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Volume:114 No.101, APRIL 18TH, 2017
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WOMAN: MOTHER TURNS GRIEF INTO INSPIRATION
Three dead in Easter killings
ONE ARREST AS RAPE FILMED AND POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net POLICE have one man in custody in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a woman in New Providence that was filmed and posted on several social media platforms over the Easter weekend. Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean told The Tribune SEE PAGE SIX
Off-duty policeman found dead after shots on service road By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net THREE men are dead, including an off duty police officer, after a weekend of violence over the Easter holidays. The killings took place within 36 hours and brought the country’s homicide count to 44 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. The latest murder took place shortly after 7am on Monday in Abaco. According to reports, police were called to an area in Murphy Town, where a man’s lifeless body was discovered with multiple stab wounds.
A doctor pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Police have no one in custody and no current motive for Monday’s homicide. Police have not identified the victim but The Tribune understands he is Mark Sawyer. The second homicide took place around 1am on Sunday. According to a police report, officers received a call that shots were fired on a service road off Coral Harbour Road. When officers arrived on the scene they discovered the lifeless body of a man lying on the ground, with multiple gunshots injuries. SEE PAGE SIX
MINISTER SILENT ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR AIR TRAFFIC SICK OUT By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
TRANSPORT and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin yesterday could not confirm whether disciplinary action will be taken against those air traffic controllers who engaged in a “sick out” over the Easter holidays as a form of industrial action. However, Mrs Hanna
Martin told The Tribune that the “focus” is now for the Christie administration to “get on the same page” with the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union (BATCU) to ensure that the latter understands that “conduct of that nature is not acceptable.” She also accused the union of seeking to “mete out the highest level of SEE PAGE TEN
SUPPORTERS at the Progressive Liberal Party motorcade at Arawak Cay yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PM CALLS FOR SUPPORTERS TO JOIN PLP ON ‘ROAD TO VICTORY’ By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie last night implored Bahamians to “come out in the thousands” on Thursday for the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) first
mass rally “on the road to victory”. Addressing thousands of party supporters at a PLP fun day on Monday night at Arawak Cay, Mr Christie said the PLP will go “head to head” with the Free National Movement (FNM) and the “winner
will take all”. The FNM also has a rally scheduled for Thursday at R M Bailey Park. The Prime Minister said he wants to show the FNM that The Bahamas is still ‘gold, gold, gold”. “It is so good to see so many of you out here, I
am told that you sank the ground in Nassau with the motorcade and I was speaking to the Deputy Prime Minister who was on the motorcade in Grand Bahama and it was so big and so strong,” Mr Christie said. SEE PAGE THREE
COMPLAINT FILED TO POLICE AS ROBERTS DEFENDS PARTY’S ELECTION SIGNS DESTROYED PLAN FOR FREE ELECTRICITY A FORMAL complaint has been filed with police after vandals destroyed and defaced Progressive Liberal Party election posters in New Providence and several Family Islands. According to a statement from PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts, he made the complaint to Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade on Saturday. Mr Roberts said several candidate billboards have been torn down and de-
faced in New Providence, Freeport, Abaco Eleuthera and Long Island. “These acts of vandalism are offensive and sets a negative tone,” Mr Roberts noted. “I have on several occasions called for peaceful general elections consistent with our international reputation as a stable and peaceful democracy. This can only be achieved SEE PAGE SIX
PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has defended his party’s controversial plan to provide “free” electricity to customers who keep their residential use below certain limits, saying it coincides with the party’s core principle of helping those who need it most. However, it appears that the specifics of the plan are still being worked out as Mr Roberts said the specific limits will be determined
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closer to the introduction of the policy. As reported by The Tribune previously, in the PLP’s Action Plan for Moving Forward Together, which was published on its relaunched website www. myplp.org on Thursday, the party said if elected to office for another term it plans to “make the cost of electricity free to residential customers who limit SEE PAGE SEVEN
PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
THE PLP concert at Arawak Cay last night.
THE TRIBUNE
Photo: Submitted
SUPPORTERS dancing at the PLP family fun day yesterday. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, Tuesday, April April 18,18, 2017, 2017, PAGE PAGE 3 3 PRIME Minister Perry Christie speaking to supporters at the family fun day on Arawak Cay yesterday held by the Progressive Liberal Party. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PM calls for supporters to join PLP on ‘road to victory’ “We will march throughout The Bahamas to victory. The season of elections has started. I have told you before the PLP have the best team; there is no doubt man for man, woman for woman the PLP has the best team that will form the next government of The Bahamas. “We are going to have a rally on Thursday evening. On Wednesday, we will be in Andros, we go in the morning to do a ground breaking. We then go to Abaco to open a mini hospital then we fly back to Andros to tell the people why they will vote for the PLP. “But on Thursday we will tell you where it will be but the most important thing is you have shown the people of the Bahamas that you will come out by the thousands to support the PLP. “That will set the stage for Clifford Park. So make sure when they call you to come, we want to sink the
THE PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party motorcade along Arawak Cay yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
ground and we show gold, gold, gold. On Saturday, I skip from Friday because I don’t want the FNM to know where we will be on Friday yet because I want to go head to head with them. When they call theirs over there we will call ours over here, winner take all.” Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis lashed out at the FNM for their recent criticisms of
the government. Last week, the FNM accused the government of giving out jobs for votes. “If people are out of work should we not help them?” Mr Davis asked. “Are they advocating that people who are out of work should not have jobs? It is shocking that they criticised us for not hiring people and then when we do they get mad and criticise us.”
INTEREST CAP PLEDGE ON LOANS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
TO reduce the debt burden on Bahamians, the Progressive Liberal Party has pledged it will cap the level of interest that may be charged on loans taken out by government workers and paid through salary deductions if re-elected. While the specifics of the policy were not given, the pledge is contained in the PLP’s action plan posted on its website. PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts told The Tribune on Thursday afternoon that the party will release a more comprehensive manifesto this week. “We will also put in place other measures to help those currently paying excessively high levels of interest on loans backed by government guarantee,” the PLP’s plan noted. The PLP also pledged to create policies ensuring that 75 per cent to 80 per cent of revenue generated from the tourism industry remains in the Bahamas. Research by the National Development Plan Secretariat has found that only about 20 per cent of profits from foreign direct investments in the Bahamas trickles down throughout the society. Critics have said this should make the government rethink the way it offers concessions to foreign
CORRECTION
FOLLOWING a report (Man shot dead through a window of Fox Hill home, April 10) we have been asked to point out that 26-year-old Marcian
investors by way of heads of agreements. “When you consider the social benefit of employment and the income Bahamians derive from it, but then consider the concessions given away to investors for free, real property tax reductions, and the various forms of exemptions we give, what is the opportunity cost and the real impact of the development to the Bahamas?” Chamber of Commerce Chairman Gowon Bowe told The Tribune earlier this year. “It’s a negative impact going into the government’s coffers when you consider the profits made that we don’t benefit from. It would have been cheaper to tax foreign investors at a full rate and just give the (Bahamian) workers a stipend.” In its plan, the PLP also said it will establish a programme in the Department of Housing to help people who cannot afford traditional down-payments on their homes. “We propose to utilise tracts of land on New Providence designated for agriculture and transfer them to housing,” the PLP noted. “One example is the tract on Milo Butler across from Coca-Cola; another is a tract on Cowpen Road. The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation will facilitate collection of the money. The Department of Housing will construct the homes and qualify the applicant.
