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The Tribune
Volume: 118 No.151, July 2, 2021
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KANOO CHIEF: IT’S ALL ABOVE BOARD
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN digital payments provider yesterday hit back at mounting attacks on its business by asserting that all contracts were won “above board”, it’s chairman adding: “I have absolutely nothing to hide”. Nicholas Rees branded the politically-led assault on Kanoo as “inaccurate, reckless and laden with ulterior motives”, and warned they threatened to undermine not just the company but national
“world first” initiatives such as the launch of the Central Bank’s Sand Dollar digital currency (see other article on Page 1B). Confirming that Kanoo has also won the bid to provide the “multi-signature digital wallets” to all government departments and agencies, so that they can use the Sand Dollar for payment transactions, Mr Rees said the past two weeks have made him question whether “it was really worth” coming home “if this is how the country is going to treat me and my co-founders”. SEE BUSINESS SECTION
QUARANTINE WORKS
WHILE opening Baha Mar’s luxury water park yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the resort’s investment is a sign “The Bahamas is coming back” and its recovery and revival is imminent. Dr Minnis and Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar were on hand to
cut the ribbon signifying the opening of Baha Bay, the resort’s water theme park. The opening of the $200 million luxury water park marks the completion of the next phase of development of Baha Mar and a significant investment in its evolution. Since opening its doors to the world over four years ago, Baha Mar has continued to expand the resort destination’s offerings for a SEE PAGE TWO
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia “Mother” Pratt has tested positive for COVID-19. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, the former Member of Parliament said she suspected she had the virus after experiencing nausea and fatigue a week ago. SEE PAGE THREE
TRAFFICKERS CONTINUE TO PREY ON THE VULNERABLE
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
A NEW US report has noted people with unresolved status in The Bahamas have a heightened risk of human trafficking. The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report released yesterday highlighted the issue, adding the country missed the mark on several victim-related priorities.
BAHAMAS BOUNCE BACK HAS BEGUN By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
‘MOTHER’ PRATT IN COVID-19 RECOVERY
SEE PAGE THREE
CURFEW IS REIMPOSED ‘LABOUR RELATIONS HIT ROCK BOTTOM’ ON BIMINI TO find peace during a tumultuous pandemic, Bahamian artist Monika Anna Cunningham painted every single day of lockdown last year and created her ‘Quarantine Works of Expression’ collection. She is now working on a new series which is inspired by Exuma’s beauty and highlights mental health. See Weekend section.
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net UNION executives yesterday expressed disappointment with the state of labour relations in the country which they say are at an all-time low. At a press conference yesterday, National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas (NCTUB) officials said there is a growing trend of top-ranking executives at government agencies using “union busting” and bullying tactics to
BPL staff walked off the job earlier this week. intimidate workers. The umbrella union said the situation has affected staff morale and called upon officials to “cease and desist”.
Their comments come as the Minnis administration continues to face union unrest, with several protests seen at several governmental agencies over the last several weeks. On Monday, dozens of BPL staff walked off the job in a show of solidarity against executive management who they say have disrespected and mistreated staff among other things. Two weeks earlier, members of the Union of Central Bankers demonstrated outside the building’s parking SEE PAGE THREE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 7PM to 5am curfew has been implemented for North and South Bimini in response to a COVID-19 outbreak on that island. An amendment to the Emergency Powers Order says funerals can be held at the graveside only but no more than ten people – not including officiants or funeral workers – are allowed to attend the services. SEE PAGE FOUR