By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Government is seeking private sector bids to supply “up to” 60 Mega Watts (MW) of power to vessels at Nassau Cruise Port because Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) “cannot supply” this demand.
The bidding document, which has been seen by Tribune Business, says the Davis administration has partnered
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
THE Bahamian entrepreneur battling to restore Paradise Island’s lighthouse yesterday thanked the Government for “putting down their gloves” by not opposing his Privy Council appeal.
Toby Smith, speaking after he received conditional permission to take his Crown Land lease fight before the Bahamian judicial system’s highest court, told Tribune Business he was not “having a dig” at the Government but genuinely hoping its approach to the Court of Appeal hearing could pave the way for both sides to “start afresh”.
The Attorney General’s Office, acting as the Government’s legal representative in the dispute with Mr Smith, filed no documents opposing the latter’s bid for permission to take his case to the London-based Privy Council. And Kirkland Mackey, who acted as its lead attorney at the Court of Appeal hearing, “conceded” it was an “as of right “ appeal and that all necessary procedural steps had been taken by Mr Smith.
with BPL in “exploring measures” to provide the hundreds of cruise ships that call on Nassau annually with clean energy via power generated by liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel.
The provision of this 60 MW, known as “shore power”, would enable docked cruise ships to shut down their diesel generators when in port. This would reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants when in Nassau,
PI Crown Land battle in Privy Council go-ahead
• Gov’t ‘concedes’ Toby Smith ‘as of right’ appeal
• Entrepreneur hopeful parties can ‘start afresh’ • Case has Crown Land, local investment issues
“We’re actually grateful to the Office of the Attorney General for putting down their gloves and conceding to a win for Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club,” Mr Smith said in reference to his company. “I genuinely appreciate that they have conceded and hopefully this is a sign of things to come where they choose not to fight me at the
Privy Council and we start afresh. That would be nice.
“This is not a dig at the Government. I recognise the olive branch that has been extended by the Attorney General’s Office, and it is our hope this goes to the root of the matter where the minister responsible for Crown Land honours the agreement for the lease.”
Opposition ‘doesn’t buy’ foreign majority marijuana ownership
By NEIL HARTNELL
Business Editor
THE Opposition’s leader yesterday said his party “doesn’t buy” the Government’s explanation for why majority foreign ownership will be permitted in key sectors of a legalised medical marijuana industry. Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that Bahamian majority ownership of all medical marijuana-related businesses should be mandated by law as the Free National Movement (FNM) pushed back against provisions in the Cannabis Bill that allow foreigners to control entities involved in manufacturing and packaging; analytical testing; and scientific research.
Earlier Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, in his contribution to the House of Assembly debate on the Bill and associated legislation, explained that the Government had
sought to strike a balance between protecting and encouraging Bahamian entrepreneurs and the need for this nation to be competitive against rival jurisdictions and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
“I said to you this foreign participation in this industry is limited [to] research and innovation, and not for the purposes of selling, marketing and distribution. That’s clear. It [the Bill] says 100 percent Bahamian,” Mr Davis said in replying to Mr Pintard during the House
BTC line staff’s ‘first industrial deal salary rise for ten years’
By NEIL HARTNELL
MEMBERS of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) line staff union received their first “industrial agreement-related salary increase in ten years” with the signing of yesterday’s deal.
Sherry Benjamin, the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union’s (BCPOU) president, told Tribune Business that members in the top of three “tiers” could enjoy up to a 22 percent salary increase over the industrial agreement’s three years if they meet performancebased milestones.
Describing the 10 percent salary increase for senior top-tier BCPOU members as “a little more” than the typical 3 percent annual increments they have become accustomed to, she added that the newly-signed industrial agreement will help BTC line staff to better cope with the ever-increasing cost of living,
Meanwhile, Sameer Bhatti, BTC’s chief executive, branded the agreement’s signing as “a blue letter day”. In a statement, the carrier confirmed that the agreement includes “a 10 percent increase to the top of the scale for senior associates, as well
enabling this nation to become “a greener, more sustainable” maritime industry operator. And it would also enhance Nassau’s competitiveness as a destination given that the cruise lines are increasingly switching to cleaner fuel and power generation sources with each new build that comes out of the shipyard production lines. Documents accompanying the bid tender suggest the winning bidder will enjoy significant demand with 1,573
cruise calls already scheduled for Nassau in 2025.
The request for proposal (RFP) signals that the winning bidder will be required to develop and construct a new power generation facility, together with an LNG regasification terminal, at Arawak Cay. It is unclear whether a new electricity cable, for instance, will then have to be laid in Nassau harbour to take
BPL grid firm targets 31% profits increase
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE company poised to take over New Providence’s energy grid is predicting that its profits will increase by more than 31 percent during its first five years to reach $13.677m. Bahamas Grid Company’s offering document for its $100m bond issue, which formally launched yesterday, revealed that the majority-owned company is forecasting steady yearover-year increases in its bottom line from an initial $10.419m after first year in existence.
The financial projections also disclose that Island Grid, the entity that will manage the firm charged with overhauling and transforming New Providence’s creaking transmission and distribution network, will be paid an annual management fee of $4.359m for each of the company’s first five years.
Maintenance and operations expenses are pegged at $21m for its first year, declining to $20m thereafter, with $3.416m allocated annually to both a hurricane emergency restoration fund and helping to repay BPL’s legacy debts. The $8m annual interest payment to Bahamas Grid Company’s bond investors was shown as declining from the fourth year onwards as the principal starts to be repaid.
The Government, meanwhile, pushed back against concerns raised in this newspaper that Bahamas Grid Company was valuing the transmission and distribution (T&D) assets being transferred to its control at more than double the $100m “book valuation” being placed on them by the Davis administration and Bahamas Power & Light (BPL).
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, yesterday accused
MICHAEL PINTARD PHILIP DAVIS KC
NASSAU CRUISE PORT
PM: MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS ‘NEW ECONOMIC REALITY’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business
THE Prime Minister yesterday said legislation to legalise medical cannabis will create a “new economic reality” for The Bahamas with thousands of new jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, retail and healthcare.
Philip Davis KC, addressing the House of Assembly on the Cannabis Bill and accompanying legislation, said: “Before us is a new economic reality in which cannabis has the potential to play a large role in our economy.
“The impact of the cannabis industry will be widespread, affecting many different sectors. By legalising cannabis for medical use, we are also legalising
the many supporting inputs that are necessary for the industry.
“We have opened the door to the creation of thousands of jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, retail and dispensary facilities, and healthcare. This industry will make a significant contribution to our efforts to diversify our economy through these sub-sectors,” he added.
“We have created the potential for new Bahamian cannabis entrepreneurs, and we’ve also created the framework to attract external investors who will drive capital into this new industry to spur growth and expand our economy.” Mr Davis said the Bills will also allow Bahamian-owned businesses to export their products, further diversifying the economy.
He added: “Opportunities to export our fully regulated, high-quality product will give our local businesses and farmers access to expanded markets beyond our borders. Most importantly, we will make room for small and medium-sized Bahamianowned businesses to have access to opportunities within this industry by ensuring equitable access for businesses of all sizes.”
Mr Davis said the Bills were drafted after “widespread research and consultation”, and will ensure The Bahamas can profit from medical cannabis while ensuring “stringent standards” to maintain law and order.
He said: “Our goal was to ensure that we developed the most fair, balanced, and
effective legislative and regulatory mechanisms, which would allow us to reap economic and health benefits while promoting law and order and keeping our people safe through the introduction of stringent standards.
“We also paid close attention to ongoing research on the issue – the most recent of which was a survey conducted nationally by Public Domain in 2023, which indicated that 61 percent of the population supported the legalisation of cannabis for medical usage. It was clear that the times had changed, and it was time for our laws to change as well.”
Mr Davis explained that companies applying to cultivate, sell or transport cannabis must be 100 percent Bahamian-owned while those applying for a
BPL grid firm targets 31% profits increase
FROM PAGE B1
critics of employing “fuzzy maths” as he suggested the $220m figure on Bahamas Grid Company’s first-year balance sheet was derived from adding the $130m in capital improvements it plans to make during its first year to the Government’s $100m “book valuation”.
This, though, did not stop Michael Pintard, the Opposition leader, from continuing to argue that the Government/BPL were handing over New Providence’s energy grid at a significant discount given that replacing it entirely would cost between $500m to $800m. The Prime Minister, though, has signalled that its actual worth is a lot less given that parts of the grid are either on the point of collapse or past their useful life.
And financial sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Government should disclose how the $100m “book valuation” was arrived at. They added that normal practice in such transactions would mandate that an independent third-party, such as an accounting firm or consultant, be hired to conduct a valuation on the assets involved.
The same contacts argued that the key issue to be explained is how the Government is only getting a minority 40 percent ownership interest in Bahamas Grid Company in exchange for contributing assets valued at $100m, whereas the private investors are gaining 60 percent majority control by putting up just $30m of their own money as equity.
“The amount of equity for both parties is so skewed
that it makes no sense,” one said. “The Government put in $100m for its 40 percent and the investors put in $30m for 60 percent. The $30m gets 60 percent, and the $100m gets 40 percent.” Meanwhile, the Bahamas Grid Company profit projections in its $100m bond offering are significantly less than those given in the private placement document that accompanied its now-completed $30m equity raise. As an example, the $21.708m net income forecast for the venture’s fifth year in the equity offering has dropped by more than $8m in the bond offer to $13.677m. That represents a 37 percent decline yet the bond and equity offering documents are separated by just several months in terms of their publication. The main factor driving the lowered expectations is non-cash depreciation, which the bond offering document shows as having doubled to $11m annually compared to the $5.5m forecast in the equity offering.
Bahamas Grid Company is forecasting that its grid improvements will generate between $10m-$30m in annual savings per year at the start of its initial 25-year term through “less line loss and reduced outages”. It will also install an additional 172 mega watts (MW) of grid carrying capacity between Clifton Pier and the rest of New Providence, and is promising grid operating costs and consumer bills will be reduced.
The joint venture is pledging a “reduction in frequency and duration of large-scale outages, enabled by the substation protection schemes”. It
is also promising “fewer appliance issues stemming from the distribution upgrades, which will reduce voltage fluctuations on parts of the island that are most impacted by them”.
There will also be “less line/voltage loss, or more power delivered with the same fuel use, resulting from the transmission upgrades. The ongoing cost savings associated with this benefit will sustain the residential utility bill reductions beyond year one”.
“Strains on a transmission and distribution system arise when too much power is pushed through equipment that is not sized to handle the load,” Bahamas Grid Company said.
“As such, when there is a new significant generation source or high-usage customer being proposed to interconnect with the system, Bahamas Grid Company and BPL will work together to ensure that the new customer load or new generation capacity adequately pays into the system for the needed upgrades.
“This dual BPL-Bahamas Grid Company approach enables the much-needed infusion of capital into New Providence’s utility transmission and distribution infrastructure and support systems, as well as the ability to systematically plan for future maintenance needs – both of which are prerequisites to our nation’s ability to introduce cleaner generation sources and customers on to our system.”
The proposed Heads of Agreement with the Government will allow Bahamas Grid Company, in addition to the 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh) it is set to receive from all
customer billings, to levy a “one-time interconnection fee or demand charge” for “new generation and/ or large customer loads” added to the grid.
