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The Tribune The Established 1903
T H E P E O P L E ’ S PA P E R
Being Bound To Swear To The Dogmas Of No Master
JANUARY 20, 2017
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PLP UNVEILS 16 MORE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday urged supporters to ramp up voter registration efforts as the path will be clear towards the next general elections once the party emerges from its national convention next week. Mr Christie addressed scores of supporters on the grounds of the party’s headquarters, filled to capacity for the ratification of 16 candidates – the majority of whom were senior incumbent MPs, including himself. The candidates ratified last night all pledged to uphold the party’s commitment to economic SEE PAGE TWO
BAHA MAR DOCUMENTS ‘TO BE UNSEALED BEFORE OPENING’ DISTRESSED and angry parents outside the entrance to Government High School yesterday, where three male students were stabbed, one of which is in critical condition. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Teenage boy in critical condition, two others hurt BY SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGE boy is in critical condition in hospital after he was stabbed multiple times during a brawl at Government High School yesterday morning which left two other students injured. The fight took place shortly after 11am on the school’s Yellow Elder Gardens campus. The three teens were injured during the argument between dozens of children during the schools first recess. Two of the boys are listed in stable condition while police said the other victim was critically injured. The school was immediately put on lock down
while police processed the crime scene and spoke to witnesses. Angry parents shouted outside the school’s main gate yesterday as they waited for the students to be released, with many in fear that one of their relatives had been injured. In a 30-second video, taken during the fight and posted on social media, several students appear to be hitting and punching each other. One young man is seen on video with what appears to be a knife in his hand, running towards the fight. Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said two young men, students of GHS, are in police custody assisting police with their investigation. ACP Dean
said it is “unfortunate” that the incident occurred on the school’s campus. He said there was a school policing officer at the school at the time of the brawl but because of the size of the compound and the “large student population” it is a difficult school to police. “Shorty after 11, the school was on break when there was an altercation between a group of students that led to one student being stabbed and two others being injured,” ACP Dean told reporters at the school. “Three were taken to hospital, one is in critical condition the other two are stable. “We are in the early stage of our investigation. We SEE PAGE THREE
A CONCERNED parent who said her son called her saying “Mommy, they trying to stab me”. She wanted to see her son and know that he was unhurt.
PM: FEAR OF CRIME REMAINS HIGH DESPITE PROGRESS BY POLICE FORCE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie struck a sombre tone yesterday as he acknowledged that criminality and the fear of crime significantly impacted the quality of life and decisionmaking of many Bahamians despite the significant progress recorded by law
enforcement and the justice system. Mr Christie contemplated the evolution of the laws in a contemporary Bahamas within the possible context of killings of persons on bail, and jurists, and stressed that the country could not rely on the fear of punishment to keep communities safe as officials marked the opening of the Office of the Public Defender.
The independent institution will provide full time representation for accused persons that are unable to secure legal representation, and features video-conferencing technology that will allow defenders to hold private counsel with clients remanded at the Bahamas Department of Correction Services. SEE PAGE FIVE
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By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE release of the sealed Supreme Court Baha Mar documents is “most definitely” expected before the opening of the $3.5bn West Bay Street mega resort, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said yesterday. While pinning the government down to a time frame of the document’s release, Mrs MaynardGibson said she is currently in the process of being advised by attorneys in her office on how best to implement Prime Minister Perry Christie’s directive to have the Baha Mar heads of agreement released for public consumption, while protecting proprietary information. SEE PAGE SIX
‘SCHIZOPHRENIC’ WHO KILLED FATHER JAILED FOR 15 YEARS By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A JUDGE imposed a 15year sentence yesterday on a “paranoid schizophrenic” woman who fatally stabbed her father a year ago. Justice Carolita Bethell had been asked by the Crown to consider that 24-year-old Antonia Butler remained a danger to society given that her victim, Anthony Butler, was unarmed and the attack on January 9, 2016 was unexpected. SEE PAGE SIX
PAGE 2, Friday, January 20, 2017
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CANDIDATE ALEXANDER STORR, Elizabeth Estates.
PRIME Minister Perry Christie addressing the crowd at the PLP ratification last night. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
CANDIDATE CLAY SWEETING, North Eleuthera.
PLP UNVEILS 16 MORE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION from page one
GLENYS HANNA MARTIN, who will run in Englerston.
CANDIDATE RANIKA KNOWLES, Killarney.
advancement and youth empowerment, and expressed their full support of Mr Christie as party leader, and his return as Prime Minister for another term. Discord within the Free National Movement, and the faction led by Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner, was a recurring talking point, with many candidates insisting that the protracted turmoil exposed the opposition party’s inability to lead the country effectively. “You have to believe as PLP supporters that the worst day in the PLP is better than the best day of the FNM,” Mr Christie said. “You must believe in your party...at the end of the day we depend on you. He said: “We’re going to convention, we want you to come out in large numbers. We want every seat filled, we want standing room only and if it’s successful there will be no standing room. We want the people of the Bahamas to see how serious we are in support of our leaders because we know when we leave that convention the path is clear towards the next general election. So don’t take it lightly when you are asked
PHILIP ‘Brave’ Davis and Shane Gibson are among the candidates to be ratified. to get registered, one of the Knowles as its standard bearer most fundamental rights for the Killarney constituency. you have is the right to vote. Ms Knowles, 30, is a former He continued: “Do not executive in the party’s youth compromise on that right arm, the Progressive Young because if you do you weak- Liberals, and vowed that she en your party’s chances of would not play political games becoming the next govern- with the lives and welfare of ment.” the Bahamian people. Incumbent MPs ratiRev Preston Cooper, an fied last night include: Mr executive at Stat Oil South Christie, Centerville; Dep- Riding Point, was ratified uty Prime Minister Philip for East Grand Bahama. Davis, Cat Island, Rum Mr Cooper has served as Cay, and San Salvador; the pastor of Sr Cleveland Dr Bernard Nottage, Bain Baptist Church for the past and Grants Town; Obie 11 years, and was formerly Wilchcombe, West Grand the PLP Branch Chairman Bahama and Bimini; V Al- for East Grand Bahama and fred Gray, MICAL; Glenys served as campaign managHanna-Martin, Englerston; er for Pleasant Bridgewater. Shane Gibson, Golden Veteran educator NorGates; Dr Michael Darville, ris Bain was ratified for the Pineridge; Dr Perry Gomez, Marco City constituency, North Andros; Khaalis and fisherman Clay SweetRolle, Pinewood; Alex ing was again given the nod Storr, Elizabeth; and Pice- for North Eleuthera. Mr well Forbes, South Andros. Sweeting contested the seat The party welcomed in 2012, but was beaten by real estate broker Reneika FNM MP Theo Neilly.
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GOVERNMENT High School principal Eloise Whyms is advised by ACP Stephen Dean to allow students to exit their classes in an orderly fashion.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Students flee in stabbing terror from page one have interviewed students and teachers to determine who might be involved, we have an idea who the persons are that were involved in the fight. We are in the early stage of the investigation,” ACP Dean said. “It is unfortunate that this happened on the school’s campus. We do have officers that work the school premises and we will continue to review our strategies to determine how best we can minimise such incidents. We can tell you that these things do not originate in the schools; these things are a wider implication of what is happening in our communities. It comes into the school but we are in the early stages of our investigation and we hope to bring it to a resolution.” Anger After being unable to contact their children for
several hours, concerned parents gathered at the school’s main entrance demanding answers. One of those parents, Shandell Williams, said her son called her shortly after 11am in a panic to tell her “someone was trying to stab him.” “My son called me from the office phone,” Ms Williams said. “He said ‘mommy the boys are trying to ‘juck’ me, the boys are trying to ‘juck’ me.’ The same time someone took the phone from him. I called back, no one answered the phone. “I’m at the school and no one is saying anything, I haven’t been able to see him, hear from him, nothing. No one coming to the gate, no one saying anything, they just telling you to be quiet and wait. How you could let someone come that close to my child to say they going to ‘juck’ him? That feeling is indescribable. I need some information. I deserve that. He is only 15.”
Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said there have been several fights at GHS since school opened and “no one seems to care enough” to do anything about it. “This isn’t anything new,” the parent said. “Everyday these kids been fighting since school open and no one is doing anything about it. The police station right there and they fighting everyday. My daughter is in grade 11 and she told me last week one guy got hit in his head, another boy get hit with a bottle, a boy was stabbed two days ago. Government High School students been fighting everyday. I am frightened to send my daughter to school,” she said. ACP Dean said police received no reports of any incidents at GHS for the school year. However, he said, there “may have been incidents in the nearby neighbourhoods.” Mount Moriah MP Ar-
nold Forbes was on the scene shortly after the incident. He said the government should look at the proliferation of gangs and the impact they are having on schools. “It spills over into the school and I am told that there is a gang situation happening in the schools,” Mr Forbes, a member of the governing Progressive Liberal Party, said. “Rival gangs meeting on the campus and fighting. I believe that we have to ensure that we can live as one. This situation with the gangs has been going on for too long and it has to be nipped in the bud. We need to explain to our children the dangers of being affiliated with any gang.” Anyone with information on this incident is being asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS. The investigation continues.
