12142021 BUSINESS AND FEATURES

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021

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‘We’re not taking VAT change sitting down’ • Polymers fears for competitiveness, Bahamas presence • Manufacturer says ‘might as well be in US’ on status loss • GB Chamber chief urges Gov’t to ‘reverse’ VAT treatment

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT manufacturer yesterday warned its competitiveness will be undermined, and presence in The Bahamas endangered, by VAT reforms that have seemingly removed its ‘zero rated’ status. Greg Ebelhar, Polymers International’s chief operating

officer, told Tribune Business it is “not going to take this sitting down” given that the inability to recover, or offset, its VAT ‘input’ costs from January 1 will generate a significant cost increase for a business that operates on relatively thin margins. Disclosing that the company has been unable to-date to obtain clarity from the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR)

on whether its VAT ‘treatment’ has changed, he said it was working with its attorneys to determine the precise impact, but added: “If they keep adding taxes I might as well be in the US.” Mr Ebelhar, confirming that the loss of ‘zero rating’ status would threaten Polymers’ continued presence in The Bahamas, also bemoaned the lack of warning and consultation with the private sector before the reforms were introduced via the VAT (Amendment) (No.2) Bill. The Bill, which has been passed by both houses of Parliament and now awaits the Governor-General’s signature to become law, “came out of the dark”, Mr Ebelhar argued, while adding: “The ease of doing business did not get any easier”.

$5.44 The Davis administration has sought to reduce VAT ‘zero ratings’ and ‘exemptions’ to the bare minimum as part of its strategy to cut the levy to 10 percent, and revert to a lower rate, broad-based structure for the Government’s main revenue earner. However, when the last PLP government first introduced VAT at the then-7.5 percent, export activities - such as Polymers’ expandable polystyrene (EPS) products - were among the few to be ‘zero rated’ as a stimulus to what were viewed as valuable sources of foreign exchange earnings for The Bahamas. VAT ‘zero rating’ allows the recipients of such treatments to avoid having to charge the tax to their consumers, while also

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‘Don’t rest on laurels’ over yachting registry • Marina chief: Change ‘22%’ tax rate to compete • Says Bahamas losing out to Jamaica, Cayman • Nation already ‘losing edge’ gained in COVID By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas must reform its tax structure to become a competitive flag state for yachts, a marina operator urged yesterday, adding: “We cannot afford to rest on our laurels.” Peter Maury, the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) president, told Tribune Business that many of the vessels spending “most of their time in The Bahamas” are flagged in rival Caribbean territories such as Jamaica and the Cayman Islands because they are deterred from using this nation. He explained that this was due to a taxation structure that levies “onetime” 10 percent duty, plus 12 percent VAT (soon to be 10 percent), on yachts and boats coming into The Bahamas to be registered. Few vessel owners, Mr Maury argued, wanted

to pay an effective 22 percent tax rate that would see $2.2m levied on a $10m boat. Asserting that this was money The Bahamas is not collecting anyway, the ABM principal instead argued that these taxes be eliminated in favour of, as an example, a $5,000 annual registration fee that would raise a collective $5m annually for the Public Treasury were 1,000 boats to be attracted to this nation’s flag. Mr Maury said the fiscal and economic benefits from establishing a more appealing yacht registry would extend to company incorporations and fees, as most yacht owners create companies to hold their vessels as a means to limit liabilities, creating additional work streams for the likes of attorneys and accountants. Bahamians, he added, could also start their own yacht charter broking

STENA ICEMAXX DRILL SHIP

Bahamas oil well creditors accept 84% debt hair-cut By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net CREDITORS owed a collective $11.3m for the drilling of an exploratory oil well in The Bahamas have agreed to accept a near-84 percent haircut on this debt, it was revealed yesterday. Challenger Energy Group, the former Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), in a statement to the capital markets said contractors, vendors and

• Agree $2m settlement on $11.3m owed • Quiet over licence renewals, Gov’t fees • ‘Top-up’ possible for Bahamas insurance others that provided services to facilitate the drilling of its Perseverance One well in waters 90 miles west of Andros have agreed to accept a $2m

settlement on what is collectively owed to them. “All remaining creditors from the drilling of the Perseverance One well in The Bahamas in

early 2021 (approximately $11.3m) have agreed to be settled for total payment of approximately $2m in cash, of which approximately $0.6m has been paid todate,” Challenger said. It added that “the remaining balance of approximately $1.4m [is] payable by January 31, 2022, to reduce the total of remaining Perseverance One creditors to nil. Payment of this remaining balance is to be funded from new capital to the

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‘Aggressively advance’ yacht registry, says AG

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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GREG LARODA

the import duty and VAT relief seen as vital to aiding rebuilding efforts will continue. “I think that one is very important,” he said of the Special Economic Recovery Zones’ continuation in Grand Bahama and Abaco. “I believe most persons on both Grand Bahama and Abaco are hoping it will be like a foregone conclusion. “We’re still in a situation where, because of the downturn in the economy, a lot of folks do not have the funds to take

THE Bahamas must “aggressively advance” the building of a yacht registry to capture a greater share of the business that passes through its waters annually, the attorney general said RYAN PINDER yesterday. Ryan Pinder, addressing the Senate on the Merchant Shipping Bill, argued that The Bahamas must exploit its maritime expertise and history to develop a registry attractive to a lucrative and rapidly expanding global market (see other article on Page 1B). “We as a country are global leaders in ship registration. Our flag is respected worldwide and envied by many. This experience and expertise must be advanced aggressively to build our yacht registry,” he asserted.

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KEN HUTTON

Gov’t ‘running out of time’ on extending Dorian relief By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday voiced concern that the Government is “running out of time” to clarify if the Dorian tax breaks will be extended beyond year-end. Greg Laroda told Tribune Business that December is almost “half-way gone” yet there has been no official confirmation by the Davis administration - despite repeated verbal assurances - that

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DPM: ANNOUNCEMENT ON GRAND LUCAYAN ‘FIX’ SOON THE deputy prime minister says the Government is working to “fix” the Grand Lucayan and an announcement on the way forward may come soon. Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, while speaking at a concert event held at the resort, pledged that the Davis administration will do everything it can to ensure a positive outcome for Grand Bahama’s so-called ‘anchor property’. “We will do whatever is necessary to ensure we are back in business here at Our Lucaya,” he said. Since its election on September 16, 2021, the new government has been engaged in talks with prospective purchaser, the ITM Group/Royal Caribbean joint venture, in a bid to move forward on what Mr Cooper has repeatedly termed “a bad deal”. The deputy prime minister has yet to provide any details or specifics on the negotiations, although he dismissed as “false” suggestions that the deal with ITM Group/Royal Caribbean was off the table and will not proceed.

He also denied suggestions made to Tribune Business that the Government has been seeking to line up an alternative solution for the Grand Lucayan via a private-public partnership with the Hard Rock brand, which would see the latter operate and manage the resort, and the two sides split the profits. Ian Rolle, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) president, last week said ITM/Royal Caribbean were close to an agreement with the Hutchison Whampoa-controlled Freeport Harbour Company for the expansion of cruise berths and addition of an adventure-based water theme park. Dionisio D’Aguilar, former minister of tourism and aviation, said in August 2021 that it was “extremely frustrating” that the Grand Lucayan’s sale continued to be delayed by the protracted wait for ITM/Royal Caribbean to close their separate deal with Freeport Harbour Company. He told Tribune Business that concluding negotiations over Freeport Harbour’s redevelopment

FOLLOWING the Bahamas Brass Band at the Our Lucaya on Saturday, December 11, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. I. Chester Cooper and Mrs. Cecilia Cooper (centre) had a photo opportunity with Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey and members of the band. The concert was held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Cooper. Also shown are Billy Dickenson, Assistant Band Director and his wife, Rochelle, along with Band Director Rev. Barry Morris and his wife, LaTique. Photo:Lisa Davis/BIS - including the addition of new cruise berths - was a “condition precedent” that must be satisfied before the joint venture will acquire the resort from the Government. “One of the main reasons this deal has not been able to come to a conclusion is there is a condition

precedent, and the condition precedent is for Royal Caribbean and Freeport Harbour Company to seal their deal, and that has not happened,” Mr D’Aguilar disclosed then to this newspaper. “Once that happens that triggers the ability to seal our deal. They want to get

their deal done to make sure they have a place to go. It’s extremely frustrating that Freeport Harbour Company and Royal Caribbean have taken this long to seal a deal. It’s obviously impacted our ability to conclude our negotiations with Royal Caribbean. We can negotiate all we want, but this is a condition precedent of theirs. “They don’t want to purchase the hotel and real estate, and buy into that, and end up not getting a deal at the port. They want to get that done. Clearly it’s frustrating that this has not concluded yet. We wanted it to conclude, but remain optimistic it’s going to happen,” the minister continued. “I’m advised they’re at the commas and colons stage of concluding their agreement, putting them in the right place. Hopefully it’s imminent. We’re ready to move forward, but are waiting for this condition precedent. We’re waiting for Freeport Harbour Company and Royal Caribbean to finalise their agreement. We’re almost ready to go, but nothing can move

forward until we see this agreement.” Mr Cooper, meanwhile, used the occasion of the Bahamas Brass Band Concert to outline ambitions for Grand Bahama to become a religious tourism destination. “It’s a signal that groups, events, weddings and all of those things Grand Bahama has been known for are coming back,” he said. “And it’s a signal, Grand Bahama, that God has not forgotten you. We will work to strengthen our tourism product in the east and west, and we will bring the charm and the heritage, we will strengthen and deepen the product here.” Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama, said: “I am excited about this religious tourism Initiative, which has attracted domestic and international tourists to the beautiful shores of Grand Bahama, and aligns with the Davis/Cooper administration’s plans to create a robust economy for our island with emphasis on culture and entertainment, as outlined in our Blueprint for Change.”