“It is contemplated that the principal infrastructure upgrades will include the upgrade of the transmission system, which will improve the capacity of power that can be moved across the island of New Providence and will install protection within all critical substations to dramatically reduce outages and increase reliability,” Bahamas Grid Company’s offering document said.
“This transmission work will have the additional benefits of ‘looping’ the transmission system, which will allow any type of new generation to be installed at any location on the island of New Providence, as well as reduce the ‘line loss’ of power from existing generation assets.
“The fundamental infrastructure upgrades are also intended to improve critical aspects of the distribution grid. The proposed improvement activities contemplated by the project will mitigate and reduce voltage fluctuations with the aim of bringing about stable voltage so that household appliances will not be adversely affected.”
Bahamas Grid Company’s management team is all-expatriate. Chris Snyder, its chief executive, is a commercial attorney with extensive background in the energy industry, and features on Island Grid’s website as its general counsel.
Ken Isett is named as chief financial officer, while Nathaniel Fryer, Bahamas Grid Company’s senior
BTC LINE STAFF’S ‘FIRST INDUSTRIAL DEAL SALARY RISE FOR TEN YEARS’
as base salary increases of 3 percent, 4 percent and 3 percent for all colleagues within the current salary bands”. Ms Benjamin told this newspaper: “I’m very relieved that’s behind me.
This is the first agreement in about ten years that the staff have seen an increase in salary through union negotiations. We’ve only had lump sums for the past ten years. This is the first time we are getting an increase in salary.
“The increase in salary impacts their pension and all the benefits they get. We weren’t looking so much at the lump sum. We were looking more to to get increases in salaries. We wanted all the [salary] scales opened for all the tiers.”
The BCPOU chief said BTC “only opened” one of the three tiers, but that was the top segment containing most union members. She added that the union was “appreciative” of the company for doing this, as
most impacted employees had previously been at the top of their salary scales and thus could only receive increments.
“The top tier, basically everybody has the ability to get a 22 percent increase in salary provided they meet their performance appraisal mark,” Ms Benjamin said.
“They will have the ability to get a 22 percent increase in salary over three years.
“Ten percent was automatic from the negotiated increase. Then you have the
performance-based increments as well. It’s a lot the company has to pay, and the payment is appreciated.
I think we got a really good deal. It’s not as good a deal as we wanted it to be, but when you take the total picture with performancebased increases....”
She added that, given increments were around 3 percent for staff, the 10 percent salary rise “was a little higher” than this when spread over the 2024-2027 agreement duration. Ms
licence to conduct analytical testing, manufacturing or research must be at least 30 percent Bahamian-owned.
He said: “We know how important it is for Bahamians to own this new industry. In fact, there should be no new industries developed in this country that don’t seek to empower Bahamians as owners. The cannabis industry will further establish this standard as a new industry with Bahamian ownership at every level.”
Mr Davis said several safeguards have been placed in the Bill to prevent the “misuse” of cannabis, including ensuring medical practitioners undergo a training programme on prescribing cannabis, ensuring medical cannabis will only be dispensed by
pharmacists and pharmacy professionals.
He added that cannabis will be electronically tracked to prevent its misuse and the Bills will allow it to be sold at a “high and consistent standard” for medical and religious purposes.
Mr Davis said: “And cannabis will be electronically tracked every step of the way though importation, cultivation, manufacturing, transport, sales, exportation and disposal.
“We are taking a substance that was once only sold illegally on street corners, and we are putting in place a framework that will allow it to be sold and used at a high and consistent standard for medical and religious purposes while empowering rather than imprisoning our people.”
director of engineering and system planning, and Josh Eller, senior director of construction, both have experience of working in the Caribbean and previously worked for Pike Electrical. Eric Pike, Pike’s chairman, heads Island Grid, the manager for Bahamas Grid Company.
Bahamas Grid Company also plans to rely heavily on expatriate workers initially until it trains and upskills BPL staff and other Bahamians. “Bahamas Grid Company’s plan is to hire new Bahamian staff and upskill BPL staff as the core workforce to maintain the upgraded grid,” the bond offering document states.
“Because this cannot happen overnight due to the additional training that will be required, Bahamas Grid Company’s workforce plan is to stage employee growth as follows. Bahamas Grid will post for local job opportunities outlined with the skills needed and what Bahamas Grid training will be available to bridge the gap between current training and skills needed.
“Bahamas Grid will hire the New Providence transmission and distribution employees at BPL for a period of one year, after which they will have the opportunity to remain with Bahamas Grid or return to BPL. As a benefit to
Benjamin said COVID-19’s impact, and the infrastructure losses sustained in Hurricane Dorian, were also factors that had to be taken into consideration.
“I think it will go a long way to helping to keep up,” she said, when asked if the industrial agreement increases will help to combat inflation and cost of living increases. “We have to make sure salaries through collective bargaining negotiations help our members cope with the increase in the cost of living.”
Mr Bhatti, in unveiling the industrial agreement’s signing, said: “I am delighted to stand before you as the chief executive of BTC on this momentous occasion as we come together to celebrate the signing of the collective labour agreement between BTC and the BCPOU, our line staff union.
“In the next few months, there will be many projects and initiatives launched, one of which has a keen focus on our Family Islands. We will complete the fibre rollout in New Providence and Grand Bahama, and we are laser focused on improving our customer experience. In the last few weeks, we have expanded our Whats App offerings to include multiple levels of support for landline, mobile and television issues.
“In August, we will proudly launch our JUMP programme in conjunction with the Government, providing Internet access, a new Dell laptop and digital skills
BPL to lower its operating cost model, Bahamas Grid Company can release these job listings first to all BPL employees,” it added.
“The goal in this phase is to hire a core group of local employees that will be trained first. Bahamas Grid Company will bring in US-based contractors with storm hardened grid experience to work efficiently on energised lines and get the foundational upgrades implemented.
“During this period, the locally hired workforce will shadow and learn from the contractors, in addition to participating in cooperative programmes to learn energised work skills in the US. Once the foundational upgrades are complete and the steady-state maintenance workload is clearer, Bahamas Grid Company will continue to hire and train local staff while bringing in offshore contractors on an as-needed basis for specific projects.” Bahamas Grid Company’s Board will feature Mr Pike and Mei Shibata from Island Grid. The other three will be Christina Alstom, BPL’s former chief operating officer; Anthony Ferguson, principal of CFAL, which is handling the $100m bond offering, and Dr Anthony Farrington.
training to over 5,000 families in the next two years. We need a fully engaged workforce to ensure that we deliver, and I am happy that we are at this point with the BCPOU.”
Mr Bhatti highlighted several additional benefits available to BTC team members including parental leave, which is available from the first day of employment. The policy provides 16 weeks of maternity leave for mothers, along with eight weeks of paid leave for fathers and adoptive parents. He also mentioned BTC’s partnership with LinkedIn Learning, providing all staff with unlimited access to thousands of courses and certifications. BTC also provides temporary relocation and housing, free of charge, for staff and their families impacted by gender-based violence.
Mr Bhatti said he expects that a new industrial agreement will be signed with BTC’s middle managers’ union, the BCPMU, soon. Ms Benjamin added: “This is a win not just for the employees that we represent, but for the Bahamian people.
“I am grateful for the partnership with BTC, and I am happy that we are continuing to work together to ensure that we are providing best in class service for the public that depends on us.”
Pharmacists succeed on Cannabis Bill changes
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association’s (BPA) president yesterday said the profession was successful in pushing for more oversight of the proposed medical marijuana industry.
Speaking on Quality Care Pharmacy’s podcast with Dr Gemma Rolle, president of the Medical Association of The Bahamas (MAB), Dr Marvin Smith said pharmacists were always in support of introducing medical
cannabis but wanted it to be implemented safely. He said: “We finally got the Government to really understand why having dispensaries outside of active pharmacy engagement was a bad idea.
“With the support of our colleagues in the Medical Association, and with a number of civic society groups really pressing and saying we want this, but we want this in a safe way, we were able to work with the Government over the weekend. They should be making the changes when they bring the Bill to Parliament this morning and
you’re going to have more oversight by pharmacies.”
Dr Smith said the draft Bills were changed to ensure a licensed pharmacist is physically working and managing medical cannabis dispensaries, and one pharmacist can only oversee up to three dispensaries in the island they are based. He added: “If you want to own and be a part of the business, and I encourage every Bahamian to be in the business if they feel they want to, then there are going to be requirements and steps. One of the things that we’re happy that’s been changed is that a
Trump’s economic plans include proposed tariffs, tax cuts and no taxes on tips. Details are scarce
By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
THE first night of the Republican National Convention kept its official focus on the economy Monday even after Saturday's shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania in which former President Donald Trump was injured. Speakers argued that Trump would fix inflation and bring back prosperity simply by returning to the White House as president. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin lamented, "Tonight, America, the land of opportunity, just doesn't feel like that anymore."
But Trump has released few hard numbers and no real policy language or legislative blueprints, and most of the speakers Monday didn't get into details either. Instead, his campaign is betting that voters care more about attitude than policy specifics.
Trump says he wants tariffs on trade partners and no taxes on tips. He would like to knock the corporate tax rate down a tick. The Republican platform also promises to "defeat" inflation and "quickly bring down all prices," in addition to pumping out more oil, natural gas and coal.
The platform would address illegal immigration in part with the "largest deportation program in American history."
And Trump would also scrap President Joe Biden's policies to develop the market for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Democrats and several leading economists say the math shows that Trump's ideas would cause an explosive bout of inflation, wallop the middle class and — by his extending his soon-toexpire tax cuts — heap another $5 trillion-plus onto the national debt.
The Associated Press sent the Trump campaign 20 basic questions in June to clarify his economic views and the campaign declined to answer any of them.
Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted that Trump
best speaks for himself and directed the AP to video clips of him. By contrast, Biden has an exhaustive 188-page budget proposal that lays out his economic vision, even as his campaign had increasingly devolved before Saturday's rally shooting into questions about his age and whether he should remain the nominee after a self-defeating June 27 debate.
A recent analysis by the Peterson Institute of International Economics showed that deporting 1.3 million workers would cause the size of the U.S. economy to shrink by 2.1%, essentially creating a recession.
Stephen Moore, an informal Trump adviser and economist at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said Trump is unique in that he's already been president and voters can judge him off his record in office.
"You want to know what he's going to do in his second term, look at what he did in his first term," Moore said.
Democrats have argued that Trump would be more extreme in his second term, using his own remarks to say he would put independent federal agencies under his direct control and use the federal government to settle scores with his perceived enemies. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 blueprint is a template for
what a second term would look like, they argue, a claim that Trump has disputed.
But Moore said he believes that Trump would be pragmatic in office and focus on the needs of business to drive economic growth.
"There is an idea that it's going to be like slash and burn — I don't think it's going to be a radical agenda," Moore said.
Some of Trump's plans have gotten bipartisan backing. Both of Nevada's senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, are Democrats who would like to ban taxes on tips paid to workers, even as the Biden White House favors a higher minimum wage for tipped workers.
Companies do like Trump's ideas to cut regulations and further lower the corporate tax rate from 21% to 20%. The tax rate had been 35% when he became president in 2017. Democrats, by comparison, want a 28% corporate tax rate in order to fund programs for the middle class and deficit reduction.
