04262023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

DEAD ON BAIL

new buIldIng C anCelled as I t would be ‘a bad look’

EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said the Davis administration cancelled the new multi-million dollar Central Bank headquarters because building it would not look good following the COVID-19 pandemic — an explanation former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis called “flimsy”. Dr Minnis accused the Davis administration of wasting the $12m spent on the project.

The Central Bank appeared excited about

Fuel Reta IleRs opt ImIst IC but Halk I t Is says no CH ange to Come

EARYEL

BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

Two men murdered in separate incidents

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

TWO men on bail were killed moments apart in separate incidents in New Providence yesterday, bringing the murder total for the year to 43.

Around 2.30pm, one victim was

shot in the Minnie Street area while the second victim was killed in Flamingo Gardens.

The killings came a day after Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander revealed that up to April 23, serious crimes decreased by 28 percent compared to the same period in 2022, with murders declining by 16 per cent.

ShotSpotter technology alerted police to the incident in Minnie Street, off Wulff Road, where they found the body of a 23-year-old man lying in the street with multiple gunshot injuries to his upper body. The man was reportedly driving north on Wulff Road when a small white van pulled across the

path of his vehicle. A man got out of the van with a handgun and opened fire.

To evade the shooter, the victim got out of his vehicle and tried to run, but was pushed to the ground by the suspect and shot. The suspect fled in an unknown direction.

RCI dIsmIsses aC t I v Ists’ env IRonmental ConCeRns

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Royal Caribbean executive yesterday argued that fears guest density at its $110m project will “decimate” western Paradise Island “are not necessarily rooted in consistency”.

Jay Schneider, the cruise giant’s chief product and innovation officer, told Tribune Business that

environmental activists were complaining about the number of passengers the Royal Beach Club will

accommodate yet supporting the much higher per acre number that Bahamian entrepreneur, Toby Smith, is allegedly targeting for his neighbouring venture.

Responding to concerns that the Colonial Beach area will be unable to handle several thousand Royal Beach Club guests per day, he said: “We expect that if we take the annual participation throughout

THE Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association’s (BPRA) president expressed optimism yesterday about resolving long-standing issues affecting gas retailers even as Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis reiterated the government would not change fuel or tax margins to accommodate them.

Raymond Jones told The Tribune that retailers are waiting to hear from the government after meeting officials recently.

“Nothing has changed,” he said. “I mean, we’re optimistic, and we’ll wait to

Photos: Austin Fernander

It’s a boy!

ROAD TO 50 PROJECT TO EDUCATE GR ADE SIX STUDENTS AND PUBLIC ABOUT MANGROVES

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Independence Secretariat yesterday announced the launch of a national mangrove project to educate the public and protect local mangroves.

As a part of the 50th anniversary of the independence of The Bahamas celebrations, the Independence Secretariat is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Waterkeepers Bahamas to launch the National Mangrove Project. The project will engage grade six students throughout The Bahamas to achieve three important goals: promoting sustainability, creating climate change awareness and becoming environment ambassadors.

Leslia Miller Brice, the chairperson of the Independence Secretariat, said:

“This exciting project will give students throughout The Bahamas the opportunity to play an integral role in The Road to 50 celebrations.

These young Bahamians will have the unique opportunity to serve as ambassadors of their environment while increasing their sense of national pride.

“These students will take on the task of planting mangroves in critical areas throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. They will be selected from a cross-section of the country, including the family of islands, and they will have an opportunity to participate in the independence celebrations in a meaningful way.

“The students will plant mangroves in critical areas while learning about the

importance of their role in the ecosystem and the need to protect them.”

Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, said participants would better understand mangroves.

“The workshop will be led by mangrove ecology and conservation experts who will share their knowledge and experience through interactive lectures, case studies and hands-on experiences, so the time will be well worth it. Even though it’s on Zoom, it will definitely be interactive and something that you won’t want to miss,” she said at the event at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“Topics covered will include the importance of mangroves to coastal ecosystems and communities, threats techniques and best practices for mangrove restoration and conservation.”

PM PAYS T RIBUTE TO HA RRY BELAFONTE

AFTER the death of Harry Belafonte, aged 96, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has paid tribute to a man he called “a friend of The Bahamas”.

Mr Davis said: “I join the Bahamian people and millions around the world in mourning the passing of singer, actor, cultural icon and civil rights activist of world renown, Harry Belafonte.”

He added: “He was a friend of The Bahamas and was actively involved in our fight for social justice, equality, majority rule as well as educational development.

“It is well known that the movie Buck and the

Preacher, in which he starred alongside our very own Sir Sidney Poitier, premiered at the Shirley Street Theatre and the proceeds were used to assist in building the Jordan Prince William Baptist School. Mr Belafonte also participated in a fundraiser to assist in the development of Saint Augustine’s College.”

Mr Davis said that Mr Belafonte used “the medium of art and culture to globalise the uniquely Caribbean sound of calypso”, and added that he was “also remembered and widely revered for his social and political activism during the civil rights movement in the

United States and later, for the fight to bring an end to the practice of apartheid in South Africa and the release of imprisoned Nelson Mandela”.

Mr Davis sent his condolences to the Belafonte family and the entertainment community, and added of Mr Belafonte: “I thank him for his contributions to The Bahamas in the areas of social and political activism as well as educational development. Mr Belafonte would always be remembered as a friend of The Bahamas.”

SEE Harry Belafonte story PAGE TEN

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO, the Bahamian double Olympic gold medallist, and her husband Maicel have announced the birth of their first child, baby boy Maicel Uibo Jr, in an Instagram post. He was born on April 20.

RASHEMA INGRAHAM, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas joined with Independence Secretariat Leslia Miller Brice and Minister of Agriculture and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting.

Photo: Moise Amisial

Two dead on bail

residence.

The victim wore an ankle monitor device and is known to the police for several serious offences.

Moments after the first incident, ShotSpotter prompted police to visit the Flamingo Gardens community where they found the lifeless body of a 24-year-old man with multiple gunshot injuries to his upper body.

The man was found lying near a white Nissan Cube parked in front of a

He was reportedly a passenger in a white Japanese vehicle driven by his male friend.

Occupants of a silver coloured Japanese vehicle reportedly pulled up and opened fire on the men as they drove in the area of Bahamas Boulevard.

Initially, the driver and the victim evaded the assailants, but lost control of the car around Montgomery Avenue. The driver got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the victim behind.

The victim was known to the police and was being electronically monitored. Police said the driver is helping them with their investigation.

Asked if yesterday’s killings were connected or related to gangs, Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson could not confirm.

“That is still a question that we would be looking at. It’s still early in this investigation and the other investigation and I am unable to say that at this time, but that

TWO murders of two men on bail, which police have not confirmed are related, took place yesterday afternoon. One of the men was shot on Mini Street (photos on the left) and the other was shot on Montgomery Avenue off Carmichael Road (photos on the right). The FNM deputy leader yesterday called for an ‘comprehensive anti-crime plan’ to address the current spate of murders.

Photos: Austin Fernander

certainly would be an avenue we would be looking at,” he told reporters. Free National Movement deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, the FNM’s spokesman for national security matters, released a statement decrying the violence.

“As the streets of New Providence continue to be marked by bloodshed and littered with bullets there has now been 10 murders in 12 days in our nation, yet the government seems to have no sense of urgency and still no crime

plan,” he said.

“Bahamians from all walks of life continue to be angered by the state of crime and the fear of crime impacting their lives and Bahamian communities. This level of crime cannot be considered acceptable by any government or any Bahamian who cares about the Bahamian way of life. There must be action and the government must lead the way.

“The government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas must finally

respond with a sense of duty, leadership, and a determined sense of urgency. The Bahamian people need a comprehensive anti-crime plan outlining immediate strategies to address the current spate of murders and articulated long-term national security policies. The Bahamian people continue to express their outrage at the staggering frequency of these incidents of gun violence and are demanding action now.”

FIVE FAMILIES STILL RECEIVING GOVT ASSISTANCE A F TER M ARCH BIMINI BLAZE

But he went off the island and he will be off for the next two months. I don’t know if he went to the US, but I know he isn’t in The Bahamas.”

The residents whose homes were destroyed still struggle to adjust to their

reality. Ms Ferguson said many fire victims miss the comfort of their homes.

The fire highlighted the lack of functional firefighting equipment on Bimini.

Social Services Minister Obie Wilchcombe said he was startled to learn

that local government is responsible for maintaining firefighting equipment on Family Islands, not the police.

Asked for an update on the fire equipment, Ms Ferguson said the fire truck is back up but

officials are awaiting a needed battery.

“The battery is supposed to have been on the island last week,” she said. “But I think it will be on the island by this week. So it’s up, it will be up and running soon.”

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FIVE families still rely on housing assistance from the government after a fire blazed through the Porgy Bay settlement of Bimini last month.

The March 27 fire left 22 residents displaced. The fire destroyed some homes and caused smoke and water damage to the remaining structures.

Bimini Island administrator Desiree Ferguson said ten residents returned to their homes earlier this month after the government completed repairs to their structures.

“Their living condition is fine (now), so they are back in those facilities,” she said.

She said five households

consisting of two people each still receive government assistance.

“One (person) is saying that his granddaughter and his son lives with him, but it was only two, so that’s how the number got up to 22. They are now placed in other facilities like the Airbnb and they are getting assistance from Social Services for rental assistance,”

Ms Ferguson said.

She said the families getting assistance applied for six months of aid, allowing them to stay in buildings at the government’s expense.

She said: “I spoke to one, Stephen Smith, and he said that sometimes when he gets exhausted (he’ll say) let me go home to go sleep in my bed, but then he finds out that there’s no bed there for him to go.

A FIRE at Porgy Bay in Bimini in March left 22 residents displaced.

Coastline awareness campaign launched by Tourism at GB school

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A CAMPAIGN to keep coastlines clean has been reintroduced on Grand Bahama by the Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation (MOTIA).

The campaign was launched at Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Academy last week with a coastal awareness presentation to a group of 80 students in grades three to six.

A tourism official on Grand Bahama reported

that 80 percent of visitors come to The Bahamas for its beaches.

Aulenna Robinson, MOTIA executive for Sustainable Tourism, said they felt it was important to begin with the schools.

“This initiative is something that has been done in the past and we wanted to reintroduce it in our schools,” she explained. “We know that if we teach children from a young age about the threats to our coastlines, as they get older, they will be more mindful of protecting our environment.”

Ms Robinson said they

will visit other schools, including Sister Mary Patricia Junior High, Sunland Baptist Academy, The Beacon School, Freeport Gospel School, Tabernacle Baptist Academy, and West End Primary.

Sustainable tourism is an important niche at the MOTIA.

Nuvolari Chotoosingh, manager, MOTIA niche markets, reports that 80 percent of guests visit the Bahamas for its beaches.

“Our coastlines play an integral role in our tourism product, so, we want to ensure that we continue to take care and do our part

in keeping our beaches healthy and beautiful,” he said.

Ms Robinson said that from a tourism standpoint, once the environment is clean tourists will want to come back to the destination. She said the ministry is always pleased to bring awareness to schools and communities about sustainable tourism.

GOVT UNLIKELY TO RENEW EXTENDED PRICE CONTROL WHICH HAAS EXPIRED

EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter Ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration is unlikely to renew the order expanding the list of items added to the price control regime last year, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis suggested yesterday.

Prime Minister Philip Davis revealed a significant expansion of price-controlled items in October to fight soaring inflation, including 38 extra foods, medicines and other essentials.

Grocers complained about this, warning it would cut their profit margins.

The order expanding the list of price-controlled pharmaceutical products expired after three months and the order expanding the list of price-controlled grocery items expired on Monday.

“What that means are fewer items (are on the price control list),” Mr Halkitis said before a Cabinet meeting.

“When it was initially put in place, the intention of the government was to have a temporary relief for consumers in the face of the very high inflation. So we wanted to put in place a temporary measure to bring some relief to consumers.”

“Our reports are that, and I had a meeting with the price control department yesterday, that by and large, the retailers, notwithstanding some commentary in the public … have complied or they did comply.”

“So we believe given that inflation, particularly in the US, has moderated in

recent months, we expect to see some of that pass through to us.”

“Combine that with our increased enforcement capability, we should be able to better protect the consumer going forward.”

“So even though the expanded list has expired, we are in a better position to enforce the law as it is.”

Asked if the government plans to renew the price control measure, Mr Halkitis said: “Bear in mind at the time when the expanded lists were put in place, we stated to the public and to you know, organized retailers, grocery retailers, that it was a temporary measure.

“So you know, we don’t want to go back and just automatically extend something after we had given our

word that it was temporary, but we’ll continue to monitor the situation.

“Bottom line is we have to use the tools that we have to protect the consumer, and if it becomes necessary, you’ll have to consider at some time in the future.”

Mr Halkitis said expanding the list of price control items was valuable.

“We think it brought some relief, particularly when you look at the inflation as it was globally,” he said. “If you check, you see it (came) down a bit. That gave a bit of protection. If you didn’t see a drastic decrease, well, that is because of elevated prices around the world, but we think it was worth it.”

FUEL RETAILERS OPTIMISTIC BUT H ALKITIS SAYS NO CHANGE TO

from page one

hear from the government. That’s where we stand now. Nothing new has transpired so far.”

Retailers have repeatedly threatened drastic action as their profits decline, but have done nothing but talk.

Before a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Mr Halkitis said officials are still trying to “get something that everybody can live with”.

“No, the government will not reduce its margin,” he said. “The government makes its revenue from taxes and borrowing. You reduce the taxes, you have to find it from somewhere else.

You borrow the money, you end up paying it in taxes anyhow.”

“So the situation is this — it’s very complex. It’s not a simple situation as the government reducing its share, and, therefore, you know, you’re transferring it to somebody else.

The government has to get money from somewhere, plain and simple.”

Last month, Prime Minister Philip “Brave”

COME

Davis was asked about Mr Halkitis’ insistence that his administration won’t adjust margins.

“I think that was in response to what was said by the retailers at the time,” he said. “That option we’re now rethinking and reconsidering. That’s what I’ll say at this time.”

Mr Halkitis did not react to the prime minister’s comment yesterday.

“I’m not going to talk about what the prime minister said. The position of the government is we’re not considering an increase in margin that would lead to (an) increase in price at the pump — that has not changed,” he said.

“We don’t want to have something that would increase the price at the pump. That does not stop you from talking. So when the prime minister says we continue to talk — we continue to talk.”

“We had some formulations that possibly can lead to some relief without an increase, and so we continue to develop that. It’s a process. So you’ll know, we’ll keep you updated.”

CAPTION: Aulenna Robinson gives a presentation about Coastal Awareness to students at Mary Start of the Sea Catholic Academy.

MINISTER of State for Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis said as the expanded price control list expires, the government is not likely to extend it. Photo: Moise Amisial

New Central Bank building project cancelled as it would be ‘a bad look’

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the project, even hosting a highly publicised competition in 2018 to determine the building design. Prime Minister, Dr Minnis frequently highlighted the project as part of efforts to revitalise Nassau.

Mr Halkitis told reporters yesterday: “The government expressed, and this was many months ago, its opinion to the Central Bank that having just (come) out of COVID, still not fully recovered, that might not be a high priority at the time.”

“So the government expressed that, perhaps, let’s postpone that given that we’re just coming out of COVID. (There are) many other priorities for the government, and the optics of it might not be the best.”

Reacting yesterday, Dr Minnis told The Tribune: “You throwing away $12m that have been invested and the monies is not government. Central Bank had their own money. They had the money put aside for it. So that is a flimsy excuse.

“That is totally irresponsible and they would not have done that if that was their own personal money but that only demonstrates how they waste and have no respect for the Bahamian people’s money.

“A lot of efforts (have been wasted) because Central Bank was prepared to break ground and move forward. A lot of taxpayer money has

been wasted when the project was started initially under the Christie administration, of which Brave Davis and several ministers there were a part of the government, and we continued with the project because that was a part of the new downtown development. You had Central Bank; you had the US

Embassy; you had the new court complex. We had demolished the old Cabinet office in preparation to construct a new Cabinet office there and have more open space for Bahamians to enjoy.” In the House of Assembly on Monday, Dr Minnis discussed the matter as parliamentarians debated

amendments to the Central Bank Act.

