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Volume:118 No.10, DECEMBER 4, 2020
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
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Friday, November 20, 2020 photography film garden ing history entertainment puzzles animals
A COMIC’S VIEW: WHO’LL TAKE FINANCE MINISTRY HOT POTATO?
FILM FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL Page 10
Create change
SO MANY IN NEED Movement looks to lift creati ve
community
pgs 08 + 09
Food parcels giveaway swamped as desperate queue from dawn for aid By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THOUSANDS travelled to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium to collect a box of food and supplies at Island Luck’s IL Cares food drive yesterday, blocking roads for miles in every direction in a bracing showcase of the scale of need in the country. The give-away was supposed to start at noon but kicked off at 8.30am instead because lines of cars began crowding the streets as early as 5.15am. Brian Huylar, the company’s senior facilities manager, said he didn’t know the depth of need in
the country until he saw how many people showed up for items. “I want to think that people are just stocking up,” he said. “I would hate to think that so many people just need food. It speaks volumes, what we saw today.” Mr Huylar said between 3,000 and 4,000 boxes were distributed. By noon all the boxes were gone, yet a stream of cars continued arriving at the stadium up to 3pm, with many people disappointed that they missed out on the donation after waiting hours in their cars. SEE PAGES TWO AND THREE
CHRISTIE KEEPING CLEAR OF CANDIDATE SELECTION
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie says he will support whomever the Progressive Liberal Party chooses as the candidate for the Centreville constituency in the 2022 general election. Mr Christie represented the inner-city constituency for 40 years before he was defeated in the 2017 election by then Free National Movement MP Reece Chipman, who has since become an independent representative. Yesterday, Mr Christie said it was critical for him not to become personally involved in the process now underway. To do so, he said, could be easily “misunderstood”,
adding it was important the PLP’s leadership be given the opportunity to lead as they see fit. “I will support whomever the PLP and the leadership of the PLP agrees with, whoever that person is,” Mr Christie said yesterday, when asked if he planned to endorse any candidate in the lead up to the election. “One of the things I try to avoid is getting personally involved because it is very easy for my involvement to be misunderstood. “Then rumours start about my involvement and I was trying at all times to avoid that to give the new leadership an opportunity to lead the party the way they see fit.” SEE PAGE TWO
BOXES of food and supplies being handed out at the IL Cares food drive yesterday - with thousands of people showing up in need of help as the economic effects of the pandemic continue to hit hard. Photo: Donovan McIntosh
ROMY’S GRIEF AS TEENAGE SON FOUND DEAD AT HOME By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE teenage son of Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira died yesterday of suspected suicide, according to police. Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters told the press outside the Ferreira home: “Sometime after 2pm today’s date, police received reports of a body being found unresponsive here at the Ferreira residence. The officers responded. When they arrived, they were directed to a room where
they found the body of a juvenile male lying on the ground unresponsive. “EMS was called in and performed CPR, however they were not successful in resuscitating the juvenile. The coroner visited the scene and the investigations into this matter continues.” ASP Peters said based on the investigator’s analysis, there were no visible signs of injury on the body. He said the victim is between the ages 13 and 18. The boy was found in his room. A distraught Mr Ferreira was seen outside his home SEE PAGE FOUR
PEOPLE TRAFFICKERS USING BAHAMAS AS TRANSIT ROUTE By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said there has been an increase in recent years of females being transported through The Bahamas for sexual and domestic exploitation. He made the comments as a panelist in an IDB-sponsored Latin America and Caribbean webinar on human trafficking yesterday. “We in The Bahamas recognise that globally,
approximately 71 percent of enslaved humans are women and girls,” Mr Dames said. “In recent years there has been an increase in female victims being transported and/ or transited through The Bahamas for sexual and domestic exploitation, particularly from non-English speaking countries. “The act of trafficking transcends our respective borders, languages and cultures, which is a strong indicator that all nations in the region must prioritise this dehumanising industry. SEE PAGE SEVEN
JUDGES GRANT APPEAL IN BLAIR KILLING By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who was sentenced to 49 years for breaking into a couple’s home and killing their adult son during a 2014 Blair home invasion has been granted an appeal against his conviction. Submissions will be heard later about a possible retrial. Tiano D’Haiti was accused of entering the
TIANO D’HAITI Blair Estates residence of Glenn and Emma Cartwright in the early morning hours of October 28, 2014. The prosecution alleged the appellant and another
person, in the course of committing a robbery, shot and killed the couple’s son Robert Andre Cartwright. In 2017, a jury unanimously convicted D’Haiti of murder, attempted armed robbery and burglary and in April 2018, he was sentenced to 49 years imprisonment, 25 years imprisonment and 20 years imprisonment respectively. The sentences were ordered
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SEVEN
HONOURING A MAN WHO LOVED LIFE
SEE PAGE NINE
PAGE 2, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
So many in need from page one
SOME of the people receiving help at the IL Cares event yesterday.
Photos: Donovan McIntosh
“We had a full turnout, more than we anticipated,” Mr Huyler said. “We were supposed to start at 12ish. However, at quarter to five this morning we had lines to the street on Thompson Boulevard wrapping around and I think the police made the call (for us to start) so we could get the people off the street. We had to reroute everything in here so we could get them off the street.” A typical box contained sugar, cream, sardines, cornflakes, grits, hand sanitizers and face masks. IL Cares will host another food drive during the next two Thursdays. “People were very receptive,” Mr Huyler said. “They were very grateful, smiles were on their faces, people wanted more. I’ve
seen cars circle around and come back another time. We turned no one away. We just required that they get one box at a time.” Some of the people who showed up expecting the event to kick off at noon told The Tribune they were disappointed that they got nothing after waiting, in some cases, for more than two hours. Anthony Mackey, 43, said he has five children and three grandchildren to take care of but has worked part-time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I been in the line for a half an hour or more, I had to come around because Bacardi Road line look way longer than this (sic),” he said. “Things are so slow sometimes that it’s rare I get called to come into work and it’s hard for me with the little funds that I have saved up, they’re taking
a beating and you got to have something because you have kids and anything is liable to happen and you need to have money for certain situation. “I can’t be depleting my funds. I have nothing left for myself to take care of my emergency medical funds,” he said. Darren Basden, 53, said he wished he followed his instinct to come out earlier. “I did hear that stuff was running out,” he said, “and I say time I reach there ain’ gon’ be none left and that’s just what happened. I should’ve come this morning.” After being told the event had ended, one man said he was disappointed in the government, not Island Luck. “I ain’ worrying about no web shops,” he said, “they’re doing the best they could.”
CHRISTIE KEEPING CLEAR OF CANDIDATE SELECTION from page one Mr Christie won 1,905 votes but it was not enough to clinch victory over Mr Chipman, a first
time MP, who received 1,909 votes. There have been several candidates vying for an opportunity to be the PLP’s standard bearer for Centreville in 2022.
The Tribune understands that attorney Jomo Campbell is the front runner in the eyes of the branch, but the process for selecting a candidate is not yet complete.
Realtor and business woman Reneika Knowles is also an aspirant candidate for the constituency. Ms Knowles is one of the PLP’s vice chairmen and represented the party
in the 2017 general election for the Killarney seat against Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. In that race she won 19 percent of the votes with 1,092. However, Dr Minnis received more
than 70 percent, with 4,186 votes cast for him. The Democratic National Alliance’s leader Arinthia Komolafe received 455 votes or seven percent of the voters in Killarney.
THE TRIBUNE
He said he was in traffic from 9.15am. He left the stadium area around 1pm empty-handed. Fifty-eight-year-old Delorese Major said she was in need even before the pandemic. She said taking
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 3
care of her 87-year-old grandmother is demanding. “I’m working, but what I’m making isn’t enough,” she said. “This my first time ever picking up food or anything like this.” The government
launched its own food assistance programme, which has partnered with local NGOs, earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase one of the government’s emergency initiative
ended on October 31 while phase two—which has a tightened focus on the “most vulnerable”— is underway and is expected to end at the end of this month. More than 55,000
households across the country registered for assistance in phase one. During the first phase, June through September, a combined $18.82m was spent on the programme with the government
bearing 85 percent of the cost and task force NGOs contributing the remainder. In November, $10m was allocated for the second phase of the National Food Distribution Task Force programme.
...AND MORE HELPED AT MT OLIVE OVER the past nine months, Mt Olive Baptist Church, in partnership with the Bain Grants Town Advancement Association, has distributed over 11,000 food packages under the “Feeding Bain Grants Town” project. The initiative was launched to help those in need during these tough times. The most recent distribution took place at Mt Olive where over 200 packages were distributed.
3,000 GRAND BAHAMA RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT ON FUTURE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A PUBLIC engagement survey launched by REEF (Revitalisation and Economic Expansion of Freeport) has received “robust” and “invaluable” responses from over 3,000 residents on Grand Bahama concerning the future direction of the island. The survey is part of the consultation process to find out what Grand Bahamians are concerned about and would like to see happen to stimulate and revitalise Freeport’s economy. There were 3,162 responses to the survey over a 24-hour period. According to the results, respondents identified diversification of the economy, the need
for protection against the impact of hurricanes, and the creation of world-class healthcare facilities, among other things. In an effort to move away from over-dependence on tourism, it was felt that there should be enhanced opportunities for investment in agriculture, maritime and logistics, light industry, healthcare, and the education sectors. Some of the other suggestions include: to enable businesses through enhanced funding, training and mentoring, and provide protection from unfair competition from foreign-owned entities; create significant new entrepreneurial and better-quality employment opportunities; address the issue of derelict buildings
GOVERNMENT HONOURS DAY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THE government said it salutes members of the disabled community for their contributions to Bahamian society as the world marked the 28th International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly, and it aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. “The Bahamas is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is pleased to play its part in the observance of this important day,” a press release noted.
“The observance will also be marked with a week devoted to the concerns of those with disabilities. In the words of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, “As the world recovers from the pandemic, we must ensure that the aspirations and rights of persons with disabilities are included and accounted for in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world. “This vision will only be achieved through active consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.” In its release, the government said it “salutes members of the disabled community for their contribution and innovations in society. “We encourage their full inclusion in and full accessibility to all aspects of development.”
in Freeport; support for a ‘blue economy’, which refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem; support from licensees and property owners specifically, for measures such as extending real property tax (RPT) and other exemptions, and waiving work permit requirements for expatriates visiting Freeport for business. REEF was launched by the Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited (GBPA) earlier this year. According to a statement, the key priorities are to stimulate, activate and lead growth and change by engaging with Grand Bahamians and the government
to support and implement action plans for short term stability, and medium to long-term growth, sustainability, financial health and the return of a thriving Freeport economy. Robert Adams, consultant attorney at Delaney Partners and REEF Committee lead, was very pleased with the responses. “The robustness of responses to REEF’s consultation exercise, combined with the broad representation of the REEF Committee itself, has resulted in actionable, relevant and impactful content that we can really work with,” said Mr Adams. “The results are a reflection of what the people of Grand Bahama care about, are concerned about, and want to see progress on.”
The REEF Committee invited input to its public engagement survey over a 24-day period, and attracted 3,162 responses, the statement said. The full text of the report can be found at www.reef. gbpa.com. “The thoughtful, invaluable input received from a broad spectrum of Freeport’s residents and business owners has provided the committee with a true representation of Grand Bahamians’ perspectives,” said Sarah St. George, GBPA’s acting chairman. “Over the past several weeks, members of the REEF Committee have met with the government of The Bahamas to discuss proposed amendments to environmental regulation and enhancements to the
investment policy to enable ease of doing business, among other topics. The recommendations from the public are complementary to the government’s priorities, so we know there is significant support behind these pivotal goals.” The REEF Committee comprises some 24 members, which includes representation from the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) in addition to a broad range of Freeport’s business leaders. Lawrence Palmer, GBCC 2nd vice president, said REEF will review and discuss the results of the public consultation exercise, and draft action plans that will move Grand Bahama and Freeport toward “our goal of a stable, sustainable and financially robust island.”
"Girl Guides Around the Bahamas participate in First Virtual Carol SERVICE” Join the Bahamas Girl Guides Association on Sunday,6th December, 2006 at 3:00 pm on ZNS TV 211 for their first ever virtual Carol Service. Sunflowers, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and leaders from Grand Bahama, Abaco, New Providence. and Exuma will share with the nation their thoughts on the Blessings of Christmas. While the Association has been challenged by Hurricane Dorian and the many restrictions imposed by COVID 19, they recognized that the home, family, friends were constant and important in their lives. At Christmas time, the blessings of the angels, shepherds, and the wisemen always bring a message of peace, joy and love. Father David Cooper of Mary Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, Freeport will explain why Jesus is the main blessing of Christmas. Our girls will send individual greetings."
PAGE 4, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Romy’s grief as teenage son found dead at home from page one as his son’s body was carried away by authorities in the quiet Oxford Drive neighbourhood in eastern New Providence. ASP Peters encouraged Bahamians to find ways to cope with challenges to avoid hurting themselves. “It certainly has been a very overwhelming couple of months and we encourage persons who may be feeling pressured to take a second look,” he said. “Take a second step back and consider their options. Whether it be financial pressure, emotional pressure, pressure from relatives, there is always someone they can find to talk to.
“If that option is not available to them, they can also do things like go to the beach, self-talk or practice the art of moment meditations, where they use candle lights and quiet their minds down to assist them to deal with the day’s event and not to project themselves and their lives too far into the future because the truth is we can only handle the matters of the day so we encourage individuals to practice some form of self-meditation, self-encouragement to deal with the pressures they are feeling at this time.” If you are in distress, you can contact the Red Cross’ support hotline at 828-4121.
THE SCENE of the tragedy yesterday.
Photo: Donovan McIntosh
STUDY SHOWS TOOTHPASTE AND MOUTHWASH EFFECT ON VIRUS STUDIES in a Colgate clinical research programme have shown that toothpastes containing
zinc or stannous and mouthwash formulas with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) can neutralise the
TOTAL CASES
virus that causes COVID19 by 99.9 percent. According to a press release from Colgate,
TOTAL DEATHS
7,565 163
NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES THURSDAY 16 CASES NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA
8 8
WEDNESDAY
6 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE GRAND BAHAMA
TOTAL TESTS
44,273
4 2
HOSPITALISED
16
CASES IN ICU
0
RECOVERED
5,976
this research programme includes clinical studies among infected people to assess the efficacy of oral care products in reducing the amount of the virus in the mouth, potentially slowing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. During the laboratory studies, Colgate Total and Meridol toothpastes were the first to neutralise 99.9 percent of the virus after two minutes of contact. Colgate mouthwashes Plax and Total were similarly effective after 30 seconds. Completed in October, the studies were conducted in partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s (NJMS) Public Health Research Institute and Regional Biosafety Laboratories. “We’re at the early stages of our clinical investigations, but our preliminary laboratory and clinical results are very promising,” said Dr Maria Ryan, Colgate’s chief clinical officer, in a press release. “While brushing and rinsing are not a treatment or a way to fully protect an individual from infection, they may help to reduce transmission and slow the spread of the virus, supplementing the benefit we get from wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing. “Colgate is collaborating with numerous investigators
throughout the globe to conduct clinical research to explore the potential of oral care products to reduce oral viral loads as a risk reduction strategy. We think oral care has a role to play in fighting the global pandemic, alongside other preventive measures.” The programme’s results show that some toothpastes and mouthwashes may assist with reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID19, by temporarily reducing the amount of virus in the mouth. COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets or small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr David Alland, chief of infectious diseases and director of the Center for COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, who led the Rutgers NJMS study along with colleagues Drs. Pradeep Kumar and Riccardo Russo, explained how the virus works and how it can be deterred by dental hygiene products. “Given that saliva can contain amounts of virus that are comparable to that found in the nose and throat, it seems likely that SARS-CoV-2 virus originating in the mouth contributes to disease
transmission, especially in persons with asymptomatic COVID-19, who are not coughing,” he said. “This suggests that reducing virus in the mouth could help prevent transmission during the time that oral care products are active.” Colgate sponsored a clinical study, concurrent to the laboratory study, which involves some 50 hospitalised subjects with COVID-19. This study demonstrated the ability of three Colgate mouthwashes to drastically reduce the amount of the virus in the mouth on a temporary basis. Dr Mark Wolff, Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is excited about the research’s results. “With this pandemic, the more we understand about the virus, the more effective we can be in fighting it, so I am excited to see the impressive research programme Colgate has undertaken,” Dr Wolff said. “We need to continue to take the precautions recommended by health authorities, and with these studies we may demonstrate an additional way to address the transmission of disease among people in close contact, particularly in dental practice. That would be an important advance.”
BLAZE AT RESTVIEW MORTUARY By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter Dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
FIRE officials at the Royal Bahamas Police Force responded to a fire at Restview Memorial Mortuary on Thursday evening that resulted in minor damage to the crematorium. According to eyewitness reports, the incident occurred sometime after 5pm when the casing around the smoke stack/ chimney on the roof caught fire during a cremation process. Keith McSweeney, the owner of Restview, told The
Tribune that they were in the process of cremating a body at the time when the fire occurred. “We called the fire department. The fire occurred in cremation room off from the chapel, and that is where the damage occurred; it was just to the stack, and there was no damage anywhere else,” he said. “We were cremating somebody and normally you get smoke coming from the stack, but it probably got overheated and fire caught onto the casing around it,” explained Mr McSweeney. He assured that there was no damage to any other
section of the building. Mr McSweeney said rumors that the funeral home had burned down and that all the bodies were burned up is not true. In a video post on social media, an employee, speaking on behalf of Restview, assured persons via WhatsApp video post that the bodies of their loved ones are safe. “We had a little incident at crematorium, no place else in the funeral home and so your loved are safe. We want to thank the Royal Bahamas Police and the Fire Department for responding quickly and swiftly,” said the spokesman.
FIREFIGHTERS at the scene last night.
MAN HELD MINISTRY: NO CONSULS OWED MONEY OVER GUN BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter Dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A FREEPORT man has been arrested in connection with the recovery of a highpowered assault weapon that was found in bushes, near a public school earlier this week. Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported that officers of the Predator Unit proceeded to Schooner Lane, South Bahamia, shortly after 11am on Thursday where they arrested a male for assault with a deadly weapon. Investigations are continuing into the matter.
