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The Tribune

Volume:118 No.15, DECEMBER 11, 2020

Established 1903

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Friday, December 11, 2020 photography jewellery food gardening history intervie w puzzles animals

WEEKEND: MAKING A SPLASH AT THE BLUE LAGOON

BLUE LAGOON IS BACK Page 16

WE’RE BACK Asian adventure

Chef inspired to offer authe ntic cuisine

pgs 08+09

PICTURE: Courtesy of Atlantis

Cheers for staff as Atlantis reopens

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net EMPLOYEES of Atlantis said yesterday that they were overwhelmed and excited to return to work for the first time in months.

Atlantis executives welcomed 2,500 employees, applauding them as they entered the resort grounds.

Glendina Williams, 33, said it was exciting to return to work after months of uncertainty. Ms Williams works in the human resources department. She has not been to work since March 21.

“It seemed like a new day has come,” she said yesterday.

“It was something to look forward to. It was something that gave me hope.

It was the best feeling in

a long time. It’s good to be back and I’m happy to see a lot of persons and colleagues.

“There are bright eyes and the tone is different because it’s great seeing fellow colleagues and knowing they too survived this pandemic.

“Being away was a difficult time for everyone,” she added.

“The loss of salary was a common problem. The stresses of not knowing how the economy will rebound, the mounting bills financially was a trying time for everyone and then when there were multiple days of the borders opening and closing and your job is directly tied to tourism, that ultimately affects you, your household and your family.”

SEE PAGES TWO & THREE

CHRISTIE: JOIN FORCES ON COVID

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said he wants the government to take a more bipartisan approach in the decision-making process in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

He said “mistakes” are more likely to happen when all parties affected are not unified on policy decisions.

Mr Christie expressed his opinion to reporters yesterday when asked to respond to the government’s latest extension of the country’s COVID-19 Emergency Powers Order.

Mr Christie said his only

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie. advice to the Minnis-led administration was for officials to work together with the opposition and Bahamian public, adding that doing so could limit the chance of making bad decisions that have far-reaching

consequences.

“You know, the comment I would give is this: that governments always make mistakes when they do not work hard to ensure there is unanimity in some areas at the political level,” the former PM said.

“The people are invariably the victims of any decision that the government makes if it is not a good decision and therefore, the government must always be mindful of the importance of working hard to ensure that they are at one with the opposition and one with civil society so people could understand what is taking place.”

SEE PAGE FOUR

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS GRANDMOTHER

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 29-YEAR-OLD man accused of killing his grandmother and attempting to kill his mother last week was charged with murder and attempted murder in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Rico Pratt appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt after he was accused of killing Pastor Gelena Pratt on December 4.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

SIMEON HALL: VIRUS LEFT ME UNABLE TO WALK

BISHOP SIMEON HALL

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BISHOP Simeon Hall said he learned first-hand that COVID-19 affects people who contract it in different ways, after the virus left him unable to walk for about a week.

And as he lay in a hospital bed alone and on his back unable to move, the well-known pastor, 73, said the thought of dying came at him fast.

This was compounded by the sober thought of dying without seeing his loved ones for a final time, the co-chair of the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana said.

“That was different,” Bishop Hall, pastor emeritus at New Covenant Baptist Church, recalled of his experience. “Literally I couldn’t move. I couldn’t walk three, four days after I came out of the hospital.

SEE PAGE FOUR

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

ONE DEATH TOO MANY - PLEASE LET THIS NOT BE REAL SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Cheers for staff as

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 3

Atlantis reopens from page one The return of thousands of employees to Atlantis this week is the best news the Bahamian tourism industry has had in months.

It comes as COVID-19 cases in the country have dropped considerably even after relaxed restrictions kicked in at the start of November.

Kara Saunders, 29, said she was mostly off from work from March, though she worked from home a bit between April and July.

A designer in the marketing and public relations department of Atlantis for three years now, Ms Saunders said she “did some art work, tried to get healthy and just stayed positive” during her break from the job.

“I was significantly affected, but I’m definitely in a better position than the rest of the country,” she said. “Our leaders were very good with always communicating with us and addressing us when there were rumours going around and always trying to send out a positive message to the team members.”

As for returning to work recently, Ms Saunders said: “Today especially was exciting – I won’t lie. I had prepared my mind that we weren’t going to open this year at all. I was pretty sure Atlantis would not open at any time in 2020 at all.”

Antonio Johnson, the assistant director of entertainment and special events at Atlantis, said he returned to work on November 16 in preparation for the reopening. Even for him, however, yesterday was an exciting day.

“It was like I just came back to work today because a lot of people came back,” he said. “Today was like the first day at school. You got a chance to see all the people you haven’t seen in a while.”

Mr Johnson, who had been off since March 26, said he used the time off in productive ways like sharpening his professional development.

“I joined a few organisations and I got involved in a few organisations I was previously a part of,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time with my family and got to be involved with my church. It was a good break. I picked

STAFF members celebrate going back to work in Atlantis - and seeing old colleagues once more - as the resort once more opened its doors to visitors.

Photo courtesy of Atlantis up a new hobby, I started to cycle just to keep myself fit.

On a normal day of work I walk a lot and I’m very active so that hobby was helpful.”

He said: “My family was impacted (by the pandemic). I had to assist them and me not being to work, I had to redirect my savings and spend a lot of my savings.”

Atlantis kicked off its partial re-opening yesterday following a near nine-month shutdown due to COVID-19, with the Royal Towers, The Reef and Harborside timeshare complexes among the

facilities that will open first.

Earlier this week, Russell Miller, the Paradise Island mega resort’s executive vice-president of hotel operations, said the property is operating under a “safety zone concept” to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

“So every guest that comes into the country for government protocols will have to have the PCR tests,” he said this week.

“When they check in, we’ll need evidence of the PCR test plus the travel visa. But in the bubble, they will not have to have any additional tests. So if they

are here beyond five days, they do not require to have the fifth day test. They can enjoy the facilities, all of the amenities we have in place, and just have a great vacation without any additional test requirements.

“When you walk through the property, you’ll see that we have a number of sanitising stations set up, and protocols in place for the employees coming back. It’s been now about four weeks that we’ve started doing this. Every employee from the top level all the way down through the ranks has to have an antigen test on a weekly basis.”

TEACHER UNION CHIEF DOUBTFUL OVER CLAIMS OF IN-PERSON TEACHING BY FEB

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson says she hasn’t given much credence to Education Minister Jeff Lloyd’s expectation that face-to-face learning at public schools will begin by February 2021.

Earlier this week, Mr Lloyd told reporters that education officials were looking at somewhere around early February for in person learning, with institutions in New Providence and Abaco likely to start with “blended learning” environments.

However, last month, the minister said schools could reopen before year’s end.

The differing estimates as to when schools will resume in person instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic highlight that education officials offer much “rhetoric but little action,” Mrs Wilson said yesterday.

“The Ministry of Education sent a strategic plan for the reopening of schools to the union so we have a copy of the plan,” the BUT president said of the plan released last month.

“However, I’m not giving much credence to the utterances of the minister of education as it relates to the reopening of schools because the decision is predicated on the advice and on the approval of the Ministry of Health and the medical professionals.

“I must say that the minister has a lot of rhetoric but the Ministry of Education and/or the Department of Education has not backed up their rhetoric. That’s why I said earlier that I’m not giving much credence to his utterances. We will wait to hear from the Ministry of Health and the medical professionals as it relates to the opening of schools because a lot

BELINDA WILSON of the things that the minister would have stated prior that would happen at schools or for the reopening of schools have not yet materialised.”

The union’s list of what is needed is extensive.

According to Mrs Wilson, the BUT ultimately will not feel comfortable about the resumption of face-to-face learning until proper safety measures are put in place at all schools.

“Our expectation is that prior to the opening of schools, especially on New Providence and Abaco, that schools will be properly prepared with the proper safety protocols in place,” she said.

“We’ve been asking for months and months for PPEs for our teachers, especially those at the pre-schools or lower primary level, which is your grade one or two and three or your K4, K5. Those students like to hug and touch so the teachers I think should have PPEs (personal protective equipment).

“They need to ensure that masks

are available for students, teachers, parents and even other staff members or visitors who may come to the school without a mask.

“We want to ensure that the schools are clean, sanitized and disinfected prior to thousands of children going on to these various campuses.

“Children and teachers need to ensure that proper signage is there.

Also, social distancing so the six feet markers are on the ground. That those distances are on the ground and it is upheld in the classrooms.

“Officials further need to make sure that teachers have a barrier, plexiglass or some sort of barrier, at their desks or workstations and we need to make sure there is a sick bay area allocated for persons who may feel sick or show symptoms. The schools need to be outfitted and equipped with thermometers for temperatures to be checked and we need to identify who is going to check because the teachers are not medical professionals and we are not nurses.

“We need to also make sure that the school administrators and the teachers are aware of who are the medical personnel, the doctors or nurses who may be attached to each school and you must have contacts for them in case there is an emergency.

“I believe even now without having the vaccine available in the Bahamas as yet, there should be free COVID-19 testing made available for teachers and students who choose to be tested.”

Last week, schools were given the nod to return to face-to-face learning by the competent authority, so long as the school has received permission to do so from the Ministry of Education along with consultation with the Ministry of Health, and subject to conditions by education officials.

PAGE 4, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

SEVEN CASES TOTAL CASES TOTAL DEATHS ON BOARD CARGO SHIP AS NUMBERS RISE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas recorded 38 new cases of COVID19 on Wednesday, the most since November 16 when 56 cases were confirmed.

Seven of these new cases “tested positive for COVID-19 onboard a cargo vessel sailing in Bahamian waters near Grand Bahama,” the Ministry of Health said in its COVID19 report yesterday.

“Consequently, all positive COVID-19 cases have been isolated on the vessel and none of its crew members were permitted to disembark,” the ministry said.

Seventy-four cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the last week.

This compares with 67 the week before and 134 the week before that.

Health officials did not offer further comment yesterday on the uptick in the cases.

However, yesterday marked 14 days since the US Thanksgiving holiday.

The COVID-19 incubation period is 14 days.

In an interview with Eyewitness News earlier this week, head of the country’s infectious diseases programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said: “We’re still in the waiting period. Thanksgiving was the 25th of November. And that was exactly two weeks ago now. But we know that around that holiday weekend people travelled.

“So, essentially, we’re still in the waiting period.

It’s generally two to three weeks — one incubation period and then the days following the incubation period where people will start to maybe have symptoms of COVID-19 or develop COVID-19 in the long end of the incubation period and if there is local transmission that should [be] clearer in just about two incubation periods.”

The new cases include 22 men and 16 women.

Fifteen of the new cases are in New Providence, 20 in Grand Bahama (with seven isolated on the aforementioned cargo ship), one in Bimini and Cat Cay, and two in Exuma.

7,623 163

NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES WEDNESDAY 38 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE 15 GRAND BAHAMA 20 EXUMA 2 BIMIN AND CAT CAY 1

HOSPITALISED

CASES IN ICU

Meanwhile, 14 COVID19 cases are currently hospitalised, 13 of whom are moderately ill and one of whom is in the intensive care unit.

Eleven recoveries were recorded yesterday.

Twenty-four COVID-19 deaths are currently under investigation, with 163 total confirmed virus deaths to

date.

Five hundred and fortyfive tests were completed yesterday.

That is double the number of tests conducted

every day since November 28 when 418 tests were performed.

To date, the country has recorded 7,312 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

from page one

considering he had no apparent symptoms.

“I knew because I am 73 and diabetic, I was most at risk. So, I did everything and still picked it up,” he said.

“Mind you I went to one place I think it was that Thursday and they told me I was negative. That same Saturday I went somewhere else, to my doctor, and he told me I was positive. “ While he had none of the ordinary COVID-19 symptoms, Bishop Hall said he suffered other issues among them, the inability to use his legs.

“That was one of the most trying things I’ve ever went through.

“But to be honest I tried

to keep my spiritual connection going. To be on your back for seven, eight days...

“I turned up my spiritual antenna and the Lord planted seven sermons in my spirit and that was my way of confirming I shall live and not die because if God provided you with a sermon, he’s going to provide somewhere for you to preach it.”

He told The Tribune he’s now set his sights on breaking the stigma surrounding getting the virus and wants to feature the stories of survival of more than 20 other pastors who contracted COVID-19.

Back in October, Bishop Hall made a plea from his hospital bed for Bahamians

to take COVID-19 seriously after he contracted the disease.

“By now you might have heard that I am very ill in hospital,” he said at the time in a voice note. “I came in hospital to check on something else, only to be told that I had also contracted the COVID virus.

“I thought to call on the body of Christ to pray for me. Pray that the Lord will lift me up and I will stand in the congregation of the Lord one more time, but also, I want to use this occasion to call on Bahamians everywhere to let us take this thing more seriously.

Let each Bahamian make a personal effort to bring an end to this disease.”

TOTAL TESTS

45,657

14

1

RECOVERED

6,043

SIMEON HALL: VIRUS LEFT ME UNABLE TO WALK

BISHOP Simeon Hall.

“This was the scariest part of my experience because I am a hyperactive person. I am always moving but not to have the use of your limbs is frightening.

“But beyond that the thought of death and dying comes to your mind when you contract COVID-19.”

Bishop Hall is a diabetic and told The Tribune yesterday he had taken all the proper steps to ensure he did not get COVID-19.

He said he took a test sometime in October. That initial test was negative, but two days later another test came back positive.

It was a surprise

CHRISTIE: JOIN FORCES ON COVID from page one

The Bahamas has been under a state of emergency since Governor General C A Smith first issued a proclamation on March 18, shortly after the country recorded its first COVID19 case.

That initial proclamation expired on June 29 after the government failed to bring a resolution in time to have it extended, but the situation was resolved after the Governor General swiftly issued a second proclamation.

In late November, a third proclamation was issued, allowing for the country’s state of emergency — and the competent authority’s associated emergency powers — to remain in effect for up to another six months unless revoked.

With such sweeping powers, Mr Christie said the government must ensure that all decisions made are not politically based, but rather data driven in order to effectively defeat the COVID-19 threat.

This comes as critics continue to question the rationale behind the government’s decisions on COVID-19 restrictions especially at a time when the country is seeing a downward

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trend of new cases.

“The most fundamental decision that the government must make is to be driven by science and not politics,” he stressed. “The decisions have to be evidence-based decisions and by that, I mean, that if you’re going to say ‘I’m going to close a store at six o clock,’ explain to me—and that store would normally close at nine—explain to me the science behind that decision.

“Do you know that those extra two hours would have some implication to health because the concern is health and to the point where you’re making decisions that would have sometimes terrible impacts on people.”

He also said: “You have to protect yourself as a government in letting people know that there are people around me and the competent authority happens to be the Prime Minister who happens to be a doctor who happens to be a specialist, so one can’t fault his experience as a doctor.

“But one can say, I would like to believe that there are persons in there who would be a taskforce who he would see as a taskforce and who would be leading the decision making and that’s what I think is important to the country.

“And it’s important that constructive criticism be accepted as constructive criticism as a country because there is one area where we must work hard as a country to be seen to be agreeing with each other when it comes to our health.

“We must work extra hard and I must say this to you young Bahamians in our country, to have a maturation process and matured approach to healthcare because it could be very, very negative impactful with negative

consequences to people if they don’t have confidence in what is taking place and they would have confidence if they know ‘Brave’ Davis and Dr Minnis are at one on some areas in this matter because there must be more areas where they could work closely together.”

Progressive Liberal Party leader Phillip “Brave” Davis told reporters yesterday his party was still trying to understand the measures put in place by the government to limit the risk of infections now that the tourism sector is in another phase of reopening. This comes as COVID-19 cases are surging in the US – the country’s core tourism market.

To this, Mr Davis said: “We need to ensure that all of the protocols are in place to prevent what I call the spread and transmission of the virus so we have to also be careful that this opening is being done wisely and proper protocols are in place not just to protect the visitors but also the employees, who are in the (tourism) industry because when the employees leave the property, they’re going back into the community.

“We don’t want them to go back into the community and contaminate it nor do we want them to come out of the community and contaminate it so the government has to be very vigilant and ensure that proper protocols are in place to address these issues (that) arise.”

Asked if he felt proper protocols were in place, Mr Davis replied: “Well, we don’t know yet. From what we’re hearing, we’re trying to understand what the protocols are so we could assess whether they are proper or adequate.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 5

By car or by bike, they came for a helping hand

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net MARC Johnson had to borrow his brother’s bicycle in order to join the line and collect a box at the IL Cares Foundation’s drive through food drive yesterday.

The 41-year-old has been out of work since March.

Mr Johnson says the box of food will feed his family of three adults and six children.

