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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021
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Year ends seeing first shoots of growth By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE Central Bank of The Bahamas said that the economy will “register marginal growth” for 2021. The bank, in its Monthly Economic and Financial Developments (MFED) for November, said: “The domestic economy is projected to register marginal growth in 2021, undergirded by ongoing improvements in the tourism sector. In this
context, further strengthening in tourism output remains reliant upon sustained progress at the global level, in curtailing and lowering the spread of COVID-19. In addition, several new and ongoing foreign investment-led projects, along with posthurricane rebuilding works, are expected to provide support to the construction sector. “In terms of labour market conditions, the unemployment rate is anticipated to remain elevated
over the near term, with any job gains occurring primarily in the construction sector and the full re-engagement of tourism sector employees. With regard to prices, inflationary pressures are forecaste to remain contained, although some firming is estimated, due to the rise in international oil prices. “On the fiscal front, subdued revenue collections and costs associated with health and social welfare
THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE BAHAMAS
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Love Beach project was passed on appeal Giving back as a By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE View Love Beach development was initially rejected by the Town Planning Committee only to be later approved by an appeals board. Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works with responsibility for Physical Planning, told Tribune Business that “the
View Love Beach” project was approved in August, 2021, just a few weeks before the last general election. Mr Smith also said the Town Planning Committee at the time – which was then headed by the current Free National Movement (FNM) Member of Parliament for St Anne’s, Adrian White – rejected the project. However, the project was later approved through the Town Planning Subdivision
and Development Appeal Board (TPSDAC), which we were told had no chairman at the time of the approval in late August, 2021. Mr Smith said: When the TPSDAC approved the project to proceed, letters went out to all of the community informing them of the board’s decision to allow the project to proceed. So persons in the community should have
been aware of the decision made by the board.” The composition of the original TPSDAC consisted of Pericles Maillis as chairman, who resigned for unknown reasons earlier in 2021, along with Claire Hepburn, former Attorney General and Senator under the FNM government in 2007-2008 as well as a retired supreme court justice, Patrick Rahming, Lloyd Turnquest, Stephen
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sign of thanks By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN catering partnership is giving back to the community to help in the fight against COVID-19. The New Duff and Bahleaf Teas said they are celebrating the one year anniversary of their store opening on West Bay Street by giving back to some of their loyal customers and health care personnel at Princess Margaret Hospital over the past two weeks. “Since the second week in December, two customers per day were chosen at random to choose a gift under the tree in the store which had a tasty prize attached to be redeemed at the time of their choosing. There was also a ‘Write to Santa’ raffle where parents got to fill out an ‘envelope
to Santa’ after a purchase and place it in the store’s mailbox outside the store to enter their child to win a Christmas gift. Two lucky kids were the winners of tablets, courtesy of the partnered Bahamian brands.” Ryan Lightboune, coowner and Operations Director of The New Duff, commented, ‘It’s been a long road fighting through the challenges of the pandemic, but we’ve managed to continue to grow thanks to our loyal customers. This Christmas raffle was really exciting for us as we really wanted to give back to the people who helped get us to where we are today.” “December 17 saw the Radiology, Pharmacy, Diagnostics and Medical Records departments at Princess Margaret Hospital receive 100 guava duff and 100 loose leaf tea packets
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Small is beautiful as wedding planners gear up By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net DESTINATION weddings have the Bahamas Bridal Association’s members busy straight through to the early months of next year, its president said yesterday. Cindy Coakley-Knowles, told Tribune Business yesterday that wedding planners will be busy straight into February with “weddings every weekend”. “We are all busy with destination events. We are experiencing a very busy New Year’s weekend with the exception of one or two members,” she said.