But Trump has also floated huge tariffs that he says would protect U.S. manufacturing jobs. Biden preserved the tariffs on China that Trump introduced and went a step further by banning exports of advanced computer chips to China.
pharmacist is going to have to be involved with a licence and that person has to be someone who is physically working and managing.
“People wanted to manage up to 10 places, and it wasn’t safe. The Government came and said five, but we advocated because five places is too much. Let’s make sure that, one, you’re in the same geographic jurisdiction. You can’t manage a cannabis dispensary in Abaco if you live in Nassau because the patient is in Abaco, but if I’m in Nassau we felt like three was a good, safe number.”
Dr Smith added that amendments also include the requirement that cannabis dispensers must be certified pharmacy technicians that have completed a training programme. He said: “Anybody who is a cannabis dispenser who is not a pharmacist has to first at least be a certified pharmacy technician, and then has to complete a training programme, which the Government will sit down with stakeholders, including the Association, and write a proper training programme.”
Dr Smith previously voiced his disapproval
WATER CORP TARGETS Q4 FOR MONTHLY BILLS START
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Water and Sewerage Corporation yesterday said it plans to switch to billing customers on a monthly basis during the 2024 fourth quarter as it installed its first digital water meter on New Providence.
Montgomery Miller, the Corporation’s manager of strategic coordination, said the utility has begun the process of transitioning analog water meters to digital ones. This will help facilitate the switch from a three-month or quarterly billing cycle to a monthly one, and allow consumers to detect leaks on their properties much quicker.
He said: “One of the largest challenges that we as a Corporation have faced is customers that have undetected leaks. Many of you probably have had the experience of a toilet flapper valve or something that’s gone bad, and that toilet is continuously running.
“But many people don’t recognise that that’s actually water wasting. Under the current regime the Corporation issues bills on a quarterly basis every 90 days or so. And so a lot of times customers are met with at the end of that cycle a very large water bill.”
Mr Miller said the digital meters will also allow staff to read meters remotely, eliminating the need for them to enter a property. He added: “We can pick that reading up remotely. Technology is
currently being utilised by our sister utility, BPL, and so one of the big advantages is we will reduce our billing and reading schedule down to 30 days as opposed to 90 days in the first instance.
“So that risk of the high consumption due to leakage is going to be reduced in the first instance and, we hope, hopefully very near eliminated.” Mr Miller said the Water & Sewerage Corporation has plans to acquire 65,000 digital meters to be installed in New Providence once a $10m Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan has been finalised.
He said: “We’ve made a purchase of the initial 5,000 residential meters and we’ll be transitioning to procure the next 10,000 in very short order. Then, ultimately, the entire residential population, which is about 65,000 units, will be implemented under pending approval of an IDB loan that we are presently working to get completed with this technology when it comes to installation.
Last year, the Water & Sewerage Corporation unveiled artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect leaks in partnership with Miya, which was awarded a contract for a 10-year, $83m effort to maximise efficiency of New Providence’s water system Since 2012, Miya has saved the Water & Sewerage Corporation over 14bn imperial gallons in water that would have been lost to leaks. The utility currently loses about 3m imperial gallons per day, down from 6.9m imperial
over the Davis administration tabling the Cannabis Bill and other legislation related to legalising cannabis for medical and religious use, while decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana, without adequately consulting the Association. He raised several issues with the Bills as they were first tabled, including the lack of oversight by pharmacists and allowing one pharmacist to oversee up to five dispensaries at a time.
gallons per day at the start of the project.
Mr Miller said the transition to digital meters is a step in moving the nonrevenue water conservation project forward and help to achieve water balancing.
He added: “It was always envisioned in the initial project that we did that we would actually move to a smart metering system so that we can achieve what they call water balancing, or checking, to see what the consumer is measuring at the end versus what’s being put into supply.
“We will move more towards a deployment of persons that are focused on network leak management and detection, as opposed to a basic manual reading. So we’re making a transition to utilising the technology.
“The ultimate vision when this project is done is to move to a fixed network situation where there’s real-time monitoring. In the long-term, what we’re looking to is when there is an issue at the customer end, the customer is receiving prompt notification so that it really manages their risk.”
Mr Miller also encouraged residents that have private wells to move to potable water provided by Water & Sewerage Corporation as they have conducted tests of more than 400 private wells and found the water to be contaminated.
He said: “We have a general concern about the number of consumers on New Providence that are using private wells that are untested and untreated. And actually, in the scope of our corporate business plan recently, we conducted 400 or so private well tests, and we discovered that water to be contaminated.”
DELEGATES watch during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. Photo:Nam Y. Huh/AP
the energy generated over to Nassau Cruise Port.
“The Government of The Bahamas, in partnership with Bahamas Power & Light Company, is exploring measures to provide up to 60 MW of shore power for the New Providence cruise ship terminal,” the request for proposal (RFP) document said.
“BPL cannot supply the 60 MW required for shore power at the newly-opened Nassau Cruise Port. At this juncture, BPL is fully subscribed to meet its existing energy demands and cannot allocate additional power for the port’s requirements.” Hence the need to turn to privatelyowned energy groups and investors.
Explaining the rationale for launching the bidding process, with the RFP issued on July 9, 2024, the tender document said “shore power” was increasingly being provided by ports worldwide and Nassau needed to keep pace to maintain its cruise industry competitiveness. The use of LNG-generated power will also slash emissions by the cruise ships while docked at Prince George’s Wharf.
“Shore power for cruise ships, also known as cold ironing or alternative maritime power (AMP), connects docked vessels
supply’ cruise port’s 60 MW power
to the local electrical grid, allowing them to shut down onboard diesel generators,” the RFP said.
“This technology, increasingly adopted in ports like Los Angeles, Vancouver and Shanghai, significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide (CO2). For instance, the Port of Los Angeles reported an 87 percent reduction in NOx and a 95 percent reduction in PM emissions from ships using shore power.
“Additionally, shore power minimises noise pollution, creating a quieter environment for port communities and marine life. Overall, adopting shore power is crucial for The Bahamas’ energy transformation towards greener, more sustainable maritime operations.”
With 1,573 cruise ship calls on Nassau already booked for 2025, the bid document said such vessel scheduling is typically 90 percent accurate “with the total number of calls being approximately 95 percent accurate”. As a result, the winning bidder already has significant demand lined up, with suggestions that total annual passenger numbers will eventually hit seven million compared to the 5.4m forecast for 2024.
“Not all cruise ships can connect to shore power due to the age of the ship. While some cruise lines have retrofitted their ships, others are too old, making retrofitting impractical given their scheduled retirement. Generally, older and smaller vessels require less shore power, while larger vessels require more, ranging from 6 MW to 14 MW,” the bid document said.
“The Nassau Cruise Port, which opened in 2023, represents a transformative investment of $300m into the Bahamian tourism infrastructure. Designed to revitalise Nassau’s waterfront and elevate its status as a premier cruise destination, the port is anticipated to welcome approximately seven million visitors annually.
“This state-of-the-art facility can accommodate up to six cruise ships simultaneously, including the world’s largest vessels such as the Oasis-class and Quantum-class ships. By enhancing capacity and providing modern amenities, the Nassau Cruise Port aims to offer an unparalleled experience for cruise passengers, contributing significantly to the local economy and tourism sector.”
Michael Maura, the Nassau Cruise Port’s chief executive, could not be reached for comment on
the “shore power” RFP before press time last night. However, he has previously described its provision via clean-burning fuel sources such as LNG as “a game changer from a destination perspective and that of the ships”.
“The regulators that govern them are looking and putting pressure on them to get as green as possible,” he added of the cruise lines and other vessels. “And so for us here in Nassau to be able to.... feed both the cruise port and the container port with green power would be a game changer.”
Dion Bethell, Arawak Port Development Company’s (APD) president and chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that the BISX-listed container port operator was unaware that the Government had issued a shore power request for proposal (RFP) involving the Arawak Cay location.
“APD has no role in this and I was not aware of the RFP. Sorry that I am unable to help with this,” he said via messaged reply. However, the RFP refers to the delivery of “shore power from the Arawak Cay Port Development to the Nassau Cruise Port”.
The bid document also describes to the “Arawak Cay terminal” as the site for the 60 MW power generation facility. The actual
location will be leased by the Government to the winning bidder at what was described as a “nominal cost”, although the latter will be required to pay for any necessary extension to BPL’s grid to facilitate delivery of power to the Nassau Cruise Port.
The shore power system must also be able to interface with “smart grid technology” and “be capable of synchronising with the existing electrical grid to ensure seamless integration. It should be able to manage and regulate its output to maintain stability and efficiency, adapting to the varying power demands of connected vessels,” the bid document added.
“The Government of The Bahamas/BPL will require that the project developer take on any costs associated with any required grid extension to the identified site to accommodate energy delivery. This would include any transmission or distribution upgrades required to deliver the shore power from the Arawak Cay Port Development to the Nassau Cruise Port.
“The ownership of the transmission and distribution facilities will become the property of the Government of The Bahamas at the end of the agreed term.” The bid document adds that the selected provider will only be licensed
OPPOSITION ‘DOESN’T BUY’ FOREIGN MAJORITY MARIJUANA OWNERSHIP
debate. Questioned by the Opposition leader, he then confirmed that foreign participation in medical marijuana manufacturing and packaging is also allowed.
The Cannabis Bill, which was still being debated by MPs as Tribune Business went to press last night, permits foreign investors to own up to a maximum 70 percent of medical marijuana manufacturing and packaging; analytical testing; and scientific research businesses. Bahamians, though, must own a minimum 30 percent equity interest in such ventures.
Mr Davis and other Cabinet ministers yesterday pointed out that the 30 percent threshold represents a floor, rather than the ceiling, and Bahamians can own a greater proportion of the equity in such entities. The Bill also stipulates that 100 percent Bahamian ownership is mandatory for entities involved in medical marijuana cultivation/harvesting; sales and cannabis dispensaries; distribution; and transport.
“Yes, a foreigner could participate in
manufacturing,” Mr Davis clarified, adding that the Bahamian and foreign ownership percentages were consistent with rival jurisdictions. “The threshold of 30 percent was benchmarked with the region, and you will find most of the region permits foreign participation to a maximum 70 percent, and so to remain competitive, I’m now reminded that is why it is 30 percent,” he added. “Bahamians are not excluded from manufacturing. If a foreigner comes in, it will be at the discretion of the Government to decide whether to let them in, and they’ll be coming in with something Bahamians cannot offer or the capital will be such that a Bahamians does not wish to invest.
“Bahamians are not excluded. In fact, we may not attract any foreigner. Bahamians are allowed to manufacture. We are minded to be a competitive jurisdiction in this space. We benchmarked that against what others are doing, and we will be be guided by Bahamian interests first.”
However, the Prime Minister’s pledge to protect and encourage Bahamian
NOTICE
TO: Dedrie Williams Tall Pine Subdivision Nassau, N. P., Bahs.
entrepreneurs and investors did not impress Mr Pintard.
Asked whether Mr Davis’ remarks on the Bahamian and foreign ownership splits were reassuring, he replied: “Not at all.”
The Opposition leader also suggested there were insufficient safeguards to prevent “big players” in other areas of the Bahamian economy from leveraging their wealth and financial muscle to dominate a medical marijuana industry.
He argued that the Government should focus on protecting small entrepreneurs, and creating “a broader cross-section” of Bahamian ownership, rather than allowing existing operators to repeat the “dominance” they have achieved in other sectors.
