09222020 BUSINESS, WOMAN AND HEALTH

business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

$4.01

FRANKLYN BUTLER

Cable to repay $30m-plus debt By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net CABLE Bahamas yesterday confirmed it has moved into the second stage of its balance sheet restructuring by unveiling the early redemption of $30m-plus in preference shares. The BISX-listed communications provider confirmed in a statement that it plans to pay investors in its Series eight, ten and 12 series preference share classes their US dollar principal as at September 30, 2020. “Cable Bahamas confirms that it will waive the 90-day advanced written notice requirement, and will in lieu of same pay interest for the 90-day period through to December 30, 2020,” the company said. Sources familiar with the situation told Tribune Business the total repayment will be around $35m-$38m, with one adding: “They’re [Cable Bahamas] busy basically looking at optimising their balance sheet” using the proceeds from the $301.5m sale of Summit Broadband last year. Franklyn Butler, Cable Bahamas chief executive, could not be reached for comment but the preference share redemption is the second phase of the company’s balance sheet recalibration following the repayment of $99m in bank debt. Asked previously how Cable Bahamas planned to use the Summit proceeds, Mr Butler said: “We are going to be working with our bankers in the first instance to look at the best capital structure of the proceeds. As you appreciate, we have a fair amount of bank debt that we will address with the bankers as a matter of priority. “After that we will be addressing the preference shareholders and ordinary shareholders in the coming days and weeks once we get our hands around the balance of the proceeds. This is a huge transaction for Cable’s future. It deleverages our balance sheet and allows us a lot more flexibility to leverage our

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NAD seeks waiver over $370m debt By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

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HE Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) is asking its bondholders to waive critical debt servicing conditions following its downgrade to ‘default’ status, its chairman confirmed yesterday. Walter Wells told Tribune Business that the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) operator has been locked in negotiations since June 2020 with investors who hold the biggest share of its near-$370m US dollar debt once it became clear COVID-19 would prevent it from meeting key ratios. He revealed that NAD is seeking their agreement to waive the “1.3 to 1.0” debt service coverage ratio that it agreed to maintain in persuading investors to part with their money to finance LPIA’s $409.5m redevelopment, after the near-total tourism shutdown and plunge in aviation traffic saw the company’s revenues

• Airport wants debt service change deal • As COVID causes 70-80% revenue fall • And credit rating is slashed to ‘DD-’

LYNDEN PINDLING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT drop 70-80 percent. Mr Wells also revealed that Fitch, the rating agency that assesses NAD’s creditworthiness and ability to repay its debt, has “recently downgraded” the company from an investment grade ‘BBB-’ to ‘DD-’ - effectively dropping its credit rating to the level of an entity that has either defaulted or is expected to default on its obligations to lenders. Asked how confident he was about NAD’s ability to avoid a debt default, given

the uncertainties surrounding the timing and strength of any tourism and associated aviation rebound, Mr Wells replied: “I don’t know if my crystal ball is better than yours.” He conceded that everything depends on COVID-19 and “how successful we are in getting tourism back into the country”, given that NAD’s revenue and debt servicing model is built on the various fees charged to passengers who pass through

its terminal and consume its services. The Central Bank highlighted the steep fall-off in LPIA passenger activity even when tourism briefly re-opened in July, with just 8,933 outbound departures that month compared to 171,320 the previous year a drop of 94.8 percent. For the first seven months of 2020, total departures fell by 63.7 percent. Still, Mr Wells voiced optimism that negotiations with NAD’s major debt holders on the waiver will successfully conclude within the next three to four weeks, arguing that “it’s in everyone’s interests to work together during this time” and that LPIA was no different from multiple other airports locked in similar COVID-19 related discussions with their financiers.

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Bahamas urged: Remove bankruptcy burden now

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas must urgently modernise its centuries’ old personal bankruptcy laws to prevent hundreds of persons being marginalised post-COVID-19, a top accountant warned yesterday. Ed Rahming, pictured, Intelisys (Bahamas) founder and managing director, told Tribune Business the pandemic had made it “more important than ever before” to modernise laws dating from 1870 and give debt-shackled Bahamians the opportunity to free themselves from a burden that could last most of their working lives. Writing in a column on Page 2B in this newspaper today, Mr Rahming argued that the Act needed to be reformed such that debtors have “options” enabling

• Accountant: COVID makes reform urgent • Proposes alternatives to 1870 legislation • Warns too many losing prime earning years them to work out legally binding agreements with their creditors to repay some of what is owed under the supervision of the Bahamian court system. He suggests two options, the first being a “consumer proposal” where a debt-stricken person agrees to pay a percentage of their unsecured debts over a five-year period in exchange for the remainder being fully forgiven. This would avoid the stigma of being declared bankrupt while providing debt relief, with the newly-formed Credit Bureau monitoring to make sure no new debt is taken on. Mr Rahming also called for a “bankruptcy”

alternative where insolvency practitioners would liquidate the assets of persons unable to repay their debts, with the sums recovered used to pay-off the amount outstanding on a monthly basis. Once the debts are cleared - something he suggested could be achieved in 12 months - then the debtor is discharged. The Intelisys chief said this marked a sharp change from the current creditordriven process, where a court-appointed trustee takes over every asset and aspect of life for Bahamians who are declared bankrupt, with the impacts “severe” and long-lasting. And, with COVID-19’s fall-out of high unemployment and reduced incomes likely to be with The Bahamas for some time to come,

Mr Rahming argued that it was vital to act now given that increasing numbers of Bahamian individuals and households will be unable to service their debts once lenders end their payment deferral initiatives. He told this newspaper that unless the Bankruptcy Act 1870 was reformed, along with its accompanying rules that were brought into effect in 1958, numerous Bahamians will be “left behind” and condemned to a life on the margins unable to participate in the formal economy due to the debt burden they are carrying. Warning that the wider consequences involve “economic instability” and “social unrest”, Mr

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$3.95 Delayed hotel returns a ‘tremendous blow’ By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net TOURISM operators yesterday admitted that the sector’s proposed October 15 re-opening and value chain have been dealt a “tremendous blow” by major hotels deciding not to re-open. Marvin Gibson, owner/ operator of Marvellous Tours, told Tribune Business of the moves by Baha Mar, Sandals Royal Bahamian and the Hilton: “This has been a tremendous blow, and just like other companies I am sure we have lost thousands and thousands of dollars in revenue. “Our employees are furloughed now at this moment, and we were looking at ways of bringing them on as soon as possible. However, at the moment there is very little interest in bookings ,especially for The Bahamas needing a 14-day quarantine for visitations.” Mr Gibson added: “I have some guests interested in coming. However, when I explain to them the amount of time the quarantine is they say they are not coming. So we’re experiencing a loss. We are preparing for next year and we are doing a lot of marketing, so it will keep The Bahamas in mind and hopefully it will keep us in mind with them. “Right now we’re just doing some social media marketing and that’s about it. We’re keeping our business going. We are semi-open, and we are taking phone calls and those sorts of things. There is not much else we can do at this moment, except send out positive messages about The Bahamas and hope that they reach the right people.” Nicholas Pinder, general manager of Born Free Fishing Charters, said he “doesn’t really know” what impact the hotels’ moves will do for his business. He added: “It will impact the business but we will do what’s best in the eyes of the whole country. “I think if the government was able to do something to assist the small businesses in staying open then they are on the right path. However, I don’t know if they are able to do anything on behalf of the small businessman except talk about it and not do anything.” Mr Pinder added: “For example, we opened up on

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Financial services needs ‘swashbuckling’ reforms By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN financial services provider yesterday voiced doubts the government-appointed Economic Recovery Committee (ERC) will propose the “swashbuckling” reforms needed to revive the sector. Paul Moss, pictured, principal of Dominion Management Services, told Tribune Business that the need for a low-rate corporate income tax and other bold moves to place the financial services sector back at the industry’s forefront would likely be “too big” for both the government and committee members. Calling for the committee to back his call for a shift from a “no tax” to “low tax” platform, in a bid to end the scrutiny by the European Union (EU) and others, Mr

• Provider says ‘too big’ for Recovery Committee • Urges corporate tax as he challenges: ‘Be bold’ • Says firm’s revenues down 75% due to COVID

Moss said he held out little hope this would actually occur. “I doubt they would do it,” he told this newspaper. “I think it’s going to be big for them to think about. I don’t think it’s going to happen. Unless something like that happens we are going to see the further

shrinkage of the industry until it cannot shrink any more. “We really have to shore up that industry and do something swashbuckling to show the world we’re serious about being in this industry, that we’re serious about taxation and we’re bring forthright in our tax outlook for the world to see that The Bahamas is on the right stage with doing business in a transparent way. “Until that happens we will continue to be blacklisted and people will shy away from the jurisdiction. Until we open our economy to the citizens of the world and show we have these double tax agreements, and operate in a tax transparent

manner, we won’t be attractive to investors, have people come to our country and get the growth we should.” Mr Moss has long called for The Bahamas to introduce a low-rate corporate income tax of seven percent or less as a means to reposition its financial services industry as a tax transparent sector, on the basis this would give it extra legitimacy and help attract companies to domicile and do business here. The Economic Recovery Committee has numerous members connected to the financial services industry, including John Rolle, the

