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THE MPS WHO FAILED TO DISCLOSE Would not say
At least ten Parliamentarians missed March 1 deadline By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net AT least 10 members of Parliament have failed to file financial declarations by the March 1 deadline as required by the Public Disclosure Act, according to the MPs who were polled by The Tribune. When asked about the issue last week, Prime Minister Perry Christie did not answer questions
did not file RICHARD LIGHTBOURN
on whether he was in breach of the law. Instead, he deflected to another matter. “Why do you want to talk to me about that?” Mr Christie asked when he was questioned by this newspaper. “You know I don’t give interviews outside of the Cabinet Office any more. But I am working on a few big things so give me a day or two.” Meanwhile, Deputy
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he was unsure, but added that he would check the status of his disclosures with his accountant. Mr Davis said: “I know I signed something a couple of weeks ago but I am not sure if it was for this year or last year. I will check with my accountant.” This comes amid increased calls from the public for elected officials
documents did not ‘in the file mail’ KHAALIS ROLLE
MICHAEL HALKITIS
TEEN STABBED TO DEATH IN ANDROS
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net A 19-year-old youth is dead after he was stabbed during fight at a nightclub in Andros early yesterday morning. According to police reports, shortly after 2am the teen was involved in an argument with another man at a club that resulted in the victim being stabbed multiple times in his body. SEE PAGE SIX
did not file
PRIME MINISTER PERRY CHRISTIE
LESLIE MILLER
unsure which year he filed
filing ‘this week’
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PHILLP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS.
and senators to face penalties for failing to file the annual financial declarations. It also follows a recent US State Department report that highlighted the subject of corruption and government transparency. The 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in this country further took issue that there was no independent verification of annual public disclosures from senior
filed on time ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLYSON MAYNARD-GIBSON
public officials, and called the annual submission rate “weak” unless it was an election year. According to the Public Disclosure Act, a summary of the declarations shall be published in a gazette and any person who does not comply with the law is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years. If a parliamentarian deliberately does not dis-
filed on time FNM LEADER DR HUBERT MINNIS
ANDRE ROLLINS close property owned in The Bahamas, the land can be seized and forfeited to the government. Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) Chairman Myles Laroda was adamant that the decision to prosecute someone for breaching the act is left up to the discretion of the Office of the Attorney General. SEE PAGES TWO & THREE
asked f more t or ime FRED MITCHELL
‘PLP HELPING THEIR FRIENDS - AND THREE DEAD IN TWO ACCIDENTS LEAVING BAHAMIANS HUNGRY’ ByTRAFFIC SANCHESKA BROWN
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday criticised the Christie administration for exhibiting a “helping those who help us” mentality in governance, charging that “tens of thousands” of Bahamians cannot provide for their families as a result. Dr Minnis, in a statement, accused the government of using “pay-to-play” tactics
in “all their government dealings” further charging that Bahamians should not “have to be part of a club to put food on their tables”. Dr Minnis’ comments were in response to recent revelations by senior PLP officials that the party awards contracts to supporters, as well as admissions by the chairman of the Bank of the Bahamas (BOB) that political considerations influenced lending decisions
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE SIX
Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THREE men are dead and another man is in hospital after two separate traffic accidents in the Family Islands over the weekend. The latest accident took place early yesterday morning in Eleuthera. According to reports, shortly after midnight, a man was driving a white Honda Accord on Queen’s SEE PAGE SIX
PAGE 2, Monday, April 25, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
THE MPS WHO FAILED TO DISCLOSE from page one
did not file
did not file
did not file
KENRED DORSETT
DAMIAN GOMEZ
DR DANNY JOHNSON
Explaining that the commission’s power is “basically limited to writing,” Mr Laroda maintained that the attorney general would have to give the nod on whether a member of Parliament or top ranking civil servant would face charges over failing to adhere to the stipulations in the Public Disclosure Act. However, he revealed that there were a “few” MPs and senators who have not declared for the year 2014 and there were even more of them that were “outstanding” for the year 2015. The Tribune contacted Mr Laroda after polling the majority of this country’s 38 members of Parliament on whether they were current in filing the financial documents. Disclosures Some MPs said they had not filed yet and attempted to explain. Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell told The Tribune that while he had asked for
‘
‘Why do you want to talk to me about that? You know I don’t give interviews outside of the Cabinet Office any more. But I am working on a few big things so give me a day or two.’ Prime Minister Perry Christie
his deadline for the 2015 disclosure period to be extended to next month, all previous years had been filed. When questioned last week, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis told this newspaper that his documents “were in the mail”. Central and South Eleuthera MP Damian Gomez along with Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett said they were both awaiting documents from their respective banks in order to submit the financial declarations. Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller said he had completed his form a few months ago but had yet to submit the information. Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle
insisted that his information was being finalised and would be filed in the coming week. Youth Sports and Culture Minister Danny Johnson said he was just waiting for a notary to sign off on his documents. Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson said she was filed and up to date. Others who said they were up to date with their declarations include Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray, House Speaker Dr Kendal Major, Financial Services Minister Hope Strachan and Exuma MP Anthony Moss. The Tribune attempted
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, Monday, April 25, April 2016, 25, PAGE 2016, PAGE 3 3
WHO HAS DISCLOSED - AND WHO HASN’T?
filed on time
filed on time
KENDAL MAJOR
ANTHONY MOSS
to contact several other government MPs numerous times but the calls, emails and text messages went unanswered. They were Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, Deputy House Speaker Dion Smith, South Beach MP Cleola Hamilton, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson, Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder, Central and South Andros MP Picewell Forbes and Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez. Grand Bahama MP Dr Michael Darville was said to be out of the country when his office was contacted. On the Official Opposition side, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest, Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner and St Anne’s MP
Hubert Chipman said they had filed and were in line with the mandates of the Public Disclosure Act. Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn said his was “being handled”. When contacted about his, Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins said he had not filed his disclosures but that it would be handled before the House of Assembly convened today. The remaining opposition MPs could not be reached, including Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Bamboo Town MP Renward Wells, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly and Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key.
filed on time
Inconsistent Responding to questions over why the government had not been consistent with ensuring the disclosures were made public
filed on time
LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER
GLENYS HANNA MARTIN
filed on time
filed on time
PETER TURNQUEST
HUBERT CHIPMAN
filed on time
‘
HOPE STRACHAN
filed on time V ALFRED GRAY
filed on time MELANIE GRIFFIN
I’ll say this, they usually run a year behind. Up to year 2013, those declarations I think they have been sent up to the Cabinet Office to be (published in a) gazette. There are a few who have not declared for the year 2014. And there are more that are outstanding for the year 2015. They had up to March 1 of this year to make those declarations.’ Public Disclosure Commission chairman Myles Laroda
by way of gazette, as outlined in the law, Mr Laroda stressed that this was the job of the Cabinet Office. Financial disclosures were last made public in 2012, an election year. He said: “With regards to the actual publication, I think that they are up to 2013 that are needing publication now. The Public Disclosure Commission as an entity we don’t do the publication because first of all we don’t have a budget. “The actual publication is done by the Cabinet Office. So we would send the files down there (and) all of the statements that will be up to the Cabinet Office.” He added: “Those who have not complied with the Public Disclosure Act, our job is to write to them and to remind them that it is law that they fill out these disclosures. Our powers are limited to basically writing. “There are others who have made statements that you could lock up this one and lock up that one, (but) in the act it said nothing could be done without the attorney general so you are able to form your own opinion with regard to that. “(And) before that is even done that information has to be cleared with the attorney general so it isn’t as if we go around locking up people because they are
in breach of the act.” While he did not go into specifics over the status of each MP, Mr Laroda said it was the norm for MPs to fall behind by at least a year. “I’ll say this, they usually run a year behind. Up to year 2013, those declarations I think they have been sent up to the Cabinet Office to be (published in a) gazette. There are a few who have not declared for the year 2014. “And there are more that are outstanding for the year 2015. They had up to March 1 of this year to make those declarations. It’s more of them who haven’t declared in 2015, but very few for 2014, virtually everyone (has filed) for 2014. “I know some envelopes have come in that we haven’t opened up just yet that we haven’t gotten around to. So that may drive the number down even more with regards to that.” Mr Laroda added: “I think one of the main problems that I have experienced from last year that is coming from PLPs and FNMs alike, or even civil servants,
is getting the banking information. Filling out the form ain’t the problem, but they would be required to submit banking information from their bank and that could run anywhere from weeks to months.” In 2014, Mr Christie informed the House of Assembly that the PDC had expressed concern over the widespread failure of officials to comply with legislation mandating the turnover of annual financial declarations. At the time, Mr Christie said the PDC reported that “a number” of present and former parliamentarians and senators, along with senior public officers, had failed to submit declarations as mandated by law.
Perry Christie (PLP) Would not say Philip “Brave” Davis (PLP) - Unsure if 2015 has been filed Fred Mitchell (PLP) - No, asked for an extension Michael Halkitis (PLP) No, documents “in the mail”. Damian Gomez (PLP) - No, awaiting documents from bank Ken Dorsett (PLP) - No, awaiting documents from bank Leslie Miller (PLP) - No Khaalis Rolle (PLP) - No Danny Johnson (PLP) - No Allyson Maynard-Gibson (PLP senator) - Yes Melanie Griffin (PLP) Yes Glenys Hanna Martin (PLP) - Yes V Alfred Gray (PLP) - Yes Kendal Major (PLP) - Yes Hope Strachan (PLP) - Yes Anthony Moss (PLP) - Yes Hubert Minnis (FNM) Yes Peter Turnquest (FNM) Yes Loretta Butler-Turner (FNM) - Yes Hubert Chipman (FNM) Yes Richard Lightbourn (FNM) - No, but it is “being handled.” Andre Rollins (FNM) - No, promised to be done by this week The following members of Parliament could not be reached: Bernard Nottage (PLP); Dion Smith (PLP); Cleola Hamilton (PLP); Jerome Fitzgerald (PLP); Shane Gibson (PLP); Ryan Pinder (PLP); Picewell Forbes (PLP); Perry Gomez (PLP); Michael Darville (PLP); Neko Grant (FNM); Renward Wells (FNM); Theo Neilly (FNM); Edison Key (FNM).