“We believe, again, that Bahamians ought to be the principal owners,” Mr Pintard told Tribune Business. “The majority of shares should be held by Bahamians who, if they desire, can enter into a joint venture with a foreigner who has a minority position.”
He contrasted the Government’s approach to how it legalised, regulated and taxed the domestic gaming industry some ten years ago. “They liberalised the gaming sector and never considered that we needed to open it to foreigners to come into that space,” he added.
“Bahamians showed they were capable of competently operating in this space. You’re telling me Bahamians cannot operate competently in the cannabis space? We do not buy that. They can, and attract the money necessary for the licence.”
TAKE NOTICE that Everette Hart of Exuma Point, Exuma, Bahamas, has begun an action against you, Dedrie Williams, being Claim No. 2023/CLE/gen/00944 in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas by Fixed Date Claim dated 4th. day of October, A. D. 2023, which Fixed Date Claim is endorsed as follows:
Mr Pintard said facilitating foreign investors to “dominate certain segments of this market”, just as it is being liberalised and
1) Possession of the land situate at the junction of Rockdale Road and King’s Highway leading into Exuma Point (hereinafter called “the land) and or a declaration to the effect that they are entitled to possession thereof.
views on the use of medical marijuana change, was especially galling for the “thousands of Bahamians” who have gained criminal records for possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
And he questioned whether the Government has paid sufficient attention to preventing the medical marijuana industry from being dominated by a small number of wealthy Bahamian operators, as has occurred in other sectors where the same names do all the deals.
“There are concerns about big players, who dominate other sectors in the country, getting all types of licences as opposed to limiting their dominance in this sector so as to create a greater shareholder society with a wide cross-section of owners,” Mr Pintard warned.
“You issue the permits to the same persons who dominate other sectors to dominate this sector, instead of creating a broader cross-section of Bahamians who traditionally would not have the opportunity to own a piece of the rock. The Government should be more intentional about people who have traditionally been disenfranchised and calling publicly for more ownership opportunities.”
Shanendon Cartwright, the Opposition’s deputy leader, echoed his leader’s concerns during the House of Assembly debate. “The issue of foreign ownership, Mr deputy speaker, we are quite concerned about this section [in the Bill] that has Bahamian ownership at 30 percent,” he asserted.
“We believe why not 100 percent, and if not 100 percent, surely the foreigner should have a minority interest, not the Bahamian people. You
can get exemptions and so forth... Why would you put a foreigner in a better position in this industry than Bahamians? We have concerns about that, Mr deputy speaker.”
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, reiterated that the “30 percent” benchmark was a “minimum threshold” that sets a floor below which Bahamian ownership of medical marijuana venture cannot fall.
Pointing out that this is not a floor, or ceiling, he added: “So the public is not misled, it permits a minimum of 30 percent for Bahamians. It could be 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, 70 percent. Its sets a minimum threshold.”
Yet an unconvinced Mr Cartwright repeated: “What we are saying is the foreigner should consistently be in the minority. That’s all we are saying. I paid close attention to the member for Tall Pines [health and wellness minister, Dr Michael Darville]. The presentation as a whole, I paid close attention.
“It’s just this aspect of a multi-million industry, a multi-million industry, lucrative, Mr deputy speaker. When it comes to a multi-million industry and how lucrative it is, Bahamians are right to ask why aren’t they in the majority and why can’t foreigners consistently be in the minority, consistently in the minority, Mr deputy speaker?”
Mr Davis, in his debate contribution, said the creation of a medical marijuana industry will “open the door to the creation of thousands of jobs” in multiple industries via the economic diversification stimulated by multiple spinoff opportunities.
to operate as a public electricity supplier within the Nassau Cruise Port and Arawak Port Development site. Site tours will be conducted for bidders from July 22-24. Questions must be submitted by July 30, and replies are due by August 6. The deadline for bids to be submitted is August 20, and all submissions evaluated by September 4, 2024. The winning bidder will be issued its ‘letter of award’ by September 9, and will have a week in which to accept.
The Ministry of Energy and Transport, in a statement, said: “The Ministry of Energy and Transport wishes to advise that a request for proposal (RFP) has been issued in respect to shore power which proposes to supply energy from Arawak Cay for the New Providence cruise ship terminal via LNG.
“The scope of work includes the provision of up to 60 MW of power at the terminal.... As we embark on this energy transition to a brighter, cleaner, and more sustainable future, the Ministry of Energy and Transport remains focused on leading a transparent process. The Government of The Bahamas is committed to pursuing energy solutions that are reliable and more affordable for all Bahamians and businesses.”
also legalising the many supporting inputs that are necessary for the industry. We have opened the door to the creation of thousands of jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, retail and dispensary facilities, and healthcare. This industry will make a significant contribution to our efforts to diversify our economy through these sub-sectors.
“We have created the potential for new Bahamian cannabis entrepreneurs, and we’ve also created the framework to attract external investors who will drive capital into this new industry to spur growth and expand our economy,” Mr Davis added.
“Opportunities to export our fully regulated, highquality product will give our local businesses and farmers access to expanded markets beyond our borders. Most importantly, we will make room for small and medium-sized Bahamian-owned businesses to have access to opportunities within this industry by ensuring equitable access for businesses of all sizes.”
Addressing the ownership issue, Mr Davis added:
“The requirements for eligibility for the licences are fully outlined. Among these requirements is a very important requirement for Bahamian ownership. If an entity is applying for a licence to cultivate, sell or transport cannabis, that entity must be 100 percent Bahamian-owned.
“We also recognise the need to attract investors who may be looking for a well-regulated jurisdiction to conduct research. However, it is critical that Bahamians are also involved in research and development. For entities applying for a licence for analytical testing, manufacturing or research, they must be at least 30 percent Bahamian-owned.
2) An injunction restraining the Defendant from entering or further entering upon the land or in any manner interfering with it.
3) Damages for trespass and loss of use of the land.
4) Further or other relief.
proceed therein and judgment may be given in your absence. You may fully complete the acknowledgement of service form and return it to the court at the 1 . Floor, Ansbacher House, Bank Lane, Nassau, N. P., within 28 days of the last publication of this action.
5) Costs
If you return the
And you are required within 28 days after the last publication of this notice to cause an acknowledgement of service to be returned to the Supreme Court, and in default of your so doing the said Everette Hart may proceed therein and judgment may be given in your absence.
You may obtain from
for the Claimants an acknowledgement of service form and all other documents required to be served with the fixed date claim.
“Before us is a new economic reality in which cannabis has the potential to play a large role in our economy,” the Prime Minister said. “The impact of the cannabis industry will be widespread, affecting many different sectors.
“By legalising cannabis for medical use, we are
“We know how important it is for Bahamians to own this new industry. In fact, there should be no new industries developed in this country that don’t seek to empower Bahamians as owners. The cannabis industry will further establish this standard as a new industry with Bahamian ownership at every level.”
to hear from people who are making news in their neighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raising funds for
You may fully complete the acknowledgement of service form and return it to the court at the 1st. Floor, Ansbacher House, Bank Lane, Nassau, N. P., within 28 days of the last publication of this action.
Eight Terrace East Nassau, N. P., Bahamas Email: camartinlaw@hotmail.com Phone: 1-242-818-2313 Attorney for the Claimants
If you return the acknowledgment of service form to the Court as above stated you must also serve on the attorney for the Claimants within 14 days of the time limited for returning the acknowledgement of service a Carlton A. Martin of Martin Martin and Co. Vet CF Place, No. 15
cause, campaigning for improvements in the area or have won an award. If so, call us on 322-1986 and share your story.
PI Crown Land battle in Privy Council go-ahead
Despite losing at both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Mr Smith’s argument that he possesses a valid, legally binding lease agreement for a total five Crown Land acres on Paradise Island’s western end was given new life when he split the latter court over its verdict.
Sir Michael Barnett, former Court of Appeal president, gave a dissenting judgment where he said he would order “specific performance of the lease” by the Government as Mr Smith had “a binding agreement” to lease the two Crown Land parcels for a beach break-type destination and the restoration of Paradise Island’s lighthouse built in 1817. This strengthened Mr Smith’s case for one last appeal to the Privy Council.
Appeal justice Stella Crane-Scott, delivering the Court of Appeal’s oral ruling on the Bahamian entrepreneur’s Privy Council bid, said of the Government’s position: “There were no submissions filed by the Crown.
“This fact notwithstanding, counsel for the crown, Mr Mackey, conceded that the appeal is an ‘as of right’ appeal pursuant to section 23(1) of the Court of Appeal Act, and that the procedural requirements have been met.”
Her July 11 verdict added: “Having regard to the guidance of the Board [Privy Council] set out in authorities of which we are well aware, while the court has no discretion to exercise in these types of appeals, all we are required to do is to determine whether the appeal raises a ‘genuinely disputable issue’, meaning that this is not an abusive appeal that is headed off to their Lordships.
“Having considered the matter and having regard to what Mr Mackey himself said, we are convinced this is a case for which conditional leave must be granted, and that is the order that must now be made.” The Court of Appeal thus gave Mr Smith permission to head to London provided that, within 90 days, he pays a $2,861 security to cover costs associated with the appeal and sends the relevant documents to the UK.
The Bahamian entrepreneur told Tribune Business his case remains “of high public importance” given
that it raises issues of how publicly-owned Crown Land is used for the benefit of the Bahamian people; whether Bahamian and foreign investors are treated equally; and the restoration of “abandoned” national landmarks such as the Paradise Island lighthouse.
“It involves Crown Land that belongs to the Bahamian people being fought by the Government of The Bahamas while favouring a foreign entity with express treatment,” Mr Smith asserted, referring to the lease the Government has agreed with Royal Caribbean for its Paradise Island beach club on adjacent land while continuing to battle him in the courts.
“Look at Athol Island and the way legitimate Bahamian entrepreneurs have gone down the right path in applying for Crown Land, while cronies are given a free pass; a free allaccess pass, and legitimate entrepreneurs must stand aside and back.
“The lighthouse project is a prime example where Bahamians are sidelined in favour of foreigners and cronies, and Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club intends to demonstrate that we and many other Bahamians have had enough. We are bold enough to challenge them and will win.”
Mr Smith reasserted that he is willing and able to begin his $2m beach club and lighthouse restoration “immediately” should the Government commit to honouring the Crown Land lease. “We could start this afternoon,” he said, “and we won’t be deterred by the bureaucracy and red tape that Bahamians are faced with either.
“We will start immediately and ask questions later. Full financing is in place as it always has been - over-subscribed with full Bahamian ownership.”
Mr Smith explained that the business model was structured such that the revenues generated by the beach break-type destination would finance the Paradise Island lighthouse restoration and help revive a building of historical significance.
“The significance of the lighthouse is at the very centre and origin of this project,” he added, “and, while being the oldest lighthouse in this region, our dozen lighthouses - with the exception of Elbow
Reef - have all but been abandoned and are in dire need of restoration. It’s the Government that is fighting against Bahamians wanting to revive them, as they have done in my case.
“The beach club was the origin of our endeavour to generate revenues to finance the restoration of a major landmark and the first sight entering the western entrance of Nassau harbour.” Mr Smith confirmed that Sir Michael Barnett’s dissenting judgment in his favour provides “amazing support towards our case” and its Privy Council destination.