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PAGE 2, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

COVID makes bankruptcy law overhaul an imperative BY ED RAHMING | FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR INTELISYS BAHAMAS

Insolvency practitioner Ed Rahming details how the debt shackles can be lifted for many Bahamians

I

NSOLVENCY procedures in The Bahamas have historically been focused on companies – both local companies and International Business Companies (IBCs). The insolvency procedures for companies are governed through the application of the Companies Act 1992 and the International Business Companies Act 2000, which were modernised in 2011 through the Companies (Winding Up Amendment) Act 2011, the Companies Winding Up Rules 2012, the Foreign Bankruptcy Proceedings (International Co-operation) Rules 2012, and the Insolvency Practitioners Regulations 2012. The Companies Winding Up Rules 2012 are set to be updated later this year. While this legislative activity for companies is progressive and assists The Bahamas in meeting international expectations as an international financial

centre (IFC), we have neglected the modernisation of insolvency laws related to individuals. Our greatest assets, our people and residents, have been left out of the equation. The insolvency procedures for individuals are governed through the application of the Bankruptcy Act 1870 and the Bankruptcy Rules 1958. Much has changed in the Bahamas since 1870. We live in a very different Bahamas today than those that lived here in 1870. There is an urgent need to modernise our personal bankruptcy laws. Why the urgent need? A review of the data issued in August 2020’s Quarterly Statistical Digest, which covers the April to end-June 2020 period, is useful. It shows that total outstanding consumer debt levels have not changed much over the past five years. There has

THE TRIBUNE only been a slight increase in the amount of new credit issued as of June 2020, when compared to the same period for the years 2018 and 2019. Other credit statistics show only modest changes, with the greatest increase in sectoral debt being that related to the government. That aside, there are qualitative indicators that provide some cause for concern. They include the decrease in home ownership, likely due to the fact that too many families are unable to qualify for mortgage credit, with excessive consumer credit often a key factor. There is the increase in the number of lending institutions, particularly micro lenders, which usually leads to greater levels of consumer debt. Then there is the increase in loan delinquencies before the courts, which is likely to worsen due to the negative short-term and projected long-term - impact of the COVID19 pandemic. While many financial institutions are exercising forbearance with debtors due to the effects on household income, this will likely eventually subside. If unemployment levels remain high we can expect loan delinquencies and financial hardship to increase. The expectation is that the number of persons unable to meet their debt obligations will increase. Financial institutions can hopefully continue to exercise forbearance at this time while simultaneously being cautious about how long this is kept in place. The reform of personal bankruptcy laws will assist persons have become too heavily indebted, providing them with an opportunity to start afresh and make better credit management decisions moving forward rather than spending a significant portion of their income-earning years paying down consumer loans. Bankruptcy laws will work in tandem with the credit bureau, which is to become operational this year, and benefit the credit system in The Bahamas by

ensuring greater accountability and transparency, less predatory lending, and a more efficiently-operated system of credit for generations to come. The modes of Personal Bankruptcy Under the Bankruptcy Act 1870 (the current law), there is one avenue for resolving personal insolvency issues and that is via bankruptcy. Creditors usually file a debtor’s summons to begin the proceedings. The summons requests that the debtor pay the debt or make a payment arrangement for the debt. If the debtor does not respond to the creditor’s satisfaction, the creditor may file a bankruptcy petition with the Supreme Court. An appointed trustee will administer the assets and liabilities, and the court would issue orders for the administration of the debtor’s assets and liabilities. The effects of the bankruptcy are severe, and impact every aspect of the bankrupt’s livelihood in The Bahamas. Replacing the Bankruptcy Act 1870 with a modern law should result in a more progressive and helpful approach to persons finding themselves in debt troubles. The harsh and antiquated approach of the Bankruptcy Act 1870 is of another day and time. Troubled debtors that arrive at the place where a court process has to be implemented should have two proposed options under new bankruptcy laws - a Consumer Proposal or Bankruptcy. Below we describe both processes and how they generally would work. Consumer proposal This is a proactive, legally binding settlement agreement filed with the court on behalf of a debtor by a licensed insolvency practitioner after agreement with the creditors. It pledges to repay creditors a percentage of unsecured debt owed to them in exchange for full

forgiveness. For Bahamians struggling with monthly debt payments, a consumer proposal plan can provide debt relief while avoiding bankruptcy. Monthly payments can be spread out over a maximum of five years and are interest free. A credit bureau will score and red flag the debtor to ensure no new debt is taken on during the repayment period. Debt counselling is required. Bankruptcy A legal process designed to help debtors who cannot repay their obligations find debt relief. The process is administered by a licensed insolvency practitioner and is supervised by the court. The process usually results in the liquidation of all assets and a monthly payment arrangement to pay off debt. At the end of the process the debts are legally discharged, and this can be completed within 12 months. The insolvency practitioner has the ability and duty to conduct thorough investigations and examinations. International co-operation with foreign courts and insolvency practitioners can be achieved through the process if necessary.

A credit bureau will score and red flag the debtor to ensure no new debt is taken on for up to seven years. Debt counselling and the provision of monthly budget performance sheets are required. Conclusion Given the anticipated increase in consumer delinquencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new personal bankruptcy laws are needed. Modernisation of the personal bankruptcy laws will complement the soon-to-be-operational credit bureau, and increase accountability and transparency in the consumer market. Modern laws will assist lenders in acting with greater confidence, and honest, deserving debtors in quickly obtaining a second chance to manage credit effectively. Our Caribbean sister countries, such as Jamaica and Barbados, have updated their personal bankruptcy laws with progressive and timely features that will benefit their markets greatly. The Bahamas should not be left behind, and should advance new laws in this area especially given the current economic environment.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020, PAGE 3

Retailers say back-to-school sales ‘nowhere’ near normal By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net RETAILERS yesterday said the back-to-school VAT holiday had benefited their businesses even though sales for many were “nowhere what they used to be” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were also mixed views on whether the tax waiver should be extended or reintroduced for the Christmas holidays, with electronics goods retailers - those selling computers, laptops and tablets needed for the new home learning environment - reporting especially brisk business. However, traditional vendors of school uniforms have been especially hard hit by the pandemic. James Wallace, owner/operator of Janaees Uniform Centre,

said: “I think on Saturday we saw the most traffic we saw for the entire month for back-to-school for this year, so that was good. A lot of people were taking advantage of it, but in comparison to sales previously it was still nowhere where it was and what it used to be. “I have about 85 percent to 90 percent of my inventory left over this year. Sales were like 75 percent down, and I don’t expect that to change because right now I am telling my suppliers I am not going to order any inventory for next year.” “I’m already discussing internally with our staff and telling them, basically, if we are sold out of an item then we will be sold out of that for two back-to-school seasons because it isn’t worth it just trying to bring in one item.”

Hotel union chief ‘prays’ for reopen before 2021 By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net THE hotel union’s president yesterday said he is “praying” that major Bahamian resorts opening up before year-end rather than 2021 as COVID-19 continues to devastate the hotel sector. Darrin Woods, the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (BHCAWU) president, when asked about the British Colonial Hilton’s decision to further delay its re-opening, said: “This is the same thing. All of the hotels are saying they are reassessing their opening. We are trying to get dates from all of the hotels. “The members and the employees need to know what to expect so they can make whatever decisions that they need to make. They need to know what’s going on, and the extension of the government

assistance is only $150 every two weeks. They want to know when to go back to work, and that is contingent on what’s happening in other markets. “Then the travelling public needs to feel confident to travel from home because they have to feel where they are going is safe. We don’t know what the landscape will like until they get a vaccine.” Responding to concerns that the major hotels will not open until next year, Mr Woods said: “I don’t even want to say next year. I am praying it is not next year. Effectively our tourism year is nine months out of the year, so when you look at it this year is pretty much a write-off. “We had January, February and March, and you had nothing in April to October. When you look at it, there’s only two more months until the year is done. When you look at the scenario there is only two months left