“The Central Bank has the funds to construct a new headquarters. A national competition was held for a new modern and beautiful complex that would help to rejuvenate downtown,” he said.

“Parliament approved the transfer of Crown

Land to the Central Bank. Why was the decision made not to go ahead with this major project? Was this a Cabinet decision?

The cancellation of the new headquarters at that site is very disturbing and begs many questions that need to be answered.”

“As we noted in office, we were giving consideration

to using the old Central Bank complex as a potential temporary museum space for the enjoyment of the Bahamians and visitors. When you talk about wastage, do you know that the Central Bank project started under the Christie administration and continued under the Minnis administration?”

ag C a lls mp wHIte a ‘RookIe pa RlI amenta RI a n’ w ItH a ‘dIsmIssIve attItude’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY Gen -

eral Ryan Pinder gave St Anne’s MP Adrian White a scathing rebuke yesterday for opposing and criticising the Law Reform and Revision Act.

Mr White had argued in the House of Assembly that the Bill was neither groundbreaking nor much different from the existing law.

Responding in the Senate, Senator Pinder criticized Mr White’s “divisive and dismissive attitude” towards the legislation, calling him a “rookie parliamentarian”.

“I want to take a couple of minutes to admonish that White man in the other place,” Mr Pinder said yesterday.

“That would be the member for St Anne’s for his divisive attitude and dismissive attitude towards his legislative responsibilities in relation to this Bill. His ignorance can be blamed on being a rookie parliamentarian, but as a legal practitioner, he should be ashamed of the posture he had in that place.”

Senator Darren Henfield called Mr Pinder’s comments disparaging.

“The rules of this place clearly prohibit disparaging words spoken about any member of any parliament in the Commonwealth of The

Bahamas, be it this place or the other,” Mr Henfield said.

“He called the fellow very disparagingly even though he’s a white man … and then he goes on with some more derogatory commentary concerning the member of parliament for St Anne’s. My point of order is that this member who is the Attorney General of the Bahamas who ought to know better should not be speaking

disparagingly about his colleagues in either house of Parliament.”

Mr Pinder said the Law Reform and Revision Commission worked hard on the bill.

“They believe that it is an important piece of legislation for the modernisation of their department, a department, if God help us, he ever becomes the attorney general he would have the portfolio of responsibility,” he said.

TEEN GRAN T ED $3,000 BAIL ON HOUSEBREAKING ACCUSA T ION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 15-year-old youth was granted $3,000 bail after being accused of breaking into a woman’s home last week. The teenager, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux to face a charge of housebreaking. On April 22, the accused allegedly broke into the residence of Cassandra Taylor in Kool Air Subdivisions. After pleading not guilty to the charge

and being granted bail, he was ordered to obey a 4pm to 8am curfew from Monday to Friday and is expected to remain indoors on weekends.

$3,000 bail after being accused of stealing a purse containing $1,440 in cash earlier this month. Janice Davis, 37, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain on a charge of stealing. On April 18 in New Providence, Davis allegedly stole a black and grey purse containing $1,440 cash belonging to Sandra Ellis.

fined $1,000 after admitting to having 1lb and 2oz of marijuana. Atiba Franklyn, 41, was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with possessing dangerous drugs with intent to supply. On April 23 in New Providence, Franklyn was arrested after he was found with 1lb and 2oz of Indian Hemp. After pleading guilty to the offence and accepting the facts of the case, the accused was ordered to pay $1,000 or face three months in prison.

“Madame President, he owes the hardworking (members) of the commission an apology for what he had to say. I, for

one, am proud of all the attorneys and staff in the commission. It is not an easy job. Some may say it isn’t a glamorous job,

but they are some of the smartest, hardworking people I know.”

The Senate passed the bill yesterday evening.

ARTIST rendering of the winning design for what was supposed to be the future building for the Central Bank of The Bahamas

ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder called out St Anne’s MP Adrian White over his ‘divisive and dismissive attitude’ on the Law Reform and Revision Act.

The Tribune Limited

Tell us everything on bank HQ decision

THE explanations surrounding the withdrawal from plans for a new multi-million dollar Central Bank headquarters are less than convincing so far.

The bank development was supposed to be part of the overhaul of Downtown Nassau – bringing fresh investment to the area.

A design competition was launched, leading to the final design that was chosen.

It was hailed as an “iconic structure” and a “one-of-a-kind building” that would be central to the area’s revival.

And now? It is a crumpled up piece of paper in a garbage bin.

Some are making the best of it –Charles Klonaris said that Downtown had “turned the tide” without any need for the new headquarters. Others are raising concerns and wanting the full decision process to be explained.

Yesterday, Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said that going ahead might not look good. He said that coming out of COVID, “the optics of it might not be the best”.

That seems curious – that something described as an economic boost for the area would be dumped just because the government thought it might look bad. Was it going to support jobs? Bring investment? Revamp an area desperately in need of it? Then optics can take a back seat.

Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was equally unimpressed with the explanation yesterday, saying that the government was throwing away $12m that had already been spent on the project.

He called the decision to cancel because building the new bank headquarters might look bad “a flimsy excuse”.

He added that it was “totally irresponsible” and showed “how they waste and have no respect for the Bahamian people’s money”.

Dr Minnis said: “Parliament approved the transfer of Crown Land to the Central Bank. Why was the decision made not to go ahead with this major project? Was this a Cabinet decision? The cancellation of the new headquarters at that site is very disturbing and begs many questions that need to be answered.”

The optics of cancelling a project destined to revive the ailing fortunes of Downtown are far worse than the optics of proceeding with something because

we are still emerging from COVID.

So much so that many of the people we have spoken with on the subject seem perplexed at the decision to say the least – and raising suspicions at worst.

A full and clear explanation of how the decision was arrived at would allay some of those suspicions, we would hope – and isn’t that the least that the public deserves anyway?

There often seems to be a shroud of a lack of clarity around many of these decisions, when spelling it out would make clear to the public why such choices were made. Then the public may agree or not agree – but at least they can do so based on the information used to make the decision.

Instead, we peer at another failed effort to get a project completed in Downtown and wonder how we can be surprised that the area seems at times to be dying when every time we try to breathe life into it, the plan is abandoned.

What happens next is unclear – but one thing seems certain, that multi-million investment is not coming any time soon.

Manifesto

There was a curious statement from Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe on the issue of marital rape this week.

He said that he did not see any point in stating his opinion on marital rape as it is not on the legislative agenda. It was not in the Blueprint for Change manifesto from the PLP ahead of the election, so as far as he is concerned, if it is not in there and he did not campaign on it then it seems not to exist.

It will be interesting to see if he adopts the same attitude to other things that were not in the Blueprint for Change. There has been talk of a new prison –that’s not in the blueprint. How about marijuana legislation? The government position is not clear from the blueprint. Not every subject a government comes to address is dealt with in campaign blueprints – things change, certainly the PLP position on VAT was far from clear from the manifesto, for example.

But if this is Mr Munroe’s yardstick, let him be measured with it on other subjects as well.

US visa concern

EDITOR, The Tribune.

HERE is a matter of great concern. I am one of the Bahamians who falls in the category of Bahamians who need a US Visa B1/ B2 to visit the States, but felt I was wrongly treated in my reapplying for the visa, following numerous submitted applications through a JP Visa prepared my visa wasn’t approved, but each time was told I may re-apply at a later date and I always waited over the suggested waiting time six months before re-applying.

I visited the States in November 2019 without any incidents and showing the US Authorities that I would return to my country of origins the Bahamas after a short visit to the States (I spent four days) in Miami, upon my arrival

Te right to vote

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WOODES Rodgers arrived in Nassau in 1729 for his second tour of duty as Governor of the Bahamas. In his commission he was given specific instructions to establish a general assembly to pass laws as the need arose. He issued a proclamation on 25th August, 1729 calling for the election of freeholders in New Providence, Eleuthera, and Harbour Island.

The qualification for persons to vote and to be eligible for election to the assembly was based on property ownership since the establishment of the parliament. It remained so until 1959.

Only white British male freeholders who were twenty-one or older could qualify to run for the House. Additionally, those men had to be residing in the colony for at least three years and own property valued of at least two hundred and fifty pounds above debts and mortgages.

To qualify to vote you had to be a white British male at twenty-one years old who had resided in the Bahamas for at least twelve months and owned property above the value of or paid rentals above the value of two pounds eighty-five.

In 1807, the same year that the Slave Trade was abolished, the House passed the following legislation.

categories. Negro or Blacks were the offspring of parents of pure Negro ancestry. Mulatto was the offspring of a white person and a Negro. The term Mulatto is used interchangeably with men of colour or coloured.

Even though the free coloured men were thankful for the granting of this major civil rights, they were still not satisfied. The law had left in place the property qualifications and had even made those qualifications for people of colour even more draconian. It fixed the property qualifications for white people to vote at 50 pounds while it increased the property qualifications for men of colour to 200 pounds or 50 acres under cultivation or improvement.

In 1833 an Act to relieve His Majesty’s Free Coloured and Black subjects of the Bahama Islands from all Civil Disabilities was passed. The enactment of this piece of legislation finally extended the franchise to black men and put men of colour on equal footing as white men. In the elections which followed in 1834, three men of colour were elected: Stephen Dillet, John P Dean and Thomas Minns.

that is, it is also a political one, and I must say that we have a right to raise our voices when we consider our rights assailed as loving subjects of Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria.”

On February 28th, 1877

Mr William Enoch Johnson and eleven hundred others on behalf of the Friendly Societies petitioned the House as follows:

“Great changes have occurred of such a nature as to prevent many suitable persons from offering themselves as representatives of the people, and that the repealing of the Act, so far as the pecuniary qualification of members are concerned, is desirable and necessary if the masses of the people are fairly to be represented.”

The petition was rejected by the House which instead, increased the amounts of money it would take for people of colour to vote in or run for elections.

In the early and mid19th Century the struggle for civil and political rights were taken up by men such as R M Bailey, C C Sweeting, S C McPherson, Dr C R Walker, Kendal Isaacs, Cleveland Eneas, Maxwell Taylor and Milo B Butler.

home a week later I was called into the US Visa office and was told my visa was cancelled, so my passport was taken briefly and cancelled stamped across the visa, and I was told I had given the wrong answers to some question, but of which I thought wasn’t relevant anymore, so I re-applied again few times more, with the same results, my visa still not approved I feel it was some other personal matters that were held against me and the visa section was merely amassing more and more information about me which of some they already had in their computers from many years ago, and at the same time was working what I calls a legal scam on me intentionally, taking sums of money from me, knowing they were not yet

ready to approve my visa.

On one or two of my many interviews I overheard sarcastic remarks being made and referring to my personal and intimate life.

Also following one of the interviews I was made to walk out in the rain to the pre-interview waiting shade/shed by the security officers.

As it now stands, I am considering suing the US Visa section for them not approving my visa for their conduct and wrong treatment of myself, because it was appalling! Maybe I not being gay may also have something to do in the strange and suspicious matter. Thank you very much.

EZRA RAHMING Nassau, April, 2023.

“A Bill to rectify a mistake in the Act for regulating elections and qualifications of members of the Assembly.” The legislation which technically permitted free people of colour to vote, really did not expansively broaden the franchise. Firstly, the property qualifications remained in place and, secondly, in order for any free person of colour to take advantage of the legislation, they were required to petition the assembly. Petitions were heard on a case-by-case basis and petitioners were often held in suspicion and ridiculed by both black and white persons which made the process very daunting.

In 1830 an Act to Consolidate the several Acts for regulating elections and the qualification of members of the General Assembly was passed. The Act extended the franchise to free men of colour. There was indeed a real distinction in law between those who were considered coloured and those who were black.

Bahamian non-white persons were divided into five categories. For this letter I will mention only two

In the later part of the nineteenth century the Friendly Societies took up the fight for civil and political changes. Even though coloured men had been elected to the House since 1834, no black men had yet been elected.

The late Paul Adderley claimed that the first black man to be elected to the House of Assembly was his great-great uncle William Campbell Adderley who was elected in 1889. He was also the President of the Bahamas Friendly Society.

The Friendly Societies were very important institutions in the black and coloured communities. Their activities were formalised into the Friendly Societies Act of 1875. They were established to provide small life assurance benefits, sick and death benefits to members as well as small loans to the non-white diaspora.

But the friendly Societies also served another purpose. They served as political organisations as explained in the following speech by W C Campbell Adderley on Emancipation Day in 1888: “Gentlemen, this Society has always been considered throughout this Colony as being more than a common Burial Society,

Eventually the struggle was taken up and led by the PLP which had formed itself into a political party in 1953 and the Women’s’ Suffrage Movement. The contribution by this Movement will be detailed in a separate letter.

On July 13th, 1959 a new General Assembly Elections Act was passed which finally removed the property qualifications in order for men to vote. Of course, universal adult suffrage did not pass in the House until 1961.

The relentless push and struggle for progressive changes in the electoral system started with the agitation of free men of colour in the nineteenth century. It continued with the thrust for the implementation of the secret ballot in 1949. The reluctance and intransigence of the ruling elite to effect electoral reform was evident by the numerous times that the General Assembly Elections Act had to be amended. They insisted through their words and deeds that their right and entitlement to political power be protected at all cost. The reforms had to be extracted piecemeal and incrementally often at the urging of the Royal Governor and at the insistence of progressives.

MAURICE TYNES Nassau, April 25, 2023.

DOUBLE delight for twins Ethan and Evan finished first and third in the Excelsior Elementary School science fair - read more about the fair online at www.tribune242.com. Head boy Ethan Martin finished first in creating a potato battery, while senior perfect Evan Martin finished third in creating a magnetic coin tower.

WSC signs $3m industrial agreement with Bahamas Utility and Allied Workers Union

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A NEW $3m industrial agreement between the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) and the Bahamas Utility Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) will benefit 386 union members.

Officials said the agreement, which was signed yesterday, is a milestone for the union because its previous agreement expired on June 30, 2018.

They said the deal would increase allowances and allow for staff to receive four general increased increments over the period of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.

It is unclear what else is new in the agreement because officials did not provide copies to the press. In a statement yesterday, the BUSAWU said the Davis administration has proven “worker-friendly”.

“The signing of this

industrial agreement between the Water and Sewerage Corporation and the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union today is a milestone accomplishment, and it is indicative of what can be produced once cohesive social partners communicate with the use of social dialogue,” said Dwayne Woods, BUSAWU’s president.

Mr Woods mentioned that the agreements make provisions for additional workers who will benefit from special skills allowances and allowances for exposure to adverse physical conditions.

Yesterday, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears said negotiations for an industrial agreement involving the Water and Sewerage Management Union will conclude shortly. The latest agreement for that union expired on June 30, 2013.

Mr Sears said the new agreement would cover the 2022 to 2025 period.

GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

FRUSTRATION with the official Bahamas government website has led to a decline in its use, according to Wayne Watson, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

He announced yesterday that a six-month project would revamp the website to create a more helpful experience for users. His ministry and the Department of

TO BE REVAMPED AS PUBLIC FRUSTRATED WITH USER EXPERIENCE

Information and Communications Technology have partnered with Netclues Incorporated, a website design and development company, to rebuild the website.

It is unclear how much the project will cost.

“Users are frustrated, and in many instances dissatisfied with the website’s functionality and performance,” Mr Watson told reporters during a press conference.

“Many of the functionalities and features are either outdated or what we refer to in technology

as antiquated. Some standard features are no longer working. We have seen a decline in the use and access of the government’s website.

“The other day, I was trying to find all the permanent secretaries, and all the information wasn’t in there. We do have challenges with updated information and data. And last, but not least, we do have some security concerns on our existing government’s website.”

“The design does not easily support decentralisation of functions to

support ministries, departments and agencies. The current platform cannot accommodate new technologies, for instance, mobile computing and online payments.”

