09012023 NEWS, SPORT AND BUSINESS

BAHAMIAN FACING GUN CHARGES IN US

Some weapons accused allegedly bought found at Bahamas murder scenes

A BAHAMIAN man living in Florida allegedly bought 89 guns between January 2022 and July 2023, some of which were recovered from murder scenes in The Bahamas.

Kingsley Samuel Richard Wilson allegedly admitted to illegally buying and selling firearms after he was indicted in Florida on 39 unlicensed firearm dealing charges last Tuesday.

The case highlights the

connection between guns bought in the United States and weapons used in local crimes.

Thomas Harrison, a special agent in US Department of Justice Bureau OF Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, alleged in an affidavit that the average “time to crime” connected to the guns Wilson acquired was 149 days.

TEARS OF JOY FOR E VANS FAMILY at Coroner’s Court ruling

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE family of Deangelo Evans burst into tears of joy after a Coroner’s Court jury ruled yesterday that the 20-year-old’s policeinvolved shooting death in 2018 was a homicide by manslaughter.

The officers in the case, Corporal Wright and Inspector Wilson, appeared

disappointed by the verdict. This is the latest inquest to return a homicide by manslaughter verdict. It comes weeks after a jury made the same finding concerning Azario Major.

The jurors could have returned a result of justifiable homicide, homicide by murder or an open verdict. Evans was killed on Sandy Lane in Mason’s

Governor General CA Smith’s fnal inspection

FORMER Governor General Cornelius A Smith performed a final inspection of RBDF officers during his demitting office ceremony last night. See story PAGE TWO.

BPL WORKERS TO VOT E ON WHE T HER TO S T RIKE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 500 Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) workers will vote today on whether to strike in protest of unresolved issues with BPL’s management.

Members of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union (BEWU) will gather at BPL’s headquarters and its substations starting at 9am to vote, while Family Island workers will head to labour departments and

WOMAN Charged in drive-by shooting

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was sent to prison yesterday for her alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting on Rupert Dean Lane last week that left a 25-year-old man dead and a four-yearold boy injured. Acting Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley charged Marquella Dean, 25, with murder and two counts of attempted murder. Ms Dean and other

SAYS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

administrators’ offices in their communities.

BEWU President Kyle Wilson told The Tribune yesterday: “The BEWU is fed up with meaningless talk and spin. We are ready to do what is required to protect our negotiated benefits and our health and safety. I believe it to be a referendum on the leadership of the current CEO to

THE Opposition’s leader yesterday urged the Government to avoid “a piecemeal approach” to reform in the FNM’s response to the corporate income tax proposal, warning: “We have a very small margin for error.” Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that corporate income tax must not be viewed “in isolation”, but instead be one element of a comprehensive review and reform of the entire Bahamian tax system,

Photo: Moise Amisal

Ceremony for Gov General CA Smith as he demits office

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNMENT offi-

cials and politicians gathered yesterday at Mount Filtz William for the farewell of Sir Cornelius Smith as he demitted the Office of the Governor General.

Sir Cornelius expressed thanks to God for

sustaining him, particularly when he had the “high honour, a distinct pleasure, and privilege” of serving the people of The Bahamas as the head of state. He was sworn-in as governor general in June 2019.

“My life journey was long, but extremely rewarding,” he said. “The journey took me from the

tiny settlement of Snow Hill in Long Island, to Capitol Hill in Washington, and then on Mount Filtzwilliam - what a climb.”

He extended congratulation to Cynthia “Mother” Pratt who is expected to be inducted as governor general today.

“Mrs Pratt has made many notable contributions to the improvement of our nation and I am

deeply impressed by her dedication to raising the standards of all Bahamians. I wish her every success as she assumes this office.”

Also in attendance was Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis who thanked Mr Smith for his service to the Bahamian people.

“It is often said that public service is a calling,” Mr Davis said. “When this nation called Sir Cornelius,

he answered with more than 40 years of service to the Bahamian people.

“When he was swornin as governor general in June of 2019, he could not have known that just a few months later a Category Five hurricane would devastate the Abacos and Grand Bahamaleaving behind tragedy, destruction and grief, and sobering understanding of

the dangers we confront in a new climate era.

“He also could not have known in June of 2019, less than a year into service as a governor general, a pandemic would be the cause of so much disruption and interruption. Yet, throughout his term, he served with a steadiness and propriety that was a source of support and reassurance for Bahamians.”

TALL PINES BACK-T O-SCHOOL EVEN T HOS T ED BY DR DARVILLE

PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and other members of parliamnet and their spouses posed with now former Governor General CA Smith and his wife at the demitting ceremony yesterday.

Photos: Moise Amisial

MINISTER of Health and Wellness, and MP for Tall Pines, Dr Michael Darville hosted a back-toschool event where there were giveaways, haircuts and braiding, and school supplies were given out. Also at the event were some nurses to give physicals and BTVI to provide information and talk with students.

Bahamian facing gun charges in US

His investigation began after receiving information about the recovery of three firearms in The Bahamas on three separate days, all of which Wilson bought. The court documents include photos of Wilson purportedly inspecting different guns for purchase.

“Based on either sales receipts or the customer profile (including firearm sale price and fair market value) Wilson has spent approximately $28,000 on his firearm purchases since January 2022,” the affidavit said.

Mr Harrison said the purchases exceeded Wilson’s job earnings, suggesting

that he was buying the guns for other people or dealing without a licence.

In a voluntary interview with US authorities in July, Wilson allegedly admitted to selling firearms he claimed he disliked or were either damaged.

However, he denied making gun purchases on behalf of anyone else.

After the interview, US authorities seized Wilson’s cellphone. They revealed conversations he had with other people about buying firearms.

One of those conversations was with someone named “Fresh.” The conversation concerned payment methods for firearms and how to ship guns

to The Bahamas.

“Wilson described using the box of a small pressure washer to package the firearms. Fresh requested that Wilson take a photo of the firearms before shipping them,” the affidavit said.

“In the same conversation, Wilson sent Fresh a picture of three extended magazines and six pistols –– two block .40 calibre firearms, a SCCY 9mm firearm and three Taurus firearms (models G2 or G3). ‘Fresh’ approves of these firearms. They also discussed the payments to Wilson for these firearms and the transfer of the firearms to third parties.” Wilson and ‘Fresh’ also reportedly exchanged

pictures of an electric pressure washer, car battery charger and microwave, discussing which firearms would fit in the packages.

Wilson messaged ‘Fresh’ to see if the items were received. The affidavit said:

“‘Fresh’ responded with a picture of a shipping service showing that the business was closed on that day. On February 18, 2022, ‘Fresh’ followed up and sent a picture of a $900 payment that had been sent to Wilson.” The affidavit included screenshots of the conversation. It identified the shipping company as a Carmichael Road-based courier and shipping company. The Tribune has chosen

to withhold the name of the company because it is unclear whether employees were aware of the alleged crimes.

The affidavit also detailed a conversation Wilson had with “Juggy.”

“From the content of the conversations, it appears that Juggy is the person transporting the firearms discussed by Wilson,” the affidavit said.

“On February 8 - 9, 2022, Wilson and ‘Juggy’ referenced how they are on a ‘tight schedule.’ Once Wilson had obtained background clearance from FFL, ‘Juggy’ instructed Wilson to pick up the firearms. They also referenced the packaging of the firearms for

transport.” The affidavits also include conversations Wilson had with people named ‘Links T’, ‘Donovan’, and ‘Outlaw,’ who expressed interest in purchasing firearms. The affidavit described instances when Wilson allegedly instructed his girlfriend to buy firearms for people who sent him money.

According to the court documents, Wilson was arrested on August 4.

Mr Harrison claimed that Wilson confessed that he had been illegally buying and selling firearms to people, making a $100 profit for each gun purchased.

Tears of joy for e vans family aT Coroner’s Cour T ruling

Addition on May 27, 2018.

Officers were responding to an alleged armed robbery suspect. While the officers maintained that Evans was armed, the family and several eyewitnesses said he was not. Civilian witnesses, including Dwight Johnson, who was identified as a suspect in the armed robbery, testified that police placed the gun they claimed Evans had at the scene.

In his closing remarks, K Melvern Munroe, attorney for the officers, asked the jury to reject the evidence of some witnesses

because of inconsistencies in their testimony.

Mr Munroe asked jurors to put themselves in the place of the officers facing an armed threat. He said if they would also fire their weapons to protect their lives and civilians, they should return a verdict of justifiable homicide.

Ryzard Humes, who represented the deceased’s estate, said that Edmund Lee, Evans’ cousin who was one of the first on the scene after the shooting and rendered assistance to the deceased, was unshaken in his testimony that Evans was unarmed.

Mr Humes said all

civilian witnesses were consistent in their testimony that Evans had no gun and that he had his arms raised at the time of the shooting.

The attorney also questioned why officers would focus solely on Evans when Johnson was wearing attire more closely matching the armed robbery suspect.

Romona Farquharson Seymour, who also represented the deceased’s estate, told The Tribune after the verdict that while the family wanted a homicide by murder outcome, they are happy with the finding of homicide by manslaughter. She expressed concern with

the process of the Director of Public Prosecutions pressing charges against officers in such cases.

“At the end of the day, (the verdict) means that after hearing all the evidence the jury determined the death of their son was unlawful,” Mrs Seymour said.

“The next step is now they have to wait and see whether the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, I believe that there is an acting director, Ms Cordell Frazer, whether she will, having knowledge of the verdict, whether she will direct for the interested parties, the officers Wilson and Wright, for them to be

THE family of Deangelo Evans burst into tears of joy after a Coroner’s Court jury ruled yesterday that the 20-year-old’s police-involved shooting death in 2018 was a homicide by manslaughter. This is the latest inquest to return a homicide by manslaughter verdict. It comes weeks after a jury made the same finding concerning Azario Major.

now charged criminally. And so that is really the hope, so that they, the family, can move further in reaching some type of conclusion in this matter.

“I believe a reasonable time would be anywhere from 14 days to 30 days, a month, for there to be some determination. A reviewing, obviously of the verdict, of the file, and then to determine whether those officers will in fact be charged. That unfortunately seems to have to be the waiting game and the plight of these families. You would note that, whereas there has been a number of verdicts of homicide by manslaughter, they have

not necessarily translated or it has not materialised the officers being interdicted and charged and placed before the Supreme Court.

“And so that’s really a sad fact and many families are then left in limbo saying, ‘Well why? What’s next?’ Why if a jury has found that you have unlawfully taken the life of my loved one, why is it that there is a hesitation, or in some cases a refusal, to put the matter or put the person before the criminal court, the Supreme Court?”

Acting Coroner Kara Turnquest-Deveaux presided as Patrick Sweeting marshaled the evidence.

woman Charged in drive-by shooT ing

from page one

suspects reportedly drove to a residence on Rupert Dean Lane and Ferguson Street in a Japanese vehicle around 7.30pm on August

24. They allegedly got out of the car with guns and opened fire toward Dario Dawkins, Anton Davis and a four-year-old boy. The suspects then got back in their vehicle and fled the scene. While two other victims

were successfully treated in the hospital, Dawkins died. The child suffered from a gunshot wound to his left ankle.

Dean was told the matter would be moved to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). She will be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until, or unless, the higher court grants her bail. Her VBI is set for service on November 23.

from page one

from page one

THE FAMILY of Deangelo Evans visiting his gravesite in 2019.

A UN expert said the international community should step up support for The Bahamas and small island states that are at high risk from natural disasters due to climate change.

“The Bahamas needs long-term financial planning to address its climate vulnerability and economic dependence on tourism,” said Attiya Waris, the UN Independent Expert on foreign debt, international financial obligations and human rights, in a statement at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.

Waris noted that the Bahamas’ high-income status limits its access to international financial institution loans and development aid.

“The reality is that they should be supported by the international community, including international financial institutions and development banks,” she said.

The expert urged the Bahamas and the international community to adopt a comparative indicator other than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, noting that the country has unique challenges that require more resources than most states, including a high cost of living and a constant risk of devastating climate-related disasters.

The Bahamas’ economy is heavily dependent on tourism, Ms Waris said. After five major hurricanes in the past decade, The Bahamas was most recently hit by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which caused USD 3.4 billion in damage, nearly 25 per cent of the country’s GDP.

“The impact of Hurricane Dorian, COVID-19 and the decline in tourism was devastating for both the population and the country’s economy,” the expert said. “The country is still repaying the debt incurred for reconstruction and will continue to do so for many years to come.”

The UN expert urged the government to consider long-term economic planning that considers the consequences of climate change and explore the diversification of its economy to become less dependent on tourism, increase its food security and use local innovation.

“The collective responsibility of the international community towards climate change and its consequences should not be forgotten,” Ms Waris said.

The expert will present her report to the Human Rights Council in March 2024.

Pain and sadness on Dorian anniversary

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE anniversary of Hurricane Dorian still conjures pain and sadness for many people in Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“Every time on September 1, there is always panic, and they remember what happened to their loved ones that passed away in the hurricane. It will be a day of crying,” said Beraca Baptist Church Pastor Henry, referring to the Haitian community.

Hurricane Dorian caused $3.4 billion in damage in 2019, decimating various communities, including The Mud and

Pigeon Peas. The storm killed at least 74 people.

“We want to just to thank God for sparing our lives and seeing us through another year,”

Pastor Henry said.

Pastor Raynald Oliurice of the Church of God Prophecy in Dundas Town said his wife, Mary Lou, was never found. He said he knows a Haitian woman whose two girls were never found.

He said he gets scared when there is bad weather.

“Even now, I feel traumatised by the hurricane, and if I am sleeping in the night and the wind blows outside, I start to think about it,” he said.

He recalled feeling helpless when the church

in which he and 70 others, including children, were sheltered was destroyed.

“You don’t have nowhere to go,” he said. “You just wait for your life to end and there is nothing you can do to help yourself or someone around you. It is a very bad feeling.”

Pastor Oliurice said finding accommodations in Abaco is still challenging.

People are still living in tents and cars because they have no place to go, he said, adding housing has become more expensive.

“A single-bedroom unit rents about $1,000 monthly,” he said. “It is really tough.”

NEW NURSING COUNCIL BOARD PAYS CALL ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTER

call on the Minister of Health & Wellness Dr Michael Darville on Wednesday.

The new Chair of the Council Ms. Patricia Brown along with the Registrar Ms. Ruth Albury and other members of the Council engaged in

a lively discussion with the Minister on the implementation of the provisions of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2023.

The Act, which was passed in Parliament on the 22nd of May, 2023, repealed and replaced the 1971 Act which required upgrading to accommodate the evolution

of the nursing profession here in the country. The legislation in its broadest form aims to expand the practice of nursing and midwifery, continue the work of the Nursing Council of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Registrar and the Nursing Tribunal, and provide for the training, regulation,

registration, enrollment and licensing necessary for the continued professional development of nurses and midwives.

The new Nursing and Midwives Act 2023 allows for the advancement of almost 1,700 nurses and 200 midwives across the public and private healthcare sector.

MEMBERS of the new Board of the Nursing Council of The Bahamas paid a

FROM LEFT: Ruth Albury (Registrar), Marcel Johnson (Deputy Registrar), Tamica Knowles (Deputy Chairman), Patricia Brown (Chairman), Minister Darville, Gina Dean, Anthia Bartlett, Leja Burrows and Ferneka Deleveaux (members).

THE SCENE in Abaco after Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A HOUSE lays shattered, destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, in High Rock, Grand Bahama. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

BPL workers to vote on whether to strike

strike vote,” he said.

say whether they are happy with the direction.”

Christopher Hanna, president of the Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union (BEUTM), said a similar strike vote could be held for BEUTM members as early as next week.

“We facing the same problems they facing. We haven’t had a contract for five years,”

Mr Hanna said. BPL CEO Shevonn Cambridge told The Tribune he was not surprised by the BEWU’s plan to hold a strike vote.

