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‘WE’RE VICTIM OF YOUR MISTAKES’

ALICIA WALLACE IN GLASGOW: NOT A BEGGING BOWL BUT A DEMAND FOR CHANGE

- SEE PAGE EIGHT

Brave tells climate summit Bahamas needs action - now

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has urged world leaders to show courage in the fight against climate change, warning that the world is running out of time to prevent disaster.

His comments came during yesterday’s COP26 summit in Scotland where as many as 130 world leaders and thousands of diplomats, experts and activists have gathered

to discuss climate change and to negotiate steps to slow the rise of global temperatures.

Scientists warn that if temperature rise isn’t kept beneath 1.5 degrees Celsius, the planet will experience devastating effects like more deadly floods and more intense droughts.

Mr Davis said more must be done to ensure meetings like the latest summit are more successful than they have been in the past.

SEE PAGE THREE

QUESTIONS OVER CHRISTIE GOVT’S FUNDING TO BAMSI

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration’s investment in the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) could not be fully accounted for but may have hit $80m, an ex-minister affirmed yesterday.

Michael Pintard, former minister of agriculture and marine resources, said there was “no way” for the Minnis administration to trace and determine the

extent of the taxpayer’s commitment in setting up the north Andros school in 2013-2014 because its predecessor had channelled expenditure through multiple ministries and agencies.

With an outlay of at least $50m confirmed, he said the last administration imposed “a range of controls” at BAMSI after an audit it commissioned detected “mischief” and irregularities relating to how funds were being spent.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

LET’S HOPE THEY LISTEN, BRAVE PRINCE WILLIAM, right, speaks with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis during a meeting with Earthshot prize winners and heads of state on the sidelines of the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

Photo: Alastair Grant/AP

$90M HOSPITAL PROJECTS NOW FACE ‘CONCERNS’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government is hoping to meet with the BECK Group to discuss several concerns relating to a $90m contract signed between the company and the former administration

for key infrastructural upgrades to public health facilities in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville told reporters yesterday that the funds allocated for the multi-million-dollar project are now at the Central Bank.

In July, an agreement was struck between BECK, the Public Hospitals Authority and the Ministry of Health for the construction of a new maternal and child health tower at PMH and a new four-level facility at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

It was also revealed that

infrastructural upgrades were earmarked for wards at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

Yesterday, Dr Darville said of the agreement: “Prior to coming into office, we are aware of the monies that were put in place via SEE PAGE FOUR

‘PLEASE TELL ME HOW MY SON DIED’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE mother of the prison inmate found dead on Monday is asking officials to come forward with answers to her son’s death.

Police have not yet classified the sudden death of 29-year-old Mikhail Miller, whose body was found with apparent injuries at the Bahamas Department Correctional Services.

MIKHAIL Miller and his mother, Rose.

However, the victim’s mother, Rose Miller, said the family believes he was

killed. Mrs Miller said she was informed about her son’s death by the prison chaplain, who offered little to no details about the incident.

She said informants at the prison alleged her son was beaten, however this has not been confirmed by any official report.

“I had gotten information from the prison that my son was ganged in the cell and

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PAGE 2, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

‘Please tell me how my son died’ from page one

MIKHAIL MILLER

beat... and (thrown) into this F2 cell. And I asked someone at the prison what this F2 cell and they told me it’s the quarantine cell,” she said.

In an earlier interview on Tuesday, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe told reporters that officials were awaiting an autopsy report to determine the victim’s exact cause of death.

He also said there are no plans to tighten security measures at the prison until investigations have been concluded into the incident.

“You will have an autopsy and the doctor will determine the cause of death,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.

“So, for instance, you may see a body that has injury to it but you wouldn’t know if that was inflicted by somebody. The starting point will be an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The prison would do an internal investigation and the police will do an investigation because it will be a sudden death.”

Yesterday, Mrs Miller said her family is prepared to take legal action if foul play is involved.

“I went over to the prison today to speak to someone... like the head of the prison,” she said, “and they told me they will take my number and make an appointment to speak with the Commissioner... There was a lady who spoke with me on the phone and said ‘oh, can we have a number where we could reach you because none of the Commissioner or the assistant are on the compound right now?’

“But, I’m looking for answers and I would even like to speak to the minister to see which officer was on duty at the time of my child because they found him unresponsive in the cell and that means whoever

MR Miller was described by his mother as “well-mannered” but had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis. was on duty wasn’t checking because if they were checking, and further if he was beaten and if he had bruises on him, why wasn’t the family informed? Why didn’t they take him to the doctor at the Princess Margaret Hospital?”

Mrs Miller said her son, who had “mental issues”, was imprisoned in October after she went to police to ask them for help to get her son transported to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre for help.

“He was diagnosed by the doctors at Sandilands with schizophrenia and psychosis because he was laced and everyone knows how hard I struggled with my son. I went to the police station and I asked them to help me to get my son to Sandilands and they said that I have to give them a reason for him to go to Sandilands and so I said (a judge) had a warrant of arrest for him because he went and bothered with my neighbour and she has bound him over to the peace and he was supposed

to go back to court, but never went.

“He had also taken some shoes for his brother and the judge had told him that he needs to pay the money for whatever he had stolen.

Well, he did not go back to the court so the judge put a warrant out there for him so I told them to put him in front of (the judge in question) because she knows of his situation.

“But they said that they didn’t see the warrant into the system and so I said I need help to get him off the street and so they said ‘well, did he steal (anything from you)’ and I said yes he take my tablet (and) my phone and they said that will be a reason to get him off the street.”

However, Mrs Miller stressed that she never wanted for him to go to prison contrary to social media reports and had even asked the judge in court to send him to Sandilands.

Yesterday, the mother-offour described her son as a “well-mannered” person in spite of his challenges.

BODY FOUND WITH LEG BITTEN OFF POLlCE are investigating an apparent drowning after a man – whose leg appeared to be partially bitten off – was pulled from waters off New Providence.

Shortly before 9am on Monday officers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, while patrolling the

northern coastline of the island, recovered from the sea the unresponsive body of an Asian man.

The victim’s left leg appeared to have been bitten off, police said. He was taken to shore where Emergency Medical Services examined the body

and pronounced him dead.

While the matter was listed as an apparent drowning, police said they will await an autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death and an identification by a next of kin to confirm the victim’s identity. An investigation is continuing.

MAN IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING A MAN is in hospital after he was shot on Monday night.

Police said after 10pm, officers responded to sounds of gunshots in the area of Prison Lane.

While on the way to the

scene, officers saw a vehicle that had run into the wall of the Police Headquarters compound on East Street.

A guy got out of the vehicle and started running north on East Street.

He was intercepted and it was discovered that he was suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where his condition is not known at this time.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 3

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in at the COP26 UN Climate Summit yesterday.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

‘We’re victim of your mistakes’ from page one “We in The Bahamas will do what we can,” he said, “but the limits of what our nation’s effort can accomplish are stark: we cannot out-run your carbon emissions, we cannot out-run the hurricanes which are growing more powerful and we cannot out-run rising sea levels, as our islands disappear beneath the seas.

“Hurricane Dorian, that monster Category 5 hurricane which devastated two of our main islands, feels like it descended upon us just yesterday. We still don’t know exactly how many died. And some people still tremble at the first drop of rain.

“We are out of time, colleagues. A recent study declared that The Bahamas had the cleanest air in the world. Other studies have shown that our distinctive, beautiful, aquamarine seas are a magnificent carbon sink. Our seas reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The Bahamas is not now and never has been the problem. But yet we are forced to pay the price.

“We are among the ‘Top 10 Most-Vulnerable-IslandNation States’ in the world.

And the question I have for

my colleagues today is: are we brave enough for this moment? Are we braver than our predecessors who led our nations at the previous 25 climate change meetings? Can we summon the courage and ingenuity and determination to succeed, where they did not?

Promises and agreements are easy. Action – specific and concrete policy changes – is a lot harder.

Action requires courage.

Every leader before us has postponed until tomorrow what needed to happen yesterday. And now tomorrow is here, today, and countries like mine are out of time.”

It is hoped that during the summit countries will set new targets for cutting emissions on the fossil fuels that are heating the planet.

The latest United Nationshosted conference is considered crucial because scientists believe the world is running out of time to keep temperatures from rising above the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold.

Mr Davis said countries like The Bahamas need support through financing and technology-transfers to “rebuild for resilience”.

He said: “Without change - if we are lucky - we will become refugees. Without change - if we are unlucky

- then we will be left to the mercy of future Hurricane Dorians. More of my people will die. More will be left traumatised and homeless. People will be forced to flee... but flee to where? These are my neighbours, my family, my friends. My plea is both urgent and deeply personal.

And I make it on behalf of all humanity.”

Other world leaders have sounded the alarm over climate change during the conference. On Monday, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned that a two degree Celsius rise in global temperatures would be a “death sentence” for island and coastal communities.

“We do not want that dreaded death sentence and we have come here to say, try harder,” she said.

“This is immoral, and it is unjust.

“Are we so blinded and hardened that we can no longer appreciate the cries of humanity?

“If our existence is to mean anything, then we must act in the interest of all of our people who are dependent on us.

“And if we don’t, we will allow the path of greed and selfishness to sow the seeds of our common destruction,” Ms Mottley said.

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis reviewing his speech with his wife, Ann Marie Davis, in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday.

ACTIVIST: PM’S SPEECH UNDERWHELMING

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AFTER Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ speech to world leaders, one environmental activist has called out the government’s response to local environmental issues.

“What an entirely underwhelming presentation,” said reEarth president Sam Duncombe when contacted for comment yesterday.

“So we should do

SAM Duncombe of reEarth.

nothing, but fly around and beg for money?

Perhaps the developed polluting countries would be more inclined to help if they didn’t watch us approve some of the most devastating projects that have huge implications for climate change,” she said.

Ms Duncombe highlighted the alleged failings of the administration in addressing local environmental issues.

“To date they have not responded to our continued

requests for a meeting regarding the ill-conceived greenhouse gas spewing (from the) Disney cruise port,” she said.

“We have allowed the cruise industry to infiltrate some of our most delicate and fragile marine protected areas.

“Our environmental review process is nothing but a sham covering up for proper consultation and honest review of projects.

“We thought this was a ‘new day;’ sounds a lot

like same day, same vacant rhetoric.”

Last month, Ms Duncombe suggested The Bahamas pivot away from the multiple cruise industry investments which the Minnis administration had been promoting, such as Disney’s Lighthouse Point project; ITM/Royal Caribbean’s Grand Lucayan agreement and Carnival’s Grand Bahama private port, describing the sector as the “most highly-polluting tourism product we can offer”.

BAHAMAS TO BENEFIT FROM AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE THE Bahamas will benefit from the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) – a major new initiative led by the United Arab Emirates and United States with the support of over 30 governments.

AIM for Climate was officially launched yesterday and announced an “early harvest” of $4 billion of increased investment to accelerate innovation for climate-smart agriculture and food systems over the next five years.

The initiative, launched as part of the World Leaders’ Summit at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference

(COP26), aims to increase and accelerate agricultural and food systems innovation in support of climate action. While farmers and ranchers around the world face the impacts of climate change on a daily basis, nearly 25 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.

AIM for Climate is focused on enabling innovation investment in a sector that employs over two billion people and feeds the world’s growing population.

AIM for Climate’s diverse list of supporters include over 30 countries from six continents, including the recent addition of Azerbaijan, Canada,

and the United Kingdom, as well as numerous other non-governmental agencies.

According to a press release, The Bahamas is a benefitting country for one of the Innovation Sprint Partners part of AIM for Climate: soil organic carbon sequestration opportunities in soils of Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The objective of this project is to contribute to the design of land use and management with high potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural production systems of Latin America and

Caribbean (LAC) and to build capacities in LAC for the quantification and monitoring of SOC stocks.

The project is expected to be completed by May 2025 with a total investment of approximately $1.5m,” the press release noted.

John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, said: “The United States is proud to be launching the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative alongside the United Arab Emirates and over 80 partners across the globe. Investment in climate-smart agriculture innovation is critical to addressing the climate crisis. Innovation

can reduce emissions, feed the world’s growing population, and help farmers and ranchers mitigate and adapt to climate change.

AIM for Climate has an impressive start, garnering $4 billion in increased investment in climatesmart agriculture and food systems innovation thus far, but together AIM for Climate partners can and must do more to catalyze even greater investment in the years ahead. I look forward to seeing what AIM for Climate can accomplish and encourage more to join this effort.”

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE special envoy for climate change and

UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: “AIM for Climate is focusing on a sector that has been previously overlooked in terms of the opportunities it offers for global climate action. This initiative demonstrates the UAE’s holistic and inclusive approach to climate action, which characterizes our offer to host COP28.

The United Arab Emirates has already driven change in the energy sector through green innovation and growth, investing over $17 billion in clean energy around the world. AIM for Climate is a smart extension of that investment strategy.”

PAGE 4, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

$90M HOSPITAL PROJECTS NOW FACE ‘CONCERNS’ from page one

the World Bank through another facility. I understand that the money is now presently at the Central

Bank. Our Ministry of Finance is fully aware of it.

“We realise that we need to meet with the BECK Group and there are some concerns and those concerns will be brought to the

forefront in short order.”

This comes as nurses continue to complain over “poor” working conditions in public health.

Last week, Bahamas Nurses Union President

Amancha Williams told The Tribune that the union was considering filing a trade dispute after several workers were left seriously injured on the job in September.

Yesterday, Dr Darville reiterated that there is a need for redevelopment of public health facilities that he said the government hopes to address soon.

“I can assure you that this

administration will focus on infrastructure reform and do everything in our power to make sure the working environment for our nurses and healthcare professionals are up to standard,” he said.

SANDS: A FOURTH WAVE COULD STILL HIT COUNTRY

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Health Minister Dr Duane Sands believes the coast is not clear in the fight against COVID-19 and that a fourth wave is possible despite current falling case numbers.

“We are seeing a reduction in the number of cases confirmed daily. We’re seeing a reduction in the number of persons hospitalised. We have not had any characterisation of deaths in many days and so we now have some 67 odd cases left to be characterised,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“So, once those cases are adjudicated, I suspect that we will see another spike in terms of number of deaths from COVID, but, you know, let’s be grateful we don’t have 150 people hospitalised from COVID that our emergency rooms are not over-runned, but do not translate that into suggesting COVID is gone.”

He added that the recommendations ought to be to maintain a high level of adherence to all of the public health measures that work which means wearing masks, being socially distant, using hand sanitiser or hand washing, avoiding crowds, avoiding indoor

DR DUANE SANDS

activity wherever possible and making sure eligible persons get vaccinated.

According to a Ministry of Health release dated November 1, there were only 14 newly confirmed cases on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 22,429. Six hundred and forty-three people have died from COVID-19, however 67 other deaths are under investigation.

Seventy-one people are in hospital with the virus.

“We are always optimistic when there are fewer patients in hospital, fewer deaths, less sick patients, but I don’t want anybody to believe that COVID is gone,” Dr Sands also said.

“We need only look at what’s happening in Europe and Great Britain in particular where they have seen a surge to historic levels in terms of number of cases and that’s in an environment in which vaccinations have proceeded quite well. We have not reached the same level of vaccination.

“So we’ve seen three major spikes around the world – first, second, and third wave. Let’s hope and pray that we don’t see a fourth, but unless there has been some dramatic change in the biology of this virus I think we are probably going to see another wave.”

TOWNHOUSE’S HELPING HAND FOR HARBOUR ISLAND STUDENTS

2021 Scholarship recipient Aloa Higgs.

2020 Scholarship recipient Amelia Grant.

ROMALIA’S Townhouse donated 65 backpack school bags and 36 drawstring bags with assorted school supplies, nutritional snacks and toiletries to the Harbour Island All Age School last month.

The schoolbags were presented to grades ten and 11 at Romalia’s Townhouse and the drawstring bags as well as crayons, binders, presentation slides and more were given to vice principal Lucy Longley for distribution and use by the school.

Also benefiting from the remaining surplus of school supplies and toiletries was the North Eleuthera High School and several younger children within the neighborhood near Romalia’s Townhouse.

Representatives of Romalia’s Townhouse also presented Aloa Higgs with the 2021 Legacy Scholarship Award and laptop.

Ms Higgs was gracious to share her moment with her schoolmate Amelia Grant, the 2020 Legacy Scholarship Award Recipient who received her award last year without an event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aloa served as prefect for grade 11 and was recently elected as head girl. She

has already distinguished herself as a budding entrepreneur and owns a handmade crocheting business named “Yarn It Up”. She offers crocheted ideas such as bathing suits, clothes, hats, masks and other creative items. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer and looks forward to studying fashion design and presenting her creative products to the world. Meanwhile, she is committed to maintaining a high, grade point average, remaining on the principal’s list and obtaining her National High School Diploma.

Amelia is in grade 12 and is looking forward to graduating, pursuing a higher education and making her mark within the Harbour Island community.

She has a strong love and interest in photographing nature, beaches, animals, foods and other intriguing things. She is hoping to attend an Arts and Design College focusing her studies on interior design, photography and videography. She has a dual interest in becoming an artist and/ or a pharmacist.

The Romalia’s Townhouse Legacy Scholarship is given in memory of Romalia Bethel Albury, whom

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the townhouse vacation rental is named after. She was an educator from the age of 14 and taught in both the public and Catholic schools in Harbour Island.

In her late 80s she retired from teaching at St Thomas More Primary Catholic school in Nassau. Her love for family and our country’s youth extended beyond academics in the classroom as she taught piano lessons at her home. Her strong commitment of faith kept her family together.

