08302023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

FAMILY OF EIGHT-YEAR-OLD IN SHOCK AF TER SHOOTING

Mother afraid to return home after daughter shot in leg

By RASHAD ROLLE AND LYNAIRE MUNN I N GS

Tribune Reporters

THE mother of an eightyear-old girl shot in the leg in Flamingo Gardens on Monday night said she is afraid to return home, is struggling to sleep and can’t stop replaying the moment when a man in all-black sprayed bullets on her and her children, endangering

their lives.

Up to press time, Teresita Rolle’s daughter was stable in the hospital. The family was still in shock, trying to understand what happened and why.

“All I know is we were sitting on a porch, waiting for my son to reach home, a car pulled up, so I assumed

TREATMEN T OF SWIMMING PIGS INVES T IGAT ED AF T ER VIRAL VIDEO

By DEN ISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Tourism is investigating a report alleging pigs have been mistreated at an excursion business in Grand Bahama.

In a TikTok video shared tens of thousands of times yesterday, two women visitors complained about the

purported treatment of the pigs at Celebrity Eco Adventures.

“Yes, we have seen the video and we are reviewing, we’re investigating,” Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism, told The Tribune yesterday. “We don’t have anything substantive at this time, but I can commit to you to reach out once we have

DARVILLE: MOS T PEOPLE CON T RACT ING SEVERE DENGUE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEVENTY-SIX per cent of people diagnosed with dengue fever have type three of the virus, a more severe form of the disease, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

JEAN Rony JeanCharles’ legal trials symbolised hope for many residents of Haitian descent.

Some closely followed his case as it unfolded in 2017 and 2018.

THE SCENE at Lynden Pindling International Airport yesterday. Due to Hurricane Idalia, a Category Two storm, Bahamasair announced that

Road closures for GG’s demitting office ceremony

ON Thursday, 31st August at 6.30pm, a ceremony will be held for the demitting of the Office of the Governor General by Sir Cornelius Alvin Smith at Government House on Mount Fitzwilliam.

Police have issued the following travel advisory concerning road closures and parking:

Police wish to advise that the streets will be closed to vehicular traffic on Market Street between Princess Street and School Lane from 4pm-11pm on Thursday.

NO PARKING

Haitian Community comment on ‘tragic loss’ of Jean Rony

Family of eight-year-old in shock after shooting

it was him because I know he usually gets dropped off, but when I looked up again, the gunman just came out and started shooting fire,” she said, adding the man was wearing a face mask. “He said nothing. He just started shooting directly at us.”

She believes the shooting could only have resulted from a mistaken identity.

“When the shooting start, I just grabbed the two of them and got low,” she said. “After he emptied the clip, they then sped off and my daughter started screaming ‘my leg, my leg’.”

Ms Rolle, 43, can’t recall how many shots were fired.

“It was a lot,” she said. “I thought it was never gonna end.”

When the shooting ended, she had to regain composure and help her daughter quickly.

“I had to put my feelings aside,” she said. “I fumbled for someone to call for help.”

She said she was too afraid to return home and planned to stay with

relatives for a few days. She is trying to understand why someone would shoot at her and her children.

“For me, it’s just work and the kids,” she said. “My son, he just works and hangs out with a few of the guys from the corner, but that’s basically it. It’s no problems, it’s none of that. And it was just me and the two kids on the porch. All of that has me wondering what happened, what went wrong, what did I do? It’s confusing.

“Every time I close my eyes, it’s like the same scene repeating itself over and over again. It’s difficult to sleep.”

Ms Rolle said her children would likely require a counselling session.

Monday’s shooting comes almost a week after a four-year-old boy was among three people requiring hospitalisation after being injured in a shooting. The victims in that incident were gathered at the front of a residence on Rupert Dean Lane and Ferguson Street when occupants of a silver coloured Japanese vehicle opened fire in their direction. The boy was hit in his left leg.

from page one

When news of his death hit last week, they felt a sense of loss.

“People are getting killed in The Bahamas left and right, but his situation was a tragic one because he had some kind of significance in The Bahamas, whether he was a Bahamian citizen or not,” said Wilson Edounord, a 48-year-old who closely followed Jean-Charles’ case.

Mr Jean-Charles, a Bahamas-born child of Haitian parents, did not apply for citizenship when he was between the ages of 18 and 19 as he was entitled to do under Article seven of the Constitution.

Immigration officials apprehended him on September 18, 2017, and deported him to Haiti on November 24, 2017, citing his alleged failure to produce documents that confirmed his identity.

Jean-Charles was deported to Haiti in 2017 for failing to produce documents to confirm his identity. After a judge ordered his return at authorities’ expense, Jean-Charles returned in 2018.

Former Attorney General Carl Bethel said at the time that JeanCharles’ case placed the government in a position uncovered by law or the constitution and exposed a significant and farreaching legal challenge over the verification of birth certificates.

The Court of Appeal later overturned the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, the Privy Council ruled in

Jean-Charles’ favour last December. The appellate court remitted the matter to the Supreme Court to reconsider the application for constitutional relief. The case was still pending when Jean-Charles was killed.

Jean-Rony’s fight for constitutional relief ended last week when he was fatally stabbed during an argument in the Royal Palm Street area.

“When you were born in The Bahamas, the law didn’t say you had to leave the country. It just said you need some kind of status, but they were just dumping people,” said Mr Edounord. “Jean Rony came and brought light to that.”

Stephanie St Fleur, president of Human Rights Bahamas, recalled the legal matter’s toll on Jean-Charles.

“If we did not have the government bring him back, I think many countless others might have had that same fate,” she said. “You know, for someone who was born in The Bahamas and who don’t know Haiti as home and never went to Haiti, it was bad.

“That’s why I’m actually feeling his death right now because from him coming back from Haiti, he was never the same and then you know he had a lot of trauma he was dealing with. So I was just praying for God to actually help him find his way, but he was working and doing what he had to do to survive but I think from that incident he went through when he came back, maybe he wasn’t the same.”

Melon Gein, a Bahamian of Haitian descent,

said much still needs to be improved for people born in The Bahamas to foreign parents.

“I know we’re supposed to apply before 18, but what happens to those when it’s hard to get a job, open a bank account?

Nobody wants to hire you without the proper identification, without the proper documents. So all that plays a factor in you applying late because how you make money to apply when it’s really expensive?”

JEAN Rony Jean-Charles’ legal trials symbolised hope for many residents of Haitian descent.

Treatment of swimming pigs investigated after viral video

from page one

completed that and share more details with you.”

In the video, which was liked more than 28,000 times up to press time, the women said the pigs were pushed to venture far from the seashore to interact with people.

In the clip, tour guides appeared to be forcing the pigs into the water. Some of the animals seemed uncomfortable.

One woman said the experience was different from what she encountered in Exuma.

“I thought (the pigs) kind of ran free on the island,” she said. “They are confined to this dog pen area and corralled out of a gate and forced to swim out to sea.

“Their eyes looked pretty red and irritated from the salt water and people were feeding them in salt water and when they were treading water, they were getting a lot of water in their mouths.

“I believe in transparency, and I wish I would have had this information

before booking so I could have made the decision whether or not this is something I want to support.”

Paul Darville, the brother of Health Minister Dr Michael Darville, and his wife, Barbara, own the company, which reportedly has 23 pigs.

Mrs Darville told The Tribune the women in the video were among over 100 guests on a tour on Saturday. She said no complaints were reported to management or staff. She denied that the animals were abused.

“I would never endanger my pigs,” she said. “We don’t let the pigs swim all the way out to the island out there.

“The pigs are able to walk in low tide to the sandbar where they can stand in the water. The pigs love to go in the water, especially for the treats. We don’t have to force the pigs to go in the water.”

She said the 23 pigs are rotated between two tours held at 11am and 1pm.

“The tour is not for everybody, and there were no complaints reported to the cruise ship where the

tours were booked,” Mrs Darville said.

In 2019, the business was criticised over the housing condition of some 19 pigs on a remote rock in the sea. Animal control officials later ordered that the animals be kept in a suitable enclosure on the mainland.

The operators complied and were allowed to resume their operations.

Tip Burrows, executive director of the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, said the organisation received dozens of calls, messages, and emails from people about the pigs.

She said the TikTok video was disturbing.

“It did not appear the pigs were happily swimming and interacting with people, and it appeared to be more of a forced situation,” she said.

Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, said some animals are being exploited.

“The swimming pigs have become a sort of an epidemic,” she said. “Why does anyone care that pigs can swim out into the water to get a piece of food? I don’t understand this.”

BAHAMIANS IN FLORIDA BRACING FOR HURRICANE, FLIGHTS IMPACTED AT HOME

WORKERS at Toucans Bar and Grill board up the restaurant windows ahead of Hurricane Idalia near Clearwater Beach Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Clearwater, Fla. Residents along Florida’s gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Idalia.

from page one

Miami Consul General

Curt Hollingsworth said officials have been contacting the two hundred-plus Bahamians registered with his office to prepare them for the storm.

“We’ve been encouraging students to register,” he said. “From last year, when we had the hurricane

passing through, we were out there, we were appealing to parents and students to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We just want to remind our parents to please have their children register with us at the ministry, and that way, we will be able to have exact accurate information on those children and we can respond more effectively.”

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DESTINEE LASHAE

WALKER of Clermont, Florida, United States of America is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason 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, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that ALVIN ERINGTON GARY JACK, of P.O Box CR55243#19 Jubilee Garden, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Philip Pedican, 60, has been living in St Petersburg for the last seven years with his wife and daughter. He said he wasted no time preparing for the storm but does not plan to evacuate, even as some of his neighbours had already done so.

He said authorities had visited homes in his neighbourhood, asking people to consider leaving.

“In my area, I’ve just gone out and tied everything down,” he said. “I got the pool here, and I pumped it down, so there’s not too much water in the front area. I closed all the garage doors and all the necessary doors I needed to seal up. We’re expected to just hang out here, hoping that everything’s going to be just fine.”

Mico Sawyer, 37, is a

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that PERRY JEAN of Fox Dale Subdivision, Fox Hill, Nassau, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that NATASHA JEAN of Black Wood, Eleuthera, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason 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, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Hurricane Dorian survivor living in West Palm Beach.

“I was in Dorian, so not a lot bothers me,” he said.

“Once the car has gas and you have water, you’re okay. In Florida, you can just drive to the opposite side of the hurricane to get away from damage.”

The hurricane has disrupted the travel plans of many.

Bahamasair announced

yesterday that it had cancelled flights to Havana, Cuba.

Two flights to and from Orlando and Nassau were also cancelled.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Atlanta and Miami consulate offices released a statement urging Bahamians to take the necessary precautions to stay safe during the hurricane.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that WELKENDY KNOWLES of Blueberry Hill, Fox Hill, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason 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, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that RODLIN LAZARD, of P.O Box CR 54386 Gamble Heights, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

THE Ministry of Tourism is investigating a report alleging pigs have been mistreated at an excursion business in Grand Bahama.

Photo: Chris O’Meara/AP

Darville: Majority of people contracting more severe type three Dengue fever

He said people who previously had the virus are at high risk for severe illness if they get re-infected.

“That is a concern for us, and we’re working very closely with environmental health so that our fogging programme can be activated and also that we have the ability for education to notify the residents of what needs to be done to eliminate and reduce the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito,” he said before yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

Dengue fever, the viral illness, is spread through contact with the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito is most active after dawn and before dusk. It lives and breeds in standing water.

There are four types of the dengue virus, all capable of inducing severe illness.

The country last experienced a significant virus outbreak in 2011, with 205 confirmed and 7,200 suspected cases. There are 21 confirmed cases in the country, five of whom are in hospital.

None of them is hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit.

“What is concerning the Ministry of Health is 16 of those came back stereotype positive for type three dengue,” Dr Darville said.

“In 2011, we had a situation where we had dengue, and mainly it was stereotypes one and two. For that, we are concerned because if you had dengue in the past

and if you have dengue with stereotype three, there’s a strong possibility that you would have a more severe reaction and possibly result in hospitalisation.

“That’s why the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Department of Environment have been working so diligently to ensure that we educate the general population on precautionary measures and to ensure that we stop the breeding in those areas where cases have been identified.”

Asked yesterday whether officials intend to increase fogging exercises, he said fogging is only one preventive measure.

“Fogging basically addresses the mosquito that is airborne, but if we still have breeding, if we fog today and we do not address the breeding sites, we end up having the same situation the following day, and so it’s important for residents to walk around the home and look for areas of potential breeding grounds,” he said.

“Tie over those empty containers. Make sure that you have insect repellent and try to protect yourself, long sleeve as well as long pants.”

Dengue fever causes severe flu-like illness and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Other symptoms include headache, muscle and joint pains and rash.

Most of the dengue patients live predominately in the eastern and southeastern communities of New Providence.

SOCIAL SERVICES NATION AL HOTLINE RECEIVED 164 REPORT S OF ABUSE SO FAR FOR 2023

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

ONE hundred and sixtyfour cases of abuse were reported on the national hotline through July, according to the Department of Social Services.

People called the national hotline to report 27 cases of neglect, 11 cases of physical

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MARLEYSHIA LATISA SIMEON, of Esmeralde Avenue, Nassau Village, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that THEDA ANN JACK, of P.O Box CR55243#19 Jubilee Garden, New Providence, The Bahamas applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of August, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

abuse, 11 cases of sexual abuse, four cases of educational neglect, six cases of domestic violence and 12 cases of suicidal ideation.

There were also seven reports of senior citizens being neglected, one report of abandonment and three reports of psychiatric issues.

The national hotline

is open to the public for anyone aware of or experiencing abuse. Through the hotline, people suffering from mental health challenges could be counselled.

The hotline statistics do not reflect all cases of abuse reported to authorities this year.

The Department of Social Services revealed earlier

this year that there were 51 cases of sexual abuse among children during the first three months of 2023, up from 28 through the same period in 2022. Last year, there were 396 reports of abuse through the national hotline.

Over the past seven years, 1,921 reports were made through the hotline.

SEVENTY-SIX per cent of people diagnosed with dengue fever have type three of the virus, a more severe form of the disease, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville.

The Tribune Limited

Lower the eligibility age to 18 for the House of Assembly

THIS week, The Tribune is inviting a series of guest editorial writers to answer a single question - “What is one thing you would change?”

Today’s contributor is Jordan Clarke, a member of the youth branch of the PLP. Readers are invited to send their own suggestions to letters@tribunemedia.net.

As The Bahamas continues to evolve, so must its approach to democratic representation. Lowering the eligibility age to 18 for the House of Assembly is a transformative step in recognising the rights and potential of the country’s young citizens. By allowing 18-year-olds to run for office, The Bahamas can foster political engagement, empower its youth, and infuse the legislative process with fresh perspectives.

Lowering the eligibility age encourages young people to actively participate in shaping their nation’s policies. This inclusivity enhances democratic representation, ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of all citizens, regardless of age, are given due consideration. Allowing 18-yearolds to run for the House of Assembly introduces them to the intricacies of the political process at an earlier stage. This practical engagement fosters political education, empowering young individuals with knowledge and insight about governance. By becoming involved in politics at a younger age, individuals are more likely to develop a lifelong commitment to civic participation. The experience of running for office early on can set the foundation for continued engagement throughout adulthood.

Young candidates often bring innovative ideas and fresh perspectives to the table. Their outlook is shaped by different experiences and challenges, which can lead to creating solutions for longstanding issues. Growing up in the digital age, young candidates are well-versed in technology and social media. This expertise can enhance communication strategies and enable more effective engagement with constituents. 18-year-old candidates are more likely to prioritise long-term challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development, that will

disproportionately affect their future. Their presence can elevate the importance of these issues in the political discourse.

Lowering the eligibility age empowers young people to play an active role in shaping their country’s future. This empowerment instills a sense of responsibility and ownership in the democratic process. The House of Assembly should reflect the diversity of The Bahamas’ population. Lowering the eligibility age ensures that the perspectives of young people, who comprise a significant portion of the population, are included in policy decisions. Young candidates running for office inspire their peers’ future generations to engage in politics. Seeing individuals their age participate in the political arena encourages others to follow suit, nurturing a culture of active citizenship.

Critics might argue that 18-yearolds lack the maturity to hold public office. However, many young adults demonstrate impressive maturity, responsibility, and civic awareness, and the experience of running an office can further cultivate these qualities. Another concern could be the need for more experience among young candidates. However, age determines knowledge; young people can bring valuable life experiences and fresh insights that enrich the legislative process.

Conclusively, lowering the eligibility age to 18 for the House of Assembly in The Bahamas is a transformative move that reflects the evolving nature of democracy and the imperative to engage all citizens in the political process.

