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SANDALS STEP ON RECOVERY ROAD PM celebrates reopening of resort after refit which will create 900 new jobs By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net TOURISM’S recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic got a boost yesterday when Sandals Royal Bahamian resort and offshore island reopened after the completion of a $55 million renovation that will create 900 new jobs. A ceremony that included local dignitaries and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, was held to mark the reopening of the resort. “This is a significant day
for tourism,” said Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “It’s a significant day for Bahamian workers, business people, the Cable Beach strip, 900 employed here which adds to the 700 that’s employed at the Emerald Bay. It’s a great day for tourism. We congratulated Sandals today for this initiative. They’ve done magnificent here with this resort and it’s good for the product. We need even more room capacity in The Bahamas so it’s good that this has come back on stream.”
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson has said the thousands of teachers she represents have reached a “breaking point” after seeing no results on multiple issues brought to the attention of officials since September 2021. The issues, she said,
USING US PROPERTY APPRAISER ‘AN INSULT’
BAHAMIAN realtor Mario Carey yesterday said the use of foreign appraisers is “an insult” to the local industry as he said the 2022 real property tax bills are “null and void”. Mr Carey said the practice of foreign realtors working illegally was “beyond frustrating”. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
SEE PAGE THREE
are well documented in numerous letters to the Department of Education since then. As students returned to school for in-person classes under a hybrid instruction model this week, issues — particularly at T A Thompson — came to light. At that school, the majority of teachers staged a sit in due to inadequate conditions. SEE PAGE FOUR
- SEE PAGE EIGHT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
ANDROS FIRE CLAIMS LIFE OF WOMAN
TEACHERS UNION SAYS ‘ISSUES’ NOT RESOLVED By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
NAUGHTY: POLITICIANS WHO BREAK THE COVID RULES
BUSTED POLICE brought more than $3m of suspected marijuana to Nassau yesterday, after arresting three Bahamian men in the Ragged Island chain. See PAGE FIVE for the full story.
AN Andros woman was found dead inside a burning structure on Wednesday evening. Police said shortly before 6pm, officers in Nicholls Town were alerted to a structural fire that occurred in the settlement of Mastic Point. Officers along with the community volunteer firefighters responded. On their arrival at the scene, they saw a concrete structure fully engulfed in flames. SEE PAGE TWO
SHOT DEAD AS HE RODE MOTORCYCLE By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A MAN is dead and a woman is in hospital after a shooting incident on McQuay Street last night. Superintendent of Police Audley Peters said officers responded to reports of gunshots being fired in the area after 7pm. Upon arrival, police found a man and woman, who had been riding on a
A BODY is taken from the scene last night. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff motorcycle, suffering from gunshot injuries.
Emergency Medical Services were called and later pronounced the man dead. However, the woman was taken to hospital where she is listed in stable condition. According to Supt Peters, it is not clear what led to the shooting. However, he confirmed the deceased male was in a relationship with the female victim. They also had a child together, he added.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE TWO
DIANE PHILLIPS: WHY IT IS SO HARD TO BACK PEDAL
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
THE SCENE of the shooting on McQuay Street last night, in which one man was killed and a woman was hospitalised.
Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
Shot dead as he rode motorcycle from page one He said: “Our investigations revealed that male and female were riders of a motorcycle travelling west along McQuay Street when two male suspects emerged from a busy area and produced firearms and shot both victims, where one of the victims succumbed to their injuries and the other is in hospital. We do not know the reason for this incident.” While police did not release the victim’s identity, sources say the victim is Keith Sweeting, a father of two. Family members and close friends were distraught and inconsolable at last night’s murder scene, with some claiming the victim was set up. Asked about this yesterday, the police press liaison officer said officers did not want to speculate. Also asked if police were concerned about a possible retaliation, Supt Peters said: “It is a possibility that there may be a retaliation. However, our officers are on the streets. What has to happen is individuals who are aware
A BODY is taken from the scene on McQuay Street last night. of persons brandishing firearms in their community, if they see something they must say something to the police. “We act on information, and we are at the service of the public. Everyone I’ve said before is a police officer… We can’t be everywhere at one time. We would like to, but we do have people who are everywhere at one time, and they simply have to take personal responsibility when they see something, say something. “Don’t be a coward. Be brave. We need you to take action.”
Anyone with information on this killing or any other incident is asked to call police at 502-9991, the nearest police station or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477). “I want to emphasise here that no information is too small or meaningless,” Supt Peters added. “You might have overheard something and know the history of any one of the individuals on this motorcycle. We will correlate the information in our incident room and put together this puzzle to come to a conclusion as to the cause of the incident.”
ANDROS FIRE CLAIMS LIFE OF WOMAN from page one
After extinguishing the fire, officers conducted a survey and search of the
interior of the structure. There, one of the officers found the charred remains of a female crouched in a bathtub. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Police said they are awaiting the identification by a next of kin to verify the victim’s identity. Police are also appealing to the public for help with their investigation into a traffic death that took place on Tuesday on Prince Charles Drive in New Providence. Police were called to the scene of the accident on Prince Charles Drive and Beatrice Avenue shortly
after 9pm. Police said a grey Honda Fit was travelling west on Prince Charles Drive in the right lane when a blue and white motorcycle ridden by a male overtook the Honda Fit. The Honda’s driver collided with the rear of the motorcycle. The rider sustained serious injuries and later died at the scene. The serious accident response team at Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Traffic Section is asking anyone with information on this accident to contact the Traffic Section at 397-8050 and 397-8051.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 3
Sandals step on recovery road from page one
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis at Sandals the Royal Bahamian reopening. Photos: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
Mr Cooper said the resort is expected to be at full capacity over the next few days and that a “very high” percentage of Bahamians will be employed there. Among the employees will be 250 people who were previously employed at the resort. “A significant percentage here of Bahamians (will be employed),” Mr Cooper said. “I imagine there will be a small team of expatriate workers here, but, just as the case in Exuma, the large majority will be Bahamian.” Among the features of the renovated resort are a new Island Village which comprises standalone villas named after remote Bahamian cays. Additionally, an expansive beachfront lounge called Coconut Grove has been added and there are three new wedding spots. “Sandals Royal Bahamian elevates Nassau’s culinary scene with 13 fresh restaurant concepts,” the resort said in a press statement. “Guests can feel the rhythm of the music and savour PanCaribbean spices at Kanoo - short for Junkanoo
- where a new ‘brasserie 30’ à la carte lunch menu is designed to deliver the lunch experience in 30 minutes or less, for a faster return to the pool or beach.” Sandals Royal Bahamian had been closed since March 2020. The date for the resort’s reopening was delayed several times. Initially, it was due to reopen on January 28, 2021, then on March 31, 2021, then on May 1, 2021 and then on November 4, 2021. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the reopening of Sandals signals the country is open for business despite COVID-19. He said: “Following on from this multi-million dollar renovation, many well-trained Bahamians will make up the full complement of 900 employees. And Sandals Royal Bahamian will go on championing, not only innovation, but the people and tourism product of this country. “Along with the commercial ties, the presence of the Sandals properties also symbolise the continued flowering of the close and warm relationship that exists between Jamaica and The Bahamas. Long may it continue!”
ADAM STEWART, executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International at the reopening yesterday.
PRIME MINISTER MEETS JAMAICAN COUNTERPART HOLNESS PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis met with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and a small delegation during a courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister on West Bay Street yesterday. Mr Holness and officials from Jamaica were in New Providence for the grand reopening of Sandals Royal Bahamian resort. As they exchanged brief remarks, Mr Davis noted the hotel’s reopening not only provided jobs for Bahamians, but was a testament to the resilience of the tourism industry, which, he said, can also be volatile. For his part, Mr Holness said he thought it important to celebrate the hotel reopening its doors as the pandemic had dealt a serious blow to tourism economies the world over. “I must say I am very pleased with the reception that we received,” he said. “It reinforces that we are brothers and sisters. “We are just a hop, skip and a jump away and you know, we need to visit each
FLAGS RETURN TO FULL MAST TOMORROW THE country’s flags, which were flown at halfmast at home and at embassies around the world after the death of Sir Sidney Poitier, will return to fullmast on Saturday. The Cabinet Office said plans are underway to give further recognition to Sir Sidney on his birthday, February 20. The details will be
released at a later date. Sir Sidney died on January 6 at his Beverly Hills, California, home. He was 94 years old. According to CNN, his autopsy said the celebrated Bahamian-American actor died of cardiopulmonary failure. Alzheimer’s dementia and prostate cancer are listed as underlying health issues, the certificate states,
according to CNN. Sir Sidney was the first Black actor to win an Academy Award – for his role in Lilies of the Field – in 1964. He served as the Bahamas’ Ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007 and, in 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sir Sidney was born prematurely on February 20, 1927,
weighing just three pounds, in Miami, where his parents had gone to deliver tomatoes from their farm on Cat Island. He spent his early years on Cat Island and he quit school at 12 to help support the family. Three years later, he was sent to live with a brother in Miami. When he was 16, he moved to New York and enlisted in the army before pursuing career in acting.
other more often and I am very happy to be here because, as you have said, tourism has taken a serious hit in the pandemic, but we are seeing confidence in our local tourist investors and in the international tourism community to continue to invest. “I want to congratulate Sandals and indeed today (Thursday) is the birthday of Adam Stuart, the chairman. So, I take the opportunity to wish him publicly a Happy Birthday. “It is significant that he’s reopening the refurbished hotel on his birthday, but it is a real sign of confidence in the tourism sector generally, in the Bahamian economy in particular, and for the region. It speaks well for the region. So, we are very happy.” Other Bahamian officials attending were Education, Technical and Vocational Training Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears, and Minister of Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey.
PAGE 4, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Doctors: Gender violence is a public health concern By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Medical Association of The Bahamas says the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country is a public health concern that must come to an end. In a press statement, the association said the COVID-19 pandemic has created hesitancy in seeking medical care, decreasing the opportunity for doctors to spot and report abuse to the relevant agencies. MAB also contended that gender-based violence (GBV) is an ongoing silent crisis for The Bahamas, which likely saw the same kinds of increases in various forms of abuse as was the case in many other countries. According to statistics provided by the MAB, GBV affects one in three
women — 35 percent — at some point in their lifetimes internationally. Additionally, 30 percent of women in a relationship will at some point have experienced some sort of verbal, physical, emotional and/ or mental abuse solely based on their gender. Also, 38 percent of murders of women globally are committed by an intimate partner. “In The Bahamas we can extrapolate from the international statistics that we experience similar numbers,” according to the statement. “However, sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a hesitancy among the general population to access healthcare facilities. Many facilities are used cautiously as persons fear contracting the deadly virus. This decreases the opportunity for physicians to observe, diagnose
and report to the appropriate agencies to ensure these persons receive the medical, social, and psychological assistance they so greatly need. “As such the COVID-19 pandemic paired with an increase in incidents of gender-based violence places our health care system on a ‘tightrope’ as the system battles the direct and indirect health care outcomes related to COVID-19 pandemic. Gender based violence has several shortterm health outcomes which include injuries, selfharm, homicide, suicide, unwanted pregnancies, miscarriage, still-birth, preterm delivery. “However, the long-term health implications not only affect the individual physically and mentally, but also impact the foundation upon which our country rests – the young generations. The research
indicates that there has been an exponential rise in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal tendencies in women who have experienced genderbased violence. Evidently gender-based violence places the need for healthcare professionals in high demand as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.” It continued: “The Bahamas Medical Association contends that gender based violence is a public health concern which demands an immediate ‘vaccination policy’. The serious short- and long-term consequences on a victim’s physical, sexual and mental health as well as on their personal and social wellbeing requires a national effort to circumvent the devastating impact on national development. To bring triage, the
Medical Association encourages the community to seek medical services when needed. Health services, when accessed in time, can provide critical, time sensitive interventions for sexual assault/rape, such as emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy (within 120 hours) and Post–Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication to prevent HIV infection (within 72 hours of possible exposure), as well as presumptive treatment of STIs. Health services can also provide psychological first aid for the survivor and referral to additional services. Even when accessed after 120 hours, health services can provide important care and referral services to survivors.” MAB said health care professionals remain committed to creating a healthier nation. As such during the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Medical Association of The Bahamas speaks on behalf of all physicians throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. “We join our voices to encourage everyone throughout the 700 islands and cays that make up our beautiful country to take a stand, ‘If you see something, say something’ to end GBV throughout our country. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a healthy Bahamas, and in our commitment to creating a violent free Bahamas.” The statement came days after a young mother was shot dead by her fiancé, who police said then turned the gun on himself. Days prior to the murder, the suspect had terrorised the victim and last year shot at her sister and another woman. He was on bail for that prior offence when last week’s murder took place.
TEACHERS UNION SAYS ‘ISSUES’ NOT RESOLVED from page one
In an appearance on Beyond the Headlines with Shenique Miller on Wednesday night, the BUT president also addressed the view that teachers did not support her push for industrial action earlier this week, saying more than 1,200 took part in some form of industrial action. Mrs Wilson said: “The decision that we need to do some action was not Belinda Wilson’s decision, but it was the decision of 1,200 members on Thursday, January 20 and another 873 members on Friday, Jan 21.” This week, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said only 466 teachers did not report to work for personal reasons. Mrs Wilson said she has often found herself annoyed at the ministry’s failure to address grievances. “You know what I note and what I am very annoyed about? I believe that a lot of the meetings are to say that we met with the union,” she said. “Not really to get true results because we had a meeting with the minister yesterday
(Tuesday). We were able to outline 10 of probably 30 or 40 concerns and she said okay. She wrote them down and she said she will get back to me. “However, these are not things that I just woke up yesterday to say I have letters that I’ve written from September, October, November (and) December of 2021, January — I’m writing all the time. “We even did a document that we presented to education and then the other thing that I want persons to think about is the persons that work in the ministry and the Department of Education, they’ve not changed so the documentation and the information and the recommendations that we’ve given, it’s lodged into the Department of Education. “So, you have a new minister that comes then you should be able to say whichever topic it is that the minister is discussing with you internally, you should be able to say ‘hold on minister this is our documents. However, we have received this document from the Bahamas Union of Teachers’.” She continued: “And let
me tell them something too, when you see me don’t think ‘oh that’s Belinda.’ There are 3,000 behind me and let me also set the record straight for this too: they noted that we only have 466 persons who did not go to schools. So, that is their narrative. “We have the documentation and we have the numbers and we had more than 1,200 of our members throughout The Commonwealth of The Bahamas who did some form of industrial action.” Her comments came the same day teachers at T A Thompson voiced frustrations that their main education block was plagued with serious issues. The matter forced them to work from another block on the school campus. However, the structure only had one working bathroom to service 200 students, some of the classrooms do not have proper ventilation and some teachers were unable to easily access all of its three floors due to mobility issues. Therefore, the school has reverted to a virtual platform until the issues can be resolved.
Death Notice For
Mother Clemma Louise Roberts, 78
of Sandy Point Abaco died at her daughter’s residence on Sunday, January 23rd, 2022.
She is survived by her husband: Rev. Dr. Napoleon Roberts; sons: Nigel, Rev. Nicholas; Rev. Jason Roberts; adopted son: Wilson Bain; daughters: Esther Cleare; adopted daughters: Buena Moss & Christine Lightbourne; sisters: Villamae Fowler; brothers: Maxwell Lightbourn; numerous grand & great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Arrangements for the funeral service are being finalized and details will be announced at a future date.
THE BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president, Belinda Wilson.
TWO MORE COVID DEATHS CONFIRMED THE Ministry of Health has recorded two more COVID-19 deaths. According to data released in the ministry’s January 26 dashboard, the two people are both Grand Bahama men — ages 80 and 78 — who died on January 13 and 14 respectively.
They pushed the country’s COVID-19 death count to 735. Forty other deaths are under investigation. The ministry also said 94 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Wednesday. Hospital cases stand at 134, with seven people in the intensive care unit.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 5
$3M MARIJUANA HAUL DISCOVERED ON BOARD BOAT By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE arrested three Bahamian men in the Ragged Island chain after they found $3m worth of suspected marijuana aboard their boat. According to police, around 9.30am on Wednesday, while on routine air patrol the US Coast Guard observed a speed boat travelling north of the Windward Passage in the southern Bahamas with three men on board. This aroused the officers’ suspicion and as a result, the Drug Enforcement Unit, OPBAT, US Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs Border Protection, Air Marine Operation and the Police Marine Support Unit mounted an operation. The US Coast Guard maintained aerial surveillance of the vessel while they vectored in the Marine Support Unit. Sometime around 5.30pm, officers from the Marine Support Unit intercepted the suspect vessel, boarded the craft and conducted a field search. During the search the officers found 53 white sacks and 55 brown single packages. “A search of the contents revealed a grassy substance suspected to be
OFFICERS with the haul of marijuana yesterday.
marijuana,” police said. “As a result, the officers arrested three Bahamian males aged 63, 52 and 41, for possession of dangerous drugs and other related offences.” Police said the total weight of the drugs is 3,000lbs with an estimated street value of $3m. Asked if the boat was on its way to another country, Superintendent Audley Peters told reporters it is early in the investigation, so he could not say. “We had to act because it was in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and being so, we must do the best that we can to ensure wherever they were headed they didn’t get there,” the police press liaison officer said. The arrests and drug seizure comes after another recent discovery of a large quantity of suspected drugs. Police seized $2m worth of cocaine during a joint operation in Abaco on Tuesday. Asked about these significant drug seizures, Supt Peters said: “It is a trend at the moment - issue of supply and demand. However, the partners in this jurisdiction are working feverishly using all our resources to intercept the persons whether they be international, whether they be local. We’re putting our best foot forward in relation to the issue of dangerous drugs within our communities.”
Low turnout for local govt vote By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net VOTER participation was low at various polling sites yesterday during local government elections on Grand Bahama, particularly in the Freeport area. Centres opened at 8am, but there were no long lines nor wait times for those who turned out to vote for the 76 nominated candidates on the island. The Freeport Primary School served as the polling site for constituents in East Grand Bahama. Gia Walker, presiding officer, said the first voter arrived at the centre at 8.15am. There were five polling sites at the school. “The day started slowly,” Ms Walker told The Tribune. “We are seeing people and they have been coming out, one by one, but it is not as speedily as we thought it would be. There are no lines and no wait time. “The first voter came at 8.15am, and usually you would have persons lined up ready because they want to get in early so they go to work or do something else.” COVID-19 protocols were fully observed. There were mask notices posted, six feet social distancing markers, and hand sanitisers at the entrance to every polling division. Voting
EAST Grand Bahama candidates Jourdan Curry, left, and Rashad Adderley outside Freeport Primary School greeting voters yesterday. booths were sanitised after each use. Candidate for East Grand Bahama Jourdan Curry greeted voters outside as they arrived at the school. He was optimistic and in very high spirits, despite the low turnout. “The turnout is not as large as we want it to be, but persons are coming out slowly,” he said. “The Parliamentary Registration Department has also done a good job today when it comes to COVID protocols and getting voters in and out quickly.” This is Mr Curry’s second
time running as a candidate. “I feel awesome today. I was not successful the first time, but I know that I would be successful this time around,” said the young candidate, who has been active in the community through various local organisations, including Frank’s ice cream summer programme, the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee, and the Downtown Business Association. Mr Curry said East Grand Bahama is lacking a community centre for kids and adults. “East Grand Bahama has a lot of kids
and there are a lot of people who are unemployed and need assistance with writing resumes, etc,” he said. He believes the government should invest more in local government, which needs greater financial support. Mr Curry was also pleased that more young people like himself are getting involved in local government. “It is encouraging to see young candidates participating, such as Rashad Adderley and Tommy Tucker. It is great that we are stepping up to have a say at the table of what happens in our communities,” he said. Rashad Adderley, the candidate for East Grand Bahama, said he felt the time was right to run as a candidate. “For the last 15 years, I have been an activist in the Grand Bahama community. Everyone knows me as Jah Shiloh, but I decided not to be the one that complains, but to put myself in a position to change things.” Mr Adderley was not discouraged by the turnout. “Today’s turnout was slow… but for the most part I feel as if I have a good chance to win and bring a different vision, voice, and change for the community.” He envisions the Basil Neymour Park as an epicentre for recreation.