“The first time I walked up, they told me I needed to either get a car or a bike or something in order for me to get something,” said Mr Johnson.

He was one of scores of people who turned out for the second week of the foundation’s food drive at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. When The Tribune arrived, traffic was backed up on the road leading to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium, echoing similar scenes from last week.

Mother of two Rachquel Walkine, 34, has been out of a job for some time and was thankful for the food.

“It will go a long way honestly,” she said. “I don’t have any groceries in my house so I’m really thankful.”

She said she was previously getting help through the government’s food assistance initiative.

A 65-year-old had been waiting for three hours to get food for a household with 11 family members consisting of his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

“We all lose our job because of the pandemic so this is one way I could get food on the table….

Especially how everybody lost their job. We are gonna have to have something to eat. “It’s nice to have it on the table,” he said.

Enrique Lightbourne, 20, is hoping to join the Royal

PEOPLE came by bicycle as well as by car for the IL Cares Foundations drivethrough food drive - with lines stretching far back again as people sought help.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh Bahamas Defence Force not supposed to start until and has had to make sacri- 10am. fices this year like so many “I got here around 7.25other people.

7.30,” Ms Fox said. “We had “I step away from my to start right away because job to deal with other side of the traffic. business with the defence “We have a lot of people force...to do the applica- hurting out there and we tion and do my medical,” he get a lot of people in need explained. and this is why we are here.

“Stepping away from my This is what the foundation job, you can’t just sit around is for and we do our best because you have bills to to have our boots on the pay and stuff like that.” ground and assist commuHe is still awaiting the nities where we can all year call from the force and get- around but as you know ting the box of food helps because of the pandemic him save money. this year everything kinda Island Luck’s Market- came to a full stop, but we ing Manager Michelle Fox did not want the year to said organisers arrived at end without doing somethe venue just after 7am thing and the biggest cry, and met cars at the site the biggest need that we with people hoping to get heard was people needed served early. The event was food items.

“The box can feed a family for probably almost a week and today we’re giving out over 5,000

today.”

Despite the crowd, she said the operation was well organised and the lines

were moving quickly.

There will be a final distribution next week Thursday.

MOULTRIE: GET ILLEGAL FIREARMS OFF THE STREETS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a recent spate of murders in the capital, Nassau Village MP Halson Moultrie is calling on the police force to conduct “a dragnet operation” to get illegal firearms off the streets.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the House of Assembly Speaker said more needs to be done to address the gang culture that seems to be plaguing the country.

“It’s easy to pick up a gun and to take someone’s life or to cause grievous bodily harm when you cannot rationalise a decision and come back the following day to bring a resolution,” Mr Moultrie said.

“So, my position will continue to be one of bringing life and bringing life more abundantly, an educational process, so the young men in particular of Nassau Village will understand that it’s inhumane and ungodly to take the life of another human being no matter what the circumstances may be and we have to do something more to address the gang culture.

“I recommend strongly that the police take a dragnet operation to rid this seven by twenty-one island of all illegal firearms. I believe that can be done.

We need to get more serious in dealing with illegal firearms in this country.”

His comments come after Vincent Knowles Jr, 26, was fatally wounded during a drive-by shooting as he was walking on Forbes Street in Nassau Village around 8.30pm Tuesday, becoming the country’s latest homicide. That killing came after two men were fatally shot last week amid other gun crimes.

Speaking to reporters at the scene on Tuesday, police press liaison officer ASP Audley Peters said there was no preliminary information suggesting the killing is gang-related or that it is connected to any recent homicides.

However, sources in the inner-city communities have suggested some of the recent crime is gang-related.

Noting that the culture of gun violence will not end “overnight”, Mr Moultrie said he and his team continue to undertake initiatives in the Nassau Village community geared towards youth upliftment and self-improvement.

“We try to implement a culture in Nassau Village of ‘live and let live,’” he said.

“Just recently, in the collaboration with ZONTA for the 16 days to end violence against women and girls, we had an initiative at the entrance of Nassau Village and my representation has also been one of trying to encourage education, upliftment and community spirit.

“We have a theme of love, peace and unity in the community, but the difficulty is that when a certain culture has set in for so long, it doesn’t change overnight and so those persons who have fallen through the cracks in our educational system, the social promotion system that permits young men in particular to avoid classes, to go through the public school system in particular from grade one to grade 12 and exit without being able to read and write, it is difficult for them when it comes to their reasoning power and analytical ability in conflict resolution matters.”

Earlier this week, National Security Minister Marvin Dames expressed confidence that the police

force can maintain law and order.

Asked by a reporter about concerns of a “gang war” in retaliation of the shooting death of a man killed off Kemp Road last week, Mr

Dames said on Tuesday: “I’m certain the commissioner of police and his officers have that or anything else related to (those concerns) in hand.

“Listen, this is the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) is charged with the business of maintaining law and order and they take that very seriously.

“The police have a very

robust intelligence arm.

They have tremendous response capability and I have no concern about their ability to maintain law and order in this country,” Mr Dames said.

PAGE 6, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Unity is easy to preach, harder to practise IT’S the easiest thing in the world to call for bi-partisanship.

It sounds very good. Indeed, if it were to happen, it would be useful in all kinds of areas.

Former Prime Minister Perry Christie is the latest to call for a more bi-partisan approach to tackling COVID-19.

He said yesterday: “Governments always make mistakes when they do not work hard to ensure there is unanimity in some areas at the political level,” and added “the government must always be mindful of the importance of working hard to ensure that they are at one with the opposition and one with civil society so people could understand what is taking place”.

It all sounds very good – but we’re not sure that Mr Christie’s successor as PLP leader, Phillip “Brave” Davis, wants to be bi-partisan.

Early on in the pandemic, the current Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, put out an open call for ideas, opening the door to a more unified approach.

Across the aisle, however, Mr Davis has largely sniped at every measure put forward by the government.

In March, he was saying the government was not proactive enough, saying it was “too general and too generic”, in July he was calling on the FNM to accept responsibility for the spike in cases, by October he was calling lockdowns a “useless tool” and saying the government did not do enough to “stop a few cases from turning into a few thousand”. Meanwhile, his party has opposed the extension of emergency powers. Other than suggesting more contact tracing and more testing – and wanting more data behind the decisions, however, Mr Davis has not been hugely forthcoming on how he would do things differently. Notably, he even declined to show up to a meeting to hear briefings from officials. Yesterday, he told reporters his party was still trying to understand the measures put in place now the tourism sector is reopening.

That doesn’t mean Mr Davis is not right on some of his points – there are absolutely areas in which we could have done better in tackling COVID-19 – but he’s not shown any indication of wanting to join a united front on the issue. Some of his points are also easy to make but not easy to deliver – demands for more testing assume easy access to more tests,

something that was not the case early on in the pandemic.

Absolutely, the opposition should be afforded all the data that underlies the decisions being made – and the explanation for why those decisions have been taken, as should we all. But there has been little sign of any real spirit of co-operation.

So yes, bi-partisanship in the face of national crisis would be a good thing – but we’re not holding our breath waiting for it to happen.

The epidemic of violence When the day comes that this pandemic is no longer a menace to our country, there is another scourge that will still remain.

Violence will still stalk our streets, even when a virus no longer does. A recent spate of murders have reminded us of the spectre that never seems to go away. The question is, what do we do to stop it? The National Security Minister, Marvin Dames, and the police have patted themselves on the back for crime being down this year – but if you can’t curb crime in a time when everyone is on lockdown and with curfews, then when can you?

The real challenge will be after those emergency orders are no longer in place, and people are facing unprecedented economic hardship in many cases. The temptation for some will be too easily to turn to the way of the gun, and the way of violence.

House Speaker Halson Moultrie is calling for police to get illegal firearms off the streets, and while doing so should be applauded, we should note that’s easier said than done.

The symptoms run deep – we have lost count of the number of cases of domestic violence we have seen in the courts, with attacks on girlfriends, or windows of ex-wives being smashed and so on.

It’s not just a matter of law enforcement, it’s a matter of changing our culture that too easily turns to violence, often against women and children. We must make that unacceptable, not a matter that is sometimes turned into a joke in Parliament. Only when we have zero tolerance for violence towards those around us can we hope to convince others that violence is not ever the solution.

Who wants to be a petro-state?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PETRO state: derogatory, “a small oil-rich country in which institutions are weak and wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of a few”. Collins English Dictionary.

A cursory perusal of the internet adds further details: A petro-state is a nation whose economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and export of oil or natural gas, where political and economic power are held by a small elite, corruption is rife and political institutions are not accountable to the public and leaders tend to be autocratic.

The economy tends to be weak and overly reliant on the oil business, with all its unpredictability and price fluctuations. They also tend to be socially backwards and lack social and political freedoms and where democracy is

either non-existent or in decline.

Is this the vision of the future that Bahamas Petroleum Company has in mind for us?

Because if, whether by a single catastrophic accident or gradually through the small leaks and spills which are a normal part of offshore drilling, this company ruins our unrivaled tourism product, we will have nothing to fall back on but oil.

And for anyone who doubts that our society could backslide in this way towards failed state status, there are many examples of once thriving and vibrant democracies that degenerated due to circumstances beyond their control.

A number of them are petro-states.

Are we going to be the latest addition to that list?

BPC directors and executives never tire of talking about a sovereign state’s “right” to know if it can exploit fossil fuels.

This is misdirection and sleight of hand at its best.

It is not ‘We the Bahamian People’ who are trying to discover anything.

It is this foreign company and its foreign shareholders, with a few Bahamian shares in a tiny mutual fund thrown in just for appearances.

What a sovereign state does actually have the right to do, is protect its economy and natural resources from exploitation by outsiders. It has the right to determine its own course for the future and not have its options taken away.

We, the people of The Bahamas, constitute and embody the sovereign state that gained independence in 1973 and it is BPC, a foreign entity, that is threatening our right to self determination.

L LEWIS Nassau, December 10, 2020.

Five-day rule is not workable EDITOR, The Tribune.

FOR those Bahamians who agree with your Government’s five-day rule for entry I would suggest they quickly need a reality check.

As a lifelong visitor from my youth to Nassau, these rules are so unworkable that it is almost impossible to travel there.

In your story today, hotel officials now say that bookings are slow for their reopening but will improve by the second quarter. On what evidence can they make those statements? I would have thought they would be in the forefront in demanding easier entry for visitors.

Some comments from Bahamians on your online service blame prospective visitors for not being able to comply with the requirements. We are not to blame.

Your Government made the rules. Who would purchase an air ticket and in many cases pay ahead for accommodation if you are not certain you can actually travel? Very few people indeed.

We have to travel an hour in the car to a clinic offering a COVID-19 PCR test and pay $275 for the test. We

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net are told they will be ready in two days. Then we must fill out the Health Visa application and with the test scan it on the computer or go to a business place who will do that and not be certain when travel permission will come back. Then we must be in Nassau by the fifth day. There are now so few flights to Nassau that there is no flexibility. Most people will not take that risk.

When are your officials going to understand that this system is the greatest problem to your tourist recovery? It is one thing for Bahamian Tourism staff to sit around a desk and create travel policies. It is quite another to get visitors to comply with them.

It is wrong for such officials to blame it solely on the health pandemic.

Most Americans are well and are willing to travel.

They like to escape the cold winter conditions but they can travel to many other southern destinations with far fewer requirements.

The tourism sector is so important to your economy

and the need for jobs vital for Bahamian families that changes must be made or you will never recover.

Our local travel agent simply cannot believe the way you are currently operating. They are unwilling to book anyone to Nassau because of the financial risk involved for clients if flights and accommodation paid ahead are lost or with heavy penalties because travel permission comes too late.

What is wrong with testing people on arrival or letting them bring test results with them?

We have been dedicated visitors for over 30 years and I am writing because we feel so badly for not being able to travel and for the many kind Bahamians who have helped us over the years who are facing a dire future without employment.

All of these problems are so unnecessary if your Government officials had properly implemented rules to encourage tourism rather than destroy your main economic activity.

DANIEL MORRISON Shrewsbury New Jersey, USA December 10, 2020.

Buying citizenship?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

A COUPLE of weeks ago there was talk of allowing long time foreign residents to purchase Bahamian citizenship.

At present to qualify for residency “financially independent individuals or investors who are legitimate owners of a residence in The Bahamas” can put down roots here as a permanent resident if they invest $750,000 in real estate.

The latest proposal was that those who have put down roots and want to adopt The Bahamas as their true home should be allowed to purchase citizenship — a good investment for The Bahamas!

I agreed, not so much for the finances needed by the Public Treasury, but because there are several

long time residents here, who really love these islands. It would be an honour to have them as truly one of us, who could fully participate in our life and assist in the development and growth of our country. They would indeed and in fact be full Bahamians — living here as truly one of us. They would be most welcome citizens!

Two days later I awakened in a cold sweet. I had had a nightmare — a terrible, a frightening nightmare. I had dreamt that Donald Trump was now sitting as big as billy as Governor General in Government House! Having failed in the United States with his preposterous design to destroy that nation’s democracy, he had bought Bahamian citizenship and had replaced our Governor General Cornelius Smith!

As much as I would like certain people to be one of us, I think we should still have that lever that should any of them turn out to be a second Trump, we shall have the means to ask them to leave, even faster than they came. The only way we can do that is let them remain as permanent residents — without citizenship — having invested in real estate.

We can be as generous as we wish to those who would do us proud, but still have the lever to show anyone the door should they become — what shall I say – God forbid - a second Trump!

Save me from nightmares.

A FULLY AWAKE BAHAMIAN Nassau, December 7, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 7

Killer to get new sentence

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was convicted of killing another man in 1998 had the appeal against his life sentence granted and the matter was sent to the Supreme Court for resentencing.

In 1998, the appellant Ervin Brown was convicted of the murder of Adras Moltimer and sentenced to the then mandatory death penalty. His appeal against conviction and sentence was affirmed a year later and he was subsequently remanded to death row.

Still, after the Privy Council’s decision in Bowe & Davis v Regina, the mandatory death sentence was quashed and the appellant was brought before the Supreme Court in 2012 to be re-sentenced. This time, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The convict appealed his sentence after arguing the sentence was unduly severe and harsh.

Earlier this week, Justices Maureen Crane-Scott, Milton Evans and Roy Jones granted his appeal after ruling the imposition of the life sentence was wrong in principle.

According to a judgment posted on the Crown’s website, when the appellant was brought before the Supreme Court in 2012 to be resentenced, a probation report was ordered.

“The report indicated that the appellant had, since his admission to prison, been tentatively diagnosed with a mental condition and that he was being housed on a block reserved for prisoners who were mentally ill,” according to the judgment.

“Instead of adjourning the hearing and ordering the preparation of a psychiatric report to ascertain the precise nature and extent of Brown’s condition and more importantly, whether that condition put him at risk of re-offending and made him a danger to the public, the learned judge proceeded to hear legal arguments in relation to sentence.”

After revising the submissions, the judge re-sentenced the convict to life imprisonment and gave instructions for him to receive the appropriate treatment for his mental

disability.

In his appeal, the appellant’s counsel, Roberto Reckley, argued that the sentence handed down to his client was severe because there was nothing which suggested the appellant was “incapable of reform or rehabilitation”.

In their judgment, the panel said the fact that an accused might be suffering from a mental condition does not mean that the accused is likely to reoffend.

“The exercise of the discretion to impose a sentence of imprisonment for life may be justified in circumstances where the offence for which the defendant is to be sentenced is particularly grave and the evidence before the sentencing judge is such that it provides good grounds for believing that the offender’s likelihood of further offending is so great that he may remain a serious danger to the public for a period which cannot reliably be estimated at the time of sentence,” they noted.

“The mere fact that a defendant may be suffering from a mental condition, does not lead inexorably to the conclusion that the defendant is likely to reoffend or that he poses a danger to the public in the future so as to justify the imposition of the maximum sentence of imprisonment for life.”

Justice Crane-Scott insisted the evidence before the judge must be able to support a conclusion that the accused is very likely to offend again in order to justify the imposition of a life sentence.

“Having failed to obtain—as he should have—the necessary expert evidence both as to the nature and extent of the appellant’s tentative psychiatric diagnosis and of his likelihood of further serious offending in the future, there was no reasonable basis for the learned judge’s conclusion that the appellant may remain a serious danger to the public for a period which could not reliably be estimated,” she stated.

“The exercise of the judge’s discretion in imposing the indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for life in this case was accordingly wrong in principle, patently erroneous and could not stand.”

YEAR’S PROBATION OVER MARIJUANA

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A 24-YEAR-OLD man who was found with a quantity of marijuana was placed on probation for one year.

Police arrested Keith Stubbs after they found 22 grams of Indian hemp in his home on December 6.

