03282017 business

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TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

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Govt plans RFP for landfill deal By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor and NATARIO McKENZIE

Minister: Tender to launch ‘as soon as possible’

Tribune Business Reporter

A Cabinet Minister yesterday said the Government was planning to issue a structured tender, seeking proposals to manage and remediate the New Providence landfill, “as soon as possible”. Kenred Dorsett, minister of the environment and housing, told Tribune Business: “An RFP [Request for Proposal] is being structured now, and that will be advanced to deal with the total operation and remediation of the site. “That is what is being

Questions arise as to why no RFP before Current bidders waiting on word from Govt The New Providence landfill smouldering. completed. Everyone will be able to participate because we want to make sure that we are comparing apples to apples. We’re having a structured programme so

that everyone could submit, based on the parameters, and then we could move forward.” When asked when the RFP would be issued, Mr

Dorsett told this newspaper: “Hopefully as soon as possible.” The Minister’s comments represent the first indication that the Government See pg b6

NHI doctor sign-on CLICO’s liquidator renews health policy ‘reasonable, not huge’ NEIL HARTNELL ‘terminate’ warning By Tribune Business Editor Secretariat feels By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net CLICO (Bahamas) liquidator has again warned that he will have to terminate all the insolvent insurer’s medical policies unless the portfolio can be “immediately” transferred to its proposed new underwriter. Craig A. ‘Tony’ Gomez, the Baker Tilly Gomez managing partner, in his just-published 20th report to the Supreme Court, said it was vital that the Government fulfill its part with respect to Coral Insurance Company’s creation. “The transfer of CLICO (Bahamas) life, health and pension policies to a new insurer, or the establishment of a new insurance company, continues to be in abeyance until the Government guarantee is secured,” Mr Gomez wrote. “The actuary’s analysis of CLICO (Bahamas) current state, and along with the obvious financial impact of the medical policies on the insurance policies and available cash, [means] providing that a government guarantee is not received by the official liquidator shortly, the actuary advised that the medical policies should be discontinued immediately.” The cause of Mr Gomez’s concerns, and the rationale for terminating the insolvent insurer’s medical policies, is contained in the actuarial report produced

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Needs Govt to step up on new insurance vehicle 146% claims ratio depleting $9.3m cash reserves

Craig A. ‘Tony’ Gomez by Morneau Shepell at December 31, 2015. This discloses that group health policy claims have exceeded premium income generated by these policies by 46 per cent, or more than $1.7 million, during the seven-year period from 2009-2015. This means that CLICO (Bahamas), and the liquidator, have incurred a $1.7 million loss on these policies over that period, with the group health claims ratio standing at 146 per cent. The consequence is that See pg b5

National Health Insurance’s (NHI) assistant project director yesterday said the number of doctors registering to provide services was “not huge but reasonable”, amid ongoing ‘care quality’ concerns surrounding the scheme. Dr Kevin Bowe told Tribune Business that the March 31 date for doctors to register to provide services under NHI was “not an absolute deadline”, adding that the scheme would “always be open” for new registrants. He explained that the NHI Secretariat’s goal had to been to encourage a “first wave’ of physicians to sign up, so that the scheme has enough care providers to meet healthcare demand when the scheme launches next month.

enough will register to launch March 31 no final deadline for physicians

Public insurer, governance structure not in place Dr Bowe declined to give specific date for NHI’s introduction, which Prime Minister Perry Christie announced would occur in April, saying only: “That will be announced shortly.” Besides doctor registration, numerous other components and infrastructure have to be put in place within a remarkably short period of time if NHI is to See pg b4

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Tourism to dominate ‘my generation and the next’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Tourism will be the dominant driver of Bahamian jobs and GDP “for mine and the next generation”, a senior Baha Mar executive predicted yesterday, with international forecasts potentially under-estimating the project’s jobs impact. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in its annual assessment of tourism’s likely impact on the Bahamian economy in 2017, predicted that the sector’s direct GDP contribution will grow by 3.4 per cent to $1.835 billion this year. It also forecast that Bahamian jobs generated directly by tourism will grow by 2,000, or 3.3 per cent, to 55,000 in 2017 - yet this, especially, could be an underestimate if Baha Mar delivers on promised hirings. The development’s new owner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), has pledged to hire around 4,000 Bahamians by yearSee pg b6

Bahamas growth forecast may not reflect Baha Mar 2,000 total jobs increase below project’s 4,000 Industry’s total impact to rise 3.5% this year

Robert Sands

Chamber chief says labour law revisions ‘seem to have held’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Chamber’s chairman yesterday said agreed changes to the labour law reforms “seem to have held”, as numerous draft Bills were circulated between the Government, private sector and trade unions in a bid to conclude the controversial exercise. See pg b4

Negotiations now down to ‘devil in the details’ All parties checking ‘agreed principles’ included Hotel employers chief: ‘It’s in Govt’s court now’

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Aliv names chief business developer The Bahamas’ new mobile operator has named a former principal investment officer at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) as its chief business developer. Gravette Brown will be responsible for driving Aliv’s business development, fundraising and investor relations initiatives. She will work closely with senior management to establish business goals, and identify ways to drive the business. Ms Brown will also lead Aliv’s customer acquisition efforts and business expansion services, through the identification and development of new product opportunities and funding initiatives. She has experience working in investor relations and business development globally, and has worked across Africa, Europe and Latin America. In her role with the IFC, Ms Brown originated new senior client relationships; led global and regional deal execution teams in complex debt and equity transactions; monitored the investment performance of portfolio clients; and represented the Corporation

Gravette Brown, chief Aliv business developer at local business and investment conferences. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, French and Economics. Ms Brown also has a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Social Enterprise from Columbia Business School. She is fluent in French, and has a passion for mentoring and assisting in projects that promote educational advancement and opportunity.

THE TRIBUNE

BTC set to ‘accelerate’ fibre network roll-out

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday pledged to “accelerate” completion of its New Providence fibre-to-the-home roll-out (FTTH), with 5,000 residences having already switched over to its new network. Leon Williams, BTC’s chief executive, said: “In response to the increased demand for fibre throughout New Providence, we are now accelerating our efforts to complete this project. “We are moving up our delivery date for the complete ‘fiberisation’ of New Providence. Our parent company, Liberty Global, has delivered over 1.4 million, 5 gigabit-ready homes in 2016.” He continued: “In the UK alone, Liberty was able to add over 946,000 new customers, and will be adding enriched bundled portfolios with mobile offers, and the addition of new content and functionality including the launch of Netflix. “We intend to do the same here in consultation with the regulator. BTC is pleased to have the backing of our parent company, as we completely upgrade our platform throughout this country.” “We will exceed all service providers in broadband speed and quality. The FTTH expansion project will allow us the ability to offer a platform of limitless possibilities for our cus-

BTC CEO Leon Williams

tomers. With the addition of FTTH, BTC will be adding a number of smart technologies and value-added services.” Touting the benefits of Liberty Global’s control at BTC, Mr Williams added: “With respect to funding, BTC is on solid footing and is backed by the world’s largest international television and broadband company,

whose revenues exceed $20 billion. “Liberty employs more than 45,000 team members, has over 25 million television and broadband customers, and over 10.3 million mobile subscribers, with over five million Wi-Fi access points. With that said, funding will not be a challenge for BTC as it moves to complete its rollout. “BTC remains optimistic about the next several months as we aggressively push to add fibre to every home in New Providence. And even while we are working in New Providence, we still remain committed to rolling out this service - along with FLOW TV throughout the Family Islands.” Liberty Global, BTC’s parent company, saw 2016 profits increase 20 per cent year-over-year. The company has an operating income of $683 million in Europe, which was also up 22 per cent last year. Fibre to the home (FTTH) was introduced in 2016, giving customers a dedicated broadband connection right to their doorsteps. Since its launch, BTC has commercially offered the product to eastern New Providence, Rum Cay, and is currently trialling the service in San Salvador, Crooked Island and pockets within every Family Island.

