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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019
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RoyalFidelity: $1bn goal as ‘Caribbean’s premier’ Govt finances
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K PETER TURNQUEST
face 3-year Dorian blow
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net HURRICANE Dorian will likely throw the government’s finances off-track for the next three years, the deputy prime minister has revealed, although its fiscal “fundamentals” have not altered. K Peter Turnquest told Tribune Business that a “three-year run-out period” was “not unreasonable” given the extent of the devastation inflicted by the category five storm on infrastructure and other public assets, as well as multiple communities in Abaco and east Grand Bahama. This indicates that Dorian has blown the government’s fiscal consolidation plan offcourse until 2021-2022 at least, although the scale of the damage is likely to progressively decrease from the projected $436m increase in the 2019-2020 deficit during future years. Mr Turnquest, meanwhile, said he was “personally disappointed” that Dorian had
SEE PAGE 4
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
R
OYALFIDELITY is now focused on becoming “the premier Caribbean investment bank and wealth manager” after its management-led buyout closed last Wednesday, its president has revealed. Michael Anderson, pictured, confirming that all necessary regulatory approvals in The Bahamas and Barbados have been received, told Tribune Business that the merchant bank is aiming to grow assets under management by 25 percent over the next year to hit the $1bn mark by end-2020. Expressing “relief” that RoyalFidelity’s purchase from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and its parent group had finally closed, some eight months after it was first announced, Mr Anderson said the way was clear to “focus on building our business again”. He revealed that top RoyalFidelity executives, including those from Barbados and the Cayman Islands, will meet in early November to develop a strategy for regional
• ‘Relief’ at RBC/parent buyout close • Eyes 25% managed assets growth • Cayman pension deal close imminent
expansion that includes penetration of the eastern Caribbean. Mr Anderson added that RoyalFidelity’s Nassau office will remain the headquarters for its back office functions and information technology (IT) systems, acting as the springboard for its growth plans, and its workforce is expected to hit 50 before year-end via the hiring of four more staff. He added that RoyalFidelity is aiming for its Caribbean operations to be “if not larger, at least as big as The Bahamas” within the next five years. This nation currently accounts for 80 percent of its activities, and Mr Anderson said he expected local business to
maintain its present ten to 15 percent annual growth rate for “the next three years”. Regional expansion, though, stands to get a major boost from the imminent acquisition of its former parent group’s Cayman Islands pension administration portfolio, which Mr Anderson said was anticipated to close in early November pending the necessary regulatory approvals. He added that this would add $150m in assets under management to RoyalFidelity’s total, taking it close to the $1bn mark it is targeting for end-2020. “We closed the transaction Wednesday,” Mr Anderson told Tribune Business, adding that his reaction was “one of relief” given that the buyout of previous 50/50 owners, RBC and BISX-listed Fidelity Bank (Bahamas), had first been announced in early February. “It’s just taken a long time,” the RoyalFidelity chief added. “It’s one of opportunity. Like I said before we’ve got a huge opportunity to move
Top Abaco food store to Freeport firms on ‘life re-open with 40% of staff support’ following Dorian By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
ABACO’S main supermarket will re-open “within two weeks” with just over 40 percent of its pre-Dorian staff, as one of its principals said: “I’ve never seen devastation like that in my life.” Rupert Roberts, the Super Value chief, told Tribune Business that the category five storm had inflicted an estimated $10m worth of damage to wholesale and retail properties owned by himself and business partner, Chad Sawyer. However, he revealed that Maxwell’s Supermarket is in the process of being restocked in a bid to “be up and running” in around a fortnight after it was one of the few Marsh Harbour properties - besides
FREEPORT-based small businesses say they do not know how they will recover and resume operations after the devastating blow inflicted by Hurricane Dorian. Many were uninsured and lost their entire inventory and equipment when Dorian’s storm surge swept through the business section of Queen’s Highway, all the way into downtown Freeport. One business operator of 30 years said he was on “life support”, after having to borrow cash from family and friends to relocate to smaller premises, while another reported that his firm was “totally devastated” and he had nowhere to turn for help.
RUPERT ROBERTS the government complex and clinic - to emerge from Dorian relatively unscathed. “If Maxwell’s was wiped out we would have been wiped out,” Mr Roberts told Tribune Business. “We’ve had building and property damage of at least $10m, I’d estimate, but Maxwell’s had very little damage. We may have some roof damage, and may have lost ten solar panels, but there were two
SEE PAGE 7
“We never thought we would be devastated like this,” said Craig Malone. “So, I know we all in the same boat, we do not know where to turn – and I am kind of lost.” An auto repair shop operator, his business - located next to Waugh Construction, near Queens Highway - was completely destroyed. “It was totally devastated – everything,” Mr Malone said. “It is a troublesome thing; it was where I made my bread and butter. I don’t get a pay cheque or salary. I work on vehicles and I get paid. If I don’t work on them, I go home with nothing. Well, it’s been over a month now and I go home with nothing. “So, I don’t know what the next step is. We are all
SEE PAGE 6
into new markets such as Cayman. I’m encouraged that we’ve got most of this out of the way and can focus on building the business. “The discussions around transactions get complex, and a lot of people are involved, so it distracts from the day-to-day business. We can now focus on building our business again.” Mr Anderson said RoyalFidelity will place great emphasis on its technology platform to drive efficiencies and business development as it seeks to penetrate new regional markets and establish a solid business book in each one it targets. “We have a strategic meeting at the beginning of November, bringing all of our people together, including Cayman, to talk about how to improve our technology to create efficiencies and develop business across the region,” he explained. “We’re looking to grow our pensions and asset management business across the region, not just in Cayman
SEE PAGE 8
SIR JACK HAYWARD
Sir Jack’s butler in fight over his trust By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE late Sir Jack Hayward’s family trust has become embroiled in a fresh legal battle sparked by the claims of his Bahamian butler, Tribune Business can reveal. Julius Trevor Bethel, who was also the former Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) co-chairman’s personal assistant and manager of his Freeport residences, has been seeking to persuade the Bahamian courts to both freeze the trust’s affairs and remove the judicial trustee overseeing it. The details have been exposed by a Court of Appeal ruling, dated October 11, which refused to give Mr Bethel what he was seeking based on technicalities involving judicial rules. The former butler had alleged that Justice Ian Winder’s decision to recuse himself from hearing the matter at the Supreme
SEE PAGE 5
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 15, 2019, PAGE 3
CHAMBER TO ‘CHAMPION $10m Dorian finance ‘good start, CLIMATE CHANGE’ FOCUS facility but not enough’ By YOURI KEMP
JEFFERY BECKLES By YOURI KEMP THE Chamber of Commerce next year plans to “champion the cause of climate change” awareness and its impact on Bahamian business and livelihoods, its chief executive has revealed. Jeffery Beckles, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive, told Tribune Business: “The chamber in 2020 will champion the cause of climate change - how has it has impacted us, and the importance in changing our narrative on the way we do business and also how we change the way we live. “We also need to be aware of how to prepare for hurricanes and how do we build stronger. Examining the way we live, what we do in Abaco and East End Grand Bahama is going to have a large impact on all of the other islands, as we would hope to use those best practices on other islands, even for New Providence and the capital. “We have to seriously look at the cost of converting and strengthening the other islands in preparation for more and stronger hurricanes. We can mitigate the extent of damage we experience. It’s all about setting a long-term plan, and we may be doing this for over the next 20 years. This is
more than just a five to tenyear build-out for Grand Bahama and Abaco, but a long-term one for the entire Bahamas.” Gregory LaRoda, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, said Bahamians needed to take the consequences of climate change more seriously given that this nation is among those likely to be most affected by global warming and rising sea levels. “You cannot help but notice that hurricanes are coming more and more frequently to The Bahamas,” he added. “I think it has something to do with climate change. We all need to take it more serious as I firmly believe in climate change affecting our hurricane patterns.” “We [at the chamber] don’t have a specific programme running as it relates to arresting climate change, but we do encourage wherever we can in promoting where to be more aware of it, along with being more cognisant of the effects of what you are doing.” Mr LaRoda said the GB Chamber viewed climate change more from an economic standpoint as the numbers “point you in the direction of more renewable energy usage. The benefit of it is it helps with mitigating greenhouse gas effects”.