This change empowers young individuals, fosters political education, and infuses the legislative process with innovative perspectives. By bracing this reform, The Bahamas can demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity, youth empowerment, and a vibrant democratic future.

Armed with enthusiasm, innovation, and a genuine desire to shape their country’s destiny, young candidates can play a pivotal role in building a more robust, more representative democracy that serves the interests of all Bahamians.

FOOTBALLERS from Bourton Rovers fight for the ball during the annual traditional River Windrush football match, which has been taking place for over 100 years, in the Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water, England, Monday. The event sees two teams of six from Bourton Rovers Football Club play a 30 minute football match in the usually calm river water. Goalposts are set up in the river and players attempt to score as many goals as possible, whilst getting all spectators as wet as possible in the process. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

No public interest in Sand Dollar

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS Sand Dollar thing - Central Bank says 90% of all bank accounts have a credit balance of $1,000. Why should anyone with that average even consider going through the process of signing up for any digital anything including Sand Dollar?

90 percent, Editor, only

have a credit balance of $1,000. The 10% with better balances rely on credit and debit cards...

Central Bank recently reported that the credit balances on all digital wallets

READERS have been posting their reactions to the stories making the news on tribune242.com.

After the Rastafarian community said they were not satisfied with the Davis administration’s proposal for legalising cannabis for religious purposes, calling the draft bills inadequate, AnObserver said; “Once again, the public ask for a simple thing, the govt finds a way to spend millions of dollars and years of ‘work’ in order to fulfill this request, and then misses the point entirely.”

Students can expect to see a larger police presence in schools this school year, with the Friday graduation of 27 more school resource officers. That prompted this reaction from bahamianson: “Such irony. If we need a larger police presence in our schools, it says that we have failed.”

Porcupine had this to say: “Many thinking people believe our government education has failed, judging by the national test results. By spending more money and resources for these policemen in schools tells us exactly what about our national parenting skills? We are merely asking that our kids act in a respectful, civil and Christian manner. Obviously we have failed. Does this scheme, championed by our illustrious national security establishment, bode well for the future of The Bahamas? It doesn’t necessarily take a well educated person to figure this one out, does it?”

Tribune Business reported that The Bahamas’ main fiscal watchdog is in limbo until its members obtain “clarity” from the Prime Minister on whether their appointments remain valid and how they are to “function” under the new legislative regime.

Themessenger had this to say: “With major debt and interest repayments due over the next four or five years, including government bonds, there is little to no wiggle room and the real pain is just around the corner. Let’s not even add the unsecured government pensions and the crumbling NIB to the equation. So far as cuts to education funding is concerned, it has always been

like Sand Dollar and others decreased by a whopping $31 million. Seems to me the public has judged this issue... bush crack digital wallets, including Sand Dollar unwanted - no public interest!

J MUNNINGS Nassau, August 27, 2023.

the way of our governments of either party since Pindling’s time to keep the population poor and dumb, nothing new here.”

Magnus Alnebeck, the Pelican Bay resort’s general manager, said he backed the Government’s Grand Bahama Port Authority stance as evidence of its “commitment to Freeport”, and asked: “When was the last time the Port Authority did a major investment?”

TimesUp responded with this: “If the GBPA ownership is changed through any act of the government they will use the opportunity to retake most of the control via sweet deals with the new owners.

“You may be able to buy a Kalik or a patty in the new, structurally unsound addition of the air-hovel but what will you give up in return? Whats the cost?

“Government owned or forced takeover of the GBPA will have long lasting and serious implications which will make that patty and Kalik turn sour before you even reach Miami.

The Bahamas has been warned it may “face difficulties to roll over existing debt” in the medium-term if market conditions do not improve with almost $900m in external foreign currency loans coming due in the next two years.

The_Oracle said this on the matter: “Wouldn’t it be great to amend the constitution with personal penalties for the elected on their misfeasance, corruption and incompetences? About the only way we are gonna upgrade the caliber of leadership and state of the country.”

BONEFISH said: “The key persons in both the FNM and PLP parties are aware of this.

“The average Bahamian is blissfully unaware of this. That is why both parties have different ways to deal with it. Both parties raise taxes. It is going to take something that is in short supply with the political class in the Bahamas. Management, ingenuity and foresight.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation on tribune242.com.

‘Govt miss the point entirely’ – readers have their say on tribune242.com

Lucayan Towers South submit proposal to transform deteriorating condominium - GBPA grants brief extension

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Lucayan Towers

South board has submitted a proposal to the Grand Bahama Port Authority to transform the deteriorating condominium.

Last month, the GBPA issued a “final notice” to the condominium association board, demanding it disclose a plan in 30 days to address purported code violations and safety hazards or have its certificate of occupancy revoked.

In a statement this week, the port acknowledged receiving the board’s plan to improve the building, which has 136 units.

“GBPA acknowledges receiving a proposed plan of structural and

related works to the condominium building,” the GBPA said. “We have reviewed the proposed plan, and items of concern have been highlighted and communicated to the board for their immediate attention and response, to which GBPA will grant a brief extension.

“However, the GBPA reiterates that it will not compromise when it comes to the safety of the occupants of Lucayan Towers South and will continue to take the necessary and required action to ensure that they have access to a safe and hazard-free place to live.”

In 2019, The Tribune reported that the once premier institution showed severe neglect. Owners claimed someone on the board responsible

for managing the building failed to ensure maintenance and proper financial accounting.

One resident who spoke to The Tribune anonymously last month expressed disgust with the state of the building.

The resident said revoking the occupancy certificate would not be ideal but that the port authority’s push is welcomed.

The resident said owners do not know the way forward for the complex.

Another resident expressed concern about an elevator that frequently breaks down and balconies that fall apart.

Fire alarms are said not to be working. The resident complained that the building looked deplorable.

DOCTOR TESTIFIES SHE OBSERVED 11 GUNSHOT WOUNDS ON THE BODY OF DEANGELO EVANS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A FORENSIC pathologist testified that she observed 11 gunshot wounds on Deangelo Evans’s body during an autopsy, concluding he died as a result of gunshot wounds to the torso and extremities.

Dr Caryn Sands’ testimony came as the inquest into Evans’ police-involved killing resumed yesterday at the Coroner’s Court.

Dr Sands, a forensic pathologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, testified that she performed an autopsy on Evans, 20, on June 8, 2018.

She said Evans might have been lying facedown at some point during the shooting, which took place at Sandy Lane on May 27, 2018, due to the injuries to his posterior and lower extremities.

While examining the deceased’s body, she observed 11 apparent gunshot wounds scattered across the defendant’s chest, abdomen, right and left buttocks, right arm, right and left thigh and lower right leg.

She said the bullet that entered the deceased’s chest from the left side penetrated his lungs and heart before exiting through the right side of his chest.

She further observed that the deceased had an abrasion to his left

forearm and a fractured rib.

She said there was no evidence that Evans was killed at close range.

Under questioning from K Melvern Munroe, who represents the two officers involved, Dr Sands said no projectiles were recovered from Evans’ body. She said all gunshot wounds had observable entry and exit sites.

She said while there were 11 gunshot wounds on Evans’s body, this does not mean there were 11

MAN ON ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE PLEA DS GUILTY TO GUN AND A MMUNITION POSSESSION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused recently of a botched murder attempt in Nassau Village was sentenced to 15 months in prison after he admitted to having a loaded gun in his bedroom closet.

Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Aldeon Miller, 26, yesterday with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

Ian Cargill represented te defendant.

Police alleged that Miller ambushed Latario Missick as he arrived at his residence on Spruce Street around 4pm on August 22. After the accused emerged from nearby bushes, he allegedly shot Missick multiple times about the body.

The 37-year-old victim was successfully treated for his injuries in hospital. He was previously charged with the 2015 murder of Calderon Hall. Miller was arrested on August 27 after police, acting on a warrant, found a black and purple Taurus 9mm pistol at his residence on Gleniston Park Avenue. The gun and 36 rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from Miller’s bedroom closet. Miller admitted to having the gun in a subsequent police interview.

While he pleaded guilty to the firearm and ammunition charges, he was not required to enter a plea on the attempted murder charge. He was informed that the remaining charge would be transferred to the Supreme Court by voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

During mitigation, Mr Cargill said his client is

remorseful and is the sole provider for his infant daughter. The attorney also claimed that the defendant found the gun while cleaning a yard and that the weapon was found secured in his home. Mr Cargill asked that the court consider that Miller had no previous offences and had admitted to the present offence from the onset.

Prosecutor ASP Davis suggested a minimal sentence of 18 months. After crediting Miller for taking responsibility for his action early, the acting chief magistrate sentenced the defendant to 15 months in prison. Miller was further fined $3,000.

Before being taken into remand, Miller was allowed to meet briefly with family members assembled in court.

Miller’s VBI is set for service on November 14.

bullets fired at him.

Dr Sands told Ryzard Humes, a lawyer for Evans’ family, that the victim might have been lying facedown at some point during the shooting.

Responding to Romona Farquharson-Seymour, who also represents the deceased’s estate, Dr Sands said that due to Evan’s injuries, there were possibly 12 gunshot wounds.

Patrick Sweeting marshalled the evidence.

MAN FINED $5,000 FOR 7 POUNDS OF M ARIJUANA

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was fined $5,000 after admitting to having $7,000 worth of marijuana last week.

Magistrate Algernon Allen, Jr, charged George Johnson, 27, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. Police in New Providence

found Johnson with 7lbs of marijuana on August 24. The drugs seized in this incident have an estimated street value of $7,000.

After pleading guilty to the charge, Johnson was fined $5,000. Should he fail to pay this fine, he would face a 12-month prison sentence.

Another man was granted $2,500 bail for a separate drug offence.

Magistrate Samuel

McKinney charged Keno Eugene, 31, with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. Eugene allegedly had one and a half oz of marijuana in New Providence on August 27.

After pleading not guilty to the offence, Eugene was granted $2,500 bail with one surety.

The defendant’s trial begins on November 14.

LAST month, the GBPA issued a “final notice” to the condominium association board of Lucayan Towers South, demanding it disclose a plan in 30 days to address purported code violations and safety hazards or have its certificate of occupancy revoked.

DEANGELO EVANS

Are we protecting criminals while violence victims struggle to survive?

IT was just about two weeks ago that the general public was told that a serial sex offender who has not been rehabilitated would be released from prison. Women were made responsible for their own safety. We were given this information as though it could protect us from the gender-based violence that is everywhere we turn. All we knew was that he had committed many sexual offences, that he blamed the women he violated and a “spirit” he claims to have had since he was a child. His comments to the Minister of National Security should have led to action that does not include his release to the public.

Whether or not he had a psychological evaluation was not a part of the announcement, and many members of the public have come to two conclusions in this regard. The most dominant was, and still is, that he need not be released to violate women and girls. Instead, even if it is not prison, he needs to be in an institution that could provide the appropriate treatment while keeping him away from the public which he has demonstrated and stated he navigates in violent wants. The second, relatedly, was that he should not be foisted upon the public, leaving us to deal with his behaviour.

One week after the release of the serial sex offender was announced, angry residents of Coconut Grove showed up at his residence, armed with bottles and rocks, in response to rumours that he had attempted to

By Alicia Wallace

abduct a girl. Police were seen taking the serial sex offender into custody, leading people to believe that he was a suspect. It was later announced that he was taken into protective custody. Police said, for his safety, this serial sex offender was “escorted from his residence by police.” There has not been much commentary on this, but it deserves attention. This man, who has faced 20 counts of sexual assault, had what many victims beg for and do not get. People showed up at his residence, angry about not only what they suspected he had done, but what they knew he had done and said he would do again. The police went to his residence and took him into protective custody. This is outrageous. It is an insult to all of us who have ever turned to the police, expecting protection, and being turned away, ignored, or insulted. Do you remember Alicia Sawyer and Ednique Wallace? I will never forget their names, their faces, or what happened to them. Alicia Sawyer was 30 years old, and her daughter Ednique was eight years old when they were murdered. In October 2020, days after the

double murder, police said they were hunting for the murderer in the hours before he killed Alicia and Ednique. Alicia Sawyer has reported her ex-boyfriend for the death threats he made, and the response of the police was to search for him. They left her home with no guard. They sent her no escort to a safe location. They made no arrangements to safely house her and her family members. She was left to be hunted and killed while police looked for the murderer.

Then Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said, “The protection is to try and catch the culprit and on that night when the incident happened, we had several units all over the city trying to find this culprit and in the midst of that …we suspect he returned and then we have which took place, which is sad.”

If it was not clear before, on that very day, it became clear that there is a limited and flawed view of protection, and that protection is insufficient and ought not be the goal. Protection is, frankly, a last ditch effort when every system has failed and when no effective system has been developed to address the scourge of gender-based violence. The rhetoric

about “protection” is, in fact, dangerous as well as lazy. A focus on “protection,” especially in legislation and policy, is acceptance of the current state of society—proliferation of violence and, in particular, violence against women and girls.

Prevention and intervention are not getting sufficient attention and certainly do not have resources allocated to them. Worse, the social transformation we need does not seem to even be a thought for the government. Its position continues to be that there is violence, violence is bad, and it’s sad that women and girls are being violated every day. In addition, it continues to feed into the idea that the resources and services that have been made available for women and girls, because of our disproportionate experiences of violence, must be replicated for men and boys. It is not that these resources and services are not useful for everyone, but that they are specifically needed for women and girls, and that men and boys need to be engaged and supported in different ways. This is what it means to be gender responsive.

We see that women and girls are experiencing homelessness because they experience violence at home and flee without having a place to go, so we need a temporary housing programme that includes support for transitioning to permanent housing. We see the men and boys are turning to violence and this is connected to their struggle with experiencing a wide range of emotions

— particularly beyond anger — and understanding them as valid and congruent with masculinity, so we need to change the way we raise boys and counteract the limited portrayals of masculinity in the media by identifying and highlighting men and boys who demonstrate emotional intelligence.

Protection, even in the limited way it is understood by government agencies, is not ineffective, an indication of continued failure, and somehow more available to a serial sex offender than a woman who made a report to police, only for them to focus on the culprit and leave her and her daughter to be murdered. Protection is a low bar. This, again, is one of the many issues with the nonsense “Protection Against Violence” bill which does not acknowledge gender relations or sufficiently move beyond a response to violence that has already

occurred. What kind of protection is that? In case you have not yet figured it out, it is not protection. Protection will not save us. Protection is not the answer. Who qualifies for protection? Who offers protection? How will society change if the emphasis is on and the resources go into protection rather than making society peaceful, safe, and equitable? “Protection” is an easy word to throw around, and it sounds good when we think it is being offered to us, but without social transformation, there will always be some of us who fall out of the zone of protection. Where that zone is depends on who has the power and who has their attention. Police, and the government at large, have shown that they are most concerned about criminals, and not just catching them, but “protecting” them too, while victims struggle to survive.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Paper Press have been hosting this monthly bookber is this short novel about a girl who is chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a school for creative teens. She sees it as a safe haven while her peers want to venture beyond its walls and be a part of a revolution. Attend the meeting in person or virtually. Sign up at tiny.cc/fbc2023 to receive updates.

episode of Sounds Likes Cult—a podcast that delves into elements of popular culture to determine which of them are modern day cults and which don’t quite meet the requirements. As people search for other ways to understand and navigate life, it can be easy to fall into fads, scams, and maybe even cults. This episode gets into some of them.

‘...without social transformation, there will always be some of us who fall out of the zone of protection.’

TO STOP WILDFIRES, RESIDENTS IN SOME GREEK SUBURBS PUT THEIR OWN MONEY TOWARD EARLY WARNING DRONES

By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The nightmare repeats itself every year: A towering wall of flames devours forests, farmland and homes, forcing animals and people to flee for their lives.

With their hot, dry summers, Greece and its southern European neighbors experience hundreds of devastating wildfires each year. Last week alone, wildfires killed 21 people in Greece.

The country’s deadliest, in 2018, cost more than 100 lives. And experts warn climate change is likely to exacerbate extreme weather, fueling more wildfires.

This summer, a group of residents in a leafy suburb of the Greek capital united in determination to prevent the nightmare from reaching their homes.

In less than a week in early August, an initial group of three people with a shared concern grew to an online community of about 320 offering donations to hire a company using long-range drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras as a sophisticated early warning system to catch wildfires before they can spread.

It’s a tried and tested system. Designed and set up with the help of Grigoris Konstantellos, a commercial airline pilot and mayor of the southern Athens seaside suburbs of Vari, Voula and Vouliagmeni, the drones began operating there last year.

“We didn’t discover it, we created it,” Kontantellos said of the program. “We said, ‘Why shouldn’t this capability exist?’”