“We would’ve received notice that they’re taking a

“We continue to meet with them to discuss the issues and that’s where we’re at. It’s their right to take a strike vote.”

He said contingency plans would be implemented if BPL workers were to strike.

“For strategic reasons, I can’t go into it, but we do have plans in place,” he said.

The move comes a week after BPL staff went on work to rule.

“As a result of their unwillingness to correct/ resolve any of the major issues that you face, we are now in a state of reduced enthusiasm. We will only work our regular

scheduled hours. No overtime. No working through lunch,” Mr Wilson said in an August 23 memo to members.

“It is imperative that all members must hold the line until resolutions are achieved. Members stand ready as the clarion call is about to come at any moment.”

The workers are upset about issues related to hazardous pay, pension and medical benefits, among other issues.

They have also expressed frustration over poor working conditions at BPL’s substations.

BPL’s management said they have worked in good faith with the union

and addressed many of their concerns under the law and the industrial agreement.

“The others are matters before the courts,” BPL said. “BPL’s management is disappointed with the union’s decision to advise its employees to ‘withdraw their enthusiasm’ primarily as BPL and the BEWU are engaged in regular meetings to identify and address concerns.

“BPL’s management maintains that our response has and will remain above board and in the best interest of the company’s stakeholders, including our employees and the customers we serve.”

uB announces PartnershiP with sM arter Baha M as for data a nalytics Progra MMe

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE University of The Bahamas announced a partnership yesterday to let students learn data analysis skills for career development.

Acting University of The Bahamas (UB) President

Janyne Hodder said the programme would be a data analytics career accelerator.

To provide the course, UB is partnering with Smarter Bahamas.

“Students will be provided with the technical and job readiness skills needed to launch a career in data analytics, a field

in dire need of trained Bahamians to fill already in-demand job opportunities,” Ms Hodder said.

“The data analytics career accelerator certificate is innovative in its content, in its format, and in its delivery. It fills a much-needed and overdue gap and how we meet needs within the job

M AN ON A CRUISE APPEARS TO have drowned at a BiMini Beach

Police on the island of Bimini are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 26-year-old Guyanese male cruise ship passenger.

According to preliminary

information, shortly after 5pm on yesterday, officers at the Alice Town Police Station received reports of a male who was found by a lifeguard floating and appeared to be unresponsive

at Radio Beach. A male, who was retrieved from the water, was examined by the local doctor who confirmed no signs of life. Investigations continue into this matter.

BALCONY FIRE CAUSES TEMPORARY EVACUATION at Baha Mar, ‘quickly resolved’ - no injuries

A FIRE on the 18th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel at Baha Mar caused guests and employees to be briefly evacuated yesterday.

A video showed the flames searing the concrete and railing as onlookers watched with concern.

Baha Mar said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident that occurred on the 18th floor of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on Wednesday, August 30th.

“We can confirm that no injuries were incurred or damage done to public areas of the property. The situation was quickly responded to and resolved. All guests and employees were given the signal that it is safe to return to the 18th floor and their respective rooms.”

market and the needs of job seekers, particularly those young or those who are still fairly early in their career.”

The four month programme includes three months of instruction and one month of real-life work experience. Six months of career coaching and job search support will also be provided.

Sebas Bastian, the ambassador to Central America, said he created Smarter Bahamas to fulfill gaps related to technological training. “I opened up the newspaper I think it was some

UB announced yesterday that they are partnering with online learning platform Smarter Bahamas - created by Sebas Bastian, the ambassador to Central America - to provide a data analytics programme. Mr Bastan said he created the learning platform to fill gaps related to technological training.

month in July of 2018,”

Mr Bastian said. “It was this grand announcement about how we’re going to make Grand Bahama the new tech hub. So, I phoned the then-prime minister and said, while that is a very admirable and ambitious and much-needed quest, how are you going to build a tech hub with no technicians?

“Where is the training facility that is going to train these individuals that’s going to work in this new technological market in this tech hub that you’re trying to build? And then I went home, and I crafted

the framework for Smarter Bahamas. Which was designed to fill the national skills, particularly in the area of technology.

“We need to make sure that we’re educating ourselves in a matter of relevance and that we’re killing ourselves with indemand skills. And then there’s a direct correlation between the global job market and the curriculum. And that’s why we’re here today.”

The programme will start its first cohort on October 10th. Smarter Bahamas will subsidise 60 per cent of the cohort.

MORE than 500 Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) workers will vote today on whether to strike in protest of unresolved issues with BPL’s management.

The Tribune Limited

Ending institutionalised oppression of women in The Bahamas

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 Paco Nunez of Human Rights Bahamas. Readers are invited to send their own suggestions to letters@tribunemedia.net.

WERE it up to me, I would change – or rather do away with – the entire matrix of social, cultural and political myths and assumptions used to condone and facilitate blatant discrimination against more than half the population of this country.

That may seem like more than one thing and maybe I’m cheating a bit, but bear with me:

Nowhere in our abundantly challenged society is a blatant lack of fairness, justice, fundamental rights and common decency more evident than in our treatment of women, both in law and everyday life.

As I write the debate rages yet again, for what seems like the hundredth time, over the unconscionable travesty that is the failure of successive governments to criminalize rape within a marriage. The Bahamas remains one of only 25 countries in the world, and one of only two in the Hemisphere, to deny mothers the right to confer nationality to their children on an equal basis to men. Meanwhile, civil rights activists continue to plead in vain for a legal framework to help tackle an alarming epidemic of gender-based violence and sexual abuse that is thriving at all levels of society.

This failure to legislate in the name of equality continues to provide both cover and fuel to a pervasive, twisted logic justifying all manner of further gender-based discrimination, whether institutional or casual, in the workplace or in the home, when it comes to questions of access to justice or even basic public services. It has nurtured a toxic atmosphere of female objectification, misogyny, sexual assault and victim blaming.

The Bahamas thus remains in

shameful violation of its commitments under international law to ensure equality between women and men. It remains in violation of the standards of basic decency and respect for all individuals that should be a minimum requirement of any society that claims to be civilized and democratic.

Successive governments have paid lip service to righting this great legal wrong and perhaps some even meant it. But their efforts were hijacked by fear-mongers, misinformers and 15-minute-fame-chasing opportunists.

Digital trolls have drowned out rational argument with fake news. Doomsday criers continue to prophesy from the pulpit: “The sky will fall if women are afforded the same rights as men!” And so-called leaders who should know better, have allowed themselves to be intimidated by the din.

But democracy is not about surrendering to the most aggressive voices, even if they are in the most numerous. Protecting vulnerable individuals against a ‘Tyranny of the Majority’ and securing their fundamental rights even in the face of adverse public opinion is at least as important, if not more so.

Governments are elected to govern and legislate, and sometimes they must display the political courage to do so, despite the noise in the market, in defense of what they know to be morally and ethically decent.

So, I suppose that if I had to wish for one concrete change, it would be for the emergence of a group of politicians with the courage and integrity to end the institutionalised oppression of women in The Bahamas. Though it may affect their popularity among some groups in the short term, such leaders will be remembered in the long run as having been on the right side of history.

Of course, legislative change alone will not remove the deep, insidious and formidable matrix upon which gender-based discrimination is built. But it would be a start.

The Minister of Works should have resigned

EDITOR, The Tribune

I can’t speak for anyone else, but every time I see Alfred Sears, Minister of Works on TV or in the daily newspaper, I see the Face of Failure, absolute and complete failure. It’s been over a year now since he was unable to locate his magical email on the IDB Hedge Programme for BPL fuel. As reported in the daily newspaper on December 9th, 2022, Mr. Sears finally admitted that he had indeed received the emails from BPL fuel hedge committee on October 9, 2021. So, it took Mr. Sears 425 days to locate emails after repeatedly saying he had no knowledge of these emails.

The biggest travesty in this whole episode is that the Bahamian people are ultimately suffering, with this record heat, and now sky-high electricity bills. Evidence of this failure is being felt everyday by Bahamians, for example my BPL bill jumped 93% from May to June 2023. Unfortunately, the worst has not arrived since the August bills are expected to be even higher. For the first time in a long time the previous Government was able to be proactive, and along with IDB created a hedge programme to control the increase in fuel charges. Hedging is not new, airlines,

cruise lines and trucking companies use hedges to reduce their exposure to rising fuel costs. We lost a real opportunity to continue, continuity in Government when Mr. Sears failed to act on the fuel hedge. Being Minister responsible for BPL, the right and proper thing to do in my opinion was to resign because he had failed the Bahamian people and continues to fail every day, when he appears in the newspapers and on TV. I read both newspapers every day, but I read any story where he is the lead cautiously. We don’t know if he is being transparent, or if he has conveniently forgotten some salient point or facts, or if he is misleading the public as he did for 425 days. In my opinion if he were in the private sector he would have been fired on December 8th, 2022 when he revealed that he had indeed received those emails. In the Westminster system members of Parliament are called honourable. They are expected to behave and act honourably in all their duties.

When Liz Truss was elected Prime Minister of the UK,

one of her very first decisions was to change course with the economic plan put forward by her predecessor. Her goal was to turn Britain into a low tax, high growth economy post Brexit. That proved to be disastrous, the market panicked and the pound plunged. She did the honourable thing and resigned her post as Prime Minister, after only 44 days, thereby becoming the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history.

In the Bahamas politicians have conveniently forgotten why we call members of Parliament honourable.

And politicians are now more self-serving and less about being servants of their constituents. Hence this is the reason, in my opinion, as to why the Minister of Works Alfred Sears refuses to do what I consider the honourable thing and resign for his failure at BPL.

In my view this Minister has single handedly increased the cost of living and inflation on the entire country by the increased BPL fuel surcharge. BPL literally affects the cost of everything in this country and yet the Minister believes he did nothing wrong. Wow!

B A SWEETING Nassau, August 31, 2023.

READERS’ REACTIONS: ‘EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS FAILED’

READERS on tribune242.com posted their reactions to the news that the number of students who achieved A, B and C grades in BGCSE exams this year dropped compared to 2022, with more students receiving D, E, F an G grades.

K4C said: “With more students receiving D, E, F and G grades, it says the education system has FAILED.”

Themessenger posted this comment: “Only 10% of five thousand plus students graduating with a C or above average, a permanent police presence in the schools, yes I think you could make a case that the government educational system has utterly failed. As these students are the future of the country moving forward, I think that a firm case could be made that we are well on the way to becoming a failed state.”

And Bahamianson had this to say: “At the beginning, you have a male and female

coming together. Are the two responsible enough to raise a child in the way that he or she should go? There is the problem that social services must address. Teens having children does not do the society any favours. We need responsible adults to have children. Guys drop a child in every community leaving the female to pick up the pieces.

“There are a number of stories where a mother relies on the eldest 6th child to bring home the bacon, only to see him shot in the streets. This needs to be addressed on many levels. Any individual wanting to have a child must take parenting class. The government needs to provide the classes and make them mandatory! Otherwise, we will continue to spin. Let us continue this same yearly conversation in the next 10 years, like all the other problems we continue to talk about.

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

A PEACOCK sits on a chimney as a nearly full moon rises behind it, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday. Wednesday saw the month’s second supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position to Earth. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Sunshine Insurance introduces The Pink Run 5k for breast cancer awareness and health

With Aliv Business Makeover campaign companies can win up to $90k in prizes

By LETRE SWEETING Tribune Staff Reporter lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESSES can win up to $90k in prizes to help their enterprises grow as part of Aliv’s Ultimate Business Makeover campaign.

Aliv announced the launch of a 12-week campaign in a press conference yesterday. Its newly launched sister company, Aliv Business, formerly Cable Bahamas Business Solutions, has partnered with 14 other businesses.

The partners include title sponsor Easy Car Sales, offering an E-JS4 All-Electric SUV, The Tribune, Huawei, Sign Island, Sun Cash, Margarittaville, Our News, RBC, Kanoo and Access Accelerator.

Charnette Thompson, vice president of Aliv Business, said the goal is to equip businesses with the tools needed to thrive in the digital age.

“With this campaign, we are not only offering solutions,” she said. “We are igniting a journey of innovation and empowerment. Businesses can look forward to a holistic transformation that encompasses strategy, technology, and sustainability as we pave the way for a brighter, greener future.

SUNSHINE Insurance, the driving force behind Marathon Bahamas, is thrilled to unveil a new chapter in its commitment to health, community, and support.

Introducing THE PINK RUN 5k, a dynamic and inclusive event that merges fitness, philanthropy, and awareness. The run is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 14, 2024, starting at 6.45am, from Western Esplanade with a captivating new route that encompasses the downtown area and promises breathtaking views of both the course and returning marathon participants.

Designed with all levels of fitness enthusiasts in mind, The Pink Run 5k beckons both runners and walkers to unite in a common stride towards a shared goal. Set against

the picturesque backdrop of The Bahamas, this family-oriented event invites participants of diverse backgrounds to join the movement and contribute to a crucial cause.

At its heart, The Pink Run 5k is dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer, a disease that affects countless Bahamian women. This event serves as a platform to celebrate survivorship, remember those who have valiantly battled the illness, and champion the ongoing fight against breast cancer.

Sunshine Insurance is resolute in its commitment to making a tangible impact, as 100 per cent of the net funds raised by The Pink Run 5k will remain within The Bahamas to bolster breast cancer education, research, services, and other women’s health

claimiNG police ‘humiliated’ him ta X i dRi V eR seeks leGal a dV ice

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A TAXI driver is seeking legal advice after being “humiliated” by a junior police officer.

Lamorn Rolle said a routine ticketing event for obstructing traffic turned into his vehicle being searched for alleged suspicion of drugs and firearms because of a comment he made to the officer.

He was driving downtown on June 19 with ten American tourists, he said.

Insufficient parking space prevented him from properly parking when a guest asked to stop at Scotia Bank.

An officer who pulled Mr Rolle over asked him to show his licence and insurance.

Before showing the documents, he apologised to the officer for holding up traffic.

Mr Rolle said he told the officer he and his guests would take care of the ticket.

“He turned around and called some police officers from over by Gucci to come over to give me this ticket,” Mr Rolle recalled. “So, I noticed the young lady started to write up this ticket.

“I said, officer, I’m not signing this ticket if another police is writing this up. I said how this get like this, you’re supposed to be writing me up, where is your ticket book? I said you are

a corporal, big corporal, you ain’t got no seniority. When I told him this, I think it flared him up.”

Mr Rolle said the officer then ordered him out of his bus.

“He started to push his hands into my vehicle to open up my door,” he said. “And I pushed his hands back. I said you know what, before this escalates to more, let me come out the car.”

A video from one of the guests captured the incident, showing the officer searching Mr Rolle and patting him down while other officers stood by.

At one point, Mr Rolle screamed: “I have guests in my car.”

“I don’t care who in there,” the officer responded.

Eventually, the tourists were forced to leave the van so officers could search the vehicle.

“They were outraged they couldn’t believe this little stoppage at a traffic stop that they thought they were just going to get a ticket escalated into this,” Mr Rolle told The Tribune. “And they told me that if I need any assistance reach out.”

Mr Rolle said the officer wanted to humiliate him.

“I’ll be seeking legal advice on how to go about this and to bring some awareness to the police force on the mishandling of drivers,” Mr Rolle said.

m a N admits to t RespassiNG a Nd t RyiNG to steal hat fRom ca R

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN is behind bars after he admitted to trespassing on a man’s yard and attempting to steal a hat from his car earlier last month.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged Gladstone Green,

programmes.

One of the highlights of The Pink Run 5k is the innovative new course, specially designed to enhance the participant experience. Starting and finishing at the same location at Western Esplanade, the route showcases the vibrant energy of Prince George Dock and the Bay Street area while offering a prime viewing spot of marathoners returning from their journey to the east. Attendees can also take advantage of convenient parking at Fort Charlotte, ensuring a seamless start to their day of empowerment.