THE private sector has hailed the government’s $10m financing facility for Dorian-ravaged businesses as “a great start”, while expressing concerns it is “not nearly enough” to cover all needs. Chamber of Commerce heads for both Abaco and Grand Bahama pledged to maximise the funding being made available, and also to supplement it through their own relief efforts as the drive to rebuild the business community on each island starts to gain some momentum. Gregory LaRoda, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, told Tribune Business: “The $10m right now is between Abaco and Grand Bahama, and in our initial discussions at the Chamber we thought that it might not be enough. “The $10m may not be enough to help as many as we would like, but we can and will do the best that we can with whatever amount of money that was allotted and, at the end of the day, if it isn’t enough we feel confident that we can go back to the government and be heard in order to get more support.” The $10m will be provided over the next three years through the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), the Bahamas Development Bank (BDB), the government-sponsored venture capital fund (BEVF) and the commercial banking sector. The funds will go towards providing grants, loans guarantees and equity capital to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) on Abaco and Grand Bahama, which would not typically qualify for regular bank credit, restore their premises, inventories and operations in Dorian’s aftermath. Mr LaRoda, though, expressed fears that larger companies could “crowd out” smaller companies when
it came to obtaining funding from the $10m facility. Revealing that he is currently focused on small and micro business needs, he added: “We are looking more at the smaller and micro-sized businesses, and not as much on the firms that can qualify for the $500,000 maximum support line outlined by the SBDC. “We need to be careful that the larger companies don’t crowd out the smaller companies and get most of the $10m allotted. To the extent that folks take advantage of the $500,000, we have to be careful of how we do the business survey and evaluations, and how we look to allocate these funds and how the money can be best applied.” Under the rules governing the government’s $10m facility, micro companies with average annual revenue under $100,000 a year will receive grants, loans or equity investments of $50,000 or less. Small businesses will be eligible for up to $250,000 in various types of funding, and mediumsized businesses with average annual revenue between $1m to $5m pre-Dorian will be able to access up to $500,000 to assist them with the rebuild. Ken Hutton, the Abaco Chamber of Commerce’s president, while describing the government’s financing facility as “a great start” agreed with Mr LaRoda that the $10m was “not near enough” to meet all the requirements of potentially 2,500 businesses that have been impacted by Dorian. He added that Project Resurrect, the initiative being developed by the Abaco Chamber with support from its Nassau counterpart and the Marsh Harbour/Spring City district council, aimed to raise additional financing to support private sector restoration beyond what the government is making available.
“One of the things we need to do through our initiative, Project Resurrect, is to make a lot more funds available to small and medium-sized businesses. We are going to be raising a lot of money to give for small businesses once this is up and running,” Mr Hutton added. “We plan to add money to the $10m already being allotted by the government for hurricane relief support for MSMEs. It was always the intention of Project Resurrect to have substantial funds allocated to get businesses up and running post-Hurricane Dorian. “Right now we have just gotten our A 501(c)(3) documentation completed, so we will have more information once the [Project Resurrect] foundation is fully established and ready to roll in the very near future.” Mr LaRoda, meanwhile, stressed the importance of making sure the funds are targeted at those who need it the most. He said: “From the chamber’s standpoint in Grand Bahama, and also for Abaco and in Nassau, I would say that we are just
trying to determine which businesses need help at a more critical level;. “How do you determine which type of businesses can help directly with the recovery on both islands? You have businesses that provide critical services. So, in terms of prioritising, which businesses can provide these critical services is extremely important to us.” He added: “You have to make a judgment call. If you have businesses that supply goods and services that assist with people rebuilding, like businesses that provide building supplies and construction services, those businesses need to be first and foremost in our eyes. “You can see where it would be critical to having companies like those mobilised and fortified. You also have some small ‘mom and pop’ businesses that supply those same type of services and supplies, and they need to be primarily remembered because they can provide the same type of support the larger firms can.”
