Category Archives: Bahamas

GLENNETT Fowler delivering the commencement address.

GRADUATES of the University of The Bahamas North in Grand Bahama have overcome tremendous adversity to complete their academic journeys and become members of the 2021 Commencement Class.

Thursday, June 3, was a proud day for those graduates, their families and friends as UB celebrated their achievements and sacrifices in a virtual commencement ceremony.

UB North Campus president Dr Ian Strachan praised the graduates and challenged them to use their knowledge and university experiences to make a positive difference in the world. He called them victorious for having tapped into new springs of energy, ingenuity and resolve. The new grads had to overcome the upheaval of being relocated from their East Grand Bahama campus, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian, and had to quickly adapt to remote education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal of a university education is not to get you a job as some may think at the heart of it, your educations deeper purpose has been to train your mind, to teach you how to think, to build in you the capacity to problem solve and to invent for yourself and for your generation, better ways of being and doing, he said.

Your country needs you, your world needs you. It is a divided world. It is a world where different versions of truth wage war, and where power is too often heartless and over proud. UB believes in you. I believe you.

Graduates completed programmes in the schools of business and hospitality management, education, chemistry, environmental and life sciences and social sciences.

Glennett Fowler, commencement guest speaker, president and CEO of FOWLCO Ltd, a marine logistics company, encouraged the newest members of the UB alumni community to use their creativity as a beacon to guide their next pursuits and to solve problems.

You must resolve that you will create your own opportunities. Everyone does not have to become an entrepreneur to lead or to create. In whatever path chosen you must not settle for the accepted pattern, but bring change to the way business is done and create change through your work and its execution, she said. Rethink industries. Look at what we are not maximising or look at what does not exist. Create, innovate and watch them celebrate you.

She shared insights as a wife, mother and corporate leader to encourage the commencement class to set and achieve goals that will bring about transformation.

We can no longer afford to be left behind because of an unwillingness to change and adapt to the opportunities that will soon present themselves to us. Believe that in this moment, as you receive your degree, that your world will change for better, said Mrs Fowler. Do not miss out on what life has to offer you because you are watching what it offers someone else. Create the future that you want and be mindful that we need each of you to be a catalyst and a renegade for a better, brighter and more prosperous Bahamas.

Primary education graduate Dion McKinney, who earned the UB-North Campus Award for Academic Excellence, delivered impassioned reflections on behalf of the commencement class.

He praised the tenacity and perseverance of his fellow graduates and challenged them to embrace challenge and change.

Class of 2021, it is important to note that whatever we do and wherever we go on this journey called life, we must take time out for ourselves. Talk to yourself, work on yourself and empower yourself. Just think about it; there is no one on planet Earth with the exact genetic make-up as you, so out of every single person in this world no one is exactly like you and for that, graduates, you are a treasure, he noted.

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A long journey - but University of the Bahamas graduates reach their commencement - Bahamas Tribune

Excitement reigns as we are just days away from a cruise restart from the Bahamas. Royal Caribbeans Adventure of the Seas sailed into the port of Nassau on Tuesday in preparation of what can be reasonably called a significant moment in the restart of cruises in North America.

It has been a long 15 months since we saw ships sailing from the Bahamas, and the arrival of Adventure of the Seas is received with a warm Bahamian welcome.

Adventure of the Seas will sail on a series of 7-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruises from Nassau starting June 12, the first ship in the fleet to sail in North America since March of 2020. The arrival of the ship was fittingly celebrated by the port of Nassau with a traditional water salute from the Nassau Harbor Pilots Association.

Nassau, Bahamas Travel Tips: What You Need to Know

Mike Maura, the CEO of Nassau Port, reported the following: We couldnt be happier. This vessel and all the hope that this first voyage will carry out to sea on Saturday have been a long time in the making. We are very appreciative that Royal Caribbean has chosen to partner with us, with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and all our industry partners to make this home port launch from Nassau possible. As you can imagine, we are all extremely excited and working overtime to ensure that this launch is successful.