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says there are no Bahamian honorary consuls who are currently owed money in response to messages circulating on social media about the termination of some of these officials in various countries. “At least one of the messages claims that the termination has caused them financial hardship and they are owed monies by the government,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “The ministry wishes to inform that provisions for the appointment of honorary consuls are made in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Governments tend to use such persons to represent
them if they do not have full-fledged diplomatic or consular representation established in a country. “They may be nationals of the country that appoints them, or they may be nationals of the country in which they reside. Honorary consuls are usually persons of means and influence in the country where they reside, and they perform their services free of charge, ie, they are not paid a salary. “In exceptional cases, a government may pay a nominal stipend to help support their offices, depending on the volume of work and activity in the jurisdiction where they are located. “In the case of The Bahamas, the vast majority of
the honorary consuls provide their services free of charge. There is a very small number of them to whom the government provides a small stipend because of the volume or nature of the work in their jurisdictions. There are no Bahamian honorary consuls to whom monies are owed at this time.” The ministry said a comprehensive audit was recently undertaken of the honorary consuls appointed by the country and it was determined that some posts would be retained, and others not. “The ministry is satisfied that all proper steps have been taken with respect to the honorary consuls serving The Bahamas overseas.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 5
‘We want justice’ says family after man is gunned down By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE family of a man who was shot dead off Kemp Road yesterday afternoon say they want justice for their loved one’s killing. Alfred Bastian Jr, aka “Halfman”, 33, became the country’s latest murder victim yesterday after he was fatally wounded during a shooting incident outside a home in Cooper’s Terrace. Speaking to reporters at the scene, police press liaison officer ASP Audley Peters said sometime around noon, police responded to gunshots in the Cooper’s Terrace area by way of the Shot Spotter alert system. Upon arrival, officers were directed to a home where they found the body of a man lying face down in a yard, with gunshot injuries to the body. Paramedics were called but pronounced the victim dead at the scene. “Preliminary information is that a group of persons were gathered in front of the residence when a small vehicle approached them,” ASP Peters added. “Four males exited the vehicle armed with firearms. These males then discharged the weapons in the direction of the persons and one of the males they struck succumbed to his injuries on scene.” ASP Peters could not say whether the victim was
THE FATHER of Alfred Bastian Jr at the scene. known to the police nor confirm whether any other individuals had been shot during yesterday’s incident. However, he said officials were confident that all details surrounding the country’s latest homicide would soon be gathered. “At the moment, the senior investigator has sent some of his officers to gather information at another site and we are very confident that this matter will be brought to a closure,” he said. While the victim’s identity was not released to police, relatives identified him as Alfred Bastian, Jr. He was described as a nice person who was helpful to everyone in the community. “One thing I could say about him is if he have a dollar, you could get 50 cent out of that. Every
THE BODY of Alfred Bastian Jr is taken away from the scene. Christmas, he made sure all his little nieces and nephews them get their little gifts every Christmas,” his aunt Melzore Bowe said. Her comments were echoed by Alfred’s father, Mr Bastian, who was visibly distraught when speaking with reporters at the scene. “He could do anything what you want him to do,” he said. “The last time I see him he come out and bathe off and do everything
and later on when I heard, it was a crash… that’s all I know.” Asked if his son had children, he replied: “Yes, he mussy have, I stop counting.” Relatives said Alfred’s death has dealt a tough blow to the family and they want justice. “When I heard about it, I was coming from work and I fall out because they bring me home and all and
Photos: Donovan McIntosh that was my good nephew,” his aunt said. “He don’t get in trouble with nobody. He don’t do anyone wrong. He loved to help people but I don’t know who shoot it but whoever do it, I hope God be with them.” Alfred’s murder comes a week after a man was shot dead and a woman left in hospital during a shooting incident in Hepburn Alley. Asked whether police are following any significant
leads into Thursday’s incident, ASP Peters replied: “At the moment, the senior investigator has sent some of his officers to gather information at another site and we are very confident that this matter will be brought to a closure.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Detective Unit on 502-9991/2, Crime Stoppers on 328-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.
POLICE SHOOT MAN AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE A HIGH-SPEED chase ended with one suspect in hospital last night after being shot by police. The shooting happened after officers of a COVID19 enforcement unit came across two vehicles at the junction of Carmichael and Gladstone Roads firing gunshots at each other. One of the vehicles opened fire on the COVID unit and sped off which led to a high speed chase involving a number of other police vehicles. Assistant Superintendent of Police Audley Peters at the scene last night said: “Shortly before 9pm officers from the COVID-19 enforcement unit while on routine patrols in the area
of Gladstone and Carmichael Roads, observed two vehicles discharging gunshots towards each other. “The occupant of one of the vehicles then discharged a firearm at the officers. A chase ensued and while this chase continued police control was informed and other units were alerted. “The vehicle evaded the enforcement officers.” Minutes later, however, another police vehicle intercepted a car matching the description In the St Vincent Road area. The fleeing vehicle again opened fire before crashing into a signpost. Pursuing officers approached the scene as the driver emerged armed
with a gun at which police opened fire. ASP Peters said: “While the suspect was attempting to exit the vehicle, he brandished a firearm and officers, being in fear for their lives, discharged their weapons at the suspect, hitting him. “EMS was called in. The suspect was transported to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition at this time.” He added: “There were no injuries to the officers. However, one of our vehicles was damaged by gunfire.” The injured suspect was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where his condition is stable.
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SPEAK TO EU ABOUT REMOVAL FROM BLACKLIST By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel is expected to make recommendations to European finance officials today on the way forward concerning the country’s removal from the European blacklist. Mr Bethel made the revelation during yesterday’s Senate meeting as he requested for the upper chamber to be adjourned to 11am today instead of its usual 10am start time, due to his scheduled meetings with several European ministers about the nation’s international financial standing. He said such diplomatic talks will extend into all of next week. Mr Bethel said yesterday: “I have a series of phone calls with European ministers of finance and other persons involved in order to address with each individual minister starting tomorrow and continuing all of next week to address and put forward the best case for The Bahamas for our removal from the European Union’s blacklist. “And so, it’s an opportunity for us to begin to establish person to person contact at the ministerial level but also technical officers contact at the technical officers levels with individual companies in
Europe that we do not have that sort of close contact with at the present time.” He added: “Just to make it clear, all of our officials have close contact with countries such as France whether its intense collaboration or cooperation going on right now and we look forward to France having a positive view of The Bahamas in short order hopefully. “We have very close contact with the UK. We have developing contacts with Italy, Spain and the major powers in Western Europe so this outreach is for a lot of the other ministerial countries where they have no familiarity with the Bahamas so we could go to forge direct bilateral contact.” In early October, the European Union confirmed The Bahamas’ inclusion on a list of nations deemed to have deficiencies in their anti-financial crime defences, which makes it “high risk”. In response, The Bahamas’ embassy to the EU said it had “exhausted all diplomatic channels” in trying to persuade an “intransigent” 27-nation bloc not to proceed in naming this nation. It added that the EU is applying standards more stringent than the FATF, the recognised global authority on anti-money laundering and counter
terror financing, for The Bahamas to escape its list. “The EU Commission in identifying ‘high risk’ third countries employs a twoprong methodology which is firstly premised on countries identified by the FATF and, secondly, countries will be assessed autonomously by the EU,” the Bahamian embassy said. “Taking into account the employed methodology, The Bahamas by extension was predisposed to its inscription on the list of ‘high-risk third countries’ as a result of the FATF listing. The EU, in its identification process of ‘high-risk third countries’, has also stipulated the format for consideration to be given for a country to be delisted. “Firstly, a country initially identified by the FATF and having taken the necessary corrective measures is delisted by the FATF. Secondly, the EU will undertake an assessment and confirmation of the information from the FATF, and thirdly, countries assessed autonomously by the EU will undergo three stages of analysis which will include information from the FATF and other sources for delisting to occur.” “As a nation, The Bahamas must prepare for a strengthened and coordinated EU approach to preventing money laundering and terrorism financing,” the embassy added.
THE SMASHED vehicle after it hit a post.
Photo: Terrell W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
PUBLIC NOTICE 4M HARBOUR ISLAND LTD. EIA SUPPLEMENTAL SUBMISSION The public is advised that on December 3, 2020, a supplemental environmental document for the 4M Harbour Island Ltd. project on Harbour Island, The Bahamas was filed with the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) by Caribbean Coastal Services Ltd. on behalf of 4M Harbour Island Ltd. and 4M Harbour Island 2 Ltd. (collectively, 4M). The document pertains to activities that will include the development of 19.8 acres of land which will be subdivided for residential units. A copy of the supplemental environmental document is available online at www.brilandclubinfo.com. The document can be downloaded from the site, and all comments and questions can be provided to 4M directly in writing at info@brilandclub.com and to the Director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) in writing at inquiries@ depp.gov.bs. If you have trouble accessing the document, please write to info@brilandclub.com. A joint Public meeting will be held on December 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. with DEPP and the Harbour Island District Council. Such joint public meeting will be virtual. Please check the website – www. brilandclubinfo.com - for the meeting link. A hard copy of the document is also available at the office of the Harbour Island District Council on Harbour Island, The Bahamas during its normal business hours.
PAGE 6, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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Don’t look away from those in need WHEN the sun rose yesterday, they were already waiting. Lines of cars crowded the streets outside the Thomas A Robinson from as soon as they could travel without breaking the curfew. At 5.15am, the cars were already there for the food drive by Island Luck’s IL Cares group. The giveaway wasn’t due to start until noon. We talk a lot about the effects of COVID-19 on the economy. Often, it’s a numbers game. Tourism down by this amount. Mortgage debts up by that amount. Talk of the need for disconnections as unpaid bills are racked up at BPL or WSC. It can be hard to get your head around what those numbers mean to people. Yesterday morning gave a visual demonstration of just how desperate people are. Faced with long queues, the IL Cares group lived up to the second part of their name, and started handing out the parcels more than four hours before they had planned. This wasn’t a fortune being handed out – but it may have been worth more than a fortune to those who needed it. A typical box contained sugar, cream, sardines, cornflakes, grits, hand sanitisers and face masks. Just enough to keep alive. One man with five children and three grandchildren said he needed it because he couldn’t deplete the few funds he had from working part time since the pandemic began because he needs it for medical funds. Another woman said she was in need even before the pandemic and was finding caring for her grandmother demanding. We all know in our hearts how desperate some people are in the midst of this crisis, but it’s impossible to deny the evidence of our eyes. The government’s own food assistance programme is due to end at the end of this month. No decision has been
announced yet as to whether it will be extended. For the sake of all those who queued for hours to get a little something to keep them going, that extension could be the difference between life and death.
Human trafficking
Trafficking of women through The Bahamas is on the rise, according to National Security Minister Marvin Dames. In recent years, he says there have been more women trafficked for sex or domestic exploitation, he says. As to what’s being done about it, Mr Dames cited the amendment of legislation in 2017 to further tackle trafficking. It is a complex issue in many ways – crossing borders and affecting thousands of people in the region – though it is not one we hear about often enough. Certainly, we sometimes see cases coming up in court that seem connected to trafficking in some way or another, and sometimes read of interceptions by the RBDF of boats with one Bahamian and a number of foreigners on board. But it’s often a quiet crime, one that carries on in the society around us but is seldom acknowledged. It mostly affects women – and it is timely to acknowledge that with the recent 16 days of activism focusing on violence against women. The authorities can only do so much, of course – and what they need is help from society. We need to call out those who exploit people in this fashion, so often exploiting women. We applaud Mr Dames for addressing the topic as part of an international event – and would encourage him to address it further here at home. This is an issue we should stand together on. There should be no place for the actions of traffickers in our society – and we should be united in refusing to allow them to be tolerated.
Congratulations to Joe Biden EDITOR, The Tribune. I AM glad that Joe Biden was elected to be president of the USA and effectively beat Trump who had repeatedly said Africa was a shit hole. I trust he will use all his strength to make America great again. He shows potential to be a great world leader who cares about American citizens and mends relationships with the world. Joe Biden should use his influence and massive support from African Americans to rebuke and commend African presidents who are corrupt and are destroying their nations like the ZANU PF government in Zimbabwe. We hope that Joe Biden will help African leaders like President Mnangagwa to implement democracy in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans have suffered more devils than the vast hell because of poor leadership and only the influence from outside will help to change the miserable course of Zimbabwe. TAPIWA MUSKWE Stockwell, United Kingdom November 8, 2020.
Is Bahamas becoming a dictatorship? EDITOR, The Tribune. WITH the November 24 declaration of a third state of emergency by Governor General Sir Cornelius Smith, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis now has constitutional authority to impose additional restrictive measures for another six months. In the House of Assembly, Minnis mentioned extending the emergency order to January 31, which would mean that the decision regarding our civil liberties will be solely in the hands of the competent authority during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and perhaps well into the foreseeable future. I have not been following the debate regarding this matter in the House of Assembly. I would assume that the overwhelming majority of Free National Movement (FNM) MPs present during the debate rubber stamped the bill, which has led to criticisms that FNM MPs are whistling past the graveyard with Minnis as competent authority since March. I have been critical of the seeming unilateral governance under Minnis, with the executive and legislative branches of government appearing to be on hiatus. Reading a recent Nassau Guardian editorial concerning the extension of the emergency order, the writer seems to have implied that The Bahamas, which is a constitutional parliamentary democracy, is trending towards becoming a dictatorship under Minnis. The writer may have read an April 3 Washington Post article that claims that dictators are using the coronavirus to strengthen their grip on power. Meriam-Webster defines a dictatorship as a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique. Intending to evoke dread in the Bahamian people, one FNM critic postulated
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net that Minnis might attempt to postpone the general election, using the COVID19 pandemic as a pretext. Such a scenario would be similar to what is currently happening in Ethiopia under the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who postponed the general election indefinitely due to COVID-19, which was scheduled for August. In December 2019 Abiy Ahmed won the Noble Peace Prize for his economic and social reforms in a country of approximately 110 million and over 80 ethnic groups. Notwithstanding his International appeal, Abiy Ahmed and the Ethiopian Army are currently engaged in a full-scale civil war with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the Tigray region in Northern Ethiopia. Ethiopia currently has 109,534 confirmed COVID19 infections and 1,700 deaths. Opposition groups obviously do not agree with the election postponement. This has led to allegations of Abiy Ahmed becoming a dictator, which is not uncommon in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. Africa currently has 19 dictators. The Marxist autocrat Mengistu Haile Mariam ruled Ethiopia with an ironfist between 1977 and 1991. One of the key leaders of the military Derg that overthrew the alleged Solomonic monarchy of Haile Selassie I in 1975, Mengistu orchestrated the bloody Ethiopian Red Terror between 1977 and 1978, with an estimated 30,000-750,000 executions. Mengistu was as ruthless as Uganda’s Idi Amin, Libya’s Muammar alGaddafi and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe. All four African leaders fit the definition of a dictator, who openly suppressed,
persecuted and murdered members of the media and the opposition. With respect to Abiy Ahmed, I can understand why Ethiopians are jittery. With respect to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, I believe his critics are being disingenuous and are over exaggerating his latest political moves. With our proximity to the United States of America, no government, be it FNM or Progressive Liberal Party, would be able to get away with what Mugabe, Mengistu, al-Gaddafi and Amin did to their respective countries. Granted, Fidel Castro was successful in establishing a decades-old communist dictatorship in Cuba after overthrowing the Fulgençio Batista US backed dictatorship in the 1959 Cuban Revolution. For strategic and diplomatic reasons unknown to the writer, the US government has tolerated Cuba’s dictators. I don’t think the same courtesy would be extended to a nation with a population of just 400,000 and a small defense force that cannot even defeat the Haitian Army. A Minnis dictatorship would be immediately crushed by the American military. I am not a water boy for this FNM administration. As I stated in the past, I will sit out the upcoming general election. Minnis has made his fair share of logistical mistakes as competent authority. But I believe opposition forces would do a better job at intelligently engaging the FNM in a debate over COVID-19 without having to resort to fear mongering about Minnis becoming a dictator. Such unfounded speculation is an insult to the hundreds of millions who have suffered under dictatorships. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama, November 29, 2020.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 7
PEOPLE TRAFFICKERS USING BAHAMAS AS TRANSIT ROUTE from page one
that in The Bahamas a fourpronged approach has been developed to deal with human trafficking. “We have developed and will continue to enhance our four-pronged approach to strengthen institutions and their initiatives on matters involving human trafficking,” he said. “They are inclusive of 1) contemporary legislation; 2) training and awareness campaigns; 3) victim protection and recovery services and 4) the successful prosecution and conviction of human traffickers. “With reference to our first-pronged approach, contemporary legislation, the Parliament of The Bahamas passed in 2008 The Trafficking in Persons
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames during yesterday’s webinar. (Prevention and Suppression) Act. The legislation was also amended in 2017 to encompass organised entities engaged in trafficking.” Mr Dames said human trafficking is complex with many nuances, but
the legislative component forms the basis for confronting the seriousness of this crime. “According to the International Labour Organisation Report on Human Trafficking (2014), 1.8 million persons, including trafficked individuals, are victims of forced labour in the region,” Mr Dames said. “The Americas is prominent as the origin, transit and destination for victims of human trafficking . “This means that human trafficking remains a challenge for the Americas and the Caribbean. Hence, today’s platform is timely considering the evolving role of trafficking and the vulnerability of victims during this global pandemic. According to a UNODC’s Global Report
on Trafficking in Persons (2009), 79 percent of humans are trafficked for sexual exploitation and 18 percent for forced labour.” Mr Dames informed the panel of how a foreign victim of human trafficking is processed in The Bahamas. “In The Bahamas, if the victim of human trafficking is a foreign national, we grant the victim the appropriate visa or other required authorisation necessary to allow them to remain in The Bahamas; provide information in the victim’s native language; and guide them through any criminal proceedings against their traffickers,” he said. “Working with both government and non-government agencies, through our Trafficking in Persons Task Force, we facilitate:
1) referrals for housing and meals assistance; 2) physical and psychological assessments 3) transportation, 4) repatriation, if necessary; and 5) training and skills acquisition for employment. This individual protocol is activated with every victim and services are easily accessed.” He said the government of The Bahamas fully understands that the needs of all victims are different and it aims to facilitate individual care and support. “We are fully cognizant that we are all inextricably bound to the region and hemisphere, considering the transnational nature of trafficking,” he said. “As a hemispheric partner, The Bahamas will continue to support platforms such as this, while strengthening our institutions and
national anti-trafficking strategies. “The issues surrounding human trafficking are not only a concern for human rights violation, it is also a critical issue for sustainable development in the region. Similarly, the protection of humans, particularly women and girls from sexual and domestic exploitation must have meaningful participation in safety and security matters.” Mr Dames said while all people in society have a role to play in eradicating human trafficking, continuous collaboration and training platforms for law enforcement officials, medical personnel, educators, non-government organisations and those employed in the judicial sector are key.
