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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
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Healthcare suffers $90m ‘massive blow’ in Dorian
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A
CABINET minister yesterday revealed that Hurricane Dorian was estimated to have inflicted $90m worth of damage on the public healthcare infrastructure, describing it as “a massive blow”. Dr Duane Sands, minister of health, told Tribune Business that the government did not have “the luxury of unlimited time” to decide how it was going to rebuild public health facilities given that they were critical to facilitating the rebuilding effort and enticing persons to return to Abaco
• Rand hospital ‘biggest challenge’ • 80% of facility ‘shuttered’ yesterday • Time ‘not unlimited’ for rebuilding
DR DUANE SANDS and Grand Bahama. He added that “biggest challenge” determining the
the was way
forward for Freeport’s Rand Memorial Hospital. While the total $90m restoration cost includes the $19m required to fix the the existing facilities, Dr Sands said the alternative was to allocate $30m-$40m for a new hospital - not an easy task given the government’s financial restrictions. “We have - and I don’t want to call it a guesstimate - but the best possible estimate we have is $90m in terms of the healthcare facilities which have been destroyed, which have been
damaged,” Dr Sands told this newspaper. “That’s our current understanding of the extent of the damage. That number is going to have to be revised when we have structural engineers and contractors looking at it more critically. Bearing in mind we are four weeks in, we ought to get as good an estimate as possible, and $90m is where we stand. “Most of the structures east of High Rock are
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Minister moves to ‘arrest double digit booking fall’
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Minister of Tourism yesterday said he is quickly moving to “arrest the double digit decrease” in forward visitor bookings post-Dorian with some hotels suffering a 20-40 percent fall-off. Dionisio D’Aguilar told Tribune Business that he had spent an entire day at this week’s 40th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) general assembly “getting the message out that 14 of 16 islands are unscathed and open for business” in the category five storm’s wake. Revealing that he will do similar with the US media and travel industry when he begins a three-day stop in New York today, Mr D’Aguilar said “we don’t like” the decline in forward
• Dionisio: Some hotels in 20-40% Dorian fall-off • Must ‘get message out we’re open for business’ • Reveals devastated islands drew 1.1m visitors
DIONISIO D’AGUILAR bookings but it was not unexpected given global media coverage of Hurricane Dorian’s devastating impact on Grand Bahama and Abaco. With many “geographically challenged” about The
Chamber chief: ‘Can’t exclude Freeport City’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday warned the government that “you cannot exclude Freeport” from its Hurricane Dorian Economic Recovery Zones. Gregory LaRoda backed the zones’ creation as a “good thing” for storm-ravaged east Grand Bahama and Abaco on the basis that “it should help to bring their health back”. Yet he added: “It hopefully would encourage some
activity, but as said already by others you cannot exclude Freeport from those types of incentives. Just moving around the Freeport area I see the devastation. They would think Freeport was not hit that hard, but a lot of them [businesses] are still closed due to flooding. Some are saying they are not even going to open any more. “It has a big impact on employment. But the Prime Minister did say he is more aware of the issues in Freeport now from what I heard and understand now.”
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Abaco Outboard pledges January start on rebuild By YOURI KEMP AN Abaco-based business yesterday pledged to begin rebuilding by January 2020 as it constructs a temporary facility to house its business. Stephen Albury, chief executive of Abaco Outboard Engines, told Tribune Business: “We are rebuilding. Hopefully Tropical Shipping can get back into the port in the next two weeks. We are currently working on a temp facility and then will start to erect our new building by the first of the year once a few more resources are
set up in town.” Detailing some of the problems facing in the rebuilding effort, Mr Albury added: “I personally think that any persons that did not have insurance will have a tougher time rebuilding. Also, the timeline for everyone to rebuild will be fast for some and slow for others. Asked about the Economic Recovery Zone initiative unveiled by the government for areas hit by Hurricane Dorian, he replied: “I think it can be great. Let’s just hope that
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Bahamas, and unaware that numerous other islands and experiences remain open, he added that his ministry was “trying to draw the analogy” that a storm hitting New York or Toronto would not deter visitors from travelling to Washington DC or Montreal. Mr D’Aguilar, though, conceded that Abaco and Grand Bahama collectively draw 1.1m visitors to The Bahamas, of whom 200,000 are in the higher-yielding stopover category spending around $1,500 per visit. He added that Abaco, in particular, was “a very important market for us” due its status as a vacation rental and second home
destination. The minister expressed hope that “at least some” of the 200,000 stopover visitors would shift to other islands, but acknowledged this would be easier to achieve with the 900,000 cruise passengers and boating visitors. Speaking to Tribune Business from Canada, where the ICAO summit was held, Mr D’Aguilar told Tribune Business: “The position is we need to get the message out that 14 of 16 island destinations are unscathed and open for business. “There have been double digit decreases in forward
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Aliv places Dorian repairs at $5m-$10m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ALIV yesterday completed the full restoration of its mobile towers in Abaco and east Grand Bahama, finishing a storm recovery “first phase” estimated to have cost between $5m-$10m. Damian Blackburn, Aliv’s top executive, told Tribune Business that 99 percent of the population in both Dorian-ravaged islands are now covered by its network as it moves into what he described as “phase two” of the restoration process. Estimating that this will be completed by the end of October, Mr Blackburn said it will involve the removal and/or replacement of inoperable equipment from its various sites, repairs to partially damaged gear and talks with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) over a “permanent solution” for the latter’s destroyed towers where both rivals co-located. He revealed that Aliv had been asked by BTC to provide free roaming services for the latter’s Abaco customers for a further 60 days, indicating the extent of the beating its competitor’s network suffered during Dorian’s category five winds and storm surge. While that arrangement was no longer necessary for Grand Bahama, and had been discontinued this week, Mr Blackburn said all of Aliv’s 23 Abaco mobile towers - together with nine in Grand Bahama - were relying on generator or battery power amid the wait for electricity supply to be restored. He paid particular tribute to Aliv’s Bahamian engineers for “restoring the network at such speed”, saying they had “really stepped up to the plate and hit the ball out of the park” in the almost four weeks