The system seemed the perfect solution for the concerned residents in the northern suburbs of Kifissia, Ekali and Nea Erithrea.

“We’re all worried, we’re all anxious,” said Melina Throuvala, a psychologist and one of the initial group of three. “We don’t want to mourn victims, or to see our environment and our forests burning or

our homes threatened. That was the main incentive.”

And with wildfires, prevention is key.

Operated by drone pilots with advanced training to fly beyond the visual line of sight and with permission from civil aviation authorities, the drones provide live images and detect changes in temperature, alerting their handlers in the critical early stages before a fire spreads. The drones run 24/7, with pilots working in six-hour shifts.

“The first few minutes are the most crucial for a fire,” said Giorgos Dertilis, who heads the local volunteer firefighting unit.

“At the start it’s easier to put out the fire. The more the minutes go by, the harder our job becomes.”

Volunteer units are integrated into Greece’s Civil Protection system, working closely with professional fire departments. With no fire station in the wider Kifissia area, volunteers often can get to local blazes faster.

The drone company operates from the volunteer firefighters’ headquarters, so they can react immediately at any signs of a fire.

The drone programme’s value was quickly apparent. In the first couple of days, it picked up the start of a fire near a shuttered hotel, “so when we were on our way ... we knew, we were prepared to see a fire,” Dertilis said. They quickly extinguished the blaze. “It’s very important to know what to expect.”

The system’s innovation, said Emmanouil Angelakis, managing director of the company operating the drones, is that it includes specialized personnel, software, servers and satellite antenna so “drones, day and night, can scan all the forest areas with thermal cameras and sensors and give live images and coordinates of where a fire starts.”

The idea for the system came in June 2022, after a wind-whipped wildfire descended on Konstantellos’ municipality from a mountain ridge. As they coordinated the response, authorities realised they had a problem.

“We were chasing the fire,” the mayor said. With the flames moving rapidly, keeping track of where water trucks were needed was a challenge.

“We couldn’t see basic things on the ground. We’d see them with a delay, because we weren’t right in front of them.”

An extensive review of the emergency response followed. “We saw that what was missing is for us to not chase the fire, but to be able to have a live image of the fire, of where our assets are and where the threat is,” Konstantellos said. They thought of drones.

The fire department already uses drones during an active blaze, covering a small area. What was needed was to see a fire when it starts, and stop it in its tracks.

Getting in touch with the drone company, the fire prevention program was born. In the year and a half it’s been operational, it’s given early warnings for fires 12 times, Konstantellos said.

“We’ve caught fires at 3:30 in the morning,” the mayor said. “When we sent the Civil Protection, they couldn’t even find the fire. We could see it on the drone.”

Then on Saturday, 270 lighting strikes sparked six blazes, starting at 5:30 a.m.. The drones saw them immediately, Konstantellos said Monday.

With live drone images relayed to his cellphone, “we had amazing coordination, and in less than 40 minutes we had put out six fires in hard-to-reach places.”

NVIDIA’S RISING STAR GETS EVEN BRIGHTER WITH ANOTHER STELLAR QUARTER PROPELLED BY SALES OF AI CHIPS

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and MATT O’BRIEN AP Technology Writers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

— Computer chip maker Nvidia has rocketed into the constellation of Big Tech’s brightest stars while riding the artificial intelligence craze that’s fueling redhot demand for its technology.

The latest evidence of Nvidia’s ascendance emerged with last Wednesday’s release of the company’s quarterly earnings report.

The drones have a range of 15 kilometres (nearly 10 miles) and are equipped with loudspeakers and searchlights to warn off people doing banned outdoor work on high fire-risk days — or to frighten off potential arsonists. The municipality is even running a pilot programme to prevent drownings, whereby drones can drop lifejackets to swimmers in distress.

The municipality pays 13,00014,000 euros ($14,000-15,000) per month for 24/7 coverage. “For a municipality, it’s a viable number to have peace of mind from the fires,” Konstantellos said.

The drone company’s Angelakis said the Kifissia residents’ privately funded initiative “was the first time this happened on a volunteer basis and not by a state body.”

Kifissia’s nearby municipality of Dionysos followed, with its privately funded operation working out of the town hall.

Residents of less affluent areas would be less able to afford private funding.

But other municipal and regional authorities are interested, said Konstantellos, who noted the system can be used to coordinate responses to other events such as floods, earthquakes or traffic accidents.

“As we say in aviation, ‘A welltrained pilot is the best safety device’,” he said.

“We convert this to the civil protection and we say: ‘A well-prepared city is the best defence of a city against crisis’.”

NEW CREW FOR THE SPACE STATION LAUNCHES WITH 4 ASTRONAUTS

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL,

Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts from four countries rocketed toward the International Space Station on Saturday.

They should reach the orbiting lab in their SpaceX capsule Sunday, replacing four astronauts living up there since March.

A NASA astronaut was joined on the predawn liftoff from Kennedy Space Center by fliers from Denmark, Japan and Russia. They clasped one another’s gloved hands upon reaching orbit.

It was the first U.S. launch where every spacecraft seat was occupied by a different country — until now, NASA had always included two or three of its own on its SpaceX taxi flights. A fluke in timing led to the assignments, officials said.

“We’re a united team

with a common mission,”

NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli radioed from orbit. Added NASA’s Ken Bowersox,

space operations mission chief: “Boy, what a beautiful launch ... and with four international crew members,

FROM 4 COUNTRIES

really an exciting thing to see.”

Moghbeli, a Marine pilot serving as commander, is joined on the six-month mission by the European Space Agency’s Andreas Mogensen, Japan’s Satoshi Furukawa and Russia’s Konstantin Borisov.

“To explore space, we need to do it together,” the European Space Agency’s director general, Josef Aschbacher, said minutes before liftoff. “Space is really global, and international cooperation is key.”

The astronauts’ paths to space couldn’t be more different.

Moghbeli’s parents fled Iran during the 1979 revolution. Born in Germany and raised on New York’s Long Island, she joined the Marines and flew attack helicopters in Afghanistan. The first-time space traveler hopes to show Iranian girls

that they, too, can aim high. “Belief in yourself is something really powerful,” she said before the flight.

Mogensen worked on oil rigs off the West African coast after getting an engineering degree. He told people puzzled by his job choice that “in the future we would need drillers in space” like Bruce Willis’ character in the killer asteroid film “Armageddon.” He’s convinced the rig experience led to his selection as Denmark’s first astronaut.

Furukawa spent a decade as a surgeon before making Japan’s astronaut cut. Like Mogensen, he’s visited the station before.

Borisov, a space rookie, turned to engineering after studying business. He runs a freediving school in Moscow and judges the sport, in which divers shun oxygen tanks and hold their breath underwater.

The results covering the May-July period exceeded Nvidia’s projections for astronomical sales growth propelled by the company’s specialised chips — key components that help power different forms of artificial intelligence, such as Open AI’s popular ChatGPT and Google’s Bard chatbots.

“This is a new computing platform, if you will, a new computing transition that is happening,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday during a conference call with analysts.

Nvidia’s revenue for its fiscal second quarter doubled from the same time last year to $13.51 billion, culminating in a profit of $6.2 billion, or $2.48 per share, more than nine times more than the company made a year ago.

EARLY APPLE COMPUTER THAT HELPED LAUNCH $3T COMPANY SELLS AT AUCTION FOR $223,000

BOSTON (AP) — One of the first personal computers built by Apple and signed by company cofounder Steve Wozniak has sold at auction for more than $223,000.

The Apple-1 has been restored to a fully operational state and came with a custom case with a builtin keyboard, according to Boston-based RR Auction, which held the sale that closed Thursday.

About 200 were manufactured in Apple cofounder Steve Jobs’ garage in Los Altos, California, in 1976 and 1977 and helped launch the company that in June became the first publicly traded business to close a trading day with a $3 trillion market value. Originally sold for $666, it was expected to sell for about $200,000, RR said. The Apple-1 was signed “Woz” by Wozniak at an event at Bryant University in 2017.

A LONG-range drone equipped with thermal imaging cameras and a sophisticated early warning system patrols over Kavouri beach and nearby woodland, in southern Athens, Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

DANISH astronaut Andreas Mogensen, front left, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, front right, Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, back left, and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa leave the Operations and Checkout Building before heading to the launch pad to board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

MACHINES CAN’T ALWAYS

TAKE THE HEAT − TWO ENGINEERS EXPLAIN THE PHYSICS BEHIND HOW HEAT WAVES THREATEN EVERYTHING FROM CARS TO COMPUTERS

DATA centres, which are buildings full of servers that store data, dissipate significant amounts of heat to keep their components cool.

By SRINIVAS GARIMELLA , Georgia Institute of Technology and Matthew T. Hughes, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

(THE CONVERSA-

TION) Not only people need to stay cool, especially in a summer of recordbreaking heat waves. Many machines, including cellphones, data centres, cars and airplanes, become less efficient and degrade more quickly in extreme heat. Machines generate their own heat, too, which can make hot temperatures around them even hotter.

We are engineering researchers who study how machines manage heat and ways to effectively recover and reuse heat that is otherwise wasted. There are several ways extreme heat affects machines.

No machine is perfectly efficient – all machines face some internal friction during operation. This friction causes machines to dissipate some heat, so the hotter it is outside, the hotter the machine will be.

Cellphones and similar devices with lithium ion batteries stop working as well when operating in climates above 95 degrees Farenheit (35 degrees Celsius) – this is to avoid overheating and increased stress on the electronics.

Cooling designs that use innovative phasechanging fluids can help keep machines cool, but

in most cases heat is still ultimately dissipated into the air. So, the hotter the air, the harder it is to keep a machine cool enough to function efficiently.

Plus, the closer together machines are, the more dissipated heat there will be in the surrounding area.

Deforming materials

Higher temperatures, either from the weather or the excess heat radiated from machinery, can cause materials in machinery to deform. To understand this, consider what temperature means at the molecular level.

At the molecular scale, temperature is a measure of how much molecules are vibrating. So the hotter it is, the more the molecules that make up everything from the air to the ground to materials in machinery vibrate.

As the temperature increases and the molecules vibrate more, the average space between them grows, causing most materials to expand as they heat up. Roads are one place to see this – hot concrete expands, gets constricted and eventually cracks. This phenomenon can happen to machinery, too, and thermal stresses are just the beginning of the problem.

Travel delays and safety risks

High temperatures can also change the way oils in your car’s engine behave,

leading to potential engine failures. For example, if a heat wave makes it 30 degrees F (16.7 degrees C) hotter than normal, the viscosity – or thickness – of typical car engine oils can change by a factor of three.

Fluids like engine oils become thinner as they heat up, so if it gets too hot, the oil may not be thick enough to properly lubricate and protect engine parts from increased wear and tear.

Additionally, a hot day will cause the air inside your tires to expand and increases the tire pressure, which could increase wear and the risk of skidding.

Airplanes are also not designed to take off at extreme temperatures. As it gets hotter outside, air starts to expand and takes up more space than before, making it thinner or less dense. This reduction in air density decreases the amount of weight the plane can support during flight, which can cause significant travel delays or flight cancellations.

Battery degradation

In general, the electronics contained in devices like cellphones, personal computers and data centers consist of many kinds of materials that all respond differently to temperature changes. These materials are all located next to each other in tight spaces. So as the temperature increases, different kinds of materials deform differently,

potentially leading to pre-

mature wear and failure.

Lithium ion batteries in cars and general electronics degrade faster at higher operating temperatures. This is because higher temperatures increase the rate of reactions within the battery, including corrosion reactions that deplete the lithium in the battery. This process wears down its storage capacity. Recent research shows that electric vehicles can lose about 20% of their range when exposed to sustained 90-degree Farenheit weather.

Data centres, which are buildings full of servers that store data, dissipate significant amounts of heat to keep their components cool. On very hot days, fans must work harder to ensure chips do not overheat. In some cases, powerful fans are not enough to cool the electronics.

To keep the centres cool, incoming dry air from the outside is often first sent through a moist pad. The water from the pad evaporates into the air and absorbs heat, which cools the air.

This technique, called evaporative cooling, is usually an economical and effective way to keep chips at a reasonable operating temperature.

However, evaporative cooling can require a significant amount of water. This issue is problematic in regions where water is scarce. Water for

cooling can add to the already intense resource footprint associated with data centers.

Struggling air conditioners

Air conditioners struggle to perform effectively as it gets hotter outside – just when they’re needed the most. On hot days, air conditioner compressors have to work harder to send the heat from homes outside, which in turn disproportionally increases electricity consumption and overall electricity demand.

For example, in Texas, every increase of 1.8 degrees F (1 degree C) creates a rise of about 4% in electricity demand.

Heat leads to a staggering 50% increase in electricity demand during the summer in hotter countries, posing serious threats of electricity shortages or blackouts, coupled with higher greenhouse gas emissions.

How to prevent heat damage

Heat waves and warming temperatures around the globe pose significant shortand long-term problems for people and machines alike.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the damage.

First, ensure that your machines are kept in an air-conditioned, well-insulated space or out of direct sunlight.

Second, consider using high-energy devices like air conditioners or charging

your electric vehicle during off-peak hours when fewer people are using electricity. This can help avoid local electricity shortages.

Reusing heat

Scientists and engineers are developing ways to use and recycle the vast amounts of heat dissipated from machines. One simple example is using the waste heat from data centers to heat water.

Waste heat could also drive other kinds of air-conditioning systems, such as absorption chillers, which can actually use heat as energy to support coolers through a series of chemical- and heat-transferring processes.

In either case, the energy needed to heat or cool something comes from heat that is otherwise wasted. In fact, waste heat from power plants could hypothetically support 27% of residential air-conditioning needs, which would reduce overall energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Extreme heat can affect every aspect of modern life, and heat waves aren’t going away in the coming years. However, there are opportunities to harness extreme heat and make it work for us.

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Ocean heat and wind shear determining Idalia’s future

By HAIYAN JIANG , Florida International University

(THE CONVERSATION) Forecasters expected Hurricane Idalia to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it headed over exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, on track for landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Hurricane warnings were posted along a wide stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, from near Sarasota to the Panhandle, including Tampa Bay.

Hurricane scientist Haiyan Jiang of Florida International University explains how two conflicting forces – record-high ocean heat and wind shear, the latter influenced by El Niño – were determining Idalia’s future, and how they have made the 2023 hurricane season overall difficult to forecast.

What role is ocean temperature playing in Idalia’s forecast?

Forecasters are watching several factors, but the biggest is the very high sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is typically warm in late August, and we often see hurricanes this time of year. But this summer, the sea surface temperature has been extremely high, with record temperatures far above average.

Near Cuba, sea surface temperatures were close to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) as Idalia passed by the island on Monday.

As the storm moves north, it will pass over sea surface temperatures that are even warmer. By Wednesday morning, the storm is forecast to be over waters that are around 88 F (31 C) at the surface. That is very, very high.

The heat isn’t just at the surface – the ocean heat extends deep into the upper ocean layer, or the thermocline, which is roughly 150 feet (50 metres) to 500 feet (150 metres) deep.

That accumulated heat provides fuel for the storm.

As the ocean temperature increases, the amount of water vapor available to the storm also increases.

Physics show that warmer air can hold more water vapour. With more heat and water vapour in the atmosphere, clouds heat up and the storm can rotate faster.

It can also bring more intense rainfall.

Can wind shear weaken the hurricane?

A few things will weaken a hurricane.

One is if the storm encounters cold water. Without warm water as a fuel source, the

GLOBAL

hurricane can no longer strengthen. In this case, however, the Gulf is exceptionally warm.

Wind shear is another important factor.

Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and direction at different heights in a storm.

Strong wind shear can tear apart a tropical storm.

That’s common in the Atlantic basin during El Niño years like 2023. The question everyone has been asking this year is whether the wind shear will be strong enough to counter the extreme heat, and that doesn’t appear to be happening with Idalia.

The wind shear was around 16 knots on Monday morning. The moderate wind shear along its path wasn’t expected to be strong enough to tear the hurricane apart – it’s still going to rapidly intensify because of the heat.

That wind shear is still beneficial for people in the storm’s path. Without it, a hurricane

over water this warm could grow into a catastrophic Category 4 or 5 hurricane. Right now, Idalia is forecast to be a Category 3 or close to it, which is still dangerous.

Does climate change play a role in hurricane intensification?

Long term, research shows Atlantic hurricane intensity has an increasing trend as the climate warms.

If you just look at wind speed, the average intensity of storms across all six major ocean basins isn’t increasing. But rainfall intensity is a different story.

My research shows that over the past 20 years, tropical cyclone-induced rainfall has increased by about 1.3% per year on average across the world’s basins and by even more in the Atlantic, about 1.6% per year.

We linked the increase in rainfall intensity to increasing sea surface temperature and

water vapour.