She cautioned, however, that these weddings are all “micro weddings” consisting of less than 20 people in attendance, but they all still have to pay for photographers, wedding licences and booking venues to have their event. “For 50 or so guests for destination weddings that’s huge, but I know for Bahamian weddings that is kind of small. But for a destination wedding anywhere from 40 and up would be large. But now, for example, my wedding on Saturday only has eight persons in total and we are seeing a lot of other planners reporting that they are
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CHINA URGES US TO GIVING BACK AS A PROTECT ITS SPACE SIGN OF THANKS STATION FROM SATELLITES FROM PAGE ONE
BEIJING (AP) — China is calling on the United States to protect a Chinese space station and its threemember crew after Beijing complained that satellites launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly struck the station. A foreign ministry spokesman accused Washington on Tuesday of ignoring its treaty obligations to protect the safety of the Tiangong station’s three-member crew following the July 1 and Oct. 21 incidents. The Tiangong performed “evasive maneuvers” to “prevent a potential collision” with Starlink satellites launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., the government said in a Dec. 6 complaint to the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The United States should “take immediate measures to prevent such incidents from happening again,” said the spokesman, Zhao Lijian. Zhao accused Washington of failing to carry out its obligations to “protect the
only serving a couple. But with that all we have to do for a couple is provide the required witnesses. Other than that we’re seeing anywhere from a couple to a maximum of 10 people at a wedding.” Ms Coakley-Knowles also said: “Depending on the size and the time of the wedding, we can do more than one wedding a day, but to my knowledge no one is
IN this Dec. 1, 2020, file photo, SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award in Berlin. China is calling on the United States to protect a Chinese space station and its three-member crew after Beijing complained that satellites launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly struck the station. Photo:Hannibal Hanschke/AP safety of astronauts” under a 1967 treaty on the peaceful use of space. The American Embassy in Beijing didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk also is chairman of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, Inc. The company opened its first factory outside the United States in Shanghai in 2019.
The Tiangong, however, is a prestige project for the ruling Communist Party, making it unlikely Beijing would tolerate disruption even by a major foreign investor in China. The main module of the Tiangong was launched in April. Its first crew returned to Earth in September following a 90-day mission.
doing more than one wedding now, but most of them have work.” This end of 2021 is a far cry from the pain the Bahamas Bridal Association members endured in 2020 when there was no work at all, as the country’s borders were shut down and heavy restrictions were placed on social gatherings for even local weddings. Ms Coakley-Knowles said about the local wedding scene coming back,
Melvin, and Casuarina McKinney-Lambert. Ms McKinney-Lambert told Tribune Business that she “wasn’t there at the meeting when that matter came up” on the approval for The View Love Beach and said it must have been approved without the board’s knowledge or input.
When confronted with the fact that at the time of the approval, the board’s chairman Mr Maillis had already resigned, Ms McKinney-Lambert added: “The board hasn’t been meeting for a while, but I definitely didn’t see it.” Tribune Business is not aware of anyone who was acting as chairman of the
committee after Mr Maillis was said to have resigned. Mr Smith also said: “Those boards have all now been dissolved after the last general elections and a new board has not been appointed yet. But at that time there would have been a board, which was appointed by the previous government at that time, but this is now a new
“It’s not as much as the destination weddings now, but we are seeing a few. There are a few locals in there that are trending along the same route of smaller weddings because they know they have to.” The COVID-19 restrictions are in place for large gatherings during this period of heightened awareness around the Omicron variant and its higher level of contagion.
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL AS WEDDING PLANNERS GEAR UP FROM PAGE ONE
from The New Duff and Bahleaf Teas.” Thelma Rolle-Fernander, Assistant Director for Princess Margaret Hospital, said: “The New Duff has a lot of fans here at the hospital and we were equally excited to hear that Bahleaf Teas are partnered with them. We’re incredibly appreciative of their business and outreach accomplishment and it definitely helped to spread
Christmas cheer throughout the departments. We stand with the community to congratulate them on the store’s one year and wish them continued sweet success!” Reflecting on the past year and connecting with the staff at PMH, Ryan Winters, owner of Bahleaf, said: “Partnering with The New Duff has been an incredibly enriching and fun experience for both companies, and the growth we’ve experienced in the
LOVE BEACH PROJECT WAS PASSED ON APPEAL FROM PAGE ONE
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government which will have a new TPSDC.” Some of the concerns about The View Love Beach were addressed, however, by the TPSDAC, one of them was whether or not the project would have a hotel component to it. Mr Smith said: “I don’t think it calls for a hotel at all. Basically it will be residential accommodations, apartments and multi-family residential accommodations. “I do know this was reviewed and approved by the TPSDAC. As said, the
Town Planning Committee had refused it, but it was subsequently approved on appeal to the TPSDAC. “With respect to the height restrictions, residents would want to know the question of restrictive covenants was extinguished and so there are no restrictive covenants regarding heights.” Essentially this means the development can go higher than the allocated 55 feet in the air. “The project is going to proceed,” said Mr Smith.
past year has been astounding. We have an incredible staff at the store who we owe a great deal of appreciation to, and, of course, to our local and international community who challenge us to continually craft a great experience at the store. Giving back to the frontline workers at PMH is just one of the many ways we hope to give back to the community entering our second year having a brick and mortar.’” Dr Mirko Kovats, the Austrian born billionaire and Lyford Cay resident is behind the project which had drawn opposition from the Love Beach community. Dr Kovats’ office has been trying hard to dampen any unease about the project. Dr Kovats’s office representative, Dr Wolfgang Groeger, contacted this newspaper to ask Tribune Business: “What is controversial about investing $150m on our land in an approved investment?” Questioning such projects, he claimed, were “damaging The Bahamas’ reputation as a location for urgently needed FDI.”
