Category Archives: Bahamas

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."

See more here:

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."

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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

Chief medical advisor says antiviral drugs will not cancel out the need for vaccinationsDr Fauci predicts a low level of COVID-19 disruption by spring

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Despite the introduction of antiviral drugs against COVID-19, there will still be a need to administer vaccinations globally, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the United States president.

Fauci made the comment yesterday while appearing as a guest on local talk show The Morning Blend with host Dwight Strachan.

His take on the latest COVID-19 treatment to hit the market comes as pharmaceutical companies seek to introduce antiviral medication to treat onset COVID-19 symptoms for high-risk individuals.

Fauci noted that while its very good that we are getting these very promising drugs, prevention is the only way to end COVID-19 outbreaks.

Treatment only helps you to not get seriously ill once you get infected, he said.

If you want to end an outbreak, you have to stop getting infected, and you do that with a combination of vaccines and mitigation methods in such appropriate situations.

He confirmed that vaccinations will still be required even with these new drugs being administered.

The United Kingdom medicines regulator has approved the first antiviral medication for COVID-19 in the form of a pill called molnupiravir.

The pill, which was developed by US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, will begin being given twice a day to vulnerable patients who have been diagnosed COVID-positive.The drug must also be given within five days of developing symptoms in order to be most effective.

Pfizer has also announced that it has developed a pill named Paxlovid that would cut the risk of hospitalizations or death by 89 percent in vulnerable adults.

There is still no cure for the novel coronavirus, with a mix of treatments being used to manage symptoms and effects of the disease.

When will it end?

Asked yesterday how the exit from the pandemic will look, Fauci noted that the world is still moving through the different phases of the pandemic.

You go from the pandemic phase, which means its somewhat controlled which it is, we know that globally then you get to a deceleration of cases over, but then you get to control and there are various levels of control, the US medical expert explained.

So, the WHO (World Health Organization) can declare its over as a pandemic when you get down to a certain lower level of infection throughout the world, but that doesnt mean were done with it because if you get really, really good control, then you have very few cases.

You can declare a pandemic over, but you can still have a lot of cases in the community. We want to get as low-level control as we possibly can.

Fauci added: What we are hoping is that when we get through this winter and go into the spring, then we will have a lower level that it is not disrupting society That will depend very much on how many people around the world get vaccinated.

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DR FAUCI WEIGHS IN: US medical expert speaks on when he sees pandemic being declared over - EyeWitness News

Relative says girl was loving and affectionateResidents regret not becoming involved sooner as there were red flags

NASSAU, BAHAMAS A four-year-old girl was assaulted and died in hospital on Friday, just weeks after sources said she walked to a neighbors house from her Major Subdivision home and asked not to be sent back.

According to reports, doctors at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) informed police around 5pm on Friday that a child had been brought to the hospital unresponsive.

An investigation revealed the girl sustained several injuries to her body.

Police said an autopsy would confirm the exact cause of death.

Police advised that a man and a woman were arrested and were assisting police with their investigation.

In a correspondence with Eyewitness News, a relative identified the girl as Bella, whom he described as sweet, loving and affectionate.

Kevrick Sands, purportedly Bellas older cousin, said she was a happy girl who loved to give hugs.

She was a sweetheart, he told Eyewitness News.

Happy little girl who loved to hug and love to call me daddy, loved to play with her cousin, loved to smile always.

Happy, just a happy, little, lovable person, inside and out, [and] because of Bella showing so much love, she made me want a little girl.

The death of the young girl has sent shockwaves throughout the community and country.

Eyewitness News understands Bella had lived with her father in Freeport, Grand Bahama, before moving to New Providence to live with her mother in recent months.

Yesterday, residents of the street where the girl lived were quick to share their accounts of alleged domestic abuse and incidents in which the mother was locked out of the home, even naked on one occasion.

Some claimed the child was left home alone on occasion and while they were minded to call authorities, they were hesitant to become involved a decision several neighbors said they regret as the child may still be alive today had they done so.

Jason Lord, a resident of 50 years who lives opposite the one-story home where Bella lived, said he saw from his gate when the ambulance arrived and the man came out with the child clutched in his hands and she was unresponsive.

