at another level.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

MOORE: HOLD FNM CONVENTION FOR ALL OFFICERS from page one

Mr Moore, a member of the “Dissident Eight” that founded the FNM, added that the party’s constitution does not mandate leadership selection as a precursor to its general convention, which should not be held until February when all officers are also elected.

The FNM has announced it will convene a one-day convention on November 27 to deal with the issue of party leadership.

“My positions on it (are) quite different really,” the former ambassador and Cabinet

minister told The Tribune when he was contacted yesterday. “I told them that I was not taking part in that leadership — I don’t know what you want to call it — because the constitution of the party doesn’t provide for it.

“They said that the council made the decision that they need to choose a leader now and I don’t understand why. Nobody has been able to explain to me why when you have a convention coming in February.

“There is not much I can say about it because I don’t believe it ought to be done. I think the party should wait until February

at the general convention of the party and have all of its officers, including its leader, chosen at that time.”

Asked what he believed led to the decision to choose a new leader next month, Mr Moore said: “I just think that there are some emotional feelings because the party has lost in a big way. There are some people who just feel that action ought to be taken right now.

“In fact, when they called me about it I told them ‘no’ as far as I am concerned the party’s convention ought to be as it is set for February at which time all its officers, including its leader, ought

to be selected. That’s my position.

“I told them I’m not going to get into it because it’s counterproductive.

“Apart from it being expensive, it’s counterproductive and as far as I am concerned, I do not support it. Let me put it that way,” Mr Moore also said.

Mr Moore revealed that in recent months he battled with illness, adding he refuses to get invested into something he does not support.

“I have not been well so I have not been active as I should have been in the functioning of the party. I have a health problem and I am just now recovering

so I ain’t gonna get my emotions worked up over something that I do not believe should happen.”

Last week, former Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction Iram Lewis said he intends to run for leader of the opposition party.

St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright has also said he is considering running for a leadership role in the party, emphasising that such a role goes beyond leader and includes deputy leader or party chairman.

On Friday, FNM leader, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he will not nominate for

leadership of the party at the upcoming convention, nor will he allow his name to be placed in nomination.

The statement came amid speculation that although he told FNM executive committee and Central Council members last month that he will step aside as leader, he would still vie for the post if someone nominates him.

Following the announcement and during a church service Sunday, Dr Minnis wiped away tears while thanking his supporters and emphasising his commitment to the party.

He also asked forgiveness for any mistakes he might have made.

THIEVES RANSACK HUMANE SOCIETY from page one

BARRY RASSIN

RASSIN NAMED CHAIRMAN OF ROTARY FOUNDATION ROTARIAN Barry Rassin has been elected to become chairman of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for the year 2023-24.

Mr Rassin was elected on October 20 - and it follows his role as president of Rotary International in 2018-19. Rotary operates in some 200 countries.

The Rotary Foundation is one of the premier humanitarian organisations in the world and is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs.

It has had the top rating of four stars by Charity Navigator for many years.

Linkedin rates Rotary as one of the top ten volunteer organisations in the world.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement

of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

During the last Rotary year, the Rotary Foundation had donations of some $440m and provided more than 2,000 global grants for Rotary Members projects in countries around the world.

Rotary was one of 42 organisations that were invited to serve as consultants to the delegation to write the Charter for the United Nations in 1945.

Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status offered to a nongovernmental organisation by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council, which oversees many specialized UN agencies.

The Rotary Representative Network maintains and furthers its relationship with several UN bodies, programs, commissions, and agencies.

This network consists of Rotary International representatives to the United Nations and other organisations.

DAMAGE at the Bahamas Humane Society included kicked-in doors and a stolen security system.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

“(The) assistant shelter manager got the call around 10.30 quarter to 11 to come down to the shelter,” he said.

“The police were here.

They did their fingerprinting. They did their stuff. We have to just go and do our formal report. The police are aware.”

Asked if anyone had a description of the suspects, Mr Grant said: “Nobody and they stole the camera so we have no idea.”

He said the incident has left staff at the shelter distressed.

“Everybody is a bit down because it seems a bit, pretty violated…disappointing really because we deal with all levels of society and for something like this to happen it is really sad, but we know the issues out there. The social problems that we have in the country now and we’re hoping it gets better.”

BHS now needs help from the public for assistance.

“We’re trying to recoup and trying to get all of our stuff back in order,” Mr Grant said. “We are asking the general public to support us.”

He said BHS is hosting a raffle which costs $5 a ticket.

The first prize is $10,000 worth of groceries from SuperValue.

“Because of COVID,

we don’t have a station post but people can come here (at the shelter)… they can call and (we) can deliver, but we don’t have a stand where you can go and purchase (a raffle ticket).”

On its Facebook page, BHS stressed how this situation has compounded an already precarious situation.

“Our shelter is in huge financial distress and yet we continue to help our community,” BHS said.

“This has absolutely devastated us. We have more animals than ever and our operating costs are quickly approaching $2 million per year.

“The BHS continues to support Bahamian families with a pet food bank and a low cost clinic. We continue to work hard to keep pets with their families in these trying times.

“We pride ourselves on being a no kill shelter and we work so hard to save every animal that comes into our care.

“Our shelter is really struggling and this has broken our hearts. Times are so difficult and we are the oldest charity in The Bahamas and simply cannot afford this damage.”

Donations to the shelter can be made via PayPal or Venmo. Contact BHS at 242-323-5138 for more information.

Anyone with information on the break-in is asked to call police at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).

MAN ACCUSED OF INDECENT ASSAULT IN POLICE CELL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A PROSECUTOR has requested the maximum penalty for a man who masturbated in front

of a woman with whom he shared a cell at a local police station last week.

Ryan Bodie, 32, was yesterday charged with the indecent assault of a 25-year-old woman after he threatened to rape and give

her AIDS while the two were detained in a holding cell at the East Street South Police Station on October 21.

He pleaded guilty during his arraignment before Magistrate Kendra Kelly

and was remanded into custody for a psychiatric evaluation.

The court was told that Bodie was arrested and taken to the East Street station after he threatened to kill his father and caused $260 worth of damage to the man’s vehicle earlier that morning.

While there, he was placed in a cell with the female complainant who was detained hours before for an unrelated matter.

Prosecutor Vernon Pyfrom said the woman told police she was initially searched and placed in a holding cell by herself where she fell asleep. She said sometime later, she was awakened by the cell door opening and officers placing a man inside with her.

Sgt Pyfrom said the woman was lying on a cement bench in the cell when she observed Bodie, who was lying down on the floor in front of the cell door, take out his penis and begin to masturbate before falling asleep.

The court was told Bodie

later woke up, got up off the floor and sat down on the bench next to the woman, where he then took his genitals out and started to masturbate a second time while touching her hand.

Sgt Pyfrom said this time, the woman jumped up and ran to the cell door and shouted for officers, but no one came. He said while she was shouting, Bodie told her he would rape her and give her AIDS. The officer said the accused then fully exposed himself and began “swinging his penis back and forth”.

While the complainant continued screaming for assistance, Bodie threatened to gag her with his boxer briefs which appeared to have faeces on them, the court was told.

This prompted the woman to scream even louder and officers “eventually” came and removed Bodie from the cell. After the woman requested police action, he was interviewed and owned up to the offence.

Sgt Pyfrom said when Bodie was questioned, he

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said the officers placed him in a cell with a woman and he was “horny”. The court was told that Bodie admitted asking the woman if she “wanted d****” before poking her on her arm with one of his fingers. However, he denied threatening to rape the woman and insisted he did not have AIDS. Yesterday, the prosecution asked the magistrate to impose the maximum three-year prison sentence on Bodie as his actions were “heinous, mentally disturbing” and bound to cause “long lasting implications” for the complainant.

For his part, Bodie blamed the indecent assault on police officers, who he claimed were the ones at fault.

“It was the mistake of the police,” he said. “They put her in the cell with me and I jacked off in front of her.”

After the summary of the prosecution’s facts, Magistrate Kelly said she had taken note of Bodie’s “strange behaviour” and random outbursts during the hearing. She said the way he behaved in court and the actions he was described as committing suggested that he may not be mentally competent.

As a result, she remanded him into custody so he could be evaluated by professionals at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) before passing her sentence.

Bodie returns to court December 10 when Magistrate Kelly will deliver her ruling.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 5

Abaco housing process to open ‘soon’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

CHAIRMAN of the Disaster Reconstruction Authority John-Michael Clarke says officials are hoping to soon open the application process for the housing development in Central Pines, Abaco which is set to be completed before next month’s end.

The first phase of the project involves the construction of five houses, consisting of a mixture of three and two-bedroom units. This project is being funded by donors.

When asked for an update on the project yesterday, Mr Clarke explained that work is still underway to have the homes ready by next month.

Although he could not say when applications will be made available to the public, the DRA chairman noted that seniors and single mothers and other vulnerable victims will be top priority to receive the homes.

“At the appropriate time, the Office of the Prime Minister, under which NEMA and the DRA and the disaster management agencies fall, will ensure

that there is an appropriate application process so those projects that are still being managed through the DRA, none of those things have changed,” Mr Clarke said when contacted by this newspaper yesterday.

“We want to assure the people that nothing has been forgotten and in short order, they can expect that the application process will be available. The priorities that were originally outlined, those will remain the same so the elderly persons that had property and lost their homes, single mothers and they will be selected in a fair and transparent way.”

However, it is not clear when the next phase of the housing project will begin, with Mr Clarke telling The Tribune that some of the DRA’s initiatives are currently being reviewed by the new Davis administration.

Myles Laroda, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, who also has responsibility for disaster management, told reporters earlier this month that the government had planned to assess the work of the DRA. While in opposition, the Progressive Liberal Party had repeatedly castigated

the former government’s response to Hurricane Dorian, including its mass burial exercise for over 50 storm victims last year.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis recently told reporters he was awaiting a report on Dorian’s aftermath to determine if an inquiry is needed into the former government’s handling of the disaster.

Yesterday, Mr Clarke confirmed that an internal audit is being conducted in the agency and said the report’s findings should be completed by next month.

Asked to respond to criticism that the agency has not been transparent and productive, he replied: “All I want to say is I want everybody to remember this: This is our economy.

Every contribution to everyone is essential and even those that offer criticism that is helpful because oftentimes that helps us to stay aware of what the gaps in our reconstruction strategy is but along with the criticism, I hope that the contribution matches the criticism and that is equally as helpful.”

Still Mr Clarke insisted that the work of the DRA will continue while also pledging to fulfill all

INCREASE IN ABUSE OF ELDERLY IN GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Social Services in Grand Bahama is seeing an increase in abuse and mistreatment of elderly people, particularly those with disabilities.

Charlamae Fernander, head of the Department of Social Services for Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas, said that “it is happening way too often” in Bahamian society.

She is urging people who suspect abuse of an older person to call their abuse hotline at 727-2471 so the department can investigate.

The Department of Social Services recognises the month of October as Older Persons’ Month. The theme this year is “Digital Equity for All Ages.”

According to Ms Fernander, any individual aged 60 years and older is considered an older person or senior citizen.

Unfortunately, she noted seniors are being victimised in various ways, from persons mishandling their finances to mistreating them.

In The Bahamas, she noted there appears to be an increase in older persons who suffer from degenerative diseases, such as dementia or Alzheimers.

Ms Fernander said many people do not understand

the disease or how to deal with it. “They say that the senior citizen is being rude and uncooperative,…and so they get mistreated,” she said.

In some instances, seniors have been tied down and restrained, Ms Fernander reported. “We have reports of seniors being abused, and it happens way too often. It is not a new type of abuse, and it seems to be increasing. People don’t have the patience nor the understanding of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“They think that tying the person to the bed or tying them down to keep from wandering is appropriate. It is really some horrific thing, and we may wish to judge the persons who are doing these things, but very often people just don’t know what to do, and they are at their wit’s end.”

Ms Fernander said that the Department of Social Services can help people in caring for seniors or understanding such conditions.

“We would like seniors, and anybody else who is concerned, a concerned neighbour, that they can reach out to us 24 hours through our hotline here in the GB district at 727-2471.

“If you are suspicious of something happening, you don’t have to have proof.

It is our job to go and investigate to see what the situation is. You only have

to honestly believe something is not going well with a senior person.

“You call us on the hotline, and we will intervene and see how best the matter can be resolved so persons can get the assistance or relief they need. The hotline is not just for child abuse, it is for any kind of abuse, any kind of emergency assistance the individual or family member may require.”

Ms Fernander indicated that bringing the matter to the attention of the DSS does not always mean that someone will be arrested or punished. “It is better to allow us to intervene. It might not end the way you think. The whole point is to rescue the senior citizen from that type of treatment because there is a better way to deal with it. And if persons cannot do it, then we can make some other arrangements. But it does happen way too often.”

Ms Fernander said that the department would be able to provide statistics concerning abuse of seniors at the end of the year.

“By the end of the year we can provide good statistics. I don’t want to give any inaccurate numbers, but I know it is too much, it is more than it should be.”

Ms Fernander said the hotline is to report any type of abuse. She said men are also abused by women, but are less likely to report it.

commitments made to storm affected victims.

“As far as the resources are available, any commitment that has been made as it relates to the small home repair programme, the DRA is committed towards ensuring that those commitments are met,” he said.

“The DRA has not stopped anything. The staff is still in place. They’re going to work and they’re doing what they’ve been

mandated to do and you know until people have been told otherwise, the work of our reconstruction continues.

“There’s housing and infrastructure that has to take place. Those are two critical things. The infrastructure includes (things) like the seaport in Abaco, the airport in Grand Bahama. Those are key things that are essential to reconstruction

and rebuilding of the economy.”

Meanwhile, as it relates to the proposed Abaco community centre, Mr Clarke said work is still continuing.

Dorian hit Abaco on September 1, 2019 as a Category 5 hurricane before barreling toward Grand Bahama. The estimated cost of the storm’s impact on The Bahamas is said to be some $3.4 billion.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

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Dr Darville needs to take charge of COVID fight WHEN Dr Michael Darville rises to give his first speech as Health and Wellness Minister in the House of Assembly tomorrow, there will be a lot riding on his shoulders.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to beset the nation – and will do for some time yet to come, and it will be Dr Darville at the forefront of the fight against the virus.

In that light, his latest comments explaining why there has been an increase in deaths from the virus recently are far from comforting.

After taking office, Dr Darville has pointed the finger of blame fairly firmly at the administration of Dr Hubert Minnis for problems facing the country in the fight against COVID. First, it was a need for emergency funding, then he blamed a shortage of vaccines on the former administration, claiming someone forgot to order them, a claim he didn’t back up with evidence and which was rejected by Dr Minnis.

However, it was the way he said it that was curious. “I would like to also say this. I didn’t want to, but when I came to office we realised that the reason why we experienced the delay in the Pfizer from the COVAX facility was because the former administration, someone forgot to apply and as a result of that it pushed us in the back.”

I would like to say this, or I didn’t want to? Which was it, Dr Darville?

We are now nearing the end of October and the fight against COVID is firmly in the new government’s hands – and yesterday Dr Darville spoke again on the issue.

He suggested that one of the reasons for increased deaths at present is that people are leaving it too late to seek medical help. He said: “We are very concerned about our death rate and we believe that is directly related to individuals who are COVID positive presenting at our tertiary healthcare facilities at the advanced stages of COVID pneumonia.”

Dr Darville added that the patients “have great difficulty breathing. They call the emergency medical facilities and they present to the hospital with advanced stages of the disease and COVID is one of those slippery slopes. If you are one

of those individuals who are on that slope and the medical emergency team executes medical protocols to save you, there is going to be some individuals who are not going to make it, unfortunately.”

That sounds dangerously close to blaming the patients for not calling the doctor soon enough. Has Dr Darville moved on from blaming the FNM to blaming the dead? If not, he ought to be clearer. More to the point, why all of a sudden would patients be delaying a call to medical experts for help in recent weeks?

Even if that’s the case, it surely represents a failure of leadership to pass on information to the country about when people should be seeking assistance. Most people aren’t doctors – they need to be aware of what to watch out for, and when to pick up the phone to ask for help.

Dr Darville said: “We have to find a better way to interface the public medical community with those individuals.

We have a plan on how we intend to do that because early detection and early treatment is paramount in order for survival with COVID-19.”

A plan is all well and good but Dr Darville, you now have a platform in front of the whole nation. You might remember the regular briefings given in the early days of COVID. Why not avail yourself of that opportunity and stand up and tell the country what symptoms they should be looking out for as the trigger to call for help?

Free testing appears to be one of the cornerstones of the PLP plan, but that is so far only being rolled out in islands with smaller populations and where there are spikes in cases. That isn’t going to catch an early case in, say, Fox Hill or Golden Gates. So what is the plan for the rest of the country?

Does Dr Darville have any evidence that people are changing their behaviour in terms of when to call for help? If so, show us and make clear what people need to do if they fear they are infected with COVID. What we need is not a sense of apportioning blame, but information. Dr Darville is the man in the hot seat now.

It’s up to him.

We will watch with interest to see if he reveals his plan tomorrow. There’s no time to wait.

A sad farewell but welcomed EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT WAS a sight to witness up at the East Street Church of God this past Sunday of the vanquished former Prime Minister close to shedding tears during a service celebrating the 50th year since the formation of the Free National Movement.

No doubt he was singing his swan song of farewell from the front line leadership of that entity. He bust into office in 2017 with great acclamation and fanfare, but has been obliged to creep off centre stage like a dejected potcake.

It was not a pretty sight and garnered slight sympathies from the attendees.

Never before in the history of the now rump FNM opposition had a leader led it to such a massive and convincing defeat at the polls.

Minnis changed almost overnight after his elevation to Prime Minister. He quickly displayed traits of ‘a hard man’ and showed scant respect to all, especially the media and ordinary Bahamians. We appreciate that a leader has to do what he feels that he/she has to do.

But it’s the way how you do it. Politics is a people-driven phenomenon and as such emotions and feelings must always be factored in.

Minnis, for whatever reasons, seemed to be devoid of such and it manifested itself in the rejection of almost all of the 39 candidates vying for re-election or election for the celebrated FNM. After coming close to tears (was he about to cry because of the disaster of the results at the

polls or the realisation that the train which he launched at the Edmund Moxey Park several months ago never even left the station and thousands of supporters jumped off before it crashed and burned?) he uttered his mea culpa and asked for forgiveness!