A FATHER holds his distraught son at Government High School
MOUNT Moriah Representative Arnold Forbes at Government Friday, 20th January 2017 High School yesterday.
"After a busy December, we recommend a full service...however, if resources are limited for now, at least have an oil change - its cost effective and in some cases we can do it while you wait!" CONCERNED parents gathered outside Government High School yesterday.
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Britain takes the hard line over European exit WHILE the main international focus has been inevitably on the lead-up to today’s inauguration in Washington of President-elect Trump, a major address by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this week about Britain’s negotiating position on ‘Brexit’, following the decision in last June’s referendum to quit the European Union (EU), was perhaps the most important political speech by a British leader in decades. The future of the EU and its 27 member states, with a population of some 500 million, remains uncertain - not only as a result of ‘Brexit’ but also because of the bloc’s failure to handle the refugee crisis satisfactorily and to resolve the problems of the eurozone single currency while it seeks to move towards ‘evercloser union’. This situation is of significance beyond Europe itself because of the implications for the wider world. The manner and conditions of the United Kingdom’s departure are likewise of interest and concern beyond its borders. Despite her earlier announcement to start the process of leaving the EU by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of March, Mrs May’s government had so far declined to reveal its negotiating strategy. Now, after six months of doubt and speculation, she has set out, in an historic speech which will determine the UK’s future for years to come, a detailed, clear and decisive 12-point plan which amounts to a so-called ‘hard Brexit’; and she has cleverly finessed the issue of a lack of parliamentary scrutiny of her government’s actions by agreeing to put the final deal to both Houses of Parliament for approval. Expressing her confidence in Britain’s prospects on the world stage and her vision of rediscovering its role as a great global trading nation, Mrs May stated that instead of seeking partial or associate membership (half-in, half-out) the government would recognise the outcome of the referendum by leaving all the institutions comprising the EU. That meant leaving the single market as well as the European Court of Justice. It is clear that the key factor in departure from the single market is immigration from within the EU which the UK could not control from inside it because of the bloc’s four freedoms of the movement of goods, capital, services and people - and it was clear from the referendum that this was a matter of major concern
to the British public. Mrs May stressed, however, that she wanted to maintain a friendly partnership with the EU so the government would look to negotiate a reciprocal free trade agreement with access to the single market on mutually beneficial terms. The reaction of EU leaders to this tough stance of a hard ‘Brexit’ is likely to be robust, not least to deter other member states from following suit which could result in the break-up of the whole EU project. Mrs May has made it clear that she wants the EU to prosper and she has pledged to continue to co-operate over fighting crime and terrorism - in particular, sharing intelligence - as well as to work together in areas like science, research and technology. However, in seeking the EU’s co-operation in the coming negotiations, she has said that “no deal is better than a bad deal” and warned the EU not to take punitive measures against the UK which would be, in her own words, a calamitous act of self-harm by them. The die has been cast and, given the two-year negotiating period provided for by Article 50, Britain is projected to be out of the EU no later than 2019. There are real fears about the economy as a result of leaving the single market despite the reported interest of other countries in particular the United States - in doing trade deals with Britain post-‘Brexit’. But pressure from the public to end the supremacy of EU law and restore the power of the Westminster parliament in determining the running of the country, as well as the need to control immigration, look to have been the deciding factors in the referendum. As Britain, freed from the constraints of EU membership, takes on a new and enhanced global role, it is likely that she will seek to resuscitate links with the 52-member Commonwealth by promoting increased co-operation within this important international organisation - not just in relation to trade and investment but also in a host of other areas like aid and technical assistance, educational exchanges and sharing of information. So it is reasonable to expect Britain to pay more attention to its former colonies in the Caribbean region including our own Bahamaland. This could be to our mutual benefit and would be welcome. It will be interesting, therefore, to follow events in faraway Europe as the ‘Brexit’ negotiations are launched on their likely tortuous path.
Do they have our attention? EDITOR, The Tribune. AS New Providence ratifies itself as an embattled city, a war zone of sorts, its citizens continue to live in fear and accumulate a reservoir of hate and revenge. Several school students were stabbed today at the Government High School and this has added to the escalating violence that seems to have been sparked from an incident that occurred about two months ago. There appears to be a gang war going on in New Providence. Everywhere I go I hear snippets of what is going on and it seems as if every Bahamian is in danger. I heard a voice note on social media recently and this seems to have captured some pledge of allegiance to a particular gang. I am sure there must be other gang pledges. I am no criminal expert, but I am almost certain that the police are not telling the general public all that they know in relation to this escalating crime wave. The public in my view has
a right to know what is going on in their country and we shouldn’t be just hearing snippets in passing conversation. Has a gang task force been formed to deal with this gang problem? Who are the alleged leaders of these gangs who may be promoting these heinous acts? What is the plan to infiltrate these gangs and bring some normalcy back to The Bahamas, specifically New Providence? These are some of the questions that society wants to know. Our children are posting videos on social media of students fighting each other on a regular basis. Many times instead of calling the authorities for help, they actually stay there and watch the fight and laugh and giggle like its a game that they play on their Xbox or their smart phone. Maybe our children have too much uncontrolled access to these smart gadgets. We are losing the battle in my view to save this generation. And something needs to be done.
Parenting has become a lost art and our children today have been left to fend for themselves. No slick talking speech will cut it. No music concert will do. We need to implement effective social programmes that can assist parents in raising their children. We need to find a solution together. The government, church, civil groups, and the general public must be able to work in unison. How many more stabbings, robberies, shootings and murders must there be before the proverbial light goes off in our head? This is an election year and God knows I don’t want to hear any more political speeches promising relief. Our nation is under attack and the attackers are neither strangers nor foes. The attackers are me and you. I trust that the events that occurred at GHS today, along with our almost daily shootings has finally gotten our attention. DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, January 19, 2017.
PLP must stick with Christie EDITOR, The Tribune MY sentiments are more about common sense than personalities. The PLP has been the party that rescued the Bahamian people and forced the playing field to be levelled. The naysayers would have you to think that the party never did any good for the country, and that they have not acted in the best interest of all Bahamians. But nothing could be further from the truth. The first thing that anyone who has eyes to see is that the party has prized itself on being tightly glued together. Yes there are dissension in its ranks, but the maturity of the party has always prevailed. On the other hand, the FNM has been unable to handle how it dealt with contrasting points of view in its ranks. The leader has banished all and sundry who differ from him, so much so that the backbone of the party has been painfully and surgically removed with much lost of
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net blood. Because democracy was not welcomed and paranoia set in deep, the opposing voices was ostracised, thus a mass exodus has crippled the once alternative party. We now have an opposition on crutches, each one trying to devour the other. That’s not politically healthy. Never have we seen so much half baked, ill informed, poorly led and totally insincere political parties, all with leaders who show no signs of patriotism, but only advancing their own personal agenda. Narcissism is the order of the day. Fast-forward, the challenge to the position of leader of the PLP is democracy at its best, and no one should question the exercise, BUT, and I say BUT, the plan has been set for the upcoming Super Bowl of elections. It would be asinine and inconceivable
to change the experienced, able, qualified quarterback for a player who never threw a ball in his life. The PLP would find itself in a tailspin if it dared to tamper with the leadership of the juggernaut as we know it. It will only weaken and confuse the party and concede the win to the FNM who seem to be on life support. What a dilemma, the possibility of two wounded and confused political parties, offering the Bahamas nothing to choose from. Timing is everything, and succession is a must, but certainly not at the risk of “killing the possibility of a victory. The Bahamian people deserve stability. They need an experienced, strong, compassionate, humane, caring leader. This is no time to gamble, the stakes are simply too high. Laser focused! IVOINE W. INGRAHAM Nassau, January 18, 2017.
