PM to meet banks over fee concerns
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmonstribunemedia.net
THE Prime Minister is to meet commercial banks on banking fees, after the issue has been in the spotlight amid rising bank fees.
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmonstribunemedia.net
ELEUTHERA is receiving support to deal with its electricity woes, according to Energy and Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis, who said islanders will soon see relief.
Speaking to reporters, Mrs Coleby-Davis attributed the frequent outages to the island’s “aged and deteriorated” infrastructure.
“Eleuthera has been faced with a lot of challenges, because in a Eleuthera particularly, we had a lot of aged and deteriorated infrastructure,” said Mrs Coleby–Davis.
She said teams have been deployed to provide additional support, and new generators are being procured to enhance the power supply.
“We have teams that are on the ground in Eleuthera to bring extra support. Some of our teams flew in from Long Island about two or three weeks ago. We’re trying to get two of our generators that’s been on the ground since 2019 up and running. There’s a lot of work that they’ve been doing in the last three weeks on Harbour Island to get those up and running, and that would bring more support on Harbour Island.”
She noted that Harbour Island’s power demand has grown “tremendously” in the past 18 months, surpassing the existing capacity of three to six megawatts.
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Press secretary Keishla Adderley announced that Prime Minister Philip Davis will soon meet commercial banks to address concerns.
During the Office of The Prime Minister’s weekly press briefing, Mrs Adderley said Mr Davis is aware of the “vigorous debate” regarding the increase in bank fees and plans to engage with stakeholders.
She elaborated that while commercial banks aim to stay competitive, consumers are questioning the justification for higher fees.
“On the one hand, there is the retail banking sector,
• Government, banks to seek balance on fee hikes • PM to meet banks over rising fees concerns • Fee debate sparks talks with commercial banks
which is continuing to make a case for preserving free enterprise and ensuring that competition is maintained,” said Mrs Adderley.
“On the other hand, of course, there are consumers who are questioning whether these fees are justified.”
Mrs Adderley indicated Mr Davis plans to meet with both commercial banks and their regulator, the Central Bank,
to seek a “happy medium” that ensures banks remain profitable while protecting consumers from undue financial strain.
“The Prime Minister plans in the coming days or the coming weeks, sometime very soon, to sit down with both sides, sit down with regulators, to get a sense of where things stand, and to try to come to a happy medium,” she said.
She emphasised that the goal of these discussions is not to “hurt” the banking sector but to address conflicts and foster ongoing engagement between banks and the government.
Majority of businesses seek audit extensions
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
AN estimated three-quarters of companies with a turnover of $5m plus have requested extensions to submit their audits, according to Shunda Strachan, the Department of Inland Revenue’s acting director.
Speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister weekly press briefing, Ms Strachan said the remaining audited financials are expected by November and the new requirements have
demonstrated the importance of large companies undergoing annual audits.
“The majority, I would say, probably about 75 percent of the businesses required extensions,” said Ms Strachan.
“We have given the extensions because this is the first time we are doing this as well and then there has been a challenge with sourcing auditors to do the work. So we expect the majority of them will be in by October, November, and so we’re comfortable with the ones that we have seen so far. We do know
from the exercise that it was needed.
“The results of the first audits that we got in kind of it confirmed what we suspected, and that is big businesses really do need to engage somebody to have audits, not only for us, but for them as well. So it was really a learning experience for the businesses as well as us.”
She also revealed that although DIR was a ‘little short” in reaching its $1.6bn revenue collection goal for the last financial year, collection for July, the first month of
the new fiscal year, exceeded its target by $16m.
“The revenue goals or forecasts, they are not easy goals and they require us doing different things for us to meet that $1.6 billion goal, it was $1.3b the last year,” said Ms Strachan.
“It wasn’t even in the billions the year before that and so the goals keep getting steeper and steeper, which means you have to do a whole lot more.
