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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024

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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government is planning tax reforms that will hit the cruise lines’ Bahamian private islands and end their nine-year VAT-free status, it was confirmed yesterday.

Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business that changes currently set to take effect from March 1 are designed to place the cruise lines’ private island activities on a taxation level playing field with Bahamian providers who service their guests at other destinations.

He confirmed the authenticity of a Department of Inland Revenue “guidance document” obtained by this newspaper which

reveals that, within weeks, the tax authorities plan to change the tax treatment of goods and services supplied to millions of tourists who visit these locations annually by levying VAT on all such transactions at the standard 10 percent rate.

Among the private islands that stand to be impacted by such a move are Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day destination at Coco Cay in the Berry Islands, its global showpiece attraction; plus Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Ocean Cay location; Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point; and Holland America’s Half Moon Cay. Mr Wilson said the tax authorities have “no idea” how much revenue could be generated through the changed tax treatment,

IMF: Those with means pay more for health and water

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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government can slash “unproductive spending” by $116.5m and, in so doing, boost key public services if Bahamians with means pay more for water and access to public healthcare.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its just-released full Article IV report on The Bahamas, estimated that annual taxpayer subsidies to the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) and Water & Sewerage Corporation can be cut by a sum equal to 0.8 percent of economic output by implementing

and imposition of VAT on all goods and services sold to cruise passengers, as they presently do not have SIMON WILSON access to commercial records showing how much economic activity is generated on these private islands.

Explaining the rationale for the move, he told this newspaper: “When we implemented VAT originally we were under the impression given to us by the cruise lines that any commercial

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PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL true “cost recovery” measures.

In the PHA’s case, this would involve the imposition of fees for persons “with greatest capacity to pay” for use of the tertiary

care services offered by the Princess Margaret and Rand Memorial hospitals.

As for the Water & Sewerage Corporation, the Fund recommended raising rates - which have not increased

since the 20th century for “heavy residential and commercial users”.

These savings, the IMF suggested, could then be repurposed to finance education, social welfare and primary healthcare spending. It noted that the Government’s spending on education, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), is well

SEE PAGE B5

Minister set to intervene Energy, labour ‘bottlenecks’ on hotel industrial deal must go for GDP break-out

By NEIL HARTNELL and YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporters

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE minister of labour will today meet with hotel union executives to discuss the latest counter-proposal from resort employees in a bid to break the stalemate over industrial agreement talks.

Howard Thompson, the Government’s director of labour, told PIA GLOVER-ROLLE Tribune Business that the Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association (BHREA) had lived up to its promise and yesterday provided officials with a new offer that will be presented to Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) representatives today.

Declining to provide details on the proposal, he said: “The Department of Labour and myself have received the counter-proposal from Atlantis and the hotel employers. It’s under seal, and myself and the mediation team would like for the minister to meet with the hotel union executives to discuss this further with them and that’s scheduled for tomorrow.”

Mr Thompson declined to comment further, but it is thought that the minister’s intervention will seek to explain the background and context in which the hotels - Atlantis, the Ocean Club, Lyford Cay Club and Town Hotel - have come up with their latest offer and what the sector can bear financially.

SEE PAGE B4

THE BAHAMAS must overcome labour and energy “bottlenecks” to break out of the lower 1.5-1.8 percent economic growth rates it is forecast to enjoy from 2025 onwards, the IMF is warning.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its just-released Article IV report on the Bahamian economy, said the Davis administration had admitted this nation needs to improve the supply and availability of skilled workers - and to further boost hotel room numbers - if this nation is to escape falling back into historical gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates.

“Raising potential growth beyond 1.5 percent is conditional on addressing bottlenecks in the energy sector and labour markets,” the Fund urged, as it praised The Bahamas’ better-thanexpected recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the “favourable” economic outlook despite multiple “downside risks”.

“Strong growth momentum is expected to continue,

with growth projected at 2.3 percent in 2024. Capacity limits in tourism will mean that growth will slow over the medium-term to its longrun potential of 1.5 percent,” it added, with GDP expansion slowly tapering off to 1.8 percent in 2025 and 1.6 percent in 2026.

“The authorities remain optimistic about the medium-term outlook.

With tourist arrivals back to pre-pandemic levels, the authorities acknowledge that boosting long-term growth beyond 1.5 percent will require investments in new hotel capacity, including in the Family Islands, where several projects are already underway.

“Improving the domestic supply of skilled workers is also acknowledged as a means to reduce labour shortages in construction and tourism and amplify the economic impact of projects in these sectors. The authorities also concur that a slowdown in US growth, amid monetary tightening and global uncertainty, as well as the ever-present risk of natural disasters pose downside risks to the outlook.”

SEE PAGE B5

activity on the private islands was an extension of the package purchased [by passengers] on ship - they were indistinguishable.

That’s not the case. It’s a different commercial experience.

“It has grown significantly. The private islands are much bigger, much more diverse in their operations, and they actually compete with Bahamas-based businesses for onshore excursions.” Asked how much extra revenue could be generated, Mr Wilson replied: “No idea. We have no idea. We don’t know right now. We don’t get any record as to what’s happening on the private islands. No commercial records.”

The Government’s top financial official, though, said the move

SEE PAGE B4

Opening Bahamian bank accounts ‘totally insane’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A PROMINENT accountant yesterday blasted “it’s crazy, absolutely insane” that Bahamian businesses face an average wait of more than two months to open a bank account compared to “20 minutes” in the US. Philip Galanis, the HLB Galanis principal, told Tribune Business this nation must “find ways to remove impediments” to the ease of doing business with many of the obstacles “starting with the commercial banking system and ending there”.

Speaking after the Central Bank of The Bahamas released results from a survey of 402 companies and entrepreneurs on the ease of opening a corporate bank account, he voiced “surprise” that 23 percent of respondents revealed they were able to open a facility in less than a week

PHILIP GALANIS given that it typically takes a month in his experience.

Mr Galanis, who has frequently voiced concern at public forums about the difficulties the Bahamian private sector encounters in opening bank accounts, told this newspaper of a situation where a company that “does a tremendous amount of business in The Bahamas”, employing local staff and paying significant taxes, was forced to use a

SEE PAGE B6

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

MONTHLY INFLATION FALLS FOR FIRST TIME IN NINE MONTHS BAHAMIAN inflation fell for the first time in nine months in November 2023 as prices decreased by 0.2 percent compared to the previous month, it was disclosed yesterday.

The Bahamas National Statistical Institute, in unveiling the consumer price index for November, supplied further evidence that post-COVID inflationary pressures continue to moderate as the decline represented only the sixth time that overall prices have decreased on a monthto-month basis in three years.

“The monthly inflation rate in The Bahamas, which represents the overall change in prices, for [November] 2023 decreased by 0.2 percent when compared to October 2023,” the Institute said. “This decrease is reflected in the overall price of items purchased by the average consumer during this period. This November decrease followed a 0.1 percent increase between the months of September 2023 and October 2023.

“Meanwhile, on a month-to-month, the major decreases by group include clothing and

footwear, transportation and furnishings, household equipment and maintenance, which saw decreases of 2.3 percent, 0.9 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

“Meanwhile, miscellaneous goods and services, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, along with restaurants and hotels, showed increases of 1 percent, 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively, for the month of November 2023 when compared to October 2023.”

While the month-tomonth decline in the inflation rate represents GOVERNMENT officials and executives from the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, including Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister; Clay Sweeting, minister of works and Family Island affairs; and Dr Kenneth Romer, the ministry’s deputy director-general, were present to mark the launch of American Airlines’ inaugural twice-weekly nonstop service between Miami and Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.

further modest good news, the magnitude of the decrease is unlikely to be felt much by hard-pressed Bahamian families still grappling with the postpandemic cost of living crisis.

For the consumer price index, which measures changes in the overall price level based on the costs for a select basket of goods and services, showed inflation for the trailing 12 months to end-November 2023 still increased by 2 percent yearover-year. This, though, matched October for the lowest year-over-year

inflation rise for two-and-ahalf years since April 2021.

“On a year-over-year basis, the consumer price index rose 2 percent over the same period last year in 2022,” the Institute’s report said. “The major categories that contributed to this increase included health, 9.3 percent; furniture and household equipment furnishings, 6.4 percent; miscellaneous goods, 5.7 percent; alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, 5.6 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 5.4 percent.

“Meanwhile, transportation had the largest decrease of 9.9 percent compared to this same period last year. Gasoline saw an increase of 4.6 percent when compared to this time last year. Meanwhile, diesel prices continue to decline by 7.9 percent when compared to this period in 2022. Furthermore, for the month of November 2023, diesel prices saw an increase of 3.8 percent while gasoline decreased by 0.5 percent when compared to October 2023.”

DR KENNETH ROMER, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation’s deputy directorgeneral, alongside American Airlines and Miami International Airport executives to cut the ribbon for the airline’s inaugural twice-weekly non-stop service between Miami and Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera.

American Airlines adds sixth Bahamas location AMERICAN Airlines has added its sixth Bahamian destination through Saturday’s launch of direct service from Miami to Governor’s Harbour as part a drive to boost airlift connectivity.

The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, in a statement, said the twice-weekly nonstop flight to the central Eleuthera destination now joins north Eleuthera, Nassau, Freeport, George Town and Marsh Harbour as locations served by the US-headquartered airline.

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, hailed the new route as evidence of the Family Islands’ growing tourism appeal.

“This new airlift, just one month into 2024, underscores a holistic approach and unwavering commitment of the ministry to aggressively expand airlift into our 16 island destinations,” Mr Cooper said.

“We continue to offer a diverse, authentic experience to travellers, in partnership with our industry partners and airlines

such as American Airlines.

We look forward to fostering continued partnerships and providing a uniquely memorable Bahamas experience to travellers with this new American Airlines route.”

