Bahamas News

Fans and members of the Roots group danced themselves into a frenzy after their Junkanoo group was declared the 2006 Boxing Day champions on Thursday.

Hundreds of Junkanooers, who turned up to the reading of the parade’s results at Arawak Cay yesterday anxiously listened to the roll call that determined what position their group would be placed in. The results of the parade were a reflection of the group’s overall performance at Wednesday’s parade said Junkanoo officials.

Deputy leader of the Roots Junkanoo group Vincent King said the win was long overdue.

“This (win) means a lot. The monkey is finally off our backs. For the past 15 years now we’ve never had a Boxing Day,” said Mr King. “A lot of the groups said we were cursed and this means the curse is finally off our backs.

We know what it takes to win now and we’re ready to continue to win many (other) parades.”

With the long-anticipated win, the Roots group, whose theme was ‘Treasures of Arabian Knights,’ racked up 3281 points in the overall category and 788 points in the best music category during the Winston Churchill-Rolle parade. They also took home the top prize for best banner.

Self-proclaimed Roots consultant and well-known Junkanoo lover, ‘Barabas,’ said he was certain from the beginning of the parade that the group would have come out on top.

“When I saw the performance at the end of the day, I knew we had won the parade. There was no way the other groups could have beaten us,” he said.

Parades scores put the One Family group in second place with 3112 points. Closely trailing behind was the Valley Boys in third position with 3102 points. Despite putting on a splendid performance on Bay Street, the Saxons, Music Makers and the Prodigal Sons were consecutively placed in fourth, fifth and sixth positions.

“I think as a Valley Boy, we could take a blow like this. Whatever the judges scored us that was their score. I feel a little disappointed in the music and banner category because I felt like we really had both of those categories cornered. But the judges spoke,” said Dominic Sweeting, who has been a member of the Valley Boys for roughly 25 years.

Teran ‘Bapy’ Davis, who has been with the One family group over 14 years said his group has settled for second place this time around. “I could live with what took place. I think that Roots was a little more thorough than us. They should have won the parade in all fairness. But what I had a problem with was the music category. I don’t think our group should have gotten 5th place for music.”

Despite the Roots’ 2006 victory, its group members have said they are not going to celebrate right now, said Barabas. He exclaimed that the upcoming 2007 New Year’s day parade is quickly approaching and the Roots have every intention of holding onto their Junkanoo heavyweight title.

By Lashonne Outten
The Nassau Guardian

A Barbadian beverage conglomerate has agreed to buy a 30 per cent stake in CARIBCO - owner and operator of the Coca-Cola franchise in The Bahamas.

Banks Holding Limited, brewer of Banks beer, is not attaching a dollar figure to the deal finalized last week. But CARIBCO only purchased the franchise from the Caribbean Bottling Company in August for $10.6 million.

A public company, BHL is expected to help the local bottler improve its manufacturing processes in an effort to increase productivity.

CARIBCO initially approach-ed the company to enter a bid to buy its operation outright, said BHL CEO Richard Cozier. It later decided on a partnership deal with a Bahamian group. “We viewed this as a more feasible option and agreed,” he said.

In addition to its brewery holdings, the company traded on the Barbados exchange, has both dairy and soda operations. It in fact bottles Coca-Cola in that country. “Our experiences in Barbados over the past five years have placed us in a position where we have the resources in-house to facilitate a similar technological upgrade of the Bahamas facilities,” said Cozier.

His company will also acquire a 46.58 per cent stake in Citrus Products of Belize Limited, which grows and processes oranges.

Here, it’s likely to BHL that realizes spinoff benefits for its operations. “Our investment in CPBL guarantees the continuity of supply of citrus concentrates to (our dairy),” he said. “CPBL is already a supplier of orange juice and grapefruit concentrate to the dairy and the deal paves the way for more detailed discussions in respect of other flavor combinations. ”

Both the purchase here and in Belize come at the urging of shareholders of BHL stock, who have asked the company to reach beyond the small Caribbean nation.

“The Barbadian market is not getting any larger,” said Cozier, “and we must look at the wider Caribbean to grow in order to deliver the type of volumes we are looking for.”

By Vernon Clement
The Nassau Guardian

The Bahamas International Stock Exchange (BISX) added a seventh mutual fund to its listing yesterday.