PORT DECLARES POTABLE WATER SUPPLY FULLY RESTORED TO GB THE Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) yesterday declared that a subsidiary has restored potable water supply to 100 percent of the island’s residents via its new $5m reverse osmosis plant. Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority, in a statement, said the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) had completed the necessary monitoring and other regulatory conditions to enable it to determine that potable water supplies have been fully restored to residents more than two years after Hurricane Dorian struck.

The GBPA, which regulates all Freeport-based utilities including the Grand Bahama Utility Company, said its environmental department had monitored the latter’s water supply for a 30-day period following the completion of its $5m reverse osmosis (RO) plant last month. Nakira Wilchcombe, the GBPA’s vice-president of building And development services, said: “This was done to ensure the system is functioning adequately, and meets the specifications prescribed by the World Health

GRAND Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) is excited to announce its state-of-the-art Reverse Osmosis (RO) plan.

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Organisation (WHO) for potable water. “Water potability means that the water supply filtered through the reverse osmosis system and being distributed in the community, has been treated and tested to ensure there is no more salt inundation and it is safe for human consumption. Residents are able to safely use the water for cooking, cleaning, bathing and drinking. “Now that 100 percent of the island has potable water, the GBPA said it will ensure the reverse osmosis system is maintained and fully functional to consistently provide fresh water to residents.” Philcher Grant, Grand Bahama Utility Company’s and chief operating officer, said: “Grand Bahamians and residents have experienced and overcome numerous challenges since Hurricane Dorian ravaged the island back in September 2019. “The Grand Bahama Utility Company team, along with Bahamas Hot Mix (BHM), the

contractor responsible for the construction and commissioning of the reverse osmosis facility, has continued working tirelessly to complete this project and now that potability is here, we can ensure our customers will have a reliable, potable water supply for years to come.” Ms Grant said it has been a “costly but rewarding journey” because of various setbacks due to COVID19 and supply chain issues. However, she added: “This is also a significant achievement for Grand Bahama Utility Company and its partners as the company continues to progress and invest in building back stronger and better to ensure its resiliency against climate change and future storms.” The utility was able to declare potability for 70 percent of the island in July 2020. It also absorbed the full financial impact while providing several amenities to residents in non-potable areas, such as the 25 percent discount on utility bills and

the water depots that provided free, potable water to residents located in those communities. Anastacia Rahming, utility relations supervisor, said that as Grand Bahama Utility Company embraces full potability, customers may notice several changes including the higher quality of the water; discontinuation of the current 25 percent discount; and the elimination of water depots. “We understand how difficult it can be for customers to bring their accounts up-to-date, so we are committed to providing payment plan options designed specifically for those needing help to manage and maintain their utility accounts,” she added. Grand Bahama Utility Company’s Christmas payment plans will grant customers the option to pay either 50 percent of their outstanding bill and the remainder over a six-month period, or pay in full and waive all interest fees for up to three years.

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JOBETH COLEBY-DAVIS, minister of transport and housing, is pictured with the newly-appointed Board members at the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation. Seated from right: Barbara Cartwright, chair; Mrs Coleby-Davis; and Germaine Bullard, deputy chair. Standing from L to R: Sean Bain; Ezra Pratt; Sauleene Smith; Corrington Burrows; Wanda Bonaby; Nival Miller; Taccara Wright; and Keith Seymour. The Board was officially introduced to the Corporation’s staff on Friday, December 10, 2021. Photos:Anthon Thompson

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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, PAGE 3

Retailer slams ‘unhelpful’ vendor permit changes By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN retailer yesterday voiced frustration at additional vendor permit requirements that he branded “unhelpful” to the ease of doing business. James Wallace, owner/ operator of Janaees Uniform Centre,

told Tribune Business he is tired of arbitrary policies that now require him to obtain a police character certificate before he can be issued with his vendor’s permit. “I’m trying to apply for a vendor’s permit that I have been getting for years. I am told that I need to get a police character certificate. That can’t be right,” he said. “That is the height of stupidity, it is an

impediment and it is absolutely ridiculous.” As per the Bahamas government’s policy on vendor permits, all that is required is for the person to be a citizen or permanent resident. They must also possess a vendor’s permit from the Ministry of Works. Applicants must have a valid piece of identification, a food handler’s certificate and a letter from the Department

of Environmental Health if they are handling food items; a valid Business License; and a letter from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). However, the business inspection and licensing section at the RBPF is now telling Mr Wallace he needs a police character certificate in order to get a vendor’s permit. Mr Wallace said this wastes too much time when

Building suppliers predict supply woes to mid-2022 By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net BUILDING materials providers yesterday predicted that global supply chain challenges will last well into mid-2022 but have prepared for the Christmas season early. Brent Burrows, CBS Bahamas (Commonwealth Building Supplies) president, told Tribune Business he has sufficient inventory and expects consumer traffic to pick up this coming weekend, which will carry him through until the New Year. “The biggest rates we have seen going up is the shipping rates, mainly inland freight and stuff like that. Then you have the huge delays. There is a huge trucking problem in Florida. A container that used to take two days to get here now takes us two weeks because they have no truckers,” he said.

CBS is expecting to receive its last Christmas container by the end of this week. However, trying to determine what will happen after the Christmas holidays is another matter. Mr Burrows added: “We’ve seen some categories get better, but to be quite honest, we don’t expect to see any ease up on the shipping delays until the middle of next year.” Anthony Roberts, City Lumber Yard’s general manager, added: “The plywood and lumber market is on the move again as pricing is starting to trend upwards.” Citing “inconsistencies” in the supply chain, with high prices in the early part of 2021 tapering off in the summer to early autumn before trending back up again, he added: “Sometimes we just have to wait and see if it will drop again, but things are holding high for right now. “I can’t say if customers are absorbing the price yet because this is still new. It

usually takes a week or two before it filters down here when everyone’s imports start arriving, not unlike what happened earlier this year. It’s not a whole lot of choices; you don’t really get to shop for a price. These days it’s a matter of if they have it or they don’t.” Expecting these supply shortages to last into 2022 is something everyone should brace for,” Mr Roberts said. “I know I’ve had suppliers tell me to expect difficulties in receiving goods going into the first and second quarter of next year. Based on what’s been happening locally, and what I’m hearing in the US, I think this market will stay very strong going into next year,” he added. “It’s been a rather mild winter in the north-east so far. So for the most part construction is ongoing up there. Typically if you get a lot of storms that hits the brakes and slows demand down a bit, but right now everything still seems to be moving.”

he did not have to get one before. “Now I have to stand on a long line and wait a few days in order to get a police certificate. This is unhelpful for the ease of doing business,” he added. Antonio Munroe, superintendent in charge of the RBPF’s business inspection and licensing section, told Tribune Business that this policy was “always in place for some vendors. We

are now just doing it for all vendors.” Asked why the sudden change, Superintendent Munroe said the RBPF just wants to “know all of their customers”. The new policy just took effect last month, he added, and there is nothing anyone applying should be overly concerned about as it only involves application of the necessary due diligence.

THE BAHAMAS Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) recently renewed a Memorandum of Understanding with New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), Rhode Island. Shown here seated at the signing at the NEIT campus are BTVI’s president, Dr Robert W. Robertson (left) and NEIT’s executive vice-president, Scott Freund (right). Standing from L to R are BTVI’s dean of technology and online education, Anthony Ramtulla; NEIT’s senior vice-president and provost, Douglas Sherman; NETI’s trustee, Phillip Kydd; and BTVI’s dean of construction and workforce development, Alexander Darville. Photo:New England Institute of Technology

BTVI RENEWS ITS AGREEMENT WITH US TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL THE Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) has signed a renewed agreement with the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the NEIT campus. In attendance were Dr Robert W. Robertson, BTVI’s president; Anthony Ramtulla, its dean of information technology and online education; and Alexander Darville, dean of construction and workforce development. Present for NEIT were its executive vice-president, Scott Freund; senior vice-president and provost, Douglas Sherman; and NEIT trustee, Phillip

Kydd. The new agreement sets out opportunities for BTVI students to attend NEIT with advanced standing and scholarships. It also establishes a framework for additional co-operation between BTVI and NEIT. The latter was established in 1940 as a trade school and has had a connection with BTVI for many years. “We have welcomed many Bahamian students in the past and look forward to offering new students the opportunity to learn and grow with the renewed MoU,” said Mr Freund. The MOU will also include faculty training and research opportunities. Dr Robertson said the renewal of a long-standing agreement is important as NEIT offers a number of

technology-based career and professional trade degree programmes. “The MOU provides options for our students to consider numerous career paths that are in high demand, both within the country and globally,” he added. Mr Kydd highlighted the synergies that can be built between NEIT and BTVI, which will prepare students for the reality of the new world of work. Meanwhile, BITVI is exploring courses related to information technology and digitisation, as well as professional trades. Mr Ramtulla is convinced the MoU opens up positive options for students. The agreement became effective as of December 2, 2021. Students interested in pursuing their postsecondary education at New England Institute of Technology should contact admissions@neit.edu.

