05192023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

CORPORATE TAX PLAN REVEALED

Govt favours proposal of 10-12 percent rate for most businesses

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE government is leaning towards reforms that will see most Bahamasbased businesses pay a “modest” corporate income tax of either 10 or 12 percent with the only exception being small firms earning less than $500,000 annually.

The ‘green paper’ on “corporate income tax strategies for The Bahamas, which has been seen by Tribune Business, reveals

that none of the four corporate income tax options being considered will have a positive impact on Bahamian economic growth, employment, foreign and domestic investment with the fall-out negative in all bar two instances.

The Davis administration said it has to consider “the trade-off between raising government revenue at the expense of economic activity” in all four scenarios as it mulls potentially historical changes.

ATLANTIS DISHEARTENED BY LABOUR DEPT INQUIRY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATLANTIS executives

are surprised and disheartened by the Department of Labour’s investigation into the resort and view the probe as a departure from the historic relationship the resort has enjoyed with the Bahamas government, according to Atlantis

senior vice president Vaughn Roberts.

Labour and Immigration

Minister Keith Bell had said the Labour department launched an investigation into Atlantis when employees complained that they felt “pressured and intimidated” to stand against Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Paradise

‘WORK PERMITS NEEDED FOR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS TOO’

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said foreign “significant others” of Bahamians should have similar access to work permits as do foreign spouses of citizens.

He said failing to do this contributes to the country’s brain drain problem.

The Immigration Act outlines how non-Bahamian spouses of citizens

can legally reside in the Bahamas and work. The law does not grant such

ADRIAN

GIBSON

JURY FINALISED AS TRIAL SET TO GET UNDER WAY

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NINE jurors were selected yesterday to evaluate evidence from more than 40 witnesses in Adrian Gibson’s corruption trial.

The witnesses include former Works Minister Desmond Bannister, Water and Sewerage Corporation Chairman Sylvanus Petty, Mr Gibson’s ex-fiancée Alexandria Mackey, and Tanya Demeritte, a coaccused who took a plea deal last year.

The jury includes five men and four women. Their selection was

DAVIS BLASTS PUBLIC OFFICERS FOR ‘PAY FIRST’ INFLEXIBILTY

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday slammed “blinkered” public officials for adopting inflexible approaches to the collection of outstanding taxes that “close the business” and hinder economic growth and productivity.

Mr Davis, addressing the Cat Island Business Outlook conference, said civil servants too often adopted a “’well pay me first’ attitude” to the issuance of Business Licences, and signing of public works contracts, when the company involved owes tax liabilities to the Public Treasury.

When Nassau Cruise Port opens it will have one year to beautify downtown

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRESS Secretary Clint Watson said after the Nassau Cruise Port opens, the company would have one year to fulfil its $8m obligation to beautify downtown.

His comment during yesterday’s press briefing came after Centreville MP Jomo Campbell questioned when the company would invest.

Mr Campbell also expressed concern that downtown tourist attractions would receive fewer visitors and could suffer a slow death when the $300m port opens next week.

Mr Watson said Tourism Minister Chester Cooper does not believe this would happen.

“His expectation is these businesses will be

boosted because of the opening and redevelopment of the port; it is going to spill over to vendors in the downtown area,” he said.

“He is very excited about the possibilities for the businesses in the downtown area. It is going to be a larger revitalisation taking place.”

“We believe that businesses in the downtown area will see revitalisation because the entire area will be a part of that.”

“We believe it will have positive benefits: people coming out wanting to experience the culture and destination. We encourage people to make sure their products and services are up to par and that it is something that will attract people.”

For his part, Mr Campbell said Wednesday: “As the world’s second

most popular cruise port, Nassau must have a terminal that complements our tourism product. However, we must remain concerned that certain tourist attractions in the downtown area will receive less visitor traffic and, as a result, may die a slow and painful death. We must do everything we can to ensure that this does not happen.”

“Straw vendors have been selling products in Rawson Square since the 1950s,” he said. “The Straw Market and several straw market vendors have played significant roles in our nation’s history. While we can all agree that there are perhaps some improvements needed in the Straw Market, I truly hope that straw vendors see an increase in business and not a decline.”

50th independence poetry and song competition winners announced

a merican tourists abducted and taken to atm and robbed while visiting e xuma

TWO American tourists were abducted in Exuma yesterday after three masked men broke into their vacation home, blindfolded them and forced them to withdraw money from a nearby bank.

The incident reportedly happened around 12.15am in George Town.

Police said the male and female tourist were asleep when three armed men dressed in dark clothing broke into their home and

wakened them.

After the men blindfolded the couple, they took them to a nearby ATM machine where they were forced to withdraw large amounts of cash.

Police said they were released shortly afterwards unharmed.

The Tribune understands that thousands of dollars were stolen.

“Officers from the criminal investigation department, New

Providence will travel to Exuma to assist their colleagues with their investigations,” police said.

This latest incident comes as police are investigating a series of armed robberies in the country.

Last year, armed robberies jumped by 34 per cent, with 555 incidents recorded.

Four hundred and fifteen armed robberies were reported in 2021.

PRESS Secretary Clint Watson said after the Nassau Cruise Port opens, the company would have one year to fulfil its $8m obligation to beautify downtown. Centreville MP Jomo Campbell questioned when the company would invest, and also expressed concern that downtown tourist attractions would receive fewer visitors and could suffer a slow death when the $300m port opens next week.

ChaiR of the National Independence Secretariat Leslia Miller-Brice (centre) yesterday announced the winners of the national poetry competition and national song competition which are a part of the Road to 50 Independence events. Also in attendence was Permanent Secretary Jack Thompson (to the left of Miller-Brice) as well as other members of the Secretariat.

Adrian Gibson jury finalised as trial set to get under way

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finalised after lawyers for the defendants objected to including more than a dozen potential jurors.

Mr Gibson is facing corruption charges in

connection with his tenure as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation under the Minnis administration.

The charges stem from his alleged failure to declare an interest in contracts the WSC awarded.

The FNM politician is charged with WSC’s former general manager, Elwood Donaldson, Jr, Rashae Gibson, his cousin, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson and Jerome Missick.

Together, the group face

a combined 98 charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, fraud, receiving and money laundering.

Earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson dismissed a constitutional

motion brought by Mr Gibson’s lawyer, Murrio Ducille, calling it “misconceived” and “premature”.

Mr Ducille had argued that Mr Gibson’s right to a fair trial would be breached if Mrs Mackey did not testify in person.

He further argued there had been a lack of full disclosure by the prosecution, prejudicing Mr Gibson’s defence.

Mr Ducille said he intended to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Officer says suspect must reach fOr a firearm tO be cOnsidered a threat in a zariO trial

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AS the inquest into Azario Major’s policeinvolved killing continued yesterday, a police armoury officer said suspects must reach for a firearm to be considered threats, not simply have a gun in their car or vicinity.

DEPuTy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper signed the Book of Condolence and paid respects to the family of the Late Lorenzo Anthony ‘Ray’ Minus, Jr., Retired Iconic Boxer, at Restview

Memorial Mortuary & Crematorium on Thursday, May 18, 2023. A StateRecognized Funeral for Mr. Minus will be held at Kemp Road Ministries on Friday morning, May 19, and broadcast live via ZNS Radio Network.

Superintendent Dexter Hanna was responding to questions from the jury about whether a suspect with a gun in their car or vicinity is considered a threat.

He testified that he evaluated the four officers reportedly involved in Azario’s shooting and found them fit to carry a firearm.

Police killed Azario Major on December 26, 2021. Sergeant Sweeting, Sergeant Rolle, Inspector Saunders, and Sergeant Johnson are the officers said to be involved in the shooting at Woody’s Bar on Fire Trail.

Supt Hanna said the four officers visited the armoury the day after Azario was killed.

He said it is standard for officers involved in fatal

shootings to turn over their weapons for investigation. However, he said, because of their work, officers receive a replacement firearm for protection while investigations continue.

The four weapons collected from the officers were displayed in court and shown to be capable of firing.

When attorney David Cash, who represents

Azario’s family, asked if officers undergo a psychological evaluation after fatal shootings, Supt Hanna said that he evaluates the officers. He gives them a firearm if he observes no red flags.

AzArio MAjor

Long Island MP Adrian Gibson (centre) speaks with his lawyer Murrio Ducille (left) outside court on Monday.

photo: Moise Amisial

Photo: Letisha Henderson

Gas retailers say ‘dire summer’ as marGin concerns ‘hopeless’

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

A BUSINESSMAN claims a dire summer may await Bahamians as “hopeless” gas retailers doubt the government will address their profit margin concerns in its upcoming budget.

Vasco Bastian, vice president of the Petroleum Retailers Association, said yesterday: “Remember, if we can’t purchase fuel, people can’t drive their cars, people can’t put diesel in their generators, and bus drivers can’t buy diesel for their jitneys.

“For real this time, they just don’t have it. It’s only so much that we can do and we are there. Gas station operators in The Bahamas are desperate. There is no hope; they’re hopeless. It’s very disappointing.”

Retailers want a margin increase equal to seven per cent of the landed fuel cost. Their margins have not been adjusted in 12 years despite rising inflation.

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis has repeatedly said officials want a solution everyone can live with and that the government would not reduce its margin.

Mr Bastian said his association responded to a proposal the government submitted recently but hasn’t heard back since.

He noted that the changes have “to be done before the budget, and the budget is coming out on July 1”.

He added: “This is May, so whatever needs to

happen, needs to happen between May and June so it could take effect July 1. At this point, I’m just lost for words. I don’t even know what to say. It’s like what do we do next?

“We just need to come to some conclusion to this matter. It’s been dragging on for 13 or 14 months. We just need some help and we continue to struggle in this industry.”

The retailers association has repeatedly threatened to disrupt gas services if the government fails to address demands but has never executed its threats.

“I mean,” Mr Bastian said, “it’s to the point where I would tell young people in this country, I don’t know if you want to invest in this economy if this is how you’ll be treated. I don’t know what to tell them to do. Can you really be all that you can be in The Bahamas? Where is that Bahamian dream? Where is that hope that you can be all that you can be in The Bahamas?

“You employ 25 people daily and you have to pay them every week and all you are asking the government for is to look at this again, this isn’t right. Something is wrong, we just want you to correct it.”

“The government doesn’t think that we deserve anything. The government doesn’t think we deserve to feed our family. The government doesn’t think we deserve to be operable or even profitable. That’s basically what they’re saying.”

Munroe said he understands the frustration, but there are legal limits on criminal penalties

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe dismissed Vaughn Miller’s call for rapists to be castrated or executed, emphasising the legal limits surrounding criminal penalties.

Mr Miller, the minister of environment and natural resources, spoke in the House of Assembly after a recent increase in sexual assaults in his constituency.

“That’s his view,” Mr Munroe said yesterday.

“We’ve never had a castration law. So, I sincerely doubt that if you were to pass one it would survive muster. But if people want to feel good to say you passed it and then it was struck down by the courts that would be a view.”

“I understand that Mr Miller was expressing his frustration. The level of certain types of crime and, as I say, sexual offences you have to be mentally disordered because there

are too many people willing to willingly engage in relationships for you to have to resort to raping anyone.”

Asked if there should be harsher penalties for sex crimes, Mr Munroe said: “The maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment. I don’t think it could get worse than that.”

Mr Miller said the rise in sexual assaults caused Golden Isles residents to wonder if they were being targeted. Police have since arrested a suspect

in the attacks. “I wish to register my anger against persons who commit such violent, reprehensible, detestable acts,” he said. “In fact, I am rather draconian in my mindset on this. I’m from the old school, the old, old, old school. If you find them guilty, without a shadow of doubt, you castrate or execute them and prepare ‘em tell ‘em bid farewell to this side and say hello to whatever is on the other side. That’s my draconian opinion.”

parole bill soon to be released to public will include halfway houses

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security

Minister Wayne Munroe said while officials want to introduce halfway houses for inmates on parole, the plan requires buy-in from residents who have to accept such homes in their neighbourhood.

“When you deal with parole, a big part of parole

will involve housing after you leave the correctional facility,” Mr Munroe said yesterday. “That is something that Commissioner Cleare and his team is looking at.

“Of course, as I say, it requires society buy-in because everyone is going to say they don’t want it in their neighbourhood, and you can’t have that if you expect to house people.”

Halfway houses are

temporary facilities for people leaving jail or satisfying a condition of their probation or parole.

Mr Munroe said a parole bill would be released for public consultation soon.

“For everything other than firearms offences, for every 12 months you are sentenced to, you get four months off automatically when you reach the prison,” he said. “If when you come out of prison,

you commit an offence the very next day, or the same day, you never serve those four months that they took off your sentence. We intend to reverse that.

“We intend to make you accountable or to propose that you’ll be accountable for every day that you’re sentenced to, that you serve this time, some of it in the correctional facility and some of it in the community.”

NatioNal Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the itroduction of halfway houses would require buy in from residents who would have to accept it in their neighbourhoods.

Photo: Moise amisial

Wendy’s ‘doesn’t fit aesthetics’ of Paradise Island, says Atlantis exec

AN Atlantis executive said the resort does not believe a Wendy’s store on Paradise Island would be stiff competition for its restaurants, insisting Atlantis merely believes the franchise doesn’t fit the ethos and aesthetics of Paradise Island.

Tribune Business revealed this week that Atlantis has teamed up with other Paradise Island hotels and developers to thwart Aetos Holdings’ plans to convert a site into a fast food restoration destination for its Wendy’s and Marco’s Pizza brands.

Vaughn Roberts, senior vice president for Atlantis, told reporters yesterday: “The old Scotiabank building was for sale. A local Bahamian family bought it with the intention of converting its use to fast food

operations. We got word of it through the Department of Physical Planning and we participated in what seemed like a private discussion on it.”

“When you go back to the modern Paradise Island as we know it, it really is the vision of Sol Kerzner. It was really designed with the intent of being this idyllic environment. Paradise Island itself denotes what you should expect when you see here.

“So we oppose it on the basis of the potential traffic and congestion. We don’t think it fits in with the ethos, the aesthetics of what we aspire for Paradise Island. We don’t really see it as competition. Our food and beverage business is about $200m a year so a single fast-food vendor is not really a threat to us.

TEEN’S CHARGE CHANGED TO MURDER AFTER ONE OF SHOOTING VICTIMS DIES

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN 18-year-old’s attempted murder charge was upgraded to murder yesterday after one of his alleged victims died.

Antwan Adderley stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on a charge of murder yesterday.

On February 14, while being concerned with another, Adderley is alleged to have shot two

men as they sat in a yard on Key West Street. While the first man, Gordon McKenzie, died the same day, the second man, Ingramson Toussaint, died of his injuries in hospital on March 6.

The accused was charged with McKenzie’s murder in February and was in prison at the time of Toussaint’s death.

His voluntary bill of indictment is scheduled to be served on July 26. He was sent back to prison.

ATLANTIS DISHEARTENED BY LABOUR DEPT INQUIRY

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Island Beach Club project. Atlantis president and managing director Audrey Oswell had urged staff in a letter to take a position concerning the $100m project.

Labour representatives visited Atlantis last week and submitted survey cards asking staff if they feel intimidated or obligated to lobby against the RCI project.

The Tribune understands government officials were surprised by Atlantis’ vocal opposition to RCI’s project.

Likewise, Atlantis executives were surprised by the labour probe.

“We’re concerned not so much

Mr Roberts noted that other luxury developments are slated for Paradise

from what the survey will say; If anything, we’re just concerned with the approach,” Mr Roberts told reporters yesterday.