GB Chamber hands out member certifications

Sarah Rolle, from Ocean Motion Watersports, receives a Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce membership certificate from president Mick Holding (left); first vice-president Dan Romence (second left); and second vice-president Lawrence Palmer (right)

The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce proudly presents a new member certificate to Ethel Laing of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company. Photos/Keen i Media Ltd.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 3

Govt targets Wednesday for labour Bills passage By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet Minister said yesterday that the final amendments to the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act will be passed in Parliament on Wednesday. “They will be dealt with on Wednesday. We are still consulting with the unions and the Chamber of Commerce. They will be passed on Wednesday,” Shane Gibson, minister of labour and national insurance, told Tribune Business. The Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act amendments, which were tabled two weeks ago, have received strong push back from the private sector. Key among employer concerns is the 67 per cent, or two-thirds increase, in the Employment Act’s redundancy pay ‘cap’. Line staff are currently entitled to a maximum 24 weeks or six months’ redundancy pay under the Employment Act, gaining two weeks for each year they have been employed up to the 12-year ‘cap’. However, the Bill requires the ‘cap’ to be increased to 32 weeks (16 years) immediately upon enactment of the reforms. And, ultimately, the ‘cap’

for line staff redundancy pay is to be increased to 40 weeks some two years after the amendments are passed. As for managerial staff, the existing 48 weeks (12 months/one year) redundancy pay maximum that they are due currently under the Employment Act is to be immediately increased to 64 weeks. Should the proposals pass, the ‘cap’ will ultimately be lifted to 80 weeks after two years. The proposed reforms also impose bureaucratic notification requirements on Bahamian businesses whenever they are considering redundancies, and a fine equivalent to 30 days’ extra pay for each terminated employee should these not be adhered to. Employers will have to give relevant trade unions, or employee representatives, a “written statement” explaining the reasons for the redundancies and “facts” behind the move, along with the number and category of jobs impacted, and the timeframe over which the terminations will take place. Prime Minister Perry Christie last week suggested that an amicable outcome could be reached over the controversial reforms, with the Government and private sector “working together, rather than against each other”.

Consumer protect chief: ‘We must save banking’ By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Consumer Protection Commission’s (CPC) chairman yesterday repeated his calls for more Bahamian-owned banks and greater regulation of banking fees, arguing: “We have to do what it takes to save banking in the Bahamas.” Senator Jerome Gomez, while speaking in the Senate during the debate on the Homeowners Protection Bill, said: “We need more banks and more Bahamianowned banks. They don’t have to be as big and fancy as the Royal Banks and the Scotia Banks. They can be a as simple as a community bank.” “We have to do what it takes to save banking in the the Bahamas and make banking in the Bahamas as easy as possible.” Mr Gomez reiterated calls for banking fees to be regulated, noting that Jamaica was taking steps to do this. “We cannot allow banks to get away with the activities that they have been doing,” he argued. “Because banks are not making as much money as they used to in the Caribbe-

Chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission Senator Jerome Gomez an, they are increasing fees. They are not even trying to compete. They just publish their rates. There is room in this market for competition; let Bahamians get involved.” Mr Gomez described the Homeowners Protection Bill, which was tabled in Parliament in February, as the “first steps” towards Bahamians taking ownership of the banking industry and

protecting what is likely to be a person’s biggest investment. The Homeowners Protection Bill requires lenders to give delinquent borrowers 30 days’ notice before either invoking their ‘power of sale’ or seeking a courtapproved foreclosure.

In both cases, borrowers can apply to the Supreme Court for relief. On the foreclosure process, the court can either adjourn, stay or suspend the matter if it believes the borrower will be able to pay principal and accrued interest within six months. As for the ‘power of sale’, the latest version of the Bill allows the court to postpone this for “a reasonable period where a sum equal to at least one half of the principal, and accrued interest, has been paid at a specified time”. The Homeowners Protection Bill is also designed to give borrowers more ‘freedom of choice’ through an ability to select their own attorney and appraiser from a list provided by - and approved by - the lender. Borrowers will also be able to select their own insurance broker/provider. Bahamas-based mortgage lenders typically direct borrowers to use certain attorneys and insurance companies, so any efforts to improve ‘freedom of choice’ are likely to be welcomed by consumers.

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PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Chamber chief says labour law revisions ‘seem to have held’ From pg B1 Gowon Bowe told Tribune Business that the negotiations had come down to “the devil in the details”, and ensuring the language in the final Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act reforms reflected what has been agreed between the three sides. “We’ve had various drafts in terms of things they’re considering, and that we’ve submitted back to them,” Mr Bowe said. “The principles we’d all agreed on seem to have held. It’s the devil in the details to ensure that the language is amended to what we thought it would be.” The Chamber chairman declined to detail the changes obtained by the private sector, but acknowledged that efforts to finalise the labour law reforms were taking place “in a compressed timeframe”, with the Government delaying plans to bring the revised Bills to the House of Assembly yesterday.

The debate, and hopedfor passage, of the amendments will now take place tomorrow (see article on Page 3B), with the Government’s legislative drafters having to respond to multiple commentaries and feedback. “I don’t envy the drafters, because they’re having to take instructions from all corners,” Mr Bowe said. “There’s various commentaries and other elements, and I’m sure the labour organisations are also having their input. “We are just creating the check-list to make sure we don’t miss something in our review.” Mr Bowe added that the Government’s decision to delay restarting debate on the two Bills in the House of Assembly was an indication that “the cool heads are prevailing, they’re not trying to rush things and are doing it in a very deliberative manner. “For that we must be grateful, and we plod on.” The Christie administra-

NHI doctor sign-on ‘reasonable, not huge’ From pg B1 launch successfully. Dr Bowe declined to comment on whether the Government had selected a private sector management company for NHI’s public insurer, Bahama Care, a contract that has been out to bid since August/September 2016, saying he was “focused on other components” of the scheme. One source familiar with the status of the public insurer management contract, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Tribune Business that while it had yet to be awarded, it was receiving due consideration. “That contract’s very much alive and under dis-

cussion,” the source said. “There’s been a lot of interaction with the preferred bidders, and ongoing part of the project. “It’s very advanced, and you should be hearing something on that in a reasonable timeframe. It’s a significant contract.” Nor has NHI’s governance structure been put in place by the proposed Bahamas Health Services Authority Bill, which calls for the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) to be merged with the Department of Public Health to create a single overseer for the scheme. With Parliament likely to be prorogued within weeks, if not days, ahead of the up-

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tion now finds itself having to accomplish an extremely difficult ‘balancing act’ between the competing interests, and desires, of the private sector and the Bahamian trade union/labour movement. Businesses feared the initial Bills would “cripple” and “bankrupt” them, especially small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), through the introduction of labour-friendly reforms that threatened to increase the cost and bureaucratic burden on the private sector. Some, such as Atlantis,

suggested that the reforms represented an unwarranted intrusion and interference into how employers ran their businesses. Given the private sector push back, the Government is faced with having to weaken some anti-business aspects of the reforms in an environment where union/ labour expectations have been raised just prior to a general election. Despite Mr Bowe’s optimistic outlook, many employers will likely believe their concerns have been heard only when they seem them incorporated into the

revised Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act recommendations. Robert Sands, president of the Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association (BHREA), yesterday told Tribune Business that the matter was now “in the Government’s court” to resolve. “We’ve made our recommendations and had multiple meetings, and I think it’s in the Government’s court now,” he said. “We just have to wait and see when it will be tabled. We were told it may be tabled today [yesterday], and have not heard otherwise.” Mr Sands said the BHREA had yet to receive revised drafts of the labour law reforms, and added: “We’ll just have to wait until the Government tables it, and we are very hopeful that our deliberations were productive.” Peter Goudie, one of the private sector’s representatives on the National Tripartite Council, told Tribune Business he had “not got a clue” as to the fate of the labour law reforms and revisions to them,. “They were supposed to introduce something today,” he added of the Gov-

coming election, the Christie administration has an extremely narrow legislative window through which to move its NHI governance structure into law. The Government has recently focused instead on the health system strengthening aspect of NHI, awarding numerous construction contracts to upgrade the public health clinics. Asked by Tribune Business whether NHI would have sufficient registered doctors to launch successfully, Dr Bowe replied: “I believe that if one deals with it this way, the answer is yes. “While it’s not a huge number of providers, it’s a reasonable number of providers.” He was responding after Dr Sy Pierre, the Medical Association of the Bahamas (MAB) president, told Tribune Business last week

that this nation’s best doctors are not signing up for the NHI scheme. He said that while he had no ‘hard’ numbers, his conversations with high-level physicians and MAB members indicated that few, if any, were registering to provide services for the $100 million primary care phase. “I’ve spoken to the consultant-level physicians, those who have specialist licenses,” Dr Pierre said, describing these as the likes of paediatricians, obstetricians, gynaecologists, and family medicine specialists. “I don’t have any official numbers, but my feeling is that the top-level consultants are not signing up. The guys who are signing up are the GPs (general practitioners)...... “The lower tier physicians will take this; it will be an economic boon for them. But the primary care spe-

cialists, the experts, they’re telling me they’re not signing up because they can’t run a practice on what the NHI primary care phase is paying.” Dr Bowe yesterday declined to categorise Bahamian doctors according to Dr Pierre, saying: “There are providers across the spectrum who are signing up with NHI and the process continues.” He added that the NHI Secretariat was continually engaging the physician and healthcare industry on the scheme, amid suggestions by some observers that the $100 million primary care phase cannot be launched without sufficient private doctor buy-in to reduce the burden on the public sector. Emphasising that March 31 was not a concrete deadline for completing doctor registration, Dr Bowe told Tribune Business: “I just