Judges grant appeal in Blair killing from page one to run concurrently. The two years, 10 months and 17 days he spent on remand were deducted from his sentence. D’Haiti appealed his sentence after arguing the trial judge failed to direct the jury as to the “implications and significance of the breaches” to the judge’s rules and the Force Standing Orders relating to the evidence given by two police officers. Yesterday, Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree ruled that “no actual miscarriage of justice occurred in this case”. Still, Sir Michael Barnett and Justice Jon Isaacs concluded that the officers should have recorded the alleged oral admission given by D’Haiti. As a result, the panel granted the appellant’s appeal and said submissions would be made to determine whether a retrial will take place. According to a judgment
posted on the Crown’s website, on the night of the invasion, Robert Cartwright retrieved his licensed shotgun and discharged it at the intruders before he was killed. The court documents also state that the blood and body tissue that was found at the crime scene were collected to be tested. The prosecution alleged that shortly after the incident, D’Haiti was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital by a woman who he told to tell people she collected him from Carmichael Road if they asked. “Upon the appellant’s arrival at the hospital, he allegedly told Officer Dawkins, whom he met there, that he had been stabbed,” the court documents read. “While the appellant was in the hospital, his blood was drawn and during this exercise, in the presence of two police officers, Maycock and Braynen, the appellant is alleged to have told those
officers of his involvement in the murder.” During D’Haiti’s trial, the doctor who was present when the oral admission was alleged to have been given said she could not recall whether the appellant made the confession. “Officers Maycock and Braynen prepared reports of what they say the appellant told them, but at no time did they ask the appellant to acknowledge the admissions made to them,” the justices noted. “Upon the appellant’s arrest, while at the police station, on the advice of his counsel he did not give a statement to the police and he did not give any evidence at trial.” Throughout the proceedings, D’Haiti maintained that the officers “fabricated the alleged admission”. He also insisted he never told Officer Dawkins he was stabbed and denied telling the woman who took him to PMH to tell people that she collected him from Carmichael Road.
In his judgment, Sir Michael Barnett said he believed D’Haiti’s alleged oral admission should have been recorded in the pocketbook of the officers and signed by both parties. He also said the appellant “ought to have been” invited to acknowledge what was said immediately. “The judge failed to point out to the jury the failure of the officers to comply with the rules regarding the taking of oral statements,” he said. “There was nothing in the judge’s direction which warned of the dangers of relying on oral admissions. The judge did not draw to the jury’s attention that notwithstanding that samples of blood and body tissue were collected from the scene there was no evidence led by the prosecution that the appellant’s blood or body tissue were found at the scene.” Likewise, in his ruling, Justice Isaacs said the officers should have used
technology to assist with the recording of D’Haiti’s alleged oral admission. “The judge’s failure to warn the jury of the dangers associated with and the reasons for the need to make a contemporaneous record of an oral admission is an unnecessary cause of great concern,” he said. “The prosecution’s case rests on the ‘verballing’ of officers Braynen and Maycock; there is no forensic evidence linking the appellant to the scene despite the blood, body tissue, pellet holes, etc, found at the scene. It is trite law that even strong suspicion does not displace the presumption of innocence.” In his dissenting view, the Chief Justice said even if the appellant believed the prosecution’s evidence had some inconsistencies, the safety of his conviction was not affected by the “inadequacies of the judge’s direction”.
“The Force Standing Orders provide that there must be a contemporaneous record of the interview or if that is not possible an adequate and accurate record must be made as soon as practicable thereafter,” he stated. “However, what transpired between the appellant and officers Maycock and Braynen in the hospital room was not an interview within the purview of the Force Standing Orders. Further, there was no breach of the judges’ rules. “In the circumstances of this case, while a more robust direction ought to have been given to the jury on the dangers of relying on the unacknowledged, disputed oral confession allegedly made by the appellant, no actual miscarriage of justice occurred in this case. Even if the jury had been properly directed, they would inevitably have come to the same conclusion.”
DRUG SMUGGLING SUSPECTS ARE DENIED BAIL By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
ALLEGED drug smugglers Nathaniel Knowles, Ian Bethel and Eddison Watson will remain in custody until their scheduled hearing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council next year, after a Supreme Court judge denied their applications for bail. The judge ruled they may be flight risks if given bail before the London court’s decision. The three men, along with Austin Knowles and Sean Bruey aka Shawn Saunders, were indicted on several drug related charges by a Florida court on December 12, 2003. In 2017, the Court of Appeal dismissed the legal challenges of the five men who were fighting extradition. At the time, the men were committed to prison to await their extradition after then-Court of Appeals President Dame Anita Allen, Justice Jon Isaacs and Justice Stella Crane-Scott affirmed then-Supreme Court Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs’ refusal to grant them writs of habeas corpus in 2016. Knowles, Bethel, and
Watson’s applications for bail were supported by the affidavit of Anthony McKinney, QC. In the court document, he argued that all of the applicants had complied with the bail conditions imposed upon them since they were admitted to bail by the Supreme Court in 2003. Mr McKinney also noted that none of the applicants were flight risks and stated that they did not pose a threat to any witnesses who might give evidence against them in the United States of America. Still, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions objected to bail being granted to the men, after noting that the applicants’ appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is scheduled for May 13, 2021 which is only about six months away. On Wednesday, Justice Cheryl-Grant Thompson denied Knowles, Bethel, and Watson’s bail applications, after ruling the applicants had not produced “sufficient evidence” to establish that their case could be categorised as an “exceptional circumstance”. In her ruling, Justice Thompson said she believed it was “probable” that the
applicants would abscond if they were granted bail, due to the serious nature of the charges brought against them. “Further, if the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council dismisses the applicants’ appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, they would then be extradited to the United States of America to face the alleged charges if no other avenues of appeal are available,” she said. “If they are no longer remanded when that decision is made, they would in my view be more than likely to have ample notice and be able to make the necessary arrangements to evade being re-arrested.” Justice Grant-Thompson also noted how Algernon Allen, counsel for the respondent, argued that it could be inferred that the applicants had access to “substantial means” due to the crimes they have allegedly committed. “Mr Allen further averred that this inference can be made because the applicants are able to afford and hire Queen’s Counsel of the Inner Bar to represent them in their various appeals in the Court of Appeal and before the Judicial Committee of
HAITIAN WOMAN FINED FOR OVERSTAY By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN woman who overstayed her time in The Bahamas and gave immigration officers a fake name when she was questioned was fined $1,500 yesterday. Magalie Charles, 41, also known as Natasha JeanPierre, was charged with overstaying after she was found in the country past the expiration date given to her by immigration officials. During the hearing, Charles was also charged with giving false answers. She pleaded guilty
to both counts during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes. The court was told that officers arrested the accused on a property near Love Beach on November 26. The prosecution said when the authorities asked Charles to show proof of her status, she was unable to do so. As a result, she was cautioned and taken to the Detention Centre for further processing. In an interview with immigration officials the accused said her name was Natasha Jean-Pierre. However, when checks of the system were made, it was
discovered that her real name was Magalie Charles. The court was told Charles entered the country on a flight from Haiti on July 30, 2019 and was granted leave to land until November 27, 2019. The prosecution said no further extensions were granted to the accused. Charles was subsequently fined $1,000 for overstaying and an additional $500 for giving law enforcement officers a false name. Magistrate Forbes said after the fine was paid or the sentence was finished, Charles would be handed over to the director of immigration for deportation back to Haiti.
the Privy Council, which according to him ‘does not come cheap,’” she stated. “I am of the view that this inference is a valid one. I am concerned that they are flight risks and there is a real danger and likelihood that under all of the circumstances they will abscond and nothing has been submitted to the contrary.” She insisted on the fact that the applicants were facing charges that come with severe penalties in
America, would give them an “incentive to evade capture” if they are convicted and their appeal is not successful. In denying Knowles, Watson, and Bethel’s applications for bail she said: “The applicants’ appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is imminent, therefore I find no delay in their matter being scheduled for May 13, 2021 which is approximately six months away.
“The applicants if granted bail are likely in my view to abscond due to the severity of the charges and penalty vis a vis the possibility of each of them serving a term of life imprisonment in the United States of America. (Finally) this case is one in which no special circumstance exists which would allow the court to exercise its discretion to grant bail, indeed none have been advanced to this honourable court.”
PAGE 8, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
PM should leave deputy slot vacant for now THIS week, the Prime Minister made it clear that the Ministry of Finance is a hot potato he will not get stuck holding, a rag-tag band of activists outsmarted parliamentarians, and the PLP looks as hapless as ever. Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
W
ith the recent resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K. Peter Turnquest, an opening appeared arguably in the most prominent position in government outside of ‘Head of Government.’ As it goes with these things and sticking to his “I’ne into dat!” stance the Prime Minister takes when it comes to heading ministries – he immediately informed the public that he is indeed not into that. He is Acting Minister of Finance, but don’t hold your breath that he will hold onto that sticky wicket for long. “I will announce very soon...what I can say is that I most certainly won’t remain in the ministry of finance, I can say that with certainty...I will meditate and discuss with some of my colleagues, and by the time I come back sometime this week, we will have to make announcements moving forward,” Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said. Ah yes, the age-old Bahamian process of decision making, better known as ‘lemme pray on dat,’ seems to be the direction ‘Doc’ is taking us at this time. He knows that we know that he knows he has no idea how to manage finance. It is now officially open season for the most wide-eyed, nakedly power-hungry of his Cabinet ministers to start lobbying for that position. I know the newly minted Minister of Health, Renward Wells, is kicking himself for taking the Health position
seeing as an even juicier one has presented itself just months later. Not that timing will stop him from concocting a grotesque way to use his stellar collegiate athletic skills to leapfrog lifelong FNMs to get what he wants. But he has some serious competition. When it comes to ‘All the Prime Minister’s Men,’ ministers Frankie Campbell, Marvin Dames, Elsworth Johnson, Jeff Lloyd, and Darren Henfield are also standouts for sucking up to Numero Uno – the Prime Minister. So who will win Survivor: Minnis Cabinet? Only time will tell. If the Prime Minister were shrewd, he would leave that position open until the Free National Movement (FNM) goes to convention. Having a ‘deputy prime minister’ right now is not only unnecessary; it’s not even in the constitution. My advice? Let them fight it out. Yes, for the next sixteen months or so. Name a minister of finance but leave the deputy slot vacant. If we’re honest, not only is the Prime Minister losing ministers like a gambler loses money in a numbers house, he could also do with lighting a fire under his current ministers to perform better leading up to the next general election. So I say, keep the fire burning, ‘Doc’! Two Can Play That Game
S
peaking of games of chance, it was quite a sight to see the selfsame FNM MPs who are angling for promotion get outsmarted
by a group of activists who could barely overcome their infighting long enough to execute their Machiavellian plans. Prominent in the names of activists were Lincoln Bain, Adrian Francis, and members of parliament Reece Chipman, Frederick McAlpine, and Vaughn Miller. The group, it seems, at some point or other, designed a plan to have a repeal bill tabled in our good old House of Assembly that focused on the country’s aragonite industry. Mr. McAlpine, an FNM ‘prodigal son,’ introduced the Bill. Mr. Chipman declined to second it (allegedly because he
FREDERICK McAlpine had not read it), and ultimately former FNM turned floor-crosser PLP Vaughn Miller was the one to endorse it. The drama in the House over whether McAlpine properly introduced the Bill brought harsh words from all involved (who were awake) during the
Public Viewing for CONSTANCE ELIZABETH HUYLER-GARDINER, 71 of Bamboo Boulevard, will be held on Saturday, 5th December 2020 at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, Nassau Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pursuant to the Covid 19 Emergency Orders there will be no funeral. Cremation will follow. She is survived by her Children: Gina, Dion (Chantel), Caron (Steven), and Lucretia; Grandchildren: Sandy, Samantha, Dionté, Deshanique, Shekinah, Shamarie and Luke; Brothers: Kenneth, Herbert, (Jennie), Arthur, Leroy (Rosemary), Godfrey (Judith), and Andrew (Donna); Sisters: Luella (Cedric) and Ida; Aunt: Albertha; Nieces: Alfreda, Teako, Hanako, Sonia, Valery, Tanya, Raquel, D’Andra, Terrelle (Bervin), Shekera (Winton), Cedricka, Sharlean, Rosita (Ronnie), Alicia (Thurmond), Patrice, Kaywana, Sonya and Lauren; Nephews: Godfrey Gavan (Pequita), Brain Mauricio (Yolanda), Kevin D’Marco (Raquel), Rashad (Raynica), Shawn (Paulette), Devin (Monique), Andrew Gregory (Deborah), Andrew Jermaine (Nickolee), Franco (Shantika), Denrelio (Adama), Denero, Donald (Drea), Glenroy, Craig, Vladmir, Kendal, Kevin, Keith and Jeffrey; Special Mentions: HuylerRolle Family, Mavis Johnson and Family, Frances Roberts and Family, The Munnings Family, Lydia Issacs and Family, Father Micklewhite and Family, Arthur Chase and Family, Winifred Roberts and Family, Romalee Bouroughs and Family, Elizabeth Cumberbatch and Family, Hilda Johnson and Family, Constance Mackey and Family, Vangy Bowleg, Maxine Bethel and Family, Shelly Johnson and Family, Matthew and Elosie Culver and Elite Travel Club, Sam and Mary huyler and The Saturday Round Table; Special Thanks: Addis Huyler, Sidda Communication Group, Holy Spirt Anglican Church, Doctors Hospital, Dr D. Major, Dr. A. Mesples, Dr. D. Sands and BahamasAir Family. Those whose names we may have forgotten, please understand that it was not intentional, and we truly appreciate your love and support during this time. Social distancing will be strictly enforced.
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is the Acting Minister of Finance.
brawl. Halston Moultrie, our current Speaker of the House, got the chance to exact his pound of flesh and many pints of blood from the executive branch, which has proven the bane of his existence these past few months. Moultrie allowed the Bill to be read and tabled over the objections of slow-to-rise FNM ministers like Wells and Dames. It was an embarrassment for the governing party. It was the kind of humiliation that will only get overshadowed if the full FNM caucus votes down the repeal Bill. I’m only a layman, but I can tell you voting against a bill that promises elusive ‘millions’ in sovereign wealth fund cheques to all Bahamians will not a winning campaign make. Wells, Dames, and Company got played. And now the Prime Minister, who was absent at the time, is in a tough spot. They really should have given Moultrie those toilets he has been complaining over. Perhaps he would have flushed something other than the deputy prime ministerial hopes of those present down the drain.
Where Ya Put Me
T
he Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) truly does need to get its act together. When the party should be presenting its candidates for the next general election and shoring up its message, instead, we have oxymoronic statements, griping about campaigning, and infighting. Right now, at a time when Bahamians are mounting the most organized fight against oil drilling in our waters to date, Opposition Leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis thought it wise to volunteer his support for “environmentally friendly” oil drilling. To the ears of many Bahamians, this is the equivalent of saying you approve of ‘humane’ pot cake slaughtering. Or ‘compassionate’ sea-bed butchering. In other words, it makes no sense. On top of that, we have PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell running around like a lost puppy barking about how the Prime Minister is ‘campaigning’ during emergency orders. He griped about Doc going to ‘PLP constituencies,’ as if a prime
minister isn’t prime minister for the whole country. Wasn’t ‘Flyin’ Fred’s’ boss, Mr. Davis, at an alleged ‘super-spreader’ event in Freeport during this pandemic? There are, at last count, zero ‘PLP constituencies’ in Grand Bahama. If everyone played by Mitchell’s rules, most PLP MPs wouldn’t be allowed to step foot out their doors, seeing that they hold a measly five of thirtynine seats in the House. And most don’t even live in their constituencies. Perhaps the PLP chairman would do better to quell the infighting and backbiting in his party that is bubbling to the forefront of media attention. To hear some tell it, it’s worse than Game of Thrones in some constituencies, with aspirants plotting and backstabbing to get that delicious nomination nod. The most telling part of how feckless the PLP is these days in its role as Official Opposition is the fact that a rag-tag, infighting band of activists accomplished more in the way of legislation this week than the PLP has in the past few years. As the saying goes, ‘ain’t that a kick in the head?’
THE TRIBUNE
Honouring a man who loved life - and helped change ours forever By Diane Phillips
NO ONE in the family remembers exactly where or why LeRoy Bowe picked up golf as a hobby. They just know he used to tell the story of how much he loved it, the feel of the swing, the ball arcing high in the air and the extreme satisfaction of its landing where you wanted it to go, so far away. As a young black Bahamian, he waited until the sun was beginning to set and the day’s players had deserted the golf course at what used to be called The County Club on Cable Beach. He’d head out, swinging the single club he owned, gather balls left behind, and practice – and practice and practice some more until it was too dark to see the trajectory of the ball. Bowe was blessed with natural athletic ability among other traits, movie star good looks, a sense of humour, a twinkle in his eye and a love of life and sport. He was, frankly speaking, the perfect candidate to become the first black Bahamian golf pro. And wherever he travelled, he did the sport and the country proud. Later in life, he would set a new standard for sailing, racing his native sloop Jiffy in a way that no other sailor had done at the time, outfitting crew in bright orange and blue, insisting they turn out for practice days prior to a regatta, trying out various sails, practising tacking, gybing and other manoeuvres, urging that they learn the rules of racing instead of yelling ‘Starboard’ even if they were on port. This week, Roy Bowe was celebrated with a golf shoot-out in his honour at the Ocean Club Golf Club. A trophy was named for him. It was only fitting. In
1968, Bowe founded the Bahamas Professional Golf Association. When he died in 2012 at age 78, golfers from humble beginnings who had been inspired by this man who played with celebrities but always had time for them, lamented the lack of Bahamian golf pros at resorts in The Bahamas. Seeing Roy Bowe back in the news brought back so many memories of unforgettable times with him and his wife, Susan, their children – BREA President Christine Wallace-Whitfield among them – listening to his dreams of creating the “most breathtaking resort The Bahamas has ever seen” in Emerald Bay, Exuma (now home to Sandals and Grand Isle), watching him cut the ribbon at the Comfort Suites Hotel on Paradise Island as a Bahamian not afraid to invest in his own country, my husband and I laughing so hard at one of his famed Boxing Day parties that we would be holding our sides trying to catch our breath. But there is one tribute that, despite all the accolades of the successful businessman, athlete, husband, father, grandfather, seems to go unnoticed. It is the historic impact he had on politics. Never a man to accept a nomination though no doubt he was offered many, he was a keen observer of the political climate whose opinion was often sought by decision-makers. There was a time when Roy Bowe was as staunch a PLP as the founding father of the nation. Mention any other party and Roy, who did not abide nonsense, would think you could not be worth taking the time to listen to. He was a proud Bahamian and the PLP was the party of the people.
