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Aviation’s ‘golden Briland developer: Ex- opportunity’ with manager cost me $2m COVID-19 reply

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

HARBOUR Island developer says his former $21,000-per month project manager’s “negligence” in failing to obtain key permits has cost him more than $2m and delayed the project by ten months. Michael Wiener, principal of 4M Harbour Island Ltd, is blaming Bernard Ross, who has a history of convictions and run-ins with law enforcement, for all the woes and ills that have beset his controversial Briland Residences & Marina

• 4M chief slams ex-convict’s ‘negligence’ • Says failed on permits, environment plan • And created ‘strong opposition’ to project development over the past year. The developer’s legal filings with the central California federal court, which have been obtained by Tribune Business, accuse Mr Ross and his wife, Holly, of failing to obtain all the required construction and dredging permits necessary for the multi-million dollar investment. Mr Ross is also alleged to have failed to obtain an Environmental

Management Plan (EMP) for the marina and second home project, and caused its planning approvals to be quashed because he applied to the wrong regulatory agency. Mr Wiener also claims that the man he once described as his “local representative” in The Bahamas helped create “strong opposition” to Briland Residences & Marina by ignoring the developer’s objections to publishing a

site plan showing a canal having been cut into Harbour Island from the sea. “Mr Ross breached his duty by negligently performing such acts as applying for the site plan for the project, and by publishing the site plan showing the canal,” Mr Wiener and his attorneys blasted. “This publication was done over the objection of the counter-claimant [Mr Wiener].

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‘Divine intervention’ need on COVID-19 By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A TRADE union leader last night said The Bahamas’ requires “divine intervention” to counter a COVID-19 economic fall-out that could reach “Biblical proportions”. Bernard Evans, the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB) president, described the pandemic’s far-reaching impact as being akin to “two to three category five hurricanes going on at the same time and lasting for two to three months”. Disclosing to Tribune Business that he is “scared and a little bit frightened” as to COVID-19’s impact on a jobless rate forecast by the prime minister to hit at least 30 percent, Mr Evans warned that the unemployed

• Union chief: Fall-out could hit ‘Biblical proportions’ • Likens pandemic to ‘2-3 category five hurricanes’ • Reveals he’s ‘scared’ for 4-5,000 school leavers

BERNARD EVANS ranks will soon be swelled by another 4,000-5,000 high school graduates joining the workforce with no place to go. Suggesting that The Bahamas will need “very high-up intervention to carry us through”, the union leader

Three-year ‘VAT credit’ to boost Family Islands By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE government is being urged to use a three-year system of VAT credits to rescue Family Island businesses and encourage investment by their owners in a bid to revive these economies post-COVID-19. The proposal is contained in documents submitted to the government and its Economic Recovery Committee by the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce, which says it is “convinced” that “the Family Islands offer The Bahamas the greatest

opportunity for recovery following the pandemic”. Basing this on the total absence of Family Island COVID-19 cases (apart from Bimini), the Eleuthera Chamber added that their sparse populations were made for social distancing protocols while also often attracting “higher-end clientele” through a tourism product geared towards boutique resorts, second homes and vacation rentals. These segments of the tourism market, together with private aviation and boating, are seen as the ones

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Pandemic ‘complicates’ Abaco’s Dorian rebuild By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE COVID-19 pandemic has “created a lot of complications” for Abaco’s post-Dorian rebuilding with another hurricane season just weeks away, Tribune Business was told yesterday. Lance Pinder, Abaco Big Bird Poultry’s operations manager, told Tribune Business: “Everything has really slowed because COVID-19 has come through now, and I’m driving through town looking at everything. They are getting more debris moved out, but it is still slow.

“A lot of people are still without power or water, living in tents. It’s rough for a lot of people over here now. I wouldn’t say COVID19 stopped all of the work, but it slowed a lot of it up, for sure, no doubt about it. It created a lot of complications for people here.” Mr Pinder urged the Central Bank of The Bahamas to relax customer due diligence requirements when it came to opening bank accounts, so that Abaconians are more easily able to purchase building materials and other essential supplies.

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said both the NCTUB’s affiliate unions and those belonging to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) were meeting within the next 24 hours to develop unionised labour’s recommendations on what the government should do about the rapidly-approaching 90-day permanent worker termination deadline. Reforms to the Employment Act passed by the Christie administration require that employers pay full severance/termination pay to workers who have been sent home/furloughed once that 12-13 week deadline is hit. Given that the

hotel and tourism industry, in particular, shows no sign of re-opening any time soon, thousands of workers may have to be terminated by early to mid-June unless legal reforms are passed. The private sector has urged the government to double the period during which unemployed persons are eligible for National Insurance Board (NIB) unemployment benefits to 26 week, as it did in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian for Abaco and Grand Bahama residents. However, Mr Evans called

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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamian aviation industry may take 12-18 months to fully re-open, an industry operator forecast yesterday, adding that COVID-19 presents “a golden opportunity” to realise the sector’s potential. Anthony K Hamilton, president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business it was critical for all regulators, agencies and private sector stakeholders to settle on “an agreed approach” to the industry’s development following the pandemic. Speaking after a meeting held yesterday that was organised by The Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Hamilton said all “silos” in the sector needed to be broken down so that information is freely shared between all participants. Arguing that this is in the only way to achieve a unified approach, he added that the challenges facing the industry’s rebound are “multi-faceted”. The meeting featured a “pleading cry” from some agencies for extra human and other resources, given that Customs and Immigration will have to take on the responsibility of screening passengers at the border to detect possible COVID-19 cases. Mr Hamilton pointed out that enforcing social distancing inside airport terminals would also have to be resolved, especially given the tendency of family members and others to see persons off on overseas flight. He added that Family Island terminals,

given their small size, presented a particular challenge on this issue. “We have a lot of work to do,” Mr Hamilton told this newspaper. “There needs to be a unified approach in concert with this right now. We need to ensure there’s proper inclusion and consultation, and this meeting today [yesterday] opened the door to that. “This is a golden opportunity to get aviation steered in the right direction so that the country can fully maximise the opportunities for the sector, but there’s definitely some serious challenges in the front of us. One of the primary things coming out of the meeting was the lack of resources. It was a pleading cry from some of the agencies.” Mr Hamilton said the concerns voiced were not just financial but related to securing adequate trained personnel and equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), which will be necessary to protect the likes of Immigration and Customs staff when screening passengers on incoming flights for COVID-19. “Having a proper system in place is critical to ride out of this situation and resources are lacking,” he added. “There’s a serious outcry for resources in addition to financial resources. The proper alignment of human resources is a key thing, and the proper management of the resources we do have. If we mismanage this we will create a deeper hole. “The communication aspect of this is critical. This is the beginning of the