“We are extremely pleased with the listing of the Fidelity Prime Income Fund, and it is quite appropriate that we end the year on another positive note at BISX,” said Keith Davies, BISX CEO.

“The BISX Mutual Fund Listing Facility is proving to be an attractive vehicle for our domestic mutual fund listings.”

Fidelity Prime Income Fund Limited, managed by Fidelity Merchant Bank and Trust, both trades in Bahamian dollars and invests in Bahamian-dollar fixed income instruments. It held a net asset value of 11.2956 Thursday.

The new mutual fund joins five other Bahamian-dollar trading funds on the BISX, including the Colina Bond Fund, Colina Money Market Investment Fund and Colina MSI Preferred Investment Fund.

Fidelity already offers another mutual fund to BISX investors, its Fidelity Bahamas Growth & Income Fund Limited, with Premier Commercial Real Estate Investment Corporation also contributing to the country’s growing market.

Grace Caribbean Fixed Income Fund also trades along with Fidelity Prime Income, but in U.S. currency.

“All indications are that we ought to hit the ground running in 2007 with even more new business for BISX and The Bahamas,” Davies said. “We are keen to launch the formalized Government debt market and are excited about the ancillary benefits that this will bring,” Davies added.

Investment in Fidelity Prime Income Fund requires a minimum initial investment of $5,000.

That means the new fund is likely to appeal to high-net- worth investors on the national exchange and not the increasing number of smaller players now dabbling in the market.

By Barry Williams
The Nassau Guardian

In 2006 The Bahamas sporting community was busy as usual. There were the thrilling victories of course, while others had to endure the agony of defeat. The following review will depict what we consider to be most compelling events for the year.

January

The first big sports happening for the month of January was from a team in the NFL. Bahamian tight end Alex Smith and Tampa Bay Bucs beat the New Orleans Saints 27-13 to win the division title on Sunday January 1. The advancement to the post season, culminated an excellent rookie year for the son of Big Ed Smith (the first Bahamian to play in the NFL back 1973-76 with the Denver Broncos).

Next in January, the big sports news was not good. The local sporting community was left saddened when George Mackey, former President of the Bahamas Baseball Federation and former Cabinet Minister passed away at Doctors Hospital on Monday January 2 at the age of 67.

On January 7 Agatha Delancy, President of the Bahamas Golf Federation announced that National Female team members Jameica Duncombe and Racquel Riley had turned professional, making golf history in The Bahamas.

It was a thrilling moment for the Bahamas Cricket Association and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Housing on Thursday January 19 when Antiguan Financier Allen Stanford donated $100,000 dollars to help boost the sport through development programmes and to help The Bahamas National team get ready for the Stanford 20/20 Tournament.

On January 23 long-time sports educator John Todd was named The Bahama Journal Civil Society Sports Award winner for 2005. Tonique Williams-Darling also received a special Civil Society Award.

February

On Friday February 3 Anton Sealy, President of The Bahamas Football Association signed a four-year four-million dollar agreement with Arden Sports Incorporated representing sports manufacturer Mazamba.

Wednesday February 8 saw ADIDAS ink a two-year contract with the Bahamas Olympic Association to provide uniforms for all sporting national teams traveling to events sanctioned by the BOA.

On Friday February 10 while competing at the Tyson Invitational indoor classic in Arkansas quarter-miler Chris Brown set a new Bahamas National Indoor record with a second place 46.03 clocking in the final, surpassing Troy Mackintosh’s 46.05.

At the same meet, Leevan Sands won the triple jump with a leap of 17.10m (56-1?) to surpass the old mark of 56-1 by Frank Rutherford in 1987

March

On Friday March 3, the CR Walker Knights won their second consecutive Government Secondary Schools Sports Association Track and Field Championship.

On Sunday March 12, quarter-milers Chris Brown and Christine Amertil medalled at the IAAF Moscow 2006 World Indoor Championships. Amertil placed third in the women’s finals and Brown was third in the men’s finals, wining his first world individual medal.

Also from the world of track and field, while at the World Indoor Championships, the Bahamas National Triple Jump record holder Levan ‘Superman’ Sands learned that he was provisionally suspended by the IAAF after testing positive for a banned substance.