This is the same man who bluntly told Bahamians to behave themselves or he would “deal with them” via ill considered curfews and lock downs. He with one hand tied behind his back decimated the economy and put in place draconian policies which added to the doom and gloom. Within short order he and his administration changed overnight.

Government was conducted in secret and behind closed doors. Information on the conduct of the people’s business was kept under wraps.

Heads of Agreement were entered into and never released into the public domain. Taxpayer’s funds were expended like cookies and candy without a single dose of accountability or transparency.

What is amazing is that the current Deputy Leader of the mauled FNM, Mr Peter Turnquest, who is embroiled in some sort of legal matter, has the gumption to be seen as advising the party and it’s potential leadership candidates to ‘fight fair’ and to maintain civility in the upcoming race! Does he have the moral authority to act as such when he was required to resign from the cabinet and denied or did not apply for what should

have been an automatic re-nomination?

And does the Minnis era come to a crashing finale.

Sad for a man who just a few short years ago sought to dismiss former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham and make light of his considerable contributions to nation building and the advancement of all Bahamians. Minnis on the other hand leaves no legacy behind. He is yesterday’s man. Who will take over the FNM? Will the new leader be a member of parliament or will it be someone who has no seat? There is precedent for this in that it occurred before when Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield was a seatless wonder.

Will this leave the door open for Dr Duane Sands to finally achieve his ambition of becoming leader of a now irrelevant political entity?

What about the Hon Shannedon Cartwright (FNM-St Barnabas)? He is clean cut; focused and talented. He is one of three New Providence based FNM members of the House of Assembly. The vast majority of constituencies are here in the capital.

It would seem to me, as a non FNM, that it would be better for that party to be led by an MP based here as opposed to one based in Freeport. I still suspect that Minnis will find a way to engineer an internal coup d’etat and be re-elected leader on the convention floor by acclamation. Every goodbye is not necessarily, a good bye.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, October 25, 2021.

The Minnis interregnum EDITOR, The Tribune FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ press release announcing his decision not to run for the leadership of the Free National Movement (FNM) at its upcoming November 27 National Convention wasn’t a coincidence to many observers.

It came shortly after former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told the media emphatically that Minnis will not be the FNM leader after convention, which was interpreted as the old guard washing its hands of Minnis. Even blind Stevie Wonder can see that the relationship between the two is strained.

I am left to wonder if Ingraham is salivating in the humiliating defeat the FNM suffered in the September 16 general election, which has left Minnis’ hold on the leadership vulnerable.

I say this because Ingraham, while he publicly endorsed Dr Duane Sands in Elizabeth, he did not do the same for Minnis in Killarney or at the national level.

When a photo of Ingraham, Perry Christie and Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis went viral on Facebook in the lead-up to September 16, certain Bahamians saw that as Ingraham’s tacit endorsement of his former law associate. All three are political proteges of the late Sir Lynden O Pindling.

Minnis, on the other hand, is viewed as an outsider who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to wrest control of the beleaguered FNM in 2012, subsequent to the retirement of Ingraham.

In the 2012 general election, the Ingraham-led FNM only won nine seats to the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) 29. In addition to Ingraham and Minnis, Neko Grant, Peter Turnquest, Hubert Chipman, Theo Neilly, Loretta Butler-Turner, Edison Key and Richard Lightbourn were the only FNMs that won their constituencies in 2012. FNM heavyweights such as Tommy Turnquest, Zhivargo Laing and Dion Foulkes all lost their individual contests. Any of the three, had they been

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net successful at the polls, would’ve automatically assumed the role of FNM leader. All three are political proteges of Ingraham. In fact, Ingraham had chosen Turnquest to succeed him as FNM leader in 2002.

I believe Ingraham’s abrupt decision to retire from frontline politics in 2012, which entailed him abdicating his North Abaco seat, paved the way for Minnis to assume the leadership role of the FNM. Ingraham’s win in 2012 in North Abaco was his eighth consecutive. His retirement would subsequently lead to a by-election in that area, between the PLP’s Renardo Curry and the FNM’s Greg Gomez, who was handpicked by Ingraham.

Gomez was marred in controversy, however. His candidacy, I believe, spelled the beginning of the end of Minnis’ relationship with Ingraham. Minnis’ ominous statement to the media after the by-election that the “Ingraham era is over” deeply offended many diehard Ingrahamites.

Obviously, North Abaconians were not at all impressed with Gomez, who only secured 1,513 votes to Curry’s 2,367 – a 854 margin of victory.

Conversely, Ingraham had only tallied 379 more votes or 2,235 to Curry’s 1,856. Clearly, the FNM under Ingraham was very unpopular in 2012 and needed a change. The problem facing the party then was that its assumed future leaders had all been wiped out in the election, leaving Minnis and Butler-Turner, who were the only two FNM MPs that had served in the Ingraham Cabinet.

I find it interesting that so many FNM Parliamentarians have had grave difficulty in getting along with the outgoing FNM leader. Individuals such as Neko Grant, Butler-Turner, Hubert Chipman, Richard Lightbourn, Frederick McAlpine, Reece Chipman, Vaughn Miller and even Dr Andre Rollins (assuming that he’s a bonafide FNM) have all had a falling-out with Minnis.

It would also appear that Minnis’ relationship with Peter Turnquest and Dr Duane Sands is strained.

Moreover, another issue that was so uncharacteristic of the FNM with Minnis was its anti-media posture.

It was the FNM under Ingraham that advanced journalism in The Bahamas, removing ZNS’s stranglehold on the industry. Also disturbing are media allegations of nepotism within the FNM administration – something that would’ve never been tolerated under Ingraham.

The Minnis administration was the most unFNM government I have ever seen. This was just one of the reasons I chose not to vote last month, something I had never done before.

Personally, I am glad that the PLP had won, if for no other reason than it has afforded the FNM an opportunity to press the reset button. The FNM under Minnis had deviated from the core values laid down by Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield.

Minnis has publicly repented for his political shortcomings at the FNM’s 50th anniversary service at the Church of God of Prophecy on East Street.

One of his shortcomings appears to have been his inability to get along with many within his Parliamentary caucus – an issue that eroded the FNM’s support among prominent members. Minnis’ rapid ascension as FNM leader and prime minister was unique, in that he became leader of The Bahamas a mere 10 years after entering frontline politics. It took Christie 30 years (if I am correct that he was appointed to the Senate in 1972) and Ingraham 15 years. Minnis has been FNM leader for nine years.

However, his tenure is beginning to feel like an interregnum. It feels as if the party has held onto him as leader on an interim basis that has spanned nearly a decade, and is now prepared to part ways with a man who led the party to an unusual election victory in 2017.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama October 25, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 7

‘Police force tribunals should not be secret’

from page one

The Disciplinary Tribunal, according to some reports, disciplined Constable Hall by docking him seven days pay. However, that is not listed in court documents or any public record.

Asked about the outcome of the tribunal hearing on Sunday, Commissioner Rolle said: “We don’t discuss our internal tribunal with the media. That’s why it’s called internal.”

However, Mr Munroe said he checked the police disciplinary regulations and could not find any provision that justifies secrecy.

Mr Munroe also said a video of a violent interaction between a police officer and a woman that went viral yesterday shows why transparency in disciplinary procedures is important.

In the five second clip video, a male police officer chokes a woman before demanding that someone bring him the phone of the person recording the encounter. “(The police disciplinary regulations) have

been around for a while, but there’s nothing that speaks to privacy, to secrecy of proceedings and arguably under the Freedom of Information Act, which is the most recent legislation, it would be discoverable anyway,” he said.

The FOIA, although passed, has not been fully enacted.

“My expectation would be that I couldn’t think of any reason other than if there were some national security reason for not providing the information under a Freedom of Information request at minimum and as a matter of policy generally. But that is a matter that I will discuss with the commissioner of police to try and understand what may be the reason for a policy of secrecy. I couldn’t think of a legitimate one other than if the information would have some national security interest issue.”

Regarding the video of a male officer choking a woman, Mr Munroe, careful not to prejudge the incident, said: “This is a part of why there is a need for there to be an open process even in the disciplinary hearing

so that the public can have confidence in the process.

Those persons involved in the incident have two options that aren’t exclusive, that can be used jointly.

They ought at the very least to make a complaint to Complaints and Corruption at headquarters and go with the evidence and I am advised that the commissioner may have already advised that that be done.

The deputy commissioner will be in charge of discipline and then if the persons feel sufficiently strongly about it they can also make a criminal complaint and my function as the minister would be to ensure that the system works.

“You don’t want to prejudge something. On the face of it, you see violence being used by a male against a female. What came before that, what came after that, I don’t know. There may be absolutely no explanation for it and if there is no explanation for it then the outcome should be clear.

What I can’t prejudge is what came before or after it and that is why it’s important for the person to go and make a complaint. We can’t proceed without an

actual complaint.”

Mr Munroe said one of his tasks as minister will be to reduce the government’s liability to damages as a result of alleged abuses by law enforcement officers.

“The prime minister in his remarks when I was sworn in remarked that my selection was due to the fact that I was a human rights lawyer and a formidable advocate in court,” he said.

“To me that speaks to that part of what would be my mandate from the prime minister in my appointment. It is a notorious fact that there are quite a number of judgements in the court against the government for the actions of members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“It would be a part of my task from the prime minister giving me this appointment to see what steps we would take to reduce that not only from the point of view of reducing liability of the state, but also indicating the rights of the citizen, because if you don’t offend the rights of the citizen then you can’t get a judgement against you, so it goes hand in hand.”

MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe.

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST GIVES EVIDENCE IN MURDER TRIAL

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

FORENSIC toxicologist Cyprian Collie yesterday testified that the drugs detected in the blood of a murder victim corresponded with medication that would be found in a person that has undergone resuscitation efforts.

Wayne Seymour was shot and killed on Adelaide Road in December 2015.

Prosecutors allege Lynette Charlton fatally shot him with a handgun, before fleeing the scene in his Chevy truck and leaving Mr Seymour in the road to die.

They further allege that the 48-year-old set Mr Seymour’s truck on fire and abandoned the vehicle some distance away on Unison Road at the time of the incident.

Charlton denied the allegations and has maintained her innocence during her trial before Justice Jeanine Weech-Gomez.

When Sergeant 2716 Collie, who is an expert in toxicology, took the stand yesterday, he said in March 2016 he received a container with samples and a tube of blood that both belonged to Mr Seymour. He said in December of that same year, Mr Seymour’s blood

sample was submitted to the Miami Dade examination department for a toxic analysis.

When he read the findings of that report yesterday, he said that it indicated that “no volatiles” were detected in Mr Seymour’s blood.

Sgt Collie said that volatiles referred to “substances that go into a gaseous form at room temperature”. He explained that an example of such a substance would be alcohol.

The officer also said the test detected another drug that is commonly found in over the counter medication for congestion as well

Funeral Service For Shirley Mae Williams, 83

a resident of Sunset Park, Carmichael Road, will be held at 10am on Thursday, October 28th, 2021 at St. Gregory’s Anglican Church, Carmichael Road. Officiating will be Cannon S. Sebastian Campbell. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Service will be streaming live via St. Gregory’s Anglican Church’s Facebook page.

Left to forever cherish wonderful memories are her children: Sharisse, Montez and Scott Williams; grandchild: Krishan Oliver; great-grandchildren: Cierra Rahming, Shakhari and Kishon Oliver; brothers and sisters: Franklyn Sears and Baldwin Darling Sr.; Betty Kemp, Agatha Bowe and Linda Miller; foster sisters: Rosemary Pintard-Bowe (Huel), Karen Gray, Effie Knowles and Naomi Rolle; Dr. Celestine Cooper-Williams; uncle and aunts: Alfred “Ike” Seymore, Edith Betts, Emma Jane Seymore, of USA; nephews and nieces: Netisha Smith, Lisa Kemp-Wilchcombe, Elvado Kemp, Carla and (Victor) Bethel, Donna and (Egan) Bethel, Baldwin Jr., Tiffany, Tiffany and Borelin Darling, Meka Newman-Cooper, Vernice Johnson, Deborah Jones, Crystal and (Philip) Forbes Sr., Dorisse Taylor, Latora Rodriquez, Labra Miller, William and (Neketha) Miller, Laconan Miller of Canada; Khia Fawkes, Alvia Penn, Aleage Penn, Mellessian and (Vhaul) Thompson, Kevin, Dion and (Claretta) Williams, and Marvin Williams; Carmen and Malinda Williams of USA; brothers and sister-in-law: Joseph “Whitney” Williams, Jr. of USA, Whitney Miller and Elsiemae Williams; godchildren: Kersch Darville, Desiree Fernander-Stuart, Coleridge Gooding, and a host of descendants of: Lloyd and Lillian Spence-Seymore of South Bay, Florida, USA, as well as many more relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Cedar Crest Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd, Robinson and Baillou Hill Roads on Wednesday, from 12noon to 5pm.

as fentanyl, which he said is administered to an individual who is experiencing a “great amount of pain”.

The court heard the analysis also revealed a “metabolite of THC” which is “commonly known as a metabolite of marijuana” in Mr Seymour’s system.

During cross-examination,

Sgt Collie said the THC metabolite was inactive because the “body broke it down into a form where it had no affect on the individual chronologically”.

He also said he could not say if the metabolite of THC that was found in Mr Seymour’s system was consumed for recreational or

medicinal use.

“All of the drugs were in the system at one time,” he said. “These drugs would be detected in someone who is about to go into surgery or (a person) who has received resuscitation efforts.”

The case continues Wednesday.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

A mother’s story OVER the weekend, a petition came to my phone entitled, “The Inhumane Treatment of Mothers at PMH Maternity Ward“.

The petition was launched on Change.org by Celeste Sweeting. She addresses her petition to the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville.

“We refuse to have any more of our precious moments turned into nightmares,” she contends.

“We refuse to be spoken to by staff as if we are not human. Bedside manners have been thrown out the window. We say no more!

They must return at once.

For far too long, women have endured the inhumane conditions at PMH. We have been silent, waiting for a change to come, but the time has come and we say, no more!”

Celeste complains about mothers having to bathe in unclean bathrooms without hot water after giving birth, among other things.

“As mothers, we refuse to hear the excuses as to why we are not allowed support during such an intense, yet momentous occasion,” she adds. “Mothers will no longer be in fear of giving birth. Horror stories will be a thing of the past! Nurses, midwives and doctors will be held accountable for their actions. Enough is enough!”

I just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy six weeks ago at Princess Margaret Hospital. This time, things were totally different than ever before because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No matter who you are or what you are admitted to PMH for, you will have to accept the fact that you will have no visitors, and you have to go at it alone. This is a measure implemented to protect the patients and the staff from coronavirus strains that are literally killing hundreds of Bahamians.

Now, PMH Maternity ward does have a reputation, and horror stories have come out of there. But it’s not everyone’s story. Some mothers have fairly good experiences.

A PROTEST held over conditions at the maternity unit on Saturday.

Face to Face

By FELICITY DARVILLE

Statistically, most women give birth to healthy babies there daily. However, most can agree that the journey would be a whole lot better if the hospital infrastructure was better, if more of the staff would operate with compassion, and if some of the antiquated protocols were updated. Slowly, changes are being made, but it may be too slow for people like Celeste and her petitioners, who are demanding that the Ministry of Health make changes now.

I am a mother of six – Elijah, Malia, Jesse, Emmanuel, Victory and Victorious. Elijah just turned 25 years old. Victorious is a newborn. So, I have experienced giving birth at PMH over a span of more than two decades. Three of these were natural births, and three were C-section deliveries. Natural births occur at PMH Maternity Ward. But when you have a scheduled C-section, you check in at PMH Postnatal Ward, and the experience is different.

When I had my natural births, one of the things I was able to do, was ask the

THE TRIBUNE

midwife to give me the baby to put directly on the breast, moments after the delivery.

Back then, I did this based on my own initiative. I am happy to hear that today, such a practice is commonplace, as long as the conditions are right, and mother and baby’s health are not at risk.

I believe this is, in part, to the efforts of the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA). This group, led by registered nurses and midwives, helped to lobby for PMH labour wards to be a “no bottle zone”. You will not be able to give a newborn a bottle there. If you are convinced that you must give your baby some formula, you must cup feed. In addition, the mother is at least taught how to breastfeed and get the baby to latch on to the breast.

As October is Breastfeeding Awareness month, I must give kudos to the BNBA for their tireless work to help make the Bahamas a breastfeeding-friendly nation.

For me, my experiences at PMH were generally pleasant. There were a few rough spots, and I agree that changes are necessary, but

Graveside Service For Frederick Ezekiel Major, 73 affectionately called “Freddie”

of Jamaica Ave., Elizabeth Estates and formerly of Cove, Cat Island will be held on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 at Zion Baptist Church, East and Shirley Streets at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. T.G. Morrison assisted by Apostle Barbara L. Rahming. at Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road

His loving and devoted wife: Minister Louise Major; children: Jacqueline (Wade) Higgs, Felicia (Magolda) Higgs, Deserat (Quethelar) Sineus, Frederick Jr. and Dario (Chevonya) Major; adopted daughter: Kimberly Munroe; sisters: Nellie Thompson, Chequita Major and Miranda Johnson; brothers: Wendell (Dianna) Ramsey, Wayne (Florette) Major, and Shawn Major; aunt: Stephanie Marshall; grandchildren: Rashard Major, Darnesia, Dario “Lil” Major, David Wilson Jr, Fredericka Major, Jalicia Wilson, Laquon Bain, Mason Higgs, Bry’Anna Clarke, Dajah Wilson, Danielle Higgs, Bradwin Clarke, Desernique Major, Terrell Neely, Quinn Major, Q’Mari; great grandchildren: Aj, Darinique, Kevin, Ethan, Laylay and A’Nari; in-laws: Delores (Bronley) Steward, Valderine Deveaux, Deborah Munroe, Francina Knowles, Robert (Michelle), Christina (Preston) Bain, Sheniqua (Brown), Theresa (Harrison) Hilton, Jennifer Kemp, Chris (Tanya) Munroe John Munroe and their family.