DAMIAN BLACKBURN since Dorian struck the north-west Bahamas. “We’re still in the early assessment phase of all the costs. We expect the cost to be in the $5m-$10m range, but most of that will be insured,” Mr Blackburn told Tribune Business of the damage inflicted by the category five storm. “Most of the damage to Aliv’s network was caused by unexpected flooding levels never seen before in the history of the country. There was no structural damage to Cable Bahamas or Aliv-built towers that were designed for a category five hurricane.” Mr Blackburn said that while Aliv “maintained coverage throughout the storm” in Abaco, “over 90 percent of our 23 sites eventually went off because of loss of fibre connectivity, loss of network equipment and back-up power due to flooding”. Following the restoration of full 3G (third generation) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology coverage on Great and Little Abaco, he added that “full coverage on all outlying cays” was restored yesterday with Man O’ War Cay being the final site to come online. “We have 23 sites on air covering 99 percent of the population,” Mr Blackburn told Tribune Business, crediting Aliv’s rapid postDorian recovery on Abaco to the deployment of four “cell towers on wheels” at
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PAGE 2, Friday, September 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Don’t paper over these workplace advantages T
ECHNOLOGY has so seamlessly replaced paper processes that it is difficult to remember how things used to be done. In nearly all cases, the evolution from paper-based items to their electronic counterparts is profoundly more efficient. A paperless office environment is a workplace that uses minimal physical paper, and instead uses digital documents. A paperless THERE are many benefits to going employee is a paperless - from worker who has saving resources eliminated or to boosting greatly reduced security. the use of paper in the workplace. The process of converting paper files into electronic files is known as digitisation. The idea of an entirely paperless office has existed since personal computers became the basis of the modern workplace. Yet despite the prevalence of electronic documents and digital filing cabinet where e-mail, most companies still all of your documents live. rely on paper documents. Using a digital docuThere are many benefits ment management system, to going paperless - from you will get to harness saving resources to boosting the same powerful search security. Yet from hand- abilities that you are used outs at meetings to human to on Google. This means resources documents employees can find files and receipts, many busi- at the click of a button, ness processes still revolve which is much quicker around paper. than the laborious, manual This week, we focus process of searching for our energy on the glob- a specific file in a buried ally-accepted benefit of folder. Employees are reducing our dependence able to use this extra time on paper in the workplace: on revenue-generating 1. Less Paper Saves Time. projects. Time spent filing, organis2. Less Paper Saves ing and searching for paper Space. Paper takes up a lot documents is time that of space – as do the filing could be spent on more cabinets and the space productive tasks. Digitised required to store those documents are stored in a filing cabinets. Books and central repository, which is bookshelves are bulky, too. basically a well-organised What is worse, paper keeps
IAN FERGUSON BY
piling up, often accumulating more quickly than it can be sorted and organised. This is particularly true of industries that have long mandatory retention periods for paperwork, such as the financial services industry. Digitising files allows you to store all documents on either an on-premises server or in the cloud. Digital file folders in a repository require much less space than a physical records archive. 3. Less Paper Saves Money. Going digital improves process efficiency, saving you money. Paperless offices can process a much larger volume of paperwork in a shorter time when compared to traditional offices.
Further, digitisation reduces the amount of money spent on paper, printers, ink, postage, office space for files and employee time required to manage paperwork. The savings on employee time become especially valuable in regard to regulatory audits and repetitive, high-volume tasks such as expense reimbursements. 4. Less Paper makes it easier to transfer information. Document management software offers a simple process for saving documents. The software easily compiles digital documents using scanners, mobile capture using a camera on a phone or tablet, or importing any file type (.docx, .pdf, image files). Many
commonly-used applications, such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, integrate with document management systems and have native plug-ins that allow you to file your document into your content management system with just one click. 5. Less paper promotes protection of the environment. Manufacturing paper products produces greenhouse gases, causing deforestation and global warming. Recycling can offset some of the environmental impact, but not by much. Most paper eventually ends up in a landfill. Further, ink and toners contain volatile compounds and non-renewable substances that are damaging to the environment. It is
much more sustainable to simply reduce paper use altogether by switching to a paperless office. 6. Less paper boosts security. Physical documents are hard to track. Reams of paper can get lost, misfiled or destroyed without anyone noticing. It can also be difficult to monitor the access to, and printing and copying, of sensitive files. Document management software has advanced security capabilities that can tackle these challenges. System administrators can set-up granular access rights, which assign permissions at the document level (settings based on the type of document), user level (settings based on person’s job function), or system level (overarching security for all data in the system). The security benefits of a paperless workplace go beyond access rights. Implementing document management software also allows companies to leverage electronic signatures, redact confidential information, create audit trails and more. • NB: Ian R Ferguson is 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 iferguson@bahamas.com.
Cruise line partners to boost Bahamas travel ROYAL Caribbean International has teamed with a company representing 50,000 North American travel agents to launch an exclusive offer supporting travel to The Bahamas. The cruise line has partnered with the Travel Leaders Group to provide consumers with up to $100 in onboard spending money on its voyages that visit Nassau and/or Perfect Day
AERIAL view of a Royal Caribbean ship at Coco Cay. experience at Coco Cay in the Berry Islands. “Our partners at Royal Caribbean have been
absolutely extraordinary in their support for The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian,” said Ninan Chacko, Travel Leaders Group’s chief executive. “At Travel Leaders Group, we are committed to providing aid and fostering travel to The Bahamas as well. This special offer from Royal Caribbean will help our tens of thousands of travel advisors promote Bahamas cruises to their clients.” The offer can be combined with most Royal Caribbean promotions, and can only be booked through a travel advisor affiliated with Travel Leaders Network, Nexion Travel Group, Tzell Travel Group, Protravel International and ALTOUR. These are all units of Travel Leaders Group, which is billed as the largest retail travel agency organisation in North America. The initiative is part of a larger Travel Helps The Bahamas campaign (see article on Page 3B) being conducted by Travel Leaders Group, which includes fundraising for humanitarian aid and a broad effort to encourage travel to The Bahamas. Bonus spending money of $100 per stateroom will be offered for suite reservations. This will be trimmed to $50 per stateroom for balcony accommodations; and $25 per stateroom for interior and ocean view rooms. Reservations must be made between October 1-7, 2019, for cruise departures from October 18 onward for voyages that visit Nassau and/or Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island.