‘Bones’ Edgecombe, who was killed in a bedroom at the house, was not charged with shooting a reserve police officer several years ago.
“We propose beginning the programme with civil servants. The price point of rent-to-own homes will be lower using new housing models and building methods. We will move forward with the planning already underway between the Ministry of Environment and Housing, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant government agencies.” The PLP claimed that this rent-to-own proposal was announced previously during this term. At a rally in March, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis also pledged to introduce a “rent to own” housing policy to help aspiring homeowners achieve their dreams.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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Finger-pointing must stop: important issues must be settled IT WOULD seem that the PLP election strategy is to focus its attacks on FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis instead of dealing with the issues– at least that appears to be the tactic of PLP chairman Bradley Roberts. However, this election must decide the future of this country, which involves settling important principles of government, not finger-pointing and childish nit-picking. Even Buddha, way back before Christ, seemed to have a sense of humour. When a simpleton abused him, Buddha listened in silence. When the man had finished, Buddha asked him: “Son, if a man declined to accept a present made to him, to whom would it belong?” The man answered: “To him who offered it.” “My son,” said Buddha, “I decline to accept your abuse, and request you to keep it for yourself.” And this is what Mr Roberts will now have to do in falsely accusing Dr Minnis of “condoning” what he “termed were unwarranted and unlawful industrial actions taken by some Air Traffic Controllers that left Bahamians stranded in airports, led to the cancellation of flights and the loss of revenue and other economic opportunities for Bahamians.” Dr Minnis condoned nothing. However, he did criticise the Christie government for not paying the controllers whatever they might have been owed on time to avoid the unfortunate situation that inconvenienced so many people – both Bahamian and foreign— and internationally undermined this country’s reputation. Dr Minnis said that an FNM government would have handled matters differently. “I am advised,” said Mr Roberts, “that some of the outstanding issues and subsequent demands predate the current administration and requires an audit to compile the requisite data on which the Government can act. This government has always acted in good faith in addressing labour issues; this administration did so in resolving long-standing financial issues with the public school teachers, Customs, Immigration and we will do the same with the Air Traffic Controllers.” And so, Mr Roberts, what has your government done about the air traffic controllers’ problem in the past five years? You say an audit was needed to confirm the controllers‘ claims. Has your government even authorised the audit, if not why not? On May 7, 2012, the controllers’ complaints ceased to be an FNM problem. It became the problem of the PLP government. It appears, Mr Roberts, that Buddha’s gift has been rejected and is back with your government. Obviously, the traffic controllers were provoked into action, because – it would seem – of the Christie government’s failure to deal with their complaints during the past five years. This does not condone the behaviour of the unionists, the fall out from which has already caused too much damage to our tourist industry. But Buddha’s unwanted gift has been returned to where it belongs— the PLP government. This is one of the many reasons that the Bahamian people — to safeguard their own futures — should retire this government on May 10. “This government has always acted in good faith in addressing labour issues,” Mr Roberts claimed. “This administration did so in resolving long-standing financial issues with the public school teachers, Customs, Immigration and we will do the same with the Air Traffic Controllers.”
We recall some of these labour issues to which Mr Roberts refers being long and drawn out, especially the battle with the Police Staff Association (PSA) concerning overtime pay for officers who worked additional hours during separate periods in 2013 and 2014. Government took the case all the way to the Appeals Court, costing the country a tidy sum in court fees. Having failed in both the Supreme Court and the Appeals Court, a judge in each court asked why the parties could not have sat around the table, discussed and settled the matter amicably. PSA chairman Dwight Smith also wondered why the matter had to go to court in the first place. This seems to negate Mr Robert’s claim that his government has always acted in good faith in addressing labour matters. So we hope that he will now accept the return of Buddha’s unwanted gift, and beat his breast with a couple of “mea culpas” (my fault) while he encourages his government to deal with this airport matter with the urgency that it deserves. This in no way suggests that we condone the action of those controllers who decided either to walk off the job, or play sick and stay off the job, thereby not only inconveniencing Bahamians, but also non-Bahamians stranded at the airport. However, even more serious was the threat to the lives of passengers in aircraft, quickly running low on fuel as they hovered above, their pilots awaiting an all clear signal from the tower to land. If angry comments of pilots, both commercial and private, are not acted upon, traffic controllers will quickly have worked themselves out of a job. The Lynden Pindling International Airport will no longer be the busy airport that it once was and controllers will no longer be needed. They will have made themselves redundant by their own reckless decisions. We have often referred to the self destruct of the International Bazaar in Freeport, which has fallen into such disrepair that it should be bulldozed from sight. The closure in 2004 of the Royal Oasis Golf Resort and Casino in Freeport put more than 1,200 Bahamians out of work. The hotel struggled under union pressure from the day the new owners bought it in 1999 to the day in 2004 when Hurricane Frances so badly damaged it that the owners decided not to reopen. It was clear that the disruptive behaviour of the unions played a major role in that decision. At the time the hotel’s Bahamian senior vice president advised union leaders that “any responsible union would examine the current and future needs of its members, the fragile economic environment, the financial status of the company and global conditions” before it would even consider a strike. With the hotel gone the unionists suddenly realised that the popular and busy International Bazaar in which many of them had invested, and operated their own businesses could no longer exist. The Bazaar drew its patrons from the hotel, and without the hotel there was no need for the Bazaar. Today it stands in shuttered decay, an eyesore in the area. Many jobs were lost, and unionists, led by leaders with tunnel vision, incapable of grasping the larger economic picture, were the greatest losers. Air traffic controls should seriously consider the consequences of their actions. Government also has the responsibility of quickly resolving their issues. If not, the entire Bahamas will become irrelvant as a tourist resort.
