Monthly Archives: March 2022

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Governments decision to partially lift the COVID mask mandate for resorts was yesterday hailed by a top hotelier as placing The Bahamas on the cutting edge of post-pandemic recovery.

Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Associations (BHTA) president, told Tribune Business that the destination was well poised to exceed our recovery expectations after the Davis administration lifted the requirement to wear masks in hotel lobbies, corridors and casinos, or in the outside grounds, where there was at least three feet distance separating non-family members.

Suggesting that COVID-19 will become a lifestyle going forward and well have to live with it, he conceded that some measures may have to remain in place to protect Bahamians, residents and visitors from the virus.

The furtherance of relaxation of COVID restrictions amply illustrates the Governments commitment to continuing to enable the full and substantial recovery of our tourism sector; our tourism economy, Mr Sands told this newspaper of the mask relaxation.

As competing destinations and key source markets shed their respective COVID restrictions as the number of COVID infections continues to decline or fall, we fully appreciate the Governments efforts to ensure we remain on the cutting edge by removing impediments to travel while maintaining the safety of residents, citizens and tourists.

I believe we are on solid footing, given the trajectory we are on so far, and if we continue on this path we will be well poised to exceed our expectations for recovery of our number one industry, tourism.

Mr Sands spoke out after the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in a statement, confirmed the mask mandate easing for resort properties and their guests. A person is not required to wear a face mask while in a lobby, corridor, or casino of a hotel or while in an outdoor setting where there is at least three feet of space between persons who are not of the same household, it said.

The BHTA president had previously said the COVID mask mandate was receiving significant push back from visitors who are no longer subject to such requirements at home, and of whom around 90 percent are fully vaccinated.

The mask easing does not go as far as the Bahamian hotel and tourism industry would like, the sector hoping it would be eased in restaurants and across all amenities, but Mr Sands said of guest reaction: It is fair to say that the direction we have moved in will meet almost 100 percent with their approval.

I think that the protocols which have been removed will go a long way. I think its only a matter of time when there will be further enhancements, and we and the general public are demonstrating that we are taking COVID seriously and the numbers remain at very low levels or continue to fall.

Ive always said any improvement is positive.... There are still issues that remain in place, but COVID will become a lifestyle going forward. Well have to live with it, and some protocols will be necessary for the protection of the general population of The Bahamas and tourists, he continued.

Its a perfect storm, and all these relaxations will help to ensure The Bahamas retains its number one position as the premier tourism destination of the Caribbean.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, meanwhile, also cut social distancing requirements inside businesses by 50 percent - from six feet to three feet.

Business establishments shall ensure that all customers and staff maintain physical distancing between themselves and others of not less than three feet while inside or awaiting entry outside the business, it said.

Businesses shall determine the number of persons permitted entry into the business at any one time based on one person for every 30 square feet of floor space which is unoccupied by furnishings, fixtures or machinery and is accessible to the public.

Businesses must have distance markers three feet apart, indicating where each customer is to stand on a line awaiting entry or check out...... All restaurants shall ensure that seating is arranged so that there is the spacing of at least three feet between each dining party.

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Bahamas 'on cutting edge' with hotel mask relaxation - Bahamas Tribune

By Shanieka Smith & Deandrea Hamilton

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, March 12, 2022 Her life demonstrated that you begin in the pit, but you dont have to end in the pit.

Cynthia Mother Pratt, most popularly known as Mother Pratt, a Bahamian born, who grew up in an inner-city called Coconut Grove, came from extreme poverty but modestly walked her way up to becoming the second in command as the Deputy Prime Minister and the first female Minister of Defense for The Bahamas.

Her target with this inaugural book is young people, and her message is that their start does not determine their end.

A gated community, money, or privilege were not Mother Pratts easy climb out of the pit. It was her internal desires, hard work, discipline, humility, and determination. It was not until age 34 that Mother Pratt went to university; she sat, learnt, and graduated with 17 and 18-year-olds.

Nonetheless, I wanted to achieve my goal, she said.

At the time Mother Pratt went to school, students had to leave at age 14 if their parents could not afford the fees. She said she grew up in the lower class; that then and now is a major discouragement for people in similar situations. This was where the inspiration for one of her three literary contributions, From the Pit to the Palace, originated.