Time to get Greenslade out EDITOR, The Tribune. Tribune Headline 19 Jan 2017. The question that begs asking with The Tribune Headline today is: “Is this the same Commissioner Greenslade” that last week boasted that “Serious Crime Is Down” ? or “Crime is down except mur-
ders”? Obviously if someone fires shots from a gun at you, but doesn’t manage to KILL you, it is still classified with murders. And what is more worrisome, they can publish a newspaper front page, full of people that they know are criminals but
they haven’t picked them up yet. You have to get out of the Station Mr Greenslade. I think the problem is with the Police Force. Not the criminals. MONKEEDOO Nassau, January 19, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 20, 2017, PAGE 5
Dames: Police keeping us from brink of crisis By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net FORMER Deputy Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames yesterday spoke out in support of Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and the Royal Bahamas Police Force after a spate of murders in New Providence. There have been 11 homicides so far this month, according to The Tribune’s records. This comes after a bloody December, which saw 15 homicides, the most of any month in 2016, followed by 13 in November, according to police statistics. Contending that efforts to reduce crime cannot succeed until a holistic approach is taken toward social ills in the country, Mr Dames said the efforts of law enforcement officers
are to be commended because this alone is “keeping us from the brink of crisis”. “We have failed as a country by putting this problem at the feet of law enforcement with the demand of them controlling a problem that started in our homes, schools, churches and social groupings,” said the recently ratified Free National Movement candidate for Mount Moriah. “When we look at the news we see the details of incidents that end poorly, but that is just a part of what they go through daily. It doesn’t stop for them. Everyday it is a fight against a problem that we have failed to look at holistically,” he added. Mr Dames said the reality surrounding 11 homicides committed within a span of 18 days makes one thing clear: “The failures have more to do with soci-
ety than it does with law enforcement.” “Look at what happened today,” Mr Dames said referring to a stabbing incident at Government High School. “This didn’t happen because police weren’t there or because they didn’t respond in a timely fashion. “To say that would be a tragedy in and of itself. We have a situation where we need to address the persons involved because there are personal issues; social issues that have been allowed to fester and now are burning over. How do you expect an officer to predict that and police it? Impossible. “We can name issues and the problems and say what we feel the causes are. They may be related directly or indirectly to trends, statistics; the things we want to believe. “But we find ourselves in a serious predicament
because we aren’t looking at those involved in these situations and saying, ‘you know what, there is something that pushed that person to do what he did, something is causing that.’ “In this country, we made the mistake of making crime a political issue some years back. I want to caution the public in this time of turmoil not to look at the police and say that they should ramp this up, switch that up. “We need to come together because social ills are not solely a police responsibility. We can’t put the kind of pressure on police to solve this problem. What we are seeing is the results of decades of problems which extend from a plethora of issues,” Mr Dames added. “To keep it honest, we can give officers all the resources in the world, but that is not going to end what
we see on our streets, it’s like police are shooting in the dark because you cannot patrol and police social issues.” On Wednesday, Commissioner Greenslade called the country’s murder count so far this month a “disgrace”, but stressed that many of the country’s recent killings stem from feuds over drugs and relationships. The commissioner said “prolific serial offenders” cannot remain “free in our communities to continue to create fear” and possibly commit more serious crimes, as he urged family members, friends and associates of serial criminals to “turn them into police” before they become targets. Responding to questions over Commissioner Greenslade’s hard stance, Mr Dames applauded his former boss, stating that
the approach should act as the first in a series of “get it right” moments needed in the country. “Let’s be clear, we need acts like that to get it right as we face this turmoil,” he said. “We need to use every arm of our society, pull all the force in line and make a holistic push to improve the state of affairs. We cannot continue to look at crime through a single lens . . . We have to end the act of making crime political because the government has the right to engage everyone to fix this. “I served in the police force, and I praise those officers because I know what they are going through. But we cannot look to them for solutions. We can talk about models and strategies until we are blue in the face. We need to rebuild our people - start with that.”
PM: FEAR OF CRIME REMAINS HIGH DESPITE PROGRESS BY POLICE FORCE from page one
“Just last week, the commissioner of police announced the most significant reduction in serious crimes since 2004, a 26 per cent decline,” Mr Christie said. “On the same day the attorney general revealed that since 2012, through the Swift Justice initiative operating 10 criminal courts that can sit concurrently, we have seen conviction rates double, an increase in the amount of cases disposed of by the Supreme Court, and a significant reduction in the time it takes to present voluntary bills of indictment.” Mr Christie told those attending from the legal community that he spent most of his day in conference with Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, State Minister of National Security Keith Bell and Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, receiving security briefings and discussing challenges. He maintained that the government’s commitment was not only to providing financial resources but also greater consideration to those who administer justice in the courts. Mr Christie said that he spoke with judges on occasion, to gain a better understanding of how justice is administered given the current social context. “How in contemporary Bahamas,” he said, “where you see current events in furtherance of constitutional provision that people are admitted to bail and then they’re killed? I asked for guidance on how does the law evolve when there is ever a time when jurists have imported to their consideration whether here in the Bahamas or the Caribbean in the Privy Council…
a decision making in the courts that has a certain result, death, could influence judicial reasoning.” Mr Christie said: “Especially as we live in a very small country, a very small island community, one of the great challenges of our country is that events that involve criminality and the fear of crime by our citizens, which mounts in its importance and significance, where it influences significantly how we live and the level of comfort we enjoy and where concerns are manifest for our children, whether they even go out at evenings, that no matter what are the statistics that I will speak to today there is this certain feeling of concern by the citizens of our country, who notwithstanding the progress that we’re making would have their judgment influenced by the stark events that occur too often, too many places.” “So today we stand at an intersection,” he said, “we’re uniquely at a decrease in serious crimes, a rise in conviction rates and an increase in how swiftly we dispose of trials are all happening together and yes I’m able certify and indicate that we are moving in the right direction, that we are. “We’ve taken a holistic approach to addressing the challenges of crime and the opening of the Office of the Public Defender is indicative of just that. “We cannot only rely on the fear of punishment to keep our communities safe. Our security also depends on our investment in capacity building, infrastructure, crime prevention, rehabilitation, and the continued strengthening of the justice system.” At yesterday’s ceremony, he praised the tenacity of Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson in advocating for the resources necessary to launch this
endeavour, and other initiatives like Swift Justice. For her part, Mrs Maynard-Gibson pointed out that progress made on improving the justice system was evidenced by empirical data gathered over this term, and could not be discounted despite the political climate. “I’d like to highlight that the statistics that we reveal to the public are not just numbers,” Mrs MaynardGibson said. “They represent the capacity to make strategic decisions about the allocation of resources and they represent victims of crime and their families who can finally find peace. And, in today’s context, they include vindication for innocent people.” The office is equipped with video conferencing technology that will afford public defenders the ability to speak privately with remanded clients at the Bahamas Department of Correction Services, or one of the four soundproof video-conferencing booths installed at the courts. Mrs Maynard-Gibson advised that there was also the capacity to allow public defenders to set up video-conferencing at their private offices, and use the system off-site, for a fee. The innovation is expected to dramatically reduce trial delays and costs for both law enforcement and the justice system in terms by cutting down on transportation costs, manpower needed and the security risk of escapes. At yesterday’s ceremony, Supreme Court Chief Justice Hartman Longley underscored the correlation between defective representation, in many legal systems, and the setting aside of convictions of serious matters. He expressed confidence that the new paradigm will play a pivotal role in the advancement of justice and ul-
COMMISSIONER: NO ISSUE WITH ANKLE MONITORING By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said there is no “issue” in The Bahamas with electronic monitoring systems. His comment, which came during a recent press conference, was made months after the Christie administration changed its electronic monitoring systems provider, awarding a new contract to Migrafill Electronic Security. Details of that new contract have not been disclosed, and it’s unclear what makes the new provider different from the old one. Previously, ICS Security Concepts had a multi-million dollar contract to provide electronic monitoring systems, but top government officials expressed concerns about the system’s quality under ICS. In 2013, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage said: “We clearly have not been completely satisfied with the system that does exist and so we are looking for ways to improve that.” That same year, State Minister for National Security Keith Bell said the government was concerned over “fundamental issues”
with electronic monitoring. “The question one has to ask, is the government spending a substantial amount of money for this?” he said. “The fact of the matter is the government has invested in it and the responsibility is on ICS to ensure that there are no breaches; either you do it or you can’t.” Commissioner Greenslade, nonetheless, dismissed concerns about the monitoring system as he praised both companies who have been awarded contracts within recent years. “I’m not going to speak for the government but I’m going to speak because I was a part of the initial arrangements with the first company,” he said. “The company that dealt with the electronic monitoring in the first instance did an extremely good job, professional young man who was running a business employing Bahamians and in my view as commissioner did a good job. “Whatever those nuances were over time that he contracted with the government is not for me to discuss. The company that now has the contract is again a prominent company in this country, decent people who are employing Bahamians and
who mean all the good in the world. I just told you about two good businesses that exist and will continue to exist on the landscape of the country. Electronic monitoring is not a perfect system, irrespective of what system you purchase. None of them are fail-safe to the extent that if a person wants to defeat that bracelet they will. “What I try to explain to people is this: let’s not get into the technical details of this and confuse ourselves. If someone appears before a court of law, whatever company you’re using and is told you are going to be remanded to prison, I’m not minded to give you bail; but there’s an option and if you take that option and you behave yourself within the parameters set by the courts you don’t have to go to prison, you can be at home and we can monitor you. Well, why get bent out of shape about whether you can cut it or take it off? If you cut it off, the moment you do you breach your bail conditions, we take you back to jail. What’s the news story? It’s not an issue. If you’re looking for an issue you’ll find it. I want us to be peacemakers in The Bahamas. I want businesses to survive. I don’t see any issue today in The Bahamas with electronic bracelets.”
timately improve the justice product in the country. For the establishment of the office, the government consulted with external experts from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Inter-American Development Bank and the US State Courts. The lead consultant was Judge William Webb from the United States National Center for State Courts. “They agreed that the four escape routes had to be concurrently closed,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said, “calendaring, inability to obtain transcripts, inability to empanel juries and inability to obtain representation. “Today marks the occasion mechanisms have been put in place to close each of the four escape routes. “Importantly it represents the establishment of an institution – an independent institution, the Office of the Public Defender, which is to be governed by an independent board presently chaired by (retired) Justice Joseph Strachan,” she said.