Mr Wallace said next year’s challenge will be insufficient inventory because “I’m in no position to buy it or seek to discuss crediting it because I can’t take the risk. From a business standpoint I have to make a business decision because the customer, at the end, will have to pay the price. If they can’t find the item in the country then they will be in trouble.” Greta Thompson, general manager of BOSS (Bahamas Office and School Supplies), told Tribune Business: “Overall sales were not as good as previous years, but we had steady streams and our website helped a lot. We moved the platform that persons can buy online and have the goods delivered to them.” Pazia Bowe, Nassau Stationers general manager,

argued that the VAT waiver should have been extended “because government schools don’t go back until October 5. It should have been until even the middle of October for parents who have children in the government schools. “We have stock coming in,” Ms Bowe added. “We had sold out, but we know what our schools required beforehand; schools that we supply personally. We know what to order and we gauge ourselves from there. If these three schools, say, order 50 books each, we are not just going to order 150; we are probably going to order 200 because we also have to look out for walk-in customers.” However, Janaees’ Mr Wallace said he was unsure if the VAT holiday should have been extended because “at some point it

for tourism for the year. I pray things open up safely soon, but in order to do that we have to practice the safety protocols to the best of our ability.” Mr Woods, referring to Club Med’s decision not to re-open its San Salvador property until December 2021, urged the resort chain to reconsider. “I want them to open up this year, because their original date was December 12, 2020, and they were the only ones who gave us a fixed date,” he added. “The reason behind them putting their date back is that they talked about the limited healthcare infrastructure, reduced airlift to the island and the inability to guarantee safety for their guests. And there is an uncertainty in taking long trips from home, and it would be difficulty to get ventilators on a small island. We are trying to see if we can get the government to help.” Mr Woods continued: “Club Med has 60 percent of their resorts worldwide closed. All in the western hemisphere they are

projecting in late 2021, with some re-opening sooner than others. We are hoping to have a tripartite conversation or approach to it so we are working with government to get the resort opened up earlier. “The union, the management and the government will seek to work on what could be done to arrest some of their fears.”

has to come to an end and, of course, the government has its own revenue issues to deal with”. Yet Melissa Miller-Strachan, Customs Computers general manager, said: “I would say this year’s sales were better because we sold more over the longer VATfree holiday. Sales were great because of the longer time; this VAT period was about three weeks. “Stock was sold before it actually arrived. We also had Samsung tablets, which were a great seller, but the laptops sold better because they were in a higher demand than tablets.” Ms Miller-Strachan added: “Once the stock was replenished with another model, higher in price, those quickly sold out with pre-orders. It’s fair to say about ten percent of stock remains.

“I would suggest a VAT-free holiday again in December, where Bahamians can purchase goods for Christmas locally and the businesses can benefit from these sales. This will keep the money in our own economy. Due to global restraints on laptops, tablets, printers, with the expectation of better availability at year-end, Bahamians can take advantage if there is a second VAT holiday offered. “We still have business laptops in stock and available. The challenges that we had regarding orders were due mainly to product availability. Because of the worldwide demand and shortage there are still delays for laptops, tablets, printers, with promises for better options for the end of the year.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Doctors Hospital

AGM

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

*NEW DATE*

The Board of Directors of Doctors Hospital Health System Limited advises the shareholders of the 2020 Annual General Meeting. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. To register for the AGM we invite shareholders to complete our online registration form by visiting www.doctorshosp.com/shareholders and clicking the "Register for AGM" button. Vetted shareholders will receive the meeting information in advance of the meeting. You can read the annual report on our website www.DoctorsHosp.com or obtain a copy from our corporate office on #11 Collins Avenue.

Date September 24th, 2020 Time 11:00am w w w.doc torshosp.com

I (242) 302-4600

PAGE 4, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Financial services needs ‘swashbuckling’ reforms FROM PAGE ONE Central Bank’s governor; Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director; and Tanya MacCartney, the Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) chief executive. Ms McCartney indicated in a recent newsletter to the financial services industry that the proposed reforms being examined by the committee include areas such as the ease of doing business and immigration, but Mr Moss

argued they needed to go much further than that. “I don’t think they have the spirit of what this moment calls for,” he argued. “It’s calling for boldness, things not done before. I’m not sure they have the make-up to do that. They’re taking the approach that’s been taken for too long now.” COVID-19 has struck a Bahamian financial industry that was slowly being whittled away by a 20-year process of attrition sparked by international regulatory and tax initiatives. Given that private banking and wealth management fees

are typically related to assets under management, which will likely have shrunk in recent weeks, most - if not all - Bahamian providers will now be facing reduced earnings. Mr Moss revealed that his firm’s revenues are down 75 percent compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, as he said: “We’re just hoping to get through this year and see what happens. To be quite frank with you it’s very slow. There’s not a great deal of activity out there. “We’re just praying that things turn around and get better very quickly. A lot of clients are not really sure what the future holds, so they are really reluctant and conservative in their approach.”

Delayed hotel returns a ‘tremendous blow’ FROM PAGE ONE July 1 to whatever the closing date was for the new emergency order. We did well in those 31 days. But, because of prematurely opening, the country now is recording 3,000-plus COVID-19 cases. Would that have happened anyway? Probably, but we will never know. Hindsight is 20/20 so you can look back and say anything you want, but we really don’t know 100 percent. “There is a bit of unfairness between when they opened and when the

orders come out in terms of tourism, and when they allow foreigners to come here and work. For example, the foreign yacht charters. Have you heard of the Ministry of Tourism discussing allowing foreign yachts charters to come and work here when there is Bahamian businessmen right here in that same business? “We don’t even get looked at as a sensible organisation when the tours that we offer are part of the reason why people come here, and not just to go to the beach. You can

go to the beach in Fort Lauderdale and do it for a quarter of the cost. People pay to come here for the experience and the people, and to get out of the hotel and not just sit around. Our sector is overlooked when it comes to tourism and it is pretty sad to tell you the truth.” Vanessa Johnson, general manager of Beach Bar and Deck, which is attached to the Coral Harbour Beach House and Villas, said: “It is not going good, things are still slow. People book directly with us and we have nothing.”

Cable to repay $30m-plus debt

“I think most of it is in 2023 and 2024; I think around that time. I’m sure we may be able to refinance it, but in uncertain times no one wants to be refinancing that for sure.” Cable Bahamas’ annual report for 2009 shows that $114.5m worth of preference share principal is due for repayment to investors in 2024, with a further $75m maturing the following year. Before that, some $15m is due for repayment in 2023, and just over $28m in 2026. And repayments of almost $69m in preference share debt taken on by Aliv, the mobile affiliate in which Cable Bahamas has a 47.25 percent equity stake, complete with board and management control, must start being repaid in October 2023.

FROM PAGE ONE market share, both in mobile and fixed services, in the country. This is a significant debt burden we will alleviate with this transaction.” He also made no secret of Cable Bahamas’ need to to repay more than $300m in preference share debt over a five-year period from 2023 to 2027. Mr Butler acknowledged that the ongoing COVID-19 uncertainty could impact plans to repay investors, saying: “There’s a lot of preference share debt that matures in the not-toodistant future.

Legal Notice

NOTICE

SPIRAL HEDGE FUND IC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)

SPIRAL HEDGE FUND IC is in dissolution under the provisions of the Investment Condominium Act, 2014

(b)

The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 21st day of April, 2020 when its Notice of Dissolution weresubmitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c)

The Liquidator of the said Company is Shareece Scott, Deltec Bank & Trust Limited, Deltec House, Lyford Cay, Shareece Scott Liquidator

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE COMINVEST BUSINESS LTD. In Voluntary Liquidation

NOTICE FARINVEST HOLDING LTD. In Voluntary Liquidation

NOTICE LINEFALL ASSOCIATED S.A. In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, COMINVEST BUSINESS LTD. is in dissolution as of September 11, 2020

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, FARINVEST HOLDING LTD. is in dissolution as of September 11, 2020

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, LINEFALL ASSOCIATED S.A. is in dissolution as of September 17, 2020

GESTAM ADMINISTRATION LTD with address at Suite 102, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane & Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas is the Liquidator.

GESTAM ADMINISTRATION LTD with address at Suite 102, Saffrey Square, Bank Lane & Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas is the Liquidator.

International Liquidator Services Inc. situated at 3 rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

NOTICE

NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE Redline Investment Management Inc. In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Redline Investment Management Inc. is in dissolution as of September 9, 2020 CHARALAMBOS SAMIR with address at 12, Igoumenitsas, Connectedsky House, 2027 Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR ______________________

ORCHID FLOWER INC.

GLOBAL LOGISTICS LTD.

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been restored to the Register pursuant to Section 166(4)(5) of the International Business Companies Act. The name of the Company is deemed never to have been struck off the Register; and the Company is deemed at all times to have continued in existence and to have been authorized to conduct business in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association not withstanding the purported dissolution of the Company.

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been restored to the Register pursuant to Section 166(4)(5) of the International Business Companies Act. The name of the Company is deemed never to have been struck off the Register; and the Company is deemed at all times to have continued in existence and to have been authorized to conduct business in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association not withstanding the purported dissolution of the Company.