YEAR ENDS SEEING FIRST SHOOTS OF GROWTH FROM PAGE ONE
related to COVID-19, combined with spending still for ongoing restoration of key infrastructure following the 2019 major storm, are expected to weigh heavily on Government’s fiscal outturn. In addition, forecasted revenue shortfalls should continue, with expectations that taxable economic activity should remain below capacity, improving mostly in line with tourism recovery. Accordingly, the budgetary gap will be financed with important use of external credit, but with a likely higher percentage
of the total funding from domestic sources.” The bank also said: “Monetary sector developments will continue to be marked by elevated levels of banking sector liquidity, due to commercial banks maintaining their conservative lending stance. Likewise, external reserve balances are anticipated to surpass its 2020 levels, despite some seasonal drawdowns over the rest of the year, with the greater share of foreign currency demand satisfied by private sector receipts. Consequently, external balances are poised to remain more
than adequate to sustain the Bahamian dollar currency peg. “Based on the current outlook, the Central Bank will retain its accommodative stance for private sector credit and continue to pursue policies that ensure a favourable outturn for external reserves, and mitigate financial sector disruptions. In addition, the Bank will continue to assess developments within the foreign exchange market, and if necessary, adopt appropriate measures to support a positive outcome for the foreign reserves.”
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Thursday, December 30, 2021, PAGE 3
SUITS AGAINST OXYCONTIN OWNERS ON HOLD; NEGOTIATIONS ORDERED GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press EVEN though one judge rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s sweeping settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the opioid crisis, another refused Wednesday to allow litigation to move ahead just yet against members of the Sackler family who own the company — but also ordered negotiations for a reworked settlement. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain on Wednesday granted Purdue’s request to extend an injunction until Feb. 1 protecting the company and the Sacklers from litigation. He also ordered Purdue, the Sacklers, the states and other parties to negotiate a new settlement. In a hearing conducted Wednesday via video conference, the White Plains, New York-based judge warned the family and others that he would end the protections early if there are not serious talks toward a new settlement. “If the parties do not negotiate in good faith,” he said, “they will face the consequences of the injunction unraveling.” Drain is the same judge who approved the
company’s settlement in September. The deal had been hashed out over two years of negotiations and mediation in bankruptcy court. Eventually, lawyers for the overwhelming majority of local governments and states signed on. The plan called for members of the Sackler family to give up ownership of Purdue, which would be transformed into a new company whose profits would be used to fight the opioid crisis. Sackler family members would also contribute $4.5 billion in cash and charitable assets, with the money to go to victims of the crisis and efforts to end the crisis, which has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000, counting overdoses of both prescription opioids and illicit ones, such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl. In exchange for the contributions, Sackler family members were also granted protections from lawsuits over opioids. But eight states and one office in the U.S. Department of Justice objected. They said it was improper for them to be forced to give up their right to sue members of the Sackler
A PROTESTER gathers containers that look like OxyContin bottles at an anti-opioid demonstration in front of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington, on April 5, 2019. A judge has kept lawsuits against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family who own it on hold until Feb. 1, 2022, but ordered the parties involved to negotiate a new settlement. Photo:Patrick Semansky/AP family, who themselves were not seeking bankruptcy protection. The holdout states argued that the $4.5 billion does not properly hold the family members accountable. In December, U.S District Judge Colleen McMahon ruled in favor of those states, finding that judges do not have
authority to grant thirdparty releases as Drain did. Purdue said it would appeal that ruling while also trying again to strike a settlement deal that all the states would be willing to join. The Stamford, Connecticut-based company also asked Drain to protect it and the family from lawsuits while that’s sorted out. A injunction
previously in place was to expire Thursday. Two states — Connecticut and Washington — argued that suits against the Sacklers should be allowed to move ahead immediately. Those states said they would not move ahead now with litigation against the company. Irve Goldman, a lawyer for Connecticut, said in
court Wednesday that their suits against the Sacklers won’t be resumed immediately if the family members are in good-faith settlement negotiations. He also said that the Sacklers have not been in such talks so far since the settlement was dissolved on Dec. 16. Lawyers for Sackler family did not speak at Wednesday’s hearing. Representatives of the family did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. Connecticut and Washington said in a filing that the Sacklers would agree to an appropriate settlement only if lawsuits can move ahead and they “are then forced to come to grips with the prospect of continued litigation against them.” But Benjamin Kaminetzky, a lawyer for Purdue, told Drain in court that the opposite was true. “If the stay is lifted, everyone will be scrambling to get their claims on file as quickly as possible,” he said. “In this environment, negotiations would be an afterthought at best, likely a no-thought.” Still, he said that if the Sackler family does not negotiate in January, Purdue would not seek further injunctions to protect the family from lawsuits.
