09192023 BUSINESS AND FEATURES

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ArawakX hit by claim of ‘criminal infraction’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ first-ever crowd-funding platform has a solvency deficiency of “at least $2.4m”, regulators charged yesterday, while accusing it of “governance irregularities, regulatory breaches and possible criminal infractions”.

The Securities Commission, in legal documents filed with

Petroleum dealers ‘won’t force Govt’s hand’ despite $100 oil

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN petroleum retailers yesterday conceded their margin woes “cannot easily be fixed overnight” and promised “not to force the Government’s hand” with oil prices currently on track to reach $100 per barrel.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association’s (BPRA) vice-president, told Tribune Business that negotiations with the Davis administration are “requiring more time than we had all anticipated” to reach a resolution but dealers were willing to be patient given the wider challenges that the country is facing.

With global oil prices forecast to soon reach $100 per barrel again, due to a combination of rising Chinese demand and production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia, two major producers, Bahamian petroleum retailers are

once again faced with the prospect of having to pay an increasing amount to purchase their fuel inventories. With the industry’s pricecontrolled fixed margin structure ensuring retail and wholesale margins do not change, regardless of pump prices, retailers often have to incur increased overdraft, credit card and other bank-related fees to cover the increased outlay on fuel inventories.

Mr Bastian, though, told this newspaper that retailers may adjust to these pressures by reducing the quantity of fuel they purchase so as to contain costs and avoid increased overdraft and other fees. “The current model is what it is. There’s nothing we can do,” he explained. “It’s a global trend. Oil prices are increasing all over the world as a result of the reduction in output by Saudi Arabia and Russia. “It will definitely have an impact on the gas station

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PM unveils $500m climate finance plan

By Fay SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE PRIME Minister yesterday unveiled ambitions for The Bahamas to raise $500m to bolster its resiliency, and sustainability, against negative climate change impacts in partnership with Resilience Capital Ventures.

Philip Davis KC, unveiling the Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme at the Clinton Global Initiative forum, said: “With our strategic advisors, Resilience Capital Ventures, we will work with regional and global capital market leaders to underwrite and place an innovative financing

facility with a target of $500m.

“Our priorities include climate-resilient infrastructure, our clean energy transition, coastal zone conservation, reducing biodiversity loss, regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration,and participation in natural asset-backed carbon credit programmes. Blended finance is a smart way to close the climate financing gap at a time when solutions cannot be postponed.”

Mr Davis explained that The Bahamas is in “urgent need” of climate financing solutions as it is still reeling from the financial impact of four major hurricanes and has difficulties accessing

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the Supreme Court, asserted that these woes are sufficiently “insurmountable” to justify ArawakX’s winding-up amid allegations that investor funds were “commingled” with those belonging to the company; staff had not been paid for “several months”; and capital-raising companies had not received all monies due to them because these were being misused to fund the platform’s operations.

D’Arcy Rahming senior, ArawakX’s chairman and chief executive, last night told Tribune Business that “we intend to refute everything”

as he vehemently denied the Securities Commission’s allegations against himself, his son, D’Arcy Rahming junior, and the crowd-funding platform itself (see other article on Page 2B).

He declined to provide much detail ahead of ArawakX’s legal response to

the Bahamian capital markets regulator, which is due to be filed with the Supreme Court by September 25, but the documents released by the Securities Commission give a completely different perspective to the two sides’ year-long battle than that already provided by the crowd-funding platform.

The regulator, in its petition for ArawakX’s winding-up

Crowd-funder: From $4m to $200m in 14 months

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS’ first-ever crowd-funding platform purportedly increased in value from just $4.38m to an astonishing $201.75m in just 14 months, it was alleged yesterday, despite accounts revealing a $2.659m “deficit” at end-July 2022. The Securities Commission, in documents supporting its Supreme Court petition to windup ArawakX, revealed it was “gravely concerned” the company had “made representations about its valuation” to prominent Bahamian investors without supplying any evidence to back such numbers.

Among those induced to invest in ArawakX, and who parted with “substantial sums”, were prominent physician, Dr

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS Trade Commission’s chairman yesterday said “there’s a lot of room for improvement” after this nation’s trade deficit expanded by almost $184m or 28 percent yearover-year to hit $847m in the 2023 second quarter. Philip Galanis, who declined to comment in detail given that he had yet to see the latest quarterly trade report from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute, told Tribune Business: “Generally we’re heading in the right direction in terms of trade, although there’s a lot of room for improvement and we have to understand how much of that increase was fuelled by inflation.”

The trade deficit, which only measures by how much imports of physical goods exceed the value

Harold Munnings, Lynden Johnson and Burchinald Gibson. The trio were named in an August 30, 2023, letter from Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director, to D’Arcy Rahming senior, ArawakX’s chairman and chief executive, in which she said such investments had failed to obtain the regulator’s prior approval in accordance with the law.

“The Commission is gravely concerned that MDollaz has, in order to support its share offer prices, made representations about its valuation to investors such as Dr Harold Munnings but without providing any internationally acceptable process for valuation,” the Securities Commission chief wrote.

“This lack of process renders the valuation highly questionable at best, and raises the possibility of misrepresentation.” Given that ArawakX was only registered to conduct business as a crowd-funding marketplace on January 18, 2021, the jump in its purported valuation from $4.38m to $50m and then, latterly, to $201.75m is likely to raise eyebrows especially since it was in its fledgling start-up growth phase and has only handled a few issues to-date.

The Securities Commission doubled down on such concerns in its winding-up petition, filed with the Supreme Court yesterday, in which it revealed that 134 of the 136 alleged “shareholders” in ArawakX had not been approved as investors as required under the Securities Industry Act. The only two with such permission were Mr Rahming senior and his son, D’Arcy junior, who were both shown as holding equal 50 percent equity stakes when it it began conducting business. “This was the first time the Commission became aware that the number of shareholders exceeded the threshold of a private company,” the capital markets regulator disclosed. ArawakX’s largest investor appears to have been former Colina Insurance

of exports, and excludes services, expanded from a negative $663.025m for the three months to endJune 2022 to $847.021m during the same period this year.

Goods imports increased by 35 percent year-over-year, surging by $284m to $1.094bn during the 2023 second quarter compared to $809.764m the year before. Oil imports played a major role, their value more than doubling or increasing by over 100 percent

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‘Room for improvement’: Trade deficit expands 28% to $1.09bn

CHRISTINA ROLLE D’ARCY RAHMING

PHILIP GALANIS

Development Bank executive speaks on global forum panel

A BAHAMAS Development Bank (BDB) executive spoke on a panel discussion during the recent gathering of the world’s national development banks (NDBs) at The Finance in Common summit.

Held in Colombia, the conference emphasised the major role these institutions play as a link between international and domestic finance when it comes to project development funding and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) lending.

The event noted that $4-5 trillion is needed annually for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be accomplished globally, private finance will be key to sustainable, inclusive development and NDBs can lead in de-risking and structuring opportunities that are attractive to private financiers. It also stressed that the global focus on SDGs related to factors such as inclusion, climate and gender must consider the unique needs of small island developing states (SIDS) such as The Bahamas.

Sumayyah Cargill, the Bahamas Development Bank’s manager of strategic development and initiatives, was invited to speak on a panel organised by the European Investment Climate Reform Facility alongside representatives from Belize, South Africa and France. Hyginus Leon, the Caribbean Development Bank’s president, delivered the keynote address.

Ms Cargill’s presentation focused on the impact of technical assistance as she underscored the importance of a strong national development bank to

progress national economic and social goals.

“SIDS (small island developing states) have unique vulnerabilities,” Ms Cargill said. “We are tasked with building resiliency for the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change, while also trying to lift the standards of living for our people. These challenges can be transformed into opportunities with the right investments. However, weak project implementation capacity and a deficit in bankable projects are holding back growth.

“A well-functioning development bank is a robust mechanism to execute policy-driven projects and channel financing to sustainable development.

BDB is rising to that challenge with the support of the international community. In the last four years, we have created new policies and programmes, integrated the SDGs (sustainable development goals) into operations and have committed to climate and gender equitable financing.

“We are confident that we have laid a foundation that will see us become a regional leader in innovative, sustainable financing.”

The Bahamas Development Bank said it has positioned itself as the bridge to channel international funding to meet national needs.

It added that it has increased its capacity to engage with international funders, and both package projects and bundle smaller ones to attract private financing.

This has been supported by partners such as the Caribbean Development Bank, Green Climate Funds’ readiness programme, United Nations Women

and Investment Climate Reform Facility.

Highlighting the bank’s recent unveiling of international financing opportunities for the Bahamian creative industries, Ms Cargill said: “Long-term relationships with multilaterals can have rebounding impact. From our experience, there is a direct line between technical assistance from multilateral to real opportunities for entrepreneurs.

“BDB has far to go, but already has a lot to share in many areas. We recognise how important it is for us to not just act as a channel for funding but for mainstreaming SDGs,

climate and gender equitable principles into the wider economy. As an NDB, we are learning to lead in transmitting the values set at the international level because we are that critical bridge.”

BDB is seeking accreditation as the first national direct access entity for the Green Climate Fund. It is the national co-ordinating authority for Build Bank Better, a joint SDG fund project; is a member of the National Climate Change Committee; and was elected to chair the SDG technical committee for economic prosperity in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Ms Cargill said: “Wellexecuted technical

assistance is a major driver of BDB’s growth. Likewise, partnerships are core to who we are and we remain open to collaborating on solutions to the challenges

we face, and to do mutually beneficial business. Strengthening The Bahamas Development Bank strengthens The Bahamas.”

