05242023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

Diesel halt until gas row

However, sites owned by FOCOL continue to make fuel available

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian petroleum retailers have “no intent to disenfranchise the motoring public”, their president asserted yesterday, as he warned that the halt to diesel sales will “go on until such time” as their plight is resolved.

Raymond Jones, head of the Bahamas Petroleum

Retailers association (BPRa), told Tribune Business his members are “resolute” and plan to “stay this course” with many now pushed to the brink of closure by the failure to reach agreement with the Government over a “pennies on the gallon” increase to their price-controlled fixed margins following more than a year of negotiations.

Lyford Cay P oa seeks to bLoCk PreviousLy ft X L inked Condo

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

LyfoRd Cay residents will today bid to block a controversial condo project, which speculation previously linked to fTX, after planning authorities approved the doubling of its height beyond that recommended by their technical advisers.

The Subdivision and development appeal

Board is due this morning to hear arguments from the Lyford Cay Property owners association and others as to why the Town Planning Committee was “irrational” in approving the Eastmor Properties project, headed by michael dingman’s son, david, even though approval was conditioned on its original nine-storey height being slashed by one-third.

Activists find Rex M A joR’s coMMents ‘A ppA lling’

By LEANDRA RoLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

a ToP human rights expert said she is hardpressed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bahamian independence given the constitutional inequalities between men and women and the government’s failure to adequately protect women from violence.

The comments of marion

mom wants unCL e queried on missing a ndros m

an

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

ThE mother of a 21-year-old andros man who reportedly fell off a boat and was not recovered wants the police to investigate the incident and question the man’s uncle who captained the vessel.

Ryan Barr and his uncle were in a 15-foot Boston Whaler near Little Whale Cay off the Berry islands when the young man reportedly fell overboard. Barr’s mother, agnes marshall, confirmed yesterday that search efforts for her son have since ended.

buiL ding $3m sheLter for homeL ess, hanCheLL says

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

a $3m ShELTER will be built on Carmichael Road to house at least 100 homeless people, according to Great Commission ministries founder Bishop Walter hanchell. he said construction would begin by early September on a facility that would accommodate 50 men on the first floor and 50 women on the second floor.

“We are trying to reduce homelessness,” he said, adding the facility would be the country’s largest and most comprehensive of its kind. “it’s very much

Bethel, the vice chairperson and rapporteur of the United nations Committee on the Elimination of

all forms of discrimination against Women (CEdaW), came in response to Evangelist Rex major, who lamented efforts to criminalise marital rape during a national church service on Sunday.

mrs Bethel said mr major displayed an “appalling disregard for the dignity and sensibility of Bahamian women”, adding that he appeared not to understand the topic.

Rex Major

ChINESE Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli (pictured) and other Chinese Embassy officials served food to the homeless at Great Commission Ministries yesterday to help people in need. See PAGE 4. Photo: austin fernander

TUC head says they will fight to make Employment Act more worker-friendly

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

AS Labour Day nears, some union leaders have pledged to fight for amendments that make the Employment Act more worker-friendly.

Yesterday, Trade Union Congress (TUC) president Obie Ferguson lamented the benefits workers get when they are made redundant and said unions would fight for changes.

“People who work for 35 years with a particular company, you can’t explain to me or any rational Bahamian that they should only be paid for 26 weeks pay,” he said. “That just doesn’t make any sense, and that is something we have to change, and I mean change fundamentally.

“Some of these people work 35, almost 40 years of employment, so if you are making them

redundant, how are you going to give them 26 weeks pay, as though they only worked for 12 years? That doesn’t make any sense, so we’re going to fight and get that done. That’s a must. We must get that fixed.

“On redundancy, they only pay you what they call basic pay, but some people get gratuity, some people get bonuses, so how are you going to leave those things out? Those are the kind of things we’re going to change.”

The Employment Act details the entitlement of people made redundant.

For regular employees, this includes two weeks’ notice or two weeks’ basic pay instead of notice; and two weeks’ basic pay for each year up to 24 weeks.

For employees in supervisory or managerial positions, this includes one month’s notice or one month’s basic pay instead of notice; and one

month’s basic pay for each year up to 48 weeks.

The law says: “Where an employer provides a gratuity or noncontributory pension for an employee, the employee is not entitled to both redundancy pay and the gratuity or noncontributory pension. but the employee shall select the one which he prefers.”

Mr Ferguson’s comments came as his body welcomed The Bahamas Allied Healthcare Workers Union (BAHWU) and the Junkanoo Beach Association (JBA) into its organisation.

The BAHWU was formed in April to represent healthcare workers who have purportedly been overlooked. The union has separated from the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU). The JBA reportedly represents 25 Junkanoo Beach vendors and 200 employees.

Mr Ferguson said the TUC is satisfied with some

of what the Davis administration has done this term, noting many outstanding industrial agreements

have been finalised. He said the TUC would host a series of events for Labour Day, beginning

Nassau Cruise Port Nears ComP letioN as deadliNe Closes

with a church service at the Church of God of Prophecy on East Street on May 28 at 10am.

Trade Union Congress president Obie Ferguson said yesterday that the union will fight to make changes to the employment act to benefit workers.

Photo: Letre Sweeting

aLmoST there: Workers put the finishing touches on stalls and other buildings as the Nassau Cruise Port prepares for its grand opening on Friday.

Photos: austin Fernander

Activists find Rex Major’s comments ‘appalling’

“I was very disturbed to read Evangelist Major’s ill-conceived and harmful remarks about the grave issue of rape within marriage,” Mrs Bethel told The Tribune. “He should not have used the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of independence as a soapbox for his rant against women in The Bahamas.”

“He demonstrated not an iota of theological, pastoral, or humanist understanding of the issue of rape within marriage.

“Mr Major used the national platform to rant against women as liars and to speak directly to the government and nation about his opposition to the criminalisation of rape within marriage. Truth be told, it appears that he could have saved his breath because successive governments

have presented poor and weak leadership in advancing this issue to its final conclusion.”

Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis and many senior government leaders looked on as Pastor Major questioned how spouses would prove marital rape and said some women would use rape claims only to end their marriage. He shouted: “People lie!”

“This is emblematic of governments paying only lip service to this issue of protecting the right of Bahamian women to live a life free from gender-based violence in our homes, our churches, our workplaces, on our streets,” Mrs Bethel said.

“We still have a constitution that denies us equal rights with men to pass on our nationality to our children and spouses.

I am hard-pressed to celebrate during this 50th

anniversary.”

Meanwhile, Equality Bahamas Director Alicia Wallace said the government is shirking its responsibility to criminalise marital rape.

The government, she said, has already shifted focus to the gender-based violence bill.

“It appears that the intent is to push the GBV bill through and leave the marital rape bill to languish,” she said. “Maybe they think the GBV bill will pacify us, so we will be clear. Equality Bahamas will not be pacified or silenced. If the GBV bill looks like it did years ago, or is even weaker, and if it fails to use ‘gender-based violence’ in its title and substance, the government is incorrect if it has assumed that it will be an easy win. We are demanding progress, not minimal effort in checking boxes.”

Marion Bethel, the vice chairperson and rapporteur of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), said in response to Rex Major, - who lamented efforts to criminalise marital rape during a national church service on Sunday - that he displayed an “appalling disregard for the dignity and sensibility of Bahamian women”, adding that he appeared not to understand the topic.

Toxicologis T says a zario was ‘under T he influence of alcohol’ aT deaT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A POLICE forensic toxicologist testified yesterday that Azario Major was under the influence of alcohol when he died but had no illegal drugs in his system.

A psychiatrist, meanwhile, testified that Major received counselling and treatment for cannabis and cocaine use and was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

Inspector Cyprian Collie said samples sent to a Miami Dade County examiner in September 2022 found 0.79mg of ethanol in Major’s blood, indicating he was under the influence of alcohol.

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His testimony came as the Coroner’s Court inquest into Major’s December 26, 2021, police-involved killing continued yesterday. 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 Road.

Inspector Collie said the results show Major had four to five drinks and was in the “excitement stage of alcohol influence” with potential cognitive impairment. She said Major might have had enough alcohol to behave more aggressively or irrationally.

Dr Soralee FergusonParker, the clinical director and consulting psychiatrist

at the Community Counseling & Assessment Centre (CCAC), testified that Major attended counselling at the facility from July 8, 2016, to October 18, 2021.

She said the deceased initially came with his father, who believed he suffered from hallucinations and talked to himself. His father attributed this to his marijuana use.

Dr Ferguson-Parker said during the 16 sessions Major had at the CCAC, he received treatment for cannabis and cocaine use. She also said that Major sometimes suffered from cannabis-induced psychosis.

Major was diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and was said to have

depressive or hyper-manic episodes.

“During counselling, Mr Major admitted to symptoms of racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping and auditory hallucinations, which he experienced a few nights prior to the visit,” she said. Major was prescribed 10mg of Olanzapine and 10mg of melatonin to help him sleep. In December 2020, he went to Sandilands to indicate that he had stopped taking his medication and was advised to continue with the treatment.

Responding to David Cash, who represents the interests of Major’s family, Dr Ferguson-Parker agreed that the man’s family was involved in his counselling.

sears says newly launched Traffic Manage Men T cen T re firs T phase To cos T $1.8M

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Works and Utilities launched the first phase of its Traffic Management Centre yesterday.

Establishing the TMC allows for monitoring traffic signal intersections, traffic

management strategies, and coordinating with stakeholders during special events, emergencies or normal traffic signal operations.

Works Minister Alfred Sears said the project was first introduced in 2019. He said the TMC would serve as the “nerve centre” of the New Providence traffic system, with

the first phase estimated to cost approximately $1.8m.

“This centre will serve as the nerve centre of our city’s traffic system, utilizing the latest technologies and intelligent solutions to improve performances, efficiency and collect much-needed data so evidence-based decisions can be made,” he said.

He said upgrading the infrastructure addresses traffic congestion and road safety. He said it was costly to maintain the previous system.

“In this initial phase, I am pleased to report that we have achieved a remarkable progress, having successfully upgraded approximately 80 per cent of traffic

signals out of 80 traffic signals in the network with above-ground detection cameras throughout the country,” he said.

“These cameras are equipped with state-ofthe-art technology that will enable us to capture real-time data on traffic patterns, congestion points and potential bottlenecks. The insights

gained from these cameras will serve as the foundation for smarter decision making and more efficient traffic signal timing optimisation for enhanced efficiency.”

Mr Sears said in the long term, a new building will be constructed to house the TMC in the Ministry of Works’ compound.

Police forensic toxicologist said that Azario Major (pictured) was under the influence of alcohol at the time of his death, but there were no drugs in his system.

Minister of Works Alfred Sears yesterday announced the launch of the first phase of it’s Traffic Management Centre which will allow for monitoring traffic signal intersections, traffic management strategies, and coordinate with stakeholders during special events, emergencies or normal traffic signal operations.

Photo: austin Fernander

Pintard says Davis administration must act urgently to resolve retailers’ concerns

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Move -

ment leader Michael Pintard said the Davis administration must act now to resolve gas retailers’ concerns, warning their inaction could cause a domino effect that will affect the broader economy.

Mr Pintard spoke as some petroleum retailers refused to sell diesel for a second day in response to high fuel costs and the government’s failure to address their margin concerns.

“We have a very serious concern for the broadbased negative impact of this situation if it is not resolved,” Mr Pintard told The Tribune . “One is the loss of productivity at work if this persists and public service drivers

in general and residents who have diesel driven vehicles in particular are unable to get to work or if their cost go up in terms of how they get to work.”

“You know in the construction sector, many items are powered by or fuelled by diesel, whether its transportation or the heavy equipment that is used so it is rather worrisome in terms of the multiple ways in which the broader economy can be negatively affected.”

Fuel retailers have complained about margins limiting their profit for many months.

But 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.

Yesterday, Mr Pintard called on the government to act urgently so there could be a win-win situation for all.

“It’s been a very long time since this discussion has been going on,” he added.

“If I’m not incorrect, it must be somewhere in the vicinity of a year and so the government has to find creative ways of protecting the consumer and ensuring that through our actions or inactions cause the demise of the suppliers.”

In an earlier statement, Mr Pintard said his administration would engage all stakeholders and devise a solution.

Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis declined to comment on the matter.

Chinese AmbA ss A dor A nd offiCi A ls volunteer At Gre At Commission ministries food proGr A mme

FNM leader Michael Pintad said yesterday that the government must act urgently so there could be a win-win situation for all on the fuel retailers margins issue. The fuel retailers are now shutting down diesel fuel pumps until the issue is addressed.

ChiNese Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli (pictured) and other Chinese Embassy officials served food to the homeless at Great Commission Ministries yesterday to help people in need.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Building $3m shelter for homeless, Hanchell says

from page one

needed.”

Mr hanchell said about 40 people currently occupy shelters that he helps run.

“People who either living in an abandoned building or derelict vehicle, they come to us seeking shelter,” he said. “If our shelters are full, we put them up in a hotel. It’s a very expensive venture.” asked how the facility will be funded, he said: “We are funding it through our donors and, of course, we

RF Bank & T Rus T pa RT neRs wi T h CanCeR soCie T y FoR upComing Ball

do some fundraising events, and we anticipate getting some assistance from the government and other persons who already pledged to give us some help.”

Mr hanchell said there is a need for a survey on homelessness.

“I think it’s much higher than people would believe,” he said. “a lot of people are homeless, and it’s getting worse every month. Over the last four years, from 2018-2019, we’ve seen a vast increase in homelessness.”

he attributed the

increase to people falling on hard times. a lot of people are being evicted out of their apartments,” he said. “Some people made bad choices. We had persons involved in abusive situations so that’s the main cause.”

Mr hanchell’s comments came as the Bahamas College of Bishops Chairman (BCOP) held a press conference about its launch. The BCOP is an initiative to unite and train bishops around the country. Bishop hanchell is the chairman of the BCOP.

The CanCer Society welcomes returning community partner rF Bank & Trust (rF) to support its upcoming annual ball.

rachael allahar, rF marketing assistant vice president said, “rF is committed to investing in our communities to create an equitable and more prosperous Bahamas. With health as a key pillar for our philanthropic giving, we are proud to support the Bahamas Cancer Society and their annual fundraising met gala ball. I encourage

all companies that have yet to purchase tickets or a table to do so and show your support for those affected by cancer.”

The ball under the theme Met Gala ‘ a Golden Celebration” will take place at atlantis on Saturday. Tickets are available at The Cancer Society. The goal is to raise $100,000 for the Cancer Society.

“We are thrilled to have rF join us once again and we are looking forward to a memorable evening full of music, dancing and good

company,” said Lovern Wildgoose, Cancer Society of The Bahamas Ball co-chair. “Unfortunately, cancer has touched many Bahamians and we rely on these events to help fund our various initiatives, including cancer research, patient support, and education programs. We are extremely grateful for all of our individual and corporate sponsors.” For tickets, contact The Cancer Society of the Bahamas at cancersociety@ hotmail.com or 323- 4482.

Artist rendering of $3m homeless shelter Great Commission Ministries intends to building starting in September, according to Bishop Walter Hanchell.

the CAnCer Society recived support from RF Bank & Trust for their upcoming Cancer Awareness Ball. Pictured left to right: Kevin Adderley, Lovern Wildgoose, and Rachael Allahar

Governor General CA Smith accepted letters of credence from Dr Khalilur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada, and Non-Resident High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The presentation took place at the Office of the Governor General on May 18.

Photo: Letisha henderson/BIS

The Tribune Limited

Picture of the day

Don’t punish public for impasse with govt

THE long-running dispute between government and gas retailers has finally ended up in action – though not the sort that helps anyone.

A halt to diesel sales by a number of retailers appears to be a form of industrial action – a strike of sorts.

At first, it was a number of bus drivers that felt the pinch – but it could be a lot more than that affected if things go on, or escalate.

There appears to be no shortage of actual diesel. FOCOL Holdings is continuing to make diesel available to those who want it. This is simply the form of action that retailers have taken after discussions with the government reached an impasse.

In fact, discussions may be overstating matters. Nothing seems to have been advancing on that front for some considerable time.