PAGE 4, Monday, April 25, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Why can’t Bahamians understand fairness? ONE WONDERS what part of equality some of these preachers do not understand. On June 7, Bahamians will for the second time go to the polls to decide whether Bahamian women are to have equal status with their menfolk in this country. The first referendum was defeated by PLP politicking in 2002. Now Bahamians have a chance to right that wrong, but unfortunately many of them are still talking foolishness and trying to maintain the status quo. Many of these men of the cloth do not seem to understand the hardships they place on Bahamian women who decide to marry non-Bahamians, nor on the children of the marriage. They do not understand that by keeping women in an unequal category to their male counterparts, they are putting them in a position for their lives to be made a living hell, not only by ruthless politicians, but by officious civil servants. Sean McWeeny, chairman of the Constitutional Commission, should grasp the position although he was fortunate enough not to experience the hardships because he was always on the right side of the so-called political divide. He never had to suffer “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”, because, although he had an American father and a Bahamian mother, they were all secure in the PLP tent. Those on the outside were not as fortunate. However, in October 1986, Mr McWeeney fully grasped the inequity when in a speech, which was loudly applauded, he made his position clear. “Persons who immigrated to this country as little children, and who have lived and worked all their days in this land, and who have married the sons and daughters of our soil, and raised Bahamian families should by the laws of human decency be embraced into the national bosom as citizens of the Commonwealth,” he told those attending the PLP’s 31st annual convention. For him, he said, it was a matter of deeply held conviction. “But,” he said, “I go further, because I long for the day when we will at last extend to foreign spouses of Bahamian women the same preferential consideration for Bahamian citizenship that we have long extended to foreign spouses of Bahamian men.” He pointed out that “there are Bahamian women out there who quite frankly don’t sleep well at night because their husbands of long standing in this country don’t know if come the next day they’re going to be told to pack up and clear out,” he said. “There are Bahamian children out there who are worried stiff because their fathers or mothers with 15 or 20 years standing in this country may get the boot.” Can that ever be right? he asked. Can that ever be fair? The answer is a resounding “No.” But apparently there are many Bahamians who can see no wrong. The most shocking feature about this is that there are many religious ministers who can be counted among them. Not only were the politicians heavy handed in bullying tactics against those who opposed them, but also were the civil servants. In December 2001, then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham admitted that
The things we could learn... EDITOR, The Tribune. THE headline in today’s Tribune: “Miller: We learned corruption from US”. Too bad we didn’t learn some other things like transparency in government! BRUCE G. RAINE Nassau, April 18, 2016.
within the Ministry of Immigration the dreams of citizenship for many foreignborn spouses and their Bahamian wives were turned into “nightmares.” It was during a debate in 2001 to amend the constitution that several former immigration ministers admitted that unfairness and bureaucracy existed in the department in the processing of citizenship allocations. Mr Ingraham said that in the hands of civil servants some applications were never put to the immigration board because a bureaucrat determined that the individual did not qualify, or would not be favourably considered. Some applications were reviewed by counsel in the attorney general’s office who declared an applicant ineligible under the law hence there was no need to consider the application. Mr Ingraham said efforts to secure citizenship on behalf of foreign born minor children of Bahamian married women frequently fell victim to several scenarios. Bureaucrats would not accept applications for children under the age of 18 because, according to strict interpretations of the constitution, they were not entitled to be considered. Mr Ingraham cited the case of a senior civil servant who was advised that she ought to consider adopting her own child or, alternatively, declaring the child not of her marriage. One must remember that illegitimate children of a Bahamian mother had more citizenship rights than a child of a Bahamian mother with a foreign-born husband. In this particular case the daughter was born in a country in which neither parent held nationality at the time of her birth. Mr Ingraham said her application to be registered as a Bahamian citizen at that time awaited determination as to the appropriate article under the constitution under which it would be considered, notwithstanding the fact that the application was made on the individual’s behalf by her Bahamian mother long before she reached the age of 21. “That application,” he said, “was intentionally or otherwise, not acted upon by the government. The file of this young woman, and a number of other young adult children of Bahamian married women born outside the Bahamas, continue to receive conflicting legal advice as to whether those applications ought , or might be considered under various articles of the Bahamian constitution. “In the meantime, the lives of these young Bahamians remain in the balance,” he said. Mr Ingraham tried to rectify much of this in his third term, but the only way to achieve true equality is to apply one set of rules to both sexes. It is hard to see why this is so difficult for so many Bahamians — especially ministers of the gospel — to grasp the unfairness of this inhumane situation. And to condemn the June 7 referendum for fear of introducing homosexuality is just a red herring. However, considering the axis on which this morally-uncontrolled world is now spinning, homosexuality promises to be another issue for another time. However, it has nothing to do with these four Bills. To make it an issue is just an excuse for those who do not agree that men and women should be equal under our constitution.
Unfair attack on media EDITOR, The Tribune.
A LETTER written by Delvin Rolle complaining about media coverage of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis is another sad example of his supporters’ belief that the media are somehow blind and just don’t get how wonderful, articulate and filled with bright ideas is Dr Minnis. Rolle lambasts the media with an arrogance that simply cannot be taken seriously. He writes: “If you find the courage and professionalism to treat the FNM leader with fairness, maybe it will become clear that he has some really great ideas. Maybe you will even give him a chance to tell Bahamians how he plans to change the country for the better.” Rolle is saying that the media are cowards, and unprofessional in covering Dr. Minnis. This is a lowbrow and nasty charge. Despite this, The Tribune and The Nassau Guardian published his obnoxious letter, an example of their courage and professionalism in offering the airing of a range of opinions. The media have given Minnis extensive coverage, including when he has said some of the dumbest things imaginable. Minnis and his sycophants seem to want fawning coverage that treats him like a superhero. Mr Rolle says that Dr Minnis’ ideas about opening Baha Mar have not been fairly and fully covered. He has a responsibility to detail how the media have failed to cover Minnis on Baha Mar providing specific examples of what Minnis has
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net said. Two weeks ago, when the developer of Baha Mar issued a statement about his continued interest in Baha Mar, Minnis put out a rushed and poorly written statement that was lacking in maturity and was of little consequence. His statement was carried on the front page of The Tribune. Instead of rushing out with a statement to score cheap points, Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner, the Shadow Minister for Labour, took her time and put out an intelligent, insightful and mature statement with helpful suggestions. Throughout the Baha Mar crisis, Butler Turner has spoken extensively in the House of Assembly and in the media about getting the resort open in order to provide jobs for thousands and to help stimulate the economy. The reason the media may have given her full coverage on her recent statement is because it had substance as opposed to the lack of substance typically offered by Minnis. When Baha Mar collapsed last year, Dr Minnis, under the poor influence of certain individuals, played games about whether he would meet with Prime Minister Perry Christie to get a briefing. I believe that it was Butler Turner who convinced him that he had to meet with the Prime Minister. Minnis’ poorly thought out and unworkable ideas,
many of which have been roundly criticised, include: making Over-the-Hill a Freeport-type tax free zone; eliminating VAT in certain categories; a recall system for MPs; two-term limit for the prime minister, and others, too many to name in this short space. Instead of criticising the media and others, Dr Minnis’ supporters should look to his endless mistakes and inability to articulate a vision and intelligent ideas. Minnis may be known for many things but having good ideas is not one of them. It is doubtful that he has ever offered a unique or original policy position on the big issues facing the country. The editorial and opinion pages of the two leading newspapers have been rightly critical of Dr Minnis because he has been a rolling disaster as Opposition Leader. The overwhelming opinion of the media that Minnis is not fit to be prime minister is not a conspiracy against him. Instead it is the collective judgment of those who have carefully listened to him in the House and at press conferences, and who have read his statements or interviewed him. The media have provided him extensive coverage and have found him grievously wanting. Media leaders owe it to the public they serve to share that considered opinion while continuing to give vent to the opinion of others. FAM Nassau, April 24, 2016.
