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BAHAMAS: FTRA to meet country’s deficiencies regarding FATF recommendations

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#Bahamas, May 17, 2018 – Nassau – The Bahamas’ Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 (FTRA), will meet all of the deficiencies that were identified in respect to the country’s compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, said Wednesday.

Addressing a stakeholder meeting with industry regulators and members of the Bahamas Bar Association, Attorney-General Bethel said the Act will, in a broad sense, be the “heart of the system of compliance and due diligence that will henceforth be the standard of conduct to be expected of all participants in financial services.”

The stakeholder meeting was hosted by the Office of the Attorney-General, in conjunction with the Bahamas Bar Association, as part of the 2018 Legislative Series. Attorney-General Bethel provided an overview of the FTRA during Session I.

The Bahamas was found to be deficient in 22 of the 40 recommendations included in the FATF’s Mutual Evaluation for late 2015. Attorney-General Bethel said the present Administration received notice in late May, beginning of June, 2017, and has been working assiduously to correct the situation ever since.

“You only need to be deficient in 21 of them to be where we are today,” Attorney-General Bethel said. “One of the things that was required was to bring into effect an updated Financial Transaction Reporting Act. Drafts were found in the Ministry’s files, but had not been progressed. They weren’t aligned with the FATF’s recommendations.”

Attorney-General Bethel said the FATF “break their recommendations down” into almost microscopic suggestions that are called methodologies.

“And so you have the recommendation. To comply with the recommendation, you have to show that you have the methodology in place and are implementing it. How do you get the methodology in place? You have to craft laws almost with microscopic attention to these methodologies. That is the process we have been at and so today we now have an FTRA. We will have a fully compliant and acceptable FTRA that will meet all of the deficiencies,” Attorney-General Bethel added.

The Financial Transaction Reporting Act was one of several areas covered by Attorney-General Bethel during Wednesday’s session. The Attorney-General also addressed matters ranging from compliance to lawyer/client privilege.

Attorney-General Bethel said the session with the stakeholder group, was a necessary part of the stakeholder consultative process on the Financial Transaction Reporting Act, as lawyers/attorneys and accountants are now being looked upon as financial institutions globally. They were previously designated as Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs).

“Lawyers, accountants and certain other professionals, were never treated as financial institutions before, they merely had duties of customer due diligence, making Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) possibly, but they were never given the duties of being a financial institution. That has all changed. They are now in the category of financial institutions,” Attorney-General Bethel said.

“Now attorneys, apart from having the usual due diligence, they must verify it. That’s the kind of ‘enhanced’ due diligence that is now required because the standard now is obtaining and verifying. The second aspect of that is of course, that as financial institutions, you are now expected to comply and to be regulated.”

The Attorney-General also addressed the matter of lawyer/client privilege.

“We all know that privilege does not extend to the issue of, or in any way facilitate, the commission of a crime by a client. So there are limits to privilege. It was suggested to myself and my staff in a meeting with the Bar Council by some persons, that we look at the situation in Canada whereas it is well known that the Supreme Court ruled that lawyer/client privilege was akin to an absolute right and that any intromission into this sacred territory violated certain articles of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“And so Canada is habitually, in their mutual evaluations, given negative ratings on this whole issue of the legal profession and privilege because it is inescapable that they are unable to comply with the recommendations that they, as a member of the FATF, are party to imposing on the rest of the world.

“But the reality is that Canada is a country with enormous natural resources, 40-50 million people, and a standing army, navy and air force. They do not need the world as much as we do. We have an entirely open economy. We are an integrated part of the world, and we are very small. We do not have the luxury that a Canada can enjoy.”

Attorney-General Bethel said it is expected that lawyer/client privilege will be kept within due bounds.

“Any time counsel is aware of anything untoward, it is mandated by law that STRs be generated.”

The Attorney-General expressed his “full confidence in this august and learned legal profession” of The Bahamas.

“You have helped to pilot this Ship of State through many such storms. This is only the latest. This is The Bahamas. We know how to pilot the ship. Let us remember that it is not survival of the fittest, it is survival of the smartest and I always say about this Blessed country, that we may not have natural resources – iron or steel, etcetera; we may not have rare earth minerals, we may not have large quantities of agricultural lands to speak of (and) so we have had to learn, and we have learned over this past four hundred-odd years, to not only survive, but to succeed because we use what God gave us between our ears – our brains. We have what it takes not only to survive, but to succeed.

“My colleagues of the Bar, I have every confidence that you will continue in that noble tradition of not just surviving, but succeeding,” Attorney-General Bethel added.

 

Photo Captions:

Header: Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, chatting with officials from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs during a break in Wednesday’s Session. Attorney-General Bethel was accompanied by (first right) Mr. Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Insert: Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl W. Bethel, QC, provided regulators and members of The Bahamas Bar Association with an overview of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2018 (FTRA) Wednesday, May 16 as part of the Office of the Attorney-General/Bahamas Bar Association’s 2018 Legislative Series held at the British Colonial Hilton. Also pictured (from left) are: Khrystle Rutherford- Ferguson, Treasurer, Bahamas Bar Association; Kahlil Parker, President, Bahamas Bar Association; Attorney-General Bethel; Juanita Lewis-Johnson, Vice-President, Bahamas Bar Association and Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

 

 

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Ayla Isaacs Unveils Transformative Guide Amidst Challenging Times

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Bahamian author Ayla Isaacs is making an impactful debut in the literary world with her book, “Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health—Transforming Your Wellbeing With Diet, Exercise, and Rest.” As crime rates surge and the aftermath of the pandemic leaving many grappling with hopelessness and a sense of abandonment, Isaacs’ guide offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap for personal transformation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing spiritual resilience in navigating adversity.

