The long-awaited first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX Facility arrived in The Bahamas yesterday, adding 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the 20,000 that was donated earlier this month by the Indian government.
“And as of today, we have received 53,600 vaccines,” Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said shortly after the vaccine landed at Jet Aviation Airport on New Providence.
“The batch we received today represents the first tranche of a total of 100,800 doses earmarked for The Bahamas and prepaid through the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) revolving fund.”
PAHO Country Representative Dr. Eldonna Boisson said the other 67,200 doses are scheduled to arrive in The Bahamas in May.
Boisson said the vaccines are especially important as global COVID-19 cases and deaths have been increasing since February.
“While there is reason for hope, we must always remember that vaccine doses are limited, and it will be several months before we can rely on vaccines alone to control this virus,” she said.
“Although the scale-up of vaccination production has begun, we know it’s not enough. We do not yet have the vaccines that we need to protect everyone. It’s what happens when the whole world must rely on too few manufacturers.”
While vaccinations on Eleuthera began yesterday, Minnis said it will begin on Abaco and Bimini next week.
He said vaccinations on Eleuthera will continue this week through Thursday, before breaking for the Easter holiday. On New Providence and Grand Bahama, vaccinations will continue through the end of today.
Vaccinations will resume on all islands on Tuesday, April 7, when more people will be eligible to receive the vaccine, Minnis said.
“At that time, those with disabilities, teachers, and hospitality workers will become eligible to receive the vaccine,” he said.
“Additional vaccination centers will be opened on New Providence. Provisions will also be made for students and athletes who require vaccinations to travel abroad. This will include coaches and other support staff.”
Minnis urged eligible Bahamians to get vaccinated so that the country can be further opened.
“As more people become vaccinated, we will be able to relax restrictions and see more of our family and friends,” he said.
“We will be able to open up our economy more and to get back to work. Health officials have informed me that they are pleased with the number of people who have taken a vaccine so far.”
Minnis added, “Thousands of Bahamians have taken this vaccine, along with approximately 400 million people around the world.
“I have taken the vaccine. My wife, Patricia, has taken the vaccine. We are fine.
“In order for us to prevent additional bad waves of the virus we need Bahamians to quickly come forward to get vaccinated when eligible.
“The vaccine is our pathway to further opening up our economy and the creation of more jobs.
“It is dangerous to delay taking a safe and effective vaccine during a global public health crisis. As you wait, you could get infected with the virus. You could then end up in the hospital with permanent health issues – or worse, it could kill you.”
Minnis continued, “The only way out of this pandemic is through vaccinations. Anyone who tells you otherwise is providing you with false information.
“…Here at home, we are in a race. We must get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible before there is spread of one of these problematic variants in our country.”
The COVAX Facility is a global effort co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and PAHO.
The past four days will be a period that The Bahamas senior men’s national soccer team will want to forget as they lost 4-0 again, this time to Guyana. The teams played on neutral ground in what was a home game for Guyana in the FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) 2022 World Cup Qualifiers for the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) region at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
That loss yesterday afternoon comes off another 4-0 loss that The Bahamas suffered – at the hands of St. Kitts and Nevis at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium this past Saturday night.
It is a rough start to Team Bahamas’ campaign for the world cup qualifiers.
Team captain Lesly St. Fleur said although the team started the game slow, they were able to get more shots than in the game against the Kittitians.
“We had a slow start and during the game we started to play our game. We had more shots than the last game. We just have to work extra hard and follow the instructions that are given to us and we must believe,” St. Fleur said.
Known as one of the best goal scorers in the Caribbean, St. Fleur was unable to find the back of the net for a second straight game.
The Bahamas collapsed just seven minutes into the game as the Guyanese squad got on the scoreboard thanks to a goal from Terence Vancooten in the eighth minute. The League Two Stevenage defender was able to get the ball past Bahamian goalkeeper Ian Lowe to give his team the early lead.
Both teams were unable to score for the next 30-plus minutes before referee, Guatemalan Sergio Reyna, blew the half-time whistle with Guyana holding a slim lead. For the second straight game, Team Bahamas was also down 1-0 at the half.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Guyana struck again. This time it was Kadell Daniel who plays professionally in Greece for Kingstonian. He scored in the 54th minute.
In the 70th minute, substitute Omari Glasgow scored his maiden goal in his second appearance for the Guyana Golden Jaguars to put his team up 3-0.
The ball did not bounce in favor of The Bahamas in this game, similar to what happened in the game against St. Kitts and Nevis. Guyanese Emery Wilson, who plays professionally for Israeli Club Hapoel Ra’anana, scored an insurance goal for his squad in the 81st minute. It was déjà vu for The Bahamas and Head Coach Nesley Jean as they gave up three goals in the second half again.
The final nine-plus minutes of the game yielded no goals for The Bahamas ‘Junkanoo Boys’. Their chance of advancing to the next round is now very slim.
A look at the Group F standings shows that The Bahamas is the only team looking for points as they sit in fifth position with no wins in two games. They have a -8 goal difference.
St. Kitts and Nevis leads the group with a 2-0 win/loss record, scoring six points. Trinidad and Tobago sits in second place with four points after recording a win and a loss. Guyana moved up to third place with a 1-1 win/loss record, scoring three points. Puerto Rico is just ahead of The Bahamas in fourth position with one point after a draw and a loss.
Only the winner of the group will advance to the second round of the world cup qualifiers.
Team Bahamas continues group play on Wednesday June 2 in an away game against Puerto Rico. Their final group game is a home game against Trinidad and Tobago set for Saturday June 6 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. No times have been provided for either game as yet.
The first Beach Sprints Invitational Coastal Rowing Regatta in the waters of George Town, Exuma, turned out to be a complete success this past weekend as more than 30 young rowers from ages 11-18 showed up and competed.
Taking home the overall title in the Junior Men category was K. Delano Bowe Jr. from the Skullers Rowing Club (SRC) of the host island of Exuma. Naima Nixon claimed the top overall prize in the Junior Women category and Camilo Burrows was the overall winner in the Open category.
Skullers, out of Exuma, swept the top three positions in the Junior Men category with Andrew Bowe and Kody Lloyd finishing second and third respectively. Leila Valerious, of the Nassau Rowing Club (NRC), finished second in the Junior Women category and rounding out the top three was 15-year-old Destiny Rolle from the SRC. Henryk Kania and Beatrise Bethel, both from the NRC, were second and third respectively in the Open category.
“This particular event is an up-and-coming one under a new format that can grow into something spectacular event. The future is extremely bright,” said event
organizer Michael Knowles, the president and head coach of the Skullers Rowing Club. “There are several upcoming stars who can excel in rowing internationally. One of our novices finished third in the junior women and that just goes to show the talent that is out there. The sky is the limit for these rowers.”
The event was the first coastal rowing regatta held in The Bahamas, bringing together competition from Skullers and the NRC, thereby keeping those clubs active. The boats, which measured 14 feet six inches in length and two and a half feet wide, were constructed right there on the island of Exuma. The boats are constructed out of mahogany plywood and fiberglass, and cost around $1,500 to $1,800 each. There were a total of 14 rowers from Skullers in Exuma and 16 from the Nassau Rowing Club in New Providence. The timed trials and quarterfinals were held on Saturday and the semifinals and finals took place on Sunday.
“The event was a resounding success. We’re looking for it to be held every year, and we’re also looking to attend more competitions throughout the years,” said Knowles. “It was an amazing experience – to see the local community come out and support rowing and show that they believe in the future of rowing here in Exuma. The athletes from Nassau showed tremendous rowing ability but this is our style. Our overall ability to handle the conditions really stood out. The experience is the same but we were able to withstand the conditions more.”
Coastal rowing is the extreme version of flat rowing, the adventure side of rowing. It involves rowing on open water waves whereas rowing on streams or in a harbor is predominantly flat rowing.
Junior Women winner Nixon, a 15-year-old 11th grader at St. Andrew’s Anglican School in Exuma, said she felt honored to participate in the regatta, stating that her hard work has paid off.
“We’ve been working hard and practicing many hours,” she said. “At some point I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I knew I had a goal. All my teammates were counting on me, so that motivated me to push forward. This was no easy task but my mind was made up and I wanted to make everyone proud.”
Nixon said that through the sporting discipline of rowing, she was able to learn how to be disciplined.