He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

The prosecution said that day, officers, acting on information, went to a residence on Saunders Street. Upon their arrival, they knocked on the door and informed Stubbs that his home would be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms.

During their investigation, officers discovered a clear plastic wrap containing suspected marijuana in a jewellery box in the master bedroom of the home. Stubbs was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit.

There he admitted to the offence in an interview with police. The prosecution said at the time, Stubbs

told officers the drugs were his and nobody else in the house knew that he had them.

During the hearing, Stubbs’ counsel told the magistrate his client cooperated with police from the onset of their investigation.

He also noted the “relatively small amount” of the drugs that were found in Stubbs’s possession and asked the court to consider the defendant’s early guilty plea when using its discretion.

Stubbs also told the court that he had started smoking when he was in jail.

In response, Magistrate Forbes reminded Stubbs that the maximum penalty for dangerous drug possession was a $150,000 fine or five years in prison. He said the fact that Stubbs had already spent time on remand meant he should have an “appreciation for what prison” was like.

As a result, he placed the accused on a year’s probation on the condition that he would be of good behaviour during that time.

Magistrate Forbes warned Stubbs that if he wasn’t, he would be sentenced to three months behind bars.

THE BODY of Pastor Gelena Pratt is taken from the scene of the killing on December 4.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS GRANDMOTHER from page one

The prosecution argued that the accused also attempted to murder Gelena’s daughter, Aretha Pratt, that same day.

Assistant Superintendent of Police

Audley Peters told reporters at the scene that police were alerted to the incident shortly before 10am on December 4.

Upon arrival at the home, officers discovered a woman’s body lying in a pool of blood in a bathroom.

During the hearing, Pratt was

not required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned to April 22 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

In the meantime, he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

HEMP HEMP HOORAY!

PAGE 8, Friday, December 11, 2020

AS we continue to linger as a nation, waiting for a final decision to be made on the decriminalisation and legalisation of medicinal and recreational marijuana, our neighbours to the north who we love to emulate so, recently made some monumental decisions in regards to decriminalising and legalising marijuana, medicinally and recreationally.

It actually could be a blueprint of sorts for what we are trying to accomplish, possibly speeding up the process from its current snail’s pace and is yet another reason for The Bahamas to seriously look at the numerous benefits of the decriminalisation and legalisation of medicinal and recreational marijuana.

In addition to the potential lucrative revenue stream generated from industry taxes on medicinal and recreational users, locals and tourists alike and it can easily put the Bahamas firmly back in the tourism game, before the world passes us completely by.

It’s now or never, Mr Prime Minister!

HISTORIC DECISION Last Friday in the United States, the House passed, 228-164, a standalone bill to decriminalise marijuana

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA

for the first time since President Richard Nixon imposed severe penalties during his “war on drugs” fifty years ago.

Sadly the bill is highly unlikely to become law as it has to survive a Republican controlled Senate.

(The FNM shouldn’t have that problem with a fourmember opposition).

However, the vote is a powerful, symbolic victory nonetheless, for those who oppose a “tough-on-crime” approach to the popular drug that has led to the imprisonment of millions of Americans, disproportionately black and latino men in particular.

THE BILL The bill would remove marijuana from the schedule of illegal drugs established under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, where it remains classified as a highly dangerous drug without health benefits, despite ongoing research about its medicinal

potential and a tide of state legalization measures.

The new bill is meant to end the tension between increasingly liberal state policies and the federal restrictions.

EXPUNGEMENT EXPECTED All but three states have loosened marijuana laws to some degree, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Congress has used its annual budget to prohibit funding the pursuit of those acting within state medical marijuana laws, but there are exceptions, and recreational users enjoyed no such protection under the Trump administration’s Department of Justice.

Under the law, most people with federal marijuana convictions would have their records expunged, while people convicted of crimes in tandem with marijuanarelated offences could be resentenced.

THE TRIBUNE

The Bill would also prohibit the government from biasing business loans, decisions on immigration status, or aid based on marijuana use or a marijuana offence.

Federal agencies could still drug test job applicants, but couldn’t deny anyone a security clearance based on marijuana use.

The proceeds of a new five percent tax on all marijuana sales would fund job training, re-entry services, health education programmes, literacy programmes, youth recreation or mentoring programmes, legal aid, and addiction treatment.

The grant programmes would be overseen by a new office at the Department of Justice.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE According to a recent survey by YouGov.com found that 70 percent of of those polled said “yes” when asked if they support or oppose expunging marijuana-related convictions for non-violent offenders.

A paltry 17 percent said they oppose the idea.

While 81 percent of Democrats said they either strongly or somewhat support the idea, while a majority of Republicans

— 57 percent — saying the same.

Last month saw voters in four states move to legalise recreational marijuana for adults; South Dakota, Montana, Arizona and New Jersey were the states where voters approved legalisation measures, while South Dakota voters additionally passed a similar measure legalising medical marijuana.

COViD STILL A GAME CHANGER The global pandemic may be a blessing in disguise when it comes to “marijuana tourism”.

It allows more time for The Bahamas to formulate an effective operational plan that can be implemented rapidly, allowing The Bahamas to become major players in the game.

The Bahamas can effectively enhance our tourism product, with new and innovative attractions and related promotions for potential visitors and opportunities for Bahamians to earn a living in the industry.

If not, we will have let another multi-million dollar opportunity go up in smoke!

All while Jamaica our biggest competition in the market is stuck spinning its

wheels in the “marijuana tourism” mud – thanks to the pandemic.

No time for ‘politickin’ on this one ‘Doc’ hurry up and pass it... the legislation that is!

OXYMORON No matter how hard I try I still can’t get PLP Leader Mr Philip “Brave” Davis’ comments regarding “environmentally friendly” oil drilling out of my head and I can’t stop laughing either.

As a comedian it inspired me, I had to find out where “Brave’s” statement landed among the best oxymorons of all time.

There were tons of submissions to sift through and the majority were hilarious, this process also allowed me to put together a top ten list of my own.

Feel free to share yours with me, send them to : naughty@tribunemedia.net ‘My Top Ten Oxymorons’ • Absolutely unsure • Baggy tights • Calm storm • Deliberate mistake • Environmentally friendly oil drilling • Foreign national • Giant dwarf • Honest thief • Long shorts • Numb feeling

Funeral Service For

Funeral Service For Dr. Verneth Corene Bain Patterson, 71 of #35 Nina Crescent and formerly of Cabbage Hill, Crooked Island died on Saturday, 5th December, 2020 at Princess Margaret Hospital. Private service will be held on Tuesday 15th December, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Officiating will be Minister Eulin Dames & Joann Dames assisted by other ministers of the gospel.

Left cherish her memories are her son: Terrel Patterson; daughters: Tamara Stuart, Tanash Patterson and Nacara & Natoya Patterson (twins); sisters: Ruthmae Bain, Julia Cox, Edith Bain, Arreneth Bain; brother: Othniel Bain; aunts: Lillian Coakley and Estella Cunningham of New York; grandchildren: Tyler Stuart, David Stuart; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; other relatives and friends: Francis Stewart, Christian Williams, Robert & Jacqueline, Christian Life Church Family, Holy Cross Anglican Church Family, Chapel on The Hill Family, Ministry of Education, Mr. & Mrs. Hank & Gwen Hollis of Tamper Florida, The Marathon Community, L.I.F.T Conference International Family, Child Evangelism Fellowship Bahamas, Bahamas & U. S Association For Supervision and Curriculum Development (A.S.C.D), Kiwanis, Discover Learning and Development Center, Princess Margaret Hospital and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE THERE IS NO PUBLIC VIEWING

Eloise Francina Saunders-Albury, 93 a resident of Kennedy Subdivision & formerly of Bailey Town, Bimini, will be held at Southern Cemetery, Cowpen & Spikenard Roads, on Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Edward Virgil Jr. assisted by Pastor Branson Gibson.

Left to cherish her memories are her her daughter: Mavis Adderley; daughter-inlaw: Olga Albury; 10 grandchildren: Ida Adderly, Shakera Cooper, Velcina (Michael) K alis, Wade , Vincent, Wenzel, Wellington, Rita, Sherika Albury; 11 great grandchildren: Dentay, Davantay, Deantalay Bethel, Michael, Winston, Lorenzo Kale, Rashan Williams, Cyrus Albury, Joshua Bruno, Jermare Rolle, Vaklev Bastian, Vantazonique Brown; 3 great great grandchildren: Devantay Jr, Deondrae and Diantanique Bethel; 4 sisters: Genevieve Hanna, Sheila Ferguson, Venus (Charles} Bonimy , M. Evangeline (Henry) Outten; 7 brothers: Emil (Shirley), George (Valencia), Berlington, Weston (Andrea), Dr. Francis (Beverly), Walt (Gigi) Solomon (Joy) Saunders; sisters-in-Law: Counstance and Albertha Saunders; family and friends: Saunders Family, Francis Family, Gomez Family, Dames Family, Albury family, Ellis family, Hanna Family, Sherman Family, Laverity Family, Weech, Wilkinson, the entire Bimini Corpice, The Copice of Seven Hills, The Church of God Family, The Kennedy Subdivision family and many, many more family and friends too numerous to mention at this time.

Please forgive us if you did not see your name.

Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street on Thursday from 10-5:00 p.m.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 9

One death too many, please let this not be real WHATEVER the cause of death, there can be no greater heartbreak than that of burying a child. Children are supposed to bury their parents. It’s not supposed to be the other way around.

For the grieving parent, the pain is intolerable, unbearable, inescapable.

In your heart, much as you try to deny it, you crumble and ache, knowing you will never be able to try to kiss your young son good night again and tell him you love him as he halfheartedly pushes you away, saying “Dad, I’m too old for that stuff,” but deep down inside still craves the love.

Your heart is shattering into a hundred splinters watching a casket being lowered into the ground bearing your daughter’s tiny body, taking your heart and the reason for being alive with it into the gravesite.

There is little wonder we mourn when life is stolen from those who have never had a chance to fully live it.

In the realm of injustice, nothing tops robbing a young person

“There is little wonder we mourn when life is stolen from those who have never had a chance to fully live it. In the realm of injustice, nothing tops robbing a young person of his or her life and leaving parents behind to wonder, Why?” of his or her life and leaving parents behind to wonder, Why? Why did it have to be my child? I loved him so, he was so amazing, he could have done anything with his life. She held so much promise and joy, her smile no one could resist.

Please, please let me live this moment over and let this not be real.

The sadness of loss must cover parents and siblings like a suffocating blanket.

When that unjust death occurs against the backdrop of global disaster, it stirs and awakens us from a growing deafness to the pain all around.

Surrounded by news of hospitalizations and deaths during a pandemic, we are both startled by and increasingly immune to the numbers.

We stare briefly wide-eyed when we learn that nearly two Americans die of the virus every minute.

Mesmerized but not really seeing, we watch the numbers grow, waiting for the spooling to stop and the next news item to begin.

We are weary of the virus and the mutilation of families it causes. The fatigue might have caused us to grow more calloused and cold-hearted than we

should have.

Last week’s tragic death of a Cabinet minister’s son woke us back up.

It brought a nation to tears.

Our hearts broke for Environment and Housing Minister Romi Ferreira and the entire large Ferreira family when a 14-year old died at home.

Is it possible that tears can produce teachable moments?

That as we think about our own children and promise to express our love and shower them with affection even if they pretend not to want it, let us reach out to

Romi and the Ferreiras and let them know they will never be alone.

They will mourn, but they will not mourn alone.

They will cry, but they will not cry alone.

The Bahamas will be with them, will mourn with them, will cry with them and will hug them and one day, when they are able to smile again, The Bahamas will rejoice with them for they have gone through the greatest heartbreak of all and they have survived to know they are loved.

SANTA’S NAUGHTY OR NICE LIST If Santa had time, he’d be rubbing his hands together with the juiciest of Naughty and Nice nominees in The Bahamas this year. Times were tough and that’s for those who did not face the worst of scenarios and ache with hunger. So how did we behave. Let’s take a look and see today and next Friday who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.

Naughty

First up on the naughty list has got to be the couple whose social season started with a bang and ended with a thud.

You know the ones.

They flew into Nassau from a place in New York state where the median price of a home is over $1 million and thought hmm, good to be back in Nassau, let’s have a party or two.

So they did.

Problem was it was against the law and the rest of the community in the west where they maintained a home flew into a rage.

Abiding by mask-wearing and stay-at-home Emergency Powers orders, the law-abiders were infuriated, declaring that when in The Bahamas, no one is above the law and they should obey like everyone else (except that bar in Palmdale who ought to be added to the naughty list).

The shamed couple who then had to quarantine because, sure enough, people at the last dinner party tested positive, retreated.

They flew the cooped up, supposedly on a private jet, leaving club resignations and a relieved community behind.

Naughty, naughty.

Nice

Robert Knowles is a very busy man. Husband, father, team coach, owner of Armstrong Technology and Ship242.com (One & Done) with two locations and a host of tech clients, Knowles has been fixing the computer equipment for quadriplegic author Michael Wells without charge for years.

This week, he had to make four trips to the house at night.

Please, Santa, can you

spread a little extra niceness reward on Robert and his family?

Naughty

Shame, shame and more shame on the East Bay Street high speed hitand-run individual who slammed into one car shoving it into another Monday night and kept careening eastward nearly up on two wheels, never stopping to check on injuries of those in the cars he or she smashed.

One of the cars struck was driven by Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson who had just left a late session of the House of Assembly about 7 pm where she had offered condolences to the families of three persons who passed away in the last week and within minutes, came close to losing her own life.

The speeding, out-ofcontrol car was going so fast that the impact twisted the frame of Ferguson’s vehicle, driving it into the tire.

Police arrived and the car was towed. Ferguson was left shaken but said she believes her athletic training helped her reaction time and recovery.

Nice

Just when you thought it was safe to go on a cruise again, Royal Caribbean says not quite yet, but we still love The Bahamas, our number one partner, and can’t wait to come back.

To demonstrate that love, they sent 5,000 turkeys to the National Food Security Task Force with a request that some go to Grand Bahama and Abaco. Royal Caribbean is also making the holidays special for children in the Berry Islands where the company operates a top-ranking private island destination. Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell called the need for turkeys to the attention of the cruise line that already donated $400,000 to the Bahamas Feeding Network this year. Santa, please add the Social Services Minister to that Nice list.

BOXES of food and supplies being handed out at the IL Cares food drive at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Photo: Donovan McIntosh

Nice

You have to hand it to Sebas. True, anyone who can be identified by a single name (think Beyonce or Shakespeare) has already achieved a certain status. But when Sebas does something, he gives it his all and he does it right. Take the food distribution at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. People lined up from 5 am for an event that was due to start at noon, but volunteers, including the man himself, were at the ready and cars moved smoothly through.

If only lines at government offices worked so well. Since Sebas does not need anything materially, Santa, maybe a pat on the back would do. Or tip your Santa cap to him and say, “Job well done, young man. Job well done.”

Death Notice For

Sgt. 2526 DeVaughn Cecil Newry, 43 a resident of #22 Saint Street, Adastra Estates, died at his residence on Wednesday, December 2, 2020.

He is survived by his wife: Audrica Newry; 3 sons: Aiyden Pelecanos, DeVaughn & Devaughntne Newry; mother: Katherina Newry; 1 brother: Hervin Thomas; numerous nieces & nephews, aunts & uncles & a host of other relatives & friends.

PAGE 10, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pays respects at the lying in state of James Oswald Ingraham at the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photos: Letisha Henderson/BIS

RESPECTS PAID TO FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OSWALD INGRAHAM FAMILY, friends and political colleagues paid tribute yesterday to former House of Assembly Speaker James Oswald Ingraham, who died last month.

Mr Ingraham was Speaker during the second Christie administration, and also served as deputy governor-general. He was also the member of Parliament for South Eleuthera for 10 years, from 2002-2012.

His body laid in state in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Yesterday, former Prime Minister and PLP leader Perry Christie praised him as a giant of a man who left an indelible mark in his hometown in Eleuthera and the Bahamian society at large.

“He distinguished himself in all sorts of ways,” he said. “He was a community leader who participated in everything that was important to Eleuthera. Thirdly, he was a businessman and he really was very successful in a defining way.

“So, Oswald, in any way we would wish to define him, when he became a political representative had already had incredible success in his life. From a point of view of marriage, when you saw one you saw the other and I think he was one person if you wanted to define what marriage should be like, you could look to him as an exemplar as that.

“And finally, in politics, he came to politics late but he came very qualified. For all the reasons I described, he was immensely qualified to represent South Eleuthera and we were honoured as a parliament to elect him Speaker of the House of Assembly.”

PLP leader Phillip “Brave” Davis also remembered the former parliamentarian as an agent of change.

