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VOLUME:114 No.127, MAY 24TH, 2017
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Police kill boy as he steals cigarettes
AN INVESTIGATOR picks up cigarettes stolen from QVS Pharmacy at Seagrape Shopping Centre during an armed robbery where one suspect - a tenth grade student from RM Bailey Senior High School - was shot dead by police. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Officers returned fire in shootout
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
A BRAZEN daytime robbery yesterday ended with police shooting one teenage suspect dead and apprehending two more after the trio, along with another armed man, alleg-
edly tied up an employee, held customers at gunpoint and robbed the QVS Pharmacy in the Seagrape Shopping Plaza. Several packs of cigarettes were seen scattered throughout the nearby parking lot, confirmed by police to be the main component of the suspects’
haul, which included some cash. Some customers were also robbed. The Ministry of Education confirmed last night that the dead boy was a tenth grade student from R M Bailey Senior High School. Many onlookers said the incident played out like a
scene from a movie. One customer, who was inside the store when the daring robbery occurred, described it as a scene of chaos and panic. The customer, who asked not to be named, told The Tribune that assailants entered the store and demanded several items. Not
satisfied with the speed of the cashier, two of the suspects moved behind the counter and tied her up, while another asked him to get on the ground. “It looked like students, but you can’t really say,” the witness said. SEE PAGE THREE
DAVIS HAS NO FEARS OVER URBAN RENEWAL REVIEW By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
WHILE insisting he has no concerns over anything that may come to light concerning Urban Renewal, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis threatened to “make a story” over the way the government does business, should the
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) be impugned unfairly. Last week, Minister of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson expressed grave concerns regarding Urban Renewal in Grand Bahama and suspended certain operations pending further review. He went on to describe the operations of the initiative as “unusual”. However, speaking to reporters
yesterday following the swearing in of four Official Opposition senators at Government House, Mr Davis, whose portfolio included Urban Renewal under the previous administration, went on to suggest that he was confident that the newly-elected government will find nothing untoward during its review of the country’s finances.
“I have no concern about anything that they could find,” Mr Davis told reporters. “We all have ways of doing things and if they want to make a story about the way we might have done something, we equally can make a story about how they want to do things.” SEE PAGE SIX
HENFIELD ‘DECEPTIVE’ IN PURSUIT OF SELFISH INTERESTS - ROBERTS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
BRADLEY Roberts labelled We March organiser Ranard Henfield “deceptive” yesterday following the activist’s appointment to the Senate by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Monday. The Progressive Liberal
Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.
Party (PLP) chairman said Mr Henfield never cared about protecting the environment or good governance. “It was always about the deceitful manipulation of the Bahamian people in a dishonest pursuit of selfish political interests, nothing more, nothing less,” he noted in a statement released yesterday.
“The sad reality is that the Bahamian people are now saddled with a person or persons of the ilk of Ranard Henfield who will legislate laws and formulate policies to govern the very same people he deceived just months ago under the guises of nationalism and patriotism.” SEE PAGE SIX
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‘HELL TO PAY’ IF MANAGERS UNTOUCHED IN BPL THEFT PROBE
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net PRESIDENT of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Paul Maynard said yesterday “there will be hell to pay,” if his union members remain on suspension during an investigation into missing funds at Bahamas Power and Light, while managers at the power company “go unscathed”. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Maynard said he will not stand by and let his members be railroaded when those at a higher rank, whom he claims are the only ones who have access to the funds in question, remain at work. He also demanded that BPL hire a forensic accountant from outside the power company because “rats cannot investigate rats”. The Tribune reported on Tuesday that four BPL employees were suspended SEE PAGE 11
FORMER AG REGRETS ONLY COMMUNICATIONS OVER BAHA MAR By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson said if she were to have any regrets over the previous Government’s handling of Baha Mar, it is that there was not “stronger” or “more regular” communication regarding the process. The former Cabinet minister, who was a crucial figure in negotiations to get the resort open after a severe delay, suggested that because of this lack of communication, “social media” and “other alternative facts” distorted the goals the Christie administration had attempted to achieve. SEE PAGE SIX
INVESTIGATOR ‘FOUND BLOOD INSIDE CAR’ IN MARCO ARCHER CASE By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A ROYAL Bahamas Police Force crime scene investigator yesterday testified to having taken swabs of suspected blood samples from multiple parts of the interior of a vehicle allegedly belonging to Kofhe Goodman, the man accused of 11-year-old Marco Archer’s murder five and a half years ago. SEE PAGE SIX
PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PHILIP BRAVE DAVIS, Opposition Leader along with his wife Anne-Marie and Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling with the official Senators of the Opposition and their families after being sworn in yesterday at Government House. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PLP SENATORS WILL BE VIGILANT, SAYS DAVIS By KHRISNA VIRGIL Dep tyu Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday he is confident that the four newly-appointed Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) senators will be vigilant and correct misinformation when they begin work in the Upper Chamber. Mr Davis said the Official Opposition’s parliamentary team should be regarded as instruments of nation building and not agents of national disunity and unnecessary conflict. He was speaking during the swearing in of former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred
Mitchell, former Minister of Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville, former PLP election candidate Clay Sweeting and attorney Jobeth Coleby Davis as opposition senators at Government House. “At the same time, however, I wish to emphasise that as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in both houses of Parliament we have the responsibility to provide vigorous dissent in those instances where it is warranted,” Mr Davis said. “It is also our duty to be vigilant and correct misinformation lest it obscure the truth or lead to what is now popularly referred to in discourse of our great neighbours to the north as the alternative reality.
“You will find that our senators or MPs alike will not hesitate to set the record straight.” For her part, former Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said the team was “strong” in her view. “I think it’s a fabulous team. So I think that the Bahamian people can expect strong governance and the opposition will ensure that that happens,” she said. Meanwhile, parliamentarians and other dignitaries will convene in Parliament and Rawson Squares today for the opening of Parliament and the reading of the Speech from the Throne. This will mark the start of the new administration’s legislative agenda.
ATTENDEES at the swearing-in ceremony for Opposition Senators yesterday.
DR Michael Darville and Fred Mitchell greeting attendees at the swearing-in ceremony yesterday and, below, seated.
JOBETH Coleby-Davis with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling yesterday and, below, a young attendee at the even.
OPPOSITION leader Philip “Brave” Davis speaking at the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, PAGE 3
POLICE officers at the scene of an armed robbery in the Seagrape Shopping Centre where one suspect was fatally shot.
Police kill boy as he steals cigarettes from page one “This really changes a lot, like how you look at life right now. I’m a little shaken up, (but) alright. They came right behind the cashier (and) pulled a gun on us. “They told me to get on the ground,” the witness continued. “They tried to tie me but they couldn’t do it. I saw three of the four (suspects).” He said he recalled seeing four customers scattered throughout the store while shopping. He said the harrowing event left him confused and shocked by how easily he could have lost his life. Quick response According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, alert officers responded to the call of a robbery in progress at the pharmacy. Reports are that the four suspects entered the QVS Pharmacy shortly after 11am, demanded cash and other merchandise from the employees and customers, tied up at least one employee and attempted to tie up a male customer before fleeing the store on foot. Officers in the immediate vicinity responded and once
ACP Clayton Fernander speaking to the media on the scene of the armed robbery at Seagrape Shopping Centre where one suspect was fatally shot. Two more were in custody and one managed to escape. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff on the scene, encountered all four males, two of whom were brandishing firearms. ACP Fernander said police gave chase, resulting in the suspects opening fire at police. Officers returned shots, fatally wounding one of the suspects. He indicated that two of the remaining three suspects were caught by officers a short time later
near the crime scene. “(Police) returned fire and eventually fatally shooting one of the individuals, who collapsed at the rear of the store. Just next to him his gun was found - a pistol was found not too far away from him. Two other culprits were later found in the vicinity and they were found in possession
of some cash and also some items that you saw earlier in the parking lot, an assortment of cigarettes that they dropped as they were trying to flee from the officers.” He continued: “At this present time we are actively investigating. As you can see the coroner came and she is a part of the investigation at this time.
