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The Tribune
Volume:114 No.114, MAY 5TH, 2017
Weekend
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
Friday, May 5, 2017 books beauty film fashio n music gardening food puzzles
Weekend
belles oF the ball Pages 14&15
Stepping out
WEEKEND: A HIP HOP TAKE ON THE ART OF DANCE
Taking local talent to the world Entertainment, page 11
Hall blames others for election chaos Commissioner out of contract, no word on replacement By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net EMBATTLED Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall yesterday confirmed that his contract has expired and that he would not be seeking an extension, as he adamantly defended himself from harsh criticisms over his department’s abysmal handling of Wednesday’s advanced polling process. Mr Hall, in an interview with reporters at his Farrington Road office, con-
firmed that his three-year contract for the position ended yesterday and frankly stated that it is now up to the government to “do what they wish to do” with regards to filling the position moving forward. Nonetheless, Mr Hall firmly charged that Wednesday’s chaotic process was not his fault, but instead the result of insubordinate or misguided officials within his department who did not follow his “directives” and instructions. SEE PAGE SIX
GETTING THE CARNIVAL SPIRIT
By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net
DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney has questioned the integrity of Wednesday’s advanced poll, as he and members of his party yesterday suggested that the ballot boxes are not being kept in a secure location. The DNA also outlined several issues and missteps surrounding sealing and transportation of those ballots.
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham called for public hearings to take place into the “secretive” dealings of the Christie administration, such as value added tax (VAT) spending, saying the public would be “surprised” to see where the revenue has gone. Mr Ingraham also accused the Progressive Liberal Party of having a “culture of begging” foreign investors for favours, while
SEE PAGE TEN
SEE PAGE SEVEN
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
POLICE are appealing to the public for assistance after a man, who was shot in the head at a car wash in the Marathon area Thursday evening, died in hospital a short time later. Although police released limited details up to press time, The Tribune understands that the victim, Leo Rahming, was shot at a property on which he operated a business. Sources suggested that after being shot, Rahming was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital by way of a private vehicle. SEE PAGE 12
ELECTION TALLY SHEETS INSIDE FOLLOW the 2017 election as the votes come in on May 10 with The Tribune’s popular election tally sheets. Constituency by constituency, polling division by polling division, you can fill in the results and the number of votes for each candidate as they are declared across the country. Which party will win, which leader will emerge victorious to form the next government of The Bahamas? And how large is the voter turn out?
DNA CONCERN INGRAHAM OVER BALLOT WANTS VAT BOX SECURITY HEARINGS By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
MAN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT IN HEAD AT CAR WASH
VOTER FRAUD CHARGE IS WITHDRAWN
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE SCENE last night as Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival got under way at Arawak Cay. See page two for more photographs. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
FNM PLEDGES TO UPGRADE AIRPORT AND WATER SUPPLY IN LONG ISLAND By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Leader Dr Hubert Minnis last night accused the government of victimising Long Islanders because of their faithfulness to the Free National Movement, while promising to upgrade the island’s “run down” airport and to install reliable potable water throughout the settlements
when he becomes prime minister. Speaking to a crowd of FNM supporters in Long Island Thursday night, Dr Minnis repeated claims that the Progressive Liberal Party is the “most corrupt, the most incompetent, the most victimising, the most out of control, and the most malicious government since independence”. He thanked the crowd for remaining loyal to the FNM
and asked them to give the FNM’s current candidate, Adrian Gibson, a chance. FNM chairman Sidney Collie said it would be “stupid” for Long Islanders to vote for Independent candidate Loretta Butler-Turner, a former member of the FNM and the area’s incumbent, or PLP candidate Glendon Rolle “just as the FNM becomes government”.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FIVE
MORE than a month after he was hauled before a magistrate in handcuffs on allegations of voter fraud, an Eleuthera native had the charge withdrawn against him yesterday. Andrew Johnson, 57, a long-serving Water and Sewerage Corporation employee, reappeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after his initial April 25 and May 1 trial dates were respectively adjourned due to the absence of the prosecution witnesses in his case and the Crown’s request to take instructions from the attorney general concerning the charge of making a false declaration, which was made contrary to Section 94(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Chapter 7. When the matter was called yesterday morning, SEE PAGE 12
PAGE 2, Friday, May 5, 2017
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CARNIVAL BEGINS
BODINE hosting Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
VERONICA Bishop performing at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE FALCONS Band performing last night.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 5, 2017, PAGE 3
67-year-old is first patient treated in NHI scheme By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net BETTY North, 67, yesterday became the first patient treated under the government’s National Health Insurance scheme, this as officials tout that “in excess of 100 providers” are now associated with the programme. Officials heralded this as the start of NHI’s primary care phase. Presented as “another critical milestone” in public health services by NHI project manager Dr Delon Brennen, Mrs North’s visit to general practitioner Dr Brian Tynes, marked the first time a patient enrolled for NHI Bahamas, selected their doctor of choice and received care without cost at the point of service. Asked about the developments surrounding funding, scheme upgrades, patient and practitioner sign-ups, Dr Brennen maintained that the NHI rollout is going “extremely well” despite the public discourse and apprehension surrounding the scheme. Speaking on the sidelines of Thursday’s event, Dr Brennen said the enrolment of nearly 9,000 persons and roughly 100 medical practitioners stood as proof that NHI is “progressing very well” while moving Bahamians closer to “modern, affordable and accessible care”. Dr Brennen told The Tribune: “We have been working on this for the greater part of three dec-
ades. Initially, we had signed up in excess of 60 of our private providers and now we are into, in excess of 100 providers total who would have been able to get into the programme.” Dr Brennen added that there are another 40 to 50 providers in the scheme’s pipelines as it shifts its focus to family island providers and other private providers throughout New Providence. In response to questions over how these doctors would be compensated for their service, Dr Brennen sidestepped concern over direct funding, noting that the government had changed the model of care such that physicians aren’t paid per visit. He explained that officials have opted to incentivise and prepay physicians based on the health outlook of each individual patient. He indicated that this style of compensation limits the chances of “acute episodic care”, encouraging both patient and practitioner to keep an ongoing dialogue over conditions identified during visits. “This way we are actually incentivising and prepaying physicians to be able to see their patients that the healthier they keep them the more a provider will see in benefit so they don’t have to spend all the money in overhead and acute visits that come along with the patient,” said Dr Brennen. “They’re able to have a repayment mechanism and are allowed to make sure they co-ordinate all the care
services for the patient and not just waiting until the patient comes in and deliver only the care that needs to be delivered at that time.” Dr Brennen indicated that plans are designed to approximate how much care each patient will require over the course of a year, and then total charges for every patient assigned to a practitioner. “We work out what the payment amount is going to be and deliver that entire amount to the provider in equal allotments over the course of the year. It’s a lot better for providers because they know they will have predictable source of income and it doesn’t fluctuate on how many patients they get,” he noted. Meanwhile, NHI officials are aiming to conclude contract negotiations with a NHI’s public insurer in the coming days, according to Dr Brennen. The selected party will act as the NHI Authority. Asked whether that lack of such authority could hinder current developments, Dr Brennen responded: “The issue isn’t that we need the public insurer in place to deliver payment. What is important is that we have a payment mechanism in order to deliver that.” He continued: “Right now the NHI Authority is going to be the mechanism by which the providers actually get paid. Once the regulated health administrators (RHA) are in place, the expectation is that the NHI Authority would basically take the per capita ad-
THE NHI Bahamas Facebook page celebrates the first patient treated, 67-year-old Betty North. justed amount for each patient per year, deliver that to the RHAs along with an administration fee and the RHAs would then make payments to providers so payments no longer come directly from NHI or the NHI Authority but through the RHAs who would become the co-ordinators for the individual beneficiaries and making payments to providers based on when and how patients are being seen.” Dr Brennen said it was
his final expectation that the NHI programme will grow in the public and private sector to include 150 to 200 providers. He added that once that is realised, NHI could guarantee that it would never “run out of physician capacity.” “At that point it will truly be about the patient’s choice on which provider they would want to go to.” The NHI enrolment process is ongoing and Bahamians are encouraged
to enrol online at www. nhibahamas.gov.bs, or in person at several enrolment locations in New Providence. Enrolment centres include Cotton Tree Plaza at Bernard Road; Enoch Beckford Memorial Auditorium on Carmichael Road and New Providence Community Centre on Blake Road. Residents in the Family Islands can enrol online or in person at their local NIB office.
PETITION FILED TO UNSEAL RESORT DEAL DOCUMENTS By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
A LOCAL advocacy group has filed a petition to challenge the Supreme Court order that sealed documents relating to the sale of the Baha Mar resort to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE). Transparency In Politics (TIP) has petitioned the court to intervene in the commercial sale proceedings between receivers and the resort, in a bid to have the order sealing the documents lifted on the grounds that “open justice is a constitutional right.” The filing on Wednesday was accompanied by an affidavit from TIP Director Francisco ‘Paco’ Nunez. Mr Nunez is also a director of environmental group
Save The Bays, and secretary general of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association. He argued that the government has had “ample opportunity” to petition the court and cited concerns that there may be political reasons for the government’s failure to act, such as a looming general election. Mr Nunez’s affidavit read: “TIP’s position is that the constitutional principle of open justice applies and there is no exception in this case that allows the wholesale blanket sealing of details of this deal entered into by the government for the transfer of the Baha Mar assets to a company controlled by the lending institution and involving millions of dollars of concessions, benefits and ex-
emptions.” It continued: “In addition, if there was ever a legitimate commercial justification for it, which is denied, that justification has not gone as the Baha Mar assets have now been transferred to the SPV (special purpose vehicle) and indeed have also now been transferred to the Prospective Purchaser subject to completion of the project.” Mr Nunez’s affidavit went on to outline public pronouncements concerning the sale since the government announced that it had reached a deal with CTFE in December 2016, inclusive of assurances made by Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson that documents would be made public in April. On April 4, Mrs May-
nard-Gibson had said that the release of the Baha Mar documents would “most definitely” be released before the soft opening of the resort, which took place on April 21. Mr Nunez contended that the heads of agreement was between the government and two subsidiaries of CTFE, CTF BM Holdings Ltd and CTF BM Operations Ltd. The HOA revealed, Mr Nunez said, that CTFE and CTF BM entered into share purchase agreement on November 30, 2016 with the Export Import Bank of China and Perfect Luck for the sale and purchase of the project, with the share transfer to take place upon completion of the project. The HOA states CTF BM will be entitled to all the benefits and conces-
sions agreed to in the August 22, 2016 deal entered into between the government, CEXIM and Perfect Luck, but does not specify what those concessions and benefits are. “The August 22, 2016, Heads of Terms and the remainder of the documents placed under seal on that date remain a secret,” the affidavit read. It continued: “April has come and gone and it is clear to us that the government now has no intention to release the heads of terms or other collateral arrangements or of petitioning the court to unseal these documents.” Transparency In Politics Ltd was described as an advocacy group focused on open government, official accountability, rule of law, and the proper administra-
tion of justice; and committed to aggressively opposing corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and secrecy in public life. “The government has had ample opportunity to petition the court to release the documents from seal as it has been called upon to do for many months,” the affidavit continued, “and as it has been promising to do since January 2017. “TIP’s concern is that there are political reasons for the government’s failure to do so. The upcoming general election may be a factor in the government’s reluctance to release this politically sensitive information. “I am advised that political considerations are not a relevant countervailing factor where open justice is at stake.”
