Daily Archives: February 4, 2021

OVER the weekend, the IC Bahamas Junior Series hosted its first tournament of 2021 for players in the under-10 and under-12 categories at the National Tennis Centre (NTC).

The tournament sponsor was Winterbotham Trust.

Finalists in the various categories are:

Boys 10 - Winner: Lucas Zoebelein. Runner-up: Cameron Ferguson.

Girls U10 - Winner: Marlee Martin. Runner-up: Srae Rodgers.

Boys U12 - Winner: Patrick Mactaggart.

Runner-up - Chase Newbold.

Girls U12 - Winner: Sarai Clarke. Runner-up: Claudia Drgon.

The tournament was the first BLTA sanctioned junior tournament since the pandemic. Juniors were excited to get on the courts with the safety and health protocols in place.

We are very pleased to host the first tennis tournament, said IC Bahamas president Kit Spencer. This is the third year for the IC Tennis Junior Series in the Bahamas. This initial tournament should open the way for tennis tournaments to be staged with the proper safety protocols and procedures.

Spencer extended thanks to Mickey Williams, the tournament supervisor and Tara Mactaggart, the tournament organiser. In addition, Spencer thanked the NTC, BLTA and the officials at the tournament, who recently received training at the BLTAs officiating course.

The BLTA congratulated IC Bahamas for organising this tournament and ensuring a safe, smooth and seamless process. The successful tournament has paved the way for more competitive tennis tournaments in the future in a safe environment and in adherence to strict protocols.

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IC Bahamas Junior Series hosts its first tennis tournament of the year - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBL) has announced a new partnership with local winery Bahama Barrels by Graycliff as it introduces Chillin Red and Chillin White wines.

Commonwealth Brewerys retail division, 700 Wines and Spirits, will be the sole trade distributor.

Densil Deveaux, senior manager for wines at CBL, said: We are thrilled about this wonderful partnership, as CBL has long believed in supporting Bahamian entrepreneurs.

Bahama Barrels, being the only Bahamian winery, is a natural fit to complement our current portfolio of Bahamian brands offered in retail chain.

Bahama Barrels is the brainchild of Paolo Garzaroli, whose family has been associated with excellence in wine since purchasing Graycliff in 1973. The winery is located on West Hill street in a quaint, refurbished convent originally built by the Sisters of Charity.

The Chillin wines are handcrafted by Bahamian winemaker Sylena Cartwright who trained in Italy and is the first ever Bahamian winemaker creating an end-to-end Bahamian collaboration.

Garzaroli said: We are excited to have forged this relationship with Commonwealth Brewery, which allows us to introduce ourselves and our products to the local market. Although The Bahamas is not a wine producer, its influence is evident in the ingredients, branding and overall concept of the Chillin wines.

The Chilln wines were created to fill a void for the newly graduated wine novice. The wines are to be experienced, not exploited, and [are] sure to enhance each celebratory moment.

According to CBL, the slightly sweeter palate of the Chillin wines pairs perfectly with the spice and robust flavor of popular Bahamian cuisines, and both the Sweet Red and Sweet White wines consist of familiar fruity tones.

The Sweet Red offers dense, ripe and powerful flavors of plums, berries and cocoa notes. The Sweet White is described as cheerfully sweet having intense aromas of ripe banana and hints of lime and honeydew melon.

The Chillin wine brand, in addition to Bahama Barrels prosecco, primativo and 14 Degrees Red Blend, are now available at select 700 Wines and Spirits stores across New Providence.

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Commonwealth Brewery Limited and Bahama Barrels join forces for new wine brand - EyeWitness News

But only 61% of public directly enrolled

Relies on private insurers to cover rest

Sectors early fears sufficiently satisfied

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is targeting a rapid expansion that aims to provide more than 90 percent of Bahamians with its basic primary care coverage by 2025.

The plans governing authority, in a just-released report on the publics response to its primary care goals, said widely increased coverage relies on significant buy-in by both private health insurers and physicians to help achieve this objective.

While the NHI Authority is forecasting that 61 percent of Bahamians will be directly enrolled with the scheme within the next four years, its standard health benefit (SHB) - the base level of primary coverage - will reach over 90 percent of the population via private health insurers.