Other researchers have found the same thing.

Each ocean basin is very different, and there are several reasons that the Atlantic may be seeing more intensification. One is that the Gulf is very warm, making it a source of strong hurricanes.

More intense rainfall can mean greater flooding potential, as large parts of Florida saw during Hurricane Ian in 2022. Even if wind speed isn’t increasing in every basin, the damage can be higher because intense rainfall could also come from a storm’s rain bands, not just from the eyewall.

Florida residents need to be aware of that risk as they prepare for Idalia.

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

ocean temperatures, including in the Atlantic, have been well above previous years. The middle dotted line shows the average. CLIMATE Reanalyzer/Climate Change Institute/University of Maine

Hurricane Idalia strengthens into a Cat 2 storm with 100 mph winds

FLORIDA

Associated Press

HURRICANE Idalia

strengthened to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph (155 kph) winds on Tuesday as it barrelled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane Tuesday night before it reaches the Big Bend, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula, and is still likely to be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia on Wednesday.

Authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas along the Gulf Coast to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding. The hurricane could deal a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend region.

At 5 pm EDT Tuesday, Idalia was about 195 miles (310 kilometres) southwest of Tampa, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving north at 16 mph (26 kph).

On the island of Cedar

Key, Commissioner Sue Colson joined other city officials in packing up documents and electronics at City Hall. She had a message for the almost 900 residents who were under mandatory orders to evacuate the island near the coast of the Big Bend region. More than a dozen state troopers went door to door warning residents that storm surge could rise as high as 15 feet (4.5 meters).

“One word: Leave,” Colson said. “It’s not something to discuss.”

Not everyone was heeding the warning. Andy Bair, owner of the Island Hotel, said he intended to “babysit” his bed-andbreakfast, which predates the Civil War. The building has not flooded in the almost 20 years he has owned it, not even when Hurricane Hermine flooded the city in 2016.

“Being a caretaker of the oldest building in Cedar Key, I just feel kind of like I need to be here,” Bair said. “We’ve proven time and again that we’re not going to wash away. We may be a little uncomfortable for a

couple of days, but we’ll be OK eventually.”

Tolls were waived on highways out of the danger area, shelters were open and hotels prepared to take in evacuees. More than 30,000 utility workers were gathering to make repairs as quickly as possible in the hurricane’s wake. About 5,500 National Guard troops were activated.

In Tarpon Springs, a coastal community northwest of Tampa, 60 patients were evacuated from a hospital out of concern that the system could bring a 7-foot (2.1-meter) storm surge. “You do not have to leave the state. You don’t have to drive hundreds of miles,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday morning at the state’s emergency operations centre. “You have to get to higher ground in a safe structure. You can ride the storm out there, then go back to your home.”

Idalia’s initial squalls were being felt in the Florida Keys and the southwestern coast of Florida on Tuesday afternoon, including at Clearwater Beach. Workers at beachside bars and T-shirt shops boarded up windows, children skim-surfed the waves and hundreds of people watched the increasingly choppy waters from the safety of the sand.

After landing in the Big Bend region, Idalia is forecast to cross the Florida peninsula and then drench southern Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday. Both Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced states of emergency, freeing up state resources and personnel, including hundreds of National Guard troops.

“We’ll be prepared to the best of our abilities,” said Russell Guess, who was topping off the gas tank on his truck in Valdosta, Georgia. His co-workers at Cunningham Tree Service were doing the same. “There will be trees on people’s house, trees across power lines.”

Meanwhile, Idalia thrashed Cuba with heavy rain, especially in the westernmost part of the island, where the tobacco-producing province of Pinar del Rio is still recovering from Ian. More than 10,000 people evacuated to shelters or stayed with friends and relatives as up to 4 inches (10 centimetres) of rain fell. More than half of the province was without

electricity.

Idalia will be the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season, but it’s only the latest in a summer of natural disasters, including wildfires in Hawaii, Canada and Greece; the first tropical storm to hit California in 84 years, and devastating flooding in Vermont.

With a large stretch of Florida’s western coast at risk for storm surges and floods, evacuation notices were issued in 22 counties, with mandatory orders for some people in eight of those counties. Many of the notices were for low-lying and coastal areas and for people living in mobile and manufactured homes, recreational vehicles or boats, and for people who would be vulnerable in a power outage.

Many school districts along the Gulf Coast were to be closed through at least Wednesday. Several colleges and universities also closed, including the University of Florida in Gainesville. Florida State University in Tallahassee said its campus would be closed through Friday.

Two of the region’s largest airports stopped commercial operations, and MacDill Air Force Base on Tampa Bay sent several aircraft to safer locations. The Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park also planned to close. On Florida’s Space Coast, on the other side of the peninsula from where Idalia is expected to make landfall, United Launch Alliance said Tuesday that it was delaying the launch of a rocket carrying satellites for US defence and intelligence agencies.

Ian was responsible last year for almost 150 deaths. The Category 5 hurricane damaged 52,000 structures, nearly 20,000 of which were destroyed or severely damaged.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said the 2023 hurricane season would be far busier than initially forecast, partly because of extremely warm ocean temperatures. The season runs through Nov. 30, with August and September typically the peak.

Floridians viewed Idalia’s name with some concern since 13 Atlantic storm names beginning with “I” have been retired since 1955, according to the National Weather Service. That happens when a storm’s death toll or destruction is so severe that using its name again would

be insensitive.

Another concern was the presence of a rare blue supermoon, which can cause higher-than-normal tides.

Cedar Key was expected

to be at low tide shortly after sunrise on Wednesday, with Idalia forecast to make landfall a few hours later. That’s a bit of a relief since the water level would be higher if the storm surge

arrived during a high tide, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy.

“That definitely plays a role in coastal flooding,” McNoldy said.

AL A SK A REPORT DETA ILS 280 MISSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, INCLUDING IF DIS A PPE A R A NCES A RE SUSPICIOUS

ALASKA Associated Press

LAW enforcement has prepared a first-of-its-kind report detailing missing Alaska Natives and American Indian people in Alaska, a newspaper reported.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety last week released the Missing Indigenous Persons Report, which includes the names of 280 people, dates of their last contact and whether police believe the disappearance was suspicious in nature, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

In the report, the circumstances of each missing person in classified into one of four categories: environmental, nonsuspicious, suspicious or unknown. This is considered a point-in-time snapshot because it includes people who were missing as of July 14. Austin McDaniel, a Department of Public Safety spokesperson, said it’s possible some have since been found.

About 75% of the cases fit in the environmental category: The person is believed to have died or disappeared in the wilderness after a plane crash, boat sinking or other outdoor accident, and their remains have never been found. Some cases here date back to the 1960s. Even though some people have been declared legally dead, McDaniel said they are considered missing until law enforcement “lays eyes on them.”

Of the remaining cases, 18 were ruled suspicious, 30 as not suspicious and 17 unknown.

The list is not complete. It only represents missing persons cases investigated

by the Anchorage Police Department or the Alaska State Troopers and not those of other police departments in Alaska, like Fairbanks or Juneau.

The statewide agency hopes smaller departments will contribute data for quarterly updates, McDaniel said.

Each name on the list represents a loved and missed person, said Charlene Aqpik Apok, executive director of Data for Indigenous Justice.

This organization created its own database of missing and murdered Indigenous people in 2021 and has advocated for Alaska law enforcement to better track the issue.

“This report was definitely a step in the right direction,” Apok said.

Detailing the circumstances of disappearances could present a clearer picture to law enforcement of the overall situation.

“Going missing while going on a hike or hunting is very different than someone being abducted,” Apok said. “We really wanted to clarify those circumstances.”

She said it’s also validating for families to see what they long suspected about the disappearances.

“For a very long time we’ve been hearing from families, this is what happened, and it hasn’t been recognized,” she said.

Much of the data in the new state report is already in two existing databases of missing people, the state’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse and NamUs, a nationwide database overseen by the US Department of Justice. The state says it has committed to regularly updating the data in NamUs, something it hasn’t always done before and isn’t mandated.

HURRICANE IDALIA

HURRICANE FRANKLIN

MEN work to reinforce a law firm’s office on 2nd Street, where businesses and residents were preparing for potential flooding ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Florida yesterday.

Photo: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2023

NFL, PAGE 14

CHISHOLM JR HITS A SOLO HOME RUN IN THE MARLINS’ 11-2

LOSS TO RAYS

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

F

against incumbent Eugene Horton and his slate as they contest the federation’s election of officers on Saturday in the Ministry of Education’s Conference Room.

rom running the floor as one of the top point guards from high school to college to serving as a junior national team coach, Grand Bahamian Quentin ‘Three Ounce’ Hall is hoping that his intensive background will enable him to move up as the new president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation. Hall and his slate of officers will be runningThe elections will be held during the annual general meeting that starts at 10am.

“I’ve been around the Bahamas Basketball Federation since 1995,” Hall said. “Not only have I been there as a player, but I represented the Bahamas on the national team as a player for at least 16-17 years.

QUENTIN HALL

“Just recently, I was invited to serve as a coach on the junior national

team. I think I have been so involved that I understand the logistics and I understand the grinding that it takes to make progress.

“So for me, I’ve seen where the kids are just going out there and playing, but there’s not a whole lot of coaching going on.”

As he ventures into the front office, Hall said he would like to implement programmes that will enable coaches to do a lot more coaching to better prepare the players for international competition, not just in New Providence

Venus suffers her most lopsided US

Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

There was a Williams sister out there in Arthur Ashe Stadium last night, much to the delight of spectators who offered a standing ovation at the end of the match.

Except this time it was Venus, not Serena, and there was no ceremony, no formal farewell — and, unlike a year ago, no indication of what the future might hold.

Her younger sister’s playing days are done after one last hurrah at Flushing Meadows in 2022, but

Venus Williams is still competing, still striving, even if her age, 43, and a bum knee did her no favors on this muggy evening. Williams was eliminated 6-1, 6-1 by Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen in the first round of the U.S. Open, her most lopsided loss in 100 career matches at the Grand Slam tournament where she won the trophy in 2000 and 2001. The crowd that seemed thrilled just to get a chance to see Williams play in person sent her toward the locker room with applause and yells. She gave a quick wave and a smile as she walked off, her red racket

COCO Gauff reacts during a match against Laura Siegemund in the first round of the US Open yesterday. (AP Photo/ Frank Franklin II)

and Grand Bahama, but throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

“That’s one of the key elements that need to be addressed,” he said.

“I feel like I’m more of a worker, who can get out there and be more involved in getting this done and not just sitting on the sidelines watching.

“I’ve been in the grind and so I feel that’s an asset to our country. I’m one to get involved and be prepared to push these programmes forward with

SEE PAGE 13

MIAMI (AP) — JASRADO “Jazz” Chisholm Jr hit a solo home run last night but it wasn’t enough as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from two early deficits to beat the Miami Marlins 11-2 for their ninth win in 11 games.

Randy Arozarena, Josh Lowe and Isaac Paredes homered, José Siri hit a goahead two-run double in the sixth inning and Yandy Díaz added two singles for the Rays, who trail AL-leading Baltimore by 2 1/2 games in the East Division and maintained their 5 1/2-game lead in the race for the AL’s top wild-card spot.

With the win, Tampa Bay improved to 81-52, ensuring the Rays will go a seventh straight season without a losing record.

Chisholm Jr hit the solo homer in the third to put Miami ahead 2-1. Luke Railey’s sacrifice fly in the second tied it at 1 after Chisolm Jr’s RBI single in the first had given Miami a quick lead.

Miami slugger Jorge Soler left the game in the seventh inning due to right hip tightness.

Aaron Civale (7-3) overcame a 32-pitch first inning and worked five frames of two-run ball. The 28-yearold right-hander allowed seven hits and struck out five in his fifth start since arriving in Tampa Bay in a trade from Cleveland on July 31.

Trailing 1-0 after one inning and 2-1 after three, Siri’s double capped a threerun sixth against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara and put Tampa Bay ahead 4-2. Paredes ended a nine-pitch at bat with a game-tying single that scored Brandon Lowe, who had reached on a leadoff double. Alcantara hit Vidal Bruján with a pitch before Siri’s line drive to the corner in left chased the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner.

Alcantara (6-12) gave up four runs, seven hits, walked two and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings for the Marlins (66-66), who are 13-27 since the All-Star break.

Tampa Bay broke it open with four runs against relievers Steven Okert and George Soriano in the seventh. Harold Ramírez hit a pinch-hit RBI single off Okert before Soriano gave up a two-run homer to Arozarena and a solo shot to Lowe.

bag slung over her left shoulder. “It was really great to hear the support. I know the fans have been here for me forever, so that’s fantastic to still have that support even more than ever,” said Williams, the oldest player in the field. “So it’s a beautiful thing, and I love the Open.”

The first 21 times Williams entered the event, she went 21-0 in the first round. But this was her third consecutive openinground loss since.

Afterward in Ashe, defending champion

SEE PAGE 13

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AUSTRALIA AND ITALY IN KNOCKOUT STAGE OF BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

THE Dominican Republic, Australia and Italy advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Through play yesterday, 10 teams have reached the final 16 with six more berths to be determined today. Dominican Republic finished 3-0 in Group A after a 75-67 win over Angola. Australia, the Olympic bronze medallist two years ago, defeated Japan 109-89 despite 33 points from American-born Japan centre Josh Hawkinson. Australia finished second in Group E behind Germany.

Italy took second place in Group A, defeating the Philippines 90-83. The Philippines, the main host country for the World Cup, needed to beat Italy by a lopsided margin to advance. Defending champion Spain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Montenegro have also advanced. GROUP E -AUSTRALIA 109, JAPAN 89

At Okinawa, Josh Giddey scored 26 points, Xavier

SEE PAGE 15

TEAM BAHAMAS NAMED: Bahamas Football Association has announced a 23-player roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League match against Puerto Rico at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on September 9.

SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 15

Lori Roach: CARIFTA Triathlon & Aquathlon went exceptionally well

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter

AFTER The Bahamas placed third overall with six medals at the CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships, event organisers are impressed with the country’s first hosting of the event.

The fifth edition of the championships saw more than 200 athletes from 10 Caribbean countries compete from August 26-27.

The event culminated with Barbados repeating as champions, amassing 178 points. Bermuda placed second with 126 points. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago along with Aruba totalled 66 points and 58 points for fourth and fifth respectively.

Lori Roach, secretary general of the Bahamas Triathlon Association (BTA), was excited to see the level of competition on display this past weekend at Goodman’s Bay.

“The level of competition has just grown so much over the last couple of years so to have the championships here in The Bahamas was great, especially for our newer athletes who got to see this high level of competition in the Caribbean which was such a great experience for everyone involved,” Roach said.

With The Bahamas improving to third overall, which was a step up from their fifth place finish last year in Bermuda, the athletes were supported by a number of spectators. In addition to securing six

BBF FROM PAGE 12

tournaments for juniors and getting the boys and girls to play a lot more and develop their skills in the process.”

Hall will be running with a slate of officers that includes Jimmy Mackey as first vice president, Francis Delva as second vice president, newly elected New Providence Basketball Association president Ricardo Smith as third vice president, Ashley Bethel as secretary general with Shantell Penn as her assistant and Latoya Thompson-Brown as treasurer. Hall noted that he has developed a personal relationship with all of the candidates running on his slate and with the knowledge that they all bring to the table, he feels will make the difference to help further develop basketball in the country. “I know the people that I have assembled. I have great trust in them and they believe in the vision that we are putting forward for basketball,” Hall said. “It’s a chemistry within each of us. We are going to be sacrificing a whole lot to make basketball bigger and better in this country.

“So I’m looking forward to working with this group of individuals once we are elected on Saturday. I think I have a really good team. I am so confident in all of them and I hope we

US OPEN

FROM PAGE 12

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round when his opponent, Dominik Koepfer, stopped playing while trailing 6-2, 3-2. Koepfer turned his ankle on the match’s eighth point and, while he initially continued after getting treated, eventually conceded. The 26-year-old Minnen — who threw an uppercut and raised her arms after winning — was born in August 1997, the month before Williams reached the U.S. Open final for the first time.

“For me, it was incredible to play a legend like her.

I have huge respect,” said Minnen, who is ranked 97th and entered the evening with a 4-12 career record in Grand Slam matches. “To be there at 43 years old, it’s amazing really.”

medals at the CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships, Lauchlan Menzies also earned the home team’s first gold medal ever.

“We had a lot of spectators supporting the athletes, when I see things like that it excites me because that helps us to build the sport. The more people that see us out there brings more awareness to the triathlon community,” she said.

Although Roach was glad that the event was now in the history books, she added that the championships went exceptionally well across the board.

