Category Archives: Bahamas

Big row: Vaughn Miller says the former authority victimized him, I will show proofCartwright defends personal and political integrity, Ive not been about that in politics

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government is expected to end all contracts issued with the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority and will issue new contracts in the coming weeks, Eyewitness News understands.

The move comes amidst growing concern with contractors who claimed they have not been paid by the government for work completed and their contracts have not been honored.

East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson raised that matter in Parliament yesterday which sparked a heated back and forth between Golden Isle MP Vaughn Miller and St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, who served as chairman of the authority during the Minnis administration.

Minister of Works Alfred Sears stood to respond to Thompsons question, indicating that shortly before the General Election on September 16 all of the contracts with the authority had been renewed, even though some contractors did not perform satisfactorily.

Sears revealed that some contracts were not signed by the authority even though the contractor purported to perform work, and other contracts were issued without the boards approval.

The minister also noted that there were incidents of contracts that were not brought to the attention of the accounts department and incidents of duplication of contracts.

Im only reporting what is reported to me, Sears said.

When the board is fully constituted, it would be a matter for the bard of the authority to reconcile and then report to me as the responsible minister.

However, Cartwright also sought to set the record straight on his tenure at the authority, insisting that he strippedaway any idea of politics in his carriage of his duty and acted in a fair and balanced manner when dealing with everyone.

We would have done our endeavor best to ensure there was a balanced approach, he said.

We would have done our best to ensure that we meet the needs of every member of Parliament.

Cartwright explained that duplication of contracts has always been a challenge in government but assured that there was nothing sinister in the clerical error.

He furthered that the contracts that were issued ahead of the election were in process before former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced the date on August 19.

It was not a deluge or a mad rush to assign contracts in the lead up to the election, however, there were contracts that we were in train prior to the calling of the election, Cartwright said.

This member has come into public service to operate in a certain way, it may not be perfect in terms of certain requests were made, but I want the Bahamian people to know that we operated in a way that would bring credit to the authority. There may have been things we could have done better, we accept that.

But in a shocking turn of events, Golden Isles MP Vaughn Miller, who crossed party lines and ran for reelection on the Progressive Liberal Partys ticket, responded to Cartwright and accused the former administration of victimizing him in the wake of the election.

I am on record of this house of sharing contrary to the member of St Barnabas, Miller began to shout.

It was low down. It was dirty. It was underhanded. It was egregious what they did to me and I will bring the evidence in this House to demonstrate it. It was very personal.

While he did not go into detail over his accusations, Miller claimed that in the lead up to the election his opponent, FNM candidate Brian Brown, was treated as a member of Parliament, and contracts were issued through him in excess of $200,000.

I will share in detail with regard to what was done to me. It was personal, he charged.

Immediately returning to his feet to deny the claims, Cartwright hit back at what he said was an attack on his personal integrity as an individual.

I vehemently resent the dispersion the member is trying to cast on this member to call my integrity into question relative to the assignment of contracts, Cartwright said.

He added that while Miller can conclude that he doesnt feel he was dealt with fairly, the PLP MP cannot suggest that he tried to personally to deprive or disadvantage him because Ive not been about that in politics.

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SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT?: All Beaches and Parks contracts to be cancelled and reissued - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS With health officials expecting a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases in the coming months, the government hopes to have some 200,000 Bahamians and residents fully vaccinated by years end.

During a communication in Parliament yesterday Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville advised that while there have been a significant reduction in COVID19 cases and hospitalizations over the past few weeks, vaccinations are also decreasing.

It has been widely reported internationally that COVID cases are surging in Europe in what has been called the fourth wave and there is an expectation of surges in COVID cases in the US with the start of the winter season, he said.

All of these reports point to the real possibility of another wave hitting our shores in the very near future.

With less than 50 percent of our population fully vaccinated so far, the implications of a fourth wave are indeed troubling when we couple this with the high level of co-morbidities in our population.

Cases over the past month (October 14 November 14) saw a significant decrease in new infections with 725 cases recorded when compared to the same period the month prior (September 14 October 14) when 2,172 new infections were recorded.

On Sunday, health officials confirmed 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, 12 in New Providence, one in Grand Bahama, and one in Eleuthera.

The number of cases in the country stands at 22,601 with 208 active cases.