Bahamas re-elected to top maritime body THE Bahamas has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the period 2022-2023, securing the fifth highest number of votes for Category C. This category currently has a 20-strong membership from IMO member states, and The Bahamas finished fifth out of 27 contestants. The Ministry of Transport and Housing, in a statement, said The Bahamas’ re-election demonstrated the confidence other IMO members have over this nation’s involvement in international maritime affairs and regulation. The IMO council, which currently comprises 40 member states in all categories, is the body’s executive organ and is responsible for supervising

the IMO’s work between sessions of its assembly. The Bahamas’ role on this body gives Bahamian ship owners an active voice in and access to, the process for effective and practical regulations. Captain Dwain Hutchinson, managing director and chief executive of The Bahamas Maritime Authority, said: “We are honoured by the trust of the IMO member states who we thank for their support of The Bahamas’ re-election to the IMO Council. “Our membership is recognition of the dedication and commitment of the Bahamas government, through

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the Ministry of Transport, Bahamas High Commission, Attorney General’s Office, other national departments/ agencies and, of course, the entire team at the BMA who represent The Bahamas’ shipping industry. “The BMA looks forward to continuing to effectively represent The Bahamas and be an active voice for our ship owners and other strategic partners.”

PICTURED L TO R: Bahamas high commissioner to the UK, Ellison Greenslade; IMO secretarygeneral, Kitak Lim; and BMA managing director and chief executive, Captain Dwain Hutchinson.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, December 14, 2021

‘DON’T REST ON LAURELS’ OVER YACHTING REGISTRY FROM PAGE ONE

potential opportunity to cement its market position slip away when it failed to build on what he described as a 30 percent increase in boating traffic in 2017-2018, which resulted from many yachts substituting the Caribbean’s deeper waters for this nation as a result of tremendous hurricane damage inflicted further south during that period. “At the time I was really saying to the Ministry of Tourism you’ve got to take advantage of this, get our electronic clearance processes sorted and our flag state sorted out, and educate Bahamians about the potential for cruising in The Bahamas,” Mr Maury said. However, he argued that the ministry’s focus on hotels and cruise ships saw this chance “slip away”, until the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Dorian struck and provided a second chance. The yacht/ boating industry was among the first tourism sectors to open after the 2020 lockdown, and Mr Maury said: “That was the first time in 30 years the islands of The Bahamas had more yachts than the Caribbean.”

Pointing to “positive meetings” with Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, and his tourism parliamentary secretary, John Pinder, the ABM president revealed they have discussed “easier entry protocols” for visiting yachts and boats plus “plus even a Bahamas flag for yachts coming on stream”. “Jamaica has probably 1,500 boats under their flag, and Cayman probably more, but those boats spend most of their time in The Bahamas,” Mr Maury told Tribune Business, adding that a maritime committee of which he is part has been developing proposals for a Bahamian “yacht charter flag”. “Under the previous government, I went to the minister of finance and tried to get them to lift the duty and VAT on yachts,” he added. “Can you imagine paying duty and VAT on an $80m yacht to flag it in The Bahamas? You can go and flag it in Jamaica. A yacht is different from a car. You can go to any ocean in the world. “None of these Jamaican-flagged boats go to Jamaica. They collect the

GOV’T ‘RUNNING OUT OF TIME’ ON EXTENDING DORIAN RELIEF

take advantage of it for no fault of their own, it needs to be extended. “The whole object was to enable people to repair their homes and businesses, and get back to normal, and if they have been unable to do that it needs to be extended. It’s important that the Government, sooner rather than later, makes that announcement that it is going to be extended even if on an interim basis.” Mr Laroda was backed by Ken Hutton, the Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president, who said of the SERZs: “We have a lot of verbal assurances, but nothing in writing. There’s a lot of second homeowners and people trying to rebuild who would really like to find out what will be happening in two weeks. “We went through this with the previous government every single time. One would have thought the new government would provide a lot of clarity sooner, but I guess the more things change the more they stay the same with regard to the extension of the SERZs. “We’re two weeks before the deadline and nobody knows what’s going on,” he added. “It’s very frustrating. Unfortunately there’s very little we can do except make noise, which we are doing. “I can’t speak for the rest of the country, but in Abaco most of the commercial job sites [construction] are closing on the 17th and will not be open until January 4. We’ve got less than a week to determine what happens next year. That’s just immensely frustrating. There’s no clarity, there’s no certainty. It’s very frustrating and disappointing.” The SERZ orders have been extended three times since they first were enacted in December 2019. Mr Hutton has previously asked for a full three-year extension to the SERZ in the recent past, but the Government has not given a response to the Chamber’s request.

businesses, while boat owners flying this country’s flag would be more likely to hire Bahamian crew and base their vessel in this nation, creating multiple economic spin-offs from the likes of fuel and grocery purchases, other needs and crew spending. Speaking as Ryan Pinder, the attorney general, yesterday urged The Bahamas to “aggressively advance” the building of its yacht registry (see other article on Page 1B), Mr Maury signalled that the opportunity was there even though the industry was becoming more competitive with the likes of Bermuda, Panama, Costa Rica and even Guatemala seeking to make grand entrances. The Bahamas must now fight harder to attract and retain the business, he added, even though there are more mega and super yachts on the oceans with international media reports disclosing a 25 percent yearover-year increase in new builds to around 1,200 in 2021. Mr Maury said The Bahamas had already let one

FROM PAGE ONE advantage of it. A lot of them are out of jobs, and they cannot do repairs to their homes if they are no working. The expectation from the average person on the street is that it will be extended for another six months, if just to see where we land at that point in time.” Mr Laroda, emphasising that The Bahamas was “lucky” to have escaped a direct hit by a major hurricane for the second consecutive year, added: “Folks need more time to recover. That’s something we plan to talk to the Government about.” Suggesting that meetings had already taken place with the GB Chamber, and further discussions are planned, he said the Government was leaving it late

to state a position on the SERZs and whether they should continue beyond December 31. “We’re running out of time,” he told Tribune Business. “December is half-way gone. We need to know..... I think for the average person on the street the expectation is that the Government will step up to the plate sooner rather than later, and not announce that they will not be extended, but announce that it will be extended if only for the first quarter or first half. “Let’s see if the economy rebounds, and some persons get back to work and take advantage of it and do some repairs. The Government has the numbers. Even though they may say it’s been in effect a long time and has to come to an end, no matter how long it is, if people are unable to

NOTICE Dr Michele Singh is no longer employed with the CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (CARDI) with effect from 7th December 2021 and therefore not authorized to conduct business on its behalf.

By order of Management

registrations and fee from yachts cruising in The Bahamas. My point is: Why not make it the same as everyone else? Make it zero. Boats will come into the country, and we will collect the fees. On top of that, every year the flag has to be paid. “The goal of the ABM is to encourage those boats, if we can get the Government to change the flag, to not only register in The Bahamas but hire Bahamian crews and spend more money on fuel purchases and grocery stores. Each boat is an economy unto themselves.” The Government previously eliminated 10 percent import duty on aircraft, which was seen as an obstacle to creating a fullyfledged private aircraft registry in The Bahamas. While some may see doing similar for a yachting registry as providing an unjustifiable tax break for wealthy owners who can afford to pay, Mr Maury said this represented money not being earned anyway. Compared to The Bahamas’ effective one-time 22 percent rate, he added that the likes of Bermuda and

Cayman are “at zero”. The Bermuda Tourism Authority last month made no secret of its intentions to attract more super yachts to the island, aided by tax concessions, while Mr Maury said it was also seeking out US marina developers to construct similar facilities in that territory. Mr Maury said he is presently dealing with two 300-foot vessels moored at the John Alfred Dock in downtown Nassau, each with 28-strong crews that are waiting for the upcoming charter season to kick in. Suggesting that yacht crews earn 28-30 percent more than their land-based counterparts, the ABM president added: “I don’t even have to prove it. The economics of this are apparent. I don’t have to guess about this. Look at what they’re doing in Antigua and the Caribbean. They’re trying to get all the yachts they can to come back to them. “We cannot sit on what happened last year and think we’ve got nothing to worry about. It’s very competitive. Now Bermuda has opened up there’s

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competition on both sides. We cannot sit here and pretend they’re not going to go anywhere else. “We have to be realistic about this. The field just got larger. There’s more yachts, but even Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala have opened up to charters. They’re all coming on stream and saying: ‘Come stay with us’,” Mr Maury continued. “For The Bahamas, our only competitor for the last 30 years has been the Caribbean, but The Bahamas and the Caribbean cannot rest on our laurels and think we’re competing against just each other as our neighbours around us want that business. The fact they are building more boats does not mean they will come to us.” Mr Maury said realtime satellite imaging from Marine Traffic showed that Antigua and other southern Caribbean states currently have more yachting traffic than The Bahamas. “We’ve lost our edge compared to last year,” he added. “We have to get serious if we want to keep the business.”