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THE BAHAMAS Development Bank’s (BDB) manager of strategic development and initiatives, Sumayyah Cargill, stands third from left. She was invited to speak on a panel organised by the European Investment Climate Reform Facility at the fourth edition of the Finance in Common Summit.

Jitney industry accepts 25 cent fare increase - for now

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

JITNEY owners have agreed that a 25 cent fare increase should be discussed with the Bahamian people even though this amounts to just one-third of the hike they are seeking.

Harrison Moxey, the United Public Transportation Company’s (UPTC) president, told Tribune Business that the group has agreed with the Ministry of Energy and Transport that a 25 cent increase will be proposed at the upcoming Town Hall meetings called to discuss the matter.

The increase, though, falls 50 cents or two-thirds short of the 75 cents rise the UPTC had initially asked for. If granted, that would have taken jitney fares from $1.25 to $2 per adult. Mr Moxey, though, said a 25 cent rise was acceptable in the short-term. “It’s not satisfactory, but it’s better than nothing,” he added

The 25 cent increase was also hailed and accepted by Rudolph Taylor, the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union’s (BUDU) president. However, he added that the transport minister, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, has been “long on talk and short on action” as the fare increase was supposed to have been implemented from April 2020.

“We got word that it was going to be a 25 cent increase from March,” Mr Taylor, who represents jitney drivers, said. “She said it was approved, and came back and said that it’s going to need consultation. She then put out an alternative date for more consultation and all of this long talk.

“As far as I’m concerned, this Town Hall meeting was supposed to have happened from April, so the minister says a lot of things because right now we are in the month of September. At this point now I’m just taking it with a grain of salt. The same respect that we showed her, we expect her

to do likewise. She is just speaking broadly right now.

“The union takes minutes. That’s the difference with us. So if anyone tries to refute anything that we said. minutes are taken at every meeting. So it is plain and clear as day as to what was said, and what she told us to relay to the members, we did that. This is why the union members and other drivers are upset because this meeting was supposed to take place from April.”

Mr Moxey, meanwhile, confirmed: “There is supposed to be a series of Town Hall meetings with the public. That has not happened yet, and that is what we’re watching because whatever the increase is we don’t want it to be further delayed. It should not be predicated on what the folks at the Town Hall meeting have to say because it is something that we simply deserve, and I think they can concur with that.”

The jitney industry last enjoyed a fare increase some 15 years ago in

MP ‘DEEPLY AWARE’ OF ANDROS UTILITIES WOES

November 2008, when fares were raised from $1 to $1.25 for adults. Pressure for the latest increase rose after COVID, as drivers and vehicle owners were faced with significant fuel and cost of living increases that squeezed incomes and margins after two years of pandemic-related restrictions that capped passenger loads at a maximum 50 percent capacity.

Mr Moxey said: “The 25 cents is more than we had, and it can do something because people will be more inclined to give you 50 cents than to short you a quarter. We are trying to see it from that point of view, and we are just going to wait and see. We also want to encourage people to pay as they enter so we can be assured to get it.

“The 25 cent increase does not meet our demands now, but we’re going to have to get going and we are going to have to see what the pros and the cons are.”

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE SOUTH Andros MP yesterday confirmed he is “deeply aware of the challenges” his constituents face due to poor quality and unreliable electricity, water and telecommunications services.

Leon Lundy, also parliamentary secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, said he is working with Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), Water & Sewerage Corporation and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to address the issues.

He added: “I am deeply aware of the ongoing challenges that the residents of Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros are facing regarding utility services. The issues raised are of great concern to me, and I understand the urgency of the situation.

“We have already initiated a comprehensive assessment at the Water and Sewerage Corporation

Digital assets summit in trends ‘shift’ focus

By YOURI KEMP Tribune Business Reporter ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A DIGITAL assets summit to be held in The Bahamas next month will expose the trends and “broader shift” currently occurring in the industry, organisers pledged yesterday.

Will Haskins, head of strategy and content at Finoverse, which is organising the D3 Bahamas Fintech Festival for the Securities Commission and government, told Tribune Business that digital assets such as crypto currencies remain viable despite

FTX’s implosion because of the blockchain and other underlying technologies behind it.

“I think what you’re seeing is a broader shift in the industry A lot of times when you have these innovations, there is an emphasis that begins on consumer applications, and that’s where I think you can see a lot of the push to try and get individual investors involved in trading of crypto currencies,” he said.

“But I think the industry is maturing, and what we’re seeing globally is that there’s much more of a shift now from trying to attract and involve purely just the retail investors to understanding the underlying

technology. This is really the key thing about the difference between crypto currencies like Bitcoin and Aetherium, and the technology like blockchain that lives underneath them.”

The D3 Conference, which will be held from October 10-12, will focus primarily on the importance of blockchain technology to the digital assets industry while also promoting the Bahamas’ Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act, its regulatory regime and reforms that have taken place since FTX’s collapse.

“We take our lead from the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB), which is tuned to release

an updated version of the DARE Act, which governs the registration of digital assets service providers. We’re focusing as much as we can trying to follow that lead in terms of trying to create trust around digital assets and the technology that underlies it and,really, a lot of that is through trying to create clarity where we can. So we’re trying to try to build more regulatory clarity,” Mr Haskins said. “I think what’s significant about the DARE Act is that it’s an example of prudent policymaking. The industry is evolving quickly, and so this revision of the DARE Act responds to important developments around things like stable coins,

trying to provide additional guidance and clarity so that there is a safe and stable system, and that it gives the proper guardrails to ensure investor protection but also creates conditions in which businesses can grow.”

The D3 conference plans to touch on all the key issues raised by FTX’s implosion. Digital assets operators and players from the US, Europe and Asia will be among those expected to attend. “A couple of different things will be discussed. One of the things is that we’re trying to bring together perspectives from multiple parts of the world so that you can get the benefit of

to identify the root causes of the water problems. I have also been apprised of the situation at BPL and I know that the team is working on it.”

Last week, Mangrove Cay business owners made a plea for a resolution to their ongoing utility crisis amid interruptions to their electricity, water and telecommunication services.

Cheryl Bastian, owner/ operator of Andros-based Swain’s Cay Lodge, told Tribune Business she was “extremely concerned” for

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learning from different markets,” Mr Haskins said.

“I think what we’re hearing, as we have conversations with people in The Bahamas and around the rest of the world, is that regulators are trying to figure out what the best approach is in order to create that safe, stable marketplace. So sharing experiences, from leading organisations like the Securities Commission as well as others that are coming in from the US, coming in from the Middle East, coming from Asia, we can hopefully get to that stage, that safe, stable path sooner.”

LEON LUNDY

ArawakX hit by claim of ‘criminal infraction’

and the appointment of Ecovis Bahamas accountant, James Gomez, as provisional liquidator, asserted that the crowdfunding platform “has committed certain breaches under the Securities Industries Act that warrant criminal penalties” being imposed.

Arguing that the crowdfunding platform has failed to provide satisfactory evidence that it can remedy its solvency deficiency and alleged regulatory breaches, the regulator added that “it is in the public interest - and in the interest if clients and/or investors - that the company be woundup” and likely placed in a Supreme Court-supervised liquidation.

“The Commission is satisfied that the company’s insolvency issues, governance irregularities, regulatory breaches and possible criminal infractions have together become insurmountable, resulting in there being more than sufficient evidence to have the company woundup,” Christina Rolle, the Securities Commission’s executive director, alleged in an affidavit supporting the winding-up petition.

The petition, as previously reported by Tribune Business, will be heard by the Supreme Court on October 13 when attorneys for both the Securities Commission and ArawakX present their respective arguments for and against the crowd-funding platform’s potential liquidation.

Mdollaz, which trades as ArawakX, was registered

with the Securities Commission on January 18, 2021, to conduct business as a crowd-funding marketplace and clearing facility under the Securities Industry (Business Capital) Rules 2021. It was initially owned 50/50 by Mr Rahming and his son.

Hillary Deveaux, one of Ms Rolle’s predecessors as Securities Commission executive director, was on Mdollaz/ArawakX’s Board but he resigned on December 9, 2022, to become a whistleblower. Together with James Campbell, the former Colina Insurance Company president, and Felix Stubbs, the former IBM Bahamas chief, he met with the regulator on October 11, 2022, to voice concerns about the platform’s operations and corporate governance structure.

“Mr Campbell, in particular, who is a silent investor in the company and invested roughly $1.2m, expressed deep concerns about the direction and operations of the company,” the Securities Commission’s winding-up petition alleged.

The former Colina chief asserted “that since operations began the company had been cash strapped, and that roughly $1.5m received from investors had been spent as only one out of the six crowdfund offerings that was listed on the platform had met its minimum ask”.

It was also claimed that ArawakX staff “had not been paid for several months”, while $40,000 “was moved from the fiduciary account to the operating account” - suggesting that

NOTICE TANGERINE GROVE INVESTMENTS LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) TANGERINE GROVE INVESTMENTS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

VJ INVESTMENT LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) VJ INVESTMENTLIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

AUGUST PINNACLE INVESTMENTS LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) AUGUST PINNACLE INVESTMENTS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 15th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

client/investor monies were used to finance the platform’s operating expenses. When this was brought to Mr Rahming senior’s attention, he allegedly described this as “an error”.

Mr Campbell also alleged that senior ArawakX executives were travelling and spending lavishly to promote the business, which he argued was not wise given the company’s financial position. The Securities Commission, meanwhile, noted that the former Colina chief’s appointment to ArawakX’s Board on January 10, 2022, was a breach of the Securities Industry Act because it had not received prior approval from the regulator.