“The official website serves as a digital publicfacing for the government, which was designed from the inception to be a onestop shop with a single sign-on for all visitors.

“Simply put, the new technology platform will integrate with the government’s website and other government ministries, departments and agencies,

and will also filter into consideration the agency’s social media feeds.”

Mr Watson said a goal of the project is to appeal to young people by making features on the website more accessible on mobile devices.

“Our millennials, they’re not concerned about using tablets, they’re not concerned about using laptops,” he said. “They want to sit under the tree or they want to sit on the bed or they want to sit in front of their televisions and access the government

website using their mobile devices. The current website doesn’t accommodate that.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology handles the internal web content and creation of websites for different ministries, departments and agencies. There are currently 18,000 registered users on the government’s website. The site also hosts approximately 39 websites directly and 42 additional self-servicing independent government websites.

MINISTER of Works Alfred Sears (center) holds a copy of the $3m industrial agreement along with Dwayne Woods (right), president of the Bahamas Utility and Allied Workers union which was signed between the union and Water and Sewerage Corporation yesterday.

Photo: Austin Fernander

Long wait for investigation in MP allegation highlights our rape culture

APRIL is Sexual Assault

Awareness Month — a time to focus specifically on the pervasiveness of sexual violence and its impact on survivors and their communities, educate the public, and advocate for the introduction and/or expansion of prevention, intervention, and support programmes and services. The Bahamas continues to have a high rate of sexual violence and indications, through specific cases and patterns and the responses they receive, that rape culture continues to go unchallenged by people in positions of power.

Rape culture is the normalisation and trivialisation of sexual assault, which includes victim-blaming.

It is repugnant behaviour based on a set of beliefs that support aggression of and domination by men while dehumanising and devaluing women. Gender stereotypes result in and perpetuate sexual violence against women. This is evident in the comments made about survivors of sexual violence, from assumptions about their relationships and sexuality to accusations with false connections to their appearance and behaviour. It is not unusual for people reporting rape to be interrogated as though they committed a criminal act. As an example, last week, in the news report about the rape accusation against a current Member of Parliament, it was stated that the woman making the report was questioned by police for four hours.

Asked about the failure to charge, or even question, the Member of Parliament who has been accused of rape, the Commissioner of Police said: “It’s just that we want to take our time and do this investigation properly.” In the same week, sexual assault on a cruise ship followed by the arrest of the accused person was reported. Days ago, it was reported that a woman was raped by a man known to her in Cat Cay, and that man was arrested. In those cases, arrests were made, and in the latter, it was stated that the accused was “assisting” with investigations. It has yet to be explained how the reported rape by the Member of Parliament is different from the other incidents, aside from the involvement of a person with political power.

The Commissioner of Police said: “We don’t want to be pressured by media, how social media responds to our investigation. We will not do that. We will do our investigation and at some point get back to media and let them know where we’re at in our investigation.”

He went on to say: “In fact, we take time. We don’t want to rush it, like I said.”

We have heard from at least two people in positions of leadership talk

By Alicia Wallace

about not wanting to “rush” when, in fact, they were referencing long-delayed actions that need to be taken. It often becomes necessary for non-governmental organisations and members of the public to apply pressure to the government, to encourage it to move forward, and to demonstrate that we are paying attention and we expect action. In many cases, instead of acknowledging the very real circumstances we are highlighting, validating our concerns, and taking the responsibility it campaigned for, the government uses this tactic. It attempts to convince us that we are being unreasonable in our expectations and our demands that they be met. It tries to shift our attention from incompetence, corruption, and/or unwillingness to take appropriate actions. It wants us to believe that it needs more time to do what it is required. It would like us to believe that we are not only wrong, but foolish to expect swift action. We have to know better.

It was revealed, in recent days, that the Prime Minister instructed all Members of Parliament to remain silent on the accusation against a Member of Parliament. They have been muzzled, and they have agreed to it. This suggests that Members of Parliament see nothing wrong with one of their colleagues, accused of rape, being allowed to carry on as though everything is normal. While he is not being named, members of the public are convinced that they know who he is. How is it that other Members of Parliament are content to be silent, and to abide the leadership of a Prime Minister who is deliberate in his silence? Who are these people? Can we really expect them to value the lives of women and girls, and to demonstrate interest in or commitment to the protection and realisation of our human rights?

Asked about the report of rape by a Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister said: “I have no concern about that because the police know how to do their job.”

How could the leader of this country have no concern about a rape accusation against a Member of Parliament, and one within his own party? What does it mean that he has no concern? How is it that his confidence in police erases any other concerns?

The Prime Minister went on to say, “And someone said — I didn’t hear the tape — but someone said, that the person, the accuser is saying they don’t want to press any charges, so what the police is to do in those circumstances?” This is an irresponsible statement, in multiple ways. First, the survivor never said that she did not want to press charges. Second, no reference was even given for the statement which is, at best hearsay. It is an unsubstantiated claim, and the survivor has since made it clear that it is untrue. In the initial news report, it was stated that the survivor wanted the accused Member of Parliament to get help. This is not the same as not pressing charges. It is actually quite common for survivors who know the perpetrators to want them to be rehabilitated. This does not mean that perpetrators do not face consequences for their actions. There are many ways to think about, discuss, and create access to justice. Today, justice is approached in ways that are quite different from the punitive systems we have come to know and often depend on, even when in cases where it is insufficient and ineffective. It is clear that justice is different from one case to another, and we need to understand that survivor healing must be centred. Before we get to the stage where the court is involved, it is critical that survivors are able to report, are treated with respect, receive the resources and services they need, including housing, healthcare, childcare, and counselling, and have information on the way forward. Already, the system has failed the survivor in this case.

It is no surprise that, when questioned, people in positions of power make references to “due process”. Again, this is a form of deflection. The general public has never expressed that it has the expectation that laws or policies be flouted. The demand has been for the process to be unimpeded. The demand has been for immediate action that is not prevented, obstructed, or delayed by special favours or abuses of power. Due process is our expectation, and that it be applied to both parties. The survivor has a right to access justice. Because she was aware that this access was being denied or delayed, she went to the

DON’T GET RAPED!

media, making the public aware of the situation. Due process is not an excuse for justice being overdue.

In addition to the long wait for access to justice for the survivor, asinine statements are being made about the case. Irresponsible people in media are using the survivor’s story for entertainment purposes, intentionally giving platforms to people with predictably dangerous commentary. One show, known for its promotion of bombastic rhetoric, had two men as guests, recklessly talking about the case. One of the guests, a former Member of Parliament — who made a non-joke in Parliament about abusing a girlfriend — suggested that the survivor said she was not pressing charges (which was and is not the case). He exclaimed, “What is this foolishness all about?” as if it were a personal affront to him that a woman would dare to report a Member of Parliament for rape, much less choose whether or

not she would like to press charges. It is as though he is not even aware that police often discourage women from pressing charges, suggesting that they make up with abusive (ex-)partners. In fact, the guest said, “They probably ga make up[…] It happens all the time. Brudda,” he said to the other guest, “How often that happen to you?”

What does it mean that this former Member of Parliament said “it happens all the time”? It seemed that he was saying it is a frequent occurrence that a woman experiences abuse, then makes up with the perpetrator. He then seemed to suggest that this is an experience (abusive) men share.

The other man on the show said, “We are suffering from a nation of dysfunction.” He went on to say, “As for our women[…] there is a spirit of[…] wanting things[…] We all know that the men are providers by nature. We are expected to give to women when we want their interest, but men today seemingly are very angry, and the minute a woman wants more than a male can offer[…]” At this point, the man went down a misogynistic, anti-LGBTQI rabbit hole, never to return to finish the statement.

This is an example of rape culture. He said the nation is dysfunctional, then went on to connect that to a supposed desire that women have for things. Within the same argument, he said that men are providers. In one minute, he blamed women for wanting things and characterised men as genetically wired to provide things. The statement that he never managed to finish seemed to be going in the direction of suggesting that violence enters relationships when men are unable to give women the things they want. This is, at best, an oversimplification of relations between men and women in relationships. That aside, it highlights a prevailing issue with gender ideology people cling to in The Bahamas. It is not up to women to control the way men behave. Women are not at fault for men’s violence against them. It is also not women’s fault that men think they are supposed to, or that men are expected to, use money and goods to interest women. This is a dynamic that has been created and supported

by gender stereotypes and continued gender inequality.

As public discussion on the report of rape by a Member of Parliament continue, longstanding issues are coming to the fore. Gender stereotypes are prominently featured. Rape culture, and victim-blaming in particular, are on full display. The refusal of men to taking responsibility for their acts of violence continues. The Prime Minister, the Progressive Liberal Party, and the government have absolutely failed to respond appropriately to the rape allegations against a Progressive Liberal Party Member of Parliament. Whether or not they believe him to be guilty, they have a responsibility to communicate with the nation, to remove him from his position — a position of significant power — as the investigation takes place, to encourage his full cooperation with the police, to publicly support a thorough investigation and swift justice, and to condemn all acts of gender-based violence against women. These are all easy, necessary actions, and none have been taken. This cannot be forgotten. There is no remedy. There is no better evidence that this government administration is not concerned about gender-based violence and is not committed to gender equality. This is the truth.

To learn about gender inequality in The Bahamas and its connection to gender-based violence, watch Two-Faced: Gender Inequality in The Bahamas. Written, directed, and produced by Gina Rodgers Sealy, it is a documentary on gender-based violence and gender (in)equality in The Bahamas. It includes stories from survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and gender-based discrimination against women and trans people. The documentary, followed by a panel discussion and cocktail reception, will premiere at Fusion this evening at 7pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Hoffer Sports in Cable Beach, Sears & Co at 10 Market Street, and Kennedy Medical Center in the Galleria West Plaza on JFK.

‘Due process is our expectation, and that it be applied to both parties. The survivor has a right to access justice.’

TOKYO COMPANY: ‘HIGH PROBABILITY’ SPACECRAFT CRASHED ON MOON

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

A JAPANESE company’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon Wednesday, losing contact moments before touchdown and sending flight controllers scrambling to figure out what happened.

More than six hours after communication ceased, the Tokyo company ispace finally confirmed what everyone had suspected, saying there was “a high probability” that the lander had slammed into the moon.

It was a disappointing setback for ispace, which after a 4 1/2-month mission had been on the verge of doing what only three countries have done: successfully land a spacecraft on the moon.

Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace, held out hope even after contact was lost as the lander descended the final 33 feet (10 metres), travelling around 16 mph (25 kph.) Flight controllers peered at their screens in Tokyo as minutes went by with only silence from the moon.

A grim-faced team surrounded Hakamada as he announced, “We have to assume that we could not complete the landing on the lunar surface.”

Official word finally came in a statement: “It has been determined that there is a high probability that the lander eventually made a hard landing on the moon’s surface.”

If all had gone well, ispace would have been the first private business to

pull off a lunar landing. Hakamada vowed to try again, saying a second moonshot is already in the works for next year.

Only three governments have successfully touched down on the moon: Russia, the United States and China.

An Israeli nonprofit tried to land on the moon in 2019, but its spacecraft was destroyed on impact.

“If space is hard, landing is harder,” tweeted Laurie Leshin, director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “I know from personal experience how awful this feels.”

Leshin worked on NASA’s Mars

Polar lander that crashed on the red planet in 1999.

The 7-foot (2.3-metre) Japanese lander carried a mini lunar rover for the United Arab Emirates and a

toylike robot from Japan designed to roll around in the moon dust. There were also items from private customers on board.

Named Hakuto, Japanese for white rabbit, the spacecraft had targeted Atlas crater in the northeastern section of the moon’s near side, more than 50 miles (87 kilometres) across and just over 1 mile (2 kilometres) deep.

It took a long, roundabout route to the moon following its December liftoff, beaming back photos of Earth along the way. The lander entered lunar orbit on March 21.

Founded in 2010, ispace hopes to start turning a profit as a one-way taxi service to the moon for other businesses and organisations. The company has already raised $300

TECHTALK

GM, SAMSUNG PLAN

million to cover the first three missions, according to Hakamada.

“We will keep going, never quit lunar quest,” he said. For this test flight, the two main experiments were governmentsponsored: the UAE’s 22-pound (10-kilogramme) rover Rashid, named after Dubai’s royal family, and the Japanese Space Agency’s orange-sized sphere designed to transform into a wheeled robot on the moon. With a science satellite already around Mars and an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, the UAE was seeking to extend its presence to the moon.

The moon is suddenly hot again, with numerous countries and private companies clamouring to get on the lunar bandwagon. China has successfully landed three spacecraft on the moon since 2013, and U.S., China, India and South Korea have satellites currently circling the moon.

NASA’s first test flight in its new moonshot programme, Artemis, made it to the moon and back late last year, paving the way for four astronauts to follow by the end of next year and two others to actually land on the moon a year after that.

Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic Technology and Houston’s Intuitive Machines have lunar landers waiting in the wings, poised to launch later this year at NASA’s behest.

Hakuto and the Israeli spacecraft named Beresheet were finalists in the Google Lunar X Prize competition requiring a successful landing on the moon by 2018. The $20 million grand prize went unclaimed.

US INVESTS IN ALTERNATIVE SOLAR TECH, MORE SOLAR FOR RENTERS

By ISABELLA O’MALLEY and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press

THE BIDEN administration announced more than $80 million in funding last week in a push to produce more solar panels in the U.S., make solar energy available to more people, and pursue superior alternatives to the ubiquitous sparkly panels made with silicon.

The Department of Energy announced the investments on Thursday morning and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm planned to visit a community solar site in Washington in the afternoon. Community solar refers to a variety of arrangements where renters and people who don’t control their rooftops can still get their electricity from solar power. Two weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris announced what the administration said was the largest community solar effort ever in the United States.

Now it is set to spend $52 million on 19 solar projects across a dozen states, including $10 million from the infrastructure law, as well as $30 million on technologies that will help integrate solar electricity into the grid.

The DOE also selected 25 teams to participate in a $10 million competition designed to fast-track the efforts of solar developers working on community solar projects.

The Inflation Reduction Act already offers incentives to build large solar generation projects, such as renewable energy tax credits.

But Ali Zaidi, White House national climate advisor, said the new money focuses on

NEW EV BATTERY CELL FACTORY IN US

By TOM KRISHER AP Business Writer

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors and South Korea’s Samsung SDI plan to invest more than $3 billion in a new electric vehicle battery cell plant in the United States, the companies said Tuesday. They did not announce the intended location of the new factory, which is expected to begin operations in 2026, GM and Samsung SDI said in a statement. GM and Samsung SDI plan to jointly operate the factory, which is expected to make nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical cells. The companies said it was expected to create thousands of jobs.

The project is GM’s fourth joint venture battery cell factory. It has announced three others with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution. A 900worker factory near Warren, Ohio, is starting to build cells, while plants in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and Lansing, Michigan, are in the works.

The announcement coincides with a visit to the United States by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The two countries are marking the 70th anniversary of their alliance with a summit that was also feature announcements on new nuclear deterence efforts, cyber security and other areas of cooperation.

meeting the nation’s climate goals in a way that benefits more communities.

“It’s lifting up our workers and our communities. And that’s, I think, what really excites us about this work,” Zaidi said.

“It’s a chance not just to tackle the climate crisis, but to bring economic opportunity to every zip code of America.”

The investments will help people save on their electricity bills and make the electricity grid more reliable, secure, and resilient in the face of a changing climate, said Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the energy department’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

Jones-Albertus said she’s particularly excited about the support for community solar projects, since half of Americans don’t live in a situation where they can buy their own solar and put in on the roof.

Michael Jung,

executive

director of the ICF Climate Center agreed. “Community solar can help address equity concerns, as most current rooftop solar panels benefit owners of single-family homes,” he said.

In typical community solar projects, households can invest in or subscribe to part of a larger solar array offsite. “What we’re doing here is trying to unlock the community solar market,” Jones-Albertus said.