There are currently 47 cases in the hospital, 38 of them are moderately ill and nine are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Darville noted yesterday that the clusters of COVID infection that spread in the southern and central Bahamas have resolved due to aggressive contact tracing and enforcement of the isolation and quarantine protocols by COVID19 ambassadors and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The health minister insisted that while vaccinations remain voluntary, the government is seeking to reach a new goal of 200,000 plus Bahamians fully vaccinated by years end.

He said the vaccination consultative committee will be rolling out new initiatives, including an education program to reach this goal.

The government will also be launching new strategies for additional recruitment and training of COVID19 ambassadors to be deployed throughout the family islands ensuring the enforcement of our new COVID19 rules.

The truth of the matter is COVID 19 will be with us for quite some time and the world has come to the realization that we must learn to live with this virus, he said.

So we are calling on all Bahamians, residents, and visitors alike to adhere to the countrys public health protocols and to follow these new COVID19 health rules that will protect you and your loved ones and prevent community spread.

Prevention is better than cure. So lets conduct ourselves accordingly so that we can take the necessary steps to open our local economy and accelerate our post COVID19 recovery efforts.

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VAXX GOALS: Govt. aims for 200000 vaccinated by end of year - EyeWitness News

Bang Showbiz Teresa Giudice says her ex-husband Joe and her new man Luis Ruelas 'like each other'

Joe Giudice thinks Teresa Giudice's fiance is great.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star's husband-to-be Luis 'Louie' Ruelas had made contact with Joe - the father of her children Gia, 20, Gabriella, 17, Milania, 15 and 12-year-old Audriana - before they went on vacation in the Bahamas and arranged for them to all have dinner together, and thankfully everything went well.

Speaking on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', Teresa said: They like each other. We went to the Bahamas and we went to go see Joe, and Louie DMed Joe behind my back. I didnt even know. Hes like, Were coming out there. I would like for us to all have dinner.'

We went out to the Bahamas because Joe is living six months in the Bahamas and six months in Italy. So we had dinner with him and it went really well. Joe thinks Louies a great guy.

Teresa and Joe announced their divorce in 2019 after he was released from prison and deported back to Italy, where he was born as he was never granted US citizenship.

Joes indictment - and imprisonment for 41 months - was related to charges related of mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. Teresa served 15 months behind bars in connection, however for the sake of their children, they were permitted to serve the sentences separately.

However, Teresa moved on with Louie summer last year after they met while at the Jersey Shore.

And it was previously revealed the new couple were a "great match".

A source said: "He's given her the ability to laugh and love again, after everything she has been through. Their life is very peaceful and quiet together.

"She was always optimistic that she would find love again after her divorce from Joe but I don't think in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would find what she has with Louie."

Joe had previously insisted he was happy for the newlyweds-to-be but he felt they had moved a bit quick into this romance.

However, ultimately, Joe said: Im glad she found her true love."

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Teresa Giudice ex husband Joe thinks her new fiancee is "great" - MSN UK

After last years comprehensive scaling back of the Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday commemorations because of coronavirus, how encouraging it was to see the return to a full range of events throughout Britain this past week. These are sacred moments in the nations calendar. Equally, given the significant involvement of the many individual Bahamians who volunteered for service in both World Wars, people locally will surely have been glad to have witnessed the wreath-laying ceremony here at home at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance on November 11.

In the UK, however, the Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph in central London, which is the traditional focus of the national commemorations, was overshadowed by The Queens inability at the last minute to attend because of a sprained back. The Prince of Wales laid a wreath on her behalf. She has expressed her deep disappointment at missing the ceremony, which it is said she considers to be one of her most important annual duties. The Queen has only missed it six times during her long reign. So, understandably, her absence has caused further public concern about her health, not least because she had earlier been advised on medical grounds to take a rest from official duties for a few weeks.

In 2020, the coronavirus rules put a halt to Remembrance Sunday church services and official ceremonies throughout the UK because people were forced to stay at home. But a small national ceremony was held at the Cenotaph as well as a limited service at Westminster Abbey since, in his typically robust way, Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted no virus was going to stop the British people from honouring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, including having the customary two-minute silence at 11am.

Remembrance Sunday always falls on the second Sunday in November while Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, is observed on November 11. The two-minute silence is held to mark the end of the First World War at the 11th hour on the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The Armistice brought to a close four years of bloody conflict that claimed the lives of more than 700,000 members of Britains Armed Forces. The poppy became a symbol of remembrance after a poem called In Flanders Fields whose author was inspired by the sight of the red poppies surviving in the battlefields despite the devastation of war, with the red signifying bloodshed.