“We view ourselves as an important corporate citizen in The Bahamas. We’re the largest private entity here and we’ve had a very good relationship with the Department of Labour, certainly The Bahamas government for many years of our development and operation and this was just a bit of a surprise for us.”

Mr Roberts said executives had not received details of the “anonymous” complaints the Department of Labour has allegedly received.

“We agreed to cooperate but you know the practice for the last 25

Island. “Collectively, we just feel like whether it’s

years, the cooperation has been different from what was demonstrated here last week and so we were very disheartened by it but we stand firm in our view that our employees would make the right decisions on their own,” he said.

He said although Labour representatives handed out survey cards, he doesn’t imagine many people participated in the survey.

“They didn’t reach all of our employees and we saw the cards on the floor in the parking area so it’s not clear to us yet how many responses they got,” he said. “They apparently are tallying up and summarising the findings and so we look forward to seeing what the survey uncovered.”

today or whether it’s our aspiration for Paradise Island, we really don’t see

how a Wendy’s or Marco’s Pizza fits at that location on PI.”

MORE THAN 500 GB HOMES ASSESSED FOR REPAIRS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 500 homes have been assessed on Grand Bahama for the Small Homes Repair Programme, which is expected to be copied in the Family Islands, according to an Urban Renewal official.

Senator Kirkland Russell, deputy director of Urban Renewal, said repairs have started on about 40 homes, which should be completed in another two weeks. “The programme now is in an aggressive state and we are very pleased with it,” he said yesterday at a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport.

He was unable to say how much has been spent to date.

“We have already assessed more than 500 homes on GB and there are much more that needs to be assessed,” he said, adding that people are still calling. He reported that the repair programme started last week with about 42 homes in Grand Bahama. That number could double when they start to get into the City of Freeport and East Grand Bahama.

He said Urban Renewal has also signed contracts and has done a massive repair programme in Abaco.

Mr Russell said that the priority is now on roof repairs. He said: “We intend to try to make sure we can clog up the leaks and get the roof fixed so

that people can go through this hurricane season with peace of mind.”

Residents needing assistance with their roof are encouraged to visit the Urban Renewal Office on Queen’s Highway to make an application or call 352-6166. Disabled or elderly people needing interior repairs will also be accommodated.

Mr Russell said there is a dire need for home repairs in the Family Islands. In Bimini, he reported they repaired 20-plus homes. And in Grand Bahama, before the 40-home project, he indicated that some 60 homes were repaired. Senator Russell also reported that repairs have started in Moore’s Island, where contractors are working on roof repairs to 12 homes.

The Tribune Limited

The incredible shrinking lakes

CLIMATE change ‘s hotter temperatures and society’s diversion of water have been shrinking the world’s lakes by trillions of gallons of water a year since the early 1990s, a new study finds.

A close examination of nearly 2,000 of the world’s largest lakes found they are losing about 5.7 trillion gallons (21.5 trillion liters) a year. That means from 1992 to 2020, the world lost the equivalent of 17 Lake Meads, America’s largest reservoir, in Nevada. It’s also roughly equal to how much water the United States used in an entire year in 2015.

Even lakes in areas getting more rainfall are shriveling. That’s because of both a thirstier atmosphere from warmer air sucking up more water in evaporation, and a thirsty society that is diverting water from lakes to agriculture, power plants and drinking supplies, according to a study in Thursday’s journal Science.

Authors also cited a third reason they called more natural, with water shrinking because of rainfall pattern and river runoff changes, but even that may have a climate change component. That’s the main cause for Iran’s Lake Urmia to lose about 277 billion gallons (1.05 trillion liters) a year, the study said.

The declining lakes don’t mean places are suddenly going to go without drinking water, but it may lead to more competition for lake water, which is also used in hydroelectric power and recreation such as boating, the study authors said.

“More than half of the decline is primarily attributable to human consumption or indirect human signals through climate warming,” said study lead author Fangfang Yao, a climate scientist at the University of Colorado.

The diversion of water from lakes — a direct human cause of shrinkage — is probably larger and more noticeable because it is “very acute, very local and it has the capability of really changing the landscape,” said co-author Ben Livneh, a University of Colorado hydrologist.

But the indirect human shrinking, from warmer air due to climate change, “is this global blanketing effect that kind of affects everything or more places,”

Livneh said. California’s Mono Lake is a good example of this type of shrinking, Yao said.

Even areas that are getting wetter because of climate change are losing lake water because hotter air is sucking more moisture out of the lakes. And that means more water in the air, which can fall as rain or snow but “may end up falling as rain far away, outside the basin where it evaporated or even over the ocean,” Livneh said in an email.

Yao, Livneh and colleagues used almost 30 years of satellite observation, climate data and computer simulation to figure out what’s happening to lakes and found more than half of them have shrunk so much that it is statistically significant and not random.

In the United States, Lake Mead lost two-thirds of its water between 1992 and 2020, while the Great Salt Lake also shrank noticeably, Yao said. The Great Lakes dropped considerably from 1992 to 2013 then plateaued and then increased.

Another problem is that lakes are filling with sediment or dirt from upstream rivers.

Scientists have long known about the problems of climate change, diversion and sedimentation, “however the complete quantification of water storage variations for large lakes that Yao and colleagues provide is new” and it creates “a much more complete picture’’ than past research has, said University of North Carolina hydrology professor Tamlin Pavelsky, who wasn’t part of the study.

“I’m generally most worried about lakes that are ecologically important and in populated areas without a lot of other good sources of water,” Pavelsky said in an email. “Lake Urmia in Iran, the Dead Sea, the Salton Sea ... these are all worrisome.”

It’s likely to get worse as society looks for more water and more reservoirs with a growing population and a warmer Earth, said UCLA climate hydrologist Park Williams, who wasn’t part of the study.

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

Coronation and kissing the ring

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Great Manipulator: An enterprise, organisation, powerful individual or group that uses manipulation and illusion as a tool of control. Both presenting itself as charitable-good doing while maintaining its self centred greed-profiteering ways to achieve its goal of power.

The coronation of King Charles III was an extravaganza supreme, a show for all in the UK, America and the Commonwealth that monarchies can be useful, a way to divert the peoples attention away from the stress filled days they experience, and to wallow in the magnificence of our betters. You know, the rich and famous.

One thing that was not allowed was any form of dissent to the events, the monarchy or Charles III. None at all. All media outlets kissed the royal ring, presenting the monarch as something particularly new and needed. Dissent is what this letters about. Every government on this planet has methodology and protocols that protect their administrations, present diverting illusionary media stories that divert our attention, and go after those that challenge authority.

The UK, Canada, the EU and many other nations are either about to enact or have enacted laws that protect authority, and challenge those who dissent. Should you not like how someone dresses, behaves, protests, practices their faith and you speak out, your actions can bring the strong arm of the law down upon your shoulders. There has developed a situation where challenging a socially accepted practice, ideology, migrant practice, or even thoughts are seen as racist,

prejudiced, destructive and unacceptable. Challenging the idea that someone of the same sex can get married is cause for legal action in Britain. Political, ethical and moral ideals when seen as incorrect and unacceptable to even a small number of people, can bring the wrath of “the people” upon you. Hateful, truly racist ideals, phrases and practices can and should be challenged, but the very concept of democratic debate has been challenged by the so-called elites, intelligentsia and their followers. Universities and schools of higher learning are now centres of recruitment to progressive, or diverging movements placing the very fabric of society into question. Are women superior to men, more intelligent, patient and achievement oriented? Sex, race, intelligence, gender, body shape, achievement ratio are all being challenged by forces who want to win, and forge a unknowing future within society. Can governments legislate good behaviour, societal patience, equality, financial equity and fairness, open-minded societal evolution? What we have seen and will continue to experience is that societies are experiencing a fierce struggle between the individual and societal needs and demands. Governments use the media as a tool of control and propaganda, legislating its authority, funding the media in ways that allow for manipulation, and direct influence. Can the truth ever be expressed and understood? So long as the

media is a financial tool, a profiteering establishment, truth and understanding of what is the real news may well be difficult to express and understand.

We fear the news, so the media and societal norms translate it to be better accepted within society. Perhaps that is why a list of who commits crimes, what is their race, where they are from will not be published by the media or provided by the government. Fear of the possible, of how it can be possibly misunderstood, possibly becoming a tool towards the spread of racism, prejudice and further crime.

If you had the opportunity to read the original Christian Bible, many would freak out. So hundreds of years ago it was translated, manipulated and rewritten to benefit the Elites of the time (Emperor and Kings), the Church Hierarchy, and too make religious life somewhat more livable.

Remember we don’t see things as they really are, we see them as we expect them to be. We can be silent and see all the delusions that surround us melt away, all the electronic sounds that fill our lives. It is natural to speak against what is to us a wrongful thing. Governments, societal prejudices and power elites can try to stop us, even muzzle our champions the media, while reality can be brutal but it is our only true teacher. We are all asleep, living our lived routines within an illusion presented to us by the great manipulator. You want to know the truth and truly be free, then wake up and drive the delusions away.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario. May 17, 2023.

Views of the readers

AFTER Atlantis was at odds with the Wendy’s franchise holder over plans to turn the former Scotiabank branch on Paradise Island into a fast food restaurant, readers had their own views on the matter. AnObserver wrote on www.tribune242.com: “tldr; We want to be able to charge people $83 for a cheeseburger and force them to tip for bad service. You aren’t allowed to sell $10 burgers on our island.” Becks added: “Atlantis don’t want no competition.

Simple as that.”

Bahamianson said: “They will suck up all of atlantis’ profit. Every last tourist will eat there as opposed to $25 for a burger with Purity Bread and no fries.”

However, themessenger

said: “The price of hamburgers or pizza isn’t the point here. What is important is the Town Planning Committees penchant for overturning restrictive covenants and rezoning at will without consultation or notice, just ask the folks living in Love Beach or Westward Villas or any other community that doesn’t want a high-rise, fast-food joint or number house next door.”

AMBRIT MILLHOUSE, a writer for the television series “Abbott Elementary,” leaps as she participates in a Writers Guild rally in front of The Walt Disney Company studio on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP

Marital rape top issue raised by nations at UN commission

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General

Ryan Pinder said criminalising marital rape was the number one human rights issue countries raised with The Bahamas when the United Nations Human Rights Commission reviewed its record last month.

He said: “During the questions and interventions presented by the member countries on our national report the top five points raised include: 1) Criminalising of marital rape, 2) Gender-based violence, 3) Moratorium on the death penalty, 4) Equality in the transmission of citizenship and 5) Asylum and trafficking in persons matters.”

‘WORK PERMITS NEEDED FOR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS TOO’

from page one

young ones back,” he said, noting some people do not want to get married.

“My two daughters have been living with their boyfriends for ten to 15 years. If they would have come back, the government doesn’t, our immigration policy doesn’t recognise significant others for work permits. They recognise husbands, they recognise wives, but not necessarily significant others.”

Mr Symonette said many young people meet their partners when they go away to school but they don’t

return because their partners would find it difficult to work.

“We’re losing a lot of children and young adults to the states, to Canada, to wherever because we’re not advanced,” he said, noting recent discourse has focused on the citizenship rights of children of unwed Bahamian fathers.

Mr Symonette acknowledged that couples who broke up pose a challenge if significant others were to be recognised as deserving of work permits.

“How do we,” he said, “then send you home if you’re not Bahamian? That

becomes a problem. So we have to develop parameters for that.”

The Privy Council recently upheld Chief Justice Ian Winder’s ruling that children born out of wedlock to Bahamian men are citizens at birth regardless of their mother’s nationality.

The Davis administration is leaning toward requiring genetic test results to prove paternity for people affected by the Privy Council’s ruling.

“This whole ruling is going to bring up a very big issue,” Mr Symonette said. “Can you force the man to do DNA? No.”

Celebration of A Gem Service For Kenneth Rudolph Hepburn, 61

of #17-A Fifth Street Coconut Grove and formerly of Sea Grape Grand Bahama, will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 11am at Harvest Temple, Hepburn Town Eight Miles Rock, Grand Bahama. Pastor Rodney Forbes, assisted by Elder Wendell G. Dean II will officiate. Burial will be in Harbour West Public Cemetery, Eight Mile Rock Grand Bahama. The Radiance of this “Garnet of A Gem” will always glow in the hearts of his:

Wife: Antoinette Louise Hamilton-Hepburn;

Two Sons: Ashly Hamilton and Rojeille Hepburn;

One Step Son: Sharano Hanna;

One Step Daughter: Toyika Gray;

Two Grandsons: D’Vario and Tradero Wallace;

One Granddaughter: Arianna Hanna;

Seven Brothers: Carl Grant, Anthony, Stanley and Joshua Hepburn, Craig and Tracy Brown and Wendell Johnson;

Three Sisters: Dorothy Moore, Brenda Brown and Joanna Hepburn;

Twenty-Six Nephews: Jammal and Jarvin Saunders, Tracy Jr. and Myles Brown, Travonte Ferguson, Dwight Moore, Jermaine Gardiner, Conrad Lightbourne, Zhivago, Romell, Valentino, Jeremy, Iman, Sammy, Tio, Tristan, Joshua Jr., Giovanni, Justin, Antonio Jr., Staniko, Gabriel, Mateo and Toriano Hepburn, Troyce Grant and Ramon Cox;

Eleven Nieces: Margarita Lowe, Monique Moore, Lavonne, Tricia, Antilea, Brittney, Stanique and Toryka Hepburn, Treasure Brown and Simone Infante;

Three Uncles: John Grant, Manfred Brown and Eric Cooper of Abaco;

Three Aunts: Vivian Cooper of Abaco, Myrtle Grant and Ida Brown;

Cousins: Jackiel Cartwright, Jacquelyn Johnson, Jewel, Genevieve and Philipa McIntosh, Eric Jr., Jason, Dremeco, Felix and Flaywwood Cooper of Abaco, Harry Hanna, Jewel Huyler, Shantel, Augustine and James Brown of Nassau, Gaynell Saunders, Kevin, Stephen, Dave, John Jr., and Calvin Grant and Petral Rolle;

Fifteen Grandnephews: Shermon and Jeran McIntosh, Kevin Neely, Steven Lowe, Dwight Jr. and Danaz Moore, Genesis Dorsette, Charles Jr., Troyce Jr. and Ethan Grant, Conrad Lightbourne Jr., Jermaine Gardiner Jr., Jevonte and Jermaine Haley and Jeremeko Hepburn;

Nineteen Grandnieces: Tiffany Charlton, Bailey Gardiner, Cherish, Chersanya, Jamiya, Jamia, Jessie Saunders, Troyann and Tyler Grant, Shandera, Serenity and Lenecia Haley, Melody Davis, Zariah, Zchania, Ziva and Zida Hepburn, Emberlee and Raylyn;

Four Brothers-in-law: Troy, Trevor, Kevin and Jemo Hamilton;

Six Sisters-in-law: Eloise and Patricia Hepburn, Wendy Russell, Marcel and Monique Hamilton and Tamika Saunders;

Six Nieces-in-law: Maria Saunders, Kenrea Moore, Glenda Grant, Mckell Lightbourne, Ravonne Hepburn and Rebecca Knowles;

Other Loving Family and Friends Including: Barbara and Myrtis Williams, Ruth Dames, Ivy Carter, Patience and John Missick, Jerry Lewis, Donald and Detra Higgs, Derek and Delerese Lowe, Theresa Cox, Jennymae Lewis, Ricardo Swann Sr., Henry Bain, Jimmy Thurston, Jimmy Smith, Stanford Clarke, Ruthmae and Princess Burrows, Helona Forbes, Lucille Grant, Roscoe and Debbie Darville, Jason Knowles, James Sweeting, Mark Burrows, Frank Edwards, Phillip and Derek Johnson, Sean Cartwright, Olrik Napoleon, Banjamin Bethel, Troy Pratt, Kelly Shodiec, Partick Arthur and their families, Believers Worship Center Church family, Sea Grape Community Family, and a host of other family and friends too numerous to mention.