No need for outside observers EDITOR, The Tribune. THE BAHAMAS has enjoyed Parliamentary system of government for over 200 years. The Bahamas has been an independent sovereign nation for over 43 years. During this period this country has enjoyed General Elections on a regular basis. The Constitution and laws of The Bahamas decide how and when elections are to be called and conducted. I was therefore shocked and saddened when I heard that our national leaders were calling for international bodies to be brought in to observe the conduct of our upcoming elections. In 1987, just before the general elections, an organisation in which former President Jimmy Carter was involved, wrote to the Bahamas Government informing us that they intended to visit The Bahamas to observe our election process. The Cabinet, headed by Sir Lynden Pindling, decided that this intrusion into our internal affairs would not be tolerated and they were informed accordingly. Any citizen of The Bahamas, who is over 21 and is not a prisoner, can find six voters in the constituency he wishes to represent to sign his nomination papers and can afford to pay a deposit of $400, may become a candidate for any constituency at a general election. On election day, each candidate is allowed to have
An open letter to the DNA EDITOR, The Tribune. “RIGHTEOUSNESS exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”. Proverbs 14:34. Today I write to you as family. In fact you are my family, and I love you guys as I love my own children and grandchildren. So here are my very best and sincerest legacy, I bequeath to you, prior to nomination day: 1. As you approach this election, you must pray,
pray, pray, as though everything depends on God; then strategize, and work as if everything depends on you, and God will give the desired success. 2. In the upcoming election, no party will win sufficient seats to form the government outright; so do not become all obsessed with the notion of running a full slate. Make the pragmatic decision to prayerfully contest only twenty or twentyfive seats that you are more likely to win, and concen-
trate all your efforts, and attention, on winning those seats. Don’t spread yourselves too thin. (Remember, the PLP did not field a full slate of candidates in 1967, yet they formed the government, in conjunction with two other persons). 3. Consider lending support to the independent candidates contesting in Mangrove Cay, South and Central Andros; North Andros and the Berry Islands; and Long Island, by not nominating candidates
in those three constituencies. Those candidates may be of significance to you in the future. The Bible says, “Cast thy bread upon the water: for thou shalt find it after many days”. Ecclesiastes 11:1. Again the Bible says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you”. Luke 6:38. May God give you divine wisdom, as you ponder these suggestions. PASTOR JEREMIAH DUNCOMBE Leader of The Gatekeepers
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net agents representing him, at each polling station in the constituency for which he is running. An official voters list is available to all candidates. On election day before polling begins, the ballot box is opened so that all present can see that it is empty. It is then closed as voting begins. When the polls are closed in the presence of officials and candidates’ representatives, the ballot boxes are opened and votes are counted. On completion of this process, the ballots are put back in the ballot box and the box is sealed and handed over to the police. The next day votes from all polling stations in a constituency are recounted and a winner declared. If a candidate is not satisfied with the process, he or she may take his complaint to the Election Court. This Court is made up of judges from the Supreme Court. Few countries in the world have an election process more perfect than ours. Our national leaders seem not to have any confidence in Bahamians. Over the last 50 years, Bahamians have attended and graduated from some of the most renowned institutions of learning in the world. We have Rhodes Scholars who graduated from Ox-
ford University, graduates from Cambridge University, London University, Harvard University, University of Paris and others. We have almost 2,000 lawyers, we have doctors, engineers accountant, architects, nurses and teachers to name a few. Do you think that first world countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Great Britain or the United States would ever agree to have foreigners observing their elections? The late Sir Milo Butler and Sir Lynden Pindling must be turning in their graves when they see how those in charge of our country are fighting to return us back to slavery. My friend the Hon. A D Hanna must be heartbroken when he sees what is going on. Look at our so-called leaders, who are asking foreigners to come to The Bahamas, to check to see that our election is not stolen: Prime Minister Perry G Christie, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson, Hubert Minnis, Loretta Butler-Turner and Branville McCartney. These and others like them are treading a very slippery slope. Finally, those who seek to undermine our sovereignty are traitors and one day you will pay the price. A LOFTUS ROKER Nassau April 4, 2017
Swaying the voters? A ridiculous thought EDITOR, The Tribune Re: Free electricity pledge by PLP (The Tribune, April 13) IT WOULD be ridiculous if people thought that such a pledge could possibly be a devious attempt to charm the electorate - particularly when it’s clearly a shining example of Bahamian democracy in action. With this pledge, some underprivileged folks
would get the same perks (such as free electricity) as certain of the more equal people in our society. Furthermore, if anyone wished to influence voters so unashamedly, surely they would entice them with more highly valued items such as free fast food, or especially free cell phones and video games. KEN W KNOWLES MD Nassau, April 15, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 5
Candidate upset as officer for election is ‘known PLP’ By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement candidate for Centreville Reece Chipman yesterday criticised the appointment of a “known” Progressive Liberal Party supporter as the returning election officer for that constituency, claiming that the selection could have a negative impact on the “quality of the election process”. Mr Chipman, in an interview with The Tribune, expressed his “disappointment” over the appointment of the returning officer in question, as he said her “advocacy” for the PLP on her Facebook page gives the impression that “they (the PLP) are attempting to be unfair.” Mr Chipman said while he understands and respects that everyone has their own affiliations, and that while he doesn’t have a personal issue with the woman, an election officer should not be someone whom others can “look at their Facebook page and could tell that they are promoting the efforts of the Progressive Liberal Party”. When contacted yesterday, Mr Hall acknowledged that his office did receive a “verbal complaint” from Mr Chipman over the matter. He said his department would look into the issue. “I heard from one of my officers Mr Chipman did call and did make a verbal complaint,” Mr Hall told The Tribune. “We will look into the case again, and we will do some investigations and make a decision thereafter.” When pressed on the matter, Mr Hall said: “That’s all I can say, sir. I’ll look into the case of the complaint.” According to Facebook posts made in May 2012, which coincides with the time the last general election was held, the returning officer seemed to be very invested in the PLP’s victory at the time, celebrating when persons such as FNM Garden Hills candidate Brensil Rolle, former Marco City MP Zhivargo Laing, and former FNM Golden Isles MP Charles Maynard (now deceased), and others, lost
FOUR HELD OVER THEFT OF FUEL FROM BPL PIPELINE FOUR men have been arrested in connection with the theft of what police describe as “a large amount” of fuel from a Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) pipeline in western New Providence on Saturday. According to reports, shortly after noon, police received a report of people stealing fuel from the pipeline off Frank Watson Highway which connects BPL’s Clifton Pier fuel station to the Blue Hills power plant. When police arrived they caught a man “red handed” loading fuel from a BPL pipeline into several large containers. He was taken into custody and accused of stealing. Police commenced an immediate investigation that led to the arrest of three more men and the recovery of a large amount of fuel. Investigations are continuing.
MONTAGU FISH VENDOR ROBBED A VENDOR at the Montagu Ramp was held up and robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight on Friday. A lone gunman robbed the male fish vendor of cash around 1pm before fleeing on a moped, according to police reports.
their seats. In 2012, the returning officer also celebrated in three separate posts when Melanie Griffin, Ryan Pinder and Jerome Fitzgerald won in Yamacraw, Elizabeth and Marathon respectively. Yesterday, Mr Chipman said he wrote to Mr Hall about his objection to the selection, and also questioned who the presiding officers and police officers would be for the various constituencies and polling divisions. “I did send him a letter expressing my disappointment with the appointment of ... the returning officer, because usually that position is (filled) by a permanent secretary or something, and to my knowledge she is not a permanent secretary,” Mr Chipman said. “And most permanent secretaries would not be displaying a Facebook page advocating or promoting a particular party. “And so I believe it to be not only unfair in terms of that choice, but also it doesn’t bode well for the future for parliamentary elections. I know her to be a PLP, and not no light PLP. And I just think we need to be a little bit more neutral when it comes to those things.” He added: “I don’t have nothing against her personally. I just think the position of returning officer, the country needs proper rules and guidelines as it relates to the appointment of returning officers, in terms of the neutrality of the position.” Mr Chipman also said that despite the confirmed attendance of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United States to monitor this year’s election, the appointment could adversely affect the election process in Centreville, an area Prime Minister Perry Christie has represented for 40 years. “I am just trying to bring to the attention of the public first of all, who the returning officer is … because a lot of people don’t even know who is the returning officer,” he said. “So we need to make sure that the public is aware of who the returning officer is and why the position needs to be one of independence. “And so I think we need
THE FNM candidate for Centreville, Reece Chipman. He added: “I do underto be able to, from top to bottom, make sure the pro- stand that we usually use cess is seen as one that is neutral persons, meaning people, you know they obfair.”
viously vote, they have affiliations. But they would not be people you would look at their Facebook
page and could tell that they are promoting the efforts of the Progressive Liberal Party.”
PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
COMPLAINT FILED TO POLICE AS ELECTION SIGNS DESTROYED from page one
through self-discipline, respect for others and their properties and for cooler heads to prevail even as the political rhetoric intensifies during this 2017 election campaign. “I again appeal to the leaders of the FNM and DNA to publicly denounce these acts of vandalism and to strongly and sternly call on their supporters and campaign workers to cease and desist from these provocative acts that give rise to unwarranted and needless confrontations. “...Let me take this op-
portunity to remind all Bahamians that during my long tenure in politics that I have never seen a poster or billboard cast a vote. “I again urge all Bahamians to exercise civility during this election season; failing this the law will certainly take its natural course for any infringement.” Vandals have damaged the billboards for PLP candidates in Golden Isles, Seabreeze, Long Island and other areas. Last week, the constituency office of Mark Humes, FNM candidate for Fort Charlotte, was hit by thieves.