The retailers want a change to price margins. The government does not want to be seen to giving the nod to an increase that will see customers paying more at the gas pump.

Raymond Jones, head of the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association, said that all the major oil firms had been “right at the door” of sealing a deal that would suit all sides. But there has been little indication from Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis of any desire to give ground.

Retailers have particularly highlighted that with the rising cost of fuel, they have had to be spending more at the front end to acquire fuel, but have only earned “a few pennies” in return.

The last time the margin increased was in 2011, under the Ingraham administration of the time. Gas margins went from 44 cents per gallon to 54 cents. Diesel stands at 34 cents per gallon.

Is it fair to ask for a change after so long? Certainly to ask – but after the costs of COVID and with next week’s

Budget imminent, the government is likely to be reluctant to be seen to adding anything to the costs borne by the public.

This is especially so given the talks of a corporate tax proposal swirling in the air.

So how will this resolve? The retailers are saying the halt to sales will continue until their plight is resolved. The government will be resistant to the idea of making any concessions on the eve of the Budget.

The loser in all of this is the customer. If buses have to go off the road, the biggest losers will be those who depend on them to get to jobs. These are not the richest in our society, but those on smaller wages who depend on public transport to get around.

Beyond that, it may start to affect deliveries and shipping.

A resolution of some kind needs to be found – though FNM leader Michael Pintard did not advance the discussion far when saying that the government must act now while neglecting to suggest what he would do instead. He said his administration would engage all stakeholders and devise a solution – that is not actual action. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, meanwhile, is silent on the matter.

So neither side, government nor Opposition, is putting forward a public proposal.

There has to be a reality about the costs of doing business that gas retailers face, and the costs that the public has been carrying.

Whatever the outcome, it is not the public’s fault that matters are at such an impasse, and they should not be punished for it.

It’s time to get back to the negotiating table – and start the diesel pumps flowing again in the meantime.

Have we learned our lesson yet?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Mankind has long pondered, studied, and questioned our purpose in life that exists upon pendulum swings between balance and domination. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly disrupted our entire world order. Have we emerged from this dangerous scourge any wiser than before, since it appears that we will be entering another questionable era of Artificial Intelligence, or AI next? Are we content to accept that such are the rapid advances of modern life, rather than question and reflect?

Similarly, if we scan the historical timelines of our own fair isles from their occupation by the gentle Lucayans of the Old World whom Columbus encountered upon our shores in 1492, to the emergence of a New World order of domination when subsequent European countries attempted to lay claim, leading onward to piracy, slavery, British colonialism, and our eventual Independence in 1973, what valuable life lessons have we learned about balance and domination?

Can those of us who are old enough remember how the PLP used the music and opening words of the

McAlpine’s GBPA takeover fear is irrational

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Former Free National Movement MP Rev Frederick McAlpine’s opposition to the central government purchasing the Grand Bahama Port Authority seems to be irrational. In an interview with Tribune Business, McAlpine stated that “if you want to see how the Government will run the GBPA, look at how it operates the eastern and western parts of Grand Bahama.” Both areas on Grand Bahama resembles the Out Islands, which are mostly underdeveloped, as should be expected for a third world country.

Unlike Nassau, Freeport is a planned city with an impressive network of roads and and zoning laws, unlike the 353-year-old Nassau, whose development and planning have been scatter-shot and ad hoc. However, like Nassau, Freeport City is now rundown. The original pioneers of Freeport have all died. Whatever these founders had envisaged for Grand Bahama, that seems to have died with them.

currently have in Freeport. Freeport is already rockbottom. What exactly do we stand to lose if Nassau takes over Freeport?

theme song from the movie, Exodus: “This land is mine, God gave this land to me” as a campaign strategy?

As we walk the road to our 50th anniversary of Independence, are we doing so with our heads held high to the rising sun, moving forward, upward, and onwards together?

I have my doubts, as I remember specifically in the latter part of the 20th century when our tourism strategy switched its visitor focus from one of quality to one of quantity. Subsequent Ministers of Tourism started to sing the country’s praises based on the numbers of annual tourist arrivals which were increasing exponentially due to the popularity of sea cruises over air arrivals.

Even though we are aware of the research showing reduced tourist spending from sea passengers as opposed to air arrivals, increased cruise ship visits continued and they now dominate our country’s number one industry. This has led us to where we are today as we prepare for the opening of the new Nassau Cruise Port this week that is able to berth the largest Oasis-sized ships capable of transporting well over 7,000 guests and 2,000 crew

members per ship. These floating resorts are capable of dumping an additional 10% of our New Providence population daily on to our small 21 x 7 mile island, which is already saturated with its own residents. This also happens on many of our Family Islands, some of which the cruise companies already own!

Is it not obvious then, why the owners of these behemoths must find the closest bodies of beautiful waters on which to sail, transport their passengers, and significantly increase their bottom line? The Bahamas fits these requirements beautifully, but are our leaders negotiating and leveraging the tremendous advantages of this land of ours for our benefit?

The dangers of mass tourism to our country, people, environment, natural resources, land, infrastructure, capacity, etc. are indeed very real and immediate, and are hanging in the balance. In this our 50th year of Independence, we, the people, must insist that our leaders are deliberate in recognizing and opposing any and all such forms of domination!

PAM BURNSIDE

Nassau, March 24, 2023

McAlpine also expressed misgivings about the central government’s lackluster performance in managing its utilities in New Providence, claiming that the same thing would inevitably occur on Grand Bahama. In the same Tribune article, the issue of possible political victimisation under a government-run GBPA was raised, as if it doesn’t already exists. Clearly this excuse was not well thought out.

What is prohibiting the current administration from engaging in political victimisation in Freeport? All in all, McAlpine’s anti-government sentiments are held by a small minority of wellto-do Grand Bahamians who have all acknowledged that Freeport has been in an economic slump for over two decades. If given a choice between the central government and the GBPA, these well-to-do Grand Bahamians would without hesitation choose the latter, even as this quasi-government entity fails to woo deep pocket foreign investors to Freeport.

Let me state that I believe that a central government takeover of the GBPA wouldn’t be any worse than what we

Moreover, in a recent visit to New Providence and Paradise Island, this writer saw firsthand the central government’s ability to attract major foreign investors -- something that the GBPA has simply not been able to do since the demise of Edward St George in late 2004. As acknowledged in The Tribune article, other Family Islands are getting favorable foreign investments. For some reason, foreign investors are bypassing Grand Bahama for Bimini, Abaco, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Exuma, Cat Island and New Providence. A few weeks ago I read in The Tribune that a group of investors of New World Developments, including former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, have proposed a $1 billion investment on 10,000 acres of land on San Salvador that will be bigger than Baker’s Bay in Abaco.

I am certain that had the central government purchased the GBPA years ago, Freeport would’ve been currently experiencing an economic boom. Unlike the GBPA, the central government has international reach, as evidenced by the impressive number of investors clamoring to invest in government-run areas. Regarding McAlpine’s misgivings about the government’s management of the utilities, such as electricity and water, Grand Bahama already has the Grand Bahama Power Company and the Grand Bahama Utility Company. Why would McAlpine assume that a government takeover would automatically entail the demise of the two utility companies?

Whatever arrangements the GBPC and GBUC have with the GBPA, the central government can honour them. Similar arrangements can be made with Sanitation Services. This should allay the fears of Grand Bahamians regarding the continued timely collection of garbage in Freeport.

Another thing McAlpine and others who are against Freeport becoming like the rest of The Bahamas are not considering is that the tentacles of the central government are already throughout Freeport. The police, the main hospital and several clinics; immigration and customs; the National Insurance Board, Road Traffic; the Labour Board; the magistrate and supreme courts; the post office and other government agencies are in Freeport. In a sense, Freeport is already under the jurisdiction of the central government. Furthermore, McAlpine referenced government cronies at least twice in The Tribune article, which tells me that he also fears government corruption in the day-to-day management of Freeport. This fear assumes that Freeport is corruption free, and has been since the signing of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement in 1955. As a man of the cloth, McAlpine should be well aware of the biblical doctrine of sin and its far-reaching impact on human nature. Corruption is not unique to Bahamians. Another thing, McAlpine mentioned that many Grand Bahamians have left Grand Bahama for elsewhere, which should sound off the irony alarm. Whatever fears he has of a government controlled GBPA and Freeport, members of the Freeport diaspora throughout the government controlled Family Islands and New Providence obviously do not share. I know of several Freeport residents who have relocated to New Providence and have no desire to return. The time has come for anti-government Grand Bahamians to stop mischaracterizing the central government as a bogeyman in Freeport. I don’t believe the central government can do any worse than what we currently have. We might as well give the central government a try. An increasing number of Grand Bahamians are willing to give the central government a shot at managing Freeport. McAlpine and his camp are in the minority.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama May 23, 2023.

A crAftsmAn at the Straw Market on Bay Street works on a wooden turtle yesterday.

Photo: Austine fernander

MOW says Fishing Hole Road causeway to open in a week

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Fishing Hole Road bridge causeway is expected to reopen within another week, said Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.

The causeway was closed last December for emergency remediation work after it was deemed unsafe due to hazardous driving conditions and engineering issues in the road construction.

When contacted for an update on Tuesday, Mr Smith reported that the road paving is completed.

“The reason it is not open (yet) for vehicular traffic is because signage and striping have got to be done,” he said.

Mr Smith said that contractors have to wait about a month for the asphalt

paving to cure before striping could take place.

“It has been 28 days, and we think we can begin, and we will have the contractor go in now and begin that striping and to put up the (road) signage. So, hopefully, within another week at the latest, the road will be operable,” he stated.

When the bridge causeway opens, he said the service road used by motorists will be closed.

Mr Smith said the Grand Bahama Port Authority would have to pay the government for the work undertaken to make the service road suitable for motorists to traverse.

The Fishing Hole Bridge was built at a total cost of $9.2m. It spans 900ft and connects West Grand Bahama and Freeport. Thousands of commuters

guilty plea for man in $2m hemp possession

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally having nearly $2m worth of marijuana in separate incidents.

Basil Johnson, 44, admitted to having $1m worth of marijuana when found in waters off Crooked Island last Thursday. He also admitted to having $872k worth of marijuana in Exuma in 2021.

Johnson appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with Seth Cartwright, 36, on charges of conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply and possessing dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

According to police reports, authorities encountered a go-fast vessel forty miles southwest of Crooked Island around 1.30pm on May 18th during a joint operation involving the Drug Enforcement Association, the US Coast Guard

and local law enforcement officials.

The two accused were allegedly seen throwing packages of suspected drugs overboard after they saw the officers. When officers approached their vessel, the defendants allegedly attempted to flee but were captured following a brief chase.

Officers then recovered 33 crocus sacks containing marijuana. The confiscated drugs collectively weighed 1,142 lbs.

The Exuma incident happened on May 30th, 2021.

Officers seized 872 lbs of marijuana found in 29 crocus sacks on a vessel.

In that incident, Johnson was charged alongside Alfraido Poitier, 43, and Kevin Dean, 51.

Johnson’s co-accused pleaded not guilty yesterday.

Johnson is expected to be sentenced today while Cartwright is expected to get bail consideration.

two dozen undocumented chinese migrants apprehended

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AUTHORITIES apprehended 24 undocumented Chinese immigrants in separate incidents in Grand Bahama and Bimini on Monday.

The Tribune understands officials believe the people were trying to enter the United States.

In a statement, police said the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Bahamas Immigration Department apprehended 25 illegal immigrants in three separate incidents.

The first incident happened shortly before 9am on Monday when 14 Chinese nationals

traverse daily via the bridge.

Last December, the Grand Bahama Port Authority learned about safety concerns at the Fishing Hole causeway.

During their assessments, officials at the GBPA discovered that an immediate oil slick on the concrete road surface made driving conditions unsafe for motorists. The GBPA and the Government came to an understanding to close the road for remediation work.

The old service road was then repaved and reopened as an alternate for motorists.

and a Dominican man were arrested in Princess Isles, South Bahamia, in Grand Bahama by officers attached to the marine support, canine, mobile patrol units, and the Bahamas Immigration Department.

An hour later, officers attached to the Alice Town Police Station searched an abandoned stone structure on Port Royal Canal, South Bimini, and found 10 undocumented Chinese nationals.

Additionally, officers attached to the mobile patrol unit, arrested a 41-year-old Bahamian man from the Sunrise subdivision and a 48-year-old Haitian near a business establishment in the Freeport Harbour area.

m an on scooter dies after crashing into utility pole

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating the traffic death of a 34-year-old man.

On Tuesday, the man was operating a 60cc scooter along Cox Way off East Street around 1.20am when he reportedly lost control and ran into a utility pole.

He received serious head injuries and died on the scene.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a double shooting incident that has hospitalised two men.

The incident occurred shortly after 4.30pm on Monday.

The first victim was at a family residence on Watlings Street when two masked men approached and discharged gunshots in his direction, shooting him multiple times about his body. The second victim was walking near the initial incident when he was shot in his left arm and leg.

Both victims were taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital by a private vehicle for medical attention. They are said to be in stable condition.

GBPA officials conducting work on the secondary/old road below the bridge to provide access to and from west Grand Bahama while Fishing Hole Road Bridge is closed for emergency remediation work after public safety concerns were discovered there in December, 2022.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Politicians does lie... Marital rape bill’s lack of progress concerning

“PeoPle does lie.”

Those are the words of a religious leader in The Bahamas. While he used the word “people,” the rest of his drivel indicated that he was really talking about women. In particular, he was talking about women who are raped by their husbands, suggesting that they are liars who want to get out of a marriage.

“People does lie.” This is what he said at a supposed national ecumenical service in one of the events leading up to the 50th anniversary of independence. What a travesty, what an insult, and what an easy way to cause harm to generations of women and girls who have been sexually assaulted and the one in three women and girls who will be. What a quick way to make it more difficult for women and girls to process incidents as rape and sexual assault, report, and access justice. What a clear way to indicate that he and his church are not safe for sexual assault survivors and that they can offer no assistance to anyone who is not a rapist. What a large red flag it is that the religious leader decided to wave.

What an indictment on the Christian church that this filth would be uttered by Rex Major at a national event, and that there is not a single religious leader who has come forward to rebuke it, leaving the impression that the church hates women, the church does not support women’s rights, and that the church is and will always be our enemy. If it is not true, say so. Prove otherwise. What would Jesus do?

While it is clear where that man, and many of his colleagues, stand, there are questions that need to be answered. The first one, and perhaps the most important is this: Who decided that he should be the one to speak?

The questions that follow include: Did they know that he would say this? Did they encourage him to take aim at the bill to amend the Sexual offences Act in order to criminalise marital rape? Is the government destroying the bill by giving naysayers platforms - national platforms - to say what it knows it must not say? Is this government administration sabotaging its own bill to criminalise marital rape? Is it planning to blame its inaction on “civil society” instead of admitting its choice to fail.

It has, in fact, laid the foundation for this already. In its report for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, it said, “Draft legislation to amend the Sexual offences Act to criminalise

By Alicia Wallace

marital rape is under consideration and subject to consultations with the public.”

Why is changing the definition of rape in the Sexual offences Act — which is incorrect and provides an exclusion that allows people to legally rape their spouses — subject to consultation (that has devolved into a mess of “opinions” that translate to “men own the women they marry”) with the public? The marital rape bill has already been put on the back burner for, as we say, the umpteenth time. We have been through years and years of public discussion, advocacy, drafting, and government administrations pretending to be unaware of their obligations until they are in international spaces and must acknowledge their commitments.

You know who does lie?

Politicians does lie.

In September 2022, the Minister of Social Services and Urban Development obie Wilchcombe said: “[…]We will have to determine where we move, whether or not we move with the legislation, but I am very impressed with the drafting of the legislation that we’re looking at now and we’re hoping to get some feedback from all sides on the draft legislation that would allow us to make strides in the right direction, but, very clearly, it’s an issue and we have to deal with the issue one way or the other.”

