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Ellison Hanna signs first pro contract

Bahamian baseball player Ellison Hanna II signed his first professional contract after wrapping up his redshirt senior season for the Indiana State University Sycamores. Hanna signed with the Missoula PaddleHeads in the Pioneer League.

The outfielder took to Instagram after signing his contract to announce his signing.

“2022 is personal,” Hanna posted. “Blessed to sign my first professional contract! Bet on yourself, and your talents will make room for itself.”

The PaddleHeads is based in Missoula, Montana, and plays in the Pioneer League which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB partner league.

Hanna helped the Sycamores to a 31-21 win/loss record last season that included a 13-14 record in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I.

He finished the 2021 season with an impressive batting average of .337 in the 34 games he played. He started in 26 of those games. It was a great improvement from the 2020 season in which he finished with a batting average of .231 in the nine games that he played in. He started seven of those games. That season was cut short because of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Hanna had 30 hits in 89 at-bats and five home runs to go along with 21 runs batted in (RBIs). Hanna was able to hit seven doubles and two triples on the season. He posted a slugging percentage of .629 and an on-base percentage of .479.

His best hitting game of the season came in the Sycamores’ second game in the NCAA Nashville Regional Tournament in June. The Sycamores played against Presbyterian College which they won 9-2. Hanna finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored. He went without a hit in the Sycamores’ elimination game against Georgia Tech in which they were shut out 9-0 as their season came to an end.

Hanna was selected to the MVC Baseball Tournament All-Tournament Team. He finished the tournament hitting .278 to go with five runs scored, nine RBIs and three home-runs.

The former St. Augustine’s Preparatory student’s first collegiate experience was for Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he played two seasons. He finished the 2018 season with 59 games played and collected 671 base hits in 192 at-bats to post a .318 batting average. He drove in 55 RBIs and scored 45 runs.

The PaddleHeads finished the 2021 season first overall with a 66-32 win/loss record in the Northern Division. They ended the season on a five-game winning streak and won eight of their last 10 games.

The 2022 season is set to get underway at the end of May.

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Doja Cat rules the Atlantis

Doja Cat plays by her own rules, and didn’t deviate from that during her New Year’s Day performance at the Atlantis. She dropped the showstopping single “Rules” from her sophomore album “Hot Pink” to open her performance, and from then on it was the Doja Cat show.

She showed her range through a number of her popular hits to the delight of her fans on Saturday night during an hour long set at The Royal Deck, performing “Juicy” “Like That”, “Talk Dirty”, “Addiction”, “Bottom B**ch”, “Streets”, and “Say So” from her Hot Pink album.

Doja Cat also delved into singles from Planet Her, her third studio album, dropping the singles “Get Into It”, “Woman”, “Kiss Me More”, “You Right”, “Been Like This”, “Ain’t S**t” “Need to Know/Options”; as well as “Tia Tamera” from her 2018 debut studio album Amala.

As she belted her racy lyrics which contrasted with her naughty yet nice all-white ensemble, Doja Cat also upped the ante with provocative dance moves that left people in amazement. Her breathtaking performance did not disappoint on any front.

Doja Cat performed for an hour, but her fans still wanted more, as they ate up every gyration and lyric she spit out.

Doja Cat’s New Year’s Day performance during the festive New Year’s weekend at the Atlantis was jumpstarted with the Party Like a Royal event on Friday night to bring in the new year, and which featured Bond, an Australian/British quartet known for classic crossover and synth-pop.

The string quartet of Tania Davis and Eos Counsell on violin, Elspeth Hanson on viola and Gay-Yee Westerhoff on cello was electrifying during their almost hour-long set.

Bond Quartet, an Australian/British quartet known for classic crossover and synth-pop, brought an electrifying performance at Atlantis’ Party Like a Royal event at the Royal Deck on New Year’s Eve.

The Modern Gentlemen, the Los Angeles-based pop group that performs classic hits with a modern sound ran through a number of covers from ballads to uptempo songs.

The four-part harmony of members, Brian Brigham, Brandon Brigham, Landon Beard and Todd Fournier, covered songs that included “Play That Funky Music”, “I Wanna Rock with You”, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, Let’s Stay Together”, “Shut Up and Dance” and “Celebration” considering they were performing up to the countdown to the new year, and ending their set with “Oh What a Night” at 11:57 p.m. to allow people to get themselves into place for the countdown to 2022 and prepare themselves for what was an absolutely amazing 10-minute fireworks display by “America’s first family of fireworks” – the Grucci Brothers International, who hold the Guinness World Record for the largest fireworks display.

The night sky over the Atlantis was transformed to the delight of patrons as bursts of light lit up the sky in an orchestrated symphony of color to cap off an amazing weekend of activities that also included DJ Cassidy and DJ Tony Okungbowa holding down the fort.

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The Good, the Better, and ‘The Matrix’

“The Matrix Resurrections” (US Rated R)

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris

Genre: Sci-fi/Action

Where to watch: In theaters/ HBO Max

Dwight’s Rating:

Um… “The Matrix” is back.

Because we all wanted more of that, right? No?

You didn’t? I know I didn’t. So, who did? Because three was two more than what was needed!

The original, back in 1999, was an innovative, groundbreaking, highly-influential, game-changing mindbender. And its impact was felt on science-fiction and action films and thrillers for years to come.

The follow-ups, “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions” – both released in 2003 – were nowhere near as good as the original, and although this was not exactly a popular opinion at the time, I felt these were collectively a waste of four-plus hours in which I could have been doing many more important things at the time.

So, imagine the shock at hearing we were all getting a fourth serving of “The Matrix” again! Thankfully, the setup is interesting – at least initially.

To find out if his reality is a physical or mental construct, Mr. Anderson, aka Neo, will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more. If he’s learned anything, it’s that choice, while an illusion, is still the only way out of – or into – the Matrix. Neo already knows what he has to do, but what he doesn’t yet know is that the Matrix is stronger, more secure and far more dangerous than ever before.

Oh boy! And oh joy!

Well, Neo is once again portrayed by Keanu Reeves. Portrayed is the right word. Reeves is there, and gets plenty screen time, but he’s mainly reacting to what’s happening around him. He seems to have fewer lines than almost every actor with a speaking part.

Carrie-Anne Moss is also back as Trinity, along with a few others from the original films. But this is a largely new cast.

If you’ve never watched “The Matrix” or any of the other films, I doubt you’ll understand what’s going on.

Also, even if you have watched “The Matrix” or any of the other films, I doubt you’ll understand what’s going on.

I mean you won’t necessarily be lost. You may have a vague understanding of the specifics of the plot, but I bet you can’t really explain it to someone who’s confused.

It’s like that other Keanu Reeves flick – the one with the out-of-control bus. You’re on this speeding vehicle and you’re seeing everything fly past you in warp speed. It ain’t dull, but you’ve got no idea why anyone would make this happen!

“Being the Ricardos” (US Rated R)

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda

Genre: Biography, Drama

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Dwight’s Rating:

Great performances abound in “Being the Ricardos”, a biopic about the stars of one of the most famous, most beloved and influential television programs of all time.

The Ricardos – Lucy and Ricky – were the characters real-life married couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz played on “I Love Lucy”, the top-rated sitcom (and often the top-rated program of any kind) throughout the 1950s – garnering on average about four to five times the audience of what the current top-rated television shows capture in today’s severely fragmented audience.

“I Love Lucy” was a big, big deal. And Lucy and Desi were a Hollywood power couple. But in 1952, they faced several personal and professional obstacles that threatened their careers, their relationship, and their hit show.

Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”), who has penned the memorable screenplays for “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, “Moneyball” and “Molly’s Game”, also directs “Being the Ricardos”.

It’s certainly interesting, but the story progresses in an unusual manner: we get the usual flashbacks – you apparently can’t have a biopic without flashbacks! But we also get a pseudo-documentary, with actors playing the based-on-real-people individuals who occasionally come in to explain and move the story along. Occasionally! And we get to a point where after not seeing them for a while, you’re like, “What the … oh yes, those people!”, when they appear again out of nowhere.

