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Govt confident over prospects for the country By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  MICHAEL Halkitis, State Minister for Finance, said yesterday the government will meet with representatives from ratings agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s starting next week in order to “convince� the firms not to downgrade the country’s credit rating. In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Halkitis said while Moody’s seems to be “leaning in one direction,� the government will “plead its case� in hopes that the Wall Street ratings agency will see the government’s positive future prospects for the economy.
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE National Insurance Board has extended its operational hours to offset persisting issues with its claims process caused by deficiencies in its newly implemented V3 system, which showed performance issues in tests two months ago. SEE PAGE SIX
THE SOUND OF THE SUMMER
His comments came days after Moody’s announced it was placing the country “on review� for a potential downgrade, due to both its unexpected economic contraction and further deterioration in the government’s fiscal position. He spoke to The Tribune hours before the government released a statement on the matter, which said the government is “confident� that the impending review will show that medium-term economic prospects for the country are good, pointing to the “imminent� construction restart and opening of Baha Mar as a good growth prospect. SEE PAGE SIX
FNM: PM VIEW OF NATION’S ECONOMY IS A FAIRY TALE By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s overly optimistic outlook of the economy is predicated on the upcoming 2017 general election said Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest, as he castigated the government for painting a “fairy tale� picture, which is in direct conflict with this country’s current state. Responding to Wall Street rating agency Moody’s recent announce-
NIB EXTENDS HOURS AMID PROBLEMS OVER PAYOUTS
ment that it was placing The Bahamas on review for a potential downgrade, Mr Turnquest said the government was facing a “significant problem�. He slammed the government for making “trumped up� projections to gain momentum and give the appearance that it had boosted the economy as campaign season approaches. The new downgrade could come within the next two months, the agency has said. SEE PAGE SIX
YOUNG drummers from Centreville Darlings perform during a Junkanoo rushout to close the opening ceremony for the Centreville Urban Renewal Summer Programme. See page two for more photographs. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
FORMER ZNS REPORTER ORDERED TO PAY $15,000 IN CONTEMPT RULING By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
FORMER ZNS reporter Sherman Brown must pay $15,000 by noon on Friday or spend a month in prison, Justice Indra Charles ruled yesterday. This came after her December ruling that Mr Brown had been found in “contumacious� contempt of court for giving
false testimony while being cross-examined for his involvement in defamatory websites and articles published against billionaire hedge fund manager Louis Bacon. Mr Bacon is a resident of the exclusive gated community of Lyford Cay. Justice Charles said Mr Brown’s case warranted a prison sentence but in her discretion she chose instead to impose a fine while giv-
ing him an opportunity to comply with the Norwich Pharmacal (NP) order that was previously made by Justice Bernard Evans. This means Mr Brown must still disclose certain documents or information related to Mr Bacon’s defamation action that is before the court. It had been argued that after Justice Charles found
of a 15ft high groyne constructed at his property. Fred Mather and Michael Grant are the first and second plaintiffs in an action filed on June 9 seeking compensation for alleged damage caused to their property as a result of accelerated erosion allegedly caused by the groyne. They are also seeking an order requiring Mr Smith
to remove it and restore the coastline to its original state. In an amended writ of summons, Mr Smith is listed as the first defendant, while his companies Smith’s Point Limited and SeSaChe Limited are listed as the second and third defendants. SEE PAGE FIVE
Bank in the Lane. FRED SMITH SUED OVER BEACH ACCESS By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TWO residents of Smith’s Point, Grand Bahama, have brought legal action in the Supreme Court against attorney Fred Smith, QC, who is being accused of causing environmental damage and preventing access to a portion of the beach because
SEE PAGE SEVEN
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING AMERICAN WOMAN
By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  POLICE arrested a man on Sunday in connection with the alleged rape of an American woman on Friday at Harbour Island. According to officers, the woman, a resident of Palm Beach, Florida reported to police on Sunday that a man known to her sexually assaulted her on a beach on Harbour Island on Friday. Police immediately began an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect. Investigations are continuing. In January, a report by the National Task Force for Gender Based Violence revealed that The Bahamas leads the Caribbean in the number of recorded rapes. SEE PAGE THREE
PAGE 2, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
URBAN RENEWAL LAUNCHES ITS SUMMER CAMP
ALGERNON ALLEN, Urban Renewal co-chair, speaking at the Centreville Urban Renewal Summer Programme opening ceremony.
