Cruise port to create 350 jobs via $35m water park
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
NASSAU Cruise Port is aiming to create a further 350 full-time jobs through a new $35m water park attraction that is targeted for completion within the next 18 months.
Mike Maura, the downtown cruise gateway’s chief executive, told Tribune Business the planned expansion is part of a drive to provide more “familyoriented” amenities as well constantly refresh and evolve its product offering to maintain the facility as “best in class in the Caribbean”.
Confirming that the pool-based water park will be constructed behind the amphitheatre towards the western side of Nassau Cruise Port’s existing property, he added that although no construction start date has been
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
FAMILY Island hotels must “go above and beyond” on customer experience as the 8.2 percent surge in room revenues shows they are charging visitors more for their accommodation.
Kerry Fountain, the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business its member properties and all resorts must “keep in front of us” the need to exceed guest expectations amid an increase in daily rates that has offset
• Targets ‘best in class’ facility’s completion in 18 months
• Half-year Nassau arrivals up 24% at 2.8m to beat target
• ‘It’s on us’ to boost spend; tourists ‘don’t owe us a dollar’
Ex-BPL union chief fails to restore 74-month payout
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) managerial union chief has failed to persuade the highest court in the country’s judicial system to restore his $621,000 “handsome windfall” in termination compensation. The London-based Privy Council, in upholding the Court of Appeal’s decision, agreed that the sum initially awarded to Ervin Dean by the Supreme Court “was so far outside the generous ambit of available awards that could properly have been made” that it had to be overturned.
And the five Law Lords also unanimously agreed that the interpretation of the Bahamas Electrical Managerial Union’s (BEMU) industrial agreement, which governed his employment terms, by Mr Dean and his attorneys “would be a recipe for chaos and confusion”. They found the term, stating BPL “shall not...terminate an employee unjustly”, did not provide a contractual right to legal protection over unfair dismissal. Mr Dean, who was senior manager of credit and collections at the state-owned electricity monopoly when dismissed on September 22, 2017, had at the time just
confirmed the approval process is “well underway”. It will also feature associated food and beverage offerings.
“We’re looking at an additional investment; a pool water park investment,” Mr Maura revealed to this newspaper, “that is going to provide an experience in the downtown area at Nassau Cruise Port so people have something to do that is more recreational and family-oriented.
“A lot of the experiences these visitors can participate in are adultoriented. Through this investment, which is a pool experience, we intend to focus on families. You take the Disney cruise ships, where the vast majority of folks are families travelling with children. We want them to have experiences that everyone can participate in and enjoy.”
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
FEARS have been voiced that Bahamian residents could be placed “under an economic lockdown” through the imposition of new and increased fees to pay for Family Island airport redevelopments.
Adrian White, the Opposition MP for St Anne’s, asked “where’s the sky” as he urged the Government to establish a policy limit on how much Bahamian residents can be charged by private operators of these airports to help repay lenders and earn a return on their investments.
Citing the fees implemented on July 1, 2024, by the Bimini Airport Development Partners (BADP) consortium that will lead the $80m transformation of that island’s airport, he argued that the combination of passenger facility and processing fees plus a $1 levy means that Biminites will have to pay an extra $51 every time they wish to travel by air outside The Bahamas.
And, based on the latest fees schedule that has been seen by Tribune Business these combined fees are set to increase to $58 per
person with effect from January 1, 2025. Mr White branded the fees for the first six months as “killing me softly”, and argued that the January 1, 2025, rises represent the “just killing me stage” as he queried whether Bimini’s airport needs could have been addressed for under $80m. He argued that the fees set by BADP will likely establish the market for those charged at the other 13 Family Island airports which are part of the Government’s so-called “renaissance” project, where it is seeking private sector investors and operators to provide the necessary capital and expertise to transform these facilities into ones that meet
ADRIAN WHITE
KERRY FOUNTAIN
Benefits and challenges in compliance automation
Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) serve various purposes. Managing uncertainty, maintaining high standards of integrity and achieving objectives more predictably is easier when companies have a solid GRC platform.
Nevertheless, in the modern business environment, GRC faces several operational challenges that threaten to negate its benefits. Due to the increasing scope and complexity of GRC, companies find themselves under increasing pressure to manage a complex web of demands. To meet these evolving expectations, proactive companies embrace automation to boost efficiency, reduce risks and maximise GRC’s potential.
Automation is proving to be one of the most valuable tools. Nevertheless, like any technological advance, it has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these factors is crucial for companies seeking to use automation effectively.
Derek Smith By
This article will highlight several advantages and disadvantages of automation in GRC.
Benefits of Automation in GRC
Increased efficiency and accuracy:
Performing repetitive tasks becomes significantly easier and faster with automation. Processes such as data collection, risk assessments and compliance checks can be streamlined, freeing up human resources to focus on more strategic
activities. When manual, repetitive tasks are automated, teams have more time and resources to devote to higher-value activities that are more creative and expertise-driven. In addition, automating processes minimises errors and simplifies processes. Decisions are made faster, and operations are more efficient as a result.
Improved Risk Management Automation revolutionises risk management. A continuous monitoring system can alert you to compliance issues and risks in real-time. It allows companies to address risks before they become significant problems by taking a proactive approach. The use of advanced analytics also enables better risk prediction and mitigation strategies by identifying patterns and trends. Data-driven, agile, proactive risk management can be achieved through automation.
Policy and Procedure Management Forbes’ contributing member, Adam
Cruise port nominated for best in Caribbean award
Markowitz, wrote: “This is a critical component of an effective GRC programme but, traditionally, policy management has been manual and time-consuming.” Automation ensures that compliance activities are performed consistently and in accordance with regulatory requirements. Automated systems can keep track of changing regulations and adjust processes accordingly, reducing the non-compliance risk. In industries with complex and frequently changing regulatory environments, automation tools can map regulations and risks to existing policies, and flag gaps that should be addressed. Doing so ensures that our policy landscape is comprehensive and current.
Disadvantages of Automation in GRC
High initial investment Investing in technology and training is a significant part of automating GRC. A large investment may be complex for small and medium-sized businesses
(SMEs). In addition, ongoing maintenance can increase costs.
Loss of Human Insight Automated systems excel at routine tasks but need more nuanced understanding provided by human judgment. Strategic decision-making and ethical considerations require human insight and experience. Human oversight can be compromised when over-automation occurs, potentially resulting in suboptimal decisions.
Complexity and Integration Challenges
Automation tools can be time-consuming and complex to integrate with existing systems. Compatibility issues and customisation needs can delay implementation and increase costs. To avoid disruptions and ensure seamless operations, companies need to plan and execute integration processes carefully.
Conclusion Automation in governance, risk and compliance offers substantial benefits,
including increased efficiency, enhanced accuracy, improved risk management and better compliance. Equally, it also presents challenges such as a high initial investment, loss of human insight and integration complexities. Companies must adopt a balanced approach to leverage automation’s strengths and mitigate its disadvantages.
• NB: About Derek Smith Jr Derek Smith Jr has been a governance, risk, and compliance professional for more than 20 years with a leadership, innovation and mentorship record. He is the author of ‘The Compliance Blueprint’. Mr Smith is a certified antimoney laundering specialist (CAMS) and the assistant vice-president, compliance and money laundering reporting officer for CG Atlantic’s family of companies (member of Coralisle Group) for The Bahamas, St Vincent & The Grenadines, St Lucia and Curaçao.