“There is a lot of things going around in social media to say that they are school kids. We can’t say that at this time, that is a line of inquiry that we are following. The deceased appears to be a young child who should have been in school, but we are not confirming this at this present time. “This is a line of inquiry that we are following and as we move with the investigation, we will be able to update you with respect to the investigation.” However, last evening the Ministry of Education confirmed that the victim was an R M Bailey Senior High School student. “As a police investigation is still ongoing, we have very few details to share with the public at this time,” the statement from Education Director Lionel Sands noted. “Nonetheless, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young man. “The events surrounding this tragic incident point to a need for continued reform in our education system and I plead with the country to assist us in our efforts to implement the necessary reforms to reduce the amount of criminality and violence in our young men.” Mr Sands said officials
PICTURED is the gun that was reportedly used by the suspect who was fatally shot.
POLICE at the scene of an armed robbery in the Seagrape Shopping Centre yesterday.
WOMAN WANTED IN DRUGS PROBE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama police want to speak to a Freeport woman in connection with an investigation into possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. Police believe Lavanda Michelle Richey Burrows, 23, can help with the investigation. She is 5ft 6in, of medium build with a light brown complexion. Anyone with informa-
tion is asked to call the 350-3125/350-3121 or call Drug Enforcement Unit 911/919 or contact the nearWednesday, 2017station. in Grand Bahama at 242-24th estMay police
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will offer counselling and support services to students and staff who are affected. Line of duty ACP Fernander said police are searching for the fourth suspect and asked the public to pray for members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force as they attempt to bring an end to crime. ACP Fernander said officers are being pushed to the limit on a daily basis, operating with the fear that at any moment they could lose their lives in the line of duty. He said: “And we want the members of the public, this is a Christian nation, to continue to pray for us because we are in the line of fire every day and we have families. “We leave home, again, we don’t know if we are going to return. So we want the country to please continue to pray for their police force for guidance, that the good Lord will continue to guide us to remove this handful of criminals who continue to try to wreak havoc on the country. “We will not stand by and let that happen. So it is a warning for the others out there, if you continue in your old ways, your bad ways in crime, we will be there for you. We will be there for you to put you wherever you belong; that is Fox Hill (in prison).” ACP Fernander added: “If you continue in your old ways, this will be the end result at the end of the day.” Yesterday’s incident marked the second police involved fatality in less than a week. A man was shot dead by police after a car chase and shootout on Saturday afternoon in Pride Estates. Both matters are currently being investigated by Coroner Jeanine Weech Gomez.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
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Facing up to the terror threat THE suicide bombing at a concert in Manchester, England, on Monday night has claimed at least 22 lives. Once again we find ourselves mourning the loss of innocents and wondering how our societies can find normalcy in a world of suicide attacks, car rammings and mass shootings. Many commentators have already called for the United Kingdom and other societies to increase their levels of security, add police officers and install security personnel, bag checks and metal detectors in public places. Research by Daniel P Aldrich, of Northeastern University in Boston, on the role of social networks during and after crises provides an alternative approach. Rather than focusing on hardening our physical infrastructure, he has found our societies become more resilient when we deepen and broaden our social infrastructure. Social ties provide emotional support, information and collective action at critical times. Hardening our society is one way to make us more resilient to hazards - that is, to allow us to bounce back from adversity more quickly. But we cannot armour our societies against all threats. Millions of people worldwide in cities like Boston, Mumbai, Ghana, Tel Aviv and Tokyo use public transportation systems, attend concerts, go to parks, visit malls and walk in public daily. All of these locations are vulnerable to those who would do us harm, and we cannot police them all. Further, protecting against one type of physical threat, such as an active shooter, does little to shield society against other types of dangers, such as vehicular attacks. During and after traumatic events, we need other people. Social ties measurably lessen the effects of trauma and allow us to grieve, work through our adversity, and create and offer support. For example, his ongoing research on evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear power meltdowns has shown that factors such as health and wealth did little to ease survivors’ anxiety over radiation exposure and worries about their livelihoods. Instead, having neighbours and friends who moved along with evacuees as they fled from their homes was the most powerful predictor of reducing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among residents. Social ties - especially those mediated through social media outlets such as Twit-
ter, Facebook and NextDoor - provide information and platforms to connect acts of kindness and solidarity to people in need. Facebook’s ‘safety check’ feature for instance, allows users to check in and announce they are safe following a natural disaster or terror attack. In Manchester on Monday, residents offered rides, food, water and shelter to all, using social media tags like #roomforManchester. Taxi drivers took people home from the concert arena without charge. Similarly, after the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, 2015, and Brussels in March, 2016, locals offered shelter to stranded survivors with the hashtag #PorteOuverte (open door). During the agonising period when parents and spouses were waiting to hear news of loved ones at the concert, the social media tag #missinginManchester helped them seek information. But not all shows of support involved social media. Blood banks around Manchester received so many donations that they started turning people away less than 24 hours after the bombing. These emergent collective actions were not co-ordinated by governmental authorities, but instead evolved from feelings of connection and decency. Sometimes they can even inject some humour into grim events. During a four-day lockdown in Brussels in November, 2015, while police searched for one of the Paris attackers, residents started tweeting pictures of cats in battle gear. Scholars studying societies that regularly face terror attacks from rockets, shootings and knifings have similarly argued for the importance of social ties in building resilience. One study of Israel illuminated how community ties may be the most powerful way to help people deal with the reality of life as targets. Manchester itself has faced bombings before. It was attacked multiple times during world War II, and in 1996 an Irish Republican Army bomb destroyed the downtown shopping district, injuring more than 200 people. Thanks to strong connections and community resilience, the city bounced back from past tragedies. As we struggle to find words to express our shock and sympathy for those who were harmed, we should not forget the healing power of building connections to each other. • This article was originally published on The Conversation,
Civil behaviour EDITOR, The Tribune. ALLOW me to congratulate my fellow Bahamians for once again conducting themselves in a civilized and peaceful manner during the recently held General Election. I am calling on all political parties and their candidates, both those elected and rejected, to do their civic duty and remove and responsibly dispose of all of their election paraphernalia, banners, posters, flags, etc, which is a huge eyesore throughout the community
rather than leaving them to Mother Nature to dispose of which up until now has been the norm. Might I also humbly suggest that the new government, at some point during their term, consider making recycling mandatory. Aside from providing entrepreneurial opportunities it would help enormously in relieving some of the pressure on the already overburdened and poorly managed Harold Road landfill as well as on those in many of the Family Islands similarly afflicted. They might at the same
time update our antiquated litter laws to include stricter enforcement with stiffer penalties to include public shaming through community service if we are to rid ourselves of the scourge of illegal dumping and littering in general. Let’s make a new start on cleaning up our country, New Providence in particular, which over the years has sadly become a dump in its own right. IAN MABON Nassau, May 12, 2017
Back to basics EDITOR, The Tribune YOU may want to revisit the opinion page of May 23 and take a closer look at what was published regarding “Patterson’s medieval rhetoric”, as you will find no documented support for the title and most of what was written by Kevin Evans, of Freeport, Grand Bahama. Upon inspection of the historical documentation, you will find that it was not
a question of political parties listening to the Church, it was an era when the “Church was not listening to men of God”. The Reformers never spoke to political organisations (except you may be able to label the Roman Catholic Church of that era as such, keeping in mind what politicians and secular leaders do; start wars and have people’s heads chopped off), they spoke to those in spiritual authority and tried