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PAGE 2, Thursday, May 14, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Giving pictures a sharper touch CAPTURING sharp images is ideal but not realistic in all photography scenarios. Taking a picture with little to no blur is particularly hard in low light conditions, settings where the colour of your subject approximates the colour of the background, or in action shots where you need to account for motion. There are countless ways to sharpen an image, but which one is correct? And how much sharpening do you need? It is time to clear up the confusion surrounding sharpening images once and for all. Fortunately, it is incredibly easy to sharpen a shot in Photoshop. In fact, it only takes a few easy steps. Once you learn this little trick, you will want to

sharpen every image. All you need to know is how to drag a few sliders to get great image sharpening results. Pay attention to the noise in your image when sharpening. Before we discuss how to sharpen an image with Unsharp Mask, it is important to note that sharpening an image is not the same thing as adjusting the focus. The best way to judge image sharpening is to view your image at the 100 percent “zoom” level. In the Filter menu, choose Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. In the Unsharp Mask dialog box: • Drag the Amount slider to set the strength of the sharpening effect. • Drag the Radius slider

to set the width of the sharpening effect at the image’s edges. • Drag the Threshold slider to the right to minimise the sharpening of image elements you do not want to emphasise, such as grain in the sky. Save your work Save the image in PSD or TIFF format to retain layers. Tips to pay attention to: Thinner edges make the increased contrast from the ‘Amount’ value less obvious, while thicker edges make it more obvious. Keep in mind that the printed version of an image will always need more sharpening than the same image viewed online. That is because the pixels appear much smaller in print than they do on a computer

screen, so more sharpening is needed to get the same overall result. Like the amount value, the correct “radius” setting will depend on the size of your image, and whether the image is being sharpened for print or for the Internet. Remember that pixels are smaller when printed than they are on a computer screen, so the same “radius” value will create edges that look thicker on your screen than they will in print. Ultimately, almost every photo taken can benefit from some amount of sharpening. But no matter what method is used, Photoshop cannot bring back or add any new detail to the photo. Photoshop can only create the illusion of sharpness by increasing the contrast of

Water leak contractor maintains full staffing

project manager, Mario Tavera. “With the assistance of the Water & Sewerage Corporation we were able to secure that approval, but we knew that additional measures would need to be taken in order to maintain our commitment to health and safety.” Miya Bahamas immediately sourced masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for its staff - all of which were obtained through Bahamian providers. It has also reduced the size of teams in the field to ensure the necessary social distancing

protocols are maintained. “Following mandated emergency orders and regulations, we’ve reduced the size of our field teams but we’ve also made some changes to the way those teams are allowed to operate,” Mr Tavera said. “This has meant limiting contact with customers’ property and also shifting our focus to the remote maintenance of the assets as much as possible. “As more and more people are relying on their water supply in the fight against COVID-19, our contingency plan - which relies on remote monitoring - gives precedence to areas which require immediate attention. We are prepared and will continue to adjust our contingency plans to ensure minimal impact from COVID-19 moving forward.” Miya Bahamas began its mission to improve the efficiency and quality of potable water service provision by the Water & Sewerage Corporation, and address critical sewerage needs in New Providence, in 2012 with financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Miya Bahamas has so far replaced thousands of faulty service connections;

THE contractor responsible for slashing leaks from the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s system by two-thirds has stepped up COVID-19 protection for staff who have all been retained at full salaries during the pandemic. Miya Bahamas said it had moved to limit its team’s interaction with the public to ensure all are protected as it continues its daily routine of leak

detection, maintenance of non-revenue water assets previously installed, and ensuring correct pressure management throughout the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s system. “When curfew and lockdown conditions were introduced in mid-March, our first order of business was to obtain government clearance for our 18 staff members to continue their work,” said Miya Bahamas

edge pixels, making it seem as if there is more detail in the image. Finally, there are really no rules or settings that you should always use. However, the amount of sharpening that looks good depends on the contrast of the texture of the image. The only thing that seems to hold true in most cases is your discretion and subtle adjustments. Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game. NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com ABOUT COLUMNIST: Deidre M. Bastian is a professionally-trained graphic designer/marketing co-ordinator and certified life coach with qualifications of M.Sc.,

The Art of Graphix BY DEIDRE M BASTIAN

B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of The Bahamas, Nova Southeastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas.

AS part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Miya Bahamas has introduced new protocols for leak inspectors conducting fieldwork, which includes the use of personal protective equipment. Photo: MIYA BAHAMAS/Barefoot Marketing disconnected thousands of illegal and dormant accounts; implemented a comprehensive and affordable maintenance plan; and installed cutting edge equipment for monitoring and controlling the water supply. As of 2019, the

island-wide improvement plans reduced the amount of non-revenue water loss while also improving water pressure and quality. Losses from the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s system were slashed from 6.87m to 2.01m imperial gallons per day.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 14, 2020, PAGE 3

BPL union chief: ‘Don’t be afraid’ outage is trend By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE head of Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) line staff union yesterday reassured Bahamians that Tuesday’s New Providencewide power outage is not a preview of summer 2020, and added: “Don’t be afraid.” Kyle Wilson, the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union’s (BEWU) president, told Tribune Business that the event was “a blip” and nothing for Bahamian businesses and households “to concern themselves with at this time”. “I’m not fully aware of all details concerning the outage but, realistically, from time to time, faults happen in the system,” he explained. “You can have persons who get into car accidents, people hit power poles, or they might have hit a transformer or something like that, and sometimes they get damaged. These things happen in the system. “As a consumer and someone who works in the generation field, and as union president, I’m not concerned in the least bit or frightened to say the least. I’m in generation and I’m a consumer, too, and I feel confident in BPL. I see no issues going ahead in the foreseeable future. “There is nothing that I can really speak to. I’m at ground zero in generation, and there is no issue I would have at this time. Things happen. It’s probably a blip in the system. I would say to the Bahamian people to not be afraid; it is nothing to concern themselves with at this time.” BPL, in its official statement, blamed the outage on the transition to a new substation at Gladstone Road and Fire Trail Road. To take the old Gladstone Road substation off-line, and tie the new one into the grid, it first had to “isolate the circuit” that fed the former from its Skyline substation. Tribune Business was told that a BPL employee, or employees, incorrectly disconnected a circuit that was still live. This resulted in the breakers designed to protect the utility’s engines tripping, taking the whole of New Providence off-line for several hours. Desmond Bannister, minister of works, told this

WHITNEY HEASTIE newspaper: “We’re very fortunate none of them died in the incident.” And a BPL source, speaking on condition of anonymity, added: “It was human error. The guys came down to Skyline to switch the circuit and pulled the live circuit. The breaker tripped back at the engines as a result.” Whitney Heastie, BPL’s chief executive, last night echoed Mr Wilson’s sentiments in a statement that confirmed the island-wide outage was caused by “an electrical fault” as crews sought to tie-in the new substation. He pledged that it was no reflection of how BPL will perform this summer. “First, generation was not the cause of this event. This was not load shedding,” he reassured. “BPL continues its steady improvement. We started by firming up our generation fleet. We all know the state of disrepair the fleet was in, and we all accept that things could not have been allowed to persist in that way. So we acted, starting with generation. “As you get generation squared away, we start to expose the other areas where we still need to do some work. Our transmission and distribution (T&D) system is vulnerable. Overhead lines, poles, transformers: during extreme conditions, they will get impacted. “There are going to be parts of the island that are affected, but we want to make it clear that this (May 12 outage) was not a generation supply issue, and that we are working steadily to harden the T&D system as we are able,” Mr Heastie added. “We spent a significant sum of money on upgrading our generation fleet.