Ramsey family Descendants of Rozina Nairn, Merva Edith Smith, Johnathan Sears and Bill Ramsey, The Gaitor Family of The Cove Cat Island, Dorsett Family, Emma Randeas (Betty), Patricia Johnson, Dorothy V. Stubbs (Dolly), Mary Haynes, Rose Boles, Pulcheria Dorsette (Polly), Dr. Ruth Hanna, Micheal, Pastor Donald and Sherman Dorsette; numerous relatives & friends including; nieces, nephews & cousins: Apostle Barbara Rahming and The United Fellowship Outreach Ministries (UFOMI) family, Shawn & Evangelist Sherill Gordon & family, The Community of Harbour Island especially the Higgs Family, Major Family and the staff at Higgs Construction Company, Mother Hepburn, Joan Knowles & family, Nicholls Family, Arlington (Crab) Brown, Fannett Albury & family, Donnamae Munroe, Mr. & Mrs. Rolle and the Elizabeth Estate, Jamaica Avenue Community, T. A. Thompson School, Doris Johnson School Board, M/V Bahamas Daybreak III, Margret Thompson, Sheryl Fernander, Sandilands Hospital Staff, Doctor Paul Fox, staff of the former City Meat Market, Rev. Dr. Marie Neely and the North Eleuthera Methodist Church Region.

Viewing will be held in the “Serenity Suite” at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Road on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

baby moments after his birth. Your pleasant, cheery nature helped to quell fears before the surgery. You squeezed my hand when I needed encouragement, and you answered all my questions. When it was time for me to go home, you were there to see me off.

You were the last face I saw when I left and your smile wraps up exactly how I feel about my overall experience having given birth six times at PMH – a happy one – as I came out healthy with six healthy children.

Intern Dr Ethan Brown: never lose that sweet, caring nature. It will make you an exceptional doctor all your FELICITY Darville with her baby, Victorious. days. You took the time to I was fortunate to have had The beds are decades old. really know me as a patient. some good moments. That Plumbing is an issue just as You did not rush any part of may be, in part, to strong much as flooding. I saw a our interview. You did your prayers and positive think- video circulating a couple of examinations with care. You ing before I ever set foot in weeks ago, where the jani- put my heplock in expertly – the door. A part of it also tress on the ward had the a skill I did not appreciate has to do with the staff that nearly impossible task of until two days later when actually do care, and make mopping up loads of water an incident occurred and it an effort to take care of you that came in after a heavy had to be reinstated. It took well and help you to have a squall of rain. I remem- more than five attempts good experience. Retired bered her from my recent to get it in my vein, which Sister (head nurse) of the stay. I could imagine how was said to be very small.

Maternity Ward, Ampusam difficult it must have been You came to check up on Symonette, was one of a for her to clean up, and for me after the surgery. Your kind. I witnessed her take the mothers who need to go simple gesture, a hand on the time to visit every to the restroom, and avoid my shoulder and a word of mother under her care. I am “catching draft” as people encouragement, made all sure that she played a part in call it, from the cold floor. the difference. the progression of thinking In this way, I totally agree Dr Simone Sealy: you are and practices regarding the with Celeste as it pertains an outstanding physician. delivery of babies at PMH. to the desYour bedIn September, I walked perate need No matter who side manner into the door known as the for improved you are or what is superb. You “Maternity entrance” of infrastruchave a gentle PMH. I checked in to the ture… and you are admitted smile and a Post Natal Ward in order that really to PMH for, you calm nature to be admitted, with the goes across that could put will have to intention of having a baby the board at the most anxthe following day. The day the hospital. accept the fact ious patient at before, I was relieved to Even the staff that you will ease. Your soft have secured at least three have to find a spoken nature blood donors. Without them, way to fulfill have no visitors, and ease in I would have been unable to their duties and you have to explaining have the surgery. I shared my with limited go at it alone. medical probirthing experience when I resources and cesses can put had my daughter Victory poor working This is a measure the mind at implemented in 2019. Things were very conditions. ease. For some different this time around, It is impor- to protect the patients, their having given birth in the tant for me lack of undermidst of a pandemic. to note that patients and standing about It took two hours for the despite these the staff from what is hapnurses to have a bed pre- challenges, pening to them coronavirus pared for me. I didn’t mind PMH staff can affect the waiting, however. I under- should always strains that are success of their stood that they were short remember the literally killing procedure. staffed. So much of the oaths of their hundreds of Your ability resources have to go to the office and do to relay this scores of people battling their best to Bahamians. information COVID-19. While waiting serve patients effectively is on the bench outside the with the best of care. vital. Knowing that you are ward, I met one of the ladies Remember that patients a veteran in the field, you who attended Anne’s Town are already in a vulnerable give hope that young docAntenatal Clinic with me. position and deserve dignity tors like Ethan do not have She wasn’t feeling well at all. and respect. They deserve to be soiled by the chalShe wasn’t due to deliver for patience and compassion. lenges of the job. Interns another three weeks. But, It would bode the staff well would do well to model her pressure was high, and to remember that people’s themselves after you –- one she was very weak. When lives are in their hands. with a high work ethic and a the intake nurses came to For me, I had mostly won- steady course. You asked me evaluate her, her tempera- derful experiences with the how I was doing during that ture was extremely high. staff members who assisted surgery. You were gentle, She ended up being put into me as I delivered Victori- yet precise. I could not have isolation. I later found out ous to this realm. However, been in better hands. that she tested positive for to the nurse who put my Although I do not COVID-19. She delivered catheter in… you handled remember all who took the baby by C-section and me roughly. As I took a care of me, I want to say she and the baby were said few deep breaths to allow thank you to Dr Evans, to be fine. I was very happy you to do your job, you told another intern on the ward. to hear that she survived me that my “breathing was She takes pride in her work. that ordeal. distracting you.” To the Dr Walkine did well in Before I went to have the doctor initially responsible assisting Dr Sealy during baby, people were giving for my epidural… I think my surgery. Dr Kumar and me looks of horror and we would have both had a Dr Hanna, as well as Nurse making all sorts of com- better experience if you had Moss in the operating theaments about me going to introduced yourself to me tre… I thank you. Nurse PMH, where the “Covid at the start and prepared Curry was understandably patients are.” But I made a me for the process. When I upset because of the lack decision to block it out and had Victory, the doctor who of support in the theatre. think positive, while being did this gave me the confi- Only he and Nurse Meede cautious. I thought about dence I needed to follow were on duty to intake a it… women were going in the instructions well and number of patients. I was there every day and coming make his job easy. I believe cared for by Nurse Meede out with a healthy baby, and you to be a good doctor, but during my recovery, and she I would do the same. our frustrations in the oper- did a great job taking care One of the difficult things ating theatre could have of me. Due to the shortage was having to keep on a been avoided with better of staff, I spent four hours mask 24/7 for four days. communication. in recovery, until a porter The only time I removed There were many bright was available to come and my mask was to eat or spots on the journey and get me. I simply slept it drink. That was difficult some professionals who did off, and didn’t worry or get and I prayed my way right their job so well I have to upset about the hiccups that out of there. Another issue mention them: would naturally occur in a was the bathroom. It was Nurse Humes, Post hospital being stretched to unfathomable to me that Natal Ward: your work is its limits. from the time I had Victory more than a job; it’s a callAll in all, I came home to now, the plumber still has ing. You accompanied me with a healthy, beautiful, to be called nearly every to the operating theatre, bouncing baby boy… and day to clear the toilets. and you took care of the that is all I could ask for.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 9

Small island developing states should speak with one voice

HAVING written only last week about COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference which opens in Scotland in less than one week, I hesitate to return to the subject today for fear of repetition. But there has been a significant new development and it may also be worth reiterating the importance of the conference to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which include, of course, The Bahamas.

The BBC has reported it has seen leaked documents – via the UK non-governmental environmental body Greenpeace – showing that some countries have been seeking to alter a crucial scientific report on how to tackle climate change and global warming. The documents consist of thousands of submissions made by governments, companies and interested parties to the team of scientists compiling the latest report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is designed to bring together the best scientific evidence on the subject.

With pressure on countries at COP26 to commit to slashing their carbon emissions in order to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, the leaks show that the IPCC has been pressed to play down the importance of moving rapidly away from fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas – to create energy because the world does not need to reduce their use as quickly as the current draft of the report has suggested. These countries include, among others, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Australia and India. In response, the IPCC has declared its openness to all comments and that a reason for its strength and credibility as an organization is that it will take account of these if they are supported by the science.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil producer, and other OPEC countries have a major interest, as does Australia which, according to the leaks, rejects the need to close down coalfired power plants, even though ending the use of coal is one of the stated objectives of COP26. Likewise, India has warned that coal is likely to remain the mainstay of its energy production in the foreseeable

future. The leaks also refer to new technology designed to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it underground.

COP26 is supposed to be the event that saves the planet by promoting environment sustainability. But there is mounting concern that the conference could be derailed by the reported growing opposition to phasing out fossil fuels. Critics are also expressing doubts about the conference itself.

With the delegations becoming bloated and the notable absence of the leaders of China and Russia, there is a danger of showboating and a lack of meaningful commitments about reducing carbon emissions. But others discount this danger, saying that with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s flair for the big occasion he is more likely than not to deliver a successful event.

All this is important to SIDS because it is in their interests for the major polluters – the larger and wealthier industrialised countries – to reduce their carbon emissions as a matter of urgency since it is SIDS who, as a result of global warming, are extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and environmental disasters like hurricanes. Higher sea levels will be catastrophic for some islands and coastal regions and, even keeping warming to an increase of 1.5 degrees will have a heavy impact on low lying areas.

So SIDS, with a small carbon footprint themselves, should be at the forefront of COP26 since they are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and have a vested interest in limiting

it. There is also the issue of whether SIDS should be able to hold accountable those countries responsible for the highest emissions and insist on compensation for loss and damage caused by disasters precipitated by global warming.

Most significant in the short-term, however, is the COP26 goal of enabling and encouraging those countries most affected by climate change to protect and restore ecosystems, build resilient defences, protect agriculture and avoid the loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.

New infrastructure will be expensive, so at the conference there should be an emphasis on adaptation and capacity building together with financial assistance and debt relief for SIDS with limited resources.

According to reports, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) played an influential role in securing recognition of the unique needs of SIDS at the negotiations leading up to the Paris Agreement in 2015.

In this context, it is perhaps also worth mentioning the UK government’s report as the Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth for the period 2018 to 2020.

This described, inter alia, its support for the Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva and, specifically, the UK’S help to various SIDS in managing their marine economies in relation to climate change, global warming and rising ocean levels.

People are now asking how SIDS will be represented in Glasgow. In an article last week, my fellow columnist Alicia Wallace asked who will be attending COP26 for The Bahamas, what contribution they will be making and whether they will be joining the call for the polluters to be held accountable. From what I hear, people would like to know the answers to such questions since global warming is a critical issue facing the nation.

More generally, it is said that COP26 ought to be a defining moment for global climate action. Decisions taken by world leaders will have long-term effects worldwide – and this should include SIDS for whom one of the main issues is availability of funds for climate adaptation measures that could be vital for their survival.

A CONTROVERSY that has been bubbling away during months of division between Poland and the European Union in connection with judicial reforms, LGBT rights and media freedom has reached a critical point.

Poland is under fire from the EU after its Constitutional Tribunal ruled recently that some parts of the EU Treaties and elements of EU law were incompatible with the Polish constitution.

It has declared that the EU Treaties are subordinate to the constitution and that European regulations in force in the country must comply with it. This has, of course, put Poland at loggerheads with the EU since it challenges the key tenet of European integration which is the supremacy of EU law throughout the 27-member bloc.

The European Commission in Brussels has said the ruling in Warsaw raises serious concerns about the primacy of EU law and could jeopardise Poland’s future as an EU member state, though there appears

to be no sign of the nation wishing to withdraw from the bloc.

The EC has added that it is committed to the uniform application and integrity of EU law. Its President, Ursula von der Leyen, has described any suggestion that Poland’s constitution should take precedence over this as a direct challenge to the unity of Europe and, therefore, unacceptable.

Until this clash is resolved, Poland is unlikely to receive any grants under the EU’s recovery plan after the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the country’s Prime Minister has said that, by threatening to withhold such financial assistance in response to the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal, the EU is overstepping its authority and his nation “will not be cowed by threats of financial penalties which are tantamount to blackmail.”

It will be interesting to see how this dispute develops. It looks to be another major test for the EU after the last few years of managing a messy divorce from

the UK. The issue goes to the very heart of the EU project and its aim of ever closer union to become a European federal superstate, with such a union written into the EU Treaties and European Court of Justice case law.

People tend to think about the EU in terms of the economic advantage of belonging to a single market and a customs union so that trade is protected and is tariff-free.

But what was, I believe, a significant factor in Britain’s 2016 referendum and eventual withdrawal from the EU was the bloc’s creation – from the beginning – of a new legal order within the jurisdiction of its signatories that gave it primacy over their domestic statutes. In my view, apart from pressure to control and limit immigration, a major reason for Brexit was that by joining the EU in 1973 Britain partially lost control over its own laws since directives from Brussels became part of its domestic law – and that this was no longer acceptable.

The Peter Young column

WHERE DOES THE POWER LIE IN EUROPE?

A LONE climate demonstrator holds a banner outside parliament in London yesterday.

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

BARBADOS WILL STAY CLOSE TO BRITAIN WITHIN COMMONWEALTH DESPITE the UK media hype about The Queen being surprised and shocked at last week’s announcement by Barbados about becoming a republic, the reality is somewhat different.

The Queen has been the head of state of Barbados as a realm since its independence in 1966. But the latest announcement has hardly come out of the blue since a Constitutional Review Commission in 1998 recommended republican status for the country.

This was followed in 2005

by Barbados making the Caribbean Court of Justice its final appellate court rather than the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. People also forget that the Governor General of this former British colony formally announced in her speech from the throne in September last year its intention to make the transition from being a realm to a republic by November, 2021, which is the 55th anniversary of the island state’s independence.

In reaction to the news, Buckingham Palace has made it clear that this is a

matter for the government and people of Barbados and last year the British government commented officially that “we have an enduring partnership and will continue to work with them along with all our valued Caribbean partners”.

That surely remains the case since it is important to respect the wishes of the Barbadian people.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has stated that the “time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind”, adding that the public now wants a Barbadian head of state as an “ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving”. She called it a “seminal moment”, but she was quick to reassure people that this was not a condemnation of the country’s British past.

For the record, Guyana took the same step in 1970 less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978; and all three stayed as members of the Commonwealth.

The most recent country

to remove The Queen as head of state was Mauritius in 1992.

It might be worth noting that, apart from Britain itself and The Bahamas, the now existing 15 realms are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu – as well as, in our part of the world, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Becoming a republic is considered a significant move for Barbados, but changing its constitutional status in this way ought not to make a great deal of practical difference since realms are already wholly independent sovereign states and there is no involvement or interference by Britain in their affairs. So all will surely be confident that the commitment of both Barbados and Britain to work together constructively on a range of issues will continue for their mutual benefit – both bilaterally and as fellow members of the Commonwealth.

A Celebration of Life For

Dwight Valentino Deveaux, 55 a resident of St. Vincent Road will be held on Thursday, 28th October, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spikenard Roads. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Charles E. Rolle J.P. assisted by other ministers of the gospel.

Precious memories will forever be cherished by his mother: Patricia Deveaux; children: Dashinka and Dwight Jr. Deveaux; brothers: Dino (Kim), Dwayne, Daron (Ismae) and Pedro Deveaux; sister: Deidre (Stephen) Miller, Darnette, Dornika and Daci-Vawn Deveaux, Dayvette Bain and Dorinda (Mark) Moss; uncles: John Rolle, H. L. (Sharon), Dwight, Greg and Trevor Rolle; aunts: Barbara Brown and Mrs. Diana Black-Brooks; nephews: Dencil (Portia), Ashley (Monique) of London, Davard (Janay), Khrystoph, Dwayne Jr., Davante and Caii Deveaux, Giovanni (Juliette), Turnbull, Kyle Hanna, Sterling Bain, Travis, Leo and James Miller, Andrew Bethel, Truman Thompson. Demarcko and Dezario Moss; nieces: Tina, Khrystin, Khrystal and Tori Deveaux, Rhyeissa Stuart, Janay Bain, Gabrielle Miller and Markaria Moss; grand-nephews: Anthony Carroll Jr., Omar and Owen Turnbull, Rylando Dill, Magel Hanna Jr. Auryn Deveaux and Jamal Farrington Jr.; grand-nieces: Kamari Moss and Ember Deveaux; cousins: Trevor Rolle of Gainesville, Fla., Amanda (Robert Sr.) Leverette of Tampa, Fla., Kijana Rolle, Thomas Rolle Jr., Eleanor (Robert) McCoy & Family, Onan, Christopher, Greg B., Donald F. and Marvin Rolle, Kim (Estelle) Smith Kirk Smith & Family, Kendal Smith & Family, Kaynett Pinder, Kayshell Burrows, Kevin Thompson, Dennis (Mabel), Richardson Cedric, David and Levi Brown, Terrance and Barry Armbrister and Glemis (Ray) Fernander; other relatives: Rev. Charles E. & Laverne Rolle & Family, Rev. John S. & Betty Rolle & Family, Ivan & Eugeneel Bowe & Family, Godfrey & Shelly & Rolle & Family, Etoy Bethel & Family of George Town, Exuma, Rev. Arnold & Vernita Josey & Family, Maybelline Hemmings & Family, Evangeline Fowler & Family, Alice Rolle & Family, Rev. Patrick & Sheila Brown & Family Marita Cartwright-Brown & Family Beverly Deveaux & Family, Brenda Martin & Family and Breezetha Nixon & Family; other friends and acquaintances: Mrs. Bridgette Gibson, Asrido Henfield & Family, Dorothy Hamilton & Family, Georgina Gibbons, Evelyn Moss & Family, Kirk Thompson & Family, Pastor Christine Richards & Family, Nicole Ross & Family, Jean, Mt. Nebo Church Family, Deliverance Tabernacle Church Family, Bahamas Faith Ministries Church Family, Staff at Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation, Water & Sewerage Corporation, Department of Inland Revenue and the staff at Sunshine Group of Companies and a host of other relatives and friends.

Family and Friends can pay their last respects at St. Ambrose Funeral, #34 Arundel Street on Wednesday, 27th October, 2021 from 10:00 am until 6:00 p.m. and on Thursday, 28th October, 2021 at the Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spikenard Roads from 9:00 a.m. until Service time May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace

PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

CHINA TO START VACCINATING CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE AS CASES RISE TAIPEI, Taiwan Associated Press

CHILDREN as young as three will start receiving COVID-19 vaccines in China, where 76 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated and authorities are maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward outbreaks.