Passengers can expect to experience a genuine Bahamian welcome with a Party In da Backyard when they arrive at the port this Saturday. The welcome will involve live music, junkanoo performances, drills by the students of the LJM Maritime Academy, and of course, ice-cold Bahamian Kalik beers.

The arrival also means Bahamians can experience the cruise ship for themselves while not traveling to the mainland USA.

The Bahamas is for a great deal dependent on tourism for its income, and the return of cruising will bring a restart of tourists arriving at the islands in more significant numbers once again.

Maura continued to say, This is our time to shine and to put Nassau on the map as a homeporting destination of choice. We will do so with immense pride, making the Bahamian people proud and making our guests and cruise line partners excited that they chose to start and end their cruise in Nassau. This is the beginning of an incredible voyage for us all.

Cruisers can expect to see a port that is undergoing a complete makeover; the cruise port already made significant updates to its facilities and will be able to accommodate three Oasis-class ships at the same time by November 2021.

Royal Caribbean has been preparing for a restart in North America for many months now, and the company is taking full advantage of the chances it is getting. The cruise line plans to be sailing with twelve ships by the end of August this year.

Worth Reading: Six Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships to Restart This Summer out of Florida and Texas

Cruises in the United States will kick off on July 2nd when Freedom of the Seas starts sailing from Miami on a Fourth of July weekend sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay. Other ships that are lined up for a restart in the United States are Odyssey of the Seas which will sail six- and eight-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, starting July 3, and Serenade of the Seas which will sail from Seattle on seven-night Alaska sailings starting July 19.

Adventure of the Seas will be sailing on 7-night cruises from Nassau in June and July which will call in Nassau, Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas before returning to Nassau, Bahamas

In this day and age, it comes as no surprise that cruises onboard Adventure of the Seas come with increased health requirements to ensure all have a safe voyage and time onboard. Royal Caribbean launched its revised health protocols a while ago for Bahamas cruises and these include a number of protocols:

Also Read: Royal Caribbean Releases Health Protocols for Bahamas Sailings

While Adventure of the Seas prepares for her sailings, you can follow the fun during a live coverage through the Nassau Cruise Port Facebook page.

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to Begin Cruises from Nassau This Weekend! - Cruise Hive

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Human Rights Bahamas (HRB) yesterday expressed dismay over the sharp increase in public criticism and attacks on Supreme Court rulings by members of the executive branch of government.

It follows public statements from Attorney General Carl Bethel and Public Works minister Desmond Bannister over the recent Supreme Court ruling to extend its shantytown injunction to the entirety of Abaco.

This decision prevents the government from destroying shantytown communities without bringing evidence of a breach of the law to the court first.

Supreme CourtJustice Cheryl Grant-Thompson handed down her ruling yesterday morning.

In our view, this very disturbing trend poses a serious threat to judicial independence and the rule of law in The Bahamas, the HRB statement read.

We condemn the growing tendency of Cabinet Ministers to lash out against judges, in hostile and inflammatory tones, whenever they do not like the contents of a ruling. The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy where freedom of speech is protected. However, Ministers must remember that they are not ordinary citizens and that their public statements are extremely influential with political supporters and the public at large. It is no mistake that the increasingly aggressive tone of Ministers has been accompanied by a rise in open hostility and threatening language against judges on social media.

Outside Cabinet on Tuesday, Bannister referred to the courts decision as nonsense and not worth the paper it is written on.

HRB noted the publication of his comments were accompanied by a host of online attacks accusing the judge of political bias and questioning her patriotism and nationality, demanding to see her birth certificate, etc.

The statement continued: HRB agrees with Legal Director Frederick Smith, QC, and also with Wayne Munroe, QC, who respectively referred to Bannisters comments as scandalous and inappropriate. We call upon elected officials to tone down the anti-judiciary rhetoric which if continued, could have the effect of intimidating judges and ultimately threatening the rule of law in The Bahamas.