“I want to make the Basil Neymour Park in Coral Gardens a pilot project where we bring out the best of everything Bahamian – we have Goombay nights, fish fry, a roast, souse-out and so people can benefit. A movie night, and basketball tournaments, and I want to bring back Grand Bahama Games, where all the constituencies compete,” he said. He also feels that a community centre is needed in the Coral Gardens area for young people there. Mr Adderley also believes that some things can be done to make Midshipman Road safer, such as the installation of sidewalks and putting a roundabout at the intersection near the Taino Beach area. In the afternoon, there was not much improvement or change in voter turnout. The St George’s High School was the voting centre for Central Grand Bahama polling divisions eight, nine, and ten. Presiding officer Latoya Smith Rolle said voter participation was not too good and voters were confused as to where they should go to vote. Ms Smith reported that at 3pm, they had not finished one book. “The turnout is very poor,” she said. “I don’t know if it was publicised enough, but constituents of Central Grand Bahama
were not aware of exactly where to go and they wished it was more publicised. “The constituents that came out today had voted in the advanced poll (during the general election) and because the advanced poll was at St George’s High School they came here to vote. But we were able to redirect them on where to go since we had the register. But, that turned people off and we heard some constituents say they will not be voting anymore. That is discouraging.” Ms Smith said the low turnout was expected. “I don’t know if persons in Grand Bahama are turned off, but in a way, we expected this because we also had a low turnout for the general elections. So, this was expected, but I did not think it would be to this extent. It is almost 3pm, and we have not finished a book yet. . .I don’t know if persons in Freeport take it as seriously as the Family Islands. I am hoping it picks up in the last three hours,” she said. Central Grand Bahama candidate Marco Carey, who is seeking re-election, was out at the polls at the last few hours encouraging voters. He was pleased with the voter turnout. “I think it was good, he said. “The flow started around 11am and it never stopped.”
DISCUSSIONS HELD OVER REBUILDING OF POTTER’S CAY STALLS OFFICIALS of the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs met several top union executives to discuss a number of administrative matters regarding the public markets and the rebuilding of the six stalls at Potter’s Cay that were destroyed by fire last year. The meeting included stakeholders from The Bahamas Electrical Workers Union, Bahamas Customs Immigration and Allied Workers Union, Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union, the General Workers Union, Bahamas Hotels Managerial Union and Bahamas Dock and Allied Vendors Association. During the meeting, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting presented the Ministry of Public Works’ plans for the construction of the stalls. A press release from the ministry said it is anticipated that the new stalls will provide the model for other stalls at Potter’s Cay. In addition to the rebuilding of the stalls, officials addressed the reorganisation and development of Arawak Cay and Montagu Ramp and the ministry’s interest in having the Blue Hill Road Market transferred under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs. Mr Sweeting said he was pleased to meet with the unions concerned. “The ongoing efforts to
restore normalcy (are) finally coming to fruition,” he said. “We completed a successful meeting with Trade Union Congress representatives to ensure that we are in agreement on the way forward to rebuild, restore and revitalise the public markets. “My ministry is pleased to facilitate these discussions and we look forward to providing solutions to the existing challenges together.” TUC president Obie
Ferguson shared similar sentiments. “We are very pleased with the response we got from the minister with respect to dealing with the issues that are related to him. The minister indicated that within a short period that he would get back to us and we anticipate a very positive relationship,” he said. “The minister has given us his commitment and we
will be able to review the plan and I think the workers and the vendors at Potter’s Cay are going to be extremely happy and we are going to work closely with the Minister to ensure that this becomes a reality.” The fire on April 11, 2021
left six stalls completely burned to the ground and two others with damage. Two boats were also destroyed. Last May, then Minister of Agriculture Michael Pintard said the Minnis administration had plans
to assist vendors at Potter’s Cay who lost their businesses due to the fire. At the time, he said the assistance would come in the form of building materials, adding there were plans to mark out the location for the rebuilding of six stalls.
Death Notice For
Cynthia Enora Roberts-Taylor, 83 Determination DETERMINATIO-
Don’t delay, keep pressing forward. Earnestly work hard for your future. Time is vitally important. Don’t waste it. Every day will bring you closer to your goals. Remember to stay strong and stand up against all obstacles. Money is essential, so spend it wisely. Initially, you must determine what your goals are. Never, never quit. Don’t give up. Always keep focused, and think positively. Talk less, and do more. Innovation is the key - expand and explore new ideas. Open the door of opportunity by taking advantage of it when it comes your way. N- Nothing is impossible for you to achieve; believe in yourself, and don’t give up.
~Betty Taylor ~ Original Author
of #10 Barkley Lane off St. Vincent Road and formerly Current Island of Eleuthera died at her residence on Wednesday, January 26th, 2022. She is survived by her sons: Robert, Dereck, Craig & George Taylor; daughters: Gretchen TaylorForbes Jennie Taylor, Clorrice Miller-Knowles, Darell Taylor; sisters: Maria Roberts, Eloise Cooper and a host of other relatives and friends. Arrangements for the funeral service are being finalized and details will be announced at a future date.
PAGE 6, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
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What must we pay for govt change of legal strategy? THE settlement between the government and the Grand Lucayan’s managerial union is an unusual state of affairs. The most unusual part of it is that the government had won a near-total victory in the courts over the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association and its 36 members. The Supreme Court had dismissed virtually all claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal and awarded legal costs to the Grand Lucayan to be paid by the union. And now, we have the government doing a deal with the union to come to a settlement that seemingly it didn’t have to and for which it had the legal judgement to back it up. While the details of the settlement haven’t been made public, The Tribune understands that TUC president Obie Ferguson had been seeking a sum of about $600,000 to settle the matter, representing termination and redundancy payments allegedly owed to the middle managers plus membership dues and agency shop fees due to the BHMA. So despite a near total legal victory, is the Bahamian taxpayer on the hook now for hundreds of thousands dollars more? The former chairman of the Grand Lucayan, Michael Scott, QC, wants to know exactly that. He called the settlement an “unconscionable waste of public money”, and said the terms needed to be publicly disclosed and not remain confidential as it appears has been agreed. This is after all public money, so the public ought to see how it has been used. He has raised other questions too, such as whether the unsuccessful PLP candidate for Central Grand Bahama, Senator Kirkland Russell, might have benefitted financially. In simple terms, the public ought to know how much this is costing – how much people will receive, whether the government is paying the union costs and if so what those costs are, and so on. An explanation of why there has been such a reversal ought to also be forthcoming – as well as the process of coming to that decision. Who made the decision, who offered advice and what was the reason for going from victory in the court to cutting a deal? As Mr Scott says, “The public has a right to know the plain and unvarnished facts of this settlement. The public also has a right to know that the public interest will not be sacrificed on the basis of some expedient… for the socalled Memorandum of Understanding between the unions and the present government in consideration of which this
appears to be some kind of payment.” Questions have clearly been raised – how quickly will the government move to answer over the use of public money in this way?
Schools The schools are back – and so are complaints from teachers. Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson says thousands of teachers are at “breaking point” after seeing no movement on issues raised with officials since September. Mrs Wilson said that she believes “a lot of the meetings are to say that we met with the union” and “not really to get true results”. Mrs Wilson, who disputed the figure of 466 teachers that did not report to work this week and said more than 1,200 took some form of action, has catalogued a list of frustrations. She said there are probably “30 or 40 concerns”. Clearly, some of those concerns are genuine – as can be seen by the serious issues affecting TA Thompson school, where the main education block was in such a state that students had to work from another block on campus, with only one working bathroom for 200 students. How do you ensure a clean environment to avoid spreading germs in a pandemic with that situation? Mrs Wilson also pointed out that we may have a New Day government, but the civil servants are still working from the old days before that and have a record of all the dialogue back and forth – so why start from scratch again? People know the situation, people know what has been agreed – the minister should have that information from her first week in office. Are the union’s issues being kicked back into the long grass again to deal with later? That won’t end well – and the union was right on many issues with regard to school preparedness previously. Some of these issues go well beyond issues such as pay and promotions, but deal directly with the state of the schools we are sending our children to. These schools should, of course, have been ready back in September. The previous administration will have played a part in that too – but here we are nearly in February when children have been out of the classroom, making it the ideal time to get work done. We should be a lot further along than we are – and not tackling the issues raised won’t get us there any faster.
Did Dubai trip show our culture? EDITOR, The Tribune. WHO we sent to the Dubai Trade Fair raises yet again what really is the culture of our country? Culture is US! I ask and beg the question the reasoning: Why a US-styled Marching Band was included - it isn’t Bahamian it is 1000% American. Was Rake ‘n Scrape included? We don’t know. Ironic as guess who is the MP for the Constituency which is well known for the Rake ‘n Scrape Festival .... Cat Island. Surely after successive elections he should appreciate his people’s tradition and culture - seems not! Police Band - golly if that isn’t as colonial as you can get except what they play - yes that is a significant culture expression they pass and can travel. Their play repertoire of our traditional
songs played in their style excellent ambassadors. Why is it that seemingly our culture starts from 1967 - what was our culture pre1967? There was so much our ancestors practised played and danced to which is really the foundation of our National Culture Island people danced the waltz played the fiddle - tapped the kettle drum - played the accordion, unfortunately in 2022 you rarely hear any of this as the powers probably decided any culture pre1967 was condemned .... yes condemned even did not exist as everything started on January l0th, 1967… Can’t forget Junkanoo .... historically the expression of slaves... tells through the kalik of the cowbell, the noise the repetition of the slave chains... and, yes, the wow of the design and creativity of the professionals
who create. Fantastic acknowledged. But... we have to be careful promoting an attraction which only happens twice a year... to suggest a visitor can witness a parade anytime of the year is false advertising. Gospel Choir? Yes we suggest we are steeped in church, but where is the required originality of it being Bahamian’? Unique is our sailing sloops... now that’s real Bahamian 100%. Cracking of conch... Bahamian.,. our cuisine, native, not the abridged we have adopted the real native stuff. An expression at such a Fair is supposed to image ones country to be true ..... in my opinion your choice fell seriously short. JEROME MOSS Nassau, January 15, 2022.
The bridge EDITOR, The Tribune. THE 2021 general elections were pivotal to the recovery of the nation from the ravages of the devastating hurricane Dorian and her brother Andrew coupled with the arrival of the cousin COVID-19. They all came here uninvited and, clearly, we had not prepared rooms for them. The Bahamas is still between a rock and a very hard place. All is not, however, doom and gloom. There is an available ‘bridge’ available to the Most Hon Prime Minister, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP and the new day administration. With your leave, please allow me to lay out the blueprint and the foundational stones for such a bridge. Brave, if I may, has a literal date with Destiny. He has multiple opportunities to transform this wonderful nation, politically and societally, while putting in place sensible policies to jump start the economy. Culturally persons in The Bahamas who hail from the Family Islands, like Brave, a native Cat Islander, appear to have or should have, a better feel of that culture and diversity which sets our nation apart from All of the world. We have been overly blessed and favoured by The Lord Jesus Christ in that we have sand, sun and sea gone to bed and none of them are costing us one red cent. Pardon me beloved, the one cent is now extinct so let’s premise on 10 cents. With the abatement and control of COVID and the rest of that illegitimate clan, world wide, we here at home have those things which international travellers and business people are looking for. Potential tourists have been chomping at the proverbial bit ever since then. People need and want to travel to a sun-filled destination with superior beaches and crystal sand at affordable prices. There are over 400 million Americans and countless thousands of citizens of South and Central America and up in Canada who would give their all to visit The Bahamas and enjoy our natural attributes for a dew days or longer. We need money pure and simple to service our national debt (never mind which administration jacked it up...I am passed
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net that puerile stage) it simply needs to be serviced. In addition to this, we need to beef up and add to our Bahamas Economic Development Offices, where they do not already exist, in world-wide capitals where our economic and cultural interests would be best served. The former Prime Minister, God bless his soul , was made infamous by his platonic question: ‘Where is your heart? Where is your soul?’ The Bahamian electorate, en masse, answered him last September. Minnis ‘ruled’ but he seemed unable or incapable of governing. Brave has to demonstrate and show different from an expectant people. His job could be a simple and straightforward one. He has to build a real bridge between all of the different classes and demographics in The Bahamas. His administration only has to step up its messaging and public relations. Perception, it has been said, is reality in ground level politics. Bahamians love to be motivated and respected by their peers. No different with persons in all walks of life. The new day administration is on the right tract. Let us redouble efforts to get a reasonable sale of Our Lucaya and let us get a public/private sector partner consortium to get the Freeport Airport up and running on an urgent basis. The ease of investors and tourists, Bahamian and international on accessing Grand Bahama, with Freeport being the gateway is critical. Some say that Grand Bahama in general and Freeport in particular comprise FBN country. That is a myth. Yes, the residents down there are a little bit ‘different’ from other Bahamians, but not in a bad way. Bahamians who live and reside in Grand Bahama are fiercely ‘independent’ and have learned how to best adapt to the ongoing challenging financial times under the FNM-led administrations. Brother Christie, alas, appeared to have been New Providence centred. Our brand new Prime Minister, if he gets it right,
as I have no doubt that he will, is in a stellar position to take the entire Grand Bahama and the southern Family Islands, like Inagua; Eleuthera; Rum Cay and San Salvador, et al, to the next level. Exuma and Andros are ‘hidden’ gems. The Prime Minister and his lovely wife are also positioned to lead the national debates on a myriad of societal urgent issues like domestic abuse and violence towards females; young children and the elderly. There have never been any comprehensive debates on these issues and certainly no workable solutions would have been promulgated hitherto and, please, pardon the pun. Domestic abuse and the mental drama associated with it is literally ‘killing’ Bahamians. Unnecessary homelessness in the capitol and many major Family Island is a disgrace and indictment on successive administrations. Brave has a ‘bridge’ over troubled waters, but I am convinced that he and his team will overcome. It is another sad indictment that successive administrations talk a good talk about rehabilitation of inmates and transformational programmes at what was then Fox Hill and is now The Bahamas Correctional Centre. That place, according to my sources, is worse than it was when hatchet was still an infant hammer. In conclusion, mercifully, Brave clearly appreciates and understands what it is that the ordinary Bahamian badly needs and wants. Simple and unbiased governance. Accountability and transparency and to be left alone from too much administration interference. We will let you govern, but just get out pf our way in reaching that long elusive goal of taking Good care of ourselves and family. No more....no less. Yes, the Most Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, QC, MP, has a date with Destiny and, this time around, we Bahamians must cross over the bridge, as a focused and united people. Will he dance the Waltz; the Jitter Bug or, as Minnis would have appeared to have done, the funky chicken? Jr
ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, January 26, 2022.
THE TRIBUNE
Pair to appeal convictions for killing Breanna By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal yesterday adjourned the substantive hearing of the appeals of two women convicted of murdering teenage mother Breanna Mackey four years ago. Zaria Burrows and Dervinique Edwards were sentenced 28 years in prison last June after they were found guilty of the 19-yearold’s death in January 2018. Their sentences were ordered to run from the date they were placed on remand. However, The Tribune understands the women plan to challenge the convictions and sentences they received. An official hearing on the matter was scheduled to be heard before the appellate panel of justices yesterday
but was adjourned to March after Burrows’ attorney, Jairam Mangra, told the court he was not feeling well. Meanwhile, Edwards’ attorney, Marianne Cadet, said while she was in a position to proceed with her client’s appeal, she would prefer for all of the matters to be heard at the same time. In view of this, the court adjourned the matter to March 10. Mackey’s death came at the hands of girls who were supposed to be her friends because they wanted her to pay for a broken $80 Huawei cell phone that belonged to one of them. Police said shortly before 6pm that day, they were contacted about reports that a woman was stabbed in the Key West Street area off
Cordeaux Avenue. Police officers were dispatched to investigate. Upon their arrival, a woman, identified as the victim’s sister, Latisha Woodside, directed officers to a brown and white apartment complex on the eastern side of Key West Street. On the porch, just in front of door number nine, officers discovered Mackey, semi-conscious, lying face down and suffering from four stab wounds to her upper back and two stab wounds to her right arm. The mother-of-one had turned 19 the day before she was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where she died. Burrows and Edwards were last of the six women who were convicted and subsequently sentenced in connection with Mackey’s murder that night.
CHARGED OVER DEATH THREATS AND ASSAULT By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with making death threats and assaulting a woman with a dangerous instrument. David Cornish, 35, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney in connection with his arrest for incidents that occurred on January 9 and January 10 when he is first alleged to have made death threats against Shevan Taylor and then subsequently assaulting her with a box cutter. Cornish pleaded not guilty to both charges and elected to have his trial take place in the Magistrate’s Court. When it came time to discuss bail, however, prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain noted that Cornish has another trial that is currently being heard in the
Supreme Court on charges of attempted murder. As the prosecutor had no details on Cornish’s bail arrangement with the Supreme Court, Magistrate McKinney remanded the suspect into custody until such details are made available to them. Cornish is expected to return to court on February 1 for determination on his bail. In a separate matter, another man appeared in court on death threats and assault with a deadly weapon charges. Shaquille Burrows, 26, appeared before Magistrate McKinney in connection with his arrest on January 12 for allegedly threatening and assaulting Ladon Nesbitt with a handgun. In court Burrows pleaded not guilty to both charges against him and elected to have his trial heard in Magistrates Court.
While the magistrate said he did not have to explain the situation behind his arrest to him at this time, Burrows told the court that Mr Nesbitt was his neighbour and that he had also filed identical charges against him. He said Mr Nesbitt had appeared in court for those matters relating to the same incident for which Burrows was arrested. He also told Magistrate McKinney that both men wished to drop the charges against each other to avoid prison as he wanted to keep his new job at Bamboo Shack to provide for his pregnant girlfriend. Magistrate McKinney said he would take both men’s wishes to drop the charges into consideration and set Burrows’ bail at $7,000 with one or two suretors. He is expected to return to court today.
MAN ACCUSED OVER DRUGS By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN was charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being found in possession of dangerous drugs in his home. Jonathon Johnson, 27, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday on two counts of possession of dangerous drugs charges. This comes after his arrest on January 25 when police issued a search warrant to enter Johnson’s home on Malkin Road and found him in possession of two clear plastic bags suspected to contain drugs. The contents of those bags were later confirmed as three grams of cocaine and an additional six grams of Indian hemp. A further search of the premises including in the defendant’s bedroom revealed three large caches of cash scattered throughout the house adding up to $23,530. While this money was seized by the police following the suspect’s arrest, there was no clear connection between the money and the drugs found in Johnson’s home. Johnson
also stated during his interview with police that he did not come in possession of that money through the sale of drugs and as such the Drug Enforcement Unit is investigating that matter separately. In court, Johnson pleaded guilty to both counts of drug charges and confessed to the magistrate that the drugs were for his personal use. He said he had no intention to sell them. Johnson’s lawyer also pointed out that he had fully cooperated with police during his post-arrest interview and had no prior antecedents. Given the fact that his client had also taken full responsibility for his actions, Johnson’s lawyer asked the court to be as lenient as possible in sentencing. Magistrate McKinney fined Johnson $600 or six months in prison for the marijuana charges and an additional fine of $300 or three months for the cocaine charges; upon payment he would be released from custody. In a separate matter, another man was charged with possession of dangerous drugs.