to reform their thinking. If we are to be truthful in what we write and publish we must have high regard for “context”, and in the business that we are in context is everything and it should be, even when we attempt to espouse our personal agendas; misinformed though they be. EDWARD HUTCHESON May 23, 2017
Lessons in the defeat of the PLP EDITOR, The Tribune A POLITICAL defeat is like a messy divorce. The ‘blame game’ becomes quickly apparent once a petition for dissolution is filed and served or when political entities are deposed. This is now the case here in our wonderful nation. Eighteen months ago, I advised the leadership of my party, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), that our then leader, Perry Gladstone Christie, had become ‘the most hated man’, politically speaking, in The Bahamas. Very few of those therein wanted to accept that prognostication. The rest, as they say, is history. In his elusive quest for ‘legacy’ the former Prime Minister, took his eyes, so to speak, off the ball. The PLP sold the Bahamian people a ‘Bill of Goods’ back in 2012 reinforced by the catchy slogan: ‘We believe in Bahamians’. The strategy actually worked and we were elected into govern-
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ance. Almost immediately, however, many of our parliamentarians and cabinet members dropped the proverbial ball, big time. Our marketing and messaging were terrible. We appeared to many, in my view, to be in hot pursuit of personal and business agendas. The rest is now history ... we were literally wiped out on May 10, 2017. The PLP will regroup under the leadership of Philip ‘Brave’ Davis (PLPCat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador). Brave, like the new Prime Minister, Dr Hubert A Minnis (FNMKillarney), has personal challenges but, as the PM has vividly demonstrated, those, whatever they might be, need not be fatal to a successful climb to the top of the political totem pole. We wanted to politely ‘retire’ our former leader but there was too much ego at
play and too little concern, overall, for the political sustainability of the party and the ‘Gold Rush’ Administration. Had we succeeded in deposing Brother Christie, we would have, I postulate, fared a whole lot better than we did on May 10. It is what it is, however, and the electorate, like the wind, has blown us away. The fabled movie ‘Gone with the Wind’ portrays it all. Dr Minnis, the Prime Minister of all Bahamians, astounded me, personally, on his unwavering approach to attaining the government, along with an excellent team of new and old members of the Free National Movement (FNM). They are to be congratulated and, where possible, all Bahamians must give them our support as we continue to build our wonderful nation. To God then, in all things, be the glory. ORTLAND H BODIE JR Nassau May 19, 2017
Belief in the People’s Agenda? EDITOR, The Tribune MAY 10 is already more than a week past and the smoke and mirrors of the campaign have disappeared and reality is now the issue - reality in can Prime Minister Hubert Minnis deliver ‘It’s The People’s Time’? Immediately as with all elections, a new Administration has the enormous financial issue to face. The total madness of two successive General Elections, being on the eve of when a Budget has to be presented, is just that but that is a reality, so we face it. Minister Peter Turnquest probably will go to Parliament with a request to borrow $300m to $400m to meet shortfall responsibilities of the Treasury (bills needed to be paid, plus the Police arrears
of $28m and long considerations of meeting fiscal borrowings etc will also have to be met). The People’s Agenda Good Governance page (1) of Manifesto. I suggest PM Minnis has to deliver on at least four of those issues. He can and must, or he will be on the failing route, immediately missing the popularity hype post-election, when a PM cannot make a mistake but delay problems. So I expect by November, 2017, there will be a Referendum to Amend - Term of Prime Ministers, Recall of MPs, Independent Boundaries Commission, Fixed date for Elections, Campaign Finance, as well as donations to MPs reform. Is it possible? Possible should not be a consideration. If PM Minnis does not
take this challenge, he and the Free National Movement (FNM) will never bring these basic reforms of the People’s Agenda. For a fixed day for Election - the date should only be in February or November - the PM should retain the right, subject to Parliament’s approval, to call an Election earlier (UK system). Term limits for PM … logical is two consecutive terms. The Speech from the Throne on Wednesday should say this: that in November there will be a Referendum on these issues. Let us see if the FNM believe in their People’s Agenda? TRICIA HUMES Nassau May 20, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, PAGE 5
Fyre Festival organisers ‘wasted money and acted like spoilt kids’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net AMERICAN organisers flew into The Bahamas and conducted their affairs like “spoilt kids” with an aging celebrity in tow, flouting regulations in their bid to stage the ill-fated Fyre Festival cheaply, according to a former Bahamian consultant on the project. Rodney Burrows, a veteran high-end developer in the Exuma Cays, yesterday accused the government of selling out the country by allowing such a poorly planned event to take root, despite clear warning signs. Mr Burrows said the Ministry of Tourism was closely involved with the project on the ground in Exuma, as well as “all of local government”. “They wasted these people money on models ... to get this thing through and just private jets and all that stuff, the life. They didn’t spend any of the money on the infrastructure because we gave a price, and our price was around $5m to do the infrastructure. That would have put in for the security, for all the infrastructure to do deal with the sewer, that was to prepare the grounds for the tents. “They had a very nice plan that they put forward but they didn’t do their plan.” US organisers Billy McFarland, rapper Ja Rule and Fyre Media Inc are facing multi-million dollar lawsuits filed in the wake of the fiasco on Exuma in late April when inadequate planning and facilities led performers to bow out and organisers to cancel the much-hyped event, stranding customers. Ticket packages ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000 promised five-star dining and luxury accommodations with headline performers including Blink-182, Migos and Major Lazer. But instead of putting Exuma on the map as the next big destination music experience, Fyre Festival succeeded only in sparking outrage and recriminations. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Burrows expressed disgust over the disastrous outcome - which he argued did not reflect The Bahamas’ production capacity but repeated failure of organisers to heed the advice of local professionals. “The biggest problem with this was that the tickets were sold before they had a location,” Mr Bur-
COCO PLUM, a beach site that festival-goers were bused to from the main camp site.
RODNEY Burrows rows said, “that was the mad rush. They already had the money in their hand and they started to mess with the money. We flew to Staniel Cay on a private jet, they flew to Norman’s Cay on a private jet with models. “They were wasting the money,” he said, “it was like a rap movie. Young white boy like rap and he’s with Ja Rule, an old washed up rapper - that’s exactly what I saw.” Mr Burrows recalled an “embarrassing” encounter at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, where he was flown out for a meeting and arrived to find Ja Rule flashing fistfuls of cash. “They were down in the cays partying with the models. When we walked into the yacht club here is Ja Rule with $1,500 in this hand, $1,500 in that hand, and he’s just showing the money out. “I’ve worked in the Exuma Cays for over 25 years. I’ve worked with a lot of billionaires, and billionaires walk around with a pair of beach shorts on and a
“HUNDREDS OF APPOINTMENTS” FOR GOVT TO BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS THE Minnis administration will begin making appointments to government boards, committees and diplomatic posts in two to three weeks, Free National Movement (FNM) chairman Sidney Collie said yesterday. “The first order of business is to get Parliament to meet and to start the budget debate and then we will work on the appointments,” he said. Mr Collie, a member of the administration’s transition team, said hundreds of people will have to be appointed throughout the government. The appointees will be chosen by the Minnis administration’s transition team. That six-member team comprises Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest, Attorney General Carl Bethel, former parliamentarian Cornelius A Smith and former Ambassador to the United States Joshua Sears. In 2012, the former Christie administration announced its full appointments to statutory boards and committees in early July after the May general election. However, for-
mer Prime Minister Perry Christie had been criticised for failing to appoint people to boards in time for the start of that fiscal year, July 1. Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts noted at the time that the former Ingraham administration appointed people to statutory boards on July 8, 2007, and that some board appointments had been made prior to that date. Appointments will be made for relatively obscure groups, like the Advisory Committee on Corporate Development as well as for more prominent organisations like the Public Hospitals Authority. Appointments are typically watched closely by party faithfuls, some of whom hope to get plum posts. Dr Minnis said on Monday that he will begin appointing people “in due course” to various boards and councils. “I am especially excited to invite a new generation of young people to serve on government boards,” he said at Government House. “They will bring new energy, new ideas and a new perspective.”
PASSPORT OFFICE CLOSED ON FRIDAY THE Passport Office on Thompson Boulevard will be closed to the public on
Friday, May 26, at 1pm to allow for a retirement event honouring staff members.