She was limp, Lord said.

They put her inside the ambulance and then I saw the ambulance driver come around.

As I saw him come around, I saw him jump on the passenger side of the ambulance and I beckoned to the ambulance driver to say he hit her, and that was it.

I heard him say call the police and they left, and that was it.

Warning signs

According to sources, police visited the home sometime last year due to a domestic dispute.

Neighbors said there was constant fighting.

One time they had a fight and she actually Lord, I wonder if I should even say this came out naked and ran around the corner and he came after her and brought her back inside and I think the police was called and came to the scene, Lord said.

But other than that, they had a volatile relationship, very volatile.

The neighbors mother, Gean Maxine Lord, 80, told Eyewitness News from her porch that Bella was in the street one day and came to her home seeking something to eat.

I came out her and sat with her and her mother came and she said she reach now, so I said okay then, wait until she parks the car and then she ran over and went to her mother, she said.

When she came over, I asked her where she came from, who she was and where she lived, and she pointed over there I gave her something to eat, and when the mother came, the mother never even came back to say well thank you.

Lord said:That should have been the red flags right there, but none of us picked up on it.

Its a few things that happened, but no one picked up on it.

According to Lord, the mother came to his gate sometime last month and said she was tired of her and her daughter being allegedly beaten.

He said: My mother was going to call the police, but you know when you dont want to get involved, you hold back. Had we known it was like that, I could guarantee you my mum would have been the first to call on the phone.

Another neighbor, who did not wish to be named, said: I dont know too much about the little girl, but she used to come out of the house and go by the woman next door, and when she (the mother) used to come for the little girl, she didnt want to go back to the stepdaddy.

Another resident of over 30 years called the incident shocking and sad.

He agreed that residents should have picked up on the warning signs, but said people tend to mind their business and when residents sought to call the police, the woman defended her partner.

The woman was always trying to defend the man when it comes to us saying police, said another resident of Morleys Close.

Up to the night when she got questioned, however the case may be, she had no type of my child dead or trying to react or whatever. She was calm as day before we knew the little girl had died because that was all we were waiting for to hear from the hospital that the little girl was okay.

Lord added:We all just mind our own business.

But thats something that we feel very, very bad about to the point where I couldnt sleep that night. Thats how bad it was, and I wish and my mum wishes she could have done something, but such a sad situation.

Read the original:

'SHE WAS A SWEETHEART': Four-year-old girl dies after alleged assault - EyeWitness News

ONiel Leadon, a young climate activist and conservationist from the Bahamas headed to the COP26 climate summit to take part in talks with The Extreme Hangout, a youth-led hub and event space at the COP. Having built up a huge following on Instagram for his work, the young leader has been making waves in the climate activism space and is furious with the Prime Minister for abandoning the Commonwealth of Nations.

He launched an attack on Mr Johnson for sending mixed messages on climate, saying that while he appears to be championing the cause of climate awareness, he still supports controversial projects like the Cambo oil field.

Oil drilling and explorations are a huge source of climate emissions, and with the Bahamas being a country that will likely feel some of the most severe impacts of climate change, Mr Leadon has been devastated by Mr Johnsons actions and wants him to do more.

He toldExpress.co.uk: Its like a slap in the face for people like us.

The support is lacking so tremendously for Britains overseas territories, and the homes of individuals who live there are the most at stake.

Id personally like to make an appeal to Boris Johnson to not forget these people.

These people are on the front line of the climate crisis, and considering what the British Government does for its citizens, and I feel the Caribbean overseas territories have been forgotten and it's saddening.

Mr Leadon also hit out at COP26 organisers for ignoring the voices of both young activists and political figures from Britains overseas countries.

My friends from these Caribbean territories could not get the accreditation to attend COP, they could only get it through random entities that were willing to sponsor our youth group, and not UK badges.

There are ministers from the Caribbean in Britains overseas territories who could not get the accreditation to come to COP, and that can be so discouraging.

Mr Leadon said he was expecting much, much more support from the Government.