LEROY BOWE, above, and pictured right with Larry and Diane Phillips But Roy Bowe was also an Exumian and one day he had just seen enough. The drug trafficking of the 1980s, the pay-offs, the imploding of a culture of honesty made him bristle. He was watching his country, his beloved country that had lost its moral compass, go down the drain. He made a decision and a call. The diehard PLP turned FNM. The year was 1992. They say to this day that when Roy Bowe turned FNM the country’s political history somersaulted. The kid who practised with a single golf club as darkness fell on an empty golf course and lived to be a hero had turned his back on the only political party he ever believed in. His decision stood as all the testament the country needed to feel the FNM was no longer a party just for the elite. Roy Bowe carried the tide of the Gulfstream with him. August 1992 came and Hubert Ingraham won the election that year. I can still see Roy Bowe jogging down the long stretch of pure white sand beach in Exuma where we always stayed with the family. Later that month, we were there and watched him take off for his run. He gained speed but before he got away from us, we could see the smile on his face and the occasional nod of his head as each wave hit the shoreline washing away the history of what had been there before.
APPLAUD THOSE FOREIGN PETITION SIGNATURES IF I read the criticism of the change.org petition urging a halt to the exploration for oil in The Bahamas correctly, the critics are claiming that a high percentage of the signatories are foreign. Geez, so is the company proposing the drilling. What am I missing here? It’s okay to drill and be from somewhere else but not to be opposed to the drilling and be from
somewhere else? People all over the world revere the beauty of the waters of The Bahamas. Remember its breathtaking colours were spotted from space with astronaut Kelly calling the Exumas the most beautiful waters in the world. Whether you are for or against, you have to be impressed by the fact that nearly 50,000 people
cared enough to take the time to express their view and affix their signature online to a petition. It will be most interesting to see how a government ignores a petition with so many signatures. West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe’s call to consider a referendum is what we should be exploring.
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Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 11
UN CHIEF: VACCINE CAN’T UNDO DAMAGE FROM GLOBAL PANDEMIC By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. chief warned Thursday that the social and economic impact of COVID-19 “is enormous and growing” and said it’s foolish to believe a vaccine can undo damage from the global pandemic that will last for years or even decades. Speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly’s first and mainly virtual special session on COVID-19, SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres accused some countries he didn’t name of ignoring or rejecting the World Health Organization’s recommendations at the start of the crisis early this year, resulting in nations going in their own directions and the virus spreading “in every direction.” “Nearly a year into the pandemic, we face a human tragedy, and a public health, humanitarian and development emergency,” Guterres said. The U.N. chief pointed to rising poverty, the looming threat of famine, and the prospect of “the biggest global recession in eight decades,” saying these impacts aren’t due to the coronavirus alone but are the result of long-term inequalities and injustices exposed by the pandemic that must be addressed. General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir opened the two-day session, calling it a historic and overdue moment of reckoning to forge a path to end the pandemic that not only ensures people everywhere have access to vaccines but mobilizes financial resources for “an inclusive and resilient recovery.” Nearly 80 world leaders, over 50 government ministers and 10 deputy leaders and ministers were scheduled to speak during the special session that began with Bozkir asking masked diplomats from the U.N.’s 193 member nations in the assembly hall to stand in silent tribute to the 1.5 million people who have lost their lives to COVID-19.
Recovery Bozkir called the session “a test for multilateralism” and said what the world must do is clear -- ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines, work together “to protect the most vulnerable countries,” provide adequate resources for an economic recovery that goes beyond pre-pandemic levels, and adopt policies that don’t harm human rights or undermine democratic institutions. Guterres has been urging the Group of 20 — the world’s richest nations — to back WHO’s cash-strapped ACT-Accelerator program to develop and distribute vaccines that includes Covax, an ambitious global project to buy and deliver virus vaccines for the world’s poorest people. The secretary-general, clearly frustrated at the lack of a significant response, told world leaders there is a $28 billion financial gap, “including $4.3 billion urgently needed for the next two months.” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a recorded speech that $10 billion has been raised for the ACT-Accelerator “but we must continue to raise funds from the entire international community.” He reiterated the proposal he made at last month’s G20 summit for “a donation mechanism” that would ensure a portion of the first doses of vaccines that become available -- whether from Europe, China, Russia or the United States -- be used to vaccinate priority groups in developing countries. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said additional funding for the ACT-Accelerator is needed and a worthwhile investment, pointing to progress on developing vaccines “which gives us reason for hope.” Germany is also campaigning to strengthen WHO to better respond “to international health threats,” she said.
THEN-PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, centre, walks out of the Oval Office of the White House with former Presidents Bill Clinton, left, and George W. Bush, right, to deliver remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington in 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
EX-PRESIDENTS WOULD GET VACCINE PUBLICLY TO BOOST CONFIDENCE By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three former presidents say they’d be willing to take a coronavirus vaccine publicly, once one becomes available, to encourage all Americans to get inoculated against a disease that has already killed more than 275,000 people nationwide. Former President Barack Obama said during an episode of SiriusXM’s “The Joe Madison Show” airing Thursday, “I promise you that when it’s been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it.” “I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed,” Obama added, “just so that people know that I trust this science.” That may not be possible for a while. The Food and Drug Administration will consider authorising emergency use of two vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna later this month, but current estimates project that no more than 20 million doses of each vaccine will be available by the end of this year. Each product also requires two doses, meaning shots will be rationed in the early stages. Health care workers and nursing home residents should be at the front of the line, according to the influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. That encompasses about 24 million people out of a U.S.
population of around 330 million. Still, former President Bill Clinton would “definitely” be willing to get a vaccine, as soon as one is “available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials,” spokesman Angel Ureña said. “And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same,” Ureña said in a statement Thursday. Ureña declined to say whether Clinton’s team has been in touch with other former presidents about perhaps setting up a joint public immunisation session, whenever that might be possible. Former President George W. Bush’s chief of staff, Freddy Ford, told CNN that Bush recently asked him to meet with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to let them “know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated.” “First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations,” Ford told the network. “Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera.” The only other living former president, Jimmy Carter, who at 96 is the oldest
ex-president in U.S. history, also encouraged people to get vaccinated, but stopped short of pledging to do so himself in public. “Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, said today that they are in full support of COVID-19 vaccine efforts and encourage everyone who is eligible to get immunised as soon as it becomes available in their communities,” the Carter Center said in a statement.
“I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed just so that people know that I trust this science.” Former President Barack Obama The voice of support comes as the U.S. recorded more than 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, far outpacing the record set last spring. The number of Americans hospitalised with the virus also has eclipsed 100,000 for the first time. President Donald Trump was asked this summer if he would consider being the first to take the vaccine to send a message that it was safe. The president said that going first could also lead to
accusations that he was being selfish, but that he would take it if recommended to do so. “I would absolutely, if they wanted me to, if they thought it was right. “I would take it first or I would take it last,” Trump said during a July interview with Fox News. “You know that if I take it first, I will be, either way, I lose on that one, right?” Making Trump among the first to get the vaccine could indeed be controversial, given that he tested positive for the virus so recently. Vaccine trials excluded volunteers who had diagnosed infections — including those who had gotten treatment for the virus, which Trump had in October. Still, Trump is promoting the vaccine. At the ceremony for the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, which was taped Monday and streamed Thursday evening, Trump said, “It is truly a Christmas miracle, one of the great achievements medically, they say, ever in history.” During a Thursday roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee, with Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the U.S. must restore national trust in immunisations. “There’s been a great deal of challenge over the years of this growing concern of
what I call ‘vaccine hesitancy,’” Redfield said. “It’s really sad as an infectious disease physician to see many people choose to leave vaccination on the shelf for themselves, their family and the community.” Asked if he’d personally be taking a vaccine, Pence gave a thumbs up and replied, “Absolutely.” President-elect Joe Biden said months ago that he’d take “a vaccine tomorrow” as soon as doing so was possible. Biden told CNN during an interview Thursday that he too would be happy to get his vaccine publicly to encourage people to follow suit. “People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work,” Biden said. “Already the numbers are really staggeringly low, and it matters what the president and vice president do.” That follows Biden’s warning on Wednesday that the spread of the coronavirus pandemic over the next two months could kill as many as 250,000 more people, though he didn’t offer details to back up such a bleak assessment. “You cannot be traveling during these holidays,” Biden told the public “as much as you want to.” ___ Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Darlene Superville in Washington and Adrian Sainz in Memphis contributed to this report.
CALIFORNIA MONOLITH POPS UP AFTER FINDS IN UTAH, ROMANIA LOS ANGELES (AP) — Days after the discovery and swift disappearance of two shining metal monoliths half a world apart, another towering structure has popped up and then quickly vanished, this time from the pinnacle of a trail in California. After photos were posted on social media, the tall, silver metallic structure drew hikers to the top of the Pine Mountain trail in an Atascadero park, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, KEYT-TV reported Wednesday. The 3-sided, 10-foot-tall, 200pound monolith was similar to two others discovered recently in the Utah desert and in Romania. Like those structures, the origin of the California edifice is also unknown. But by Thursday, the California monolith had vanished, apparently torn down by a group of young men that traveled five hours from farther south to remove it, the city of Atascadero said in a Facebook post. Video posted online showed a group of young men wearing nightvision goggles toppling what appears to be the monolith before dawn while chanting “Christ is king” and “America First.” One man also is heard saying to the camera: “We don’t want illegal aliens from Mexico or outer space.” The men replaced the structure with a wooden cross, which also disappeared. All that was left Thursday of the monolith were few pieces of supporting rebar.
Police were reviewing the video, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo County reported. The destruction wasn’t appreciated by locals. “We are upset that these young men felt the need to drive 5 hours to come into our community and vandalise the monolith,” Mayor Heather Moreno said in a press release. “The monolith was something unique and fun in an otherwise stressful time.” “Bummer,” Matt Cadaret, a gravedigger at a nearby cemetery, told the San Francisco Chronicle. He had planned to hike up to see the structure. “It’s too bad it’s gone,” he said. “People were real excited about it. Anything that gets people excited is a good thing.” Another monolith spotted two weeks ago in Utah’s otherworldly red-rock country became a beacon of fascination around the world as it evoked the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” and drew hundreds of people to the remote spot. Two extreme sports athletes said they were part of a group that tore down the hollow metal structure because they were worried about the damage the droves of visitors were causing to the relatively untouched spot. Officials said the visitors flattened plants with their cars and left behind human waste. A structure that appeared last week in Romania is also gone.
A MONOLITH stands on a Stadium Park hillside in Atascadero, Calif., Tuesday. (Kaytlyn Leslie/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP) The Utah creation evoked famous land-art pieces that dot the West. Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty is an earthwork along the Great Salt Lake and Nancy Holt’s Sun Tunnels are huge concrete pieces in the desert. Like those pieces, the monolith was fascinating in part because of its context in the landscape, said Whitney Tassie, a curator of modern and contemporary art at the Utah Museum of Fine Art. “That’s a big, big part of land art in general is this idea of an experience, of a journey,” she said. The intense social media reaction to the monolith against the backdrop of the punishing pandemic, along with the quick disappearance of the piece, has become a part of its story,
she said. Police have said the dismantling may not be illegal since no one has claimed the structure as their property. The still-anonymous creator of the Utah monument did not follow steps taken by land artists of the 1970s to secure permission to make their works. Visitation to those remote sites is now managed and overseen to avoid too much stress on the environment. Federal and state officials in Utah had also expressed concern about the area around the monolith being overrun. “It’s good to think about our relationship with the earth, which is ultimately what these sorts of projects do,” Tassie said. “Man’s impact on the environment front and centre.”
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
‘Mr Consistent’ Maycock a national golf champion By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
A
s consistent as he was from day one, Greg Maycock maintained his lead and held on to win the Bahamas Professional Golfers Association’s Leroy ‘Roy’ Bowe Founder BPGA 2020 National Championship title. At the end of the four days of competition at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island yesterday, Maycock accumulated rounds of 74-74-75-73 for a total score of 296 to cart the prestigious title off to Grand Bahama. Maycock received it from Bowe’s daughter Christine Bowe Wallace-Whitfield, which could have still gone to Grand Bahama as fellow natives Keathen Stuart was runner-up with 76-76-7979 for 303 and Chris Lewis completed the top of the chart in third with 82-8077-77 for 316. The three Grand Bahamians were matched against each other in the last of the two threesomes between the six professional golfers who participated. Rounding out the field in the other threesome were Marcus Pratt (8078-85-80-323); Glenn Pratt (89-82-83-82336) and Matthew Cox (97-88-88-87-360). Maycock, one of the two veteran players in the tournament that started on Monday, said the performance was just what he needed, considering the fact that he finished fourth in the last BPGA tournament he played here in July. “For today, I could say it was pretty nifty because somewhere in that round, I did some funny stuff,” Maycock said. “I had two double bogeys and so overall for four days, I will take it and just work with that. I’m happy about winning.”
SASHA and Christine Wallace-Whitfield present the championship trophy to veteran golfer Greg Maycock. Chris Lewis, president of the Bahamas Professional Golfers Association, at far right, looks on. Photos courtesy of David Knowles
BPGA treasurer Keno Turnquest presents Keathen Stuart with his second place prize.
KENO Turnquest presents Chris Lewis with his prize for third place.
As one of the younger players coming on the scene when the late Bowe was making his exit, Maycock said it was an honour to win the title for the legend of the game in the Bahamas. “For what he did for the game, I am proud to take this trophy and appreciate it,” he said. “It was good to win the title in his honour.” It was a year ago when Maycock last won a tournament that was staged by Ricardo Davis. But he said this one is much sweeter because it comes with the national professional title of the Bahamas.
BPGA, Lewis said he was just a little too inconsistent with some mental mistakes. “That happens when you are rusty as far as tournament play is concerned,” he said. “But all in all, I am very encouraged about the event and getting things back as far as the association is concerned.” Marcus Pratt, who fell short of getting into the top stream of the competition, said his performance was not up to par, but it was a great improvement for him in a professional forum as he gave himself a C average. “This is the first tournament that I played in for
Stuart, who is now based here at Albany where he is employed, said he was coming for Maycock. But not even the day’s lowest score of even-par-72 yesterday was enough. “Today, I played much better. I hit the ball more solid. I made a few putts, but it wasn’t as consistent as I wanted it to be,” he said. “I made a run at it in the first nine, but Greg Maycock held his own and it was a fight to the end. I’m happy with the way I played today.” Although he had a lot riding on his performance as the president of the
a year and so believe it or not, the rust is knocked off,” he said. “I’m ready for the next one.” “My preparation now, since the Bahamas Professional Golf Association is in play, we are going to be doing some more stuff. My preparation is mental and my playing capacity is now going to be enhanced because I now know we have more things to do in the association.” Glenn Pratt, the executive director of the BPGA, said under normal circumstances, he would not have participated because he
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JONES POSTS DOUBLE IN FOXES’ VICTORY By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net FOLLOWING a break in competition for national team play at the FIBA Eurobasket 2021 Qualifiers, Jonquel Jones and her UMMC Ekaterinburg Foxes began FIBA Euroleague play this week and continued their dominance in the region. Jones’ double double led Ekaterinburg to a 94-67 win over Spar Girona of the Euroleague Group C league play in Girona, Spain. She finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 8-12 shooting from the field and 5-7 on three-point attempts. Ekaterinburg opened Euroleague play with an 83-61 win over Beretta Familia Schio on Monday. Jones finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 8-10 from the field, and made her only three-point attempt. Group D also includes TTTRiga (0-2) who the Foxes will face tomorrow to complete the first round of group stage play. UMMC has won five Euroleague titles (2003, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and are perennial Final Four competitors. Last season, Jones’ first with the club, Ekaterinburg captured their second consecutive and fifth EuroLeague title with a 91-67 win over Dynamo Kursk in Sopron, Hungary. She appeared in eight games averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Back in the Russian Premier League, the Foxes remain in second place at 7-0, one half game behind undefeated Dynamo at 8-0. She has averaged 22 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. At the national team level Jones has led Bosnia and Herzegovina to the brink of FIBA EuroBasket 2021 qualification after another pair of dominant performances in the latest window.
CHAVEZ YOUNG AND CAVALRY 2 WEEKS FROM OPENING DAY By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net CHAVEZ Young and his Canberra Cavalry are two weeks away from opening day and will have a busy two months of gameplay after the Australian Baseball League released its revised schedule. The Toronto Blue Jays minor league prospect and his club will open the season December 18 for a four-game series on the
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CHAVEZ YOUNG
ST FORT SIGNS WITH 3RD TEAM THIS SEASON IN JAPAN B-LEAGUE By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net MARK St Fort is on the move once again in the Japanese B-League and signed with his third team this season. St Fort signed with the Hiroshima Dragonflies for the remainder of the 202021 season. Through 14 games this season, St Fort is averaging 10.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on 70 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent shooting from three-point
range. “Hiroshima Dragnflies has given me this opportunity and I thank them very much for their support. I am going to do my best to contribute to this team for as long as possible and help them be successful,” St Fort said in an official release issued by the team. Hiroshima is 4-12 on the season. “I am looking forward to playing in front of Dragonflies fans.” St Fort began the season with SeaHorses Mikawa
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Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 13
Agent: Anthony Davis inking 5-year deal to return to Lakers By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis is finalising a five-year contract worth up to $190 million to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, confirmed the terms of Davis’ pending free agent deal to The Associated Press yesterday. The Lakers didn’t comment. One day after LeBron James agreed to a twoyear, $85 million contract extension with the Lakers through 2022-23, Davis committed to the Lakers through the 2024-25 season. Davis’ deal includes an early termination clause prior to the fifth year, but the lengthy contract is still a clear declaration that the 27-year-old Davis sees his long-term future with the 17-time NBA champions. James and Davis won an NBA championship in the first season of their partnership, and they’re returning this month with new contracts and a solid chance to repeat. “Those are great contracts, and they’re welldeserved,” veteran Lakers forward Markieff Morris said yesterday from the opening workouts of training camp. “It’s a big family, and it worked out the best for everybody.” The Lakers acquired Davis in a trade less than 18 months ago, shipping most of their young core to New Orleans to acquire one of the best big men of his generation. Davis made the All-NBA first team three times and earned six straight All-Star selections with the Pelicans, but only reached the second round of the playoffs once. With Klutch clients James and Davis at their core, the Lakers immediately built a championship contender around them last season. The 6-foot-10 Davis swiftly clicked alongside James, who molded himself into a point guard and led the NBA in assists to maximise the talent of Davis, who earned his seventh straight All-Star selection. James and Davis reteamed in the bubble in central Florida and led the Lakers to Davis’ first NBA title and James’ fourth. The Lakers had missed the playoffs for six straight seasons before their dynamic duo transformed the franchise into champions again, beating the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals. “Watching AD and LeBron, everything they
DENVER Nuggets forward Paul Millsap in action in Denver. (AP)
LOS Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) slams a dunk against the Miami Heat during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, September 30. (AP) did was together,” said Dwight Howard, who won a ring with the Lakers before moving on to Philadelphia as a free agent last month. “They worked out together, they ate together, they rolled dice together. We called them The Brothers. They were always together, playing video games, doing something. “Even though there was games where LeBron was having triple-doubles, he made sure he fed AD and AD got off,” Howard added. “I just think when you have two guys like that who are willing to do whatever it takes to win, it brings up the morale of the team. They put everything on their shoulders. They knew they had guys around them, but it was, ‘OK, LeBron. OK, AD. We’ve got to do this. It starts with us. We’ve got to be on the same page at all times.’ They did a really good job with it.” The Lakers are returning with a roster around James and Davis that looks even better than last season’s championship squad. NBA veterans Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell have replaced Howard and JaVale McGee to keep Davis out of the centre spot during the regular season, while Wesley Matthews replaced inconsistent Danny Green on the wing and gifted point guard Dennis Schröder arrived to take ball-handling pressure off James. Davis was never expected to leave the Lakers after he declined a $28.7 million player option to become a free agent last month, but many league
LOUISVILLE CANCELS GAME AFTER POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST (AP) — The latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: • Louisville has cancelled its men’s basketball game today against UNC Greensboro and paused team activities indefinitely following a positive COVID-19 test within the programme and subsequent quarantining and contract tracing. The preceding game scheduled between Duquesne and Winthrop at the Cardinals’ KFC Yum! Center home arena also has been cancelled because of coronavirus-related issues, a release stated last night. The release added that no determination has been made on Louisville’s game Wednesday night at No. 4 Wisconsin in the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge or its December 16 Atlantic Coast Conference opener against North Carolina State. The positive test among “Tier 1” individuals — involving student-athletes, coaches, managers and staff — was detected during a team test yesterday. Three tests are conducted weekly per ACC protocols. • One member of the Syracuse men’s basketball
team has tested positive for COVID-19. The school said in a release the positive result stemmed from testing that occurred last week. Consistent with local health department guidelines, that individual and the team are taking all necessary precautions. Because of the new positive test, other players, including junior guard Buddy Boeheim, were unable to play against Niagara last night because of contact tracing. • The American Athletic Conference has announced that Saturday’s football game between Houston and SMU will not be played because of concerns about the novel coronavirus. SMU athletic director Rick Hart says the school has identified a positive case of COVID-19 involving a staff member, and a number of football players were identified as close contacts by contact tracing. Hart says large portions of multiple position groups, including an entire unit, are affected and in quarantine. SMU is advising fans to check SMU Athletics social media channels for bowl game information.