According to the IAAF the urine sample were taken at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville Arkansas six weeks earlier.

On March 14 it was reported that former Davis Cup player and 2005 Junior US Open Champion Ryan Sweeting was suspended from the University of Florida tennis team indefinitely after he was charged with driving under the influence and being in possession of a controlled substance while on the schools campus.

On Saturday March 18, St. Augustine’s College won four of six divisions to win the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools track and field championships.

Later that night Shantelle Rolle scored 43 points to lead the Johnson’s Lady Truckers to a 105-90 victory over the defending New Providence Women’s Basketball Association Champion Cleaning Centre Angels in game one of their best-of-seven championship series at the DW Davis Gym. The Truckers went on to win their first title on Saturday, March 25.

On Sunday March 19 Laverne Eve won silver in the women’s javelin at the Melbourne, Australia Commonwealth Games.

Two days later at the Commonwealth Games, on March 21, Tonique Williams-Darling won silver in the finals of the women’s 400M finishing in 50.76.

On Tuesday March 28, in the sports headlines was the story about an under14 girls’ team from the BLTA winning the prestigious World Junior Tennis Competition North/Central America and Caribbean regional pre-qualifying event. That team included Kerrie Cartright, Kalotina Klonaris, and Simone Pratt.

April

On Sunday April 9, The Bahamas Carifta Swim National team finished a close second to defending Champion French Antilles in the 2006 championships held in Bridge Town, Barbados.

Monday April 19, the final day of competition at the Carifta Track and Field Championships saw the Bahamas haul in 13 medals to finish with a total of 30 including nine gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze to finish second behind Jamaica which won for the 22nd consecutive time with 68 medals.

On Thursday April 20, Ricardo Davis Jr. won the Junior Men’s National Golf Title shooting a score of 218 over three rounds, to hold off Devaughn Robinson who shot 217 but lost points on a penalty from the previous round.

Saturday April 22, the NPWBA champion Truckers defeated the Eleuthera All-Stars three games to none for the Bahamas Women’s Basketball National Title.

On Monday the 24 it was reported that embattled junior tennis star Ryan Sweeting would be suspended for six months by the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and would be dropped from the Davis Cup team. He was also suspended from play for the University of Florida until September 2006.

On Friday April 28 International baseball Federation’s Secretary General Eduardo DeBello requested the Bahamas Olympic Association help get the sport reinstated in the Olympics. He made the appeal during a reception sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism but hosted by the Bahamas Baseball Association at the Wyndham Resort.

May

On Monday May 1, The A-Class Tida Wave, B-Class Lonesome Dove and the C-Class Bulla Reg reigned supreme as National Sailing Champions at the 53rd Exuma National Family Island Regatta.

On Saturday May 6th the Grand Bahama Subway Panthers completed a sweep of the New Providence Champion Real Deal Shockers to win The Bahamas Basketball Federation’s 11th Annual Bunny Lavarity National Division One Championship.

At the Bahamas Hot Rod Associations Motor Sports Park on Sunday May 7 Bahamian competitors topped their Florida competition by wining four out of five classes at their first Drag Racing International Invitational.

Bahamian Taneka Johnson and Lauren Hill from the Cayman Islands each walked away with the overall awards in their respective divisions at the 8th Nassau Nastics Gymfest on Saturday May 13.

Friday May 19 was a big night for Bahamas Lightweight Boxing Champion Meacher Major ‘Pain’ who knocked out Mexican Louis ‘Lichi’ Couch in the first round to win the World Boxing Association FEDE-CARIBE Super Featherweight Title at the Wyndham Resort.

June

The Bahamas National Track and Field Championships on Saturday June 17 with several new champions. Quarter-miler Chris Brown defeated 200 metres specialist Dominic Demeritte in the 200M to win the title in 20.56, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie won the women’s 200M in 22.4 and she also won the100M in 11.06.

Derrick Atkins repeated as the men’s 100-metre champion running a wind-aided 10.03. Grand Bahama Micheal Matheu held off Andretti Bain for the Men’s National 400 metres Title. Sasha Rolle won the Women’s 400M.

On June 28, Alana Dillete, Anthaya Rolle, Ariel Weech and Nikia Deveaux each won a gold medal during the third night of competition at the XVI Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships in Puerto, Rico.