“As a rower you trust and rely on your teammates for the same amount of effort that you put in,” she said. “You’re working together for the common goal to move the boat smoothly and efficiently. Success does not happen overnight. You can plan and prepare as best as possible but expect that you might still fail on race day. When one person wins, the entire team wins. It is important to demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect for your opponents. Our coach really implemented this by educating us about the qualities of a true rower and that message will stay in our hearts forever.”
The young rower, just 15, is encouraging other youngsters to get involved in the sport, challenging them to take that first step and give it their all.
“I would like it to inspire and motivate the youth the same way it motivated my teammates and I,” she said. “At the end of the day I would like to thank God for the opportunity to perform, my coach for believing in me and my mother for supporting me 100 percent of the way.”
Organizer Knowles is hopeful that the Beach Sprints Invitational Coastal Rowing Regatta can become an annual event.
The accolades keep on coming in for Bahamian collegiate sprinter Denisha Cartwright. She was awarded the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Central Region Award for indoor competition.
Cartwright, who is a redshirt sophomore for the Minnesota State University at Mankato Mavericks, finished her stellar season by ranking in the top-5 in the nation in three different individual events – the 60 meters (m) hurdles (number one, 8.41 seconds), 200m (number three, 24.10 seconds) and 60m (number four, 7.52 seconds) – all personal bests. Her time in the 60m hurdles was one of her biggest accomplishments this past indoor season.
A focused Cartwright said she was surprised to win those awards. She said she was just focused on getting better throughout the season.
“Winning those awards meant a lot to me,” Cartwright said. “I wasn’t really expecting them if I’m being honest. My mind was so focused on every meet and just improving my performance each time but the best award I like is the athlete of year because I know that I was picked from probably other coaches and different people who decided I should get it so I’m thrilled to have this award.”
In addition to this award, Cartwright was also able to walk away with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate (NSIC) Track Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards away after scoring 28 points at the NSIC Indoor Championships in February. She was also named NSIC Track Athlete of the Week twice this past season in addition to being named USTFCCCA Track Athlete of the Week.
To achieve those times this season, Cartwright credits hard work, consistent training and practice.
“I was able to clock those times from all the hard work we put into practicing daily and hitting the gym even though I’m not quite as strong as I need to be. I’m still progressing and trusting the process with my coach workouts and our lifting routine,” Cartwright said.
She made the final for all three of her individual races as well as for the 4x400m relay, with her teammates, at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. Cartwright said she was not happy with her times and placement at that meet but looks forward to her remaining years of collegiate eligibility.
“At the indoor nationals I wasn’t that happy at all because I knew I could have done way better,” Cartwright said. “Those times I ran wasn’t my best at all and I felt terrible because I did better in other meets and I didn’t get what I was expecting at nationals but my peers and old teammates told me that I should be happy that I made finals for all my events and still did my best. They said even though it was my first time ever competing there, it is an experience and I have still have more years to go.”
At the meet which was held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, Cartwright won the silver medal in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.50 seconds. She finished sixth overall in the 60m dash after clocking 7.57 seconds. In the 200m, the speedster clocked 24.67 seconds to finish seventh. In the 4x400m relay, the Bahamian and her teammates powered their way to a bronze medal finish with a time of 3:47.45. The Mavericks finished second overall at the meet.
On the season, the former Temple Christian Schools star runner ran six finals in the 60m hurdles and managed to finish first place in all but one of those races.
The indoor season is over and Cartwright outdoor season is underway. She was not one of the Mavericks to participate in the Great River Rust Buster meet last weekend, but she will get a chance to get her outdoor season started at her school’s meet, the Maverick Spring Invitational, this Saturday.
“In the outdoor season I am looking to improve myself from what I did at indoor nationals. I’m looking to be stronger and execute like I never did before. I’m looking forward to being national champ in all my events,” Cartwright said.
In college, she is coached by Mavericks Assistant Coach Chris Parno who is responsible for sprints and hurdles at the school. The head athletics coach is Mike Turgeon. Locally, Cartwright is coached by Ednol Rolle, the head athletics coach of the University of The Bahamas.
A middle-income mother, encouraged by the prospect that her two young adult children could actually have a clear and realistic path to land ownership through a plan Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced last week for the development of a residential community in western New Providence for young professionals, got us thinking on a deeper level whether such enthusiasm is misplaced.
After all, we are in a political climate, Minnis does have an election to win and the proposal as currently presented with scant details, does seem like a half-baked proposition from a man who is widely known to be the seller of dreams — the most common characteristic of a politician seeking to win at the polls.
The initiative as presented by the prime minister in the House of Assembly will involve the sale of 83 acres of public land, located north of John F. Kennedy Drive, between Prospect Ridge and the Ministry of Public Works, to young Bahamian professionals (individuals 18 to 45).
Minnis said the government will put all of the infrastructure in place “such that the lots would be worth $150,000 with all of the infrastructure installed”.
He said 40 percent of the lots will be multi-family, available for purchase at $50,000, and 60 percent of the lots will be single-family, sold for $40,000.
The prime minister also announced that a number of banks have said that once they determine the land is worth $150,000 or more, “the equity is such a vast amount that individuals would not have to come up with any down payment to construct their homes”.
Gregory Bethel.
We asked Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Ltd. President Gregory Bethel whether it is realistic for prospective buyers to expect such a lucrative deal could actually be realistic.
“Banks lend based on cash flow, not based on the value of the property,” Bethel pointed out.
“And I think that is being overlooked by some. It really doesn’t matter how much you pay for the property. It doesn’t matter what the value of the property is. What is important is your cash flow over the period of the loan.
“Are you able to make the monthly payments that are required to service the loan, which means, your employment status is really the biggest concern. What is your immediate status and what are the prospects for you being employed over the life of the loan? That really is what banks look at, not so much the appraised value of the land.
“Although that is important, the banks don’t want to be stuck with homes and land. What the bank would like is to lend the monies that have been deposited by savers and have the persons who borrow the money make the payments every month so when the depositors come looking for their money it’s available.”
Asked specifically about down payments being waived due to “equity”, he repeated, “I am saying it’s not all that relevant to me. What’s relevant to me is the individual’s cash flow.”
Policy outcome envy
Former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing, while on his talk show “Z Live” on Guardian Radio on Friday, raised several pertinent issues as they relate to what the prime minister is proposing.
Zhivargo Laing.
On the surface, he noted, the initiative is a “beautiful proposition” as an individual’s net worth would immediately increase by $100,000 should Minnis’ plan prove viable.
Wanting people to be in homes is a good policy objective, Laing noted.
“Wanting to be able to make land in New Providence affordable, a good objective; no question about that,” he said.
“I think where the issue runs into difficulty is on the numbers. Now, if you get support because the people who belong to that group (18-45) say ‘oh look what they are doing for us’, you’re good.
“…But here’s what is true: When it comes to the actual effect of it on the numbers of people, here’s where the government runs into [issues]. Eighty-six acres of land — and I checked with some of my folks on this — some of that land has to be secured for infrastructure, some of that land has to be secured for, I understand a swimming pool, some of it has to be secured for a park and whatever else. So let’s take 20 percent of that land away.
“…Let me say wildly, that you can get 200 lots from those 86 acres. Let me say you can get 300 lots from those 86 acres. So, let’s say you bless 300 families with those lots. That means that of the 156,000 people in that age group, divide them by an average of three people in a family, you have about 50,000 households who cannot be so blessed.”
Laing also noted that it is unrealistic to expect that 18 to 20-something-year-olds will be able to buy land at $40,000 to $50,000.
“In fact, I don’t see this as a genuine proposition for the vast majority of the group under 30. I don’t. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. I just don’t see it,” he said.
“So you can hope that that group of people … that they say ‘I’m glad they’re doing that for our group’, but the fact of the matter is there are thousands of people who will not be able to benefit from this.
“So now you run the public policy risk of policy outcome envy. ‘They got, what about us?’ And even if the government did this 10 times in New Providence and was able to affect 300 people each time, that’s 3,000, you still have thousands for whom there will be no such benefit and this is using public funds. Public policy outcome envy is what you get.”
Laing said the risk of the government “ticking off more people than you end up making happy” is great, noting that the sheer policy outcome will mean many more people get dissatisfied than delighted by the policy.
“On top of that, when you have a selection that you have to make from a wide body or group of people you now run the risk of ‘are you being selective, discriminatory on your selection in giving out this huge bonus to these people?’” he added.
“So here’s the man who is out east, found a piece of land, young man, young woman, Bahamian, struggles to buy the land off financing, now struggling to build a house; he or she has to pay duty on their material, these people in this select place don’t have to do so.