The U.S. has 5.3 gigawatts of installed community solar capacity currently, according to the latest estimates.

The goal is that by 2025, five million households will have access to it — about three times as many as today — saving $1 billion on their electricity bills, according to Jones-Albertus.

The new funding also highlights investment in a next generation of solar technologies, intended to wring more electricity out of the same

amount of solar panels. Currently only about 20% of the sun’s energy is converted to electricity in crystalline silicon solar cells, which is what most solar panels are made of. There has long been hope for higher efficiency, and the announcement puts some money towards developing two alternatives: perovskite and cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. Zaidi said this will allow the U.S. to be “the innovation engine that tackles the climate crisis.”

Joshua Rhodes, a scientist at the University of Texas at Austin said the investment in perovskites is good news. They can be produced more cheaply than silicon and are far more tolerant of defects, he said. They can also be built into textured and curved surfaces, which opens up more applications for their use than traditional rigid panels. Most silicon is produced in China and

Russia, Rhodes pointed out.

Cadmium telluride solar can be made quickly and at a low cost, but further research is needed to improve how efficient the material is at converting sunlight to electrons.

Cadmium is also toxic and people shouldn’t be exposed to it. Jones-Albertus said that in cadmium telluride solar technology, the compound is stable and encapsulated in glass and additional protective layers. The new funds will also help recycle solar panels and reuse rare earth elements and materials.

“One of the most important ways we can make sure CdTe remains in a safe compound form is ensuring that all solar panels made in the U.S. can be reused or recycled at the end of their life cycle,” Jones-Albertus explained. Recycling solar panels also reduces the waste from solar and can provide materials for new panels.

Eight of the projects in Thursday’s announcement focus on improving solar panel recycling, for a total of about $10 million.

Clean energy is a fit for every state in the country, the administration said. One solar project in Shungnak, Alaska was able to eliminate the need to keep making electricity by burning diesel fuel, a method sometimes used in remote communities that is not healthy for people and contributes to climate change.

“Alaska is not a place that folks often think of when they think about solar, but this energy can be an economic and affordable resource in all parts of the country,” said Jones-Albertus.

ALASKA AIRLINES NUDGES PASSENGERS TO MOBILE BOARDING PASSES

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer

Alaska Airlines is pushing passengers to load boarding passes on their smartphones by removing airport kiosks that can be used to print the passes.

The airline has removed kiosks at nine airports so far, including Portland International in Oregon.

It is telling customers to use Alaska’s app to download boarding passes or print them at home.

Alaska executives said Thursday that their goal is to reduce crowding at checkin areas and get passengers to security checkpoints faster. They discussed the issue Thursday during a call with Wall Street analysts to go over first-quarter financial results.

The Seattle-based airline lost $142 million, as it was weighed down by higher fuel and labour costs during what is traditionally its weakest quarter of the year. Alaska stuck to its forecast that it will earn between $5.50 and $7.50 per share for the full year.

Shares of Alaska Air Group Inc. ended Thursday down 9 cents at $43.56.

Getting rid of kiosks is not expected to affect Alaska’s financials one way or the other, although CEO Ben Minicucci said it will help the airline grow without adding more airport space.

EMPLOYEES of NY State Solar, a residential and commercial photovoltaic systems company, install an array of solar panels on a roof, in 2022, in the Long Island hamlet of Massapequa, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

A MODEL of the lander of HAKUTO-R private lunar exploration programme. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Harry Belafonte, civil rights and entertainment giant, dies at 96

NEW YORK Associated Press

HARRY Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96.

Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife Pamela by his side, said publicist Ken Sunshine.

With his glowing, handsome face and silky-husky voice, Belafonte was one of the first Black performers to gain a wide following on film and to sell a million records as a singer; many still know him for his signature hit “Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” and its call of “Day-O! Daaaaay-O.”

But he forged a greater legacy once he scaled back his performing career in the 1960s and lived out his hero Paul Robeson’s decree that artists are “gatekeepers of truth.”

Belafonte stands as the model and the epitome of the celebrity activist. Few kept up with his time and commitment and none his stature as a meeting point among Hollywood, Washington and the Civil Rights Movement.

Belafonte not only participated in protest marches and benefit concerts, but helped organize and raise support for them. He worked closely with his friend and generational peer the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., often intervening on his behalf with both politicians and fellow entertainers and helping him financially. He risked his life and livelihood and set high standards for younger Black celebrities, scolding Jay-Z and Beyoncé for failing to meet their “social responsibilities,” and mentoring Usher, Common, Danny Glover and many others. In Spike Lee’s 2018 film “BlacKkKlansman,” he was fittingly cast as an elder statesman schooling young activists about the country’s past.

Belafonte’s friend, civil rights leader Andrew Young, would note that Belafonte was the rare person to grow more radical with age. He was ever engaged and unyielding, willing to take on Southern segregationists, Northern liberals, the billionaire Koch brothers and the country’s first Black president, Barack Obama, whom Belafonte would remember asking to cut him “some slack.”

Belafonte responded, “What makes you think that’s not what I’ve been doing?”

Belafonte had been a major artist since the 1950s. He won a Tony Award in 1954 for his starring role in John Murray Anderson’s “Almanac” and five years later became the first Black performer to win an Emmy for the TV special “Tonight with Harry Belafonte.”

In 1954, he co-starred with Dorothy Dandridge in the Otto Premingerdirected musical “Carmen Jones,” a popular breakthrough for an all-Black cast. The 1957 movie “Island in the Sun” was

banned in several Southern cities, where theatre owners were threatened by the Ku Klux Klan because of the film’s interracial romance between Belafonte and Joan Fontaine. His “Calypso,” released in 1955, became the first officially certified millionselling album by a solo performer, and started a national infatuation with Caribbean rhythms (Belafonte was nicknamed, reluctantly, the “King of Calypso”). Admirers of Belafonte included a young Bob Dylan, who debuted on record in the early ‘60s by playing harmonica on Belafonte’s “Midnight Special.”

“Harry was the best balladeer in the land and everybody knew it,” Dylan later wrote. “Harry was that rare type of character that radiates greatness, and you hope that some of it rubs off on you.”

Belafonte befriended King in the spring of 1956 after the young civil rights leader called and asked for a meeting. They spoke for hours, and Belafonte would remember feeling King raised him to the “higher plane of social protest.” Then at the peak of his singing career, Belafonte was soon producing a benefit concert for the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, that helped make King a national figure. By the early 1960s, he had decided to make civil rights his priority.

“I was having almost daily talks with Martin,” Belafonte wrote in his memoir “My Song,” published in 2011. “I realized that the movement was more important than anything else.”

The Kennedys were among the first politicians to seek his opinions, which he willingly shared. John F. Kennedy, at a time when Black voters were as likely to support Republicans as they would Democrats, was so anxious for his support that during the 1960 election he visited Belafonte at his Manhattan home. Belafonte explained King’s importance and arranged for King and Kennedy to meet.

“I was quite taken by the fact that he (Kennedy) knew so little about the Black community,” Belafonte told NBC in 2013. “He knew the headlines of the day, but he wasn’t really anywhere nuanced or detailed on the depth of Black anguish or what our struggle’s really about.”

Belafonte would often criticize the Kennedys for their reluctance to challenge the Southern segregationists who were then a substantial part of the Democratic Party. He argued with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, the president’s brother, over the government’s failure to protect the “Freedom Riders” trying to integrate bus stations. He was among the Black activists at a widely publicized meeting with the attorney general, when playwright Lorraine Hansberry and others stunned Kennedy by questioning whether the country even deserved

Black allegiance.

“Bobby turned red at that. I had never seen him so shaken,” Belafonte later wrote.

In 1963, Belafonte was deeply involved with the historic March on Washington. He recruited his close friend Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman and other celebrities and persuaded the left-wing Marlon Brando to co-chair the Hollywood delegation with the more conservative Charlton Heston, a pairing designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience. In 1964, he and Poitier personally delivered tens of thousands of dollar to activists in Mississippi after three “Freedom Summer” volunteers were murdered — the two celebrities were chased by car at one point by members of the KKK. The following year, he brought in Tony Bennett, Joan Baez and other singers to perform for the marchers in Selma, Alabama.

When King was assassinated, in 1968, Belafonte helped pick out the suit he was buried in, sat next to his widow, Coretta, at the funeral, and continued to support his family, in part through an insurance policy he had taken out on King in his lifetime.

“Much of my political outlook was already in place when I encountered Dr. King,” Belafonte later wrote. “I was well on my way and utterly committed to the civil rights struggle. I came to him with expectations and he affirmed them.”

King’s death left Belafonte isolated from the civil rights community. He was turned off by the separatist beliefs of Stokely Carmichael and other “Black Power” activists and had little chemistry with King’s designated successor, the Rev. Ralph Abernathy. But the entertainer’s causes extended well beyond the US.

He helped introduce South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba to American audiences, the two winning a Grammy in 1964 for the concert record “An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba.” He coordinated Nelson Mandela’s first visit to the US since being released from prison in 1990. A few years earlier, he had initiated the all-star, million-selling “We Are the World” recording, the Grammy-winning charity song for famine relief in Africa.

Belafonte’s early life and career paralleled those of Poitier, who died in 2022. Both spent part of their childhoods in the Caribbean and ended up in New York. Both served in the military during World War II, acted in the American Negro Theatre and then broke into film. Poitier shared his belief in civil rights, but still dedicated much of his time to acting, a source of some tension between them. While Poitier had a sustained and historic run in the 1960s as a leading man and box office success, Belafonte grew tired of acting and turned down parts he regarded as “neutered.”

“Sidney radiated a truly

saintly dignity and calm. Not me,” Belafonte wrote in his memoir. “I didn’t want to tone down my sexuality, either. Sidney did that in every role he took.”

Belafonte was very much a human being. He acknowledged extra-marital affairs, negligence as a parent and a frightening temper, driven by lifelong insecurity. “Woe to the musician who missed his cue, or the agent who fouled up a booking,” he confided.

In his memoir, he chastised Poitier for a “radical breach” by backing out on a commitment to star as Mandela in a TV miniseries Belafonte had conceived, then agreeing to play Mandela for a rival production. He became so estranged from King’s widow and children that he was not asked to speak at her funeral. He later sued three of King’s children over control of some of the civil rights leader’s personal papers, and would allege that the family was preoccupied with “selling trinkets and memorabilia.” He made news years earlier when he compared Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state, to a slave “permitted to come into the house of the master” for his service in the George W. Bush administration. He was in Washington in January 2009 as Obama was inaugurated, officiating along with Baez and others at a gala called the Inaugural Peace Ball. But Belafonte would later criticize Obama for failing to live up to his promise and lacking “fundamental empathy with the dispossessed, be they white or Black.”

Belafonte did occasionally serve in government, as cultural adviser for the Peace Corps during the Kennedy administration and decades later as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. For his film and music career, he received the motion picture academy’s Jean Hersholt

Humanitarian Award, a National Medal of Arts, a Grammy for lifetime achievement and numerous other honorary prizes. He found special pleasure in winning a New York Film Critics Award in 1996 for his work as a gangster in Robert Altman’s “Kansas City.”

“I’m as proud of that film critics’ award as I am of all my gold records,” he wrote in his memoir. He was married three times, most recently to photographer Pamela Frank, and had four children. Three of them — Shari, David and Gina — became actors. He is also survived by two stepchildren and eight grandchildren.

Harry Belafonte was born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in 1927, in Harlem. His father was a seaman and cook with Dutch and Jamaican ancestry and his mother, part Scottish, worked as a domestic. Both parents were undocumented immigrants and Belafonte recalled living “an underground life, as criminals of a sort, on the run.” The household was violent: Belafonte sustained brutal beatings from his father, and he was sent to live for several years with relatives in Jamaica.

Belafonte was a poor reader — he was probably dyslexic, he later realized — and dropped out of high school, soon joining the Navy. While in the service, he read “Color and Democracy’’ by the Black scholar W.E.B. Du Bois and was deeply affected, calling it the start of his political education.

After the war, he found a job in New York as an assistant janitor for some apartment buildings. One tenant liked him enough to give him free tickets to a play at the American Negro Theatre, a community repertory for black performers. Belafonte was so impressed that he joined as a volunteer, then as an actor. Poitier was a peer, both of them “skinny,

brooding and vulnerable within our hard shells of self-protection,” Belafonte later wrote.

Belafonte met Brando, Walter Matthau and other future stars while taking acting classes at the New School for Social Research. Brando was an inspiration as an actor, and he and Belafonte became close, sometimes riding on Brando’s motorcycle or double dating or playing congas together at parties. Over the years, Belafonte’s political and artistic lives would lead to friendships with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Lester Young to Eleanor Roosevelt and Fidel Castro.

His early stage credits included “Days of Our Youth” and Sean O’Casey’s “Juno and the Peacock,” a play Belafonte remembered less because of his own performance than because of a backstage visitor, Robeson, the actor, singer and activist.

“What I remember more than anything Robeson said, was the love he radiated, and the profound responsibility he felt, as an actor, to use his platform as a bully pulpit,” Belafonte wrote in his memoir. His friendship with Robeson and support for left-wing causes eventually brought trouble from the government. FBI agents visited him at home and allegations of Communism nearly cost him an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Leftists suspected, and Belafonte emphatically denied, that he had named names of suspected Communists so he could perform on Sullivan’s show.

Mindful to the end that he grew up in poverty, Belafonte did not think of himself as an artist who became an activist, but an activist who happened to be an artist.

“When you grow up, son,” Belafonte remembered his mother telling him, “never go to bed at night knowing that there was something you could have done during the day to

HARRY BELAFONTE, newly appointed goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) speaks at a news conference at the UN in New York, March 4, 1987.

Photo: Richard Drew/AP

JAMES FOREMAN, executive secretary of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, left, Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., center, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and activist-singer Harry Belafonte appear during a press conference in Atlanta on April 30, 1965. Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home. He was 96.

Photo: Horace Cort/AP

Champions crowned in GSSSA volleyball

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

The Government Secondary Schools Sports Association

(GSSSA) championship round concluded on Monday at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

On the day, the juniors division wrapped up their championship series with the HO Nash Lions’ girls and DW Davis Royals’ boys taking home the championship hardware for their respective schools.

Meanwhile, the CR Walker Knights’ senior girls and C I Gibson Rattlers’ senior boys took care of business in their series en route to a GSSSA championship win.

The championship rounds were nothing short of competitive as three of the four series once again went to three sets.

In senior action, the Rattlers defeated the Doris

SEE PAGE 12

LIONS, ROYALS, KNIGHTS, RATTLERS WIN TITLES

BAHAMAS AQUATICS STANDS FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF JOANNA

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH Olympian and multiple Bahamian national record holder Joanna Evans being sidelined with a two-year ban for a drug violation that will run through February 12, 2024, Bahamas Aquatics has stepped forth and given her their full support in her quest to be vindicated.

“Bahamas Aquatics stands firmly in support of Joanna Evans and thanks her for her years of contribution to Bahamian swimming, her outstanding medal performances and the global respect she brought to our small country as a swimming powerhouse,” BA president Algernon Cargill said.

Delancy named volleyball player of the year in SIAC

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second consecutive year in a row, Bahamian rising star Ras Jesse Delancy has been named the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

The 6-foot, 6.5-inch sophomore outside hitter for the Tigers men’s volleyball team, featuring four other Bahamians at Benedict College, also claimed the SIAC All-Conference First Team award and was selected as the Offensive

Player of the Year. “This one wasn’t a surprise,” said the 23-year-old Delancy.

“Not to sound cocky, but as soon as I got the first one last year, the plan was to put in more work than I did last year and to improve on my performance. So getting it again wasn’t a surprise in my opinion.”

Delancy, who had a .659 hitting percentage, kills per set with an average of 8.14 and points per set with an average of 9.29, said he had no doubt that he would emerge as the top player in the league. “I think I played well,” said Delancy,

SEE PAGE 13

Noble Prep: Spring Classic basketball tourney returns

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Noble Preparatory Academy’s sixth edition of the Spring Classic Basketball tournament returns to the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium following a two-year hiatus.