The schoolbag program,e is dedicated to the memories of Romalia Bethel Albury, Regina Albury Nixon-Johnson and Sr Cecilia Albury, OSB. Romalia is the grandmother of the owner of Romalia’s Townhouse, Regina is her mother and Sr Cecilia is her aunt. Both Regina and Cecilia, daughters of Romalia, supported and participated in the scholarship, laptop and schoolbag programmes from the onset in 2017 until their demise in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Lorette and her husband Marlon Soudatt are committed to keeping the legacy of these three phenomenal women alive and to giving back to the island in which they were born and served.

Special thanks are extended to Delta Airlines and Seacor Island Lines for donating the cost of freight.

Delta Air Lines shipped the schoolbags and supplies from New York to Fort Lauderdale and Seacor Island Lines shipped the items from Fort Lauderdale to Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Both companies continue to give back worldwide to many annually.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 5

Gibson disputes news report

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has taken issue with an article appearing in a local daily saying it contains evidence of “parroting a political claptrap” on social media.

The article titled, “Gibson tried to speak privately to magistrate in defamation case” appeared on the front page of The Nassau Guardian yesterday.

The article said the former Water and Sewerage Corporation executive chairman barged into a courtroom and interrupted the magistrate who was on lunch break because he wanted to speak to her privately.

The trial in question is being presided over by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt and it involves contractor Gregory Miller who is being accused of defaming Mr Gibson by transferring $200 to his RBC account on December 31, 2018. He is also accused of making defamatory remarks during a TV appearance in June 2019.

Yesterday in a statement, Mr Gibson gave his version of the story calling the article, “inaccurate”.

This morning, I read a story in The Nassau Guardian that asserts that I ‘barged’ into a courtroom and disrupted a magistrate during her lunch break in an effort to speak to her privately,” Mr Gibson said.

“That is inaccurate reporting and evidences a parroting of political claptrap on social media that has become all too common

FORMER Water and Sewerage Corporation executive chairman Adrian Gibson. and demonstrates not the slightest effort to be fair and balanced.

“Interestingly, the story also gives an account of what was happening outside of the court (ie references to purported ‘loud complaining’ of the defendant) and what was supposedly happening inside the court – all at the same time,” he said.

Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt is quoted in the Guardian’s article as saying, “Mr Gibson, I see myself as a referee, to hear both sides. As an officer of the court, you should have never come to me.”

It says she then asked Mr Gibson to state what he wanted to tell her publicly.

And, that he addressed press reports that the magistrate had given prosecutors a final adjournment after witnesses had failed to appear.

In his statement, Mr

Gibson continued to defend himself indicating possible legal action.

“Contrary to the story, in my comments before the court, I did not reference any press reports as I am unaware of any prior mainstream press report on these proceedings,” he said.

“Today, and in recent weeks, I have instructed my legal counsel to take note of certain liberties being taken with a view to bringing actions, as necessary.”

Listing his version of the facts, Mr Gibson said former Works Minister Desmond Bannister and three other prosecution witnesses attended court at 10am Monday. Mr Gibson is claiming that he nor the other witnesses knew of the previous court dates for the trial.

He is also refuting the article’s claims that he tried to speak privately to

court officials.

“During that time, Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt informed us that there were three prior hearings of the case and that yesterday had been set down for a final adjournment given that none of the witnesses had previously appeared for trial,” he said. “Put simply, the case would have been dismissed if we had not shown up yesterday.

“Having discussed certain matters with external counsel and, given the magistrate’s comments during the earlier hearing, I sought to speak with the prosecutor. I attempted to reach him by phone but was unable to do so.

“However, I took note of when he later entered the courtroom.

“Given the same, I subsequently entered the courtroom where he was sitting and had begun

chatting with the Magistrate. At no time did I barge into a courtroom, as was falsely and sensationally reported.”

Mr Gibson explained his version of how the magistrate handled the situation of him having to bring something to the court’s attention.

“I did not expect to see the magistrate when I entered the court room as the matter had not yet been reconvened,” he said. “Upon seeing her, I bowed and, in open court (not in chambers, side bar or anywhere else), I then indicated to the magistrate that there were two issues that I was desirous to bring to the court’s attention,” he said. “At no time did I seek to speak privately or circumvent protocol.

“The magistrate then stated that if that was the case, both the defence counsel and the defendant would have to be present.

I had no issues with that and stated the same. I then informed the magistrate that I wanted to speak to the prosecutor beforehand.

“The prosecutor stepped out and we went into a small room in the foyer of the court. At that time, I apprised him of what I intended to say to the court.

Following that conversation, we returned to the courtroom. Mr Ian Cargill - counsel for the defendant - was already seated. The magistrate then asked her clerk to invite the defendant into the room.”

Mr Gibson said it was he who requested that what he had to say be put on the court’s record.

“It was at this juncture

that I told the magistrate that I wanted my comments on the record, otherwise, my comments would have only been between the prosecution, the defence and the magistrate,” he said.

He said the magistrate then directed her clerk to also call the press into the courtroom and once that happened, the magistrate publicly commented that she did not want to see me privately and that defence counsel and the defendant should always be present.

“I then stated that that was never my intent,” he continued. “At that juncture, I informed the magistrate that I had heard her comments earlier that morning about that day having been set down as a final adjournment because none of the prosecution witnesses had shown up to testify.

“I reiterated that I had not received any summons to appear and informed her that I had recently written a letter to the commissioner of police and director of public prosecutions seeking clarity on the same and that I was subsequently served summons a week ago.

“That, given the likely prospect of the court fixing further hearing dates, that I wanted to inform the court of upcoming parliamentary debates - namely, the ongoing debate on the Speech from the Throne and the upcoming Debate on the Supplemental Budget, which would likely require my attendance in Parliament for consecutive days of debate,” he said.

Due to the lack of a stenographer, the trial was adjourned to December 7.

PESTCO WORERS UNHAPPY AT LACK OF SEVERANCE PAY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

ABOUT ten disgruntled employees at Pestco Maintenance & Supply Co Ltd and Verified Services Bahamas have not received their severance pay more than a year after the establishments closed.

The employees’ length of service range from seven to 40 years. They are currently receiving unemployment benefits from the National Insurance Board.

“We are frustrated because it’s been 19 months since we have been unemployed, and we have not received our severance pay from the company,” said Charmaine Francis.

Ms Francis, one of six full-time workers at Pestco, has put in seven years of service with the company.

There was also one contracted worker and three full-time employees at Verified Services Bahamas.

Pestco and Verified Services were among the businesses in Freeport devastated during Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.

The businesses reopened in October, but closed in March following the government-imposed lockdown and shutdown of the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Ms Francis,

when staff inquired whether the business had closed, their employer assured them they were not closed, but did not provide them with any timeline as to when they would reopen.

“They left us high and dry...” she said in a statement.

She claimed the employers were never direct about when or if the company would reopen. They were told to collect the NIB forms at the office and fill them out so they could receive unemployment benefits.

Ms Francis indicated that staff are upset because they have given many years of loyal service.

“We were like a family and we feel like we were discarded,” she said.

“The majority of the staff members have been with the company over 30-plus years and some for 40 years,” she said. “We only found out that the company had officially closed its doors when we went to the Department of Labour in May this year.”

Meetings were scheduled at the Department of Labour, but the employers reportedly did not show up, The Tribune was told.

“She has said that she has no money to pay us,” claimed Ms Francis.

We want our severance pay. We are upset and

disappointed, and never expected that (we) would be treated like this by our employer.”

The employee claimed they were informed that the employer is selling the property and that they would have to wait.

“This is totally unfair to us… and how we are being treated after giving all those years of faithful service,” she said.

“Why do we have to wait for them to sell off their assets? We need our monies. I am just in disbelief that the employer has chosen to handle staff members in such an unprofessional and uncaring manner,” Ms Francis said.

The two companies are both run by the same family. Attempts were made to reach company officials at Pestco, however, the telephone number was no longer in service.

Yesterday, an official at the Department of Labour confirmed that ten employees at Pestco and Verified Services Bahamas are seeking severance pay. He said the department is preparing the matter for referral.

The official stated that two employees have come in and signed for the matter to be referred, but they are still awaiting for the other workers to come in and sign.

The officer said once all

UPDATE ON ONION SAFETY ALERT THE Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority has issued an update on the ongoing trace back investigation regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions distributed throughout the US. Leading the investigation are the FDA and CDC, that have identified two suppliers linked to the affected onions which were imported from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, ie, ProSource Produce, (also known as ProSource Inc) of Hailey, Idaho, and Keeler Family Farms of Deming, New Mexico.

Additional recalls have been made by Potandon Produce and two direct-tohome meal kit companies, HelloFresh and EveryPlate,

that sold recalled onions or products containing the recalled onions due to potential contamination.

The FDA continues to advise “not to use, ship, or sell red, yellow, or white onions supplied by ProSource Produce or Keeler Family Farms that were imported from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, or food products containing such onions” and to throw them out, including those in the meal-kits. The source of the contamination has not yet been determined, however, consumers may visit the FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts site at https://www.fda. gov/safety/recalls-marketwithdrawals-safety-alerts for additional updates and to view the product brands and codes affected.

Most persons who show

symptoms of a Salmonella infection develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases may be fatal. If you or anyone in your family becomes ill as a result of consuming any potentially contaminated onions, contact the nearest health professional and inform the Ministry of Health Surveillance Unit.

Remember to wash and sanitise your hands and work surfaces when handling and preparing food.

Please send all other concerns and queries to bahfsa@bahamas.gov.bs Visit BAHFSA on Facebook and at www.bahfsabahamas.com.

employees have signed, an official request will be sent

to the Minister of Labour, who has the authority to

refer the matter to the Industrial Tribunal.

Public Notice Lighthouse Point

The public is advised that the Construction Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Disney Cruise Line’s project at Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera, The Bahamas, has been available for public review since October 15, 2021.

The EMP was submitted to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) and reviewed by DEPP and third-party international firm Black & Veatch, under DEPP’s direction.

The development, a Cruise Ship Destination, will include an open-trestle pier and marina that don’t require dredging, open-air buildings and other structures, walking paths, a new public roadway, service roads, and back-of-house support areas. The development will utilize 16% of the 758-acre site, with Disney donating 25% of the site to the people and Government of The Bahamas. Bahamian residents and citizens will have access to the site.

Information about the project and a downloadable version of the EMP are available at http://www.lighthousepointbahamas.com.

The EMP is available to the public for review at DEPP offices in Nassau and the Eleuthera Administrator’s Office in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, during normal business hours.

The public is invited to send written comments to

inquiries@depp.gov.bs no later than 14 working days after the public posting of the EMP or November 4, 2021, by 5:00pm.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

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PM Davis brings clear voice to climate talks PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis spoke on behalf of our future before the world yesterday.

When he stood up at the COP26 climate change summit in Scotland, he spoke clearly about the danger we face.

More, he talked about the danger we have already faced – the impact of Hurricane Dorian which tore apart Abaco and Grand Bahama and from which he said “we still don’t know exactly how many died”, and warned that without action “more of my people will die”.

The climate change conference is the latest global attempt to take on the threat of rising temperatures, and with it rising seas, deadly floods, devastating droughts and more.

Mr Davis took on the subject head on.

“We in The Bahamas will do what we can,” he said, “but the limits of what our nation’s effort can accomplish are stark: we cannot outrun your carbon emissions, we cannot outrun the hurricanes which are growing more powerful, and we cannot outrun rising sea levels, as our islands disappear beneath the seas.”

There is a sense with this conference that this is a moment that cannot slip past. Too many times before, the great and the good have gathered and nodded and furrowed their brows – then nothing has happened.

There is a frustration that has built with that, a determination not to allow the greatest polluters to get away with lip service when it comes to action.

Mr Davis echoed that sentiment too.

“We are out of time, colleagues,” he said. “A recent study declared that The Bahamas had the cleanest air in the world. Other studies have shown that our distinctive, beautiful, aquamarine seas are a magnificent carbon sink. Our seas reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The Bahamas is not now and never has been the problem. But yet we are forced to pay the price.

“We are among the ‘Top 10 MostVulnerable-Island-Nation States’ in the world. And the question I have for my colleagues today is: are we brave enough for this moment? Are we braver than our predecessors who led our nations at the previous 25 climate change meetings? Can we summon the courage and ingenuity and determination to succeed, where they did not? Promises and agreements are easy. Action – specific and concrete policy changes – is a lot harder.

Action requires courage. Every leader before us has postponed until tomorrow what needed to happen yesterday. And now tomorrow is here, today, and countries like mine are out of time.”

We applaud Mr Davis for his speech.

He’s right. Every word of it.

He warned of the risk of our citizens becoming refugees or worse if nothing is done to check climate change. And he put faces to those who would be affected, saying “these are my neighbours, my family, my friends”, adding: “My pleas is both urgent and deeply personal.”

We hope this is not all we shall hear from him on the topic. We hope that with a topic this important he will remain a thorn in the side of nations who are not taking action for years to come.

We also hope he speaks so clearly on subjects closer to home, that he demonstrates a willingness to tell it like it is, and to take action both on matters related to the environment around us, and other issues affecting the nation.

This was a moment for Mr Davis to add his voice to the world stage.

We hope this is not the end of it – and that he can help to bring about the real action that is needed to help us all.

Health contract It seems we keep hearing about concerns about this contract or that contract. It seems the new government finds fault with every contract it can find – which makes one uncertain if there are problems across the board or whether politics are playing a part.

The latest situation involves the BECK group and the $90m contract signed for infrastructure upgrades to health facilites in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The deal would have seen a new maternity and child health tower at Princess Margaret Hospital and a new four-level facility at the Rand Memorial in Grand Bahama. There were also upgrades for wards at Sandilands.

Health Minister Dr Michael Darville would go no further than saying there were “concerns” and that the government plans to meet the BECK group.

Our health infrastructure is in desperate need of improvement – and expansion. We hope these concerns can swiftly be resolved and the projects can get going. And we hope that if that is the case, Dr Darville speaks clearly about what those concerns were and why they were able to move on – rather than leaving a faint feeling of uncertainty in the air.

If you owe, then pay up EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT IS disturbing that seemingly there was a very relaxed policy in the Minnis Administration concerning the basic collection of taxes.

The mention by PM Davis that there is a single person a developer who owes $1.4m sends cold shivers down my back... friends can be friends but bills — tax liabilities have to be paid or Government will have to be forced to raise taxes. Hope the tax collection reinforcement group will sweep and act... zero discounts Minister... you owe, you pay others have.

Reading through the PLP Supplementary Budget a serious omission, left out, was a stricter approach on controllable — a basic management must-do. We simply can’t earn in The Bahamas and before the

cash has hit your bank account jump on Bahamasair and head for the Florida Malls — sorry we just can’t continue to do that.

Seen in Letters to Editor estimates of $2-300m tax revenue lost... with VAT added that is a further $20m! Really unless you lie to Customs there is no savings add up all the costs.

Imagine how many new jobs could be created if this new level of purchasing would occur? PM-Minister of Finance you better look at this and soon. 15+K citizens like you and me have been out of work for 24 months.

Another controllable is our love for basically non-financial sports and such events – new stricter criteria should be put in place...unless the event creates a high occupancy in the hotels no sponsorship

— you are on your own... surely tourism views coverage of for example the American Football event and sees like us all virtually empty bleachers! The visual alone is very negative.

We are so hip and hype on Junkanoo, but it has to be said... Junkanoo does not attract visitors... without the parade on Boxing Day and New Years the hotels would be full that’s a fact – if 200 visitors attend the parades that’s high – make Junkanoo an attraction then, yes, but right now it isn’t.

Sorry Junkanoo groups, but there has to be financial responsibility as to how Treasury money is spent.

Need a facility for yearround parades. I for one support that.

J HUTCHINSON Nassau, October 30, 2021.

Christian Science and COVID-19 EDITOR, The Tribune I WAS taken aback after learning of two Grand Bahamian women who are adherents of Christian Science (not to be confused with L Ron Hubbard’s Scientology), a cult based in the north eastern region of the United States. Both women are Black.

Headquartered in Boston, Christian Science was established by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. She was a disciple of Dr Phineas Parkhurst Quimby – an American cultist, mental healer and hypnotist.

Paying lip-service to the Bible, Christian Science practitioners follow the teachings of Eddy in her volume Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

There’s absolutely nothing scientific or Christian about this religious sect, despite coming under the rubric of Christianity.

Consequently, the Encyclopedia Britannica’s designation of Christian Science as being a denomination might be misconstrued by the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net uninformed that the sect is similar to the Methodist Church or the Lutheran Synod. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Christian God created the physical and metaphysical (or spiritual) realms.

In Genesis 1:1, it says that Elohim created the heavens and the earth. In Genesis 1:31, it says that everything that God created was very good. This was before the catastrophic Fall mentioned in Genesis 3. Eddy taught that the physical realm was an illusion, notwithstanding the sheer volume of evidence which undermined her metaphysical presuppositions. Her theological viewpoints would inevitably lead to her rejection of physical ailment as simply a mental impediment that can be overcome with the right mindset. This is why Christian Science practitioners reject medicine and medical treatment when

ill. If a female adherent of Eddy detects a huge lump on her breast, rather than getting a mammogram, she would simply dismiss it as a mental illusion.

And if an individual has COVID-19 symptoms, he would do likewise, rather than seek medical treatment and quarantine.

Herein lies the danger Bahamian Christian Science adherents are needlessly exposing other Bahamians to. To them, COVID-19, notwithstanding the 600-plus deaths and tens of thousands of documented infections, is an issue of the mind. Nothing more, nothing less. For Ministry of Health officials, any engagement with Christian Science practitioners would have to be theological. Over a century after Eddy’s death, her disdain for medicine continues to have dire ramifications in the United States and to a lesser degree, The Bahamas as well.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama November 1, 2021.