LEBRON JAMES, rear, and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, October 11. (AP) observers thought Davis would go for a shorter contract to maximise his mobility, as is the preference of many modern stars and Klutch clients. Instead, Davis chose the longest possible contract, albeit with an opt-out after four years. If Davis had set up his deal to become a free agent in 2022, he could have re-signed to receive a starting salary worth 35 percent of the team’s salary cap. In truth, the differences between his current contract and that hypothetical deal are only a few million dollars — and for Davis, security with a title contender clearly was worth a few million. Davis will make more than $32.7 million this season, more than $35 million next season and nearly $38 million in 202223. The fourth year of the contract is worth about $40
million, and the fifth year would be worth more than $43 million. Davis excelled throughout his first season with the Lakers, averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. Along with hitting 50 percent of his shots and a career-high 84.6 percent of his free throws, Davis was a dominant presence in the paint and on the wing throughout the year while the Lakers played the Western Conference’s stingiest defence. Davis finished second to Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA’s defensive player of the year voting. Davis was even better in the playoff bubble, averaging 27.7 points 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks. He hit 57 percent of his shots and 38 percent of his 3-pointers, including a
remarkable game-winning 3 at the buzzer in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against Denver. Although the Lakers’ massive fan base couldn’t attend their latest championship run, Davis is already cementing a spot among the franchise’s greatest big men, a proud lineage stretching from George Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain through Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol. Davis spent his first seven NBA seasons as the centrepiece of the Pelicans, but he could only lead them to two playoff appearances, and he requested a trade in February 2019. The players traded from Los Angeles to New Orleans for Davis included Brandon Ingram, who got a five-year, $158 million deal from the Pelicans last month, and playmaker Lonzo Ball.
DENVER NUGGETS RE-SIGN PAUL MILLSAP TO ONE-YEAR DEAL DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have resigned forward Paul Millsap to a one-year deal. Millsap has spent the last three seasons in Denver, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a steal in 159 games. Although Millsap, 35, played fewer minutes (24.3) last season than he had in any season since 2007-08, he remained highly effective, averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting a careerhigh 43.5 percent from three-point range. The 14-year NBA veteran helped the Nuggets reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2008-09 and his resigning comes after Denver lost key frontcourt players Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee in free agency. Last month, Millsap’s agent, DeAngelo Simmons, told The Athletic that Millsap’s deal with Denver would be worth more than $10 million. Millsap signed a threeyear, $90 million deal with Denver in 2017 and last year he was set to make $30 million before having to take a coronavirus pay cut like the rest of the NBA’s players.
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WILLIAMSON’S 200 PUTS NZ ON TOP IN 1ST TEST VS WEST INDIES HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — The West Indies might have been having a good day on the second day of the first cricket test against New Zealand on Friday if it hadn’t been for Kane Williamson, who stood almost single-handed against them to post his third double century. The tourists picked up the wickets of Ross Taylor (38), Henry Nicholls (7), Tom Blundell (14) and Daryl Mitchell (9) in the first two sessions with a bowling performance much improved on the first day when they won the toss and fielded. But Williamson was an impregnable barrier to their effort to bring more balance to the test Friday, methodically building the second-highest score of his test career.
At tea the New Zealand captain was 236 not out, Kyle Jamieson was 35 and New Zealand was 477-6. Williamson had a dramatic let-off in the hour before tea. Having posted his double century from 369 balls in 554 minutes in a feat of concentration, technique and application, he went on the offensive and hit two fours and a six from consecutive balls from Kemar Roach. He then edged the next ball from Roach to standin wicketkeeper Sharmarh Brooks. Williamson began to walk from the ground but the television umpire intervened and called noball, indicating Roach had over-stepped and allowing Williamson a dramatic reprieve. Roach was also immensely unlucky. He had been by far the best
NEW Zealand batsman Kane Williamson dives to make his ground during play on day one of the first cricket test against the West Indies in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP) of the West Indies bowlers in the match, the one who troubled Williamson most often, but he was denied New Zealand’s most-prized wicket. At tea he had 3-114. Williamson resumed Friday at 97 after helping New Zealand to 243-2 at
stumps on a first day shortened bay rain. He started by clipping a single then reached his first milestone of the day, his 22nd century, with a signature shot, rising up on his toes to punch a short ball from Roach to the boundary wide of point.
Over the hump? Dolphins are big favourites against Bengals By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are in contention for their first AFC East title since 2008, which would ensure their first playoff berth since 2016, which would give them a shot at their first postseason win since 2000, none of which coach Brian Flores wants to think, talk, read or hear about. He’s too focused on sustaining momentum resulting from the longstruggling franchise’s recent turnaround. “In this league, I don’t think you’re ever really over the hump,” Flores says. “There are just so many good teams. The league is built for parity, and there are a lot of good players. “I think once you think you’re over the hump is when you go back under the hump.” Flores believes no game is a gimme, not even for a Miami team that has won six of seven to improve to 7-4. The Dolphins are 11-point favourites, but they could be back under the hump unless they take seriously Sunday’s matchup against perennially woeful Cincinnati (2-8-1). MISMATCH? The blitz-happy Dolphins are sure to dial up the pressure on Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen, who will make his second start since Joe Burrow’s season-ending knee injury.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer is fond of multiple fronts designed to disrupt, and that’s what they’ve done. Miami ranks second in the NFL in points allowed, and third in takeaways. “He definitely has an aggressive mindset,” safety Eric Rowe said. “I like being the aggressor instead of being passive and kind of just playing back. He wants to dictate what the offense does, to have the defense run the game.” Without Burrow, the Bengals could be easy to confuse. They totaled 155 yards and 11 first downs in last week’s loss to the New York Giants. QB UNCERTAINTY Top Dolphins draft pick Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t played since he was benched in the fourth quarter of their loss at Denver on Nov. 22. He remains the No. 1 QB, but his availability is uncertain because of a sore thumb on his throwing hand that forced him to miss last week’s win over the New York Jets. In Tagovailoa’s absence, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for two touchdowns, and he remains on standby. Tagovailoa is 3-1 as the starter; Fitzpatrick is 4-3. STILL THE ONE Cincinnati coaches are staying with Allen despite his underwhelming performance in the loss to the Giants. Allen, who last played in a game in 2019 for Denver, was promoted from the practice squad. He threw
MIAMI Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. (AP) for 136 yards, had an interception and fumbled the ball away on a potentially game-winning drive with 57 seconds left, and the Bengals lost 19-17. Ryan Finley was Burrow’s backup this season, and journeyman Kevin Hogan has been added to the practice squad, but the Bengals are prepared to give Allen some more time, given that he hadn’t seen live action in a year. “Brandon’s got great poise, he was calm under pressure, he didn’t do anything that was out of character or anything out of expectation as far as knowing where to go and what to do and how to do it,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan says. “There were
probably a couple of timing things that as he watches the game, he’ll improve.” ONE-DIMENSIONAL ATTACK Making it tougher on Allen is Cincinnati’s inability to establish the run, which has been a problem since Joe Mixon went out with a foot injury in the loss to Indianapolis on Oct. 18. With injuries making for an ever-changing cast on the offensive line, getting enough push for the running game has been an issue. Last week the Giants were so sure Cincinnati wasn’t going to run they were dropping up to eight defenders into pass coverage. “We weren’t getting the line of scrimmage moved, and they were holding strong at the point of attack,” coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s something certainly we’ve got to improve on, because it’s a tough way when you just can’t move those front four.” PERFECT When kicking from 50 yards or beyond, the Dolphins’ Jason Sanders has made 10 consecutive field goals, the NFL’s longest such streak. That includes eight this year. “I’ve been kicking the ball really well,” Sanders says, “and I’m just excited to see where it’s going to go.” It’s probably going to go through the uprights. Overall, Sanders is 24 for 25 in 2020, and his career success rate of 87% (65 for 75) is the best in team history.
He also brought up his double century with a boundary from Roach, a fluent cover drive which was another of the characteristic shots that peppered his innings. His 200 included 30 fours or 120 runs from boundaries. Williamson had partnerships of 154 with Tom Latham for the second wicket and 83 with Taylor for the third. His partnership with Jamieson was worth 68 at tea. But his individual effort was the backbone of a first innings which has placed New Zealand in a commanding position in the test. Every element of his continuing innings Friday bespoke Williamson’s extraordinary talent and nature. Most batsmen would have fretted to be
YOUNG
from PAGE 12 road against Perth. They follow with a two-game series at home against Melbourne and conclude in December with a three-game series against Sydney. The ABL will see games played on 26 out of 31 days in January. Each team will play 24 regularseason games. Young is ranked No. 30 on the Blue Jays’ prospect list, and joins a Cavalry club that has advanced to one championship series and three semifinal appearances in the last four seasons. Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale said the schedule set the stage for an exciting season and thanked fans for their patience. “The six teams and their key stakeholders have in the past week, despite the challenges thrown at us, shown why we are putting in the work to play – for the fans and for the future of the ABL, capitalising on the opportunities in front of us,” Vale said. “The ABL teams have worked hard with us over
MAYCOCK from PAGE 12
wasn’t ready to play. “But because of what we are trying to do in the association, I would suffer the humiliation and the pain and the agony,” said Pratt, who has been working behind the scenes trying to get the BPGA re-established. “It’s not every day you can get up and play with the type of numbers that people say in the newspaper because they don’t reflect the type of golfer that I am or any of us because we don’t play enough. We don’t have any places to play.” For Cox, it’s the first time playing in and completing a four-day tournament, so he has something to base his future on. “I hit some good shots out there,” he said. “It just took some adjustments playing in the wind and adjusting to the greens. Hopefully when I play in some more tournaments, I will get some better results.” Cox, however, commended Maycock for setting the pace and maintaining his position as he putted and improved his game each day. Lewis said the whole idea was for the BPGA to honour Bowe because he was a “true gentleman” of the sport whom they considered to be their golf hero as Arnold Palmer is to the United States of America. “Everybody needs to know Mr Bowe as the true hero of professional golf in the Bahamas,” Lewis said. “This is our king of golf.”
ST FORT
from PAGE 12 but was released after just two games with the club. He went on to sign with the Niigata Albirex where he had his most productive stretch of the season where he was the
just short of a century at stumps in a test match, likely would have slept uneasily that night. Williamson showed no signs of concern, actually exuded calm as stumps approached on the first day and found him still short of a century. He resumed on the second day as if his innings had not been interrupted by a long night of anticipation. Williamson was still poised at the crease, relaxed and fully in command. Partners came and went, most relatively quickly, but Williamson remained impeturbable and immoveable. The West Indies’ position was made more difficult because batsman Darren Bravo and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich are both injured and may not be able to bat.
the past week to ensure as minimal impact as possible on the previously released schedule and we appreciate the patience and understanding of both our teams and fans during the process. We’ve faced some hurdles along the way but we now have an exciting schedule which will deliver an action-packed January and thrilling race to the playoffs.” The ABL is one of baseball’s recognised winter leagues where minor league prospects are assigned as an Englishspeaking alternative to the primary Spanish-speaking Latin America-based winter leagues. This season for the ABL features two conferences (Australian and International) with the traditional 40 games condensed to a 24 game regular season. Seven former Cavalry players were members of MLB 60-person Taxisquads last season. The club has active strategic partnerships with two MLB teams, the San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros. Partner teams have also included the Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves. One year after he became the Bahamas’ first professional golfer in 1967, Bowe founded the BPGA in 1968. Bowe, who was also an outstanding sloop sailor, died on November 1, 2012 at the age of 78. Bowe WallaceWhitfield, who was accompanied by her husband Joey and their daughter Sasha WallaceWhitfield, said they are elated that the BPGA is honouring her father and that was why they sponsored the trophy. “It’s wonderful. It’s long overdue. I’m just happy and thankful to Glenn Pratt, who has really put this together,” said Bowe Wallace-Whitfield, a former national swimmer. “He’s always been there through the golfing days with my dad, so it’s a passion of his, so we love that. We want to see this continue every year.” Pratt said in addition to hosting the championship this year, they will build a Roy Bowe Hall of Fame for professional golfers and they will lobby for his portrait to be displayed on the Wall of Fame in the Lynden Pindling International Airport along with all of the other national heroes. Lewis expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the BPGA, to the Ocean Club, for allowing them to stage the tournament there this week. But he said the BPGA will now put its emphasis on trying to get more of its members employed with the more than 10 golf properties in the Bahamas, as outlined in the constitution that Bowe established when he formed the organisation. team’s leading scorer in four games. He spent last season in Japan’s third division, the B3-League with the Saitama Broncos where he averaged 17.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. The B3-League has 11 teams made up of de facto semi-professional teams.
SPORTS
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 15
Shut out for nine months, fans back at top-level English soccer By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — Sitting apart but united in melody, Arsenal supporters restored a semblance of normality to an English stadium. Even the customary chanting against its north London rival — “Stand up if you hate Tottenham” — was back. The fans had waited 271 days to return to the Emirates Stadium, and to see Alexandre Lacazette run over to celebrate in front of them. Just as he did against West Ham in March, Lacazette scored first in a 4-1 win against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League. The lucky 2,000 fans inside Emirates Stadium yesterday were the first spectators allowed into a top-level competitive game in England since March 11 — the day the coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the W.H.O. Sports then shut down and stadiums were closed to spectators once competitions eventually resumed. Britain is an outlier in Europe. It’s had the most coronavirus deaths on the continent, with the total going over 60,000 with another 414 in the day before the Arsenal match. But it is the first of the major nations to allow supporters back into football games during COVID-19’s second wave. Arsenal fans Steve Manzanero recovered from the coronavirus last month — “it was pretty nasty” — but sees fans returning as a necessary part in the reopening of society. “Listening to our team, our players trying to play without any of the fans
SOCCER fans watch the Europa League group B soccer match between Arsenal and Rapid Wien at Emirates stadium in London, England, yesterday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) roaring has been the worst,” Manzanero said. Fans are being urged to avoid high-fiving and hugging as part of social distancing. Curbing that singing will be harder to do. “I’m screaming my lungs out,” Manzanero said. “If I’m not hoarse by the time I go back tomorrow then we haven’t had a good time.” Arsenal’s former stadium Highbury was often mockingly called “The Library” by rival fans over a lack of atmosphere. The few fans allowed in last night certainly made sure they were heard
— and showed the lockdown hadn’t dampened the humour. “You’re not signing any more,” they serenaded the nonexistent away fans after Eddie Nketiah scored Arsenal’s third. For now, only home fans are being allowed into stadiums. So only the Tottenham faithful will be at the derby against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. And while London stadiums are allowed 2,000 fans because the capital is subject to the second tier of coronavirus restrictions, half the Premier League grounds — including in
Manchester — are in tier three areas so cannot have any crowds yet. “It’s felt a bit like I’ve lost touch with the club,” Arsenal fan Mary Oatey reflected on missing out on most games in 2020, “being part of the family and part of the club.” Lewis Boles missed out on a ticket yesterday but still came to savour the return of a flicker of an atmosphere returning outside the Emirates. “I need it like oxygen — taking football away from us with all the COVID-19 (protocols) has been killing us as fans,” the 33-year-old Bole said.
“Without a crowd football is nothing. Ben Weeden felt safer coming back into his Arsenal seat than going to the supermarket. “It’s been a hole. It’s not the same the excitement you get when it’s a game day, getting the train, the walk here, the buzz,” the 31-year-old Weeden said. “You miss it and I don’t think you realise how much you miss it until you can’t do it. “For mental health reasons, it’s a distraction sometimes for some people. It’s going to bring people together again, at a time when we need it.”
TIRANA TO HOST 1ST EUROPA CONF. LEAGUE FINAL IN 2022 By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The national soccer stadium in Albania was chosen yesterday to host the first final of a new European club competition. UEFA said the 22,500seat Arena Kombëtare in Tirana will stage the inaugural Europa Conference League final in May 2022. The competition launches next season as the third tier in the pyramid of European competitions, below the Champions League and Europa League. It was created to help countries whose teams cannot realistically compete for the two existing titles. UEFA yesterday also made the draw for next year’s Nations League Final Four tournament, pairing host Italy with Spain. Top-ranked Belgium will face World Cup champion France. The men’s Under-21 European Championship in 2023 was awarded to co-hosts Georgia and Romania. The Europa Conference League Teams will have teams from all 55 UEFA member countries enter the qualifying rounds, before a 32-team group stage and knockout rounds. The entry list foresees the sixth-place team at the end of this season in Europe’s four highest-ranked leagues — Spain, England, Germany and Italy — entering at the qualifying playoff stage. The format means a team could play in all three club competitions in the same season. Teams eliminated in Champions League qualifying rounds transfer into the Europa League. Third-place teams in Europa League groups then move into a playoff round in the Europa Conference League with a place in its last-16 at stake.