WHO CHIEF WORRIED ABOUT ‘TSUNAMI’ OF OMICRON, DELTA CASES By GEIR MOULSON Associated Press BERLIN (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that he’s worried about the omicron and delta variants of COVID-19 producing a “tsunami” of cases between them, but he’s still hopeful that the world will put the worst of the pandemic behind it in 2022. Two years after the coronavirus first emerged, top officials with the U.N. health agency cautioned that it’s still too early to be reassured by initial data suggesting that omicron, the latest variant, leads to milder disease. First reported last month in southern Africa, it is already the dominant variant in the United States and parts of Europe. And after 92 of the WHO’s 194 member countries missed a target to vaccinate 40% of their populations by the end of this year, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged everyone to make a “new year’s resolution” to get behind a campaign to vaccinate 70% of countries’ populations by the beginning of July. According to WHO’s figures, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded worldwide increased by 11% last week compared with the previous week, with nearly 4.99 million newly reported from Dec. 20-26. New cases in Europe — which accounted for more than half of the total
— were up 3% while those in the Americas rose 39% and there was a 7% increase in Africa. The global gain followed a gradual increase since October. “I’m highly concerned that omicron, being more transmissible (and) circulating at the same time as delta, is leading to a tsunami of cases,” Tedros said at an online news conference. That, he said, will put “immense pressure on exhausted health workers and health systems on the brink of collapse.” WHO said in its weekly epidemiological report that the “overall risk” related to omicron “remains very high.” It cited “consistent evidence” that it has a growth advantage over the delta variant. It noted that a decline in case incidence has been seen in South Africa, and that early data from that
country, the U.K. and Denmark suggest a reduced risk of hospitalization with omicron, but said that more data is needed. WHO’s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, underlined that note of caution. He said it will be important in coming weeks to “suppress transmission of both variants to the minimum that we can.” Ryan said that omicron infections began largely among young people, “but what we haven’t seen is the omicron wave fully established in the broader population. And I’m a little nervous to make positive predictions until we see how well the vaccine protection is going to work in those older and more vulnerable populations.” WHO officials didn’t offer specific comments on decisions by the U.S. and other countries to reduce
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that JEFFREY VERNISE of Warren Street, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of December, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
self-isolation periods. Ryan said “these are judgement calls that countries make” — taking into account scientific, economic and other factors. He noted that the average incubation period to date has been around five to six days. “We need to be careful about changing tactics and strategies immediately on the basis of what we’re seeing” about omicron, Ryan said.
Tedros renewed longstanding warnings that “ending health inequity remains the key to ending the pandemic.” He said that missing the target of getting 40% of populations vaccinated this year “is not only a moral shame — it cost lives and provided the virus with opportunities to circulate unchecked and mutate.” Countries largely missed the target because of
limited supply to lowincome nations for most of the year and then vaccines arriving close to their expiry date, without things such as syringes, he said. All the same, “I still remain optimistic that this can be the year we can not only end the acute stage of the pandemic, but we also chart a path to stronger health security,” Tedros said.