The hardening of our T&D infrastructure requires the same type of financial injection. This is one of the major reasons the Rate Reduction Bond is such a vital part of our long-term strategy.” Mr Wilson, meanwhile, said: “BPL is doing the best that it can under the conditions, and so far we have been providing reliable, sustainable power to the Bahamian people under these COVID-19 conditions. We have to face the same conditions as the people, and we have to try practicing social distancing and work. “Usually we have situations where we can’t practice social distancing because we have to work in tight spaces to get these things done. But I can assure that BPL staff are out there working hard, and hats off to them. I am proud of the members of my union for the job they are doing so far under the conditions we are working in. It is not ideal conditions, in no way shape or form, but we are working.”

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Briland developer: Exmanager cost me $2m FROM PAGE ONE “As a result of this publication, counter-claimant’s project received strong opposition to its development, which has resulted in the work on the development being stopped since June 2019. As a result of Mr Ross’s negligence and these breaches, the entire project has been delayed more than ten months and suffered damages as a result thereof in excess of $2m.” And Mr Wiener also accused Mr Ross and his wife of breaching a previous agreement with him by disclosing details of 4M Harbour Island Ltd’s Heads of Agreement with the government - a document that he insisted was secret and should not be disclosed. And he also claimed that one of the couple’s attorneys had provided Bahamian government officials with details of the Briland Residences &

Marina project that had never been disclosed by the developer. “At various dates after June 10, 2019, cross-defendants [the Ross’s]... disclosed and miscommunicated to third parties the contents of a document entitled Heads of Agreement with the Bahamian government, which is not a public document,” Mr Wiener’s legal filings allege. “Further, cross-defendants other attorney has had communications with government officials concerning details of the development that were not public record.” The documents do not reveal what these alleged “non-public” details are, but Mr Wiener’s assertion that the Heads of Agreement for his project are supposed to be kept secret may both surprise and cause disquiet among many Bahamians. There is a strong belief among many Bahamians

that Heads of Agreements with foreign investors/ developers should be tabled in Parliament in the interests of full transparency and accountability, so that citizens can see what the government has negotiated on their behalf - especially since these deals involve tax concessions and other national assets, such as land. However, some observers view Heads of Agreements as a device to enable governments to circumvent parliamentary scrutiny of investment deals. And the Minnis administration has yet to table the agreement for the Briland Residences & Marina. The wide-ranging allegations against the Ross’s are contained in Mr Wiener’s counter-claim to the lawsuit filed against him by the couple in late 2019. They are accusing the 4M Harbour Island principal of failing to make a combined $1m in payments to them as

part of a settlement agreement that would see the couple exit their roles in the project. Documents attached to Mr Wiener’s counter-claim, which is being vehemently denied, disclose that Mr Ross - who was convicted of heroin possession in the US in 1976, and served a prison sentence - was effectively handed the keys to the project and given wide-ranging responsibilities. In his role as “development manager”, in which he was joined by his wife, Mr Ross was charged with selecting the project’s architects, engineers and contractors despite the two sides’ acknowledging he had no experience in these areas and was not licensed as such. Mr Ross was also left to obtain the necessary project permits; approve invoices submitted by all third-party contractors; oversee the preparation of plans and construction documents; and “recommend potential lenders and loan terms for the project”. In return, he and his wife were paid a monthly fee of $21,333. And, had they obtained all necessary approvals and investment incentives (tax breaks) under the Hotels Encouragement Act and the Family Islands Development Encouragement Act within nine months of signing the agreement with Mr

Wiener, they would have been paid a one-off $44,000 “permitting success fee”. If the Ross’s had seen the project through to completion, and awarding of its occupancy certificate, documents seen by Tribune Business show they would also have been given the opportunity to acquire a unit in Briland Residences & Marina at the cost it took to construct it. To help finance the purchase, Mr Wiener was to have provided them with a six percent interest-only mortgage payable over five years. However, the parties’ relationship seems to have irretrievably soured, and court documents indicate that they are currently heading towards a January 2021 trial in the California courts with multiple as-yet unnamed witnesses coming from The Bahamas. The dispute between them came to a head in May 2019, when Mr Wiener allegedly sought to terminate their agreement and they argued over the amount of compensation due to the Ross’. A settlement and release agreement to avoid litigation was agreed one month later but, after making the first payment, the couple alleged that Mr Wiener has subsequently reneged on the deal - something he denies. An April 15, 2020, court

filing summing up the battle, said Mr Wiener had made the “first net payment of $1.319m to the Ross’s last June to settle the dispute over the latter’s “management of a massive real estate development project in The Bahamas”. However, two subsequent payments of $500,000 have not been paid. 4M’s Briland Residences & Marina project has also been subject to Judicial Review challenge in the Bahamian Supreme Court by rival Harbour Island hotelier, Benjamin Simmons, and Briland Island Responsible Development. Both sides agreed that the site plan approval initially granted for the project should be quashed, having been wrongly granted by the government’s Town Planning Committee instead of the Harbour Island District Council. Confusion then arose over whether the council subsequently granted site plan approval, with councillors having voted in favour of doing so but nothing was produced in writing. Tribune Business reached out to Mr Wiener through his spokesperson for additional comment yesterday, but none was received before press time last night. There are suggestions that construction activity may restart shortly on the project.

US supply chain woe hits Bahamas retailers

“But because a lot of our suppliers in the US aren’t open, what’s happening is we won’t be able to get the supplies in that we need and which we’re running out of. We sell plywood, sheet rock, joint compound and roofing supplies, but right now our suppliers aren’t able to sell us any more stuff.” Acknowledging that her business is at risk of running out of stock, Ms Davis added: “That’s a big problem. What’s keeping us going is the rock and sand and cement supplies right now. “The only thing else is just the fact that they need to open up a little more for other persons, even the small businesses who do hair and nails. They need to open them up as well even if they only give them the two days or so.” Joe Stuart, Eagle Electric’s general manager, said: “We have been open a little while now. The beginning part of the year was good as a result of the storm [Hurricane Dorian]. Unfortunately we had to make money on the

headache of other people, but it has been good. “Revenue is down slightly from last year. As a people we will make it work, it is just a bit more challenging than we are used to, but if we have to make it work we will.” Mr Stuart said Eagle Electric has made several changes to comply with COVID19 health protocols, and added: “At the moment we have a cleaning staff that is on every day while we are open that does the cleaning and wiping down as customers come in. “Every five to ten minutes they wipe down the counters. So we already made most of the changes, but it is just the small changes that makes the experience more comfortable for the customers.” Confirming that he, too, was suffering supply chain disruption in the US, Mr Stuart said: “We have shortages because some of the stores in the US are not fully open yet or are short staffed, so some of the materials and items we are having challenges trying to accommodate.”