The departures and arrivals terminals at Governor’s Harbour airport were recently expanded and upgraded to meet the demands of the additional airlift, while the fire station was also improved. The ministry said the infrastructure work aligns with the Government’s commitment to upgrading airports under

the Family Islands Renaissance initiative, which is detailed in the National Aviation Strategic Plan.

“We are excited to celebrate the launch of our sixth destination in The Bahamas, Governor’s Harbour, further strengthening our commitment to this unspoiled paradise. This new route marks our next step as we continue to expand American’s presence in the Caribbean and Atlantic, where we are proud to lead as the largest US airline,” said José María Giraldo, American Airlines managing director

of operations for Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

“With this new destination, we will now be offering up to 30 peak-day flights to The Bahamas, playing a vital role in the country’s travel and tourism industry.” The inaugural flight was marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony in both Miami and Governor’s Harbour.

The event was attended by government officials and Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation executives, including Clay Sweeting, minister of works

and Family Island affairs, and Dr Kenneth Romer, deputy director general of tourism. During the ceremony, American Airlines executives were presented with a special gift to mark the company’s long-standing relationship with The Bahamas.

The direct service will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Miami to Governor’s Harbour. Travellers can learn about the new route and the destination by visiting aa.com or bahamas.com for more information.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, PAGE 3

GOV’T DEMOLISHES FORMER GAMING BOARD ‘EYESORE’

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE Deputy Prime Minister says yesterday’s demolition of the derelict former Gaming Board property will create a green space that makes Goodman’s Bay more appealing for locals and tourists alike.

Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, described the property as an “eyesore” for many years as he disclosed that the Downtown Nassau revitalisation initiative will cover the area from Goodman’s Bay to the Paradise Island Bridge.

“We are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. As a government building, we thought that this building should no longer sit here in a derelict manner. So we’re doing something about it,” he added.

“Goodman’s Bay will be enhanced as a result of getting rid of this building. It will be more aesthetically pleasing for residents who traverse this area. Women who walk in the mornings, in particular, through these areas will be pleased to see that this has become a green space rather than a derelict structure.

“We are committed to continuing this process. As I mentioned, all the way from here, onward through downtown Nassau and straight on to the bridge at Paradise Island. We are excited about this initiative. We’re making progress that people have been looking forward to for many decades. This has been an eyesore for the hotels and guests, and our residents, for a long, long time.”

Mr Cooper said efforts to revive downtown Nassau have drawn “rave reviews” from visitors and locals, and the Government is currently looking for

Bahamians to establish restaurants and entertainment venues in the Bay Street area.

He added: “Our team from the revitalisation unit headed by Senator Randy Rolle has been in full gear.

The buildings we demolished, we are now at a point of turning those spaces into green space. We’re looking at a food market for downtown where persons may go relax and have lunch. Our tourists might go and really have a taste of Bahamian flavours, food and drinks etc.

“We’re going to create more buzz in the downtown area. We’re still asking for more investors, Bahamians to participate by starting restaurants and entertainment. We are getting rave reviews from residents and guests and business people.”

Mr Cooper said the Downtown Management Bill is still out for public consultation and will be

presented to Parliament after all stakeholders have given feedback.

“The Downtown Management Commission Act is out for consultation,” he added.

“This Bill will formalise the engagement process with all of the stakeholders. The Attorney General has finished his work in relation to the draft. We’re now assessing all elements of the draft and I’m expecting in due course that we will be able to say more about it. It’s going to go to Parliament only after all of the stakeholders have an opportunity to see it and to provide comments.

“The downtown area has been a source of concern for many, many years. With or without the legislation we are going to continue to press forward. We are satisfied that we are making some significant gains and we’ll continue to do so.”

Several buildings have been demolished so far, and Mr Cooper gave assurance

the Government consulted with historians and the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC) to ensure they were not historical sites.

He said: “We’ve consulted broadly and widely with historians, as well as the AMMC. We are sure not to take any actions as it relates to buildings without consultation. So they were very comfortable with the process. And we continue to work closely with them on all of the buildings that we have demolished in the downtown area.”

Mr Cooper added that the first business incubation centre, which will feature ten creative entrepreneurs, will be launched next month and the Government will be seeking artists to work on the downtown mural project.

He said: “We’re excited about the next stages.

We’re going to be opening our first Incubation Centre on March 5. There will be

Minister says tourism crime worries easing

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday said tourism arrivals remain strong despite near-saturation media coverage of the travel warnings issued by the US and Canada over the recent murder spike.

Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said visitor numbers are "steady" and although there were "some concerns" in the days after the US upgrade was issued these have dissipated.

He added that there has been an "uptick" in visitors to the Family Islands, and said: “As far as arrivals are concerned, they are steady. We did see some concerns for a few days after the advisory. That concern is dissipating at the moment “This is a great time for tourism generally, and we like to tell the world that we have 700 islands, but we are promoting 16 island destinations. We're seeing an uptick in all of these destinations.”

Mr Cooper said that after the travel advisory was issued some tourism partners expressed concerns, but the ministry is working with local and international stakeholders to alleviate them.

He added: “I think it's fair to say that after the advisory there were some concerns expressed by stakeholders. We are continuing to monitor this on a daily basis.

Certainly, it's important for us to continue to do so with our local partners, our airline partners, as well as our international partners.”

Mr Cooper said the Ministry is "not taking this matter lightly" and will be launching a campaign to make citizens aware how tourism affects the Bahamian economy.

He said: “We have had very progressive discussions with the Prime

Minister, the minister for national security and the police in relation to the crime plan. I will leave that to them to continue to advance and to continue to advise the public on progress.

“We're not taking this matter lightly. We're going to be launching a campaign shortly to sensitise the Bahamian public that tourism is everybody's business. And we want everyone in the community to understand that everything they do impacts our goose that lays the golden eggs.

"So we must not only take better care of ourselves as Bahamians and residents, but we must also look out for our guests as well. That campaign is going to launch shortly”. Mr Cooper said the Ministry of Tourism has a team that is actively working with international public relations firms to ensure the country's image remains intact.

He said: “We have a stakeholder group, led by our director-general.

We're speaking actively with all of our public relations international firms to really monitor to see what's happening on the international stage.

“But I assure you, the public, that the Ministry of Tourism is being proactive in this process.

We're not sitting on our hands. We have already deployed strategies to ensure that the world knows that it's still better in The Bahamas.

“We'll talk more about these strategies in due course. But suffice to say, our stakeholders are engaged with the Ministry of Tourism and the promotion boards. And we are working around the clock locally, and with our tourism offices abroad, to ensure that we continue to preserve tourism and to continue to ensure that the world knows that we still have a very vibrant atmosphere and a warm, hospitable people to match.”

ten creative entrepreneurs in that space. And the idea really is to create more meaningful activity on the eastern side, just east of East street, and to be able to really create more of a cultural presence, as well.

“So as we push forward, you will hear more and more of our plans. We are going to have a demonstration of some of the things that we are going to do.

We are working with the creative community. And certainly, in due course, we will be rolling out our murals project.

“There will be a call for artists to participate in this process. We want this to be not just our idea, but we want the creative community to participate actively in this process. So that we can have a downtown Nassau that we can all be very proud of.”

DANNY LOWE, managing partner of The Agency Bahamas (far right), addresses some 150 delegates at a conference on property and investment in the Caribbean and Bahamas. The event was hosted by The Agency, a boutique real estate brand with more than 100 offices in 11 countries.

Bahamas franchise teams to hold New York conclave A BAHAMIAN real estate franchise partnered with its Caribbean affiliates to stage a property and investment conference in New York that attracted more than 150 attendees.

Sponsored by The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Cayman franchises of The Agency, a real estate firm with more than 100 offices in 11 countries, the event featured panel members discussing real estate and financial market trends, economic projections and global opportunities.

“The day and night of The Bahamas and Caribbean was definitely a highlight of the week-long programme - the final, exciting, memorable moments following days of informative sessions and networking with agents, brokers and investment professionals from family offices,” said Danny Lowe, managing partner of The Agency Bahamas.

“It was an opportunity to showcase what we have to offer that continues to make The

Bahamas so competitive and highly desirable.” Founded

by California native Mauricio Umansky, The Agency has established its niche through the production of news and current information on markets, hot spots, early warning signs and interviews with business celebrities.

From its branding to activities such as this week’s panel discussions, The Agency is said to be expanding rapidly. When Mr Lowe opened the Bahamas franchise in 2022 there were just over 60 affiliates, most in the US. That number has almost doubled in less than two years, spreading to nearly a dozen countries.

“The juxtaposition of where we were in the cold of a New York city winter day against the prospect of walking on the beach, leaving footprints in the sand with the ocean before you and a blue sky above was so dramatic that it made for the ideal setting,” said Mr Lowe.

Another panellist was Aristo Development president, Jason

Kinsale, who has completed more than $400m worth of residential real estate projects in The Bahamas. His latest is Aqualina, rising on Cable Beach near Baha Mar, with 60 residences and amenities including a fully staffed spa, cinema, boating membership and private elevators.

Others who contributed to the New York event included Harbour Island-based Pink Sands Spirits & Company; Mandarin Oriental Residences, Grand Cayman; and The Sanctuary, Turks and Caicos, along with Chrystal Bethell from the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation and The Bahamas’ consul general to New York, Leroy Major.

“The information shared in the two panels prior to the evening pop-up celebration reflected an optimistic outlook for The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Cayman,” said Mr Lowe, a panellist as well as host.

“While these are turbulent times in many places, we have reason to believe that so long as we maintain a level of security, the region will continue to act as a magnet for those who want to live the good life. Nothing compares to The Bahamas, and we were able to showcase that in so many ways to an influential group of people during this conference.”

PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

MINISTER SET TO INTERVENE ON HOTEL INDUSTRIAL DEAL FROM PAGE B1 Darrin Woods, the hotel union’s president could not be reached for comment, but Mrs Glover-Rolle had earlier pledged that the Government will act as “mediator” in a bid to break the impasse over what would be the hotel industry’s first industrial agreement for a decade, the last one having expired in early 2013.