Keanu Rolle, 22, also appeared before Magistrate McKinney yesterday on a single count of drug possession after being arrested by police on January 25. This came after Rolle was pulled over in his vehicle by police who then searched him and found the suspected drugs in a clear plastic bag concealed near his groin. Further analysis of the substance confirmed it to be Indian hemp with a total weight of 1.3 ounces, which Rolle would later admit to authorities belonged to him. In court Rolle pleaded guilty to the drug charges. He said he only took the drugs to deal with his brother’s funeral that previous Saturday and the subsequent death of his grandmother that Monday. While the suspect had a previous drug offence dating back to July 2021, given his cooperation with authorities and these extenuating circumstances, Magistrate McKinney sentenced Rolle to a fine of $400 or two months in prison. Upon payment of this fine, Rolle would be released from custody.
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Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 7
DERVINIQUE EDWARDS, left, and Zaria Burrows outside court in 2018.
Memorial Service For Helen Viola Smith, 78 of Isabella Blvd, Marathon Estates will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 29th, 2022 at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street. Officiating will be The Very Rev’d Harry Bain assisted by The Very Rev’d Patrick L. Adderley & Rev’d Fr. Eric A. Miller. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Soldier Road. Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, masks and physical distancing are required. Graveside attendance is limited to thirty (30) persons. Helen was preceded in death by her parents: James Sr. and Adrianna “Zilla” Carey; brothers: James “Jim” Carey, Jr., Archie Carey and Benson Carey. Cherishing Helen’s memories are her husband: Leon L. Smith I, Commodore (Ret.); children: Leon L. Smith II, Italia A.E. Seymour and Ingrid Peter; sonsin-law: Attorney Keith A. Seymour, Sr. and Ita Peter; grandchildren: Kriston Smith, Tanisha Seymour, Amaris Peter and Nicholas Seymour; sister: Gwenneth Munnings; brother: Harold Lorenza “Ren” Carey; nieces and nephews: Patricia (Douglas) Collins, Barbara Burrows and Rev. Fr. Rodney Burrows; Paulette (Leon) Jacobs; Dr. Earla Carey-Baines, Sheila “Shelly” Carey, Thomas “Tommy” Carey; Dale (Perry) McHardy, Shawn (OAT “Tommy”) Turnquest, Kim Gibson and Attorney Dwayne Gibson; Dr. Harold (Moneria) Munnings, Timothy (Ruth) Munnings, Leslie (Sheree) Munnings, Carol Misiewicz Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court (Ret.); Harold Lorenza Carey Jr. and James Carey; sister-in-law: Rosanna (Richard) Dickinson; and a host of other relatives and friends including: Sir Cornelius A. Smith, Governor General, The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie and Mrs. Christie, Anietie Otu, RBDF Commodore Dr. Raymond King and Family, Davey Rolle Commodore (Ret.) and Family, Clifford “Butch” Scavella Commodore (Ret.) and Family, Roderick Bowe Commodore (Ret.) and Family, Tellis Bethel Commodore (Ret.) and Family, Rev. Dr. Kenris Carey and Family, Priscilla Clarke and Family, Anietic Out and Family, Calab Goodman Jr. and Family, Vivian Moss and Family, Attorney Raynard Henfield and Family, Sharon Rahming and Family, Attorney Devard Francis and Family, Attorney Alex Ferguson and Family, Rev. Dr. John Ferguson and Family, Themla (Byron) Bain and family, Norman Smith, Robin Shepherd, Theodore Shepherd, Sr., Timothy Dickenson, Sr., Nadia, Keith Jr. and Kahamaron Seymour, Latheria Pratt and Family, Delis Rolle and Family, Jave Thompson and Family, Emily Ferguson, Rosina Higgs, Tanya Higgs-Morley and Family, Cousin Velma Seymour and the Moss Family, Her Florida Family, The Tarpum Bay Family, Val Cooper and Family, Rt. Rev. Bishop Laish Z. Boyd and Family, Very Rev. Harry Bain Dean of Christ Church Cathedral and Mrs. Ann Bain and Family, Very Rev. Patrick Adderley (Ret.) and Mrs. Asterid Adderley and Family, Rev. Fr. Eric Miller Assistant Curate Christ Church Cathedral and Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate Hon. Ian-Marie Darville-Miller and Family, Rev. Fr. Colin Humes and Family, Rev. Desiree Johnson and Family, Rev. Angela Palacious and Family, Ven. Archdeacon Kingsley Knowles and Family, Rev. Fr. Scott Brennen Rector of St. George’s Anglican Church and Family, The St. George’s Wednesday Service congregation; Rev. Dr. Alonza (Jess) Hinzey, Pauline King and Family, Laura Rolle and Family, Susan Dean and Family, Rev. Wayde (Clarissa) Seymour and Family, Susan Dean and Family, Jerome Miller and Family, Superintendent Rev. E. Brian (Helen) Seymour, Godfrey Seymour and Family, Troy Oliver and Family, Marina People-Trotman and Family; Alice Martinborough and Family, Richard and Susan Uriasz and Family, Seashells Restaurant, Rally in the Alley, Anglican Church Women Christ Church Cathedral, The Anglican Church Men Christ Church Cathedral, The Altar Guild, Cell Group, Coffee Hour Hostesses and Chalice Bearers Christ Church Cathedral, The Department of Lands and Surveys, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Nassau Christian Academy Class of 86 and 87, GHS Class of 1979, Source River Holdings, Graphite Engineering, Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas, The Teachers and Salaried Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited, The Family of Obong Sunday Peter Udo from Nigeria, Lorenzo De Zabala School in Dallas Texas, Aksum Law Chambers, Doctors Hospital, Clinica Shaio in Colombia, Dr. Duane Sands and Family, Dr. Sheena Antonio, Dr. Beverton Moxey and Family, Nurse Dawn Albury-Gaitor, Dr. Laura Desrosia, Dr. Gill Gibson and Family, Jan (Charles) McCartney and Family, H.E. Lowell Mortimer, Paul Demeritte and Family, Brenda Rolle, Ralph Brennen, Patricia Thompson-Forbes, Margaret Stubbs, Nyler Cox, Generine Rodgers, Donald Thompson and Family, Tony Garraway and Family, Loftus Butler, Rosalie Moss, Mochrie Dames, Gladstone Ferguson, Roscoe Turnquest and Family, Annamae Poitier and Family, Anna Deveaux and Family, Lewellyn (Susan) Burrows and Family, Margaret Lowe and Family, Justice Anita Allen and Family, Justice Deborah Fraser and Family, Justice Jenine Weech-Gomez and Family, Ron Clarke, Tracey Johnson and Family, Verlene Scavella, Anthony Weech and Family, Garth Culmer and Family, Virginia Thompson and Family, Rita Cartwright and Family, Henderson Burrows and Family, Swithun Burrows and Family, Tanya Hunt-Major, Vandal Bowe, Marilyn Panza, Anthony O’Brien, Tandra Longley and Family, Brittany Minnis, Tracee Johnson, Byron (Sharmaine) Miller and Family, Edwin Culmer and Family, The Hanna Family, Henderson Burrows and Family, Lashan Ferguson and Family, Public Treasury Staff, Margaret Duncombe and Family, Myrtle Smith and Family, Velta Gibson & Family, Barry Malcolm and Family, Christine Cartwright and Family, Attorney Sharmie Farrington-Austin and Omar Austin and Family, Prince Livingstone, Dr. Nikkiah Forbes and Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, Monique Hepburn and Family, Angela Culmer-Hinsey, Danny Strachan and Family, Shane Bain and family, the Lightbourn Family, The Musgrove Family, The Heasties Family, The Wallace Family, The Nixon Family, The Armaly Family, The Kerr Family, The Major Family, The Marathon Community, The Sweeting Family, Arthur Butler, Micheline Demeritte, Desiree Gibbs and Family, Weston (Andrea) Saunders and Family, Nathaniel (Val) Dean and Family, Mr. Adrian Archer and Family, Keith (Troy) Oliver and Family, Anna Deveaux and Family, Maude Weech and Family, Jerome Miller and Family, Trevor McKay and Family, Rosita Smith-Duvalier and Family, Pandora Sawyer and family, Sandra Collie and Family, and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention. May Her Soul Rest in Peace! Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau Street on (TODAY) Friday, January 28th, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PAGE 8, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Who follows the rules over COVID? THE old saying ‘rules for thee, but not for me’ has been around from time immemorial. Since the days humans have organized themselves into little communities, citizens have had a sneaking feeling that those at the top have happily subjected ‘the little man’ to rules these leaders never intend to follow. One gift (if we can call it that) of the global pandemic is that it has disabused us of any doubt on the matter. The short version: many world leaders do have this mindset. And you don’t have to search hard for proof. In New Zealand, Health Minister David Clark got into hot water for breaking Covid protocols. While everyone else was locked down, he decided that he was entitled to a literal day at the beach. He admitted he was an “idiot” and offered his resignation, following the usual script. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern refused to accept it at the time, but he was ultimately fired a few months later for being “a distraction.” In Ireland, their agriculture minister, Dara Calleary, was forced to resign after being caught attending a “golf dinner’’ with no less than eighty people in attendance, breaking protocols. Calleary had only held his post for a month before his tee-time transgression forced his resignation. The Irish PM called Calleary’s actions “wrong and an error in judgment.” He accepted Calleary’s resignation immediately, freeing the renegade minister to spend more time working on his backswing. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer found themselves in hot water over long weekend trips when their less-powerful compatriots could only long for a trip out of the house. Even in the United States, where there are
PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis.
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA
no national protocols, but rather piecemeal state laws, the politicians who disregarded the regulations are too many to count. Our former Health Minister, Duane Sands, also found himself on the wrong side of the rules early in the pandemic and had to tender his resignation almost immediately. Some politicos (as the family has many breeds) have tried to hang on for dear life once found violating laws. Which, honestly, isn’t surprising. Having studied politicians for many years now, I find they mainly do one of three things when caught in compromising positions: fight, flee or freeze. Which brings us to this week, with clear examples of each kind of ‘threat response’ from world leaders we know all too well.
BORIS, BIDEN, AND BRAVE
Boris ‘Partyboy’ Johnson is practically the poster boy for bad behaviour when abiding by the rules. The UK Prime Minister caught Covid early on in the pandemic after pulling a dumb stunt and walking through a hospital filled with infected patients. He ended up with a stint in the ICU for what amounted to a photo opportunity. Having survived that, you would think he, of all people, would take the virus seriously.
BUT, NOPE
Not only has he managed to see his close advisor Dominic Cummings fired for breaking the rules by going on a long trip (as in,
250 miles long), but now the embattled PM is caught in further scandals. It turns out Boris attended a staff party when protocols forbade them. And this was no ordinary party. Did I mention this was a staff attended, English garden gala? On top of that, the country was in national mourning because of Prince Philip’s passing. Yet, there was ‘Bring-yourown-Bottle’ Boris carousing in the catmints as if it was no big deal. When questioned, Boris the Fighter, apologized to Queen and country (while on the brink of fake tears) and denied knowing beforehand about the party. Since that initial story broke, we’ve now learned he may have attended sixteen such soirées. It’s at the point there is an official ‘party gate’ investigation, and the police are currently involved. In the United States, President Biden found himself in his own mini-misconduct story. It’s nothing to do with Covid protocols, but the ‘leader of the free world’ got caught on a hot-mic. Thinking his microphone was off, Biden referred to a Fox News reporter who asked him about inflation as “a stupid son of a …” Well, let’s just say it wasn’t ‘gun.’ When the moment went viral, Biden, ever the statesman, called the reporter personally and apologized. With that small gesture (whether he meant what he said or not) Uncle Joe was able to ‘flee’ the controversy in an honourable way. Other politicians usually flee more significant controversies by handing in their
resignations and heading for the hills.
AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES BACK HOME
Our own Prime Minister, Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, openly admitted, without prompting, that he “broke quarantine.” And like any good Christian, he made his confession in a church. Apparently, when he should have remained isolated from the public, Brave decided Christmas shopping on Bay Street (of all things) couldn’t wait. His story, which reads like a page out of a spy novel, is of a man who enlists his taxpayer-funded government aide, sneaks out of his safe house, slips in through a side door, completes the secret transaction, and escapes to home scot-free. The thing is, he actually got away with not being “seen” and outed by the
media at the time. But like all wrongdoers in B-list movies, he just couldn’t keep the success of his scheme to himself. Now, ‘Bragging Brave’ has some explaining to do. So far, there has been no apology, nor has Brave paid the $500 fine the ‘little guys’ have paid when caught busting out of isolation during this pandemic. Instead, Brave is frozen. Aside from a weak response from the Office of the Prime Minister denying he was ever placed into quarantine by a doctor, he has not stepped forward to enlighten us lowly subjects as to what, exactly, happened. Minister of Health Dr. Darville offered a novel version of events; Yes, a health professional did advise the PM to isolate, but no, he didn’t break the rules because he was headed to isolation when he broke out of isolation. Or something like that. At this point, Brave’s story has
more variants than Covid itself. The question is, did he violate the law, or did he not violate the law? I’m afraid we’re in that famous “depends on what the meaning of the words is is “ territory. What is clear is that instead of apologizing and fighting to save his reputation like Boris, or apologizing and fleeing the scandal altogether like Biden, Brave has decided to freeze up and do nothing at all. Even as his (and now Darville’s) reputation takes a significant hit. It’s likely the hardest part for our PM is the first step; apologizing. Though he was quick to boast of his escapade in the pulpit, he is now as quiet as a church mouse. But who is surprised? If we’ve learned anything these past pandemic years, it’s that ‘rules for thee, but not for me’ is not only alive and well around the world, but especially so right here at home.
MAN: I WAS HIT BY CAR AS WOMAN AIMED FOR HER EX By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN testified yesterday how he suffered injuries in 2020 when he was struck by a car when a woman hit him while aiming for her ex-boyfriend. Jermonique Williams, of Lilac Street, is on trial for causing harm to Kevin Laing in a hit-and-run incident that occurred in their
neighbourhood on August 9, 2020. In court, Mr Laing described his account of that day’s events before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney. He said he was at his boss’ house cleaning the company cars when he saw Williams and her ex-boyfriend, Norman, having an argument across the street that led to a scuffle in the
middle of the road. After the fight, Williams sped off in her blue Honda Inspire only for her sister to come to the scene and slam into the back of Norman’s parked car in his driveway with her Passo. Mr Laing then explained that both he, Norman and Norman’s current girlfriend came to Williams’ sister’s side as she stumbled out of her car in a daze.
When prosecutor Inspector Timothy Bain asked Mr Laing for the sister’s name, Williams’ lawyer objected, but the magistrate sustained the question. However, Mr Laing said he could not recall the name. Mr Laing said as all three of them were checking on Williams’ sister after the crash and to ask why she had hit the car, he suddenly heard a car revving up as Williams’ sister attempted to flee the subdivision on foot. Mr Laing only had time to shout “look out” to everyone when Williams allegedly came barreling towards them in her car and struck him on his left side. The prosecutor asked if he recognised Williams in the car. Mr Laing said that he could see her clearly through the window and that they had known each other for two years. He recalled that immediately after he was struck, Williams briefly stopped to
say “sorry” to him before fleeing the scene. Mr Laing said he had to tell an officer who was also at the scene not to shoot at the fleeing car because he said she “was his neighbour”. Mr Laing was taken from the scene in an ambulance after falling to his side and received treatment at the Princess Margaret Hospital where he was told that his left hand was broken in three places. He also suffered top and bottom back spasms in relation to the accident as well as having to sleep with a neck brace and not being able to lift anything over three ounces for over three years. The medical statements for his treatment were presented in court and these items detailing his medical expenses were logged to be entered into evidence. During cross-examination, Williams’ lawyer asked if her client had given him any assistance after he was
struck by the car. Mr Laing denied this, claiming that while she stopped briefly to say she was sorry, she fled the scene immediately after and that it was only the two other passengers in the car who ever attempted to help him. He also denied the lawyer’s allegation that he ran inside after the incident with the magistrate agreeing with him when he said he couldn’t have as he was lying on the road until the ambulance came. However, when asked if he wasn’t the intended target, Mr Laing agreed with that statement, going on to say that Williams had been clearly aiming for her ex-boyfriend who was standing next to him, and that Norman was always the intended target. The case was adjourned to February 17.
MAN DENIES DRUG POSSESSION CHARGE By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN who previously pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply officially changed his plea in the Magistrate’s Court. David Adderley, 37, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday where he changed his plea to guilty.
This comes as his trial continued in connection with his arrest on July 16, 2021 for being found in possession of one pound and 5/8 of an ounce of Indian hemp. The accused previously served a two-year sentence in prison for possession of drugs with intent to supply from 2017. Yesterday Adderley begged for leniency in court to spare his family. He changed his plea in court to expedite his return
to his family, specifically his two young daughters. The magistrate sentenced Adderley to a fine of $800 or four months in prison with the condition that he commits no further offences. Adderley is expected to return to court on Monday to pay $400 on his fine, where he will then be advised on how to make further payments on the remaining balance.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 9
WHY IT IS SO HARD TO BACK PEDAL AND SO NECESSARY NOW By Diane Phillips
FROM the time we are old enough to walk, we put one foot in front of the other, moving forward. Statistics tell us the average person walks about 3,000 to 4,000 steps or about 1.5 or two miles a day, a little less as we age. Unless we are engaged in specific athletic training, like running We understand the plight up and down a staircase or government is in and the backing up to catch a footurgent need to raise revball thrown deep, the steps enue. But being in the PR we take propel us forward. So habit makes it hard to business for more than 30 back pedal, but sometimes years, I know the value of owning a mistake, correctit is the only way out. That’s the case this week ing it and moving on. People like to blame, but in the real property tax they love to forgive. brouhaha. The issue is Rarely has this a current one column delved ‘Being in the that hits every into anything PR business property owner political. Occa- for more than in the country sionally, we wish smack in his or a new govern- 30 years, I her pocket. It’s know the value ment well, share a pocket already our thoughts on of owning feeling the pain. a few priorities, The pain of less but for the most a mistake, income, emptier part, the column correcting it looks at other and moving on. shelves, higher fuel, food and parts of our lives supply prices. and our world, People like to leaving politics blame, but they The pain of for others and love to forgive.’ trying to make it in a world steering a steady trying to make course of trying to understand what makes it, individuals trying like the us tick, what creates unity rest of the individuals and or division among us, why businesses and institutions we laugh or cry or treasure around them trying to surspecial people and hold on vive in a world that is not quite post-pandemic but to special moments. Today’s column has none trying to get there. And into of that sentimentality. It’s the mix, the government straight business and it throws whopping increases deals matter-of-factly, with- in real property tax. For out political prejudice or some, whopping does not prudent hesitation, with even begin to describe it. the need to back pedal to Two, three, four times what move forward. It does so the tax was just a year ago. with the best wishes for the If it were only the amount success of this government of tax, that would be a battle because its success means that each individual or busia healthy few years for the ness could address on his, people of The Bahamas. her or its own. But the
means by which the tax was assessed is what caught the attention the 800-member Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) this week which rose up and flexed its muscle like never before. On January 26, BREA, after consulting its attorney, issued a strong statement advising the Department of Inland Revenue to take back the tax bills sent last week based on the fact that the new property valuation mapping was performed by a foreign company not licensed to do business in The Bahamas. Under Sections Four and 13 of the Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995, only Bahamian citizens or residents with the right to work can be licensed by BREA as appraisers. The Department of Inland Revenue, however, retained a USbased firm called Tyler Technologies to conduct the valuation of properties for real property tax reassessment purposes. Tyler is no small fry. A publicly traded company with more than 5,000 employees, its share price midday yesterday (January 27) hovered around $433. The problem is not the company, the problem is that the government, in an attempt as the Minister of Financial Services Michael Halkitis, to find a cure for its own dire financial circumstances, walked a path from which it now must back pedal in
MINISTER of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis. order to move forward. This week’s brouhaha lays There is more to this bare the raw wounds of the story than the reaction to lack of a national land regthe bills and the responses istry and access to records that followed this week. for all. It lays bare a system The issue underlying the mired in history much of recent iteration goes back it still on paper, instead of a decade and for decades looking into the technology before that, there was talk that would allow instant of the need for a national access. It lays bare a system land registry and proper that continues to protect valuations of property. The attorneys whose bread and former Christie adminis- butter is real estate transtration made a stab at it, if actions rather than relying sources tell me correctly, on title insurance and the attempting to offer a con- attorneys who spend tiretract to one local company less hours researching we’ll call Company A which, or having their assistants it turns out, was a friend research say they frequently of the administration and find fault in deeds that only properly licensed but did a human eye can spot. Yes, not have the capacity to we know that the governcarry out the work. So Com- ment is moving toward pany A offered 50 percent greater online access to of the proposed contract to services but in reality, how another company we will call much has changed in some Company B, if they would areas? For more than 15 do the work and Company years, I have written to and A would sign off on it. Com- advised the same Departpany B apparently told them ment of Inland Revenue where to take the offer. that we sold a property Thus, the real problem for which I am still receivhas a history that goes way ing annual bills. I’ve sent deeper than a Texas-based copies of all documents and company being called in to reminded them repeatedly do what a Bahamian law that even if we owned it, we apparently reserves for would not owe taxes as it is BREA-licensed appraisers. an empty, undeveloped lot
and we are Bahamian. The bottom line is the land management and registration is handled on an ad hoc basis. Someone wants to sell, someone wants to buy, attorneys scramble to see if there is any reason why the two should not be united, something a land registry, title documentation and online access would resolve almost instantly. We all agree – the government needs funds. But people are more likely and prepared to pay bills they believe are fair and just. They resist injustice in invoices like the double, triple and more increases in property tax just as much as they would if a storeowner tried to charge $5 for a tomato or $22.99 for a 5lb sack of potatoes. We wouldn’t buy it and we are not buying the valuation mapping by a foreign company that does not know The Bahamas, cannot possibly be attuned to the nuances of various streets and neighbourhoods, did not visit the individual properties they assessed and is not licensed by BREA. Football players do it all the time. To improve their game, they practice running in reverse for the long catch. The Minister and top management at DIR have the same opportunity. Back pedal. Take a deep breath, appoint qualified Bahamian appraisers giving various firms a chance to participate in the national exercise of right-valuing property and then gently increase rates for greater compliance. Like the football games of the last weekend, the winning points will be scored not by what you did first but what you brought to the field of play last.