July

In July, The Bahamas did not send a large team to the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association’s Tournament, but the five-member team won five medals including two gold, two silver and one bronze.

Also coming out of the tournament Bahamian boxing official Alvin sergeant was elected as CABA new Treasurer and Dr. Francis Saunders was elected to CABA Medical Board.

On Independence Day, Monday July 10 at the Churchill Tenner Knowles National Softball Stadium, hundreds took part in the a ground-breaking ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre for the new $30 million new National Stadium donated by the People’s Republic Of China.

On July 22, the final night of the CAC swim competition in Cartagena, Colombia, Jeremy Knowles won his fourth medal, a silver in the 200 individual medley. Knowles had already won a silver in the 400 IM, silver in the 200 Butterfly and a bronze in the 100 butterfly.

The Bahamas’ fifth medal at that stage of the games was a historic bronze medal won by the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay featuring Nikia Deveaux, Ariel Weech, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Alana Dillette. It was The Bahamas first female swim medal at the CAC Games.

Back in The Bahamas on Saturday July 22, at the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness National Championships Gina Mackey captured her sixth overall female National Bodybuilding title and Jay Darling won his fourth title in the men’s overall division.

Tuesday July 25 saw sprinter Derrick Atkins set a new National standard in the men’s 100-metres for the second time in a matter of weeks. He clocked 10.08 seconds in the semi-finals to eclipse the 10.15 seconds mark he set at the NACAC Championships to erase a 25-year old record. In the final on July 26 Atkins ran 10.13 for second place.

Moments later at the same event Trevor Barry secured a silver in the men’s high jump.

On July 28, Bahamian Super Middleweight Champion Jermain ‘Chu Chu’ Mackey defeated Barbados’ Marcus ‘Marvelous’ Thomas with a sixth round KO at the Radisson Hotel to win the WBC Caribbean Super Middleweight Title.

The month in sports in July ended with The Bahamas men’s 4×100 relay team wining silver at the CAC Games. The team of Adrian Griffin, Derrick Atkins, Rodney Green and Dominic Demeritte ran 39.44 seconds to finish behind the Netherlands Antilles which won in 39.22.

August

On Wednesday August 2, local sports fans learned of another player with Bahamian roots playing in the NFL. Offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson has deep roots in the Fox Hill Community. Coming out of the University of Virginia he was selected as the fourth overall pick in the NFL 2006 draft by the New York Jets.

Friday August 4 was a big night for the disputed Bahamian Heavyweight boxing champion Sherman ‘Caribbean Tank’ Williams. At a boxing show in Nevada, Las Vegas, Williams who entered the fight as the WBC Cabofe and NBA World Champion, knocked out Josh ‘Grizzly’ Gutcher from Iowa, one minute and 11 second into the first round in the co-main event. Williams improved his record to 31-10-2.

On Tuesday August 8, the Bahamas Baseball Federation’s Senior Men’s National Team playing at the 3rd World University Baseball Championships in Cuba, recorded an historic 2-1 victory over baseball powerhouse Cuba Neil Forsythe was the winning pitcher. The team went on to lose 9-6 in 10 innings to the Czech Republic in the consolation game.

On Thursday August 17, Jamaican Malaku Lorne was crowned the overall champion while Bahamian Frank Gibson won the bronze at the New Providence Invitational Chess Federation Tournament that was a World Chess federation rated event. The tournament resulted in five local players becoming FIDE rated.

August 20-27, the Bahamas Volleyball Federation begins hosted the Caribbean Senior Volleyball Championships at the Sir Kendal Isaacs Gym.

The Bahamas men’s team finished seventh. Barbados won the men’s title. The Bahamian senior women’s team finished fourth after losing the bronze medal match to Haiti. Trinidad and Tobago took the women’s regional title.

September

On Wednesday September 6, while playing at the Digicel/CONCACAF Caribbean Gold Cup Qualifier in Cuba, The Bahamas defeated the Turks and Caicos 3-2 to finish with a 2-1 win/loss record and advance to the second round of qualifiers.

Youth sailor Christopher Sands held off Dylan Christie on Sunday September 24 to successfully defend his title at the 2nd Royal Bank Of Canada Junior Optimist National Championships at Montague Bay.