Gowon Bowe

ernment, “and they were playing around with a number of amendments.” Some employers, meanwhile, reacted with horror yesterday to proposed reforms submitted by the trade unions, which call for a $5,000 per day fine to be imposed on companies who fail to meet the 45-day deadline to begin industrial agreement talks with a recognised union. Rick Lowe, an executive with the Nassau Institute think-tank, told Tribune Business that the union demands were “beyond the pale’, with others questioning why the latter should escape punishment for their own infractions, such as failing to file timely annual returns. “What makes the unions so special when businesses are not special?” asked Mr Lowe. “Surely the law should not put one group above the other as far as the law is concerned? “It’s beyond the pale. We’re all in this to survive, not destroy each other. It’s disturbing and discouraging that the Government will entertain such extremes. I can’t understand why they go to the extremes they go to.” want you to make this clear. This isn’t a deadline in terms of providers coming on as NHI registered. “It’s an ongoing thing. “It’s not an absolute deadline. One can consider it as waves of providers signing on, given that we’re trying to prepare for the launch of NHI. “This process is always open to providers; it never closes. When NHI begins, patients will have providers to choose from. We’re just capturing up to this point the first set of providers who say they wish to explore a relationship with NHI.” Dr Bowe described NHI as a public-private partnership (PPP) involving private physicians, and said their registration - like the registration of the Bahamian public as beneficiaries would never end.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 5

CLICO’s liquidator renews health policy ‘terminate’ warning From pg B1 CLICO (Bahamas), with a near-$50 million solvency deficiency, is burning through scarce cash resources to pay group health claims and taking funds away from being able to pay ongoing expenses. “As at the date of this report, CLICO (Bahamas) had $9.321 million in its bank accounts, which is a major concern in the liquidation,” Mr Gomez wrote. “Professional fees, medical and death claims, coupled with the staff, building and operational expenses, have to be paid on a regular basis (daily and monthly). There continues to be a depletion of the available funds as a result of the aforementioned expenses.” Mr Gomez’s report shows that at end-June 2016, CLICO (Bahamas) had just $3.755 million in cash at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), with the remainder of its liquid assets - some $5.577 million - held in short-term deposits at the same bank. Mr Gomez is gagged from speaking publicly by the Supreme Court, but a source familiar with CLICO (Bahamas) situation said of its current plight: “The liquidator believes it is a must that he either reprices or gets rid of the [health] portfolio” if the Government fails to deliver. It is likely that these concerns prompted Bishop Simeon Hall, himself one of the insolvent insurer’s victims, to last week urge the Christie administration “to make good on its promise” over the second - and final payout to former policy and annuity holders. The Government unveiled its proposed resolution in early October 2016, with promises of payment by November, but this has yet to happen some four months later. “The Ministry of Finance will be making a serious mistake if they allow the

election to come without some resolution to this matter,” Bishop Hall told Tribune Business last week. “I understand some good progress has been made, but by now I would have expected this thing to be resolved.” CLICO (Bahamas) was placed into Supreme Courtsupervised liquidation more than eight years ago in February 2009, and amid an ongoing general election campaign and other policy priorities, Bishop Hall is concerned that he and other victims may be forgotten once again. “I want to encourage the Government to make good on its promise,” he said, “and to do more for the more than 10,000 persons affected by this. “Whatever they do, they should follow the Biblical injunction Jesus told his disciples: ‘Whatever thoust do, do quickly’.” The second phase payout to former CLICO (Bahamas) clients is supposed to be triggered by the creation of a new insurance entity, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to be called Coral Insurance Company. This is being formed to hold CLICO (Bahamas) insurance policies that remain in effect.

The SPV, which will be licensed and regulated by the Insurance Commission of the Bahamas (ICB), was supposed to be set up by the second week of November 2016, and hold the remaining insurance portfolio until it is purchased by another insurer. Tribune Business sources last week suggested that Mr Gomez and others have been working to develop a feasible business plan for Coral Insurance Company. However, before the plan and Coral’s formation can proceed any further, Tribune Business understands that the Government has to determine how to structure the financial support it will provide to Coral. Several sources familiar with developments suggested that progress on this issue had slowed down recently on the Government side, thereby delaying the promised payout. The Government has agreed to provide “capital support” to plug the holes in Coral’s original balance sheet, and cover the ‘gap’ between its asset and policy liabilities that will be inherited from CLICO (Bahamas) and the liquidator. This will likely take the form of a promissory note, and the Government (taxpayer) will also cover any annual operating deficits incurred by Coral. It is the structuring of these requirements that now needs to be concluded. This will pave the way for

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completion of Coral’s business plan, and its licensing and creation. This, in turn, will lead to the $45 million bond issue that will compensate CLICO (Bahamas) former Executive Flexible Premium Annuity (EFPA) holders and those who surrendered their pension policies. Mr Gomez’s report to the Supreme Court confirmed that in the first phase CLICO (Bahamas) payout, which took place in MarchApril 2016, almost 75 per cent of the policyholders

had been compensated -and 79 per cent of the sum available paid out - by mid-2016. “It was agreed that approximately $14.3 million would be made available to some 4,728 policyholders,” Mr Gomez said of his discussions with the Ministry of Finance. “Payments to policyholders commenced on March 30, 2016, in New Providence, and April 8, 2016, in Grand Bahama. At the date of this report, some 3,533 policyholders had received approximately $11.3 million

of first interim payments.” The second phase payout’s bond issue, as previously revealed by Tribune Business, will be handled by Leno Corporate Services. The bonds will be issued in exchange for, and replace, the pledges issued to former CLICO (Bahamas) clients owed more than $10,000, and who received their first cash payments in February 2016. That collective payment ultimately totalled some $13.1 million.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Tourism to dominate ‘my generation and the next’ From pg B1 end, a total that will more than double the WTTC estimates should the Hong Kong-headquartered conglomerate succeed. It is unclear whether the WTTC’s forecasts took into account the loss of jobs at Memories and the Grand Lucayan in Grand Bahama, the report’s release timing suggesting this is unlikely, but Baha Mar could exceed its forecasts - especially when it produces a full first year of operations in 2018. CTFE’s own projections, seen by Tribune Business, forecast that Baha Mar will generate a minimum of 5,750 jobs annually once it becomes fully operational, while helping to create a

further 4,160 indirect jobs. Baha Mar’s annual wages impact is estimated at $98 million, with the salaries for positions created indirectly standing at $69 million creating a total employee compensation impact of $167 million. These estimates are significantly more optimistic than the WTTC’s projections for the Bahamas, which forecast: “Travel and tourism generated 53,000 jobs directly in 2016 (27.3 per cent of total employment), and this is forecast to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2017 to 55,000 (27.9 per cent of total employment). “This includes employment by hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation

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services (excluding commuter services). It also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists.” Looking ahead, the WTTC report suggested that the Bahamas will become ever-more dependent on tourism to generate the majority of this nation’s jobs. “By 2027, travel and tourism will account for 70,000 jobs directly, an increase of 2.5 per cent per annum over the next 10 years,” the analysis, obtained by Tribune Business, says. “The total contribution of travel and tourism to employment (including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts) was 102,500 jobs in 2016 (52.9 per cent of total employment). This is forecast to rise by 3 per cent in 2017 to 105,500 jobs (53.9 per cent of total employment). “By 2027, travel and tourism is forecast to support 135,000 jobs (64.9 per cent of total employment), an increase of 2.4 per cent per over the period.” Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business that tourism would “certainly be a significant share of GDP in the Bahamas going forward”. The extent of this, he added, depended on whether the Bahamas sought - and successfully achieved - further diversification of its

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BAHA MAR construction project economy. However, Mr Sands said: “Tourism has consistently been in excess of 50-60 per cent of GDP in the country for many years, and I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future. “I don’t see that changing, certainly in mine and the next generation. The pillars of employment in this country have, and will be, tourism and hospitality, with banking coming in second.” Mr Sands said the WTTC’s economic forecasts were likely to be upgraded next year after it witnessed the impact of a fully operational Baha Mar. “You can look at the position changing, certainly, when we’ve had a full year of stable Baha Mar operations,” he added.