Time for Minnis to rise EDITOR, The Tribune
EVERY five years, a very strange phenomenon occurs. Educated men and women, considerably righteous men and women, and even those usually not prone to much gaff descend into a primal circle of rhetoric, propaganda, smear tactics, and outright falsehoods all in the name of politics. Folks, the silly season has begun, and as we navigate the next few months it will be imperative for all Bahamians to identify the facts versus the uninspired imag-
ination of those that would seek to derail truth. As we watch in horror our current government hops from debacle to debacle laced with corruption, all the while reassuring the growing disgruntled masses that everything is not only ok, but there is no need to question their actions as they are apparently above such basic protocols. On the sidelines, and I mean seated, legs crossed is the ever silent opposition under the leader of the mute Doc throwing the occasional hissy fit over meet-
ing schedules, purchase of fish, and the ever present misstep or misguided comment. If there ever was a ray of hope in the once touted government in the sunshine it would be in the person of Loretta Butler-Turner. So it was with great amusement that I read the aspersions that the print media is showing favouritism to the leading lady. One cannot help but to notice the great vacuum that has been left in the absence of the former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, and the feeble attempts to fill those
shoes by Minnis. The FNM has never looked more disconnected, disorganised and lacklustre than they do today, and whenever the leader of that once great party does ever get around to addressing national concerns, ie Baha Mar, or the most recent hurricane it is usually too little too late. To accuse print media for showing favouritism to a woman that has spoken out with distinction and eloquence about the guiles of the government in dealing with Baha Mar, or to hit the ground running following a
national tragedy is a sad and most ridiculous waste of paper. Instead of trying to tear down the last reason many voters have for standing by the FNM one would hope that the leader and those around him would present solutions to the problems we are facing as a country, and show us once and for all whether he is fit to lead his organisation much less the country we desperately need to save. SON OF YUMA Nassau, April 24, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 25, 2016, PAGE 5
ISAACS AND MOREE SUGGESTED AS SUCCESSORS TO CHIEF JUSTICE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson yesterday endorsed Court of Appeal Justice Jon Isaacs and Queen’s Counsel Brian Moree as two potential candidates to serve as the next chief justice of the Bahamas. Mr Johnson also called for more objectivity in judicial appointments – particularly with regards to the office of the chief justice, stressing that the selection process should be “fair and free from any political bias.” He also said that the individual selected as chief justice should be one who has “garnered the support and respect of their contemporaries and members of the judiciary and the view of the bar.” His comments came amid speculation that Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson is being considered to be the next chief justice. Leader of the Official Opposition Dr Hubert Minnis, when contacted yesterday, said he has not been informed of a pending vacancy in the office of the chief justice, and that he had not been made aware of any considerations for the post. Attempts to reach Mrs Maynard-Gibson were unsuccessful up to press time. However, a well-placed source told The Tribune that Sir Hartman might soon demit his post.
CHIEF Justice Hartman Longley, who it is thought may soon step down from his post. This marks the second time within the last two years that Mrs MaynardGibson’s name has emerged in speculation of this nature, the last instance being in 2014 following the resignation of former Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett. When contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Johnson said the appointment of chief justice is “something that is not to be taken light-
ly” and should be devoid of politics. “I can quite recall what appeared to have been done under the former administration of the FNM, where it would have appeared that persons may have been selected because of their affiliation with the party,” Mr Johnson said. “And I am hoping that that appearance, though it may not have been real, does not reoccur,
and that the person that is to be selected, that person would be someone who has demonstrated through their practice in their law and through service as a member of the judiciary, whether in an acting capacity or on a full time capacity, that they have the versatility in dealing with a number of complex matters. And obviously that person garnered the respect of not just the bench but the (Bahamas) Bar. “Of course, you have to be fearless, independent and impartial, and I’m hoping that this process produces or results in someone who fits that bill. In my opinion, and I cannot speak for the Bar because we haven’t done a poll or anything at the Bar, but based on my opinions and my investigations, there are two very capable individuals who are sons of the soil, they have demonstrated that through their allegiance and loyalty to the country, and they’re in the person of Senior Justice Jon Isaacs, and Mr Brian Moree, QC, who I think are well fitted for the post of chief justice.” Mr Johnson added: “And so I’m hoping that the prime minister, of course he would give reasonable consideration to it, but also that the leader of the opposition would play his role. And that the process, at the end of the day should appear to be fair and free from any political bias.” The chief justice, the
MAN HELD AT FREEPORT HARBOUR AFTER COCAINE FIND
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 28-YEAR-OLD man was arrested on Sunday at Freeport Harbour after he was allegedly caught with a quantity of drugs.
According to police reports, shortly before 7pm the man was found with a quantity of suspected cocaine strapped to body. The suspect and the cocaine were handed over to Drug Enforcement Unit. The suspect is expected
to be arraigned sometime this week in connection with the matter. MIGRANTS More than a dozen Haitian migrants and a Bahamian were intercepted by
USCG officials on Sunday. The group is expected to be brought to Freeport Harbour, where they will be handed over to Immigration officials. This is the second group in within two days.
RBDF OFFICER HELD OVER POSSESSION OF FIREARM AND DRUGS
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net A ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force Officer is in police custody after he was allegedly found in possession of a firearm and a quantity of drugs on Friday. Shortly after 1pm, officers from the Mobile Division were on routine patrol when they received a report of gunshots being discharged on Emmanuel Way off Soldier Road. The officers went to a home on Emmanuel Way, where they conducted a search and uncovered
a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition, along with a quantity of marijuana. The RBDF officer along with another male were arrested and taken into custody in connection with the discovery. Police also arrested a suspected thief moments after he stole several items from a vehicle parked at Cable Beach on Saturday. According to reports, shortly after 11am, a woman reported to police that her Hyundai Tucson was broken into while parked in Cable Beach and her cell phone along with her bag
was stolen. Officers from the Western Division responded and arrested the suspect in the area. The victim’s items were found in the suspect’s possession. Police also found a number of items suspected of being stolen from other vehicles. The suspect is being quizzed in connection with several other reported
thefts from vehicles in the Cable Beach area. Investigations continue.
highest post in the judicial system, is appointed by the governor-general after recommendation by the prime minister. Sir Hartman was sworn in as chief justice in February 2015. He was formerly a senior justice in the Supreme Court and a former Court of Appeal justice.
He succeeded Sir Michael Barnett, who resigned as chief justice on January 31, 2015. Sir Michael, a former senator, was appointed in 2009, having served as attorney general and minister of legal affairs from 2008 to 2009 under the former Ingraham administration.
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PAGE 6, Monday, April 25, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
‘PLP HELPING THEIR FRIENDS - AND LEAVING BAHAMIANS HUNGRY’
from page one
under previous boards. Last week, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller insisted that the granting of government contracts to political supporters will “never stop” because politicians must “do what they have to do” to win elections. When asked about the government’s bidding process and several instances that have gone public where contracts were given to party supporters, Mr Miller said he views it as “political pa-
tronage”, but not corruption. Earlier this month, BOB Chairman Richard Demeritte admitted that there was “no question” some lending decisions had been influenced by politics in the past. He later backtracked from that admission, saying he was referring to “perception” rather than reality. Nonetheless, Mr Demeritte’s earlier statement was part of what Dr Minnis called the “financial mismanagement” plaguing BOB. “Because of the PLP’s
mentality of only ‘helping those who help us’, ten thousands of hard working men and women across our country are being deprived of providing for themselves and their families,” Dr Minnis’ statement said. “The FNM stands for a Bahamas free of such corruption where our people don’t have to be a part of a club to be able to put food on their tables.” To that end, Dr Minnis went on to say that the FNM will be seeking to address “very important legislation” pertain-
ing to the Family Islands and various airports in the country when Parliament reconvenes this week, charging that the FNM is “concerned” about provisions in the bills that “mandate government appointed boards, contracts and jobs.” “Recent events and past performances prove that we should all be sceptical of entrusting all this power in the hands of this government,” Dr Minnis said. “Bahamians will only be comfortable if we ensure these appointments, con-
tracts and jobs are determined in a fair and open manner. From the Bank of the Bahamas to so many other pay-to-play instances across the country the people are very concerned with having all this unbridled power placed in the hands of the PLP.” Dr Minnis added: “As the House of Assembly returns to session this week, it is imperative that the Bahamian people know at least one party is going to stand up for them. The people demand accountability from their government.”
FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis,
TEEN STABBED TO DEATH IN ANDROS
from page one
He was rushed to the local clinic where he later died of his injuries. Police arrested the male suspect moments after the incident. Police have not officially identified the victim but The Tribune understands he is Jamal Levy. The country’s murder count now stands 41 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records. The teenager’s killing came less than a week after Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell told The Tribune that the PLP’s crime plan has not failed, despite the country’s problems with homicides
and violence. Nearly 500 homicides have been recorded thus far under this Christie administration, according to The Tribune’s records. When asked by The Tribune last Monday if he thought the government’s crime plan has failed, Mr Bell said he did not. “It has not failed,” he said outside the Senate. “With any strategy, you have to make adjustments.” The senator added that Prime Minister Perry Christie and National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage are currently engaged in discussions with Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade to make “some changes” to the gov-
ernment’s crime fighting initiatives. Mr Bell also suggested the “formal establishment” of a national service to combat crime. “We have to do it,” he said last week. “We are at that stage. We have to do it. And for me, we have to combine the police and defence force. Whether people like it or not we have to do it.” A team of homicide detectives from New Providence travelled to Andros yesterday afternoon to assist with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
THREE DEAD IN TWO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
from page one
Highway in Tarpum Bay when he crashed into the rear of a parked utility vehicle. Officer-in-charge of the Traffic Division, Superintendent Craig Stubbs, said the driver was rushed to the Rock Sound Clinic where he later died of his injuries. A team of officers from the Traffic Division in New Providence travelled to Eleuthera yesterday to assist in the investigations. The other fatalities oc-
curred on Friday evening in Abaco. According to reports, shortly after 7pm police were called to the scene of a traffic accident on Earnest Dean Highway near Spring City. When officers arrived, they discovered a Honda Accord wrapped around a utility pole with three men trapped inside. “According to our information, the driver was travelling north when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the pole,” Supt Stubbs said. “A local nurse who was passing the
scene notified the police. Officers, fire services and emergency services personnel responded. “The front seat passenger died on the scene, the driver and back seat passenger were taken to a local clinic where the passenger died of his injuries shortly after arrival. The other male is listed in serious but stable condition at the Marsh Harbour Clinic.” Police are actively investigating and are appealing to the public to drive within the speed limit and to always wear a seat belt.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
insight@tribunemedia.net
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Cross the ‘pond’ for better university options M
uch like the ebb and flow of the tide on the beautiful sands of the Bahamian beaches, there is an element of predictability when it comes to the education of the country’s best and brightest. From the frozen tundra of Canada to the warmer climes of Florida, most Bahamian students choose to pursue their higher education in North American institutions. This might come as no surprise considering the proximity and the high standard of education at many of the universities on the continent, but in recent years there has been a branching-out of sorts. Universities in the United States and Canada are not without their problems and a few young Bahamians have decided to try their luck on the other side of the ‘pond’. While clearly offering fewer university options than Canada and the United States, the United Kingdom punches well above its weight in terms of university rankings. The Times currently ranks three British Universities - Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College, London in the top ten in the world, three more than the entire continent of Asia. The Tribune caught up with eleven of these brave students, with the aim of understanding the motivations, experiences, achievements, and drawbacks that go with being a Bahamian studying in Britain. The students interviewed are spread all over the country and study subjects ranging from Biochemistry to screen-writing. Praise for the education and lifestyle at British universities was easy to come by. The logistics of actually attending a university in Britain are seen as more amenable by many of the students here. Wayne Munroe, who studied Geography and International Relations at the University of Sussex, commented that “it was a lot of hassle doing the SAT” to apply to the United States. With the Bahamian educational system based around the BGCSE exam system, this seems like a fair criticism of applying to North America. The specialisation of the higher education in Britain was the main attraction for Samantha Wilson and Marlena Leonard, who voiced her approval of the exam system rather than the continuous assessment employed in America and Canada. A positive cultural change was also expressed: Wayne Munroe spoke of his enjoyment of experiencing the culture of a European country rather
Bahamian students are looking beyond north America to further their education these days. Alexander Hawkins canvasses views of British universities as a viable alternative. than that of the United States, which is fairly close to home. The exorbitant prices of university in the United States were concerns for the majority of the interviewed students, and Samantha Wilson expressed a preference for a three-year course. Socially, the legality of alcohol for people under 21 featured as another, albeit less important, improvement on the United States. Not all Bahamian imports to the British university system have enjoyed their time in Britain completely, with one even being driven to leave after only four months of study. An anonymous student left Regent’s University in London, commenting that she found the work “not challenging enough”, and was made uncomfortable by the student population, who she thought were over-privileged, “wealthy” and differed in personality. While people of wealth is not anathema to the Bahamas, the culture shock was not limited to this student. Marlena Leonard, also at Regent’s, commented on the lack of friendliness shown by the British public. She found no greet-
“The experience of being educated in a liberal European society may be the most important aspect of Bahamians pursuing their education in Britain. In answer to the question: “Has your experience at university changed your perspectives on Bahamian current affairs and politics?” five of the students described Bahamian politics as “backward”. Concerns about the transparency of government dealings as well as a new-found awareness for the systemic issue of corruption were prevalent in the students’ answers.”
ings forthcoming on the street or even on entering a classroom! While unthinkable in the Bahamas, this is common practice for the British. While integrating well with English culture at Westminster University, her main concern is the notoriously depressing weather. The pink sands of Harbour Island are a far cry from the sodden streets of Soho or the gloomy, rain-soaked kebab shops of Elephant and Castle in south London. Clearly adjustments have to be made, even amongst the most adventurous of Bahamian students. The experience of being educated in a liberal European society may be the most important aspect of Bahamians pursuing their education in Britain. In answer to the question: “Has your experience at university changed your perspectives on Bahamian current affairs and politics?” five of the students described Bahamian politics as “backward”. Concerns about the transparency of government dealings as well as a new-found awareness for the systemic issue of corruption were prevalent in the students’ answers. Alison Ferguson, of Southampton University, expressed the need for investment in the public education of the Bahamas. In a country with a large percentage of state school students attending university, it is hardly surprising that Bahamians in Britain are beginning to see the need for equal opportunity in their own country. The need for more liberal social policies were also expressed by many. Issues of abortion, and same-sex marriage were mentioned as well as the establishment of a larger welfare state to care for the needy. With the next generation of Bahamian leaders being educated more and more in Britain, politics in our island nation could well make an unprecedented shift to the left in the coming decades. It is worth noting that political change from British educated Bahamians is by no means a new phenomenon, with some of the most important figures in Bahamian history having been educated on the other side of the Atlantic. Some notable products of the British university system include Jerome Lightbourne, of King’s, BJ
ABOVE: Alison Ferguson takes in the Southampton v Sunderland Premier League foootball game.
BELOW: Wayne Munroe relaxing after lectures.
• Alexander Hawkins is a Bahamian second-year student at the London School of Economics studying for a BA in History. He was educated at Tambearly and St Andrew’s School.
Calling All High
STUDENTS
SCHOOL S1BACK TO SCH OOL
2 0 1 5
•
S U P P L E M E N T
HEAD GIRL ASHLE Y THOMPSON WITH HER PRIZES JOHN'S COLLE GE GRADUATION AND AWARDS CEREMONY. PHOTO AT THE ST : PETER RAMSA Y/BIS
Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year. In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands. We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.
Profiles must include
BAHAMIANS SAMANTHA WILSON, Tatiana Mattio - a student at Kingston University who attended Lyford Cay School - and Alexander Hawkins at Bounce Ping Pong bar in Holborn, London, to celebrate Samantha’s birthday.
Nottage, who went to Aberdeen, and of course Perry Christie, who attended Birmingham. Considered the “father of the nation”, Sir Lynden Pindling studied a mere hundred yards or so from where I write this article, King’s College London, and is undoubtedly the most influential of Bahamian graduates from a British university. Arguably the most important Bahamian of the 20th century and our first Prime Minister, Pindling’s time in the intellectual milieu of London will have helped the formation of his political convictions and turned him into the man that is so revered by Bahamians. With two thirds of our country’s Prime Ministers having studied in Britain, it is safe to assume that British education can influence political changes in the Bahamas, and with the current crop of Bahamians displaying clear disgruntlement with the status quo, it is likely that this influence will continue to be felt.
1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded
7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).
How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format. By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau. By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2016 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022373 or 502-2387 or 502-2411.
PAGE 2 MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
BAHA MAR NEWS of the huge unopened hotel project ranged from initial euphoria to later depression. First, Sarkis Izmirlian, the gutsy initial promoter, announced that he was stepping back into the ring with a bid to secured creditor Chinese Export Import Bank to buy out their $2.45 billion loan at par, as they have always demanded to save face with their political bosses in Beijing. He would also pay off the $75m owed to Bahamian contractors and other unsecured lenders. Surely his dad, the hard-headed billionaire Dikran, must have arranged that the funds would be available, so it looked like a sweetheart deal, particularly since Prime Minister Perry Christie reversed his previous cold-shoulder and called the bid “worthy of consideration”. Will Cabinet Ministers Fred Mitchell and Shane Gibson and PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts now eat their words of anti-Sarkis invective and join the new party line? Then accountant Ray Winder, bankruptcy receiver for Baha Mar, threw cold water on Sarkis’ initiative. He warned that Sarkis
‘
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
An everyday story of Bahamian issues
Nassau Life
By RICHARD COULSON
Richard Coulson offers a succinct (and opinionated) summary of the recent spate of hot news topics. could not make any proposal to the Chinese, nor could they request it, without going through the complex bidding procedures laid down by our Supreme Court in supervising the bankruptcy. Technically, this may be correct, as a temporary obstacle. But it’s hard to believe that a serious offer from Sarkis, backed by the Prime Minister, would not prevail over legalistic red tape. Only he and his team have the intimate familiarity with the project, together with loyalty of the 2,000 fired employees. It will not be easy to revive the wounded market image of Baha Mar, but Sarkis is better equipped than any other buyer to undertake the task. The one non-negotiable condition of his bid is the refusal to re-engage the Chinese company CCA
Despite our high ranking in the National Development Plan in the democratic principles of “Governance”, Bahamians will find under “Human Capital” that recently more than half of our births were to unwed mothers, surely a key factor in poverty, crime and unemployment, still hovering at near 15 per cent, and worse for youth. Pastors, where is your preaching on the sins of fornication?’
as the prime contractor to finish off the 98 per centcompleted Baha Mar. This should be a no-brainer. CCA is now fully committed down the street in building the glitzy Le Pointe project, adjacent to the British Colonial Hilton. Danny Liu, the loquacious engineer in charge, should concentrate on promoting this wholly-owned Chinese venture and cease his sniping at Baha Mar.
THE EVER-SMOKING GARBAGE DUMP Hundreds of Nassau residents showed up for a peaceful demonstration, marching past the delegates at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) annual meeting in the new Baha Mar Convention Centre. PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts as usual bloviated against any news reflecting on his party, calling the event “unpatriotic”. But every Bahamian knows it was the final frustrated act of citizens sick of breathing noxious fumes damaging their health and forcing nearby schools to close to protect the kids. The organising group RABL (Reviving Awareness about Bahamian Landfill) is being
praised for its website and active Facebook publicity. A national disgrace that has lasted several years, the landfill smoulders constantly and periodically bursts into flame and clouds of acrid smoke. The answers from Government ministers say nothing more than “we’re working on it”, while their chosen agent Renew Bahamas admits that things got out of control as a recent explosion damaged equipment and offers nothing more encouraging than “we inherited a big problem that will take years to fix”. South African Gerhard Buekes, a property financier known to Deputy Prime Minister Brave Davis, heads the opaque company whose contract conditions and ownership have never been publicly disclosed and appears out of its depth in handling a solid waste facility. Landfill management is not rocket science, but it does need experienced specialists, like the Florida firm that built a state-of-the-art landfill in Barbados and several years ago doused fires at our own dump. The Ingraham administration unwisely failed to accept their detailed proposal for a long-term fix, rebuilding and relining the various cells at a cost of 20 million well-spent dollars. The experts pointed out that the risk of downward leaching
into the water-table is as dangerous as upward air pollution. Demonstrations are fine, but specific solutions are what’s needed. I know the Florida company well, and have encouraged RABL to invite them for a serious sit-down with Government. If Renew Bahamas cannot be removed or replaced, at least they could accept help from a partner with a proven track record.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN The Prime Minister took the opportunity of the IDB annual meeting to announce, and actually get published, the State of The Nation Report. It’s an extraordinary document. The drafters, led by senior civil servant Nicola Virgil-Rolle, under the eye of Secretariat Chairman Felix Stubbs, deserve our congratulations. I had expected a typical Government puff-piece. Not at all: it’s a warts-and-all disclosure that tells us how we really stand, upright or downcast, with specific remedies for our failings. All Bahamians should, as I did, at least browse through its 79 pages and formidable tables to get the high points, then go back and check the details.