A MEMBER of the Centreville Darlings performing a Junkanoo rush out to close the opening ceremony.
CYNTHIA ‘Mother’ Pratt pictured at the Centreville Urban Renewal Summer Programme opening ceremony held at Our Lady’s Catholic Church Hall. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
GRANT HELPS TO FUND UNDERWATER CAVE EXPLORATION
DIVERS investigating one of the blue holes in Abaco - which are being documented thanks to the National Geographic Society. THE underwater cave system in the Abacos will be extensively documented thanks to a grant from the National Geographic Society. The global non-profit group will partner with the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC) through the University of Miami, to provide the Bahamian government with a comprehensive map of the area. Project coordinators will accurately document the existence of key paleontological finds, biodiversity hotspots, and sites in the aquatic environment and set the foundation for future research. Other partners include Friends of the Environment in Abaco and Bahamas Underground - a foundation established to research caves in the Bahamas. In a push to explore the planet and protect the natural environment, the National Geographic Society funds conservation and research projects around the world with the goal of educating current and future generations. Dr Keith Tinker, director of AMMC, sees significant benefits to the research being facilitated by the National Geographic grant. “In terms of data and documentation, the grant has provisions to involve
the community and provide resources to educate the local population on protecting the groundwater environment and preserving the natural heritage. Within the next year we will work with the team on curriculum and interpretive trials,” he explained. “While the research will focus on looking at the current habitat, the partnership will also assist us with establishing the protocol and database for scientists exploring the underground water systems in the future.” The importance of the inland blue holes and caves in the Abacos is well documented with research focusing specifically on the biological, paleontological, and climatological perspectives. Six years ago, National Geographic Magazine featured the underwater system as its cover story. New studies seek to deliver a comprehensive map of the submerged caves using technology like 3-D magnetic mapping and imaging to survey the area. Explorers attached to this project will also conduct a baseline ethnobotanical survey of the area and conduct interviews with locals to determine the use for the plants found in the blue hole. Fieldwork is slated to commence from December 1 to December 14, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 5, 2016, PAGE 3
NEW FNM FORT CHARLOTTE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AFTER JUDGE URGES A DEAL By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
AT the urging of Justice Indra Charles, the Free National Movement’s warring factions reached an amicable resolution in the Supreme Court yesterday concerning an application for judicial review over the Fort Charlotte Constituency Association’s recent election process. The terms of the compromise included an agreement to hold a new election for the Fort Charlotte branch “within the next 14 days on a date to be mutually agreed”. Applicants in the case
had argued that FNM Chairman Sidney Collie, represented in the matter by Senator Carl Bethel, orchestrated a sham in the election last month to “achieve a pre-packaged result” of elected officers who would support Dr Hubert Minnis at next month’s party convention. The application was brought by Karen Brown, the former chair of the association who was represented in court by Michael Scott, legal advisor to the FNM. Ms Brown was protesting Mr Collie’s decision to dissolve the association’s officer corps and call an early election.
It had been alleged that Mr Collie denied at least 75 FNM members the right to bring themselves in good standing in order to participate in the re-election process. Justice Charles pressed Mr Bethel and Mr Scott to find an amicable resolution in the matter. To this, Mr Bethel first said the two men already exchanged emails on the matter and he concluded it could not be resolved without the court’s intervention. Justice Charles said: “Why burden an overburdened court already? Why can’t the two of you sit and let good sense prevail?”
Mr Bethel said the matter was born out of a “longrunning, bitter personal dispute” between groups in the Fort Charlotte Constituency Association and that next month’s convention was a catalyst that allowed the feud to bubble up. Nonetheless, after an intervention by Mr Scott, the men agreed to seek a resolution once again. Justice Charles adjourned the court for more than 15 minutes to facilitate this. The parties involved subsequently agreed “that the register of votes for the said constituency association elections shall be comprised of those registered
voters certified as such by the Deputy Chairman Francis Sawyer on May 17, 2016…with the addition of the six persons whose complete membership application forms were submitted on May 18, 2016.” It was also agreed “that six voting delegates for the upcoming national convention of the Free National Movement (inclusive of the recently elected council representative) shall be equally divided and be allocated as to three delegates to be selected by the applicant and the former executive officers of the Fort Charlotte constituency, and two delegates to be selected by the recently elected executive
board of the Fort Charlotte constituency, together with the recently elected council member. “The alternate delegates shall be similarly allocated as to three to the selection of the applicant and the former executives, and two to selection of the current executives of the Fort Charlotte Constituency Association. “The outcome of the said constituency association elections scheduled to be held in the next 14 days shall not change the allocation of convention delegates set forth in clause hereof.” Each party agreed to bear their own legal costs in the matter.