money clip. ‘This is embarrassing’, I said to the other guy, ‘this place is used to seeing some real money and everybody knows Ja Rule is worth about $5m’. He screwed up all his money; come on we have Google these days.” Mr Burrows served as a project consultant from November to mid-February, when he said organisers severed ties after he delivered a complete costing of all materials needed to build the site. Mr Burrows said that organisers were initially adamant about using Saddleback Cay, off Norman’s Cay, with an expected crowd of 10,000. “The first idea was they would buy the cay and bring people in on cruise ships. I told them they were crazy. These guys wanted to just pay their way through everything. They thought they could come into the Exuma Cays. One of them said by the time this concert is done no one would know they were there. And I said you got to be crazy, this is the playground of the rich, anything that happens here is going to be known.” From Saddleback Cay, organisers then turned their
sights to Black Point, which was the location on which Mr Burrows based his costing for all materials needed to execute the project. “We were setting up for 5,000,” he said, “that meant setting up food, security, using water trucks to keep grounds wet so there’s not so much dust. You were building a site, we were bringing in three D8s (large track-type tractor), four payloaders, six dump trucks, sewer trucks, sewer barges, fuel trucks, utility trucks to do the servicing. They needed excavators, we needed a ramp for the barge to come into. “When they saw how much it was we never got a call back.” He added: “If you come to The Bahamas, use Bahamians. We should know how to build on our land, and professionals, not just anyone off the street. This guy (Billy) McFarland was listening to the last guy who talked to him with anything that he liked to hear. “We went to Black Point and most of the meeting he was riding a Jet Ski. We saw him at the end when it was time to go, and you got millions of people’s money. “I built Ocean Cay, Cistern Cay, Highbourne Cay,
I’ve done nine of those islands. I could have seen the way they were handling the money and they didn’t really think this thing should cost this much. “They just didn’t want to spend the money,” he said. “They were spending the money where they shouldn’t have been spending it and McFarland was making all the decisions. Ja Rule was just more there for the party.” Mr Burrows said he later heard that the project was moved to Great Exuma, with no plan or professional local team. He said he also heavily discouraged organisers from using dates that clashed with the island’s regatta, and predicted the events that unfolded that weekend. “You’re talking about putting on 20 more flights - George Town airport couldn’t handle that. The exact catastrophe that happened I told them was going to happen,” he said. “They didn’t listen to me. The guy Billy McFarland, he was young, he was arrogant. When you didn’t say what he wanted to hear, all he would say is ‘oh man just fix it’. No you don’t just fix it, you do drawings, you do planning, and this is how things get done.”
Mr Burrows said he and other local professionals consistently offered feasible suggestions to execute the event, such as using the Hotel Encouragement Act to secure a bond for imported equipment. He alleged that the organisers were able to get things done through officials on Exuma without proper procedure. “They got the local officials up there to be pushed to approve them pushing down land like they shouldn’t have been doing,” he alleged. Mr Burrows was referring to the Coco Plum beach site, where it is visible that the land was cleared by a tractor. Mr Burrows said: “If they had gotten approval, they could have gotten exemptions. That’s why all this equipment is sitting up there in George Town right now.” Reflecting on the media firestorm, some of which paints the country in a negative light, he said: “It wasn’t like that. It was a bunch of spoilt American kids coming down here thinking they could push their money around and buy the government, buy everybody, and get it done. But they couldn’t get it done.”
PAGE 6, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Investigator ‘found blood inside car’ in Marco Archer case from page one Taking the stand before Justice Carolita Bethell on the second day of Goodman’s Court of Appealmandated retrial, Detective Corporal Jermaine Stubbs said he saw suspected bloodstains on the panel of the trunk of a white 1998 Nissan Maxima, licence plate number 250529 and registered to Barbara Goodman, while conducting a search in 2011. Det Cpl Stubbs also said he noticed various household cleaning liquids in the back seat of the car, as well as two cell phones on the car’s floor well. The officer said he also took swabs from one of the rear doors, a seat, a headrest, back rest, and also dusted for fingerprints. However, Det Cpl Stubbs said that neither Goodman nor any civilians were present at the time he conducted the search. Another crime scene officer, Detective Inspector Marvin Cargill, testified that he had collected swab samples of suspected blood samples from the ninth step of the alleged homicide scene, as well as from its western wall and a mattress cover. The discovery of the bloodstains and cleaning liquids were made by both officers while performing their respective duties in connection with the investigation into Archer’s murder. It is claimed that between September 23 and 28, 2011, Goodman, of Yorkshire Drive, caused the death of Archer, who dis-
appeared from Brougham Street on September 23 and was found dead days later. In 2013, Justice Bernard Turner sentenced Goodman to hang for murdering the child after a Supreme Court jury unanimously found him guilty of the 11-year-old’s murder. In the lead up to sentencing, a death sentence, life imprisonment or a 15-year prison term were the punishments Justice Turner was asked by counsel to consider. Goodman subsequently appealed the conviction and sentence and had also sought a deferment of a retrial if the court were to allow the appeal against his murder conviction and death sentence on the grounds of publicity affecting the case. He successfully appealed both conviction and sentence, which were both quashed by the Court of Appeal in September last year. At the time, the appellate court had also ordered a retrial for as soon as possible, concluding that adverse pre-trial publicity, misconduct of Goodman’s thendefence lawyer Geoffrey Farquharson and the jury’s irregularity created a “lurking doubt about the fairness of the trial”. On Monday, jurors were told to base their verdict on the evidence presented in the courtroom and not outside influences such as commentary on social media. Wayne Munroe, QC, represents Goodman, who is in custody. Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin represents the Crown.
KOFHE GOODMAN, pictured outside court previously.
HENFIELD ‘DECEPTIVE’ IN PURSUIT OF SELFISH INTERESTS - ROBERTS from page one Mr Henfield has come under fire for accepting the Senate position after describing We March as apolitical and after saying he would not accept a political post. His decision has been cheered by some, however, who believe he can better effect change as a member of the government than had he RANARD HENFIELD, pictured during a We March protest. remained outside it.
Mr Henfield told reporters on Monday that despite the appointment from Dr Minnis, he has not joined the Free National Movement (FNM) and would lead a march against the new administration “if necessary”. He pointed out to reporters that although he endorsed Dr Minnis prior to the general election, he never endorsed the FNM. Critics, however, questioned whether there is a
difference. Mr Roberts also said yesterday that Mr Henfield was a surrogate for the environmental group Save the Bays, although he provided no evidence to substantiate the claim. “After the first event by ‘We March’, the organisation ran out of steam and the public was able to see that ‘We March’ had no substance, but was a political front for the
FNM,” he said. “I am satisfied that Henfield was used as a front by Save the Bays to attack the PLP government and was rewarded with a Senate appointment by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. The real leader of ‘We March’ is attorney John Henry Bostwick Jr but (he) was unable to accept the nomination due to his conviction of illegal possession of ammunition,” Mr Roberts alleged.
DAVIS HAS NO FEARS OVER URBAN RENEWAL REVIEW
from page one
“But I think they will find that there is nothing untoward that went on in the finances of the country and I think there is a subtle admission of that already.
But until such time as they come back and say what it is that they find objectionable or whatever, I’ll await their findings.” During a press conference last Wednesday at the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama,
Mr Thompson said: “Last night, I began being briefed on the status of the ministry. Needless to say, there are some matters of great concern. In particular, I am reviewing what I can only describe at this time as unusual operations of
Urban Renewal in Grand Bahama. I have requested that certain operations be suspended until a further review can be performed,” he said. While he did not want to disclose any further details at the time, he said he will have more to say once the review process is complete. The Urban Renewal office in Grand Bahama was headed by Michelle Reckley under the former administration. Mrs Reckley - the PLP’s campaign manager
in Grand Bahama - was appointed as assistant director of Urban Renewal by former Prime Minister Perry Christie in 2012 when the party came to power. Tirzah Cartwright, who had previously headed the Grand Bahama Urban Renewal office, was removed from the post. When asked whether Mrs Reckley was still at the helm, Mr Thompson replied: “There are decisions that are being made with respect to the way forward for Urban Renewal. At pre-
sent I have assumed responsibility for the operations of Urban Renewal in Grand Bahama.” He said that a final determination with respect to Urban Renewal will be made by Lanisha Rolle, who is the substantive minister responsible for the programme. According to a statement from Bahamas Information Services (BIS) last week, Urban Renewal is one among many arms of government where a forensic audit will be conducted.
