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The Tribune
Volume:117 No.209, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2020
Established 1903
Weekend
DIANE PHILLIPS: DON’T BE AFRAID - MOMS MATTER TOO
‘I’m not talking to her’
EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
Weekend
Friday, September 25, 2020 photography food garden ing culture history puzzles animals
Education Minister and union boss go to war
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said his ministry will not attend
meetings with Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson or view her as a credible representative of teachers unless she apologises for her conduct and stops
Page 05
Comic book hero
Young artist seeks to be an
‘Apologise? No chance’
SINGER BATTLES BACK
inspiration
pg 04
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson behaving in a “disrespectful and insulting” manner. He also claimed she has cursed at him in Whats App messages. SEE PAGE FIVE
‘FIRMS HAVEN’T GOT MONEY McALPINE STAYS ON FENCE FOR SEVERANCE PAYMENTS’ OVER ISSUE OF ALLEGIANCE By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net LABOUR Director John Pinder said most employers do not have sufficient revenue to give severance packages to their employees if the government declines to extend its unemployment benefits programme.
The social assistance programme expires at the end of this month - as does the grace period in which employers can refrain from paying their employees and avoid letting them go in accordance with the Employment Act. Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said yesterday officials are still
considering whether to extend the unemployment benefits. It is not clear if the government will extend the grace period provision beyond this month. Mr Pinder said yesterday: “The government is trying its best to open the economy so they don’t have to extend unemployment SEE PAGE FOUR
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PINERIDGE MP Frederick McAlpine says he remains in the “valley of decision” regarding his political future, but he doesn’t think he’ll make any moves right now. Yesterday, the outspoken
Free National Movement MP said while he remains a member of the governing party, he isn’t sure of its political prospects for the general election in 2022. Yet, he hasn’t made up his mind on the next step. However Mr McAlpine said he’s leaving his options open. “At the end of the day
I don’t see what the Free National Movement has to campaign on,” Mr McAlpine told The Tribune. “Much of the country is unemployed. The hotels are closed. What are you going to campaign on, Oban? The 60 percent VAT increase? Hurricane Dorian? What?” SEE PAGE FOUR
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE PROMISES? By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PROMINENT Freeport attorney yesterday voiced fears that the latest bid to revive Freeport’s economy will be “an exercise in futility” unless the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) ownership changes. Terence Gape, senior partner at Dupuch & Turnquest, told Tribune Business
THE GRAND Bahama Port Auhtority HQ the “wonderful ideas” proposed by the Revitalization and Economic Expansion of Freeport committee would ultimately “get nowhere” without the Hayward and
St George families being replaced by an investor with the capital and knowhow to execute them. He pointed to what he described as numerous broken promises in the April 2016 memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the GBPA, Hutchison Whampoa and the Freeport-based entities they control as one factor behind his scepticism. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
THE ALTERNATIVE TO OPIOID MEDICATION
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Business brings new weapon to the COVID fight TWO Bahamian businessmen have joined forces to bring a new weapon to The Bahamas in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Phillip Whitehead, president of Gunite Pools of Nassau, Osprey Construction & Mepco and Andrew McFall, president of ARM Bottles & Supplies have started manufacturing a
new natural disinfectant to help destroy the virus in homes and businesses. The disinfectant uses hypochlorous acid, first discovered and used during the First World War to treat open wounds and eye infections. Hypochlorous acid, unlike chlorine bleach, is 100 percent safe and nonirritant. If it gets on your skin or in your eyes, it will
not burn. Even if it were accidentally ingested, it is completely harmless. Yet, it is 70-80 times more efficient at killing microbial pathogens than chlorine bleach. “We are both proud and happy that we are able to contribute to the COVID-19 fight by producing Hypochlorous Acid in Nassau,” said the two businessmen.
ANDREW MCFALL, owner of ARM Bottles (left) and Phillip Whitehead at the ARM Bottling Plant on Crooked Island St. “Having the experience killer disinfectant to other alcohol and chemical based disinfectants would be limfrom both the pool service islands.” McFall, who has 30 years ited. That said, as with all and chemicals business as well as Andrew’s financial of experience in the bank- products, each has its own and bottling background, ing business before he benefits and usage criteria we saw an opportunity to started ARM Bottles five depending on the use case. “We look forward to our use our competences and years ago, added: “Being skills to manufacture this part of the project to application as an essential particularly potent disin- produce this particular dis- service being favourably infectant is very important considered and, the Minfectant locally. “We are grateful for the for us. It allows us to help istry of Finance protecting support and encourage- The Bahamas get through our burgeoning industry ment we have received the COVID crisis while at and all other light manufacfrom Prime Minister Dr the same time being able tures – thereby increasing Hubert Minnis’, Minister of to diversify our business, natural security, providHealth Renward Wells and secure the financial future ing job opportunities and invaluable advice we have of the company while negating the need to spend got from Minister of Works providing additional job our valuable monies on opportunities, all of which importing products from Desmond Bannister. “The Government’s sup- helps strengthen the busi- other nations.” ARM Bottles is located port of projects like ours is ness environment here in on Crooked Island Street critically important in dif- The Bahamas.” With hypochlorous acid producing a variety of botficult times. Not only will be able to repurpose spare being a medical grade, non- tles for water and juices capacity and contribute to toxic disinfectant that has and this project opens up the fight against COVID-19 a proven track record on an opportunity to diversify virus, but create jobs here live viruses for close to 100 into a new segment, thereby in The Bahamas exporting years; there are a number strengthening a local Bahaapplications where mian business. this hospital grade COVID of
MAN SHOT AS HE ANSWERS HIS DOOR A MAN is in hospital after he was shot on Wednesday. Police said shortly after 10pm, officers received a complaint of a male being shot on Finlayson Street, Bain Town. Officers responded and on their arrival at the scene they
were informed that a man and a woman were at home when they heard a knock at the door. The male went to see who was at the door. As he opened it, a man pushed his way into the house. A struggle then ensued between the occupant and the
assailant, who discharged a firearm injuring the man. The suspect escaped and moments later the victim was transported to hospital via private vehicle. His condition is not known at this time. An investigation into this matter continues.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 3
Days after Commissioner says prison has no cases, Minister says officers have COVID-19 By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net WHILE the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among correctional officers is “very low,” National Security Marvin Dames said it is natural for officers to have fears about safety in the workplace. However Mr Dames said “not a week goes by” without officials having discussions on how to minimise exposure within their respective agencies. This, he said, applies to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force as well as Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. “I know the total to date (at RBDF) is over 100. That’s not bad and I think the police force is over 100 as well and the correctional department, they are very low, the numbers are very low,” Mr Dames replied when asked about the total number of COVID-19 cases in the armed forces. It is not clear how many of those cases are active. This comes days after Correctional Commissioner Charles Murphy said he had no reports of COVID19 cases currently active in the prison. On Monday, this newspaper reported some correctional officers had concerns after two inmates were allegedly removed from a particular cell block and placed in quarantine, prompting suspicion from staff. According to officers, staff are still made to interact with the remaining inmates who were in close proximity to the two inmates before they were moved. This has increased fears about a potential COVID-19 exposure at the prison. Mr Murphy has since hit out at officers’ concerns
about their safety at the facility, insisting that he has no reports of confirmed COVID-19 cases there. “I don’t know who communicated to you or with you in reference to coronavirus in (the) prison but I am not aware of any corona in prison at this time and the officers that they are threatened — they are fully aware that anything that relates to (the) prison is supposed to be published by the official authority and they know their job will be threatened by the Correctional Act,” he told The Tribune on Sunday. Asked about the issue, Mr Dames said while it is natural for correctional officers or any one for that matter to have COVID-19 concerns at the workplace, officers must also do their very best to follow the health protocols to avoid contracting the virus. Mr Dames said COVID19 “is real” and there is “nothing wrong with having concerns”. “There’s nothing wrong with someone echoing that I have some concerns. I have concerns (about) whether I contract COVID or not. I mean I work seven days a week. “We’re meeting although we’re social distancing and wearing masks. I have concerns whether you’re going to catch it and take it home to your family.” The Mount Moriah MP added: “Now after having said that, these agencies were among the first to introduce COVID prevention plans and well, you look at the numbers throughout all of these agencies comparatively speaking and you compare them with frontline agencies anywhere the world over and those numbers are low and also taking in mind to that when you look at
MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames pictured during a previous prison visit. the defence force and the police force, these are large government agencies in The Bahamas. “They are microcosms of our wider community. Many of these officers have to return home in their communities where COVID is and so at the end of the day it boils down to personal responsibility and if you take care of yourself and those around you and you continue to adhere to the warning from the health officials, you should be okay.” He also said officials are constantly discussing strategies on how to prevent a COVID outbreak within the law enforcement agencies. “Not a week goes by, we have weekly meetings on the prison, the defence force, the police force as to how their strategies
and their efforts to mitigate COVID within their respective agencies and so they go the extra mile,” he said. “And so, when we talk
Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff
about putting people in quarantine, they go extra just to ensure that we don’t have a serious outbreak of COVID in these agencies, but you know officers
have to go home and there’s always a risk. We have community spread in our communities so there’s always a risk that someone will get it.”
‘PLAN AHEAD FOR VACCINE’ COUNTRIES should not wait for a COVID-19 vaccine to be developed before they start planning and preparing for its arrival, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) director, Carissa F Etienne said this week. In the meantime, they must also continue other recommended public health measures to contain the virus. “Frontline health workers, first responders and those caring for the elderly should be vaccinated first, followed by vulnerable groups such as adults with pre-existing conditions, especially those over 65 years of age,” Ms Etienne said. “The challenge lies in identifying these groups early and determining how to best reach them.” In a news briefing on Wednesday, the PAHO director warned that even as a vaccine is rolled out, “this virus will continue to spread, and people will continue to get sick. So, we cannot pin all our hope on vaccines alone.” She added: “We’ll still need diagnostics to identify those who are sick
and better treatments to care for those that fall ill. We’ll continue to rely on traditional public health measures like tests, contact tracing and quarantines to minimise the spread of this virus. And we’ll continue to count on people exercising social distancing, washing their hands often and wearing masks in public to protect others from getting sick.” When vaccines become available, the COVAX Facility, convened by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO, “will afford countries in our region the best opportunity to fast-track access to COVID-19 vaccines and reduce the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives and our economies. The COVAX facility offers access to a basket of 15 possible vaccines,” she said. Ms Etienne said nearly 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are being studied. “And we hope that one or more of these will prove to be effective, but there is no guarantee. Early vaccines may only provide partial protection or may
not work for everyone. We don’t yet know which vaccine will be found safe and effective and how it will work. But we do know that if we don’t prepare now, we will miss the opportunity to benefit from it quickly. The truth is countries can’t wait to have all of the answers before they start planning and preparing to deliver a COVID vaccine.” PAHO is well prepared to offer technical cooperation to countries so they can prepare and implement their vaccination campaigns – “from planning and forecasting to communications, from regulations to the training of health personnel. Another benefit to our member states is that they can rely on our Revolving Fund, the biggest regional mechanism for self-financing countries, for the purchase and delivery of vaccines,” she said. “So, I urge countries around the world to prepare for a coronavirus vaccine, but also to remain realistic, knowing that these preparations do not replace everything else we must do to save lives today,” Ms Etienne concluded.
DEATH COUNT RISES TO 86; 81 NEW CASES CONFIRMED EIGHTY-ONE additional cases of COVID-19 cases were confirmed yesterday while the death count has risen to 86. According to data released by the Ministry of Health yesterday, the country now has 3,699 cases across the country. The new cases include 75 in New Providence, four in Grand Bahama and two in Abaco. One new death was announced yesterday while five deaths which were previously under investigation have been confirmed as
being COVID-19 related. Among the deaths are a 50-year-old male of New Providence, who died yesterday. The deaths previously under investigation which have since been confirmed as connected to the new coronavirus are: a 73-yearold Grand Bahama man who died on September 20; a 54-year-old Grand Bahama man who died on September 20; a 50-yearold Grand Bahama woman who died on September 19; a 64-year-old New Providence woman who died
on September 20 and a 46-year-old man from New Providence who died on September 14. Three non-COVID-19 related deaths and one additional death under investigation have also been recorded, the ministry said. “These unfortunate deaths decrease the number of deaths under investigation to 12, increase the number of non-COVID-19 deaths to 13, and tally the confirmed death toll at 86,” the Ministry of Health added.