THE TRIBUNE
NIB GETS 676 DORIAN JOBLESS CLAIMS SO FAR By YOURI KEMP
THE National Insurance Board (NIB) yesterday said it had received 676 unemployment benefit claims from persons displaced by Hurricane Dorian over the three weeks to this Wednesday. “Some 676 unemployment benefit claims were submitted by displaced claimants from Abaco and Grand Bahama for the period September 2 to September 24, 2019, as a result of persons who were made unemployed by Hurricane Dorian,” NIB said in a statement to Tribune Business yesterday. The national security system added that the exact dollar value these claims represent, and the likely unemployment benefit payout it will have to make compared to last year’s figures, have not been calculated yet.
Abaco and Grand Bahama had total labour forces of 14,620 and 32,825, respectively, based on the Department of Statistics’ Labour Force Survey, so the claimants’ number cited by NIB is likely to rise even though some of those displaced by Dorian will likely have found work on other islands or in the US. And major employers in Freeport, such as Kelly’s (Freeport) and the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, some of whom were marginally less affected by Dorian, have already reopened or pledged to retain their existing workforces. This will help to contain postDorian unemployment. Meanwhile, NIB said it will accept a listing of unemployed staff from Grand Bahama and Abaco businesses that have either closed or laid off staff rather than mandate that the Employers Lay-Off
Certificate (Form B80) be issued. This is intended to help expedite the processing of unemployment benefit claims. Employers providing employee lists are to include the full name of the employee; their National Insurance Board number; and employment start and end dates/ Dates of birth are also being sought for each employee if available. Where NIB numbers are not readily available, employers are being asked to provide full legal names of their staff. Employers have been asked to e-mail their lists to nibcares@nib-bahamas.com. Employers who have lost all employee records are to contact its Compliance Department at 502-1625 or 502-1653, or by email to compliance@ nib-bahamas.com for further assistance.
TOP TRAVEL ADVISOR GROUP TO AID BAHAMAS TOURISM
NORTH America’s largest retail travel company yesterday unveiled its ‘Travel Helps The Bahamas’ to boost tourism to the 14 islands unaffected by Hurricane Dorian’s devastation. Travel Leaders Group, which represents 50,000 travel advisors, said it had teamed with the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation in a bid to hasten the Bahamian economy’s post-storm recovery. “The tragedy and devastation on the Abacos, Freeport and Grand Bahama have deeply affected the Bahamian people and everyone who loves The Bahamas,” said Travel Leaders Group’s chief executive, Ninan Chacko. “We grieve for those who lost their lives, their family members and their homes and businesses, and want to help in the best way we can to foster tourism to The Bahamas and minimise the economic impact on the country’s most important industry.” As part of a fundraising and awareness campaign, Travel Leaders Group will match money donated by its advisor community through its foundations to aid The Bahamas’ relief efforts. Funds raised, currently totalling $36,000, will be directed to the Ranfurly Home for Children. Travel Leaders Group will also launch an advisor education and marketing effort to promote travel to The Bahamas for fall and winter. Dionisio D’Aguilar, the
ELLISON THOMPSON minister of tourism and aviation, previously said: “When travellers visit our islands, they contribute to our economy and ensure our people remain employed and our government has resources to rebuild. A drop in tourism to our islands would compound the problem we are facing and slow the pace of our recovery.” Travel Leaders Group is working with the Ministry of Tourism to provide information to its advisors about conditions in The Bahamas through a series of e-mails and updates. Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, the ministry’s deputy director-general, was present at a town hall meeting this Wednesday where travel advisors from Protravel International, Tzell Travel Group and ALTOUR were present. Mr Thompson said 14 Bahamian islands are available to travellers, including Nassau and neighbouring Paradise Island, as well as
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Benchmark (Bahamas) Ltd. will be held on Date: September 30th, 2019 Time: 6:30pm Venue: Windsor Ballroom A, British Colonial Hilton
Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands. In the southeastern and Central Bahamas, the Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Inagua are welcoming visitors. He said The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands spread out over 100,000 square miles of ocean. “Rest assured that our hotels and partners are standing by to deliver a memorable and meaningful vacation experience,” Mr D’Aguilar said. “One important way to help is to plan a visit to our beautiful islands, and support our local businesses and keep our residents on the job.” “We are asking our thousands of travel agents in the US, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom to consider recommending The Bahamas as their clients plan fall and winter travel, and let them know how they will be helping The Bahamas by traveling there,” Mr Chacko said. “Today’s travellers want to have a positive impact on the places they visit and people they meet. This is one situation where travel truly does help.” “We appreciate having a partner the size and scale of Travel Leaders Group encouraging people to visit our islands,” Mr Thompson said. “We are grateful to the many individuals, businesses and charities in our industry that have stepped forward to offer assistance.”
Friday, September 27, 2019, PAGE 3
CARNIVAL’S $100M CRUISE PORT MUST ‘BRING JOBS BACK’ By YOURI KEMP THE Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s principle yesterday called on the $100m Carnival cruise port to hire local contractors and workers as a way to “bring jobs back” to the island. Greg LaRoda, the chamber’s president, speaking
after the Heads of Agreement signing between the government and Carnival, said: “I believe the signing is timely and I am encouraged to see that Carnival Cruises is still committed to The Bahamas and the island of Grand Bahama. “Construction of the project will bring job opportunities to the island that are badly needed while we struggle to bounce back in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. I know that there will be opportunities for employment during the rebuilding of the island after Dorian. However, I would like to see local contractors and workers involved in this project as well.” The 329-acre cruise port will be located at
Sharp Rock in east Grand Bahama. There are plans are to construct aquatic facilities, a lighthouse and fort structure, along with food and beverage pavilions. There also will be a “Harbour Town” plaza with shops eligible for duty-free status on approved goods to cruise passengers; a Junkanoo art plaza of Bahamian operated stores; facilities for a number of recreational and sporting activities, such as a zipline and rock climbing walls; ski lifts and water slides; a yoga pavilion, walking and bicycle trails; an 18-hole miniature golf course and park areas. Carnival also plans to build an open-air concert/ entertainment facility and amphitheatre.
