03012023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

‘HEALTH CARE STRUGGLES AFTER RECENT SHOOTINGS’

FNM chairman calls for joint focus - as new hospitals announced

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Health Min-

ister Dr Duane Sands said a recent spate in shootings has affected public health services and a joint focus on crime and healthcare is needed.

There has been a series of shooting incidents in recent weeks, with many victims having to seek treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr Sands’ comments come as Prime Minister

Philip “Brave” Davis last night announced that ground will be broken for a new hospital in New Providence in June, and in Grand Bahama within a month. Mr Davis was speaking at a PLP branch meeting in Killarney.

Dr Sands, the Free National Movement chairman, told The Tribune that because of a limitation of staff, the operating rooms at Princess Margaret Hospital and Rand Memorial

CARICOM TRIP TO HAITI HAILED A SUCCESS BY PM

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE CARICOM delegation’s trip to Haiti on Monday was a success, said Prime Minister and CARICOM chairman Philip Davis, adding that it marks the beginning of a journey that will help pave the way towards the holding of free and fair elections in Haiti.

The high-level delegation, led by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, consisted of representatives from The Bahamas

and Trinidad and Tobago, left for Haiti on Monday to meet with politicians and other officials there to discuss security issues facing the country.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and Immigration Minister Keith Bell were among the delegation. But the group did not stay overnight, with some of the delegation members returning to The Bahamas later that day.

Mr Davis described the mission as a “success” and

POLICE OFFICER IN CUSTODY OVER INCEST ALLEGATIONS

A MEMBER of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is in custody and being questioned at the Criminal Investigations Department for alleged incestuous behaviour. In a statement issued last night, the RBPF said an investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided on completion of the probe, describing the individual as a sub-officer.

COMPLETE AT LAST! PAVING WORK ON VILLAGE ROAD DONE

On Tuesday, The Tribune reported that police were investigating allegations that a man allegedly raped his daughter.

At the time, a police officer said the man was not in custody. Reports circulating online alleged the man is a police officer, however a representative from the RBPF could not confirm this earlier this week.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AFTER several delays, major work for the Village Road Improvement Project is finally completed, marking the end of a long, frustrating journey for motorists and business owners in the area.

GOV’S ONLINE PORTAL CALLED ‘A HORROR’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE ATTORNEY General yesterday conceded that long-standing problems with the Registrar General’s Department’s online portal “are beyond our control” as lawyers and realtors branded the situation “a horror”.

Ryan Pinder KC, in a messaged reply to Tribune Business, said he “understands the frustration” over

woes that private sector executives say have persisted for up to “six months” and increased both the time

and cost associated with real estate transactions.

He pledged that the Government is “doing whatever we can to rectify” the issues caused by the Registrar General’s portal going offline since last summer, which has left attorneys, in particular, unable to conduct rapid and relatively inexpensive searches for title deeds and particular conveyancing documents.

However, several weeks of minor works remain to be completed, including signage, striping and traffic lights.

Albrion Symonette, Jr, resident engineer of the Village Road Improvement Project, told reporters yesterday that paving of the road was completed.

Complete at last! Paving work on Village Road done

The only thing left for contractors to do, he said, is a few minor works, which includes installing signage in the area along with traffic signals and repairing sidewalks that may have been damaged during the course of construction.

“We’ve achieved substantial completion on the Village Road Improvement Project, which means that we have completed the contract pavement. So, the underground works are completed, the pavement works are complete,” Mr Symonette said during a press conference at the site yesterday.

“What we have left to do includes striping work, signage work, as well as traffic signals so our intention is over the next few weeks to install the signage, install the striping, install signals, and to also ensure that we reinstate anything that was damaged during the course of the work. So sidewalks, curbs, walls and such were damaged.”

Mr Symonette could not give a definite timeline for the remaining work’s

completion, but said it should take another few weeks to finish.

“We do not have a definitive timeline at the moment because we are waiting for the shipment of some items, primarily the traffic signal equipment,” he added. “There have been some global supply chain issues that have pushed the procurement date back for those traffic signals significantly, so we are looking to hopefully see those in a few weeks’ time.”

The completion date for the Village Road project was initially scheduled for September last year, but the deadline was missed and shifted to December before moving to January and then February.

Businesses in Village Road have previously lamented the shifting deadlines and have since requested an incentives package from the government to revive their businesses which they claimed suffered losses by the year-long roadworks.

In terms of future repairs, Mr Symonette was unable to guarantee there won’t be

any road digging by utility companies in the months ahead.

However, he said: “We do our endeavour best to minimise and mitigate the future potential or need for it so what we’ve done is during the course of the works, we’ve incorporated a lot of underground works, wherein we have said ‘okay, we want to take this additional scope and do it now to prevent the urgent or the automatic need to go into the road.’

“So, there’s never a guarantee, but we do our best to mitigate. What we’ve actually done is install conduits across the road so in the event, a utility company needed to cross the road rather than excavating the road, they’re able to use those spare ducts which they have actually used already.

“There have already been instances on Village Road where we’ve used the spare ducts to avoid having to excavate the roadway.”

The project has a price tag of $6.4m and according to Mr Symonette yesterday, it remains on budget.

RESIDENT engineer of the Village Road Improvement Project Albrion Symonette, Jr told reporters yesterday that the major paving work on Village Road was now complete. He said, however, that there are still several weeks of minor works remaining to be completed, including road signage, striping and traffic lights.

Photos: Austin Fernander

THE EXIT onto Village Road from St. Andrews Drive was widened as part of the Village Road Improvement Project.

THE ADDITION of turning lanes on Village Road and Parkgate Road is hoped to improve traffic flow.

CARICOM trip to Haiti hailed a success by PM

a step in the right direction during a press conference held Monday night after he welcomed the group from their trip.

Earlier in the day, Mr Davis told reporters that the purpose of the mission was to help prepare them for an upcoming meeting that will be held in Jamaica surrounding issues in Haiti.

“From the briefing given to me, it was a successful trip,” he said. “I think they had identified the common denominators I think may lead to response to the challenges that are present in Haiti at the moment, particularly the issue relating to security which all of the stakeholders whom they have met - I think they were over 70 - have chimed in on.

“The base line here is ensuring that (the) security of Haiti is secured, and we hope to continue those conversations and at the very least dialogue has begun.”

Mr Davis also thanked each member of the delegation that travelled to Haiti

to start what he described as “a journey towards creating the space for a free

STAKEHOLDERS EXPRESS CONCERNS AT MEETING ON $30M GLADSTONE RD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

“IT IS not our intention to do a Village Road,” officials with the Ministry of Works said last night in response to concerns from various Gladstone Road stakeholders yesterday about the estimated $30m Gladstone Road Improvement Project.

The comments were made yesterday evening at a town planning meeting for consultation with the public. The meeting was led by officials from the Ministry of Works and Utilities and was held at the National Training Agency on Gladstone Road.

The projected two-year road improvement project is set to allow for increased vehicle capacity through several changes: the widening of the road to allow for a dual carriageway, sidewalks, bus stops with bus shelters, street lighting, roadside drainage, the addition of five new roundabouts, the addition of a privacy wall near the Jubilee Gardens subdivision and a four feet wide emergency lane, which would also allow biking access.

Debbie Lightbourne, a resident of Jubilee Gardens subdivision, voiced concern about whether road works would be completed at night for the convenience of motorists.

“You were doing a pretty good job, when you did this roadworks presently, you were working after hours. It was very effective. Would you be using that same system because that was very effective,” she said.

To this, officials said they would keep her concerns in mind when in discussion with contractors.

Ron Hepburn, vice president and chief financial officer of Sysco Bahamas on Gladstone Road, mentioned concerns about ease of driving for big container carrying trucks travelling the road and needing to make wide turns.

“There is no easement from when you’re coming from Potter’s Cay to when you turn into Sysco Bahamas’ yard,” he said.

“I’m (also) asking if there is some way to bring the turning lane (near Fusion Superplex) further down so that persons don’t try to cut in front of you and cause accidents, which has happened,” he said.

Father Chester Burton, rector of St Ambrose Anglican Church, questioned whether the government

would be replacing walls when and if they are taken down during road works.

Bishop Delton Fernander, president of the Bahamas Christian Council, also added that he is concerned about congestion on the road with the upcoming establishment of two new churches projected within the next two years.

Dion Munroe, assistant engineer of civil design at the Ministry of Works, responded to the concerns, adding that there is not yet a specific start date or source of funding.

“The utility corporations have to do some relocation works, so it won’t start before they start those relocation works. We don’t want to be tied down to a timeline but we’re looking to get that (road works) started before the end of this year. We want it to be started this year,” he said.

“We’re looking at either international funding or local funding, roughly between $25 (million) to $30m.”

Mr Munroe said he envisions that road works will begin from the Carmichael Road area, though discussions on this are still continuing.

He added that any

and fair transparent election in Haiti”.

He could not say how long it could take for an election to be held but acknowledged that it could take a while, noting that people there need to feel safe in order to vote.

“We don’t think it’s an overnight fix, but we think that we’re on the right track,” the prime minister also said.

The group’s travel to Haiti comes amid a reported rise of kidnappings and gang violence in the country’s capital.

Mr Munroe was asked about what they saw on the ground in Haiti.

“The Haitian National Police ensured that our (travel) from the airport to the Hotel Montana, which is where we met, was without incident. There was a show on the streets. We saw the environs of people going about their business,” the minister said.

“I could say, and Minister

Bell says, they’re a lot more respectful of the police passing and pulling on the side than we are here in New Providence and so we were conducted quite safely and, of course, everyone travelled with their protection officers, so we encountered no difficulties.”

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Haitian Chargé d’Affaires Louis Harold Joseph said based on information he received, he also thought the meetings went well.

Mr Joseph also noted that he remains confident that a solution will be found to the crisis in Haiti following the return of the CARICOM delegation.

“We received a very large delegation from CARICOM,” he said.

“We had members from The Bahamas, a large delegation from The Bahamas, Jamaica and CARICOM and during that visit, they paid a courtesy call to the

Prime Minister and after that, they went to have a meeting with all the stakeholders in Port au Prince, particularly political parties and members from the civil society and also members from the private sector.

“I think the meeting went well and I know the Prime Minister of Jamaica made some comments. I don’t have them yet, but I can tell you that Haiti received that large delegation from CARICOM, and everything went well.”

Last month, The Bahamas hosted the 44th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting where regional leaders gathered to discuss the crisis in Haiti.

At the end of the threeday high-level talks, member states of CARICOM agreed to provide direct support to the Haitian National Police to help bolster security in the troubled country instead of putting extra boots on the ground there.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MARCH RETURNS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AFTER a two-year hiatus, Equality Bahamas is set to take the streets to demand women’s rights.

With International Women’s Day set for March 8, the advocacy group will host its third annual march and expo.

Since previously conducting the event virtually, Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas, is excited about this year’s event.

She said this year’s event will support the fight for the criminalisation of marital rape.

The event is set to kick-off on March 4, with the procession set to begin at 9am from Eastern Parade and ending at the IWD expo site at the Dundas Centre on Mackey Street.

“The expo is always a space where we invite different organisations, largely NGOs, to set up tables or booths where they can talk a bit about the work that they do, and in particular, any resources or services that they have available to women and girls,” the local activist said.

“It’s a space relief for women and girls to be able to walk around and really find out what exists in The

Bahamas for them. If they have a particular challenge, if they have a particular need, they can get a sense of where they can go for help.”

Some of the non-government agencies include: Hands for Hunger; Bahamas National Reparations Committee; Bahamas Crisis Centre; Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association; Access Accelerator and much more.

This family-friendly event is scheduled from 10am to 3pm, with various workshops. According to Ms Wallace, the workshops include: yoga; dance; Zumba; group therapy; and zine-making.

infrastructure that is taken down for the road project will be restored to its previous state.

Yesterday, Minister of Works Alfred Sears added: “The African ExportImport Bank, we met with them during the Heads of Government Intersessional meeting of CARICOM. So that is the reason why Mr Munroe is uncertain in terms of a start date. Now that we have the input of stakeholders we will make a determination, that is the Ministry of Finance, in terms of sourcing the funds.”

Lambert Knowles, an engineering and technical consulting engineer for the road project, said: “It is not our intention to do a Village Road. There are going to be instances where you’re going to get an inconvenience, but the intention is to put two new lanes similar to the Airport Highway.”

The Village Road project has had numerous delays and caused frustration to the motoring public and businesses in the area.

Mr Sears added that another town planning meeting for consultation from the public would be held “from time to time” throughout the course of the next two years.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis yesterday called the CARICOM delgation’s visit to Haiti a ‘success’ as member states seek to help secure the country and to ensure a ‘free and fair election’ can take place.

MINISTER of Works Alfred Sears yesterday fielded questions from stakeholders on Gladstone Road during a meeting to discuss concerns about the $30m Gladstone Road Improvement Project. Along with resurfacing the road it is expectd that the road will be widened or made into a dual carriageway.

Photo: Moise Amisial

‘Health care struggles after recent shootings’

from page one

in Grand Bahama are not open to full capacity.

He explained that although there may be a certain number of operating rooms, the challenge is the lack of qualified nurses that are able to facilitate care in those areas. The usage of the operating rooms to treat gunshot wounds or stabbing injuries does interfere with the ability to provide “non-emergency care,” he said.

Dr Sands said: “Given the limits in staff in many of the critical care areas, the operating rooms at both the Rand Memorial and Princess Margaret Hospital are not open to full capacity.

“So, requiring the use of the operating rooms for gunshot wounds or stabbings clearly interferes with the ability to provide nonemergency care. And this has been a perennial problem that gets worse, gets better, (and) gets worse, gets better.”

According to police, a 26-year-old male was left injured following a shooting incident that occurred on Monday in the Nassau Village area. He was assisted to PMH by a private vehicle where he has been admitted for further medical care.

On February 24, a tenyear-old boy, who left home to purchase food, was shot and injured. He was also

taken to hospital, but has since been released.

On February 23, a 15-yearold boy was shot in the area of Windsor Lane shortly after 7.30pm.

Dr Sands described the influx of patients involved in criminal incidents as being a major issue affecting healthcare services.

Meanwhile, as more “trauma” patients are admitted to the hospital the demand for blood has also increased.

“It also impacts the availability of blood and blood products, because of the demand placed on the blood bank for blood products from trauma patients,” he said.

“Understand that we

happen to be one of those countries that has, as for many years, had among the highest rates of violent penetrating trauma in the world,” he said.

Dr Sands stressed there needs to be a joint focus on crime and healthcare.

He continued: “And it speaks to the fact that as a country, we really have to make the connection between violence and healthcare. It was a critical part of my emphasis as minister and it remains a challenge.”

Dr Sands also bashed the Davis administration’s new treatment of VAT on health services. He described it as a “regressive” step, adding that it will reduce access to health care.

CLAY SWEETING DISMISSES FNM CHAIRMAN’S CRITICISM ON ELEUTHERA WATER ISSUES

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

CLAY Sweeting, MP for for Central and South Eleuthera, said the Davis administration has put a lot of focus in his area, despite Free National Movement Chairman Dr Duane Sands criticising the government for neglecting the island’s water issues.

Mr Sweeting pointed out some of the previous administration’s failings and said the country made the right choice when it elected the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mr Sweeting gave an update on the island’s water situation, noting that currently the plant that provides Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound is up and running.

“There was a time for five days when Aqua Design that operates the plant was not operational and they had to import some parts to get the plant up and running,” he said.

“So there was a time when it was difficult for the people in my constituency, but I am confident

that the Ministry of Works, the Minister of Works, as

well as the chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation is working diligently to rectify that this doesn’t happen again or as often as it has.” Asked about some reports of a couple of days

of water disruption, he mentioned that another company operated a few of the plants.

“I’m not sure you’re aware, but Aqua Design currently operates a few plants throughout The Bahamas. So the disruption that happened was a different plant than a few months ago, but in my constituency. So Aqua Designs operates a few plants.

“One specifically the challenge was in Governor’s Harbour a few months ago, which Aqua Designs or (another company) operates. And then the challenge last week was a water plant in Tarpum Bay, which provides water to Tarpum Bay and Rock Sound. So it’s two separate plants, not the same one.”

Dr Sands had previously said that despite being one of the largest islands of The Bahamas, in South and Central Eleuthera, citizens, residents and visitors don’t have access to clean water.

In an audio message, he claimed for “days, weeks on end,” a basic human need has been “neglected” by this administration and this has been an issue for many months.

But Mr Sweeting argued:

“You know, I kinda have to laugh because if he remembers in the former administration, that administration refused to pay the company at the time. And until the company threatened to cut off all supply to Eleutheran residents, which happened, then they decided to pay the company, and then the same company then they still renegotiated a contract after that.

“For me, as a member of Parliament and as an administration, we have put a lot of focus in Central and South Eleuthera - a lot of developments are happening. We got some roadworks that supposed to start fairly quickly and we are assessing all government services that need to be corrected.

“So for me, it’s a laughable moment when we see the treatment that not just Eleuthera, but the people of this country had under the prior administration. So we remain focused. I don’t get distracted about persons that (are) just looking for political brownie points. I think at the end of the day, the people of this country made the right decision on electing the Progressive Liberal Party as the government.”

STADIUM RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY

FREE National Movement chairman Duane Sands says a joint focus on crime and healthcare is as a recent spate of shootings have pushed ER’s to capacity.