NASSAU Cruise Port yesterday revealed it has been nominated for the Best Cruise Terminal in the Caribbean honour at the upcoming fourth annual World Cruise Award. The New Providence gateway for cruise tourism, in a statement, said the nomination comes just over one year after its official
opening on May 26, 2023. Since then, December 2023 saw it set a new daily passenger record of 29,316 visitors and a new annual passenger record of 4.4m guests. In March 2024, the downtown Nassau facility hosted seven ships simultaneously. Besides donating more than $2m to support youth and community development projects since 2019, Nassau Cruise Port said it has contributed to the growth and development of cruise tourism by conducting security training exercises for government and private stakeholder employees; hosting free community events; and hosting free tours of the port for schools and civic organisations.
The cruise port also touted the creation of its Authentically Bahamian Advisory Committee to help differentiate Nassau from rival Caribbean cruise destinations by developing a unique product offering and sense of Bahamian identity. This, it added, has been incorporated into the Port Marketplace where high-quality, Bahamian-made and designed products are featured.
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, aviation and investments, said in a statement: “I speak for all Bahamians when I say that we are extremely proud of Nassau Cruise Port being nominated as Best Cruise Terminal in the Caribbean.
“The recent $300m investment in the cruise port was a critical element in the strategic repositioning of Nassau as a destination of choice for cruise passengers, and has been instrumental in boosting our partnerships with the cruise lines.
“Its completion and success have also become key drivers in extracting more value from the cruise industry for our community,
SEE PAGE B5
NASSAU Cruise Port has been nominated for Best Caribbean Cruise Terminal by the World Cruise Awards 2024.
BRILAND FRUSTRATION ON POWER OUTAGES
HARBOUR Island residents yesterday voiced frustrations at frequent electricity outages over the past week that have lasted as long as 12 hours. One resident, speaking to Tribune Business on condition of anonymity, said utility issues are “consistent” with the frequent power outages also knocking out water supply. She explained: “When the electricity goes off, the water goes off, yes, but Water and Sewerage have issues all on
their own in Harbour Island not just because of the electricity going off. “The issues are consistent. Sometimes, one side of the island is on and the other side of the island is off. We had some issues earlier in the week. The electricity was off from like 2am till about 3pm the next day, then it went back off after 6pm and didn’t come back on until around 11pm. “A few days ago, there was a bunch of fluctuations in the power and, when it did come on, it wasn’t stable so you were forced to pull out your appliances or risk them. I know someone whose TV was blown and
their Internet modem was broken.” She added that residents have grown tired of reporting outages to Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) 24-hour hotline, and said the electricity infrastructure on Eleuthera cannot handle the population and economic growth as it seems there is always a settlement on the island that is without power.
She said: “I guess calling helps to mend and bridge the gap a little bit, but it still does not help in terms of what are they doing to ensure that the power doesn’t go off.
“You want us to complain about the power being off,
but what’s the sense if it’s going to be on for a little bit and then go right off. I think the whole infrastructure needs to change because it seems like there’s always somewhere on Eleuthera without power.
She said over the past month electricity bills have increased up to three times’ the usual amount and residents are now determined to find alternative electricity and water solutions.
“Everyone’s complaining that their light bill is up. Of course, it’s summer so they’re using more power, but if you’re having as much outages as we are there should be some sort of decrease.
“I’m so tired of complaining about it. The residents are complaining but, at the same time, residents are also making their own arrangements because we’re just fed up.”
Last year, the Davis administration announced it was seeking bids from independent power producers (IPPs) to provide microgrid solutions featuring a combined 25 Mega Watts (MW) of renewable energy and an “additional” 90 MW of “prime power generation” across multiple Family Islands.
The RFP itself identifies the targeted islands as Eleuthera; Harbour Island; Exuma (along with Black
Hundreds attend launch of the Goombay Festival
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Point, Staniel Cay and Farmer’s Cay; Long Island; Abaco; Andros (Fresh Creek, Nichols Town, the Bluff and Mangrove Cay; Rum Cay; San Salvador and the Berry Islands. While no land has been assigned for the 6 MW of renewables targeted at Harbour Island, some 32 acres of space is being allocated on mainland Eleuthera for microgrid and renewable solutions in the Hatchet Bay and Rock Sound areas. On mainland Exuma, some 64 acres will be made available in the vicinity of Georgetown, with small amounts of land required on the cays.
HUNDREDS of residents and visitors attended the launch of Goombay Summer Festival on Thursday, July 4, at Taino Beach. The launch coincided with the WelComing Home activities, designed to get people to return to Grand Bahama.
Among those in attendance were Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama; Myles Laroda, minister of social services, information and Broadcasting; and Kingsley Smith, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama, along with representatives from several other government departments, including the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. Goombay will be held every Thursday in July from 6pm to midnight.
Photos:Lisa Davis/BIS
Ex-BPL union chief fails to restore 74-month payout
celebrated 30 years’ service with BPL and was 54 yearsold. The Privy Council, in its July 4, 2024, verdict found he “had an unblemished work record with no history of disciplinary proceedings against him and was a loyal employee”.
However, he was dismissed by BPL “without cause” or any reason being given. Mr Dean received the legal minimum compensation as required by the Employment Act’s section 29, and was also told that he would be paid his accrued earnings, vacation entitlement and Christmas bonus.
A further $20,792 was offered as a sum “in settlement of his claim”.
Mr Dean, who rejected the latter sum but accepted everything else offered, initiated legal action against BPL for breach of contract but elected not to pursue a claim for unfair dismissal under the Employment Act. He alleged that, in paying him the minimum required by law, BPL
ignored factors such as his length of service, record, age and position that would have shown he was entitled to greater compensation. The former union head also claimed he was terminated “unjustly” in violation of Article 14 (2) of the BEMU’s then-industrial agreement, registered under the Industrial Relations Act, which stipulated: “The Corporation shall not, however, terminate an employee unjustly.”
Mr Dean alleged he was owed his monthly salary of $7,508 for a further 74 months, or more than six years, totalling $555,617. He also claimed a $1,877 annual Christmas bonus for a further six years, totalling a combined $11,262, as part of a total compensation demand of $813,649.
Former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bowe-Darville found that BPL had breached Mr Dean’s employment contract by paying him the legal minimum rather than what he was entitled to based on
the industrial agreement. The judge accepted Mr Dean’s bid for 74 months’ compensation, which would have taken him to his 60th birthday, as “the unexpired term of employment from October 2017 to November 2023”.
Ex-justice Bowe-Darville calculated total damages due to him, including a $71,564 pension contribution; $29,6900 rostering allowance; $29,600 for health insurance contributions; and a $20,054 private car allowance over those 74 months, at $750,012.
However, from the latter figure, she deducted the $97,608 and $10,981 already paid by BPL to Mr Dean.
And she directed during the trial that the $20,792 “ex-gratia” payment be made to the ex-union chief even though he had initially rejected it. When these three payments were deducted, the $621,000 in remaining compensation was arrived at.
However, while the Court of Appeal upheld the Supreme Court’s findings that Mr Dean was entitled to a greater payout than the minimum stipulated by the Employment Act it rejected the 74 weeks’ award. This was cut to 18 months’ compensation or $174,806.