PAGE 4, Friday, September 27, 2019
Healthcare suffers $90m ‘massive blow’ in Dorian FILE photo of The Rand Memorial Hospital before Hurricane Dorian.
FROM PAGE ONE destroyed; there’s literally nothing there. Vehicles and ambulances in Abaco have suffered and so forth. We don’t anticipate the Consolidated Fund is going to have to fund that entire amount.” While donors have either pledged or financed the replacement of some vehicles and equipment, Dr Sands said the need to repopulate Abaco and east Grand Bahama could dictate the timing of rebuilding for Dorian-ravaged healthcare facilities. “We may not have the population sufficient to support the rebuild of a clinic in a particular place, like McLean’s Town,” he warned. “This is very fluid, very dynamic, and we have to make some decisions as the field hospitals will not be here indefinitely. Their first engagement is only 120 days. “We have the Rand itself, which suffered major damage from water intrusion and flooding and septic intrusion. It wasn’t just water; it was the sewage in the facility. That has led to serious problems of mould. Just today we had to shutter 80 percent of the square footage at the hospital.” While all four healthcare facilities in east Grand Bahama had been destroyed or severely damaged, Dr Sands said Abaco’s mini hospital likely required at least $1m-$2m
worth of repairs due to water damage to the equipment and property. While the mini-hospital’s structure had weathered Dorian well, the minister added that Abaco’s public health clinics had been left in various states of damage and disrepair throughout the island chain. “Like the blow to the country, and Grand Bahama and Abaco, this is a massive blow,” Dr Sands told Tribune Business of the destruction wreaked on the public healthcare system in those two islands. “The health infrastructure is a vital component of repopulation of these islands, and unless we have decent health infrastructure it is very hard to rebuild, particularly if you’re talking about construction, where people are prone to having lacerations and fractures. We need to rebuild our national health system. This is a major blow on a number of fronts.” Dr Sands said the government was “not averse” to employing modular, pre-fabricated structures as healthcare facilities in the short to mediumterm, especially since they can be tied into utilities infrastructure. “We are actively engaged in making a decision about many of these facilities,” he said. “The Rand is the biggest challenge. You rightly asked the question: Do we invest $19m to repair or build a brand new facility for $30m-$40m.
“This is not a simple question. The challenges for health are not isolated. They gave to be seen in the context of education infrastructure, re-electrifying, re-establishing potable water, restoring telecommunications. There’s a limit to how much money you have. “The restoration in the US after Katrina cost $180bn. Certainly we don’t have $180bn at our disposal. Even if we had $10bn is that going to be enough?” Dr Sands said that with climate change and global warming, what might once have cost $100 would now cost $300 given the need for rebuilding to account for more frequent and powerful hurricanes. He added that the government would now have to make “serious decisions” without having the necessary time or data on which to base them. “People aren’t going to live in a shelter for ever,” he explained, “and the longer we take to clean up and repair these communities the less likely some people will be to return to them.” Acknowledging the “tendency to second guess and Monday morning quarterback” any decision the government made, Dr Sands continued: “We don’t have an unlimited amount of time to decide. There’s an intrinsic risk because of the pressure of time. The opportunity cost of inertia may be greater than potential waste.”
THE TRIBUNE
Chamber chief: ‘Can’t exclude Freeport City’ FROM PAGE ONE Mr LaRoda continued: “The chamber is now currently surveying businesses on the entire island to see to what extent they were affected, what’s their most basic needs, and to find out from them exactly what does the government have to do for them. “Then we will make suggestions to the government as to what the business community are saying: What is their immediate need, and then report back to businesses on what else the government can do for them specifically to see how we can help them repair and re-open. We really need the help of the SME’s.” Asked about his relationship with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and what they are doing for Grand Bahama businesses, Mr LaRoda said: “After Dorian I can’t speak to much. Prior to Dorian they were doing a lot for SMEs by giving breaks and some concessions for license fees; at one point they were giving exemptions for license fees up to a year.” Some observers have suggested that Freeport was not included in the Economic Recovery Zones because they will seemingly function in a similar manner as the city does under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, with businesses able to bring in goods ‘bonded’ or duty-free before selling them to other companies or residents of the disaster-hit areas to facilitate recovery efforts.
However, Tribune Business sources have questioned why Bahamian and expatriate homeowner residents of Freeport were not being given any tax breaks or incentives to aid their rebuilding efforts as a result of being excluded from the Economic Recovery Zones. The benefits of Freeport’s ‘bonded goods’ regime are only targeted at businesses within the Port area, and are not available - or cannot be accessed - by residents for use outside a business. As a result, some suggested Freeport homeowners are being discriminated against in comparison to their counterparts in east Grand Bahama and Abaco. The prime minister previously said the combined tax breaks and incentives package to stimulate recovery in the areas hardest hit by Dorian largely mirrors that employed for his Over-the-Hill revival initiative, although it goes beyond that in a bid to revive the real estate market so vital to Abaco’s economy. A VAT credit of up to 50 percent upon the sale of all property in the Economic Recovery Zones will be permitted - a benefit that could be worth several million dollars to buyers and sellers of high-end property in Abaco and its cays. To qualify for this credit, the sale must immediately be followed by substantial construction or enhancement to the property, or its use for significant commercial activity. The qualifying activity must begin within 75 days of the sale closing, be followed through the scheduled completion otherwise the full VAT sum becomes payable. Elsewhere, real property tax will not be payable on
all eligible properties that are reconstructed, restored or otherwise inhabitable by October 2020. The government, however, recognised that any real property tax breaks would solely apply to foreign real estate owners, as Bahamian-owned property in the Family Islands is not subject to this tax. Rather than a blanket exemption, the prime minister announced in foreign land holders in Abaco, the Abaco cays and East Grand Bahama “may” be able to benefit from real property tax breaks only if their developed properties are up to standard or they are taking steps to getting them back up to standard. While this is designed to aid the second home and vacation rental market, undeveloped properties owned by foreigners in the Economic Recovery Zones will not benefit from the real property tax exemption. Elsewhere, the government is establishing a $10m loan guarantee and equity financing facility that is targeted at micro, small and mediumsized (MSME) enterprises to either help them re-open or create new businesses. An applicant will be able to secure a maximum of $500,000. Dr Minnis also foreshadowed the creation of a “one stop shop” for business assistance for Abaco and Grand Bahama, which will be charged with ending the bureaucracy and red tape facing businesses. It will be staffed by personnel from the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), Bahamas Investment Authority, Ministry of Finance, Department of Inland Revenue, The Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) and Building Permits Unit.