She said the Davis administration will ensure Atlantis employees are in “no way disenfranchised”.

Mrs Glover-Rolle added: “We are doing what the Department of Labour does. We’re lending our support as mediators.

“Techniques are ensuring that both sides understand because, in some instances, it’s the way matters are determined by one side as opposed to the other in terms of understanding how this amelioration needs to happen.”

She continued: “The BHCAWU want a percentage added to the tipped categories. The employer is feeling they have already done a portion of that.

That’s not what the hotel union is accepting. So it’s just a matter of understanding that the formula that is used and applied is consistent with industry standards.”

Members of the 5,000strong hotel union were

last week said to have heldoff on plans to go on ‘work to rule’ as the first step in escalating industrial action in a bid to provide time for more negotiations to complete negotiations.

Mr Woods last week complained that the Association was sticking to its previously stated position, which is that tipped workers and other minimum wage staff will not necessarily receive the 8 percent “across-the-board” salary increase the BHCAWU wants for all members.

Its stance is that such workers, who mainly gain the bulk of their income from guest tips, should receive “whichever is greater” - last year’s

minimum wage increase or an 8 percent pay rise, but not both - when it comes to their base salary.

This would mean that if a hotel worker’s base pay increased by more than 8 percent due to the Government raising the minimum wage last year, they would not be entitled to a further rise under the new industrial agreement.

And he alleged that the Association had also revised its position such that its members want to deduct the 3 percent pay increase they gave voluntarily to non-tipped staff last year from that 8 percent, thus cutting their pay rise to 5 percent. The four unionised properties involved are

Atlantis, the Ocean Club, Lyford Cay Club and Town Hotel.

Mr Miller, the senior Atlantis executive and Bahamas Hotel and Restaurant Employers Association president, previously said in a statement that both sides had “agreed to all financial and non-financial terms” for the industrial agreement and the impasse was ‘unexpected’.

He said: “Both sides had already agreed to all financial and non-financial terms and conditions in the new agreement, and we were in the process of vetting and binding documents for signature. This unexpected, 11th-hour impasse is incredibly unfair to our

bargaining unit team members who have worked without an agreement since 2013 due to the union’s failure to put a new contract forward.

“We have continued to honour and operate under the terms of the expired agreement without fail.

We will not allow today to derail our commitment to finalising a new agreement as soon as possible.” The reference to the “union’s failure” refers to the fact it did not submit an offer for a new industrial deal 90 days or more before the last agreement’s expiry in 2013 as the contract mandated it must do.”

PRIVATE CRUISE ISLANDS SET FOR VAT REFORM HIT FROM PAGE B1 was designed to place the cruise lines and Bahamian businesses who cater to their passengers in non-private island destinations on a taxation level playing field as both will now have VAT added to their charges.

Given that VAT’s imposition will likely mean the total price charged by the cruise lines to their customers will increase, it is thought likely the industry will push for greater time to adjust to the changed treatment on the basis that most cruises are booked 12-18 months out. This means they will be unable to adjust pricing to accommodate the VAT, and could end up having to absorb it themselves.

Mr Wilson, though, described such a response and position as “not valid” and added: “The law is the law. We cannot exempt commercial activity. Why should the cruise lines be allowed to rent a chair on the beach and pay no VAT while the Bahamian has

to pay VAT and Business Licence?”

The Department of Inland Revenue has given the cruise industry until February 16 to provide feedback on the potential impact from the VAT change. Mr Wilson agreed that, based on the response, the March 1 implementation target could be called into question, but said: “I don’t think that’s going to change. This was highlighted to the cruise line a couple of months ago and there was no reaction.”

One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the changed VAT treatment for the cruise lines’ private islands had been attempted before but was ultimately never imposed.

They suggested the industry’s greatest concern would be the March 1 timing, and the inability to change pricing schedules before the 10 percent levy is added.

“They’re going to have a conniption,” the source said of the cruise lines.

“They don’t mind paying it, but you just don’t spring

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it on someone. That’s going to cause quite a stir. It’s all about the timing. I don’t think the cruise lines will have an issue with paying and collecting it, but you just can’t put it on them. It’s going to be a passenger-only cost. The guests are going to get that, not them.”

Since VAT is paid by the end-user, it will be the cruise ships’ customers - the passengers - who will ultimately pay the tax and likely increased prices either at the point of purchase or via the voyage packages they purchase.

The Department of Inland Revenue’s guidance note on VAT for cruise lines and their private islands, dated January 15, 2024, said it replaces all previous advice and added: “The Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) intends to implement this guide with effect from March 1, 2024. The guide is being circulated to the industry for written comments to be provided to the DIR no later than Friday, February 16, 2024.”

It reaffirmed that it now considers the supply of goods and services to cruise passengers on the private islands to be VATable transactions, meaning that they should attract the 10 percent levy, since they take place within Bahamian territory.

“Therefore, where goods and services are provided or sold on-island, the place of supply is considered to be in The Bahamas and the supply of these goods and services is subject to VAT at the standard rate. This is an important change in the DIR’s position as it relates to the VAT treatment of supplies made on private islands and by cruise lines,” the Department of Inland Revenue confirmed.

The cruise lines themselves will have to become VAT registrants if they either own a private island or generate more than

$100,000 in annual taxable sales from such destinations. If an island is owed by a separate legal entity, then economic activity and transactions generated by it as well as the cruise line could be VAT-able.

Among the transactions that will attract VAT, it added, are the provision of food and beverage; recreational activities; equipment rentals; and spa services on cruise lines’ private islands.

Lease agreements for the rental of space, or right to use a private island, will also attract VAT, as will goods and services provided to a cruise line where the location is operated by a separate corporate entity.

Cabana rentals, shore excursions or charging cruise companies for passengers’ access to on-island services would be caught by this, as would “the purchase of on-island recreational activities such as tours, excursions and other attractions from Bahamian suppliers. The resale of these recreational activities to passengers is also subject to VAT at the standard rate as the services are being rendered in The Bahamas”.

The cruise lines will have to “maintain electronic records of passengers’ account billings that attract VAT” in a format that can be inspected by Department of Inland Revenue auditors to assess their compliance with applicable tax laws and regulations.

“Where the cruise line operator supplies goods and services to passengers as part of a package, any portion supplied in The Bahamas is subject to VAT at the standard rate,” the Department of Inland Revenue added.

“Cruise line operators are required to account for the VAT payable by either apportioning a percentage of the package that relates to the time on-island in The Bahamas or based on the actual price of the goods

ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S COCOCAY and services consumed on-island.”

The cruise lines, though, will be able to obtain “an input tax credit” for fuel, food and beverages, electricity and equipment obtained in The Bahamas.

And, outside the private islands, the tax authorities said: “All port-side supplies for the direct operation of cruise lines are zero-rated.

“This includes portside and harbour fees and charges such as for tendering, piloting and tugboats, security, fees, water and other utilities, maintenance and the replenishing of onboard supplies. Where these services are provided by a VAT registrant, invoices should show that the supplies are zero-rated.”

The changed VAT treatment would align with the Government’s 2023-2024 Budget aims of placing the burden from any tax and fee increases on foreign guests as opposed to Bahamians with the exception of the Boat Registration increases.

The cruise industry, and its passengers, in particular have been targeted as a source of increased revenue. Last May’s Budget involved increasing the existing $18 per passenger departure tax to $23 for “every cruise passenger” leaving The Bahamas via Nassau and Freeport, and to $25 per head for all those who exit “by sea from a private island not visiting any other port in The Bahamas”.

The revised tax structure imposes departure tax increases of $5 and

$7, respectively. They are equivalent to a 27.8 percent and 38.9 percent rise, and took effect from January 1, 2024. Cruise departure taxes for the nine months to end-March 2023 stood at $87.847m, some 73.5 percent ahead of the full-year’s $50.642m target, with three months in the 2022-2023 period still to go and the $18 rate still in effect.

The former figure, which represents 61 percent of this year’s $144.89m target, will likely have given the Government confidence that its revenue goals will be achieved this year. And the changed VAT treatment will likely be hailed by environmentalists and Bahamian businesses who belief the industry should be contributing more to the Public Treasury.

The cruise lines’ private islands have been especially valuable to the sector, and have assumed even greater importance post-COVID given the switch by consumers towards shorter-haul three to four-night voyages that mandate calls in The Bahamas. Expansion and investment is ongoing in multiple locations.

MSC is investing further in Ocean Cay; Disney’s Lighthouse Point project is due to open next year; Carnival is developing its Grand Bahama-based Celebration Key; and Royal Caribbean is moving ahead with its Paradise Island beach club as well as Freeport Harbour and the potential Xanadu hotel purchase.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, PAGE 5

Energy, labour ‘bottlenecks’ must go for GDP break-out civil servants and one for all employees, NIB,” the Article IV report said.

“Defined pension benefits are paid by the NIB based on the length of time employees pay contributions and a reference wage. For the NIB, contribution rates equal 9.8 percent of insurable wages while civil servants’ pensions are paid from general tax revenues.

“Under current policies, the assets of the NIB will be depleted by 2028. Incrementally raising the contribution rate to NIB for both public and private sector employees over the next 20 years to 15 percent would add 0.1 percent of GDP in spending for the contributions for public workers, but would

put the pension scheme on a sustainable footing.”

In response the Government, according to the IMF, said: “On expenditure, the authorities agree with the need to prioritise spending on education, healthcare and social transfers, but caution that increased transfers to SOEs (state-owned enterprises) could threaten their fiscal objectives.

“On pensions, the authorities have drafted legislation to introduce a contributory pension system for civil servants and are planning to increase the contribution rate for the NIB from 2024-2025. The authorities also agree that sustained fiscal consolidation would

reduce both borrowing needs and costs but believe that spreads on their foreign currency debt are still too high given economic fundamentals....