sealed. At the time, Dame Joan wrote that there is “confusion” as to how the judgment in a publicly heard civil case could be “sealed” so that no one, outside the judge who heard the case, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson and lawyers for the parties involved, would know the contents. Dame Joan said there was no matter of defence, public safety or public order in effect to cause the decision not to be made public. At the time, Dame Joan also indicated that certain comments Mr Christie made on the matter in January raise questions about whether he or Mrs Maynard-Gibson are controlling the courts. In response, however, the retired judge, who said he read the judgment by Justice Ian Winder, refuted Dame Joan’s assertions, further charging that from his perspective, the judgment is “sound and based on legal principle”. Retired Justice Adderley explained that Justice Winder, in making his decision to seal the documents related to the sale, “turned his mind to the principle of ‘open justice,’” which Justice Ad-
derley said “is always at issue in an application to seal documents”. He said Justice Winder “also directed his mind to other considerations including that it was a private commercial transaction” which he said “necessarily includes having regard to the constitutional right of the applicant to privacy and the competing public interest in open justice”. Ultimately, Justice Adderley said Justice Winder “exercised his discretion to seal the documents - an action which the judge pointed out is not unusual in private, commercial transactions like Baha Mar. “With such clear reasons given by the court for sealing the documents, ‘to preserve the integrity of the sales process which remains a commercially live issue,’ it is difficult to see how any honest and objective person can say that the court sealed the documents to conceal a ‘secret deal’ by the government,” he said. “In light of the clear reason given and discussion by the court, it must be a perverse mind indeed to interpret the judgment as the court’s sealing the documents to protect a ‘secret deal’ by the government,
who didn’t even make the application.” In December, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced the official sale of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong conglomerate, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd (CTFE). Apart from failing to reveal the cost at which the shuttered resort was sold, Mr Christie at the time spoke minimally of the details surrounding the deal, adding that it had been sealed by the Supreme Court at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM). “It is true that the sealing of judgments can be a breach of the Constitution (Article 20(9)), because the Constitution requires what is called ‘open justice’, that is, that court proceedings and judgments should be in public,” Justice Adderley continued. “But this is not what happened in this Baha Mar case - no judgment was ever sealed. “I can only assume that if, in fact, Dame Joan made that statement it was an innocent mistake on her part. “Because Dame Joan knows very well that there are often commercial and other reasons for judges
to allow documents, other than the judgment, to be sealed. It happens on numerous occasions and in a variety of cases. And this is precisely what happened here.” Justice Adderley also said he is “deeply troubled” by the “rampant reckless attempts to misconstrue the facts in an attempt to manipulate public opinion,” which he said is “not only damaging to our national discourse, but hurtful to the rule of law and our country’s reputation.” He added: “Responsible members of the public should be careful not to appear to bring the reputation of the courts into disrepute thereby eroding the rule of law when it serves their own purpose, because they are the same courts on which they must rely to pro-
tect their criminal and civil rights when the occasion arises. “If persons or entities, including the press, genuinely felt they had the standing and the legal arguments to have the documents unsealed, and wanted to have them unsealed, they ought to have made an application to the court. I have not heard of any such application. But I have heard far too many irresponsible accusations and seen careless news headlines. “It is regrettable that trading short-term political gains for public mistrust seems to be the actual wrongdoing in this whole affair.” An application by advocacy group Transparency in Politics was filed on Wednesday to have the documents unsealed.
ADDERLEY DISAGREES WITH DAME JOAN OVER BAHA MAR By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Court of Appeal judge Neville Adderley has disagreed with former Chief Justice Dame Joan Sawyer’s recent critique of the Supreme Court-sealed deal to open Baha Mar, further charging that only a “perverse mind” would interpret the court’s sealing of the documents as an attempt to protect a “secret deal” by the government. Retired Justice Adderley, in a statement on Wednesday, also cautioned “responsible members of the public” not to appear to “bring the reputation of the courts into disrepute thereby eroding the rule of law when it serves their own purpose.” He also said those individuals will rely on those “same courts” to “protect their criminal and civil rights when the occasion arises.” His statement was in response to comments made by Dame Joan in March, when she suggested that there are no legal grounds on which the Baha Mar deal announced by Prime Minister Perry Christie last August should have been
PAGE 4, Friday, May 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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Voters deluded if they choose failed PLP again BY THIS time next week, the outcome of the general election will be known and the die will be cast. Either this country will be condemned to five more years of the same old tired and corrupt politicians of a flawed Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government or we shall be embarking on a different and hopeful path with new political faces leading us perhaps to a better, less corrupt, more honest and more prosperous future. In the run-up to this election, we have regularly examined the achievements and the failings of the current government, and we have concluded that the former have been substantially overshadowed by the latter. Many other people, who have suffered in various ways from the actions of a delinquent PLP during the last few years, also recognise the depressing reality that this has been, arguably, the worst government since Independence in 1973. It beggars belief, therefore, that any voters should fall for the PLP’s supposedly new blandishments and promises which are really a rehash of those made at the 2012 election but which have never been fulfilled. So, in a well ordered and rational society, a majority would surely say that the time has come to give the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) a chance to show that it can do a better job of governing as well as to curtail, if not banish, the corruption at the official level which is progressively ruining our country. An FNM government will be untried and untested, but it is now the less bad option. Unfortunately, it can never be as simple as that because of the traditional tribal politics which have bedevilled this nation for too long. After nearly 45 years of running our own affairs, we should surely have matured sufficiently to put aside outdated conventional loyalties. Old-fashioned and timeworn political labels should no longer apply, since the PLP is not the sole party to protect the interests of the man in the street and the FNM, with a slogan of ‘It’s The People’s Time’ and with a leader from a poor background, equally purports to speak for everyone. Moreover, it is also patently absurd to claim, after all these years, that the FNM somehow favours or represents the descendants of the former white minority United Bahamian Party. This time, the importance of stamping out corruption is top of the agenda. We therefore urge voters again to examine the credentials, honesty and overall integrity of individual candidates and their likely effectiveness in governing irrespective of their party affiliation. Our earlier pleas for opposition unity have fallen largely on deaf ears and the minority Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party is fielding many of its own candidates. So each individual vote is even more significant given that the DNA,
which cannot by itself win the election, split the vote last time. As a member of the fourth estate, this newspaper’s role in relation to domestic politics is to help to keep a check on the abuse of power by politicians, to expose their wrongdoing and to curb their excesses. But it has given us little satisfaction to have identified and exposed to the public not only the dishonesty and corruption of this PLP government over the course of the last five years but also the maladministration and sheer incompetence it has displayed. The drama of the dump fire and the fiasco last week in Exuma (for which the Ministry of Tourism must surely bear a measure of responsibility) are just two of the most recent examples. But the poor and dishonest management of the economy, resulting in junk investment status and an unprecedentedly high level of debt and ratio of debt-to-GDP, despite receipt of huge VAT sums since the beginning of 2015, ought alone to be a killer blow to the prospects of any government seeking to be re-elected. However, despite widespread public dissatisfaction with poor governance, it may be the well documented scandals and corruption - including now accusations of bribery associated with mass Defence Force and Police promotions a week before the election - which will eventually lead to the PLP’s undoing. Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the latest furore affecting two Cabinet ministers, one of whom was forced out of office in the last PLP administration for gross misconduct, is the irresponsible refusal by those placed in positions of power to distinguish between right and wrong. Their recourse to subjective interpretation of facts is dangerous and unacceptable. It is clear that solicitation of business by a Cabinet minister, irrespective of whether this results in the award of a contract, contravenes the ministerial code of conduct. But those caught up in scandals know that they will not have to face the consequences of wrongful action because a weak Prime Minister refuses to assert any control. Thus, such matters are simply brushed aside and the moral fibre of the nation is damaged since, if political leaders are seen to be able to break conventions and the law with impunity, others will follow their example. When the PLP took office in 2012, Perry Christie had a wonderful opportunity to make a fresh start with good governance and accountability. Sadly, he bungled it. He and his errant colleagues must not be allowed to inflict further damage on the rest of us, so it is time for the FNM to show its paces. If it fails to deliver on its promises or resorts to corrupt practices, we shall hold a new government to account as vigorously as ever. But, for the sake of the country’s future, the FNM must now be given its chance.
Tarahan Mackey is a true gem Re: IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 Volunteers EDITOR, The Tribune. THE IAAF/BTC World Relays were watched in person, on TV and online by many people all around the world. Have you ever wondered what it takes for something of this magnitude to actually happen? I will tell you one component that is absolutely necessary and that is hundreds of volunteers. I will go on record saying that we have the most professional and dedicated group of volunteers. We have a team leader for every single section of the volunteers. Everything from Team Attaches to Transportation to Uniform Distribu-
tion to Ice, Water and Meal Distribution, nothing is left uncovered. We have a Whatsapp chat group just for the team leaders so that we could all stay on top of everything that was going on. I can’t begin to tell you how many messages went through that chat group every single day for months, until every single athlete, media person and IAAF person had been safely delivered to the airport. We all worked extremely hard and helped whenever and wherever we could. I must give the most credit though, to one single person who was our leader and the glue that held us all together. That man is Mr Tarahan Mackey. Without him, our group of leaders and volunteers wouldn’t have been as successful as we were. I don’t
think he has had more than a couple of hours of sleep each night for months, because he was messaging at midnight and then again first thing every morning. This man is professional, dedicated, a real leader and one of the classiest people I know. He handled even the worst situations in a professional way and always with a calm head. So, Mr Mackey, I thank you for your dedication to this event. This is my 3rd year volunteering for this event and I can’t imagine it going off as well without your leadership. I hope the Local Organising Committee realises what a gem they have in you. SUSAN GLINTON Team Leader for Technical Operations Nassau, April 26, 2017.
Stop a repeat of 1987 vote EDITOR, The Tribune. THERE are reports that voting at the advanced polls at the Kendal G L Isaacs National Gymnasium got off to a rocky start. The Tribune also reported that there were issues at several embassies abroad. Someone posted on Facebook that some Bahamian students were turned away by officials at an embassy in a Caribbean country because their names did not appear on the voter registration, even though they have their voter cards. I am hoping for a much smoother process on May 10. If the situation that occurred during last year’s referendum on the constitution were to repeat itself, I would be gravely concerned and suspicious. I don’t trust this PLP government and its hangerson who are employed in the government. The latter have much at stake in this election just like PM Perry Christie and his Cabinet. I would like to know how many civil servants who are sympathetic to the PLP are working at the polling stations. I hate questioning the integrity of civil servants, but the way this country has been managed over the past five years one cannot take anything for granted. In the past few weeks, PLP chairman Bradley Roberts publicised sensitive information from the Customs department about FNM candidates Howard “Ricky”Mackey and Dionisio D’Aguilar. In all likelihood, Roberts obtained that information from either someone in Customs or some other civil servant
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net who would have been privy to the said information. Obviously, the PLP has its fair share of sympathisers within the civil service who do not want to see an FNM government. The PLP senses that its popularity has diminished greatly. The party has promoted hundreds of RBDF and RBPF officers in order to win this election. It has promised free electricity and many of its campaign generals are alleged to either be threatening civil servants who are FNMs or are handing out grocery and money like it’s Christmas. The FNM must remain vigilant. The party must keep a hawk eye on the voter registration to insure there are no instances of voter fraud. Failure to do so may result in the 1987 election repeating itself. In that election, the PLP, led by the late Sir Lynden O Pindling, gained 48,339 or 53.3 per cent of the votes cast. The FNM, led by Sir Kendal GL Isaacs, gained 39,009 or 43.2 per cent of the votes cast. The PLP won 31 seats; the FNM 16 seats. In that election, there were reported cases of gross irregularities. Put bluntly, many election historians believe that the PLP stole that election. Sir Kendal should have been the PM that year, thus ending the Pindling reign. The PLP’s image was severely tarnished, due to the 1984 commission of inquiry into
drug trafficking in The Bahamas. That coupled with Brian Ross’ explosive report titled “A Nation for Sale” led many to believe that the PLP’s time in office would end in 1987. The FNM’s nonchalant approach annoyed many of its supporters, who wanted the party to aggressively contest the results. Based on all that had transpired between 1982-1987, they just could not bring themselves to accept the election results. And they had very good reasons not to do so. This country has been rocked by one scandal after another this term. Allegations on top of allegations of government funds missing with no accountability at Urban Renewal, Social Services and the Ministry of Finance; FNMs being systematically victimised; Cabinet ministers being caught up in conflicts of interest; the PLP kissing up to the Numbers Boys; suspicious nolle prosequis; members of the judiciary being harassed by PLP operatives, Peter Nygard’s impunity; the PM giving us the middle finger, etc. I just cannot see how the PLP will pull this election off in an honest fashion. The FNM is on the cusp of victory. It cannot allow the PLP to cheat its way to victory. The 1987 election simply cannot be allowed to repeat itself. Dr Hubert Minnis and the FNM leadership must not follow the nonchalant example of Sir Kendal, if there is even one hint of election irregularity. THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, May 3, 2017.