I want the masses to know, the world to know, that there is a woman who God brought from the pit, the gutter, so to speak and who emerged to the very top. If it happened for me, it can happen for them, she said passionately.

From the Pit to the Palace, an autobiography of Mother Pratt was published in January 2022. According to Mother Pratt, the book is for everyone young and old.

You have many adults who tend to give up on life because things didnt work out for them. They believe that they are a failure, and that is why the book will explain, and encourage, and enhance, edify, to tell them that there is hope, she expressed.

To reinforce Mother Pratts humble nature and soul message from her autobiography: she still resides in an inner-city after all she has accomplished.

And Dr Cynthia Mother Pratt has accomplished a lot. While her first term in service to people was in the teaching profession and as a sports coach, Mother Pratt and her escalating popularity attracted leaders in the political arena.

They had to almost pry me into first of all getting involved in politics, period, I never was interested; never been to a meeting. But what had happened at the time, I was at the college in Bahamas, I was assisting the director and there with student activities part-time lecturer, and I got a message there from the sitting Prime Minister that he would like to meet with me, she expressed.

There was an invitation extended and suffice it to say, there was a big fat no at the onset, but the Progressive Liberal Party and Perry Gladstone Christie, would not take no for an answer. Persistence paid off for Christie and an attempt, bound to fail from Mother Pratts perspective, turned into a 10-year career in politics, starting in 2002 until she retired in 2012.

A deputy party leader, the first for a woman in The Bahamas; a deputy prime minister who would go on to hold the prime ministers post during a time of illness for Mr Christie and numerous other ceiling shattering accolades. Yet none seemed to change her heart, which was first and foremost for God, then for family.

Mother Pratt has six children: three boys, an adopted son, who is now deceased and one biological daughter. She also has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Pratts husband, Joseph Benjamin is also deceased.

They [my children] reminded me the other day, they said, mommy, we have never really had you for ourselves as our mom because you were always looking after somebody else. And at one time, I had six children in my house until at one point and my husband got to the point where he says Cynthia, dont bring another one in here, she chuckles as she reminisces.

Global prizes were also not unusual for Mother Pratt, but one presented to her in 2019 is truly cherished as it bears the name of one of historys most valiant freedom fighters. At a ceremony at her church, Prayer and Praise Assembly in Coconut Grove, the little girl from the Grove was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for her long-standing commitment to community building, and it cemented that a book to chronicle this achievement must be penned. And so it was.

The thing about my growing up is that I was never satisfied with where I was. I always wanted to belong and when I say belong: belong to those who are trying to get to another level. I was not satisfied with one thing; when I got that I was never satisfied because I knew there was something better. And so I knew then there was something pushing me to say you can achieve it, you can do it, says Mother Pratt. She added that she was never afraid to fail.

On her porch is where she shared these fascinating nuggets and cherished memories with us; her front porch in the Grove. An area which she served and represented in parliament, and an area though often considered a shady side of Nassau town, is treasured as her launch pad, a stepping stone and the birthplace of her desire to be more.

The inner city is where we live, but we have to make it what it is. The community does not build us; we build the community, she said.

Dr. Pratt, who is admittedly social media shy adds that if you really want to make something of your life, you need to dig deep, pull your bootstraps up and know that if Mother Pratt could make it, then I can as well.

This former sports coach, who earned the name because she became such a positive force to young people, made it clear that little opportunities present themselves, and it is only fitting that young people grab on to them. The first step, she said, is to believe in yourself.

[Opportunities] are there, but you have to go out and get it. And in other words, God would have given them manna from heaven, but they had to go and get the manna. And that is how youre going to achieve because you must want to change.

I cant make you do it, but you must want it from within and then grab a hold of opportunities when they present themselves because it may not be there tomorrow.

From the Pit to the Palace is now available on Amazon at a cost of $20 dollars. It can also be found in Bahamas-based bookstores.

Undoubtedly, expectedly, the book authored by Mother Pratt will be a raw, real, humourous and inspiring account of a life that continues to be well-lived.