This year, services and ceremonies took place the length and breadth of Britain. The two-minute silence was observed throughout, and tributes were paid to fallen heroes and to those who continue to serve in the Armed Forces, while the ceremonies included the previous level of military representation and restoration of the march by veterans who had been prevented from participating in this way last year. Reportedly, most of the remembrance events attracted large crowds. There are said to be more than 80,000 war memorials in every corner of the UK including some small villages.

An important milestone this year is the 100th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion. It was established in 1921 as a charity to provide financial, social and emotional support to the surviving veterans and their dependants.

The British Legion - Bahamas Branch, previously known as The Bahamas Ex-Servicemen Association - has been led most ably for many years by Adina Munroe-Charlow. Under her direction, the Bahamas Branch not only looks after the diminishing numbers of Bahamian veterans and their families and administers financial assistance grants to them but is also involved in organising the local annual commemorative ceremonies. Having observed her activity in running the Bahamas Branch for some 20 years I believe her dedicated work in helping veterans has been truly admirable. Those interested will no doubt have seen the informative supplement about the Bahamas Branch published by The Tribune on November 11.

Another notable organisation - this time created during wartime - is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission established by Royal Charter in 1917. It is responsible for the commemoration in perpetuity of the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two World Wars. The Commission owns the Nassau War Cemetery on Farrington Road and is responsible for its maintenance. After it had become derelict some years ago, it fell to me to organise its renovation on the Commissions behalf and the maintenance work is now carried out most effectively by Peter Batess team from The Signman company.

So, after the paring down of events in 2020, this has been a special year for the Royal British Legion on its 100th anniversary and for commemorating Armistice Day and paying tribute to the fallen on Remembrance Sunday. Long may the Legion prosper and all concerned will surely wish the Bahamas Branch well in its worthy and important work.

Writing separately on this page about Armistice Day and the end of the First World War also known as the Great War prompts a brief look at the causes of that conflict and possible parallels with the current threatening events in eastern Europe in what has been described as the age of feverish anxiety that we live in.

Historians still argue about the underlying causes but they tend to agree that, rather than by design, the Great War started through a series of miscalculations arising from the insecurities of Europes political leaders of the time. What is clear is the fateful moment of history - the murder of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne on a visit to Sarajevo in 1914 - set off a chain of events that became unstoppable and eventually led to the outbreak of hostilities.

In summary, Austria-Hungary held Serbia responsible for this heinous act and the latter sought support from its powerful protector, Tsarist Russia. In its turn, Austria was supported by Germany while France was still seething with resentment after defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and Britain had pledged to guarantee Belgiums independence.

So, a small crisis in the Balkans dragged the big alliances of Britain, France, Belgium and Russia into war against Germany and Austria-Hungary. When German forces advanced westward and were stopped, a stalemate resulted which turned into a four-year war of attrition of trench warfare in Belgium and France with a terrible loss of life.

Against this background, consider the present-day drama unfolding amid growing global tensions. China continues to build up its military power - particularly in the South China Sea - and is sabre-rattling about Taiwan.

In Europe, discontent and conflict have been simmering since Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its backing of separatist rebels in the southeast of Ukraine, with the US reportedly warning its European NATO allies that recent mobilisation by Russia could be in preparation for an invasion of that country.

The West and Russia are also at serious odds over the latters build-up of troops on the borders with the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Belarus - situated between the European Union and Russia and its capital Minsk only some 400 miles from its ally Moscow - has become strategically important. The countrys authoritarian leader has precipitated a stand-off with its western EU neighbour, Poland, by encouraging thousands of migrants to gather at its border in an attempt to gain entry to the EU and is now reported to be threatening to cut off its transit supply of gas to Europe. In response, while considering an intensification of existing sanctions, Brussels has accused Belarus of state-sponsored people smuggling and of engineering the humanitarian crisis at the border by flying in migrants and supporting them.

There is now disquiet in the West that Russia could be drawn directly into this, though Putin, who has been railing against the Wests naval presence in the Black Sea, has denied any involvement even while his troops mass near Ukraine and are claimed to have entered Belarus.