China becomes one of the very few countries in the world to start vaccinating children that young against the virus. Cuba, for one, has begun a vaccine drive for children as young as two. The US and many European countries allow COVID-19 shots down

to age 12, though the US is moving quickly toward opening vaccinations to five- to 11-year-olds.

Local city and provincial level governments in at least five Chinese provinces issued notices in recent days announcing that children ages three to 11 will be required to get their vaccinations.

The expansion of the vaccination campaign comes as parts of China take new clampdown measures to try to stamp out small outbreaks. Gansu, a northwestern province heavily dependent on tourism, closed all tourist sites Monday after

finding new COVID-19 cases. Residents in parts of Inner Mongolia have been ordered to stay indoors because of an outbreak there.

The National Health Commission reported that 35 new cases of local transmission had been detected over the past 24 hours, four of them in Gansu. An additional 19 cases were found in the Inner Mongolia region, with others scattered around the country.

China has employed lockdowns, quarantines and compulsory testing for the virus throughout the pandemic and has largely stamped out cases of local

infection while fully vaccinating 1.07 billion people out of a population of 1.4 billion.

In particular, the government is concerned about the spread of the more contagious delta variant by travelers and about having a largely vaccinated public ahead of the Beijing Olympics in February. Overseas spectators already have been banned from the Winter Games, and participants will have to stay in a bubble separating them from people outside.

China’s most widely used vaccines, from Sinopharm and Sinovac, have shown efficacy in preventing

severe disease and transmission of the virus, based on public data. But the protection they offer against the delta variant has not been answered definitively, although officials say they remain protective.

Hubei, Fujian and Hainan provinces all issued provincial level notices alerting new vaccination requirements, while individual cities in Zhejiang province and Hunan province have also issued similar announcements.

China in June had approved two vaccines — Sinopharm’s from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products and Sinovac

THOUSANDS of pro-democracy protesters take to the streets to condemn a takeover by military officials in Khartoum, Sudan, yesterday.

— for children ages three to 17, but it has only been vaccinating those 12 and older. In August, regulators approved another, Sinopharm’s from the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products.

After the vaccines received domestic approval for children in China, foreign governments began giving the shots to children in their own countries.

Cambodia uses both Sinovac and Sinopharm’s shots in children six to 11. Regulators in Chile approved Sinovac for children as young as six. In Argentina, regulators approved the Sinopharm vaccine for children as young as age three.

Photo: Ashraf Idris/AP

Sudan’s military takes power and arrests PM CAIRO Associated Press SUDAN’S military seized power yesterday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the country’s shaky progress toward democracy.

Security forces opened fire on some of them, and three protesters were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded.

The takeover, which drew condemnation from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians.

After the early morning arrests of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials, thousands demonstrated in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman. They blocked streets and set fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them.

As plumes of smoke rose, protesters could be heard chanting, “The people are stronger, stronger!” and “Retreat is not an option!”

Social media video showed crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital. The U.S. Embassy warned that troops were blocking parts of the city and urged the military “to immediately cease violence.”

Pro-democracy activist Dura Gambo said paramilitary forces chased protesters through some Khartoum neighborhoods.

Records from a Khartoum hospital obtained

by The Associated Press showed some people admitted with gunshot wounds.

SUDAN’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok pictured in 2019.

The head of the mili- Ministry, still loyal to dissolved governtary, General Abdel-Fattah the Burhan, announced on ment, called his speech an national TV that he was “announcement of a seizure dissolving the government of power by military coup”.

As darkness fell in Kharand the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian toum, barricades were still body created soon after al- burning and occasional Bashir’s ouster to run the gunshots could be heard, said Volker Perthes, the UN country.

Burhan said quarrels special envoy for Sudan, at among political factions a briefing in New York.

President Joe Biden was prompted the military intervention. Tensions have briefed on Sudan in the been rising for weeks over morning, said White House the course and the pace of spokesperson Karine Jeanthe transition to democracy Pierre. She added that the in Sudan, a nation in Africa US was “deeply alarmed at linked by language and cul- reports of a military takeover” and called for the ture to the Arab world.

The general declared a immediate release of the state of emergency and said prime minister and other the military will appoint a officials.

“The actions today are in technocratic government to lead the country to elec- stark opposition to the will tions, set for July 2023. But of the Sudanese people and he made clear the military their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice,” Jeanwill remain in charge.

“The Armed Forces will Pierre said.

The Biden administracontinue completing the democratic transition until tion is suspending $700m the handover of the coun- in emergency economic try’s leadership to a civilian, aid to Sudan that had been elected government,” he allocated to help the transisaid. He added that the tion, said State Department constitution would be spokesman Ned Price. He rewritten and a legislative called it a “pause”, and body would be formed with urged the civilian-led govthe participation of “young ernment be immediately men and women who made restored.

UN Secretary-Genthis revolution.”

The Information eral Antonio Guterres

“strongly condemns the ongoing military coup d’état in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardise Sudan’s political transition and stability”, said his spokesman, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

Guterres also called for the release of the government officials, the spokesman said, as did the African Union. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the “utmost concern”.

Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Sudan could slip backward, urging the military to free the officials, withdraw from the streets and settle differences with the transitional government through dialogue.

Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has tried to rid itself of the international pariah status it held under the autocrat.

The country was removed from the US list of state supporters of terrorism in 2020, opening the way for badly needed foreign loans and investment.

But Sudan has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called

for by international lending institutions.

In recent weeks, there have been concerns the military might be planning a takeover, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have staged demonstrations.

Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdok’s transitional government — and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently the military would only relinquish power to an elected government, an indication the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November.

The council is the ultimate decision-maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudan’s day-to-day affairs.

As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan.

The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The official said the prime minister and the others were being detained in a military camp outside Khartoum.

Perthes said he and Feltman, in parallel meetings with political and military leaders in recent weeks, had tried to urge a return to dialogue and against a coup, which he said would “squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition”.

State Department

spokesman Price said Feltman warned Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences.

The military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the country’s main Red Sea port for weeks. The two most senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested. Internet access was widely disrupted and the state news channel played traditional patriotic music.

Hamdok’s office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a “complete coup”. It said his wife was also arrested.

Sudan has suffered other coups since gaining its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the country’s last elected government.

Among those detained were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.

After news of the arrests spread, the main prodemocracy group and two political parties appealed to the people to take to the streets. The Communist Party urged workers to protest what it described as a “full military coup” orchestrated by Burhan.

PAGE 11

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021

A new day for Miss Bahamas Teen with a new director

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER snagging the Miss Congeniality award at Ms Supranational in Poland this August - which also happened to be the culmination of her 10-year journey - it seemed liked Nyisha Tilus had reached the pinnacle of her pageant career. That was until she recently, when she was named as the new director of the Miss Bahamas Teen Organisation.

Ms Tilus will step into this new role of the youth development-focused organisation in December.

The baton is being handed to her from the current director, Anishka Lockhart, who has functioned in dual roles as president and director since 2012.

Ms Lockhart believes now is the perfect time to pass the mantle on to someone she thinks will wear it comfortably, while also exhibiting a passion for the development programme.

“I have been following Nyisha’s pageant journey for some time.

With long her long pageant experience, having been crowned Miss

University of the Bahamas and now Miss Bahamas Supranational, I just saw her drive and passion. I was looking for someone who had the passion about development.

This organisation is not not solely focused on the pageant, it is about youth development and giving the participants soft and hard skills they can use,” said Ms Lockhart.

She said she is also looking forward to helping Ms Tilus ease into her new role.

“I am here to hold her hand along along the way. She doesn’t want to reinvent the wheel because the pageant already has a strong foundation. But we are all looking forward to see what she does and the new ideas she will bring,” said Ms Lockhart.

“Our goal is to achieve our mission by bringing out the best in our youth through training, education and pageantry. To promote the nation’s finest teenagers through our annual national pageant program in the Bahamas.

This programme will consist of months of intensive training, grooming, coaching and preparation that will conclude with the coronation of a youth ambassador who will represent our country at

RETIRED beauty queen Nyisha Tilus is the new director of Miss Bahamas Teen

the international pageant and at local promotional events.”

In addition to her pageant titles, Ms Tilus also holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology, and is an

experienced event and production coordinator. Her passion for the pageant industry and youth development are just a few of the requirements the organization was seeking. She has been on board with the pageant as a member almost a year now.

“I was not expecting to be selected as the new director. I recently came back from Poland representing the Bahamas. I was thinking what was next for me as it relates to pageantry. Technically, I am retired from pageantry after being involved for the past 10 years and now holding this title,” said Ms Tilus.

Now, she said, this director role has breathed new life into her pageant career, albeit in a different fashion.

There is a great deal Ms Tilus said she wants to share with those who are part of the programme.

“I have developed so much experience over the years that I want to impart and share with those girls. I hope to build on the foundation that is already there,” she said.

For more information, visit www.missbahamasteen.org.

Bahamian mothers weigh in on controversial teen pregnancy topic

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

Learning that your underage teenager daughter is pregnant can be a big blow to parents, and the initial reaction may be to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.

In her upcoming memoir, “Things I Should Have Said”, former “Zoey 101” star and sister to Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears says that her parents originally pressured her to have an abortion when she became pregnant at age 16.

“They came to my room trying to convince me that having a baby at this point in my life was a terrible idea. “‘It will kill your career.

You are just too young. You don’t know what you’re doing.

There are pills you can take.

We can help you take care of this problem … I know a doctor,’” she claims they told her, adding, “everyone around me just wanted to make this ‘issue’ disappear…everyone was certain that termination

would be the best course of action.”

While abortion can bring up a myriad of legal and moral issues, Tribune Woman readers said this measure of terminating a pregnancy would be a consideration if they had a teenage daughter come to them with a similar situation.

“I would be devastated if my daughter wound up in that position. Let’s be real, the boy in the picture never has the burden that the mother has. They can walk away at any time. But her life would be changed forever. I am not saying for sure I would want her to terminate, but I can see why a parent would be like, ‘I want to end this problem’,” Tamia said.

“People can pretend that abortion doesn’t happen, but it’s is a real thing, even here in the Bahamas.

Gail, however, said she would always welcome a grandchild, no matter the circumstances, and would help as best she could.

“I think everyone...a parent of a pregnant teen...may feel that an abortion is the best thing, but trust me, children are a blessing. Those same

children you thought would be a burden or the ones you deep down know you may have not have been wanted, are usually the ones who are closest to you (when they grow up). So, if my daughter came to me and said, ‘Mommy, I’m pregnant’, we would figure it out in a way that she could still get her education and have some of her dreams fulfilled,” said Gail.

Lydia, on the other hand, is adamant that she would find a way to get her daughter a pregnancy termination.

“Look, I see an underage pregnancy as a mistake, but I don’t feel that it is the kind of mistake that you have to pay for the rest of your life. I don’t think at 16 my daughter can handle the responsibility of that. Now that may not be all girls, but I know that for us it would be the best option,” she said.

Bettina said that she would support her daughter in whatever decision she went with.

“It’s a big decision either way and it’s her body, and she would have to live with the choice for the rest of her life.

I don’t think anyone should pressure her one way or the other,” she said.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Self-made millionaire reaches out to help single mothers with food and housing in Grand Bahama Freeport, Grand Bahama - Single mothers facing homelessness were moved to tears when philanthropist, woman’s advocate and best-selling author Yassin Hall tore up their eviction notices as she announced she would provide them with assistance in securing new housing.

Ms Hall, who is originally from the US Virgin Islands but now based in Atlanta, Georgia, met the women through the Mother’s Pantry programme during her vacation in the Bahamas this summer. The programme was started by Ginger Moxey, who has since been elected Member of Parliament for the Pineridge constituency and Cabinet Minister for Grand Bahama. Both women had collaborated with Bahamian Atlanta-based publicist Arthia Nixon, who connected them upon learning of Ms Hall’s desire to help women while visiting Grand Bahama.

Ms Hall had already donated thousands of dollars to the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts. She was moved to tears upon hearing first-hand accounts of women who were traumatised by seeing their children being swept away by the deadly storm.

“In spite of her being a selfmade millionaire, Yassin has a desire to help women, whether it’s chatting with a stranger on a street, quietly donating to mothers whose children were victims of violence or even those who are suffering from mental illnesses,”

TEARS of joy and gratitude as a mother in need receives assistance

PHILANTHROPIST, woman’s advocate and best-selling author Yassin Hall with the new Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey

Bahamian scholar awarded Clark Art Institute’s Caribbean Research Fellowship University of the Bahamas Assistant Professor of Design and the Head of Visual Arts and Design Department Keisha Oliver has been named a Fall 2021 Fellow of the Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts.

Ms Oliver is the first recipient of the Clark’s Caribbean Art and its Diasporas Fellowship which supports art historians, artists, critics, and writers who are engaging with the complexity of critical Caribbean scholarship, art, and visual practices.

Focusing on themes of representation and cultural conservation, her current interests as an independent curator and researcher examine historical and contemporary practices within Bahamian art and visual culture.

Chartered in 1950, the Clark is one of the few institutions in the United States that combines a public art museum and a leading international centre for research supported by a distinguished art history library. Its research and academic programme support

scholarship in visual culture, art history, and interdisciplinary inquiry.

Clark fellowships are awarded to established and promising

scholars with the aim of fostering a critical commitment to the theory, history, and interpretation of art. During her time at the Clark, Ms Oliver will pursue an archival project which maps the origins of Bahamian art in the 19501960s. This is noted as a critical period marking the emergence of formal art education in the country established by prominent figures like Horace K Wright, Don Russell and David Rawnsley who trained the first gen-

said Ms Nixon. “So when she said she was going to my home country and she wanted to help in person, after already helping with the hurricane, I knew Ginger was the perfect person to connect her with.”

Prior to the September 16 election, Minister Moxey operated the 700 Partners non-profit organisation. During and immediately after Hurricane Dorian, she drove into communities to assist people who were stranded and to provide families in need with supplies.

“I’m originally from the US Virgin Islands, so I know what it is like to go through devastating hurricanes as well,” said Ms Hall. “I also have a special place in my heart for single mothers, for women who have gone through mental health issues, and women who are victims of domestic violence as I have survived each of those circumstances.”

Ms Hall, whose autobiographies chronicle her childhood - including stories of how her bipolar, schizophrenic mother tried to kill her - said she as she walked through the area with Minister Moxey, she saw that there were needs that went beyond a few boxes of groceries.

“Yassin was ready to go into on the ground with me and reiterated that she didn’t want to do a courtesy call or just have a chat but wanted to see and hear directly from these women what they needed,” said Minister Moxey. “These women often

feel forgotten and it’s not every day that strangers want to come into the community to help. She uplifted, inspired and empowered them, while giving them a hand up. Ms Hall has planted seeds that go further than we can imagine.”

One of the women, Shanera (surname withheld), was grateful when Minister Moxey and Hall showed up at her doorstep as she was preparing to vacate her apartment. When Ms Hall ripped up her eviction notice and promised to take care of the payment to help her secure another place for her children, everyone was moved to tears.

“I didn’t plan to do it, but I had to do it in honour of my late mother Vernice Simmonds, and also my grandmother, who is still alive and reminding me of her legacy of giving,” explained Ms Hall.

“The proceeds from my book sales and my foundation, Journey Untold, will take care of her and the other four women we met through Minister Moxey and her amazing team. I’ve committed to helping through to December 2021. I had no idea the extent of the dire need for the women in Freeport, Bahamas. It was definitely an eye-opener, but more work needs to be done. I feel like I haven’t done enough. I really wish I could help so many more.”

For more information, visit www.yassinhall.com.

eration of pre-independence artists.

“In the Bahamas art history is dwarfed by contemporary practices while cultural conservation becomes a vanishing necessity.

It’s lost to a generation of postindependence historians and academics who realised the importance of preserving historical records in the country’s path toward decolonialism. As support, funding, and scholarship trends shifted in the past 50 years, very few scholars in this field remain. My research focuses on the unearthing of marginalised historical perspectives that will contribute to a more inclusive and diverse archival record of Bahamian art, one that gives visibility to those who appear as footnotes in our history,” said Ms Oliver.

Her project

will make a significant contribution to Caribbean art history studies as she highlights the urgency of digital archival practices. Her research examines the intersection of design thinking, pedagogy, and decolonialised theory in addressing a shift in the framing of historical narratives that challenge dominant representations and stigmas of outsider cultures. As part of the Clark’s Fall 2021 fellowship programme, Ms Oliver will be completing her research alongside five visiting scholars: Roberto Conduru of Southern Methodist University, Edward Payne of Aarhus University, Irene V Small of Princeton University, Cynthia Hahn of Hunter College and independent art historian and curator Cecilia Faja-Hill.

“This is a rare opportunity for me to work with established academics from across a range of art history disciplines. Also, I’m inspired by the possibilities of regional collaborative opportunities and the chance to expand the dialogue in Bahamian art and visual culture,” said Oliver. While at the Clark, Ms Oliver also gave a public lecture, “Almost Forgotten: Marginalised Histories in Bahamian Art (1950 - 1960s)” on October 19 at the Manton Research Centre followed by a seminar on October 20.

KEISHA Oliver

Trisha Yearwood on making jerky, bacon straws and wontons

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Trisha Yearwood is a collard greens kind of gal, but her husband, Garth Brooks, is definitely not a collard greens kind of guy. So she had to be a little sly when it came time to perfect her Collard-Stuffed Wontons.

When the country star and her collaborator and sister, Beth, made them the first time at her Nashville home, they didn’t tell Brooks and his buddy what was in them when the two men came into the kitchen after working on their farm.

“I said, ‘You try this.’ Didn’t tell them what it was. And they ate them all. They were like, ‘These are amazing!’” Yearwood recalls.

“And then I told him he ate his collard greens for the day.”

The quirky South-meets-Asia wontons are a feature of Yearwood’s fourth cookbook, “Trisha’s Kitchen: Easy Comfort Food for Friends and Family,” which has 125 recipes that blend her knowledge of soulful Southern cooking with influences from China, Italy and Mexico.

Yearwood says the last five years hosting her Emmy-winning Food Network series “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen” has helped boost her kitchen skills and expand her recipe development.

“I’ve entered into a really cool phase and I really attribute the

show for just giving me confidence to try new things. And now they’ve become kind of family favorites and they feel like things that have been in the family forever,” she says.

Yearwood is open to ideas, even asking at restaurants how the chefs make favored dishes.