Abaco Outboard pledges January start on rebuild FROM PAGE ONE they have the mechanism to handle it. I have seen a lot of great things but implementing is key.” Mr Albury detailed a “wish list” that included “personnel to sign forms. When items arrive on the dock, it’s cleared efficiently. Usually the left hand and the right don’t communicate”.
Having received an early insurance boost, Mr Albury said: “My experience thus far has been great for my store in Freeport. I have already been issued a first interim payment, and hopefully for Abaco in the coming weeks. All adjusters are being fair and diligent.” “The adjusters in Abaco have it a lot harder as living conditions are still primitive, and they have to drive from Sandy Point into
Marsh Harbour every day.” Meanwhile, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility said The Bahamas will receive a total $12.824m payout as a result of Hurricane Dorian. This is divided into $11.527m from the triggering of its tropical cyclone policy, and US$1.297m from its excess rainfall policy for the North West zone that includes Abaco and Grand Bahama.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 27, 2019, PAGE 5
Minister moves to ‘arrest double digit booking fall’ Life coach to assist storm victims on jobs FROM PAGE ONE
bookings, which is normal after a storm, normal after a shock, and Grand Bahama and Abaco have essentially been taken out as potential places for visitors to come to. “We naturally expect there to be a decrease, but we wanted to arrest that decrease, contain that decrease, which has resulted from the reporting of the storm in key markets.” While unable to provide figures for the forward bookings decrease suffered by the Bahamian hotel and tourism industry in Hurricane Dorian’s aftermath, Mr D’Aguilar said: “If you listen to one or two of the hotels, they’ll tell they’re in the 20-40 percent range of decline in forward bookings in destinations not impacted by the storm. “We don’t like it [the decrease] but we expected some fall-out from the hurricane because most people are geographically challenged about The Bahamas. What we’ve been saying is that there are 550 miles from Grand Bahama in the north to Inagua in the south, and the country covers 100,000 square miles. “What one finds is that if you imagine the storm to have impacted Toronto, would that necessarily stop you from having a vacation in Montreal? If you have a storm hitting New York, would that stop you taking vacation in Washington DC? We’re trying to draw that analogy.” Mr D’Aguilar said he met with the Canadian media and about 100 travel agents while attending the ICAO general assembly to drive home this message, and he plans to do similar with the same professional groupings while in New York. “There’s been this enormous amount of negative
PR created by reporting of this storm by international media,” he reiterated. “There was this perception that The Bahamas - from top to bottom - had been damaged, and we were suffering significant and dire consequences from this storm. “Tourism has divided the country into 16 different destinations, and the message for the media and travel agents to pass on to their customers was: ‘Yes, we were struck by a major storm that wreaked severe damage on two of them, but 14 of them emerged from Dorian relatively unscathed and are open to receive your business. “We’ll have to get the message out that the country is not completely destroyed and is open for business. I think then that the message will begin to resonate fairly quickly.” Mr D’Aguilar said his briefings were also intended to support Air Canada’s increased airlift to The Bahamas, with its flights rising from two to four per week and opening up the Montreal as well as Toronto market to this nation’s tourism industry. He voiced optimism in the Bahamian tourism industry’s resiliency, noting that it had shown it was capable of rebounding quickly in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, 2008-2009 recession, and countless previous hurricanes. “We think tourism is a very resilient industry,” Mr D’Aguilar told Tribune Business. “It’s subject to a lot of shocks, but it recovers very quickly. If you think about it we had Joaquin in 2015, we had Matthew in 2016, we had Irma in 2017, and now Dorian in 2019. “It does have some shocks to the system, but has remained relatively resilient and bounced back very quickly.”
Aliv places Dorian repairs at $5m-$10m FROM PAGE ONE sites where it had co-located with BTC and the helicopter airlift that brought in engineers to begin the restoration. The mobile provider, in which Cable Bahamas has a 48.25 percent stake with board and management control, also deployed a roll-on, roll-off mailboat immediately the storm had passed to ferry necessary staff and equipment into Abaco, while taking off employees on that island that had lost their homes and wanted to leave. Network equipment was also airlifted in on September 6 from the Panama base of Aliv’s main supplier, Huawei, with two further shipments dispatched over the next two to three days as the recovery effort gathered momentum. Mr Blackburn confirmed that equipment had moved from Nassau to the two storm-hit islands on an almost-daily basis by air and sea. “Aliv is providing 3G national roaming services to enable BTC customers in Abaco to use Aliv’s network for a period of 60 days, which was requested by BTC,” he told Tribune Business. “In Grand Bahama we provided 3G national roaming for a period of 14 days, which has come to an end because they said they didn’t need it any more. “The only place in The Bahamas where Aliv is not fully operational is Grand Cay, and we’re sending a team in there tomorrow [today] to assess how we can try and provide some coverage. It’s a significant challenge as we have to try and find some transmission. The BTC transmission link that used to provide
connectivity is not possible because the sites are down, but we’re going to investigate a solution.” Focusing on Grand Bahama, he said 80 percent of its population - concentrated in Freeport and West End, which were marginally less impacted - were restored immediately following Dorian’s passage. And, while 50 percent of its cell towers were knocked out of action due to flooding, the carrier said its 32 sites were now giving 99 percent population coverage. Mr Blackburn added: “Eight BTC sites in Grand Bahama and Abaco where we co-located network equipment can’t be used due to structural damage, mainly in east Grand Bahama.” He said Aliv was employing six “cell towers on wheels” in the area to fill these coverage gaps. “Phase one of the recovery is largely complete,” Mr Blackburn said. “Phase two we expect to be complete by the end of October. It involves the removal, replacement and repair of damaged equipment, inspection of the sites and moving, where possible, to a more permanent solution. “We are co-ordinating closely with BTC in relation to towers where we used to co-locate, and that is no longer possible, to determine the best permanent solution.” He added that while Aliv’s disaster preparedness protocols had been “tested to the max, given the enormity of the storm it held up”. Engineers had been prepositioned to move as soon as the hurricane passed, with all cell towers and equipment checked prior to Dorian’s arrival, and generators fully fuelled.