MINISTER of Parliament for Central and South Eleauthera Clay Sweeting dismissed the FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands’ claim that government is neglecting the island’s water issues.

CREWS are hard at work repairing and renovating the Thomas A Robinson Stadium ahead of this year’s CARFITA Games.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Dilipadated home demolished as crime preventative measure

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

URBAN Renewal demolished a dilapidated wooden structure in the Bain and Grants Town community yesterday as a preventive measure against criminal activity.

The building off Eneas Street was said to be an eyesore, in addition to a breeding ground for criminals within the community. State Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said this initiative will take place throughout various communities in New Providence.

In the past, Urban Renewal has conducted various demolitions to rejuvenate city areas. Ms Rahming noted that this tactic has been deemed successful in curbing and eliminating certain crimes.

“This is extremely important, not only for Urban Renewal, but I would also say for Bain and Grants Town and for the wider Bahamas,” Ms Rahming said on the sidelines of the demolition on Eneas Street yesterday.

She continued: “This, of course, is a crime preventative measure that Urban Renewal has initiated. Of course, it’s not new, it was done in the past, it has worked in terms of deterring and eliminating certain types of crime.

“And so, it’s important to us because normally in buildings that are unoccupied, we have persons gambling, the hiding of guns, the hiding of drugs, and it can also be used possibly as an area where women can be lured and possibly raped or insulted. And so, it is our duty to ensure that

persons in the community feel safe about living in Bain and Grants Town.”

Ms Rahming said the process of demolishing derelict structures involves first identifying property owners.

“So, this is just our starter for now, as they identify the homeowners, of course, will have to sign a letter giving us

permission to do so. So, we don’t just come and demolish, we ensure to follow all protocols before doing so,” she said.

She explained the environmental factors associated with demolitions, while also emphasising the importance of securing the “peace and harmony” of the neighbourhood. Bain and Grants Town MP Wayde Watson

acknowledged the need for the demolition of various homes throughout the community.

“It does present a major challenge for us in this constituency (Bain and Grants Town), and we have a number of homes that need to be demolished,” Mr Watson said yesterday.

“And I’m hoping that we can work together with Minister Rahming so that we

could continue to monitor as many of these homes as possible.

“You know, some of these homes can be demolished, and the land can be repurposed so that we can build proper structures on them. So, I’m happy to be here today to be a part of this and we have a lot more to do, and we’re hoping that we can partner with the ministry to get it done.”

REPAIR TO BRIDGE FACES FURTHER DELAYS FRUSTRATING RESIDENTS IN GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE protracted delay of repairs at the Casuarina Bridge has residents frustrated and demanding answers on when work will be completed there.

According to Don Martin, a resident of East Grand Bahama, what was initially supposed to be a 30-day project has now become 15 months and repairs are still ongoing.

“The initial date for repairs was November 2021 and we are now in 2023; we have not had a completion of a 30-day project. So, we are into a year and it is very concerning,” he told a ZNS reporter.

“The bridge was closed in 2021 and the constant reopening and closing is

frustrating and residents want answers on what is taking so long,” he said.

Residents living ‘Over the Bridge’ and in East End have to use an alternate route, the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge, which is a longer commute for them.

Mr Martin claimed that not only is it costly in terms of gas, but a “big inconvenience” because it creates a longer commute for residents.

In January, Lucaya Service Company (LUSCO) had issued a notice that the bridge would reopen on March 31, however, according to the company there will be further delay in repairs due to necessary redesign and modifications.

Charisse Brown, chief executive officer and senior legal counsel of DEVCO, in a statement issued

yesterday to The Tribune, said while bridge repairs are taking longer than initially anticipated, significant progress is being made.

She indicated that completion of repairs at Casuarina Bridge is expected in August 2023.

“The initial timeline provided for completion of all repairs to the bridges was in advance of the start of the 2023 hurricane season. However, LUSCO advises that, due to modifications on the seawall and embankment retaining walls, work on the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge is expected to be completed in July 2023 and, a month later, the Casuarina Bridge. LUSCA stated that its primary focus is the safety of motorists.

The Casuarina and Sir Jack Hayward Bridges were

described as “critical structures which provide safe and convenient passage from Freeport and West Grand Bahama to the communities in the east.”

According to Ms Brown, All Bahamas Construction (ABC) has been working diligently for the past few months to repair severe embankment damage below the bridges caused as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

“Hurricane Dorian had a devastating impact on our service and LUSCO enacted a prioritised restoration strategy to address the significant damage to our infrastructure. Our first priority was to address the land-based debris and wreckage, so that residents could begin the long journey of recovery and rebuilding to restore a

sense of normalcy to their lives. We then began the preliminary work for the large infrastructure restoration works slated for the Casuarina and Sir Jack Hayward Bridges, as well as the Fortune Bay Canal dredging project, which is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. These areas were selected as matters of greatest importance to ensure the safe passage for boaters and motorists. As a third priority, we intend to address the lingering issue of debris removal in our interior freshwater canal systems,” the statement read.

“We understand the importance of these bridges to our residents, which is why we will do the necessary work to ensure the repairs are done to the highest standards and provide a

lasting and safe solution. We will also be reinstating our quarterly community update meetings, so that we can keep residents updated on the bridge repairs, other key projects and works, as well as hear directly from residents and respond to any concerns. Please stay tuned to our LUSCO Facebook page for further updates.”

In addition to bridge repair concerns, East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson said that the lack of lighting is another issue for residents in the area.

“We have raised this issue with the developer,” he said. “We in the ‘Over the Bridge’ area are a distance from any police presence, and thankfully we see police patrols, but need lights.”

STATE Minister for Social Services and Urban Development Lisa Rahming said yesterday that the demolition initiative will take place throughout various communities in New Providence with the expected result to help curb criminal activities.

Photos: Austin Fernander

THIS dilapidated home on Eneas Street was demolished as part of an initiative to remove derelict homes which are believed to be breeding grounds for criminal activities.

EAST Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson expressed concerns about the lack of lighting ‘Over the Bridge.’ and the delays in repairs while speaking to ZNS Reporter Samone Davis at the Casuarina Bridge.

The Tribune Limited

Too early to declare trip a success

THE CARICOM trip to Haiti has been declared a success.

Well, that’s fine then, we can stop worrying about Haiti now, can we? Everything’s resolved in that one trip?

The trouble with that declaration, given by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday, is that it essentially means nothing. No definition of what that success means was given, we are simply told it was a success. Everybody pat yourselves on the back, and job well done.

From Mr Davis’ words, it seemed the delegation met and talked to a number of people – over 70 – to get their perspectives on the situation.

He said those involved “don’t think it’s an overnight fix” – which is fortunate, because the party didn’t even stay overnight.

There was also something of a contrast between the comments and the reality of the situation.

Mr Davis talked of an observation by Immigration Minister Keith Bell of how in Haiti “they’re a lot more respectful of the police passing and pulling on the side than we are here in New Providence” – an observation about respect that does not sit well with the fact that scores of police officers have been killed since Prime Minister Ariel Henry came to power in 2021.

A total of 15 police officers were killed in 15 days alone in January.

So yes, perhaps people pulled aside to get out of the way of the high-powered delegation guarded by high security, but that is no more reflective of the reality of the day-to-day situation than the world around Royal visitors always smelling of fresh paint.

No actual details of what has been learned from the visit have been shared –nor have the consequences for nations

Night club disturbing the peace

across the region from decisions based on those details.

Do we now have the confidence to support the national police, despite as many as a third of the officers in the force there having quit?

When the CARICOM meeting was held here in New Providence, one of our columnists, Malcolm Strachan, noted after the fact that to understand whether the meeting was a success or not, we had to give it time.

We had to wait and see what emerged as the outcome of talks, and see what deals were signed between nations in its wake, rather than jump the gun and declare success or failure.

The same should be true of the trip to Haiti. Was it a success? Well, the delegation got there, and it got back. If that’s the basis of declaring success, then well done, everyone is accounted for.

But true success will be measured in what springs from this meeting. Anything else is premature at best, with more than a dose of self-congratulation.

Where Mr Davis is correct is in declaring this a start of a journey towards a free and fair transparent election in Haiti.

That will be no small task. We hope for the success of that journey, not least of all so that people there can get the elected representation they desire, and ensure that the country has a leadership with the backing of its people.

That leadership is what Haiti will need if it is to throw off these troubled times, with gangs controlling large swathes of the nation’s land and leaving both police and civilians in fear of their lives.

The greatest success will be in giving Haiti a helping hand as it rises to stand on its own once more.

Thank you for this opportunity to publicly address a menace that has been plaguing residents of Misty and Pastel Gardens for a very long time.

The menace in question is the night club called the Farm, situated between Misty and Pastel.

In my opinion this night club is a hazard to both communities in that the operator is allowed to play the music much too loud, utterly ruining our weekends, especially our Sundays oftentimes going on into Monday mornings.

On one occasion they went on non-stop from Saturday until after five o’clock Sunday morning. And came back that Sunday night with the same thing.

We complained on numerous occasions to the police at the Carmichael Road Police Station. We even took out official complaints hoping that the matter would have been brought before a court.

Alas, we never got any response from the police as to the result of any investigation they may have done, if any, and if not, why.

When I go to the station, to find out what’s going on, the police’s explanation usually amounts to, there is nothing they can do because the club is licensed by the Licensing Authority.

“I don’t know why they would license a club like that to operate in a residential area,” one senior officer commented.

The police acknowledge that when a complaint is made a squad car is sent to tell the operator to turn down the music, but as soon as the squad car leaves, the music is turned back up, sometimes louder.

So, the operator of the club then is making fools out of the police. Surely, if the complaint is credible enough for the police to issue a desist order, why is the operator allowed to disobey a lawful order with impunity?

Who could be so inconsiderate to the residents of Misty and Pastel Gardens

as to license a night club to blast residents with extremely loud noise at all hours of the night when persons are trying to get a good sleep?!

For, that which the operator of the club calls music, is a series of deep, thunderous, explosion-like boomings that vibrate violently through our bodies and our homes.

If you have ever been caught in traffic with one of those mobile boom-boxes, then you would know where I’m coming from.

Southern Shores, MP, Leroy Major is well aware of the problem. I brought it to his attention since the club is in his constituency. At one point he promised that it would never happen again.

Eventually we lodged a complaint with the Licensing Authority. Perhaps the club was operating outside its licensing restrictions with respect to volume on the music, we thought.

We spoke to a Compliance Officer. His explanation was that whereas they granted the club license as a restaurant and bar, the issuance and monitoring of music and dance license was the responsibility of the police.

Thus, the quandary we find ourselves in. The police are blaming Licensing Authority and Licensing Authority is blaming the police for this club being allowed to assault the community with noise. We are disappointed. The system has failed us.

Evidence abounds about the injurious impact of noise on the human body especially that high intensity, low frequency booming produced by highly amplified base, popular in today’s pop music.

The brain, heart and lungs, for example, are composed of more than 80 per cent water. Put a glass of water next to these booming sounds and see how the water vibrates. That is an

indication of what happens to the body when exposed to these boomings.

Medical reports show that the heart is knocked out of rhythm as a result. This irregular heart beat can lead to high blood pressure, blood clots, strokes, and heart failure. It darkens the mood and weakens the immune system. This is especially so for seniors in our communities.

“Anything that can create agitation, irritation, or changes in blood pressure can trigger fibrillation,” explained Dr Shilpi Agarwal, a board-certified family medicine physician. “It’s not surprising that irritable noise, or noise in general when someone is looking for quiet, could trigger this in the cardiac system.”

Other negative effects of noise include low energy levels, poor performance at work, occupational errors, and an inability to make clear cut decisions, among other things. Sounds like what’s going on in our Bahamas today?

We would hate to believe that the operator of the Farm has such political influence and police protection over and above anyone else to entitle him/ her to trample under ordinances promulgated for the peace and goodwill of the communities.

We do not object to whatever form of entertainment offered but if the Farm is to continue at that location, then the music offered must not be so loud as to cause a public nuisance. And better still, only loud enough to accommodate patrons.

Other than that, their music and dance license must be rescinded until such time as the noise can be contained.

Anything above 85 decibels is an unhealthy disturbance of the peace. There are laws pertaining to disturbance of the peace. All we ask of the police is to please apply them.

GLADSTONE

THURSTON Nassau, February 27, 2023.

Lament over disrespetful drivers

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The motoring behaviour of the numerous new mini-taxis is something to behold.....zipping through traffic swerving from one lane to the next...running the red light, basically questions should they have been given a Taxi Licence?

Editor, these vehicles are mostly the Datsun Minibus vehicles. Today you see many rather than few.

A swarm of them — how many did Transport license? Was there any testing? Was

there any instruction course for the drivers and how a Taxi is to operate?

Nassau roads are very quickly reaching saturation point.... over the past few years we saw the flood of the $3-4,000.00 licensed on the road ex-Japan vehicle flood the roads, no issue everyone has the right but....the drivers simply have no road sense. Weekends where do all those self-drive come from?

Another sore point is the drivers’ disrespect for pedestrian crossings.....

if the oncoming driver sees a person standing on a pedestrian crossing Road Act says You Are To Stop, hell no increase speed and flash past.... Saw a near miss many times on West Bay and near Doctors on Shirley, you put your life in your hands. Drivers show respect, please. D ROLLE Nassau February 27, 2023.

FREEZING rain coats road signs for Winter and Spring streets in Spring Lake, Michigan, on Monday.

Photo: Cory Morse/AP

COLINA Insurance Lim-

ited representatives recently attended the Annual Exhibition and Career Symposium hosted by the Department of Education.

“Colina is passionate about youth development and empowerment,” said

Maxine V Seymour, director of corporate communications at Colina. “We embrace opportunities to interact with young people.” The symposium, which attracted over 1,500 public and private school seniors, gave representatives

an opportunity to speak to students about careers available in the insurance industry.

“We hope the students will embrace careers in insurance,” said Mrs Seymour

MAN CONVICTED OF SLEEPING WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL AWAITS SENTENCING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN convicted of sleeping with an underaged girl will be sentenced later this month.

Walter Gray, 29, represented by Walter Bain, stood before Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson for a sentencing hearing for his unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

During his latest court appearance, Gray’s probation officer Kishlyne Bain recounted the details of his case. She indicated to the court that the convict used to frequently babysit the minor and was trusted by

her family. She said there was an incident of oral sex when the complainant was 13 years old, and sexual intercourse in 2020 when she was 14 years old.

Once the complainant’s mother discovered the sexual relationship between Gray and her daughter, she pursued legal action against him.

The probation officer said that the defendant’s family believes him innocent of the offence and is hopeful that the court issues a lenient sentence. It was also stated that the convict’s employers believed he was a good worker and were shocked to hear about his conviction.

However, Ms Bain also said the complainant found

MAN GIVEN 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE CONVICTION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday after he was convicted of attempting to rape a woman at gunpoint in her home in 2020.

Rashad Johnson stood before Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson for sentencing on a charge of assault with intent to rape.

During his trial, it was stated that on September 20, 2020 Johnson went to the complainant’s one-bedroom efficiency under the pretence of buying cigarettes for a quarter.

Once inside it is said that

Johnson pulled a gun on the victim, pinned her down and tried to take her clothes off.

The complainant successfully fought off her attacker and Johnson was later arrested for his attempted sexual assault. The victim also positively identified Johnson in court as the suspect.

Last July, a jury unanimously convicted Johnson for the offence.

In his latest court appearance, Justice GrantThompson sentenced Johnson to serve a 15-year sentence at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services from that date.

MAN ACCUSED OF ABUSING DAUGHTER GRANTED $5K BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 40-year-old father was granted $5,000 bail after he was accused of abusing his 16-year-old daughter earlier this month.

The father, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the complainant, is accused of physically abusing his teenage daughter causing her

unnecessary suffering and injury to her health.

The alleged incident took place on February 9 at Calvin Street.

The accused pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux yesterday.

Bail was then granted to the accused at $5,000 with two sureties. The trial is set to begin on April 20. He is represented by attorney Kelsey Munroe.

$3K BAIL AFTER PULLING SHOTGUN ON WSC WORKER

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 68-year-old man was granted $3,000 bail yesterday after being accused of pulling a shotgun on a Water & Sewerage Corporation worker during a disconnection at his home in January.

Kendall Demeritte appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola

the trial draining. She went on to recount how the complainant’s mother said that Gray did not appear remorseful for what he had done nor had he apologised to them for his actions.

The court heard that the complainant’s mother said that her family was stressed and distraught by the trial, and she expressed her and her daughter’s wishes for justice to be carried out.

Prosecutor Erica Duncombe-Ingraham revealed that the accused had prior charges, including one for indecent assault and drug possession.

In view of this, Justice Grant Thompson deferred Gray’s sentence hearing to March 22.

Swain, charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

It is alleged that on January 5 at Tower Estates, Demeritte assaulted Reno Russo with a shotgun as he was executing his duties for WSC.

In court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted $3,000 bail with one surety.

Demeritte’s trial is set to begin on April 27.

A REPRESENTATIVE from Colina Insurance limited speaks with students about career opportunities available in the insurance industry.

‘Embrace equity’ at International Women’s Day March and Expo

ON SATURDAY, March

4, Equality Bahamas’ International Women’s Day March and Expo returns to its in-person format after two years of virtual design. As the name suggests, this event commemorates International Women’s Day which is on March 8 every year, and it is designed to bring women and girls together to learn, play, share, and explore together.

