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Volume: 119 No.32, January 7, 2022
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BRAVE’S WIFE URGES VICTIMS - SPEAK OUT THE Office of the Her statement referred Spouse will reach out to vic- to a recent Tribune featims of sexual violence and ture article about a book domestic abuse by Sheron J N and partner with Baptiste, who organisations chronicled the in the coming horrors and weeks in its subsequent fallcontinued and out from her committed fight personal experiagainst these ence with sexual issues. molestation, In a statement a traditionally released yestertaboo and closday, Mrs Ann eted subject in Marie Davis, polite Bahamian representative of society. ANN Marie Davis the Office of the “Like too Spouse of the Prime Min- many of our young girls, ister, encouraged victims to boys and women, the victim come forward to help elimi- could have suffered in nate the stigma attached to SEE PAGE THREE domestic abuse.
DIANE PHILLIPS: STRANGE AS A 3-DOLLAR BILL, BUT IT’S REAL AND I GET IT
SEE PAGE NINE
MY JOB BEFORE RAWSON SQUARE LIGHTS
FREE TESTING PILOT STARTS TOMORROW
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PEOPLE in New Providence will be able to get a free rapid antigen test through the government’s pilot testing programme starting tomorrow, according to Press Secretary Clint Watson. Mr Watson said people can register for the test at covidtest.gov.bs from today. The tests will be administered at the Kendal Isaacs Gym and the Melia hotel;
the gym will be a drivethrough site. People who are experiencing symptoms are asked to visit the South Beach Clinic for a free test. “Those of you who want to participate in testing, we encourage you to do that,” Mr Watson said. “If you’re not experiencing any conditions whatsoever, you go to those particular facilities for your free testing. For those of you who are having symptoms, you are going to do testing at the South SEE PAGE FOUR
EVENT designer Kasimu Ellis was part of the team behind the recent spectacular Christmas decorations at Rawson Square. Before that, he worked as an RBDF officer and a protective agent with the US Embassy in The Bahamas. He was then appointed as the Ambassador’s protective detail at the embassy. When VIP visitors like former US President Bill Clinton came to The Bahamas, it was Kasimu’s responsibility to ensure their safety. See the Weekend section for more.
ISSUES FINDING ANSWERS TREASURY TARGETTING $400M PROPERTY TAXES ON GOVT COVID SPENDING
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Government is aiming to more-than-triple annual real property tax collections to at least $400m as a key component in its ambitions to achieve a 25 percent revenue-to-GDP ratio.
Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business that it felt yearly property tax collections should be equivalent to 3.5 percent of Bahamian gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output as opposed to present yields of around 1 percent.
SEE BUSINESS SECTION
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
FINANCIAL Secretary Simon Wilson says finance experts have been challenged in gleaning the necessary information to determine a true picture of the former Minnis
OLD FORT BAY RESIDENTS LOSE EIGHT YEAR FIGHT By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A “BITTER IMPASSE” at one of western New Providence’s most affluent communities has ended with its developer confirmed as owner of the Old Fort Bay Club and the project’s marina. Justice Indra Charles, in a January 4, 2022, ruling said
the eight-year legal battle between New Providence Development Company and the Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association “could have been avoided if good
sense had prevailed”. She urged both sides to “put their differences aside”, following a long-running dispute that continues the near-decade hold-up to the proposed Old Fort Bay marina expansion, and called upon them to “hold no one to ransom” following her judgment.
SEE BUSINESS SECTION
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
administration’s COVID19 emergency spending. “No,” he said, when asked whether there was yet a figure for how much public funds were spent during the state of emergency. “The challenge that we SEE PAGE THREE
DUE TO THE MAJORITY RULE DAY HOLIDAY, THE TRIBUNE WILL RETURN TO NEWSSTANDS ON TUESDAY
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 3
BRAVE’S WIFE URGES VICTIMS SPEAK OUT FROM PAGE ONE
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper, with Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, speaking at the Grand Lucayan yesterday. Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
Investors’ interest in Grand Lucayan ‘growing every day’ By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said the level of interest from investors in the Grand Lucayan property is growing every day and the government is working diligently to achieve a positive outcome for the resort on Grand Bahama and its residents. “We are confident already with the level of interest we are seeing,” affirmed Mr Cooper during a press conference at the resort yesterday. So far six investors have expressed interest in the property, and he hopes it will attract Bahamian investors as well. When asked about the six potential investors, Mr Cooper said: “Of course, I am not at liberty at this point to disclose those suitors for the property. I hope in due course we will be able to share that with you. But over the next, perhaps, six weeks we will be talking with all of them, and any other new potential investor that comes forward at the end of that period we hope to be able to enter in direct negotiations with one of them.
Process “So that is a process moving forward and hopefully in six weeks, we will be able to say more.” In December, it was announced that the agreement between the government and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines/ITM Group for the acquisition of the resort had been cancelled. Mr Cooper, who is also Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, felt the deal negotiated under Minnis administration was “a bad” one. Speaking about those groups interested in the property, he said yesterday: “At least six of them and this list is expanding every day. People understand the value generally that exists on the waterfront and the opportunities here on Grand Bahama.” Mr Cooper, along with Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, toured the property and met with the newly appointed board for the first board meeting for 2022. Chartered public accountant Julian Russell serves as chairman of the board. Other professionals making up the board include three attorneys and a veteran executive hotelier in the tourism industry. Mr Cooper said yesterday’s meeting signals an important first step in the development and way forward for Grand Lucayan.
“This is an important step in the transition of this asset and hopefully to being a booming part of the tourism product here in Grand Bahama,” he stated. “We have terminated that deal (with RCL) by mutual agreement, and we are moving forward to find a new partner and a new investor for this property. This is a fantastic asset on the waterfront here and this is an opportunity to strengthen the tourist product in Grand Bahama. “And the goal of this board is to ensure it comes to fruition in the shortest possible time frame.
Meeting “So today in our board meeting we will discuss the way forward. We will be talking about how we can cause this development to be reopened in the shortest possible time frame,” Mr Cooper said. The Minnis administration purchased the hotel for $65 million in August 2018. Despite criticism over the move, the former government maintained it only planned to hold on to the hotel to preserve the island’s economy before selling it to a viable developer. Mr Cooper indicated that Grand Lucayan has been the cause of great concern for some time to Grand Bahamians. “I want to say to the people of Grand Bahama we will not tarry in our work. We recognise what is riding on the redevelopment here. And we are working expeditiously to cause there to be a positive outcome for this property, its employees, and the
“I want to say to the people of Grand Bahama we will not tarry in our work. We recognise what is riding on the redevelopment here. And we are working expeditiously to cause there to be a positive outcome for this property, its employees, and the people of Grand Bahama.”
ISSUES FINDING ANSWERS ON GOVT COVID SPENDING
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper people of Grand Bahama. “And we know the residents are looking forward to having jobs as well as business opportunities as a result of this endeavour. We know that the Port Lucaya Marketplace and the businesses there have suffered as a result of a lack of traffic. “We know that there is a magnificent marina right behind the marketplace that has significant potential. We are going to be carrying the message of this property and surrounding areas to the world, and we are confident already with the level of interest we are seeing. “We hope that we would be able to attract Bahamian investors to this property or joint ventures for the property. “This is not just being marketed abroad. But, we hope that locals with interest in tourism will come forward either directly or as a part of a partnership with
silence and shame rather than overcome by openly confronting her demons, her fears, and her psychological and emotional pain,” Mrs Davis said. “I publicly thank, commend and congratulate author and sexual abuse survivor Sheron J N Baptiste for breaking her silence and opening up about her painful experience in her book, The Molested Fornicator: The After Effects of Being Molested. “The book is required reading for not only victims of this heinous crime and social scourge, but for all as it sensitises the public to this social scourge that too many families opt to hide and relegate to the proverbial closet of family shame. “Upon assuming the post of representative in the Office of the Spouse, I made a commitment to work with NGOs and other social partners to bring greater public awareness to domestic abuse and sexual violence – plights suffered in silence by too many of our girls, boys and women. I again encourage both victims and those with knowledge of all forms of domestic abuse to come forward, speak up and in the process eliminate the stigma attached to domestic abuse. In so doing, their acts of courage and selflessness expose the perpetrators and take away their power – power that is sustained, fed and emboldened by fear and the stigma that is associated with the horror of the experience.” Mrs Davis added: “In the coming weeks, the Office of the Spouse will reach out to victims and partner with organisations in our continued and committed fight against this scourge in a series of interviews that will signal to all and sundry, and especially predators, that victims are prepared to fight back, to tell their truth, to offer group support and bring about healing as they cause for those guilty parties to be held accountable for their actions.”
FROM PAGE ONE
a foreign developer,” Mr Cooper said. “One of the things we are consistently concerned about in tourism is that we are not investing enough in ourselves in our major industry. That would certainly be a major achievement if it could happen.” He stressed that the ideal investor for the property is one not just with deep pockets. “Significant resources, that is important, but also a vision for the property, a shared vision of the development of tourism, and the development of the island of Grand Bahama,” he said. Mr Cooper also reported that tourism has rebounded significantly over the past
several weeks and months. He noted that notwithstanding the challenges of COVID, the numbers continue to be very strong in Grand Bahama. Members of the Grand Lucayan board include Mr Russell, former PLP senator; attorney Cassietta McIntosh-Pelecanos, deputy chair; Stuart Bowe, a former senior executive of Atlantis; attorney Merrick Storr; CPA Edward Rahming, a former board member who served as treasurer on the previous board, and attorney Carla Cleare. • Deputy PM and Minister for Grand Bahama tour new WAUSM campus – see page eight
have is that the information that is available with respect to the state of emergency is not easily available. “It’s a real challenge. So, if you ask me about anything (to do with) the state of emergency, any expenditure, I have no information. If you ask the persons who were involved, they have no information. It has to be gathered and collated to be presented.” He said officials had started an exercise beginning with the National Food Distribution Task Force programme, but the information was not readily available. As a result, he said officials continued to work on this aspect. In November 2021, Press Secretary Clint Watson said during a weekly press briefing that finance officials were in the midst of a full review of the pandemic emergency spending. At the time, he said those experts were combing through records to make a determination. While in opposition, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis questioned this spending and why the government had refused to particularly reveal associated vendors, among other things. In a report from the International Monetary Fund last January, the Minnis administration pledged that the Auditor General would probe all COVID-19 related spending and revenue losses in a bid to uncover any “irregularities”. The fund, in a full Article IV report on The Bahamas, said at the time that this effort was key to fostering public trust in the government and ensuring value for money was obtained for every dollar spent. Later in August, Mr Davis called for more accountability and transparency by the Minnis administration on the awarding of COVID-19 related contracts.
PAGE 4, Friday, January 7, 2022
FREE COVID TESTING PILOT STARTS TOMORROW FROM PAGE ONE
Beach Clinic which will be open this week as well. That does not require prior registration like other sites.” PCR tests will be offered at the South Beach clinic to people who test positive with antigen tests. Mr Watson said people can only get a free test once per week, at which point their name will be flagged in the system. “We don’t want people to be going back every day,” he said. “We don’t want people to be every day using it to be able to go have dinner somewhere and just get a free COVID test so you could have it with you.” Officials, he said, hope to provide about 400 tests a day. The free tests come amid concern that antigen tests are less sensitive at detecting the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Concerned
Asked if officials are concerned the test could give people a false sense of security about their COVID19 status, Mr Watson said: “There’s always that concern particularly with COVID-19. However, we believe if we start here we’re able to bring relief to a problem that’s been mushrooming. We’re happy we can start at this point to be able to ensure that Bahamians have some resolve. Sadly in this country a lot of people aren’t testing, haven’t tested for the last year and a half in this pandemic because they can’t afford it. We want to provide an avenue where people do not have to say ‘I did not test because I couldn’t afford a test’.” Mr Watson said the government is working with local firms to source the tests. “We asked companies if they were willing to work with us and what we can work with them as far as costing and that’s how we began this programme,” he said. “We’re going to extend it, we’re going to include more people, but this is just to see if this capacity that we have will work.”
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MORE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO BE ADDED
PRESS Secretary Clint Watson speaking yesterday.
(Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff)
MORE doctors and nurses will be soon added to the public healthcare system as COVID-19 cases and hospital rates continue to climb. Press Secretary Clint Watson said 50 nurses from Cuba are expected to be in the country next week while the Davis administration has reached out to 12 doctors who are expected to support staff at Princess Margaret Hospital.
“We’ve opened four tents at the Princess Margaret Hospital,” Mr Watson said yesterday. “We are building capacity not only in infrastructure but also manpower. “We have asked the Department of Public Health to lend us nurses to ease the burden felt because of those medical professionals in quarantine, we’ve had success with that as well.
“We’ve also reached out to 12 Bahamian doctors who will be engaged to support the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital and 50 nurses are expected from Cuba by next week to assist in the fight.” Earlier this week, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said about 130 healthcare professionals are out of the system because of COVID-19, including 100 in
New Providence and 30 in Grand Bahama. The situation is impacting the private health sector as well. This comes as 421 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Wednesday January 5. Hospital cases have also climbed to 84, up from 71 on January 4. Four of those cases are in the intensive care unit.
GOVT YET TO APPOINT CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FINANCIAL Secretary Simon Wilson says the government has yet to disclose contract awards as the Public Procurement Act mandates because no chief procurement officer has been appointed. The law, which was passed last year, says a notice of a contract award must be published within 60 days of being made. The notice must indicate the title of the bid, the name of the procuring entity, the selection method used, the name and address of the awarded bidder and the procurement contract price. Details about contract awards have not been systematically publicised since the law came into force last September. Mr Wilson, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, suggested reporting has not taken place because a key role has yet to be filled. He said: “The Act speaks to the officer reporting. Has that officer been appointed? Was that officer reporting September 1? Has that position been created in the public service? That’s the challenge that we have with
FINANCIAL Secretary Simon Wilson. (Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff)
the Act. “The Act speaks to a chief procurement officer. If you understand the public service and how it operates, we have to create a post, we have to go to the Public Service Commission, we have to put in a salary scale, these things can’t happen overnight. That’s the challenge. You can put all
these fancy provisions in and you could give people these responsibilities. It didn’t say the financial secretary should report you know, it said the chief procurement officer. “I am not the chief procurement officer so I cannot report. If I want to be true to the legislation, it should be the chief procurement officer. This is one of the amendments we want to make because really, when you put in legislation to create a framework, you have to make sure all other things are done properly.”