A MAN wearing a protective mask walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, in Tokyo. Stocks were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday after Wall Street retreated from recent record levels on weakness in technology shares. Photo:Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Asian shares mostly lower after tech-led Wall Steet retreat By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Stocks were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday after Wall Street retreated from recent record levels on weakness in technology shares. Hong Kong's benchmark slipped on persisting worries over property developers. Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai also declined. Shares in Shanghai-based Shimao Group Holdings sank 12.6% in Hong Kong on Tuesday on concerns about its financial situation. Shimao is among many property companies facing tighter controls on debt levels that have caught some heavily leveraged companies short on cash to meet debt obligations. China Evergrande Group's shares gave up 6.4%. Evergrande is one of China's largest developers, with over $300 billion in debt. "Recent scrutiny has gripped hold of Shimao Group Holdings, China's 13th largest developer by contracted sales, on its liquidity position and

LEGAL NOTICE GLOWENA HOLDINGS LIMITED (In Voluntary Liquidation) Creditors having debts or claims against the above-named Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o Ronald Atkinson & Co., Marron House, Virginia and Augusta Streets, P.O. Box N-8326, Nassau, Bahamas on or before the 30th day of December 2021. In default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made by the Liquidator.

debt-servicing ability. That may continue to put the property sector on watch today," said Yeap Jun Rong of IG. Another worry is China's first reported case of the omicron variant of coronavirus, Yeap added. Chinese leaders have promised tax cuts and support for entrepreneurs to shore up slumping economic growth as the country grapples with bankruptcies and defaults among real estate developers caused by the campaign to rein in surging debt. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 1.3% to 23,642.70 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost 0.9% to 28,391.91. In Seoul, the Kospi fell 0.7% to 2,982.00. The Shanghai Composite index shed 0.3% to 3,669.84, while the S&P/ ASX 200 edged less than 0.1% lower, to 7,376.70. On Monday, the S&P 500 fell 0.9% to 4,669.97, giving back some of its gains after the benchmark index climbed to an all-time high Friday ending Wall Street's best week since February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell 0.9%, to

35,650.95. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite slid 1.4% to 15,413.28. The Russell 2000 also gave up 1.4%, to 2,180.50 as small-company stocks fared worse than the broader market in a signal that investors are concerned about economic growth. Harley-Davidson rose 4.7% after saying it will take its electric motorcycle division public through a blank-check company, valuing the enterprise that has been part of the motorcycle maker for 10 years at $1.77 billion. The market's pullback, with the S&P 500 fresh off its 67th all-time high this year, comes as investors look ahead to the Federal Reserve's latest economic and interest rate policy update on Wednesday. Wall Street will get an inflation update on Tuesday when the Labor Department releases its Producer Price Index for November, which shows how inflation is impacting costs for businesses. That report will be especially important with the Fed meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000

GAIVOTA CORP. NOTICE is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of The International Business Companies Act, 2000, the Dissolution of Gaivota Corp. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the dissolution was the 5th day of November A.D., 2021.

Dated the 10th day of December 2021 Tanya P. Simmons Liquidator

Michael C. Miller Liquidator

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, PAGE 5

‘WE’RE NOT TAKING VAT CHANGE SITTING DOWN’ FROM PAGE ONE escaping the levy on their input costs. In essence, they escape having to pay VAT or charge it to their consumers. However, Mr Ebelhar said Polymers’ reading of the reforms suggested that it may have lost that status and is being treated as VAT ‘exempt’. This means it will have to pay VAT on its input costs but, as an exporter, cannot charge the tax to its overseas customers. As a result, it cannot net off or recover the ‘input’ VAT, resulting in a significant increase in costs. “Correct,” the Polymers chief added of this explanation. “As far as what we’ve seen right now, that’s what we’re looking at.” And the Government’s decision to reverse the transhipment industry’s VAT ‘zero rating’ status to ‘exempt’ will mean a rise in container costs that the shipping companies will also pass on to Polymers and others in Freeport’s economy. “We operate on tight margins. This is not going to sit very well with us,” Mr Ebelhar told Tribune Business. “It’s everything we’re looking at. We understand VAT is going to be charged on all the containers, and that’s going to be flushed right through. “MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) and Tropical are not going to absorb it. They will pass it right on to us. These are things we are still studying. It’s hurting us.” He added that efforts to clarify Polymers’ VAT treatment moving forward had not met with much success. “We’re still trying to find out. We’re trying to get an answer from the Department of Inland Revenue. It’s not easy right now,” Mr Ebelhar said. “We’re having to go through the Act and work with our lawyers to see where it will hit us. It’s not going to be good, and it’s not going to be taken sitting down. “I’m competing against plants in the US that have lower power costs, lower

shipping costs. I’m competing against somebody in a totally different regime. There is a tax regime there, but if they’re going to start adding taxes here I might as well be in the US.” Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, yesterday urged Mr Ebelhar and Polymers to formally submit their concerns to either himself or Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, rather than the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR). However, he did not respond to Tribune Business questions on whether the VAT ‘treatment’ of Polymers International has changed with the passage of the new Act into law. Mr Ebelhar, meanwhile, queried why the Government had not consulted the company or other Freeportbased industrial players before seeking to enact the changes. “This is not going to help us one bit,” he said. “It’s one of those that came out of the dark. I understand the Government is cashstrapped after COVID, but sometimes there are things where you can sit down and work in a co-operative manner and talk to the people you are going to throw it on, rather than slap it in and let it in like this.” Mr Ebelhar likened the situation to previous Customs Management Act reforms, which introduced the 1 percent Customs processing fee “ad valorem” tax up to $50,000 on incoming and outgoing shipments. “We got no forward notice at all,” he added of that and the VAT changes. “It’s just launched. We’re scrambling. “We’re starting to understand how this works. It’s fairly easy to see what’s happening, and we’ll prepare our response. It’s going to take us a while to get that together. We will just let them land where they fall. “It’s not easy to have this, and have to take all your resources... You end up having to drop everything

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, KETURAH RINTHEA DUNCANSON of 6 Hampshire Lane, Bahamia South, Freeport, Grand Bahama, intend to change my name to KETURAH RINTHEA CLARKE-DUNCANSON. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that RALPH FRITZ AUGUSTE of Cambridge Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 7th day of December, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

at the time and try to figure out what you’re going to do,” Mr Ebelhar continued. “The ease of doing business did not get any easier. “I still do not understand why these things cannot be brought to the industrial community to have a sit down, meet at any time and give our input and things like that, but they don’t. It’s handed down and we have to react to it one way or another.” Polymers International, according to trade data from the US International Trade Commission, exports 90 percent of its output to the US. It exported some $55m worth of product to the US in 2020 which, although down on the $155m peak in 2014, still represents a valuable foreign exchange source not to mention jobs for the Grand Bahama community. Greg Laroda, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, last night urged the Government to “reverse” course not just on the VAT treatment for Polymers but also for the island’s transhipment sector - and the likes of BORCO (Buckeye Bahamas) and Equinor - which is being moved from ‘zero rated’ to ‘exempt’ status. Revealing that the Chamber had previously helped make the case for ‘zero rated’ status to then-Minnis administration, as anything else would have been “detrimental to their business”, he added: “I know the minister of Grand Bahama [Ginger Moxey] would have said the intent is not to harm persons in the transhipment sector, but that’s exactly what this is going to do. “It’s a highly competitive business, and tacking this VAT on adds 10 percent to their costs of doing business, and it takes away a lot of the competitive edge they would have. We are concerned. We are reviewing it, and will be engaging the Government on it. “If they said their intent is not to harm the transhipment sector, and they know

it will, we would expect them to do something about it. Changing it, and not allowing those companies to be zero rated, will make them less competitive in terms of doing business with the way the economy is now.” Mr Laroda said this was “not the best way to show appreciation” to Freeport’s transhipment and industrial sectors over how it had kept Grand Bahama’s economy going during the “crunch period” of COVID-19 lockdowns. “They don’t collect VAT on behalf of the Government, so there is nothing to offset against,” he added. “It’s just an additional cost of doing business. I’m hoping they see fit to reverse that position that they’re taking now, especially as it relates to those companies. I’m hoping they see the light and leave it as is.” Mr Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, previously said

the proposed VAT reforms were designed to cap “huge” multi-million dollar refund liabilities owed by the Government to the two major transhipment providers, BORCO and Equinor. He told Tribune Business that eliminating the VAT “zero rating” treatment for these entities would halt “distortion” of the tax system and prevent “future problems” for a cashstrapped Public Treasury by stopping any further growth of these refund liabilities. The Government’s VAT refund-capping move involves the elimination of ‘zero rating’ treatment for “services relating to the use of terminal or berthing facilities by commercial vessels in respect of goods” that have not been cleared for domestic consumption and “where the port of origin and the port of destination are not within the territory of The Bahamas”. Similarly, ‘zero rating’ treatment is also to be ended for “services in

respect of the storage of goods, and any processes to optimise or maintain the integrity of those goods during storage”, where they have again not been cleared for domestic Bahamian consumption and the “port or origin and port of destination” are not in this nation. Mr Wilson said the transhipment-related reforms were designed to bring The Bahamas back into line with international best practices on VAT treatment for the sector. He added that such services should be VAT ‘exempt’, meaning that while no tax is levied on the end user, companies in the sector are unable to recover what they have paid on their input costs. However, Mr Laroda argued that the move could hurt the Government “in the long run” if the affected companies were forced to downsize their operations and/or lay-off staff as a result.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, December 14, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BODY AND MIND