The regulator then met with the Rahmings, who admitted that ArawakX’s “funds were temporarily commingled with investors but that this mistake was quickly rectified and the company learned from this error”. They also acknowledged that “while staff had not been paid their entire salary”, employees understood “Mdollaz was operating in a new space” and were “willing to work on this basis” as

they shared the platform’s crowd-funding vision and goals.

However, the falling-out with Mr Campbell resulted in Bank of The Bahamas freezing/blocking all of ArawakX’s operating and client accounts at end-October 2022. The BISX-listed bank “indicated that the account balances appeared to be used for general purposes, and that it was difficult to determine that they were used for clients alone”.

Mr Rahming blamed this alleged “commingling” on Bank of The Bahamas’ “mislabeling of transaction descriptions”, and ArawakX subsequently launched legal action against the bank that is still ongoing. However, this - together with the earlier meeting with Messrs Deveaux, Campbell and Stubbs - triggered a Securities Commission ‘inspection for cause’ of the crowd-funding platform on January 7, 2023.

Ms Rolle, in her affidavit, alleged that this showed ArawakX owed a six-figure sum to companies that had raised monies from investors via the

NOTICE

DAR AL SAAD LTD.

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) DAR AL SAAD LTD. is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

OXHOLM TRADE LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) OXHOLM TRADE LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

NOTICE SAIRAM LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) SAIRAM LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

crowd-funding platform. “There were discrepancies with client subscription agreements, namely that the company owed its issuers $221,276 with $8,806 being owed to Tropical Gyro, $83,167 being owed to Foot Care Rx, and $129,303 being owed to Nassau Gas,” she asserted.

“The Commission cannot determine whether these specific funds have been paid to issuers as yet, having not received a response to our query on the point.

Tropical Gyro’s distribution closed on October 7, 2022; Foot Care Rx’s distribution closed on October 31, 2022; and Nassau Gas’ distribution closed on December 20, 2022.” Foot Care Rx’s principal is former minster of youth, sports and culture, Dr Danny Johnson.

Ms Rolle thus alleged that not all sums raised from Bahamian investors were passed to the issuing companies within three days of the offering’s close, as required by law. However, ArawakX has previously said that not all investor pledges actually materialise into money invested, as crowd-funding typically attracts small retail players parting with small sums of money.

Meanwhile, the Securities Commission inspection allegedly found that “the receipt of client funds occurred between ‘fiduciary’ and ‘operational’ accounts”, some of which were in the name of another entity, MDollaz Technology. This company was not licensed by the regulator, and the latter added: “By receiving and holding client funds, MDollaz Technology conducted business for which it is not licensed, potentially contravening various laws in The Bahamas.

“When questioned on this point, MDollaz advised the Commission that they only used MDollaz Technology accounts because they were in the process of obtaining an account in the name of the licensed entity.

Up to June 2023, the Bank of The Bahamas account of MDollaz Technology still held client balances.

“During the months of March, April and August 2022, staff salaries were processed using the MDollaz Technology ‘fiduciary’ account at Bank of The Bahamas. This appears to be a use of client funds to fund the operations of MDollaz.” It was also noted that an investor was not refunded the $26,004 he placed with Bahamas Myfi’s

failed capital raise but, instead, these monies were paid into MDollaz’s operational account.

ArawakX subsequently alleged that the investor in question, Lynden Johnson, had decided to become a shareholder in MDollaz and the $26,004 was reallocated for this purpose. It alleged that Mr Johnson then increased his investment in the platform to $50,000.

As a result of its findings, the Securities Commission imposed regulatory restrictions on ArawakX on March 23, 2023. These barred it from accepting new clients, investors and issuers, and also blocked it from receiving more funds from existing investors. Crowd-funding activity was to cease, and the platform had to provide key documents and answer the regulator’s questions.

Interviews with two past ArawakX chief financial officers, Michael Turnquest and Samuel Wilkinson, revealed similar complaints that both were provided with insufficient financial records and information to carry out their jobs, “that there was resistance all around from the principals to implement proper systems and controls”, and “it was possible that clients’ funds were used to pay a particular founder perks”.

Amid ongoing concerns about ArawakX’s financial solvency, and further complaints from investors, the winding-up petition alleged:

“The Commission’s analysis of the bank account statements showed that, at all material times, due to subscribers (issuers) was larger than the balances held on their fiduciary accounts.

“This is strong evidence that they were collecting funds on behalf of issuers, using those funds to fund their operations and then replacing those funds by soliciting investments in MDollaz. This pattern is confirmed in the loan agreements with PJ Enterprises [Mr Campbell’s firm], which notes that one of the purposes of the loan was payouts to crowd-fund issuers. This circumstance is a breach of MDollaz’ fiduciary obligations as well as a breach of the Rules.”

Further meetings and correspondence failed to ease the Securities Commission’s concerns, leading to last Friday’s bid to initiate the winding-up proceedings.

NOTICE WHITE LEAF GLOBAL LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

a) WHITE LEAF GLOBAL LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on 7th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

c) The Liquidator of the said company is Octagon Management Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Octagon Management Limited Liquidator

NOTICE

SOUTHEAST MEADOWS LIMITED

N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) SOUTHEAST MEADOWS LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 15th September, 2023 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Bukit Merah Limited, The Bahamas Financial Centre, Shirley & Charlotte Streets, P.O. Box N-3023, Nassau, Bahamas

Dated this 19th day of September, A. D. 2023

Bukit Merah Limited Liquidator

HILLARY DEVEAUX FELIX STUBBS

Crowd-funder: From $4m to $200m in 14 months

the threshold of a private company,” the capital markets regulator disclosed.

ArawakX’s largest investor appears to have been former Colina Insurance Company president, James Campbell, who informed the Securities Commission he had injected $1.2m as a so-called ‘angel investor’ before being appointed to the Board of Directors.

The Securities Commission, though, noted that the $4.38m valuation placed on ArawakX by its principals, the Rahmings, during negotiations with Mr Campbell and his company, PJ Enterprises, had swiftly risen to $50m in talks with another investor.

“The additional information revealed that on July 28, 2020, the company issued Class B (cumulative redeemable MDollaz) preference shares at $1 per share to [Investor 15] with an option to convert into 5,000 ordinary shares at $5 per share,” the regulator alleged.

“This implies a valuation of the company at $50m, which is grossly different from the $4.38m valuation negotiated (between July 2020 to December 2021) with PJ Enterprises. The Commission is alarmed that MDollaz appears to have sold its shares at a premium prior to commencing any regulatory activity and using unsubstantiated valuation methods.

“Further, the Commission has no evidence that the Class B shares were ever created as they are not reflected in the share structure as filed with the Commission at the time of registration nor any time thereafter. This issue, from the Commission’s point of view, is insurmountable with respect to the company’s ability to regularise its governance issues and reflects misrepresentations made to the public,” the Securities Commission continued.

“The subscription agreements, term sheets and correspondences reflected the issuance of classes of

shares at various share prices which were not reflected in the share structure of the company nor any suitable valuation provided to support the share prices. For example, investor 15 was advised that the company had a valuation of $201.75m.”

Investor 15, who is not identified by name, e-mailed D’Arcy Rahming junior on September 3, 2021, questioning that valuation.

“Please help me to better understand the company valuation of $20m [sic, $200m]. Is it based on $710 per user? I don’t see it,” they wrote.

Mr Rahming junior responded by referring to “the valuation of $201.75m or $200m”. He added that this was based on the $710 “projected average yearly investment per user” and two investments per year.

“The next round of funding is to get us to the 346,530 users,” he said, adding that multiplying the latter figure by $710, then 10 percent, gives $24.604m. The latter

‘Room for improvement’: Trade

deficit expands 28% to $1.09bn

FROM PAGE B1

year-over-year from

$111.023m to $225.319m.

However, the bright spot for The Bahamas was its export activities, which grew by 68 percent or just over $100m year-over-year to $247.161m as opposed to $146.738m during the 2022 second quarter. This rate of expansion, though, was eclipsed in gross dollar terms by continued import expansion.

“Data on the merchandise trade for the 2023 second quarter shows that the value of commodities imported into The Bahamas totaled $1.094bn, resulting in an increase of 35 percent when compared with the same period last year,” the Bahamas National Statistical Institute report said.

“The major groups of merchandise, were ‘mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’, which totalled $225m; ‘machinery and transport equipment’ at $219m; and ‘food and live animals’, which totalled $193m. The combined value of these categories represented 58 percent of total imports.”

The quarterly trade report added: “Other categories that contributed to total imports were ‘miscellaneous manufactured articles’, which accounted for $139m; ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials’ valued at $132m; and ‘chemicals’ at $77m. These groups together represented 32 percent of total imports.

“Categories that showed significant increases when compared to the same quarter last year were ‘mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ and ‘machinery and transport equipment’, which increased by 103 percent and 62 percent, respectively.”

As for the export side, the Bahamas National Statistical Institute report: “As it relates to total exports, for the 2023 second quarter, data shows that the value of commodities exported (domestic and re-export) from The Bahamas totalled $247m, resulting in an increase of 68 percent when compared with the same period last year.

“The categories that contributed the largest proportion to the exports were ‘machinery and transport

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equipment’, which totalled $118m; ‘manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials’ at $61m, and ‘mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ at $31m, representing 85 percent of total exports.”

The report added:

“Categories that showed significant increases were ‘machinery and transport equipment’ and ‘crude minerals, inedible except fuels’ and ‘beverages and tobacco’, which increased by 340 percent, 208 percent and 65 percent, respectively, when compared to the same quarter last year.

“The groups that decreased in value when compared to the same period last year were ‘food and live animals’ and ‘chemicals’, which declined by 24 percent and 23 percent, respectively.”

sum was then subject to an 8.2 multiplier from a “Harvard Business Review Study” on how start-ups are valued.