Notices Section 61 of the law says procuring entities must publish award notices within 60 days. Section 10 of the Act, on the other hand, describes the functions of the chief procurement officer. That officer must report periodically to the financial secretary about “procurement activities of procuring entities, statutory bodies and government business enterprises.” The chief procurement officer must also prepare an annual report on procurement and send that report to the financial secretary. The Public Procurement Act was drafted partly in response to local
and international criticism of procurement activities in The Bahamas, with some saying the system lacks transparency and accountability. It was passed under the Minnis administration. Mr Wilson, echoing Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis, said the government will make changes to the Procurement Act. “The Public Procurement Act was drafted over ten years ago,” he said. “It’s a very complex piece of legislation so governments had moved very slow to implement it because of the complexity of the Public Procurement Act. I was a young economist when the Act was drafted. “The Act was put in place in absence of the things that make it work, the manual, the training, the regulations. It’s not a very easy Act; it’s a nontrivial piece of legislation. “The government’s position is that the Act needs to be revised, the regulations need to be put in place to make it functional. “The framework is excellent, but when you start looking at the actual clauses in the Act you realise that it is impractical. Any procurement under the Procurement Act has to be out for 30 days. Imagine this. You
want to buy disinfectant spray, which is a homogenous good, Lysol…you get three quotes, you have to hold those quotes for 30 days before you can actually make the purchase, that’s a very impractical approach to doing anything.
Portal “Then in addition, part of the Act is this online portal. The online portal was purchased by the government about 12 years ago. It’s old, it’s cumbersome, it’s very frustrating, it doesn’t do the segregation, so you have merchants who complain that I’m interested in products over $1m, I get these hits, I’m checking the hits and it’s for three tyres, it’s a waste of my time and people feel disconnected from governance because they say I’m not getting the real information because they say the portal itself is ineffective. So, in procurement we have some changes planned, legislation is going to be upgraded and modernised.” In December 2021, Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard accused the Davis administration of breaching the reporting requirements of the Public Procurement Act.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 5
FNM responds to Glenys Hanna Martin’s criticism of Jeffrey Lloyd By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement has responded to Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin’s criticism of her predecessor Jeffrey Lloyd, with the party noting that Mr Lloyd was not criticising the Ministry of Education, but was simply offering suggestions. At an FNM press briefing on Wednesday, Mr Lloyd urged the government to reconsider its plan to suspend learning with a hybrid model and in person classes amid soaring COVID-19 cases. This prompted Ms Hanna Martin to say she has “endeavoured to resist commentary on the lacklustre performance of the former minister.” In response, the FNM stated: “In a recent video statement, the Hon Glenys Hanna Martin took umbrage at the invitation by the former Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd, who, in a media briefing Wednesday, encouraged ‘this government, with all compelling urgency,
to revisit its decision to require virtual learning for all schools, and undertake the diligent evaluation of individual schools on individual islands and approve all who can prove that they are equipped to abide by the critical health protocols,’ as lacklustre. “Minister Lloyd wasn’t criticising the Ministry of Education, himself a lifelong educator, and one committed to the advancement of the Bahamian society, but, rather, was offering a suggestion that the government reconsider its decision. “He appreciates and understands the enormous difficulties COVID, and Dorian before that, have imposed on the education of Bahamian children. “As FNM leader, the Hon Michael Pintard has repeatedly stated the FNM stands ready to partner with the government in addressing the many national challenges this country faces, especially those like education and health that transcend partisan and parochial boundaries. This was the spirit of Mr Lloyd’s
recommendation.” The party addressed the minister’s comments on Mr Lloyd’s performance. “It’s difficult to believe that she would be unaware of the signature accomplishments of the ministry under his excellent stewardship, particularly in light of the unprecedented COVID-induced disruption in education and the Bahamian society, since, as she stated, she ‘has the facts,’” according to the statement. Students benefiting from free tuition from BTVI and the University of the Bahamas since 2018, high school graduation increasing from 44 percent in 2017 to 60 percent in 2019, and many other examples were highlighted by the FNM, “Upon coming to office in 2017, the FNM, through Minister Lloyd, repeatedly stated that ‘education is everyone’s business.’ We, therefore, agree with Minister Hanna Martin that all Bahamians are encouraged to join in the education of our children,” the party said.
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna Martin.
FORMER Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd.
Parents group supports the opening of schools By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A GROUP of parents has emerged in strong support of opening schools for face-to-face instruction, despite a continued surge in COVID-19 cases. Laureen Singh, a concerned parent, social worker and teacher, speaking on behalf of others with the same view, argued yesterday that schools should not be closed while the country is fully open. She pointed specifically to restaurants and local social hotspots that continue to host patrons alongside fully functioning gyms and beauty salons among others. Ms Singh said she supported the views of a recently published UNICEF article that said schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen. Her comments came as a small group of parents planned to peacefully demonstrate in support of the resumption of face-to-face learning. The UNICEF article noted that school closures have led to reduced physical activity and poor diets, increased levels of anxiety and self-harm, and exposure to domestic violence. For many children, alternatives to school are child labour, child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Once this happens, it can be impossible for girls or boys to return to school, the article said. The Bahamas recorded a combined 690 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and Tuesday of this week while more than 2,000 cases were confirmed in December 2021 alone. Schools were to resume a hybrid format with inperson instruction this month, but due to the surge believed to be caused by the Omicron variant, the Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training along with the Ministry of Health and Wellness made the decision that all schools could
only hold virtual lessons. Officials said the decision would be revisited in two weeks. Despite the current situation, which has sparked a view among many that schools cannot safely open at this time, Ms Singh said she believed otherwise.
“They can trace it back and it was not through the schools, but yet it’s the first thing to shut down. Everything else in The Bahamas is open, why is it schools are not open?” Laureen Singh “The health professionals are saying this new variant of Omicron is speedy, but not deadly,” Ms Singh said yesterday. “This is what they want to see towards the end of a virus; that it mutates fast and speedy and this is the end now. “The virus was never stronger because the kids were in school. The private schools were open. They were hybrid, they were Room and Zoom. The cases never got higher from schools. Around the world, UK, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the US, Canada, they were open for the last two years and cases were not skyrocketing through the schools. They can trace it back and it was not through the schools, but yet it’s the first thing to shut down. Everything else in The Bahamas is open, why is it schools are not open? “Why is it not being spread in the hotels, in the gyms, in the restaurants?” Brook, another parent who requested to be mentioned only by her first name, said schools need to be open so that all children’s education and social skills aren’t irreparably damaged. “In 2021 entire schools on New Providence proved
that face-to-face learning is achievable during these difficult times. With basic (yet cheap) COVID-safe precautions in place they operated quite successfully without any explosion of COVID in-school,” the parent said. “Ultimately, the root of these issues lies with The Bahamas’ vaccination rate... “It is the opinion of many that the government should take a hardline to the freedoms of the unvaccinated population and protect those of us who are trying to help move forward. “Follow in the footsteps of other countries and reduce access to all the retail and leisure facilities open to the unvaccinated right now, because unvaccinated adults are as much as eight times more likely to be admitted to hospital than those who have been vaccinated. “The unvaccinated cohort are largely why any severe restrictions such as ceasing in-school education are even considered by the government,” the parent said. However, there are some parents of the view that the stance of people like Ms Singh and Brook do not represent the position of the majority. One parent who asked to remain anonymous maintained that it was wholly unsafe to open schools at this time. The reasons include that positive COVID-19 cases have risen exponentially alongside a low vaccination rate in the country. Together, these pose an increased risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and even death, the parent said. Further the parent was of the view that the number of new cases reported are not truly reflective of the actual number of positive cases due to people choosing not to test. In addition, the anonymous parent said school closures reduce the spread of the virus. The parent maintained that to ignore these aspects is dangerous to all.
FOR SALE BY OWNER 2 Large Lots
Winton Estates Hill Top - Sea View CONTACT
1(242) 324-7732
Public Notice
Please be advised that all persons or entities holding valid contracts with
Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority are asked to present themselves at the National Sports Authority on Wednesday and Thursday, January 12th & 13th, 2022 respectively between the hours of 9am and 5pm, to provide documents necessary to ensure payment of any arrears owed on the contracts.
The following documents are required: • Copy of contract • Government issued ID or if a corporate entity evidence that you can act on behalf of the corporate entity (Power of Attorney) along with the government issued ID. • Tax Compliance Certificate • NIB Company Registration Certificate • A copy of a Valid Business License • VAT Certificate, if the annual valule of the contracts with the authority was in excess of $80,000.00 • Bank accout information as no termination payment would be made to third party accounts on behalf of terminated contractors.
PAGE 6, Friday, January 7, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
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WHO: Record weekly jump in COVID-19 cases but fewer deaths GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Thursday that a record 9.5 million COVID-19 cases were tallied over the last week as the omicron variant of the coronavirus swept the planet, a 71% increase from the previous 7-day period that the U.N. health agency likened to a “tsunami.” However, the number of weekly recorded deaths declined. “Last week, the highest number of COVID-19 cases were reported so far in the pandemic,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. He said the WHO was certain that was an underestimate because of a backlog in testing around the year-end holidays. In its weekly report on the pandemic, the agency said the weekly count amounted to 9,520,488 new cases — with 41,178 deaths recorded last week compared to 44 680 in the week before that. WHO officials have long cited a lag between case counts and deaths, with changes in the death counts often trailing about two weeks behind the evolution of case counts. But they have also noted that for several reasons — including rising vaccination rates in some places, and signs that omicron affects the nose and throat more than the lungs -- omicron has not appeared as deadly as the delta variant that preceded it. Any rise in hospitalisations or deaths in the wake of the latest surge in cases isn’t likely to show up for about two weeks. While omicron seems less severe than delta, especially among people who have been vaccinated, the WHO chief cautioned: “It does not mean it should be categorised as mild. Just like previous variants, omicron is hospitalising people, and it’s killing people.” “In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick that it is overwhelming
health systems around the world,” the WHO chief told a regular news briefing. The WHO said the rises in case counts over the last week varied, doubling in the Americas region, but rising only 7% in Africa. The WHO emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, said speculation that omicron might be the last variant of the outbreak was “wishful thinking” and cautioned: “There still is a lot of energy in this virus.” Added Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19: “I think it’s very unlikely that omicron will be the last variant that you will hear us discussing.” WHO officials called on the public to step up measures to fight the pandemic like getting vaccinated, ventilating rooms, maintaining proper physical distancing and wearing masks — but properly. “I’m struck by how people actually are wearing masks” Van Kerkhove said. “Wearing a mask below your chin is useless. “And it gives you a false sense of security that you have something on that is protecting you. “It will not ... Basically, we are asking everyone to play a part in this.” Separately, Ryan said the WHO’s work with the International Olympic Committee and China — which is set to host the 2022 Winter Games — led him to be “confident” that the measures that games organisers have put in place were “very strict and very strong.” “We don’t at this point see any increased risk of disease transmission in that context,” Ryan said. • This article is by JAMEY KEATEN of the Associated Press
COVID ENTRY RULES HITTING BOOKINGS FOR THE BAHAMAS EDITOR, The Tribune. As the owner of travel agencies in northern New Jersey for many years we were always successful in sending clients to The Bahamas. It was our most popular southern destination. However, all that changed with your introduction of harsh entry rules which grow even more unreasonable with each chaotic change. All the uncertainties and expense surrounding your Health Visa have all but dried up bookings to you. Your Tourism Minister promised the Visa would be abolished yet decided to keep it after assuming office! The Minister and his Tourism officials are divorced from reality. In these COVID-19 times it is difficult enough to get clients to travel, but it is nearly impossible to
secure bookings when the potential visitor must go through all sorts of time consuming and expensive measures to obtain the Visa. Your officials wave a magic wand demanding COVID tests within three days of travel. Even the easier antigen tests are hard to find here at the moment. There are not enough supplies. There is no consideration that obtaining these tests takes valuable time from a visitor’s work and personal schedules and cannot be completed in time to travel. People simply do not have the time or will to go through all the hassles. They cannot understand why they cannot enter The Bahamas if they have double vaccination certificates which can be produced at airport check in counters.
As a result we are booking clients to many other southern resort countries where entry is much simpler. We have lost nearly all our Bahamas bound business. Stories about low vaccination rates and rising COVID numbers have also affected your business. Disturbing news about COVID numbers on cruises has also resulted in cruise bookings collapsing. There appears to be no common sense in all your Government travel rules. It is incomprehensible that when tourism is your major economic product your own officials stubbornly adhere to policies which are seriously affecting your economic future. JOHN LANCASTER Princeton, News Jersey, U.S.A. January 6, 2022.