She walked away from a sushi restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with

the origins of Garth’s Teriyaki Bowl, which uses marinated chicken and steak.

That same restaurant inspired her Steak & Avocado Rolls, which use soy wrappers to mimic sushi rolls.

Neither Yearwood nor Brooks are fans of raw fish — “we’re sort of roll-itin-flour-and-fry-it people,” she confesses — but their girls are, so the recipe is a compromise.

Yearwood also leaned on several family recipes for dishes in the new book, including some from her dad’s mom. Her grandmother was a dessert specialist but none of her recipes seemed to have survived until the family recently found a little book with

handwritten recipes, including one for Hundred Dollar Cupcakes. Trisha and Beth also recreated a dish that was never written down, Jack’s Fried Pies, named after her father.

Jerky turns out to have a special place in her kitchen, and yet she has learned that she doesn’t need fancy equipment or a dehumidifier to make her BBQ or teriyaki jerky. She just turns on her oven.

“It’s really a low and slow in the oven, like at 200 degrees for hours. It’s not expensive to do.

You can get a really inexpensive cut of meat and slice it yourself, or you can have your butcher slice it in the strips for you and then you marinate it and then you just slow bake it. Then it can be as tender or as tough as you like,” she says.

Other nifty recipes include one for Camo Cake she made for her nephew’s birthday that uses food coloring to mimic the look of camouflage, and Chicken Potpie Burger, which combines a classic chicken potpie with a bun.

“Everything that’s in the book is the way she really is and the way she really cooks. And it is a reflection of her life and her personality,” says Deb Brody, vice president and publisher of adult trade at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. “It’s not just a celebrity putting her name on a cookbook.

She actually cooks this way.”

Though Yearwood includes plenty of vegetarian options, bacon plays a key role in “Trisha’s

Kitchen,” including a breakthrough in snack technology called Bacon Straws: twisted bacon strips brushed with maple syrup and red pepper flakes and sprinkled with cheddar cheese.

“When I’m cooking, if there’s bacon going on a burger or something, anybody at my house walks by and they’re going to take a piece of bacon. We all just want the bacon, like, it doesn’t have to be on anything,” she says. “So this was that idea of making it its own thing, making it an appetizer and it’s crunchy and crispy. You just walk by and grab one — or 10.”

The pandemic accelerated the book’s creation, with Yearwood’s touring scheduled stilled and lockdown forcing her into her kitchen.

Easy comfort food was a natural way for her to cook her way out of quarantine.

“I did a lot of sitting on the couch and drinking coffee and going down the rabbit hole of depression. But then — I think it was getting close to a few months in — I was like, ‘This would be a perfect time just to write a new book,’” she says.

“It kind of had been knocking on the door, almost like when you need to make a new album.

In a way, it was really therapeutic and cathartic for me to be able to focus on something like that, because food really does bring us together.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 13

BODY AND MIND

Single mom lives through nine challenging months as she battles breast cancer “Every day I wake up, I am grateful and thankful,” said breast cancer survivor, Anya Adderley.

“I look for the positive in everything that comes my way. If it’s anything to do with negativity, I just don’t take it on. Last year was the trial, this year is the testimony.”

In a span of nine challenging months last year, Anya overcame pneumonia, COVID-19, cancer-related port placement and bilateral mastectomy surgeries, two emergency room visits, hospitalisation, and 16 rounds of chemotherapy.

The 44-year-old’s journey through these ordeals began after she felt a lump in her left breast during a self-examination.Anya, who had to postpone her annual physical due to the March 2020 start of COVID-19 travel restrictions, eventually brought the lump to her sister’s attention in September, who advised she get it checked, which she did during her gynaecologist check-up a few weeks later.

Following her doctor’s advisory and subsequent mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy, Anya received the results noting malignancy and a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis.

“Mentally, I was preparing myself for it because from the time I felt the lump and I felt it growing, I knew it would be possible for it to develop into breast cancer,” said Anya.

“I said to God, ‘I’m going to promise you two things and I ask one thing of you: whatever it is, please, just give me the strength to deal with it and I promise you: 1. I’ll never question you, and 2.

Never complain.’”

October 27 marked the day she received news that her place of work was ceasing operations.

Anya, with just four months of health insurance available to her, had to process both difficult news items, but quickly started the process to plan the best way forward to beat breast cancer.

“A lot of people treat cancer as a death sentence but I didn’t see it as that. I just saw it as something God brought me to, so I knew He would bring me through it. That was my belief that I held on to and still hold on to every day,” she said.

Andre, Anya’s now nine-yearold son, was also the single mom’s source of motivation. Despite extreme hair and weight loss, soreness, mouth sores, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, giving up the fight and giving into cancer was never an option for her.

Anya thanks her immediate family, which includes her mother Edna, two sisters, Sabrina and Julanda, as well as other relatives, friends, St Andrew’s Church members, and her work family from their George Town and East Street and Soldier Road locations for their ongoing support.

Declared cancer free on July 19, 2021, and now going through post-double mastectomy reconstruction, Anya’s advice is for everyone to pay attention to their body, to take their health seriously, get regular check-ups and physicals.

“Try to maximise being the best person you can be. Even if it is just giving someone a friendly smile or a kind gesture. Also, never believe that it cannot happen to you. Cancer has no respect; know that it can happen to you but just live your best life.

In the Bahamas, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Walk for the Cure has raised nearly half a million dollars for cancer care organisations in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera since its inception.

The funds generated from the annual event are primarily used to assist with the purchase and maintenance of equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients like Anya Adderley. They are also used to provide assistance, care and counselling to patients and their families, as well as to raise awareness and stress the importance of early detection, through education campaigns across the region.

During the month of October, CIBC FirstCaribbean encourages participants to walk any desired route and virtually interact with the bank by posting photos, videos, and screenshots from their fitness apps to Facebook and Instagram using the special social media hashtags #WalkfortheCureBAH2021 and #WeStillWalkfortheCure, and tagging the bank in their posts for a chance to win prizes.

Companies and individuals are encouraged to participate in this year’s 10th annual Walk for the Cure, purchase WFTC shirts, and donate to the Walk for the Cure account at any CIBC FirstCaribbean branch or via online banking. All proceeds from shirt purchases and donations will go to local cancer care organizations.

The Walk for the Cure Account Number is 201646737 and you can visit WalkfortheCureBAH@cibcfcib.com for more information.

BREAST cancer survivor Anya Adderley

ANYA Adderley with her son Andre

Fall-proofing ourselves

By HANNA FOSTERMIDDLETON, BSC (HONS) PHYSIOTHERAPY, MCSP, SRP. There are many things in life which are beyond our control.

Aging is obviously one of them and a natural progression of life, but too often we think of being older in negative terms and that it is inevitable that we will deteriorate physically and mentally. This often makes us fearful instead of developing a more positive mind-set believing that if we take care of ourselves, we can stay fit, acquire wisdom and can still enjoy life to the full. To do this, however, we must be aware of our capabilities and our physical and mental reactions to certain situations. As we age physically, some of our faculties may not be as sharp as they used to be: perhaps our eyesight or our hearing has deteriorated; maybe we don’t move as well as we used to and our balance is impaired. For some people it is sometimes a general fearfulness of the unknown and sometimes a real lack of confidence in mobility.

To avoid serious illnesses, prevent accidents and preserve our wellness, there are measures we can and should take to keep ourselves healthy and mobile enabling us to continue to enjoy daily life. One of the most frequent but preventable accidents is falling and more often than not, this happens in the home. A fall in a healthy, fit, younger person may result in injury but this is usually something they can recover from fairly quickly and resume normal daily activities. A fall in an older person or someone who already has issues can be far more disabling in the short and long term.

There are some obvious risk factors to be aware of and one of them, which may seem strange, is actually the fear of falling making

one hesitant or nervous; others include real limitations in mobility affecting daily living; impaired balance; failing eyesight; reduced muscle strength and poor or slow reactions. For those people with more advanced conditions such as cognitive impairment, sensory deficits or heavy medication the risk is increased.

Most of us are aware that falling increases the risk of breaking bones and that osteoporosis is very often involved in both men and women. More than 95 percent of fractures are caused by falling and women fall more frequently than men. They also sustain more hip fractures.

Osteoporosis is a thinning of the bones which makes them brittle.

With this condition, the risk of a broken bone is so much greater in the event of a fall. The necessary

surgery becomes that much more complicated and enforced bed rest can lead to other medical issues like bed sores, constipation and deep vein thrombosis, to mention a few.

Although osteoporosis can be treated with medication, this alone is not enough. Improving general conditioning with resistance exercises can maximise the effect of the medication making the bones stronger, improve balance and overall range of movement in arms and legs.

With the above issues and the possibility of other conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, it is advisable and makes good sense to undertake a conditioning programme that is supervised by a trained Physiotherapist.

Physiotherapists are qualified to evaluate the special needs of

each individual and to take into consideration the pertinent medical issues in their evaluation. This means they can then prescribe a supervised programme tailored individually to help that particular patient’s needs.

A physiotherapist will recommend specific exercises to facilitate recovery from a fall or from surgery should it be necessary and can also suggest exercises which improve strength and balance and thus prevent future trauma caused by falling. Balance exercises will challenge the body’s vestibular system and the musculoskeletal system. These exercises aim to improve the body’s ability to maintain posture and centre of gravity, improve muscle reaction time and joint proprioception (the body’s ability to recognise where the joints and limbs are in space).

HANNAH FOSTERMIDDLETON Maintaining a good sense of physical balance is very important at any age - falls are not confined to the elderly although they may be more prevalent and potentially have more serious outcomes. But almost all falls are preventable with a certain amount of awareness and effort. It makes sense to keep our bodies as fit and as able as they can be. Our overall wellness is an achievable goal and surely worth the effort if it stops us from preventable accidents.

• For questions and comments, call Hannah Foster-Middleton at 356 4806, e-mail genesisphysiotherapy@gmail.com, or visit www.physiotherapybahamas. com.

PAGE 14, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Causes of blood in urine Are you seeing red in your toilet bowl?

Blood in urine has the medical term of haematuria. There are two types of haematuria: gross or macroscopic haematuria, which is visible blood in urine, and microscopic haematuria, which is not visible to the naked eye but detected on urine dipsticks or in urine analyses.

Blood in the urine could be alarming and distressing.

Both microscopic and macroscopic haematuria should never be dismissed and ignored. The cause of haematuria could potentially be an early sign of a serious medical condition.

The possible causes of blood in the urine are numerous: Ten common causes of haematuria include:

1. Kidney or bladder stones Calculi/stones in the urinary tract system may be present in the kidney, ureter, bladder or urethra. The presence of a stone may not have any physical symptoms depending on it’s anatomical location and the size of the stone, and blood in the urine might be an early sign.

The gold standard for the detection of kidney or ureteric stones is a plain CAT scan, but the drawback is the exposure to radiation that should be avoided if possible

and most importantly in the case of children. An ultrasound should first be requested that should pick up 70 to 80 percent of kidney stones.

Xarelto, Coumadin, Heparin and Aspirin are some of the drugs that can lead to haematuria.

2. Urinary tract infection

Blunt or penetrating trauma to the abdomen, groin or flanks/ upper sides of the back, could lead to hematuria.

Iatrogenic trauma might be caused by the passage or removal of a urinary catheter, that could cause internal trauma to the urethra or bladder or the prostate in men.

The placement of a urinary catheter, relieving a distended urine filled bladder could lead to decompression haematuria, whereby the capillaries in the distended bladder collapse and rupture when the bladder pressure is relieved by placement of a catheter.

Blood in the urine could be caused by an infection, more commonly an infection of the bladder, cystitis or kidney/ pyelonephritis.

All cases of blood in the urine should be thoroughly investigated and simply treating haematuria with antibiotics could potentially miss serious medical conditions including cancer.

3. Cancer Malignancy of the urinary tract that includes the kidney, ureter, bladder, urethra and in men prostate cancer, often have symptoms of haematuria, either microscopic or macroscopic.

Thorough history, physical exam, and appropriate exams must be performed.

Appropriate imaging and scope of the bladder/cystoscopy with urine sent to the lab for analysis for cancer cells.

Early detection of cancer leads to improved cure rates.

4. Medication Blood thinners prescribed for medical conditions such as a previous stroke or clot/thrombus of the venous system could lead to haematuria.

5. Trauma

6. The prostate For men, especially middleaged men, haematuria could originate in the prostate.

It is more likely that a noncancerous, benign prostate with a very rich blood supply could lead to haematuria but prostate cancer could also present with blood in the urine.

7. Rigorous exercise Strenuous prolonged activity could lead to haematuria. The cause of exercise induced haematuria are numerous, including

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

blood cells instead of normal round blood cells. These sickled cells do not flow normally in the blood vessels and obstruction by these sickled cells could lead to red blood cells in the urine.

10. Alport syndrome

Dr Greggory Pinto

the breakdown of red blood cells or muscles and dehydration.

Myoglobin in the urine is often mistaken for blood.

It usually resolves within 24 to 72 hours but it must be investigated and monitored.

8. Kidney disorders Glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidney’s filtering system, can lead to haematuria, often of the microscopic type.

Nephritic syndrome can lead to hematuria and proteinuria.

9. Sickle cell disease: Sickle cell patients have sickled, that is crescent-shaped, red

An inherited condition that causes an abnormality in the kidney’s filtering mechanism that can lead to microscopic haematuria.

Never ignore blood in your urine.

Haematuria could be an early sign of a serious medical condition. Cancer is unlikely the cause of haematuria, especially without risk factors such as cigarette or tobacco smoking or occupational exposure to carcinogens.

Do not let fear keep you from seeking urological consultation.

Seek confidential and compassionate urological care if you note blood in your urine or you are told that blood in urine is detected.

• 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.

Breakthrough spinal surgery in Freeport heralds’ new approach for healthcare A breakthrough surgical procedure performed at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Freeport, Grand Bahama, heralding a new approach to the delivery of healthcare in the Bahamas.

An open reduction thoracic spine fracture procedure performed on a twenty-year old male patient at the Rand on Friday, October 8, marked the first time a complex spinal surgery was performed at that hospital. It also marked the impressive collaboration of surgical teams from the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) and the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

Describing the eight-hour surgery, Dr Valentine Grimes, lead surgeon and consultant orthopedic surgeon at PMH, credited “the excellent planning and scheduling” between the surgical departments at RMH and PMH with the successful execution of the surgery.

He thanked the administrators of both institutions for their support.

“The framework is there and hopefully it can be streamlined going forward so that emergency procedures like this, can be performed in Grand Bahama on even shorter notice,” said Dr Grimes.

Speaking about the actual procedure, he added, “We achieved all of our surgical goals. We returned the spine to its normal position and reduced the pressure on the spinal cord; but due to the severity of the injuries, the

L-R Surgical technician Adora Hanna, consultant orthopedic and spine surgeon Dr Valentine Grimes, surgical technician Sandra Rolle-Allen, and Dr Athena Bain patient is facing a long road to recovery. This was a team effort all around.”

He also thanked Dr Athena Bain, a RMH physician, who assisted with surgery and surgical technicians Sandra Rolle-Allen of the RMH, and Adora Hanna, who travelled with him from PMH and assisted the surgical team.

“We received a lot of support from the surgical team led by Dr Freeman Lockhart and Dr Terrel Humes, as well as the anaesthesia and radiology staff. The operating theatre staff at the Rand are receptive, capable and very willing to assist and learn,” said Dr Grimes.

“Typically, this type of injury would have been airlifted to PMH for treatment. In this instance, it was necessary to travel to Grand Bahama to perform this procedure because there were no beds available at PMH to accept the patient. This type of spinal injury requires a special hospital bed,

and the patient and his family were left with only three options: wait until a bed was available, which could be a matter of weeks or longer; airlift the patient to a US hospital, or perform the operation in the Rand Memorial Hospital’s state-of-the art surgical suite, recognising that time was of the essence in this type of injury.”

Speaking on the landmark surgical achievement, Dr Freeman Lockhart, medical chief of staff, GBHS, said: “This procedure at Rand shows what can happen when we move away from traditional thinking.

Sometimes it makes more sense for a variety of reasons to bring the doctor to the patient rather than take the patient to the doctor This is something we can build on going forward.”

The patient receiving the procedure suffered a devastating thoracic spinal cord injury at the lower thoracic level with paralysis of both lower limbs following a motor vehicle accident. Previously, all spinal injury patients at the Rand were airlifted to New Providence for surgical intervention at Princess Margaret Hospital or to a hospital in the United States. With the successful procedure performed by Dr Grimes and his team, Grand Bahama’s main hospital may be poised to begin a new chapter by offering patients the option of spinal surgery on the island.

Weight gain impacts people and pets, too If you found yourself gaining some extra weight over the past year and a half, it’s possible you aren’t alone. Experts say those long days of alternating COVID lockdowns and restrictions kept us at home could also impact our pets.

Veterinarians are reporting an increase in animal obesity.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 60 percent of cats and 56 percent of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese.

Vets worry that the weight gain could take a serious toll on domestic pets’ well-being and their fight to regain a healthy weight may be a struggle.

“We say ‘struggle’ because it takes two to control your pet’s diet and wellness,” said Dr Dwight Dorsett, a 24-year veterinarian at Nassau Pet Clinic.

“Obesity in pets is a serious condition. It can cause a number of issues including osteoarthritis, premature bone and joint aging, high cholesterol, respiratory dysfunction, urinary tract disease, cancer and even dermatologic conditions. So while you thought you were doing your dog a favour by giving him those extra treats, you may have exacerbated an underlying weight issue that is now harder to recover from. But it can be done and it should be

acted upon sooner rather than later before the consequences are more severe.”

Experts say returning to a stable, balanced diet of age appropriate food is the first step, along with reading the labels on dog treats and not overfeeding your pet those treats. The second step is exercise.

“We recommend a wellness check-up with your veterinarian as a priority,” said Nat Davies, director of Business Operations

with the Washington, DC-based Pet Food Institute (PFI), the education arm and trade association representing 98 percent of pet food manufacturers.

“If your dog or cat is suffering from obesity, like many pets are, the vet can help you come up with a weight loss plan. This requires careful work with a veterinarian, since it’s not always best to just reduce the amount of food you give at mealtimes.. Our message

throughout North America and the Caribbean is feed and treat responsibly.”

In a PFI-sponsored lecture for vets from around the Caribbean just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Leslie Hancock-Munroe, with The JM Smucker Company, said pet parents have to understand the signs.