The report reveals that the likes of Colina Insurance Company, Family Guardian and CG Atlantic Medical & Life will be mandated to offer NHIs SHB as part of existing and new policies, meaning their clients will not have to register as NHI beneficiaries despite being able to access the same coverage.

It was not disclosed how this requirement will be mandated and/or enforced, although presumably it will have to be given legislative effect via and Act of Parliament. And expanding the number of private doctors and physicians providing treatment to NHI beneficiaries was cited as key to improving patient outcomes and experiences, as well as expanding services throughout The Bahamas.

The primary care transformation initiative (PCTI) is on track to increase primary care coverage in The Bahamas. By 2025, 61 percent of Bahamians are projected to be enrolled in NHI with more than 90 percent having access to SHB coverage, the NHI Authority report asserted.

No data or analytical models were provided to support these projections, and one healthcare industry source - speaking to Tribune Business on condition of anonymity - said the absence of empirical evidence to support forecasts had been a consistent gap with the NHI scheme.

Everything they have in that document is what they project will happen, the source said. There is no statistical evidence for the hypothesis: This is what we want to happen, this is how we do it, how much it will cost.

This is the theory behind it. From inception NHI has been very theoretical from book knowledge and predictions, but very little is hard facts as to what theyre doing so they can continue to provide cost effective, sustainable healthcare for The Bahamas. Theres no one knocking down the doors to join.

They added that, to achieve its 2025 breadth of coverage objectives, the NHI Authority was hedging its bets on the insurance industry coming on board to provide NHI benefits to beneficiaries, and to be their representatives through an NHI partnership. They are also depending on private physicians to align with NHI to expand then provider platform.

It appears that the Bahamian health insurance industry may have little choice but to comply with the quest for what is billed as universal access to affordable healthcare for Bahamians. The NHI Authoritys latest report acknowledges that its plans mean changes for private insurers and both their individual and group (employer) clients.

Individuals who have coverage through private insurance will no longer be eligible to access primary care coverage from NHI. Instead, they will be able to access SHB coverage through their private policy, the NHI Authority affirmed.

Private insurers will be required to mirror SHB as the minimum standard of coverage for primary care. This means that existing private insurance plans will be strengthened, while requiring no co-payments or deductibles for SHB services and offering an improved patient experience through the electronic health record. Individuals who are privately insured will not need to enroll in the NHI programme.

In addition to the SHB, policyholders will continue to enjoy any existing coverage that they have previously negotiated with their private insurers and/or employers. The reforms under the PCTI will also provide greater cost certainty for insurers and should provide for more predictable and affordable policies.

Sandy Morley, the Bahamas Insurance Associations (BIA) vice-chairman, yesterday told Tribune Business that the health insurance industrys initial concerns over the SHB proposal and NHIs wider implications for the sector have been satisfied following discussions with the Authority.

Weve had extensive dialogue, he said. There have been discussions, and theres a working group that NHI has put in place which includes the Bahamas Insurance Association. There were some initial concerns but we were able to work through them sufficiently and the industry is satisfied with how its going to work.

The only aspect that impacts us is the aspect of primary care. Its not going to impact the additional health benefits for any of our customers. Weve always had the standard benefit. What this does is carve out who should be registered with NHI and who shouldnt be.

The NHI Authoritys latest report reiterated its belief that the public healthcare system, and Bahamian taxpayers, could enjoy a total $55m in savings spread over the next five fiscal years by better integrating the existing primary care facilities (clinics) with treatments provided by NHI.

We envision part of these savings to be reinvested into the system to update and upgrade some public healthcare facilities. Engaging the private sector through public-private partnership (PPP) models will also bring in much-needed investment to enable us to deliver improvements without the burden of financing capital on the public sector, the report added.

Recognising we are in the midst of difficult financial times for Bahamians, the NHI Authority is committed to the journey towards affordable healthcare and universal health coverage. We are seeking to remove financial barriers like co-pays and deductibles in accessing healthcare.