PAGE 10, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
COAST Guard Cutter Ibis’ crew searching for people missing from a capsized boat off the coast of Florida on Tuesday.
Search called off as four more bodies found after boat sinks MIAMI BEACH, Florida Associated Press THE Coast Guard said yesterday that it had found four additional bodies in its search for dozens of migrants lost at sea off Florida but would suspend its rescue operations at sunset if it doesn’t receive any new information. Homeland Security Investigations officials said they were actively investigating the case as a human smuggling operation. Authorities have now
found a total of five bodies, leaving 34 missing five days after the vessel capsized on the way to Florida from Bimini in The Bahamas. Coast Guard Captain Jo-Ann F Burdian said the decision to suspend the search at sunset yesterday, pending any new discoveries, was not an easy one. “We have saturated the area over and over again,” she told a news conference. “We’ve had good visibility... We’ve overflown the vessel a number of times... It does mean we don’t think it’s
likely that anyone else has survived.” The Miami office of Homeland Security Investigations has launched an inquiry, saying the migrants’ journey was most certainly part of a human smuggling operation. Under federal law, a smuggler convicted of causing a death is eligible for execution. “The goal of this investigation is to identify, arrest and prosecute any criminal or criminal organisation that organised, facilitated or profited from this doomed
SCHOOL DISTRICT BANS HOLOCAUST GRAPHIC NOVEL ATHENS, Tennessee Associated Press
A TENNESSEE school district has voted to ban a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust due to “inappropriate language” and an illustration of a nude woman, according to minutes from a board meeting. The McMinn County School Board decided January 10 to remove “Maus” from its curriculum, news outlets reported. Art Spiegelman won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for the work that tells the story of his Jewish parents living in 1940s Poland and depicts him interviewing his father about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. In an interview, Spiegelman told CNBC he was “baffled” by the school board’s decision and called the action “Orwellian”.
“It’s leaving me with my jaw open, like, ‘What?’” he said. The decision comes as conservative officials across the country have increasingly tried to limit the type of books that children are exposed to, including books that address structural racism and LGBTQ issues. The Republican governors in South Carolina and Texas have called on superintendents to perform a systemic review of “inappropriate” materials in their states’ schools The minutes from the school board meeting indicate objections over some of the language used in “Maus.” At first, Director of Schools Lee Parkison suggested redacting it “to get rid of the eight curse words and the picture of the woman that was objected to.” The nude woman is drawn as a mouse. In the graphic novel, Jews are drawn as mice and the Nazis are drawn as cats.
venture,” said HSI Miami Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury. Salisbury declined to give any information on the nationalities of the boat passengers but said investigators consider the lone survivor “a victim right now,” not a suspect. Salisbury appealed to the public for tips to help identify who organised the boat crossing. “Please help us bring criminals who prey on and victimize the vulnerable migrant community to justice,” he said. “We don’t want
anybody doing this again... This is dangerous stuff.” The lone survivor was found hanging onto the 25ft vessel about 40 miles off Fort Pierce, Florida. He told a good Samaritan and authorities that the boat capsized late Saturday after he and 39 others had set out for Florida from Bimini. Authorities said the boat was found about 100 miles north of where it capsized, apparently pushed by the Gulf Stream, a warm, swift current that wraps around the Florida peninsula and flows
along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. No one was wearing a life jacket, the rescued man told authorities. The Gulf Stream can be treacherous even on a calm, sunny day. Throw in an overloaded boat, inexperienced mariners, stormy weather and the dark of night, and they can become deadly. A small craft advisory had been issued on Saturday and Sunday as a severe cold front with winds up to 23mph blew through the dangerous passage, creating swells up to nine feet.
BIDEN READY FOR ‘LONG OVERDUE’ PICK OF BLACK FEMALE JUSTICE WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Joe Biden strongly affirmed yesterday that he will nominate the first Black woman to the US Supreme Court, declaring such historic representation is “long overdue” and promising to announce his choice by the end of February. In a White House ceremony marking a moment of national transition, Biden praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, who will have spent nearly 28 years on the high court by the time he leaves at the end of the term, as “a model public servant at a time of great division in this country”. And with that the search for Breyer’s replacement was underway in full. Biden promised a nominee worthy of Breyer’s legacy and said he’d already been studying the backgrounds and writings of potential candidates. “I’ve made no decision except one: The person I will nominate will be somebody of extraordinary qualifications, character and integrity,” he said. “And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It is long overdue.” Biden’s choice will be historic on its face: No Black woman has ever served on the high court. But the decision is also coming at a critical time of national reckoning over race and gender inequality. However, the court’s 6-3 conservative majority is destined to remain intact.
Biden is using his choice to fulfill one of his early campaign promises, one that helped resurrect his moribund primary campaign and propel him to the White House in 2020. And it gives him the chance to show Black voters, who are increasingly frustrated with a president they helped to elect, that he is serious about their concerns, particularly with his voting rights legislation stalled in the Senate. It also could help drive Democratic enthusiasm amid concerns about a midterm routing in congressional races. Biden spent his first year in office working to nominate a diverse group of judges to the federal bench, not just in race but also in professional expertise, and he has been reviewing possible high court candidates along the way. He has installed five Black women on federal appeals courts — where many high court justices come from — with three more nominations pending before the Senate. He’s had more judges confirmed in a year than any other president since Ronald Reagan. As a senator, Biden spent years leading the Senate Judiciary Committee and so he’s quite familiar with the nomination process, having overseen six Supreme Court confirmation hearings. One person who will be central to Biden’s selection process is chief of staff Ron Klain, a former Supreme Court law clerk and chief counsel to the Judiciary Committee. He promised a rigorous selection process. As part of it, Biden’s team will
review past writings, public remarks and decisions, learn the life stories of the candidates and interview them and people who know them. Background checks will be updated and candidates may be asked about their health — it’s after all a lifetime appointment. The goal, according to people involved with past nominations, is to provide the president with the utmost confidence in the eventual pick’s judicial philosophy, fitness for the court and preparation for the highstakes confirmation fight. He has already met personally with at least one top nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51. She is a former Breyer clerk who worked at the US Sentencing Commission and has been a federal trial court judge since 2013 in the District of Columbia. The two met when Biden interviewed her for her current post as an appeals court judge in the DC circuit, where she has served since last June. Early discussions about a successor are focusing on Jackson, US District Judge J Michelle Childs and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House deliberations. Jackson and Kruger have long been seen as possible nominees. Childs, a federal judge in South Carolina, has been nominated but not yet confirmed to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
SPORTS PAGE 11
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022
Baseball stadium ‘must be completed within this year’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
I
t was in September 2016 that construction got underway on the new national baseball stadium with the view that it would be completed by November, 2017 at a budgeted cost of around $24.9 million. Six years later, the edifice is up, but there’s some more cosmetic work to be done along with an additional $31m before it’s finally completed before the end of the year, according to Minister of Works Alfred Sears in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Yesterday, as plans were unveiled for the refurbishment of the four softball fields at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said while roughly $27m has already been pumped into the stadium, they are committed to completing the job for more reasons than one. “We know the revenue stream that can come from that place based on the interest we have already received from the international baseball world,” Bowleg said. “So we just want to complete it as soon as possible so we can bring that revenue into the country
and also to bring the exposure for those who play baseball so that they can get the opportunity for scholarships or continue to get the professional contracts that many are receiving without a proper facility here in place for them to play on.” Despite the noise in the market from one national government dignitary to the next over the years, Bowleg said he can assure the Bahamian public that the Progressive Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, is committed to completing the facility. “The Prime Minister and myself and the Minister of Works have
met and the Prime Minister told both of us that it must be completed and it must be completed within this year,” Bowleg charged. “Unless something happens beyond our control like a natural disaster, we will finish off this stadium and name it.” In its present state, Bowleg said the majority of the work left is on the preparation of the field and also re-signing the road that passes through the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex because the plan for the stadium calls for the creation of a lake to help with the irrigation of the field.
SEE PAGE 14
Four Walls Squash and Social Club dedicates court to Keith Parker BAHAMIAN sporting icon Keith Parker, MBE, received another accolade in recognition of his legendary career, this time from the squash community as the sports continues its resurgence in The Bahamas. Four Walls Squash and Social Club dedicated its championship centre court in Parker’s honour at an official ceremony last night hosted at the Village Road Complex. Parker, internationally renowned for his contributions to many sports, highlighted by athletics, was also a local pioneer in squash. The Bahamas National Sports Hall of Fame member was twice local squash national champion, three times national veterans champion, Caribbean veterans champion, semi-finalist in the 1977 World Squash Veterans championships, and twice runner–up in the US Open Age Group Championships. He was instrumental in establishing a local home for the sport at the former Squash Club on Village Road in 1975. Now renovated as the Four Walls Club also includes three squash courts, boutique fitness studios.
Four Walls presented Parker with a plaque detailing his contributions to the sport to be mounted at the court named in his honour, along with a lifetime membership at the club. “I appreciate the honour and the lifetime membership,” Parker told the crowd of supporters at Four Walls. “Squash is a wonderful sport, an easy sport to learn and one of the best to promote national fitness.” Parker said he was introduced to the squash in 1951 and brought his love for the sport with him when he came to The Bahamas in 1959. Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, said that the multi-talented Parker is responsible for the development of many Bahamian sports, from his profile involvement in athletics to his pioneering efforts in squash. “Keith Parker is a giant of a man in the sporting arena and has truly earned the title of ‘a man of all seasons’..of all the sports he has played or coached, it can be argued that perhaps he loved squash the most.” he said. “This facility has been beautifully renovated and
BAHAMIAN sporting icon Keith Parker, MBE, received another accolade in recognition of his legendary career, this time from the squash community as the sports continues its resurgence in The Bahamas. creatively renewed and rebranded. “It is a pleasure for me as a minister and the executives of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, to see that the new principles of this facility demonstrates its appreciation for the valuable contribution of Mr Parker for this sport and sports development.” Throughout his athletic career, Parker also represented England and Great Britain in the decathlon and long jump in athletics, played soccer for 3rd division team Bury, cricket for his home town of Morecambe, rugby for the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, and during his national service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) competed in the RAF Championships in athletics, tennis and badminton.
In The Bahamas he represented his adopted country in athletics in the West Indies Federation Games and was The Bahamas’ record holder in the javelin and long jump events. He also represented The Bahamas in field hockey, badminton, darts, and squash, and racketball. He also played in the local cricket league for the Commonwealth Wanders and Westerns teams and raced in the popular Speed Weeks at the old Oakes Field airport, now the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. In athletics he was also a Bahamas national team member in the 1960s, holding the Bahamas record in long jump and javelin in 1960. Parker is internationally recognised as a world-class track and field
coach, serving the Bahamas national teams at Four Olympic Games from 1984 in Los Angeles, USA, to 2008 in Beijing, China, at five IAAF World Championships from 1983 to 2005, at six Pan American Games from 1975 in Mexico to 2007 in Brazil, at four Commonwealth Games from 1978 in Edmonton, Canada, to 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. He was honoured by the Queen in 1978 as a member of the British Empire (MBE) for Service to the Community. He was inducted in to the BAAA Hall of Fame in 1997, received the International Olympic Committee diploma in 2001 and, in 2010 was inducted into both the CAC Hall of Fame and Bahamas National Sports Hall of Fame.
Big Ben, Page 13
SOFTBALL FIELDS BEING REFURBISHED By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the new baseball stadium now projected to be completed by the end of the year, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is partnering with a number of local companies to renovate the softball fields at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex free of charge. Minister of Sports, Mario Bowleg, along with Greg Burrows, chairman of the National Sports Authority Board, made the announcement yesterday as the media got a first-hand view of the work that has also started and expected to be completed in the next three months. Burrows said the intention is to have the facilities completed so that they can use it as a test run for the Bahamas Baseball Association’s Junior Nationals in June as they gear up for the staging of the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships and Tournament in July. In November, Burrows said Perfect Game is expected to stage a major international tournaments with about 60 teams in the new baseball national stadium, which has been given the nod from Minister of Works Alfred Sears to be completed by then at an additional cost of $31 million. Burrows, who is responsible for the hosting of the Babe Ruth Tournament, said the NSA is getting a makeover of the facilities as they prepare for the future. The refurbishment of the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex is just a part of the Bahamas Government’s 10-year plan to upgrade the facilities around the Bahamas, according to Bowleg. “When we do commence play in softball and baseball, which are non-contact sports, they will be playing on facilities that are up to standard and they could appreciate it more,” said Bowleg, who noted that they hope that these sporting bodies will be back on the field in short order. Once the fields are completed, Bowleg said they will move to the Bankers Field, where the New Providence Softball Association plays, and commence their upgrades, while doing the same at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. “We want Sports in Paradise to really be Sports in Paradise,” Bowleg pointed
SEE PAGE 12
Major Jr: Newton ‘neglecting the people around him’ By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net LOOKING at the landscape of tennis in the country, professional player Kevin Major Jr said there is a need for a change in leadership of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association in order for the sport to continue to progress. In a gut-wrenching interview on the eve of the BLTA’s annual general meeting on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre, Major Jr is calling for more emphasis to be placed on the players and the things in place rather than trying to focus on getting more done internationally. Major Jr was referring to incumbent president Perry Newton, who is seeking re-election for his second two-year term in office. He’s expected to be
challenged by former football player turned tennis player Ken Kerr. But according to reports, Kerr and his slate of officers are trying to get the AGM and elections halted and postponed until they can get some internal matters cleared up as it pertains to who is eligible to vote during the elections, scheduled to start at 3pm on Saturday. “Right now, to me, he’s not focusing on what he has around him,” said Major Jr of Newton. “It’s not a bad thing, but I think that if he pays a lot more attention to us, who are under his wings, things will flow a lot better. “A lot of people feel like he’s trying to implement new things, but he’s neglecting the people who he has around him. I feel that’s his main problem. He’s not allowing the tennis
KEVIN Major Jr community who is there to continue to be there.” Major Jr said one of the difficulties they have is that the NTC is normally closed during the day, which doesn’t allow the players the opportunity to practice and there’s virtually no tournaments for them to participate in. Without going into all of the details, Major Jr said he encountered some financial problems leaving Germany in the COVID-19 pandemic where he was participating
in a tournament to get to Panama last year to represent the Bahamas at the Davis Cup Tie. As the top ranked national player behind Justin Roberts, who holds the top international ranking because of his ATP points, Major Jr said he feels that the persons surrounding Newton are not as knowledgeable about the sport and there are people who want to help, but they are not given a chance to do so. “There are a lot of people out there who want to assist, but they are not being given a chance to help out,” Major Jr said. In winning his seat over Daphany Mortier in 2020, Major Jr claims that Newton got a number of persons who barely knew anything about the sport to become financial members and voted him in, but
he said he feels it wasn’t the best way to do it. “The majority of the tennis community did not vote for him,” Major Jr said. “The majority of the people who voted for him probably only been to the national tennis centre about five times in their lives.” Having gone through his own personal battles with the BLTA executives over the past few years, Major Jr said his focus right now is simply on tennis because he has to make the decisions that are right for him. He, along with his uncle, Philip Major Jr, recently launched the Island Tennis Bahamas Programme earlier this month at the Atlantis resort and Baha Mar tennis courts. “I am my own boss and if I don’t win, I don’t make any money,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which
president is in office, my job is to be a professional tennis player and not a politician. But I still would like to see the sport being operated in a manner that would allow me to get the maximum out of the sport. “I’m only thinking like this because I’ve been through so much with the BLTA. It’s a lot of back and forth with he say and she say. I just think that whoever is elected, if they focus on the people who are around tennis, it would be a whole lot better.” Although there are restrictions put in place as a result of COVID-19, Major Jr said the NTC is almost a ghost town, especially on the weekends when the majority of the players come out to practice and play against each other when there are no
SEE PAGE 13
PAGE 12, Friday, January 28, 2022
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76ers rout LeBron-less Lakers 105-87 By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 26 points and nine rebounds, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 105-87 victory over a Los Angeles Lakers team playing without LeBron James last night. Anthony Davis scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lakers. The 37-year-old James is day to day with a sore left knee. James is second in the league in scoring at 29.1
points per game, on pace for his highest average since the 2009-10 season, and has scored at least 25 points in 18 straight games. With James absent, Davis kept the Lakers competitive in his second game back after missing 17 with a sprained left knee. He hurt his right wrist in the first half and needed a quick trip to the locker room to get taped up. If the wrist bothered him, it sure didn’t show. Davis went of 10 of 13 in the first half — the Lakers made 20 buckets
— for 23 points. He even blocked Embiid’s jumper, then came right down and hit one over the All-Star centre. And Davis drew a foul against Embiid on the play. Davis, though, can’t carry the Lakers alone and the Lakers looked lost at times without him. Russell Westbrook turned the ball over late in the first half when his pass to seemingly nobody went out of bounds. He slammed a roll of tape left on the stanchion with TV equipment.