Settling judgments should be a priority EDITOR, The Tribune. The new Attorney General Ryan Pinder came out guns blazing according to an Eyewitness News post online on November 1, 2021 with headline Unbudgeted and Unfunded: AG says judgments against government ‘have to be paid’. I could not agree with him more. I am fully on board with the Attorney General calling out the last administration and exposing its failure to account for $1bn in liabilities, including court judgments made against the government. I would only caution that Sen. Pinder is swinging a double-edged sword. We all know that governments are continuous and it doesn’t matter when the failure started or who was responsible for it; it only matters who stops it and is competent enough to reverse the negative consequences it created. Although I am optimistic about the pledge of millions of dollars in funding which is claimed to have been provided in the government’s supplementary budget to cover the costs of those judgments, I remain cynical about it. As we enter the first quarter of 2022, where is the money for these judgments? Who is receiving the favour of priority of payments as so many judgments with real priority remain outstanding while others were hurriedly and quietly paid just before Christmas? Why are the government’s judgment creditors still being told there is no money? There are judgments for damages which were awarded against the government for its failure and breach of a citizen’s constitutional rights by causing unreasonable delays in the delivery of justice. Article 20 of the constitution guarantees you a right to a fair trial and a trial within a reasonable time. A still broken criminal justice system continues to result in protracted delays in matters being prosecuted, delaying in some cases vindication to the accused and the opportunity to get back to some semblance of the life you had before becoming a part of the system. When you are compensated for this delay a part of the damages is exemplary damage to provide some incentive to the state to provide a criminal justice system where trials are heard in a timely manner. But what is the point of all of this emphasis on speed
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net in the delivery of justice when there is no incentive to pay judgments in a timely manner and no consequences for their failure to do so. When the government is ordered to pay they should pay and they should pay promptly. As citizens we have to pay utilities or face disconnection of services provided by the government if we are weeks late. As a business owner you can’t get business licenses renewed or a Customs bond renewal if you are a licensed manufacturer under the Act until you pay the government its taxes. We expect the government also to learn from their mistakes, errors in judgment on flat out breaches of civil rights and liberties. So it shouldn’t take the government years and years to settle a judgment against it when the very judgment was awarded because of inexcusable delay in the first place. It’s now all out in the open that the past government failed to budget for these judgments. Could this also explain why judgments under former governments also went unpaid for long periods of time, budget after budget after budget? This type of inexcusable delay is not new. Successful litigants against the government have been bowing and scraping at the feet of government personnel since time immemorial begging, following up or paying for favour to get money they are lawfully entitled to. The question for us as citizens is whether any government’s failure to account for debts ordered by the court to pay was wilful and contumelious. Was this failure to settle these judgements tantamount to a system thumbing its nose at the judiciary and also to the Constitution? To know that a debt had been ordered to be paid by the Court and to have the means and deliberately, wilfully and contumeliously fail to make provision to pay would be circumstances for which, if done by an ordinary citizen, would expose him to penalty for Contempt of Court. How do we punish this type of Contempt of Court committed by the government of the day? How do we hold government accountable for
ensuring that the AG’s emphatic statement that these judgments “have to be paid” comes to fruition? How do we ensure that this government pay judgments and not mere lip service? How does this government avoid getting sliced by the same sword it’s now wielding? As 2022 rolls in, can we all now expect and demand that all judgments be allocated for in the next and ensuing budgets and supplementary budgets? Can we all now expect them to be paid promptly now that the AG and the PM have exposed this failing of the former government? Can we demand and expect that they will do differently? Is there something else besides advocacy that we in the legal profession can bring to the table to help solve this vexing problem and erase this sore from the health of our legal and judicial system? Settling judgments should be an urgent priority for this and all governments. Unlike contracts where parties can negotiate themselves into and out of commitments, once the matter becomes a judgment or a court order there is a mandate of one of the three branches of government. I am grateful that this Attorney General is committed to purging the government’s existing contempt of court in settling its outstanding judgment debts. As an officer of the Court there may be ways that working with the Attorney General can help to bring about reform in a meaningful way. However much of the heavy lifting has to be done internally. Civil matters go to court that should be settled. Criminal matters are thrust needlessly into the system without ample regard for due process. Money judgments increase exponentially by interest added on with the passage of time. Matters linger in the system too long, and all of this is at the expense of the taxpayer. These are but a few of the many ways in which delays in the delivery of our system of justice results in justice denied. So let’s not whine about problems we can fix. Just fix it. TANYA WRIGHT Former president of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Nassau, January 6, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 7
TWO KEY ENVIRONMENTAL RF STAFF FUND WHEELCHAIRS FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED
THE Office of The Prime Minister and Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources has announced two key appointments to support the government’s commitment to promoting and supporting issues relating to the environment and climate change. Effective January 4, Dr Rhianna Neely has been appointed as acting director of environmental planning and protection. Dr Neely holds a doctorate in environmental policy and risk management from Florida A&M University. She has worked in the ministry since 2013 on a range of issues including climate change, renewable energy, and the abolition of single-use plastics. Dr Neely succeeds Rochelle Newbold who is being redeployed to the Office Of The Prime Minister to serve as special advisor on climate change and environmental matters. “Having led the Technical Team at COP26, Mrs Newbold is well-placed to advise on the implementation of the government’s multi-agency priorities, from carbon credits to our
new international commitments around climate change,” the Ministry of Environment said. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said in a statement: “In our Blueprint For Change, our administration signalled the importance and priorities we place on issues relating to the environment and climate change. The enhanced profile of The Bahamas since COP26, and the new partnerships which we have forged since then, has given new impetus to these issues. By appointing an advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister who is able to work across all government ministries and departments, we will be able to ensure that the government’s mandate can be successfully implemented.” Minister of The Environment and Natural Resources Vaughn Miller said: “The technical agenda around environmental issues is extremely broad. The Bahamas stands to benefit enormously from the expertise and experience of Dr Neely and Mrs Newbold. We congratulate both on their new roles.”
SIX CHARGED WITH CHILD CRUELTY BACK IN COURT By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE six women charged with child cruelty in connection with the beating of a number of wards at the Children’s Emergency Hostel appeared in a Magistrate’s Court for a bail application variation yesterday. Eloise Canter, Carmetta Woods, Natasha Pratt, Occonelle Gordon, Sabrina Smith and Shawn Seymour appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt over the issue of the group having to report each Monday to a police station as part of their bail conditions. The prosecutor did not object in relation
to Canter as she is in a wheelchair. However, for the rest of the women, she argued the reporting condition was not that stringent and asked that it remain. The magistrate agreed with the prosecutor and stated that Canter now only has to appear before the court. The magistrate also said it is unfortunate the trial had not commenced as yet, but explained the COVID-19 challenge among staff and difficulties with the court’s calendar contributed to the delay. The women will return to court on February 1 before Magistrate Kendra Kelly where it is hoped a trial date will be set.
US NEWS
FLORIDA PROVIDING ONE MILLION AT-HOME COVID TESTS FOR SENIORS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — One million athome COVID-19 tests will be available to Florida’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities under a new initiative, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday. The Republican governor made the announcement during a news conference in West Palm Beach on Thursday morning at the Rehabilitation Center of the Palm Beaches. Starting Thursday, the self-administered tests will be sent to every nursing home and long-term care facility in the state, DeSantis said. They can then request additional kits as needed. The state will also start making the kits available to senior communities. “Our view on testing is if you are just young and healthy, you don’t need to be running out and getting tested every day,” DeSantis said. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said the state is following a “sensible public health” campaign by focusing on testing only those who are at risk or showing symptoms of COVID-19.
THE Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled (BAPD) will be able to purchase wheelchairs for children with special needs as a result of a donation from the staff of RF Bank & Trust. Each year, RF staff contribute to a charity fund and the amount raised is matched by the company. The staff then vote on the charities or causes they wish to support. As one of the charities selected for the year 2021, BAPD received a donation of $4,000. Established in 1973, BAPD exists to provide assistance for children and youth with special needs. Among the services the organisation provides are free daycare facilities inclusive of breakfast, lunch and snacks, special education, physical therapy and computer skills training. The organisation relies on entities like the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Services, along with individual and corporate sponsorships to offer its services free of charge. “As one could imagine, having a child with a disability can be taxing financially, physically, mentally and emotionally,” said BAPD President Charlotte Albury. “We are happy to ease this burden by providing a safe place for special needs children where they can get the assistance they need to be able to reach their fullest potential. We are so grateful for the support of corporate citizens like RF Bank & Trust who help us to
FROM LEFT: RF Donations Committee members Tanya Johnson and David Slatter alongside Charlotte Albury, BAPD President and Linda Smith, BAPD Administrator. care for the most vulnerable mem- persons have volunteered their bers of our community.” time. Both can help to create better David Slatter, RF Vice President outcomes for children with special of Investments and Donations Com- needs. The management and staff of mittee member, encouraged other RF are happy to support this worthy companies and individuals to sup- cause and encourage other coportate port BAPD. “It is inspiring to learn citizens to consider doing the same.” the stories of some of the children While RF has assisted BAPD to enrolled at BAPD and how they purchase much needed wheelchairs, continue to thrive despite their chal- the organisation also has other presslenges,” he said. “The support of the ing needs including a wheelchair wider community, has had a signifi- accessible bus, and funds to make cant impact on creating these success needed repairs to the building. For stories, whether it is through donat- more information or to make a donaing finances to subsidise operational tion, contact the organisation at and intervention costs or where 322-2393.
PAGE 8, Friday, January 7, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Deputy PM and Minister for Grand Bahama tour new WAUSM campus By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ELEVEN months into construction, the West Atlantic University School of Medicine campus in Freeport opens next Tuesday for the start of classes for more than a dozen students who have enrolled. An official grand opening that was scheduled for yesterday at the campus on East Sunrise Highway, next to Lucayan Medical Centre, was postponed to a later date. While in Grand Bahama, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper was given a tour of the near-completed first phase of the campus yesterday afternoon. Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey was also present. An amended Heads of Agreement to advance the project into the next phases was signed on Wednesday. Bill Colgan, managing director of West Atlantic University School of Medicine, said that students and faculty are already on the island and ready for the start of classes. “We are very proud that students have arrived on the island. They are currently getting ready to begin classes, which will begin on Tuesday of next week,” he said. He said as final preparations in the first phase of the medical school are nearing completion, they expect to begin construction on the second phase, which will double the size of the current campus. “We are very happy to have made a decision to
build on Grand Bahama Island to date, we had a tremendous amount of success here on the island on multiple fronts.” Mr Colgan was impressed with the quality of labour, describing it as “second to none.” “The construction is only 11 months old from the clearing of trees. We are very proud of where we are, and the hospitality we have received, and support from all the elected officials that really made this happen for us,” he commented. When asked about collaboration with Rand Memorial Hospital, Mr Colgan said that could be a possibility at some point later. “I am sure at some point, but we have not discussed that at any point because we were just focused on opening the medical school. But I think we would look forward to some medical collaboration on island and we are hopeful that over the next several months we can start to look and identify the opportunities and take advantage of them at a later date in time,” he said. Paula Wales, executive dean for WAUSM, said they offer an integrated programme for students, with courses in biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology. “The students will integrate all those things in the spirit of learning how to take care of patients. So, they will also take clinical skills and learn to do a history and physical and how to treat a whole person. “Next week we will have 15 students starting and we expect to grow from there. Students are on island, and they are thrilled to be here,” she said.
Ms Wales said that Bahamian students are welcomed. She said WAUSM has five full scholarships for Bahamian students. Mr Cooper said he is pleased that classes will start next week. “Today we celebrate the progress that has already been made. I am truly pleased with what I see here today. Construction is well underway, he stated. “This is really good for the investment environment; it is good for healthcare, and the health industry in the Bahamas; and it is great for education.” He said the medical school adds economic benefits to the island. “We anticipate what we see here as bush today will be housing and retail and support for students and faculty here. So, this is the beginning of great things. It deepens the possibilities here in Grand Bahama. “Typically, when we think of new investments, we tend to think of touristic type developments, but this really has shown we have some range in Grand Bahama. So, I am delighted to be here with the Minister of Grand Bahama to congratulate you on this development and look forward to working with you in the future.” Although WAUSM is starting with a small class of 15, Mr Cooper said there is great capacity for growth. He assured WAUSM that the government of The Bahamas stands 100 percent behind its development. “We will ensure you have full cooperation moving forward to help you attain your vision,” Mr Cooper said. PHOTOS: Vandyke Hepburn
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 9
A BAHAMIAN $3 bill.
Strange as a 3-dollar bill, but it’s real and I get it I HAVE a $3 bill. It’s Bahamian. I can’t remember where or when I got it, but I always believed there was something special about it so I tucked it away in a small basket with other odds and ends in my daughter’s room right next to a US $2 bill which I also cannot recall where or when I got it. Both bills have been there for probably more than 20 years and they are still worth $3 and $2, so far as I know. Though they might not buy me more than a few vegetables to throw into a pot of homemade soup, I can touch them and feel them and spend them if I want and I know exactly what they are worth, though no doubt inflation has eroded their value. I only mention this because as a writer and someone in public relations, I am trying to wrap my head around how crypto works. The paper bill is easy. I get that. So is digital. I get that, too. It’s just paper turned virtual. You have a virtual wallet, put something in it, spend it, the wallet gets thinner so you fill it up again. It’s an even exchange. A dollar goes in, a dollar comes out. A tiny fee for the service slips in somewhere. Most of us depended upon digital wallets during lockdown in the
A US $2 bill.
famed March of 2020 when COVID was still new and we hid behind our doors so it could not find us. Digital is so easy it’s the antithesis of the leading edge of the fintech world. Crypto, now that’s a different story. Unlike digital or paper currency, crypto fluctuates in value and those peaks and valleys have nothing to do with the economy, so far as I can tell. They are connected with who is trading, buying and selling, and buying back the very thing that is fluctuating. There are different registries, let’s call them brands or houses for simplicity sake, with different investment specialists and analysts guiding them, choosing a road map for them whether they use them to buy real estate or art or fine wine. I feel lost and ignorant in this world where currency flitters and flounces like a wannabe on Dancing with the Stars. It’s a world that feels flirtatious, risky, scary and
exhilarating. Crypto is money you can’t hold, like a hologram or a mirage, but you can become a billionaire on it. What adds to my confusion is that before crypto, I thought the problem was not holding money but holding on to it. I’m particularly fascinated by the subject of crypto because the man who is king of it landed in The Bahamas and opened his first official international headquarters in New Providence a few months ago. His name is Sam BankmanFried (known as SBF) and he is the founder and CEO of FTX, a company that after a little more than two years of existence has made its founder a multi-billionaire with an estimated worth of $22.5 billion. SBF is the youngest billionaire at 29. I wasn’t even a thousandaire by 29 and I had been working since I was 14. So clearly he knows a thing or two about investing in crypto, understands tokens and assets. He also
has an excellent reputation for altruism and could serve as a role model for young Bahamians who might resent successful older Bahamians but be persuaded to do the good deed by this man who achieved so much so young. Welcome to The Bahamas, SBF
and FTX. Even if I never own a crypto asset, I can admire what you can do to drag The Bahamas into the future. Meantime, I’ll just hold on to that $3 bill with the image of a young Queen Elizabeth on one side and racing native sloops on the
other. I’ll tuck it back into its basket next to the US $2 bill with Thomas Jefferson on the front and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the back. If crypto is the currency of the future, tangible treasures are worth preserving to honour the past.
Roger, signing off
ALFRED SEARS, then Minister of Education, greeting Roger Kelty, the beloved educator who oversaw more than 1,000 students get a higher education with the help of a Lyford Cay Foundation scholarship.
LONG-TIME beloved educator Roger Kelty passed away this week. For more than 15 years after he left Queen’s College, Kelty was the Director of Education at the Lyford Cay Foundations. He perused scholarship applications searching for talent, for hidden potential, he passed every one of them onto a screening committee. He knew thousands of students by name and even when one disappointed him he never lost faith nor that twinkle in his eye. We will miss you, Roger, but you did good, real good. And don’t try to correct my grammar now. Your job is done and no one will ever do it like you did.