Days like International Women’s Day can easily come and go with the requisite greetings and symbolic acts that do very little, if anything, to move us forward.

For that reason, Equality Bahamas has been intentional in imagining and creating a space for the day to be a catalyst for changemaking work and an opportunity for people to learn more about women’s rights, gender justice, and practical things like which services and resources are available where.

The International Women’s Day theme is Embrace Equity. At Equality Bahamas, the focus is on bodily autonomy and climate justice.

The organization continues to call for the criminalisation of marital rape in the most explicit terms, amending Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act by removing “who is not his spouse” from the definition of rape. It also continues to call for comprehensive sexuality education in all schools at all grade levels, understanding that consent needs to be taught at an early age, and children need to know who they can go to if they need to report abuse.

Equality Bahamas has, over the past three years, integrated climate justice into its gender justice work, having seen the impact of Hurricane Dorian - and other hurricanes before it - on women and girls and

By Alicia Wallace

the need for gender-responsive climate mitigation and adaptation.

International Women’s Day is one of the most opportune times of the year to draw attention to issues like marital rape, gender-unequal citizenship, underrepresentation in frontline politics, and the gender pay gap.

It is not just a day to acknowledge women, or even to celebrate women, but to educate, sensitise, and mobilise people to take action, building political will, on the ground, for gender equality and the advancement of women. To do this, we have to be able to bring people together, make the issues clear, and engage in discussion.

The International Women’s Day March and Expo started as a regional march of solidarity to reclaim the streets. It was organised with activists in at least six Caribbean countries following the viral hashtag #LifeInLeggings which was being used to tell stories of sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence.

Activists in Barbados started it, and it was not long before stories were being tweeted from other countries in the region, and traditional media started

paying attention.

The team at Equality Bahamas was excited by this opportunity to connect with activists and organisations in other countries and demonstrate solidarity, but did not want to march and go home. We wanted to make it possible for people to march with us and share their stories, and for them to be able to access the support services and resources available in The Bahamas.

In many places and across many thematic areas, the cause becomes central to the work non-governmental organisations and activists do. The cause seems to leave the people affected by it behind as it takes centre stage.

We see this, even today, in many causes. When we talk about the climate crisis, we have to talk about climate justice as a rights-based issue, connecting what is happening in the environment to people.

When we talk about migration, we have to talk about the people who leave their homes, what they lose when they choose or are forced to leave, and how their lives are changed by their movement from one place to another.

When we talk about women’s rights, we have to talk about women’s experiences of various forms of violence and how it limits their opportunities, from family life to career.

Caring about an issue and working on it for a long time can easily lead one to forget why it matters - who

A well-established Law Firm in New Providence seeks a Research Assistant.

Major Duties:

• Conduct research on regulations, laws, and legal articles (i.e. company, asset, cause list etc.)

• Manage and document research information and prepare reports relevant to cases.

• Prepare draft and proofread correspondence and legal documents for billing (Title, cause List, Company, Probate Searches)

• Manage, organize, and maintain documents in a paper or electronic filing system.

Candidate must be hardworking, independent, and reliable.

Interested persons should submit resumes to employment@bahamaslaw.com by Friday March 13th, 2023.

it impacts - so it is critical that we consistently remind ourselves and each other to put people at the centre of our work.

The International Women’s Day Expo is one way that Equality Bahamas puts women and girls at the centre. Yes, we know the issues. Yes, we are using our technical expertise to advocate for urgent action by the government. Yes, we are connecting women’s rights to other thematic areas like climate and migration. Yes, we use international mechanisms to hold the government accountable.

In addition to that, we engage directly with the people whose lives we want to transform. We ask questions, listen for the answers, and act on the recommendations from the community we serve.

This year, the International Women’s Day Expo features a wider array of organizations than previous years. We always welcome Bahamas Crisis Centre because it is easily the bestknown non-governmental organisation in the women’s rights space, provides critical services to survivors of violence, and was integral to the development of the Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence.

The Dignified Girl Project, which distributes menstrual hygiene kits, will return to the Expo this year and will let us know about the expansion of its work.

This year, Bahamas National Trust will be with us because climate justice is gender justice, and to achieve them, we need to better understand

the natural environment, explore national parks, and make the connections between the environment and our lives and livelihoods.

Access Accelerator and Bahamas Development Bank will both be there, so women and girls interested in starting or scaling up their own businesses can get information on application processes and the forms of support available.

While setting up booths is an easy way to introduce people to organizations and what they do, the Equality Bahamas team wanted to create a more immersive experience.

It is important to us that people are able to try new activities, gain skills, build relationships, and have a good time. In all of our work, we strive to facilitate two-way communication, prioritise engagement, avoid information dumping, and create dynamics where experts, practitioners, and facilitators are approachable, open to learning and being challenged, and make it safe and comfortable for people to participate in activities.

At the Expo, there are multiple sessions taking place at any given time. At least one event is a physically-engaging activity like self-defence, yoga, or dance.

One of the other activities is usually focused on health and wellness, and this year we will have a workshop on managing stress and anxiety, a group therapy session, and massage therapy.

Other activities vary.

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices Bahamas

Real Estate will facilitate a

session on buying a home.

Martha Hanna Smith from Bahamas Network of Rural Women Producers will teach us to identify various bush medicines, teach us their uses, and give us taste tests. Sonia Farmer from Poinciana Paper Press will have an all-day drop-in table for people to contribute to this year’s community art project - a book of permission.

Other activities include yoga sessions with Whitney Fowler, Antonio Weech, and Bianca Wagner, contemporary dance with Gabrielle Miller, a climate conversation with Kelli Armstrong, and media literacy with Crystal Darling.

Members of the public are invited to join Equality Bahamas on the International Women’s Day March. Assemble at Eastern Parade (near St. Matthews Anglican Church) at 9am, bring a sign or choose one of the signs provided, and raise your voice to demand women’s rights in The Bahamas.

The Expo will begin immediately after the march to The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street. The event and all activities on site are free. If you’d like to make a sign, join Equality Bahamas at Poinciana Paper Press at 12 Parkgate Road at any time today between 2pm and 8pm. Bring your own supplies or use supplies provided to make signs, and bring a t-shirt to print your own design. For more information, visit Equality Bahamas (@ equality242) on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

“When we talk about the climate crisis, we have to talk about climate justice as a rights-based issue...”

Moxey tells GB students to ‘seize every opportunity to show your Bahamian pride’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama

Minister Ginger Moxey visited her alma mater yesterday, launching the first of a number of school visits as part of the Grand Bahama Independence Committee’s Road To 50 activities.

Ms Moxey, a graduate of the Freeport Anglican High School, was greeted with cheers by the Bishop Michael Eldon School Warriors on her arrival at the school around 8.30am.

She encouraged students to support and participate in the celebrations leading up to July 10, when The Bahamas celebrates its golden jubilee, marking the 50th anniversary of independence.

Ms Moxey said young people have an essential role in shaping the nation’s future.

“You are not the leaders of tomorrow, rather you are the leaders of today, and it is up to you to build on the progress that we made and take our country to even greater heights,” she told the students.

“Seize every opportunity to show your Bahamian

pride and remember to look toward the future of our nation, with hope.

“The Road to 50 looks incredibly bright. But with you students at the helm, I am genuinely excited to see what lies ahead for our beautiful Bahamas.”

Ms Moxey said as the country celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence, Bahamians must take stock of where we are as a nation and commit to charting a course for a future that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable.

“This extraordinary occasion for our nation… represents half of a century of freedom, democracy and true Bahamian pride,” she said.

She said the road that led the nation to independence was a difficult one to travel.

She said that as a result of the determination, bravery, and tireless efforts of the countless Bahamian men and women who fought for an end to injustice, inequality and gender bias, The Bahamas was poised to successfully gain independence from Britain in 1973.

“This achievement put an end to the years of political struggle endured by our

ancestors to afford us the opportunity to live in a democratic inclusive society,” she said.

Ms Moxey stressed that the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, the first Prime Minister of an independent Bahamas, was a central figure in the fight for independence.

“He was joined by other politicians, activists, and everyday citizens who collectively inspired the Bahamian people to stand up for their rights and demand the right to self-determination,” she said.

“It is because of their vision that we enjoy the rights and freedom we have today,” Ms Moxey stated.

“And as I stand here this morning, a former Freeport Anglican High School Warrior, and the first female minister for Grand Bahama, I believe that I am looking into the faces of future leaders who are filled with ambition and an unrelenting desire to make a difference in our country, just like I was when I was a student at BMES many years ago,” she said.

The GB Independence Committee is co-chaired by Leslie Dorsett-Lewis and Cecil Thompson.

SWEETING: REVIEW COMMITTEE LOOKING TO GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ‘MORE TEETH’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS are looking at possibly amending the Local Government Act to give it more “teeth”, Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said yesterday. His comment came when asked if local government is working in the way it was intended.

“I think that all systems of governance over time have to evolve to how we evolve as a country and as

a people. That is why we and a team go throughout the country, and meet with the people and meet with the council members. And for them to give suggestions on how we can evolve even more to make it more meaningful to the people in these communities,” he said.

“So the review committee (has) submitted their suggestions and recommendations, where we are looking at amending the Local Government Act once again, but hopefully, this time with more teeth. One of those where

these councils will be able to have revenue raising powers, which will provide them with more funding to provide more capital projects within their communities.”

He said another suggestion is changing the position of chief councillor to mayor.

“Another suggestion was also that the chief councillor or the mayor gets elected separately from the council,” he said.

Other suggestions include some of the districts being changed from second schedule to third

schedule or vice versa.

A third schedule district is a district where there is an election of persons from various polling areas, or settlements within those communities. Once those individuals are elected, they form the council and the council then becomes

the statutory boards. In this district, the District Council also has statutory power so they are town planning, hotel licensing, road traffic, and port authorities.

March has been deemed Local Government Month and there will be several events, including a fun

run, walk, church service and a flag raising ceremony.

Local government has over 300 staff and 512 local government practitioners.

“There are those individuals who remain the faces of local government in our various Family Island communities,” Mr Sweeting

MINISTER for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxey, encouraged the students of Bishop Michael Eldon School to become involved in the various activities that will be taking place in celebration of the Bahamas 50th Independence anniversary. Minister Moxey was the guest speaker during the school’s morning assembly on Monday, February 27, 2023.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

EX-FTX EXECUTIVE IS

3RD TO PLEAD GUILTY IN COOPERATION DEAL

NEW YORK

Associated Press

THE FORMER engineering director at FTX pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy and wire fraud Tuesday, becoming the third executive from the collapsed cryptocurrency giant to strike a cooperation deal with prosecutors building a case against the company’s founder, Sam Bankman-Fried.

The plea by Nishad Singh, 27, in what authorities have labelled one of the biggest frauds in history, encompasses charges that carry potential penalties of up to 75 years in prison if he fails to fully cooperate, including by testifying at any trials.

Singh’s plea “underscores once again that the crimes at FTX were vast in scope and consequence,” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

“They rocked our financial markets with a multibillion-dollar fraud.

And they corrupted our politics with tens of millions of dollars in illegal straw campaign contributions,” he said. “These crimes demand swift and certain justice and that is exactly what we are seeking in the Southern District of New York.”

Among the charges Singh pled guilty to were conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions and to defraud the Federal Election Commission. Prosecutors alleged Singh contributed to candidates and political committees and reported those contributions to the FEC in the names of people who didn’t actually pay for them.

According to FEC records, Singh contributed roughly $9.7 million last year and in late 2020 to various candidates and committees.

Singh’s lawyers, Andrew Goldstein and Russell Capone, said in a statement that their client is “deeply sorry for his role in this and has accepted responsibility for his actions.”

They added: “He wants to do everything he can to make things right for victims, including by assisting the government to the best of his ability in this case.”

Singh’s plea “underscores once again that the crimes at FTX were vast in scope and consequence,” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

“They rocked our financial markets with a multibillion-dollar fraud. And they corrupted our politics with tens of millions of dollars in illegal straw campaign contributions,” he said. “These crimes demand swift and certain justice and that is exactly what we are seeking in the Southern District of New York.”

Last week, prosecutors filed new fraud charges against Bankman-Fried, who has pleaded not guilty in the case. The fresh charges raised the number of years Bankman-Fried could face in prison to 155 years from 115 and described in detail a fraud that the government alleges occurred from 2019 until last November.

Bankman-Fried is awaiting trial while living with his parents in Palo Alto, California, after signing a $250 million personal recognizance bond.

He is accused of stealing billions of dollars in FTX customer deposits to support the company he founded, a global cryptocurrency exchange affiliated with the cryptocurrency trading hedge fund Alameda Research.

He also was charged with illegally funding speculative venture investments and misdirecting customer deposits to make charitable donations, along with spending tens of millions of dollars on illegal campaign donations to Democrats and Republicans in an attempt to buy influence over cryptocurrency regulation in Washington.

On the same December day Bankman-Fried was extradited from the Bahamas to face charges in New York City, prosecutors announced that two of his associates had pleaded guilty and forged their own deals to cooperate with prosecutors. Carolyn Ellison, Alameda Research’s former chief executive; and Gary Wang, an FTX cofounder, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, securities fraud and commodities fraud.

ENDANGERED WOLF POPULATION MAKING STRIDES

Full Military Honours for

Commander Defence Force (Retired)

COMMODORE LEON LIVINGSTONE SMITH, C.D., O.B.E., MSSc., B.A., psc, 86

of Isabella Blvd., Marathon Estates, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday 3rd March 2023 at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street. Celebrant, The Very Rev’d. Harry J. L. Bain, Dean of Nassau, Rector of Christ Church Cathedral. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Commodore Smith was preceded in death by his Wife: Helen Viola (née Carey); Parents: Phillip Theophilis Smith and Julia Elizabeth Smith; Grandparents: Ceva and Eleazor Smith and Brother: Andrew Anthony Smith.

Left to cherish his memories are his Children: Leon L. Smith II (Lathiera Pratt), Italia A.E. Seymour (Attorney Keith Seymour, Sr.) and Ingrid A.H. Peter (Ita Peter, Esq.); Grandchildren: Kriston Smith, Tanisha Seymour (Nicolas), Amaris Peter and Nicholas Seymour; Sister: Rosanna Dickenson; Sister-in-law: Emily Gweneth Munnings; Brother-inlaw: Harold Lorenza Carey; Nieces and nephews: Gregory and Norman Smith, Robin and Theodore Shepherd, Timothy and Wellington Dickenson, Quedon Stuart, Michelle Dickenson and Sandy Stuart-Ome, Patricia (Douglas) Collins, Barbara Burrows (Rev. Fr. Rodney Burrows); Paulette (Leon) Jacobs; Dr. Earla Carey-Baines, Sheila “Shelly” Carey, Thomas “Tommy” Carey; Dale (Perry) McHardy, Shawn (OAT “Tommy”) Turnquest, Kim Gibson (Attorney Dwayne Gibson); Dr. Harold (Moneria) Munnings, Timothy (Ruth) Munnings, Leslie (Sheree) Munnings, Carol Munnings Misiewicz Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court (Ret.); Lorenza Carey and James Carey; Other relatives and friends: His Excellency Sir Cornelius A. Smith, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Lady Smith and Family, The Rt. Hon. Philip E. Davis K.C., M.P. Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Mrs. Davis and Family, Hon. Chester Cooper Deputy Prime Minister and Mrs. Cooper and Family, The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie and Mrs. Christie and Family, Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham and Mrs. Ingraham and Family, Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis and Mrs. Minnis and Family, Hon. Michael Pintard M.P. Leader of the Opposition, RBDF Commodore Dr. Raymond King and Family, Commodore Davey Rolle (Ret.) and Family, Commodore Clifford Scavella (Ret.) and Family, Commodore Roderick Bowe (Ret.) and Family, Commodore Tellis Bethel (Ret.) and Family, Deputy Commander RBDF Captain Shonedel Pinder and Family, Captain Stephen Russell and Family, Captain Michael Simmons and Family, Captain Henry Daxon and Family, Captain Chippel Whyms and Family, Captain Attorney Floyd Moxey and Family, Captain Carlin Bethel and Family, Captain Michael Hanna and Family, Captain Gregory Brown and Family, His Lordship Mr. Justice Loren Klein and Family, Sen. Hon. Darren Henfield and Family, Commander Warren Bain (Ret.) and Family, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, Hon. Wayne R. Munroe

GRACE DOUGAN, a US Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer seen in this January 27 image provided by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team carrying a sedated wolf during the agency’s annual survey in New Mexico. A team conducts a health check and attaches a collar to the wolf before releasing it back into the wild. The agency released the survey results yesterday, saying there are at least 241 wolves in the wild in New Mexico and Arizona.

NEW MEXICO

Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team via AP

Associated Press

ENDANGERED

Mexican gray wolves are making more strides, as more breeding pairs and pups have been documented since reintroduction efforts began in the southwestern US more than two decades ago, federal wildlife managers said Tuesday.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service released the results of its annual survey in New Mexico and Arizona, saying this is the first time the population has topped 200 and the seventh straight year that

the numbers have trended upward.

In all, at least 241 of the predators were counted, marking a nearly 23% increase over the previous year and a doubling of the population since 2017.