And, by deducting the two previous payments BPL made to him worth $97,608 and $10,981, respectively, representing a mix of termination and accrued vacation pay plus Christmas bonuses, as well as the $20,792 “ex-gratia” payment, the Court of Appeal ruled that just a further $45,425 was due to Mr Dean.
Now-Court of Appeal president, Jon Isaacs, wrote in its judgment: “I am satisfied that 74 months is unduly generous to the intended respondent as the period for which he should receive payment. There was insufficient material before the judge to arrive at the period of 74 months. There was no admissible evidence to suggest there was any custom of the intended appellant to justify such a payout.
“What may have been received by the former employees... could not be used to form the basis of a custom. There was nothing in the industrial agreement to suggest that the intended respondent was entitled to any better compensation than what he actually received.....The
judge’s order for payment of 74 months must be set aside as there is no evidence to support such a handsome windfall.”
Before the Privy Council, Mr Dean and his attorneys argued that the Court of Appeal was wrong to find the Supreme Court’s award “unduly generous” and argued that there was no basis for it to intervene.
Travette Pyfrom and Mark Rolle, his counsel, also argued that BPL had breached their client’s contractual right not to be terminated “unjustly”.
They argued that a reason for his termination should have been given, and that Mr Dean ought to have been allowed to respond and be heard in his defence.
The Privy Council, though, found that Mr Dean was not employed for an “unexpired” fixed term - which it ruled was reason enough to overturn the Supreme Court verdict by itself.
“There was no evidence in this case to show that the appellant would not work again so that compensation until retirement age might have been appropriate. There was no evidence that his health or other factors reduced his chance of obtaining future alternative employment,” the Privy Council said of Mr Dean.
“His age and length of service on their own could not have justified the judge’s approach, and there is nothing to suggest that the judge had any regard to the other factors expressly identified by the industrial agreement....
“In the circumstances, the Board is satisfied that the judge erred in law in her
assessment......Her award was so far outside the generous ambit of available awards that could properly have been made as to justify the conclusion that it was an assessment to which no reasonable judge could properly have come. The Court of Appeal was entitled to overturn the award based on a multiplier of 74 months’ notice.”
As for Mr Dean’s claim that he was “unjustly” dismissed, the Privy Council questioned why the industrial agreement used the word “unjust” when the two legal avenues open to Bahamian workers in challenging their dismissal are wrongful and/or unfair dismissal.
It added that the industrial agreement allowed BPL to terminate staff by giving “reasonable notice” and imposed no obligation to provide a reason to affected employees. “The appellant’s [Mr Dean’s] interpretation of the ‘unjustly’ term as imposing an obligation to give reasons in a case where dismissal is without cause cuts across this contractual right,” the Privy Council said.
“Moreover, it would be a profound and radical reversal of the employer’s long standing common law right to dismiss for no reason at all. For these reasons, it cannot be correct. Nor, in the Board’s judgment, can it be interpreted as a contractual right to statutory protection against unfair dismissal. That would be a recipe for chaos and confusion.” As a result, Mr Dean’s appeal was dismissed.
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NOTICE
IN THE ESTATE of ALTHEA LEONA FARRINGTON late of #3 Frangipani Avenue, Garden Hills Number Two of the Southern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.
Notice is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demands against the above named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of July A.D., 2024, and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; after the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Executors shall then have had Notice.
And Notice is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the aforementioned date.
MICHAEL A. DEAN & CO., Attorneys for the Executors Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street P.O. Box N-3114 Nassau, The Bahamas
BAHAMAS POWER AND LIGHT (BPL) HEADQUARTERS
Supply and demand
By Chris Illing CCO @ ActivTrades Corp
Bitcoin fell significantly during Friday’s trading session. The price temporarily sank below the $54,000 mark , its lowest level since the end of February. At $54,025 (49,911 euros), the price was recently almost 8.3 percent below Thursday’s level. The oldest and most important digital currency has been under pressure for weeks. At the beginning of June, Bitcoin had cost just under $72,000. Other digital currencies such as Ethereum, BNB or Solana also lost significant value.
Experts justified the recent losses in Bitcoin and other crypto currencies with fears of an acute oversupply.
One reason was a message from the insolvency administrator of the failed
crypto exchange, Mt.Gox. He had announced he would hand over a large number of Bitcoin tokens (BTC) to aggrieved creditors. The victims have been waiting for years for a refund of their coins. It is unclear how the former Mt.Gox customers will behave now. If a significant proportion of them want to sell the rescued Bitcoin holdings in the short-term, this could lead to a Bitcoin oversupply in the market. In Germany, and in the case of the illegal streaming platform movie2k.to alone, a suspect transferred almost 50,000 Bitcoins to wallets
CRUISE PORT NOMINATED FOR BEST IN CARIBBEAN AWARD
helping to create greater equity and more opportunity for Bahamians in tourism. We believe that the best of The Bahamas, especially in the cruise tourism sector, is yet to come.”
Mike Maura, Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive and regional Americas director for Global Ports Holding, its controlling shareholder, said the nomination reflects the hard work and commitment of port staff and all partners.
“We strive to deliver a world-class experience daily,” he added.
“Our collective success has become a shining example of the possibilities and benefits that a community can generate when we all – from taxi drivers and hair braiders to port retailers and our downtown partners – commit to working together to make our
guests happy and promote our authentic Bahamas.
“We are grateful for this recognition by the World Cruise Awards, and are honoured to have earned this nomination only one year after our grand opening. We remain committed to continuous improvement and to expanding our position as a leader in the cruise industry.”
Voting for the World Cruise Awards is now open. Maya Nottage, Nassau Cruise Port’s regional marketing director, said: “The voting process is quite simple. We have placed the direct link to the online voting platform of the World Cruise Awards in the bio section of our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok accounts to make it easy for everyone to vote.
“Once you click the link, it will take you directly to the voting page. Click
provided by the Federal Criminal Police Office at the beginning of the year. The equivalent value of those Bitcoins at that time was over $2bn. The authorities have so far remained silent about what they intend to do with it.
Bitcoin demand is currently low, which is partly due to the increased returns on other investments. Investors currently have many options open to investing their money profitably. The crypto market is suffering as a result. On Tuesday last week, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 index boasted new record highs.
‘sign up’ to vote if you are a first-time voter. You will be prompted to enter your e-mail address and create a password. Next, submit your information, then click the vote button.
“This nomination represents a significant endorsement of our physical transformation and the elevation of the guest experience that we have worked so hard to implement. It also puts us another step closer to achieving our ultimate goal of becoming the best cruise destination in the world.
“Winning this award would represent a victory for our entire country, affirming that Nassau is once again a leader in the cruise tourism space for all the right reasons. Please vote and share the link with others. We all deserve this win.”
Nassau Cruise Port is urging Bahamians to visit https://worldcruiseawards. com/vote/nassau-cruiseport-the-bahamas-2024 to show their support and vote for the port now.
MP on Out Island airport fees: ‘Where’s the sky?’
facilities into ones that meet global safety, regulatory and operational standards.
Dr Kenneth Romer, the Government’s director of aviation, last week defended the fee increases at airports such as Bimini as “the price of development” and argued that the Government had undertaken a study to ensure they were competitive with other destinations. He also said the Government and private operators will listen to residents’ concerns and make adjustments if necessary.