The Judiciary in The Bahamas is already forced to operate under duress. Judges do not have proper security of tenure and can be forced into retirement or else have their appointment extended, based on the governments whim. If they are non-citizens, judges are often denied any form of permanent immigration status, with their families and personal lives left in limbo as a result.

Meanwhile, the government routinely ignores rulings of the court, for example, the 2015 decision that should have seen the Blackbeards Cay unregulated development shut down, but which was never enforced.

The statement read: In the face of these formidable challenges, the Judiciary has nevertheless maintained courageous independence from the Executive Branch, never shying away from correcting elected officials when they overstep the boundaries of the law. This is the central role and most sacred function of the courts: to serve as a check on unbridled power and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.

In many dictatorships and failed states around the world, the judiciary has been effectively undermined by strong-arm tactics, threats and intimidation, to the extreme detriment of civil society and the public at large. The Bahamas does not want to go there. We urge the government to back off, cease and desist from denigrating the decisions of judges, and let justice take its course in accordance with the Constitution.

HRB added: There are few things so important to the preservation of democratic institutions as an independent judiciary. Almost always, where democracy breaks down, it is because those who hold political power overstep their official roles and begin to act outside of the law. Our judges are the last line of defence against such tyranny. All right-thinking Bahamians who love the rule of law should stand behind the judiciary, support their independence and condemn government aggression against judges.

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MIND YOUR TONE: Human Rights group accuses Government of threatening the rule of law - EyeWitness News

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas got a chance to produce times for three relay teams for the first time this year heading into the Olympic Games, while individual qualifiers - hurdler Pedrya Seymour and sprinter Tynia Gaither - are preparing for their trip to Tokyo, Japan, this summer.

The performances, along with sprinter Teray Smith, quarter-miler Alonzo Russell and jumpers Tamara Myers and Kendrick Thompson, came at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) New Life Invitational Track and Field Meet at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, on Saturday.

NACAC provided an opportunity for relay teams in the region, who didnt get a chance to go to the World Relays in Poland earlier this year, to get a chance to post a team for consideration for a lane at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

It also enabled those athletes, who didnt have a chance to go overseas to compete in the international events staged in Europe, to compete and also attain the standard for the Olympics, scheduled for July 23 to August 8, before the deadline at the end of the month.The Bahamas mens team of Wendell Miller, Michael Mathieu, Wanya McCoy and Alonzo Russell won the 4 x 400m relay in three minutes and 03.51 seconds. Mexico, the only other team entered, trailed in 3:04.17.

In the womens 4 x 100m, the quartet of Denisha Cartwright, Tynia Gaither, Pedrya Seymour and Paige Archer ran 44.41 for second place behind Trinidad & Tobago, who won in 43.96.

However, they were the only two countries who participated.

And in the mens 4 x 100m relay, Karon Dean, Keanu Pennerman, Ian Kerr and Kendrick Thompson had to settle for fourth in 40.49. Jamaica won in 39.22, followed by Trinidad & Tobago A and B teams in 39.75 and 40.30 respectively.

Pedrya Seymour, coming off her 7th place finish in the womens 100m hurdles in 13.57 at the Wanda Diamond League in Gateshead on May 23, was third on Saturday in 12.81, but if it wasnt wind-aided, it would have surpassed the Olympic qualifying time of 12.84.

Nigerian Tobi Amusan won in 12.44 and Andrea Vargas of Costa Rica was second in 12.76.

It was a good performance, but Im not feeling ready to compete and execute, said Seymour, who qualified for the Olympics prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Before or at other meets, I was still learning and working on a few things, so I was thinking a lot in races instead of just competing.

Today was the first time this season I was actually able to run freely. I had a great time competing with the 4 x 100m ladies. We prayed before we ran that we would qualify and just build chemistry. We got part of the job done. This trip was so much fun just being around Bahamians.