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net SUPPLY shortages due to COVID-19’s impact on the US are hitting Bahamian hardware and building materials stores, several operators confirmed yesterday. Flora Davis, general manager of Davis Plumbing and Hardware, told Tribune Business: “Business is going OK. It was much better than last year, because it’s only certain places open. But when we had the shutdown it was a little hectic. Nobody was making any money and we had to lay-off. But the two days that the prime minister gave us [to open] was okay, and now with the week where we can do curb side it is going well.

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Aviation’s ‘golden opportunity’ with COVID-19 reply FROM PAGE ONE process we still have a ways to go. We need to come together to approach this and really get out of silos. This was the beginning today [yesterday]. Primarily the meeting was geared towards how we re-open. “That requires an exhaustive check-list before we get there, and means communication has to be pretty good. The gaps that exist, and the gaps that previously existed, need to be addressed. The sharing of information and being open to receiving approaches and recommendations...” Mr Hamilton predicted “it’s going to be a year to 18 months” before “aviation in general” fully re-opens in The Bahamas, adding that the industry “finds ourselves in a new normal” and needs to treat

Thursday, May 14, 2020, PAGE 5 the COVOD-19 recovery as “an evolution to get it right”. In particular, he warned against ignoring aviation’s contribution to the economies and societies in the Family Islands. Cautioning the government and the authorities against a “Nassau-centric” approach, Mr Hamilton said: “It needs a total approach otherwise we will do ourselves some serious damage. “We have to regroup, and it has to be a co-ordinated regrouping, so that we can have a valuable proposition moving forward. It’s multifaceted. The operators need to be adequately prepared to function otherwise we will have another problem.” He explained that aircraft turnaround was likely to take longer due to the need to properly sanitise planes, which will alter the timelines previously used by commercial aircraft. And “certain protocols” would need to be implemented and understood by passengers before they arrived at airports for their flight.

“Our environment is very unique,” Mr Hamilton told Tribune Business. “We can’t just plonk something in from abroad. It’s a good challenge. I often say that in the industry, as fast as you observe an aircraft moving, we move that fast. “The sector is kind of at a standstill, and we now have to rebuild. It’s not easy at all. There are a number of moving parts when you look at human resources, and having to phase that on with social distancing. You cannot jam everyone in a terminal. “That gets more complicated in the Family Islands. You’re talking smaller terminals, and that’s a challenge in and of itself, plus proper policing of it. I believe we can do it, but we must communicate properly and allow proper access so that we have an opportunity for inclusion and come up with something. If we have disagreements we will not get the best out of it. We must have an agreed approach going forward.”

Pandemic ‘complicates’ Abaco’s Dorian rebuild FROM PAGE ONE “The banking situation here was already difficult,” he said. “You could fly to Nassau every so often and deal with your business, but you can’t do that now. I really wish the Central Bank would relax some of the new account requirements now. We need bank accounts to be able to get funds and buy materials; to wire money to the US to buy stuff. It is difficult, very difficult.” Nakia Wong, owner/operator of Hope Town Canvas, added: “Since COVID-19 our store has been closed, and many of our sewers have been making masks. We are working with an NGO (nongovernmental organisation) called Idea Relief. They are in Abaco providing food to communities, and they have hired some of our sewers to make masks to give out. They

are paying our sewers and the masks are being given out to the community.” Looking ahead to the daunting task of rebuilding Abaco, she said: “There is definitely still a lot of work needed to be done. For us personally we were fairly blessed with the amount of damage to our building. There are people with much more damage than our building sustained during the storm. “For that, our business is still intact and our retail space is still there, and we were able to still re-open. We still had a lot of tourists and our market is mostly tourists. We sustained little physical damage compared to most structures in Hope Town where we are at, and for us personally that was a huge blessing.” Ms Wong continued: “Most businesses are

closed, and I guess people are working on their personal rebuild. A lot of people are working on their homes. It is not an easy time, as there still is no power here, so that’s huge as people are living off of generators for the most part or trying to invest in some solar. It’s not easy as people are struggling for a normal life as most are out of work.” As to Abaco’s readiness for the 2020 hurricane season, she added: “I would say there is concern, but I also feel that our fire and rescue is as prepared as they can be. We have a rotation of police officers that come on the island. We live on a small island and there is usually one police officer. I’m not sure what they would do if a hurricane would come again, but I guess it is up to personal responsibility for the individual. “

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Three-year ‘VAT credit’ to boost Family Islands FROM PAGE ONE likely to rebound quicker post-COVID-19 than the likes of the cruise industry and New Providence mega resorts, and the chamber paper suggested many Bahamians “would relish the opportunity to live and work on the Family Islands” due to cheaper real estate prices and the “simpler, quieter life”. To stimulate economic recovery and investment, it called for the government to introduce a 36-month system of VAT credits targeted specifically at Family Island entrepreneurs to encourage them to hire and expand their businesses. “Bahamian businesses need to retool if they plan to succeed in the changing global landscape. The upgrades needed are costly, and many businesses cannot afford them given the current tax regime,” the Eleuthera Chamber argued. “Additionally, more than 75 percent of Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce members who recently participated in our COVID-19 impact survey noted that they experienced revenue decline of 90 percent or more as a direct result of the measures imposed in response to the pandemic. If existing Family Island businesses are going to recover, The Bahamas government will need to implement various measures to stimulate the economy.” The Eleuthera Chamber urged the government to allow all businesses to use a VAT credit “for capital investments or loan repayments for the purpose of improving their company’s technology, physical plant, infrastructure, developing delivery programmes and increasing energy efficiency”. Suggesting that this be accompanied by the waiver of import tariffs on any capital equipment, it added:

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ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,141.59 | CHG: -0.20 | %CHG: -0.01 | YTD: -90.01 | YTD%: -4.03

“Special consideration ought to be made for businesses on the brink of collapse. It is proposed that, for these businesses, the government also consider utilising the VAT credit for inventory, rent, and operational expenses. “It is suggested that the VAT credit be offered to all existing businesses on the Family Islands that meet the requirements outlined for a period of 36 months This, we believe, will help Family Island businesses make necessary investments or repay mortgages.” The Eleuthera Chamber added that the amount of VAT credit made available could be reduced progressively, dropping from the full 100 percent in the first year to 75 percent in the second and 50 percent in the third. To qualify, it said companies had to be registered with the Department of Inland Revenue and possess a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), as well as proper Business Licences and other documents. “It is suggested that a domestic investor investing in a business on a Family Island with a capital investment of greater than $100,000 receive a VAT ‘rebate’ in support of recovering a maximum 50 percent of the total investment over a five-year period not to exceed 50 percent of its total VAT due to the Bahamas Government in any period,” the Eleuthera Chamber said. Whether the government would go for such a wide-ranging incentives initiative is unclear especially since the Public Treasury will be desperate for every cent of revenue it can get amid the continued tourism shutdown and ongoing