“It’s increasingly common for pet parents to accidentally provide too many high-calorie treats as a means of showing love for

their pets, failing to recognize the signs of obesity. It’s important to explain to clients that begging is learned behavior, and not typically related to nutrition or hunger,” said the small animal nutritionist, who acknowledges the difficulty of weight loss in pets. “Veterinarians can support healthy pets by encouraging lifelong habits, such as regular exercise, responsible treating and carefully-measured meals.”

In the meantime, the American Kennel Club has issued detailed guidelines about getting you and your four-legged family members up and off the couch. And the American Heart Association agrees – 150 minutes per week of walking the dog will unleash the potential of wellness in both you and those little ones you may have accidentally overfed and underexercised. That’s 30 minutes a day, five times a week.

Warnings about the unrecognised early signs of obesity-related conditions is part of an ongoing campaign to spread messages about pet wellness throughout The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos. Find helpful tips on PFICaribbean’s Facebook page @ pficaribbean and on PFI’s websites and www.pficaribbean.com.

SPORTS PAGE 15

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021

Williams suffers early round exit in Belgrade

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune SPORTS REPORTER rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

R

ashield Williams was the first Bahamian boxer in the ring at the 2021 International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships but suffered an early exit in the opening round.

Fighting in the Welterweight division (67kg), Williams lost on points 5:0 to Lasha Guruli of Georgia yesterday on day one of competition at the Štark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

Guruli will advance to face Michel Takacs of Slovakia in the second round.

Veteran light middleweight Carl Hield will also represent Team Bahamas in Serbia.

Hield will fight in bout 108 on October 27 against Obed Emmanuel BarteeEll II of the United States.

The winner will advance to the Francesco Faraoni of Italy on October 29.

Williams recently returned to pro boxing in April following approximately 18 months of inactivity with a first round knockout of Dylan Dodds in Tampa, Florida.

Both fighters, who missed out on the opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, trained together in Tampa in preparation for the trip to Serbia.

The AIBA World Championships features nearly 400 of the world’s best amateur boxers and professionals with less than 15 bouts on their résumé, competing in 13 divisions.

AIBA will be paying the podium finishers in the weight classes for the first time.

The gold medallists will receive $100,000 each.

The silver medallists will receive $50,000 each and

PRO boxer Rashield Williams was the first Bahamian boxer in the ring at the 2021 International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) Men’s World Boxing Championships but suffered an early exit in the opening round. the bronze medallists are set to receive $25,000 each.

Nathaniel Knowles serves as the head coach while Bahamas Boxing Federation president Vincent Strachan is the team manager.

The travelling contingent for the two boxers also includes Shirley Strachan as the COVID-19 ambassador and Vincette Strachan as the president’s guest.

Strachan has been vocal about the lack of funding

and support granted to the team as they prepared for the trip.

Prior to their departure, Strachan said the team still needed $12,000 to facilitate the trip.

Director of Sports Tim Munnings responded to Strachan’s claims by saying his Ministry has provided adequate support for the team.

“Based on the budget submitted by the Bahamas Boxing Federation, the Ministry issued a grant to the Federation an amount sufficient to cover airfare, hotel, and COVID-19 testing (home and abroad).

Funds sent to their account on their day of travel,” he said.

“It is, therefore, the case that he would have had to find a way to access the funds while abroad. The Ministry does not deal with uniforms.”

The event runs through November 6.

NBA, PAGE 16

AFGHANISTAN BEATS SCOTLAND BY 130 RUNS IN T20 WORLD CUP SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and legspinner Rashid Khan bowled Scotland for 60 as Afghanistan started the T20 World Cup with a massive 130-run victory yesterday.

Mujeeb claimed three wickets in an over to finish with 5-20 while Rashid (4-9) ran through the tail quickly to dismiss Scotland in just 10.2 overs and raise Afghanistan’s biggest win in a T20.

Afghanistan had earlier posted a daunting total of 190-5 in its opening Group 2 match after skipper Mohammad Nabi won the toss and elected to bat.

“This was our plan, to bat first and put a big score,” Nabi said with a broad smile at the presentation ceremony. “Our openers started really well and finished the powerplay with a good score. … Everyone knows Rashid and Mujeeb are among the best (bowlers) in the world.”

All of Afghanistan’s top-order batsmen were amongst the runs and hit big sixes with Najibullah Zadran leading the way by scoring 59 off 34 balls.

Umpire Martin Burrows has his bags packed

By BRENT STUBBS Senior SPORTS REPORTER bstubbs@tribunemedia.net Internationally certified umpire Martin “Pork” Burrows has his bags packed and is eager to head off to officiate at another prestigious tournament.

On Wednesday, Burrows will head off to Palm Beach, Florida to join the officiating crew for his first appearance at the fifth annual World Comes to the Palm Beaches International Baseball Tournament.

The tournament, scheduled for teams in the 12-and-under.

15-andunder, 18-and-under and open divisions, will be played from October 27-31 at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, which is considered the best baseball facility on planet earth.

The Bahamas is expected to be a part of the countries participating. The others are Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Belize, Bolivia.

Bonaire. Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Lithuania, Mexico. Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain,

MARTIN Burrows Team Earth, USA, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

After securing his college certification in March, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Burrows said the door has been opened for him by Mario Signorello to come over and officiate.

“It gives you a good feeling when you know that all of your hard work is now paying off,” said Burrows, who will be officiating in his third international tournament since his certification.

“With all of the different countries participating, it’s so good to see that people want you to be a part of that. It’s a good feeling. So to get back over there and to umpire with some good officials is a great feeling.”

Although he has officiated at a number of softball tournaments in Florida, Burrows said this will be his first baseball with the huge number of countries participating in it.

“It’s going to be a plus for me,” Burrows said. “I know Geron Sands will be putting in a team from the Bahamas in the under-16 division, so I’m excited to see how well they play and hope that I can officiate a game with them in it.

“I don’t know the schedule yet, but when you go over there to officiate, they don’t worry which team is playing. If they put you on field two and your country is playing, you have to officiate the game.”

As an umpire, Burrows said he’s been taught to officiate in an impartial manner, regardless of who is participating.

“You have to learn to call the game right the first time. You can’t worry about players,” he insisted. “Very seldom if you call the game right will you get yourself in any problems and people will respect you more for that.”

When he got the call last Tuesday to come to Florida to officiate in the tournament, Burrows said he felt

HIGGS IN FIBA EUROCUP, NESBITT MAKES IMPACT

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune SPORTS REPORTER rdorsett@tribunemedia.net VALERIE Nesbitt has had an immediate impact in her rookie season of pro basketball while Lashan Higgs made her first appearance with her new club in the FIBA EuroCup. Nesbitt stepped right into a leading role for SPAR Gran Canaria of Spain’s LF Endesa.

The rookie point guard is averaging a league leading 5.5 assists per game. She finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists in her club’s 74-58 win over Araski on Sunday.

Nesbitt is averaging 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

Her top performances thus far include 12 points and seven assists in a 71-61

loss to Gernika and 12 points with six assists in a 67-65 win over Estudiantes.

In 26 games with 10 starts of her senior season at Ole Miss last year, Nesbitt averaged 6.2 points and 2.4 assists per game to help the Rebels reach the NIT final.

Higgs spent her rookie season in Spain’s LF Endesa last year but made the move to Germany to join Rutronik Stars Keltern Damen-Basketball-Bundesliga (DBBL).

Higgs finished with 12 points and three rebounds in her EuroCup debut, but Keltern suffered an 81-78 loss to the London Lions.

She followed with eight points in a 61-59 loss to Castors Braine in their second EuroCup match.

Higgs joins a Rutronik team that claimed the 2020-21 title with a 21-3 regular season record and

an undefeated 7-0 run in the playoffs.

In league play, they began the year with a threegame win streak, but have dropped the last three contests for a .500 record.

Higgs is averaging 10 points per game through six DBBL contests.

Higgs spent her rookie season of pro basketball last year with Embutidos Pajariel Bembibre PDM in Spain.

Higgs, the team’s most valuable player, earned several Player of the Week honours and finished as the third leading scorer in the league at 15.8 points per game on 54 percent shooting from the field.

She also shot 33 percent from three-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and was third on the team at 4.2 rebounds per game.

the “goose bumps” because he realised that “someone out there respects your calling and wants you to be a part of something like this.

It’s a great feeling.”

Now training a core of umpires to follow in his footsteps, Burrows said he told his class on Thursday after he got the call that his position is the one that they should all strive to be in.

“You want people to be giving you a call to invite you to be a part of their tournament,” Burrows said.

“You have to work hard.

You have to get certified and once you do and you work hard, people will see you. They will want you.”

Burrows said he anticipates that there will be a

number of international certified officials who will be joining him so he’s looking forward to interacting with them and learning as much as he can in the process.

“It’s always good to work with other umpires from different countries, talk to them and learn different things from them. But the game doesn’t change. It’s the same game. But I’m up to the challenge.”

Known as a mini Arthur ‘Ole Art’ Thompson, one of the most respected umpires in the region up to the time of his death, Burrows said he’s thankful to Eddie Ford for the guidance and advice that he shared with him from time to time.

“When me, Andrew (Burrows) and Duckie J (Dereck Christie) went to Puerto Rico for a course, Eddie Ford was instrumental in getting us ready,” Burrows said.

“He stepped up to the plate to work with us, so kudos to him.

“He’s always one who I could go back to, even with the interpretation of the rules when I’m not sure about something. So big kudos to Eddie Ford because he’s been there to help out as much as he can.”

As a result of the confidence placed in him, Burrows said he just wants to go out and make the 242 proud.

PAGE 16, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg last week met with the staff of the National Sports Authority at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Photo: Eric Rose/BIS

‘Sports in Paradise’ campaign eyes relaunch

By BRENT STUBBS Senior SPORTS REPORTER bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the relaunching of the “Sports in Paradise’’ campaign, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg wants to make sure that his staff is prepared for the challenge ahead of them.

Last week, Bowleg met with his staff and the National Sports Authority at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium where he got a chance to ascertain their concerns and needs as they move forward under the Progressive Liberal Party administration led

by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

“The whole idea was to meet with them and to get an understanding of there concerns and to see how best we address those that we can and to put things in place to make life better for them and to improve their working conditions,” said Bowleg.

The NSA is responsible for the management of the facilities in the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, including the TAR National and original track and field stadium, the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and the National Tennis Centre.

Also included is the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, which houses the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range, the Roscoe Davies Developmental Soccer Center, the Bankers League softball park, the four recreational softball fields, the national boxing gymnasium and the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium that is still under construction.

Bowleg, who would have had contact with the NSA prior to his appointment as the Minister through his association as the past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said he was quite pleased with what transpired at the meeting.

“The staff expressed their feelings and there were certain matters that were brought up and we will be addressing those matters, but the whole idea was to become acquainted with the staff and for them to become acquainted with me,” Bowleg said.

“We want to be able to improve the morale around the ministry and around the NSA so that we could work together in harmony for the better good of the promotion of sports in the country.”

As they move forward from the meeting, Bowleg said he would like to see more activities staged in and around the facilities

operated by the NSA on a monthly basis as soon as possible.

“We want to be able to draw the attention of local and international athletes to bring in some form of revenue for the NSA,” Bowleg said.

“Those facilities are there to be utilised and the best way to do that is to make them up to standard and to maintain them.

“Once that is done, we would like to invite all federations to think outside of the box and outside of the country by inviting their various divisions, whether it’s college or professional groupings, to come into the country to utilise

our facilities during their offseason.”

By the end of the year or the beginning of 2022, Bowleg said they hope to see the re-emergence of “Sports in Paradise” with quite a number of events on the drawing board becoming a reality in the country through the NSA. “I think this administration believes the impact that sports has on a country and economically and the positive impact on the youth of the nation through the development and involvement in sports.

It’s extremely important that we bring greater exposure to our young people through sports.”

SAINTS CAPITALISE ON SEAHAWKS’ MISTAKES FOR 13-10 WIN

BULLS forward DeMar DeRozan (11) moves the ball around Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) during first-half game action in Toronto, yesterday.

(Nathan Denette/ The Canadian Press via AP)

DeRozan, LaVine help Bulls beat Raptors for 4th straight win TORONTO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points against his former team, Zach LaVine had 22 points and the Chicago Bulls opened a season with four straight wins for the first time since 199697, holding off the Toronto Raptors 111-108 last night.

Nikola Vucevic scored 17 points and Lonzo Ball had 15 as the Bulls won their fourth straight meeting with Toronto.

Ball shot 5 for 9 from 3-point range.

OG Anunoby scored 22 points and Gary Trent Jr had 18 as the struggling Raptors lost for the third time in four games.

Toronto’s Fred VanVleet scored 15 points and set a career high with 17 assists.

Precious Achiuwa had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, and rookie Scottie Barnes scored 13 points.

CELTICS 140, HORNETS 129, OT CHARLOTTE (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 41 points, Jaylen Brown added 30, including an emphatic dunk in overtime, and Boston handed Charlotte its first loss of the season.

Dennis Schroder had nine of his 23 points in overtime, and Robert Williams added 12 points and 16 rebounds in a game that featured 28 lead changes.

Miles Bridges had 25 points and 10 rebounds and LaMelo Ball added 25 points on seven 3-pointers for the Hornets before fouling out in overtime.

Kelly Oubre added 19 points for Charlotte, which was seeking its first 4-0 start in franchise history.

Both teams had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but had difficulty inbounding the ball, resulting in neither team getting a shot off in the game’s final 15 seconds.

BUCKS 119, PACERS 109 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo finshed with 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Khris Middleton added 27 points as defending NBA champion Milwaukee beat Indiana.

Coach Mike Budenholzer held out two injured starters — center Brook Lopez and guard Jrue Holiday — as well as key backup Bobby Portis.

Yet they still had enough

scoring punch to pull away from the Pacers, who have lost three of their first four games under new coach Rick Carlisle.

The Pacers were led by Malcolm Borgdon with 25 points and seven assists.

Domantas Sabonis had 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

It was Middleton’s fourpoint play to close the first-quarter scoring that changed the game. It broke a 30-30 tie, and Milwaukee never trailed again.

NETS 104, WIZARDS 90 NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Brooklyn bounced back from a poor finish a day earlier with a blistering start that gave them a victory over Washington.

Patty Mills made five 3-pointers and added 21 points off the bench, while James Harden finished with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

The Nets were dominated in the second half of a 111-95 loss to Charlotte on Sunday in their home opener, which featured protests by fans over the vaccine mandate that has

kept Kyrie Irving from playing for Brooklyn.

They overcame poor 3-point shooting nights from Harden (1 for 8) and Joe Harris (3 for 11) by holding Washington below 35 percent shooting.

Washington’s Bradley Beal scored 19 points but shot 8 for 22 after missing a game with a bruised right hip.

The Wizards won their first two games but were already down by 18 in this one by the time the Nets honored Spencer Dinwiddie with a video tribute after the first quarter of his return to Barclays Center.

HAWKS 122, PISTONS 104 ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young had 32 points and nine assists and John Collins scored 22 in Atlanta’s win over Detroit.

The Hawks have won 24 of their last 30 home games, including playoff games, dating to February 21.

The Pistons’ Kelly Olynyk had 17 of his 21 points in the first half and Saddiq Bey scored 21 for Detroit, which dropped to 0-3. Olynyk and Josh Johnson were new additions to

the Pistons’ starting lineup — Olynyk replacing the injured Jerami Grant and Johnson taking the spot of Frank Jackson.

HEAT 107, MAGIC 90 MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 36 points on 15-for-21 shooting, Bam Adebayo added 16 points and 13 rebounds and Miami pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Orlando.

Markieff Morris had 16 points off the Miami bench, and Tyler Herro finished with 13 points, five rebounds and nine assists for the Heat.

Miami was 19 for 19 from the foul line, tying the second-most makes without a miss in team history.

The Heat were 30 for 30 against Boston on March 24, 1993.

Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 15 points, while Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton each added 12 for the Magic. Mo Bamba and Robin Lopez had 11 apiece for Orlando.

Butler also had five steals, and did the bulk of his scoring work at the rim for Miami.

SEATTLE (AP) — Brian Johnson kicked a 33-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in his NFL debut, and the New Orleans Saints capitalised on a series of Seattle mistakes for a 13-10 win over the Seahawks last night.

Alvin Kamara carried the load for New Orleans and Jameis Winston made a handful of plays when needed, but the Saints escaped Seattle thanks largely to a series of blunders by the home team, led by backup quarterback Geno Smith.

Two of the Seahawks’ biggest mistakes came on New Orleans’ deciding drive when Seattle was flagged for roughing the passer and jumping offside on a long field-goal attempt.

Both penalties gave New Orleans first downs, and Johnson’s field goal coming out of the 2-minute warning put the Saints ahead.

Johnson, a rookie from Virginia Tech, made an extra point and both fieldgoal tries, connecting from 21 yards in the first half.

Smith hit DK Metcalf for an 84-yard touchdown in the first quarter but went nowhere when the Seahawks had a final chance to tie or win.

LAKERS BEAT MORANT AND GRIZZLIES FOR 1ST WIN OF SEASON LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Ja Morant’s 40-point game to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-118 on Sunday night for their first victory of the season.

Morant had a chance to tie it after Kent Bazemore fouled him on a 3-point try with 2.5 seconds left, but but missed the third free throw.

Anthony Davis had 22 points and four blocks to help the Lakers rebound from two opening losses.

LeBron James finished with 19 points after a slow start.

Anthony moved into ninth on the NBA’s career scoring list with 27,423 points.

Morant had 10 assists and made a career-best five 3-pointers. The Grizzlies are 2-1.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 17

Buffaloes retire Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn Jr’s jersey

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune SPORTS REPORTER rdorsett@tribunemedia.net LOURAWLS “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr achieved another career milestone on his basketball journey and received the highest honour from his alma mater.

The Sunrise Christian Academy Buffaloes retired Nairn’s No.11 jersey at a ceremony to conclude the programme’s “Sunrise Madness” event in Bel Aire, Kansas.

“What a night.. To be honest, this isn’t a dream come true. It’s more than that because I never dreamt of this. When I left home in the Bahamas at 13 years old, my goal was to give everything I had to be the best I could be. This is one of the results of that,” Nairn said in a message posted on his personal social media accounts. “To my parents, family, friends, teammates, coaches, and everyone else who has helped me on my journey in any capacity.

