All three members of the team in Singapore representing The Bahamas at the International Swimming Federation's (FINA) World Swimming Junior Championships took to the pool yesterday in the opening rounds of their respective events. The duo of Margaret Albury and Lilly Higgs competed in the 100-meter (m) breaststroke, while N'nhyn Fernander took on competition in the men's 50m freestyle. Lilly and Margaret finished the 100 breast 24th and 25th in 1:13.00 and 1:13.02 respectively.

Lilly swam in heat five out of lane nine, while Margaret Albury was in the fourth heat, also out of lane nine. Zeynep Gunes from Turkey was the top qualifier of the opening round, touching the wall in a time of 1:06.96, followed by Runa Imai from Japan in 1:08.35 and Katie Matts from Great Britain in a time of 1:08.66. Gunes got even faster in the semi-final round, finishing in 1:06.90 and will be the favorite to win it all in today's final. As for Fernander, he finished 42nd amongst a very competitive field in a time of 24.20 seconds. He came in looking to improve on Tuesday's performance in the 100m butterfly. Coach Stacy Bradley said that he's been struggling with jet lag and that he was disappointed in his swim.

Despite having a better showing, he was only able to muster a sixth place finish in his heat. Australian Kyle Chalmers was the top finisher in the opening round of the men's 50 in a time of 22.48 seconds. Michael Andrew from the United States was second in 22.52 seconds and Pedro Spajari from Brazil rounded out the top three in 22.67. Chalmers also finished as the top qualifier of the semi final round in a time of 22.44 seconds. All three members of team Bahamas will be back in the water again today. Lilly and Margaret Albury will compete in the women's 200m individual medley, while Fernander will be in the 50 butterfly.

Since 2006, FINA has organized the junior swimming championships to allow young swimmer to develop through elite level competition. Every two years, about 500 swimmers aged between 14 and 18 years old gather together to test their skills among an up-and-coming field. This year marks the first time that the international rendezvous takes place in Asia.

The Department of Labour yesterday advised jewelry retailer Diamonds International to seek immediate legal advice after the retailer allegedly placed its employees earning the minimum wage under economic duress through a controversial compensation agreement. Diamond International's Compensation Agreement for Existing Sales Associates, obtained yesterday by Guardian Business, reflects a $5.25 minimum hourly wage mandated by the national increase, but introduces restrictions to commissions earned by sales associates that several employees yesterday slammed as an attempt by the company to recoup its increased payroll outlay.

Specifically, those signing the agreement would be required to obtain at least $160 in commissions before receiving monthly commissions, which will then be deducted from their monthly commissions. With the recent increase in the private sector minimum wages, employees stand to make approximately $240 more per month. "Upon achieving this amount of commissions, as calculated in the manner determined by the company from time to time in the company's sole discretion, [the employee] will receive only the balance of commissions exceeding the [$160] which is the amount specified above," read the new compensation agreement.

While the agreement provides no justification for the commission deduction, Diamonds International representatives yesterday denied that they had violated any laws through the new agreement, which comes less than two weeks after the wage increase came into effect. Director of Labour Robert Farquharson told Guardian Business that he had advised concerned employees not to sign the agreements due to concerns that they employees could be acting under economic duress.Farquharson said that the department's hotline, introduced to report abuses following the private sector minimum wage increase that came into force on August 15, received a series of calls from Diamond International employees.

"After I would have consulted with our legal advisors here at the Department of Labour I would have advised the company that their actions are inconsistent with the laws of The Bahamas as they were attempting to unilaterally alter the terms and conditions of employment. "I advised them to take urgent and immediate steps to seek legal advice, because if they were to continue that course of action that would have been a breach of the fundamental principles of the law on contract," said Farquharson. Economic duress under contract law occurs when a party to a contract, in this case the employer, threatens to terminate the contract unless the other party concedes to their demands.

In a case of economic duress the employee, with no other practical options, may feel forced into agreeing to the new terms. This, Farquharson, suggested, would not be tolerated. Several Diamonds International employees told Guardian Business that they were instructed to sign the agreement by 5 p.m. yesterday, with some fearing termination if they declined to sign. "It's like we pay ourselves that additional $240 a month that the government asked the company to pay for, so the company doesn't feel it but we feel it," said one employee who wished to remain unnamed. However, Diamonds International Human Resources Director Chynella Cunningham stated that the company had breached no laws and remained hopeful that it would retain all of its staff through the exercise.