COVID-19 restrictions. Nevertheless, the Eleuthera Chamber also called for the government to stimulate real estate, construction and associated industries by eliminating the ten percent VAT transaction tax on all Family Island purchases by Bahamians over the next 24 months. It recommended that the tax rate by halved for foreign purchases over the next year, along with a 20 percent cut to the real property tax rate for three years provided that construction starts within a year of the acquisition and is completed within the 36-month time period. “Construction on Family Islands must be stimulated in order to create the economic activity void of tourism for at least the next 24 -36 months. To this end, we would like to suggest that all construction materials be imported duty and VAT-free to any Family Island for the next three years,” the Eleuthera Chamber added. Besides reducing the financial burden on the National Insurance Board (NIB) and the government, the Eleuthera Chamber said its proposal would boost employment and economic activity as well as ensuring the “redistribution of the Bahamian economy through encouraging businesses in Nassau to move to the Family Islands to take advantage of the tax breaks”. It added that the qualifying criteria for the “VAT credit” would also help to expand the tax base through more registered companies once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

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BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.45 22.65 7.00 6.75 2.60 2.00 5.47 12.77 6.17 4.50 10.30 3.64 5.10 10.88 8.15 16.99 9.40 4.25 15.21

52WK LOW 3.35 20.91 5.50 5.39 1.78 0.67 2.00 10.21 5.60 3.62 5.41 2.53 1.85 8.00 6.63 13.04 6.98 3.14 13.90

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 Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Finco Focol J. S. Johnson

SYMBOL AML APD BPF BWL BOB BBL CAB CIB CHL CBL CBB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FIN FCL JSJ

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B

CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

PREFERENCE SHARES

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00

52WK LOW 100.00

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

104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) +

SYMBOL FBB22

Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) 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 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0305 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0405 BG0407

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

LAST CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 1.78 1.62 2.99 11.26 5.98 4.03 6.01 2.83 5.10 9.44 8.15 14.50 8.97 4.05 15.20

CLOSE 3.55 17.43 6.00 6.68 1.78 1.62 2.99 11.26 5.98 4.03 6.01 2.80 5.10 9.23 8.15 14.50 8.97 4.05 15.20

CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.03 0.00 -0.21 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.91

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

CLOSE 100.00

CHANGE 0.00

107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

0.00 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

LAST SALE 100.00 107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

VOLUME

500

20,000

VOLUME

EPS$ 0.239 0.932 1.760 0.369 0.070 0.000 -0.438 0.722 0.449 0.184 0.140 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.939 0.203 0.631

DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.020 0.000 0.720 0.220 0.120 0.000 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.200 0.120 0.610

P/E 14.9 18.7 N/M 18.1 N/M N/M -6.8 15.6 13.3 21.9 42.9 27.5 10.9 14.3 11.2 17.8 9.6 20.0 24.1

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

YIELD 4.79% 7.23% 0.00% 3.89% 0.00% 1.23% 0.00% 6.39% 3.68% 2.98% 0.00% 15.50% 1.18% 3.55% 2.94% 3.72% 2.23% 2.96% 4.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%

INTEREST Prime + 1.75%

MATURITY 19-Oct-2022

6.95% 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 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% 0.37% 3.81% 0.24% 4.38% 0.23% 2.75% 5.76% 5.76% 12.81% 12.81% 0.94% 3.72% -3.46% 2.09% -0.11% 3.43% -3.33% 1.53% -0.32% 10.20% -1.58% 15.37% 0.88% 5.22% -4.91% 10.77% 1.89% 6.75% -1.95% 0.38% N/A N/A -10.90% -4.30% -18.80% -12.00%

NAV Date 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Jan-2020 31-Dec-2019 31-Dec-2019 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020 29-Feb-2020

MUTUAL FUNDS 52WK HI 2.30 4.38 2.09 195.13 166.73 1.67 1.85 1.76 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.00 12.15 12.58 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 1.67 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.61 1.75 1.70 1.14 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund Leno Preferred Income Fund Leno Growth Fund Leno Diversified Fund Leno 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 Colonial Bahamas Fund Class D Colonial Bahamas Fund Class E Colonial Bahamas Fund Class F

NAV 2.30 4.38 2.09 195.13 166.73 1.67 1.79 1.75 1.16 8.31 10.07 7.00 11.42 12.58 10.52 N/A 8.31 10.01

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 - 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

31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020 31-Mar-2020

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, DIANDRA PETRELL KIMBERLY SANDS, P.O. BOX CR-54376, Croton Street, Flamingo Gardens, mother of ZOI ALIAH KASSIDY SANDS, a minor, intend to change her name to ZOI ALIAH KASSIDY SANDS-BARNETT. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, New Providence, Bahamas, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that we, SHELLEY MIRIAM BOOTLE & AARON NATHAN TOOTE of #35 Sunset Subdivison Pioneers Way, Nassau, Bahamas, Parents of SIRRELL SANCHEZ BOOTLE intend to change our child’s name from to SIRRELL SANCHEZ TOOTE. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

LEGAL NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000

AJS2 INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO FUND LTD. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000, as follows: 1.) AJS2 International Portfolio Fund Ltd. (the “Company”) is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act, 2000. 2.) The dissolution of the Company commenced on 29 April, 2020.

TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333

3.) The Liquidator of the Company is Israel Borba whose address is Lyford Financial Centre, Building 2, Western Road, P.O. Box CB-10988, Lyford Cay, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 14, 2020, PAGE 9

‘Divine intervention’ need on COVID-19

FROM PAGE ONE

on all employers to rehire any staff permanently terminated at the same positions and salaries whenever they re-opened should such action be necessary. He voiced concerns that failing to do so would only further widen inequalities in Bahamian society and “kill” a middle class already struggling as it is with the COVID-19 reality of reduced incomes and higher unemployment. His comments came as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) yesterday said its data suggested 9.9 percent of working hours - equivalent to 1.5m jobs will be lost in the Caribbean due to COVID-19 in the 2020 second quarter. The Bahamas was included in the survey. Acknowledging these findings, Mr Evans told Tribune Business: “COVID-19 may have caused 11 physical deaths in The Bahamas so far, but indirectly it could be killing a lot of dreams, hopes and aspirations for generations to come if it is not managed correctly.