What are the “sides” he was talking about? Rapists and non-rapists? People who are okay with rape and rapists and people who are not? People who believe rape, regardless of relationship to the victim, is violent and people who do not? People who know that women are human beings with human rights and people who insist that women are objects? People who are more concerned about their reputations as religious leaders and the reputations of their religious institutions and associates (who may be rapists) than they are about the people, specifically women, who hold them up and can, if mobilised, expose them and their violence?

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said: “You can only do what you

have the support for so I assume Mr Davis will make a judgement as to whether or not he has the support of his members to pass it.”

He added: “Many persons who you see parade around here as ordinary decent human beings do not believe that marital rape ought to be a criminal offence and in private, they have their views so as members of the press, you can grill them, crisp them, put them on the record for their personal private positions and see how many duck you and how many give you an honest answer.”

Does Davis not have the support of his members?

Which Members of Parliament have not yet made their positions on marital rape clear? Which of them will vote against the criminalisation of marital rape?

Perhaps the silence and the ducking and dodging we have seen in recent weeks, following the accusation that a sitting Member of Parliament is a rapist, is an indication of this government administration’s position on the issue. It could be that they care even less about women being raped by their husbands than they do about women being raped by people they are not married to. on the tower of power, do Members of Parliament or husbands rank higher? Who gets away with more?

In January 2023, Wilchcombe said he hoped that consultation on the marital rape bill would be complete by the end of that month. More than four months later, the government still has not brought “consultation” to a close. In fact, the government is saying nothing about the marital rape, having shifted its attention to the genderbased violence bill it has yet to release for public consultation.

It was reported on May 19, 2023, following the fourth cycle of the Universal Period Review of The Bahamas, that the Attorney General Ryan Pinder 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

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“We are overrun with sexual predators, but even worse, we are overrun with people who protect them.”

- Cindy Godet

and trafficking in persons matters.”

Marital rape was the number issue raised by United Nations Member States. Is this government going to continue to put responsibility on the “public” and with particular emphasis on the most regressive, hateful, misogynistic, anti-rights groups within that public?

last month, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said: “I wouldn’t say whether I support it or not, it’s still something that is being looked at.” He added, “But I don’t believe that any man or woman should be taken advantage of in any form or fashion when it comes to rape.”

Those are two incongruent sentences. Why is it so difficult to state a position, as an elected official and an appointment minister? Are these people this indecisive, confused, and terrified every day in office, signing documents and issuing directives? If so, we are in trouble. If not, they are liars and cowards.

Bahamas, said, “We are overrun with sexual predators, but even worse, we are overrun with people who protect them.”

Are you protecting sexual predators today? Are you hiding behind “the public” or “the stakeholders” or some other such nonsense instead of making your position clear and being on the side of human rights? The other side, just so you know, is violence.

Here are key points to remember as news stories continue to reference the (lack of) movement toward the criminalisation of marital rape and the asinine statements being made by people in positions of power and significant influence:

1. The Government of The Bahamas is obligated to uphold and implement human rights standards. It is obligated to protect individuals and groups from human rights violations.

2. The Government of The Bahamas is aware of its obligations and has made

human rights mechanisms like CeDAW. In 2018, for example, it made a report to the CeDAW Committee and the CeDAW Committee made recommendations to the State. The recommendations included, “Adopt, without delay, the amendments to the Sexual offences Act expressly criminalising marital rape[…]” Similarly, several United Nations Member States recommended, at the Universal Period Review earlier this month, that the government amend the Sexual offences Act to criminalise marital rape. It must, in order to come into compliance with human rights mechanisms, criminalise marital rape, acknowledging that rape is rape and that women, whether married or not, are people.

Recommendations

Member of Parliament for Golden Gates Pia Glover-Rolle said: “The context of the relationship doesn’t change what the definition of rape is. It’s non-consensual sex, so (criminalising martial rape is) very important, but what is also important is that we have conversations with all of the stakeholders.”

1. Watch Two-Faced: Gender Inequality in The Bahamas, a Gina Rodgers-Sealy film, which is a documentary on women’s rights in The Bahamas and includes credible information from advocates and technical experts and stories of domestic and sexual abuse from survivors. It is being screened at Four Walls Squash and Social Club on Village Road at 7pm and will be followed by a question and answer session.

2. Get ready for the June meeting of Feminist Book Club with equality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press by buying or borrowing and reading Dignity: Its essential Role in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks. For information on Feminist Book Club and meeting dates, sign up at tiny.cc/fbc2023.

The responses of politicians are all over the place. Very few of them have been able to clearly state a position and refrain from giving any caveats. They continue to reference “consultation” and “stakeholders” to the point that these words have no meaning in this specific context.

Cindy Godet, a survivor who shared her story in the documentary Two-Faced: Gender

in The

commitments, in numerous locations and through many mechanisms, to meet those obligations. These include the Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CeDAW) which The Bahamas ratified in 1993.

3. The Government of The Bahamas voluntarily participates in reviews by treaty bodies and other groups to be assessed on the progress made toward full compliance with

4. Consultation is not a never-ending exercise. It is supposed to be a planned, finite process for receiving feedback. In the case of the bill to criminalise marital rape, there are people and groups that have opinions on the bill. They have had opportunities to share those opinions. The right to express opinions is not synonymous with a right to control, delay, or discontinue the process that is necessary to provide a mechanism for married women to report rape perpetrated by their spouses and to access justice (which is not the same as getting a divorce). Consultation is really not to be about opinions, but receiving and sharing information that can strengthen — not weaken — the bill.

5. People who cannot give their position on rape, marital or otherwise, certainly cannot vote on a draft bill in Parliament. We need to know where they stand. We elected them, and they must be made to answer to us.

CHATGPT MAKES ITS DEBUT AS A SMARTPHONE APP ON iPHONES

By MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writer

ChatGPT is now a smartphone app, which could be good news for people who like to use the artificial intelligence chatbot and bad news for all the clone apps that have tried to profit off the technology.

The free app became available on iPhones and iPads in the U.S. last Thursday and will later be coming to Android devices. Unlike the desktop web version, the mobile version on Apple’s iOS operating system also enables users to speak to it using their voice.

The company that makes it, OpenAI, said it will remain adfree but “syncs your history across devices.”

“We’re starting our rollout in the U.S. and will expand to additional countries in the coming weeks,” said a blog post announcing the new app, which is described in the App Store as the “official app” by OpenAI.

It’s been more than five months since OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public, sparking excitement and alarm at its ability to generate convincingly human-like essays, poems, form letters and conversational answers to almost any question. But the San Francisco startup never seemed to be in a hurry to get it onto phones — where most people access the internet.

“We’re not trying to get people to use it more and more,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told U.S. senators this week in a hearing over how to regulate AI systems such as those built by his company.

The delay in getting the product on phones helped fuel a rise of clones built on similar technology, some of which the security firm Sophos described as “fleeceware” in a report this week because they push unsuspecting users toward enrolling in a free trial that converts into a

recurring subscription, or use intrusive advertising techniques.

Another privacy researcher, Simon Migliano, said the official ChatGPT app might eventually starve similarsounding apps of new users, but that could take a while because many of those apps were given names deliberately intended to confuse people into thinking they already have the official app. They were also “hyperoptimised” to rank highly in Apple’s App Store search results, said Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN. com.

“For many of those who have already downloaded a clone, it’s likely they will simply stick with the

ChatGPT apps they already have and continue to have their personal data harvested and sold,” Migliano said.

Altman told Congress this week that his company doesn’t try to maximise engagement because it doesn’t have an advertising-based business, and because it’s costly to train and run its AI models on computer chips known as graphics processing units.

“In fact, we’re so short on GPUs, the less people use our products, the better,” Altman said.

The new app does include an option to pay for a premium version of ChatGPT with additional features. Along with those subscriptions, the company makes money from

BRAZIL BUILDS ‘RINGS OF CARBON DIOXIDE’ TO SIMULATE CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE AMAZON

By FABIANO MAISONNAVE Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO

(AP) — In the depths of the Amazon, Brazil is building an otherworldly structure — a complex of towers arrayed in six rings, poised to spray mists of carbon dioxide into the rainforest. But the reason is utterly terrestrial: to understand how the world’s largest tropical forest responds to climate change. Dubbed AmazonFACE, the project will probe the forest’s remarkable ability to sequester carbon dioxide — an essential piece in the puzzle of world climate change. This will help scientists understand whether the region has a tipping point that could throw it into a state of irreversible decline. Such a feared event, also known as the Amazon forest dieback, would transform the world’s most biodiverse forest into a drier savannah-like landscape.

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

developers and corporations that pay to integrate its AI models into their own apps and products. Its chief partner, Microsoft, has invested billions of dollars into the startup and has integrated ChatGPTlike technology into its own products, including a chatbot for its search engine Bing.

The ChatGPT app will now compete for attention with the Bing chatbot already available on iPhones, and could eventually compete with a mobile version of rival Google’s chatbot, called Bard. Versions of OpenAI’s chatbot technology can also be found in other apps, such as the “My AI” feature on Snapchat.

NASA PICKS BEZOS’ BLUE ORIGIN TO BUILD LUNAR LANDERS FOR MOONWALKERS

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE

CANAVERAL,

Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ rocket company has won a NASA contract to land astronauts on the moon, two years after it lost out to SpaceX.

Blue Origin received a $3.4 billion contract Friday to lead a team to develop a lunar lander named Blue Moon. It will be used to transport astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2029, following a pair of crew landings by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

NASA will get astronauts to lunar orbit using its own rockets and capsules, but wants private companies to take over from there.

NASA Administrator

Bill Nelson said the agency wants different landing options as it seeks a return to the moon more than a half-century after the end of the Apollo moonshots.

Blue Origin is kicking in billions of dollars, on top of the NASA contract, to help establish a permanent presence on the moon.

“We have a lot to do before we successfully land and return astronauts,” said John Couluris, a Blue Origin vice president.

Two years ago, Blue Origin sued after NASA awarded SpaceX the contract for the first lunar landing. A federal judge upheld the space agency’s decision.

NASA’s Artemis programme, which follows the 1960s and 1970s Apollo moonshots. kicked off with

a successful test flight late last year.

Launched atop NASA’s new moon rocket, an empty Orion capsule went into lunar orbit before returning home.

The next Artemis flight will come late next year when one Canadian and three U.S. astronauts fly to

the moon and back, but not land.

Two Americans would descend to the lunar surface aboard a SpaceX Starship on the mission after that, no earlier than late 2025.

Like SpaceX, Blue Origin plans to practice landing on the moon

JEFF Bezos’ Blue Origin received a $3.4 billion contract to develop a lunar lander named Blue Moon. It will be used to transport astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2029. (Blue Origin via AP)

without a crew, before putting astronauts on board.

While the shiny, stainless steel Starship has a science fiction look, Blue Moon resembles more of a traditional capsule perched atop a tall compartment with legs. The latter will stand 52 feet (16 metres) on the moon.

Both companies’ landers are meant to be reusable.

Blue Origin will use its still-in-development New Glenn rocket to launch its lunar missions from Cape Canaveral. Starship, the world’s largest rocket, made its debut last month from South Texas; the test flight ended in an explosive fireball a few minutes into flight.

Blue Origin’s team includes five partners: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Draper, Astrobotic Technology and Honeybee Robotics.

Only one other bid was submitted for the contract competition, according to NASA.

WORKERS on a tower that will be part of a complex of towers arrayed in six rings to spray carbon dioxide into the rainforest north of Manaus, Brazil.

(AP Photo/Fernando Crispim)

FACE stands for Free Air CO2 Enrichment. This technology first developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory, located near New York City, has the ability to modify the surrounding environment of growing plants in a way that replicates future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

“Plants absorb carbon dioxide along with water and light to produce sugars and release oxygen. What happens when one increases this input? We don’t know,” David Lapola, one of the leading scientists of the project, told The Associated Press. “We have evidence from similar experiments in temperate forests, but there is no guarantee that the behavior will be the same here in the Amazon.”

Lapola, a professor at the State University of Campinas, argues that the tipping point of the Amazon rainforest is more likely tied to climate change rather than the rate of deforestation. Thus, it is crucial to study the impact of higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the forest to understand what lies ahead.

THE CHATGPT app on an iPhone. The free app started to become available on iPhones in the U.S. last Thursday and will later be coming to Android phones. Unlike the web version, you can also ask it questions using your voice.

Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation calls for local groups to be supported first

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE newly formed Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation Ltd believes more local Junkanoo groups should be benefiting and participating in an event in Grand Bahama on Saturday.

Andrew Been, GBJC chairman, is calling on private and corporate entities holding events “not to overlook or diminish the value of Grand Bahama Junkanoo groups”.

The People’s Rush, organised by West Grand Bahama District Council, is to take place on Saturday at the Sunset Village in Eight Mile Rock.

One Family, out of Nassau, and one local junkanoo group, the Swingers, will be featured at the event.

Mr Been was informed that sufficient funds were not available to accommodate three more local groups because of funding allocated to bring the group out of New Providence.

“We wish to make it known we take no issue with One Family, but rather remind these entities that events such as these are opportunities for Grand Bahama groups to benefit from funding that is otherwise scarcely available on the island,” he said.

He claimed the money that is being spent on transportation, accommodation, performance, and meals for One Family is very significant compared to the bare minimum provided to local groups.

“Why ask for one group when you can make a great show with all Grand Bahama groups? Each group on the island has a fan base and can help draw the numbers to events,” he said.

“Therefore, we ask the

public to take a stand with us. If you truly wish to see just how talented and marvelous Grand Bahama Junkanoo can be, help to hold these entities accountable so that our groups can be given fair opportunities for performance and funding,” said Mr Been. He said the government seed funding and sponsorship from the community they receive do not cover the costs to get groups on the road.

“Each year that our groups make it to the road is nothing short of a miracle,” he said. “We wish to appeal to the government and private sectors to assist us in creating a valuable experience for the people and tourists.

“We, therefore, call on the government and private sector to commit to making more substantive funding for Grand Bahama Junkanooers to be able to represent our island better.”

Following advice from the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Junkanoo groups in Grand Bahama formed a legal corporation on August 22, 2022.

The New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parade on Grand Bahama now falls under the management of Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation Ltd, and any other official side parades they wish to implement.

All existing and new groups must register with the corporation to be eligible to participate in the 2024 New Year’s Day Parade and any other parade organised or held by the corporation.

Mr Been said businesses and individuals should inquire with the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation Ltd to confirm whether a group they wish to sponsor is eligible to participate. People wishing to contact the corporation for

the registry list may do so via email at grandbahamajunkanoocorporation@ gmail.com

The executive board is as follows: GBJC chairman is Andrew Been, chairman of Showtime Junkanoo Group; Jenesto Thomas, chairman of Classic Dancers Junkanoo Group serves as vice-chair and business and events committee co-chairman; Dominique Smith, co-chairman of the GB Asguard Junkanoo Group, serves as secretary and assistant public relations officer; Renee Folwer, assistant secretary; Boise Roberts, treasurer; David Storr, public relations officer; Thomas Curry,

leader of Platinum Knights, serves as business and events committee chairman; Michael Miller, co-leader of the Swingers, serves as chairman of the rules committee; Anjoun Armaly, chairman of the Swingers Junkanoo Group, serves as logistics committee chairman; Pastor Brian Dareus, of Kingdom Ambassadors Spartans, is the chaplain.

Advisors of the Corporation are Anthony ‘Huck’ Williams, leader of Swingers; Malcolm Smith, GB Asguard Junkanoo Group; Quinton Rolle, co-chairman of the Classic Dancers, and Chauncey Gray, chairman of the Superstar Rockers.

ExEcutivE Board Members officially announced the formation of the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation Ltd. The Board is made up of various leaders of the local junkanoo groups and business professionals. From left are Anthony ‘Huck’ Williams, Anjoun Armaly, Dominique Smith, Thomas Curry, Andrew Been, Michael Miller, Jenesto Thomas, Renee Fowler, and David Storr.

Photo: Denise Maycock

thE PlatinuM Knights Junkanoo group on their way to victory in the 2018 New Year’s Junakanoo parade in Grand Bahama.