HELP HARBOURSIDE MARINE
is seeking to find the following FACILITY ENGINEER •
Must have a strong working knowl edge of electricity and plumbing
•
Have own tools
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Must also be able to operate power tools. Send all inquiries to: ian@hbsmarine.com
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the capital markets perform a critical function in the economic development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by providing access to funding for business growth and expansion in the private and public sectors, and by providing citizens with access to investments opportunities to preserve and build their wealth; AND WHEREAS, WHEREAS good financial practices including budgeting, saving responsible management of credit and debt and investing are essential to the well-being of all Bahamians; AND WHEREAS, financial literacy and investor education can help Bahamians to improve their capacity to manage their personal finances, to protect themselves from falling prey to various frauds and financial scams, to invest in the future and to be financially prepared for their retirement years; AND WHEREAS, the Securities Commision of The Bahamas (“the Commission”), a statutory agency, is charged with over seeing the activities of the capital markets, and has the satutory function to promote public understanding of the capital markets, the participants and the risks, benefits and liabilities associated with investing; AND WHEREAS, the Commision is participating in the global World Investor Week Campaign being promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commisions (IOSCO) to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection, and highlight the initiatives of securitries regulators in these critical areas, and has organized activities to bring greater awareness to this important issue and to launch various investor education initiatives; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Hubert A. Minnis, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, do hereby proclaim the week beginning Tuesday, 1st October, 2019 and ending Sunday, 31st October, 2019 as “INVESTOR EDUCATION MONTH”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 7th day of October, 2019
PAGE 4, Tuesday, October 15, 2019
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
POSITION AVAILABLE
CUSTODIAN If you: 1. Possess good working skills 2. Have good oral and written communication skills 3. Are able to work Flexible Hours
Main Responsibilities: • Cleaning and maintaining floors (sweeping, mopping, waxing, buffing and polishing) • Scrubbing and sanitizing restroom facilities • Keeping janitor rooms and closets clean and organized
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED 1. Copy of your valid Bahamian Passport 2. Copy of your valid NIB Smart Card 3. Copy of your Police Record 4. 2 - References 5. 2 - Recent Passport photos
Email to jobs2018bah@gmail.com Deadline: October 17th, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Govt finances face 3-year Dorian blow FROM PAGE ONE prevented the government’s finances from “turning the corner” and achieving a surplus that would enable it to start paying down the $8bnplus national debt. Arguing that the Minnis administration was “on track” to achieve this until the storm smashed into The Bahamas, he said the “fundamentals” of the government’s fiscal consolidation plan had not changed and pledged that it would not be distracted by Dorian from its ultimate long-term goals. Warning against unchecked public spending post-Dorian, particularly that which failed to produce results, Mr Turnquest said that while the government may not achieve its ten
percent cut in discretionary expenditure it was seeking to reinforce the “belt tightening” message across all ministries and agencies. Speaking after he revealed that Dorian is forecast to produce a morethan-quadrupling in this year’s forecast fiscal deficit to $573.4m, Mr Turnquest suggested the storm’s aftermath will force the government to deviate from its fiscal projections for the remainder of the current administration’s term. “Without pre-empting the Fiscal Responsibility legislation or Act, and strategy report we plan to do in November, I think a threeyear run-out period for this upturn in debt and spending is not unreasonable,” he told Tribune Business. “There are those who will say it’s too aggressive, and we maybe ought to go to five years and longer, but the plan we’ve put in to-date - which was for three years, and people said was too aggressive - has been working. The economy has been growing, the unemployment numbers dropping, so all those statistics prove we were on the right path.” Mr Turnquest’s mention of November refers to the fact that the Fiscal Responsibility Act requires the government to present an adjustment plan if it is likely to miss its financial targets. This must detail the measures it will take to get its consolidation plan back on track, and estimates of how long it will take to do so. This plan is to be presented to both parliament and the Fiscal Responsibility Council (FRC) in November as part of the upcoming 2019 Fiscal Strategy Report, while a post-Dorian budget will outline changes to revenue and spending along with requests for additional borrowing. Dorian’s effects will be with The Bahamas for many
years to come, although the bulk of the financial impact will be felt in the early years as restoration efforts start to ramp up. From a 2019-2020 fiscal perspective, the storm is forecast to wipe out $215m, or eight percent, of fullyear revenues while extra spending to rebuild utility infrastructure, public health clinics, temporary housing and to deliver government services in the impacted areas has been pegged at just over $222m. “The personal disappointment is that we weren’t able to continue with the reform agenda,” Mr Turnquest told Tribune Business, pointing to the progress made by the government in slashing the 2017-2018 deficit to $222.4m. Arguing that the Minnis administration had been “on track” to eliminate the persistent nine-figure annual deficits that have plagued The Bahamas for decades, he added: “That’s the only disappointment I have from a personal perspective; that we didn’t actually get to turn the corner and get on with the new norm and paradigm of surpluses, so that we can pay down these debts in an aggressive way.” Promising that not even Dorian would deflect the government from this goal, Mr Turnquest continued: “The fundamentals of what we’re trying to do have not changed. We have to continue to be aggressive with the consolidation plan, using aggressive revenue collection and compliance, and being aggressive on cutting costs and using technology to be as efficient as possible, and using good procurement practices to get better value for money. “If we keep these things in mind, and don’t get distracted by the impact of this storm with spending, we should be OK and get ourselves back on a reasonable path in a reasonable time.”
Mr Turnquest said the government’s bid to cut discretionary spending by ten percent, in an effort to narrow the deficit as much as possible and free-up monies for Dorian-related spending, was targeted at items that were non-policy priorities. “We’ve put before Parliament a very aggressive budget,” he explained. “Amongst the items in the Budget are some high priority policy items and some other things that can be repurposed. We’re asking all agencies and ministries to look at those items - not the critical policy imperatives - and see how they can possibly delay or amend those priorities so they’re more affordable in the short-term. “We may or may not be able to achieve ten percent. We are sending the message these are not normal times. We are all going to have to tighten our belts to fit into the fiscal window and land on the target.” The discretionary spending cuts, though, will not touch at least 80-90 percent of the budget which has already been allocated to fixed costs, such as debt servicing and principal repayment, civil service salary costs and rents for government buildings. Mr Turnquest, though, warned against runaway spending in times of disaster. “To the naysayers who have taken the traditional approach to public finances; that we must spend in times of difficulty, what we’ve been able to demonstrate up to now is that while that is true to some extent, we must not saddle ourselves with debt, particularly debt that does not show results at the end of the day,” he added. “It must be managed and controlled so that we do not fool ourselves into thinking we can drive consumption through spending.”
THE TRIBUNE
Sir Jack’s butler in fight over his trust FROM PAGE ONE
Court was “delaying” his various applications. Tribune Business understands that Mr Bethel’s bid to remove Paul Winder, an expatriate banker who works for Lyford Cay-based Deltec Bank & Trust, as judicial trustee for the The Sir Jack Hayward 1993 Discretionary Settlement is part of a much wider litigation fight he has initiated. This newspaper has been told that Mr Butler’s case centres on allegations that he has been unfairly squeezed out of his interest in the trust after Sir Jack named him as a beneficiary of his estate. These claims, though, are being heavily contested in the Bahamian courts. The dispute is unlikely to impact the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), its ownership and/or operations, although the Court of Appeal ruling names Sir Jack’s two children and six grandchildren as the “respondents” to Mr
Bethel’s claims. The Court of Appeal verdict, obtained by Tribune Business, reveals that Mr Butler and his attorney, Maurice Glinton QC, have been seeking “to set aside or stay” directions given to Paul Winder by the Supreme Court on March 18, 2019. If this application were granted, it would “restrain” Paul Winder from hiring senior Bahamian accountants and accounting firms to conduct audits and “forensic examinations” of the trust’s financial affairs relating to a period prior to his appointment as judicial trustee. Besides hiring “Kikivarakis & Company to undertake a forensic examination of the accounts of the trust”, Paul Winder had also obtained permission “to engage Igal Wizman of Ernst & Young to audit financial statements of the trust for the period 20152018 and for future years”. The Supreme Court had also given permission for Paul Winder to initiate legal
action against Striker Trustees, the corporate trustee for Sir Jack’s trust prior to his hiring, and “one of its directors” although that individual is not named. But Mr Bethel’s legal filings, detailed in the Court of Appeal judgment, suggest he and Mr Glinton opposed this activity - and are also seeking Paul Winder’s removal - because they are unhappy with how Sir Jack’s trust is being managed, particularly when it comes to paying out money. The former butler, in his April 17, 2019, summons to the Court of Appeal, also sought Orders that “Paul Winder maintain the status quo as regards the assets of the trust subject to leave of the court”. And he also wanted the court to stipulate that Sir Jack’s former companion, Patty Bloom, and her daughter, Amy Clough, “undertake not to enforce their rights against the said Paul Winder” until the court ordered otherwise. The duo were also said to be beneficiaries of The Sir
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Jack Hayward 1993 Discretionary Settlement. However, attorneys for Sir Jack’s two children, Rick Hayward and Susan Heath, and grandchildren Rupert Hayward, Giles Hayward, Francesca Hayward, Emma Cameron, Alexander Heath and Nicholas Heath, successfully argued that Mr Bethel’s appeal was an “abuse of process”. Besides breaching the Court of Appeal Act because it had been filed without the Supreme Court’s permission, they argued that the case had simply not been referred to another judge as opposed to a refusal to hear it.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019, PAGE 5 LEGAL NOTICE
DURSLEY OVERSEAS INVESTMENT LTD. Company No. 1419062 (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that DURSLEY OVERSEAS INVESTMENT LTD. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 2nd October, 2019 and lic.phil. Simon Biedermann of Im Duxer 41, 9494 Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein, has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator.