Shameful EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE disgraceful chaos at the advanced poll on Wednesday and the promotion of 851 policemen and women on the eve of the poll are an assault on our democracy.
While I’m sure the right thinking members of the police force will not be sucked in by such a transparent ploy, one can only shake their head in amazement at the depths to which the self-serving members of The Twilight Zone Club
have sunk. As for the advanced poll fiasco, what an embarrassment! Words fail me. ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, May 4, 2017.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 5, 2017, PAGE 5
Roberts suggests poll problems work of Ingraham ‘operatives’ PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts blamed the confusion and chaos of advanced poll day on a last minute decision to scale the event back to one polling site, rather than two, in New Providence. He suggested this decision was not the fault of the government and insinuated it could have been the work of “operatives” of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Meanwhile, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said Wednesday’s chaotic poll proves the Christie administration is unable to govern. In a statement released yesterday, Dr Minnis criticised the government’s failure to maintain a “free and fair” poll, saying it has jeopardised democracy. For his part, Mr Roberts attempted to shift respon-
sibility from Wednesday’s vote from the governing to party to the FNM. “The Progressive Liberal Party commends the Bahamian people for a magnificent and spirited display of their democratic rights during the advanced polls on May 3, 2017,” Mr Roberts said. “The PLP is happy with the level of support demonstrated and is satisfied that we won the day. “It is, however, regrettable that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham openly boasted from a rally stage about having operatives in the public service at his beck and call that he can use to sabotage the work of the government,” he continued. “With Bahamians clearly looking to the future, Ingraham returned from retirement but could not articulate one plan to move this country forward.
FORMER PM RAISES MORE CONCERNS OVER ECONOMY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham relentlessly attacked the Christie administration’s narrative about the fiscal condition of the economy Wednesday night, raising concerns about the rising debt despite Value Added Tax’s implementation while questioning the government’s ability to pay vendors and contractors the money owed to them. Mr Ingraham insisted the country is in a “precarious” cash position. “Today The Bahamas owes tens of millions of dollars it is now unable to pay for goods and services,” he said. “The list of those persons and companies that are owed is long. They are spending much more than they are taking in. That’s why they are squeezing and pressuring many people to pay what they owe. “There are a number of government projects at a standstill because of no money,” Mr Ingraham claimed. “The Andre Rodgers baseball field, bulldozed by the first Christie government is yet to be replaced down there. The contractor reportedly walked off the job due to non-payment. The government constructed houses in Spring City, Abaco - work has stopped, no pay. It’s time to open up The Bahamas books, time to check our cookie jar. It’s time for The Bahamas to be upgraded from the downgrades they sunk us to. Yes, it’s time for them to go.” Mr Ingraham denied the government’s argument that it encountered an economy in shambles when it came to power in 2012. “I have serious and growing concern about the lack of growth in the economy,” he said. “The prime minister repeatedly claims that I left the economy in shambles.” Noting that The Bahamas, like other countries in the world, was affected by the Great Recession, Mr Ingraham said 20 million people worldwide lost their jobs, including 17,000 people in The Bahamas. “Our employment went from 174,920 in 2008 down to 157,805 persons in 2009,” he said. “The Department of Statistics said by May 2016 only 188,000 people were working in The Bahamas. That’s really only 13,000 more people than were working in 2008. Truth be told the job creation of our present government is woeful. The economy of The Bahamas has failed to grow and so it’s unfortunate but a reality that many people are suffering.” Mr Ingraham was particularly critical of the government’s handling of VAT, describing Prime Minister Perry Christie’s explanation in Parliament several weeks ago about where the VAT money went as “laughable”. Mr Ingraham sought to show that his administration was able to make advancements for Bahamians without implementing such a tax. “They collected the VAT,
the debt has gone up and continues to go up,” he said. “Where is the money going?” “The other day the prime minister told the public a very laughable thing. He told the House of Assembly he was given a report on what the VAT money was spent on. He said we hired 99 police officers, 166 defence force officers, some nurses, some other healthcare professionals. Well, you know, the FNM in the last term had no VAT. We hired 250 police officers without VAT, 343 defence force officers without VAT and 153 prison officers without VAT.” Mr Ingraham portrayed the government as not making good on its promises with respect to National Health Insurance, which he reminded people would involve the introduction of a new tax if the PLP wins the election on top of an increase in National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions some time after the election. He said the government promised NHI in its first year, yet up to the time he gave his speech on Wednesday, no one had yet received healthcare services under the scheme. Yesterday, the first Bahamian received treatment under the scheme. Regarding the Bahamas Agricultural & Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI), Mr Ingraham said it has not lived up to its promise. “They promised that BAMSI would feed us,” he said. “Instead we got a double billing for a dorm that burned down before it opened and then pictures of a lot of bananas.” Mr Ingraham asked the government to provide answers about several expenditure related matters. Up to press time yesterday, the government had not responded.
“Our intelligence reveals that the decision to abandon the use of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in favour of the obvious inadequate Kendal GL Isaacs (Gym) was at the root of much of the delay, confusion and frustration on advanced polling day. “The public notice indicated two locations and mysteriously, that decision was overruled at the 11th hour. Who made such a decision and why was that decision made? It could not have been in the public interest. “We are satisfied that Ingraham and his operatives will fail in their nasty, gutter and underhanded attempts to sabotage the legitimate work of the government for selfish political gains. “Ingraham’s diabolic plots, underhanded schemes and threats of institutional victimisation not
only remind Bahamians of why they got rid of him and the FNM, but will fail miserably because Bahamians understand what is at stake in this election. They know it is the security of their future that is at stake and the FNM is not offering the plans that matter to them,” Mr Roberts said. As reported previously, Wednesday’s early vote was filled with confusion. Polls did not open until about 9.20am, although voting was supposed to start at 8am. As a result, voting was kept open until 7.20pm. Some voters claimed their names were not on the advanced poll register, even though they said they applied to vote in the early poll. Voters also queued in long lines for hours, as they waited to carry out their constitutional right. In light of these issues, Dr Minnis said the Christie
administration has disrespected the people of The Bahamas. “Bahamians’ ability to vote in a free and fair election is a sacred right that gives our country the assurance that democracy prevails over dictatorships,” he noted. “Unfortunately, this corrupt PLP government does not respect this right for the people. “Constituents were made to stand in long, unyielding lines for hours with the polls opening late and the ballot boxes not even arriving on time. Weeks ago, the PLP made another empty promise. “This time it was Sherlyn Hall who promised the public that the voter register would be clean after we discovered hundreds of discrepancies; however, scores of constituents registered to vote in the advanced poll were left off the register, ac-
cording to several parties. “This is yet another symptom of the endemic failures under this disastrous PLP government. Their clumsy, ham-handed mismanagement of the advanced poll is another example of their incompetence at best and at worst, an intentional voter suppression effort. All these years in power and the PLP hasn’t lifted a finger to assure responsible governance, yet they will do anything to maintain their grip on power. “The people everywhere demand that this government remove any and all obstacles to legal voting and maintain a free and fair election for all Bahamians. Their assault on democracy cannot and must not be tolerated. On May 10, we will stand together to vote out this inept PLP regime and nothing will stop the people from having their voices heard,” Dr Minnis added.
Family Islands.” Meanwhile, Mr Gibson blasted Mrs Butler-Turner for claiming she is still a member of the FNM despite nominating as an Independent candidate last month. He said a vote for Mrs Butler-Turner is a vote for the PLP as he accused her of using gutter politics against him. “She is falsely claiming she is an FNM, she says that she is voting for the FNM in Nassau so tell me this, if she is voting FNM why would she want the people of Long Island to vote against the FNM? How can that work? What a hypocrite,” he said. “You can’t come to Long Island wearing blue and go back to Nassau and pretend to wear red. There is only one FNM candidate in Long Island and that’s me. We have seen that both of the candidates the blue and the yellow are holding hands, a vote for Butler is a vote for the PLP.”
LONG Island candidate Adrian Gibson, right, alongside FNM chairman Sidney Collie last night. Photo: Yontalay Bowe/FNM
FNM PLEDGES TO UPGRADE AIRPORT AND WATER SUPPLY IN LONG ISLAND from page one
“I have come here tonight to thank you for your support over the many years, and to ask you to elect a man who will help us to lift up Long Island to its rightful place in our Bahamas. The FNM’s wave that is sweeping the country started in places like Long Island. With your support, the FNM will be the next government of the Bahamas,” Dr Minnis said. “As prime minister, I will keep the faith with Long Island. It is time for Long Island to have a modern airport that will help in the development of this island. It is time for Long Island to fully enjoy reliable potable water. It is time to upgrade infrastructure throughout Long Island. It’s The People’s Time on Long Island. Change is coming to the Bahamas and to Long Island. “Soon and very soon we will be rid of the most corrupt; the most incompetent; the most victimising; the most out of control; and the most malicious government since independence. You know well how the PLP has been victimising here in Long Island. “The PLP has victimised Long Islanders for a very long time. For too long you have been neglected by this spiteful and greedy PLP government. They turned their backs on you. But God don’t like ugly. Change is coming to Long Island. Even today, only certain people can get contracts or government jobs. The PLP sees no need to tender many of the contracts in the
Funeral Service For
Rev. Irene Alene Coakley, 73
a resident of #25 Amity Road, Imperial Park, will be held at Mission Baptist Church, Hay Street, on Sunday, 7th May, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Officiating will be Dr. R. E. Cooper. Interment follows in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.