Guam residents stock up, batten down as dangerous Super Typhoon Mawar closes in

HONOLULU

Associated Press

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration as an intensifying super typhoon Mawar approached Guam, where anyone not living in a concrete house was urged to seek safety elsewhere and emergency shelters began to fill ahead of what could be the most powerful storm to hit the Us Pacific territory in two decades.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said on social media that the declaration will support the mobilization of resources into Guam, which is “especially crucial given our distance from the continental Us” Guerrero ordered residents of coastal, lowlying and flood-prone areas of the territory of over 150,000 people to evacuate to higher elevations. Federal assistance will be needed to save lives and property and “mitigate the effects of this imminent catastrophe,” Guerrero said in a letter to the president requesting a “pre-landfall emergency” for Guam. Officials warned residents who aren’t in fully concrete structures — many homes on the far-flung island are made of wood and tin — to consider moving.

With rain from the storm’s outer bands already falling on the territory, national Weather service said the storm had been upgraded to a Category 4 “super typhoon,” meaning maximum sustained winds of 150 mph or greater. its centre was about 140 miles southeast of Guam late tuesday local time and was moving to the northnorthwest, according to the weather service. the weather service said the storm was intensifying and warned of a “triple threat” of winds, torrential rains and lifethreatening storm surge on Guam. the weather service said the storm could hit southern Guam around midday Wednesday, which is tuesday evening in the mainland United states. Guam lies west of the international date Line and is a day ahead of the mainland and Hawaii, which is 3,800 miles to the east. Manila, Philippines, is 1,600 miles to the west. if Guam doesn’t take a direct hit, it will be very close, said Patrick doll, the lead weather service meteorologist in tiyan, Guam. Guerrero urged residents in a Youtube message to remain calm and ordered the national Guard to

help those in low-lying areas evacuate as residents stocked up on water and generators. “We are at the crosshairs of typhoon Mawar,” she said. “take action now, stay calm, stay informed and stay safe.”

A storm surge of 6 to 10 feet above the normal high tide was expected and could reach as high as 15 feet. surf was expected to build sharply in the next day or two along south- and eastfacing reefs, with dangerous

surf of 20 to 25 feet into Wednesday, the weather service said. the storm is moving at only 5 mph but has an eye 17 miles wide, meaning people at the typhoon’s centre could see calm conditions for over three hours and conclude, far too soon, that the worst is over, doll said. As the eye leaves, the winds could rise to 150 mph (241 kph) in minutes, so people should remain sheltered until the government gives the all-clear, he said.

“Folks may say, ‘Hey it’s over, we could go outside and start cleaning up,’” doll said. “that is totally wrong.”

Guam resident Albert eliasson told KUAM news he is stocking up and battening down, including making sure to have enough water to drink and flush toilets.

“Just making sure that we have things prepared, shutters on the windows that need it,” he said.

Oshean saralu told

KUAM he is also doing everything he can to prepare for a direct hit. “We usually pack everything up for most of our stuff inside our garage and just secure everything, especially the windows,” he told KUAM. At the island’s grocery and hardware stores Monday, people left with shopping carts full of canned goods, cases of water and generators, the Pacific daily news reported. rota, an island in the Us Commonwealth of the northern Mariana islands, was also under a typhoon warning, doll said. tinian and saipan, in the northern Marianas, were under tropical storm warnings. some people in those areas are still in temporary shelters or tents after Category 5 super typhoon Yutu in 2018, doll noted.

“Guam takes a Category 4 or 5 hit every five to seven years. Mother nature has spared us as of late,” doll said, adding that the last direct hit was in 2002. “so we are way overdue.” typhoon season runs from July 1 to dec. 15 in the western north Pacific, according to the weather service.

Recent sha R k attacks a R e wo RRying beach-goeR s, yet expeR ts say they’R e veRy R a R e

PORTLAND Associated Press

r e C ent shark bites in Florida and Hawaii and a suspected case in n ew Jersey have piqued interest in an age-old summer question for beachgoers — is it safe to go in the water?

s cientists and researchers who study sharks said the overwhelming answer to that question is yes, it is safe. Potentially dangerous interactions between humans and sharks are uncommon, and serious injuries and deaths from the bites are vanishingly rare, scientists said.

n onetheless, the dramatic nature of shark bites and the stories of survivors, such as Hawaii surfer Mike Morita’s tale of fighting off a shark in April, capture the imagination. i t’s a good idea to remember just how rare shark bites truly are, scientists said.

HOW OF ten d O s HA r K B ites OCCU r ?

t here have been typically around 70 to 80 unprovoked shark bites annually, worldwide, over the past decade. And not only are shark bites rare, they’ve been especially rare recently.

t here were only 57 unprovoked bites last year, and five of those were fatal, according to University of Florida’s i nternational s hark Attack File. t here had been nine such deaths the previous year.

t he shark attack file reported a year ago that one reason for the decline in bites might be be the global decline of shark populations.

i t’s too early in the warm season to get an idea of how active this year will be for interactions between humans and sharks, said Greg s komal, a shark expert with the Massachusetts d ivision of Marine Fisheries. “ i f we get lots of bait fish and forage fish species close to shore, we have a super hot summer that draws people to beaches, more people in the water, then we can determine the risk,” s komal said.

WHAt A re t H e MO st P r O ne A re A s FO r s HA r K en COU nters ?

t he United s tates and Australia are typically the sites of the most reported shark bites. Florida had more bites than anywhere else on e arth last year

with 16 unprovoked bites, two of which resulted in amputations, the shark attack file said.

t his month, two Florida fishermen were bitten by sharks in separate incidents less than 36 hours apart.

t he rate of shark bites has stayed steady in recent years, but it might feel like a more common occurrence because of the prevalence of smartphones, said n ick Whitney, a senior scientist at the n ew e ngland Aquarium in Boston. r ecently developed smartphone apps allow users to report shark sightings in real time.

WHAt K ind OF s HA r K s A re CAU se FO r CO n C ern ?

White sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks are the sharks most cited by the i nternational s hark Attack File for unprovoked bites. t hose species are large sharks that also cause the most fatalities.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that many interactions with sharks are with smaller species that are unlikely to cause serious injuries, said James s ulikowski, director of the Coastal Oregon Marine e xperiment s tation at Oregon s tate University. t hose species might bite a human, realize we are not their preferred prey and move on, he said.

is it s AF e t O s W i M?

Yes. You’re at exponentially greater risk of getting hurt in a car accident on the way to the beach than you are to get seriously injured by a shark bite.

Millions of people flock to the beach in the summer as the weather heats up, and that raises the possibility of interacting with a shark. But by taking simple precautions, such as not carrying shiny objects into the water and not swimming at dawn and dusk, beachgoers can reduce any chance of a dangerous encounter with a shark, s ulikowski said.

“We are intruders in their environment. What we can do is be logical and safe about that and avoid areas where sharks are going to be feeding,” s ulikowski said. “When an interaction occurs, it’s mistaken identity — we are in an area where a shark is looking to eat.”

Residents prepare for Typhoon Mawar’s approach Monday, in Tamuning, Guam. Guam’s governor is urging residents to stay home and is warning the island could take a direct hit from Typhoon Mawar. The storm is strengthening on its path toward the US territory in the Pacific.

Photo: Rick Cruzthe Pacific daily/AP

Monday, a woman walks with her dogs at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, Mass., where a boogie boarder was bitten by a shark in 2018 and later died of his injuries. Recent shark bites in Florida and Hawaii and a suspected case in New Jersey have peaked interest in the age-old summer question of whether it’s safe to go in the water.

Photo: Charles Krupa/AP

‘We want to make sure we have the best team’ for CAC

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games all set for June 23 to July 8 in San Salvador, El Salvador, the Bahamas Olympic Committee is still looking at putting together the pieces for Team Bahamas’ participation.

The games is the first of the four major international events that the BOC is responsible for. It’s also the start of the ladder that leads to the Olympic Games. Following the CAC Games, the BOC will prepare for the Pan American Games, scheduled for October 20 to November 5 in Santiago, Chile.

The other games under the BOC’s jurisdiction is the Commonwealth Games. The last games were held in 2022 in Birmingham, England.

The next games will not take place until 2026 in Victoria, Australia.

BOC president Romell Knowles said all emphasis will be placed on this year’s CAC and Pan American Games as they serve as qualifiers for the next Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 2024.

“From the executives’ standpoint, we want to make sure that we have the best team to represent the country and to allow them to go and represent the country at the best of their abilities,” he said, noting that the BOC is still going through the

selection process as they wait on the organisers from Argentina to provide them with the complete list of invites, based on rankings, to participate in the games.

He noted that over the past few days, the list was submitted for track and field and swimming and the list is being analysed to determine the number of athletes that will get to travel.

“It’s common for the organisers to send us a quote and then we work our way through it with the national federations, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with these games,” Knowles said.

“We only received invites for athletics and swimming this week, but we don’t know what is implied for the other sports. Every multi-sporting event has its unique circumstances and it’s something that we have to work through.”

Both the Bahamas Softball Federation and the Bahamas Basketball Federation have received invites for their men’s national teams to travel to the games to compete, but both are not expected to make the trip.

BBF president Eugene Horton has made it emphatically clear that with funding as a major issue, their priority has shifted to the qualification process for the Paris Olympics rather than a minor event like the CAC Games.

“It’s the same old thing over and over. It’s funding. We have the pre-Olympic qualifying coming up from August 12-20 in Argentina and if we qualify from that, we are one step closer

to moving on towards the Olympics,” Horton said.

“It’s just a matter of funding. All this summer, we will try to get our finances in order because with elections coming up this year, if I decide not to run, I don’t want to leave the federation in shambles. But we have to prioritise where we go and what is more important because of funding.”

As for softball, BSF president Jenny Isaacs-Dotson said the executives made the decision not to send the team because the players were not as dedicated as they should have been with regards to practice.

“We’ve invited some players to come out to practice

Umpire Thomas Sears to officiate at CAC Games

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the highest ranked World Baseball Softball Confederation umpire in the Bahamas, Thomas Sears has been invited to participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Sears, who serves as the deputy of umpires for the English Caribbean Amateur Softball Confederation (ECASC), was invited by WBSC president Tommy Velazquez to officiate at the games, scheduled for June 22 to July 8 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

“We understand that these continue to be difficult times. However, we are optimistic, and we are advancing in the organisation of this tournament on the indicated dates,” Velazquez wrote to Sears.

“We continue to monitor the global status of COVID-19 and will continue to prepare and adapt as necessary. In this sense, we ask for your patience and understanding in the face of possible changes in the future, in which case you will be informed accordingly.”

Following his recent officiating at the ECASC Women’s Fast-Pitch Tournament Qualifier in St

LAST CHANCE MEET FOR SWIMMERS TO QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONALS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

and based on the report we’ve gotten, the response has not been good,” said Isaacs-Dotson, the first female elected to the BSF presidency.

“We made the decision not to send the team because it didn’t make sense to take a team if they are not properly prepared.

“We just have to look at the structure of our national programme because we need to get these players coming out consistently and getting into tournaments so that they can be ready to compete in these games when they come around,” she explained.

So, along with athletics and swimming, who’s expected to represent the Bahamas at the games?

Knowles revealed that they anticipate that Team Bahamas will include athletes for triathlon, water polo, beach soccer, boxing and equestrian will join athletics and swimming.

“We are just waiting to find out if we will get a quota or we will get invites,” Knowles said.

“So far, beach soccer and water polo have received invites and they are expected to be a part of the games,”

Bishop Joseph ‘Joe Mo’ Smith, one of the vice presidents of the BOC, has been selected to travel as the chef de mission.

However, Knowles said the rest of the team personnel will be determined by which disciplines are travelling to compete in the Games.

“It’s depressing, but we will work through it.”

WITH the Bahamas Aquatics’ National Swimming Championships on the horizon, swimmers will get their last chance to quality during the Oak Tree Medical Center/Mako Aquatics Swim Meet this weekend. According to organiser Travano McPhee, the one-day meet at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex will take place on Saturday with two sessions, starting at 9am and again at 5pm. All events will be timed finals.

Around 300440 swimmers are expected to participate in the meet.

“We’re looking forward to a really good turn out this weekend,” said McPhee, who also serves as the head coach for the Mako Swim Club. “We have some swimmers coming in from the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as Grand Bahama.

“In addition to that, we have our swimmers who are home from college and high schools. They are eagerly looking forward to the competition while they are home for the summer break.”

This will be the last chance for swimmers to qualify to compete in the Bahamas Aquatics’ National Championships, scheduled for July 15-19 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

“I’m expecting a very good turnout,” McPhee said. “As this is the last chance to qualify for the Nationals, we are looking forward to some very good turnouts, especially in the younger age groups and the swimmers who are trying to better their times for the nationals.

SEE PAGE 14

Chess tournament set to make the history books

past 21 years officiating on the international scene.

He follows in the footsteps of the late Arthur ‘Old Art’ Thompson, who was the longest and highest ranked official in the International Softball Federation before they became incorporated in the WBSC.

“I feel pretty good about the stage that I am at right now. I am winding down right now,” he stated. “When I got started, my goal was to officiate at the Olympics. Normally you would have to be at level five or to officiate in a number of events to get that opportunity.

John, US Virgin Islands in March, Sears said he’s delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to officiate at the CAC Games and he hopes to make the best of the opportunity.

“I just came back from the ECASC Tournament in the USVI and at the time, it was mentioned to me that I was up for consideration for the CAC Games,” Sears said. “Being one of two English-speaking officials certified in this region, the likelihood of this was expected.”

The WBSC level four certified official is one step below the level five or the instructor level. Having earned his international certification in 2012, Sears has spent the

“That’s no longer the case for me. I’m basically winding down my career at the WBSC level. It’s not my goal any longer. I prefer to concentrate on the region. All my efforts now would be to improving the officiating in the region as the deputy of ECAST.”

But if the opportunity presents itself like it did for the CAC Games, Sears said he would certainly embrace it.

Sears, however, said while the BSF men’s national team was given an invitation to participate in the CAC Games, he’s disappointed to hear that they have declined the

THE Orjan Lindroth Memorial Chess Tournament is set to make history as the 1st FIDE Title Norm chess tournament to be held in The Bahamas.

The six-day tournament will take place at SuperClubs Breezes Resort & Spa, Nassau, The Bahamas. The tournament kicks off May 29 and culminates on June 3.

The tournament has attracted a total of 70 chess players. The number represents a mix of young and old, beginners and professionals. Thirty-three persons will participate in the U1700 section and 37 individuals will play in the Open Section.

The players competing in the tourney represent 13 countries. This FIDE rated, Norm tournament will be a 9 round Swiss format, Game in 90 min +30 second increments per player.

The prize fund is $16,500. This exciting event will see 11 grandmasters and five international masters vie for 1st place. These high level players represent Cuba, Macedonia, Norway, Paraguay, Serbia and Spain. Andre White will serve as chief arbiter. Elton

Joseph will serve as deputy chief arbiter and Angel Pride as arbiter.

Mr White is the only Bahamian FIDE licensed international arbiter. He served as chess arbiter at the 41st Chess Olympiad (2014) in Tromso, Norway; the CAC Youth Festival (2015) in Trinidad & Tobago and the 44th Chess Olympiad (2022) in Chennai, India.

Norwegian GM JohanSebastian Christiansen and winner of the 2022 Orjan Lindroth Memorial Chess Tournament is excited to return to The Bahamas.

“Last year I came to The Bahamas for the first time in my life. I spoke for a long time to the

tournament organiser, Cecil Moncur, and he approached me with kindness and generosity,” said GM Christiansen.

He continued: “Both FM Moncur and the other people in charge of the tournament gave me a very warm welcome and treated me extraordinarily well. “The tournament was also well-executed and extremely professional. I was positively surprised by how well it was organised, as it was their first big international event.

“Therefore, there was no tough decision to make, whether I would return this year or not. The

MCPHEE

ROMELL KNOWLES

THOMAS SEARS

ANDRE WHITE

Taking the spotlight on day 3

GIRLS IN ACTION: SOCCER NATIONALS CONTINUE AT ROSCOW DAVIES FIELD

By TENAJH SWEETING

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Samuel P Haven Junior High Schools Soccer Nationals returned to the Roscow A L Davies soccer field for the third consecutive day.