On September 29 The Bahamas 12-member Bodybuilding and Fitness team began competition at the 34th Central American and Caribbean Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. The small 12-member team finished with seven medals including two gold, and settled for fourth out of more than 25 countries.

October

On Monday October 2, fresh from the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Jamaica BBF President Danny Sumner announced that he had been elected as President of the Antilles Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, a first for a Bahamian.

October 3, over 200 sailors from 10 countries in New Providence for the 2006 World Masters Sailing Championships were grounded at Montague Bay for two days because of high winds.

Friday October 6, Commissioner, Ricardo Smith announced plans for the start of the new semi-professional basketball league called the Pro-Show. The league would actually begin October 18.

On October 14, the Electro Telecom Wildcats defeated the Bommer George Swingers 27-9 to win the NPSA Women’s Championship series three games to one and earned their seventh consecutive title.

The local sporting community was dealt another blow on Monday October 16 when Anthony Curry, the second Bahamian to play in the Major Leagues of Baseball passed away at the age of 68. He played in the Major leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1957-62 and the Cleveland Indians.

On Sunday October 22, the Scotia Bank Paradise Cricket Club defeated the defending champion T-Bird Flyers by 57 runs for The Bahamas Cricket Association 2006 Championship title.

November

The first week in November saw the College of The Bahamas Athletic Department make history when their men and women’s teams traveled to Florida to take on schools in the Florida Sun Conference.

Later in the month, the COB men and women’s basketball teams then traveled to New York City for more basketball competition. It is all part of the college’s effort to attain university status

The Bahamas Men’s National Softball Championship series between the Twin City Destroyers out of Eleuthera and the Jones Generals from Abaco began on Friday November 10 in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera. The Eleutherans went on to win the men’s title in a rain-filled weekend. In the meantime, the women’s National Title between the Electro Telecom Wildcats from New Providence and Grand Bahama’s West End Triple Play Pearl is still undecided.

On Sunday November 26 Charles Duncombe who only began playing organized chess in January 2006 became the new Senior National Chess Champion. He defeated defending champ Frank Gibson, Valentino Cox and Ken Gibson who all tied for second. Kristian Plakaris was crowned the Junior Champion.

December

Following his first career loss in November, on Friday December 1, World Boxing Council’s 34th ranked fighter, Bahamian and WBC Caribbean Super middleweight Champion Jermaine ‘Chu Chu’ Mackey scored a sixth round technical knock out victory Jamaican Anthony ‘Destroyer’ Osbourne.

For the second time in 2006 on Sunday December 3, The Bahamas defeated the United States at the Bahamas Hot Rod Association second International Invitational held at the Motor Sports Park. Local entrant won all five classes.

On Sunday December 10 at the DW Davis Playing Field, the Orry J. Sands Pros took over time before defeating the John Bull Jets 20-14 in the first game of the season in the Commonwealth American Football League. The league was stagnant during the 2005/2006 season.

Wednesday December 20 saw the Scottsdale Vixens complete a perfect unbeaten season capped off by a three-match sweep of Da Basement in the women’s championship best-of-five series in the New Providence Volleyball Association.

On Friday December 22, in the championship match of the Davis Cup Trials Devin Mullings defeated Bjorne Munroe to claim the number one seed in the next round of the Davis Cup Tie in April 2007.

On Sunday December 23, the former 2004 champions Twin Brothers Technicians after losing the first match fought back to win the men’s championship series in the NPVA three matches to two over the first year Scotia bank Defenders.

By Gerrino Saunders
The Bahama Journal

For local sailors, after mega sponsor Bum House pulled its support from regatta sailing in 2005, this year there was not the usual excitement at the annual Boat Of The Year Awards Banquet usually held in the ball room of an exotic hotel.

Instead, this year The Bahamas Boat Owners and Sailors Association quietly released the names of the top sloops that accumulated the most points in the three major sailing classes during the competitive season.

In the A-Class, the Red Hot Thunderbird in only its second season on the water, won the top honour for most points by holding off the second place Red Stripe skippered by Lundy Robinson and the third place Abaco Rage.

The Eudeva, skippered by Sheldon Gibson, captured the B-Class. Sloops like the Crazy Partner and the New Suzan Chase skippered by Collin Cartwright out of Mangrove Bush Long Island were not far behind.