“Well, you know Mr Ingraham played his part in the struggle for majority rule. He did so as a campaigner and as a very strong supporter of the then Phillip Bethel who was elected back in ‘67 thereabouts or ‘68, but he was always in the vanguard of change,” he told reporters yesterday. “He later stepped up and became a front-liner by offering himself as a candidate for (the PLP) and he served well as the MP for South Eleuthera.”

Meanwhile, House Speaker Halson Moultrie added: “He set a standard for all of us who succeeded him in this position. I happen to be the 54th Speaker of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

“But I met the honourable James Oswald Ingraham several years ago on my trips into Eleuthera and I can tell you just about everyone I spoke with in Eleuthera spoke so highly of his patriotic commitment to the development of his communities in Eleuthera and as a family islander myself, hailing from Great Inagua, I can tell you how important that is to have committed persons who are successful like the former Speaker James Oswald Ingraham.

“And I think as a patriotic Bahamian, the Bahamas has lost one of its better sons and Eleuthera has definitely lost a very patriotic Eleutheran.”

Mr Ingraham, who died at 83, leaves behind his wife, Marie, several children and extended family in the community of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.

OPPOSITION leader Phillip “Brave” Davis signs the book of condolences yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 11

Bain complains to police over ‘trolls’

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net ACTIVIST Lincoln Bain says he has filed a police complaint against a Cabinet minister, a senator and social media “trolls” over “threats” made against him.

He posted a video outside the Central Detective Unit on Wednesday after he said he filed the complaint.

Last night, Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters confirmed that Mr Bain had filed a complaint and said police were investigating the matter. He would not go into specifics.

This comes after Mr Bain released an audio on Facebook of a secretly recorded conversation between several alleged members of an FNM association, revealing the purported work of the party’s “war room”.

In the recording, they admit to being internet trolls and using fake profiles on social media to defend the FNM. They further allege this was an ongoing effort that had been used against organisers of a recent Progressive

Young Liberals convention.

Later in the recorded conversation a senior member of government was contacted via phone when he told those listening that Mr Bain of Bahamian Evolution had surprisingly been able to divulge details of a recent parliamentary caucus meeting.

Yesterday, Mr Bain said he believes he has been defamed based on what was said during the conversation.

“You do not have the right to go and criminally defame someone,” he said.

“He needs to resign as a member of Parliament not just from his Cabinet position. We need to go to (an) election because of his actions. The fact that the minister came on the phone with them and they were reporting back to him ….”

Mr Bain said he is not going to let the matter go.

“We know the law and we know they are going to try to wiggle their way out of it. We are not going to let them. If the police do not do what they are supposed to, then we are going to file a private criminal prosecution on this. This is

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires John McNamara and Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar bump elbows at the ceremony.

Photos: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

DEAL SIGNED OVER SEARCH AND RESCUE THE Bahamas has entered into an official agreement with the United States for search and rescue missions.

A contract signing ceremony marked the occasion at the Ministry of Tourism’s headquarters yesterday. Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar signed on behalf of The Bahamas.

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John McNamara signed for the United States.

Calling it a groundbreaking event, Mr D’Aguilar said he was excited that the two countries have formalised this process as thousands of persons have found themselves in distress in Bahamian waters.

“A requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO) is that all member states should have an effective search and rescue (SAR) regime or engage the services of a service provider or another state to provide the SAR services,” he said.

“While the United States of America (USA) Coast Guard frequently assists the Bahamas with search and rescue missions for downed or missing aircraft, there is no formal arrangement that governs such assistance.

“In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation assisted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority held a series of meetings with USA officials to negotiate the framework for cooperation between the two states for carrying out activities related to search and rescue within the aeronautical and maritime environment of The Bahamas.”

The agreement, he explained, constitutes permission by the government to the Rescue Coordination Centre, Rescue Sub Centre and search and rescue facilities of the USA to coordinate and conduct search and rescue operations in the territorial sea and archipelagic waters of

The Bahamas; and gives permission for the USA to enter, overfly and land as appropriate, in Bahamian territory, in the conduct of SAR operations.

Mr McNamara thanked all of the agencies and persons who worked together to bring the system into fruition.

“The United States Embassy, via its Coast Guard liaison, is pleased to partner with our brothers and sisters in The Bahamas to assist with search and rescue operations,” he said.

“It has been a long and hard journey to finally make this a reality.”

The minister noted that each party would bear its own costs arising from its participation in SAR operations or in any other activities within the scope of the agreement, except as may be agreed otherwise by the parties in writing in advance.

This agreement is a critical component of the government’s plan to assume control of the country’s sovereign airspace and to enter into a formal agreement for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue to manage the upper level of The Bahamas’ airspace.

Mr D’ Aguilar said that recently the government received a letter from the FAA advising what it will cost The Bahamas for them to continue to operate the airspace.

“I will advise at the appropriate time their cost, once we finalise our agreement with the FAA; but needless to say, I am very pleased that we have passed that hurdle because cost to The Bahamas was a major consideration. Now that it has been determined we anticipate the resumption of negotiations early next year to conclude the overarching air navigation services agreement.”

This is the second agreement signed by the two countries this year. In January, an air service agreement was signed.

proof that they interfered with us and our doings, so we are going to file a civil case against them. We are coming at them in every way possible.”

During the recorded conversation, the politician was told by those on the call that a “war had begun” to which he commended those on the call for the work they had done as part of the FNM’s “war room” efforts.

After the senior member ended the call, someone could be heard saying “if they find my bullets in the autopsy, I ain’t care that’s a righteous kill,” as others commended him for his work on social media.

Mr Bain said he took those words seriously.

“Threats of death is a serious offence. It is a felony. It doesn’t matter if you say it figuratively.

These fellows were talking about putting bullets in me saying they don’t even mind if in the autopsy it is found that it’s their bullets. If you say any words that cause me to be in fear of my life; that is a threat.”

Mr Bain fears he is being targeted because his organisation drafted a bill that would repeal the Ocean Industries Incorporated (Aragonite Mining

Encouragement) Act. That Bill was sent to a Select Committee on Natural Resources last week, effectively ensuring that it will not be debated in the House of Assembly during a second reading.

Bahamian Evolution, a group that demonstrated in Rawson Square last week, has argued that the country has not benefited enough from its natural resources.

PAGE 12, Friday, December 11, 2020

DISNEY PLANS TO STREAM STAR WARS, MARVEL SHOWS NEW YORK Associated Press

THE Walt Disney Co. unveiled a galaxy’s worth of new streaming offerings yesterday, including plans for ten Star Wars series spinoffs and ten Marvel series that will debut on Disney+.

But even as Disney emphasised its expanding streaming portfolio, the company said theatrical release remains an important component of its big-budget spectacles.

In a virtual presentation for investors, Disney chief executive Bob Chapek laid out super-sized ambitions for it direct-to-consumer efforts, leaning heavily on some of the company’s biggest brands.

Over the next few years, Disney is planning to premiere directly on Disney+ not just an armada of “Star Wars” and Marvel series but 15 live-action, Pixar and animated series, and 15 live-action, Pixar and animated movies.

Chapek said Disney+ subscribers worldwide have reached 86.8 million, up from 74 million last month.

The service has easily exceeded most forecasts, reaching that number 13 months since its launch in November 2019.

To keep subscriber numbers climbing, Disney presented a blizzard of new content Thursday, including a “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series, a nine-part Tom Brady docu-series and, yes, even the Kardashians.

The only difference between the company’s short-form TV content and its theatrical content, said Bob Iger, executive chairman, “is length.”

Lucasfilm also announced that Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) will direct the next Star Wars theatrical film, “Rogue Squadron”.

THE TRIBUNE

US endorses wide use of Pfizer vaccine WASHINGTON Associated Press A US GOVERNMENT advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine yesterday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.

Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation.

“This is a light at the end of the long tunnel of this pandemic,” declared Dr Sally Goza, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and over.

That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

While there are a number of remaining unknowns about the vaccine, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough” to press ahead, said panel member Dr Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He concluded that the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the US, with deaths setting an all-time, one-day record of more than 3,100 on Wednesday.

Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the US by the end of December. But the initial supplies will be reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until ramped-up production enables shots to become widely available on demand — something that will probably not happen until the spring.

Next week, the FDA will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as PfizerBioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson & Johnson, which would require just one dose, is

A PHARMACIST labels syringes in a clean room where doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be handled at Mount Sinai Queens hospital in New York.

Photo: Mark Lennihan/AP working its way through the pipeline.

Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

US health experts are hoping a combination of vaccines will ultimately enable the US to conquer the outbreak.

Still, experts estimate

at least 70 percent of the US population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start to get back to normal and Americans can put away their masks.

All eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision of whether to press ahead with large-scale immunisations with PfizerBioNTech’s vaccine. FDA’s vaccine director Dr Peter Marks said a decision would come within “days to a week”.

MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SIGN UP TO LONG-SHOT LAWSUIT HOUSTON Associated Press THE Texas lawsuit asking the US Supreme Court to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden’s victory has quickly become a conservative litmus test, as 106 members of Congress and multiple state attorneys general signed onto the case even as some have predicted it will fail.

The last-gasp bid to subvert the results of the November 3 election is demonstrating President Donald Trump’s enduring political power even as his term is set to end. And even though most of the signatories are far-right conservatives who come from deep red districts, the filing meant that roughly one-quarter of the US House believes the Supreme

Court should set aside election results.

Seventeen Republican attorneys general are backing the unprecedented case that Trump is calling “the big one” despite the fact that the president and his allies have lost dozens of times in courts across the country and have no evidence of widespread fraud. And in a filing yesterday, the Congressional

Republicans claimed “unconstitutional irregularities” have “cast doubt” on the 2020 outcome and “the integrity of the American system of elections”.

To be clear, there has been no evidence of widespread fraud and Trump has been seeking to subvert the will of the voters. Election law experts think the lawsuit will never last.

SPORTS PAGE 14

BOXING, Page 17

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020

Morley on quest to earn Olympic berth

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

I

nspired by her father and sister, who both competed at the Olympic Games, swimmer Laura Morley has decided to remain in Bloomington, Indiana in her quest to earn her berth at the four-yearly games.

The 24-year-old 2019 graduate from Indiana University is training with a group of 12 professional swimmers from different countries at her alma mater.

She competed in her first meet this year at the US Open in Indianapolis last month.

While she didn’t perform as well as she did in the virtual competition that was spread around the nation, Morley was back in the pool last week where she improved on her performances at a long course meet at Indiana University.

In the 100 metre breaststroke, Morley clocked one minute and seven seconds and in the 200m breaststroke, she did 2:28.4.

However, she didn’t participate in the 200 individual medley.

“I didn’t do as well as I expected at the US Open because we were trying to iron out some of the cobwebs from the long lay off from COVID-19,” Morley said.

“So it was good to get up and race, but the times wasn’t necessarily what I wanted, but I was really pleased with my performances last weekend.”

With no more meets planned right now, Morley said she will just continue to train through. She does intend to take a beak for Christmas, although she will stay in Indiana.

However, in January, she is expected to return home to spend some time with her family and friends before she gets back into training for the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, in July.

“I think the past few months have set my sights on where I need to go. It shows that I can achieve my goals, so I’m excited about training in 2021 and to see how far I can go in preparation for the Olympics.”

With the games being postponed this year because of the rise in the coronavirus pandemic around the world, Morley had mixed reactions about the world’s biggest sporting spectacular being pushed back to next year.

“When I heard about it, at first I was disappointed, but I realised that I would have a whole year to prepare for the Olympics,” Morley said.

“It was really unfortunate that it was postponed, but it gives a lot of athletes another year to prepare and maybe to learn more things about themselves. I know I have learned a lot about myself over the past eight months.”

Having graduated with her degree in advertising, Morley said she could have easily thrown in the towel

SWIMMER Laura Morley has decided to remain in Bloomington, Indiana, on her quest to earn her berth at the Olympic Games. The 24-year-old 2019 graduate from Indiana University is training with a group of 12 pro swimmers from different countries at her alma mater. and started to look at her professional career in the business world.

But she has a bigger goal in qualifying for the Olympics with the hopes of following in the footsteps of her father, David Morley, who represented the Bahamas in three events at the 1984 Olympics and her sister, Emily, who made history as the first Bahamian to compete in rowing at the 2016 Olympics.

“My goal has always been to be able to compete for the Bahamas at the highest level and so when COVID-19 hit, I did everything in my power to be training and to stay fit,” she stated.

“I think that has taught me that I do want to achieve my goals and I have the ability to achieve them.

The underlying thing about COVID-19 was an eye opener to see if you really wanted to put yourself out there and compete at the highest level in sports.”

Her father, David, who is now the proprietor of one of the major real estate companies in the country, has been her biggest inspiration in her quest to compete at the Olympics.

She was hoping that her sister would have stayed around so they could have competed together, but she’s now retired and living in Atlanta.

“Even since I found out that he was an Olympian, it was my goal to go to the Olympics, it was my goal to go to the Olympics,” she said. “But when my sister made it as the first rower to represent the Bahamas in 2016, that made my goals even bigger. It pushed me to be the athlete that I am today.”

Morley admits that she has an amazing support system out of her father and sister and they have inspired her in her quest to be an Olympian. “My father is very supportive of me because he understands the sacrifices that is needed to become an Olympian,” she said.

“So it’s awesome to be living with a father who is an Olympian and a sister, who has also done it. So it makes me want to push harder and stronger every day.”

In Indiana, Morley said they have to be tested at least twice a week for COVID-19 in order to be able to train at the university.

“On deck, we have to social distance and we have people going from opposite ends of the pool,” she said.

“You’re not allowed to have more than two people in the pool at a time, so we’ve made a lot of changes, but we have been able to train under those restrictions.”

At the meets, there are a lot of restrictions that the competitors have to adhere to. The good news is that a lot of the swimmers have already left the campus for the holidays so there’s not that many people training in the pool.

“The top priority for me is to just keep myself healthy,” she added.

DEANDRE AYTON, ‘BUDDY’ HIELD ON ESPN NBA TOP 100

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE ESPN NBA Top 100 Player rankings are annually a source of dialogue and both Bahamian players moved several spots in the opposite directions from their previous rankings.

Ayton, the third year Phoenix Suns centre is ranked at No.52 while Hield, the fifth year Sacramento Kings guard is ranked at No. 87 by the publication’s projection of the league’s top players headed into the 2020-21 season.

Expectations loom large for Ayton after he averaged 18.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field in just 38 games in his second season.

The Suns’ roster overhaul has been highlighted by the addition of point guard Chris Paul, a move many pundits expect to benefit Ayton’s development.

“Ayton had a fabulous offseason. The Suns acquired Chris Paul — offensive efficiency in a can — and that means Ayton gets to team up with a playmaker bound to get him clean looks near the rim,” ESPN said. “Now can Ayton become a dominant rim-runner in pick-and-roll actions with CP3? If he can, the Suns are going to be a problem.”

The Suns completed their improbable run at the NBA’s Orlando “bubble” as the only team to go undefeated in the seeding games at 8-0 but finished at No.10 in the conference standings.

At 34-39 on the season, Phoenix finished tied with the No.9 Memphis Grizzlies (34-39), who held the tiebreaker.

SEE PAGE 16

‘The Girl Who Ran Sideways: The Story of an Olympic Champion’ “GOLDEN Girl” Pauline Davis is eager to relate her true story, depicting her rise from a barefoot girl to an Olympic champion and the struggles that she had to endure along the way.

She signed a deal with US publisher Rowman & Littlefield earlier this week in her bid to bring her remarkable story of resilience, determination and Olympic glory to the world.

“I went through a lot.

When I moved home, I saw some things happening and I felt I had to do more,”

PAULINE-Davis

said Davis about her decision to produce the memoir entitled “The Girl Who Ran Sideways: The Story of an Olympic Champion.”

SEE PAGE 15

Jones listed as highly coveted prospect for NBA Draft again

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net TEXAS Longhorns sophomore Kai Jones has once again been listed as a highly coveted prospect for the 2021 NBA Draft by Sports Illustrated.

Jones, who was listed at No.30 on last year’s list, has improved five spots to No. 25 on the latest edition of what is expected to be one of the most talented draft

classes in recent memory.

Jones has increased his stock with career high numbers across the board.

The 19-year-old, 6’ 11” 220-pound forward is averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game while shooting 81 percent from the field and 67 percent from three-point range.

He finished with eight points, four rebounds and

SEE PAGE 17

SPORTS

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 15

‘Golden Girl’ Pauline Davis ‘from barefoot girl to Olympic champion’ FROM PAGE 14 “I want to encourage our young people to strive for greatness. It doesn’t always have to be in sports and it really doesn’t matter how you start, but how you finish.”

It is being co-written with noted Canadian author T.R. Todd, who recently penned the award-winning book “Pigs of Paradise: The True Story of the World Famous Swimming Pigs”.