Yesterday’s trio of games saw the girls of Lyford Cay International School take on the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves.

In the day’s second matchup, the CR Walker Lady Knights faced off against the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine.

The final game of the day saw the Queen’s College Comets versus the RM Bailey Pacers.

The day featured high-level soccer competition from the girl teams of both the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) and Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS).

Game one

Lyford Cay International School, the second runner-ups for the 2023 BAISS senior girls championships, took down the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves 5-0 in the first game of the day.

In the first half, Dragons’ Delaney Mizell kicked the ball to the back of the net to advance 1-0 on the scoreboard.

Shortly after, her teammate Yasmin Kennedy followed suit, scoring another goal.

The Dragons went up 2-0 on the Timberwolves, leading into the second half.

In the second half, Leah Horton added another point to the total as she scored for the Dragons. The remaining goals for Lyford Cay came from Issa Bournas, who sank two goals to the back of the net to seal a comfortable win. She scored the most goals for her team.

Sara Ilgenfritz, head coach of the Dragons, talked about the team earning their first win. “I think the girls came out and showed a lot of grit. Our last game that we played here was not the way we wanted to end the season, so we came out hungry,” the coach said.

She added that despite the score, she does not think the win was an easy one but the girls did exactly what they talked about in practice since their last game in the BAISS championships.

Game Two

One day ahead of their GSSSA championship game against the RM Bailey Pacers, the Knights’ senior girls defeated the Big Red Machine 3-0. For the Knights, all three of their goals came from none other than Valtinique Simmons. She scored her first goal in the first half and put two more in the net late in the second half to secure a commanding win over the BAISS soccer championship runner-ups.

Simmons talked about how it felt to amass a trio of goals in the team’s first win of the high school nationals.

“I had a good season but a few bad games. I am still proud

of myself. I scored 22 goals for the season and I am proud of my team, if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have been here today,” she said.

With today’s GSSSA championship now at the forefront, she said despite a complicated first game against the Pacers, she expects the game to be an easy one and will leave it in God’s hands.

Knights’ head coach Dan Weightman said because it was a really hot day at the national field, the team really had to push and he gave his entire bench playing time.

He credited the next woman up mentality of his team for the win and it’s the team’s expectation to go deep into the nationals.

The coach acknowledged that the Lady Knights will have their work cut out for them following yesterday’s play and now championships today.

He added that the team’s ability to recover after yesterday’s match against the Big Red Machine will be the difference maker.

Game three

In the final game of the day, the QC Comets claimed victory over the RM Bailey Pacers 1-0. Both teams struggled during parts of the game.

However, Alexis Williamson scored the game’s lone goal in the first half.

Despite scrambling to get a score on the board late in the game, the Pacers were unsuccessful.

Comets’ head coach Deborah Humes talked about their first win of the high school soccer nationals.

“It was a good game. It was two really good teams against each other. Both teams played really well,” Humes said.

She said despite the game being a bit more physical than the Comets players are accustomed to, they were a bit more

skillful in their approach as they had 10 shots on goal that were on target which translated to a goal.

The junior high schools soccer nationals will continue this Friday beginning at 4:30pm.

ONE AND DONE: The Queen’s College Comets shut out the RM Bailey Pacers 1-0 in yesterday’s soccer matchup at the Roscow A L Davies soccer field.

Photos by Tenajh Sweeting

QUEEN’s College Comets girls were victorious over RM Bailey Pacers yesterday - day 3 of Samuel P Haven Junior High Schools Soccer Nationals.

DRAGONS SCORE GOAL: Issa Bournas, of Lyford Cay International, scores one of her two in-game goals yesterday at the Roscow A L Davies national soccer field.

)

WNBA opening weekend highlighted by Griner’s return, Stewart’s historic performance

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer

THE WNBA tipped off its 27th season this past weekend with the return of Brittney Griner, an historic effort by Breanna Stewart and a dominant performance by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

But not everything went according to the early season script.

A revamped Chicago team won both of its games, including a victory in Phoenix to spoil the home debut of Griner after being imprisoned last year in a Russian jail. Griner played on opening night in Los Angeles with Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance.

The Sky, who lost four of their five starters from last season’s team, had impressive road wins over Minnesota and the Mercury playing stellar defence. Chicago held both teams under 70 points and will play its first home game on Friday against Washington.

SWIM

FROM PAGE 12

“We encourage the Bahamian public to come out and support the swimmers. With two sessions and all timed final events, the competition should be very stiff in all of the events. This will give the swimmers a chance to swim in at least seven events.”

The top three finishers in each final will be awarded medals, and trophies will be distributed to the high point winners and runnersup in each age division for the boys and girls. Additionally, McDonald’s will be providing vouchers.

McPhee expressed their appreciation to Oak Tree Medical Center for coming on board and being the official sponsors for the event. He said their sponsorship will go a long way in making the event a tremendous success.

SEARS

FROM PAGE 12

opportunity to be a part of Team Bahamas.

“I think it would be an excellent opportunity for our players to display their talent, particularly the

CHESS

FROM PAGE 12

Bahamas has come to be one of my favourite places to be. I can’t wait to arrive back!”

“The Bahamas Chess Federation welcomes participants for the 2023 Orjan Lindroth Memorial

THOMAS’ DOUBLEDOUBLE LEADS SUN PAST MYSTICS 88-81

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Alyssa Thomas had 22 points and 10 rebounds while DeWanna Bonner added 15 points to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Washington Mystics 88-81 last night.

Connecticut created some separation midway through the fourth quarter by going on a 10-2 run, capped by a three-point play by Brionna Jones for a 75-67 lead. Tiffany Hayes started the run by making a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down and a transition take foul led to a four-point possession after Bonner’s free throw and Jones’ 3-pointer.

Elena Delle Donne made a putback to get Washington within 81-79 but Bonner answered at the other end with a layup in traffic for a four-point lead with 52 seconds left. The Mystics turned it over on their next possession and Hayes made one of two free throws.

That will come a night after the Aces visit the Los Angeles Sparks in the first of a home-and-home set between the teams. Las Vegas will still be missing head coach Becky Hammon, who is serving a two-game suspension from the league for violating “respect in the workplace” policies after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant.

Hamby now plays with Los Angeles and the teams will play again on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Aces, who routed Seattle by 41 points in the season opener, will celebrate last season’s championship with a ring ceremony and championship banner unveiling. That will be Hammon’s first game back from her suspension.

The Aces are once again the top team in the AP WNBA power poll. They are followed by Connecticut, which won its first two games. Washington, New York and Chicago are

next. Dallas and Los Angeles came after the Sky. Phoenix, Atlanta and Minnesota. Indiana and Seattle finished off the rankings tied for 11th.

GRINER WATCH

Griner played in her first WNBA regular season games last weekend after spending last season in a Russian jail. Griner averaged 22.5 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in two losses. She received

a massive ovation from the Phoenix fans when she was introduced before the home opener on Sunday.

“There might have been a little dust in my eye, a little dusty,” she said. “It was emotional being back stage, seeing some of the clips.”

Her debut at Los Angeles last Friday was the most viewed regular season WNBA game on cable in 24 years with 683,000

viewers. Next up for Griner is a home game Thursday against Minnesota and USA Basketball coach Cheryl Reeve.

Griner said she would be interesting in playing for the U.S. in the Olympics next year.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

Breanna Stewart, who was the AP player of the week, had a long day Sunday. She woke up at 6am to her 21-month-old daughter Ruby screaming.

Ruby “doesn’t care that I have a game,” Stewart said.

When asked what she had for breakfast before scoring a career and franchise-best 45 points in a win over Indiana, Stewart recalled having toast with cream cheese, a cheese omelet, bacon, breakfast potatoes and some fruit that she chased down with orange juice.

“Can you make me that?

I’m gonna come over next game,” Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu joked when hearing Stewart’s meal of choice.

All five starters for Connecticut (3-0) scored in double figures. Hayes and Natisha Hiedeman each scored 13 points and Jones finished with 12.

Thomas made all four of her field goals in the first half and 6 of 8 free throws to total 14 points in leading Connecticut to a 43-42 lead. Delle Donne also scored 14 points in the opening half for Washington as both teams shot at least 46% from the field.

Delle Donne led Washington (1-2) with 27 points. Brittney Sykes added 17 and Shakira Austin had 14 points and eight rebounds. Connecticut beat Washington two days earlier in Connecticut 80-74.

GRAY, MCDONALD RALLY DREAM PAST LYNX 83-77

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Allisha Gray scored 26 points, Aari McDonald gave Atlanta it’s first lead of the game in the final minute and the Dream scored the last 11 points of the game to rally past the Minnesota Lynx 83-77 last night.

Atlanta, which trailed by 19 midway through the third quarter outscored the Lynx, who had one basket in the last 6-plus minutes, 24-10 in the fourth quarter, and 14-2 in the last 3:33.

Rookie Naz Hillmon, a second-round pick out of Michigan, added 13 points, all in the second half, for the the Dream (1-1) and Cheyenne Parker had 12.

Napheesa Collier scored 20 points for Minnesota (0-2) before she fouled out with 2:23 to play. Aerial Powers and Tiffany Mitchell both had 10 off the bench.

younger players,” Sears said. “If what I’m hearing, it’s not good for the sport and the younger players.”

Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, the first female president of the BSF, indicated that the federation opted not to send a team because the players

Chess Tournament to The Bahamas,” said Janelle Albury, 1st vice president in The Bahamas Chess Federation.

“Hosting this tournament, which has attracted some of the best chess professionals in the world, is a momentous occasion not only for the federation, but for The Bahamas. It

were not committed to coming out to practice.

But she sent her congratulations to Sears for his officiating role.

“He’s doing very well in softball, and we know that he will represent the Bahamas at the CAC Games,” she lamented. “While he’s

is also important as this is a chance for young Bahamian chess players to get the opportunity to participate in a world-class tournament and to interact with some of the best chess players in the world. “The sport of chess improves critical thinking, develops perseverance and offers a myriad of

doing well in softball, we also have Martin Burrows who is doing well in officiating at baseball, so we congratulate them both.”

As for officiating in the Bahamas, Sears said he’s quite aware that a member of the BSF officiating core since 1995, Martin

educational benefits and travel opportunities. This tournament will contribute to the growth of the sport in The Bahamas. “We would also like to thank our generous event sponsors. Again welcome and good luck to all participants!”

Sponsors for the 2023 Orjan Lindroth Memorial

‘Pork’ Burrows is the newly appointed Chief of Umpires.

Sears said he once he’s given an invitation to officiate, he would make himself available, but by the same token, “I must follow the international standards of softball,” he summed up.

Chess Tournament are Amanda Lindroth, Scotiabank, SuperClubs Breezes Resort & Spa, Mrs. & Mrs. Charles Stonehill and The Bahamas Chess Federation.

The 2023 Orjan Lindroth Memorial Chess Tournament will be streamed live on Chess242 YouTube channel and Twitch.

Collier scored the first 10 points of the third quarter for a 57-40 Lynx advantage and it was a 19-point lead at the midway mark before the Dream reeled off 14-straight to get back in the game.

Kayla McBride ended Minnesota’s drought with a 3-pointer in the final minute and the Lynx led 67-59 entering the fourth quarter.

Rhyne Howard and Gray sandwiched 3-pointers around a Collier layup — Minnesota’s last points — to pull with 77-75 with just under three minutes to go. Monique Billings made two free throws at 2:34 to tie it, the first since 4-4. After the teams combined for seven empty possessions, McDonald capitalized on a Lynx turnover for Atlanta’s first lead with 42.5 seconds to go. The Dream added three free throws from there.

PHOENIX Mercury centre Brittney Griner (42) gets high-fives from Mercury guards Moriah Jefferson (8) and Sophie Cunningham, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky on Sunday in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D Franklin

PHOENIX Mercury centre Brittney Griner (42) celebrates her three-pointer against the Chicago Sky during the second half. (AP Photo/Ross D Franklin)

WITH the Bahamas Aquatics’ National Swimming Championships on the horizon, swimmers will get their last chance to quality during the Oak Tree Medical Center/Mako Aquatics Swim Meet this weekend.

Celtics stay alive

TATUM SCORES 34, BOSTON STAVE OFF ELIMINATION BY ROUTING MIAMI 116-99 IN GAME 4

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Jayson

Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each added 16 points and the Boston Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 last night.

Grant Williams scored 14, Al Horford added 12 and Marcus Smart scored 11 for the Celtics, who still trail the series 3-1 — but sent it back to Boston for a Game 5 on Thursday.

Jimmy Butler scored 29 for Miami, which led by nine in the second half before getting outscored 48-22 in a 14-minute stretch that turned the game — and perhaps the series — completely around. Boston would also have Game 7 on its floor as well if it can keep extending this series.

Gabe Vincent scored 17 for Miami, Caleb Martin had 16 and Bam Adebayo added 10.

The Heat shot 8 for 32 on 3-pointers, while Boston was 19 for 45 — a massive 33-point difference in scoring from beyond the arc.

No team in NBA history has ever successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a bestof-seven series; 150 have tried, 150 have failed.

But the Celtics gave themselves hope.

“We were just trying to save our season,” Tatum said.

The Heat led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, kept the lead for the majority of the first half and were up by nine again when Max Strus connected on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.

Boston’s season was officially on the brink.

And the Celtics responded — most emphatically. An 18-0 run took Boston from down nine

to up nine, a huge turna round that took only three minutes.

from the floor during the run, 4 of 4 from 3-point range, Tatum had nine of the 18 points and just like that the defending East champions — who won three playoff games on Miami’s home floor in last year’s playoffs — were rolling again. Miami

got within four late in the third, only to see another lightning-fast spurt by the Celtics — this time, seven unanswered points in 40 seconds. Boston’s edge was 88-79 going into the fourth, after winning the third quarter 38-23, with 21 of those points coming on 3-pointers. The Celtics kept the lead the rest of the way. Celtics: Tatum’s second 3-pointer of

the night was the 220th of his postseason career, passing Paul Pierce for the most in Celtics playoff history. … Boston’s last four-game losing streak was in May 2021, late in the 2020-21 regular season. … Tatum’s jumper with 9:22 left put Boston up seven, stopped a Heat spurt — and was his first fourth-quarter field goal of the series.

Heat: Vincent left early in the fourth quarter after turning his left ankle. … Miami was bidding for its first five-game winning streak of the season — not the postseason, the whole season. Its longest win streak of the regular season was four games, back in December.

HERRO UPDATEHeat guard Tyler Herro,

who broke his right hand in Game 1 of Round 1 at Milwaukee, has his brace off and is resuming workouts.

“He is starting the process,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There’s no timetable. But he does have the brace off and he’s able to do ballhandling and some shooting.”

CELEB WATCH

Among the celebrities in the crowd: PGA champion Brooks Koepka (who also was at the Florida Panthers’ win in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference finals series against Carolina on Tuesday night), NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein, former New York Yankees teammates Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, and actor Jeremy Piven.

Lakers hoping LeBron James decides to continue career after playoff elimination

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— The Los Angeles Lakers hope LeBron James will decide to continue his career after he recovers from the difficult end to their season. James didn’t meet with the media on the day after the top scorer in NBA history said he needed time to think about his basketball future following the Lakers’ elimination from the Western Conference finals.

The 38-year-old James has skipped his team’s postseason media exit interviews before, but his decision yesterday left Lakers fans hanging about his intentions with his enigmatic comments following a four-game sweep by the Denver Nuggets.

General manager Rob Pelinka and coach Darvin Ham said they’ll speak with James soon about his future.

“We all know that (James) speaks for himself, and we’ll look forward to those conversations when the time is right,” Pelinka said. “LeBron has given as much to the game of basketball as anyone who has ever played. When you do that, you earn a right to decide whether you’re going to give more. ... Obviously, our hope would be that his career continues, but we want to give him the time to have that inflection point and support him along the way.”