“I believe in the autonomy of the Privy Council, away from this jurisdiction, and with a simple read of Sir Michael’s ruling, it makes a very strong case for the benefit of the people in The Bahamas,” he added.
The Davis administration previously requested that Mr Smith “reapply” for the necessary government permits and approvals so that his project can proceed after he lost the original Supreme Court case. Little is likely to change in this regard until the outcome of the Privy Council appeal.
The Court of Appeal, in its majority verdict, said the dispute centred on a 21-year lease that the then-Minnis administration allegedly granted Mr Smith for the use of two Crown Land parcels - one two acres in size, the other three - on the western end of Paradise Island in the Colonial Beach area.
Noting that the initial application was made more than a decade ago in 2012, it added that some six years later the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA), via a May 23, 2018, letter informed Mr Smith that his $2m beach club project had been approved. However, rather than the 17 acres initially sought, the Crown Land lease was to cover just five.
Then, on January 7, 2020, Richard Hardy, acting director of the Department of Lands and Surveys, sent Mr Smith and his company a letter headlined “approval for Crown Land lease”. This covered a two and three-acre parcel, respectively, with the first adjacent to the lighthouse at Paradise Island’s western end and the other for the ‘beach break’ destination.
The letter contained instructions on how the
Mexico’s costly Maya Train draws few passengers in its first six months of partial operation
By MARK STEVENSON Associated Press
THE pet rail project of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador could wind up costing as much as $30 billion, is only half finished as he heads into the final 2 1/2 months of his term, and has wreaked major damage on the environment.
But the most damning judgments on the Maya Train tourist line, which runs in a loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, are the ridership figures on about half the railway that is now open: only about 1,200 people per day use the train, according to government figures released Monday.
Most ride it only on short stretches between the city of Merida and Cancun, or the nearby city of Campeche.
The big hope for paying the train's massive cost was that tourists would use it to depart from the resort of Cancun and explore the whole 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) route to visit the Mayan archaeological sites that dot the peninsula.
But a round-trip route from Cancun to the wellknown Mayan temple complex of Palenque has drawn only about 100 passengers per day each way in the first six months of operation. That is a volume that a bus or two per day could handle far more cheaply.
The government had originally promised the train would carry between 22,000 and 37,000 people per day. Current ridership is about 3-5% of that, with three of the four most popular
stations — Cancun, Merida, Palenque and Campeche — already in service.
Admittedly, the rail line down the heavily traveled corridor linking Cancun and the resorts of Playa del Carmen and Tulum — an area known as the Riviera Maya — isn't finished yet, and only 17 trains are operating; three times as many may eventually be added. But critics say there is little evidence the CancunTulum line will make the project profitable, because it doesn't run particularly near any of the resort towns it is supposed to serve. The Cancun-Tulum railway was originally supposed to run on an elevated line over the coastal highway, where most hotels are. But facing technical difficulties, the government changed the route by cutting a 68-mile (110-kilometer) swath through the jungle and moving the tracks about 4½ miles (7 kilometers) inland.
So instead of hopping one of the micro-buses that run constantly down the coastal highway, tourists or resort workers would have to take a taxi to the train station, wait for one of the few daily trains, and then take another taxi to the resorts once they reach their destination.
"The uselessness of this project was foreseeable," said Jose "Pepe" Urbina, a local diver who opposes the train because its steel pilings have damaged the caverns he has explored for decades. "In reality, the train doesn't go anywhere
attached lease documents were to be signed, dated, sealed and notarised, then returned to the Department of Lands and Surveys. Once the minister responsible for Crown Lands, who was then-prime minister Dr Hubert Minnis, signed a copy of the lease was to be returned to Mr Smith.
The Bahamian entrepreneur signed the lease forwarded by Mr Hardy, and returned it to the Government for execution two days later on January 9, 2020. Dr Minnis, though, did not sign the lease on the Government’s behalf as it emerged that Royal Caribbean had rival designs on the three- acre Crown Land parcel for its own Royal Beach Club project.
Sir Michael, though, found that the Government did not sign the agreement
with Mr Smith because it “determined it had found a better deal” - namely Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Royal Beach Club project, which itself wanted to lease three of the same acres sought by the Bahamian entrepreneur. He added that he would have ordered “specific performance of the lease” by the Government. Describing Mr Hardy’s letter as being of “major importance”, the then-Court of Appeal president said the letter was headlined “approval for Crown lease” and did not say or suggest there were any matters left to be agreed between the parties. “In my judgment, the critical question in this appeal is whether the letter of January 2020 evidenced a binding agreement between
the appellant and the minister for the lease of five acres of land on Paradise Island,” Sir Michael wrote.
“The Chief Justice formed the view that there was no concluded agreement.
“It is difficult to see how it can be said that there was no concluded agreement. The lease sent on January 7, 2020, had been prepared by the respondent’s [Attorney General’s] lawyers on the respondent’s instructions. There was nothing further to be negotiated and agreed....
“The document reflecting the terms of the agreement was sent by the respondent to the appellant for signature. All that was left was for the respondent to sign and seal the lease. He did not do so because the Government determined that it had found a better deal.”
JOB OPPORTUNTIY
AMERICAN BRIDGE (BAHAMAS) LIMITED IS LOOKING TO FILL THE
Crane Operator Responsible for lifting, moving, and positioning heavy materials and equipment in accordance with project requirements. Follow established safety guidelines and company policies to prevent accidents and maintain a secure work environment.
Comply with relevant regulations, standards, and industry best practices. Proven experience as a crane operator, preferably in a marine environment, is required.
Tugboat Captain
Responsibilities include vessel navigation, towing operations, ensuring safety compliance, maintaining clear communication, and handling emergency responses.
To qualify, you must hold a valid Captain’s license and necessary certifications, have proven experience in a similar maritime role, possess strong knowledge of maritime regulations and safety protocols, and demonstrate excellent communication and leadership skills.
Foreman
To Lead and supervise construction crews on civil projects. Coordinate tasks, equipment, and personnel efficiently. Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols and regulations. Maintain high standards of workmanship and project quality. Provide regular progress reports to project management. Proven experience as a Foreman in civil construction. Have strong leadership and team management skills. Commitment to maintaining a safe work environment.
Project Manager
Lead and manage civil construction projects, ensuring safety compliance and maintaining high standards of work quality. In this role, you’ll be responsible for coordinating tasks efficiently, managing resources effectively, and providing regular progress updates to senior management.
Proven track record as a Project Manager in civil construction. A degree in engineering is a plus.
Safety Coordinator
Develop and enforce safety protocols across projects, integrate safety measures into operations, coordinate with teams for effective safety procedures, monitor and ensure compliance, and provide regular safety reports to management. Proven safety management in civil construction, strong leadership, commitment to safety, excellent organizational skills, and effective communication. Certifications such as OSHA 30Hour, CHST, CSP, ASP, and CSST are desirable.
Quality Control Coordinator
Ensures adherence to quality standards through procedure development, inspections, and testing coordination. Able to manage documentation, supplier quality, and training, driving continuous
improvement. Develop, implement, and monitor quality control procedures. Coordinate testing, inspections, and analysis. Maintain documentation and manage supplier quality.
Bachelor’s degree in related field and experience in quality control. Knowledge of quality management systems.
Pile Driver
you couldn't get to by highway before."
"These are rail lines that don't provide any useful service for workers, for students, for any daily use," Urbina said.
One thing the railway project did create was jobs: Manuel Merino, the governor of the Gulf coast state of Tabasco, said the Maya Train had created 20,000 direct or indirect jobs in his state and lowered the unemployment rate by 40%.
"This makes it truly a motor for developing the south," a historically poorer and undeveloped part of Mexico, Merino said. But most of those jobs will be gone once construction is finished, and federal officials are also casting around for ways to try to make the railway pay for itself.
Officials have suggested freight trains may run on the tracks as well, but there is little industry in the region, and thus freight demand is limited.
It's not clear whether the government ever thought the railway would be profitable. López Obrador had already decided to build it before feasibility studies were carried out. According to a 2019 government study, the railway was going to cost $8.5 billion, and the estimated benefits would be about $10.5 billion.
But those "estimated benefits" always included a lot of intangibles, like reduced traffic on highways, quicker travel or increased tourism revenues, all of which either didn't happen or were unrelated to the train.
Operate pile driving equipment to install structural foundations in construction projects.
Drive pilings into the ground using various methods, such as hydraulic hammers or vibratory drivers. Follow project schedules and deadlines to complete pile driving tasks within specified timeframes. Certification or training in operating pile driving equipment. Proven experience in driving pilings for construction projects.
Diesel Mechanic
Perform diesel engine maintenance and repairs. Diagnose mechanical issues efficiently. Conduct routine inspections and maintenance tasks. Maintain accurate records of work completed. Collaborate with team members to ensure project deadlines are met. Adhere to strict safety protocols. Proven diesel mechanic experience and certification or vocational training preferred.
Executive Chef
Lead kitchen operations to ensure efficiency and quality. Develop creative menus aligned with culinary trends. Manage inventory and control food costs. Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Proven experience as an Executive Chef in a high-volume establishment. Culinary degree or equivalent certification preferred.
Maintenance Manager
Oversee and manage all maintenance activities for the construction pier site, ensuring efficient operation of equipment and adherence to safety regulations. Proven experience in maintenance management, strong organizational and leadership skills, and knowledge of construction equipment and safety standards.
Surveyor Conduct land surveys and measurements to determine property boundaries, topography, and features for construction, engineering, and mapping projects. Responsibilities include using surveying equipment to gather data, preparing detailed reports and maps, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations, and collaborating with engineers, architects, and construction teams.
A degree in Surveying, Geomatics, or a related field, along with relevant certifications and experience, is essential.
Electrical Engineer / Consultant
Responsible for designing, developing, and implementing electrical systems for various projects. Analyzing and troubleshooting electrical issues, ensuring compliance with standards, and optimizing system performance. You will collaborate with teams, provide technical guidance, mentor junior engineers, and prepare reports and proposals. Maintaining client relationships and delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions are also key aspects of the role.
Wall Street rises to the edge of records as its momentum keeps rolling
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. stocks ticked to the edge of records Monday as Wall Street’s momentum keeps driving it upward.
The S&P 500 rose 15.87 points, or 0.3%, to 5,631.22 and finished just shy of its all-time high set last week. It’s coming off its 10th winning week in the last 12, lifted in large part by expectations that inflation is slowing enough to convince the Federal Reserve to ease interest rates soon.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 210.82, or 0.5%, to 40,211.72 and set its own record, while the Nasdaq composite added 74.12, or 0.4%, to 18,472.57 and ended a bit short of its high.
Some of the market’s best performing areas were ones that do best when former President Donald Trump’s chances for election look better. Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Trump’s Truth Social platform, leaped 31.4%. Bitcoin rose back above $63,000 after Trump, who has painted himself as a crypto-friendly candidate, survived an assassination attempt over the weekend.
Trump could get an immediate bump in his support in polls, as President Ronald Regan did in 1981, according to Isaac Boltanksy, director of policy research at BTIG, and “Trump’s defiance following the attack could be the
defining image of this election cycle.”
Yields for longer-term Treasurys also pushed higher than shorter-term ones, and the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.22% from 4.19% late Friday. Something similar happened after last month’s debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, when traders made moves in anticipation of a Republican sweep in November that could ultimately mean policies that would raise the U.S. government’s debt.