SCHOONER BAY SECURITY STAFF REPORTEDLY SUFFER INFECTIONS By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net THERE are reportedly four confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the security department of the high-end gated community of Schooner Bay in Abaco, including the head of security, and another case on a construction site, according to residents. The community located on Great Abaco includes
houses and condominiums also serves as a vacation area for many tourists. It also has residences currently under construction. Last weekend, however, a COVID-19 case reportedly showed up at the community. A Tribune source said from the moment the first case was announced there was a mad rush to get tested. “We are waiting on some results right now, but there are already four people in the security department
affected and there is someone from the construction crew infected as well,” the source said. “The head of security seems to be affected worse than the others. Many residents have gotten tested and are awaiting the results. They want to be safe too. “It is unfortunate that COVID had to come to Schooner Bay. We have tried our best to remain safe here, but through the course of correct and honest contact tracing,
we hope that this will be contained. Once the right people are quarantined we should be okay, but for now we wait.” The source said the Schooner Bay area has remained relatively safe from COVID, but there have been a lot of “visitors” to the area in recent times and it is believed that is where transmission of the virus took place. “We do everything that we are supposed to do to prevent COVID here at
Schooner Bay,” the source continued. “I went and got a test right away and it’s not a good feeling waiting to see what happens. We were safe but like I said to you earlier, we had some visitors from Nassau. I honestly believe the spread came from them. “Now what is really concerning me is the fact that a construction worker got it. COVID is very easy to spread and with those fellows working so close together and sharing tools
etcetera, look for more transmission of COVID here.” The Tribune reached out to representatives at Schooner Bay, but one representative said she could not comment on the matter and the other said the office was closed. Nurses at the Marsh Harbour clinic did not offer any comment on the matter either. Abaco has more than 130 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
PAGE 4, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Culmer: Miller doesn’t have what it takes to win for PLP By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer doesn’t believe Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller has what it takes to win the seat for the Progressive Liberal Party should it decide to run him as its candidate in the 2022 general election. “I don’t think he has that kind of pull,” Mr Culmer told The Tribune yesterday as he spoke of the MP who crossed the floor on Wednesday to join the opposition PLP. Mr Miller quit the FNM nine months ago to become an independent representative.
Mr Culmer said Mr Miller has simply returned to what he always knew, as he expressed disappointment in the move. “We are disappointed that he would use the FNM to win an election and then cross the floor,” he said. “He just went back to what he knows, all along, he just went back home.” Mr Culmer said his party had no concerns that it could lose the constituency come 2022. “He will not get FNMs to support him. It speaks volumes when no one from the association leadership went with you,” he said. “A lot of these persons who come into politics for
the first time believe that they are bigger than the constituency. Vaughn went into a constituency that was already established, all he had to do was nominate and buy his suit. “The constituency association has had to do all the work. He had very little field work to do.” Mr Miller made the revelation of his switch of allegiance while giving a contribution in the House of Assembly on Wednesday night on a resolution to extend the country’s state of emergency to October 31, a move Mr Miller said he does not support. He said he decided to join the official opposition after much personal reflection and
consultation with family and advisors. “It has always been, Mr Speaker, my desire, my dream... to serve our great country and to make life better for other people, particularly the poor, the indigent, the marginalised, the disenfranchised, the downtrodden,” Mr Miller said at the time. “Mr Speaker, the people of the great constituency of Golden Isles have given me that opportunity.” He referred to his decision in 2018 to vote against the government’s value added tax increase, which led to him being fired as a parliamentary secretary. He revealed he is a cancer survivor, saying the disease took a financial toll on him.
PINERIDGE MP Rev Frederick McAlpine.
He said when he thought about voting against the VAT increase, he knew it would not be a financially wise decision because of the inevitable fallout. Still he said he made the decision based on his conviction. Speaking about the move to join the PLP, he said: “I have been in constant conversation with my wife, I’ve spoken, Mr Speaker, to members of my family, constituents, church leaders, religious leaders and others. “I’ve also thought and prayed long and hard. It has become extremely clear to me what I must do. It is time for me to do what I believe is best for me. Mr Speaker, I’ve been in conversation with the leader of the opposition and after
careful reflection, I have decided, Mr Speaker, to join the Progressive Liberal Party. “I spoke to the leader of the opposition about joining the PLP and sitting with his parliamentary caucus from now until the general election, offering to be the next representative of the great Golden Isles constituency as a Progressive Liberal Party member of Parliament. He assured Mr Speaker that he would welcome me into the party and into his caucus.” In a statement released after Mr Miller’s announcement, PLP leader Philip Davis revealed the decision had only been formalised on Wednesday morning after previous discussions.
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
McALPINE STAYS ON FENCE OVER ISSUE OF ALLEGIANCE from page one
Asked what then was influencing his decision to remain with the party, Mr McAlpine said it came down to timing. “My influence to remain is the fact that there is so much going on in the party presently and because there is so much going on presently I think it’s still a wait
and see situation. It’s still early for me to make a decision at this time. “It doesn’t mean that I will or will not leave the party. It just means at this time I don’t see the necessity for me to act to jump to make a move. “That might change in another 90 days, 120 days or in another year. I do not know, but what I do know is that people in The Bahamas
have become weary of just party (politics). People I think are now looking at individuals who have a national appeal, who have a national concern for the nation.” He further questioned why the FNM has not held a convention since 2016. The party’s constitutional requirement is to hold a convention every two years. “What you need to ask is why hasn’t the party called
a convention. Why if we have in the constitution that conventions are supposed to be held every so often? “The PLP and all already had a convention. Why are we afraid to call a convention? “So for me I can’t say any more than to say that I am still in the valley of decision. Bahamians are still in the valley of decision. Bahamians are despondent
about what they’ve seen and what they’ve heard and I am equally in the same position with them. “So what must I jump up and do? Leave and join the Progressive Liberal Party or the Democratic National Alliance? What?” He said while he had not been in discussions with any of those parties recently, his options remained. “I keep my options open
and I have not been in discussions with any of them. I think at this stage of the game I will continue to hold my own, but as I say I think there is enough going on. “Even if you look at the Cabinet, they have not been cohesive. They seem disjointed. So if McAlpine was right all along why should he jump up when he could be right in the middle of an implosion?”
‘FIRMS HAVEN’T GOT MONEY FOR SEVERANCE PAYMENTS’ from page one
benefits. Most employers don’t have sufficient revenue to give separation packages at this time and they’re leaning towards wanting an extension of the programme rather than having to offer separation packages. On the other hand, there are a number of employees - like those who don’t mind retiring - that would like to get the separation package and want their companies to offer them that.” Although the Minnis administration has begun the process of reopening the country, Mr Pinder does not expect to see a significant decline in the unemployment rate soon after the process is complete. “Unless the airlines are flying and the cruise lines are sailing,” he said, “you can’t say those who depend on tourism unemployment benefits wouldn’t need it. Many won’t be in any position to bring on any complement of staff within the first four to eight weeks after reopening. Once tourism increases then they’ll be in a position to get the right complement of staff
LABOUR Director John Pinder. working, but that will take time.” Mr Pinder said if forced to offer severance packages, many companies will go bankrupt. “It would be comparable to the situation that happened to CLICO some years ago,” he said. Earlier this month Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Peter Turnquest said the government has spent about $53.3m helping unemployed people. He said in total, 35,593 people have benefited from its unemployment assistance programmes. The National Insurance Board, meanwhile, has paid out “some $93.3m directly to its beneficiaries,” he said.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 5
Education Minister and union boss go to war from page one Mr Lloyd’s comments were in a letter he sent on September 23 to Elma Garraway, the chairman of the National Advisory Council on Education. He copied the letter to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes and Labour Director John Pinder. Mr Lloyd said despite his ministry’s best efforts to work with Mrs Wilson, officials have too often been met “with insults, disrespect” and an atmosphere that threatens the quality of education for Bahamian students. He accused Mrs Wilson of illegally leading teachers to industrial action and he claimed Mrs Wilson twice disrespected Education Director Marcellus Taylor in the presence of his subordinates. After one case, he said, the Permanent Secretary sent Mrs Wilson a letter warning her that “neither the ministry nor department will ‘subject (itself) to any further personal attacks by her’.” Mr Lloyd said Mrs Wilson has twice sent him WhatsApp messages containing the words “f*** y’all.” “These acts and others have become most intolerable by the ministry,” he said. “The behaviour and attitude of the president over the past three years, as the leader of such a vital stakeholder as the teachers’ union, are real threats to the advancement of education in this country. Obviously, this ministry will not accept a continuation of this most disrespectful circumstance. “You are hereby informed that without a written apology from the president to
the ministry’s leadership, the Ministry of Education will not attend any meeting with NACE in which the president is present. “Further, without a written, irrevocable commitment from the president that her disrespectful and insulting behaviour ceases immediately, and that she will demonstrate an earnest, good faith attempt at achieving the world class education for our children, she will receive no accommodation from this ministry as a credible representative of the teachers of the Ministry of Education.” In response, Mrs Wilson said Mr Lloyd is grasping at straws and is using his letter as a distraction. She said Mr Lloyd “can hold his breath” about getting an apology and accused him of being petty and dishonest for “sharing private communication in the public domain.” “He should use his time wisely by writing policy and monitoring the performance of education officials,” she told The Tribune. “He needs to make sure that schools throughout the Bahamas have reliable internet access, teachers have laptops and not tablets that are incompatible with Zoom platform, make sure schools are cleaned and sanitised and safe for teachers and students to occupy, get the virtual platforms implemented so teachers, students and parents can know how to operate it, properly train teachers for the virtual teaching and learning.” Meanwhile, Mr Pinder said yesterday, he will have to get involved in the dispute.
MINISTER of Education Jeff Lloyd, above, and Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson. “The enormous practice is for there to be some level of courtesy extended on both sides,” the Labour Director said. “Based on what happens now I’m going to have to get involved and I will appeal for calmer heads to prevail. In negotiations you could never get everything you want, but you have to be reasonable.” Mr Pinder said if he can’t solve the dispute, he will recommend that the ministry and BUT leaders participate in arbitration. “The decision by the arbitrator must be kept by both sides,” he said. “I will try my best to mediate between the two sides. I will use my experience and I hope at the end of the day they’re able to come to a mutual agreement that both sides can live with.”
DAMES TELLS RBDF TO MAKE SAFE DECISIONS By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
not sustain any “material damage” and “remains in operational readiness within the theatre of NATIONAL Security operations”. Minister Marvin Dames Yesterday, the minister reminded Royal Bahamas told RBDF officers: “When Defence Force officers you’re at sea, sometimes of their responsibility to the weather is good, someensure the safety of their times it’s bad. Sometimes vessels and crew members, you’re chasing the bad guys. urging them to make wise Sometimes you’re moving and well thought-out deci- in the cover of darkness. sions while at sea. “One thing is for certain He spoke as the RBDF is that you have to always commissioned its ship be thinking of safety, the bridge simulator yester- safety of the men and day, a new equipment that women that you were given allows RBDF personnel the responsibility to care for to train for and enhance and the safety of the vessel, their response to difficult the taxpayer’s money. real-life situations while “And as you all are aware at sea. that these vessels are not The latest equipment cheap and so anytime we is a part of the force’s put someone behind the $232m Sandy Bottom pro- wheel or the bridge or ject, which saw the RBDF whatever it is, you may say, acquire a range of Damen you have to ensure that patrol vessels, upgrade that individual is ready, its existing fleet and is prepared to ensure the develop its port and base safety of his/her crew and infrastructure. to ensure the safety to Speaking at yesterday’s maintain and safeguard the ceremony, which was held vessel from any damage.” at RBDF’s Coral Harbour Meanwhile, RBDF ComBase, Mr Dames praised mander William Sturrup the “state of the art” noted the many roles the equipment. equipment will play in helpHe noted it as a part of ing to enhance operations the government’s efforts at the RBDF. to ensure that the RBDF “This much-needed is equipped with the tools training tool is designed to needed to better protect imitate specific environBahamian waters. ments,” he added. He also stressed the “We will be able to importance of safety and rehearse port approaches, taking care of the ships navigate in narrow chanwhile the officers are at nels and fairways. It will sea. allow for docking and In recent weeks, several manoeuvres in confined RBDF vessels have had to waters, practising entering be grounded, prompting and leaving frequently used officials to launch investiga- harbours and provide radar tions into the matters. The plotting and navigation. latest incident took place “It will allow for trainjust last week when five ing in extreme weather RBDF officers had to be conditions. Trainees will airlifted to New Providence be able to visually idenfollowing the grounding of tify lights and navigation their vessel, HMBS Casca- marks consistent with interrilla, near Ragged Island. national rules of the roads At the time, RBDF offi- standards.” cials said the vessel did “We will conduct threat
analysis and develop good decision-making skills. It will improve competency and efficiency of commanding officers on board our ships.” In April 2018, a clip went viral of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis admonishing former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Tellis Bethel about marines “mashing up” Defence Force vessels, adding that officers must “learn to navigate”. Dr Minnis’ comment came after a set of propellers on HMBS Rolly Gray were damaged that month after the boat had departed Coral Harbour, the third time such an incident had taken place in a six-month timeframe. At the time, Commodore Bethel, through information provided to Press Secretary Anthony Newbold, said the commanding officers of two vessels involved in those incidents have been reassigned. Meanwhile, as it relates to the Sandy Bottom project, Mr Dames yesterday touted the initiative as being complete. However, he said, more work is still in the pipeline for the agency. “The Sandy Bottom Project is just about complete but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us as you know,” he said. “We would’ve signed a contract at the beginning of this year for the electrification of the base that will allow sure power to the vessels. “There are many other things the Defence Force is working on. We’re looking to permanent bases in the southern Bahamas — Ragged Island and Inagua — and so as far as we know, the Sandy Bottom project is done, but that doesn’t mean that the needs for this agency is done. We’re far from it. We have lots of work to do.”