Cost to the Treasury EDITOR, The Tribune.

I READ with amazement and listened to the Senior Police officers who have been reinstated, congrats; but as a tax payer I dread what this means to our public treasury.

There seems to be a culture in the public service with many public servants accumulating years of unused vacation; and when they leave the service, walk away with their retirement

entitlements plus the years of unused vacation pay in cash, it’s part of the retirement planning.

There ought to be a policy that vacation must be used and never paid in cash, in short mandatory pre-retirement leave for those with all those with years of accumulated vacation pay.

What is the injustice of taking a paid vacation?

What is the mentality of a person who never wants to

take a paid vacation, can’t afford to leave the island?

For that officer getting up out of his bed after listening to police radio, the whole point of a vacation, you don’t have to get up out of your bed to go to work.

The body and mind needs to be recharged public servants, check out Thursday’s newspaper.

EDROY DEVEAUX Nassau, October 25, 2021.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 7

$2.4M RADAR SYSTEM GIVEN TO BAHAMAS IN CEREMONY GENERAL Glen D VanHerck, the commander of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), officially delivered a $2.4m radar system to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force during an official handover ceremony at the Coral Harbour base on Thursday.

The new radar system is part of a commitment of over $10m by the US government to support maritime security in The Bahamas. The new radar (also known as a Maritime Surveillance System or MSS) in Coral Harbour empowers the government to better ensure the safety and security in the archipelago.

It is the second MSS installed with funding from NORTHCOM, the first having become operational on the island of Great Inagua in 2019. The third and fourth systems have been proposed for Ragged Island and Great Exuma.

“This maritime domain awareness capability will dramatically expand the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s ability to detect, localize, and track vessels in the waters surrounding their nation,” said General

VanHerck. “This radar and the capability it provides will greatly enhance domain awareness for The Bahamas.”

He was accompanied by a high-level delegation of US officials for his first official visit to The Bahamas, including Rear Admiral Dan Cheever of USNORTHCOM, and US Chargé d’Affaires Usha E Pitts.

While speaking at the event, Prime Minister Philip Davis said on Thursday, “When we make the waters of The Bahamas safer, the US border is safer as well… In my government you [the United States] will find an ally and a partner in securing our waters and borders.”

Earlier in the day, before the donation, the general and his delegation also had a meeting with Mr Davis, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe, and RBDF Commodore Raymond King for in-depth discussions on the many areas of common interest and shared values between the United States and The Bahamas, and opportunities to continue strengthening the US-Bahamas relationship.

Man left to die had gunshot wounds to his back and arm

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was shot and left in the road to die five years ago had gunshot wounds to his back and left forearm, a forensic pathologist testified yesterday.

Wayne Seymour was fatally shot in December 2015.

Lynette Charlton is currently on trial before Justice Jeanine

Weech-Gomez accused of causing his death.

Prosecutors allege that the 48-year-old shot Mr Seymour on Adelaide Road with a handgun, before fleeing the scene in his Chevy truck.

She is also accused of setting Mr Seymour’s truck on fire and abandoning the vehicle some distance away.

When Dr Caryn Sands gave evidence yesterday, she said she performed

an autopsy on Mr Seymour just days after he was pronounced dead after unsuccessful surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Referring to her report, she said that one of the bullets entered the right side of Mr Seymour’s back “with no evidence of close-range discharge from a firearm.”

She explained that it is possible to see soot or gunpowder stippling on the skin of an individual who

was shot, “depending on how close the barrel” was to them. However, she said that after a certain distance, a person would not see anything.

During her testimony, Dr Sands also said the same bullet travelled right to left and injured some of Mr Seymour’s ribs along with a portion of his chest wall and the right side of his chest.

She said no bullets or bullet fragments were recovered

from the wound.

The court was told that another bullet entered the left side of Mr Seymour’s back and injured his spleen, colon and the lower lobe of one of his lungs, before it exited the left side of his chest.

The court was also told that three litres of blood were found in Mr Seymour’s abdomen. Dr Sands said her findings also revealed spillage of

his intestinal contents and bleeding around his wound paths.

“This 47-year-old male, Wayne Seymour, died of gunshot wounds to his back and left forearm,” she told the jury. “(The wounds) caused injury to his right lung, spleen and colon and led to extensive bleeding in his abdomen. Despite surgery and resuscitation efforts, he did not recover from his injuries.”

100 YEARS OF REMEMBRANCE

THE CHILDREN’s Emergency Hostel.

CHILD CRUELTY TRIAL OVER CHILDREN’S HOSTEL DOES NOT START AS SCHEDULED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE trial of six women charged with child cruelty in connection with the beating of a number of wards at the Children’s Emergency Hostel earlier this year did not start as scheduled yesterday.

In February, Eloise Canter, 52, Carmetta Woods, 47, Natasha Pratt, 46, Occonelle Gordon, 25, Sabrina Smith, 61, and Shawn Seymour, 42, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with 11 counts of cruelty to children.

A surveillance video showing children being beaten in a care home

went viral on social media in January.

After the footage became public, a number of employees were “relieved of their duties” pending the outcome of a police investigation.

The former staff members are accused of unlawfully physically abusing nine boys and two girls in a way that caused them unnecessary suffering on September 22, 2020.

Seymour is further accused of failing to report the abuse of the minors — who range from ages seven to 11 — to the appropriate officials on the day in question.

At the time, all of the women denied the allegations and the matter was adjourned for a four-day trial that was scheduled to begin yesterday.

However, when the defendants came to the Magistrate’s Court, they mistakenly appeared before the juvenile court which did not have any authority over the matter, as it was being heard before the chief magistrate.

However, none of the accused was present when the matter was called in Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt’s court hours later.

After she was informed of the mixup, she told one of the attorneys in the case to inform them to return to court on December 1.

Canter, Woods, Pratt, Smith, Seymour and Gordon all had their $9,500 bails extended until that time.

WOMAN ‘TRIED TO DELAY POLICE OFFICERS’

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN tried to stall police officers when they attempted to search her and her boyfriend’s residence for illegal drugs, a court was told yesterday.

Britney Strachan is currently on trial before Magistrate Kendra Kelly after she denied allegations of behaving in a disorderly manner and using obscene language.

The charges stem from an incident on January 11.

When Police Constable Terez Fowler gave evidence, she said around 1.10am that day, she and a team of officers executed a search warrant on an Antigua Street home. She said when they arrived, they informed the occupants that the residence would be searched for illegal firearms and drugs.

PC Fowler said after officers realised the residence had a split level, they attempted to make their way upstairs to continue their search.

However, she said Strachan tried to “hinder” them from entering the stairway and began cursing and acting aggressively by “throwing her hands

around and acting like she wanted to fight the officers” when they tried to pass.

PC Fowler said she warned Strachan to stop her disorderly behaviour, but the accused persisted. She said she then cautioned and arrested her.

The court was told that other officers entered the upper portion of the residence where they allegedly met Strachan’s boyfriend flushing a substance down the toilet.

PC Fowler said Strachan herself was taken to the Carmichael Road Police Station.

The case continues December 10.

MAN DENIES POSSESSION OF LOADED GUN

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who denied being in possession of a loaded gun has been

remanded pending a bail hearing.

Perez Cuffe was arrested after officers alleged they found him with a .45 pistol with seven live rounds of ammunition. He denied the allegations and his case was adjourned to December

14 for trial.

He returns to court November 9 for Magistrate Samuel McKinney to rule on the issue of his bail.

Cuffe was remanded into custody until that time.

THE Royal British Legion (London) marks 100 years of existence this year - and the Bahamian branch is joining with fellow branches around the Commonwealth to mark the centenary.

The RBL is a non-profit organisation serving all World War II veterans throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean.

On May 15, 1921, the Royal British Legion (London) was incorporated as a non-profit organisation by four veteran associations three years after the Great War ended in 1918.

The main objectives were to financially provide for all those who were wounded during the Great War; to provide companionship to soliders who had no families and homes to go to, and to remember those who lost their lives during the Great War. Today, the Bahamas branch, along with its Commonwealth associates, continues the main objectives in provison of financial monthly war grants to the now five Bahamian registered World War II veterans (ages 93-98) and 18 World War II widows of the fallen, whose ages rance from 68-96.

The current WWII veterans registered with the include: Jeremiah Neymour (98), of Gregory Town, Eleuthera (RAF); Nathanial Wallace (95), of Nicholls Town, Andros (BB); Henry Kellman (93), of Freeport, Grand Bahama (RAF); Vernon Pinder (96), of Nassau, New Providence (RAF); Leonard Knowles (95), of Nassau, New Providence (RAF); and, registered with the Jamacia branch, the remaining Bahamian female WWII veteran

Corporal Doreen Carmel Jones-Rickards (97), who served in the auxiliary territorial service (ATS) during WWII, who currently resides with her daughter in Kingston, Jamaica.

This year also marks the 100th birithday of the poppy symbol.

It was 100 years ago that the Royal British Legion’s then president, the late Earl Haig, announced the introduction of the poppy as a symbol representing the blood shed by thousands of soliders (including Bahamians) who died during the Great War. He announced that on the 11th day of every November, Armistice Day would be known as “Remembrance Day”.

A “poppy day” would allow for the raising of funds for the care of surviving war veterans.

During that first Rememrance Day, 100 years ago, in 1921, eight million poppies were purchased and worn in surpport of this worthy cause.

A spokesperson for the Bahamas branch said: “Today, I encourage our bahamas to purchase and wear a poppy in remembrance of the sacrifice that was made for world peace and freedom a very important historial role that was played by our forgotten Bahamian war heroes. The Bahamas branch of the British Legion continues the poppy fundraising drive tradition, in a pandemic, to care for our surviving elderly Bahamian war veterans and widows here on the island of new providence as well as those residing on the islands of Freeport, Grand Bahama, Nicholls’ Town, Andros, and Gregory Town, Eleuthera.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

We’re not here with a begging bowl but with a demand for real action

By Alicia Wallace

IN GLASGOW

THE United Nations Climate Summit, COP26, is drawing 30,000 to Glasgow, Scotland, this week and next. More than 200 countries are party to the United Nations Framework Convention, first established at the Rio Earth summit in 1992.

The first agreement for action on climate change was the Kyoto Protocol which called for action by industrialized countries in the European Union.

The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 at the UN climate conference in Paris and called for action by all signatories. It is about mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage as well as financing.

There often seems to be significantly more conversation about the financing wealthy nations are to provide to countries that are a greater risk and vulnerability to climate change.

Financing, of course, is critical to climate action.

The approach being taken is recognition that all countries cannot make the same financial contributions and, given the vast difference in national emissions, they should not. In order for the world to achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius as the maximum increase in global temperature, every country needs to be able to do its part in mitigation, adaptation and damage and loss – and this comes at a cost.

The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) decided upon in Paris are now being revisited, so in their national statements, many countries have committed to even greater contributions. The term Nationally

Determined Contributions can be misleading, so it is important to note this refers to efforts to reduce emissions on a national level. These NDCs are to be updated every five years.

Because there was no climate conference since 2020, this is the year for updates.

Contrary to what some have guessed, COP26 is not a beg fest. Many people are taking bits and pieces of what they see in both traditional and social media, and using them to create a false narrative. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are not going to “developed” countries to beg for money. They are holding States accountable, reminding them of their commitments, presenting the very real situations being faced in-country, As has become the norm for the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley’s speech at the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government quickly made the rounds.

She noted that, even with more commitments, we are on the path to two degrees which she called a death sentence. We are also $20 billion short of the $100 billion and adaptation finance is at 25 percent, not the 50:50 split that was agreed.

Mottley made clear the 2019 decrease in climate financing to Small Island Development States is a failure that results in loss of lives and livelihoods. Mottley asked fellow leaders for the excuse that should be given to people on the frontlines of the climate crisis. “Are we really going to leave Scotland without the resolve and the ambition that is sorely needed

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis waiting to speak at the conference yesterday - but we cannot wait for action any longer. to save lives and to save our planet?” she asked. Then she got to question that, if answers honestly, may show us why we are here now.

“Do some leaders in this world believe that they can survive and thrive on their own?”

She emphasised that we need to take climate action now, and it is not something to be postponed or left for someone else to handle.

“The leaders of today, not 2030, not 2050, must make this choice. It is in our hands, and our people and our planet need it more than ever.

Prime Minister Davis addressed the summit yesterday. He said, “We, in The Bahamas, will do what we can.” He noted that there are limits to what the country can accomplish on its own, and this seemed to be linked to the call for States to fulfil their financial commitments. Davis said, “We cannot outrun your carbon emissions. We cannot outrun the hurricanes which are growing more powerful, and we cannot outrun rising sea

levels as our islands disappear beneath the seas.”

Davis referenced the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian and warned that our current reality will soon be experienced by many others. “Every day, our yesterday is already becoming your today, and fast becoming all of our tomorrows, but today, today we can still do something.”

After identifying Bahamian waters as a carbon sink, he noted The Bahamas has never been a contributor to the climate crisis, but has been forced to pay the price. Speaking directly to heads of States and governments, Davis asked: “Are we brave enough for this moment?”

He reminded them that promises are easy, but what we need are concrete actions, and actions require courage. Upon his arrival in Glasgow, Davis told reporters: “We are not going to leave here without having a clear understanding of what we will get for what they would have done to us.”

Given the phrasing, it needs to be made clear that this is not a payoff. It is not reparations. This is a collective responsibility that is being shared based on the capacities of the parties.

It is good COP26 is receiving a high level of attention not only internationally, but regionally and nationally. It is important for us to be aware of the commitments being made and the statements being made by heads of State on our behalf, many of them speaking up for countries in positions similar to their

own. For some of us, it is the first time we become aware of their positions because they speak on many critical issues in other spaces without engaging the general public on the same.

It is not enough to attend high level meetings, form relationships with other actors, and agree to terms if, upon the return to The Bahamas, no more is said until it is time for the next review or we face disaster. The Prime Minister must speak to the people. We need to know his plans for mitigation, adaptation, and damage and loss.

He seems prepared to accept money to do this, but how?

What are the short, medium, and long term goals? What is the government prepared to contribute? Who are the experts being called upon to work on planning and execution?

We need to be willing and able to participate in governance. It is on us to pay attention and speak up. It is on our elected officials to communicate in a clear, timely manner. They have to recognize us as a part of the government, people with agency, and employers to whom they must report.

There should never be an international meeting of this kind that we are not aware of well in advance and not only given the opportunity to follow the events, but a clear indication of the position we are presenting. We need consistency in communication and action abroad and at home. We must demand at least the same amount of respect freely given to international spaces.

Relatedly, there needs to be an explanation of the cuts in the budgets of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction.

Approximately $8 million cut from each ministry must come with good reason, especially at a time when we are demanding other countries make good on their financial commitments to support Small Island Development States.

How can we reduce our own investment in these ministries that are critical to climate action? We cannot be satisfied with vague statements about reallocation of portfolios. Which portfolios, from where to where, and how have the budget allocations followed them?

COP26 cannot just be an event and speeches cannot be empty words when the climate crisis is not only real, but here now.

We need government officials to be just as present. They must not operate in secrecy, or as though they can do whatever they want without consultation or approval.

Some of us cast ballots in September, but that was not the end of our participation in democracy or governance. We are to be informed. We are to be heard. We are to be served. Our futures are to be protected. Participation in international meetings and mechanisms are critical, and so is the ongoing, meaningful engagement of the people.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 9

ROBOTS HIT THE STREETS AS DEMAND FOR FOOD DELIVERY GROWS

TECHTALK AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE MAKER NURO SECURES $600M FOR EXPANSION

By MATT OTT AP Business Writer

A FOOD delivery robot crosses a street in Ann Arbor, Mich. Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Hundreds of little robots – knee-high and able to hold around four large pizzas – are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere.

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Robot food delivery is no longer the stuff of science fiction. But you may not see it in your neighbourhood anytime soon.

Hundreds of little robots – kneehigh and able to hold around four large pizzas – are now navigating college campuses and even some city sidewalks in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere. While robots were being tested in limited numbers before the coronavirus hit, the companies building them say pandemic-related labour shortages and a growing preference for contactless delivery have accelerated their deployment.

“We saw demand for robot usage just go through the ceiling,” said Alastair Westgarth, the CEO of Starship Technologies, which recently completed its 2 millionth delivery. “I think demand was always there, but it was brought forward by the pandemic effect.”

Starship has more than 1,000 robots in its fleet, up from just 250 in 2019.

Hundreds more will be deployed soon.

They’re delivering food on 20 U.S. campuses; 25 more will be added soon.

They’re also operating on sidewalks in Milton Keynes, England; Modesto, California; and the company’s hometown of Tallin, Estonia.

Robot designs vary; some have four wheels and some have six, for example. But generally, they use cameras, sensors, GPS and sometimes laser scanners to navigate sidewalks and even cross streets autonomously. They move around 5 mph.

Remote operators keep tabs on multiple robots at a time but they say they rarely need to hit the brakes or steer around an obstacle. When a robot arrives at its destination,

ROBOTS navigate the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) customers type a code into their phones to open the lid and retrieve their food.

The robots have drawbacks that limit their usefulness for now. They’re electric, so they must recharge regularly. They’re slow, and they generally stay within a small, pre-mapped radius.

They’re also inflexible. A customer can’t tell a robot to leave the food outside the door, for example. And some big cities with crowded sidewalks, like New York, Beijing and San Francisco, aren’t welcoming them.