A landscape plan for New Providence CREATING a landscape plan supported by landscape policy for New Providence is an idea that has been bouncing around for years, but has yet to take root. Close your eyes and imagine this – you are driving along East West Highway and all the Yellow Elder trees are in bloom or along West Bay Street where the
median now holds the occasional sign or bench and instead it is lit up by the flaming red of Royal Poinciana trees. Imagine palms along Yamacraw and beach morning glory, rows of sea oats, silver buttonwood along the coastal roads. From Sir Milo Butler Highway to the Bethel Avenue extension, Cowpen Road to the southernmost
point of Blue Hill where the beach nearly reaches the road, the potential for billowing bougainvillea would transform now barren or partially neglected areas. The beauty of the Cable Beach strip should be an inspiration to us all. While the glamour is in the plan and in picturing the impact a landscape plan
would have, as much attention would need to be given to landscape policy determined by a group of experts. Those who are willing to take the time and add their expertise would determine whether only indigenous varieties of trees and shrubs would be permitted in the plan, whether there would be provision for annuals,
whether or not there would be community areas set aside for fruit and vegetable gardens, who would be responsible and how the produce would be shared. There would be discussions on xeriscape plants, grasses and trees, and those requiring little sunlight, on how to grow more madeira or lignum vitae, on ficus hedges
instead of chain link, on how to beautify overlooked neighbourhoods one block at a time. This is a goal we can accomplish if we just plant the seed and form the group to nurture it and take it forward, a goal that would brighten the island where hundreds of thousands live and millions come to play.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US HITS EIGHT CUBAN OFFICIALS WITH TRAVEL BANS WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has slapped a travel ban on eight Cuban officials it says have been complicit in the repression of opposition protesters and other dissidents. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions on Thursday in a statement that condemned an ongoing crackdown on participants in demonstrations that began last July and called prison sentences handed down to those involved “harsh and unjust.” The eight officials were not named, but Blinken said all of them are connected to the “detention, sentencing and
imprisonment” of peaceful protesters. The U.S. says about 600 protesters across the communist island remain jailed after the July 11 protests despite appeals for their release. “The United States took steps to enforce visa restrictions in response to Cuban government attempts to deny Cubans their freedom and rights through continued intimidation tactics, unjust imprisonment, and severe sentences,” Blinken said. The travel bans are the latest actions against Cuba from the Biden administration, which has largely followed former President Donald Trump’s highly critical
policies toward the island. In late November, Blinken announced travel bans on nine Cuban officials for similar actions against protesters. “The United States continues to use all appropriate diplomatic and economic tools to push for the release of political prisoners and to support the Cuban people’s call for greater freedom and accountability,” Blinken said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez criticised the travel ban. “The US government persists in the bad habit of trying to impose its will on other governments by means of unilateral coercive measures,” he said in a
statement. Rodriguez added that Blinken’s announcement “in no way alters Cuba’s determination to defend its sovereign rights.” In July, thousands of Cubans took to the street in cities across the island to protest shortages of goods and power blackouts, the largest demonstrations against the Communist administration in recent history. Some called for a change in government. Cuban authorities have said that the United States was the real force behind the protests. The Biden administration has spoken in support of the Cuban activists and praised the anti-government protests.
SECRETARY of State Antony Blinken. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP) Soon after the July protests, the U.S. announced new sanctions on Cuba’s national revolutionary police and its top two officials.
PAGE 10, Friday, January 7, 2022
CHRISTIAN WORLD MARKS EPIPHANY WITH SERIES OF CELEBRATIONS By FRANCES D’EMILIO and MEHMET GUZEL Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — Christians around the world on Thursday marked Epiphany, known as Three Kings Day for Catholics and the Baptism of Christ for the Orthodox, with a series of celebrations. Pope Francis used a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to decry consumerism, parades were held in Spain the night before, and Orthodox believers watched swimmers plunge into icy waters despite the pandemic to retrieve crosses. Francis encouraged people to shake off consumeristic “tyranny” and crises of faith in lives and societies and instead find the courage to work for justice and brotherhood in societies dominated by what he called the “sinister logic of power.” The Catholic feast day of Epiphany recalls the visit of three Magi, or wise men, to the infant Jesus, and their sense of wonder at the encounter. In his homily, Francis urged people to move past the “barriers of habit, beyond banal consumerism, beyond a drab and dreary faith, beyond the fear of becoming involved and serving others and the common good.” He said that “we find ourselves living in communities that crave everything, have everything, yet all too often feel nothing but emptiness in their hearts.” Decrying what he defined as “the tyranny of needs,” Francis said: “Let us not give apathy and resignation the power to drive us into a cheerless and banal existence.” In remarks from an Apostolic Palace window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Francis later also noted holiday celebrations by other Christians and praised various Epiphany traditions. “Today thoughts go to the brothers and the sisters of the Eastern churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, who tomorrow celebrate the birthday of the Lord,’’ the pontiff said. In Istanbul, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, held an Epiphany Mass before leading a traditional Blessing of the Waters ceremony during which swimmers competed to retrieve a floating cross thrown into the sea. Bartholomew, who recently recovered from COVID-19 and underwent heart surgery in November, threw a wooden cross into the Golden Horn, before 10 men jumped into the waterway to retrieve it. Members of Istanbul’s small Greek Orthodox community, wearing masks, looked on. This year, the cross was recovered by 36-year-old Galip Yavuz, who said it was his fifth attempt at retrieving it. Bartholomew is considered first among equals among Orthodox patriarchs, although only a few thousand Greeks now live in Turkey. He also directly controls several Greek Orthodox churches around the world, including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. His patriarchate in Istanbul dates from the Orthodox Greek Byzantine Empire, which collapsed when the Muslim Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, today’s Istanbul, in 1453. Similar blessing of the waters ceremonies were held in predominantly Orthodox Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, with swimmers competing against each other to grasp a floating cross thrown into seas, rivers or lakes. Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers in Bulgaria neglected restrictions on mass gatherings due to the pandemic and stuck to their centuriesold Epiphany traditions, plunging into icy rivers and lakes. Celebrations were canceled or scaled back in many parts of Greece as the country struggles with a huge surge in COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant.
THE TRIBUNE
BIDEN WARNS OF US PERIL FROM TRUMP’S ‘DAGGER’ AT DEMOCRACY
PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks from Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol to mark the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters loyal to thenPresident Donald Trump, Thursday, in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Pool via AP) By LISA MASCARO, ZEKE MILLER AND MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden forcefully blamed Donald Trump and his supporters Thursday for holding a “dagger at the throat of democracy” with election lies that sparked last year’s deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, using the anniversary of the attack to warn that America’s system of government remains under urgent threat. The president set the tone on a day of remembrance that brought fiery speeches, moments of silence and anguished accounts from lawmakers recalling the terrifying hours of Jan. 6, 2021, when the Trump mob laid siege to the Capitol and rioters tried to stop the routine, ceremonial certification of election results. Notably, almost no Republicans joined Biden and the Democrats in what some hoped would be a day of reconciliation. Instead, it was a fresh and jarring display of a nation still deeply torn by the lies that led to the riot, by its unsettled aftermath and Trump’s persisting grip on a large swath of the country. “For the first time in our history, a president not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol,” Biden said. “You can’t love your country only when you win.” Biden’s criticism of the defeated president was rife with condemnation for the assault that has fundamentally changed Congress and the nation, and has raised global concerns about the future of American democracy. His voice booming at times, reverberating in the ornate Statuary Hall where rioters had laid siege, the president called on Americans to remember what they saw Jan. 6 with their own eyes: the mob attacking police and breaking windows, a Confederate flag inside the Capitol, gallows erected outside amid calls to hang the vice president — all
A LARGE group of police arrive at the Capitol, Thursday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
PRESIDENT Joe Biden listens as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks from Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. (Drew Angerer/Pool via AP) while Trump sat at the White of most Republicans to join House watching on TV. Biden at the Capitol. “The former president’s From Florida, Trump supporters are trying to revived his unfounded attack rewrite history,” Biden said, on the elections. incredulous. He accepted no respon“They want you to see sibility for sending the Election Day as the day of thousands of supporters to insurrection and the riot that the Capitol that day when he took place here on January told them to “fight like hell.” 6 as a true expression of the By Thursday evening, he was will of the people. sending out a fundraising “Can you think of a more appeal. twisted way to look at this Even among congrescountry, to look at America? sional Republicans who I cannot.” condemned the attack in the days afterward, few spoke that way now — some joining in Trump’s false portrayals. “What brazen politiUntil the anniversary, cisation of January 6 by Biden had mentioned the President Biden,” tweeted attack only sparingly but Sen. Lindsey Graham of he aggressively weighed in South Carolina, a sometimes Thursday and coupled his Trump confidant who had message with a call for voting initially said he had abanrights legislation that Demo- doned Trump after the riot only to quickly embrace him crats have long been urging. The president’s remarks again. Senate Republican leader drew a stark contrast with the false narratives that per- Mitch McConnell — who sist about the Capitol assault, at the time said Trump including the continued was “practically and morrefusal by many Republicans ally” responsible the attack to affirm that Biden won the — issued a statement that 2020 election. Five people highlighted the gravity of died in the Capitol siege and that day, but also said some Democrats were trying to its immediate aftermath. “We must be absolutely exploit it for other purposes. clear about what is true and He was absent, with a conwhat is a lie,” Biden said. tingent attending the funeral “The former president of of former colleague Sen. the United States of Amer- Johnny Isakson in Georgia. Rep. Liz Cheney, vice ica has spread a web of lies chair of the House commitabout the 2020 election.” Yet even as the presi- tee investigating the attack dent spoke, the vanquished and one of the few GOP Trump gave no signs of let- lawmakers attending the ting go, a show of the division Capitol ceremonies, warned in the country emphasised that “the threat continues.” by the silence and absence Trump, she said, “continues to make the same claims that
Legislation
he knows caused violence on January 6.” “Unfortunately, too many in my own party are embracing the former president, are looking the other way or minimising the danger,” she told NBC’s “Today” show. “That’s how democracies die. We simply cannot let that happen.” She was joined by her father Dick Cheney, the former vice president and now a Republican Party elder. They were the only members of the GOP seen for a moment of silence on the House floor. Dick Cheney was greeted by several Democrats and said in a statement: “I am deeply disappointed at the failure of many members of my party to recognise the grave nature of the January 6 attacks and the ongoing threat to our nation.”
Trapped Throughout Thursday, lawmakers shared their experiences of being trapped in the House or rushed away from the Senate, as the siege raged for hours. Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan showed a shard of glass from one of the Capitol’s broken windows he carries in his pocket. “January 6 is not over,” he said, choking up. “The threat, and the lie that fuels that threat, continues to rear its head.” He said: To truly protect our democracy we need truth.” The House panel investigating the insurrection plans to spend the coming months exploring and revealing what happened with public hearings. Biden and his administration have come under criticism from some in his party for not adequately explaining how they believe democracy is at risk, or pushing Congress hard enough to pass election and voting rights legislation that is stalled by a Republican filibuster in the Senate. Barack Obama, the former president, said “nothing is more important” on the anniversary than ensuring the right to vote. “Our democracy is at
greater risk today than it was back then,” Obama said in a statement. Biden’s address, and that of Vice President Kamala Harris who is leading the administration’s efforts on the voting and elections legislation, appeared as a direct response to critics. “We must pass voting rights bills,” Harris said in her address. “We cannot sit on the sidelines.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, drew on history with a hope that Americans would turn to their “better angels” to resolve differences. Lawmakers held an evening vigil on the Capitol steps. Other remembrances — or demonstrations — were few around the country. Biden’s sharp message and the Republicans’ distance from it come as lawmakers are adjusting to the new normal on Capitol Hill — the growing tensions that many worry will result in more violence or, someday, a legitimate election actually being overturned. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 3 in 10 Republicans say the attack was not violent. Around two-thirds of Americans described the day as very or extremely violent, including about 9 in 10 Democrats. The percentage of Americans who blame Trump for the riot has grown slightly over the past year, with 57% saying he bears significant responsibility, up from 50% in the days after the attack. Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud were rejected by the courts and refuted by his own Justice Department. An investigation by the AP found fewer than 475 cases of voter fraud among 25.5 million ballots cast in the six battleground states disputed by Trump, a minuscule number in percentage terms. ___ Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Kevin Freking, Jill Colvin Alexandra Jaffe and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
SPORTS PAGE 11
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022
Bodybuilders continue to ‘push through challenges’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
D
espite the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many local gyms were closed at various intervals, preventing many of the athletes from training, Bahamas Bodybuilding, Wellness and Fitness president Joel Stubbs said he was still pleased with the performances from the bodybuilders in 2021. He publicly thanked the general public and all of their sponsors, especially the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, for their unselfish support and contributions to the sport, particularly during the onset of the pandemic to the present. “The journey, the expectations, and the progress for many of our athletes has been overwhelming at times, however, because of their commitment, discipline, and dedication to the sport some continue to persevere and push through the challenges,” Stubbs said. “The federation remains committed in its quest to deliver a suitable platform for our athletes to showcase their talent and represent this great country. 2021 was no exception to that rule.” Stubbs, a professional bodybuilder and a career pilot with Bahamasair, said the highlight of the year was at the Central American and Caribbean Games where the Bahamas was represented by an
TIMOTHY MUNNINGS, director of sports (kneeling), flexes his muscles with members of the CAC Bodybuilding team on their return home from El Salvador. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff eight-member team that returned home from San Salvador, El Salvador, with eight medals. The team, managed by Nardo Dean, captured two gold, three silver and three bronze medals with Wellington Wallace leading the way with his pair of gold in the men’s physique and the men’s masters physique. The silver medals came from Jason Johnson in the men’s physique, Jaye Darling Jr in the men’s muscular physique and Terrion Kemp in the men’s junior physique. Winning the bronze medals were Gemo Smith in the men’s muscular physique, Kaif Young in the men’s tall class and Fania Joseph in the women’s bikini. Ashley Sturrup, the other member of the
JOEL STUBBS, president of Bahamas Bodybuilding, Wellness and Fitness. team, was sixth in the women’s bikini class. “We are hopeful and confident that we will duplicate these efforts, with another stellar performance, once the opportunities and support are given,” Stubbs said. “We are a small country with many talented
athletes who can measure up to international standards anywhere and at any time.” As the federation turns its attention to 2022, Stubbs revealed their tentative schedule with four events of note that they will be concentrating on. They are as follows: • May 21 - Novice Championship – date and venue to be released at a later date. • June 18 - Northern Bahamas Championship – date and venue in Grand Bahama to be released at a later date. • July 16 - The Bahamas National Championship – date and venue to be released at a later date. • July 28 - CAC Championship in Bridgetown, Barbados – date yet to be
announced. “Upon completion of our nationals, a national team will be selected immediately to represent the country,” Stubbs said. “It should be noted that since the start of the pandemic we have observed a slight decline in athletes’ participation. “We are evaluating the situation and are hoping to have a solution before the first show of the season.” Despite the challenges they continue to face, Stubbs said they remain optimistic that they will enjoy another great year. “Overall, despite the challenges and hurdles of 2021, we are welcoming 2022 with a renewed sense of commitment and dedication in growing the sport of bodybuilding,” Stubbs said.