Participants are encouraged to channel their camaraderie and competitive spirit by forming teams that can vie for prestigious awards. Recognitions such as “largest team,” “most

energetic team,” and “most creative team” add an extra layer of excitement and engagement to the event. Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, assembling a team amplifies the impact of participation and contribution.

THE PINK RUN 5k embodies Sunshine Insurance’s unwavering dedication to community welfare. Beneficiaries of the event include esteemed organisations such as the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, and Cancer Society of Grand Bahama.

With a history of having distributed over $440,000 to date, this event stands as a testament to the transformative potential of collective action.

“We’re poised to offer an enhanced range of business solutions to empower small and medium business owners, hence this Ultimate Business Makeover campaign reinforces our unwavering commitment to equipping with the tools to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

“We’re also excited that customers can sign up or upgrade their Business in a Box services that will help them enter for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a vehicle and other cash and prizes.”

“We are so pleased to join and partner with Aliv Business and the Cable Group of Companies on this promotion, because we want to encourage greener practices, more sustainable practices in our business,” said Pia Farmer, co-owner of Easy Car Sales.

“One of the ways in which we can do that very easily is to transition from gas vehicles in our fleets to electric vehicles. The greatest benefit to businesses is that they have a much-reduced cost of operations. The cost of ownership and running an electric car is about two-thirds less than gasoline. At the same time, you are reducing your emissions and your customers will love it.

“So, we’re very pleased to offer one of our electric vehicles, the JAC SUV, which is a great vehicle for businesses or for consumers as the grand prize. And we’re so glad to be a part of this promotion. Sign up and get your chance to win the car.”

52, with attempted stealing, trespassing and vagrancy. Green trespassed into the yard of Shawn Deveaux on Ned Wallace Road on August 21. The accused was arrested after he was found trying to steal a hat from a white 2008 Honda Stepwgn.

After admitting to the offence, the defendant was told he would be sentenced on September 11.

PARTICIPANTS of The Pink Run 5K.

The need to strengthen the trades

By Keyron Smith

THIS week, Ministry of Education officials released con cerning news about the continued decline in the Bahamas General Certificate of Second ary Education (BGCSE) national examination results.

Only 544 students or 10.9 percent of those sit ting the exam passed with a C grade or above in five or more subjects. Earlier in June, the Baha mas National Statistics Institute also revealed that only 55 percent of the labour force in The Bahamas completed secondary school, four percent received pri mary-level education or had no education, and 26 percent finished university.

While many are not surprised, the down ward trend in BGCSE results over the years is an indicator that our students are not excel ling in the classrooms and for various rea sons. While the causes can be debated, we can agree that they are multilayered and exacerbated by long-term deficiencies at home and in the education system. These declining numbers signal to the nation that we must reassess our approach to education and create an intervention for those being left behind. We must strengthen vocational and technical training within our schools and consider ways nonprofits in education and other partners can help students achieve a greater chance at success as they leave school and enter the real world.

The country’s traditional academic routes have been held as the gold standard in education.

Still, these educational pathways do not accommodate the diverse needs and talents of the student body. As a result, we

are not tapping into our students’ full potential, leaving a large percentage disengaged and disconnected in the classroom. Strengthening the vocational and technical trades in the schools and creating more non-traditional pathways can help to meet the diversified learning needs of students and provide an opportunity to meet the needs of growing job markets in The Bahamas.

Eleuthera is an example of an evolving landscape where many new developments are taking place. However, our students and young adults on the island must be prepared to meet the expectations of the job market. With the increase in developments, there will be more job opportunities in the construction, hospitality

and tourism sectors. However, these opportunities will require a skilled workforce to move these sectors forward and fill gaps. Closing skills gaps through training enhances the employability of individuals and the expansion of local businesses contributing to economic growth and job creation and leading to higher standards of living and wellbeing. This is the value that vocational and technical trades bring and why it makes sense to prepare our young people with the skills needed to take advantage of these economic opportunities throughout The Bahamas. We can bridge the gap between academic and industry needs by putting greater focus on providing technical and vocational

training for our young people.

Pursuing vocational and technical education has also become a trend in the United States, where many young people are seeking trade schools over traditional fouryear degree programmes. Shorter completion times, more affordable tuition costs and clear job paths make this route more practical and attractive.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, there has been an enrollment increase of 11.5 percent from spring 2021 to 2022 in mechanical and trade courses. It was also noted that there were increases in construction trades courses, which saw an increased enrollment of 19.3 percent, while culinary programme enrollment increased by 12.7 percent. The National Student Clearinghouse also revealed decreases in enrollment at public two-year colleges by 7.8 percent and a drop in enrollment at public four-year institutions by 3.4 percent.

Non-profits that support education also have a role to play in reforming the educational landscape and supporting student success. Non-profits are primarily focused on the social betterment of communities. Their missions and bottom line are rooted in social impact, which makes them great partners in providing diverse and accessible educational opportunities. Education-centred nonprofits can identify gaps to improve training courses and tailor programmes to the needs of specific student groups. They can collaborate with schools and vocational institutions to provide

resources, mentorship programmes, scholarships and internships, thereby enhancing the educational experience for students who would not ordinarily have access to such opportunities.

Furthermore, nonprofits can also connect industries and educational institutions, facilitating partnerships that lead to revised training programmes to meet industry needs. As industries rapidly change and adapt, nonprofits can provide onthe-ground information that ensures programmes remain relevant and aligned with the skills needed in the workforce. This collaboration can improve the quality of education and foster a sense of purpose and direction among students, motivating them to excel on their chosen paths.

Through my work with the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) in Eleuthera, I have seen first-hand how vocational and technical training can transform outcomes for students who are not academically inclined but good with their hands. As part of a dual enrollment programme between CTI and the Ministry of Education, we have been able to train high school students in various trades, including carpentry, basic culinary and construction. By the end of the course, students are equipped with the skills needed to enter their selected field and have a National Accreditation Equivalency Council of the Bahamas (NAECOB) approved certification to validate their training.

Students completing our CTI trade programmes demonstrate a high success rate and typically

gain employment in their field of study. As of 2022, 75 percent of CTI’s graduates in South Eleuthera were employed and 64 percent in a field related to their course of study. In North Eleuthera and Harbour Island, 95 percent of alums were employed and 85 percent in a related field.

While we need to emphasise strengthening vocational and technical training in The Bahamas, it is not a clarion call to replace academic pathways in education but to supplement these pathways so that we can meet the diversified learning needs of students in the country.

We must expand our approach and pedagogies to allow people to reach their full potential and aspirations.

By taking a more holistic approach, we will not only create trained, skilled professionals but also better citizens who can make meaningful contributions to the local economy and their communities.

The decline in national examinations should continue to be a wake-up call to the nation that we must reshape the country’s educational system.

By strengthening vocational and technical education in the country, we can make transformative leaps to prepare our students to be productive and competitive in today’s evolving economic environment.

We should also recognise the value nonprofit organisations can bring to fill educational gaps, drive change, and empower the next generation, giving them the skills and confidence to succeed in alternative career paths.

President and CEO, One Eleuthera Foundation

FROM LEFT: Darico Higgs, FHITS Board; Steve Galanis, CTI Electrical Installation Instructor; Fredrick Storr, Electrical Installation Course Graduate; Ithalia Johnson, Keynote Speaker; Keyron Smith, President and CEO, One Eleuthera Foundation & CTI.

CTI Basic Culinary students participating in practical training.

The high cost of power

By Diane Phillips

THE predictable midmonth e-mail from BPL landed in my inbox. Trying to ignore its presence, I continued working, aware it was sitting there, waiting to be opened. As usual, I was slightly curious but knowing it would set me back I weighed the hope for a miracle against the dread of knowing it was summer (the bedroom air conditioning was running at night) and the sinking feeling the bill was probably going to be a little higher than last month’s which was bad enough.

First, I have to confess that I tell you all this background because I am a fanatic about paying bills.

Back to the bill. The clock ticks and the bill with the big blue BPL sits in the inbox, unopened. Minutes pass and finally I cannot take the suspense any longer.

I take a deep breath, double click on the all too familiar address noreply@ bplco. And then I nearly drop whatever I was holding or not holding or thinking about holding as time stood still and I inhaled the largest GULP of my adult life. More than $750 for a single month, nearly a 45% increase over the month before. Insane, I thought. Surely, I misread the document or they sent me someone else’s bill by mistake. I checked. The name was right, account number correct. I opened a second bill, one I handle for a physically challenged individual whose expenses I manage. And GULP again. A year ago, his bill was less than $50 a month. The cottage where he lives is tiny. True, his sister moved in this year, but still – a fivefold increase. The NIB disability benefit he receives is now less than his power bill. What is he supposed to live on?

I called friends. “Did you get your BPL bill?” I asked before remembering to inquire about their health. “Omigod,” was their nearly universal reply. “Two thousand,” said one. “Seventeen hundred,” said another, a normally gentle soul, who puffed up his chest and shouted at his three children to turn off the a/c and open the windows.

But we don’t have a/c in our house, only split units in

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

the bedrooms, and it’s only the two of us at home, and we’re at work during the day. There’s no one there. How, pray tell, can a onemonth bill be $750+?

All this personal stuff is more than a mini financial pity party. This is serious stuff with serious implications for a nation that a) has to worry about keeping a lot of people at or below the poverty line reasonably satisfied so they do not revolt and so their health is not endangered and b) wants to attract investment and knows that the production and distribution of energy at a reasonable cost is one of the major factors influencing where to invest.

As individuals, we can complain about the high cost of electricity, but somehow we will manage to come up with the money to cover it. We will grumble but we will carry on.

For industry, the high cost of power is not a matter of grumbling. Next to labour, the cost of energy can be the most significant factor in operations. Consistency of delivery, quality and cost of energy can make the difference in deciding whether to invest, expand, renew and re-energize or walk away altogether. It’s the single factor that can take a product or offering to where price elasticity gives way to price bust. Alone, the cost of energy has the distinctive power to make or break business success or failure.

In light manufacturing, an area The Bahamas claims to want to develop, proper management of energy is absolutely critical.

In the hospitality industry, particularly where older hotels compete against newer properties with more energy efficient components, the cost of power can dictate whether survival at an acceptable price point per accommodation is even realistic.

In courting desirable, sustainable business, we remind investors of the country’s political stability, our proximity to or ease of access to major ports or cities and markets, our relative safety and personal security, but those features are ‘attaboys’ up against the realistic cost of doing business in the key areas of labour and energy. And

in a country where ease of doing business is more goal than reality, cost is critical. So what do we do about it besides GULP, complain and exclaim?

We must make green energy reasonable and accessible. That means making cheap financing available for solar installation for residential and commercial properties. That means creating community solar farms funded by a combination of grants, financial institutions and government. That means looking at other renewables including wind farms and harnessing the power of the

Gulfstream. You may have noticed this week that the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) circulated a survey on electric vehicle use, the same week the first company to grasp the potential of the e-vehicle market got ready to announce its purchase of new premises, developing a site probably more than ten times larger than its current location. There is money to be made in the renewables market, in financing green energy and in moving the country forward in construction methods that are revolutionizing how we

build and look at living in a climate-change challenged world. These aren’t buzzwords anymore. These are harsh realities that hit us when we open a bill from BPL and they will find other ways of stabbing us if we continue to do what we have always done and kick the bucket down the road.

What to do is not always clear. While the debate over white roofs continues – do they heat up earth while keeping the interior of a house or structure cooler – there is no question that they reduce the demand for power. Even if we don’t have all

the answers, we know we have some when it comes to energy. Whatever it takes, the time to act was yesterday. We are not merely grumbling over the cost of electricity. We are being fried by the implications of planning our tomorrows with an antiquated fossil fuel power generation system that fails to answer the most important demand of all – to find sustainable building and living methods that reduce the threat of climate change. If we do not, we will pay with a currency far greater than the dollars it takes to pay BPL. We will pay with our lives.

We must make green energy reasonable and accessible.

ROTARY SATELLITE CLUB OF NASSAU ON CAT ISLAND’S BACK TO SCHOOL JAMBOREE

ROTARY Satellite Club of Nassau (RSCN) on Cat Island’s Back to School Jamboree was held last Saturday at Our Kids Arcade, New Bight, with love packages containing school supplies, free arcade tokens, a painting station, as well as food and beverages for those in attendance.

PHILPOT ‘SCOUTS DAY’

THE Scout Association of The Bahamas will celebrate John Philpot “Scouts Day” on Saturday, September 23rd from 9am to 3pm at the Scout Headquarters, Dolphin Drive. Special features on the day will include a knot/pioneering demonstration, award session, training overview, cub and scout competition and more.

The jamboree was held as a partnership with the Rotary Club of Nassau (RCN), Our Kids Arcade and Young Marine Explorers (YME) Cat Island Conservation Institute.

Rotarians on Cat Island are looking forward to continuing in this effort by making it an annual event.

LEADING VOICES ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM

LEADING Voices Toastmasters Club 7876584 is an organisation built on the core values: Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. The club was founded (chartered) June 22nd, 2021 and hosts hybrid meetings held via zoom and in-person. Its operational year begins in July. For the year 2023-2024

Leading Voices has elected a new executive team comprising of: Tesha Smith – President; Derek Rolle, DTM – Vice President Education; Tamandra Cooper – Vice President Membership;

Guerline Joseph – Vice President Public Relations; Christine Sweeting - Secretary; Latoya Rankine – Treasurer; Gequahn Colebrooke – Sergeant-at-Arms; and Anna Whistler, DTM - Immediate Past President. The team is leading a cadre of vibrant members and has been recognised as one of the top ten (10) clubs with the highest education awards per 7/1 membership in District 47, and number one in The Bahamas for the year 2022-2023. This year the club’s theme is “Success Through Synergy”. Besides maintaining its President’s Distinguished status, some of the club’s goals for the year include: growth by at least five members for eligibility of the Triple Crown Award. Club Program educational goals by the second quarter. competition levels within District 47.

The month of August highlighted the installation of the new executive team along with the induction of new members. The ceremony welcomed guests from all over the world including

Africa, India, United States and particularly toastmasters’ leaders from District 47, which includes South-East Florida, and The Bahamas.

A membership drive was also held on Saturday, 5th August at the Mall of Marathon to allow members of the public to learn more about the organisation while also attracting prospects.

Leading Voices is

expecting a successful and impactful year ahead. The club would like to extend an invitation to all individuals interested to join the dynamic experiences which are held every second, fourth and fifth Sunday of each month at 6pm (EST). The club’s contacts are: leadingvoices@gmail.com; facebook @Leading Voices Toastmasters Club.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UN SAYS NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED, INJURED OR KIDNAPPED IN HAITI ROSE 14% IN RECENT MONTHS

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.N. said Thursday that 1,860 people were reported killed, injured or kidnapped in Haiti from April to June, a 14% increase compared with the first three months of the year.

The surge in gang violence remains centred in the capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, with nearly 300 people alone killed or injured by snipers in the slum of Cite Soleil, according to a human rights report released by the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti, known as BINUH.

The report was released a day after the U.S. Embassy in Haiti urged U.S. citizens to leave the Caribbean country “as soon as possible” given the ongoing insecurity and infrastructure challenges.

Among those killed from April to June were 13 police officers and more than 460 gang members, the majority of those by lynching, followed by police shootings, the U.N. said.

At least 230 suspected gang members have died as a result of a violent civilian uprising dubbed “bwa kale” that began in April and targets suspected criminals.

Another 298 people were kidnapped during that period, a 24% drop compared with the previous quarter. Almost half of the kidnappings occurred in the Artibonite region north of Port-au-Prince, which has seen a rise in gang violence and killings.

Gangs also continue to use rape and mutilation to instill fear and punish those living in areas controlled by rivals, the U.N. said. At least 49 women in Cite Soleil were raped in April as they tried to escape gang violence, with seven of them killed afterward.

