The Western Air flight that Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and other government officials traveled on earlier this week was grounded upon arrival in Bermuda due to “operational matter” with the airline, Office of the Prime Minister Director of Communications Latrae Rahming confirmed today.

Davis, along with several Cabinet ministers and former Prime Minister Perry Christie, visited Bermuda to attend a political event for the Progressive Labour Party on Wednesday.

At today’s press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Rahming said the trip was financed by the Progressive Liberal Party.

During the trip, Davis addressed the Progressive Labour Party’s annual delegates conference and met with members of Bermuda’s Cabinet along with members of his administration.

Miami, FLORIDA (October 6th, 2022) -- Public and private sector players are being encouraged to better safeguard their networks and systems against increasing threats from international cybercriminals.

C&W Business, the business-to-business arm of C&W Communications, will host two online forums this month, October 12th and October 19th, aimed at helping governments, large businesses and individual entrepreneurs better protect their organisations and companies from online threats.

The webinars will feature controversial hacker-turned-computer security specialist Hector Monsegur – the man behind the Anonymous/LulzSec hacker collectives, as well as informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“Cybersecurity involves preventing, detecting, and responding to cyberattacks that can have wide-ranging effects on individuals, organisations, local communities, and entire countries. As the Caribbean’s leading service provider, we see it as our responsibility to inform, advise and educate about the varied elements of online security,” said Nicolas Collette, Vice President, B2B, C&W Communications.

“Hector once ruled the 'hacktivist' scene breaching security systems of major corporations and governments around the globe, and he will share the mindset of a hacker and how organizations can proactively protect themselves. He will also present the inside secrets of how hackers choose their targets, why hacking appeals to people, how hacking tools work, and how you can protect yourself and loved ones from vulnerability.”

Monsegur, also known by the online pseudonym Sabu, became an informant for the FBI after facing a sentence of 124 years in prison for his role in the LulzSec hacker collective intervening in the affairs of organisations such as News Corporation, Stratfor, UK and American law enforcement bodies and the Irish political party, Fine Gael.

Monsegur now works as an ethical hacker conducting penetration tests – authorized simulated cyberattacks on computer systems performed to evaluate the security of the system.

“Global cyber-attacks increased by 32% in 2022 when compared to 2021, with an all-time high being recorded in the second quarter of this year. The Caribbean and Latin America has also seen the largest increase in attacks, with research suggesting one out of twenty-three organisations impacted weekly – a 43% increase when compared to 2021,” added Collette.

“The cybercriminals are not slowing down and we must be proactive in our approach to safeguarding our networks to withstand any eventuality. With the right technologies in place, most attacks, even the most advanced ones, can be prevented and we are happy to be providing this timely forum for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in reducing and preventing cybercrime in our region.”

CBS Bahamas, the largest home improvement retailer and architectural product distributor in The Bahamas, continues to set itself apart from other local retailers by delivering top-tier products, accessibility, and services. Providing features like the first fully functional large-scale online shopping platform, contactless in-store pickup within two hours through online ordering and free delivery to mailboats for family island customers, the Bahamian-owned business is not stopping there. Customers can also take advantage of their price match guarantee.

Introduced in 2021, the price match guarantee allows customers to maximize value online or in stores at CBS Bahamas and the new CBS PROstore. This service ensures that pricing offered at the two entities is equal to or better than their local competitors. Once a customer provides evidence that an item is priced higher at a CBS Bahamas location than another local store, the price is changed to match or beat the lower price.

However, many Bahamians are not taking the opportunity to maximize savings. According to CBS Bahamas’ marketing director, Shawn Gabrielle Gomez, they want to ensure that Bahamians know the option exists.

Gomez said, “At either one of our stores, we value our customer experiences from start to finish. We want to understand how they are feeling every step of the way. We observed that many people would say that an item is expensive. However, unlike the other retailers, the conversation doesn't stop there for us. We completely understand if an item is too expensive for purchase, as that opinion varies from customer to customer. Now, if a customer says to us that a competitor has it at a lower price, that is something we can fix, and we do with price matching.”

She continued, "At CBS Bahamas, we want our customers to get the most out of their purchase. If you can find a product cheaper at another local retailer, challenge us. We welcome it because it makes us better."

To use the price match guarantee at CBS Bahamas or the CBS PROstore is simple.

For online shoppers, find the product on the website at www.cbsbahamas.com, an option to select the PROstore if that is the store you want will appear. Ensure that the product is immediately available for purchase and identical to the competitor's product. It must be the same brand, model number and color. Next, connect with the store’s support team via the website’s Live Chat or email at online@cbsbahamas.com. Provide the support team with evidence of the price difference. The evidence must include the item’s name and model details, the price clearly marked as VAT inclusive or without VAT and the name of the local retailer.

When in-store shopping, it is the same process. Once you have your product, ensure that the item is immediately available for purchase and identical to the competitor's product. It must be the same brand, model number and color. Next, ask for the manager on duty, request a price match and provide evidence of the price difference.

According to Brent Burrows Sr., vice president of Commonwealth Building Supplies Ltd., the price match guarantee benefits customers and the business.

"We want to provide our customers with an enjoyable and easy shopping experience with quality items but at a price that is fair for the quality provided and reasonable for the customer," Burrows said. "Price matching allows us to stay on top of the competition. We always price giving customers the best value we can but even where we may fall short, the price match guarantee keeps us on point."

It is important to note that terms and conditions for price matching apply. For example, price matching items must be from local retailers legally registered in The Bahamas. The product cannot be shipped from or sold by third-party vendor websites. Visit www.cbsbahamas.com/price-match-guarantee to read the terms and conditions for the price match guarantee.