Death Notice
Maybell Kemp, 72 of Blair Estates, Nassau, The Bahamas, died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday, 21st April, 2016. Funeral Arrangements to be announced at a later date. Arrangements Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
Memorial Service
Edward Patrick Toothe, 81 of Nassau, The Bahamas, died on Wednesday, 20th April, 2016. A memorial service will be held at The John Watlings Distillery (Buena Vista, his childhood home), 17 Delancy Street, Nassau, on Tuesday, 26th April, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Patrick is survived by his sons, Edward Frank Toothe, Patrick Wilhelm Francois Toothe, Guy George Helmut Toothe; daughter, Judith Ann Toothe-Huijnen; stepdaughter, Christina Marie Scott and granddaughters, Kendall Erin Toothe and Katrina Elise Lucas-Toothe.
FELIX STUBBS, chair of the National Development Plan Steering Committee, presenting the findings of the National Development Plan at the Vision 2040 ceremony at The College of The Bahamas. Photo: Patrick Hanna/BIS Despite our high ranking in the democratic principles of “Governance”, they will find under “Human Capital” that recently more than half of our births were to unwed mothers, surely a key factor in poverty, crime and unemployment, still hovering at near 15 per cent, and worse for youth. Pastors, where is your preaching on the sins of fornication? Despite a blizzard of statistics about improved diploma-ranking of our highschool graduates, they can read that the biggest problem faced by Bahamian employers is the lack of job candidates with basic skills. BEC is being reorganised, but they can read that its ratio of employees to customers has been miles above the Caribbean average, a sure sign of featherbedding that led to our region-wide high electricity costs. We had 52 customers per employee; in Jamaica it was 415. This report is designed to be the underpinning of the National Development Plan until 2040. We trust that, unlike innumerable similar studies, it will not simply gather dust in the archives of the present PLP politicians and their many successors. To be useful, it must be continually used and updated.
PLANE FLYING AROUND THE WORLD BY THE POWER OF THE SUN
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California Associated Press
THE two Swiss pilots taking turns to fly a solarpowered airplane around the world said yesterday the endeavor is not only a demonstration of the importance of renewable energy but also of the many challenges the human body can endure. Pilot Bertrand Piccard completed a risky, threeday flight across a great expanse of the Pacific Ocean while sleeping only 20 minutes at a time inside the plane’s tiny cockpit with no heat or air conditioning and while having to keep constant contact with the Europe-based control center. “You have interviews, navigation control, communications with the control center in Monaco. You have health checks, a lot of health checks,” Piccard said. “It’s very active, there are a lot of things to do, but you can nevertheless enjoy it.” Piccard said he uses selfhypnosis to keep his energy up and puts heating pads inside his shoes and gloves for warmth. He said he has no complaints about the readymade meals he can warm up with a special heat packet and that can include risotto, chicken curry and potatoes. On Sunday, special guests, many of them with Google, which is sponsoring the project, had a first look at the plane inside a huge white tent at Moffett Airfield. The guests also mingled and took photos with Piccard and fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg. Piccard landed the Solar Impulse 2 in Mountain View, in the Silicon Valley south of San Francisco, on Saturday night following a 62-hour, nonstop solo flight from Hawaii without fuel. The landing came hours after Piccard made a flyby over the Golden Gate Bridge as spectators below watched the narrow aircraft with extra wide wings.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 25, 2016, PAGE 9
MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016 PAGE 3
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
TWO problems encapsulated in a single photo by Heather Carey - the still unfinished Baha Mar under the shadow of a towering cloud of smoke from a recent landfill fire.
BACON V NYGARD The continuing battle was summarised in Vanity Fair as simply a spat between two equally spoiled billionaires - a grossly misleading view shared by some of our local media. Every week, new ramifications have real consequences for The Bahamas, affecting our renowned financial confidentiality and the constitutional tradition of parliamentary privilege. It’s clear that the blame falls on Peter Nygard, not Louis Bacon. Look at history: the unknown Canadian ex-Finn Nygard bought the virginal Simms Point in 1984 from the trustees of the late Shirley Oakes Butler (second daughter of Sir Harry), then in an irrecoverable coma from which she soon died. The trustees had to accept Nygard’s high bid without an FBI-like examination, and neither they nor Government could have predicted how he would ravish the property. He soon constructed a monstrous pagoda of architectural bad taste, big enough for a path to drive a jeep upstairs, and began a series of noisy celebra-
tions adorned with bevvies of pretty girls admiring his bronzed torso and stylishly ripped blue jeans. All the in-and-out was carried on the main Lyford Cay Road over which he held a legal right of entry, naturally offending his quiet neighbours. The well-documented accretions of marine property were begun and never prevented, saved either by political contributions or simple bureaucratic indifference. Meanwhile, Louis Bacon acquired the Point House, an elegant single-storey residence just outside Nygard’s gates. Once owned by the late Sir Harold Christie, the Bahamian-styled bay-view terraces were little altered by Bacon, who kept a low profile managing his successful hedge fund Moore Capital. But he then entered the fray by joining, and financing, Save The Bays, a licensed Bahamian environmental charity that publicises and litigates against the ecological harm caused by Nygard’s accretions. The battle was joined. It’s unknown whether Nygard actually poured funds into the PLP treasury (there is no law against it), but we
can see photos of Perry Christie, Jerome Fitzgerald and other PLP stalwarts warmly accepting Nygard’s hospitality overlooking Clifton Bay - never on Bacon’s premises. So it was not unexpected when Fitzgerald recently stood up in the House with the startling accusation that Save The Bays was a hidden front trying to destabilise our Government - what could be called an act of sedition. What’s more, he backed up his accusation by quoting, without apology, from correspondence about clearly confidential matters. When I first knew Jerome, he was a rational businessman working hard to create RND Cinemas. Maybe his duties as Education Minister do not satisfy the energies of his muscular stature, the largest among his fellow ministers. While revelations from the Panama Papers are damaging the credibility of all offshore financial centres, Jerome is adding his bit to shatter faith in our own system. He justifies this by claiming his undiluted right to parliamentary privilege, which he can exercise because he has discovered the gunpowder plot to blow up the Government!
His real discovery is, at most, an environmental campaign that might blow up the PLP. To him that is the same as destroying the state, but many Bahamians do not share that view - and indeed may feel just the opposite. We’re barely a year from an election to decide whether they are a majority.
CASH IN, BUT NOT OUT One of our major automotive dealers revealed that, for up to 18 months, he has been owed $260,000 by the Ministry of Finance, with many assurances of payment but no cheque received. He was rash enough to import a fleet of vehicles, pay the excise tax up-front, then sell to Government agencies that are tax-exempt. His tightly budgeted cash-flow needs are in peril and his employment figures suffer. Other dealers chimed in with the same complaint, and VAT recoveries are often tardy, while draconian fines are imposed for the slightest delay in feeding the Treasury. Minister of State Halkitis is not slow to praise the efficiency of his tax-collecting mechanism, but the effi-
ciency is found in taking from the private sector, and then not giving back what’s legally due. It’s this kind of state behaviour that calls into question all the worthy objectives of the National Development Plan. Mutual trust between Government and people is essential for the Plan’s success, but won’t be won by stiffing creditors with slowpay policies.
BANK OF BAHAMAS Continuing dissatisfaction by the minority shareholders was the one clear message sent by this month’s annual meeting - “mutiny” might be a better word if that action were feasible under the Bank’s corporate structure. The promised election of two directors by the minority is a band-aid for the mortal wounds revealed by the announced violation of Tier 1 capital rules and the probable need for $30m new equity. To be provided by whom? Clearly the minority shareholders are in no mood to sink more capital into a vessel still steered by exactly the same Chairman and board majority appointed
by Government, with no plan of reorganisation even summarised. And it’s certain that no new investor will be found, unless a controlling 51 per cent stake is offered. The bullet must be bitten: Government must relinquish control and negotiate to sell its stake to a well-run commercial banking institution. After huffily refusing comment on a consultant’s unflattering report, Chairman Demeritte tried to inspire his audience with the fatuous lament that a failure of the Bank means “we as a people fail”. Nonsense. Failure is the child of a specific group of Bank directors and executives, casually unsupervised by the owner’s formal representatives, Mr Christie in his hat as Minister of Finance and Mr Halkitis as his Minister of State with the finance portfolio. Our long-suffering “people” can be declared innocent. • Richard Coulson is a retired lawyer and investment banker born in Nassau and from a long line of Bahamians. He is a financial consultant and author of A Corkscrew Life - adventures of a travelling financier.