The WTTC report shows that the Bahamas is the world’s third-most reliant nation on tourism’s direct employment impact, sixth most-reliant on its overall jobs impact. When it comes to tourism’s direct and indirect contribution to GDP, the Bahamas also ranks in the world’s top 10 in relative terms. “The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in 2016 was $1.774 billion (19.8 per cent of GDP),” the WTTC said of the Bahamas. “This is forecast to rise by 3.4 per cent to $1.835 billion in 2017..... The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP is expected to grow by 3.6 per cent per annum to $2.62 billion (24.8 per cent of GDP) by 2027.”

The $60 million increase in tourism’s contribution to Bahamian GDP in 2017 is dwarfed by Baha Mar’s projected annual GDP impact of $582 million alone, although much depends on the extent to which this comes through as the property ramps up towards winter 2017-2018. “The total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts) was $4.017 billion in 2016 (44.8 per cent of GDP) and is expected to grow by 2.9 per cent to $4.134 billion (45.7 per cent of GDP) in 2017,” the WTTC added. “It is forecast to rise by 3.5 per cent per annum to $5.819 billion by 2027 (55.1 per cent of GDP).”

Govt plans RFP for landfill deal From pg B1 is putting the landfill management contract out to public tender via an open, structured ‘beauty contest’ process where all contenders will know the rules and criteria under which they are bidding. However, the decision to structure a proper RFP process now raises immediate questions as to why the Christie administration did not choose this process for

the landfill four to five years ago. It instead ultimately signed the ill-fated management agreement with Renew Bahamas, despite many observers wondering why it had not structured an RFP - the process that was used for the BEC management contract and the second mobile communications license. The landfill, as a publiclyowned asset with massive health and environmental implications, was seen as ideally suited for an RFP, with the Government’s selection of Renew Bahamas criticised for lacking transparency. Many Bahamians, especially those living in Jubilee Gardens and other communities living near the landfill, will likely wonder whether much grief, cost and disruption could have been avoided had the Christie administration gone the RFP route earlier. Other parties interested in taking over the landfill’s

Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett management, the whollyBahamian Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG) consortium, also complained at the time that they were asked to bid on substantially different terms from Renew Bahamas. WRDG, which now has 10 Bahamian waste service provider members, is among those who have submitted bids to take over the landfill’s management following the recent blaze.

A rival group also has a Bahamian component in the shape of Providence Advisors and its chief executive, Kenwood Kerr. Tribune Business sources yesterday said the Government had yet to formally respond to bidders, and notify them of its intentions and how it plans to proceed. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one said: “We’re still waiting; the Government said everything was under review. The smoke is abating a bit, but it’s still a problem on some nights depending on the weather.” Another contact added: “There’s not been a word. We haven’t heard a thing. Submissions are in and being looked at. “I know a couple more people have come in from away to take a look. Every fire has been the same. People come in to see the opportunity. We are where we are.” Renew Bahamas walked away from its New Providence landfill management contract in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, citing security and safety concerns amid the absence of electricity supply, and a spate of thefts and shootings. It had previously been seeking to renegotiate its management contract and associated financial terms with the Christie administration, having revealed to Tribune Business it had been incurring continuous, heavy losses. The Government subsequently charged that Renew Bahamas had used Hurricane Matthew as an excuse to pull-out, having realised that its business model which depended almost exclusively on the sale and export of materials recycled from the landfill - was not viable or sustainable. The imminent Baha Mar opening and general election has intensified pressure on the Government to resolve the landfill’s woes, which were brought to the fore again this month when Jubilee Gardens residents were forced out of their homes after a massive fire at the landfill blanketed the community in thick smoke.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 7

Finger-pointing on Hill as GOP assesses health bill loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans on Monday pointed fingers and assigned blame after their epic failure on health care and a weekend digesting the outcome. The divisions, coming on top of House Republicans’ inability to deliver on a priority they all share — repealing and replacing “Obamacare” — raised serious questions about whether they will be able to achieve their other legislative goals for the year or even pass must-do spending legislation in time to avert a government shutdown at midnight April 28. The hard-right House Freedom Caucus, which withheld a bloc of votes from the White House-backed health care legislation, came in for most of the criticism from fellow lawmakers. “Clearly moving forward, we’re going to have to look at where a governing majority comes from. That’s going to require some answers from the Freedom Caucus,” said GOP Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania. Like a number of other more moderate-leaning Republicans, Costello said he

would have voted “no” on the bill in the end, partly because it kept moving to the right as House leaders and the White House made concessions to the Freedom Caucus without ever succeeding in locking in their support. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan decided to pull the bill from the House floor on Friday after it became clear it was bound to fail. “They’re going to have to know when it’s time to get to the ‘yes,’” Costello said. Freedom Caucus members bridled at the criticism, insisting they had done Trump and fellow Republicans a favor by blocking a piece of legislation that polled poorly and embraced the basic structures of Obamacare without significantly reducing premiums. The Freedom Caucus spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah, said over Twitter that blaming the group ignored the opposition coming from moderate-leaning Republicans. And Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a Freedom Caucus leader, accused GOP leaders of a rushed and secretive process in promoting their legislation, which would

have eliminated the Obamacare mandate for people to carry insurance or face fines, and shrunk a Medicaid expansion, but relied on tax credits similar to those in President Barack Obama’s law to help consumers purchase insurance. “They rolled it out after it was hidden away. When they rolled it out, they said it’s a binary choice, take it or leave it,” Jordan said on MSNBC. “Normally when you have hearings on a piece of legislation that impacts this much of our overall economy, you would bring in some witnesses and hear from some witnesses about what’s going to happen if this legislation actually becomes law. We had none of that.” The divisions extended to whether Republicans should immediately try again to make good on seven years of promises to repeal and replace the health care law or cut their losses for now and move on to overhauling the tax code, a priority Trump seems more excited about. Senate Republicans, who had hoped to act next on the health legislation despite divisions of their own, voiced

President Donald Trump sits with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. on Capitol Hill in Washington. Yesterday congressional Republicans, pointed fingers and assigned blame after their epic failure on health care and a weekend digesting the outcome. (AP Photo) option of inaction. We own it and we’ve got to fix it.” House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady said he’s encouraging the Senate to advance its “repeal and replacement plans” on health care. But the No. 2 Senate Republican, John

Cornyn of Texas, said there would not be another attempt to advance Republican-only health care legislation. “I don’t think we can give up,” he said, “but it’s clear it needs to be done on a bipartisan basis.”

Trump signs legislation rolling back Obama-era regulations

federal labor laws, including those pertaining to workplace safety, wages and discrimination. The White House argued the rule would “bog down” the federal procurement process, while business groups said that it would increase compliance costs. Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration have made curbing government regulation a top priority this year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a handful of measures Monday rolling back Obama-era regulations under the Congressional Review Act. It’s part of a larger GOP effort to eliminate an array of regulations issued during President Barack Obama’s final months in office and comes days after Trump’s effort to repeal and replace “Obamacare” failed. Trump has made overturning what he deems government overreach a centerpiece of his first months in office. “I will keep working with Congress, with every agency, and most importantly, the American people, until we eliminate every unnecessary, harmful and jobkilling regulation that we

can find,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony. “We have a lot more coming.” Two of the regulations nullified Monday had to do with school performance and teacher preparation programs. One, issued by the Education Department in October, required that federally funded teacher preparation programs be evaluated based on the academic outcomes of those teachers’ students. Republican senators opposed the rules, arguing such matters should be left to the states. The other aimed to help states identify failing schools and come up with plans to improve them. Another rule nullified by Trump required federal

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that KAREN ALTHEA ELDEN of Queen’s Highway, Current, Eleuthera, 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 28thday of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that KEMUEL SAINTILIEN of #3 Edgar Place, Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 21st day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that PETERSON YRA of Sisal Rd., Blue Hill South, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 21st day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ADRIANNA LOUIS of Plantol Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 28thday of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CLARENCE GEORGE SAINT AUBYN MITCHELL of High Tree Estate, Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 28thday of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

land managers to consider climate change and other long-term effects of proposed development on public lands. The regulation had been imposed by the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees more than 245 million acres of public lands. Republicans argued the

displeasure with the failure by their House counterparts. “It’s disappointing. We’ve got to fulfill our promises,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C. “Hopefully the temperatures have gone down just a little bit and we can get to an outcome. We don’t have the

rule, finalized in December, shifted decision-making authority away from state and local officials to the federal government. The signing came the day before Trump was expected to reverse Obama’s signature effort to address climate change, the Clean Power Plan, which restricts greenhouse gas emis-

NOTICE

sions at coal-fired power plants. The final rule targeted by Republicans had been aimed at forcing government contractors to disclose violations of federal labor laws as they sought more work. The “blacklisting rule” required contractors to disclose violations of 14