The self-care guy A journey from burnout to ultimate healing By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

Witnessing first-hand how rehabilitation allowed a young boy to walk for the first time set former photojournalist Eddi Russell on a new path in life; one which ultimately led him to a space where self-care is paramount. With more people experiencing burnout – physically, mentally and emotionally – the concept of self-care has been receiving an increasing amount of attention in recent years, and for good reason. Self-care is rooted in people prioritising and paying attention to themselves in ways that promote overall well-being. BaBoh Life, Eddi’s new local self-care focused brand, is seeking to help Bahamians prioritise taking good care of their bodies, minds and souls. The company represents the philanthropic pursuits of its owner and creative director, who turned to rehabilitation as a means to provide tangible healing to the communities he has documented from behind his camera lens. Eddi’s path to self-care life coaching was one he discovered after taking an extensive amount of time to rebuild and re-energise himself. “I started off in journalism as a photojournalist, and after a time I realised that I wanted to find work that was more meaningful to me. My path into rehabilitation started from journalism on a particular assignment where I witnessed a young boy walking for the first time because of physical rehabilitation treatment and it kind of changed my perspective on life and what kind of work I wanted to do,” he told Tribune Health. Though he loved everything about journalism, he eventually found himself burnt out. “So on a whim and with little money I jumped on a plane to Ireland and studied occupational therapy and loved every bit of that as well. I got back home, worked for a year at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and I loved my patients,” he said. This love for his patients and job, however, did not stop burnout from taking place. “I started to feel the same burnout I had in journalism and again I chose myself and knew I had to change. I fell into an amazing

EDDI Russell (right) at his recent pop-up event group of co-workers and friends who motivated me to pursue whatever I wanted. Then in 2019, despite this beautiful space of support, I hit an all time low. I fell into a depression and then the pandemic hit, I caught COVID19 and was home for two months. This is where I learned how to self care. I started doing all the things I needed and wanted to do to feel good about myself and for myself and that’s what really brought me through. Choosing me got me through,” he said. Since then, Eddi has turned his mind to methods of helping others. “I’ve always had a knack for listening to people and motivating them naturally, but I wanted to take it further but simply didn’t have the words. I didn’t have the language. My best friend and I spoke about it and thought about exploring life coaching as a career, so I got certified and here I am. Eddi Russell, self-care hife coach. His clients call him the “selfcare guy”. He hopes that with his knowledge and skills he can bring a sense of healing to communities. “As a life coach, my job is to simply help people to achieve their life’s goals and dreams. It’s a bit more nuanced than that

though. The way this is done is by determining what they ultimately want to do by setting the goal. We’ll work to eliminate any limiting thoughts and beliefs specific

to their goals and lay out the steps to get there. If there are any roadblocks, we’ll also work through them, all the while conditioning their mind to believe that they can

accomplish goals… and I’m on the sideline until you accomplish them,” he said. Eddi explained that most of people’s goals fit into the eight dimensions of self-care - spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, relational, financial, environmental and professional. His job, he said, entails helping his clients develop a deeper sense of self-awareness for themselves so they are able to determine what they need to do to thrive within the dimension that their goals fall in. To introduce a line of self -are products and well as his unique brand coaching practices, Eddi hosted a pop-up shop last Saturday. The event took place at Hillside House, #13 Cumberland Street. The products included all original scented candles and diffusers, body butters, herbal salves, apparel, journals and gratitude beads that, when used in tandem, Eddi said create the perfect environment for a consistent practice of self-care. “Self-care is a multi-faceted and multi-sensory personal experience,” he said. “These products were intentionally created to support each other and build on that experience. It’s all about creating a safe space for checking in with yourself so that you’re able to consistently self-check. Whether it’s spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, financial, environmental, psychological or relational, that internal assessment is the first step. I think it’s so important and necessary to effectively and honestly assess and decide which of the eight dimensions of self-care needs tending to. It’s all about wellness, and being and feeling well.” He added: “The goal of BaBoh Life is to create a deeper sense of self-awareness within our clients so that they can actively work through whichever dimensions of self-care that they may have an issue with. We want to get our clients and the wider community to develop more selfawareness by taking note of their negative habits and experiences and to become unafraid to ask themselves the critical questions necessary to live the life they’ve always dreamed of.”

An insight into caregiving BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

Veteran healthcare administrator Sandra Mortimer-Russell has written and released her third book, ‘Once A Man… A Caregiver’s Perspective.’ In this guidebook and memoir, Mrs MortimerRussell gives readers a rich insight into caregiving through her experiences in health administration and nursing, as well as being the primary caregiver for many years to her parents who died in their mid-90s. Mrs Mortimer-Russell, born and raised in Long Island with strong Christian principles and values, said she has lived by the fifth Commandment in the Bible, which teaches children to “honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long…” “I have taken care of both of my parents while they lived; until their mid90s”, she said proudly. “I don’t like the way that some of our elderly citizens are being cared for in our country.” Recognising that sometimes the lack of care, or shortcomings in care, are in fact not always intentional, she hopes her book will

help guide people who are caring for their aging parents and elderly individuals. Mrs Mortimer-Russell, who has worked in the healthcare field for more than 24 years, believes insufficient importance is placed on caring for the aging in the Bahamas and that some other countries and cultures do it better. She said the perception that “at age 55 you are over the hill, at 65 you are supposed to retire, and at 75 you are to sit in the corner and wait until God calls you home” is not unacceptable. She pointed out that US President Joe Biden, at 79, still runs up the stairs of Air Force One, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, at 88, and US Representative Maxine Waters, at 83, are all still active. “They are revered in their country and other places,” she said, adding that “we have to do a better job at aging.” On page seven of the book, she writes: “It seems the Bahamian culture does not place a high value on caring for the aged as some other cultures do. “The elderly have a wealth of experience… and we owe them the respect, dignity, and compassion; everyone needs to do their

AUTHOR Sandra MortimerRussell

part to allow our elderly to live out their lives in dignity and their fullest ability.” Sharing her “innerself and inner space with

readers,” Mrs MortimerRussell provides her readers with her very personal experience of caring for both parents until ages

96 and 94, respectively. She admits that caregiving is a tough, expensive, and demanding job, but also rewarding and meaningful work. Mrs Mortimer-Russell, who is the deputy hospital administrator of Grand Bahama Health Services, said in the Bahamas there are more than 4,000 caregivers providing care to family members, friends, or other individuals. She noted that there is a urgent need for comprehensive coordinated caregiving services in Bahamian society. During Hurricane Dorian, in the northern Bahamas in particular, and now during

the COVID-19 pandemic, greater responsibilities have been placed on caregivers. Unfortunately, Mrs Mortimer-Russell said, there are some people who have not been able to accumulate sufficient income through sufficient contributory pensions, savings, intergenerational transfers or other sources which would enable them to meet their basic needs and the responsibility of their care might fall on the state. “To raise awareness of caregivers, the honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, proclaimed November 2021 as National Caregivers Month throughout the Bahamas and encouraged all to participate in such activities of the Caregiver’s Network,” she said. Mrs Mortimer-Russell said her book is for those who are currently caregiving, those who will be needing caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and for today’s children who need to know what is expected from them as their loved ones age. It is also for mature adults planning their retirement. Proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the Grand Bahama Home for the Aged.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, PAGE 9

‘Men, get the jab to protect your manhood!’ There finally appears to be a glimmer of hope and a light at the end of the very dark tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic, as locally hospitalisations and the daily infection rates continue to fall. We as a nation should not let down our guard as many nations throughout the world are currently in the midst of a fourth wave COVID-19 surge. The booster shot is now available in the Bahamas to all adults older than 18 years old who received the second AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine shot more than six months ago or the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine more than two months ago. COVID-19 can unfortunately lead to erectile dysfunction both during the time of having the virus and possibly even after recovery from it. Erectile dysfunction involves the inability to achieve or sustain a satisfactory erection, with possible low sexual libido or premature ejaculation. Erectile dysfunction is a complex issue with several physiological and psychological mechanisms at play. In its simplest terms, there are four necessary contributors to have a normal erection. These