Despite James’ 40-point performance, including a career playoff-best 31 points in the first half, the seventh-seeded Lakers were swept by the

top-seeded Nuggets with a 113-111 defeat in Game 4 on Monday night, ending James’ attempt to win his fifth career championship in his 20th NBA season.

Ham joked: “Coming off a tough loss like that, the work we’ve put in this season, I think I was ready to retire after last night, too.”

Pelinka and Ham declined to speculate on whether James’ frustration stemmed from his persistent foot injury, which could conceivably require surgery to correct fully. He missed a month of the regular season down the stretch, but returned to his usual heavy workload before the playoffs.

James had been largely healthy throughout his NBA career until he reached his mid-30s in Los Angeles, where he has missed significant chunks in four of his five seasons.

“When there’s any injury, you seek multiple medical opinions, and there were some that doubted whether he could play again this season,” Pelinka said. “For him to end the season playing virtually 48 minutes and posting a virtual 40-point triple-double as a player in the 20th year of his NBA career is staggering.”

The Lakers all said they understood why James would question his future after an outstanding performance in defeat.

“I feel like that’s human nature, to be his age and be playing at the level he’s playing at,” Troy Brown Jr. said. “Personally, I feel like because of his love of the game, he will continue to play. But I don’t blame him at all.”

Pelinka said he hopes to keep much of the Lakers’ current core around James and Anthony Davis, calling roster continuity “a high priority” after several years of major annual changes. James is due to make $46.9 million in the first season of his two-year, $97 million contract extension, but several key contributors to the playoff run are free agents.

“I think there’s proof in concept that this was a really good team,” Pelinka said. “But we’re not going to rest on our laurels. If there’s opportunities to get even better, we’re always looking to improve. But we have a core that’s highly successful, and that’s a good starting point.”

Los Angeles was one of the NBA’s best teams after

its moves at the trade deadline, going 18-8 to end the regular season even without James. The Lakers then made an impressive run to the conference finals, knocking off second-seeded Memphis and defending champion Golden State, but ran out of steam against the powerhouse Nuggets.

“We feel like we’ve got special players in the locker room that enjoy playing with each other,” Pelinka said. “We know there’s more growth and improvement in that group, especially if we get a training camp together.”

REAVES AND RUI

Pelinka made it clear he intends to do everything possible to re-sign Austin Reaves. The undrafted second-year pro is a restricted

free agent after seizing a starting job and effectively becoming the Lakers’ No. 3 offensive option.

“I want to be here. It feels like home to me, in a sense,” Reaves said. “Obviously it’s a lot different than my actual home (in Arkansas). It’s a little bigger. Traffic is a little worse. ... But it feels like a home for me, the way the fans support me, the players, the coaching staff, front office. It’s just definitely somewhere I want to be, but we’ll see what happens.”

Rui Hachimura also is a restricted free agent, and Pelinka said the Lakers hope to keep him as well.

Hachimura said his short tenure with the Lakers was “a crazy three months for me. It was one of the best times of my life.”

D-LO’S FUTURE

The Lakers’ most prominent unrestricted free agent is D’Angelo Russell, who had several outstanding performances after his trade-deadline return to Los Angeles, but struggled badly enough in the playoffs to lose his starting job in the finale.

Russell, who scored only 25 points in the four conference finals games, called the season “a complete success.”

“We’ll see what opportunity presents itself, and obviously I’ll do the best for myself,” Russell said.

“I think the future is bright. I think Rob Pelinka has some decisions to make, but that’s his job. (I) would love to be here and contribute to that, so we’ll see.”

LOS Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks down in the closing minutes of a loss to the Denver Nuggets in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series on Monday night in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

MIAMI Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) attempts to block a shot to the basket by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second half of Game 4 during the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals last night in Miami. (AP Photo/ Rebecca Blackwell)

Guerrero, Jays pound MLB-best Rays 20-1, score 10 off position players

ST. PETERSBURG,

Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had six RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays stopped a five-game losing streak with a 20-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays last night, scoring their last 10 runs off position players.

Guerrero put Toronto ahead with an RBI single off Taj Bradley (3-1) in the first, had a run-scoring single in the fifth that opened a 10-0 lead and hit a 423-foot grand slam in a nine-run ninth against Luke Raley.

All 12 Toronto batters in the game had hits, and the Blue Jays finished with 27 hits — their most since getting 29 against Boston in a 28-5 win last July 22.

Tampa Bay entered with the second-fewest runs allowed in the majors at 170 and gave up its most since a 20-8 loss at Boston on August 11, 2021.

George Springer had four hits, and Bo Bichette, Whit Merrifield, Guerrero and Danny Jansen had three apiece. Springer hit his seventh homer, a solo drive in the third. José Berríos (4-4) allowed one run, five hits and two walks, striking out five.

YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 5, 10 INNINGS

NEW YORK (AP) —

Aaron Judge hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and rookie Anthony Volpe drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th against Bryan Baker (3-2) as streaking New York rallied past Baltimore.

Harrison Bader homered to begin New York’s comeback from an early 4-0 deficit, and Judge took Gerrit Cole off the hook for his first loss in 11 starts this season.

DODGERS

8,

BRAVES 1 ATLANTA (AP) — Bobby Miller allowed one run over five innings in his big league debut and Los Angeles beat Atlanta.

J.D. Martinez and Jason Heyward homered for the Dodgers, who also got three RBIs from Will Smith.

Spencer Strider (4-2) fanned 11 hitters to increase his MLB-leading strikeout total to 97 — his fourth start this season with double-digit Ks and 10th of his young career. He allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings.

Miller (1-0) surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out five while consistently reaching 100 mph with his fastball.

RANGERS 6, PIRATES 1 PITTSBURGH (AP)

— Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi pitched a complete game for the second time in five starts after throwing just two in the first 226 of his major league career.

Eovaldi (6-2) allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one, his fifth straight start of at least seven innings.

Josh Jung hit his 11th home run of his first full season in the majors to give the Rangers a five-run lead in the eighth.

PADRES 7, NATIONALS 4

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Juan Soto hit his ninth homer and had three hits to begin a three-game visit to his former team as San Diego beat Washington.

Jake Cronenworth followed Soto’s seventhinning solo shot with a two-run homer two batters later as the Padres scored four times off Nationals reliever Erasmo Ramirez (2-2).

DIAMONDBACKS 4, PHILLIES 3

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Corbin Carroll singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for his third hit and Arizona beat Philadelphia for its ninth victory in 11 games.

At 29-20, Arizona moved nine games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 11, 2018, when it was 77-68. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extended his hitting streak to 16 games — the longest active run in the majors — with a leadoff double in the eighth off Seranthony Dominguez (1-2). After advancing to third on a passed ball by J.T. Realmuto, Gurriel scored on Carroll’s single to left through a drawn-in infield. Reliever Jose Ruiz (2-0) got the win and Miguel Castro earned his fifth save with clean ninth.

GIANTS 4, TWINS 3

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

— Michael Conforto

doubled to spark a sixthinning rally and hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh as San Francisco rallied past Minnesota.

The Giants have won seven of eight. Alex Cobb (4-1) finished seven innings for the third time in four starts this month, working around a two-run home run by Byron Buxton in the first inning and a solo shot by Michael Taylor in the fifth.

With Jorge López (1-2) on the mound for the seventh, Thairo Estrada led off with a double and trotted home on Conforto’s 10th homer of the season. Camilo Doval pitched a hitless ninth for his 13th save in 14 attempts.

CUBS 7, METS 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Christopher Morel, Matt Mervis and Seiya Suzuki homered and Chicago cooled off New York. Mervis had three RBIs and

RONALDO SCORES WINNER IN SAUDI ARABIA, SAYS LEAGUE IS IMPROVING

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr keep its Saudi Arabian title hopes alive by scoring the winning goal in a comefrom-behind 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab yesterday. If second-place Al-Nassr had lost the Riyadh derby then leader Al-Ittihad, which beat Al-Batin 1-0 earlier, would have been crowned champion with two games of the season remaining.

Cristian Guanca scored twice for Al-Shabab before Anderson Talisca of Brazil pulled a goal back for Al-Nassr just before the break.

Drew Smyly (5-1) pitched four-hit ball into the sixth inning.

Morel extended his homer streak to five games with a solo shot against Stephen Nogosek in the seventh. He became the first player with such a streak for the Cubs since Sammy Sosa in June 1998.

Tylor Megill (5-3) allowed six runs, four earned, in 3 2/3 innings for the Mets, whose five-game winning streak ended. Pete Alonso hit his big leaguebest 18th homer for New York.

BREWERS 6, ASTROS 0

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Joey Wiemer and Owen Miller homered, Colin Rea combined with four relievers on a five-hitter and Milwaukee stopped Houston’s eight-game winning streak.

Rea (1-3) gave up four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Houston was blanked for the second time.

BARCELONA LOSES TO VALLADOLID, RAPHINHA SHOWS MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona forward Raphinha took off his jersey and revealed his message of support for fellow Brazilian Vinícius Júnior.

The message, which included anti-racism words in Portuguese and the phrase “we are together, Vini,” was on his undershirt and visible when Raphinha was substituted off in the second half of Barcelona’s 3-1 loss to Valladolid yesterday. He raised his right fist while leaving the field.

It was the first matchday in the Spanish league since the outpouring of support for Vinícius Júnior following the latest case of racial abuse against the Real Madrid star forward on the weekend.

Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to

repeated racist taunts since he arrived in Spain five years ago. Since the Spanish league season began in September, he has experienced racist abuse by fans of at least five rival teams, including Valencia on Sunday.

Barcelona’s second consecutive defeat since clinching the title with games to spare was overshadowed by the fallout from that.

Players from Barcelona and Valladolid held a banner before the match with the words “racists out of football,” which is one of the slogans of a campaign against racism launched jointly by the Spanish league, Spanish federation and the government’s top sports authority.

Anti-racism slogans were also shown during the national and international broadcast of the game. The win moved Valladolid

three points clear of the relegation zone. The club owned by former Brazil striker Ronaldo can stay safe going into the last two rounds if Getafe fails to win at Real Betis today. Barcelona was coming off a 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad at home after securing its first Spanish league title since 2019 in the previous round.

Valladolid, which had lost five straight matches, took a 3-0 lead with an own-goal by Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen and with goals from Cyle Larin and Gonzalo Plata. Robert Lewandowski, the league’s leading scorer, netted late for Barcelona. “Beating Barcelona gives us a lot of confidence going

forward,” Plata said. “Now we have two finals left and hopefully we can reach our goal of staying in the first division.”

SOCIEDAD CLOSER TO CHAMPIONS

LEAGUE

Real Sociedad strengthened its hold on the final Champions League spot with a 1-0 home win over 10-man Almeria.

Takefusa Kubo scored the winner in first-half stoppage time to give Sociedad its second straight victory — and fourth in five matches.

The win allowed Sociedad to open an eight-point gap to fifth-place Villarreal, which hosts relegationthreatened Cadiz today.

Sociedad will clinch the Champions League place if Villarreal fails to beat Cadiz.

Almeria, sitting four points from the relegation zone, has lost three of its last five games. It had forward Luis Suárez sent off with a straight red card in the 36th.

CELTA VIGO HELD

Celta Vigo opened a fivepoint gap to the bottom three after a 1-1 draw with Girona.

Celta got on the board first with a goal by Carles Pérez in the 42nd. The visitors equalised with a penalty kick converted by Cristhian Stuani in the 59th. Stuani scored on his second attempt after the first was saved by the goalkeeper. The penalty was ordered to be retaken because a Celta player entered the area before the kick.

Celta has won only one of its last 10 matches. Eighth-place Girona is winless in three games.

Six minutes after the restart, the nine-time champions were level as Abdulrahman Ghareeb made it 2-2 from close range.

Just before the hour, Ronaldo put Al-Nassr ahead in style, sprinting past two defenders to curl a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.

It was the Portugal star’s 14th goal since joining after the World Cup.

“To be 2-0 down is very difficult but we believed until the end and scored three goals so congratulations to the team and the supporters who were amazing today,” the former Real Madrid star said.

Al-Ittihad is three points clear at the top of the standings.

Ronaldo said the Saudi league is slowly improving: “Step-by step I think this league will be in the top five leagues in the world but they need time, they need players, they need infrastructure.”

MATCHDAY: MANCHESTER CITY VISITS BRIGHTON; REAL MADRID HOSTS RAYO VALLECANO

By The Associated Press

A LOOK at what’s happening in European soccer today:

ENGLAND

Brighton hosts Manchester City and needs one point to qualify for the Europa League for the first time in club history.

City has already wrapped up its third straight Premier League title. Both teams have two games remaining.

Brighton leads seventhplace Aston Villa by three points and has a game in hand.

SPAIN

Real Madrid hosts Rayo Vallecano looking to regain second place in the Spanish league.

Madrid sits one point behind Atletico Madrid, which visits Espanyol on Thursday.

Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, who was racially abused against Valencia last weekend, was not included in the team’s squad for the home match against Valladolid.

Cadiz visits Villarreal to try to move further away from the relegation zone.

Villarreal needs a victory to keep alive its chances of catching fourth-place Real Sociedad for the final Champions League place.

Relegated Elche hosts ninth-place Sevilla.

BRAZILIAN soccer star Vinícius Júnior.

TORONTO Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slides into second base after hitting a double during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida. (AP Photo/ Steve Nesius)

DIESEL SALES HALT TO LAST UNTIL MARGIN RESOLUTION

“That’s fine. People join or don’t join the cause. That’s fine,” the Association president said in response.

While that has temporarily enabled FOCOL’s stations to corner the market on diesel sales, Mr Jones said the fuel has been “a bone of contention” with his members for some time because of the high costs they must pay to acquire it from their wholesale suppliers only to gain minimal returns.

With diesel prices up 12 percent for the year to end-March, based on Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) data, he explained that gas station operators were incurring significant overdraft and credit card fees to purchase diesel supplies at the front end but only earned “a few pennies” in return. Diesel margins are 34 cents per gallon compared to 54 cents on gasoline.

“It’s been a continuous drag to maintain this diesel sales operation,” Mr Jones added. “The margin on diesel is 34 cents versus what we get on gasoline, which we have already said to the Government is not a profitable margin given the rise in costs over the last year.

“Diesel is something we buy and make a few pennies on, but you are paying the high cost to acquire it. It’s been a bone of contention for some time. The Government is aware of it

because we gave them the operating costs for a gas station together with the full breakdown.”

The last margin increase enjoyed by gas station operators occurred in 2011, some 12 years ago under the last Ingraham administration. That took gasoline margins from 44 cents per gallon to 54 cents, where it has remained ever since, while diesel stands at 34 cents per gallon. However, operating costs and inflationary pressures have increased substantially then, especially amid the post-COVID cost of living crisis.

As a result, dealers are arguing that the present price-controlled fixed margins are insufficient to enable them to cover their operating costs and break even, let alone make a profit. Besides facing an up to 163 percent increase in Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) fuel charges amid peak summer consumption, station operators also have to pay rent, franchise and other fees to their wholesale landlords, as well as contend with a 15 percent increase in insurance costs.

Mr Jones also pointed out that, with many gas station employees paid at minimum wage, the 24 percent or $50 per week increase implemented from New Year’s Day has had to be covered by operators without any increase in their margins. And the increased wage

bill has also led to a matching increase in National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions. These combined cost increases, together with the absence of any margin increase, has pushed many retailers to breaking point with some in a position where it would be “cheaper to close” than continue operating. As a result, Mr Jones said the Association and its members had been left with little choice but to act accordingly.

“We’re very mindful of the consumers we serve. We don’t want to disenfranchise them in any sort of way,” Mr Jones told Tribune Business. “But we’re not running a charity. We’re not social services. Because we’re price controlled by the Government we need them to... make the adjustment” to the fixed margins.

Noting that BPL and virtually all other businesses and industries have been able to adjust prices to cope with rising costs, but not the petroleum sector, he added of the diesel halt: “We’ll take this as what we consider a measured action and, at some point, if we don’t have the ability to sit down and come to a conclusion, we will have to increase the effect of what we do.