READ MORE:UK firm sets date for first flights of revolutionary hydrogen planes

Mr Leadon warned that, by 2080, some scientists have predicted that the island will be entirely underwater.

He said: Every time I say that I get so emotional because that is within my lifetime and its not hard to imagine that me and my friends will be dead by the end of the century.

Its devastating to think that I might even have to physically leave my home as a climate refugee.

Continued here:

Boris slammed for 'abandoning' Commonwealth in COP talks: 'Slap in the face for us - Daily Express

Mobile operator drags on BISX-listed parent

Govts total share of losses now over $70m

But Cables 2022 Q1 loss slashed by 64%

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Alivs near-$41m loss for the year to end-June 2021 continues to drag on both its BISX-listed parent and the Government, just-released financial statements reveal.

Cable Bahamas annual group results disclosed that the mobile operators performance continues to weigh heavily on its near-term outlook, with those losses responsible for dropping it back into the red following a profitable 2020 that was achieved via the $301m-plus proceeds from the one-off Summit Broadband sale.

Franklyn Butler, Cable Bahamas group chief executive, could not be reached for comment before press time last night, but the financials also reveal the sustained, continued losses being suffered by the Government due to its majority shareholding in Aliv.

By virtue of its 51.75 percent equity stake, the Governments share of Alivs 2021 financial losses was pegged at $22.107m. That represented a 17.3 percent decline from the prior years $26.573m share of the mobile operators red ink, with the Government having suffered a collective $70.403m loss over the near-five years since Aliv launched in November 2016.

Cable Bahamas holds the remaining 48.25 percent equity stake, and Board and management control, in the mobile phone operator which ended the Bahamas Telecommunications Companys (BTC) monopoly in that market segment.

While many Cable Bahamas shareholders are likely to be alarmed at the extent of Alivs losses, executives from both the BISX-listed communications provider and its mobile subsidiary have repeatedly argued that the journey to achieving profitability for the latter is a marathon and not a sprint.

Damian Blackburn, Alivs former top executive, told this newspaper earlier this year that its positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) growth was a better measure of the companys performance as a start-up mobile operator.

He explained that net or bottom line profitability is a longer-term objective that industry players typically reach in their seventh to tenth years due to the heavy investment in network build-out and the subsequent depreciation that attracts on balance sheet and income statement values.

The figures unveiled by Cable Bahamas seem to provide some support for this argument. Alivs revenues rose 8.5 percent year-over-year to $83.314m, compared to $76.811m for the year to end-June 2020. Operating expenses, meanwhile, remained flat at $70.558m for the 12 months to end-June 2021 as opposed to $70.834m in the prior year.

What drove Aliv to its net loss was continued interest expense on the debt incurred to build-out its nationwide mobile network infrastructure, plus the depreciation and amortisation charges that Mr Blackburn cited to this newspaper in early 2021. They stood at $19.886m and $26.517m, respectively, combining to account for $46.4m worth of expenses. This compared to over $42m in 2020.

While some may argue that these are so-called paper losses related to accounting treatments and practices, and having to include the Governments share, others are likely to retort that a loss is a loss. And it is unclear how patient Cable Bahamas shareholders are willing to be in waiting for Aliv to turn a net profit, especially given that the Bahamian capital markets are extremely dividend driven.

For Alivs loss wiped out more than $12m in net profits generated by Cable Bahamas TV, Internet and fixed-line businesses over the 12 months to end-June 2021. The BISX-listed communications providers group-wide loss was pegged at just over $28m due to the red ink incurred by its mobile subsidiary.

However, Cable Bahamas 2022 first quarter results released yesterday indicate that both group and Alivs performance have improved subsequent to the 2021 year-end with the mobile operator likely losing around $8m for the period based on the $4.522m hit taken by the Government.

And, while Cable Bahamas suffered a $2.009m group net loss for the period based on having to incorporate the Governments loss in its accounts, that represented a 64 percent year-over-year reduction on the $5,524m impact suffered in the 2020 first quarter.

The communications providers share of Alivs losses also appears to have been dwarfed by profits from its other business segments, as net and comprehensive income attributable to its own operations stood at $2.513m.