After being derailed due to COVID-19, the tourney is set to feature lots of basketball action from 27 teams May 4-6.

The basketball showdown will not only showcase high-level competition from the varsity seniors and juniors, but also allows for educational opportunities all at one event.

Although it is supposed to be the eighth edition of the event, Geno Bullard, president of NPA, talked about the details of this year’s basketball tournament. “When we initially created the event we wanted it to be a mixture of good basketball and

athletics but also an informational session portion of it whereas students can learn how to obtain a college education,” Bullard said.

He added that not only will students have the opportunity to earn trophies and bring home the victory for their respective schools, but they will also have the chance to show off their skills in front of coaches and speak with advisors from Niagara College.

For the juniors, there will be possible scholarship opportunities for them to attend NPA if interested. The 27 teams will include some fan favourites such as the CV Bethel Stingrays, CI Gibson Rattlers, RM Bailey Pacers, and DW Davis Royals. The senior division will be 19 and under and the junior division will include competitors 15 and under. Despite the event being centred around basketball,

the senior students will have the opportunity to explore further educational opportunities for their post-high school academics.

Bullard talked about the exciting educational possibilities for senior students and their parents. “We have over 130 programmes at Niagara so they will be able to see the vast amount of options

they have available out there to study and this will be a part of the tournament,” he said.

The president noted that there will be brochures and a Niagara College booth for walk-ins and parents so that they can find out more information about the college for the seniors.

Additionally, the NPA will have a booth as well for potential junior attendees. With the tourney providing the perfect balance of sports and education, event organisers are urging not only the public to attend, but for more teams ro register for the spring classic.

Registration for all teams will close this week Thursday.

For persons interested in attending, entertainment will be provided by local artists and cheerleaders.

The event’s ticket cost is $5 and it will commence at 4pm on day one of the three-day tournament.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— When LeBron James got back to the Los Angeles locker room after Game 4, his fellow Lakers greeted him with a symphony of bleats.

They were simply saluting the G.O.A.T. in his own language to celebrate a performance that was anything but old — and a gritty win that put the Lakers on the brink of the second round.

James made the tying layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation before scoring four of his 22 points in overtime, and the Lakers surged to a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series with a 117-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

The 38-year-old James also grabbed a career playoff-high 20 rebounds for the first 20-20 game

“We fully understand the importance of clean sports and do not support cheating in any way. We are confident that Ms Evans did not willingly take a banned substance and note for record keeping that the substance found in her system was so miniscule that it could not and did not impact her performance in any way.“

“As she started, she bought a tropical cream from a pharmacy in Italy and through my discussions with an international physician, I am advised that this drug is commonly sold in tropical cream in Italy,” Cargill said.

“Ms Evans had never heard of the banned substance in the cream she bought and simply expected it to be a regular antibiotic cream and this has resulted in the situation we now face. We encourage Ms Evans to fully explore the appeals process available to her though the Court of Arbitration for Sports.”

On February 15, Evans was given the two-year ban on a test conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency representer in Austin, Texas, on December 3, 2021.

SEE PAGE 13

of his 20-year

GENO BULLARD, president of Noble Preparatory Academy.

(AP Photo/Jae C Hong)

GSSSA volleyball champions DW Davis Royals junior boys celebrate after winning the title at Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

ALCARAZ GOES FOR SPANISH DOUBLE, NO. 1 SPOT AT MADRID OPEN

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz gets another chance to defend a title at home in Spain, and move closer to regaining the No. 1 ranking.

After winning in Barcelona for a second year in a row last week, the 19-yearold Alcaraz stayed in Spain to try to repeat as Madrid Open champion and practically guarantee a return to the top of the rankings.

Daniil Medvedev will be his top challenger at the clay-court tournament after the withdrawals of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic because of injuries. Defending women’s champion Ons Jabeur also won’t play in Madrid this year because of an injury.

Collegiate tennis players take the spotlight in conference tourneys

OVER the weekend our collegiate tennis players took to the centre court, Sydney Clarke played in C-USA conference tournament and Peyton Anderson in the NSIC Tournament.

Shay’Tonya Missick, Jacobi Bain and Genesis Missick all played in the NAIA year end conference tournament.

Shay’Tonya Missick and the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) women’s tennis team earned the No. 3 seed in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women’s Tennis Championship.

Missick and the Golden Bulls faced Genesis Missick and her No. 6 seed Livingstone College Blue Bears on Friday. In the #1 spot, Missick matched up against her sister Genesis

Missick and led 6-3 when the Bulls clinched the win 4-0 in the quarterfinals. The match format consisted of three doubles followed by six singles (3-6 format).

In the semifinals, JCSU went 4-2 against Virginia State University (VSU). Playing in the #1 Singles spot, Shay’Tonya won 6-2, 6-2 against Ashleigh Charles.

In the #2 Doubles, Missick and partner Moyana won 7-5 over Pago and Burrows of VSU.

The JCSU Bulls advanced to the finals where they fell 0-4 to Shaw University. Shay’Tonya lost in singles 1-6, 2-6 to Dana Moreno and in doubles 3-6 with partner Moyana. Missick was awarded the MVP from her college for her great

performance during the 2022/2033 collegiate tennis season. She was instrumental playing in the #1 spot and leading her team to the CIAA finals ending as runner up.

Bahamian Kofi Bowe was also awarded the MVP for his spectacular performance for JCSU for the 2022/23 collegiate tennis season.

Sydney Clarke played hard despite her UAB Blazers not advancing in the conference tournament.

Peyton Anderson and the SMSU Mustangs also were not able to advance.

Peyton and the No. 7 seed Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) women’s tennis team had its season come to a close on Friday with a 4-0 loss to

No. 2 seed Minnesota State in the quarterfinals. For the 14th consecutive year, Jacobi Bain and the Xavier University of Louisiana men’s tennis is headed to NAIA nationals. They won the NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at XULA Tennis Center with a 4-3 win over the Saints.

Bain was instrumental this weekend playing in singles and rallying from dropping the first set for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Kyllian Savary from Our Lady of the Lake’s Saints. The team will play once again in the Nationals which is slated for May 16.

The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association congratulates Shay’Tonya Missick and Bowe on a great collegiate season

and earning MVP honours from their school and Shay’Tonya Missick on a championship runner-up placement.

Congratulations are extended to Jacobi on the unaffiliated conference win and booking your ticket to nationals.

This will be Bain’s second consecutive trip with the XULA men.

“We congratulate all the tennis players for a great season - Shay’Tonya Missick, Elana Mackey, Sydney Clarke, Kofi Bowe, Anthony Burrows, Peyton Anderson and Genesis Missick along with those whose seasons have not yet concluded, including Jacobi Bain, Abigail Simms (WHAC) and Donte Armbrister (CAA Conference),” the BLTA said.

The second-ranked Alcaraz is chasing Djokovic for the No. 1 spot after having traded the top ranking with him three times this season. If he wins the title in Madrid, Alcaraz would only need to play one match in Rome to be back at No. 1. The Spaniard can also get back to the top by playing at least one match in Madrid and winning in Rome.

Alcaraz had never successfully defended a title until winning the Barcelona Open this year, which gave him his third title of the season and ninth overall in his impressive young career. He was the first player to repeat as Barcelona champion since Nadal won there three times in a row from 2016-18.

“I’m a bit tired after Barcelona, but the focus is already on this tournament (in Madrid),” Alcaraz said. “I’ve gained a lot of experience since my win here last year. I’ve grown both as a player and as a person. I’m still the same person, but maybe a bit more mature.”

Johnson Mystic Marlins after three sets of volleyball play on Monday. The team came up short in set one, falling to the Mystic Marlins 19-25. However, the senior team regained their footing in set two, earning a 25-20 victory to even the sets. In the final set, the Rattlers wrapped things up 15-7 to close out the Mystic Marlins and claim the GSSSA senior boys volleyball championship. The championship series’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to James Delia who notched big plays all series for the victors.

The Knights bumped out the CV Bethel Stingrays in the only game of the day that went to two sets. The newly-crowned champs came into game two confident after a hard-fought win in game one last week Friday. The first-seeded team immediately picked up where they left off and nabbed set one 25-19. With the Stingrays reeling from set one, the Knights delivered the final blow to take down the third-seeded team 25-18 sealing their championship win.

The championship run was fuelled by brilliant game one and two

performances by the team’s power Vanessa Scott. The young athlete took home MVP honours to cap off a championship victory in her final year of high school.

Junior division

The sweeps continued throughout the junior division as the Royals closed out the Lions’ junior boys. The team came out determined and claimed a tightly-contested set

one win, 25-23. However, the Lions looked to keep their championship hopes alive after wrapping up the second set 25-10. Despite a big showing from the Lions in the second set, the Royals buckled down and took home set three 15-10 to be crowned the GSSSA junior boys volleyball champions. Dantae Davis was the team’s MVP of the series. The final series

of the GSSSA championships saw the junior girls of the Lions topple the SC McPherson Sharks. After going three sets in two consecutive games, the team had to work hard for their final win. The Sharks came out and upset the Lions in a competitive first set 25-22. In set two, the Lions evened the sets after winning by a difference of two, 25-23. The final set saw

both teams hungry for the win but only one could be victorious. The Lions swept the Sharks after finishing 15-13. The team’s MVP title belonged to Andria Nash.

Varel Davis, president of the GSSSA, was very impressed with the level of competition brought by both the junior and senior teams in the championship round. The president added that she wanted to

send congratulations to the champions and runners up and was excited that the season went well without any incidents after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was happy with the efforts of the coaches and students and will now look forward to GSSSA soccer action. The GSSSA soccer season begins today after a three-year hiatus.

GSSSA volleyball champions CI Gibson Rattlers’ senior boys celebrate after winning the title at Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium on Monday night.

BAHAMIAN collegiate tennis players can be seen at the different tournaments in the United States over the weekend.

CARLOS ALCARAZ, of Spain, poses with the trophy after winning the final Godo tennis tournament on Sunday.

(AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Nuggets eliminate Timberwolves 112-109

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had a triple-double and Jamal Murray scored 35 points as the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-109 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series last night.

Anthony Edwards, who led Minnesota with 29 points, hit the back iron on a 27-foot 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

Jokic overcame a slow offensive start to finish with 28 points, 17 rebounds and a dozen assists. He made just 8 of 29 shots, but scored eight points down the stretch to help the Nuggets fend off the pesky Timberwolves.

Michael Malone passed Doug Moe with his 25th playoff win as Nuggets head coach.

The top-seeded Nuggets will face the winner of the Los Angeles ClippersPhoenix Suns series in the second round. Those teams tipped off later last night with the Suns needing one more victory to end the Clippers’ season.

Denver advanced thanks to making 32 of 36 free throws.

Michael Porter Jr. was held without a basket until his dunk with 10:08 left in

the game. Jokic missed eight of his first 10 shots 48 hours after tying his career playoff high with 43 points in a Game 4 overtime loss at Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 points for the Wolves, Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 14 points.

The Nuggets got 14 points from Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown, who was in Edwards’ face on the game-tying attempt at the buzzer. Porter scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter, including a

Young’s long 3 lifts Hawks to 119-117 win over Celtics

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) — Trae Young had 38 points and drained a long go-ahead 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key with 2.8 seconds left to help the Atlanta Hawks cap a late comeback and beat the Boston Celtics 119-117 last night.

The victory trims Boston’s lead in the first-round playoff series to 3-2 and sends the teams back to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday.

John Collins added 22 points for Atlanta, who played without Dejounte Murray, who was suspended for one game for bumping official Gediminas Petraitis with his chest while walking off the court after the end of Game 4.

Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and Jayson Tatum added 19 for the Celtics, who were outscored 37-25 in the fourth quarter.

Derrick White put the Celtics in front 117-116 with 7.3 second remaining, setting up a final possession for the Hawks. The ball went to Young in the backcourt, who dribbled into the front court and knocked down a 29-footer over Brown. The Hawks hit 19 3-pointers in the game.

The Celtics bobbled their initial inbounds pass and had another chance with 0.5 seconds left, but Tatum’s fading 3-point try found only air as time expired.

Brown, who has been recovering from a lateseason facial fracture, went unmasked for most of the Celtics’ victory in Game 4, saying he found energy after taking it off during a 31-point scoring night. He wore it again for Game 5 and maintained the same intensity, leading all scorers with 23 first-half points and connecting on 10 of his first 13 shots.

Atlanta trailed by 13 before trying the game at 111 on a 3-pointer Young. Boston pushed the ball up the court and got the ball to Robert Williams, who dropped in a layup. He was fouled but missed his ensuing free throw.

The score was still 113111 when Young drove and was fouled by Al Horford. Tatum took issue with the call and was whistled for a technical foul. Young hit all three free throws to put the Hawks in front 114-113. Brown turned it over, then misfired on a driving layup. Atlanta’s next possession ended in a jump ball that was controlled by Boston. Williams scored on a layup to put the Celtics back in the lead with 25 seconds left.

Young was fouled again with 15.8 seconds remaining and connected on two more free throws. With Murray out, Young picked up the offensive slack and helped Atlanta keep pace early, scoring nine of Hawks’ first 13 points.

LEBRON GRABS CAREER PLAYOFF-HIGH 20 REBOUNDS FOR THE FIRST 20-20 GAME OF HIS 20-YEAR CAREER

FROM PAGE 11

great as I can be offensively, but more importantly on the defensive end,” James said.

“That was the mindset tonight. I was able to make a couple of plays. ... My teammates told me I had 20 and 20. It’s the first time I’ve done it in my career, so that’s pretty cool, I guess.”

James never responded with words after Dillon Brooks dismissed him as “old” following Game 2 last week, but his play continues to make the Grizzlies’ agitator look just as hubristic and foolish as he sounded.

It has also put the second-seeded Grizzlies on the precipice of first-round elimination.

Austin Reaves scored 23 points and Anthony Davis had five of his 12 in overtime for the seventhseeded Lakers, who won two straight home games to move one win shy of their first playoff series victory outside the Florida bubble since 2012.

DELANCY FROM PAGE 11

“He just took over down the stretch,” Davis said of James.

“Got us a bucket to get to overtime. ... All our guys, it was a good team effort. This team is not going to go away.”

Los Angeles surged back from a seven-point deficit with five minutes left in regulation with a rally that abruptly began when D’Angelo Russell hit three consecutive 3-pointers, and the Lakers never trailed in OT.

“I’m so proud of our guys, the way we fought,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “We found a way.” Game 5 is tonight in Memphis.

Desmond Bane scored 36 points and hit a tiebreaking layup with 6.7 seconds left in regulation for the Grizzlies, who will have to rally from a 3-1 series deficit and win a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history to advance.

Bane scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, but was held scoreless in overtime,

whose statistics not only led the division II SIAC, but the entire NCAA Division one programme as well. “I think I did exceptionally well in those departments.”

With his performance, Delancy helped the Tigers to finish the season with an 11-7 win-loss record for third place in the SIAC.

In the process, Benedict College improved on their performance from last year as well.

“It started off rough for us because we had a new setter and

EVANS FROM PAGE 11

The Grand Bahamian native’s test was positive for the banned substance Clostebol she indicated that she got in the medication in Naples, Italy.

Cargill said he did a brief google check of recent cases and discovered that there were lesser or really no punishments for more significant cases.

In Evans’ case, she claimed that she cut her finger on a “jagged, rusty balcony at the hotel” where she was staying and she got the antibiotic cream at a local pharmacy.

missing his only two shots.

“Obviously, LeBron gets to his right hand, which can’t happen at the end of

we were trying to figure out how we can incorporate him in our line-up,” Delancy said. “We had to figure it out quickly. It was a rapid adjustment to figure out what worked best for us.”

The Tigers also comprised of the Bahamian connection with Donovan Wilmott, Clint Forbes, Teran Walkin and Zion Beckford joining Delancy in their line-up.

“Clint was the pre-season libero of the year, but didn’t win the award or make the All-Conference second team, despite his great numbers and amazing play,” said Delancy, hinting that he felt his team-mate was overlooked by the selection committee.