Gangs also were blamed for looting or setting on fire nearly 100 homes from April to June, as well as hijacking at least 13 commercial trucks transporting fuel, food and other items. Commercial boats and barges also have been hijacked, according to the report.

BINUH noted that impunity remains widespread in Haiti, with few being held accountable for the violence.

“The judicial system remained dysfunctional due to the persistence of longstanding challenges, notably corruption, political interference and recurrent strikes by judicial actors,” the report stated.

BINUH also found that Haitian prisons remain mired in inhuman and degrading conditions, with 85% of 11,810 inmates held on pre-trial detention. Cell occupancy rate was more than 330%, and more than 30 inmates died from April to June, most from malnutrition-related diseases.

The report was released more than a week after a team of officials from Kenya arrived in Haiti to determine how best to help quell gang violence in a country of more than 11 million people with only some 10,000 active police officers.

The U.S. is drafting a U.N. Security Council resolution that would authorise Kenya to lead a multinational force and provide 1,000 officers. No timetable has been given for submitting the resolution and voting on it.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had requested the immediate deployment of a foreign armed force in October to help fight gangs that have seized control of more territory ever since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

JOHN

TESHA SMITH, President DEREK ROLLE, Vice President Education

TAMANDRA COOPER, Vice President Membership

GUERLINE JOSEPH, Vice President Public Relations

CHRISTINE SWEETING, Secretary LATOYA RANKINE, Treasurer

GEQUAHN COLEBROKE, Sargeant-at-Arms

RESIDENTS PICK THROUGH THE RUBBLE, NAVIGATE CLOGGED ROADS AND LIVE WITHOUT POWER AFTER HURRICANE IDALIA

ZELENSKYY SAYS THAT UKRAINE HAS DEVELOPED A LONG-RANGE WEAPON, A DAY AFTER A STRIKE DEEP INSIDE RUSSIA

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)

— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country has developed a weapon that hit a target 700 kilometres (400 miles) away, in an apparent reference to the previous day’s strike on an airport in western Russia.

Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

On Wednesday, a four-hour wave of drones that Moscow blamed on Ukraine hit an airport near Russia’s border with Estonia and Latvia, damaging four Il-76 military transport planes, according to local reports.

The airport is in Russia’s Pskov region, about 700 kilometres (400 miles) north of the Ukrainian border.

In all, six Russian regions were targeted in the barrage amid the 18-month war.

The Associated Press was unable to determine whether the drones were launched from Ukraine or inside Russia.

Kyiv officials normally neither claim nor deny responsibility for attacks on Russian soil, though they sometimes refer obliquely to them.

Zelenskyy’s remark was the clearest hint that Ukraine was behind the strike.

The attack forced the closure of Pskov airport, though it reopened Thursday, according to Russian transport officials.

Another drone intercepted overnight near Moscow resulted in flight delays at several airports around the Russian capital, officials said Thursday.

No injuries were reported.

Russian news agency Interfax reported, meanwhile, that security services killed two people and detained five members of a Ukrainian sabotage group in the Bryansk border region on Wednesday.

The apparent Ukrainian drones reaching deep into Russia and cross-border sabotage missions are part of Kyiv’s efforts to heap domestic pressure on the Kremlin, militarily and politically. Meantime, a Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June is chipping away at some parts of the front line, Kyiv officials claim.

Ukraine is aiming to “erode Russian morale and increase pressure on its commanders,” the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank, said in an assessment.

The strategy is “to bring Russian forces to a tipping point where combat power and morale may begin to break,” the IISS said in the analysis late Wednesday.

By REBECCA BLACKWELL AND TERRY SPENCER Associated

Press

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida and Georgia residents living along Hurricane Idalia’s path of destruction on Thursday picked through piles of rubble where homes once stood, threw tarps over ripped-apart roofs and gingerly navigated through a maze of streets left underwater or clogged with fallen trees and dangerous electric wires.

In Valdosta, a city of 55,000 in southern Georgia, resident Desmond Roberson, who took a drive with a friend to check out the damage, said that on one street a tree had fallen on nearly every house. Roads remained blocked by tree trunks and downed powerlines and traffic lights were still blacked out at major intersections. He said the few gas stations that were open had long lines.

“It’s a maze. ... I had to turn around three times, just because roads were blocked off,” Roberson said.

Nearly all of the 600 tarps that officials had set aside to cover damaged roofs had been claimed by Thursday morning, said Meghan Barwick, spokeswoman for surrounding Lowndes County.

More than 24,000 homes and businesses in the county of about 120,000 people remained without electricity, according to Barwick, who said residents should be prepared for several days more without lights or air conditioning.

Rescue and repair efforts were in full force in Florida’s remote Big Bend area, where Idalia roared ashore with 125 mph (201 kph) winds Wednesday, shredding homes, ripping off roofs, snapping tall trees, and turning streets into rivers.

“I’ve seen a lot of really heartbreaking damage,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said as he toured the area with his wife, Casey, and federal emergency officials.

Before heading out to sea

Thursday, Idalia swung east, flooding many of South Carolina’s beaches and leaving some in the state and North Carolina without power before heading back into the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters said the weakened storm should continue heading away from the U.S. for several days, although officials in Bermuda warned that Idalia could hit the island early next

week as a tropical storm.

Thus far, authorities have confirmed one death, that of a man hit by a falling tree in Georgia. As many as a half-million customers were without power at one point in Florida and Georgia as the storm ripped down utility poles.

DeSantis noted that one church in the Big Bend area was swamped by more than 4 feet (1.2 metres) of water.

“It was all very raw,” he said. “When you have your whole life’s work into, say, like a business that ends up under 5 feet (of water) – that’s a lot of work that you’ve got to do going forward.”

At Horseshoe Beach in central Big Bend, Florida, Jewell Baggett picked through the wreckage and debris of her mother’s destroyed home, finding a few pictures and some pots and pans. Fortunately, her mother had evacuated before the storm hit.

Baggett said her grandfather built the home decades ago and it had survived four previous storms.

“And now it’s gone,” she said, along with at least five to six other homes in the area. “Nothing left. A few little trinkets here and there.”

DeSantis noted that because the storm came ashore in the remote region

where Florida’s Panhandle curves into the peninsula, it provided only glancing blows to Tampa Bay and other more populated areas. In contrast, Hurricane Ian last year hit the heavily populated Fort Myers area, leaving 149 dead in the state.

President Joe Biden spoke to DeSantis and promised whatever federal aid is available. Biden also announced that he will go to Florida on Saturday to see the damage himself.

Funding

The president used a news conference at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters to send a message to Congress, especially those lawmakers who are balking at his request for $12 billion in emergency funding to respond to natural disasters.

“We need this disaster relief request met and we need it in September” after Congress returns from recess, said Biden, who had pizza delivered to FEMA employees who have been working around the clock on Idalia and the devastating wildfires on Maui, Hawaii. No hurricane-related deaths were officially confirmed in Florida, but the

state’s highway patrol reported two people killed in separate weather-related crashes just hours before Idalia made landfall.

A man in Valdosta, Georgia, about 80 miles (130 kilometres) inland, died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear another tree out of the road, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said.

The storm was still a menace, with 90 mph (145 kph) winds, when it made a direct hit on Valdosta, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.

“We’re fortunate this storm was a narrow one, and it was fast moving and didn’t sit on us,” Kemp told a news conference Thursday in Atlanta. “But if you were in the path, it was devastating. And we’re responding that way.”

Chris Exum, a farmer in the south Georgia town of Quitman, estimates that he lost half or more of his pecan crop from Idalia, which he said left “a wall of green” with downed trees and limbs.

Some of the trees are 40 to 50 years old, he noted. “It takes a long time to get back to that point.”

In South Carolina, the storm coupled with already really high tides to send seawater flowing over sand dunes in nearly every beach town, although in most places

the water was only about ankle deep.

In Charleston, Idalia’s surge topped part of the seawall that protects the downtown, sending ocean water into the streets and neighbourhoods where horse-drawn carriages pass million-dollar homes and the famous open-air market.

Preliminary data showed the Wednesday evening high tide reached just over 9.2 feet (2.8 metres), more than 3 feet (0.9 metres) above normal and the fifth-highest reading in Charleston Harbor since records were first kept in 1899.

Bands from Idalia also brought short-lived tornadoes. One flipped a car in suburban Goose Creek, South Carolina, causing minor injuries, authorities said. No major damage was reported.

In southeastern North Carolina, up to 9 inches (23 centimetres) of rain fell in Whiteville, flooding downtown buildings.

That heavy rain swelled creeks and rivers and forecasters warned places downstream on the Pee Dee and Lumber rivers could flood, although it will be well below the historic crests that devastated entire towns after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.

FORECASTERS WARNING GUSTY WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY RAISE RISK OF FIRES SPREADING RAPIDLY IN HAWAII

By AUDREY MCAVOY Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The National Weather Service on Wednesday warned gusty winds and low humidity have increased the risk that fires could spread rapidly in the western parts of each Hawaiian island, three weeks after a deadly blaze tore through a coastal Maui town during a similar alert.

But the agency said winds would not be as powerful compared to Aug. 8 when flames burned down much of Lahaina, killing at least 115 people and destroying more than 2,000 structures. The fire was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

Lahaina’s flames were fanned by wind gusts topping 60 mph (97 kph). This time, winds are forecast

to be 15 to 30 mph (24 to 48 kph) with gusts up to 50 mph (80 kph), said Maureen Ballard, meteorologist at the agency’s Honolulu office.

“There is a magnitude of difference between the wind speeds in this event versus August 8th,” Ballard said.

The agency issued a Red Flag Warning for the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands through Thursday afternoon. It said gusts, low humidity and dry grasses and trees could contribute to “extreme fire behavior.” It urged people to delay activities that could throw off sparks.

“It’s definitely still something to be concerned about,” Ballard said.

The Lahaina fire was fueled by powerful winds whipped up by a combination of Hurricane Dora, which passed some 500 miles (800 kilometres) to the south, and a very

strong high pressure system to the north of the islands.

The cause of the blaze hasn’t been determined, but it’s possible it was ignited by bare electrical wire and leaning power poles toppled by the strong winds.

Maui’s electric utility, Hawaiian Electric, acknowledged its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby.

Maui County has sued the utility.

As high winds re-entered the weather forecast on Tuesday, the county, Hawaiian Electric and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, head of the Hawaii National Guard, issued a joint statement saying they were working together to minimize the risk of wildfire and ensure public safety.

“In our lifetimes, Hawaii has never been tested like this,” the statement said. “We will do what we have always done when confronted by hardship and heartbreak – we will stand together for our people and communities and work to keep them safe.”

The electric utility serving Kauai said it would cut power to a mountainous western part of the island in response to the weather service warning.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said in a news release it would de-energize the electrical line serving about 100 members in Kokee and Makaha Ridge.

The utility said it expected it wouldn’t restore power to this area until the Red Flag Warning is rescinded and utility crews have inspected the lines to make sure they are safe to re-energise.

PICK up trucks and debris lie strewn in a canal in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., after the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

THE SIGN to the Faraway Inn is damaged as Jorge Laranacuent cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia Thursday, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida’s panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

SPORTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Horton,

Page 15

BODYBUILDING ‘CHALLENGES’ AHEAD OF BIG CAC EVENT

By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

Miller-Uibo clocks 51.83 in 400 metres

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

t didn’t take Shaunae Miller-Uibo that long to get her legs back under her.In fact, in just her second international meet since having her baby boy on April 20, she said it’s all about getting ready to defend her women’s 400 metre title at the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Falling short of advancing out of the first round with seventh in her heat at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where she made her global return, Miller-Uibo took the spotlight in the pre-race programme at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League in Switzerland.

Yesterday as she opened the meet at the Letzigrund Stadium, Miller-Uibo clocked 51.83 seconds to lower her season’s best of 52.65 she ran as a wild card entry in defending her title at the World Championships, holding off a field that had a pair of competitors from Switzerland trailing as Anna Fahr got second in 51.97 and Julia Niederberger got third in 52.11.

“It has been a long season, and obviously it would have come in handy for this to be the start of it,” said Miller-Uibo, referring to her journey as a new mother, calling the birth of her son the greatest of blessings.

“I just have to build for next season, and to get the body used to the shock again and be ready for next season.”

While she continues to shock everybody with her quick return to competition, coming out of

FOLLOWING their appeal in early August for financial sponsors, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) still lacks adequate funding for travel expenses.

The 14-member team is slated to compete at the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships in Palm Beach, Aruba, in less than three weeks but have hit some obstacles in their preparations for the commute.

Joel Stubbs, president of the BBWFF, talked about the issues they are faced with. “Honestly, we have not gotten the total amount that is needed because our total would have amounted to $25,000 when you consider uniforms, transportation, tickets for the entire team, and hotel rooms with two persons per room for the nights needed in Aruba, we fell short,” Stubbs said.

According to him, the government has provided the federation with $17,000 to date but they are still short on the total amount needed to travel to the CAC Bodybuilding Championships.

The president maintained that he does not want to downsize the team that is capable of bringing back hardware for The Bahamas.

the World Athletics Diamond League meeting at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

Budapest, the focus of attention for the Bahamas was on sprinter Anthonique Strachan and hurdler Devynne Charlton, who were the only two members of the 11-member team to get into the final.

Strachan, who is having a breakout season at the senior level, duplicated her sixth-place finish at the World Championships in Zurich where she ran 22.65 in another hotly contested race that was won by her Jamaican training partner and world champion Shericka Jackson in 21.82.

Great Britain’s Daryll Neita got second in 22.25

and American Kayla White was third in 22.33.

Despite her position, Strachan stays in contention for a spot at the Diamond League Final as she’s in fifth place with 15 points with Jackson leading the pack with 24 in the 13-race series that got started in Doha, Qatar on May 5.

Strachan, who celebrated her 30th birthday in Budapest, also contested the 100m in Zurich where she placed ninth in 11.39.

American Sha’Carri Richardson, the world champion, pulled off another victory in 10.88

the women’s

with Jamaicans Natasha Morrison and Elaine Thompson-Herrah following in identical times of 11.00.

Like the 200m, her specialty, Strachan is tied with two others for ninth place with 11 points in the qualifying standings for the Diamond League Final.

Marie-Josée Ta Lou leads the field with 32 points with Jackson and Richardson in second and third with 26 and 24 points respectively. There are only two more events left and that is the Xiamen in China, which has replaced the Shenzhen, on

September 2 and Brussels on September 8 before the finals is staged in Eugene, Oregon, September 16-17.

Charlton, on the other hand, was eighth over her 10 flights of hurdles in 12.75. She was coming off her fourth place finish in 12.52, just outside of getting on the podium in Budapest and many wondered how well she would fear in such a short space of time.

Jamaican world champion Danielle Williams weathered the storm,

SEE PAGE 13

“We are still trying to solicit as best we can among the corporate world in The Bahamas to see if the possibilities are there for a few more dollars. Every little penny would count, we do not want to modify the team because every athlete would have sacrificially prepared themselves and have put in the necessary time and efforts,” he said.

The federation has taken other measures to raise funding, including a fun run, walk but it did not prove to be as successful as hoped. However, the president said they would examine other measures in the future, including car washes, and possibly a boat

SEE PAGE 15

JAPAN is one win away from getting back to the Olympics. Makoto Hiejima scored 23 points, Yuta Watanabe added 21 and Japan roared back from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to beat Venezuela 86-77 yesterday in a classification round game at the Basketball World Cup in Okinawa, Japan.

Yuki Kawamura scored 19 for Japan (2-2), which would clinch a berth in the Paris Olympics with a win over Cape Verde on Saturday. Garlo Sojo led Venezuela (0-4) with 20 points, and Nestor Colmenares added 17.

A win Saturday would give Japan its second consecutive Olympic berth. The team played in the Tokyo Games two summers ago as the host nation, but fans could not attend because of restrictions related to the pandemic.

FINLAND 100, CAPE VERDE 77

At Okinawa, Lauri Markkanen scored 34 points and Finland (1-3) got its first win of the World Cup.