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Initiatives undertaken are proof of Bahamas commitment to addressing climate change, health matters amongst women - Magnetic Media

The Bahamas is forecast to record another bloody year as police reported a four per cent increase in murders for the first quarter of 2022.

Acting Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander told the media today that 28 murders were recorded from January 1 to March 14, 2022, compared to 27 for the same period last year.

This past weekend was one of the bloodiest as five men were murdered.

Fernander revealed most of the shootings were gang-related and came about as criminals engaged in a tit for tat for crimes committed against each other.

He said gang leaders are seeking to recruit young men to carry out their illicit activities.

The acting top cop warned family members of criminals that they simply cannot throw their hands in the air and ignore the actions of their relatives since they may lose their lives.

When they cant get at their target, or if you as family members, if you are with them you also become a target. And if they cant get at their target, they go and they target you the family, Fernander said

So we are asking you as parents to please try to talk to your kids. And if they are involved in the life of crime, turn them into us so that we can sit down with them and have a conversation and try to steer them in the right direction

Illegal fire arms continue to the weapons of choice for criminals and they are hiding them in parcels of food in an effort to evade authorities.

But, Fernander said we are on to them as he sought to assure that police are doing all in their power to prevent illegal guns from making their way into Bahamian communities.

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Murders on the rise: Bahamas record 28 murders in Q1 of 2022 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said yesterday the government and the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) have agreed on a way forward concerning the property tax valuation issue.

Back in January, The Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) challenged the legality of the Department of Inland Revenues property reassessment exercise, which reportedly resulted in 10,000 previously unregistered properties having now been accurately assessed and registered. BREA had urged the government to withdraw its 2022 Assessment of Real Property Tax, citing its appraisers were not properly licensed under the act.

Addressing the matter yesterday Halkitis said: There was a meeting about a month ago with the Bahamas Real Estate Association. As we said from the outset that their complaint about the non-Bahamians doing appraisals did not arise. Thats not what we were doing. We had a meeting. I think it was productive and we agreed on a way forward in terms of when we do need appraisals and second opinions, to work with them to get that done.

Going forward we will be pursuing opportunities to work together. Where there are opportunities to have business or have appraisals done and make sure that we have reputable real estate practitioners we will be able to do that, said Halkitis.

For her part, BREA president Christine Wallace-Whitfield said the discussion with the prime minister was positive.

At the end of the day we are just trying to make sure we work with the government and that they understand our concerns, Wallace-Whitfield said.

When we met with the Prime Minister he understood where we were coming from. I think it was a positive discussion. Moving forward persons will have to get their properties appraised and it will be a busy time for licensed BREA appraisers. They are trained and understand the law of the land. Moving forward I think it is very important we all try to work together.

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MOVING ON: Government and BREA agree on way forward following valuation concerns - EyeWitness News

Baseball greats, cruise passengers and local Bahamian youth league players competed head-to-head in an All-Stars at Seas softball game in Freeport, arranged by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line during a sailing on Saturday March 5th.

Hall-of-Famer Andre Dawson along with a handful of other baseball greats were in attendance for the game and onboard for Q&A sessions.

We are honored to have hosted such a great group of all-stars onboard and to have provided our passengers many of whom are passionate about baseball with this unique cruising experience, said Francis Riley, chief commercial officer.

Upon arriving to Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line transported its guests and team of players to a local softball field where a friendly match took place. Two teams competed head-to-head until a tied game was called, ceremoniously.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line prepares to rebrand in April. Its flagship vessel, Grand Classica, will enter dry dock on April 17, reemerging as Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the flagship of the all-new vacation brand,Margaritavilleat Sea, on April 30.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line announced its rebranding to Margaritaville at Sea at the end of last year.

Photo:BPCL Team (Credit: Scott Shapiro at South Florida Insider)

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Guests, MLB Greats and Bahamians Step Up to the Plate in Freeport - Cruise Industry News

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21 Best Airbnbs in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Across the Caribbean - Cond Nast Traveler

About 140 migrants came ashore Monday.

SUMMERLAND KEY, Fla. Haitian migrants are reaching Florida's shores in large numbers as human smuggling operations ramp up, outpacing last year's migration waves.