“Our budget for July was $138m and we brought in
Consultation begins on 5G communications
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business
CONSULTATION is being launched over 5G communications technology in The Bahamas.
The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) released a consultation document addressing the rollout in The Bahamas yesterday.
The regulator emphasised that implementing 5G is essential for meeting growing demand and keeping pace with global technological advancements.
URCA highlighted several benefits of 5G, including enhanced performance, improved efficiency, and increased versatility for users.
The technology aligns with the government’s policy for the Electronic Communications Sector (ECS), aiming to offer 5G services to visitors and businesses from countries where 5G is standard, and to extend broadband access to remote islands and underserved communities.
“5G can be used to build Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) offers to the islands where direct fibre connections to homes and businesses are not economic,” said URCA.
“While these offers can be provided with existing 4G networks, FWA offers using 5G would likely improve quality
and capacity of services in Family Islands. Therefore, the work carried out to facilitate 5G deployment could also contribute to improved connectivity solutions in remote areas irrespective of the technology.”
The regulator said 5G could enhance connectivity for ICT hubs, support e-government initiatives, facilitate online education, improve private networks in ports, and contribute to building resilient communication networks. However, URCA also identified several challenges for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). These include the need for sufficient energy and backhaul capacity.
“MNOs can repurpose some of their existing spectrum for 5G deployment. However, they will also require additional spectrum to fully implement 5G on their mobile sites,” the document stated.
“MNOs have expressed to URCA that unreliable power supply is an issue that has affected mobile networks in The Bahamas for several years and that
PHILIP DAVIS KC JOBETH
BRITISH AIRWAYS EXEC PAYS COURTESY CALL ON DPM
BRITISH Airways Safety & Compliance Manager for Eastern North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Carl James paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper on Wednesday, August 21, at the ministry's offices. Also in attendance were MOTIA Acting Permanent Secretary Lisa Adderley- Anderson and Deputy Director of Aviation, Milo B. Butler, III. Photos:Kemuel Stubbs:BIS
‘Support the VAT holiday’
By ANNELIA NIXON anixon@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIANS are being urged to support businesses in the country during the VAT holiday ahead of the return to school.
Acting director of the Department of Inland Revenue Shunda Strachan said: “So we want to encourage persons to take advantage. You don't have to travel to the United States, right? You don't have to pay sales tax because you're not paying back home. And then the trick is, if you
travel away to get those things, you still have to come back. You have to pay to bring them back, you have to pay the overweight baggage. Then, you have to pay customs. So, there's no concession for persons who bring things back. The concession is easy to purchase at our local stores. Then you're really helping businesses, you're helping the community by purchasing locally. So we just want to advise on those things and we invite you to take advantage of that.”
However, many merchants and back-to-school shoppers believe the VAT holiday is held too late in the summer. Many complain that by the time the deal rolls around, stores’ inventory is low or they’re caught in the last minute shopping season. Operations manager at Lorene’s Nicole Aranah was not particularly interested in the sale.
“Me personally, I would not wait,” she said. “I would just buy what I need because that's not a great discount and I would
PM to meet banks over fee concerns
be worried that the sizes wouldn't be there. But Bahamians love a sale. Our people like sales.”
Meanwhile, others argue that a sale is a sale. “If I am correct, the VAT holiday is normally timed closer to the government payday, which is where we normally see an uptick in customers,” manager of Chapter One Bookstore Atalia Cash said. “So, our heavy back-to-school shopping takes place at the end of July, around government payday and again at the end of August. We have a lot of
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“No one wants the banking sector to hurt so we want to see how we can come to a happy medium and neutralise any conflicts that may have arisen over this issue,” Adderley added.
“This is a continuation of discussions the government has been meeting regularly with banks, particularly to try and engage banks more in their participation in the economy of The Bahamas and to meet the needs of consumers.”
The Central Bank of The Bahamas yesterday released its cost analysis on bank fees and is working on “targeted reforms” to address fee-setting practices.