Mr White, though, told Tribune Business he felt the impact on Bahamians and residents living in the Family Islands has not been given enough consideration - especially those who have to fly frequently to other domestic and international destinations. He added that the imposition of such fees will only further fuel the post-COVID cost of living crisis.
“You have two stages,” the MP said in relation to
the Bimini airport fees. “The first stage is the killing me softly stage for six months, and the second stage that comes into effect on January 1 is the just killing me stage.”
Bimini Airport Development Partners (BAPF), in an updated May 3, 2024, notice to commercial, charter and private aviation customers, served warning of its intent to impose a passenger facility fee on travellers from July 1, 2024, this year. These fees were set at $20 for domestic travellers, and doubled to $40 for international passengers.
Meanwhile, the passenger processing fee was pegged at $5 for domestic, and $10 for international, travellers with both categories also having to pay a $1 “passenger levy”. In total, these additional fees come to $26 for domestic passengers and $51 for their international counterparts, and are on top of the $29 per head departure tax.
The BADP fee schedule then reveals that the
passenger facility fee is being increased to $25 for domestic travellers, and $45 for international passengers, with effect from January 1, 2025. And the passenger processing fee will rise to $6 for domestic, and $12 for international, travellers with effect from that same date.
Thus persons leaving Bimini to travel outside The Bahamas will have to pay an extra $58.
“Just imagine if you have an emergency and have to leave the country,” Mr White told this newspaper.
“You could have a medical emergency that will cost more money than you have, and you may have to take your child with you. It could cost you an additional $102 for you and they to leave your country.
“You’re putting them [Bimini residents] under an economic lockdown. You might think you can add more and more increases on to the cost of travel because people will be forced to take it. But do you want to force
Bahamians into an economic depression?
“You need to make their fees, their cost of living as low as possible. That’s not being felt by this killing me softly, killing me coming out with these fees in Bimini. I am concerned that there hasn’t been anything communicated as to these PPPs (public-private partnerships).”
The Bimini airport consortium has already delayed, and pushed back, the imposition of the new fees by almost two months with Tribune Business having previously revealed it intended to implement them on May 6 this year based on its April 26, 2024, notice to the aviation industry. Its subsequent May 3 missive, revising the dates, differed only in that it acknowledged consultation with the sector has occurred.
“This notice is to serve as an announcement concerning the change of management at South Bimini International Airport,” the notice read.
“Effective May 6, 2024, Bimini Airport Development Partners (BADP) will assume the management, operations and development of the airport.
“BADP will begin immediate improvements of the airport to modernise and expand the facility, improve airside and navigational infrastructure, procure equipment and enhance services and processes. As a part of our endeavour to provide world-class services, and following consultation, we will be continuing and implementing various rates and charges for all general
aviation private operators and passengers.”
Mr White, though, argued that the Bimini consortium’s fees have effectively set the floor on the fees other Family Island airport PPPs will charge as he voiced concerns about “not trapping Bahamians in their islands”.
“As we look at the Family Island airports, if they do go forward as PPPs, being competing business models, and if we use an airport like Bimini, entering the market adding $26 for local flights and $51 for international flights, the next PPP will come in at a similar rate. Why go lower?” the St Anne’s MP said.
“There needs to be a policy on how much Bahamians have to pay on top of existing aviation taxes. Some people may be travelling from Bimini on an almost daily basis for family and medical reasons they have to deal with. We definitely have to look at this. There’s not been anything said publicly.
“Where is the sky in this case? Where is the limit? Why can’t Bahamians be the beneficiary of reduced rates? Any policy needs to know where the end is before it begins. If we’ve not begun putting the end in writing, it’s going to be killing me softly, killing me for all these Family Islands getting these airport PPPs.”
While acknowledging that the runways, terminals and other operational areas at many Family Island airports need to be improved, and aligned with international safety, regulatory and operational standards, Mr White queried whether the amount of investment required is
as much as the $80m being spent on Bimini.
“That’s why accepting these fees is beyond me, and when the facts become known I’m sure it’ll be beyond an acceptable level to the Bahamian people,” the St Anne’s MP added. The focus at Bimini appears to be on boosting airlift by attracting larger and more frequent commercial flights, with the principal beneficiary set to be the Genting-owned Resorts World Bimini project.
Dr Romer, though, last week said the issue had been discussed with Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, and it was determined “there is a price” for ensuring Family Island airports are brought up to standard.
He said: “The concern came as a result of the implementation of new fees that seem, in some cases, exorbitant notwithstanding that many of the other airports did not really charge certain fees that were passed on to customers.
“The deputy prime minister would have indicated that there was a price that comes again with development, especially world class infrastructural development, to attract the new airlift to the islands - international, domestic - and to really support the economy of these islands. And so there was the imposition of some fees.”
Dr Romer maintained that the Department of Aviation is open to making changes to these fees upon feedback from residents but will continue to do “what needs to be done” to ensure Family Islands have proper airport infrastructure.
New British Prime Minister Starmer seeks to improve on ‘botched’ trade deal with European Union
By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press
BRITISH Prime Minister
Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad.
During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh, that he billed as an "immediate reset" with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, Starmer said he would also seek to improve the U.K.'s "botched" trade deal with the European Union.
"I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris Johnson saddled the U.K. with," he said in reference to the pact negotiated after Brexit.
Starmer said there were many discussions ahead to
strengthen trading, research and defense ties with the EU. But he said those talks had begun as his top diplomat made his first visit abroad to Germany, Poland and Sweden.
With two of Starmer's ministers in Europe ahead of a NATO meeting next week, the premier made a point of visiting the leaders of the regional governments in the U.K. following his party's landslide victory last week.
Starmer, who said he has a "mandate to do politics differently," met with Scottish First Minister John Swinney in an effort to "turn disagreement into cooperation."
"We will serve every single person in Scotland," Starmer told a group of enthusiastic supporters.
"Performance, self-interest: they're the politics of the past. The politics of this Labour government of 2024 is about public service, restoring standards of making sure that we always, always have in our mind's eye the people who elected us into government."
While each of the devolved nations in the U.K. elects members to the House of Commons in London, they also have their own regional parliaments.
Starmer's Labour Party trounced Swinney's Scottish National Party for seats in Parliament. But the SNP, which has pushed for Scottish independence, still holds a majority at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.
Swinney said after meeting the prime minister that he believed there's an opportunity to work together to make a difference for the Scottish people. The trip to build better working relations across the U.K. comes as Starmer's government faces a mountain of problems.
The Labour government inherited a wobbly economy that left Britons struggling to pay bills after global economic woes and fiscal missteps. It also faces a public disenchanted after 14 years of chaotic Conservative rule and fiscal austerity that hollowed out public services, including the revered National Health Service, which Starmer has declared broken.
Starmer said he wants to transfer power from
the bureaucratic halls of government in London to leaders who know what's best for their communities.
After his two-day tour, he'll return to England, where he plans to meet with regional mayors, saying he would engage with politicians regardless of their party.
"There's no monopoly on good ideas," he said "I'm not a tribal political."
Starmer continued to speak with other world leaders, having separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
He spoke with both about his priorities for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, the return of hostages to Israel, and an increase in humanitarian aid, a spokesperson said.
He told Abbas that the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process was the "undeniable right of Palestinians" and told Netanyahu it was important to ensure the long-term conditions for a two-state solution, including ensuring financial means for Abbas' Palestinian Authority to operate effectively.