Seymour, who is training out of Alabama, said it was so good to see so many Bahamians cheering them on. For her, it felt like a mini Carifta Games.

In the womens 200m, Tynia Gaither was fourth in 23.10, the time as third place finisher Jodie Williams of Great Britain.

Jamaican Elaine Thompson won in 22.54 with Kyra Jefferson of the USA coming in second in 22.77 as they both went under the Olympic qualifying time of 22.80.

Gaither, 28, also competed in the heats of the 100m, running the sixth fastest qualifying time of 11.19 as Thompson emerged on top of the field in 10.92. The times were wind-aided in the heats as they went over the allowable reading +2.1m/per second.

However, Gaither didnt contest the final as Thompson took the tape in a legal time of 10.87 with the next three other finishers joining her in running below the Olympic qualifying time of 11.15.

The others were American Tianna Bartoletta (10.96), Jamaican Brianna Williams (10.97) and Trinidad & Tobagos Michelle-Lee Ayhe (11.04).

It was really good. It was good to be around the team. It was a really good meet, Gaither stated. I enjoyed it. Ive been competing a lot these past few weeks, so I just wanted to use this meet as training.

Im not where I want to be as far as my fitness goes. Ive doubled a lot in the past few meets, so I just decided today to run the preliminaries of the 100m and sit the final out if I made it and just try to focus on the 200m.

The mens 200m saw Grand Bahamian Teray Smith pick up third place in 20.92. American Deveon Collins won in 20.73, while Kyle Greaux was second in 20.84. The mens half-lap times, however, were wind-aided, going over the allowable reading of +2.1m/s

It was good to compete in a regional meet. It was my first professional race for the season. Ive been dealing with a little hamstring/hip injury for the past two months, but its good to come and compete and feel no pain,: Smith said.

So Im just trying to get myself prepared for the nationals. I didnt have any time in mind. I just wanted to execute my race and finish and move onto the3 next one because of the leg injury. So finishing healthy is good enough for me.

The 26-year-old, now training with MVP International in Boca Raton, Florida under Bahamian coach Henry Rolle, said his ultimate goal is to come home for the nationals and qualify for the Olympics.

In the mens 400m, Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell got third in 46.44. Trinidad & Tobagos Deon Lendore won in 45.58 and American Lashawn Merritt was second in 46.22. Neither of the competitors did the Olympic standard of 44.90.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Xavier Coakley missed out of a place in the finals when he placed ninth in the preliminaries in 14.08. American Michael Dickson had the fastest qualifying time of 13.37 before he took the final in 13.16, both wind-aided.

On the field, Tamara Myers soared 45-feet, 10 1/2-inches for third place in the womens triple jump. While her performance was legal, Ana Tima of the Dominican Republic cleared 46-10 1/4 (14.28m) and American Amani Oliver did 46-2 (14.06m) for first and second, but they were both wind-aided.

And in the mens long jump, Kendrick Thompson did 23-5 1/4 (7.14m) as American Demarcus Simpson won with 26-5 1/2 (8.06m), but all of the marks in the competition were wind-aided.

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Bahamas relay teams hit the track - Bahamas Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

An ex-Cabinet minister yesterday warned we blow everything up if an estimated $2bn in unfunded civil service pension liabilities is added to the national debt, adding: We never thought judgment day would come.

Dr Duane Sands, former minister of health, told Tribune Business that we have to do a lot of things right if The Bahamas is to extract itself from an economic and sovereign debt crisis that has been both accelerated and worsened by a combination of Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

Speaking after giving a sobering budget debate contribution in the House of Assembly, he argued that the government, all politicians and the Bahamian people must call a spade a spade and take ownership of the problems that threaten to engulf the country if not rapidly addressed.

Arguing that austerity measures will be less painful if The Bahamas takes control of its own destiny rather than letting them be managed by the likes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr Sands said this nation will now have to abandon the near-50 year practice of borrowing to cover government deficits that it has employed since independence.