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVES CALIFORNIA’S MEDICAID OVERHAUL By DON THOMPSON Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. government has approved California’s overhaul of the nation’s largest insurance program for low-income and disabled residents, officials said Wednesday, a decision that among other things allows Medicaid money to be spent on housing-related services as the most populous state struggles with homelessness and a lack of affordable housing. CalAIM — California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal — intends a more comprehensive approach that improves the “entire continuum of care” across the program that California calls Medi-Cal, according to the California Department of Health Care Services. Starting with the new year Saturday, California will among other things expand what had been a limited “whole person care pilot program” to eligible Medi-Cal members statewide. “We’re making MediCal, which provides health care to one-third of all Californians, the most comprehensive, robust such program in the entire country,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Aside from covering one of every three Californians, Medi-Cal covers more than half of school-age children,
half of births in California, and more than two of every three patient days in longterm care facilities, officials said. The goal of the new approach is to prioritize prevention and address underlying societal conditions, particularly in populations that have had fewer health care services and faced structural racism in health care, said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. California’s Medicaid program offers government-funded insurance to people 50 and over and 25 and younger regardless of their immigration status. California has the nation’s largest Medicaid program. Medi-Cal benefits will not change. But what are known as “enhanced care management services” can now include a “care coordinator” under Medi-Cal managed care plans. The coordinator can help Medi-Cal members find doctors, schedule appointments and set up medical transportation. The coordinator can also help members understand their medications, secure mental health services, and locate and apply for communitybased services such as housing subsidies or food assistance. “The goal here is to extend supports and services beyond hospitals and
A HOMELESS person sleeps outside the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center hospital entrance in Los Angeles, late Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. The U.S. government has approved California’s overhaul of the nation’s largest insurance program for low-income and disabled residents, officials said Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, a decision that among other things allows Medicaid money to be spent on housing-related services as the most populous state struggles with homelessness and a lack of affordable housing. PHOTO:Damian Dovarganes/AP health care settings directly into communities that need it most,” said Tina Rivera, interim director of Sonoma County’s Health Services Department. The state is shifting four programs — Medi-Cal Managed Care, Dental Managed Care, Specialty Mental Health Services, and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System — into one coordinating authority. Officials said that is intended to simplify and align the programs while
standardizing benefits and enrollment. Medicaid services will now for the first time formally include substance abuse treatment, including short-term residential treatment when needed. The program also expands certain dental benefits statewide, including efforts to spot risk factors for dental decay in children and provide silver diamine fluoride for kids and other high-risk populations.
The state promises under the new system to better coordinate programs under one managed care plan for older residents who are eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare. The federal approvals also renew a statewide
funding pool for care provided to California’s remaining uninsured residents, such as those served by public hospitals. Those 21 public health care systems include just 6% of California’s hospitals, but they said they provide 40% of hospital care to the remaining uninsured and 35% of hospital care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Erica Murray, president and CEO of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, said that funding pool “gives public health systems flexibilities to deliver the right care in the right setting to the uninsured.” The new approvals also restore coverage of chiropractic services for Indian Health Service and tribal facilities, coverage that had been eliminated in 2009. California expects approval from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services early next year to expand services for adults and youth involved in the criminal justice system before they are released from incarceration, so they continue receiving those services in the community.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that we, Lamar Philip Sergio Davis (father) and Kenrica Capron (mother) of 123 Major Road, Yellow Elder, New Providence, Bahamas, parents of KATELYN MICHAELLA WILLIAMS a minor, intends to change our child’s name to KATELYN MARION DAVIS. 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.
CAVES VILLAGE Premium Office Space for Lease 850 sq.ft. 3 offices, reception, conference room, kitchen $2,125.00 pm. plus CAM and VAT 1,056 sq.ft. 4 offices, conference room, reception, kitchen $2,640.00 pm. plus CAM and VAT 2,225 sq.ft. 5 offices, conference room, reception, kitchen, $6,118.75 pm. plus CAM and VAT Contact Mr. Sean McCarroll 327-1575 or 359-2957 Email: sean@mccarrollrealestate.com
PUBLIC NOTICE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE PRIVATE ROADWAYS AND PARKING AREAS SITUATED IN THE HARBOUR BAY SHOPPING PLAZA BETWEEN EAST BAY STREET AND SHIRLEY STREET WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAY 1ST JANUARY 2022 IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT OF WAY OWNERSHIP THEREOF. THE OWNERS
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PUTIN: NEW GERMANY-BOUND PIPELINE MAY HELP REDUCE PRICES By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a new pipeline to Germany has been fully filled with natural gas, noting that it could help quickly reduce soaring European energy prices. The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline is currently awaiting approval from Germany and the European Union, and officials warned that a decision won't come in the first half of 2022. The first of its two links was filled with gas in October, and Russia's state-controlled Gazprom
natural gas company reported Wednesday that it had completed filling the second one to make it fully ready for operation. Putin pointed at surging energy prices in Europe, adding that Nord Stream 2 could help quickly stabilize the markets. "This new additional route will certainly help stabilize prices on the European markets," Putin said at a meeting with energy officials. "It would undoubtedly impact prices on the spot market, and consumers in the countries that use the Russian gas will immediately feel it." The new 1,234-kilometer (765-mile) pipeline, which has an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters (1.9
LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Golden Lotus Heights Limited is complete this 24th day of December, A. D., 2021.