With the book now into chapter five, Davis said they have targeted next year to be completed and on the shelves in the bookstores and in the schools for everyone, especially the next generation of athletes, to read.

Having been raised in humble beginnings in Fleming Street in Bain Town, the former LW Young rising star and Government High School superstar recalls how she defied the odds to not only become a double gold medallist, but the first woman from the Caribbean to take home the ultimate Olympic prize.

She indicated that she wants people to understand that if she could excel as one of the most decorated female sprinters of her generation, and the first woman of colour to join the World

‘I WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO STRIVE FOR GREATNESS. IT DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN SPORTS AND IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOU START, BUT HOW YOU FINISH’ Athletic Council, the international governing body for track and field (formerly known as the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), they could achieve it too, not just in track and field, but any other sport.

“It’s going to speak truth to power about my life,” said Davis, without going into any further details about the memoir. “There were people who supported me and I call them my angels because I was very grateful for them.

“But I also had several people who were against me. The odds were stacked against me. When I see these young people now, they don’t have the level of strength that we had as athletes back in our day.

“So we can ill afford to put them through what we went through, We have to be very careful of these young people coming through the system. They’re much more gifted and talented than we were, but

they are very weaker than us.”

As she reflects on her journey that spanned more than three decades, Davis said she was driven to tears as she realised the sacrifices that she had to endure and that is why she wants to advise the young people from the ghetto that they can make it just like she did.

“I want to say to them that persons like myself did it and they can do it too,” she stressed. “It’s not an impossible task.”

Davis was one of the most prolific competitors as a junior athlete at the CARIFTA Games, winning the Austin Sealy Award as the most outstanding athlete in 1984 here in Nassau.

However, she had her remarkable breakthrough at the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships in 1982 in Barbados where she captured four gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400m as well as the long jump. As the lone ranger, competing

BFA PRESENTS TABLETS TO MINISTRY OF EDUCATION “WE remain committed to youth development in The Bahamas beyond the football pitch,” explained Anton Sealy, president of The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) as they presented 100 tablets complete with MIFI devices to The Ministry of Education.

As COVID-19 forced schools in The Bahamas, and indeed the world, to convert to virtual learning platforms, the BFA recognised that many of its players have been challenged to access their new online classrooms.

As such, the Association sought support from FIFA and subsequently partnered with Aliv to purchase and donate the tablets to benefit disadvantaged students across the country.

“We at The Bahamas Football Association, along with our member clubs, decided to do something to assist the most vulnerable and severely impacted members of our

constituents in football, that being our school age players and more so, those without the capability to effectively participate in the virtual learning process,” explained Sealy. “We trust that these devices will go a long way in supporting the educational needs of our young student athletes.”

Minister of Education, Jeffrey Lloyd was on hand to receive the donation.

Minister Lloyd expressed gratitude to the BFA. “We will not stand by and let any child get left behind.

As such, we are so grateful for the philanthropy and partnership of the BFA for its support of our virtual learning programme through the donation of these tablets.”

The Minister explained that the donation moves the ministry that much closer to its goal of making virtual learning accessible for every Bahamian student.

Said Matthew Davis, mobile sales manager for

Aliv: “At Aliv we are committed to innovation and technology and we are happy to be able to support the education of our young people.

“Giving back is an important part of who we are at Aliv,” Davis said.

“These 10-inch tablets are intuitive and user-friendly with a convertible keypad and with the MIFI devices, students can access the network at high speeds from anywhere in The Bahamas.”

Both the Ministry and the BFA acknowledged the invaluable partnership of Aliv as vital to bridging the gaps that exist for those most disadvantaged in our communities.

In addition to Sealy, The Bahamas Football Association’s executive vice president, Anya James and Carl R Lynch Jr, deputy general secretary, were also on hand for the presentation to the Ministry of Education.

‘Lakers aren’t quite done reloading’ WITH NBA training camps up and running, and with the preseason about to start this weekend, the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers aren’t quite done reloading their roster as they embark on their mission to repeat as NBA champions in 2021.

A FAMILIAR FACE The Lakers will reportedly have interest in former Laker forward Trevor Ariza if he’s released by the OKC Thunder before or during the 2020-21 NBA season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported yesterday that Ariza is “expected” to begin the campaign in OKC. The Lakers have spent the offseason bolstering their depth after winning the 2020 NBA championship.

It will be an important element of their title defence as they face a quick turnaround. They finished the Finals on October 11 and will tip off the new season December 22 against the rival Los Angeles Clippers.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported Monday the league informed teams it will relax its resting policies for games that won’t be on national television because of the shortened offseason.

The Lakers two corner stone pieces LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be rested during the early

THE

PRESS BOX ZELAYA

BY INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICA

stages of the campaign, and their minutes will likely be reduced in the games they do play over the first few months.

The Lakers have prepared for that with the additions of Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder, Wesley Matthews and Marc Gasol creating more flexibility and depth within the rotation.

Ariza would be another arrival with the need for increased rest in mind.

The 35-year-old UCLA product split last season between the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers.

He averaged 8.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 37.2 percent on three-point attempts across 53 appearances.

BROTHERLY LOVE But wait there’s more, after signing centre Marc Gasol - Pau’s younger brother - there are now rumblings of a possible family reunion in LA.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported that Pau Gasol is interested in making a comeback and is working to try to make that happen.

Now if the 40-year-old is successful, the Lakers are one of the teams that he considers among his “dream destinations.”

However, Lowe also noted that it’s “unclear” what Los Angeles’ level of interest would be in bringing Pau back.

The 18-year NBA veteran last played in the league during the 2018-19 season, when he appeared in 27 games for the Spurs and three with the Bucks.

Right now, the Lakers’ roster is currently full, but it’s definitely something to keep your eye on all season long.

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1.

on the international scene at the senior level, Davis eventually got some help from Eldece Clarke, Chandra Sturrup, Savatheda Fynes and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie as they went on to capture silver and gold medals in the 4 x 100m relay at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where Davis was also elevated to a gold in the 200m after American Marion Jones was stripped of her title for a doping violation.

The women, who were all coined the “Golden Girls,” also captured the relay gold at the International Amateur Athletic Federation - now World Athletics - World Championships in 1999 in Seville, Spain.

The 54-year-old Davis, now a consultant with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said all the extra details of her storied career will be outlined in the book when it is offically released.

‘GOLDEN GIRL’ Pauline Davis is eager to relate her true story, depicting her rise from a barefoot girl to an Olympic champion and the struggles that she had to endure along the way. She signed a deal with US publisher Rowman & Littlefield earlier this week in her bid to bring her remarkable story of resilience, determination and Olympic glory to the world.

FULL STORY STARTS ON PAGE 14

SPORTS

PAGE 16, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

AKERS RUNS WILD, NEWTON BENCHED AS RAMS ROUT PATRIOTS 24-3

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — With rookie Cam Akers running wild for the Rams and his defensive teammates thoroughly stifling the Patriots, Los Angeles got a tiny measure of payback for its Super Bowl embarrassment two years ago.

These Rams even looked good enough to contend for a chance at some actual Super Bowl redemption later this season.

Akers rushed for 171 yards in a breakout performance, Kenny Young returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown and the Rams clinched their fourth straight winning season with a 24-3 victory over the New England Patriots last night. Jared Goff rushed for a touchdown and

threw a TD pass to Cooper Kupp as the NFC West-leading Rams (9-4) rolled to a one-sided victory in a rematch of their 13-3 Super Bowl loss in February 2019.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for them, but it’s a totally different year,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Doesn’t have anything to do with what happened a couple of years ago.”

Cam Newton passed for 119 yards before getting replaced

by Jarrett Stidham in the fourth quarter of another dismal offensive game for New England (6-7).

Five days after the Patriots scored 45 points at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers, New England endangered its push for a 12th straight playoff berth with only its second loss in six games.

“We knew exactly what they were going to do,” Newton said.

“We have to be better, and it starts with me personally. I have to make more plays.”

When asked if he expected to start next week, Newton replied: “That’s not my call.”

The Rams got a superb game from Akers, the second-round draft pick out of Florida State who has seized a major role in their offence over the last three weeks. Akers’ yards mostly came in big chunks during the biggest rushing game by an NFL rookie this season and just the ninth 150-yard game against a Bill Belichick-coached defence since 2000.

“It’s just (great) watching that guy really assert himself as a bigtime player for us,” McVay said.

“You can just see this guy is going to be a really special player for us, and this was a great night for him.”

Aaron Donald had 1 1/2 sacks to move into the overall NFL lead with 12 1/2 this season while leading another strong game from Los Angeles’ elite defence, which held New England to 62 yards in the second half, recorded six sacks and also scored a touchdown in its third consecutive game.

The Pats’ third-ranked rushing offense managed just 3.7 yards per carry.

“We knew they had a great running game, that they outphysical-ed people, and we took that personally,” said Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who had two sacks.

“If they were going to come in here and run the ball, we were going to stop them.”

New England again struggled to move the ball through the air, and Newton threw his first pick-six of

the season to Young, who also had a sack.

Newton was 9 of 16 when Belichick replaced him early in the fourth quarter with Stidham, who went 5 of 7 on three ineffective series.

The Patriots have been held without an offensive touchdown in multiple games this season for the first time since 2003.

Despite their strong play in recent weeks, the Patriots have seven losses for the first time since 2002, officially ending their NFL-record streak of 17 straight seasons with at least 10 victories.

UP NEXT Patriots: Visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 20.

Rams: Stay home to host the New York Jets on Sunday, December 20.

BLITZ-HAPPY DOLPHINS WILL TRY TO SLOW MAHOMES AND CHIEFS

By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) — The focus is on the matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa, even though there’s no debating the Kansas City Chiefs have the better quarterback.

The Miami Dolphins might have the superior defence, however, which lends intrigue to Sunday’s game against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The Dolphins (8-4) have allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL, and wins in seven of the past eight games have vaulted them into contention for their first playoff berth in four years. But they’re stepping up in class against Mahomes and the high-scoring Chiefs (11-1), who have already clinched a postseason spot by winning their past seven games. “I wish we could

have 14 defenders,” Miami coach Brian Flores said.

Sometimes it seems as though the Dolphins do. Flores’ blitz-loving, ball-hawking scheme has produced at least one takeaway in 18 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the NFL, and cornerback Xavien Howard leads the league with eight interceptions.

The question is whether the Dolphins can disrupt the Chiefs, whose eight turnovers are tied for the fewest in the NFL. Mahomes has thrown two interceptions in 463 passes, the league’s lowest rate.

And he tends to burn blitzes.

“We always want to be aggressive. It’s an aggressive game,” Flores said.

“So we’ll see how the game unfolds. We’ll have a plan going in. Oftentimes that plan has to be adjusted.”

REMATCH Flores ran the New England Patriots’ defence in 2018 when they beat the Chiefs twice, including in the AFC championship game.

“Brian is a great defensive mind,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “When we were in the championship game, he was the one calling them. So he knows that thing backward and forward, and you can see it.

You can see it in how those guys are playing. They play hard, aggressive, definitely maximising everything he’s got there.”

Flores’ memory of those 2018 games isn’t entirely favourable, because Chiefs scored 40 and 31 points despite losing.

“I remember it was hard to stop them. It’s still hard to stop them. It’s probably harder to stop them now,” Flores said. “When you talk

about seeing a team evolve, they’ve got a little bit of a killer instinct. When they smell blood in the water.”

HANGING ONTO THE BALL First-round draft pick Tagovailoa is 4-1 as the Dolphins’ starter. They’ve reached 30 points only once in those games, but his ability to minimise mistakes complements Miami’s stout defence.

“He knows how to manage the game and manage the situation,” Mahomes said. “That’s something that I wasn’t that good at my first year.

That veteran kind of mental mindset that he has, I think it’s truly special at this time in his career.”

Tagovailoa is the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to not throw an interception in his first five career starts, joining Dak Prescott and Kyle Allen.

DOLPHINS quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) runs against the Denver Broncos on November 22 in Denver.

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) FREE PLAYS, on Sunday was the latest FREE POINTS example.

Mahomes has become “I try to use cadence one of the best in the NFL as much as possible,” at drawing defences offside, Mahomes said. using hard counts in mostly “Quick cadence, hard empty stadiums to force a counts, whatever it is, just penalty. to get an advantage in any And he may have no single way, and the offencomparison when it comes sive line does a great job to using free plays to his of sitting in there, really advantage. His go-ahead paying attention, and we touchdown pass to Travis work on it throughout the Kelce against Denver week.”

NAPOLI, REAL SOCIEDAD, YOUNG BOYS ADVANCE IN EUROPA LEAGUE

By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press NAPOLI and Real Sociedad both advanced from a tightly contested Europa League group after a 1-1 draw yesterday, with Willian José netting a crucial equaliser for the Spanish team in the 90th minute.

The result meant Napoli finished top of Group F, while Sociedad edged ahead of AZ Alkmaar into second.

Alkmaar would have advanced with a win but lost 2-1 at already eliminated Rijelka.

Swiss club Young Boys also advanced with a 2-1 comeback win over Cluj after a wild finish that saw two goals and three red cards in injury time.

Norway’s Molde also made the round of 32 after a 2-2 draw with Rapid Vienna in the final round of group-stage matches.

Wolfsberg and Maccabi Tel-Aviv took the final two spots in the knockout rounds.

Premier League leader Tottenham blanked Royal Antwerp 2-0 to finish top in its group.

Already qualified with two games to spare, Arsenal made it six wins from six with a 4-2 away victory at Dundalk.

The match between Group I winner Villarreal and last-place Qarabag was postponed after several players from the Kazakh club tested positive for the coronavirus.

It was unclear whether the game would be rescheduled or whether UEFA would award a forfeit win to Villarreal.

A total of 18 clubs were already through ahead of the final games while eight more teams, including Manchester United, dropped into the last 32 as third-place finishers in their Champions League groups.

The draw for the round of 32 is scheduled for Monday.

A minute of silence was observed at the stadiums to honour Italian soccer great Paolo Rossi, who died after

a long illness at the age of 64.

TIGHTEST GROUP Napoli only needed a draw at home against Sociedad and went 1-0 up after Piotr Zielinski netted from the edge of the area with a right-foot shot after the visitors failed to clear a corner kick.

Sociedad looked to be going out but a cross into the area in injury time fell to Willian José, and he blasted a shot high into the net to send his team through.

Napoli finished with 11 points, two more than Sociedad. Alkmaar had eight.

HEATED FINISH Cluj needed to beat Young Boys to overtake the Swiss team and advance and went ahead when substitute Gabriel Debeljuh scored in the 84th m Cluj goalkeeper Cristian Balgradean was given a red card and conceded a penalty at the start of injury time, allowing Young Boys to equalise.

DUNDALK and Arsenal observe a silence in memory of Paolo Rossi prior to the UEFA Europa League Group B soccer match at The Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, yesterday.

(Brian Lawless/PA via AP) Jean­Pierre Nsame conIt was the third goal for before scoring past goalverted the spot kick — only the Brazilian in the Europa keeper Gary Rogers 12 to be sent off himself two League campaign. minutes into the game. minutes later for a reckless Tottenham’s striking duo Mohamed Elneny doubled foul. But with Cluj throwing of Harry Kane and Son that advantage six minutes everything forward, substi- Heung-min came on as later with a fierce longtute Gianluca Gaudino was substitutes on the stroke of distance drive into the top able to net the winner in the hour. The rejuvenated corner. the 96th minute on a quick Spurs went 2-0 ahead when Jordan Flores pulled one counterattack.

Kane freed Giovani Lo back for Dundalk in the Cluj’s Damjan Doko- Celso on the right to beat first half before Joe Wilvic then became the third Beiranvand one-on-one in lock restored a two-goal player sent off for another the 71st. advantage in the second. poor foul.

Tottenham finished with Substitute Folarin BaloRoma remained top of 13 points, one more than gun finished the scoring for Group A with 13 points Antwerp.

Arsenal 10 minutes from despite its first defeat, 3-1, Austria’s LASK beat time. Sean Hoare headed at CSKA Sofia. Young Boys Ludogorets 3-1 away to home the second for the was second with 10. Cluj finish third on 10.

Irish club. and Sofia finished on five.

ARSENAL’S Rapid Vienna needed a TOTTENHAM TOP OTHER SIDE two-goal victory at home Tottenham left it until the Arsenal is only in 15th against Molde but the Norsecond half to secure top place in the Premier League wegian side qualified after spot in its group. but was the only team to Magnus Wolff Eikrem Gareth Bale’s free kick finish with a perfect six scored twice in a 2-2 draw. from 30 yards was tipped wins in the Europa League Arsenal won Group B onto the post by goal- group stage. with 18 points, eight more keeper Alireza Beiranvand Eddie Nketiah won than Molde. Rapid had but Carlos Vinícius was on the ball after putting the seven and Dundalk was hand to tap in the rebound. defence under pressure pointless.