MARQUINHOS EMERGING AS PSG’S NATURAL LEADER IN TOUGH SEASON By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain was barely hanging on against Manchester United in the Champions League when Marquinhos emerged again to help his team secure a win. The centre half is shining at both ends of the field this season, and the French league leader again needs him at his best for a difficult match away to Montpellier on Saturday. Montpellier has won four straight games to move into fifth place, and injury-depleted PSG will have tired legs after travelling back from Wednesday night’s game in England. That is some good news for Montpellier, which has been been rocked by the withdrawal of top scorer Andy Delort after he tested positive for the coronavirus for a second time in three months.
Delort and Gaetan Laborde have scored or assisted on 18 goals in 12 games. The more technically assured Delort netting six times. His absence leaves midfielder Teji Savanier with even more to do pushing forward. He is on the fringes of a call-up to the France squad and has contributed to the strong start with three goals and three assists. Despite significantly boosting his salary after joining from Nimes for a club record 9.5 million euros ($11.5 million) last year, the locally-born Savanier is far removed from the glitz and glamour afforded to PSG star Neymar after his world-record transfer from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($270 million). Savanier still lives in his native Romani neighbourhood of City Gely and enjoys having barbecues with the locals.
NO. 14 MARYLAND WOMEN MAKE BIG TEN RECORD 21 3-POINTERS COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Diamond Miller scored a career-high 28 points, Katie Benzan added 21, and the duo combined for 11 of Maryland’s Big Ten record 21 3-pointers as the No. 14 Terrapins beat Towson 112-78 last night. Maryland was 8 of 12 from 3-point range at the half and finished 21 of 31 (67.7 percent) — with three apiece from Chloe Bibby and Ashley Owusu. Seven Terrapins made a 3-pointer, and Towson was 7 of 19. The previous conference record was 19, set by Iowa (at Northwestern) in 2014-15 and Minnesota (at Illinois) the following season. The NCAA record is 28 by Western Ill. on November 12, 2018. Maryland lost prized freshman starter Angel
Reese to a right ankle injury in the first quarter. The 6-foot-3 wing, the No. 2 recruit in the nation, had two points in three minutes before the injury. She averaged 17 points in her first three games, including 20 in her debut. Owusu also had a career high in scoring with 25 points and seven rebounds for Maryland (3-1). Kionna Jeter scored 28 points on 12-of-28 shooting for Towson (2-1). Aleah Nelson added 18 points and Allie Kubek had 11. Maryland’s next scheduled game on Saturday against Coppin State was cancelled due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Eagles programme. The Terrapins are scheduled to play on Tuesday against Mount St Mary’s.
Montpellier is a tough place to travel, even without fans present due to the pandemic. A win would move Montpellier one point ahead of PSG — which has conceded five goals in two league games — and hand the defending champions a fourth defeat of a tough campaign. So Marquinhos will have his work cut out to keep Montpellier’s physical side at bay. But he should be well prepared, having played on against United despite getting cut around the eye after receiving a stray elbow from forward Anthony
Martial as they jumped for the ball. Neymar scored the first and third goals in the 3-1 win at United, but Marquinhos really made the difference with a crucial goal-line block at 1-1 and a poacher’s finish in the penalty box to put PSG ahead against the run of play. Not for the first time, Marquinhos bailed his more illustrious teammates out. Back in August, it was Marquinhos who netted a last-minute equaliser against Atalanta in the Champions League quarterfinals, then put PSG
ahead in a semifinal win against Leipzig. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe failed to score during the knockout stages last season, and Mbappe has now gone a staggering nine games without a goal in the competition after more wasteful finishing against United. France’s World Cupwinning star last scored in the competition against Galatasary on November 12 last year. Thankfully for PSG, Neymar has rediscovered his scoring touch. But while Neymar grabbed the headlines for his brace against United,
it was noticeable how PSG coach Thomas Tuchel put more emphasis on his captain Marquinhos’ leadership qualities in his post-match comments. The Brazilian leads by example more than countryman Neymar — who spoke after the game of wishing to be reunited with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi — or Mbappe, who in his growing frustration squandered a clear chance in the second half rather than passing to the unmarked Neymar. That miss might have proved costly, without Marquinhos around.
PAGE 18, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Optimism growing for COVID relief bill as pressure builds WASHINGTON Associated Press OPTIMISM about delivering long-sought COVID-19 relief is building on Capitol Hill after additional rank-and-file lawmakers voiced support for a bipartisan, middle-ofthe-road plan taking shape in the Senate and as top congressional leaders connected on the topic for the first time in months. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — frequent rivals but proven dealmakers — spoke on the phone yesterday, a conversation that came the day after Pelosi signaled a willingness to make major concessions in search of a COVID rescue package in the $1tn range. Pelosi’s spokesman announced the telephone conversation, tweeting that it was “about their shared commitment to completing an omnibus and COVID relief as soon as possible”. “We had a good conversation. I think we’re both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package,” McConnell said. With COVID-19 caseloads spiraling and the daily death toll equaling records, the momentum for finally passing a second major relief bill is undeniably building, especially after President-elect Joe Biden and top congressional Democrats endorsed a $908bn bipartisan framework to build an agreement. Some conservatives, including Republicans from COVID hotspots like North Dakota and Iowa, said they were comfortable with an aid package carrying the almost $1tn price tag. Sen Kevin Cramer, R-ND, said the bipartisan plan is “the right balance of compromise and it’s a number
FROM left: Rep James Clyburn, D-SC in Columbia, SC, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif, in Washington and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md, in Washington. Hoyer and No 3 party leader Clyburn, Congress’ highest ranking Black member, were reelected to their positions, like Pelosi without opposition on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. Photo: AP that’s doable”. Added Lindsey Graham, R-SC: “There’s a bipartisan package for $908bn that will really help people.” The path forward is cluttered with obstacles, however, including a tight time window and hard feelings from months of futile talks and a poisonous election. But the $908bn cost is what many Republicans, McConnell included, signaled they were willing to accept this summer. McConnell, R-Ky, his leverage bolstered after the election, continues to take a hard line, insisting in a floor speech yesterday that any relief package be limited to consensus items like another round of “paycheck protection” aid to businesses, funding to distribute vaccines, and aid to schools. “Why should these impactful and noncontroversial life-preservers be delayed one second longer?” McConnell said. “At long last, let’s do what Congress does when we want an outcome. Let’s
make law on all the subjects where we agree.” Later, McConnell met with Republicans who are working the scaled-back, bipartisan measure, including Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah. Across Capitol Hill, an allied bipartisan “problem solvers” group claimed growing momentum at an outdoor news conference. A key McConnell ally, Sen John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he is negotiating with fellow Judiciary Committee member Dick Durbin, D-Ill, over a provision much sought by Republicans and McConnell in particular that would give a liability shield to businesses, universities and other organisations against COVID-related lawsuits. McConnell himself said a huge drop in Democratic demands — from more than $2tn to less than $1tn — was “at least movement in the right direction”. And Trump weighed in to support the idea. Obtaining his necessary signature
can be a bit of a high-wire act, especially since any COVID relief is likely to be added to a catchall spending bill. “I think they are getting very close and I want it to happen,” Trump said. At stake is whether to provide at least some COVID aid now rather than wait until Biden takes office. Businesses, especially airlines, restaurants and health providers, are desperate for help as caseloads spiral and deaths spike. Money to help states distribute vaccines is needed, and supplemental pandemic unemployment aid that provides additional weeks of jobless benefits expires at the end of the month. Biden is supporting an additional aid package that’s as large as possible now. He said on Wednesday that an aid package developed by moderates “wouldn’t be the answer, but it would be the immediate help for a lot of things”. He wants a relief bill to pass Congress now, with more
MARKET REPORT www.bisxbahamas.com
THURSDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2020
BISX ALL SHARE INDEX:
CLOSE
CHANGE
%CHANGE
2088.79
-2.81
-0.13
YTD
YTD%
(242) 323-2330 (242) 323-2320
-6.40 -142.81
BISX LISTED & TRADED SECURITIES 52WK HI 4.05 33.05 2.00 1.79 2.39 6.00 6.75 4.40 8.59 4.50 6.16 12.77 3.64 6.50 10.88 8.44 16.99 4.25 9.26 15.21
52WK LOW 3.13 22.65 0.67 1.62 1.67 5.00 6.00 2.70 4.75 3.50 5.90 11.06 2.10 3.96 9.60 7.50 13.04 3.20 8.15 14.00
PREFERENCE SHARES 1.00
1.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00
1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 10.00 0.90
SECURITY AML Foods Limited APD Limited Benchmark Bahamas First Holdings Limited Bank of Bahamas Bahamas Property Fund Bahamas Waste Cable Bahamas Commonwealth Brewery Commonwealth Bank Colina Holdings CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Consolidated Water BDRs Doctor's Hospital Emera Incorporated Famguard RF Bank & Trust Limited Focol Finco J. S. Johnson
SYMBOL AML APD BBL BFH BOB BPF BWL CAB CBB CBL CHL CIB CWCB DHS EMAB FAM FBB FCL FIN JSJ
Bahamas First Holdings Preference Cable Bahamas Series 6 Cable Bahamas Series 8 Cable Bahamas Series 9 Cable Bahamas Series 10 Colina Holdings Class A RF Bank & Trust Limited Class A Focol Class B
BFHP CAB6 CAB8 CAB9 CAB10 CHLA FBBA FCLB
CORPORATE DEBT - (percentage pricing) 52WK HI 100.00 100.00
52WK LOW 100.00 100.00
115.92 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 102.00
104.79 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
52WK HI 2.37 4.43 2.13 198.39 176.73 1.69 1.85 1.77 1.24 8.39 10.26 7.23 12.80 12.81 10.81 10.00 8.98 11.79
52WK LOW 2.11 3.30 1.68 164.74 116.70 1.65 1.79 1.75 1.05 6.41 7.62 5.66 8.65 10.54 9.57 9.88 8.45 11.20
SECURITY RF Bank Note 22 (Series B) + Bahamas First Holdings Limited
SYMBOL FBB22 BFHB
BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT STOCK - (percentage pricing)
MUTUAL FUNDS
MARKET TERMS
Bahamas Note 6.95 (2029) BGS: 2014-12-7Y BGS: 2015-1-7Y BGS: 2014-12-30Y BGS: 2015-1-30Y BGS: 2015-6-7Y BGS: 2015-6-30Y BGS: 2015-10-7Y
BAH29 BG0107 BG0207 BG0130 BG0230 BG0307 BG0330 BG0407
LAST CLOSE 4.05 32.12 1.62 1.78 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.99 4.75 3.64 5.90 11.26 2.26 6.50 10.08 8.40 14.12 3.80 8.25 15.20
CLOSE 4.05 32.12 1.62 1.78 1.67 6.00 6.61 2.90 4.75 3.63 5.90 11.26 2.25 6.50 10.24 8.40 14.12 3.80 8.25 15.20
CHANGE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (0.09) 0.00 (0.01) 0.00 0.00 (0.01) 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
1.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1000.00 1.00 10.00 1.00
LAST SALE 100.00 100.00
CLOSE 100.00 100.00
CHANGE 0.00 0.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
107.31 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
VOLUME
1,450 6,000
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 VOLUME
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
EPS$ 0.239 0.932 0.000 0.000 0.070 1.760 0.369 -0.438 0.140 0.184 0.449 0.722 0.102 0.467 0.646 0.728 0.816 0.203 0.939 0.631
NAV 2.37 4.43 2.13 198.36 173.98 1.69 1.79 1.77 1.05 8.39 9.88 7.23 12.33 12.80 10.20 N/A 9.28 11.86
DIV$ 0.170 1.260 0.020 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.260 0.000 0.000 0.120 0.220 0.720 0.434 0.060 0.328 0.240 0.540 0.120 0.200 0.610 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
P/E 16.9 34.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M 17.9 -6.6 33.9 19.7 13.1 15.6 22.1 13.9 15.9 11.5 17.3 18.7 8.8 24.1
YIELD 4.20% 3.92% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.93% 0.00% 0.00% 3.31% 3.73% 6.39% 19.29% 0.92% 3.20% 2.86% 3.82% 3.16% 2.42% 4.01%
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.25% 7.00% 6.50%
INTEREST Prime + 1.75% 6.25%
MATURITY 19-Oct-2022 30-Sep-2025
6.95% 4.50% 4.50% 6.25% 6.25% 4.50% 6.25% 4.25%
20-Nov-2029 15-Dec-2021 30-Jul-2022 15-Dec-2044 30-Jul-2045 26-Jun-2022 26-Jun-2045 15-Oct-2022
YTD% 12 MTH% 3.76% 4.43% 1.54% 2.56% 2.12% 2.59% 1.65% 2.39% 4.34% 9.82% 1.65% 1.95% -3.06% -2.22% 0.80% 1.17% -12.30% -11.81% 0.64% 0.98% 1.19% -3.63% 4.20% 5.04% 2.63% 7.68% 3.68% 3.93% -4.89% -4.62% N/A N/A -0.50% 3.70% -3.80% 4.10%
NAV Date 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 30-Oct-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 31-Oct-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020 30-Sep-2020
YIELD - last 12 month dividends divided by closing price
52wk-Hi - Highest closing price in last 52 weeks
Bid $ - Buying price of Colina and Fidelity
52wk-Low - Lowest closing price in last 52 weeks
Ask $ - Selling price of Colina and fidelity
Previous Close - Previous day's weighted price for daily volume
Last Price - Last traded over-the-counter price
Today's Close - Current day's weighted price for daily volume
Weekly Vol. - Trading volume of the prior week
Change - Change in closing price from day to day
EPS $ - A company's reported earnings per share for the last 12 mths
Daily Vol. - Number of total shares traded today
NAV - Net Asset Value
DIV $ - Dividends per share paid in the last 12 months
N/M - Not Meaningful
P/E - Closing price divided by the last 12 month earnings
TO TRADE CALL: CFAL 242-502-7010 | ROYALFIDELITY 242-356-7764 | CAROLISLE 242-502-7525 | LENO 242-396-3225 | BENCHMARK 242-326-7333
aid to come next year. Biden’s remarks followed an announcement by Pelosi, D-Calif, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York supporting the almost $1tn approach as the “basis” for discussions. The announcement appeared aimed at budging McConnell, who so far has been unwilling to abandon a $550bn Senate GOP plan that failed twice this fall. The Democrats embraced the $908bn approach from moderate Sens Collins and Joe Manchin, D-WVa, among others. It would establish a $300 per week jobless benefit, send $160bn to help state and local governments, boost schools and universities, revive popular “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses, and bail out transit systems and airlines. “In the spirit of compromise we believe the bipartisan framework introduced by Senators yesterday should be used as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations,” Pelosi and Schumer said. They said they would try to build upon the approach, which has support in the House from the bipartisan “problem solvers” coalition. The statement was a significant concession by Pelosi and Schumer, who played hardball this fall during failed preelection discussions with the administration on a costlier bill.
They wanted a more generous unemployment benefit and far more for state and local governments. Their embrace of the $908bn measure was a retreat from a secret $1.3tn offer the two Democrats gave McConnell just on Monday. “In the spirit of compromise, Speaker Pelosi and I believe that the bipartisan framework introduced on Tuesday should be used as the basis, as a framework for immediate bipartisan negotiations,” Schumer said. “Of course, we and others will offer improvements but we believe with good faith negotiations we could very well come to an agreement.” The new plan includes a liability shield for businesses and other organisations that have reopened their doors during the pandemic. It’s the first time Pelosi and Schumer have shown a willingness to consider the idea, a top priority of McConnell, and Durbin’s involvement suggests a level of seriousness that had not been previously seen. McConnell had dismissed the bipartisan offer on Tuesday, instead aiming to rally Republicans around the $550bn GOP proposal. But McConnell himself endorsed a $1tnor-so plan this summer, only to encounter resistance from conservatives that prompted him to retrench. He has acknowledged that another infusion of aid to states and local governments, a key Pelosi demand, probably will pass eventually. McConnell wouldn’t respond when asked about the Democratic statement. His top deputy, Sen John Thune, R-SD, said GOP leaders might agree to merging the bipartisan proposal with McConnell’s bill. “I think there’s still time, although it’s short, to put a bill together,” Thune said on Wednesday. Any relief package would be attached to a $1.4tn yearend spending bill required to avert a government shutdown next weekend. Talks on that measure are proceeding, but if lawmakers should stumble, a temporary spending bill would be needed as a bridge into next year.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 19
Investment deal’s anatomy exposed FROM PAGE 24 He also refuted suggestions that the south Abaco development’s success is heavily reliant on land speculation, after Tribune Business questioned whether the target of raising $250m from “pre-construction escrow sales” was ambitious to say the least. Project Oceanside revealed that a further $500m worth of real estate and marina slip sales was the goal during the threeyear construction period, taking to the total to $750m. Many observers will likely view this as unrealistic, but Mr Ben-Zur replied: “It’s not what happened at Ginn sur mer.” Describing the Sustainable South Abaco group, which obtained and released the document, as “obsessed” with his financial capabilities, Mr Ben-Zur said he found this “a bit telling” as it suggested its environmental case against the project proceeding was “weak”. Conceding that “it sounds like a real document; I have no reason to believe otherwise” when pressed on its contents by this newspaper, the developer also confirmed that the basic financing structure involving a mix of equity, “preferred equity” and debt remains largely intact. Mr Ben-Zur, though, asserted that the actual numbers had changed. He
revealed that “there are other investors involved” in the project, hinting they are of the institutional variety, although he declined to name them citing confidentiality agreements. The Tyrsoz Family Holdings chief added that the project had managed to attract investors both before COVID-19 took hold and afterwards, when he resumed his capital raising efforts in the summer, while “early sales” had also been achieved on the real estate side - despite the land transactions having yet to close - with “small deposits being placed into escrow”. “It’s not exactly the same as you’re seeing there,” Mr Ben-Zur said of the financial details. “It was the plan at the time and things have changed. There were changes pre-pandemic because of capital market reaction, and changes after the pandemic. “It’s a puzzle, and we’ve raised interest from other people through various documents. The financial arrangement we have is a puzzle at various levels. There’s different layers. It’s a very complicated structure; not overly complicated, but it’s not simple. “Things have changed quite materially. The numbers have changed here and there quite materially. But the fact is we have the funds we need to move forward. We have everything we need in order to proceed
Bay Street’s ‘full dead stop’ gets further extended FROM PAGE 24 probably been pushed to the second quarter, not the first quarter,” he said of the sector’s likely return to Nassau and Freeport, in addition to its Bahamian private islands. “They’ll probably start on their test runs kind of in March next year, and paid passengers will not be in April. This is what I’m hearing from the cruise companies. It’s unfortunate.” The global cruise industry, which has lost billions of dollars due to its enforced COVID-19 shutdown, is still grappling with understanding, implementing
and complying with all the health protocols imposed on it by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in return for a resumption of sailing. Many observers view events of early 2020 as demonstrating that cruise ships are ideal breeding grounds for the virus, and Mr D’Aguilar said the outcome of the US election and Joe Biden’s victory adds “another element of uncertainty to the market” as his administration may not be as eager as Donald Trump to see the industry’s rapid return. “This continues to be devastating,” he told Tribune Business of the
with the project subject to getting the approvals, which we are confident we can get.” Tribune Business sources yesterday said Mr BenZur’s financing structure was not atypical for Bahamas-based resort and real estate developments, with Project Oceanside providing a good case study on the anatomy of such investments. Project developers/ owners, they suggested, typically invest sufficient equity (their own monies) in obtaining a Heads of Agreement from the Government, then leverage this deal - and the approvals/permits they receive - to attract other investors and financiers to fund the build-out. Project Oceanside suggests Mr Ben-Zur may be doing similar. The document confirms he does not yet own the two land parcels, the 620-acre Lantern Head parcel and the 467acre “South-West Point” tract, but rather has them “under contract” - effectively an option to buy - that he will execute once all the necessary environmental clearances are received from the government. However, the Tyrsoz Family Holdings booklet argues that the Heads of Agreement he signed with the government preCOVID-19, as well as tax breaks and concessions that include the ability to situation. “There’s no other word to describe it. There’s nothing going on on Bay Street, and until we get the cruise companies back it’s going to be at a full dead stop. “It’s very devastating. There’s nothing the Government can do to get the cruise companies to move any faster. We’re at the whim of the CDC, and we have to wait patiently until they fulfill those requirements. “The cruise companies are losing cash at a phenomenal rate so it’s important at some stage they get back on stream without going back to the market to raise cash. They might be getting very close to another cash call. We’ve got to believe with the arrival of a vaccine that’s going to open up a lot more options for them to return to service quicker.”