Dated the 2nd day of September 2020

Dated the 10th day of September 2020

(RESTORATION TO THE REGISTER)

MMG BAHAMAS LTD. Registered Office For the above-named Company

(RESTORATION TO THE REGISTER)

MMG BAHAMAS LTD. Registered Office For the above-named Company

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020, PAGE 5

NAD seeks waiver over $370m debt FROM PAGE ONE While any NAD default will not trigger similar fall-out for the government, given that the airport’s debt was structured to keep it off the Crown’s books with no guarantee provided, the situation is especially concerning given that it involves the so-called “gateway to The Bahamas” and arguably the country’s most vital infrastructure asset. It also highlights how major Bahamian private and public sector entities have been hit by COVID-19 in ways that are only now being exposed, and how they are having to negotiate forbearance with their lenders/investors to secure their very survival. “NAD has been very proactive in this since the beginning of June,” Mr Wells told Tribune Business. “We wrote to all our senior debt holders and said to them that given the level of cash flow and uncertainty around our ability to meet the debt service ratio, we’re seeking a waiver. We’re still in talks that have not been resolved yet, so I can’t get into details as I’m not sure where we’ll end up.” Tribune Business sources revealed that NAD’s senior bond holders, mainly eight to ten US insurance companies, pension funds and other institutions that hold the majority of the US dollar debt, held a conference call late last week to discuss their negotiating options and how they should deal with the under-pressure airport operator. This newspaper was informed that, given the uncertainties over the timing and extent of any Bahamian tourism rebound, a number of the bondholders were starting to become nervous and starting to “push back” on the idea that concessions should be sought from NAD in agreeing to the debt service ratio waiver. A “1.3 to 1.0” debt service coverage ratio means that NAD must possess at all times revenues/cash that are 1.3 times’ what it must pay on its debt. It is a condition designed

to give investors/lenders extra confidence and security that they will be repaid the principal owed as it creates reserves, or a safety margin, that the airport operator must maintain to meet its obligations. Several sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bondholders had agreed to the debt service ratio dropping to “1.2 to 1.0” during the 2020 second quarter, but now NAD was seeking a further reduction to “one to one” - something that would eliminate all security margins or reserve buffers. However, Mr Wells denied this, saying the debt service ratio remains at “1.3 to 1.0” and no benchmark for its reduction has been set as this remains to be negotiated. “That’s not accurate. That hasn’t happened,” he said of the purported earlier reduction. “We’re still in discussions around not having to adhere to the 1.3 to 1.0 debt service ratio. No threshold has been put on it. Our intention is the debt service ratio will not be met, but we will continue to service the debt. A lot depends on when the airport fully re-opens, but that issue is beyond our control.” While NAD has yet to default on its debt repayment obligations, the drying up of its revenue streams has been enough to alarm Fitch. “Our rating has already been impacted,” Mr Wells told Tribune Business. “It was recently downgraded from ‘BBB-’ to ‘DD-’.” Fitch was monitoring NAD and its financial status on a monthly basis, he added, attributing much of the rationale for the downgrade to a “high risk” default status on what is happening in the wider economy as well as the government’s rising $9bn national debt. NAD’s annual report for the year to end-June 2019, the last one available, shows that it had just over $500m in long-term debt on its balance sheet at that point. The US dollar component accounted for around $368m, with the

remaining $131.5m denominated in Bahamian dollars. Mr Wells, pointing out that interest payments on the Bahamian dollar debt were “at our discretion”, said NAD had exercised its option not to make these payments to the likes of the National Insurance Board (NIB) and other investors until its cash flow returned. No payments have been made since June 30, and the NAD chief said they were only likely to resume “towards the end of next year” at the earliest. “It truly depends on how COVID-19 evolves and how successful we are in getting tourism back into the country,” Mr Wells responded, when asked about the risk of NAD defaulting. “We’re no different from any airport in the world with revenues being off. “The beauty of LPIA is we’re an essential service. Whether we return next month or next year, we’ll be back in full force. The great thing is that as soon as there’s an upturn in the economy, there’s an upturn in the airport. We’re the gateway to The Bahamas really.” Voicing optimism that the bondholder talks will result in a successful outcome, Mr Wells added that it was in no one’s interest for NAD to be placed into a breach or default. “We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “It is a government-owned operation, and the Government of The Bahamas has a very good reputation locally and internationally in terms of meeting its commitments. “It’s in everyone’s interests to work together during these times. We cannot be the only entity talking to them [the lenders] about these things given what is going on globally.” Asked when talks would likely conclude, Mr Wells replied: “I would certainly anticipate it would be within the next three to four weeks because these talks have been going on since June. We certainly hope we are getting down to the short strokes. We anticipated it would be resolved some time ago. “LPIA has a sterling reputation for being an extremely well-run operation. This is more than a glitch; it’s a pandemic that no one could

have anticipated. It will get resolved. The situation is being well-managed, and at the end of the day it is being supported by the Government of The Bahamas. It may require negotiation, and we will have to be nimble on our feet, but it is being well managed.” One source close to the bondholders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the situation would be “a bit more problematic” if tourism

and aviation failed to rebound by the end of December. They added: “It’s an uncomfortable situation for the government with NAD potentially defaulting. The government needs credibility, and everyone is worried about its ability to fund its own liabilities. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, declined to comment on the NAD situation and referred Tribune Business to Mr Wells. “That’s at a very sensitive

stage now,” he said. “I know what I know. The conversations are ongoing. “You have a $500m debt and no customers, so something’s got to give. The debt was being served by user fees. I don’t think it’s any shocking news.” NAD’s operating partner is the Canadian-headquartered Vantage Airport Group. It recorded its first-ever annual profit at $7.755m in the year to end-June 2019.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Bahamas urged: Remove bankruptcy burden now FROM PAGE ONE Rahming - himself a well-known insolvency practitioner - said he had personally dealt with bankruptcy cases where debtors were taking home as little as $40 per week from their salary. “The Bankruptcy Act is 1870, and the rules that go along with it are 1958,” he told this newspaper. “It’s very out-of-date. It’s very creditor driven, and not the best process for allowing debtors to be proactive and try and make arrangements with creditors. “That is absolutely necessary. There are a lot of people that find themselves in difficult circumstances that would be able to take advantage of a process supervised by the court, and proactively come up with settlement arrangements with their creditors, and get on with their life rather than them burdened with so much debt during most of their income-earning years. “The Bahamas has changed a lot since 1870. The way credit is allocated has changed significantly since 1870. The Bahamas is not in the same place it used to be, so persons that find themselves burdened by debt need more options than be hammered over the head by a Bankruptcy Act from 1870 and lose so much of their livelihood in terms of their assets and reputation,” Mr Rahming added. “Whatever assets they have, they currently lose. Put in laws that are more modern, more lenient and allow them to proactively sell their assets. Rather than them being a burden to society they can quickly fix with creditors the position they are in so they have a new start, start afresh and learn how to manage debt.

MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com

MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2020

BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:

CLOSE

CHANGE

2095.03

-0.14

%CHANGE

YTD

YTD%

-0.01 -136.57

-6.12

(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320

BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.08 22.65 2.00 1.79 2.46 6.00 6.75 5.00 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 5.50 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.40 15.21

52WK LOW 3.13 20.91 0.67 1.75 1.67 5.40 5.39 2.70 5.05 3.62 5.60 11.05 2.71 3.19 9.60 7.50 13.04 3.20 8.00 13.90

PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00

1.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00

1.00 10.00 1.00

1.00 10.00 0.90

SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Focol Finco J. S. Johnson

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

Bahamas First Holdings Preference 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

BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB

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

52WK LOW 100.00 100.00

115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00

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

52WK HI 2.34 4.41 2.12 198.39 168.29 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.34 10.26 7.08 12.15 12.71 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79

52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.64 1.79 1.73 1.06 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20

SECURITY Fidelity Bank Note 22 (Series B) + Bahamas First Holdings Limited

SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB

BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)

MUTUAL FUNDS

MARKET TERMS

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: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y

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

LAST CLOSE 3.80 17.43 1.62 1.75 1.67 6.00 6.75 3.00 5.10 3.77 6.10 11.26 2.26 5.50 10.04 8.44 14.30 3.96 8.97 15.20

CLOSE 3.80 17.43 1.62 1.75 1.67 6.00 6.75 3.00 5.10 3.77 6.10 11.26 2.26 5.50 9.90 8.44 14.30 3.96 8.97 15.20

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.95

1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 0.95

LAST SALE 100.00 100.00

CLOSE 100.00 100.00

CHANGE 0.00 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

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

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 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

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

CHANGE 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 (0.14) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

VOLUME 23,615 4,000

405

7,000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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

VOLUME

NAV 2.34 4.41 2.12 196.40 163.60 1.68 1.81 1.76 1.07 8.30 9.90 7.08 11.27 12.71 10.23 N/A 8.93 11.27

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

P/E 15.9 18.7 N/M N/M N/M N/M 18.3 -6.8 36.4 20.5 13.6 15.6 22.2 11.8 15.3 11.6 17.5 19.5 9.6 24.1

YIELD 4.47% 7.23% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 3.18% 3.61% 6.39% 19.20% 1.09% 3.31% 2.84% 3.78% 3.03% 2.23% 4.01%

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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

INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%

19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025

6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 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-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2022

YTD% 12 MTH% 2.54% 4.13% 1.12% 2.44% 1.38% 2.55% 0.65% 2.50% -1.88% 3.33% 1.10% 2.34% -2.43% 1.49% 0.34% 2.43% -11.07% -9.92% -0.45% 8.36% -3.20% 11.46% 2.10% 5.15% -6.17% 3.54% 2.92% 5.55% -4.66% -3.81% N/A N/A -4.20% 0.20% -8.60% -2.90%

MATURITY

NAV Date

31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-Jul-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 31-May-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020 30-Jun-2020

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 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333

“What happens now is that persons who find themselves in a precarious position with more debt than they can service on a monthly basis, that continues with them for an indefinite period; a long time. Over time it causes instability in the economy because we have so many people left out of the marketplace, and not able to buy a house because they have too much debt. Eventually it will cause social unrest.” Mr Rahming argued that a modernised Bankruptcy Act, which allowed debtors to “get back on their feet” under court and credit bureau supervision, was now “more important” than ever due to the impact of COVID-19. Acknowledging that the pandemic’s effects are “just beginning”, and could “get worse before it gets better”, he added: “I think more than ever before modernising the bankruptcy laws is needed to ensure that persons aren’t

left behind as a result of what is happening in the economy right now. People are unable to service their debt and we don’t know when we will come out of it. “In The Bahamas, bankruptcy is presently not an option for many people and there’s a stigma attached to it that’s very significant. If we modernise the laws I think you’ll find more persons will participate in the process and move on with their lives as opposed to what’s happening right now with a class of people, a group of persons, living month-to-month unable to make ends meet because they took on so much debt at a young age. “Modernising the bankruptcy laws so that their needs can be addressed in a modern, accountable and transparent manner would lead to more stability in our economy and more persons able to participate in the marketplace and earn a piece of the economic pie.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, ROBERT MILTON HUMES of Southern District, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to ROBERT MILTON SYMONETTE. 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.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

BODY AND MIND

Eat Emotionally Well By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net NUTRITIONIST Sha King believes what started four years ago as a small home business has turned into a full-blown movement. Ms King has gone from launching a YouTube channel to launching herself to the world. “Using social media, I created my YouTube channel, Eat Emotionally Well, to showcase more of my eating style for people watching to learn. I hosted and coached private ‘un-cooking’ classes in my very own kitchen to showcase my concept of the eat emotionally well lifestyle,” said Ms King. “Ending a 25-year marriage, I needed to eat and take care of myself. I am a mother of five and my children were, and are, my biggest inspiration. My mom and sister said to me, you can do this and that motivated me to stop crying and start the Eat Emotionally Well brand.” During this time, Ms King said she feels like God gave her a new head start, and she is really enjoying being an entrepreneur. “I have a multi-dimensional eating and lifestyle brand. I currently offer private nutrition coaching at my residence out west, Cable Beach. A number of my inspired spice blends and gourmet salts, which I use when teaching my clients, are now available for retail purchase. One of my favourite things to do is create foods from an ingredient a client says they don’t practically like. One of my first goals as a nutritionist is to help my client improve their relationship with food,” said Ms King. She said whenever she is making a new cooking blend, her goal is to always use fresh, organic, free of pesticides and herbicides ingredients locally sourced whenever possible. For her, this is the pathway to eating emotionally well intentionally. She said: “No matter how successful we are, our emotional and physical health and well being are most important. Watching the process of someone’s health return is what I have grown to love and appreciate most about this field. What I can tell you today is that I

EAT Emotionally Well Mint Majesty Seamoss Salad Dressing

SHA King showcasing her Eat Emotinally Well Alkaline Water have a few influences in my life. Firstly my grandmother Olgamae Thompson, she really was my first childhood lesson in ‘eating from the earth’. One of the things she would say often was that if you take care of mother nature, mother nature would take care of

you. She would always say to me I was born for greatness. “My mom, Sandra Smith Thompson, is a power house of creativity. She has a spirit of never giving up no matter what and she inspires me always. She is also an entrepreneur of 70 years plus. And then my dad, Craven Thompson, he is now gone, and was one of the greatness chefs and cooks I knew. Watching him in the kitchen as an adult, I was always blown away how he could use such bad ingredients and the food was good. This inspired me to create good tasting food like my dad, but with a major difference, using good, mostly raw ingredients to create the Eat Emotionally Well Brand.”

She recalled a 2015 experience when she created and implemented a five-year ‘Be a Healthier You’ Campaign at the Stapledon School for children with special needs. Her goal was to get the children to eat more fruits and vegetables, using her un-cooking and blending techniques. “There was this one student who would only often eat noodles and drink juice. Mostly everyone at the school didn’t think I would get him to eat the kind of food I made, and within the first three months of the campaign, he was in and asking for more. Today he eats a whole lot more variety of foods. This is just one of the eat emotionally well memorable moments. Another one

of my memorable clients was a gentleman who was recently divorced and said he wanted a personal nutritionist to help him change how he ate. He said he was ready and was very determined to change his eating ways. We started in January, and eight months later we celebrated his birth in August with an eat emotionally well chocolate cake and he is 100lbs lighter,” said Ms King. She said adapting her brand due to the global pandemic and social distance practices was an easy transition for her, as she is now spending a lot of time on virtual platforms with clients. Also when visiting a client’s home or having them visit hers, the space adheres to the new protocols and guidelines. She said: “I am really encouraged even more so now, as a lot more Bahamians are reaching out to me for help to turn their health and weight around using my unique nutrition concept, eat emotionally well. Especially now, keeping your immune system healthy and releasing stress weight from all of the emotional eating has become priority. Going forward, I am excited about my new launch of a very old classic ‘super food’, seamoss. Seamoss has so many wonderful health and weight loss benefits. I have watched how it changed and transformed my clients’ weight and taste buds to help them crave less sugar, and get rid of mucus congestion. “In 2019, I went on a quest to make a seamoss product that smells great, tastes good, easy to use and of course with good ingredients. It became very important to me that I needed more Bahamians to experience the amazing healing and restorative benefits of this ‘superfood’ seamoss. And additionally it’s the perfect weight loss food, when taken with a nutritional protocol. In June 2020 during COVID-19, I successfully launched this new taste of seamoss, in an easy to use gel, with 3 delicious flavours: Mint Majesty, Spiced Fusion and just launched, in August, our Summer flavour Mango Splash. In the Fall we will launch the ‘glowing skin’ seamoss gel.”

AIDS foundation helps students with distance learning By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net AS an extension of its outreach, the AIDS Foundation has launched an initiative to raise funds for digital learning tools that will ensure students have a quality virtual experience. Through this initiative, the foundation seeks to help adolescents who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS to participate in online education for this school academic year. The foundation’s objective is to provide laptops, tablets, and internet access, allowing affected students to enroll in the digital classes held by their schools. While many of the independent schools have already begun classes, state-run institutions are expected to commence classes virtually on October 5. According to Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd, schools will begin virtually and then transition to blended

learning with face to face encounters and online learning. President of the AIDS Foundation Lady Camille Barnett stressed the critical importance of this initiative in addressing the needs of the school-aged children that the Foundation works with. “As local learning institutions adapted their operations to mitigate the public health impact of COVID-19, online learning has become essential to addressing the academic needs of student populations while prioritising safety. Unfortunately, we are finding that many of the school students who participate in our programmes were not prepared for the transition to digital learning. Through this initiative, we hope to remove the barriers preventing access to education by providing essential technologies so that our children are not left behind.” Lady Barnett illustrated the difficult reality faced by the young people who will be assisted by the initiative, describing them as one of the country’s “most vulnerable populations”.