Since the first wolf release in 1998, the program has had its share of fits and starts due to illegal killings, a lack of genetic diversity and legal wrangling over management.

“To go from zero wild Mexican wolves at the start to 241 today is truly remarkable,” Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator Brady McGee said in a statement.

K.C. M.P., Hon. A. Loftus Roker, Rev. Dr. Kenris Carey and Family, Priscilla Clarke and Family, Obong (Chief) Sunday Peter Udo and Family in Nigeria, Nsikak (Anietic) Otu and Family in Dallas, Texas, Calab Goodman Jr. and Family, Vivian Moss and Family, Attorney Raynard Henfield and Family, Cheryl Bowe-Moss and Family, Attorney Devard Francis and Family, Attorney Alexander Ferguson and Family, Chequita Johnson and Family, Rev. Dr. John Ferguson and Family, Themla (Byron) Bain and Family, Linda Evans and Family, Gregg Scott and Family, Quentin Burrows and Family, Ricardo Smith and Family, Prissa Carey and Family, Kevin Smith and Family, Kim Curtis and Family, Nadia, Keith Jr. and Dr. Kahamaron Seymour, Attorney Tanya McCartney and Family, Delis Rolle and Family, Sonia Brown and Family, Jave Thompson and Family, Rosina Higgs, Tanya Higgs-Morley and Family, Bridget Rollins and Family, Margaret Albury and Family, The Clarke Family, Dr. Neressa Bandelier and Family, Velma Seymour and the Moss Family, The Long Island Family, Val Cooper and Family, Rt. Rev. Bishop Laish Z. Boyd and Family, Very Rev. Harry Bain Dean of Christ Church Cathedral and Mrs. Ann Bain and Family, Very Rev. Patrick Adderley (Ret.) and Mrs. Asterid Adderley and Family, Rev. Fr. Eric Miller Assistant Curate Christ Church Cathedral and Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate Hon. Ian-Marie Darville-Miller and Family, Rev. Canon Stephen Davies and Italia Davies and Fa,ily, Rev. Fr. Colin Humes and Family, Rev. Desiree Johnson and Family, Rev. Angela Palacious and Family, Ven. Archdeacon Kingsley Knowles and Family, Rev. Dr. Alonza (Jess) Hinzey, Pauline King and Family, Laura Rolle and Family, Susan Dean and Family, Rev. Wayde (Clarissa) Seymour and Family, Junetta Wallace and Family and Family, Jerome Miller and Family, Superintendent Grand Bahama District MCCA Rev. E. Brian (Helen) Seymour, Godfrey Seymour and Family, Troy Oliver and Family, Marina People-Trotman and Family; Alice Martinborough and Family, Richard and Susan Uriasz and Family, Rally in the Alley, Anglican Church Women Christ Church Cathedral, The Anglican Church Men Christ Church Cathedral, The Altar Guild, Cell Group, Coffee Hour Hostesses and Chalice Bearers Christ Church Cathedral, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Nassau Christian Academy Class of 86 and 87, GHS Class of 1979, Source River Holdings, Graphite Engineering, Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas, The Teachers and Salaried Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited, The Bahamas Cooperative League Limited, Lorenzo De Zabala School in Grand Prairie, Texas, Aksum Law Chambers, Doctors Hospital, Dr. Beverton Moxey and Family, Jan (Charles) McCartney and Family, H.E. Lowell Mortimer, Anna (Marvin) Deveaux and Family, Lewellyn (Susan) Burrows and Family, Margaret Lowe and Family, Her Ladyship Dame Anita Allen and Family, Her Ladyship Madam Justice Deborah Fraser and Family, Her Ladyship Madam Justice Jenine Weech-Gomez and Family, His Lordship Mr. Justice Hartman Longley (Ret.) and Family, His Lordship Mr. Justice Keith Thompson (Ret.) and Family, Ron Clarke, Tracey (Michael) Knowles and Family, Virginia Thompson and Family, Rita Cartwright and Family, Henderson Burrows and Family, Swithun Burrows and Family, Tanya Hunt-Major Administrator of Christ Church Cathedral and Family, Vandal Bowe, Marilyn Panza, Anthony O’Brien, Tandra Longley and Family, Brittany Minnis, Tracee Johnson, Byron (Sharmaine) Miller and Family, Edwin Culmer and Family, Barbara Hanna-Cox Family, Attorney Milton Cox and Family, Public Treasury Staff, Margaret Duncombe and Family, Myrtle Smith and Family, Velta Gibson & Family, Barry Malcolm and Family, Christine Cartwright and Family, Attorney Sharmie Farrington-Austin and Omar Austin and Family, Prince Livingstone, Dr. Nikkiah Forbes and Mr. and Mrs. Forbes and Family, Dr. Antonio H. Guerrero and Family, Doctors Hospital, Dr. David Allen and Family, Angela CulmerHinsey, Danny Strachan and Family, Richard Horton and Family, Shane Bain and family, the Lightbourn Family, The Musgrove Family, The Heastie Family, The Wallace Family, The Nixon Family, The Armaly Family, The Kerr Family, The Major Family, The Marathon Community, The Sweeting Family, Arthur Butler, Micheline Demeritte, Desiree Gibbs and Family, Daniel Smith and Family, David Capron and Family, Gevon Moss and Family, Weston (Andrea) Saunders and Family, Nathaniel (Val) Dean and Family, Mr. Adrian Archer and Family, Keith (Troy) Oliver and Family, Christopher Pickstock and Family, John Burrows and Family, Danny Tynes and Family, Carlos Mackey and Family, Maude Weech and Family, Trevor McKay and Family, Rosita Smith-Duvalier and Family, Pandora Sawyer and Family, Sandra Collie and Family, Mr. Delvin Moss and Family, and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Former Commodore, Leon Smith will lie-in-repose on Thursday 2nd March, 2023 in Repose Room B of Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44a Nassau Street, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be no viewing at the church.

Photo:

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023

36TH HUGH CAMPBELL BASKETBALL CLASSIC @ KENDAL ISAACS GYM

GSSSA TRACK & FIELD MEET RETURNS

By Tenajh Sweeting

EVENT organisers are excited for the return of the 30th annual Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) track and field meet.

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The curtains came down on the 39th edition of the prestigious Hugh Campbell Classic on Monday night with the Sunland Baptist Stingers emerging as the back-toback champions.

The Stingers took the title home to Grand Bahama with a 64-52 victory over the CI Gibson Rattlers in another classic Grand Bahama versus New Providence match-up.

While Donell Basden was named the most valuable player after he scored 12 points with 17 rebounds and six block shots as he paced the potent offensive attack for the Stingers, Sunland’s coach Jay Philippe was named the coach of the tournament.

As the week-long tournament at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium came to a close, the organisers from the host AF Adderley Junior High School presented the All-Tournament awards to the following players: Evan Cartwright - Kingsway Academy;

THE

ON

Jasmen Rock - Louise McDonald; Nakero Brown - Charles W Saunders; Ogden Aranha - Temple

Christian Academy; Leonardo Burrows - Queen’s College; Edwin Ferguson - Study Hall; Donell Basden, Tianno Roberts and Jordan Saunders - Sunland Baptist; James Delia and Dieunell Joseph - CI Gibson; Shamar Davis - St George’s.

The individual award winners are as follows: Most steals - Edward Ferguson, Study Hall; Most assists - Jasmin Rock, Louise McDonald; most points - Leonardo Burrows, Queen’s College, Most points - Leonardo Burrows, Queen’s College,

and Most blocks - Nakero Brown, Charles W Saunders.

Cara Curtis, one of the tournament organisers, said despite the window they had to work with in putting the tournament

The event is scheduled for March 8-10 at the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Eight junior schools and eight senior schools are expected to compete in this year’s championships which makes for a competitive meet between all public schools.

GSSSA president Varel Davis talked about the hype surrounding the event’s 2023 return.

“We are excited to finally get back to our track and field championships after a two-year break, we had a one-day meet last year which was very successful but nothing like the championships,” Davis said.

Despite the hiatus, Davis assured the public that the athletes and coaches are ready to battle next week Wednesday through Friday.

“We are ready, the coaches are ready, the kids are ready, and I can’t tell you who [is] gonna win but I can tell you C.H. Reeves will be out there full force,” Davis added.

The junior schools will compete primarily on Thursday against defending champions C.H. Reeves Raptors to claim the track and field championships for the junior division.

The senior schools, meanwhile, will hope to knock off reigning GSSSA champion C.R. Walker Knights.

PHIL Foden was in danger of becoming one of the forgotten players at Manchester City this season. Maybe not anymore.

The England winger is over his injury problems and back in favour with City manager Pep Guardiola — and is repaying the faith with goals as the English champions head into the final stretch of the season on the hunt for more trophies.

Foden scored in each half in City’s 3-0 win at secondtier Bristol City in the FA Cup yesterday, helping the team secure a place in the quarterfinals.

Kevin De Bruyne netted the other goal at Ashton Gate as City stayed on

course in a competition it last won in 2019.

Foden lost his place as a regular starter at City just before the World Cup and after returning from the Qatar tournament has been overshadowed by fellow wingers Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez.

Now Guardiola has an embarrassment of riches in the wide positions with Foden over some foot injuries and shining again. He scored against Bournemouth on Saturday and was probably City’s best player against Bristol City on a night star striker Erling Haaland was rested.

“This season he struggled a bit and was a bit down,” Guardiola said of Foden.

“But now he’s back for the best bit of the season. His impact has been amazing.

By Tenajh Sweeting

QUEEN’S College

Comets will seek to dethrone their rivals St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine at the 2023 Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) track and field championships.

The two athletic private schools have been longtime competitors with the Comets defeating the Big Red Machine in 2019 which was also their last time competing in the track and field

PAGE 15

BAISS RIVALRY REIGNITES BETWEEN THE QC COMETS AND SAC BIG RED MACHINE

meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the long hiatus, QC Comets head coach Edward Frazier has high expectations for the school’s track team.

“QC expectations always remain the same, we always come out to win championships that has always been our objective and as long as I am here as head coach our goal is always to come out, win and compete,” Frazier said.

Although they have been absent from track and

“Football pays off when you work like he does.”

Foden converted a cross from Mahrez in the seventh minute to give City the lead and then provided the

side-footed finish — via a deflection from a covering home defender — to make it 2-0 in the 74th.

PAGE 13

field, the school has been able to repeat as BAISS swim champions and won the junior boys’ softball championship.

The secondary school will look to build on this momentum at this week’s three-day meet.

The Comets were met with some challenges preparing for the major event after their two-year absence.

“The process has been new, long and hard, it’s like starting all over and like starting a whole new

relationship, you [are] trying to get to know these kids and it’s like a lot of new faces, a lot of new kids and trying to figure out what talents they have,” Frazier said.

Frazier remains positive despite the new setbacks this year because of the new faces and untapped potential he has to work with.

“One thing I am excited about we have a lot of new kids, and a lot of new talent and we also have talent here

PHOENIX (AP) —

Kevin Durant is expected to make his Phoenix Suns debut tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.

KEVIN Durant. (AP) SEE

The Suns made the announcement on social media yesterday. The 13-time All-Star came to Phoenix on February 9 in a blockbuster trade that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets. Durant hasn’t played for the Suns while recovering from a sprained knee ligament.

includes Chris

Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Phoenix

is trying

SEE

Rattlers 64-52 to capture the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic title at Kendal Isaacs Gym.

Photo: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

Sunland Baptist takes title to Grand Bahama

NPBA: GIANTS TOP REBELS 82-65, PRODUCE EXPRESS BEAT CYBER TECH 86-62

BAHAMIAN EQUESTRIANS TAKE FLORIDA CIRCUIT BY STORM

BAHAMIAN equestrian athletes took the Florida equestrian circuit by storm this weekend, winning ribbons and championship honours in major competitions across the state from Palm Beach to Ocala.

At the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, 15-year-old Sienna Tinker got off to a successful start riding Pella VD Wolfskooy (owned by Cassandra Orpen) to a 7th place finish in the 0.80m Training Jumpers, then moved on to compete at 0.90m and finally in the 1.0m Low Children’s Jumper Classic, where she and Pella jumped clear but off the pace, finishing 3.207 seconds over the time allowed and gaining 4 time faults.

Further north in Ocala, FL, a contingent of Bahamians were making a splash at the World Equestrian Center Winter Spectacular VIII competition.

Under the guidance of trainer Erika Adderley of Mariposa Stables, Katerina Coello piloted Hazelbrook Farm’s Manhattan to reserve champion in the 0.80m Child/Adult Jumpers and then moved on up several divisions to finish with a 5th place in the 0.90m Novice Children’s Jumper, while Sienna Jones, riding Aliza Guerreiro’s Kavalier V/D Brouwershoeve, was Reserve Champion in the 0.70m Child/Adult Jumpers.

Other riders finishing in the ribbons were Isabella Coello (5th place, 0.80m Jumpers), Amber Lleida (4th place, 0.80m Jumpers, 8th place, 0.90m Adult Jumpers), Henricia Beauchesne (5th place, 0.65m Child/Adult Jumpers), Elle O’Brien (7th place, Low Adult Hunters), and 11-year-old Charlotte Rose, who brought home a clutch of rosettes, placing 3rd and 6th in the 11 & Under Equitation and 4th, 5th and 6th in the Short Stirrup Hunters.

Also competing at Ocala was Virginia-based Bahamian junior rider Kacy Lyn Smith, who rode her own Chicago M. to a tie for champion in the 1.30/1.35m

Medium Junior Jumpers Division and then stopped by to socialise with the other Bahamian riders.

The weekend was a milestone for Bahamian

FA CUP

FROM PAGE 12

champions in the division.

equestrian sport, marking the first time that the athletes travelling abroad focused on competing in classes in the jumping

“I feel 100% fit now and comfortable,” Foden said. “(It has) been one of the worst parts of my career but everyone goes through them and it is how you react.”

De Bruyne curled in City’s best goal of the game in the 81st from outside the area.

City has reached at least the semifinals in five of the last six seasons.

LEICESTER STUNNED

There will be at least one non-Premier League team in the last eight of the FA Cup. Blackburn, which plays in the

discipline, one of only three equestrian disciplines recognised by the IOC.

“Our goal is to build a junior team for

second-tier Championship, provided the shock of the evening by winning 2-1 at Leicester, the 2021 champion.

Tyrhys Dolan capitalised on a sloppy pass out from the back by Daniel Amartey to open the scoring for Blackburn before Sammie Szmodics dribbled through the soft centre of Leicester’s defence before poking in a finish shortly after halftime.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored his customary FA Cup goal — it’s now 18 in his last 24 appearances in the competition, more than any other player in that time — but Leicester couldn’t grab an equaliser. Leicester can now focus all its attention on staying in the

international competition,” said federation president Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre.

“Focusing on the jumping discipline is therefore

Premier League. The team is only three points above the relegation zone.

FULHAM’S SENSATION

Manor Solomon scored for a fourth straight game to help Fulham beat Leeds 2-0 and continue its excellent season, in which the London club is also impressing in sixth place in the Premier League.

Solomon is an Israel winger who joined on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk in the offseason but missed almost the entire first half of the season because of injury. Now that he is healthy, he has been starring off the bench — his previous three goals came as

an essential step towards this goal.

“Congratulations to all riders on their strong efforts.”

a substitute — but was handed a start against Leeds and scored again after playing a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic and curling into the far corner.

Joao Palhinha’s opening goal was even better, the Portugal midfielder intercepting a pass out from the back by Tyler Adams and bending in a shot off the post from 30 meters.

In the second half, there were five U.S. internationals on the field at Craven Cottage — Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson for Fulham and Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson and Adams for Leeds. Fulham reached the last eight for the first time in 13 years.

THE TMT Giants and the Produce Express won the New Providence Basketball Association’s double header at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Monday. In the men’s division one feature contest, the TMT Giants won over the Rebels 82-65 and in the division II opener, the Produce Express knocked off the Cyber Tech 86-62.

Giants 82, Rebels 65: Daniel Hall came up with a game high 26 points in 34:58 minutes with six rebounds for TMT as they improved their win-loss record to 4-6 in division one play.

Randy Miller had 18 points with 12 rebounds, Donovan Dean had 10 points with seven rebounds, three steals and two assists and Rashad Sturrup ended up with eight points, 11 rebounds and a pair of assists and steals.

Theo Ferguson had 18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals in a leading role for the Rebels, who dropped to 2-9.

Deniro Kemp also had 18 points with six rebounds, Edvardo Burrows had 11 points, three assists and steals and two rebounds, Lance Posey had eight points and 11 rebounds and Robert Carey also contributed eight points with four rebounds.

Produce Express 86, Cyber Tech 62: Maleak Johnson exploded for a game high 26 points as he shot 13-for-19 from the field in 24 minutes and 49 seconds, and he added 12 rebounds with four steals and three assists to pace the Produce Express, who pushed their front running division II record to 12-1.

Randy Blankford helped out with 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, Jefferson Oliver had 11 points with a pair of assists and Rumalo Ellis chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.