Stocks of big financial companies, which could benefit from a lighter regulatory touch from a Republican administration, also helped lead the market. JPMorgan Chase climbed 2.5% and was one of the
strongest forces pushing the S&P 500 higher.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs rose 2.6% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. BlackRock, the asset manager behind the iShares exchange-traded funds, slipped 0.6% after topping forecasts for profit but coming up a bit shy for revenue. Expectations are high coming into this earnings reporting season, which unofficially got underway last week. Analysts are forecasting companies in the S&P 500 will deliver overall growth of 9.3% from a year earlier, according to FactSet. That would be the strongest growth in more than two years.
FROM BASEMENT TO BATTLEFIELD:
UKRAINIAN STARTUPS CREATE LOWCOST ROBOTS TO FIGHT RUSSIA
Such forecasts have been one of the forces pushing U.S. stocks toward records. So have encouraging reports on inflation, which have shown enough of a slowdown for much of Wall Street to expect the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its main interest rate in September. For roughly a year, the Fed has been keeping its main interest rate at the highest level in more than two decades. Lower rates would release pressure that’s built up on the economy because of how expensive it’s become to borrow money to buy houses, cars, or anything on credit cards. Fed officials, though, have been saying they want to see “more
By DEREK GATOPOULOS and ANTON SHTUKA Associated Press
STRUGGLING with manpower shortages, overwhelming odds and uneven international assistance,
PEOPLE pass the New York Stock Exchange July 10, 2024, in New York. World shares began trading mixed on Monday, July 15, 2024, after China reported that its economy expanded at a lower-than-forecast 4.7% annual pace in the last quarter.
good data” on inflation before making a move.
In remarks before the Economic Club of Washington, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said again on Monday he won’t send any signals about when the Fed may cut interest rates. But he also said Fed officials understand the risks of waiting both too long and not long enough. Toolate cuts could push the U.S. economy into a recession, while too-aggressive cuts could allow inflation to reaccelerate.
Despite the seemingly unstoppable run for the U.S. stock market, some skeptics are sticking with their caution amid what they see as too-expensive prices. The S&P 500 has already leaped 18% and set an all-time high 37 times so far this year.
Barry Bannister, chief equity strategist at Stifel, acknowledged he was at least early in his call earlier this year for an imminent “correction’ in stock prices, but he is still warning about the possibility for an upcoming drop of 10%.
Peter Morgan/AP
Among individual companies, U.S.-listed shares of Burberry skidded 16.1% after the British luxury fashion house said it has appointed Joshua Schulman, formerly head of Michael Kors and Coach, as its new chief executive officer. The unexpected announcement came as Burberry said its firstquarter revenue was down 21%, and it suspended its dividend.
Macy’s tumbled 11.7% after it ended talks for a potential buyout by two investment firms that had lasted months. The retailer said the firms’ latest offer wasn’t high enough to be compelling and also may not have been fully financed.
In stock markets abroad, Chinese indexes were mixed after China reported its economy expanded at a slower-than-expected pace in the latest quarter and as its ruling Communist Party opened a once-a-decade policy-setting meeting. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.5%, while stocks in Shanghai added 0.1%. Stock indexes were mostly lower in Europe.
He said high inflation could remain stubborn, and he’s looking for the U.S. economy’s growth to be slower than expected in the second half of the year. Such a mix constitutes “moderate stagflation” and could particularly hurt the high-growth stocks that have been leading Wall Street, according to Bannister.
Ukraine hopes to find a strategic edge against Russia in an abandoned warehouse or a factory basement. An ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops is leveraging innovation to create a robot army that Ukraine hopes will kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians.
Defense startups across Ukraine — about 250 according to industry estimates — are creating the killing machines at secret locations that typically look like rural car repair shops.
Employees at a startup run by entrepreneur Andrii Denysenko can put together an unmanned ground vehicle called the Odyssey in four days at a shed used by the company. Its most important feature is the price tag: $35,000, or roughly 10% of the cost of an imported model.
Denysenko asked that The Associated Press not publish details of the location to protect the infrastructure and the people working there.
The site is partitioned into small rooms for welding and body work. That includes making fiberglass cargo beds, spray-painting the vehicles gun-green and fitting basic electronics, battery-powered engines, off-the-shelf cameras and thermal sensors.
The military is assessing dozens of new unmanned air, ground and marine vehicles produced by the no-frills startup sector, whose production methods are far removed from giant Western defense companies'.
A fourth branch of Ukraine's military — the Unmanned Systems Forces — joined the army, navy and air force in May. Engineers take inspiration from articles in defense magazines or online videos to produce cut-price platforms. Weapons or smart components can be added later.
"We are fighting a huge country, and they don't have any resource limits. We understand that we cannot spend a lot of human lives," said Denysenko, who heads the defense startup UkrPrototyp. "War is mathematics."
One of its drones, the car-sized Odyssey, spun on its axis and kicked up dust as it rumbled forward in a cornfield in the north of the country last month.
The 800-kilogram (1,750pound) prototype that looks like a small, turretless tank with its wheels on tracks can travel up to 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) on one charge of a battery the size of a small beer cooler.
The prototype acts as a rescue-and-supply platform but can be modified to carry a remotely operated heavy machine gun or sling mineclearing charges.
"Squads of robots … will become logistics devices, tow trucks, minelayers and deminers, as well as self-destructive robots," a government fundraising page said after the launch of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces. "The first robots are already proving their effectiveness on the battlefield."
Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister for digital transformation, is encouraging citizens to take free online courses and assemble aerial drones at home. He wants Ukrainians to make a million of flying machines a year.
"There will be more of them soon," the fundraising page said. "Many more."
Denysenko's company is working on projects including a motorized exoskeleton that would boost a soldier's strength and carrier vehicles to transport a soldier's equipment and even help them up an incline. "We will do everything to make unmanned technologies develop even faster. (Russia's) murderers use their soldiers as cannon fodder, while we lose our best people," Fedorov wrote in an online post. Ukraine has semi-autonomous attack drones and counter-drone weapons endowed with AI and the combination of low-cost weapons and artificial intelligence tools is worrying many experts who say lowcost drones will enable their proliferation. Technology leaders to the United Nations and the Vatican worry that the use of drones and AI in weapons could reduce the barrier to killing and dramatically escalate conflicts.
Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups are calling for a ban on weapons that exclude human decision making, a concern echoed by the U.N. General Assembly, Elon Musk and the founders of the Google-owned, London-based startup DeepMind.
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Beating the post-vacation blues
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer
POST vacation blues - it’s the feeling of lethargy, sadness and low mood after returning from a vacation that provided an escape from habitual routine. The blues set in at the reality of transitioning back to responsibilities, especially work life and is a common feeling experienced by many people.
Bahamian individual, couple, and family therapist Christina Johnson shares her insight on post vacation blues and how people can overcome those feelings to have a seamless transition back to normalcy.
“Positive and new experiences flood your body with feel-good hormones like dopamine, and returning to normalcy after a period of high dopamine quickly drops those dopamine levels, which is part of why your mood becomes low. If your normal is a stressful environment, then stress hormones like cortisol will be more prominent in your system, making that low mood more pronounced,” the mental health consultant told Tribune Health.
Earlier this year, Ms Johnson experienced the all-time vacation when she trekked to the foot of the highest mountain on planet. This vacation left her on a major high, feeling accomplished, besting not only the physical but mental challenges of completing the 12-day journey to Everest Base camp in Nepal.
It was not too long after accomplishing this major feat and realising this journey came to a climax when she dipped into the blues.
“Coming home felt very lacklustre compared to my grand voyage. It only took a few plane rides to take me from the literal top of the world back to my regular life. I felt quite down for about a week afterwards, because while I had grown and done something so significant, I came back to my life that hadn’t changed at all. So rest assured knowing that it’s not just you - it’s the majority of travellers,” she said.
The feelings she said are not in any way shape or form, abnormal.
“It is not strange at all to feel some level of grief or sadness when returning to work after time off. The freedom that time away from our ‘regularly scheduled programming’ grants us is a large part of the appeal of travel, so it is understandable why we grieve that when returning back to our responsibilities.
“Grief is a natural response to change of any kind, it’s not only assigned to bereavement or hardship. This response is a natural part of transitioning from a period of rest and enjoyment back to the structured demands of work life. So yes, it’s understandable to feel down returning to work after living your best life on vacation. It’s also important to know that even if you live a life you love, you can still experience these feelings coming back to your life. Vacation You and Everyday Life You exist in different circumstances
and contexts. So even if you are very content in your everyday life, it’s not strange to grieve the fact that you are no longer enjoying a fabulous meal on a cruise through the Mediterranean, but back into responsibilities - even though you enjoy them,” she said.
Some people also believe a dip in emotions or mild case of depression at the reality of returning to work signals the need to shift careers or exit the working world altogether. Ms Johnson said take time to feel the emotions, process them but do not act on the blues; it is not an indication to quit, she said.
“You would very likely know if you need to consider a shift in your job prior to taking a vacation. But, if how you feel coming back from a vacation sincerely was the eye-opener to you realising something is not quite right at work, remember the following. Post-vacation blues usually last a few days to a couple of weeks. If these feelings extend beyond that, it might be worth exploring them further. If your uncomfortable feelings are intense and significantly impact your daily life or work functioning, it might be more than just post-vacation blues. Reflect on your general feelings about your job. Consistent dissatisfaction could be a signal that a change is needed. And also, notice if these feelings only arise after vacations, or if they are more constant. Persistent unhappiness might indicate deeper issues with your job.”
Given that there are many people engaged daily by jobs
AFTER trekking to the foot of the highest mountain on the planetEverest Vase Camp, Nepal this year, Bahamian psychotherapist Christian Johnson experienced the post vacation blues at the thought of returning to normal life.
they are not passionate about, Ms Johnson suggests perhaps using positive reinforcements to
How you could be breathing easy
Allergy season can hit fast and hard, with sudden fits of sneezing, a nonstop runny nose and itchy eyes leaving you feeling miserable.
For many, the path to relief begins with the rattle of a pill bottle — and that’s perfectly OK.
But there are other, more natural options that may be worth a try, says functional medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD of Chargrin Falls Family Health Center in Ohio. And most are simple solutions that don’t require the removal of a childproof cap.
“There can be an over-reliance on medications as a quick fix,” says Dr Young. “Sometimes, you can take a different approach and get similar results.”
Resolving seasonal allergies may just be a matter of finding and addressing the root cause.
“It’s about getting a deeper level of understanding of why you’re having an allergic response and then taking steps to decrease or reverse symptoms,” said Dr Young.
But if you’re not sure of the cause — be it tree pollen, ragweed, mold or dust, etc — what can you do to tamp down the sniffling, sneezing and wheezing that
come when seasonal allergy triggers spike? Here are a few ideas you can try.
More than 70 percent of your immune system resides in your gut. What you eat supports the microbiome in your belly. So, keeping that gut flora healthy can help your immune system better handle allergens.
Common food sensitivities to gluten, dairy and sugar can lead to immune system dysregulation.
foods cause inflammation, leading to a “leaky gut” that worsens seasonal allergy symptoms. “There can even be connections between specifics foods and pollen,” notes Dr. Young. “It’s just a matter of finding them.”