Labour's initial refusal to call for a ceasefire last year is blamed for costing it support and some seats in Thursday's election. In advance of Starmer's attendance Tuesday at a NATO meeting in Washington, Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated an "unshakeable" commitment to the alliance during his first trip abroad.
Lammy said that the U.K. government would tighten relations with the European Union and remains "ironclad" in its support for Ukraine.
‘Go above and beyond’ as hotel room revenue up 8%
percent compared to the same period last year, he added that Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Bimini, Exuma and Cat Island remain among the best-performing Family Islands. Those not faring so well lack the airlift and same-day connectivity with Nassau on Saturday and during mid-week.
“Our preliminary numbers, looking at room nights sold and looking at same member hotels for January through May
2024 compared to the same period in 2023, we’re roughly maybe 5.4 percent down in terms of room nights sold,” Mr Fountain told this newspaper. “But the good news for January through May is that we are 8.2 percent up in terms of room revenue. With less rooms sold we’re doing better in terms of room revenue. That also signifies something to me that’s very important and we have to keep in front of us.
“We are charging more for the rooms we are selling. Our hotel members have to remember to deliver the customer experience. They have to remember to keep in mind to go above and beyond, and deliver a better than anticipated customer service. They’re charging more for the same rooms, so service has to step up. It isn’t that they aren’t, but they must keep doing.
“Room revenue for January to May 2024 compared to the same period in 2019
is only 5 percent behind, and 2019 was a record year for us. That’s how we’re doing overall.” Mr Fountain also broke down resort performance by island.
“If I was to look by island, and I compare January to May 2024 to January to May 2023, Abaco is at the same level and actually 9 percent above 2019,” the Promotion Board chief told Tribune Business of room nights sold by member properties. “Andros, if you look at 2024 compared to 2023, is about 85 percent of what it was last year and 98 percent of 2019.
“Compared to 2023, Bimini is actually 2 percent above 2023. Long Island is about 85 percent compared to 2023, Exuma is at 91 percent and San Salvador, even
though they are small numbers, is up at 112 percent of 2023.” Mr Fountain added: “If you look at room revenues, Abaco is at 136 percent of what it was in 2023, and actually 151 percent of what it was in 2019. Andros is at 97 percent compared to 2023, and 110 percent compared to 2019. Bimini is 1 percent above, or at 101 percent, compared to 2023, and 118 percent compared to 2019.
“Long Island, again, its 2024 numbers are 111 percent of what they were in 2023 and 108 percent of what it was in 2019.
Eleuthera’s room revenues are 142 percent of what they were in 2023, and 141 percent of what they were in 2019. All in all, if you look at room revenues, for
January to May 2024 we are 108 percent of what they were in 2023 and 95 percent of what they were in 2019.
“Long story short, islands like Abaco, Andros, Bimini, Cat Island to a certain extent, Eleuthera, Long Island is increasing, but also Exuma and San Salvador, those are the islands that are the best-performing islands,” he added.
“We know why Acklins and other islands are not performing as we’d like them to be. It has everything to do with airlift out of Nassau on Wednesdays and Saturdays only that doesn’t allow for same day connectivity. If you’re coming in on Jet Blue and want to fly fish with Felton at Salina Point you have to wait until the next day to get there.”
Cruise port to create 350 jobs via $35m water park
Asked how much Nassau Cruise Port plans to invest in the new attraction, which follows swiftly behind its $330m redevelopment that was officially opened last year, Mr Maura replied:
“The total is around $35m. We’d like to see it completed in the next yearand-a-half. We have cleared the site but have not started construction.
“It will be right behind the amphitheatre; the green space behind the amphitheatre. It will be in the shape of a finger circle. Once the project is completed, it will create 350 jobs. That’s a significant increase in the number of jobs that will be happening at Nassau Cruise Port. It will be a best-inclass experience.”
With a building permit number already obtained for the water park, Mr Maura added that it was critical for the Nassau Cruise Port and wider Bahamian tourism industry to constantly refresh and reinvigorate its product offering so as to differentiate this nation from Caribbean and global competitors and give visitors something new on which to spend their money.
“We have to get our approvals,” the Nassau Cruise Port chief confirmed. “The process is well underway. We have the permit number for the project. It’s going through the final approval process.
“With Nassau Cruise Port and tourism in general, tourism is dynamic. The world doesn’t stand still. Offerings don’t stand still. The authenticity and differentiation of destinations will continue to evolve, and so must Nassau. So Nassau Cruise Port will continue to look at our product as part of the downtown destination, and we will continue to tweak and evolve to maintain best-in-class in the region.”
The cruise port’s planned water park will likely be competing for passenger traffic with the similar water-based attractions at Atlantis and Baha Mar, as well as those available to visitors on board their vessels. The new amenity may also fuel concern among cruise tourism-dependent
businesses that their customer base will be further eroded as passengers will have even less incentive to leave the cruise port’s property.
Nassau Cruise Port’s expansion comes amid Royal Caribbean’s western Paradise Island site clearance in preparation for its Royal Beach Club project, which is expected to accommodate up to 2,700 persons daily, but Mr Maura told Tribune Business the sheer volume of passenger arrivals makes it impossible for all to stay at the port.
“We are the largest tourism gateway in The Bahamas given the volume of people arriving at Nassau Cruise Port,” he said. “Our facility is not large enough to coral 30,000 people that arrive on those ships daily. We are very much in the business of facilitating the safe distribution of visitors throughout New Providence and downtown Nassau as well.”
Nassau Cruise Port set a daily record of 29,316 visitors in December 2023 and hosted seven cruise vessels at the same time in March 2024. Mr Maura revealed that the port is “ahead of budget” for the 2024 half-year, with passenger numbers for the six months to end-June standing at 2.8m and representing a 24.03 percent year-over increase compared to the same period in 2023.
He added that cruise arrivals for the 2024 halfyear were 39.15 percent of the same period in 2019, the last pre-COVID year, when some 2.012m passengers set foot in Nassau. For the first six months of 2023, some 2.257m passengers arrived in the Bahamian capital.
“In the first six months of 2024 there have been approximately 800,000 more cruise passenger arrivals than the same period in 2019, and more than 500,000 over 2023,” Mr Maura said. He added that the first week in July benefited from five additional cruise ship calls, and an extra 15,000 passengers, due to diversions caused by Hurricane Beryl’s passage through the southern Caribbean.
“We’re ahead of budget, so demand for Nassau and,
by extension, the demand for The Bahamas continues to be very strong,” he added. “Nassau serves as a strategic destination within a Bahamas itinerary as well as a Caribbean itinerary.
“All the substantial improvements we made in the downtown waterfront, along with the investment in infrastructure, will have a material impact on vessel and passenger count against pre-development numbers. Our numbers are strong, and we are ahead of target through June 30, 2024, and we would expect to finish the year very strongly as well.”
Mr Maura reaffirmed Nassau Cruise Port’s expectations that it will receive more than five million passengers per year in 2024. It had previously said it is targeting around 5.3m-5.4m passenger arrivals this year, and the near 2.8m received during the first-half puts it
on pace to achieve this goal
and perhaps exceed it.
The extent of the cruise passenger arrivals increase is also in line with that identified by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. Latia Duncombe, tourism’s director-general, last Thursday unveiled a presentation showing that, based on first port of call only, passenger arrivals to Nassau and Paradise Island for the five months to end-May 2024 were up 23.2 percent over 2023 at 1.676m.