“The Central Bank is working on a number of fronts to advance targeted reforms on fee setting practices for supervised financial institutions,” said the Central Bank.
“However, the Central Bank is mindful that these interventions must be framed to preserve the soundness of deposit-taking institutions, which is fundamental to the stability and orderly functioning of the economy.”
customers that take advantage of it.” She added: “I support it. I do think it’s beneficial to the consumers. It’s savings that’s being passed down by the government and so we willingly participate.”
Ms Strachan said many people do not know about the holiday and urges the public to spread the word. She said the VAT holiday can also benefit those who are not students.
“This is a good time for businesses to purchase office supplies because there are no real limitations
The regulator said it is exploring reforms that will allow central government to legislate consumer protection and market conduct standards and to grant the Office of the Financial Services Ombudsman statutory independence.
“Aside from interim measures under the remit of the Payment System Act (2012), that could take effect in the first half of 2025, broader reform proposals are also being explored, that would enable the Government to legislate consumer protection and market conduct standards, also applicable to credit products; and which could give the Offices of the Financial Services Ombudsman statutory independence,” the Central Bank noted.
Additionally, the Central Bank is working on measures to improve banking services access in Family Islands by identifying needed infrastructure changes for better cash and digital payment services.
“Where cost is a significant factor, the Central Bank continues to craft reform proposals that would achieve more universal access to the supply
on quantity,” she said. “You can purchase as much as you want. So, like I've been telling my accounts staff, this is a good time to go purchase all those things we normally need and save a couple of dollars because you could use that money for something else.”
The VAT holiday began on August 18 and will run until September 14. Customers can purchase uniforms, books, school supplies and more minus VAT.
of financial services in the less populated parts of The Bahamas,” said the Central Bank.
“This includes identifying where supportive changes are needed in the infrastructure to improve access to both cash and digital payment services, and the role that agency banking could play in lowering supply-side hurdles.”
The regulator also said they are also working on developing financial inclusion regulations for people with lower incomes.
“On affordability and access, within the remit of the Payments System Act (2012), the Bank is developing financial inclusion regulations to mandate a ‘basic’ deposit account product for consumers of low-economic means,” said the Central Bank.
“The targeted approach would be exposed to public consultation and would also be accompanied by proposals to add more transparency to the fee setting process for digital wallets, credit and debit cards, and transactional accounts, which facilitate payments (savings and chequing accounts).”
Minister says help on way for Eleuthera electricity
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She explained that the additional generation should improve the electrical supply significantly once operational.
“Harbour Island particularly has grown tremendously. We’ve seen their demand growth go from three megawatts to six megawatts in the space of maybe a year and a half. And so that growth actually puts more of a demand on us in supplying electricity,” she explained.
“When we would have had a plant that is set to supply six megawatts, we’re now seeing sometimes at peak, they’re going up to seven. And so these extra generators would give us a balance in terms of them pulling more demand, but having sufficient generation to support the needs there. So, we should see greater improvements there with our generators on stream. “
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to manage vegetation in Eleuthera to
prevent overgrown trees from disrupting power supply.
She maintained that “great improvements” are underway and islands that have been experiencing electricity woes are a priority.
“In Eleuthera, we’ve been working great deal on vegetation management, cutting down a lot of the trees growing up and leaves growing up on our transmission and distribution lines, that caused a lot of disruption of transmitting power, but also overhauling a lot of our machines to make sure that they are strong enough to manage and carry us through this hotter climate that we’re seeing,” she said.
“Great improvements are coming, and we have those islands that have been experiencing challenges fast priority and we’ve given them some support on their bills because of that.”
Despite these efforts, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) notified Eleuthera consumers that their power
CONSULTATION BEGINS ON 5G COMMUNICATIONS
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populated areas there are bottlenecks on current backhaul capacities.”
Challenges also include the scalability of existing mobile sites and the financial viability of 5G deployments.