Buzzy Rolle and the almost unbeatable Bulla Reg once again topped the C-Class for yet another year.

However, it was a good season for Rev. Dr. Phillip McPhee as his C-Class WG Thunderbird, a sloop named in honour of his late father, finished second in the C-Class.

On Thursday McPhee said, he is “quite pleased” with the performances of both the Red Hot and the WG Thunderbirds.

When the Red Hot Thunderbird first hit the water in 2005, he found that there was still some fine-tuning needed if the sloop was going to challenge the top boats in the A- Class, and over the past year those minor adjustments were made.

President of the BBOSA and Chief Spokesman for the New Years Regatta, McPhee revealed that the 2007 New Years Day Regatta will take place at Montagu Bay on the weekend beginning January 26-28.

Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to officially open the new sailing season during the events opening ceremony. The Government is the major sponsor.

McPhee said this time the New Year’s Regatta would take the form of a National Regatta with sloops from the Family Islands including Exuma, Long Island, Abaco, Andros, Acklins and Eleuthera taking part.

“It will be a major regatta and it would be the first time the New Years Regatta would take this format and we give credit to the Minister responsible for sailing V. Alfred Gray for his genius in pulling sailors together to reach a new level at this regatta and this is always good for the sailing community,” said McPhee.

The new format is expected to give a “tremendous push” and will be a “great” way to begin the new sailing season.

In 2006 some of the Family Island Regattas were not as successful as expected for a number of reasons including scheduling of regattas on different islands for the same weekend. Then there were other aspects that could not be controlled, like bad weather during the hurricane season.

To prevent those types of problems in 2007, McPhee said the government has met with its sailing consultants to try and “regulate and put together a schedule that would involve all of the islands, giving each a fair opportunity for success.”

“One of my main focuses this year would be to get islands like Bimini and Abaco back on stream to make sure that they too can benefit financially from the empowerment of sailing in The Bahamas,” said McPhee.

By Gerrino Saunders
The Bahama Journal

With less than four weeks to go before the highly debated Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative [WHTI] comes into effect, a veteran US politician expressed confidence this week that the major fallout which Caribbean countries originally projected would result from the new requirement is not likely to occur.

That was the view of former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani who was in downtown Nassau Wednesday night to watch the Winston ‘Churchill’ Rolle Boxing Day Parade 2006.

“People will continue to travel,” he said confidently.

“The draw of coming to The Bahamas, with the beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, the great golf and most importantly the wonderful people is just too much. People will still come here in big, big numbers, believe me.”

US officials say the WHTI - which will require all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a passport or other accepted document in order to enter or re-enter the United States - is aimed ultimately at improving border security and facilitating entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate international travelers.

Mr. Giuliani said although the WHTI is still slated to come into force on January 23, 2007, against the wishes of tourism-dependent Caribbean countries which had pushed for a later implementation date, the security initiative should not be viewed as an attack on those economies.

“Those things are necessary because of all of the concerns that we have in the United States now,” he explained.

“But it shouldn’t be seen as a lack of warmth or friendship. This is a very strong relationship that we have between the United States and The Bahamas. I think that people go back and forth all the time, people live in both countries and it’s going to continue to be that way.”

Mr. Giuliani’s profile as New York mayor climbed to a new level following the tragic September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

With some continuing to urge the former mayor to make a run for the presidency of the United States, Mr. Giuliani jested that his political life is “on vacation” when asked by reporters whether he intends to seek the high office.

He indicated, however, that he would give more consideration to the question after his return home.

Noting that there is currently an exploratory committee which is examining the possibility of his running for US president, Mr. Giuliani said he would make a decision some time next year.

Commenting on the highly popular Bahamian cultural event, he said he would be happy to come back to The Bahamas “any time” to view the Junkanoo parade again.

Mr. Giuliani’s trip to the country this week was his first.

“This is absolutely terrific,” he said.

“I am really, really very much impressed with (the parade). It’s much bigger and more beautiful even than I heard about.”

Mr. Giuliani also had high marks for the country, opining that The Bahamas is a beautiful country with the “nicest and warmest” people.