PAGE 6, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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A squabble not fit for the schoolyard THE dispute between Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd and the president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers, Belinda Wilson, has all the hallmarks of a schoolyard squabble. Jeff Lloyd won’t attend meetings with Mrs Wilson because he wants an apology after she reportedly swore at him in Whatsapp messages, while Mrs Wilson won’t apologise and complains about him sharing private messages. “Miss, she said a bad word!” “Sir, he showed everyone a note I wrote him!” For goodness’ sake, grow up, the pair of you. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, parents have no idea if it is safe to send their children to school with scores of new COVID-19 cases daily, staff are worried about their health and their ability to deliver quality education remotely – and these two won’t talk to one another properly? We would be amazed if Mr Lloyd has gone through his career including a spell in the media without encountering some industrial language – and as for Mrs Wilson, she might find that sometimes you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. We don’t want communications to be quite as bristling as in the days of the voice notes featuring former PLP MP Leslie Miller – who would probably sit back and laugh at such a big thing being made out of such comparatively modest language. But nor do we want everyone to be blushing wallflowers who don’t say what needs to be said to get things done. There are major issues in our schooling system and in our country. Let’s get them solved – and let’s not let some petty bickering get in the way of solutions that benefit students’ education and, more importantly, saves people’s lives. Get on with it, and try working together for a change rather than against one another.
Overcome scepticism We wrote this week about the “now or never” moment for Freeport thanks
to a push by a committee to deliver the changes needed to revitalise the economy. It is an important subject – and as such we welcome voices such as Terence Gape’s, who today points out some of the hurdles that must be crossed in getting from where we are to where we want to be. One of those, he points out, is the need for investment beyond the Hayward and St George families, with Mr Gape citing numerous broken promises in the past that lead him to remaining sceptical. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s an exercise in futility,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong; they’re wonderful ideas by REEF, but with the families you’ll get nowhere and Hutchison will block you everywhere you turn.” He added: “The problem is the families have been in charge and failed Freeport since 2004, and nothing has changed.” That of course is the difficulty with trying to turn around a community – the people in the community are the same ones who have been involved previously. If the community has stalled, how do you build faith in those same people that they can step up to the plate this time? What is important is commitment – showing people you really mean it this time. Perhaps that’s financial, putting some money into the game. Perhaps that’s organisational. Perhaps it’s using the muscle you have to do as Mr Gape suggests, getting another investor involved. It’s certainly going to take work on the part of all those involved – and all sides need to show a willingness to put in that work. There is a great starting point in the “wonderful ideas” that sides can rally around. Past stumbles should not be an indicator of future failure – but they do mean there may be a need to show how determined you are to follow through this time. Can Freeport do that collectively? For everyone’s sake, we hope so.
Waterloo nightclub checks justified EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WAS delighted to read the RBPF covid-enforcement unit has been spot checking the Waterloo nightclub. As a resident of the area, I can’t begin to tell you the grief this club has caused residents in the past with its ear-shattering music, getting louder and louder as the night progressed, into the early hours. After the club re-opened, the police seemed to turn a deaf ear to pleas from nearby residents. One policewoman was particularly scornful when we called to complain at some absurd hour, basically saying they could do
anything they liked if the music system was stationed inside. Apparently, the law pertaining to disturbing the peace and being a public nuisance didn’t apply and Waterloo enjoyed Special Club Status. Mmmmm. I wonder why? Night after night, especially on weekends, people couldn’t sleep in their own homes as music blasted and the BOOM BOOM BOOM of the bass amplified even louder across the lake and penetrated their skulls. A number of weeks ago, a photograph was posted by a reputable talk show host showing people all jammed up together at Waterloo, no masks or social distancing.
And the folks at Waterloo are now whining that they’re being harassed by the police! Really? The actions by the police in my opinion are neither arbitrary, nor unfounded, as claimed, but long overdue. I am of the firm view this was brought on by themselves and by their own actions, they may meet their own Waterloo. This country is in a battle for its economic survival. We must stop the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks and socially distancing and stop playing mash-up, mash-up. NAPOLEON B. Nassau, September 24, 2020
In it for himself? EDITOR, The Tribune.
ORDINARILY the movement by a politician like Vaughn Miller from the FNM to the PLP would not warrant my attention, but I was forced to note his words ‘‘it is time for me to do what is best for me’’. This made me think of the lack of altruism in politics. In the sixties we were
moved by the words of the late US President John F Kennedy when he said at his inauguration ‘‘ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’’ Mr Miller has turned it upside down by saying ‘‘it is not time for you to do for your country, it is time for your country to do for you.’’ What sad times in which
we now live. Where is the love for country and care for constituents? Is this why persons commit to political parties? Maybe we should be more careful in choosing the persons for whom we vote. JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, September 24, 2020.
Bahamian redneck culture EDITOR, The Tribune. IN A Ramble Bahamas write-up entitled The Contract, authors Jessica Dawson and Tracey Thompson wrote that between 1943 and 1965, approximately 30,000 Bahamians worked on The Contract in the United States. In the early 1940s, the Bahamian economy, particularly in New Providence, was in complete shambles, owing to World War II. Most of these Bahamians worked in the Deep South, in states that comprised the 11 Confederate States which severed ties with the Union in 1861. This ill-advised move, opposed by General Robert E Lee, would lead to the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Notwithstanding the Lost Cause propaganda spun by Confederate sympathisers and Dixie Southerners, the war was fought over the controversial issue of slavery, as was convincingly argued by Dr Joel McDurmon in his The Problem of Slavery in Christian America. Being mostly populated by Southerners, oftentimes derisively called “crackers” and “rednecks,” Bahamian contract labourers would encounter systemic discrimination in the Deep South states and throughout the United States where they worked, as the two Ramble Bahamas authors mentioned. Consequently, the Bahamian Contract labourers interacted with the progeny of Confederates, adopting their cultural values and social patterns, which have had devastating consequences for The Bahamas. These Bahamians would then give birth to the Baby Boomers in the early 1960s, upon their return home. The Baby Boomers then gave birth to Generation X, who would birth Generation Y, popularly known as Millennials. Each of the subsequent generations since the early 1960s would inherit the antisocial behavioral patterns of The Contract generation. In his 2005 publication titled Black Rednecks and White Liberals, African American conservative and
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net economist Thomas Sowell took aim at Alexis de Tocqueville and Frederick Law Olmsted for attributing the anti-social behaviour of Dixie Southerners to slavery. According to Sowell, the cracker subculture goes back for centuries with the ancestors of Dixie Southerners, who hailed from the northern borderlands of England, the Scottish Highlands and Ulster County, Ireland, before the Anglicization of those areas. According to Sowell, these uncivilised Europeans had an aversion to work, were prone to violence, negligent towards education; were sexually promiscuous; lacked entrepreneurship; were improvident and religious; and were preoccupied with entertainment. Lynchings, burning of crosses and mob violence predated the slave era in the antebellum South and the formation of the Ku Klux Klan in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee. In fact, according to Sowell, these destructive practices were routinely carried out in Europe by the barbaric ancestors of Dixie Southerners centuries before they had ever seen a Negro. According to Sowell, prior to the Civil War most lynching victims were white men. Blacks became the main targets of lynch mobs after the Civil War. Sowell alleged that as late as 1850, more than one-fifth of Southern whites were illiterate, compared to less than one percent of New Englanders, and that white southern soldiers scored lower on mental tests than Black soldiers from New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois during World War I. While out of wedlock pregnancies were rare in New England during the 19th century and before, they were quite common in the Southern states, as Sowell alleged that in one particular Southern backcountry, the illegitimacy rate was a staggering 90 percent. What’s more, according to Sowell, these
Southerners also showed very little interest in saving their money, quoting one Jacob Riis who said that Dixie Southerners “loved fine clothes and good living a good deal more than a bank account.” Does all this sound familiar? In meticulously documenting all the foregoing data, Sowell’s entire point was to demonstrate the continued cultural influence of the rednecks and crackers on the residual population in America’s Black ghettos, which are plagued with the very same social ills that were once common in the antebellum South. The same can be said for The Bahamas, with its high murder rate, national D average and high illegitimacy rate, among other social ills. White and Black conservatives in the United States, most notably Rush Limbaugh and Candace Owens, love detailing the many social ills plaguing Black America while conveniently ignoring the enormous role Southern whites from the antebellum age played in shaping that racial demographic. Despite being a dyed-in-thewool conservative employed at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution for many years, Sowell is brutally honest with the data presented in Black Rednecks and White Liberals. Dr McDurmon quotes Sowell as stating that had a substantial minority of white Americans opposed Jim Crow and its attendant violence against ethnic minorities, America would’ve achieved civil rights decades before the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I believe that the counterproductive values of Dixie Southerners were transferred to Bahamians who worked on The Contract. These Bahamians would then pass on these destructive values to succeeding generations – values that we are still struggling to rid ourselves of – some 77 years after the first group of Bahamians stepped foot on American soil to work on The Contract. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. September 21, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 7
Poaching captain jailed for nine months and fined By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE captain of “Angel Gabriel”, one of the Dominican vessels caught last week poaching in Bahamian waters, was yesterday sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to pay a $35,000 fine. Fourteen of his crew members who were found to be repeat offenders were also fined $30,000 each and sentenced to six months in prison. On Wednesday, 44 members of the “Angel Gabriel” appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with engaging in illegal foreign fishing and being in possession of 211 pounds of undersized Nassau grouper on September 17. The prosecution said RBDF officers also discovered 2,154 pounds of crawfish, each measuring less than 3¼ inches, on board their vessel along with 13 spearguns and 14 dive compressors they alleged the fishermen had planned to use to fish. The court heard last Thursday, the HMBS Lignum Vitae headed by Lieutenant James Cox, was conducting routine patrol near Great Bahama Bank. It was at this time that officers observed a suspected Dominican vessel sailing in Bahamian waters. The court was told that when the persons onboard the ship noticed the RBDF vessel, they began throwing fishing lines and jugs off the ship and into the water. RBDF officers then proceeded towards a bridge on the vessel and boarded the ship. While conducting a search on board the vessel, they found several marine products, including stone crabs, fresh crawfish, scaled
SOME of the poachers who have faced the courts this week. fish and Nassau grouper in the ship’s freezer. The court was told the RBDF officers also discovered a number of compressors that did not have permits, illegal spearguns, as well as an assortment of other dive equipment. As a result of their discovery, the vessel was detained and its passengers were loaded onto HMBS Lignum Vitae. They were then transported to the Coral Harbour base. Once on land, the ship’s captain and crew members were secured and handed over to members of the RBPF for further investigation. During the arraignment, all of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. Their attorney, Keevon Maynard, told the magistrate the men were from a very “destitute” part of the Dominican Republic
and lived in “rough” circumstances. He insisted the fishermen were sorry for committing a crime against the Bahamian people and said they understood the fishing industry was a treasure to the country. In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said the court found it “grievous” that the defendants were found with a large quantity of fishing products which they obtained by “raping” Bahamian waters. She said it was even more troublesome that some of the men were repeat offenders who had appeared before her for the same crime. She said this factor showed the fishermen had no respect for law and order. As a result, she fined the captain, Robinson Cruz Silva, $35,000 and sentenced him to nine months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. If he
TEENAGER WHO STOLE CAR JAILED FOR THREE MONTHS
By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A TEENAGER who admitted stealing another man’s car last month was sentenced to three months in prison. Ashton Forbes, 19, was accused of stealing a man’s $3,000 Honda Accord on August 7. After spending over a month on remand, he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes to change his plea and admit to the crime. The court heard the complainant had his vehicle parked at his residence
properly locked and secured around 6.10pm on the day in question. The prosecution said a little over an hour later, the man noticed his car was missing. As a result, he filed an official complaint at the Carmichael Road police station. The court was told the very next day, the complainant noticed his car being towed by another vehicle while he was outside. He alerted police, who were able to apprehend the suspect driving the towed car. The defendant was subsequently arrested. In an interview with police, he identified himself as Ashton Forbes and said he stole the
vehicle by damaging the ignition switch. When given an opportunity to speak during the hearing, Forbes told the magistrate he “found the car” and planned to scrap it so he could sell the parts for money. In response, Magistrate Forbes said he found it troubling that a 19-yearold would decide to move an item that did not belong to him. As a result, he sentenced the defendant to three months in prison. Still, he said, the sentence would commence from the time Forbes was remanded. That means the defendant will be released in six weeks.
MAN ADMITS DAMAGING NEIGHBOUR’S TYRE By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 26-YEAR-OLD man who admitted damaging his neighbour’s tyre during an ongoing dispute was fined $100 and ordered to reimburse the man for his damaged property. Christopher Hanna appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain after he was accused of damaging the tyre of Gino Moss’ 2002 Honda Fit on September 21. The court heard that Hanna and Mr Moss are
neighbours. The prosecution said on the day in question, Mr Moss went outside and saw the defendant kneeling by one of his car’s tyres and letting the air out of it. Mr Moss said when he assessed his car he discovered the tyre Hanna had tampered with was damaged. When given an opportunity to speak, Hanna said he damaged Mr Moss’ car because the complainant had thrown rocks at his house and cracked his windshield. After pleading guilty to one count of damage, he
was fined $100 or seven days at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He was further ordered to compensate Mr Moss $75 for the damaged tyre. If he doesn’t, Magistrate Swain said he could risk spending an additional week in prison. Mr Moss also appeared before Magistrate Swain after he was accused of threatening to harm Hanna. He denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to November 13 for trial. He was granted $1,000 bail in the interim.