FORMER AG REGRETS ONLY COMMUNICATIONS OVER BAHA MAR from page one
However, despite this, Mrs Maynard-Gibson maintained that the multibillion dollar West Bay Street resort will go down as a development that was “landmark for the excellent and transparent” way it was handled. Phase one of the hotel was opened two and a half weeks before the May 10 general election and was heralded as the most significant economic development event ever to occur in the country and the Caribbean region by former Prime Minister Perry Christie. However many observers thought the former government had hoped to use the opening to be seen in a more favourable light heading into the election. Asked whether she had any regrets on how the Baha Mar deal was handled, the former senator responded: “No.” She continued: “(Well) let me put it this way. If I were to have a regret, it’s that there was not clearer communication, stronger
communication and more regular communication and may I use the word fairer communication as well. “The record will show that at all times three goals were being pursued. One was to get the property completed, second opened and the third operating successfully and the record would show that those three goals were accomplished. “At all times, it was enunciated and social media and other alternative facts distorted those goals and at all times those were the goals. And the persons who are now employed at the property that is opened, that is paying good salary, good jobs and also excellent benefits, fully appreciate that. “Baha Mar, I think, will go down in our history as something that was landmark for the excellent and transparent way in which it was handled.” Regarding the unsealing of Baha Mar’s documents, Mrs Maynard-Gibson maintained that there was good reason to have the deal sealed by the courts. “The government gave all of the information in
relation to the transaction to enable the property to be completed and also indicated the heads of agreement with CTFE (Chow Tai Fook Enterprises) to get it opened and operated ... all (of this was) made public. “I would like our people to read the judgement of Justice Ian Winder. I said it many times. Justice Neville Adderley said that Dame Joan Sawyer was wrong when she said the judgement was sealed. The judgement is not sealed and the judgment sets out very clearly why Justice Winder in an independent judiciary, our judiciary, felt that it was important that the documents that are sealed remain sealed. It’s all in the judgement. (There is) nothing hidden at all about the reasoning of an independent judge in an independent judiciary,” Mrs MaynardGibson said. The Christie administration has said the court documents relating to Baha Mar’s sale to CTFE were sealed at the request of the Export Import Bank of China, the resort’s main investor.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, PAGE 7
PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT OPENS OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP MINISTER of Transport and Local Government Frankie Campbell welcomed delegates for an oil spill workshop on Sunday, May 21. The event was held at SuperClubs Breezes on West Bay Street and was sponsored by the government of Malaysia. The event was entitled “Sub-regional Level III Workshop on Oil Spill Preparedness and The International Maritime Organization’s Guidance on the Implementation of an Incident Management System.” Mr Campbell said that the maritime industry is “critical” to the global economy, as over 90 per cent of goods are transported by sea. In the case of The Bahamas, Mr Campbell said that the maritime industry is “particularly critical”, especially given that the country is an archipelago, and the islands of The Bahamas are sustained by the weekly arrival of ships transporting goods and people. “It is certainly the case that both the aviation and maritime sectors are essential engine drivers of our economy,” he said. “In the maritime sector, the Bahamian brand is supported by a successful ship registry, active cruise ports, a lucrative fishing industry, steady yacht calls, busy container ports and many industrial operations. He said that this workshop would assist both The Bahamas and regional partners in developing policies and procedures, which pro-
MINISTER of Transport and Local Government Frankie Campbell speaking to delegates during the Sub-regional Level III Workshop on Oil Spill Preparedness and the International Maritime Organization’s Guidance on the Implementation of an Incident Management System. Photo: Derek Smith/BIS “This workshop consti- cent regional workshop in time each participating plan was assessed,” said Mr tect and preserve the matutes a follow up to the re- December 2016, at which country’s national oil spill Campbell. rine environment.
Managing Editor The “People’s Paper” is looking for a unique, dynamic individual with a proven track record of leadership, teaching and the ability to excel in leading our editorial team. As the second-in-command (reporting to the Publisher) the Managing Editor is key leader of our team requiring an unrivalled range of professional and technical skills. LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE: • Creating a culture of creativity, invention and productivity by encouraging feedback and ongoing performance coaching using the candidate’s skills to teach Bahamian journalists how to excel in the demanding and fast moving world of news and information, in which we now live • Establish and ensure strict adherence to all editorial standards • Implement individual development opportunities for team members; develop newsroom strategies and day-to-day tactics for efficiently managing the workflow of the organisations • Coordinate with the News Editor for the assignments, duties, writing, editing and approval of all copy; create public affairs programmes as well as support our ongoing charity events EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: • A Bachelor’s degree with previous top level managerial experience • 10+ years previous experience in a senior management post having successfully demonstrated the ability to handle the pressures of a deadline driven, breaking news-orientated company • Previous experience in managing a successful organisation - having built upon and grown its news content - while maintaining a detailed eye towards controlling costs in a highly competitive environment. • Experience in managing projects in a fast-paced news environment; while at the same time maintaining the ambitious deadlines to the daily news cycle • Ability to write headlines and compelling articles, while possessing the ability to adapt to change to embrace new opportunities, as an integrated member of our team THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST POSSESS:
BAHAMIAN STAFF REPORTED SAFE AFTER TERROR ATTACK AT MANCHESTER ARENA THE Bahamas High Commission in London has reported that all staff of the High Commission, Bahamas Tourist Office and Bahamas Maritime Office are safe following the May 22 suspected terrorist attack at a pop concert in Manches-
ter, England, reportedly resulting in the death of 22 persons and injuries to many others. The Bahamas High Commission has also indicated that there are no Bahamians in the UK who have been impacted.
PATTERSON WRONG TO MIX CHURCH AND STATE
AFTER former Bahamas Christian Council President Rev Dr Ranford Patterson said the FNM must listen to the church if the party wants to remain in office, readers responded on tribune242.com. Banker said: “Sigh . . . another one who ought to know better and hasn’t heard the concept of separation of church and state.” Economist had this to say: “The good Reverend should take his own advice. Oh Church, remember not to accept any donations from anyone who plays numbers. Oh Church, remember to stop all the sweethearting (adultery) amongst your members, instead of turning a blind eye to it. Oh Church, remember that the reverends do not need flashy cars and all the trappings that you all seem to like so much. Oh Church, do remember to be humble.” SP asked: “Where was this ‘voice of the church’ for the last 40 years as corrupt politicians pillaged our country, decimated the people and gave them the middle finger? Is he referring to the same ‘voice of God’
that invokes the poor, vulnerable and sick to donate more than they can afford in return for ‘prayers’? The Christian Council is equally as guilty as the PLP and FNM of 40 years misleading our people to stay in favour with corrupt politicians.” There was this from CommonSense: “Separation of church and state is a serious thing! This country would be in a much better state if everyone wasn’t trying to run it like a church!!!” And Baldbeardedbahamian said: “After the gambling houses, the churches are the most profitable businesses in the Bahamas. If they have a bank account or own any property then they should be taxed on the monies coming in to their coffers. Obese preachers in expensive suits driving luxury cars are an abomination. There are some genuine godly people in
• Proficiency in WordPress, HTML5, MPEG, JPG, CSS & CCI/MySQL Databases and experience with PDF and online video creation and production • Proficiency with Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Scribus or other publishing software • Knowledge of AP Stylebook, Google Analytics, and metric reporting as well as full proficiency with British grammar and laws of defamation • Capable of organising training opportunities for upcoming journalists; encourage each team member to pursue and develop their skills • Ability to travel/work nights, weekends and overtime with little or no notice • Must be “on call” 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to respond to breaking news or other unexpected events or hurricanes Please apply in writing to:
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the government and people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted. “A diplomatic note has been sent to the government of the United Kingdom.”
YOUR
CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019
the churches but we do not hear much about them as they are quietly doing good works. I hope the government does not pay much attention to these misguided self-serving fools that make up many of our leading church leaders.” Readers also gave their views after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis denied accusations that his administration had undertaken a political “witch hunt” over a BAIC investigation. Tell_it_like_it_is responded with: “It’s good to hear that PM Minnis will hold individuals from the past administration accountable. There is too much corruption in this country and people think because they are not out there with a gun, that it’s not really a crime. My only hope though is that PM Minnis is just as strict with his own Cabinet or else it will be a new administration and the same ‘ole same ‘ole, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt FOR NOW. Only time will tell.” Sheeprunner12 said: “The FNM does not have to carry out a witch hunt on what the PLP did in its last term . . . the evidence of government malfeasance was there for all to see in BEC/BPL, BOB, BAIC, BAMSI, UR2.0, Carnival, Wisdom Decorations, Post Office, Road Traffic, Bahamasair, BTC2%, NHI & NIB, COB/UB, BMC, TheDump/Renew, Baha Mar and the countless ‘no-bid contracts’ given out to political cronies by the MOPW and almost every minister . . . and the list goes on.” And there was this from TalRussell: “The vast majority of citizens already believe that the previous administration and every other governing administration over the past 299 years have been corrupted.” Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, PAGE 9
GO
WUZHEN, China (AP) — A computer defeated China’s top player of the ancient board game go on Tuesday, earning praise that it might have finally surpassed human abilities in one of the last games machines have yet to dominate. Google’s AlphaGo won the first of three planned games this week against Ke Jie, a 19-year-old prodigy, in this town west of Shanghai. The computer will also face other top-ranked Chinese players during the five-day event. AlphaGo beat Ke by a halfpoint, “the closest margin possible,” according to Demis Hassabis, founder of DeepMind, the Google-owned company in London that developed AlphaGo. AlphaGo has improved markedly since it defeated South Korea’s top competitor last year and is a “completely different player,” Ke told reporters. “For the first time, AlphaGo was quite human-like,” Ke said. “In the past it had some weaknesses. “But now I feel its understanding of go and the judgment of the game is beyond our ability.” Go players take turns putting white or black stones on a rectangular grid with 361 intersections, trying to capture territory and each other’s pieces by surrounding them. Competitors play until both agree there are no more places to put stones or one quits. The game, which originated in China more than 25 centuries ago, has avoided mastery by computers even as they surpassed humans in most other games. They conquered chess in 1997 when IBM Corp.’s Deep Blue system defeated champion Garry Kasparov.