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator
trillion cubic feet), would double the volume of gas pumped by Gazprom directly to Germany, adding to a similar pipeline under the Baltic Sea and circumventing existing links through Poland and Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 critics in the U.S., Ukraine and Poland warn that it will
Thursday, December 30, 2021, PAGE 5 increase Russia's leverage over Europe, pit EU member states against each other and deprive Ukraine of transit revenues. Washington has stressed targeting Nord Stream 2 to counter any new Russian military move against Ukraine. Moscow has denied Western allegations that it was hatching plans to attack Ukraine. It has insisted that Nord Stream 2 is a purely commercial project that will help ensure more reliable long-term supply and help save billions in transit fees paid to Poland and Ukraine.
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting via videoconference at the Konstantin Palace presidential residence in Strelna, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. Photo:Alexei Nikolsky/AP
GN 2655
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Junior Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) Analyst
Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness: Business Analyst Country: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Supporting Institution: Inter-American Development Bank Programme: Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness Project Number: BH-L1045 Loan Number: LO-4549 / OC-BH Sector: Reform / Modernization of the State Sub-Sector: E-Government Deadline: 6 January, 2022 Post: Junior Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) Analyst Post Location: Nassau, Bahamas Reports to: The CIRT Analyst The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), toward the cost of the Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the consulting services of three (3) Junior Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) Analysts. The consulting services (“the Services”) include assisting in protecting national and economic security, the ongoing operations of the Government, and the ability of critical infrastructures to continue to function. The contractual position is 12 months renewable annually based on satisfactory performance. Main responsibilities include: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Andbank (Bahamas) Limited is complete this 24th day of December, A. D., 2021.
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator
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Reports to the CIRT Analyst. Monitors security dashboards to view events and alerts of potential threats, intrusions and indicators of compromise. Provides Tier I support by analysing network traffic and various logs to determine potentially malicious activity. Proactively identify gaps and suggest possible improvements on procedures and configuration standards. Assist with investigating cybersecurity-related incidents, forensic investigations, and incident response; collect, summarize, and chronologically document security event information. Remediates and apply lessons learned to security incident investigation and resolution. Support and maintain security technologies and test security solutions using industry-standard analysis criteria. Documents security incidents in a tracking system. Identifies and executes projects that improve intrusion detection and incident response capabilities to ensure that enterprise security risks are detected, communicated and managed. Document and escalate unresolved security issues to the next level of support in accordance with the procedures and contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Performs vulnerability assessments and health checks for Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). Develop and deliver security awareness training to internal and external stakeholders Document, mitigate and correct security deficiencies identified during security assessments. Works a flexible shift, which may include either working on a weekend, on a public holiday or at Z Yh ^d &KZ yWZ ^^/KE^ K& /Ed Z ^d night. Computer Incident (CIRT) Analyst Lead cybersecurityJunior projects assigned byResponse the CIRTTeam Analyst Any other duties as assigned. Performing other duties as required
The successful candidate should have the following ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science/ICT/Engineering – Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer or any relevant area, from an accredited college/university. Professional Certification in any related field such as CISA /Security +/ Network +/ CEH shall be added advantage. Possess at least one (1) year of working experience in the Cybersecurity/Information Security/Information Technology Excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills would be an asset. Knowledge of cybersecurity and IT frameworks such as ITIL and COBIT, ISO 27001, CIS, NIST, CIS, CSF is preferred. Excellent organizational and communications skills (written, listening and verbal). Familiarity with intrusion detection and protection, log management, firewalls, and anti-virus systems. Knowledge of a range of security concepts, protocols, and supporting security tools to analyse multiple data sources to identify indicators of compromise. Knowledge of cyber-security threats, vulnerabilities, controls and remediation strategies in mobile devices and telecommunications infrastructure enterprise environment. Knowledge of risk assessments and cryptographic technologies. Demonstrates analytical and diagnostic skills. Ability to document security events and analyse them clearly and concisely. Self-starter who demonstrates initiative and is willing to assume responsibility. Good interpersonal skills to interact with customers, team members, and support personnel. Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, current cyber threats and vulnerabilities, attack methodology, and basic understanding of the cyber risk profile of The Bahamas Residence with the right to work in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is mandatory.