And, when it came to per capita cruise passenger spending in Nassau/ Paradise Island, Mrs Duncombe’s presentation showed the average has risen by almost $20 or 20.5 percent compared to preCOVID numbers. Average per person spend in the destination totalled $111.5 in 2023 compared to $92.5 in 2019.
Mr Maura told Tribune Business that, while this data shows The Bahamas is “gaining traction and the momentum is definitely positive”, there remains much work to do to drive this nation into the Caribbean’s highest-yielding
cruise destinations. He reiterated that “it’s on us to create reasons for someone to spend their money” in the destination.
“The increase in expenditure was, and has been, a key objective of the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Nassau Cruise Port,” Mr Maura added, “the expectation being that as we develop the commercial experience, the adventure experiences, generating more things for people to do, more food and beverage for people to enjoy, there’s that opportunity for these guests to spend more money.
“While the $20 increase is positive news, we still have a lot of work ahead of us and we’re still not top of the chart compared to other destinations at $150, $175, $200. We still have work to do, but the good news is we’re making traction and the momentum is definitely positive.”
While the Nassau Cruise Port does not have a per capita spending target as “it’s not something we can track”, Mr Maura added: “What we support is more experiences, more things for our guests to do. Some
of our community partners have complained, and do complain, about the spending numbers from cruise tourism.
“I share the disappointment that the numbers are not higher but, at the same time, I’ve shared it’s on us as a destination to create a reason for someone to spend their money. They don’t owe us a dollar in their pocket when they land. It’s up to us to create the value proposition to have them reach into their pocket and want to spend more money.
“We have to do that through a unique product mix, introducing our culture and something different from other destinations in the region and what they have at home. That’s on us. It’s up to us to be so unique, special and interesting that someone wants to spend their money in Nassau,” the cruise port chief added.
“That should be the objective for us all in tourism and tourism marketing; that we do something unique and special to grab a greater share of regional tourism expenditure not to mention global expenditure.”
With Argentina’s president skipping Mercosur, the future of the trade alliance looks doubtful
By NAYARA BATSCHKE Associated Press
THE most notable thing about the Mercosur trade bloc's meetings on Sunday in Paraguay was an absence — that of Argentine President Javier Milei.
With the Argentine populist skipping the summit to star at a right-wing rally in Brazil, South America's biggest trade bloc — politically divided, notoriously slow-moving and beset by backsliding — faces an uncertain future. Milei has advocated for pulling Argentina, a leader of the alliance, out of the agreement altogether.
Overseeing preparations for the presidential summit kicking off Monday after initial meetings, President Santiago Peña of Paraguay — the bloc's rotating chair — set low expectations for what would be accomplished.
"I hope that this summit we are going to hold on Monday will be an opportunity to reflect, at a time when Mercosur is clearly not going through its best moment," Peña told journalists from Paraguay's capital of Asunción, where 33 years ago the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay signed the revolutionary free-trade
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The Public is hereby advised that I, ZARIA ALEESHA WRIGHT of Quakoo Street, East Street, New Providence, The Bahamas, intend to change my name to ZARIA ALEESHA CLEARE. 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, The Bahamas no later than Thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
treaty that soon became Mercosur.
In 1991, as countries across Latin America were shaking off military dictatorships and opening up to free-market ideas, the formation of Mercosur, a customs union of once-estranged neighbors, signaled a regional breakthrough that sent capital surging across borders.
But over recent decades, experts say, protectionism and political volatility have scuppered high hopes. The bloc has put up more barriers than it has broken down. The group's common external tariff is riddled with exceptions. Outside South America, the bloc has struck just two free trade deals, with Egypt and Israel.
The fact that the countries produce similar goods, mostly agricultural, hasn't helped matters. Trade within the bloc remains low, hovering around some 15% of its members' total commerce.
"These countries could be 5,000 miles apart and still do the trade that they're doing at the moment," said Christopher Ecclestone, a
strategist with investment bank Hallgarten & Company. "It's not the best idea for a free trade area if you're all producing the same things at the same prices."
Politically powerful industries in Brazil and Argentina, the continent's two biggest economies, long have dominated dealmaking in the bloc, stirring consternation among their smaller partners that increasingly feel shunted to the sidelines.
In 2021, the bloc hit a new low point when Uruguay announced that it would seek a deal with China outside the bloc. Mercosur's founding treaty forbade such bilateral agreements — extra sales for Uruguay would come at the expense of producers in Brazil and Argentina.
Uruguay's president, Luis Lacalle Pou, who has staked his economic legacy on opening up to China, said Mercosur has held his country "hostage."
Incensed over the breach of solidarity, Brazil announced it would pursue a broader trade deal with China on behalf of the bloc.
But diplomats on Sunday reported no progress in those negotiations. Paraguay's strained ties with Beijing over its recognition of Taiwan complicates matters.
For the last 20 years, the bloc has also sought to finalize a free-trade agreement with the European Union to no avail. Argentines have criticized the draft deal as unfairly favoring Brazil. European countries, particularly France, have also opposed it.
"I'll tell you, honestly, I don't see the conditions for it," President Peña said of a prospective deal.
Although there was some optimistic chatter in the conference room Sunday about future deals with the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Japan, experts have warned that the bloc's reputation for torturous yearslong negotiations could throw cold water on things.
Now, President Milei's shocking decision to skip the annual summit — and a critical chance to thaw relations with his ideological foe, left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — has exacerbated internal discord. The last time an Argentine president bailed on a Mercosur meeting was in 2001, when then-President Fernando de la Rúa had the excuse of an unprecedented financial disaster.
Although libertarian President Milei advocates free trade, he has bashed
Mercosur as "defective," a challenge to his free-market overhaul of Argentina's spiraling economy.
Under his left-leaning Peronist predecessors — as left-wing political parties dominated other Latin American countries — Mercosur took on a political dimension, a sort of rival project to Washington's free trade agenda. With Milei shattering that consensus, it remains unclear whether other countries will follow Argentina's example. Uruguay holds presidential elections in October.
"This kind of attitude, previously from Brazil (under hard-right former President Jair Bolsonaro) and now from Argentina, weakens Mercosur as a whole," said Juan Gabriel Tokatlian, professor of international relations at the University Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires.
Of Milei's absence, he added: "This is a serious problem."
Argentina's top diplomat on Sunday chimed in during meetings with thinly veiled criticism, going so far as to raise the possibility of the bloc breaking apart.
"Argentina is promoting a new foreign economic policy, strategically focused on freedom," Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino told her counterparts in Paraguay. "If it's not possible to advance as Mercosur, let's think about the possibility of having bilateral agreements."
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that RODGUNO VALBRUN of Lazaretto Road, Carmichael Road, Nassau, 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 8th day of July, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that CAROLE BEAUZILE FRANCOIS of Pinweood Gardens, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas and that any person who knows any reason whyregistration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 1st day of July, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LOUIS FRANCOIS of Pinweood Gardens, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas and that any person who knows any reason whyregistration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 1st day of July, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that FENELY PETIT-JEAN of Bernard Road, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas and that any person who knows any reason whyregistration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 1st day of July, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
RUSSIAN-LINKED CYBERCAMPAIGNS PUT A BULL'S-EYE ON FRANCE. THEIR FOCUS? THE
By LORI HINNANT Associated Press
PHOTOS of bloodred hands on a Holocaust memorial. Caskets at the Eiffel Tower. A fake French military recruitment drive calling for soldiers in Ukraine, and major French news sites improbably registered in an obscure Pacific territory, population 15,000.