Some 140 Haitian migrants came ashore Monday on Summerland Key, about 20 miles up the highway from Key West, and Monroe County Sheriff's deputies joined federal agents in processing them.

Earlier this month, a wooden boat carrying hundreds of migrants grounded in shallow water off Key Largo, and 163 people swam ashore near the Ocean Reef Club. Many needed medical treatment, federal officials said.

Another boat carrying 176 Haitians was stopped in January just off the Florida Keys, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is taking the lead in all three investigations.

The Coast Guard has stopped other Haitian boats navigating near the Bahamas with dozens of migrants. On Sunday, the agency transferred 127 Haitians and three Cuban nationals to Bahamian authorities after picking them up in two incidents near Anguilla Cay, Bahamas.

On Feb. 28, crews spotted a Haitian sailboat with 179 people aboard 30 miles off Andros Island, Bahamas. Last Friday, the Coast Guard stopped another Haitian sail vessel with 123 people, including 39 minors about 10 miles from Anguilla Cay, Bahamas.

The Coast Guard maintains a persistent presence patrolling the waters around Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, to help prevent loss of life, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Salomee Briggs said in a news release. Taking to the sea is very dangerous, we urge you not to risk you and your loved-ones lives.

So far this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, Coast Guard crews have rescued 1,193 Haitians. That compares to 1,527 Haitian migrants who were rescued in all of fiscal year 2021, 418 in 2020 and 932 in 2019, the agency said.

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Haitian migrants are coming ashore in the Florida Keys at a faster pace than last year - WTSP.com

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis today doubled down on his assertion that several initiatives under the former administration had little to no checks and balances, adding that these were in violation of a number of laws, regulations and sensible good practice.

Dozens of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters gathered outside Parliament in response to a clarion call by PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell.

Tensions heightened when former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis arrived with a small FNM delegation of his own, which then led to an exchange of words between the two groups after Minnis went into the House of Assembly.

Davis, who opened the debate on the mid-year budget, noted that there are several ongoing investigations into those initiatives and programs, adding, We intend to make those answers public, whatever they may reveal.

Pointing to the food assistance program, the Parks and Beaches Authority, and the Travel Health Visa, Davis said that in each case, the decision was made to set up a structure outside of the public service or outside of this system of accountability.

Worse still, these structures were staffed by people who had no particular competence to run those structures, and there were little to no checks and balances, Davis said.

These were in violation of a number of laws, regulations and sensible good practice. Vast sums of public money were run through these structures, together totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

He added: And each of these structures had abysmally poor record-keeping concerning what monies were taken in, and how that money was spent.

The prime minister stated: I noted that the administration had handed over some of the basic functions of government to their wealthy friends and asked why?

Why did they pay a private company to handle National Insurance funds, when we have a public service whose job it is to do just that?

Why was the government paying a private company to receive customs payments, when we have a public service whose job it is to do just that?

Time and again, public officials in critical positions were replaced by individuals with no real administrative experience.

Davis further noted that there are also examples where political appointees on Boards replaced a number of executives or were put in leadership positions without the necessary qualifications.

Speaking to the food assistance program, Davis noted that former Chairperson of the National Food Security Task Force Susan Holowesko Larson was paid $1,750 per week.

Davis said that Larson was given some $53 million for the task force to spend but it appears that she was not required to report to anyone on how that money was spent.

According to Davis, Larson had indicated that $4.7 million was spent to cover administrative fees.

Davis doubled down on his comments that the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority operated as a slush fund under the Minnis administration.

He told parliament that the finance officer appointed by the former administration came without any previous experience, and was made the sole signatory on bank accounts.

He also noted that the managing director had no history of senior management experience.

Large-value contracts issued by the Authority contain three distinct signatures, all purporting to be that of the Chairman. Simple logic dictates that at least two of them must be fraudulent, the prime minister said.

Davis also noted that the question remains as to what the connection was between digital payments provider Kanoo and the Ministry of Tourism that made them the beneficiaries of such a large contract.

The prime minister also stated that since the change of government, many of the individuals and entities involved in these inquiries have sought to delay or frustrate our investigations. He added, There are many, many questions that need to be answered.