PRIME Minister Perry Christie speaking at the opening of the new Public Defender’s office. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
PAGE 6, Friday, January 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
BAHA MAR DOCUMENTS ‘TO BE UNSEALED BEFORE OPENING’ from page one
She repeated the government’s position that the heads of agreement had nothing “unusual” contained in it, adding that providing incentives to investors in the country was not an unfamiliar practice. Asked whether it was possible to have this done before the shuttered resort opened its doors, the attorney general said: “Oh yes. You heard the prime minister’s statement. It’s a mandate.” She continued: “Yes, most definitely. As I indicated you have heard the prime minister speak, you have heard Minister (of Education Jerome) Fitzgerald
ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff speak and myself speak and our country and we are certhat is that there is nothing tainly very happy to see the unusual in the document at promise of Baha Mar comall in terms of the content of ing to its full fruition. heads of agreements. “You would have seen “There is nothing unu- that thousands of people are sual about the idea of in- already applying for jobs. centivising investment in There are contractors al-
ready on the site and there are Bahamian contractors who had no hope of being paid, have been paid and are very delighted about all of the circumstances that have been negotiated by the government under the prime minister’s direction,” she said. “It’s important to note that there is proprietary information that has to be protected as well as the public’s interest in having all of that information and we believe that we will be able to, in short order, have both objectives (the court’s judgment and the prime minister’s directive) accomplished,” Mrs MaynardGibson said. After facing fiery backlash for months over confir-
mation that the new deal to open Baha Mar was sealed, Mr Christie told reporters last week that Mrs MaynardGibson was directed to have the records made public at the “earliest opportunity”. The prime minister added that his administration had no difficulty in accounting for what it negotiated to facilitate the opening of the shuttered $3.5bn West Bay Street mega resort. Once the documents are placed in the public domain, Mr Christie said Bahamians will see that what is contained in them will reveal the “most brilliant” set of negotiations in the country’s history. Despite what critics have said about the deal, Mr
Christie reiterated that his administration did not ask the Supreme Court to seal the Baha Mar deal. He repeated earlier comments that this was a “commercial decision” made by the lawyers representing the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM). Last month, Mr Christie announced the official sale of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong conglomerate, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd. Apart from failing to reveal the cost at which the shuttered resort was sold, Mr Christie at the time spoke minimally of the details surrounding this development.
Murder suspect did not want autopsy on his mother By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of murdering his mother allegedly did not want an autopsy performed to determine the cause of her death, a Supreme Court jury heard from his sister yesterday. University of the Bahamas lecturer Dr Faith Butler-Cleare was called to the witness stand to speak of the morning of February 4, 2015 about a phone called she received concerning her mother, Princess Butler, whom she had taken to her Highbury Park home from St Matthew’s Anglican church the evening before. “Did your mother live alone?” prosecutor Uel Johnson asked. “No she did not. She lived with my brother Jerome,” Dr Butler-Cleare said, adding that another sibling, Jonathan, lived in a cottage next to the main house but that he did not have keys to her mother’s house as far as
she knew. As the witness was giving her testimony, 57-yearold Jerome Butler, who was seated next to his lawyer David Cash, looked on. Butler is standing trial before Justice Indra Charles accused of killing his 81-year-old mother. “When you dropped your mother home, did you notice any bruises on her?” the prosecutor asked. “No, I did not,” the witness said. Dr Butler-Cleare said she had not got any sleep because she had stayed up doing work when she received a call shortly after 6.30am. “My husband and I both left the house and went to my mother’s house. I met my brother Jerome at the back gate. He said ‘mommy gone.’ I rushed into the room where I met her face down,” Dr Butler-Cleare said. “Do you know if your brother has a vehicle?” the prosecutor asked. The lecturer said yes, adding that it was there the
Death Notice For Amos Albert Wright, 67 of Bowe’s Cove off Bernard Rd and formerly of Barratarre, Exuma died at Princess Margret Hospital on January 11th, 2017. He is survived by his Fiancé: Joycelyn Bonaby; 2 Sons: Stephano Wright and Darren Storr; 6 Daughters: Kena, Tanya and Dewana Wright, Demetra WrightNeil, Aneka Rolle and Raquel Francis; 2 Brothers: Bishop Donnie Storr and Arthur Storr; 3 Sisters: Viola Roberts, Loranna Llyord and Mertyl Storr; A host of other relatives and friends.
previous evening when she dropped her mother off. Continuing her testimony, the witness said her brother Johnny was at her mother’s side, “shaking her”. “I felt for a pulse (and) I didn’t feel anything. I asked Jerome if he called the ambulance. He said he didn’t,” Dr Butler-Cleare said. The victim was found dead in her home at Petersfield Road shortly after 8am on February 4, 2015. An autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxia, which resulted in police launching an investigation. The accused was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court 12 days later in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty to murder when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court three months later. Butler has retained attorneys Ian Cargill and Mr Cash to defend him against the allegation. Mr Johnson and Halicia Delancy are prosecuting the case for the Crown. Dr Butler-Cleare said she instructed her husband to call an ambulance and EMS personnel arrived, examined her mother “and said she indeed passed away.” She asked her husband to call Dr Austin Davis and upon his arrival to the home, he too confirmed she had passed away, the court heard. There were several people from the neighbourhood that came by and the rector of St Matthew’s Church was called as well a mortician, the witness added. “There was a discussion between myself, Jerome and my husband. I’d requested an autopsy. My brother Jerome said ‘You want to put her through that?” Dr Butler-Cleare recalled. The witness told the pros-
ecutor that she insisted on an autopsy being done. With Justice Charles’ permission, the witness was shown photos taken of the deceased by Crime Scene Investigator Constable Navar Neely at the Rand Laboratory at Princess Margaret Hospital two days after she was found dead. The witness, however, became emotional, leading to a 10-minute recess before the trial continued. Prosecutor Johnson asked the witness about her brother Jonathan and Dr Butler-Cleare said that her deaf sibling would come to the main house for dinner and sometimes breakfast. “He would knock on the door and either Jerome or my mother would answer,” she said. “How often would you visit your mother?” the prosecutor asked. Dr Butler-Cleare said “almost everyday.” “Are you able to describe the relationship between Jerome and Princess Butler?” Mr Johnson asked. The witness said she could. “It was a frustrating relationship. My brother Jerome talked down to her and disrespected her, cursed her, called her derogatory names,” Dr Butler-Cleare said. “In your presence?” Justice Charles asked. “Yes. He would call her a f******* bitch or that she’s brain damaged, frustrating her for little things,” the witness alleged. “Did your mother have any illnesses that you knew of?” the prosecutor asked. “Not that I’m aware of. She complained of her knee from time to time but she exercised and was active,” the witness replied. Mr Cash, in cross-examination, asked the witness from whom did she receive
the call that morning. “It was Jerome,” she answered. “You said Jonathan was also there?” the defence lawyer asked. The witness said yes. “Did the ambulance personnel come into the room?” Mr Cash then probed. Dr Butler-Cleare said yes. “Did any police officers come?” the accused lawyer asked. “Not on that particular occasion that I recall,” the witness answered. “At anytime before the body was taken away was the scene secured by police?” Mr Cash asked. The witness said no. “Isn’t it so that your mother suffered a seizure in 2004?” the defence lawyer suggested. The witness said yes, explaining that she advised and took her mother to Doctors Hospital but they did not put her on anti-seizure medication as the physicians noted that seizures could occur from stress. “Did you have any opportunity to look at her face?” the lawyer asked. “I did not see her full face,” Dr Butler-Cleare said. She agreed that she did not see any injury on the body and that she was not in the room when Dr Davis was conducting his examination. She also admitted that the first time she saw the injuries on her mother were at the Rand Laboratory at Princess Margaret Hospital. Mr Cash asked if the request for an autopsy was recommended by a physician “or was it just your request?” Dr Butler-Cleare said the latter, adding that she “just wanted to know.”