All are part of disinformation campaigns orchestrated out of Russia and targeting France, according to French officials and cybersecurity experts in Europe and the United States. France's legislative elections and the Paris Olympics sent them into overdrive.
More than a dozen reports issued in the past year point to an intensifying effort from Russia to undermine France, particularly the upcoming Games, and President Emmanuel Macron, who is one of Ukraine's most vocal supporters in Europe.
The Russian campaigns sowing anti-French disinformation began online in early summer 2023, but first became tangible in October, when more than 1,000 bots linked to Russia relayed
photos of graffitied Stars of David in Paris and its suburbs.
A French intelligence report said the Russian intelligence agency FSB ordered the tagging, as well as subsequent vandalism of a memorial to those who helped rescue Jews from the Holocaust. Photos from each event were amplified on social media by fake accounts linked to the Russian disinformation site RRN, according to cybersecurity experts. Russia denies any such campaigns. The French intelligence report says RRN is part of a larger operation orchestrated by Sergei Kiriyenko, a ranking Kremlin official.
"You have to see this as an ecosystem," said a French military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal information about the Russian effort. "It's a hybrid strategy."
The tags and the vandalism had no direct link to Russia's war in Ukraine, but they provoked a strong reaction from the French political class, with denunciations in the legislature and public debate. Antisemitic
OLYMPICS AND ELECTIONS
attacks are on the rise in France, and the war in Gaza has proven divisive.
The Stars of David could be interpreted either as support for Israel or as opposition. The effect was to sow division and unease. French Jews in particular have found themselves unwittingly thrust into the political fray despite, at just 500,000 people, making up a small proportion of the French population.
In March, just after Macron discussed the possibility of mobilizing the French military in Ukraine, a fake recruitment drive went up for the French army in Ukraine, spawning a series of posts in Russian- and French-language Telegram channels that got picked up in Russian and Belarusian media, according to a separate French government report seen by The Associated Press. On June 1, caskets appeared outside the Eiffel Tower, bearing the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine."
The larger disinformation efforts show little traction in France, but the Russian audience may have been the real target, officials said, by
showing that Russia's war in Ukraine is, as Putin has said, really a war with the West.
Among the broader goals, the French military official said, was a long-term and steady effort to sow social discord, erode faith in the media and democratic governments, undermine NATO, and sap Western support for Ukraine. Denigrating the Olympics, from which most Russian athletes are banned, is a bonus, according to French officials monitoring the increasingly strident posts warning of imminent unrest ahead of the Games.
On June 9, the French far-right National Rally trounced Macron's party in elections for the European Parliament. The party has historically been close to Russia: One of its leading figures, Marine Le Pen, cultivated ties to Putin for many years and supported Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. And its leading contender for prime minister, Jordan Bardella, has said he opposes sending long-range weapons to Kyiv.
In more than 4,400 posts gathered since
mid-November by antibot4navalny, a collective that analyzes Russian bot behavior, those targeting audiences in France and Germany predominated. The number of weekly posts ranged from 100 to 200 except for the week of May 5, when it dropped near zero, the data showed. That week, as it happens, was a holiday in Russia.
Many of the posts redirect either to RRN or to sites that appear identical to major French media, but with the domain — and content — changed. At least two of the more recent mirrored sites are registered in Wallis and Futuna, a French Pacific territory 10 time zones from Paris. A click on the top of the fake page redirects back to the real news sites themselves to give the impression of authenticity.
Other posts redirect to original sites controlled by the the campaign itself, dubbed Doppelganger.
The redirects shifted focus for the European elections and continued after Macron called the surprise legislative elections with just three weeks to spare. Threequarters of posts from the
week ahead of the June 30 first-round legislative vote that were directed toward a French audience focused on either criticizing Macron or boosting the National Rally, antibot4navalny found in data shared with The Associated Press.
One post on a fake site purported to be from Le Point, a current affairs magazine, and the French news agency AFP, criticizing Macron.
"Our leaders have no idea how ordinary French people live but are ready to destroy France in the name of aid for Ukraine," read the headline on June 25.
Another site falsely claimed to be from Macron's party, offering to pay 100 euros for a vote for him — and linking back to the party's true website. And still another inadvertently left a generative artificial intelligence prompt calling for the re-write of an article "taking a conservative stance against the liberal policies of the Macron administration," according to findings last week from Insikt Group, the threat research division of the cybersecurity consultancy Recorded Future.
Wall Street's scorching rally sets more records as hopes rise for rate cuts
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. stocks rose to more records Friday after a highly anticipated report on the job market bolstered Wall Street's hopes that interest rates may soon get easier.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to set an all-time high for a third straight day following Thursday's pause in trading for the Fourth of July holiday. The index has already set 34 records and climbed close to 17% this year, which is only a little more than halfway done.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 67 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.9% to its own record.
The action was more decisive in the bond market, where Treasury yields sank following the U.S. jobs report. Employers hired more workers last month than economists expected, but the number was still a slowdown from May's hiring. Plus, the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked higher, growth for workers' wages slowed and
the U.S. government said hiring in earlier months was lower than previously indicated. Altogether, the data reinforced belief on Wall Street that the U.S. economy's growth is slowing under the weight of high interest rates. That's precisely what investors want to see, because a slowdown would keep a lid on inflation and could push the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its main interest rate from
the highest level in two decades.
The question is whether the economy can remain in this Goldilocks state of not too hot and not too cold, while the Federal Reserve times its next moves precisely. The hope is that the Fed will lower interest rates early and significantly enough to keep the economic slowdown from sliding into a recession, but not so much that it allows
inflation to regain strength and take off again.
The clearest takeaway from the jobs report for financial markets was that it keeps the Fed on track to cut its main interest rate later this year, likely in September and perhaps again in December. The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Fed action, fell to 4.60% from 4.71% late Wednesday.
A PERSON walks past at an electronic stock board showing financial indexes including Japan’s Nikkei 225 index, green, at a securities firm in Tokyo, June 27, 2024. Asian shares were mostly lower on Friday, July 5, after solid gains in Europe overnight, while U.S. markets were closed for the July 4th holiday.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which is the centerpiece of the bond market, fell to 4.27% from 4.36% late Wednesday and from 4.70% in April. That's a notable move for the bond market and offers support for stock prices.
Friday's jobs report follows a mass of data showing a slowdown across the U.S. economy. Reports earlier this week said business activity in both the U.S. services and manufacturing sectors contracted last month, turning in weaker readings than economists expected. And U.S. shoppers at the lower end of the income spectrum have been showing how difficult it is to keep up with still-rising prices, as balances owed on credit cards swell.
"What matters for longterm investors is whether fears of a recession become a reality," said Brian
Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. "We think it's unlikely we'll see a recession this year or next, but that doesn't mean the markets won't fear one."
On Wall Street, gold miner Newmont rose 2.4% for one of the larger gains in the S&P 500. It benefited from a rise in the price of gold, which usually strengthens when interest rates fall. It's the flip side of when rates are rising and bonds are paying higher yields, which can pull investors away from gold because it pays its holders nothing.