Evans, the Bahamian national record holder in the women’s 200, 400 and 800 metres freestyle races, said she was given a tube of Trofodermin, which was similar to the antibiotic Neomycin.

She indicated that she was unaware that the cream contained Clostebol.

On her return to Austin on October 30, 2021, Evans said she fell on a concrete pavement and received a gash on her knee.

She used the same cream Trofodermin to treat her wound several times until the end of November, 2021.

“Ms Evans’ performance was in no way enhanced by any drug, and the global attention and

the game,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Some breakdowns for us. Very disappointing loss.”

“Donovan was more focused on graduating, but even with that, he still had a good season. Teran won Benedict’s most improved award, which was well-deserved. Zion also played a good season.”

As for his own improvement in such a short space of time playing the sport, Delancy said he expected a little more competition. Nonetheless, he said the competition provided enabled him to perform as well as he did.

“Everyone in the conference was really talented, so that made it tough in that aspect,” Delancy said.

Delancy has now entered the transfer portal and within the

Ja Morant scored 19 points with his injured right hand, but Davis blocked his jumper at the regulation buzzer. The Grizzlies then missed six of their first eight shots in overtime while committing two key turnovers.

Brooks had 11 points for Memphis after getting ejected from Game 3 for striking James in the groin. Brooks and Morant both declined to speak to reporters afterward.

James coolly scored the basket that forced overtime over heavy defensive pressure, and he hit a huge layup while getting fouled to put the Lakers up by five with 29.1 seconds to play in OT. James flexed and roared at the ecstatic Lakers crowd after that shot, celebrating one of the most exciting moments of his five-year Lakers tenure.

“I’ve been a part of moments where you know you get a dagger play or a killshot,” James said. “I felt like that play — it wasn’t going to close the door, but

next month or two, he should know exactly where he will be playing next year, although he has received a few offers, but prefers to keep them under wraps until the deal is done.

As he waits, Delancy said he hopes to continue to work on his game. “There’s always room for improvement to get better,” he stated.

“But I seriously want to work on my service game and jump serve. I am seeking bigger and better. But nothing is concrete yet. “I just want to play on a better team with a new coach in a better conference. I think I could perform at the next level.

should fully pursue the appeals process in order to clean her good name.”

there wasn’t much light at the end. I just let the emotion come out.”

Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves buried two free throws apiece to seal the Lakers’ 12th win in 15 games dating to the regular season.

The Lakers trailed for much of the second half, and Davis didn’t look sharp for much of Game 4 while struggling with an apparent hip injury that required a heating pad on the bench. But Davis blocked four shots, and the Lakers excelled whenever the big man was protecting the rim. Morant’s 45-point performance in Game 3 wasn’t enough to dig the Grizzlies out of an early 29-point hole in his first game back from an injury absence with his sore hand. He then reacted with obvious pain after he jammed the hand into the ground again during the third quarter of Game 4, but kept playing and even dunked on Rui Hachimura an instant before the quarter buzzer.

Hopefully, I can get into a better environment so that I can get that opportunity to further improve my skills.”

In the meantime, once he has completed his final exams for this semester, the sports management major will be returning home to train with the men’s national team as they prepare for the Caribbean Volleyball Championships and to display his skills before his family and friends at the Bahamas Games.

“My goal is to be the best I could be,” Delancy said. “In me being the best I can be, it will make me to be the best in the world.”

respect she has brought to our country has been only through her hard work, training and commitment to clean sports,” Cargill said. “Again, we stand firmly in support of her and believe that she

As a result of the two-year ban. the 25-year-old Evans has had her recent results from five International Swimming League (ISL) events and the 15th FINA Short Course Swimming Championships in 2021 nullified. In defence of Evans, Cargill is calling on the public to support her through their prayers and encouragement as she endures this most difficult period.

“Her life has turned upside down and it is only through God’s guidance and the support of her family and friends that she has made it thus far,” Cargill stated.

For persons wishing to assist Evans in her ordeal, Cargill said they can make their donation in care of Joanna Evans to the Bahamas Aquatics at info@bahamasaquatics.com or deposit at Royal Bank of Canada account transit 05745, account number 1034073, Bahamas Swimming Federation.

“We assure every donor that your pledges will be given to her at 100 percent,” he stated.

“She has to retain the very best attorneys in order to present the best case in order to clear her name and not bring any reputation damage to our sport, our federation, and our country,” Cargill added.

NUGGETS guard Jamal Murray drives past Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series last night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

JOANNA EVANS

LOS Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (6) and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate a basket by James in overtime in Game 4 of a firstround NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night in Los Angeles. Lakers lead the series 3-1. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Digital payments cofounder to join PM at UK receptions

third-party apps from fintech (financial technology)

firms. The Bank of England has announced it is presently looking at a case to introduce a digital pound sterling.

Mr Rees said: “It is an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to speak alongside our Prime Minister at this prestigious event, and to do my part as a humble citizen to promote investment in our beautiful country. In recent years, the development of our tech ecosystem in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean region has been stunning yet often

BISX chief: What about Bahamas Food Services?

FROM PAGE A24

overlooked by ourselves and international observers.

“Forums like this are an effective way of bringing together business and government leaders to explore investment opportunities and ways to improve our communities. In the Caribbean, too many people are unbanked or underbanked because the financial system can be unfair.

“At Kanoo, our motto is simply the ‘power to prosper,’ We’re hoping to put right the financial inequality facing the 45 million people in the Caribbean by sharing our technology and expertise on making finance faster, cheaper and more inclusive.”

NOTICE is hereby given that KERVANS DIEUDONNE, of East Street, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of April 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

brought the issue back into public focus.

The BISX chief, meanwhile, called for pension fund legislation, the relaxation of exchange controls, greater opportunities for Bahamians to invest in foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, and listings of all major issues on the exchange as critical to both broadening and deepening the capital markets.

“Bahamians need to save more for the future, as this is important to protect existing pension holders but also to ensure retirement savings for persons working now,” Mr Davies said of the need for mandatory pension legislation, while calling for a “continued policy commitment that foreign direct investment would include a sale of a portion of the investment to domestic investors”.

He added: “At BISX we firmly believe that Bahamian investors should have access to projects carried out in our country. In essence, if you make money in The Bahamas you must share it with the Bahamian

people.” Mr Davies also called for relaxation of exchange controls “to allow Bahamians living overseas easier access to the Bahamian markets.

“Allowing the Bahamian diaspora easier access into the country helps cement that link to our country but also increases the liquidity of the market,” he said. “Listing of those widely held offerings that aren’t currently listed such as the Nassau Cruise Port; listing on an exchange provides price discovery and transparency that other pricing options simply do not offer.”

Turning to the Bahamian capital markets’ performance in 2022, Mr Davies said BISX’s All-Share Index had enjoyed the largest point appreciation in the exchange’s 22-year history as its value increased by 416.82 points during the year. It also marked the fourth highest percentage appreciation ever for the All-Share Index, which increased by 18.7%

He added: “The Bahamian capital markets showed renewed activity post-COVID. Investors

showed interest in investments ranging from listed securities to other projects such as the Nassau Cruise Port project and mutual funds and Government bonds, both those listed on BISX and the US dollar bonds that the Central Bank waived exchange controls on to encourage Bahamians to purchase internationally.

“While BISX may be most concerned with those securities listed on our exchange, we care about the health of the entire capital markets. As a result, we have been pleased with the overall health of the market during 2022.” At year-end, BISX was home to some 71 investment fund listings, with those entities featuring $6.1bn in assets under management.

Of those, 19 were Bahamian-dollar denominated funds with collective assets under management worth more than $1bn. Mr Davies said this is the first time Bahamian-listed funds have crossed the $1bn assets under management mark.

“Seeing the growth of funds as an investment vehicle

STOCK MARKET TODAY: STOCKS TUMBLE ON PROFIT, ECONOMY WORRIES

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

WALL Street tumbled

Tuesday to its worst day in a month on worries about the strength of corporate profits and the economy following some mixed reports.

The S&P 500 fell 1.6% to break out of a weekslong lull. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 345 points, or 1%, while the Nasdaq composite sank 2%.

First Republic Bank had the biggest loss in the S&P 500 by far, and its stock nearly halved after it said

customers withdrew more than $100 billion during the first three months of the year. That doesn’t include $30 billion in deposits that big banks plugged in to build faith in their rival after the second- and thirdlargest U.S. bank failures in history shook confidence.

The size of the drop in deposits renewed worries about the U.S. banking system and the risk of an economy-sapping pullback in lending. That overshadowed First Republic’s beating analysts’ expectations for earnings, and its stock plunged 49.4%.

The majority of companies so far this reporting season have been topping expectations, but the bar was set considerably low. Analysts are forecasting the worst drop in S&P 500 earnings since the spring of 2020, when the pandemic froze the global economy. That’s why Wall Street is focused just as much, if not more, on what companies say about their future prospects as they do about their past three months. UPS fell 10% after it met profit forecasts but said it made less in revenue than expected. It also said its revenue for the full year will likely come at the low end of its prior forecast, citing a challenging economy and other factors.

used by Bahamians has been exciting,” he added.

“Funds are frequently a good first step into investing for new investors that allow them to benefit from professional money management and diversification. They also form an effective investing tool for persons in retirement or saving for their children’s education.

“The Bahamian market began its recovery from COVID in 2021 and this continued into 2022 as investors were eager to transact. I’ve also been thrilled with the new queries that we get from investors through our social media channels and via e-mail. Over the quarantine period it’s obvious that Bahamian investors spent time learning more about investing and are now applying their knowledge, and that has been gratifying to see.”

BISX saw its total value of listed securities breach the $10bn barrier in 2022. The market value of listed equities also crossed $6bn in value for the first time in the exchange’s history.

Danaher was another big weight on the market, falling 8.8% despite reporting better earnings and revenue than expected. Analysts pointed to its trimming back its forecast for a key revenue measure over the course of the year.

On the winning side, PepsiCo rose 2.3% after beating profit expectations. Homebuilder PulteGroup rose 1.7% after also topping forecasts. The heart of earnings reporting season is approaching, and more heavy hitters arrived after trading closed for the day. Microsoft and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, both rose in afterhours trading after reporting profits above expectations. Because they’re two of the biggest companies on Wall Street by market value, their stock movements carry extra weight on the S&P 500 and other market indexes.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that NAMRATHA GURVAIAH SRIDHARA, of Village Road Apartment 3, Brooklyn Road, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of April 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JHENNY SANON of #55 Sandilands Village, New Providence, 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 18th day of April, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SAINT SACY VALCIN, of Soldier Road, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of April 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Commission unveils DARE overhaul - no FTX mention

further consideration,” it told industry stakeholders.

“In April 2022, the Commission began consolidating its ongoing review of DARE for the purposes of addressing any legislative gaps, ambiguities and procedural concerns within the legislation.” The international law firm, Hogan Lovells, was hired to draft the new Bill, and the Securities Commission promised: “The DARE Bill 2023 will establish new regulatory frameworks to ensure the Bahamian legislative regime is current, proactive and compliant with international standards and best practices.

“The DARE Bill 2023 encompasses a comprehensive range of digital asset activities and establishes appropriate protection mechanisms for the registration and ongoing supervision of operators that align with prevailing international standards.

“The new DARE Bill represents an even greater focus on consumer and investor protection, robust risk management as well as market development and innovation. Furthermore, the DARE Bill 2023 explicitly addresses staking services in the context of international standards, making it among the first legislation of its kind.”

The Securities Commission described this as “a first-of-its-kind, dedicated disclosure regime that captures the activity of the staking of digital assets belonging to clients or the operation or management of a staking pool as a business.

“Under the DARE Bill 2023, authorised registrants must disclose certain information (where applicable), including a summary of the terms of the client agreement, details regarding the staking protocol, details of how the digital assets are staked (including how and for how long assets are locked up), details of rewards or interest to be earned, details of any penalties which may be imposed, and details of how staking participants are chosen to validate transactions,” it added.

When it came to the operation of digital exchanges, which will likely attract significant scrutiny following

the FTX implosion, the Securities Commission said:

“Operators of a digital asset exchange must ensure the systems and controls used in its activities are adequate and appropriate for the scale and nature of its business.

“A legal entity intending to establish and operate a digital asset exchange that also provides custody of digital assets or custodial wallet services on behalf of third parties must comply with all requirements under the DARE Bill 2023 applicable to digital asset businesses providing custody of digital assets or custodial wallet services.

“This includes exchanges that provide digital wallet services as an ancillary service to the exchange, which stores private cryptographic keys and enables users to send, receive and monitor their digital assets. Under the DARE Bill 2023 the Commission is empowered to prescribe additional rules for digital asset exchanges.”

The revised legislation is designed to capture a wider range of digital asset activities, including “derivative services, providing distributed ledger technology (DLT) network node services and providing staking services. The Bill provides the ability for the Commission to prescribe additional activities as digital asset businesses as necessary”.

“The DARE Bill 2023 will provide for a single framework for persons providing custody of digital assets or custodial wallet services to be registered as digital asset businesses - the relevant provisions applicable to persons providing custody of digital assets originally in the scope of the Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act are brought under the scope of the DARE Act,” the Securities Commission said.

“The new DARE Act will provide a robust approach to protecting client interests and custody or wallet service providers’ ability to return client assets -for example by requiring such digital asset businesses to maintain procedures to ensure continued safekeeping and accessibility of digital assets, and make the required client disclosures.”

Stablecoins will be regulated for the first time, with the issuance of algorithmic

stablecoins prohibited.

“The amendments provide a clear definition for stablecoins, provide for the registration of existing stablecoins, specify acceptable forms of reserve assets and establish new requirements for custody and management, segregation, reporting and redemption of reserve assets,” the regulator added.

As for the issuance of digital assets, the Securities Commission added: “The DARE Act requires that issuers of digital assets in or from within The Bahamas must comply with several obligations aimed at protecting investors, primarily as related to initial token offerings.

“These include fit and proper requirements for the issuer, the requirement to prepare an offering memorandum unless an exemption applies, continuing disclosure obligations and purchasers’ rights to rescission or damages and withdrawal.

“Under the DARE Bill 2023, a voluntary registration regime will be established for persons who issue digital assets from outside of The Bahamas to persons outside of The Bahamas or otherwise not in the scope of the issuer requirements under the DARE Bill 2023. The Commission will keep a register of initial token offerings containing specified information.”

Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director, said in a statement: ““I am pleased to present for consultation the Digital Asset and Registered Exchanges Bill 2023, which will modernise and strengthen requirements for conducting digital asset businesses in The Bahamas, and for the protection of consumers, investors and the markets.

“We invite the public to respond to this consultation process as we seek to develop and expand the legislative framework. Once passed, DARE 2023 will be among the most advanced pieces of digital asset legislation in the world and will align with The Bahamas’ commitment to facilitating development and innovation in a well-regulated environment.”

Crown Land parcel until it deliberately reduced its footprint to end the conflict, Mr Schneider suggested the Royal Beach Club’s guest density would be far less than its potential western Paradise Island neighbour.

Noting that Joe Darville, the Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas chief, in particular, was “a huge supporter” of Mr Smith’s project but one of Royal Caribbean’s leading critics, he added: “When I had met with Toby 1,000 [persons] per day was his goal. He [Mr Darville] was very supportive of 1,000 on three acres, but not 3,000 over 17 acres. We

oveR pI uest densIty FeaRs

appreciate the concerns, but they’re not necessarily rooted in consistency.”

Mr Darville and other activists, in a statement issued earlier this week, had reiterated fears that Royal Caribbean’s $100m beach club project will cause “total decimation” of western Paradise Island despite assurances to the contrary. The activists, in a joint statement responding to the cruise giant’s multiple environmental stewardship pledges, argued that the Royal Beach Club’s 17-acre site “cannot survive intact” with a daily average visitor count of some 2,750.

“We continue to believe that the site cannot survive intact and faces full

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that NICKSON SANON of #55 Sandilands Village, New Providence, 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 18th day of April, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

transformation, and total decimation, of its physical assets,” the group alleged.