Public Visitation will be at Harvest Temple, Hepburn Town Eight Mile Rock on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 1o a.m. to service time. Guest book can be signed at www.emeraldmemorialmortuary.com

Mr Pinder said a parliamentary committee on human rights would “have a significant obligation” to review these matters and other recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review.

“We look to call the first meeting in short order for a detailed presentation on the UPR report and process,” he said yesterday as the Senate debated a resolution to establish a parliamentary human rights committee.

Although most legislators say they support criminalising marital rape, it is not clear the Davis administration will pass a law accomplishing this.

Successive administrations pledged to address the politically sensitive issue, but failed to do so.

Last year, a Supreme

Court judge found that while the actions of a husband toward his wife were cruel, they did not constitute rape because there is no rape in marriage under Bahamian law. In that judgement, Justice Denise Lewis-Johnson granted a divorce to a woman who said she had felt like a rape victim “for an extensive period of time.” Rape of a spouse is criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act only in cases where there is a decree of divorce, a decree of judicial separation, a separation agreement, an order of a court for the person not to molest or cohabit with his spouse or where the person has notice that a petition for judicial separation, divorce or nullity of marriage has been presented to a court.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RYAN PINDER

The last flight of a Marauder

ON OCTOBER 17, 1944, five years into World War II, a B-26 Marauder aircraft assigned to the Royal Air Force Transport Command took off from the Windsor Field.

Two young Canadians were training at takeoffs and landings and were on their seventh such touch-and-go when their starboard engine caught fire.

The pilots, Jack Wood of Toronto and Maurice O’Neill of Halifax, struggled to cross Prospect

By Eric Wiberg

Ridge for three minutes from 10.21 am; after crossing this ridge at what is now Super Value, at likely over 100mph, with the starboard engine useless, smoking, possibly the

four large propeller blades unfeathered.

The B-26 was known as a “Flying Prostitute” because of its small wing area (no visible means of support) and was a handful on one engine.

Among those who hated the airplane were the crews of the Air Transport Command’s Ferrying Division who picked the Marauders up at the factory and delivered them to combat units.

Those who loved it included Lt Gen James H “Jimmy” Doolittle, who used a B-26 Marauder as his personal airplane, and most of the pilots and crew members who flew the airplane

in combat.

In the winter of 2021, I felt it a duty to find this wreck. And the niece of pilot Jack Woods told me to be safe and smart, not to end up dead as well.

My godson was working in a scuba company and I had planned to give him this location to dive, but he passed in June 2021, and I was determined to find it for his memory.

In November 2021, as our mother fought for the last weeks of her life, I did.

The moment that I knew I’d found the aircraft with two men entombed was laying eyes on the distinctive military four-bladed engine on the seafloor, with cowlings, radio, seats, and unopened bottle.

I logged the day thus: “Swim Day 6: heavy round steel or iron objects, with an aluminum find or skeg of some type, pieces of aluminum, chair seat (actually escape hatch) found but left, as was the engine with four propellers - found twice never logged, never photographed).”

They crashed in shallow waters just 400 yards or so off the coast where a nurse and doctor ran to watch.

On a calm day they would likely have survived, but a building hurricane made for large chop which caused the plane to disintegrate.

A pilot said “loss of an engine on take-off is the most critical thing in flying, and if you can’t get the prop on the failed engine feathered quickly

the drag will stall you, and in you go”.

A nurse living on Cable Beach said she thought she saw men scrambling along one of the wings but could not be sure.

The seat and hatch were later recovered, and a surveillance camera switched.

Fishermen from nearby Delaport village were seen over the wreck, but nothing was recovered for nearly 80 years.

Three weeks later, navy divers went to the crash site and “no traces of bodiesaircraft completely wrecked and now disintegrated”.

RAF Transport Wing No 113, which is an RAF Transport Wing based in Nassau and Montreal, war dairy relates: “Crashed into sea 500 yards off north shore ...Aircraft entirely submerged; no survivors recovered from aircraft.” It wrecked off the Marley Resort, Delaport Bay, in just 12ft of water.

Jack Wood RCAF, was 28 years old, 5’9” and of medium build, with grey eyes and brown hair and a mustache. His wife was Grace Edwina Ruth and parents Walter and Elsie, both born in Putney and Yorkshire, in the UK.

Jack’s niece shared that he was an assistant dress buyer for Robert Simpson Eastern. From193233, he was a cadet in Hamilton. He played rugby, swam, did track and field.

Co-pilot Maurice Francis O’Neill was 27 years old and unmarried. His parents were Francis Maurice and Rose O’Neill. He attended St Mary’s University, Halifax, and his kid brother Neville J, was also in the service. Maurice was a retail clerk whose father was from Ketch Harbor, Nova Scotia and owned a stationary business.

Maurice joined the 1st Artillery Battery as a gunner. They enlisted and trained in very close proximity to one another and are remembered in the Ottawa Memorial, though neither appears in the Bahamian cathedral or cemetery lists, they are in the War Cemetery among the names, and a piece of the plane and poppy were lain at their memorial on the anniversary of when they died suddenly together.

Inventoried after his death, Maurice O’Neill’s

personal effects included:

“blue side bag, key, hat, religious pendant, small note book, lot of papers, socks, handkerchiefs, swimming trunks, playing cards, padlocks, pencil refills, prayer beads, filigree silver cigarette case, 6 foreign coins in an envelope, diary, perfume, bracelet, money belt, leopard skin ladies’ handbag, leather bag fancy, book, radio replies, foreign notes, prayer book, brushes, broken torch, razor, scissors.... mirror,” Just over a month after the fatal crash the Reverend Flint joined Wing Commander Blaskett, DFC, Commanding Officer, and six other RAF VIPs aboard an air search and rescue vessel to perform a solemn wreath-laying with photographs and flowers on the sea above the site. After the war, the B-26 bomber used to bomb Tokyo in the Doolittle raid and incapacitate Axis Europe’s munitions strength were themselves destroyed and dismantled to rebuild Germany; 2,000 were scrapped. Equipped with only snorkel gear and an inflatable raft, by swimming three times a day for up to five hours alone, I was able to identify the mangled aircraft frompieces of metal protruding from beneath the sand. The police and RBDF were called to find and rescue me twice.

Jack Wood had many items to list, from socks to batteries, short, kid gloves, shoulder straps, films, pocket knife, shoe trees, had, fountain pens, torch, hair push, letters and papers, overshoes, white towel, chamois vest, blue tunic, gaberdine windbreaker, pipe, pilot’s brevet, propelling pencils, cribbage board, leather writing folder, leather cigarette case, book “Life with Father,” packet of golf tees, book of four photographs, ...swimming trunks...”

I think of his poor dad, Walter, and as a father how moved he must have been to learn his son’s last reading was a book named Life with Father.

Jack’s niece, Joanne Green, said her mother was crushed to have lost her brother, and that she too wishes she knew her charismatic and charming dress-buying uncle Jack.

THE SUBMERGED remnants of a B-26 Marauder in Delaport Bay.

PART of the wreckage with a poppy at the War Cemetery.

MAURICE Francis O’Neill and his brother, Neville.

JACK WOOD

Morgan Freeman live, another nod to the orange economy

ONCE you’ve played God, it must be hard to be human. But on a recent Sunday night in the Atlantis Theatre, the real Morgan Freeman strolled out on stage, took a seat in a comfortable armchair and talked with a crowd of film festival goers, answering every question with humour and honesty, even if a few would not have gotten a thumbs up for intelligence on Rotten Tomatoes.

Freeman, if you recall, was the unforgettable human-like god playing opposite Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston in the 2003 fantasy comedy Bruce Almighty, a critical and commercial success. In 2007, he starred in the sequel Evan Almighty, a fantasy comedy panned by critics. In a body of work that spans more than 70 years and parallels the history of much of the 20th Century and the first few decades of the 21st, Freeman has occupied a singular space, as untouchable as a god-like figure, his deep voice recognizable at the first syllable. He is so credible that if he told you to jump in a freezing lake, you would ask for a steaming blanket and a hot rum toddy when you got out.

It’s not often that you get the privilege of seeing the super talented up close in a living room-like setting, able to ask questions they freely answer. “Will you ever go back to Broadway or do Shakespeare again?” one man asked. “No,” Freeman said instantly. “Why not?” the gentleman persisted. “Because you have to remember your lines,” Freeman retorted just as quickly much to the crowd’s delight, reminding us all that stage is unforgiving, you don’t get do-overs.

His powerful presence also reminded us that in an age when drugs, thugs and violence dominate action-packed thrillers, we don’t get the thoughtful movies like many of those Morgan Freeman made, films that helped shape how we saw history – Unforgiven, Seven, Million Dollar Baby, The Shawshank Redemption, Street Smart, Batman Begins, Driving Miss Daisy and a piece of classic humour that never gets old, The Bucket List. Had it not been for the acting skill and sly devilish humour of Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the Bucket List story line could have fallen flat on its face. A poor man with little left to lose befriends a rich miserable man as they both lay dying in a shared hospital room. They agree to flee and peel off on one last go at every crazy adventure on their want-to-do

By Diane Phillips

list before they kick the bucket. Instead of dying of critics’ barbs, it gave rise to millions of belly laughs and personal bucket lists.

Looking at and listening to Morgan Freeman you understand the giant chasm between a star who earned his badge of honour and the hyped-up hysteria over some of today’s headliners whose looks take them where talent cannot.

Freeman was invited to The Bahamas by the Bahamas International Film Festival and its founder Leslie Vanderpool, who through 18 years of annual festivals is helping to put The Bahamas on the map with lectures, workshops, indie and first-run films in a space no one before her occupied in this country despite the great actors and performers who populated the screen and the numerous movies made in whole or in part in The Bahamas.

Freeman, who will turn 86 on June 1, was invited to the final night of the 2023 film festival to receive the Sidney Poitier Tribute Award presented by Vanderpool and Sir Sidney’s daughter, Pam Poitier. Freeman spoke emotionally of his admiration for Sir Sidney, the man he credited with being his mentor, his inspiration, his guiding light, the man who set the stage for him and who he looked up to more than any other individual in his world. It was a reminder

week that the government was planning a school for the arts was welcome news, a flash of brilliance long overdue and warmly welcomed. There were those few who were quick to criticize, asking why we had to partner with a group from the UK. No sector, commercial or otherwise, is a zero-sum game. We can hone and teach and mentor, preserve and perpetuate and promote local arts with roots in the most remote of Family Islands or the heart of Nassau along with benefitting from the experience of those who have done a centre for the arts before. Grasping the rarity of a Sidney Poitier or a Morgan Freeman does not mean we have to eschew the talent of a Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Tom Hanks, Jamie Fox or Richard Harris.

One day that proposed school and the attention it brings to the increasing recognition of the importance of the orange economy will do for culture and the arts what winning Olympic Gold does for Bahamians –driving everyone to believe in the heroes who make the difficult seem easy and the hard to achieve real.

There will never be another Morgan Freeman with that shock of gray-white hair, twinkling eyes and a voice recognisable at the first syllable but maybe someday there will be a Bahamian worthy of the Sidney Poitier Tribute Award.

that it took The Bahamas a very long time to appreciate the extraordinary talent of a native son and to honour him as Hollywood had done.

It is not unusual for Bahamians in the arts, whether visual or performing, to earn more respect abroad for their talent than support at home.

When the late great singer and performer Kayla Lockhart Edwards was alive, she drove around personally, humbly asking friends and supporters if they wanted to buy a ticket to her concert, trying to fill seats at the Dundas. Yet when news broke that she would be performing live at the James L Knight Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, tickets would sell out in a day. The announcement last

Thank you to all who live in the space of the Orange economy. Whether you struggle with creativity or just a way to support it, whether you enjoy public admiration or work quietly in your little corner of the universe, thank you for making all our lives richer by your art, song, dance, performance, for bringing out the better side of us.

My, My Miss AMericAn pie – in the Middle of the strAw MArket?

Speaking of culture, there’s a clash that happens far too often – you are in a Bahamian setting, filled with locals - local people, local wares, local fare, the soothing sound of local voices - except something feels off. Something in the air is just not right. Then you realise - it’s the music. There are lots of places like that, Bahamian

cultural sites where the one thing that isn’t Bahamian is one of the things that make the Bahamas so special.

There, in the middle of the world-famous Straw Market on Bay Street where you can strike up a good conversation with many of the 400 vendors, what do you hear but “My, my Miss American Pie, got my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry.” OK, it was a great Don McLean song, but what about a

Ronnie Butler or KB or D-Mac or Wendy? Miss American Pie in the worldfamous Straw Market?

It’s like finding a Louisiana hot sauce in a Bahamian restaurant.

By the way, if you have not been to the Straw Market in a while, I highly recommend a visit. It is an amazing place and just to see the work of hands like wood carver James Rolle or the dignified ladies like Rebecca Small and

Celestine Eneas, each of whom has kept a contingent of culture mavens engaged, is a treat. Yes, there are a lot of hanging t-shirts and a lot, an awful lot, of foreign-made goods, but in the mix are real Bahamians with real talent trying to earn a living in a competitive arena that deserves another good look. If you are not a regular, you will be pleasantly surprised at the experience.

It is not unusual for Bahamians in the arts, whether visual or performing, to earn more respect abroad for their talent than support at home.

MorgAn Freeman at the Bahamas International Film Festival where he received this year’s Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award.

Anglican Church Women

THE Anglican Church Women (ACW) paid a courtesy call on Sir Cornelius A Smith on Tuesday, May 16, at the Office of the Governor General.

The ACW will celebrate its 59th anniversary and 50th conference Session and May 20-26 has been proclaimed “Anglican Church Women Week,” by Prime Minister Philip Davis.

Charlene Rodgers, president of the Anglican Church Women Council, discussed with the Governor General the ACW’S theme, which is “We’ve come this far by faith... look where God has brought us.”

Mrs Rodgers pointed out that this year’s theme challenges the ACW to reflect on the various stages of growth within the organisation, and prayerfully give thanks to God for what He has done.

Activities planned to mark this milestone are a “Toast to 50” luncheon, where presidents who

served in the year 1973 will be honoured, an anniversary church service on Sunday, at Christ Church Cathedral, which will commence with a procession of witness, and from May 22-23 the ACW conference

will be held at The Murillo Bonaby Parish Hall at Christ the King Parish, Ridgeland Park.

Cancer Society of The Bahamas

The Family Island branches joined forces on May 6, to bring awareness in their communities with their presence, visibility and a purpose to decrease the number of people being diagnosed with cancer.

Humane Society and BAPD aided by Commonwealth Building Supplies

COMMONWEALTH

Building Supplies (CBS)

is celebrating 50 years of business since launching in March 1973. As a part of their celebration, the retailer donated a total of $50,000 in monetary and material donations to the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled (BAPD) and the Bahamas Humane Society (BHS) both. Both organisations received the donations during a reception held by the company at the Balmoral Club.

Created by the late Carl Treco, a well-known Bahamian contractor, CBS began operations with only six employees and two vendors. Now, the company employs just over 100 employees and has two retail locations, CBS Bahamas in the Southwest Plaza and CBS PROstore on Robinson Road.