But Bill Ray, an analyst with the consulting firm Gartner, says the robots make a lot of sense on corporate or college campuses, or in newer communities with wide sidewalks.

“In the places where you can deploy it, robot delivery will grow very quickly,” Ray said.

Ray said there have been few reports of problems with the robots,

FOOD is loaded into a robot at the Bowling Green State University campus in Bowling Green, Ohio.

other than an occasional gaggle of kids who surround one and try to confuse it. Starship briefly halted service at the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 after a wheelchair user said a robot blocked her access to a ramp. But the university said deliveries resumed once Starship addressed the issue.

Patrick Sheck, a junior at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, gets deliveries from a Starship robot three or four times a week as he’s leaving class.

“The robot pulls up just in time for me to get some lunch,” Sheck said.

Bowling Green and Starship charge $1.99 plus a service fee for each robot delivery.

Rival Kiwibot, with headquarters in Los Angeles and Medellin, Columbia, says it now has 400 robots making deliveries on college campuses and in downtown Miami.

Delivery companies are also jumping into the market. Grubhub recently partnered with Russian robot maker Yandex to deploy 50 robots on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Grubhub plans to add more campuses soon, although the company stresses that the service won’t go beyond colleges for now.

U.S. delivery orders jumped 66% in the year ending in June, according to NPD, a data and consulting firm. And delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience.

Ji Hye Kim, chef and managing partner of the Ann Arbor, Michigan, restaurant Miss Kim, relied heavily on robot delivery when her dining room was closed last year. Kim had partnered with a local robot company, Refraction AI, shortly before the pandemic began.

Kim prefers robots to third-party delivery companies like DoorDash, which charge significantly more and sometimes cancel orders if they didn’t have enough drivers. Delivery companies also bundle multiple orders

per trip, she said, so food sometimes arrives cold. Robots take just one order at a time.

Kim said the robots also excite customers, who often post videos of their interactions.

“It’s very cute and novel, and it didn’t have to come face to face with people. It was a comfort,” Kim said.

Delivery demand has dropped off since her dining room reopened, but robots still deliver around 10 orders per day.

While Kim managed to hang on to her staff throughout the pandemic, other restaurants are struggling to find workers. In a recent survey, 75% of U.S. restaurant owners told the National Restaurant Association that recruiting and retaining employees is their biggest challenge.

That has many restaurants looking to fill the void with robot delivery.

“There is no store in the country right now with enough delivery drivers,” said Dennis Maloney, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Domino’s Pizza.

Domino’s is partnering with Nuro, a California startup whose 6-foot-tall self-driving pods go at a maximum speed of 25 mph on streets, not sidewalks. Nuro is testing grocery and food delivery in Houston, Phoenix and Mountain View, California.

Maloney said it’s not a question of if, but of when, robots will start doing more deliveries. He thinks companies like Domino’s will eventually use a mix of robots and drivers depending on location. Sidewalk robots could work on a military base, for example, while Nuro is ideal for suburbs. Highway driving would be left to human workers.

Maloney said Nuro delivery is more expensive than using human drivers for now, but as the technology scales up and gets more refined, the costs will go down.

For cheaper sidewalk robots – which cost an estimated $5,000 or less – it’s even easier to undercut human delivery costs. The average Grubhub driver in Ohio makes $47,650 per year, according to the job site Indeed.com.

But robots don’t always cost delivery jobs. In some cases, they help create them. Before Starship’s robots arrived, Bowling Green didn’t offer delivery from campus dining spots. Since then, it has hired more than 30 people to serve as runners between kitchens and robots, Bowling Green dining spokesman Jon Zachrich said.

Brendan Witcher, a technology analyst with the consulting firm Forrester, says it’s easy to get excited about the Jetsons-like possibility of robot delivery. But ultimately, robots will have to prove they create an advantage in some way.

“It’s possible that we see this emerge into something else,” he said. “But it’s the right time and place for companies considering robots to test them and learn from them and do their own evaluation.”

SILIVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Electric vehicle maker Nuro said Tuesday it had secured $600 million in funding from Google, Kroger and others to continue the development of its autonomous delivery vehicle service.

The Silicon Valley robotics company has already made thousands of grocery deliveries with Kroger as a part of a 2018 partnership.

“Demand for local deliveries is exploding,” said Griffin Schroeder, partner at Tiger Global, which led the new round of financing. “Nuro is the bridge to an era of sustainable, low cost, autonomous local delivery.”

Nuro also signed a five-year strategic partnership with Google Cloud to support the ongoing development of the zero-occupant, autonomous delivery vehicles and said it will explore opportunities with the tech giant to “strengthen and transform local commerce.”

Nuro recently announced a partnership with FedEx and has piloted pizza delivery with Domino’s in Houston.

FINAL DECISION ON GEORGIA SPACEPORT PERMIT DELAYED YET AGAIN KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) — A federal agency has yet again pushed back a final decision on whether to allow the construction of a launchpad for commercial rockets in coastal Georgia.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to release its decision on Spaceport Camden by Dec. 15 rather than this Wednesday, agency spokesman Steve Kulm said.

An agency statement cited a delay caused by “ongoing consultation efforts.” The final determination was originally expected at the end of July but now has been delayed at least three times.

Camden County, in the southeast corner of Georgia, wants to build the nation’s 13th licensed commercial spaceport and has spent nearly 10 years and $10 million pursuing that goal.

The FAA in June issued an environmental impact study that concluded building the spaceport would be its “preferred alternative.”

That drew pushback from the National Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior.

In a July 22 letter to the FAA, the Interior Department said a chance of rockets exploding and raining fiery debris onto the federally protected wilderness on Cumberland Island creates an “unacceptable risk.”

Known for wild horses and nesting sea turtles, Cumberland Island draws about 60,000 visitors each year.

Local officials say the county of 55,000 people would get a soaring economic boost by joining the commercial space race, with a private launch pad luring both supporting industries and tourists.

SPORTS PAGE 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Braves win first World Series title since 1995

By BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Most of the season, it just seemed this wasn’t their year. They dropped their first four games, and soon injuries piled up. They lost their most dynamic player before the All-Star break.

They were stuck below .500 in August.

Yet out of nowhere, suddenly, these Atlanta Braves transformed themselves and took off.

Jorge Soler, Freddie Freeman and the Braves breezed to their first World Series championship since 1995, hammering the Houston Astros 7-0 last night in Game 6.

How proud The Hammer himself would’ve been. Max Fried threw six shutout innings in the signature pitching performance of the Series.

Soler, a July acquisition who tested positive for COVID-19 in the playoffs, backed him early with a monster three-run shot for his third homer against the Astros.

Freeman hit an RBI double and then punctuated the romp with a solo home run in the seventh that made it 7-0.

By then, it was a total team effort. Ailing star Ronald Acuña Jr, the dynamo of Atlanta’s future, bounded from the dugout to join the celebration for Freeman, the longtime face of the franchise.

A mere afterthought in the summer heat among the land of the Giants, White Sox and Dodgers, but magnificent in the Fall Classic.

Soler tapped his heart twice before beginning his home run trot after connecting off rookie Luis Garcia in the third inning, sending the ball flying completely out of Minute Maid Park. Dansby Swanson also homered and by the final out, nothing could stop them.

Not a broken leg sustained by starter Charlie Morton in the World Series opener. Not a big blown lead in Game 5.

Steadied by 66-year-old manager Brian Snitker, an organisation man for four decades, the underdog

Braves won the franchise’s fourth title.

Consider it a tribute to the greatest Braves player of them all, Mr Hank Aaron. The Hall of Fame slugger died January 22 at 86, still rooting for his old team, and his legacy was stamped all over this Series.

For 72-year-old Houston manager Dusty Baker, a disappointment. But for many fans still rooting against the Astros in the wake of their 2017 signstealing scandal, some satisfaction.

Major credit for the Braves, too, goes to general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Undaunted by Acuña’s knee injury, he pulled off a flurry of July trades that brought the Fab Four to the outfield — NL Championship Series MVP Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson and Soler.

But even in the Analytics Era, guided by a GM fully versed in new-age ways, the path these Braves took wouldn’t add up in any computer. Especially with how things looked in midseason.

“At that time, we were searching,” third baseman Austin Riley said before Game 6. “I think there’s no question about that.”

Minus Acuña, Atlanta wasn’t over .500 for a single day until the first week in August.

The Braves finished 88-73 for the 12th-best record in the majors and fewest victories among playoff teams; their win total was the lowest for a World Series champion since St Louis’ 83 in 2006.

Plus, the agonising history of sports in Atlanta, a city where no team had won a title in the four major pro sports besides 1995.

The Braves couldn’t convert a three games-toone advantage over the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series last year.

The Hawks fell short in the NBA Finals last season.

And then there was the big one, the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

But these Braves, not this time.

Favoured in spring training to win their fourth

ATLANTA Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario holds up the trophy after winning baseball’s World Series in Game 6 against the Houston Astros last night in Houston. The Braves won 7-0.

(AP Photo/David J Phillip) straight NL East title, the Braves lost Acuña to a torn knee in July. Earlier, 2020 Triple Crown contender Marcell Ozuna was injured and later placed on leave while Major League Baseball investigated him under its domestic violence policy.

Projected ace Mike Soroka never got back from Achilles injury.

Going into the playoffs, their bullpen was a crazy patchwork.

They had a guy who made his big league debut in October, a lefty who was pitching in 2019 for the Texas AirHogs in a now-defunct independent league and a righty who was stacking boxes at an appliance warehouse a decade ago.

Toss in a rookie who was off the roster a week ago as he watched Game 1 at a hotel in suburban Atlanta.

For sure, plenty of fans around the country were rooting hard against Jose Altuve and the Houston crew. Many continue to heckle them as the “Cheatin’ Astros” for an illegal sign-stealing scheme on the way to their 2017 title, and those feelings might last forever.

Certainly a lot of people were cheering for Baker.

A World Series winner as a player and a highly respected figure on and off the field, he wasn’t able to check the final box on his resume as a championship skipper.

The Braves’ crowns have been spread out over more than a century. The 1995 Atlanta champs featured five future Hall of Famers — rookie Chipper Jones, aces Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, and manager Bobby Cox. Those rings were the lone pieces of hardware that resulted from 14 straight division titles.

The 1957 Milwaukee Braves were led by Aaron in his only NL MVP season. His 44 was painted in large numbers on the outfield grass at Truist Park, and Baker and Snitker often mentioned how much he’d meant to them.

There were the 1914 Boston Braves, too, dubbed the “Miracle Braves” back in the day.

In last place on the Fourth of July, they surged to win the pennant, then upset a heavily favoured team — the Philadelphia A’s — to earn their nickname.

Sound familiar?

The Braves’ previous title came at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, their first home after moving from Milwaukee to the Deep South in 1966. Then there was Turner Field before the team uprooted from downtown and decided to sprawl into the suburbs.

Truist Park was packed and the outside plazas were jammed over the weekend, and pulsating crowds filled Minute Maid Park.

Quite a change from last October. Only a limited capacity was permitted for that World Series as the Dodgers beat Tampa Bay at a neutral-site stadium in Arlington, Texas — that followed a total shutout for fans during a regular season shortened because of the coronavirus.

Now, all of baseball waits to see whether spring training is on deck in a little over three months.

A squabble between owners and players threatens soon to shut down the sport.

In the meantime, the sport can savour a year in which things, slowly, started to get back to normal.

‘BUDDY’ HIELD SCORES 19 IN LOSS TO JAZZ NBA star Chavano “Buddy” Hield scored 19 points, jawing with Donovan Mitchell, but it wasn’t enough as the Utah Jazz prevailed with the victory in Salt Lake City, Utah, last night.

Mitchell scored a seasonhigh 36 points and Mike Conley added a season-best 30 points, lifting the Jazz to a 119-113 win over Hield and the Sacramento Kings.

Conley scored 13, including three 3s, in the fourth quarter, and Rudy Gobert made six clutch free throws down the stretch to move Utah to 7-1 on the season.

Gobert had 12 points, 20 rebounds and four blocked shots.

This win wasn’t easy for Utah. The Kings kept hanging around and cut the lead to 115-113 on Harrison Barnes’s 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining.

Mitchell made two free throws while Hield jawed with him.

Gobert forced Barnes into a tough shot on a drive and then blocked Davion Mitchell’s shot on the next possession to seal the win, Utah’s sixth straight over the Kings.

The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than single digits.

Sacramento (3-3) took its final lead of the game on Richaun Holmes’s tip-in with 5:02 remaining to make it 102-101. Barnes led the Kings with 23 points.

Seven Sacramento players scored in double figures.

The Jazz have been struggling from the 3-point arc and went 4 of 25 in first half, missing 10 in a row at one point. But the Jazz used the long ball to gain advantage in the second half, especially behind Mitchell and Conley. The pair combined to go 11 for 21 from beyond the arc.

Mitchell scored 17 points in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to shake Sacramento, which trailed 90-87 entering the final period. However, he had one play that deflated Kings’ spirit.

Mitchell missed a 3-pointer, ran to grab the rebound and then made a layup as the Kings stood and watched. Sacramento coach Luke Walton was visibly upset and called a quick timeout.

Djokovic shakes off rust with win at Paris Masters PARIS (AP) — In his first singles match since missing out on a calendaryear Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic beat Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters yesterday.

No. 1 ranked Djokovic showed signs of rustiness with a couple of unforced errors in the opening game, but he put pressure on his Hungarian opponent with the quality of his service returns, breaking him twice in the first set.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion dropped serve with a forehand error to trail 2-1 in the second set.

Fucsovics levelled the set score when Djokovic hit a return long.

Clearly not at the top of his game, a roaring Djokovic punched the air after whipping a forehand pass to hold serve in the third game of the final set. He broke for a 4-2 lead when Fucsovics sent a backhand

long before converting his second match point with a forehand winner.

“It was a great fight,” Djokovic said. “We kind of pushed each other to the limit. It was a great opening match for me, I’m very pleased.”

Djokovic could clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking in Paris before the end of the season and break a tie with Pete Sampras with a record seventh year-end No. 1 finish.

“Now it’s about finding that match-play intensity and playing more points,” Djokovic said. “And the more points I play, you know, the more matches I play, I’m going to get better.”

The top-ranked Serbian has lifted the Paris Masters trophy a record five times and could break a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most Masters 1000 titles won.

Nadal and Djokovic have won 36 Masters 1000

SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic plays a return to Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics at the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Bercy Arena in Paris yesterday.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) titles each, eight more than Roger Federer.

Djokovic came up one victory short of a calendaryear Grand Slam when he lost to Daniil Medvedev at the U.S. Open in September. Also yesterday, Felix Auger-Aliassime stayed in

contention for a place at the ATP Finals by beating Italian qualifier Gianluca Mager 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.

The ninth-seeded Auger-Aliassime hit two double-faults and sent a forehand wide to allow

Mager to serve out the first set. But he levelled the match when Mager doublefaulted on set point in the second.

Auger-Aliassime then broke Mager twice in the third.

“I had difficulty with my pace at the beginning of the match. I didn’t hit enough first serves so I had a bit of pressure on my second serve,” Auger-Aliassime said.

“I bounced back in the second set. I tried to find solutions in returns, changing my positions, varying my returns. And after returning so well, I created occasions and I won the second set and then I finished very well.”

Qualifying for the ATP Finals would cap a good season for the 21-year-old Canadian, who reached the semifinals at the US Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. He also reached the final at the

Murray River Open in Melbourne and the Stuttgart Open in Germany.

Djokovic, Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini have already qualified for the ATP Finals.

Auger-Aliassime, Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner, Hubert Hurkacz and Cameron Norrie are among the players hoping to join the eight-man tournament.

American players Reilly Opelka, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz also advanced to the second round, as did Karen Khachanov of Russia, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and James Duckworth of Australia.

Opelka, the runner-up in Toronto, hit 19 aces while beating Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Meanwhile, Fritz defeated Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and Paul beat Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-3, 6-4.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

In ‘The Lab’ with Marvin Henfield gets good reviews from participants, parents

OLE MISS PROJECTED NO.6 IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MARVIN Henfield’s open house for his new shooting “lab” on Saturday at the former Caribbean Bottling Company’s warehouse got a lot of good reviews from both parents and participants of his Caribbean Sports Academy (CSA).

Henfield got a chance to show off his latest training facility as he outlined plans for his Marvin Henfield Basketball Shooting Academy for those players who have been marginalised because of their shooting abilities.

Monique Weir, the mother of Tyler Burrows, a 12th grader at Kingsway Academy, said while he’s been apart of CSA for the past two and-a-half years, his ultimate goal is to become a collegiate and professional basketball player and this programme offers the right recipe to get him prepared for those lofty goals.

“This is extension 2.0. I feel this will help to cultivate and bring out his skills and help to perfect the skills that he already has and probably even push him further in pursuit of his aspirations,” Weir said.

“We’ve already signed up and we’re ready to go.

We’re just waiting for the launch on November 15.”

Burrows, a 15-year-old six-foot shooting guard, said his aim this year is to push himself to get to the next level.

“I want to keep working hard because I know what I want to achieve in life,” he said. “I feel like coach Henfield is really going to help me and others who are a part of this programme.

He wants to bring out the best in all of us.”

One of the females involved in the programme is Elayna Griffith. Her mother Kerilee Griffith said when she noticed her daughter’s height, she thought the best thing for her to do was to engage in a sporting activity and they decided on basketball.

“I knew something deeper was planted inside of her and in a long story cut short, we were invited by coach Henfield to join the programme after he saw the potential in her and he tried to bring it out of her,” Griffith said.

“He also wanted to instil a firm foundation in her in terms of her morals and values, so it’s a complete package. Yes, she has the sports, but having the sports and not the firm foundation is useless. So the fact that this basketball

camp has that focus, we decided to get involved in it.”