Dated this 4th day of October, 2019 Sgd. lic.phil. Simon Biedermann Voluntary Liquidator
PAGE 6, Tuesday, October 15, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Freeport firms on ‘life support’ following Dorian FROM PAGE ONE in same boat together. I lost all my equipment, and all my tools that did not get destroyed were looted. I am basically going to start again. I just looking for assistance. We never thought we would be devastated like this. So, I know we all in the same boat we do not know where to
turn, and I am kind of lost.” Mr Malone said he had gone to the CA Smith Building to apply for small business financing, but the process “with government,it takes forever”. He spoke as Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) president, Ian Rolle, and chief financial officer, Deanne Seymour, met with
licensees in the parking lot of the GBPA’s headquarters building to hear small business operators’ concerns in the aftermath Dorian. Mrs Seymour, who also serves as the GBPA’s licensing chairman, said an exercise was held two weeks after the storm where the quasi-governmental authority surveyed about 1,000 of
its 3,000 licensees. She added that the GBPA wanted to know what damage had been incurred, whether or not businesses were insured, when they would be reopening or if they were undecided, and what their immediate business needs were. Mrs Seymour said some businesses in close proximity to each other experienced different levels of flooding. “The level of devastation was quite different, like how can eight feet of water be in one business and four feet in the other. So…it was kind of mind-boggling but we really want to hear from our licensees and get their experiences,” she said. Orthland Strachan, operator of Compusec Printing located in Arcade Building, said annual business licence fees need to be addressed to help impacted small businesses. “I think for many of us that needs to be addressed,” he said, adding that he has been operating since 1989 and that his annual license fees with the GBPA have been up-to-date every year. “Right now, I am on life support,” he said. Mr Strachan added that he had no
insurance and lost all his equipment. “People are asking what I can do for you. I say to them if you want to help me, give me cash. I need to replace my equipment. And for all of us that is where we are; we need money. That is the only way we are going to get our business up and running,” Mr Strachan told GBPA executives. He also complained that banks are not lending businesses money, and that the rent charged by landlords is too high in Freeport. “Maybe our properties have been devalued here in Grand Bahama after the hurricane and they will not look at our assets to grant us loans,” he said. “Thank God if you have family or good friends with cash to assist, and that’s what’s been happening with me to try to get relocated and get it back up and going. “Paying $2,500 and $3,000 rent on a monthly basis to a landlord – no more will I do it. Dorian has pushed me to a point where I know enough is enough.”’ Mr Rolle said the GBPA has been speaking with an unnamed financial institution on how they can guarantee funds for small businesses in
Grand Bahama. He said: “Those discussions are ongoing, but you will have to qualify. They require some level of accountability. We don’t know what the qualifications are, but you will have to qualify. “A lot of people have left the island, and it is really imperative to figure how to help you all get back in business as soon as possible so employees can also come back to the island. “We have to analyse who has been truly affected by the storm and do the necessary thing, either adjusting your business licence fees or writing some of the cost off.” Mr Rolle said the GBPA views the $100m Carnival cruise port as a major stimulus to the island’s economy, with the Port having approved their master plan. “They are on the ground with engineers, and I expect a lot of economic activity happening as a result of that project. The government has also stated that Royal Caribbean and ITM are still keen about Grand Lucaya and redevelopment of the existing harbour,” he added.
Is seeking full-time workers for the following positions:
Front Desk Agent
Duties include: • Create, modify and cancel reservations as required • Greet guests as they arrive • Input cash and credit card payments in the POS system • Perform Night Audit Qualifications: • Previous experience is a plus • Great computer skills • Good verbal and written communication skills
Store Clerk
Duties include: • Greet store customers and provide information regarding products and promotions • Perform POS transactions and prepare end-of-day receipt reports • Ensure shelves are properly stocked and items are displayed in an attractive way Qualifications: • Minimum 2 years of retail experience • Friendly personality • Good verbal and written communication skills
Cook
Duties include: • Prepare ingredients to use in cooking (chopping and peeling vegetables, cutting meat etc.) • Cook food in various utensils or grillers • Ensure great presentation by dressing dishes before they are served Qualifications: • Valid food handlers’ certificate • Minimum 3 years of experience working in a professional and fast paced kitchen • Friendly with great communication skills Transportation, housing and meals included. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please email: careers@chubcay.com
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, October 15, 2019, PAGE 7
Top Abaco food store to re-open with 40% of staff FROM PAGE ONE buildings in Marsh Harbour that stood up - the clinic and Maxwell’s.” He added that Price Right and their wholesale operation had taken the brunt of Dorian’s impact, but the focus was on reviving Maxwell’s retail operation so that Abaco could have an organised food distribution point that will be a critical component in encouraging residents to return and start the rebuilding process. “Last week we were stocking Maxwell’s with stock room merchandise and items so that it will be up and running in two weeks,” Mr Roberts revealed. “I think we’re going to have about 60 or 70 of the 170 staff; we know that now. With the other 100, they have no where to live. “It will be the only organised distributor of food, and people can’t go back until there is food. Our concern was to get Maxwell’s up and running to supply food to the island again, and then we’ll look at other problems. When they get that under control and restocked we may start to let the public in and buy whatever is there. The public is not expecting a grand opening.” Mr Roberts confirmed that Commonwealth Bank was being given space in Maxwell’s to help restore banking and financial services to Abaco, adding that “we wanted a pharmacy and a couple of other essential services” to also move in. “Abaco is completely destroyed,” the Super Value chief told Tribune Business. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I’ve
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never seen devastation like that in my life or on any hurricane in Abaco. The concern is how quickly we get this debris removed and what we do with it. We cannot do anything to contaminate the water supply. He added that a partnership between the government and private sector was critical to rebuilding Abaco, suggesting that the island will have to be “condemned” if it was
left to the former alone. “If it was up to the Government I would say no government of The Bahamas could do it. We’d have to condemn Abaco,” Mr Roberts told Tribune Business. “But thousands of homeowners and merchants will do their own thing. “In three months you’d be surprised at how far we could come back; the depths of the come back. With everyone working together, in
POSITION AVAILABLE
ACCOUNTS CLERK If you: • Possess good working skills • Have good oral and written communication Skills • Are able to work Flexible Hours • Have basic knowledge of accounting principles • Possess at least an AA in Accounting • Knowledge of Quickbooks • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Main Responsibilities: • Bank Reconciliation • Data Entry • Maintaing Accounting Database • Verification of financial reports • Accounts Payable and Amounts Receivable DOCUMENTS REQUIRED 1. Copy of your valid Bahamian Passport 2. Copy of your valid NIB Smart Card 3. Copy of your Police Record 4. 2 - References 5. 2 - Recent Passport photos Email to jobs2018bah@gmail.com Deadline: October 17th, 2019
a year a lot of the hurricane costs will be removed, and Abaco and Freeport will be productive economies. “If we could get BPL up and running we could make speedy progress in Abaco because the people are determined, but we need power to do the work and live.”