The Office of the Prime Minister now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Consultants will be selected in accordance with the National Competitive Bidding Selection procedures set out in the IDB’s: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the IDB and it is open to all eligible bidders as defined in these policies. Consultants will be selected in accordance with the International Competitive Bidding Selection method set out in Selection and Contracting of Firms Policies. Only Short-Listed Individuals will be contacted. Further information can be obtained by E-mail: DTUPROCUREMENT@bahamas.gov.bs. All CVs and qualification documents must be submitted Re: Junior CIRT Analyst to E-mail: DTUPROCUREMENT@bahamas.gov.bs on or before 5:00 pm on 6 January 2022.
PAGE 8, Thursday, December 30, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
More cruise ships under CDC investigation due to COVID cases By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON MIAMI, Florida THE U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating more cruise ships due to new cases of COVID-19 as the omicron variant drives extremely high infection levels in the industry hub of Florida. The CDC said 88 vessels are now either under investigation or observation, but it did not specify how many COVID-19 cases have been reported. Four other vessels are also being monitored by the CDC as well. Florida hit a new record for daily cases on Tuesday with 46,900 new cases in a day. Since Christmas, the state’s 7-day average of daily cases has surpassed previous records set during last summer’s surge, rising to 29,400 infections. Coronavirus hospitalizations in the state have also risen from about 1,200 patients two weeks ago to about 3,400 on Wednesday.
But that is still less than one-fifth the number of hospitalizations reported in late August due to the delta wave. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling for the CDC and cruise lines to again halt cruise travel, six months after the industry mounted its comeback. “Our warnings have proved sadly prescient and continuously compelling. Time for CDC and cruise lines to protect consumers, again pause — docking their ships,” the Connecticut senator posted on Twitter. Cruise lines have not announced any plans to halt cruising. And the CDC did not say it would adopt any changes, adding it still had plans to allow for the expiration of a set of rules that cruises must follow to sail during the pandemic. The regulation, called a conditional sailing order, is scheduled to expire on Jan. 15 to become a voluntary program. “CDC acknowledges that it is not possible for
CARNIVAL Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Miami. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating more cruise ships due to new COVID-19 cases aboard. The agency says 88 vessels are now either under investigation or observation, but it does not specify how many cases have been reported. Photo:Wilfredo Lee/AP
cruising to be a zero-risk activity,” CDC spokesperson Jasmine Reed said in an emailed statement. Most lines require adult passengers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Cruise ships are allowed to relax measures such as mask use if at least 95% of passengers
and 95% of crew are fully vaccinated. The federal agency recommends that people avoid cruise travel if they are at increased risk of severe illness, regardless of vaccination status. None of the ships so far appear to have so many cases that they
LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
“Our warnings have proved sadly prescient and continuously compelling. Time for CDC and cruise lines to protect consumers, again pause — docking their ships.” Richard Blumenthal would
overwhelm
medi-
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
cal resources on board and
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Strawberry Hill Limited is complete this 24th day of December, A. D., 2021.
But some have been denied
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator
require a return to port. entry at some foreign ports.
Several Florida-based ships have reported outbreaks. The Carnival Freedom was denied entry to Aruba and Bonaire after an undisclosed number of passengers and crew aboard caught the virus. Some cruise ships have not been allowed to disembark in Mexican ports due to cases reported, bringing to memory the early days of the pandemic when cruise lines negotiated docking plans as ships were being turned away by officials worried about the virus’s spread. The Mexican government said Tuesday it would allow cruise ships with reported coronavirus cases to dock. The country’s Health Department said passengers or crew who show no symptoms will be allowed to come ashore normally, while those with symptoms or a positive virus test will be quarantined or given medical care.
LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Canopus II International Inc. is complete this 24th day of December, A.D., 2021.
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Palm Lotus Holdings Limited is complete this 24th December, A.D., day of 2021.
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator LIQUIDATOR’S FINAL STATEMENT International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (6) of the International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) the winding up and liquidation of Pink Lotus Holdings Limited this 24th day of December 2021.
Craig A. (Tony) Gomez Liquidator
PAGE 10, Thursday, December 30, 2021
NEVADA CASINOS GO RECORD 9 MONTHS WITH $1B IN HOUSE WINNINGS By KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada casinos set a record in November, reporting a ninth straight month of $1 billion or more in house winnings, gambling regulators said Wednesday, providing another sign that business in the nation’s tourist-dependent gambling mecca has returned to prepandemic levels. The $1.32 billion in casino winnings reported statewide last month was up
from $1.22 billion in October, and almost reached the record $1.36 billion figure set last July, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported. The streak beat the previous record of eight consecutive months set before the Great Recession, from October 2006 to May 2007, board senior analyst Michael Lawton said. Nevada sports betting also set records — reaping a record $72 million in November on sports wagers totaling $1.1 billion.