“Here’s the individual who isn’t [45]. They just actually turned 47, 48; they don’t get the $40,000 land that’s worth $150,000. They have to go and find and buy the $70,000, $80,000 land and build it without the duty free.
“Do you run the risk of ticking all of them off while you’re just making happy at best couple hundred people? And I say at best because I am highly skeptical that there will be hundreds of people like that so benefiting.”
The prime minister has said the government will waive customs duty on all building materials and appliances for homes within the community.
Evidence
Given his decades-long experience in the real estate market, we asked Arawak Homes Chairman Sir Franklyn Wilson his thoughts on what Minnis is proposing.
Sir Franklyn Wilson.
“For someone to come up with this, I would love to see any sensible economic analysis that’s been done to say this makes economic sense,” Sir Franklyn told National Review.
“This doesn’t appear to me, being in the housing business, to be something that makes economic sense.
“When you drive down there, you pass that property, just the quantum of fill, I haven’t done the analysis, but just from looking at this, the quantum of fill you need to put in there before you can talk about building a house is massive, sufficiently massive that I’m saying you’d have to cut down a lot of hills or dredge; you got to do something, which has environmental implications to that property before you can talk about building a house.
“So my bottom line point is, show some evidence that some thought, some study has gone into this. This doesn’t even get into the merits of the policy and all that stuff.”
Speaking last week, the prime minister noted that the construction of homes in the community will need to be completed within two years of purchase and that “flipping of property” will not be allowed.
“The government will be given first right of refusal,” Minnis said.
Sir Franklyn questioned: “What lender is going to lend someone money which in two years’ time the government can come and take the property back before you finish building the house? Who’s going to lend you money like that? Who’s going to do that? Which lender will do that?”
He said, “I don’t wish to speak ill of any effort to encourage the spread of homeownership. That’s a ton of sense, but my first point is show some evidence that this has been thought through, because on the surface it just appears it has not been thought through.”
Sir Franklyn added, “I don’t see how it makes sense to focus on giving tremendous benefit to 150 people when thousands and thousands and thousands of people in this country are trying to find food. How does it make sense to prioritize, to fix up 150 people?”
We asked him to respond to some individuals who might say his comments are colored by selfish motives given that Arawak Homes is in the business to make money.
Sir Franklyn, who celebrated a birthday on Saturday, said, “I accept that people might say that, but I am now 74 years of age, and truthfully, I’m at this stage where it doesn’t matter to me what people say about [things like that anymore].
“I just speak on behalf of what I think makes sense for our country. I’m 74. I’m not looking for anything else except the grace of God, so people who want to go down that road, go down that road.”
He added that given the very limited nature of the initiative, it is likely to be “a highly political process”.
“It sets the stage for the politician to basically hand pick that 150 people,” Sir Franklyn said. “It gives [the impression that] man this smells like rotten egg.”
Broad strategy
President of the Bahamas Real Estate Association Christie Wallace-Whitfield appeared more hopeful about a positive outcome from the initiative.
Christine Wallace-Whitfield.
“I think that it’s encouraging for young professionals,” Wallace-Whitfield told us.
“Purchasing property locally, especially on New Providence, has not always been easy or easily accessible. Properties have definitely gone up over the last few years, especially with all of the new developments coming on stream.
“When there’s new development, that always increases property values, so I know certain areas have generally been unreachable or unattainable for locals to buy; and I think it’s a good way to encourage young professionals to kind of own a piece of the rock, a piece of land in their country, so I think it’s good.”
But she acknowledged that there is a need for more details to be provided on how the proposal would work.
“…I just hope that at the end of the day when they do buy, that they are satisfied and happy because the government, like any developer, will put in all their own rules and regulations to satisfy what they want as the government,” Wallace-Whitefield said.
“So when a person is going in to purchase, they have to make certain that that is what they want because two years to build, is it okay? Would they then be able to resell? All of these things you have to look at.”
Both Laing and Bethel pointed to the need for a more broad-based approach to homeownership on the government’s part.
“Vacant land in New Providence for housing purposes is scarce and focusing on that on this island as a broad policy objective is fraught with limitations, but if we change our policy as we have done for the hotels and decide okay build upward, maybe I don’t get the land I want, but maybe I get a beautiful home I want in a community of beautiful neighbors, and I wouldn’t have to pay the $50,000 for the land at all. I can just pay for the beautiful space that I’m going to live in inclusive of a common usage part and facilities that I can have. Maybe that’s an alternative solution,” Laing said.
Bethel said choosing a “select class” of “professionals” makes the initiative too restrictive.
“It would have been a good idea if it was brought and included initiatives to get other Bahamians in homes not just ‘the professionals’,” he said.
“We need a broad-ranging plan to deal with, for example, the distressed properties. There are thousands of distressed properties that are available for Bahamians and that would reach even more Bahamians, so I would have liked to have seen this new initiative in companion with other initiatives to reach a cross section of Bahamians.”
With growing signs of an early election, the decision on whether to permit further oil exploration in Bahamian waters could very well rest with a Davis administration should the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) be successful in unseating Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and the increasingly unpopular Free National Movement (FNM).
Though Minnis and several of his ministers have voiced opposition to oil drilling in Bahamian waters, his administration has yet to state a policy position on the issue.
Instead, Minnis has been “pandering” in repeatedly stating that he is against drilling in our waters, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis told National Review.
Davis told us that his administration would be open to extending the licenses of Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) “within the established legal regime”.
“First of all, I will address it in accordance with legislation that is in place,” Davis said. “There is a legislative regime in place and we will follow that regime. We will follow the law and have it considered in the context of that legislative regime.”
When pressed on whether a Davis administration would green light BPC – his former client – for further oil exploration, Davis repeated, “Once it conforms with the laws and the regulations that are in place; unless there is something that is outside of that norm, that is what we will follow.”
Six weeks after announcing its first well – Perseverance #1 – failed to yield commercial quantities of oil, BPC announced last week its plan to secure an extension for its four southern licenses to drill another exploratory well in The Bahamas.
“Since announcing the results of the (Perseverance #1) well, the company has had a number of discussions with industry counter-parties in relation to a potential farm-out of the licenses, and the company is now working to formalize and launch an entirely new farm-out process via Gneiss Energy,” BPC said in an exploration update to investors.
It said, “Concurrent with the farm-out process, the company intends to exercise its right to renew the four southern licenses into a third exploration period at the end of the current second exploration period (at the end of June 2021).”
Asked about the matter on Friday, the prime minister told reporters that he had not seen any requests for an extension.
“But I will state again my position with respect to drilling in our waters,” he said. “I am totally against drilling within our sea waters. I think our waters should be preserved.
“We have some of the best fish nurseries in the world…I think it’s essential for us to preserve that, protect our marine resources, protect our waters.
“That’s our tourist product. That’s our food source. That’s our economy. And yes, oil may make a few people rich but look around the world — does it benefit the entire nation? But I do know that tourism benefits all. I do know that our marine life benefits all.
“I do know that the beauty of our resources and our water benefits all and I will do all to protect it.”
Still, we do not know if the Minnis administration is minded to grant the extension.
Asked his thoughts on the prime minister restating his opposition to oil drilling in Bahamian waters, Davis said, “I think that’s pandering. At the end of the day, the fact of the matter is the drilling doesn’t follow that it will be developed. The drilling is to discover whether or not you do have commercial quantities of fossil fuel.
“It doesn’t necessarily follow that you will have to exploit it or develop the field. There are any number of alternative options that have come about in this field that you could still benefit from a find. There are options available but you don’t know that you have an option unless you know what you have.”
Davis asked why the Minnis administration permitted oil drilling if the prime minister is truly opposed to it.
We reminded him that the attorney general and the prime minister stated that the government was legally bound to allow the drilling as it met an agreement in place signed by a previous administration.
But Davis said, “The attorney general himself admitted that they renewed the contract that was in place after an application by BPC. If there was concern, that would have been the opportunity for them to renegotiate the terms under which they would have renewed their project.”
Conflict?
Davis reiterated that his administration would permit oil drilling in our waters if it determines it would be environmentally friendly.
We pointed out the widely held view that there is no such thing as environmentally friendly oil drilling.
“Critics would say there’s no such thing as environmentally friendly oil drilling,” Davis said.
“Well, that’s a view that’s out there, but I would not allow oil drilling that would in any way impact our environment.”