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A BAHAMIAN life coach will host a free work readiness day tomorrow in a bid to prepare Abaco and Grand Bahama residents for potential job opportunities Simmone L Bowe, principal of Limitless Life, a local boutique coaching, training and consulting firm, will be joined by strategic partners in hosting the event at Synergy Bahamas on Shirley Street from 10am to 3pm. She explained that Hurricane Dorian has changed the life we knew for a long time. “I think we have all been affected and want to help. I decided to use my gifts to help in ways that are needed as well,” Ms Bowe said. “We want to offer career coaching to the participants on effective resume writing, interviewing skills, setting career goals and just supporting them through what is a very difficult transition. We hope that companies around The Bahamas will continue to open their
doors to these professionals that need to restart their lives.” The line-up includes one-on-one sessions with human resources professionals, pre-screening interviews, resume writing and printing, and career coaching. Participants will also receive lunch.
SIMMONE L BOWE
PAGE 6, Friday, September 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
SAFETY BOARD: BOEING SHOULD RECONSIDER PILOTS’ RESPONSE TIME Associated Press PILOTS flying the two Boeing 737 Max jets that crashed in the past year were bombarded by multiple warnings that the
flights were going dangerously wrong. Boeing has said the pilots should have been able to swiftly diagnose the problem and follow a longstanding
procedure to fix it. But a report yesterday from federal accident investigators questions whether Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration underestimated
how a blizzard of visual and auditory warnings would slow the pilots’ ability to respond quickly enough to avoid disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board issued
MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com
(242) 323-2330
THURSDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2019
(242) 323-2320
ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,171.45 | CHG: 1.23 | %CHG: -0.06 | YTD: 62.00 | YTD%: 2.94 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.45 20.91 7.00 5.92 2.60 2.00 5.47 11.75 6.17 4.64 12.40 2.81 3.19 10.00 7.35 16.50 9.30 3.65 14.20
52WK LOW 3.50 19.17 4.90 4.46 1.01 0.19 2.00 9.17 6.15 3.60 6.75 2.35 1.76 7.51 6.10 12.10 6.20 3.01 13.00
SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Bank of Bahamas Benchmark Cable Bahamas CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Colina Holdings Commonwealth Bank Commonwealth Brewery Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard Fidelity Bank Finco Focol J. S. Johnson
SYMBOL AML APD BPF BWL BOB BBL CAB CIB CHL CBL CBB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FIN FCL JSJ
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A Fidelity Bank Class A Focol Class B
CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB
PREFERENCE SHARES
1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 10.00 1.00
CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00
52WK LOW 100.00
115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
52WK HI 2.25 4.31 2.06 191.61 158.55 1.63 1.77 1.71 1.17 8.01 9.60 6.83 11.39 12.30 10.68 10.00 8.69 11.79
52WK LOW 1.67 3.04 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.56 1.68 1.65 1.09 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) +
SYMBOL FBB22
Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2015-1-3Y BGS: 2014-12-5Y BGS: 2015-1-5Y BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-3Y BGS: 2015-6-5Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-3Y BGS: 2015-10-5Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y
BAH29 BG0203 BG0105 BG0205 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0303 BG0305 BG0307 BG0330 BG0403 BG0405 BG0407
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)
MUTUAL FUNDS
MARKET TERMS
LAST CLOSE 4.10 17.43 6.00 5.92 2.46 1.80 4.80 11.06 6.16 4.01 7.20 3.37 3.19 10.75 7.00 16.50 9.27 3.47 14.20
CLOSE 4.10 17.43 6.00 5.92 2.46 1.80 4.80 11.06 6.16 4.00 7.20 3.49 3.19 10.74 7.00 16.50 9.27 3.47 14.20
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.01 0.00 0.12 0.00 -0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
LAST SALE 100.00
CLOSE 100.00
CHANGE 0.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
FUND CFAL Bond Fund CFAL Balanced Fund CFAL Money Market Fund CFAL Global Bond Fund CFAL Global Equity Fund FG Financial Preferred Income Fund FG Financial Growth Fund FG Financial Diversified Fund FG Financial Global USD Bond Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Secured Balanced Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Targeted Equity Fund Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund - Prime Income Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Equities Sub Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - High Yield Fund Royal Fidelity Int'l Fund - Alternative Strategies Fund 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
VOLUME
839 450 11,250
1,000
VOLUME
NAV 2.25 4.31 2.06 191.61 158.33 1.63 1.77 1.71 1.17 8.01 9.60 6.83 11.30 12.30 10.68 9.92 8.68 11.38
EPS$ 0.239 0.932 1.760 0.369 0.070 0.000 -0.438 0.722 0.449 0.184 0.140 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.939 0.203 0.631
DIV$ 0.160 1.260 0.000 0.250 0.000 0.020 0.000 0.720 0.220 0.120 0.000 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.200 0.120 0.610
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
P/E 17.2 18.7 N/M 16.0 N/M N/M -11.0 15.3 13.7 21.7 51.4 34.2 6.8 16.6 9.6 20.2 9.9 17.1 22.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
YIELD 3.90% 7.23% 0.00% 4.22% 0.00% 1.11% 0.00% 6.51% 3.57% 3.00% 0.00% 12.44% 1.88% 3.05% 3.43% 3.27% 2.16% 3.46% 4.30%
MATURITY 19-Oct-2022
6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.25% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 3.88% 4.25%
20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2022
YTD%12 MTH% 2.15% 3.88% 1.61% 4.11% 1.53% 2.74% 3.85% 6.28% 7.12% 2.08% 1.91% 4.55% 1.45% 4.30% 1.67% 4.21% 4.75% 7.44% 7.17% 8.76% 11.07% 12.58% 3.50% 4.96% 8.92% -0.97% 5.22% 5.44% 2.95% 2.64% -0.71% 0.16% 7.40% 2.70% 10.20% 1.30%
NAV Date 31-Jul-2019 31-Jul-2019 26-Jul-2019 30-Jun-2019 30-Jun-2019 31-May-2019 31-May-2019 31-May-2019 31-May-2019 31-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 30-Mar-2019 30-Mar-2019 30-Mar-2019
TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | COLONIAL 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333