“We are assisting children and adolescents who have coped with the impact of HIV and AIDS in their lives while often facing severe socio-economic challenges. They cannot afford the equipment and services needed to enroll in online classes. Allowing this most vulnerable population to remain deprived of an education could have a long term effect on their lives. We intend to put an end to that cycle.” The fundraising initiative is a part of the AIDS Foundation’s Outreach Programme for children and adolescents affected by HIV and AIDS: a three-component approach that focuses on the academic, psychosocial, and medical needs of participants. The Outreach Programme provides beneficiaries with daily academic tutoring, as well as five meals per week and access to a social worker, case aide, psychologist, food and clothing bank, and a computer lab. “Since the start of the state of emergency in March, the Foundation has been ensuring the food

security of our children and their families through weekly grocery deliveries. We want to continue this vital service in a safe way, and we are looking for any support that the public might be able to give.” With the first day of the academic year approaching, Lady Barnett emphasised the urgent need for action to not only get recipients equipped for school, but to facilitate academic outreach efforts. “It is vital for the academic component of our Outreach to restart through online avenues so that we can continue to provide critical academic support to students as they begin school.” So far, the foundation has identified 16 homes in need of reliable internet access and 23 children in need of tablets and laptops. A donor has been secured to assist homes capable of accommodating a desktop computer. An anonymous donor and local communications firm, Open Current, have also pitched in with donations to the cause to secure laptop

computers. The Foundation will continue to raise funds until it meets the immediate technological needs of its target population. “We are very grateful for the support we have received and will continue to explore funding opportunities to support this initiative. We encourage anyone who is interested in contributing to the work we are doing to contact us. Your donation will make a significant and lasting impact in the life of a child,” she said. The Bahamas AIDS Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Its outreach to children and adolescents infected and affected by HIV and AIDS represents one of the organisation’s major priorities. Those interested in donating can contact the Foundation via phone at (242) 325-9326 or via email at info@ bahamasaidsfoundation.org or cbarnett@bahamasaidsfoundation.org.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020, PAGE 9

PROSTATE CANCER IS A KILLER here’s what you can do about it This article represents the fourth article in a five part series dedicated to educating the public in this prostate cancer awareness month. Covid-19 continues to disrupt our daily lives and dessimate our health care system. Prostate cancer continues to lead to the death of over 220 men in this country every year and hundreds more Bahamian men and residents are sadly diagnosed with advanced, incurable prostate cancer. The Bahamas has the 14th highest per capita incidence of prostate cancer in the world. The good news: prostate cancer if detected early, can be successfully treated with a 96 percent prostate cancer specific survival ten years after treatment. Advances in prostate cancer detection in the past 20 plus years have led to the advent of the prostate cancer management option of active surveillance; whereby clinically insignificant early, low volume prostate cancer can be actively monitored until the disease requires curative treatment. Many men with insignificant prostate cancer of been able to delay prostate cancer treatment for as long as 8, 10, 12 years before curative management. The unfortunate news: Bahamian men have a one in six

chance of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. African ancestry is a risk factor for a more aggressive form of prostate cancer that affects such men six to seven years earlier on average than their other racial counterparts. BRCA gene 1 and 2 mutations have a relatively high occurrence in Bahamian men. The BRCA gene mutation increases the risk of prostate cancer four-fold and the BRCA gene 2 mutation increases the risk of prostate cancer eightfold by the age of 70 years old. The use of multiparametric MRI magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate for cancer diagnosis and management has evolved considerably in the past 20 years. Long term data from multiple clinical trials has shown that multiparametric MRI can be an invaluable tool in the diagnosis, staging and active surveillance of prostate cancer. Pre prostate biopsy use of MRI has been a significant game changer in the detection and stratifying of prostate cancer. MRI prostate cancer imaging can with high sensitivity and specificity determine which patients require prostate biopsies and the imaging of the MRI prostate allows cognitive or real time image directed biopsies of suspicious prostate lesions.

Traditionally, prostate cancer has been diagnosed using biopsy needles directed into the prostate gland with ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound imaging does not generally show the location of prostate cancer lesions. The ultrasound guidance allows for the anatomical directed biopsy of the prostate. Ultrasound guided prostate biopsies can miss prostate cancer altogether or biopsy low grade prostate cancer and miss higher grade prostate cancer. It is estimated that 25% of ultrasound guided prostate biopsies under stage or fail to detect prostate cancer that is present. Urologists can now use MRI prostate images in real time with ultrasound guidance and specifically biopsy suspicious prostate lesions and thus provide highly accurate prostate cancer detection. MRI prostate imaging has led to a considerable reduction world-wide in unnecessary prostate biopsies, whereby biopsies are not performed if the MRI has not shown prostate cancer suspected lesions. PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) inhibitors for prostate cancer are an important advancement in prostate cancer research and treatment in 2019. PARP is a substance that blocks an enzyme in cells. In prostate cancer

CHOOSE YOUR GOAL

- even it it’s wanting a six-pack I remember when starting out on my health and fitness journey, my goals might not be what you would have imagined. It wasn’t about losing 110 pounds or being able to run a six-minute mile. I didn’t want to reduce my risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. Truthfully, all I wanted was a six-pack. The foundation of my journey was built on sheer vanity. One may wonder: “How does having a nice set of abs trump hypertension and diabetes?” When your sole goal is to impress the ladies, you aren’t necessarily lending any deep thought to all of the more important benefits to living a healthy life. The few people I shared my reasons with gave me mixed responses. However, almost all of them laughed. The general consensus was that my motives were not good enough to want to get healthy. Meanwhile, I could have cared less about getting healthy. I

was only interested in enhancing my physique. Needless to say, I quickly learned that your body is a reflection of your lifestyle. So If I wanted to get that six-pack, I had to be doing the things every day that people with six-packs did. Certainly, my regimen had to become consistent with eating right and exercising daily. Ironically, as I committed my entire existence to this one “silly” idea of getting a six-pack, my “why” expanded as I became aware of some of the other benefits of getting healthy and fit. Although my desire to shed stomach fat and replace it with a toned abdomen was my initial motivation to get in shape, it opened me up to other benefits as well. That being said, I want to talk about your “why”. These are just a couple of things I want you to consider when determining your “why”:

ETHAN QUANT

HEALTH COACH

treatment PARP may aid in keeping cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, leading these prostate cancer cells to die, as a part of targeted prostate cancer treatment. PARP inhibitor treatment has an important role in BRCA gene mutation related prostate cancer. Research continues with great future promise for the use of PARP inhibitors in treating prostate cancer. The development of immunotherapy and future vaccines for prostate cancer is currently being investigated and has shown great potential. One type of prostate cancer treatment vaccine called Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) has FDA approval for the management of advanced metastatic prostate cancer patients with few symptoms. Provenge helps the immune system to target prostate cancer cells. An important development in prostate cancer on the horizon is a simple urine test introduced in 2019, that makes use of urine samples taken at home. The PUR (Prostate Urine Risk) test has been pioneered to detect aggressive prostate cancer and predict which patients will require prostate cancer treatment within the next five years. The PUR test has the advantage of men being able to provide urine samples at home without the need for an uncomfortable rectal exam. The PUR test looks at gene expression in urine samples and provides critical information as to whether prostate cancer if detected, is low risk or an aggressive form. The PUR test research continues and it will hopefully be part of future prostate cancer diagnosis. Genetic testing for BRCA gene mutations are available locally so that men, particularly with a strong family history of prostate cancer and breast cancer, may determine their lifetime risk of prostate cancer and be even more diligent in early prostate cancer diagnosis. Targeted more intense prostate cancer screening for Bahamian men with BRCA gene 1 or 2 mutations will help prevent prostate cancer deaths by enabling earlier detection in

this high-risk group for prostate cancer. Doctors Hospital has available to residents of the Bahamas, the state of the art 3T MRI magnetic resonance imaging, that is an important advancement in the diagnosis, surveillance and management of prostate cancer locally. Prostate cancer is a very treatable disease but yet hundreds of Bahamian men are diagnosed every year at an incurable stage and far too many die unnecessarily from this disease. From the age of 40 years old, have a PSA prostate specific antigen blood test every year. Early detection is the key to the cure of prostate cancer.

There is no wrong reason to want to get healthy and fit. As a health and lifestyle coach, I have heard all sorts of reasons for people wanting to get healthy and fit. Some of the reasons clients have shared with me range from wanting to reduce their risk of getting cancer or heart disease, to wanting to win over an ex who had issues with their weight. Others just wanted to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath. Whatever inspires you or gives you that impetus to get started is good. Just run with it! It should make you feel good and excited. When I thought of getting my six-pack and all the wonderful and awesome things I would do with ‘abs of steel’, I got this really cool, bubbly feeling in my stomach. Honestly, a smile would automatically appear on my face. I got excited at the thought of my new life with my dream body. I imagined different scenarios and new levels of social interaction: “Hi, my name is Ethan Quant and this is my sixpack!” I know it may sound silly, but that was my truth. I really wanted my six-pack. Your “why” needs to be strong enough to get you up and going even when you don’t feel like

it. The thing is that there were days when I didn’t feel like working out or following my meal plan. But then I would evaluate how neglecting my responsibilities would inhibit me getting my six-pack. It didn’t take much consideration before I would drag myself out of bed and into the gym for a vigorous ab workout.Your “why” is just that – yours. Therefore, you don’t need approval or permission from anyone to see if your “why” is good enough. Once it’s good enough for you that’s all that matters. Because the truth is that the reason you get started is not going to be as important once you remain committed to the goal. As long as you remain dedicated to the journey you will discover a lot of other reasons why you want to stay healthy and fit.

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Dr Greggory Pinto

• Dr Greggory Pinto is a board certi ed Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He has trained in Germany, South Africa and France, and is a member of the European Association of Urology. He can be reached at the OakTree Medical Center, #2 Fifth Terrace and Mount Royal Avenue. Call (242) 322-1145-7. E-mail welcome@urologycarebahamas.com or visit the website www.urologycarebahamas.com.

If you would like help navigating any part of your health, wellness and fitness process, you can contact Ethan Quant at ethan@elite-wellnesssolutions.com or on Instagram at @ ethanquant.