SOME of the sites where election posters have been torn down.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
BILLBOARD BATTLES: Supporters of the PLP’s Cheryl Bazard placed her poster right in front of that of DNA candidate Gerrino Saunders in St Barnabas before it was moved.
Jumble Sale Saint Joseph’s Adult Day Care Centre Boyd Road Saturday, April 22nd, 2017 Time: 8:00 am until 3:00p.m.
THREE DEAD IN EASTER KILLINGS from page one
The victim was pronounced dead on the scene. He has been identified as Sergeant #102 Charles Greenslade. Sgt Greenslade was attached to the Central Detective Unit at the time of his death. Commissioner of Police
Ellison Greenslade confirmed that three “prolific offenders” were taken into custody on Sunday in connection with this homicide. Police do not have a motive for the shooting at this time. The first shooting incident took place shortly after 9pm on Saturday in Ridgeland Park.
According to a police report, the victim was standing outside a home at Twin Close when he was approached by a man with a handgun who shot him before fleeing the area on foot. The victim died at the scene. Police have not identified the victim but The Tribune understands he is 21-year-
old Quinton Smith. Police have no one in custody and no motive for the killing at the time Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS. Investigations continue.
ONE ARREST AS RAPE FILMED AND POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA from page one police are also questioning “several persons of interest” after the victim filed a formal complaint with the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “We are actively investigating the incident,” Senior ACP Dean said. “From the video it does not look like the woman was in her right mind, so we are reviewing the circumstances and the first step is to speak to the woman, which we have done. We have one man in custody and are speaking to several
persons of interest. “We are investigating to determine what really happened and we are putting the pieces together. It is a very sensitive issue and we have to handle it with care.” Two videos of the disturbing incident were posted on Facebook and also shared on Whatsapp over the weekend. In one 26-second video, a fully clothed man is seen on top of the victim who is also fully clothed and appeared unresponsive in the street near some parked cars, in broad daylight. The man was laughing and speaking
to two men, one of whom was taping the incident. The faces of the two men who were standing were never shown on camera. In another video, about one minute and 30 seconds long, a man is seen performing a sexual act on the woman, who is now partially undressed, but still lying in the street appearing unresponsive. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS. Investigations continue.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 7
Roker ‘shocked’ as international observers called in for election By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net FORMER Immigration Minister Loftus Roker said he is “shocked and saddened” that international bodies are being brought in to observe the conduct of the upcoming general election when “few countries in the world have an election process more perfect” than The Bahamas. In a letter to the Editor today, Mr Roker, who served in the Pindling-era, said our nation’s leaders must not have any confidence in Bahamians if they are asking for foreigners to come and do “what our own people have been doing for decades.” Last month, the government announced that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United States have confirmed that they will send observers to monitor next month’s election. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Public Affairs Officer Al Dillette, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation of American States (OAS) were also sent invitations and the government expects responses
from those groups “in due course”. The statement came amid concerns about the voting process and after a revelation from Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall that several people have registered twice in the same constituency, an irregularity that was picked up by the department’s computer database. CARICOM and the Organisation of American States (OAS) were invited by the Ingraham administration to observe the 2012 general election, a first for the country. Mr Roker noted that Sir Milo Butler and Sir Lynden Pindling “must be turning in their graves when they see how those in charge of our country are fighting to return us back to slavery”. “Our national leaders seem not to have any confidence in Bahamians,” Mr Roker wrote. “Over the past 50 years, Bahamians have attended and graduated from some of the most renowned institutions of earning in the world. We have Rhodes scholars who graduated from Oxford University, graduates from Cambridge University, London University, Harvard University, University of Paris and others. We have
almost 2,000 lawyers, we have doctors, engineers accountant, architects, nurses and teachers to name a few. “Do you think that first world countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Great Britain or the United States would ever agree to have foreigners observing their elections? “The late Sir Milo Butler and Sir Lynden Pindling must be turning in their graves when they see how those in charge of our country are fighting to return us back to slavery. My friend the Hon A D Hanna must be heartbroken when he sees what is going on.” He added: “Look at our so-called leaders, who are asking foreigners to come to The Bahamas, to check to see that our election is not stolen: Prime Minister Perry G Christie, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Hubert Minnis, Loretta ButlerTurner and Mr Branville McCartney. These and others like them are treading a very slippery slope.” Mr Roker also wrote that “those who seek to undermine our sovereignty are traitors and one day you will pay the price”.
“In 1987, just before the general elections, an organisation in which former (US) President Jimmy Carter was involved, wrote to the Bahamas government informing us that they intended to visit The Bahamas to observe our election process,” he continued. “The Cabinet, headed by Sir Lynden Pindling, decided that this intrusion into our internal affairs would not be tolerated and they were informed accordingly.” Mr Roker said if a candidate has issues with the election process, he or she may take his complaint to the Election Court. “This court is made up of judges from the Supreme Court. Few countries in the world have an election process more perfect than ours,” he noted. Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has called for “international organisations” to chaperone the 2017 general election, as he highlighted a number of “irregularities” that allegedly took place during the gender equality referendum. He has also accused the Progressive Liberal Party of attempting to “steal” next month’s election. •Letter to the Editor, page 4
LOFTUS ROKER
ROBERTS DEFENDS PARTY’S PLAN FOR FREE ELECTRICITY from page one
their monthly use to below specified limits.” On its website, the governing party says it plans to “cover the cost” of electricity for persons who fall into this category, which will affect “15 per cent to 20 per cent” of lower income households. However on Thursday, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) released a statement in reaction to the revelation, saying the information about the PLP’s promise “is unknown to BPL, nor was it provided by the company”. BPL added: “Our goal at BPL is to provide consistent, reliable and affordable electricity service to our customers, while maintaining a viable operation. We would like to thank our customers for their continued patronage, and we are most appreciative of your support as we execute our mandate and policies that are in the best interest of the people of The Bahamas.” Mr Roberts said in a statement that the initiative will be “a governmentsponsored programme,” and not a BPL one.