The Elizabeth MP, acknowledging that many Bahamians were likely unaware of how their living standards, disposable incomes and quality of life stand to be affected by the measures the government will take to address its fiscal woes, also conceded that the country has effectively mortgaged its future for several generations to come as a result of the debt taken on both pre-COVID and during the pandemic.

Confirming that his budget debate contribution had delivered this message in not so many words, Dr Sands said The Bahamas cannot afford to ignore the fact that it is in deep, deep trouble due to the condition of both the economy and the public finances.

Its scary, but its real. Its factual, Dr Sands told this newspaper of the countrys economic and fiscal outlook. The first thing is that weve got to claim it, and if we dont claim it we will never start. Weve got to call a spade a spade. We cannot pretend things arent what they are. We never thought judgment day would come. Its going to be an awful lot of work. Its going to be awkward, uncomfortable things politically to dig ourselves out of this mess.

I dont think we had much choice with this Budget. You have got to set the stage that the belt tightening comes, that we address these issues that we have kind of swept under the rug for so long. Hope is not a fiscal strategy. Something as simple as looking at the unfunded pension liabilities. We aint talking about that. If we put that on the books it blows everything up.

The governments finances, which project that the direct national debt will hit $10.386bn by end-June 2022,are calculated on a cash basis. They have yet to switch to accrual-based accounting, which measures future spending commitments that have yet to be incurred and, as a result, the true extent of The Bahamas liabilities is not measured or disclosed annually.

Among the items not covered by the national debt are the Governments unfunded public sector pension liabilities, which are currently financed like a pay-as-you-go scheme via an annual Budget allocation. The amount provided for this in the 2021-2022 Budget is $116.1m, which is projected to increase by more than $119m in 2023-2024.

Previous research by the KPMG accounting firm projected that these unfunded liabilities will likely be around $2bn at this stage which, when added to the national debt, would take it well over $12bn by end-June 2022. Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finances acting financial secretary, said the Government was now collating information from various government departments and agencies to help create recommendations for addressing the issue.

But the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as recently as its 2018 Article IV report on The Bahamas, warned that the current system - where civil servants contribute nothing to funding their retirement - is unsustainable.

The Washington DC-based fund listed civil service pensions, together with the public sectors wage bill and loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs), as three key reforms that the government must target if it is to reverse The Bahamas fiscal decline - and that was before both Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The civil servants pension system is unsustainable, the IMF warned two years ago. Government employees draw pensions at retirement without contributing to the system while employed. Staff analysis in the 2016 Article IV Staff report noted that accrued government pension liabilities totaled $1.5bn in 2012, and would rise to $3.7bn by 2030 as the population ages.

The IMF called for reforms that involve moving to a contributory regime in the near term, and to a defined-contribution scheme in the medium-term. This would require civil servants to contribute a portion of their salary to funding their retirement, rather than having this financed 100 percent by the taxpayer through the budget - as is done currently.

And a presentation delivered by KPMG in 2013, the early years of the last Christie administration, estimated the unfunded, pay-as-you-go, civil service pension liabilities at around $1.5bn. These liabilities were set to increase to $2.5bn by 2022, and $4.1bn by 2032, unless reforms wereenacted - and this is still yet to happen.

Dr Sands, meanwhile, backed the Governments position that The Bahamas must focus on stronger economic growth as the primary solution for its present crisis since austerity measures - new and/or increased taxes, and spending cuts - would not be enough by themselves.

We have to grow our economy, and the way we do that is making sure we take out a lot of the blockages to successful businesses or removing the things that cause businesses to fail prematurely, he added.

The whole anti-Immigration issue. Theres a level of immigrant expertise, and Im not talking about menial skills; Im talking special, specialist skills. We in The Bahamas have a problem with that, and we have to move beyond that if we are going to thrive.