NOTICE is hereby given that DELIS CARME NESTHAN of Sir Lynden Pindling Estates, P.O.Box CR-54802 The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 21st day of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CHARLENE SAINTIL of Bacardi Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 28thday of March, 2017 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

MARKET REPORT MONDAY, 27 MARCH 2017

t. 242.323.2330 | f. 242.323.2320 | www.bisxbahamas.com

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE 1,904.43 | CHG 0.05 | %CHG 0.00 | YTD -33.78 | YTD% -1.74 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.38 17.43 9.09 3.56 4.70 0.12 7.20 8.50 6.10 10.60 15.27 2.72 1.60 5.83 10.00 11.00 9.30 6.90 12.01 11.00

52WK LOW 2.70 17.43 8.19 3.50 1.64 0.12 3.80 8.15 5.56 8.50 11.00 2.18 1.31 5.80 6.79 8.56 7.00 6.35 11.92 10.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

900.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

PREFERENCE SHARES

1.00 106.00 100.00 106.00 105.00 105.00 100.00 10.00 1.01

1.00 105.50 100.00 100.00 105.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01

SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Bank of Bahamas Benchmark Cable Bahamas CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Colina Holdings Commonwealth Bank Commonwealth Brewery Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Famguard Fidelity Bank Finco Focol ICD Utilities J. S. Johnson Premier Real Estate Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Commonwealth Bank Class E Commonwealth Bank Class J Commonwealth Bank Class K Commonwealth Bank Class L Commonwealth Bank Class M Commonwealth Bank Class N Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00 100.00

SYMBOL AML APD BPF BWL BOB BBL CAB CIB CHL CBL CBB CWCB DHS FAM FBB FIN FCL ICD JSJ PRE CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA CBLE CBLJ CBLK CBLL CBLM CBLN FBBA FCLB

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 17 (Series A) + Fidelity Bank Note 18 (Series E) + Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) +

SYMBOL FBB17 FBB18 FBB22

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-3Y BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-5Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-5Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

BAH29 BG0103 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0305 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0405 BG0407

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing) 115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

113.70 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.03 3.92 1.94 169.70 141.76 1.47 1.67 1.57 1.10 6.96 8.50 6.30 9.94 11.21 10.46

52WK LOW 1.67 3.04 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.41 1.61 1.52 1.03 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57

LAST CLOSE 4.38 15.85 9.09 3.54 1.77 0.12 4.50 8.50 6.00 10.48 11.86 2.20 1.55 5.83 9.75 9.85 9.25 6.90 12.01 10.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01 LAST SALE 100.00 100.00 100.00 105.19 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 4.38 15.85 9.09 3.54 1.77 0.12 4.50 8.50 6.00 10.48 11.86 2.25 1.55 5.83 9.75 9.85 9.25 6.90 12.01 10.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 100.00 100.00 100.11 100.00 100.00 100.00 10.00 1.01

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00

105.73 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund FG Financial Preferred Income Fund FG Financial Growth Fund FG Financial Diversified Fund FG Financial Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund

VOLUME

VOLUME

NAV 2.03 3.92 1.94 168.44 141.76 1.47 1.64 1.56 1.04 6.96 8.50 6.30 9.80 11.13 9.63

EPS$ 0.029 1.002 -0.144 0.170 -0.130 0.000 -0.030 0.607 0.430 0.450 0.110 0.102 0.080 0.300 0.520 0.960 0.820 0.294 0.610 0.000

DIV$ 0.080 1.000 0.000 0.210 0.000 0.000 0.090 0.300 0.220 0.360 0.490 0.060 0.060 0.240 0.400 0.000 0.330 0.140 0.640 0.000

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

P/E 151.0 15.8 N/M 20.8 N/M N/M -150.0 14.0 14.0 23.3 107.8 22.1 19.4 19.4 18.8 10.3 11.3 23.5 19.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

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

INTEREST 7.00% 6.00% Prime + 1.75%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2017 31-May-2018 19-Oct-2022

6.95% 4.00% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.25% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 3.88% 4.25%

20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2017 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2022

YTD% 12 MTH% 4.30% 4.30% 3.82% 3.82% 2.73% 2.73% 3.95% 3.95% 6.77% 6.77% 0.40% 4.04% -1.76% 1.06% -0.34% 2.70% -0.95% 1.55% 4.35% 4.69% 4.13% 4.28% 4.22% 4.64% 6.19% 3.43% 2.77% 2.98% -3.66% -3.90%

NAV Date 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Dec-2016 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 31-Jan-2017 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016 30-Nov-2016

MARKET TERMS BISX ALL SHARE INDEX - 19 Dec 02 = 1,000.00 52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks 52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume Change - Change in closing price from day to day Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings

YIELD 1.83% 6.31% 0.00% 5.93% 0.00% 0.00% 2.00% 3.53% 3.67% 3.44% 4.13% 2.67% 3.87% 4.12% 4.10% 0.00% 3.57% 2.03% 5.33% 0.00%

YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths NAV - Net Asset Value N/M - Not Meaningful

TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | FG CAPITAL MARKETS 242-396-4000 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 9

b o dy an d min d

Keeping hope alive for Parkinson’s patients By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

M

EMBERS of the Kingdor National Parkinson Foundation are doing their part in giving hope to those suffering with the degenerative disorder here in the Bahamas. Following a fun run/walk last weekend, the foundation is now gearing up to host its annual gala ball to raise money in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. The ball will be held at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort on April 29 – the end of Parkinson’s Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Keeping Hope Alive”. One of the highlights of the night will be a live performance by Grammy Award-nominated singer/ songwriter Jeffrey Osborne and his band LTD. Mr Osborne has written hits for musical greats such as Whitney Houston (“All At Once”), appeared on USA for Africa’s fundraising single, “We Are the World”, and had the highest-charting hit of his career duetting with Dionne Warwick on “Love Power”. He is probably best known for his song “On the Wings of Love”. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Over the years, the foundation has helped more than 1,000 persons by way of organised functions such as training for caregivers, gala events, walk/run competitions and a speech competition for which they train younger persons to understand and learn about the disease. In April 2015, the organisation for the first time joined other countries around the world in observing Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Last Saturday’s fun run/ walk event started at Montagu Beach and was held under the theme “Moving Day”. Kingdor founder and chairperson Mavis DarlingHill said “Moving Day” is the grassroots initiative designed to encourage movement of the body of any sort. “We know that just one day would not actually take the place of exercising on a regular basis, but it is the beginning. Studies have shown that exercising is important on many levels as it is helpful mentally, physically, socially, spiritu-

ally, and the list goes on. Some persons feel like they don’t have time to exercise, and walking up and down at work does not count as exercising. Exercise is an important part of what we do,” she said. Mrs Darling-Hill has a personal experience with Parkinson’s, having watched her father, the late Rev Dr King S Darling, struggle with the disease. Even when her father got to the point where he could not buckle his own shoes, she kept him motivated. “With that disease you have to really depend solely on your family. At that point he didn’t hide it. He told people his challenge and in the process he sensitised persons about the disease, even though he was going through it. I thought my world was collapsing around my family and me. Coping and managing the condition was very taxing because there was little material available and there was little on the internet at the time. Nevertheless, everything we found on the topic of Parkinson’s disease was copied and shared between my siblings. It was a new world for us because the word Parkinson’s was very strange and unknown,” she recalled. After the death of her father eight years following his diagnosis, she along with her siblings and friends banded together to establish the Kingdor Foundation. It was established in memory of her parents and the name is a portmanteau of their names, “King” and “Dorothy”. Mrs Darling-Hill said she is happy to know that more and more persons are becoming educated about the disease in the Bahamas. She hopes to prevent others from enduring what she and her family had to go through many years ago. “We feel like we have done a lot to educate the Bahamian people. We talk to persons on the street and they have heard about us and the services we offer. We also want to give them some hope in terms of seed monies for medication. We are also glad that you all, the media, continuously tell the story, that it is not embarrassing to have Parkinson’s disease,” she said. In addition to the upcoming ball, the foundation will host its annual speech competition in November. More details to follow via the organisation’s Facebook page: Kingdor Parkinson.

Mavis Darling-Hill, founder of the Kingdor National Parkinson Foundation.

Singer/songwriter Jeffrey Osborne will be performing live at the Kingdor gala ball on April 29.

“We feel like we have done a lot to educate the Bahamian people. We talk to persons on the street and they have heard about us and the services we offer. We also want to give them some hope in terms of seed monies for medication.”