MAN ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A FREEPORT man was charged with illegal gun and ammunition possession in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court this week. Anibar Ferdinand, 40, of
Oleander Street, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson on charges of possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. It is alleged on September 21, at Freeport, the accused was found in possession of a black Smith
& Wesson pistol with 17 .9mm hollow tip rounds of ammunition. Ferdinand pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until January 25, 2021 for trial.
fails to pay the fine, he will spend an additional eight months in custody. Fourteen of the crew members who had records of them being charged with the same offence within the Bahamian jurisdiction, were also fined $30,000 and sentenced
to six months on remand. If they fail to pay the fine, they will also spend an additional eight months in prison. The remaining fishermen were given a $25,000 fine and warned not to poach in Bahamian waters again. Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt
also warned them that if they failed to pay their fine, they could risk spending six months behind bars. After sentencing the defendants, she told them that when they broke the rules they should expect to face the consequences.
Funeral Service For
Margurite Fayleen Morley, 56
a resident of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera will be held at Wesley Methodist Church, Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Officiating will be Rev. Christopher Neely, assisted by Pastor Branville Nottage. Interment follows in Tarpum Bay Cemetery, Eleuthera.
Left to cherish her memories are her Children: Tasma Morley, Tamaris Morley and Jianna Jessica Bethel Culmer (Calvin Culmer); Grandsons: Trevano Belle and Teangelo Morley; Parents: William “Bill” (Predeceased) and Cleta Morley; Sisters: Glenda Sharmaine Morley and Gail Kelly McKinney (Adopted); Brothers: Orlanda (Marie Morley) and Kenneth Jave Morley; Predeceased by siblings: Doris, Rudy, Andrew and Palma Morley; Nieces: Davaughn Cartwright (Glenwood Cartwright), Takita Ferguson (Desmond Ferguson) Kimaco Dorsett (Dakota Dorsett), and Kyra McKinney; Nephews: Tyson Morley (Tonesh Morley), Jervis McIntosh and Kyle McKinney; Grandnieces: Glenyce Cartwright, Tyeka, Tyesh, Tyliah Morley and Jervanna McIntosh; Grandnephews: Glenvon Cartwright, D’Mari Ferguson and Jervis McIntosh Jr.; Expecting Son-in-law: Kareem (United States); Best Friend: Shirley Taylor (Herbert Taylor); Other relatives and friends; Aunts: Anna, Florence, Lorraine Rochelle, Ruby, and Phenice Morley, Caphy Smith and Karen Stubbs; Grandaunt: Agnes Allen; Cousins: Louise Mackey, Delores Walkes, Patrice Morris, Marva & Kenrick Forbes, Nikara Evans, Dwight Farrington, Sharon Delancy, Sylvina and John “Curly” Hunt, Diana Forbes, Veronica Micklewhite, Ardell Johnson, Debra and John Moxey, Cynthia, Edith and Deon Nottage, Roy, Labon, Sam, Coramae, Carlene, Sharon, Beulah, Mary, and Gordon Morley, Queenie Brown, Lillymae Michael, Richardson and Cindy Morley, Dianna Simpson, David, Kenneth, and Cathy Morley, Davronette, Niketo, Jillian, Dekoya, Sasha, Clarencia, Whitney, Ania, Ahmare, Jahmeer, Dervin and Kristtonette, Fernique Roker, Marcian Mackey, Flloyddeia Walkes, Philip Maycock Jr, Pastor Kyle Maycock, Jameka Burrows, Sultan Forbes, Rashan Delancy, Kenyanna Ferguson, Navardo Delancy, Antwan and Antonya Sweeting, Dwayne Moss, Duelon McCartney,Soniamae and Nicole Charlton, Olgamae and Jasmine Deveaux, Makeva Dean, Cheryl Carey, Sam Jr. and Tiffany Brown,Chino and Vano Archer, Jvon and McNeil Johnson, John, Peter, and Sandra Meadows, and Katherine Roberts, Emily Ferguson, Vernetta Major; Godmother: Maquella Fehlow; Godchildren: Dr. Anthia Kaylisa Carey, CJ Bethel, and Freddy Knowles Jr.; Other relatives and Friends: Pamala Murphy, Daisy Guillame and family, Kathleen Sand and family, Pricilla Clarke and family, Virgina Delancy and family, Rita Tynes and family, Gladstone and Kathleen Meadows and family, Kervin Culmer and family, Javan Belle, Krystal Knowles, Trevor Stuart, Allan Cunningham, Wallace and Michelle Allen and family, Gregory and Sophia Petty and family, Antionette Bethel, Dr. Seabreeze and family, Scott Bethel and family, Janice Sands and family, Gladstone and Kathleen Meadows and family, Eugene Carey and family, John Carey and family, Lilis Moss and family, Brad Gardiner and family, Marina Taylor and family, George Edwards and family, Lavern Armbrister and family, Betty Kelly and family, Rosie McIntosh and family, Audley Meadows, Audery Carey and family, Mavis and Paul Knowles and family, Nick’la Gardiner, Ian and Nadeen Carey, Rose Bodie and family, Lester Carey, John Norris Carey and family, Thelma and Baron Bain family, Pastor Diallo & Lashal Ingraham, Judy Carey, Kingsley Rahming, Corey and Kendra Taylor The family of the late Mary Moss, The family of the late Pasty Taylor, The family of the late Dorothy Knowles, Paula Crawley and family, Joy Saunders, Kevin Cartwright, Rodney Knowles, Johnathan and Roberetha Brennen, Barbara and Joseph Hall and family, Danny Rankins, Mike Saunders and family, Mr. Steven Tricky of Louvisianna, Honorable Hank Johnson, Timbert Carey and family, Gordon Carey and family, Oswald Ingraham and family, Cleveland, Freddy, Willie, Glen, Talmadage Knowles, John Tobais Carey, Julian Carey, Ethel Knowles and family, Taqueshia Knowles, Violet Knowles and family, Tamala Clarke, Merlene Clarke and family, Barbara Taylor and family, John McCartney, Shawn McCartney, Bettylynn Carey, Pricilla King and family, Patrica McIntosh and family, Ronald Jr. and Maxine McCartney, Henry Jean McCartney, Kirk McCartney William and Bobette Goodman and family, Shirley Knowles and familyCharles Rolle and family, Pastor Branville Nottage and family, Janice Meadows and family, Patrick and Judy Johnson and family, Vaderlene Hunt, Kegan and Janell Culmer, Audrey Pinder, Susan Culmer & family, Freddie Delancy, Michelle Rolle and family, Lilly Rolle and family Laurieann Albury and family, Esthermae Allen and family, Virgina Carey, Ethelyn Hunt and family, Theresa and Tyrone Wilson, Hervis Cartwright, Paranel Sands and family, Daphane Pastor Remilda Carey and family, Carey, Peter Carey and family, Jason Carey, Sharon Miller, Eva Rolle, Stephanie Meadows, Sharine Munnings, Andrea Roberts,Norman Heinfield and family Janet Minns, Clara Young, Dr. Friend, Nurse Velma Dorsett, Dr.Smith, Nurse Regina Hilton, Nurse Freda Cooper, Nurse Ruby Munroe and Nurse Philippa Smith, The Bahamas Conference Methodist Church family, The Staff of Morley’s Building Solutions and the entire community of Tarpum Bay. Friends may pay their last respects at the church in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera from 5:00 p.n. on Friday until service time on Saturday.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
The alternative to opioid medication I HAVE long said the barber shop is the last bastion of free speech. All topics are fair game and all opinions whether intellectual or idiotic are up for debate. During my weekly visit, I ran into an old basketball buddy who looked well except for the walking boot on his left foot, the dreaded Achilles tendon (and his wife’s orders post injury) had ended his hoops career. I’ve been there with my left knee and my ‘CEO’ dishing out a similar ultimatum.
Nature of Work
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA
I felt his pain, the only solace I could offer him was that he went out with the same injury our favorite player ever, Kobe Bryant, did. After sharing a laugh and catching up, he expressed to me how bad his pain meds
were making him feel. Being a subscriber to natural medicine and more holistic cures, this caught my attention, in fact it was a red flag. My friend continued to explain that his meds were opioid based and he had
Master Mechanic
To perform preventive maintenance, inspection and repairs to heavy equipment with both gasoline and diesel engines. Must be able to lead and manage a mechanic team, preparing work orders, requisition parts for equipment repair and prepare departmental reports. As lead mechanic, you will be responsible for driving/traveling to various job sites, inspecting engines and equipment, carrying out services, conducting repairs, and providing routine maintenance. Must have proven experience working with CAT, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, John Deer, Komatsu etc., and be physically fit, able to troubleshoot issues. Knowledge of: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic systems, engine and drivetrain systems on numerous different kinds of units Truck mounted equipment Tools and equipment for repairs Equipment operation and safety Equipment, grease fitting locations, filter locations, fluid capacities, fluid types and proper applications Equipment inspections, tolerances and specs for component wear Inspecting trucks, cranes, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment for proper performance. Diagnosing faults using computerized testing equipment. Adjusting equipment and replacing faulty parts Repairing damaged equipment parts. Cleaning, lubricating, and conducting routine services on heavy-duty vehicles. Cleaning and servicing of machine attachments like winches, blades, and side booms. Performing major repair work when necessary. Consulting with other mechanics on smaller jobs. Reporting damaged or faulty equipment to management. Adjust breaks and clutches; adjust and replace carburetors, remove and repair transmission Perform welding and metal work duties
Skill in: • • • •
Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature Performing basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios Assigning, prioritizing, monitoring, and reviewing work assignments
concerns that they were use influences sensitivity to the reason for his ‘bad feel- acute pain has not been sysings’ – meaning he had to tematically examined.” take more medication to Zach Walsh, head of achieve the desired pain the UBC Therapeutic relief than when he initially Recreational and Problemstarted and if he didn’t take atic Substance Use Lab, the pain meds regularly the added: “This study should worse he would feel. come as good news to After cautioning him to patients who are already not take any more of his using cannabis to treat pain meds, as pain, increases in these types of Opiates are pain sensitivity medication have currently with opioids can highly addictive really compliproperties and to the go-to cate an already consult with his prescribed tough situation; physician imme- medication given increasdiately for a ing uptake of possible replace- for pain and cannabis-based ment for his pain dependence pain medicamedication. tions it’s a relief on opiates is a that we didn’t My friend’s predicament got major issue. identify a simimy mind turnlar pattern with ing and it reminded me of cannabinoids.” a recent study at the University of British Columbia PAIN AND OPIATES Okanagan in relation to the Opiates are currently the effects of marijuana in rela- go-to prescribed medication tion to pain relief. for pain and dependence on opiates is a major issue. SOMETHING TO It’s quite easy to become PONDER addicted as patients have Due to the alarming to up their opiate doses to opiate epidemic globally, deal with pain, which makes coupled with an increased them even more dangerous. interest in medical mari“There is a different juana, there has been a new effect from opioid users; boom in research on how sustained use of opioids can cannabis can help with pain. make people more reactive The new study by the to pain. We wanted to deterUniversity of British mine if there was a similar Columbia Okanagan is trend for people who use important because it proves marijuana frequently,” said even if you use marijuana St Pierre. “Marijuana and frequently to help ease opioids share some of the pain, you will not need to same pain-relief pathways increase your marijuana and have both been associconsumption or that you ated with increases in pain are no longer getting pain sensitivity following acute relief at all from marijuana use.” intake. According to Michelle St TESTING Pierre, the head researcher The study examined at the University of Brit- marijuana users who use ish Columbia Okanagan: marijuana more than three “Recent years have seen times a week and compared an increase in the adoption them with people who were of cannabinoid medicines, not cannabis users. which have demonstrated Despite sounding like effectiveness for the treat- a portion of the ‘Spanish ment of chronic pain, Inquisition’ participants however the extent to willingly had their hands which frequent marijuana and arms submerged in cold
water to determine their individual pain tolerance level. This determined that marijuana does not cause hyperalgesia, or enhanced sensitivity to pain. “Our results suggest frequent marijuana use did not seem to be associated with elevated sensitivity to experimental pain in a manner that can occur in opioid therapy,” St Pierre concluded. “This is an important distinction that care providers and patients should consider when selecting options for pain management. These findings are particularly relevant in light of recent reports of opioid overprescribing and high rates of pain in the population, as it suggests that cannabis may not carry the same risk of hyperalgesia as opioids.” NEW WAY This is a hugely important study for the new era of marijuana pain research, as it provides even more evidence that marijuana and medicinal marijuana extracts are a safer alternative to dangerous, habit-forming opiates. A far better alternative for Bahamians than habit forming opiate-based drugs. More research will reveal even more details about how marijuana works with pain management, if studies continue to show positive results this could be a key component in “medicinal marijuana tourism”. Medicinal marijuana tourism would give a well needed boost to our main industry tourism, an industry that we aren’t diverting from any time soon as a nation, as our main source of revenue. But that’s an entirely different column for another day, in regards to how we can better use a certain government-owned hotel in Grand Bahama.
Ability to: • • • • • • • •
Meet schedules and deadlines of the work Understand and carry out oral and written directions Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries Read and understand service and parts manuals Read diagrams and schematics Must be able to lead a team and provide training Must be able to implement and manage equipment preventative maintenance program
Minimum Training and Experience •
At least 10 years of experience performing automotive/heavy equipment/ small engine mechanical repair and maintenance;
•
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Please send resumes to jjosey@bahamasstriping.com
We are pleased to advise our valued customers we have relocated to #4 Village and Parkgate Roads, our numbers remain the same.