‘Gang of Six’ future depends on co-operation with leader By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net THE fate of the six Official Opposition MPs who stood against FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis will heavily depend on their willingness to work with the leadership should he be re-elected at the party’s upcoming convention, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said yesterday. In an interview with The Tribune, the East Grand Bahama MP said it was likely that he and Dr Minnis would be re-elected, based on the positive responses they have received while courting delegates ahead of the July 27 - 29 convention. “We are the best choice to lead the party and the country recognising all of the challenges before us,” Mr Turnquest said. “The Minnis and Turnquest team has the skills and vision to lead this party and I am confident that the delegates will affirm that in convention. “The decision (about working with the six MPs) will be made after the convention and will have a heavy bearing on the MPs’ willingness to work with the leader, putting the best interest of the party first. “We are sure that the six will support the leadership once we get out of convention.” He added: “Hopefully we will all accept the decision of the delegates no matter what is the outcome and pledge to work together.” Regarding the internal struggles within the party, Mr Turnquest attempted to downplay this saying it was nothing new to the FNM. He said the issues appear to be more dramatic because of the “evolution of media”. “We have never been a party thinking like sheep. We always challenge leadership and positions. Nothing has really changed in that regard. “Yes, it is a little more dramatic because of the evolution of media. But it is not totally different than what has been the history of
PETER Turnquest alongside FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis unveiling his “Roc Wit Doc” slogan in the House of Assembly. the party. We do all realise that the interest of this party is best managed by us.” On Sunday, Dr Minnis dodged the question of whether he would still work with the six members of Parliament who threatened to have him removed as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament by way of a petition to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling if he did not convene a conclave to decide the date of an early convention. “(If I remain leader) we will be focused on unifying the party and the country to take it in the right direction,” Dr Minnis insisted when he was pressed on the future of his relationship
with the MPs following the convention. Some have speculated that the “gang of six” MPs could be denied ratification and nomination for the 2017 general election if Dr Minnis retains his post. The six disgruntled FNMs are St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly, Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, and Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins. On Sunday, Dr Minnis suggested that his “close and personal” relationship with the FNM’s more than 400 delegates places him
POLICE SHOOT SUSPECT AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net POLICE SHOT and injured a man Sunday night during a high-speed chase moments after he allegedly assaulted a woman and “rammed his vehicle into several cars” attempting to allude capture. The drama unfolded shortly after 9pm. According to police, they received reports of a man “beating” a woman at a
home on Augusta and Ferguson Streets. When police arrived on the scene, the man jumped into a dark coloured Infiniti and sped off. Police chased the suspect and ordered him to stop his vehicle but he refused, leading police on a high-speed chase throughout “several communities in New Providence.” Police also said the suspect collided with several vehicles during the chase, but still refused to stop.
The suspect continued “driving recklessly” east onto Bernard Road where he collided with a passing vehicle. Police said in order “to protect the lives of other drivers and pedestrians on the road” officers shot the suspect who ultimately crashed into a utility pole. He was rushed to hospital where he is detained in stable condition under heavy police guard. Investigations continue.
in a position to, for a third time, be elected as head of the opposition party. The Killarney MP seemed confident when asked of his support from delegates. He said his work over the last four years has proven to FNMs with voting power in the convention that he has the ability to lead. “I have spent the last four years travelling throughout the length and breadth of this country building a personal relationship with Bahamians in the Family Islands,” he told The Tribune on Sunday. “So when whomever are selected, they would know my views and they would know I preach that this is
the people’s time and what my focuses are. I have focused heavily on ownership opportunities, land reform and the need to strengthen local government. “Those on the islands would know I have said we need to stop being so Nassau centric and ensure students there are given their fair share of scholarships. I have said this will happen in addition to giving them stipends and easier access to obtaining an education at the College of the Bahamas.” He added: “They know me personally. My relationship with the delegates is a close one.” Mrs Butler-Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands
Photo: Yontalay Bowe will challenge Dr Minnis and Mr Turnquest. Former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette has warned Dr Minnis that it would be a mistake for him to block the nominations of the six MPs if he successfully defends his post. In a previous interview with The Tribune, Mr Symonette said Dr Minnis should be careful with his campaign strategy of playing the “victim” as he emphasised the value of retaining experienced politicians. He pointed out that the dissenting MPs represented the party’s brand in Parliament, adding that the days of a “one-man” platform have passed.