Ivan Almeida led Cape Verde (1-3) with 17 points.

SOUTH SUDAN 87, PHILIPPINES 68

At Manila, Carlik Jones nearly had a triple-double — 17 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds — as South

JAPAN’s team members celebrate after defeating Venezuela in their Basketball World Cup classification match in Okinawa, southern Japan, yesterday. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Sudan (2-2) kept alive in the race to take the automatic Olympic qualifying berth from the African region.

Jordan Clarkson scored 24 for the Philippines (0-4).

FRANCE 82,

IRAN 55

At Jakarta, France got 13 points from Elie Okobo and 12 from Nando De Colo to improve to 2-2 and now has a chance to leave this World Cup with a winning record.

Rudy Gobert returned from an ankle issue and had nine points, nine

rebounds and four blocks for France. Benham Yakhchali and Meisam Mirzaei led Iran (0-4) with 11 points apiece.

CHINA 83,

ANGOLA 76

At Manila, Hu Jinqiu scored 20 points for China (1-3). Childe Dundao led Angola (1-3) with 17 points.

MEXICO 108, NEW ZEALAND 100

At Manila, Pako Cruz scored 27 points and Mexico (1-3) wasted most of a 19-point lead before holding on to top New Zealand.

Reuben Te Rangi led all scorers with 32 for New Zealand (1-3).

EGYPT 85, JORDAN 69

At Manila, Assem Marei had 20 points and 14 rebounds, Ehab Amin added 20 points and Egypt (2-2) pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Sami Bzai scored 18 for Jordan (0-4). Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played all 40 minutes, and had nine points.

LEBANON 94,

IVORY COAST 84

At Jakarta, Amir Saoud scored 29 points and Omari Spellman added 25 to lead Lebanon (1-3) to its first win. Jean Phillipe Daily led Ivory Coast (1-3) with 21 points.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND PRE-PARTICIPATION EVALUATION, FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREENING, AND PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

IN the realm of sports, where every second counts and every ounce of effort matters, the journey to success begins long before the starting line.

Athletes understand that preparation is key, and at the core of this preparation lies a trio of essential components: the Pre-Participation Evaluation (PPE), Functional Movement Screening (FMS), and Performance Assessment.

These pillars collectively lay the groundwork for not only exceptional performance but also the prevention of setbacks that could hinder an athlete’s journey.

BAZARD DR KENT

win

400 metres final race during

Japan rallies to beat Venezuela, closes in on Olympic berth

‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr’s three-run homer helps Marlins beat Nationals

By PATRICK STEVENS Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)

— Jazz Chisholm Jr hit a three-run homer, and the Miami Marlins defeated the Washington Nationals 6-1 last night in the opener of a four-game series.

Jake Burger added his 28th home run of the season for Miami, which climbed back to .500 after losing eight of 10. The Marlins (67-67) entered three games behind San Francisco for the NL’s final wild card.

Braxton Garrett (8-5) and three relievers combined on a three-hitter.

Miami’s Luis Arraez singled twice, raising his major league-leading average to .349. With his 47th multihit game, Arraez tied Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez for third,

BAZARD

FROM PAGE 12

Unveiling the Foundations: The Comprehensive Approach of Pre-Participation Evaluation (PPE) and Functional Movement

Screening (FMS)

The Pre-Participation Evaluation (PPE) transcends the traditional medical check, embracing a multifaceted approach that considers an athlete’s holistic well-being. In addition to reviewing health history and cardiovascular health, the PPE delves into the intricacies of musculoskeletal function. This entails an assessment of joint mobility, muscular imbalances, and postural alignment. Such a thorough examination is crucial as it not only highlights existing issues but also forecasts potential

trailing Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr at 57 and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman at 54. Washington lost for the fourth time in five games. The Nationals went 17-11 in August, their first winning month this season. Garrett (8-5) allowed one run and three hits over six innings. The Marlins are 19-7 in the left-hander’s starts this season.

JT Chargois, Steven Okert and A.J. Puk each followed with a hitless inning. Miami pitchers struck out just two, matching their season low of Aug. 16 against Houston.

The two strikeouts by Nationals batters was the team’s fewest since August 4 last year at Philadelphia.

Joan Adon (2-1) yielded Josh Bell’s leading off the fifth and hit Burger with

vulnerabilities that could hinder an athlete’s performance journey.

Complementing the PPE is the Functional Movement Screening (FMS), a cornerstone of modern sports medicine. FMS evaluates fundamental movement patterns that serve as the building blocks of athletic performance. Components like the Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, and Rotary Stability tests dissect an athlete’s mobility, stability, and symmetry. These seemingly basic assessments carry significant weight. The Deep Squat, for instance, unveils potential mobility restrictions in the hips, ankles, and thoracic spine. The Hurdle Step test reveals imbalances between left and right sides, while the Rotary Stability assessment offers insights into core stability and coordination.

MILLER-UIBO

FROM PAGE 12

taking the tape in 12.54. American Alaysha Johnson got second in 12.58 as she held off her compatriot Kendra Harrison, the World Championship bronze medallist, who did 12.59.

a sinkerball. Chisholm Jr drove a curveball into the Nationals’ bullpen in right for a 5-0 lead. Adon

Relevance Backed by Science

The significance of the PPE and FMS is underlined by compelling data from scientific literature. Research conducted by renowned sports medicine experts highlights the direct correlation between proper pre-participation assessment and injury prevention.

A study by Hewett et al. (2017) demonstrated that athletes who underwent a comprehensive PPE experienced a 68% reduction in injuries compared to those who did not. This data reinforces the importance of the PPE in not only ensuring an athlete’s immediate readiness but also in safeguarding their long-term athletic journey.

In addition to injury prevention, the PPE plays a crucial role in assessing medical parameters

With her performance, Charlton is now in 12th place in the standings with six points and is mathematically out of contention for a shot at the Diamond League Final.

American Nia Ali, who leads with 25 points, just ahead of Johnson and world record holder Tobi Amusan, tied for second with 23.

surrendered five runs in five innings. While he only walked one, Adon threw two wild pitches and hit two

vital for an athlete’s well-

being. These include cardiovascular health, respiratory function, and metabolic indicators. Uncovering potential issues in these domains ensures that athletes embark on their journey with a clean bill of health, reducing the risk of complications during rigorous training and competition.

Beyond the Basics:

Performance Assessment

The journey to excellence doesn’t stop at prevention; it encompasses enhancement. This is where Performance Assessment steps in. Beyond the foundational evaluations, Performance Assessment tests an athlete’s capabilities across multiple domains, offering a holistic understanding of their strengths and areas for growth. Components such as the 1RM

Harrison follows with 20, American Tia Jones is next with 19 and Puerto Rico’s World Championship silver medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska are next with 16.

While she won’t be eligible for the Diamond League Final for the first time after her pregnancy

batters. Burger homered in the ninth against Joe La Sorsa, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Miami took the lead on Bryan De La Cruz’s RBI double in the first and added a run on Arraez’s double-play grounder in the fourth.

Washington scored on CJ Abrams’ sacrifice fly in the fifth.

TRAINER’S ROOM Marlins: OF Jorge Soler (right hip tightness) was out of the lineup for the second

(One Repetition Maximum) assessments for squat and bench press unveil an athlete’s raw strength potential. Linear and multidirectional speed tests measure agility and quickness, while assessments of core strength, stability, and endurance provide insights into an athlete’s overall functional fitness.

A Synergy of Success

The synergy between Pre-Participation Evaluation, Functional Movement Screening, and Performance Assessment is undeniable.

Athletes who undergo these evaluations possess a holistic toolkit for their journey. They’re equipped with a baseline understanding of their health, movement mechanics, and performance benchmarks. Armed with this knowledge, they can train smarter, target weaknesses, and leverage

denied her the opportunity to compete in any races, Miller-Uibo said she’s blessed to be back on the international scene and she’s just taking it easy as she prepares for next year.

“I was looking forward to it,” said Miller-Uibo about running in the pre-programme race. “We don’t want any big races right

Noah begins his Olympic-sized run at stardom

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

BUDAPEST, Hungary

(AP) — The American men who had won the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100 relay at world championships before this year are known to track fans: Tyson Gay and Maurice Greene.

But some of the American men who have gone 3 for 3 in those races at the Olympics are known far beyond the shadow of any track stadium – think, Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis.

The sizable gap between “track star” and “global icon” is the one Noah Lyles is hoping he can bridge between now and next year at the Paris Olympics.

Lyles capped off his own historic world championships by anchoring the men’s 4x100 relay team to victory Saturday night to capture his third gold medal in the sprints, joining Gay and Greene, but also track’s last true superstar, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who last accomplished that feat eight years ago.

Lyles made no secret that he would like to fill the void left by Bolt – a oncein-a-generation character who transcends sports and stands out as much on red carpets as on the track. Lyles also confronted the uncomfortable truth that since Bolt retired in 2017, his sport has struggled to maintain an audience outside the hardcore track fan.

“It’s a conversation I have every day with my agent, about how we’re going to better this sport,” Lyles said.

It’s a plight felt most keenly in the United States, which is now only five years from hosting the Olympics in Los Angeles.

In one sign of the hurdles the sport faces, track and field has yet to find a viable host city for a major event — i.e., Olympic trials, national championships or worlds – outside of Eugene, Oregon.

Much has been made in the States this summer about how nationals and even some of these world championships have been aired on NBC’s harder-tofind cable affiliates instead of the main network. That might not matter anymore in an era of ever-fragmented viewing options.

Still, the numbers tell the story: The opening two days of world championships on the main network drew fewer viewers than preseason football, NASCAR, the final of the Women’s World Cup (airing at 6am EDT), and a Little League World Series Game. (But more than bull riding and a USA-Germany tune-up game for the basketball World Cup.)

Last year at the worlds in Eugene, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the organisation’s goal was to make track a “top four” sport in the US by 2028, which means it would have to rise by at least four notches, according to WA’s own studies.

“If you ask me, are we in better shape to promote the sport than we were just a few years ago, my answer is, unequivocally, ‘Yes,’” Coe said in an interview, one year later, before the

start of the championships in Budapest.

Some of that has to do with Lyles, the 26-yearold from Florida who has no problem positioning himself as the man trying to turn track into a mustwatch proposition again. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes one person a can’t-miss TV product while others miss the mark. But if Lyles falls short, it won’t be for lack of effort.

He is currently featured in two behind-the-scenes docuseries about track — one that was his own brainchild, and another that began as a cobbling together of the world’s fastest people.

“They weren’t talking about me in that documentary,” Lyles said of the second one. “Then, as soon as I won (a Diamond League meet) in Paris, they got real buddy-buddy with me.” He is curating a fashion sense, doing everything from picking the wardrobes to setting up the

photo shoots for himself and other runners. He says he wants people to look for him in GQ as much as on the track.

“I want people to say ‘Wow, this isn’t just a fast guy, he’s well-rounded and has a good personality and I just want to follow him for that,’” Lyles said.

He is a growing presence on social media, though his most-celebrated posting there this summer had nothing to do with wardrobes or music or red carpets. It was a declaration that he can run 9.65 in the 100 and 19.10 in the 200. That he accomplished neither goal in Budapest is beside the point. That he put those numbers out there – the 9.65 would be the third-fastest of alltime and the 19.10 would shatter Bolt’s 14-year-old world record – is what set the stage for his triumphant run through the championships. The 100-metre goal was audacious, given that Lyles had a thin résumé at the

day in a row. X-rays were negative on LHP Andrew Nardi, who left Wednesday’s game against Tampa Bay after taking a line drive off his hand. “That ball was hit very hard and it wasn’t a glancing blow,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “It hit him. The fact we’re not losing him for an IL stint, we feel very lucky.” … RHP Sixto Sánchez (shoulder) had a 20-pitch live batting practice session yesterday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday.

strengths, optimizing their potential for success.

In the world of sports, the journey to triumph isn’t linear; it’s multifaceted. It’s about setting a solid foundation, understanding movement, and then pushing boundaries based on individual capabilities. The Pre-Participation Evaluation, Functional Movement Screening, and Performance Assessment are the guiding lights that navigate athletes through this intricate journey. By embracing these evaluations, athletes demonstrate a commitment not only to their aspirations but to their own well-being. As the curtain rises on athletic excellence, it’s these assessments that pave the way, ensuring that every stride, every jump, and every goal is powered by science, strategy, and the unwavering pursuit of greatness.

now. Just trying to get the feeling of running again.”

With one more race left before she shuts down her season, MillerUibo said she’s been happy with her performance and she’s trying to get back in shape and racing again. Hopefully it will all come together when she defends her title in Paris next year.

LYLES WINS 200 AGAIN

shorter distance. When he won the title, he crossed the line and shouted out what could very well be his mantra over the upcoming year, at least in that race: “They said I couldn’t do it. They said I wasn’t the one. But I thank God I am!”

Six nights later, as he crossed the finish line first in the relay, he kept the messaging down to one word, as he jabbed three fingers into the air: “Three!” he shouted.

He is savvy enough to know that if any of the offthe-track fame is going to come, taking care of business on the track has to be a given. So far, he’s making good on that part of the deal.

“Yes, the medals are first, because if you don’t have the medals, who’s going to want to pay attention to you?” Lyles said.

“Then, after you get the medals, you get the times and more and more people gain interest, and then you can go out and start going in different directions.”

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — Another race, another win for triple world champion Noah Lyles. Lyles won the 200 metres in 19.80 seconds at the Diamond League meet in Zurich yesterday in his first race since the world championships in Budapest, Hungary, where he picked up gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay. He was one of nine recently crowned world champions who followed up their titles with wins in Zurich in front of about 25,000 people at the Letzigrund Stadium.

“Everybody wants to beat me and everybody wants the cake and the crown, but I am not giving it to them,” the American said. “Today, we did not have perfect conditions, it was pretty cold. But a win is a win.”

Sha’Carri Richardson easily won the the women’s 100 in 10.88 ahead of a strong field that included Jamaican duo Natasha Richardson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, while Shericka Jackson dominated the women’s 200 in 21.82.

Danielle Williams of Jamaica followed up her surprising title in the 100 hurdles in Budapest by winning her race in 12.54 seconds.

Yulimar Rojas in the women’s triple jump and Mondo Duplantis in the men’s pole vault also returned to the top of the podium in their events.

NOAH LYLES, of the US, celebrates yesterday after winning the men’s 200 metres final at the World Athletics Diamond League meeting at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland. ( Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR, right, stands on second after hitting a double, next to Washington Nationals second baseman Michael Chavis during the third inning yesterday.

(AP Photos/Stephanie Scarbrough)

MIAMI Marlins centre fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr, left, celebrates the team’s victory over the Washington Nationals in a baseball game with second baseman Luis Arraez yesterday in Washington.

BAHAMAS SQUASH ENDS DECADE-LONG ABSENCE FROM INTERNATIONAL SQUASH

Four Walls coaches head delegation to regional competition

THE Bahamas fielded a three-man delegation to compete in the recent Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Squash Championships, which ended on August 26 in the Cayman Islands.

Four Walls Squash & Social Club coaches Father Scott Jupp and Troy Rahming headed the delegation that competed in the singles and team competitions. Teenage player Luque Lockhart, a Bahamian college school student in Canada, rounded out the team.

“The fellowship and camaraderie with the other countries and team players was wonderful. Other countries were elated by our return. “It felt as if we hadn’t left at all, especially connecting with familiar faces. We met new friends. We established new relationships. Strengthened old relationships,” said Coach Jupp, a former Bahamian junior champion who last competed in CASA 19 years ago, also in the Cayman Islands. He said his return as a senior was a moving experience. The Bahamas’ participation was made possible because of recent efforts to reestablish The Bahamas Squash Association, the representative body for the sport.