In 1980, John Treco and Brent Burrows Sr, son and nephew of Carl Treco, now president and vice president respectively, were brought into the company. Reflecting on years of business, Mr Burrows shared his sentiments during CBS’ milestone anniversary.

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“Seeing Commonwealth Building Supplies reach 50 years makes me feel very, very proud of the accomplishments we have made over those years. It’s an exciting feeling to know that we have been around that long,” Burrows said.

“When I think about opening the retail store in the Southwest Plaza about 12 or 13 years ago, where we still are today, that was a big achievement. That move allowed us to employ at least an additional 60 staff. Now, we have the CBS PROstore on Robinson Road where we first started. All of it has been

extremely rewarding to continue the legacy that we were given.”

He added: “That’s why as a large company within the Bahamian private business sector we made it a priority to have a community aspect to our business and this celebration. We understand the importance of community and supporting organisations who care for the most vulnerable in our country. Every year we give to the Ranfurly Home, that’s our main charity, but because we go there every December we decided to highlight other organisations during this event. The CBS family is happy to support the amazing work of both BAPD and BHS.”

Receiving $35,000 in donations from CBS, the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled’s president, Charlotte Albury was elated by the news.

She said: “We are overwhelmed with this generous donation. Our prayers have truly been answered as we were brainstorming on how we were going to raise funds for these much needed repairs and upgrades. The Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled is

a school for special needs

children suffering mainly from cerebral palsy. We have 22 attending now with 13 on the waiting list. We provide classroom experience, physiotherapy, daycare,arts, meals, bus service all free of charge. We also provide two hot meals a day free of charge for those children so the new kitchen will assist us in doing our job that much better. The renovations of the bathrooms are long overdue. Unfortunately, the money we raised always went to the children and we never had any left over for this kind of work.

She added: “On behalf of BAPD we cannot thank CBS enough for stepping forward and offering this amazing assistance to us. Many times donors want to donate to the warm and fuzzy part of the organisation leaving material things on the back burner. We honestly have been racking our brains on how we were going to get the funds for these much needed projects and then we got the call saying CBS wanted to help, so our prayers were answered for which we will be forever grateful.”

Speaking for the Bahamas Humane Society that received $15,000, Percy Grant, shelter manager, described the donation as a blessing.

He said: “We at the Bahamas Humane Society are extremely grateful to CBS for their donation to our organisation. This a true blessing for us as we have been in desperate need for these items as we continue to experience a major influx of animals that need our care and assistance. Both the material and monetary donation to our facility will make a significant impact in supporting our needs right now and we are very appreciative.”

Shawn Gabrielle Gomez, marketing director at CBS, explained how the monetary and material side is just one aspect of CBS’ donation.

He said, “In general when we give donations we try to create meaningful content around it and that is super beneficial to the organisations and institutions that we are assisting. We want to provide them with opportunities to receive even more assistance, so we hear their

stories and we tell it. The more people who can see the work and understand what these organisations are doing increases the likelihood for support. The truth is most of these organisations don’t have the budget for content creation and marketing so we use our presence as an opportunity to market them and share their stories.”

Expressing gratitude to the customers who have supported the business for the past 50 years, Mr Burrows reinforced the company’s stance that service is key.

He said: “To everyone who has supported CBS over the five decades that we have been around we say thank you! Words can never be enough to express our gratitude but that’s why service is so important to us. CBS tries hard to be the leader in customer service in The Bahamas and in our industry. We try our best to satisfy our customers. If a customer experiences an issue we try to solve it because we know that even more important than the product is how our customers feel while getting the product.”

THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS

THE staff and faculty at CR Walker Senior High School are enjoying some upgrades to their teachers’ lounge courtesy of RF Bank & Trust. In recognition of Teachers’ Appreciation Week, the regional investment bank provided various appliances for the school staff lounge.

Principal Fawkes and faculty members received the tokens of appreciation last week.

“Public school teachers have dedicated their lives to inspiring youth in The Bahamas, and we must ensure they have all the tools they need as they shape the hearts and minds of our children,” said Rachael Allahar, RF marketing manager. “That includes having a sanctuary to recharge so they can give their best to the students. I’m thrilled to provide these items for the teachers lounge on behalf of RF

for Teacher Appreciation Week. We’re grateful for the dedication of the CR Walker faculty and all teachers.”

RF provided a new fridge, microwave, and TV for the teachers’ lounge. These items are part of a larger project that the school is in the process of completing.

“I am indeed grateful to the team at the RF Bank for coming through once again. Our teachers work hard, and they deserve to have a room on campus to destress. Our staffroom has been in dire need of renovation,” said Princess Fawkes, principal at CR Walker. “The items for the staff lounge were much needed. This is something that will continue to be appreciated long after this week. We thank RF for this kind gesture and the faculty will undoubtedly put them to good use.”

FROM left, seated: Helen Ingraham, ACW council treasurer, Charlene Rodgers, ACW council president, Sir Cornelius A Smith, Governor General, Andreae Francis, ACW council vice president, Deborah McKinney, ACW council secretary. Standing: Kimley Dean, ACW council social outreach chair, Brendalee Strachan, ACW council chaplain, Janice Weech, ACW council assistant treasurer, Sandra Burrows, East Central Archdeaconry coordinator, Dalette Walkes, ACW council public relations chair and Elsie Strachan, ACW council fundraising chairperson.

THE MANGROVE Cay branch of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, above, and below, the South Andros Branch.

CR Walker faculty members alongside RF donations committee members.

Anya James first woman to be elected president of BFA

By TENAJH SWEETING tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

Anya James is the first woman in history to be elected as president of the Bahamas Football Association (BFA).

The newfound title and position came after the association’s Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday night at Breezes Resort Bahamas.

James was elected to her new position following a 5-4 presidential vote over Sam Thibaud. She previously served as vice president for the BFA with Anton Sealey formerly positioned as president. Sealey opted not to run in this year’s election and now it’s James’ turn to lead the BFA for the next four years.

The newly-named president talked about her historic feat for the BFA.

She said that she is very excited about being the first female president of the BFA and one of her goals is to increase the number of participants in football in the form of players, coaches and referees.

Additionally, James said she wanted to increase the BFA’s presence in the Family Islands.

Although she already made history being named the first female vice president, and now president, she is also only the fourth woman to serve in the position for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in the region.

James will not be without help as her council members are Dion Peterson, John Joseph, Gavin Christie, Frankie Edmond, and Andrè Moss. The council will also include Daria Adderley who

will join James which makes it two women on the council for the first time in BFA history.

Women have been making waves in the sport recently as Annisa Albury was the first Bahamian woman to referee at the Beach Soccer Pre-World Cup and also Krystal Evans who has served as a FIFA assistant referee since 2019.

As more women make their names in the sport, James had this message for them. “My message to younger women is do not settle just because you are a woman, dream big and follow your passion

[and] try to surround yourself with other women who can and will straighten your crown and encourage you to achieve your goals,” the president said.

In regards to football, she also encouraged more women to take on leadership roles in the sport. After serving as vice president previously, she said she wants to encourage stakeholders to continue to engage in respectful dialogue for the benefit of all in the sport.

With her previous experiences as team manager in 2014 for the under-17 boys national team and as an executive for the Dynamos Football Club, she will look to make her mark in the BFA as president.

COLEBROOKE: ‘THESE GAMES ARE ABOUT THE BAHAMIAN ATHLETES’

By BRENBT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH just about two months left before the staging of the sixth Bahamas Games, New Providence Sports Council chairman Roy Colebrooke said he’s disappointed that the Games Secretariat has not put everything in place.

The Games Secretariat has recently seen a change in leadership with Rev. Harrison Thompson and Romell Knowles replacing the duo of Martin Lundy and Sharon ‘the General’ Storr as chairman and vice chairman respectively.

Now the question is will they be able to facilitate all of the needs for the various island sports councils as well as the sporting bodies who are responsible for the operation of the sporting disciplines.

The games, making its return after a 21-year hiatus, will be held from July 6-14 as a part of the Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary of the Bahamas

Independence celebrations.

“We had a press conference about eight weeks ago where we expressed our disappointment and we expressed our displeasure in the secretariat and the ministry in regard to policies that were written because of the discrimination practices against the New Providence team,”: Colebrooke said.

“In addition to that, we are about 7-8 weeks away from game time and we’re just sending notifications of something to sports councils, but federations haven’t received anything yet and uniforms haven’t been

bought yet. Fields in the Family Islands have to be upgraded and athletes on those islands have to train.”

Colebrooke, who also serves as the president of the Bahamas Cycling Federation and a vice president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, said federations and associations are still waiting on their funding to ensure that all of the logistics are in place to stage the big event.

“We firmly believe in the New Providence Sports Council, if the government is not ready to host the games financially, they should leave it alone,” Colebrooke said. “They should either push it back or cancel it for a later time.

“Twenty-one years, you can’t say you are using the same old antiquated policies and discriminating practices against the New Providence Sports Council team to say that we can’t be a part of the Games

Village or the accommodations. You are taking away the spirit of the games from these athletes.”

Colebrooke said the majority of the athletes have no idea what the games are all about because it’s a new breed of athletes and so they should not be deprived of getting the full essence of the games.

“These things are wrong and we in the New Providence Sports Council will stand up for the rights of these athletes,” Colebrooke said. “These games are about the athletes. These games aren’t about the secretariat, the government or the ministry.

“These games are about the Bahamian athletes. When the games were envisioned by the late Paul Adderley in 1964, the whole idea was to bring athletes together through sports. CARIFTA just gone and we still don’t know what the total figure was spent on hosting the various countries. The Bahamas Games is about Bahamian athletes and all we are

CABLE BAHAMAS POWERS INTERNATIONAL TRACK MEET

IN a display of corporate partnership, Cable Bahamas Business Solutions (CBBS) stepped forward to support the Government of the Bahamas’ Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the NACAC (North America Central America Caribbean) New Life Track and Field Invitational Area Championship by donating $20k in internet and Wi-Fi services.

The NACAC New Life Invitational occurred last Saturday in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The enhanced connectivity allowed athletes and spectators to access live event updates, view realtime scores, and enjoy the immersive digital content through mobile devices. This immersive experience undoubtedly elevated the event’s atmosphere.

“The internet and Wi-Fi services were instrumental in streamlining operations, facilitating seamless communication among the various stakeholders, and

ensuring the smooth execution of the event,” stated the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.

“From managing on-site registrations and coordinating logistics, the digital infrastructure enabled the LOC to deliver an unparalleled experience for participants and spectators,” he said.

Minister Bowleg thanked the Aliv and Cable Bahamas Group of Companies

for contributing to the New Life Invitational event and the growth and development of sports and young people.

Mike Sands, president of NACAC, also thanked Cable Bahamas for its significant contribution to the success of the New Life Invitational and looks forward to future partnerships with Cable Bahamas. Said Charnette Thompson, VP of Aliv and Cable Bahamas

Business Solutions: “Our commitment to supporting government initiatives and fostering technological advancements is evident through this partnership. By leveraging our internet and Wi-Fi services expertise, we have again proven our dedication to improving connectivity, bridging the digital divide throughout our islands, and ensuring that even sporting events can benefit from cutting-edge technologies.”

The Cable Bahamas Group of Companies (the Group) has a longstanding tradition of supporting sports and fostering athletic excellence, as they were the recent communications sponsors of this year’s 50th CARIFTA Games held in New Providence in April, among others.

The in-kind donation for the international track meet underscores the group’s commitment to advancing sportsmanship and fostering global connections.

hearing about this financial constraint and this and financial constraints.”

Even though many athletes who are expected to represent the various Family Islands are based in New Providence, Colebrooke said they have been advised that they will not be able to occupy the Games Village with those athletes coming in from outside of New Providence.

“These are the policies which people are writing. I don’t know who is coming up with these policies because they are not consulting with the federations and associations, who are responsible for the operations of sports in the country,” Colebrooke stated.

“So the policies are coming from the ministry. I don’t know if they know what they are doing. So it saddens me when it comes to these games. I believe if they are not ready for these games, they should leave it alone. If they are not financially equipped for these games, leave it alone.”

Colebrooke said as this is an historic event, culminating with the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, every Bahamian involved should be treated the same way whether they are in New Providence or they are coming in from the islands.

“Things happen in the Games Village that allow the teams to bond closer together,” he said. “The late Peter Bethell was the minister responsible for pulling off the first games in 1989. “I don’t mind if I am victimised for speaking out. It’s the right thing to do. This is not about us. This is about the athletes in New Providence and the athletes who are coming in from the Family Islands. It should always be athletes first.”

After its initial staging in 1989, the mini-sized Olympic Games continued in 1991. It was then scheduled for every three years – in 1995 and then in 1998 before the last one took place in 2001.

Jacksons

THEODORE Jackson and his wife Dr Ebbie Shearer Jackson have both completed the six major marathons of the world. They both completed the Boston Marathon in April to achieve their Abbott status. Even though Dr Jackson’s name is not included on the Abbott list because

of a fault caused by the Berlin Marathon, she has completed the six majors of the world. This is a major accomplishment for both of them.

They are both veteran marathon runners who completed their first marathons the week before Dr

The

finish six major marathons around the world

MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg with Aliv and Cable Bahamas representatives.

AN HISTORIC MILESTONE: Anya James is the first woman to be elected as the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) newest president at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night.

THEODORE Jackson and his wife Dr Ebbie Shearer Jackson.

RF Bank & Trust National Golf Championships tee off

THE Bahamas National Amateur Championships

four-day tournament kicked off yesterday with title sponsor RF Bank & Trust.

RF is proudly returning as the lead sponsor for the sixth year.

The tournament has become a staple in the investment banks community and sports involvement.

“Partnerships like this have a way of connecting us together in ways that transcend business and sports,” said Rachael Allahar, RF marketing manager.

“The personal skills that golf teaches such as integrity and patience align with our organisation’s values as we help investors across the

Caribbean on their journey to creating wealth,” said Allahar.

“For 25 years RF Bank has provided innovative investment solutions to clients in the Caribbean, empowering its customers to create and manage wealth to achieve their goals. It’s an honour to have the support of corporate sponsors like RF Bank and Trust,” added Gina Rolle, director of junior golf in the Bahamas Golf Federation.

“The support for this tournament helps give our players the exposure they need to excel internationally. It also helps us lift the profile of golf as a local sport and promote players

nationally as the incredible athletes they are.”

Over 70 players were in attendance at Ocean Club for the start of the championships organised by the Bahamas Golf Federation.

The golfers will have a chance to play at a different golf course each day of the tournament.

From Ocean Club, they will go to Royal Blue today, Albany on Saturday and close things out at Lyford Cay on Sunday.

Prizes will be awarded to winners in each division.

The top male and female golfers will move on to compete in the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships.

DECHAMBEAU RESURFACES AT OAK HILL AND LEADS THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP)

— Bryson DeChambeau was back on a major stage yesterday. No longer the incredible bulk, he still lashed away with speed and strength that carried him to a 4-under 66 at tough Oak Hill and the early lead in the PGA Championship.

DeChambeau kept the ball in play for most of the round and powered his way out of the gnarly rough the few times he got out of position. He matched his low score at the PGA Championship and led by one over Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson and Corey Conners.

Still to be determined was whether he would be leading after the opening round.

A two-hour frost delay meant 30 players didn’t finish because of darkness. They were to return this morning to finish. That included Bobby Cole, the 34-year-old PGA Tour rookie who was at 5 under with four holes remaining.