NACAC President Mike Sands says 2021 ‘will be very hard act to follow’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter Bstubbs2tribunemedia.net COMING off what could only be described as an exceptional year for the North American, Central American and Caribbean, president Mike Sands said their athletes will be hard pressed to surpass their achievements in 2021, but they’re looking forward to greater success in 2022. “The performances of 2021 leaves us with great anticipation and excitement for 2022, even though 2021 will be a very hard act to follow,” Sands said. “I’m still confident that our area athletes, coaches and management teams will rise to the occasion as they always do.” The year culminated with Jamaica’s sprint star Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica carting off the AIPS Best Female Athlete of Year 2021 and World Female Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2021. “Not to be left out are our junior athletes, who gave a very good account of themselves in Nairobi, Kenya that saw several world records and the performances of our athletes gave the NACAC area the awards for the Rising Male and Female Athletes of the year,” Sands reflected. There are a number of events on the calendar for this year, including the World Athletics’ World Indoor Championships,
DEANDRE AYTON CLEARS COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
MIKE SANDS scheduled for March 18-20 in Belgrade, Serbia, the World Athletics’ World Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, July 15-24 and the Commonwealth Games, set for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England. Of course this year, NACAC intends to launch its series of events to supplement with the Diamond League where areas in the region will get a chance to compete against their peers in a series of meets, particularly for those who won’t be eligible to compete in Europe. And for the junior athletes, NACAC will be working towards the successful return of the top junior regional meet with the CARIFTA Games being staged in powerhouse Jamaica over the usual Easter holiday weekend. The meet was called
off the past two years because of COVID-19. “We have a lot to be thankful for from the 2021 season and I’m looking forward to 2022,” Sands said. “Many of our stars were born out of the CARIFTA Games and with all things being equal, NACAC is looking forward to great performances from our athletes as they did in 2021.” Joining ThompsonHerah, a triple sprint gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were the Bahamas’ 400m gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo in a race that saw Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino and USA’s, Allyson Felix rise on the podium as well with the silver and bronze and another sweep in the women’s 100m hurdles with Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, USA’s World record holder Kendra Harrison, and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper. On the men’s side, USA’s Ryan Crouser smashed the world record in the shot put, Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, USA’s world champion Grant Holloway and Jamaican, Ronald Levy provided a 1-2-3 finish in the 110m hurdles and both Canada’s Andre De Grasse and Bahamas’ Steven Gardiner triumph ed in the 200m and 400m respectively. Athing Mu, the 19-yearold American collegian, was awarded the World Athletics Female Rising Star award for her amazing
feat in the 800m, while 17-year-old American Erriyon Knighton, earned the Male Rising Star award after he erased a few of legend Usain Bolt’s junior records. NACAC received other World Athletics awards: the Member Federation Award to Costa Rica, host to the NACAC U18 and U23 Championships; and the Coaching Achievement
Award to USA’s, Bobby Kersee. Sands congratulated all of the athletes, coaches and management team for their accomplishments in 2021 and wished everyone great success in 2022, despite the rise in COVID-19 around the world. He encouraged everyone to be safe and adhere to the safety protocols that are in place.
DEANDRE Ayton recently cleared COVID-19 protocols but while fans are still waiting for his return to the court, the Phoenix Suns centre appeared on the leaderboard for a spot in the NBA All-Star game. Ayton was 10th among frontcourt players in the Western Conference with 177,115 votes when the league announced the first fan returns of NBA AllStar Voting yesterday. The 2022 All-Star Weekend will be hosted February 18-20 in Cleveland, Ohio. Ayton is fourth among centres behind reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets (1,649,809), Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves (474,794), and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (218,819). The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively. In addition to Curry (Western Conference guards) and Durant (Eastern Conference frontcourt), the Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan (Eastern Conference guards) and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (Western Conference frontcourt) are the top vote-getters at their respective position groups. The next NBA All-Star fan voting update will be shared on January 13. Ayton is averaging 17 points and 11.1 rebounds per game on 63 percent shooting from the field. On Thursday, Ayton was one of three Suns players to clear the NBA COVID health and safety protocols, but according to the Suns, missed last night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers due to “return to competition reconditioning.” Ayton missed five games under health and safety protocols. Earlier this season, he also missed two games for a non-COVID related illness and missed three games with a leg contusion. His last appearance was the Suns’ 116-107 Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors. Ayton finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.
SEE PAGE 13
PAGE 12, Friday, January 7, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Canada beats Germany to join Russia in ATP Cup semifinals
NAOMI OSAKA, of Japan, plays a backhand yesterday during her singles match against Maryna Zanevska, of Belgium, at Summer Set tournament ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Nadal wins opening match, Naomi Osaka also advances MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal began fine-tuning his quest for a 21st Grand Slam singles title with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Ricardas Berankis yesterday in a warm-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open. Nadal, recovering from the coronavirus, showed no signs of sluggishness on Rod Laver Arena, although he was broken early in the second set and again when he served for the match. “It’s only the first match after a while. Honestly, I have been going through some difficult, challenging moments the past yearand-a-half,” Nadal said, “but in general terms I am
super happy to be back in competition. “Of course it’s important to start with a victory, (which) gives me the chance to play another time tomorrow, and that’s the main thing at this moment because I didn’t play for such a long time.” In the women’s event at Melbourne Park, defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka beat Maryna Zanevska 6-1, 6-1, and second-seeded Simona Halep defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Nadal said COVID-19 left him in bed for several days “shaking and tired” and with a fever he said was worse than any
other similar illness he had experienced. “My days had been tough; I was very sick with fever (but) that’s the better way mentally and physically to be ready (to arrive as early as possible) and adapt to the conditions,” he said. “I felt myself good enough and I always wanted to be back on tour and be here.” Earlier, former French Open champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the Adelaide International quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over US Open runnerup Leylah Fernandez. The fifth-seeded Swiatek joined top-ranked Ash Barty in the last eight and
will play two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who beat Priscilla Hon 6-3, 7-5. “I felt really confident,” Swiatek said. “And I’m pretty happy that I could finish it really quickly and I didn’t let go of focus.” Seventh-seeded Elina Rybakina and Shelby Rogers, who beat thirdseeded Maria Sakkari, will meet in another quarterfinal match. The Adelaide and Melbourne tournaments are two of six tune-up events being staged in Australia this week ahead of the season-opening major at Melbourne Park, which starts on January 17.
SYDNEY (AP) — Felix Auger-Aliassime sent Canada into the semifinals of the ATP Cup yesterday by beating third-ranked Alexander Zverev 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Denis Shapovalov had set up Auger-Aliassime’s clincher over Germany by downing Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 in the first singles match. Canada will play defending champion Russia on Saturday. The other semifinalists, Poland and Spain, play today. “It feels good to beat Zverev,” the 11th-ranked Auger-Aliassime said in his on-court interview. “He’s a great player. He’s beaten me a couple of times before, so I’m happy I was able to get the job done today, especially for the team ... to finish off strong with this group and to win it and to be through to the semis is special.” The 21-year-old Quebec native squandered four break points at 3-3 in the second set but said he stayed positive. “Trust me, it’s not always easy to stay positive out there. I was able to do so today and I think that’s why I was able to win in the third set,” he said. Canada advanced with a 2-1 win after Germany salvaged a doubles victory. Earlier, Russia beat Italy 2-1 to advance to the semifinals unbeaten. Daniil Medvedev and Roman
Safiullin stepped up for Russia in the decisive doubles, overcoming Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner 5-7, 6-4, 10-5 to clinch the victory. Sinner gave Italy the early lead with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over Safiullin, but the second-ranked Medvedev levelled the contest with a 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4 win over Berrettini. “The first set I was in control and it’s tricky because you think that things will continue to go your way but that’s not the case when you’re up against a top 10 player,” Medvedev said. “I made some bad decisions in the second set so I tried to learn from that in the third. I served well throughout the match and that helped me.” Britain staged a comefrom-behind win in doubles to complete a 2-1 victory over the United States, but it was later eliminated when Canada advanced. Jamie Murray and Dan Evans rallied from a set and a service break down to beat Taylor Fritz and John Isner 6-7 (3), 7-5, 10-8. “We were just hustling and we kept trying to get the ball back in play and start using our skills after that,” Murray said. “At 4-2 we got a bit of momentum and came down to a tiebreak, which is what it comes down to on a doubles court so many times.” The final is scheduled for Sunday.
DJOKOVIC IN LIMBO AS HE FIGHTS DEPORTATION FROM AUSTRALIA By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer LOCKED in a dispute over his COVID-19 vaccination status, Novak Djokovic was confined to an immigration detention hotel in Australia yesterday as the No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world awaited a court ruling on whether he can compete in the Australian Open later this month. Djokovic, a vocal sceptic of vaccines, had travelled to Australia after Victoria state authorities granted him a medical exemption to the country’s strict vaccination requirements. But when he arrived late Wednesday, the Australian Border Force rejected his exemption as invalid and barred him from entering the country. A court hearing on his bid to stave off deportation was set for Monday, while the 34-year-old Serb and defending Australian Open champion was forced to wait it out in Melbourne at a secure hotel used by immigration officials to house asylum seekers and refugees. The tournament begins on January 17.
Djokovic is hoping to overtake rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the record books and win his 21st Grand Slam singles title, the most by any player in men’s tennis. Djokovic’s securing of an exemption so that he could play triggered an uproar and allegations of special treatment in Australia, where people spent months in lockdown and endured harsh travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic. After his long-haul flight, the tennis star spent the night trying to convince authorities he had the necessary documentation, to no avail. “The rule is very clear,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “You need to have a medical exemption. He didn’t have a valid medical exemption. We make the call at the border, and that’s where it’s enforced.” Health Minister Greg Hunt said the athlete’s visa was cancelled after border officials reviewed Djokovic’s medical exemption and looked at “the integrity and the evidence behind it.” The grounds on which he was granted an exemption
SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on February 21, 2021. Djokovic has had his visa cancelled and been denied entry to Australia, yesterday, and is set to be removed from the country after spending the night at the Melbourne airport as officials refused to let him enter the country for the Australian Open after an apparent visa mix-up. (AP Photo/Mark Dadswell) were not immediately had spoken to Djokovic attention to themselves,” amid the pandemic. Critics disclosed. and that his government he added. questioned what grounds While Djokovic has asked that the athlete be Anyone who does that, Djokovic could have for the steadfastly refused to say allowed to move to a house he said, “whether they’re exemption, while supportwhether he has gotten any he has rented and “not to a celebrity, a politician, a ers argued he has a right shots against the coro- be in that infamous hotel.” tennis player ... they can to privacy and freedom of navirus, he has spoken He added that Djokovic expect to be asked ques- choice. out against vaccines, and has been treated differently tions more than others Many Australians who it is widely presumed he from other players. before you come.” have struggled to obtain would not have sought an “I’m afraid that this overThe medical-exemption COVID-19 tests or have exemption if he had been kill will continue,” Vucic applications from players, been forced into isolation vaccinated. said. their teams and tourna- saw a double standard. Federal Circuit Judge “When you can’t beat ment officials were vetted Tension has grown amid Anthony Kelly adjourned someone, then you do such by two independent panels another surge of COVIDDjokovic’s case to Monday. things.” of experts. 19 in the country. A lawyer for the governAustralia’s prime minisAcceptable reasons for Victoria state recorded ment agreed the nine-time ter said the onus is on the an exemption include major six deaths and nearly 22,000 Australian Open champion traveller to have the proper health conditions and seri- new cases yesterday, the should not be deported documentation on arrival. ous reactions to a previous biggest one-day jump in before then. Morrison rejected any dose of the COVID-19 the caseload since the pan“I feel terrible since suggestion that Djokovic vaccine. demic began. yesterday that they are was being singled out but A COVID-19 infecAustralian Open tournakeeping him as a prisoner. acknowledged that other tion within the previous ment director Craig Tiley It’s not fair. It’s not human. players may be in Australia six months has also been on Wednesday defended I hope that he will win,” on the same type of medical widely reported to be the “completely legitimate Djokovic’s mother, Dijana, exemption. grounds for an exemp- application and process” said after speaking with him “One of the things the tion, but that appears to and insisted there was briefly by telephone from Border Force does is they be a matter of dispute no special treatment for Belgrade. act on intelligence to direct between federal and state Djokovic. She added: “Terrible, ter- their attention to potential authorities. Twenty-six people conrible accommodation. It’s arrivals,” he said. The tennis star tested nected with the tournament just some small immigra“When you get people positive for the coronavirus applied for a medical tion hotel, if it’s hotel at making public statements in June 2020 after he played exemption and, Tiley said, all.” about what they say they in a series of exhibition only a “handful” were Serbian President Alek- have, and they’re going to matches that he organised granted. None of those have sandar Vucic said that he do, they draw significant without social distancing been publicly identified.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 13
RJ Barrett banks in 3-pointer at buzzer to cap Knicks’ rally NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the New York Knicks 108-105 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Evan Fournier scored a career-high 41 points, and the Knicks overcame a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. The teams will finish the home-and-home set Saturday night in Boston. Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for Boston. He tied it on a long step-back jumper with just over a second to play. The Knicks inbounded after a timeout, and Barrett banked in the long-distance shot for the victory. Julius Randle added 22 points for New York, Immanuel Quickley had 16, and Barrett 13. The Knicks didn’t lead until there were just over two minutes left. Dennis Schroder added 20 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown had 16. PELICANS 101, WARRIORS 96 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram broke out of a shooting slump with 32 points and New Orleans beat depleted Golden State to snap a three-game skid. Golden State’s Stephen Curry was ruled out after hurting his left quad during
NEW York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) makes the game-winning 3-point basket in front of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum during an NBA basketball game last night in New York. The Knicks won 108-105. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) a loss a night earlier in Dallas. Draymond Green was out with a sore hip. Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points for Golden State.
GRIZZLIES 118, PISTONS 88 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Memphis built
an early lead and coasted past Detroit for its seventh straight victory. Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points and Tyus Jones and rookie Ziaire
Williams added 14 points apiece for Memphis. It was a season high for Williams. Saben Lee led the Pistons with 14 points.