Investor 15, in an August 24, 2023, interview with the Securities Commission revealed they had invested $75,000 in ArawakX. “His investment was based on his trust and confidence in the principals, who indicated via e-mail that the company was valued at $200m (although he did not necessarily believe the valuation),” the Securities Commission said.

“It was evident that MDollaz [which operates as ArawakX] took steps since 2021 to raise additional capital to directly fund MDollaz without informing the Commission,” the regulator added. “MDollaz actions appear to be a distribution in contravention of the Securities Industry Act 2011.”

The Securities Commission, which finally received ArawakX’s draft financial statements for the year to end-July 2022 on July 11

this year, said the crowdfunding platform’s external auditors, Lambert Longley and his associate, Charlene Fox-Deveaux, had noted how $1.9m in equity capital had been raised from investors not approved by the regulator.

“The auditor, as a result, is proposing on the draft to classify these persons as creditors rather than equity investors,” the Securities Commission’s winding-up petition said. It also noted that ArawakX had incurred a “major net loss” for 2022, with the amount of ‘red ink’ growing “two times’ for the same 12-month periodfrom $908,637 to $1.75m.

Revenues of $211,135 were dwarfed by $1.909m in operating expenses, and

the Securities Commission noted that its “negative equity” had “grown substantially” - increasing more than four-fold year-overyear - from -$551,000 in 2021 to -$2.3m.

“Income of $200,000 is only enough to pay the annual rent and cannot cover other operations expenses,” the regulator added. “Note indicated that accounts payable grew by 1,032 percent and additional debts of approximately $500,000 were indicated in notes 11 and 12. That this company does not have sufficient total assets to discharge itself of its debts, hence the equity is negative.”

N O T I C E

SUNSHINE FARMS, LIMITED (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Creditors having debts or claims against the above-named Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o P. O. Box SS-19084, on or before the 6th day of October, 2023. In default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made by the Liquidator.

Dated the 15th day of September, 2023.

Jonell Rolle Liquidator of SUNSHINE FARMS, LIMITED

NOTICE SDM LTD.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration Number 209412 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 15th day of September, A.D. 2023.

Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Cynthia Tiraboschi Burin Mantovani, whose address is Rua Timbiras, 15 AP 41 – Bloco: Unico – Gonzaga – Santos – SP – CEP 11055290, Brazil. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 15th day of October, A.D. 2023 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made before such claim is proved. Dated this 19th day of September, A.D. 2023. CYNTHIA TIRABOSCHI BURIN MANTOVANI Liquidator

NOTICE GREENPALMA INVEST LTD.

NOTICE is hereby given as follows:

(a) Greenpalma Invest Ltd. is in Voluntary Dissolution under the provisions of Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The Dissolution of the said Company commenced when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Beatus Limited, P.O. Box N7776-348, N.P., Bahamas. Dated 18 September 2023

Beatus Limited Liquidator

PETROLEUM DEALERS ‘WON’T FORCE GOVT’S HAND’ DESPITE $100 OIL

dealers in The Bahamas. Our hands are already tied when it comes to that. It’s part of the business cycle in this industry. What goes up must come down. We have to watch what happens. Hopefully it will not rise too much and then will come back down.”

Oil prices last night, as Tribune Business went to press, stood at $92.19 per barrel on the West Texas Intermediate index and $94.50 for Brent Crude. Both showed slight increases, but global oil prices have increased by 30 percent since June 2023 as speculators and the markets react to the move by Russia/Saudi Arabia and increased Chinese demand.

These increases will eventually feed into the Bahamian economy

through higher energy and transportation, fuelling fears of renewed inflationary pressures amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. “It definitely will require more cash to buy quantity of fuel we want,”

Mr Bastian said of the impact for petroleum dealers. “But as the price of fuel increases the demand quantity reduces.

“Whereas a dealer previously, for example, bought 10,000 gallons of fuel they may now only buy 7,500. And from 7,500 gallons they could drop to 6,000 gallons. You can adjust the quantity as the cost goes up. We’ll have to make some adjustments from where we sit. That’s the best we can do in the circumstances.

“Our margin is fixed. This particular industry, like the food stores selling bread basket items, that margin is

PM UNVEILS $500M CLIMATE FINANCE PLAN

FROM PAGE B1

low-cost funding due to its designation as a middleincome country.

He said: “A cruel irony is that those four massive hurricanes cost us billions, leaving us without the fiscal space we need to get ready for the next storms. Topping the lists of countries most vulnerable to climate change makes borrowing more expensive.

Every single day we are paying for the hurricanes we’ve already suffered, and the ones still ahead of us.

“In addition, our nation’s middle income designation leaves us unable to access fair and concessional financing for recovery and adaptation. This traps us in a cycle in which the servicing of our debt leaves very little to invest in building our resilience. We urgently need new and creative solutions to our climate financing.”

Mr Davis added that The Bahamas is set to

become the first country to issue blue carbon credits, with its seagrass meadowswhich act as a major ‘sink’ that traps carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere - now being mapped by scientists. He said: “Instead of saying small island nation, say ‘large ocean state’. Our country’s seagrass meadows, which cover an astonishing 92,000 square kilometres, appear to be absorbing equal to or more carbon than the Amazon Rainforest.

“We have been mapping our seagrasses with the help of not just scientists but tiger sharks, who are a critical part of our underwater surveying team, wearing cameras and sending back data points. Those sharks are going to help us become the first country in the world to issue blue carbon credits. So, as you can see, small countries can be big pioneers. “

fixed. It’s a model that has been set for years, It’s one of those things we have to live with until we can do better. We have to do what we have to do. It’s just a tough period. It is what it is.”

Bahamian petroleum retailers have been seeking a 30 cent per gallon margin increase since April 2022. Based on the current 54 cents per gallon, that would take the margin to 84 cents, representing a 55.6 percent increase. In contrast, the Government earns a fixed $1.16 per gallon on all fuel sales plus 10 percent VAT, but Mr Bastian struck a conciliatory tone over the talks despite the seeming lack of progress towards a resolution all sides can live with.

“Our negotiations with the Government are ongoing,” he told Tribune

Business. “Some negotiations require more time. The negotiations between the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association and the Government are requiring more time than we all anticipated. At the end of the day, the Government is committed to work with us to hopefully see a positive resolution.

“It’s tough all around right now. It’s tough for the Government particularly, it’s tough for the retailers particularly, and it’s tough for the wholesalers also. Collectively, hopefully in the future we can come together to make everybody happy. I understand the Government’s position. We all want this whole matter resolved, but it’s taking more time than we all anticipated.

“We understand the challenges the Government has,

MP ‘DEEPLY AWARE’ OF ANDROS UTILITIES WOES

FROM PAGE B3

her property’s visitor bookings with the fishing season due to start next month and all of BPL, BTC and Water & Sewerage Corporation unable to maintain reliant, consistent utility supply Disclosing that service had become appreciably worse in the last four months, she said the difficulties had peaked within the last month with BPL’s supply often cut-off between three to five times

per day - and for up to four to five hours at a time.

Voicing fears that guests will simply “check-out” early, because they will be unable to handle the heat without air conditioning, Ms Bastian disclosed to this newspaper that she relocated to the capital last month for two weeks to ensure she would be able to receive and deal with bookings. Besides being confronted with power outages, she added that BTC’s landline and Internet service were also frequently

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The Public is hereby advised that I, ZIAVANIQUE Z’NAE GRAY of General Delivery, Lincoln Boulevard , New Providence, Bahamas intend to change my name to ZIAVANIQUE Z’NAE MOSS If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Offcer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.

the challenges the retailers have, and the challenges the wholesalers have. It’s not something that can easily be fixed overnight. We all understand it’s a process. The current administration continues to work with us behind the scenes to try and bring some type of relief to the situation,” Mr Bastian continued.

“We don’t want to force their hand, and cannot force their hand. They’ve been very accommodating over the last several months. We’ve talked about various solutions, we’ve talked about various scenarios. I’m not going to bash them.”

Mr Bastian, asserting that he does not “want to make it political”, said the Government has been far more responsive to the petroleum retailers’ concerns than its Minnis administration predecessor when they

down, often for hours at a time. In a statement about the outages, Mr Lundy maintained he is working with the relevant agencies to provide short and long-term infrastructure improvements. He added that the Government is “committed” to ensuring that Family Island communities “have access to reliable utility services”.

He said: “Our government is committed to ensuring that all communities, especially in the Family Islands, have access to reliable utility services.

“Rest assured, we are actively working on shortterm solutions to alleviate the immediate issues while also planning long-term

were “sidelined and never received an audience”.

“We’d love a margin increase tonight, today, but we understand the challenges and are willing to wait for some reasonable agreement,” he told Tribune Business. “This government has been very accommodating to us in formal and informal talks. The fact we’ve been welcomed into the room speaks to their commitment to us.

“It’s just a matter of time. Sometimes negotiations take longer than both parties want. I’m hopeful in the very near future, or some time in the distant future if it’s not imminent, we get some resolution and all shake hands and walk away from the table happy. But we understand the challenges we have as a country.”

investments in infrastructure improvements. We are in close contact with theGovernment agencies to expedite these efforts.

“I recognise the hardships the residents are enduring, and I empathise with their frustration. I will continue to prioritise and expedite our actions to bring much-needed relief to the people of Andros.”