“The authorities agree that having more defined fiscal rules would support the achievement of their budgetary objectives but believe that current legislation is sufficiently robust.

The authorities have made progress with operationalising the new Public Procurement Act 2023 and started the publication of central government contracts, with plans to extend this to SOEs.”

IMF: THOSE WITH MEANS PAY MORE FOR HEALTH AND WATER

crime continues to be one of the leading causes of death, with homicide rates among the highest in the Caribbean, especially among males. Moreover, access to education at the secondary level remains low.

“Measures to sustain the expansion of pre-primary education and to improve student retention may improve educational outcomes, while expanding programmes that support youth at risk could reduce youth unemployment and strengthen crime prevention,” the Fund continued.

“Reforming the national pension system will also require additional contributions from the Government to sustain an important safety net for the elderly.

Staff also recommends additional spending to support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, which require additional investment in resilient infrastructure and renewable energy.

“Staff’s proposed expenditure reform could improve debt sustainability and support the attainment of the authorities’ 50 percent of GDP debt target. Combined with a comprehensive tax policy reform which includes the introduction of personal and corporate income taxes, and the removal of some tax expenditures, staff estimates that recommended expenditure reform could help to improve the primary balance by 2.5 percent of GDP over the medium-term.”

FROM PAGE B1 The IMF is urging the Government to exploit the breathing room provided by tourism’s unexpectedly strong resurgence, which is ongoing, plus fiscal consolidation efforts to make the necessary policy adjustments and rebuild prior headroom that will be necessary to withstand future external shocks in the form of hurricane-related catastrophes or global economic recessions.

The Article IV report revealed that “average real spending increased by 59 percent for cruise [passengers] and 18 percent for stayover visitors from 2019 to 2022”, signalling the return of spending power

FROM PAGE B1 below the Caribbean and Latin American average while the public healthcare system has been producing “worsening” care and treatment outcomes for the past decade.

“Greater cost recovery by public corporations would reduce the net subsidy they receive from the Budget,” the IMF argued. “Collecting payment from patients and enforcing fees for health services would reduce transfers to the Public Hospital Authority (PHA) by around 0.7 percent of GDP. “A more graduated water rate based on usage would encourage conservation and reduce transfers to the Water and Sewerage Corporation by 0.1 percent of GDP. There is also scope to improve the operations, lower costs and optimise the capital structure at the energy company (Bahamas Power & Light) to support the achievement of The Bahamas’ energy policy goals.”

The combined savings estimated by the IMF from the PHA and Water & Sewerage Corporation measures is 0.8 percent of GDP - a sum equivalent to $116.53m based on the GDP estimates contained in the 2023-2024 Budget. Almost $102m would be generated from the imposition, and collection, of PHA user fees while the remaining $14.47m produced by a rise in water rates.

“Current expenditure in The Bahamas is on par with many of its Caribbean peers, but there is scope to reduce unproductive spending and support fiscal consolidation efforts,” the Fund added.

“Recurrent subventions to public sector corporations account for 15 percent of the authorities’ 2023-2024 Budget, with 80 percent of transfers concentrated in five institutions.

“Staff recommends reforms that improve the

and yields amid a shortage of hotel room inventory.

“The Bahamas’ economy continues to rebound vigorously,” the IMF said. “Real GDP growth reached 14 percent in 2022, supported by a broad-based recovery, especially in tourism activity. The economy recovered to its pre-pandemic level in 2022.

The strong recovery led to a decline in the unemployment rate to 8.8 percent, the lowest level since 2008.

“However, this also reflects lower labour force participation at 76 percent, below the pre-pandemic level of 81 percent. International flights and cruise arrivals are well above their pre-pandemic levels, as is the average real spending

efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOE) operations and save 0.8 percent of GDP in annual transfers over the medium-term.

Together with a comprehensive tax reform, cuts in transfers to SOEs would make room for increased social spending and targeted support to vulnerable households, while putting debt firmly on a downward trajectory.”

The Government is not obligated to follow or implement the IMF’s advice or recommendations, and is highly unlikely to enforce hospital user fees or increased water rates given the likely political backlash it would suffer and the backdrop provided by the post-COVID cost of living crisis that has not completely eased.

Still, the IMF persisted: “In the Bahamas, spending as a share of GDP is below many of its high income peers, but there is still space to reduce transfers to loss-making SOEs. Recurrent subventions account for a non-trivial share of the government’s budget, 3.2 percent of GDP in 2023-2024, of which fourfifths represents transfers to just five corporations – the PHA, Water and Sewerage Corporation, University of the Bahamas, the National Health Insurance Authority and Bahamasair.”

Total recurrent subsidies to SOEs are pegged at $455.229m for the present fiscal year, with Budget projections from last May keeping this figure relatively flat through the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Implementing the IMF suggestions at the PHA and Water & Sewerage Corporation would shift the financial burden from taxpayers to users/patients and customers respectively.

“Current subventions to the PHA account for approximately half of annual current subventions to SOEs, due largely to little to no cost recovery

of cruise and stayover visitors. This reflects both pent-up demand in source markets and the Government’s efforts to attract new cruise companies and airlines.”

Elsewhere, the IMF renewed its call for the Government to introduce contributory pensions for civil servants and make good on plans to implement phased contribution rate increases to ensure the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) sustainability.

“Payroll contributions should be introduced for civil servant pensions and increased for the national pension system.

The Bahamas operates a dual pension system – one for

and a system of exemptions and non-payment for most services,” the IMF added of an entity due to receive a $222.156m taxpayer subsidy this fiscal year.

“Moreover, hospital benefits accrue primarily to those with higher incomes.

The collection of fees for most services offered by the PHA, means testing to require those with greatest capacity to pay, linking future price increases to the rise in operating costs, and greater efforts to reduce the write-off of unpaid bills could yield annual savings of up to 0.7 percent of GDP over the medium-term.”

As for Water & Sewerage, the IMF added: “Water rates are insufficient to cover the cost of water distribution across The Bahamas.

Moreover, rates have not increased in over two decades. Increasing water rates for heavy residential and commercial users and recovering the economic cost over the long-run could improve revenue collection by Water & Sewerage and reduce transfers by 0.1 percent of GDP.” The IMF was not done there, asserting that the $46.2m taxpayer subsidy allocated to the NHI scheme for the current and next two fiscal years will cover just one-third of its actual costs.

“The 2023-2024 Budget allocates $46m per year for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), but this represents just one-third of the required annual funding,” the report added.

“Staff supports the authorities’ plans to require employees and employers to directly contribute to the NHI Authority, but will emphasise that these contributions should not place a disproportionately heavier burden on the poor.

“The strong recovery in tourism presents an opportunity to improve the financial prospects of public corporations directly involved in the

sector. Refinancing expensive external debt owed by Bahamasair and expanding service to more lucrative routes could improve profitability and help reduce the $28m annual subvention.”

Urging that any savings be switched to under-funded public services and spending needs, the IMF said: “Reprioritising public spending can improve social outcomes and support more inclusive and resilient growth. In The Bahamas, social outcomes lag many of its Caribbean peers.

“Pre-pandemic, life expectancy in The Bahamas was lower than in many of its regional peers. Violent

PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Opening Bahamian bank accounts ‘totally insane’

THE TRIBUNE FROM PAGE B1 trust company’s account to pay its local bills.

He also cited instances where commercial banks had closed accounts belonging to long-standing legitimate customers

without explanation, and contrasted banking struggles in The Bahamas with his “personal” experience in being able to open accounts with the likes of Bank of America and Wells Fargo in the US in just 20 minutes.

The former MP reiterated his belief that The Bahamas has “gone overboard on regulations” since 2000 in response to multiple blacklistings and other pressures, and suggested that the likes of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) have achieved their goal of entangling international financial centres (IFCs) in bureaucracy and red tape so as to deter investors.

“I wasn’t surprised by the length of time it took,” Mr Galanis said of the Central Bank’s two-month finding.

“I was surprised that a significant number of accounts were open in a few weeks.

That was really a bit of s surprise as it normally takes a month. Sometimes it takes longer.”

The banking industry regulator, unveiling the survey results, said that based on the responses just one-third of business bank accounts were opened within two weeks or less of the application being made.

It added that just 11 percent of accounts were opened on the same day with another 12 percent occurring within one week, meaning that fewer than one in four applications were processed within seven days. Around 40 percent “took more than one month in absolute time” to be opened, with 33 percent of applications taking longer than one month but less than six to be approved.

“What’s most annoying about the banks is you may already have an account with them or be a longstanding customer and, if you want to open another account, they ask you for the same information they have on file already - your passport, National Insurance Board number,” Mr Galanis said. “It’s ridiculous.

“These kind of things seem to be done by rote without much thinking.

That’s what complicates

things and frustrates a lot of businesses.... This is very frustrating to those small and medium-sized enterprises, many of whom need an operating bank account in order to be in business.”

The HLB Galanis chief added that his last statement applied to companies of all sizes, and revealed: “I know of a company that does a tremendous amount of business in The Bahamas that had to use a trust company’s account in order to pay their bills.

“They’ve hired five Bahamians and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Public Treasury either in Business Licence fees or VAT and other government fees... There are companies that have no risk at all attached to them and the banks put them through the same routine, and sometimes an even more arduous routine, than companies that present a greater risk” of infractions.

Contrasting the situation in The Bahamas with that of the US, Mr Galanis added: “I can walk into a bank in the US, and I’ve done this personally, where I’ve opened a bank account with Bank of America, Wells Fargo in 20 minutes and walked out with a debit card and cheque book to facilitate operation of the account. It’s crazy, absolutely insane.”

He argued that improving the speed and ease with which companies and investors are able to open bank accounts in The Bahamas is “very low-hanging fruit that we can reap and pick in order to reap enormous benefits for the jurisdiction”.

“We cannot move the country forward and cannot expect Bahamians and investors to have confidence in the country if they cannot open a bank account in reasonable time,” Mr Galanis said.