DEATH NOTICE
Janet Martin-Small, 64 of Cowpen Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, died at The Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, September 20th, 2020. She is survived by her Husband: Thomas Small; Four (4) Sons: Thomas Small Jr., Willanare, Isiah Small and Charlie Martin; Three (3) Brothers: Ishmel, Leon and Johnny Martin; Two Sisters: Joycelyn Woodside and Elizabeth Higgs; Sister-In-Law: Terry Martin and Brenda Martin; a host of other relatives and friends who will be mentioned at a later date. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Evergreen Mortuary, located #4 Village and Parkgate Road, Nassau, The Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 9
Take to the streets – Moms Lives Matter too T
HERE’S a potential major movement that hasn’t attracted a blaring headline or, come to think of it, a single official member yet. But you can feel its rumblings stirring. Even if it got fully organized, even if it huffed and puffed and built numbers and momentum, its members would be mostly selfless, well-behaved people who would never incite a fuss, let alone stage a riot, take to looting or toss hand grenades. They’d probably be cleaning, polishing and storing the ammo. They are mothers and the movement I’m waiting for is Moms Lives Matter. I’m a mom. I know our lives matter. I’m not complaining. I’m a lucky mom with, objectively speaking, two amazing, high-achieving, intelligent, compassionate, stunning daughters. Their lives matter to me a lot. But here’s how I know that like other mothers, I am probably not at the top of their
most-important-things-toremember-this-morning list. My younger daughter moved out of the family home many years ago. Only she forgot a few things, like a room full of
would now be my home office and does house a small desk under a window with one computer - I could make the space my proper office. More recently, she got preoccupied (she is a
“Near or far, their lives matter a lot to me and this is not meant as an invite to a pity party, but a dose of reality on behalf of all those moms out there. We need to organize. We need to stand up for our rights not just on Mother’s Day when we are eyelash-batting grateful to be taken out for brunch after we cooked the other 364 days a year.” stuff she promised to sort through shortly after the turn of the century so if I ever want to use the drawers or closet or shelves in her old bedroom - which
very busy person) and wasn’t able to clear out the lovely apartment downstairs where she and her husband lived during the COVID lockdown.
We were happy to have them with us, mind you. Thrilled, in fact, that we had extra adults to talk to without sending a zoom invitation. My older daughter lives farther away and the reason I’d like to let her know that Moms Lives Matter is whenever I say “How about The Bahamas this year for the holidays?” she has other plans which normally end up including calling me several times on Christmas Day when putting the turkey in the oven to assure me she loves me and asking about how long at what temperature should the bird cook per pound. Near or far, their lives matter a lot to me and this is not meant as an invite to a pity party, but a dose of reality on behalf of all those moms out there. We need to organize. We need to stand up for our rights not just on Mother’s Day when we are eyelash-batting grateful to be taken out for brunch after we cooked the other 364 days a year. We need to motivate and inspire and let the
CONGRATS ON POACHING CONVICTIONS, FINES
world know that Moms Lives Matter and when we ask adult children to clean out teen drawers, our lives matter. When we ask adult children to bring their children to our table for the holidays, our lives matter. When we say Moms Lives Matter what we mean is we spent so many years loving you, we just want you to love us back. And when we speak,
pay a little bit of attention to what we ask. We’re not begging you to sign up for the armed forces, we are only asking for a little tenderness and a lot more of your time. Is it so much to ask? Moms Lives Matter could be the least militant, gentlest movement ever, but then appealing to someone’s conscience might prove a powerful tool for change. It wouldn’t be the first time.
SPEAKING OF CONSCIENCE, THE NEW CURBSIDE DILEMMA
W
hen it comes to traditional dining out, the toughest decision used to be choosing what to order. But for months after the explosion of COVID-19, the act of dining out assumed a danger level akin to matchsticks and dry wood. Restaurants shuttered as if a hurricane were barreling down on them. We cooked at home. And cooked. And cooked some more. And then Phase 2 of the eating in the midst of a pandemic process began. As lockdowns were lifted and restrictions eased, we slowly shifted, daring to buy and relish food prepared by someone else. It was different, of course, not like actually being in a restaurant. We longed for the pleasure of conversation and the ambiance. We missed the luxury of linens and sparkling glassware and soft candlelight on the table. We just missed being out but how could we combine the two, go out and social distance at the same time when the very concept of social distancing during dining is an anathema – the reason we go out is to socialize. Since most of our eating out remains curbside, we face a new dilemma, not what to order, but whether or not to tip when a sack is handed to us through a car window or after we shove money under a plexiglass opening. Like it or not, here’s my take: Even if that food is passed like a sack of cans in a bag, it’s not the fault of the chef or ‘server’. That individual is as COVIctimized as you and may have been out of work for four months with a family to feed. So go ahead, give a little something if you can. The gratuity in curbside takeaway is not for service. It’s for kindness.
MURDER, SHE WROTE
MORE than 80 Dominicans appeared in court this week.
W
ith a major push from all sides—a passionate Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, diligent NGOs, private voices now making themselves hear, and with better strategy and equipment thanks to the Sandy Bottom Project enabling the RBDF to get to remote islands faster - the clamour to protect the waters of The Bahamas for Bahamians is the loudest, strongest it has ever been. This week that fierce determination led to the arrest, conviction and fining of some 80 Dominicans caught fishing illegally on the Great Bahama Bank. Thirty crew members
on one vessel were fined $20,000 or six months in prison. Its captain was fined $30,000 or nine months’ imprisonment. It’s a drop in the bucket to the massive catches of fish, conch and crawfish that Dominicans have raped from the ‘Lucayan Sea’ in the past but it sets an example and we say congratulations to all involved. Keep up the demands to protect and preserve every marine resource in these beautiful waters lest we wind up like most Caribbean island nations, locals longing for bygone days when they could swim from a beach and find conch or dive on a shallow reef and put grouper on the table for a Saturday morning boil.
READERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON WORK PERMITS
AFTER Immigration Minister Ellsworth Johnson again issued a warning on work permits, saying not all work permit holders in the country will be able to get their documents renewed, readers posted their responses on tribune242.com. Benniesun said: “Mr. Johnson do not just tell us that you ‘intend’ to do something - actually show us what you have done. You can start with the top water and sewerage positions in Abaco and Eleuthera and the top BPL position in Abaco. Prove to us that you are serious, effective, and that you have the Bahamian interests at heart!” Proguing posted this: “Not sure this is the best message to give to potential foreign investors . . .”
There was this comment from Ohdrap4: “Thing is, they are not giving 40,000 work permits to ‘training managers’ and other highly skilled specialists. These permits cost more than 10,000 dollars. “The bulk of these permits go to domestic workers and other labourers, assigned to jobs Bahamians prefer not to do. “As for the ‘training’ requirement a pharnacist or specialist doctor cannot ‘train’ someone to replace them, the trainees have to go to schools. So this is a sector of work permit holders that remain for 10-12 years. “They talk this same thing year after year. And The_Oracle had this to say: “Companies and investors find they
need expatriate workers. “Governments have figured out they can charge exorbitant fees for them. Expatriate workers cost more money in permit fees, housing, transport, in every regard, so there is an obvious savings to be had by hiring Bahamians instead IF qualified competent Bahamians can be found. “Aside the xenophobia, how can we fix the core problem and create more qualified competent Bahamians? “Meanwhile we have lost our $US earning export, hospitality. What you gonna replace that with? Ain’t no foreigner coming here to be paid in a valueless currency.” Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
Next week, after a lighter touch today, this column will tackle two tough issues, homelessness and violent crimes. See how The Bahamas compares with other jurisdictions and what makes this country so unique when it comes to those living on the streets. For a sneak peek, The Bahamas showed a sharp
decline from a high of 146 in 2015 to 95 homicides in 2019. What accounts for the difference? Where do the experts think we are heading? If the murder rate is declining, why do we feel so unsafe? Next week. Serious talk. And Potcake on homelessness.
PAGE 10, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 11
PAGE 12, Friday, September 25, 2020
OFFICIALS PLEAD FOR CALM AMID ANGER OVER BREONNA TAYLOR CASE By DYLAN LOVAN, REBECCA REYNOLDS YONKER and PIPER HUDSPETH BLACKBURN Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities pleaded for calm while activists vowed to fight on Thursday in Kentucky’s largest city, where a gunman wounded two police officers during anguished protests following the decision not to charge officers for killing Breonna Taylor. Outrage over a grand jury’s failure to bring homicide charges against the officers who burst into the Black woman’s apartment six months ago set off a new round of demonstrations Wednesday in several American cities. The state attorney general said the investigation showed officers were acting in self-defence when they responded to gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend. Reginique Jones returned Thursday morning to the park in downtown Louisville that has been the hub for protests, saying she was distraught over the grand jury’s decision to only charge a single officer for firing into apartments neighbouring Taylor’s. Still, Jones vowed to continue pressing for increased police accountability and for a statewide ban on “no-knock” warrants — the kind issued in the Taylor case, though state Attorney General Daniel Cameron said the investigation showed police did announce themselves before entering. “I believe that we are going to get past this,” Jones said as demonstrators began to arrive at the park dubbed Injustice Square. “As long as we continue to remain strong, and stay on the same page, we can still get some justice.” Though protests in Louisville began peacefully the day before, officers declared an unlawful assembly after they said fires were set in garbage cans, several vehicles were damaged and stores were broken into. A 26-yearold man was arrested and charged with firing at police and wounding two officers. “Violence will only be a source of pain, not a cure for pain,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Many see Breonna Taylor’s case as both the tragic death of a young woman and the continuation of a long pattern of devaluation and violence that Black women and men face in our country, as they have historically.” “The question obviously is: What do we do with this pain?” the mayor asked. “There is no one answer, no easy answer to that question.” Activists, celebrities and everyday Americans have called for charges against police since Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers after one of them was fired upon and wounded while conducting a raid in a narcotics investigation in March. Police entered on a warrant connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. Along with George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis, Taylor’s name became a rallying cry during nationwide protests this summer that drew attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Since Taylor’s killing, Louisville has taken some steps to address protesters’ concerns. The officer who was eventually charged has been fired, and three others were put on desk duty. Louisville officials have banned no-knock warrants and hired a Black woman as the city’s new permanent police chief — a first for the city.
THE TRIBUNE
AT UN, CHINA, RUSSIA AND THE US CLASH OVER PANDEMIC RESPONSES By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States butted heads with China and Russia at the United Nations on Thursday over responsibility for the pandemic that has interrupted the world, trading allegations about who mishandled and politicised the virus in one of the few real-time exchanges among top officials at this year’s COVID-distanced U.N. General Assembly meeting. The remarks at the U.N. Security Council’s ministerial meeting on the assembly’s sidelines came just after U.N. SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres decried the lack of international cooperation in tackling the still “out-ofcontrol” coronavirus. The sharp exchanges, at the end of a virtual meeting on “Post COVID-19 Global Governance,” reflected the deep divisions among the three veto-wielding council members that have escalated since the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in January. They also crackled with an energy and action that the prerecorded set pieces of leader speeches at the virtual meeting have thus far lacked. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking first, stressed the importance of U.N.-centred multilateralism and alluded to countries — including the U.S. — opting out of making a COVID-19 vaccine a global public good available to people everywhere. “In such a challenging moment, major countries are even more duty-bound to put the future of humankind first, discard Cold War mentality and ideological bias and come together in the spirit of partnership to tide over the difficulties,” Wang said. And in a jab at U.S. and European Union sanctions including on Russia, Syria and others, he said: “Unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction needs to be opposed in order to safeguard the authority and sanctity of international law.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the pandemic and its “common misfortune did not iron out interstate differences, but to the contrary deepened them.” “In a whole number of countries there is a temptation to look abroad for those who are responsible
UNITED Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, second from right bottom, seen on a computer monitor at United Nations headquarters participates in a virtual high-level meeting of the Security Council meeting on safeguarding international peace and security and global governance in the post-COVID-19 era, happening during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) for their own internal problems,” he said. “And we see attempts on the part of individual countries to use the current situation in order to move forward their narrow interests of the moment in order to settle the score with the undesirable governments or geopolitical competitors.” All that was too much for the United States’ U.N.
virtual opening of the General Assembly’s leaders meeting in which he said that to chart a better future, “we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.” “The Chinese Communist Party’s decision to hide the origins of this virus, minimise its danger, and suppress scientific coop-
retort, saying “China resolutely opposes and rejects the baseless accusations by the United States.” “Abusing the platform of the U.N. and its Security Council, the U.S. has been spreading political virus and disinformation, and creating confrontation and division,” Zhang said. Zhang said: “The U.S. should understand that its failure in handling COVID19 is totally its fault.”
