Daily Archives: March 17, 2017

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas is becoming a socialist state, an outspoken FNM candidate said yesterday, blasting the Governments decision to move ahead with controversial labour law reforms as madness.

Dionisio DAguilar, the partys Freetown candidate in the upcoming election, told Tribune Business that the proposed changes to the Employment and Industrial Relations Acts would only make it harder to cut the 25-30 per cent unemployment rate among young Bahamians.

Speaking after Shane Gibson, minister of labour and national insurance, tabled Bills to change both laws in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr DAguilar, who owns and runs the Superwash laundromat chain, warned they would deter Bahamian businesses from hiring.

Acknowledging that the Government would likely accuse himself and the FNM of being insensitive to the plight of Bahamian workers and the proverbial small man, Mr DAguilar argued it was more important to spark job creation for all rather than impede business expansion.

You already have an economy that is not growing, he told Tribune Business. You already have a private sector that is stressed. You already have small businesses screaming about bureaucracy and the cost of running a business, and now youre increasing the taxes they have to pay for running their businesses.

Were becoming a socialist state. This will prevent the free movement of people, and make it more expensive to hire people. Businesses are not going to hire people, and will try like hell to make their businesses as efficient as possible so they dont have to.

Mr DAguilar added: The solution is not to increase the cost of labour. The solution is to make it as easy as possible to hire as many people as possible.

I know theyre [the Government] going to throw the jeer that rich people dont know what poor people are going through, and that Dionisio DAguilar is rich and that he doesnt understand. But Id prefer to have a job.

This is going to turn the private sector off from employing people, and not everyone can currently get a job. Theyll say Im insensitive, but theyre insensitive to that, the FNM candidate continued.

You start to increase the burden on the private sector to employ people, youll make it harder for the 11.6 per cent who are unemployment, the 25-30 per cent of 16-24 year-olds who are unemployed, to get a job. I think its madness.

Key among employer concerns the major 67 per cent increase in the Employment Acts redundancy pay cap.

While notice, or pay in lieu of notice, has been left unchanged, the Government has pressed forward with the two-thirds increase in the cap.

Line staff are currently entitled to a maximum 24 weeks or six months redundancy pay under the Employment Act, gaining two weeks for each year they have been employed up to the 12-year cap.

However, the Bill requires the cap to be increased to 32 weeks (16 years) immediately upon enactment of the reforms. And, ultimately, the cap for line staff redundancy pay is to be increased to 40 weeks some two years after the amendments are passed.

As for managerial staff, the existing 48 weeks (12 months/one year) redundancy pay maximum that they are due currently under the Employment Act is to be immediately increased to 64 weeks. Should the proposals pass, the cap will ultimately be lifted to 80 weeks after two years.

Mr Gibson, addressing the House of Assembly yesterday, with trade union leaders and representatives packing the public gallery, argued that the changes to both Bills would strengthen protections and benefits for Bahamian workers.

He said too many were vulnerable to being made redundant at a moments notice, and were often unable to collect severance pay and other benefits due to them under the law from employers.

Mr Gibson said the changes also mandate that employers must accept a workers request to deduct union dues from their wages, and strengthen the workings of the Industrial Tribunal.

Mr DAguilar, though, said the Employment Acts existing one-year redundancy pay cap for managerial staff, who have been with a company for 12 years or more, was generous. Should the changes go through, employers may have to give long-serving managers more than a year-and-a-halfs pay when they are terminated.

I think its crazy, absolutely crazy, Mr DAguilar told Tribune Business. I always thought the 48 weeks to pay off someone was generous, but now Ive got to pay a year-and-a-half, or 80 weeks, to get rid of them.

This is not going to help employment. People want a job to have a sense of value. Get through the emotion of rich persons giving benefits to the poor. We want to grow the economy, and keep people employed.

Most of the proposed reforms appear to be a direct response to the situation at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort, where the hotel is no longer collecting union dues and paying them to the union, and Sandals Royal Bahamians termination last August of its near-600 strong workforce - an event some regarded as union busting.