“It’s a fantastic round of golf at Oak Hill,” DeChambeau said. “It’s a prestigious place, very difficult golf course. As I was looking at it throughout the week, I’m like, ‘Man, I don’t know how shooting under par

is even possible out here on some of the holes.’ But luckily, I was able to play some really good golf.”

So did Johnson, the twotime major champion who is coming off a playoff win last week in Oklahoma in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Johnson went from a fairway bunker to deep rough left of the 18th green and missed a putt just inside 15 feet for his only bogey.

“I didn’t have my best stuff, but I felt like he managed the golf course very well and took advantage of the opportunities when I had it,” Johnson said. “Made some crucial saves there on the back side.”

Fairways covered with a thin layer of frost gave way to magnificent weather with little wind.

“Today was probably the easiest conditions we’ll see all week,” said Scheffler, who took advantage with his first bogey-free card in 51 rounds at a major.

Masters champion Jon Rahm failed to take advantage, making five bogeys in a six-hole stretch around the turn and finishing with a 76, his highest start at a major since the 2018 U.S. Open. Jason Day, coming off a win at the AT&T Byron Nelson, and U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick also were at 76.

Scheffler challenging for the lead was not a surprise. Last year’s Masters champion has six wins in the last 15 months, and he hasn’t finished worse than 12th this year. Johnson had a slow start to the year but is starting to hit his stride. He won the LIV points list last year.

As for DeChambeau, he practically vanished from golf’s elite over the last year.

He injured his hip in early 2022, attributing it to slipping on marble tile playing ping-pong in Saudi Arabia. He had surgery on his left wrist after the Masters last year. And then he joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League, where his tie for fifth last week in Oklahoma was his only top 10 in six events this year.

“The emotions have definitely fluctuated pretty high and pretty low, thinking I have something and it fails and going back and forth. It’s humbling,” DeChambeau said. “Golf, and life, always has a good way to kicking you on your youknow-what when you’re on your high horse. “It’s nice to feel this today.”

His only big miss came on his approach to the 17th out of rough. It sailed to the right toward the 18th tee and plunked club pro Kenny Pigman, who shook it off and then shook hands with an apologetic DeChambeau. This isn’t so much a transformation as a restoration. His goal is no longer to create a new way to approach the game, rather to find what brought him success when he won eight times in a span of three years, including a U.S. Open title at Winged Foot.

Gone are the days when he consumed some 5,000 calories a day in a bid to build a body — he was called the “Incredible Bulk” — that could tolerate him swinging as hard as he could to overpower golf courses. He began a diet that reduces inflammation (he estimates his daily calorie intake at 2,900) and tried to find his way back to 2018, when he felt he was at his best.

“I want to be just stable now,” he said. “I’m tired of changing, trying different things. Yeah, could I hit it a little further, could I try

and get a little stronger?

Sure. But I’m not going to go full force. “It was a fun experiment,” he said, “but definitely want to play some good golf now.”

Scheffler has been doing that all year, and the opening round of the PGA Championship was no exception. He made a stressful golf course look stress-free, except for a few holes.

One of them was the second hole, his 11th of the round, when he went over the green and faced a scary chip up a steep slope to a back pin. He pitched up to 7 feet and saved par. He also got out of position on the par-5 fifth hole, getting up and down from a bunker for par.

“It was a grind today,” Scheffler said. “No bogeys is pretty solid.”

For so many others, Oak Hill was the grind they expected. Jordan Spieth felt fit enough with an injured left wrist to pursue the final leg of the career Grand Slam, only to struggle with his putting. He shot a 73.

Rory McIlroy looked as though he might be headed to another early exit from a big event. He was 3 over

after nine holes and in trouble at No. 2 when he was over the green in three, some 35 feet away with a steep slope between him and a back pin.

He holed it with his putter for a most unlikely par, made birdie on the next two holes and salvaged a 71.

“It was massive,” McIlroy said. “Depending on what happens over the next three days and what I go on to do, I may look back at that shot as being the sort of turning point of the week.”

Rahm had a long road back. He was 1 under and right in the mix until he started missing fairways, into the rough and deep bunkers, and dropped out of sight. Defending champion Justin Thomas and Masters runner-up Brooks Koepka were among those at 72.

The forecast was for warmer weather and a little more wind. The forecast for the PGA Championship also includes DeChambeau.

“Golf is a weird animal. You can never fully have it,” DeChambeau said. “You always think you have it one day and then it just leaves the next. Just got to be careful.”

BRYSON DeChambeau reacts to his shot on the 17th hole yesterday during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y.

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

SHOWN, from left to right, are Gina Rolle, BGF junior golf director alongside Rachael Allahar, RF marketing manager on Day 1 of the Bahamas National Amateur Championships. Registration kicked off at the Ocean Club on Paradise Island yesterday.

GOLFERS Alex Dupuch and Camden Forbes register for the tournament.

Banker’s Athletics Association holds inaugural golf tourney

THE BANKER’s Athletics Association held its inaugural golf tournament this past weekend. The event hosted nine teams from CIBC FirstCaribbean, Fidelity Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and Global Sun Integration Management. The event saw teams play in a four-man scramble with a total of 36 participants.

Manchester City beats Real Madrid 4-0 to advance to Champions League final

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City is three games away from making history. And after the stunning rout of Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola’s march toward a treble of trophies feels unstoppable.

“We are there. We can think about it, can visualise it,” the City manager said after his team’s 4-0 win at Etihad Stadium.

After drawing the first leg 1-1, Madrid’s undisputed kings of Europe were humbled and, except for the efforts of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the score line could have been so much worse for the 14-time champions.

City feels like an irresistible force as it closes in on the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles.

It was certainly too hot for Madrid to handle as Bernardo Silva scored twice in the first half, Eder Militao scored an own goal after the break and substitute Julian Alvarez struck in time added on to seal a 5-1 aggregate win.

Madrid has fought its way back from the brink on numerous occasions

over the past two seasons, but this was too great a challenge.

After overrunning the defending European champions, City will be favoured to do the same to Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul on June 10.

A win against Chelsea on Sunday would secure a third straight league title and Manchester United stands in its way in the FA Cup final. United is the only English team to win the three main trophies in one season — doing so in 1999.

City has already overtaken its Manchester rival as the dominant force in English soccer and can now emulate its greatest achievement.

“We are close and of course we are going to try,” Guardiola said.

City is going in search of its first Champions League title, while Guardiola is aiming to win it for a third time as a coach.

At times, it has seemed as though the pressure on Europe’s biggest stage was too big for a team that has been serial winners in domestic competition.

While City’s quality has rarely been in question over Guardiola’s seven years in charge, its temperament in the Champions League has been.

On too many occasions it has fallen short when the heat was on — losing to underdogs such as Monaco, Lyon and Tottenham.

It was in command for almost the entirety of the two-legged semifinal against Madrid last year, but still managed to lose after blowing a two-goal lead in the last few minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That never looked likely on this occasion, however, as City provided further evidence that it is finally ready to lift the one trophy that has eluded it. “After

10 or 15 minutes I had the feeling that all the pain we had in one season, one year, what happened last season, was there today,” Guardiola said.

“It was really tough to lose the way we lose and I think we had to swallow poison. Football always gives you another chance.”

Carlo Ancelotti had described Madrid as a team with a “special power to stay alive.”

“We played against an opponent who deserved to win,” Ancelotti said. “They played with more intensity,

more quality up front and they took their chances. They were better than us today, we were better last year.”

Having been dominated for long periods by Madrid in the first leg last week, City took control from the start in front of its own fans.

Erling Haaland had two clear chances to score before Bernardo’s opening goal — twice seeing headers saved by Courtois.

With the crowd roaring on every City challenge, it felt like a matter of time before the home team would find a breakthrough — and it came in the 23rd minute.

After denying Haaland twice, Courtois could not keep out Bernardo, who raced onto Kevin de Bruyne’s pass before firing in at the near post.

The sense of relief was unmistakable — from Guardiola as much as anyone else in the stadium as he turned to the crowd, double fist-pumped and blew kisses toward the supporters. Having been passive for the opening 30 minutes, Madrid sprung into life and Toni Kroos hit the bar from around 25 metres.

It was a warning to City and moments later the home team was celebrating a second goal, with

Bernardo the scorer again in the 37th.

Ilkay Gundogan burst into the box and when his shot was blocked, Bernardo was the quickest to react.

He headed out the rebound beyond Militao on the line.

Haaland could have killed the game when he came one-on-one with Courtois in the 73rd, but saw his shot diverted onto the bar.

City did not have to wait long for a third, with Militao diverting De Bruyne’s free kick into his own net.

The crowd was already in celebratory mood and was given one more goal to cheer when Alvarez burst through and slid a shot past Courtois in stoppage time.

Guardiola won the Champions League twice with Barcelona, but has failed to add to that total with Bayern Munich and City.

This is only his second final since last winning the competition in 2011, having lost to Chelsea in 2021.

“It’s a beautiful night for us,” said Bernardo.

“We knew it was going to be tough, but to beat this Madrid team 4-0 at home it was wonderful . . . a wonderful feeling to be in the final again and hopefully this time we can try to win it.”

MANCHESTER City’s Bernardo Silva, second left, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England. ( Nick Potts/PA via AP)

JACKSONS

FROM PAGE 11

Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010.

Since then, Dr Jackson has

BAHAMAS GAMES

FROM PAGE 11

Competitors are expected to face off in a number of sporting disciplines, including softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, soccer, volleyball, boxing, bodybuilding and powerlifting, cycling, baseball, regatta sailing, rowing and golf. In addition to New Providence, competitors are expected to represent Abaco, Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Columbus Isles, Eleuthera, Exuma and Ragged Island, Grand Bahama, Long Island and MICA.

completed several marathons and half marathons with only one full lung capacity. She is presently running this year to raise $60,000 for her 60th birthday and she

is asking Bahamians everywhere to support her cause - Run For Cancer. All funds will be given to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Group and MD Patient Navigation.

Donations can be dropped off at Palmdale Vision Centre, there is a go fund me page Run for Cancer or direct deposit to acct number 5-3368637 Cibc First Caribbean.

Cancer continues to impact the lives of many in our country and we must continue to do all we can to help. Dr Jackson will be participating in several other

races this coming fall and looks forward to all supporting her at the final event which is the Bahamas Half Marathon all set forSunday, November 19 this year.

ITALIAN OPEN: MEDVEDEV TO FACE TSITSIPAS IN SEMIS

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer

ROME (AP) — Daniil Medvedev’s clay-court game keeps improving.

First came a run to the French Open quarterfinals in 2021. Then an appearance in the fourth round at Roland Garros a year ago.

Now, the third-ranked Russian is making big strides at the Italian Open.

Medvedev beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-2 yesterday to reach the semifinals in Rome after losing his opener in his three previous appearances at the Foro Italico.

“I said before the tournament that I was feeling really great in practice,” Medvedev said. “It’s always a danger to say this, because when you lose the first round you’re

going to be, ‘Why did I say this?’

But I’m proving it. I feel great.”

On an overcast day, Medvedev controlled play with his flat groundstrokes and big first serve to the end the run of Hanfmann, who upset Monte Carlo Masters champion Andrey Rublev in the previous round after also taking out ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz.

Medvedev has dropped only one set in four matches. His semifinal opponent will be Stefanos Tsitsipas, who defeated Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last four in Rome for the third time.

Last year, Tsitsipas lost the final to Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic was eliminated on Wednesday by Holger Rune, who faces Casper Ruud in the other semifinal.

Tsitsipas has not dropped a set in his four matches, having eliminated

Nadal to miss French Open with hip injury, expects 2024 to be last season

By JOSEPH WILSON and HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press

FOR months, Rafael Nadal waited for his body to heal. Waited to be able to push himself around a court at full speed, with full energy, of the sort that has carried him to a record 14 titles at the French Open and a total of 22 at all Grand Slam tournaments.

He finally acknowledged yesterday it wasn’t going to happen in time for Roland Garros, where play begins in 10 days — and, while he’s not exactly sure when he will be fully recovered from a lingering hip injury, Nadal said he expects to return to action at some point and probably wrap up his career in 2024.

Speaking at a news conference at his tennis academy in Manacor,

Spain, the 36-year-old Nadal announced he will miss the clay-court French Open for the first time since making his debut — and, naturally, claiming the trophy — there in 2005. He also spoke about his future in a sport that he and Big Three rivals Roger Federer, who retired last year, and Novak Djokovic have ruled for decades.

“You can´t keep demanding more and more from your body, because there comes a moment when your body raises a white flag,” said Nadal, who sat alone on a stage, wearing jeans and a white polo shirt, as his session with the media was carried live in Spain by the state broadcaster’s 24-hour sports network. “Even though your head wants to keep going, your body says this is as far it goes.”

He did not offer a date for his return to the tennis

tour, but said it is likely to take months.

“You never know how things will turn out,” said Nadal, who answered questions in English, Spanish and the local Mallorcan dialect, “but my intention is that next year will be my last year.”

One thing he made clear: He does not want to bow out like this, holding a microphone in his left hand instead of a racket.

Nadal has been the ultimate competitor, playing every point as if it might be his last, as if the outcome might depend on each and every swing.

That hard-charging style has been at the heart of his brilliance on the court — and also perhaps contributed to a series of injuries over the years.

“I don’t deserve,” Nadal said, “to end my career like this, in a press conference.”

two local hopes, Lorenzo Sonego and Lorenzo Musetti.

It will be Medvedev’s first semifinal on clay since reaching the final in Barcelona more than four years ago.

Medvedev has long been a threat on hard courts, having won the 2021 U.S. Open and reached three other finals between the U.S. Open and Australian Open — which propelled him to the No. 1 ranking.

But he struggled with four consecutive first-round exits at Roland Garros from 2017-20.

This year’s French Open starts in 10 days and there’s room for a new champion after 14-time winner Rafael Nadal announced that he won’t be competing in the tournament because of a lingering hip injury that has sidelined him since January. (See the full story below)

RUSSIA’s Daniil Medvedev serves the ball to Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann during their quarterfinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, yesterday. (AP

SPAIN’s Rafael

Nadal speaks during a press conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, Thursday May 18, 2023. Nadal said he need to stop playing for a while after been sidelined by an injured left hip flexor since January.

(AP Photo/ Francisco Ubilla)

He is just 1-3 this season and has dropped seven of his past nine matches overall, dating to a fourth-round loss to Frances Tiafoe in the U.S. Open’s fourth round last September. The Spaniard hasn’t competed anywhere since he lost to Mackie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open on January 18, when his movement clearly was restricted by a bothersome left hip flexor.

That was Nadal’s earliest Grand Slam exit since 2016. An MRI exam the next day revealed the extent of the injury, and his manager said at the time that Nadal was expected to need up to two months to fully recover. He initially aimed to enter the Monte Carlo Masters in March on his beloved red clay, but he wasn’t able to play there, then subsequently sat out tournament after tournament,

decreasing the likelihood that he would be ready for the French Open.

It is one thing for Nadal to lose more frequently, and in earlier rounds, than he usually has over the course of his illustrious career — one in which his 22 major titles are tied with Djokovic for the most by a man (Federer won 20), and includes 92 trophies in all, along with more than 1,000 tour-level match wins.

It is another thing entirely for Nadal to be missing from Roland Garros, where he has appeared 18 times in a row and is 112-3 over his career. He lifted the trophy in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, when he became the oldest champion in tournament history. French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo said she is “so

disappointed” for Nadal, for the event’s spectators and for all tennis fans.