Regret
AMERICAN Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft is seen on a computer monitor at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
ambassador, Kelly Craft, who opened her remarks late in the meeting with a blunt rejoinder. “Shame on each of you. I am astonished and disgusted by the content of today’s discussion,” Craft said. She said some representatives were “squandering this opportunity for political purposes.” “President Trump has made it very clear: We will do whatever is right, even if it’s unpopular, because, let me tell you what, this is not a popularity contest,” Craft said. She quoted Trump’s speech Tuesday to the
eration (that) transformed a local epidemic into a global pandemic,” Craft said, adding that these actions “prove that not all member states are equally committed to public health, transparency, and their international obligations.” But she ended her remarks saying one lesson from the pandemic is the need for “unity, not division,” and calling for council members “to work together in transparency and in good faith.” Chinese U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun asked for the floor at the end of the meeting and delivered a lengthy
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed regret that Craft used Thursday’s meeting “to make unfounded accusations” against one council member. and quoting Lavrov saying the crisis has shown the need for “the interdependence, interconnectedness of all states without exception in all walks of life.” Responding to Craft’s call for unity, he said, “It’s hard to disagree with that. But unfortunately, the crux of her statement, its form and its tone, do not correspond to that appeal at all.” The United Nations chief said in opening the Security Council meeting that the world failed to cooperate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Guterres said that if the world responds to even more catastrophic challenges with the same disunity and disarray, “I fear the worst.”
He said the international community’s failure “was the result of a lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity and solidarity.” Guterres pointed to the nearly one million people around the world that the coronavirus has killed, the more than 30 million who have been infected. He said the global response is more and more fragmented, and “as countries go in different directions, the virus goes in every direction.” What is needed more, Guterres said, is a cooperation that not only involves nations but includes global and regional organisations, international financial institutions, trade alliances and others including the business community, civil society, cities and regions, academia and young people. Lavrov also praised the World Health Organization for acting professionally and providing “effective preventive steps” to minimise the pandemic’s effect. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the WHO, accusing the U.N. agency of being under Chinese influence. ___ Edith M. Lederer, chief U.N. correspondent for The Associated Press, has been covering world affairs for nearly a half-century. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EdithLedererAP
A CARGO ship approaches the port of Piraeus as other ships are anchored, near Athens, Greece in this photo from May. The United Nations is trying to figure out how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners trapped at sea because of COVID-19 virus restrictions that they face when they get home. Describing the desperation of seafarers who’ve been afloat for a year or more, Captain Hedi Marzougui pleaded their case Thursday, at a U.N.-organised meeting with shipping executives and government transport officials. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
STUCK AT SEA: NATIONS URGED TO HELP VIRUS-STRANDED MARINERS By ANGELA CHARLTON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Another COVID19 problem that the U.N. is trying to solve: how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners who are trapped at sea because of coronavirus restrictions. Describing the mounting desperation of seafarers who have been afloat for a year or more, Captain Hedi Marzougui pleaded their case Thursday at a meeting with shipping executives and government officials on the sidelines of this week’s U.N. General Assembly. As the pandemic washed over the world and made shipping crews unwelcome in many ports, he said, “We received very limited information, and it became increasingly difficult to get vital supplies and technical support. Nations changed regulations on a daily, if not hourly, basis.” Several months later, many borders remain closed and flights are
rare, complicating efforts to bring in replacement crews for those stuck at sea and forcing their employers to keep extending their contracts. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined shipping companies, trade unions and maritime organizations in urging governments to recognize merchant crews as essential workers and allow them to travel more freely. With more than 80% of global trade by volume transported by sea, the world’s 2 million merchant seafarers play a vital role. Merchant ship crews are used to long stretches away from home, but as virus infections and restrictions spread early this year, anxiety mounted along with the uncertainty, Marzougui said. “Not knowing when or if we would be returning home put severe mental strain on my crew and myself,” he said. “We felt like second-class citizens with no input or control over our lives.” The Tunisian-born captain spent an
extra three months at sea and finally made it home to his family in Florida in late May. But more than 300,000 mariners are still stranded, waiting for replacement crews; about as many are waiting on shore, trying to get back to work.
Crew Maritime officials from Panama, the Philippines, Canada, France and Kenya defended steps they have taken individually to allow safe crew changes or otherwise ease the crisis. But officials lamented a lack of international coordination among nations and shipping companies, calling for new rules to protect countries from the virus while respecting the rights of stranded crews. No figures were released for how many merchant mariners have contracted the virus, but Guy Platten of the International Chamber of Shipping said the virus risk is “relatively
low” because shipping companies have strict protection measures and “have no wish whatsoever to bring infections on our ships.” He blamed “red tape and bureaucracy” for crew change delays and said border guards and local port officials in some countries are being overzealous in blocking them from coming ashore. One way goods are still able to get ashore despite restrictions is by dock workers fetching them from the ships. France proposed compiling a global U.N. list of ports that can be secured to accommodate crew changes. Kenya called for sharing costs globally for a rapid testing plan for major ports. Crews often work 12-hour shifts with no weekends, and Marzougui warned that extending stints without a break risks physical and mental strain — potentially putting ships and oceans in danger. The captain compared it to telling a marathon runner at the end of the race that they had to “do it again, right away, with no rest.”
PAGE 18, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Port’s profits slump 65% during COVID FROM PAGE 24
“The overall effect on the bottom line, notwithstanding the concessions we came out with in March, where we reduced tariffs by 50 percent, net earnings are down by 65 percent. That is really, for the period, down by almost exactly $3m.” APD’s performance is a reasonable barometer with which to measure the level of economic activity on New
Providence and the wider Bahamas, given that upwards of 90 percent of physical goods imports to the former must cross its wharves as the island’s only commercial shipping port. While cargo volumes have recovered somewhat from the 40 percent drop-off seen in May 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown’s peak, Mr Bethell reiterated that a complete rebound remains months’ away and will not be seen until the major resorts
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that LIPHENZ JOSEPH, #10 Hope Garden, Nassau, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 18th day of September 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
re-open and enjoy preCOVID occupancy levels again. “We have had some upturn, as we were down by more than that going through the end of May,” the APD chief said of present TEU and other volumes. “It has improved, but not significantly to replace the tourism volumes involved with supplying Atlantis, Baha Mar, Sandals etc.... I could see this happening at least until the 2021 first quarter. “We’ve seen a decline in the amount of vessels calling, and the utilisation of vessels coming in, whether it’s one of the big shipping companies coming in like Tropical Shipping and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The utilisation is very low compared to the size of the cargo vessels. Betty K and
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even MSC, in recent times, are not consistently having the vessel calls they were having pre-COVID.” Joining those arguing that The Bahamas has no alternative to tourism in the short-term, Mr Bethell continued: “While we can appreciate the impact that the cruise ships have on our local economy, suppliers such as Bahamas Food Services don’t cater to them as much as the hotels. “Until the hotels commit to opening up, suppliers like Bahamas Food Services (BFS) and members of the Bahamas Wholesalers Association will perhaps not commit to volumes that supply those resorts until they know with certainty. “Until there is a definite date I don’t think they will commit to preCOVID buying patterns that supply the hotels.” Recent COVID-related closures, and restrictions on opening times and formats, have also reduced import-related demand linked to the restaurant industry, although Mr Bethell said there had been “no shortage” of supplies for food stores throughout the pandemic.
He explained that uncertainty over the economy’s re-opening, and whether the Prime Minister will shut it down again through a tightening of restrictions, had also dampened import demand by hardware stores and other retailers as most had elected to manage existing inventories rather than tie cash flow up in stock that cannot be moved. “We saw a slight increase in recent times after inventory had gone down to lower levels with building supplies,” the APD chief executive added. “While construction is ongoing a lot of it is bulk materials -0 concrete, cement, sand and steel. We saw quite a bit of steel coming in, but not to the point that it replaced pre-COVID-19 volumes that existed. “I think a lot of the hardware stores, with the uncertainty of opening up over a period and then locking down, were trying to manage existing inventories rather than consistently replace them. Until they have more certainty in terms of opening up, I don’t think they will be able to commit to their suppliers having
orders placed to keep them stocked at pre-COVID levels. “That’s for all hardware stores, whether it’s CBS Bahamas (Commonwealth Building Supplies); Kelly’s Lumber; Tops; JBR. Compared to pre-COVID demand it’s a lot less.” Mr Bethell said APD had yet to suffer any positive COVID-19 cases among its immediate 100-strong staff “knock on wood”, but the need to split departments into teams as part of health and safety protocols - as well as reduced ship calls and import volumes - had cut working hours for some. “We have taken measures to close the gap between the hours they may work and the standard 40-hour work week,” he added. “We remain committed, if they fall short of the 20-hour mark, to bring it up to 20 and augment with accrued vacation and training. “That strategy will be coming into play very soon. We’ve not separated with or terminated anyone. We’ve done our best to keep them employed even if it’s on a reduced schedule.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
8th
The Public is hereby advised that I, ANNA-KAY STEWART of Zeenia Street, Kennedy Subdivision, P.O.Box SP-60533 Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to ANNAKAY BUTLER. 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.
2020
September
LEGAL NOTICE
23rd
September
MAGLY PARTICIPATION CORP. Company No. 1484458 (In Voluntary Liquidation)
2020
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1) (b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that MAGLY PARTICIPATION CORP. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 7th September, 2020 and Felix Fischer of Limmatquai 94, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator.
MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2020
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:
CLOSE
CHANGE
2090.88
0.04
%CHANGE
YTD
YTD%
0.00 -140.72
-6.31
(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 1.65 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 1.65 1.67 6.00 6.75 3.00 5.10 3.76 6.00 11.26 2.11 5.50 9.86 8.44 14.30 3.96 8.97 15.20
CLOSE 3.80 17.43 1.62 1.65 1.67 6.00 6.75 3.00 5.10 3.76 6.00 11.26 2.11 5.50 9.92 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 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
VOLUME
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 20.4 13.4 15.6 20.7 11.8 15.4 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% 3.19% 3.67% 6.39% 20.57% 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
Dated this 7th day of September, 2020 Sgd. Felix Fischer Voluntary Liquidator LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
Kuru Overseas Ltd In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, Kuru Overseas Ltd is in dissolution as of September 22, 2020 International Liquidator Services Inc. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator
LIQUIDATOR ______________________
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 19
Activists pledge to continue $15.6m GB Power struggle FROM PAGE 24 “Because of the COVID19 shutdown we may not have the high tourist season come in, and we’re not sure when the cruise ships are going to sail again. There’s a lot of uncharted waters. We don’t know what the fall-out is going to be.” Arguing that Grand Bahama’s fragile economy cannot bear the burden of any across-the board cost increases at this time, no matter how small, Pastor Victor said that while the Coalition and other activists welcomed the proposed charge’s delayed imposition “we’re certainly going to continue opposing it. Period. We don’t believe the customer should absorb that.” Grand Bahama Power and the GBPA have consistently argued that the new charge, which will be a separate line item in customer bills, will represent an increase of less than $7 per month for the “average” residential customer, and $24 for the “average” business customer, in a bid to soften the upcoming blow and any consumer push back/fall-out. The charge for the three customer categories was initially set at: • Residential - $0.013 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) or 1.3 cents • Commercial - $0.008 per kWh or 0.8 cents • GSL (industrials) $0.010 per kWh or one cent The utility also said the monthly amount paid by customers will depend on consumption, but Pastor Victor said no matter how small the increase in energy costs they would combine to worsen the impact of what he said were increased food costs, high unemployment and reduced incomes. “Any increase is too much,” he told Tribune Business, “ and I feel that very strongly because of the other cost factors the economy faces. You may think it is a small charge, but
someone on the other side of the fence is charging me something else. “The consumer is paying increased costs across the board. It may seem small to you, but I have another increase down there. When you put that collectively together any increase is too much; that’s the reality on the ground.” Pointing to long lines at Grand Bahama-based money transfer businesses of persons receiving incoming payments from friends and relatives, Pastor Victor added he believed the Power Company had “got the message” that implementing its new charge now “doesn’t make any sense and shows insensitivity” to its customers’ plight in an economy “being kept afloat” by the government and non-profit groups. However, he acknowledged that pressure from both the government and regulators was what likely carried the day. “The coalition did have a meeting with the regulator [the GBPA] to stress our concerns that this charge needs to be deferred, and their response was that they agreed it should be deferred. We left the meeting with that understanding. “The government’s position was that the charge should not be levied on Grand Bahama at this time. They were very much against the charge being levied on the population.” Pastor Victor said the coalition had met with Senator Kwasi Thompson, minister of state for Grand Bahama, to discuss the matter. The GBPA, in a statement, said the regulatory framework agreed with the Power Company allows the latter to recover its noninsured storm restoration costs via a levy spread over
a five-year period. “The Storm Recovery and Stabilisation charge, which allows the utility to recoup costs associated with storm restoration deemed reasonable by the GBPA, was initially approved for implementation on April 1, 2020,” said Karla McIntosh, the GBPA’s general legal counsel. “However, with the onset of COVID-19 and two subsequent country-wide lockdowns, the charge was initially delayed to August 1, and then further to October 1, to help support residents during this challenging period.” She added: “We understand that GB Power is allowed to recover reasonable restoration costs associated with significant weather events. Since the onset of COVID-19, we have been in consultation with the utility over the proposed timing for implementation of the storm charge, resulting in successive deferrals. “Given the present state of the economy and the unexpected second wave and restrictive lockdowns, it is our regulatory obligation to consider the best interests of customers. We have worked with GB Power to further delay recovery of the $15.6m costs for Hurricane Dorian until January 1, 2021.” GB Power, in its own statement, said the Storm Recovery and Stabilisation charge was standard global electricity practice for recovering costs associated with post-hurricane restoration. Pointing out that no insurer will cover transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure in a hurricane belt, it added that a separate line item on bills was the fairest way to achieve this as
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it would prevent the utility from earning a profit on the recovery fee in non-storm years. “As a responsible business, we insure all that are insurable our buildings, plants, vehicles and substations. But, as with all electric utilities in our region and far beyond, transmission and distribution infrastructure – the poles and wires that bring power to your home or business – are not insurable,” GB Power said. “Recouping actual costs for restoration of these assets through a storm recovery charge or similar
is common among power companies throughout the world. Through prudent operational cost management and strategic fuel purchase strategies, we were able to delay implementation of the charge following restoration from Hurricane Matthew. “And we continue to practice these important cost saving initiatives today. But, following Dorian’s $15.6m restoration, those measures alone are not enough to enable us to recover those uninsurable storm costs without the implementation of the charge.”