Customers can enjoy price matching at CBS Bahamas in the Southwest Plaza from 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Saturday, and 8 AM to 5 PM on Sundays. Also, at the CBS PROstore on 103 Robinson Road from 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Saturday.

Commonwealth Building Supplies Ltd. is the parent company of CBS Bahamas, Aluminium Fabricators, Ltd., and the new CBS PROstore dedicated to giving Bahamian contractors and industry professionals the best value in The Bahamas. Founded in 1973, CBS Bahamas is the largest home improvement retailer in the country, providing Bahamians with everything they need to build beautiful.

As Parliament is set to resume, the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) sees opportunity in the government’s agenda for the upcoming legislative year. We are encouraged that several legislative pieces are being considered for strengthening and amendment to improve structures of governance, quality of life, anti-corruption efforts and economic opportunities. Therefore, ORG has identified key policy options and initiatives that can support these efforts.

Priority Policy Options and Areas:

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) – The full enactment of the FOIA has yet to happen since 2017. Last year, it was announced that in 2022, Bahamians would be able to make FOIA requests to ten government agencies in a trial period. This announcement was a significant step forward for the FOIA regime in The Bahamas and was met with positive public response. ORG acknowledges that full enactment of FOIA systems can take time, however in order to meet the public’s expressed interest in gaining access to publicly held information, ORG recommends that efforts be accelerated so that this trial phase is open by the end of the year.  ORG is committed to advance this agenda in the public’s interest and will support the government to achieve this goal through public education and engagement.

Public Procurement Act – Procurement legislation makes government acquisition of goods and services transparent and accountable to encourage wider and accessible economic growth. Components of The Bahamas’ current Public Procurement Act (2021) details modern features such as online pre-registration of vendors, established government procurement criteria and processes by amount, regular reporting of awarded contracts and the development of a Procurement Committee for open multi-sector oversight of significant contracts. As the government seeks to amend the legislation for swift and efficient governance, it is essential that accountability and transparency are upheld to engender public trust and competition in government contracts. To support the process of revision, ORG will benchmark regional legislation and global standards as well as offer recommendations for consideration.

Public Disclosure Act – The existing public disclosure regime in The Bahamas was pioneering for its time in a regional context. ORG is excited to see that the government is considering revising this law. The Public Disclosure Act (1976) created a disclosure commission that monitors and examines the assets, income and liabilities of sitting parliamentarians and senior public officials. In its 46 years since passage,

 compliance with the law has been uneven. ORG’s Accountable Governance Committee has benchmarked the Act and noted areas which, if amended and modernized, may benefit the Act’s anti-corruption function and provide more accessibility, accountability and transparency. For example, creating an online platform for individuals to complete their declaration can encourage more public officials to comply with the law. Digitized processes tend to reduce cognitive overload and make processes accessible. Moreover, this online platform can be furnished with mechanisms for the public to  monitor and assess individuals who have successfully completed their declaration. ORG  sees digitization, greater transparency and accessibility, behavioral science and strengthening the integrity of administrative structures as key opportunities regarding this law. Effectively amending this legislation can allow the administration to continue in the ethos of innovation that took place in 1976.

Fiscal Responsibility Act – In recovering from Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, debt management is important as the government needs to manage its fiscal position. To mitigate the effects of these catastrophes, administrations have resorted to an increase in borrowing, subsequently leading the debt-to-GDP ratio to be more than 90%. In rebuilding and growing the economy, it is necessary to utilize the Fiscal Responsibility Act to evaluate and assess the spending of the Bahamian government. This legislation can be used to plan and strategize pathways for development. ORG commends the government for seeking to amend the law as announced earlier this year and supports the timelier inclusion of independent perspectives and expanded public reporting of The Bahamas’ fiscal position as well as the sources of expenditure and revenue.

Education Reform – An effective educational system should recognize a variety of outcomes for all Bahamians. Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected learning outcomes on many levels in The Bahamas and recent exam results reinforce the necessity for robust reform in the education sector. ORG has identified several policy initiatives that, if undertaken, can serve to mitigate these challenges. A significant effort to connect with individuals that were unable to complete their studies will be critical to supporting local economic and social progress. For instance, the government can allow for the operation of partnership schools to bring high quality innovative education for all into our most underserved communities.  Programs to support parents with early childhood development and expanded opportunities for preschools can support comprehensive accessibility. Additionally, ORG supports expanding opportunities for vocational pathways in the form of youth apprenticeship programs in higher levels of education. A reformed educational system should mirror a regime that focuses on promoting outcomes that consider everyone’s background and supports their well-being with sufficient resources to transparently monitor the quality of education.

 ORG offers the above legislative recommendations to improve governance, better equitable economic outcomes and increase public trust. We believe the proposed revisions will improve the conditions and democracy of citizens of The Bahamas and support the growth and success of its public and private sectors. These reforms fit within the larger context of the National Development Plan (NDP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In advancing these policy options, ORG supports broad public consultation and education for meaningful input and interests to be fully considered. Collaboration between the government, civil society and public sector remains a vital interest for ORG in the policy-making process. We remain available to collaboratively apply the necessary resources to advance these policy opportunities for a brighter future in The Bahamas.

About the Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG)

The Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG) is a not-for-profit civic foundation committed to realizing a brighter future by creating dialogue, insights and solutions around the challenges affecting accountable governance, education reform and economic development in The Bahamas. We are businesspersons, students, artists, educators, politicians, clergy, academics and members of civil society united to resolve the nation’s most vexing issues by addressing their root causes. Through research, advocacy, and education we can create a culture of governance that promotes opportunity and prosperity for all.