Im about 60 years-old, and Ive watched this thing wax and wane. Sometimes were in deep trouble, and then things get better, but right now were in deep, deep trouble. You raise a very important question: Does the average Bahamian believe anything I said today? Probably not, because we have made it seem that all we need to do is pick the right guy and well be OK, Dr Sands continued.

There are people who believe that if you dont have it, borrow it. Not for much longer, thats for sure. With the Government set to pay more than $512m in debt servicing costs alone during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, and repay some $900m in principal to investors, Dr Sands suggested that these two obligations alone amounted to 50 percent of the Budget when combined.

We cannot pay it back without substantial growth, he added, and that means we have to do a lot of things right. We have got to be innovative, we have got to be creative and whatever product we have has to be world class.

If were going to stick with tourism it has to be world class; not so-so, not middle of the road. World class. In some instances our tourism product has dropped. We have got to do it right all the time, every time.

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$2bn pension liability 'blows everything up' - Bahamas Tribune

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is reported to be currently in the Bahamas with ENIC owner Joe Lewis, according to The Telegraph.

Lewis, 84, who is worth anestimated 4.4billion, became a tax exile and based himself in the Bahamas in the 1980s and 1990s (Daily Mail).

The North Londoners are currently still yet to confirm who will be replacing Jose Mourinho as the clubs new head coach after the 58-year-old was dismissed in April.

Tottenham have now turned their attention to Paulo Fonseca after previously being linked with the likes of Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.

The Telegraph claim that Fonseca, who left AS Roma at the end of last season is confident that he will reach an agreement to become the head coach at Tottenham with both parties currently in discussions.

Levy is said to have given the green light for a deal to be completed for Fonseca to take up the role with the former Portugal midfielder having postponed a flight to Ukraine this week, the country of his wife while talks between his representatives and Spurs take place.

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Report: Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis meet in the Bahamas ahead of managerial appointment - The Spurs Web

The weather has been glorious this week.

Mother Nature has certainly blessed us with clear skies and soaring temperatures.

For us Brits, who are traditionally sceptical of the weather (who can really blame us?), we may assume the hot weather will be short-lived.

After all, May was filled with rainclouds and the odd bit of sunshine.

But the Met Offices latest forecast proves weve got a lot to be excited about.

The weather experts suggest temperatures will be 25C and over from today (June 10) and across the weekend.

And your urge to go abroad may be satisfied as one area of London will see temperatures hotter than the Bahamas!

On Friday June, 11, temperatures will be 25C with the overcast changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime.

Sunny intervals will be expected on Saturday June, 12, with high temperatures of 25C.

Sunday June, 13, will see the highest temperatures this week at 28C and is expected to remain sunny the entire day.

The following day, on Monday (June 14), will also have highs of 28C and be sunny throughout the day.

The beginning half of next week will also remain incredibly warm with 26C on Tuesday and Wednesday.

So it is certainly time to whip out your sun cream and sunnies and bask in the sunshine.

You may even feel like you are on holiday rather than in the capital of the UK.

In fact, on Monday June, 14, Kew Gardens will see highs of 30C which will be hotter than the temperatures in Mexico, the Bahamas or Ibiza.

Do you remember the days we were shivering with a pint while dining outdoors? Well those days are over, you can now enjoy alfresco dining this weekend in the sunshine.

Make the most of it Londoners, you deserve it!

MyLondons brilliant new newsletter The 12 is packed with news, views, features and opinion from across the city.

Every day well send you a free email at around 12pm with 12 stories to keep you entertained, informed and uplifted. Its the perfect lunchtime read.

The MyLondon team tells London stories for Londoners. Our 45 journalists cover all the news you need - from City Hall to your local streets.

Never miss a moment by signing up to The 12 newsletter here.