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING AMERICAN WOMAN from page one
In addition, from 2008 to 2012, annual police reports documented 9,045 incidents where females were the victims of assault in the country. These reports also alluded to there being numerous cases of domestic violence of a non-sexual nature. Over a 10-year period, from 2003 to 2013, there were 1,109 reported rapes, according to police statistics.
Last month, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage revealed statistics that showed an overall decrease in crime by 29 per cent from January 1 to June 14, 2016 compared to the same period last year. Those figures also showed a 15 per cent de-
crease in rape and a 38 per cent decrease in attempted rape during the specified time period. In February, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade revealed that reported rapes increased by 16 per cent in 2015 when compared to 2014.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
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Bahamas faces ‘junk pile’ because of Government’s wrong decisions MOODY’S has given The Bahamas a two-month reprieve in which to either initiate a programme that has the potential of improving this country’s economic growth rate or face its present Baa2 bond rating being dropped to junk status. One of the many areas mentioned for urgent attention was The Bahamas’ “persistently high levels of unemployment”. Also noted was declining investment, highlighting “the indefinite opening of the Baha Mar mega resort.” In other words, in addition to attention to several other failing areas of our economy, construction has to start almost immediately to complete the Baha Mar resort. However, it depends upon who does that work — will it be Bahamian contractors with their Bahamian labour or Chinese Construction America (CCA), the “general contractors”, with their Chinese labour? If the latter, there will be no relief to The Bahamas’ unemployment problems. On June 29 last year, Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware’s bankruptcy court. At the time he said he would complete the project with Bahamian contractors. This meant that CCA, which created the problem when it was accused of missing construction deadlines, would be replaced by Bahamians. Mr Izmirlian said CCA had caused “both sizable delay costs that forced the resort to postpone its opening. Unable to open, the resort has been left without a sufficient source of revenue to continue our existing business.” Reporting at the time on the bankruptcy announcement, The Miami Herald noted: “Although China has done construction projects around the globe with Chinese labour, analysts said China State Construction’s foray into a hospitality project was intended to be a résumé builder.” Obviously, the Baha Mar failure with its international publicity has stained that résumé. Mr Izmirlian had provided for the continued payment of his staff while the bankruptcy proceeding were being negotiated. Taken by surprise, and angered because Mr Izmirlian had not taken him into his confidence, Prime Minister Christie stepped in and decided that government would control the payment of Baha Mar staff so that they would not become “pawns” in the dispute between the developer and the construction company. However, government failed to pay staff on time, complaining that Baha Mar had not given it sufficient information. Everything had been running smoothy until, as would be expected, everything broke down when government inefficiency entered the picture. Angered by the false accusations that failure of timely payment was Bah Mar’s fault, Mr izmirlian issued a statement: “Baha Mar finds it disgraceful that the salaries due Baha Mar employees have not yet been paid. Baha Mar was fully prepared to pay these salaries in a timely manner having received approval from the US Court under Chapter 11 to do so. The government however saw fit, apparently for its own reasons, to participate in the obstruction of this process and has to date been unable to deliver on its promise regarding Baha Mar Citizens. We urge the government to fulfil this obligation which it said it was assuming for this pay period.” And so the rebuke continued. It was this that set the government against Mr Izmirlian, and judging by government’s subsequent actions, decided to sideline Mr Izmirlian from his own project. This obviously met with the approval of Export-Import Bank of China, which also seemed to want to see Mr Izmirlian gone. Home Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, quickly came to the defence of his prime minister. He sent Mr Izmirlian a veiled threat informing him that in the past he would have been thrown out of the country for daring to speak in such a manner to his prime minister. Mr Mitchell recommended that Mr Izmirlian be invited to “consider making the appropriate steps to live elsewhere” if he could not conform with the expected conduct of “economic guests”. Not to be outdone, Labour Minister