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that REGINAL PIERRE of P.O. Box CR54802, Sunlight Cottage, Off East Street 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 twentyeight days from the 15thday of October, 2019 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, October 15, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
RoyalFidelity: $1bn goal as ‘Caribbean’s premier’
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE LESAB LTD. International Business Companies Act,2000 (No.45 of 2000)
FROM PAGE ONE and The Bahamas. As we broaden our business, we have to have the technology available to us to drive and manage that. “We’re centralising administration in The
In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 138(8)of the International Business Companies Act 2000,(No. 45 of 2000), that the Dissolution of Lesab Ltd. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completionof the dissolution was the 17th day of July, 2019.
Bahamas to manage that for all the region, so all the back office and IT systems will be run through the Nassau office,” Mr Anderson continued. “We’ve been adding staff since we moved up on East Hill Street in February. We currently
POSITION AVAILABLE
SECURITY OFFICERS
Sheryl Collins Liquidator
If you: 1. Possess good working skills 2. Have good oral and written communication skills 3. Are able to work Flexible Hours 4. Have excellent surveillance and observational skills. (Security Officers)
NOTICE IN THE ESTATE of MERLENE DECOSTA NEE JOHNSON late of the Western District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.
Main Responsibilities: • Protect company’s property and staff by maintaining a safe and secure environment • Observe for signs of crime or disorder and Investigate disturbances • Take accurate notes of unusual occurrences • Report in detail any suspicious incident
Notice is hereby given that all persons having any claims or demands against the above named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 24th day of October A.D., 2019, and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; after the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Executor shall then have had Notice.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED 1. Copy of your valid Bahamian Passport 2. Copy of your valid NIB Smart Card 3. Copy of your Police Record 4. 2 - References 5. 2 - Recent Passport photos
And Notice is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the aforementioned date. MICHAEL A. DEAN & CO., Attorneys for the Executor Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street P.O. Box N-3114 Nassau, The Bahamas
Email to jobs2018bah@gmail.com Deadline: October 17th, 2019 LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE MY FAVOURITE THINGS CO. LIMITED
www.bisxbahamas.com
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
(242) 323-2330
FRIDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2019
(242) 323-2320
ALL SHARE INDEX: CLOSE: 2,170.86 | CHG: -5.31 | %CHG: -0.24 | YTD: 61.41 | YTD%: 2.91 BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK LOW 3.50 20.91 4.90 4.46 1.01 0.22 2.00 9.25 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 2.26 4.31 2.07 191.61 158.55 1.65 1.82 1.74 1.21 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 1.58 1.69 1.66 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 3.98 7.26 3.24 3.50 10.66 7.51 16.50 9.27 3.54 14.20
CLOSE 4.10 17.43 6.00 5.92 2.46 1.80 4.51 11.06 6.16 3.98 7.26 3.25 3.50 10.65 7.51 16.50 9.27 3.54 14.20
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.29 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 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 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
Business, “but in the next five years we’d expect the other businesses to be, if not larger, at least as big as The Bahamas. Although The Bahamas will have the majority of our business for some time to come, as those markets grow they will gain in proportion to the total. “We continue to grow our business across all business lines in The Bahamas, each one of our areas growing by a typical ten to 15 percent for the last five years. We expect to grow in that same area for the next three years to come. With a high degree of liquidity in the market, and people looking for higher return investment opportunities, we see more people coming in to funds and asset management.” Unveiling RoyalFidelity’s goal to become “the premier investment bank and wealth manager in the region”, Mr Anderson told Tribune Business: “We want to be a Caribbean regional financial services entity; asset manager, wealth manager and pensions provider. We believe there is a massive opportunity in pensions across the region as more and more people start to recognise the need for pensions.” With the merchant bank’s assets under management currently standing at $800m, he added: “We expect to be close to $1bn by the end of next year. The Cayman acquisition will add $150m to assets under management, and we believe by the end of next year we will get to the $1bn mark.”