“5G is commonly deployed incrementally, using existing mobile sites where existing antennas are replaced by 5G-enabled antennas,” said URCA.
“However, 5G antennas are significantly larger
and heavier, necessitating an assessment of whether existing towers can support the additional weight and wind load. Deploying new or reinforcing existing towers will impact the timing and costs of deploying 5G.”
URCA also noted that the business case for a comprehensive 5G rollout is challenging.
“5G will likely initially serve specific customers or hotspot locations where demand is high, and there is limited willingness to pay for this new technology among existing customers,” the document explained.
“In rural areas such as the Family Islands, it is very likely that MNOs will need cooperation or mutualisation to deploy 5G.”
Concerns were also raised about the availability and affordability of compatible
supply would be rotated in two-hour intervals due to problems at the Hatchet Bay Power Station.
“Due to the challenges at Hatchet Bay Power Station we will rotate areas in 2hr intervals until we are able to meet load demands,” said BPL.
The company warned that rotation times and affected areas might vary depending on conditions.
On Wednesday, the island experienced additional outages due to an “unexpected failure” of a component at the plant.
Rock Sound also experienced an outage after Water and Sewerage made contact with a power line while conducting work in the area.
“BPL advises customers in the Rock Sound area that the power supply was disrupted due to a third-party incident that came into contact with our power lines,” said BPL.
“Our crews are on-site and are working to restore services.”
end-user devices and social acceptance of 5G networks.
“5G can only be used by end users equipped with compatible handsets. The availability of affordable devices is crucial to ensuring that consumers benefit from 5G services,” said URCA. Additionally, there are public concerns in some regions about the health effects of radio waves from mobile towers and the environmental impact of data-intensive networks.
URCA emphasised the need for a “clear and stable” regulatory framework to encourage investment in 5G technology.
“Without a clear and stable regulatory environment, MNOs will not be able to plan and invest in 5G with confidence, as they would be unaware of the rules and guidelines they must follow,” the regulator stated.
The consultation period for the 5G implementation document will end on October 7.
South Carolina considers its energy future through state Senate committee
By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press
THE South Carolina Senate on Thursday started its homework assignment of coming up with a comprehensive bill to guide energy policy in a rapidly growing state and amid a quickly changing power- generation world.
The Special Committee on South Carolina's Energy Future plans several meetings through October. On Thursday, the committee heard from the leaders of the state's three major utilities. Future meetings will bring in regular ratepayers, environmentalists, business leaders and experts on the latest technology to make electricity,
The Senate took this task upon itself. They put the brakes a massive 80-plus page energy overhaul bill that passed the House in March in less than six weeks, and the bill died at the end of the session.
Many senators said the process earlier this year was rushed. They remembered the last time they trusted an overhaul bill backed by utilities.
better cooperation in the grid would allow electricity to get to where its needed easier.
Those less bullish on the overhaul also are urging the state not to lock in on one source of power over another because technology could leave South Carolina with too much power generation in inefficient ways. There will likely be plenty of discussion of data centers that use a lot of electricity without the number of jobs, property taxes or other benefits a manufacturer provides.
Staton estimated about
70% of Santee Cooper's increased demand is from data centers.
But those dire memories are being mixed with dire predictions of a state running out of power.
Unusually cold weather on Christmas Eve 2022 along with problems at a generating facility nearly led to rolling blackouts in South Carolina. Demand from advanced manufacturing and data centers is rising. If electric cars grow in popularity, more power is needed. And a state that
State-owned Santee Cooper and private South Carolina Electric & Gas used those rules passed 15 years ago to put ratepayers on the hook for billions of dollars spent on two new nuclear reactors that never generated a watt of power before construction was abandoned because of rising costs.
added 1.3 million people since 2000 has a lot more air conditioners, washing machines and charges for devices, the utility leaders said.