‘BUDDY’ SCORES 11, KINGS FALL TO HAWKS 108-102 By MICHAEL WAGAMAN Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Huerter scored five of his 25 points in the final 38 seconds and the short-handed Atlanta Hawks held off the Sacramento Kings 108-102 on Wednesday night. Huerter added 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, helping the Hawks to their third win in nine games. Clint Capella added 11 points and 14 rebounds, and six of Atlanta’s eight players scored in double figures. Cam Reddish had 18 points. “It was for sure a step in the right direction today,” Huerter said. “It was kind of offence by committee for most of the game. It’s easy to make excuses with the amount of guys we have out but (Sacramento) was on a back-to-back, we had yesterday off and we had enough guys to win the game.” Huerter’s timing was perfect for Atlanta. Hawks star Trae Young sat out with a lower back bruise two days after putting up a career-high 56 points in a loss at Portland, but the news wasn’t all bad for
Atlanta. John Collins, out since Christmas Day on the COVID-19 list, was cleared to return, along with Bogdan Bogdanovich and Jalen Johnson. The three did not play but are expected to join the team in Los Angeles later this week. “We’re dealing with a lot of different circumstances right now in terms of balancing out the lineup, balancing out the players we have, what they can contribute,” Hawks assistant coach Joe Prunty said. “A lot of guys played big minutes tonight. It worked out for us. Everybody that played in this game contributed in one form or another, and we need to do that every night.” De’Aaron Fox had 30 points and six assists for Sacramento. Chavano “Buddy’ Hield helped out with 11 points, six rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes. The Kings had won their previous five against the Hawks but fell behind early and struggled to catch up. “Somewhere along the line, you just have to dig in and you have to come up with a stop to put yourself in position to win a game like that,” Kings interim
HAWKS guard Kevin Huerter is defended by Kings guard Chavano “Buddy” Hield (24) as he drives to the basket on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas) coach Alvin Gentry said. “We have to be much, much better at home than we are. I like that we battled, but we have to find a way to finish.” After Fox moved between two defenders and converted a three-point play to tie it at 101, Huerter drove across the key and flipped the ball off the
backboard with his right hand to score with 37.7 seconds remaining. Huerter added three free throws to extend Atlanta’s lead to 106-101. Huerter had 11 points in the fourth quarter overall. “Kevin was great from the moment he came in the game.” Prunty said. “He was great from the
AYTON FROM PAGE 11
When Ayton returned from his previous illness on December 14, he returned to the court with 28 points and 13 rebounds in a season high 45 minutes in the Suns’ 11-107 win over the Portland Trailblazers on December 14. It was the first of five consecutive games with a double double. Ayton said his progression has included becoming a playmaker for his teammates on the floor. “I’ve seen every coverage possible they can throw at us. Now it’s just me being a better basketball player, taking what the defence gives me, playing that short role, I really dissect that now,” Ayton said earlier this season. “Taking advantage of my size and my ability to pass to either corner. Me, [Chris Paul] and coach Mark Bryant, we’ve been on that. I really wanted to be more of a threat this year…you can break it off to me in the short role and I’ll be the playmaker, simple as that.” Ayton has 15 double doubles in 24 games this season. The Suns were 29-8, tied for the lead in the Western Conference headed into last night’s game with the Clippers. Ayton’s season has already included another franchise record by becoming the fastest Suns player to achieve 100 double doubles. He achieved the historic mark in a 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks on November 17 with 19 points and 13 rebounds. “I like it, that’s tough,” he said. “I got to get 100 more. Seeing [Chris Paul] break accolades every game. You realise, you keep working to get accolades under your belt as a team, but some of this stuff counts individually as well.” PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton (22) during the first half of an Ayton is also the fastest Sun player in franchise his- NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, tory to collect 1,000 rebounds for his career, done in December 25, 2021, in Phoenix. just 94 games. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
beginning. He helped keep us organised as well on both ends of the floor.” Fox and Hield both shot airballs in the final 25 seconds. Sacramento came out sluggish in the second half of its back-to-back. The Kings shot 33.3 percent in the first two quarters and trailed by nine at the half.
ELGAR LEADS SOUTH AFRICA TO VICTORY OVER INDIA IN 2ND TEST JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Captain Dean Elgar saw his team home with 96 not out as South Africa beat India by seven wickets in the second test yesterday to level the series 1-1 and send it to a deciding game. Opener Elgar batted all the way through as South Africa chased down the target of 240 late on the fourth day at the Wanderers and after the first two sessions were lost to rain. The game appeared finely balanced with both teams sensing a chance of winning ahead of South Africa’s final innings. The pace bowlers had worried batsmen throughout the low-scoring test and South Africa’s out-of-form batting order needed its highest total of the series to win. But South Africa got there with ease in the end to finish on 243-3, thanks in the main to Elgar’s typically gritty innings. He batted for more than five hours over two days and took a couple of blows on the body from bouncers, one of which slammed into the grill of his helmet. He kept going and hit the winning runs. “I would like to think the knocks I take make me extra motivated to perform,” Elgar said. “Some would call it stupid and some would call it brave. The bigger picture is for us to win.” Temba Bavuma was 23 not out and he and Elgar took South Africa surging to victory with a flurry of boundaries at the end. Elgar sealed it by hammering one through midwicket and to the boundary. Rassie van der Dussen had also played an important role with his 40 in an 82-run stand with Elgar after South Africa was 93-2. India is seeking a first test series win in South Africa and was buoyant after winning the first match convincingly. But it couldn’t clinch it at the Wanderers and will have to wait for another chance at that piece of history. “We expected every game to be competitive,” said KL Rahul, who stood in as India captain after Virat Kohli missed the test with a back injury. “A loss like this is disappointing but we’ve always been a team that gets hungrier after a loss.” The third and deciding test is in Cape Town next week and Rahul said Kohli was likely to be fit again after the upper back spasm that ruled him out at the Wanderers just before the game. “Virat is feeling better already,” Rahul said. “(He’s) been in the nets the last couple of days, fielding and running around, and I think he should be fine.”
Gobert tests positive for COVID-19 again, enters NBA protocols By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer THE first time that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA didn’t even have health and safety protocols. It shut down the league instead. This time, the Utah Jazz centre might just miss a few days. Gobert has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed yesterday on the virus-related protocols list — something that didn’t even exist when he tested positive for the virus on March 11, 2020, the night that the NBA shut down for more than four months and ultimately decided to finish its season inside a bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida. He has been ruled out for Utah’s game tonight in Toronto. It is not clear how long he will be
sidelined; typically, even with shorter return-toplay rules in place now than what had been the case earlier this season, most players who enter the protocols are out for at least a week. Gobert did not play in Utah’s win at Denver on Wednesday night, with the team citing illness as the reason. The Jazz said Gobert took two rapid tests that day, both of which came back negative. But a PCR test, processed overnight, came back yesterday with Gobert positive for the virus again, the team said. Gobert becomes the second Jazz player on the protocols list, joining Joe Ingles. Utah entered the week as the only NBA team to not have a player in protocols this season, a streak that ended when Ingles was added to that list on Tuesday.
PAGE 14, Friday, January 7, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
By LES BOWEN Associated Press
BEARS PLACE QUARTERBACK FIELDS ON RESERVE/ COVID-19 LIST
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Not much gets the competitive juices flowing in Philadelphia like the Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys. Eagles wideout Greg Ward called it “the biggest rivalry in football,” but rivalry talk has been muted for the final week of the regular season with both teams headed to the playoffs. The NFC East champion Cowboys (11-5) need a win and help to climb from the No. 4 seed to No. 2. The Eagles (9-7) can’t finish any higher than the sixth seed. It’s uncertain how much Dallas coach Mike McCarthy and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni will risk playing key starters. McCarthy said his starters will play and his team will be focused on winning. Sirianni deflected questions about playing starters early in the week, saying he hasn’t decided. The Eagles placed 12 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday; all are eligible to come off before the game, or the team can fill their spots with practice squad callups. The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing home loss to Arizona, and may seem to feel a need to regain momentum heading into the postseason. “There are slight odds to potentially move up, so we want to make sure we take care of business on our end, and finish off and make sure we’re playing with momentum,” McCarthy said. Eagles star rookie wideout DeVonta Smith wants to play. The Eagles have won four in a row and five of their last six games. “I feel like I need to be out there. I feel like the whole team needs to be out there, just a momentum thing,” said Smith, who is 37 yards shy of DeSean Jackson’s team record of 921 receiving yards for a rookie. “We’ve kind of got everything going in the right direction, so just keep that momentum building. Just another week to
THE Chicago Bears placed quarterback Justin Fields on the reserve/ COVID-19 list yesterday, likely sidelining him for the finale and ending his rookie season. The Bears expected Fields to start at Minnesota on Sunday after missing the previous two games because of an ankle injury. That plan is now in doubt. It’s been an up-and-down season for Fields, who has shown promising flashes and room to improve while dealing with injuries. Fields has completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 1,870 yards. He has more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven) to go with a 73.2 passer rating. Chicago is 2-8 in the games he has started, dropping seven straight with him in the lineup since wins over Detroit and Las Vegas in Weeks 4 and 5. The Bears planned to have the former Ohio State star back up veteran Andy Dalton after trading up nine spots with the New York Giants to draft him with the No. 11 overall pick. That changed after Dalton was injured in Week 2 against Cincinnati. Fields put together several promising performances in a row before cracking his ribs against Baltimore in Week 11. He missed the next two games, then returned in the loss to Green Bay on December 12 before hurting his ankle in a loss to Minnesota at Soldier Field in Week 15. The Bears (6-10) won the past two games, beating the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants with Nick Foles and Dalton starting, after losing eight of nine. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor would not say who would start in Fields’ place. A day after rookie Micah Parsons went on the COVID-19 list, the Dallas Cowboys placed offensive tackle Tyron Smith and cornerback Anthony Brown on the list going into Saturday’s game in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
Cowboys, Eagles gear up for playoffs with little at stake
DALLAS Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) breaks away from Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during the second half of an NFL football game last Sunday in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins) fine-tune the small things ... it means a lot.” LIMITED TO 48 While saying the Cowboys would play to win the game, McCarthy didn’t dismiss the notion of starters getting pulled with the outcome in doubt. However, he was quick to point out the difference between the preseason and regular season, when the 48-player rosters on game day are barely half the summer size. “Going up there and then you start pulling players, you’re really putting stress on other players that particularly haven’t played, that maybe haven’t had reps at that many positions,” McCarthy said. “You have to be cognisant of that. I’m talking about special teams and so forth. We put a lot of time into the potential playtime reports for projected play for each player.” TOUGH LOVE? Eagles receiver Jalen Reagor, a first-round draft pick in 2020, has been an object of fan scorn almost since the moment he was selected one slot ahead
EAGLES quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws the ball prior to the start of the first half against the Washington Football Team. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) of record-setting Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. Reagor has been booed mercilessly, but when he returned a punt 39 yards two weeks ago against the Giants, he got a huge ovation — some of it possibly sarcastic — though boos were mixed in with the cheers. “It was funny, honestly,” Reagor said. He added that defensive end Derek Barnett, often criticised as an underachieving 2017 first-rounder, told him “to embrace that type of stuff, because it shows they’re paying attention. It’s just like the saying
that once a coach stops yelling at you and stops coaching you, then you should be worried.” WANTED: TAKEAWAYS Dallas is tied with Indianapolis for the NFL lead in takeaways with 33, but the defence struggles to impact the game without them. The Cowboys have lost the last three games in which they didn’t force a turnover (among four such games total). They are allowing averages of 30 points and 438 yards in those three losses, including to Arizona.
“I am not trying to make excuses of whether it’s a turnover or not,” rookie linebacker Micah Parsons said. “There are a lot of plays in that game where we could have been in a better position. And we beat ourselves. When we play disciplined football and let the play call be the play call and line up every play, I like us against anybody in the world.” Parsons went on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, and his status for Saturday night’s game was unclear. DOING WHAT HE CAN After COVID-19 swept through Philadelphia’s locker room, quarterback Jalen Hurts was asked what he does to try to stay off that list. “I’m definitely trying,” Hurts said. “Obviously, it’s kind of hard to overcome, given how fast it’s spread and the different things going on with it. ... If I ever catch it, I’ll know that I caught it trying to do the right thing, with the right intentions, and taking the right precautions.”
BUCS MAKE IT OFFICIAL: TERMINATE ANTONIO BROWN’S CONTRACT By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially severed ties with Antonio Brown, terminating the contract of the mercurial receiver who claimed he was fired in the middle of a game for not playing through an ankle injury. The Bucs announced the move yesterday, one day after Brown broke his silence on a bizarre exit from last Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets.
Brown removed his jersey, shoulder pads, undershirt and gloves, then left the field after a sideline exchange with coach Bruce Arians, who said afterward that the player was no longer part of the team. Brown, who has a long history of troubled behaviour on and off the field, including being accused by two women of sexual assault — one claimed he raped her — said he left the field abruptly after he was cut for refusing to re-enter the game because of his ankle.
The receiver, who began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, tossed some of his gear into the stands, did some jumping jacks and waved to fans at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., as he headed to the locker room. “While Antonio did receive treatment on his ankle and was listed on the injury report the week leading up to last Sunday’s game, he was cleared to play by our medical team prior to the start of the game and at no point during the game did he indicate to
our medical personnel that he could not play,” the Bucs said in a statement. “We have attempted, multiple times throughout this week, to schedule an evaluation by an outside orthopedic specialist, yet Antonio has not complied,” the statement added. “Maintaining the health and wellness of our players is of the utmost importance to our organisation.” While not specifying which ankle was hurt, Brown — through a statement released by his attorney on Wednesday — said an MRI performed the day after the game showed broken bone fragments, a ligament tear and cartilage loss “which are beyond painful. You can see the bone bulging from the outside.” Arians said Monday that Brown did not claim he was injured when he refused to continue playing against the Jets. The coach has declined to discuss specifics of the sideline conversation and insisted he had “no clue” why Brown reacted the way he did. Despite saying after the game that Brown was no longer a part of the defending Super Bowl champions, the 33-year-old receiver had remained on the roster. Wednesday’s injury report noted Brown’s absence from practice was “not injury related — personal.” Brown’s statement, released through attorney Sean Burstyn, alleged a coverup. It also said the receiver has scheduled surgery to fix the injury. “I didn’t quit. I was cut. I didn’t walk away from
BUCCANEERS wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) gestures to the crowd as he leaves the field while his team’s offence is on the field against the New York Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Brown left the game and did not return. (Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media via AP) my brothers. I was thrown out,” Brown said. “Being fired on the sideline for having a painful injury was bad enough. Then came their ‘spin.’ Coach denied on national television that he knew about my ankle. That’s 100 percent inaccurate,” the receiver added. “Not only did he know I missed several games with the injury, he and I exchanged texts days before the game where he clearly acknowledged my injury.” Brown hurt his ankle during a victory at Philadelphia in mid-October and didn’t play again until December 26 against Carolina, a two-month stretch that included a NFL-imposed, three-game suspension for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status.
Brown joined the Bucs midway through last season after serving an eight-game ban for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. At the time, Arians said there would be zero tolerance for the type of incidents that had derailed Brown’s career in the past. The receiver helped Tampa Bay win its first Super Bowl title in nearly two decades last February and returned this season on a one-year, $3.1 million contract that could have been worth up to twice that with incentives. Brown appeared in seven games this season, finishing with 42 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns. His streak of 144 consecutive games with at least one reception is the longest in the league among active players.
PAGE 16, Friday, January 7, 2022
GOV’T TARGETS PROPERTY TAX TRIPLING TO $400M FROM PAGE 20 is aiming to achieve by the time his administration’s term in office ends in 2026, is far higher than the Government’s fiscal performance has ever before produced. Data accompanying the recent supplementary 2021-2022 Budget shows that recurrent revenue, as a percentage of GDP, ranged from a low of 16.3 percent to a high of 18.9 percent over the past five fiscal years, with the latter outturn achieved in the COVID-ravaged 2020-2021 period when economic output slumped below $10bn to help produce the higher ratio. The Government’s forecasts, though, show the revenue-to-GDP ratio steadily increasing from 20.2 percent in this current fiscal year to 20.5 percent in 2022-2023 and 21.7 percent in 2023-2024 - a trend moving towards the objective set by Mr Davis. And, with other Caribbean nations enjoying revenue ratios near that target, it is thought there is significant scope for The Bahamas to improve.