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
MARKET REPORT 52WK HI 4.45 22.65 7.00 5.92 2.60 2.00 5.47 11.75 6.17 4.64 12.40 2.81 3.50 10.18 7.51 16.50 9.30 3.64 14.20
have 46 staff, and expect to be at 50 before the year ends.” RoyalFidelity has hired six staff since the buyout was announced, and Mr Anderson said the merchant bank was still finalising employment terms and other issues relating to employees who were expected to come across to it from the former Fidelity parent group. While its Cayman pension acquisition is expected to close imminently, the RoyalFidelity chief said the initial pace of its Caribbean expansion was difficult to predict. “It’s with the regulators, and all information has been supplied,” Mr Anderson said of the pension deal. “Some time between the end of October and early November we will get that one closed. “It’s difficult to tell,” he added of how quickly the Caribbean roll-out will likely occur. “We’ve got to enter new markets, start marketing and build a presence. It takes a little while to build results. Next year will be more formative in setting up, and going forward we will expect to see more significant growth.” Mr Anderson said the pace of Caribbean expansion would have to be rapid if RoyalFidelity was to lessen its reliance on The Bahamas, given that it is projected to maintain present ten to 15 percent growth rates for the next three years. “Today The Bahamas is 80 percent, a big part of our business,” he told Tribune
VOLUME
2,590
VOLUME
NAV 2.26 4.29 2.07 191.61 158.33 1.65 1.82 1.74 1.19 8.01 9.60 6.83 11.30 12.30 10.68 9.92 8.68 11.38
EPS$ 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$ 0.170 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 -10.3 15.3 13.7 21.6 51.9 31.9 7.5 16.5 10.3 20.2 9.9 17.4 22.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
YIELD 4.15% 7.23% 0.00% 4.22% 0.00% 1.11% 0.00% 6.51% 3.57% 3.02% 0.00% 13.35% 1.71% 3.08% 3.20% 3.27% 2.16% 3.39% 4.30% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST Prime + 1.75%
MATURITY 19-Oct-2022
6.95% 4.00% 4.25% 4.25% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.00% 4.25% 4.50% 6.25% 3.50% 3.88% 4.25%
20-Nov-2029 30-Jul-2018 16-Dec-2019 30-Jul-2020 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2018 26-Jun-2020 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2018 15-Oct-2020 15-Oct-2022
YTD% 12 MTH% 2.46% 3.85% 1.61% 3.28% 1.78% 2.75% 3.85% 6.28% 7.12% 2.08% 2.88% 3.80% 4.56% 6.50% 3.35% 4.17% 5.77% 7.89% 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-Aug-2019 31-Aug-2019 30-Aug-2019 30-Jun-2019 30-Jun-2019 30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-2019 30-Sep-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
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
Creditors having debts or claims against the abovenamed Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o Ronald Atkinson & Co., Marron House, Virginia and Augusta Streets, P.O. Box N-8326, Nassau, Bahamas on or before the 29th day of October 2019. In default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made by the Liquidator. Dated the 4th day of October 2019. Bennet R. Atkinson Liquidator
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that International Philatelic Company Limited (Registration #177139B) is in voluntary liquidation. Any person having any claim against the Company is required to provide documentary evidence of such claim duly certified to the Liquidator of the Company by hand at the address below on or before the 12th day of November, 2019 failing which the Liquidator shall proceed to distribute the remaining assets of the Company to those persons entitled to receive the same having regard only to the documented claims of which the Liquidator shall then have had notice. Beatus Limited, Liquidator c/o Holowesko Pyfrom Fletcher Templeton Building Lyford Cay, New Providence
PAGE 10, Tuesday, October 15, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Reasons it hurts to pee MANY men and women are unfortunately plagued by recurrent episodes of painful urination, called dysuria. There is a prevalent misconception that a urinary tract infection is always the cause of every instance of pain on urination. Patients often take courses of antibiotics with no resolution of symptoms. However, there are many causes of dysuria, painful urination that are not related to an infection. There is tremendous bacterial resistance in the community against many commonly prescribed antibiotics for urinary tract infections, UTIs. The fluoroquinolone antibiotic class, such as Ciprofloxacin has as high as a 35 percent resistance rate against the common E.Coli urinary tract bacteria. Ampicillin has about a 55 percent resistance rate against E.Coli bacteria in many scientific studies. Ciprofloxacin and Ampicillin are two of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics given empirically for urinary tract infections and in many cases the urinary tract infections are inadequately treated due to high bacterial resistance rates. Two antibiotics that have low bacterial resistance rates for most urinary tract infections are nitrofuratoin and fosfomycin. The world is running out of reliable antibiotics and the indiscriminate use of these two antibiotics could eventually lead to increased
THREE WAYS TO GET A JUMP ON YOUR NEW YEAR GOALS HERE we are, in the blink of an eye we will be counting down the seconds to New Year. There are so many awesome celebrations that will be happenings between now and New Year that most of us (myself included) simply say “I’ll get in shape next year”. But before you throw your hands up in defeat let me share some strategies with you that can help you navigate the holiday season and get a jump on your NewYear goals. Firstly let’s look at what we have before us. The holiday season really starts early to mid-October with the introduction of everything pumpkin, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread and my personal favourite pumpkin rolls. These are all indications that the holiday season is fast approaching. Then we have Halloween, or as I like to call it candy fest! Weather we celebrate it or not we all have easy and ready access to all of the sweet treats this season brings. Then we have
resistance in the community for both these drugs. Urinary tract infections management should involve collecting a mid stream urine culture sample that is sent to a microbiology lab to determine the antibiotic sensitivity and resistance profile of the bacteria present in the urine. Urine lab cultures are not a perfect tool as studies have shown that about 20 percent of negative urine cultures that show no bacteria being present in the urine, are cases of false negative results. Bacterial DNA testing of sterile negative urine cultures, have shown to actually be positive for bacteria in about one in five cases. Although urine culture tests are not perfect, it is a necessary test to try and avoid the overuse of antibiotics for query urinary tract infections. Other potential causes of painful urination, dysuria include: 1) Sexually Transmitted Diseases STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis can infect the urinary tract system and lead to painful urination. Discharge may be an accompanying symptom in both men and women. A STI requires treatment of the patient and all sexual contacts. 2) Urethral Stricture A scarring within the urethra can lead to painful urination. There is often a reduced strength in the urinary stream and usually
BEFORE YOU THROW YOUR HANDS UP IN DEFEAT:
increased urinary urgency and frequency, with incomplete bladder emptying. Urethral strictures may result from a sexually transmitted disease or it may be the result of trauma, which might be secondary to a previous urethral catheter or pelvic bone fractures. 3) Urethral Syndrome Inflammation and irritation of the urethra that is not related to an infection, can lead to pain within the urethra and painful urination. Irritants such as spermicides, douches, bubble baths, scented sanitary napkins, prior radiation or chemotherapy, amongst others can lead to urethral syndrome. 4) Infection of the Prostate In men infection of the prostate could lead to painful urination and often discomfort in the perineum, pain after ejaculation and sometimes pain within the pelvis with increased urinary urgency and frequency. 5) Interstitial Cystitis Also referred to as painful bladder syndrome. It is often a diagnosis of exclusion but
the hallmark of the condition is no bacteria found in the urine. Men and women with interstitial cystitis are quite commonly treated with recurrent antibiotic courses because of painful urination and painful bladder and the cause is not infective. Fortunately interstitial cystitis is not a common disorder. 6) Referred Pain Pain can originate elsewhere and be referred, leading to pain in the urethra of painful urination. Kidney or ureter stones are lead to dysuria as can ovarian cysts in women. 7) Vaginal Tears In women, particularly postmenopausal women with decreased vaginal lubrication, vaginal microtears during sexual intercourse can cause discomfort during urination. The urethra of a woman is very short and anatomically there is a short distance between the anus with numerous normal bacterial flora and the vagina. Sadly many women suffer
Thanksgiving where even though it’s not a public holiday in The Bahamas, it still doesn’t stop us from enjoying the ham and the turkey and all of the delicious wonderful trimmings. Then rounding the corner we have Christmas, but we know that all of the festivities really start by the second week in December. This marathon of eating, drinking and merriment continues straight up until New Year when we then take a look ourselves and
Life lines
Victoria Sarne the first sip, is as important as the beverage itself in
Dr Greggory Pinto urethral stricture could lead to incomplete bladder emptying and recurrent urinary tract infections in men and uterine fibroids could cause extrinsic compression on the bladder in women and also lead to incomplete bladder emptying and recurrent urinary tract infections. Poorly controlled diabetics or undiagnosed diabetics can lead to the development of a neuropathic bladder with impaired nerve function of the bladder so that the bladder is never emptied completely and those afflicted often have large residual urine volumes in their bladder, whereby bacteria often proliferate. Seek compassionate, comprehensive and compassionate urological care for any urinary disorder include painful urination • Board Certified Dr Greggory Pinto – Bahamian Urologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon – trained in Germany, South Africa and France. Member of the European Association of Urology. The Surgical Suite, Centreville Medical Centre at 68 Collins Avenue/Sixth Terrace, Nassau, Bahamas. Telephone 326 - 1929
Having a plan can help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals.