“You’re going to see mortgages not being paid, car payments not being met. You’re going to see a lot of things falling out from this. It’s like two to three category five storms going on at the same time for the next two to three months, which will also have a lasting effect on government’s finances. “The fall-out could be of Biblical proportions. We will need spiritual intervention to be rescued out of it. I laugh as I say that, but really and truly we have to pray that economic success, and fighting for equality and decent work, comes back. We’re on a very slippery slope, and it could go the wrong way if not managed properly.” Mr Evans suggested that at least 50,000-60,000 jobs in The Bahamas were directly or indirectly related to the tourism industry, hence the prime minister’s prediction that the unemployment rate could easily hit 30 percent or around 70,000-80,000 of the 230,000-strong workforce. Acknowledging that The Bahamas is arguably the most tourism-dependent nation in the Caribbean, the NCTUB chief said it was unlikely that the industry’s

workforce will “get a call to come back any time soon”. “It is encouraging to hear a lot of people say they can’t wait to travel, and I hope they mean what they say,” Mr Evans added, “but the same people we’re relying on to travel are also impacted by the loss of jobs in their country and may not have the liquid cash to vacation. “We’re hoping and praying for the best, but are preparing for the worst. We’re going to need some very high-up intervention to carry us through and deliver us safely out the other side if possible. To tell the truth, I’m scared and a little bit frightened as to what this means in terms of jobs, because when school closes that’s another 4,000-5,000 kids out there looking for employment. It doesn’t look good. It really doesn’t.” Mr Evans said the government had sought the NCTUB’s input on the 90-day termination deadline, and the body was due to meet with it affiliates last night before combining with the TUC in a joint response. Describing the issue as a “very big concern”, he

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added that the union movement wanted to ensure that any workers permanently terminated as a result of COVID-19 were re-hired at the same levels and salaries as they enjoyed previously once their employers and the economy re-opened. Some employers may not re-open, while Mr Evans said others will see it as both

an opportunity and need to reduce costs by either coming back with less staff or hiring younger, cheaper labour. “We have to be careful how we do that and not leave people exposed,” he argued. “This is a very sensitive issue, and the government has got to be careful on how it’s meted out. It will be like walking on egg shells. The

effect could be very longlasting and unforgiving. It’s touch and go. “I don’t blame the employer to try and get someone younger on less salary. Everybody’s looking for ways to save. But we have to be very careful not to marginalise for the sake of saving money and end up killing the middle class.”

Legal Notice COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

2020/PRO/npr/

IN THE SUPREME COURT PROBATE DIVISION In the Estate of Neville Stephen Smith of #42 Incense Court, Eastwood Estates in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, in the City of Nassau, deceased. ___________________

NOTICE

__________________ NOTICE is hereby given that Alana Jeanice Smith of #42 Incense Court, Eastwood Estates in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the islands of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas will make application to the Supreme Court of The Bahamas after the expiration of fourteen days from the date hereof, for a grant of letters of administration of the real and personal Estate of Neville Stephen Smith, in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 14, 2020, PAGE 11

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Cloudy, a shower and t‑storm around

Rain, some heavy; flooding possible

Clouds and sun with a heavy t‑storm

A spotty shower or t‑storm possible

Turning out sunny

High: 82°

Low: 76°

High: 82° Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 76°

High: 86° Low: 74°

High: 85° Low: 72°

AccuWeather RealFeel

85° F

75° F

88°-79° F

92°-78° F

95°-79° F

95°-78° F

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 70° F/21° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

almanac

ABACO

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

12‑25 knots

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

12‑25 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

W S

WEST PALM BEACH

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

10‑20 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 81° F/27° C Low .................................................... 75° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 84° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 71° F/22° C Last year’s high ................................. 93° F/34° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 7.99” Normal year to date ..................................... 7.16”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

KEY WEST

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

2:08 a.m. 2:46 p.m.

High

2.6 2.1

8:44 a.m. 8:50 p.m.

0.3 0.6

Friday

3:06 a.m. 3:46 p.m.

2.5 2.2

9:40 a.m. 9:52 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Saturday

4:02 a.m. 4:40 p.m.

2.4 2.3

10:30 a.m. 0.4 10:50 p.m. 0.6

Sunday

4:53 a.m. 5:28 p.m.

2.3 2.4

11:15 a.m. 0.3 11:42 p.m. 0.5

Monday

5:40 a.m. 6:12 p.m.

2.3 2.5

11:56 a.m. 0.2 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Tuesday

6:23 a.m. 6:52 p.m.

2.3 2.7

12:29 a.m. 0.4 12:35 p.m. 0.1

Wednesday 7:03 a.m. 7:30 p.m.

2.3 2.8

1:12 a.m. 1:12 p.m.

W S

10‑20 knots

Sunrise Sunset

0.2 0.0

6:26 a.m. 7:47 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:52 a.m. 1:04 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

May 14

May 22

May 29

Jun. 5

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

Ht.(ft.)

sun anD moon

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 77° F/25° C

10‑20 knots

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

tiDes For nassau

CAT ISLAND

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

10‑20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 78° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N W

N E

E S

8‑16 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS

CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday: Today: Friday:

WINDS NE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 12‑25 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots SE at 10‑20 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots E at 12‑25 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots SE at 8‑16 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 10‑20 Knots

WAVES 6‑10 Feet 8‑12 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑8 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑8 Feet 6‑10 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑8 Feet 5‑9 Feet 3‑6 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 3‑5 Feet

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502-2394

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 4 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

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

PAGE 32 ● Thursday, May 14, 2020

RELIGION

THE TRIBUNE

RELIGION SECTION C

RELIGIOUS NEWS, STORIES AND CHURCH EVENTS

CHRISTIE GETS CANDID WITH CHRISTIAN ADVICE BY ALESHA CADET | TRIBUNE FEATURES WRITER | ACADET@TRIBUNEMEDIA.NET

EEING herself as an “ambassador for the Lord”, entrepreneur Christie Cadet said she feels beyond gratified to see her most recent venture reaching so many people. This new initiative is a live online show she calls “Candid Talk With Christie”. At a time when churches are extremely restricted in ministering to their congregants, people are searching for new avenues to express and follow their faith. It is for this reason, Christie told Tribune Weekend, she believes her new platform has taken off. “The flood of comments posted during the streams were all positive thus CHRISTIE far, and in addiCADET tion to this there has been an increase in the friend requests, and most importantly, many souls have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Presently, there are individuals privately messaging me via my Facebook inbox on a day to day basis, reaching out for advice, prayers, and most times also giving amazing testimonies on how the messages have impacted and helped them tremendously. This has led to several invitations being extended to me to be featured on various international based podcasts and talk shows,” said Christie. The 32-year-old said she is a firm believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings,

and also a songwriter, motivational speaker, aspiring author, an advocate for teenage girls and women, and a small business owner. “Prior to the pandemic I had gone through a season of isolation for approximately two years. During this time I was experiencing immense hardship and challenges of being unemployed and having other internal struggles which further resulted in me relocating from the island of Eleuthera, my home, to Grand Bahama for a change of scenery and a new way of life,” she said. “Despite my calamity, I never strayed from trusting in God and always remained optimistic about His promises to me which He had spoken to me personally and had also spoken through a few of His prophets.” When it was announced that the coronavirus had reached Bahamas shores, Christie said didn’t feel fearful, as she had already been living a lockdown type lifestyle. “However, I noticed that the country had gone into a frenzy. It was at such time I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit tugging at me to go on Facebook to livestream and release a positive word of hope to the nation encouraging individuals to not fear what is currently ongoing, but to focus on God and to solely trust in