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WE NEED ANSWERS: PM slams former administration for little to no checks and balances - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS BTC has bragging rights for a third consecutive year as its Junior Achievement company, BTC Vibe, has once againcaptured first place at the annual Product of the Year Competition.

The competition is an opportunity for Junior Achievement companies to design an interesting and marketable commodity to be sold to the public.

BTC Vibe won first place with an overall score of 97.5 points for the design of its Monopoly-inspired board game, dubbed, Island Tycoon.

DeAndre Forbes, BTC Vibe President and an eleventh-grade student at St. Augustines College, said that this third win reflects the hard work done by everyone involved with the company.

Winning product of the year for a third year consecutively validates theefforts of all associated with the BTC JA Company, not just achievers but advisors and even our generous sponsors who have continued to allow young people to be developed into their best selves through the program, he said.

Our product, Island Tycoon, is one that took a lot of time and effort to be created so receiving such an honorable award has really inspired the company as a whole to continue in our great achievements and work within the Junior Achievement community.

BTC Vibes Finance Advisor Kenton Thompson said that Island Tycoon was created to keep the trend going of creating Bahamian-inspired products.

BTC Vibe was able to capture previous wins from its Bahamian Heroes playing cards and Bahamian-themed coloring books.

Riding on the success and high demand for our last product, the Bahamian playing cards, we wanted to produce another product that was fun and family friendly, Thompson said.

After the team agreed on the idea the company was spilt into groups to create the different board tiles, cards and game pieces. Our Marketing Advisor then took those blueprints and created the final masterpiece known as Island Tycoon.

Thompson said staying consistent with the Bahamian-inspired theme has led to the success of their products.

Bahamians can easily relate to the Island Tycoon game through local landmarks, Bahamian colloquialisms or even our unique game pieces likethe flamingo, blue marlin, the lignum vitae or the conch shell, he said.

BTC Vibes Executive Advisor Keva Turnquest said the group wanted to ensure that the Island Tycoon product fully represented The Bahamas and the Bahamian financial mindset of growing the next Bahamian millionaire or billionaire.

Turnquest said moving forward, it is the desire for the JA company at BTC to have their products promoted locally.

Even though the companies have to be liquidated, we would still love to have the partnerships with the Kellys or AID or Quality Home Center, anyone even the grocery stores if they would have our product or want to continue to partner with us in purchasing the product itself, Turnquest said.

This would also lend to the next generation of BTCs Junior Achievement company as it would have funds in its account to start the next year and products that we know can be generated and pushed throughout the Bahamian society.

Meanwhile, as for next years competition, BTC Vibe is already looking to capture a 4-peat.

I think we should just make winning it an annual tradition, Thompson added.

Excerpt from:

THREE-PEAT: BTC's JA Company wins product of the year competition with Island Tycoon game - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Labor Director Robert Farquharson said yesterday that the National Tripartite Council is looking into a number of factors to formulate a recommendation on an increase in the countrys minimum wage.

Farquharson told Eyewitness News: The process of formulating the recommendation is underway right now. We have to look at a number of factors such as; the cost of living in The Bahamas, inflation and government policy.

There are also some other issues. There of course has to be consultation with the private sector.

Farquharson could not give a timeline on when a minimum wage recommendation could be forwarded to the government.

Last week, Obie Ferguson, the Trade Union Congress president reiterated calls for a living wage in the country.

Ferguson told Eyewitness News that Bahamians must be able to have a living wage as the cost of food and fuel continue to rise.

We need a living wage in this country and Ive been calling for it for years. We need it now more than ever. If the cost of most things has gone up and your wages remain stagnant, youre going to find it hard to survive.

He continued: It is the governments intention to have the minimum wage of $210 per week replaced by a higher wage that could be around $250 per week. The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) promised to revise the wage before winning the September general election.

University of The Bahamas (UB) researchers, in a study produced last year, pegged Nassaus monthly living wage at $2,625, while the equivalent for Grand Bahama was $3,550 per month.

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LABOR: Recommendation being formulated for minimum wage increase - EyeWitness News