“It went exceptionally well, I think everyone enjoyed it. They definitely enjoyed The Bahamas, I have heard nothing but compliments from everybody. They thought it was a beautiful site and the weather was beautiful and calm,” the secretary general said.

The host team definitely benefited from the familiarity of competing

can get the opportunity to build something special together.”

Hall, the founder of 3Oz Athletics in Grand Bahama, was a former player who starred in Grand Bahama and the prestigious Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic up to 1995 before he went on to play for Gonzaga University, leading them to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Basketball Championships in his senior year in 1999. Following college, Hall attempted to make it in the NBA, but that didn’t work out. He returned home and while playing for the senior men’s national basketball team, he also moved into coaching at the high school and the junior national team programme in 2007. Hall and his wife Vanessa have three sons, all of whom Quentin hopes one day will be able to follow in his footsteps as basketball players. For now, Hall just wants to continue to make his contribution to the development of the sport as the new president of the federation, the governing body in the country. If elected, Hall and his officers intend to implement the following seven-point plan of action:

1. We will seek to raise funds for youth programmes (i.e., boys & girls) to ensure programmes are built on outer islands. a. Create local sports clubs with leagues for play. (This would enable persons

Williams owns seven major championships, including five at Wimbledon. But she has lost in the first or second round in each of her past 12 Slam appearances, including bowing out at the All England Club in July after taking a tumble in her opening match.

Various injuries have limited her to 10 matches this season — she is 3-7 — after just four in all of 2022. The latest problem is with a knee that forced her to withdraw from a tune-up tournament in Cleveland a little more than a week ago and left her unsure of whether she would be able to play in New York.

But there she was.

“I have to really thank my doctors for helping me to get here. That in itself was a blessing,” Williams said. “I love playing here. I

Esports player Lucius in playoffs

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

JOHNATHON Lucius will advance to the next level after collecting wins in the group stage of the International Esports Federation’s (IESF) World Esports Championship this past weekend.

The 25-year-old was in action in Romania where he played against competitors from Norway, Iraq, Vietnam and Greece in best-of-three competition for Tekken 7.

LIVE REPLAY: Competitors from ten different Caribbean countries competed at the CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon this past weekend at Goodman’s Bay.

on home soil. Despite finishing fifth in the last two competitions, Team Bahamas claimed one gold medal, three silver and two bronze medals to total 88 points this past weekend. Menzies earned an historic gold medal in the 11-12 male triathlon. Meanwhile, his older brother Malcolm Menzies

Photos: Bahamas Triathlon Association

claimed silver for the second consecutive year in the 13-15 male triathlon.

Ralph Wood Jr joined Menzies as a silver medallist as he claimed two medals in the 21-and under division of the triathlon and aquathlon. The remaining medals were won by Erin Pritchard and Grace Farrington who

both placed third in their respective events.

Pritchard earned her podium spot in the 16-19 girls division of the triathlon and Farrington got bronze in the same division of the aquathlon.

The 2024 CARIFTA Triathlon and Aquathlon Championships will take place in Grenada.

After being eliminated from the initial round at the 2022 World Esports Championship, Lucius was elated to take the next step this year.

“It feels amazing after the results I had last year, whereas I was eliminated early in the competition,” he said.

The 2022 national Tekken champion went up against Norway first on Saturday. He won the match 2-1. He said although things were very close in the beginning, in the final match it became one-sided and he was able to take advantage of his opponent. Lucius once again collected another win this time against Iraq 2-0. Despite the score, the 25-year-old felt it was both opponents trying to gain the edge but in the end he was able to win via a knockout in the final match.

The Tekken 7 gamer dropped his final two matches against Vietnam and Greece. The Bahamas lost 0-2 to Vietnam and fell 1-2 to Greece.

He talked about the tough losses.

“My third match was against Vietnam where I lost 0-2 against him. It was a bit disappointing but it didn’t stop me in the tournament,” he said.

The World Esports Championship competitor said he felt he had control of the outcome against Greece initially but, in the end, his opponent was the much better player in the match.

After wrapping up the round with six points in total to place The Bahamas in the bracket’s top three, Lucius will prepare to face Peru’s Sergie Mazter in the playoffs.

outside of school systems with set of skills to be able to give back.) b. Have national round robin youth tournaments.

2. To reaffirm the national junior programme to compete on an international level.

3. Create a sustainable elite basketball programme in which athletes who are interested in national team may participate. a. Allow for stipends to cover time

of training for Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams etc.

4. Leadership will seek to implement a proper budget for the annual cost of operations and raise the necessary funds to ensure agenda can be established.

a. Establish a relationship with corporate Bahamas to raise funds.

5. Re-establish women’s national programme

game — broken twice right away. She lost each of her first half-dozen secondserve points. Minnen did what she could to keep Williams offbalance, particularly with drop shots, and it worked.

to become a regional powerhouse.

6. Develop coaches who are involved with youth with necessary skills to be certified coaches by FIBA (i.e., level 1 or 2 certification etc.). a. This will eventually allow Bahamians to be head coaches for our national teams.

7. Increase marketing (social media ads etc.) to the public for events hosted by the BBF.

1 ranking and the biggest trophies in their sport the way other siblings might share clothes or hobbies.

The Bahamas’ representative will have his hands full as Mazter placed second in the 2022 Tekken World Tour in the South America Regionals. And Mazter was the 2021 Evolution Championship Series (Online) LATAM South champion and is considered the favourite in the next round.

Although it is a tough opponent on paper, Lucius is prepared for the match on Friday.

really gave it my all today. I really played some great shots, but she had some incredible answers to that.

I wish I could have been more prepared for that.”

The temperature was in the low 70s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius), but the humidity was 90%, and Williams was not able to stay in the points with Minnen. It was quickly 3-0, with Williams — owner of what used to be one of the most intimidating serves in the

“Already when I was 5, 6 years old, she was on TV almost every Slam. She was going so far in every tournament,” said Minnen, who acknowledged feeling jittery before the match because of the opponent and the size of the largest Grand Slam stadium. “She’s always been an amazing player and she still is now. I knew I had to bring my ‘A’ game to beat her. Even though she’s a bit older, she keeps hitting the ball very good.” For more than two decades, Venus and Serena travelled the world together, swapping the No.

Now that Serena, who recently had her second baby, is done playing on tour, there are inevitable questions about how much longer Venus will compete. She has grown used to those queries and grown adept at deflecting them and did so again Tuesday, unwilling to say for sure whether she will play again this season, let alone beyond.

Was it hard to be at Flushing Meadows without her sister?

“I mean, I was very much aware that Serena wouldn’t be playing the tournament, so I think I was OK. I’ve had a chance to get used to that idea even before she retired,” the elder Williams said. “I kind of knew that was coming.”

“Peru’s representative, Sergie Mazter, is a worldclass player. He and I played against each other in some casual matches whereas he beat me but I am confident in myself that whether I win or lose, I am going to put on a performance to show everyone that I am ready,” he said.

With Esports now getting more exposure among Bahamians at this stage, the 25-year-old described the feeling as unreal to know a game he played for more than two decades has put him in this position.

“If you would tell me that I would be an Esports player I would not believe it…seeing myself at this stage in my life has been special to me because without this game I do not think I would be doing Esports,” the gamer said. Lucius will take on Peru this Friday at 4am and, if successful, will face Saudi Arabia at 4:20am.

RICARDO SMITH SHANTELL PENN LATOYA THOMPSON-BROWN

JIMMY MACKEY FRANCIS DELVA ASHLEY BETHEL

JOHNATHON LUCIUS

CARLOS ALCARAZ

Trades dominate the day as NFL teams trim rosters to 53 players

By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

A SLEW of trades highlighted roster cutdown day in the NFL yesterday.

Kicker Wil Lutz is reuniting with coach Sean Payton in Denver. The Eagles got tight end Albert Okwuegbunam from the Broncos. Veteran kicker Nick Folk went from New England to Tennessee.

Defensive end Boogie Bashum, defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr, cornerbacks Noah Igbinoghene and Kelvin Joseph, offensive lineman Dan Feeney and Kendrick Green and wide receiver/returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette are among the players on the move in trades.

Jonathan Taylor isn’t going anywhere, however. The Indianapolis Colts didn’t trade the disgruntled star running back, but they’re keeping Taylor on the physically unable to perform list. That means he will miss the first four games, even if he’s traded.

The most surprising cut came from New England, which let second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe go. Zappe was 2-0 as a starter last year filling in for Mac Jones but struggled in the preseason. The Patriots currently don’t have a backup because they also released veteran QB Trace McSorley and rookie Malik Cunningham, a QB at Louisville who played various positions and took snaps in camp. Other notable cuts around the league included the Bengals releasing QB Trevor Siemian in favour of Jake Browning. Siemian gave Cincinnati

COLTS WAIVE WIDE RECEIVER MIKE STRACHAN

Jaylon Smith, safety Jonathan Abram and punter Blake Gillikin. Lou Hedley takes Gilliken’s spot and rookie kicker Blake Grupe replaces Lutz.

The New York Giants got Basham from the Buffalo Bills. He has 4 1/2 sacks in 23 games. The Giants released veteran receivers Cole Beasley and Jamison Crowder, who were signed in the offseason.

Veteran tight end Tommy Sweeney, who had a medical episode on the field last week, was placed on the reserve non-football list. Wideout Sterling Shepard, a second-round pick in 2016 coming off his second major injury in two seasons (Achilles and knee) is on the team and remains the longest-tenured player.

an experienced backup behind Joe Burrow, whose status for Week 1 isn’t clear because of a calf strain.

Browning was the practice squad QB last season.

Philadelphia released punter Arryn Siposs. Green Bay cut incumbent punter Pat O’Donnell. Cleveland parted with kicker Cade York, a day after acquiring kicker Dustin Hopkins in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.

York was a fourth-round pick in 2022. The Browns also waived wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr, a former

USFL standout who had a strong camp and exhibition season.

Punter Thomas Morstead was among the Jets’ cuts, but he’s a vested veteran who is likely to be re-signed after the team clears roster space. Same for fullback Nick Bawden. New York also waived running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight to make room in a crowded backfield that includes Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall and Michael Carter. “Hard Knocks” star wideout Jerome Kapp — whose performance of Eminem’s

freestyle in “8 Mile” went viral — was also waived.

The 49ers kept Brandon Allen as their third-string QB after trading away former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance to Dallas last week. San Francisco, which ended the NFC championship game with no healthy quarterbacks, decided to keep Allen for insurance behind starter Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold. The Falcons also kept a third quarterback, Logan Woodside, behind starter Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

Atlanta chose tight end

John FitzPatrick over Parker Hesse and released offensive lineman Tyler Vrabel, son of Titans coach Mike Vrabel.

Veteran wide receiver Chosen Anderson was released by Miami. The Cowboys cut veteran QB Will Grier, who became expendable after Lance was acquired last week. Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said he hopes to retain Grier on the practice squad.

New Orleans released veteran cornerback Bradley Roby, linebacker

The Kansas City Chiefs got Farrell from the Raiders for a sixth-round pick and sent Smith-Marsette to the Panthers in a deal involving a swap of conditional 2025 seventh-round draft picks. Igbinoghene, a 2020 first-round pick, went from Miami to Dallas for Joseph. The Dolphins sent Feeney to Chicago for a sixthround pick. Green goes from Pittsburgh to Houston for a sixth-rounder.

The Los Angeles Rams made some surprising cuts, including guard Logan Bruss, the team’s top draft pick last year who missed last season with a knee injury. Cornerback Robert Rochell, a former fourth-round pick, and defensive lineman Marquise Copeland, who began camp expecting to replace A’Shawn Robinson as a starter, also were cut.

NFL CUT DAY UPDATE: Bahamian wide receiver Michael Strachan was waived by the Indianapolis Colts yesterday as the National Football League (NFL) teams narrowed down their rosters to 53 players by the 4pm deadline.

Team Bahamas roster named for Concacaf Nations League Complete 23-Player Roster

THE Bahamas Football Association has announced a 23-player roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League match against Puerto Rico at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on September 9.

Head coach Nesly Jean has called up a blend of youth and experience to begin the Nations League campaign. The squad features long-time national team players along with talented young stars looking to make their mark on the international stage.

“I’m excited about the balance of this roster,” said Jean. “Our veterans provide the leadership we need, while our emerging talents bring energy and fearlessness.”

Goalkeeper Antonio Beckford, defenders

William Gardiner and Miguel Thompson, and striker Lesly St Fleur are among the key veterans carrying over from The Bahamas’ qualifying run. They are joined by young standouts like midfielder

Wood Julmis and forward Rashaan Bain, who are expected to play increased roles. After facing Puerto Rico at home, The Bahamas will travel to Guyana on September 12 followed by a home game against

Antigua & Barbuda on October 14.

The Nations League provides important competition as the team aims to climb the FIFA rankings and compete for a place in the Gold cup competition.

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP: TOTTENHAM OUT IN 2ND ROUND AFTER LOSING PENALTY SHOOTOUT

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer

WITHOUT a trophy since 2008, Tottenham has seen one of its two realistic shots at silverware this season disappear already.

“The talent is there, and the team is driven to succeed,” Jean added.

“We are eager to represent The Bahamas and continue our progress through the Nations League.”

JAZZ’ GRANDPARENTS ENJOY LAUNCH PARTY FOR THE JAZZ CHISHOLM FOUNDATION

Davinson Sanchez was the only player who failed to score in a penalty shootout as Tottenham lost 5-3 to Fulham on spot kicks to get eliminated in the second round after a 1-1 draw in regulation yesterday.

Spurs have been knocked out before England’s top teams have even entered the competition. The Premier League clubs competing in Europe this season don’t play in the League Cup until the third round.

It’s the first time Tottenham has lost in the second round since an embarrassing defeat to lower-league Grimsby in 2005.

Micky van de Ven’s owngoal in the 19th minute put Fulham ahead before Brazil striker Richarlison headed in an equaliser in the 56th.

In the shootout, Sanchez — the Colombia centre back who was the subject of criticism from some Tottenham fans last season — had his attempt saved by Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak off his team’s third penalty.

Kenny Tete converted the clinching spot kick for Fulham at Craven Cottage. Tottenham, getting accustomed to life without Harry Kane following his move to Bayern Munich, now just has the Premier League and FA Cup to compete in this season, and the league looks a massive long shot for a team with a new manager in Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou might face some criticism, then, for fielding a weakened lineup against Fulham — Richarlison and Van de Ven were the only two players retained after Saturday’s 2-0 win against Bournemouth — despite the League Cup being one of the few opportunities for a trophy.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AUSTRALIA AND ITALY IN KNOCKOUT STAGE OF BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

FROM PAGE 12

Cooks added 24 and Australia (2-1) advanced to the knockout stage by taking second place behind group winner Germany.

The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists entered the World Cup as one of the favourites. Japan (1-2) disappointed home fans and could not repeat its rousing come-from-behind win on Sunday against Finland.

Hawkinson led Japan with 33 points and Yuta Watanabe chipped in with 24. Hawkinson hit 12 of 13 2-point field goal attempts and was 1 of 3 on 3-pointers.

GROUP A -ITALY 90, PHILIPPINES 83

At Manila, Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio had 18 points and six rebounds and Italy advanced after knocking out the Philippines.

Italy (2-1) finished second in the group behind the Dominican Republic.

Giampaolo Ricci scored 14 points for Italy, which pulled away in the second quarter to lead 48-39 at halftime and held off a late rally from the Philippines.

Jordan Clarkson had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Philippines (0-3), which needed to win in a blowout to advance.

GROUP D -LITHUANIA 91, MONTENEGRO 71

At Manila, Rokas Jokubaitis had 19 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Mindaugas Kuzminskas had 15 points.

Tadas Sedekerskis led his team with 11 rebounds.

The victory gave Lithuania (3-0) first place in the group with Montenegro (2-1) taking second.

Both had already advanced and the game decided the top two spots.

Nikola Vucevic led Montenegro with 19 points.

Marko Simonovic and Kendrick Perry each had 13 points.

GROUP H -CANADA 101, LATVIA 75

At Jakarta, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half as Canada overpowered Latvia.

RJ Barrett added 22 points for Canada (3-0), which overcame a 35-23 deficit in the second quarter with a 30-9 run and steadily built its lead.

Lu Dort missed his second straight game because of soreness.

Andrejs Grazulis had 16 points for Latvia (2-1) but Davis Bertans — his team’s only NBA player — struggled with just 7 points in 23 minutes. Latvia captain Dairis Bertans did not play

after a hamstring injury sustained against France ended his tournament. Both teams had already qualified for the next round with Canada winning a group for the first time in its World Cup history.