Given his firm’s past relationship with BPC, we asked Davis how he would get around the perception that he is conflicted on the issue.
“I don’t understand where this issue of conflict arises,” he said.
“The company is no longer with our firm. I don’t know why the records of the registry have not been corrected, but the files and the company were turned over many years [ago]. I think it went first to Higgs and Johnson and/or Graham Thompson … and we’ve had no contact with this company in relation to that, not Davis & Co.”
Davis insisted his decision on oil drilling would not be impacted by the fact that he once represented BPC.
“Let me put it this way, it will not,” he said.
“I will not be influenced by the fact that Davis & Co. firm had a relationship with that company from 2006, which is 15 years ago. I would not let that relationship, which has been severed from back then, influence any decision that I would have to make. As I said, any decision made would be in accordance with the law and it would not ignore the benefits to the Bahamian people which would be paramount in my consideration.”
Ahead of the 2012 general election, then Progressive Liberal Party Leader Perry Christie, who had served as a consultant for BPC, sought to address the conflict issue by committing to holding a referendum on oil drilling if elected.
Like so many other pledges, he disregarded this one.
We asked Davis whether his administration would hold a referendum on oil drilling in Bahamian waters.
“I would take that under advisement, but I would not comment at this time as to what I would do in my administration,” he said, obviously careful not to make any commitment that might come back to haunt him.
“I would have to see what circumstance I meet when I am there and there might be some other features that’s compelling to decide to go or not to go.”
In February, Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira told The Nassau Guardian The Bahamas should have a national discussion on whether it should continue to allow exploration for oil in its waters.
Last week, The Tribune quoted him as also expressing opposition to BPC being allowed to drill further.
“I’m not going to be very sympathetic towards it (license extension), but that’s not my call … I would have rolled them out long time. We wouldn’t have been down the road talking about this,” the minister said.
If the decision on the extension is made by the Minnis administration, it would be interesting to see whether the government’s policy position is shaped by the core beliefs of the prime minister and key ministers.
If the go ahead for further oil drilling is granted by this current group, that would add weight to Davis’ claim that Minnis is merely pandering on the issue.
If this is indeed an issue voters care about — and we submit they should — they should demand a formally stated policy position from the Free National Movement and the Minnis administration on the matter.
This is of sufficient importance and warrants more than just sideline comments from the prime minister.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a proliferation of fraudulent schemes globally, which have been pervasive in The Bahamas, according to the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB).
SCB Executive Director Christina Rolle said she has personally seen instances where Bahamians have lost their life savings to Ponzi and pyramid schemes that have in recent years infiltrated the Bahamian investment market.
“During the pandemic one of the things we saw was a huge uptick – and we still see it going on – in the amount of fraudulent schemes out there. This is something all of our regulator colleagues around the world are reporting. In fact, we are on the board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and this is something that has gotten the board’s attention with the proliferation of fraudulent schemes. Certainly we have seen that it is pervasive in our market,” she said.
“One of the things the pandemic did was a lot of people were furloughed, they were out of a job and you would think that when someone doesn’t have income they would not be receptive to some of these things, but what we’re finding is that they’re more susceptible. They’re more susceptible to taking their $5,000 and putting it with someone who says they’ll grow it in 30 days.”
IOSCO stated in a recent report on its “Initial Findings and Observations about the Impact of COVID-19 on Retail Market Conduct” that members had to take additional and various steps to increase public awareness and prevent potential retail investor harm.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, IOSCO members have increasingly been concerned about fraudulent schemes related to COVID-19, which have appeared in different forms and mainly targeted retail investors,” the international body stated.
“As distinct from conduct challenges during normal times, COVID-19 poses various issues including alternative working arrangements introduced to comply with the health measures governments have introduced. Particularly, authorities observed a significant increase in disruptions associated with operational, business continuity and cyber-security risks.”
Last week the SCB issued warnings on several companies it said may be conducting illegal activities in The Bahamas and whom members should exercise “extreme caution” toward when considering engaging.
In September, Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the police force has seen a notable increase in the number of fraud and cyber crimes being investigated by the Financial Crime Investigations Unit.
After registering a nearly 20 percent drop in revenue last year, FOCOL Holdings stated it expects a very challenging fiscal year in 2021.
FOCOL Chairman Sir Franklyn Wilson said in the company’s audited financial results for 2020 that net income for the period ended September 30 was $22.99 million, compared to $27.97 million in the previous year.
“The main factors that contributed to lower net income for fiscal 2020 are the adverse impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Bahamian economy and the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS)16 leases, related to our charter agreements on five purpose-built ocean-going ships used to transport petroleum products from the US Gulf and throughout The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands,” FOCOL Chairman Sir Franklyn Wilson said in the audited report.
“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic outlook for fiscal 2021 appears to be very challenging. Management is actively monitoring the financial performance of the company and will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the optimal financial performance of the
company.”
Oil prices reached a historic low in 2020 during the height of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
In its most recent economic assessment, The Central Bank of The Bahamas notes that the price of crude oil remained unchanged at $55.88 per barrel, amid a decrease in OPEC’s (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) production, of 0.65 million barrels per day, month on month.
While group travel remains in the doldrums in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC) is defying the new normal as it prepares to host its four-day event at Baha Mar in September, after missing its opportunity to have the conference last year.
The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation declared in a statement on the conference that “The Bahamas’ meeting and incentive business is ramping back up” with the CLC’s announcement.
Baha Mar President Graeme Davis said last week that group business for the multi-resort property is still a “far way off”, but the CLC could be a good start as it could attract thousands of lawyers and judiciary specialists.
“We’re not seeing anything of significance for group bookings at this time for the first couple of quarters in 2021,” said Davis.
“Certainly, as we start to look out in late quarter three and quarter four, we’re starting to see some group movement considering to come back to us.”
According to the MOTA statement, the conference will be held at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, where attendees will discuss sustainable justice and the future role of the law.
“The CLC is one of the most prestigious events on the global legal calendar,” the statement noted.
“Organized by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the four-day conference brings together 1,000-plus international lawyers and judiciary with specializations ranging from corporate to human rights.
“Conference attendees can expect high-caliber keynote speakers as well as a program that covers topics of interest to lawyers, judges, academics and law students.”
Minister of Tourism & Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar in the statement touted the importance of the return of group travel to The Bahamas.
“The meetings and incentive travel industry is an important tourism sector for us, bringing large group business to our shores,” D’Aguilar said.
“Event attendees have the opportunity to both work and play from our beautiful beaches and we encourage all participants to extend their visit, soaking up as much sun, sand and sea as possible.”
The statement added that CLC attendees will have the opportunity to take in excursions and activities, including a Power Boat Adventure to the Exuma Cays and a historical city tour of Nassau.
As the new rules which would allow for small business crowd funding are finalized, there is no firm data on whether there is market appetite from Bahamian institutional or retail investors.
The Business Capital Rules, 2021 are expected to be complete within the next week or two, according to Executive Director of the Securities Commission of The Bahamas Christina Rolle, who said the commission does not have a real indication of market demand, but she believes there is a healthy amount.
“We’re developing these rules because we think it is a way for us to meet a gap that is currently in our market – entrepreneurs’ access to capital. We know that the entrepreneurs’ cry is the banks aren’t lending as much as they ought to to small businesses and it’s almost impossible to raise capital under the Securities Industry Act,” she said during an appearance on Guardian Radio talk show Z Live.
“So we’re really developing these rules without market data to say there is some demand. We think that if we were to wait for market data, that is a very difficult thing to achieve sometimes in our environment. I mean the most you can do is get information based on savings, but based on the anecdotal feedback that we have we think demand is there, but I wouldn’t say that we have hard data to support that.”
Speaking to market activity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rolle said, “We see a fair trickle of private placements. We don’t see a lot of offerings to retail investors, but we see a fair trickle of private placements and offerings of nature to accredited investors. I think that really is a function of the risk aversion in our market, as well as the appetite for capital markets investment in the Bahamas.
“And just to note, that isn’t unusual in a small jurisdiction such as ours. In fact, for those who tend to criticize the size of our market, we actually have a decent-sized market per capita and so the activity that we see in it per capita isn’t unreasonable.”
Minister of State for Finance Senator Kwasi Thompson announced earlier this month that Bahamian small businesses would be able to raise up to $5 million through crowd funding under new rules.
Investment currently falls under the Securities
Industry Act, which Rolle said makes it difficult for smaller enterprises to raise capital because of the stringent requirements.