She is survived by her husband: Stephen, daughter Stephany; adopted daughter: Linda (deceased); son: Stephen; daughter-in-law: Latoya; grandchildren: Malik, Makhai, and Micah; Sisters: Ruby Ann, Fanny (John), Primrose (Hugh), Bertha, Carmella (Cardinal); Brothers: John (Kaye), Rueben (Daphne), Nathaniel; Brothers-in-law: Brian, John; Sisters-in-law: Sylvia, Hyacinth, Alma, Marina, Wyatt, Ellen, Tordis, and Dorothy; Nieces: Dawn, Odessa, Lynette, Bethany, Finlandria, Kendra, Jakia, Alexandria, Veronique, Amanda, Cassandra, Reune’, Robin, Joanna, Jessica, Sandra, Donna, Tanya, Christina, Wendy, Leslie, Nicole; Nephews, Dwight, Christopher, Sergio, Rishard, Jacoy, Lysle, Hughrohn, Daniel, Allan, Michael, Reginald, Stanley, Jonathan, Mark, Shaka, Dia, Tariq; a host of cousins, relatives: Mission Baptist Church family; Life-long friends: Rosa Mae Bain, Brenda Vanderpool of Plantation, Florida and Dr. James Rahming; Our family would like to convey our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to: Mrs. Hazel Bullard, the Bullard family, Lucy Martin, Weena Johnson, and Mother Pierre, Rev. Susan Pratt and family, Merlande Culmer and the Verdine family, Anna Mae Sargent, Jessica Stubbs and to the Doctors, Dr. Parker, Dr. Rahming and nurses who cared for her during her illness. Friends may pay their last respects at Demeritte’s Funeral Home, Market Street, from 9-5:00 p.m. on Saturday & on Sunday at the church from 2:00 p.m. until service time.
PAGE 6, Friday, May 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Overseas polling also hits problems By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net DESPITE Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall’s assertion that voting went “well” at all of the oversees advanced polling stations, Bahamians studying in Barbados told The Tribune yesterday that their experience seemed to follow the same “chaotic” and “discouraging” nature of the vote on Wednesday in the capital. One first-time voter and student of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Barbados said she was forced to return to vote for a second time yesterday after turning out to vote on Wednesday, but was told that there were no more ballots available. The young Bahamians, who requested anonymity, said there were several other students from various constituencies including Marco City, East Grand Bahama, Seabreeze, Free Town and Exuma who were also turned away for the same reason. Considering that some students had to travel for about one hour and 30 minutes to reach
the polling station, this was unacceptable, the students said. The chaos and disorganisation coupled with “blatant” disrespect from the presiding officer, the students claimed, caused many not to return yesterday to vote. They further claimed that this official was unaccommodating, saying she at times gave the impression that she would not hold the poll open until 6pm as the Parliamentary Elections Act dictates. There were also some voters who were made to use protest ballots as officials said they did not submit the needed documents, including Form J, to qualify for advanced polling, the students claimed. During a press conference at the Parliamentary Registration Department yesterday, Mr Hall confirmed that he received reports that there were some students whose names did not appear on the register who claimed that they presented Form J. However, he said, officials in New Providence would have to investigate whether the forms were presented within the re-
quired timeframe. “(The presiding officer) contacted me this morning (yesterday) and told me to be at the polls for 12 o’clock,” one student said. “When I arrived no one was there. We called, she hung up the phone. She finally came at about 12.30pm and said the ballots were on their way and that the government was sending a jet from New Providence. She asked us to sit and be reasonable and wait. “But the issue was that a lot of us had examinations and so we were telling her that there were some students who were actually here at 12 noon. She gave us the impression that we would have been able to vote from 12 o’clock and a lot of them were telling her that you know we had exams from 1pm and various other times today. “So she told us that there was nothing that she could do and the government is doing us a favour and we have to be reasonable. Some students had to leave for their exams and we were asking her what position would that leave them in because obviously if I am
taking an exam I can’t vote at the same time.” The student added: “But still the presiding officer continued to give the impression that it’s your choice whether you are going to vote or take your exam and we said to her well the Parliamentary (Elections) Act says that the polls supposed to be open until 6pm. “Her response was ‘well I told y’all to be here for 12pm its up to you and it’s your choice whether you are going to sit the exam.’” The student continued: “Some waited, some stood in the line with our textbooks in one hand and voter’s cards in the other because we understand the severity of this general election and we just wish that our rights would have been taken more seriously than they were. “The whole thing was just chaotic. There was just no compassion, no consideration for those of us taking examinations and they were very, very disrespectful. It was just very discouraging for a lot of us who are first time voters like myself and overall there were a lot of students that didn’t come back to vote.”
A male student said there were at times an “uproar” over the presiding officer’s attitude and her failure to adequately explain to voters why certain things were happening as the process went on. “We still weren’t able to vote until at around 2.34pm,” the student said. “A few students had a problem with registration because some of us would have registered in April when one of the officers came down so we would have had a J form done. Yesterday some students were told that their names were not on the register so they would have had to vote with yellow ballots. A lot of students were angry because they didn’t want to use the protest ballots so that was more confusion.” Mr Hall said preliminary reports based on the J forms received from various locations indicated there were 13 locations in total. He said London, England had 70 overseas voters, Ottawa, Canada had 30 and Washington, DC had 70. New York had 47 oversees voters, Atlanta, 107, Miami, 135, Cuba, 10, Haiti, six, China 33, Jamaica 108,
Barbados 88, Trinidad and Tobago 37, and Texas, 28. However, he said, he was still waiting to receive information for some locations. “Now, of those totals, I’m still awaiting contact with them. In Washington for example, out of 70 persons 43 voted. Atlanta, out of 107 persons 40 voted. Cuba, out of 10 persons eight voted. I haven’t gotten feedback yet from China and the others. Out of Texas 28 voters, 25 voted. So that’s the sort of stats we got back,” Mr Hall said. Taking into account the chaos that erupted at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in New Providence, it was speculated that the various polling stations abroad would have been similar to the scene in Nassau. In Nassau, voting began more than hour behind schedule and ballot boxes arrived to the site late. There was only one polling station, even though the Parliamentary Registration Department announced that two locations would be open. Many stood in line from as early as 6.30am and were disheartened by the disorganisation and long queues.
Oxford graduate; not blowing my own horn, I’ve been to some of the best universities in the world. I’m not incompetent. That’s their opinion, but by the grace of God, God will work for all things for our good. “I’m a man who speaks truth, and don’t like to get in politics. But to some people I’m competent in one area, and other areas I’m not competent. I’ve been in the public service almost 50 years, and most of the persons in authority have benefited from my contributions. And I think I’m a competent person.” Wednesday’s events have intensified calls for Mr Hall to be disciplined. The night of the advanced poll, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham called on the government to retire Mr Hall, a man he has criticised before. The advanced poll started around 9.20am - instead of 8am - because ballot boxes were delivered late. As a result, voting, which should have ended at 6pm, was extended to 7.20pm. Mr Hall did not give a specific reason for the late start yesterday, only stating that after working a 24-hour shift getting the ballot boxes packed and dispatched,
the boxes for the advanced poll in New Providence left the department at 7.45am headed for the gymnasium, which is not far away. In addition to other complaints, some voters claimed their names were not on the advanced poll register, although they had applied to vote early. Some residents of the Family Islands also complained that they were only advised on Wednesday that they could not do early voting in their communities, but had to travel to Nassau instead. Reports circulated on social media on Wednesday night that Mr Thompson would be appointed to replace Mr Hall; however neither man could confirm those reports during the interview. On Wednesday, Mr Christie would not reveal whether the government intended to remove Mr Hall from overseeing Wednesday’s election, only stating: “We are going to make the right decision for the country.” Now that Mr Hall has confirmed the expiration of his contract, and that he was not seeking an extension, it is unclear who will oversee the Wednesday’s general election.
HALL BLAMES OTHERS FOR ELECTION CHAOS from page one
He also said he is not “incompetent,” telling reporters that he is an Oxford graduate. Mr Hall also suggested that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Carl Smith, whom he appointed as senior returning officer for the advanced poll, is the one to blame for the decision to literally corral thousands of voters into the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, instead of two locations as originally planned. Mr Hall said despite giving “specific instructions” on what should take place just weeks prior, “somehow” the decision was made just to use one location. Harrison Thompson, the department’s permanent secretary, was present during the interview, and said he too gave certain directives to officials. However, he said, those instructions were not followed. “Truth be told, my contract expires today, fourth of May,” Mr Hall said on Thursday. “Three-year contract. And, of course, it’s up to the government what they wish to do in my particular situation, but my contract will expire today. I did not seek an extension.” When pressed on the matter, Mr Hall said: “All I can say my contract expires today. You can draw your conclusions from that.” When questioned about the chaotic scenes, specifically the reason why only one polling site was open on Wednesday despite the department previously publishing public notices that there would be two voting sites, Mr Hall said: “It’s right for you to ask me that, but as I said I delegated that function to Mr Smith as returning officer. He would have made the decision.
ADVANCED polling at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff deliver and to perform. “A week or two before Court in Pinewood. Byron we published in the newsWoodside, Allyson May‘Incompetent’ paper that the advanced nard-Gibson, I did that, “When they do not, that when (former Parliamenpoll would be held at two locations: the gym and the does not mean I’m incom- tary Commissioner Errol) national stadium. Some- petent,” Mr Hall said. “I Bethel had to temporarily how along the way - he can delegate some stuff, give leave office. I did that, me. speak to that - the decision directives, give instructions I was not incompetent then. was made just to use the - now because their names “Everyone is entitled to gym. I gave specific instruc- are not called, some people an opinion,” he added. “I tions. We all agreed, we’d hide behind the fence so to respect the former prime use two locations, the gym speak, and let Hall take the minister and everyone in responsibility.” as well as the stadium. authority because they are Mr Hall added that his made in the image of God. “You could understand in any organisation you’re competency should not be So if someone is going to working with people, you judged by his department’s say I’m incompetent, that’s delegate responsibilities ability or inability to de- their opinion. But I’m an to people, secretaries, etc, liver and perform. He also down, they have to deliver, said that as a man who has they have to perform,” he spent almost 50 years in the continued. “Any head of public service, “most of the a department is only as persons in authority have strong as its weakest link. benefited from my contriAll cylinders must be firing. butions”. He referred to the 2007 So if one cylinder malfunctions, it makes the whole or- general election when he reganisation look bad. In any counted the ballots for the Election Court during the organisation you have that. surrounding “So I always put on my controversy people you have to perform then-PLP Pinewood canto the best of your ability. didate Allyson MaynardSome people for whatever Gibson and the former reason may not have gone member of Parliament for beyond the call of duty, so the area Byron Woodside. “We’ve had challenges it makes me look bad. Note that I do not operate the before,” he said. “We must computer system; I’m an ad- remember in 2007 I was ministrator, I give directives the one who counted the to others. It’s up to them to ballots for the Election
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 5, 2017, PAGE 7
We March organiser backs FNM leader By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net RANARD Henfield, the organiser of the We March Bahamas activist group, has endorsed the Free National Movement ahead of the upcoming general election, stressing his confidence in the party’s leader, Dr Hubert Minnis. We March Bahamas gained prominence after more than 1,000 protesters marched from Arawak Cay to Rawson Square in November 2016 to protest the government’s performance. As the group continued to put pressure on the political class, Mr Henfield was accused by some detractors of being in partnership with the FNM. In a post to Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Henfield wrote that endorsing someone other than Dr Minnis would be a “regrettable” mistake, despite the exist-
ence of “amazing candidates” like the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) Brenda Harris and the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) Cheryl Bazard. “…To risk the PLP governing for another five years, everyone that wants to see the PLP gone knows that we’d never forgive ourselves for causing the PLP to win by splitting the opposition votes,” he said, calling PLP politicians “pirates of The Bahamas”. Mr Henfield portrayed Dr Minnis as a politician of a higher calibre than usual, one who refuses to “protect the status quo” like “career politicians that have raped” the country. Mr Henfield said he advocates “jail for corrupt politicians, lower cost of living, term limits for prime ministers, the removal of Crown land distribution from the Office of the Prime Minister and the distribution of such land to people, local
government for New Providence and an independent director of public prosecutions.” He said he recommends former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer for attorney general, even though Dame Joan is retired. He said he wants a recall system for MPs, a fixed date for elections, easier ways of doing businesses and easier ways of exporting items from The Bahamas. He did not explain how some of his desires would be accomplished, like “making banking cheaper and easier.” However, Mr Henfield said if Dr Minnis doesn’t do what he promises to do in 100 days, We March would be activated to protest once again. Mr Henfield suggested to The Tribune yesterday that he has a planned appearance with Dr Minnis in the next week.