GROUP A — DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 75, ANGOLA 67

At Manila, Andres Feliz hit 17 points and Victor Liz scored 13 and the Dominican Republic (3-0) advanced to the knockout round.

The Dominican Republic trailed by one after three quarters but outscored Angola by nine in the final quarter. Silvia De Sousa led Angola with 19 points. Neither team shot well. Angola made only 2 of 21 3-pointers and the winners were only 5 of 25.

GROUP E — GERMANY 101, FINLAND 75

At Okinawa, Dennis Schroder and Isaac Bonga led Germany (3-0) with 15 points each, and Johannes Theimann added 13. Germany had already advanced to the second round and Finland (0-3) had already been eliminated from contention. Olivier Nkamhoua had 14 points for the Finns and Lauri Markkanen and Ilari Seppala added 12.

GROUP D — EGYPT 100, MEXICO 72

At Manila, playmaker Ehab Amin had 22 points and 10 assists as Egypt earned a consolation win over Mexico.

Centre Patrick Gardner added 20 points for Egypt (1-2), which extended an early 14-point lead to a 59-35 advantage at the half.

Pako Cruz and Joshua Ibarra each scored 21 points for Mexico (0-3), which was 6 of 23 on 3-pointers. Both of the teams had already been eliminated from contention for the round of 16.

At Jakarta, Guerschon

Yabusele had 18 points and teammate Evan Fournier had 17 as France (1-2) salvaged a victory in the tournament. France won the Olympic silver medal two years ago in Tokyo and was probably the most disappointing team in the World Cup.

Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert did not play because of an ankle injury. Wael Arakji had 29 points for Lebanon (0-3), which lost its opening two games by an average of 47

Five Premier League teams avoided upsets against lower-league opponents elsewhere yesterday, with Brentford only getting past Newport County by winning a shootout 3-0. The game finished 1-1, with Newport equalising in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Crystal Palace came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at second-tier Plymouth, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring a 22-minute hat trick. Palace scored three goals in a five-minute span from the 58th to take the lead.

Bournemouth recovered from conceding an early goal to beat second-tier Swansea 3-2 away, Luton won 3-2 at home to fourthtier Gillingham and Wolves routed third-tier Blackpool 5-0.

Wrexham, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, lost 4-3 on penalties to Bradford while Salford City, owned by Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and other members of Manchester United’s Class of ‘92, beat Leeds 9-8 in a shootout to reach the third round for the first time in its 83-year history.

The rest of the secondround games are played today, including Chelsea hosting fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon and an allPremier League match between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

GROUP H — FRANCE 85, LEBANON 79

points.

DOMINICAN Republic forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) smiles yesterday after defeating Angola at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.

(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr, second from left, poses for photos with his grandparents, Patricia Coakley, left, Judy Chisholm, second from right, and Hermits Chisholm, right, at the launch party for the Jazz Chisholm Foundation, on Monday, August 28 in Miami. The foundation will support the development of The Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League in New Providence, Bahamas, as well as community goodwill programmes in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

AMAZON CEO SAYS ‘IT’S PROBABLY NOT GOING WORK OUT’

FOR EMPLOYEES WHO DEFY RETURN-TO-OFFICE POLICY

By HALELUYA HADERO

AP Business Writer

AMAZON employees have been pushing back against the company’s return-to-office policy for months — and it seems CEO Andy Jassy has had enough.

During a pre-recorded internal Q&A session earlier this month, Jassy told employees it was “past the time to disagree and commit” with the policy, which requires corporate employees to be in the office three days a week.

The phrase “disagree and commit” is one of Amazon’s leadership principles, and was used often by the company’s founder and current executive chairman, Jeff Bezos.

“If you can’t disagree and commit, it’s probably not going work out for you at Amazon,” Jassy said, adding it wasn’t right for some employees to be in the office three days a week while others refuse to do so. His comments were first reported by Business Insider, and later shared by Amazon.

The current office attendance mandate, which was announced in February and went into effect in May, is a shift from Amazon’s previous policy that allowed leaders to determine how their teams worked. But the company said Tuesday it rejects the notion that the prior policy was supposed to be the norm, and pointed to a blog post from 2021 where Jassy noted Amazon

AWS CEO Andy Jassy speaks in Las Vegas, on Dec. 5, 2019.

Amazon employees have been pushing back against the company’s return to office policy for months - and it seems Jassy has had enough. During a pre-recorded internal Q&A

Wall Street rises following updates on consumer confidence, job openings

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AND ALEX VEIGA

Business

AP

Writers

TECHNOLOGY com-

panies led a broad stock market rally Tuesday after two economic reports raised hopes on Wall Street that the economy is cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to pause hiking interest rates.

The S&P 500 rose 1.5%, its third straight gain and biggest since early June.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 292 points and the Nasdaq composite finished 1.7% higher.

Big tech stocks powered much of the rally. Apple rose 2.2% and Nvidia climbed 4.2%. Advancers outnumbered decliners by 4

to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange. Bond yields fell broadly. Markets in Europe and Asia also rose.

The latest gains came as investors reviewed reports on consumer confidence and the labor market.

The Conference Board, a business research group, reported that consumer confidence tumbled in August, surprising economists that were expecting levels to hold steady around the strong July reading. Consumer confidence and spending have been closelywatched amid persistent pressure from inflation.

Also on Tuesday, the government reported that job openings fell to the lowest level since March 2021, a larger drop than economists

expected. The report also showed that the number of Americans quitting their jobs fell sharply for the second straight month, clear signs that the labor market is cooling in a way that could reduce inflation.

A strong job market has been credited as a bulwark against a recession, but it has made the Fed's mission to tame inflation more difficult. The latest data will likely be welcomed by the central bank, because fewer job openings and less quitting reduces pressure on employers to raise pay to find and keep workers.

"Markets reacted to the release of the consumer confidence and job opening reports by rallying, with both bonds and stocks up

work

on the news as odds for a Federal Reserve rate hike at their next meeting in September fell," said Sam Millette, fixed income strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network. Wall Street is betting that the Fed will hold rates steady again

would “continue to adjust” things as more information rolled in.

When announcing the updated policy earlier this year, Jassy wrote in a memo to staff that Amazon made its decision after observing what worked during the pandemic and talking to leaders at other companies. He said the company’s senior executives, known internally as the S-team, concluded employees tended to be more engaged in person and collaborate more easily.

But many workers haven’t been convinced. In May, hundreds of Amazon employees protested the new policy during a lunchtime demonstration at the company’s Seattle headquarters. At the time, an

internal Slack channel that advocated for remote work had racked up 33,000 members.

Some employees have also been pushing the company to supply data that support Jassy’s claims. During the session, Jassy said the company’s leadership looked at the data it has available and among other things, he said they didn’t feel that meetings were as effective from home as they were before. He added there are a lot of scenarios where the company has made some of its biggest decisions without perfect data, pointing to examples like Amazon’s decision to pursue an online marketplace for sellers and AWS, its cloud computing unit.

at its September meeting, according to CME's FedWatch tool. The data on job openings and consumer confidence may have helped persuade the outlook for what the Fed will do at its November policy meeting. The bets on the side of no change in rates by the Fed rose from about 38% on Monday to just under 50% Tuesday.

The Fed has been raising its main interest rate for more than a year to its highest level since 2001, in an effort to bring inflation back down to its 2% goal. The central bank held rates steady at its last meeting and Wall Street is betting that it will do the same at its September meeting.

"My gut tells me the Fed is close to being done with rate hikes, but we need to see more traction with some of these numbers we saw today," said Jason Betz, private wealth advisor at Ameriprise Financial.

Investors and economists have several more big economic reports on tap this week. The government will provide another update on the nation's gross domestic product on Wednesday. It will also release its monthly employment report for August on Friday.

A key inflation update is expected on Thursday when the government releases its personal consumption and expenditures, or PCE, report for July. It is the Fed's preferred measure for inflation and has been cooling for months. It eased to 3% in June and was as a high as 7% a year ago.

If the PCE report indicates inflation is coming down at a faster pace, and if the jobs report shows wage growth and hiring have weakened, that could bring down the likelihood

of a rate hike in November even further, said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist for LPL Financial. The Fed has said it is prepared to continue raising interest rates to cool inflation, but will base its decisions on the latest economic data.

The threat of rates staying higher for longer led to a pullback for stocks this month following what had been a banner year. The S&P 500 is down 2% this month after soaring 19.5% through July. It remains about 17% higher for the year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq is up more than 33%.

All told, the S&P 500 rose 64.32 points to 4,497.63, the Dow added 292.69 points, or 0.8%, to 34,852.67, and the Nasdaq gained 238.63 points to 13,943.76.

Bond yields fell. The yield on the 2-year Treasury, which tracks expectations for the Fed, fell significantly following the latest consumer confidence and job openings reports. It slipped to 4.90% from about 5.03% just before the report was out. It stood at 5.05% late Monday.

The 10-year Treasury yield also fell, dropping to 4.12% from 4.21% late Monday. The yield, which influences interest rates on mortgages and other loans, climbed close to its highest level since 2007 last week.

Wall Street also reviewed the latest earnings from several big retailers Tuesday.

Best Buy rose 3.9% after the consumer electronics retailer beat Wall Street forecasts, even as secondquarter profit and sales declined from a year ago.

Discount retailer Big Lots surged 26.8% after reporting strong financial results.

session earlier this month, Jassy told employees it was “past the time to disagree and commit” with the policy, which requires corporate employees to be in the office three days a week.

Photo:Isaac Brekken/AP

A TRIO of traders

on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.

Photo:Richard Drew/AP

VENDORS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN WORKSHOP

FROM PAGE A24

in the world, and then the ability to infuse that culture that we have into our businesses and our experiences.

I think nobody else does it like us. “

Mr Simon added that the entrepreneurs who participate in the workshops will be considered first when tenders and bids start to be issued this year. He added that Royal Caribbean

still aims to employ local labour and partner with Bahamian vendors. He said: “It’s a real honour and a treat to see all the persons that have come forward and the ideas that have been shared, and hopefully we can infuse as much of that as possible into when we get to the end of the year and we start sending out requests for proposal. Certainly, these

businesses are at the forefront for consideration.

“We’ve got a ways to go, but the goal remains unchanged. The goal remains 100 percent Bahamian participation not just in terms of the employees but also in the vendors and the third parties that we partner with.”

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean’s chief product innovation officer, last month explained that the

Royal Beach Club’s daily operations will be managed by Bahamians through partnerships with local companies. The cruise line has pledged support for companies that need to scale-up.

He said: “The vast majority of the operation, the goal is that it’s really run and managed by Bahamians. We think about it through a couple of different ways. The first one is

really partnering to scale businesses. If you have a business, we want to partner with you…so if you own a laundry business, beach clubs have towels, and so we need a laundry partner as an example.

“The second part of the thought process is that those businesses need scale and support. And one of the benefits of a joint venture like this is we can help scale and support. So if there is a

business that meets all the requirements, or one of the areas of the business, scale is where we can help.

“The third part of it is we want you to work with us and help you help us. And so as we go through this process, help incubate entrepreneurs who really can help scale themselves and create a business to help support us as well.”

10 DRUGS TARGETED FOR MEDICARE PRICE NEGOTIATIONS AS BIDEN PITCHES COST REDUCTIONS

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, TOM MURPHY AND AMANDA SEITZ

Associated Press

PRESIDENT Joe Biden touted the potential cost savings of Medicare’s firstever price negotiations for widely used prescription drugs on Tuesday as he struggles to convince Americans that he’s improved their lives as he runs for reelection.

The drugs include the blood thinner Eliquis, diabetes treatment Jardiance and eight other medications. The negotiation process was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed last year, capping decades of debate over whether the federal government should be allowed to haggle with pharmaceutical companies.

Any lower prices won’t take effect for three years, and the path forward could be further complicated by litigation from drugmakers and heavy criticism from Republicans.

But the effort is a centerpiece of Biden’s reelection pitch as the Democrat tries to show Americans he’s deserving of a second term because of the work he’s doing to lower costs while the country is struggling with inflation. The drug negotiations, like many of Biden’s biggest policy moves, will take time to play out, and his challenge is to persuade the public to be patient.

“For all of you out there, I get it, and millions of Americans get it,” Biden said at the White House. “I promise you. I’m going to have your back and I’ll never stop fighting for you on this issue.”

He noted that he got “no help from the other team” — meaning Republicans — when it came to lowering prescription costs.

The drugs on the list announced Tuesday accounted for $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients last year.

The Medicare program paid more than $50 billion for the drugs between June 1, 2022, and May 31, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS.

That includes more than $16 billion on Eliquis, a total that does not count discounts or rebates that are already negotiated for the drug. The drug from Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb treats blood clots in the legs and lungs and reduces the risk of stroke

in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

The diabetes treatments Jardiance from Eli Lilly and Co. and Boehringer Ingelheim and Januvia from Merck made the list. It also included Amgen’s autoimmune disease treatment Enbrel and Entresto from Novartis, which is used to treat heart failure.

Other drugs on the list include AstraZeneca’s diabetes and heart failure treatment Farxiga and three drugs from Johnson & Johnson: the blood thinner Xarelto, the blood cancer treatment Imbruvica and it’s biggest seller, Stelara, an IV treatment for psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders.

The list also includes several versions of Novo Nordisk’s Fiasp, a fast-acting insulin taken around meals.

The announcement Tuesday is another significant step toward taming drug pricing under the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed by Biden last year. The law also calls for a $2,000 annual cap on how much people with Medicare have to pay out of pocket for drugs starting in 2025.

In addition, the law already caps out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month for Medicare patients.

“We are here today with the firm belief that in the United States of America, no senior should have to choose between whether they fill their prescription or fill their fridge with food,” Vice President Kamala Harris said.

For drugs on the list released Tuesday, the government aims to negotiate the lowest maximum fair price. That could help some patients who have coverage but still face big bills like coinsurance payments when they get a prescription.

About 9% of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older said in 2021 that they did not fill a prescription or skipped a drug dose due to cost, according to research by the Commonwealth Fund, which studies health care issues.

Currently, pharmacy benefit managers that run Medicare prescription plans negotiate rebates off a drug’s price. Those rebates sometimes help reduce premiums customers pay for coverage. But they may not directly change what a patient spends at the pharmacy counter.

The new drug price negotiations aim “to basically make drugs more affordable while also still allowing for profits to be made,” said Gretchen Jacobson, who researches Medicare issues at Commonwealth.

The federal government will benefit most from any lowered drug prices, noted

Larry Levitt, an executive vice president for health policy at KFF, another nonprofit that studies health care. But he said that if Medicare spends less on prescription drugs, then premiums for everyone with its drug coverage also should fall.

Drug companies that refuse to be a part of the new negotiation process will be heavily taxed.

The pharmaceutical industry has been gearing up for months to fight these rules. The lobbying group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said Tuesday that the drug list announcement stemmed from “a rushed process focused on short-term political gain rather than what is best for patients.”

“Many of the medicines selected for price setting already have significant rebates and discounts due

to the robust private market negotiation that occurs in the Part D program today,”

PhRMA CEO Stephen J. Ubl said in a statement.

PhRMA representatives also have said pharmacy benefit managers can still restrict access to drugs with negotiated prices by moving the drugs to a tier of their formulary — a list of covered drugs — that would require higher out-of-pocket payments.

Pharmacy benefit managers also could require patients to try other drugs first or seek approval before a prescription can be covered.

PhRMA and several drugmakers have filed lawsuits over the administration’s plan.

Republican lawmakers also have blasted the Biden

administration, saying companies might pull back on introducing new drugs that could be subjected to future haggling. They’ve also questioned whether the government knows enough to suggest prices for drugs.

CMS plans to meet this fall with drugmakers that have a drug on its list, and government officials say they also plan to hold patient-focused listening sessions. By February 2024, the government will make its first offer on a maximum fair price and then give drugmakers time to respond. CMS aims to add 15 more drugs to its negotiation list for 2027 and another 15 for 2028. It then plans to add up to 20 more for each year after that.

PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks during an event on prescription drug costs, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Washington. Photo:Evan Vucci/AP

some challenge with rollover risk.”

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in its 2023 second quarter Caribbean bulletin, warned The Bahamas may “face difficulties to roll over existing debt” in the medium-term if market conditions do not improve with almost $900m in external foreign currency loans coming due in the next two years.

Aside from these loans, it added that “sound” debt management will be “key” for the Government over the next decade with at least $250m in foreign currency bonds held by external investors due to mature every year between 2026 and 2032.

“Although no sovereign external bonds will mature before 2024, between 2026 and 2032 there are bonds maturing every year of at least $250m,” the IDB said. “Even though the country is not facing an immediate need to roll over external bonds, within ten years most of its bonds will mature and in 2029 alone the amount will reach $550m......