She said the rules would effectively be waiving certain rules for investment to make it easier for small businesses to access funding.
“The requirements under the Securities Industry Act are very, very onerous and so the commission acknowledges that the ordinary person – an entrepreneur who wants to raise $1 million or $2 million – will probably not be able to meet those requirements. So what I will say to them is to wait a couple of weeks. The Securities Commission, what we’re in the very final stages of doing right now is developing the Business Capital Rules and they are rules that fall under the Securities Industry Act, but the rules themselves give reduced requirements for an entrepreneur who wants to raise up to $5 million, who can do so by either going through a broker or using a crowd funding platform and they would have reduced requirements,” she said yesterday.
“We’re using our power to waive certain requirements under the Securities Industry Act to produce these rules. For example, for an IPO a promoter will need to produce audited financial statements. The audited financial statements will not be required for up to $5 million, but they will have to make some financial disclosures. So it would be much reduced requirements. We’re in the very final stages of putting that together and we anticipate those rules will come into effect before the end of April.”
Rolle said there is a technical review to complete with the Law Reform Commission regarding a couple of changes that were made to the rules recently.
As he received more than 33,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine today, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis called on Bahamians to avoid large gatherings over the Easter holiday weekend, warning that such activities could send the economy into a tailspin and start a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
Even as more of us receive the vaccine, we must still adhere to the other life-saving heath measures,” Minnis said shortly after 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, secured through the COVAX Facility, arrived at Jet Aviation.
“…It is also extremely important to avoid large gatherings. Easter weekend is traditionally a time for family gatherings and fellowship, including beach picnics.
“But we are still in the midst of a pandemic. COVID-19 case numbers in The Bahamas and around the world make it clear that the pandemic is not yet over.
“I wish to remind you that under the emergency orders, in New Providence and Grand Bahama, groups at all beaches and parks are limited to five per group.
“COVID ambassadors will monitors beaches and parks to ensure enforcement of our emergency orders.
“Large gatherings over this weekend could set the country back. If we continue to exercise discipline over a longer time, we will reap the benefits.”
When asked if he intends to introduce additional restrictive measures, the prime minister said he will be guided by health professionals. However, he called for discipline.
“If we were to make the sacrifices in terms of mitigation processes that the health professionals and the World Health Organization would have introduced – if we… were to make that sacrifice for an additional two weeks, then we would have a beautiful independence and a marvelous, splendid Christmas.”
The prime minister encouraged Bahamians to take the vaccine and added that it is dangerous to delay doing so.
“We cannot afford a painful third wave and, therefore, we all must and have to do our part,” Minnis said.
“We do not want another surge of cases here in The Bahamas. This will result in more hospitalizations and more deaths.”
Minnis said health officials are monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks on Grand Bahama and Eleuthera where cases are increasing.
He said the vaccination program will be accelerated on those islands to address the increase in cases. Surveillance efforts will also be enhanced on those islands, Minnis added.
He said the government may take further steps once health officials present their findings.
Vaccinations began on Eleuthera today and will continue until Thursday. Vaccinations are expected to begin on Abaco and Bimini next week.
“The only way out of this pandemic is through vaccination,” Minnis said.
“Anyone who tells you otherwise is providing you with absolute false information.”
The Bahamas has confirmed more than 9,000 cases of COVID-19.
Bahamian Azaro Roker is living proof that one doesn’t have to go through the United States to excel in collegiate basketball and make it to the next level.
The 6’7” former forward for the St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) X-Men is beginning the transitional period to the next part of his basketball career – obtaining a professional contract and eventually making it to the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In his final season with the X-Men, Roker averaged 17.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 58.6 percent from the field. He was the team Most Valuable Player (MVP), an All-Canadian Second Team member and an All-Conference First Team All Star player.
The fifth year forward is regarded as one who is super athletic, dominant around the basket and a rebounding machine. He led the league in field goal percentage and rebounding in his fourth season.
“A lot of players come here thinking that they want to go to the NBA or play professional basketball, and others come here wanting to use basketball as an avenue to get a degree. I want to do both,” said Roker. “I still feel like I’m going to achieve the ultimate goal of making it to the NBA. I feel like I have the potential to be there so I going to strive for it. I know that I just have to persevere and keep pushing through, I just have to keep fighting through the storm. It’s almost over.”
The X-Men play out of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) in U Sports (national sport governing body of university sport in Canada), in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Due to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Western Hemisphere, Roker didn’t play competitive basketball this past season. He hasn’t stepped on the court competitively for the X-Men in over a year, and now is set to graduate this May with a Bachelor of Arts in Development and Religious Studies.
The 23-year-old, who is regarded as an agile big man who can create plays on any part of the court, is looking to take his talents overseas post-graduation. He has a number of offers on the table.
“I feel like this was going to be my breakout year but unfortunately the season was canceled because of COVID. It just made you question everything. There was just a lot of ups and downs. We felt like we had a good team able to make it to the
championship and win it, so it’s very disappointing that we didn’t get that chance. It’s sad that I probably won’t get a senior night and experience nothing that a senior would usually experience who commits himself and dedicates himself to the team. I lost a lot of time away from basketball, but I’m prepared to move on. My family is excited for me because I am the first to go abroad and achieve a scholarship to university abroad. I know that they have my back no matter what so the weight is lifted,” he said.
Regardless, Roker said he is looking forward to the next step on his basketball journey.
“There are about 12-14 agents who I am in constant contact with so I’m optimistic that I will sign on with an agent and land somewhere. The ultimate goal continues to be the NBA, but because I didn’t get to play this season, I’ll have to go overseas for a year or two and then go from there. It’s just about making the right decision that will propel my career forward,” said Roker.
The Bahamian collegiate basketball player, who recently lost his mother, Apostle Chivan Roker, and dedicates the next phase of his basketball career to her, said he enjoyed his time in the quiet community of Antigonish competing for the X-Men where he was able to create new friendships and forge new relationships and now it’s time to move on.
“There were a lot of people who helped mentor me and helped me along my journey,” said Roker. “From day one, Coach K (X-Men Head Coach Steve Konchalski who retires this year after nearly half of a century at the helm) took me under his wing and was like a father figure to me. I came here at 189 pounds and he helped me to be the player who I am today, putting on about 50 pounds over the years, and transforming into a player who could excel in this league. He just put it in my mind to be a better player. Also, it was good to see the support and love of the people in the community back home with my mother passing. I’m a big believer in faith and in Christianity. God has guided me and directed my steps on the right path. To be denied a US Visa twice and then come here and excel in collegiate basketball is a blessing. I have to send a shout out to my brother Ronald Roker, my sister Chavara Roker-Eneas, my father Cedric Roker and my family in general. I just want to encourage the youngsters out there to keep following your dreams because I was that barefooted boy who was playing outside with crates as baskets. I’ve come a long way. I want to encourage the youngsters to always listen to positivity and continue to push yourself to be great.”
Roker played his high school basketball with national team player for The Bahamas Dominick Bridgewater who he said he remain friends with to this day. He said he always reaches out to Bahamian professional basketball players such as Bridgewater, Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows and Dwight Coleby on advice of how to transition to the next level and how to adjust once there. He is receiving interest from teams in France, Spain, Finland, Vietnam, Portugal and Sweden.
From averaging just two points and 2.3 rebounds per game in his freshman season, Roker developed to the point where he was the most improved player on the team in his second season and earned player appreciation and leadership awards. During his career, he averaged a double-double for two years back to back, was a 15-time player of the game and a 15-time athlete of week.
During the 2019-2020 season, he had a 30-point, 20-rebound effort in a 117-116 double overtime win for the X-Men over the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers on the road in Sydney, Nova Scotia, leading to him being named the Subway Player of the Game. The X-Men ended the regular season that year with a home win over Cape Breton. They went on to lose in the AUS championship game to the Dalhousie University Tigers at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were looking to build on that experience for the ensuing season, but COVID-19 swooped in.
Be that as it may, Roker said he is grateful for the career he had at StFX and is looking forward to the beginning of what he hopes will be a lengthy and productive professional career.
Bahamian Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin and her team, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels, gave it quite a ride in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), but just came up short, falling in the championship game to the upstart Rice University Owls, 71-58, at My Town Movers Fieldhouse in Collierville, Tennessee, on Sunday.
It was the best-ever performance for the Rebels in the postseason tournament.