PAGE 4 MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
Today
Insight - why Bahamian students are looking to British universities to further their education and Richard Coulson looks behind the spate of recent news headlines
THIS WEEK IN
rell Sears Showcase in Freeport, Grand Bahama, where the country’s future basketball talent was on show for US collegiate scouts. Plus the latest properties for sale and rent in the Home Buyers’ Guide
Tuesday
Business - the owner of Blackbeard’s Cay is blaming the government for not protecting the resort against the legal moves of environmentalists. Neil Hartnell reports.
Woman and Health - weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas
Sports - reports from the Dar-
Plus comment from Nicole Bur-
F
The Tribune
rows and sporting mischief and mayhem by Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya
Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology
Thursday Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review Young Man’s View - trenchant
opinion from Adrian Gibson on the hot topics in the country ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in the Bahamas
Friday Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports scene, by Brent Stubbs
Plus A Comic’s View - Naughty’s unique take on the week in The Bahamas
Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a A special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports and Classifieds Trader. Plus breaking news and updates on your mobile-friendly tribune242.com
Good sense on drugs absent at the UN
OR a brief moment it appeared that good sense would prevail and the international community would ditch the failed “war on drugs” policy. But all hopes were dashed at the United Nations General Assembly special session on drugs (UNgass) last week in New York. Sadly, the UN maintained prohibitionist policies banning narcotics use, and, by doing so, left producers and traffickers delighted with
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS an illegal trade worth billions of dollars. The retained policy also continues the criminalisation of users of small quantities; deploys security and
police forces into costly exercises that deflect them from tackling serious criminal activity; fills prisons with young people; frightens addicts from seeking
medical attention lest they be imprisoned; and perpetuates a system that allows the unfair branding of countries, such as many in the Caribbean, as complicit in drug trafficking. This reactionary stance was adopted by too many states to allow a more progressive approach to be adopted. Yet, the countries in the forefront of the drive for reform were ones that have been most affected by the traffic in narcotics. Among them were Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala. Not surprisingly, Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has described the UN posture as “insane”. Before the meeting, President Santos had outlined a four-point plan that he hoped would garner support from UN members, resulting in a radical overhaul of global policy. He called for the framing of policy on drugs within a context of human rights so as to stop persecuting the victims of drug abuse, and abolishing the death penalty for drug related offences as in Singapore. The second point was to allow nations to reform their drug laws in accordance with specific needs and threats to populations, rather than being straitjacketed by international conventions. He also challenged the global community to adopt “a more comprehensive approach”; a transition from a purely repressive response to a public health framework to the treatment of drug consumption focusing on prevention, attention, rehabilitation and resocialisation of drug abusers. And, the fourth point called for combatting transnational organised crime in a collaborative way. Writing in The Observer newspaper in Britain prior to the UN meeting, President Santos was keen to stress that his plan is “not a call for legalisation of drugs”. He described it as “a call for recognition that between total war and legali-
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‘
A MARIJUANA plant - but UN policy is not shifting on drugs.
You can have a regional approach but that does not work as effectively because this is a transnational problem, and it needs the whole world to have some common denominators for the drug lords and mafias not to take advantage of these differences.’ Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos sation there exists a broad range of options worth exploring if we want to take better care of drug consumers, protect our youth from drug abuse, collaborate to continue combating organised crime and provide alternative economic means to illegal crop farmers and vulnerable communities”. But, in reality, the negotiations of the “outcome document” did not take place in New York; they have been going on in Austria since late 2015. The voices of over 70 nations, including many in the Caribbean, were never heard because they have no representation in Vienna and none on the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where the document was negotiated. In this regard, there was hardly an open, honest and evidencebased debate. The three Latin American countries that courageously proposed the UN meeting were emboldened in their decision by a voluminous report commissioned by the Organisation of American States (OAS) in 2013 on a mandate from Heads of Government of its 34 member-states. A telling paragraph in the report, entitled “The Drug Problem in the Americas”, observes that “Public policies devised over the past several decades to address the drug issue in the hemisphere have not proved sufficiently flexible to draw in the new evidence needed to make them more effective, to detect unintended costs and damages, and to embrace recent economic and cultural changes. We need to develop and generate additional methods, evidence, analysis, and evaluation, to learn from both successes and failures, to adapt standards to the needs and characteristics of each specific environment, and to take into account the net impact in terms of costs and benefits of applying particular policies in a given country and society as well as for all our countries and societies”. President Santos has said that the world needs all countries to be on board with the same approach to have an impact. “You can have a regional approach but that does not work as effectively because this is a transnational problem, and it needs the whole world to have some common denominators for the drug lords and mafias not to take advantage of these differences,” he said. Of course,
he is right. But that should not stop Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala from asking the OAS to return to considering the drugs problem, including why the UN meeting failed to move many of the member states to shed the straightjacket in which their policy thinking has been imprisoned. A good place to start the discussion would be the General Assembly of the OAS in June. The dialogue on the issue should be kept alive, and many Caribbean governments would give their support to another round of OAS analysis. There is one useful element in the document that emerged from the UN meeting. It is an acceptance of flexibility in interpreting the UN conventions on drugs so that each country can “implement national policies according to local circumstances and challenges”. At least countries, such as many in the Caribbean, are now released from prohibitions and constraints that dictated their policies toward the drug problem and how they treat it. They can, for instance, sponsor the production of marijuana for medicinal use and, by doing so, help bolster their flagging economies that have suffered from the loss of preferential markets for traditional agricultural produce. Jamaica has already decriminalised possession of small amounts of marijuana, legalised the sacramental use of marijuana by Rastafarians, and established provisions for the medical, scientific and therapeutic uses of the plant. That should be standard fare across the Caribbean. The Caribbean should also solicit the support of African nations in shifting the discussion from the UN Office in Vienna to the UN headquarters in New York where their voices can be raised, reflecting their own cultural, geographical and political reality on this crucial issue. Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College, University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 25, 2016, PAGE 11
Ministers: Nothing will stop us from revealing private emails
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE being served with an injunction restraining them from releasing any information contained in Save The Bays’ private emails, government ministers Jerome Fitzgerald and Fred Mitchell said on Friday “nothing” will stop them. In a joint statement, the ministers warned the environmental organisation to “stand by” for more to come. “We have read in the press a report about an injunction to restrain the freedom of speech of parliamentarians. We want to assure our constituents that we will not be deterred. We will continue to speak freely on their behalf. Nothing Fred Smith QC can do will stop us,” the ministers’ statement said. “This is a breach of our privileges as parliamentarians. The matter calls for Parliament to resist any encroachment on its rights. Save The Bays should stand by for more to come.” On Thursday, STB was granted an injunction against Mr Mitchell, the minister of foreign affairs and immigration, Mr Fitzgerald, the minister of education, and Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson, restraining them from further disclosing the group’s confidential information in Parliament. The injunction was granted by Justice Indra Charles and lasts until May 12. Yesterday, her ruling was described as “a landmark for the rule of law in The Bahamas” by Mr Smith, STB’s legal director, who also reiterated that Cabinet ministers “are not above the law”. The judge’s order says the three government ministers are “prohibited” from any further appropriation, perusal, use, publication
JEROME FITZGERALD, left, and Fred Mitchell. or disclosure in Parliament of explicit threats their inor elsewhere of any corre- tention to make further disspondence, including emails, closure from this cache. According to the writ, belonging to the applicants. privilege Mr Mitchell, Mr Fitzger- “parliamentary ald and Mrs Maynard-Gib- cannot in any way affect the son are named as respond- court’s ability to take into account, when considering ents in the case. In a writ filed in the Su- the grant of interlocutory preme Court on Thursday, relief sought, the threats by the applicants (STB), Coa- government through a senlition to Save Clifton and ior Cabinet minister to acZachary Hampton Bacon, cess and reveal even more information claim that the government, confidential acting through Mr Mitch- since this constitutes stateell, Mr Fitzgerald and Tall ments made outside ParliaPines MP Leslie Miller, ob- ment.” In a statement yestertained private and confidential emails and attachments day, Mr Smith said STB belonging to the applicants would continue to urge the and disclosed confidential Supreme Court “that the information contained in Constitution, and not Parthis correspondence during liament, is the supreme law the course of parliamentary of the land”. “The PLP government in proceedings on March 15 and 17. The writ requests Mr Mitchell and Mr Fitzgerald within seven days, or such other time as the court may fix, to deliver to the applicants the originals and copies of their correspondence in whatever form they are held. STB has also requested the respondents to permanently destroy or delete all electronic records and testify under oath with whom the information was shared and in what matter. The writ also states that the respondents have “made it clear” that the documents referred to were just some examples drawn from a larger cache of private correspondence belonging to the applicants and have indicated by way
1982 already persuaded the Supreme Court to cut back parliamentary privilege,” he said. “In the case of then Opposition MP Mike Lightbourn, Justice Vivian Blake ruled in favour of the PLP government. Attorney General Paul Adderley, the longest serving attorney general in the world in the 20th century, forced Lightbourn to reveal the source of and papers he had read out in Parliament. Lightbourn had refused to deliver them up under a demand by Adderley under the Bribery Act. “The papers disclosed evidence of corruption by the PLP Cabinet led by Sir Lynden Pindling under arrangements and circumstances ominously reminiscent of Heads of Agreements and anchor projects that now plague The Bahamas like a virus”. “So abridging parliamentary privilege is nothing new; the PLP already broke down those walls of immunity that Ministers Mitchell and Fitzgerald are claiming can shield them from accountability. “If a law like the Bribery Act, which is not an entrenched law under Chapter 3 of The Constitution,
can abridge parliamentary privilege, the constitutional right to privacy under Article 23 surely trumps that,” Mr Smith said. Last month, Mr Fitzgerald accused STB of being a political organisation seeking to “overthrow” the Progressive Liberal Party government under the guise of an environmental group. During his contribution in the House of Assembly, Mr Fitzgerald read private emails from STB members and others, which he said bolstered his claims. Speaking outside Cabinet, Mr Fitzgerald recently warned members of the environmental group to “batten down” because a “category five” hurricane was on its way, as he threatened to table “every single” email and bank statement in his possession if needed to protect his integrity and parliamentary privilege. Mr Smith said in yesterday’s statement: “They all alleged that they had absolute immunity from control by the courts or anyone else in the so-called exercise of their privileged right to exercise free speech in Parliament – even if it meant breaking the law and abus-
ing us. I hope, this time, they will respect the courts, respect the supremacy of the constitution and not act in contempt of this ruling. “What they have done is a deplorable abuse of power – using their positions and privileges to bully, intimidate and violate people’s privacy over a matter that has nothing whatsoever to do with parliamentary matters, but is rather a shameful attempt to protect their own political interests.” Last month in Parliament, Mr Mitchell claimed that some $8.25m has been filtered through various organisations connected with STB – locally and internationally – from 2013 to 2015. Mr Miller has alleged he saw a document that showed that five members of STB take home a combined salary of $740,000. The disclosures came as part of a fierce political debate over claims included in an alleged murder-for-hire plot outlined in court documents filed against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard by billionaire Louis Bacon and several other STB directors. The House of Assembly meets today.