Never mind all that! It’s the performances that are the big draw here.

Nicole Kidman wouldn’t be the first name that comes to mind as someone to play the legendary Lucille Ball. But the Oscar winner is, as always, spectacular, in a multilayered performance, demonstrating a full gamut of emotion.

Oscar winner Javier Bardem embodies Desi Arnaz, and it feels like we’re watching William Frawley (aka Fred Mertz) every single time Oscar winner J.K. Simmons opens his mouth. And Tony winner Nina Arianda successfully delivers a side of Vivian Vance (aka Ethel Mertz) few probably knew existed.

One gets the sense that “Being the Ricardos” will be more special to those who are “I Love Lucy” fans, or big television history buffs. Hopefully the star power here – of the actors, and of Sorkin – will be enough to draw others in to what is overall an enjoyable picture.

“Don’t Look Up” (US Rated R)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mark Rylance, Meryl Streep

Genre: Comedy

Where to watch: Netflix

Dwight’s Rating:

Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

“Don’t Look Up” is dumb!

And impressively brilliant!

Do you remember how when the COVID pandemic hit, people were mentioning the names of movies released years ago that seemed to have accurately predicted what we were seeing back then at the start of 2020?

Well, this is likely going to be one of those films in the not-too-distant future – sadly. And its true awesomeness probably won’t be appreciated for some time to come.

Now, plenty people are not going to like “Don’t Look Up”. This is extreme satire. And it steps on a lot of toes. Plus, a comedy about the end of the world won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, especially when almost every character is a buffoon.

It’s about two low-level astronomers who go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy Earth.

But this could very well be about COVID. Or climate change. Or a potential nuclear conflict. Or any dreaded end of world calamity – man-made or otherwise.

The silly responses from the media; the brainless celebrities; the outlandish reactions from the members of the public – on the surface, it all seems outrageous, but deep down you know this movie is a reflection of our present realities.

All of these idiotic characters are recognizable as some well-known personalities, or at least an amalgamation of several globally famous individuals.

Playing those characters are some of the crème de la crème of Hollywood. Screenwriter and Director Adam McKay (“The Big Short” and “Anchorman”) has assembled the most impressive cast in years. It’s overflowing with Oscar winners – Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mark Rylance, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep – and big box office draws – Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Rob Morgan, Ron Perlman and a cameo by Chris Evans. Plus, music stars Ariana Grande and Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi. And many more.

To see Blanchett and Streep being goofy is always a delight, and should alone makes this worth seeing.

But if you’ve already lost hope in humanity, and want to be assured that things on this planet couldn’t get any crazier than they are right now, then “Don’t Look Up” is just the film for you.

If not, then you’ll think it’s just dumb!

• Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of “Morning Blend” on Guardian Radio and station manager. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter.

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Jim Lawlor’s book takes the reader on a journey from Africa to The Bahamas

It took more than 35 years, but Jim Lawlor has finally published his book “From Africa to The Bahamas” – a book that he says will assist people with identifying with their ancestors – something he says that was high priority to the African culture. It is his hope that people enjoy reading the book and understand the importance of history and the growth of Afro-Bahamian culture and that history is more than a national history, but a trans-national history with people migrating to and from other countries.

“From Africa to The Bahamas” which he began writing at the onset of COVID-19, covers the growth of civilization in the waxing and waning empires of West Africa. There is a deeper focus on the Akan/Ashanti, Congo, Ebo and Yoruba peoples who were the most populous and influential in Bahamian culture. It also covers the growth of Black and colored people – both slaves and free. The trials of the Nassau Vice Admiralty Court; the trials of Mixed Commission Courts in Sierra Leone and Cuba; the creation of African villages; and Afro-Bahamian culture described by travelers, local official and oral historians.

Lawlor finished penning the recently released “From Africa to The Bahamas” at Easter 2021. His says his initial feeling was one of relief, followed by joy and pride at his accomplishment. That was followed by patience for the editing and laying out stage which culminated in a first run of 200 copies that he now has available for sale.

Lawlor who says he has been curious all of his life, says almost 40 years of research has made its way into his book.

“I feel that I have to get the information out into the public,” said the author who is also the corresponding secretary of The Bahamas Historical Society tasked with answering queries to people researching history or genealogy.

The cover of Jim Lawlor’s book “From Africa to The Bahamas” – a book 35 years in the making, which he started writing at the onset of COVID-19 and recently released.

“And my area of study in my BA in combined arts, perspectives on human nature steered me toward understanding people and their needs. The fate of the 849 Africans lay deep in my thoughts for so many years.”

In his research, Lawlor says what he found most fascinating was that a young, Liberated African girl of the Mongola tribe named Myga, married her master and had a child, Mary. And that Stephen Dillet, the first colored man in The Bahamas House of Assembly had a child with Mary called Helen Louise Dillet.

“She married James Johnson, who became the head waiter at the newly built Royal Victoria Hotel (1861). Their son, born in Jacksonville, was James Weldon Johnson [who] became a teacher, studied to be a lawyer and through his musical compositions became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. To celebrate Lincoln’s birthday in 1900, he wrote what became known as the Negro Anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’ He was appointed American Consul to Venezuela, followed by Nicaragua. He was close friends with W. E. B. duBois, who persuaded him to become secretary to the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). He then traveled widely giving lectures on African history and culture.”

Thirteen months before Lawlor came to The Bahamas on December 27, 1958, he had lived in Zambia for two years. That time he said gave him insight into African culture through coaching and running alongside the athletes.

In 1982, he says his father-in-law, Paul Albury, sent him to the Department of Archives to research and write the religion chapter of “The Harbour Island Story” that he planned to pen. Albury died before the research was complete. But Lawlor says he enjoyed the experience and their conversations. The history he learned and his father-in-law’s enthusiasm, he says, were infectious.

“Although I found some information on the slave population, I had no inkling I would write [‘From Africa to The Bahamas’]. However, I was so keen to be of more help that I started researching from the 1660s at the Department of Archives whenever possible. Time was limited as I was preparing, teaching and marking at high school and evenings at The College of The Bahamas [now University of The Bahamas] and coaching track and soccer.”

Lawlor’s wife, Anne, wanted to present a linguistics paper at the Society of Caribbean Linguists’ 1985 conference to be held at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. She asked him to research the demographics of the people of African descent while she researched the theories of language. Their goal was to find the number and languages of Africans and Creoles in The Bahamas.

Lawlor typed up the 849 names and tribes/nations of Liberated Africans from the first six African slave ships tried in the Nassau Vice Admiralty Court and that were apprenticed here. He says for many years he puzzled how to release this important information.

“When I wrote the 70 articles on ‘The History of Religion in The Bahamas’ and being a very curious person, I researched a yet unpublished paper on the African elements which were incorporated into the Native Baptist denomination. My research has taken me to archives in Britain, America, Canada, Bermuda and, of course, the Bahamas Department of Archives and I always noted the Afro-Bahamian information as I researched for Arthur Hailey on Lyford Cay and Sir Orville Turnquest on the Duke of Windsor.”

Lawlor and his wife researched and wrote the chapter From Slavery to Freedom for “The Harbour Island Story”. He was a research assistant for his daughter, Dr. Lisa Lawlor Feller, for her doctorate dissertation “Crossing Frameworks through The Bahamas in the Age of Abolition: Re-mapping the Nassau Archive 1783-1834”. He is researching to assist her as she is now using and expanding that material to highlight the importance of The Bahamas as a maritime highway in the Atlantic World.

Other books by Lawlor are: The Paradise Island Story, Paul Albury updated by Anne and Jim Lawlor, MacMillan Education, 2004. The Harbour Island Story, Anne and Jim Lawlor, MacMillan Education, 2008. The History of The Bahamas in Pictures, Jim Lawlor, Media Publishing, 2012.

And Paul Albury: A Man and His Writings, Jim Lawlor, Media Publishing, 2013.