RANARD ERIC HENFIELD, community activist.
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
INGRAHAM WANTS HEARINGS ON WHERE THE VAT HAS GONE from page one
alleging that several members of the party have contracts with Baha Mar. The former Free National Movement leader also described Prime Minister Perry Christie as an “ineffective” leader who has not delivered on his promises and lost the trust of the Bahamian people. He said the PLP is leading the country in the wrong direction. He made the comments during a wide-ranging interview on the show “On the Record” with host Jerome Sawyer, which aired on Our TV last night. When asked about the government’s performance, Mr Ingraham said of the Christie administration’s “secretive” nature: “I think the public needs to have a hearing of the things that happened so they can make some judgments about the future, to prevent these things from happening in the future.” Later in the show, he was asked about allegations of corruption that have dogged this administration. The Tribune revealed last month that Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald
solicited lucrative contracts from Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian for his family’s businesses. Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson has admitted that her husband and two daughters own shops in the Baha Mar resort. Both Cabinet ministers served on the government’s negotiating team to get Baha Mar remobilised, a process in part that saw Mr Izmirlian’s control as the investor of the property removed. When asked about these allegations, Mr Ingraham said he did not know if the public was significantly angered by these developments. “Take Jerome Fitzgerald for instance, in many societies he would be driven out of office. Or Allyson Maynard.” He added: “The PLP has a culture of begging investors for various things, it’s a culture. And when they are in office, people spring up who go around hitting up on others. That’s known. That’s a reality, that’s a fact. I don’t know the extent to which Christie can change that, I think that unlike what has happened in the past, stronger efforts have to be taken and made towards ridding our country
of this kind of thing. “...We have standards in the FNM. There are no standards in the PLP. You can’t get the prime minister to comment on it ... many of them have contracts down at Sarkis Izmirlian. If I’m begging you and say ‘Man give this contract to my friend over here, give this contract to my son, give this contract to my brother, etc,’ I can’t stand up to you. “There is no way Allyson Maynard could have gotten four shops in Baha Mar if she was not the attorney general and minister in the government. They got it because of connection...” While on the campaign trail, Mr Ingraham has criticised the government for collecting over $1bn in VAT revenue since 2015, while the country’s debt continues to rise. He continued his assault on this practice yesterday. “They’ve been squandering your money, that’s the reality,” he told the show’s host. “There needs to be an investigation into where the money gone. You’d be surprised to know where the money gone,” he said. When asked what could have happened to the VAT revenue, he said: “Vote
MITCHELL: FNM IS HEARTLESS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
IN laying out his case for re-electing the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) next week, Fred Mitchell portrayed the Free National Movement (FNM) as a heartless organisation. Mr Mitchell was particularly critical of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette, who is the FNM’s candidate for St Anne’s. He made his statements in a series of videos uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday. On Mr Symonette, he said: “This is a man who declared $6m in his declaration (in total income) for the general election…which he earned off securities. “The question is, have you heard of any public good that he has invested in besides his private busi-
nesses? Scholarships for children to go to school? The institute of the College of The Bahamas perhaps in honour of his father who used to be the premier of country? You try to tie that to the message he has tried to sell to you, that the Progressive Liberal Party has ran a bad economy. “And then you have a man named Hubert Ingraham,” he continued. “You remember him. This is a man who sold BTC at a fire-sale price and we’re still trying to recover from that debacle today. Yet he comes back on the stage having abandoned his party five years ago, saying ‘I’m gone in a huff,’ left them in a mess with a leader who is not acceptable to the country. Now he’s back on the stage with Brent Symonette who is an example of someone who in my view does not have a heart. And this is the same with Mr Ingraham who on the day he became
prime minister, fired people on the night. “We have a situation where there are 3,500 employees who are going to be put on the permanent and pensionable by order of the current Prime Minister Perry Christie. The FNM leader refuses to say if those people will have their jobs secured if he happens to take over God forbid next week on the 10th of May. He refuses to say whether those people on the empowerment programme will have their jobs protected. What we do know is that the last leader of the FNM fired people on the first day that he was elected prime minister. So I’m saying it makes sense to vote for the Progressive Liberal Party.” During a rally Wednesday night, Mr Ingraham suggested that making the 3,500 people permanent would show that fiscal controls have got out of hand under the government.
CLUB TO HAND OUT SCHOLARSHIPS THE Gentlemen’s Club will hand out its annual scholarship awards and programme prizes worth around $250,000 at its 27th Gala Ball on Saturday night at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort. Director of the Gentlemen’s Club, Lamon Stubbs, told The Tribune that several students associated with the organisation will receive either partial or full scholarships to three tertiary level institutions in the United States. According to Mr Stubbs, the programme will award two presidential scholarships to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The scholarship will cover tui-
tion, room and board, books and other auxiliary expenses associated with the student’s course of study. The Gentlemen’s Club is also expected to award two tuition-only scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and will also look to award partial scholarships to St John’s University in Minnesota. The Gentlemen’s Club was started in 1992 by Dr Judson and Marchea Eneas with just 12 participants. Over 800 have since passed through the 16-week mentoring programme which has awarded well over $6m in scholarships so far. The Gentlemen’s Club focuses on the development
of young men in the fields of leadership, marketing, etiquette, moral, cultural and spiritual responsibilities and prepares them for the future in terms of setting and pursuing realistic goals. The programme steers young men in the right direction and allows them to define themselves, to see where they are and where they need to go. They participate in workshops, seminars and cultural activities that have beneficial outcomes such as education, career awareness, social awareness, spiritual development and cultural enrichment over their four months, culminating in the gala ball.
FNM next week, you’ll find out. You’ll never find out while the PLP is in office.” And on Mr Christie, his former law partner, Mr Ingraham said he is not good for the country. “I think Christie is good for the PLP but he’s bad for the Bahamas,” he said. “I think he has been an ineffective leader, I think he has been a promiser, not a deliverer, and I think the population of The Bahamas believes he has not levelled with them, he has not shot straight with them and they lost confidence in him and they don’t trust him anymore.” Minnis Mr Ingraham was also asked about his relationship with Dr Hubert Minnis, the man who assumed the reins of the FNM after he resigned in 2012, following an election loss. He said Dr Minnis was his choice to replace him in
2012 and described the Killarney incumbent as a longtime friend. He said he disagreed with the decision of the rebel seven MPs who ousted Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition last December. “That was inappropriate,” Mr Ingraham said of the move. “A political party determines its leader, not the members of the House. The members of the House can constitutionally select a leader but if you are a member of a party you ought to be (guided) by what the party has decided and the party decided that Minnis was its leader. “The extent to which they had a difficulty in supporting Minnis, they ought to have settled it in the party. If they couldn’t settle it in the party, they could have taken their Georgie bundle and leave, but they had no right to remove Minnis
as leader of the (Official) Opposition. The FNM is the Official Opposition of the Bahamas and the FNM chose Minnis as its leader.” He said it was a “wrong” decision that he had previously cautioned the group against making, adding that the move in December caught him by surprise. And while Dr Minnis has endured criticism and accusations of being a “weak,” unskilled leader, Mr Ingraham defended him as a skilled businessman. “Minnis is very successful business wise, far more than Christie and I have ever been. He is very focused and very strong . . . ten times as strong as Christie is.” He also said: “My era is over. I’m happy for the era I had and I wish he could have an era like mine, or better than mine . . . I have no regrets about my era. I’m very proud of what I did.”
PAGE 8, Friday, May 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Perry shuffles awkwardly as Papa grabs the limelight A Comic’s View
By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA Poll dancing in some kicks, slaps and AS Bahamians prepare punches? to head to the polls, all of This is all ‘normal’ in a the major parties are now very long line of failures unpulling out all the stops to der the sleepy eyes of Prime win come May 10. Minister Perry Christie, So far, this election sea- who bears the ultimate reson has been marred by sponsibility. As the leader name calling, dirt flinging of the country, the buck (I’m talking to you, Bradley stops with him. Roberts) and, as of WednesAt times I’ve been inday, an actual fist fight. clined to give Mr Christie The colossal failure of a break because I’ve always outgoing Parthought he was liamentary a gifted speakRegistrar Sher- ‘I even heard a er but by no lyn Hall to en- desperate PLP means a gifted sure an orderly apologist say the leader. execution of Honestly, our democratic Free National he’s not even a right as Ba- Movement mediocre leadhamians may bringing Mr er. On a scale have played a of one to 10, his big role in why Ingraham back talent for transall the world is some sort of parent leadercan now watch witchcraft’ ship is less than a Youtube zero. Which is video of PLPs why he will not and FNMs beating each accept responsibility for other ‘upside the head’ in this latest disaster. Neither broad daylight while wait- will his minister responsible ing hours on end to vote. for elections, Dr Bernard The advance poll did not Nottage. start when it should have Mr Christie oversees a because the ballot boxes runaway Cabinet, many of were not there when they whom have been accused by should have been. the masses of ‘lying, tiefin’ Bahamian time, or and begging’. All while he ‘slunking,’ is pervasive even does nothing to hold any of in these serious times. them (much less himself) I’m not going to dwell on accountable. Mr Hall’s incompetence; Oh, but boy can he dance! the only word I have for him He and Nero would make is ‘Bye!’ quite the pair. To act as if what happened on Wednesday is Papa’s Got a surprising would be to close Brand New Bag our eyes (and minds) to the The highlight of this elecmyriad failures we have had tion season for me has been to endure over the past five seeing former Prime Minyears. ister Hubert Ingraham’s Just this past week, we emergence on the campaign ‘got our tings’ in the inter- trail. national media for the fiOver the last few days asco called Fyre Festival. Mr Ingraham has captured Then there was the flop in the attention of BahamiFreeport called Junkanoo ans near and far, many of Carnival. So why not throw whom may feel nostalgic for
FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. a politician who ‘says what whistle? We never got to see the he means, and means what ‘statesman’ side of the late he says’. Judging by his response Sir Lynden Pindling since to Ingraham’s return to the he passed so soon after relimelight, Perry Christie tiring. But I am happy we is mad. And DNA leader get to see this side of ‘Papa’. Truth be told, I’m espeBranville McCartney is cially glad since he seems to mad. No doubt they are ‘salty’ have all the ‘receipts’ on the because of Mr Ingraham’s likes of several candidates ability to ‘woo’ and per- including Khaalis Rolle, suade a large section of the Dion Smith, Keith Bell, Jepopulace still. I even heard rome Fitzgerald and Allya desperate PLP apolo- son Maynard-Gibson. I don’t know about you, gist say the Free National Movement bringing Mr In- but I already have my graham back is some sort of popcorn ready for his big ‘witchcraft’ (the jokes never speech in Freeport tonight. end with this crew.) • Inigo ‘Naughty’ ZeIn Mr Ingraham’s return nicazelaya is the resident to frontline politics (for the stand-up comic at Jokers moment) I see something Wild Comedy Club at the else. I see the value of havAtlantis, Paradise Island, ing a former Prime Minister resort and presents ‘Misweigh in on national issues chief and Mayhem in da and tell us the truth. AM’ from 6am to 10am, Who knew hundreds of Monday to Friday, and thousands allegedly went ‘The Press Box’ sports ‘missing’ at the Ministry of talk show on Sunday from Finance before Mr Ingra10am to 1pm on KISS ham mentioned it? FM 96.1. He also writes a Who knew the state of sports column in The Tribthe Treasury? And of those who knew, une on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ how many are honest and tribunemedia.net. brave enough to blow the
Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
FROM advanced polling, above, to the Fyre Festival, below, things have not been going according to plan... PAGE 6, Monday, May
A6MAIN
1, 2017
MINISTRY IN BID TO GET FYRE FE ST
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THE TRIBUNE
IVAL VENDORS PAID
every story, lead, as well as weekend, with the Mrs Jibrilu said while interviewing festival attendnational ryone’s patienc e and coopFamily Islands the Ministry of Tourism ees in order to get as many George Town, regatta in eration during this difficult still unaware of all the is which is viewpoints as possible . biggest annual event on the time as we work as quickly tails surrounding this de“The organisers of the and safely as we matthe island normally can to remter because it was a private event, which was a private attracting edy this unfores tens eeable situof thousands of visievent, a team was seeking event, have readily admitation. tors. to obtain a list of vendors ted that they were in “We will continue to proover The organisers cancelle who still had outstan their heads, and they d vide regular updates ding have the Fyre Fest via balances. event at the email to taken full respons ibility last minute after our While for all that has transpir many peo- our official guests and via officials have ed, ple had already social media sought to distance the and have issued a minstate- spent thousan arrived and channels as they become istry from the failed event, ds of dollars availabl ment to this effect. It is e,” the statement also on tickets and travel. in early April a press pertine nt to note that the added. The organisers lease was issued saying reinternational media Tickets included a flight have a “cultural momenpromised Ministry of Tourism the recognised that all and was any from a blend of t created from Miami, a stay in a “ge“working tirelessly” to shortcomings came from and food” over music, art odesic dome” and activities sure the festival’s successenthe promoters, and The the . Ba- weekends in Great next two including yoga and kayakIn that earlier release, hamas has been insulate Exuma. d They also claimed they ing. Pre-publicity suggested Carla Stuart, senior direc- TENTS on from any direct negative festival-goers could the site of the Fyre Festival, set out “to provide pay tor of national plannin as pictured on Twitter. repercussions. The g and Min- in-a-lifetime musicala once- up to $100,00 0 to mingle special events in the Minis- Jibrilu said via email in re- and expe- with models and used the services of istry of Tourism has been rience on the sponse to questions be ferried try of Tourism, noted Islands of the around actively engaged with from numerous local that by private yachts our Exumas” and vendors in international the ministry was a partner The Tribune. “Please recog- an had billed media part- it along and planes. the lines of the for the festival and served nise that this was a private landeffort to ready the is- ners in ensuring But that for visitors the Coache the luxury described the event and therefore we as a liaison between are with tickets costingconcert integrity of The Bahamas is Arts lla Valley Music and event as a “compl ete disasFestival in southern up to maintained.” organisers and various the not aware of all the details. $12,000 ter” and it attracted unflatgov. ernment and local entities Our teams are seeking to She continued: “It should California. tering international It was branded get a list of who is owed In on the island. and and postponed a disaster be noted that even though site a statement on its web- coverage. William media indefinitely this was last Thursday night Finley, “Our goal is to work with what they are owed. The amid a private of North event, a host of complaints Carolina, posted the event organis the organisers to ensure promoter has assured that that the infrastructure and once the MOT became “Due to circums ers said: on social media that he they will pay all outstan that the festival meets aware of event shortco tances out and his friends d- accommodations all of ing debts.” m- of our had arrived were not ings, they the local standards in did intervene to infrastrcontrol, the physical to find “disaster safetent city” Her statement to The ready and that there was mitigate as ucture was not in ty, security, environmental, much when searching for their as possi- place on Tribune came amid reports no security. Flights were ble any actime and we are commo etc. We will also ensure fallout, and in paralso cancelle that that the Baham dation. One British all local approvals require as Customs the crumbli d as a result of ticular to try and secure unable to fulfil on that vi- visitor said the festival site ng of the event, the sion safely and to coordinate a success d Department reportedly leaving passengers strand- camewelfare of visitors that for our guests. At enjoyably “was worse than a refugee event of this magnitude ful locked down the site in Ex- ed. this time, camp”. in for the event. We we are working tirelessl secured. Of course, are uma where the disastrous have received y to commenda- get flights There were also comIt led American recordulti- festival was mately, with a minimu scheduled and plaints tion from both the m of take place. scheduled to ing artist ‘Ja Rule’, a co- ers and guests overpromot- get everyone off of Great unsatisf of missing luggage, 3,000 persons on the island, our ef- Exuma and According to a report organiser to respond, tell- forts in this we would wish to work home safely as fears actory catered food, regard.” ing this newspaper he for people’s safety, quickly as we can. was gether with the commu to- aired on ABC News yester- “mortifi nity day, security ed” “We ask that guests cur- piles of garbage and looting to provide greater opportu guards were ken” over and “heartbroChaos of alcohol. the chaos. nities and ensure maximu - seen on site in an effort to Headline performers and rently on-island do not Blink-182, one band that Ja Rule m protect items make their own arrange benefit for locals. Exuma that remain and his lamented that he the Ministry of Tourism - was set to perform partner ofments there. , Billy , pulled to Mc- fered a “heartfelt get to the airport out and its residents are jewels, apology” as on Thursday. In a TwitThe Ministry of Tour- Farland, a tech entrepre- in express and event organizers ing its disappoint- thosewe are coordinating ter post the band neur, pumped $20m will ism told said: “Replans. We are workinto have an opportunity to ABC: “Customs the grettably, ex- has the area event, and “everyone ment for the “total disor- ing to place plore the same,” Ms Stuart everyone on conside and after much on lockdown hates ganisation and chaos”. us ration, for it”. because (festiva noted in the April press The ministry, while say- complimentary charters let you know we want to Yesterday, Mrs Jibrilu re- Billy (McFar l organiser) lease. land) has ing it was not an official back to Miami today; this be perform that we won’t ing at Fyre Fest process has comme paid customs duty taxes not said once the ministry be- sponsor Officials have struck nced in The Baham on came aware of of the private and a the items that as this weekthe event’s the safety different tone since the (for the event).”he imported shortcomings, officials in- event, said it was lending of our guests and comfort end. We’re not confident event’s collapse. is our top pri- that we its support to help with tervene would have what we d the to mitigate the safe return ority. “He and his staff have “Ministry of Tourism of all Fyre Festineed to give you the qualify fallout as much as possible is left “The the items festival is being of currently in the process with val visitors. She said: “The Ministr . performances we always of company guardin a security postpon ed determining which vendors y until On g it.” we Friday morning, it was can give our fans.” of Tourism jealousy guards further assess Organisers are still owed monies,” International artists such Mrs have importe were said to our brand image. As a re- reported that flights were we are able if and when to create d many items sult, we returning visitors to Miami. have been following high-quality experience the as Migos, Major Lazer, Exuma was busy over we Skepta and Disclos the envisioned. We ure were ask for eve- also set to perform.
READERS REACT TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER’S CONTRACT EXPIRY ‘MORTIFIED ONE day after chaos during the advanced poll, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall confirmed that his contract had expired and he has not sought an extension. Readers on tribune242. com gave their reaction. Jackbnimble said: “I think the whole idea was to call election BEFORE his
contract expired (I’m guessing within the first few days of May) because they want-
ed him there. That plan had a monkey wrench thrown in it when they realised that Carnival was clashing with the election date. The outcry to leave the Carnival dates alone is why the election is now set for May 10th and Hall’s time has expired. God don’t sleep!” Seaman thought there was something “wrong” go-
ing on: “Brace yourself for the possibility of people taking to the streets. There is something wrong going on. Mr Hall will spill the beans on some things that are going on. Look and listen.” Alex_Charles had this to say: “Rigged ... seals the deal for the PLP victory. With the promises Christie made, we are going to see a horrendous deficit for this year and the next fiscal year starting next month. We won’t recover, the economy can’t grow fast enough to keep track with our increases in spending.” Sickened said: “This is how dictatorships start. They intentionally mess up elections and then they ask for more time and then
’ JArules RULEto SA YS EVENtoT get change the ‘make WAFIRED!” S NOT A SCAM from it better’ and then you reAnd there was this alise there’s no more elec- Seaman2: “You all must tions - just a military pres- remember ... Mr Chrisence.” tie is done even if he wins. Bahamiangoddedd The other top brass know blamed the Prime Minis- that too. They will simply ter for the election issues: remove him from power . . “This is no surprise. First, . he may even remove himwe had the issues from the self. They see him as an referendum and then we old done leader who has PM’S WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ‘SEVERA had the surge of last minute left to give.L They STREETSnothing AWAY’ FROM SCEN E OF SHOOTING registration, we all know will simply do as they wish the register was not ready. without answering to him I lay the blame firmly at or any one else. The man the foot of the Prime Min- has served his country, time ster. He was warned that to enjoy his time he has left the register was a mess, he on this earth. A PLP viccould have delayed calling tory may spell disaster for elections for a few weeks the poor and middle class to sort out those issues. Bahamian.” Hall has his share of blame but the Govt should have • Don’t miss your chance waited. I have never seen to join the debate on triba bunch of people so eager une242.com.
from page one
Ja Rule regretted that he and his partner, tech entrepreneur Billy McFarl and,
pumped $20m into event, and “everyone the hates us for it”.
“Heartbroken is an un- one off the island derstatement,” he SAFE, He said organisers wrote set to The Tribune via What- that is my immediate con- out “to build a festival site” cern. sApp. and “quickly learned “I will make a stateme that “I’m mortified at what soon. I’m heartbroken nt the basic infrastructure in those people had to at place here was not go this what we moment. My partner through, me and my s are used part- and I wanted this to be an States.” to in the United ner Billy are very upset. spent $20m to make We amazing event. It was NOT He claimed this A SCAM as everyon event special and everyon e is re- had to install organisers e porting.” water and hates us for it. sewerag e and bring He continued: “I don’t an am“But I’ll live with that,” bulance from the US. know how everything he said. “God knows went He also heart and intentions my so left but I’m working to site was claimed the event were make it right hit by a storm hours in the right place. Now by making before the festival, which I sure everyone is just want everyone to refunded he said took get ... down I truly apologise as this tents home safe and get refundand broke the site’s is NOT MY FAULT water ed.” ... but system. He Ja Rule stressed that I’m taking responsibility. organisers also admitted needed “more I’m deeply sorry to everythe total breakdown manpower” and help. experienced by festival -goers one who was inconvenHe said all guests ienced are beby this.” was not his fault, but ing refunded and claimed In a video sent commit ted to accepti he to the event responsibility for the ng TMZ, an Americ an en- year at will be held next a beach location in de- tertain ment website bacle. , Mr the US. He also said McFarl and put the blame In an earlier message ganisers will donate $1 or, on the event’s failure to on he wrote: “We are working behalf of right now on getting every- poor infrast ructure in signs up each person who for the 2018 event Exuma . to the Bahamas Red Cross.