With McPhee-McCuin back on the sidelines following her mandatory quarantine period due to COVID-19, the Rebels (15-12, 4-10 SEC) fought their way past the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (17-13, 11-7 MVC) in the semifinals on Friday, but appeared to run out of gas against the eventual champions Owls (23-4, 12-2 C-USA). The Owls became the first team from Conference USA to ever win the Postseason WNIT.
McPhee-McCuin said on Facebook that she’s extremely proud of the team, and looks forward to continued progression in the future as they embrace the ‘No Ceilings’ theme she implemented this season.
“Not the result we were looking for, but we’ll be playing in March again very soon. We are so impossibly proud of this team for what they’ve accomplished and all they’ve been through to get to this point. The future is VERY bright. #RebelNation you’ve been with us from the start, and the energy you brought to this whole tournament was out of this world. Everyone else: still room on the
bandwagon,” she said.
The Lady Rebels endured a season in which they had to endure a COVID-19 outbreak within the team, a positive test for McPhee-McCuin herself, and a slow start to conference play. They rebounded to finish with an above .500 win/loss record, had three ranked victories, four NET top-50 wins, narrow ranked losses and a run to the SEC quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
“Amazing season for our program,” she said on Facebook. “(I’m) super grateful for my coaches, staff and of course my players. The sacrifices made have been incredible. The challenges my team had to overcome is to be admired. Last season, we won zero conference games, and this year we made it to a postseason championship, and have had some cool accomplishments along the way. Many people counted us out, but we stuck together. To Rebel Nation, your support has been incredible. It is my hope that we don’t stop here. We are just getting started. I’ve always believed that you can’t skip steps. This program has taken a step in the right direction. This story is being written, and I am incredibly excited about the future for this program.”
In the WNIT, the Rebels had a spirited run through the tournament, playing the first three games for McPhee-McCuin who received news prior to the start of the event that she had contracted COVID-19 and had to go into isolation. McPhee-McCuin returned for the semifinal game on Friday, a 60-50 win for Ole Miss over the Panthers.
A couple of the Rebels had strong performances throughout and were named to the All-Tournament Team – Shakira Austin who averaged 20.4 points and 10.4 rebounds over the course of the 10-day tournament and Donnetta Johnson who tallied 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in the tournament.
In the championship game on Sunday, Austin, a junior, led the way with 25 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and two steals. Johnson, a redshirt sophomore, had eight points but shot just 3-for-13 from the floor. She added nine rebounds. Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nancy Mulkey, a senior, finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots for Rice. Lauren Schwartz, a sophomore, matched her for side-high honors with 19 points and added three assists.
After trailing by as much as 16 in the game, including double digits for much of the second half, the Lady Rebels got to within four points, 58-54, in the fourth quarter but Rice responded with six free throws to go ahead again by double figures and they never looked back. The Owls finished the game going 17-for-17 from the free-throw line – a huge difference in the game.
Ole Miss’ final comeback hopes were hampered by a lack of three-point shooting. They averaged just four made three-pointers per contest and were 0-for-6 in the WNIT final.
The Rebels came up short in their bid to be the first Southeastern Conference (SEC) team since Auburn in 2003 to win the Postseason WNIT, but their championship appearance represented the best-ever finish for a lady Rebels squad.
In the semifinal game on Friday, Austin had 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lead the Lady Rebels past the Panthers, 60-50. Madison Scott, a freshman, contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Karli Rucker, a senior, paced the Panthers with 16 points. No other player scored in double figures for them.
Bahamian Valerie Nesbitt, a reserve senior guard with the team, came off the bench and had four points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals against Rice in the championship game. In the semifinal game against the Panthers, she had two points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Up until the championship game, the Lady Rebels had won all of their games in the tournament by an average of 12.25 points.
The Rebels were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the SEC Championship three and a half weeks ago and just missed being selected as one of the 32 at-large teams for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.
It was an exciting and invigorating weekend of tennis as juniors from the under-12 (U12), under-14 (U14), under-16 (U16) and under-18 (U18) categories competed at a very high level at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) Spring Classic Tournament at the BLTA’s National Tennis Center.
BLTA President Perry Newton thanked executive members Tara Mactaggart and Everette Munroe (Tournament Director) for their work in ensuring the smooth operation of the tournament. Courtesy was also extended to Everette Munroe (Referee) and Mickey Williams for scheduling and oversight of the matches.
Some of the participants from the BLTA’s umpire course in November of 2020 also served as officials during the tournament.
President Newton stated: “It is great to see the graduates put their training into practice. This supports growth and sustainability in tennis officiating. We are elated to be able to host this debut BLTA tournament after a year of no competition due to the pandemic. Our juniors have been practicing and putting in the work and this was evident by the quality of play and talent displayed at this tournament. The number of entrants into this tournament was extremely healthy and the level of play was high.”
The BLTA thanks the tournament sponsor Limeade Bahamas. Congratulations are extended on behalf of the BLTA to the winners and runners-up in the various divisions.
In the Boys 12s, Patrick Mactaggart was the winner while Lukas Zoebelin was the runner-up. In the Girls 12s, Sarai Clarke was the winner while Marlee Martin was the runner-up. Jackson Mactaggart was the winner in the Boys 14s while Khai Rhees was the runner-up. In the Girls 14s, Breann Ferguson was the winner and Clarke was the runner-up. In the Boys 16s, Michael Major Jr. was winner while Jackson Mactaggart was the runner-up. Sierra Rodgers emerged as the winner in the Girls 16s and Maddisan Bowleg was the runner-up. Jacobi Bain won the Boys 18s category and Michael Major Jr. was the runner-up. Finally, in the Girls 18s, Sierra Rodgers was winner while Maddisan Bowleg finished as the runner-up.
The BLTA extends congratulations to all of the participants. The next junior tournament hosted by the BLTA will be its junior nationals set for June 21-24 at the national tennis center. All of the age groups for juniors will be contested.
It was late November 2020 – Eldred “Ed” Bethel had recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and was loving his life, when he developed an irritating cough which persisted for a week, forcing him to seek medical attention to get some relief, after failing to get relief from over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Two months after that first cough, Bethel, a veteran broadcaster who has also served as consul general of The Bahamas in New York and high commissioner in London, has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
Bethel has to undergo extensive chemotherapy treatments to try to arrest the spread of the insidious disease. He is expected to begin chemotherapy treatment on April 18. His medication, it is anticipated, will cost approximately $5,000 every three weeks, and he has no insurance.
His children – Lisa, Wayne, John and Bianca – have come together to raise funds to assist their father with his medical bills through GoFundMe.
Although Bethel was hesitant at the suggestion, as of yesterday, the crowdfunding site showed $15,546 raised of a $150,000 goal from 112 donors.
“I told them to give me a chance to think about it,” Bethel told The Nassau Guardian. “I was walking one afternoon and got a notification on my phone and it said they had started a GoFundMe. I thought he [my son] would have checked with me first, but my children are looking out for their parents. I’m not annoyed. I’m grateful for what they’ve done.”
His children wrote on “GoFundMe” that although the news was a “heavy blow to our family, we are all optimistic that with prayers, treatment, love of his family and friends, he will thrive and continue to do the things that he enjoys”.
Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer can also be caused by using other types of tobacco (such as pipes or cigars), breathing secondhand smoke, being exposed to substances such as asbestos or radon at home or work, and having a family history of lung cancer.
Bethel, who admits to smoking in his youth, said the last time he smoked was more than 30 years ago.
“[Fellow newsman] Garth Mitchell and I were the best of friends. He died and I knew he was a chain smoker. I stopped smoking when he died.”
Bethel said his wife Dawne, who he describes as his “Rock of Gibraltar”, also told him he had to stop smoking.
“I stopped cold turkey,” he recalled. “Visiting Garth got me really scared.”
Bethel also spoke at his friend’s funeral.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke. And that even smoking a few cigarettes a day or smoking occasionally increases the risk of lung cancer. The more years a person smokes, and the more cigarettes smoked each day, the more the risk increases.
The CDC said different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people just have general symptoms of not feeling well. But that most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
Symptoms
Lung cancer symptoms may include – coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away, as in the case of Bethel – chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, feeling very tired all the time, and weight loss with no known cause.
Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest in the area between the lungs.
After noticing his cough lingering for a week, Bethel sought medical attention as the OTC medicines did not offer relief. He was prescribed a two-week course of antibiotics, which he said did not completely improve his cough. His general practitioner then referred him to a specialist who prescribed a further two-week regiment of antibiotics at a higher dosage and scheduled a number of screening tests as well.