“If market conditions continue deteriorating in the medium term, The Bahamas could potentially face difficulties to roll over existing debt. For these reasons, a close monitoring of debt trends and sound

public debt management will be key during this and the next couple of years.”

Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, could not be reached for comment yesterday while Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, did not respond to a detailed Tribune Business message on the topic before press time last night. However, both the Central Bank and the Government’s mediumterm debt management strategy show that $250m of external foreign currency bonds are due to mature in every year between 2026 and 2028.

The annual peak will be hit in 2029 at $550m, with a further $275m due for repayment in each of 2030, 2031 and 2032. Some $233.75m will also mature in 2033. The Government’s latest medium-term debt strategy covers up until the 2025-2026 fiscal year, when the start of eight consecutive annual maturities hits. While that period is not covered, the Davis administration will be responsible for laying the groundwork for whoever succeeds it and has to address the issue.

Pointing to the four socalled ‘sinking funds’ that have been set-up to “reduce refinancing risk in respect of future bond redemptions”, the medium-term debt management strategy said these will now also be financed from the collection

of tax arrears as well as Budget contributions.

Acknowledging that present market conditions, with high interest rates and widening emerging market spreads effectively cutting The Bahamas off from raising capital via international bonds, the report said: “The Bahamas witnessed significantly higher yields on its international bonds, by an average of approximately 520 basis points, through early November 2022.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, The Bahamas synthetic 10-year US dollar yield firmed progressively to reach a maximum of 14.7 percent in August 2022, and has gradually decreased since then. Although foreign currency debt refinancing needs remain manageable over the medium term,

The Bahamas international yield levels have made the Eurobond market an unattractive source of funding.”

The report, though, added that market outreach efforts had reduced yields by “more than 800 basis points for the 2024 Eurobond since October 2022”. And The Bahamas’ existing international bond issues seem to have stabilised on the global markets based on current indicators.

The $300m bond, priced at 6.95 percent and due to mature in 2029, closed last week at a near-20 percent discount to par and an 11.795 percent yield on the

Frankfurt exchange. The $825m bond, placed at 8.95 percent during COVID and due to mature in 2032, is presently at a near-15 percent discount to par ad 11.9372 percent yield.

However, Mr Edwards challenged the rush to blame international market conditions for the mediumterm refinancing concerns.

“The reality is, if you look at it objectively, that if The Bahamas was able to borrow at ‘triple A’ ratings in the current market it would be able to access credit way cheaper than the debt it is currently funding,” he argued.

“I’m not so sure it’s a function of the market, although the market conditions have been impacted by inflation and high interest rates. It’s not simply a function of the market and market deterioration. It’s a function of the creditworthiness of The Bahamas.

“The Bahamas finds itself at a place where it has a significant concentration of external debt, maybe more than it has ever had in the history of the country..... It has suffered over the last couple of years a number of credit downgrades which effectively put it into ‘junk’ bond status. There are elevated external pressures on The Bahamas at this time.”

Mr Edwards said the challenges The Bahamas will face, if it fails to hit Budget targets, improve its creditworthiness and

restore investor confidence, are refinancing that maturing debt pile at reasonable interests rates (cost) to the Bahamian taxpayer and, possibly, at all. The downgrades by the credit rating agencies also started before Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

While the annual medium-term maturities

“should not really present a refinancing problem” for The Bahamas, he added: “Is it the market which is exerting pressure, or is it the state of the country’s finances which is making it difficult for it to access credit at reasonable levels and, when faced with having to go to the private market, the private market is likely to assess a significant premium or be unwilling to roll over given the risk profile they place on the country?

“That is what we are dealing with, not market conditions. When we think about where we are today, and talking about rolling over in the medium-term over an eight-year period, the question is what will be done over the next three years to improve the creditworthiness of the country and reduces the rollover risk it is facing.

“Ultimately, it is about the performance and whether or not The Bahamas improves its revenue standing, improves its ability to cover expenses and heads on the trajectory projected into surpluses.”

Mr Edwards said economic growth will be “fundamentally important” to altering the country’s prospects, but questions remain over the sources that The Bahamas can rely on to “grow ourselves out of these circumstances”.

He suggested The Bahamas faces a “catch-22”, as failure to generate the necessary GDP and fiscal outcomes could force the Government into austerity measures that may, in turn, damage economic growth. The ORG executive voiced optimism that the upcoming Speech from the Throne, where the governor-general lays out the Government’s new legislative agenda, will signal how it plans to tackle these issues.

“The challenge is that, without growth, without improvement, the Government may have to think in austere ways, either significantly increasing taxes or reductions in expenditure. At some point in time, the Government is going to have to get their fiscal house in order,” Mr Edwards said. He warned that the required GDP growth may be two to three years “down the road, and added: “The Government will have to do what it needs to do to maintain the confidence of the credit market, get itself in a better position to reduce its rollover risk profile and, if that cannot be improved, at least ensure there’s no further deterioration.”

‘Four hurricanes’ cost GB resort 20% of its revenues

FROM PAGE A24

get to October we start to see more things happening.

“July, we finished north of and above 50 percent occupancy, which is good for Pelican Bay. In August, we’re just going to make 40 percent with a bit of luck but, if not, we will be in the high 30 percents.” As for the Grand Lucayan, the Pelican Bay chief added: “The Government is realising it’s not the easiest place to sell.

“Selling a hotel that has not been fully open since 2016, and a destination that has gone through what we’ve gone through, they’re not the easiest things to sell. The focus needs to be on getting someone in who has the financial muscle and know how to make it successful and drive demand. That should be the focus as opposed to the selling price. As a country, just look at

what we have lost in economic activity since 2016 by having the Grand Lucayan closed. It’s enormous.”

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president, told Tribune Business earlier this week that the traditional seasonality in New Providence’s year-round tourism cycle is starting to “level out” with the typical September dropoff “not as pronounced and not as deep” compared to pre-COVID years.

Resort occupancies for September are around 10 percent ahead of prior year comparatives, with the industry “seeing less dips and valleys” in the tourism calendar. Usually the slowest month of the year, due to a combination of factors such as children returning to school and coinciding with the peak of hurricane season, Mr Sands

added that while September’s advance bookings could “wash down” to a 7.5 percent year-over-year jump the data still showed the industry continues to improve.

Predicting that the hotel and tourism industry will “reach a point of stabilisation” in 2024, with stopover visitor numbers matching pre-pandemic levels, Mr Sands told this newspaper that achieving significant growth will become harder from next year onwards with The Bahamas having to rely more on efficiency gains and increased room supply as still-closed resorts come back online.

While the British Colonial’s anticipated re-opening before year-end 2023 will help with the latter objective, he added that The Bahamas must “continue to remain relevant in terms of value for money” that

it provides overseas visitors by tackling the cost and ease of doing business, including the reliability and price of Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) electricity supply.

With The Bahamas poised to enter the two slowest months in its tourism calendar, Mr Sands told Tribune Business: “There’s certainly a slowdown, but it’s not as pronounced and not as deep as in previous

years. We are still seeing growth year-on-year when we compare comparative months, September and October, and advance bookings.

“We continue to see growth throughout the rest of the year in terms of advance bookings. While we don’t have a definite position on the booking window until the end of a particular period, certainly I would say in terms of

percentage points we are anywhere around 10 percent [up] for occupancy compared to last year for September.

“It could wash down to 7.5 percent, but advance bookings are currently at that level for September and October. Bear in mind those numbers are based on everything remaining equal.”

Gov’t ‘doesn’t compare’ to GBPA upkeep record

Fishing Hole Bridge that would have been closed off for months during its construction.

“Residents of west Grand Bahama had to travel on a makeshift, unpaved road put to the south of the bridge while they were doing it. This road had pot holes, was in disrepair and floods, and the residents of Grand Bahama had to endure it for months while the bridge was repaired.

Where was Mr Mitchell then?”

Mr Wallace also questioned where the PLP chairman’s concern was regarding the Holmes Rock school, whose construction is now into its third administration having spanned both PLP and FNM governments. “If Mr Mitchell wants to talk about three years at Casuarina Bridge, ask him about seven years

at Holmes Rock,” he added. When it comes to the Casuarina Bridge, which sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Dorian, Lucaya Services Company (LUSCO) and Grand Bahama Development Company (DEVCO) in late 2020 hired All Bahamas Construction (ABC) to complete repair work at a cost of around $1.9m. However, changes in the scope of work raised the total price to $2.8m, an increase of $900,000.

“The reason why I am standing here is because the Grand Bahama Port Authority is saying they have the wherewithal to keep this city going,” Mr Mitchell said in a video widely circulated on social media. “And this lack of repair of the bridge shows you they simply are not able to demonstrate they have the financial wherewithal to keep this city going.

“And the Government has said enough of us subsidising the GBPA. We need to find someone who has the wherewithal, who is willing and able, to finance the needs and promotions of this city. If they can perform under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, fine, but if they can’t someone else needs to be asked to do the job.”

The GBPA has disputed the Government’s assertion that taxpayer are dollars are financing its developmental and maintenance responsibilities under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, and Mr Wallace yesterday said Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority has kept the city’s “miles and miles of roads” in a condition similar to that found in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton despite receiving not a cent from the vehicle licensing fees collected by the Public Treasury.

“The one road the Government is responsible for in Freeport is the Queen’s Highway,” he added, “and the Port Authority has to maintain that road. When you drive to West End or East End, or go to Eight Mile Rock, the two roads that the Government has to maintain are in a state of disrepair. I recently went to Eight Mile Rock, and they were pouring concrete - not asphalt - into the potholes on government roads. That is how they are maintaining them.

“The Government’s record in the areas it is responsible for, compared to the Port Authority’s record in maintaining the city of Freeport, it does not compare. The Government does not compare..... While Freeport has had its booms and busts, its glory days and its challenges, we are still today better off being run by the Grand Bahama Port

Authority than the Bahamas government.

“The Government’s hands are full. They can go and put their funds and energy behind any other island, south, central or north, but Freeport and Grand Bahama I think are better served by the Port Authority without political interference from government. The Port is in business to do business.”

Mr Wallace hailed Freeport’s founder, Wallace Groves, as being among the “pioneers of the free trade industry” as the Hawksbill Creek Agreement model has been duplicated throughout the world since.

“That today is still the model for Freeport,” he added, urging The Bahamas not to give up on, but instead enhance, Freeport’s founding treaty and see it through to its expiration in around 31 years’ time.

Pointing out that Grand Bahama was only the

FISCAL COUNCIL LIMBO SPARKS ALARM’ OVER ACCOUNTABILITY

“When we look at that, it ultimately reinforces what we see as a trendthat there’s more and more instances of this lack of priority for government mechanisms.... What we’ve seen in the instance of the Freedom of Information Act, and maybe with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, is there is not the same level of attention to these issues when compared to the focus on others such as getting off blacklists and accessing more sources of revenue.

“These are just as critical, and maybe even more so, because when government enacts changes citizens can see whether they are aligned with their interests.” Tribune Business yesterday reached out to Latrae Rahming, the Prime Minister’s communications director, to seek government comment and inquire what it was doing to address Fiscal Responsibility Council member concerns as to whether their appointments are still valid.

This newspaper also asked the Government to address concerns that the Council is perceived to be less independent from government following enactment of the Public Finance Management Act 2023, which switched responsibility for its members’ appointment from the House of Assembly speaker to the minister of finance (now Mr Davis) - the very person whose ministry, and fiscal strategies, plans and actions, they are supposed to be scrutinising.

Mr Rahming acknowledged receiving Tribune Business’ questions and message, but no reply was received before press time last night. Gowon Bowe, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) representative on the Fiscal Responsibility Council (FRC), explained he and his colleagues need confirmation if they remain members until their original appointments expire or if they are considered “terminated” due to the new Act coming into effect.

Given that the Council plays a critical role in The Bahamas’ enhanced fiscal transparency and accountability regime, he added that it was “in the best interests of the Government” and the nation to reassure the likes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) that there is no intention of “watering down” this framework.

The five-member Council plays a critical role since it is charged with examining whether the Government’s annual Budget, Fiscal Strategy Report and other measures align with set fiscal responsibility targets and principles. To-date, though, it has released just two assessments - on the

2020 Fiscal Strategy Report and the 2021-2022 Budget.

Mr Aubry yesterday said the Government’s decision to merge the Fiscal Responsibility Act into the Public Finance Management Act, consolidating both laws into one, has made the Council’s role “more important” because it has “reduced the opportunities for the public to learn and understand the fiscal strategy and financial position of the Government.

“It requires a more robust reporting schedule, and the importance of the Fiscal Responsibility Council achieving their mandate is critical,” he added. “We’ve seen even when the Fiscal Responsibility Act was in effect there was still not a frequent level of reporting, and a lack of clarity on when the Council would bring information forward or access the resources and funds to do their job appropriately.”

Asserting that this mechanism was a key component in building greater trust in government among Bahamians, Mr Aubry added: “If there’s less reporting and the mechanism is not in place, your fiscal responsibility is disengaged and not as robust. It affects your credit rating, which affects your borrowing costs, it affects local and international confidence in the fiscal strategy and position of The Bahamas.

“Given the clear focus on trying to drive new sources of revenue, you’d want that to be published, scrutinised and reflective of feedback and analysis by the experts on the Council. There’s a lot of benefit from having this mechanism, which does not have a long history, working.”

Mr Aubry said ORG holds similar concerns over “the continued contravention of the Public Procurement Act because there’s no public disclosure of which contracts have been awarded”. While the Government’s procurement website is “modern and accessible”, and provides a list of the different tenders and contracts out to bid, together with the identities of some winning bidders, he urged that “the back end” be enhanced to comply with the law.

This requires that the name of the winning bidder, the contract value and “what is expected of them” be published within 60 days of award but this has never been fully complied with since the first Act took effect on September 1, 2021, during the final days of the Minnis administration.

Mr Aubry said the Act’s purpose was to ensure government contracts are awarded fairly, rather than on the basis of patronage, political and family connections or some other arbitrary influences. If it worked, small Bahamian businesses would be encouraged to bid and, if

they succeeded, they will grow themselves and the economy.

The Opposition, meanwhile, were quick to jump on what they termed the Government’s “inaction” over the Fiscal Responsibility Council. Kwasi Thompson, the Free National Movement’s (FNM) finance spokesman,

accused the Government of “systematically decimating” transparency and accountability checks and balances that the former Minnis administration established.

“It was just wrong to move the jurisdiction of the Council from the Speaker to the minister of finance,” Mr Thompson said. “The Council

members are correct; it is like the fox watching the hen house. It was wrong to move the funding from the Parliament to the Ministry of Finance. It was wrong to move the appointment of the Council from the Speaker to the minister of finance.

“The Davis administration has systematically

seventh most-populated Bahamian island, according to the 1936 census, until the Hawksbill Creek Agreement sparked Freeport’s development as the country’s second city, Mr Wallace said: “When you look at the infrastructure put in place in Freeport from 1955 it still has the ability to carry 250,000 people.

“It’s properly laid out; you have the manufacturing area, the light industrial area, the residential area with multi-family and single family, the resort and commercial areas. It’s a properly laid out city bar none. I call on the Prime Minister, the head of the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, to do the right thing and sit down with the Port Authority and licensees and talk about the way forward. The GB Chamber should be included in that and local representatives (MPs).”

decimated the accountability controls, particularly with respect to the Fiscal Responsibility Council.” Mr Thompson argued that the Government has yet to justify the changes to the Fiscal Responsibility Council, and added: “It is the people who suffer the most from not having the necessary reports of the Council, and the Government seems happy to simply ignore this important accountability control system.”

REGULATOR’S WARNING ON DIGITAL ASSETS EXCHANGE

By NEIL HARTNELL

BAHAMIAN regulators yesterday issued a warning about an unregistered digital assets exchange purported to be operating from this nation illegally.

The Securities Commission, in a notice published on its website, asserted that FMFW LTD is offering online services “as a digital token exchange for the buying, selling and trading

of digital assets”. The company’s website also alleges that it is registered in The Bahamas, and that its user agreement and ‘terms and conditions’ for customers are governed by this nation’s laws.

However, the regulator said FMFW is not licensed under the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act and is therefore operating without the necessary authorisations. “Collectively, based on the services offered and the statements made, the

purport or impression is that FMFW is authorised to carry on a digital asset business, as an exchange, in or from within The Bahamas,” the Securities Commission warned.

“The Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act 2020 prohibits any person from carrying on or being ‘involved in a digital asset business in or from within The Bahamas, or purport to do so, unless’ that person has applied to and has been registered by the

Securities Commission of The Bahamas.