Shane Gibson got into the act. He recommended that government start performing “psychological evaluations” on all foreign developers seeking to do business in The Bahamas. Although PM Christie distanced himself from these remarks, there is little wonder that in its report Moody’s noted The Bahamas’ “declining investments.” Mr Izmirlian decided to seek refuge in Chapter 11 of Delaware’s bankruptcy court. This would have protected the Baha Mar investment, kept staff employed, the hotel would have opened, business would have started and all creditors would have been paid in full – both secured and unsecured creditors. The only objectors, of course, were the group from Beijing – CCA and the Export-Import Bank of China. They maintained, among other things, that the debtors and all but one of the creditors were incorporated under Bahamian law and that Bahamian law should be the venue for the hearing. Government backed this move with the cry that for the matter to be heard in a US court would be a breach of “sovereignty”. Government immediately petitioned to appoint local liquidators to oversee the $3.5 billion resort’s future. All those dealing with this matter have agreed that Delaware’s Chapter 11 proceedings would have been the best proceedings for such a matter, but the Chinese, supported by the Bahamas government did not agree. Even the UK attorneys that government recently engaged to justify its position, acknowledged in a memo that “it is not disputed that the US Chapter 11 process can be a highly effective tool with which to enable a debtor to restructure its affairs in such a way that will ensure its future survival”. As Fort Charlotte MP Andre Rollins noted recently in the House of Assembly that during the 2008 global recession Kerzner International sought recourse in the Delaware courts because of the “lack of protection afforded by Bahamian laws to companies in Kernzer International’s situation.” There was no foolish cry of “sovereignty” then, because our courts recognised that Delaware had something that was not offered in the Bahamas. Dr Rollins informed the House that “those arguments in favour of multi-national companies pursuing legal recourse in other jurisdictions due to the inadequacies of Bahamian bankruptcy laws were made by no less a person than the current receiver for the Baha Mar property, Mr Raymond Winder. Mr Winder said at that time that the best hope for protecting the financial viability of a billion dollar joint venture project was to refer the matter to the US courts via Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. In fact, Resorts International,” Dr Rolliins told the House, “was purchased by Sol Kerzner out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and later reopened by him under the name of Atlantis. Even Justice Kevin Carey, who refused to allow the Baha Mar case to continue in his Delaware court made his decision because on July 22, 2015 Justice Ian Winder ruled that Baha Mar’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States would not be recognised in The Bahamas. Mr Carey commented that Chapter 11 “would have been an ideal vehicle for the restructuring of this family of related companies with the ultimate goal of finishing a project said to be 97 per cent complete and, upon its exit from chapter 11, to be in sound financial footing, with appropriate treatment of creditors. I am consequently disappointed that the parties have been so far unable to formulate a consensual exit strategy…” The consequence is that Mr Izmirlial is no longer in charge of his own project. The Chinese are in sole control, and The Bahamas government that supported them — ostensibly on behalf of the Bahamian people – has been left up the creek without a paddle — completely at the mercy of Beijing. The Christie government now has two months in which to put Humpty-Dumpty together again or face having this country sent to the financial junk pile.
PLP’s weak claims on jobs front EDITOR, The Tribune.
WITH the election now on the horizon PM Perry Christie and the PLP propaganda machinery will kick into high gear in order to convince the masses that the PLP government has lived up to its many pledges penned in its Charter for Governance. One of the pledges Christie and Co, made on the campaign trail would be the creation of thousands of jobs. Christie those stated that if his administration was able to create 22,000 years between 2002-2007 when the economy was moribund, he would be able again to create thousands of jobs in a bad economy. DPM Philip ‘‘Brave’’ Davis went out on a limb and promised 10,000 jobs in the PLP’s first year in office. Sensing that his government would be facing a political backlash from the more than 30,000 unemployed and desperate Bahamians for failing to live up
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net to such a grandiose pledge, Davis spun the yarn in 2014 by making the ridiculously incredible claim that the PLP, via the ministry of works, created 10,000 jobs. You get the sense that Davis and Co take Bahamians for fools. This is reinforced by National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson’s claim that 30,000 new jobs were added to the economy. This flimsy claim was also made in 2014. PM Perry Christie is now claiming that 20,000 new jobs were added to the economy since 2012. I don’t believe Christie. But I think I know how the PM arrived at this figure. Remember, Baha Mar went belly-up and sent home 2,000 Bahamians in the process. Christie and Co barked for five years between 2007-2012 that his government created
22,000 jobs, as I have mentioned above. Subtract the 2,000 Baha Mar jobs and you come to the figure of 20,000. It seems like Christie is fixated with this 22,000 jobs figure, but couldn’t bring himself to attempt to hoodwink Bahamians into thinking he had created that many jobs in light of what has transpired at Baha Mar…In many ways, Baha Mar’s collapse is a fitting symbol of the PLP’s pathetic performance. With another Moody’s financial downgrade in the offing coupled with its inability to fulfill its election promise to create thousands of jobs, the PLP finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Put bluntly, the PLP has failed miserably. Its Charter for Governance should be torn up as whatever has been outlined in it isn’t worth the paper it was written on. THE WHISTLEBLOWER 2.0 July 4, 2016.