Lawton said the previous record was $61.8 million in sports bets won by casinos in November 2020, and he noted sports books took in more than $1 billion in wagers in consecutive months for the first time. Most sports wagers were made with mobile betting apps. “The continued acceptance of mobile sports wagering by customers is driving these results,” Lawton said. “This month represented the highest monthly total recorded
in mobile (bets) since the board began tracking these wagers in January 2020.” Business generally has been buoyed by visitors with money to spend, Lawton said, and a sustained rebound of leisure travel and the return in early November of airline flights from international places other than Canada and Mexico. Special events and entertainment also helped push casino winnings for the year-to-date to almost 12% past 2019 levels.
THE TRIBUNE
A STACK of hundred-dollar bills sits on a craps table in the casino of the Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, on March 25, 2021, in Las Vegas. Nevada casinos set a record in November, reporting a ninth straight month of $1 billion or more in house winnings in a sign that business in the nation’s tourist dependent gambling mecca has returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. Photo:John Locher/AP
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, December 30, 2021, PAGE 11
STOCKS MEANDER HIGHER, SCORING RECORD HIGHS FOR S&P 500, DOW By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer
A WOBBLY day of trading on Wall Street ended with most stock indexes managing slight gains, enough for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average to score all-time highs. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% after having been down 0.2% in the early going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% and the Nasdaq slipped 0.1%. All three indexes started the day slightly in the green. The benchmark S&P 500 index, which also set a record highs Monday and last Thursday, has now posted 70 record highs for the year. In the post-World War II era, that’s the most new highs for the index since the 77 it set in 1954. The Dow last set a record high in early November. The major U.S. stock indexes are on pace to close out this year with strong gains. With two trading days left this year, the S&P 500 is headed for a gain of more than 27% for 2021. That would be its best performance since 2019, another banner year for the market. Better-than-expected corporate earnings growth helped fuel the market’s rise this year and kept the indexes climbing to new highs, said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. “As we finish out this quarter, earnings expectations by analysts have been ticking slightly higher for 2021,” he said. “That’s part and parcel of what’s driven so many all-time highs. Things were much better than anticipated as we moved through the whole year.” The S&P 500 rose 6.71 points to 4,793.06. The Dow added 90.42 points to 36,488.63. The Nasdaq slipped 15.51 points to 15,766.22. Smaller company stocks also rose. The Russell 2000
“As we finish out this quarter, earnings expectations by analysts have been ticking slightly higher for 2021. That’s part and parcel of what’s driven so many alltime highs. Things were much better than anticipated as we moved through the whole year.” Rob Haworth index gained 2.74 points, or 0.1%, to 2,249.24. Gains in health care and technology stocks helped lift the S&P 500 Wednesday. Biogen jumped 9.5% for the biggest gain in the index, while Micron Technology rose 3.5%. Retailers and companies reliant on consumer spending were among the better performers coming off the Christmas holiday shopping season. Target, Nike, Kroger and AutoZone all rose 1.3% or more. Losses in communication, energy and financial stocks kept the market’s gains in check. Facebook parent Meta Platforms slipped 0.9%, Exxon Mobil dropped 0.9% and Morgan Stanley fell 1.2%. Investors have become more comfortable with the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the last couple of weeks. The quickly spreading virus appears to be less severe and cause less death and hospitalization than other versions of the virus. However, much is still uncertain about
omicron, which is spreading extremely quickly and leading to a return to pandemic restrictions in some places. The variant is quickly becoming the dominant strain throughout the world. “What the market is still trying to sort out is what is the impact of the rise in omicron cases here in the U.S.,” Haworth said. While virus-related lockdowns and travel restrictions remain a big concern, most big investors have closed out their positions for 2021 and are likely to hold their ground until next week. Trading this week has been slow, with less than 3 billions shares exchanging hands on the New York Stock Exchange the last two days, compared to the 4.5 billion shares typically bought and sold on an average day.
THIS Nov. 23, 2020 file photo shows the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stocks are edging higher on Wall Street in early trading Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, sending the S&P 500 slightly above the record closing high it set on Monday. Photo:Seth Wenig/AP