GB Power then added: “Recouping storm costs enables us to be a healthy utility, delivering on our customers’ needs across the island every hour of every day, and quickly and safely following significant weather events such as Hurricanes Matthew and Dorian. “While the charge must be implemented, after careful consideration and consultation with key stakeholders, we have decided to further delay the implementation of the charge and not implement on October 1 as previously communicated.”
PAGE 20, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Attorney fears Freeport plan ‘exercise in futility’ FROM PAGE 24
LENNOX PATON OFFICES
Bahamian law firm in running for key award A PROMINENT Bahamian law firm has been shortlisted in The Lawyer Awards 2020’s Offshore Firm of the Year category. Lennox Paton has been nominated in a field that includes Appleby, Campbells, Carey Olsen, Mourant, OGIER and Walkers, which all have a presence in multiple offshore jurisdictions. It added that this was the first time a Bahamian firm has been named among the finalists in this category. Brian Simms QC, Lennox Paton’s senior partner, said: ‘We are delighted to be recognised and shortlisted by The Lawyer for this award. The nomination reflects our continued growth, success and reputation on the international stage for our legal expertise and service to clients from our offices in The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.
“We are proud to be the first Bahamian law firm nominated, and we are pleased to stand alongside the six other leading, well-respected firms in the industry.” The Lawyer Awards celebrate legal excellence in Europe. They are designed to reward best practice across the whole legal industry. The criteria for selection include excellence in a nominated firm’s key jurisdictions; depth and breadth of expertise; commercial strength; legal innovation and marketleading strategy. Lennox Paton has offices in The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The firm was last year shortlisted for Offshore Firm of the Year at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2019, which it said again marked the first time a law firm from The Bahamas had been shortlisted for the award.
price when the Port Authority - as 50 percent current owner - had seemingly abandoned its civic and quasi-governmental obligations to build a new facility post-Dorian. “As far as I’m concerned it’s an exercise in futility,” Mr Gape told this newspaper. “Don’t get me wrong; they’re wonderful ideas by REEF, but with the families you’ll get nowhere and Hutchison will block you everywhere you turn. “I asked the Port Authority and the government to produce their master plans for Freeport three months after Dorian and they never did. This is the same group [the GBPA owners] that promised four times over the past 30 years to establish an international marketing organisation to promote Freeport. They made a renewed promise in 2016 to do that, and never did it. “Let’s remember that under the 2016 MoU the families promised to seek a buyer for their interests, about which they’ve done nothing. We badly need that investment group to make these changes happen.” Pointing to Freeport’s 16-year stagnation, which was triggered in 2004 by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, as well as the loss of the Royal Oasis resort which remains shuttered to this day, Mr Gape added: “The problem is the families have
been in charge and failed Freeport since 2004, and nothing has changed. They need an investor group to come in and take over the place.” He also argued that the REEF initiative’s success depends on the government’s “active participation” and full co-operation, as well as construction of a new international airport and hospital. The REEF proposals place the latter issues as its second and third-highest priorities after clarifying Freeport’s real property tax exemption. However, Mr Gape questioned why the proposals were so eager for the GBPA/Hutchison to offload the airport and its multi-million dollar post-Dorian repair bill to the government rather than carry out this obligation themselves as existing owners. “The problem with the REEF initiative is there’s a bottom line,” he told Tribune Business. “Nothing can happen in Freeport, and you can’t start to make a move, without an airport and hospital being in place. The Port Authority is the group that should be rebuilding the airport. It’s ridiculous. They have a duty to rebuild it, and the government is not holding them to account.” The Cambridge Strategy Group report, conducted for the GBPA as part of the REEF exercise, also called for a new master plan to be developed as part of building “a new Freeport masterplan
Reform bankruptcy to avoid ‘financial grave’
FROM PAGE 24
companies and creditors of
people personally, and companies, shouldn’t be able to being a person’s economic
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
RODINAL LIMITED
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)
RODINAL LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited of the Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley and Charlotte Streets, P.O.Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas.
Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020 _________________________________ CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator LEGAL NOTICE
Freeport are fundamentally uncompetitive with rival destinations targeting the same businesses and investors that we would like to attract to Freeport.” They suggested creating an investor citizenship initiative targeted at high net worth individuals who reached a certain threshold for investment in the Bahamian economy. As for the airport, the REEF proposals also called for “legislation to end the concession, and break the barrier, that monopolises the import and distribution of fuel within the Freeport area”. However, Sir Franklyn Wilson, FOCOL Holdings’ chairman, said he was unaware of any exclusivity and said the BISX-listed petroleum products supplier was not involved in any such arrangement. Carey Leonard, the former GBPA in-house counsel, who like Mr Gape is not a member of the REEF committee, told Tribune Business of the proposals: “Most of what is in that brief has been what everybody has been asking for for years. “The only other thing is I don’t see any commitment by the Port Authority to do anything so it will be interesting to see how the general public reacts. A number of the ideas have been floated for years. It’s a matter of seeing if they can get those to fruition.”
existence to a grinding halt.” Instead, Mr Smith joined Mr Rahming in advocating that there be a process that allows the likes of a Supreme Court judge or bankruptcy trustee to “find a compromise that would keep economic activity going”. Mr Rahming, the Intelisys (Bahamas) founder and managing director, told Tribune Business earlier this week that COVID-19 had made it “more important than ever before” to modernise personal bankruptcy 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. He argued that the Act needed to be reformed such that debtors have “options” enabling 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. Mr Rahming suggested two options, the first being a “consumer proposal” where
a debt-stricken person agrees to pay a percentage of their unsecured debts over a fiveyear period in exchange for the remainder being fully forgiven. This would avoid the stigma of being declared bankrupt while providing debt relief, with the newlyformed Credit Bureau monitoring to make sure no new debt is taken on. He 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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
AL NABA LIMITED N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
around a future-focused vision of The Bahamas”. “The master plan for Freeport needs to be a comprehensive blueprint for what the post-Hawksbill Creek Agreement future should be, and how to achieve that over the next 34 years,” the report added. Among the areas REEF is targeting reforms at is the ease of doing business, noting the “uncertainty, and the lack of security, that all current and future GBPA licensees face with respect to the extension of the tax concessions, namely property taxes and business license fees. “Processes for establishing and operating businesses in Freeport are opaque, confusing and approvals can take a long time to be decided,” it added, recommending that the GBPA be allowed to “approve specified low-risk business licenses without needing to refer these to the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA)”. The proposals also call for the GBPA to “assess/ approve the right for expatriate permanent residents to work in businesses 100 percent owned by them”, with the “annual residency permit application process to be automated through an online portal that allows processing within 48 hours (and eliminates bureaucratic subjectivity/uncertainty)”. On the Immigration front, the REEF proposals added: “The government immigration policies in place in
HEMNES LIMITED N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
NOTICE
GISERENO COMPANY LTD.
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a)
AL NABA LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(a)
HEMNES LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(a)
GISERENO COMPANY LTD. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited of the Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley and Charlotte Streets, P.O.Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is Leeward Nominees Limited, Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay 11, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is Leeward Nominees Limited, Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay 11, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator
Leeward Nominees Limited Liquidator
CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
GREEN LAKE LIMITED
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
MIRRA LIMITED
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a)
GREEN LAKE LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(a)
MIRRA LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dis solution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited of the Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley and Charlotte Streets, P.O.Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited of the Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley and Charlotte Streets, P.O.Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas.
Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
CAD FAMILY COMPANY LIMITED N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a)
CAD FAMILY COMPANY LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b)
The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 23rd September, 2020 when the Articles of Dissolu tion were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c)
The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas
Dated this 25th day of September, A. D. 2020
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator
CST Administration (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator
Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 25, 2020, PAGE 21
Nassau airport in key Every island requires COVID-19 certification tourism ‘master plan’ By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
VERNICE WALKINE By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net LYNDEN Pindling International Airport (LPIA) has become just the second in the Caribbean to have its COVID-19 health measures certified as matching best practices by a global airport body. Vernice Walkine, Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) chief executive, and who is a former tourism directorgeneral, said of LPIA’s accreditation by the Airports Council International: “This is important now because people look for airports to be in a particular category. “In the event that it is suggested to them you are going to provide them with a safe environment, they know that the environment is sanitised and has all of the protocols in place to keep them safe in that environment.” Speaking on the Financial Voice TV show organised by TCL Group, she added: “Before the pandemic, airports were largely focused on how could they process people as quickly as possible to get them through all of the check-ins, bag drops, security screening, and get them to the hold rooms and shopping, with food and beverage, so that they can spend money and get on the aircraft. “So the focus was on making processes stricter
VINCENT VANDERPOOL-WALLACE
so persons didn’t queue for very long, and they can go through their security process. You are talking about the use of the scanning equipment so that people don’t have to be in any place for very long. “This pandemic, however, has created an evolution if you will for airports in the sense that airports now have to worry about health and safety, and not just safety as in air safety but in terms of people being safe within an environment given all of the focus on how COVID-19 is transmitted,” Ms Walkine continued. “So aircraft and airports are particularly vulnerable, and have to be seen as safe environments because of how this pandemic started and evolved, and all of the focus on it spreading on aircraft and so on. “Whether that’s true or not, that perception is reality and so on. Airports right now find themselves having to be mindful of processes and systems that all come together to give that passenger moving through it a sense that the environment is safe and their health will be protected while they are in that environment.” Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, a former tourism minister and director-general of tourism, said COVID-19 was accelerating the pace of digital reforms. “People just really try to find ways to have some kind of contactless
transactions and so, suddenly, things people were finding very difficult to do they are now doing automatically,” he added. “Even in our own community you see more and more people communicating on Zoom and whatever it else is, and people are talking to family members all over the world in ways they never did before.” He added: “All kinds of new things are being introduced in that particular side of our life, and I know the Ministry of Tourism is beginning to look at some very significant changes that are going to enable them to communicate with their customers in ways they never, ever did before and be able to personalise itineraries for people coming in to the country to enable transactions to happen more readily with some of the smaller vendors around The Bahamas. “There are so many people coming into the country that have credit cards as opposed to cash, and we all know people with credit cards are a lot more liberal in their spending than they ever were before. “So the whole world is being more digitised and, when you look at things like Airbnb, when you look at it, it really is a digital transformation that enables a lot more individual Bahamians to get directly involved in a business that they never did before.”
A FORMER directorgeneral has urged that a tourism “master plan” be developed for each island to aid The Bahamas’ efforts to recover its largest industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sir Baltron Bethel, who held the post from 1978 to 1992, and also served as a senior policy adviser to prime minister Perry Christie during the last administration, said such strategies should be linked to the “long overdue” National Development Plan that has seemingly been shelved by the former Christie administration. “Business models should be ideally developed as part of a tourism master plan for every island destination within The Bahamas, and be incorporated as a major segment of the overall National Development Plan, which is long overdue and has been a work in progress,” Sir Baltron told the Financial Voice TV show organised by TCL Group. “It is very timely for The Bahamas to embrace the thinking of global economy and tourism authorities about a reset of tourism with innovation, conservation, sustainability, inclusiveness and community development. Even more relevant to The Bahamas is the Global Economic Forum position of the need for competiveness, tourism management and the carrying capacity of the destination.” The Bahamas has traditionally been viewed as a high-cost destination that is uncompetitive on price, largely due to electricity and labour costs that do not match the service and productivity given in return. However, Sir Baltron said The Bahamas should
SIR BALTRON BETHEL not be in a rush to abandon tourism as its key economic driver. He added:” “Let us not forget, tourism, which is the main engine of our economy, has been good for The Bahamas and has served us well despite the fact that it has always been subject to external shocks of various kinds, and internal shocks like nature, all beyond our control. “I certainly observed during the period of 14 years of my tenure firsthand these particular shocks. However, we were prepared to meet them, and meet them head on. The shocks included several economic recessions; shortages of oil and gas; an energy crisis; the escalation of fuel prices; various airline bankruptcies; the Gulf War; the stock market crash; and rise in competition from lowcost destinations. “We met those challenges, and implemented innovative plans and strategies, and proposed new programmes that resulted in Bahamian tourism remaining remarkably resilient. Visitor arrivals grew from 1.4m to 3.7m annually. National tourism receipts were in excess of $14bn, and over 40m visitors were attracted to The Bahamas during this period. We became the number one destination in the region.”