At 14 years old, Griffith has been involved in the programme since March 2020, but she said she’s only using it as a hobby because her goal in life is to go to college and pursue her dream of becoming a detective.

“I think the facility is a good idea. It will contribute to the youth of the Bahamas and inspire them to do great things incorporated with basketball and help them to get out of their shell,” said the 10th grader at St John’s College, who unfortunately has not yet played for the Giants’ basketball team.

“I’m shy, so hopefully this will help me to get out of that phase because my goal is to go to college and study detective work.

I don’t think I want to do basketball as a career, at least not yet. But I will consider it. If it’s my destiny, then I will pursue it. I just have to see how it goes.”

Having played at the highest level in the country as a national team player in volleyball, Barry Nairn is hoping that his son, Tyler Nairn, would follow in his footsteps, but he noted that he has more of a liking for baseball than basketball.

He noted that he’s just there to support him in where his heart is leaning.

“I’ve known coach Henfield for quite a while and because my son was between the two sports, he still has a passion for basketball, so we came here to check it out and to see where it will take him,” Nairn said.

A 14-year-old ninth grader at Kingsway Academy, Tyler Nairn said he hopes to try out for the Saints’ basketball and softball teams once they resume sporting activities for the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools.

In the meantime, he said he wants to gain as much knowledge about basketball so he could be better prepared whenever the trials are held at Kingsway Academy.

“I like baseball more than I do basketball,” quipped the infielder who is a part of the Junior Baseball League of Nassau. “I got into basketball just to train more, but I love it.”

As for following in the footsteps of his father, Tyler Nairn said while he’s seen the trophies Barry Nairn has attained, he doesn’t have any interest right now in playing volleyball. He wants to continue playing baseball and basketball in that order.

YOLETT McPheeMcCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels are expected to improve in one of the most keenly contested conferences in all of NCAA Division I. The Rebels were listed at No.6 in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest projection in programme history since the conference began the practice in 2007-08.

Ole Miss was also picked to finish eighth in the SEC Preseason Media Poll last week, its best in that poll since 2015-16.

Associated Press No. 1 and media poll favourite South Carolina was picked to win by the coaches and was followed by No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 15 Tennessee, Georgia, and No. 13 Kentucky.

PARTICIPANTS enjoy Marvin Henfield’s open house for his new shooting “lab” on Saturday at the former Caribbean Bottling Company’s warehouse. The initiative got a lot of good reviews from both parents and participants of his Caribbean Sports Academy (CSA).

Photos: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff In thanking those persons who braved the inclement weather to come out and view the open house, Henfield said when the “lab” is officially launched on November 15, he will be looking forward to some great progress from the participants.

During the open house, Henfield was joined by members of his team, including Jabari Wilmott, his financial advisor and assistant coach, along with Sanchaz, another assistant coach.

“If you go into a lab, you tend to come out with some innovative creations,” Henfield said. “In that vein, each of my kids in the CSA programme are like my seeds. I take that seed and put it into the soil.

“Once I water it and they get some sunlight, the seed starts to mature and develop. That purpose, that potential inside of

that person begins to come out. Through this shooting academy, we hope to bring out all of the possibilities of that player as a shooter.”

Calling it the first step in his new venture through his International Youth Education and Sports Foundation (IYES), Henfield presented a video presentation of the operation of the “lab,” but he noted that “it’s not where we end, but rather where we begin.

“In about six months, we already envision that we would have outgrown this place, so we are already looking at expanding at another location. This is just the first phase of our innovation with the lab.”

Indicating that the “lab” will only be created to develop the shooting skills of the players, Henfield said when they officially open, they will only be able to cater to 12 players

per hour using the shooting goals erected on the wall on the inside of the building.

Eventually, there will also be another 6-7 shooting goals placed on the outside of the building where the MHBSA will be able to cater to a few more players as they work on their ball-handling skills.

The goal, according to Henfield, will work on those players who sit on the bench of their respective high school teams or won’t get the opportunity to make the team because of their lack of skills.

For the past 2-3 decades, Henfield said he has devoted his time to assisting those players because he remembered how he was marginalised when he attended RM Bailey High School and wasn’t able to make the Pacers’ team under the late coach Charles ‘Chuck’ Mackey because he didn’t have the skills as his peers.

The programme is expected to begin at 4pm and will cater to the younger male and the female players up to the older players when the final session takes place around 7-8 pm.

On Saturday, Henfield will allow those members of the public who are not a part of CSA to come in and view the facilities between the hours of noon and 2pm for their second open house before they complete the registration for the launch of the programme.

“We’re deep in a lot of positions.

We have a lot of experience.

I couldn’t tell you who our starting five would be today.”

– McPhee-McCuin “We’re deep in a lot of positions. We have a lot of experience. I couldn’t tell you who our starting five would be today,” McPheeMcCuin said following the team’s first practice.

“They’re competing really hard. We’re excited.

We’re grateful that we have 10 TV games. We have high expectations. We’ll be ready to compete. We’re excited to have fans pack the Pavilion and be able to play a high-level brand of basketball. This year is going to show that we’re going to be around for a long time.”

Last year, the Rebels finished the season 15-12, for their first winning season since 2016-17. After an 11-11 regular season, 4-10 in the SEC, they advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004. Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins.

They eventually fell to Rice in the WNIT title game.

Ole Miss recently signed McPhee-McCuin to a new four-year contract extension that runs through 2025.

The Rebels will open the 2021-2022 season inside the SJB Pavilion against the Belmont Bruins on November 11.

As NBA watches non-basketball moves, numbers dip a bit

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer AFTER a loss at Washington last week, Atlanta star Trae Young calmly aired some of his frustrations with the way NBA games are being officiated amid a new crackdown on non-basketball moves used to draw contact.

The 6-foot-1, 164-pound Young, who made more free throws than anybody in the NBA last season, said he agreed with some of the changes, but he was clearly concerned some fouls are now being overlooked.

A short while later, Kyle Kuzma of the Wizards weighed in on Twitter.

“The new rules changes to the sport are the best thing the league has done in recent history,” Kuzma tweeted.

For its part, the NBA is happy with how the first two weeks of the season have gone. Scoring is down slightly, a byproduct of free-throw attempts also being down slightly, but the league believes the way the game is being officiated is

working. “The league sees it as a good move,” NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell said after yesterday’s meeting of the league’s competition committee. “We need to continue to stay consistent with it. But the intended effect is there right now, too. Overall, from a league perspective — and aligned with the committee — it’s a stay-the-course sort of action with that.”

It’s not unusual for the NBA to tweak the way rules are enforced, and it remains to be seen how officiating might evolve throughout the season. So far, some of the game’s biggest offensive stars are indeed going to the free-throw line less often, and there’s some concern that the changes may be allowing more physicality in general, beyond what was intended.

“If we’re sacrificing freedom of movement, that’s not, in my understanding, the intent of what we’re trying to do,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that that’ll balance itself out.”

NETS guard James Harden drops to the baseline in response to referee calls Sunday against the Hornets in New York.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo) Snyder compared the current points of emphasis to a previous crackdown on flopping. The idea is to curtail certain tricks that seem to have no purpose other than drawing fouls.

“Some of the gamesmanship involved, whether it’s kicking a leg into someone, stopping and going backwards and having someone run into you, grabbing someone’s arm when you’re not in a shooting motion,” Snyder said.

Young said he agreed with targeting certain

egregious examples, but he said he was frustrated with the way the game is now being called. Young averaged 8.7 free-throw attempts a game last season, and that number is down to 5.3 so far in 2021-22.

It’s a similar story for some other perimeter stars.

Portland’s Damian Lillard has seen his free throws per game dip from 7.2 to 3.9, Washington’s Bradley Beal’s from 7.7 to 4.2 and Dallas’ Luka Doncic’s from 7.1 to 4.7. Big men aren’t exempt; Philadelphia’s

Joel Embiid averaged 10.7 attempts last season, 8.8 this season.

And then there’s James Harden, who has turned drawing fouls into an art form in which the beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder. Harden dealt with injury problems last season, but in 2019-20, he averaged a whopping 11.8 free-throw attempts per game.

That figure is down to 5.3 this season. Harden attempted 19 free throws in a win over Indiana on Friday night, but he has had four or fewer in every other game.

Steve Nash, Harden’s coach in Brooklyn, said players, refs and coaches are all adjusting on the fly.

“I have noticed that you’re allowed to be much more physical with the driver or finisher at the rim,” said Nash said. “How that will maintain itself throughout the year is yet to be seen.”

Beyond the impact on a few high-profile players, some league-wide stats are also showing a decline.

The NBA average through

Monday was 19.9 free throws per game per team.

That’s down from 21.8 in 2020-21. Field-goal shooting is at 45%, down 2% from last season, and players are shooting 34% from 3-point range — the worst there in more than 20 years.

Detroit coach Dwane Casey said the dip in 3-point shooting may be because of an increase in defensive switching.

“That’s taking away some of the easy 3’s,” he said.

Monty McCutchen, who oversees officiating matters for the NBA, said that referees are “eager to be aligned” with the expectations of the competition committee. Adjusting is happening, McCutchen said, but he believes the game is being called properly.

Foul calls haven’t dropped; the average this season is basically the same as last season. Defenders, however, seem to feel like they can be a more aggressive; blocked shots are up slightly and more turnovers are being forced, which also impedes scoring.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 15

BILLIE JEAN KING CUP: AUSTRALIA, RUSSIA, SWISS WIN, SLOVAKIA UPSETS US

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press

RIDERS line up to receive their awards. CEC Sand Dollars were champions in varsity division and Mariposa Gold Drops won the overall crown in futures division.

CEC Sand Dollars, Mariposa Gold Drops are winners in first horse show of year SEVEN teams competed in the Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL) show hosted by the LCIS Dragons at Mariposa Stables on Saturday.

It was an enjoyable experience for the junior equestrian athletes, who were back in the ring in competition for the first time since February 2020.

At the end of the day the CEC Sand Dollars, coached by Mrs Kimberly Johnson, were champions of the varsity (grades 9-12) team competition.

The Mariposa Gold Drops, coached by Mrs Frances Doyle, won the futures team competition (grades 4-8).

BIEL horse shows are team-based competitions conducted under a collegiate riding format. Riders do not ride their own horses, but instead must ride horses assigned from a random draw.

The format of the show reflected BIEL’s new identity as a member region in the US-based Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEA). As a result of this partnership riders will have the opportunity to compete in IEA competitions abroad and have access to multiple college recruiting and scholarship opportunities.

The show was judged

by Mr Woody Dykers of

CONNOR WATKINS, of Queen’s College, found the clinic to be a good learning experience.

Georgia, USA. As a toprated judge with the United States Equestrian Federation, a past president of the Georgia Hunter-Jumper Association, and a former equestrian coach of the University of Virginia with over 40 years of riding and coaching experience, Mr Dykers was impressed with the performance of all the riders. “It was a very successful show,” said Equestrian Federation

SIENNA JONES, of the LCIS Dragons, rode Kokopelli’s Dance in the show. Above - Senior riders gather around judge Woody Dykers to listen during the instructional clinic. president Cathy RamsinghPierre. “Credit must go to all the riders and coaches who have worked so hard to maintain high standards while waiting for the opportunity to return to competition. It feels good to be back in the swing of things.”

Riders returned to the ring on Sunday for an

instructional clinic with judge Dykers, who also took the time to answer questions from riders, coaches and parents about the keys to success in the show ring from a judge’s point of view.

Students asked questions about show procedure and listened intently as the judge emphasized the

importance of form, balance and awareness.

The riders will have the opportunity to put into practice everything they learned when competition resumes in two weeks, this time at Camperdown Equestrian Centre’s Annual Horse Show which is scheduled for November 13-14.

PRAGUE (AP) — Slovakia won a thrilling doubles match to upset the United States in their Group C tie at the Billie Jean King Cup yesterday.

Viktoria Kuzmova and Tereza Mihalikova teamed up to beat the US pair of CoCo Vandeweghe and Caroline Dolehide 6-2, 6-7 (5), 12-10 to give Slovakia a 2-1 win in their first meeting in the competition.

In Group D, Belinda Bencic and Viktorija Golubic won both singles matches on the way to a 3-0 win that eliminated Germany from the tournament in Prague.

Earlier yesterday, Russia brought Canada to earth by winning 3-0 while 2019 runner-up Australia opened its account beating Belgium 2-1 in Group B. Kuzmova and Mihalikova jumped to a 6-2, 3-1 lead before the Americans fought back, taking the second set’s tiebreaker.

The Slovaks finally prevailed in the super tiebreak, converting their second match-point.

Kuzmova had upset Shelby Rogers 6-4, 6-4 for Slovakia’s 1-0 lead.

The 175th-ranked big hitting Slovak took a decisive break against her 42ndranked opponent at the seventh game of the second set before serving out the match.

Kuzmova also gained the only point Slovakia captured in a 2-1 loss to Spain on Monday.

Danielle Collins levelled the tie at 1 after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The Americans will face Spain in a must-win matchup today.

Golubic took charge of the opening point for Switzerland, handing a 6-4, 7-5 defeat to Andrea Petkovic.

Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics champion, rallied to overcome Angelique Kerber 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to seal the victory.

PAKISTAN BEATS NAMIBIA, ADVANCES TO T20 WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Powerful half-centuries by Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam lifted Pakistan into the T20 World Cup semifinals with a convincing 45-run victory over inexperienced Namibia yesterday.

Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 79 off 50 balls and Babar made 70 off 49 deliveries as Pakistan batted first for the first time in the tournament and put on a strong total of 189-2.

Namibia always looked second best after its impressive 10 overs with the ball on the field to end at 144-5 and lose its second match in Group 2.

Pakistan’s fourth successive win puts it atop the table with eight points. It could go unbeaten into the semifinals as its last group game is against Scotland, another inexperienced team.

“It was a different plan today, wanted that opening partnership to go deep and it worked for us,” said Babar, who has been in sublime form and recorded his

third half-century in four group games.

In-form Rizwan and Babar were tested by tall leftarm paceman Ruben Trumpelmann early on as Namibia gave away only 59 runs in the first half of Pakistan’s innings with Trumpelmann starting by bowling a maiden over to Rizwan.

Rizwan also successfully overturned on review an lbw decision off JJ Smit when he was on just 2 as Namibia conceded just four boundaries in the batting powerplay.

But both batsmen cut lose against the rest of the seamers and the legspin of Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton to raise a 113-run stand. Babar hit seven fours, mostly his trademark cover drives, before he holed out off a knuckle ball from David Wiese (1-30) in the 15th over.

Pakistan’s faith in Mohammad Hafeez’s struggling batting form finally paid off as the experienced middle-order batsman smashed 32 off just 16 balls.

PAKISTAN’s Mohammad Rizwan hits a boundary yesterday during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between Pakistan and Namibia in Abu Dhabi, UAE. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) But it was Rizwan’s clean hitting that provided Pakistan a perfect finish as he hit Smit for 24 runs in the last over that included four boundaries and a six. Smit

finished with forgetful figures of 0-50.

Trumpelmann also couldn’t inspire in his return spell and after conceding just two off his first

two overs, he eventually ended 0-36.

“Hafeez and Hasan Ali will be important in the next stage and it was important we ticked those boxes,”

Babar said. “So far, everything has gone according to plan. We’re looking forward to the semifinals and play our cricket with the same intensity.”

Namibia never looked in the hunt against Pakistan’s pace and spin which has helped them beat archrival India, New Zealand and Afghanistan in the earlier group games.

Wiese top-scored with an unbeaten 43 off 30 balls and Craig Williams made 40 to narrow the margin of defeat.

Fast bowler Hasan Ali returned to bowling form and finished with 1-22 and Haris Rauf, bowling with pace, bagged 1-25 as Pakistan registered its fourth win without making a change into its playing XI. “We knew from the start that Pakistan are high quality, they look like title contenders,” Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus said.

“Pakistan were outstanding with their shot selection, and their quality showed through the back end of the innings.”

SOUTH AFRICA BOWLS OUT BANGLADESH FOR 84, WINS BY SIX WICKETS ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — South Africa bundled out Bangladesh for 84 runs and won by six wickets in a considerable boost to its T20 World Cup semifinals hopes yesterday.

South Africa’s third win in the Super 12s eliminated injury-hit Bangladesh from semifinals contention with a fourth consecutive loss.

Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada shared six cheap wickets, then their batsmen survived Taskin Ahmed’s twin early

strikes as captain Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten knock of 31 carried them to 86-4 in 13.3 overs. “(There was) quite a lot in the wicket early on, but full credit to KG and Nortje for exploiting it,” Bavuma said. “It’s never easy when you have one guy bowling 150 (kph) and another getting so much out of the wicket with his skill,” added Bavuma.

In the absence of injured star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s top-order batsmen fell to Rabada’s (3-20) pace and captain Mahmudullah fended

off an easy catch against Nortje’s (3-8) pacey bouncer to slip to 34-4 in eight overs.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shami’s (2-21) knack of taking wickets in the middle overs paid off, and Nortje got the last two wickets off successive deliveries to dismiss Bangladesh in 18.2 overs.

Nortje ran to grab a mistimed top-edged pull of top-scorer Mehdi Hasan (27) then No. 10 Shoriful Islam became only the second player in T20 World Cup history to get out by hit wicket

after he went deep into his crease against a full-pitched delivery only to knock back his stumps with his bat.

Bangladesh’s 84 was its third lowest total in the tournament history.

“The wicket was pretty good to bowl on in the first half,” Mahmudullah said.