CHAMPION BEATEN BY COMPUTER
CHINESE GO PLAYER KE JIE, left, looks at the board as a person makes a move on behalf of Google’s artificial intelligence program, AlphaGo, during a game of Go at the Future of Go Summit in Wuzhen in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province. (Chinatopix via AP) Go, known as weiqi in China tasks. Google officials say they “We believe we have fixed that and baduk in Korea, is consid- want to apply those technolo- knowledge gap but of course there ered more challenging because the gies to areas such as smartphone could be many other new areas near-infinite number of possible assistants and solving real-world that it doesn’t know and that we positions requires intuition and problems. don’t know either.” AlphaGo defeated Lee in four flexibility. Go is hugely popular in Asia, Players had expected it to be at out of five games during a week- with tens of millions of players least another decade before com- long match in March 2016. in China, Japan and the Koreas. Lee lost the first three games, Google said a broadcast of Lee’s puters could beat the best humans due to go’s complexity and reliance then won the fourth, after which he 2016 match with AlphaGo was on intuition, but AlphaGo sur- said he took advantages of weak- watched by an estimated 280 milprised them in 2015 by beating a nesses including AlphaGo’s poor lion people. response to surprises. European champion. Players have said AlphaGo enFollowing Lee’s surprise victory, joys some advantages because it Last year, it defeated South Ko“we went back to try and improve doesn’t get tired or emotionally rea’s Lee Sedol. AlphaGo was designed to mimic the architecture and the system,” rattled, two critical aspects of the such intuition in tackling complex said Hassabis. mentally intense game.
MICROSOFT SURFACE GETS BATTERY BOOST, BETTER VIEWING ANGLES
BASEBALL COMING JUNE 1 TO VIRTUAL-REALITY HEADSETS
ANICK JESDANUN, AP Technology Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is refreshing its Surface Pro tablet with longer battery life and faster processors. The new, fifth-generation device — simply called Surface Pro — won’t look or feel drastically different from its predecessor. But Microsoft is hoping its under-the-hood improvements will help it compete with newer laptop-tablet hybrids from Samsung and others. Not to mention Apple’s iPad Pro. The Redmond, Washington, company made the announcement Tuesday in Shanghai, China, in its first Surface launch outside New York. It’s a reflection of the company’s expectations of growth among a population that prizes premium gadgets from American brands. Microsoft pioneered laptop-tablet hybrids, also known as 2-in-1s, with the original Surface in 2012. A keyboard cover turns the tablet into a laptop. But innovation has slowed down since 2014, when the Surface Pro 3 got a fully adjustable kickstand to give the screen a broader range of viewing angles, similar to real laptops. Before, the kickstand was limited to
A STREAM Live MLB Games demonstration in the company’s new At Bat VR app. (MLB Advanced Media via AP)
MICROSOFT’S new Surface Pro laptop-tablet hybrid on display. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) just two angles. Meanwhile, other companies have made their own 2-in-1 devices running Microsoft’s Windows 10. That success contributed to a 26 percent revenue decline in the Surface business in the most recent quarter. And competition is growing; Samsung released new Galaxy Book models this week, while Huawei announced one Tuesday in Berlin. Jan Dawson, chief analyst at Jackdaw Research, expects the new Surface will help revive sales. “The external design isn’t dramatically different, but there are lots of changes inside,” Dawson said. Microsoft promises about 13.5 hours of battery life, or about 50 percent more than the nine hours on the previous
device, the Surface Pro 4. The processors inside will be faster, and lower-end models will ditch the fan. The Surface’s stylus will now mimic pencil shading when tilted, much like the Apple Pencil for iPad Pro tablets. Along with this, Microsoft plans upgrades to its popular Office software with new pencil-like features. Microsoft will sell the stylus separately for $100. The new Pro will start at about $800 and will be available June 15 in about two dozen countries, including the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and much of Europe. A keyboard cover starts at about $130, or about $170 for a version that feels like fabric rather than plastic. That brings the cost to more than $1,000.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball games will soon arrive on virtual-reality headsets. Video in the new At Bat VR app won’t be in VR. Rather, the app places you behind home plate and shows you graphical depictions of each pitch, including a colored streak (red for strikes and green for balls) tracing the ball’s trajectory. The data come from sensors Major League Baseball already has installed in all of its stadiums. The app also lets you hover over icons to see the speed and type of each pitch, as well as which parts of a strike zone is strong or weak for a particular batter. Traditional TV coverage of the games will appear on a virtual screen in front of you, alongside play-by-play information and individual player stats. It’s more information that casual baseball fans will want, but hard-core fans might get a kick from having this perspective supplement what they see with regular TV cameras. Baseball’s regular At Bat app does have some of this information, but not in 3-D and not while watching video. At Bat VR will also have a section for 360-degree video packages, but not of actual games. At Bat VR is included with Major League Baseball’s existing streaming packages. For live video, that starts at about $87 for the season. At Bat VR is also subject to the usual blackouts for local teams; in such cases, the graphical depictions will still be available, but not the live video within the headset. (Audio is available with the cheaper At Bat Premium subscription for $20; non-paying users get just the graphics and stats.)
TECHTALK • THE English Premier League is aiming to use video replays from the 2018-19 season after deciding to allow other competitions to experience the technology’s teething problems. FIFA is trialing video assistant referees at its events and Germany’s Bundesliga will follow the Netherlands by adopting them from next season in August. “The English game has certain demands that other leagues perhaps don’t have,” Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore told broadcaster Sky Sports on Sunday. “Because of our intensity and pace of play we want to make sure the decisions can be made quickly. We want to make sure there isn’t too much interruption in the game. Therefore, all these things need to be tested through.” The International Football Association Board, the game’s lawmaking body, is yet to give the final approval for video replays to be rolled out globally. • SOCIAL media games on the internet would not be considered gambling in Michigan under a bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder. An analysis of Senate Bill 202 says some businesses have used free online games to promote themselves. The games typically are free and offer additional plays instead of prizes. The new law doesn’t cover fantasy sports. Casinos in Detroit were in favor of the legislation, along with the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Casinos use the games to attract new customers. The governor signed the bill Tuesday. • NEW Zealand has never had a space programme but could soon be launching commercial rockets more often than the United States. That’s if the plans of California-based company Rocket Lab work out. Founded by New Zealander Peter Beck, the company was last week given official approval to conduct three test launches from a remote peninsula in the South Pacific nation. Rocket Lab is planning the first launch of its Electron rocket sometime from Monday, depending on conditions. “So far, it’s only superpowers that have gone into space,” said Simon Bridges, New Zealand’s economic development minister. “For us to do it, and be in the first couple of handfuls of countries in the world, is pretty impressive.” Rocket Lab sees an emerging market in delivering lots of small devices, some not much bigger than a smartphone, into low Earth orbit. The satellites would be used for everything from monitoring crops to providing internet service. The company hopes to begin commercial launches later this year and eventually launch one rocket every week. It plans to keep costs low by using lightweight, disposable rockets with 3D-printed engines. It’s a different plan than some other space companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which uses larger rockets to carry bigger payloads.
PAGE 10, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
What to do about ZNS - again?
Another election, another pledge from an incoming administration to transform the fortunes and purpose of ZNS. What, if anything, has changed in five years since this column, reprinted from May 30, 2012?