Baha Mar blame EDITOR, The Tribune.
JUST how can Rt Hon Perry Christie not take the fullest blame for the debacle of Baha Mar? 2005 sale of Ruffin’s Cable Beach assets none other than Christie pushed-consorted with Sarkis Izmirlian to develop then a $1.25 billion development. Minister Wilchcombe took the project to Parliament. Izmirlian borrowed $220m to purchase... could not prove to Harrah’s he had the development money. Who else is responsible, Mr PM? The Christie Government
refuses to collect all taxes that are in arrears? $400m Real Property - millions owed to BP&L - millions owed to W&S and BTC. Mortgage relief? Christie got it totally backwards surely the banks have to take responsibility - are they not the financial experts? How could they have allowed the mess if a mortgagee misses one month everyone knows try paying two-months let alone a year or more. The Banks have to create a solution - Christie no money from the Treasury. Hold the banks’ dividends. The other side - FNM...
they seem they want desperately to self-destruct. Of their line-up of MPs, incredible only Dr Rollins puts up a credible opposition. The six rebels have Minnis by the constitutional jing-jings! Decriminalising marijuana - incredible any politician let alone politician medical doctor can encourage this - a quick Google will prove just how bad the medical effects are of even the occasional smoke. J A RUSSELL Nassau, June 28, 2016.
Caribbean trade EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Caribbean and the world have been discussing Brexit. Some of our eminent thinkers have explained the consequences of Britain leaving the European union. Some argue they did so to assert control over the continent. I know they exited because it is in their national interest. Whether it be immi-
gration, billions spent on EU dues or cumbersome bureaucracy, the EU was hindering their national interest. Britain doesn’t assist the Caribbean because they love us. They do so because it is in their national interest. We are more than willing to align ourselves with them and push their international agenda. The assistance will continue. We must now fol-
low suit and push our national and regional interest. Why gain millions in aid and lose billions in trade? It is time for the Caribbean to mature and free ourselves from mental slavery. If you are not helping me to be prosperous you are not my friend. BRIAN E PLUMMER Nassau, July 4, 2016.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 5, 2016, PAGE 5
Call for ruling after silence in Toggie and Bobo case By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
CANADIAN fashion designer Peter Nygard and lawyer Keod Smith did not enter a defence to allegations that the pair orchestrated a murder for hire plot against several Save The Bays directors and a pastor. The deadline to submit a defence for the contentious lawsuit was March 31, and three months on, plaintiffs are seeking a default judgment on their claims. Yesterday, attorney Fred Smith, a STB director and plaintiff in the suit, accused Mr Nygard and Mr Smith of grandstanding in the media. He also questioned the status of the police investigation that was launched in response to the allegations outlined in the suit. “Very strangely, Peter Nygard and Keod Smith,
both of whom proclaimed their innocence from the allegations made in the statement of claim, have failed to file a defence in action brought,” said Mr Smith, QC. “It was all smoke and mirrors and opportunities for grandstanding in the media on their part. Litigation isn’t defended in media or social media, it’s in the pleadings and they have made nothing, no defence.” The explosive allegations rocked the nation in March when Prime Minister Perry Christie and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis’ names were mentioned in secret recordings between Mr Nygard, and two selfproclaimed gang members Livingston “Toggie” Bullard and Wisler “Bobo” Davilma that were filed in support of the lawsuit. At the time, Police Commissioner Ellison
Greenslade told reporters that he had launched an official investigation into the allegations but has since refused to provide an update on the status of investigations. Davilma and Bullard were later arrested but were released without being charged days later. Mr Smith said: “It is odd that to date the police, who say they are conducting an investigation, have yet to ask any of the five plaintiffs to have a discussion with them. This continues the pattern of us complaining to police, to parliamentarians, icons of society, everyone, that we have been victims and targets of abuse and there be no official reaction. “Except the government accusing us of trying to destabilise the government, perversely.” The Supreme Court writ was filed against Mr Nygard
and his former lawyer Keod Smith by Save The Bays Directors Joseph Darville, Romauld Ferreira, Fred Smith, Louis Bacon, and Reverend CB Moss, who is not a part of the organisation. It alleged that the defendants orchestrated a twoand-a-half-year campaign of fear and violence to “kill or scare off” activists Mr Nygard saw as opponents to development plans for his Lyford Cay property. The plaintiffs are also seeking damages and a permanent injunction against Mr Nygard and Keod Smith restraining them from arranging any further tactics against them. Both defendants filed an appearance on March 17, and were required to serve a defence on the plaintiffs within 14 days. On March 21, Mr Nygard filed an affidavit and sup-