“We weren’t good enough in the middle, that was a poor batting display. It’s frustrating, but we could have won two games (against West Indies and Sri Lanka), if we had won those

games, it would have been a different story.”

South Africa next takes on unbeaten England in their last crucial group game on Saturday and Bavuma hopes to sneak into the semifinals with a win over Eoin Morgan’s side. “It’s a big game (against England), looking at the competition the way it is, they have had the better of us recently, and we would like to change that,” Bavuma said.

Bangladesh completes its campaign against Australia on Thursday.

PAGE 16, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BAYERN, JUVENTUS THROUGH TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer ANDREW Tynes and his Swift Athletics Track Club in Andros as they put on the fourth annual Fresh Creek Road Race. Here, some of the participants show off their trophies earned.

SWIFT ATHLETICS TRACK CLUB STAGES 4TH ANNUAL FRESH CREEK ROAD RACE

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IN their continued effort to promote the track and field programme ran by former basketball player turned physical education teacher Felicia Cartwright, Andrew Tynes and his Swift Athletics Track Club returned to Andros to put on the fourth annual Fresh Creek Road Race.

The event, which got started in 2018, was held on Saturday with more than 70 competitors from five clubs and schools participating.

Tynes, who organised the event along with his assistant coach Ann Thompson and Cartwright, said he was pleased with the turnout.

“We have made this an annual event, but we are still trying to get all of the schools on Andros to come out and some of the schools and clubs from New Providence to come over to the event to compete,” Tynes said.

Tynes said the goal is to make the Fresh Creek Road Race a staple on the local track and field calendar.

“It’s always good when you can go to the Family Islands and compete in events over there,” Tynes said. “Our Swift Athletics Track Club has been going since we got started and the people on Andros look forward to our participation in the event.”

Swift Athletics’ Paulino Boyer, Carlos Brown and Renardo Farrington were among the top finishers on the boys’ side, while teammate Aari Barnett topped the girls’ side.

Among the other winners were Swift’s Khaleah Thompson, Rocelis Moxey, Savannah Brennen, Jade Clarke, Kheyondre Butler, Kristoph Smith, Tyqwon Woodside and Quinton Lewis.

The competitors got to compete in different distances based on their age categories. The under-5 boys and girls did just 700 metres while the under-9 and under-11 did 1,200m.

The under-13s and under15ss did one mile, the under-17 covered mile and half and the under-20 and open division stretched it out over two miles.

“I feel the response for this one was nice since we had Mangrove Cay down for the first time,” Tynes said. “We didn’t get South Andros there this time because they found out about it too late to put their team together.

“We had just our Swift Athletics Track Club from Nassau participating.

The 3-D Stallions were scheduled to join us, but they pulled out at the last minute. The people really showed their support for the event. If they didn’t show up at the site, they parked their cars along the route and cheered on the competitors.”

Under-9 girls – Khaleah Thompson, Swift, 2:18.28; Ja’Vae Trottife, 2:25.04.

Under-11 girls – Rocelis Moxey, 1:45.23.

Under-13 girls – Savannah Brennen, 2:27.00; Shantae Rahming, 2:35.00; Dennisha Moxey, 2:39.85.

Under-17 girls – Jade Clarke, Mangrove Cay, 5:24.23; Destiny Gould, Mangrove Cay, 5:34.09; Brainaisha King, Mangrove Cay, 5:56.25.

COACH Andrew Tynes presents one of the many winners of the cross country race with their trophy.

Under 20 girls – Aari Barnett, Swift, 4:49.10; Haylie Dorsett, Swift, 6:37.42.

Open women - Alicia Major, 7:08.76.

Under-5 boys – Kheyondre Butler, 5:50.07.

Under-7 boys – Rashawn Marshall.

Under-9 boys – Kristoph Smith, Mangrove Cay, 2:38.24.

Under-13 boys – Tyqwon Woodside, Central Andros, 2:01.78; Jamari Williams, Mangrove Cay, 2:04.71; Quinton Lewis, Central Andros, 2:07.88.

Under-15 boys – Renardo Farrington, Swift, 3:31.05; Ishmael Rolle, Swift, 3:32.44; Ricarro Johnson, Mangrove Cay, 3:36.65.

Under-17 boys – Carlos Brown, Swift, 3:56.17; Alvin Marshall, Central

Andros, 3:58.22; Emmanuel Nairn, Mangrove Cay, 4:04.00.

Under-20 boys – Paulindo Boyer, Swift, 4:18.57; Brandon Brown,.

Swift, 4:24.39; Rodney Nicolas, Swift, 4:26.19.

BERLIN (AP) — Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty yesterday but still got a hat trick. The Poland star dominated on his 100th Champions League appearance to lead Bayern Munich into the last-16 after a 5-2 rout of Benfica.

Juventus also booked its place in the knockout rounds with a 4-2 win over Zenit St Petersburg.

They’re the first teams to progress this year with two games to spare from the group stage of Europe’s premier soccer competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo rescued a 2-2 draw for Manchester United against Atalanta, scoring two goals and maintaining his record of scoring in each game so far. But it was an underwhelming performance from the Premier League team whose hopes rely on the brilliance of its Portuguese stars Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.

Barcelona had goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen to thank for securing a nervy 1-0 win at Dynamo Kiev. The 19-yearold Ansu Fati’s 70th-minute goal means the struggling Spanish giant can secure its progress with a win at home over Benfica in its next game. Hakim Ziyech’s goal was enough for defending champion Chelsea to win 1-0 at last-place Malmo.

Here’s a look at yesterday’s group games.

GROUP E The 33-year-old Lewandowski took his goal tally to 81 goals in 100 Champions League games for Bayern and previous club Borussia Dortmund.

Lewandowski had a chance to make it 3-1 before the break, but his penalty was poorly taken and Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos gathered the ball easily. It was Lewandowski’s first penalty miss since February and he reacted with a wry smile.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer set up Lewandowski’s third goal with a long kick out in the 84th minute.

It was Neuer’s first assist in his 123rd appearance in the competition.

GROUP F Manchester United still harbors strong hopes of reaching the last 16 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo. The 36-year-old scored United’s equalizer in injury time against Atalanta to leave Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team top of the group, level on seven points with Villarreal.

Villarreal enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Young Boys, which is bottom with three points.

Ronaldo’s late goals have been saving United.

He previously had another late winner for the 3-2 win at home over Atalanta, and he scored an injury-time winner for the 2-1 victory over Villarreal.

GROUP G French champion Lille kept the group wide open with a 2-1 come-frombehind win at Sevilla.

Lille’s first win gives it five points after four games.

It’s two points behind group leader Salzburg, which lost 2-1 at Wolfsburg earlier.

Wolfsburg also has five points, while Sevilla stayed on three points.

GROUP H Paulo Dybala scored twice, including a retaken penalty, as Juventus reached the last 16 with its win over Zenit St Petersburg.

Dybala was given another opportunity from the penalty spot after he fired wide as visiting ‘keeper Stanislav Kritsyuk had moved off his line. Dybala, who opened the scoring, made no mistake with his second chance before Federico Chiesa and Álvaro Morata sealed the Italian giant’s win.

Juventus has now won all four of its matches to lead the group by three points ahead of Chelsea.

THE TRIBUNE

Manufacturers educated on EU export standards THE Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ) has teamed with the private sector for a three-day workshop on how local manufacturers can comply with European laws.

The Bureau, in a statement, said the partnership with the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) will help to educate producers on ensuring their product packaging and labelling meets export requirements.

The virtual workshop, which is being held from November 2-4, is open to

manufacturers throughout The Bahamas who wish to target European Union (EU) markets.

“As the principle national authority for standards and quality, the BBSQ prides itself on advancing development through the facilitation and promotion of quality services for local businesses,” said Dr Renae Bufford, BBSQ director, during her opening remarks.

“As the pre-eminent resource and advocate for local businesses, the BCCEC aims to drive effective change for the entire business community. So it

is no surprise that members of both organisations would create a three-day forum to discuss the logistics of packaging and labelling goods for the EU market.”

Workshop sessions will cover topics such as current EU market trends; the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA); units and measurements; packaging requirements; and business intelligence tools.

Other sessions will provide information about the labelling and packaging of specific goods including cosmetics, disinfectants and detergents.

Thayer Braynen, the BBSQ’s senior standards officer and workshop speaker, said attendees will learn about how the EU is driving innovation in packaging. The 27-nation bloc, for example, has more “stringent” requirements than other global markets when it comes to lessening the environmental impact of packaging.

The EU is also a leader in value-added packaging, which involves printing quick response (QR) codes that lead consumers to more information about a product or to the manufacturer’s advertisements.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 19

‘OUT ON A LIMB’ OVER STRONG BOATING 2022 FROM PAGE 24 hemisphere. I hope we will tap this market more deeply, and get more benefits from this industry. I only think we’re touching the tip of the iceberg.”

“We know after speaking to him at the Boat Show that he is very engaged and very open to listen to ideas we have, as well as sharing his personal opinions,” the ABM vice-president said.

He added that Mr Cooper’s Family Island background, as well as that of Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island development, would benefit the sector.

While the focus has always been on New Providence, Harbour Island and Exuma, Mr Dargavage said The Bahamas needed

MURDER CONVICT FAILS TO RELEASE $11.4M FREEZE FROM PAGE 24

“The letter of request stated that Mr Pearson kept most of the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme in certain bank accounts in The Bahamas, and requested that any funds in the accounts up to $11.4m be frozen as a preliminary step to forfeiture under US law,” acting justice CooperBurnside wrote.

“The Letter of Request also stated that, although the US Department of Justice had sought Mr Pearson’s extradition, he remained incarcerated in Costa Rica pursuant to a local investigation regarding his alleged involvement

in multiple murders in Costa Rica.

“It is not clear when, but subsequent to the date on which the restraint Order was granted, Mr Pearson was charged and convicted in Costa Rica for the offences for which he was being investigated at the date of the restraint Order.

He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 50 years and is currently serving that sentence.”

The judgment did not explain why Pearson was suddenly challenging the restraint Order from behind bars some 11 years after it was first imposed by the Supreme Court. The convict and his attorneys,

Gail Lockhart-Charles and Lisa Esfakis, argued that the Order should fall away because US proceedings had not progressed to the point where forfeiture would occur a decade later.

And Pearson also produced evidence from a Costa Rican attorney to show he was now a Costa Rican citizen, and that nation did not allow its citizens to be extradited.

However, the Attorney General’s Office countered by arguing that the US extradition request remains outstanding and that criminal charges are still pending.

It added that the funds allegedly held in The

PORT BEATS REVENUE FORECASTS BY $1.5M FROM PAGE 24 “When you look at our expenses for 2021, we were about $1.5m below the prior year. We were able to manage expenses going through COVID-19. When you look at net income for 2021 compared to 2020, we’re about $500,000 below.”

APD’s total expenses dropped year-over-year by 9.3 percent, falling from $15.703m to $14.235m, as the company successfully contained costs. However, Mr Bethell added: “When you look at it volume wise, our TEUs (twenty foot equivalent unit) were about 8 percent under 2020,” Mr Bethell added.

“Our tonnage was about 8 percent over because of some construction activity that kicked in, and vehicle volumes were about 40 percent below 2020. That tells us very few people were importing cars and dealers were not able to sell as quickly as they were during pre-COVID activity.”

Mr Bethell added that APD also beat the revised revenue and profit forecasts it set at its 2021 financial year’s mid-point, when it realised performance was likely to be better than expected when setting its original targets at the start of the year.

He revealed that revenues finished 3 percent ahead of mid-year forecasts, beating them by around $700,000, while net income was some $840,000 ahead of projections. “Our expenses were relatively flat under budget,” Mr Bethell said.

Referring to the outperforming revenues and profits, he added: “The big driver for that was some project cargo... If you look at the period which 2021 covers, which will be from July last year to June this year, one of the first sectors the Government tried to ignite was the construction sector given that the tourism sector was at a standstill.

“That’s where we see the increase in volumes against budget, along with stevedoring and terminal handling of cargo. A lot of it is attributable to bulk cargo, and we saw some uptick in vehicles.

We were still below budget on TEUs, but non-containerised project cargo came in for dredging associated with the Nassau Cruise Port.”

That development, as well as construction on the new US Embassy, Gold Wynn, Hurricane Hole and Albany,

had ensured cargo volumes continued to move.

“We continue to manage costs, we continue to ensure everybody stays safe, and we continue to ensure that all perishable and grocery items are in the stores so people have no reason to concern themselves with being able to eat,” Mr Bethell added.

“The team continues to do a good job. As the first brick in the supply chain we need to ensure our nation, especially the capital, can forge ahead given the challenging time we are in. We’re very satisfied and comfortable with the results given the times we are in, and we continue to provide tier one service.”

APD previously said it has eliminated the possibility of any tariff rate increase by agreeing a refinancing of its near-$31m preference share debt that will slash interest costs by some $4.5m.

“When we came to market with those preference shares they were at 5.5 percent, and we’ve been able to negotiate a more favourable rate at prime minus 1.15 percent with a cap not to exceed 4.75 percent,” Mr Bethell explained at the time.

Given that the Bahamian prime rate is presently at 4.25 percent, this will slash APD’s long-term interest (debt servicing) costs from 5.5 percent to 3.1 percent once the $30.856m preference share capital outstanding at end-June 2022 is repaid to its investors.

“The difference on that $30m is substantial in terms of the interest savings to the company and, in effect, it’s common shareholders,” Mr Bethell added. “We’re estimating, for the option we considered, to save approximately $4.5m over the life of the facility.

“Given the times we are in, we have to find ways to reduce costs as opposed to increasing rates. This is one option that we felt was best for the company and its shareholders at this time.

“It gives APD an opportunity to obtain lower financing costs on its debt. If you hold preference shares, you’d like to hold that for longer at the higher rate of 5.5 percent, but we have always been prudent in managing our expenses and sought to keep our tariffs down. One way we’ve been able to do that is through refinancing of the preference shares at lower rates.”

The interest savings from the preference shares’

replacement will be spread out over 12 years, which works out to a $375,000 annual reduction in APD’s debt servicing costs.

Bahamas accounts could not be forfeited without a criminal conviction in the US courts, and this cannot happen until Pearson serves his Costa Rican sentence and is extradited - an event that may never happen given the length of the 50-year sentence.

Mrs Lockhart-Charles argued that “a foreign state should not be allowed to retain a restraining order when there is no prospect that the proceedings can be prosecuted”, and that they could not be “left open ended” under the Proceeds of Crime Act given that it could be 40 years before US proceedings against Pearson restart.

However, acting justice Cooper-Burnside said she was “not persuaded” that the reasons for the restraint Order had fallen away. “It is the view of this court that to discharge the restraint Order in circumstances of this particular case would likely undermine the efficient workings of the proceeds of crime regime and be out of step with the legislative steer of the 2018 Act,” she ruled.

“Furthermore, in light of the purpose to be served by the restraint Order, it is the view of this court that Parliament cannot have intended for the restraint Order to be discharged if the related

to pursue yachting/boating growth opportunities on less publicised islands such as Long Island and Cat Island.

Besides Mr Cooper and Mr Sweeting, the Ministry of Tourism’s parliamentary secretary, John Pinder, was also present in Fort Lauderdale along with ministry officials. Meetings were held with then likes of the International Yacht Brokers Association; US Super Yacht Association; and United Islands & Yachts.

A meeting featuring multiple Family Island marinas was also held at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach, a property also owned by Pink Sands proprietor, Andreas Ioannou. criminal proceedings are still viable.”

Pearson and his coconspirators were accused of operating a “business opportunity” fraud involving beverage and greeting card activities.

They induced victims to buy so-called “business opportunities” via a variety of fake companies such as USA Beverages Inc, Twin Peaks Gourmet Coffee, Cards-R-Us, Premier Cards and The Coffee Man. Persons paid “at least $10,000” to access opportunities they were falsely promised would generate significant profits. Each business operated for several months, then closed, and a new one would emerge.

PAGE 20, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

SYMONETTE’S ELEUTHERA HOME PUT UP FOR AUCTION A BAHAMIAN real estate company is partnering with a leading property auction firm to sell the former Eleuthera home that once belonged to the nation’s first premier.

Bidding is now open on the Concierge Auctions site for the two-acre Governor’s Harbour property known as Hut Pointe, which was built in 1944 as the island home of The Bahamas’ first premier, Sir Roland Symonette, who held the office from 1955 to 1964. The auction closes on November 10.

“For most people, the name Eleuthera conjures up pictures of beautiful waters, pristine beaches and price tags as high as the island’s rolling hills,” said Tim Rodland, managing partner and broker at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate MCR Bahamas, the firm partnering with Concierge Auctions.

With Hut Pointe located inland, Mr Rodland contacted an architect, sent him photos and details of the property, and gave him free rein. Draw what you

AN AERIAL view of what Hut Pointe looks like today. The twoacre property in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, once the home of The Bahamas’ first premier, Sir Roland Symonette, is being offered by Concierge Auctions and Better Homes & Gardens MCR Bahamas, with bidding closing on November 10. dream this could be, he said. And the architect did.

He turned a property that was being offered for a relatively low sum, $2.6m with a reserve of $1.1m, into something that looked like a minimum of double-digit millions.

He created renderings of a resort with suites and villas; tennis courts; a rooftop restaurant with sea

view; two-and three-bedroom suites overlooking a contemporary pool or lavish botanical and organic gardens; and a cost coffee shop all in a contemporary Caribbean style.

“The site has a great deal going for it – close to the beach on one of the most sought-after islands in the hemisphere; an existing solid, historic structure with

seven bedrooms, another nine in smaller buildings; mature gardens; a 180,000gallon water harvesting system; solar panels and the prospect of ten years with no property tax,” Mr Rodland said.