Senators stopped Duke Energy's president in South Carolina, Mike Callahan, in middle of his presentation after he told them his utility's most recent predictions for growth in electricity usage over the rest of this decade were eight times more than they were just two years ago.
"Growth is here, and much more is coming. We need clear energy policy to plan for that growth," Callahan said,
The utility leaders told senators their companies need to know what kind of sources of power — natural gas, solar, nuclear, wind or others — the state wants to emphasize. They would like to have a stable rules from regulators on how they operate.
"A quick no is a lot better to us than a long-term
maybe," Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said.
Another complicating factor are federal rules that may require utilities to shut down power plants that use coal before there are replacements with different sources online, Staton said. Others aren't so sure the state needs a rapid increase in power generation. Environmentalists have suggested the 2022 problems that led to blackouts were made worse because power plants were nowhere near capacity and
Majority of businesses seek audit extensions
$154m. So, we’re so far first month out of the gate above target, which is a good thing.”
"We clearly need them. I don't want to go back in time," committee chairman Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said. "What I'm trying to get at is a better understanding, a better handle on how much of the projected growth is based on data centers or on everything else."
Massey has been hard on Dominion Energy, which bought South Carolina Electric & Gas after the abandoned nuclear project at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. But Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said it is important that all options, including a new nuclear plant, remain on the table.
She added that the properties that will be re-listed will be assessed to ensure they are at current value.
This made clear that the tax authorities cannot seize, and sell, Bahamian-owned residential property that the owners are living in.
The Real Property Tax Act reforms passed to accompany the 2022-2023 Budget sought to “expand the exercise of the power of sale for tax arrears to all property except owner-occupied property beneficially owned by Bahamians”.
Ms Strachan said exercising the power of sale orders has been a “very challenging initiative” but has sold three properties from the two property listings posted.
NOTICE is hereby given that ROSIAS DORMEUS of Faith Avenue North, Carmichael Road, Nassau, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of August, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that WILNISE LAURENT of East Street, New Providence, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of August, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
EMEL HOLDINGS LIMITED Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration Number 34164 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 10th day of June, 2024.
Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Richard L. Broughton, No 6 Bosham Close, Camperdown Heights, P.O. Box SP63801, NP, The Bahamas. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 29th day of August, 2024 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.
Dated this 23rd day of August A.D. 2024. Richard L. Broughton Liquidator
She said a third property listing will be published soon and will include about 70 percent of the properties.
Ms Strachan revealed that DIR was able to enter agreements with some property owners to pay their delinquent taxes and those listings have been removed.
“We also was able to enter agreements, even though, at first, I think you we would recall me saying we’re not doing any agreements. But of course, when you start looking at cases, and when you start looking at individual circumstances, sometimes we make concessions. We were pleased to enter payment arrangements with some property owners, and I’m happy to say that they are keeping their commitments.”
NOTICE is hereby given that ENOLD VERONAT of South Beach, New Providence, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of August, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
“Those ones that they’re re advertising, we’re re advertising them because we want to ensure that the value that we previously had on those properties is a current value, especially with the Family Island properties, so three for now, but we expect that that number will pick up as we refine the process.”
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that STEPH MEDLER MONESTIME of Market Street, New Providence, Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of August, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
from the 23rd day of August, 2024 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O.
SANTEE Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton, left, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, center, and Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina President Mike Callahan, right, wait to testify before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024.
Photo:Jeffrey Collins/AP
FDA APPROVES UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINES, SHOTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN DAYS
By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer
U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains -- and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. With the Food and Drug Administration's clearance, Pfizer and Moderna are set to begin shipping millions of doses. A third U.S. manufacturer, Novavax, expects its modified vaccine version to be available a little later.
"We strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants," said FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks.