“The EKG for my heart was perfect… I’m a lover, so nothing wrong,” said Bethel who is known for his irrepressible quick wit and humor. “But the CT scan showed excessive fluid on my left lung.”
He was referred to another medical practitioner for a procedure to remove the fluid from his lungs. With the Christmas season approaching, Bethel was told that his procedure was urgent, but that he should celebrate Christmas. On January 8, he had a procedure done and a biopsy at Doctors Hospital. That resulted in a two-night stay for which he racked up a $30,000 bill and he does not have insurance; he also had to take a PET scan at $3,000-plus. Bethel was further referred to the oncologist.
Confirmation
When it was confirmed he had lung cancer, Bethel said he wasn’t too shocked, but said his wife Dawne cried.
“It was shocking for a moment, but wasn’t something I really feared. I said honey, we will fight this.”
Bethel said he asked the doctor if the lung cancer diagnosis would be a death sentence and was told no. And that he would not have to do radiation or surgery, but that he would have to do a course of chemotherapy and take medication, which would be expensive.
“Stage four is the worst you can get but it’s not a death sentence. The oncologist has given examples of people who have lived four to five years on their medication. He [the doctor] gave me personal stories about how expensive the medication is, [but] he said I don’t need a Rolls Royce, but a Volkswagon. I left it in the hands of the Lord. I tend to believe that you can always beat challenges,” he said letting his sense of humor rip once again, describing himself as president of the optimist’s club.
Prior to returning home from London at age 77 upon retiring from his last diplomatic posting, Bethel said he had undergone a battery of tests and was given a clean bill of health.
On their return home, he said he and his wife could not afford insurance living on a pension. He was thankful they had been able to save some money, which was depleted after his wife faced her own medical challenges, which he said were negative.
As the family faces his medical challenge, Bethel said his family and friends have been wonderful.
“The outpouring has been surprising to me, people I don’t know… someone sent $10 [on GoFundMe] and said that’s all I have Mr. Bethel – it was touching.”
As he prepares to begin chemotherapy treatment, Bethel ruminated over the fact that he has never had any sickness in his life.
“I never even got anything from NIB, not even maternity leave,” he quipped. “The only thing that happened to me was playing basketball and I broke my hand. I have taken colonoscopies, did my prostate exams and never had any concern.”
It was a fact he said he was recently bragging about prior to his lung cancer diagnosis.
“I asked the doctor why I didn’t know this before. He said this could have been going on for years and that this is one of the most prevalent diseases in The Bahamas.”
According to the CDC, cigarette smoking causes about 80 percent to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in the United States.
The most important thing a person can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if they smoke. They can also avoid secondhand smoke from other people’s cigarettes, cigars or pipes; get their home tested for radon, be careful at work and avoid carcinogens that can cause cancer.
People who should be screened for lung cancer are those who have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and are between 50 and 80 years old.
Screening stops when a person being screened turns 81, or has not smoked in 15 or more years, or develops a health problem that makes him or her unwilling or unable to have surgery if lung cancer is found.
As he prepares to begin chemotherapy, the irrepressible Bethel noted that since his doctors prescribed him antibiotics, that he has not had a sip of any of his favorite libations and is missing his beer, Chardonnay and 19 Crimes. He said he’s waiting to pop open a bottle of Port purchased for him by friends.
“I haven’t had Communion yet,” he joked. “Haven’t had anything to drink since I was given antibiotics. I can’t wait to beat lung cancer.”
Bethel’s career life is a storied one. He began in journalism at the Nassau Tribune in 1959. He subsequently crossed over into broadcast journalism at ZNS in 1963 and covered many major events including the 1962 Nassau Conference held by United States President John F. Kennedy, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker; the 1962 General Election in which women voted for the first time; the 1965 fire and sinking of the SS Yarmouth Castle; the 1965 “Black Tuesday” demonstration by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), when then-Opposition leader Lynden Pindling threw the mace out of the window of the House of Assembly; and the historic 1967 General Election, which was won by the PLP, ushering in the first majority rule government.
Bethel coordinated ZNS coverage of the 1973 Independence, and along with fellow broadcaster Charles Carter were broadcasters at Clifford Park on the historic night of July 9, 1973, when The Bahamas became an independent country.
Bethel also coordinated ZNS coverage of the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in New Providence.
He served as manager of ZNS Northern Service and Deputy General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. His résumé includes executive director of Bahamas Information Services (BIS), news editor at Love 97 FM and The Bahama Journal, and evening news anchor at The Nassau Guardian Group of Companies’ Start 106.5 Hits.
As a diplomat, Bethel served as Consul General to New York (2002-2007) and the 8th High Commissioner representing The Bahamas in London (2013-2017).
Bethel’s story is one that he knows should not be lost, and he started to put it all on paper, getting through four decades, but said he lost interest after he got ill. He’s hoping to redevelop his interest to complete his story.
The effective way to wear a face mask is to completely cover your nose and mouth, and the COVID-19 pandemic has demanded the wearing of masks, which has become the standard basic health and social protocol.
In this column, I will examine whether the constant mask wearing has an adverse effect on your dental health? Constant mask wearing can affect your dental health. And the most likely offender is dry mouth.
Then there’s the fact that many of us have been at home due to work-from-home protocols, or lack of work because of lay-offs, etc. Managing the children and the stress that accompanies this new existence may have also exposed some bad habits. Many of us have become “couch potatoes” and have eaten more sweets and starchy foods. In many cases, dental visits were reduced – especially during 2020, for several reasons; this led to many dental health problems. As a result, the incidence of dry mouth increased, causing bad or smelly odors while wearing masks.
Oftentimes, when your nasal passage is congested, you breathe through your mouth. Also, many people naturally breathe through their mouth into the mask. When you do this, your natural amount of saliva reduces because of the constant flow of air. The air becomes stale, causing bad breath. A dry environment causes a reduced pH thereby increasing the growth of bacteria in the mouth. The result is bad breath, tooth decay, fungus growth and gum disease.
Other conditions that cause dry mouth are diabetes, snoring, tobacco or marijuana use, high caffeine and alcohol use. Also, dry mouth is a side-effect of several medications for depression or anxiety, colds and allergies. A particular challenging cause is patients with a history of past radiation treatments where some damage to the salivary glands were likely.
The best way to maintain a moist oral cavity while wearing a mask is to deliberately breathe through your nose.
Eight things to do during this season of constant mask wearing:
• Be sure to throw away disposable masks and wash cloth masks. Bacteria grow inside these masks, so they should always be fresh and bacteria-free.
• Breathe through your nose while wearing your mask.
• Brush and floss your teeth after meals. Don’t go to sleep after meals. While you sleep, your salivary rate decreases, the mouth dries and the stage is set for decay.
• See your dental health professional regularly, especially if you are high risk for gum disease.
• Drink at least eight to 12 ounce glasses of water every day.
• Eat sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum instead of sweetened gum. It stimulates saliva production.
• Reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine may reduce salivary flow placing direct effects upon the salivary glands and your nervous system. Dehydration is the natural chain of events due to frequent urination.
• Use a natural oral rinse like warm salt water, peroxide/water or focus on mouth rinses that stimulate your saliva like Biotene, Corsodyl or Oxyfresh.
I would encourage all of us to continue to wear our masks in the protection of others from infections and through this practice – protect ourselves. Also, be admonished to protect your teeth and gums from deterioration by applying good habits. Good health and wellness begins in the mouth and ends with you.
• Dr. Kendal V.O. Major is the founder and CEO of the Center for Specialized Dentistry, which is a comprehensive family dental practice operating in New Providence and Grand Bahama. He is the first Bahamian specialist in gum diseases and dental implants since 1989. He is also a certified fast braces provider. His practice is located at 89 Collins Avenue, New Providence. He can be contacted at (242) 325-5165 orkmajorcsd@gmail.com.
As a pediatrician, the most common complaint I get from parents is, “Doc, my baby has a fever.” While fever is the most common reason parents take their sick children to the doctor, the fact is many parents know very little about fever, what causes it, or what to do when it happens. With the COVID-19 pandemic surging on, it’s more important than ever that parents have a sound understanding of what a fever is and what to do when their little one “feels hot”.
A fever is most often a healthy immune system’s response to an infection or other illness. When the immune system encounters a germ, it sets into motion a series of chemical reactions that causes the body’s thermostat to reset to a higher temperature – presumably to make the body too uncomfortable an environment for the germ to thrive.