Thank you guys for all you’ve done for me. This could never be possible without any of you. Having my jersey retired at Sunrise, is one the greatest accomplishments of my life. Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace.”

Nairn is currently the head coach of the Buffaloes’ post graduate basketball programme, the first head coaching appointment of his young career.

During his playing days at Sunrise, Nairn rose from a little known recruit to a highly sought after Division I prospect.

In his senior season with the Buffaloes, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game to lead SCA to a 16-3 record. He shot 52.4 percent from the field, including 38.9 percent from three-point range and started every game over his final two seasons.

Nairn went on to play four seasons for the Michigan State Spartans and was part of two Big Ten

championship teams while reaching the Final Four in his freshman season of 2015.

He spent the 2018 season in a role with the Phoenix Suns as a member of the coaching staff with a focus on player development and also made his debut as an author with an autobiography entitled “Purpose Driven.”

He followed with the last two seasons with his collegiate alma mater as a member coaching staff as a graduate manager. “It is such a blessing to be able to start my coaching career at my high school alma mater; a place that is so close to my heart,” Nairn said. “Like being a graduate manager the past two seasons for Coach Izzo and the Michigan State Men’s basketball team (my college alma mater). “This opportunity is another depiction of the grace of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I’m ready to learn, lead, motivate, inspire, and most importantly serve.”

Nairn was one of several players in the pipeline from The Bahamas to Sunrise Christian that also included Sacramento Kings guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield along with Division I talents Nathan Bain (Stephen F Austin), Travis Munnings (Louisiana-Monroe), and Radshad Davis (UT-Arlington/FIU) among others.

Hield’s No.24 jersey was retired at the 2020 edition of Sunrise Madness.

“For me to come back to where I played, it shows that Sunrise was all about family.

“For me to go back to Michigan State shows that Michigan State was all about family,” Nairn told NBC affiliate WILX 10.

“I want to take that to Sunrise, spending time with my players, trying to be in their lives in a positive way.

I care more about them as a person than I care about them as a basketball player.

I need to take more time to really look and see where a kid is from, what a kid is going through.”

COMPETITORS sit alongside their squash coaches and referees for a group photo on the championship stadium court after an intense round of qualifying matches.

Shawn Knowles wins inaugural Beginner’s Squash Tournament TWENTY two-yearold college student Shawn Knowles won the inaugural Beginner’s Squash Tournament at Four Walls Squash & Social Club on Sunday, during a buzzing day of competition and camaraderie at the newly renovated Village Road facility.

Four Walls has been reviving the indoor racket sport as a wellness alternative for adults who enjoy exercising outside of the gym. Twelve players, with an average of five months squash experience, participated in the one-day, amateur club event.

“The tournament was an extension of our adult learn-to-play programme, which has grown tremendously over the past year. It was a fun, open tournament with a mix of male and female players from 22 to over 45 years old, including an engineer, film director, auditor, nurse, investment banker, student, retail sales manager, entrepreneur and others,” said tournament director Michael Fields about the diverse group of players.

“The common thread - everyone had less than 12 months’ experience playing the sport. The sportsmanship was very commendable. It was a very competitive environment, but everyone understood at the end of the day, it was for fun,“ said Mr Fields.

The winning prize was a roundtrip Family Island ticket for two on Bahamasair and a new squash racket.

“I haven’t done anything competitive like that in a while so it was a breath of fresh air for me honestly.

I loved it, I loved every moment of it. I wasn’t expecting to win anyway,”

TOURNAMENT Participants Beijing Rodgers, Dyaria Knowles and Andrew White.

TOURNAMENT administrators Inderia Saunders and Noelle Nicolls. said tournament winner with the way I performed,” Shawn Knowles. “I just he said. “We’ve been went there saying I was playing with each other going to play my best and, throughout the last few you know, it just took me all months, helping each other the way. ” improve, getting to know To create a safe environ- each other, and having ment, Four Walls required a good time. So we had mandatory COVID-19 fun with it. It was a great rapid-antigen test for par- experience.” ticipants and spectators, The beginner’s tournaand provided on-site testing ment is one of many events courtesy of the Family Med- planned by Four Walls to icine Center. The event was promote wellness and keep sponsored by International players active and engaged.

Private Banking Systems, Spectator Chynella CunMilo, Exotic Sound Design, ningham, who used to play and Technical Adjusters squash at the old club and Bahamas Limited. was impressed by the fresh, Runner-up and electri- lively feel that had been cal engineer Rande Nicolls injected into the space expressed disappoint- through its new ownerment over his loss but still ship, attended the event enjoyed playing alongside to cheer on her co-worker the newest cohort of squash Deepak Sharma. He made players: it to the semifinals. “I love “Unfortunately, I didn’t the atmosphere, I love how get the top spot, but second it’s really improved. When I place is good. I’m happy played 20, almost 30 years

HEAD referee Adrian Burrows, Runner-Up Rande Nicolls, Tournament Winner Shawn Knowles and Tournament Director Michael Fields celebrate after the completion of the inaugural Four Walls Beginner’s Squash Tournament.

SEMI-FINALISTS RANDE NICOLLS, Deepak Sharma, Beijing Rodgers and Shawn Knowles pose as they prepare to play for the Beginner’s Tournament winning title. ago, it was not like this – Everyone was there to have and that’s how long I’ve not a good time and just show been here,” Cunningham off what we’ve learned over said. “It’s a very energised the past couple of months,” environment. I love it.” said film director MargaFour Walls offers more ret Glynatsis. “It’s a great than squash at its facility as community, great workout, its three hardwood courts nice networking, and a nice, double as boutique fitness safe environment. You get studios. Renovations are addicted to the game,” also underway outside to Patricia Umali finished transform the Four Walls second in her division. patio into a terrace café and “I actually think that my bar, adding to the enter- game improved a bit more tainment offerings and just from the tournament. social spots in the east for I can’t even lie and say that professionals.

I’m a beginner anymore “The tournament was and it’s simply because of really organised. It was how they invest in you here nerve wracking but, none- at Four Walls,” she said. theless, really good vibes. “All the pros are always

here to help you and give you tips. It’s just a fantastic environment.”

All of the players have now officially graduated from the club’s beginner ranks, and will participate in intermediate levels in future tournaments.

Four Walls hopes to attract more players to the sport in time for its second annual beginner’s tournament next year.

Learn-to-play classes with affordable group coaching take place five days a week (Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 6pm and Saturdays, 10am to 1 p.m.).

Interested players can book online anytime at www.fourwallsbahamas/ book

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 19

EX-MINISTER: EXTRA $90M SHOWS OUR POLICIES WORKING FROM PAGE 24 resulted in a recovering economy.”

Asserting that the revenue performance was in line with statements made recently by both the Central Bank and Moody’s, the east Grand Bahama MP continued: “The Minnis administration provided sound policies to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and sustain small businesses in the aftermath of Dorian and during the pandemic.

“There were deliberate, prudent and sound decisions articulated in the Resilient Bahamas Plan and the Accelerate Bahamas plan that focused on providing relief, raising revenue and growing the economy. We are seeing signs that all of these things are being achieved.”

Looking ahead to the imminent release of the Government’s fiscal “snapshot” for the 2021-2022 fiscal year’s first quarter, which will give more details on the public finances’

performance and The Bahamas’ fiscal health, Mr Thompson added: “The positive trend and headroom left in place must be built upon, and any adjustment should be evidence-based after proper studies and assessment.”

It is not surprising that the Free National Movement (FNM) will seek to take credit for the $90m revenue overshoot as this largely occurred during the final months of its term in office prior to the September 16 general election.

However, revenues are only a small part of a much larger picture.

While the Government’s income may have exceeded forecasts, it is unclear what - if any - impact this has had on a fiscal deficit that is projected to be $951.8m for the year to end-June 2022.

Given the extent to which spending is expected to exceed revenues, the extra $90m revenue is unlikely to make significant inroads into this ‘red ink’.

As Mr Thompson indicated, the overall fiscal position to be laid-out by the upcoming “snapshot” will be more telling given that the national debt already stands at $10.356bn - a number that is bigger than the economy’s total output at present.

It is also uncertain yet whether the increase in revenue witnessed during the 2021-2022 first quarter will be a sustainable trend, and The Bahamas remains a significant way off from rebuilding the fiscal “headroom” it needs to withstand external shocks such as hurricanes and other climate change-related disasters.

Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business on Monday that the Government had beaten its 2021-2022 first quarter revenue targets by $90m, while also disclosing that the Government’s revised Budget will not increase the deficit.

He added that the Government’s lenders, creditors

and the capital markets generally have all been informed that the supplemental Budget due to be presented to Parliament - possibly as early as this Wednesday - will not grow the deficit beyond the originally projected $951.8m.

And he also disclosed that the Government’s “underwriters” have advised it to delay placing the $700m foreign currency bond that the former Minnis administration had designed as the centrepiece of its gross $1.852bn borrowing plan for the current fiscal year.

No revised timeline for when it will be placed was given, but Mr Wilson said the advice to delay stemmed from international capital market uncertainties over US debt ceiling negotiations rather than any concerns peculiar to The Bahamas or its economic performance.

And, while the delay will cause the Government to reshuffle its borrowing plans, he added that there is no danger it will

run short of funds as it will simply bring Bahamian dollar-denominated financing planned for year-end forward.

The $700m bond was supposed to have been placed by late September/early October 2021, and was to account for 37.8 percent of the Government’s total $1.852bn gross borrowing forecast for the the 20212022 fiscal year. It had been planned as the single

biggest one-time capital raise during the period.

While the yields on external Bahamian government debt soared to 9 percent and over when COVID-19 hit, a chart produced by Moody’s showed that by August 2021 these had dropped to between 5-8 percent with the longer the maturity, the greater the return sought by international investors

PIRATE-THEMED OPERATOR EYES 250-JOB DESTINATION FROM PAGE 24 “Things are very, very slow. Virgin came on and they are doing us well. Carnival Cruise Line is coming and they are starting to produce numbers, but with Royal Caribbean we couldn’t

do anything. It’s just too weak.”

Other than the cruise ships, Mr Knowles has been doing private charters, corporate events and birthday parties, but these opportunities are few and far between.

PAGE 20, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

$2M BPL MICROGRID WINNER’S DEAL OFFLOAD FROM PAGE 24 criticised the composition of the committee formed to evaluate the bids, arguing that it was “inconsistent with best practice” and may have breached Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) own policies and procedural requirements.

“The contract for the Ragged Island solar microgrid project was awarded to Tugliq Energy Company, which had during the RFP (request for proposal) phase but not the RFQ

(request for qualification) phase, disclosed its intention to sub-contract some portion of the contract to Salt Energy,” the FTI Consulting report said.

“Salt had submitted qualifications during the RFQ phase, but was not invited to participate in the next phase. Nonetheless, BPL awarded the tender to Tugliq knowing that Salt would play a role in the project.

“More concerning was the fact that on July 19, 2019, the same day Tugliq

signed its contract with BPL, Tugliq assigned the entirety of the contract to Salt in a separate agreement,” the report added.

“Thus, Salt assumed the entire Ragged Island solar microgrid project despite the fact that BPL did not invite it to participate in the second phase of the tender.

“This raises concerns that Tugliq and Salt may have co-ordinated their tender participation in a manner not fully disclosed to BPL.” Besides concerns over bid manipulation,

the FTI Consulting report also detailed contrasting explanations from BPL chairman, Dr Donovan Moxey, and chief executive, Whitney Heastie, over the utility’s decision to consent to Salt taking over the project.

The assignment had already been agreed between Charles Meier, Salt’s president, and Nicolas Seguin, one of Tugliq’s three shareholders, when Mr Heastie signed the deal on BPL’s behalf as a sole signatory on July 23, 2019, some four days later.

“When asked about the assignment letter during the course of an interview, Heastie said that he was not in the approval chain but was aware of the assignment and recalled that it was presented to the Board, which approved it,” FTI Consulting’s report said.

“However, FTI found no references to the assignment in the Board meeting minutes. In addition, Moxey said he was not familiar with the contract assignment or the circumstances surrounding it.”

FTI Consulting added that the Tugliq/Salt contract was discussed at BPL’s July 26, 2019, Board meeting.

Burlington Strachan, BPL’s head of grid solutions and a 40-year veteran with the utility, informed the Board that the contract had been awarded to Tugliq on an “engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)” basis despite Salt taking over all rights to the project one week before.

“Strachan also informed the Board that BPL had received $2.5m in government funding for the Ragged Island solar microgrid project,” the report added. With Bahamians facing a double exposure as BPL customers and taxpayers, FTI Consulting sought an explanation from Mr Strachan as to “the rationale for the assignment” to Salt.

“Strachan believed that Tugliq was primarily interested in the independent

power producer (IPP) option, and did not have much interest in the EPC option,” the report detailed.

“He described Tugliq as more of an IPP-focused company, with Salt being more of an EPC-focused company.

“Therefore, when Tugliq was selected as the winner of the EPC contract, it decided to forego the entirety of the contract in favour of Salt. It remains unclear why Tugliq would have submitted an EPC proposal in the first place if this option was not of interest to it.”

Bidders were allowed to submit different types of solutions for Ragged Island’s energy needs. The initial RFQ phase, designed to separate serious, qualified bids from the also-rans, saw Tugliq fare poorly on both the EOC and BOOTT (build, own, operate, transfer and train) submissions, finishing second-last in both categories.

“Tugliq Energy Company later won the RFP bid, despite not scoring well in the RFQ phase,” FTI Consulting noted. “It received 32 points for its BOOTT qualifications and 30.5 points for its EPC qualifications, just above the minimum qualifying score.”

Salt did not even make it to the RFP phase, with Tugliq’s partner in the the prior round identified as fellow Canadian renewable energy distributor, Rematek Energie. The latter, of course, would eventually be ditched.

Four final bids were eventually received in the RFP round. Tugliq submitted both EPC and IPP solutions, while ABB offered an EPC proposal and NantEnergy an IPP structure.

However, FTI Consulting identified “discrepancies” between the criteria used to evaluate EPC and IPP bids, with the former requiring “fewer items” and less details.

Tugliq’s EPC proposal scored highest due to the experience of its

then-proposed sub-contractors, SMA Sunbelt, Salt and Grand Bahama-based Waugh Construction. Both Salt and SMA Sunbelt had initially been standalone participants in the process, but ultimately threw in their lot with Tugliq.

“In further reviewing Tugliq’s bid documents, FTI observed that its technical proposal was prepared by SMA Sunbelt and provided to Tugliq on June 6, 2019, one day before the RFP deadline,” the report said.

“An attached cover letter from SMA Sunbelt indicated that it was drafted in response to a request from Tugliq.”

FTI Consulting said there were also discrepancies between Tugliq’s offer and the bid requirements.

Whereas the battery system was supposed to be located 1.6 miles from BPL’s existing Ragged Island site, the Tugliq proposal called for it to be placed at the latter location.

And, instead of a minimum energy storage capacity of 1,260 kilowatt hours (kWh), and minimum AC output of 300 kW (kilowatts), the Tugliq offer proposed a capacity of 1,200 kWh and output of 216 kW. Still, the final contract with BPL stipulated a $2.9326m “base price” with Tugliq to receive $1.609m, or 55 percent, of this sum as a mobilisation payment upon signing.

The bids were evaluated

by Mr Strachan and three persons from the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit that specialises in renewable energy. The FTI Consulting report said this may have violated BPL policies by not being sufficiently diverse and failing to include persons from “disinterested” departments, such as procurement or finance.

“A theme that emerged during the course of FTI’s review was a general failure

by BPL to abide by policies and procedures,” the consultants concluded.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that ROMAIN NATANIAL WHITE of 6 Vanria, Sunset Park, Carmichael Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of October, 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 WILFRID COLLIE of P.O. Box SP-61921, Sapodilla Boulevard, Pinewood Gardens, Nassau, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 19th day of October, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

BPL’S SHELL DEAL PROCESS ‘OBLIQUE’ FROM PAGE 24

well as holding a public bid opening ceremony.

And it also noted assertions by ex-prime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, and BPL’s chief executive, Whitney Heastie, that the shortcomings identified by EY would not have affected the bid outcome even though the accounting firm “did not address the question of whether the award to Shell was proper”.

Nor did FTI Consulting, even though its findings showed that concerns detailed by Tribune Business reports in April 2018 were spot on. This was a crucial deal for BPL and the Government to get right, since at that time it involved outsourcing New Providence’s baseload electricity generation to a private provider for a 20-25 year period.

“A key area of criticism related to the lack of clarity over what kind of generation proposals BPL would entertain, with some tender participants confused as to how Shell was ultimately selected for a 220 MW plant following a tender ostensibly for 80 MW of rental generation,” the report said.

“The tender documentation shows that BPL did indicate a willingness to consider alternative proposals, but did not do so plainly and prominently.

Instead, this was indicated obliquely in addenda and responses to questions from bid participants.

“EY found that seven of the 19 bids received by BPL reflected multiple options, each with long and shortterm generation options or, in some cases, multiple alternatives for each. This indicates an understanding, at least among some vendors, that BPL was open to considering proposals of different varieties.”

FTI Consulting’s report makes clear just 37 percent of bidders were seemingly aware that they could offer a variety of options, yet is silent on further findings or recommendations despite the fact that more than half the participants were apparently in the dark on this.

Tribune Business, on April 12, 2018, revealed the concerns among some participants over the structure of the bidding process itself. This was especially since BPL initially went out to tender for two contracts, fuel supply and the provision of 80 MW of short-term generation for a five-year period.

Recognising that the latter was not a practical solution for BPL, many bidders also supplied a long-term generation proposal as a result. As a result, several sources said BPL and its Canadian consultants, Sancon Contracting, ended up having to compare “apples with oranges” as some bidders offered only on short-term generation, others on long-term, and the remainder a combination of both.

“What I don’t understand is that the original BPL RFP in November called for two things: Fuel supply

and 80 MW of temporary generation,” one source said at the time. “None of which are in this award. It had nothing to do with an LNG plant. If everything was evaluated on an apples for apples basis, I think it would have been a different outcome.”

Several bidder sources suggested the tender had evolved from “a generation RFP to an LNG RFP”, and one added back in 2018: “The process was not clear to everybody. They asked the bidders for a five-year proposal on 80 MW of rental generation.

“Some people bid on five years, some people did long-term and some did both. It wasn’t exactly clear what they needed to compare apples with apples.”