Supporting one another in the fight against cancer In the wake of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID19 pandemic, three Abaco natives have formed their own support network as they face new challenges. Elladice Murray, Gwendolyn Baillou, and Karen Lightbourne, who were once only cordial acquaintances, are now meaningful pillars of support in each other’s lives. Treasure Cay resident Elladice Murray, 53, found Hurricane Dorian put a pause on her more than 30-year career as a beauty specialist. During a regular checkup two months after the storm, Elladice was notified a lump found in her breast was possibly cancerous. This was confirmed in January when she got a call saying she was in the early stage of cancer and was presented with the choices of radiation or a mastectomy. In March, she chose to have the latter, ultimately having both breasts removed. Hours after the operation, Elladice was able to access a phone and gave her

family members and friends a call. She recalls them asking “why’re you on this phone and why you sound so happy?” Family and friends were puzzled as to how she maintained such high spirits and a positive outlook on life. F “They were surprised and shocked at how I sounded because most people after an operation sound down.” Elladice said cancer is merely a medical diagnosis, not a definition of who she is or what she can do. She witnessed her mother in the fight against cancer and attributes her positive attitude to the strength that was displayed. Elladice has completed four rounds of chemo and, after being in Nassau since February, is able to complete her medical checkups at the Cooper’s Town Clinic in Abaco. “Through it all, despite chemo and a couple of bad days, I thank God for his grace and mercy. Him, my family, and friends all kept me sane. I never once let it get to me,” she said.

THREE Abaconians lean on each other for support as they face the effects of Hurricane Dorian, cancer, and now, COVID-19. L-R: Gwendolyn Baillou, Elladice Murray, and Karen Lightbourne Meanwhile, Gwendolyn celebrated her 50th birthday in July, when she also marked the completion of six rounds of chemotherapy. “Plenty persons have cancer but they don’t want to talk about it or say anything, but this doesn’t make sense,” she said. “You need support; you need friends and people to help. Put your hesitations aside and talk to somebody. Support is what it’s all about.” Gwendolyn recently went from having chemotherapy treatments every three weeks to weekly and she encourages cancer patients to not remain tied down to the bed or couch. “Get up in the morning, exercise,

and eat healthy. Build yourself up,” she said. Since the age of 15, Gwendolyn has worked as a bartender and waitress in resorts spanning the island of Abaco. Gwendolyn also faced high bills from house damage due to Hurricane Dorian. Both Elladice and Gwendolyn suffered roof damage, while Karen’s home was totally compromised. Karen too has found herself battling cancer. She has so far opted not to have a mastectomy. She is now on her eighth round of chemotherapy since March and has remained in Nassau,

as the treatments are not available in Abaco. “Through it all, it gets better. I’ve been down, but not out,” she said, adding she is taking it “one day at a time”. The trio emphasized that God has continued to keep them as they push forth. In fact, Gwendolyn said, “He keeps us so we can tell our story. The cancer community needs to know they are not alone.” CIBC First Caribbean has been helping to raise funds for cancer patients for the past eight years, including its annual Walk for the Cure event. The $70,000 in donations raised during Walk for the Cure last year

was presented to eight cancer organisations across The Bahamas. The Abaco Cancer Society received $12,000, a record amount for the organisation. On October 3rd 2020, Walk for the Cure Day will be recognized. Bahamians everywhere are encouraged to walk, run, swim, and workout for the cure in their own neighborhoods or home gyms. On this day, individuals are asked to wear Walk for the Cure t-shirts, take photos and videos, and post them to social media with the hashtag #WalkfortheCureBAH to raise awareness. Individuals can also visit any CIBC FirstCaribbean branch and donate to the CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the Cure account. In addition to the local event, the regional walk this year will be a virtual one taking place on Sunday, October 4, at 4pm. It will see the usual fundraising and pre-walk activities in each territory taking place online and via social media, before culminating with a Virtual Walk and Concert of Hope featuring leading entertainers from across the region.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, September 22, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Barri lost her family to Hurricane Dorian - now she’s trying to rebuild

TONY RUSSELL, (Mrs. Russell) Baronette Thomas

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net AFTER SURVIVING three nights at the mercy of the ocean during Hurricane Dorian, Bahamian Baronette “ Barri” Thomas was airlifted to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau on September 4, 2019. Her husband and three children were never to be seen again. It has been a year since Hurrican Dorian claimed the lives of husband and father Philip “PJ” Thomas Jr, sons Meteo and Tidal, and daughter Remeille. The Thomas family lived in McLean’s Town, East End, Grand Bahama where Hurricane Dorian hovered for over 48 hours. As the tidal surge rose over the house, the boat they had sought refuge in capsized. The story is now being told in a new documentary, “Barri and the Six”. The documentary, independently produced by family friend Dan Tomlin and directed by filmmaker Wiley Watson, tells the story of Barri as she rebuilds her life and helps to rebuild the town she and her husband, Captain Phillip Thomas Jr, so dearly loved. The documentary is part of a move to help Barri as she seeks to pay the legal fees needed to obtain her family’s death certificates. “Barri has spent months in isolation due to COVID-19 lockdowns. She has waited ten months for DNA results, hoping to claim family remains, only to hear nothing. Barri, as all Bahamians with loved ones listed as ‘missing’, has heard the promises made by government officials to amend or expedite the process of issuing death certificates for those who perished in the storm. In mid-July, Barri was advised by government officials to ‘hire a lawyer’ to pursue the matter,” according to members of the documentary team. In an interview with Tribune Weekend, Barri said all Bahamians know of the harrowing event that was Hurricane Dorian. The storm was different from any other storm that hit the Bahamas, and by far the most powerful storm to impact the islands. “What we don’t know is the amount of citizens in this country that are still struggling. The government is trying to paint a different picture then what is actually happening, especially on Abaco and the East End of Grand Bahama. Our goal with this project is to really give a voice to those people who feel like they have been left behind,” she said. “More specifically, we really want the government to amend the ‘missing

BARONETTE Thomas

persons’ from this storm and provide death certificates to those remaining family members. The government claims to be making it easier to collect death certificates from the citizens who died in the storm, but the fact is that they haven’t helped expedite this process at all. The bigger question is, why haven’t they? What’s to lose in helping the strong people of this country?” said Barri. She said the film has received amazing feedback, and she believes it really resonates with Bahamian people as it gives them a voice to share with the world on what has really happened in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. The film received more than 80,000 views in the first week of its launch. “We have received messages from people all over the world who visit The Bahamas and are just blown away by the story. I didn’t have much involvement with the production process, but it was a lot of work emotionally. Dan has never produced a film project before, but he knew this story needed to be told on a broader scale, so he went and sourced the right guy to make this project happen, and Wiley did an amazing job with the film. “I let the team just work around me. It was a very small crew, Dan, Wiley and his girlfriend Jen. Dan was very good friends with my husband Phil. They would fish and dive together multiple times a year. After Dorian, Dan saw the need to create a film to really share the story on what happened to me, my family and the people of the islands. Our goal was to tell the story in its most authentic way, without exaggerating any of the facts.” She expressed that revisiting all the deeply traumatic moments in her life were very difficult to film. And the hardest scene to film was when she revisited Mcleans Town for the first time in January after the storm. “That was the last place I saw my family and it was very hard for me to go back, but I needed to do it. We will see how things evolve with the story, myself and the film. Our faith is that this project will be a catalyst for positive change in the islands and the government’s handling of Hurricane victims whose lives have changed forever,” said Barri. To find out more or to offer to assist Barri and McLeans Town, visit https:// www.barriandthesix.com/take-action.