T
HE firing of Christina Thompson (aka Chrissy Love) from the ZNS talk show ‘Immediate Response’ after the May 7 general election has led some to predict the return of the Pingdom, while others see it as mere tit for tat - since the Free National Movement (FNM) fired Steve McKinney from the same show right after the 2007 election. In the current charged partisan atmosphere it may be difficult to differentiate these two terminations, but if you look closely there is a distinction. Thompson had a $200 per show contract with ZNS. She has spent the last 20 years hosting talk shows on several radio stations - including Love 97, More FM and Island FM - and that’s basically all she does. Her style is frank and abrupt sometimes escalating into a feminist rant. McKinney, on the other hand, was a political operative under the former Christie government who held a nine to five job at Bahamas Information Services (BIS), as well as crony contracts with at least two government ministries - in addition to his ZNS show. As we learned in 2007, those contracts added up to more than $140,000 per annum - meaning McKinney was collecting more taxpayer bucks than the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice or Permanent Secretaries. And surprisingly, his government contracts included perks like paid vacations, sick leave, casual leave, gratuities, etc - all at taxpayer expense. Under the Progressive
Liberal Party (PLP), Mc- cidentally, it also provides Kinney had a contract to jobs for the boys - from provide communications whichever party is in power. services for the Ministry of So it would be fair to say Tourism, which has its own that McKinney’s contracts in-house public relations were at the very least an and broadcasting unit, as egregious duplication of efwell as an expensive out- fort, and clearly a misuse of house PR firm. And he had public funds. But it gets even more a similar contract with the curious. As McKinney Ministry of Education. Official PR for both of himself has said, he held these ministries is also pro- similar contracts under the vided by Bahamas Informa- previous FNM government. tion Services, another gov- The story is that after demanding a top ernment agency job at ZNS that employs a ‘ZNS was more along with a ton of writers constituency and camera- than bankrupt. nomination, he men (including The details switched sides McKinney un- would make you when he didn’t til recently) to get what he produce infor- weep. This was wanted. And mation of dubi- the culmination for the past few ous value at a of decades of years he has cost of $2.6m a outrageous been acting as year. a propaganda McKinney political abuse shill for Peter was able to and wholesale Nygard. keep his subThe most stantive BIS financial laughable job under the irresponsibility.’ thing about FNM governall this costly ment - for years after he was fired from ‘Im- public information inframediate Response’. So his structure is we still can’t get termination at ZNS could information from the govnot be considered victimi- ernment when we ask for it sation. On the other hand, - no matter which party is in Thompson was completely power. And don’t hold your deprived of her income by breath until the new PLP government implements the PLP government. BIS was set up by the that half-baked Freedom of Pindling regime in 1974 Information Bill passed by to “ensure effective com- the FNM earlier this year. As for McKinney’s conmunications between the government and the people tract with ZNS back in 2007 ... to assist the government to host the talk show ‘Imwith public relations, and to mediate Response’, some promote the policies, pro- may have considered him grammes, goals and role of a Bahamian Howard Stern, the government.” Note in- the shock jock radio host
who was fired from NBC years ago and eventually moved to satellite radio in an effort to escape corporate censorship. Except that McKinney was pushing a hard political line on the national broadcast station during a heated election campaign. He could have hosted a show called ‘PLP Propaganda Hour’, which the party could have sponsored (and typically not paid for). Then there would be no argument. It wouldn’t be more tax dollars wasted on nonsense. Clearly the circumstances of McKinney’s crony contracts, combined with his virulent and amoral political propaganda were such that a normal review by normal people would result in their termination by due process. Nevertheless, this is what I wrote following McKinney’s termination after the 2007 election: “This issue should not have been dealt with on the political podium, no matter how irritating it was. And it should not have been dealt with by a call from the cabinet secretary (according to McKinney’s account) instructing the general manager at ZNS.” Now the tables have turned, and we are facing a similar narrative about Chrissy Love. According to Thompson, “(ZNS’ two top managers) called me upstairs on Monday, May 14, before going on air and told me they had decided to invoke the clause in my contract which says we can part ways with four weeks notice. They said ‘you know we’ve been receiving complaints about the show for a while ... you talk about things like sex and your way of hosting is new to our listeners’ - after three years! “I was always told that when the PLP came back I was gonna be fired, and they did it ... called my name at a PLP rally. Loftus Roker, Shane Gibson, Marguerite Pindling, and other minions and assorted goons told me this for three years. I guess they didn’t mess with me at Island FM because Charles Carter is their boy. “Steve McKinney was a semi-skilled political operative sent to ZNS to shove lies to the masses. Yeah, HAI was wrong to talk about him on the victory rally stage, but how can PLPs condemn that and then threaten me for three years straight, allude to me throughout the campaign, call my name on May 4, then fire me on May 14? It’s typical PLP victimisation.” This brings us to the real issue - which is what to do about ZNS. As a member of the Broadcasting Corporation board from 2007 until resigning a couple of weeks ago, I know exactly what to do. It should have been done a long time ago. It was supposed to have been done during our tenure - but sadly it wasn’t.
STEVE McKINNEY For some reason politicians just can’t seem to stomach loosening the reins of state power. The College of the Bahamas (COB) faced the same experience with its much-delayed plans to become an autonomous university. The McKinney/Thompson business is symptomatic of the larger issues surrounding freedom of information in the Bahamas. Let me explain. Bahamians had to wait until 1977 for the government to implement television service, private radio was withheld until 1993 and private television did not switch on until 1995. All of this could have happened much earlier, if it wasn’t for the usual political bullshit. Today we can listen to droves of talk shows and watch hundreds of channels via cable or satellite. But ZNS is still an irrational entity, despite strenuous efforts to bring some fiscal and political sanity to the place (when we took over, for example, management did not have the benefit of monthly financial statements and employees received severance pay when they resigned). So the question that naturally comes to mind is: what value do we get for the millions we spend on ZNS every year? The answer, for some, is that Bahamians are able to watch Junkanoo on TV, as well as special events like state funerals, parliamentary openings or political conventions. But Cable Bahamas has a community channel and a parliamentary channel that also do these things - at no cost to the taxpayer. In fact, the obligation to do them is written into its licence. According to Charles Carter, the former ZNS boss whose private radio station once produced news for Cable Bahamas, “There is a cultural and educational role that can best be served by (ZNS). It should be funded by grant and its programming content should reflect the needs, concerns and expectations of our developing society.” Of course, that’s the conclusion Carter arrived at after leaving a long politically-appointed career at ZNS. As we all know, he quickly took advantage of the FNM’s post-1992 “Ingraham Spring” to set up his own radio station and has never looked back. His conclusion is essentially the same one that the FNM came to in the 1990s, but baulked at implementing for political reasons. Study after study by consultant after consultant have recommended downsizing ZNS, selling off radio channels and running TV as an independent public affairs service. Unfortunately, the public didn’t have the means to make a judgement on the financial viability of ZNS under the previous Christie administration be-
cause then chairman Calsey Johnson failed to produce audited statements for five years. We had to spend a lot of time, money and sweat producing those audits during our tenure. When we took over, ZNS was more than bankrupt. Salaries alone for 2005-06 were almost $10 million, against revenues of about $7 million. Unfunded obligations to government and other creditors were another $9 million (not including millions in unfunded pension liabilities), and the total public subsidy was over $24 million a year, supporting 280 employees - including more than 90 managers. The details would make you weep. This was the culmination of decades of outrageous political abuse and wholesale financial irresponsibility. But here we are five years later and ZNS remains a state-run agency directed by a cabinet minister (it was Tommy Turnquest under our tenure, but now it is Bernard Nottage) that simply cannot work in the public interest. So the question is, what do we do about that? The FNM’s 2007 election manifesto committed the previous Ingraham government to transform ZNS from a financially unsustainable state broadcaster into an autonomous, noncommercial public service broadcaster. For the record, my position throughout has been that If substantive changes were not made - and made difficult to reverse - conditions at ZNS would continue as they have for the past 40-odd years, and many more millions of taxpayer dollars will be wasted on a value-less and politically emasculated operation. There is simply no need for the government to be operating a commercial broadcaster - period. The only real need is for a national emergency broadcasting service - which is why ZNS was created in the first place. This could be achieved via subsidy, or the operation could be reduced to a very cost-effective national service. As Dr Keva Bethel’s advisory committee on the transformation of COB into a university declared a few years back: “The proper exercise of academic freedom ... can only occur in an environment of institutional autonomy that is designed to protect the independence of the institution from partisan influence and the uncertainties of political change.” The same can be said of ZNS - in spades. Without legal autonomy, any improvements can be reversed at the stroke of a political pen. And as I told my colleagues, you can bet that they will be this time around. • What do you think? Send comments to lsmith@ tribunemedia.net or visit www.bahamapundit.com