develop a small casino, have increased the value of these land-holdings four-fold from the $15m purchase price he has agreed to pay. “Tyrsoz has the over 1,000 acres of Lantern Head and Southwest Point under contract for a consideration of $15m. Since this contract was executed two-and-a-half years ago the value of the land has increased substantially for the following reasons,” the Project Oceanside document said. “The approval of the Government of The Bahamas for the project has materially increased the value of the land. As part of the approval by the government, the government agreed to several concessions including the approval for a small casino... Overall, based on other projects reviewed, it is the opinion of Tyrsoz that a current appraisal may value the land at $60m or more.” Tyrsoz Family Holdings has made much of its pledge to grant 175 acres from its eventual landholdings to increase the Abaco National Park’s footprint. However, Project Oceanside reveals the land swap with the government is key to increasing its beach front land and therefore the value of its property. “The most significant concession is the agreement to a land swap that adds only about 80 acres to the total area but increases the beach front land from a very small 700 feet to about 6,000 feet. The nine-fold increase is transformative to the value of the project and the land,” the document said. Rosewood Hotels, Jack Nicklaus and Yacht Club de Monaco are named as the project’s resort,
golf and marina partners respectively, but Mr BenZur said this line-up is now much changed although he did not reveal any replacements. The Tyrsoz Family Holdings project currently features 170 hotel rooms, 290 residential units, a 136slip mega yacht marina, 18-hole golf course and other amenities. However, Project Oceanside said there is significant reliance on generating vast sums from real estate pre-sales. “Based on preliminary assessments supported by reports from CBRE and IMI Worldwide Properties (a leading real estate broker in selling projects of this type), it is estimated that approximately $250m of sales will occur in the first two years prior to commencement of construction,” Project Oceanside said.. “These sales will be achieved with a significant discount to current market price. During the three-year construction period, about $500m of sales will be achieved. The remaining units will be sold during the two years post-construction.” It is unclear whether these projections have changed as Mr Ben-Zur did not give any revised figures. When questioned as to how realistic these forecasts are, and if the project is reliant on land speculation, he vehemently denied the latter and said real estate and marina slip buyers are not financing the build-out or acting as the collateral for the debt funding. “Let me make the distinction here; a big distinction,” he replied. “We are not using buyers’ money to fund the project. We are raising money from
institutional investors who will be investing in the project based on the proven success of sales to a certain number. We are not using that money.” Mr Ben-Zur also rejected the notion of using sales revenues as loan collateral, as “those buyers are not ready to close on the deal” and want to see himself and the development team deliver. As a result, any monies received will be held in escrow until closing. However, Project Oceanside states: “It is expected that $250m will be raised as a mezzanine loan/preferred equity to be collateralised by the $250m pre-construction escrow sales. “Drawdown of this facility will commence just prior to construction, approximately two years after closing, and will be conditional on achieving the pre-construction escrow sales and the availability of the senior construction loan facility.” Mr Ben-Zur, meanwhile, argued that Sustainable South Abaco was focusing on his financial plans due to the weakness of its case. “I find the obsession of the environmental group in our financial ability to be a bit telling, as it indicates to me their environmental case is a bit weak,” he told Tribune Business. “Environmentally we are very confident we have a good case and they have a weak case. If we didn’t have the money there wouldn’t be a project. Why are they so concerned about it? We were never planning, and still don’t plan, to start any work in earnest until we have our ducks in a row. I have no interest in owning 11,000 acres in South Abaco that has no use. Why do that?”
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
PAGE 20, Friday, December 4, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Banker: ‘Minimal’ devaluation risk FROM PAGE 24
subsequently to Tribune Business, saying: “I believe it’s a very minimal possibility because there’s no economic advantage to it.” Noting that a currency devaluation would have been both politically and socially unacceptable for Barbados when it negotiated its IMF assistance programme, he added: “I think we’re in the same boat. I don’t think it’s politically acceptable to devalue the currency, and economically it doesn’t make sense. I don’t think it’s likely.” However, the RF investments chief did agree that new and/or increased taxes could be imminent to pay for the debt and deficit blow-out inflicted by COVID-19 on the government’s finances. Mr Slatter said his “gut feeling” told him that tax rises could come as early as next year due to the severity of the fiscal fall-out, with the national debt expected to surpass the $10bn mark
by mid-2022 and this year’s record deficit still projected at $1.327bn. While many observers, including the IMF, have suggested that The Bahamas hold-off on any tax increases so as not to undermine the economic recovery from COVID-19, Mr Slatter said: “Out of necessity we’ll have to do it. I’d say it would be early in the New Year to be honest, although I don’t have any sources to pin it on. “It’s reasonable to expect taxation overall will increase. Whether that takes the form or an income tax or corporate tax, it’s hard to say. The government has to pay for all this debt it has accumulated.” Mr Slatter also revealed that he did not expect the Central Bank to relax restrictions on capital/portfolio investments by Bahamians abroad, which was one of the restrictions imposed to preserve the external reserves and reduce foreign currency outflows, until the 2021 second half.
“It all comes down to COVID-19 being brought under control, and the visibility for the Central Bank in terms of tourism inflows and feeling the economy’s stabilised, and they have an idea and can make accurate projections of tourism currency inflows,” he added. “The investment currency market remains closed, and I do not expect it to open up until the second half of next year.” Mr Slatter also advised Bahamians against “jumping whole hog” into the local listed equities market until more information became available on the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines globally and the associated economic recovery. “Over the next few months you can be selective, look at companies that pay dividends despite COVID19, and have decent revenues and profits,” he urged. “You need to look at their actual results through September. “Do your research and get some advice, but to jump into the equities market whole hog at this point? No. You need to be tactical and know your risk. As we get into the firs quarter next year there will be more information and people will feel more comfortable getting into the broader equities market as a whole.”
Realtors: ‘Stop going to same taxation well’
FROM PAGE 24
argued that this market segment first needed to be better defined for BREA to properly respond. “Raising taxes on anything right now I don’t think is a wise decision,” she said. “We’re trying to come out of this pandemic and we’re still trying to recover from Hurricane Dorian, especially Abaco and Grand Bahama. “It’s a bad time to think about raising anything at this point. We’ve had devastation after devastation in the Out Islands with Hurricane Dorian and then the pandemic. It’s not been easy. Raising the tax on the high end, we’re trying to encourage foreign direct investment and get them to come here. We don’t want to put anybody off.” The IMF’s latest call mirrors some of the recommendations recently unveiled by the government-appointed Economic Recovery Committee (ERC), which suggested increasing the $60,000 real property tax “cap” or ceiling, and for real property tax to be levied on “high end” Bahamian-owned properties in the Family Islands. Many Bahamians will likely welcome increased fees and taxes being levied on wealthy foreign buyers as a means to generate some revenues for a cash-strapped Public Treasury that is facing a $1.327bn deficit for the 2020-2021 budget year. They will perceive such buyers as having the means to afford such increases, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is an increasing view that taxation should be linked to ability to pay. There will also be some who view the real estate industry as desirous of
imposing tax increases on any sector but their own. However, Mario Carey, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Group Bahamas principal, argued to Tribune Business that simply looking to the same revenue sources time after time was a “non-visionary and very lazy approach” to addressing the tax shortfalls created by COVID-19. Besides questioning the focus on the “dysfunctional” real property tax system, given that the auditor-general has consistently said more than $500m in revenues and penalties remain uncollected, Mr Carey argued that the government should switch its revenue-raising gaze from the land to the sea. Calling for The Bahamas to tax yachts visiting and transiting its waters based on the miles they have travelled, Mr Carey said seabed leases - which the crown often agrees with developers for a nominal annual fee - and dock slips also represented areas for increased revenue earnings. “I think that seems to be an easy statement to make,” he added of the IMF’s call for a higher rate than the present 1 percent on upper-end properties. “It’s easy to say tax the wealthy. I always say the wealthier are the worst ones to get money from. I still don’t think that should be the only thing.” Questioning why the IMF would call for a rate increase, rather than the government collect the existing nine-figure sum in outstanding real property taxes, Mr Carey said the absence of serious enforcement and penalties for non-compliance meant there was little merit to its suggestion. “It doesn’t make sense,” he told this newspaper. “How can they have this
MARIO CAREY conversation when you have a dysfunctional system in place? They just think landbased taxation? What about sea-based taxation? How can you give a guy a seabed lease for $1 a year and he’s selling dock slips for $10,000 a foot? Why go after the same group of people instead of fixing the problems?” Mr Carey, asserting that dock slips were being sold at between $10,000-$12,000 per foot in high-end marinas on the upper end, and $3,500 feet at the bottom, continued: “Ninety-nine percent of the people making these deals, the sellers, are foreigners, and the buyers are foreigners. You don’t see many Bahamians buying dock space for $10,000 a foot. “It’s a non-creative, nonvisionary and very lazy approach if you ask me. It’s like going to the same well and finding there is no water there again instead of trying to find another well, or giving somebody fish instead of teaching them how to fish. “The wealthy are very sensitive to being punished with tax increases. They won’t give you their money without some good reason. They need to talk about new sources of revenue that are under-taxed, under utilised. Look at all the old agreements for tax concessions,” Mr Carey added. “The point is to get it done instead of coming back to real estate and taxing the wealthy all the time. It’s so easy to have that conversation, but the hard work is coming up with ideas that make sense.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 21
COLINA SHAREHOLDERS SEE 77% PROFITS CUT
CLOUD PROVIDER IN A CARIBBEAN FIRST
A BAHAMAS-based cloud services provider says it has been named as the only LogRhythm authorised managed security services provider partner for the Caribbean and Latin America. Cloud Carib said its new partnership, which is the only one of its kind in the region, will provide clients with the ability to detect, respond to and neutralise potentially devastating cyber threats while freeing up time and resources to focus on productivity and growth. “This addition to the Cloud Carib portfolio represents a significant investment of time and resources, and is a huge accomplishment for the team,” said the company’s chief executive, Scott MacKenzie. “No other Managed Service Provider (MSP) in the region has this designation. “This is proof of our commitment to providing our clients with best-in-class services and technology, and we’re very pleased to have secured such a great global partner.” Cloud Carib says its new status enables it to offer LogRhythm as an enterprise SIEM technology to support the existing managed security services it currently offer. The company’s founder and chief technology officer, Stelios Xeroudakis, added: “This partnership essentially takes the investigative work out of tracking a company’s growth patterns or monitoring for threats. “Our partners and clients now have an additional support system which fits seamlessly into their current managed services systems, while offering extras like log management, network monitoring, forensics and critical security analytics which can be used to implement proactive security measures.”
COLINA Holdings (Bahamas) has blamed the damage inflicted by COVID-19 on the value of its investment holdings for a 76.6 percent comprehensive income drop for the nine months to end-September. The BISX-listed life and health insurance holding company disclosed that comprehensive income attributable to equity shareholders fell year-overyear from $11.5m to $2.7m during the first nine months of 2020. It said this resulted from “the significant impact that the mark-to-market price adjustments on its investment securities” are having. Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders held relatively firm, though, coming in at $8.6m or $0.35 per ordinary share compared to the prior year’s $8.9m and $0.36 per
ordinary share for the first nine months. “These mark-to-market revaluation losses were reflected in net investment income, which totals $8.6m compared to $32.9m in the prior year,” Colina Holdings (Bahamas) said. “Additional fair value losses were recognised through the revaluation reserve on investment securities classified as available for sale totalling $7.7m. The
company ensures that, as part of its long-term strategy, it maintains a strong capital base to withstand these interim periods of price volatility. “Local commercial activity has been stifled during 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Bahamian economy,” said Terence Hilts, pictured, Colina Holdings (Bahamas) chairman. “The company continues to have the strong balance sheet to weather income statement volatility, particularly during these times of economic change and uncertainty.” The valuation reductions affecting net investment income were also largely responsible for the 22 percent year-over-year revenue decline suffered by the life and health insurance conglomerate during the first
nine months of 2020. Total revenues totalled $108.3m compared to $138.7m in 2019. Gross premium revenues through September 30, 2020, were down $4.3m as new business and renewal premiums were challenged by COVID-19’s fall-out. Net premium revenues totalled $83.5m compared to $88.7m for the same period in 2019. Colina Holdings (Bahamas) said the decrease in revenues was slightly offset by a reduction in claims, with net policyholder benefits totalling $60.6m for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $67.6m in the prior year. There was also a reduction of provisions for future policyholder benefits totalling $3.1m, compared to an increase in actuarial reserves of $20.1m during the same period in 2019.
The mark-to-market adjustments seen in the income statement and revaluation reserve also affected the company’s investment securities balance at September 30, 2020. This had had fallen to $439.3m, a decrease from $445.8m at December 31, 2019. Total assets at September 30, 2020, were $788.6m, with invested assets remaining the largest component of total assets at 78.8 percent. “Prior to any consideration of dividend distributions, we carefully assess the company’s capital position,” said Mr Hilts. “We remain focused on ensuring that the company’s capital base remains sufficiently strong to meet future obligations to its policyholders and shareholders.”
CIBC WINS BAHAMAS AWARD FOR TENTH TIME CIBC FirstCaribbean said it has won Bank of the Year for The Bahamas for the tenth time as part of the awards issued by the finance magazine, The Banker. Colette Delaney, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s chief executive, said: “The Bank of the Year award is an international acknowledgement which highlights achievements in areas critical to success in the banking industry. “I cannot thank the CIBC FirstCaribbean Bahamas team enough for their hard work and dedication. This is what happens when we work together for the benefit of our clients and stay true to the values of the organisation - trust, teamwork, and accountability.” Ms Delaney added: “CIBC FirstCaribbean is undoubtedly a strong example of best practice implementation that, in turn, has significant impact on business results and the banking industry overall. This year we have remained steadfast in our commitment to demonstrating the many benefits we offer, increasing our innovation and using technology for advancement.” The Banker, explaining why it selected the bank, said: “A solid capital base
NOTICE
CIBC FirstCaribbean adds a tenth Bracken trophy to its awards collection after winning – for the tenth time – Bank of the Year for The Bahamas. put CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Gezel Farrington, CIBC delivery of Corporate commitment, and we look Bahamian operations in a First Caribbean’s director Online demonstrates the forward to continuing, and good position as customers of retail banking channels, bank’s commitment to advancing, all that is being began requesting financial added: “The best bank provide our clients with done to keep CIBC Firstassistance when COVID-19 award is a celebration of a modern digital banking Caribbean as the first choice hit the country. CIBC FirstCaribbean’s experience, allowing them for financial services.” “All segments of the daily illustration of its stra- to manage their liquidity CIBC FirstCaribbean bank were involved in these tegic priorities: Focus on and payments easily and also won Bank of the Year efforts, from retail to cor- our clients, building on our efficiently. for The Bahamas in 2006, porate banking and wealth technology base to create “Our recognition by The 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, management. They resulted a regionally leading digital Banker is a testament to this 2016, 2017 and 2018. in deferred payments, experience for our clients, emergency loans and con- simplifying the way we do cessions to help individuals business, and investing in and businesses cushion the our people.” financial impact of the panKemar Polius, its head demic on households and of corporate and investthe economy.” ment banking, said: “The NOTICE is hereby given that
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that MANOUSHKA CASTER of Carmicheal Road, 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 4th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that ANTOINISSE JOSAPHAT of Jenny 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 twenty-eight days from the 27th day of Novemver 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that TARANO TARON WILSON of Marsh Habour Abaco, 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 4th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that DIANNA DESINOR, #158 Beacons Field, Freeport, Grand Bahama 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 4th day of December, 2020 to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Freeport, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JOSEPH DOUGLAS MACAULAY of Honey Burn Lane, P.O.Box N911 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 26th day of November 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that EMMANUEL OLUSEYI KOMOLAFE of Sandyport, P.O.Box General Delivery 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 Novemver 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
JULIANIE BISSAINTHE of Blue Hill South, 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 4th day of December 2020 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PAGE 22, Friday, December 4, 2020
Using COVID for productivity reset FROM PAGE 23 shadow champions in other units of the business to transfer, in deliberate ways, the skills. This works beautifully as a succession planning tool or to ensure that no one team member monopolises knowledge of an area. 6. Immersion Training - Skills to successfully advance a business often lie outside the organisation. Many successful companies have created opportunities where employees work on special projects, or on sabbatical in other companies and agencies, to acquire new skills and competencies that will grow their base business. 7. E-Learning - Research shows that more than threequarters of the training and learning taking place on the
planet happens online. To not use technology in staff training today is not only unwise, it is simply corporate suicide. Webinars, e-training programmes and online seminars are happening all day, every day and, in many cases, free of charge in the global arena. The astute company looking to grow the talent and business takes full advantage of these learning options. • 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 tcconsultants@coralwave.com.