WILEY WATSON, Dan Tomlin, Phil Thomas Sr

BARONETTE THOMAS, Wiley Watson & Dan Tomlin

DAN Tomlin & Baronette Thomas

DAN Tomlin & Tony Russell

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020, PAGE 11

Going Global

Out of more than 170 entries from 44 countries, Bahamian twelfth grader Sierra Blair captured first runner-up in the Girls’ Voices at Home video challenge – a competition which invited young women aged 13 to 26 to share how they are staying strong and continuing their education during the COVID-19 pandemic. As first runner-up, Blair receives a $500 cash scholarship from the Seattle, Washington, organisation. A 21-year-old college student identified only as Debrah A from the Philippines placed first, winning a $1,000 scholarship. “Although I didn’t place first, I was over the moon happy since it was my first-ever video competition and I’ve only edited eight videos since I picked up the skill in March, during the lockdown,” said Blair.

first book, Roman & His Mean Family, on Amazon when she was only 13. Blair followed that up with her second book, Roman & The Pink Flamingos in 2018. Prior to the pandemic, it was sold at the Atlantis Resort, Ardastra Gardens and to the Ministry of Education. Blair, who aspires to become a chef, developed her video editing skills after launching her Sierra & Roman’s Cooking Show on YouTube in March. Roman is her four-year-old brother. “After posting the first episode of my show, my video editor’s computer crashed. I had to take matters into my own hands and learn how to edit my own videos if I wanted to continue the show, which I most definitely wanted to do,” said Blair. “Learning to edit videos was born out of necessity not really an interest, but after editing the

SIERRA BLAIR, who finished as first runner-up in a worldwide video competition. Photo: Precision Media The 16-year-old developed her storytelling skill as a children’s author. She launched her

second show I thought this was a really cool skill.” Last month, Blair stumbled upon the competition’s Facebook and Instagram ads. For several days, Blair mulled over the video project. Once she decided to enter, it took about a week to draft her script and shoot video clips. “I tried not to hype it up too much in my mind. I know from first-hand experience when you think you’re going to win something and you don’t that can be disappointing, soul-crushing even,” said the private school student. “My advice to other students would be to not let fear of failure hold them back from competing. I would recommend competing globally because you have anonymity. Nobody knows you didn’t win unless you tell them.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 68° F/20° C

TAMPA

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Windy with a passing shower

Breezy with a shower in spots

Winds subsiding; a morning shower

Mostly cloudy; a shower or two

Mostly cloudy; a shower or t‑storm

Mostly cloudy with a few showers

High: 87°

Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 78°

High: 89° Low: 78°

High: 88° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

91° F

77° F

92°-80° F

95°-84° F

98°-85° F

96°-82° F

High: 87° 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.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

15‑25 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 86° F/30° C Low: 77° F/25° C

12‑25 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C

10‑20 knots

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

tiDes For nassau High Today

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

12:34 p.m. ‑‑‑‑‑

3.6 ‑‑‑‑‑

6:10 a.m. 7:03 p.m.

0.2 0.6

Wednesday 12:56 a.m. 1:36 p.m.

2.9 3.4

7:08 a.m. 8:09 p.m.

0.4 0.8

Thursday

2:01 a.m. 2:42 p.m.

2.7 3.3

8:11 a.m. 9:17 p.m.

0.7 0.9

Friday

3:10 a.m. 3:49 p.m.

2.6 3.2

9:19 a.m. 0.8 10:24 p.m. 1.0

Saturday

4:18 a.m. 4:52 p.m.

2.6 3.2

10:26 a.m. 0.9 11:23 p.m. 0.9

Sunday

5:19 a.m. 5:47 p.m.

2.7 3.2

11:27 a.m. 0.8 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Monday

6:12 a.m. 6:35 p.m.

2.8 3.2

12:14 a.m. 0.8 12:20 p.m. 0.8

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W S

12‑25 knots

6:59 a.m. 7:06 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

12:28 p.m. 11:26 p.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Sep. 23

Oct. 1

Oct. 9

Oct. 16

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

tracking map H

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

CAT ISLAND

E

W

12‑25 knots

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

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 75° F/24° C Last year’s high ................................. 85° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ............................................... 45.07” Normal year to date ................................... 27.72”

uV inDex toDay

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

12‑25 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 84° F/29° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N E

W

N E

W

S

S

6‑12 knots

4‑8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday: Today: Wednesday:

WINDS NE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 6‑12 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots NW at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots E at 10‑20 Knots ENE at 10‑20 Knots E at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots ENE at 12‑25 Knots NE at 6‑12 Knots E at 7‑14 Knots NE at 12‑25 Knots ESE at 8‑16 Knots

WAVES 12‑16 Feet 10‑14 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 8‑12 Feet 6‑10 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 10‑14 Feet 8‑12 Feet 6‑10 Feet 6‑10 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 10‑14 Feet 10‑14 Feet 4‑7 Feet 4‑8 Feet 1‑2 Feet 1‑3 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑8 Feet

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

WATER TEMPS. 86° F 86° F 88° F 86° F 87° F 86° F 87° F 86° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 84° F 87° F 85° F 87° F 86° F 87° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 87° F 86° F 87° F 86° F

SECTION B

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

SHAUNTAE IS KICKING UP A STORM By JEFFARAH GIBSON . Tribune Features Writer . jgibson@tribunemedia.net

T

HIS YEAR, there were no shouts or applauses to usher in the new Miss Bahamas Universe, Shauntae Miller. Instead, Miss Miller received her accolades by virtual means due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is what most major world pageants have been forced to do – host virtual workshops since gathering in large crowds have been prohibited in most countries around the globe to control the spread of the virus. On September 10, the remaining six young women from the 18 applicants between the ages of 18 and 28, vied for the coveted crown of Miss Bahamas Universe 2020. The pandemic while changed the Miss Bahamas Universe organization, like many other countries, opted to host a virtual workshop and boutique screening. The existence of the COVID-19 restrictions provided two strands of opportunity to the organisation. The first was to execute the “Confidently Beautiful” workshops virtually, in order for the contestants to receive the benefits of particular skills and resources that can be useful tools as individuals and working professionals. The second was to ensure that each young lady had an equal opportunity to compete for the national title, regardless to their presence on the Island of New Providence or not. While pageantgoers anticipate a livestage production annually, the undertaking was a challenge due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. In an effort to ensure that the organisation met its targeted timeline, as well as ensuring that it respected the emergency orders, the combination of virtual workshops and the private screening turned out to be the most effective and safest method of execution, said Anthony Smith, the organisation’s national director. “The pandemic has obviously affected many things. And this has put a pause on social events everywhere. For Miss Bahamas Universe Organisation, it really meant that choosing how we were going to execute the process had to be fluid for our judging panel and safe for our contestants. The international company, Miss Universe Organisation, provided all of the local pageants globally with the option of simply choosing a candidate or conduct a virtual platform that is serviceable in one’s own country. “Miss Bahamas Universe Organisation opted to do the four-week virtual workshop and a boutique screening, equal to a modeling/acting casting call, because we had some very compelling young ladies who were super-ready and therefore, our MBU committee agreed to take them through a three-level interview process including swimsuit in order to deliberate for such an important decision. Although any of the finalist would’ve been great, ultimately, Shauntae Miller won the panelists over. She’s sort of a quiet storm. I suppose that’s where her competitive nature,” he said. The other top contestants in this year’s process was first and second runner ups Selvinique Wright and Nyiesha Tilus respectively. Other top participants included Halle Bowe, Ricah Neely and Lashelle Forbes.

Shauntae is the sister of Bahamian gold medal Olympian Shaunae Miller. Shauntae is also a health and fitness advocate, track coach and an aspiring entrepreneur. Miss Miller also holds a bachelors of science in pre-medicine biology, a masters of science in clinical mental health counseling and is currently pursuing a PhD at Carson Newman University. This was Miss Miller’s second time entering the competition. When asked what made her try again? She said with teary eyes: “My faith. I entered in 2018 new to pageantry and was very disappointed when I did not walk away with the title at that time. Nonetheless, I continued to work on myself and two years later with hard work and determination, I felt much more prepared for this year’s competition. I am forever thankful to my continued support system of family and friends for helping to make my dream a reality and extremely grateful to represent my country.” The team of professionals, both local and abroad, who provided a dynamic and insightful training for the ladies during the four-week exercise, included: Chrystal Bethell, communications coach, actor and model and former Top Model of The Bahamas titleholder, conducted the communications and public speaking training; make-up artist Sarsha Lepeche-Taylor gave tips about make up application; Mitzi Turnquest, CEO and businesswoman, spoke to the young women about image and entrepreneurship; Eric Gibson, CEO of Brand 300 (Digital Marketing/ Branding) shared social media and digital marketing tips and strategies; Ovo Drenth, professional model in the US Market, provided insight on the runway do’s and don’ts; and Chantel O’Brian, founder of PS O’Brian Consulting and Modeling Studio, shared her experiences as a former title holder and offered insightful nuggets to the young ladies, distinguishing the differences between the pageantry and modeling industries. The Miss Bahamas Universe Organisation also thanked its Confidently Beautiful Workshop trainers and sponsors for their support including the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Fedex, Signature Styles, The Ministry of Tourism, Biore, Jergens, Image Masters, Body Beautiful, The New York Film Academy, Hamian Official and Brand 300 Agency. While many are still anticipating the Miss Universe pageant, the official date and city has not been announced as yet. However, the pageant is scheduled to be held in the United States within the first quarter of 2021 with further

details to come in the upcoming months. Throughout her reign newly crowned queen said she will continue promoting her platform “Get Fit Bahamas. At the same time she juggles preparations for the global Miss Universe pageant. “From grooming to photo shoots, interviews and a very hectic schedule with a campaign that reflects my lifestyle as an athlete coach and a beauty pageant ambassador for The Bahamas. The Miss Bahamas Universe Organization has included a great deal of my passion, ideas and ideals into the pageant campaign. Our mission after all is the pursuit of making history by bringing home Miss Universe crown. I’m confident that it is possible,” she said.

MISS BAHAMAS UNIVERSE, Shauntae Miller Photo Credit: Image Masters