that all possible cockpit alerts might have on pilot response. The board also recommended that FAA require Boeing to include changes in cockpit design or pilot training to help pilots follow proper procedures when responding to the Max’s automated control systems. Schulze told reporters that the board wants FAA to take those steps before it lets the Max fly again, although the board did not put a timetable in its formal recommendations. She suggested that tests should include regular airline pilots, not just highly experienced test pilots. The safety board also recommended that FAA examine whether other aircraft besides the Max might have been approved without considering how multiple alarms could distract pilots. And it said that FAA should encourage regulators in Canada, Europe and elsewhere to do the same thing. The FAA said it will review the NTSB recommendations as it continues to evaluate changes that will be made to the Max. Boeing issued a short statement saying it would work with FAA in reviewing the recommendations. An independent safety expert said better testing could help account for varying skill and experience among airline pilots. Clint Balog, an expert on human performance in aviation who teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said cascading alerts increase the load on pilots during an emergency. “With some pilots, you can throw almost unlimited warnings and cautions at them and they remain focused and safely recover the aircraft,” Balog said. “Some pilots — a few (warning) lights and they just shut down.” The Max has been grounded worldwide since March, shortly after the second crash. Boeing is nearing completion of changes that will make MCAS less powerful and tie it to a second sensor measuring the plane’s pitch instead of just one sensor. Boeing expects that airlines will be able to fly the plane later this year, although many analysts think early 2020 is more likely.
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST Prime + 1.75%
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
seven recommendations stemming from its role as an adviser to investigations of the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which together killed 346 people. It will be up to investigators in those countries to determine what caused the accidents. Preliminary reports have pointed to an anti-stall system that kicked in based on faulty sensor readings and pushed the noses of the planes down. The NTSB said Boeing assumed that pilots flying the Max would respond to an automated nose-down push by taking “immediate and appropriate” steps. Federal regulations allow manufacturers to make such assumptions, and Boeing even used test pilots in flight simulators to check its assumptions. Boeing presented highly trained test pilots only with a single alert indicating a condition known as runaway stabiliser trim, which can be triggered by an anti-stall system called MCAS, safety board officials said. They said Boeing failed to consider that an underlying problem like sensor failures — which triggered MCAS in both Max crashes — would set off several alarms. In the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes , signs of trouble showed up early and often. Shortly after Lion Air Flight 610 took off from Jakarta on Oct 29, stick shakers on the pilots’ control columns vibrated to warn of an impending stall. Other alerts — some visual, some sound — would have gone off because altitude and speed readings were unreliable. The crew of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10 would have gotten similar alerts, plus a loud voice recording that warned, “Don’t sink” — they were flying too close to the ground — adding to the cacophony and confusion. “That’s the actual scenario that never got evaluated in the simulator,” said Dana Schulze, the NTSB’s director of aviation safety. Schulze said years of research have shown that when multiple alarms compete for the attention of pilots, it can lead to a situation in which “pilots will not respond as perhaps you might have intended”. The safety board will recommend that the FAA, which certified the Max, evaluate the effect
LEGAL NOTICE
CATAMOUNT, LTD. (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000,the above-named Company is in dissolution, which commenced on the 20th day of September, 2019. The Liquidator is Windermere Corporate Management Limited, East Bay Street, P.O. Box N-7797, Suite A-084, Nassau, Bahamas.
WINDERMERE CORPORATE MANAGEMENTLIMITED Liquidator
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, September 27, 2019, PAGE 7
Amazon offers a way to delete Alexa recordings automatically NEW YORK Associated Press USERS of Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant can now request that recordings of their voice commands delete automatically. Amazon says it saves such commands to improve the service. But the practice has raised concerns with privacy experts who say the recordings could get into the wrong hands, especially as Amazon and other companies use human reviewers rather than just machines. Previously, users had to go into Alexa’s settings and delete recordings manually. Users can now ask Amazon to automatically delete recordings after three months or 18 months. But users need to specify that in the settings, as recordings are kept indefinitely by default. And there’s no automatic option for immediate deletion. Users would still need
to do that manually. When users ask for automatic deletion, a warning will pop up saying that doing so could degrade Alexa’s ability to respond or understand users. Amazon will also let users request deletions through an Alexa voice command. The use of human reviewers will continue. Tech companies have been reviewing their practices in light of privacy concerns. There’s greater concern when humans are involved because of the potential for rogue employees or contractors to leak private details embedded in the voice commands. When Facebook starts selling a new version of its Portal video-calling gadget next month, the company will resume using humans to review voice interactions with the device. Users will be able to decline, or opt out. People on existing devices will get a notification pointing them to the
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, JASON CURRY of 209 Bahamia Arms, General Delivery, Freeport, Grand Bahama, intend to change my name to JASON TERRY BUTLER . If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that SLAM AMONDIEU CHARLES of Nassau Village, 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 27th day of September, 2019 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LEONNE SAINTILUS of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 27th day of September, 2019 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JULIAN PHILIPPE of Pride Estates, 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 20th day of September, 2019 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that REGINAL DEVALLON of George Town, Exuma, 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 20th day of September, 2019 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
AMAZON Echo and Echo Plus devices, behind, sit near illuminated Echo Button devices during an event announcing several new Amazon products by the company in Seattle. Users of Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant can now request that recordings of their voice commands delete automatically.
appropriate settings. New Portal users will get the option when setting up. Human reviews involving Facebook’s Messenger app elsewhere remain suspended as Facebook re-examines the privacy implications. Google is also restarting the practice of reviewing voice commands to improve its digital assistant, though it’s now making it clear human transcribers might listen to recordings. The company also said it will delete most recordings after a few months, and people can review their recordings and delete them manually at any time.