NBA TOP 100 from PAGE 14 Contrastingly, Hield dropped 28 spots from last year’s ranking when he was slotted at No.59.

“Hield bristled at his bench role last season; is it prudent for him to automatically assume that role this season? In 44 games as a starter, Hield averaged 20 points but shot poorly (41.6 percent overall, 36 percent on threes).

In 28 games as a reserve, his scoring suffered slightly (17.9 points), but he was far more efficient (45.4 percent overall, 45.1 percent on threes),” ESPN said.

Despite coming off the bench for 28 games, Hield was second on the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game last season. He was removed from the starting lineup in favour of Bogdan Bogdanovic last January and continued to see inconsistent minutes for the duration of the season, culminating in season low 11 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans when the NBA resumed play at the “bubble” in Orlando, Florida.

Bogdanovic signed with the Atlanta Hawks this offseason and most NBA pundits interpreted that as a sign the organisation would move forward with Hield as the team’s starting shooting guard.

Kings head coach Luke Walton did not commit to Hield as a starter for the upcoming season and said spots would be earned in training camp.

The Kings open their preseason schedule tonight against the Portland Trailblazers at 10:30pm local time. They open their regular season on December 23 against the Denver Nuggets. The Suns’ first of four preseason games will be against the Utah Jazz on December 12. They also open the regular season on December 23 against the Dallas Mavericks.

In addition, Hield and Ayton will go head-tohead when the teams play a back-to-back, December 26 and 27.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 17

SPORTS

STOCK FOR A RISING STAR

Kai Jones Sports Illustrated NBA Draft Prospect No. 25 FROM PAGE 14 two blocked shots in the Longhorns’ 74-53 win over Texas State Wednesday night. The No.13 ranked Longhorns are 5-1 on the season and face the No.2 ranked Baylor Bears on December 13.

“A late-blooming Bahamian native who’s quietly been on the NBA radar for a couple years, Jones finally looks to be putting things together, using his length to impact gameflow and showing off an improvedlooking jumper. Though his offence remains dependent on others feeding him the ball, he’s been more active than ever in his minutes off the bench, showcasing his ability to defend, space the floor, catch lobs and provide energy,” Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo said. “Jones is still a work in progress overall, and has to keep adding strength to hold up at the five, but bigs with his natural mobility, length and inside-out skill are hard to come by, and he can work his way more firmly into the first round picture if he keeps this up, sporadic minutes be damned.”

Jones has three doubledigit scoring efforts off the bench this season, already surpassing his total from his freshman season when he reached that mark just twice.

In the Camping World Maui Invitational Championship, Jones finished with 12 points on 4-5 shooting from the field and tied a career high with 8 rebounds for the second time this season in the Longhorns 69-67 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the tournament finale.

TEXAS forward Kai Jones (22) dunks during the first half of the team’s NCAA college game against Texas State on Wednesday in Austin, Texas.

KAI Jones blocks a shot by Texas State guard Shelby Adams during the second half.

(AP Photos/Michael Thomas)

TEXAS State guard Isaiah Small (1) shoots next to Texas forward Kai Jones during the first half of Wednesday’s game.

GILGEOUSALEXANDER, DORT, BAZLEY LEAD YOUNG THUNDER CORE

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai GilgeousAlexander is the man for Oklahoma City in just his third year in the NBA. The Thunder surprised the league last season by making the playoffs, but veterans Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams are no longer with the team. Even with all of those established players on the roster, Gilgeous-Alexander was the team’s leading scorer.

He averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Now, the franchise expects the 22-year-old swingman to carry more of the load.

“It’s something I’m excited about,” GilgeousAlexander said. “I think I’ve worked hard enough to deserve that responsibility and trust from Sam (Presti) and the rest of the front office and the rest of the coaching staff. But really, I’m just ready to take advantage of the opportunity I’ve been given.”

Gilgeous-Alexander joins Lu Dort and Darius Bazley as the key holdovers from a young core that helped push Houston to seven games in the playoffs last season. Dort and Bazley were rookies who quickly proved themselves ready for the NBA. “I think all those guys have been pushed to limits in which they’re uncomfortable,” said Presti, the Thunder general manager.

“They’ve shown the ability to bounce back from setbacks. That’s a big part of our organisation. It’s the reason why I think we’ve had success with some younger players over time, the resiliency they’ve shown.”

JOSHUA DEFENDING TITLES VS PULEV WITH FURY FIGHT ON THE HORIZON

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer ANTHONY Joshua has never been so close to a shot at being the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

The WBA, IBF, WBO belts are back in his possession. An agreement in principle has been reached with Tyson Fury, the WBC champion, for a two-fight deal in 2021 to unify the titles in an all-British blockbuster.

Nothing is ever straightforward in boxing — especially when arranging what would be one of the biggest fights in a generation, perhaps the biggest ever in Britain — but it appears there’s one major obstacle in the way of an eagerly awaited JoshuaFury bout next year.

Kubrat Pulev.

A robust, hardened 39-year-old Bulgarian, Pulev will get the chance to blow a turbulent heavyweight division wide open again when he fights Joshua at Wembley Arena in London on Saturday as a mandatory challenger.

It will be his second world title fight — he lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 for what remains his only professional defeat — and a belated shot at Joshua, having been forced to pull out of a 2017 fight against the Briton after sustaining a shoulder injury late in his training camp.

“I like that people are talking more about Joshua vs. Fury than Joshua vs.

Pulev,” said Pulev, who is a 7-1 underdog with some British bookmakers. “It is not insulting to me … I am happy because while he is thinking about fighting somebody else, he is underestimating me.”

Joshua is insisting he is not looking beyond his

PUBLIC WORKERS’ CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNION LIMITED

BRITAIN’s Anthony Joshua celebrates after beating Andy Ruiz Jr to win their World Heavyweight Championship contest at the Diriyah Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday December 8, 2019.

Joshua was able to end his self-isolation on Wednesday after his coronavirus test came back negative ahead of his world heavyweight clash with Kubrat Pulev at Wembley in London Saturday December 12. (AP) immediate opponent, and that he is answering any questions about Fury only as a matter of courtesy, but there’s no doubt Saturday’s fight takes place in that bigger context.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has been freely discussing the proposed meeting of Joshua and Fury — for which financial details have been agreed but official contracts have not been signed.

Hearn has talked about how the purse will be split, possible locations for the fight — the Middle East or London appear favourites — and how it is the fight all boxing fans have been waiting for.

“I am as close to 100 percent as I can be that the Fury fight will happen if AJ wins on Saturday,” he said.

Hearn just needs his main man to do the business before the first crowd to attend a British boxing fight during the pandemic.

Joshua has become used to selling out Britain’s

biggest sports venues — Wembley Stadium in London, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff — but only 1,000 fans will be allowed in Wembley Arena for his first home fight since knocking out Alexander Povetkin in September 2018.

Since then he has lost his titles in shocking fashion to Andy Ruiz Jr, before immediately regaining them in a money-spinning rematch in Saudi Arabia a year ago that reportedly earned Joshua $70 million.

During his 12 months away from competitive boxing because of the pandemic, Joshua said he has “honed his craft,” returning again to developing his ability to show the “sweet science” of the sport.

Ahead of Pulev, he has taken some advice from Klitschko — he has even started wrapping his hands methodically before workouts like the long-time heavyweight champion from Ukraine used to do.

Disbursement of INTEREST on MEMBERS’ SAVINGS accounts (formerly known as Dividend) and CHRISTMAS CLUB accounts: Disbursement of INTEREST on: 1. Members’ SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, for the period January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2019, will begin on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16th, 2020; ending on JANUARY 31st, 2021 and; 2. Members’ CHRISTMAS CLUB ACCOUNTS, for the period December 1st, 2019 to November 30th, 2020, will begin on MONDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 2020.

Additionally, due to Covid-19, and the related restrictions, the credit union was unable to hold its Annual General Meeting in 2020; where Dividend (on Qualifying Shares) would have been dealt with.

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 19

Oil drilling shows green economy is ‘lip service’ FROM PAGE 24

Perseverance One well.

Arguing that the Judicial Review could have been brought at any time since late February, when BPC publicly announced it had received the necessary Environmental Authorisation (EA), Mr Potter said the timing showed its opponents were simply aiming to inflict maximum financial harm and “simply disrupt and stop our lawful activity”.

Disclosing that the government also plans to oppose the action, Mr Potter said: “Yesterday’s application for a judicial review, an extension of time and a stay from a group of environmental activists is entirely without merit. BPC will vigorously oppose the application, and we understand that the Government of The Bahamas will be doing likewise.

“BPC’s drilling plans have been public knowledge for almost a decade, and the government provided Environmental Authorisation (EA) to BPC in February 2020, following an extensive programme of work.

“Environmental activists could have sought to bring this application at any time.

That they have waited until now, on the cusp of drilling, speaks to their true agenda, which is not any real concern for judicial process but simply to disrupt and stop our lawful activity.”

BPC’s goal is for the Stena IceMAX to begin drilling Perseverance One in waters some 90 miles west

AML Foods shrugs off pandemic with $7m profits swing FROM PAGE 24 No explanation was given for the restructuring, which likely frees up cash flow by not having to make principal payments to the investors.

However, the Solomon’s, Cost Right and Domino’s Pizza operator is one of the few businesses to increase profitability amid the devastation of COVID-19 as it uses its “essential” business status to fully recover from Dorian’s impact on its Grand Bahama business.

of Andros, close to the maritime boundary with Cuba, on December 20. The entire exercise is expected to take between 45-60 days, and the oil explorer has repeatedly argued that - as a non-production well - the chances of any oil spill will be minimal and it will be capped afterwards.

Mr Potter yesterday again argued that The Bahamas now, more than ever, needed to determine whether it possesses a natural resource that could potentially act as a game changer for both the economy and government’s finances post-COVID-19 if commercial quantities are discovered.

“The Government of The Bahamas is exercising its legitimate, sovereign right to establish if the nation of The Bahamas has its own commercial hydrocarbon resource,” the BPC chief said.

“With the islands facing economic fragility, suffering from both hurricane damage and the impacts of COVID19, a successful petroleum discovery has the potential to rebase the economy, generate billions in revenues over the life of the project and create new contracts and jobs. No oil will be produced

by Perseverance One as it is purely a fact-finding exercise of short duration.

“The people of The Bahamas have a right to know if this resource is there for them and for future generations of Bahamians. In the past ten years, many thousands of offshore oil wells

have been drilled safely and without incident all around the world, and many other nations in the region such as the US, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Guyana have over the past decades safely and responsibly drilled offshore wells, developed or continue to develop offshore hydrocarbon resources, and reaped the economic benefits of an established or a whole new industry. Moreover, these other nations have been able to do so at the same time as seeing growth and development of existing industry sectors, such as tourism.”

Mr Potter has previously said that The Bahamas could earn up to $5bn in royalties over the ten to 20 year lifetime of a commercial project, adding that this will not be impacted by volatility in global oil prices.

However, many Bahamians are sceptical, believing that the 50/50 revenue split with the government would only be achieved at the $80 per barrel price BPC used to illustrate this. With production costs at $40 per barrel, they feel the financial benefits for the country would be minimal at prevailing market prices.

“BPC intends to apply to the court to be heard as a person affected and to oppose the application,” the company added yesterday of the Judicial Review.

“Given that BPC’s drilling operations are scheduled to commence before the end of 2020, BPC anticipates that the application for a stay will

be determined definitively by the Court on an expedited basis, prior to drilling operations commencing.

“BPC believes the application to be without legal basis or merit, and considers that there should be no legal impediment to proceeding with the drilling of the Perseverance One well.”

Mr Potter, meanwhile, concluded: “”The Government of The Bahamas is to be commended for the thorough, comprehensive process of review and scrutiny they put BPC through over nearly a decade around the Environmental Authorisation process for the drilling of the well, as well as for the Petroleum Act and Petroleum Operations-related regulations, which were passed into law in 2016.

“In gaining its Environmental Authorisation, BPC adhered to all applicable Bahamian laws, and over and above this adhered to all applicable guidelines, international standards and best practices. We look forward to proceeding with Perseverance One on schedule, and fulfilling our licence commitments to the Government of The Bahamas.”

Fred Smith QC, the Callenders & Co QC representing the activists, yesterday fired back at BPC by arguing that his clients “have a powerful case on the merits” while questioning whether the oil explorer has all the necessary permits to proceed.

“The application for judicial review very clearly

Half-year net profits for the six months to end-October 2020 stood at $6.088m, a more than $7m reversal from the prior year’s $1.232m Dorian-induced net loss.

The results motivated AML Foods’ Board to this week declare a four cents per share ordinary dividend, and a three cents per share extraordinary dividend, for a total of seven cents per share to be paid on January 5, 2021.

The New Year’s windfall comes as AML Foods admitted it has yet to see the sales fall-off it has been projecting now for several quarters, although its chairman again forecast that revenues will soften during

its present quarter that includes Christmas.

Franklyn Butler told shareholders: “We are achieving noticeable improvements with our focus on operational excellence, which has positively influenced our second quarter results. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to positively impact sales.

“Our expectation remains that revenues will soften in the third quarter and through 2021 given the country’s short-term economic outlook and the delays experienced

with the re-opening of the tourism industry. Our Domino’s brand continues to be the hardest hit by COVID, brought on by early curfews and weekend lockdowns, which have traditionally been our peak selling times.”

Turning to the three months to end-October 2020, he added: “Sales for the quarter were $42.9m, an increase of 10.9 percent for the same period last year.

Net profit for the quarter was $1.3m compared to a net loss of $1.3m for the same period in the prior year.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DIANNA DESINOR, #158 Beacons Field, Freeport, Grand Bahama 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 4th day of December, 2020 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Freeport, Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that MANOUSHKA CASTER of Carmicheal Road, Nassau, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 4th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JULIANIE BISSAINTHE of Blue Hill South, Nassau, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 4th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

FRED SMITH QC explains the abysmal failure of BPC to get the required statutory permits postlicence,” he told Tribune Business. “As with Heads of Agreements, just because you get the overarching blessing of the National Economic Council (NEC), Office of the Prime Minister, Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) or whatever surreal acronyms the Government of The Bahamas can create does not mean you do not have to obtain the necessary permits which Parliament, speaking on behalf of its citizens, requires you to get.

“Even if you have a licence to explore you still have to get site plan approval under the Planning and Subdivisions Act, you still have to get an excavation permit under the Conservation and Protection of the Physical Landscape of The Bahamas Act, and you still have to satisfy the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) you are not going to dispose of grey

water within the archipelagic baseline.

“Getting a licence is not a get out of jail free card.

I challenge BPC and the government to provide the relevant permits and licences that are required by the Parliament of The Bahamas.

BPC and the Office of the Prime Minister do not have licence to ignore the laws passed by Parliament.”

Noting that the prime minister has repeatedly promised to respect the rule of law, Mr Smith added: “The Government of The Bahamas and my prime minister continues to speak about climate change and small island nations. We are among the most vulnerable in the world.

“We cannot have lip service being paid to a green and blue economy and, at the same time, hypocritically engage and promote offshore oil drilling.” He also described BPC’s allegations about disrespect for the judicial process as “misconceived”, adding that it should have “pressed the pause button” on sending the Stena IceMAX to The Bahamas following his warning legal action was imminent.