The agency's decision came a bit earlier than last year's rollout of updated COVID-19 vaccines, as a summer wave of the virus continues in most of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already has recommended this fall's shot for everyone age 6 months and older. Vaccinations could be available within days. While most Americans have some degree of immunity from prior infections or vaccinations or both, that protection wanes. Last fall's shots targeted a different part of the coronavirus family tree, a strain that's no longer circulating -- and CDC data shows only about 22.5% of adults and 14% of children received it.
Skipping the new shot is "a hazardous way to go," because even if your last infection was mild, your next might be worse or leave you with long COVID symptoms, said Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr. of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
This fall's vaccine recipe is tailored to a newer branch of omicron descendants.
The Pfizer and Moderna shots target a subtype called KP.2 that was common earlier this year. While additional offshoots, particularly KP.3.1.1, now are spreading, they're closely enough related that the vaccines promise cross-protection. A Pfizer spokesman said the company submitted data to FDA showing its
updated vaccine "generates a substantially improved response" against multiple virus subtypes compared to last fall's vaccine.
The big question: How soon to get vaccinated?
This summer's wave of COVID-19 isn't over but the inevitable winter surges tend to be worse. And while COVID-19 vaccines do a good job preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death, protection against mild infection lasts only a few months.
People who are at high risk from the virus shouldn't wait but instead schedule vaccinations once shots are available in their area, Hopkins advised. That includes older adults, people with weak immune systems or other serious medical problems, nursing home residents and pregnant women.
Healthy younger adults and children "can get vaccinated anytime. I don't think there's a real reason to wait," Hopkins said –although it's OK to seek the shots in the fall, when plenty of doses will have arrived at pharmacies and doctor's offices.
The exception: The CDC says anyone who recently had COVID-19 can wait three months after they recover before getting vaccinated, until immunity from that infection begins to wane.
Hopkins, who sees patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, calls it vital for more youngsters to get vaccinated this year – especially with schools starting as coronavirus levels are high around the country.
"COVID does not kill many children, thank goodness, but it kills far more children than influenza does," Hopkins said, adding that teachers, too, should quickly get up to date with the vaccine.
Health authorities say it's fine to get a COVID19 and flu vaccination at the same time, a convenience so people don't have to make two trips. But while many drugstores already are advertising flu shots, the prime time for that vaccination tends to be late September through October, just before flu typically starts its cold weather climb.
THIS photo provided by Pfizer in August 2024 shows a packaging for the company's updated COVID vaccine for ages 12 and up, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Photo:Steven Decroos/AP
LIVE FROM THE DNC, IT COULD BE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE INFLUENCERS
By MATT BROWN, MEG KINNARD and HALELUYA HADERO Associated Press
ACROSS this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago, more than 200 online influencers, streamers and other social media personalities have been capturing and livestreaming their impressions of what's going on.
There's the 12-yearold nicknamed "Knowa," who's posted with a swath of prominent Democrats and went head-to-head with Republican personalities like MyPillow founder Mike Lindell inside the convention hall.
A veteran from rural North Carolina with more than 5 million TikTok followers proclaimed himself a "Hillbilly for Harris." Other influencers and social media personalities are sharing everything from the food available at trucks outside the United Center to attendees' thoughts on more serious issues, such the war in Gaza.
The creators were invited to the DNC by convention organizers, a new but significant part of a digital strategy that aims to leverage the sizable followings of creators across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Discord and Twitch, according to officials with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' campaign. They hope it will help Harris and running mate Tim Walz reach new voters who might not be following along with political news via traditional media.
The creators span a range of ages, backgrounds and content specialties, often reflecting the diversity of the audiences they serve. They can be spotted throughout the United Center, with phones on tripods and selfie sticks.
The DNC rolled out perks like "Creators for Kamala" lounges stocked with food and beverages alongside working space. Inside the convention hall, there's the first-ever Creator Platform, a slightly elevated space that gives creators a spot from which to pose and post.