“But we knew that beyond what existed, the potential was exponential, so instead of asking prospective buyers to use their imagination we wanted to show what the dream would look like if you closed your eyes and let yourself imagine the possibilities.”

“One of the most significant investment considerations is that it could well qualify for the benefits of the Hotels Encouragement Act, which would allow for the duty-free importation of building supplies, allowing the buyer to develop at a reduced cost,” added Mr Rodland.

“The historic building, which was built in 1944 as the island home of the country’s first premier, Sir Roland Symonette, can become part of the new development.”

Concierge Auctions has already worked successfully with Mr Rodland on another recent offering in Eleuthera.

“The first time we looked at this property,” said Danny Prell, Concierge Auctions’ director of business development, “I knew it had potential far beyond what exists today. Tim Rodland brought that potential to life. He took the guesswork out of our request for viewers online to use their imagination.”

Along with the seven bedrooms, the main house features a second-storey deck running along the length of the building that is so solid it has been used as a safe haven by locals during hurricanes.

The entire structure was upgraded a few years ago, including with solar panels. There are two smaller single-level structures. New drawings show expansion of one of the smaller structures into a much larger facility with capacity to become a venue ideal for special events.

“We know that we are selling potential along with

Bahamian cloud provider in top security designation A BAHAMAS-based cloud services provider says it has joined the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) after becoming the only Caribbean firm to receive the coveted ‘Trusted Cloud Provider’ badge.

Cloud Carib, which was formed ten years ago, described the CSA as the world’s leading organisation dedicated to defining - and raising - awareness of best practices that help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. It added that joining the CSA signals its commitment to bringing secure, resilient cloud services to the region.

With data centres in Jamaica, Barbados, Panama and Ecuador, plus Nassau and Freeport, Cloud Carib’s chief executive,

Scott MacKenzie, said the company’s accession to the CSA was proof of its dedication to not only delivering high quality services but also ensuring the region’s secure digital transformation.

“Our mandate, since the very beginning, has been to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients at every level,” he MacKenzie. “To meet that mandate, we continue to create and maintain relationships with our various technology and industry partners who have been instrumental in meeting the ever-evolving data security strategies needed to advance the region.

“The CSA’s dedication to ensuring secure cloud computing environments is in line with our company’s ongoing focus on promoting

PUBLIC NOTICE INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY JOSEPHINE PALANCA YAP (NEE HERSON) of the Western District of the Island of New Providence, I intend to change my name to JOSEPHINE PALANCA HERSON. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later then Thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

DUCS S.A.

Company No. 186039 (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that DUCS S.A. is in voluntary liquidation.

The voluntary liquidation commenced on 29th October 2021 and Querube C. De Nuñez of MMG Tower, Ave. Paseo del Mar, Costa del Este, Panama City, Rep. of Panama been appointed as the Sole Liquidator.

Dated this 1st day of November 2021 Sgd. Querube C. De Nuñez Voluntary Liquidator

LEGAL NOTICE

greater data sovereignty, so being accepted as its newest member is another feather in our cap which aligns with our growth strategy.”

As a member of CSA’s ‘Trusted Cloud Provider’ programme, Cloud Carib said its industry credibility will receive a boost from highlighting its commitment to security through training, education and contributing to the community.

Several Cloud Carib staff have also completed the CSA’s Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) examination. The certification, which is widely recognised as the standard of expertise, is the industry’s primary benchmark for

measuring cloud security skill-sets.

The CCSK is intended to provide an understanding of security issues and best practices over a broad range of cloud computing domains, and is strongly recommended for IT auditors as well.

“This was a great opportunity for us to increase our company’s overall knowledge base as well,” Mr MacKenzie explained.

“Members of our team successfully completed the CSA’s rigorous certifications, which tested our adherence to best practices and security knowledge so we’re very proud of that.

Bahamas returns to vital tourism event THE Bahamas has returned to World Travel Market (WTM), the London-based travel event, which closes today.

Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, is leading the Bahamian delegation. The country’s travel partners and stakeholders are also attending, and will be joining tourism representatives on The Bahamas’ stand.

The Ministry of Tourism, in a statement, said its main goal was to update the travel industry on The Bahamas’ 16-island brand proposition; showcase visitor experiences on-island and encourage them to promote the significant increase in airlift from the UK. British Airways (BA) is set to fly to The Bahamas six times per week, starting from yesterday, while Virgin

NOTICE

a sense of history, but we also want buyers to feel a sense of wonder because Eleuthera is a magical place,” said Mr Rodland.

“Where else do you have more than 200 miles of coastline on a single island where the sea is never more than a few miles away, and where from north to south of the 110-mile stretch, the landscape and the communities are so interesting and diverse you can never be bored.

“Where all can you have world-class diving, fishing and be within driving distance to three airports or a ferry dock taking you to other islands, including Harbour Island with its pink sand beaches or the thriving village of Spanish Wells?”

Mr Prell added: “Hut Pointe is like that big, ripe pear, full and just waiting for someone to notice it and pick it. It’s a gem in the world of properties with potential,” he says.

Cloud Carib’s accession to the CSA comes as it readies to introduce its latest initiative, The Cloud Carib Centre of Excellence.

“What we envisioned for our Centre of Excellence is a place where the technologists of tomorrow can collaborate and learn from each other, as well as our global team of experts and partners,” explained Cloud Carib’s founder and chief technology officer, Stelios Xeroudakis.

“We’ve designed it to be a cutting-edge ICT facility which will attract and accommodate the next generation of industry professionals from across the Caribbean region, and

further lay the foundation for The Bahamas as a tech hub.”

“The CSA is proud of the work we’ve done to nurture a knowledge-based community and our extensive network of member organisations — from providers and customers to governments, entrepreneurs, and the assurance industry,” said Jim Reavis, co-founder and chief executive, Cloud Security Alliance.

“We are excited about the growth that we’ve seen from Cloud Carib and are pleased to welcome them and their expertise to our group of stakeholders as we remain committed to providing a forum through which diverse parties can work together to create and maintain a trusted cloud ecosystem.”

Atlantic is launching a new, twice-weekly direct flight from London Heathrow starting on November 20.

Both these services will make The Bahamas more accessible.

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said: “Tourism is a crucial component for the growth and development of The Bahamas, and we are already seeing positive signs that a strong recovery is taking place within the destination.

“Our attendance at World Travel Market will give us the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with our valued industry

partners and showcase our array of new experiences and developments.”

Mrs Jibrilu added: “We are delighted to be attending this year’s World Travel Market in person once again, and look forward to reuniting with our travel trade partners to discuss ways in which we can collaborate and to share our latest news and updates.

“As The Bahamas’ tourism sector continues its recovery, the increase in airlift from BA and Virgin Atlantic presents us with a fantastic opportunity to welcome back British visitors and share all the wonderful experiences the destination has to offer.”

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that IESHA ISIS DAVID of Yellow Elder, 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 27th day of October, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that ELMIANNTA NACIUS of P. O. Box N-10326, 7th Street, Coconut Grove, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of November, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

MOBY LIMITED

CRUSADER INVESTMENTS INC.

ZERTA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.

In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, MOBY LIMITED is in dissolution as of October 19, 2021.

International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

Company No. 78118 (In Voluntary Liquidation)

NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that CRUSADER INVESTMENTS INC. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 27th September, 2021 and Mag. Iur. Andreas Frences of Unterbüntelistrasse 2, 9443 Widmau been appointed as the Sole Liquidator.

Dated this 27th day of September, 2021 Sgd. Mag. Iur. Andreas Frences Voluntary Liquidator

In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, ZERTA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC. is in dissolution as of October 21, 2021.

International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 21

‘CAN’T ACCOUNT’ FOR ALL BAMSI SET-UP SPEND FROM PAGE 24

will lose the opportunity to build upon what they have inherited if they “get caught up in politics”.

The taxpayer’s BAMSI exposure became an issue during Monday’s late afternoon House of Assembly exchange between Mr Sweeting and his predecessor, after the former accused the Minnis administration of failing to realise “the vision” for the school and not connecting it to the electricity grid.

Refuting the electricity assertions, Mr Pintard responded: “Just so that you understand the context, what is also true is you have in your possession a report that I’ve not referred to over the course of the last three-and-a-half years, which is the audit, really a financial report of activities at BAMSI, which we sought not to raise.

“Neither minister (Renward) Wells who had had his commission, neither under my tenure, because we thought once you are in the chair, you govern as opposed to engaging in ‘gotcha’ moments.

“So I’d like for you to review that report. I would gladly come back and

discuss the details of that audit. But I did not think it appropriate for the administration to be embroiled in that. That’s a function of the Auditor General and not mine,” he continued.

“So I just wanted to say that when you talk about the absence of anything over the last four years, financial controls were put in place to remedy the mischief that that report outlines in tremendous detail.”

And, referring to the expenditure required to create BAMSI, Mr Pintard added: “The former [Christie] administration allocated roughly around $50m to $80m....we couldn’t trace exactly where the figures were.”

Contacted by Tribune Business for clarification yesterday, the former Cabinet minister confirmed he had been explaining that not all monies invested by the Christie administration in BAMSI could be traced and accounted for. And, while a $50m minimum outlay had been established, this may have risen as high as $80m.

Asserting that his exchange with Mr Sweeting has not been “a money dispute per se”, Mr Pintard

said he had simply sought to make the point that “you hold the office now, you have the responsibility for governance, let’s get on with the business”.

But, prompted by this newspaper, he confirmed that the Minnis administration had commissioned “a study because we were interested in the challenges facing BAMSI. That was designed to ensure there were a range of financial controls put in place, but I don’t want to delve into the irregularities found.....

“It was just an absence of financial controls in place to track a number of things. As a result of that, some persons were inclined to misbehave.” Mr Pintard declined to comment further.

However, the audit report uncovered that some persons were writing inflated cheques for sums higher than the amounts required to purchase specific items for BAMSI. They would then convert the difference between the inflated sum and purchase price for their own personal use.

Tribune Business was told this became “a routine activity” at one point, while the report’s authors were unable to locate

whole batches of cheques to perform accounting reconciliations on.

They also encountered difficulties obtaining cooperation from banks where the cheques were deposited and/or cashed, and had to get “very forceful” to obtain the information sought.

As a result of the findings, several persons departed BAMSI “without a whimper” although a minority took their grievances to the Labour Department. Some even began co-operating with the investigation by exposing the misdeeds of others.

Meanwhile, Mr Pintard said the former Minnis administration was never able to come up with a precise figure on how much was spent to create BAMSI. “A substantial amount of money was invested by the former PLP administration, and the intent was a good one,” he told this newspaper.

“But there was no way to determine what the amount was because the spending was done through multiple government ministries.

When monies are allocated through the Prime Minister’s Office, we are unable to properly trace them

unless the prime minister in office at the time was minded to disclose those figures.”

Suggested that former prime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, would have had to dedicate significant time and resources to uncovering the necessary figures, Mr Pintard reiterated: “We did not, at the time of leaving office, determine what the total spend was.

“Whenever we looked at it from the Ministry of Agriculture’s standpoint, and BAMSI’s standpoint, and they are two different things, we are unable to determine the substantial amount of money spent.”

The unconfirmed investment in creating BAMSI, and the absence of proper financial controls once it became operational, again raise concerns over whether Bahamian taxpayers are getting value for money via government spending and if there are sufficient checks and balances on how their dollars are used.

However, the former Cabinet minister said he preferred to look forward rather than back. “We have well over $50m sitting in the ground already. It’s an obligation of any government

OIL EXPLORER SHOULDN’T BE ‘BLIP ON THE RADAR’ FROM PAGE 24

in Bahamian waters during that period.

The Davis administration while in Opposition indicated it would take a more sympathetic approach to oil exploration in Bahamian waters so long as it met the necessary health and environmental safeguards.

However, reports yesterday suggested this stance may have been modified. The Prime Minister indicated that while exploratory oil drilling would be permitted, production and extraction associated with any find in Bahamian waters would not. Instead, The Bahamas would seek to monetise this via carbon credits or some other mechanism to gain a reward for keeping its oil in the ground.

Meanwhile, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, the

Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) executive director, told Tribune Business it was “shocking” that Challenger’s financial statements “don’t state how much in licence fees for the last exploration period are still owed to the Bahamian government” or whether these have been paid.

“How can they list the former licences as assets when they expired at the end of June?” she queried.

“With its current balance sheet, can the company meet its financial obligations and pay its debts, including the past due fees owed to The Bahamas and continue as a going concern?”

Mrs McKinney added that Challenger’s financial statements raised multiple questions requiring answers. They show the oil explorer as making

a $1.359m operating loss in The Bahamas during the 2021 first half, yet peg the value of its “tangible and intangible” assets at $93.88m.

She called on Challenger to detail the assets included in this $93.88m valuation, and whether they incorporate the expired licences.

“A hope to negotiate a renewal is not an asset,” Mrs McKinney argued, while also questioning whether the reference to an $8.065m deferred tax liability included the licence fees owing in The Bahamas.

Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, told Tribune Business that Challenger’s financial results raise major questions over whether it can pay its past due licence fees as well as any future commitments.

“Where I’m at now, it’s almost certain they don’t

have the financial resources in place to pay the outstanding fees,” she argued.

“And they don’t have the financial resources in place to pay anything in the future. At this point they are hoping to be in a position. We cannot go on hope.

“We’re in a critical state where we need to build back to protect our people, and we cannot hope for an experiment. Please, please, Prime Minister, do not let Challenger Energy experiment with the Bahamian people. We are not lab rats. Their application for

a renewal should automatically be denied.”

Mr Uliel, in his message to shareholders, had warned: “The group currently estimates that it has a need for, in aggregate, approximately $15m in funding in order to continue to meet its obligations as and when they fall due over the coming 12 months or, in the alternative, achieve creditor settlements that would reduce the amounts payable, and thus have the same economic effect.

Describing these bills and liabilities as “unacceptably high”, he added: “The

to make it pay dividends for Bahamian citizens and the people’s money already spent,” Mr Pintard told Tribune Business.

“I would love for him [Mr Sweeting] to succeed.

Our situation is critical and given the disruption in the food supply chain for most items we have to do things with a sense of urgency to catch up because we will otherwise have problems in the long run.”

Mr Pintard said Mr Sweeting that the Government could make a real difference if they follow through on executing initiatives already “in train”, but warned that if they “get caught up in politics they will lose those opportunities”.

He revealed that he was “minded to be helpful” to the new administration but it also needed to acknowledge the work done by its predecessor.

He added that himself and his successor were on the same page about the need for BAMSI to stop competing against farmers, and instead focus on education as well as field tests and experimental growing.

Noting that crop and cultivation losses were not being reported, Mr Pintard anything that remained of its 800 acres could be leased to commercial entities. company’s ability to meet all of its anticipated obligations over the 12 months from the date of the 2020 annual report is dependent on this outcome - that is, successful completion of a process to definitively address the outstanding payables/liabilities position and secure additional funding for ongoing operations and work programmes in 2022, and in so doing place the company on a stable, debt-free footing for the future.

“It should be noted that if the company is unsuccessful in achieving its restructuring and recapitalisation plan there is a risk to the company continuing as a going concern.”

PAGE 22, Wednesday, November 3, 2021

CHARTER OPERATOR IN LEASE ROW WITH NAD

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A PRIVATE aviation charter operator vacated its base at Lynden Pindling International Airport (SLPIA) this past Sunday amid a furious row with the airport operator over a lease renewal.

Cameron Roach, president of Golden Wings Charter and Hangar Time, told Tribune Business the company had left its hangar at Jet Nassau because the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) had refused to renew its lease even though it had paid rent for months following its expiration.

He added that the LPIA operator had failed to renegotiate a lease renewal prior to the agreement’s end, while conceding that NAD had offered it two other hangars as an alternative. However,Mr Roach

said these were inadequate for its needs.

NAD, though, said it “categorically” denied all assertions made against it, and said this newspaper was being provided with “false and misleading” information. It did not identify what was “false and misleading”, but added that it was committed to “dealing appropriately and fairly” with all business partners.

Mr Roach said: “We’ve been operating our maintenance hangar for our business, Golden Wings, with NAD for about 18 years now. A few years into it, we went to them and asked for our lease to be renewed because our original lease did not show a renewal clause. We wanted to know if we could renew it, and they gave us a letter saying, yes, we can renew it on certain criteria.”

The criteria for renewing the lease was to begin negotiations on a renewal one year before the original

deal expired. Golden Wings would have to apply for it to be renewed, and be responsible for any upgrades to the hangar if necessary.

Asserting that his lease payments were current, and having complied with all of the conditions required, Mr Roach said he asked for a renewal and gave NAD “three different options of business plans” for the hangar and upgrades.

“We gave them three different options of business plans for expanding the hangars to accommodate some of the maintenance guys out there that NAD had asked us to take in under our wings, and under our small existing hangar, because they didn’t have anywhere for them to operate out of,” Mr Roach said.

“We had a couple of meetings and nothing was said, and then our lease had expired. I kept following up and eventually they got back to me to say they can’t negotiate a lease

renewal because our lease has already expired.”

Negotiations for a lease renewal for Hangar Time started in earnest with NAD in June 2018, Mr Roach added, when they met with airport officials over the ramp expansion and how the lease would be renewed.

He said year-long negotiations lasted until October 2021 without a firm resolution and, despite accommodating NAD’s request to house a few airline mechanics at Hangar Time’s hangar, Golden Wings Charter moved out on Sunday after receiving a notice to vacate.

While NAD had offered two alternative properties to lease, Mr Roach said: “The properties mentioned have no infrastructure, are not next to an FBO (fixed base operator) and will cost millions to even get to where we are now.