“FMFW has not made an application to the Commission, and has not been registered and authorised by the Commission to carry on a digital asset business in or from within The Bahamas,” the regulator added.” “Individuals currently (or desirous of) conducting business with the aforementioned entity or its agents/ representatives should be cognisant that they are doing so with an entity and/ or its agents who are not

authorised or regulated by the Commission. Members of the public should exercise extreme caution in considering engagement in digital asset related activities with the aforementioned entity or its agents/representatives.”

The Securities Commission also issued a separate warning about another 27 unlicensed and unregistered entities that it alleges are holding themselves out as conducting business from or within The Bahamas. “The Commission hereby

Landscapers starting earlier to beat heat

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

LANDSCAPERS yesterday revealed they are starting work a full hour earlier to protect their workers from overexposure to the summer heat and potential health complications.

Conray Rolle, the Bahamas Landscaping

Association’s chairman, told Tribune Business he and his members have had to adjust their operating hours through the earlier start while also making sure that sufficient ice and water is available for their employees.

“It hasn’t affected productivity. I don’t let the sun slow me down, but it’s caused me to spend more money on water and ice. and the issues with the ice shortage can sometimes

make things difficult for us,” he added. Back in July, gas stations and food stores were complaining of an ice shortage after suppliers experienced temporary production woes with equipment said to have broken down, but these appear to have been resolved.

Mr Rolle added: “We just try to stay as hydrated as possible. We’re trying to minimise the amount of sun exposure, clearly, on

Royal Caribbean ‘went above and beyond’ on PI questions

some of the jobs that we’re doing. But we are getting out a little bit earlier in the morning to try to beat the heat and now we’re just doing our best to try to stay hydrated and keep our hats on and keep our skin as covered as possible.”

The US health watchdog, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has frequently warned about the healthrelated risks if employees working outdoors suffer

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Caribbean was yesterday said to be “comfortable” all environmental concerns surrounding its Paradise Island project have been addressed after activists pronounced themselves satisfied with its wastewater treatment solution.

Philip Simon, the Royal Beach Club’s president, asserted that the cruise line “went above and beyond” in answering all questions posed to it. He added that environmental advocates themselves said they were content with its Paradise Island wastewater plans after viewing the technology that will be deployed at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at Coco Cay destination in the Berry Islands.

Speaking at a workshop held for the Royal Beach Club’s potential food and beverage, retail and artisan partners, he added: “We feel comfortable with our responses. Every question that was put to us was answered, whether it was environmental, social, economic. Every single question that was asked, we responded to. We went above and beyond.

“Yesterday, we were in Coco Cay with persons who requested to see our wastewater treatment plant. [They] came back satisfied that we are more than capable. And we have the latest standards and technologies. So yeah, I’m comfortable with what we’ve been able to accomplish thus far and very, very confident that we will meet the goals.”

Mr Simon added that Royal Caribbean’s next step will be to seek approval for its Royal Beach Club Environmental Management

advises the public that none of these entities or their agents/representatives are registered with/licensed by the Commission,” the regulator said.

“Additionally, none of the listed entities have applied to be registered/licensed by the Commission. Therefore, any registrable/licensable activity conducted in or from within The Bahamas by these entities and their agents/representatives is in violation of one or more of the Acts.”

prolonged exposure to the sun and heat.

“We’re just out here coping the best way we can. We haven’t had any medical or health issues, at least nothing that has been realised or what has affected us,” Mr Rolle said.

“We are making adjustments as we go along. The important thing for us is keeping our crews hydrated with ice and water. We also started to go out earlier in the morning so we can do

the bulk of the work before the sun comes out and starts to bear down on us.

“By the time the height of the heat has arrived, we have pretty much done much of the heaviest part of the work. It’s an adjustment and it isn’t anything new for us. It has been some extreme heat where it’s a different kind of heat altogether.”

Mr Simon said Royal Caribbean is still on schedule to open its Paradise Island project in summer 2025. “We’re pretty much still on schedule,” he added.

Once the environmental approvals are secured, Royal Caribbean will then begin to fill positions at the Royal Beach Club.

PHILIP SIMON

Plan (EMP). Key elements of that plan involve the demolition of derelict buildings on the 13 privately-owned acres it acquired on Paradise Island’s western end, site clean-up and preparations for construction.

“We’re still in the environmental process, so what you would have seen come from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) was a non-objection to our terms for the Environmental Management Plan, which is the next step in the environmental process. Once we would have gotten the approval of the environmental management plan, the next step would be getting a certificate of environmental clearance from the DEPP,” Mr Simon said.

“So we’ve got those two next steps in the environmental process that would then allow us to now go to the various government ministries and departments for the additional approvals for phase one, which includes obviously site clean-up, demolition and site prep. You know, first steps before we move into construction.”

Mr Simon added that the “goal” is still to fill all positions with Bahamian labour, and said: “We’ve started with the president of Royal Beach Club.. and so all of the other positions are still a work in progress. We are looking to really advance it more towards the end of the year. There will be some hirings in some of those positions, of course.

“Matriculating the environmental processes, you know, we hope to have that concluded in the next couple of weeks, and then the human resources structure built out. So we fully expect all of those positions to be filled by Bahamians. That is the goal. That’s the target. That’s why I’m here. So we’ll learn more about that in weeks to come.”

Royal Caribbean also said there are around 200 jobs available at Coco Cay in more than categories. A spokesperson said: ”We’re trying to hire at least a couple hundred more people. I’m not sure of the exact number of jobs available but it’s somewhere in the range of 200, and everything from lifeguards and beach attendants right up to financial experts and analysts.

“So there are about 15 categories of jobs available in Coco Cay right now. Many are shift jobs so it’s great for people who are looking for a job as well as the entrepreneurs who want to be part of Royal Beach Club.”

‘Don’t strangle Freeport’s founding agreement’ call

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday urged that whatever solution is reached on Freeport’s future it must avoid “strangling the Hawksbill Creek Agreement”.

James Carey told Tribune Business that the prolonged argument between the Government and Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has provided the latter’s 3,000-plus licensees with no clear answers on how the city’s business climate may change or evolve.

“There is still just this back and forth with the GBPA, which is concerning, and I wish somebody would say exactly what the end game is and the purpose that they are trying to achieve,” he added. “Is it a

full government takeover, is it to open it up to somebody else, or is it frustrate the GBPA into giving it up?”

The Davis administration, despite its constant criticism and attacks on the GBPA and its shareholders, the Hayward and St George families, has yet to give the Bahamian public any precise details on what its ultimate objectives are or the strategy by which it intends to achieve them apart from creating the general impression it desires an ownership change at Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority.

Mr Carey said the resulting information vacuum and uncertainty is “not good for business” in the Port area. Pointing out that the GBPA is privately owned, he added: “The Government has said that they are not trying to strangle the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, which is interesting because the

strangling of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement changes the whole tax regime in Freeport.

“These statements are lobbed out there and there is nothing else. The Government has spoken to all of these millions that the GBPA holds, and recently I saw something published that asked if the Government contributes to the upkeep of the roads. This one-upmanship is something I don’t believe in.”

“Ideally, this goes back to what’s necessary for us to have meetings between the GBPA and the Government. The business community and the community as a whole needs to be told what’s going on, and what’s desirable, because none of that is coming. Without knowing that it’s hard to be totally against the Government, and it’s hard to be against the GBPA, because we don’t know what’s awaiting us.”

ROYAL BEACH CLUB RENDERING

BTC names Bahamian as its technical director

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has named a Bahamian, Drexel Woods, as its new director of technical operations with effect from September 1.

Sameer Bhatti, BTC's chief executive, said: “I am confident in Drexel’s ability, and I am certain that we have made the right decision for the business. We are pleased to welcome Drexel back to The Bahamas and to the BTC business. BTC continues to evolve with its unstoppable fibre network, and our technology team is at the heart of that evolution. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we have strong

leadership to guide and direct the business.”

Mr Woods most recently served as head of technical operations for Flow, BTC's affiliate, in the Cayman Islands, where he drove key network initiatives including the deployment of its fibre network. Prior to that, he served as the acting senior manager for access networks at BTC. He has more than two decades of experience in technology, plus numerous certifications under his belt including Cisco Networks, Calix GPON and FTTx by Etai. Mr Woods has also studied technical management at DeVry University, and recently completed his MBA from Keller

Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. “Over $1.13bn has been invested since 2017, while rolling out next generation technologies such as fibre and 4G (fourth generation) in many islands. We went from 30 megabits per second Internet speeds in 2016 to one gigabit per second in 2023. This significant investment has contributed to the country’s digital development,” Mr Bhatti said. Mr Woods added: "This is an honour and a privilege. I am happy for the opportunity to serve in this role. I enjoyed leading technology operations in the Cayman Islands, and I look forward to working with such a

strong and diverse team here in The Bahamas.” BTC is evolving its technological infrastructure into a fibre-fast network to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers and the business. Mr Woods has responsibility for overall technology operations across the country and will be stationed in New Providence.

The carrier added that it remains focused on upgrading its infrastructure and delivering best-in-class fibre to the home services for all residents. It said it is still on track to complete its mission to “fiberise” New Providence and Grand Bahama this year.

THE WEATHER REPORT

‘Get fiscal house in order’ before $2.3bn debt repay

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government has a narrow window to “get its fiscal house in order” and refinance $2.36bn in external bonds maturing over an eight-year period without challenges, a governance reformer warned yesterday.

Hubert Edwards, head of the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) economic development committee, told

Tribune Business that concerns over this “rollover risk” stem mainly from The Bahamas’ plunge to ‘junk’ creditworthiness with the international rating agencies as opposed to global credit market conditions. Pointing out that this nation would still be able to access international bond markets at reasonable costs if it had retained ‘investment grade’ status, he added that it was vital The Bahamas reduce its “risk profile” and boost its credibility with lenders/investors

Gov’t ‘doesn’t compare’ to GBPA upkeep record

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE GOVERNMENT

“cannot compare” to the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) record in maintaining Freeport because much of the infrastructure it is responsible for on the island is in “disrepair”, a licensee argued yesterday.

David Wallace, president of Arawak Adventures and Commercial Tours, the Pirate’s Cove operator, told Tribune Business that Fred Mitchell, minister of foreign affairs and the public service, is selectively picking his facts to fit the Government’s anti-GBPA narrative while ignoring its own failings on Grand Bahama.

Speaking after Fred Mitchell, also the PLP’s chairman, last week cited the three-year delay in repairing the Casuarina Bridge as an example of the GBPA’s inability to fulfill its development and upkeep obligations, he added that the minister did not fully explain the circumstances or put the situation in context.

Mr Wallace, a former West End and Bimini MP, told this newspaper there are two bridges across the Grand Lucayan Waterway that connect Freeport to east Grand Bahama - the Casuarina Bridge and the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge. The latter, opened in 2016, provides an alternative two-way crossing while work continues on the Casuarina Bridge where traffic

is “still able to cross on one half”.

He also asked where Mr Mitchell’s concern was when Grand Bahama residents, particularly those in West End, had to “endure for months” a makeshift, pot-holed government road that frequently flooded while the Fishing Hole Bridge was under construction. And the Pirate’s Cove chief, a GBPA licensee, also contrasted the three years spent on the Casuarina Bridge with the seven and counting that it has taken to construct the still-unfinished school at Holmes Rock.

Noting that Dr Michael Darville, then-minister for Grand Bahama, had “pointed to the excellent working relationship the Government had

in the three years remaining before this $2.3bn debt starts to mature in 2026 and the principal becomes due for repayment.

Achieving these objectives means it is vital that the Davis administration hit its forecast $131m deficit target for the current fiscal year, plus attain the projected Budget surplus in 2024-2025, but Mr Edwards told this newspaper he was uncertain if post-COVID economic growth momentum will be sufficient. If not, he warned that the Government may have to adopt

“austere” measures such as new and/or increased taxes, spending cuts or a combination of both to restore market confidence.

“We know potential rollover risk is something that is real. We have been talking about it for quite some time,” Mr Edwards said, pointing to a 2021 column published by this newspaper in which he mentioned the issue.

“As early as 2021 there were signs there were going to be

Fiscal Council limbo sparks ‘alarm’ over accountability

established with the GBPA at that time” when the Sir Jack Hayward Bridge was opened, Mr Wallace said yesterday: “My first question is: Where is that relationship today?”

Renewing the call of other GBPA licensees for the Government and Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority to resolve their differences, and the city’s future, via negotiation rather than public row, he added: “The second point I wish to raise is, if Mr Mitchell is so concerned about Grand Bahama, he should have been at the

‘Four hurricanes’ cost GB resort 20% of its revenues

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama resort generated “about 20 percent more revenue” prior to the “four hurricanes” that have struck the island since 2016, its senior executive has revealed.

Magnus Alnebeck, Pelican Bay’s general manager, told Tribune Business that the quartet of eventsHurricane Matthew, the Grand Bahama Shipyard’s loss of its major dry dock, Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19 - all were likely to have inflicted “equal damage” on the island’s

already-ailing economy with each occurring when businesses were “already on our knees”.

Noting that the summer months have been “normal for Grand Bahama postDorian and post-COVID, with very little activity”, he added: “If you go back to years like 2015, it’s a drastic downturn. Then we did about 20 percent more in revenue than we do now at least.”

Pelican Bay typically attracts much corporate and group business, including from Grand Bahama Shipyard with temporary and transient workers, plus executives, flying in, and Mr Alnebeck told this

newspaper: “I say Grand Bahama has had four hurricanes since 2015.

“First we had Hurricane Matthew, then we had the big dry dock in the Shipyard that split. That was the second hurricane. Then we had Hurricane Dorian, which was catastrophic, especially for the loss of life, and then we had Hurricane COVID. I wouldn’t be surprised if those four events had equal damage for Grand Bahama’s economy.

“The problem is all of them happened when we were already on our knees still trying to get up again. The people who are left here are pretty thick

skinned. Young people may have given up and gone on to brighter and better things in Nassau, Exuma and Eleuthera, where there are more opportunities, but the people still here are survivors.”

Turning to recent months, Mr Alnebeck added: “Pelican Bay is doing OK. We had a good July. August was a bit weak, but that’s normal, and now we’re just hoping to get through the storm season without any problems. There’s a lot less travel in August and September, and by the time we

SEE PAGE A20

Vendors exceed expectations at Royal Caribbean workshop

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ROYAL Caribbean yes-

terday said the first Royal Beach Club workshop for potential Bahamian food and beverage, retail and artisan partners exceeded expectations by attracting around 70-80 attendees.

Philip Simon, the cruise line’s senior Bahamian executive and president for its Paradise Island project, said around 50 attendees had been expected. Explaining that the event was only targeted at Bahamian entrepreneurs in

those three segments, he added that further workshops will be held for other sectors as Royal Caribbean seeks to “infuse” Bahamian culture into its beach destination.

“This is a first in a series of workshops for the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island,” Mr Simon said. “It’s a partnership between the company and The Bahamas, and so we take that very seriously. And so, while we may have ideas about what it is that we are looking to do on Paradise Island, you know, the concept, the design, we just did not, could not, do that without involving the

Bahamian people given the partnership. “Today it is about food and beverage, it’s about artisans, it’s about retail, and we will have several more of these in the future. And the goal is really to try to infuse as much authentically Bahamian culture into what we are doing on Paradise Island.”

Mr Simon branded attendance at the workshop as “overwhelming” with more than 70 persons signed-up for the inaugural session. He said: “We are extremely pleased with the turnout. We would have sent out notices and the response was

overwhelming. We may have to kind of double up on these in the future and we are looking forward to the outcome. The target was 50 for the two-hour workshop. I think we may have gotten closer to 70 or 80 persons.” “People came and gave their opinions. That was what we were looking for. Of course, they were all business persons and it’s a tremendous opportunity for them to quote their business to us and, in turn, we do the same for them. We are some of the most creative people

SEE PAGE A19

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNANCE reformers yesterday voiced “alarm” that the uncertainty surrounding the Fiscal Responsibility Council highlights a growing “trend” where public accountability and transparency “lack priority” within government.

Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, told Tribune Business that the fiscal watchdog’s present ‘in limbo’ status is another example where the Davis administration appears to be “paying less attention” to building trust as opposed to focusing on other policy priorities.

Speaking after this newspaper revealed Council members are seeking clarity from Prime Minister Philip Davis KC as to whether their appointments are still valid, he also pointed to the

“continued contravention” of both the initial and new Public Procurement Act due to the Government’s failure to publish details on contract awards within 60 days of their issuance.

“What I think alarms us about it is it’s yet another instance where we see a lack of clarity for the mechanisms of transparency and accountability, and the responsibility to give information to citizens,” Mr Aubry told this newspaper on the Council.

SEE PAGE A21

MATT AUBRY

HUBERT EDWARDS

FRED MITCHELL