Gains for some big, influential stocks also helped support the market, even though the majority of stocks within the S&P 500 fell. Meta Platforms jumped 5.9%, and Apple added 2.2%.
CREW OF NASA’S EARTHBOUND SIMULATED MARS HABITAT EMERGE AFTER A YEAR
By BRIAN P. D. HANNON
Associated Press
THE CREW of a NASA mission to Mars emerged from their craft after a yearlong voyage that never left Earth.
The four volunteer crew members spent more than 12 months inside NASA's first simulated Mars environment at Johnson Space Center in Houston, coming out of the artificial alien
enviroment Saturday around 5 p.m. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell and Nathan Jones entered the 3D-printed habitat on June 25, 2023, as the maiden crew of the space agency's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog project. Haston, the mission commander, began with a simple, "Hello."
"It's actually just so wonderful to be able to say 'hello' to you all," she said. Jones, a physician and the mission medical officer, said their 378 days in confinement "went by quickly."
The quartet lived and worked inside the space of 17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters) to simulate a mission to the red planet, the fourth from the sun and a frequent focus of discussion among scientists and
sci-fi fans alike concerning a possible voyage taking humans beyond our moon.
The first CHAPEA crew focused on establishing possible conditions for future Mars operations through simulated spacewalks, dubbed "Marswalks," as well as growing and harvesting vegetables to supplement their provisions and maintaining the habitat and their equipment.
They also worked through challenges a real Mars crew would be expected to experience including limited resources, isolation and delays in communication of up to 22 minutes with their home planet on the other side of the habitat's walls, NASA said.
Two additional CHAPEA missions are planned and crews will continue conducting simulated
spacewalks and gathering data on factors related to physical and behavioral health and performance, NASA said.
Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center, said most of the first crew's experimentation focused on nutrition and how that affected their performance. The work was "crucial science as we prepare to send people on to the red planet," he said.
Photo:Shuji Kajiyama/AP
IRAN HOLDS RUNOFF PRESIDENTIAL VOTE PITTING HARDLINER AGAINST REFORMIST AFTER RECORD LOW TURNOUT
By JON GAMBRELL and NASSER KARIMI Associated Press
IRAN held a runoff presidential election on Friday that pitted a hard-line former nuclear negotiator against a reformist lawmaker after the first round of voting saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic's history.
Initial results early Saturday put reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of hard-liner Saeed Jalili, though it wasn't clear how many people voted in the contest.
Government officials up to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicted a higher participation rate as voting got underway, with state television airing images of modest lines at some polling centers across the country.
However, online videos purported to show some polls empty while a survey of several dozen sites in the capital, Tehran, saw light
HOW AN
traffic amid a heavy security presence on the streets.
Polls closed after midnight, after voting was repeatedly extended by authorities as is tradition in Iran. Mohsen Eslami, an election spokesman, said Pezeshkian had 8.6 million votes, leading Jalili's 7.5 million. He gave no total turnout figure as counting continued through the night.
Khamenei has insisted the low turnout from the
OSCAR-WINNING
first round on June 28 did not represent a referendum on Iran's Shiite theocracy. However, many remain disillusioned as Iran has been beset by years under crushing economic sanctions, bloody security force crackdowns on mass protests and tensions with the West over Tehran's advancing nuclear program enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.
"I want to save the country from isolation we are
CANDIDATE for the Iran’s presidential election Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, casts his vote for the presidential runoff election at a polling station in Qarchak near Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 5, 2024. Iran was holding a runoff presidential election Friday pitting a hard-line former nuclear negotiator against a reformist lawmaker, though both men earlier struggled to convince a skeptical public to cast ballots in the first round that saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.
stuck in, and from lies and the violence against women because Iranian women don't deserve to be beaten up and insulted on the street by extremists who want to destroy the country by cutting ties with big countries," voter Ghazaal Bakhtiari said. "We should have ties with America and powerful nations."
Jalili has a recalcitrant reputation among Western diplomats during negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, something that is paired with concern at home over his hard-line views on Iran's mandatory headscarf, or hijab. Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon, has campaigned on relaxing hijab enforcement and reaching out to
FILMMAKER HELPED
A SMALL-TOWN ART THEATER IN OHIO LAND A BIG GRANT
By JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press
WHEN the Little Art Theatre set out to land a $100,000 grant to fund a stylish new marquee, with a nod to its century-long history, the cozy Ohio arthouse theater had some talented help.
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Steve Bognar is a resident of Yellow Springs, the bohemian college town between Columbus and Cincinnati where the
theater is a downtown fixture. Besides being one of Little Art's biggest fans, Bognar is an advocate for small independent theaters everywhere as they struggle to survive in an industry now dominated by home streaming. The eight-minute video Bognar directed and filmed for the theater's grant application set out to illustrate just what its loss could mean to people, communities — even society as a whole.
"The fact that this movie theater is smack in the middle of town, it's like the heart of our little town," he said in a recent interview.
Bognar, who with the late Julia Reichert won an Oscar in 2020 for the feature documentary "American Factory," began the video with some 100 different classic film titles flashing past on the Little Art Theatre's current marquee. He then folded in interviews with local residents, who reminisced about their
favorite movies and moviegoing experiences. It wasn't lost on the documentarian that such communal experiences are becoming increasingly rare, as rising home and charter school enrollments fragment school populations, in-person church attendance falls and everything from shopping to dining to dating moves more and more online.
"If there was one overall theme that emerged, or a kind of guiding idea that emerged, it was that a
Photo:AP
the West, though he too for decades has supported Khamenei and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Pezeshkian's supporters have been warning Jalili will bring a "Taliban"style government into Tehran, while Jalili has criticized Pezeshkian for running a campaign of fear-mongering.
Both contenders voted Friday in southern Tehran, home to many poor neighborhoods. Though Pezeshkian came out on top in the first round of voting on June 28, Jalili has been trying to secure the votes of people who supported hard-line parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who came
cinema, a small-town movie theater, is like a community hub," Bognar said. "It's where we come together to experience collectively, like a work of art or a community event or a local filmmaker showing their work."
Among other events
Little Art has hosted over its 95-year history are the Dayton Jewish Film Festival, the 365 project for Juneteenth and a Q&A with survivors from Hiroshima.
Bognar's video did its job.
Little Art won the grant, the first Theater of Dreams award from the streaming media company Plex. The company is using its grant program to celebrate other independent entertainment
in third and later endorsed the former negotiator. Pezeshkian offered no comments after voting, walking out with former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who struck Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. A rambunctious crowd surrounded the men, shouting:
"The nation's hope comes!"
Both Pezeshkian and Jalili hope to replace the 63-year-old late President Ebrahim Raisi died in a May 19 helicopter crash that also killed the country's foreign minister and several other officials. Jalili voted at another polling station, surrounded by a crowd shouting: "Raisi, your way continues!"
"Today the entire world admits that it's the people who decide who's president for the next four years," Jalili said afterward. "This is your right to decide which person, which path and which approach should rule the country in the next four years."
entities, as a poll it conducted last summer with OnePoll found two-thirds of respondents believed independent movie theater closures would be a huge loss to society. "That collective experience of sitting in the dark and just kind of feeling, going through some story and feeling it together is beautiful," Bognar said. "We don't do that enough now. We are so often isolated these days. We stare at our screens individually. We watch movies individually. It's sad."
He believes that people share energy when they're watching the same movie together, adding a sensory dimension to the experience.