“We are already exploring the best ways to implement the policy, for example by using smart cards and prepaid meters,” he said. He added: “Back in 2012, the PLP promised to lower the cost of electricity. And we have done so: since 2012, electricity costs have been brought down by over 40 per cent. “Changes are continually being made to bring about improvements which will continue to result in a lowering of electricity costs. Having brought about those changes, we know that economically, things are still tough for many Bahamians. So based on extensive and detailed research, and along with the measures we are currently undertaking, we are now able to propose this new initiative.” In his statement, Mr Roberts said this initiative will help those who are most needy. “These are people who are struggling the most, and need assistance in maintaining even a basic level of electricity supply,” Mr Roberts said. “Although specific levels will be determined nearer the time of the introduction of the
policy, the customers who will benefit currently pay around $50 per person per month, which covers all basic electricity usage. “As well as helping Bahamians, this policy also fulfils another strategic priority, which is to encourage energy conservation. So this policy will help to reduce the cost-of-living and the environmental benefits will help the whole country. Set against the costs which have been projected in the economic model, the net benefit to the country is extremely favourable. “From the research undertaken, we know that those who will be positively impacted under this policy will be able to use electricity at a level which will cover all their basic household necessities,” the PLP chairman said. When contacted, Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest called the electricity pledge a “desperate and disastrous plan” by a visionless government. Mr Turnquest also cried shame on Prime Minister Perry Christie for “taking the Bahamian people for fools” and said it is fright-
FACILITY PLANNED TO KEEP JUVENILES SEPARATE FROM ADULT OFFENDERS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
IF re-elected to office, the Progressive Liberal Party plans to establish a “juvenile system and rehabilitation facility” to ensure that juvenile offenders charged with serious crimes are “separated” from adult criminals and other juvenile offenders. As part of its efforts to fight crime, the PLP also plans to establish a new probation and parole programme so that “in all cases, persons are not incarcerated where there is no need for incarceration”. The party also has plans to “build on current plans” and launch a forensics lab, scientifically specialised in toxicology, ballistics and testing that will “ensure the presentation of quality evidence for trials.” And, noting that “the job is not finished” in the crime fight, the PLP says it also plans to “expand” and “increase emphasis” on a number of existing crimefighting initiatives, such as the Rehabilitation of Offenders programme, the usage of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, and the launch of the Star Academy, which is currently under construction. The proposals are con-
tained in the “Protect Our Citizens” section of the PLP’s action plan posted on its website last week. The rationale behind a number of the proposals are not clear, however, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts told The Tribune that the party would release a more comprehensive manifesto this week. Other plans the PLP has to combat crime should it be re-elected is an enhanced collaboration between the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) and the new Gang Unit to “amass ground intelligence that will enable faster response by law enforcement to gang-related activities;” expanded coverage of the archipelago by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) in a bid to combat illegal migration, gun smuggling and “potential terrorist related activities,” and plans to launch a Drug Treatment Court to ensure persons with drug addiction are directed to treatment, and to “push for preventative measures for first time users/offenders charged with possession of small amounts of illegal drugs.” The party also has plans to launch a “comprehensive” Arts Rehabilitation Programme at the Bahamas Department of Correction-
al Services (BDCS) to “support offenders turning away from criminal activity and help them make a positive and productive reintroduction into society.” “Every Bahamian has the right to feel safe in their home and community,” the PLP’s website said. “Although many types of crime are decreasing, the spike in murders makes it abundantly clear we must do more to stop crimes of violence.” “The job is not finished,” the party added. “Violence is a complex issue. The answers will come not from the government, but from all parts of society, including churches, communities, and families.” Ahead of the 2012 general election, the PLP posted billboards throughout New Providence - in areas heavily trafficked by tourists and locals - which said there had been more than 490 killings during the Ingraham administration’s five-year term. The PLP, then in opposition, campaigned that it had the answer to violent crime while the Ingraham administration did not. It promised that if elected it would get crime under control. However, the country has recorded over 600 murders since the PLP took office in May 2012, according to The Tribune’s records.
ening that the government would even propose such a preposterous idea. “First of all, if they could afford to give away free electricity that means you have been overcharging the Bahamian people for the last five years,” Mr Turnquest told The Tribune. “Remember Bradley Roberts tried a similar tactic by reducing the base rate and that threw BEC into the loss situation it is in today with no capital and unable
to invest in or maintain new engines. This is a disastrous plan by a desperate prime minister.” The East Grand Bahama MP said if the government really wanted to help Bahamians with the cost of electricity, officials would address fuel prices. “They need to deal with the cost of fuel and the inefficiencies of the engines,” Mr Turnquest said. “If they want to provide relief, they need to free the noose
around Bahamians’ necks with this fuel supply and engage in a true partnership with the operator of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) to modernise the facility. “They also need to make the business plan, which we paid for, public and add solar energy to the policy plan. What they are suggesting is desperate and frightening and I cry shame on the prime minister for taking the Bahamian people for fools.”
PAGE 8, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Bahamians pay a high price for proper governance D
EPUTY Prime Minister Davis said the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will win 30 seats in the upcoming general election. I say that must be straight from his Cat Island obeah man. If the PLP gets 10 seats it will be too many ... 30 would be scandalous and would reek of vote buying and more corruption (or a really, really foolish electorate). Then, when announcing the date of the next general election, Prime Minister Perry Christie said: “Let us by our CONDUCT in the general election campaign continue to prove ourselves worthy of the great democratic traditions of free, FAIR, and peaceful elections that have made our country the marvel of nations around the world. Let us contest the forthcoming elections with all the vigour at our command. Let us do so however with the respect for the human DIGNITY of our opponents and with respect for the traditions we all hold dear.” Traditions like vote buying, I can only assume. Because no sooner had he said these words did I overhear a conversation about agents of the PLP – with close ties to the Prime Minister – visiting homes in the Centreville constituency, asking what constituents wanted done for them in exchange for their votes. Yes, I overheard it. And because of that some people would dismiss it as hearsay. But I can only tell exactly what I heard. The person saying it had no reason to
By NICOLE BURROWS
lie about what was said and conveyed it to someone trusted believing there was no one else around to hear it. People always want you to “bring the facts” in the face of corruption, but no one - including those asking for the facts, evidence, proof - ever has enough character to give the facts. Their character is smothered by their eternal fear of others knowing they too are on the take, or their eternal fear of knowing how much they stand to lose by not being on the take, or being removed from it. Politics and the way our people operate around it in The Bahamas is sickening. People in public service live so desperately under the casually and habitually corrupt that they are only concerned with making sure they can pay off their house debt and collect pension once vested. Journalists who work for the propaganda news company act the same way as the public servants. And other journalists who may actually believe in the morality of what they do, and may be willing to provide all the facts, are represented by private companies that get advertising dollars from political parties and the people who operate those parties. None of those companies want to lose their advertising revenue, so they will only ever say so much,