Symposium to focus on diabetes and oral health By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net THE first symposium hosted by the Diabetic Research Institute will shine a light on oral health and its direct relation to diabetes. The “Oral Health and Diabetes” will feature guest speaker Dr Kenneth Alleyne, who will provide guests with wide range of information on the importance of oral hygiene. The general public is invited to attend the symposium on March 31 at 5.30pm at the institute. According to Coral Dean, a registered nurse and programme coordinator, the forum will raise awareness of the importance of understanding the signs of diabetes and the roles they play in regards to your mouth, or how diabetes can affect your smile. “Diabetes affects your body’s ability to process sugar. All foods you eat is turned into sugar and

Diabetic Research Institute events • Diabetic self-management educational classes: April 21 and September 15. Classes are held for eight weeks. • Summer programme for type 1 diabetic children ages 5 -17: July 3 - 17

used for energy. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that carries sugar from your blood into the cells for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond to insulin or use it effectively. In both cases the result is high blood sugar lev-

- “Foot Care” workshop for type 2 diabetics: July 20 - 21 - “Stay Well” exercise and nutrition workshop: July 27 - 28 - World Diabetes Day activities: November 14 els, which can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of the body,” she told Tribune Health. Guests will be exposed to the basic facts about diabetes, why people with diabetes are prone to gum disease, the importance of

regular dental visits, and how your dentist can help. “Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease affecting people living with diabetes especially as a person age. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for gum problems because of poor sugar control. Severe gum disease may cause blood sugar to rise as is the case with any infection and this makes diabetes more difficult to control. Because diabetics are more susceptible to infections, they are less able to fight bacteria that may enter the gums,” said Nurse Dean. The Diabetic Research Institute is a non-profit organisation which has been in operation for the past 15 years. Its sole benefactor is Harold McPike. The institute serves the Bahamian public by providing free education and support for persons with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Its aim is to assist individuals to live healthier and longer lives.

The institute also provides individual and group education, free screenings and symposiums by qualified healthcare providers on topics pertinent to the diabetic client and their families. The groups are separated into Type 1 Children’s Club, TEAM (the young adult arm), type 2 groups, and the parent support groups. The institute hopes to offer evidence-based education and support to type 1 and type 2 diabetics, empowering them with the selfcare management skills necessary to improve quality of life This year, the Diabetic Research Institute has taken on the role as a platinum sponsor for CARIFTA 2017 Swimming and Water Polo Championships. The games will be held here in Nassau, April 7 - 9 and April 15 - 19.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, March 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Questions linger over obesity ties to colon cancer N

ext time someone asks you to go for a walk or get up and dance, jump at the chance. The simple act of moving may take you steps closer to avoiding cancers associated with sedentary lifestyles and obesity.

“Sitting is the new smoking, and if there is one thing I could tell all my patients to improve overall health, it would be to exercise more.

So say doctors and medical researchers whose findings are increasingly pointing toward habit over heritage. Though questions about the specifics linger, there is a growing body of evidence that as obesity rates climb among a younger population, so too do the cases of colon cancer. Those increases, though small, are particularly alarming because they contrast with a dramatic decrease in the rates among the over 50 population. Given the trend, there is also growing consensus about the importance of screening, early detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps – the latter, a shift from earlier recommendations. “Up to 85 per cent of colorectal cancers could be prevented

or successfully treated if everyone who is eligible for a colonoscopy got screened,” said a Dr Arlington spokesLightbourne man from Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida, a facility that performs some 6,000 colonoscopies a year. According to the Cleveland Clinic Florida, screening helps detect pre-cancerous polyps and the removal of those can reduce the risk of getting colon cancer by 70 per cent. They also say screening after middle age is critical given that 91 per cent of the new colon cancer cases occur in patients 50 and older. With March designated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a local doctor is also urging patients to reduce or eliminate the red meat or

processed meats, limit their intake of alcohol, increase their exercise and move around even if at a desk job. “Stand up and walk around the office at least once an hour,” said Dr Arlington Lightbourne, founder of the Wellness Clinic in Nassau. “Sitting is the new smoking, and if there is one thing I could tell all my patients to improve overall health, it would be to exercise more. There are far too many cases of cancer that are presenting at an early age as we become a more sedentary population with young children spending their time moving fingers while sitting and texting and people of all ages addicted to electronic devices.” The simple act of moving may take you steps closer to avoiding cancers, like colorectal cancer, associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyles. According to Cleveland Clinic Florida, screening also can reduce the risk of getting colon cancer by 70 per cent.

A solution for chronic back pain

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everal years ago, I suffered agonising back pain for months and endured several hospital visits. Doctors established that soft tissue between the disc and vertebrae had dislodged and was pressing against my spinal cord. The best way I could describe the pain was like extreme toothache, but in the arch of my back. Surgery was the only solution which an amazing doctor performed, here in the Bahamas. I remained hospitalised for the next eight days. They removed a piece of tissue about the size of the last knuckle of a little finger. I recall the term they used was “impressive”. The operation was a success. Doctors advised that my back wouldn’t be the same after such extensive surgery. The three-inch scar is still visible in the arch of my lower back and serves as a reminder to take good care of myself. They were correct about not being the same. I’m 44 years of age and still active. But I’m not as active as I was before my injury, which was likely caused by a mishap with a pickaxe whilst gardening. Needless to say, I’m much more careful about what I do and what I lift these days. In the months and years that followed I made a steady recovery. But I was always reminded of the surgery, as I would continue to suffer some form of back pain. If I spent too much time on housework, I’d have to wear my back brace. Per the advice of the doctors I would load up my bed with pillows so I would have a slight incline whilst sleeping. Progress was slow and I reminded myself that the doctors told me I wouldn’t be the same after surgery. I learnt to live with it.

Revelation Throughout this whole time my husband and I slept on the same ‘orthopaedic’ mattress that had cost us around $2,000 from a reputable local retailer. Whilst we thought it had served us well, it never occurred to the specialists and chiropractors to ask what I slept on. I noticed that my back pain was worse in the morning or after exerting myself. I started to do some research and discovered that the term ‘orthopaedic mattress’ is a marketing spin. The mattress industry coined the term in the 1950s. There is no government regulation or standard that determines what an orthopaedic mattress should be.

Bettyjoe Cooper I visited stores here in the Bahamas, in the US and in Europe. But during my travels I figured out that I got my best sleep in hotels using memory foam mattresses. Some doctors promote the use of firmer mattresses for back pain. Yet a 2003 study from Spain surveying 313 adults stated: “A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic nonspecific low-back pain. A mediumfirm mattress provides good support while distributing pressure points on the body when lying in bed. However, a mattress that is too soft is just as bad for low back pain as a mattress that is too firm.” During my research, I learned that relieving pressure points during sleep helps. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Chiropractic medicine found a “significant improvement for back pain and stiffness, comfort, and sleep quality” after the subjects slept in new medium-firm mattresses for 28 days. So, finding a mattress with proper support is key to minimising pressure points. A 2008 study in Applied Ergonomics showed that the age and quality of bedding impacts back pain. Subjects who slept in new beds experienced less pain and more comfort than those sleeping on their older mattresses. And the average age of the mattress before replacement was 9.5 years. The study also stated: “It was found that for the cheapest category of beds, lower back pain was significantly more prominent than for the medium and higher priced beds.” A 2010 study also published in Applied Ergonomics found that the subjects experienced a 60 per cent improvement in back pain and stiffness after changing their regular mattresses for mediumfirm layered foam mattresses. The 12-week study showed progressive improvement while sleeping on

The wrong mattress can exacerbate back pain. the new mattresses. It concludes: “Additionally, the number of days per week of experiencing poor sleep and physical discomfort decreased significantly. It was concluded that sleep surfaces are related to sleep discomfort and that is indeed possible to reduce pain and discomfort and to increase sleep quality in those with chronic back pain by replacing mattresses based on sleeping position.” The bottom line was that for my personal back pain problem, everything pointed to a mattress that provided adequate support. A water bed was an option, but I didn’t like the feel nor the practicality of it. And replacing my old spring ‘plush-top orthopaedic’ mattress with another didn’t make sense. I was down to two options: memory foam or gel.

Life-changing I tried a lot of mattresses. And I mean a lot. There’s much marketing speak and pseudo-science out there. But after doing my research I have a single piece of advice for mattress buyers. That is to have a lie down in any mattress you are considering. I don’t mean poke it or feel it or sit on it. I mean take your shoes off and get in the bed like you would at home. If you are a side sleeper, lie on your side.