porting statements in the Supreme Court alleging to show evidence that Mr Bacon and former Free National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard committed criminal activities while participating in a plan to implicate him in a murder plot. Mr Nygard filed an affidavit by Carlos Mackey along with sworn statements by Davilma and Bullard, the two men who accused him in previous court documents of hiring them to commit murder and other crimes. However, those documents did not represent a counter-claim or defence, according to Mr Smith, who called the move a publicity stunt. On March 29, Mr Nygard sued The Tribune, Save the Bays, as well as Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Mr
Pintard, and others, for “libel” as well as “abuse” of the Supreme Court and Parliament. Mr Nygard was seeking an injunction restraining 16 defendants from committing “further acts intended to harm or likely to harm” his economic or other legal interests and an injunction restraining the defendants from committing “further libel or slander” against him. Yesterday, Mr Smith pointed out that although the fashion mogul filed the massive counter suit, no statement of claim has been filed in that matter. The application for interlocutory judgment in default of defence was filed on April 28. The Tribune tried to contact Mr Nygard’s legal counsel Elliot Lockhart, QC, for comment but did not get a response up to press time.
CHESAPEAKE SEWERAGE FIRM SAYS IT IS FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICE
RESIDENTS during the walkathon to raise awareness of concerns over sewerage fumes. By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd and the Grand Bahama Utility Company Ltd have confirmed that “industry best practices” are being followed regarding the operation of the Chesapeake Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The companies issued a press statement in response to comments made by Shuffel Hepburn, who appeared as a guest on a radio talk show hosted by Wendall Jones on June 29. “The public should be aware that Mr Hepburn is prosecuting a lawsuit against the Grand Bahama Utility Company (GBUC) before the Supreme Court
in which he has made certain allegations regarding the operation of the Chesapeake Waste Water Treatment Plant (CWWTP). Mr Hepburn’s claims have been comprehensively answered by GBUC in the pending litigation,” the statement said. “Five days were assigned by the Supreme Court for Mr Hepburn to conduct a
trial of his claims against GBUC over the CWWTP from May 23-27, 2016. Mr Hepburn, however, asked for his day in court to be postponed and now appears to have resorted to conducting a trial of his claims in the press.” The Grand Bahama Utility Company said it does not intend to conduct a trial of Mr Hepburn’s claims in the
media. The company stated that a “trial in the press” is inappropriate as the issues are under consideration by the Supreme Court. GBUC said it looks forward to presenting its case in court. The GBPA and GBUC also said they have been in discussions with Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville and have as-
sured the government that the plant is being operated in a responsible manner. “Likewise, we wish to assure members of the public that industry best practices are being followed,” the companies said. Mr Hepburn and other area residents have frequently raised concerns about possible ill health effects from the sewage plant.
FRED SMITH SUED OVER BEACH ACCESS IN GRAND BAHAMA from page one
It is claimed that a groyne built in 2006 at the Smith’s Point settlement by the defendants on their property known as lots number nine and 10 of Fortune Bay Subdivision East, extends outward into the sea and over the seabed contiguous to the defendants’ “offending” property for more than 200ft, substantially interfering with the plaintiffs’ enjoyment and use of their own properties at Smith’s Point. The men allege that the groyne is the direct cause of environmental damage caused by the trapping of sand and sediments for the defendants’ dual purpose of creating a new beach on the seaside of their offending property from sand that would previously have been dispersed along the entire mile long beach of the settlement at Smith’s Point generally westward of the said groyne of the offending property - purported to be owned by one or both of the second and third defendants’ companies which are both purported to be beneficially owned by Mr Smith. The plaintiffs also allege
the groyne is degrading to neighbouring properties including that owned and/or occupied by them or claimed by their family members under a constructive trust and is devaluing to the said plaintiffs’ properties with the apparent ultimate intention of compelling them and their respective families to give up their occupation of their respective properties and move out of the settlement. The plaintiffs further claim that the groyne has denied them access to a beach area or the ability to pass and repass such portion of the beach previously enjoyed by them and their families, who are now being obstructed from doing so by the existence of the groyne constructed by the defendants, as well as Mr Smith’s use of private security guards and large guard dogs as a means of continuing to exact intentionally and unlawful intimidating acts against the plaintiffs and their families. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to restrain Mr Smith, as well as the second and third defendants, from any further obstruction of their rights to enjoy free use, including free access of
passage along the beaches at Smith’s Point. The plaintiffs are also seeking the payment from the defendants of all costs
of bringing of the action. Mr Smith has been involved in a long and bitter legal battle with Peter Nygard, the Canadian fash-
ion mogul, over alleged dredging of the seabed and Crown land accretion at his Lyford Cay residence in New Providence.