Thus, in such a hostile environment there seem to be genuine fears about the possibility of some action by either side that could unintentionally set off a wider conflict. This is a chilling reminder of the fragility of the peace we all tend to take for granted. The UK press may be exaggerating the danger. But, when the head of Britains armed forces, General Sir Nick Carter, was quoted at the weekend as saying that in a multi-polar world the UK and US are at the greatest risk of accidental war with Russia at any time since the end of the Cold War in 1991, perhaps people should sit up and take notice.

To the man-in-the street, the Western world more than ever needs strong, decisive leadership in the face of mounting provocation from China and Russia. But Biden is obviously on the wane and his Vice President seems unsuitable to replace him if he is forced suddenly to quit.

Boris Johnson remains in some ways untested in the face of an international crisis and the French President does not inspire confidence while German Chancellor Angela Merkel is about to step down. Sadly, the wag who was wondering, jokingly, why the world was worrying about climate change when new tensions and the risk of war should be of greater concern, may have been making a serious point.

So it is finally over. COP26 was extended by one day until last Saturday for intensive negotiations in order to produce an agreed text of a final agreement forming the new Glasgow Climate Pact. There has been so much international media coverage of this that further comment may be considered superfluous. But, having been writing extensively about climate change in recent weeks and given the importance of the issue to The Bahamas, I wanted to offer brief comment about the final deal and what it means for this country.

Overall, the organisers claim that COP26 has been a success. It was a considerable achievement to get 200 countries together to reach a final agreement which will not satisfy everybody but is a compromise so that the world is heading in the right direction in its efforts to control global warming. As Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, the Glasgow summit was never going to solve the problems of climate change overnight and large gaps remain between targets and action.

But a significant step forward was the commitment, enshrined in the agreement, to keep the increase of global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and the establishment of a process - a viable road map - to make progress towards specific targets. Moreover, to maintain such progress, under the UKs continuing presidency countries will be required to report back regularly on their plans for cutting carbon emissions in the lead-up to the next meeting in Egypt in 2022.

There is insufficient space today for much detail about, for example, the controversy over fossil fuels, in particular coal. But, as far as The Bahamas is concerned, an important outcome is the mention of financing in the text of the final agreement. From what I have read - even though earlier promises by the richer countries to stump up $100 billion annually to help vulnerable developing countries to adapt to climate change have not been met - new funding for use in addressing the threat of loss and damage in connection with rising sea-levels and extreme weather has now been doubled. Specifically, the final COP26 text speaks of commitments to increase significantly financial support through the Adaptation Fund as developed countries are urged to double their support to developing countries by 2025.

I wrote last week about the Prime Ministers excellent speech at COP26 which has put The Bahamas on the map in relation to climate change. In the words of the UN head of climate change, there has been much progress in many areas and bridges built between good intentions and reasonable actions to lower emissions, increase resilience and provide much-needed finance. Let us hope that The Bahamas will benefit, in particular, from the extra funding that should be made available.

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PETER YOUNG: Still we remember and salute the fallen's sacrifice - Bahamas Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The deputy prime minister has confirmed the Government is initiating talks with the hotel industry over whether unvaccinated staff should pay for their weekly COVID-19 tests.

Chester Cooper, also minister for tourism, investment and aviation, said that while the Government has not made vaccinations mandatory, the issue of testing - and who should pay for it - remained an open question. He indicated, though, that the Davis administrations planned roll-out of free COVID testing might provide an answer.

It is a question that we have begun to talk with all of the properties, Mr Cooper said.The Government of the Bahamas has started a pilot programme in terms of testing in some of the islands of The Bahamas.

Were speaking with the hotel unions, and we hope to be able to advance that programme even further. Suffice to say, were talking with the employers. Were talking with the unions and were moving in the right direction.

I started to talk about vaccinations because we believe that vaccination uptake is the right way to go. Were encouraging all of our citizens to vaccinate. Its not mandatory, but we are encouraging them to do so, he continued.

Its good for our health, and its good for the economy. And research shows the tourists like to go to destinations where theres a high vaccination uptake. So its good for tourism. Its good for the economy, and its good for our health.

Mr Coopers comments came one day after Robert Sands, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Associations (BHTA) president, issued a clarion call for The Bahamas to eliminate legal stipulations that mandate employers must pay for their workers COVID-19 testing.

He used the Accountants Week seminars to challenge both the Government and trade unions to at least work with the private sector on reforming the Health and Safety at Work Acts section nine, which includes language that blocks employers from requiring their employees to pay towards any element of workplace safety.