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Dr Greggory Pinto four contributing factors are blood supply, nerve supply, testosterone and the emotional/psychological component. COVID-19 can negatively impact each of these four factors and thus lead to erectile dysfunction. The respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 are well-known along with common complications such as fever, fatigue and the possible loss of taste and smell. Long term effects of the novel coronavirus

may include many negative health issues including respiratory, neurological complications and erectile dysfunction. A scientific article in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found a correlation between COVID-19 survivors and erectile dysfunction. The published research found that erectile dysfunction is a perfect biomarker of general physical and psychological health. The risks factors for developing COVID-19 complications are the same predisposing health conditions that can lead to erectile dysfunction such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular disease and advanced age. COVID-19 sadly leads such individuals with underlying health issues to have more severe, acute and long-lasting complications. Longterm complications include possible scarring and fibrosis of penile erectile tissue, in addition to other erectile dysfunction complications. Inflammatory response to COVID-19 Chronic inflammatory effects of COVID-19 play a role in erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is related largely to poor blood supply to the penis so it is expected that conditions that impair blood supply such as COVID-19, will lead to erectile dysfunction. The response of the body to the coronavirus can lead to a hyperinflammatory state whereby small blood clots are formed and

inflammation of the lining of blood vessels occurs. Impaired blood supply secondary to small blood clots impeding blood supply and inflammatory degradation of blood vessels will lead to poor quality erections and difficulty maintaining erections. COVID-19 causing lower testosterone The novel coronavirus can negatively impact the testicles and reduce the production of testosterone by the testicles and further negatively impact erectile function. There are two ways that lowered testosterone levels related to COVID-19 can interfere with erectile function; testosterone is necessary for normal erectile function so low testosterone will lead to poor erections. Secondly, testosterone aids in suppressing body inflammatory responses so lower testosterone levels will mean inflammation is suppressed to a lesser degree so inflammatory molecules will cause more severe damage to blood vessels. Damage to blood vessels to the penis will further worsen erections. COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and depression A October 2020 published research article linking COVID19 and erectile dysfunction in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, involved examining the anxiety and depression levels of 7,000 Italian men who never contracted COVID-19. The research examined the mental health issues

related to COVID-19 lockdowns and their relationship to erectile dysfunction. The global pandemic has led to high levels of anxiety, stress and depression that has led to an upsurge in erectile dysfunction. It must be stated that having erectile dysfunction does not mean you have COVID-19. Erectile dysfunction to some degree is quite common and caused in the vast majority of cases due to health conditions unrelated to COVID-19. There is no evidence and zero concerns that the COVID-19 vaccine nor the booster can cause erectile dysfunction. Wear a mask, practice physical distancing and maintain proper hand hygiene. COVID-19 can potentially be devastating and even life-threatening. Unfortunately, erectile dysfunction is one of a long list of medical complications Covid-19 can cause. Men, please get your COVID19 vaccine and booster shot. Your erections will thank you. No matter what the cause or causes of your erection problems, you can always rise again. The greatest tragedy is continuing to suffer in silence and not seek a solution. • Dr Greggory Pinto is a boardcertified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace & Mount Royal Avenue, Nassau, Telephone (242) 322-1145-7; email: welcome@urologycarebahamas. com, or visit the website:www. urologycarebahamas.com

Natural oils pave the way for natural beauty By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

To look good is to feel good. And 23-three-year-old Queens College graduate Serena Walford is here to help you not only look great, but to also indulge in some pampering and self-care - in an all natural way. Serena, an alumni of the Bahamas Junior Achievement programme, was inspired during the pandemic to launch her own brand of healthy skin and haircare products. She decided to name her company BellaMara Essentials - “Bella” from the Spanish word for beautiful and “Mara” from the Greek word meaning eternally beautiful Serena took the DIY approach in crafting her products from 100 percent raw oils and natural products for skin, hair and wellness. “Enduring a global pandemic is stressful and can take a toll on one’s confidence, self-esteem and well-being. It’s difficult to be in high spirits when self-care is lacking. As a health and beauty conscious entrepreneur, I get to offer products to assist customers with developing a customised self-care routine to achieve flawless skin, healthy hair and a good night’s rest. Through my business, I am able to respond to the increased need brought on by the crisis. Consumers understand the need to pamper themselves and

have become more invested in DIY care,” said Serena. Her products usually include oils from the aloe vera plant and the argan tree; from avocados, coconuts, almonds and grapeseeds, as well as hempseeds and jojoba. Serena, who will soon be graduating from the University of The Bahamas with a BA degree in Hospitality Management, also

worked in the local hospitality industry. “I was one of the many persons left unemployed when the country shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With unemployment, lockdowns and restrictions, I discovered new hobbies and interests, leading to a new level of self-care. I invested my free time in learning about my own natural hair, which I had previously neglected.

I researched the benefits and uses of various oils, watched endless DIY videos on YouTube and began incorporating natural oils into my self-care routine,” she told Tribune Health. “Through constant use, I noticed that my hair and skin looked healthier. With this firsthand experience, I wanted to share this knowledge with others. I started with my mother and sister and then decided to create a brand, launching my own business. I was pleasantly surprised with how well received the products were in the Bahamian market.” She said all products offered by BellaMara are geared towards promoting both healthy skin and hair, and they all have the benefit of moisturising skin and aiding in hair growth. Serena said while some are more powerful than others, but every oil has its own special characteristic. “The aloe vera, castor and hempseed are well known for hair growth, while the sweet almond, argan and aloe vera gels (have) anti-aging (properties) and work miracles on removing marks and toning skin. Beauty products do not come more straightforward than oils,” she said. “The benefits are endless. From reducing wrinkles to conditioning hair, to strengthening nails.” And it seems people have become inspired by Serena do to their own thing when it comes to natural care products.

“One of my first customer’s revealed to me that she uses BellaMara’s oils as ingredients in her own self-care products for her own business. She had been importing the products and was excited when she stumbled upon a local business that supplied exactly what she needed. This brought forth the realisation that my business not only has the potential to make others feel better about themselves, but it also encourages other local selfcare businesses to source their ingredients locally,” she said. She believes the health and beauty industry can help people from all walks of life. “What I like most about health and beauty is simply this: when you look good, you feel good. Your appearance is a major factor in mental health, confidence and self-image. When your physical beauty is enhanced, so is your inner beauty. There is a growing trend of health-conscious consumers who are looking for natural products. With so many synthetic products in the marketplace, it is crucial to promote more natural alternatives. There is an obsession with quick results, but over the long-term, the harmful chemicals that may have made a person’s skin feel and look better actually bring forth damages, some irreversible. By using natural products, Bahamians avoid strange side effects and benefit from healthier self-care routines,” she said.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, December 14, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

DR Krista Sherman poses in front of the One Ocean Expedition

PIMS scientist shares Bahamian perspective aboard global sailing voyage A leading marine scientist from the Bahamas returned from a once-in-a-lifetime voyage last week, sailing from Havana to Nassau as part of the One Ocean Expedition, a United Nationsbacked initiative to highlight the ocean’s crucial role in fostering global sustainability. Dr Krista Sherman of the Perry Institute for Marine Science spent several days on board the Norwegian state-of-the-art research vessel, Statsraad Lehmkuh. Deemed a “floating university,” the ship unites diverse groups of marine scientists, students, trainees and professionals as it circumnavigates the globe. “It was an incredible opportunity to be part of the One Ocean Expedition,” Dr Sherman said. “It was also inspiring to see how integrated conservation research and advocacy is in Norway and it’s something we can definitely learn from.” The 107-year-old ship departed from Arendal, Norway, on August 20, and will continue sailing

throughout 2023, spanning 55,000 nautical miles and 36 ports worldwide. Equipped with modern instrumentation, the vessel will collect high-quality data continuously from a wide range of environments, including CO2 levels, ocean acidification and micro-plastics. “The expedition is a recognised part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Its goal is to create attention and share knowledge about the crucial role of the ocean for a sustainable development in a global perspective,” said Sissel Rogne, CEO of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in a news release. “We will inspire people to engage in the work of creating a clean and healthy ocean. We will build new knowledge about the use and preservation of marine resources and share this with the rest of the world.” On December 3, Dr Sherman co-moderated an Ocean Health

and Seafood seminar for participants on board the One Ocean Expedition while it was docked in the Nassau Harbour. In her presentation, she provided an overview of fisheries research and conservation efforts in The Bahamas. “Approximately 30 percent of fish species have been overexploited representing significant losses to biodiversity, ecosystem services and socioeconomic contributions,” said Dr Sherman, whose doctoral research assessed the status, population structure and dynamics of Nassau grouper spawning aggregations, and was crucial to the development of the first Nassau grouper conservation management plan for the Bahamas. “Improving our understanding of fisheries is critical to facilitate effective management and conservation initiatives. This is particularly important for the Bahamas, a small island developing state where fisheries products

account for 10 percent of the protein for the population.” The commercial fisheries sector employs 9,300 people and has an estimated export value of US$90 million. Recreational fishing sector provides 18,000 jobs directly and indirectly $527 million per year, Dr Sherman informed her audience. Pointing to the critically endangered Nassau grouper and the near-threatened bonefish, she said trade of these species must be regulated to ensure their very survival. In the Bahamas, she explained, fishery resources are managed through gear restrictions, quotas, size limits, closed seasons, bans and marine protected (no-take) areas. Indeed, the Bahamas has more coral reef area than any other nation in the region including one of the world’s largest contiguous coral reefs, the Andros Barrier Reef. Eleven percent of the nation’s marine environment

is currently protected within national parks. According to the marine scientist, however, emerging fisheries – that is, bycatch, or species unintentionally caught by fishermen – “have the potential to expand the fishing sector, improve food security and provide income to a greater number of fishers.” Even so, emerging fisheries present new challenges for management due to lack of data on landings, population dynamics and the ecological function of these species. “Fisheries research and conservation programmes are crucial to reduce scientific knowledge gaps, provide guidance for fishery regulations and to promote behavioral change for ongoing conservation management in the Bahamas and Caribbean,” Dr Sherman noted. Other Bahamians participating in the Havana to Nassau leg of the One Ocean voyage included representatives from Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), the Bahamas National Trust and the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation.