In a losing effort for Cyber Tech, who fell to 4-8, Tyrese Porter had 24 points with seven rebounds and two assists, Daniel Bethel had 22 points and two rebounds, K’Jay Nixon added seven points, seven rebounds and three assists and Warren Miller had six points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Tonight 7pm - RC Liquors vs Your Essential Store (DII)

8pm - Sand Dollar vs Tucker Boys (D1)

Friday 7pm - University of the Bahamas vs Zulu Media Marketing (D1)

8pm - Discount Distributors Liquors Rockets vs Sand Dollar (D1)

Saturday 7pm - Tucker Boys vs Commonwealth Bank Giants (D1)

8pm - Caro Contractors Shockers vs Leno Regulators (D1)

BRIGHTON ADVANCES

Brighton advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth time in its history and the first time since the 2018-19 season, when the team lost to Man City in the semifinals.

A 30th-minute goal from Evan Ferguson, who tapped in from Kaoru Mitoma’s square ball, earned a 1-0 win at second-tier Stoke.

DRAW FOR QUARTERFINALS

The draw for the quarterfinals takes place today after the remaining last-16 matches are completed. Those games include Manchester United hosting West Ham and Tottenham visiting second-tier Sheffield United.

KACY Lyn Smith and Chicago M. tied for champion in 1.30m medium junior jumpers division at World Equestrian Center, Ocala.

SIENNA Jones and Kavalier V/D Brouwershoeve were reserve champions in the 0.70m child/adult jumpers.

SIENNA Tinker and Pella VD Wolfskooy in the Low Children’s Jumper 1.0m Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Wellington, FL.

KATERINA Coello and Manhattan cross the timers in first place to win the 0.80m Jumper speed class. Overall the pair were reserve

Morant, Grizzlies beat Lakers 121-109 with LeBron sidelined

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)

— Ja Morant scored 28 of his 39 points in the third quarter, had 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles 121-109 last night in the Lakers’ first game since LeBron James injured his right foot.

Xavier Tillman finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane scored 16 points apiece.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 28 points and 19 rebounds. Lonnie Walker IV scored 21 points. Austin Reaves had 17, while matching his season high with four 3-pointers. Morant took over in the third quarter, connecting on 10 of 12 shots. That broke open a close game and gave the Grizzlies a 93-84 advantage entering the fourth.

BUCKS 118, NETS 104 NEW YORK (AP) —

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 15 rebounds and Milwaukee beat Brooklyn for its 15th straight victory.

Jrue Holiday had 14 points and eight assists for the Bucks, who went 10-0 in February and have passed Boston for the best record in the NBA. They got Antetokounmpo back after he missed their home victory over Phoenix on Sunday with a bruised right quadriceps.

Mikal Bridges led Brooklyn with 31 points. Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points and eight assists.

NUGGETS 133, ROCKETS 112

HOUSTON (AP) — Nikola Jokic had his 100th career triple-double and Jamal Murray scored 32 points in Denver’s victory over Houston.

Jokic had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 24th

triple-double this season and 15th in the last 20 games.

Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points and Bruce Brown had 15 off the bench to help the Nuggets to their second consecutive victory and sixth in the last seven games.

Jalen Green and Tari Eason each scored 17 points for Houston. The Rockets dropped their 10th in a row.

PACERS 124, MAVERICKS 122

DALLAS (AP) —

Tyrese Haliburton scored 32 points and won a duel of birthday boys with Luka Doncic, leading Indiana past Dallas.

Doncic had 39 points and nine rebounds on his 24th birthday but fell to 1-4 in games with Kyrie Irving since the superstars were paired in a deal with Brooklyn before the trade deadline.

Irving scored 16 points, but his 3-pointer just before the buzzer was the last of five misses in the final 1:20 with Dallas trailing by two. The 23-year-old Haliburton, born on February 29, 2000, was 9 of 18 from the field and 12 of 15 on free throws while adding seven rebounds and six assists.

WIZARDS 119, HAWKS 116

ATLANTA (AP) — Washington spoiled Quin Snyder’s Atlanta coaching debut, getting 37 points from Bradley Beal and 28 from Kyle Kuzma in a victory over the Hawks. Trae Young led Atlanta with 31 points.

Snyder spent eight seasons as Utah’s coach before resigning last June after the Jazz were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs. The 56-year-old Snyder says he left coaching to spend more time with his family, but the chance to lead the talented but enigmatic Hawks lured

him back to the sideline sooner than expected.

KINGS 123,

THUNDER 117

OKLAHOMA CITY

(AP) — Harrison Barnes scored 29 points and Sacramento beat Oklahoma City for its fourth consecutive victory. Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists and Kevin Huerter added 20 points for the Kings. They also beat the Thunder on Sunday night. Thunder rookie Jalen Williams matched a season high with 27 points. Dario Saric, a reserve forward/center the Thunder acquired in a trade with Phoenix before the All-Star break, had a

DURANT, BIRD, AZZI HELPING LEAD USA BASKETBALL

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

WHEN Kevin Durant was asked about the notion of him and some other Olympic gold medallists potentially getting seats on USA Basketball’s Board of Directors, he liked the idea. That is, on one condition: He didn’t want the seats to be honorary. He wanted a real say.

Durant hasn’t decided yet if he’ll play for the U.S. at the FIBA World Cup this summer, and it’s still unknown if he’ll play at the 2024 Paris Olympics — but he’ll be one of the people continuing to shape policy for the governing body for basketball in this country during that span. He’s one of five gold medallists currently serving on USA Basketball’s board, part of a move to give athletes a louder voice and more input now than ever before.

season-high 21 points. But Oklahoma City shot just 43.9% in its fourth straight loss.

PACERS 124, MAVERICKS 122

DALLAS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 32 points and won a duel of birthday boys with Luka Doncic, leading Indiana past Dallas. Doncic had 39 points and nine rebounds on his 24th birthday but fell to 1-4 in games with Kyrie Irving since the superstars were paired in a deal with Brooklyn before the trade deadline. Irving scored 16 points, but his 3-pointer just before the buzzer was the last of five misses in the final 1:20 with Dallas trailing by two.

The 23-year-old Haliburton, born on Feb. 29, 2000, was 9 of 18 from the field and 12 of 15 on free throws while adding seven rebounds and six assists.

RAPTORS 104,

BULLS 98

TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 20 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 19 and Toronto beat Chicago for its eighth victory in 10 games.

O.G. Anunoby added 17 points and Jakob Poeltl had 14 to help the Raptors win their fourth straight at home.

Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 23 points and Zach LaVine had 17.

DeMar DeRozan scored 13 points against his former team.

Rodgers, QBs become top attractions at NFL combine

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)

— The Green Bay Packers will continue to play the waiting game with Aaron Rodgers.

They’re also ready with a backup plan.

Though general manager Brian Gutekunst’s first choice still appears to be bringing back the four-time league MVP and longtime face of the team, Gutekunst acknowledged the Packers are willing to go with Jordan Love — if needed. “I think he’s ready to play. I think he’s ready to be an NFL starting quarterback,” Gutekunst said yesterday, referring to Love. “He’s worked really hard. He’s shown a lot of progression. I know he’s really eager to have that, and I think that’s the next step in his progression, is to play.”

First, though, Rodgers must make his call.

The one-time Super Bowl champ is scheduled to cost the Packers $59.5 million, a prohibitively high number that would prevent the team from doing much in free agency.

Rodgers has already acknowledged publicly if he does return, he would likely redo his contract. He also has completed the “darkness retreat” he said would help him sort out his options.

Green Bay also must decide whether to exercise its fifth-year option on Love, their first-round pick from 2020 who has not played much as Rodgers’ backup. Extending Love’s contract through next season would cost the team $20.3 million in 2024.

Otherwise, the Packers next year could be facing the same dilemma the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens now have — using franchise tags to keep their starters, Daniel Jones and Lamar Jackson — around. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is scheduled to speak today at the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

Still, Gutekunst is willing to be patient with Rodgers and hopeful he’ll have an answer before free agency begins March 15.

If not, he’ll be ready to go either direction.

“We’ll move forward and have conversations as we go,” Gutekunst said. “There will be a point here soon where we have to make some decisions moving forward.”

It’s a familiar scenario for Packers fans who still remember when three-time MVP Brett Favre retired in 2008, handing the job to Rodgers, Green Bay’s firstround pick in 2005.

When Favre later decided to return, he was eventually traded to the New York Jets.

The Jets are in the quarterback market yet again and are one of several teams now jockeying for position to answer their own quarterback questions.

While Jets GM Joe Douglas acknowledged the team remains committed to Zach Wilson, Douglas also said team officials have spoken with the recently released Derek Carr and they plan to meet again this week.

“I can say he (Carr) left a strong impression with everybody,” Douglas said. “Obviously we’re going to be exploring the veteran

quarterback market this offseason and we’ll look at every available option.”

They’re not alone.

Carolina also plans to meet this week with Carr, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the team doesn’t announce its meetings with free agents.

Two other veterans also recently hit the open market. The Washington Commanders cut Carson Wentz on Monday and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota was released yesterday by the Atlanta Falcons. Both teams seem content to go with second-year quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell,

at least for now. “If you go back to his junior year, coming out, (Howell) is a guy that had some very good grades on him,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said.

“I looked at our people’s grades and we had some very good grades on him, so we feel very confident in his ability. He’s got a good arm.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also may try the young arm of Kyle Trask — if Tom Brady does not come out of retirement again. That may be out of necessity with the Buccaneers more than $57 million over the cap.

Still, coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t rule out signing a veteran.

“We understand we’re over the cap,” he said. “We

have a long-term plan. We don’t want to sacrifice one year for paying someone as opposed to sacrificing the future. But we’ll go out and we’ll be smart about it. It’s also a desirable place because we do have talent.”

The same is true of the Packers, who have already restructured the contract of running back Aaron Jones and expect their two promising second-year receivers to continue improving next season — whether it’s Rodgers or Love throwing passes.

“Obviously, he (Rodgers) is a big part — if he comes back,” Gutekunst said. “He’s a big part of what we’re doing, but at the same time, I don’t think that will really change the roster much.”

“I love America. I love where I come from,” said Durant, now with the Phoenix Suns after being traded earlier this season by the Brooklyn Nets. “I love that the game has, you know, brought me so much and afforded me so much. I try to represent everybody I grew up with and everybody in our country. So, yeah, it was important to me.”

Combined, the five current and former players who sit on USA Basketball’s 15-person board — Seimone Augustus, Jennifer Azzi, Harrison Barnes, Sue Bird and Durant — have 13 Olympic gold medals, eight FIBA gold medals from World Cups and world championships, and a pile of other honours from their time wearing the red, white and blue.

Past boards have had athlete representatives, but this board is the first in USA Basketball’s history to have so many gold medallists serving at one time.

“To have an Olympic gold medal, at whatever sport, is just the top and anybody around the world knows what that means,” Azzi said. “It’s just elite and it’s special. So, for me, being able to play for USA Basketball in a lot of things prior to being a professional athlete allowed me to play at the highest level for a long period of time. And then just the relationships I made through USA Basketball are unlike anything else.”

Adding the players allowed the board, chaired by retired Gen. Martin E. Dempsey — the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — to grow from 11 people to 15 people for this four-year cycle. There are some NBA and WNBA executives on the board (NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum among them), along with some leaders in college athletics, a high school sports executive and the CEO of an asset management firm.

But the biggest names are the ones who’ve won the golds.

“When you have Kevin Durant and Sue Bird, among others, who have done everything you can possibly do in terms of accomplishments, gold medals, almost be the faces of their respective teams and now assuming more of a leadership role on a board that I report to, it just speaks volumes about the programme itself,” USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill said.

MEMPHIS Grizzlies Ja Morant (12) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Lakers Austin Reaves (15) defends in the second half last night in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

GREEN Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine yesterday in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

SUNLAND

FROM PAGE 12

together, they are very pleased with the way things turned out. “We thank the persons who were able to assist us at short notice and were very responsive to us,” Curtis said. “We also want to thank the teams who came on board because it would not have been an easy task for them in planning and getting here for those who had to travel.

“We also want to thank the general public for playing a major role in the success of the tournament.

They supported every day. They followed their teams, which showed that they not only love basketball, but certain individuals who played. It was great to see parents and grandparents coming out to support their children. It showed a sense of pride for the players as well as the fans.”

For the record, Sunland became just the seventh school in the history of the tournament to capture the title in two or more consecutive years. They joined the Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, who were the last team to do it in 2017-2018.

The Falcons were coached by Kevin Clarke,

whose team got eliminated by Sunland in a rematch of the Grand Bahama finals when the Falcons snapped the Stingers’ undefeated winning season before they came into the tournament.

Before Clarke took over, he played for Tabernacle, who was coached by Norris Bain, who still holds the record as the winningest coach in the tournament.

Clarke won back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996, separate crowns in 1998 and 2000 before he pulled off another two-year sweep in 2009 and 2010.

Among the other schools to claim consecutive titles were the CC Sweeting Cobras, coached then by now Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016.

Despite losing this year’s title, coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson can still bask in his glory, having won the title five times with CI Gibson.

He started in 2002, got a triple feat from 2014-2016 and again a single crown in 2014.

The only other coach to win a triple-peat was James ‘Jimmy’ Clarke with the Hawksbill High Hawks from 1992-1994.

Clarke also holds the distinction of being the only

coach to win at two different schools on two different islands.

He returned to New Providence and coached the CR Walker Knights to the title in 1997.

The host AF Adderley Fighting Tigers, before they were switched from a secondary to junior high school, won the title in

1987-88 under coach Doug Collins with Jimmy Clarke as his assistant.

Although they didn’t win it consecutively, the Catholic High Crusaders, coached by Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee, captured the title in 1983, the first year that the tournament was opened to the Grand Bahama schools. They won

it again in 1989 and 1991. In 1999, with Charlie ‘Softly’ Rubins replacing McPhee, they won the title again.

The tournament was first held in 1992 with the LW Young Golden Eagles, coached by the late Walter Rand, carting off the title.

The last New Providence team to win the title was the Doris Johnson Mystic

UB Mingoes men fight way back to 68-58 victory over Sand Dollar

THE University of The Bahamas Mingoes men’s basketball team started off slow against one of the top teams in the New Providence Basketball Association on Saturday night.

The Mingoes trailed Sand Dollar 14-4 with 2:57 to go in the first quarter but The Mingoes proved the adage that it’s how you finish that matters.

The Mingoes came back to pick up one of the team’s biggest wins of the season with the 68-58 win over the second-place overall team in the league.

Sand Dollar leads The John Archer Division with an 8-2 record after the loss. The 8-2 record is the second best in the league

GSSSA

FROM PAGE 12

Virginia Romer, president of the New Providence Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools, said despite a late start, the event planning process has been good.

“We have been meeting and putting things in place, we may not have started as early as we should have but

behind The Discount Distributor Liquor Rockets which leads the Vince Ferguson Division with a 10-0 record.

Erquantae Edgecombe led The Mingoes with 28 points and five rebounds.

Justin Burrows contributed 13 points, seven steals and six rebounds and Ricardo Taylor Jr. posted 11 points.

“The shots were falling for us here tonight,” Edgecombe said.

“We had a lot of inside shots that connected. Especially in this league we need those shots to drop. The game plan was to come out defensively with a lot of communication and talking with intensity, especially coming from an international tour and using that experience here in the league.”

we are playing catchup,” said Romer. Romer also gave credit to retired assistant director of education Keith Saunders for helping with this year’s GSSSA planning process.

On day one of the meet the girls and boys U-13 and U-15 100M preliminaries will start the day of track events for the three-day meet.

The public is advised that ticket prices for the event are $10 for the VIP section,

$5 for the general public, and $3 for high school students. High school students will be provided with tickets for purchasing at their respective schools.

Romer informed students of the appropriate dress code and security measures to be taken at the track and field meet.

“We are asking our students to come in their school t-shirts that is what we are asking when they come to the gate they

Erquantae Edgecombe scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, in the second quarter to pull The Mingoes tied at 25-25 to end the half.

Into the third quarter Edgecombe and Ricardo Taylor Jr. combined for 17 points to push The Mingoes ahead 53-40.

The Mingoes were able to hold off a late surge from Sand Dollar to pick up the 68-58 win.

The Mingoes had 36 points in the paint and 24 points off fast breaks.

Delano Armbrister and Theodore Grant each contributed four assists for The Mingoes.

A big statistic for the side was turnovers and points off turnovers.

have to be wearing school t-shirts, they are not coming in their own clothes,” Romer said.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force and security from the different high schools will be present to assist with searching attendees of the event.

The official opening ceremony for the track and field championships will commence at 10am Thursday. The first race is set to begin at 9:45am on Wednesday.

The Mingoes forced 29 turnovers and were able to covert those turnovers for 32 points.

The Mingoes now hold firm in the third spot in The Vince Ferguson Division with a 5-5 record.

Sand Dollar still leads the John Archer Division with an 8-2 record.

The Mingoes are expected to play Zulu Media Marketing 7pm March 3 at The A.F. Adderley Gym.

Marlins, coached by Denycko Bowles, in 2019. The tournament was the brainchild of Alsworth ‘Whitey’ Pickstock, Collins and Alfred Forbes, who wanted to provide an opportunity for the young basketball players to enhance their skills at the conclusion of the school league.

BAISS FROM PAGE 12

that we did not tap into which we are gonna do so moving forward and prepare them,” Frazier added. The Comets look forward to competing against all private secondary schools, including Lyford Cay in the 2023 track and field meet however, they are expecting a challenge from the Big Red Machine.