PAGE 8, Friday, September 27, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Walmart’s Sam’s Club launches health care pilot to members www.ub.edu.bs
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply for the following career opportunities at University of The Bahamas: Accounts Receivables Clerk II, Business Office (Oakes Field Campus), responsible for providing support to the Receivables Unit in the Business Office and processing all internal and external payments. The Accounts Receivable Clerk serves as a cashier, collecting and processing all incoming funds related to tuition, fees and other receipts in the form of cash, checks, credit card and online payments; processes all retiree medical payments and donations; balances/reconciles cash receipts and prepares deposits for submission to the bank. Other duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, conducting end of day processing for credit and debit transactions; maintaining a log of bank deposits; daily issuance of student bills and assisting with wire transfer payments for scholarships. Computer Technician II (University of The Bahamas-North Campus, Grand Bahama), responsible for maintenance of all University computer systems, desktops and peripherals including installing, diagnosing, repairing, maintaining and upgrading all hardware and equipment while ensuring optimal workstation performance. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, configuring and upgrading operating systems, applications and utilities, using standard business and administrative practices; installing and deployment of all University hardware and accessories, performing troubleshooting and upgrades at the University and Satellite locations; updating tickets in the Help Desk ticketing system; recording new, relocated or decommissioned hardware/ devices and liaising with external vendors. The Computer Technician II may be required to travel to satellite campuses and centres. Detailed position announcements are accessible online at: http://www.ub.edu.bs/aboutus/career-opportunities/. Interested applicants should submit the following to the Human Resources Department via hrapply@ub.edu.bs (Attn: Vice President, Human Resources, Subject: Accounts Clerk II) by Friday, 11th October 2019: · A cover letter of interest highlighting work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position; · Completed UB Employment Application Form (www.ub.edu.bs/wpcontent/uploads/2017/01/Application-for-Employment-Staff.pdf)
· Current curriculum vitae or resume; · Copies of relevant qualifications and certificates; · Copy of the relevant pages of a valid passport showing passport number, photo identification and expiration date; · Copy of N.I.B. Card; · At least three (3) written, professional references.
NEW YORK Associated Press WALMART’S Sam’s Club is teaming up with several health care companies to offer discounts on routine care that customers might delay or skip because of the cost. Starting next month, Sam’s Club members in Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina will be able to buy bundles of health care services that include discounted dental care, free prescriptions for certain generic medications, and telehealth consultations. Fees range from $50 for individuals to $240 for up to six family members. The pilot programme could potentially expand to all states, said Lori Flees, senior vice president of Sam’s Club Health and Wellness. The move comes as health care expenses place a growing strain on the budgets of many families and individuals, even those that have insurance coverage. Sam’s Club emphasised that the new initiative is not a health insurance plan but a discount health programme designed to supplement insurance and bring down the costs patients pay out of pocket. Annual deductibles for single coverage in employersponsored health plans have doubled over the past decade and now average $1,655 among plans that have deductibles, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. These deductibles, which a patient has to pay before most coverage starts, can be much higher for families and for individual plans purchased outside an employer. Sam’s Club, where members pay an annual fee to shop, says its programme is designed to cater to individuals, business owners and families who are delaying or skipping basic care because of high deductibles.
WALMART’s Sam’s Club is teaming up with several health care companies to offer discounts on everyday care its customers might delay or skip because of the cost. Starting early October, Sam’s Club members in Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, will be able to buy one of four bundles of health care services ranging in annual fees from $50 for individuals to $240 for a family of up to six members. The pilot programme could potentially be rolled out to members in all the states, says Lori Flees, senior vice president of Sam’s Club Health and Wellness. “We are lowering the barrier for people to take care of themselves,” Flees said. Each bundle offers savings on dental services with a network of providers through the health insurer Humana as well as unlimited telehealth for $1 per visit through a Seattle-based company called 98point6. The bundles also offer discounted vision exams and optical products. The number of free generic prescriptions ranges from five to 20 of the most popular medications, depending on what the member chooses. For example, the family bundle includes access to a preventative lab screening that measures health indicators like diabetes, up to a 30% discount on chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture services, and a 10% discount on hearing aids. Each bundle also offers prepaid health debit cards to be used within the health services network. The telehealth program will introduce patients to a new form of care in which people can be diagnosed and treated without talking to or seeing the doctor. Patients who click on the 98point6 app first tell their symptoms to a chatbot or automated assistant that uses artificial intelligence.
The information then gets passed along to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, often just through secure messaging. The more common telehealth method of using video is available if needed, and patients also will be able to speak to their doctors if they want. Insurers and many employers like Walmart and Amazon have been touting video telemedicine as a way to give their employees or customers fast, convenient access to help. But benefits experts say people have been slow to start using the new technology. Some forget about it because they may not need it until long after they learn about it. John Marchisin, managing director of the health care practice at global management consultancy AArete, calls the move by Sam’s Club “brilliant”. “This fills the gap, making health care more affordable to customers,” he said. “Sam’s Club is providing the first level of preventative care.” Marchisin said the pilot program will only enable Sam’s Club to deepen its relationship with its customers and give them an opportunity to sell more health care services.