“From Africa to The Bahamas” is available for $30 from Jim Lawlor at 325-3157 or jim.lawlor1939@gmail.com; or Dr. Lisa J Lawlor Feller at lisajlfeller@gmail.com; or wholesale at Media Enterprises at 325-8210.

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Govt to announce new strategy to improve real property tax collection

With the first of its planned tax reforms underway – the reduction of VAT from 12 to ten percent – Financial Secretary Simon Wilson said the Ministry of Finance has now turned its focus toward changes to the real property tax.

Wilson said the government will announce a new strategy during next month’s mid-year budget presentation on how it intends to improve collections.

“The tax system we have now is a very narrow-based system and so the tax reforms that we envision are to broaden the base and lower the overall rates for Bahamians,” Wilson said during yesterday’s Office of The Prime Minister weekly press briefing.

“Right now we tax a few at a high level and the idea is we will broaden the base. One of the areas we are looking at very closely is property tax, in terms of how to broaden the base and lower the rate so that our yield goes up.”

Property tax represents less than ten percent of government revenues and real property tax arrears were in excess of $600 million at last report.

Wilson said for now, the government will assess revenue performance under a reduced value-added tax (VAT) model, noting that it could perform better than the projected neutral forecast.

“Based on the estimates the prime minister presented in the supplementary budget, the reduction is going to be at a minimum neutral and positive. During the annual budget exercise, we’ll have four months of data and we will present that in terms of what is the increase overall in terms of the reduction,” he said.

With revenue performance higher than projected, Wilson added that from the Ministry of Finance’s perspective, “We are very satisfied. If we look at our revenue performance against forecast, we are $160 million above revenue performance. The Revenue Enhancement Unit is actually being formed and is working. We have engaged our revenue advisors, we are very excited by what we see in terms of the potential for revenue yield. On the expenditure side, the overhang in terms of liabilities and so forth has been reduced, it is not reduced to a bare minimum but considerably from when I came back into the office. So from that perspective I see green shoots in terms of the strategy.”

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Wilson: Debt to be tackled once independent debt advisor appointed

Despite improved revenue performance in the past several months, the Davis administration still has a growing debt to tackle, which Financial Secretary Simon Wilson said will be addressed once an independent debt advisor has been sourced.

The country’s debt as of the first quarter of the 2021/2022 fiscal year is $10.08 billion, or 98 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis has announced the creation of a Debt Advisory Committee, which he said would be comprised of experts from domestic and international financial institutions and chaired by former Minister of State for Finance and Central Bank Governor James Smith.

Wilson said the government is ensuring “all the pieces are in place” before strategizing begins.

“The Debt Advisory Committee has been appointed. A part of the committee’s work is we are seeking to conclude the appointment of a debt advisor, an independent firm that will advise the committee and the government on the overall debt strategy,” he said.

“So the committee is a functional committee, it’s not just a talk shop, so we want to make sure all the pieces are in place and one of the key pieces that we felt was important for a debt advisory committee was to have a specialized firm to advise the committee and the government in terms of how we manage this debt situation that we are in.”

The national debt ballooned over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, after historic borrowing by the Minnis administration.

Davis has said that one of the first and most urgent issues for the debt advisory committee is to assist The Bahamas in tapping into greater levels of domestic and green financing.

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Prominent counsel calls on govt to pay long-overdue, court-ordered payments

Prominent senior counsel and former President of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation Tanya Wright is calling on the government to settle payments that have been ordered by the courts, urging the present government to break the system of non-payment that has ballooned into millions of dollars.

Wright said in a statement that she applauds Attorney General Ryan Pinder for contending that judgements against the government must be paid, but she questioned where the money will come from to satisfy the arrears.

“If there is a problem, there is a solution,” Wright said. “It shouldn’t take the government years and years to settle a judgment against it when the very judgment was awarded because of inexcusable delay in the first place.

“The speedy justice pledge falls short when judgment payouts take years.”

Wright said given that governments are  `continuous, there is no point in placing blame, but what matters most is who will correct the problem.

She added that while the current administration says it has pledged millions in funding to cover the judgements, she remains “cynical” about the promise.

“As we enter the first quarter of 2022, where is the money for these judgments? There are judgments for damages which were awarded against the government for its failure and breach of a citizen’s constitutional rights by causing unreasonable delays in the delivery of justice. Article 20 of the constitution guarantees you a right to a fair trial and a trial within a reasonable time. A still broken criminal justice system continues to result in protracted delays in matters being prosecuted, delaying in some cases vindication to the accused and the opportunity to get back to some semblance of the life you had before becoming a part of the system,” Wright said.

“When you are compensated for this delay, a part of the damages is exemplary damage, to provide some incentive to the state to provide a criminal justice system where trials are heard in a timely manner. But what is the point of all of this emphasis on speed in the delivery of justice, when there is no incentive to pay judgments in a timely manner and no consequences for their failure to do so?”

Wright questioned whether the government’s failure to settle judgements is comparable to “a system thumbing its nose at the judiciary and also to the constitution”.

“To know that a debt had been ordered to be paid by the court and to have the means and deliberately, willfully and contumeliously fail to make provision to pay would be circumstances for which, if done by an ordinary citizen, would expose him to penalty for contempt of court,” she said.

“I am grateful that this attorney general is committed to purging the government’s existing contempt of court in settling its outstanding judgment debts. As an officer of the court, there may be ways that working with the attorney general can help to bring about reform in a meaningful way. However, much of the heavy lifting has to be done internally.”

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Eight-year Old Fort Bay Club court battle comes to an end

An eight-year-old court case centered on whether certain common areas within the Old Fort Bay Club are owned by the club’s Property Owners’ Association (POA) or the developer of the subdivision Old Fort Bay Company Limited, has been settled by Justice Indra Charles, who found that “neither party was wholly successful”. 

The judge did rule in the case of Pineapple Grove, Pineapple House, the marina and the Old Fort Bay Club – which the POA claims are common areas – that those areas remain the properties of the developer.

The POA argued that the developer should not have been allowed to sell part of a plot of land that was identified as a “beach reserve” and therefore was considered a common area.

The judge agreed with the POA’s assertion and ruled in its favor.

“The identified beach reserve is a ‘common area’ within the OFB (Old Fort Bay) Subdivision and ought not to be sold,” the ruling states.

“The POA is entitled to damages for the sale of a portion of the identified beach reserve. Such damages are to be calculated by counsel.”

With regard to the issue of Old Fort Bay’s marina and the developer’s plans for further construction of dockage, Justice Charles ruled that homeowners who would be affected by the construction would have to be consulted before and an environmental assessment report done, before work can begin on the marina.

The judge also requested that a site visit to Old Fort Bay’s marina be arranged by all counsel and if possible visits to the marinas at Lyford Cay Club and Albany.

The POA along with Old Fort Bay property owners Matthew Hudson and Zsuzsanna Foti were represented by Krystal Rolle QC, while Old Fort Bay Company Limited and New Providence Development Company Limited were represented by Gail Lockhart-Charles QC.

Justice Charles began her conclusion contending that the case “occupied a lot of the court’s time, which could have been avoided if good sense had prevailed”.

“I do hope that these parties will put their differences aside and hold no one to ransom in what, for the most part, appears to be very straightforward but lengthy issues,” said Charles.

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More doctors, nurses are being added to health system, Watson says

Additional doctors, nurses, and infrastructure are being added to the public healthcare system to help combat the rise in COVID cases and hospitalizations, Press Secretary Clint Watson said yesterday. 

“We have opened four tents at the Princess Margaret Hospital,” Watson said.

“We are building capacity not only in infrastructure but also in manpower. We’ve asked the Department of Public Health to lend us nurses to ease the burden felt because of those medical professionals in quarantine.

“We’ve had success with that as well. We’ve also reached out to 12 Bahamian doctors who will be engaged to support the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital. Fifty nurses are expected from Cuba by next week to assist in the fight.”

Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville said 130 health workers are out because of COVID and Dr. Charles Diggiss, CEO of Doctor’s Hospital, said 120 staff were out.

Watson said the government is finding resources to operate healthcare facilities “so that we don’t have a situation where we have people and no beds for them to go in or nobody to attend to them”.

“That is happening right now and the Ministry of Health is leading out front in ensuring that takes place,” Watson said.

“Futuristically, there are partnerships that are being discussed. They are in discussions now by the minister and some of his advisors.”

Watson said the government is negotiating with its private sector partners to build capacity at healthcare institutions across the country.

He said Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Darville will meet with the doctors’ union to address its concerns and its remuneration packages “to get money to them”.

He said the government was recently in negotiations with the Bahamas Nurses Union about money owed to nurses.

“We’re happy to report that they will be paid this week,” Watson said.

“Some of them may have already gotten money in their accounts. Others will be getting it this week. The nurses will get that lump sum and that no doubt is an added incentive for them to be on the front line during this tightened period for the nurses.” 

COVID cases and hospitalizations have seen a dramatic jump recently. 

At last count, 27,122 COVID cases were reported since March 2020. 

As of Tuesday, there were 4,222 active COVID cases.

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Final adjournment in conspiracy case

A magistrate yesterday gave the prosecution a final chance to determine whether it will proceed with a conspiracy case against a man serving time for a smash-and-grab robbery at John Bull’s Rolex boutique.

Antoin Harvey on February 25, 2020, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for robbing the store of Rolex watches valued at $541,850.

Prosecutors said Harvey was one of the men who entered the store on Paradise Island on February 15 near closing time and smashed the showcases before helping themselves to 14 watches.

Harvey pleaded guilty to stealing from a shop and causing damage to the display cases. However, a charge of conspiracy to commit stealing from a shop remains outstanding.

At the time, ASP Barrington Miller said he would decide whether he would withdraw that charge on May 13.

At yesterday’s status hearing, Inspector Samantha Miah said she had not been apprised of the matter and did not have the file.

Nonetheless, Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt said the issue had been outstanding for too long.

As a result, she adjourned the matter to January 24. She said if the prosecution did not make a decision on the matter she would make one for them.

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The spiritual foundation of Majority Rule Day and the Haitian Revolution

Dear Editor,

Amid the surging COVID-19 numbers on New Providence, The Bahamas is gearing up to commemorate Majority Rule Day on January 10.

Recently, the media reported that three groups of Haitian migrants were apprehended by law enforcement officers in Exuma, Anguilla Cay and Eleuthera.

Six months removed from the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti remains a bloody mess.

On New Year’s Day, interim Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry had to flee Gonaives during a service at Cathedrale Saint-Charles-Boromée, which was held to commemorate the 218 anniversary of Haiti’s independence from France. Haitian rebels had opened fire on the Haitian leader and his entourage.

Henry was appointed to his post approximately two weeks after Moïse’s death.

According to The Borgen Project, nearly 25 percent of Haitians live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.25 per day.  And nearly 60 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 per day.

To understand the wealth disparity in Haiti, the top 20 percent of Haitian households hold 64 percent of the total wealth, according to The Borgen Project.

The Bible says in Psalm 33:12 that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Haiti’s centuries-old economic, social and political malaise is due to the sinister, malevolent foundation its spiritual forebears laid.

Three of the most important Haitians of the revolution era were Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Dutty Boukman.

It was Boukman, a voodoo priest captured in Senegambia, Africa, and transported to the Caribbean by European slaveholders, who presided over a voodoo ceremony at Bois Caïman in August 1791. 

Boukman was also a catalyst in organizing the slave revolt, which would mushroom into a full-scale war between the French, the Haitian Mulattos and the Black slave population.

During the voodoo ceremony, Boukman and the other participants drank blood from an animal that was sacrificed. Within months of the rebellion, Boukman was captured and executed by the French in November 1791.

On January 1, 1804, Dessalines declared Saint Domingue an independent state, changing its name to the Arawak Haiti. Haiti is the first Black republic in the Western Hemisphere.

Dessalines would later take on the title Emperor Jacques I. In 1806, his life would come to a violent end during a mulatto revolt.

The Bois Caïman voodoo ceremony is the main reason American evangelical Pat Robertson once alleged that Haiti’s ongoing crises is due to it being dedicated to Satan.

Sir Lynden O. Pindling and the first Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government took the opposite approach from their Haitian counterparts – albeit separated by nearly 180 years.

The Bahamas was built on the Judeo-Christian tradition. Christianity is referenced in the preamble of the Bahamian Constitution. The PLP would partner with the Rev. Harcourt W. Brown and the Baptist community in the fight against the stranglehold of the White minority government. Not having any oil at commercial quantity or gold, diamond and other mineral mines, The Bahamas’ unprecedented prosperity is nothing short of miraculous.

In the lead-up to the January 10, 1967 general election, one Euthal Rodgers of Deep Cay, Andros, viewed that election as spiritually paralleling the Passover in the Old Testament.

As the 1967 election would be held on the 10th day of the first month, so was the Passover held on the 10th day of the first month (Abib) of the Hebrew sacred calendar.

The general election victory would usher in majority rule and freedom from the Bay Street oligarchs.

To Rodgers and other religious Black Bahamians, the United Bahamian Party administration and its European ancestors were likened to Pharoah and the Egyptians who oppressed the Hebrews for 400 years.

Sir Lynden, according to them, was our Bahamian Moses. And Majority Rule Day was our Exodus and Passover.

In fact, according to historian Michael Craton, the PLP would use the theme song of the film Exodus for its election campaign.

Credit must be given to Sir Lynden and the first PLP administration for steering The Bahamas towards the Judeo-Christian tradition, instead of the African superstitious religions of our ancestors.

The Bahamas would’ve never achieved the success it has enjoyed had the leaders of the quiet revolution followed the example of Boukman and the other Bois Caïman voodoo participants.

– Kevin Evans

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NACAC set for exciting 2022

As we embark on a new season, let’s review a successful 2021 for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC).

The election of Jamaica’s sprint star Elaine Thompson-Herah as the AIPS (International Sports Press Association) Best Female Athlete of 2021 and World Female Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2021 capped a magnificent year for the sport of athletics in the region. Thompson-Herah retained her Olympic 100 and 200 meters (m) titles in Tokyo, Japan, and added a third gold medal in the 4x100m relay. She also ran world-leading times of 10.54 and 21.53 seconds over 100 and 200m respectively, moving to second on the world all-time list for each discipline.

Thompson-Herah paved the way for 12 other individual champions from the NACAC area at Tokyo 2020 Olympics held in 2021. Among the 12 were USA’s Sydney McLaughlin and Ryan Crouser, who smashed the world record in their respective events.

McLaughlin, 22, ran a mind-blowing 51.46 seconds in the 400m hurdles final in Tokyo, in repeat of another epic battle between her and her countrywoman and former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad, who finished a close second in 51.58, well inside the previous world record of 51.90 set by McLaughlin at the US Olympic Trials a few months earlier.

Crouser, who erased the 21-year-old world record in the men’s shot put with 23.37m (76’ 8”) effort at the US Olympic Trials in June, capped off his best season ever with the Olympic gold. With all six tosses over 22.50m (73’ 9-1/4”), he sealed the Olympic title with a toss of 23.30m (76’ 5-1/4”).

Another superlative performance came in the decathlon. Canada’s Damian Warner became the fourth man in history to break the 9,000-point barrier en route to the Olympic gold. His effort earned him the Best Sportsperson of the Year title in his country.

Four events signaled the NACAC prowess at Tokyo 2020. Thompson-Herah led a Jamaican sweep in the women’s 100m, joined by two-time Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

In the women’s 400m, The Bahamas’ gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo was flanked by the Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino and the USA’s Allyson Felix on the podium. Felix capped a five-games Olympic campaign with 11 medals, including the individual bronze and 4x400m relay gold. Seven of the eight finalists in the women’s 400m were from the NACAC area.