QC and SAC have exchanged victories in the recent BAISS track and field championships. The Comets were victorious for the first time in 2015 and won again in 2016. SAC was able to regain their title in 2017 and 2018. The Comets however was the last victor among the two teams in their last meetup at the 2019 BAISS track and field championships.

“We know that the Big Red Machine is gonna be ready and we expect them to be on their A game and its gonna always be a battle between QC and SAC,” Frazier said.

The head coach hopes that more schools will be able to compete with the rivals in this year’s event.

The two powerhouse schools will look to continue their rivalry at the BAISS Track and Field Championships at 9am on Wednesday.

The inter-school competition is scheduled for Wednesday through Friday when a winner will be crowned.

NEW ZEALAND EDGES ENGLAND BY ONE RUN IN TEST CRICKET THRILLER

By STEVE MCMORRAN AP Sports Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Tim Southee’s New Zealand team earned two places in international cricket history with its dramatic, one-run comeback win over England in the second test.

It was only the fourth team after England (in 1894 and 1981) and India (in 2001) to win a test match after being forced to follow-on and only the second after the West Indies to win by a margin of one run. New Zealand

also was part of one of the most tense final days of a test match when at various times both teams had victory in their grasp and even a rare tie seemed possible.

At the start of Day 5, a New Zealand win seemed the most unlikely of all possible scenarios: it had lost the series-opening match by 267 runs and been forced to follow-on 226 runs behind in the second test. New Zealand was depleted: its bowling lineup depended heavily on the new ball pair of Tim Southee and Matt Henry in the absence of Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson.

SUNLAND Baptist Stingers players celebrate their victory in the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic.

ON THE REPLAY: The Sunland Baptist Stingers (far right) can be seen in the huddle with coach Jay Philippe on Monday night when they stunned the CI Gibson Rattlers (top left) 64-52 to capture the 2023 Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic title at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.

Photos: Austin Fernander/Tribune Staff

UB forward Timothy Grant (grey 3) drives to the basket.

UB forward Justin Burrows (grey 15) makes a move to the basket against Sand Dollar.

UB forward Timothy Grant (grey 3) in action. Photos: UB Athletics

UB forward Theodore Grant (grey 24) drives to the basket against Sand Dollar.

BAHAMAS JR DAVIS CUP TEAM DEFEATS BARBADOS 3-0

THE Bahamas Junior Davis Cup team defeated Barbados 3-0 yesterday at the Central America and Caribbean Jr Davis Cup pre-qualifying event in Guatemala.

Jackson Mactaggart and Jerald Carroll both won their singles matches in identical scores of 6-1, 6-1 and William McCartney and Mactaggart teamed up to take the doubles 6-2, 6-3 for the sweep.

The team, coached by Bradley Bain, will be back in action today when they take on Nicaragua.

Djokovic holds on in Dubai, extends winning streak to 18

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Topranked Novak Djokovic held on to beat Czech qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1) at the Dubai Championships yesterday in his first match since winning his 10th Australian Open title.

Djokovic’s first-round victory came a day after the 35-year-old Serb broke the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the professional tennis rankings by a man or woman.

BAHAMAS girls doubles team of Saphirre and Bre-Ann Ferguson, duo on the left, beside their St Lucia opponents.

Djokovic was a bit rusty on his return from a few weeks off after overcoming a hamstring problem in Australia to win his recordequalling 22nd Grand Slam singles title. He led 4-1 in the third set Tuesday before the 130th-ranked Machac forced a tiebreaker.

“He was giving me all kinds of trouble, but I guess when it mattered I found another gear,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “I haven’t played much tennis (recently), so I’m hoping as the tournament progresses I can raise the level.”

Djokovic, who next faces Tallon Griekspoor, is 13-0 this season and extended his overall winning streak to 18 matches.

A presentation was held after yesterday’s match to recognise Djokovic’s 378th week in the ATP’s top spot, surpassing Steffi Graf’s 377 leading the WTA.

“As a young boy growing up in Serbia, I dreamt of two things — winning Wimbledon and being No. 1 in the world. I’ve been blessed to achieve both of my childhood dreams, several times,” he said. Also yesterday, thirdseeded Daniil Medvedev beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-2 to extend his winning streak to 10 matches.

Fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Maxime Cressy 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 and Botic van de Zandschulp beat sixth-seeded Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2.

COACH Bradley Bain and Jackson Mactaggart, left, pose with their opponent and coach from Barbados.

COACH Bradley Bain and Bahamas doubles team of William McCartney and Jackson Mactaggart with the Barbados team.

GERALD Carroll poses with his opponent from Barbados.

JACKSON Mactaggart beside his opponent from Barbados.

yesterday. They were beaten

In their singles matches, BreAnn Ferguson won

6-3,

6-1.

Ferguson, lost

7-6

7-6

SERBIA’s Novak Djokovic reacts after he got a point against Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac during a match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

BAHAMAS GIRLS SUFFER 2-1 LOSS TO ST LUCIA AT JUNIOR BILLY JEAN KING CUP

“SuperClubs Breezes need people to work. Depending on the calibre of people they meet at the job fair, they will hire. They want to transition people from part-time to full-time. iHop has already hired 180. They are moving aggressively to open two more sites, so they will be looking to hire an additional 400.

“We have companies like Ocean Cay, which deals with the island. We have Royal Caribbean looking for some 160. It’s difficult to say how many, but a number of employers have indicated they are excited

about the opportunity to choose Bahamians to work in their various businesses.”

Among the employers who will be present on Saturday, between 9am and 3pm, will be the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC); Fusion Superplex; Aetos Holdings (Wendy’s, Marco’s Pizza and Popeyes: Sysco Bahamas (formerly Bahamas Food Services); Commonwealth Brewery; SMG Construction; ICS Security Services; Sandals Emerald Bay; Blue Lagoon; AML Foods; FML Group of Companies; Super Value; John Bull; AML Foods; Albany; and Fidelity Bank.

“Between New Providence and Grand Bahama, we’ve held nine ‘Labour on the Blocks’ since May 2022, and we estimate they’ve employed at little over 3,000 from those job fairs. That was New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco,” Mr Farquharson said.

“Because of the partnerships we have developed we have a pretty good idea of what type employers need, so we are seeking to align those persons in our database and encourage them to come out. The database has close to 65,000 persons registered, but it doesn’t mean they are all unemployed.”

Asked whether all Bahamians seeking work will be able to find it, Mr Farquharson replied: “I can say without a doubt that there are a lot of employment opportunities and vacancies out there. That’s one of the reasons why we have Labour on the Blocks. We know there are opportunities out there, so we bring job seekers and employers together in one place.

“I think for most Bahamians looking for work there are opportunities, particularly in the construction field. We have a number of projects coming online in the pipeline in Grand Bahama, Abaco

Gas station dealers mulling shut down

FROM PAGE A24

now. We came to the table in good faith with the Government, but the Government to this point is just ignoring us.”

Admitting that the Government “never made any promises” to the BPDA, Mr Bastian added: “The Government said they will look at everything but they didn’t make any promises to anybody. We came to them with our concerns when the price of fuel was $7.39 last August, and we told the Government that this is our position and we need them to intervene.

“We asked the Government to sit around the table and let’s negotiate this and make some adjustments from where we sit. We are asking the Government, at the end of the day, that if we can’t make a profit, then let us break even and that’s where we’re at.”

While there are no immediate plans for gas station closures at present because many operators tend to “survive in spite of” the industry’s business model, Mr Bastian cannot say for certain how long this would last. “We are now at a point where we are unified and the people of this industry have said that enough

NOTICE is hereby given that ROSELANDE JOSUE of Sandilands Village 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 22nd day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

is enough, and I hope we don’t have to shut down for a day or two. I really hope we don’t because that is the straw that will break the camel’s back,” he said.

“I’ve always been opposing shut downs in my position as vice-president, and I have encouraged my members to now look at that as an option where we will inconvenience the motoring public and even ourselves to a certain degree. That is not the way to go. But right now my members are using profanity at me to shut down these stations, and I am telling them that under no

circumstances do I want to do this, but if my hands are tied then I have to go along with the majority.” Gas stations are facing a variety of current and future cost hikes that they have to meet from fixed gas and diesel margins. With those margins lacking any flexibility, gross profits and other financial indicators are shrinking. The minimum wage increase and attendant National Insurance Board (NIB) cost increase has hit dealers hard, increasing their wage bill, and they also face the upcoming hike in Bahamas

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JAMESON JACQUES of Collies Avenue, Kennedy Sub, 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 twentyeight days from the 1st day of March, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

and Eleuthera, where additional workers are required. We’re encouraging people, whether they are semiskilled or fully skilled in the construction industry, to register with us as employment opportunities are coming up.”

Mr Farquharson said the Department of Labour plans to hold another ‘Labour on the Blocks’ job fair in Fox Hill in June, and another in Grand Bahama in May. To those attending this Saturday’s event, he added: “I want job seekers to come prepared with official documents, their resume prepared, and come prepared to be interviewed.

Power & Light (BPL) bills via the fuel charge.

Turnover-based Business Licence fees are also due by end-March 2022.

Last year’s oil price spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant dealers revenues increased, due to higher gas prices, but their profits did not alter because of the fixed margins. As a result, they are now faced with paying much higher Business Licence fees to the Government, with several calling for the fixed margins to be adjusted to a percentage.

The only two factors that the Government can influence are the taxes it earns per gallon of gas and diesel sold, which are understood to be around a flat $1.10 plus 10 percent VAT, and the retailers’ fixed, price-controlled margins that have made the industry a volume-driven business. Retailers currently earn

“Come dressed for the occasion. If you don’t have the necessary dress, come to the Department of Labour and we will help them with the attire to be properly dressed. Take advantage of the opportunities and get yourself prepared. If you come to the job fair and don’t find a job, we have the opportunity for you to be trained. We have the National Training Agency, where you can register free of charge, and BTVI. Not only can you find employment, but you have the opportunity to enter the labour market.”

a fixed $0.54 per gallon margin on gasoline, and $0.34 for diesel. These figures do not change when gas prices go up, meaning that gas stations face having to pay the wholesalers - Rubis, Esso (Sol Petroleum) and Shell (FOCOL Holdings)more to purchase their fuel inventory despite their own net per gallon revenue staying the same. The increased turnover thus results in gas stations paying higher Business Licence fees while revenues remain the same, helping to push gross margins in some instances below 10 percent. Retailers still have to pay staff, rent and other expenses from that depressed gross margin, with the increased cost of fuel straining cash flows and credit lines. Increased use of the latter also results in higher bank fees and such like.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that YOLETTE FRANCOIS of Rock Crusher Road off Farrington 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 twentyeight days from the 22nd day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ATKINS JEAN-LOUIS of Windsor Lane, 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 1st day of March, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that

ASHONTE HART of Church Hill 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 22nd day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that DENO MERONE of Hospital Lane, Bain Town, 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 22nd day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Registrar General woe is ‘beyond our control’

our control on why it has had to be down.” He did not go into specifics on what had caused the online portal to shutdown.

Multiple attorneys and realtors spoken to by Tribune Business yesterday said the issues surrounding the online portal “seem to be worse by the day”. With a general consensus that it has been offline for around six months, or since summer 2022, persons wishing to access title deeds and conveyances lodged with the Registry of Records are now having to visit the Registrar General’s Department physically by making an appointment several days in advance.

Once the appointed day arrives, then then only have a limited time - around halfan-hour - to conduct the relevant searches, which are performed by Registrar General staff. Alternative methods involve hiring third-party providers to conduct title searches and pull the relevant documents, such as Computitle and Benchmark, but this can prove costly depending on the amount of information required and is more expensive than using the online portal.

Mr Pinder said last year the Government was conducting a “pilot” project that could ultimately see the Registrar General’s Department split into two between its civil and commercial functions. The agency is a key hub vital to the Bahamian financial services industry and entire corporate sector, especially

the legal, real estate and related professions when it comes to the recording of conveyances, as well as for company incorporations, annual returns and other filings.

It has, however, been viewed by many in the private sector as a consistent choke point or bottleneck for tasks as simple as reserving a company name due to functions that are still manual and paper-based. The online portal’s closure will only add to such concerns, with some fearing that the problems are getting worse rather than being fixed.

One Bahamian law firm, in a message sent to its attorneys, said: “Just sending this e-mail to notify all that there has been a halt on deeds and documents being received from the Registrar General. I have been informed that the recording system is currently down and unavailable; therefore our documents are not being recorded and given to us at the normal pace that they usually are.

“I was told that the system would be down until further notice, so there is not a specific set time that I can provide on when our deeds and documents will be available for collection once again. For anyone expecting certain documents from the Registrar, or wanting me to follow up on certain documents that were placed in for recording, I’d please advise that you be patient and give it some more days/weeks.

“I will communicate with the people in deeds and documents to the best of

my ability about the system and receiving our documents as normal. Sorry for any convenience and thank you for your patience.” One attorney, speaking about the situation at the Registrar General’s Department, said: “It’s ridiculous. It really is. It’s out of hand. It’s been going on for months and I don’t know if they’ve fixed it. It’s a horror right now and I don’t know if there is any end in sight.

“It will certainly slow down the process [of real estate transactions]. The Government may be putting in some new fancy system, but they’ve not let people know the details. Maybe it’s not worth the effort to get the present one functioning, but it would be nice if they advise us as to what’s going on.

“People are up in arms because they can’t get any information online. We don’t know when the fix is going to happen. It’s been months, and nobody in government seems to be concerned about it.” Rhchetta Godet, an attorney specialising in real estate transactions with the Halsbury Chambers law firm, told Tribune Business that the situation means lawyers and, by extension, their clients are paying more to conduct title and related searches.

“It’s well over six months. We can’t access the online portal at all,” she confirmed. “It’s the searches we have to do. We have to reach out to Computitle if we know the recording reference, but if we don’t know we have to pay them to do a search on the name,

which can be very expensive..... What it means now is we’re spending more.”

Ms Godet explained that, when the online portal was functioning, attorneys and realtors could pay $20 for between 60-120 minutes of search time to try and locate reference numbers and send for them. “Now we don’t have that option so we have to do specific searches,” she explained. If physical documents are required, the cost can run as high as $70 per page depending on the volume sought, while charges for searching by name could hit $45 per hour.

Suggesting that the situation disadvantages small and medium-sized Bahamian law firms compared to larger rivals, who have the staff numbers to be able to send persons to the Registrar General’s Department in person, Ms Godet said: “It definitely slows us up. Everything is really slow. It has been for the past six months, and I don’t know if it is coming back any time soon. At this point we don’t know what is going on.”

Some larger Bahamian law firms also have their own databases of title documents and conveyances, thus minimising the impact for them. And realtors, too, yesterday voiced concern about the cascading impact for their profession. Mike Lightbourn, Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty’s president, told Tribune Business: “Everything has gone to hell. It’s just total chaos.

“It’s something that lawyers, in particular, and real estate professionals use to

conduct searches for documents and titles. It’s been a disaster not having it available, and nobody seems to be doing anything to try and fix it. The whole country is falling apart and everything is going wrong.”

David Morley, Morley Realty’s principal, said the impact was mainly being felt on the country’s ease of doing business and the streamlining of critical processes via digitisation.

“I know for a fact that the online portal was such a convenient thing that, once you bought your minutes, you could do your research and whatever you wanted to do,” he said. “It’s something that’s been missed for the last couple of months.

‘“If I can’t find a document I have to send someone down there with the volume and page number. There was a property in Andros that I did not have the volume and page number for, so my daughter had to go down there, wait in line and make the request. Twenty-four hours later we were notified to come and pay for a copy.

“It is a tremendous inconvenience right now and we’ve heard nothing from the registry and law firms as to when it’s coming back online again. I think they give you half an hour to search, and when it’s time you’re out. You can’t extend that because someone is behind you. You’ve got to make another appointment to come back.”

Another attorney, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “It is getting worse, not better. We don’t have a land registry

GB Power ‘clawing way back’ in 25% profit rise

FROM PAGE A24

Turning to the utility’s improved profitability in 2022, Mr McGregor told Tribune Business: “We’re clawing our way back slowly. We’re still below shareholder expectations but are getting there. We’re continuing to hold the line on operating costs, and a lot of Dorian costs are behind us. Load is continuing to recover.

“We saw good growth in the industrial sector on Grand Bahama. It’s difficult to pin down, but we welcomed the new Pharmachem factory facility coming online and the load picked up a little bit. The commercial load is picking up a bit, the residential load is flat. We were within a few hundred customers of our pre-Dorian customer base last year, whereas before we’d been a couple thousand short, so customers are gradually returning. They’re back, which is great news.

“Our plant is now back in full operation, so reliability is relatively good. We’re on a good recovery track I believe. The economy is, I wouldn’t say rebounding,

but is clawing its way back.”

Mr McGregor also voiced optimism that GB Power’s monthly fuel charge will go no higher than 13-13.5 cents per kilowatt hour this year even if oil prices spike back to the levels of $110-$120 per barrel, which occurred when Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago.

Some 80 percent of GB

Power’s fuel needs for 2023 are hedged, with the price or cost locked-in already, meaning that the 20 percent balance has to be purchased

on the open market at prevailing spot prices. “We’ve held our fuel charge stable for six years. We committed to five, but delivered on six at 10 cents per KWh,” Mr McGregor said. “We’ve got some great hedging structures in place until 2026.”