Still, the extent of the revenue increase required to hit 25 percent of GDP is graphically illustrated by the Government’s current fiscal and economic forecasts. Based on the $12.459bn and $13.279bn current price GDP projected for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, respectively the Public Treasury’s total income in those two years would need to be $3.115bn and $3.32bn to meet target. Both figures are around $700m higher than the Government’s previous record-setting year of 2018-2019, the last before COVID and Dorian, when some $2.426bn in recurrent revenue was collected. This gives an indication of the revenue increase being sought by the Davis administration as The Bahamas seeks to pull out of its economic and fiscal crisis. Mr Wilson yesterday said that, based on 3.5 percent of GDP, the Government will be seeking annual real property tax revenues of around $400m rather than the $350m estimate initially ventured by this newspaper. “Property tax compliance is around 25 percent. Most countries’ property tax
compliance is around 90 percent,” he added of the scope for increased collections. The $400m goal would near-triple the $158.814m that the Government anticipates collecting in real property taxes during the current 2021-2022 fiscal year. Increases to $181.142m and $218.3m are forecast for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, respectively, but the latter is still almost 50 percent below the level suggested by Mr Wilson. Both PLP and FNM administrations have been working closely with US-based Tyler Technologies to improve the real property tax collection database, increase the number of properties on the tax roll, and set the foundation for improved collection, enforcement and administration. Mr Wilson said the consultant’s New Providence mapping exercise, begun under the previous administration, which aimed to capture and measure all land and buildings on New Providence, was “near completion” after being delayed by COVID-19 restrictions.
“The challenge is that we still have a significant number of properties in the system that are categorised as unknown; properties where there are no owners of record,” the financial secretary revealed. “But it is near completion and we feel we’re pretty happy with the product we’ve seen so far. “There’s been some gains. I don’t have those numbers at the tip of my fingers, but it appears based on what we’re hearing from the Department of Inland Revenue that a substantial amount of [new] properties have been registered and the increase in tax liabilities could be substantial. It depends on which approach the Government takes.” Mr Wilson said the Real Property Tax Act allows the Government to retroactively assess back taxes for up to ten years on properties which which were eligible to pay, but which had not been registered on the roll. “It could be one year, five years,” he added. “It’s unlikely to be five years, but the question is what we do.” Speaking earlier at the Ministry of Finance’s press
LEGAL NOTICE
N O T I C E EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LIMITED Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved and struck off the Register pursuant to a Certificate of Dissolution issued by The Registrar General on the 10th day of December, A.D. 2021. Dated the 7th day of January A.D., 2022. Rebecca L Wittrock Liquidator of EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO LIMITED
briefing, Mr Wilson said: “One of the more interesting ones we uncovered was if you look at electricity bills throughout The Bahamas, you have more people on the BPL (Bahamas Power & Light) roll than you have land registered. “For every house there should be an electricity connection. We have more electricity connections than we have homes on the real property tax system. We have a strategy for dealing with real property tax collections that we will unveil with the mid-year Budget.” Mr Wilson told Tribune Business that the Government is not solely focusing on real property tax to achieve its 25 percent revenue-to-GDP target. “We’ll do a VAT gap analysis and look at VAT payments on a sectoral basis,” he said. “We believe there are still significant compliance challenges with VAT which we can address
THE TRIBUNE
and give additional revenue buoyancy. “We believe that Customs, even if we forecast a decrease in the average tariff rate, compliance can be improved to increase revenue. The IMF report alluded to some of that.” Mr Wilson said the upcoming mid-year and full-year Budget will allow the Government to lay out more details on its fiscal plans, and “what we see that gives us confidence the tax regime can accommodate 25 percent revenue-to-GDP”. The top Ministry of Finance official also revealed that a study on corporate income tax, given global pressures for such a levy with a 15 percent rate, has been initiated. “That might influence the tax mix going forward,” he said. “But all things being equal, we feel we have enough tools to get us to 25 percent.”
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NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that DIMY MICHEL of P.O. Box N-3081, Stapledon Gardens, 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 31st day of December, 2021 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that NORMAN V. McFARLANE of #88 Gilbert Street, Kennedy Sub Division, Nassau, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of January, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau,
January 21st, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 17
‘NOT A SINGLE MERCHANT’ AVOIDS COVID STAFF WOE FROM PAGE 20 with the latest US and UK requirements. She argued that this would allow previously sick staff, who subsequently tested negative for COVID-19 and were given the medical all-clear, to return to work faster and relieve the growing burden placed on both their employers and fellow workers through multiple absences. Disclosing that she knew of one retailer, who she declined to name, running out of stock over Christmas because their inventory shipments did not arrive in time due to supply chain bottlenecks, the Retail Federation co-chair said she was also aware of one non-retail business where all staff members caught COVID at their Christmas party. Besides staffing shortages, Ms Morley said some merchants had suffered from having a significant
percentage of their customers isolating at home due to COVID-19 and unable to shop. She added that Christmas performance had been impacted by location and target market, with retailers with multiple stores reporting that some sites did “gangbusters” while others fared poorly. “It’s been quite the start to the New Year,” Ms Morley told Tribune Business. “The supply chain issues are still carrying on, and this whole COVID mess is creating a lot of challenges for staffing purposes. It’s definitely having an impact. “There isn’t a single retailer I’ve spoken to who has not had an issue. Anyone who says otherwise does not know what is happening or enjoying pure luck. At some point or other, they’re going to get hit with it. “There are some restaurants operating with a 15 percent staff infection rate. It’s really great, and
I’m happy for businesses where remote work is feasible, but for operations like hotels, restaurants and retail stores, that requires an instore physical presence. It’s ultimately going to have an impact,” she continued. “Quite a few retailers and restaurants have had to reduce hours or shifts to accommodate staff shortages. All the team that isn’t sick is getting much more pressure applied to come in and work longer hours and cover shifts for people caught with COVID. It’s just an added pressure with everything else going on.” Ms Morley backed the Bahamian hotel industry’s call for the Government to reduce the 14-day quarantine period for workers infected with COVID, and bring it into line with the seven days mandated by the UK and five days required by the US. “I think it is definitely something we should be
following similar to other countries,” she told this newspaper. “The 14 days appears to be outdated as far as I can tell. “As long as people are following the guidelines of the health advisers, and making sure anyone coming back into the workforce tests negative, double negative, for the period doctors recommend... It seems people are testing out earlier than the 14-day period, and that will certainly alleviate the burden on someone testing positive coming back to work. “It will also alleviate the burden on colleagues that have to come in and cover extra shifts. I think it really just helps any business that requires an in-person presence. The sooner we get team members back up to full capacity, the lesser the burden on all staff and the business. Truly it’s been a lot of burden on team members
VAT SLASH ‘NOT RECKLESS’ AS REVENUES UP $160M FROM PAGE 20 as conservative or “suppressed”, Mr Wilson added: “Since that time we got an additional $80m over projections to the end of December. We’ve kept from January to June the same, which is suppressed. We believe all things being equal we will exceed revenue targets for the next six months.... “If you look at our revenue performance against forecasts, we’re $160m above forecast... We’re very excited with what we see in terms of the potential for revenue yields. On
the expenditure side, the overhang in terms of liabilities and so forth has been reduced. It has not been reduced to a bare minimum, but it has reduced considerably from when I came back into office.” Suggesting that the Government’s fiscal strategy was already producing “green shoots”, Mr Wilson said the “back dating” of the international financial services industry’s reinstated VAT ‘zero rating treatment’ to July 1, 2019, will eliminate “significant tax liabilities” many providers were facing after the Government
OPPOSITION CHALLENGES CONTRACT AWARD SILENCE FROM PAGE 19 to ensure uniformity and transparency,” the financial secretary asked. “The Act revolves around the work of the chief procurement officer, who has very specific functions, and whose job it is to try and bring us into compliance with the Act. “If you talk him and the lawyer, that was an almost impossible task because the Act is drafted in such a way that compliance is almost impossible..... The chief procurement officer should have been created a year before the Act was fully enforced.
For some reason the Act was enforced, and there was nothing else. It was left to fall into place, and doesn’t fall into place that easily. “We cannot act unless that post is created. That post has to be created by the Public Service Commission. We cannot have an office for a post that does not exist. As far as I’m aware, no post was created. I could be wrong. I don’t think I’m wrong. That in itself shows this was not well thought-out. The nexus is the department and chief procurement officer. That’s the key nexus there.”
switched them to ‘exempt’ status. And the end to “domestic” zero ratings was “really simplifying the tax system, making it more equitable for everyone and reducing the burden on small businesses”. Mr Wilson said small grocery stores, where breadbasket items account for a significant amount of their sales, will no longer have to wait on VAT refunds from the Government because those items are VAT-able. He added that the VAT rate cut, and associated changes, were part of the Government’s efforts “to bring in fairness and equity
to the the tax system” by focusing on a strategy that broadened the tax base while lowering the rates. Mr Wilson also suggested that the ‘zero rating’ of medicines by the previous administration, which has now ended, primarily benefited the pharmaceutical suppliers because some 70-80 percent of prescription drugs were distributed for free or at cut prices by the public healthcare system. “I didn’t really understand the context of that,” he said. “If you look at the price levels of medication, there was no drop in the price levels or inflation with
having to come in and work those shifts last minute.” Describing Omicronrelated staffing shortages as “an additional logistical challenge to running your business”, Ms Morley added: “I don’t know of any stores that have experienced a full wipe-out of staff. One business I know, and it’s not a retailer, it’s in a completely different service industry and staff can work remotely, but it had a staff party and every single person got it.” As for the retail industry’s festive season, which can account for up to 40-50 percent of some merchants’ annual sales, she told Tribune Business: “Christmas for a lot of retailers was very hit or miss depending on whether shipments arrived or not, and these staff shortages started right before the busiest period. The timing of this [Omicron] was not ideal; it was crunch time for retailers.
“It’s an amalgamation of issues. There’s a lot of additional headwinds facing the retail sector. I don’t know of anyone that’s not had a few staff members test positive. Everyone is just rolling with the punches and everyone’s just doing their best to navigate through this mess. “There are probably some retailers that had a great Christmas, and some that did not have a good Christmas. I know of one retailer that ran out of stock because their shipments did not come in on time, and it messed with their figures. There were other retailers where a lot of their clients had COVID so they did not get the regular volume of December shoppers because they were at home.” Ms Morley added that supply chain woes, such as increased freight costs and delayed orders/extended delivery times, have “not calmed” yet and she predicted that they will persist for at least another six months and possibly the whole of 2022. “The key to 2022 is going to be remaining flexible,” she said.
respect to medication. Those savings went elsewhere; they didn’t go to the consumer.” Mr Wilson also described the recently-implemented Public Procurement Act, introduced by the Minnis administration, as “impractical” for increasing the bureaucracy associated with purchasing goods and services required for the Government’s daily functioning. Arguing that regulations, guidance manuals and training had all been absent, and that both the legislation and online e-procurement portal will have to be amended and upgraded, he added: “Let me give you an example. Any procurement under the Act has to be out for 30 days.
“So imagine this. You want to buy disinfectant spray, which is a homogeneous good, Lysol. Everybody knows what Lysol is and so forth. You get three quotes. You have to hold those quotes for 30 days before you make the purchase. That’s a very impractical approach to doing anything.” As for the online portal, Mr Wilson said vendors were complaining that they were receiving information on bids ill-matched to their interests. He added that companies were “feeling disconnected from governance” by the portal’s inefficiencies and inability to obtain the right details on upcoming tenders.