“Did Jerome pay any bills in the house?” the lawyer asked. The sister said he paid the cable bill and for a time the electricity bill as well. “Did Jerome buy her food?” Mr Cash asked. “Yes, sometimes,” the witness answered. “I’m going to suggest to you Jerome never called your mother a ‘f******* bitch,’ disrespect her or call her names,” the lawyer said. “There are many who can attest to it,” Dr ButlerCleare said in disagreement. She agreed to his subsequent suggestion that she and Jerome had a strained relationship. Mr Cash added: “I suggest you called Jerome to say that CDU wanted to meet with the family when in fact they did not want to meet with the family.” “CDU called me and said we should all come there at one time,” the witness replied. “You were being dishonest, knowing he would be arrested,” the lawyer suggested. “I have no reason to be dishonest at all,” Dr ButlerCleare said. “You can’t say what happened in that house after you left your mother there can you?” the lawyer asked. “No I cannot,” the witness answered. Constable Deandro Thomas was called on the witness stand and he testified that on February 10, 2016, based on information from Sergeant Basil Evans, he saw Jerome Butler in the foyer at the Central Detective Unit and arrested him with reference to murder. When cross-examined, the detective agreed that Jerome Butler was co-operative. The trial resumes today.
15 YEARS IN JAIL FOR ‘SCHIZOPHRENIC’ WHO KILLED FATHER from page one
Mr Butler, a lecturer at the former College of The Bahamas and Valley Boys Junkanoo member, was stabbed in the chest during an argument at his Imperial Park home on the Saturday in question. He was pronounced dead by EMS personnel upon
their arrival at the scene. Two days after the incident, his daughter was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court facing a murder charge. At that arraignment, she was told by Chief Magistrate Joyann FergusonPratt that she would not be allowed to enter a plea to the charge until she was formally arraigned in the Supreme Court. Butler then claimed to be the daughter of the late Princess Diana and told the court she had been in exile in The Bahamas for some time. The accused asked to be remanded to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) instead of prison, claiming she was pregnant and feared the prison’s foul odours and food. The chief magistrate made a note of the complaint and a recommendation for a psychiatric exam to determine whether the accused should be transferred to the facility. The 24-year-old appeared before Justice Bethell on Wednesday where Butler pleaded not guilty to murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. In a sentence hearing held yesterday, Dr John Dillard confirmed the 24-year-old had been admitted to the
SRC on four occasions since the age of 16 and was subsequently diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. “It is believed that lack of compliance with taking her medication, compounded with marijuana abuse, led to the fatal incident,” the judge was told. “Provided she takes her medication, and you said she’s improved since the first time you saw her and that you will continue treatment when she’s in prison, in the long run will she be fit to be released to the public?” the judge asked. “The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services is responsible for the delivery of medication and that is important here,” the physician said. “It is my opinion that she can be rehabilitated and that her condition has been improved with sufficient monitoring. It is important to understand that if she’s not treated or if she continues to use psychoactive substances, it is possible she can become aggressive,” Dr Dillard added. “What happens if she’s not fit for release prior to the conclusion of her sentence? Because I have to take that into consideration,” the judge asked.
Dr Dillard said she would have to be treated at the SRC if that were to be the case. Shaka Serville, lawyer for Antonia Butler, told the judge that his client had not wasted the court’s time or resources in going to trial and was extremely remorseful for her actions. He also said that as a result of what transpired, the convict did not have any more parents left as her mother had previously died from cancer. Mr Serville also said that his client wanted to make amends with the family. Prosecutor Abigail Farrington urged the court to consider the serious nature of the offence, that the victim was unarmed, that the attack was “totally unexpected” and that Antonia Butler “remains a danger to society.” Justice Bethell, before imposing the 15-year sentence, said: “One of the worst crimes is taking another’s life but it was compounded because she took her father’s life.” The judge ordered that she receive treatment, counselling and therapy during her incarceration and that she be accessed before the expiration of the sentence.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 20, 2017, PAGE 7
‘BITCH AND COMPLAIN TIRADE SHOWS CHRISTIE NEEDS TO GO’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has said the brash tone of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s now infamous “bitch and complain” tirade last Sunday demonstrates that the veteran politician needs to reconsider his bid for re-election. The Killarney MP, in a critique of Mr Christie’s indication that at times he is
put off by his Cabinet colleagues’ attitudes, said his comments are a reflection of deeper internal problems within the governing party. Dr Minnis said while Mr Christie may be surprised by the attitudes of some of those in his Cabinet, the reality of life in The Bahamas has led many citizens to resort to “complaining”. He urged Mr Christie to do the honourable thing and leave politics for good following this term. “Sometimes I wonder
(about) many things what Christie says, but that is their internal problems, I don’t get into internal problems,” Dr Minnis said. “Bahamians are complaining everyday, so if those internal and next to him are complaining, if he don’t want to hear anymore noise, all he has to do is (present the) boundaries report, call an election and go into the twilight of his years, relax, retire and drink his coffee and tea.” In a speech in which he de-
tailed his eagerness to serve another term, Mr Christie said his government had invested too much energy, creativity and introduced new policy innovations to modernise the country for them to “squander” the opportunity to win the next general election and go on to serve the best interest of the people. He went on to add: “Many times when some of my colleagues begin to bitch and complain, I ask them, I say suppose you were me?” Mr Christie further noted
the vicious criticism he has faced during this current term, stating: “They curse me everyday. And when they get tired of cursing me, they curse my wife and my daughter; my children. Listen, they even cursed Adam (Mr Christie’s autistic son) and Adam can’t even hurt a fly. “But this is what it is all about, you have a leader with big shoulders. One who understands governance in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and one who wears his integrity
right out in the open. “This is now the time,” Mr Christie said on Sunday before a crowd of jubilant PLP supporters. Mr Christie, 73, was last night ratified for the Centreville constituency along with several other longserving PLP parliamentarians. He has represented the area for more than 40 years. He will be challenged for the PLP’s leadership post when the party holds its first convention since 2009 next week.
Minnis: Boundary delay a hindrance to the FNM By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday admitted that the stalled Constituencies Commission report has not only been a hindrance to his party, but has presented challenges for the FNM ahead of the 2017 general election. The stalling of the report has been seen by some as a strategic move by the government to place itself at an advantage over the fractured FNM heading into the election. In this regard and notwithstanding the issues his party faces, Dr Minnis issued a warning to the PLP led government, insisting that the FNM stood ready to snatch the country from the grasp of “law breakers”. He reiterated allegations he made on Wednesday that the government was in breach of the Constitution, which states that the Constituencies Commission should report to Parliament in intervals of “not more than five years.” Under the previous administration, the last constituencies report was tabled in the House on November 17, 2011. However, House of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major has dismissed this concern. On Wednesday, Dr Major said he had warned both Dr Minnis and Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, who raised the matter in the House, that the law should be interpreted as five years from the establishment of a new Parliament and not five years from the last tabling of a boundaries report.
DR HUBERT MINNIS, leader of the FNM. On Wednesday, Dr Major said the commission delayed the release of the report in the hope that the sluggish voter registration will pick up considerably over the next few weeks. “We would have hoped and liked for the government to follow the law,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune. “The timely release of the report would have helped us in putting together our campaign paraphernalia and readying for the road ahead. “We are still uncertain of how many seats they will be bringing forth so you can see where the challenge is there. “Prime Minister Christie and the PLP are accustomed to leaving things for the last minute, that is their
modus operandi. But it is not mine. “The government is breaking the law. They have no respect for it. “So since we cannot jail them for breaking the law, I am urging all Bahamians to register to vote and kick them out of office because we cannot have law breakers running the country. If we are to have a better future then we must have a future where our laws are respected.” Asked what he believed was behind the report’s delay, Dr Minnis said he was unsure. “It can be both. They may be waiting for voter registration numbers to increase or it can be that they are delaying the release for strategic reasons.