“It doesn’t help, doesn’t facilitate the ease of doing business in this country, and if we want to move this country forward and grow the economy we are going to have to find ways to remove impediments that exist, many of which start in the bankin8g system and end there.....

“We’ve got to remove these impediments, these strictures that are put in place. We’ve gone overboard in terms of our regulations, in terms of what compliance officers perceive to be their purpose. Rather than looking at things on a risk basis, they have a check list where all the boxes need to be checked off,” he added.

“If they are not all checked, then the account is not opened. But some of those boxes may not apply, yet if any are left unchecked they don’t open the account.” The Central Bank, in its summary of the survey findings, affirmed it is seeking to further move the commercial banking industry’s Know Your Customer (KYC) account opening processes away from such a prescriptive approach to one that is risk-based.

Mr Galanis said The Bahamas had been forced to adopt such stringent due diligence by blacklistings and regulatory pressures imposed by the world’s largest economies, acting through the likes of the OECD, even though these same states fail to abide by such measures.

“I think that’s precisely what they wanted us to do to discourage people from doing business in international financial centres,” he added. And, the HIB Galanis chief said, inconvenience was not limited just to account openings but also closures.

“There is a Canadianowned bank, which I won’t name, that simply closed a customer’s account without explaining why,” he said.

“They were a long-standing customer with no malfeasance, no complaints, nothing untoward. I’m fully aware of the customer.

“When I sought to gain an explanation they said ‘no, it’s confidential’. When I said explain it to the customer, they said ‘no, it’s confidential’. It’s absolutely ridiculous with nothing ostensibly untoward being done by the customer.

Those are the kinds of things we have to deal with.”

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that SASHANA BEANIKA SMITH of Marshall Road, New Providence, The 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 30th day of January, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that SHAKAN CAMEIL NANNO of P. O. Box GT-2428, King Street, Market Street, New Providence, The 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 30th day of January, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

BODY AND MIND

Help save a life by putting on your dancing shoes for the 2024 Heart Ball

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THE Heart Foundation is appealing to members of the public to mark February 24 on their calendars, for this will be the night to get dressed to the nines and dance the night away – all in the name of a good cause – at the annual Heart Ball.

The event is the biggest fundraiser for the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation, which has been mending hearts since its inception in 1961.

The event is being held at the Baha Mar Convention Centre and will be a night of fine dining and great entertainment.

Talented performers for the ball include the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band, the Ed Brice Orchestra, and the Soulful Groovers.

Patrons are encouraged to take part in the silent auction and raffle to win exciting prizes.

The organisation is putting on another grand event and looking forward to treating guests to an unforgettable evening.

As is tradition, the winner of the Golden Heart Award will also be named during the ball.

The award is given to an individual who has given of selflessly of themselves over the years to positively impact the lives of others.

In memory of Lady Sassoon, who passed away in 1997, the Foundation renamed it the Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Award.

The Heart Foundation is now celebrating 62 years and continues to appeal to corporate Bahamas and the general public to continue to assist them in fulfilling their

social responsibility of mending hearts and saving lives of young children by promoting the Bahamas Heart Foundation.

For every dollar the foundation raises, 97 cents go towards paying for surgeries.

The Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation was established as a living tribute

by Lady Sassoon following the death of her husband, Sir Victor Sassoon, Bart GBE, in 1961 to assist Bahamians with heart disease. Lady Sassoon had asked that instead of sending flowers to

honour her husband, that people could send a donation to the local heart fund. A few weeks later the hospital called to tell her that a substantial amount of money had been donated in her husband’s memory, but that there was no local heart fund. So she took it upon herself to create one and the birth of a great idea had been born.

Through the Foundation’s fund raising efforts and the steady leadership of Lady Sassoon, over 4,000 children have been afforded quality medical care. The Foundation has held car raffles, concerts and movie premiers as part of its fund raising efforts.

During the past 49 years, the Heart Foundation, through the generosity of friends of the Foundation, has been able to assist children to be able to live their lives to the fullest.

The major fund raising activity of the Foundation is the annual Heart Ball, held on the Saturday nearest to St Valentine’s Day. For more information, call (242) 327-0806.

Making plant-based meals convenient Food delivery service hosts 21day detox programme

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

SINCE the launch of her plantbased food delivery service two years ago, much has transpired and Katherine Coakley said she’s started to see a change in attitudes in the Bahamian community.

She is the owner of the Bahama Foodie delivery service, which was born out of her own journey of overcoming the effects certain foods and food preparation had on her health, body, weight, and as a result, self-esteem “When I started it was a faithdriven pursuit after the transition of a job. The only sense of clarity I had was that this venture was purposeful and necessary. I had no idea that one step would take me on an incredible transformative adventure personally and professionally,” she told Tribune Health.

Katherine believes the mindset around plant-based food is changing and people are adopting the solutions her brand provides; solutions that aid them in their health without sacrificing their enjoyment of food.

“We are most known for the flavour we put into plates full of plants. People eat our food and still can’t believe it can be so enjoyable without the excess

sugars, GMOs, meat, dairy and eggs,” she said.

“Some of the foodie faves are our various bowls and burgers, like the affectionately called OY OY Burger made from locally sourced oyster mushrooms by a

Bahamian company in Nassau called Well Mudda Fungus.”

Currently, Katherine said, they provide three and five-day meal plans that allow people to have their food prepared and delivered to them for one set fee.

“We understand that we are in an era of convenience. People want ease and to utilise the little time they do have outside of work to be spent very intentionally, and for that reason we help to alleviate the stress that comes with food planning for individuals and families,” she said.

Speaking about Bahama Foodie’s 21-day plant-based detox programme, Katherine said for this she decided to partner with people who wanted accountability and support in achieving their health and wellness goals.

“This challenge aims to help people who want to be intentional about their well-being, nutrition and overall health. During the challenge, people learn to include more plant-focused meals in their diet. We have designed the challenge to be fun, informative, and transformational.

Participants receive five days of meals from us. They receive a two-week plan with recipes. Access to a health coaching session taught by a certified coach, and are taught some of our plant-based culinary tips and tricks that they can learn and apply during a cooking class. The challenge is comprehensive and a great way to start the year,” she said.

Katherine said the Bahama Foodie brand is about more than food; it encompasses education as well. For this reason, she has collaborated with brands and people who fit the vision of the impact she wants to make in this country and the world at large. This challenge is just the beginning, she said, and it is something she wants to continue on offering.

Since the brand’s launch last year, Katherine has had the pleasure of serving hundreds of Bahamians and tourists plantbased food. She has even won a business grant facilitated by the Small Business Development Centre in partnership with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

Katherine has been featured in international magazines based in Florida and California, and has gained thousands of new follows on social media from people from all over the world.

“We have pivoted services to suit the needs of the market while we posture to serve the masses in the future. Bahama Foodie has taken Nassau by storm, and we are very proud of the impact we have made in such a short time,” said Katherine.

“Starting a business will sharpen you and demand another level out of your character, people skills, creativity, endurance, and overall acumen. I have had to become more assertive, creative, organised, transparent, and interdependent than I have ever been.

I have also learned that Bahamians are very supportive and they will pay for what is excellent and valuable. Each person we serve gives us data that applies to our marketing, brand persona, and future disposition. This journey is challenging us to compete globally, and our clients’ affectionately called foodies are inspiring us to do that.”

For 2024 Katherine’s goal is to be consistent in her lifestyle.

“For me that is eating plantbased, consistently working out, taking time to breathe, going to therapy, praying consistently, and getting the sleep and rest my body needs to sustain the responsibilities of my life,” she said.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, PAGE 9

Bahamas racing the clock on dementia action – One year on from call for dementia support, what’s changed?

ONE year on from the What’s Your Plan campaign calling for governments to do more to support people with dementia across the Caribbean region, global federation Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the Bahama’s Alzheimer’s Association are uniting once again to ensure progress doesn’t stall, and governments continue to improve the support and care for those living with dementia.

Across the Caribbean region, there are still only four countries with developed National Dementia Plans.

Despite promising discussions with government officials, the Bahamas does not have a National Dementia Plan.

The Bahamas Alzheimer’s Association is raising awareness of the condition and the progress being made in light of the cases of dementia which continue to soar in the region.

“Over the past year, the Bahamas has made no significant strides in its national dementia response, and we’re disappointed in the lack of funding for diagnosis and research which is vital if we hope to progress in fighting the disease,” said President of the Bahamas Alzheimer’s Association, Wendyi Poitier-Albury.

“We urge the government to actively engage in shaping comprehensive plans that reflect a commitment to addressing the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s and dementia, in order to make the necessary advancements in the country’s healthcare landscape.”

While difficult to find people to speak on the topic due to stigma, nurse at Northstar Dementia in Bermuda, Ria Outerbridge has come forward saying she wants to see an increase in national response plans not just in Bermuda, but across the Caribbean region.

“I see the need for further support from two sides, one in my role as a dementia nurse, and the other in my role as the daughter

of someone living with dementia,” she said.

Rita’s mother was diagnosed with dementia over 10 years ago.

She said while her nursing education assisted her in understanding her mother’s behaviour as she passed through the various stages of dementia, what she was not prepared for was the intricacies of navigating fragmented dementia support and resources.

“More needs to be done on a national level to support individuals and their families who are living with a dementia diagnosis. We need National Dementia Plans that prioritise public education for the whole process, from risk reduction to treatment and caregiver aid,” she said.

National Dementia Plan critical in preventing up to 40 percent of cases Statistics show that dementia prevalence is set to increase in rhe Bahamas by 226 per cent by 2050 to over 6,000 people. Forty percent of these cases could be delayed or potentially avoided altogether through risk reduction.

Dementia was the nine leading cause of death in the nation in 2017/18 and the cause of widespread disability and dependency, especially as risk factors for dementia such as cardiovascular health, diabetes, family history, and poor education are prominent in the region.

Further research has found women with lower levels of education in rural areas are

overrepresented in dementia statistics in the nation.