PAGE 18, Friday, January 7, 2022
‘BITTER IMPASSE’: BOTH SIDES CLAIM WIN IN OLD FORT BATTLE FROM PAGE 20 assets, the Property Owners Association accused the developer of “misappropriation and improper dealings with the common areas, thereby amounting to breach of fiduciary duty and breach of trust”. In particular, it took issue with the sale of the two land parcels, Pineapple House and Pineapple Grove, for $600,000 and $880,000, respectively, to developers who are named in the judgment as the Mosko and Miaoulis families. The planned marina expansion, which was blocked by a court injunction, and
Old Fort Bay Club’s leasing were also cited as “wrongful use of trust property”. New Providence Development Company, and its Old Fort Bay Company affiliate, hit back by branding the Association’s claims as “absurd”. They argued that the Old Fort Bay gated residential community forms just part of the 861 acres that the former conveyed to the latter on July 1, 1970, to kickstart development in western New Providence beyond Lyford Cay. The 861 acres now include the nearby Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) branch, Shell gas station,
and portions of the Charlotteville and Venetian residential developments, as well as the Old Fort Bay Town Centre. “The developer disputes that the disputed lands are ‘common areas’ and asserts that it is the owner of all lands except those which were sold,” Justice Charles noted. “With respect to the Club and the marina, the developer asserts that the Property Owners Association, in correspondence, has acknowledged that it owns them. The developer asserts that it is entitled to complete the proposed expansion works for the
marina. It denies that the expansion works are inconsistent with the building scheme.” Setting out New Providence Development Company’s case further, Justice Charles added: “The developer contends that it has been trying for over a decade to resolve this dispute in good faith, and on reasonable terms, and has even sent a signed handover deed to the Property Owners Association that would have transferred 85.637 acres of land to them, but the Property Owners Association has spurned this and many other opportunities to strike a reasonable resolution. “The developer says that the Property Owners Association has done so because it is wedded to absurd notions such as a claim to entitlement not only of the Club and surrounding areas, but also the marina, Pineapple House, Pineapple Grove, the boat basin and the identified ‘Beach Reserve’.” Both sides last night claimed victory in a battle in which Justice Charles acknowledged that “neither party was wholly successful”. New Providence Development Company and its affiliates hailed the Supreme Court’s affirmation of their Old Fort Bay Club and marina ownership as their success, together with the upholding of their right to sell land to the Pineapple developers. The developer, in a statement issued to this newspaper, said: “The Property Owners Association’s main argument was that all land within Old Fort Bay subdivision not developed as lots for sale must be considered ‘common area’. “The developer, which has been trying for years to conclude the handover of common areas to the Property Owners Association, was strongly opposed to these demands. The judge ruled in favour of the developer on this key point.” New Providence Development Company also pointed to the judge’s finding that the Property Owners Association cannot levy fee assessments against assets it owns within Old Fort Bay, and the upholding of its rights to install docks, jetties and moorings in the community’s canals and waterways. However, the Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association said it, too, was “overall pleased with the outcome of the ruling”, which orders the developer to pay damages for selling 0.765 acres of the ‘Beach Reserve’ that belonged to itself and its members as a “common area”. Asserting that such damages will be “significant”, Sean Andrews, the
Association’s chairman, told Tribune Business via a written statement that “a true victory” had been achieved via Justice Charles’ order that all “common areas” such as the security booth - be transferred by New Providence Development Company to it “forthwith”. “This brings to fruition what the Property Owners Association has fought over ten years to achieve,” Mr Andrews said. “The Property Owners Association intends to add additional amenities to service its owners including the longawaited construction of a Property Owners Association office on property, the ownership of which was determined by the Court in the Association’s favour.” Mr Andrews added that it was “of particular importance” that Justice Charles had imposed conditions on New Providence Development Company and its affiliates before the planned marina expansion - involving the installation of 17 extra floating docks - can proceed. Despite the project having already been approved by the Government back in 2013, she ordered that all Old Fort Bay residents with property that abuts the marina must first be properly consulted and given a chance to make their views heard. And the Supreme Court judge also mandated that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be conducted in accordance with Bahamian law. A further site visit will also be held before Justice Charles determines whether to give the marina expansion the go-ahead. Mr Andrews said this issue had formed “the basis of the commencement of the initial action by the Property Owners Association and its application for emergency injunctive relief”. He added: “The potential environmental impact on Old Fort Bay cannot be diminished, given the proposed location within the development. The Property Owners Association believes that ultimately the right decision will be made regarding the proposed marina expansion having regard to the rights and views of the property owners and the potential environmental impact.” Justice Charles criticised several of the key witnesses who gave evidence during the trial. She branded Matthew Hudson, a Canadian attorney and real estate developer, and Old Fort Bay property owner, as “an unimpressive and unreliable witness”. She added: “No doubt he has an axe to grind because if the proposed extended marina becomes a reality that, according to him,
THE TRIBUNE would greatly lower the value of his lot.” Justice Charles said the legal action begun by Mr Hudson, which was consolidated with that of the Association, was in effect designed to hold New Providence Development Company “to ransom”. The “unimpressive and unreliable witness” description was rolled out for Richard Schaden, a US attorney who testified on behalf of the Association, with Justice Charles at one point questioning his honesty and accusing him of “evasiveness”. And the “axe to grind” analogy was also wheeled out in reference to the evidence provided by Alistair Henderson, New Providence Development Company’s former principal. “In short, like Mr Hudson and Mr Schaden, I also take his evidence with a pinch of salt,” Justice Charles wrote. She noted that two former Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association chairmen, Dr Harold Munnings in 2008 and Sir William Allen, The Bahamas’ former finance minister, in 2011 had both written correspondence confirming that New Providence Development Company owns the Old Fort Bay Club into which it had invested $4.2m for renovations. “In my judgment, the Property Owners Association’s core submission that all lands within the ‘Mauve Line’ of the Old Fort Bay subdivision, which were not developed as lots for sale, are ‘common area’ is untenable and must fail,” Justice Charles concluded. “The indisputable fact is that all of the land within Old Fort Bay belongs to the developer unless and until a conveyance is entered into and transfer of title takes place. The developer has the right to sell, develop or retain the land.” As for the 2.01-acre Pineapple House parcel, and the 2.22 acres on which Pineapple Grove now sits, Justice Charles said these were “lands in the ownership of the developer (until it sold them to third parties), which it was free to do. It was never agreed, understood or expected that any of these lands would become ‘common areas’. “These lands are located outside the perimeter fence erected around Old Fort Bay in the 1980s (long before any lot within Old Fort Bay was developed or sold). Neither the Property Owners Association nor Old Fort Bay residents ever contributed to maintenance or other costs associated with these lands.” Gail Lockhart-Charles QC and Lisa Esfakis were the attorneys for the developer, while Krystal Rolle QC and Vanessa Carlino represented the Association.
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Friday, January 7, 2022, PAGE 19
OPPOSITION CHALLENGES CONTRACT AWARD SILENCE FROM PAGE 20 place for information on all government contracts to be released “within 60 days” of their award to the successful bidder. This newspaper’s analysis of the Act appears to back the Opposition leader’s assessment, as clause 61 on “contract award notice” puts the disclosure burden squarely on the “procuring entity” - meaning the government ministry, department, agency or state-owned enterprise (SOE) issuing the tender - to publish the bidding outcome. And, even if the chief procurement officer’s appointment was required first by the Act, and he had read it wrong, Mr Pintard argued that there is no legal
impediment to publishing contract award details before this happens. Doing so, he argued, would demonstrate the Government’s commitment to procurement transparency and accountability, and taxpayer value for money. “I must be missing something. I’m looking at clause 61 of the Act and I do not see any requirement for a chief procurement officer before the Government can actually report,” Mr Pintard said. “I don’t think they’re correct in relation to the law. We’re thinking it’s the entity that’s responsible, and they should proceed as the law is laid out. “But, if their objective if to be accountable and transparent in giving reports on financial transactions, are
they breaking any laws by providing the information on beneficial owners of winning bids and the amounts etc?” He continued: “Let’s say the chief procurement officer is not in place, and somehow they’ve read into the law saying this person must participate in the process? Is there anything in the Act that says they will violate the law by proceeding if this person is not in place? “If their objective is that they want greater transparency and greater accountability, what better way of doing that on the part of government than not just waiting to appoint this person? So great is our commitment to transparency and accountability, we are making the public aware because that’s required by
Mr Wilson, though, last night doubled down on his and the Government’s position that the chief procurement officer must be appointed before contract awards are disclosed because the entire Act revolves around this post and its functions. Implicitly criticising the former Minnis administration, he told Tribune Business that the post should have been created via the Public Service Commission one year before the Public Procurement Act was implemented on September 1, 2021. Instead, it had been “left to fall into place and it doesn’t fall into place that easily”. “It’s not a magic wand. There’s a process to getting this done,” Mr Wilson said. “By September 1, nothing was done in the public service to create the post of chief procurement officer.
the letter and spirit of the law.” Section 61 of the Public Procurement seemingly places the burden on the “procuring entity”, not the chief procurement officer, to “publish within 60 days of the award of the procurement contract, a notice of the award of the procurement contract”. This must include the winning bidder’s name and address; contract amount; bid title; name of the procuring entity; and bidding method used. The “within 60 days” timeframe, and Act’s implementation on September 1, means that the Government is in violation of the requirement to publish all contract awards between September 1 and November 7.
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 74° F/23° C Low: 56° F/13° C
TAMPA
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Thickening clouds
Clear to partly cloudy
Partly sunny and increasingly windy
Strong winds gradually subsiding
Mostly cloudy, afternoon showers
A couple of showers possible; windy
High: 80°
Low: 68°
High: 80° Low: 68°
High: 81° Low: 67°
High: 80° Low: 65°
High: 78° Low: 63°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
88° F
68° F
82°-66° F
80°-67° F
86°-61° F
77°-57° F
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.
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High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C
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High: 78° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C
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High: 78° F/26° C Low: 64° F/18° C
MIAMI
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C
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KEY WEST
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 71° F/22° C
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 68° F/20° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
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tiDes For nassau High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
11:22 a.m. 11:58 p.m.
2.8 2.5
5:09 a.m. -0.2 5:51 p.m. -0.3
Saturday
12:14 p.m. -----
2.6 -----
6:07 a.m. 0.1 6:41 p.m. -0.2
Sunday
12:56 a.m. 1:07 p.m.
2.4 2.3
7:08 a.m. 7:32 p.m.
0.3 0.0
Monday
1:53 a.m. 2:02 p.m.
2.4 2.1
8:11 a.m. 8:22 p.m.
0.4 0.0
Tuesday
2:50 a.m. 2:57 p.m.
2.4 2.0
9:12 a.m. 9:12 p.m.
0.5 0.1
Wednesday 3:43 a.m. 3:51 p.m.
2.4 1.9
10:10 a.m. 0.4 10:01 p.m. 0.0
Thursday
2.5 1.8
11:03 a.m. 0.4 10:47 p.m. 0.0
4:33 a.m. 4:42 p.m.
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C
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SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C
High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
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High: 79° F/26° C Low: 70° F/21° C
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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 ................................................... 79° F/26° C Low .................................................... 64° F/18° C Normal high ....................................... 78° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 66° F/19° C Last year’s high ................................. 77° F/25° C Last year’s low ................................... 57° F/14° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ................................................. 1.11” Normal year to date ..................................... 0.30”
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C
SEE PAGE 17
| Go to AccuWeather.com
TONIGHT
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 59° F/15° C
“To me, it’s pretty straightforward. The Procurement Act revolves around the creation of a Procurement Department. The Procurement Department is responsible for enforcing the Act and ensuring compliance.” Its proper set-up, and that of the Public Procurement Board, had also not occurred before the Act was implemented on September 1. Tribune Business sources yesterday said the Minnis administration had left Ministry of Finance official, Carl Oliver, as acting chief procurement officer. Mr Wilson said that while “somebody was handling” a procurement desk, they could not function as a chief procurement officer because the post had not been established. “Who determines and sets the standard for departments
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C
3-6 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS
are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C
High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C
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marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR
Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:
WINDS SW at 6-12 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots E at 4-8 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 3-6 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NW at 3-6 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots W at 6-12 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots WSW at 3-6 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots NE at 3-6 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots
WAVES 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 77° F 77° F 78° F 78° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 80° F 80° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 80° F 80° F
business@tribunemedia.net
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022
$4.36
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Gov’t targets property tax tripling to $400m • Aiming for 3.5% of GDP compared to 1% present • Top official: Compliance just 25%; others at 90% • ‘Tools’ to hit 25% revenue ratio with no new taxes
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government is aiming to morethan-triple annual real property tax collections to at least $400m as a key component in its ambitions to achieve a 25 percent revenue-to-GDP ratio. Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business that it felt yearly property tax collections should be equivalent to 3.5 percent of Bahamian gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output as opposed to present yields of around 1 percent. Noting that The Bahamas’ property tax compliance rate was “around 25 percent”, compared to the 90 percent average achieved by many countries on real estatebased taxes, he argued that the possibility of achieving greater returns from this and other existing levies was why no new and/or increased taxes may be required to achieve the Davis administration’s revenue ratio target. Many observers have suggested it the 25 percent revenue-to-GDP target cannot be attained solely through cracking down
on tax dodgers and better administration/collection, but Mr Wilson responded: “No, it will not be impossible. It [the ratio] is higher than where we are now, but it’s in the range where we used to be. “A couple of SIMON WILSON things to bear in mind: Number one, we believe real property tax as a percentage of GDP should be around 3.5 percent. It’s currently around 1 percent. The Government has been doing a lot of work on property tax for the last six years with Tyler Technologies and so forth. We believe that work will bear fruit in the coming years.” A 25 percent revenue-to-GDP ratio, which Prime Minister Philip Davis QC
SEE PAGE 16
‘Not a single merchant’ avoids COVID staff woe By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Federation of Retailers’ co-chair yesterday said “there’s not a single merchant I’ve spoken to” who has escaped COVID staffing shortages as she branded Christmas “hit or miss”. Tara Morley told Tribune Business that the explosive increase in COVID infections linked to the Omicron variant
had struck at the worst possible time for Bahamian retailers, striking in the week leading up the Christmas holiday that, for many, represents the busiest sales period in the year. With the sector still grappling with inventory shortages and product delays resulting from the global supply chain crisis, she added that retailers were “rolling with the punches” as Omicron further compounded their multiple challenges.
Revealing that some retailers and restaurants have been forced to cut opening hours and shifts, and call in healthy staff to work overtime and cover for COVID-infected or isolating colleagues, Ms Morley joined the Bahamian tourism industry in urging the Government to reduce the 14-day quarantine period in line
SEE PAGE 17
VAT slash ‘not reckless’ as revenues up $160m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Finance’s top official yesterday said the VAT rate cut “is not a reckless, populist act” as he revealed the Government has outperformed first half revenue targets by $160m. Simon Wilson, the financial secretary, defended the two percentage point rate slash as “a measured act to improve the livelihoods of ordinary Bahamians” that will have a “neutral to slightly” positive impact on government revenues during the second half of the 20212022 fiscal year. “Based on all the calculations, this reduction is going to be revenue neutral and actually slightly positive in
terms of revenue yield,” he told a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office. “It’s not going to result in an increase in the fiscal deficit. This is not a reckless, populist act.” Mr Wilson declined to give figures for the estimated revenue and deficit impact as a result of cutting the VAT rate from 12 percent to 10 percent, and eliminating most of the zero ratings and exemptions. However, he said the Government’s revenue performance had continued to maintain the 2021-2022 first quarter trends where they were $92m ahead of forecast. Describing the estimates inherited from the Minnis administration
SEE PAGE 17
Opposition challenges contract award silence By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Opposition’s leader last night challenged assertions by a senior official that the Government cannot meet legal requirements to publish contract awards because a key post has not been filled. Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that having a chief procurement officer in place was “not a prerequisite to fulfilling your obligations” under the law, and publishing details of all government contracts awarded between September 1 and November 7 last year, based on his
reading of the Public Procurement Act. He spoke out after Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told a media briefing by the Prime Minister’s Office that the Minnis administration’s failure to follow the necessary public service protocols and appoint a chief procurement officer meant it was impossible for the Government to reveal these contract details as required by law. However, Mr Pintard, who previously accused the Davis administration of violating the law on this issue, said the Act did not specify that a chief procurement officer must be in
SEE PAGE 19
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‘Bitter impasse’: Both sides claim win in Old Fort battle • Developer’s Club, marina ownership is affirmed • But homeowners hail ‘true victory’ after 10 years • Judge: ‘Good sense’ absent at upscale community By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A “BITTER impasse” at one of western New Providence’s most affluent communities has ended with its developer confirmed as owner of the Old Fort Bay Club and the project’s marina. Justice Indra Charles, in a January 4, 2022, ruling said the eight-year legal battle between New Providence Development Company and the Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association “could have been avoided if good sense had prevailed”. She urged both sides to “put their differences aside”, following a long-running dispute that continues the near-decade hold-up to the proposed Old Fort Bay marina expansion, and called upon them to “hold no one to ransom” following her judgment. The fight, which has stymied the high-end gated community’s progress since 2013, was sparked by the Property Owners Association’s claim that the Old Fort Bay Club, marina and two parcels of land subsequently sold to other developers were “common areas” that belonged to it and its homeowner members rather than New Providence Development Company. It based its ownership assertion on plans for the “Old Fort Bay subdivision” failing to identify land that was to be sold as lots to real estate buyers, together with the developer neglecting to “expressly reserve” those land parcels for itself. Suggesting that New Providence Development Company and its affiliates were acting as “a constructive trustee” for these common area
SEE PAGE 18