Graeme Davis, Baha Mars president, yesterday doubled down on what Mr Sands said, adding that he wants employees certainly paying for testing if they are unvaccinated.

He said: We want to encourage associates to work in a safe environment and be vaccinated where they can, unless theres underlying medical conditions. We believe, you know, that that creates a safe work environment for them.

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Gov't in talks over who pays for COVID testing - Bahamas Tribune

Beyond Glasgow, beyond the ambition and the pledges, and the conclusions, the forests of Great Abaco have gone.

The storm, Dorian, was two years ago, and yet for mile after mile, this Bahamian island still looks like a wasteland.

Just the trunks of the trees are left. Some standing, others bent double and the communities around have hardly rebuilt.

Our guide for a tour around what should be paradise is 18-year-old Zander Gardiner.

He looks much older. The Bahamas life is not the easy one we may imagine.

He recalls the night the hurricane swept into his home.

"It was very powerful. It's something that I never want to experience again it's a long journey but we will make it," he says.

Dorian was a category five hurricane and it sat over Great Abaco for hours.

"That used to be the school and that was the church" Zander tells me, showing us around an island that puts the COP conference, his future, in context.

The money to rebuild from the Bahamas' most powerful storm on record never came.

In Glasgow, the jargon is "loss and damage" and "adaptation finance", a push by island nations like this to demand the big polluting countries pay for the consequences here.

But the text agreed on is disappointing, say the group of islands nations who've pushed for climate justice since 1991.

There are mechanisms, even a pledge, to set up a dedicated agency, but no firm commitments or talk of budgets.

Great Abaco's main town, Marsh Harbour, feels forgotten; frozen in that moment two years ago.

Next to the road, a huge boat lies marooned. We are nearly a kilometre inland.

They are images not of the power of nature but the consequence of our impact on it and our inability to protect against it.

Beyond the banging of a slow rebuild which you hear around the town, everyone here wonders what the future holds; if there is a future for them.

Because in the Bahamas, like all of these small island developing states, the stuff the scientists warn about is happening already.

And it's not just the destruction, how to fix it and how to mitigate against the next storm - it's the displacement too.

In a nearby village, a series of white pods act as temporary homes for all those who lost theirs.

"I know I won't be here," mother of five Candy tells me when I asked what she'll do when the next storm comes.

"I gotta go. Go somewhere else where the weather is better."

What's clear is that today's internally displaced are tomorrow's refugees. They become another nation's burden.

A few pods down from Candy and her family, 21-year-old Dominique invites us into her temporary home.

It's lunchtime and mum Gardenia is cooking deep-fried crab and tacos.

"Any rain or thunder that they have, my nephews, they go back to thinking about it," Dominique says, reflecting on Dorian.

"We're just trying to get back in some housing that's gonna hopefully protect us if another hurricane was to pass," she says.

Chatting to Dominique, it's clear she has no time to think about climate science or the culprits because she is living it right now. For her, what matters is her family's survival and existence.

" and that's sad to say but that's the honest truth," she says.

"But now that we are talking about climate change and you are telling me about the conference, trust me, I am definitely going to look that up."

The weather changes fast here. It's hurricane season and they are holding their breath.

Up the coast, is the fishing community of Coopers Town.

A break in the rain is a chance for a chat with local fire chief Kirk Murray, a man clearly scared by what he experienced two years ago but not defeated.

"If we give up now all hope is lost," Kirk says.

"If we come together as countries, as neighbouring counties we can all fight together. Because if they cough, we catch the cold, so if we do this together, nothing can stop us."

Yet the alarming thing is that regardless of the deal; whether or not countries stick to their pledges, it's probably too late here.

Even the more modest predictions for temperature rises would increase sea levels by nearly a metre over the next 100 years and would put this whole island community underwater.

But firefighter Kirk is determined.

"If climate change comes back, we come back too. If we give up now, all hope is lost."

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The Bahamas: 'If we give up now, all hope is lost' - the island in desperate need of climate justice - Sky News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Bahamas, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, received a million dollars worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Canadian government as this country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Minister of Health and Wellness the Dr Michael Darville, this spells good news as the country is experiencing a reduction in the number of cases after an aggressive third wave.

Darville made these comments during a courtesy call paid by Emina Tudakovic, high commissioner of Canada to Jamaica and The Bahamas, at the ministry on Friday, November 12, 2021.