MOSS JOINS CONDEMNATION OF ARCHDEACON’S COMMENTS PASTOR of Mount Olive Baptist Church Rev C B Moss has spoken out against the “extremely offensive” address given by Anglican Archeacon James Palacious last week when he told a crowd gathered to celebrate Majority Rule Day that “black people breed too much”. In a letter to the editor, Rev Moss said the archdeacon’s remarks left him with “deep disappointment” and “dismay.” Rev Moss said he has known the archdeacon for some time and assumed that he had a lapse of judgment and would publicly apologise for the remarks. “This comment was extremely offensive and was made at the wrong time, to the wrong audience, at the wrong place, and by someone perhaps representing the wrong organisation to speak at such an occasion,” Rev Moss said. “The comment obviously lacked the historical, cultural, economic, social, religious, and political knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity expected from one of the archdeacon’s stature. “I have known Archdeacon Palacious for many years, and would not have expected the comment to emanate from him, particularly on an occasion that was of such awesome pride and dignity for black peo-
ple, who make up the overwhelming majority of the nation’s population,” Rev Moss added. “Given this posture, I can only then assume that Archdeacon Palacious suffered an immense lapse of judgment and that he would now do the right thing and make a public apology. He has given much to the Bahamas, and I am convinced that he has more to give as we seek to move our nation forward.” While addressing a crowd gathered at the Southern Recreation Grounds on January 10, Archdeacon Palacious said unless “we find a way to control our reproductive processes” The Bahamas will be stuck recycling poverty. The archdeacon also said while Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s proposal for state-sponsored sterilisation of women was “most unfortunate,” he agrees with the principle of what Mr Lightbourn was trying to say. While speaking at the Free National Movement’s televised convention last July, Mr Lightbourn proposed that the country adopt legislation that mandates unwed mothers with more than two children have their “tubes tied” in an effort to curtail the country’s social ills. His comments drew the ire of
many people, with some parliamentarians, local advocacy groups, and others swiftly condemning him for his statements. He has since apologised for his comments. “We live in a society where the rich gets richer and the poor get children,” Archdeacon Palacious said. “What I mean is this, unless we can control our reproductive process we will always be recycling poverty. My member of Parliament Richard Lightbourn made some most unfortunate remarks at the FNM convention, which he later apologised for, and that is important. Having said that let me say this too: the principal of what he was trying to say I agree totally. “Black people breed too much. We have too many children we cannot afford and as a result of that we digging ourselves more and more into poverty. If we can’t see that then something is radically wrong with us,” the archdeacon added. “You have children on the lunch programme right now mothers, and you going having some more, come on man. Give me a break, give yourself a break. God didn’t put you here as any baby machine, he put you here to be a productive citizen of this country. That is what we need.”
“While they may know what’s in the report and we don’t, they can prepare and have advantage over us. But I am sending a warning
that that will not happen. We are only waiting for the bell to ring. We are waiting to snatch this country from the hands of this criminal PLP government,” Dr Minnis said. Dr Major, who is also the commission’s chair, told reporters on Wednesday that he was confident that members will be in a position to table the report “within two weeks or very shortly”. The House of Assembly was adjourned until February 5. “There was an argument put forth that we would allow a little bit more time to increase and beef up the voter registration because there is more access, more opportunities to register,” Dr Major said. “Opposition members also expressed some concern, and the question goes to whether constitutionally the prime minister should make a decision with the voter registration being as low as it is, and I think all of us can agree that we would rather not, or wait until its increased to the extent that it’s a reasonable amount
that speaks to the aspirations of the Bahamian people. “At some point we will have to make a decision, make a cut off point. The argument was put forth, it’s a cogent argument to wait a few more weeks and see what happens.” Earlier this month, the Parliamentary Registration Department announced 26 new voter registration stations in New Providence and Grand Bahama. However, voter registration numbers are still trailing behind the last election cycle’s pace as less than 50 per cent of eligible voters have been registered. According to Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall, just over 80,000 persons have registered to vote to date. Earlier this month, Dr Major expressed disappointment that the group has not completed its report, underscoring several contributing factors, including low voter registration numbers and “contention” among members, that delayed its progress.
PAGE 8, Friday, January 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE PARENTS rush to their children after students are released from school following a stabbing at Government High School yesterday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
Make The Bahamas great - and start at home T
ODAY’S column was supposed to take a totally different tone this
week. However due to yesterday’s events, today’s column has a whole new perspective. So no jabs at our “creaky” yet still “shuffling” PM! The “majority” not being the “majority” amongst FNMs in Exuma, (Allegedly). Or crime, supposedly being down by 26%, despite 13 murders on the books for the year so far. Instead, sadly I must address the events that transpired yesterday around New Providence, appallingly, even in our schools! Yes, our school yards have turned into “urban war zones” for our out of control, often times, gang affiliated, youth in angst. Yesterday’s outbreak by certain students at the Government High School, (three injured, all hospitalized in serious, or critical condition) is eerily reminiscent of last year’s tragic events at Doris Johnson Senior high school, which cost a student his life. Senseless, heinous killings are the order of the day. Seriously? Really, have we become so desensitised by violent events like these in our everyday society, that they become part of the “norm”?
A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA Now as easy as it is, we, “we” meaning, us, each one of us God-fearing Bahamians with some sort of conscience left, that has sat idly by doing nothing, while our nation sinks into oblivion, it’s time for us to take our nation back. To coin a phrase, “It’s time to make The Bahamas great again”. Now before you go pointing your fingers at the Government, RBPF, teachers, society, social media even, and the list goes on and on....yes the aforementioned branches of society, are to be held accountable for their failings and their overall part of the problem, deservedly so. But we as parents need to own up to our own failings as well, and the role we’ve played in the dysfunction of our children. A major part of the problem, is that we as parents stopped “cuttin our kids dem boungies”. What happened? Parents from all across the land took a “timeout” from life, all while putting their kids in “time out”.
(Totally useless exercise in my opinion). There’s nothing wrong with a little dose of tough love, and the creative, innovative lengths our parents went to, to discipline us. Taking nothing away from the gravity of yesterday’s events, here are 4 “old school” parenting methods that need to be brought back into circulation, and applied on today’s society. It maybe the only way to save the Millennials from themselves. They were used on my generation, and look how well we turned out. 1. The Phantom Pinch This technique is highly effective. Best applied when your kid is being rude, and you see them, but they think you didn’t. As they continue to tune you out, hit them with a firm “pinch” and watch the dancing begin. It also instils in your rude ass child, that you are always watching, you see everything. 2. Paging Sheniqua This is another effective manoeuvre, if your wayward, can’t stay home, always going out and getting
into all types of un-Godly antics, with bad company child, (especially if it’s your daughter). No need to get bent out of shape, all you have to do is tip the DJ to page your “missing” child, after the DJ calls out your child after stopping the music, is all that’s needed. The chastisement from patrons angered by the cease in music, and the embarrassment from the whole episode alone, will force your child to stay at home for the foreseeable future. And even if they do try it again, they will never be allowed entry into the club again, as they have been branded as “dat gal who mudda does mash up the party.” 3. Man at Night Man at Day This method is designed for the young man in your life that likes to stay out all night in the clubs or on the blocks, getting into all kind of unsavoury activities, drinking, smoking, chasing the ladies, etc, etc. Simply wait for them to return, (normally like Vampires right before sunrise) let them get comfy in their bed for 20 minutes, and just as they get into a nice deep sleep, turn on all the lights, music full blast and with the cooking spoon and sauce pan of your choice, start your percussion solo right in their ear! As they spring up “shocked and awed” re-
mind them if they are a man at night they need to be a man by day, and that’s when you hand them the chore list and remind them it needs to be completed immediately, and their bed is off limits, as well as pocket money, going out, usage of the car and so on and so on, until every task is complete. Boys are stubborn so it will take a few times, however by the fourth or fifth cycle you will start to see them return home earlier and party less frequently. If your child tries to get “slick” by sleeping at a friend‘s house, inform said friends’ parents of the Sauce pan method and everything will work itself out. You will see more responsible partying from your child, earlier nights and productive earlier days. Nothing is more of a ‘buzzkill’ than that sauce pan melody ripping through your raging hangover!! It gets old really fast. 4. Pick ya Switch Okay maybe there aren’t enough tamarind trees readily available these days, but the jist of it is, when all else fails, break out the belt, fly swatter, electrical cord, whale bone, you see where I’m going with this. One item that is synonymous with the “smackdown”. Once you tell your child to retrieve your “rod of correction” they know their fate is sealed and the consequences and subsequent discipline of ones actions is
about to be dished out. Don’t try and kill your child out of anger, that’s no excuse they will still send you to jail for it. Instead remain focused on the target, the gluteus maximus, channel all of your energy to deliver a direct strike to the gluteus maximus. A direct hit will send an electrically charged message up their spine, to the brain reminding your child not so subtly that they might not want to engage in the same type of idiotic actions moving forward. It also reaffirms the age old parental message, “I brought you into this world, I will take you out,” once your child sees how no nonsense you can be, and how well you dole out discipline they will fear you more than any gang on the streets. 5. Home Team First What I’m saying here is, as lightly and as delicately as possible. We parents need to ensure discipline, social skills and self respect starts at home, setting the right example, once it’s established there, it will carry over into other areas. We must show the youth the right way by our actions, and that playing the blame game doesn’t solve anything. I will leave you with this from W.E. DuBois: “Children learn more from who you are, than what you teach.”
READERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON NHI PREPARATIONS SAINT AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE
2017 ENTRANCE EXAM The Entrance Examination for students wishing to enter Grade Seven at St. Augustine’s College for September, 2017 will be given on Friday, January 27th, 2017. Deadline for registration for this examination is Tuesday, January 24th, 2017. Eligible students may register at their Catholic Primary Schools or at St. Augustine’s College. ONLY students in Grade Six will be allowed to sit the Entrance Exam.
CANADIAN healthcare expert Dr David Price predicted that Bahamian doctors will drop their opposition to NHI’s preferred payment mechanism “within three years”, while government advisers conceded the public health system’s many flaws cannot be fixed “immediately”. Readers gave their views on tribune242.com . . . The_Oracle had this to say: “Based on 2.2 to 2.3 visits per year it may be, when people have to pay for it, but once free, that visit count will sky rocket, with no further renumeration for the doctors! As to the avoidable mortality of 700 deaths, how many of those is the Government currently responsible for, via underfunded Hospitals/clinics, incompetence across the public healthcare system? Interesting we are still having this pushed down out throats when the US is about to terminate their failed experiment in ‘free healthcare’.” Greentea said: “It is a meaningless waste of money in the current system. Of course it can and SHOULD wait. PGC is no Obama and our system can’t compare to what BHO had to work with.” ThisIsOurs said: “Seems
like the only solution here is for Mr Price (who will fly back to the comfort of Canada once he’s proposed a devastating implementation date on the Bahamas), to be admitted to accident and emergency for some ailment, spend 14-24hrs waiting to be seen, then placed on a gurney and be pushed around waiting for medication to kill pain for another four hours. We can talk about thinking about the end point before fixing the system after his admission night of chaos.” And after Tribune Business revealed that Bahamians faced “waiting lines” for treatment under the initial National Health Insurance (NHI) model if costs went beyond the $400 million that the Government already spends on healthcare, DonAnthony said: “NHI is such an absolute farce it is hard to put into words. We cannot provide the most basic level of care at our government clinics. This is my experience with
Simms clinic in Long Island I went there for back pain, beautiful facilities, competent doctor but no supplies or drugs. The doctor asked the nurse one after the other for four different drugs not one of them available. These were all basic, cheap generic drugs. I laughed and asked the doctor about it and he said we order the drugs and they come late or usually not at all. They ended up giving me panadol for my pain. What a joke. They felt so embarrassed I was not even charged for the visit. “My wife needed a simple test done, we wait two hours to see the doctor, she orders the test, only to be told it is not available. The doctor tells us to buy it locally on the island and come back to her, we drive 30 minutes to a mini mart grocery store and buy the test for $3.09. Why the hell can this frigging clinic not have this test? Absolutely pathetic. Eleuthera has no doctor at all on an island 110 miles long. Let that sink in. “Another family island is staffed by a close friend, they bemoaned the lack of drugs, especially an injectable pain medication used constantly. They have it now intermittently because
a second home resident who is a doctor flies in to the island to supply the clinic. And we have the absolute gall to talk crap about NHI. Please supply these damn clinics with the most basic drugs and then move on from there. OMG replied: “All you say is true except that Eleuthera has one doctor down south who covers the whole island. The truth is that persons in the MOH don’t give a rat’s backside for the residents when you consider that central had a very good doctor willing to stay but did not have his contract renewed. Now which idiot in the MOH terminates an established hard working doctor but has no one to replace him? Despite a lack of basic drugs, regular supplies of oxygen, thousands of dollars have been spent clearing land for the so-called “mini hospital”. As Exuma and Abaco mini hospitals have never opened and areas of PMH are closed due to lack of qualified staff, one has to ask how Eleuthera will ever build, open and staff what at the end of the day will be a clinic at best.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 20, 2017, PAGE 9
Automated licence system to be introduced in Grand Bahama By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Road Traffic Department will introduce its new automated vehicle and driver’s licence system on February 6 in Grand Bahama. Ross Smith, Road Traffic Department controller, said that the new automated system and online licensing process brings the department’s operation into the 21st century. “This major change is a vital and fundamental component to the department’s modernisation plan that seeks to bring the management and operation of the Road Traffic Department
into the 21st century,” he said. “We are extremely excited about this project because we are convinced that it introduces a process that will improve operational efficiency within the Road Traffic Department and significantly improve the quality of service we provide the public.” The department plans to implement the automated system throughout the Family Islands by June. Mr Smith said the online process is simple. The fourstep process involves registration, inspection, verification and payment and receipt of assets. To register persons must
log on to roadtraffic@bahamas.gov.bs and follow the process. Under the new system, the individual’s name will no longer appear on the windshield disc, only a bar code. Mr Smith said that transfer of license plate will no longer happen under the new system. “The plate is tagged to the person for life, and when you sell your car…you take the plate off the car and put it on the new vehicle,” he said. “Under the old system when you sold your car you signed the back of the disc, that no longer happens in the new system because we have a titling system. A
POINTS SYSTEM SUGGESTED FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
ROAD Traffic officials are in discussions about the introduction of a points system against traffic violators, according to a Road Traffic Controller Ross Smith. While in Grand Bahama to introduce the new automated system for the island, Mr Smith said: “Under the new Act we are in discussions about that right now. It is in second draft form and in the Act we are trying to introduce a point system to ensure we have better drivers on the road.” He noted that the points system would be linked with police activities. “We want to ensure persons adhere to the rules and regulations, and the system would be linked to the police but it would be shown in our system - we would have access to it.” He also stated that if the
court suspends someone’s license, the Road Traffic Department would be able to see this information. In the US, most states operate a points system to track dangerous and careless drivers, and also those who commit traffic violations. Officials in the US take action against the driver’s license based on severity of the violation. After a specific number of points, a person’s license can be suspended or revoked, and to get the license reinstated will mean paying hundreds of dollars in fines. When asked about the unavailability of driver’s licences to the public because of problems with the driver’s license machine in Freeport, Mr Smith said that there are times when the equipment may break down. “Those times are challenging times for us and we want the public to under-
portion of that title must be filled out and signed over to the buyer transferring title. The buyer must present the transfer title, along with the disc for the car, to Road Traffic so that we can make the changes in the system,” he explained. Mr Smith said new license plates for Grand Bahama will have the letter designation G. The new plates will consist of two letters and four numbers. He said there will new plates for rented vehicles and the orange coloured bonded plates will remain the same. He said persons will not be paying for the new plates and will only pay a standard
$195 fee when they license their vehicle. Additionally, Mr Smith stated that the TMN number issued when registering your vehicle will also appear on the person’s driver’s license. “In our previous system, you had a number when you registered for your vehicle and a different one for your driver’s license. Under this system the TMN will be the only number the identifies you as a client of the Road Traffic Department, so you will see that number on your driver’s license when you come to renew it,” he said. “We know that you have been tolerant with us over the years and we ask for
your patience as we work to ensure that this new online automated licensing process meets all your expectation and creates a more transparent, accountable and efficient operation,” Mr Smith said. Mr Smith said that registering, licensing and inspecting vehicles will still continue by the person’s birth month. “There will be no change to that process and we are not requiring everyone to change to the new system when we introduce the process next month. Only persons whose vehicle expires during the month of February will be required to renew using the new system,” he said.
‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’
stand that issues may arise, but those are going to be minimal,” he said. When asked about the shortage of license plates in Grand Bahama, Mr Smith said there has always been an issue with the plates because when people sell their cars or if their vehicles break down, they leave the plate on the car and get rid of it when those plates can be reused. “And we have to wait until the (new) plates can be printed,” he said. Mr Smith said officials do not expect any shortages with the new license plates that will be issued under the new automated system. “At the initial stage we have plates for everyone, and we don’t want a mad rush of persons coming in for plates. We want them to come in the month they were born. We want them to keep the current license plate until it expires,” he said.
HUMANE SOCIETY HOLDS SALE AT RAND NATURE CENTRE THE tranquil setting of the Rand Nature Centre was the perfect backdrop for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama’s “We Are All God’s Creatures” Arts & Crafts Show and Sale on Saturday. Many local and international artists and artisans displayed their work, and sales proceeds were donated back to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB). Over 200 guests
enjoyed popular local acoustic soloist Ryan Carroll’s music while perusing the arts and crafts, and enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Many also renewed their HSGB memberships or signed up as new members. HSGB Treasurer Penny Ettinger, the event’s coordinator, said: “We are just thrilled by the amazing attendance at this evening’s
party and show, and so thankful to everyone who supported the vital work of our shelter, and our homeless animals.” Memberships to the HSGB start at $30 for individuals and include benefits such as 10 per cent discounts on shelter services. For more information on becoming a member stop by the shelter, email info@ hs-gb.org, or call 352-2477.