even if they have evidence in hand. If everyone from civil servants to journalists are afraid of reprisal, backlash, losing contracts and business, why do any of you go to the polls every five years? If you cared that much about who runs your country, each one of you with information on vote buying and other such wicked political activities would have given the facts and the proof of the same to the people who aren’t afraid of reprisal. But it isn’t until you become victims of such activities do you cry out against them. We depend on foreigners for everything else we need; maybe it’s only them PRIME Minister Perry Christie speaking at an Urban Renewal 2.0 we can depend on now to ment Service at Windsor Park last Wednesday. knock some sense into our system, one way or another. to Centreville constituents, who are not subsidised. Furthermore, if electricBut even they are on the less than a month before the take, to the extent that they election. Are we to believe ity could have been free, get their big investment that the timing of this event dear PLP, why didn’t you projects approved by the was mere coincidence? make this offer before now, government, to the extent Who among you can’t see one month from Election that they get incredulous that this too would be con- Day 2017? Your gangstertax concessions, and to the sidered vote buying? Who ism is appalling. The PLP, whether they extent that they get to op- among you cares? Just two days after I over- even believe their own spin erate their businesses, no matter how suspect, outside heard that conversation or not, says the objective of the light of government about his people in Centre- of providing free electricville allegedly buying votes ity is to make Bahamians scrutiny. more disciplined in their So, unless you Bahamian for him, Christie also said: “I don’t use of electricity. Well, let people plan need to play me shower you with realto change ‘Barely a day after politics to ity: ‘free’ and ‘discipline’ the governwin Centre- don’t go together in The ment on May making those ville. Eve- Bahamas. When last did 10, from any declarations about rybody in you see anything ‘free’ in we’ve ever here must The Bahamas lead to more had before, our pending know that. disciplined Bahamians? All namely PLP elections and And every- ‘free’ leads to is abuse of the and Free Na- our wonderful body knows system, wherever it exists. tional MoveAnd frankly, if the PLP ment (FNM) democracy, Christie I have won it stood on Windsor for eight con- had real conviction or sense administrasecutive elec- of purpose, the closest thing tions, then Park, giving tions over 40 to ‘free’ electricity would all you’re doyears.” be to take the Bahamian ing is voting another sermon Yes. And people’s financial resources for the exact filled with artifice, same cycles conveniently issuing now we have and invest in solar and wind a better idea renewable energies, instead to repeat free ‘groceries’ how he did/ of investing it in FOCOL. themselves does it. Does any of this sound ... the suste- to Centreville He went familiar? This year, the nance of a constituents, less on, nauseat- PLP government on the system that works the than a month before ingly, “God campaign trail promises is able and free electricity to poor and same old way the election.’ God is good. working class Bahamians it used to, At the end of to get votes just before a people afraid to speak out against the es- the day, I have to have the general election, while livtablishment when it oper- faith that God is good, God ing in the back pockets of ates corruptly, with every is able and God will always oil suppliers. Last year, the one of you having a price be present. I have to believe Trump campaign promthat. And I have to believe ises American coal mintag for your silence. If we can’t even get jus- that he will work through ers will keep their jobs (in an expiring industry where tice for victims of murder all of you.” There he goes, clas- technology replaces manual years after their violent and unnecessary deaths, what sic leader of a third world labour) just before a genmakes you think that by country, exercising psycho- eral election, while living operating under a PLP or logical manipulation of the in the back pockets of coalFNM government you’ll get hyper-religious people. In powered power plants and justice against corrupt poli- other words, Christie is say- energy suppliers. This modus operandi is ticians and all who suck on ing ‘if you believe in God, you’ll believe in and vote distinctly common with them? people of no substance who Where are the observ- for me’. have nothing of substance ers who are supposed to PLP’s free electricity to offer in leadership. watch the general election? First of all, if electricity They need to get to Nassau PLP’s rent-to-own before the actual election. could be free under our curhousing plan They need to be in place rent system of generating Minus the lump sum payalready, so they can follow and selling power, the only two groups who should ben- ment, it’s the same as mortthe money bags. Barely a day after making efit from that are the low- gage. And if, now, in the those declarations about pensioned elderly, and the current mortgage debt market, you take on a 30-year our pending elections and low-pensioned infirmed. That said, there is no such debt and still have to come our wonderful democracy, Christie stood on Wind- thing as ‘free’. Somebody out of pocket for $10,000 sor Park, giving another pays sometime, somewhere. to $20,000 as a down paysermon filled with artifice, Subsidies cost money to ment, what term length while it was being alleged someone. Government sub- could there possibly be on that free ‘groceries’ were sidies cost money to some- a rent-to-own in The Bahaconveniently being issued one ... usually all others mas that would make such a
Programme Community UpliftPhoto: Peter Ramsay/BIS scheme viable? The only things that change in that mortgage equation are the term/life of the loan, the down payment, and the interest rate/ monthly payment amount. With less money upfront as a down payment, one of those other things - term or interest rate/monthly payment amount - will have to change upward. People supposedly renting to own will either be paying more over time or paying longer. Alternatively, all it will amount to is another government-subsidised programme, where other Bahamians are paying for those who can’t afford to buy houses in the first place, while filling the pockets of another Arawak Homestype company. And producing substandard pre-fab homes in a hurricane zone won’t suffice to cut costs on such a programme; if you challenge that notion, call Joaquin and Matthew back and let them refresh your memory. All this rent-to-own plan is, whether presented by the PLP or the FNM crying that it was their idea first, is just more hot air being blown up your Bahamian backsides. Instead of coming up with these ridiculous plans, your government or your would-like-to-be government, should be focused on plans for growing the economy, so that more people can have more opportunities that pay them more over a longer period of time. That is where the bulk of your government’s efforts should be directed right now ... the economy... plus crime control and education. All else follows. • You can watch and listen to Nicole Burrows talking through this article and other thoughts on fb.me/ PolitiColeTV. Comments and responses to nburrows@tribunemedia.net
Insight returns next Monday with Carey Leonard continuing his series about the negative influence of Chinese investment in The Bahamas.
PUBLIC NOTICE TOWN HALL MEETING April 18, 2017 6:30 pm Garden of Eden Eastwood Subdivision
Please be advised that the pubic town hall meeting for residents for Eastwood Estates to erect an electronic communications tower at No #4 Cassava Drive has been postponed to April 18, 2017. All interested residents are invited to attend. Cable Bahamas Limited sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused.
MINNIS WARNS OF ‘SIDE LETTERS’ IN BAHA MAR PROJECT AGREEMENT THE TRIBUNE
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has suggested that there are “side letters” concerning the Baha Mar project that his government will disclose to the public if elected to office. Notwithstanding that the resort deal has been sealed by the Supreme Court, Dr Minnis told members of the press last week that he suspected there were agreements between the government and developers that were not a part of the resort’s memorandum of understanding (MOU). The FNM leader said while there was nothing he or the Bahamian people would love to see more than the successful opening of the mega-resort, there was no transparency under the present government. He made those claims as he forecast an election victory for his party, adding that he will have a zero tolerance attitude for corruption and misappropriation as prime minister. “This government does everything under the clouds of darkness,” Dr Minnis said, “and that is what we must change. “Transpar-
ency for the people, I am employed by you the people, I am accountable to you the people, and therefore I should not be hiding documents from you, my employers, that should not happen. “This government, they believe that they are your bosses, it’s the reverse. I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again, after becoming government we will unseal the documents so the Bahamian populous would know exactly what is going wrong.” When questioned whether his government would petition the courts, Dr Minnis said: “Documents can be unsealed, you must remember that when we became government there were a lot of side letters that were agreed to that were not a part of the MOU.” He said: “And I would not be surprised if the PM and his government have other side letters that we would find out about. “But there is nothing better I and the Bahamian people would love than to see Baha Mar opened properly so as to create employment for our people so they can now pay their bills, etc, and deal with their families appropriately. “Nothing better we would love,” he added. Dr Minnis spoke with
members of the press on the sidelines of a donation to Gambier Primary School, and denied recent claims that he had been “running from the press,” and flagging criticism of his leadership ability. Pointing to his team, Dr Minnis expressed confidence that his team, if elected, will be accountable to both himself and the public. He maintained that opposition attacks from Progressive Liberal Party members were rooted in fear of their impending election loss, and told critics to “join the line”. As for his leadership ability, Dr Minnis said: “I have held leadership roles in many areas before, I’ve been president of the Medical Association (of the Bahamas), I’ve been minister of health, my record speaks for itself. “I’ve been head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, I’ve been department chief within the hospital, my record speaks for itself, it’s all there. “They can view my records it’s all there, and they will see true governance when I and my team move in. (My team) will be accountable to both me and the people, and they know that the first sign of corruption they will be dealt with appropriately. They know
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 9
that the first sign of misappropriation, they will be dealt with appropriately.” Dr Minnis added: “(PLP Chairman) Bradley Rob-
erts needs to worry about himself and the issues within the PLP, don’t worry about us, we’re focused. Perry Christie, they’re em-
ployment status stops at 8pm May 20.” A series of events for Baha Mar’s soft opening are scheduled for Friday.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Roberts says Minnis is ‘condoning’ airport protest PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has accused Dr Hubert Minnis of appearing to condone the “unwarranted and unlawful” industrial action that caused flight cancellations and lengthy delays at the Lynden Pindling International Airport as travellers were trying to get away for the Easter holidays. Mr Roberts derided the Free National Movement leader’s comments as “weak, political opportunism” after a “sick out” protest by air traffic controllers on Thursday had disrupted operations at the airport. Dr Minnis claimed that his party, if elected on May 10, would honour agreements after criticising the Christie administration for not paying government employees what they are owed on time. “The lack of leadership from this government is highlighted every day,” Dr Minnis said in a statement. “To have people working for you and then not to pay them is simply wrong. It follows the PLP’s trending neglect and lack of care for the constituents they’re indebted to help. The members of the government get paid on time. Why do they not treat all Bahamians with the same integrity? This is another case of the PLP taking care of themselves while leaving others