Utilities do not typically hedge all their fuel needs in advance in case of sudden movements in global oil prices that could leave them exposed to a financial loss. Mr McGregor said GB Power’s hedged

fuel volumes for 2023 were acquired at a price of around $51 per barrel, compared to the $77.44 and $83.89 per barrel prevailing last night on the West Texas Intermediate and Brent Crude indices, respectively. He added that GB Power’s projections show its fuel charge will “vary between 10 cents and 13 cents over the course of the year”. Recalling that the last monthly fuel charges were in the 11.8-11.9 cents per KWh range, Mr McGregor said: “It’s [global oil prices] kind of steady at the minute. We’re not anticipating a big change, even if the price of oil goes up to $110 to $120 a barrel.

“The maximum pass through would be in the 13 cents range, maybe 13.5 cents at maximum. The industrial companies in particular appreciate this because of the long-term planning for their business; they know their fuel costs.... Over the next couple of weeks, we will be announcing some independent power producer (IPP) solar projects which will help to keep the lid on our electricity costs.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

RADIOLOGIST

AccuRad Imaging Consultants is a diagnostic imaging reporting/teleradiology company operating in the Bahamas. AccuRad provides diagnostic imaging reporting services to facilities and doctor’s offices throughout the Bahamas. The imaging modalities reported include, but are not limited to, x-ray, mammography, CT, ultrasound and MRI. AccuRad is seeking a fellowship trained radiologist to join the practice. Fellowship training in oncology imaging and neuroradiology is preferred. On-site work is not required. The candidate is expected to be able to provide coverage on weekends and/or stat holidays. Occasionally, there may be overnight coverage requirements. Competency in reporting all above mentioned modalities is a must. Only candidates who have completed a full radiology residency program and attained board certification by examination will be considered. Fellowship/subspecialty training must have been acquired at an accredited institution in the US, Canada or UK. All applicants must be eligible for specialist licensure in the Bahamas.

here, so you can imagine the chaos that this is causing. The online portal has been down since last September, October. I know for a fact it was down because I needed something and couldn’t use it.

“You have transactions that can’t get done, and who’s in the hole on that?

The lawyer or the client.

It’s detrimental, especially to commercial attorneys in time sensitive transactions. There are penalties for them not being done in accordance with the time, and clients are negotiating while not taking that into consideration.”

Besides slowing down transactions, one legal practitioner said it also impacts “reliability”. They explained that the online portal at the Registrar General’s Department had proven especially useful as a last-minute check to ensure there were no competing ownership claims, or liens, placed on a subject property after the title search was completed.

“It really needs urgent attention,” the attorney said. “We were beating down the door last summer, individual law firms contacting the Registrar and complaining directly.” With no explanation as to the cause for the online portal’s shutdown, some openly speculated yesterday that it may have been hackedas happened on a previous occasion at the Registrar General’s Departmentalthough there is no proof that has occurred now.

costs of providing electricity service to customers plus an appropriate return on rate base.

“We will double down on the roll-out of solar, build our own project, work with IPPs and get off that oil so that solar becomes a financial hedge. We’re locking in solar at a good rate for 20 years, and will get off that oil and save the country some foreign exchange payments.”

GB Power’s new rate structure, approved by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) as its regulator in 2022, allows for the utility’s annual revenues to increase by $3.5..

The new rates include a regulatory ROE (return on equity) of 12.84 per cent,” Emera’s annual results said.

“GB Power is regulated by the GBPA. Rates are set to recover prudently incurred

“Effective November 1, 2022, GB Power’s fuel pass through charge was increased due to an increase in global oil prices impacting the unhedged fuel cost. In 2023, the fuel pass through charge will be adjusted monthly, in-line with actual fuel costs.

“With $338m of assets and approximately 19,000 customers, GB Power owns 98 Mega Watts (MW) of oil-fired generation, approximately 90 kilometres of transmission facilities and 670 kilometres of distribution facilities. GB Power’s approved regulatory return on rate base for 2023 is 8.32 per cent (2022 –8.23 per cent).”

GRAND BAHAMA POWER COMPANY

ACCURAD IMAGING CONSULTANTS SEEKING

Eggs ‘another cash cow Gov’t can milk’

Minister directly afterwards and said: ‘Why are you doing it this like this?’ He said: ‘What do you mean?’

I said: ‘Why not set it up to assist the existing farmers and let them do what they do?’

“He said: ‘We’re going to do that.’ I said: ‘In which way?’ He said: ‘We’re going to buy the eggs back from the farmers and sell the eggs.’ I said: ‘You mean the farmers will be working for the Government.’ He said: ‘No, no. The farmers will have their own entity, but they are going to need to pay the Government back for the facilities it provides, and after that they can do whatever it is, but not before they sell the eggs to the Government and the Government sells the eggs’.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Ms Shepherd argued. “Why is the Government getting into egg production when we already have existing farmers producing eggs? It’s a matter of expanding their farms, and the Government putting in place policies to assist them. It’s a cash cow that the Government now sees it can milk.”

Based on Mr Sweeting’s description, the sale of eggs to the Government’s SPV by the farmers will help to repay the former’s initial investment in setting up the Golden Yoke initiative while still allowing the farmers to make a profit. “Upon production, the contracted farmer will sell all the eggs to the special purpose vehicle who will deduct the costs of the inputs and pay the

profits to the farmer,” the minister explained. The SPV will then sell the eggs to food wholesalers and retailers for consumer distribution. Some may view this structure as overly complex, and wonder why the Government simply does not lease the grow houses to the farmers on commercial rental terms. It also appears to add another intermediary, and its extra layer of costs, into the food supply chain. However, others will likely argue that only the Government could provide the level of investment needed to stimulate domestic egg self-sufficiency given that no private sector investors have yet stepped forward to provide the capital required. And, as a result, it needs to recover and gain a return on its initial outlay.

Ms Shepherd, who said she told Mr Sweeting that she will “defend the farmers to the hilt”, queried why it seemed as if the Government - not the farmers - will hire the 90 persons it says are required to operate the grow houses. “The long and short of it is that they are putting facilities in place for the farmer to work for them,” she argued. “They’re going to hire people, which the farmers should be doing,

and going to want to run these things and produce eggs...

“It’ll be like they have now with the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), which is selling lettuce and undercutting the farmers on the price of lettuce, which is sad. Overall, the concept [of Golden Yoke] is a noble one, but it does not impact the farmers the way it should. It’s a way for the Government to add stars to their crown but that doesn’t mean the stars are going to shine at the end of the day. It’s not benefiting agriculture directly through the farmers.”

Fearing that the Government will follow BAMSI’s lettuce example by undercutting established egg farmers with its Golden Yoke production, Ms Shepherd said: “It’s not the Government’s livelihood; it’s the farmers’ livelihood that the Government is getting into. The purpose of government is to put the policies in place, not getting into egg production or farming directly.

“I’m not knocking the project. It’s a fantastic project, but the avenue they are using for this is not the right avenue. It’s not the

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SHEZELLE ELIZABETH KNOWLES of Gum Tree Street, Pinewood Gardens, 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 22nd day of February, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOVA BAY COMPANY LIMITED

right direction they should be going in for agriculture or the farmers. The farmers are the persons in agriculture. They have the passion, they have the desire. They will be there through sunshine and rain. They have the stickability and wherewithal to make sure their chickens lay eggs.”

Ms Shepherd added that the Golden Yoke project may entice some farmers to abandon their existing fields, as she warned against contracting with “fly by night persons” with no agriculture experience to operate and manage the grow houses.

Daphne DeGregory Miaoulis, Abaco’s Chamber of Commerce president, also warned the Government against creating a situation where it competes directly against existing egg producers.

“I appreciate and I commend the Government for putting focus on growing agricultural opportunities. Ultimately, we can’t consider ourselves as an independent country if we can’t feed ourselves. We need to be able to feed ourselves first and foremost. So anything to encourage that, yes,” she said.

“But definitely government doesn’t need to be in competition. We just need to create the opportunities for local Bahamian owned-farms and farmers to maximise their economic potential. This special vehicle, which sounds sort of sketchy, does the Government own this 100 percent? Are aspects of this foreignowned? Who’s going to monitor and maintain the health of these farms?

“We had chicken farms in the past and they shut them all down. Why didn’t it work in the past? What are they doing to ensure that we don’t have the same failures that caused the farms to close in the first place? Are they going to directly compete with the local small

poultry farmers? Or are they going to also want to promote and sell their products as well? The first thought is that they are going to create a situation that wipes out the small guy,” Mrs DeGregory Miaoulis said.

“In agriculture, the actual grower is the one that will generate the least amount of income from the finished product. The wholesaler and the retailer will generally generate two to three times what the grower generates, although the grower takes all the risk, has all the labour and bears all the costs of production.”

Suggesting a slightly different approach, the Abaco Chamber president added: “They should create possibilities for private-owned enterprises and give them the encouragement to work with individual farms and be able to provide marketing and support if we’re growing a crop adequately to meet the demands of the marketplace.

“They should pull farmers together and provide a packing house that’s functional on each island, and provide proper transport that is affordable to get the product to market. If you took a poll, you’ll find that most Bahamians involved in agriculture are seniors. We need new and innovative farming methods and opportunities to attract young people.

“Farming doesn’t have to be dirty. It’s not about digging holes and getting dirt under your fingernails any more. There are modern, mechanised methods of farming that would attract young people. If not, we’re going have a gap where when the seniors can’t farm any more and we won’t have people who are willing to farm.”

The Golden Yolk project is expected to increase local egg production from about 700,000 to 28 million per year, construct 38 grow houses on 12 Family Islands, inject $2.3m into the economy annually and propel the country towards food security.

Legal Notice

NOTICE

PIRI INTERNATIONAL LTD.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

Environmental, Health and Safety Officer

Location: Ocean Cay, The Bahamas

Department: Environmental Operations & Compliance

Reports to: Vice President Environmnetal Operations & Compliance

Job Purpose

The Environmental, Health and Safety Officer oversees the implementation and continued appropriateness of the environmental, health, safety and social management system (EHSS MS) for Ocean Cay Marine Reserve (OCMR); ensuring the training of personnel on the island to enable required procedures and practices to be followed. The role requires regular monitoring and auditing of the entire facility, data collection and regular reporting to senior management on the island and to the head office. The EHS Officer must identify appropriate actions and measures to ensure continual improvement of environmental, health, safety, and social performance, aligned with the sustainability strategy and goals of MSC Cruises. Through regular communications with the relevant Senior Management, the EHS Officer is responsible for establishing goals and tracking progress in meeting these requirements. The EHS Officer is also responsible for the planning of regular meetings of the OCMR Sustainability Committee.

The EHS Officer operationally reports to the General Manager OCMR, and liaise with the MSC CM Environmental Operations & Compliance Department, MSC CM Fleet Sanitation Department, MSC CM Marine Operations Department, MSC CM Energy Efficiency Department, MSC Cruises (USA), MSC Cruises Sustainability Department (Geneva).

Key Responsibilities

Ensure the ongoing implementation of the EHSS MS and its continued effectiveness, which includes providing appropriate management support to the island operational team.

• Promote company sustainability, related policies & commitments to OCMR personnel. Ensure all positions receive job-specific training relative to the requirements of the EHSS MS and the Responsibility Assignment (RACI) Matrix, with the consolidation and retention of all training records.

• Maintain all EHS and ISO 14001 documents, Environmental Permits, Consents and Approvals, and ensure their accuracy in accordance with legislative and Company’s requirements and their availability for Authorities and Company Representatives.

Oversee OCMR compliance with the governmental obligations including requirements of the current Environmental Impact Assessment, the environmental and social management plans; and in view of future modifications or expansions, advising management where necessary Verify, through periodical inspections/checks, full implementation and compliance with EHS company procedures and any other applicable local, national, or regulatory requirements.

• Ensure that procedures for management of waste, including collection, segregation, storage and lawful disposals are properly implemented, understood and correctly followed by all employees. Provide professional assistance and training to employees involved in public health matters

• Train all employees and contractors in all phases and aspects related to the safety and chemical safety protocols of the island.

• Investigate any safety and occupational health accident or near miss that occurs on the island in order to find new measures to prevent future accidents.

a) Qualifications/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental management, health and safety or equivalent degree Advanced public health, safety and environmental training.

• Thorough knowledge of relevant public health and sanitation, safety, and environmental regulations and procedures

• At least 3 years’ experience in working and implementing environmental and/or health and safety management systems, such as those compliant with ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001/ISO 45001 Working proficiency in English, both verbal and written. Knowledge of other core languages is an advantage

• Strong interpersonal skills to ensure harmonious workplace relations. Applicants can submit their resume to: hr@mscoceancay.com

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Nova Bay Company Limited has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 21st day of December 2022.

Baird One Limited Liquidator

(a) Piri International Ltd. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 28th day of February 2023.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Baird One Limited of Deltec House, Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-3229, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 1st day of March A.D. 2023

Baird One Limited Liquidator

KALIK MAKER OVERCOMES $15.8M COST HIKE WITH 67% PROFITS JUMP

COMMONWEALTH

Brewery overcame an inflation-driven $15.8m increase in total costs to yesterday unveil 66.7 percent yearover-year profit growth for 2022. The Kalik manufacturer, disclosing its unaudited results for the 12 months to end-December, said its cost base expansion was more than offset by the $18mplus growth in revenue that jumped from $116.789m in 2021 to $134.99m last year.

Aided by the 15.6 percent top-line increase, the vertically-integrated

brewer, distributor and retailer saw net profit grow by two-thirds from $8.204m to $13.68m year-over-year after its business was aided by the economic reflation that followed the end to COVID lockdowns and restrictions.

Acknowledging the difficult trading conditions, as it grapples with a variety of cost increases impacting its raw material and production expenses, Commonwealth Brewery said: “Overall, Commonwealth Brewery realised comprehensive income of $13.7m for the full-year of 2022, which displays the sustained growth versus the total comprehensive income of $9.4m in 2021.

“Management will continue to closely monitor its business strategies as we navigate the ongoing market volatility whilst building for the future.” Total expenses for the full-year hit $111.262m compared to $95.458m in 2021, making for a 16.6 percent year-over-year increase.

As for the 2022 fourth quarter, Commonwealth Brewery saw its profits near-double from $3.281m to $6.013m - an 83.3 percent rise. Revenues rose by $6.5m for the three months to end-December 2022, while total operating expenses rose by 18.7 percent from $26.917m to $31.951m.

“Commonwealth Brewery continued to experience strong growth in net revenue during the period ending December 2022 (+19 percent) when compared to the same period of 2021,” the BISX-listed brewer said. “Key drivers for the continued growth were post-pandemic recovery through easing of restrictions and a rebound of the tourism sector.

“These factors delivered strong growth in all channels, with hotels and on-trade growth ahead of

other channels. Revenue growth was delivered across most categories through [placing an emphasis on premium product] of the portfolio in primarily spirits, malts and beer.

“Operating expenses have increased to $111m for the period, which is primarily driven by increased production and logistics expenses, increased selling and marketing expenses, as well as increased payroll expenses. Certain of these increases were consistent with the result of

post-pandemic activities,” the BISX-listed brewer continued.

“Commonwealth Brewery will continue to implement cost mitigation and other measures to mitigate any profit margin dilution. In the fourth quarter, Commonwealth Brewery continues to show profitability with net profit of $6m in comparison to the net profit of $3.3m for the comparative period of 2021.”

CHARTERED INTSITUTE OF ARBITRATORS

Bahamian arbitrators meet with the acting chief justice

MEMBERS of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) Bahamas branch recently met with the acting chief justice, Bernard Turner. The meeting followed the 11th annual ‘ADR (alternative dispute resolution) and Investment summit: Caribbean, Latin America and other emerging markets’ conference.

Lim, chair for Singapore International Mediation Centre; John Bassie, global Ciarb president; Shellyn Ingraham, chair of Ciarb Bahamas branch; Dr Anthony Hamilton, treasurer/director

of the International and Western Hemisphere Arbitration, Adjudication and Mediation Centre (IWHAAM); Terry Miller, director of IWHAAM; and Damani Horton, third vicechair of Ciarb Bahamas branch

Back row: Dr Peter Maynard, president/director of IWHAAM; and Caryl Lashley, legislation chair of Ciarb Bahamas branch

Pictured at the courtesy call, front row, from left: Acting chief justice Turner; Nicolette Gardiner, executive committee member, Ciarb Bahamas branch; George

GOV’T LAUNCHES TWO-MONTH VACATION RENTAL REGISTRATION

THE GOVERNMENT is today launching a twomonth drive for all vacation rental owners to register their properties with the tax authorities by offering several financial incentives for them to do so.

The Department of Inland Revenue, in a statement detailing its long-awaited move, said the initiative was designed to ensure vacation rental properties pay their fair taxation share while also maintaining a high service standard for their guests.

Starting today, owners are being required to register their properties with it by April 30, 2023, via a newlylaunched online portal.

“There is a great need to regulate the short-term vacation rentals industry,” Shunda Strachan, the Department of Inland Revenue’s acting controller, said in a statement. “Currently thousands of short-term rentals within the country operate according to different standards.

“Many of these property owners are engaging in other forms of unregulated activities such as renting cars and boats without adhering to Bahamian laws.

We also have property managers overseeing properties without Business Licenses. These unregulated activities are circumventing tax

obligations and having a negative impact on the local tourism market.”