Sandals, though, said that with no industrial agreement in effect between the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) and the resort industry, it had no choice but to terminate its workforce to facilitate much-needed repairs.

And observers have pointed out that responsibility for the absence of a binding industrial agreement rests squarely with the BHCAWU, as it failed to initiate negotiations on changes it wanted prior to the previous deals expiry - resulting in employers continuing as if the latter was still in effect.

The proposed reforms to section 51 of the Industrial Relations Act appear to be an attempt to counter this, as they deem the terms and conditions of industrial agreements as automatically incorporated into individual workers contracts.

Other proposed amendments force employers to start collective bargaining talks within 45 days of receiving a trade unions industrial agreement proposal - something that appears designed to counter situations such as the one where Sandals refused to treat and deal with the Bahamas Hotel, Maintenance and Allied Workers Union.

Read the rest here:

Bahamas 'Nears A Socialist State' - Bahamas Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JIMMY Norius, Paul Mighty Mouse Wilson and Alberto Armbrister said it was one of the most impressive team performances they ever experienced over the weekend at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Diamond Cup Caribe in the Dominican Republic.

The trio, accompanied by coach/judge Wellington Cat Sears, returned home with three medals on Monday.

Norius said he was so impressed with what he saw. He was in awe that even after the competition was completed on Saturday, both Wilson and Armbrister went right back in the gym in the hotel to work out. They performed very well. From the time we left for the airport to our arrival in the Dominican Republic to going to the venue to be on time to compete, these guys were real professional in what they did, Sears said.

I only coach Alberto here at Iron Man Gym, but you had Paul from Better Bodies and Jimmy from Club One. But when we went there, it was just one team from the Bahamas. They all worked together and that was the result that we got.

Sears said the only problem he experienced was when he was eating his grilled chicken and fries. He said all three of the competitors had the nerve to stare him down, but he reminded them that he wasnt the one competing.

Other than that, they were an excellent group of persons to work with, Sears said.

In just his second year in the sport, Sears said Armbrister came out of his off-season training and performed exceptionally well.

Armbrister, one of seven competitors in the mens physique short class, got a silver medal. Ronald Diaz of the Dominican Republic won the gold and Rodrigo Oscos of Mexico got the bronze.

I think my performance was very good, said the soft spoken Armbrister. If I had to do it all over again, I know I would go back and win another medal. I just have to work a little more on my overall conditioning. But this is my off season, so I think I did very well.

Armbrister applauded the other members of the team for pulling him along when he needed the extra motivation as novice in the sport. He said his performance will definitely inspire him to get ready for the rest of the year, including the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Mexico in September.

Wilson, competing against four other competitors, picked up the bronze in the mens bodybuilding lightweight category. Hemradj Mulai of Aruba won the gold and Rafaelin Maria Mora from the Dominican Republic got the silver.

I am very pleased. After taking a whole year, I thought I was going to bea little disappointed, but I was pleased because for me to come back and compete against so many veteran competitors and win a bronze medal, I cant ask for anything more.

My birthday went along and I had to push myself for the show. But Im a perfectionist and I knew I wasnt going to go there and compete if I wasnt ready. The level of competition was still as high as I remembered because the guy who won, me and him normally go back and forth. So I was pleased.

Wilson said he just have to get a little tighter for CAC and work more on his tanning so that he can be in a position to content for the gold, just as he did when the championships was held here in 2015.

We had a very high success rate as a team, Wilson said of the teams performance. We knew the kind of competition we were going up against, so for us to do what we did, we did very well and represented the Bahamas.

If they had carried some of the female competitors with them, Wilson said they were confident that they could have secured their pro cards because of how well they compete.

Norius, the veteran of the crew, captured the silver medal in the mens bodybuilding. Patrick Coicou of Haiti beat him out for the gold. Seven competitors participated in the category. Jean Laventure Spely, also from Haiti, picked up the bronze.

It was the second competition for Norius, who competed in the Joe Weilders Mr Olympia Amateur South America in February in Medellin, Colombia. During that competition, Norius moved into the physique segment where he placed fifth.