LYNDEN Pindling International Airport. ters currently subject of disto fend for themselves. “Under the leadership of cussion with the Ministries the FNM, people will be of Transport and Labour, paid what they are owed. according to Transport No questions asked. It and Aviation Minister Gledoesn’t matter if you are a nys Hanna Martin. They customs employee, an im- range from the frequency migration employee, an air of the shuttle service from traffic controller or any oth- the security checkpoint to er government employee. the tower to the payment We will pay everyone for of outstanding holiday pay the service provided. On and other money matters, May 10, it is time to elect she said. On Thursday morning, an FNM government that on one of the busiest days cares.” However the PLP chair- for travel in the year, the man called for “cooler morning shift of employees heads to prevail” and for a did not arrive at work. At swift resolution to the “un- least three American Airlawful” act by the union lines flights were cancelled and there were lengthy deemployees. The Bahamas Air Traffic lays to domestic and interControllers Union staged national flights. On Friday night, Mr Robthe surprise action over a number of outstanding mat- erts called Dr Minnis’ com-
ments on the issue by FNM leader “reckless and irresponsible”. “He apparently condones the unwarranted and unlawful industrial actions taken by some air traffic controllers that left Bahamians stranded in airports, led to the cancellation of flights and the loss of revenue and other economic opportunities for Bahamians,” Mr Roberts said in a statement. “Further, these actions, condoned by Hubert Minnis, hurt the international reputation of the Bahamas and we all lose; there are no winners. “The PLP calls for cooler heads to prevail and for all sides to put the welfare of the country first. Further,
aviation operations of this type is an essential service and the integrity of this service should never be compromised. “I am advised that some of the outstanding issues and subsequent demands predate the current administration and require an audit to compile the requisite data on which the government can act. This government has always acted in good faith in addressing labour issues; this administration did so in resolving long-standing financial issues with the public school teachers, customs, immigration and we will do the same with the air traffic controllers. “These chronic press releases by Minnis and acts
of weak political opportunism are unseemly as politics become inappropriate and irrelevant in these circumstances. Minnis should set aside the vitriol, the political posturing and grandstanding, the carpet bagging, the bluster and the heavily scripted commentary fed to him by his public relations consultants and consider his country and its citizens first. “Every day when he pokes his head from behind the curtains he confirms he has no genuine individual vision or intrinsic activated plan for advancing the cause of a powerful Bahamian people. “Minnis should know that the law provides for the settlement of disputes. He should be advocating for a lawful resolution to disputes - that is what responsible leadership will do. He is instead encouraging mayhem through the ad hoc withdrawal of essential services to the detriment of the Bahamian people. But then again the Bahamian people already know he is a political opportunist in heat. “The PLP again calls for a swift and well-reasoned resolution to this unlawful act in the public interest because it is only through the legal and good faith settlement of disputes that we can move all Bahamians forward together.”
MINISTER SILENT ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR AIR TRAFFIC SICK OUT from page one
punishment to the Bahamian people,” as she questioned the rationale behind Thursday’s “sick out” notwithstanding the union being involved in discussions with the government over
their various concerns. On Thursday, frustrated and angry travellers suffered lengthy delays and cancellations at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) after a number of air traffic controllers engaged in a sick out. At the time, Mrs Hanna
Martin confirmed to The Tribune that the sick out - co-ordinated industrial action by employees not showing up for work by feigning illness - had occurred on the morning of one of the airport’s busiest days of the year with people traveling for the Easter
holiday weekend. The air traffic controllers were understood to be taking the protest action over a variety of concerns, which Mrs Hanna Martin said at the time ranged from the “frequency of the shuttle service from the security checkpoint to the tower” to the “payment of outstanding holiday pay and other money matters”. Mrs Hanna Martin noted at the time that the Ministry of Labour is in “ongoing dialogue with the union relative to some of those matters”. It was not immediately known how many workers called in sick but there were unconfirmed reports that only one air traffic controller reported for the morning shift. The Tribune understands all but a few officers were in post on Thursday afternoon and that the backlog was being managed. When contacted yesterday for an update on the matter, Mrs Hanna Martin said: “I think that the focus now is to seek to get on the same page with the union to avoid anything like this happening again. Because the truth is the impact was felt by the Bahamian people. That was
where the punishment went. “So I think that my focus would be to see how we can ensure that we’re on the same page so that the union will understand that conduct of that nature is not acceptable.” However, she regretted the union’s actions, charging that the workers were merely “hurting the Bahamian people” by engaging in the sick out. “When you chose one of the busiest times to make your point, it is your intention to mete out the highest level of punishment to the Bahamian people,” she said. “The union is sitting around the table as we speak, they’re in continuing discussions on some of those matters that they’ve listed as concerns. “So if you’re sitting around the table, the question about why you saw it necessary to do something of that extreme nature is one that I think we all would like the answer to.” She added: “My observation would be that the law provides for the methodologies of solving grievances on both sides, and that the actions taken the other day
hurt the Bahamian people.” On Thursday, as a result of the sick out, some tourists were reportedly being returned to their hotels and told to come back to LPIA to take a flight on Friday. Some flights were also cancelled. There were also reports of passengers sitting on planes for up to two hours waiting to get airborne and cancellations of flights to the United States. One passenger in Freeport told The Tribune she had been waiting for the 12:30pm flight to Nassau and the plane to take them had not arrived from LPIA until 3pm. The Easter holiday season is traditionally busy for the airport. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) said the delays are not unusual for airports around the world at this time of year. However, Thursday was not the first time recently the air traffic controllers have inconvenienced passengers. In September, a three-hour stoppage by the union over an Airport protocol mandating security screening of all personnel accessing the secured airside at LPIA caused delays and some cancellations.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 11
ELKANAH PINDER
Pinder: DNA plan for jobs database By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ELKANAH Pinder, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) candidate for East Grand Bahama, unveiled plans for the implementation of a national jobs database during the official opening of his campaign headquarters in Grand Bahama. During a brief address at his office in the Bain Building on West Atlantic Drive, opposite the Western Bakery, Mr Pinder laid out plans for a database which would categorise employment opportunities in various sectors. He stressed that it is important that qualified Bahamians who have submitted their credentials to the Department of Labour are first interviewed for available positions. The candidate is confident that the DNA will be the next government of The Bahamas. “Victory is ours; people it’s not about us, it’s about our children and our grandchildren,” he said. Mr Pinder promoted seven reasons why Bahamians should go green and support the DNA as the next government. He indicated that the party is committed to implementing a zero tolerance crime policy and remove all barriers to capital punishment. The last execution in The Bahamas was over 16 years ago, on January 6, 2000, when David Mitchell was executed by hanging. Mitchell was convicted of the murders of Horst and Traude Henning. Since Independence, the country has carried out more than a dozen executions. Mr Pinder said the party will create an economic environment to facilitate
employment, entrepreneurship, innovation, local ownership and reduce the national debt. “This will be achieved by introduction of a plan to reduce the cost of living and doing business, diversification of the economy, developing our human capital, the introduction of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, the development of a National Land Bureau and a debt restructuring plan,” he said. Third, he said the DNA will create an environment where every Bahamian child will have the opportunity of a good education based on a 21st century education curriculum consistent with national development goals. Fourth, the party will restructure and improve the healthcare system. Mr Pinder said the DNA will ensure that all Bahamians have access to and can afford a high quality of healthcare. The party is also committed to the protection, conservation and sound management of the country’s national environment for the benefit of all Bahamians. Mr Pinder said the DNA wants to create an immigration plan, which will be respectful to all whilst maintaining that opportunities in every arena will be made available to Bahamian citizens before any other. And last, he said the DNA will restore the people’s faith in government. “The DNA proposes to put in place the necessary legislative checks and balances and the types of reform which will make government more participatory, transparent and accountable to the people to whom we seek to serve, and implement the Office of Ombudsman,” he said.