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CAVIN ALBERT NEITA of P. O. Box SS-6067, West Winds Estates, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 12th 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 SERGE VALENTINO CAREY JR of P.O Box N1983, Palm Beach Street, 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 12th 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 ORILIO SAINT FLEUR of East Street South, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 12th day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that NOELZINA ST FLEUR of East Street South, New Providence, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 12th day of September, 2023 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Help a medical student with a big heart finish his studies

Marnarrey Lightbourn stages Japaneseinspired variety show to raise funds for school

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FUELLED by the experience of witnessing his grandparents fall ill when he was a child, Marnarrey Lightbourn made it his life’s goal to put himself in a position to help those who are sick. For that reason, he has embarked on a career in medicine.

Marnarrey is a nationally registered emergency medical technician as well as a third-degree Karate black belt and circus artist.

His interest in medicine began when he was a child. Growing up and seeing his grandparents suffer from chronic and serious illnesses, including cancer and

Heart health concerns in younger people

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

WITH World Heart Day fast approaching on September 29, members of the Miami Cardiac

heart attacks, made him want to make a positive difference in the lives of other family members and friends, and subsequently, everyone who needed help.

He is currently studying general medicine, but he seeks to specialise in emergency medicine. In

order to fulfil his dreams, he needs help raising funds for his tuition.

The fees are significant, which has made his journey to fulfil his aspirations a tough one.

This weekend, Marnarrey is hosting “Osu!”, a Japanese variety show at the Atlantis Theatre

of Cardiology revealed that arterial damage from elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can begin as early as late adolescence, with irreversible and cumulative effects (JACC, 2019).

When speaking on the ‘Imperative of Early Cardiovascular Assessment’, Dr Illuyomade said given the evolving landscape, early cardiovascular risk assessment is no longer optional but imperative.

from 7pm-8.30pm. The show takes place both on Friday and Satuday night.

The medical student with big dreams is inviting all to attend the show, to not only entertained, but to help him with his worthy education pursuits.

Dr Illuyomade said the American Heart Association has recently updated its guidelines from “Life’s Simple 7” to “Life’s Essential 8,” reflecting a more holistic approach to cardiovascular health. While the original framework focused on seven key areas, including smoking cessation, diet, and physical activity, the updated guidelines introduce additional components such as sleep and psychological well-being.

The Japanese-themed variety show was inspired by his experience with both the martial and performing arts.

“I hope to not only have a good attendance at the show, but also help to draw more attention to performance arts and martial arts in the country,” Marnarrey told Tribune Health.

The event will include acrobatics, juggling, limbo arts, multiple forms of dancing, martial arts displays and many more surprises.

“In addition to aiding a fellow Bahamian in achieving their dream to become a doctor and assisting Bahamians, the public at large will find this show utterly fascinating and entertaining,” Marnarrey promised.

“It is a great family show that is unlike any other and is unlikely to be replicated.”

Marnarrey is scheduled to go off to begin his in-person classes in January 2024.

And his dreams for his career are big indeed. Once he’s done with medical school, he hopes to return home and help “raise the standard of healthcare in the country.”

Before fully embarking on his journey in healthcare, Marnarrey was a mentor and disciplinarian with the Simpson Penn ‘Boys to Men’ mentoring programme, where he along with Winston Penn guided numerous young men.

He later got accepted into Trinity School of Medicine in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which is his school of choice due to its small class sizes and in-depth curriculum.

Marnarrey has currently completed his first year, during which he managed to maintain an over a 3-point GPA.

and Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health, are drawing attention to a concerning trend that underscores the importance of heart awareness in young adults.

Dr Adedapo Illuyomade MD, a preventative cardiologist at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, shared with Tribune Health valuable perspectives on the risks, symptoms and preventative measures.

He believes age is not the sole determinant of cardiovascular risk.

Dr Illuyomade said traditionally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been considered a malady of older age. However, emerging evidence suggests a concerning trend: the incidence of early-stage cardiovascular disease is rising among adults under 45 years of age.

He said a study published in the Journal of the American College

“Data spanning from 2000 to 2016 has shown instances of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) occurring in individuals as young as their 20s (Circulation, 2018). While hypertension, hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease have traditionally been associated with older demographics, these conditions are increasingly being diagnosed in younger populations,” said Dr Illuyomade.

In recognising symptoms across age and gender, Dr Illuyomade noted that symptoms of cardiovascular disease can manifest differently across age groups and between genders. While chest discomfort and shortness of breath are commonly recognised symptoms, subtler signs such as palpitations, dizziness, and even fainting should not be ignored. Women in particular, he said, may experience atypical symptoms, making it crucial for both healthcare providers and the public to be aware of these variations (Circulation, 2019).

Speaking on the risk factors and preventive measures,

“Adhering to these guidelines is crucial for mitigating cardiovascular risk. For instance, sleep is now recognised as a foundational element of human biology with implications for cardiometabolic health. Poor habitual sleep has been identified as a risk factor for all-cause mortality and various cardiovascular outcomes,” he said.

“Moreover, psychological well-being is acknowledged as a critical context that underlies all cardiovascular health metrics. Factors such as optimism, stress levels, and overall mental health are now considered foundational to cardiovascular health, rather than distinct metrics.”

During a cardiology consultation, he said these new components will be assessed alongside traditional metrics like blood pressure and lipid profiles to tailor a comprehensive treatment plan. This may include lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions, or a combination of both.

A march to help prevent suicides in men and boys

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN men will take to the streets this weekend in a march designed to spotlight problem of suicide and other issues affecting males.

“International Men’s Day (IMD) Bahamas is a group of men that focuses on promoting positive male role models and celebrating positive contributions made by men in our society, while trying to improve gender relations and equality to eliminate discrimination against men,” said Henry Higgins, vice president of the organisation.

“It is also our hope and goal to ensure safer and better communities and encourage young men to become leaders of the society. This year our theme is ‘Men Leading by Example’.”

Mr Higgins said the march will particularly focus on suicide

prevention and the need to let men know that they are not alone, despite whatever challenges they may be facing.

“The main focus is for us men to take a unite stand against suicide and to bring to the forefront men and boys who are leading by example,” he said.

International Men’s Day is celebrated each year on November 19 by 58 countries around the world. It was started in 1992 by as a way to bring awareness to many of the pressing issues faced by men such as parental lineation, abuse, homelessness, suicide, and violence.

There are six pillars which the group uses as their international objectives:

DR Adedapo Iluyomade

He said a noteworthy trend is the increasing incidence of heart attacks among young women aged 35 to 54. Between 1995 and 1999, 27 percent of hospitalised heart attack patients were in this age range; this figure rose to 32 percent between 2010 and 2014. The increase was even more pronounced among women, surging from 21 percent to 31 percent.

“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality globally. The rising incidence of early-onset cardiovascular disease underscores the need for proactive measures across all age groups. Early identification of risk factors, lifestyle modifications, and, when necessary, pharmacological interventions can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this devastating disease,” said Dr Illuyomade.

The event will take place in the lead-up to the International Men’s Day Celebrations on Sunday, September 24, under the theme “You Are Not Alone – Zero Male Suicide”.

The march will start at 3pm, leaving Christie Park and will travel south on Nassau Street to Poinciana Drive, east on Poinciana Drive to Blue Hill Road, north on Blue Hill Road to Meadow Street, west on Meadow Street to Nassau Street, south on Nassau Street and back to Christie Park where a rally will be held afterwards.

All male organisations, military and para-military marching bands, lodges, youth groups, sports organisations, Junkanoo groups, civic and community groups are invited to join in the event. People are also invited to come in their wheelchairs, antique cars, motorcycles and walking and jogging groups.

MARNARREY Lightbourn has many talents

Early detected prostate cancer has a nearly 100 percent cure rate

FAR too many men in the Bahamas continue to die and suffer needlessly from advanced prostate cancer. Cancer screening refers to the systematic use of medical tests or procedures to detect the presence of cancer or identify individuals at an increased risk of developing cancer, often before any symptoms or clinical signs become apparent.

It is important to note that cancer screening is distinct from diagnostic testing.

Screening is typically offered to asymptomatic individuals within a specific age group or risk category, aiming to identify potential cases of cancer. Diagnostic testing, on the other hand, is performed when a person shows symptoms or has abnormal screening results to confirm or rule out cancer and determine its specific type and stage.

Cancer screening represents more than a medical procedure; it serves as a vigilant guardian, diligently safeguarding your wellbeing from one of life’s most formidable adversaries. While, the mere mention of ‘cancer’ can strike fear into our hearts, screening programs are like a comforting presence, always ready to lend a hand.

They represent a proactive step towards securing a longer and healthier life, silently and steadfastly. Imagine a world where cancer could be uncovered and thwarted in its infancy, long before it could wreak havoc. That is the remarkable feat of cancer screening. It employs an array of tests and techniques, akin to a healthcare detective, to identify potential troublemakers even before you suspect their presence. This early detection not only heightens the chances of a successful battle against cancer but also renders treatments milder and less invasive.

Cancer operates like a hidden operative, infiltrating your body without a trace until it is too late.

This is where screening emerges as the hero. Consider mammograms, for instance, they are like your trusted ally for breast health, detecting abnormalities well before you can feel anything amiss. Colonoscopies do the same for your colon, and Pap smears stand guard against cervical cancer. These screening procedures act as your body’s early warning system, saving lives by capturing those cunning cancer cells while they are still manageable.

However, cancer screening offers more than just early detection; it is about empowering you with knowledge and control over your health. Regular screenings keep you informed about your cancer risk, enabling you to make educated choices regarding your lifestyle and healthcare decisions. It is akin to having a compass

that guides you towards a path of well-being.

What is even more remarkable is that while cancer screening demands a modest investment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial costs. Detecting cancer early leads to less complex and less costly treatments, relieving the financial burden on healthcare systems and improving the overall quality of life for patients and their families. It is a wise investment in your health that pays dividends in the form of a healthier and more secure future.