from page one
They were immediately taken to safety, the source added. Mr Christie, who is area’s incumbent, was the not in the area either, Senior ACP Dean said. According to police, shortly after 8pm, a man was walking in the Mason’s Addition area, when another man armed with a
handgun approached him and shot him before fleeing on foot. Police said the victim was taken to hospital where he is detained with non-life threatening injuries. Moments later, authori ties said another shootin g occurred involving a man who was standing in front of a home at Taylor Street, Nassau Village. Report s are that a man armed with a handgu n ap-
proach ed the victim and shot him before fleeing on foot. The victim was taken to hospita l where he is also detaine d with non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone with information on these incidents or other crime is asked to any contact police at 919 or Crime Stoppers at 328-847 7 in New Providence or 1-242300-8476 in the Family Islands.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, May 5, 2017, PAGE 9
‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’
KB launches new album By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN rake n’ scrape artist Kirkland “KB” Bodie has launched his “Save the Bays” album – a compilation of 12 songs about marine and land conservation in the Bahamas. Although KB is best known for songs like ‘Coo Coo Soup,’ ‘Bush Mechanic,’ and ‘Civil Servant,’ he is also very conscious about environmental issues which he conveys through his music. In this new album, KB speaks to issues such as conch conservation, oil pollution in our waters, and saving marine resources. The album was released on Monday. KB joined the environmental group Save the Bays in 2013 and wrote the song “Let’s Save the Bays,” which is also on the album. “Save the Bays wanted me to write a song for them and that was the first (environmental) song I wrote and it speaks about not abusing the land,” he told The Tribune. In 2011, KB wrote and released the song, “Dey Selling Our Country,” voicing the frustration of the Bahamian people regarding the constant sale of Bahamian land resources. According to KB, the song caught the attention of environmental activist Joseph Darville of the environmental group Save the Bays, which led to his affiliation with the group. Since then, KB has written several other songs, including “Oil Fish,” and “Let’s Save Our Nassau
KIRKLAND ‘KB’ BODIE Grouper Again.” on the album, “We Spying “The song, ‘Oil Fish,’ Everyday,” conveys concern is about the oil pollution about the constant spying of of our water that is poi- persons’ emails. soning the fish, and ‘Let’s KB, a successful musiSave Our Nassau Grouper cian, said that Bahamian Again’ is about conserv- artists should not sell theming our grouper stock. And selves short by accepting so I would like to praise the little to perform at the Bagovernment for closing the hamas Junkanoo Carnival. season for grouper catch,” The Grand Bahama nahe said. tive said that he will not KB said the country’s perform at BJC. fish stock is very low and “I will not perform at he wanted to convey the BJC as long as they are takimportance of preserving ing our tax dollars to pay our marine resources and for it. I will never support fish stock. Another song it,” he said.
BAIL APPLICATION IN MURDER TRIAL REJECTED BY THE SUPREME COURT By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A MAN seeking bail before his trial on a murder charge had his application rejected in the Supreme Court yesterday. Dennis Basden, 36, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs in front of whom his application was argued by defence attorney
David Cash. Basden is charged in connection with the killing of Taraz Hanna on June 30, 2015, outside a home in the Wilson Tract area. Basden, who denied the allegation when he was formally arraigned in Supreme Court on January 22, 2016, is scheduled to stand trial on September 25. Mr Cash was unable to convince Senior Justice
Isaacs that his client was a fit candidate for bail ahead of his trial which resulted in the application being rejected. Basden, who remains in custody at the Department of Correctional Services, can contest the decision to the Court of Appeal if he desires. Cordell Frazier and Anya Allen appeared for the Crown in the bail application.
PAGE 10, Friday, May 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Fresh questions over Las Vegas trip for PM, Gibson and Nygard meeting DETAILS have emerged of a meeting between Perry Christie, Shane Gibson and Peter Nygard in a luxury suite in Las Vegas shortly before the 2012 election, again highlighting the close relationship between Progressive Liberal Party leaders and the controversial developer and raising fresh questions over the muchcriticised stem cell legislation passed early in Mr Christie’s term. The footage itself is subject to a court gag order which is currently being challenged, with Nygard attorneys insisting the material must remain secret. However, The Tribune has seen a letter, recently released for public access by the US courts, which describes the details of the videos. Three of the exhibits are described as showing Mr Nygard “being interviewed about or otherwise discussing medical tourism in The Bahamas and the Bahamian government’s support of that effort”. One of these, described as Exhibit 8, is said to show “Nygard meeting, five years ago, in advance of the 2012 Bahamian election with the [current] Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie, together with another Bahamian cabinet minister Shane Gibson and other
attendees, in what appears to be a large hotel suite in the Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, whose signage is clearly reflected outside the window”. In documents filed with the court, Mr Nygard has admitted a June 19 meeting with officials from the Office of the Prime Minister, but alleged that certain details of the meeting had been “fabricated” and that construction of a multi-million dollar stem cell facility at his Lyford Cay home was never discussed. For his part, Mr Christie attempted in August, 2015, to set the record straight over speculation that he met with Nygard privately to discuss the investor’s personal interest in stem cell research in The Bahamas. “When I met with him it wasn’t Perry Christie and Nygard. It was Perry Christie, Nygard and scientists from the University of California. And the matter wasn’t what you could do for me, the matter was what can you do for the Bahamas.“ He failed to mention the location of this meeting, or say whether it occurred before the 2012 election. Why Mr Christie and Mr Gibson, both opposition MPs at the time, would travel to Las Vegas with Mr
Nygard remains unclear; as does the exact nature of the discussions with unnamed other parties concerning “medical tourism in the Bahamas and the Bahamian government’s support of that effort” as detailed in the description of the video. Mr Nygard is an admitted major funder of the PLP and his interest in stem cell medical treatment is well known. He has proposed a mega health facility in The Bahamas. In July, 2013, Mr Nygard insisted that the $5m donation he earlier admitted to giving was spent on stem cell research, denying that it went to finance the PLP’s 2012 election campaign. Upon coming to office shortly after the video in question was filmed, the Christie administration was criticised for prioritising stem cell research legislation, with opposition members claiming this was done simply to appease Mr Nygard. The Prime Minister vehemently denied this. However in October, 2015, during a radio interview, Mr Nygard claimed an intimate involvement in the legislation process, even asserting that he helped the government draft the Stem Cell Bill.
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie confirmed that his family was near a park where a man was shot last weekend, as he spoke out against “vitriol” and “bitterness” this election season. Mr Christie told the media that he saw a post where a woman said she hoped members of his family would have been killed by shots fired during the incident. He did not specify where he saw this post. The prime minister spoke of the ordeal when he was asked to shed light on his position regarding major revelations involving incumbent Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald and Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson. But just as he has done for the last several weeks, Mr Christie did not answer the question, but skirted around it, ultimately going on to chastise the Free National Movement suggesting the party has told an “extraordinary amount of lies” and “misstatements”. He added that the organisation had also dem-
onstrated a lack of confidence in its leader by ratifying former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette to run for the St Anne’s constituency and for having former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham appear at rallies. He made the comments during an interview with the press just after voting in Wednesday’s chaotic advance poll at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium where thousands stood in long lines in the blistering sun to cast ballots. The voting got off to a late start after ballot boxes were late in getting to the polling station and confusion was widespread after a second voting location, the National Stadium, was eliminated from use. Asked about Mr Fitzgerald’s solicitation of lucrative contracts from Baha Mar from as early as 2013 and allegations that Mrs Maynard-Gibson was alleged to have forged a “sweetheart” deal connected to the mega resort, Mr Christie said: “I told you before I am speaking from the platform of politics. I think we have had an extraordinary amount of lies and misstatements and what not. I think the FNM
PRIME Minister Perry Christie making his way through the crowd at this week’s rally on Golden Gates park. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff has clearly demonstrated time and I have been able Christie also said: “But we party with respect to our that they don’t have the to have a civilised relation- are going to a point now campaign. I try to utter confidence in their leader ship with leaders of politi- where even after an elec- from the political podium (that) they’ve have had to cal parties for that length tion the bitterness and the my concerns about it. I have vitriolic commentary that spoken openly about it and go back now and bring back of time.” On Sunday, Senior Assis- goes deep into families is again it is something for our the former deputy prime minister and former prime tant Commissioner of Po- not going to end and not country to take note of.” minister to bolster their ef- lice Stephen Dean said Mr going to be seen as an elec“My apprehension may forts in an election and that Christie’s wife Bernadette tion thing and that’s what I not be shared by many. is because of the glaring in- and daughter Alexandria am concerned about. Then They might think that this adequacies of leadership in were campaigning several all of a sudden we have is just an ordinary day in streets away from an inci- some real problems that the life of politics in our their party. “And so they have also dent where a man was shot affect our country in terms democracy. I have been followed what they’ve seen as he was walking through of the confidence that you around a long time and I happen in the United Stated Mason’s Addition on Satur- have and so there are con- have started to see deepcerns that we have to some- set feelings that do not stop of America - say what you day night. Senior ACP Dean told how be careful with how when an election is finished. want to say about anybody at any time all the time, etc. The Tribune that the prime we do our politics here. So What I want to see is whethI have said over and over minister’s family members there is no difficulty in my er my side wins or loses I two can play that game, but were not in any danger be- being confronted by peo- want to see a peaceful tranit doesn’t help our democ- cause they were not in the ple shouting and people sition where a new governimmediate vicinity where for and against and that’s a ment will come in whether racy. wonderful thing and actu- formed by me or others and “I said from the politi- the incident occurred. However, there was some ally have fun doing it. But we can resume our democcal platform (that) I saw a posting where a woman confusion over this situa- when they start shooting racy having demonstrated said she had hoped mem- tion as a well-placed source and saying things that are yet again that we are able bers of my family would within the Progressive Lib- of a violent nature. Then to have wonderful elections have been killed by shots eral Party told The Tribune we have to be concerned and peaceful transitions fired when they were on a that the incident happened and I am telling you that is into new governance and park. When you reach cer- “right across from” where concerning. the country goes on. That’s “I have the responsibil- what I am hoping and that is tain demonic procedures the prime minister’s wife in a country you have to and daughter had been ity of being leader of my what I would like to believe party in trying to keep a will take place here,” Mr be very careful. And I have campaigning. On Wednesday, Mr semblance of order in my Christie said. been in politics for a long
from page one
being transported from the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to the Parliamentary Registration Department, officials attempted to “better address” the box. At the time of his press conference, Mr McCartney did not identify the source of the information he was relaying to media, only noting that members of his party were on hand for every step of the process. However, later in the day, the party’s Pinewood candidate Lincoln Bain; Nassau Village candidate Mario “Ducky” Lockhart and Garden Hills candidate Youri Kemp, jointly took to social media to detail similar claims. In a video live streamed to Facebook, the three men were seen manoeuvring in and around the Parliamentary Registration Department,
openly questioning the department’s security protocol. In a 13-minute long video, both Mr Bain and Mr Lockhart questioned staff at the office over the placement of the boxes. The pair, in a short exchange with a police officer posted at the office, asked whether they were permitted to record their video. The two men then proceeded to illustrate how easy it would be for someone unauthorised to access the ballot boxes. “We are here by the stairwell where the ballot boxes are being kept,” stated Mr Bain in the video. “This is where the ballot boxes are being kept. A table is blocking the stairwell,” he continued, as he panned from a sign posted to a wall reading “Do Not Enter, Authorised Person-
PM HITS OUT AT VITRIOL IN ELECTION SEASON
“We already have some of the property purchased and we are just waiting to get the climate properly over here,” he told Guardian Talk Show radio host Juan McCartney. There is also a discrepancy concerning whether Mr Nygard ever made an application for a stem cell facility at his Nygard Cay home. Documents in the public domain show that Nygard made an application to the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) for a proposed “medical facility”. In March, 2016, Prime Minister Christie told the House of Assembly that Nygard “did not make an application” for the government to consider stem cells. He later clarified that the Ministry of Health had received no application, but failed to mention the BIA application. However, according to the documents, which were previously obtained by Tribune Business and referred to by Mr Nygard in court filings, the fashion designer met with the Prime Minister’s senior policy advisor, Sir Baltron Bethel, just over a month after the 2012 general election to discuss his plan for his stem cell facility at Nygard Cay, which he wanted to bring in Chinese labourers to construct.