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London weather: Exactly when London will be hotter than Mexico, the Bahamas and Ibiza - My London

He was widely reported to be a bargaining chip last offseason with general manager Bill Guerin trying to nab a No. 1 center. And with the Seattle Kraken coming into the NHL this offseason, many think the Wild might be forced to expose the 26-year-old defenseman in the July 21 expansion draft.

Luckily for Dumba, he has experience blocking out the noise. Asked how he plans to do that over the next six weeks, Dumba smiled and replied, Im thinking of going to the Bahamas and just leaving my phone.

Its no secret that Dumba wants to stay with the Wild. He made that clear in his exit meeting with Guerin earlier this week.

I emphasized to him that this is home for me, Dumba said. This is where I want to be. I love it here.

This isnt the first time Dumba has been at the epicenter of the expansion draft.

When the Vegas Golden Knights came into the league in 2017, Dumba seemed like the natural choice. Instead, former general manager Chuck Fletcher opted to trade top prospect Alex Tuch in a side deal that ensured the Golden Knights selected Erik Haula.

That kept Dumba safe at the time and it might take a similar move to keep him safe again this offseason. Its likely that the Wild decide to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender as opposed to the other option that allows them to protect eight skaters and one goalie.

The only problem with the first plan is the Wild have to protect defensemen Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin because of their no-movement clauses. That would leave Dumba exposed, thus highlighting the need for a potential side deal.

They have always found a way to make it work in the past, Dumba said. My names in trade speculation every year. Ive become accustomed to it. It is what it is. Ive expressed my feelings about where I want to be and where my heart is. At the end of the day, thats all I can do.

For the Wild, theres definitely a benefit in keeping Dumba around. Hes an extremely dynamic player on the blue line, and maybe more importantly, hes developed into the unquestioned leader in the locker room. Frankly, when Dumba isnt around, its noticeable both on and off the ice.

With the expansion draft scheduled for July 21, Dumba will only have to wait six weeks to learn his fate. In the meantime, he plans to enjoy his summer as best he can.

This next month Im not going be focused on that, he said. Just have a good summer here and enjoy it with some friends and family.

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With NHL expansion draft next month, Wild's Matt Dumba considering trip to Bahamas, not Seattle - Grand Forks Herald

ByNEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Freeport contributed close to $200m in taxes and National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions pre-pandemic despite its reputation as a free-trade zone, a report by the KPMG accounting firm has projected.

The document, prepared for the Grand Bahama Port Authoritys (GBPA)Revitalisation and Economic Expansion of Freeport (REEF) committee, also estimated that the city contributed some $1.4bn to the nations gross domestic product (GDP) - or 10.2 percent of economic output - despite the battering it received from Hurricane Dorian.

We estimate that for the fiscal year 2018-2019, Freeport contributed approximately $1.4bn in GDP, 10.2percentof the total GDP of The Bahamas, and $197.1m in government receipts and NIB contributions, the report, entitled Vision 2025:Planning for a prosperous future, said. Further, Freeports five-year cumulative GDP contribution stands at an estimated $7.2bn, averaging $1.4bn for each of the last fiveyears.

Freeports gross financial contribution to the Bahamian economy, in terms of government taxes and fees, is estimated to be $153.1m plus $44m in NIB contributions.Although the provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreementexempt Freeport from certain taxes and fees, there are many taxes and fees that are still assessed and collected in Freeport.

The report broke the citys tax contribution down into $61.3m from VAT; $24m in stamp taxes; $20.9m in excise taxes; $18.4m from import duties; and $10.6m in immigration fees as the major sources of government income. The total sumcollected waspegged by KPMG at slightly higher than the $143.5m generated for the Public Treasury in 2014, some five years earlier.

However, in a sign of Freeports economic and workforce/population stagnation, the report showed NIB contributions declining from $45m in 2014 to $44m in 2019 just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pointing to Grand Bahamas declining GDP share, the report said: Despite a drop from 16.9percentin 2016 to 13.8percentin 2019, Grand Bahama has proven to be an important economic pillar contributing more to the GDP than the consolidated total of all other Family Islands in The Bahamas.