16 CUBANS INTERCEPTED
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
SIXTEEN Cuban migrants were taken to Grand Bahama and turned over to Bahamian authorities after they were intercepted in Bahamian waters by the US Coast Guard on Friday. The USCG Cutter Robert Yared arrived at the Lucayan Harbour around 8.30pm on Saturday and handed over the 15 men and one woman. Immigration official Napthali Cooper reported
that the migrants were discovered on board a rustic vessel at sea in the area of Anguilla Cay. They told officials they had left Cuba last week Sunday and were headed to Florida. Immigration officials, with the assistance of Royal Bahamas Police Force, transported the migrants to the Department of Immigration headquarters where they were processed overnight, and flown to New Providence yesterday to be housed at the Detention Centre to await repatriation to Cuba.
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PAGE 12, Monday, April 25, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
How to keep your child safe
TOO often children are being reported missing, indulging in questionable criminal, cyber and sexual activities or left at home alone, which has caused great concern about their welfare. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children are safe and taken care of. Children are precious gifts from God who should be loved and nurtured, not abused or neglected. Allow your children to be children. To help minimise these incidents, the Royal Baha-
Police advice
By CORPORAL MAKELLE PINDER
mas Police Force National Crime Prevention Office has provided safety tips for parents and children. Parents • If, for any reason, you have to run an errand or
go to work, ensure that you leave your children at home with a trusted adult or responsible teenager. • Choose carefully the people you allow to have access to your children. • If your child is missing, start to search as
soon as possible and report it to the nearest police station. • Never allow your child to solicit money or goods on the streets with bogus sponsor sheets. • Teach your children to never talk to strangers or accept money and candies from anyone. • Teach your children about good and bad touches. • Never leave your child alone near water. • Don’t get drunk or take mind-altering drugs around your children. • Don’t expose children to obscene language. • Do not expose your child to illegal firearms. If you have a licensed firearm, ensure that it is properly secured. • Don’t allow your children to be involved in adult drama. • Teach your children emergency numbers and important phone contacts. • Limit your child’s exposure to mass media, such as certain television pro-
grammes, movies, social networks and popular explicit audio music and vulgar music videos. • Teach your children about the importance of honesty and the dishonesty of stealing. • Never allow your children to bring stolen goods into your home. • Ensure that the parental controls are activated on your computer or tablet. • Tell the truth, teach the truth, live the truth and demand the truth. Children • Let your parents know where you are and who you are with at all times. • Never use fake sponsor sheets on the streets or beg strangers on the streets. • Never talk to strangers or accept money and candies from them. • Tell an adult if you are being touched inappropriately. • Be careful about what you watch on television or view on the internet. • Never walk to school or
the store alone. • If possible try to walk with a group of friends. • Never play with matches, stay away from the stove and oil lamps. • Stay away from negative activities and company. • Stay away from firearms. • Never bully other children and tell your parents or teacher if you are being bullied. • Don’t play with electrical appliances or outlets. • Never play with sharp objects or firearms. • If you can’t swim never run near swimming pools and stay away from wells. Should you need more information on child safety or if you have information pertaining to any crime, please contact the police at ‘919’ or Crime Stoppers at 328-tips (New Providence), 1-300-8476 (Family Islands) or if you know of Individuals who may be in need of counselling and emotional support please contact the Department of Social Services hotline 322-2763.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE VACANCIES Applications are invited for suitably qualified candidates for the following positions:-
DEAN OF STUDENTS, NORTHERN BAHAMAS CAMPUS The Dean of Students, Northern Bahamas Campus is responsible for the overall coordination of co-curricular programmes that support student success, including all intramural sporting activities. The Dean provides leadership in the development and implementation of college policies and procedures that relate to students and coordinates the administration of the Student Disciplinary Procedures for the Campus. Additionally, the Dean will lead Student Affairs strategic planning; oversee review of student development programmes; oversee all residential life and programming; oversee student life staff personnel issues, promote staff professional development; and improve the overall quality of the Living and Learning student experience.
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT - BUSINESS ENTERPRISE UNIT The Associate Vice President-Business Enterprises is expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of business operations, accounting, budgets, entrepreneurship and leadership. A key consideration for this position is the ability to provide strong oversight to multiple activities across a range of business operations at The College. The aspects of business stability, risk and funding must strongly inform the decision making process of business enterprises and are therefore key strengths of the AVP-Business Enterprise position.
MIDDLE MANAGEMENT VACANCIES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – UTILITIES The Assistant Director - Utilities will be responsible for the management, direction and coordination of the activities, operations and maintenance of the Physical Plant Utility Systems and the trades of plumbing, electrician, and air conditioning at all campuses of The College of The Bahamas, assisting with the overall operations of the physical plant, facilities maintenance, supervision of staff and performance reviews. Interested applicants should send the following: • A letter of interest (highlighting, work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position), • Completed Employment Application form, • Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume, • Copies of relevant certificates and professional qualifications, • At least three (3) professional references. For complete job descriptions, visit: www.cob.edu.bs/hrapply. Interested persons should submit a completed COB application form; letter of interest highlighting work experience and accomplishments relevant to the position; a current curriculum vitae or resume and supporting documents/ qualifications on or before May 6, 2016 to: Ms. Renee Mayers, Associate Vice President, Human Resources, Oakes Field Campus, The College of The Bahamas, P.O. Box N-4912 or hrapply@cob.edu.bs.
FACULTY VACANCIES
The College of The Bahamas invites applications for the following positions: • School of Education • Assistant Professor, Science Education • Assistant Professor, Sociology of Education/Foundations & Professional Seminars • Assistant Professor, Language Arts/Reading Education • Assistant Professor, History/Geography/Social Studies Education For a detailed job description of each position, please visit www.cob.edu.bs/hrapply. Interested applicants must submit the following: • A College of The Bahamas Employment Application Form; (www.cob.edu.bs/hrprofile) • Letter of interest highlighting relevant work experience and accomplishments; • Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume; • Teaching philosophy statement • Proof of teaching excellence; • Evidence of research and scholarship; • Official transcripts • Three professional references. These documents must be forwarded to on or before May 6, 2016: The Office of The Associate Vice President The College of The Bahamas P. O. Box N-4912 Nassau, Bahamas OR Email: facultyapply @cob.edu.bs
THE TRIBUNE
Witness objects to being called conman By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who received immunity from prosecution for his role in an Alstom SA/Bahamas Electricity Corporation bribery scheme took offence at being labelled a conman by the lawyer for accused bribe taker Freddie Ramsey. American Mark Smith continued testimony on Friday morning, when he was cross-examined by Wayne Munroe, QC, on the extent of his involvement in the Alstom/BEC bribe scandal and Ramsey’s denial of involvement. Mr Munroe asked for the witness to be shown an email he received from the French company Alstom, formerly ABB Generacion, concerning the Prime Minister’s Office’s purported acknowledgement of receipt of ABB’s letter to then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Smith confirmed he had received an email from the company but said he was not given a copy of the letter. He agreed to a subsequent suggestion that ABB Generacion used the Spanish Ambassador to gain access to the Prime Minister and that Ramsey did not use his influence to facilitate the meeting. “That would be a good thing to pay someone a bribe, correct?” Munroe asked. Smith agreed but noted that the decision to facilitate such arrangements was up to Ramsey. “I left matters on his side to Mr Ramsey and I just passed information back and forth,” the jury heard. “Were you aware Mr Ramsey, unlike you, wasn’t given the privilege of putting together his records but was the subject of a
search warrant?” Mr Munroe asked. “I’m not aware,” the witness said. Mr Munroe suggested to the witness that he was a conman who took information and made more of it than it was worth. “I take offence to that,” Smith said. “You can take offence as much as you like. What is your answer?” Mr Munroe asked. “My answer is it’s not true,” Smith said. Smith has received immunity from the prosecution notwithstanding his admission that he accepted a cut of hundreds of thousands of dollars to relay to Alstom SA information gathered by an insider to the tendering process that would bolster the French firm’s chances of winning the contract bid over its South Korean rival, Hanjung. Smith alleges that Ramsey, 79, struck a deal that allowed him to receive a third of some $600,000 as a paid informant for the French company. Ramsey is currently on trial before Justice Turner on four counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and 14 counts of bribery, allegedly committed between 1999 and 2003. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ramsey is on $40,000 bail and is defended by Mr Munroe, Tommel Roker and Bridgette Ward. Garvin Gaskin, acting director of public prosecutions, is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Cordell Frazier. The jury previously heard from Smith that Alstom SA had written letters intended for Mr Ingraham and then Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson as the company wanted BEC officials to reconsider the bid it felt was going to be rejected. A response had been giv-
en by Patrick Hanna, BEC’s assistant general manager, in December 2000, that the company’s letters were not only inappropriate but were also in breach of the terms of the bidding process where they risked their bid being rejected outright. Mr Munroe, on Friday, asked Smith if he was “personally aware Mott McDonald, consultant to BEC, were in contact with ABB all along”. “I’m sure they were,” Smith said. Mr Munroe suggested to the witness that he was also aware of communication between the Inter-American Development Bank and ABB based on a letter addressed to then Minister of Finance William C Allen. Smith said “yes’. “Is there a draft preceding that letter?” Mr Munroe asked. “Not to the best of my knowledge,” the jury heard. “A part of ABB’s bid involved a Spanish company, yes?” Munroe asked. Smith said “yes.” “Did you have any personal information about communications between the Spanish official and ABB?” Ramsey’s lawyer probed. Smith said he did not. “So they wrote and spoke to any people without advising you?” Mr Munroe asked. “Yes,” Smith said. “You nor Ramsey had expertise in power generation did you?” the lawyer then asked. Smith said no. “Did you advise them to write to the Deputy Prime Minister?” Mr Munroe asked. “It’s been so long I can’t remember,” the jury heard. “Did you tell them the decision was to be taken by Cabinet and Mr Watson was responsible for it?” Ramsey’s lawyer asked. “I cannot recall,” the witness said.