“My thoughts go out to him, as I can only imagine the pain and sadness he must be feeling after having to make such a hard decision. It’s heartbreaking,” said Mauresmo, a former No. 1-ranked player who won two major singles titles. “We hope that he will be able to recover quickly so that he can get back out onto the tennis courts, and we hope to see him at Roland Garros next year.”

Nadal’s birthday is June 3, when ordinarily he might have been playing his thirdround match in Court Philippe Chatrier weeks from now. Instead, he will be absent right from the start in Paris this time. And soon, it seems, he could be bidding the tennis tour adieu for good.

THEODORE JACKSON, far right, and his wife Dr Ebbie Shearer Jackson show off their marathon trophies, medals and awards.

Photo/A Tarantino)

Murray’s big 4th quarter propels Nuggets past Lakers 108-103 for 2-0 lead in the Western finals

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 23 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the Denver Nuggets to a 108103 come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Nikola Jokic had his 13th playoff triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds and a dozen assists for the Nuggets, who have never been this close to reaching the NBA Finals in their history.

Game 3 is Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, where LeBron James and the Lakers are 8-0 in the playoffs.

Murray missed 12 of his 17 shots through three quarters but found his touch in the fourth, going 6 for 7, including four 3-pointers and fueling a 15-1 run that gave Denver a 96-84 lead.

Just like in Game 1, the Lakers didn’t go down easily. They pulled to three points on Austin Reaves’ jumper before Murray sank two free throws with 12 seconds left and Bruce Brown stole the ball from James, then dribbled out the final 8 seconds.

The Nuggets improved to 41-8 at home, best in the NBA, including 8-0 in the playoffs.

James and Reaves both scored 22 for Los Angeles.

Anthony Davis scored 18 after pouring in 40 in the opener and Rui Hachimra scored 21 points off the bench.

For much of the night, it appeared as though the Lakers would wrest homecourt advantage from the Nuggets, who are the top seed for the first time in

their history. The Lakers won the series openers at Memphis and Golden State to reach the conference championship.

The outstanding defence Hachimura played on Jokic in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ loss in Game 1 led many to believe coach Darvin Ham would start Hachimura to try to stymie the Nuggets’ star centre from the start. But instead he came off the bench again.

And what a spark he provided, sinking all seven of his first-half shots for a game-high 17 points at the half. His 3-pointer and pull-up jumper sparked a

9-0 run to open the second quarter and put the Lakers in charge despite slow starts from James and Davis, each of whom were held to two points in the first quarter. James’ breakaway dunk made it 68-57 midway

through the third quarter, but the Nuggets got back into it with a 10-0 run and took their first lead since the first quarter when MurHis step-back 3 at the 7-minute mark made it 87-83. Another 3 made it

99-87, and he sank seven of eight free throws in the final minute.

TIP-INS Lakers: Los Angeles made 23 of 26 free throws. ... Davis and James were a combined 13 of 36 from the floor.

Nuggets: The Nuggets were miffed when ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters said after Game 1 that she’d never seen Jokic play before. ... Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 21 in Game 1, picked up his second foul 1:39 into the game and sat the rest of the first quarter. ... The Nuggets outscored the Lakers by 18 points from the arc.

Eastern finals coaching matchup as intriguing as the action on court

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) — The latest Eastern Conference finals pairing between the Heat and Celtics will be a matchup that ultimately turns on the play stars like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum.

But Miami’s 123-116 Game 1 victory also showed how the tactical battle between rookie coach Joe Mazzulla and veteran counterpart Erik Spoelstra will also play a big factor.

The Celtics dominated the first two quarters on Wednesday night before being outscored 46-25 in the third period – the most points they’ve allowed in any playoff quarter over the past 25 years. It put Boston into 103-91 hole it never overcame.

The game-changing onslaught also included 13-1 run by the Heat to help tie the game in which Mazzulla made the decision not to call a timeout, something that has become a recurring theme for him this season because of his preference to let the Celtics play through rough patches. “I don’t think it’s a challenge in the postseason, I think it’s human nature,” Mazzulla said yesterday when asked about his team’s tendencies to surrender leads this season. “So how are you able to get out of that and win that and just understanding your environment, understanding your opponent? It’s hard to do, but what we’re trying to do is really hard.”

After back-to-back series in which Boston has

fallen into 0-1 holes, it’s cast the spotlight back on the 34-year-old, who was thrust into his dream job in the preseason and is now trying to find new ways to motivate a team with championship expectations.

Miami’s Spoelstra knows well what it’s like to be in that position.

The 52-year-old Spoelstra grew up in the Heat organisation, rising from video coordinator to assistant to head coach at 38, and then successfully balanced the pressure of turning a team led by All-Stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh into back-to-back NBA champions.

Spoelstra acknowledged that he doubted himself initially, recalling how he was heckled in his first game in New York by Knicks fans who asked, “if I was up past my bedtime.”

“I was beating myself up quite a bit,” Spoelstra said of his first season.

Likewise, Mazzulla has made no secret that he has learned something with every game he has coached.

That includes the playoffs. During the last series, Mazzulla listened to pleas from the Celtics’ veteran leaders to reinsert Robert Williams III into the starting lineup. He also apologised to the team for not calling a timeout prior to its final possession in Game 4 overtime loss to Philadelphia.

“He trusts us. At the end of the day, Joe trusts us,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said.

That humility is why Spoelstra respects what Mazzulla has done to this point, going through the

challenges of an NBA season. “I think just going through the fire, going through the experiences,” Spoelstra said. “Every situation is different. So, I don’t know what it’s like in this locker room, this building. But I have a lot of respect for Joe. We have a lot of mutual friends. We saw each other a lot in the (Florida) bubble. … We always seemed to be bumping into each other all the time.”

And now they’ve bumped into each other three of the past four postseasons. While his team is an underdog this time around, as one of the league’s longest tenured head coaches Spoelstra is proving yet

again how good he is at getting the best out of his players.

Despite a slow start in Game 1, Spoelstra let Butler set the tone throughout, including trusting his star to guard Tatum, despite Butler dealing with an ankle issue that slowed him the previous round against New York. It increased the amount of energy Tatum had to exert and contributed to him not taking a shot in the fourth quarter, despite a 30-point scoring night.

It’s part of what has become the Heat’s culture under Spoelstra, teams led by stars but depending on the collective for ultimate success. He said Butler epitomizes that.

MORANT: ‘I’M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK ON MYSELF’

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

JA Morant spoke out Tuesday night about his latest troubles, three days after the Memphis guard apparently held a firearm again while being broadcast on social media and was suspended by the Grizzlies from all team activities.

He’s also being investigated by the NBA for his actions, two months after the league suspended him for essentially the same thing — displaying a gun on social media.

“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” Morant said in a statement released Tuesday night by his representatives. “This is a journey and I recognise there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”

His comments came a few hours after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed disappointment over the situation. Silver handed down an eightgame suspension in March; there is no way of knowing yet what penalties Morant may face this time.

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw, this weekend, that video,” Silver said in a televised interview with ESPN before the draft lottery in Chicago. “We’re in the process of investigating it and we’ll figure out exactly what happened as best as we can. The video’s a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst. We’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”

The first video, which cost Morant about $669,000 in forfeited salary, came out in March. The second was captured Saturday night and widely shared online. It was streamed on the Instagram account of Morant associate Davonte Pack, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Grizzlies have not commented on the specifics of the latest video.

The video streamed by Pack shows Morant briefly appearing to display a handgun. At the very brief moment — maybe less than a second — when Morant is shown holding what appears to be a weapon as he sits in the passenger seat of a vehicle, the livestream had 111 viewers.

“On the ball, off the ball, all that stuff,” Spoelstra said.

“Settled us offensively. That’s a big part of us not turning the ball over, is just having a place where you can throw the ball and get a bit more settled.”

That said, Spoelstra expects Boston to respond in Game 2 today. Not just because of the players they have on the court, but because of the guy patrolling the sideline.

Spoelstra said he can tell Mazzulla has already grown as a coach.

“You go through it, the experience,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the best thing. The most valuable thing. What he’s done this year is not easy. You definitely have to respect that.”

“He could have injured, maimed, killed himself, someone else, with an act like that,” Silver said. “And also the acknowledgement that he’s a star. He has an incredibly huge following. And my concern — and I thought he shared with me — that millions if not tens of millions of kids globally would see him as having done something that was celebrating in a way that act of using a firearm in that fashion.”

Morant’s five-year, $194 million max contract is set to begin this coming season. He has deals with Nike and Powerade, though the sports drink company pulled an ad featuring Morant almost immediately after the March video emerged.

DENVER Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) celebrates a three pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals series last night in Denver.

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

MIAMI Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches from the bench in the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, on Wednesday.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

PM blasts ‘blinkered’ officials’ tax attitude

Licence applicants to receive a notional licence until their Business Licence can be formalised.

“If one applies for licence renewal, for example, and the application is tied to whether one’s taxes are current or not, I want to address that issue to make the process more conducive to commercial activity. So if there’s a question about what is owed, either in your National Insurance contributions or real property tax or your Business Licence fees, then talk about it but don’t close the business or not issue the licence.

“Talk about it because talk will bring results, and that is what we are encouraging. But somehow public

servants are blinkered and don’t see beyond that.”

Mr Davis then cited the example of public works being delayed because the contractor was unable to produce the necessary Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) to show all taxes due and owing to the Government have been paid and are up-to-date.

“An individual, for instance, might win a government contract, but to get the contract signed so that they could be mobilised and moving along, they’re required to produce a tax certificate to show they are in compliance with all of their taxes,” the Prime Minister said.

“The individual may owe real property tax and National Insurance. Right?

CALL 502-2394 TO ADVERTISE TODAY!

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that LOUBENS GUERINE , Father Calnan 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 12th day of May 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE OF BENJAMIN NEWBOLD Jr. aka BENJAMIN NEWBOLD., late of No.158 Sunset Park Subdivision, in the Western District of the Island of New Providence, in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.. Deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 30th day of June, A.D. 2023 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late BENJAMIN NEWBOLD Jr. aka BENJAMIN NEWBOLD will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Administratrix shall then have had notice. AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

Dated this 19th day of May, A.D., 2023.

c/o PYFROM & CO Attorneys for the Administratrix, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas

He may owe those things, but if we work and think as a business person, you will determine that we will sign the contract and deduct what is owed to us from the contract sum. But, very often, there’s this attitude ‘well ,pay me first and then you continue’ but it holds up productivity, it holds up growth and so many things likewise are slowed up.”

Mr Davis’ seemingly ‘soft touch’ approach to tax delinquents, and collecting arrears, contrasts sharply with the much tougher approach taken by the Ministry of Finance and Department of Inland Revenue - both agencies for which he has ministerial responsibility - since April.

Besides placing a hold on the bank accounts of companies that have failed to remit VAT to the Government, and in some cases garnishing these facilities and removing the sums owed, the Department of Inland Revenue has also warned it will exercise its ‘power of sale’ in “extreme cases where property owners have failed to make real property tax payments for between 10-20 years and have ignored all outreach to bring their accounts current.

The Prime Minister’s comments yesterday potentially send mixed messages as to the Government’s approach in dealing with tax cheats and dodgers. However, Mr Davis yesterday also acknowledged that the availability, reliability and affordability of broadband Internet services and mobile data remain challenges to economic competitiveness on the Family Islands.

“The ease of doing business creates the environment for conducive investments. Residents here are no strangers to vexing connectivity challenges, which have the counterintuitive effect of causing digitisation to become a hindrance to business and productivity,” he added.

“We opened a passport office here this year, and residents also have access to the Registrar [General’] s department for registers of births and deaths, the Government’s portal for Business Licences and Customs Department’s portal. All those things are in place. However, connectivity and system issues continue to derail the improvements intended via these resources.

“These are issues we are working to rectify as the

global push towards digitisation continues. We remain determined to ensure we bring all Bahamians along with us. We can keep pace with digital transformation and still leave room for the analog environment in which many Bahamians are so intimately familiar and slow to let go.”

Reiterating that “I am an island boy”, Mr Davis said the growth and development of all Family Islands was central to his government’s plans. “Family Island development is key to national development, and we are committed on both fronts,” he added. “I am not Nassau centric...

“I think the future of The Bahamas lies in the Family Islands, but done in a way that it does not disrupt our culture and essence or ethos of who we are... We’ll see as time goes on our rich and vibrant cultural heritage, coupled with infrastructural upgrades, necessary improvements to the delivery of government services and relatively safe communities, make our Family Islands ideal places to live, visit and invest....

“My government is determined to foster such progress, and to give Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay the quality of

life and development you deserve.” The Prime Minister, responding to audience questions, said he had been advised that The Bahamas’ territory covers 160,000 square miles rather than the traditionally-accepted 100,000 square miles as a result of the seagrass mapping exercise being carried out to enable this nation to monetise carbon credits. He reiterated previous warnings that “all of us will be doomed to a watery grave or become climate refugees” due to sea level rise and global warming, especially as 80 percent of The Bahamas’ land mass is less than three metres above sea level, while repeating pleas for industrialised nations to “get to grips” with climate change. Mr Davis also confirmed that “one or two cruise lines have been making inquiries of me to determine if they could have port or bring in their cruise ships” to locations in his Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador constituency. Royal Caribbean recently confirmed it had scouted out a location in Rum Cay but Michael Bayley, its president and chief executive, cautioned against reading too much into this development.

REVENUE SURGE TO $274M VIA CORPORATE TAX SWITCH

with the G-20/Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) minimum global corporate tax initiative, and only increases business tax revenue by 4 percent or $5m.

The two most likely options at present are scenarios where those caught in the G-20/OECD net are taxed at the minimum 15 percent rate, and all other Bahamasbased corporate entities pay a more “modest” 10 percent or 12 percent. Under the 12 percent choice, SMEs below the $500,000 threshold would still pay Business Licence fees under the existing regime.

Under the 10 percent corporate income tax option for all businesses regardless of turnover, government revenues were projected to rise by 36 percent to $191m. And, under the choice where SMEs still pay Business Licence fees, they were forecast to expand by 62 percent to $226m. The latter figure is equal to 1.7 percent of GDP, and would represent an effective tax rate of 8.7 percent.

“The additional revenues estimated to accrue from a corporate tax system would move The Bahamas to be more in line with the OECD, where taxes on corporate profits make up 3 percent of GDP on average. Under (preferred) options two and three, revenues as a share of GDP are estimated to be 1.5 percent or 1.7 percent, respectively, compared to 1.1 percent under the existing Business Licence fee,” the

Government’s ‘green paper’ asserted. “These additional revenues would be deployed by the Government to either pay down the debt-to- GDP ratio, or to invest in capital for the wider economy. Whilst debt payments will not have a direct economic impact, capital investment could improve productivity of the economy by creating jobs or infrastructure projects with longer term impacts. These positive impacts are considered in the economic impact assessment.”

While the G-20/OECD initiative has given The Bahamas an “opportunity for The Bahamas to re-design its business taxation”, the Government is also partially focused on using the situation to increase its revenue.

“There is a need to increase the Government’s revenue raising ability given longterm spending objectives and the increasing global cost of servicing debt,” the ‘green paper’ added.

“Reducing the overall debt-to- GDP ratio will require a sustained increase in revenues to achieve the budget surplus forecast by the Ministry of Finance by 2024-2025 combined with growth in the economy...... The Bahamas has experienced significantly higher yields on its international bonds, making international bond markets an unattractive source of financing.

“Outreach work to explain the Government’s funding strategy for fiscal year 2022-2023 has had some effect in alleviating this pressure, though a successful consolidation of the fiscal

position and reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio should improve The Bahamas’ creditworthiness.