A fever is more than just “feeling hot”. It’s an actual number that should be measured with a thermometer and not the back of your hand. A temperature of 100.4 or higher is the magic number and accurate temperature measurements are helpful in guiding your pediatrician’s management and monitoring your child’s response to treatment.
It’s important to remember that the fever itself is not an illness, but a symptom of an illness that is going to persist until that illness goes away. Most fevers are caused by infections with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, but there are other causes of fever as well. Overdressing infants can sometimes cause elevated body temperature and children sometimes develop a fever after immunizations since the immune system has been tricked into thinking there is an infection to fight. While teething is often made out to be the culprit for fevers in babies, it’s probably not the case if the temperature is higher than 100.
The first thing to do when you suspect your child has a fever is to take an accurate temperature reading. Rectal temperatures are the most accurate and are appropriate for children from birth to about four years of age. To take a rectal temperature, have your child lie stomach down on your lap. Another way is on the back with the legs pulled up to the chest. Put a lubricant like petroleum jelly on the end of the thermometer and the anus. Slide the thermometer gently into the anus just until you can no longer see the silver tip. Be gentle! There should not be any resistance. If there is, stop. Hold your child still. Leave a digital thermometer in until it beeps (about 10 seconds). (Rectal temperatures should not be taken in young children with leukemia or other cancers and should be avoided in other children with weak immune systems such as organ transplant, HIV or sickle cell disease.)
Forehead temperatures are the next most accurate and can be done with an infrared thermometer placed over your child’s temple.
Your child has a fever if the rectal or forehead temperature is above 100.4° F (38° C.).
Of course, at the first sign of fever, most parents want to bundle their children up and rush them to the nearest doctor’s office, but this usually isn’t necessary. If your child is older than three months, feeding well and active, it is OK to observe them at home for a few days. They can be managed with anti-fever medicine every few hours, lots of fluids and lots of rest.
If you want your child to go in to the doctor’s office, please be sure to call ahead. While most offices have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols, we still need time to prepare for your sick child’s arrival in order to ensure the continued safety of staff, other patients, and of course, your child. Don’t be alarmed if your doctor recommends a tele-health visit or a few days of observation at home. Your child will be seen in office if it’s absolutely necessary.
Call your pediatrician right away if your child:
• Is three months or younger with a rectal or forehead temperature of 104° F or higher.
• Has a fever of 104° F or higher at any age.
• Looks very ill, is unusually drowsy, or is very fussy and inconsolable.
• Has other symptoms like stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, severe ear pain, unexplained rash, or repeated vomiting or diarrhea.
• Has immune problems like sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer or is taking steroids.
• Has had a seizure.
Remember, your pediatrician is a valuable resource for helping you raise happy and healthy kids. If you have concerns about your child’s temperature, do not hesitate to reach out for guidance.
• Dr. Tamarra Moss is a pediatrician committed to helping you raise happy and healthy kids. You can find her at Dr. Carlos Thomas & Pediatric Associates in Nassau, Lucayan Medical Center in Grand Bahama, or on Instagram @mykidsdoc242.
It is common to see wrinkles and age spots on many elderly people; they are a sign of aging. Aging takes its toll on your feet and ankles, just as it does with the rest of the body. The following are some changes that occur in the foot and ankle that can be prevented and treated.
Circulation problems
Due to the infirmities of age, there are changes in circulation often related to diabetes or other vascular diseases. Varicose veins are also problems encountered more often in the elderly. Poor circulation may be accompanied by pain in the feet or legs. These problems will have to be diagnosed and treated by your podiatrist, vascular specialist or family physician. Once a proper diagnosis is made, you will be treated with proper footwear and hosiery, stockings and socks.
For venous problems: Mild to moderate compression stockings/socks with at least 15 millimeters of pressure should be used. They should be put on first thing in the morning before putting your feet down and before the swelling sets in. If people have low blood flow to the feet, they are encouraged to wear socks that are loose and do not leave “tight rings” around the ankles. They should be comfortable to wear at all times and can be worn to bed at night to keep the feet warm.
Dry, flaky skin
With increasing age, the skin’s ability to produce sweat, oil, and other fatty substances diminishes. The skin cells also divide more slowly, and the skin becomes thinner. As a result, the water content of skin is reduced and the skin becomes dry, which in turn leads to age-related dry skin. Common age-related dry skin problems people may experience include peeling and flaking skin, itchy skin that bleeds easily when scratched. The skin may appear yellow or brown in color, and may become inflamed due to itching and scratching. The dry skin may become thick and hard, especially around the edges of the heels. The skin may become so dry that it cracks and fissures, which in turn causes pain when walking.
Dry and cracked skin
This is prone to bacterial and fungal infections, which can cause serious problems.
Self-help treatments: Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize again, especially soon after bathing. Ensure that you pat your skin almost dry -but while it is still damp apply the moisturizer. This moisturizer will hold the water in, and keep the skin from drying. You can add oil to your bath to soothe dry irritated skin and help the skin “lock in” moisture. Avoid nylon and rayon socks because they may cause dryness. Seeing a podiatrist can help with exfoliating and moisturizing the feet to soften and hydrate the skin.
Thick, dry, and
discolored toenails
The toenail changes most commonly associated with aging are due to decrease in blood flow to the toes. As we age the small blood vessels in our feet and toes narrow and become thicker, reducing the amount of blood and nutrients that get to the ends of our feet. Without proper nourishment the toenails become dry, brittle, deformed, and discolored. Trauma to the nails over the years gradually destroys the normal appearance of the nails, cuticle, and nail bed. Nail fungus is the most common cause of discolored, thick, and deformed toenails in people of all ages, but especially in older people. Seniors are especially susceptible to these infections because of reduced circulation to the toes. Decreased circulation means fewer antibodies and infection fighting blood cells are available to ward off the nail fungi.
Self-help and treatments: Help avoid ingrown toenails and nail fungus by clipping toenails straight across, and disinfect instruments used to cut nails. Do not cut or push back toenail cuticles. The dark, warm, moist environment in our shoes makes it a perfect place for the fungus to grow. When the cuticles are left intact, they keep germs from entering the area where new nail grows from. People, who have sweaty feet, or those who practice poor foot hygiene, are more susceptible to skin fungal which can lead to nail fungus. Each day wash and dry feet, and put on a pair of clean, socks.
Constantly wearing nail polish prevents the air from getting to the nail plate and the harsh chemicals in the nail polish may help to destroy the normal structure of the nail. This can make it easier for a fungus to invade and penetrate the nail. The fungus must be treated, often with antifungal medication applied to the nail or skin.
Crooked toes and feet
As we age, the ligaments, tendons, and joint capsule begins to weaken and stretch. When this occurs, the bones are not held tightly in their correct position and they begin to move out of alignment. The joint’s cartilage is wearing down due to the normal wear and tear leading to thickened joints, and toes that are no longer straight, but are crooked.
Self-help and treatments: Need to be directed toward keeping your feet and toes comfortable. It is best to measure your feet, every time you try on and buy new shoes. Stand when your feet are measured because your feet expand when standing. Make sure you have at least a little fingers width between your longest toe and the end of your shoe. Always wear appropriate shoe styles; the shoes need to match the shape of your feet. Do not purchase shoes that feel too tight, expecting them to “stretch to fit”. Most materials, including leather, do not stretch enough to make a big difference. If you have hammertoes, corns, bunions, arthritis of the toes, consider purchasing shoes with a deep and wide (toe box the area of the shoe where that encloses the toes). This extra depth and width may keep the shoes from pressing against sensitive skin on the tops of the toes. Custom-made orthotics may help address foot’s biomechanical deformities and help with comfort and control. Sometimes surgery may be needed to correct these foot deformities.
Regular exercise like walking and maintaining a healthy weight goes a long way to help prevent foot complications and promote good foot health well into the senior years. Changes can and do occur with aging, but it does not have to lead to pain and dysfunction. If you do have pain or concerns about your feet, see a podiatrist to have a full evaluation and treatment if needed.
• For more information on foot conditions, visit www.apma.org, healthcentral.com, or email us at foothealth242@gmail.com. To see a podiatrist, visit Bahamas Foot Centre, Rosetta Street, or telephone 325-2996 for an appointment at Bahamas Surgical Associates Centre, Hilltop Medical, or call 394-5820 for an appointment. You can also visit Lucayan Medical Centre in Freeport, Grand Bahama, or telephone 373-7400 for an appointment.