A group of local players formed a committee to get the association back on its feet and plan to coordinate elections early next year to formalise the body. Coach Jupp is the acting vice chair and spokesperson for the group. Coach Rahming is the acting president of the committee. The group held a successful fundraising

initiative at Four Walls prior to the tournament and received donations from the community to make the trip possible.

“The entire Four Walls community salutes Team Bahamas for representing The Bahamas so graciously and igniting community enthusiasm. We took over the historic squash club with an aim to revive the sport, and we’re extremely proud to see squash growing once again. The return to international competition will create new opportunities for recreational players, and young people entering the sport,” said Noelle Nicolls, Four Walls managing director.

“With the momentum generated, we expect to field an even bigger team next year. Granted, for the next few years, our prospects will be the strongest in the veteran’s category, but we will be a force to reckon with nonetheless,” said Nicolls. Team Guyana walked away with the team trophy along with several singles titles.

Four Walls continues to be the premier squash club in The Bahamas, offering weekly adult coaching classes for recreational players.

The facility has three professional squash courts, a clubhouse lounge, bar and restaurant, and is open to the public for lunch and dinner. It also hosts private squash fun days for individuals and private groups to experience a new form of wellness and fun competition. It joins the Grand Bahama Tennis & Squash Club as the two primary spots to affordably play squash in The Bahamas.

COACH TROY RAHMING, Team Bahamas Play and Four Walls Squash coach.

FATHER SCOTT JUPP, Team Bahamas Play and Four Walls Squash Coach.

A SCENE from the opening ceremony of the CASA Senior Squash Championship.

SOME Team Bahamas members arriving in the Cayman Islands for the CASA 2023 Senior Squash Championship.

JULIAN JARVIS, South Sound Squash Club coach, and Troy Rahming, Four Walls Squash & Social Club squash coach.

TEAMS from the various countries line up with their flags during the opening ceremony of Caribbean Area Squash Association Senior Squash Championships on August 26 in the Cayman Islands.

Eugene Horton seeks another term in office as BBF president

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH some unfinished business since moving up from first vice president to president during the middle of the past four-year term in office, Eugene Horton will be seeking another tenure at the helm of one of the country’s most fledgling sporting bodies.

When the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s election of officers takes place on Saturday in the Ministry of Education’s conference room, Horton will be running against the challenge of Grand Bahama’s Quentin ‘Three Ounce’ Hall, a former national team player turned coach.

The elections will take place during the annual general meeting that will start at 10am.

“We have a lot of unfinished business, things that we need to do,” Horton said. “One of the things I would like to do before I leave is to develop the Family Island programme, which we started to work on since taking office,” Horton said. “We have some partners who are eager to assist us with that.

“I would also like to see the establishment of the national team coaches’ selection. The only one I probably would not interfere with is the national men’s team because of the position that they are in right now. You don’t want to interrupt the chemistry that they have developed.”

Horton, a former president of the New Providence Basketball Association, began his tenure in the federation as the public relations officer under the presidency of Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins.

He then served as the first vice president under immediate past president Mario Bowleg, who demitted office when he became the new Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture after the Bahamas general elections in 2021.

After taking over from Bowleg, Horton said he’s seen some improvement, especially with the men’s

national basketball team which, earlier this month, qualified for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July in the hopes of advancing to the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Horton will be running a slate of officers that includes men’s national team assistant coach Moses Johnson as first vice president; rules interpreter Freddie Brown as second vice president; Andros’ Brian Cleare as third vice president; LaToya Silver as secretary general with Natasha Miller as her assistant and Simone Beneby as treasurer.

“Most of the people on the slate have been in the executive role in the past,” Horton said. “We have a good slate and so we will just be continuing what we started.

“Hopefully on Saturday, the delegates will give us another chance to continue what we started. We will see how it goes, one way or the other. We have a challenge from Quentin Hall and a slate of officers, but we feel confident that we will be returned to office.”

Although nominations have already been closed, Horton said the BBF will be able to entertain any nominations from the floor, but it will have to be voted on by the delegates.

Other than that, it will come down to a two-way slate for each position.

“One thing I don’t do is politics, so I just hope that at the end of the day, whoever is elected is elected to serve for the good of basketball,” Horton said.

“We have presented our case to the delegates, so hopefully they will give us the mandate to serve for the next four years.”

According to Horton, the achievements of the federation during this electoral tenure should be commended because they were put on a good footing towards future success.

He highlighted a summary of the BBF executive team effort expressed in the achievements and the challenges that the team undertook over the review period that encompasses the past two fiscal years

ending 2022/2023. Within the context of facing the unprecedented world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, the BBF has soldiered on in pursuit of rebound-focused key strategic goals.

Establish Standardised Fee Structures and Negotiating Guidelines established a standardised sanctioning fee structure that was communicated widely to local and foreign agencies and also is posted to the federation website.cessfully negotiated a new 3-year agreement with The Atlantis Paradise Island Battle 4 Atlantis who has proven themselves to be what we regard as one of our key strategic partners. Established local and international donation/ sponsorship capabilities landmark achievement in establishing a tax efficient federation affiliated 501(C)3 organisation. This has put the BBF on a new track that has addressed a longstanding need to attract US-based funding.

of our national team programme we have created standard proposal packages to offer to local businesses/ agencies detailing the benefits of their support and the cost for the same. Through these negotiations we have been able to foster

continuing business relationships with Island Luck, SuperClub Breezes, Oak Tree and Superior.

Family Island Support in our efforts to effectively maintain contact with each of the Family Island Association presidencies. -

tiating with agents and teams participating in our annual Summer of Thunder tournament to bring necessary support to developing our family island facilities, equipment and uniforms.

constant pursuit to partner with reputable key strategic partners, we are happy to have finalised an agreement with BD Global Sports Agency in bringing that all important international component in the promotion of our beloved sport of basketball.

Training and Technical Support of the fact that we successfully held officials and table technician training throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas been successful in ensuring representation at FIBA meetings.

National Team Programmesened by the fact that we have successfully established both a blue-ribbon

national team selection committee and a streamlined application process the ever-present financial challenges, the federation was successful in sending four national teams to participate in FIBA regional and Central and South American competitions. This included the following:

The Under 15 male National Team, The Under 15 female National Team The Sr. Women National Team The Senior Men National Teamticipated in FIBA events, that saw our senior men assembled which is arguably the strongest team ever to date, that includes four NBA players. We are thankful to these players for their service and their sense of national pride exhibited in the face of unmentioned personal and professional self-sacrifice for the common goal of maintaining The Bahamas’ banner waving high. much as possible, promote our country and to feed our number one economic industry of tourism, the federation has successfully hosted four FIBA Americas tournament games here in Bahamas.

Federation Social and Government Responsibilities

pleased to have successfully participated in the commemoration of The Bahamas 50th Anniversary of Independence in working with our key strategic partner, the Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture in the organisation of the Bahamas Games.

baseball federation, assisting in the set-up and online ticketing platform for their recent international tourney in Nassau. Additionally, we have assisted in providing them with a fee structure and guidelines to operate by as they venture into sports tourism.

Challengesship that persists, and that unavoidably is endemic in

JOHN ISNER HEADS TO RETIREMENT

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — John

Isner rested his chin on clasped hands, the words coming slowly, the tears welling in his eyes, as he spoke during a news conference at the US Open yesterday, his last day as a professional tennis player.

“It’s been a huge part of my life. It’s tough to say goodbye. It’s not easy,” the 38-year-old American said. “But eventually, this day would come. It’s hard to prepare for the emotions of it.”

As career-ending days go, it would be hard to come up with a more appropriate way for Isner to bow out than a pair of final-set tiebreakers — one in singles, one in doubles — and, while he would have preferred a victory or two, of course, he did appreciate the raucous crowd support and standing ovations he was showered with at each defeat.

The 6-foot-10 (2.08-metre)

Isner announced the week before play began at Flushing Meadows that this Grand Slam tournament would mark his farewell, and the guy who long was his country’s best male player bowed out in the second

round of the singles bracket with a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (10-7) loss to another American wild-card entry, Michael Mmoh, at the Grandstand.

A few hours later, Isner headed into full-fledged retirement by dropping a doubles match alongside Jack Sock, another American who has said the US Open will be his last tournament. They were beaten by Robert Galloway and Albano Olivetti 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (10-3) at Court 12.

“There’s, of course, a lot of disappointment with the result of my singles match today, but at the same time a lot of gratitude, as well, just to have one last time playing in an atmosphere like that. It was very cool.

As I said on the court, that’s why I work so hard,” Isner said. “Hard to explain how bad my body feels — I’m not (about) talking right now, because it does, but just in general, lately. So everything I do to get it ready to play, there’s a lot that goes into it. I wanted one more US Open and was able to get that.”

When Isner put a volley into the net off a dipping passing shot by Mmoh, the two opponents hugged.

Then Isner — who was one point from winning at 5-4 in the fifth set but netted a backhand return — sat on his sideline chair and covered his face with a white towel.

“In the moment, in that tiebreaker, you’re not really thinking about the fact that it’s his last match. Maybe before you start the match you are, but not in that tiebreaker and not when you’re down match point,” said Mmoh, a 25-yearold who only once before had

won a match after dropping the initial two sets.

“When I won the match, I had a lot of positive emotion and I was really, really happy. But then, one second later, I felt bad. I genuinely did,” said Mmoh, who will play 21-yearold Jack Draper of Britain next.

“When I saw him get emotional in that interview, I genuinely felt for him. So it was tricky.

It was almost like bittersweet.

Obviously, at the end of the day, we’re all competitors and we come here for one reason, and so I’m happy to get the ‘W.’”

Women advancing included Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys, three-time major semifinalist Elina Svitolina and No. 13 seed Daria Kasatkina.

Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the third round by overpowering Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

In other action, Stan Wawrinka, a 38-year-old owner of three major titles including the 2016 US Open, moved into the third round, while Andy Murray, a 36-year-old owner of three major titles including the 2012 US Open, was eliminated.

The Bahamas archipelagic structure. competing sports interest for funding, there exists an acute lack of adequate funding sources. and away tournament format has proven cost prohibitive, where the cost of the senior men’s national team averaged in excess of $80,000 per trip. so many others, had been faced with the inevitable challenging sustained economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The above factors present limited the BBF’s ability to do more in basketball promotion and programming. Future Initiatives will include:ing BBF capacity through focused training modules targeting the following: various levels. training our ongoing fiscal management improvement capabilities through key officer certifications and training. clean audited financial statements of the federation to The Registrar General Department and to other requisite authorities. financial statements on our website.

tive shadowing initiative to promote stronger future capacity in leadership building.ing of more Family Island facilities. technical multi-island workshops. development programme.ment of 3-on-3 basketball tournaments.

dictional networking as strategy to engender greater revenue streams through institutional advancement initiatives.

BODY BUILDING FROM PAGE

12

cruise. “The financial dilemma we deal with each year is a sad place and position until the Ministry of Sports sees our sport as a core sport. I think until that time we will always be placed out of that scope,” the president said. With the funding that they have received so far, the federation is trying to make the best of what they have allocated.

“The monies that were given, we are trying to see how best we can purchase tickets that are within a comfortable price. We are looking online and speaking to the travel agencies. We are trying to find a way and means of how we can best travel with the money that we have to get our team down to Aruba,” he said.

The president is confident in the national team’s ability to represent The Bahamas well at the CAC Bodybuilding Championships and made his final appeal to corporate Bahamas ahead of September 21-25.

“I would love to continue to make a financial appeal for persons interested that want to assist the federation in its team travel to Aruba this year and at least give these athletes the opportunity to represent The Bahamas,” he said.

Individuals interested in sponsoring the 14-member team’s trip can contact 376-2121 or email bbff.242@gmail.com

EUGENE Horton will be seeking another term in office when the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s election of officers takes place on Saturday at the Ministry of Education’s conference room.

BRIAN CLEARE

FREDDIE BROWN LATOYA SILVER MOSES JOHNSON NATASHA MILLER SIMONE BENEBY

JOHN ISNER, of the United States, reacts after losing to Michael Mmoh, of the United States, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships yesterday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Special Olympics Bahamas athletes enjoy ‘Coleby Camp’

PRO BASKETBALL PLAYER DWIGHT COLEBY CONDUCTS

ONE-DAY BASKETBALL CAMP IN NEW PROVIDENCE

SPECIAL Olympics Bahamas held a one-day basketball camp this past weekend for a number of athletes from its basketball programme. “Coleby Camp” was conducted by Bahamian professional basketball player Dwight Coleby, who has developed a passion for giving back and is also a supporter of Special Olympics Bahamas. The camp welcomed 13 excited Special Olympics athletes from South Andros, Grand Bahama and New Providence, giving them an opportunity to get an early jump on the start of their upcoming basketball seasons. It is anticipated that Coleby Camp will become an annual event on the Special Olympics Bahamas calendar of events.

UN specialist warns on storm debt cycle

(debt servicing) costs, and 58 percent of subsidies to loss-making SOEs. And it is less than one-quarter, or 23 percent, of the total $1.02bn being allocated to combined debt servicing and subsidies.

The UN debt specialist also noted that, despite ranked as having the highest income (gross domestic product) per capita in the region, The Bahamas has a 0.812 human development index score that ranks it below countries with lower economic output because of the “extremely high” cost of living in this nation.

Affirming that The Bahamas is almost trapped in a debt cycle due to the damage inflicted by severe, and more frequent, hurricanes, Ms Waris said the Government is currently paying off debts incurred to cover relief, restoration and rebuilding costs after three major hurricanes.

“You are also, as a country, very dependent on tourism. Unfortunately, you have had five hurricanes in the past ten years. The data that I have seen, which the Government has been very kind to share with me, is that the Government is still

paying off debt for three hurricanes as we speak, and they just paid off a fourth one,” she added.

“So this is creating a cycle where you recover, partially rebuild, take on debt, but then in comes another hurricane, and you’re still paying off the previous hurricane and you’re rebuilding again. And what that means is countries like yours that are at a high threat of climate risk are unable to actually develop and move forward. And the thing is, The Bahamas is paying off its debt despite this almost unbelievable pressure of climate change on it.”

Ms Waris, in her report, implied that The Bahamas’ growing debt burden is increasingly sucking monies away from national security, public and social services to the detriment of the Bahamian people. “According to the latest 2023-2024 Budget, 19.9 percent of the Bahamas’ recurrent expenditure in 2023-2024 will go to repay interest on public debt, 13.2 percent to subsidies and only 7.7 percent to social benefits,” she said.

Further, some “16.52 percent of public debt interest repayments will

go to non-residents (these include both institutional creditors – in particular the Inter-American Development Bank – as well as private financial institutions and bondholders),” Ms Waris added.

“Notwithstanding the severe dependence on tourism, the devastating consequences of Hurricane Dorian and the impact of COVID-19, Bahamians have shown great resilience, managing to inverse the curve and start decreasing the levels of public debt since 2022.

“Faced with the problems of internal inequalities, disparity between cost of living in The Bahamas compared to most other countries within the region, and with the disparity between its GDP and its human development index, The Bahamas classification as a high income country limits its access to international financial institutions and international development aid, having no choice but to acquire loans at higher rates, shorter terms and less favourable conditions in the private international bond market.”

Ms Waris agreed that the use of GDP, or income, per

capita is a misleading indicator that is being used by multinational lenders to deny The Bahamas access to cheaper grants and other forms of concessional funding. The Government itself has been fighting against this, thus far without success, for the past two decades at least.

“Being designated as a high income country, The Bahamas does not generally qualify for development assistance and has very limited access to concessional funding by international financial institutions such as the World Bank,” the UN specialist wrote. “Despite a high GDP per capita, of $31,458, the cost of living is extremely high in The Bahamas.....

“The minimum wage is $260 per week, which is equivalent to $13,556 per year. As a consequence, despite having the highest GDP per capita in the region, The Bahamas has a Human Development Index of 0.812, below other countries with much lower GDP.”