Davis dunked late in the third to keep the Lakers within nine, then had a twisting block on the baseline of another Embiid shot. Davis did his part to neutralise Embiid. Not many others have come close. Embiid, the first Sixer voted a starter in at least five straight AllStar Games since Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, had a pretty good off night for the Sixers. His streak of four games with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds ended. Embiid and Davis are
two of only four players to hit those marks since the 1976-77 merger. The durability issues that have pockmarked his career were put to rest this season: Embiid played in his 20th straight game. “His conditioning, last year, when I came in, we challenged him and he took it,” coach Doc Rivers said before the game. “This year, we challenged him even more and he’s taking it up.” Tobias Harris scored 23 points for the Sixers and Ty Maxey had 14 points and 10 assists.
Booker leads Suns past Jazz Doncic’s triple-double helps 105-97 for 8th straight win Dallas down Portland 132-112 By MATTHEW COLES Associated Press
By ANNE M PETERSON AP Sports Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — When Chris Paul joined Devin Booker on the Phoenix Suns after a trade last season, it wasn’t always easy to decide who would be the finisher when games got tight. These days, it’s just intuitive. Such as Wednesday night, when Booker fuelled the Suns through three quarters and Paul sealed the deal. Booker had 43 points and tied a career high with 12 rebounds, Paul scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Suns extended their winning streak to eight with a 105-97 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. “It’s a good feeling now, but it came with a learning curve,” Booker said. “There was a lot of trial and error, but now we’ve been in enough situations where we know what to expect.” Booker paced the Suns through three quarters, but didn’t get a shot in the fourth until he missed a runner with 3:45 to play. Paul took over the offensive burden with his mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket. “You only build that trust by playing together in games, close games like that,” Paul said. The Jazz trailed 98-94 when Hassan Whiteside committed an offensive foul and a technical. Booker made two technicals around a jumper that beat the shot clock to give the Suns the cushion they needed. Playing without Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Rudy Gobert (left calf strain), the Jazz got a boost from Jordan Clarkson, who scored 16 of his team-high 26 points
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Luka Doncic had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists for his sixth triple-double this season, and the Dallas Mavericks led wire-towire in a 132-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. It was Doncic’s franchise-leading 42nd career triple double. He’s one away from matching Fat Lever for 10th on the NBA all-time list. “Everything starts with Luka Doncic,” said Kristaps Porzingis, who had 22 points for the Mavs. “Everything becomes much easier with him on the court.” Jalen Brunson added 20 points and 11 assists for Dallas, which led by as many as 23 points and had seven players finish in double figures. Anfernee Simons led Portland with 23 points and CJ McCollum added 20. Both teams were playing the second game of a back-to-back. The Mavericks fell 130-92 to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night — a loss that stung because Tim Hardaway Jr. fractured a bone in his left foot during the second quarter. There is no timeline for Hardaway’s return, the team said Wednesday. Coach Jason Kidd said that while the team will miss Hardaway, who was averaging 14.2 points off the bench, “we’ve got some guys over there who want to play so this is a good time for them.” The Blazers were coming off a disheartening 109-107 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday night, in which Portland led for the better
SUNS guard Devin Booker (1) shoots a foul shot in the second half during an NBA basketball game against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) in the fourth quarter. Whiteside had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Conley also scored 16 points and added 10 assists for the Jazz, who dropped their ninth game in the last 11. “We’re playing without Rudy and Donovan right now. But it doesn’t mean we can’t run back. ... This is about committing to the things consistently that allow you to (grow),” Utah coach Quin Snyder said of his team’s inconsistent effort. The Suns were also missing two starters in Jae Crowder (wrist) and Deandre Ayton (ankle), but Bismack Biyombo had 12 points in his first start of the season. He said it was just “a gut feeling” to decide on Phoenix when he had suitors trying to bring him back to the NBA, but playing with Paul and Booker made his choice easy. “They’re good at closing games. ... Believers have wills, not wishes. Those guys have wills,” Biyombo said.
DALLAS Mavericks guard Luka Doncic bounces the ball off his shoulder while warming up prior to an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. The Dallas Mavericks won 132112. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) part of three quarters, but ultimately fell short. “Sometimes the schedule can help you or hurt you,” Kidd said. “This time it helped us by having a game where we didn’t have to sit around and look at each other after last night’s performance.” Doncic’s deep 3-pointer put the Mavericks up 30-15 and Dallas held a 40-25 lead after the opening quarter. The Mavericks stretched the lead to as many as 18 points but the Blazers closed the gap to 65-58 late in the half on Jusuf Nurkic’s layup. Porzingis had 14 points in the first period alone, matching his high for a quarter this season. “We just wanted to make sure we were the ones to come out and punch, and that’s what we did early on and it kind of set the tone for the rest of the game,” Porzingis said.
REF IN FOCUS AS ECUADOR DRAWS WITH BRAZIL IN WCUP QUALIFIER By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer ECUADOR drew 1-1 at home against Brazil to boost its chances of qualifying for the World Cup in a game that saw two players sent off and a number of major refereeing decisions overturned by VAR. Casemiro opened the scoring by tapping into an empty in the sixth minute for Brazil — which has already qualified for the tournament in Qatar — before Ecuador equalised in the 75th minute with a header by Felix Torres. But it was Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan who drew the most
SOFTBALL FROM PAGE 11
out. “What was stopping us in the past is obvious that some of these facilities were not up to standard. We may have a facility that we feel is up to standard, but those do not meet international standards.” Burrows said as a part of their mandate, the NSA has the responsibility of providing the facilities in order for the Ministry of Tourism to have a product to assist them in selling the Sports in Paradise programme. During the course of the work carried out, Burrows revealed that each of the four fields will be extended to about 300 feet wherever possible so that they can accommodate slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball as well as youth baseball. There will also be three additional baseball fields erected between the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex
attention by getting a series of key decisions overturned after video review — with Brazil goalkeeper Alisson being shown a red card twice only to have both rescinded. Roldan did not even whistle for a foul when Ecuador goalkeeper Alexánder Dominguez planted his studs into the neck of Brazil striker Matheus Cunha as he challenged for a ball at the edge of the area in the 16th minute. After a VAR review, Dominguez was handed a straight red card. Brazil defender Emerson Royal was then handed a second yellow in the 20th minute and Alisson and the new baseball stadium so that the players will have the additional fields to practice and play when they have their international tournaments. “We are just trying to put it in place where the fields can be adjusted for multi-purposes whenever we need to play on it,” Burrows said. “We went from a small dugout to a 30-feet dugout and that was decided because of the COVID-19 environment that we are in now. We want to stretch them out as much as we can.” “In the back of the (home) plate, we will have nets, which is a modern way (of playing the games) with the backdrop and we are having a low wall for the advertisement. We are going with a six-feet fence instead of the eightfeet fence. I think you will see a total, prettier, nicer modern softball/baseball complex.”
appeared to become the third player sent off 10
minutes later after also hitting an opponent in the
head with his leg after a clearance. However, Roldan changed his mind and only showed a yellow card after VAR stepped in. The second half had a similar theme as the Colombian referee awarded two penalties to Ecuador only to reverse both decisions after a review. The second penalty was in injury time and involved Alisson getting a second yellow, which was also rescinded. The draw means Ecuador could secure its place in Qatar with a win at Peru on Tuesday. Brazil was playing without injured star Neymar.
Additionally, Burrows revealed that the bathroom facilities will be refurbished with the view of further extending them in the future. As for the spectators’ area, Burrows said each field will have its own mounted bleacher platform. And like they do at various international stadiums, Burrows said they will eliminate the scorers’ booth and replace them with removeable chairs and tents. Likewise, there will be some provisions made for the concession stand, but nothing compared to what was in place in the past. Most of the work is being done free of charge by a number of local companies. Bommer George Trucking Service, according to owner and philanthropist George ‘Bommer George’ Armbrister, will provide all of the heavy trucking equipment in their continued way of assisting sports,
especially softball, in whatever way they could. “When Mr Burrows contacted me, I volunteered to assist them by ensuring that the fencing is installed properly,” said veteran women’s basketball coach Anthony Swaby, owner of Reliable Fencing. “My mom used to say if you walk around with your hands closed, you can’t ever get anything. So this is just our way of giving back.” Steven Morley, proprietor of Island Trucking and Heavy Equipment Limited, will be working to assist with any heavy duty lifting that they need. But as they move forward, Morley said they will continue to assist the project to its completion. And former basketball player Gerard Rolle said his company, Caribbean Plumbing, will be providing a pumping system that will enable the operators of the facilities to have a sprinkler
system in place that will keep the fields properly watered as they are manicured before and after the games played. As a sidebar to the facilities, Bowleg said he’s looking forward to the schools resuming competition in sports like softball, baseball, tennis, swimming, track and field and golf where there’s minimum contact. “If the kids can go to the movies, if they can go to church and now they can go back to school, once we put in the necessary health protocols in place, there’s no reason why they can’t play,” said Bowleg, noting that they are doing it all over the world. “We are giving tests free now, so kids can register, take the test, come to the game and if they are negative, they should be allowed to play. We have to get sports up and running. We have to get back to some sort of normalcy.”
REFEREE WILMAR ROLDAN, of Colombia, checks the VAR screen during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Ecuador and Brazil at Casa Blanca stadium in Quito, Ecuador, yesterday. (Rodrigo Buendia/Pool via AP)
MLB NOT REQUIRING COVID-19 VACCINES FOR MINOR LEAGUERS NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will not require players with minor league contracts to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season but is mandating that most staff receive the shots. While players with major league contracts are unionised and rules regarding them must be negotiated by the Major League Baseball Players Association, players with minor league contracts are not collectively organised. “Our expert consultants have advised that fully upto-date vaccination of all on-field staff and others with close player contact provides a safer environment in which to prevent infection and transmission,” MLB said in a statement yesterday. MLB’s decision was first reported by ESPN. “Reasonable accommodations will be considered for staff members who receive an exemption to this requirement. Such exemptions will be considered on an individual basis and in accordance with state law. “We continue to strongly encourage vaccination among minor league players and make resources available to minor league teams and players toward that goal,” MLB said.
IRAN DEFEATS IRAQ 1-0 TO QUALIFY FOR SPOT IN WORLD CUP TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Mehdi Taremi scored from close range yesterday to lead Iran’s national soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Iraq and seal the Islamic Republic’s third straight World Cup berth. Taremi, the FC Porto striker, scored the only goal of the game in the 48th minute in the second half. He scored from inside the penalty box on a pass from midfield Ali Reza Jahanbakhsh. Iran’s win came in Group A of the Asia region. The win at Tehran Azadi stadium was Iran’s earliest jump into the qualifiers. It marked the sixth time Iran has earned a spot in the World Cup in the nation’s history. Despite the fast spread of the aggressive omicron variant of the coronavirus in Iran, the government Wednesday approved the presence of some 10,000 spectators in the 100,000seat stadium. More than 2,000 were women. It was the second major soccer event that Iranian women have watched in the stadium. In 2019, for the first time in decades, hundreds of Iranian women were allowed to watch Persepolis play the Kashima Antlers of Japan in the Asian Champions League final. FIFA had long demanded that Iran provide assurances that women will be allowed to attend 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Women have been mainly prohibited from attending men’s games and other sports events in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
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Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 13
AFC Matchup: Newbie Bengals visit perennial contender Chiefs By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer TALK about newcomers versus the tried and true. Here come the Cincinnati Bengals, who had lost eight straight playoff games since their last victory 31 years ago. Awaiting them at loud, sometimes intimidating Arrowhead Stadium will be the Kansas City Chiefs, in their fourth consecutive AFC championship game and seeking their third trip in a row to the Super Bowl. This is hardly the matchup most NFL observers expected. Sure, the Chiefs made sense, but the often-mocked Bengals — Bungles no more — were a surprise last to first winner of the AFC North. Now, here they are, one step from their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989. How do they match up with the Chiefs? WHEN BENGALS HAVE THE BALL: It’s not all about QB Joe Burrow (9) and rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase (1), but much of it is. This pass-catch combination was dynamic at LSU and has made a huge splash in the NFL. Burrow, whose rookie season in 2020 was cut short by a knee injury, made a sensational return and is as accurate as any passer in the league. He had 34 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions during the season, and thus far in the playoffs is 52 of 71 (73.2%) for 592 yards and a 101.4 QB rating. Chase has 14 catches for 225 yards (16.1 per reception) after scoring 13 times on 81 receptions in the regular season. The two hooked up 11 times for 266 yards and three TDs in a 34-31 win over the Chiefs January 2. Kansas City knows it must slow down the elusive and supremely athletic Chase, but does it have the defensive backs to do so? It sure didn’t look like it against Buffalo, when
BENGALS wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) runs against the Titans during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) CBs Charvarius Ward (35), L’Jarius Sneed (38) and safeties Daniel Sorensen (49) and Juan Thornhill (22) struggled mightily. If star FS Tyrann Mathieu (32, concussion) can’t go, not only Chase but Tee Higgins (85), Tyler Boyd (83) and emerging TE C.J. Uzomah (87) could be dangerous. Uzomah, however, might be needed to help block after Cincinnati allowed nine sacks at Tennessee. The Chiefs, under aggressive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, have a solid pass rush, which they’ll clearly need. Bengals tackles Jonah Williams (73) and Isaiah Prince (71) must deal with Chris Jones (95) and Frank Clark (55) on the outside, while DT Jarran Reed (90) has been superb in the playoffs. And watch for Chiefs weakside LB Nick Bolton (54) to have some impact. If the Bengals can get the running game on track with Joe Mixon (28), who ranked third with 1,205 rushing yards, they might have the balance they need.
WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL: Watch out! As they showed in the shootout with the Bills, the Chiefs need only, say, 13 seconds to produce in crunch time. Not only are they the most entertaining offense in the league, but with QB Patrick Mahomes (15), WR Tyreek Hill (10) and TE Travis Kelce (87), they are as creative as anyone. Mahomes has certified himself with his arm, legs and mind as the real thing. With him, the numbers — albeit great — are almost superfluous as he finds a way on so many plays, particularly in the most dire circumstances. One thing the Bengals defence will need is a relentless pass rush against a stout but not impenetrable line. Cincy sacks leader Trey Hendrickson (91) is the primary pass rusher, though DE Sam Hubbard (94) and DT D.J. Reader can be trouble. It doesn’t hurt that Mahomes has a sixth sense for escaping pressure, but
he needs his blockers, particularly LG Joe Thuney (62) and LT Orlando Brown Jr. (57) to hold up. Rookie C Creed Humphrey (52) has been a real find. While Mahomes has other playmakers — WRs Mecole Hardman (17) and Byron Pringle (13), RBs Jerick McKinnon (1) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) — moving the ball and, especially, finding the end zone usually comes down to Kelce and Hill. The unenviable task of dealing with them goes to nearly everyone, from LBs Logan Wilson (55) and Germaine Pratt (57) to a deep group of defensive backs: CBs Chidobe Awuzie (22), Mike Hilton (21) and inconsistent Eli Apple (20), plus backups Tre Flowers (33) and Trae Waynes (26), and safeties Vonn Bell (24) and Jessie Bates (30). SPECIAL TEAMS: When a last-place team drafts a kicker in the fifth round, fans scratch their heads. Well, the Bengals are a division winner and one step from the Super Bowl
thanks to Evan McPherson (2). The kid simply doesn’t miss: His four fields goal in the wild-card round were the most for a rookie in his postseason debut, and he nailed the winner in Music City. P Kevin Huber (10) did not have a particularly strong season, but he’s a veteran accustomed to punting outdoors in the cold, which will help in KC. Coverage units were fine. Cincy defends runbacks well, but is not much of a threat on its own returns. Pringle is more of a threat than any of the Bengals on kick returns, while the Chiefs use a variety of dangerous players to bring back punts. Hardman and CB Mike Hughes (21) do most of the work, but the Chiefs will use Hill when they need a big play; he delivered with one on a punt return against Buffalo. Although he missed two kicks against the Bills, Harrison Butker (7) has a huge leg and has been very reliable for the Chiefs, and he bounced back to hit the 49-yarder to force overtime last weekend. On the other side, McPherson is the real deal. COACHING: Maybe the biggest discrepancy in this game is the résumé for each coach. That’s not a knock on Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor, who has helped turn around a moribund franchise and has an exciting group on offence. This is a team that doesn’t panic, and when could that be said about the Bengals? Still, the master in this one is Andy Reid, who could join that limited group with three or more consecutive Super Bowl appearances: Don Shula, Marv Levy, Bill Belichick. Reid relies heavily on his assistants (Spagnuolo, OC Eric Bieniemy, special teams coordinator Dave Toub) and they all keep things fresh and innovative. Watch for something new Sunday.
NFC MATCHUP: OLD WEST RIVALS MEET FOR SUPER BOWL BERTH By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer THEY have gone at each other 145 times. The 49ers have owned the Rams in the past six meetings, and have a 75-67-3 mark against their California rivals. Until Sunday, only one of all those confrontations was in the postseason — the Niners won that one, too, 30-3 in 1989 on the way to the most lopsided Super Bowl victory. Now, San Francisco goes for a three-game sweep of Los Angeles, though the Rams will be at home and favoured. Each team comes off last-second victories on field goals, the Niners on the Lambeau Field tundra, the Rams in balmy Tampa against Tom Brady and the Bucs. They know one another so well their coaches probably could swap sides and be comfortable. Here’s how the 49ers and Rams match up: WHEN THE 49ERS HAVE THE BALL: Just give it to Deebo Samuel (19) in some manner. A true flex player, for all your fantasy gurus, the All-Pro receiver turned running back on occasion has become as dynamic as any NFL player. Samuel will test everyone on LA’s defence, from fellow AllPro Jalen Ramsey (5) at cornerback, yet another All-Pro — unanimous, no less — DT Aaron Donald (99) — or some of the other studs on that unit. Samuel could be the wild card the Rams can’t match. He also can’t be a oneman gang. QB Jimmy Garoppolo (10) needs to avoid forcing passes; he tends to be good, make that bad, for one turnover a game. He also must feed the ball often to RB Elijah
Mitchell (25), a real find, and keep versatile FB Kyle Juszczyk involved. Niners TE George Kittle (85) hasn’t been his usual brilliant self, but LA is weak at safety and the LBs don’t do much in coverage. But the Rams have another potential offence wrecker in LB Leonard Floyd (54), plus the revitalised Von Miller (40). How well the 49ers hold up on the offensive line might be critical. All-Pro Trent Williams (71), dealing with ankle issues, is the best left tackle in the game, though the keys could be centre Alex Mack (50) and guards Laken Tomlinson (75) and Daniel Brunskill (60), who get the pleasure of dealing with Donald all day. But the Niners have minimised him this season: Donald has only three pressures and zero sacks in the two games during the regular season. WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL: As Samuel should be the focal point for San Francisco, so too must WR Cooper Kupp (10) for LA. Kupp, another unanimous All-Pro, pulled off the hat trick of leading the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdown catches; made the biggest play last week after Tampa Bay stormed back to nearly steal the game; and has a unique connection with QB Matthew Stafford (9). Kupp is far from the only playmakers 49ers DBs must account for. Odell Beckham Jr. (3), Van Jefferson (12) and TE Tyler Higbee (89) can’t be given minimal attention by safeties Jaquiski Tartt (3) and Jimmie Ward (1), CBs K’Waun Williams (24) and, if healthy, Ambry Thomas (20). LA has a two-pronged running game with Sony Michel (25) and Cam Akers (23). They must
CHIEFS tight end Travis Kelce (87) walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Bills on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley) avoid turnovers; the Rams fumbled four times at Tampa. And they must avoid the likes of DEs Nick Bosa (97) and Samson Ebukam (56), DT Arik Armstead (91), plus standout linebacker Fred Warner (54), who has been battling a balky ankle. The Rams could have a difficult time protecting the revitalised Stafford if LT Andrew Whitworth (77) remains sidelined by knee issues. His sub, Joseph Noteboom (70) is a level down. Centre Brian Allen (55) could have his hands full with defenders in the middle. SPECIAL TEAMS: Robbie Gould (9) has been spectacular in his, uh, Goulden years. The 40-year-old placekicker made two field goals, including a 45-yarder in the snow as time expired to beat Green Bay, making him 20 for 20 in his career on field-goal attempts in the playoffs. His range doesn’t match that of the Rams’ Matt Gay (8), but Gould is extremely reliable. Gay is no slouch, though, and the way three of last weekend’s four games came down to last-season field goals, his role could be vital.