“I have invited the government to proceed very quickly and urgently with the litigation because we are confident that we have a powerful case on the merits. Let the courts decide. The rule of law in The Bahamas reigns supreme,” Mr Smith said.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that TAMICA PIERRE of Carmichael Road Nassau, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 11th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

THURSDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2020

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

2089.06

0.09

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

0.00 -142.54

-6.39

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

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.05 33.05 2.00 1.79 2.39 6.00 6.75 4.40 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 6.50 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.26 15.21

52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 0.67 1.62 1.67 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.75 3.50 5.90 11.06 2.10 3.96 9.60 7.50 13.04 3.20 8.15 14.00

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

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

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

Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A RF Bank & Trust Limited Class A Focol Class B

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

52WK HI 2.37 4.43 2.13 198.39 176.73 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.39 10.26 7.23 12.80 12.81 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.65 1.79 1.75 1.05 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

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

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

MUTUAL FUNDS

MARKET TERMS

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407

LAST CLOSE 4.05 32.12 1.62 1.78 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.90 4.75 3.63 5.90 11.26 2.36 6.50 10.35 8.40 14.12 3.80 8.25 15.20

CLOSE 4.05 32.12 1.62 1.78 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.90 4.75 3.63 5.90 11.26 2.39 6.50 10.42 8.40 14.12 3.80 8.25 15.20

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 VOLUME

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

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00

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

NAV 2.37 4.43 2.13 198.36 173.98 1.69 1.79 1.77 1.05 8.39 9.88 7.23 12.33 12.80 10.20 N/A 9.28 11.86

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

P/E 16.9 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 17.9 -6.6 33.9 19.7 13.1 15.6 23.4 13.9 16.1 11.5 17.3 18.7 8.8 24.1

YIELD 4.20% 3.92% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.93% 0.00% 0.00% 3.31% 3.73% 6.39% 18.16% 0.92% 3.15% 2.86% 3.82% 3.16% 2.42% 4.01%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022

YTD% 12 MTH% 3.76% 4.43% 1.54% 2.56% 2.12% 2.59% 1.65% 2.39% 4.34% 9.82% 1.65% 1.95% -3.06% -2.22% 0.80% 1.17% -12.30% -11.81% 0.64% 0.98% 1.19% -3.63% 4.20% 5.04% 2.63% 7.68% 3.68% 3.93% -4.89% -4.62% N/A N/A -0.50% 3.70% -3.80% 4.10%

NAV Date 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 30-Oct-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price

52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks

Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity

52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks

Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity

Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume

Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price

Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume

Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week

Change - Change in closing price from day to day

EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths

Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today

NAV - Net Asset Value

DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months

N/M - Not Meaningful

P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

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

PAGE 20, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Women’s advocacy group added to $1.5m ‘fraud’ case FROM PAGE 24 to remove a restraining order that froze some $1.511m held by a Bahamian law firm in its client account. The restraining order was obtained by the Attorney General’s Office, acting at the behest of the US attorney for Washington state’s western district, as part of a probe into a scheme that defrauded Boeing, the giant aircraft and defence manufacturer.

The philanthropist and his attorney, Damian Gomez QC, the former minister of state for legal affairs, succeeded in persuading Supreme Court justice, Cheryl GrantThompson, to discharge the freezing order - an action the Attorney General’s Office is now appealing.

However, appeal justice Milton Evans, yesterday ruled “that there can be no effective and complete determination” of the case without Celebrating Women International being added as a “respondent” because it was said to be the beneficial owner of the $1.511m held in the Monique VA Gomez & Company law firm’s client account.

Mr Gomez argued that the Attorney General’s Office had applied to add Celebrating Women International some 14 months beyond the cut-off point for doing so, and was therefore “out of time” due to an “inordinate and inexcusable delay” that would prejudice the other side.

But appeal justice Evans, finding that Celebrating Women International had “featured inextricably in the evidence, the documents, the considerations and the findings” in the Supreme Court proceedings, added that it had “the greatest interest in the matters before the court” as the purported beneficial owner of the disputed funds.

And, given that the Bahamian court proceedings had been sparked by a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) request from the US Justice Department, he said: “This is not a trivial matter. This case has implications for our treaty relations with another country, which has made a request for assistance. The issues raised must be properly adjudicated upon....”

Appeal justice Evans also found that Mr King “is not, as far as we can ascertain, a principal” of Celebrating Women International.

Indeed, the latter’s website does not identify who its principals and management are, instead describing itself

Union tensions rising on Xmas bonus cuts FROM PAGE 24 December 15. He added that members of the bargaining unit had been informed by the company prior to the union being notified, and discussions taking place between it and the fast food franchise’s management.

Some observers will likely view the union complaints as being both greedy and out of touch with reality, and Mr Ferguson

as “a group of women’s advocates in The Bahamas, United States and Canada that supports women’s rights”.

The contact numbers for Celebrating Women International just rang out yesterday when called

by Tribune Business, and there is nothing to suggest its senior management, owners, sponsors or backers have done anything wrong in relation to the case before the Bahamian courts.

The website contains numerous photographs featuring Patricia Minnis, the prime minister’s wife, and then-governor general Lady Pindling, along with other members of Nassau high society at various dinners and award ceremonies.

And one photograph on its home page, of a book signing at Government House involving Princess Michael of Kent, from the UK, appears to capture Mr King standing directly behind Lady Pindling.

Tribune Business contacts who know Mr King confirmed his identity from the picture, although that does not necessarily prove a connection between him and Celebrity Women International.

The website also lists a corporate “who’s who” as Celebrity Women International’s “sponsors”. They range from the National Insurance Board (NIB) and Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) to the likes of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the ALIV mobile operator and Sun Oil (FOCOL Holdings).

Celebrity Women International, which said it was founded in 2013, described itself to The Tribune one year later as a non-profit organisation which aims to “mobilise and inspire women across the globe, to honour, recognise and celebrate the contributions of women, leveraging their untapped leadership capabilities in order for them to thrive in the world so that they can lead productive lives”.

Its website talks of creating “a virtual Celebrating Woman Worldwide Centre and Hall of Honour starting in 2020”, adding: “Celebrating Woman International will also focus on leveraging women’s untapped leadership capabilities, with a goal of not only building community across cultures, but also creating and sustaining a unique global education initiative for individuals of all walks of life.”

Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office is also seeking to overturn

on appeal the October 23, 2019, ruling by Justice Grant-Thompson where she discharged the restraining order placed on funds in two Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) accounts in the names of Jonathan Reid, David Valdez-Lopez, Anthony Albert Allens, Greg Harry Smith, Celebrating Women International and CWI International.

The judge also found the freeze had breached Mr King and Celebrating Women International’s constitutional rights, and awarded them damages and costs - which is the subject of the Attorney General’s Office’s appeal.

It is urging that the restraining order be reimposed on the $1.511m, which has now been transferred from RBC to Monique VA Gomez & Company’s client account at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas), as well as the constitutional violations be set aside.

Setting out the grounds of its appeal, the Attorney General’s Office argued that no evidence had been presented to show the funds were derived from “legitimate” activities and the judge had failed to consider the removal of the freeze may “completely dissipate the funds”.

It also alleged that the judge had failed to distinguish between the US MLAT request and “domestic police criminal proceedings”, basing her ruling on the latter and not the pleadings before her.

Justice Grant-Thompson also found “the nexus.... between the fraudulent funds in the Boeing scheme from Sun Trust Bank and the Celebrating Women International account at RBC was tenuous at best”.

However, the Attorney General’s Office said there was a clear paper trail showing the funds moving from the Sun Trust account in Atlanta to the RBC accounts in the name of Celebrating Women International over the 2016 New Year period.

Justice Grant-Thompson also found that the alleged fraud’s perpetrator had not been identified, and that the whole affair was a fishing expedition. However, the Attorney General’s Office argued the US had “provided bank statements in the name of Celebrating Women International, in whose bank account Boeing’s funds were deposited, albeit the identity of the beneficial owner was elusive”.

abandoning his call made in Tribune Business just a few weeks ago for industrial harmony to prevail amid The Bahamas’ fight to provide jobs and income amid the ongoing pandemic.

The TUC chief countered yesterday by arguing that peaceful industrial relations was a two-way street, and employers needed to be just as forthcoming, open and willing to negotiate and dialogue as the unions if disputes and industrial action is to be avoided.

“No one is saying that in difficult times what we agreed to, we may have

to relax having regard for the situation,” Mr Ferguson told Tribune Business.

“What we’re saying is that if it’s going to be an issue, and the union is the bargaining agent, invite discussions on relaxing what we agreed to, and how best to address it, for the interests of the workers and the interests of the employer.

“If you put a man up against a wall, and he has to protect himself, he has to come forward and anything can happen. It can take on a life of its own and you may end up where you don’t want to. We appreciate the COVID-19 environment and the state of the economy; the impact it has had.

That doesn’t mean you must disrespect the union.

“I’m not excited about industrial action at this time. I made that very clear, but there must be mutual respect for the employer, mutual respect for the employee and whenever an issue arises there’s not a unilateral decision. I’m very concerned. Things could get out of hand.”

Many Bahamian workers rely on their annual Christmas bonus to finance present and gift shopping, and purchases of holiday food. However, many employers will likely not be in a position to afford them, or at least the normal amount, this year due to the financial blows inflicted by COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns, curfews and other restrictions.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 21

Harbour Island developer gives claims the BIRD FROM PAGE 24 to the DEPP that 4M, which is developing the Briland Residences and Marina project, was proceeding without the necessary permits and had also failed to install the necessary turbidity curtains to prevent soil and silt runoff from fouling the water.

Contacted by Rochelle Newbold, the DEPP’s director, for an explanation, Mr Wiener said his contractors were proceeding under the existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and already-granted permits to install boulders that

but will confirm tomorrow, that nothing has been ‘excavated’, that all that has occurred is the placement of rock revetment along the shoreline.

“As always, I invite an onsite inspection. Ironically, during the litigation they complained that we had not installed the rock revetment, and now that we have they are complaining about that as well.”

Mr Wiener then alleged: “ It is my opinion this is part of the ‘opposition’s’ attempt to galvanise financial support for their ongoing efforts to stop the project. They are being served with a demand for attorneys fees - a bill of particulars - in our favour.

I am aware that they have circulated the same information to their supporters

would protect against shoreline erosion.

Emphasising that no excavation was being carried out, as alleged by BIRD, he added that there was no need for a turbidity curtain as a result. “I believe this is more of the same. I will speak with my contractor and construction manager, and respond tomorrow,” Mr Wiener responded to Mrs Newbold.

“To my knowledge they are not doing anything other than what has been approved per the original EIA and the approved permitted plans. I believe,

with a request for additional funding.”

BIRD has launched at least two Judicial Review actions in a bid to challenge the permits and statutory processes that Mr Wiener has used to proceed with his project. In its statement yesterday, the Association alleged: “BIRD and other concerned residents and visitors to Harbour Island have watched with dismay as the developers of the 4M marina project have expanded the area of excavation and construction without consulting the public, and without obtaining the approvals required by the Environmental Planning and Protection Act. “The developer of the 4M Briland Marina project has been openly excavating

the iron shore for the past three days. Locals and residences have watched 4M incredulously scrape and excavate the shoreline south of the marina development; the property and area that the DEPP announced they received an EIA for on December 3.

“The same document was posted a day later on Friday to the 4M website. This document makes it clear which areas of the development are under consultation, and which EIAs apply to which aspects of the project.... Our assumption is that environmental clearance would not have been issued as of yet, but for some reason from Monday (three days after the public were notified of the planned meeting) roughly 300 feet of coastline

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 71° F/22° C Low: 56° F/13° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Periods of clouds and sunshine

Patchy clouds

Partly sunny and nice

Partly sunny and pleasant

Partly sunny and pleasant

Partly sunny, maybe a shower

High: 77°

Low: 70°

High: 79° Low: 69°

High: 80° Low: 69°

High: 81° Low: 66°

High: 78° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

77° F

68° F

83°-71° F

89°-75° F

89°-68° F

85°-73° F

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 58° F/14° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

7-14 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 75° F/24° C Low: 67° F/19° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 76° F/24° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

S

E

W

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 68° F/20° C

MIAMI

High: 75° F/24° C Low: 69° F/21° C

7-14 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 72° F/22° C Low .................................................... 54° F/12° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 67.20” Normal year to date ................................... 38.92”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 70° F/21° C

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

tiDes For nassau High

E

W

8-16 knots

S

8-16 knots

Low

Ht.(ft.)

4:23 a.m.

4:39 p.m.

3.1 2.7

10:47 a.m. -0.1 10:53 p.m. -0.6

Saturday

5:19 a.m.

5:36 p.m.

3.3 2.7

11:46 a.m. -0.3 11:46 p.m. -0.8

Sunday

6:12 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

3.5 2.7

12:41 p.m. -0.5 ---------

Monday

7:04 a.m.

7:23 p.m.

3.6 2.6

12:38 a.m. -0.9 1:34 p.m. -0.6

Tuesday

7:55 a.m.

8:16 p.m.

3.5 2.6

1:30 a.m. -0.9 2:26 p.m. -0.6

Wednesday 8:46 a.m.

9:08 p.m.

3.5 2.5

2:21 a.m. -0.8 3:17 p.m. -0.5

Thursday

3.3 2.4

3:12 a.m. -0.6 4:08 p.m. -0.4

9:36 a.m.

10:00 p.m.

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:45 a.m.

5:22 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

3:17 a.m.

3:01 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Dec. 14

Dec. 21

Dec. 29

Jan. 6

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

H

Ht.(ft.)

Today

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C

N

S

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

uV inDex toDay

CAT ISLAND

E

W

has been excavated.”

BIRD alleged that up to 75 percent of the rocky shoreline covered by the current consultation has been “scraped and removed”, with “many cubic feet of dredge material piled on the site again without consultation or mention within the document released on Friday last”.

It asked the DEPP chief: “What is the point of all of this consultation if 4M intend to do what they want anyway? It should be noted that the principal of the company moved his yacht to the construction site on Tuesday evening, and thus likely has knowledge of these activities. This marks a long trend for this company in which they present one thing to the public but then do another.”

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

H

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

8-16 knots

10-20 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:

WINDS E at 6-12 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots E at 8-16 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots E at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 8-16 Knots

WAVES 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 4-7 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 77° F 74° F 72° F 79° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 78° F 75° F 74° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 78° F

PAGE 22, Friday, December 11, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

GAS STATIONS SEE 75% JITNEYS ESTIMATE FARE IN-STORE SALES PLUNGE REVENUE DOWN 70%

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net JITNEY drivers yesterday estimated that fare revenue is down 70 percent year-over-year due to a combination of low economic activity, high unemployment and COVID restrictions on passenger numbers.

Harrison Moxey, the United Public Transportation Company’s (UPTC) president, told Tribune Business: “There is not much movement. We are down by 70 percent in sales aside from one or two routes like 16A and 15, which may see a return.

The Cable Beach route is a disaster.

“We are operating at half capacity. The schools are closed and children aren’t moving, so all of that factors into the movement.

Rudolph Taylor, the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union’s (BUDU) president, added: “Things are slow.

People aren’t moving like that, so things are very slow.”

He said jitney drivers are not making a profit because it is “hard on the road”, and the volume of passengers is not anywhere near preCOVID-19 levels “so the funds are not there for the jitney drivers”.

“I’d say we are down by 50 percent from last year because the road is real slow,” Mr Taylor added.

“Some of the busses have not even come back on the road because they refuse to come back during this slow period. School is closed and many people are still out of work.”

Jitney drivers requested a fare increase from $1.25 to $2 at the height of the pandemic earlier this year, but this was rejected by the government. However, Mr Moxey yesterday reiterated: “We need that increase.

“The government is holding back on that, but we are

going to need that for the busses to get back in shape.

There is no feedback and we are only sharing sip-sip, so we will be petitioning hard for it in the New Year.

This is very important to our survival.”

While positive over December’s re-opening of the major resorts, and hoping this will drive more passengers to use public transportation Mr Taylor added: “I can’t say how it will affect us because I don’t know what Atlantis opening up will be like, but I hope it does go well because some of their workers use the busses, so I hope it is for the positive.”

Echoing this view, Mr Moxey said: “We hope for January that we will have full capacity. We have been managing pretty well, but we are looking for the hotels to add to the public transportation. We have to build that public confidence in ridership, so there are a lot of things we have to look at.”

As for the COVID-19 protocols on the busses, Mr Taylor said: “Controlling the passengers is straightforward and it is not a problem. We have a sign on our busses, so no mask, no entry. People look forward for the spray in their hand or seeing the various machines on the busses, and they go to it.”

Estimating that up to 20 percent of bus drivers did not resume services back in August for fear there would be insufficient business to cover their costs, he added that those drivers on the road have faithful customers that depend on them daily.

UNIQUE VACATIONS LIMITED VACANCY Data Protection Manager

In this role, you will work closely with the Legal, Compliance, Public Policy, and Information Security functions to develop and monitor policies and standards applicable to the business and in compliance with the EU - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the U.S. - California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), the Canadian - Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and other applicable worldwide data privacy regulations. Duties will include: • Working with key internal stakeholders in the review of projects and related data to ensure compliance with applicable data privacy laws, and where necessary, complete and advise on data privacy impact assessments.

• Serving as the primary point of contact for queries in the business.

• Reviewing vendor contracts and privacy policies when necessary.

• Participating in the [Data Privacy / Information Governance] Committee.

• Monitoring changes to applicable global privacy laws and making recommendations to the Data Privacy Compliance Team and the Data Privacy Information Governance Committee when appropriate.

• Setting standards and reviewing policies and procedures globally that meet the requirements under the GDPR, CCPA and any localization requirements in countries of operation.

• Developing and delivering privacy training to various business functions.

• Coordinating and conducting data privacy audits.

• Collaborating with the Information Security function(s) to raise employee awareness of data privacy and security issues and providing training on the subject matter.