Sir Baltron continued: “This was accomplished through close co-operation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. All stakeholders and the public were constantly involved, and we forged meaningful and productive relationships with our overseas travel trade partners, airlines, cruise lines and investors. We constantly kept our business model under review. “The present COVID-19 global pandemic presents unprecedented challenges with the extremely negative impact on the economy, as we have just heard. This is an impact like we have never witnessed before. It will take time, it will take innovation, new strategies, enormous cost and sacrifice to the government, the industry, employers and employees to rebuild and recover. “The co-operation and compliance of the entire public with the health protocols will be necessary. Recovery, and the re-opening of hotels and attractions, will only take place on a large scale when COVID-19 is brought under control within the entire population.” Joy Jibrulu, the present Ministry of Tourism director-general, added: “If we look at the contribution of tourism to GDP, approximately 50 percent depending on which figures you use, the hit has been tremendous. “At the Ministry of Finance, they are projecting losses of $600m for the period we have been in lockdown or reduced travel activity to The Bahamas. So this tends to be in line, as well, with what we’re seeing - declines across the board. Travel and tourism is a global industry. Everyone has been experiencing it, and we’re all coming out of it at the same time.”
PAGE 22, Friday, September 25, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
‘IMPOSSIBLE’ TO ESCAPE FATF BY VIRTUAL REVIEW By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE attorney general yesterday said it was “impossible” for The Bahamas’ to escape Financial Action Task Force (FATF) scrutiny through a “virtual” review of its compliance measures. Carl Bethel QC, pictured, responding to Chester Cooper, the Opposition’s finance spokesman and deputy leader, told Tribune Business that the global standard-setter for anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing regimes had rejected the concept of conducting 100 percent “virtual on-site visits” to jurisdictions such as The Bahamas when it met in June 2020. Mr Cooper, in his Wednesday address to the House of Assembly, questioned why
‘No indication’ of EU blacklist extension
the government had not sought to overcome COVID19 travel-related difficulties facing the FATF inspection team by arranging a virtual on-site visit to assess whether The Bahamas had properly addressed the weaknesses in its anti-financial crime regime. The on-site visit is the hoped-for last step in the process that will see The
The strengths trade unions can deliver THE Bahamas has a rich history and legacy of labour unions. Sir Randol Fawlkes, Sir Clifford Darling and other pioneers in the trenches of the labour movement sought to firmly establish standards by which consistent representation could be made for all Bahamian workers. While there are many benefits to trade unions,
there are also many critics who credit them for a lack of worker productivity and sense of entitlement among Bahamian workers. Today we explore the advantages of trade unions, and make the case for how they could be better mobilised to strengthen the Bahamian workforce. 1. Better wages and benefits
Bahamas escape the FATF monitoring regime, but Mr Bethel retorted: “It’s impossible to do a virtual site visit.” While the FATF’s June meeting agreed that part of this inspection could be carried out remotely, other aspects required its examiners to travel to the jurisdiction involved. “It can be partially virtual, and partially on-site, but they rejected totally virtual outof-hand,” Mr Bethel added of the FATF’s position. He acknowledged the frustration for the government and Bahamian financial services at the COVID-19-induced delay to the country’s removal from the FATF, with dates for the on-site examination - the last step in the exit process - having continually been pushed back. “Our target date was June,” Mr Bethel said, adding that no firm date for
the FATF’s on-site examination has yet been set. This has wider ramifications for The Bahamas given that inclusion on the FATF scrutiny list is a key factor for the European Union (EU) in deciding whether to place this nation on its own list of “high risk” financial crime jurisdictions that is due to be released October 1. Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Panama and Zimbabwe are also due to be included on the EU’s list. Its publication was delayed due to COVID-19’s impact on the FATF process, and the ability of countries such as The Bahamas to complete their escape, but Mr Bethel said yesterday the EU has “given no indication” of further extensions. Mr Bethel told the Senate yesterday that the EU and
its European Commission, which is effectively the 27-nation bloc’s civil service, may have committed “a breach of international law” by abandoning previous commitments to engage countries on a multilateral basis before their so-called “blacklist’s” publication earlier this year. Noting that the EU is demanding higher standards and compliance than the FATF, which is the designated global body for dealing with anti-financial crime measures, Mr Bethel said changes to the Register of Beneficial Ownership Bill were driven by the 27-nation bloc’s concerns. These were that Bahamian Segregated Accounts Companies (SACs) hold separate accounts containing assets belonging to third-party owners who are not necessarily the beneficial shareholders of the company,
and that locally-incorporated corporate vehicles are able to operate without a registered agent. The Act previously imposed no beneficial ownership requirements on firms without a registered agent. Mr Bethel said the EU viewed these as creating a “loophole” for its citizens to hide their money and assets from the taxman and financial crime investigators. He added: “This is a case of a new goal post being set by a new actor which has emerged. “Based on the mandate of its Parliament, the EU Commission has been forced to abandon the multilateral approach which was traditionally followed by its status within the FATF. The approach is now unilateral (to outright blacklist) and then to engage in bilateral discussions on the way forward. That is where The Bahamas is today.”
It has been proven that workers who are trade union members generally earn more than non-unionised workers. Trade unions use their collective muscle to bargain for better salaries, pensions, holidays, health insurance, sick pay, overtime and more. Trade unions hammer out negotiations with management to get the best possible deal for employees, so you do not have to. Better-paid employees usually mean more satisfied customers. 2. Personal protection Unions have got your
back. Not only can they tell you your rights, they will defend your rights. If your employer treats you unfairly, you can rely on support and expert representation from your union. A trade union representative is a trusted person to turn to when you are unhappy at work or management is behaving badly. And, as the workplace is transformed by automation and robotics, trade unions are demanding training, lifelong learning and social protection for workers to transition to the new world of work. 3. Equality Trade unions champion equal rights and equal pay. They fight discrimination against race, gender, sexual orientation and disability. They foster respect and dignity in the workplace. Trade unions promote maternity rights, flexible working and paternity pay, so that caring responsibilities are shared. Today, some of the world’s biggest trade unions are led by women, and unions are actively encouraging women
and young people to take on leadership roles. If the story of the labour movement is truly told, women have always been instrumental in the struggle. 4. Health and safety Unionised workplaces are often safer. This is a fact. That is because trade unions will not let workers put their lives at risk to save the company money. The only people with the moral authority to assess the risk are those who face it. And the only way to have a voice is to have a union. With the backing of a union, employees can feel confident in saying “no” to dangerous work without losing their job. Trade unions campaign tirelessly for safer working conditions, and can be thanked for most of the gains in workplace health and safety. Solidarity is perhaps the strongest benefit of unionhood. Trade unions have an incredible network that spans sectors and industries. When you join a union, you become part of that family. NB: Ian R Ferguson is
IAN FERGUSON a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.
Freeport revival needs govt to go ‘full steam’
its maritime group. “What the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is going to be doing is engaging small businesses, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs, to find ways that we as an island can go and help these companies to become better companies locally and shopat-home methods,” he said. “In Grand Bahama we worked on a lot of things. I can tell you personally that they put some of the top business people on this committee, and some people from Nassau as well. They want to get this economy up and running. The last time we did an initiative like this was when Hubert Ingraham was the prime minister, and from that came the Freeport Container Port and the Grand Bahama Shipyard.” Mr Hepburn added that it was vital “for the government
to work closely with us. We cannot achieve success unless the government is a full partner with us. If we get that we can go full steam ahead. The GBPA is doing their part as always, and we just need the Government”. Brent Collins, Power Equipment’s chief executive, said: “I haven’t heard anything about REEF yet as far as any feedback, but with all of the other things they tried to do last year I don’t know if any of that panned out, with them just trying to put together a committee for small business loans to get companies revitalised. “But with the REEF, I don’t have anything or any feedback or opinion on it. We are just still really trying to keep our doors open, so we are focusing on sales and management and recovery of our business.”
By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
THE drive to revive Grand Bahama’s economy can only “go full steam ahead” if the initiative obtains full support from the government, a member of the committee leading the effort said yesterday. Elbert Hepburn, Elnet Maritime Company’s chief executive, told Tribune Business he sits on three committees on three Revitalisation and Expansion of the Economy of Freeport (REEF) committees and “spearheads”
BY
business@tribunemedia.net
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
$4.10 Activists pledge to continue $15.6m GB Power struggle By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ACTIVISTS yesterday pledged to keep fighting Grand Bahama Power Company’s bid to recover $15.6m in Dorian restoration costs from customers even though it has been delayed a further three months. Pastor Eddie Victor, president of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens (CCC), a long-time GB Power critic, told Tribune Business that confirmation the island’s utility monopoly has pushed the start of its Storm Recovery and Stabilisation charge back from October 1 to New Year’s Day 2021 was “the best news I’ve had today”. He quickly promised, though, that himself and other opponents of this additional charge being added to customer bills will not let their guard down as the issue remains “a major concern” for all players in a Grand Bahama economy that has been devastated by the twin impacts of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19. The Power Company’s regulator, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), confirmed in a statement late yesterday that the new charge’s introduction was being pushed back by three months to January 1, 2021, in an effort to “balance the need for a healthy electric utility with upgraded technology and infrastructure” against the “unprecedented” blow delivered to businesses and households. “I figured it was only going to be for a few months,” Pastor Victor said of the delay. “That’s all it is. It’s still going to be bad timing. The economy has to recover, and if you look at it that’s [January 1] considered the tourist high season.
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Port’s profits slump 65% during COVID By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
N
ASSAU’S main commercial shipping port suffered a 65 percent or $3m year-overyear profits slump during the first five-and-a-half months of the COVID-19 crisis, its top executive revealed yesterday. Dion Bethell, Arawak Port Development Company’s (APD) president and chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that while there had been a “slight increase” in import volumes since the full lockdown was eased all categories remained down by more than 20 percent for that period against their 2019 comparatives. Predicting that such trends will continue until “at least the 2021 first quarter”, Mr Bethell said the amount of
• Bottom line down $3m between March-August • Cargo volumes drop on all lines by up to 28% • Trend predicted to last until ‘at least’ 2021 Q1
ARAWAK CAY PORT freight passing through the BISX-listed port operator’s docks and storage facilities will only truly recover once the major New Providence resorts start to re-open and tourism numbers begin to approach something like their pre-COVID levels.
With such an outcome still some way off, he added that APD had introduced measures to ensure staff were able “to close the gap” between the hours they are presently working and the normal 40-hour week via accrued vacation and training.
“When we look at our volumes in the period of time between March 2020 to August 2020, versus March 2019 to August 2019, our TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit containers) are still off by about 21 percent,” Mr Bethell revealed to this newspaper. “Our bulk tonnage is off by the same 21 percent, and our vehicle volumes are down by 28 percent. “Overall revenues are down by 24 percent. Everyone would have had to trim their business sales in light of COVID-19, so our expenses were down for the same period over last year by 12 percent.
SEE PAGE 18
Attorney fears Freeport plan ‘exercise in futility’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PROMINENT Freeport attorney yesterday voiced fears that the latest bid to revive Freeport’s economy will be “an exercise in futility” unless the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) ownership changes. Terence Gape, senior partner at Dupuch & Turnquest, told Tribune Business that the “wonderful ideas” proposed by the Revitalization and Economic Expansion of
Freeport (REEF) committee would ultimately “get nowhere” without the Hayward and St George families being replaced by an investor with the capital and know-how to execute them. He pointed to what he described as numerous broken promises in the April 2016 memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the GBPA, Hutchison Whampoa and the Freeport-based entities they control as one factor behind his scepticism. That MoU, which appears to have been
neglected by the Minnis administration, committed the two families to seek “a fair market sale” of their ownership interests in the GBPA and its affiliates; master plan the 3,000 acres of land owned by Freeport Commercial & Industrial within 12 months of the agreement; and work with the government to create “a world class agency” to promote Freeport to investors. The Grand Bahama Development Company (DevCo), which is owned 50/50 by the GBPA’s Port Group Ltd and Hutchison Whampoa, with the latter
having management control, was also supposed to “master plan” its more than 70,000 acre holdings within the same timeframe, and Mr Gape said the fact none of this has been done gives him little confidence the REEF initiative will succeed. He also argued it was “ridiculous” that REEF, which was launched by the GBPA, was eagerly recommending that the Grand Bahama International Airport be sold to the government for a “peppercorn”
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FRED SMITH QC
Reform bankruptcy to avoid ‘financial grave’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A WELL-known QC yesterday backed calls to urgently reform The Bahamas’ ancient personal bankruptcy laws as a way to save hundreds of persons from a “deep financial grave” post-COVID-19. Fred Smith QC, the Callenders & Co attorney and partner, told Tribune Business that overhauling an Act passed in 1870 was essential to ensuring that many Bahamians’ “economic existence is not brought to a grinding halt” when they are unable to meet their debt obligations amid the pandemic’s fall-out. Echoing pleas made earlier this week by Ed Rahming, the Bahamian accountant and insolvency practitioner, Mr Smith said: “I have always contended that our personal bankruptcy laws are far too draconian, working as they do like a financial guillotine, severing a bankrupt from economic opportunity in the future. “I would urge the government to reform the personal bankruptcy laws so that they give a greater amount of flexibility and ability to also, at the same time, when people fall on hard times to provide a stepping stone to recovery as opposed to a deep financial grave. “I think that the COVID19 experience shows us that the old way of doing business, where people are severely financially punished for a default, are over. Frankly, even without the pandemic and economic effects of it, banks, insurance
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