“Ultimately, this should lead to a reduction in the cost of borrowing. Addressing the Government’s revenue raising ability by re-designing the approach to business taxation is one method by which this can be achieved.”

Many in the Bahamian private sector have long favoured reforming the existing Business Licence fee regime, which is based on turnover rather than corporate profits. It is viewed as a distortionary tax that disproportionately penalises high turnover/low margin businesses, such as food stores and gas stations, while favouring high margin/low turnover entities such as services firms

It is also causes further complications for companies who sell a significant volume of price-controlled goods, and often leads to companies paying more in Business Licence fees than they earn in annual profits while others are effectively taxed into a loss.

The Government’s ‘green paper’ acknowledged these concerns as it noted the higher margins enjoyed by some industries that paid the same Business Licence fees, based on turnover, as their lower margin counterparts. Real estate and recreational activities, both enjoying earnings margins of close to 40 percent based on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation), were shown as paying Business

Licence fees equal to 1 percent of turnover. The latter percentage was equal to wholesalers and retailers who, while also paying almost 1 percent of their turnover in Business Licence fees, earn an EBITDA margin of just 5 percent. “The main form of business taxation in The Bahamas is the Business Licence fee, which is based on gross turnover and has a range of reliefs and incentives,” the Government’s ‘green paper’ said.

“Although the rates applied to different businesses are tiered, these are levied on gross turnover, so the Business Licence fee system does not account for the affordability of the fee to businesses in terms of annual profits. This means that the Business Licence fee does not necessarily create the appropriate incentives for growth or investment, and results in disparity across sectors in terms of the share of Business Licence fee paid relative to total turnover.

“For example, the wholesale and retail trade sector and recreational activities sector each pay 0.9 percent of turnover, on average, to the Business Licence fee. However, businesses in the wholesale and retail trade sector are estimated to have a lower profit margin than businesses operating in the recreational activity sector (6 percent compared to 40 percent).

“A recurring theme emerging from the Business Advisory Committee is that the Business Licence fee inflexibility may be limiting to growth.” The Government added that its “goal is to transform business taxation in The Bahamas”, and

described its ‘green paper’ as “the first step in defining the principles for a corporate income tax” - a structure of the kind that has never been levied in this nation before.

It acknowledged, though, a corporate income tax could be introduced on a “staggered” basis by applying it only to entities covered by the G-20/OECD initiative and its application to entities in the domestic economy left to a later date. This could “balance the objective of revenue collection against introducing a system that suits the needs of all firms in The Bahamas, and allow more flexibility in the approach to domestic tax reform”.

“In terms of the sector level results, the impact of a corporate income tax depends on the amount of Business Licence fee currently paid relative to turnover, and whether a profits-based system improves this,” the Government’s ‘green paper’ added “The wholesale and retail sector, for instance, is currently paying disproportionately more in Business Licence fees compared to its estimated profit margin.

“Therefore, across the options, wholesale and retail activities are estimated to experience a net gain from a change in business taxation. Comparably, real estate and financial services are estimated to experience the greatest net increase in revenue paid, due to their relatively high margins.

“Similarly, across business sizes, larger firms earning at least $6m in revenues per annum (representing approximately 1 percent of total firms) are estimated to experience the largest increase in

revenue contributions. For the smallest firms, the impact is zero under options one and three since they remain subject to the Business Licence fee to minimise additional administrative burden.”

And, further acknowledging the need for reform, the Government’s ‘green paper’ added: “The existing Business Licence fee system generates relatively low revenues for the Government, whilst also creating disincentives for investment for some firms. As a proportion of economic activity, fees obtained from the Business Licence fee system represented around 1 percent of GDP in 2019.

“This compares to revenues from corporate taxation representing 3 percent of GDP, on average, across the OECD. Additionally, the Business Licence fee system is levied on gross turnover regardless of profit margins meaning that, in some instances, it must be paid by firms even in loss making years. In sectors where profit margins are variable and relatively low, this feature may be limiting incentives to invest domestically and acting as a barrier to economic growth.

“Globally, the approach to business taxation is converging towards a minimum level of business taxation for large multinational groups. This convergence is guided by the OECD Pillar Two agreement, to which The Bahamas is a signatory along with around 140 countries. The current Business Licence fee system does not align with the international rules proposed under the agreement, and The Bahamas could potentially lose government revenues as a result.”

Cat Island ‘going to get whole hog’

reiterated previous assertions that New Bight will become “the regional model and trend setter when it comes to sustainable airports”.

With Cat Island clearly benefiting from increased government spending and focus, aided by having an MP who is also prime minister, Dr Romer said: “Cat Island, you’re going to get, like mama says, you’re going to get the whole hog in Cat Island. It’s coming sooner rather than later. As we like to say in The Bahamas, it’s coming soon directly...... It’s for the future generations.

Cat Island, for a long time, has been crying for airport infrastructure in Arthur’s Town and New Bight.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, speaking earlier at the same conference, said A& M Construction, headed by Bishop Roker, had been selected as the contractor to upgrade New Bight airport. He added that work will also “begin very shortly” on a $10m renovation of Cat Island’s other airport at Arthur’s Town, with Emil Knowles Construction having recently signed the contract to undertake that work.

Dr Romer, who revealed that Cat Island will have to temporarily rely on Arthur’s Town as its main aviation gateway when New Bight is closed for its $18m overhaul, said improvements to the island’s aviation and other supporting infrastructure were urgently required to facilitate increased visitor flows and attract more airlines to service the island.

“We landed yesterday and I prayed for the plane,” he revealed, adding that the improvements to both airports will address “the risk of breaking up those planes every time they land”.

Agreeing that “significant attention” must be given to both airside and landside enhancements at both airports, Dr Romer added: “Sitting around the table he [Mr Davis] has made very clear in 2024 that he wants

a ribbon cutting for New Bight International Airport.

“I am telling you what he’s telling me. It’s an imperative of his as an MP, as prime Minister, of his administration to ensure a new airport is constructed and operational in New Bight.”

Noting that airport redevelopments of this nature typically take 18-24 months, Dr Romer said he had been assured that a design for New Bight had already been completed, agreed and approved, and that “it’s not a pie in the sky concept”.

Pledging that the new airport terminal will create a sense of place unique to Cat Island, and “not compromise” the island’s cultural and indigenous heritage, Dr Romer said the terminal will likely feature a “hall of champions” showcasing prominent Cat Islanders such as Mr Davis and the late Sir Sidney Poitier.

“It has to work for Cat Island. It cannot be Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). It has to be an airport that works again for this community,” he added. “There has to be linkage between what we do in tourism and what we do in aviation with respect to infrastructure. Otherwise we run the risk of bringing people to see a bad show.

“They’re coming in and their sense on arrival is seeing an inadequate airport, and then when they leave they see an inadequate airport. Our growth is constrained by capacity. We believe if we build it they are going to come.” Still, predicting that 2023 will be “the best year ever” for Cat Island when it comes to foreign visitor air arrivals, the aviation chief said he was working with Makers Air to “hopefully” launch daily service to the island during summer.

And Dr Romer also confirmed that he is “speaking to Western Air” about launching twice daily service to Cat Island. He warned, though, that it was critical that the island’s medical facilities be upgraded. “Airlines are having these discussions with us,” he added. “They don’t want their guests to come here and, if an emergency was to occur, be unable to have those persons evacuated swiftly or have reliable medical facilities.”

Meanwhile, Bacchus Rolle, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works, echoed the deputy tourism director-general’s remarks by saying: “I couldn’t say it any better. We are bringing the whole hog.” He confirmed that Bahamas

Power & Light (BPL) is set to bring its LED street lighting initiative, which involves the installation of less costly, cleaner and more efficient bulbs, to Cat Island. He also promised that “better roads are coming to Cat Island very soon”, with plans in motion to repair and upgrade some 60 miles of roads that were constructed more than 30 years ago in 1992. Mr Davis told the Outlook conference earlier that the road rehabilitation contract has already been signed with Simmons

Construction, the hot mix plant erected and “work will be started immediately”.

Mr Rolle, meanwhile, said the Water & Sewerage Corporation was in the final stages of negotiating contracts for two reverse osmosis plants, water storage tanks and associated infrastructure at Bennett’s Harbour and New Bight.

Construction is expected to take 30 weeks and be completed by Christmas.

He added that Island Site Development is 80-85 percent complete on the installation of 12 miles of water mains, and 290 service connections, in both north and south Cat Island. And

the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Works have agreed to contract with Cat Island Development Infrastructure Company for a private-public partnership that will develop 92 miles of water mains and lead to 800 new service connections.

“With all the additional infrastructure, it seems obvious to me that Cat Island is poised for very, very big things,” Mr Rolle said. ‘I’m encouraged, and I would encourage all of you to launch out from the safety of the harbour, launch with new business ideas and business ventures, and set your sights and sails to explore oceans unknown.”

PM: $160M PROJECT TO GIVE 300 FULL-TIME JOBS

$160.45m mixed-use golf resort, residential and marina project at the PGA Village in south-east Cat

Island has received government approval.”

The project has suffered numerous delays since 2009, with issues involving design, airport construction

financing and construction. The project was being developed by a consortium headed by Southworth Development, the USbased firm that subsequently

acquired the Abaco Club at Winding Bay in conjunction with a group of homeowners there.

The Prime Minister yesterday said the existing Heads of Agreement with the developers will be amended, and that they plan to employ 150 Bahamians during the construction phase and up to 300 in operations.

He added: “We intend to amend the existing Heads of Agreement with the developers. Phase one of the project is earmarked to provide 150 Bahamian jobs during the construction phase, and 150 to 300 Bahamian jobs during the operational phase.”

“Phase one is slated to include the construction of 125 single family residential lots, 11.6 acres of multi-family residential pads, six and nine holes of original Rees Jones golf design, and an additional nine to be added in phase two. A village that includes a Welcome Centre as well as a full-service restaurant, a pro-shop, 12 private one and two-bedroom cabanas and a multi-use pavilion.”

The Prime Minister also suggested that San Salvador is reaching full employment and “bustling” with job opportunities since the reopening of the Club Med resort. He added that many San Salvador residents have left the public service

in favour of working at the hotel. He said: “On San Salvador, we were successful upon coming to office in getting the Club Med resort re-opened and getting Bahamians back to work. San Salvador is bustling with robust job opportunities, perhaps even reaching full employment, as numerous Bahamians have several jobs, while others have made the decision to leave the traditionally sought after security of the public service to work at Club Med.”

Elsewhere, the Prime Minister touted a 175.4 percent increase in air arrivals to Cat Island in January 2023 compared to the same pre-COVID month in 2019. However, while the percentage increase looks impressive, the reality is that Cat Island has only been receiving several thousand air arrivals per annum in recent years.

“We are seeing positive indicators of economic rebound and growth for Cat Island and several of our other Family Islands,” Mr Davis said. “In 2021, Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay collectively recorded a nominal GDP of $34.2m. Just over 45 percent thereof ($15.5m) was driven by real estate and rental activities, with industries including accommodations, food services and the arts generating $4.4m.

“Economic activity for the islands grew by 2 percent between 2020 and 2021. In 2019 - prior to the COVID19 pandemic - some $88.6m in economic activity was recorded. This level of activity can be achieved again, and there is potential for even greater economic gains through expansion of existing and new industries.

“We expect continued growth as we work to support Bahamian entrepreneurs, attract viable foreign direct investment projects, and secure greater numbers of stopover visitors. We opened our tourism office here in Cat Island last year, and the dedicated work of the Ministry of Tourism is yielding remarkable postpandemic results.”

Mr Davis continued:

“Tourism statistics indicate that of the five islands last year whose foreign air arrivals exceeded 2019’s prepandemic numbers - those being Andros, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Exuma and Long Island - Cat Island led the way with a close to 70 percent increase in foreign air arrivals in 2022 compared to 2019.

“Equally as exciting are the arrivals numbers for January of this year. Cat Island experienced a nation-leading 175.4 percent increase in foreign air arrivals compared to January 2019. This increasing interest in Cat Island as a destination augurs well not only for local businesses, but for current and prospective foreign direct investment.”

by 0.1 percent, while GDP growth would contract by 0.3 percent and foreign and domestic investment fall by 1.5 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

The third option, branded as “simplicity driven”, would exempt or carve-out small businesses earning less than a $500,000 annual turnover to leave them still paying the existing Business Licence fee. Bahamas-based entities in groups that meet the G-20/OECD threshold would pay a 15 percent corporate income tax, and all other companies generating more than $500,000 would pay a 12 percent rate.

The third option, though, would result in greater negative economic impacts although generating more revenue for the Government. Under this scenario, the ‘green paper’ said GDP growth was estimated to contract by 0.9 percent with unemployment increasing by 0.5 percent. Foreign and domestic investment will fall by sums equivalent to 5.1 percent and 1 percent, respectively. The final option, which will generate the greatest revenue increase for the Government but also inflict the harshest economic impact, is to simply impose the 15 percent corporate income tax rate on

all businesses with a turnover greater than $500,000 per annum and a 10 percent on small and medium-sized enterprises earning less than that.

This would result in an economic contraction of 1.7 percent, or around $200m, the ‘green paper’ projected, with the unemployment rate rising by 0.9 percent. FDI would fall by 10.2 percent, and its domestic investment counterpart by 2 percent. However, government revenues under this scenario are forecast to rise by 96 percent compared to the $140m collected from Business Licence fees in 2019 (see other article on Page 24B).

The more favoured options, according to the ‘green paper’, would see government revenues rise by 36 percent and 62 percent from implementing the second and third scenarios, respectively, compared to those same 2019 Business Licence revenues. Just levying 15 percent corporate income tax on those groups targeted by the G-20/ OECD, though, would only produce a 4 percent revenue rise from business community taxation.

“The journey towards a modern corporate income tax system is not welldefined and there are a series of trade-offs which the Government and the

public will need to account for,” the ‘green paper’ said.

“This document represents the Government’s first step in understanding variation between the policy options, and the practical concessions, between raising additional revenues at the expense of negative effects on businesses.

“Considering the economic impacts against the additional government revenues by option, the Government is minded to focus attention on options two and three. The respective economic impacts and revenue raising ability of options one and four are not well balanced when considering the strategic priorities of the Government. Comparatively, the balance between the effects of options two and three go further in achieving a solution to fiscal stability whilst limiting the impact on the wider economy.”

Nothing is set in stone, and the Government warns that the process of choosing the precise corporate income tax-related reform, then implementing it will be a lengthy one and not happen overnight. “This process, in its totality, is expected to be lengthy and resource intensive,” the ‘green paper’ said.

“Countries implementing the Pillar Two (750m euro

turnover) rules as a supplement to established tax regimes are typically taking a minimum of 12 months to bring forward legislation. We, therefore, anticipate that the introduction of a new corporate income tax regime will take substantially more than 12 months.”

With responses to the ‘green paper’ sought by July this year, the timelines set out indicate that a policy decision on the corporate income tax approach will not be taken until November 2023 at earliest. A further 12-18 months would be needed to properly design it and assess the impact with specific industries and, after further time to draft and pass the necessary legislation, the first returns would only be filed some 12-24 months after the law takes effect.

The Government said it is seeking to balance competing objectives of complying with the OECD/G-20 initiative, and improving its revenues, while at the same time trying to maintain The Bahamas’ economic competitiveness, modernise

business taxation and mitigate any negative economic impact. “Based on the initial analysis undertaken, the Government is of the view that this is achieved through a balanced policy that adopts a two-tiered system as outlined by options two or three. Under this approach, the impact on the economy is estimated to be moderate, though the policy is estimated to have important incremental revenue raising benefits for the overall fiscal situation,” the ‘green paper’ reiterated.