A significant concern

Prostate cancer is a significant health concern in the Bahamas and in the Caribbean, impacting the lives of many men in the region. The epidemiology of this disease in the Caribbean reflects a complex interplay of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and access to healthcare. Caribbean men, particularly those of African descent, have been found to have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world. This heightened risk has been linked to genetic factors and the prevalence of risk associated genes in this population. Access to early detection and treatment of prostate cancer can be a challenge in some Caribbean nations due to limited healthcare resources.

Shared decision making is a clinical concept now employed by many clinicians in how they arrive to certain treatment options. It is like teamwork between you and your doctor. Your doctor provides information about your options, and you share your thoughts and

preferences. Together, you make informed choices that match your values and goals, ensuring your healthcare journey is a collaborative one. Screening for prostate cancer has always been a controversial issue in Europe and the United States. According to the American Urology Association 2023 guidelines they advise that in those patients for whom prostate cancer would be appropriate, the clinician should employ the shared decision-making concept and proceed based on the person’s values and preferences.

Who can be offered prostate cancer screening?

The American Urology Association 2023 guidelines advice that early detection of Prostate cancer should be offered to:

Men between the age of 45- 50 years In those with elevated risk of prostate cancer you can offer the screening as early as 40 years. These are men with:

1. African ancestry

2. Known genetic alteration leading to cancers in the family.

3. Strong family history of breast/ovarian cancer

4. Strong family history of prostate cancer

5. Or validated risk calculator PSA test

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer and monitor the health of the prostate gland. The prostate gland produces PSA, a protein, and higher levels of PSA in the blood can be an indicator of potential issues with the prostate, such as cancer, infection, or enlargement.

The 2023 American Urological Association (AUA) prescribes PSA testing as the first test in the screening of prostate cancer. A repeat test in a few months based on the results could be advised for certain threshold of the results.

However, a PSA test is not the only test to decide on further invasive procedures such a biopsy or Imaging. The AUA recommends utilisation of risk calculators with shared decision making on proceeding to further

Common questions we hear about PT

IN the world of physiotherapy, professionals are often asked questions about their line of work. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how physiotherapists can help patients improve their bodies.

Physiotherapists can provide more services than many people realize! In this article, we explore some common questions about PT.

While we work with a wide array of different movement dysfunctions, they’re not always associated with pain. In other words, you don’t need to have pain to seek PT! One of the goals of our treatment is to prevent the pain before it happens.

ourselves cost money, but what people really want is for their bodies to move better. It’s going to cost some money, but it’s worth it!

contributed to your pain and need for surgery. Additionally, we are well equipped to handle your post-operative physiotherapy needs.

invasive tests. This is a crucial step in avoiding diagnosis of Prostate cancer that may not need clinical treatment. Based on the current results the next step for those at elevated risk for prostate cancer would be to offer a Prostate MRI or in some settings an adjunctive biomarker and based on the results from these tests proceed to Prostate biopsy.

The UK REIMAGINE Study

An article in the BMJ oncology published in August 2023 by C Moore and colleagues might influence the future approach to Prostate cancer screening based on their results. Some 303 responded to general practitioner (GP) led invite for prostate cancer screening and underwent a PSA test and a screening MRI of the prostate at the same seating. The group was assessing the value of MRI prostate as screening test independent of PSA results.

It’s worth noting that in this group 48 men had a positive MRI result, 67 percent of them had a low PSA level, less than 3 ng/ mL. Additionally, among 25 men who had both a positive MRI and clinically significant prostate disease, more than half of them had a PSA level below 3 ng/mL. In the UK, when someone gets their initial PSA test, if it’s below 3 ng/mL, typically, they wouldn’t undergo further testing to check for prostate cancer. However, these findings suggest that relying solely on the PSA test might have missed prostate cancer in these patients who had positive MRI results, even though their PSA levels were low. These results need larger studies to confirm the results and its likely that if the results remain consistent the screening algorithm may soon change, but until then we must adhere to the guidelines that are supported by the best current evidence.

Prostate cancer has a near 100 percent cancer specific survival at five years for low-risk organ confined disease and a 98 percent cancer specific survival at ten years for the same early detected disease. Prostate cancer is a very curable cancer. The key to cure for prostate cancer is early detection.

Prostate cancer with PSA blood tests every single year from the age of 40 is of fundamental importance in the Bahamas.

Physiotherapy can restore normal function in affected areas of the body. Physiotherapists are movement specialists, so if you are experiencing a decreased ability to do what you love, PT can be the best place to start. We help figure out why you have pain when you do certain exercises and restore the restricted motion, so you no longer have pain.

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The sooner you see a physiotherapist, the sooner you can get back to normal activity. The longer you wait to deal with the pain, the harder it can be for us to get you healthy again. If we’re not able to reduce the pain, we can refer you to the appropriate places.

Massage therapy and chiropractic care are good options, but physiotherapists utilise different techniques to restore the normal motion and provide solutions for long-lasting relief. Integrated rehab also provides a high level of patient education to instruct patients how to identify dysfunction in themselves and improve overall well-being. Everybody wants a massage, but it’s a passive activity. Working together with patients PT’s can improve overall body function. Think of PT as a lifetime investment to make sure your body is moving the way it should.

Most PT clinics do accept most insurance plans. Although many healthcare plans require payment in part by the patients, think about it this way: You spend so much money on getting your hair cut, your nails done, we have gym memberships we never use, expensive coffees and vacations – all these things we do for

It depends on the severity of the issue, how long you’ve dealt with the pain, how consistent you are with coming to sessions and doing your home exercises. The better we all communicate, the quicker we can progress you through your exercises. You should see some change within the first few sessions and more significant differences in the first two weeks. In general, patients can expect results in 3 to 4 weeks or 10 to 12 sessions.

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Physiotherapy should be considered before surgery in almost all cases. If your condition does not respond to therapy and surgery is required, we can work with your surgeon or refer you to an appropriate physician for continued care.

There are many times when physiotherapy can still benefit you even when surgery is the answer. We can help get your body stronger and moving better before the surgical procedure and identify other factors that

Physiotherapists are the best option to help you get healthy again, as we are experts in the biomechanics of the body and are most qualified to restore normal function. Typical exercises you do in the gym strengthen the muscles you already use. A personal trainer will give you ways to alter an exercise that’s painful but cannot restore normal function for you.

As we age, we don’t always know how our bodies are changing. You continue to do these normal gym exercises, but they have the potential to make your pain worse! Your body moves in the path of least resistance; if you’re constantly doing the same things over and over again, there is a potential for your body to break down and cause pain.

We advise being careful about working with both a personal trainer and physiotherapist. A trainer’s instruction could inadvertently undo the normal function we have restored. Many people don’t realise this, but physiotherapists can also help you reach your fitness goals safely.

We often don’t know when we are unable to move in a certain way because our bodies compensate for the restricted range of motion. These multiple compensations can cause even an everyday athlete to experience pain. The more active someone is, the easier it is for them to compensate, so it can be hard for athletes to understand why they have pain.

Physiotherapists do more than rehabilitate injuries. You go to a medical doctor for a checkup on your insides, so why not go to a physiotherapist to make sure your body is moving appropriately?

Dr Greggory Pinto

THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...

Hannah FosterMiddleton BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, SRP

Three Bahamian women to be honoured for their trailblazing achievements in special awards ceremony

THREE extraordinary Bahamian women will be honoured for their life-long achievements during the upcoming inaugural Trailblazer Awards Ceremony.

Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin, attorney Marion Bethel, and founder of the Bahamas Crisis Centre Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson will receive their “crowns” during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 7.

The event will be held at 6pm at Atlantis Paradise Island under the theme “Fight for Equal Rights”, in conjunction with Advocacy Advisors – an organisation that creates and executes public awareness campaigns for causes.

The Trailblazer Awards Committee is saluting Bahamian men and women who have blazed a trail by setting the highest standards and devoted their lives to excellence in their respective fields.

In its inaugural year, the committee will recognise these individuals who have also exhibited their profound commitment to the field of equal rights. They have stood in the trenches and fought to see women receive equal rights in this country.

The Trailblazer Awards Committee is comprised of well-known veteran local journalists Gina Rodgers-Sealy, Lindsay Thompson and Felicity Darville. Other committee members are Patrice Thompson and Iain Rodgers.

Ms Rodgers-Sealy explained the idea behind the Trail Blazer

Awards: “A group of ladies who all agreed that Bahamian women are frequently overlooked, underappreciated and do not possess some basic human rights, got together to lift up our sisters, and put crowns on their heads. The committee reached out to Advocacy Advisors to partner with us because they share some of the same goals.”

Receiving our Lifetime Achievement Award are three women who have dedicated their lives to the empowerment of Bahamian women. Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training

(MOETVT) Glenys Hanna-Martin is presently the longest-serving woman Member of Parliament. In 2008, she became the first woman elected to the position of chairman of a political party in the Bahamas. She served as the immediate past regional pepresentative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Women’s Association. She was also the first woman to run for the Progressive Liberal Party leadership. Marion Bethel is an attorney, writer, poet, filmmaker, and human and gender rights activist. Her passion is her involvement in the women’s movement in the

Caribbean for which she was honoured with the 11th Caribbean Community Award from CARICOM in 2014. Since 2017, Ms Bethel has been one of the 23 committee members on the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and in February of this year she was promoted to vice chairperson and rapporteur. Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson founded the Women’s Crisis Centre in 1982 to provide services to women who were subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. It was the first in the

Caribbean. The name has since been changed to the Bahamas Crisis Centre, and some 40 years, later the work continues under her leadership.