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PAGE 10, Friday, January 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Family Islanders to march in solidarity against Trump By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net WOMEN from two Family Islands yesterday declared their support of the international Women’s March on Washington in hopes that their support will send a “strong and clear message” that the rights, health and safety of women and others throughout the world are respected. Women situated in Freeport, Grand Bahama, as well as Long Island, both informed The Tribune yesterday of their plans to march in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington movement to raise greater awareness and ac-
knowledgement of women’s rights, human rights and equality. The Women’s March on Washington is a global protest to be held on January 21, the day after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, largely in response to the rhetoric of the past US election cycle, which march organisers said “insulted, demonised and threatened” many in US society, particularly women. According to the march’s website, www.womensmarch.com, there are 616 marches scheduled to be held in the US and around the world in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, with an es-
timated 1,364,010 marchers expected to participate. Lynette McInnes, organiser and spokesperson for the “Women’s March on Grand” in Grand Bahama, said Freeport are proud to be one of the 600 plus cities around the world standing in solidarity with the global grassroots movement. “On January 21, people from the United States and around the world will march for justice, freedom, human rights and equality,” Ms McInnes said. “As founder of Grand Bahama’s largest international women’s day event, ‘Join Me on The Bridge’, the Women’s March campaign and its focus on women’s rights and equali-
ty syncs well with our community. “The Bahamas’ interest and engagement in womenfocused events has grown greatly over the years, so it’s no surprise that women in Grand Bahama are eager to be heard and to take part in this important sister event.” According to march organisers, the Women’s March on Washington movement aims to send a “bold message” to all levels of government, which includes, but is not limited, to the incoming Trump administration, that those in support of the movement do so “in solidarity and we expect elected leaders to act to protect the rights of
women, their families and their communities.” March organisers have stressed that the event is not just a protest against President-elect Trump, but is “much more about being proactive about women’s rights” and more so, “a stand on social justice and human rights issues ranging from race, ethnicity, gender, religion, immigration and healthcare.” The main march is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 10am at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Third Street SW, near the US Capitol in Washington, DC. However, hundreds of other marches are scheduled to take place in various cities and locales
throughout North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, the United Kingdom, and Japan, to name a few. “We’re excited that women across the nation and the world are organising to stand together in solidarity,” Bob Bland, a cochair of Women’s March on Washington has said, according to international report. “Our unity will send a strong and clear message that women and our allies will protect our rights, our health, our safety and our communities. These sister marches show a powerful and inclusive movement, which is just as crucial as the thousands who will travel to DC.”
COMPUTERS GIVEN TO SCHOOL BY SANDALS THE Sandals Foundation has donated 32 computers to the Sandilands Primary School which was hit with theft during Hurricane Matthew last October. “The rapid response by the foundation comes with the recognition that technology has become inextricably tied with educational delivery making computers and the internet an indispensable asset to the classroom,” according to a Sandals press release. “Sandals Foundation also has an ongoing self-given charge to assist communities and schools in the Caribbean that have been impacted by natural disasters.” Pamela Amerly, head mistress of Sandilands Pri-
mary School, said: “We feel so blessed to have Sandals in our corner this year. The children have really been responding to the assistance that we’ve received and these new laptop computers will really assist them with their reading comprehension and increase their excitement to learn.” Director of Programmes of Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke said: “We are really pleased that we have been able to facilitate this donation of technology to assist the dedicated staff at Sandilands Primary. We have seen firsthand their dedication to the children and we are happy to play our part to ensure they have all they need to continue on their mission.”
STUDENTS at Sandilands Primary School with the computers donated by Sandals Foundation.
ATLANTIS HONOURS LONG-SERVING EMPLOYEES
ATLANTIS hosts its long service employee recognition breakfast and ceremony at The Fathom to honor staff who have been working at the resort for more than 20 years. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
HOWARD KARAWAN, president and managing director, addressing long-serving employees.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, January 20, 2017, PAGE 11
SOMETHING stirring deep in the forest as biologist Tom Morris talks about trees.
Photo: Bradley Albury/www.TheAbaconian.com
Exploring the blue holes of Abaco RESEARCHERS from National Geographic, Bahamian scientists and local students have been mapping and exploring Abaco’s mysterious and beautiful blue holes. During a 16-day visit last month, some of the world’s top explorers and scientists in their fields conducted educational outreach for 167 students from six Abaco schools, who enjoyed hands-on experience . The scientists and researchers were in Abaco as part of a research grant towards “Exploration, Mapping and Outreach in The Bahamas Blue Holes National Park”, which is funded in part by National Geographic. Local partners include the National Museum of The Bahamas/ Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation (AMMC), Friends of the Environment and many local businesses and individuals. As part of the educational outreach, six local schools visited the research site at Dan’s Cave blue hole. Students heard from the scientists regarding their research, had hands on ex-
perience with animals retrieved from the depths of the blue hole, listened to acoustic markers (pings) placed many metres beneath their feet, and viewed the world through augmented reality goggles which overlaid a map of the cave systems. Students also received an educational and tasty demonstration of Bahamian bush medicine by local guides Marcus Davis and Terrance Rodgers. They experienced ‘virtual reality’ cave diving: blindfolded they crawled through a wooden box (simulating the claustrophobic nature of exploring caves) while following a string. An informative talk on the pine forest was also presented by biologist Tom Morris. Kristin Williams, Executive Director of Friends of the Environment, said: “In six days, 167 students had the opportunity of a lifetime to work with some of the top cave divers, scientists and explorers in the world and we are so grateful that Friends was able to help facilitate these experiences. Abaco is a special place that continues to
NANCY Albury conducts a demonstration of limestone filtering.
BRIAN Kakuk leads a seminar on species. attract world class science nowned explorer and expedition leader, was the prinand exploration.” The participating schools cipal investigator attached were Central Abaco Pri- to the project. Ms Albury, manager and mary, Forest Heights Academy, Hope Town School, curator of Paleontology for Man-O-War Primary, the National Museum of Long Bay and Every Child The Bahamas, said: “The goal of this project was to Counts. Twelve members of the gather more information expedition grant team were about the caves through on the ground with back- survey and mapping and grounds ranging from bota- then have the children ny and cave diving to photo- participate in some amazgrammetry and 3D imaging ing hands-on activities de- Nancy Albury (Science signed and taught by the and Natural History; In- team members. Like readvestigator with AMMC), ing chapters in a book, blue Steve Bogaerts (Diving and holes and caves reflect the Surveying), Maria Fadi- rich natural history of the man (Ethnobotanist), Jill formation of our islands, Heinerth (Diving and Pho- sea level and climate changtography), Keene Haywood es, and contain the remains (Head of Exploration Sci- of plants and animals that ence at the University of died and sank into the dark Miami), Corey Jaskolski anoxic bottom sediments. (Photogrammetry, 3D Im- All of these things tell us aging and Virtual Reality), about our islands ecology Brian Kakuk (Diving and through time and how aniSurveying), Sebastien Kis- mal and plant communities ter (Mapping), Tom Mor- functioned before, during ris (Diving and Biology), and after waves of humans Kristin Williams (Outreach migrated into The BahaFacilitator; Friends of the mas.” Blue holes act as natural Environment), and Cristina Zenato (Diving.) Dr time capsules and contain Kenneth Broad, world-re- some of the most intriguing
collections of natural, geologic, and human history in the West Indies. “For over a decade, the National Museum of The Bahamas has supported the research of blue holes, caves, and the natural history of The Bahamas,” Ms Albury said. “Our natural history is intimately tied to the blue holes and caves because they contain evidence of our islands’ natural, geologic and human history and as well as each islands precious freshwater resources.” The researchers and explorers spent their time, when not interacting with curious students, engaged in a variety of scientific pursuits. In the afternoon the divers explored constricting, flooded tunnels hundreds of feet below the ground. They set pinging devices, monitored by Adrianna McPhee and Kelly Delancy, whose frequency could be picked up back on the surface. This allows for more accurate mapping of the twisting caverns. That mapping data could
then be transformed into a 3D image thanks to the work of researchers such as Dr Jaskolski, who coded and designed an augmented reality interface which may one day be implemented in walking tours of the Blue Holes National Park. Fossils and animals were catalogued by the dive team. The animals are blind, translucent and unlike any other on earth. The fossils tell a fascinating story of a very different Bahamas, detailing the creatures and people that inhabited the islands. Dr Broad summed up some of the goals of the project as “the culmination of the lessons learned by many of us on the team. We’re mapping this cave system that could prove to be the most extensive island cave system in the world. In doing so, we’re testing new underwater technologies and hoping to create the first virtual-reality/3-D room of an underwater cave system to be used for education, and developing an interpretive trail above the cave system.”
PAGE 12, Friday, January 20, 2017
THE OPENING of the new Public Defender office on West Bay street in the Ambrosine Building, with Prime Minister Perry Christie in attendance.
Public Defender’s office opened
THE TRIBUNE
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
THE BLESSING of the new public defender building by Archdeacon James Palacious.