“This consultation has presented a holistic assessment of what a corporate income tax system would mean for the Bahamian economy. Establishing such a system from the ground up is a significant undertaking, the details for which will need to be defined in a series of next steps.”

The Bahamas has no history of levying or administering an income-type tax, and the costs and bureaucracy associated with enforcing and collecting it are likely to be significant. The Prime Minister, in a foreword to the ‘green paper’, wrote: “Confronting these challenges

are as much about ensuring greater fairness, efficiency and effectiveness in our tax policy regime as it is about supporting fiscal resilience, economic growth and development.

“As it now stands, we have a Business Licence fee that is inherently biased given that it is calculated on revenues (turnover) instead of profits or ability to pay.

Consequently, the regime may discourage domestic investment and limit economic growth, and it is not aligned with international best practices.

“At the same time, the imminent adoption of international tax rules for the convergence to a global minimum level of business taxation for large multinational groups require that our business tax regime is aligned with the new rules. As a government, we have already signed on to these rules, and failure to conform will result in the potential loss of revenue,” Philip Davis KC continued.

“It is clear to the Government that we must introduce changes in this area, and in the ‘green paper’ we are laying out the case for this change.”

DPM URGES ATLANTIS: ‘PUT MONEY WHERE MOUTH IS’

THE DEPUTY Prime Minister yesterday invited Atlantis to “put their money where their mouths are” and team with the Tourism Development Corporation to help drive downtown Nassau’s revival.

Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investments and aviation, said the Paradise Island mega resort and Baha Mar would be better served partnering with the Government to improve the overall tourism product as he acknowledged their previous contributions in this area.

“I know that they will answer the call,” he told reporters. So I am excited about any development that creates entrepreneurship for Bahamians, that create job opportunities, that causes Bahamians to create wealth that strengthens the overall product of tourism, and to help to drive the revitalisation of Bay Street.”

He added that the Government is “about progress, and we believe a rising tide will float all boats and there is opportunity for improvement in the monuments”. Those monuments will likely include Fort Charlotte and Fort Fincastle, plus the Water Tower and Queen’s Staircase, the Pompey Museum and other tourist attractions in downtown Nassau.

Mr Cooper’s comments come at a point when relations between the Government and Atlantis are somewhat strained due to the latter’s much-publicised concerns over Royal Caribbean’s $110m Paradise Island project, which the Davis administration has given preliminary approval to subject to all environmental concerns being satisfied.

Subsequent to that, the Department of Labour launched a ‘survey’ of Atlantis employees in response to alleged complaints that staff felt pressured and intimidated to oppose the cruise line’s project. This, though, has raised concerns that the Department and, by extension, the Government, is engaged in a so-called ‘fishing expedition’ in retaliation for the mega resort’s stance on Royal Caribbean.

Vaughn Roberts, Atlantis’ senior vice-president of government affairs and special projects, yesterday said the mega resort was “very disheartened” and surprised by the Department

of Labour’s approach and had not been provided with details on the allegations made against it.

“We’re concerned not so much from what the survey will say. If anything, we’re just concerned with the approach,” he told reporters yesterday.

“We view ourselves as an important corporate citizen in The Bahamas. We’re the largest private entity here and we’ve had a very good relationship with the Department of Labour, certainly The Bahamas government for many years of our development and operation, and this was just a bit of a surprise for us.

“We agreed to co-operate but, you know, the practice for the last 25 years, the co-operation has been different from what was

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demonstrated here last week, and so we were very disheartened by it but we stand firm in our view that our employees would make the right decisions on their own.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cooper also addressed concerns that Royal Caribbean’s project will displace and otherwise negatively impact vendors at Cabbage Beach if approved. He said: “Let me just say that there’s been a lot of noise about the Royal Caribbean development on Paradise Island.

“This is driven primarily by Atlantis, who cite that they have environmental concerns, and I’ve always said if they have environmental concerns there, there is a process that is available to have those environmental concerns [addressed]. If those concerns go beyond environmental, then there’s a process for expressing those as well.

“We have made a point to ensure that the revised Royal Caribbean deal on Paradise Island is net positive for Bahamians. We insist, for example, that 49 percent of the Beach Club has to be owned by Bahamians. We insist that all of the vendors and the retail operations and businesses at the Beach Club must be operated by Bahamians. So we are extremely, extremely confident that this is going to be a positive for Bahamian investors and Bahamian entrepreneurs.”

DPM: Tourism must ‘lead way’ on technology industry set-up

FROM PAGE A23

innovation in the sector that will benefit Bahamian entrepreneurs. Mr Cooper said it is expected that the proposed Bill will be passed in Parliament “very soon”.

Latia Duncombe, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, said: “The key objective of this expo is to provide an opportunity to make tourism businesses more economically viable by encouraging entrepreneurs to utilise digital commerce techniques.

“Organisers have also facilitated representatives from financial institutions to connect with entrepreneurs, and discuss business innovative e-commerce

NOTICE

ASIAMED WORLDWIDE INVESTMENTS LIMITED

(a) ASIAMED WORLDWIDE INVESTMENTS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 17th May, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 19th day of May, A. D. 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

possibilities through digitisation of their business practices and procedures. These actions all present an excellent opportunity for Bahamian entrepreneurs to increase sales and secure a strong foothold in the digital business landscape.”

Mrs Duncombe added:“According to the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation), an investment in innovation and technology with a focus on artificial

intelligence, AI, blockchain systems, augmented reality/ AR and virtual reality/VR was the only indicator that remained positive during the pandemic. The Bahamas benefited from the use of digital health visas when the COVID-19 pandemic travel protocols were in effect, as it allowed Bahamians and visitors to travel with proof that they had either been vaccinated or tested negative for the virus.

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

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

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 17th May, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 19th day of May, A. D. 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE OF FREDERICK ALEXANDER SANDS SR., late of No.1 Bishop Street, Nassau Village Subdivision, in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas..

Deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 30th day of June, A.D. 2023 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late FREDERICK ALEXANDER SANDS SR will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Administratrix shall then have had notice.

AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

Dated this 17th day of May, A.D., 2023. c/o PYFROM & CO

Attorneys for the Administratrix, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas

ATLANTIS RESORT

CHESTER COOPER

BAHAMIAN BUSINESS MUST SPEED UP TECHNOLOGY USE

Business digitisation, although an old topic, is essential to your company’s growth. Every firm’s goal is to ultimately increase revenue, attract more new customers and retain existing ones. One of the best ways to leverage technology is to improve your existing infrastructure and automate processes such as e-mail marketing to better suit your target audience.

The truth is, as a nation, we have some catching up to do. Our efforts to embrace new e-commerce options, virtual and artificial technologies, and other methods that will improve how we do business have been slow to say the least. Our column’s message today is simply… Let’s get with it.

If you were to reflect on the world and corporate

environment we have inherited, even setting aside COVID-19, you will agree that much has changed. The world we live in today is not the world we were born into. In these past few years, technology has altered the way we interact, the way we conduct business, the way we shop and the way we live and work. It has become an integral part of our routine and now forms an indispensable part of life. The importance of technology in business cannot be understated. Companies worldwide are relying on emerging technologies to help improve their competitive advantage, and drive strategy and growth. Today, we cannot even consider doing business without the Internet, video conferencing, project management apps and more. In fact, the role of technology in

business will only continue to expand. This necessitates incorporating technology into your processes and becoming more technology savvy. Old ledgers in manuscript and excel, brass cash registers and print brochures are a thing of the past. A new day has dawned and we must all move in sync. If you are still in contemplation mode, here are four compelling reasons to embrace emerging technology.

1. Embracing technology helps us communicate more effectively This will include interactions within your team or with your clients, potential customers, investors or the general public. Video conferencing technologies, such as Skype and Zoom, make meetings across geographical borders convenient. As for within your

company, internal communication apps can help you simplify staff engagement. Tracking projects, details on tasks and deadlines has now become a concise science whether your team works from under the same roof or remotely.

2. Embracing technology adds that extra layer of security to your business

With the rise in cyber crime and data breaches, tight security is imperative for all companies. Today, all business assets are mostly stored in the cloud or on end-points. This has made it necessary for companies to adopt strict measures to keep their data, as well as that of their customers, secure.

3. Embracing technology increases business efficiency

Technology helps increase the efficiency of systems, products and services. It helps track and streamline processes, maintains data flow, and manages the contacts and employee records. In fact, this increased efficiency in operations helps reduce costs as well as enabling companies to grow rapidly.

4. Finally, embracing new technology ultimately saves your business time and money Without sacrificing quality of products or services, new technology has allowed businesses to increase scale in record time. In fact, technology is now performing repetitive tasks that were earlier performed by people. This helps by saving on employee costs or having them work in areas where they are really needed.

DPM: Tourism must ‘lead way’ on technology industry set-up

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE DEPUTY Prime Minister yesterday said “tech tourism” must lead

the creation of a Bahamian technology industry as the Government moves to give the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) more authority. Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investments and aviation,

speaking at the agency’s tech tourism event aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, said: “We recently launched something we called Innovate 242. Innovate 242 is a push across the country to re-establish our technology industry. We

formed a partnership with the Ottawa Tech Hub 350, which is the largest tech hub in Canada. “We’re looking to cement more such partnerships, and this partnership is going to focus on agritech, edu-tech, Bio-tech,

Health-tech - all aspects of technology, and fin-tech. But today we are focused on tech-tourism, and this is delightful because techtourism must lead the way for our technology industry in the Bahamas.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organisations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@ coralwave.com.

Mr Copper said his ministry and the TDC are aiming to build connectivity between visitors and Bahamian tourism operators. New legislation is on the way to further strengthen the TDC and give it the “statutory authority” to work on linkages and

SEE PAGE A22

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

$5.74 $5.74 $5.74 $5.95

Corporate income tax: 10 or

12%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business

THE GOVERNMENT is leaning towards reforms that will see most Bahamas-based businesses pay a “modest” corporate income tax of either 10 or 12 percent with the only exception being small firms earning less than $500,000 annually.

The long-awaited ‘green paper’ on “corporate income tax strategies for The Bahamas”, which has been seen by Tribune Business, reveals that none of the four corporate income tax options being considered will have a positive impact on Bahamian economic growth, employment, foreign and domestic investment with the fall-out negative in all bar two instances. The Davis administration, following studies by the Deloitte & Touche accounting firm, said it has to consider “the trade-off between raising government revenue at the

for most favoured

• Gov’t sets out four options for historic reform

• Only carve-out for SMEs earning under $500k

• Hit to GDP, jobs, investment in most scenarios

expense of economic activity” in all four scenarios as it mulls historical changes that will potentially eliminate Business Licence fees for most companies and replace them with a corporate income tax.

This will be the first such income-based levy in the country’s history, and is intended to ensure The Bahamas complies and fulfills its obligations as one of 140 countries that have signed on to the G-20/Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

drive for a minimum 15 percent global corporate tax. In the first instance, this applies only to corporate groups and their subsidiaries that have a minimum annual turnover in excess of 750m euros.

The Government’s ‘green paper’, which is dated May 17, 2023, sets out the first option as merely introducing a 15 percent corporate income tax for all Bahamasbased entities that fall into that 750m-plus turnover category. While that would have zero impact on the country’s

economic growth and unemployment rate, the paper estimates it would cause foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic investment to contract by 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

The second and third options, described as “more nuanced” because of the better balance they strike between tax revenue and economic impact, are those the Government indicates it is giving more serious consideration to. The second, labelled as “a soft introduction”, would introduce the same 15 percent rate for all those caught in the G-20/ OECD net and also levy a 10 percent corporate income tax on all other businesses “to maintain regional tax competitiveness”. This option, the ‘green paper’ adds, would have minor negative impacts on GDP, foreign and domestic investment, and unemployment. The latter would rise

Revenue surge to $274m via corporate tax switch

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE GOVERNMENT could near-double preCOVID business taxation revenues if it were to implement a 15 percent corporate income levy across-the-board on all entities bar those generating less than $500,000 in annual turnover.

The long-awaited ‘green paper’ on “corporate income tax strategies for The Bahamas”, which has been seen by Tribune Business, reveals that all four reform options being considered will increase the Public Treasury’s revenue intake to varying degrees compared to the $140m generated from Business Licence fees in 2019.

Of the four, the “revenue focused” scenario of a 15

percent tax on corporate earnings (profits) imposed on every business bar small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who would pay 10 percent, was projected to increase the Government’s income by 96 percent to $274m compared to the Business Licence revenues from 2019. The latter figure would be equivalent to 2.1 percent of Bahamian GDP, a full percentage point rise, and

an effective tax rate of 10.6 percent. That scenario, together with just levying the 15 percent rate on Bahamas-based entities that are part of groups with an annual turnover exceeding 750m euros, is presently the least likely option to be adopted by this nation. The latter choice would be the bare minimum to comply

PM: $160m project to give 300 full-time jobs

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE PRIME Minister yesterday unveiled the revival of the long-awaited Cat Island Partners project with a “scaled down” $160.45m investment that aims to create 150 Bahamian construction jobs and up to 300 permanent posts. Philip Davis KC, addressing the Cat Island Business Outlook conference, confirmed that the revised project has been approved by his administration with a a focus on developing a mixed-use golf resort, residential and marina project.

Cat Island ‘going to get whole hog’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT offi-

cials yesterday pledged that Cat Island is “going to get the whole hog” when it comes to airport, roads and utilities upgrades and investments.

Dr Kenneth Romer, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation’s deputy director-general, and acting aviation director, told the Cat Island Business Outlook that the New Bight International Airport’s runway will be moved

PM blasts ‘blinkered’ officials’ tax attitude

• Says inflexible approach harms growth, productivity

• Argues ‘don’t close the business; talk brings results’

• ‘Notional’ Business Licence and contract deductions

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE PRIME Minister yesterday slammed “blinkered” public officials for adopting inflexible approaches to the collection of outstanding taxes that “close the business” and hinder economic growth and productivity.

Philip Davis KC, addressing the Cat Island Business Outlook conference, said civil servants too often adopted a “‘well pay me first’ attitude” to the issuance of Business Licences, and signing of public works contracts, when the company involved owes tax liabilities to the Public Treasury. Rather than refuse to issue a Business Licence, he argued that officials should instead discuss the outstanding arrears with the tax-paying business because “talk will bring results”. And, if tax delinquent businesses were due to be awarded government contracts, Mr Davis argued that the sum owed should merely be deducted from the value of the work to be undertaken.

Addressing the ease of doing business, Mr Davis said: “As minister of finance. I continue to look at ways to improve the ease of doing business. One possibility, and I speak to some of the challenges, is that we allow Business

He said: “Back in 2009, the Cat Island Partners broke ground on their proposed mixed-use golf, resort, residential and marina project for Old Bight. The developers at the time encountered delays due to a number of factors, including that the Port Howe site identified for [their] proposed marina lacked available Crown Land nearby to make the site viable.”

“The developers have recently reapplied to my government with a scaled down redesign proposal, and I announce this morning that new proposal for the Cat Island Partners’

SEE PAGE A20

further south and extended in an $18m overhaul that is part of the recentlyannounced 14 Family Island airport private-public partnerships (PPPs).

Revealing that the proposed 12,000 square foot terminal facility will also get a new control tower, fire station and maintenance facilities, as well as a 102-space parking lot, he

DR KENNETH ROMER