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Five years ago, the PLP promised to have the solution to crime on day one. That was a lie, and they have failed to keep our country safe. We don’t need more promises from a party that doesn’t listen to us. Don’t let them “Pull a Perry” on you in 2017! It’s time to vote them out!
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Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 13
Roberts admits error in row over claim of Scavella role in HMBS Flamingo incident By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts has admitted he made a mistake as he defended his organisation’s view that it did not intend to “diminish” the sacrifice of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) marines who were killed aboard HMBS Flamingo when setting the date for the general election on the 37th anniversary of their deaths. Mr Roberts, in an interview broadcast during ZNS’ ‘The Bahamas Tonight’ last Wednesday, insisted that the PLP’s ratification of
former RBDF Commodore Clifford “Butch” Scavella in Central and South Eleuthera stood as proof that the party respected the historic efforts of the force and further indicated that Mr Scavella was a survivor of the Flamingo Incident on May 10, 1980, when Cuban fighters opened fire on the vessel, killing four marines. However, that claim was found to be untrue. When contacted by The Tribune on Thursday morning, Mr Roberts apologised for the claim, saying that he made “a mistake” in his comments. Mr Roberts said on ZNS: “We have a candidate for Central and South Eleuthera who was one of
those individuals who was caught up in that unfortunate incident and he became Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. It would be interesting to ask his comments on the matter.” However, on Thursday, he explained his mistake. “I intended to note that Mr Scavella played a major role in commemorating those officers involved in that matter. As Commodore, he instituted the memorial ceremony that we have become familiar with and made it a point to remember those marines. “In terms of our alignment with persons associated with the tragedy, one of our Senators, Hon Joseph
Ricardo Curry, his brother was a marine and died in that incident. That was what I intended to mention in my initial claims.” Mr Roberts said on ZNS: “We have a candidate for Central and South Eleuthera who was one of those individuals who was caught up in that unfortunate incident and he became Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. It would be interesting to ask his comments on the matter.” HMBS Flamingo was under Commander Amos Rolle at the time of the incident. The ship departed the RBDF’s Coral Harbour Base on May 8, 1980, for a routine ten-day patrol. Two days later, the ship and its 18 crew inter-
cepted two foreign fishing vessels, 500 yards north of Cay Santo Domingo, according to RBDF records. Subsequently, the HMBS Flamingo came under attack by the Cuban military and was sunk. Four members of the crew died - 21-year-old Able Seaman Fenrick Sturrup, 21-yearold Marine Seaman Austin Rudolph Smith, 21-year-old Marine Seaman David Allison Tucker and 23-year-old Marine Seaman Edward Arnold Williams. The official monument of remembrance for the marines was opened on May 10, 2008. On Tuesday, Mr Christie announced that the general
election will be held on May 10. Responding to criticism levelled at him and the party over the date, Mr Christie said: “I want to make sure that everybody fully understands that we have not diminished the meaning and the sacrifice of the young men and that in anything we want to even do more to memorialise them. It is a date that I propose to attend the function, ‘Butch’ Scavella will also attend the function,” he said. “I propose to lift the function up and speak to it and give it meaning and hopefully whenever I speak to it, not withstanding the fact that it is Election Day, people will understand fully.”
NOTICE CARDAL MANAGEMENT INC. In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, CARDAL MANAGEMENT INC. is in dissolution as of April 12, 2017 International Liquidator Services Inc. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator. LIQUIDATOR ______________________
MAKAMBA HOLDING S.A. Company No. 1464717 (In Voluntary Liquidation)
AN Easter gospel concert was held on Clifford Park on Sunday. Musicians and members of the religious community took to the stage for the audience gathered in the park.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
CHARGES ARE WITHDRAWN FOR TRIO IN ROBBERY CASE By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THREE men awaiting trial for armed robbery had the charge withdrawn against them in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Mario Duncan, 22, Franklyn Mackey, 24, and Giovanni Rahming, 26, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for an update in their case on April 6 concerning two armed robberies on January 1, 2013. However, Crown prosecutor Erica Duncombe requested an adjournment until April 13 for the Crown to indicate its position. When the matter was called, the prosecution presented the judge with a nolle prosequi signed by the Attorney General asking that the charge be discontinued. The Office of the Attorney General could bring the case against them again at any time in the Supreme Court, but it is unlikely. The trio were accused of the New Year’s Day, 2013, knifepoint robbery of Raymond Toussaint and Gladstone Davis. Toussaint and Davis had been on a bus heading south on Market Street when three armed assailants accosted them and relieved them of $180 and two cellular phones. Rahming, Mackey and Duncan were formally arraigned in October, 2013, when they denied the allegations.
NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that MAKAMBA HOLDING S.A. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 11th April, 2017 and Dr. Wolfgang Rabanser of Landstrasse 33, 9490 Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein, has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator. Dated this 12th day of April, 2017 Sgd. Dr. Wolfgang Rabanser Voluntary Liquidator AMSA PROPERTIES LTD. Company No. 237159 (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that AMSA PROPERTIES LTD. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 2nd March, 2017 and LIC. IUR. MICHAEL KUHN of Kirchstrasse 1, 9490 Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator. Dated this 12th day of April, 2017 Sgd. LIC. IUR. MICHAEL KUHN Voluntary Liquidator CUBID OVERSEAS LTD. Company No. 1510166 (In Voluntary Liquidation) NOTICE is hereby given pursuant to Section 204 (1)(b) of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 that CUBID OVERSEAS LTD. is in voluntary liquidation. The voluntary liquidation commenced on 21st March, 2017 and Marcel Minger of Wengistrasse 1, 8026 Zurich, Switzerland, has been appointed as the Sole Liquidator. Dated this 22nd day of March, 2017 Sgd. Marcel Minger Voluntary Liquidator
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The PLP came to office promising to believe in Bahamians. In return we have seen the PLP place foreigners ahead of Bahamians at every turn. Unemployment stands at a whopping 33% amongst youth, with jobs and opportunities only going to Chinese, other foreigners and PLPs! Enough is enough! Don’t let them “Pull a Perry” on you in 2017! We must vote them out!
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THE RESURRECTION Sunday church service at Robinson Morris AME church. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
EASTER SERVICE CELEBRATIONS
Tuesday, April 18, 2017, PAGE 15
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