Live Mouth Smart

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orld Oral Health Day is recognised every year on March 20. It was launched in 2013 by the FDI World Dental Federation to help raise awareness of the importance of having good oral health and to highlight the significance a healthy mouth has on the entire body. World Oral Health day is promoted locally by national dental associations in over 140 countries worldwide. World Oral Health Day is important because 90 per cent of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases that can be avoided through prevention, detection and treatment. It is a day dental associations have a platform to take action and educate the public on their oral health status and stress treatment options to prevent disease. Oral health can be defined as

Dr Tamika Ferguson the health of the mouth. Having a healthy mouth allows you to speak, smile, chew and convey different emotions without discomfort and disease. No matter the age – two or 82 – our oral health is vital to our well-being.

People tend not to realise the severity an unhealthy mouth can pose on their lifestyle. Oral disease can impact all aspects of your life from your attitude at work/ school, to personal relationships or even enjoying a simple meal. It can also affect how you interact with others. If you are not confident in your smile, you may isolate yourself from others because you feel embarrassed about your teeth and people’s perception of your oral health. An unhealthy mouth not only affects your self-confidence but can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Therefore, keeping your mouth healthy is vital to your overall health. Each year a different theme is chosen for World Oral Health Day. The theme for 2017 is ‘Live Mouth Smart’. Live Mouth Smart empowers

Same for back sleepers, or stomach sleepers. Lie in the bed like you would naturally. Your body will tell you if it’s getting the right support in the right places. I did this, and either I didn’t like the mattresses or I couldn’t justify the cost of memory foam mattresses available at home. And it was expensive to import one due to the high duty rate. I realised that if I have the problem, so do thousands of other Bahamians. At a guess, we replace about 37,000 mattresses every year in this little country of ours. I was certain that back pain or poor sleep was a driving factor for change. So I went all in. I set up a whole new business to help people, like me, that needed a better nights’ sleep. Since I switched to a state of the art gel memory foam mattress, I no longer use a back brace. I no longer suffer the aches and pains. It’s been life-changing. My business, Brand New Mattress Co, only specialises in memory foam and gel mattresses. There’s not a spring in sight, nor will there ever be. It’s not only changed my life, I’m also honoured to have been able to help others. We’re the only Bahamian business that offers memory foam and gel mattresses exclusively. Customers sometimes ask for spring mattresses, likely because they are cheaper. But we are so passionate about the

efficacy and affordability of our products, we’d rather turn that business away. And a side benefit is that our mattresses don’t need a box spring.

people to take control of their oral health. It is geared toward influencing you to make decisions that will safeguard against oral diseases. By living mouth smart you understand the necessity of having good oral hygiene and how to avoid oral complications.

bacco, excessive amounts of alcohol and an unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet, high in sugar, is one of the main culprits in causing tooth decay. Consuming excessive amounts of sugar from snacks, processed food and soft drinks is a leading risk factor for oral disease. Smoking tobacco puts your mouth at an increased risk of gum disease and oral cancer. Tobacco can also cause teeth staining and bad breath.

How to live mouth smart? There are many ways to live mouth smart, two of these are: • Adopt good oral hygiene habits Good oral hygiene habits include the proper brushing and flossing of your teeth, professional cleanings and regular dental check-ups. Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. Visit your dentist every six months for your cleaning and check-up. • Control risk factors A lot of our behaviour and habits can pose a threat to our oral health such as the use of to-

What else did I learn? Earlier I mentioned the advice of the doctors to load up with pillows. What they didn’t tell me was that my mattress was only 75 per cent of my bed, the other 25 per cent was my pillow. People sleep in different positions and have different pillow requirements. Having the right mattress is one thing, having the right pillow is another. But with the right mattress/pillow combination, the improvement is synergistic. Pillow and mattress technology has moved on, I encourage people to come and learn about it. My spinal surgery took me on a journey that I never expected. I have used this experience and what I learned as a result to help others. The science is already proven, so I don’t need to worry about that. My role is to share my experience with others and to educate. • Bettyjoe Cooper is a self-published author and the founder of Brand New Mattress Co, a retailer of bedding products located in the Hummingbird Plaza, Coral Harbour Road, Nassau, Call 698

World Oral Health Day in the Bahamas was celebrated on March 25. Dentists, hygienists and other dental professionals screened at the Mall at Marathon from 2pm to 6pm. It was a day of oral health education coupled with fun activities and giveaways. A healthy mouth, free of oral disease, can be maintained by making smart choices when it comes to your oral hygiene and avoiding risk factors. Live mouth smart to enjoy a healthy, functional mouth throughout your lifetime.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, PAGE 11

Brides and grooms asked to ‘make a wish’ for annual Buttons show

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ore than 300 brides and grooms are busy preparing for the 29th annual Bahamas Bridal Show and its “A New Day” production at Meliá Nassau Beach Resort this Sunday. They are getting ready to meet 50 leading wedding and home suppliers in the ballroom, starting at 12noon. In addition to viewing the many exhibits – from furniture and photography to decorations, banking and formal wear – the capacity audience of nearly 1,000 persons will enjoy wedding demonstrations, game shows and win their share of over $30,000 in prizes. The main prize is $15,000 towards a new home by Arawak Homes. Some of the other major prizes registered couples will receive on Sunday include a three-night stay with breakfast for two at Double Tree by The Hilton, Tarrytown, New York; five honeymoon getaways from Hope Town Harbour Lodge in Abaco, Atlantis, Meliá Nassau Beach Resort, and the new Courtyard by Marriott in Nassau There will also be gifts from Beyond The Décor, including round-trip airfare for two to Long Island, a two-night stay at the Harbour Breeze Villas and a rental car; a wedding band from Jewels By The Sea; round-trip airfare by Bahamasair wherever the national airline flies, and a five-piece dining set from Lyn’s Furniture. Buttons Bridal & Formal Wear will be providing wedding gowns and tuxedos; Xa La Mode Wedding & Events will be giving away a full wedding planning service, and Template will be handing out $3,000 in assorted gifts from While every registered couple can’t be guaranteed gifts of their desire, every effort is being made to satisfy as many couples as possible. “Couples are encouraged to go online at www.buttonsformalwear. com or Bahamas Bridal Show Facebook page and ‘Make A Wish’,” said Makeva Wallace, show coordinator. “We want to help as

many couples get what they need for their wedding celebration and new home. This idea eliminates persons getting gift items they don’t need.” Couples can also register for the bridal show on the Deal Trakr app. “Sunday’s show will be one of the largest display of exhibitors we’ve had in over a decade,” said Mrs Wallace. “And, like the couples planning to attend, we are very excited about this. Photography and beauty care will dominate this year’s exhibition.” Photography exhibitors include Seleon Productions, Digital-Kafe Photography, iParty Photo Booth, Oh! Paparazzi Photo Booth, Braxton Gardiner Photography, Warren Grant Photography and Madistic Photography, the show’s official photographer. Providing all the beauty care one may need are Black Opal by Commonwealth Drugs & Medical Supplies, Estée Lauder from John Bull, Perfec-Tone, All Yours Virgin Remy, C*D*S Smiles, Beyond The Ordinary and Petra’s Universal Studio of Beauty, and the Eye Candy Makeup Store & Studio, which is once again doing the makeup for all the fashion show models. Bahama Fantasies will lead the group of decorators that include Beyond The Décor, Wildflowers Events & Occasions and Fairwinds Love & Elegant Settings. Exhibiting event planners are Xa La Mode Weddings & Events, De Ja Wedding Specialist, LUX Events and Les Occassions. Other exhibitors include Aliv, Kitchen & Table, TGS Print Studio, You-Nique Creations, Video Solutions and Master Mixx, providing all sound reinforcement at the show. “What we have planned on Sunday is certainly ‘A New Day’ for everyone attending the show,” said Mrs Wallace. “We have at least 18 first-time exhibitors, which is exciting. This year’s production will be an ultimate wedding experience, even for Buttons.”

Gharvish Sturrup and Marcia Hinsey

Kenny Tynes and Raquel Horton

Why having another baby is a good idea Today, I’m not talking to that two to three, or three to four type of mother. I’m talking about the ‘almost;’ new mom that is inevitably and absolutely gaga, goo-goo, and smitten with their child. The type of mom that never knew how amazing motherhood would be and is completely astonished at how quickly that, “Oh, I’m going to have my baby on my schedule” mentality goes out-the-door. If this is you, you’re probably being bombarded by the “are you going to have another one?” question. It’s OK to roll your eyes (on the inside) and yes, you are totally allowed to enjoy your first child for as long as you want to. Who wants two kids in diapers or two kids in college at the same time, right? Go on, take as long as you need, but if you think or worry that you may not ever feel the same way about having another child, the love that is, then think again, and let that thought go. Yes, you will. I can almost guarantee it. Here are a few things to mull over if you’re playing with the idea of having another baby: • Love has no limits. And there you go; it’s like ‘duh’, right? Your heart can hold as much love as you want it to; it’s not governed by any sort of capacity, it just exists, multiplies and grows. Thank goodness for that! Can you imagine if love ran out?