In addition to presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to these pillars of society, three organisations will be presented with the Community Advocacy Award for their commitment to the upliftment, education and protection of Bahamian women.

These organisations are: the Zonta Club of New Providence, the Zonta Club of Nassau, and yhe Nassau Chapter of Links Inc.

The committee will also be presenting the Champion of Change Award to individuals who stood tall in the face of adversity, pushing for the procurement and the advancement of human rights and women’s rights in the Bahamas. They are: Gaynel Curry, human rights activist; Terneille Burrows, founder/president of Rise Bahamas; Erin Greene, human rights activist; Alexus D’Marco, human rights defender and executive director of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs; Mike Russell, chairman of Rotary Road to Peace; Prodesta Moore, founder of Women United, and Inspector Kendra Whyms of the Domestic Violence Task Force Unit Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Following the awards ceremony, a screening of the Gina RodgersSealy documentary “Two-Faced: Gender Inequality in the Bahamas” will be presented. This film shows the various challenges women have faced over the years, the achievements thus far through advocacy, and suggestions in combatting gender-based violence and inequality.

The evening will also showcase a splash of culture in rhythm and dance directed by Lawrence Carroll, a spoken word performance – all in keeping with the essence and message of the fight against gender-based violence, the fight for equal rights, and basic human rights.

‘The Secret Lives of Church Ladies’ author has a seven-figure deal for her next two books

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Prizewinning fiction writer Deesha Philyaw, who struggled to find a publisher for what became her acclaimed debut “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” has a seven-figure deal for her next two books.

Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced Thursday that it had signed up Philyaw and will publish her novel “The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman” in 2025. Mariner calls the book a “biting satire” of the Black church and “a deeply provocative” story about

family, friendship and “sexual agency.” Philyaw, who attended several different churches as a child, is centering the novel around a megachurch leader.

“In writing ‘True Confessions’, I really wanted to explore the narratives that 40- and 50-something Black women sometimes tell ourselves - as well as the narratives told about us - regarding our desires and aspirations,” Philyaw said in a statement.

Her second book for Mariner, “Girl, Look,” is billed by the publisher as a “poignant new collection, giving a vivid snapshot of the interior lives of Black women across generations, drawing readers to consider Black women and

girls’ vulnerabilities, invisibility, and beautiful contradictions, in a post-COVID, post-Breonna Taylor world.” Mariner has not set a release date for “Girl, Look.”

“The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” a collection of nine stories, was released by West Virginia University Press after several major New York publishers turned it down. It won the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Story Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and is being adapted for television by HBO Max.

AUTHOR Deesha Philyaw. (Vanessa German/Mariner Books via AP)

Movie Review: ‘Love at First Sight’ is a sappy but sweet rom-com based on best-seller

By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer

The last time we saw Haley Lu Richardson — at least, the “White Lotus” version of Haley Lu Richardson — her Portia was in an airport, leaving the murderous mayhem of Sicily (and one dead boss) behind and exchanging contacts on her phone with nice young Albie.

Now, in an amusing bit of symmetry, we rejoin the charming Richardson at an airport again in “Love at First Sight” — with another young man, this time trying but failing to get his contact info into her phone. (Spoiler alert: one really needs to keep one’s phone charged when looking for love.)

It’s this theme of missed connections — and fate, and inadequately charged iPhones — that anchors the plot of this sweet, often moving but also painfully corny rom-com that survives on the appeal of Richardson and also her co-star, Ben Hardy, a couple that could triumph over anyone’s saccharine dialogue.

The Netflix film, directed by Vanessa Caswill, is based on the popular YA novel “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight” — a more interesting title, but one can understand the desire to avoid anything that could potentially be shortened in conversation to “Statistical Probability” (likely the least romantic title in the history of rom-coms).

In any case, those already fans of Jennifer E. Smith’s book will need no prompting to root for this couple who meet cute at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport on December 20, which the film’s narrator tells us is the airport’s busiest day of the year (the narration is full of such factoids).

On this day, we learn, Hadley Ella Sullivan, American, age 20 and 65 inches tall, is traveling to London but misses her flight by four minutes.

And those four minutes will change everything, because waiting in the airport lounge is one Oliver Jones, age 22, a Brit studying statistics at at Yale, whose average phone battery life is 94 percent (compared to Hadley’s,

which is 21 percent — also the percentage of times she is late.)

The two meet when Oliver (“As in Twist?” says Hadley – see what we mean by corny?) offers his phone charger. Then they head to dinner, at which point they realize that they share a hatred for mayonnaise. We also learn that Hadley is heading to London for her father’s wedding to the woman he left her mom for.

As for Oliver, he indicates he’s also traveling to a wedding, but he’s actually traveling to something a lot sadder. The two end up sitting together on the plane, through yet another twist of fate, but maybe also because the flight attendant who seats them is the very same narrator (Jameela

Jamil) who pops up throughout in different roles, sort of a hip fairy godmother.

In any case, the two talk all night, but get separated in the customs line the next morning. Before running off, Oliver gives Hadley his number, but it doesn’t make it into her phone before she loses juice, yet again.

If you’re like me, you might recall here Jesse and Celine, aka Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who also fell in love, overnight, while traveling, in “Before Sunrise” and agreed to meet at the same place in six months. Celine couldn’t make it, and poor Jesse, with no phone number, had to wait nine years and write a bestselling novel in a bid to find her.

This was before social media. Now, as our narrator acknowledges, there are so many ways to find someone: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter (or X). But even with those helpful tools, you need to know the person’s last name. Somehow, Hadley and Oliver don’t.

And then, through an ingenious, yep, twist of fate again, they find each other. And then, annoyingly, they lose each other again! Still with no name and no number! Really?!

The supporting cast features a few lovely performances, namely the very moving Sally Phillips and Dexter Fletcher as Oliver’s parents, a pair of Shakespeare-loving thespians struck by tragedy. As Hadley’s father, Rob Delaney is saddled with some of the sappier lines in the script as he tries to explain his divorce to his daughter with piercing thoughts like “Love is a lot of work.”

Richardson, throughout, gives an empathetic and endearing performance, and Hardy matches her for charm, even if he doesn’t convince as a self-described “maths nerd.” Both are playing college students about a decade younger, but we’ll suspend the disbelief, because darnit, we want to see these kids get together!

We won’t give the end away, but we can tell you — because the narrator told us — that 17.6 percent of people walk away from the loves of their life.

Does that mean that 82.4 percent walk in the opposite direction, toward love? More importantly, what percentage of sappy rom-coms end in romantic failure? The odds seem pretty good for Hadley and Oliver.

BEN Hardy and Haley Lu Richardson in ‘Love at First Sight’

MARION Bethel

EDUCATION Minister Glenys HannaMartin DR Sandra Dean Patterson

Growing into us

IT doesn’t take long to become a victim: of circumstances, of human abuse, whether on an intimate or grand scale.

The subject is enormous, complex and many faceted but this commentary is limited to the (sadly) frequent everyday small things which negatively affect us in large ways.

It is extraordinarily easy to brainwash, belittle or misrepresent intentions to others, children, adults and entire populations - if that is your malicious intent.

It isn’t always a big insult or injury, more often than not the most damaging to our sense of self, our self-esteem, are the little daily chippings away: derogatory remarks about our appearance or our abilities, unkindness that belittles us. Do it often enough and the victim believes it.

And although there are many males who suffer abuse in similar or different ways than females, arguably, it is more frequently women who are the unwilling victims of physical or emotional abuse. The thing is, that whilst it is easy to become the prey and to learn in a negative way how to endure and live with it because there seems to be no other choice, it is not easy but incredibly hard, and sometimes impossible, to escape the aftermath.

While we may find a way out of, or a release from an abusive situation as children or young people, the trauma we have experienced is embedded in our psyche as deeply

as the blood running through our veins and it takes almost a lifetime to learn how to manage this. It is so deeply entrenched that it becomes our ‘normal’ and unfortunately very often we are destined to repeat a ‘victim’ pattern of behaviour and subconsciously land in a similar situation or relationship. Whilst we understand and were hurt by it, it is something we are

familiar with although we may not fully understand the depth of the wound or how to cope with it. We know how to live with pain, invalidation and anger; humiliation and a sense of worthlessness and we submit or endure it because it’s predictable. We know how to do this. Whilst we may come to an understanding that this is, in fact, not ‘normal’ at all, we usually fail

WOW WORLD OF WOMEN

By VICTORIA SARNE

to realise initially that in all likelihood we will carry this learned behaviour with us into future relationships, both personal and professional. What we don’t know most often is that these established modes of thinking, reacting and behaving continue to exert a profound subliminal influence on our choices in life as we go forward. We believe once we remove ourselves from negative situations that we have found the ultimate solution; escape. But there is no quick, immediate solution. The truth is that this is merely the first step and it will take years, literally years, and only if we are willing to do the inner work, to reach an understanding of how and why we continue to react, behave or make decisions and choices in repetitive ways. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and if it comes sooner rather than later, offers a helpful awareness of what we need to do to make a course correction. Even then there is no guarantee that as we put one foot forward, we have achieved the ultimate goal of having disposed of the last vestiges of past traumas. For most people there will always be an emotional trigger or two, that

THE WEATHER REPORT

causes a spontaneous and possibly unwise or rash reaction.

We have to be very aware that when we feel deeply hurt and are tempted or have a spontaneous knee-jerk reaction, we need to stop, take a breath and ask ourselves why we are having such a strong response to a person or an event. If we have trained ourselves to take that paused just a minute, moment to ask, “Why am I doing or feeling this?”, we can probably unearth one of our ancient absorbed feelings of fear, rejection, abandonment - whatever negative or toxic behaviour was visited upon us - and then we can understand, even have an ‘aha’ moment to say, “So that’s really what this is about and I can change my reaction to one that is now in real time.”