Bringing the whole family Social media post sparks party etiquette debate By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

When Jeena Wilder of South Carolina posted a short video on TikTok and Instagram proclaiming that she brings her entire family to the birthday parties her kids are invited to, it started a social media firestorm on children’s party etiquette. “If one of your kids is invited to a birthday party does that mean all of your kids can go? I’m team the whole party goes. I know that not everyone feels that way, so I always make sure I spend a bit more on the birthday gift than the average person,” the mom of five said. After her post sparked a massive internet response (including a segment on the Today show), she did clarify that she RSVPs first before bringing her family. Of course, this week Bahamian moms weighed in on whether they are team solo invite or team “the more the merrier”. “This is generally not a problem for me because my kids are so far apart in age, so my son considers his little sister’s parties too babyish anyway,” said Michelle. “However, there was one time when she was invited to a party at a very cool venue and he really wanted to go, so I called the host and asked if I could bring him along and I offered to pay his price for admission. And she said, ‘Of course. I forgot to add him, please bring him.’ But I would never just show up with extras in tow.”

JEENA Wilder with her husband Drue and their five kids, all under the age of nine. Gia agreed that just showing up with the whole gang is impolite. “I am one of those Pinterest extra moms; table set for each

guest, with their favours and party bags, which have their names printed on them, etcetera. And I would feel really bad if a kid

showed up and didn’t have one special for them. I would want the parents to give me a heads up so I could be prepared. But your

budget is your budget. If I prepare for 10 kids and they all bring one or two siblings and parents that could easily triple the guest count,” she said. Suzette, however, feels that it is wrong to just invite a single child when there are other siblings. “My daughter’s best friend has two brothers; they are all similar in age. I would never consider not inviting them to a function. If I can’t have all, I wouldn’t have any. I think it’s so cruel that the one child is talking about the party and the others are not included,” she said. Meanwhile Leslie said that if her child is invited to a class party than she respects that the invite is for one child only. However, she said at the majority of functions her kids are invited it is understood that the whole family is invited. “I can see the point of not inviting siblings to a class party; that would be a lot, so honestly, I wouldn’t even ask to make the mom feel bad,” she said. Andrea said extra guests are why she stopped hosting her kids’ parties at home. “For me it’s not the kids that are the problem. I can always accommodate kids - one bouncy castle, you good to go. My problem is when the adults come with the kids. They don’t want hotdogs and chips, they want ‘real’ food and alcohol. I find it ends up cheaper for me to do the Burger King party or somewhere like that and you don’t have the stress of setting up or cleaning up after,” she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, PAGE 11

The mink queen By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

The local queen of mink lashes is taking a big step towards expanding her empire. Denecea Johnson, known for her Mink Plug Lash Bar, has moved into her new space on Saunders Beach, into the Plaza On The Way, where she will expand on her lash extension services. Mink lashes have become a huge hit with Bahamian women over the last few years. Though they have their detractors, beauty bloggers and Instagram influencers everywhere have proclaimed them to be the“lightest and

fluffiest” lash extensions on the market. While sometimes synthetic, mink lashes are usually made from natural fur that is obtained from the tails of minks, usually Siberian mink or Chinese mink. Denecea first learned all about mink lashes shortly after she started her offering lash extensions to customers of her mother’s clothing store. “This brand came about six years ago when I stopped working for the bank, which was my first and last 9-5 job. Straight out of high school, I started applying individual lashes on the customers of my mom’s store who were coming to purchase clothing. They became regulars for me and it grew tremendously. One

day someone told me about a new style of lashes that came about called ‘mink lashes’, on which I did some research and then ordered all the contents of a kit and started practicing on my family and friends,” she said. From operating out of a corner in her mother’s store to now opening her own store, Denecea has come a long way. “When I reflect on the days that I used a black travel pillow for people to lay on in a green office chair, it continues to blow my mind of how life can change with dedication and hard work. I came from working in my mom’s store to taking over, to having my own space and creating a name for myself,” she said. “I live by this mantra: ‘Success is a journey, not a destination. It requires constant effort and vigilance and evaluation’. A quote

by Mark Twain that I continue to take with me.” To celebrate her birthday in December and the holidays, Denecea promises lots of door prizes and specials at her new location, as well, of course, an official grand opening at a later date. “I’m ecstatic that I get to share my craft with the world. I have

had the most prominent and respected people come and lay on my table on Poinciana Drive, and now I have a bigger and more comfortable place for them to come. That makes me feel so good inside,” she said. Denecea has even named new styles of individual mink lashes after some of her loyal customers. There is the Gerell Classic, the Kendra Hybrid, the Cleo Volume, and the Mega Movie Volume. She has also added “ Needless Lip Fillers” to her services, as well as lash application classes every Sunday and house calls. “I am looking forward to meeting new people. I have a full client list, completely booked from month to month, but I am working on one day for walk-ins per week so that I can accommodate new people. I will also have a wider variety of products added to my brand,” she said.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 63° F/17° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Clouds and sun, a shower; breezy

Partly cloudy with a shower

Winds subsiding with a shower

Breezy with a brief shower or two

Breezy with a brief shower or two

Clouds and sun with a brief shower

High: 81°

Low: 70°

High: 81° Low: 69°

High: 82° Low: 70°

High: 83° Low: 70°

High: 84° Low: 69°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

85° F

68° F

83°-69° F

84°-67° F

86°-71° F

89°-69° F

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 66° F/19° 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: 78° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

10-20 knots

S

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

10-20 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

| Go to AccuWeather.com

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

MIAMI

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C

8-16 knots

KEY WEST

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 81° F/28° C Low: 70° F/21° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

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

tiDes For nassau High Today

Low

Ht.(ft.)

2.6 2.2

10:44 a.m. 0.4 10:44 p.m. 0.0

Wednesday 5:08 a.m. 5:18 p.m.

2.7 2.2

11:33 a.m. 0.3 11:25 p.m. 0.0

Thursday

5:50 a.m. 6:01 p.m.

2.8 2.1

12:17 p.m. 0.2 ---------

Friday

6:29 a.m. 6:41 p.m.

2.8 2.1

12:04 a.m. 0.0 12:58 p.m. 0.1

Saturday

7:07 a.m. 7:21 p.m.

2.8 2.1

12:43 a.m. -0.1 1:37 p.m. 0.1

Sunday

7:45 a.m. 8:00 p.m.

2.9 2.1

1:20 a.m. -0.1 2:16 p.m. 0.1

Monday

8:23 a.m. 8:38 p.m.

2.8 2.1

1:58 a.m. 2:54 p.m.

0.0 0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C

N

S

E

W S

12-25 knots

6:47 a.m. 5:23 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

2:31 p.m. 2:48 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Dec. 18

Dec. 26

Jan. 2

Jan. 9

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 71° F/22° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 70° F/21° C

S

LONG ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C

H

E

W

tracking map

H

Ht.(ft.)

4:22 a.m. 4:32 p.m.

CAT ISLAND

E

W

10-20 knots

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

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 79° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 67° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 83° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 63° F/17° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 33.68” Normal year to date ................................... 38.94”

uV inDex toDay

12-25 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

N W

N E

W

E S

S

15-25 knots

15-25 knots

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

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 15-25 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots E at 12-25 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots NE at 15-25 Knots ENE at 15-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots E at 15-25 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 12-25 Knots NE at 15-25 Knots ENE at 15-25 Knots NE at 12-25 Knots E at 12-25 Knots

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

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 78° F 77° F 81° F 81° F 82° F 82° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 80° F 80° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 83° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F

SECTION D

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021

Chantel ready to celebrate after historic Miss Universe finish By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a historic finish in the top ten and snagging the “Carnival Spirit” award at the 70th Miss Universe pageant over the weekend, Bahamian beauty queen Chantel O’Brian is now eager to unwind and relax…with some sky juice that is. In the lead-up to this year’s international pageant, which was held in the Israeli port and resort town of Eliat, Chantel had to make some sacrifices, including refraining from indulging in some of her favourite foods and beverages. After all, she had to be fighting fit for the big event. But now, she is ready to celebrate. “I am just very ready for some sky juice. I’m ready to decompress,” she told Tribune Woman on Monday night. Working hard towards earning her historic success at Miss Universe meant Chantel had but few opportunities for rest or relaxation. In fact, she was caught up in such a whirlwind of activity and emotions during these past few weeks that the experience has still not sunken in yet for her. While still in Eliat, the beauty queen spoke with Tribune Woman about her experience. “I had no nerves prior to coming here so I knew that God had already given me His peace. I just did what I needed to do in terms of getting up each day to take on the day and presenting myself in the best way. I absolutely have to thank my sponsors for that. I had some amazing people on my team who ensured I was looking my best and feeling my best,” she said. Chantel, who is also a former Miss World Bahamas, made history on Sunday as she reached the top ten in the international pageant. She was the first Bahamian to reach the top ten of the competition since the Bahamas acquired the Miss Universe licence in 1958. “It hasn’t sunken in as yet, but I have cried several times just out of gratitude, just knowing that people are supporting me in such a great way,” she said. “When my name was called, I knew I was supposed to be there.