“Do you recall rendering any assistance to ABB to the acquisition of the DA12?” Munroe then asked. “A lot of the conversation with Abel (Santamaria) and (Jose) Rodriguez were about certain meetings I was told about by Mr Ramsey,” Smith stressed. “Looking back in hindsight, the production of proof of this would mean we don’t just have to believe you,” Mr Munroe suggested. Smith agreed. The trial resumes on Monday.
Monday, April 25, 2016, PAGE 13
FREDDIE Ramsey pictured outside court after being accused of bribery.
PAGE 14, Monday, April 25, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
PLP CHAIRMAN QUESTIONS SEXUALITY OF GREG MOSS
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts hit out at Marco City MP Greg Moss on Friday, suggesting that he has issues with his sexuality that are causing him to speak out against the contentious fourth bill of the constitutional referendum on gender equality. Mr Roberts’ response came after Mr Moss told a group of pastors during a
forum at Evangelistic Temple on Thursday that some parliamentarians are pushing the bill because of their homosexual identity. “Greg Moss cannot speak for any member of Parliament except himself,” Mr Roberts said in a statement. “It is well known that he who shouts the loudest on sexuality may have issues themselves with which they have to deal. If so he must seek the appropriate help but not project his insecurities on others.”
Mr Roberts said Mr Moss “has gone overboard”, making “ridiculous” comments. He added that the Constitutional Commission, chaired by Sean McWeeney, QC, recommended the bills that will be put up for a vote, not the government. “Mr Moss insults the intelligence of all members of Parliament with his latest statement,” he said, adding that the comments were “reckless,” “irresponsible” and “patently false.” “Having been embar-
rassed in his legal position by a distinguished QC who debunked the nonsense of Mr Moss, he continues to spread false rumours and propaganda. It is clear that Mr Moss does not believe in equality for women. He must confess that instead of making up stories as a smokescreen.” In a separate interview with The Tribune, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller also criticised Mr Moss’ statements, calling them a “blow below the belt.” “I was taken aback and saddened by what he said,” Mr Miller said, adding that he wasn’t personally offended. “I wasn’t offended because he sure as hell wasn’t talking about me. Leslie Miller certainly don’t have an agenda with the gays and the sissies,” he said. Mr Miller said he knows of no colleague in Parliament that has a “gay agenda”. During his presentation on Thursday, Mr Moss also criticised the Constitutional Commission, calling it biased and too politically motivated.
PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff He noted the commis- commission’s recommendasion had recommended tions were not binding. He that the government inject added that the commission a provision in Article 26 of did not even feel that the the Constitution that would aforementioned provision explicitly say that same-sex was necessary in order to marriage would not be con- prevent gay marriage from sistent with the document, being legal; the intention despite the anti-discrimina- was merely to allay people’s tion provision. fears. Mr Moss said the com“Constitutional commission should not have missions around the world remained engaged in the are there to make recomprocess after the Christie ad- mendations only,” he said. ministration decided not to “Otherwise we would be act on this recommendation. running the country.” Mr McWeeney told The The referendum is set for Tribune on Friday that the June 7.
ALINE MCLAUGHLIN DIES, AGED 94 MISS Aline McLaughlin, 94, died at her San Souci home on Friday evening. With her was her first cousin, Alden Barbes, who had returned from his home in California to help her with her affairs. Mr Barbes said his cousin was driving her own car up to last year and if the Anglican church canonized saints she certainly would be a candidate for saint-
hood. She was very helpful to persons of every age, he said. The Barbes family were originally from Inagua. The late Sir Roland Symonette, the first Premier of The Bahamas, started his career as a school teacher. A native of Eleuthera, Sir Roland was stationed at the government school in Inagua, where Ms McLauglin was his pupil.
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After establishing Symonette Shipyard in Nassau, Ms McLauglin joined the business in a managerial capacity. No one will ever forget the date – it was December 7, 1941, the day of the bombing of Pearl Harbour, said Sir Roland’s son, Brent, speaking from Europe. He said she was with his father until the time of his death on March 13, 1980. She remained with the firm for several years later until her own retirement. Sir Roland’s elder son, Craig, could not say enough about such a “tremendous lady.” She was in charge of keeping track of all of the vessels. She was on the job at 7:30 every morning and every five minutes tracked the location of every vessel, said Mr Symonette. “She was a tremendous stalwart for many years — very reliable, extremely accurate, accountable … she was an important cog in the wheels during my father’s business career.” Roy MacKeen returned from Canada to manage the shipyard after Sir Roland’s death. Ms McLaughlin remained with him until her own retirement several years later. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 25, 2016, PAGE 15
RIDE FOR HOPE TO RETURN TO ELEUTHERA RIDE FOR Hope is going back to its roots in Eleuthera for its 10th anniversary charity bike-athon next year, the organisers announced yesterday. “We’re excited to be returning to Eleuthera,” said co-chairman Susan Larson. “It’s where the Ride began in 2006, and the charm and beauty of the island is an integral part of the spirit of the event.” The event is sheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2017. Mrs Larson explained that many riders appreciate the hills in Eleuthera as they provide a more challenging course. “The roads are also much quieter, given that there is far less traffic, which is an important factor for all riders. On top of that we felt it appropriate to celebrate our tenth ride in Eleuthera, where it all started. We will be announcing more details on the event in the coming months, including special festivities and surprises to celebrate our tenth anniversary.” New Providence hosted the last Ride for Hope bikeathon in February 2015. The 2016 event was cancelled due to the effects of Hurricane Joaquin. Considered one of the most successful fund raising events in the Bahamas, the Ride for Hope has raised close to $3 million since its inception. Organisers said every dollar raised by participants goes to fund programmes created and supported by Ride for Hope to assist Bahamians in the fight against cancer, through education, testing, early-screening, research and direct financial assistance. “We are blessed with tremendous corporate support that has completely underwritten the cost of the Ride each year,” said Stephen Holowesko, co-chairman. “Our goals for the Ride are simple. We wish to have a safe, quality event, one that inspires the respect and loyalty of our riders and corporate sponsors, and we seek to deploy those funds raised by our riders in the most direct, cost-effective way possible to benefit Bahamians in their fight against cancer. In this respect, the growth of the Ride for Hope from 98 riders in 2006 to over 620 riders is a testament that we continue to achieve our goals. One of our founding sponsors has credited Ride for Hope with ‘doing what we say we’re going to do and following up transparently’. We work hard to ensure the quality of the event and the integrity of the funds raised.” Ride for Hope has used those funds to assist the Cancer Society in paying off the mortgage incurred building the acclaimed Cancer Care Centre on Collins Avenue, complete their headquarters in Eleuthera and to create the Treatment Assistance Fund, the first of its kind in the country, which supports cancer patients with their treatment costs through financial grants. It has funded the Cancer Society’s nationwide Cancer Education Programme, a grassroots outreach that sends a trained nurse to rural communities throughout the country to educate, raise awareness and teach selfscreening and good health choices. In its first three years, this programme has directly connected with an estimated 13,000 students and over 3,000 adults. The charity has also used funds to create the innovative Family Island Mammogram Screening Initiative (FIMS) programme, which brings at-risk Family Island women to Nassau for mammograms and any needed follow-up. To date, FIMS has helped over 1,100 underserved Bahamian women. Additional funds have been spent through a $150,000 grant to fund genetic testing into the prevalence of the cancer-causing BRCA1 gene mutation in Bahamian women. This study led to the discovery that Bahamian women have the highest known incidence in the world of the gene mutation that causes breast cancer. It has been one of the driving forces for the creation of programmes
like FIMS. To date, 673 Bahamian women have been genetically tested for the BRACA1 gene, as part of the Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative programme seeded by the Ride for Hope. The charity event has also contributed $130,000 to the purchase of a digital mammography machine at Princess Margaret Hospital.
RIDERS at a previous Ride For Hope - which is returning to its Eleutheran roots for its tenth anniversary event in February next year.
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THE TRIBUNE