"Diamonds International is a global company that has 230 stores all over the Caribbean. We have many Bahamians training elsewhere, something that's never happened before is happening. We have in our employment persons who have contributed tremendously to the growth of this company. "We love our employees and this is why we have always discussed anything that we're going to do with them and we will continue to discuss with them because we appreciate and we respect them," she said. Guardian Business received further unconfirmed reports that there were two separate variations of the new compensation agreement distributed to select staff.

As of yesterday evening, Farquharson said that it was awaiting a response from Diamonds International before proceeding. "Commission is a part of their wage and because [Diamonds international] wanted to change their wage, they cannot do it without their express written permission ... because they asked them to sign that document, the question I had is are these people signing this document of their free will, or are they being forced to sign the document i.e. economic duress," Farquharson stated.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - ALERT #8 ON TROPICAL STORM ERIKA ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 6 PM, THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2015.
TROPICAL STORM ERIKA PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINS OVER PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF INAGUA, MAYAGUANA, ACKLINS, CROOKED ISLAND AND RAGGED ISLAND.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM ALERT ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES THE ISLANDS OF LONG ISLAND, CAT ISLAND, THE EXUMAS, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM ALERT MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS CAN POSSIBLY BE EXPERIENCED IN THOSE ISLANDS WITHIN THE NEXT 60 HOURS.

On the heels of a recent visit to Atlanta earlier this year, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Fred Mitchell announced that The Bahamas looks to partner with Atlanta to combat crime. The Mayor of Atlanta, Mr. Kasim Reed along with two officials from his office, paid a special visit to The Bahamas to commence discussions on the way forward.

A press conference making the announcement was held on Wednesday, August 26, at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre at The Police Headquarters on East Street.

Minister Mitchell said given The Bahamas has close ties and shares similarities with Atlanta, a partnership between the two places seems 'ideal.' Mr. Mitchell pointed to the large number of Bahamians living and studying in Atlanta, the proximity of Atlanta to The Bahamas, and the high traffic of Americans traveling to The Bahamas from Atlanta as some of the areas that make Atlanta an ideal potential partner in the fight against crime in the country.

“During a visit to Atlanta, I met with Mayor Reed and during exchanges, we held discussions on how the Mayor was able to combat crime in Atlanta over the past few years,” said Mr. Mitchell. “These discussions led to the Mayor's visit here today.”

After expressing his pleasure at visiting The Bahamas for a second time, Mayor Reed said that he believes that some of the strategies he implemented in Atlanta may assist The Bahamas in its crime fight.

“First of all, I wish to express my appreciation for being invited to The Bahamas to participate in these important discussions,” said the Mayor. “When I was elected into office, Atlanta faced similar crime issues that you are plagued by in The Bahamas. As a result, my office implemented several strategies to combat crime.”

Included in those strategies was the implementation of innovative technologies, including video integration centres (currently already in use in The Bahamas); predictive policing; increase in public safety funding and targeted youth programmes including ‘centres of hope’ which provide services to 1,500-1,700 youths weekly and up to 3,000 during summer months. He said, to date, the centres have caused a reduction of 20% in the crime rate among youths.

Mayor Reed, who was recently re-elected for a second term in office said that his office led the initiative to implement the 'Ban the Box,' policy, which eliminated questions of a potential employee's crime history on application forms. He noted that this allowed a prospective employee the opportunity to explain his/her criminal past during an interview instead of being eliminated at the application stage. This was especially significant for young persons who may have been previously charged for petty crimes.

In addition, Mayor Reed said that during his tenure, he also placed state-of-the-art vans on the streets of Atlanta, which are used as mobile training centres. He said that Atlanta is presently in a construction 'boom' which he believes will further push the state's crime levels. Finally, Mayor Reed said in his view, another effective strategy to combat crime is a robust police force.

During Mayor's Reed term in office, the city of Atlanta experienced a reduction in unemployment from 10.4% to 6% today, which he says is trending downward with the boom in construction.

Mayor Reed was accompanied by his Chief of Staff Candace Byrd, and the Director of International Affairs Claire Angele. During his three days in Nassau, the Mayor’s team scheduled visits with stakeholders including members of the business community, religious leaders and students at The College of the Bahamas. On Wednesday, he held discussions with the country's top brass in the Royal Bahamas Police Force.