Many vacation rental owners would likely beg to differ about the “negative impact on the local tourism market.” To incentivise registration compliance, the Government is dangling a variety of financial benefits such as a total exemption from 2023 Business Licence fees. Registration is being billed as free, and the initiative is also offering “free” promotion and the possibility to access financing via agencies such as the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC).

Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, told Tribune Business in a recent interview that the online portal has the ability to “go back several years” to collect data on the revenue, room rates and bookings that Bahamian vacation rental properties have enjoyed.

“We have identified close to 7,000 properties which are engaged in vacation rentals. The vast majority are in New Providence, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera,” he said. “The portal itself is very impressive in terms of the amount of information. We can go back several years to see what has been the takeup so that we can estimate

revenue over the last two to five years.

“For some properties, we can go back to 2015. We can see what the room rates are over that time. We have a very nice tool which we think can help.” Mr Wilson said the revenue authorities were partnering with Avenu, a consultancy that works with state and local governments in the US and Canada to help them with tax administration, on the vacation rental initiative.

Ms Strachan, meanwhile, acknowledged the important role short-term vacation rentals play in increasing room inventory and expanding access to tourism ownership opportunities for Bahamians.

“We must strike a balance between regulation and fostering growth,” she added.

“Our immediate objective is to identify up to 10,000-plus short-term vacation rental properties throughout The Bahamas. This can be done through the simple act of registering, which will enable us to move forward with our plans to strengthen and promote the industry.”

Property owners are being encouraged to register via the vacation rental tab on the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) website inlandrevenue. finance.gov.bs to become

CRUISE PORT HAILS NEW 28,554 VISITOR RECORD

NASSAU Cruise Port (NCP) hailed its latest visitor record with some 28,554 passengers arriving at its facilities yesterday on board six ships.

“We are extremely pleased to report another record-setting passenger day here at Nassau Cruise Port,” said Michael Maura, its chief executive. “The expanded berths are certainly delivering on the sizeable investment that we have made in them, creating the additional capacity required to achieve this

extraordinary new record today.

“Incredibly, our record today does not include the crew count, which is an additional 10,302 people at Nassau Cruise Port. That’s thousands of visitors exploring downtown Nassau, learning about our island and culture through our restaurants, taxis and tours, and making wonderful memories of The Bahamas that will surely drive them to return.”

The six ships in port yesterday were Royal

Caribbean International’s Wonder of The Seas and Harmony of the Seas; Carnival Cruise Lines’ Mardi Gras; Celebrity Cruise Line’s Reflection and Beyond; and MSC Cruises’ Meraviglia

The Nassau Cruise Port will celebrate its $300m transformation with a May grand opening that features a weekend of private events together with local and international entertainment.

Head of Facilities and Maintenance

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an outstanding and ambitious team at Inspired who recently opened premium school on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas. The school has already proven to be incredibly successful and is now moving into its second year.

We are looking for an exceptional Head of Facilities and Maintenance, who brings outstanding experience, high standards and a solution focused approach. You will be able to demonstrate the ability to assist in the key decision making related to systems, their commissioning and critical infrastructure required for our new, state of the art school campus in Western New Providence. Working with the site delivery team, consultants and others, as Head of FM you will be central to ensuring a smooth transition of the project from live construction to practical completion and handover. Amongst other responsibilities you will: deliver monthly and annual strategic reporting and planning; produce a multi-year campus maintenance plan; coordinate all maintenance related works to the campus and its facilities; support the site team throughout the current construction process, whilst always ensuring regulatory compliance and adherence to global best practice.

King’s College School offers the highest quality modern facilities in a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility on an expansive 10-acre campus, ensuring that students benefit from a learning environment that has been designed for how students learn in the modern day.

Facilities include football pitches, tennis and padel courts, as well as dance, drama, and art studios. There will also be state-of-the-art science labs, a multi-purpose hall, a 25m swimming pool, an adventure park playground, and plenty of green spaces and shaded areas for students to enjoy.

When joining King’s College School, The Bahamas, you will join the family of the award-winning Inspired Education Group, the leading global group of premium schools, with over 80 schools operating in 23 countries. We offer a competitive salary and benefits and access to best practice and career pathways with some of the very best schools worldwide.

To apply please send a CV and letter of motivation to admin@kingscollegeschool.bs

officially recognised by the Government. Registrants will be required to provide their name, detailed location of the property, real property tax assessment number, and other relevant details when registering on the portal.

Once registration is approved, vacation rental owners will then be eligible for various sources of funding for medium-sized enterprises through entities such as the SBDC, Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund and Tourism Development Corporation.

The Government is also exploring ways of highlighting registrants within the domestic and international tourism markets as official short term vacation rental providers.

Mrs. Strachan said: “We are asking the public to assist us in regulating this industry by complying willingly. Ultimately, as a result of these efforts, we will have more uniform standards, more consistent vacation rental experiences, expanded opportunities for property owners, increased government revenues from previously uncaptured sources, and an improved tourism product.

“If you are a property owner, it is in your best interests to register your vacation rental properties

as soon as possible.” Members of the public seeking more information on the registration of their properties can contact the Department of Inland Revenue at (242) 225-7280.

The Government had initially been seeking to launch its registration drive in time for last May’s Budget. Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, and also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said then that the Davis administration will investigate the renting of boats and vehicles to guests by vacation home owners who lack the necessary licences and permits to do so.

Suggesting that such practices were especially prevalent in the Family Islands, he added that the Government was also moving to levy VAT on the full value of the vacation rental rate rather than just the commission paid to sites such as Airbnb and VRBO.

“I foreshadowed that the Government would look to tax in a meaningful way vacation rentals. There is already a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbnb, and at the moment we are collecting VAT on the fee that vacation homes would pay. We are seeking to make an amendment so that the VAT applies to the entire amount of vacation

rentals,” Mr Cooper said then.

However, the situation described by Mr Cooper was supposed to have been addressed by the Minnis administration in the original 2021-2022 Budget passed by the previous Parliament in June. It sought to extract an extra $31m annually from the vacation rental market by “levelling the playing field” as it related to taxation.

The VAT Act was changed to make clear to Airbnb and its competitors that taxes must be levied “on the full value of the rental”, rather than just the commission paid to their platforms. “We are amending the law to clarify that all vacation home marketplaces, such as Airbnb and VRBO, are required to pay VAT on rentals and commissions,” ex-prime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, said then.

The Bahamian resort industry has long argued that vacation rentals should be taxed so as to create a competitive ‘level playing field’ with itself and ensure the sector also contributes to the upkeep of critical infrastructure that itself and its guests rely upon.

NASSAU CRUISE PORT (NCP)

J S Johnson puts COVID ‘in dust’ via 15% profit rise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

J S Johnson shrugged off ongoing reinsurance capacity concerns to yesterday unveil a 15.1 percent profit increase for the 2022 that was aided by placing COVID-related restrictions “in the dust”.

Alister McKellar, the BISX-listed insurance agent and broker’s managing director, told shareholders the $10.408m net income performance for the 12 months to end-December 2022 also benefited from The Bahamas enjoying a third consecutive year that was almost hurricane-free (Tropical Storm Nicole excepted”.

He added that the agency and brokerage business received a further boost from a “one-time nonrecurring windfall”, which he did not identify, while its Insurance Company of The Bahamas (ICB) underwriter saw gains in the value of its investment portfolio

more than triple compared to 2021.

“Watching the Bahamian sun melt into the horizon on the last day of the last month of the calendar year always gives me pause,” Mr McKellar wrote. “So much happens in 12 months that it’s sometimes difficult to put everything into perspective. This year, however, one thing is perfectly clear: The country has finally left COVID, lockdowns, mask mandates and tests, and general paranoia, in the dust. Life goes on and Bahamians couldn’t be happier.”

He added that J S Johnson had also benefited from the wider Bahamian economy’s post-COVID revival, which has largely been driven by the tourism rebound as well as real estate and other foreign direct investment (FDI) projects and related construction activity.

“Our results for the period reflect this trend, with a more than 15 percent increase in net income

- from $9.03m to $10.4m - compared to the same period last year. A combination of another low claims experience and a general return to ‘businessas-usual’ in the country certainly played a role in the positive results,” Mr McKellar said.

“Under our agency arm, the increase in net revenue from contracts with customers was aided by a one-time, non-recurring windfall. This was a material factor spurring the increase in net income from $5.494m to $6.56m. Under our underwriting segment, the strong results were a direct result of our investment portfolio as Bahamian equities rebounded after the effects of the pandemic. The result being an unrealised gain of $813,832 as compared to $223,254 last year.”

ICB, the insurance underwriter through which J S Johnson places much of its property and casualty business, in common with its competitors is grappling with increased reinsurance

costs and reduced capacity in a “hardening” market as global players pull back from covering assets located in hurricane prone areas. “As I’ve mentioned in previous reports, we continue to struggle to find reinsurance capacity for our property division,” Mr McKellar said. “While we’ve largely maintained our book of existing business in this segment, I don’t expect the problem to ease any time soon. Our motor segment, on the other hand, enjoyed a nearly 5 percent increase in premium volume for the year, which is encouraging.”

Bahamian households and businesses were warned earlier this year that insurance premiums could increase “across the board” by 15-20 percent as underwriters pull back from covering waterfront and Family Island risks due to the reduced availability of reinsurance. The Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA),

in a statement, added that local underwriters such as Bahamas First, RoyalStar Assurance and Security & General have “seen a dramatic increase in their reinsurance costs of 20 percent to 30 percent for 2023” as reinsurers adjust to the multi-billion dollar losses inflicted by Hurricane Dorian and similar storms throughout Florida and the Caribbean in recent years.

Reinsurance price hikes have been driven by the greater risk associated with insuring Caribbean assets, and the desire of global reinsurers to recover multi-billion dollar losses, sustained from recent hurricanes that have struck The Bahamas, Florida and the wider Caribbean in recent years.

Some reinsurers have also decided to exit this region as a result, cutting the supply of reinsurance and further driving up prices. Bahamian property and casualty underwriters must acquire huge amounts of reinsurance annually because their relatively thin capital bases mean they cannot cover the multi-billion dollar assets at risk in this nation, thus making the local industry a price taker. Breaking down its performance by segment, J S Johnson revealed that its agency and brokerage business drove the majority of he net income increase with a 19.4 percent, or more than $1.6m, increase in that line. ICB’s profits were relatively flat, growing by just over $300,000 year-over-year.

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

Registrar General woe is ‘beyond our control’

• Online portal out for six months in title search blow

• AG: Gov’t ‘doing what we can’ to resolve ‘a horror’

• Pledges ‘new solution’ imminent amid frustration

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE ATTORNEY General yesterday conceded that longstanding problems with the Registrar General’s Department’s online portal “are beyond our control” as lawyers and realtors branded the situation “a horror”.

Ryan Pinder KC, in a messaged reply to Tribune Business, said he “understands the frustration” over woes that private sector executives say

Eggs ‘another cash cow Gov’t can milk’

By NEIL HARTNELL and FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporters

A BAHAMIAN agriculture entrepreneur yesterday voiced concern that the Government “sees another cash cow it can milk” to the detriment of existing producers with its $15m egg self-sufficiency project.

Caron Shepherd, the Bahamas Agro Entrepreneurs Group’s president, hailed the Golden Yoke initiative as “a fantastic project” in concept but told Tribune Business that the Davis administration was heading down “the wrong avenue” with its execution plan.

She reiterated her fears that the project, as structured, will result in the Government becoming directly involved in egg production and competing against existing Bahamian

have persisted for up to “six months” and increased both the time and cost associated with real estate transactions.

He pledged that the Government is “doing whatever we can to rectify” the issues caused by the Registrar General’s portal going offline since last summer, which has left attorneys, in particular, unable to conduct rapid and relatively inexpensive searches for title deeds and particular conveyancing documents.

“The issues related to the civil registry are being

• Entrepreneur 'not knocking' concept that's 'fantastic'

• But fears SPV structure going 'down wrong avenue'

• Concern it will undercut existing farmers on pricing

farmers with the end result that it may undercut them on price and drive such producers out of business.

Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, previously told this newspaper that the Golden Yoke initiative was not designed for the Government to take over domestic egg production. Instead, he argued that it would be a facilitator through providing the climate-smart grow houses for the egg-laying chickens, and would contract out the operation and

management of such facilities to farmers from the private sector.

However, he subsequently said the Government’s participation would be channelled - via the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC)through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) whose directors, governance terms and independence were not defined at the launch.

The SPV’s role will be to acquire all eggs produced by the farmers from the grow houses, and then sell the produce on to local

addressed

and should be online in a matter of weeks,” Mr Pinder told this newspaper.

“We are looking at a new civil registry platform much as in the same framework as we are going to launch on the commercial side.

“The issues with the current system are beyond our control and we are doing whatever we can to rectify in the shortterm pending a new solution. I understand the frustration and delays, but the issues are out of

SEE PAGE A19

GB Power ‘clawing way back’ in 25% profit rise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Power Company was yesterday said to be “clawing our way” back to targeted net income after producing a 25 percent profits increase to $10m for the 2022 full-year.

wholesalers, distributors and retailers.

Voicing concern over this structure, Ms Shepherd said: “Let me put it this way: The Government sees another cash cow that it can jump on the bandwagon and be able to milk. I spoke to the Prime

SEE PAGE A20

Labour on Blocks fairs generate 3,000 jobs

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government’s director of labour says the ‘Labour on the Blocks’ job fair series has resulted in employment for more than 3,000 Bahamian job seekers since last May.

Robert Farquharson, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Carmichael Road ‘Labour on the

Blocks 2.0’ event, urged prospective attendees to come properly dressed, bring government identity documents and be prepared to be interviewed by some of the 36 employers who will be present.

Asserting that there are “without a doubt” multiple employment opportunities and vacancies still to be filled, he told Tribune Business that some companies in attendance at Flamingo Gardens Park

will likely be seeking to hire new staff numbering in the triple digits.

“I cannot say the amount of jobs” that will be available,” Mr Farquharson said, “but so far we have confirmed 36 employers. There are a significant amount of employers who are seeking to hire employees. We know of one company saying they are looking for 50.

SEE PAGE A18

Gas station dealers mulling shut down

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

GAS station dealers are mulling a sector-wide shutdown this month amid growing concern about the ability of the industry’s fixed price controlledmargins business model to cope with a variety of cost increases.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Dealers Association’s (BPDA) vice-president, told Tribune Business yesterday that the industry has not received a government response to their calls

for margin increases and some members want to raise the pressure by staging a two-day shutdown protest in the near future.

“A shutdown of the industry is the last thing I want to do. I am against this. But what do I do when most of my members are irate at the lack of action and consideration from the Government on their concerns?” Mr Bastian asked.

“It’s been 15 months that we have been talking with the Government and we are beyond a stalemate. We have tried to meet with the minister of economic affairs, but he’s

unavailable along with the Prime Minister. We can’t get access to the Prime Minister and the only person we can see occasionally is Simon Wilson (financial secretary).”

Retailers have urged the Government to increase their margins by up to 50 percent to help compensate for higher oil prices. This would raise their margins by 27 cents per gallon of gasoline sold, taking them from 54 cents to around 81 cents.

However, Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, previously ruled out a margin increase - especially at this

time - for fear of adding to the burden for already hard-pressed consumers who are grappling with surging inflation and rising living costs.

Meanwhile, high franchise fees that the dealers have to pay to the three oil wholesaler suppliers, Esso (Sol Petroleum), Rubis and Shell (FOCOL Holdings), plus banking fees are other issues the sector wishes to address. Mr Bastian said: “We’ve also written the Government in December 2022 and no reply was received, and so we are beyond crisis

Dave McGregor, Caribbean chief operating officer for Emera, GB Power’s 100 percent owner, told Tribune Business that the electricity provider’s $2m increase upon the prior year’s $8m bottom line was still below shareholder expectations although energy load demand was slowly increasing as the island’s economy revived post-COVID and Hurricane Dorian.

Disclosing that the utility’s customer base at the 2022 year-end was just “a few hundred short” of August 2019’s pre-Dorian numbers, whereas the difference in prior years had been several thousand, he added that the company was “holding the line” on operating expenses ahead of imminently advancing its long-planned renewable energy roll-out.

Emera’s just-released financials also revealed that GB Power took a $54m one-off goodwill impairment charge in 2024, but this did not impact the

operational performance or bottom line. Attributing the move to the higher interest rate environment, as developed country central banks hiked capital (borrowing) costs to depress inflation, Mr McGregor explained: “It’s not a commentary on GB Power’s performance.” Explaining what is an accounting treatment or practice, he added that goodwill defines the amount paid by a company to acquire another firm that exceeds the value of the latter’s tangible assets at the time of purchase. “We regularly test goodwill balances on various investments to ensure the carrying value is supported,” Mr McGregor explained.

“For GB Power, this test considers the forecasted cash flow of the business and the ‘discount rate’. This discount rate is influenced by a variety of economic factors including business risk. While forecasted cash flows are improving at GB Power, the discount rate was negatively impacted by various factors resulting in a write-down of the goodwill balance. This is a standard accounting exercise and is not indicative of Emera’s long-term view of the value of GB Power.”

SEE PAGE A19

CARON SHEPHERD

DAPHNE DEGREGORY MIAOULIS

ROBERT FARQUHARSON

$5.76 $5.76 $5.46 $5.92