Now is the perfect time to start because by the time New Year comes you will have gotten into the swing of things.
“COFFEE ANYONE?” WHETHER you drink one cup a day or several, drinking coffee is an experience which affects our minds and bodies in many different ways. We are all aware that we drink it as a “wake-up” stimulant or because it’s a habit we’ve grown used to and so has become part of our daily ritual. But do you know that the effect it has on us, particularly that first cup, is far more complex than that. An article in Inc.com by Contributing Editor, Geoffrey James, explains why the first cup of coffee is the best of the day; why it seems to taste better than any later ones and how everything associated with it, leading up to
THERE are many causes of dysuria, painful urination that are not related to an infection.
recurrent dysuria post sexual intercourse and urinary tract infections and vaginal microtears are a potential cause as is urinary tract infection caused by bacteria transferred from the region of the anus into the vagina. 8) PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder PID starts with an infection in the vagina or cervix that ascends into the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. Symptoms may include painful urination, urethral pain, pelvic and abdominal pain, possible fever and chills, abnormal vaginal discharge and painful sexual intercourse. The causes of dysuria, painful urination are numerous. Many men and women wrongly assume that each episode of painful urination is an urinary tract infection, although an urinary tract infection should be investigated as a cause. Urinary tract infections are often inadequately treated as commonly prescribed antibiotics fail to eradicate resistant bacteria. Recurrent episodes of painful urination should be investigated by an urologist so that the cause can be determined and the appropriate management can be employed. If an urinary tract infection is the cause of recurrent dysuria then a functional or anatomical abnormality must be ruled out as the precipitating cause of the urinary tract infection. An obstructive prostate or
THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...
ETHAN QUANT
HEALTH COACH
commit that this year (the new year) will be different. Trust me I know this cycle all too well. And I am not here to lecture you I do want to give you some tips that I use even now to help me navigate the eating, I mean holiday season. Be Active – we know that physical activity is a very important part of living a healthy and fit lifestyle so one of the things you want to do is to be physically active. If you currently exercise, then you want to keep up
your routine throughout the holiday season. If you don’t, now is the perfect time to start because by the time New Year comes you will have gotten into the swing of things. Practice Mindful Eating – I have spoken about mindful eating before, this time it’s especially important. You can enjoy without over indulging and that is really what we want to avoid. No, you don’t have to go on a diet, but you do want to be mindful of what and how much you
are consuming. It’s very easy to over eat during this time of year, so be mindful. Have a plan – This is important you know what your social calendar is like and you know the parties, dinners and events you will be attending during this festive season. Having a plan can help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals, even if you deviate from it, at least you have a plan. Those really are my top three trips for navigating the season, but you want
to have guilt free fun. So please be safe, be mindful, and let’s finish the year off strong. If you need help navigating this or any other part of your health wellness and fitness journey, please feel free to reach out to me directly. You can contact me at ethan@elite-wellnesssolutions.com or on Instagram at @ethanquant. • Health Coach Ethan Quant, of Elite Wellness Solutions, has succeeded in his weight loss journey and now wants to share his methods with The Bahamas in an effort to foster a culture of wellness and conquer the obesity epidemic.
delivering pleasure. He states that neuroscience posits five identifiable stages which set off a chain reaction in the brain’s pleasure centre. These are: 1. Anticipation: as soon as you start thinking about making it, or picking it up on the way to work, your endocrine system releases dopamine (the ‘pleasure’ hormone) and you start feeling good. 2. Preparation: Because you associate coffee with pleasure or satisfaction, taking the actions of preparing it, smelling the aroma or running out to get it, creates a Pavlovian response according to the Journal of Social Science and these actions release more dopamine into your system. 3. Aroma: This is my favourite - long before I was a coffee drinker I used to love the smell of it. Smell is our strongest sense often reminding us of past experiences, so no surprise that
smells set off powerful brain triggers. According to the clinical analysis in The Journal of The American Chemical Society, the smell of coffee “orchestrates the expression of more than a dozen genes and changes in protein expressions”. 4. Drinking: Our bodies absorb caffeine quickly so it takes only a few minutes to reach the brain where it attaches itself to the part of the neurons which normally attract adenosine, the hormone which makes us sleepy. When the coffee reaches our brain, it reacts to the absence of the sleep inducing adenosine by releasing glutamate, a neuro transmitter that increases our ability to learn and remember and so we feel instantly more alert and wakeful. 5. Afterglow: Right after the first cup of coffee is when we attain our peak performance level contrasting with the feeling when we first wake up feeling
slightly groggy because our brains are full of adenosine. It’s this point of difference between the waking up and the fast-acting effect of the first cup which makes it so powerful. Subsequent coffee intake will still keep us awake and functioning well but lacks the same noticeable impact of the first cup. And you thought it was just a cup of Java? Who knew a cup of coffee was so simple yet complex? But now there’s a decision to be made. If we know that the first cup is the best for peak performance we should take advantage of that which means we have to decide the optimum time for drinking it. Do we want to squander that burst of energy first thing in the morning, getting out of the house, or driving, maybe answering e.mails, dropping the children to school - or should we save it till we get to work and have something more significant
to put our minds to, such as writing a report, going to a meeting or motivating others. Because I am an early morning person with good energy at that time, I find myself craving my one cup of the day later around 10 am. or 10.30am. which gives me a good boost to keep working. As we all have different metabolisms and substance tolerances, some can drink coffee all day and still go to bed and fall asleep while others like me will have a problem because I would become too wakeful and that state lasts until bedtime. Choose your moments wisely now that you understand the intricacies of coffee and the power of that first cup. For the most beneficial outcome choose your moment and make it work for you. • For more information contact 242-467-1178 victoria.conversations@gmail. com or log onto www.lifelineswritingservice.com
THE TRIBUNE
She’s only nine but Isabella’s doing her bit for Dorian relief By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net NINE-year-old Isabella Holcombe is already learning how to be an entrepreneur with a philanthropic touch. Over the past few weeks the youngster has been making and selling rubber band bracelets, with proceeds going to Hurricane Dorian relief. Tara Klonaris Holcombe, Isabell’s mother, said her daughter was moved to create the bracelets and raise funds after seeing the destruction caused by Dorian. “Some people were saying don’t let your kids see a lot of videos because it will affect them and it will be heart wrenching. But I wanted them to see how sad and horrible it was. I wanted them to see that they needed to be thankful everyday for what they have because it can be taken away like that and it can happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter who you are,” she told Tribune Woman. After seeing how many people were left without their homes, clothing, food, water and other basic essentials Isabella wanted to help in even the smallest way. “About a couple weeks ago she was at her friend’s house and they made friendship bracelets. She got into it once again because this is sort of an old fad. “Then another friend of mine gave her a bunch of
the rubber bands recently. I suggested that we created the bracelets in the Bahamian colours. She went and did it,” Mrs Holcombe said. One Facebook post of Isabella’s creations started a wave of inquiries from people willing to buy. “I seriously thought she would create 20 bracelets, sell them and go about her day. All of sudden people started requesting the bracelets in bulks of 20 and 40,” she said. Since beginning this venture last month the third grade St Andrews student has sold 127 bracelets raising a total of $280. And the orders continue to mount. “Isabella still has 83 bracelets on order to fill,” she said. “It has been a bit worrisome because there are not any loom bands on the island to make the bracelets. Someone told me that I can find them online. We are looking to bring those in to complete the current orders we have.” Though she has found herself pairing black aquamarine, and gold rubber bands together to create the bracelet, Tara said he has made a point to keep a safe distance because the venture is predominantly her daughter’s. “She forced me to learn. I made a couple with her one night. But I try to let her do it because it is her project. I want her to feel like she has done it. “I have taken her to people’s houses to sell them. She gets excited to make the exchange with people and collect the
Tuesday, October 15, 2019, PAGE 11
money. I wanted her to feel like this is her thing,” she said. “I am writing down the orders and keeping track of sales and how much money we have accumulated. She is the one actually making them and selling them to her friends, other students and teachers at her school as well.” All proceeds go to Dorian Relief, Mrs Holcombe said. Once a final count of the funds has been made, they will team up with their church to see how best to uses the money. “We are not keeping any of it,” she said. “Our Greek church has put up 12 people in an apartment that they have renovated. They have asked all in the community to for beds, bedding, coffee pots, food and things for the apartment obviously. So we are trying to get things for that. “It is going to take theses people months get back to find a job. They may not have their next meal, or for their children. They need some normalcy and whatever we can provide like food. “This isn’t ending at all and that is why I want to get the word out there. Things have been getting kind of quiet out there and you are wondering if people are doing anything. But this is a long journey for Abaco and Grand Bahama and they are going to need every help.” For more information contact tkholcombe@ gmail.com.