Elsewhere, Cable Bahamas said it had come back into compliance with covenants related to $60m worth of outstanding bonds after the terms were amended following consultation with the issues trustee.

During the 2020 fiscal year, the group was not in compliance with the financial covenants of the notes as set out in the trustee agreement. As a result, the notes were classified as current liabilities in the comparative consolidated statement of financial position, Cable Bahamas 2021 financial statements said.

During the year ended June 30, 2021, the trustee agreed with the group to amend the notes trust deed covenants. The amended covenants became effective as of June 30, 2021. As such, the notes were reclassified to non- current liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Cable Bahamas has also recognised a provision over its ongoing struggle with the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) over whether the latter or the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is responsible for regulating its Freeport subsidiary.

During 2016 and 2017, URCA issued preliminary determinations outlining perceived breaches by the group relating to the non-payment of fees with respect to operations in Grand Bahama. URCA believes that the group is in breach of Parts IV and XVI of the Communications Act and, as such, has pursued regulatory measures against the group with the view to resolve this matter, Cable said

The group, however, has maintained that based on provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, URCA does not have a legal basis to license its operations in Grand Bahama, and has commenced legal proceedings to support the groups position. As at June 30, 2021, a provision has been recognised for what the group considers to be a probable future outflow.

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Cable and Gov't hit by $41m Aliv losses - Bahamas Tribune

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government is moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization efforts as one of the key planks in its recovery strategy, according to Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis.

He noted that this nations public debt levels have soared to approximately 100 percent of this nations gross domestic product (GDP).

We cannot passively rely on the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

Michael Halkitis

Halkitis, while addressing the Long Island Business Outlook yesterday, stated: When a nations finances are in order, it allows government to invest in policies and programmes like critical infrastructure, education, housing and healthcare that can change the lives of their citizens.

Public debt levels of The Bahamas have soared from approximately 61 percent of GDP in 2018/19 to a shocking 100 percent of GDP by 2020. This has had a negative impact on our credit rating and the nations sovereign debt rating.

Halkitis noted that the Davis administration has no plans for exceeding the borrowing limits foreshadowed in the May 2021 budget.

Our principal concern is the stabilization of the nations finances, said Halkitis.

The government is moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization efforts as another key plank in the recovery strategy.

I want to emphasize that the enhancement of revenue administration is not just about collecting more taxes, it is about ensuring that we minimize tax avoidance and fraud so everyone is paying their fair share and we can do more to relieve the tax burden on everyday Bahamians.

We are moving quickly to finalize the substantive establishment of the Revenue Enhancement Unit. Analyses suggest that the unit could collect hundreds of millions in owed taxes.

He added: The IMF and the Ministry of Finance have estimated an economic expansion of approximately two percent in 2021, increasing to eight percent in 2022. In 2026, we anticipate a return to growth of 1.5 percent for the Bahamian economy.

But to realistically address challenges like unemployment, stagnant household incomes and economic inequality, we cannot passively rely on the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity.

As I have said before, every Bahamian business owner, no matter how big or small their business is, will be empowered by this administration.

Michael Halkitis

With the budgetary deficits that have remained a persistent issue even before the most recent economic downturn, we must be deliberate about growing the Bahamian economy.

To advance our national development, we know that we must actively pursue policies that expand opportunity, diversify industries and support small businesses and entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of the Bahamian economy.

Halkitis also noted that the Davis administration has set a target for regular infrastructure investment at 3.5 percent of its budget in the future.

We see this as necessary economic stimulus and vital to long-term economic growth across our archipelago, he said.

Halkitis also emphasized that the government remains committed to small business development and increasing access to financing through government funding.

We will improve access to grants and loans to incentivize and facilitate the launch of more small businesses and support existing businesses, said Halkitis.

Agencies like the Small Business Development Centre, the Bahamas Development Bank and the Venture Capital Fund will continue to have significant roles to play.

As I have said before, every Bahamian business owner, no matter how big or small their business is, will be empowered by this administration.

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ACTION PLAN: Govt moving quickly to address revenue administration reform and modernization, says minister - EyeWitness News