P Johnny Hekker (6) has been one of the league’s best punters for a decade, also is a threat on fake punts. His counterpart, Mitch Wishnowsky (18), has had a mediocre season. Neither team is particularly dangerous on kick returns.
MAJOR JR FROM PAGE 11
tournaments scheduled. “There were times when I went to the courts to practice and I had to jump the fence because the centre was locked up,” Major Jr pointed out. “When I told the president about it, he told me to give him a time I would be there and when I did, he told me the time was too early. “As the best player in the country, I don’t think I should be struggling to get on the court. I just think he should focus on the people in the tennis community who want to be out there to make the sport better and not worry so much on the new things.” In Kerr, Major Jr said he feels the sport can move further ahead because as a player, who has been around the sport for a while, he knows what is
COACHING: Kyle Shanahan simply doesn’t lose to the Rams, who have dropped the past six games to the Niners. The first four, though, came without Stafford, an immeasurable upgrade from Jared Goff. Shanahan and Sean McVay are leaders of the youth wave among offenseminded coaches. They’re aggressive to a fault, highly popular with their players, and have a deep trust in their schemes. Where both have struggled is late in games — see Rams at Bucs last weekend, 49ers at Cowboys in the wild-card round. LA’s Raheem Morris is a respected defensive coordinator in the mix for a second head coaching job. DeMeco Ryans is much more a newbie to the position in San Francisco, but his unit has been stellar for all but one period against Dallas in these playoffs. needed to get the tennis community more interested in coming back to participate. “He knew the players who played 20 years ago and he could tell you when the tennis centre was rocking and when it started to decline,” Major Jr said. “He has a history there. He knows what’s going on and he’s a likeable person. “We need to get the tennis community back involved in the sport. It’s not about one person. I feel Ken Kerr is a person who can get the job done. I don’t have a problem with Perry as a person, but I just think he neglected the people in the tennis community.” Whoever is elected, Major Jr said he would like to see a programme in place where if he or any other pro player approaches the BLTA, they can get some sound advice or support in taking their game to the next level.
STEELERS QB Ben Roethlisberger, top, and his teammate Willie Colon celebrate after the Steelers’ 27-23 win against the Cardinals in the NFL Super Bowl XLIII February 1, 2009, in Tampa, Florida. (AP)
ROETHLISBERGER RETIRES AT 39: TIME TO ‘HANG UP MY CLEATS’ By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play football like a quarterback. Not today’s quarterback anyway. He didn’t run from contact as much as he welcomed it. The harder the hits, the higher the stakes, the longer the odds, the more Roethlisberger seemed to dig in during a career in which he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a pair of championships while developing a reputation as a throwback in a city that fashions itself as one even as it has evolved into something far more modern. Pittsburgh moved on from steel mills long ago. And the position Roethlisberger commanded so well for so long has moved on, too. The game has become quicker since the Steelers drafted him with the 11th overall pick in 2004. The quarterbacks, more versatile than the semi-dad-bodded 6-foot-5, 240-pounder known universally as “Big Ben.” No player understood this more than Roethlisberger. And what he hinted at for months became reality yesterday when he announced his retirement, saying it was “time to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats” after 18 seasons, two Super Bowls, countless team records and a spot in the Hall of Fame all but secure. “I don’t know how to put into words what the game of football has meant to me and what a blessing it has been,” Roethlisberger, 39, said in a video message. “But I know with confidence I have given my all to the game; I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what it has given me.” The announcement came less than two weeks after Pittsburgh’s lopsided loss to Kansas City in the first round of the postseason, the 12th time in Roethlisberger’s career the Steelers reached the playoffs. He hinted before his final game at Heinz Field that it was time for him to move on and spend more time with his wife, Ashley, and their three children. He made it a point to embrace the moment following the January 3 win over the Browns, doing a victory lap of sorts before disappearing down the tunnel surrounded by his family. “We need to know that they can assist us in what route should they take, which coach should they pursue, which gym should they attend, who should they talk to about fitness, who can they contact about travelling and who can help them get into tournaments,” he said. “Those things are just not there. I think that is why so many players at my level stopped playing because they didn’t have any help or guidance. We don’t even have a time when all of the pro players at home can come together even if it’s just one day and do some things together.” If the sport is going to progress the way it should, Major Jr said they need some people at the top, on the executive board, who can make things happen. Otherwise, he said the BLTA will end up losing more players.
PAGE 14, Friday, January 28, 2022
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Barty to face Collins in bid to end Australian title drought By JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Ash Barty was the crowd favourite at Melbourne Park long before she ended a 42-year drought by reaching the Australian Open final. Danielle Collins said it’ll be “spectacular” to take on the women’s No. 1-ranked player in the final of her home Grand Slam event on Saturday. The 28-year-old American got a little taste of what to expect in her first Grand Slam final as she left the court yesterday following her 6-4, 6-1 semifinal win over seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek. Barty beat Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in 62 minutes in the first of the semifinals, and Collins wrapped up the night by beating 2020 French Open champion Swiatek in 78 minutes. Predictably, there were boos after Collins finished her on-court TV interview. Not too loud or long, but an indication of things to come nonetheless. Barty won her first major title on clay at Roland Garros in 2019 and her second on grass at Wimbledon last year. Now that she’s become the first Australian woman into the final here since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, Barty has a good chance to claim her first on a hard court. She’s only too aware, though, that no Australian woman since Chris O’Neil in 1978 has won the singles title here. “As an Aussie, we’re exceptionally spoiled we get to play in our own backyard,” the 25-year-old Barty said. “Now we have a chance to play for a title. It’s unreal.” Barty lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin in 2020 the last time she reached the Australian Open semifinals. She said she’s learned from that kind of pressure as much as winning other Grand Slams. “Absolutely embrace it,” she said of the home expectations. “You have to. It’s fun. It’s brilliant to be playing in the business end of your home Slam. I’m not gonna lie about that — it’s amazing.”
DANIELLE COLLINS, of the U.S. reacts after winning a point against Iga Swiatek of Poland during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday.
SUPPORTERS of Australia’s Ash Barty hold up signs of support during her semifinal against Madison Keys of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championships yesterday. (AP Photos/Hamish Blair) Her forehand cross-court Keys is just the latest in a I’m just really excited to go line of rivals to explain how winner to set up her first out there and compete. she had few answers to match points was typical of “I realise that there is Barty’s slice backhand and her semifinal form. going to be a lot of people She hit 27 winners and supporting Ash. It’s all in wide variety of serves. Barty hit 20 winners to had only 13 unforced good spirit.” only eight for Keys, who errors. She opened each Collins’ run to the semiwas playing in the Austral- set with a break of serve finals in 2019 was her best ian Open semifinals for the and raced to 4-0 leads both previous result at a Grand first time since 2015. She times. Slam tournament. Collins delayed her prolost that year to eventual After undergoing surchampion Serena Williams, fessional career by playing gery last year to treat who was the last No. 1 seed in the U.S. college system, endometriosis, she’s in less to win the women’s title at and said it gave her a good pain and said she’s in better grounding in handling what shape to win. Melbourne Park. Barty converted four of she calls “adverse” crowds. Keys was on a careerPlaying in empty stadi- best 10-match winning her six break-point opportunities and saved the only ums during the COVID-19 streak ahead of the semifitwo break points she faced pandemic has given her nals, including a run to the on her serve against the an appreciation of crowds, title in a tune-up tourna2017 U.S. Open champion whether the fans support ment in Adelaide — her runner-up. In six matches her, are against her or are first WTA title since 2019. so far at the tournament, neutral. Her full tally of 11 match “That’s something that wins this month already she has dropped one serI really thrive in, whether equals her total for 2021, vice game. The 27th-seeded Collins I have a full crowd going when she dropped into the relies on a power game and for me or whether I have 50s in the rankings. She’s imposes a relentless energy the opposite,” she said. “I expected to return to the really just love the energy. top 30 next week. on every contest.
The stadium was limited to two-thirds capacity, with the state government allowing an increase from the earlier 50% restriction on ticketed courts late this week as part of the easing of rules in place for the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the support in the first match, obviously, was for Barty. Chants of “Let’s go Barty, Let’s go!” — combined with coordinated clapping — were regular at each changeover, with pockets of fans wearing the yellow shirt synonymous with the Australian player scattered around arena. Rod Laver, the aging Australian tennis great, was in the stadium himself. While Barty is one win away from giving the host nation a title, there’s a guaranteed win in another competition. Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, dubbed “Special K,” ensured an all-Australian men’s doubles final with 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over third-seeded Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in a nearly full Rod Laver Arena. Fans were allowed into the main stadium with grounds passes during the day session and didn’t need stadium tickets for the afternoon session. On a near-empty adjoining Margaret Court Arena, Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell beat the secondseeded team of Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3, 7-6 (9). Also on Day 11, Dylan Alcott’s farewell tournament ended with a loss in the wheelchair quad final to Sam Schroder of the Netherlands. Alcott was named Australian of the Year at celebrations for the national day and attended a ceremony in the capital of Canberra between his win in the semifinals and the final. Alcott retires with 15 Grand Slam titles in wheelchair quad. He completed an unprecedented Golden Slam last year, winning all four majors as well as the Tokyo Paralympics gold medal. After her win, Barty paid tribute: “He’s inspired a nation ... I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Joshua receives offer to pull out of rematch with Usyk LONDON (AP) — Anthony Joshua has received an offer to pull out of his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk to allow the Ukrainian to fight Tyson Fury for the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion, his promoter said Wednesday. Eddie Hearn said it might make sense for Joshua to agree to step aside and then fight the winner of Usyk-Fury. “If the plan makes sense from a development point of view — working with a new trainer, maybe having a fight first, going into a much bigger fight — I can see the sense in it,” Hearn said on the DAZN Boxing Show. “But with Anthony, it’s never been a case of, ‘Here’s some money, does it tempt you?’ Because he’s not about that. He’s a throwback fighter. It’s about legacy.” Hearn didn’t reveal the value of the offer but said it’s ultimately Joshua’s decision: “AJ is the boss — he will rule it out or not rule it out.”
STADIUM FROM PAGE 11
“The structure itself is about 55-70 percent completed,” Bowleg revealed. “They have to finish the locker rooms and the dugouts, but they are minor stuff, compared to what we have to pump into it to get the field ready.” Bowleg said the government has signed off on the payment of about $3m
The heavyweight division is in suspense while
Fury, the WBC champion, concludes drawn-out
negotiations with Dillian Whyte, the mandatory
challenger, over a world title fight. The Fury and Whyte camps have been unable to come to an agreement over the split of fight revenue and the WBC granted them an extension of the negotiation period until today, when purse bids will take place if no agreement has been reached. Whyte is promoted by Hearn, who is also overseeing the potential rematch between Joshua and Usyk. Joshua lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to Usyk in September and has since activated a contractual clause for a rematch. “Right now he has a castiron opportunity to do that in a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. “Any step-aside, any other plan has to be solid, not, ‘Hopefully you guys get a winner and Fury fights Usyk then Fury decides to be inactive for two years’ … “He’s not out there looking for another fight, another plan, looking for a step-aside.”
that is owed and based on their agreement with Woslee Construction, they anticipate that work will commence on the stadium in short order. Bahamas Baseball Association secretary general Teddy Sweeting said while they have a number of projects in the pipeline to be staged at the stadium, they are in full support of the government in getting the work done. “This stadium
will support the development of the young men in our country,” Sweeting said. “We want them to be able to continue to receive all that baseball has to offer. So we support them 100 percent.” As it pertains to the inflated cost of the completion of the stadium, Sweeting said one has to take into consideration the fact that every
time work on a project is stopped, it incurs more expenses, especially when items have to be purchased overseas and shipped in a timely manner. “When you budget for a period of time and you don’t meet those deadlines, the cost is impacted,” he said. “We understand that the cost to the taxpayers is tremendous, but that should not be a question now. “We have to look at the benefits
that will be derived by the country once the stadium is completed. We will be able to host international events. We already have events on the agenda once the stadium is completed.” In the meantime, Sweeting said the BBA will continue to work with its international partners with the view of getting those events to be staged here in the country as soon as the stadium is up and running.
ANTHONY JOSHUA, of Britain, waves to spectators after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine in their WBA (Super), WBO and IBF boxing title bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 25, 2021. Anthony Joshua’s promoter says the British heavyweight has received an offer to pull out of his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk to allow the Ukrainian to fight Tyson Fury for the title of undisputed world champion. Eddie Hearn says it might make sense “from a development point of view” for Joshua to agree to step aside and then fight the winner of Usyk-Fury. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
POWELL’S 107 LEADS WEST INDIES OVER ENGLAND BY 20 RUNS BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Rovman Powell hit 10 sixes among his 107 runs from 53 balls to lead West Indies to a 20-run victory Wednesday over England and a 2-1 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series. Powell, brought in for Odean Smith, formed the backbone of the home side’s 224 for five, with Nicholas Pooran clubbing 70 off 43 deliveries. England finished at 202-9. Tom Banton gave England hope of pulling off its third-highest chase ever with a 39-ball 73 but his dismissal left the tourists needing 96 from 45 deliveries before Phil Salt kept its flickering hopes alive. Salt, one of three T20 debutants alongside George Garton and Harry Brook, brought the equation down to 36 in an over, flaying the first two deliveries for six en route to a 22-ball 50 before being bowled. England was captained by Moeen Ali because of a slight quad injury to Eoin Morgan. The final two matches are on Saturday and Sunday, also in Bridgetown.
TAYLORSERRANO SHOWDOWN WOMEN’S BOXING’S 1ST TO HEADLINE MSG NEW YORK (AP) — Katie Taylor will defend her lightweight titles against Amanda Serrano on April 30 in what organizers say will be the first women’s boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden. Taylor (20-0 6 KOs), the 2012 Olympic gold medalist from Ireland, owns all four titles in the 135-pound division. Serrano (42-1-1 30 KOs) has held titles in seven weight divisions and their meeting will be one of the biggest events in women’s boxing history. “When I turned professional my goal was to be involved in huge events like this so to headline at Madison Square Garden in a fight of this magnitude is really the pinnacle of the sport,” Taylor said Thursday in a release announcing the fight. “It’s such an iconic venue and has been home to so many of the historic moments in boxing and I truly believe this will be another one.” Both have previously fought at Madison Square Garden, where Taylor became undisputed champion with a victory on June 1, 2019. They now will be the first women’s main event in one of the most famous venues in sports. Serrano was born in Puerto Rico but now lives in New York. “It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to headline Madison Square Garden and do so against one of the greatest boxers of all time in Katie Taylor,” she said. Taylor beat Serrano’s sister, Cindy, by unanimous decision in a 2018 bout in Boston.
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PAGE 16, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
GOV’T TARGETS BUDGET SURPLUS BY JUNE 2025 FROM PAGE 22
following year, that surplus, which measures the extent to which revenues exceed government spending, is forecast to expand further to $220.4m. The Bahamas has a long history of sustained government deficits, which reached into nine-figure sums well before the COVID-19 pandemic sent budgetary ‘red ink’ above the $1bn mark. And many will likely view achieving a 25 percent revenue-to-GDP target, which implies a $700m income increase beyond current levels, as near impossible without new and/or increased taxes. However, the Government is largely aiming to hit its target through greater enforcement. The Fiscal Strategy Report reiterated that it is targeting a $200m revenue increase over 24 months via the Revenue Enhancement Unit, while the updating of the real property tax roll is forecast to generate “an additional $100 million in revenue for New Providence properties alone. “Work is commencing to update the real property tax roll on other islands to ensure more accurate real
property tax assessments and revenue collection,” the report added. “The overall impact of the revenue enhancement initiatives is a gradual increase in revenue collections over the medium term toward revenue targets of 21.5 percent of GDP in fiscal year 20222023; 23 percent in fiscal year 2023-2024; 24.5 percent in fiscal year 2024-2025; and 25 percent in fiscal year 2025-2026.” Revenues, according to the Fiscal Strategy Report, are set to break through the $3bn mark in the 20232024 fiscal year - a more than $700m increase on the total projected for the current fiscal year. And they are forecast to grow further to $3.428bn and $3.642bn in the two subsequent fiscal years, meaning the Government’s income would have grown by $1.3bn in just four years. Besides compliance, the Government will also be relying on faster economic growth to achieve its revenue and fiscal objectives. However, in the short-term it will continue to incur deficits that are forecast to be $415.2m in 2022-2023 and $197.3m in 2023-2024 as the nation’s finances begin the hoped-for downward glide path towards surplus barring
any COVID or other unexpected shocks. “The expenditure forecast is prepared with the assumption that the need for incremental COVID-19 health and safety measures, and income support measures, will be eliminated by the end of fiscal year 20212022, and achievement of the Government’s recurrent expenditure target of 20 percent of GDP by fiscal year 2025-2026,” the Fiscal Strategy Report said. “By the beginning of the next fiscal cycle (June 2022), it is anticipated that funding for all forms of COVID-19 support would have fallen away. The forecasts anticipate maintaining a ratio of recurrent expenditures to GDP of no more than 20 percent of GDP over the medium-term horizon. “Outlays for social assistance benefits - already narrowed by approximately $100m compared to fiscal year 2020-2021 - will maintain this level of expenditure over the medium term. As a reference, fiscal year 2020-2021 social assistance expenditure was inflated by an estimated $164.7m attributed to COVID-19 support and $40.4m in food assistance support.”
As for capital spending, the Government is aiming to limit this to an annual sum equivalent to 3.5 percent of Bahamian GDP. “After peaking at 3.7 percent of GDP in 2020-2021 (largely as a result of transfers to support small and medium-sized businesses), capital outlays are forecasted to contract to 2.7 percent of GDP in 2021-2022 as the need for immediate fiscal stimulus lessens with the expected gradual reflation of the economy,” the report said. “Over the medium-term framework, capital transfers are assumed to level-off by fiscal year 2022-2023 as COVID-19 related assistance significantly falls due to continued economic rebound. “Reallocations are expected to be invested in buildings other than dwellings as the Government undertakes greater investments into hospital buildings and infrastructure. As a result, capital spending by the Ministry of Health and Wellness is expected to increase by fiscal year 2022-2023 and over the medium-term.” To contain spending, though, the Government said it will “curtail overall growth” in public sector
LEGAL NOTICE
N O T I C E EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION GHANA (VENTURES) 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 7th day of January, A.D. 2022. Dated the 28th day of January A.D., 2022. Rebecca L Wittrock Liquidator of EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION GHANA (VENTURES) LIMITED
LEGAL NOTICE
Advantage Class II Cred Fund Ltd. Registration No.175081 B
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of Advantage Class II Cred Fund Ltd. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 31st of December 2021. Valerio Marega Júnior Liquidator
jobs other than in areas such as education, health and national security. And it plans, by mid-2022, to resume the strategy outlined by the Minnis administration - suspended during COVID19 - to obtain $100m in cost savings from the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) over the medium-term. And the Government will also “pursue a strategy” to cap its multi-billion dollar civil service pension liabilities by requiring all new recruits to participate in a defined contribution plan where they contribute to their retirement income. “An initial review and assessment of the Government’s existing defined benefit pension scheme has been completed by the accounting firm KPMG, which outlines the need for reform and modernisation,” the Fiscal Strategy Report said. “Pension payments for fiscal year 2021-2022 equate to $124.7m or 4 percent of total recurrent expenditure.