By Darrin Culmer
The Bahama Journal

ReEarth spokesperson Sam Duncombe dismissed as “a nothing statement” Thursday Prime Minister Perry Christie’s declaration that liquefied natural gas [LNG] critics would be given a right to be heard before the government gives final approval for the establishment of an LNG industry in the country.

Earlier this week Mr. Christie reported that the government had reviewed draft regulations which are aimed ultimately at governing the LNG industry, and would give opponents further opportunity to voice their concerns about the energy proposal.

Expressing concern about the current state of regulation of local energy entities, Ms. Duncombe once again encouraged the government to put any LNG plans on hold.

She claimed that presently several days would go by after an oil spill in the Clifton Pier area before environmental regulation and protection officials would travel to the scene of the spill to investigate the situation.

“We can’t regulate (BEC’s activity at) Clifton Pier right now and have not been able to regulate it for many, many years so what makes them think that writing down a bunch of words on a piece of paper is going to make [the LNG] industry something that we can regulate,” Ms. Duncombe questioned.

“I say before we go into another industry let’s get it right with the energy industries that we have now before we continue to add to what’s already a problem.”

Stating that she did not need the prime minister’s permission to have her voice heard, Ms. Duncombe dismissed Mr. Christie’s offer to engage in further dialogue with LNG opponents.

“That is the reason why we have freedom of the press and that is why in a country that is supposedly a democracy we can get up and say whatever we want about a specific situation, which is what I have been doing for the past two-and-a-half years,” she said.

Reiterating her argument that an LNG industry would do absolutely nothing to lower the electricity bills for Bahamians and querying whether The Bahamas is to become Florida’s “gas station”, the ReEarth spokesperson said nothing short of a decision by the government to abandon any LNG plans would satisfy critics.

“What I want to hear from the prime minister is for him to join the over 5,000 people that have said they don’t want LNG in the country,” she said.

“When are those people’s voices going to be heard? We don’t want to hear that there are regulations, we want to hear (that there will be) no LNG so quite frankly that statement does absolutely nothing to help quell my fears about what an LNG industry is going to bring us.”

She further questioned what was the purpose of holding more meetings at this stage, as she remains convinced that an LNG industry cannot be shown to be in the best interest of The Bahamas.

According to Ms. Duncombe, the compensation that The Bahamas would receive for granting LNG companies permission to operate in the country also appears inadequate to warrant approval.

“To be honest $25 million a year to damage our seabeds, to endanger our marine environment and introduce safety issues to our country, which we don’t need at the moment, (is not enough),” she said.

Offering some suggestions of her own on how the country could help to lower its fuel bill and safeguard its environment, Ms. Duncombe encouraged residents to use alternative sources of energy.

“Fossil fuels may be cheaper now in the short-term, but when they pollute our air, pollute our water and create the kind of environmental devastation that oil production and use do to our environment and our communities how does that make any sense?” she asked.

The longtime LNG critic also accused the Christie administration of doing a good job of talking about environmental protection but having a record “that is not anything to be proud of.”

By Darrin Culmer
The Bahama Journal

Barbados-based Banks Holdings Ltd. (BHL) has bought a 30% stake in Bahamas-based Caribbean Bottling Company for $3.75 million, the bank announced on Thursday.

BHL has also bought 46.58% ownership of the Citrus Products of Belize Ltd. for $32 million.

BHL chief executive officer Richard Cozier made the announcement at a press conference at BHL’s Barbados headquarters.

He described BHL’s investment in Caribbean Bottling - which sealed a US$10.6 million deal to purchase the Coca-Cola franchise in The Bahamas earlier this year - as mainly a revenue generating stream for BHL since the profit margins in The Bahamas were superior to what BHL achieved for its beverage sales in Barbados.

He described the Belize deal as a major boost for the BHL group since that Central American country was the premier citrus grower in the region and this would provide guaranteed supply at a guaranteed cost for its Pine Hill Dairy juices, while also providing a launch pad for PHD products into Central America.

He added with the worldwide demand for frozen juice concentrate continuing to grow and with prices unlikely to fall, Citrus Products of Belize Ltd. was in a position to register record profits in the short to medium-term, which would redound to BHL’s benefit.