Three other women completed a medal sweep for NACAC – this feat was achieved in the women’s 100m hurdles. The athletes were Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, her country’s first Olympic gold medallist in athletics, USA’s world record holder Kendra Harrison, and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper.

The male sprint hurdles also delivered a medal sweep to the NACAC area. Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment (13.04), USA’s World Champion Grant Holloway (13.09), and another Jamaican, Ronald Levy (13.10), finished one-two-three.

NACAC’s other individual Olympic Champions were Canada’s Andre De Grasse in the 200m, taking his Olympic medal tally to six; The Bahamas’ Steven Gardiner in the 400m; and the USA’s Valarie Allman in the women’s discus.

Jamaica’s Briana Williams, Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson ran 41.02 seconds, the second-fastest time ever, for gold in the 4x100m relay.

Athing Mu, just 19, had an amazing 800m performance which earned her the Olympic gold medal in an American record and world leading time of 1:55.21. She was fittingly rewarded with the World Athletics Female Rising Star Award. The teenager improved her record to 1:55.04 weeks later and set the World U20 indoor record of 1:58.40.

The USA’s McLaughlin, Felix, Muhammad and Mu combined their efforts to take the 4x400m gold in 3:16.85, the sixth-fastest time in history and the quickest in 28 years.

Only a world record by Norway’s Karsten Warholm (45.94), winner of the Male Athlete of the Year at the World Athletics Awards 2021, deprived the USA’s Rai Benjamin of the Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles. Benjamin ran 46.17 seconds, the second-fastest time ever in the event.

Fourth at the Olympics, Erriyon Knighton broke Usain Bolt’s World U20 200m record with a 19.84 clocking at the Olympic Trials. The 17-year-old American was rewarded with the Male Rising Star Award by World Athletics.

NACAC received other World Athletics awards: the Member Federation Award to Costa Rica, host to the NACAC U18 and U23 Championships; and the Coaching Achievement Award to the USA’s Bobby Kersee. Under Kersee’s guidance, Felix became the most decorated female track and field Olympian in history, while training partner McLaughlin twice broke the 400m hurdles world record and claimed Olympic gold in the discipline.

NACAC’s Competitions Director, former General Secretary and longstanding technical official Michael Serralta received the World Athletics Veteran Pin, and NBC’s Peter Diamond was honored with the President’s Award.

The 2022 season will have a special feature as the World Athletics Championships will be held, for the first time in history, in the United States. Eugene, Oregon will welcome the planet’s best athletes for the July 15-24 meet.

After a two-year hiatus, the CARIFTA Games are scheduled for Kingston, Jamaica, from April 16-18.

For the English-speaking Caribbean nations and Canada, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, between August 2 and 7, will also be a major feature.

The World Athletics Continental Tour 2022 will have multiple stops in the NACAC area as the organization is introducing its own NACAC circuit under the leadership of the NACAC Circuit Working Group. A total of six US cities will be part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour.

For the full NACAC calendar, interested persons are asked to please visit the website https://ift.tt/3FXlmH4.

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Cooper hopeful impact of CDC travel advisory minimal

Despite the recent revision of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisory on The Bahamas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Aviation and Investments Chester Cooper said yesterday that he remains satisfied that current mitigation protocols create the right balance to protect the country’s residents and guests.

The CDC on Tuesday changed its advisory on The Bahamas from a Level 2 to a Level 3 destination following an uptick in COVID-19.

Level 3 means there are high occurrences of COVID-19 and travelers should be fully vaccinated before visiting the destination. Those who are not should avoid non-essential travel to the destination.

Cooper said The Bahamas has a very resilient product and the government is hopeful that the impact of the advisory will be minimal.

“The past several months have shown a rapid and robust rebound of tourism, well ahead of our regional partners. Our proximity to the USA, the pent-up demand for travel and the attractiveness of our product should continue to bode well for us,” he told Guardian Business.

“We have an exceptional team of tourism professionals around the world who will continue to monitor reactions in our major markets. We are satisfied that our protocols arrived at in collaboration with our health officials create the right balance between protecting the health and safety of our residents and guests, as well as supporting our tourism industry and economy for the benefit of the Bahamian people.”

The Bahamas is currently in the midst of a fourth wave of COVID-19, brought on by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, having recorded more than 2,000 new cases in the past week alone.

The government has not announced any new restrictions as a result of the spike in COVID-19 cases, however the Ministry of Tourism this week also scrapped recently announced RT-PCR testing requirements for entry into the country that were supposed to come into effect on January 7.

“Vaccinated persons, as well as children ages 2-11, may continue to present either a negative rapid antigen test or negative RT-PCR test,” the ministry said in the statement.

“In addition, effective January 4, 2022, all persons remaining in The Bahamas for longer than 48 hours will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test, regardless of vaccination status.”

For now, the Ministry of Tourism said because of the ever-changing nature of the pandemic, decisions on entry requirements to each island in The Bahamas will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“Due to the fluidity of COVID-19, the government of The Bahamas will continue to monitor islands individually and enact protective measures to address specific cases or spikes accordingly,” the ministry stated.

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Evans: Trade unions monitoring COVID spread, remote work a last resort

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate, President of the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB) Bernard Evans said the umbrella union is closely monitoring the trend, cautioning that the workforce may have to work from home again where possible.

Evans said, however, that given the improvements in the economy in the past several months, it should be a last resort.

He said at this stage, the unions are in constant dialogue to determine the best way forward.

“What has been happening is we have been asked by our worker representatives ‘what should we do, we notice these trends are heightening, what is our next step?’ We haven’t done anything yet, but by Friday we hope to have more concrete direction of where we are headed as far as the workplace experience is,” Evans told Guardian Business.

Luckily, Evans said, the Omicron strain, which health officials suspect is behind this fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, is not as vicious as the 

previous strains. He said for the time being it is imperative for workers to take personal responsibility and make self-perseverance a priority to protect themselves and their families.

“We recently signed this MOU with government and we’re so happy about that too and I must say that since then, we do have an improved dialogue with the government in respect to these issues. We noticed a notice came out through NIB about the closure of some of their offices and again it looks like we’re going to have to take a roll back at having to work from home again when we can. We understand the economy has seemingly started to come to some kind of normalcy.” Evans said.

“We will continue to monitor. If it becomes an alarming rate as is trending, then we will increase our dialogue with government to ensure certain protocols are in place. In the meantime, we are still asking all workers, all non-workers and the Bahamian public at large to continue to honor the protocols, wash hands, wear your mask, keep your distance when you can and avoid large crowds, particularly our customer facing workers and those who have to interact with the customers. Please do a double take on your protection. Self-preservation is the best, so look out for yourself and your family.”

Daily new cases are being reported in the hundreds by health officials, with more than 2,000 cases reported in the past week alone.

The government has said it will not impose any lockdown orders, which occurred under the previous Minnis administration.

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What about the tithes?

Dear Editor,

With churches being told that as a part of the COVID-19 protocols, a maximum of 25 percent of the sanctuary should be available for regular service, they have opened bank accounts to assist members in keeping up with their seeding.

However, some believe that during this time, with a sluggish economy and so many people not working, tithing should not be a priority.

Nevertheless, it is in times such as these when our faith is being tested that we need to tithe.

When we tithe we place God as our number one priority. Instead of worrying about not having enough, we trust in his abundance.

Tithing is a primary expression of the Christian discipline of stewardship.

In good times, it helps you remember that God is the source of all blessings.

The buzz on the wire is that some preachers are self-serving and should not be asking for donations during this time.

Unfortunately like in any profession, there are unscrupulous people. The pulpit is no different.

We have been forewarned: “For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” — Mathews 24:24.

But they are in the minority, and we should not let them discourage us from being obedient and maintaining our convictions.

The church cannot function without tithes and donations.

Tithes pay the pastors the maintenance bills and give to the poor and needy.

Besides being a counselor the pastors are both mother and father of their flock.