“NAD says they don’t develop lands; they give the tenants the option to

develop their own land.

Then they give you a lease, and now they don’t want to give us a renewal on the lease after 21 years.

“On January 26, 2021, we sent a detailed letter to NAD with our requests, and subsequently had a Zoom meeting in February to discuss it where we were told that we would not be given any of our requests.

On April 15, 2021 the offer of an additional six-month extension was revoked.”

Jan Knowles, NAD’s vice-president of marketing and communications, told Tribune Business in a statement: “You have been given very false and misleading information about NAD which we categorically deny.

“While we are always happy to respond to your queries, as a policy we do not discuss matters related to tenants given our commitment to confidentiality. NAD is very committed to dealing fairly

CRUISE INDUSTRY’S RETURN YET TO BOOST EXCURSIONS

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A NASSAUbased excursion provider yesterday said the cruise industry’s return has yet to translate into a major postCOVID rebound due to changes in how the sector is operating.

Peter Rebmann, Pearl Island’s managing partner, told Tribune Business: “People think everything is back

to normal, but the reality is with all of these ‘bubble tours’ most cruise lines demand to be the only guest on our island. As they mostly all come in the morning, time is too short to offer afternoon tours.”

As a result Pearl Island is only accommodating one cruise ship on a daily basis rather than the two to four that it catered to pre-COVID. Mr Rebmann added: “There are cruise lines that do not only allow people to mix with their own fleet,

and our island is too small for splitting it up into two halves. So even if the same cruise line brings in two ships I have to pick one or the other. We are happy and grateful for all the cruise lines being back but, as I described, the situation is still challenging.”

“Bubble tours” are excursions where the cruise lines ensure their passengers do not freely mix with those from other cruise lines or Bahamians, thereby minimising the possibility of catching COVID-19 and

its spread by keeping them all secluded in a controlled environment.

Nicholas Pinder, general manager of Born Free Fishing Charters, added: “Apparently if you are not booking a tour that is sold through the cruise ship, they are not allowing the customer off of the ship. That’s the word that’s getting to us. I don’t know too much about these bubble tours, but it is something that is not easily controllable.”

The cruise industry’s return does not mean more

business for Mr Pinder, or any other excursion provider, if “the cruise ships are getting all of the business. The trip has to be sold on the boat in order for the passenger to disembark the boat. If downtown is full of cruise ship visitors, then it is good for downtown.

“Despite us not getting a whole lot of cruise ship business in the past, we got a good some, but we haven’t had a single cruise ship job yet since they have been back. Some days we have three or four cruise

THE TRIBUNE

and appropriately with its business partners.”

Mr Roach, though, replied: “They are not renewing our lease and we are being told to vacate the property without renewing our lease. Our original lease does not have a clause to renew. But we did get a letter in 2010 saying that they would renew our lease based on those criteria that I gave you.

“Now that it’s come time to renew our lease, they’re saying they’re not honouring it because it has expired. Yet, we tried to renew it a year-and-a-half before the lease expired.

They waited until the lease actually expired and said, sorry, we can’t discuss this because the lease has expired.”

“You can ask NAD what we had done. We have not broken our lease and we haven’t done anything with our agreement. We have paid our rent up to date.

There is no problem at all.” ships in at one time,” Mr Pinder said.

The excursion providers’ comments again highlight the challenges that The Bahamas faces in trying to maximise the economic benefits from the cruise industry and ensuring it receives a fair share.

However, Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, told the House of Assembly on Monday: “Encouragingly, there are over 300 ships booked to call into Nassau between October and December.

“This is a remarkable recovery and translates to approximately four ships a day between now and December at the Port of Nassau.”

WEST BAY COMMUNITY’S FIRST BUYERS MOVE IN ‘WITHIN DAYS’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A WEST Bay Street real estate project is “moving in the right direction”, and will receive its first residents in a matter of days, with second phase construction work now under way.

Randy Hart, president of Villanova, which is located off West Bay Street, told Tribune Business that the project’s first phase has just been completed. The developer is now waiting for Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) to electrify the entire compound and, once that happens, the development can receive its first residents.

“We just completed phase one of the project, which consists of 20 units, and we’re fully sold out on phase one,” Mr Hart said. “So I think that’s a pretty strong validation of the concept and speaks to the quality of the project.

“We went with a modern, contemporary design and the concept was to provide affordable luxury, so our price points are from about $200,000 to $425,000.

We offer from studios to two bedroom studios, onebedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom options.

“We’re days away from receiving our first residents, not weeks. We have our occupancy certificates and it’s not just a matter of the legal process for people completing on their purchases and moving in, but we’re

ready to welcome our purchasers to move in at this point.”

Villanova has a 50/50 mixture of expatriates and Bahamians who have acquired units at the complex. Mr Hart described the development as attractive for the international market because of its proximity to West Bay Street, Cable Beach and downtown Nassau.

“The key from my experience for the international market is walking distance from the beach,” he said.

“With most beachfront properties in the upper $500,000 range, our price points gives them a good option in the sub-$500,000 range.”

Phase two is now under construction with phase three scheduled for an early 2022 start date. “We already have significant buyer interest in phases two and three, and enough momentum to just continue right through with our build out,” Mr Hart said.

There will be a central gathering area for Villanova residents as well as a communal pool. The property also has back-up generators on-site that can power the entire property for 72 hours in the event of a sustained island-wide power outage.

Mr Hart said: “What’s nice to see is that we came into this neighbourhood, and there was some initial apprehension among the community for a larger scale development here. But now that we’re under way and established, we’re making improvements in the local

community in terms of infrastructure improvements and roadways.”

Villanova’s arrival on Ferguson Road off West Bay Street has helped resolve a long-standing flooding problem through the installation of a new drainage system that keeps the area from flooding.

Mr Hart said: “The initial issue that we confronted was obviously addressing some of the perennial drainage issues on Ferguson Road. The solution was at hand with the Ministry of Works and our engineering team.

“We installed a combination of deep-water wells to direct the water through to the drainage system within the property and along the roadway, along Ferguson Road. For anyone who lives in this area, they would have noticed that since the drainage has been installed we have not experienced any standing water on the road, or very little.”

The costs involved were “significant”, and Mr Hart added: “I understand the Ministry of Works is minded to pave the rest of Ferguson Road right up to West Bay Street, and there is another section of the street that would alleviate some of the drainage issues that persist closer to West Bay Street. We understand that is in the works.

“Now that we’ve completed all of the infrastructure works and utility installations along Ferguson Road, they can come back behind us now to finish the paving process.”

Share your news The Tribune wants to hear from people who are making news in their neighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raising funds for a good cause, campaigning for improvements in the area or have won an award. If so, call us on 3221986 and share your story.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021, PAGE 23

TOUR OPERATORS BACK DPM ON CHARTER TAX

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN tour and excursion operators have backed the deputy prime minister’s assertion that fees levied on foreign charter vessels are “unconscionably” low.

Andoni Lisgaris, president of the Bahamas Excursion Operators Association (BEOA), told Tribune Business: “Currently, they pay a cruise permit and then they pay 4 percent on the value of the charter. They are supposed to pay this to the Port Authority.

“As far as I understand it it is supposed to be an honour system. But they can

say that they have been here between three to six months under the cruising permit, and they would say that the owners are actually down here in The Bahamas and they are not doing any charters; they are just cruising through The Bahamas “The problem with this is that these yachts are not just cruising through the country, but are taking people on tours and are offering excursion packages at times. This is something they are not supposed to be doing, and are instead taking business from legitimate excursion companies that pay their fair share in taxes well beyond the 4 percent the private yachts pay.”

Mr Lisgaris spoke out after Chester Cooper,

deputy prime minister, told last week’s Exuma Business Outlook conference that the $300 cruising permit and 4 percent yacht charter fee levied by the Government were too low, and there needed to be greater “equity” in terms of the sector’s tax contribution to the Public Treasury.

“It’s just unconscionable that cruising permits are $300, and the charter fee is 4 percent of whatever the charter is going for. I rent... Pedro rents his super yacht for $25,000 a day, and we only get a minimum 4 percent and $300 cruising permit fee,” Mr Cooper added.

“He happens to have come through our waters on his mega yacht to enjoy

the Exuma Cays, use our resources and infrastructure. We welcome that, but there has to be equity in my view. I’m speaking not just as minister of tourism, as we recognise the economic impact of their activities, but we must balance the approach we take as a country to ensure maximum economic benefits.”

Mr Lisgaris added: “They only submit the 4 percent based on what they said they had on their boats. That is ridiculous. We pay our business license, we also submit the Value Added Tax (VAT).

But they pass their four percent on to the consumer like we pass the 12 percent VAT. “This is an honour system with them because when I have to renew my business

license annually, and then when I do my quarterly, I have to submit my earnings.

Then I get my receipt for my receivables.”

Wanting foreign charters to contribute at least half of what he submits to the Government in taxes, Mr Lisgaris added: “Going up on the permit is not of any interest to me. That’s not the thing that really bothers me.

“What really bothers me is that they are operating a full-fledged business in The Bahamas, and our law states that if you work in The Bahamas you must have a valid work permit. And, if you gross over $100,000, you have to collect VAT, and they don’t do that.

“So it’s not the cruise permit. That’s irrelevant to

me. It’s the taxation system that bothers me, and their taxation is four percent,” he continued. “Basically this 4 percent was introduced in the 1960s when we had no taxes here, and it was designed for yachts in transit and it is still the law today but it is never enforced.

“For example, if you book a yacht for a week and you board in Miami, Florida, that is where that charter begins.

But these yachts stay in The Bahamas for two weeks.

Whatever the foreign yachts charge for the trip that started in Miami and cruised through The Bahamas is what they are supposed to pay the 4 percent tax on.

“But the 4 percent was designed for charter boats specifically, and not for yachts just supposedly passing through Bahamian waters, and not for them to be conducting business in The Bahamas.”

business@tribunemedia.net

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

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‘Can’t account’ for all BAMSI set-up spend

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Christie administration’s investment in the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) could not be fully accounted for but may have hit $80m, an ex-minister affirmed yesterday.

Michael Pintard, former minister of agriculture and marine resources, told Tribune Business there was “no way” for the Minnis administration to trace and determine the extent of the taxpayer’s commitment in setting up the north Andros-based school in 2013-2014 because its predecessor had channelled the expenditure through multiple ministries and agencies.

With an outlay of at least $50m confirmed, he added that the last administration imposed “a range of controls” at BAMSI after an audit report it commissioned detected “mischief” and

• Ex-minister: Christie Gov’t outlay may have hit $80m • Audit report revealed ‘mischief’ on how monies used • Study not disclosed due to ‘gotcha’ politics rejection irregularities relating to how funds were being spent.

Nevertheless Mr Pintard, a contender for the Free National Movement (FNM) leadership at the party’s upcoming convention, declined to detail precisely what that audit report uncovered other than “some persons were inclined to misbehave” due to the absence of financial controls. He also declined to name who those “persons” were.

The Marco City MP said both himself and his ministerial predecessor, Renward Wells, had decided against making the

report’s findings public because they did not want to engage in “gotcha” politics against their opponents and instead preferred to focus on the business of governance.

Describing the idea and intent behind BAMSI’s creation as “good”, Mr Pintard said Bahamians wanted governments to solve the country’s problems rather than digging up so-called ‘dirt’ for use against their predecessors.

He acknowledged that the FNM’s recent general election campaign failed to recognise this, and may have missed the

MICHAEL PINTARD mark by focusing on negative attacks.

And, when it came to agriculture and marine resources, Mr Pintard said he was offering to assist his successor, Clay Sweeting, to improve food security and both sectors’ economic contribution for the benefit of The Bahamas and “good governance”. Yet he warned the new administration

SEE PAGE 21

Oil explorer shouldn’t be ‘blip on the radar’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN oil explorer’s financial woes should mean its bid to renew its four Bahamian licences is “not even a blip on the radar” for the Government, environmental activists argued yesterday.

Seizing on Tribune Business revelations that the former Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) is in a “stressed financial position”, with its bills exceeding available cash resources by some $19m, they asserted that the disclosures raise serious questions about its ability

pay outstanding licence fees let alone new ones.

Sam Duncombe, reEarth’s president, said: “My position on BPC/Challenger Energy Group is we should never engaged with them when we had the opportunity to get out of the mess we’re in right now.

Instead, we had some smoke blown about we could not get out of the deal.

“We missed an opportunity there, but have an another opportunity to go that route.

If the investor has no money, why are they even a blip on our radar at all? The challenge we have going on, as far as keeping that oil in the ground,

absolutely keep it right there.

But I don’t understand why we continue to entertain an industry that is devastating to our economy and way of life moving forward.”

Eytan Uliel, Challenger’s chief executive, told shareholders in unveiling the company’s 2021 first half results that it must urgently “pursue a creditor restructuring and recapitalisation plan” otherwise there was a risk it may be unable to continue as “a going concern”. He added that $15m in fresh capital would likely be required.

The oil exploration outfit’s presently troubled financial

A CONVICT serving a 50-year sentence for murder has failed in a bid to overturn an Order that froze up to $11.4m of his assets held by Bahamian financial institutions.

Acting justice Tara CooperBurnside, in an October 29 ruling, declined Jeffrey Allan Pearson’s bid to overturn a

restraint Order obtained by the Attorney General’s Office at the behest of the US Justice Department in relation to a separate case brought against him.

Pearson was charged almost 13 years ago with operating a fraudulent telemarketing scheme from Costa Rica and elsewhere but, before he could be extradited to southern Florida to face those accusations in federal court, he was

convicted for murder in the central American nation and is currently serving his 50-year sentence there.

“On March 5, 2010, a US federal court in Florida granted a post-indictment restraining order against Mr Pearson to preserve the availability of certain assets, including assets allegedly held at certain banks in The Bahamas,” acting justice Cooper-Burnside noted.

ARAWAK CAY PORT

Port beats revenue forecasts by $1.5m • BISX-listed APD says profits $880k above first projection • But down 7.7% against 2020 as COVID-19 impact bites • Construction project provides greatest volume boost

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

While the banks involved are not named in the judgment, she added that the US Justice Department employed its Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with The Bahamas to request on April 1, 2010, that the Attorney General’s Office obtain a restraining Order to freeze Pearson’s alleged assets.

NASSAU’S major commercial shipping port beat its original revenue forecast by almost $1.5m for its 2021 financial year, although profits declined by 7.7 percent year-over-year.

Arawak Port Development Company (APD), the BISX-listed owner and operator of the Nassau Container Port, unveiled financial results for the year to end-June 2021 that, while markedly better than projections, were down year-over-year due to COVID-19’s devastating impact on Bahamian economic activity.

While net and total comprehensive income both dropped by more than $500,000, falling from $7.23m in 2020 to $6.672m this time around, the latter figure was still over $800,000 or 15 percent above initial profit forecasts of $5.976m.

Revenues, too, while down 7.7 percent year-over-year at $28.775m compared to $31.16m in 2020, were still some 4.5 percent or $1.5m higher than the initially forecast $27.525m for the 12 months to end-June 2021.

Dion Bethell, APD’s president and chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that the port owner/operator was down against prior year comparisons because its 2020 financial year featured almost nine COVIDfree months given that it closed at end-June 2020.

It was just the final three months of that year which felt the global pandemic’s impact, whereas APD and the entire Bahamian economy and consumer base have been grappling with COVID-19’s consequences for the whole of the 2021 financial year.

Pointing to the consequences, Mr Bethell said: “When you look year-over-year, you see revenues of $28.775m compared to $31.16m in 2020. That is approximately 8 percent or $2.4m less than we would have done in 2020.

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position raise questions as to whether it has the financial wherewithal to pay for four new Bahamas exploration licences, and fulfill any terms and conditions that may be imposed, plus whether the Government should even be entertaining negotiations with it until the talked-about restructuring takes place.

However, Mr Uliel said it was already “engaging with the new administration” on its application to renew its four licences for another three-year term, together with the obligation to drill another exploratory well

SEE PAGE 21

Murder convict fails to release $11.4m freeze

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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‘Out on a limb’ over strong boating 2022

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas is on course to enjoy “one of its best years for yachting and boating in a very long time” in 2022, the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) vice-president predicted yesterday.

Joe Dargavage told Tribune Business he had been encourage to “go out on a limb” by the reception that The Bahamas and its tourism/marina industry had received from attendees at last week’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

“After meeting with so many of the who’s who in yachting at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, as well as meeting with so many of the south Florida boating community, I’m going to go out on a limb

and say 2022 is going to be one of the best years for boating and yachting that The Bahamas has seen in a very long time,” he said.

The Romora Bay managing partner, emphasising that he was only able to speak for his Harbour Island-based resort and Briland generally, said marina bookings and reservations for winter 2021 and the 2022 first quarter were “starting to look closer to the reservations we had back in 2019. They’re looking very, very positive”.

However, he added that “we still need a lot of support from tourists to fill the hotels. We need a lot of tourists to travel and believe in travel. That’s a very important key to filling the hotels.

We want tourism as a whole package to come back”.

Mr Dargavage added that he was “extremely encouraged” by

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, last week telling the Exuma Business Outlook that the Government planned to target the boating and yachting market for additional business.

“There is great potential in the cruise and charter market,” the deputy prime minister told last week’s Exuma Business Outlook conference. “We are going to grow that business..... We’re going to expand this because it’s good business and been recessionproof. Even during the pandemic we were still able to attract many yachts and boats to The Bahamas.

“This is a good target market for us. It’s a high-end market and I’d like to build-out Exuma as the yachting capital of the

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BAHAMAS booth at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.