The source described the different durations for short and long-term generation as “a major, major flaw” given that those submitting 20-year proposals could offer much lower rates, and better financial terms, than their short-term counterparts.

Concerns were not confined to participants.

“Several sources questioned the transparency and fairness of the tender process, including BPL’s

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that FENET MAGISTRAT of Poiter Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of October, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

AIRPORT AUTHORITY POSITION VACANT

Payroll Officer – Finance Department The Airport Authority wishes to advise that a vacancy currently exists in the Finance Department for the position of Payroll Officer.

POSITION SUMMARY: This position is primarily responsible for preparing and processing all payroll transactions, calculating employee benefits and deductions, along with other related payroll functions. In addition, this position is expected to provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers, while functioning in accordance with established procedures, policies, and governing regulations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • Calculate employee salary hours • Prepare payroll reports noting all payouts and deductions • Address salary-related concerns and provide accurate payroll information • Identify, investigate, and resolve all timesheet and payroll

discrepancies • Ensure that supporting documentation are accurately filed and accessible for audits • Preparing & submitting monthly C-10 NIB forms SKILLS /COMPETENCY EXPECTATIONS: • Good time management, planning and organizing skills • Ability to work productively with minimal supervision • Make sound, independent judgements within policy guidelines • Exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with complex,

confidential, and sensitive issues • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of work • Computer literacy, including familiarity with common word processing, spreadsheet, database, and basic software (Microsoft Excel and Word) • Ability to multi-task efficiently • Adaptability and willingness to meet evolving department demands and skillset requirements • Maintain files and records so they remain updated and easily accessible REQUIREMENTS: • Associate degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited education institution • Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Payroll and/or general accounting procedures • Knowledge of relevant accounting software eg: Sage,ISL Interested persons can visit the Human Resources Department to submit their resume and cover letter for application by Monday, November 1, 2021.

former chief operating officer, Christina Alstom,” FTI Consulting’s report revealed.

“Heastie told FTI that while the tender could have been handled better, BPL took proactive steps to ensure fairness and transparency. These included hiring a third party to independently evaluate bids and hosting a public bid opening ceremony attended by bidders and members of the press.

“After the award to Shell, the Office of the Prime Minister engaged EY to examine BPL’s tender process. FTI reviewed EY’s report and found that while it noted several deviations from tendering best practices, it refrained from comment on the propriety of the award to Shell,” the document continued.

“Prime Minister Hubert Minnis was quoted in the press as saying that EY had found minor irregularities, but none that would have changed the outcome of the bidding. Heastie made a similar comment to FTI.” The FTI Consulting Report, though, said there was nothing to support suggestions that Mrs Osborne had objected to the deal while BPL chair. “Osborne

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 21 reportedly objected to entering into a contract with Shell prior to a review by outside counsel,” the document added.

“In interviews with FTI, neither Heastie nor [Ferron] Bethell recalled Osborne ever requesting that outside counsel review a contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell, although both confirmed that the entire Board reviewed it, including Osborne as well as Bethell, who is a lawyer by trade. Further, FTI’s review of BPL Board minutes found no indication Osborne voiced objections on the issue.”

It is unclear whether Shell North America will still be responsible for taking over the new 220 MW of generation capacity, and supplying BPL via a power purchase agreement (PPA), or if its interest will be restricted to supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the plant’s primary fuel from a $270m facility proposed to be constructed at Clifton Pier.

The newly-elected Davis administration must now decide whether to pursue negotiations with Shell North America to a conclusion after the latter was unable to seal the deal with its predecessor. It is thought that completion of an agreement is linked to BPL successfully concluding its mammoth $535m rate

reduction bond refinancing, which is also under review by the Government.

Mr Bethell QC, senior partner at Harry B Sands, Lobosky & Company as well as a BPL director, indicated to FTI Consulting that the former government and Board might be “rethinking” selling the power plants to Shell “and whether it is in the best interest of the Bahamian public to do so”.

“Bethell expressed a personal belief that BPL should own a majority of the power station, the land and the jetties yet to be constructed,” the report added. “BPL ownership, he argued, would allow The Bahamas to take advantage of the large number of LNG-powered cruise ships that pass New Providence and could refuel at Clifton Pier. Such a refuelling business could be lucrative for BPL.” With the BPL Board about to change, such views could well be moot.

However, the state-owned energy monopoly yesterday pushed back against the “erroneous assertion” that current chairman, Dr Donovan Moxey, had signed a $1.3m purchase order without wider Board approval. It added that it had provided all the necessary papers to FTI Consulting showing proper procedure was followed.

PAGE 22, Tuesday, October 26, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

NO CERTAINTY REVENUE TARGET-BEATING TO LAST

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A PROMINENT banker yesterday said it was too early to determine if the Government’s 20212022 fiscal first quarter

performance, where it beat revenue targets by $90m, is a sustainable trend.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief

executive, told Tribune Business more details were required because “some of these spikes are cyclical as opposed to long-term” thus making it impossible to judge whether revenues are on a lasting upturn.

He said: “I think you have to put that $90m into context, and the numbers aren’t presented in order to be able to validate it and corroborate it.

“We have cyclical earnings cycles, and we know that the third quarter of the government’s fiscal year, which is January to March, is traditionally the highest revenue earner. That’s when business licenses are paid, and that’s when property taxes are primarily due, etc etc.”

He added that the Government’s finances enjoy “tremendous buoyancy” during that period,

while hotels were reporting a strong July and August following the neartotal tourism industry lockdown experienced at the same time in 2020, thus boosting year-over-year comparisons.

Mr Bowe added: “We know that it is unlikely we have a budget surplus, in the sense of revenues exceeding expenses and, even if there is, at best it is only timing and cyclical.

That’s not actually a surplus that’s going to reduce the deficit and save money.

“If it was then I would expect that the Ministry of Finance would certainly highlight that they are ahead of their deficit target by $90m, and they would certainly be promoting that because that would help to build the confidence in the economic recovery timeline.”

Speaking ahead of the Davis administration’s planned supplemental Budget, Mr Bowe added: “I don’t expect much to change from the original Budget..... There is nothing much they can move around to find the fiscal headroom to do anything significantly different than what was already laid out this past July.

“Putting $100m to A, B and C, and $25m to D, from having it at $25m to A, B and C, and $100m to D, is not a fundamental shift. So I think from that perspective the Government will have its ability to reprioritise its spending but it’s not going to be able to change significantly the deficit projection or the borrowing plan that has already been set in motion.”

ATLANTIS CONFIRMS CORAL RE-OPENING

FROM PAGE 24

hotel workers being recalled to work, thereby avoiding employers having to decide whether to recall or release them once the ‘stay’ of a key Employment Act provision expires on December 13.

The Government last week signalled that the COVID-19 emergency orders will end on November 12 and not be renewed. This will trigger, some 30 days later, an end to the furlough period for workers sent home by their employers due to COVID-19.

The Employment Act provision, requiring employers to either recall or pay termination packages to workers some 90 days (13 weeks) after they have been sent home, will thus take effect once again on December 13.

The furlough period was always intended to end eventually, given that some workers will by have been at home for nearly 21 months due to COVID-19 come mid-December. Its cessation will thus give such employees closure and certainty, knowing that they will now either be recalled or handed termination packages.

However, while many workers will doubtless welcome receiving full severance pay after a long struggle to survive, they may also struggle to find new jobs in a shrunken economy with high unemployment.

As for employers, many may struggle to finance the termination packages mandated by law, following the devastation inflicted on revenues, cash flow and profits

by COVID-19.

“What it means is that the employer then has to make

a decision on whether to bring persons still on furlough back to work or give them severance packages,” Mr Woods said. “There are some indications that things are turning around a little bit, and that may mean less persons will be affected.

“The thing was to get past September, October and the first part of November.

We will be starting to ramp up for Christmas, which will pretty much take us into the busy season for the hotel industry. It may offset it or reduce the numbers. It’s not going to eliminate it [terminations].

“It looks like there are 35 percent on the low end, and 45 percent on the high end, still out on furlough. It’s still a significant amount, and we’re trying our best to get those persons in. We’re trying to ascertain the exact numbers now.”

AIRPORT AUTHORITY POSITION VACANT

Payables Officer – Finance Department The Airport Authority wishes to advise that a vacancy currently exists in the Finance Department for the position of Payables Officer.

POSITION SUMMARY: This position is primarily responsible for the ongoing maintenance and processing of all matters relating to payable transactions of the Finance Dept. Additionally, this position is expected to provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers, while functioning in accordance with established procedures, policies, and governing regulations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • Prepare, review, and verify invoices and payment requests • Process electronic payment transfers and other payments • Reconcile accounts payable transactions • Ensure that supporting documentation are accurately filed and accessible for audits • Maintain Accounts Payables aging schedules SKILLS /COMPETENCY EXPECTATIONS: • Good time management, planning and organizing skills • Ability to work productively with minimal supervision • Make sound, independent judgements within policy guidelines • Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with complex, confidential, and sensitive issues • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of work • Computer literacy, including familiarity with common word processing, spreadsheet, database, and basic software • Excellent written and verbal communications skills • Ability to multi-task efficiently • Adaptability and willingness to meet evolving department demands and skillset requirements • Maintain files and records so they remain updated and easily accessible REQUIREMENTS: • Associate degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited education institution • Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Accounts Payables and/or general accounting procedures • Knowledge of common accounting software eg: Sage, ISL Interested persons can visit the Human Resources Department to submit their resume and cover letter for application by Monday, November 1, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021, PAGE 23

BTC PARENT’S TOP EXECUTIVE IN BAHAMAS MEETINGS THE top executive at the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) immediate parent met with both competitors and union representatives on a recent visit to this nation.

Inge Smidts, Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) chief executive, also met with BTC’s senior management executives as part of her goal to reconnect in person with employees and stakeholders throughout the markets the carrier operates in.

The meeting with BTC executives came as the company finalised its strategy and key priorities

for 2022. BTC said it will continue to focus on narrowing the digital divide by providing greater access communications access via fibre-to-the-home services. The company will also concentrate on improving customer care for both residential and small business customers.

Ms Smidts said: “We must provide top notch services to our customers. That requires us to continue to look at our business through their eyes.

I’ve challenged the team to focus with granularity on the key issues and opportunities to step up and make

key changes to deliver positive momentum. We’ve delivered a lot in 2021, but in 2022, we must do even more.

“We believe in listening to our customers and responding to their needs.

We heard loud and clear the need for further investment in our fibre-to-the-home footprint. As a result, we delivered fibre-to-thehome in a number of key islands and communities including Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and New Providence this year.

“We launched our ‘Elevate’ campaign as we bundled all of our fixed and

mobile services, becoming the first in country to truly launch a quad play, onebill solution for customers.

And then we continued to innovate by addressing key customer service issues with the introduction of our WhatsApp Bot, new contact centres and solutions for small business customers, and our virtual store.”

Ms Smidts also met with the president and secretary-general of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), Sherry Benjamin and Javotte Moncur, who represent BTC’s line staff workers.

She added: “Positive relationships with our union partners are critical to me and to the company. I was happy to meet with Sherry and Javotte, firstly to congratulate them on their recent win and to discuss some pertinent issues.

Our colleagues are our single most important priority, and will continue to meet with and work with our union partners to ensure that we maintain a healthy relationship.”

Ms Smidts also met with Franklyn Butler II, Cable Bahamas’ chief executive.

“It is important that we maintain good relationships

with all of our stakeholders including our competitors,” she said.

“At the end of the day, we are all allies working to provide telecommunications services to all Bahamians no matter where they are.

When we compete, our customers win, and that’s what’s most important.”

Ms Smidts will return to The Bahamas early next month for a meeting with Prime Minister Philip Davis and senior government officials. The Government holds a 49 percent equity stake in BTC, although C&W has the controlling interest.

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021

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BPL’s Shell deal process ‘oblique’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power & Light’s (BPL) efforts to outsource electricity generation on New Providence were “oblique” and not fully transparent over a deal ultimately won

by Shell North America.

A report by international consultants, commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office under the Minnis administration, reveals that even BPL’s then-chief operating officer “questioned the transparency and fairness” of a process that resulted in the

• Utility’s then-chief operating officer challenged ‘fairness’ • And EY found ‘deviations from best tendering practices’ • New report backs concerns aired to this paper in 2018 multinational energy giant’s North American arm winning the contract to install 220 Mega Watts (MW) in new generation capacity.

The FTI Consulting report, which has been seen

by Tribune Business, also found that an earlier review by the EY (Ernst & Young)

BAHAMAS POWER & LIGHT HEADQUARTERS accounting firm detected “several deviations from best tendering practices” in how a process that attracted 19 total bids was handled.

However, it was unable to find any evidence to support assertions that BPL’s former chairman, Darnell Osborne, had objected to

signing-off on the Shell deal prior to its terms being reviewed by outside attorneys. FTI Consulting said this was not supported by Board minutes, while other directors at the time could not recall her making such a request.

The report’s conclusions appeared to give BPL the benefit of the doubt over the Shell North America contract award, noting that the state-owned energy monopoly had made “proactive attempts at transparency” by hiring a third-party evaluator to assess the offers received as

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Pirate-themed operator eyes 250-job destination

RAGGED Island’s $2m solar microgrid by Tugliq Energy Company.

$2m BPL microgrid winner’s deal offload • Assigned rights to failed bidder same day signed contract • And entered final round despite ranking as second-lowest • ‘Discrepancies’ between winning bid and tender stipulation

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE winning bidder to develop Ragged Island’s $2m solar microgrid, on the same day it signed the deal with BPL, assigned all project rights to an entity that failed to make the final tender round.

Consultants hired by the Prime Minister’s Office described this as “concerning” in a report that detailed numerous flaws in the tendering process for a renewable energy solution designed to aid the

Hurricane Irma-stricken island’s revival.

FTI Consulting, in a document seen by Tribune Business, also said there was no evidence to show the winning bidder, Canadian-based Tugliq Energy Company, had obtained the $400,000 performance bond to guarantee its performance within the stipulated ten-day timeframe following the contract’s signing.

The same applied to Salt Energy, the company to which Tugliq assigned 100 percent of the project rights. And the report also

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By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN entrepreneur yesterday said he is seeking government support to create a new excursion destination that could generate up to 250 jobs and “significant opportunities” for Bahamians.

Tony Knowles, chief executive of Pirate’s Revenge, operator of the pirate-themed ship, the Blackbeard’s Revenge, said he is lobbying the Government for assistance in creating an excursion destination that would complement the ship.

He added that he was working with the previous administration on developing a “Treasure Island” destination for guests, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after he

launched Blackbeard’s Revenge at the end of 2019.

Declining to place a price tag on the investment required, Mr Knowles said: “I won’t say too much about it, but we will create a significant amount of opportunities for Bahamians.

“I have the capital pretty much raised. I have 225 to 250 people ready to work, could be more, but I need that support. I just don’t want to rock the boat so I cannot say too much about it.”

Blackbeard’s Revenge was forced to stop sailing from March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned to business in September 2021 when the cruise ships returned to Nassau.

Mr Knowles said: “I reduced operations. I had about 28 people. We

have 12 people today, and they are all on part-time salaries. We would like to bring in some more people.

But if I were to look into a looking glass and see into the future, I would have never have touched this. It’s with regret that I say this because now I’m stuck with an elephant.”

Blackbeard’s Revenge is currently operating at a loss as it does not have the passengers per voyage to turn a profit, something Mr Knowles hopes will change once more cruise ships start to come into Nassau.

“Disney has been our strongest supporter, but we have gotten nothing from Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean would send us 10 or 12 people at a time to pick up, but I’m not sure of their load capacity, so that’s a bit disappointing,” he added:

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Atlantis confirms Coral re-opening

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE hotel union’s president last night said the impact from Atlantis’ plan to re-open the Coral Towers in November will be determined by the number of employees recalled to work.

Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) president, spoke out after the Paradise Island mega resort confirmed to Tribune Business that the Coral Towers will re-open next month to accommodate guest demand associated with the return of the Battle 4 Atlantis pre-season college basketball tournament.

While this newspaper was informed the re-opening is set for November 15, an Atlantis spokesperson gave no specific date in their response to inquiries.

They said: “The Coral at Atlantis will re-open in advance of Battle 4 Atlantis to accommodate both the festive season demand and the fans, coaches, and student athletes travelling to experience the most anticipated NCAA tournament of the year. This year, the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament debuts November 20, followed by the Men’s Battle 4 Atlantis tournament starting November 24.”

Praising Atlantis’ decision to further expand its post-COVID opening, Mr Woods voiced optimism that more persons will be recalled from furlough to cater to increased visitor demand as The Bahamas kicks-off the start of the peak winter tourism season at Thanksgiving.

“We need to know how many persons are coming back before we see an impact,” he said. “Even though they are opening, it will be governed by occupancies. We have to see what the occupancy is because that dictates how many persons will be going back to work.

“It’s fine to re-open, but we have to see how many are impacted by it. We have to see what the numbers are. They don’t begin to pick up until the Thanksgiving period. It’s fine but we need to see the numbers before we start getting excited. It’s just a matter of how many persons are going to be affected by it.”

Emphasising that he was not seeking to diminish the importance of key tourism and hotel assets re-opening, Mr Woods added that the hotel union also wanted to know if the Coral Towers reopening will be sustained through the winter season.

“Once we get into discussions, we will get a better understanding of the period they are talking about,” he said. “They will be able to tell us what the forecast is and how long it will last.

“Any movement in the direction of re-opening and persons going back to work is welcome. We’re not ungrateful.

Anything that goes in the direction of re-opening and persons going back to work, we welcome. We will know how long it is going to be for, and the number of persons affected by it, in the next couple of days.”

Mr Woods on Monday said he was hoping that the approaching winter season will result in more furloughed

ENTRANCE ATLANTIS RESORT.

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KWASI THOMPSON

Ex-minister: Extra $90m shows our policies working

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN ex-Cabinet minister yesterday urged the Government to build on “the positive trend and headroom” left by the Minnis administration after revenues exceeded their first quarter target by $90m.

Kwasi Thompson, former minister of state for finance, responded to Tribune Business’ report by arguing that the revenue performance provides evidence that the former administration’s economic and fiscal policies were on track to haul The Bahamas out of its postCOVID slump.

“It is positive news that the Government’s revenue is $90m above projections for the first quarter of July, August and September 2021,” he said in a statement to this newspaper.

“This is additional confirmation that the policies of the Minnis administration

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