I know many churches that pay the rent, put food on the table, and clothe many members. But because they’re not seeking to win any popularity contest they don’t publicize everything they are doing.

As for the priests who are using their collar in dubious ways to get over, don’t worry about them; they will get their comeuppance in due time.

Coronavirus, especially the latest delta and omicron variants, is beating all of us. And if the church is to help lessen the weight of our burden, your tithes and donations are needed.

If we think things are tough now, imagine how bad it would be if the churches could no longer help the poor folks as they have been doing.

I remember many years ago if not for the powder milk and yellow cheese from the Catholic Church on Fridays many of us would go to bed hungry.

This world upheaval caused by the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic has many people reaching for their bibles, some wondering if it’s the end of the world.

While doing so, it would be a good idea to read up on the power of tithing.

During a recent debate on churches and tithes, a friend of mine reminded me that we are facing the worst crisis we have ever encountered and here we are squabbling over 10 percent.

It is not something we should be doing at this time.

He said, “We are struggling but, remember, countries worldwide are faring worse than us”.

While tithing might be a challenge at this time, we should do our best, and if they are the problem, forget the pastors. Do it for the widows and orphans.

Drop the envelope in the basket, get vaccinated, and have a safe weekend.

God bless The Bahamas

— Anthony Pratt

Victoria Boulevard

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Open our schools

Dear Editor,

We, the parents and the children, are writing to you today with a request to open our schools. We believe that while everyone has been trying their best to overcome these challenging times, it is a time that you directly hear from us — the students, the parents, the teachers, the principals, the guardians the main stakeholders of the education system.

We want to start off by saying thank you, to all the educators, essential workers and officials who have worked hard to adapt to the online world and to the parents who continue to support their children’s education.

However, the last two years have been extremely challenging for all the students across the country.

“In the first few months of lockdown, there was only one smart phone in the house which my father needed for his work. Later on, my parents decided to invest money to get me a smart phone so I don’t miss out on my studies. But I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I need the schools to re-open so my friends can learn too. These are the students who are really interested in studying and want to learn but can’t. They’re going to find it really difficult to catch up when school reopens.” Dana, grade 5, Bahamas.

Schools are so much more than just about learning; they’re about social interaction as well. And now thanks to having schools shut down, this interaction is really not possible.

There are thousands of children around The Bahamas who haven’t even attended a day of school in the last two years, online or physical, during this pandemic. It’s been nearly two years and counting of this lockdown and no school for children, which is more than enough time for children to forget what they’ve learned.

Enough is enough! The hotels, OPEN! The restaurants, OPEN! The gyms, OPEN! The cinemas, OPEN! The malls, OPEN! Casinos, OPEN! Gambling establishments, OPEN! Why are the schools CLOSED?

Online learning, while an effective temporary solution, is not a substitute for what classrooms have to offer. It has long-term impacts on your younger children due to socialized isolation.

A study showed that parents of one third of primary students have reported poor mental health and socio emotional health since May 2020. There’s also been an immense learning loss with an estimate that a grade 3 student who lost a year’s worth of learning might not be able to catch up by 2030.

With online learning, new challenges have only increased. With the pandemic, it is the perfect opportunity for us to reinvent schools across the country.

We believe in the 21st Century, it is necessary for us to build social emotional skills, and to learn to be change-makers. The world we’re heading towards is going to be unpredictable and to thrive in it, we need more than just our current education system has to offer.

We know that you’re worried about our children’s health, but experts have provided detailed guidelines on how to reduce the risk of getting infected in schools. To re-open schools, it is important to bring the voices of experts, school staff, parents, community members, and of course, children.

Private schools have been open with virtual and in room learning for the last two years. And the numbers have not spiked in COVID within private schools. Why are all the school shut down again when it has been proven in the last two years the kids are not spreading COVID as quickly as any other counterparts of our community.

We, as concerned individuals will be operating a peaceful demonstration if the schools do not reopen. If the individuals are given the chance to share their voices, we are sure that we are able to work in partnership with our teachers and authorities in helping schools open safely. Ask us what we want, ask us what is working and ask us how we can help. We are your partners in this.

— Laureen Singh

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Financial secretary: Govt could end fiscal year $100M ahead of revenue projections

The government projects that it could end fiscal year 2021/2022 $100 million ahead of budgeted revenue, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson said yesterday, adding that the government recently received an unbudgeted dividend payment from Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) which has revenue tracking $150 million ahead of budget.

Wilson made the remarks during an appearance on radio talk show Morning Blend Business on Guardian Radio 96.9FM, explaining that the Ministry of Finance has put together very conservative revenue projections and thus expects not to fall below those projections in any significant way.

Wilson also explained that the Omicron COVID-19 variant will likely have very little impact on fiscal numbers, barring extenuating circumstances like lockdowns.

“For the six months between January and June, Omicron will have very little impact,” Wilson said.

“We took a very conservative stance in terms of the the fiscal account. That being said, if you look at the data around the Omicron variant in South Africa and the UK, they talk about a surge of cases, then case loads drop dramatically, hospitalizations do not surge and mortality does not increase from the Omicron variant.

“The data is saying maybe the impact will be such that it will not lead to a widespread shutdown of the economy. If it doesn’t we’ll be okay, if it does obviously the game plan would have to change.”

Wilson pointed to the cruise sector, which is once again being hit by COVID-19 cases aboard ships, but said those realities have not changed the behavior of people intent on cruising. He said people seem to be satisfied with safeguards aboard cruise lines and that many, if not all, are vaccinated.

Wilson said one of the biggest impacts to the country’s budget will be natural disasters, but he explained that with hurricane season not a threat until the latter half of the year, the government is confident that it will be in line with projections in the supplementary budget exercise.

He added though that the overhang from arrears could prove a problem on government expenditure, as well as any kind of impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare costs.

“Those things could put immediate pressure on the expenditure budget,” said Wilson.

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Halkitis defends govt’s delayed procurement reporting

Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis yesterday defended the government against accusations launched by Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Michael Pintard that it is not abiding by the reporting requirements of the Public Procurement Act.

Last month, Pintard accused the Davis administration of refusing to publish the details of contracts awarded since coming into office in September.

The law, which was passed in March and went into effect on September 2, requires the publication of contracts within 60 days of approval.

“The law was passed in early 2021, it was implemented on the second of September 2021, conveniently two weeks before the election. We’ll report as necessary, we are complying with the legislation and the reports will be made. But that procurement legislation came into effect two weeks before an election and here you have a former government that was procuring right up to that, with no training, no manuals, no regulations, all of that we have to implement now,” Halkitis told reporters yesterday in response to the opposition’s criticism.

“So, Mr. Pintard should just appreciate that when you do transformative, wide-ranging legislation like that, you have to train the public service to implement it and you have to have regulations and manuals.”

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has pledged to introduce anti-corruption legislation, which Halkitis has said would encompass higher standards for public procurement.

Halkitis has said the act in its current form must be amended.

“We’re looking at those acts. We’ve had a lot of legislation that was pushed through and we have to make sure that legislation makes sense. You need transparency, you need accountability, you need order in government operations but it also needs to make sense so that the government can operate,” he said yesterday.

“So we’re looking at the legislation to make some changes, to make sure we maintain the transparency, but government’s hands are not tied and you’re not crippled in terms of when government needs to procure and do things, especially on an urgent basis. So we’re looking at all of that and whatever changes are made will come before Parliament and will be in the full light.”

The PLP has said it is committed to bringing greater transparency to public financial management, so that it is clear who is receiving government funds and that the government is getting value for money.

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Financial secretary: Patron tax would have created tax compliance issues

The government is set to do away with the controversial patron tax on the gaming sector. Financial Secretary Simon Wilson said it is because the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has found – and the government agrees – that the sector is over-taxed. He said any further taxation of the sector could result in non-compliance from gaming companies.

Wilson said the gaming sector is currently the most “healthy tax sector in the country” and contended that the government would do itself an injustice by imposing further taxes on gaming house owners.