Filtering the air inside of your home can eliminate dander, dust and pollen particles that can make your allergies go haywire. Look for a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which removes about 99.97 percent of troublesome airborne particles.
reframe negative thoughts that influence a bad mood towards work.
“To reframe your thoughts about work, gratitude may help. Amplify the aspects of your job you are grateful for, such as job and financial security, supportive colleagues, or the skills you are developing. Positive affirmations may help you shift your mindset as well, and mindfulness practices can help you remain present, positive, and manage stress better. Celebrate yourself and your wins - no matter how small - by recognizing your strengths, accomplishments, and contributions at work. Identify personal and professional goals that motivate you and give you something to strive for, and connect your work to a larger purpose or meaning, which can enhance your sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, and motivation. By implementing these strategies, you can better manage the transition back to work and cultivate a more positive outlook on your professional life,’ she said.
“It is important to be gentle with yourself when returning to work. Despite the demands of the job, it is not the most realistic expectation that you will be immediately hitting the ground running and firing on all cylinders on your first day back at work. Remember, this is a transition period as well. So plan a lighter workload for the first few days, do not overload your plate. Setting realistic and manageable goals can help ease yourself back into work mode.”
congestion while you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep.”
Washing your bedding once a week in hot water can reduce your exposure to allergens such as dust, pollen and animal dander. Also, change clothes when you get home in case allergens latched onto your garments. Toss them next to the sheets in the hamper.
Flushing out your sinuses with a neti pot or squeeze bottle can wash away pollen and other allergens that found their way in. Studies show the effectiveness of a good sinus rinse, too. “It really can provide a lot of relief,” says Dr Young.
“The reality is we eat a lot of junk and non-organic food grown with the application of pesticides and herbicides,” says Dr Young. “Choosing clean, organic food can reduce toxin exposures that alter our immune system function.” Adding probiotics to your diet is a good start. Research shows that probiotics — which are plentiful in many yogurts and fermented food such as sauerkraut and kombucha tea — can help treat hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
“Putting a HEPA filter in your bedroom can make a big difference,” says Dr. Young. Another simple step? Close windows in your home when pollen counts soar in your area. Air conditioning can help, too, by removing moisture from the air and knocking back mold and mildew growth. Make sure to get a good scrubbing in, particularly before going to sleep, in order to wash off any allergens.
An elimination diet may also be helpful in identifying if certain
“Think of the hair in your ears and your eyebrows as Q-tips that collect pollen throughout the day,” says Dr Young. “If that hangs around while you’re in bed, it can worsen itchy eyes and nasal
Surprised to see this on the list? Don’t be. This ancient needling practice can deliver a boost to your immune system and help combat hay fever. “There’s good research supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of allergies and sinus disorders,” says Dr Young. Certain vitamins and herbs also can help limit inflammation that comes with allergic responses. Dr Young suggests looking for supplements with vitamin D, C, A, Omega-3 fatty acids, and quercetin.
Why shoulder pain shouldn’t be ignored
IF YOU feel soreness or notice a clicking sound when you move your shoulder, you may think you worked out too hard and the issue will go away with some rest. Unfortunately, ignoring aches, pinching or a lack of fluidity does not make it disappear and, with time, the issue will likely worsen.
You may take it for granted but the shoulder is a complex area of the body. A ball-and-socket joint, ligaments, tendons, muscles and cartilage all work together to provide range of motion, stability and flexibility.
In fact, our shoulder is the body’s most mobile joint, passing through three planes of motion.
Yet there’s a downside: Your shoulder joint is one of the most vulnerable to injury.
Issues involving the shoulder joint
It’s a common misconception that only athletes get shoulder injuries. Yet, overstretching, an abnormal movement or getting into an accident can also affect the shoulder joint, as can age and overuse injuries.
Common issues involving the shoulder joint include:
Feeling stiff and sore: A stiff and sore sensation can indicate you slept on your shoulder incorrectly. It can also mean something more serious if the discomfort doesn’t go away, including a repetitive motion injury, athletic injury or early-stage osteoarthritis.
Pain: If you can’t get through daily tasks without a sharp sensation traveling down your arm, the tissues around the joint may be inflamed. Especially if you’re dealing with a limited range of motion, the sensation may be due to tendonitis, bursitis, a fracture,
arthritis or the shoulder blade pressing against the nerves. If the pain comes on suddenly or is accompanied by swelling, you may be dealing with a fracture, dislocation or a torn muscle, and the condition requires immediate medical attention.
Can’t Raise Your Arm: The inability to fully lift your arm is a condition known as frozen shoulder. You not only feel pain and stiffness but find it next to impossible to complete basic daily tasks, including dressing, eating and lifting. Although this can point to a severely inflamed shoulder, it also indicates the possibility of a rotator cuff injury.
Weak Sensation: A weakness in your arm may also indicate
a rotator cuff injury, torn ligament a bulging disc in your neck or your bones rubbing against the joint’s tissues. In this case, you find it difficult to carry items over a certain weight.
Deformed Joint: Not only will you feel a significant amount of pain, but the shoulder takes on a misshapen appearance when the humerus fully or partially detaches from the shoulder joint. Crepitus: You notice a popping sensation in your joints, the reason for which can range from bursitis and osteoarthritis to overuse injuries, dislocation and fracture.
Common shoulder joint injuries
If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, regardless of the source, you could be living with one of the following conditions.
ROTATOR CUFF INJURY
This condition affects the group of four rotator cuff muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. An overuse- and age-related injury, you’ll have less use of the joint, which may be accompanied by pain, especially when you have to lift something or an object hits your shoulder. Unfortunately, the diagnostic process can be lengthy, with a doctor ruling out arthritis or a neck injury before recommending a course of physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medications.
Teaching about conch to inspire the next generation
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
A CONCH education programme from the Baha Mar resort foundation is helping to continue spectacular efforts toward the education of conservation and sustainability in the Bahamas.
To date, the programme has reached more than 1,100 students between Northern and Central Bahamas, and educated them on the important role conch plays in the marine food chain.
During a recent visit to Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros the Baha Mar conservation team connected with more than 600 students in grades eight and 11 to enhance awareness and education of conch conservation.
O’neil Leadon, conservation manager at Baha Mar, shared with Tribune Health that the Conch Conservation Education programme was initially inspired by a drastically declining conch population throughout The Bahamas, and an increased need for regulatory action to prevent the queen conch’s conservation status from moving from “threatened” into the “endangered category”.
He believes programmes such as the Conch Conservation Education programme are important in the country because they empower Bahamians as key players in local conservation efforts.
Additionally, he said, such programmes also build the knowledge and capacity of students, hopefully inspiring the next generation of Bahamian conservation, sustainability, and tourism professionals.
Mr Leadon said: “Programmes such as this assist in promoting a healthy Bahamian community because they equip individuals with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions as consumers. Further, these educational campaigns serve to bridge the gap between academia and the general population, ensuring that crucial research and scientific data is properly disseminated in ways that are both accessible and understandable.
“Overall, the goal of programmes like the Conch Conservation Education program is to raise awareness of some of the possible dangers of overconsumption while seeking
In more extreme cases, surgery may be required to fix the issue. Unfortunately, ignoring the condition may result in decreased joint function.
FROZEN SHOULDER
Formally known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder occurs when a joint’s tissues become thicker and grow tighter. As this happens, bands of scar tissue begin to form and you find your range of motion lessened. After some time, you may develop swelling, pain and stiffness around the joint and find you have trouble performing daily activities or reaching for items.
REPETITIVE MOTION INJURIES
A repetitive motion injury to the shoulder may manifest as tendonitis or bursitis. The tendons, ligaments and other tissues are repeatedly strained or pulled, to the point the joint becomes swollen and limits your range of motion, which could eventually lead to a tear.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage surrounding the bone wears down over time and affects joints throughout the body, including the shoulder. You’ll notice an aching sensation around your shoulder blade, which may develop into chronic joint pain. While osteoarthritis is not reversible, it can be managed with physiotherapy and medication.
Are you experiencing shoulder pain? Rather than waiting for it to go away, work with a physiotherapist for shoulder-specific exercises and treatment to help restore movement.
to integrate sustainable practices into everyday life.”
He said students who at the programme demonstrated a keen interest in understanding the current predicament surrounding Bahamian conch populations.
He said: “More often than not, students were astonished to learn just how much conch is exported from The Bahamas, with most students assuming that Bahamians are the primary consumers of the conch harvested in Bahamian waters.
“To date, more than 1,100 students on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, and Abaco have been impacted by the Conch Conservation Education programme. Once the 2024 – 2025 academic year has commenced, there are plans to expand this educational
campaign to include more family island schools including Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island, Cat Island, The Berry Islands, and Bimini, just to name a few.” Schools involved included Bishop Micheal Eldon School, Freeport Primary, St George’s, and Sister Mary Particia Jr High School in Grand Bahama; Forest Heights, Long Bay School, and Central Abaco High School in Abaco; and Central Andros High School, and Huntley Christie High School in Andros. The foundation is committed to supporting its communities through impactful programming that gives back to three main pillars: Community, Culture and Conservation. For more information about Baha Mar’s resort foundation, please visit www.BahaMar. com.
Noel is making history
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer
NOEL Seymour etched her name in the history books after being elected to serve as the first international collegiate member on the National Board of Directors for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
A major feat for the banking and finance student at the University of The Bahamas, she hopes to use her influence to drive change in local communities.
Noel has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Upsilon Zeta Chapter at the University of The Bahamas since November 2021. The elections took place on July 5, in Nashville, Tennessee, where Noel emerged victorious as the Southern Regional Representative.
“I was inspired to run for this position because I noticed that International collegiate Sorors only aspired to be chapter presidents. While that position in itself is commendable, I want the Sorors who come after me to know that there are opportunities for leadership regardless of geographical locations.”
Noel is a senior studying banking and finance at the University of The Bahamas. She has dedicated three years to serving as a Junior Achievement Advisor,
mentoring young students in developing entrepreneurial skills and business acumen. As the current President of the Upsilon Zeta Chapter, of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, she has made a significant impact on the chapter and community thorough her leadership.
Noel is a charter member of the Alpha Alpha Chi Chapter of Order of Omega at the University of The Bahamas and a UB NPHC Financial Secretary.
Taking a stab at another role to represent the voices in the region was something Noel felt she was certainly capable of doing after leading in different capacities.
My idea of an ‘influencer’
Making a difference every day
We see and hear a multitude of apparently “newsworthy” stories often by so-called “influencers” telling stories about, or supposed connections to, famous or notorious people whether they are behaving well or badly; or they are selling us some fairytale lifestyle - and yet we hardly ever hear about any of the “unsung heroes” (and I use the word purposely) who give their all and then some - making a difference every day, often beyond the point of exhaustion, quietly focused on going about their work and impacting lives for the better.
Mitsy Irving is one of these; an energetic and empathetic young woman, the executive director of Lend a Hand Bahamas (LAHB was established as a Bahamian non-profit in 2014 with a board of directors). Her commitment to improving the lives of children and youths in the under-served area of Bain & Grants Town and beyond, is unwavering and focused. A typical day involves overseeing programmes, coordinating staff and volunteers, managing resources, engaging with community members, and planning future initiatives to address community needs. She is very hands-on and her dedication and outreach extend far beyond sitting behind a desk for hours or a static job description. You will find her out in the community helping, counselling or offering support to anyone in distress who reaches out to her or the staff at LAHB.