• Collaborating with the Information Security function(s) to maintain records of all data assets and exports and maintaining a data security incident management plan to ensure timely remediation of incidents including impact assessments, security breach response, complaints, claims or notifications, and responding to subject access requests (SARs).

• Ensuring that the Company’s IT systems and procedures comply with all relevant data privacy and protection law, regulation, and policy (including in relation to the retention and destruction of data).

Working with designated privacy law attorneys across the Company’s offices and, where necessary, outside counsel to help advise on local data privacy law issues.

• Promoting effective work practices, working as a team member, and showing respect for co-workers.

Requirements: • Hold at least one Data Protection and/or Privacy certification such as, CIPP, CIPT, ISEB, etc., (preferred).

• Experience: 1-year PQE experience required.

• Experience in US and/or EU data privacy laws.

• 1-year experience within a compliance, legal, audit and/or risk function, with recent experience in privacy compliance.

• Experience in developing policy and compliance training.

• Strong knowledge of EU data privacy and data protection regulation, and a good understanding of other major privacy frameworks and evolving legislation worldwide.

• Sufficient knowledge of information technology and data management systems required.

• Well-developed and professional interpersonal skills; ability to interact

effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm.

• Experience of working in a large, global organization • Ability to work unsupervised, exercise leadership, and influence change.

• Excellent writing and presentation skills.

• Strong change and project management skills, including the ability to manage time well, prioritize effectively, and handle multiple deadlines.

• Ability to undertake large, long-term projects, develop alternative methods to complete them, and implement solutions.

• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion when making majority of decisions.

• Detail-oriented approach needed to recommend and implement strategic improvements on a range of data privacy and data protection issues.

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.

• Knowledge of PC applications, including MS Office.

Interested persons should upload their resumes by Friday, December 18th, 2020 to https://sandals.sharefile.com/r-r2007077085fd4ed

GAS station operators yesterday said in-store retail sales are down by up to 75 percent compared to pre-COVID levels due to weak consumer spending amid the pandemic’s economic fall-out.

Vasco Bastian, owner/ operator of the Esso station at the East Street/Soldier Road junction, told Tribune Business: “Nothing has changed because people are still not working. It was 80,000 persons unemployed the last time I checked.

“There is no money circulating, so there is no disposable income for persons to spend to come to the gas stations. So either they come for the fuel or they come inside briefly, and then they leave. In store sales are down by 75 percent.

Mr Bastian added: “This is better than nothing, because at the end of the day every little dollar helps. It is not back to preCOVID-19 status but I am grateful for what we have.

Those numbers before COVID-19 won’t happen until people are back to work and taxi drivers start moving around and coming

in late at night. We aren’t making any money; we just have it open to say we that are open.

“Not being open 24 hours has impacted our business.

Those additional operating hours, we have lost that. So if persons wanted something from the inside at the late hours, we are closed.” Mr Bastian, though conceded that even if gas stations were able to open for 24 hours it would make little difference to their financial health due to the high jobless rate and reduced incomes.

“People that used to fill up their cars are only putting in $20 now,” Mr Bastian said. “People that used to get $20 are now only getting $5, and it is a direct reflection on the state of the country. Every dollar we appreciate from our customers. We want them to come back and spend their money, but they can’t right now and we understand.”

Vowing not to give up, Mr Bastian said he was for the “long haul”. He added: “We are committed to our staff. We ensured that we kept our employees on staff, so we aren’t worried about the Christmas season because we lasted for ten months so far. Another few weeks won’t be anything

significant. We just have to keep the faith.”

Retail sales allow gas station operators to earn a higher margin on certain products when compared to the price-controlled, fixed margin gasoline and diesel sales.

Sending a warning to the government, Mr Bastian said: “We need to sit down with the minister of finance and reverse our fixed margin arrangement on gas and diesel to a percentage-based formula that ties into the cost of fuel as fuel increases.

“That means if our margins increase, and if fuel declines, we can still remain profitable. The current model being used in The Bahamas is a model that is outdated. It is not a model one should be using in this industry.

“We also want the government to stop charging gas stations [business licence fees based] on gross turnover, because as it is now if you gross $1m in sales and only make $100 in profit they are going to charge you on the gross sales. That is wrong. You cannot charge gas stations on gross turnover for their business license. It is just wrong.”

Bahamians urged: ‘Avoid the mad Christmas dash’

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIANS were yesterday urged to “avoid the mad dash and start shopping early” as more merchants join an initiative to drive increased Christmas purchases locally.

Alannah van Onselen, the ShopLocal initiative’s director, told Tribune Business the effort was faring “really well” with the initial marketing campaign.

She added: “We’ve got good momentum going.

We’ve got now a total of 55 businesses who are members, which is great, and we are looking for more members.”

The ShopLocal initiative was launched last month by the Bahamas Federation of Retailers (BFR) and several corporate partners, including the Nassau Cruise Port and the Bahamas Light Industries Development Council, in a bid to

encourage Bahamians to shop locally this holiday season and provide a badlyneeded boost to merchants still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses that join ShopLocal have access to joint marketing programmes as well as the branding that comes with the campaign. Companies that sign up will also receive a video that showcases and “tells the story” about their business for use in further marketing campaigns by ShopLocal.

Ms Onselen also said: “The bigger the movement, the better and the more members we have, the longer we can keep it going.

Christmas season is upon us. So a good reminder of shopping at home and the importance of it to everyone would be great.”

“What would be great is encouraging Bahamians to start shopping now, because that last rush is going to make it very

difficult. There’s going to be lines, especially when we’re trying to keep everybody adhering to the COVID19 protocol. So we want to encourage people not to get caught, and start shopping early so that it doesn’t turn into a mad dash.”

Ms Onselen said ShopLocal has developed a social media presence, and she can see the interaction between potential customers and her members online. “I can see that people are talking about it. It’s a conversation on social media. People are reposting things that we’re doing. I think that there is a there is a large majority of people who are making the effort to shop at home in support,” she added.

“The more people that join on, the better, the larger, the stronger the message, and the more people that spread the message.

The whole aim of the campaign is to educate the Bahamian consumer.”

Labour specialists back jobless benefits extend

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net LABOUR leaders yesterday praised the government’s decision to extension unemployment benefits to end-January 2021 as the correct approach given multiple COVID-19 uncertainties.

John Pinder, director of labour, told Tribune Business the move was the “appropriate thing to do because the government extended the emergency orders up until December.

For the four weeks after the end of the emergency period, the employer could determine whether or not they want to make the employees redundant. So it would be good if those employees could get some money during the interim”.

The government-funded unemployment benefit has been extended several times after the tourism industry’s post-COVID-19 re-opening was repeatedly delayed.

However, yesterday’s Atlantis re-opening brought 2,500 staff out of a 7,5008,000 total back to work, while around 1,800 Baha

JOHN PINDER

PETER GOUDIE

Mar employees will return on December 17. This means 4,300 hotel staff will be back at work shortly.

Peter Goudie, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) labour specialist, said of the benefits extension: “I think it’s great because then all of those businesses don’t have to make people redundant.

With Atlantis opening it is great news. I am very, very hopeful. It also gives people some income that they would not have. We are in tough times.”

“What the employers are saying is that they hope that, with the large hotels

opening up before the end of this month, hopefully things will start coming and they will get their people back to work. I just don’t know how many businesses will be able to come back to the market. We will have to see.

“I know some people in [the Atlantis] marina village that are opening up today.

The others who have survived, they are just waiting for something to happen.

I know of one business in Marina Village that will open today for half a day for the rest of the month of December or until they see how much business there is.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, December 11, 2020, PAGE 23

How to thrive post COVID-19

T

HIS week’s reopening of The Bahamas’ major resort properties, coupled with the latest developments surrounding a COVID-19 vaccine, mean many are beginning to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel. The positive stirring in the world’s economic environment may signal it is time to adjust to new customer needs.

To make the most of this time, you may need to change your marketing methods or business investments. This column today provides seven tips for small businesses seeking to thrive anew as we hopefully start to close the book on COVID-19.

Limit your talk of COVID-19 Many customers are getting tired of constantly hearing from businesses about their response to COVID-19. As companies begin to re-open in earnest, you must figure out how to adjust to the present reality without contributing to this type of psychological burnout.

Ramp up your marketing efforts Even though customer traffic may be picking up, COVID-19’s economic impact is likely to continue well beyond your company’s grand re-opening date.

This may cause some businesses to consider cutting their advertising budgets, yet it may actually be the

perfect time to increase your investment. Extraordinary times may call for a change in your marketing tactics.

Make smart investments For businesses that still have some cash on hand as they recover from the pandemic, it may be the perfect time to invest. But how should you spend that capital? Training and retraining your team might also prove a wise investment at this juncture.

Increase operational efficiency Many small businesses have lost significant income in recent months, so you may need to make adjustments as you ramp operations back up. For example, increasing

BTC gives back at Thanksgiving THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has aided a number of community organisations to enable them to provide assistance to Bahamians in need.

The organisations receiving BTC’s assistance include the South Andros Senior Citizens Home, Great Commission Ministries and the Sister/Sister Breast Cancer Support Group.

Garfield “Garry” Sinclair, BTC’s chief executive, said: “BTC is inextricably bound up with the Bahamian people, so giving back is simply a natural part of who we are and what we do. This year continues to be challenging for so many, so we will continue to give back to our communities precisely when they need us most.

“This Thanksgiving, we were happy to provide donations to the South Andros Senior Citizens Home, Great Commission Ministries and the Sister/ Sister Breast Cancer Support Group.”

The South Andros Senior

GARFIELD SINCLAIR Citizens home provides care for elderly persons from across the country. Rev JW Pratt, the home’s president, said: “Many thanks goes to BTC, an exceptional company who has supported the South Andros Senior Citizens home over the years.

We appreciate all that BTC continues to do. Your thoughtfulness is a gift that we will always treasure.”

Andrea Sweeting, the Sister/Sister Breast Cancer Support Group’s president, said: “We extend a gracious thank you to BTC for your donation, which will assist us with continuing to provide portacaths for those

who are unable to purchase devices to begin their treatment. Because of your generosity, we are able to assist our community.”

Bishop Walter Hanchell, chairman of Great Commission Ministries, added: “Your continued contributions are timely and allow us to assist many persons who have lost their jobs and are experiencing extreme financial challenges due to the pandemic.

“We are grateful to BTC for its partnership in our various feeding programmes. We serve over 300 meals each day, which includes delivery to the shut-in and distribution of food packages.”

efficiency may be more important than ever as you strive to do more with less.

Trim the fat and learn to do more with less.

Learn from your competitors There is much to be learned about navigating uncertain times for businesses and other organisations. Believe it or not, there are many companies in your sector that are still thriving and defeating the odds stacked against them.

Learn their playbook and copy as much as you can.

Establish an emergency fund If the pandemic has not demonstrated the importance of keeping emergency cash reserves on hand, nothing will. The rainy day fund

ROBERT FARQURAHSON THE National Tripartite Council (NTC) presented recommendations for addressing workplace violence and harassment to the government yesterday in recognition of Human Rights Day. The council held a press

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conference at the National Training Agency (NTA) and presented the recommendations to permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Deveaux-Isaacs. This year’s theme, for the 75th anniversary of Human Rights Day,

is Recover better – stand up for human rights.

Robert Farqurahson, the National Tripartite Council’s chair, and Mr Deveaux-Isaacs are pictured.

Photos: Kristaan Ingraham/BIS

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Union tensions rising on Xmas bonus cuts

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A

TRADE union leader yesterday blasted that it was “pure disrespect” for employers not to consult over cutting contractually-agreed Christmas bonuses as industrial tensions continued to rise.

Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, told Tribune Business that private sector employers were now following the public sector’s lead in “unilaterally varying” the terms of valid industrial agreements by seeking to either cut or not pay Christmas bonuses that are included in the terms of those deals.

Revealing that Restaurants Bahamas, the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise operator, was seeking to reduce Christmas bonuses as it seeks to reduce expenses amid COVID-19’s economic devastation, Mr Ferguson said trade unions were not opposed to this but, rather, the way it was being done.

A representative for Restaurants Bahamas, whose ultimate principal if George Myers, said a response to the TUC chief would be

• TUC chief says ‘pure disrespect’ not to consult • Adds KFC another firm where issue emerged • Fears could ‘get out of hand’, ‘interesting holiday’

OBIE FERGUSON released today. Mr Ferguson, meanwhile, warned it would be “an interesting holiday” if employers failed to discuss with unions in advance any plans to not pay bonuses that are included as part of industrial agreements.

The issue first emerged at the Water & Sewerage Corporation, where the line and management unions are now threatening industrial action after the utility said it simply cannot afford to pay holiday businesses following COVID-19’s financial hit, and Mr Ferguson told this newspaper: “There are a number of other organisations not paying the

Harbour Island developer gives claims the BIRD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A HARBOUR Island developer last night denied excavating without proper permits as he accused opponents of complaining about the very activity they complained he had failed to do just weeks before.

Michael Wiener, principal of 4M Harbour Island, told government regulators that the accusations against him were “more of the same” from members of the Br-Island Responsible Development Association (BIRD) who have been

determined to halt his development via a series of court actions.

The developer pushed back after BIRD members complained to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) that he was excavating in an area where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had just been submitted to the government, and issued for public release, ahead of a December 18, 2020, town planning meeting on the issue.

Allegations were made

SEE PAGE 21

AML Foods shrugs off pandemic with $7m profits swing

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AML Foods has received a further $2m boost from Hurricane Dorian insurance recoveries as it posted a more than $1.6m bottom line reversal into the black for its just-ended 2021 second quarter.

The BISX-listed food retail and franchise group, shrugging off the impact from Dorian and COVID19 as an “essential” business, said it had also restructured some $1.1m of its existing $9m preference share debt into a new “class” where holders will receive interestonly payments until 2025.

“During the quarter, the company restructured its existing preference debt to allow for an interest only period until 2025. Preference shareholders who participated in the restructure were moved to a new Class E,” AML Foods financial results said.

“Preference shareholders who opted not to participate in the restructuring will continue to receive annual principal payments in accordance with their Class C or Class D terms. A total of $1.1m preference shares were restructured and transferred to class E.”

SEE PAGE 19

Christmas bonus as they are contracted to do.

“One is Restaurant Bahamas Ltd, better known as KFC. There seems to be an issue with them. The contract there provides for two-and-a-half weeks Christmas bonus, and a ham or turkey. The company has indicated it would only pay one week and a voucher for $40.”

Mr Ferguson said KFC’s 42 middle-managers, who are part of the Bahamas Hotel and Managerial Association’s (BHMA) bargaining unit, would typically receive a collective $61,000 Christmas bonus and around $4,000 to cover hams and turkeys.

He added that the BHMA, and unions in general, were not opposed to Christmas bonus cuts given the financial realities imposed on their employers by the pandemic, but argued that the issue needed to be discussed with the recognised bargaining agent first prior to a unilateral decision being taken and the members informed.

“One of the major problems we have with employers is they need to discuss these things with the union prior to communicating to the bargaining unit unilaterally. It’s not so much the issue as the way they go about doing it,” Mr Ferguson argued. “In the case of Restaurant Bahamas, and in the case of the Water & Sewerage Corporation, the changes were made without consultation.

“The unions are not diametrically opposed to this, but it’s complete disrespect for the industrial agreement. It’s creating problems.

It’s not that we don’t want to work with employers in the environment in which we now live in. One has to recognise the economy is not what it used to be.”

Mr Ferguson said he was only informed about KFC’s plans to cut the Christmas bonus for the BHMA members on December 3, some 12 days before it was stipulated to be paid on

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Oil drilling shows green economy is ‘lip service’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ACTIVISTS yesterday argued The Bahamas is “paying lip service to the green and blue economy” in response to charges they have exposed their “true agenda” by seeking to block oil exploration.

Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), firing back at the Judicial Review challenge initiated by Waterkeepers Bahamas and the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay, sought to reassure shareholders that its first well will move ahead as planned by asserting “there should be no legal impediment” to its plans.

SIMON POTTER Simon Potter, BPC’s chief executive, in a statement to the stock market argued that the environmental activists had shown their “true agenda” by waiting until the last-minute - just one week before the Stena IceMAX drill ship arrives in The Bahamas - to seek to halt the

SEE PAGE 19

Women’s advocacy group added to $1.5m ‘fraud’ case

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMAS-based women’s rights advocacy group has been added as a “respondent” in a legal battle over $1.5m alleged to have been derived from an international fraud.

The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous ruling yesterday, agreed that Celebrating Women International Ltd should be joined to a case that also involves flamboyant “philanthropist”,

Rudolph Kermit King, pictured, and an investigation by the US Justice Department.

Mr King has been seeking

SEE PAGE 20