SCHOLARSHIP IN HONOUR OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN THE legacy of renowned preschool educator the late Helen “Annie” Russell is being kept alive through a memorial scholarship at the University of The Bahamas, thanks to her son, Dr Barry Russell and his family. Dr Russell, accompanied by his wife, Missy Russell, son Logan, daughter Raegan and his sister, Barbara Mullings, recently signed a memorandum of understanding for the $25,000 “Helen “Annie” Russell MBE Memorial Scholarship Award. This award will fund higher education for a deserving student enrolled in the Early Childhood Education programme at UB. During the signing ceremony, Dr Russell spoke fondly of his mother, who was a compassionate preschool educator and philanthropist, while highlighting the fact that he is who he is today, because of the investment his parents made in his education. “This warms my heart to be able to do this in honour of my dear mother who I am so indebted to for all of my accomplishments and success. She was an excellent example, along with my father, of being good stewards of resources and the need and importance of nation building and giving back, especially to those who were less fortunate,” shared Dr Russell.
UNIVERSITY President Dr Rodney D Smith and the Russell family sign the memorandum of understanding launching a scholarship in honour of Helen “Annie” Russell. Upon reflection of for students with needs sentiments of her husband, and we expect our children six weeks to five years old. his mother’s life and her who want to study early Mrs Russell thanked the to carry on this legacy. It She was also the founder impact, he felt the need childhood education – her university for the part- won’t be an option, it will of the Miss Hal Jackson Talto establish a legacy that passion. nership and echoed his be mandated.” ented Teen pageant and was would not only be sustained “And so, it gives us great mandate to their children. University president Dr awarded an MBE in 1996. by him, but his children as pride - and I brought my She said: “First of all, I Rodney Smith thanked the Today, Annie’s Nursery well. children with me because I would like to thank UB for Russell family. and Pre-School remains Dr Russell expressed want them to see what I am giving us this opportunity He said: “I would like to a pillar in the Bahamian his family’s commitment, doing, so that this could be to partner with them. Mum thank the Russell family, community and is managed saying: “She was a humble a legacy and they can con- Russell would be humbled led by Dr Barry Russell, for by her daughter, Barbara woman and I didn’t realise tinue this even after we’re by this gesture. We are all choosing to partner with us Mullings, and her daughterthe impact she was having gone - because they have advocates of this university. and investing in the Univer- in-law, Jesse Russell. at that time. to understand that it is “Our eldest daughter, sity of The Bahamas and its It was “Annie’s” passion “She has been gone for 13 important to give back and Lauren graduated from students.” to encourage all students to years now and in reflection, we don’t have a choice, we this wonderful institution Helen “Annie” Russell realise their potential and I felt the need to honour are mandated to do so and and she could have gone started Annie’s Nursery and the establishment of this her with partnering with I wanted them to witness anywhere, but she chose Pre-School in the late 1950s scholarship will help many University of The Bahamas this.” to graduate from the Uni- in the Wilton Street area, young aspiring early childin providing scholarships Reiterating the versity of The Bahamas; catering to children from hood educators do just that.
SECTION B
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019
Everyone’s a winner if mums follow ‘breast By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net OVER THE years with research linking breastfeeding to better behaviour in adults, the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA) is doing its part once again to ensure more Bahamian babies are breastfed. Never mind the myths and misinformation surrounding the horrors of getting your baby to “latch on”, Trineka Hall, president of the BNBA, said the goal is to become more educated on the issue before making a permanent decision to not do it at all. “We offer classes in the government and private settings if mothers need the information on knowing how to latch the baby on properly,” said the registered nurse. “If you feel pain when breastfeeding, you would have to detach the baby and put the baby back on the breast properly. If you only have the nipple in the mouth you will feel slight pain. “It is all a learning experience and it is very important for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants and young children for the first six months then continue thereafter with complimentary foods.”
She went on to say exclusive breastfeeding would mean no bottles, pacifiers, formula, cereal, juice or water should be given to the infant. Only after the infant becomes six months - water and other foods can be added to the diet. “Exclusively breastfeeding your babies would reduce the risk of illnesses such as diarrhoea, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, lower the risk of childhood diabetes, cancer, ear infections, and more,” she said. “For the mother, it would reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, allows organs to involute quickly, lower the risk of postpartum depression, and more. Everyone wins when exclusive breastfeeding is practiced.” In recognition of National Breastfeeding Week, the BNBA kicked off its events last Tuesday with a number of outreach activities. The month of events continues with various workshops, church services, presentations to new mums and yesterday hosted an
TRINEKA HALL, president of the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association, pictured left with a young mother, is helping to educate women on breastfeeding. This month, events included an umbrellathon pushathon with supporters walking with umbrellas.
“Umbrellathon Push-AThon” in which mothers, babies and BNBA supporters walked with umbrellas shielding them from the sun. The only requirement for participants is to have the umbrellas decorated with themes that promote breastfeeding.