Long-time Bahamian physician Dr. Horizal Simmons says, “Ms. Isaacs not only states the spiritual ingredient that we should use for our therapy, but she also explains how it works in our spiritual system and the beneficial changes that will bring the desired transformation or spiritual health benefits.” Applauding the soundness of the book and paralleling it to physical wellness, Dr. Simmons said he highly recommends it to anyone serious about their spiritual well-being and health.

Isaacs is a highly experienced Project Manager who draws from her background in Civil and Environmental Engineering, International Business, and Christian ministry, whether a physical structure or the wellbeing of an individual’s life. Her published work shows that she strongly believes in building with structural integrity. Isaacs provides readers with a holistic approach to welfare beyond traditional self-help. She explores the transformative power of simple spiritual practices integrated into daily life. Isaacs believes that prioritizing spiritual health can help individuals find inner fulfillment and a sense of purpose, which she believes are essential in combating the prevailing hopelessness.

Coach Gregory Cash, who has spent decades helping to develop great athletes and leaders in the country, believes the unique perspective shared, especially relating to spiritual exercise, can touch the hearts of so many. Wendy Fernander, PhD., a licensed clinical psychologist and president of the Bahamas Psychological Association, noted that too few of us think about our spiritual diet, which results in our spiritual wellbeing. When asked about the book, Dr. Fernander said, “This book will provoke you to do serious soul searching.”

Amid the challenges communities face, Isaacs encourages readers to initiate a positive “me” movement—a focus on self-improvement that, when embraced collectively, can lead to stronger families, churches, and nations. According to Isaacs, strengthened individuals become catalysts for positive change within their immediate circles, creating a ripple effect that extends to broader communities.

Ayla Isaacs, whose roots go back to South Eleuthera, is a founding member of the Smart and Strong Sisterhood (SASS) and the creative mind behind A.I. Paper, a gift-wrapping paper and bag company that celebrates the islands of The Bahamas. Isaacs believes that investing in spiritual wellbeing is pivotal for personal growth and resilience. A conference speaker who is actively involved in church ministries and affiliated with several civic organizations, Isaacs firmly believes in the balance between personal and community wellbeing.

“Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health” is now available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com in paperback and eBook form and locally at Oasis Bookstore in Nassau. Isaacs encourages readers to embark on a transformative journey and be architects of their spiritual wellbeing. In times of uncertainty, “Achieving Optimum Spiritual Health” offers a guide and a message of hope and empowerment for individuals seeking personal and communal transformation.

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Tired of Taking Notes? The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Will Transcribe and Summarize Your Voice Notes In A Snap! 

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NASSAU, Bahamas – Faster, smarter and more convenient than ever before, the new Samsung Galaxy S24 will revolutionize your productivity with its new Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist features. In the continuous pursuit of delivering innovative solutions that enhance productivity and user experience, Samsung Electronics is proud to introduce two groundbreaking features: Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist.

The Transcript Assist feature, powered by Galaxy’s advanced artificial intelligence, takes note-taking to a whole new level by enabling users to easily convert voice notes and conversations into useful and accessible notes. Whether in a business meeting, conference, or casual conversation, the Galaxy S24’s Transcript Assist makes capturing information easier than ever.

By utilizing Transcript Assist, users can effortlessly record any conversation with multiple speakers and transform it into a clear and concise transcript with just a few taps. This feature is particularly useful for those who need to keep a detailed record of discussions and decisions made during important meetings or collaborative work sessions.

“With Transcript Assist, we’re redefining the way people take notes and record information,” said Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager at Samsung Electronics. “No longer do you have to worry about missing important details during a conversation. With the Galaxy S24, you can capture every word and turn it into a useful reference that you can easily review and share.”

In addition to generating accurate transcripts, the Transcript Assist feature also offers the ability to generate quick summaries of conversations, as well as the option to translate the entire transcript into different languages, facilitating communication and collaboration among people from different regions and cultures.

On the other hand, the Browsing Assist feature allows users to navigate more efficiently and conveniently on their Galaxy S24 devices by providing intelligent and contextual suggestions during web browsing and online content exploration.

The Galaxy S24, equipped with Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist, marks the beginning of a new era of productivity and convenience in mobile devices. These innovative features demonstrate Samsung Electronics’ continued commitment to providing advanced tools that help people achieve their goals more effectively and efficiently in everyday life.

So, get ready! The new Samsung Galaxy S24 will be coming soon to tech stores in The Bahamas soon.

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Weather Systems Affect Cuba and The Bahamas

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Weather#Cuba#TheBahamas, March 25th, 2024 – Serious weather struck The Bahamas and Cuba over the weekend, both nations receiving warnings from their meteorological entities. The Bahamas was affected by severe thunderstorms.  In fact, an area of the Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship, which was 20 miles off Eleuthera, Bahamas, caught fire and reports say it was possibly due to a lightning strike.  Fortunately no lives were reported lost.

Meanwhile, Cuba had intense rainfall and hailstorms, resulting in damage to surrounding areas, thousands left without electricity amid fallen trees and Flash Floods.

 

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