“This will go on until such time as we have a meeting of the minds, and come to a conclusion. I don’t think we need to be negotiating

any more. We’ve exchanged ideas and proposals. We were right at the door [of an agreement], but we need to sign it, put it in writing and sign off on it, discuss the implementation and let’s go.

“It’s just a question of the Government sitting down and saying: ‘Right, here’s what we propose and here’s how we do it. Here’s the implementation plan’. We say: ‘Thank you very much. You’ve been very generous. Let’s go. Let’s get back to work and let the public drive’. There’s a holiday weekend coming up and we want people to be driving, but we need to get some semblance of an agreement as opposed to continuing the dialogue,” Mr Jones continued.

“In no way are we trying to threaten the public or the Government or anyone else. Many of the staff employed by gas stations got that 24 percent minimum wage increase. We’re saying: ‘Please give us a chance to offset this so we can sleep at night, pay our bills, pay VAT, pay national insurance.

“The petroleum retailers are resolute. We will stay this course as we need to come to an agreement, come to a conclusion, let us get back to work and keep everyone employed. There is no intent to disenfranchise the motoring public, our customers, because we depend on them, but we have to conclude this so we can move on. We’re

losing money by not selling diesel, giving up some revenue again, although it’s only pennies.”

The Government, though, has reiterated several times that it will not approve anything that will immediately increase gasoline and diesel prices at the pump - such as a margin increase for both retailers - because it does not want to further burden Bahamian families and businesses given the ongoing cost of living crisis. Hence the sticking point with retailers’ calls for a margin increase, and the Davis administration has yet to respond to the diesel sales halt or reach out.

“We don’t have a crystal ball, but we’re hoping that in the next day or so the Government will say to come and sit down and let’s finish this up,” Mr Jones said. “We’ve negotiated, them and us, in good faith to address the plight of this industry and get some resolution.

“The only next step would be for us to change our hours, reducing station hours from 24 to ten. That’s not where we want to go. We need to get it resolved; we cannot afford for it to go on any longer. At this point, not selling diesel is detrimental. Not selling gas would be even worse as without it the economy would shut down, but it would be cheaper at some point to close.

“That’s not the idea. The idea is to get a deal and move on for the benefit of the economy. We don’t want to see employees out of work, we don’t want to see our customers in long lines queuing for gas. That’s not the longterm plan. The long-term plan is let’s make a margin adjustment. Every other business has been allowed to make an adjustment. We’re spending too much time in this effort instead of focusing on how we can improve our business.”

Reiterating that gas station operators are seeking their equivalent of “a living wage”, Mr Jones said their requested margin increase has not changed. “It’s 7-8 percent, something in that range, on the cost of landed fuel,” he added. “It’s nothing significant for the public. It’s only pennies on the gallon. We’re not even doubling what we’re making in returns. The percentage is miniscule for the public.

“Right now, the Government is getting three times’ or more than the person running the business and shouldering the responsibility - 10 percent VAT and $1.15 duty per gallon. We’re not an economy that pays income tax, so the Government has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility. We’re not saying give us something from what they get. We’re saying let us work.”

Mr Jones said the margin increases requested by the Association would go “virtually unnoticed” amid all the cost increases of far greater magnitude that continue to occur.

to the above recommendations, a Traffic Impact Assessment and Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) is required for the project.”

However, the Town Planning Committee, in its meeting held the very same day as Ms Wallace’s note was drawn up, approved the Eastmor Properties project to go up storeys with 50 total units. The meeting minutes also reveal that one of the six committee members, Aaron Jones, objected to the decision although no reason was given as to why.

Keenan Johnson, the Town Planning Committee’s chairman, told Tribune Business in August 2022 that “after extensive deliberations” it had decided to allow the development proposed by Eastmor Properties to proceed to the next stage of the approvals process provided the number of units is reduced by 22.

He added, via What’s App message, that the Committee also wanted the height to be lowered by three storeys although it had deemed the development compatible with the relevant land use and zoning requirements.

“The Committee agrees that the proposed use by the applicant for condominiums is compatible with the land [use],” Mr Johnson wrote.

“The Committee considers the proposal of nine storeys and 72 units to be an overdevelopment of the

site. However, the Committee is prepared to accept a proposal of a maximum six storeys and 50 units. The above is subject to the applicant obtaining a Traffic Impact Analysis and a Certificate of Environmental Clearance.”

There was widespread speculation, none of which could be proven or confirmed, during last summer’s Town Planning hearings that the project was targeted at providing accommodation for FTX’s expatriate workforce. Allyson Maynard-Gibson KC, Eastmor Properties attorney, and Jimmy Mosko, its contractor, also held the same roles with FTX - the latter for construction of its nowabandoned West Bay Street headquarters.

It is possible too much was being read into these similarities, although Eastmor Properties had seemingly made no previous effort to develop a property it first acquired on March 5, 1997 - some 25 years before last summer’s Town Planning hearings.

One source, familiar with the planning battle, told Tribune Business on condition of anonymity of the alleged FTX link: “That was the talk at the time. Then the view was that it was not probably going to proceed in the aftermath of FTX’s collapse, but it looks like it still has life.”

Noting the discrepancy between Ms Wallace’s recommendation and Town

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Planning’s ultimate site plan approval, they said: “The Committee departed from the recommendation given by the technical adviser. The majority of the committee actually approved six storeys and we don’t have any explanation as to why they went from three to six.”

The Lyford Cay Property Owners Association is acting on behalf of numerous residents, including Michelle Cove and Nicholas Damianos III, in seeking to persuade the Appeals Board to overturn the site plan approval. And Tribune Business has also obtained arguments on behalf of three corporate owners of neighbouring Lyford Cay properties, New Providence Ltd, Endauld Ltd and Brass Tacks Ltd, as to why the Town Planning Committee’s decision should be reversed.

Robert Adams KC, the Delaney Partners attorney acting on their behalf, cites four grounds - that the Town Planning Committee’s decision was “procedurally unfair’; that the regulator “exceeded the scope of its powers” in making the decision; that it failed to provide reasons to support its decision despite the significant public opposition; and that the decision was “mainfestly unreasonable” because it failed to take into account key matters.

Arguing that the Town Planning Committee had a duty to ensure the public consultation had access to information on the project’s

potential traffic, security and utilities impact, as well as the environment, Mr Adams argues in his May 12, 2023, submissions: “The overriding requirement of any consultation is that it must be fair.

“The public consultation exercise voluntarily undertaken by the Town Planning Committee was flawed and patently unfair because insufficient information about the matters on which the consultees were asked to provide their input and feedback to the Town Planning Committee was never made available to the consultees before the Town Planning Committee made their decision.”

Mr Adams also argued that Eastmor Properties’ plans to use the site for multi-family development “runs contrary” to the objectives of the Planning and Subdivision Act as the land was zoned ‘low density’ for use as single family dwellings. As a result, he is asserting that the Town Planning Committee “acted outside the scope of its statutory powers” in coming to its decision.

The Delaney Partners attorney, noting that the Investments Board permits approving Eastmor Properties’ acquisition of the land stated they were for use “to construct a single family dwelling”, not a condo complex, added that “restrictive covenants” also limited them to single family use.

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‘Screeching economic halt’ if diesel stop lasts 10-14 days

Any heavy lifting device, any heavy duty machinery, runs on diesel. Projects that have a lot of infrastructure development going on will need backhoes, excavators, doing any kind of civil works all run on diesel.

“Major projects right now have their own fuel supply, their own tanks, so they can supply their own projects.

When that is used up, they fill up from the retail stations. If this goes beyond a couple of days, and they have to call for fuel, it will be interesting to see if the retailers say they can’t provide fuel. If it goes on for any length of time, it could shut down the construction industry.”

Any shortage of diesel, Mr Sands added, would also impact the shipping industry as it represents its

primary fuel source. “It’s certainly strong-arming the Government to make a decision in their favour however they do so,” he said of the petroleum dealers’ tactics.

“The desire of the retailers is to get the attention of the Government. They recognise construction is the third pillar of the economy, and with the marina sector you’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity coming to a screeching halt, so I think they will get the attention of the Government by the end of the week,” the BCA president added.

“I don’t think we’re [in the construction industry] too concerned about it yet. The reality of it is that the Government will be forced to play ball. I don’t think they’re in a position where

they can say no. They’re going to be forced to agree to it. If they say ‘no’ and things go wrong, you’re talking about the Government taking a second hit.

“The lack of economic activity, and those projects stopping, means you lose tax money as well. It’s a double hit. They know the importance of this industry for tax reasons. We need to keep this engine going. This engine stopping makes everyone a little nervous. I don’t think this will last more than a few days. If it goes beyond 10 days, it will get nervous for the small guys in construction. Very nervous. Heavy equipment would be dead in the water,” Mr Sands continued.

“We’ll sit and see, but I think they will come to an understanding before

Friday. That’s my personal view. If it lasts to this time next week, you will have more than one or two jitney drivers complaining.”

Petroleum literally fuels the Bahamian economy, and any decision to stop selling a particular type of fuel will have negative consequences for businesses - especially those in the transportation field or those that operate diesel vehicle fleets.

Mr Sands said many Bahamians seemed unaware as to the negative consequences of any longlasting diesel sales halt by a majority of dealers. “The public is so insulated from reality,” he added. “They don’t realise food trucks that supply stores run on diesel. It’s going to impact everything if it stretches to a couple of weeks. We’ll see a totally different economy.

“Trash trucks run on diesel. BPL, Water & Sewerage. You could talk about a total collapse of the system if you are unable to fuel service vehicles.”

However, Mr Sands again argued that the potential political fall-out, and impact on the Bahamian economy and society, meant that the Government and petroleum retailers will likely reach a resolution in short order.

The Davis administration, though, has yet to reach out or contact the gas station operators, according to their industry body last night, with the diesel sales halt well into its second day. The Government has also yet to comment on the situation or address it publicly.

Michael Pintard, the Opposition’s leader, yesterday said he had “serious

concerns” about the economic fall-out unless the Government addressed the situation. “Just productivity; the loss of productivity,” he told Tribune Business. “People unable to get to work on public transportation or through their own vehicles.

“Many persons in the construction sector are using diesel-driven equipment, and residents who use generators need diesel. There are multiple potential adverse impacts if we are not able to get a resolution to this matter.” Mr Pintard urged the Government to work with petroleum dealers to ensure they “are not put in a position to fail or experience shortages or unavailability of diesel or fuel” but also balance this with protecting consumers from higher costs.

Corporate tax certainty ‘vital’ to Freeport future

FROM PAGE A24

and taxes which are being collected,” he argued. “VAT was supposed to be the saviour, and I know some years have gone by, but the taxes keep on coming.” Asked how important it was for Freeport to quickly be given certainty over whether corporate income tax can be levied in the city, the GB Chamber chief replied: “It is vital to know because all the fee structures, licensing structures and pricing is geared to what exists.

“We’re also interested in what happens in the rest of The Bahamas. Freeport doesn’t always import from the US. It imports from other parts of The Bahamas. There’s quite a bit of trade between Grand Bahama and Nassau, so what happens in Nassau impacts us as well. I don’t want to be an isolationist. We have to be concerned with what happens around us and affects us.

“Maybe we’re not impacted so much by the Hawksbill Creek Agreement protecting us, but

we’re impacted nonetheless. I’m always concerned as to what happens in the wider Bahamas. The strength of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement is being eroded. There’s still an opinion that VAT should not apply legally to Freeport. I don’t think that was challenged legally, and it’s in effect now, so there it is.”

Mr Carey said he had been speaking to Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, to visit Freeport and speak with the private sector to help address “the

whole confusion that exists in Freeport with taxation”. He added: “We need to see where we’re going. Let’s stop playing with these things.”

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.”

Gas stations argue Business Licence ‘further strangles’ us

FROM

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

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In the Estate of ERIC JAMES CROWCH

late of Llys Isan Ilex Close in the City of Cardiff in the County of Wales in the United Kingdom.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims or demands against the above-named Estate are requested to send the same duly certified to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of June A.D. 2023.

NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the time above mentioned the assets of the deceased will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Administrator shall then have had notice.

Holowesko Pyfrom Fletcher Attorneys for the Administrator Chambers Templeton Building, Lyford Cay Nassau, Bahamas

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).”

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

ASIAN STOCKS SLIDE AS DEBT WORRIES MOUNT

By JOE MCDONALD AP Business Writer

ASIAN stock markets slid Wednesday as the U.S. government crept closer to a potentially disruptive default on its debt.

Tokyo's main market index lost more than 1%. Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul also declined.

Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.1% after Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives said,

"We're not there yet" on a deal. That followed a meeting Monday with President Joe Biden that ended with no agreement.

"McCarthy's comments have thrown cold water" on sentiment, said Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank in a report. He said the slide in prices is "paying back for premature optimism around a debt deal."

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5% to 3,230.46 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 1.1% to 30,619.21. The

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.”

Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.9% to 19,260.11.

The Kospi in Seoul retreated 0.2% to 2,562.60 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 lost 0.5% to 7,222.60. New Zealand and Bangkok gained while Singapore and Jakarta declined.

Republicans in Washington are pressing for cuts in aid to the poor and other spending in exchange for agreeing to raise the amount the government can borrow. Biden has proposed a mix of cuts and higher taxes on the richest Americans, which McCarthy has rejected.

URCA in ‘final touches’ on third mobile player review

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

REGULATORS are completing the “final touches” to their assessment of whether The Bahamas can sustain a third mobile operator and have submitted their recommendation to the Government for its final decision.

Rupert Pinder, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) director of electronic communications, told the public hearing on its 2023 annual plan that the review has essentially been completed and the issue passed to the Government for further action.

Elsewhere, he said the review of the retail market for fixed communications services, such as broadband Internet, fixed-line phone and TV/video, will not be finished by 2024 because these typically take a yearand-a-half to complete.

“The last time that we had to review the retail market for fixed services was like around 2014,” Mr Pinder said, “and just to give you some background in terms of what are we talking about here.... So for the fixed market, you essentially have fixed voice or what everybody refers to as landline. You have fixed broadband, or in other words, Internet is provided

URCA’S BATTERY STORAGE REVIEW TO AID RENEWABLES

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

at a fixed location, as well as your pay television.”

URCA also reviews “over the top services”, such as Netflix and Apple TV. “BTC has significant market power (SMP) in the provision of fixed voice services, or what we know as landline services essentially. Cable Bahamas, on the other hand, is deemed to have SMP in the provision of pay television,” Mr Pinder added.

With this status comes certain obligations, as well as regulatory restrictions, which are imposed on SMP operators to prevent them from abusing their market power by engaging in anticompetitive behaviour that harms or drives out rivals. “What the review will determine is whether or not those regulations or obligations are still fit for purpose,” Mr Pinder added.

URCA will especially focus on how “over the top” services are competing with traditional counterparts, which is already occurring in mobile services with the likes of What’s App. “Again, the whole purpose of this review is to ensure that your regulations are still fit for purpose and that’s a very extensive exercise,” Mr Pinder said. Mr Pinder also chided operators for not providing data to URCA in a timely fashion, which he added hinders efforts to properly regulate the telecommunications sector.

THE UTILITIES Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) has launched an informal consultation process over “battery energy storage integration” as it seeks to facilitate greater adoption of renewable energies.

Avrom Thompson, a legal officer with the energy regulator, told a public hearing on its 2023 annual plan that URCA has been focused on service quality and promoting the integration of environmentally sustainable sources into The Bahamas’ energy mix.

“The first project is the licensee annual plant and operations inspections. This initiative aims to develop the framework necessary to conduct inspections of licensees. The objective is to verify the assets and the rate base, ensure compliance with regulations and evaluate operational practices,” he said.

The second is to provide “technical standards for the electricity sector”, where the regulator will seek to “re-establish and enhance technical supply standards” that were “omitted” from the Electricity Act 2015. “This project is therefore directly related to our focus on quality of service, since it includes addressing the areas of major outage definition, power quality standards and reliability standards,” Mr Thompson said.

“The next project is the generation licence project, which aims to broaden the range of licences available in the electricity sector. The objective is to include entities operating generation facilities, exceeding one Mega Watt (MW), for self supply purposes.