She also presented the minister with medical supplies donated by Canada, facilitated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Dr Eldonna Boisson, PAHO/WHO country representative, was on hand for the presentation.

Darville said: Through this donation of medical supplies from the Canadian government, facilitated by the Pan American Health Organization, The Bahamas can maintain a healthy medical supply inventory for dissemination throughout our archipelago.

He assured that the countrys Supplies Management Agency will distribute the PPE which consists of 22 pallets of isolation gowns, one pallet of nursing caps and one pallet of shoe covers to healthcare workers, especially in the far flung Family Islands who have been on the frontline for almost two years.

They are tired, exhausted, but their love to care for the Bahamian people is never-ending. We appreciate this spirit. Consequently, The Bahamas remains committed to the protection of these workers and its citizenry at large, Darville said.

He noted that as new developments occur in the fight against COVID-19, The Bahamas continues to assess and modify its national response. Safety protocols such as physical distancing, washing hands and wearing masks are preventive measures, along with testing and vaccines.

The goal is to avoid a fourth wave, Darville said, adding that The Bahamas is looking to Canada and other close countries and partners for best practices.

The governments of Canada and The Bahamas boast of enjoying nearly 50 years of diplomatic relations. Contributions in areas such as tourism, trade and investment, education and medicine have helped to advance the causes of both countries.

Canada has always been a good partner and we will continue to reach out for technical assistance, Darville said.

He said that the Davis administration is very optimistic about the future of the healthcare system in the country, which has taken multiple hits from successive major hurricanes, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also shared goals expounded in the recent Speech from the Throne those of addressing the emergency orders, ensuring Family Island clinics are properly equipped, telemedicine, building new hospitals on New Providence and Grand Bahama through public-private partnerships, introducing catastrophic healthcare insurance to make healthcare more affordable, implementing wellness initiatives and related initiatives.

The Canadian high commissioner pledged further technical assistance and support in combating vaccine hesitancy on social media.

Excerpt from:

Bahamas Ministry of Health & Wellness receives $1M in PPE from Canada - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Cable Bahamas saw a nearly 11 percent increase in its first quarter revenue compared to the same period the previous year, the company has reported.

Franklyn Butler, the BISX-listed communications providers chief executive, told Eyewitness News: We are continuing to improve our results revenue, with revenue up nearly 11 percent versus the same period last year, and our operating income is up significantly as well.

The company, in its 2022 first quarter report for the three months ended September 30, 2021, saw revenue of $53,402 compared to $48,217 for the same period in 2020.

Butler told Eyewitness News that based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the company will continue its digital transformation push.

Digital transformation is here to stay. We are going to be continuing to drive our digital transformation. It is one of the areas we think, coming out of pandemic, that is here to stay, said Butler.

We are still seeing just shy of 80 percent of our payments being done digitally. We will do what we can to continue to encourage customers to use digital means of payments.

We have our payment portal and we are integrated with the likes of payment systems like Kanoo.

According to Butler, as the economy, particularly the tourism industry, improves, the company has seen some of its hospitality business return.

We are definitely seeing some of the hospitality business come back. Not everyone has responded or has recovered as quickly, said Butler.

The major hotels have responded the quickest and even now as the emergency orders fall away, we are seeing an uptick. We remain pleased and positive about the future but cautious as well.

Butler said the company is encouraging staff to return to work to ensure the human connection, however, it will likely not be business as usual.

We havent quite finalized it, but we are encouraging departments to start to come back together to ensure the human connection remains here, said Butler.

Im certain we will not go back to full business as usual as it was pre-pandemic.

He added: Were back to pre-pandemic levels in terms of staffing. With the uncertainty of the pandemic, we initially did some downsizing in sales areas and other areas. Once we started to see some relaxation of the restrictions, we immediately began to ramp back up to meet customer demand.

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CONTINUING TO IMPROVE: Cable Bahamas sees 11% revenue rise in Q1; CEO aims at digital transformation push - EyeWitness News

Her Majesty pulled out of the key climate change summit after being urged to rest by her doctors. The 95-year-old monarch was due to travel to Scotland to host a major reception for world leaders at the conference. But Buckingham Palace said that the Queen is only undertaking light duties after spending a night in the hospital for preliminary investigations.

Young climate activist Oniel Leadon, from the Bahamas, was disappointed.