LENDER PARTNERS OVER FREE MARKETING ACCESS A BAHAMIAN credit provider has teamed with the MobileAssist app to offer business borrowers free access to marketing. The benefit is being offered as part of a loan package arranged by Nassaubased Simplified Lending, whose founder and chief executive said he conceived the idea after listened to the struggles and challenges of small to medium-sized business owners who lacked the necessary financing to promote their products and services to a wider audience. “I heard this concern repeatedly,” said Robert Pantry. “The owner of a small business saying he or she had a product or service that should spell success if only they could get it into the hands of customers. “They were stumped about how to get from development to public awareness and consumer consumption. One business owner described it as having the door slammed in her face, though she knew the people on the other side wanted what she had in her hands.” Mr Pantry said small to medium-sized business borrowers felt print and electronic advertising was beyond their means, though they appreciated its value. Some relied on social media, but knew there had to be more. To address the issue, each Simplified Lending business customer as at November 1 has received a marketing package and a pre-paid membership to the MobileAssis app, where businesses have the option to list their services, hours, directions, provide a link, offer discount coupons or just reach a huge database. “It’s the same as if you
went into a bank, got a loan and, with that loan, the bank paid for free advertising for your business in the newspaper or on TV,” explained Mr Pantry. Signing an agreement with MobileAssist, he said, has given Simplified Lending clients participation rights to the app with 8,000 active clients, more than 120 local merchants and over 95,000 downloads since its launch in 2015. “MobileAssist is designed to provide information and convenience to the end user,” said technology and real estate executive, Philip Simon. “The end user clicks on the app, which you can download quickly on any device, and he or she can click on any of 60 alphabetically-arranged business categories to see the names and hyperlinks to a world of who is in that space.” The app allows the user to purchase goods online, transfer funds, top-up on a mobile device, order food from a participating restaurant along with delivery, get directions or find digital coupons offered by a member. According to another MobileAssist executive, one well-known uniform business in The Bahamas has increased sales by 200 percent to 300 percent since offering coupons on the app. “We at Simplified Lending saw the advantages that participating in MobileAssist could bring to local businesses,” said Mr Pantry. “We also liked the fact that it was created and owned by Bahamians. We partnered with them, with Simplified bearing any associated fees so that we could offer it as a value-added service to anyone who borrows through our firm.”
THE TRIBUNE
TAX REFORM NEEDED ‘A LONG TIME AGO’
By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
THE Fiscal Responsibility Council’s (FRC) chairman yesterday argued that The Bahamas should have moved “a long time ago” to address the regressive nature of its taxation system. Kevin Burrows, while backing tax reform in general, and improved collection of existing levies, warned against raising taxes in the near-term on the basis that this would be “counterproductive” and only serve to undermine the economy’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tax reform is something we should have tackled as a country a long time ago to redress the regressive nature of our current system. Improved tax collection at the existing rates can also be improved,” Mr Burrows said. He spoke out after the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a statement on its latest Article IV consultation, plugged income tax as fairer and more equitable than the present consumption-based regressive system that The Bahamas enjoys now. “Income taxation can help achieve a more equitable income distribution,”
the fund said, barely disguising its desire to prod The Bahamas in this direction. “Tax policy and administration measures are essential to a robust consolidation. “In tax administration, the review and modernisation of the Department of Inland Revenue’s organisational structure should be prioritized. For Customs, priorities include establishing an effective exemption monitoring and verification unit, strengthening risk management, and developing post-audit clearance capacity.” Consumption-based taxes, such as VAT and import tariffs, have traditionally been viewed as easier to collect especially since The Bahamas has no history of income or corporate income taxation. There have also been concerns over whether The Bahamas’ 400,000 strong population provides a wide enough income tax base, along with the administrative costs associated with collecting it. Income tax, whether personal, corporate or both, has long been viewed as a reform option for The Bahamas by elements both inside and outside the country. The current regressive consumption-based tax system is seen as unfair
because poorer Bahamians end up spending a disproportionately higher amount of their income in taxes compared to higher earners. Under direct taxation, such as an income tax, the amount of tax paid is linked to the person’s ability to pay, which makes for a fairer, more progressive system. Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, and another Fiscal Responsibility Council member, said there have long been questions over whether the current tax structure is “fit for purpose”. Arguing that there has been little to no reform since the 1950s, Mr Bowe said: “This has been a consumption-based tax system. Has that tax system in recent times yielded a sufficient tax to meet the social demands? The answer is no, because we run the deficits, and have been running deficits since independence; no surpluses. “Has it allowed equitable distribution? The answer is no, because on consumption, those who are lower earners pay more than those who are higher earners. There’s only so much you can consume, and so it’s not an equitable distribution.” Mr Bowe, also
responding to the IMF’s projection that The Bahamas will not recover the economic output (GDP) lost to COVID-19 until 2024, agreed that the country’s rebound will take time in the absence of a growth game changer. “If you go back to the global recession in 2008, there were many persons everywhere saying that we had not recovered right up until 2015. That was a whole seven years,” he added. “When you look at it in terms of having such a major contraction in your GDP, unless you have a show-stopping solution that has your economy growing by leaps and bounds, it’s simply going to take time.” “So I don’t think they the focus should be on the four years. The focus should be on as long as the upward trajectory is meaningful, meaning that we have consistent.... I’m going to say mid-level growth of four percent or five percent, instead of a lethargic one to two percent. “If it is what we were pre-COVID-19, where we were basically growing it [GDP] only one percent, then we are going to have 16 years to go because everyone is estimating that we are going to have at least 16 percent to 20 percent GDP contraction.”
ACTIVISTS TO BPC CHIEF: GO BACK TO ENGLAND
By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net
ENVIRONMENTAL activists yesterday urged the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BCP) chief executive to “shut his mouth and return to England” after trying to discredit the petition against his firm’s activities. Save the Bays chairman, Joseph Darville, issued that call to Simon Potter after BPC alleged that only 20 percent of the 50,000 signatories to the Our Islands, Our Future coalition, petition opposing its plans to explore for oil in this nation’s waters are Bahamian. “The fact is that we are honourable citizens that work in our environment, including 15 environmental groups from around this country, and we are the ones that are conscientious, educated and wise enough and have the knowingness - to advise on our environment,” Mr Darville said. “There is a groundswell arising against oil drilling in The Bahamas from a foreign company. We have heard very little from our government in this regard. We have heard a lot from BPC, and they have
JOSEPH DARVILLE
SIMON POTTER
insulted us to an extreme degree......... “That type of disrespect should be something that is objected to by our government. Our leaders in this country should not allow the people to be treated like cattle, and they are using our leaders to perpetuate this demeaning behaviour and lack of regard for our people.” Mr Darville’s remarks represent the latest salvo in an intensifying media battle between BPC and environmental activists, which has gained momentum after the Our Islands, Our Future coalition served notice of its intention to initiate legal action to block the company’s exploratory drilling plans just prior to the December 15 start date. The 750-foot Stena IceMAX drill ship is presently sailing from the Canary Islands en route to Grand Bahama ahead of drilling BPC’s first exploratory well, called Perseverance One, in
waters some 90 miles west of Andros. Sam Duncombe, reEarth’s president, responded to BPC’s assertion that just 20 percent of petition signatories are Bahamian by asking how many local investors are among its shareholders. She added: “We live in a global community, many of whom actually care about more than money. BPC profits over people, over the planet. This is no time for the antiquated oil industry to rear its ugly head. We are facing serious consequences regarding climate change and sea level rise.” Mr Darville, meanwhile, praised two MPs for speaking out against oil exploration in Bahamian waters. Pakeisha Parker suggested that a referendum be held on the issue, while former Cabinet minister, Brent Symonette, also stated his opposition. “We are still holding fast to what the minister of the environment, Romauld Ferreira, said months back that
there will be no oil drilling in The Bahamas under the Free National Movement government. We hope that they stop, review and cancel this arrangement because it is not if, but a matter of when, a catastrophic event occurs with oil drilling,” Mr Darville said. “We have so much support from around the world against BPC and their oil drilling plans.” Casuarina McKinneyLambert, executive director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), added: “The numbers of signatories on the petition on change.org has passed 50,000 and is rapidly increasing every day. “The petition gives a voice to people from around The Bahamas and around the world. Bahamians throughout the country are concerned because of direct threat to livelihoods, especially in tourism and fisheries, and because oil drilling undermines the very future of our low-lying islands. “Visitors from around the world are concerned that the pristine waters and beaches that resulted in over 7m visitor arrivals last year will be contaminated. People in Florida are concerned because ocean pollution doesn’t know international boundaries, and that pollution from The Bahamas could end up contaminating their beaches and reefs.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 4, 2020, PAGE 23 training programmes or content that is delivered or accessed via a mobile device. The objective of mobile training is to deliver knowledge content to a remote learner or student when they are not at a fixed or pre-determined location. Why not conduct training where learners live almost 24 hours per day? Research is clear that people of all ages in the corporate community are practically living on their mobile devices. Offering even traditional programmes via this format completely changes the game. 2. Social media learning Social learning is a theory of learning process and social behaviour. It proposes that new behaviours can be acquired by observing
Using COVID for productivity reset COVID-19 has provided businesses with the perfect opportunity to reset. Streamlining product offerings, trimming the proverbial operational expenses “fat”, and downsizing staff numbers or positions may all prove necessary in these difficult times. Perhaps the lowest hanging fruit in resetting business operations is enhancing service levels, and assisting employees to become more efficient and effective. Training has long been the most effective vehicle
in making this possible. It is said to be the oil that keeps the engine of business functioning. While it is not the engine, even lay persons know that engines cannot function without it. Failure to address, and welcome, the advance of new training initiatives results in greater inefficiency in the workplace. Make a commitment to take your service levels up a notch and invest in different avenues of training for your team: 1. Mobile learning Mobile training refers to
and imitating others. Using social media sites where so many are living their lives provides an amazing platform for making this possible. Sales and marketing efforts, dating and just about everything else we do has gone viral on a myriad of social sites. It is time we take training in a more deliberate way to this useful and widely-used forum. 3. Adaptive learning - Even our early understandings of how education and learning work best involves a journey from known to unknown. Adaptive learning is an individualistic approach to training where we determine what a learner already knows in contact or e-learning situations, and begin the journey with what
they do not know in heading towards a desired final destination. 4. Virtual training - Virtual reality has become quite common place in the developed and developing world for immersive training. While there is an upfront cost involved in developing applications to deliver the programmes, which could be technical (hard skills) or soft skills in nature, great savings are experienced in not having to purchase equipment, trainers, venues, food and beverage, etc. 5. Cross Training - For the purpose of improving performance, building capacity and forging strong mentorship bonds on the team, companies have used this powerful training tool
THE WEATHER REPORT
5-Day Forecast
TODAY
ORLANDO
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 63° F/17° C
TAMPA
TONIGHT
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Mostly sunny and nice
Partly cloudy
Partly sunny
Clouds and sun with a brief shower
Cloudy with a few showers
A morning shower; clouds breaking
High: 79°
Low: 71°
High: 80° Low: 70°
High: 79° Low: 69°
High: 78° Low: 67°
High: 75° Low: 64°
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
AccuWeather RealFeel
81° F
74° F
88°-77° F
86°-74° F
81°-64° F
74°-62° F
High: 76° F/24° C Low: 63° F/17° C
The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.
N
almanac
E
W
ABACO
S
N
High: 77° F/25° C Low: 70° F/21° C
7-14 knots
S
WEST PALM BEACH High: 80° F/27° C Low: 66° F/19° C
7-14 knots
FT. LAUDERDALE E
W
FREEPORT
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 67° F/19° C
N
S
E
W
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C
MIAMI
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 68° F/20° C
7-14 knots
Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 78° F/26° C Low .................................................... 67° F/19° C Normal high ....................................... 80° F/26° C Normal low ........................................ 68° F/20° C Last year’s high ................................. 74° F/24° C Last year’s low ................................... 59° F/15° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 67.20” Normal year to date ................................... 38.71”
ELEUTHERA
NASSAU
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 71° F/22° C
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020
High: 79° F/26° C Low: 69° F/21° C
N
KEY WEST
High: 78° F/26° C Low: 73° F/23° C
E
W
6-12 knots
S
7-14 knots
The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
tiDes For nassau High
Low
Ht.(ft.)
Today
10:08 a.m. 10:31 p.m.
2.9 2.2
3:43 a.m. 4:42 p.m.
0.2 0.3
Saturday
10:54 a.m. 11:22 p.m.
2.9 2.2
4:29 a.m. 5:29 p.m.
0.3 0.3
Sunday
11:45 a.m. -----
2.8 -----
5:23 a.m. 6:20 p.m.
0.4 0.3
Monday
12:20 a.m. 12:40 p.m.
2.3 2.8
6:23 a.m. 7:14 p.m.
0.5 0.2
Tuesday
1:21 a.m. 1:39 p.m.
2.4 2.7
7:30 a.m. 8:09 p.m.
0.4 0.0
Wednesday 2:24 a.m. 2:40 p.m.
2.6 2.7
8:38 a.m. 0.3 9:05 p.m. -0.1
Thursday
2.9 2.6
9:45 a.m. 0.1 10:00 p.m. -0.4
3:25 a.m. 3:41 p.m.
sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset
6:40 a.m. 5:20 p.m.
Moonrise Moonset
9:11 p.m. 10:17 a.m.
Last
New
First
Full
Dec. 7
Dec. 14
Dec. 21
Dec. 29
ANDROS
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C
High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C
N
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 69° F/21° C
E
W S
LONG ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C
H
Ht.(ft.)
SAN SALVADOR
GREAT EXUMA
tracking map L
SEE PAGE 22
uV inDex toDay
High: 80° F/27° C Low: 72° F/22° C
N
S
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
for many years. It involves allowing team members to
CAT ISLAND
E
W
IAN FERGUSON BY
6-12 knots
MAYAGUANA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C
High: 82° F/28° C Low: 74° F/23° C
GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C
N
E
W
E
W
N
S
S
8-16 knots
8-16 knots
marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR
Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday: Today: Saturday:
WINDS SE at 7-14 Knots WSW at 7-14 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NNE at 3-6 Knots E at 6-12 Knots N at 4-8 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots W at 7-14 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NNW at 3-6 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 8-16 Knots ESE at 3-6 Knots ENE at 10-20 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots W at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots E at 4-8 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NNW at 3-6 Knots
WAVES 3-6 Feet 3-6 Feet 1-3 Feet 0-1 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-7 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet
VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles
WATER TEMPS. 78° F 78° F 74° F 74° F 79° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 74° F 80° F 79° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 82° F 81° F 81° F 78° F 78° F 81° F 81° F 79° F 79° F
business@tribunemedia.net
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
$3.98
$3.98
Investment deal’s anatomy exposed By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A
SOUTH Abaco developer says “the numbers have changed quite materially” after documents emerged showing he and his family were investing just $10m, or less than two percent, of the required $718m. Ra’anan “Ronnie” BenZur, the principal behind the Tyrsoz Family Holdings development, told Tribune Business “we have everything we need to proceed with the project” after it was revealed he had been trying to attract $50m in equity financing from other investors prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The details of Mr BenZur’s financing plans are contained in a document entitled “Project Oceanside”, which was obtained and released by an environmental coalition opposed to his plans to develop a resort and marina project in a highly sensitive area close to the Abaco National Park. Besides the initial equity, which was to total $60m with Mr Ben-Zur’s $10m contribution to a “limited partnership”
• Developer investing under 2% of $718m outlay • Defends $250m ‘pre-sale’ target, rejects ‘speculation’ • Argues activists financing ‘obsessed’ since case ‘weak’
PROPOSED land use plan for South Abaco project. structure involving other investors, the remainder of Tyrsoz Family Holdings’ project financing was to come from $250m structured as “a mezzanine loan/preferred equity” plus a further $408m “senior construction loan”. These facilities were to be drawn down two and three years, respectively, after Mr
Realtors: ‘Stop going to same taxation well’
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
REALTORS yesterday slammed the IMF’s renewed call to increase real property tax rates on high-end homes as akin to “going to the same well and finding it’s always dry”. Christine Wallace-Whitfield, pictured, the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president, told Tribune Business that tax increases would only serve to undermine The Bahamas’ competitiveness and deter foreign direct investment (FDI) at a time when this nation needed every cent of
foreign currency it can get. Responding to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) suggestion that The Bahamas increase the real property tax rate for “higher value residences”, she
SEE PAGE 20
Bay Street’s ‘full dead stop’ gets further extended By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister last night warned Bay Street will be at a “full dead stop” for longer after the cruise industry pushed its return into the 2021 second quarter at earliest. Dionisio D’Aguilar, pictured, minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that “devastating is the only word to describe” the fact that downtown Nassau, and all the businesses, vendors and employees that rely on the
cruise trade for their livelihoods, will now likely go more than a year with the sector being absent. “With the cruise industry my indications are that has
SEE PAGE 19
Ben-Zur “closed” on the project, which likely means from when he completes the purchase of two separate land parcels, collectively totalling around 1,100 acres, and obtains all the necessary government approvals necessary to proceed. While acknowledging that “Project Oceanside”
was a genuine document, the Tyrsoz Family Holdings chief said many of the details had changed - due to a combination of COVID-19 and capital markets reaction since it was first conceived as a promotional tool to pitch to prospective investors.
SEE PAGE 19
$3.92
$3.95
Banker: ‘Minimal’ devaluation risk
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A PROMINENT investment banker yesterday argued that the risk of a Bahamian dollar devaluation is “minimal” because it is politically unacceptable and creates no economic benefits. David Slatter, pictured, RF Merchant Bank & Trust’s assistant vice-president of investments, told a webinar that there was “zero incentive for The Bahamas to lower or devalue its currency” given its dependency on imports for virtually all it consumes. Suggesting that a devaluation would only fuel a surge in domestic inflation, produce a major drop in living standards and create little benefit for the country’s competitiveness given that it is not a major goods exporter, Mr Slatter said he expected policymakers to do whatever was necessary to preserve the one:one peg with the US dollar should the need arise. While acknowledging that the government’s foreign currency borrowing has helped to boost the external reserves, which act as the main support for the peg, to over $2.3bn at end-October 2020, he added that Barbados had shown it was possible to resist devaluation pressures when it took the issue “off the table” in negotiating its recent restructuring with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “There’s zero incentive for The Bahamas to lower or devalue its currency,” Mr Slatter argued. “We get $15bn from tourism and we only retain $1bn. $14bn is needed to earn $1bn. “Devaluation makes imports more expensive and tourism less competitive. I think the risk of devaluation of the Bahamian dollar is so small it shouldn’t be a factor in investment decisions.” Given the absence of tourism inflows for more than nine months, some observers will likely be less optimistic about The Bahamas’ prospects of avoiding devaluation pressures especially since Central Bank governor, John Rolle, has voiced concerns about the external reserves levels come 2021 if the country’s economic rebound is weaker than expected. However, Mr Slatter reiterated his position
SEE PAGE 20