The NHI Authority had previously estimated that it could trim the Governments annual primary healthcare system by $16m per annum come the 2024-2025 fiscal year, lowering the total from $130m under the present structure to around $113m. This would involve NHI accounting for the bulk of such spending, some $91m, while virtually eliminating the Public Hospitals Authoritys (PHA) contribution in this area.

However, the economic devastation inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed some limits on what the NHI Authority can ask taxpayers to fund. For the foreseeable future it is focusing in primary care only, having been forced to pause a planned expansion to include catastrophic care benefits.

The NHI 2.0 proposal included expanded benefits to deliver more comprehensive coverage for high-cost care, a mandate for employers to provide insurance and a national risk pool to enable affordability and access, the NHI Authority said.

In a post-COVID-19 landscape where our economy has recovered, and when the time is right, we will strive to expand coverage and implement other reforms initially envisioned as part of NHI 2.0. For now, we recognise the need to balance our healthcare priorities while considering the challenges our businesses and economy face.

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NHI: We'll protect 90% of Bahamians by 2025 - Bahamas Tribune

Dear Editor,

I read with concern a report in the paper this week about a foreign investor seeking a default judgement against former Sky Bahamas CEO Randy Butler. Dont get me wrong, if the investor has been wronged in the collapse of the airline, he should recover what he is owed.

Many of us are suffering. We have children to feed, school bills to pay, mortgages hanging over our heads. Some who lived on Abaco or Grand Bahama were severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian and were just trying to get back on their feet when calamity struck.

The management and staff of Sky Bahamas have been left out in the cold and cant even get Captain Butler to show up to the Industrial Tribunal to discuss the matter. We have been taken advantage of and totally ignored.

We wish Mr Kaiser all the best in recovering his money, but we dont want our claim to fall between the cracks. Captain Butler knows what he owes us. He should have the decency to come to the table and speak with those who gave him so much over the years.

Sincerely,

A former Sky employee

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Letters to the Editor: What about the suffering Sky Bahamas employees? - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Bridal consulting and wedding coordinating firm Weddings of a Lifetime has launched a promotion to present one lucky winner with a Galentines Treatzza Day on February 13, 2021.

Galentines Day is celebrated on February 13 in various parts of the world as a way of celebrating womens friendship and this year, Weddings of a Lifetime thought: why not bring that concept here to The Bahamas but with a twist?

Weddings of a Lifetime Proprietor Latiska Barr-Carey said: As everyone is aware, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of pain and depression for many persons, with the wedding industry being hit tremendously.

This created a feeling of uncertainty amongst Bahamian brides and grooms with lockdowns, restrictions, etc. Many people didnt know what to do.

So, the thought was to give them a day of pampering with a catered meal, photoshoot, treat box, makeover, mini spa treatment and much more at a serene location.

Anyone can enter the competition by submitting an essay of no more than 100 words stating why their bestie or, like we say in Bahamian colloquialism, boy should be the recipient of the gift.

The winner will be treated to a catered lunch for two, a makeover for the honoree, a photoshoot to commemorate the day, a treat box to share and more.

Essays should be submitted to weddingsofalifetime@gmail.com no later than this Sunday, February 7, with the winner being announced on February 11.

Barr-Carey continued: So, we are encouraging all BFFs who missed out on the opportunity to participate in their friends special day, or a bride and groom of 2020 who were not able to have the wedding they dreamed of, to tell us about it.

And who knows you may be that lucky winner enjoying these prizes.

The Galentines Treatzza Day is sponsored by Weddings of a Lifetime, Just Complete Coverage, Make up Artistry by Tanya Walkes, Thompsons Catering, the Brownie Boutique, Make It Happen Media and Tranquil Moments Waxing and Spa Services.

For more information, visit the Weddings of a Lifetime Facebook page @weddingsofalifetime.

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Weddings of a Lifetime offering Galentine's Treatzza Day to one lucky winner - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Several nurses demonstrated outside of the House of Assembly yesterday in an effort to urge the government to pay money owed to them and protest against what they claimed is a continued lack of respect and unfair treatment.