Him,” she said. “Being obedient to God’s directive, I prepared my programme and launched my first ‘Candid Talk with Christie’ stream on March 16, 2020. Ever since that day, I have continued to do live streams services every Monday at 7pm, empowering mainly women, but by extension all that wish to tune in and listen to what the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart to share. My inspiration definitely came from God through His divine Holy Spirit which abides within me.” Her initial topic of discussion was based on the theme “Let’s talk about what is happening”. Following that first instalment, the topics expanded to include: “My Childhood Trauma Cultivated My Adulthood Drama”; “Woman vs Virtuous Woman”; “Your Story is About to Change”; “God is About to Remember You”, and most recently, “Let’s Talk Vision.” “All of the topics which I had spoken on were downloads by the Holy Spirit during my time of mediation which I later gave birth to. Frankly, with all that is currently going on in the world, we all need encouragement, real-life testimonies, reminders, and faith-booster messages to sustain us during these challenging times. In light of this, I believe that my live stream programme will help my viewers to identify their talents, hone their crafts during this time of isolation, be uplifted in spirit, but most essentially, consider establishing a personal relationship and more intimate relationship with God,” said Christie. She is looking forward to introducing much more thought-evoking and spiritlifting topics to her programme, and hopes to invite other spiritual advisors, motivational guest speakers and empowerment life coaches on the show. “In addition to this, I anticipate launching a movement called ‘Woman of Worth

Movement’, which is another vision God has given me. The movement will focus on women empowerment through godly counsel, basic training, business interactions, and trading. Also, I am geared up and excited about co-hosting a weekly live stream segment called ‘Lady Talk’ with my beloved sister, April Holt Smith from Buena Vista, Georgia, who is the host of the ‘Walking Into Your Purpose’ show,” she said. The launch is scheduled for today, May 14. The show will stream on Facebook on April Holt Smith’s page and on her YouTube channel. Christie also has many more endeavours planned for the future. “I have some powerful songs which I have written and look forward to recording and releasing on all digital platforms in the near future. I also have a book that I am currently working on finishing, to launch online. However, I will keep it candid and say that I do not have a designated set release date as yet for either of my projects,” she said. To keep up with Christie and her ventures, follow her on Facebook at Christie Cadet; Instagram at iam__ christiecadet, and also on the Woman of Worth Movement Facebook page. “I’m currently working on my Woman of Worth Movement YouTube channel. Stay tuned, as this is just the beginning of a new revolution,” she said.

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RELIGION

THE TRIBUNE

Moving forward I

T IS futile to try to live in the past, irrespective of how pleasant it might have been. The same logic also applies to a checkered or unhappy past. The past is just that... the past. Whilst we may remember and celebrate the past for historical reasons, we must be cognizant of the fact that we exist in the present, and should move forward and embrace the future. Holy scripture expresses the concept this way: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV) We must move forward or we stagnate and are likely to buckle under the challenges of life. Remaining fixated on what should be behind us is unhealthy and usually results in dysfunctional or abnormal behaviour. Isaiah 43:18 (KJV) admonishes us to “remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” The “secret” is to position God at the forefront of our lives and circumstances. God will guide our thoughts and actions accordingly: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV) Life will present us with challenges; this is unavoidable. Fortunately, we can rely on our relationship with our

Thursday, May 14, 2020 ● PAGE 33

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heavenly father to strengthen us and provide a safe landing. God is faithful. 1John 5:14 (KJV) reminds us: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” Therefore, it is important to live a life that is pleasing to God and to seek to operate within His will. God’s word tells us in Matthew 6:33 (KJV): “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” As human beings we often become anxious and fearful when we encounter life’s challenges. This is a normal, reasonable reaction to adversity. However, as a child of God, one must be reminded that fear and faith are polar opposites and cannot coexist. We are assured of God’s providence during our challenges. Isaiah 43:1 (KJV) tells us: “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” It would seem that the best approach to dealing with our difficult moments is to remain focused on our faith and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our spirit in quiet moments. In essence, we should “be still” and trust God. Psalm 32:8 (KJV) reminds us: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” We must keep moving forward. Amen. Thanks be to God for the sharing of His word.

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MEDITATION STRIVE TO SURVIVE BY REV ANGELA C BOSFIELD PALACIOUS

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When history is written, let it be said that we loved God with all our hearts and sacrificed for our people, allowing miracles to happen.

AM sure that after the Prime Minister’s serious and sobering update on our economic affairs in the country on Sunday, you may be feeling a little burdened, and even somewhat overwhelmed. I want to encourage you to have faith in God and believe that we are all in this together, to keep things from being worse than it could be, if we were not united. I invite each citizen to make recommendations to the National Economic Recovery Council or Committee if you have any ideas that could be a boost to the economy, to give Cabinet an even wider variety of options from which to choose. I am asking us all to make time to pray in earnest for wisdom to discern creative solutions that God will give us if we are open to receive them. Let us all find the time to study, read, and discuss the possibility of new initiatives, even as we carry on our many and great responsibilities in other areas. Let us hold each other accountable and do all that we can to assist in every way

possible. Please call our church and community leaders to share our research and to offer encouragement to persevere. We are all vitally important in our own ways and so I ask you to draw on the gifts and talents that we all have and to unify our efforts to make things happen. If we need counselling personally, or private prayer, let us speak to someone, because we are all under great pressure, and will need to unburden our hearts. Never forget the truth of St Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV): “We are

hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” This is the time for those of us in leadership in the church to make sharing the gospel our daily preoccupation. People need the Lord, and will need the Lord more now than ever before. It is for us to help keep our national family motivated, unified, informed, and encouraged. This is our time in our generation to help our children to have a better world, or at least the best that we can give back to God on their behalf, as our contribution in our lifetime. By the grace of God, if our ancestors could overcome slavery, the Great Depression and the two World Wars, we can come through this. When history is written, let it be said that we loved God with all our hearts and sacrificed for our people, allowing miracles to happen. Let us all seek to cross this bridge of adversity and get to the other side with as few scars as possible. The battle is indeed real, as we are at war with poverty, unemployment, hopelessness and the sense of despair that may threaten to overtake us. We will have to overcome shortages, and hard times, and a changed reality, but be encouraged and energized

to accomplish more than we can even imagine. While we strive to survive at this time, let us never forget that God has even greater plans for us than what is achievable on earth: “ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8: 18, 28, 37-39 GNT). Let us be resolute that the battle is not ours but the Lords, let us submit to Jesus Christ, and walk in victory, through the valleys of suffering and over mountains of despair. Let us strive to survive. • Rev Angela Palacious, a motivational speaker and author of several devotional books, is an Anglican priest. She may be contacted at 393-9000 or by e-mail at angelapalacious@gmail.com.