Bun In The Oven

Bianca Carter Holy moly, that would be terrible. • They have each other. It’s a tough world out there, wouldn’t it be a shame to face it all alone? It’s always better to have some family than no family. Your kids would share the same genetics and might actually be life-long friends.

Double the kids, double the fun and love

• They’ll learn to share. Let’s be honest, it sucks to share but it’s a good way to learn some life skills so that we don’t become too selfish. When you don’t always get your way, and you have to compromise and share things, you develop a certain sense of empathy for others.

• Playtime is good. Remember when the ‘Frozen’ movie came out? I must have watched that film 50 times. Sometimes, I would sing “Let it Go” over and over in my head; it was stuck in there. Well, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you had two kids

that could watch their movies together, as many times as they want, and you could actually read a book. Sweet! Having more than one child is really a blessing. If you’re able to, you should definitely do it. I can’t tell you how complete your

life will feel when you decide to extend your family. Sure, it’s a little more work and more money, but it’s so worth it. Love and hugs!

Do you have the action habit? When it comes to habits there are two that rise to the top: one is the habit of talking, the other is the habit of action. Which habit do you possess? It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out that a large number of people are burdened by the talking habit. So much so that many of them are ignorant to the fact that the action habit exists and is way more powerful than mere words. Without knowing about something, it is difficult to benefit from it. This means that before you can adopt the action habit, you must know that this habit is an option or choice that you can make. A habit is defined as a routine behaviour that is repeated regularly. In other words, habits are what we repeatedly do; much of which is done on autopilot. Once it becomes a habit you do it without even thinking. Consider the

Michelle Miller Motivationals

Michelle M Miller vast number of folks that talk and talk and talk;years later they are still talking, having done nothing to change their situation.

Same goes for the habit of ‘praying about it’. Praying without taking action is just as futile. As the good book says, “Faith without works is dead.” The more important point here is to understand that we are born to act. Taking action is the human way. I know for sure that having the action habit is a central ingredient in my capacity to live an empowered life. Although such a life is readily available to all of us, only those who adopt the action habit will take the plunge. Habits are like arrows – steadily moving towards a particular outcome. Whether positive or negative, once the habit remains in play the results must be the same. The results you are living today are based on the habits that you have in play. An example, if you have the habit of spending frivo-

lously, the result of money problems is automatic. Similarly, the habit of prudent spending produces the result of better money management. Having the action habit is not so much about just taking action. Instead, it is about making deliberate action a habitual part of your life. Changing your habits literally changes your life. As I said, endless talking amounts to a life in the wasteland, whereas action habit builds you a city of confidence. This is the preferred habit of successful people everywhere. Yes, while habits are hard to break, they are also hard to build. However, if you are willing to assess your habits and be brutally honest about which habits you harbour and which serve you best, you can begin the deleting and rebuilding process. This is im-

portant because no two opposing habits can exist at the same time. One must be deleted before the other can be erected. Leader to leader, understand that your habits determine your destiny. You have full authority to adopt those habits that moves you towards your best self. The action habit is such a habit. By adopting the action habit you find the audacity to live an empowered life. Yes, you can do it! What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or call 429-6770. • Michelle M Miller is a certified life coach, communication and leadership expert. Visit www. talktomichellemiller.com or call 1-888-620-7894; mail can be sent to PO Box CB-13060.

SECTION D

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017

Author ‘anoints’ readers with her Christian knowledge By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

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AHAMIAN author Tanya Sweeting hopes to convince readers that the path to an enjoyable, satisfying and fulfilling life comes from a personal relationship with God. Ms Sweeting drives this message home in her first book, “Unction to Function”, while also reminding readers that they can utilise their gifts once they allow themselves to be directed by God. A meet-and-greet and signing of the book was held on Saturday at the 100% Bible Book Store. “Unction to Function” is another avenue that Ms Sweeting is tapping into in her effort to encourage people to find God. When she is not writing down her thoughts, she is directing New Image, a development organisation that seeks to mould the minds of young women and show them how successful and accomplished they can be, both spiritually and physically. “The ability to do something is not of our own, but of God – to function in the spirit of God by moving in the unction God has for us to live a healthy, satisfying enjoyable life,” she said. “We often shout and laugh when we are happy or on cloud nine because of the accomplishments in our lives. This book will teach how to become and stay successful, healthy and loving, so the happy feeling can pass on to others and the anointing can spread or grow. The heart is full of a wide spectrum of emotions. If we channel our emotions in seeking after God, our Heavenly Father, an explosion of satisfaction will overwhelm us. We will be satisfied in our souls with more than happiness but with unconditional,

Author Tanya Sweeting with Bishop A Samuel Rolle.

Photos/Shawn Hanna

The cover of “Unction to Function”

First-time author Tanya Sweeting hosts a book singing for her debut publication, “Unction to Function”.

never-ending love from God.” The “Unction to Function” addresses those who are really pressing and somewhat missing in the world today. The information in the book helps bring perspective to the challenges that we face. “From a young age, growing up in the church, I heard a popular local preacher say very often that you have the unction. I always wondered what he meant by it. First, I thought it was a word that he just made up. I didn’t understand that he was speaking about something very positive,” Ms Sweeting explained. “Unction sounds like an action word, so it means that I must get ready or prepare myself to do something.” After digging a little

deeper and studying the Word of God, Ms Sweeting said received a greater revelation that she then turned into a book. “This book describes what is really meant by the ‘Unction to Function’ under the spirit of the Lord that gives you the power to get wealth, warfare power, healing power and the power of love,” she said. Ms Sweeting said whenever she shared her knowledge with others, she would always receive requests to provide pointers towards living a successful and godly life. “With the reaction from the listeners, I decided to write the entire teaching, and more, in this book with the hopes that it can be very helpful to the readers and their growth or expansion will explode,” she said.

Pre-teen girls encouraged to be resilient By ALESHA CADET

“There are girls who experience and witness horrid acts in our innercities...Resilience Girls is that safe haven in the midst of life’s challenges, in the midst of the violence or crime in the communities, and in the midst of poverty.”

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

It was while driving through inner-city communities and seeing the condition of children growing up in that environment that Indira Archer was inspired to make a difference in the lives of young girls throughout the country. Through a character enrichment programme called the Resilience Girls Club it is her hope to help nurture, cultivate and empower preteen girls. “I look on the faces of our young girls and see the hurt in their eyes. I heard their cry for help. There are a lot of young girls who are hurting and many were never told that they are loved,” said Ms Archer. “We have created a loving atmosphere to inspire girls to overcome their circumstances. Resilience Girls is my vision create op-

Young girls take part in the character enrichment programme called the Resilience Girls Club portunities for girls who live in low-income communities to receive equal access through character enrichment programmes.” The organisation has previously helped children with self-esteem building techniques and character development exercises by way of fun, creative activities such

as art dance, drama and poetry. After partnering with the Yellow Elder Primary School, the group now has a total of 40 pre-teen girls enrolled. Having experienced many success stories since launching in 2010, Ms Archer said there have been many Bahamian girls

who have entered the programme with self-esteem issues, emotional challenges and delinquent tendencies, but left as confidant young ladies who are now excelling academically. On a national level, she said the club has assisted in the structuring of programmes for Urban Re-

newal, has helped formulate mentoring activities in Grand Bahama, and has established a weekly programme at the D W Davis Junior High School as a part of a Ministry of Education initiative. “There are girls who experience and witness horrid acts in our inner-cities. Our mission is to create a positive intervention in the lives of our girls. Resilience Girls is that safe haven in the midst of life’s challenges, in the midst of the violence or crime in the communities, and in the midst of poverty. Also in the midst of degradation, there is a little light called Resilience, and we are going to let it shine in the dark areas of their pre teen lives,” said Ms Archer. She believes that many children that are not experiencing the necessary character development in their homes. Ms Archer wants pre-teens to know that they can indeed overcome

hardships, as they are intelligent, beautiful, wonderfully made and filled with purpose. “Resilience Girls will have the mindset that they are designed on purpose by a great God and there is nothing they cannot achieve. As the founder of Resilience Girls, I am satisfied that I am doing my part as a community builder and I truly believe that each individual was designed on purpose. The Resilience Girls empowerment programme is aligned with my life’s purpose; it gives me great fulfillment to help girls,” she said. Future plans for the Resilience Girls Club include a double dutch jump rope competition to be held later this year. Group members said they are excited to use this event as a physical activity to captivate and keep the interest of pre-teen girls.