Referring to The Bahamas’ blacklisting by the European Union (EU), Ms Waris said such blocs and bodies are often slow to remove countries once

they have remedied the alleged weaknesses or deficiencies. She added that her independent assessment of the reforms implemnted by countries such as The Bahamas will be presented to the Human Rights Council next March, with recommendations for or against escape from these blacklists.

“I think it’s important to try and understand how long the country should be on a blacklist when it has achieved what it’s supposed to achieve, and therefore when it should come off the blacklist,” Ms Waris added.

“And one of the problems I’ve seen in global activities... is countries or regional blocs are quick to make one action of putting countries on lists, but are not as quick to remove them off the lists, which is why my assessment is to check and see if they have achieved it. And if they have that is what I recommend.

“I expect to get the remaining data over the next couple of weeks, which is why my final report will be in March 2024 when I present it to the Human Rights Council. And that is when I will be able to say definitively that, yes, The Bahamas has completed all the things it was required to do in order to return back into the traditional financial system

and not be blacklisted any more.”

Ms Waris added that

The Bahamas still has not implemented a National Development Plan, a National Human Rights Institution or finalised the Ombudsman Bill, and called for them to be “strengthened and taken forward”. However, she praised this nation for passing new legislation while strengthening other existing laws, adding that there has been “a good roll-out”.

Ms Waris added: “I would like to call upon the international community to step up their assistance and support for The Bahamas, and other small island states, that are the high risk of natural disasters due to climate change.

“The Bahamas needs long-term financing, planning to address its climate vulnerability and economic dependence on tourism. And it is very important that the high income status which is limiting the access of The Bahamas to international financial institution concessionary rates, as well as development aid, should be opened up.

“The reality is that the international community’s assistance and support could go a long way in helping this country improve its already very positive efforts.”

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that RANALDO RASHADO YOUNG of Freeport, Grand Bahama, 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 1st day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MAXINE MARC, of Golden Gates, 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 1st day of September, 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 ANICONE JOSAPHAT of Carmichael Road, 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 1st day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

LEGAL NOTICE

Ocna LLC

Registration No. 172926 B INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000)

In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of Ocna LLC has been completed, a Certifcate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 7th day of July, 2022.

BISX fund eyeing up to $10m warehouse raise

may be opened up as derelict buildings are demolished.

With the Fund’s ultimate objective still to increase the value of its assets to $100m, the RF Bank & Trust chief said completion of the warehouse and storage facility will put it in a position where it only needs to double the worth of its property portfolio to achieve this goal.

“What we’re now doing is getting into the warehouse business,” Mr Anderson affirmed. “We expect to invest between $10m-$12m into the warehouse project. We’re busy finalising the lay-out and then have to apply for the approvals. That’s in progress.

“We look to be going back to market within the next six months to raise capital to finish this warehouse development. I’m sure we’ll use some sort of debt instrument. I think it will be in the region of $6m$8m, maybe a bit more. Maybe $10m. We expect to start within the next six months and that it will be an 18-month project.”

The 3.5 acre warehouse and storage facility site, which is vacant, was in the process of being acquired by the Bahamas Property Fund in a $1.403m deal according to its 2022 financial statements released earlier this year. The sales agreement was signed on February 15, 2023, with a deposit equivalent to 10 percent of the purchase price already paid at that time.

Mr Anderson, meanwhile, said the decision to refinance a Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) bank loan

by replacing it with $8m in preference share debt was already paying off for the Fund and its shareholders.

Besides freeing up the balance sheet to take on fresh bank debt, either to fund property acquisitions or developments, the move has enabled the BISX-listed fund to resume bi-annual dividend payments while also providing sufficient growth capital.

“We’ve paid two dividends now, and it’s enabled us to get into a six-month dividend pattern,” the RF Bank & Trust chief added.

“When we refinanced, even though we were generating good cash profits sometimes you need capital for the business to grow.

“At the time we refinanced, we were looking to get into other development opportunities. We put in preference shares where we don’t have to pay principal over the 10-year term, and it freed up cash to pay dividends. The cash flows coming off the business are fairly sound at the moment.”

Rather than disrupt this, Mr Anderson said the Fund is electing to tap the capital markets for the warehouse financing rather than use cash flow for this purpose.

“We don’t want to generate cash off that [warehouse] property during the development phase, which is expected to be 18 months,” he added. “We don’t have to take all the cash generated and put it into this property. We will use it as part of business operations and to pay the dividend.”

With the Fund’s strategy involving a combination of growth and acquisition, whether by growth or development, it has not lost its

focus on downtown Nassau despite having to adjust its plans following the Government’s court move. “We’re still looking at opportunities to put a parking lot in downtown Nassau because we still believe there’s a huge requirement for it,” Mr Anderson told Tribune Business. “We want to look for a suitable location.

“We’re going to look at going into developing retail space if we feel there’s an opportunity, either through purchasing or developing it. There may be opportunities in downtown retail as buildings get knocked down and space is freed up. There will be opportunities downtown depending on what that looks like.

“The Property Fund is looking at potential partnerships in something down there. If it’s a development project it we could be part of that process. I think as it becomes clearer in the market how it [the Government] expects to move forward, we will get a better sense of where we can participate.”

Mr Anderson said the Fund’s share price, which closed at $6.93 on BISX last night, is more than ten times’ its earnings per share (EPS) which are on track

to close the year at 60 cents per share if 2023 secondhalf performance matches the first six months. He also noted that the share price is the equivalent of “50 cents on the dollar” to the Fund’s $13.70 net asset value per share.

“To me, that gives you some idea of the upside if we can improve the performance and cash being generated from the business,” the RF Bank & Trust chief said. He added that rental deals struck for its flagship Bahamas Financial Centre property during the 2022 second half will boost year-over-year comparatives, generating income the Fund did not receive during 2023, thereby ensuring the last six months this year are better than the first.

“The Financial Centre occupancies continue to improve. This time compared to last year we have at least 12,000 more square feet leased. We’re now in the mid-80s on Financial Centre rentals. What you’ll see flowing into rental income is the improvement in income at the Financial Centre,” Mr Anderson said.

“We’re continuing to lease additional space and expect to see this feed into the second half of the year

and see the benefits then. We have been improving the rental income coming out of the Financial Centre for the last couple of years. We anticipate the second half to be stronger than the first half.”

The Fund’s rental and parking income for the 2023 first half rose by 12 percent year-over-year, growing to $1.772m from $1.58m. Its expenses also dropped by 23.2 percent, falling from $1.083m in the 2022 firsthalf to $832,403, although much of the decline related to one-off legal and professional fees incurred last year associated with the preference share issue.

“Our expenses are dropping. As we rent space, we’re not paying as much of the CAM (common area maintenance) charge as before, and are getting more rental income. As we rent space, more is dropping to the bottom line,” Mr Anderson added. “The Property Fund is well-positioned, with the cash flow coming in and development opportunities. Some of the plans we’ve laid over the past couple of years are starting to bear fruit.

“There will be continuous demand for Financial Centre space, and we’re in

the process of renovating it. We’ll be investing maybe in the region of $500,000 in the Financial Centre to give it a bit of a facelift in the next six months or so to get it back into one of the top ‘Class A’ buildings on the market.

“We have a sense that the Property Fund will have sufficient opportunities to get us to where we want to go. It’s a matter of being selective, strategising where we put things, and diversifying into different areas. We got caught with three office buildings as businesses retrenched and moved out of downtown, so we know we need to diversify.”

Mr Anderson said the Fund’s Paradise Islandbased One Marina Drive property still has yet to be rebound from COVID-19, with just 30 percent of available space taken despite some small lease deals last year. “During COVID we lost quite a few tenants and it has not come back since,” he added. “We’re hopeful as Paradise Island develops further people may come across and use it for different purposes. We’re still unsure as to the best way forward to be honest.”

told: Avoid ‘piecemeal approach’ over tax reforms

added that the implementation of such a tax must be accompanied by “fulsome reform.... that would abolish” the current Business Licence fee regime that is levied on companies’ gross turnovers as opposed to net profits. The Government is proposing to do exactly that in three of the four ‘green

paper’ options or, at the very least, undertake farreaching Business Licence fee reform. Mr Pintard, though, told Mr Wilson that Bahamian companies generating $1m per year or less in turnover should have the option to “pay a set fee based on a structured and tiered system” as opposed to a Business Licence fee or corporate income tax.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

ASSISTANT ESTATE MANAGER FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY

Principal maintenance duties for large property to include:

• Maintaining all plant and equipment, RO plant, generators, lighting control systems, heating and air conditioning systems, irrigation system and swimming pools;

• Capable of conducting development and preventive maintenance of complex mechanical and electrical equipment, vehicles, gardens and property structures;

• Boat Captain.

Qualifcations:

• Candidate must possess boat captain license, mechanical and/or industrial engineering degree(s) from a recognized institution and must

• Must be capable of conducting administrative affairs of the estate without supervision and will be fully responsible for recruitment and training of staff.

Reply

vacancybahamasoffce@gmail.com

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Also calling for a system of tax credits and incentives to be created for Bahamian firms that hire more workers, or invest in expansion, under a corporate income tax, Mr Pintard argued that should such a levy be implemented it must “respect” Freeport’s free trade zone status and not be imposed on the city’s businesses.

And the Opposition leader added that any tax reform, whether corporate income or otherwise, needed to align with the Government’s fiscal targets and objectives of eliminating the annual deficit and cutting the debt-to-GDP ratio to 50 percent by generating sufficient revenues.

And, turning to the other side of the Government’s income statement, he added that it also needs to address its spending given that total expenditure for 2023-2024while largely capped at just over $3bn year-over-year - remains some $804.5m higher than the pre-COVID and Dorian outlay.

“We should be careful with the piecemeal approach,” Mr Pintard told Tribune Business, arguing that corporate income tax is one piece of a much larger reform puzzle. “We’re not minded to support a piecemeal approach because that will not give us the best opportunity to confront the multiple challenges facing the country.

“If it’s deeply compartmentalised, you can miss

critical things that we ought to be factoring in to our considerations. This is a recurring theme for us. We continue to see the Government make decisions and do things that may make sense in isolation but often end up with unintended consequences because they’re not taking into account the macroeconomic view of what they are doing.”

Mr Pintard argued that the Davis administration has too often rushed into hasty “judgment calls”, and added of his party’s response: “We are not taking a chance in waiting to find out. We wish to set the broad context in which the Government should be engaged in consultation and approach the best minds it has available to advise.

“We wish from the beginning to lay out a broad framework that we believe they should be following because, if you judge them on the basis of what they’ve done so far they will come with a compartmentalised approach and then there will be a rushed decision. We wish to guard against that.”

Mr Pintard told Tribune Business it was “absolutely critical” that The Bahamas get the decision on whether to adopt a corporate income tax, and the rate, structure and its execution, right first time so as to avoid disrupting a Bahamian economy that has “come roaring back” from

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The Public is hereby advised that I, DANIELLE AMANDA HIGGS of P.O. Box EE16887 Princeton Close, Leeward East, New Providence, The Bahamas, Parent of DYLAN AIDAN HIGGS BAIN A minor intend to change my child’s name to DYLAN AIDAN HIGGS If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief ass o ffce . . o assa ahamas no la e than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

COVID restrictions led by the tourism sector.

Warning that the country “cannot afford” any mistakes, or to take a “trial and error approach”, he added: “We can benefit from best practices in other jurisdictions, and good advice from people doing positive things in the economy. We really have an obligation to get it right by true stakeholder consultation, taking advice and doing the studies that are being conducted.

“We have a small margin for error given the limited resources we have, the limited space we have in which to operate. We have to bring our debt-toGDP ratio down drastically to give us more space to do things to improve the economy, to capital development works that are important. Too much is at stake.

“We have to look at how we’re managing debt, taking on new debt and reducing existing debt. Again, small margins..... The sooner we get on with the business with a sense of urgency and commitment, the sooner we can arrive at a shared position. The sooner we can get on with this business, the better for the country.”

A corporate income tax will be the first such income-based levy in the country’s history, apart from the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) payrollbased contributions, and is intended to ensure The Bahamas complies and fulfills its obligations as one of 140 countries that have signed on to the G-20/ Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) drive for a minimum 15 percent global corporate tax. In the first instance, this initiative applies only to corporate groups and their subsidiaries that have a minimum annual turnover in excess of 750m euros.

MACHLIN CREDIT OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD. LIQUIDATOR’S NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 138(6) of the International Business Companies Act

NOTICE is hereby given that MACHLIN CREDIT OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD., a company registered under the International Business Companies Act, has been dissolved and struck off the Register as of the 8th day of August 2023.

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator

The Government’s ‘green paper’, which is dated May 17, 2023, sets out the first option as merely introducing a 15 percent corporate income tax for all Bahamasbased entities that fall into that 750m-plus turnover category, while maintaining the Business Licence status quo for all entities which are not affected.

The second and third corporate income tax options, described as “more nuanced” because of the better balance they strike between tax revenue and economic impact, are those the Government indicates it is giving more serious consideration to. The second, labelled as “a soft introduction”, would introduce the same 15 percent rate for all those caught in the G-20/OECD net and also levy a 10 percent corporate income tax on all other businesses “to maintain regional tax competitiveness”.

The third option, branded as “simplicity driven”, would exempt or carve-out small businesses earning less than a $500,000 annual turnover to leave them still paying the existing Business Licence fee. Bahamas-based entities in groups that meet the G-20/ OECD threshold would pay a 15 percent corporate income tax, and all other companies generating more than $500,000 would pay a 12 percent rate.

The final option, which will generate the greatest revenue increase for the Government but also inflict the harshest economic impact, is to simply impose the 15 percent corporate income tax rate on all businesses with a turnover greater than $500,000 per annum and a 10 percent on small and medium-sized enterprises earning less than that.

This would result in an economic contraction of 1.7 percent, or around $200m, the ‘green paper’ projected, with the unemployment rate rising by 0.9 percent. FDI would fall by 10.2 percent, and its domestic investment counterpart by 2 percent. However, government revenues under this scenario are forecast to rise by 96 percent compared to the $140m collected from Business Licence fees in 2019.

The more favoured options, according to the ‘green paper’, would see government revenues rise by 36 percent and 62 percent from implementing the second and third scenarios, respectively, compared to those same 2019 Business Licence revenues. Just levying 15 percent corporate income tax on those groups targeted by the G-20/ OECD, though, would only produce a 4 percent revenue rise from business community taxation.

Sebas teams with UoB to solve ‘dire need’ for skills

FROM PAGE A24

a brisk walk behind it trying to catch up.”

Wanting students to take an “a-la-carte” approach to learning, Mr Bastian added: “One of the biggest issues with some of the curriculums that exist today is there’s a disconnect between what employers are looking for and what is

being taught in our educational system.” He said the overemphasis on accountants and attorneys is hampering the jobs market because there are too many seeking to enter these professions.

“I decided to make a bold step, reach out to the university and I thank the university,” Mr Bastian said.

“Not just for playing a pivotal role in educating so many Bahamians that are now some of the leaders in our country today, but also having the open mindedness and taking the bold step to accept such a donation. Such a partnership and the timing of it could not be any better.”

Janyne Hodder, the University of The Bahamas

How to bridge the divide between work and school and SCJ

FROM PAGE A23

thoughts that can be considered as we begin this new school year:

Careers information:

Many schools welcome the opportunity to have outside speakers talk to their students about career options.

Volunteer your team to participate in Tourism Day, World Health Day, Career Week and other special events that encourage collaboration towards learning.

Work experience opportunities: Nothing beats a structured programme of learning where students get

to perform real tasks in the work space. Avoid giving them menial administrative jobs, and allow them to immerse themselves in the heavy lifting under safe and careful mentorship.

Provide curriculum materials: Eradicating the divide requires an ongoing sharing of current workplace expectations. Let them see last year’s financials, marketing strategy, communications platform, latest software and anything that will enhance the learning process.