Those documents also show that in 2012, the government “determined that appropriate acreage should be leased to Mr Peter Nygard” so he could rebuild Nygard Cay and develop a stem cell facility as a part of what was termed a “touristic development” at Nygard Cay. The letter describing the video is part of a discovery application in a New York court case regarding hundreds of hours of footage taken by Nygard’s former videographer Stephen Feralio. It is addressed to United State Southern District Court Judge Denise Cote, as part of an application by the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay and Louis Bacon seeking evidence for use in multiple cases in The Bahamas. In an April 8, 2015 document Mr Nygard’s defence to Louis Bacon’s $50m ‘smear campaign’ lawsuit against him, alleged that his Lyford Cay neighbour was using his friendship with Mr Christie to imply that the Government was guilty of “illegal favouritism” towards him. Mr Nygard also repeated previous denials that he was seeking permission to construct a stem cell treatment facility at Nygard Cay, arguing that minutes
of a June 2012 meeting between his team and the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) - purporting to show such plans - had been fabricated. “These minutes purportedly showed that Mr Nygård was proposing to build a stem cell facility treatment on Nygård Cay, which would have been a boon to the medical tourism industry. Mr Nygård’s supposed intent was to curry preferential treatment by the Bahamian government,” the Canadian and his attorneys alleged. In 2013, former FNM chairman Darron Cash took the government to task over its relationship with Mr Nygard and its relation to the stem cell legislation. He said: “Peter Nygard has taught the Christie government a valuable lesson. When the ‘John‘ has finished paying for ‘services’ rendered, he feels as if he owns you. It is clear for all to see that the Prime Minister has gone out of his way to serve the needs and interests of this self-proclaimed paymaster. And now that Nygard has paid for political services rendered, he feels he can say or do anything he feels like in our country. Thank you for that Prime Minister Christie!”
DNA CONCERN OVER BALLOT BOX SECURITY Mr McCartney alleged that several ballot envelopes were incorrectly sealed, suggesting that this could open a door to a number of concerns. He spoke to reporters at the DNA’s headquarters on East Street South. A perturbed Mr McCartney also indicated that those allegedly incorrectly sealed envelopes were later packed away in faulty boxes and transported to an unsecured stairwell at the Parliamentary Registration Department’s Farrington Road location. In particular, Mr McCartney claimed that the Mount Moriah ballot box had not been adequately sealed, alleging that on at least two occasions while
nel Only” above the table. “This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in my life. A table is blocking the stairwell where the Parliamentary Registration Office (has the ballots), and this is being secured by a stairwell. “Eight thousand ballots are down there in some boxes. Six per cent of the vote, a table is protecting them.” The pair then moved to the exterior of the building where they were joined by Mr Kemp. The three men again questioned who made the ruling to house Wednesday’s ballots in such an unsecured facility. The trio further suggested that the ballots should have been sealed, boxed and transported to the offices of Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.
Parliamentary officials could not be reached to comment on these allegations, although Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall held a press conference about the advanced poll earlier in the day. Mr Hall has confirmed that his three-year contract expired yesterday, however it is unclear if he will be replaced before the general election on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mr McCartney said whether they want to or not, the government ought to move to have Mr Hall removed all together, while also taking responsibility for the failures of Wednesday’s advanced polls. Mr McCartney noted improprieties in the handling of ballots in the 1987 general election, which led many in the public to refer to that
process as an election “stolen” by the Progressive Liberal Party. He added that officials must move to sterilise the voting process ahead of next week’s general election or face criticism of tainted ballots. According to Mr McCartney, very few of his party’s poll workers were allowed to vote on Wednesday. The Parliamentary Registration Department was expected to release a statement Thursday in response to the claims, however, one was not issued up to press time. Mr Hall’s tenure at the department has been tenuous. In addition to Wednesday’s botched poll, Mr Hall also oversaw last June’s gender equality referendum, another polling exercise marred with controversy.
PAGE 12, Friday, May 5, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Lodge St Michael 1634 SC Lodge St Michael. Lodge St. Michael 1634, Scottish Constitution, celebrates its 50th anniversary this week with a number of events to mark this occasion. The week began with a church service at St Agnes Anglican Church and continued with a public lecture on Monday at the University of The Bahamas’ Culinary Hospitality Management Institute. Yesterday, a special session of the Lodge convened at the Lodge Hall, Stapeldon Gardens, and the week will conclude in grand style with a Black Tie Gala Ball tomorrow at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. The lodge, which received its Charter on May 4th, 1967, will honor the lodge’s founding members and past District Grand
JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers. To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line. For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.
SOME of the participants in the Toastmasters Club’s Ed Carey Boil Fish Run. Masters at the ball. Cock- be broken. Brotherhood tails start at 7pm with din- cannot be defined but only ner at 8pm. Prime Minister experienced. We strive Perry Christie has declared to keep this intact by all April 3-May 6 Lodge St. means. Michael’s Week. “We look forward to celThe lodge will give part ebrating Lodge St. Michael proceeds of the ball to the in grand style at the ball and Ivan Hanna Scholarship we are even more so excited Fund at the University of about giving to the Ivan The Bahamas. This award Hanna Scholarship Fund, is into its 17th year. ensuring that some young The lodge is currently un- Bahamian has chance at der the leadership of Bac- obtaining a well-deserved chus Rolle, a well-known scholarship.” administrator and sportsTickets for the event may man. be secured from any memHe said: “As we celebrate ber of the lodge. Entertain50 years of existence, I can’t ment will be provided by help but reflect on princi- Ambasah, under the diples set down for us by our rection of Chris Justillien. founders. The bonds of Master of ceremonies is brotherhood should never David Wallace.
MAN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT IN HEAD AT CAR WASH from page one
However, he was announced dead a short time later. The killing took the country’s murder count to 51 for the first five months of the year and marked the first homicide in May, according to The Tribune’s records. Rahming is the cousin of Latrae Rahming, Prime Minister Perry Christie’s press aide. In a post to Facebook last evening, Latrae Rahming noted that he spent much of Thursday discussing politics with his cousin, only to be notified of his death later in the evening. The post read: “I spent the entire day debating politics with my cousin and 30 minutes later received a call saying he was murdered. Before he died he left one value lesson.” It continued: “‘Thank God for life, at least we are family, we may fight, we may argue but at the end of the day, tomorrow we still love each other and that’s what matters the most. We have
to struggle to the FNM, the PLP, and the DNA.’ “Lord knows my heart is heavy. Just like that he’s gone. This violence just have to stop. RIP Leo Rahming.” Thursday’s homicide marks the 620th killing since the Progressive Liberal Party took office in May 2012, according to The Tribune’s records. Before the 2012 general election, the PLP, then in opposition, posted billboards throughout New Providence - in areas heavily trafficked by tourists and locals - which said there had been more than 490 killings under the fiveyear Ingraham administration. The PLP campaigned that it had the answer to violent crime while the Ingraham administration did not. It promised that if elected it would get crime under control. Instead crime has increased. Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call police at 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.
VOTER FRAUD CHARGE IS WITHDRAWN from page one
notably absent was Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall, one of six witnesses who was to give evidence in the trial. Vernal Collie, of the Office of the Attorney General, told Magistrate McKinney yesterday: “After taking instructions from the attorney general, the Crown is withdrawing the charge pursuant to section 230 (2)(b)(ii) of the Criminal Procedure Code.” Johnson’s lawyer, Philip Hilton, questioned why a full acquittal provision of the CPC was not being applied. The magistrate said it was a matter for the Crown which can bring the matter back if it desired to, but at the moment his client was being cleared. Mr Hilton also questioned if the move would bar Johnson from being able to vote on May 10. However, Mr Collie said it would not. “We’ve withdrawn the matter against him. He’s free to exercise his right (to vote),” Mr Collie added.
It was alleged that Johnson, between February 27 and February 28, while at Harbour Island and under oath, made a statement before Revising Officer Lucy Butler for the purpose of registering to vote knowing the statement to be false. The section under which Johnson was charged notes that “any person who - (a) makes any false statement, for the purpose of being registered as a voter; or in answer to any lawful enquiry by a revising officer, returning officer or presiding officer, or for the purpose of making any objection to the registration of any other person as voter, or in any oath or declaration taken or made by him by virtue of any of the requirements of this act, knowing such statement to be false; shall be guilty of an offence against this act, and any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of any such offence shall also be guilty of an offence against this act.” When called on to answer to the charge at his arraignment in March, Johnson pleaded not guilty.
Toastmasters Club 1600 Toastmasters Club 1600. - The annual Ed Carey Boil Fish Run was successful as numerous walkers and runners were out in full force. Some came to burn off a few extra calories, others turned out as a part of their fitness regime and a few simply wanted to show their support for Toastmasters Club 1600. Participants made their way to Curly’s Restaurant at Arawak Cay shortly before 6am on Saturday
THE OFFICE bearers of Lodge St Michael 1634. April 29th for the annual Development Bank and event named after one of back (5 miles). 1st place Club 1600 founding mem- runner overall was Anthober Distinguished Toast- ny Longley with a time of master Edward Carey, it is 52 minutes and 32 seconds, designed to get members of and 1st place walker overthe Toastmasters and local all was Oris Bowleg with a community out, about and time of 1 hour and 4 minactive. utes. Traveling at their own After an exhilarating run pace, the route took walk- and walk, the participants ers along scenic West Bay were treated with succuStreet to the Office of the lent Boiled Fish, and had Prime Minister and back their thirst quenched with (3.5 miles) while joggers refreshing beverages. They sprinted to the Bahamas also took the time to learn
more about Toastmasters, a worldwide leader in communication and leadership development. The event was sponsored by BTC, Network One, and Sun Oil Limited. President Toastmaster Chervez Brown thanked all participants and sponsors who supported the event, continuing to honor the legacy of Edward Carey. Toastmasters Club 1600 meets on Thursdays at 8pm at Superclub Breezes.
FIDELITY BANK SUPPORTS AUTISM AWARENESS FIDELITY Bank (Bahamas) Limited along with the community donated to REACH in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. REACH - or Resources and Education for Autism and Related Challenges was founded in 1998 as a voluntary support and advocacy group for persons and their families who are challenged by autism or related disorders. The lifelong, complex, neurobiological disorder is char-
acterised by varying degrees of communication, socialisation and behaviour impairments. While the statistics for the Bahamas is unknown, autism is considered the fastest growing developmental disability in the country. Autism Awareness Month occurs every April worldwide. During that time, organisations like REACH hosts a number of fundraising events. To assist in this
fundraising exercise, Fidelity Bank made REACH its charity for the months January – March, where the community was encouraged to donate to the organisation at any of its branches in Nassau. Fidelity then matched the donations dollar for dollar. Marcia Newball, REACH’s executive director, said its main objective is to “provide parents with comprehensive knowledge and tools in all areas of this
neurobiological disorder.” Among the challenges faced by the organisation is the lack of services afforded to persons with autism, including early diagnosis, speech and occupational therapy, finding appropriate education, vocational training, job opportunities, respite care, and sheltered living facilities. For more information on REACH or to donate to the organisation, call 328-4123 or 698-7744.