The nurses chanted we deserve better; we deserve respect as they marched around the Lower Chamber in Parliament Square holding up placards that read: Nurses dont work for free, Give us our money, Nurses lives matters, Wheres your compassion?, and Protect us! We have families to go home to.

Several parliamentarians opted to cross the nurses picket line to greet the healthcare workers and listen to their concerns.

These included Mount Moriah MP Marvin Dames, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis, Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine and Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes.

Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) President Amancha Williams said several nurses in the Department of Public Health have still not been paid for overtime worked during Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and throughout the coronavirus pandemic last year.

Williams said despite meetings with Minister of Health Renward Wells, nurses are not happy with what they are being told.

The expectation is you still want us to come there and work more overtime, but from March you aint pay, she said.

Weve worked. An honest days work is an honest days pay.

She explained that nurses are being offered partial payment of the money owed and will get the arrears in the next six months.

However, she insisted that by the time the first pay period passes, nurses will once again be owed back pay for more overtime worked.

We want everything now because then you would still have seven months in arrears again. Pay it all and lets start again, Williams continued.

The BNU president said if their requests are not met, nurses are prepared to pull their services.

Whatever the nurses said, they are ready to do. We will follow the law of this commonwealth and we will go file our dispute, we will get our strike certificate and we will sit out until this government [gets it right],she said.

One nurse reminded the government that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and their services will be required, especially for administering vaccinations.

If you are treating us like this now, what you think we are supposed to expect when the next strain comes? You expect for us to sacrifice ourselves, she said.

We have nurses who died as well. We have nurses who got sick and their families got sick as well taking care of our Bahamian people. So, why we have to be out here struggling and fighting for what is ours?

This is what we get as being frontline workers; its unfair to us. Why we cant get whats due to us? Yall buying cars, yall buying everything else, yall paving the sidewalks. Persons dont need the pavement to walk on, but we need our money to survive just like everybody else.

While he did not engage nurses who stood in Rawson Square, Wells briefly spoke with members of the media as he entered the House of Assembly, indicating that hed already spoken to the unions leadership on two occasions.

Ive met with their leadership on Monday [and] yesterday, Wells said.

The government has a commitment and the government is going to meet its commitment.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis could be seen entering the House of Assembly from Parliament Street, as opposed to his usual Bay Street entrance, and waved to the nurses that stood in wait.

Disgruntled nurses screamed: We will remember, We hope you come through the back door when you come for our votes and We will tell our families too.

Williams cried shame on Minnis and Wells for failing to speak with them, calling it a disgrace.

At the end of the day, we must say we voted them in and surely we could vote them out, she said.

That was disrespectful. He is our minister. [Minnis] is a doctor first, who worked with us for many years. We are not here to do any harm; all we say is be just and fair.

Williams added: We are saying to pay the people. Thats all were asking. One stroke of a pen, prime minister, and thats it its all over.

However, later in the day, during a back-and-forth with Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin in the House, Wells insisted that the nurses have already been paid.

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Cut the nonsense and pay us: Nurses protest in Rawson Square - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF) Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert was recently recognized as one of The Explorers Clubs 50 people changing the world.

The Explorers Club, on its website, describes itself as an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore.

It only just recently introduced its Explorers Club 50 list, with the 2021 list being the inaugural edition.

The organizations president, Richard Wiese, said: Every honoree featured, as well as the hundreds of other nominees, are exploring, inspiring and creating the future the future of the planet, the future of food security, of paleontology, of biology, what our communities should look like and so much more.

The EC50 (Explorer Clubs 50) was established to not only reflect the great diversity of exploration, but to give a voice to these trailblazing explorers, scientists and activists doing incredible work.

I could not be more pleased with the group selected to represent this first class. Over 400 nominations were received from 48 countries. Over 46 countries of work are represented by the winners from 17 countries of residence.

In a statement, BREEF said it was proud of the achievement.

McKinney-Lambert added: The ocean around us is essential for the social, economic and environmental well-being of The Bahamas. It is one of our greatest treasures and it is up to all of us to protect it.

At BREEF, we encourage everyone to explore this incredible world and to speak out bravely on its behalf as if our future depends on it, because it does.

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BREEF official makes list of 50 people who are changing the world - EyeWitness News