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Thursday, May 14, 2020 ● PAGE 35

COVID, MOTHER’S DAY AND LESSONS WE REMEMBER

K, so let’s have this out. What in heavens was that last Sunday? Certainly not the cultural, spiritual, emotional, community celebration we call a Bahamian Mother’s Day! No new outfits, no flowers and services, no Mother of the Year at church. It was a poor representation of the grand way we rejoice for the family’s matriarch; a mere shadow of our true effort to say how much we love and appreciate our moms. But - and this is a big but - although COVID-19 may have robbed many of us of the hugs, the restaurant lunches or family gatherings, I’m still left with a smile of appreciation for a mom who taught me how to cook, clean, drive, change a tyre and handle life with a modicum of success. You see, for me, the togetherness of a Mother’s Day (like it is for so many) is gone. Mom has gone on to her final rest and all that is left are bittersweet memories of her smile, her laughter and the avid discipline that most Bahamian mothers are so adept at. One of my favourite memories, and those of my media partners, are of mom’s words of wisdom.

LIVING THROUGH GRIEF – PART I BY MINISTER TAKIA K HEPBURN

As most of us can attest, a Bahamian mom has a way of dishing out wisdom with a flare. If you came from a lecturing household, those lessons and sayings could seemingly go on for hours. If you came from a “cut hip” household, then the lesson would often be a precursor to a brush or comb spanking, a belt whooping or a slap with anything that came to her hand. Though the physical pain has faded, the words and sayings still linger for many of us. Here are some of the ones we remember most fondly:

1. You ga know what lobster red for. 2. Belly full is a belly full. 3. Hungry dog eat raw corn. 4. What sweet your mouth ga bitter your backside. 5. Lay with dogs, get up with fleas. 6. Bo hog know just where to rub. 7. Your mouth hard, I hope your teet’ strong Who but a Bahamian mom had the ability to teach an entire life lesson in just a phrase? I know my mom surely did (I just rolled my eyes, lol) My mom’s all time favorite was: “A liar is a thief and a thief is a murderer!” If I had a dime for every time she belted this out (no pun intended) I would be rich. It didn’t matter the situation, she would echo this saying before a lecture, before a beating, if she was irritated that you didn’t clean the closet, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, make the bed, and, the list goes on. In my teen years, as I got more vocal, I often found myself saying, “Frances, that saying has nothing to do with this situation.” Did it matter? Nah…she never stopped using it. But in hindsight, I see not only the lyricism of the saying but also its

timeless lesson. My mom, whether she knew it or not, was teaching a lesson in human behaviour. Lies are a personal thing. If you are never found out, then you become the main victim of it – having to keep up appearances in order to cover the original lie. If you become a thief, then you add some other victim, and it becomes an interpersonal issue. Of course then, if you murder someone, an entire community falls victim through hurt and fear. The wisdom of this saying amazes me, now more so than before. In one sentence I was taught the value of doing the right thing, big or small, seen or unseen, private or public. In her own way she was teaching me that if I or anyone began compromising on personal values, that compromise would grow to infect other people and an entire community. I never asked where this saying came from. But I will never forget it. So, Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the beautiful, wonderful geniuses who made life lessons, though painful, colorful and memorable. Those that are here and those that have passed – love, always! God bless you this week.

ONE might ask the question, “What is grief?” Well, according to Christian author Dr Stan Dekoven, “grief is an emotional and physical reaction to a significant personal loss.” The focus of this article are those who have lost their loved ones, a job, or even people who have lost the sense of safety of their home. Many individuals may be suffering emotional pain from the losses they experienced due to Hurricane Dorian. Grief counselling and death, in my sincere belief, is a subject of taboo in Bahamian society, one I hope to breakwith this article. Experiencing grief is as common as eating and waking up every day, but rarely is it discussed how to deal with these feelings of sorrow and loss. Due to the devastating Hurricane Dorian, many lost loved ones, friends, or even close acquaintances, as well as their homes, cars, furniture, clothing and other material items. This loss may have left many with a feeling devastation and grief. These feelings of grief may led some into a state of what I term “oblivion”. How can an individual who has experienced such great loss deal with all this hurt and pain?How do they move on with their lives after losing someone so close to their hearts? Life is filled with many challenges and obstacles. However, I would like to focus on one of the major challenges that many

in Grand Bahama and Abaco may have faced following Hurricane Dorian: the loss of a loved one, whether they died or went missing. According to reports, the death toll in Grand Bahama and Abaco has reached 61, and that’s not taking into the consideration the missing. The loss of a loved one, whether a family member or a close friend, can have adverse effects on the mind and also physical body. Some may be unable to talk about their deceased loved one, or they might have obsessive reactions such as overeating (in search of comfort), talking out loud, seeming out of touch, withdrawing from friends and family, experiencing self-pity and feelings of guilt. Experiencing the loss of a loved one can be an overbearingly painful experience, which sometimes can become life-threatening if not addressed. As a Christian counsellor and minister of the gospel of Christ, I believe that as we experience great loss, we can allow the Holy Spirit to heal our hearts and minds. Our Creator who is God, has made us mind, body and soul. He knew that when He created us that we would experience loss, so if He created us then He knows we can endure the loss that we experience. You should rely on God to help you through this difficult process of pain and suffering. God is aware of all those sleepless nights, those feelings of pain

that hit you late at night when everyone is sleeping or unavailable to converse with. He understands the anger you may feel because you no longer have your wife, your husband, or family with you. He understands the depth of the pain and the sorrow you are experiencing. In His word, God has not left you without solutions to help you through the process of grief and loss: Isaiah 40:28-31 declares: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” To be continued next week. •Minister Takia K Hepburn holds degrees in Christian counselling and is a primary school teacher.

BY AYANNA CLARKE

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JAY SHEPHARD

Jay Shephard asks for guidance with new single BY JEFFARAH GIBSON | TRIBUNE FEATURES WRITER | JGIBSON@TRIBUNEMEDIA.NET

AY Shephard’s new single “Guide Me” could not have come at a better time – a time when the Bahamas, and the rest of the world, is facing such uncertainty and fear. Insightful lyrics, a brightreggae sound, and a vibrantArkitechz production all help showcase the artist’s talents on a track that touches on topics like war, world peace, and Shephard’s need for the Most High’s protection through it all. The

accompanying music video also illustrates these themes. The Karizmavisuals directed video, which the artist says is as deep as the track, will hopefully leave listeners intrigued and ready to hear more from his catalogue. Shephard believes after hearing, people will see that his pursuit of music goes beyond seeking success. They will see he is shedding light on social ills and encouraging people to seek a higher power for guidance.

A near death experience many years ago lead to the spiritual path the artist now finds himself on. Songs like “No Surrender” and “One Time” also reflect this lifelong journey. Shephard has landed a deal with Sony’s RED Distribution and worked with top Jamaican producers like Troyton Rami (Black Shadow Records) and Omar Miller (Miller9 Records). He has steadily built a fanbase full of loyal supporters, and hopes it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a

household name. Born Jamaal Marc Anthony Saunders, Shephard is a reggae fusion artist and vocalist. His early influences, he said, are artists such as Bob Marley, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Michael Jackson and Gentleman. Shephard said he writes music to be medicine for the soul. He releases his songs through his own label, Good Vybez Nation LLC. Check out the music video for the new single “Guide Me” on YouTube.