Physically I was about 80 percent ready for the competition, Norius said. Prior to competing in those two meets, I was going through a lot personally with my family. So I think the competition in Colombia really boosted my confidence and when I got a chance to go to the Dominican Republic, I knew I could do it again.

Norius said he was so happy when he heard both judges and competitors tell him welcome back to bodybuilding after he tried his hand at the physique competition.

Sometimes you have to try your hand at other things, he said. But bodybuilding is my first love and I always want to be versatile, jumping from bodybuilding to mens physique to mens classic. I just want to prove my versatility in the sport.

Norius said he was contented to compete in the Dominican Republic, having had both Wilson and Armbrister on the sidelines helping him out. He said the presence of Sears also made a difference because he was able to point out some things that they couldnt see.

We became stronger as a team and I think that was what made a difference in the way we performed so well at the championships, Norius summed up.

The competitors are now preparing for the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federations National Bodybuilding Championships on July 29 in New Providence. Prior to the nationals, some of the local competitors are expected to compete in the Florida Grand Prix on May 6 in West Palm Beach and the Southern States Championship on July 7.

The CAC Championships is set for September 8 to October 1 in Mexico.

Read more from the original source:

Team Bahamas 'Performed Very Well' - Bahamas Tribune

Chicago Tonight | WTTW

Dragged Behind a Boat, Shedd Team Searches for Queen Conch in Bahamas Chicago Tonight | WTTW Shedd Aquarium sent Andy Kough to the Bahamas last year to hang onto a snorkel board while getting towed through the ocean. But what sounds like a Caribbean watersports adventure was actually part of an ongoing research project to preserve queen ...

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Dragged Behind a Boat, Shedd Team Searches for Queen Conch in Bahamas - Chicago Tonight | WTTW

As you may have heard, Tiger Woods hasn't played much golf as of late. However, while his return remains ambiguous, the 14-time major winner is still making his mark on the game.

On Tuesday, Woods and TGR Design announced the 41-year-old will helm a 10-hole short course in the Bahamas. Named "The Playgrounds," the course will sit on the Atlantic Ocean with a sister 18-hole links to follow suit. The courses will be part of a private development called Jack's Bay.

"I am honored to be part of this spectacular project in paradise," Woods said in a press release. "The amazing convergence of land and sea calls for an equally unique and incredible golf experience that TGR Design can deliver. The golf course complements this luxury resort destination because it's designed for golfers to have fun, while still being challenged. The biggest challenge might be to remain undistracted by the phenomenal views!"

Woods has increasingly delved into the design world. He was tabbed to lead a golf project in Chicago next to Barack Obama's presidential library, and his Bluejack National in Texas was named one of Golf Digest's Best New Courses in 2016.

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Tiger Woods to design 10-hole course in the Bahamas - Golf Digest - GolfDigest.com

Shades of green! Jennifer Lopez was spotted working out at a beachside gym on Sunday, March 12, while on vacation in the Bahamas with her new boyfriend, Alex Rodriguez.

The "Ain't Your Mama" singer, 47, looked incredible in a lime-green sports bra, black leggings with a matching lime-green trim and neon sneakers. She kept her eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses and wore her hair in an updo as she stood outside the exclusive Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club with a female friend.

As previously reported, Lopez and Rodriguez, 41, flew on a private jet from Miami to the Bahamas on Friday, March 10, for a romantic weekend getaway. Days earlier, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that the hot new couple are indeed dating. "They started hanging out a couple of weeks ago," the insider told Us. "It's been really secretive."

That is, until the Shades of Blue actress made the romance Instagram official. Late Sunday, March 12, she teased fans by posting a grainy selfie with her new beau, only to delete it almost immediately after.

A second source told Us the timing of J.Lo and A-Rod's relationship felt right because they were able to bond over being parents. "They're in the same place in their lives, they both have kids around the same age," the insider told Us of Lopez, who shares 9-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Rodriguez, who shares daughters Natasha, 12, and Ella, 8, with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis.

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Jennifer Lopez Works Up a Sweat in Lime Green Sports Bra on Bahamas Vacation With Alex Rodriguez - Us Weekly