To limit the risk associated with future pension liabilities, government intends to pursue a strategy where all new employees will only be eligible to participate in a defined contribution plan, with a limit on the growth in pensionable salaries for existing employees. “This strategy is estimated to improve cash flow by $6m over ten years.” However, the Government will likely need far more than that to deal with a multi-billion dollar issue that has been described as a ‘ticking timebomb’ by many. And the Government has also included an additional $100m outlay in its 2022-2023 fiscal planning to cover the redemption of the $167.7m promissory note injected into BISX-listed Bank of The Bahamas as part of that institution’s 2017 bail-out. That is based on Bahamas Resolve, the bail-out vehicle, recovering 40 percent of the toxic loans removed from the bank’s balance sheet.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that MAXONE PHILIPPE of Murphy Town, Abaco, 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 20th day of January, 2022 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
LEGAL NOTICE
Trent Mater Fund Ltd. Registration No.13316 B
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000) In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of Trent Mater Fund Ltd., has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 31st of December 2021.
Valerio Marega Júnior Liquidator
LEGAL NOTICE
Infinity Field Fund Limited Registration No.203639 B
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000) In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of Infinity Field Fund Limited., has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 31st of December 2021. Elias Ferreira Caixeta Liquidator
LEGAL NOTICE
C & D Global Capital Ltd. Registration No.203452 B
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000) In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of C & D Global Capital Ltd. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 31st of December 2021. Elias Ferreira Caixeta Liquidator
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 17
LUCAYAN UNION DEAL A ‘BETRAYAL OF TRUST’ FROM PAGE 22 general election in a bid to secure the support of their members. Mr Scott, questioning whether the Grand Lucayan settlement represented the first cost of that MoU for Bahamian taxpayers, also asked whether the Government’s decision to settle includes paying the BHMA’s legal costs. Obie Ferguson QC, the TUC president, also acts in the same capacity with the BHMA and represented it in the action against the Grand Lucayan. Tribune Business sources revealed that Mr Ferguson had been seeking a $600,293 sum to settle the matter, with this figure representing termination/redundancy payments allegedly owed to the middle managers plus membership dues and agency shop fees due to the BHMA itself. It is unclear whether that sum includes Mr Ferguson’s legal fees. And, in particular, Mr Scott also questioned whether a public figure, namely Senator Kirkland Russell, who was the PLP’s unsuccessful general election candidate for central Grand Bahama, had benefited financially from what he argued was a questionable use of taxpayer monies. Mr Russell, formerly the Grand Lucayan’s head chief, and the BHMA’s vicepresident, partially won his Supreme Court claim when Justice Hanna-Adderley awarded him wages and notice pay. However, four months’ worth of unemployment benefits were deducted from this award, and Mr Russell’s claim for compensation for unfair/ wrongful dismissal was rejected. Given that the settlement terms have not been released, it is uncertain whether the Government has also agreed to pay Mr Russell that compensation in addition to what he was awarded at the Supreme Court. Mr Scott reiterated that, if the Minnis administration had been re-elected, the Grand Lucayan would have appealed Mr Russell’s securing of wages and notice pay. “I regard this as a betrayal of trust,” Mr Scott told Tribune Business of the settlement. “It’s certainly a breach of their [the Government’s] public duty and, as you highlighted, the taxpayer, the Bahamian public, who I regarded as my duty
to protect by keeping costs to a minimum, have been royally screwed. The taxpayer has been screwed yet again. “It’s an embarrassment. It’s a disgrace.... Who settles like that when you are ahead? The union would have lost the entire appeal. It’s a disgrace. During my tenure as chairman I bent over backwards to economise, and deploy strategies of operational economy and efficiency, because I was aware that the Government had gone out on a limb to save jobs and employment. “While some might say the Grand Lucayan is a venerable and vintage asset, it is also a decaying asset, which required money to be spent on ongoing costs of maintenance and repair. There was also some damage from Hurricane Dorian,” Mr Scott continued. “I am shocked and stunned that a settlement was reached, and a case in which the Government had the benefit of a judgment in its favour, and costs in its favour, all of that was jettisoned in favour of paying an enormous settlement to the union that it was not entitled to in law, plus costs to the lawyers representing the union, including the venerable Mr Ferguson. “I find that unconscionable, and a waste of public monies, plus an abuse of the taxpayer and executive direction. Some observers might argue that the payout to the BHMA and its members pales when set aside the $150m-and-counting that the Government has pumped into the Grand Lucayan to keep it afloat since acquiring the property in September 2018. However, the nature and extent of The Bahamas’ fiscal crisis means the Government can ill-afford to waste a single tax dollar. Mr Scott sought to make a case for why it has done exactly that, adding that he was “bothered” and “mystified” by the decision to keep the BHMA settlement terms confidential despite the use of taxpayer monies. “Insofar as the hotel is ultimately a publicly owned hotel or asset, the public interest requires, and indeed expects, that the terms of settlement should be laid bare and should be seen to be manifestly in the public interest as a whole, and prospectively not for the benefit of certain narrow partisan
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PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The public is hereby advised that I, TAVANTA NATHAN BODIE of Bernard Road, New Providence, Bahamas, intend to change my name to TAVANTA NATHAN GLINTON. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
interests,” the ex-chairman argued. Mr Scott said questions needed to be asked about the “commercial imperative” for the Government to settle when it held the advantage in the legal process, and whether it paid the BHMA’s legal fees. “In my respectful view, if this turns out to be the case, this would amount to a betrayal of trust because the former Board and I left a scenario in place where the fees with the costs incurred by the Government in defending this misguided litigation were to have been paid by the union to Government,” he added. “It is my firm view that the public has a right to know the plain and unvarnished facts of this settlement. The public also has a right to know that the public interest will not be sacrificed on the basis of some expedient.... for the so-called Memorandum of Understanding between the unions and the present Government in consideration of which this appears to be some kind of payment.” Mr Scott could not be said to have enjoyed a warm relationship with Mr Russell and Mr Ferguson during his time as chairman. However, the TUC president told Tribune Business that the unions’ MoU with the Government is already bearing fruit. “Certainly, the Government made a commitment in our MoU that they would meet with the unions, negotiate with the unions and respect the workers in these unions,” Mr Ferguson said. “That was very significant for the labour movement. “Prior to that, for the past three-and-a-half to four years we could not get a formal meeting with the former government. The former prime minister [Dr Minnis] indicated to us he didn’t believe in trade unions; only profit sharing. “We have some other announcements to make in short order with regard to the progress we have made with the Government with respect to working people in this country,” he added. “The unions are moving in another direction, and that direction is to be included in the governance of this country. “The public will soon understand what the new
prime minister committed to. He is attempting to fulfill, step by step, block by block, the commitments that were made.”
Pledging that trade unions will “fight for a livable wage”, Mr Ferguson said: “We won’t ask for anything out of the air. We know the state of the economy. We
know there’s only so much the economy can bear, but we’re not going to allow you to disrespect us. Those days are gone.”
PAGE 18, Friday, January 28, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
FOREIGN APPRAISERS ‘AN INSULT’ TO LOCAL REALTORS
FROM PAGE 22
that only locally-licensed professionals can conduct such assessments. “I think that the process of bringing in a foreign assessor is nothing more than an insult to us as a country, and us as an industry,” Mr Carey told Tribune Business. “You have all these industries around real estate, and very seldom do we get the Government consulting with us.” Pointing out that the likes of foreign doctors and attorneys cannot simply show up in The Bahamas and start practicing without obtaining the necessary permits and licences, he questioned why this was allowed to happen with real estate despite the industry seemingly being protected by the Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995. “We cannot do it in Canada,” Mr Carey added. “We’ll get fined and put in jail. Why do we allow it here, and why is the Government not making it a priority? The money goes out of the country. How is that helping us? It doesn’t make any sense.” Referring to the Government’s decision to engage Tyler Technologies for real estate appraisal and
valuation services, he said: “The Government making that decision.... If it starts at the Government level, why would anyone else care? If the Government is doing it, they’re breaking the law. “I have read multiple appraisal reports on hotels on this country done by foreign appraisers with no referral to anyone in this country. It’s illegal. These foreign appraisers need to be put on notice. And these developers should note that any appraisal work or services provided need to be done done by a licensed Bahamian or some form of affiliation. It has to come through a Bahamian. “Why do we let these guys come in here and do what they do? It’s beyond frustrating; it’s insulting. It has to stop. It’s getting beyond frustrating.” Mr Carey questioned whether foreign appraisers working in The Bahamas illegally had ever been caught and placed on the ‘stop list’, or if they simply entered The Bahamas pretending they were here on vacation. And, referring to the real property tax valuations performed by Tyler Technologies, he added: “They all should be null and void - the entire project. Halkitis
MARIO CAREY is shocked. These guys don’t know anything about our industry. They have no knowledge and don’t consult.” Mr Carey spoke out after BREA urged the Davis administration to withdraw the 2022 real property tax bills now being mailed out to home and business owners on the basis that the appraisals supporting the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) valuations are not valid or legal. Echoing concerns first printed in this newspaper earlier this week, BREA said Tyler Technologies cannot legally conduct appraisals/valuations in this nation because it is not licensed to do so. And nor could it be licensed, the Association
added, because only Bahamian citizens or permanent residents with the right to work can be authorised to do appraisals under the Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995 via its sections four and 13. Tyler Technologies effectively confirmed it was providing appraisal services to the Government in a May 2019 press release seen by Tribune Business. “We are pleased to be selected once again to provide appraisal services to The Bahamas and bring fair and equitable taxation to its residents,” said Jake Wilson, its vice-president and general manager of appraisal services. The Government, though, made the counterargument that the powers of the Government’s chief valuation officer to assess property values for taxation purposes are “totally unrelated to the provisions of The Real Estate (Brokers and Salesmen) Act 1995”. It pointed to the Real Property Tax Act 2010’s section seven, which states that this official has the duty to determine which properties - and owners are liable to pay taxes. “No such prohibition regarding citizenship or work permits can be found in the Act,” the Department of Inland Revenue said in a statement.
“And the chief valuation officer (CVO) has the power to obtain information from any person that is relevant to the CVO’s accurate assessment of property under the Act.” As a result, Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, said “this issue of unlicensed appraisers does not arise”. The BREA statement, though, potentially provides a road-map for attorneys and their clients to challenge the validity of the 2022 real property tax billings. Any court challenge, particularly if it is successful, could cause major chaos and disruption to the Government’s revenues and fiscal planning at a time when it needs to collect every cent possible. Mr Carey, meanwhile, told Tribune Business that he “totally supports” Mr Morley’s position, adding: “Something has to give.” Suggesting that hotel valuations generate between $75,000 and $100,000 in revenue for the appraiser, the MCR Bahamas chief said “there’s no trickle down effect” or taxes paid if these are performed by foreigners. “We’ve worked too hard in our industry to have laws, codes of ethics and rules to have it continue,” Mr Carey added. “It’s an insult and makes us laughable. Everybody who goes to hire a foreign realtor or appraiser needs to be put on notice that they are doing it illegally. Every attorney general we’ve approached, they don’t care about this industry; that’s the feeling I get. “How much money, how much VAT do we bring into this country? Every property sold creates three to four jobs. We get no respect. I’ve been fighting this fight for a long time, having conversations with foreign appraisal companies to stop working in our country. I’ve
gone after them personally to tell them to stop it. It’s not right.” The present backlash over the substantial increase in real property tax bills received by many business and home owners has its roots in long-standing problems that have been allowed to fester for decades. These include weak administration, and little to non-existent enforcement, by the Government coupled with a culture of non-compliance among a significant portion of taxpayers. This has manifested itself in a situation where the Auditor General, in his report on the 2017-2018 fiscal year, estimated that some $600m in real property tax remains past due and uncollected. This outstanding amount is growing annually against a backdrop where 30-40 percent of real property tax bills never reach the correct taxpayer, while compliance stands at just 25 percent. The Government’s failure to largely enforce penalty surcharges, liens and other enforcement mechanisms has helped breed the noncompliance culture, while not doing regular valuation assessments has left many properties seriously undervalued for years - if not decades. It is those in the latter category that have been hit hardest by the 2022 billings, together with properties that previously evaded the tax roll. The Government’s objective of broadening the tax base, and making it fairer by getting everyone to pay their due share, is not being seen as the problem, but rather, the way it has gone about it via one-shot increases amid COVID’s devastation. There are also concerns about how Tyler Technologies came up with its valuations, and the methodology used.
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Bank of the Bahamas Limited, the institution of first choice in the provision of financial services, seeks to identify suitable candidates for the position of:
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• • • • • •
Initiating customer interaction with a prompt and friendly greeting, using their name at least twice during session, projecting a professional attitude and an eagerness to serve the customer Listening to the customer's needs to ensure you understand the details, asking questions to clarify as required and confirming your understanding; Providing clear, relevant information covering what service steps are involved and the time frames involved; Striving to fully satisfy the customer's needs, referring them to another officer/supervisor only when different skills/ knowledge are required, ensure the customer understands the benefits to them of the referral, and follow through with the customer to ensure a satisfactory conclusion was reached; Taking full responsibility for all customers enquiries/concerns/complaints directed to him/her by resolving those matters within his/her discretion, to the customer's satisfaction or referring the customer to the next appropriate level of authority; Finalizing the interaction, ensuring accurate processing, posting, balancing and checking within assigned limits, Closing the transaction by confirming all customer needs have been met and thanking them for their business Showing respect for the needs of others by listening to understand their needs and attempting to find compromise in conflicts using the complaint resolution process where appropriate; Presenting straightforward responses to customers and staff on difficult customer requests; Maintaining your knowledge of transactional processes and product information necessary to provide quality service.
Minimum Requirements: • • • • • • •
• • •
In-depth knowledge of specific branch and bank policies, procedures and bank services to appropriately sell the Bank's services and direct and service customers.
Knowledge of specific governmental and banking laws regarding improper practices such as money laundering and suspicious transactions.
Basic math skills to count/ dispense denominations of money, and to perform the balance process and to adhere to established drawer limits.
Working knowledge of computers to use bank network/ its core banking applications and to respond to email as necessary.
Oral and written communication skills to interact with customers and associates, and to document information on forms. Ability to provide speed and accuracy in completing a variety of different activities in a fast• paced environment. Ability to work as a team member with other branch staff.
Ability to operate a variety of office equipment, including computer, calculator, printer, fax machine, photocopier, and money counter.
Associates Degree or Institute of Financial Services Certificate. The work involves a variety of tasks, most of which are repetitive and routine; however, there is a degree of security awareness and personal risk involved due to the nature of cash in the environment.
Benefits include: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications; Group Medical (includes dental and vision) and life insurance; pension scheme. Interested persons should apply no later than January 31st, 2022 to:
Email: hr.apply@bankbahamas.com
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 19
DELTEC CREATES ‘ONE OF LARGEST BANKS’ WITH ANSBACHER DEAL FROM PAGE 22 and positioning itself for the future of banking,” Deltec told this newspaper. “As a part of Deltec’s growth strategy and launch of new digital banking platforms, the bank sought to expand its reach and capacity – specifically by combining expertise, systems and networks through the acquisition of Ansbacher [so as] to be well-positioned for the bank’s expected growth. “Deltec will consolidate both entities under the Deltec name and brand, undoubtedly making the bank one of the largest international private banks in The Bahamas in size and assets under management,” it added. “Until the transaction is complete, both Deltec and Ansbacher will continue to operate as separate entities. Both entities have only recently executed the share purchase agreement. Deltec is actively engaged
in getting the necessary regulatory approvals. However, we are committed to closing as soon as possible.” Deltec did not respond to Tribune Business questions on the purchase price and whether any staff downsizing/redundancies will result once the merger and acquisition complete. However, financial industry sources said it was almost inevitable that some workers will ultimately be let go as two sets of staff will not be required to operate one IT system and platform. “Oh absolutely,” one contact, speaking on condition of anonymity, said when asked about the potential for downsizing. “They’re going to put that on one platform, and it’s not labour intensive any more. Deltec will be able to absorb that, and not need significant headcount to absorb it. There will be attrition. There’s no doubt about that.” Ansbacher (Bahamas) current owner, AF Holdings, said in a statement that
they had decided to exit the international financial services business to focus on their domestic interests. Once the deal is completed, the former Colina Financial Group will retain its insurance interests led by Colina Holdings (Bahamas), the BISX-listed life and health insurer, as well as Indigo and the Colina General Insurance agency. Then there is the CFAL capital markets, investment fund and personal financial planning business, plus its Nassau Guardian and related media assets. AF Holdings’ principals are Emanuel Alexiou and Anthony Ferguson. Mr Ferguson could not be reached for comment last night despite messages being left, but one source said the Ansbacher (Bahamas) sale represented a reversal of the group’s previous expansion-by-acquisition strategy. “It’s almost like they’ve come full circle,” they added of AF Holdings. “After expanding into everything, they’re now
consolidating.” AF Holdings built Colina Holdings (Bahamas) and its insurance subsidiaries into the largest life and health player via an acquisition spree that included Global Bahamas, Canada Life and Imperial Life during the period 2002-2006. However, Andrew C. Alexiou, Ansbacher (Bahamas) managing director, said in a statement: “AF Holdings has taken the strategic decision to divest its interest in Ansbacher in order to focus on other investments and business interests in The Bahamas. The decision to divest Ansbacher does not impact any other AF Holdings entities or investments. “Ansbacher’s Board of Directors and shareholders have full confidence that Deltec is well-placed to lead Ansbacher to the next phase of success, continuing to deliver exceptional performance with integrity and professionalism, and working together to play its part
GOV’T PREDICTS NATIONAL DEBT’S PEAK AT $11.2BN FROM PAGE 22 on the current fiscal trajectory, inclusive of revenue enhancement and expenditure containment plans, the Government anticipates maintaining achievement of its 50 percent debt target in 2030-2031. “This is predicated on the assumption that the accumulation of primary surpluses in the intervening years would reduce the need for borrowing.” The 50 percent debt-to-GDP ratio is a target mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, but the Government has secured a waiver from this benchmark due to the debt blow-out produced by COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian. Meanwhile, the Government’s first-ever medium-term debt strategy report, released alongside the Fiscal Strategy Report, revealed that its borrowing over the next three fiscal
years to 2024-2025 will be weighted to the domestic market. “The financing mix under the selected fiscal year 2022-2023 to fiscal year 2024-2025 medium-term debt management strategy will include 41 percent of net borrowing from foreign sources and 59 percent of the financing from domestic sources. However, in terms of gross financing, the foreign/domestic financing mix will be 28 percent and 72 percent, respectively,” the report said. The Government added that it was seeking to broaden the domestic market for its debt by increasing investor participation beyond the commercial banks, insurance companies, pension funds and other institutions that tend to dominate it. “Traditionally, the domestic bond market is the main source of financing for
the fiscal deficit, although it is not developed nor deep enough to fully support Government budgetary requirements in all market conditions,” the report said. “During fiscal year 2020-2021, and into the current fiscal year, the preexisting vulnerabilities of the domestic market were exposed, as macroeconomic conditions became more challenging and the Government’s borrowing needs were enlarged. “Given the rather narrow investor base and limited absorptive capacity of the domestic market, the Government was constrained to increase reliance on external funding to meet the gap, reduce concentration risks in the domestic market and to support external stability, given the adverse impact of COVID-19 on tourism inflows,” it added. “The development of the bond market remains
a strategic objective of the Government, from the perspective of broadening investor participation, limiting foreign exchange risk in the debt portfolio and establishing a yield curve that serves as a reference for access to financing for private and other public sector initiatives.” Turning to the actual steps the Government will take, the report added: “The Government will continue to foster the development of the domestic market with increased focus on liquidity, transparency, secondary market trading, settlement mechanisms and investor diversification. “In this context, several important plans underway include the introduction of an online auction for the BISX broker/dealers and commercial banks, and the
in The Bahamas’ economic success.” AF Holdings itself acquired Ansbacher (Bahamas) as a standalone unit in summer 2009, merging it with its then-Sentinel Bank & Trust. The institution has been part of the AF Holdings group for just over 12-and-a-half years, with Colina Holdings (Bahamas) and its subsidiaries holding a collective 19 percent equity stake in Ansbacher (Bahamas). While Ansbacher (Bahamas) 2021 financial results have yet to be released, those for 2020 show it suffered a $12.159m total comprehensive loss for 2020 with revenues standing at $25.524m. Net equity stood at $63.396m for the year to end-December 2020. This followed $7.808m in net profits for its 2019 financial year, and $4.836m for the 12 months to endDecember 2018. However, Ansbacher (Bahamas) topline revenues essentially remained flat over that
period, fluctuating between $25.5m and $26.9m. Deltec said in a statement that the deal fitted its strategy “to add scale, reach and capabilities”. Odetta Morton, Deltec’s chief executive, said: “We pride ourselves in offering unique value to our clients with innovative financial services, grown on traditional roots. “The imminent acquisition enables us to expand our reach and capacity, as we continue to invest in the future of banking through leveraging our combined expertise, network and services. “The acquisition brings together two companies with deep knowledge and expertise to create not only one of the largest international banks in The Bahamas and Caribbean, but a globally focused bank – one that creates even more client value, delivering consistent performance.”
concurrent carve out of a non-competitive bidding scheme for small, individual investors in government bonds to bring greater cost and administrative efficiency to the issuance process.” Elsewhere, the mediumterm debt management strategy report said the Government’s bond portfolio is vulnerable to higher interest and refinancing costs whenever an issue is rolled over. “Rollover/refinancing risk shows the vulnerability of the portfolio to higher refinancing costs for maturing debt obligations within a specified period or, in extreme cases, the inability to rollover the debt,” the report said. “Refinancing risk is a key risk in government’s existing debt portfolio, with the average time to maturity (ATM) placed at 7.3 years at endSeptember 2021.