The Bahama’s Alzheimer’s Association said over the next 12 months, priority areas should be the strengthening of day care and respite care facilities, education about the importance of early detection and diagnosis, improved access to diagnostic imaging, and better support for caregivers.

“A comprehensive dementia care plan in a country experiencing a significant impact from the disease is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the well-being of its citizens and the overall healthcare system,” said Mrs Poitier-Albury.

She said a well-established NDP could yield economic, social, and humanitarian benefits, positioning the country as a leader

in the global pursuit of better dementia care.

Diagnosis remains significantly apparent in Bahamian sociocultural. Awareness of the disease and need for evaluation and management is on the rise. The number of patient referrals with suspected or confirmed dementia diagnosis to the public gerontology clinic has doubled in the last six months compared to the first half of 2023. More than 50 per cent of these referrals need longterm care placement due to reported incapable and unavailable care resources within the home community.

A National Dementia Plan for the Bahamas that encompasses caregiver education and support, safe and affordable specialised memory care daycare, respite and long-term centres and streamlines a fragmented dementia health care system is desperately needed.

Without a government supported plan, the rising burden of dementia will cripple the health and social system as dementia not only involves the patient but their families, employers, religious groups, health and social care providers and consequently by extension, the country.

Paola Barbarino, CEO at ADI, said dementia risk reduction should be designed with a life-course approach in mind, targeting both older and younger populations, with a focus on the modifiable 12 risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and infrequent social contact.

“A National Dementia Plan is a vital step in addressing risk factors of dementia. If there’s a chance we could prevent or delay 40 percent of dementia cases, we should act with utmost urgency,” she said.

The prominence of this year’s #WhatsYourPlan campaigning is underpinned by the 2025 deadline of the WHO’s Global Action Plan on dementia.

It’s called ‘cosy cardio.’ In a world seeking comfort, some see a happier mode of exercise

By MELISSA RAYWORTH Associated Press HOPE ZUCKERBROW, founder of the cosy cardio wellness movement, shows her workout set-up, including a walking pad, smoothie and remote control for watching television. (Hope Zuckerbrow via AP)

Political polarisation. Economic struggles. Inequity. Climate change. War. In an often-bruising world, you can hardly blame people for seeking out ways to cushion themselves. From weighted blankets to “cosy” murder mystery novels to entire restaurants and cookbooks based on childhood comfort foods, the appetite for comfortable things just keeps growing.

Now some are seeking comfort even in their physical exertion.

They are, it seems, entering the era of “cosy cardio,” an activity that lies right at the crossroads of gym workout, self-pampering evening … and nap time.

This method of (minimal) calorie burning has gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram ever since a woman named Hope Zuckerbrow began posting videos in late 2022. Let’s describe it by what it doesn’t do. It doesn’t require you to: UÊõÕiiâiÊ Ì Êë> `iÝÊÜ À ÕÌÊ V Ì iÃÆ UÊ i>`Ê ÕÌÊ Ì Ê Ì iÊ V `Ê Ì Ê `À ÛiÊÌ Ê>ÊyÕ ÀiÃVi Ì ÞÊ ÌÊ}Þ Æ UÊ vÌÊ i>ÛÞÊÌ }ÃÆ UÊ}iÌÊÜ `i`ÊÌ ÊÌ iÊLi>ÌÊ vÊ«Õ Ã>Ì }Ê Õà V° Cosy cardio simply involves walking in place – in the comfort of your home – using a mini treadmill or “walking pad.” No stress, no membership fees, no preening for other, buffer-than-thou gym rats. And you can even have a cup of hot tea by your side.

“I get so many messages from men and women – so many people – saying something along the lines of ‘thank you so much for kind of flipping my mindset on what I thought exercise is supposed to be,’” Zuckerbrow says. “This feels so doable.”

THE SELF-PAMPERING WORKOUT

The key is the setup.

Wearing soft sweatpants and your favourite comfy shirt, you light a few scented candles, make a healthy smoothie or pot of tea, dim the lights and put on a favorite TV show or movie.

With your drink handy, you walk for an hour while getting lost in whatever you’re watching, maybe walking just a bit more vigorously once you’re warmed up.

Forget “no pain, no gain.” Cosy cardio acknowledges that maybe you can’t take much more pain at this particular moment, so just enjoy getting some steps in while binge-watching “The Bear” in your pyjamas and call that your workout.

When Zuckerbrow posts on social media, “80 percent to 90 percent of the video itself is me romanticising the exercise that I’m about to do,” she says. “I am setting up my favourite beverage and I’m lighting those candles and

my Scentsy and I’m getting my TV show.”

No, walking won’t give you sixpack abs. But could cosy cardio, which embraces the most appealing aspects of being a couch potato while keeping you off the couch, help even hardcore gym-avoiders stick with exercise long after New Year’s resolution season ends?

For people battling the common barriers to exercise, the answer could be yes, says Alex Montoye, assistant professor of clinical exercise physiology at Alma College in Michigan.

Montoye cautions that if you’re downshifting from vigorous daily workouts to something this mellow, the health benefits may plummet. But for someone who would otherwise watch TV from the couch, he says, it’s progress to watch while walking — especially if it becomes a daily habit.

People struggle to make healthy habits stick, which

makes cosy exercise “kind of a genius idea,” says Catherine Sanderson, a professor of psychology at Amherst College in Massachusetts and author of “The Positive Shift: Mastering Mindset to Improve Happiness, Health, and Longevity.”

“It fits in with a lot of what we know about how to get people to actually maintain behaviour change,” Sanderson says.

Along with removing the barriers to exercise, she says, “it very much relies on what psychologists would call positive reinforcement — the idea of, ‘It’s not just that I’m exercising. I’m getting to watch my favourite show. I’m tapping into something I want to be doing already.”

ELIMINATE THE COMPETITION — BY STAYING HOME The cosy approach also works for gym-goers who feel burned out at the idea of constant striving.

Ko Im, a mental health advocate who has taught yoga and meditation in New York and other

US cities, remembers a phase several years ago when “yoga challenges” were a trend.

“It was the yoga pose of the day — really, really hard yoga poses,” Im says.

More recently, she sees people pushing themselves to make the leaderboard in all their Peloton classes or to lose five more pounds.

“What I like,” she says, “is the idea of enjoying the journey, not the goal. Does it feel good in my body today?”

As cosy cardio gains traction, Zuckerbrow hears from people who didn’t realize they could enjoy the journey.

Alyssa Royse, owner of Rocket Community Fitness in Seattle, has been alternating between full-on workouts at her gym and cosy exercise at home. Some days she switches off the sound on her Peloton (“I don’t even want those cheery people talking to me”) and just pedals while watching “the trashiest TV I can find, because it just takes my brain somewhere else.”

The hashtag-friendly name “cosy cardio” could sound like an oxymoron. But perhaps, as 2024 takes root, it’s the compromise our culture needs.

Driving across town in icy weather and pushing through an hour of Zumba or lifting 20-pound kettlebells just isn’t possible some days. But lighting a candle in your living room and walking three miles in your pyjamas while re-watching the final season of “Succession”? That’s within reach.

And it might just serve up enough endorphins and bring enough oxygen into your lungs to cope with whatever global crisis tomorrow could bring.

“Too many people look at exercise as an all-or-nothing thing,” Royse says. “It doesn’t give people room to just be where they are today. And I think that’s incredibly important.”

PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 6, 2024

THE TRIBUNE

Learn to love yourself during special Valentine’s Day conference

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

IT’S the season of love, which means romantic gestures and romantic dinners.

But beyond that, a special Valentine’s Day conference to be held this weekend will encourage women to love themselves.

The event’s organisers, the “Love Yourself Holistically” non-profit organisation, was formed seven years ago by Shena Johnson.

“Far too many persons are hurting deeply, looking for love in all the wrong places,” she told Tribune Woman.

“With much haste they are aggressively looking for affirmation, money, security and sex. In 2017, the Lord asked me to move with urgency and start planning a conference just for women.”

Shena said she realised that taking a holistic approach would be the best way to assist women, so she recruited a variety of professionals, including ministers to the soul, ministers in song, people who can share personal testimonies, doctors, therapists, beauticians, attorneys, financial advisors, Women Crisis Centre representatives, and many others.

The event has grown over the past seven years since its inaugural event, which was held under the theme, “He Wants Your All.” During the pandemic, events were held virtually, and the group has also been able to provide food, clothing and support to various organisations (the AIDS Camp, senior citizen and children’s homes) in New Providence and during a mission trip to Cat Island in April 2021.

Additionally, they have had held a number of events such as a walk-a-thons, prayer breakfasts, boat cruises and ministry outreach.

“I believe with all my heart because of our obedience, many persons have been delivered by God Himself. Chains have been broken and hearts have been

LYHO founder Shena C Johnson

MODERATOR Eustacia Jennings

”A Night with the King” gala banquet emcee Davonia Williams

BUT President Belinda Wilson discusses what’s going on in schools

HARRISON Thompson will make his presentations on mental health

PASTOR Mario and Erica Moxey will lead the group session for married couples

“Let’s Talk” with Dr Joseph Evans

CHIEF Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings looks at today’s society

turned to God through our various programmes,” said Shena.

This year, the three-day conference will take place at February 9-11 at Breezes Bahamas. It will be held under the theme “It’s All Because of Love”.

Friday night’s session is free of charge and includes a praise and worship session followed by therapist Harrison Thompson talking about mental health.

On Saturday, there will be a panel discussion called “What’s Going On?” It will feature Rev T G

Morrison speaking from a religious perspective. Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson will discuss things from a school persepective, while Police Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings will look at society on a whole, and CEO of Fidelity Bank Bahamas Gowon Bowe will examine the economy.

Dr Joseph Evans will offer a segment on health called “Let’s Talk with Doc”. That session will conclude with praise and worship and then a message from Pastor Jamal Franklyn.