“It hasn’t sunken in as yet, but I have cried several times just out of gratitude, just knowing that people are supporting me in such a great way.” It was just a feeling of thrill, happiness of joy and of gratitude,” she said. Last Friday, during this year’s preliminary competition for the 70th Miss Universe title, Carnival

Cruise Line president Christine Duffy presented Chantel with the “Spirit of Carnival” award. She received the award for embodying the company’s values of fun, friendship, diversity and inclusion. As part of the honour, Chantel will join Miss Universe 2022, along with a group of other Miss Universe delegates, on a Carnival cruise in 2022 to showcase their dedication to women’s empowerment. Her experience in Israel overall, she said, was one she could have never even dreamt of, but she is happy to be living the dream right now. “It was wonderful experience. It was more than I could have ever imagined. I had the opportunity to explore Israel and explore Jerusalem. It was all just amazing.” The Bahamian beauty queen begins her journey back home today. And once she has an opportunity to rest, relax and enjoy her sky juice, “the work continues”, she said.

CHANTEL O’Brian in her national costume

CHANTEL O’Brian with Miss Universe host Steve Harvey

In fight to end gender-based violence, Zonta turns Englerston and Family Islands “orange” By FELICITY DARVILLE Women of the Zonta Clubs in Eleuthera and Abaco brought the “Orange the World” campaign to life on their islands, spreading the word that people everywhere should say “No!” to gender-based violence. The 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence wrapped up on Friday, December 10. International Human Rights Day. In Abaco, Zonta representative Eva Bain spent the campaign going from settlement to settlement. Residents from six communities were educated about the importance of having healthy relationships and an empowering society, free of violence. The settlements “turned orange” are: Sandy Point, Crossing Rocks, Spring City, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and Cooper’s Town. Zonta’s representative in Eleuthera, Jewel Edwards, brought the theme to life for another year, with the help of not only adults, but many of the children. With kids taking part in advocacy, Jewel knows that communities in Eleuthera have a brighter future without violence. Central and South Eleuthera Member of Parliament Clay Sweeting and his wife joined the activism effort. The Zonta Club of New Providence (ZCNP) once again led the charge for the advocacy campaign

THE COOPER’s Town community in Abaco bands together in advocacy

KIDS in Spring City, Abaco, join the campaign

THE CROSSING Rocks community turned their settlement orange against violence

MP Clay Sweeting and his wife join with Zontian Jewel Edwards and Eleutherans to say no to violence

ELEUTHERA’s advocacy grows stronger each year

with a host of events held in New Providence. Each year, ZCNP chooses a community to focus its advocacy on. This year, it was Englerston. There,

Zontians turned the community orange, tying bright orange bows from street to street. Ann Marie Davis, representative of the Office of the Spouse of the

Prime Minister, and former representative Patricia Minnis together tied the first bow. But days later, a horrible domestic violence incident was filmed as a woman was dragged by a car right through the streets of Englerston. That led Zontians to increase the campaign, taking to the streets and radio stations to make a plea for Bahamians to put an end to genderbased violence. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, Zonta capped off the 16 days of advocacy with an event attended by Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, Lisa T Rahming, Dr Calae Philippe, Director of Family & Gender Affairs, and other dignitaries. Yesterday, Zontians pinned orange bows on Senators in the Upper House. On Sunday, a virtual church town hall meeting was held to bring educational awareness, accountability, and make a call to action for churches to spread the message. Zonta is an international organisation focused on educating and empowering women and girls. Zonta Club of New Providence had been leading the advocacy campaign to end violence against women and girls and gender-based violence for the past nine years.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, December 14, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS OIL WELL CREDITORS ACCEPT 84% DEBT HAIR-CUT FROM PAGE ONE business, which is in the process of being sourced by the company.” The creditors involved are not identified, and there was no mention as to whether Bahamian or local companies and service providers were among them. It is also unclear why creditors on Challenger/ BPC’s Bahamian exploratory well have agreed to effectively write-off some $9.3m, or 83.7 percent, of the debts owed to them. However, this settlement on the surface represents a significant victory for the oil exploration outfit in its battle for financial survival, as the Bahamas-related debts had accounted for over half is $22m liabilities. Challenger’s progress to restoring financial solvency and stability is likely to disappoint Bahamian environmental activists, who were doubtless hoping never to see from or hear of the company again. Its statement made no mention of the four Bahamas oil exploration licences it is seeking to renew, nor the status of negotiations on these with the Davis administration. The oil explorer also made no reference to outstanding licence fees owed to the Government from past exploration periods, which are thought to be over $1.5m, and whether these have been paid. This was seized upon by Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) executive director, who told this newspaper: “We still don’t know how much of the outstanding licence fees owed to The Bahamas have been paid. This is a serious concern. The statement doesn’t disclose that, and the Bahamian people deserve to know.” Mrs McKinney-Lambert also raised queries over Challenger’s statement that it may have to

pay a “top-up” premium to insurers who covered its Perseverance One well. The oil explorer said: “As a result of the ultimate cost of the Perseverance One well, a ‘top-up’ premium amount may be sought by insurers in relation to the final overall cost of the insurance. “This matter remains subject to negotiation with the insurers given that the well was completed safely and without incident almost 12 months ago.” However, the BREEF chief questioned what this was “all about”. “How can the insurance premium still be subject to negotiation?” she challenged. “How much does the company that drilled in our waters still owe the insurance providers? What was the level of coverage? We have asked what the minimum insurance required by the Government was, and to see the certificate of insurance to understand what was actually covered by the policy. “We heard BPC [Challenger] state that ‘fisheries and tourism were covered’. What does that actually mean? Fishermen and tour operators expressed extreme concern about the risks of drilling on the edge of the Great Bahama Bank. It’s clear that it is time for a ban on oil drilling in our waters.” Still, the Challenger statement makes clear that the Perseverance One creditor settlement is vital in inching the oil explorer back to financial health. “The previously reported aggregate payables, creditor, liability and other potential financial exposures on the balance sheet - of approximately $22m - will be reduced to approximately $2.5m,” it said. “The cost cutting programme embarked on in July 2021 is now also substantially complete. The company’s ongoing cashburn has been reduced from a high of $700,000 per

month in February 2021 to less than $200,000 per month currently. “The company’s current cash balance is $1.5m, and the Company is presently evaluating various funding alternatives to secure additional capital - both to enable timely payment of the final agreed creditor settlements in the 2022 first quarter (for which approximately $2m will be required), as well as to provide sufficient working capital thereafter.” Eytan Uliel, Challenger’s chief executive, was quoted as saying: “At the start of November, when advising of Challenger Energy’s financial results for the first half of 2021, I observed that technical results below expectation and substantial cost increases on two successive wells in The Bahamas and Trinidad, coupled with inherited legacy liabilities, had placed the company in a stressed financial position - one where aggregate payables, creditors, liabilities and potential financial exposures on the balance sheet substantially exceeded the company’s cash resources. “Since then, we have engaged in a comprehensive, company-wide balance sheet restructuring process, whereby the stressed financial position has been dealt with by way of agreed settlements with creditors, as well as various other agreed payment deferrals and similar actions. “The result is that the previously reported total of payables, creditors, liabilities and potential exposures of approximately $22m is expected to be reduced by approximately 85 percent by the end of the 2022 first quarter, with almost none of the residual being at the parent company level. Work is continuing to reduce this even further. Once this process is complete, the balance sheet of the company will have been substantially repaired.”

‘AGGRESSIVELY ADVANCE’ YACHT REGISTRY, SAYS AG FROM PAGE ONE “ This is a natural market for us in The Bahamas as we witness year after year the growing number of private and chartered yachts that call The Bahamas home and sail throughout our beautiful waters.” Suggesting that the foundations are already in place for this effort, Mr Pinder said the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) already “provides a straightforward, cost effective and efficient registration procedure for private and charter yachts of 12 metres in length and above, and for passenger yachts”. He added: “The only flag with a dedicated code for small charter yachts, the BMA is a pioneering flag with a passenger yachts code (PYC) to allow yachts to carry more than 12, and up to 36, passengers, meeting the growing demand from yacht owners to be able to carry more guests on board. “The BMA has developed specific technical

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and surveys requirements, tailored to small (12 to 24 metres) and large (over 24 metres) yachts in charter (commercial) or private (non-commercial) use and for private yachts in restricted charter use.” Mr Pinder then pledged: “We will support the BMA in these efforts, and I will work with my colleague minister of transport (Jobeth Coleby-Davis) to ensure that the legislation and framework is worldclass to better attract the yachting industry to be part of the ‘blue economy’ of The Bahamas. “Just as we are doing here with the Merchant Shipping Act to stay at the head of the class and be respected worldwide, we want to be regarded as the same with respect to the yachting and private charter industry of the maritime industry. “We see more and more opportunities for Bahamians in this industry as crew on the charter boats. These

opportunities provide for well-paying jobs for Bahamians within our waters ,and as I watch this industry grow year-on-year, I see more and more Bahamians as crew, chefs and engineers on these vessels,” he added. “We are also seeing Bahamians become the captains of these private and charter yachts. We might want to consider expanding the curriculum and educational opportunities at the LJM Maritime Academy to the yachting industry.” Turning to the Merchant Shipping Bill, Mr Pinder said The Bahamas “punches far above our weight class” in the international maritime sector. “This legislation forms the basis for The Bahamas to expand upon its commitment to the ‘blue economy’, and is a fundamental component of expanded opportunities for Bahamians in the maritime industry globally,” he added.

THE TRIBUNE