Mitsy’s dedication to educating and mentoring young children began many years before she came to Nassau and began tutoring young children under a tree in Valentino “Scrooge” Brown’s property on Lewis Street. As a child, she grew up in Jamaica in what is called a garrison/inner city area in a single parent family with her mother, a teacher by profession as the sole provider. Experiencing the struggle first hand at home and in the surrounding community, she determined that she would one day achieve something better for her family and could focus on impacting the lives of similarly under-privileged families. She applied herself to gender and development studies and eventually taught in rarly childhood and junior high school for 12 years before moving to Nassau. Since then she has continually upgraded her education and qualifications: she has a first degree in gender and development studies, youth development studies and gained certification in non-profit executive management at the Lilly School of Philanthropy, Indiana University.
Prior to accepting the executive position at LAHB, Mitsy had been a volunteer with them from their inception; prior to that she worked with Shelagh Pritchard, one of the founders of the nonprofit Lignum Vitae Centre of Hope, whose focus was enabling women to become self-sufficient teaching marketable skills and the 4H curriculum to approximately 14 children who were non-traditional learners. They worked together out of the Greek Orthodox Church and to quote Mrs Pritchard: “Mitsy was married with a child but she always
“This accomplishment is incredibly meaningful to me. It represents not only a personal achievement but also a collective victory for all Bahamian and International Sorors who have supported and believed in me. It’s an opportunity to make a tangible difference and lead with purpose and passion.”
This is also significant because Noel is the first member from an international collegiate chapter
to be elected Southern Regional Representative.
“This historic milestone underscores our Sorority’s commitment to inclusivity and unity, demonstrating that every Soror’s voice is essential.
“I intend to use my influence to advocate for the unique needs of collegiate Sorors, foster collaboration and mentorship, and promote initiatives that align with our Sorority’s values. By encouraging Sorors to take on leadership roles and participate in Delta programmes, I aim to empower them to reach their full potential and drive positive change within our communities.”
continue to expand its reach to better serve the community. This is evidenced by the Community Centre continuing to serve as a hub for educational and recreational activities whilst providing a safe space for children and adults to learn and grow. With sustainability and food security in mind, a grow pod has been installed for more than a year now; it is an initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and provide fresh produce to the community. A new, larger building just about completed, aims to expand these services, offering more resources and programmes to support community development.
When I asked Mitsy how they coped during COVID-19, she replied that everyone chipped in to help: staff and volunteers continued to offer a programme already established which was to provide breakfast for the attending children as well as educational support and resources to help them continue their studies throughout the pandemic. Not content with that, LAHB launched a private feeding programme to provide meals and essential supplies to families in need.
impressed me with her loving heart and the extra care she would give to mothers who needed the attention.” In the summer of 2018, their intake had grown to encompass 40 children at Summer Camp at East Street Gospel Church, a cosponsor, and in the spring of 2014, Mrs Pritchard and Mitsy were invited to merge with LAHB in the building that was to become their home, providing a safe space as a Community Centre on Lewis Street.
Lack of electricity and water being hooked up didn’t deter them from getting started, their enthusiasm and drive meant they moved in anyway. And that energy has grown and will
“We were then approached by the Bahamian government to assist with servicing the country during its most difficult time and fed over 55 thousand people in an expanded city zone while the programme lasted.” Currently, Mitsy and her staff serve a diverse group in the community on a daily basis: students participating in educational programmes; members of the 4H Club; seniors; and juvenile offenders referred by the courts for rehabilitation and support. This is not a baby-sitting exercise but a focused effort on remedial education, skill development, and meaningful activities. Currently their Summer Camp includes 170 children daily. And what does the future hold for Mitsy Irving? I quote: “My goals include expanding the reach and impact of Lend a Hand Bahamas; empowering more individuals through education and skill development, and fostering a resilient and supportive community. My satisfaction comes from seeing measurable changes and witnessing the impact of targeted initiatives on the lives of members in our community and seeing them thrive. Despite the progress we. have made, we still have a long way to go. Critical needs in the community continue to be: access to quality education, job training, food security, and safe recreational spaces. For Lend a Hand Bahamas, essential needs include sustainable funding, volunteer support, and partnerships to expand their impact.”
Let’s make sure that Mitsy Irving and others like her are the influencers we follow, talk about and most importantly, support!
• Victoria Sarne is a writer, author, and biographer
Leticia working to help Abaco
groceries to families, or certificates to families to help them provide and take care of their families,” said Leticia.
More recently, Leticia said she along with Sol Relief have been coordinating disaster management training to help people in knowing how to respond in the event that there’s an emergency in their communities.
“I’ve always been involved in community work, like within the church, but privately or silently. I always say it’s because I’m not a very loud person in doing what I do. I would say it’s just a hard passion. It’s not something that’s new. Like I can’t really explain it.
It’s just a natural instinct to want to help. And this, with Sol Relief, just helps me to do it on a more larger scale. It’s being taken a little bit more public than I would have done it before.
But I realised this is what makes more happen, when people are aware of what’s going on,” said Leticia.
Leticia said one of the most recent major projects done during the month of December 2023, was the grand opening of a
community center in Abaco that was destroyed terribly.
“We collaborated with another NGO group as well that assisted in fully repairing that community center. And that was really a great project to work on. We planned a grand opening ceremony and we actually saw the building being used in full effect. We implemented something that was not there, which was a playground for children. So it really was amazing to see the kids playing, the kids on the basketball field playing, families out having a good time and using the centre. So that was really a joy to see that come into full effect,” said Leticia. When asked how does it feel to do her part in this way, on the island of Abaco - Leticia said it is simply amazing.
“ Sometimes you don’t really stop to think or to really embrace what it feels like because you’re just going and when you’re in that momentum, you’re just getting the task done. But it’s persons coming to you and saying to you, thank you for the work that you’ve done. And then you realise, oh, there was work done.
I’ve been involved in this work and that happens
to me quite a bit. Like I don’t really realise it until I sit back sometimes,” said Leticia.
Offering advice to women who are in the same field of work, or would like to be, Leticia said - keep moving forward beyond the fear that you may feel sometimes.
“A lot of times we think based on our past or the mistakes and decisions that we’ve made in our lives. We’re afraid to do things and more so in the public. But I believe that whatever our experiences are in our past, whether we deemed it as being good or bad, it really helps to propel us to be prepared to do what you’ve been called to do.
For me, this is a purpose driven job. I realised there was a time in my life where I would try to associate that being without a mistake, qualifies me to do things, but now I realize the mistakes are what qualifies me. So, I would encourage anyone or women in general to just move forward, move beyond, don’t allow anything to define you. We won’t ever be able to please everyone 100% but we can touch one person’s life every day, to make a difference in our community,” said Leticia.
10 essentials for your wardrobe
By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
WITH summer in full swing, it’s time for those much-needed vacations, which for most Bahamian women will definitely include some retail therapy.
And before you head out to put major damage on the credit card, check and see if you have these wardrobe staples in your closet.
If not, then be sure to add them to your vacation shopping list.We asked several of our readers to help compile the list.
1. A denim jacket “This is one of the must have pieces that will complete so many of your looks,” says Trina.
“I wear my jean jacket all the time, even in the summer months sometimes the AC can be chilly, it looks great with lil sun dresses, or a jump suit or pants and a body suit. I usually get mine from The Gap or Old Navy.”
2. The perfect little black dress
“Every one needs that one black dress,” says Lynette. “The one you can wear to a funeral or a work dinner or to a church something. I like the wrap style ones and then you can always dress it up with a necklace or something or you can wear it casual. It’s great to have them to throw on when you aren’t sure what to wear.”
3. Short rompers/long jumpsuits
“I have rompers in every colour and trust me if I see another style in the colours I already have I would get those too,” says Maria. “They are just easy and cool to throw on when you have to run to the shop or do school run. Throw them on with some cute sandals and you good to go. And with the right accessories they can be a good going out outfit.”
4. Body suits in neutral colours
This is one of those wardrobe staples that you will reach for time and time again. “I wear body suits with my work suits, with my jeans with drawstring pants, you don’t have to worry about them moving and they are super comfy,” says Jasmine.
5. Linen pants Tiffany notes that linen pants are not only comfortable, but the light weight fabric helps you look and feel cool. “There is something that just makes you look so put together and elegant
when you have on some starched linen pants,” she said.
6. That perfect pair of jeans
While jeans can be a dime a dozen, there is nothing like finding that perfect pair that fits you like a glove in the finish you want that are soft and will wash well.
“Whenever I find some jeans that I know can work, I buy two pairs because jeans can be hard to find,” Jakia says.
7. A formal dress “I always pick up a formal dress when I go away,” Arnette says. “You never know when you will get a last minute invitation to go somewhere and I hate when its time to go out and you have to look for something to wear, because sometimes you don’t have the money to buy something or even if you have the money sometimes you can’t find it.”
8.
Two or three piece knit sets
If you are looking for easy outfits that look effortlessly put together, then knit sets are a great option. “They are great to throw on and be cool around the house and then you can also throw on the coat one. I always am looking for outfits I can wear around the house if people come over or I need to run out on the weekends.”
9. A layering work dress Dresses are also an easy choice for those morning when you have no idea what you want to wear. Having a few aline simple dresses can come in clutch for those days. “I have the extact short sleeve knee length in about six colors and prints. I can wear them by themselves or with a solid sweater or a jacket or with some nice jewelly, It’s an easy way to create a lot of different work looks.”
10. A sexy sequin top Be prepared for a night on the town by making sure you have a cute sequin top in your wardrobe arsenal.
Leticia working to help Abaco
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer
FOR years, an Abaco native, Leticia Victoria has been an unseen force - tirelessly working behind the scenes to bring relief and support to those in need on the island.
While many may not know her name, the countless lives she’s touched through her humanitarian work speaks greatly to her commitment to helping others.
In a world where headlines are often focused on grand gestures, the silent work of individuals like Leticia often goes unnoticed. Yet it is her quiet dedication to humanitarian causes that has brought tangible change to communities in need, proving that true impact often lies in the unseen and unsung.
Since Hurricane Dorian’s devastating hit to Abaco in 2019, Leticia said she’s been working more vigorously in collaboration with organisations to fulfill a shared mission of relief and rebuilding the Abaco community.
Organisations such as Sol Relief - known for its aviation rescue missions. Leticia said its efforts on the island includes building and repairing homes, providing building and roofing supplies, and distributing groceries and other essential supplies to help families restore and improve their lives.
“In addition to these efforts, we have recently coordinated training programmes designed to equip individuals in our community with the knowledge and skills
my go-to date night look.”
needed to respond effectively in the event of a disaster or emergency. These programmes aim to foster resilience and preparedness among the residents.
I’ve been helping them to execute their work here in Abaco. So basically we have done a lot of different projects, like constructing four new homes in the Green Turtle Key community,” said Leticia. She went on to say they have also repaired over 100 roofs, whether by direct repair or by contributing to the repairs with materials.
“Also one of the projects that we did immediately after the storm was considering the children that were affected. We know they pretty much may have not been aware of really what was taking place in their lives - so we provided like 4,500 pieces of toys that were distributed to families of kids, in Grand Bahama as well, and supplies for the elderly.
Since then we have just been going and doing a lot of outreach, whether that was providing
“A cute top always takes a pair of black pants or a sexy pair of jeans look that much hotter,” says Lisa. “It’s