By Quincy Parker
The Bahama Journal

More than three weeks after executive management of Bahamasair inked an historic $2 million deal with the Public Managers Union for pay increases for its middle managers, another deal worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was struck with an international labor organization that represents its 45 line staff employees in Florida.

The International Association of Machinists, headed by the General Chairman, Paul Jones, and Bahamasair executive officers signed the $200,000 four-year agreement yesterday at Prime Minister Perry Christie’s Cable Beach office.

The contract is retroactive to 1 January 2005, and runs through to January 2008. Over the term of the agreement, it is estimated that it would cost the company close to $200,000 for salaries, pay increases, back pay and overtime pay.

Bahamasair Board Chairman, Basil Sands, disclosed that there will be three increases during the term of contract. He explained that for the year 2005, the agreement made allowances for a three percent increase; none would be given in 2006; a three-and-a-half percent increase would be awarded in January 2007, and another three-and-a-half percent increase in January 2008.

Mr Sands said shift workers would also be given an increase of .45, .60, and .75 cents per hour. A section which deals with the new grievance procedure for better settlement of staff issues was also included in the deal.

According to Mr Jones, the negotiation process was long due to the fact that the organization represents workers at 52 other companies and discussions had to be scheduled. He said even though the negotiations were very “professional and cordial,” a federal mediator was on hand for a period of time.

“Although the first two contracts were rejected based on the proposals that were brought back at the end of the day, when we came back on the third occasion the employees saw the need to put this contract behind them so that they can get a more stable, a more secure airline and hope that Bahamasair is able to prosper in the future,” Mr Jones said.

Minister of State for Finance, James Smith, said he was very pleased to witness the signing of the agreement as the government’s interest in it is obviously the impact it would have on the public purse.

“Bahamasair, like a number of government agencies, depends on for the large part funding from the public purse and we are glad to see that Bahamasair was able to come to an accommodation without really putting any additional pressure on the public purse,” Mr Smith said.

He commended those who took part in the negotiations for reaching an agreement that kept the cost to the tax payer down. “It is a good way to end the year and perhaps to begin the new yea where both sides have sat down soberly, intelligently, and come to an agreement. I think we can all walk away feeling winners,” Minister Smith said.

Bahamasair had budgeted a loss of $9 million for the year 2006, however, due to escalating costs and the rising of fuel prices, the loss was approximately $18 million.

By Keva Lightbourne
The Nassau Guardian

Police and Defence Force officials were kept busy Thursday following two substantial drug busts in which two groups of Haitian migrants were apprehended allegedly attempting to smuggle hundreds of pounds of cocaine and marijuana into the country.

Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Ralph McKinney reported that personnel onboard RBDF vessel P-114 intercepted the first Haitian sloop around 8:30 Thursday morning while on routine patrol in the Porgy Rock area just off eastern New Providence.

Following an initial search of the 40-foot vessel and the five persons onboard, Defence Force officials escorted the boat to the capital where a more intense search was carried out.

That examination resulted in the discovery of 110 packages of marijuana, with a total weight of 199 pounds, and one kilogram of cocaine, Officer McKinney said.

“We do routine inspections. It becomes a joint venture when we come along side the Prince George Dock, at which time we call in the police organization,” Petty Officer McKinney said. “This is not the first time we have carried out such an operation.”

He said that one was carried out a few weeks back, which lead to the confiscation of a large amount of drugs.

Several hours later – around 2:30pm – Defence Force personnel onboard the P-114 apprehended another 40-foot Haitian sloop with four passengers.

Law enforcement officials had not determined the exact quantity of illegal drugs on the vessel up to press time.

Police Liaison officer Inspector Walter Evans, meanwhile, said collaboration between the agencies is an ongoing initiative.

He said that this type of effort not only continues with the RBDF, but it continues with the customs department and immigration department.

“We have to fight drugs from a collective fashion and so today this is just one of the strategic methods put in place by the officers,” Inspector Evans said. “We have discovered that there has been a large amount of marijuana that has been seized.

“We are going to strip this vessel no matter how long it takes until we know exactly how much drugs are on board. Those five persons arrested most likely will be charged in court sometime early next week. There is no one agency that has all of the resources to fight drugs…so this kind of effort will continue in the future.”

According to authorities, once the drugs are confiscated they are handed over to police to be disposed of.

By Stephen Gay
The Bahama Journal