"It's kind of surreal to be sitting here and surrounded by so many politicians and people with political influence that I've looked up to for so long, and then to be surrounded by other creators. It's a testament to how the media landscape has shifted, and how much influence as creators we have," said AustinShow, an American YouTuber and Twitch streamer with millions of followers across platforms.
Russell Ellis, also known as "jolly_good_ginger" to his TikTok followers, also remarked on the turn of events that led him to the convention floor.
"I'm authentically a hillbilly, a Hillbilly for Harris, in fact," Ellis said. "In 2020, I got laid off of my job, and with nothing else to do, I made a TikTok video to kind of rant. And you know, 5 million people later, here I am." Some of the content already produced is on the lighter side of what's going on as the thousands of Democratic delegates gather in Chicago, like daily convention outfit checks. Other accounts,
like UnderTheDeskNews, peel back the curtain on the convention process, sharing with followers information about delegates' duties and what it's like to be on the convention floor they might have seen on television.
Hasan Piker, who has 2.7 million followers on Twitch and has been outspoken about Israel and the war in Gaza — a key issue dividing Democrats — has been streaming his experience around the DNC footprint, showing viewers around the food truck area and, on Wednesday night, interviewing U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, as convention speakers took the floor behind them.
Former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies have also sought to reach online audiences, especially men, through outreach and appearances with personalities on YouTube and other streaming platforms. Trump has sat for interviews with YouTuber and actor Jake Paul as well as streamer Adin Ross — who pushed Trump to do a dance with him that immediately landed on TikTok.
Yet Republicans have derided the Democrats' embrace of influencers and questioned whether the DNC is paying people to post positive content.
Matt Hill, a convention spokesman, denied content creators at the DNC are paid or given special treatment.
"As part of our work to reach more Americans than ever before, we are credentialing content creators the same way we credential media, and we do not pay either to cover our event," Hill said.
In addition to the content they're making and distributing via their own channels, influencers have also been built into the program itself, with each night of the convention featuring appearances from creators like Carlos Eduardo Espina, a 25-year-old nonprofit director, activist and lawyer with more than 10 million followers on social media. From the stage Wednesday night, Espina spoke of his immigrant parents' decision to come the U.S. and advocated for Harris' election, describing Trump's policies on immigrationrelated issues as "outright anti-American."
Jennifer Welch, who cohosts the "I've Had It" podcast, is among the digital influencers credentialed for the DNC along with her co-host Angie Sullivan.
The women have been welcomed at major Democratic events in the past, and hosted Harris on their show in March. Welch said she thinks it's "refreshing for millennials and Gen Z to see white women with Southern accents" speak for equality and advocate for them.
Influencers have traditionally dominated the worlds of retail and marketing, oftentimes partnering with brands to promote products to their audience. A shifting preference for authenticity and niche online communities has meant that Americans are increasingly as likely to receive their news from smaller but deeply engaged communities as from major brands and personalities.
The presence of both at the DNC shows how much
the Harris campaign is attempting to meet them in similar ways and energize hard-to-reach voters who tend to tune out traditional media outlets.
"We are living in a hybrid media reality where the non-credentialed and nonmainstream press voices are very important," said John Wihbey, an associate professor of media innovation and technology at Northeastern University.
While the DNC's decision to invite influencers may put the party's message in front of new audiences of voters, Wihbey said it can also pose some risks since content creators typically don't abide by the same standards as traditional media outlets.
But for a campaign that has made "joy" its overriding theme, opening the doors to content creators may be a risk worth taking.
Blair Imani Ali, a former progressive activist who turned to content creation when she was unemployed in 2020 during the COVID19 pandemic, said she found she could mobilize people around social justice topics. She explains how to vote and how to become a poll worker as well as exploring race, ethnicity and nationality in America.
"If we're going to build a big tent in terms of solidarity and different values and beliefs, we also have to do that in terms of how people consume content, how people find their way towards politics," Imani Ali said.
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CONTENT creators are pictured at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Photo:Matt Brown/AP