“If you read the IMF report on taxes, what it points out is the gaming sector of The Bahamas is the most healthy tax sector in the country, at rates maybe six to seven times that of any other sector in terms of profits,” said Wilson.

“When you look at that and you realize that if I’m taxing one sector at this level, what it’s going to do is create more problems with compliance for the 

government.

“People will start evading tax by going to elicit gaming or not reporting and so forth. 

“So from a Ministry of Finance perspective, we made the recommendation that perhaps in terms of net impact of this patron tax and we look at the counter factors, it may not be a prudent thing to go ahead with this.”

Wilson explained that the government has never collected a patron tax from the gaming sector, as the sector tied up it implementation in litigation.

The government hoped to implement the tax on patrons’ winnings at five percent on winnings up to $1,000 and 7.5 percent on winnings over $1,000, and hoped to collect $23.1 million in taxes last fiscal year if the tax had succeeded in being implemented at the beginning of 2021.

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Final decision on GBPC rate change application pushed back

A final decision on Grand Bahama Power Company’s (GBPC) application for a rate change has been pushed back two weeks, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) advised yesterday.

The extension to a 45-day consultative period comes following a recent town hall meeting held last month.

In a statement, GBPA noted, “As a part of its due diligence and engagement with key stakeholders, including a virtual town hall meeting and ongoing discussions with GBPC, additional matters and revisions have been tabled which necessitate further deliberation.”

GBPA stated its regulatory committee is extending the review period for 14 days to January 14, when a final decision will be communicated.

GBPA received the power company’s tariff application on September 23 last year and had initially stated it would conduct a review and public consultation before a final decision is made no later than December 1.

The GBPC is seeking a base rate increase ranging from one percent to 7.5 percent for the majority of its 

residential customers and a 7.5 percent to 8.9 increase for those that consume more than 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. Commercial customers would see an across-the board increase of 4.4 percent.

GBPC has stated the increases proposed were based on a cost analysis to meet the company’s growing operating costs following Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to fund infrastructure projects.

There has not been a rate increase for the company since 2015.

Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey has said that the government is against an electricity rate increase, stating that Grand Bahama residents have suffered long enough.

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130 health workers out of the system

Amid reports that the Omicron variant might be milder than others, former Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands yesterday warned against taking the latest deluge in COVID-19 cases lightly, as he noted that it is already having a detrimental impact on healthcare services with more than 100 workers out of the healthcare system.

His comments came after Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville revealed yesterday morning that more than 130 healthcare workers on New Providence and Grand Bahama are currently out of the system due to COVID exposures.

“The response of our system depends on having competent and capable healthcare workers available,” Sands said.

“Some of them have retired. Some of them have resigned. Some have even died.

“When you have 130 healthcare workers unavailable to respond to whatever surge shows up at the emergency rooms and at the clinics, it means that you don’t have the same capacity that you did a month ago, six months ago. And you are trying to fight COVID with one hand tied behind your back, jumping on one leg.

“So, we have to adjust accordingly. This is not a good position to be in.”

Sands, who is currently in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, said he is one of just several top surgeons currently in isolation.

“If you happen to get shot today, you’ve got a problem because you have several senior surgeons out,” he said.

“Today is not the day to get shot. That’s how real this is.”

Yesterday’s Ministry of Health COVID dashboard showed an uptick in hospitalization from 43 on January 2 to 58 on January 3, with three of those patients receiving treatment in Doctors Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Sands also noted that it is dangerous to assume that the uptick in cases is being driven by Omicron alone, and said the Delta variant, which might cause more severe illness, could also be contributing to the high case numbers. 

The Delta variant largely drove the third wave of COVID in The Bahamas, which was the deadliest so far.

Hundreds of Bahamians lost their lives as hospitals struggled to stay afloat under the pressure of the surge of severe cases.

Sands said it’s still too early to know whether or not the country could face that scenario again sometime soon.

“The statement that caseloads are high but hospitalizations are low, you don’t know that, because there is typically a lag between cases and hospitalizations and hospitalizations and deaths,” he said.

“So, let us hope and pray that this is entirely a surge of Omicron. And again, the assumption that all of these cases are Omicron is an assumption that we have no factual information to make that determination.

“Some of these cases could be Delta. Some could be Omicron. But only time will tell.”

The Bahamas has confirmed record numbers of new COVID cases in the past two weeks. Nearly 2,000 cases were confirmed in the last week, with 520 recorded on December 30 alone.

“I think all of us are frightened at the startling numbers that we see,” Sands said of the situation yesterday.

“And you can imagine, 500 plus cases confirmed in a day and understanding that is not the absolute total number of cases.

“Very few of us know anybody who hasn’t been impacted by this. And so, it’s a frightening time for many Bahamians.”

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Govt hopes to bring on more healthcare staff as COVID fuels staff shortages

More than 130 healthcare workers in New Providence and Grand Bahama are out of the public healthcare system, Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville said yesterday, adding that the government is seeking to bring 50 additional nurses from abroad to assist as it tries to get a handle on the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As it stands, there is a little over 100 healthcare professionals out in New Providence and there [are] about 30 to my last count in Grand Bahama at the Rand Memorial Hospital,” Darville said.

“We are working across the board to bring individuals out, our healthcare professionals in public health to ensure that our core hospitals are functioning and functioning adequately; and if there is an additional surge, we will be able to cope.”

Darville said the government is also planning to bring additional doctors on to assist.

The Bahamas, like many other countries, is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

More than 1,500 cases were recorded between December 30 and January 2. On Thursday alone, 520 were recorded – a new single-day record that replaced the one set only days before.

Another 315 cases were recorded on January 3.

From December 30 to January 3, hospitalizations increased from 26 to 58.

As of yesterday, there were 55 patients at Princess Margaret Hospital alone who were COVID positive, according to Darville.

On January 2, the Ministry of Health reported that 31 people were hospitalized at the hospital with the virus. On January 3, they reported that there were 41 people.

“It’s difficult to differentiate those who may be COVID positive with symptoms from COVID or whether or not they are COVID positive with other complications in hospital,” Darville said.

“It’s a cross-section and we’re trying to get the exact number.”

He described the fourth wave, which started last month, as “a challenge”.

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Bastian: Gaming winnings tax never made sense

Following the announcement that the government will repeal the patron tax on gaming winnings, Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian said yesterday that the tax “never made sense to begin with”.

“It would have driven players back to the unregulated market while reducing the regulated tax revenue,” Bastian said when reached for comment.

“I think the current government’s decision is based on them taking the opportunity to look at the studies and the unintended consequences winning taxes can have.

“I suspect in the end the previous administration realized it was not a tax that yielded much revenue benefit but never sought to correct it.”

Bastian said this highlights the importance of government and stakeholder consultation prior to major changes in an industry, not just gaming.

He said he remains optimistic that gaming operators can expect proper dialogue and due process from the government if any 

future gaming matters arise. 

Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis said the gaming industry is “very, very heavily taxed”.

“And so, we believe that it’s just better to do away with it,” he told reporters outside Cabinet.

The previous administration initially expected to implement the tax on July 1, 2018, coupled with a list of other tax increases for gaming operators.

The government said it would tax gaming patrons through a five percent stamp tax applied on deposits and any non-online games or digital sales.

The patron tax was delayed several times and never implemented.

Web shop operators have labeled the taxes discriminatory, unfair and wrong.

Gaming operators said the increase in taxes would cause them to lay off employees and shut down locations.

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Virtual Junkanoo to be reaired following corrections

The issues identified in the virtual New Year’s Junkanoo parade will be corrected and the parade will be reaired following widespread backlash, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said yesterday.

“There were challenges that they faced that caused the production not to be up to the standard the ministry, JCNP (Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence) or the country at large would have liked to see it,” Bowleg told reporters outside Cabinet.

“We are correcting those challenges and we intend to, once the stakeholders and myself and the ministry review the corrections of that production, and we intend to air that again.