Our reaction can be controlled to be more measured and wellthought out; one more pertinent to this particular moment, and not to a distant automatic, reactive recall.

It takes diligence and real effort to get to the point of self-awareness, but it offers a great deal of comfort knowing we are capable of shedding distressing thoughts and emotions. Growing up and growing into who we are supposed to be isn’t easy and sometimes it takes almost a lifetime to achieve it but it’s worth the effort. A sense of positive wholeness and self is achievable.

Coach Portia helps save sexless relationships

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THERE are many Bahamian couples living in sexless marriages or relationships who are experiencing a persistent struggle to the connect with one another, according to and life and relationship coach Portia Clarke.

While the issue affects both parties in a relationship, Coach Portia said men often struggle with being intimate with their partners outside the bedroom.

As for women, they want intimacy inclusive of physical connection, but for them it should not be the sum total of their intimate encounters. The different approaches and perspectives when it comes to intimacy are where some of the main problems stem from. These couples reach a cross roads; they are unable to fully express and communicate their desires.

This is where Coach Portia steps in. It is her hope to help restore intimacy between couples and reignite the passion they once felt for each other.

Part of what Coach Portia also teaches is how couples can incorporate sex aids into their sexual lives.

She strives to help people through her coaching services as well as her online store, Portia’s Secret Treasures, which offers sexual aids for couples.

For people struggling in their sexual life who have been holding off on purchasing sexual aids, it is best to first establish clear channels of communication; this is often the biggest issue facing couples who are in sexless relationships.

“The most common issue I find people facing in their relationship when it comes to intimacy is the

lack of communication. People don’t talk about sex and they think intercourse is the only way to be intimate. Mostly men have that issue. I have found that our culture sometimes dictates the success or downfall of our relationships. We have to learn to tell our partners what we want and

need from them,” Coach Portia told Tribune Woman.

“Some of these problems can be fixed by simply talking to each other. Thinking outside of the box, we should discuss sex; what we know and what our needs and wants are. I realised sometimes we don’t know what we want, especially if we are inexperienced when it comes to sex and intimacy. But communication is key. Talk about everything: sex, money, children, dreams, goals, your future.”

Coach Portia said communication is the first step to recovering what has been lost. But it takes two people who are willing to fight for things to be restored.

“My service helps people by guiding them to make decisions that will improve their lives and make them happy and healthy.

I cannot give them the answers to their problems; they have the figure out for themselves what is best for them,” she said.

“My target is married couples that are having difficulties enjoying each other physically. I will help them connect and find ways to communicate as well as use massages, massage tools and toys to have a healthy, enjoyable and satisfying physical relationship… simple techniques of touch and feel with oils that are healing to the body and sensuous to the touch…to help them to understand that it takes work to have a successful relationship and marriage.”

Coach Portia said she believes using sex tools and toys in the bedroom can improve intimacy and is something both partners should consider – “especially

A woman of integrity and grit shares advice on how to be successful in life

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

IYANDRA Smith Bryan is a proud Bahamian; she is proud to have been born and raised in what she calls the greatest little country in the world, and she is especially proud to see the leadership roles women have taken on in the Bahamas.

“I am the only female on a leadership team of eight, and I am often asked what challenges I face as a female leader. Let me say that the environment I work in is a very collaborative environment and I have always felt supported as a female leader whose opinions are not only valued but respected,” said Iyandra, who is the chief operating officer of a FinTech brokerage firm.

Iyandra is also an attorney by profession who can practice law in the state of Florida, the District of Columbia, and the Bahamas.

She is a member of the Securities and Business Sections of the Florida Bar and American Bar Association.

With more than 13 years’ experience working in the financial services industry, along with experience in the private banking and brokerage sectors, she serves on numerous boards, including the Bahamas Financial Services Board, where she sits as chair of the FinTech Committee.

“I have been named the Top 40 Under 40 Professionals in the Bahamas, and was recently shortlisted by the UK’s Black Women In Asset Management as a leading professional in private markets investing. My most important job, however, is being mom to globally best-selling author, Zahra Bryan, the author of ‘Black Girl Magic: A Book About Loving Yourself Just the Way You Are’,” she said.

Iyandra has also been appointed and has served as a member of the National Risk Assessment Task Force and the Bahamian government’s Advisory Committee with respect to the Foreign Account

Tax

Compliance Act (FATCA)

and Common Reporting Standard (CRS).

At the beginning of her career, Iyandra never could have envisioned being where she is today.

She has always been passionate about learning, and for as long as she can remember she had clarity of execution, and a “knack for making the complex simple.” However, she did not exactly know how these strengths could be leveraged in an executive role at a global financial services company.

“I went to university to study economics, really because of my curiosity to understand the world around me: individuals, entities, markets and governments, and understanding how best to respond to the threats and opportunities that often emerge when any of these elements shift or change,” she explained.

“I then went to law school and thereafter obtained a PhD where my focus was researching and better understanding the roles that transparency and integrity play in the global financial markets. My doctoral supervisor, Professor Barry Rider, really nurtured in me a passion for integrity in the markets.”

Over the years, she has learned many a valuable lesson and been given insightful advice.

“I think so many of us get obsessed about a particular direction or trajectory in our careers, when it really should be about the pursuit of knowledge and skill sets. As a university student, I was grateful to have an incredible mentor, Dr Greg Henley, a venture capitalist who had sat in the C-Suite of leading global companies. Dr Henley always impressed upon me, ‘Iyandra, don’t chase the position, chase diversity of skill sets.’ It was probably the

couples who have issues like illnesses and medical problems; couples who want to boost their relationship and experience new things.”

Couples who may not be in sexless relationship, but may have simply hit a road block or desire a little variety to their sexual life, can also find sex aids helpful, she added.

Those who have no clue what to do in this arena, Coach Portia suggests starting off simple.

“Couples who are shy about introducing sex aids as part of intimate activities can ease it into their sexual routine by introducing massage and massage tools and toys into their routine. They can start with a hand-held massage roller which is small and simple to use. Then they can add more tools and toys if they desire. I recommend watching videos and reading books. Find tools and toys they both would like to try and experiment with. Make it fun and exciting. Plan a date day or night once or twice a week, put it on the calendar, dinner or lunch, and commit to it.”

And when it comes to deciding what to use, choosing together as a couple in and of itself adds value to the intimate experience.

It is definitely better for couples to choose sex aids together. Both couples have to choose what is comfortable and acceptable for each other. They both have to be open-minded and willing to try new ideas and new things, Willing to try sex tools and toys, If one partner is uncomfortable with the idea, don’t force it on them. It has to be accepted by both partners. Untraditional ways of pleasing each other are not bad. It could be the best thing for a relationship,” she said.

Coach Portia recommends couples being as open-minded as possible about the use of sex aids.

“It can save their marriage from extramarital affairs. It can take their relationship to another level of success. It can keep both partners happy and eager to stay married,” she said.

For more information, contact 242-449-8481 or pcgroup242@ outlook.com.

she works on, and what makes her happy is knowing that she is rendering value to others.

“In my current role, I am very much a generalist who goes from one project to the next without missing a beat, effectively supporting the leadership team in a way that allows them to focus on the areas best suited to their value. A lot of my role is capability of execution, clarity, and follow-through, and significantly, organisation-building. Contextswitching is a huge part of the role, because there is a lot of switching, not just between functional areas, but also between the internal and external elements of the role,” she explained.

“My role consists of supporting the leadership team and doing the heavy lifting in order for our functional managers to focus on the areas that are critical to their achieving their functionally specific objectives.”

best piece of advice I had ever received.”

Iyandra said her focus from the beginning of her career has always been to acquire varied skill sets and pursue learning aggressively. She sought to learn as much as she could about different areas, and focused on areas that were more complex.

For example, in her law practice, she chose to become the resident expert on FATCA and CRS, and once she felt she had mastered that area, she began seeking out opportunities to advise on derivatives and futures.

“The question I have been asking myself every day for the past 14 years has been the same: ‘Iyandra, are you learning and growing?’ So I tell others starting their careers: pursue and be learning constantly, and ask for feedback constantly, not in the ‘grubbing for feedback’ way, but more so in the ‘I am hungry to learn’ way. Persist in the face of setbacks.The reality is you will need a healthy dose of grit and resilience to achieve your goals. There will be obstacles, pit stops and pot holes along your journey, but the key is to use them as strengthening tools to reaffirm your purpose and make you stronger. It is not the smart ones that succeed; the research shows it is the grittiest ones,” she said.

Iyandra said she enjoys the variety that comes from the tasks

Having had so many incredible experiences over the course of her career, Iyandra believes the most memorable moments were also the most challenging ones that fostered resilience.

If one particular moment stands out, it would be the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020. As COO of the Cayman Islands branch of a leading global Swiss bank, Iyandra had the responsibility to lead the shift of an entire branch to remote work smoothly and efficiently.

“As a woman in a male-dominated field, I have often felt like I have to be perfect, like I have to keep proving myself, and proving that I belong here. But I have realised that this is a flawed approach. As women we have to understand that we would not be here if we were not adding value. Have authentic conversations with your team about what you need to succeed. The way that I approach differences is by assuming the best intentions of others. Show up, contribute, collaborate, execute and deliver. Also understand that there will be times you will fail, but know that failures are the greatest lessons and resilience building tools, embrace them, evaluate them, and learn from them,” she said.

Iyandra said she is currently learning to speak Turkish, and it has not been easy, but she is always up for a good challenge.

PORTIA Clarke

IYANDRA Smith Bryan