“The precedent for grossly exceeding a small area’s carrying capacity is as per the permanent and irreversible impact Royal Caribbean had on the Bahamian island Little Stirrup Cay, whose Bahamian name couldn’t even survive the undue pressure to transform to Coco Cay.” They also recalled the concerns voiced individually by Mr Darville, who argued that the location, which includes four acres of Crown Land, “is ill-suited and incapable of absorbing the impact of the estimated 3,000 visitors that Royal Caribbean plans to descend

on the site daily”. Mr Smith, too, is likely to dispute the assertion that his project is seeking to receive 1,000 visitors per day as it seeks to obtain the necessary approvals - including a fiveacre Crown Land lease.

Mr Schneider, though, disclosed that Royal Caribbean is employing the same formula to determine guest capacity on Paradise Island as it uses at Coco Cay, its Berry Island private island and top destination according to passenger reviews, to ensure the facility is not overcrowded.

The 40-acre Coco Can can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers at any one time, and he added: “One of the things we’re very careful

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that NANDITHA GURVAIAH SRIDHARA, of Village Road Apartment 3, Brooklyn Road, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 26th day of April 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Legal Notice NOTICE

NORTHERN LIMITED

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

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

(b) Te dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 24th day of April 2023.

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

Dated this 26th day of April A.D., 2023

Baird One Limited Liquidator

about to maintain a level of exclusivity for our guests is the level of space they have. We don’t want them to feel like they’re on top of each other.”

Using a day when three Royal Caribbean ships are docked in Nassau, with an Oasis-class, Freedom-class and Celebrity-class vessel bringing a combined 13,000 visitors to the Bahamian capital, Mr Schneider said the Royal Beach Club’s self-imposed capacity limit would mean at least 10,000 of those passengers will be seeking out other activities with Bahamian-owned businesses.

“More than 60 percent of guests on average throughout the year will not go to Paradise Island,” he reiterated to this newspaper. “We are only going to have anywhere from 2,750 to 3,000 guests go to the Beach Club. Could we squeeze more on? Yes, we could, but there must be a viable density per square metre of persons.”

Mr Schneider also told Tribune Business that Royal Caribbean has gone beyond what it is required to do by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and under Bahamian law and regulations, to address specific concerns raised by Atlantis over potential noise pollution from its Paradise Island project.

In response to fears by the Paradise Island mega resort that DJs, music and associated noise from the pool at the Beach Club’s heart “could be disruptive to guests in their beach chairs relaxing and enjoying a quiet day”, Royal Caribbean has “taken the question seriously” and used its Coco Cay private island as a basis to determine if these concerns are valid.

Noting that music from the DJ at Coco Cay’s Oasis Pool cannot be heard at the island’s cruise ship pier, and that the distance between those two points is less than that separating the proposed Royal Beach Club from Atlantis and the latter’s beach, Mr Schneider said: “We believe, based on the original study, whether it’s a Junkanoo band or DJ in the pool at the Beach Club, no one in their beach chair at Atlantis will hear that.” The issue, though, faces more in-depth study.

The Royal Caribbean executive said the cruise line will likely “start pursuing” a bidding process for the award of Royal Beach Club’s construction work in late 2023 or early 2024, but only once the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) and necessary construction permits have been obtained.

The process will “start with local construction companies”, with the buildout phase likely to create “hundreds” of jobs. Mr Schneider, though, said construction will be made more difficult than for other projects because the western Paradise Island site has no road access. This means construction debris and other material will have to be barged to and from the site across Nassau harbour.

“The site is not accessible by road,” he said. “One of the things we have to be thoughtful of is how that construction process looks like. A lot of that material has to come out, and that has to be treated very carefully. It’s going to be heavier construction for someone than elsewhere. There’s more challenges than elsewhere because we don’t have the land-based access.”

Legal Notice NOTICE

KEFALONIA LTD

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

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

(b) Te dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 25th day of April 2023.

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

Dated this 26th day of April A.D., 2023

Baird One Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

PEACOCK STAR HOLDING CORPORATION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 the dissolution of Peacock Star Holding Corporation has been completed and the company has been struck from the Register on the 13th day of March 2023.

Delco Investments Limited. Liquidator

Legal Notice NOTICE

FUNCTION & FORM LTD.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

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

(b) Te dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 24th day of April 2023.

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

Dated this 26th day of April A.D., 2023

Delco Investments Limited

Liquidator

Royal CaRIbbean CHIeF ‘I wIsH we’d answeRed on envIRonment sooneR’

Royal Caribbean will “not be starting from scratch” on its creation as it has already compiled much of the data and information required.

He added that, four to six weeks after the 21-day post-consultation period is completed, the cruise giant hopes to have the EMP ready to submit to the DEPP for its scrutiny.

The Royal Caribbean product chief said that, rather go back to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), any fresh questions and concerns raised from both its initial answers and the supplemental consultation will be addressed in the forthcoming EMP. Recalling the initial 2021 DEPP public consultation, Mr Schneider told Tribune Business that - during the post-meeting 21-day period that attendees have

to submit questions and concerns - the Government changed. “We met with the new government to discuss what our proposal will be, and we went through the journey,” he added.

“During that time period it didn’t make sense for us to respond to all those questions. The Government agreed with that. We wanted to make sure we didn’t answer until we had an agreement. We agreed not to respond until we reached a new proposal. That took time. We had to get comfortable with the PPP. They had to get comfortable with it. It was a novel idea.”

That PPP, or publicprivate partnership (PPP) model, which has been hailed as a first-of-its-kind for the tourism industry, will see the Government exchange the four Crown Land acres that Royal

Caribbean requires for an equity stake in the Royal Beach Club project. Bahamian investors will also be able to buy into the development via an investment fund and, together with the Government, the two will collectively own a 49 percent stake in the venture.

There will also be greater participation by Bahamian entrepreneurs and increased job opportunities. “Now that we have that agreement I’m hoping that in the next couple of weeks we’ll respond to each of the initial questions related to the first hearing as part of a 50-page extensive report.... You’ll see additional details on certain questions related to solid waste and waste water,” Mr Schneider added.

However, he voiced regret that Royal Caribbean had not answered sooner the 2021

consultation questions supplied by Atlantis, multiple environmental activists and others. “The only thing... that I wish we would have done differently, and I’m accountable for this, is we waited more than a year not answering questions,” the Royal Caribbean product chief said. “That breeds greater questions.

“It was the right thing to do because we were meeting the new government, working with the new government in building the partnership and got to a way better spot. The Bahamian participation is wonderful, the economic model for the Bahamas government is excellent and the right outcome, but I wish we would have answered the questions sooner.”

Mr Schneider said Royal Caribbean is planning to fully answer the questions, which cover a mix of

environmental, economic, project-related and offbeat issues, in time for the “supplemental” public consultation with the DEPP that it hopes will be held “in the first couple of weeks in June”.

“That’s our goal. We cannot make that determination,” Mr Schneider said. “They [the DEPP] have to pick a date. We’ve given them a bunch of options and they have to let us know what the answer is.” Following that meeting, attendees and others will have another 21-day period in which to submit their questions and concerns to both Royal Caribbean and the regulator.

“After that, based on the totality of data submitted, we will have to submit and agree the terms of reference for the EMP and then submit the draft EMP. It’s not as if we’re starting from

Bahamas beats $18.7m Suriname CLICO claim

FROM PAGE A24

into begin making many whole again.

Sir Ian also ruled that “the masking of the loans” from Suriname as insurance policies aided CLICO (Bahamas) in multiple ways for, while the latter’s 2006 financial statements recorded it had borrowed more than $5m from its affiliate this had resulted in just $27,516 of liabilities because there was no bona fide assured person.

The dealings between The Bahamas and Suriname began on November 26, 2004, when the latter paid $27,171 to acquire an Executive Flexible Single Premium Annuity (EFPA) from CLICO (Bahamas).

While the insured was listed as a 44 year-old male, the name on the policy issued by CLICO (Bahamas) was CLICO Suriname.

This was followed by a further $3m investment in another EFPA annuity by CLICO Suriname on April 19, 2005, with the payment handled offshore via CLICO (Bahamas) account at Ocean Bank in Fort Lauderdale. “On April 25, 2005, Karen-Ann Gardier, the then-chief operating officer of CLICO Bahamas, sent an e-mail to Deloris Moncur and Kimberley Munroe confirming that CLICO (Bahamas) had received $3m from CLICO Suriname,” Sir Ian recorded.

The funds were invested in an EFPA annuity carrying an annual interest rate of 9 percent. However, while the insured was described as a 45 year-old male, the name on the second policy as the insured was once again CLICO Suriname. A third

such transaction for another EFPA annuity policy, this time for $1m, was carried out on September 21, 2005, via the same payment route and modus operandi - for a 45 year-old made, with the name on the policy that of Suriname.

Additional payments worth a further $8.8m were made on the latter policy between November 15, 2005, and May 30, 2008, ranging in size from $13,354 to $1.2m. Further transfers of $1.5m and $750,000 were sent to CLICO (Bahamas) from the Suriname affiliate in September 2008 just months before the life and health insurer’s ultimate group parent, Trinidad-based CL Financial, collapsed. The second payment was described as a two-year loan.

Mr Gomez rejected Suriname’s claim for $18.734m in CLICO (Bahamas) liquidation, and Sir Ian found that all three EFPA annuities named the policyholder as “an inanimate corporate entity” even though all referred to middle-aged males. Suriname, though, sought to argue it was a policyholder - a status that would place it on the same level as Bahamian policyholders, and thus reduce the latter’s recovery, if the Supreme Court found for it.

The Insurance Act ranks policyholders as “first priority” in a liquidation, which means their claims come first after the costs and expenses of a corporate winding-up are paid. They also rank behind the Government and outstanding taxes. Mr Gomez and CLICO (Bahamas), though, dismissed Suriname’s claim and argued that it was not a valid policyholder and the

EFPAs were not true insurance policies.

Sir Ian, in his verdict, said he was “satisfied” that the three disputed EFPA policies “are not true policies of insurance”. He added: “It should be enough to simply state that an annuity based upon the life of a fictitious individual who is clearly not the policyholder is not an insurance policy within the meaning of the Insurance Act.”

While Damian Gomez KC, the former minister of state for legal affairs representing Suriname, argued that CLICO (Bahamas) was acting as a constructive trustee of the $9.8m paid out over the third disputed policy. But Sir Ian, while accepting that CLICO (Bahamas) entered into the transactions in violation of Bahamian exchange control regulations, dismissed this claim.

“On the facts of this case, as it related to the third disputed policy and the additional funds paid into that policy, the specific purpose was a farce being an annuity based on a fictitious annuitant,” the Chief Justice ruled. “I have determined that the funds are not properly monies being paid into a policy of insurance, are not held on trust and were not paid under any mistake.”

Mr Gomez and CLICO (Bahamas), in their evidence, asserted that the transactions were “a facade” designed to disguise the insolvent Bahamian life and health insurer’s borrowings and ensure they did not appear as such in its audited financial statements.

Sir Ian ruled the transfers were loans or short-term investments. He pointed to

an e-mail exchange involving Ms Gardier, CLICO (Bahamas) former chief operating officer, who wrote: “Happy days are here again. The $3m was received plus $730,000. Who is the policyholder?”

Geeta Singh at CLICO Guyana replied: “See, I delivered. You owe me dinner. The $730,000 is CLICO Guyana, the $3m is

Suriname. So you do have two policies.” The Chief Justice found another “significant advantage” for CLICO (Bahamas) was that it would not have to pay out any annuity, and said:

“There is also some merit in the submission of CLICO (Bahamas) that the masking of the loan, as policies, gave some benefit to CLICO (Bahamas).

scratch.” Royal Caribbean is hoping to complete these aspects within four to six weeks of the 21-day consultation period’s close. Addressing concerns that Royal Caribbean was seeking to circumvent the environmental approvals process, despite multiple assurances by both itself and the Government to the contrary, Mr Schneider pledged: “We are absolutely committed to following the environmental process. We decided not to do ‘shovels in the ground’ until after the environmental approvals. “We’re not there. There’s environmental hurdles and we need permits to begin construction. There’s a lot of steps to get past before we get to shovels in the ground. Shovels won’t be in the ground until we have satisfied ourselves that we have completed all these steps.”

“Note 20 of the 2006 financial statements of CLICO (Bahamas) showed that while by December 31, 2006, CLICO (Bahamas) had borrowed over $5m from Suriname under the disputed policies the only liability recorded was $27,156.. I have indeed found that these were not policies of insurance issued to Suriname but attempts at short-term loans.” As a result, Sir Ian said Suriname’s claims need to be treated as unsecured loans and not insurance policies.

gRants awaRded to CReatIve entRepReneuRs

By FAY

SOME 51 Bahamian entrepreneurs were yesterday awarded grants of up to $5,000 to help develop their creative ventures and expand the so-called ‘orange’ economy.

Phyllice Bethel, the Small Business Development Centre’s (SBDC) interim deputy executive director, said the grant will help selected micro, small and medium-sized (MSME) businesses from across New Providence and the Family Islands to cover their costs.

She said: “The purpose of the grant is to help micro, small and mediumsized enterprises (MSMEs) cover the costs of intellectual property protection, production equipment, contract manufacturing, raw materials, brand collaterals and/or marketing campaigns. The 51 grant

recipients represent the islands of Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence.”

The initiative, which will last for three years and began in March 2023, is a collaboration between the SBDC, the Bahamas Trade Commission, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Ms Bethel said a survey conducted by the SBDC had revealed some 55 percent of Bahamian SMSEs have no intellectual property protection. She added that the Ministry of Economic Affairs has recently sponsored training sessions to explain how these entrepreneurs can protect their creative ideas and innovations from being stolen or copied by rivals.

She said: “For our kick-off event, the Small Business Development

Centre conducted a national survey to confirm how many micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have adequate intellectual property protection. Based on the survey responses we received, 55 percent of MSMEs who sell their products and services in local and international markets have zero…

“No intellectual property protection for their designs,

formulas, recipes, prototypes, curricula, templates, recordings etc... The Ministry of Economic Affairs, specifically the Trade Commission unit, recently sponsored four virtual training courses to highlight the importance of intellectual property protection for MSMEs, and to explain the step-by-step registration process for copyrights, patents and trademarks.”

eleutHeRa Is ‘buRstIng at seams wItH possIbIlItIes’

By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE TRANSFORMATION of Eleuthera’s three principal airports will provide the “gateways” to increase investment flows into Eleuthera, a Cabinet minister has asserted, describing the island as “bursting at the seams with opportunity”.

Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, told the Eleuthera Business Outlook conference that overhauling the three airports - rather than job-creating investments - are the Davis administration’s priorities for the island.

The central and south Eleuthera MP said: “Ironically, at the top of the list of economic empowerments wasn’t investment to provide jobs as usual. Topping the list was the plan to provide major facility upgrades to both international airports - and not just North Eleuthera, but central and South Eleuthera as well.

Our airports and ports are gateways to investments. We have to ensure that we are prepared to receive arriving passengers.

“The three airports in north Eleuthera, Governors Harbour and Rock Sound have been published for public private partnerships (PPPs) for the management and operation of these airports. This is a major

investment opportunity for Bahamians and foreigners. An investment today in these three facilities will definitely yield this return.

“I believe that, ever more than before, Eleuthera is bursting at the seams with opportunity and we all must be ready. We must provide a thriving economy with access to opportunities, goods and services for the residents, and this will attract continued wholesome investments that will usher in the kind of economic activity that is needed.”

Mr Sweeting also revealed plans for new medical facilities in Rock Sound and Palmetto Point, as well as a Department of Agriculture office on Eleuthera. He said: “We on Eleuthera are overwhelmed with medical emergencies and costs of air ambulance. As a growing island it is time that we place a considerable focus on improving healthcare for our residents and guests.