“And so, the Bahamian people are our customers and if they’re unsatisfied, we apologize and we will do it right. That’s the only thing we can do and move on from there.”

Bowleg said the parade was produced by a Bahamian company.

He said the company is “well known for the works they have done and the great works in this field before”.

The parade, which was called, “The Spirit of Junkanoo” and was shot at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, originally aired on ZNS and Facebook on January 1.

It was produced after the annual Junkanoo parades were canceled for a second year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The video was deleted from the ministry’s Facebook page. 

Despite this, other social media pages kept videos of the parade up.

Those videos were muddy and appeared to be streamed in low quality.

“The Spirit of Junkanoo was something that my ministry and JCNP decided that we wanted to bring back something to the Bahamian people which they were lacking for the last two years,” the minister said.

“So, the mere fact that we took the initiative to want to do such a thing and it was the first time done in the country, I am proud of my ministry and JCNP for us to put something forward.”

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture said it allocated $300,000 for the event, which also includes virtual parades on Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

Of that figure, according to the ministry, $126,000 was given to Junkanoo groups on New Providence as a stipend.

“On production and advertising, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture spent $24,000 on production and $200 on audio advertising,” the ministry said in a statement. 

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Halkitis: New VAT regime running smoothly

The reduction of value-added tax (VAT) from 12 percent to 10 percent is going “very smoothly”, according to Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Halkitis, who added yesterday that Bahamians have already started to save money.

“We haven’t had any hiccups that I’ve heard of but if we have any, we’ll deal with them; but it’s going very smoothly,” Halkitis said.

“About a week ago, we had a virtual seminar with some business people who had expressed some concerns, so they could have their questions. It was very well attended and so, since then, everything has gone smoothly.

“I believe people have already begun to experience the savings and as the days and weeks go on, we’ll have more and more people experience the savings that it brings.”

Halkitis said businesses were given a 90-day grace period to change the physical prices on items.

He said anyone who is still being charged 12 percent VAT should contact the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Affairs or the Department of Inland Revenue.

The Value-Added Tax (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2021 came into force on January 1, 2022. It reduced the VAT rate from 12 percent to 10 percent and removed the zero-rated application from several items known as breadbasket items.

Additionally, it removed the zero-rated application from medicines and medicinal drugs, the majority of which already attracted VAT.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Brave Davis has said his government’s decisions on VAT are supported by “data, research and consultations with local and global experts”.

“We considered every scenario possible and, at the end of our research and consultations, we were confident that we were making the right choice,” he said.

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The Minnis era is over

Dear Editor,

I must commend our leader, Hon. Michael Pintard, on setting the record straight in Tuesday’s Tribune in an article titled, “Minnis doesn’t speak for party”.

Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis had his opportunity, but treated the media with utter contempt. He obviously didn’t learn anything from his predecessor, Right Hon. Hubert Ingraham who after retiring never had anything to say during the Minnis era.

Minnis all of a sudden has become the competent authority in speaking out on all matters.

Doesn’t he realize that he’s the reason why some indigenous FNMs stayed from the polls wanting to be rid of him?

Dr. Minnis, do you know what it is to be a statesman? Your record was a woeful one in dividing the party.

Please sit small. Shut your mouth. No one is listening to you. Again, your era is over.

Pintard is our leader. Show some respect and let him lead and unify our party!

– Kelly D Burrows

Freeport, Grand Bahama

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APD projects return to prepandemic volumes by end of 2022 Q1

Reflecting the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arawak Port Development Company (APD) revealed that its total revenue and net income were eight percent lower in the 2021 financial year compared to the previous year, but was nonetheless 56 percent higher than what was budgeted.

However, looking ahead at the 2022 financial year, APD has projected it will return to pre-pandemic volumes in the first quarter of this year.

In its 2021 annual report, APD states it processed 118,962 inbound/outbound twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which was eight percent lower than the 129,694 units processed in 2020 and 17 percent lower than pre-pandemic volumes, which were at 131,734 TEUs in 2019.

“In the 2021 financial year, APD exceeded budgeted net income projections. Budgeted net income was $5,830,746, while actual net income for 2021 was $6,671,578, which is $840,833 or 14 percent more than budgeted,” the annual report states.

“The company’s total revenues for 2021 were $28,774,831 (2020: $31,159,991), which is $2,385,060 or eight percent lower than the prior year. Net income for 2021 totaled $6,671,578 (2020: $7,229,908) or eight percent lower than the prior year. This was largely attributable to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our local economy.”

In the coming year APD has a more optimistic outlook, only projecting a one percent decrease in gross revenue for the 2022 fiscal year with a $28,774,831 target.

“Net income is projected to be approximately $6,207,570 or approximately $464,008 less than the 2021 actual net income of $6,671,578. The decline in revenues, net income and volumes are solely attributable to the negative impact of COVID-19 on our local economy, especially our tourism sector. Our 2022 fiscal year budget assumes that volumes would start to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels in the first quarter (Jan – Mar) of 2022. Our net income is currently 56 percent or $741,664 over budget as of September 30, 2021. This is mainly attributed to an increase in terminal handling fees and stevedoring fees associated with cargo projects during the year,” APD states.

“Ongoing projects currently include Nassau Cruise Port and downtown redevelopment, the US Embassy, GoldWynn condo-hotel and residences, The Pointe hotel (substantially complete), Sandals resort renovations, Albany resort and Hurricane Hole Marina. All these projects are in progress. Management remains extremely conservative and yet optimistic on the Atlantis Royal Towers renovations, South Ocean Resort and the Palm Cay project. Due to COVID-19 our FY22 budget assumed the containers would trend below the pre-COVID-19 volumes, until at least first quarter 2022.”

Noting that for at least three-thirds of the Bahamian population, Nassau Container Port sits at the top of the supply chain, APD Chairman Mike Maura said its health and growth remain top priorities for shareholders and Bahamians in general.

“Doubtless, going forward, the challenge for APD is the need to fast track to normalcy and exceeding it. The theme for this 2020/2021 report is well chosen and defines the way forward to seize new opportunities and position to confront future shocks: ‘Readiness, Reevaluation, Re-invention: 3 Rs of Retaining & Increasing Value Post-Pandemic’,” he said.

“It is my hope that all stakeholders will collaborate in and flesh out this thought to become a blueprint for the future development of APD and its Nassau Container Port and inland freight terminal, GFT. Cautiously, I say that the sea of fortune seems to be offering tides of promise and hope. Our tourism sector reports robust hotel occupancy, strong airlift and cruise is roaring back. Signs of commerce are all around, our children are in school and employment numbers are significantly improved. These are all indicators of positive, future, fiscal prosperity for APD and our communities.”

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Pintard: Claim that Minnis called for probe into Parks, Beaches Authority troubling

Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard called on Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis to reveal who told him that former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis wanted him to investigate matters at the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority. 

“I think the prime minister should share more about what he knows,” Pintard said when asked.

“We know from the Free National Movement’s standpoint that it has been vehemently denied and so he has accused the former prime minister, who has denied it, and again both sets of facts cannot be correct.

“And so that was a troubling, troubling revelation.”

After taking office in September, the Davis administration launched an investigation into the authority’s affairs.

Last week, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, Davis was asked whether Minnis raised concerns about the authority with him before the matter was addressed in the House.

“No, he never raised any matter with me personally about his concern,” Davis replied.

Asked if Minnis raised it with a member of his team, Davis said, “A member of my team did indicate that the prime minister was concerned about what happened at Beaches and Parks and I ought to investigate it.

“But that did not prompt what happened with our investigations. I’m advised through a member of my team that he may have. Now, whether he did or not, I’m not aware. I trust what my member told me.”

Minnis denied that he asked Davis or a member of his team to investigate the authority. 

He described the claim as “political mischief”.

The former Minnis administration and former executive chairman of the Authority, St. Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, have come under scrutiny over pre-election contracts issued by the authority.

Cartwright has said he never did anything untoward.

A report into the authority found that it consistently went over its budget by millions of dollars between 2019 and 2021.

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