The afternoon session includes group sessions facilitated by Davonia Josey-Williams (singles), Pastor Mario and Erica Moxey (couples), Elder Arleen Sands (widowed and divorced) and Rev Ranford Patterson (men).

Then on Saturday night attendees will dress in their finest as they spend ‘A Night with The King’ at the gala banquet.

Davonia Williams will be the mistress of ceremonies in a night of fun and fellowship.

Entertainment will be provided by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, Nehemiah

Hield, Latasha Taylor, John Darville, Jill Cleare, Natala Mackey, Antonio Rolle,Leoneisha Johnson, Leante Lloyd and Sadie Williams. Other musical guests are saxophonists Lynden Sands and trumpeter Andrew Hunter.

There will be a hat and fashion show, prizes and surprises. Tickets are being sold separately or part of the weekend package. All proceeds from this gala event go to support the outreach ministries of LYHO. Those interested can call 457-1495 or email loveyourselfholistically@gmail.com.

Book Review: ‘Come and Get It’ takes readers back to school, blending gossip with weightier themes starts to see Agatha as more than a professor and Agatha starts to publish snippets about students in Teen Vogue and things get really messy.

Reid has a knack for descriptive phrases as we get to know all these characters. Here’s Resident Director Josh, who Millie crushes on a bit: “His arms made him look like the ideal person to find and ask to open a jar of anything.” And Peyton, one of the students in the dorm Millie oversees: “Peyton was boxy, a fact not helped by what looked to be an ill-fitting bra beneath her sweatshirt. … Her dark brown hair … lay on her hood like a paintbrush that needed to be soaked.”

Despite that gossipy setup, Reid creates a story with real weight. Her ear for dialogue — honed, no doubt, by the dozens of actual interviews she conducted with college students for this book — is finely tuned. It feels like you’re reading great gossip, but the characters come across as genuine, with real problems. “Come and Get It” is a fun, propulsive read that puts readers in a world most of them will have long since graduated from, but which provides an ideal window to explore deeper themes — from relationships to class and privilege to racism.

By ROB MERRILL Associated Press It’s always fun to read books that take you back to your formative years. Kiley Reid’s sophomore novel, “Come & Get It,” is set in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the state university, where senior Millie Cousins works as a resident assistant.

Millie is a young woman with a plan. Born in nearby Missouri, she took a gap year after high school to work in Fayetteville and qualify for in-state tuition. She then missed another year while caring for her ailing mother. She’s majoring in hospitality with a minor in Spanish and at the ripe old age of 24, she’s already saving to buy a house. When we first meet her coordinating move-in day, Reid gives us this description: “She had rosy brown skin, a pear-shapedform and an expanse of dark wavy hair... From the neck down, she looked like an adult poking fun at campus life, someone dressing like an RA for Halloween.”

Costumed or no, Millie’s an excellent RA. Efficient, empathetic, and understanding — at least when we first meet her.

Enter Agatha Paul, a visiting writing professor, who meets Millie while looking for students to talk

AUTHOR Kiley Reid to for a book she’s researching about shifting generational attitudes toward weddings. It’s those conversations that really kick off the crux of the novel — the more Agatha talks to the young women, and to Millie, the more fascinated

she becomes by their lives.

When she starts hanging out more in Millie’s dorm, taking advantage of the thin walls to hear the collegiate dramas playing out in an adjacent suite, the plot kicks into high gear. Millie

Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project to promote the arts welcomes Sharon Poitier to the board of directors The Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project (SHBLP), dedicated to advancing youth through performing arts and cultural education, has announced Sharon Poitier as the newest member of its board of directors.

“We could not feel more honoured to have Ms Poitier lend her invaluable perspective and expertise,” said SHBLP co-founder Cristin Carole. “Her life-long devotion as an educator pioneering curriculum development in The Bahamas will help propel our mission of driving national

performing arts exposure to the next level.”

Ms Poitier joins the board following her retirement as Deputy Director of Education for the Bahamas where she spearheaded a transformational 2017-2022 strategic plan. Key successes included implementing an unprecedented, standardized curriculum development cycle, and amplifying technical skills across 27 divisions.

Her storied 41-year career in education began as a teacher before rising through administrative ranks to implement systemwide change. She holds

a BA in History and Secondary Education from Howard University and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota.

Ms Poitier continues to nurture future generations as an adjunct professor at the University of the Bahamas School of Social Sciences.

“I’m a firm believer in the power of arts to ignite passion within students while building creative capacity,” she said.

“I have long admired Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project’s visionary advancement of cultural

programmes weaving artistic exposure into the fabric of youth development. I embrace this opportunity to shape national consciousness through the celebration of Bahamian traditions.”

Ms Poitier will help to guide SHBLP’s initiatives in developing arts curriculum standards, scholarships, research and advocacy platforms over its next exciting chapter.

The Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project is a Bahamian nonprofit organisation founded in 2017 to support youth empowerment through performing arts

SHARON Poitier education, programming, and cultural research. Learn more at www.shirleyhallbasslegacy.org

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, PAGE 11

Super Bowl cooks, it can be done: Buffalo wings with less splatter wings. One wing, one carrot, one wing, one piece of celery. And don’t forget to dip the vegetables in that blue cheese dip too.

Tomorrow you can have a salad.

If you want to make the wings ahead of time, just reheat them in a 300-degree oven for about 15 minutes.

By KATIE WORKMAN Associated Press WE will start by acknowledging that deep-fried chicken wings are very, very good. And when I am out and about in a bar-ish setting, it’s difficult to pass them up.

But deep frying chicken wings – or really anything – at home? Very rare in my kitchen. It’s messy, it calls for lots of oil, and then you have to make a whole lot to justify the amount of oil you use.

For this year’s Super Bowl festivities, consider a simpler way.

I am among the many who have had their lives enriched by the air fryer. In a short amount of time, you can make a variety of crispy and crunchy foods without a bottle of oil, excessive splattering or quite so much guilt. And hooray, fried chicken wings are one of the foods the air fryer is made for.

All you have to do is toss the wings in a small bit of oil and place them in the air fryer. Toss them around again at least once during frying so they brown evenly. Then toss the now-crispy wings with a simple butter-hot sauce mixture, serve up a ridiculously easy homemade blue-cheese dip, and you’re ready for game day. Or just a fabulous snack.

AIR FRYER BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS Serves 6 Wings: 2 pounds chicken wings, flat part and “drummies” separated, tips saved for stock 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Buffalo Sauce: 2/3 cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Blue Cheese Dip: 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese 1 to 2 tablespoons whole milk, half and half, or heavy cream 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 finely chopped scallions, white and green parts

THIS combination of images shows a recipe for air fryer buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese dip and carrot and celery sticks. (Carrie Crow via AP) What turns ordinary chicken wings into Buffalo wings is that hot sauce with melted butter. And while there are folks who prefer one hot sauce or another, many of us feel it’s not a classic buffalo wing without Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. This just-the-right-amountof-spicy sauce has the perfect balance of vinegar and heat, so you can glug that red love onto the wings and not worry about blowing your taste buds out.

Want it spicier? Add more Frank’s, and maybe a bit of cayenne pepper.

Don’t want to make your own blue cheese dip? That’s cool. Buy some. But buy a good one. You made your own wings; give them a sauce they deserve. I’m a fan of Marie’s blue cheese dressing, which can be found in the produce section in the refrigerator case.

Including carrots and celery makes us all feel better about the

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Carrots and celery sticks for serving Cook the wings: In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the oil, salt and pepper. Place them into the basket of the air fryer; they can overlap a bit, but they shouldn’t be stacked. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F if your air fryer has temperature settings, or the dual cook setting if it doesn’t. Turn the wings halfway through the cooking, redistributing them so they cook more evenly. Remove them when they are browned and crisp.

Make the Buffalo sauce: While the wings are cooking, combine the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and the melted butter in a large bowl.

Make the blue cheese dip: In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, 1 tablespoon milk, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, scallions, and salt and pepper. If the dip is thicker than you’d like, add the extra tablespoon of milk (or other dairy product).

Transfer the hot cooked wings to the large bowl and toss with the buffalo sauce. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with the Blue Cheese Dip and carrot and celery sticks.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

ORLANDO

High: 68° F/20° C Low: 49° F/9° C

TAMPA

TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

UV INDEX TODAY

Very windy; a couple of showers

Very windy; a couple of showers

Mostly sunny and windy

Breezy with some sun, then clouds

Partly sunny and pleasant

Nice with partial sunshine

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

High: 72°

Low: 65°

High: 75° Low: 64°

High: 74° Low: 63°

High: 76° Low: 64°

High: 79° Low: 66°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

70° F

59° F

74°-63° F

73°-60° F

79°-63° F

81°-64° F

High: 67° F/19° C Low: 46° F/8° C

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 58° F/14° C

25-35 knots

S

High: 67° F/19° C Low: 53° F/12° C

20-30 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 68° F/20° C Low: 53° F/12° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

High

Ht.(ft.)

4:21 a.m.

4:36 p.m.

2.7 2.0

10:56 a.m. 0.2 10:43 p.m. -0.3

ALMANAC

Wednesday 5:18 a.m.

5:34 p.m.

2.9 2.2

11:50 a.m. 0.0 11:41 p.m. -0.5

Statistics are for Nassau through 1 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 77° F/25° C Low .................................................... 59° F/15° C Normal high ....................................... 77° F/25° C Normal low ........................................ 64° F/18° C Last year’s high .................................. 83° F/28° C Last year’s low ................................... 64° F/18° C Precipitation As of 1 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.04” Year to date .................................................. 0.73” Normal year to date ..................................... 1.65”

Thursday

6:11 a.m.

6:29 p.m.

3.1 2.4

12:41 p.m. -0.3 ---------

Friday

7:02 a.m.

7:22 p.m.

3.3 2.7

12:36 a.m. -0.7 1:29 p.m. -0.5

Saturday

7:51 a.m.