“Another significant project is the development of account separation guidelines for public electricity suppliers. Both public electricity suppliers and authorised public electricity suppliers are required to maintain separate accounts for generation, transmission and supply services, primarily to aid in tariff setting. This project therefore aims to establish the framework for licensee account separation,” he continued.

“Lastly, in line with URCA’s commitment to developing our regulatory framework and promoting renewable energy, we have the battery energy storage integration project. Battery energy storage systems have shown various

technical benefits that can be harnessed in generation, transmission and distribution systems.

“The objective of this project is therefore to review the technology available and its applications, and to assess the sector’s interest in such projects. We therefore plan to engage in an informal consultation process to gather feedback and insight from stakeholders and, in fact, our informal consultation is currently available on URCA’s website for this project.”

Bryann Hepburn, an URCA regulatory officer with responsibility for the electricity sector, said Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) “efficiency audit” for 2022 had been postponed because of the change in the utility’s leadership.

“The next project that the electricity sector embarked on in 2022 would be the renewable energy utility-scale development regulation,” she added. “URCA currently has frameworks in place

to accommodate renewable energy generation by residential, commercial and government entities, which are addressed through our renewable energy subgeneration and small-scale renewable generation frameworks.

“In keeping with, and in support of, the Government’s national energy policy objective of achieving 30 percent renewable energy penetration by 2030, and in compliance with section 26 of the Electricity Act, URCA sought to advance regulations that would facilitate utility scale projects.”

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ROYAL CARIBBEAN LAUNCHES BAHAMAS RECRUITING OFFICE

ROYAL Caribbean has opened its first Bahamasbased office in downtown Nassau as it expands its investments in this nation with the $110m Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island.

The offices, located in The Pointe development, represent the cruise line’s first brick-and-mortar presence in The Bahamas. Royal Caribbean, in a statement, said it has brought 35m visitors to this nation over more than 50 years, and has expanded the relationship through its Coco Cay private island destination in the Berry Islands.

“Together with our longstanding partners, The Bahamas, we are beginning a new, bolder chapter of vacations to this beautiful island nation. The ambitions we share are great, and building our first office is a concrete demonstration of our unwavering commitment to achieve them,” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean’s president and chief executive.

“A permanent local presence has been in the works for some time, a crucial part of our plans to ensure we’ll continue to tailor win-win opportunities such as Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island – a first-of-its-kind, private-public project – and more.”

Royal Caribbean’s first office will be the headquarters for a team of recruiters. The space, conveniently located on West Bay Street at The Pointe development, will facilitate the hiring and onboarding for Bahamians seeking employment opportunities at Perfect Day at CocoCay and on board the cruise line’s more than 26 ships.

In addition to providing easy access to information and opportunities for locals seeking careers with the brand, the location will also serve as a training facility and meeting space to expand and establish relationships with Bahamian vendors and suppliers.

The Royal Beach Club, which is scheduled to open

CINDY WILLIAMS, left, Royal Caribbean’s director of global talent acquisition, works with Ebony Thompson, onboarding co-ordinator, to review an online application from someone seeking a job on one of the cruise line’s ships or at its private island destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, in the Berry Islands. The new recruitment office staffed by Bahamians opened at The Pointe last week.

Photo:Cay Focus Photography

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that IRLANDE TOUSSAINT, Union Village, 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 17th day of May 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

in 2025, has been structured to give the Government and Bahamian investors a combined 49 percent equity

ROYAL Caribbean International’s new recruitment office in downtown Nassau is searching for the best talent among Bahamians seeking employment at its Perfect Day at Coco Cay private island or onboard one of its 26 ships.

stake in the project. Bahamian businesses and entrepreneurs will manage much of the experience, and hundreds of local jobs will be created in construction and long-term operations. The 17-acre site will be made up of 13 acres of land owned by Royal Caribbean, and four acres of Crown Land. The Crown Land will be contributed as equity in the new venture to ensure a share of the profits return to the Government and the Bahamian people. This, in addition to a new tourism levy, will go into reinvesting in the local community.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE

NAME BY DEED POLL

The Public is hereby advised that I, TROY ANTONIO MUNNINGS of Derby Road, Yellow Elder, Nassau, Bahamas, intend to change my name to TROY ANTONIO STUART If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ABELINO ENRIQUE AVILA TOMAS, General Delivery, Spanish Wells, Eleuthera, 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 24th day of May 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Legal Notice

N O T I C E

Kerzner Health Care Ltd. (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act, (no. 45 of 2000), Kerzner Health Care Ltd. (the “Company”) is in Dissolution. The date of commencement of the Dissolution is 18th day of May, 2023. Andrew Davis is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Crowe Bahamas, Harbour Bay Plaza, Shirley Street, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addressed and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before the 19th day of June, 2023 H&J CORPORATE SERVICES LTD.

Registered Agent for the above-named Company

Legal Notice

N O T I C E

Goodwood Investments Holdings Inc. (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act, (no. 45 of 2000), Goodwood Investments Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) is in Dissolution. The date of commencement of the Dissolution is 18th day of May, 2023. Andrew Davis is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Crowe Bahamas, Harbour Bay Plaza, Shirley Street, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. All persons having claims against the abovenamed Company are required to send their names, addressed and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before the 19th day of June, 2023

H&J CORPORATE SERVICES LTD.

Registered Agent for the above-named Company

Chamber: Business ease must be at ‘forefront’ with tax reform

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE GOVERNMENT must ensure the ease of doing business is given equal priority to tax reform and is at the “forefront” of all discussions with a private sector that wants change to go beyond corporate income tax.

Khrystle L. RutherfordFerguson, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chair, in a statement responding to the Government’s ‘green paper’ on corporate income tax said the launch of public consultation was “a positive step in the right direction” given the general distaste for the Business Licence fee that it is largely proposed to replace.

However, she added that the private sector was cautious on the proposal given the need to ensure reforms to the Business Licence fee and other forms of taxation. The Chamber chair said: “The ‘green paper’ on corporate income tax (CIT) published by the Government of The Bahamas is a positive step in the right direction in having the conversation on equitable taxation of businesses.

“However, we are cautious as the proper implementation of corporate income tax must go hand-in-hand with the reformation of the Business Licence process and other forms of taxation. Businesses have long lamented, and have been concerned by, the inequitable gross turnover-based Business Licence fees in the Government’s determination of taxing businesses.

“The current system does not take into account loss-making years, and

has exhausted cash flow to businesses, while hampering their ability to grow and expand by reinvesting in the business. Nor does it take into consideration charitable-based corporate donations through tax deductions, among other possible incentives.”

Mrs Rutherford-Ferguson alluded to the Chamber’s role on the Government’s Business Advisory Committee, which worked with the administration in crafting the ‘green paper’ on corporate income tax. The Chamber had advised that whatever reform option is selected must be equitable, rather than “deleterious”, for the private sector as well as fostering easy compliance by businesses through not being “administratively burdensome or complicated”.

It also called for “an education and awareness campaign” before, during and after corporate income tax is introduced to facilitate “smoother implementation”, while the Government also needs to “ensure that there is adequate staffing and resources at the Ministry of Finance and the relevant administrative agency to implement and operate a corporate income tax regime, able to assist with issues and grievances affecting businesses as they arise in an efficient manner”.

Initial feedback to the ‘green paper’ must be provided by July 3, 2023. “We acknowledge that this process will take time,” Mrs Rutherford-Ferguson said.

“It is also acknowledged that consolidation of feedback will take one to three months, and policy design another 12-18 months, with another round of public consultation for three to six months thereafter. There

are other key timeframes included.

“The Chamber will be reviewing the document, paying particular attention to the preliminary details included or lack thereof, and will provide feedback using the framework already included therein. We firmly believe that the success of this process will rise or fall on the strength of the consultation of stakeholders, and the Government’s ability to use this information as instructive insight for a smooth implementation.

“One such appeal is to look at the country’s entire taxation system with a view of total reform, including reviewing the existing Business Licence fee, as options include keeping Business Licence fees for some businesses. Finally,

the Chamber urges the policymakers to ensure that not only is tax reform at the forefront, but the ease of doing business is also at the forefront of all discussions.”

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 fallout negative in all bar two instances.

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 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.

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.

KHRYSTLE RUTHERFORD-FERGUSON, Chamber chair

$5.74 $5.74 $5.74 $5.95

Town Planning rejected Lyford Cay condo advice

• Bid to overturn Dingman project approval today

• Top planner called for 50% cut to three storeys

• But authority gave nod for six despite objector

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

LYFORD Cay residents will today bid to block a controversial condo project, which speculation previously linked to FTX, after planning authorities approved the doubling of its height beyond that recommended by their technical advisers.

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board is due this morning to hear arguments from the Lyford Cay Property Owners Association and others as to why the Town Planning Committee was “irrational” in approving the Eastmor Properties project, headed by Michael Dingman’s son, David, even though approval was conditioned on its original nine-storey height being slashed by one-third.

Diesel sales halt to last until margin resolution

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN petroleum retailers have “no intent to disenfranchise the motoring public”, their president asserted yesterday, as he warned that the halt to diesel sales will “go on until such time” as their plight is resolved.

Raymond Jones, head of the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association (BPRA), told Tribune Business his members are “resolute” and plan to “stay this course” with many now pushed to the brink of closure by the failure to reach agreement with the Government over a “pennies on the gallon” increase to their price-controlled fixed margins following more than a year of negotiations.

Suggesting that all sides, including the three oil majors (Esso, Rubis and Shell), as well as the Government

had been “right at the door” of sealing a resolution mutually acceptable to all, he added that the retailers’ move was “a measured action” given their view that further negotiations are pointless and only a concluded agreement will do.

Mr Jones, confirming that neither himself nor any other Association Board member has been contacted by the Government since the diesel sales halt began on Monday, told this newspaper that gas station operators are seeking their equivalent of “a livable wage” that will enable them to “sleep at night” and pay their bills.

Acknowledging that the diesel sales stoppage is “not desirable”, he reiterated that the sector was only interested “in a long-term play” where margins were increased by the equivalent of around 7-8 percent of landed fuel costs. Asserting that, even with this, “we’re not doubling what we’re making in returns”, Mr

Documents filed for the appeal, and which have been obtained by Tribune Business, reveal that the Town Planning Committee last August appears to have either rejected, or ignored, advice from Jehan Wallace, the Department of Physical Planning’s chief physical planner, which called for the condo development’s height to be reduced even further to just three storeys - a 50 percent

• Gas stations ‘resolute’ and will ‘stay the course’

• Pledge: ‘No intent to disenfranchise motorists’

• Dealers at financial cliff; need to ‘sleep at night’

Jones said the per gallon increase would be “virtually unnoticeable” to Bahamians while the Government is earning three times’ what retailers receive on petroleum sales.

However, not all gas stations have stopped selling diesel. Mr Jones said “pretty much everybody other than Shell” had halted sales, acknowledging that around seven sites “owned and operated” by its wholesaler, BISX-listed FOCOL Holdings, continue to make diesel available to motorists who require it.

SEE PAGE A18

Corporate tax certainty ‘vital’ to Freeport future

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama’s Chamber of Commerce president yesterday said it was “vital” to business certainty and investor confidence that Freeport gain clarity on whether, and how, corporate tax will be implemented in the Port area.

James Carey, speaking with the Government’s own ‘green paper’ unable to provide answers as to whether corporate income tax could apply in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement free trade zone, told Tribune Business he and the GB Chamber were still assessing the issue and

unable to give a “definitive” position yet.

Confirming that he has circulated the ‘green paper’ to all GB Chamber Board members, as well as Ian Rolle, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) president, he added that he soon hopes to discuss the potential implications with the latter.

Noting the external pressures facing The Bahamas, as a result of the G-20/ OECD 15 percent ‘minimum’ global corporate tax initiative, Mr Carey told this newspaper: “Taxation in any form is incredibly repugnant. More taxes is not something we need right now, particularly in Grand Bahama.”

The four corporate income tax reform ‘options’ floated by the Government would, in many instances, see the new tax replace the Business Licence fee for many companies. However, most Freeport-based businesses pay their licence fees to the GBPA rather than the Government, so one question to be answered is how these fees - and their payment, which represents a valuable revenue stream for the Port - would be impacted.

The Government itself is also uncertain. “Businesses under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement in Freeport are exempt from paying the Business Licence fee, alongside the elimination

Gas stations argue Business

Licence ‘further strangles’ us

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS

Petroleum Retailers Association’s vice-president says he backs the introduction of a corporate income tax to replace Business Licence fees that “further strangle us”.

Vasco Bastian, speaking to Tribune Business before most of the Association’s members halted diesel sales, said the turnoverbased Business Licence fee had “never really worked for us” and he preferred a

tax based on net earnings and profit margins.

“That would be welcome. That would definitely be welcome,” he said of the corporate income tax reform options proposed in the Government’s ‘green paper’. “I’d be for that. We pay on the gross turnover, and because of the volume of business we do it has never really worked for us, that formula.

“I find it to be an impediment for all of us in the petroleum industry. It’s never worked. It further strangles us. Business Licence fees can either be from $30,000 to $45,000

to $50,000 per annum. A corporate tax would be welcome. Anything that could move this industry forward, anything that could help us, we welcome.

Anything.”

The Government’s ‘green paper’ on corporate income tax reform gave a lower Business Licence fee range than Mr Bastian. With respect to gas stations, it said: “A range of flat fees are applied; the lowest rate of $1,000 up to the highest rate of $35,000.”

Many in the Bahamian private sector have long favoured reforming the existing Business Licence

of property taxes and import duties,” it s ‘green paper’ said.

“For these free trade zones, appropriate Bahamian legal advice would be required to determine whether the application of corporate income tax would be legally possible, though any application of corporate income tax would likely erode the competitive advantage afforded to this area.”

Mr Carey, meanwhile, said there needed to be greater government transparency over how the Government is spending tax dollars it collects. “More information needs to be shared on taxation

SEE PAGE A20

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

reduction on what was ultimately approved.

Ms Wallace, in an August 23, 2022, paper submitted to the Town Planning Committee noted that some 182 of the 190 written comments received by the Department as part of public consultation “outlined various reasons of opposition to the project and request that the Committee refuse the application”.

Noting that the Department of Physical Planning had visited the project site at Hibiscus Drive West, she added: “Based on all the information provided, the Department does not recommend approval for the proposed nine-storey, 72-unit multi-family development. It is an overdevelopment of the site and is out of scale and character for the proposed neighbourhood....

“The Department recommends a density of 30 persons per acre or 50 units in total contained in buildings no more than three storeys in height. In addition to the submission of a revised plan that adheres

SEE PAGE A19

‘Screeching economic halt’ if diesel stop lasts 10-14 days

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIANS could “see a totally different economy” if the decision by most petroleum dealers to halt diesel sales lasts for up to two weeks, a wellknown contractor warned yesterday.

Leonard Sands, the Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president, told Tribune Business he was optimistic that gas station operators and the Government will resolve their impasse over a requested increase to pricecontrolled foxed margins (see other article on Page 24B) relatively quickly given what is at stake and that both sides have too much to lose.

However, he warned that any long-lasting suspension of diesel sales by Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association (BPRA) members would have potentially “significant” consequences for much of the local construction industry as “95 percent of heavy duty equipment” uses this fuel.

While large contractors, and major projects, typically have tanks that can store between 10-14 days’ diesel supply, Mr Sands told this newspaper that smaller operators will likely become “very nervous” if the gas station sales halt is still in place this time next

LEONARD SANDS

week as it could bring their work to “a screeching halt”. The fall-out, he added, would be “much worse than just one or two complaining jitney drivers”. New Providence’s diesel supply has not suffered a complete shutdown since Monday as the fuel is still available through FOCOL Holdings’ seven owned and operated Shell-branded gas stations. However, jitney and taxi drivers, plus truckers and companies with diesel vehicle fleets, have been inconvenienced and forced to divert from their regular routes and jobs plus queue in order to refill their tanks - all of which costs time and money.

Focusing on construction specifically, Mr Sands said: “The impact, if it’s sustained beyond a couple of days, will be significant. Beyond 95 percent of heavy equipment runs on diesel fuel.

SEE PAGE A20