“Given the short-term nature of the Treasury bills and notes, refinancing risk was skewed towards the domestic portfolio, which had an ATM of 7.5 years and 34.3 percent of the portfolio maturing within one year. “Refinancing risk of the foreign debt revealed an ATM of seven years at end-September 2021, reflecting the characteristics of a portfolio more concentrated in instruments with commercial relative to concessionary terms. Only 7.7 percent of the foreign debt portfolio is maturing within one year, providing the Government with time to develop and execute refinancing initiatives.”
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PAGE 20, Friday, January 28, 2022
STEPS FOR ACHIEVING WORKPLACE FAIRNESS F
airness and equity will be the defining issues for companies in both 2022 and years to come. The workplace environment has a great impact on employee productivity and their view of employers. Happiness at work is a metric that can be hard to measure, but is essential to the success of a company. Managers must use their control over policy to ensure fairness in the workplace so employees feel productive and happy. Our column this week discusses what fairness in the workplace is, and why it is important, as well as tactics you can employ in your own workplace to demonstrate this. Fairness in the workplace is the standard by which we determine the just treatment of employees in their specific assignments. Fair treatment of employees extends to the way management treats staff with respect and dignity. It also
encompasses the relationships between peers in a workplace. In fair workplaces, managers treat professionals as equal to their peer groups with a similar skill set, regardless of demographic status or relationship to other members of the company. Fairness in the workplace contributes to employees feeling safe and engaged in the work they produce. It creates a productive environment for employees, in which the company compensates them fairly and management rewards them according to their output. Fair workplace environments also ensure managers choose appropriate disciplinary action for employees when necessary. Here are seven ways we can all contribute to a fair workplace: 1. Encourage mutual respect No one is exempt from giving and receiving respect in the workplace. From the
chief executive to the cleaners, we must all foster a spirit of respecting human dignity. Violators and workplace bullies should be reprimanded. When they are allowed to continue wreaking havoc, and intimidate others, the entire company suffers. 2. Model correct behaviour Leaders must ‘walk the walk’ and ‘talk the talk’. The policy and training around fairness in the workplace must translate into actions by the senior executive team. Every employee is watching the senior leaders, and the culture is established based on what they do. 3. Change rules to promote fairness As employees point out gaps that might result in a faction or individual being unfairly treated, management must be courageous enough to change.
4. Communicate with your employees We say it often. Communication is key. In creating a fair and equitable workplace, the frequency and spirit with which we communicate is critical. Empathetic, clear and direct communication to all staff helps to create a fair workplace. Unnecessary anxiety causes people (Bahamians especially) to start making things up. 5. Create transparent promotion procedures Everyone wants to be promoted. Some are deserving and others simply feel entitled. If the workplace is going to be fair, clear standards must be communicated to everyone in the company and less exceptions should be made to bolster the credibility of those standards. 6. Commit to fair pay cheques There is nothing more treasured to an employee than the payment he or she
receives for their labour. Most people will espouse that they are underpaid. There is little noise made until they are grossly underpaid and not appreciated as a result of receiving a mediocre salary. 7. Offer an appeals process When employees are disciplined for behaviour that is viewed as unacceptable, or actions that fall below the established standards, there must be an appeals process to hear the sentiments of that employee. I have found in my professional career that, often, these sessions reveal much truth about deficiencies in company processes, which usually result in the sub-standard performance or behaviour of the team member. Hear them out by creating a safe space. You may be surprised what you find out. • NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and
POTTER’S CAY VENDORS WAIT TO KICKSTART BLAZE REBUILD By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net POTTER’S Cay vendors yesterday said they expect to be informed in a fortnight’s time when building materials will be released to repair the devastation caused by last April’s fire. Wendi Constantine, the Bahamas Dock and Allied Venues Vendors Association (BDAVVA) president, told Tribune Business she is “happy” that the Government is working with the group to fully restore the destination after several stalls on the
eastern side were destroyed in the blaze. “I am happy to say that this government, as promised, is working with the union,” she said. “We had a discussion on Monday with minister Clay Sweeting, and the meeting was quite positive. We should hear back from him in two weeks to have the materials that they have released. “They have some materials set aside at FYP (Builders Mall), and also some funds were set aside. We need to see a copy of the plans because only with that we will know how much is needed to complete the stalls.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island affairs, in a statement, said it had presented the Ministry of Works’ plans for the reconstruction of the six vendor stalls destroyed in the fire with hopes that these will provide a model for all Potter’s Cay businesses moving forward. Mr Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, said the plans were unveiled at a meeting with the Potter’s Cay vendors, Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU), Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers
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Union (BCIAWU), Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU), the General Workers Union and Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA). The meeting also addressed the reorganisation and development of the Arawak Cay ‘Fish Fry’ and Montagu Ramp, and the ministry’s “interest” in having the Blue Hill Road Market transferred to the ministry’s oversight. Referring to Potter’s Cay specifically, Ms Constantine said: “They have made a promise to deal with the piling. We just need to sit down and negotiate some labour assistance, because we must understand that the vendors have been out of work for a long period of time. “Then, last year, not forgetting COVID-19, the restaurants are the first to
THE TRIBUNE
open, the first to close and the last to open. So the total time they’ve been out of work was for about 20 months. I’m more than positive that this government is going to seek to assist them in any which way they can to get them back up and running.” As for “labour assistance”, Ms Constantine said there was “money donated” to the ministry for rebuilding the Potter’s Cay stalls and she wanted to find ways to get the money to work more in favour of the vendors. Business is traditionally slow at Potter’s Cay in January, making it a good time for construction work to begin. Mr Sweeting said: “The ongoing efforts to restore normalcy are finally coming to fruition. We completed a successful meeting with Trades Union Congress (TUC) representatives to
IAN FERGUSON organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com. ensure that we are in agreement on the way forward to rebuild, restore and revitalise the public markets. “My ministry is pleased to facilitate these discussions, and we look forward to providing solutions to the existing challenges together.” Obie Ferguson, the TUC president, added: “We are very pleased with the response we got from the minister with respect to dealing with the issues that are related to him. The minister indicated that, within a short period, he would get back to us and we anticipate a very positive relationship. “The minister has given us his commitment, and we will be able to review the plan. I think the workers and the vendors at Potter’s Cay are going to be extremely happy, and we are going to work closely with the minister to ensure that this becomes a reality.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 28, 2022, PAGE 21
FARMER RAISES CLIMATE QUERY FOR $60M PROJECT By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN farmer is questioning whether enclosed agricultural projects, such as Eeden Farms’ $60m Gladstone Road joint venture, can thrive due to this nation’s hot climate. Natasha Adderley, owner/ operator of Bahama Island Farms, told Tribune Business that, while she was not criticising the partnership with US-based 80 Acres Farms, she was sceptical that such a vertical farming model could succeed in The Bahamas’ environment.
“I’ve done some research with that, and I said with the vertical farming, while it does work, the question is: What infrastructure will they be putting it in?” she asked. Ms Adderley said farms with enclosed features such as greenhouses have to “plan for certain times of the year”. She added: “So, that’s the first thing. Now, the other issue at hand is hydroponics, because hydroponics also has issues when we’re trying to engender an environment right now where people are concerned about their health and eating organically, and avoiding
hydroponics because it is not organic. “With hydroponics you have to use chemicals to get the plants to grow in water, whereas when you put them in soil, the soil out acts as a buffer. What hydroponics is, it is intensive farming. What that means is that, in one context, disease is more likely, and if one crop catches disease the whole system is at risk of catching disease.” Ms Adderley called for more investment in crop protection versus cultivation techniques because “a lot of crops spoil in inadequate storage facilities in the
country, even before they get to market”. She added: “Now I don’t know how their $60m is going to be split up, but it should be split in a way where they concentrate on crops coming out of the ground in the winter, which is very easy and very cheap, and then put some of the money into preserving our product. That has been our problem, preserving our produce.” Lance Pinder, Abaco Big Bird Poultry’s operations manager, added: “The Government seems like they are going to make a serious go at agriculture this time. There are a lot of challenges,
but it’s not impossible to overcome.” He now sits on the board of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), where he had the opportunity to meet with Clay Sweeting, minister for agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, and feels the Government is taking the right approach to agriculture. “I don’t see a problem with the Eeden Farms partnership,” Mr Pinder said. “You need funding from somewhere. But I have to tell you now the food situation is getting scary. “I know what I’m dealing with as a chicken farm, and
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 68° F/20° C Low: 43° F/6° C
TAMPA
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Nice with partial sunshine
Breezy late with a little rain
Very windy; not as warm
Low clouds
Partly sunny and pleasant
Breezy with a shower and t‑storm
High: 79°
Low: 67°
High: 71° Low: 53°
High: 67° Low: 55°
High: 73° Low: 62°
High: 77° Low: 64°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
83° F
62° F
68°-47° F
64°-52° F
73°-58° F
77°-60° 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.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 75° F/24° C Low: 63° F/17° C
10‑20 knots
S
High: 76° F/24° C Low: 52° F/11° C
7‑14 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE
FREEPORT
High: 76° F/24° C Low: 55° F/13° C
N E S
E
W
WEST PALM BEACH
W
| Go to AccuWeather.com
TONIGHT
High: 67° F/19° C Low: 46° F/8° C
High: 76° F/24° C Low: 59° F/15° C
MIAMI
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 56° F/13° C
8‑16 knots
Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 72° F/22° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 65° F/18° C Last year’s high ................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 72° F/22° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 3.50” Normal year to date ..................................... 1.17”
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 67° F/19° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
High: 78° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C
N
KEY WEST
High: 73° F/23° C Low: 62° F/17° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C
N
S
E
W
8‑16 knots
S
7‑14 knots
ANDROS
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
uV inDex toDay
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau High
Ht.(ft.)
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
3:54 a.m. 4:11 p.m.
2.9 2.1
10:27 a.m. 0.0 10:21 p.m. ‑0.5
Saturday
4:56 a.m. 5:14 p.m.
3.1 2.2
11:29 a.m. ‑0.2 11:23 p.m. ‑0.7
Sunday
5:55 a.m. 6:14 p.m.
3.2 2.4
12:26 p.m. ‑0.4 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑
Monday
6:49 a.m. 7:10 p.m.
3.3 2.5
12:21 a.m. ‑0.8 1:19 p.m. ‑0.6
Tuesday
7:41 a.m. 8:03 p.m.
3.3 2.6
1:17 a.m. ‑0.9 2:09 p.m. ‑0.7
Wednesday 8:31 a.m. 8:54 p.m.
3.3 2.7
2:11 a.m. ‑0.8 2:57 p.m. ‑0.7
Thursday
3.2 2.7
3:03 a.m. ‑0.7 3:43 p.m. ‑0.6
9:18 a.m. 9:44 p.m.
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:54 a.m. Moonrise 5:52 p.m. Moonset
3:22 a.m. 2:09 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
Feb. 1
Feb. 8
Feb. 16
Feb. 23
CAT ISLAND
E
W
finding supplies and stuff, and the cost of everything, it’s been really bad over the past six months. You would think that it would get better but then you have the deterioration and then, with inflation and everything, it is making things worse.” Mr Pinder said: “The new partnership is going to have challenges with duty-free stuff and permits that are going to take some time, and then there is a lot of technical haze they have to be able to work around; the same thing that we encounter when we try to do business in the country. “Then you have to be able to sell the product at the end of the day. That’s the big thing. You can grow a lot but you have to be able to sell your goods at the end of the day.”
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 72° F/22° C
N
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND
tracking map
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C
7‑14 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 80° F/27° C Low: 73° F/23° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS
are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
RAGGED ISLAND High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C
L
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 74° F/23° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
3‑6 knots
4‑8 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS
H
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 W at 7‑14 Knots NW at 25‑35 Knots W at 8‑16 Knots NNW at 15‑25 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots NW at 15‑25 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots WNW at 10‑20 Knots SW at 8‑16 Knots NW at 20‑30 Knots WNW at 7‑14 Knots NW at 25‑35 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots NW at 15‑25 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots NW at 8‑16 Knots SSW at 3‑6 Knots NW at 12‑25 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots W at 8‑16 Knots WSW at 8‑16 Knots NW at 20‑30 Knots NE at 3‑6 Knots NW at 12‑25 Knots SW at 7‑14 Knots NW at 15‑25 Knots
WAVES 3‑6 Feet 8‑12 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 1‑3 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 0‑1 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑6 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 9 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 77° F 76° F 77° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 80° F 81° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 81° F 82° F 81° F 80° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 80° F 81° F 79° F 79° F
business@tribunemedia.net
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022
$5.05
$5.09
$5.05
Lucayan union deal a ‘betrayal of trust’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Grand Lucayan’s exchairman yesterday blasted the Government’s decision to settle with the resort’s managerial union as “a betrayal of trust” that has heaped further costs on taxpayers. Michael Scott QC, who headed the Lucayan Renewal Holdings Board until it was replaced post-election, challenged the Davis administration’s decision to “jettison” a position of strength provided by the Supreme Court judgment that gave the resort a near-total victory over the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA) and its 36 members. Besides dismissing virtually all BHMA member claims for wrongful/unfair dismissal, Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley had also awarded Grand Bahama’s ‘anchor’ property
• Ex-chair: Go’vt ‘jettisoned position of strength’ • And says taxpayers ‘royally screwed’ as result • Asks: Did union chief get costs, Senator benefit? its legal costs which were to be paid by the union. However, the newly-elected Government has chosen to reverse course and “resolve” the dispute rather than contest the BHMA’s appeal before the Court of Appeal. Blasting this as an “unconscionable waste of public money”, Mr Scott told Tribune Business that the settlement terms needed to be publicly disclosed - and not remain confidential as the
Government and union have seemingly agreed - because Bahamian taxpayer funds are involved. He further argued that the decision to settle amounted to “an abuse of the taxpayer and executive discretion”, especially at a time of fiscal crisis when every $1 counts, going so far as to accuse the Government of “a breach of their public duty” in choosing to capitulate. The settlement comes against the backdrop of the
MICHAEL SCOTT QC labour-friendly Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the then-opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) signed with the umbrella union bodies, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB), just prior to the
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Deltec creates ‘one of largest banks’ with Ansbacher deal By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net DELTEC Bank & Trust last night said it will become “one of the largest international private banks in The Bahamas” with its acquisition of rival institution Ansbacher (Bahamas). The western New Providence-based provider, in a statement responding to Tribune Business inquiries, said the merged group will drop the Ansbacher brand and take the Deltec name once the purchase
is completed and Central Bank and all other necessary approvals received. With Ansbacher (Bahamas) set to provide $7bn in additional assets under management, Deltec said the acquisition was motivated by its need to acquire “scale” and “reach” to enable it to better compete in a digital banking niche that it has invested heavily in during recent years. “Over the past few years, Deltec has invested in its digital banking technology
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Gov’t targets Budget surplus by June 2025 By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE GOVERNMENT is targeting a first-ever Budget surplus of $71.9m by 2024-2025 without having to introduce new and/or increased taxes, its latest fiscal projections revealed last night. The 2021 Fiscal Strategy Report, which was released at 11.20pm, forecast that the anticipated end to emergency COVID-related
spending will enable the Government to lower its recurrent (fixed cost) expenditure to 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This, coupled with achieving a 25 percent revenue-to-GDP target over the same timeframe, is forecast to achieve a near $72m Budget surplus for the fiscal year that closes at end-June 2025. And, the
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Gov’t predicts national debt’s peak at $11.2bn By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas’ national debt is forecast to peak at $11.2bn in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, it was revealed last night, and return to the legally-required 50 percent of GDP threshold by the next decade. The Government’s 2021 Fiscal Strategy Report, released not long before midnight, forecast that the country’s debt will hit $10.8bn by end-June 2022. This represents a sum equivalent to 93.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output,
and is a slight decline on the 100 percent ratio that was achieved at the same time in 2021. “In line with the projected overall balance, the nominal debt level is expected to increase in fiscal year 2021-2022 to approximately $10.8bn or 93.3 percent of GDP, a decline from the 100.4 percent experienced during the most recent fiscal year,” the report said. “Debt levels are anticipated to peak at $11.2bn in fiscal year 2023-2024 before declining to $10.8bn or 74.1 percent of GDP by fiscal year 2025-2026. Based
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CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Deltec Bank and Trust (Deltec) – Mrs. Odetta Morton and Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Honorable Philip ‘Brave’ Davis
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Foreign appraisers ‘an insult’ to local realtors • Carey backs ‘null and void’ property tax bill stance • Situation on unlicensed persons ‘beyond frustrating’ • Says every AG contacted ‘doesn’t seem to care’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN realtor yesterday argued that the use of foreign appraisers is “an insult” to the local industry as he backed arguments that the 2022 real property tax bills are “null and void”. Mario Carey, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Group’s principal, told Tribune Business he fully supported the stance taken by his colleague, David Morley, and the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) as the practice of foreign realtors working illegally in this nation had grown to the point where it was “beyond frustrating”. He added that the Government’s decision to engage US-based Tyler Technologies, whose recent New Providence-wide mapping and revaluations have sparked an outcry among the recipients of soaring real property tax bills, even though it was not licensed to do appraisal work in The Bahamas sets a bad example that will result in “no one else caring” about the need to respect the law. Calling for the real estate profession and authorities to crack down on unlicensed foreign appraisers and realtors operating in The Bahamas, Mr Carey said their activities likely sucked hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenues and taxes “out of the country” every year. He recalled, in particular, regularly seeing “multiple appraisal reports” on the valuation of hotels and other major Bahamas-based assets by foreigners, and urged that their developers and owners be “given notice” in their Heads of Agreements with the Government
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