8:13 p.m.

3.4 2.9

1:31 a.m. -0.9 2:16 p.m. -0.7

Sunday

8:39 a.m.

9:05 p.m.

3.3 3.0

2:24 a.m. -0.9 3:02 p.m. -0.9

Monday

9:27 a.m.

9:57 p.m.

3.2 3.1

3:18 a.m. -0.8 3:49 p.m. -0.9

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

High: 70° F/21° C Low: 63° F/17° C

MIAMI

High: 68° F/20° C Low: 54° F/12° C

20-30 knots

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 65° F/18° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2024

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 61° F/16° C

N

KEY WEST

High: 70° F/21° C Low: 59° F/15° C

High: 72° F/22° C Low: 67° F/19° C

N

S

E

W

15-25 knots

S

20-30 knots

ANDROS

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

Today

Ht.(ft.)

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset

6:50 a.m. Moonrise 5:58 p.m. Moonset

3:57 a.m.

2:25 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Feb. 9

Feb. 16

Feb. 24

Mar. 3

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 74° F/23° C Low: 68° F/20° C

High: 78° F/26° C Low: 65° F/18° C

N

High: 73° F/23° C Low: 59° F/15° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 77° F/25° C Low: 61° F/16° C

L

Low

CAT ISLAND

E

W

TIDES FOR NASSAU

20-30 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 79° F/26° C Low: 68° F/20° C

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

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 77° F/25° C Low: 61° F/16° C

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 62° F/17° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 81° F/27° C Low: 65° F/18° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

20-30 knots

20-30 knots

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

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

WINDS W at 20-30 Knots N at 15-25 Knots NW at 15-25 Knots N at 12-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots NNW at 15-25 Knots WSW at 25-35 Knots NW at 12-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots NNW at 12-25 Knots WNW at 25-35 Knots N at 12-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots N at 12-25 Knots SW at 20-30 Knots NW at 12-25 Knots WSW at 25-35 Knots NNW at 12-25 Knots SW at 25-35 Knots NW at 15-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots N at 12-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots NNW at 12-25 Knots W at 20-30 Knots N at 12-25 Knots

WAVES 5-9 Feet 14-18 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 6-10 Feet 10-14 Feet 8-12 Feet 5-9 Feet 4-8 Feet 12-16 Feet 4-8 Feet 5-9 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 8-12 Feet 5-9 Feet 6-10 Feet 3-6 Feet 8-12 Feet 8-12 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 6-10 Feet 3-6 Feet 4-8 Feet 4-8 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 6 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 75° F 75° F 75° F 73° F 78° F 77° F 79° F 79° F 77° F 76° F 75° F 73° F 77° F 74° F 80° F 80° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 77° F 78° F 77° F

SECTION B

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Bahamas’ ‘Cat Woman’ on a mission to share her love and knowledge of felines

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

SHE might not be Batman’s famous enemy/love interest, but Irina Creaser has more than earned the moniker “Cat Woman”.

She has loved cats since she was a little girl, and when she moved to the Bahamas from Germany in 1994 she bought that feline passion with her.

She made the big move long with her Persian cat Reno. Once in the Bahamas, she made the acquaintance of veterinarian, and now dear friend, Dr Basil Sands, who suggested that she breed Persian cats.

“He saw my love and passion, and offered to teach me about cats and healthcare. I took his suggestion and obtained a matingpair. I started breeding Persian cats as a hobby; never a business,” said the 60-year-old.

Irina said the more time she spent around cats, the deeper her understanding of these elegant animals and their medical needs became. As time went on, she decided she wanted to do more than just breed cats; she also wanted to help teach others about animal welfare.

“Since I come from Germany where people love and care deeply for their furry family members, I noticed the lack of understanding here in the Bahamas. I decided to offer grooming, boarding and the teaching of the more important points of cat care to my cat clients. Soon, word would spread, and as I became more popular as a cats-only groomer, I also was able to impart all the needs of cats to their owners,” she told Tribune Woman.

In 2016, Irina started what she calls the first cat-only Facebook group based in the Bahamas. She has used this social media group to chat with local cat owners in need of services like neutering, nutrition guides and more.

“I also regularly check-in with other pet groups for unwanted cats and kittens, which I offer, if space is available, to take in.

The kittens will be bathed, deflead, de-wormed, vaccinated and spayed as soon as age and weight allow. The kittens will be featured in my group and all find loving ‘furever’ homes,” she said.

A YOUNG Brownie Guide at Temple Christian Elementary School enjoys the hands-on lesson on cat care

IRINA Creaser (left) would love to give more talks about pet care at local schools “I get help from BAARK and often even pick up people’s cats - just to carry to the vets for spaying/neutering. There is a huge overpopulation of cats and dogs in the Bahamas, and only through education and understanding the importance of spaying and neutering can we reduce this problem. The response is 100 percent favourable. I received over 300 positive reviews, and keep seeing many of my cat parents very regularly.”

Just recently, Irina was invited to the Temple Christian Elementary School to teach a class on cat care to their Brownie programme.

“I brought my cat Katia along.

It was a huge success, and the young girls loved asking questions and taking pictures with Katia. I had always wanted to teach children about cats and care, since I believe with all my heart that being taught the right way to keep and care for an animal will stay with you for your lifetime and hopefully impact how we see pets in the Bahamas,” she said.

“Hopefully, the importance of spaying and neutering will stay too, embedded in the mind of the

IRINA Creaser tries to find ‘furever’ homes for as many kittens as possible young, and we will in time see a decrease in our homeless strays.

It makes me feel wonderful to be, even in a small way part of helping my community.”

Irina said Dr Basil Sands, who has not only been her vet, but who has also become her friend and mentor over the years, played the most important part in her becoming the Bahamas “Cat Woman”.

She said his teachings, support and faith in her encouraged her to go from pet parent to breeder and groomer; offering cat parenting

How men really feel about Valentine’s Day

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FOR some men, their true feelings about Valentine’s Day are camouflaged by the sending of flowers, planning and executing elaborate dinners, dates and selecting expensive gifts.

As February 14 approaches, many feel the pressure to express their love out loud and in public.

And this is what makes some of our male readers despise the day.

Valentine’s Day is sold as the day for lovers to express their affection through cards and gifts, and by spending time togther.

But like the Grinch whole loathes Christmas, there is a set of men who the feel the same way about Valentine’s Day. Were it not for what they call the “nagging” of their love interests, they would choose to opt out altogether.

Tribune reader Jimmy falls into the category of men who dread Valentine’s Day each day. In his opinion, the date is not really about celebrating love at all.

“If we are being real, the day is about consumerism and economics. We do the same thing around Christmastime. Valentine’s Day is no different. We are often pressured into thinking we have to express our love for our partner by buying things, and I am just not wired that way,” he said.

Jimmy said he only participated in Valentine’s Day shenanigans

when his girlfriend started dropping hints.

“She did not want to come right out and ask because she did not know what I would say. She was nervous about what my response would be, so she decided not to ask. But she started saying things and asking certain questions that made be realise that even if she was not big on Valentine’s Day, she was still expecting something.

So I had to let someone help me figure out what to do that would make that her happy and feel good,” he said.

Myram told Tribune Woman in his view Valentine’s Day is “overrated”. But despite this, he has planned ahead for the day two years in a row, just to indulge his partner’s wishes.

“My lady just recently said to me, ‘Oh, you did not ask me to be your Valentine’s’ in the sweetest voice. And all I was thinking was, ‘We are already past this point in our relationship’. I really cannot stand the day. But for the sake of romance and letting love win I have already made arrangements to have flowers delivered to her work, because if I do not acknowledge the day, I think it would really disappoint her. I don’t know what else I am going to do, but I will figure out something else for her,” he said.

As far as Ray is concerned, Valentine’s Day is just another day on the calendar.

“I have never been into Valentine’s Day from I knew myself.

I do not feel like I need the world to tell me when I need to express my affection to the woman I am with. I believe love is a daily expression, and I am constantly doing things consistently to let my lady know that I love her and care about,” he said.

“She gets gifts on random days through the year and we are constantly going on dates. All of the pressure for Valentine’s Day is just a ploy to get people to spend their money.”

Jerad, on the other hand, has always been the guy who loves romance. So when it comes to him giving voice to his feelings, he likes to do it in a big way.

“My big love and energy is reciprocated too. But I love carving aside that special time for the lady I love.

I love making her feel special. A lot of men do not know how to tap into their romantic side because they do not realise that the more romantic you are to a woman the more she will open up to you; physically, emotionally and of course sexually,” he said.

and help to her fur parents with minor health issues and behavioural problems.

“Dr Sands has been amazing in his support to allow me to have all the needed medications to de-worm cats and kittens and a staple of medical supplies, needed when one does rescues,” she said.

“Over the last six years I have rescued and re-homed more than 250 cats and kittens, who all have received medical care.

“My other hero and greatest support is my life partner Eugene,

who keeps boosting my morale each time I cry about not being able to help more, or that I can’t find homes for a new batch of rescues I just could not say no to.

He willingly always helps to clean litter, feed the kittens when I am in bed with a migraine, or take them to the vet for me. Putting up with me and supporting a woman whose life and passion purrs and is an endless supply of cats/kittens truly makes my Eugene a hero. I could not do this without his support and encouragement,” she said.

Going forward, Irina said she would love to continue visiting local schools to teach students about cat and pet care in general. She wants to do her part in dispelling the common myths, emphasise the importance of spaying and neutering, and speak on the prevention of unnecessary suffering of unplanned litters.

“My home is always open to people who would like to learn about cats and experience the joy of these wonderful creatures. Also, since I became more known amongst the cat parents, I had started a small charity where donations from my group members have paid for an average of 10 cases of canned foods to be donated each month to the Bahamas Humane Society’s shelter kittens. I want to continue in my efforts to help BHS food donations,” she said. Irina Creaser (left) would love to give more talks about pet care at local schools