Further we note that the onset of the reduction in GDP contribution corresponds with the October 2016 landfall ofHurricane Matthew, which inflicted significant damage on the island and resulted in the destruction of many homes and businesses, and in particular resulted in the closing of over 1,000 hotel rooms mainly at the Grand Lucayan, and the loss of associated jobs.

Grand Bahamas economic activity is led by construction and real estate activities, which each account for 15.2percentof total GDP for the island. Rounding out the top four are mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity and gas, and water supply and sewerage, which generated 11.1percentof Grand Bahamas GDP, and wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repairs and transport and storage which generated 10.6percentof Grand Bahamas GDP, the report continued.

We note that a significant portion of the GDP contribution is derived from industries other than direct tourism, which points to the important diversity that Grand Bahama and, by extension, Freeport bring to the Bahamian economy as a whole.

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Freeport in $200m boost to Treasury - Bahamas Tribune

Sunshine, sandy beaches and some 700 tropical islands make the Bahamas one of the most sought-after Caribbean retreats in the world. This haven for North American tourists is relatively easy to access for US and Canadian citizens; however, some rules do apply.

Most travelers with a valid US or Canadian passport that contains multiple blank pages and is well within its expiration date should have no trouble clearing customs in the Bahamas. Likewise, visitors from Latin America should be presented with few issues at the border. Still, these guidelines will help you earn that coveted passport stamp in the Bahamas and avoid any potential obstacles at your port of entry.

US citizens do not need a visa to visit the Bahamas. Canadian citizens who plan to stay less than eight months do not need a visa to visit the Bahamas.

Permanent US residents who are not American citizens must apply for a visa to the Bahamas for stays longer than 30 days. Additionally, a valid national passport is required. A green card is required for visits less than 30 days; however, a visa is not.

Canadian permanent residents may stay in the Bahamas for 30 days without a visa; however, they must bring a valid passport that expires no less than three months after their last day in the country.

If traveling directly from Canada, an original Canadian Permanent Resident card that expires no less than three months after their last day in the country is accepted. If traveling via another country, that card must expire no less than six months after their last day in the Bahamas. A return ticket is also required.

Citizens of Latin America are not required to carry a Bahamas visa is their stay is less than three months. They are required to have a return ticket and proof of lodging confirmation.

Indian nationals with a visa issued by Canada, the United Kingdom, United States or a Schengen Member State are not required to carry a Bahamas visa and may stay for a maximum of 90 days in country.

The Bahamas requires a visa for residents of 78 countries, a list of which begins on page six here. Notable nations include Egypt, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Laos, the Philippines, India, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan, Ukraine, UAE and Vietnam.

The average cost for a visa to the Bahamas is $110. Visas with biometric data cost around $250. Forms must be completed in block letters and must be submitted with supporting documents including a valid passport.

Requirements may also include a police report, flight itinerary, copies of previously held visas and foreign marriage and birth certificates. It is recommended that applicants contact the Bahamas Consulate Division before applying.

According to the government of the Bahamas, the turnaround time on visas can be up to two weeks.

The Bahamas Consulate General accepts extension applications for visas for up to eight months. Applicants must apply at the Bahamas Immigration Department in Nassau.

Know whether you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate or not.

Visitors over age one must carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a nation with a risk of yellow fever transmission. These are mostly nations in Latin America and Africa. Visitors who have transited through an airport in a nation with risk of yellow fever transmission for more than 12 hours must also carry a vaccination certificate valid for at least 10 days before entering the Bahamas.

Be mindful of credit card fraud in the Bahamas. The US Embassy has received reports of credit card fraud in the Bahamas. The embassy urges all US citizens to check their credit and debit accounts for unusual activity and notify card companies of fraudulent activity if found.

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Do you need a visa to go to the Bahamas - Lonely Planet Travel News