Funding: Nothing advances the learning process than a good chunk of

cash. Schools and students always need money to purchase the newest and latest. Anything we can do to help our children keep up with the rest of the developing world is worth our effort.

president, said technical and technology-related skills are in “dire need” among the Bahamian workforce to meet the demands of industry and the world economy.

Speaking at the launch of UoB’s new Data Analytics Certification Programme, she added that by teaming up with Smarter Bahamas it will offer a new slate of

technical courses that start on October 10 with the first student intake.

Ms Hodder said: “Our continuing education arm is a four-month programme, which combines three months of intensive instruction with one month of real life work experience, and then offers six months of career coaching and job search support.

“The data analytics career accelerator certificate is innovative in its content, and its format and in its delivery. It fills a much-needed and overdue gap in how we meet needs within the job market and the needs of job seekers, particularly those young or those who are still fairly early in their career.”

Sebas in ‘tax-free zip code’ Aeropost plan

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck's cofounder yesterday said his Aeropost e-commerce platform will differentiate itself from rivals by adding freight-forwarding capabilities that employ a "tax-free zip code" to offer clients better rates.

Sebas Bastian, also Aeropost's chief executive and The Bahamas' non-resident

ambassador to central America, confirmed that freight-forwarding services will be launched for the Bahamian market this month.

“You notice there are several freight forwarders that exist today, but what’s going to make Aeropost unique in this offeringand what our niche is going to be - is that Aeropost is one of four companies in the state of Florida with its own zip-code,” he said.

Mr Bastian explained that entering this niche will

enable Aeropost customers to access their own zip-code and enjoy a "7 percent savings" because it will be a “tax free zip-code”.

"So when you are issued an Aeropost US address to make your purchases and subsequently have them shipped to The Bahamas on behalf of us, the sites that you shop on would not even charge you tax because it's a tax-free zip code. So when you shop all over the dotcom and you want to go on our check-out, you won't be

charged tax," Mr Bastian said. He added that the "taxfree zip-code" represents an automatic “7 percent savings” before Aeropost’s “service differentiator” separates it from its competitors. He added that the lockers Aeropost has situated around New Providence, where customers can pick up their parcels hassle free, is also another valueadded feature that will separate the company from its rivals.

Mr Bastian said: “We have over 25 locations. They are in every Esso [gas station], so no matter where you live in this country, you're less than a quarter mile away from a smart parcel locker and most of them are open 24 hours a day. So you don't have to rush at 6pm to catch a freight forwarder's address and, given that over 85 percent of packages fit in lockers, it really makes the challenge with an address system or a lack of

addresses in The Bahamas basically solved.”

Aeropost is seeking to perfect its freight-forwarding model in New Providence first before expanding it to the Family Islands. Aeropost was acquired by Mr Bastian in December 2021, and was billed as having an “Amazon like presence” for The Bahamas, wider Caribbean and Central American region through its e-commerce platform.

Gov’t spending reform is ‘absolute necessity’

“At this stage, we wish in particular to point to the absolute necessity of a focus on public spending reform. The Government is presently increasing spending in unprecedented and possibly unsustainable ways. The Budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 is seeking to increase total spending - recurrent and capital - by some $804.5m as compared to fiscal year 2018-2019 - the last fiscal year before the twin economic calamities of Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With no immediate contingencies requiring ongoing ramped-up spending, we are concerned with the sharp growth of public spending. The resulting ‘white paper’ must speak to efforts to contain public spending and maximise the efficiencies of current spending.” Mr Pintard thus indicated there was no need to keep government spending at elevated levels given that the need for COVID support and pandemicrelated health expenditures has fallen away.

Total government spending, recurrent and capital combined, is forecast to hit $3.45bn for the 12 months to end-June 2024. This

compares to $2.646bn for the 2018-2019 fiscal year that Mr Pintard referred to, creating the $804.5m figure identified in the letter, which represents just over a 30 percent increase in total government spending over a five-year period.

However, Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, previously pointed out that when inflation is factored in the projected $11.8m year-over-year increase in recurrent spending for the 2023-2024 fiscal year actually represents a decrease.

The Government will thus argue that it is containing spending, holding it relatively constant, and will also likely assert that some of the increase since 20182019 is due to post-COVID inflation. It will also assert that the country’s needs are great, especially when it comes to the demand for new and improved infrastructure across multiple islands, and that these needs must be met especially as capital spending has frequently been trimmed to meet deficit targets.

Mr Pintard, meanwhile, in his letter to Mr Wilson, added: “An integral part of tax reform must be the ease with which taxpayers

can digitally interface with government agencies, especially tax collection agencies. Furthermore, the Government systems must be able to capture, archive, analyse and report statistics and financial data quickly, and in ways that help policymakers to have timely access to relevant data at their fingertips to make time sensitive assessments and decisions.

“Urgent, comprehensive digitisation of our government and related systems must take place. Thus, it is our earnest and steadfast recommendation that the next iteration of the tax reform paper include a section on the specific policy measures that will be put in place to contain spending and radically improve public sector efficiency, with the accompanying full implementation of related transparency and accountability mechanisms.

“Without such an undertaking, we submit that no consideration should be given to measures that place an additional tax burden on Bahamians individuals and businesses.” While backing reform of business taxation, and especially the Business Licence fee, Mr Pintard urged that consultation on the proposed corporate

income tax be broadened to “the full spectrum of tax and expenditure reform”.

He added that The Bahamas’ fiscal policy framework “must accomplish” moving the debt-to-GDP ratio towards 50 percent, as opposed to its 80 percent-plus current level, “reduce the current inequitable tax burden on the Bahamian middle class and the poor”, boost opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurship and ownership, and stimulate economic activity in both “undeveloped Family Islands” and “depressed urban centres”.

Noting that a corporate income tax would likely be “revenue positive” for The Bahamas, as this would require multinational groups with a presence in this nation - and who meet the 750m euro annual turnover benchmark set by the 15 percent “minimum” G-20/OECD initiative - to pay a proportional share to the Public Treasury based on what they generate in this nation.

“We support the fulsome reform of the current Business Licence regime that

would abolish the current arrangement that is based solely on gross receipts. The reformed tax regime should seek to eliminate taxes on audited businesses posting losses, and at the same time reduce the unfavourable treatment to high turnover/low margin businesses when compared to low turnover/high margin businesses,” Mr Pintard wrote on the FNM’s behalf.

“Bahamian micro businesses with turnover under $100,000 per year should not be subject to any form of Business Licence fees or taxes. Bahamian small businesses with turnover under $1m should have the option to pay a straightforward set fee based on a structured and tiered system.

“The resulting white paper on business tax reform must develop and express specific tax incentives that provide targeted tax relief to Bahamian businesses that commit to material investments in domestic expansion, hiring of under-represented Bahamian employees (young people, the impoverished, the disabled, etc) or who

make contributions to civic initiatives.”

Calling for “calibrated” tax rates, so that what he described as a “multitude of minor transactional taxes and fees inherited from a different era” can be eliminated to aid compliance and the ease of doing business, Mr Pintard added: “The reform effort must respect the tax regime that forms the basis of the Freeport zone in Grand Bahama and, as such, operations in the Port area should remain free of any direct business tax levy...........

“To allow for appropriate feedback and useful input into the process, the Government must clearly state its intended fiscal and economic expectations upon implementation of the reform efforts. What does the Government need and expect the business tax to contribute to the Treasury and to overall macroeconomic performance? Does the Government need and want the proportionate contribution from business tax to the revenue base to remain the same? To increase? To decrease?”

HOW TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN WORK AND SCHOOL AND SCJ

The concept of businesses working with schools is certainly not new. Many have reached out through public and private sector-organised initiatives to engage students more meaningfully in the world of enterprise.

The data shared by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology this week on BGCSE and BJC exam results reminds us all that we must be fully engaged in providing students and the education system with more support.

FERGUSON IAN

Our students appear to be progressively spiralling downwards in their readiness for the world of work and life.

Greater effort must be placed on ensuring that the school curriculum meets current corporate demands, and that students leaving high school can perform to standard. The question in front of us all is how can we bridge this glaring divide?

In today’s economy, companies increasingly compete on innovation. They are in a constant state

of improving, adapting and reinventing themselves, which requires a larger number of workers who can drive innovation. In this environment, employees at every level find themselves in a race against routine work. They must now have the innovation skills necessary to work in teams, think critically, solve problems and drive solutions.

At the same time, there is a growing interest in preparing students by strengthening career and technical education

Graycliff is named as Bahamas' best resort

GRAYCLIFF says it has been named as The Bahamas’ leading hotel for the 15th time at the 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas gala ceremony, held in Saint Lucia on August 26. The event was the first leg of the WTA’s 30th anniversary Grand Tour 2023, which is a global search for the best travel and tourism organisations. The Bahamas received the award for being the ‘Caribbean’s leading luxury island destination’ at the same ceremony, while Bahamasair

TRACKING MAP

was named as the ‘Caribbean’s leading airline’.

"We are thrilled to be named The Bahamas' leading hotel for the 15th time at the 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony,” said Graycliff chief executive, Enrico Garzaroli.

“This award is a testament to the passion and dedication of our talented team, who have been committed to providing our guests with a truly unforgettable Bahamian experience for 50 years. We are grateful to our guests and travel

partners for their continued support, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Graycliff Hotel again soon.”

Besides the hotel and restaurant, Graycliff's guests can create bespoke cigars, chocolate and wine at the Graycliff Cigar Company, Graycliff Chocolatier and Bahamas Barrels, respectively, while also discovering The Bahamas' history at the Heritage Museum of the Bahamas.

The World Travel Awards supports, promotes and develops the

global travel and tourism industry by identifying and rewarding excellence, and inspiring practitioners to continually raise the standards of their product and service offering.

Each year, the WTA runs and governs a range of awards developed to recognise the industry’s most vital sectors and product offerings, which are voted on by executives working within travel and tourism and the consumer travel buyer.

programmes, plus expanding access to work-based learning opportunities. These experiences, however, may reflect the needs of the past rather than the workforce of the future.

Today’s workforce, for example, requires individuals to work as members of diverse teams and across multiple job functions. It is not enough to possess a narrow skill set. Workers need breadth and depth in terms of knowledge and skills to be effective team members and drive

innovation across the company. Yet our current models for education instruction and work-based learning experiences often reinforce occupational silos instead of breaking them down.

We need a new approach to preparing our future workforce that better reflects the modern organisation of work and addresses the limitations of scaling work-based learning. Here are a few

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

A FEW of the Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant Staff with World Travel Award.

$5.98

$5.98 $5.98 $6.06

BISX fund eyeing up to $10m warehouse raise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A BISX-listed real estate

yesterday said it plans to raise up to $10m within the next six months to finance development of its Carmichael Road warehouse after profits near-doubled during the 2023 first-half.

Michael Anderson, president of RF Merchant Bank & Trust, which acts as the Bahamas Property Fund’s administrator, told Tribune Business it was likely to place a “debt instrument” with local capital markets investors to fund a venture that will likely take the total value of its property portfolio to around $50m.

Speaking after the Fund’s net income increased by 97.7 percent year-over-year, surging to $720,971 for the six months to end-June 2023 when compared to the

year-before period’s $364,771, he added that construction of the warehouse and storage facility - located just east of Carmichael Road’s junction with Gladstone Road - will likely begin within the next six months of all required permits are obtained and be completed within 18 months.

Acknowledging the need to diversify the Fund’s holdings beyond its three office properties, which did not serve it well when COVID-19 hit and corporate tenants exited, Mr

Anderson told this newspaper it is now seeking a new location to realise its longheld ambitions of developing a parking garage for downtown Nassau.

While it had initially targeted the Registrar General’s Department’s former home in the Rodney Bain building, located on Parliament Street, as a suitable site those plans have now been stymied after Ryan Pinder KC, the attorney general, recently disclosed that the Government has

Gov’t told: Avoid ‘piecemeal approach’ over tax reforms

secured it for the new court complex.

Mr Anderson, though, said the Fund is also seeking to expand into retail real estate, either through acquisitions or development of its own shopping complexes, and is waiting to get a clearer sense of the direction the Government plans to take with downtown Nassau’s revival given its belief that such opportunities

UN specialist warns on storm debt cycle

By FAY SIMMONS and NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Reporters

A United Nations (UN) foreign debt specialist yesterday disclosed that The Bahamas is still paying off borrowings related to three post-hurricane restorations with the country facing “almost unbelievable pressure” from climate change.

Attiya Waris, who also specialises in the areas of “international financial obligations” and human rights, speaking at the end of her tenday visit to The Bahamas said this nation faces a recurring cycle of paying off hurricanerelated debts only to have to repeat this process when a new storm strikes due to the increasing severity and frequency of such catastrophes.

She also pointed out that 19.9 percent of the 2023-2024 Budget’s recurrent (fixed cost) spending, or $1 out of every $5 expended, is allocated to servicing The Bahamas’ $612.726m interest bill on its $11.5bn national debt. And, with subsidies to loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) consuming another 13.2 percent or $408.098m, more than one-third or $1 out

of $3 spent - some $1.02bn - is being consumed by these two areas alone.

Ms Waris contrasted this with just 7.7 percent of the 2023-2024 Budget, or $236.538m, being spent on “social benefits”. This sum is equivalent to just 38.6 percent of what the Government is paying in interest

Gov’t spending reform is ‘absolute necessity’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE OPPOSITION yesterday branded reform of government spending as an “absolute necessity” as it argued that the $804.5m increase in total expenditure compared to pre-COVID levels is “possibly unsustainable”.

Michael Pintard, the FNM leader, in a letter sent to Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, in response to the Government’s corporate income tax ‘green paper’ (see other article on Page 24), argued that the subsequent ‘white paper’ the initial consultation will produce must also address

“efforts to contain public spending” as part of a comprehensive fiscal reform package.

“We maintain that any further discussion on business or corporate tax must be a sub-component of a broader fiscal and economic reform effort,” Mr Pintard wrote on his party’s behalf. “Simply considering a move to Bahamian corporate tax outside of the necessary fulsome dialogue and consideration of broad-based structural reform will not allow the Government to consider the overall implications and possible adverse outcomes that could accompany a partial reform effort.

SEE PAGE A22

Sebas teams with UoB to solve ‘dire need’ for skills

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck’s cofounder yesterday teamed with the University of The Bahamas to launch the ‘Smarter Bahamas’ initiative that aims to solve the “dire need” for enhanced technology skills among local workers.

Sebas Bastian, also The Bahamas’ non-resident ambassador to Central America, explained that the programme’s inspiration stemmed from this nation’s inability to provide a trained workforce of sufficient size to make the

former Minnis administration’s ambitions for a Grand Bahama technology hub come to reality.

Realising that The Bahamas did not possess enough workers with the right skills, he asked: “How are you going to build a tech hub with no technicians?

Where’s the training facility that is going to train these individuals that’s going to work in this new technological market; in this tech hub that you’re trying to build?

“I have such a strong conviction about how the gap in our country has been exacerbated over the years. Technology is running at a fast, fast pace and we have

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE OPPOSITION’S leader yesterday urged the Government to avoid “a piecemeal approach” to reform in the FNM’s response to the corporate income tax proposal, warning: “We have a very small margin for error.”

Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that corporate income tax must not be viewed “in isolation”, but instead be one element of a comprehensive review and reform of the entire Bahamian tax system, otherwise the country could suffer “unintended consequences” when change is implemented.

Speaking after detailing the Free National Movement’s (FNM) position on the Government’s corporate income ‘green paper’ in a letter to Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, he added that The Bahamas has an “obligation to get it right” on tax reform through wide consultation, conducting the necessary empirical studies and seeking expert advice.

Mr Pintard, in yesterday’s letter (see other article on Page 24B), did not oppose a corporate income tax in principle given the international pressures and The Bahamas’ commitment to the G-20/OECD 15 percent ‘global minimum tax’ drive. However, he

MICHAEL ANDERSON

MICHAEL PINTARD