He toldExpress.co.uk: I dont think it made a huge amount of difference that the Queen wasnt here [at COP26] because those who are focused on the work are going to do the work.

But having the Queen here would have been amazing in terms of optics, and in terms of getting the common person to be more engaged as that would have created a huge media frenzy.

But while the Queen could not attend in person, she was able to deliver a message to world leaders via video.

The Queen said in the video that it is "time for words has now moved to the time for action".

She also urged global powers to act now for our children and our children's children" and "rise above the politics of the moment".

But Mr Leadon feels the Queen is now holding his country back.

The Bahamas is a constitutional monarchy, meaning that The Queen has a unique relationship with the country.

As Queen of The Bahamas, Her Majesty plays an important ceremonial and symbolic role in the country, although she is not involved in the day-to-day business of The Bahamas Government.

Mr Leadon toldExpress.co.uk: I feel as though sometimes having the Queen as head of state is a hindrance.

When youre from a place like the Bahamas and you want to make certain advancements, you cannot do so without the Queens permission.

Of course, as she is our head of state, the first one who directly reports to the Queen is the Governor Director General of the Bahamas, and so a lot of things get tied up in that situation."

READ MORE:Putin outsmarts EU again: Russia sends gas prices soaring

Last month, Barbados elected its first-ever president, dropping Queen Elizabeth as the head of the state 55 years after independence from Britain.

And Mr Leadon called for a change to the system in the Bahamas as well.

He toldExpress.co.uk: Would I support removing the Queen as head of state? When the Bahamas is ready, of course.

I believe in the potential of my people so much I know that we have taken so many great lessons from our past Prime Ministers and the wider network of world leaders, and I think that, with the right timing, the Bahamas will be ready to make that separation.

I know that Barbados is doing the very same thing and I love that for my Caribbean people because we are a region of nations that have been so underestimated.

I know there is so much more that we can bring to the world stage and I just need us to have the opportunity, and we need to be able to support ourselves.

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But Mr Leadon did warn that the Queen is still needed for the time being.

He toldExpress.co.uk: I know that a huge part of why we are not able to step away from the monarchy is because of financial reason, its because we dont have investments and dont have a huge amount of backing, but in the right moment when its ready I know that the Bahamas is going to do stellar things on the world stage.

Mr Leadon has built up a huge following on Instagram and is now a prominent young climate activist who has been making waves in the climate movement.

He is still at COP26 where he was involved in talks with The Extreme Hangout, a youth-led climate movement.

The rest is here:

Queen's absence from COP sparks call for her to be REMOVED as Bahama's head of state - Daily Express

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that all of its 22 U.S.-based cruise ships will be sailing by March with guests aboard.

While 17 ships are set to be in service by the end of the year, the five additional vessels are returning by March 15.

Here are the confirmed restart dates for the rest of the fleet:

Carnival LegendCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,100Built:2002Homeport:Baltimore, MarylandItinerary: Week-long Bahamas cruises, with visits to Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays First Cruise:November 14, 2021

Carnival RadianceCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,984Built:2000Homeport: Long Beach, CaliforniaItinerary: Three- and Four-night Baja Mexico cruises First Cruise:December 13, 2021

Carnival ConquestCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,974Built:2002 Homeport:Miami, Florida Itinerary: Three- and Four-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruisesFirst Cruise:December 13, 2021

Carnival SunshineCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,000Built:1996Homeport:Charleston, South Carolina Itinerary: Four- to ten-night Caribbean and Bahamas Cruises First Cruise: January 13, 2022

Carnival LibertyCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,974Built:2005Homeport:Port Canaveral, FloridaItinerary: Three- and Four-night Bahamas cruises with visits to Nassau, Princess Cays and FreeportFirst Cruise: February 11, 2022

Carnival SensationCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,040Built:1993Homeport: Mobile, Alabama Itinerary: Four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises In Service Since:March 5, 2022

Carnival EcstasyCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,40Built:1991Homeport: Jacksonville, FloridaItinerary: Four- and five-night Bahamas cruises First Cruise: March 7, 2022

Carnival ParadiseCapacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,040Built:1998Homeport: Tampa, FloridaItinerary: Four- and five-night Mexico and Western Caribbean cruisesFirst Cruise:March 12, 2022

More here:

Here Are Restart Dates for the Remainder of the Carnival Fleet - Cruise Industry News