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, PAGE 11
BAHAMIAN CHEFS TO SAVOUR THE TASTE OF COMPETITIVE ACTION THE Bahamas National Culinary Team is putting the final touches to its preparation for the 2017 Taste of the Caribbean Competition in Miami early next month. The prestigious regional culinary competition - from June 2 to 6 - will pit the culinary prowess of a dozen Caribbean teams all vying for gold medals and the coveted title of Caribbean National Team of the Year. The 2017 Bahamian team consists of a new slate of chefs and mixologists who have been training at the
University of the Bahamas’ Culinary Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) for months in preparation for the high-stakes competition. The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) facilitates the team’s preparation for and attendance at the competition each year as part of an overarching effort to support and promote Bahamian culture and culinary “awareness”, as destinations throughout the region and on an international
scale, recognise the importance of having a unique, distinct, indigenous and delectable culinary component as an integral part of their tourism product. In addition, the competition provides a forum for learning as the team’s young, burgeoning chefs are exposed to varying intense environments throughout the training process and during the Taste competition. “The most important and gratifying part of the BHTA’s participation in The Taste of the Caribbean,
is watching the young chefs flourish, as they work side by side with established, seasoned chefs,” said Carlton Russell, president of the BHTA. “They revel in the experience, and soak up everything they can from the older chefs, not just cooking skills, but foundational life skills; self-discipline, determination, tenacity, confidence, how to deal with fear, pressure. The mentoring that takes place is invaluable for our next generation of culinarians.” The chefs on the National
Culinary Team are sponsored by their respective employers who represent a wide cross section of hotel properties and institutions in The Bahamas, including the University of the Bahamas’ CHMI, Atlantis, Baha Mar, Courtyard Marriot, Melia Nassau Beach Resort, Sandals Royal Bahamian and One&Only Ocean Club. In addition, a young Chef from Grand Bahama is supported by the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board. CHMI provides the training facilities
for the team as they prepare for competition. In addition to the chef corporate sponsors, the National Culinary Teams’ participation is made possible through partners and sponsors such as the Ministry of Tourism, Cable Bahamas (Rev On), key Platinum Sponsors of the team; Sandals Royal Bahamian, Gold Sponsors; Bahamian Brewery (Sands Beer), Bahamas Food Services, Bahamas Air and Betty K Shipping, Cassava Grill and Manuelo Lettuce Eat.
‘HELL TO PAY’ IF MANAGERS UNTOUCHED IN BPL THEFT PROBE from page one
and one person was terminated pending an investigation into the alleged theft of nearly $1m at the power company. According to a source close to the matter, the employees were accused of “orchestrating an elaborate scheme” over the course of one year, that allegedly involved fake companies and forged cheques. The Tribune also understands that at least one bank employee was also allegedly involved in the plot and is being investigated. According to the source, BPL conducted an internal audit but forensic accountants may be brought in to “ensure” transparency. “BPL uses external vendors frequently,” the source told The Tribune. “What we understand is that the employees are accused of sending in invoices from fake companies, getting a cheque for
the amount and then using someone in the bank to cash the cheques. “This is an elaborate scheme that has been going on for almost a year, that we know of,” the source said. Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, Mr Maynard said he is “very concerned” for his union members. “It is not fair that you have only the line staff suspended and the managers still working. That cannot happen, there is no way I am allowing this to happen. I am not listening to anything they have to say, everyone needs to be cleared out. If the managers still working my staff should still be working as well. “I also asked the company to bring in a forensic accountant because you cannot have the rats investigating rats. They need to bring in people from the outside. There will be hell to pay in this country if my membership is railroaded.
PAUL MAYNARD, president of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union. “Everyone should go, or everyone should stay. This (alleged) crime is too sophisticated for my membership to do, they do not have access to the stuff to do the crime. Trust me, this will not happen like this.” Attorney Wayne Munroe, who is representing one of the employees, told The Tribune on Monday that he feels the government is under pressure to live up to promises of accountability and prosecution of those found stealing public funds. He warned that “public pressure can ruin people’s
lives that money cannot compensate for.” “My client is on paid leave and as far as I know she has not been terminated,” Mr Munroe told The Tribune. “I have been hearing so many different stories. They are saying payments went out to vendors and no work was done, but they are also saying the funds were missing. Well that isn’t missing funds, you know where the money is, that is fraud. We need to be careful, the last time the government changed they charged a woman at Bahamas Elec-
tricity Corporation, put her through court and she was acquitted and they had to pay her. “It is all about optics. You have public pressure and something has to be done. We have to be careful that when there is public pressure, we do not do things to ruin people’s lives that money cannot compensate for.” Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean confirmed that several persons have been questioned in relation to missing funds, but said on Sunday
that no one was in police custody and no one has been charged. He said the investigation is still “open and active”. Last week police arrested several employees of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, including Executive Chairman Dion Smith in connection with an alleged theft by employment investigation. Those questioned have all been released and no one has been charged in that matter. Mr Munroe also represents Mr Smith, former Nassau Village MP.
PAGE 12, Wednesday, May 24, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Lloyd aims to increase investment in technical education DURING his maiden formal presentation as Minister of Education, Jeffrey Lloyd did not mince his words regarding his views on technical vocational education and training (TVET), saying that it serves as the core discipline in the efficiency of any society. “Stop disrespecting technical and vocational education and training!” said Mr Lloyd to applause during the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute’s (BTVI) commencement exercise at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort on Friday. “One ambition of mine is to help us raise the esteem that technical vocational education and training has in our society. There is genius in every vocation,” he said. Mr Lloyd, who completed a certificate in carpentry at the institution, said he “has the utmost respect
for BTVI”. He said any society would come to a halt without a copious cohort of technicians, adding that it is the intention of the government to “increase investment in TVET”. BTVI’s New Providence campus graduated 210 students from various trades including Auto Mechanics, Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Fashion, Business Office Technology and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Mr Lloyd noted that as the economy further develops, the labour market is becoming ever more specialised. Therefore, there is an increased demand for employees with specific skills training. “Many of you graduates will soon be called upon to fill some of these needs, and I am sure that your training at BTVI has provided you with confidence, expertise, and overall preparedness,”
BTVI president Dr Robert W Robertson presents the Faculty Excellence Award to Anthony Ramtulla, head of department for Information Technology.
NEW Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd presents a graduand with her diploma cover during BTVI’s 2017 commencement exercise at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort. Photos: Shantique Longley/BTVI he said. Additionally, Mr Lloyd added that it is the new government’s intention to increase investment in TVET in high schools in the near future. “When that comes into existence, it is my hope that eventually, students entering BTVI would already possess enough of the basics in their technical areas from the high school and middle school, so by the time they come to BTVI, they come to master those BTVI degree graduands at the commencement exercise. skills,” he said. BTVI President, Dr Rob- of the Bahamian economy,” please use your talents. You The newest player in the have proven you have the telecommunications marert W Robertson noted said Dr Robertson. during his address that the Fulbright scholar and brains. Find your competi- ket in the Bahamas providinstitution is preparing the entrepreneur, Dr James tive edge, but never chase ed $10,000 for this month’s next generation of innova- Dever, from Florida State money. With success comes graduation exercises as well tors. University, lauded BTVI money,” he said. as Graduate of Excellence The commencement cash awards for the top stu“This falls in line with for experiential learning, the thrust to bolster human which he said is the “purest ceremonies in New Provi- dents on both islands. The dence and Grand Bahama awardee for New Provicapital outcomes. A skilled form of education.” workforce supports ecoDr Dever encouraged the were sponsored by Aliv, dence was Fashion student, nomic growth and a better Class of 2017 to fine tune which recently entered into Dellrene Thompson and in quality of life for our peo- their skills by making learn- a three-year, $30,000 part- Grand Bahama, Office Asple. Hence, BTVI is key to ing a lifelong pursuit and to nership with BTVI that sistant student, Katushka providing skilled labour. consider opening their own will assist with the school’s McIntosh. The Faculty Excommencement exercises cellence Award went to AnClass of 2017, your skills are businesses. critical to the development “Set yourselves apart and into 2019. thony Ramtulla.