“The plans to construct two state-of-the-art medical facilities to provide the primary medical care services is very much active. The land has already been identified. The land has already been surveyed and I am advised by the minister of health and wellness [D Michael Darville] that the drawings for the facilities for Rock Sound will be submitted to the local council in Rock Sound this week for approval.

“The plans for the [Palmetto] Point healthcare facility have already been approved by the Central Eleuthera Town Council, and will now be forwarded to Town Planning in New Providence for final approvals. After which the tender process will begin so we are making headway on much-needed healthcare facilities on Central and South Eleuthera,” Mr Sweeting continued.

“You will also see in the upcoming year, for the first time, a physical Department of Agriculture office. Attached to this office we will establish, for the first time, an Animal Control Unit on Eleuthera. We will help to establish permit sections where you’ll be able to apply and get approvals from this office, as well as many other services that are so readily available in New Providence.”

Mr Sweeting outlined investment opportunities in the vacation home rental market, plus programmes offered by the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) to support farming and manufacturing ventures.

He said: “Home ownership and investment in the second home market have proven to be lucrative opportunities here in Eleuthera. I mean, the reality is nobody can find anywhere to rent because the accommodations are not here in Eleuthera.

“Unlike past housing projects supported by the Government, the Ocean All development and the other housing communities to be built on the island does not limit an investment to only first-time home owners. These opportunities are available for Bahamian investment, and can provide income generating opportunities.”

“Further opportunities for empowerment are available through the the continued presence of the Access Accelerator programme and through BAIC. There are continued programmes for business investment, and a focused push for the development of the agricultural sector, and industrial and manufacturing,” Mr Sweeting added.

“BAIC has made the process of access to land for investments simple. We continue to support businesses and provide funding of up to $50,000 per applicant for business establishment and continuity. Access to additional funding opportunities is also available through the Bahamas Development Bank.”

The Minister of Agriculture maintained that he is committed to investing in agriculture, and revealed several agricultural projects targeted at Eleuthera including a vertical farm and greenhouse park. He said: “We are serious about providing economic investment in agriculture for farmers. Access to funding, training, land and technical assistance will assure that we promote a thriving agricultural sector that can provide an abundance of food to supply

FIFTY-one micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSME’s) received their Creative Entrepreneurs Standalone Grant during a press conference at the Small Business Development Centre on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Pictured from L to R: Ivanna Moncur, chief executive, Bakehouse; Senator Barry Griffin; Phyllice Bethel, interim deputy director, SBDC; and Michaela Munnings, manager, corporate communications, SBDC.

Senator Barry Griffin, deputy chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission gave opening remarks and heralded the contribution that the creative economy can make to The Bahamas if properly nurtured.

He said: “When we think about the orange economy, we obviously think our people being able to express their thoughts and feelings through art. That’s very important. But, often, we do not think about the impact on our economythe fact that the creative economy and the orange economy can be a true pillar

of our national economy if supported and nurtured.

“One of the objectives of the Trade Commission is to work with the orange economy in supporting the nurturing and growth of our creative entrepreneurs, so that we can export The Bahamas to the world. We’re a nation of industrious people, creative people. And we see that through expressions on the Internet and in person, every single day. So I’m happy that the Small Business Development Centre has stepped to fill in that gap in support of our creative entrepreneurs.”

in Hatchet Bay, where we will be constructing the cultivation centre. We have already purchased a vertical farm for that area to provide year-round growth on greens and microgreens, and to provide training for the persons who are interested in the technology.

our communities daily with fresh and nutritious foods, and also provide economic opportunity for farmers as all future investments are encouraged to buy local. “We cannot build a thriving community without proper nutrition and access to quality food sources.

Coming off the heels of the pandemic, the possibility of food shortages presented a great threat to our way of life. And to think about the tales of a former glory of Eleuthera as the breadbasket of The Bahamas, it made complete sense that reinvestment in agriculture was important.”

Mr Sweeting added:

“To-date we have met with farmers on Eleuthera four times in the last 18 months. We have regularised land leases for farmers. We made more land accessible and available in Hatchet Bay for not just agriculture, but investments as well. We reopened the facility there in Hatchet Bay, the packing house, to ensure that farmers were able to sell their wares not just from Hatchet Bay but also for areas surrounding that settlement.

“We are also providing training in food technology and processing for valueadded products, and a fully functional form store there

“Staff are being trained to manage this facility, and this will serve as a teaching tool to invest in agriculture. In May, next month, BAMSI will launch its first greenhouse park on Eleuthera. This is something that will help to take farmers into the new technology, different ways that we can grow and be successful as farmers.”

Mr Sweeting also outlined projects that the Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken to encourage agriculture in schools. He said: “In February of this year a partnership was forged with Junior Achievers, my office and the Ministry of Youth to bring a much-needed college fair to Eleuthera.

“Eleventh and 12th grade students from Rock Sound to Spanish Wells participated in this event, which exposed them to scholarship opportunities for tertiary education. Oftentimes these opportunities exist only in New Providence, but it is imperative that we provide these opportunities here in our space to give the next generation every opportunity to become successful.” He added: “I continue to partner with schools for providing greenhouses and equipment to promote agricultural and technological advances. They continue to partner with the school to provide equipment and tools necessary to provide healthy spaces for education.”

Photo:Courtesy of SBDC Corporate Communications

CLAY SWEETING

POULTRY PRODUCER WAITS ON $14K SOLAR FUNDS BALANCE

A BAHAMIAN poultry producer is awaiting receipt of the final $14,000 from the Small Business Development Centre’s (SBDC) $40,000 grant before it begins its solar energy transition.

Lance Pinder, Abaco Big Bird Poultry’s operations manager, told Tribune

Business he had received an initial $26,000 from the SBDC through the Ministry of Agriculture, but the outstanding balance is required for the solar contractor to begin installing the solar panels.

Abaco Big Bird won $40,000 through the SBDC’s small climate grant for a solarisation project that was forecast to be completed this month. But delays in obtaining the full funding, in addition to hold-ups with specific parts needed

from the manufacturer, have pushed the target date back.

Mr Pinder said: “I’m just waiting. I’m not up and running at this point. The power bills are going up all the time along with the fuel surcharges and things like that, and some of that funding was to help me offset that. That grant funding was supposed to get me back to where it was before these increases started, so I was really hoping to have the project completed already.”

The funding goes directly to the contractor installing the solar panels and not to Abaco Big Bird. Brenton Nixon, owner/operator of Smart Power Solutions, the contractor installing the solar panels, said: “We haven’t started the project as yet, but we have nearly all of the equipment and we are just waiting for the inverter.”

The inverter’s arrival was delayed because the manufacturer was filling back orders from the

COVID-19 lockdowns and Smart Power Solutions was down the list of customers. “We need a specific type of inverter to go with the 480 volt system that we have, but everything like the ground mounts and the wiring connections, I have. Everything else I have, except the inverter,” Mr Nixon said. “The inverter should be in by mid-May, but I am not sure when the Ministry of Agriculture is going to send me the balance of the funds.

I just have no idea because when I spoke to Lance (Pinder), he said he doesn’t even know when they will send the rest of the money. “The first payment from the SBDC that came in was about $26,000. We really need the balance to start the work. We have the ground mounts now. They were the most costly. I just really wanted to get them out of the way so I know that I have them.”

Digital payments co-founder to join PM at UK receptions

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN-headquartered digital payments provider yesterday said its co-founder and chairman will speak alongside Prime Minister Philip Davis KC at several upcoming London events.

Nick Rees will give a speech at the Caribbean Council's annual reception on May 3, 2023, at the UK's House of Lords where he will join Mr Davis. The latter will be the keynote speaker and guest of honour at the reception. The following day, Mr Rees will again speak alongside the Prime Minister at a Bahamas Investment

seminar held at London's Reform Club.

Besides highlighting the creation of digital marketplaces and Kanoo's drive for financial inclusion in The Bahamas and the Caribbean, Mr Rees will focus on the importance of continued regional discussions around the evolution of regulations governing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

The Caribbean Council reception is expected to attract senior officials and politicians from The Bahamas and other heads of government from across the region, who will be in London for the coronation of King Charles III. Attendees will be able to engage

with UK MPs and House of Lords peers, members of the Caribbean and Central American diplomatic corps, senior members from the UK civil service, and business leaders invested in and working with the Caribbean.

Mr Rees will then speak alongside the Prime Minister at the Council's Bahamas Investment Seminar. Other speakers attending this event include Frederick Mitchell, minister for foreign affairs; Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, chair of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation; and Tom Hartley, the British High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

Panel themes include investment opportunities in The Bahamas, a guide to the practicalities of doing business in the country, and market entry strategies for British companies. Attendees will also be introduced to the multi-signatory CBDC Sovereign Wallet Government Payment Management System developed by Kanoo, which eliminates the need for physical banking infrastructure on the Family Islands. Regulators in the United Kingdom recently declared that they will permit more competition in banking services through

KANOO CHAIRMAN NICK REES

Bahamas beats $18.7m Suriname CLICO claim

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

CLICO (Bahamas) has beaten back an $18.734m claim from its Suriname affiliate with the Chief Justice slamming transactions that disguised loans as insurance policies as “a farce”.

Sir Ian Winder, in an April 24, 2023, ruling dismissed efforts by CLICO Life Insurance Company Suriname to overturn rejection of its claim by Craig A. (Tony) Gomez, the insolvent Bahamian insurer’s liquidator, as three of the disputed annuity policies were assigned to “fictitious individuals” were obviously not genuine policyholders.

The verdict will provide a boost for CLICO (Bahamas)

‘No consistency’ over PI guest density fears

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Royal Caribbean executive yesterday argued that fears guest density at its $110m project will “decimate” western Paradise Island “are not necessarily rooted in consistency”.

Jay Schneider, the cruise giant’s chief product and innovation officer, told Tribune Business that environmental activists were complaining about the number of passengers the Royal Beach Club will accommodate yet supporting the much higher per acre number that Bahamian entrepreneur, Toby Smith, is allegedly targeting for his neighbouring venture.

Responding to concerns that the Colonial Beach area will be unable to handle several thousand Royal Beach Club guests per day, he said:

“We expect that if we take the annual participation throughout the year, and divide it by 365 days, the range of participation and persons from that is

long-suffering local policyholders and creditors, as it confirms that the Suriname affiliate ranks below them in the creditors queue. It means that Bahamian creditors will enjoy whatever Mr Gomez is able to recover from the insolvent life and health insurer’s winding-up before Suriname’s large claim, which Sir Ian

ruled should be treated as unsecured loans and rank near the bottom of all creditors.

This newspaper understands that the Chief Justice’s decision will also likely set a precedent over similar claims by CLICO’s Guyana affiliate, which was also seeking to recover funds from the Bahamian liquidation. Together

with Suriname, these recovery claims are understood to collectively total $54m, but they have now been pushed down below Bahamian creditors who will take precedence and priority over them.

Finding for Mr Gomez, the Baker Tilly Gomez accountant and partner, on virtually all matters, the Chief Justice also shed light on questionable transactions during the run-up to CLICO (Bahamas) collapse into insolvency which occurred more than 14 years ago in February 2009. The life and health insurer’s failure deprived hundreds of Bahamians of their life and retirement savings, with the Government subsequently stepping

BISX chief: What about Bahamas Food Services?

Beach Club guest numbers below the average. “We expect that, at maximum capacity, it could be up to 3,000,” the Royal Caribbean innovation chief added. “It’s going to average out over the year to 2,500 to 2,750 per day based on the economic model we’ve put together. We spreading that 2,750 out over 17 acres.”

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS International Securities Exchange’s (BISX) chief executive is challenging why the decade-old pledge for an initial public offering (IPO) of the former Bahamas Food Services has yet to be fulfilled.

somewhere between 2,500 and 2,750 guests per day.”

Mr Schneider said these numbers remain estimates, given that Royal Caribbean will not know how well its Paradise Island destination “will sell” to passengers until it opens in 2025. The cruise line will also have days when it only has one vessel in port, thereby reducing Royal

Royal Caribbean chief: ‘I wish we’d answered on environment sooner’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Caribbean is aiming “in the next couple of weeks” to answer the 120 questions sparked by its Paradise Island project’s initial environmental consultation, with a senior executive yesterday saying: “I wish we’d replied sooner.”

Jay Schneider, the cruise giant’s chief product and innovation officer, told Tribune Business that itself and the Davis administration had agreed it “didn’t

make sense” to reply to all the queries stemming from the initial Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) hearing until the two sides had reached a revised agreement on the $110m Royal Beach Club. That initial DEPP consultation took place on September 8, 2021, just eight days before that year’s general election which resulted in the Government changing hands.

Mr Schneider said Royal Caribbean and the Government then had to “get comfortable” with each

other all over again, as well as agree on the revised public-private partnership model that will give The Bahamas a collective 49 percent equity stake in the project as well as more local entrepreneurial participation.

While the 120 questions are not all exclusively focused on environmental issues, the Royal Caribbean executive told this newspaper that, in hindsight, it would have been better for the cruise giant to respond earlier given that silence only “breeds more questions” while

Comparing this to Mr Smith’s Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club project, which Royal Caribbean was battling with for the same two-acre Crown Land parcel until it deliberately reduced its footprint to end the conflict, Mr Schneider suggested the Royal Beach Club’s guest density would

SEE PAGE A20

creating an information void and vacuum that is vulnerable to speculation.

Mr Schneider also disclosed that Royal Caribbean is hoping a “supplemental” public consultation on its Paradise Island project can take place during the “first couple of weeks in June” although the date has to be set by the DEPP. This will enable any follow-up questions to its initial answers to be addressed, and help to set the ‘terms of reference’ for what is to be dealt with in the Royal Beach Club’s Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

Describing the EMP as “a living document”, which will be updated as needed, Mr Schneider said that

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Commission unveils DARE overhaul - no FTX mention

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE SECURITIES Commission last night unveiled its long-awaited overhaul of The Bahamas’ digital assets regulatory regime although there was no mention of, or reference to, the recent FTX implosion.

The regulator, in outlining the major reforms contained in the Digital Assets and Registered

Exchanges (DARE) Bill’s 2023 version, listed the operation of digital assets exchanges as one area that will be strengthened, and referred to “lessons learned” from last year’s so-called ‘crypto winter’, but studiously avoided any link to the collapsed crypto exchange that attracted worldwide notoriety.

Nevertheless, given the fast-paced evolution of the digital assets industry, the Securities Commission has constantly acknowledged

that the DARE Act 2020 - the centrepiece of its regulatory regime - must be upgraded. It is hoping that Parliament will pass the Bill into law by the end of the 2023 second quarter, which is just two months away at end-June.

“In light of lessons learned during the so called ‘crypto winter’ of 2022, the Commission identified aspects of the DARE Act that require

SEE PAGE A19

Keith Davies, in a statement, queried why both the company and the Government have yet to meet a key condition for the approval of the food wholesaler/ distributor’s sale to multibillion US giant, Sysco, in late 2012.

Listing the IPO, which was supposed to offer a collective 15 percent equity stake in Bahamas Food Services to Bahamian investors, as one of his top five priorities for the local capital markets, he said the “listing of Sysco Corporation Bahamas Depository Receipts on BISX... was a part of the sales agreement for Sysco to acquire Bahamas Food Services that hasn’t yet been met”.

Tribune Business records from the time reflect that a 15 percent interest in Bahamas Food Services was to be made available via an IPO to give Bahamians a greater

opportunity to build wealth through ownership in some of the economy’s major companies. No details were provided on how it would take place, though, and if it would occur through the issuance of Sysco Bahamian Depository Receipts (BDRs) or other means.

The IPO pledge disappeared off the radar almost as quickly as it emerged, and neither the Christie administration - which approved Sysco’s purchase of Bahamas Food Services from Beaver Street Fisheries - or its Minnis administration successor seemingly showed any interest in ensuring it was fulfilled. However, Mr Davies’ comments have

SEE PAGE A16

KEITH DAVIES

CHRISTINA ROLLE

SIR IAN WINDER CRAIG A. (TONY) GOMEZ

$5.74 $5.74 $5.78 $5.71