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PAGE 6, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
NIB EXTENDS HOURS AMID PROBLEMS OVER PAYOUTS from page one
The revelation was made by NIB’s lead operations consultant, Jayson Moxey, yesterday during a press conference at NIB headquarters. According to Mr Moxey, NIB is “feverishly” working to overcome faults related to the way its new V3 operations system is analysing and calculating contribution payouts for thousands of Bahamians. Mr Moxey told The Tribune that NIB was initially satisfied that the new system had the capacity to support the content being compiled, however, upon further inspection, various inaccuracies were discovered with the data being output by the system as a result of how it was interpreting information being uploaded by the staff at NIB. “Prior to the conversion to the V3 we had user test-
ing that took place to ensure its efficiency,” he said. “Using testing means that each process that is involved, as it relates to registration, contribution posting, cashiering, claims processing, we had members of staff who were familiar with the process to test the system to ensure its efficiency - that it was in fact doing what was expected of the system.” Moreover, Mr Moxey stated that officials at NIB opted to use a “parallel run” in its registration department to test the new system. Meaning that instead of fully transitioning from its old AS-400 system to its new V3 system, officials opted to run both systems simultaneously to ensure that the new V3 system was indeed working up to par. However, he revealed that this practice wasn’t carried out in the shortterm and long-term benefits departments, with officials in those areas opting to run
pilot testing process for two to three months. Within that period, officials in those departments carried out operations with the new system, attempting to address issues as they came up. “Based on our users they (said) it was fine,” Mr Moxey said. “ . . . But at the end of the day we found out that there were some deficiencies. One of the major challenges has to do with the transfer of data from the AS-400 to V3, and if you don’t have clean data in so doing – because you know the processing of claims are depending on contribution records and so if all the records were not transferred or there were deficiencies in the transfer then that would in fact create a bottleneck in the process.” There have been some signs that data being output by the new V3 system has resulted in payment short-
ages and in some cases, over-payment in some instances. Mr Moxey said both departments have implemented a manual check system to ensure that all payout are correct. That “bottleneck” has in fact been realised in the last few weeks with thousands of Bahamians being subjected to non-payments due to the flaws that now exist in both the short-term and long-term benefit departments. Mr Moxey told The Tribune that NIB has now been advised by service technicians that it was now “too far into” its new system to revert and run it along side its old AS-400 system. As a result of this, NIB has opted to start extended hours at its Baillou Hill Road headquarters to offset the delays being experienced in its payment processes. Employees in the IT,
claims, short-term benefits, long-term benefits and payment departments have all been placed on an extended work schedule. All employees scheduled to work added hours will be compensated. Over the weekend, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis condemned the government for the month-long delays in NIB’s payments, claiming that the government’s failure to implement a back-up system at NIB has resulted in Bahamians “being cheated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Officials at NIB have suggested that 400 short-term claimants and 1,300 longterm claimants have been adversely affected. NIB has also confirmed that 15,000 claimants have been processed and paid between April 1 and June 30, totalling $8.5m in payouts. Meanwhile, Mr Moxey
Bid to hold talks over downgrade from page one
Moody’s pointed out last Friday that “debt accumulation” has continued to increase, with the government consistently failing to hit its budget projections, and the adequacy and effectiveness of its policy responses to The Bahamas’ problems. Moody’s warned that any potential downgrade could be “by one notch or more.” The country currently has a ‘Baa2’ rating, two notches away from being cut to socalled “junk” status – a position where it will lose its existing investment grade status. Moody’s announcement is more in line with S&P, which presently has The Bahamas one notch above “junk status.” Despite the gloomy prospects, Mr Halkitis said he believes the government can convince the agencies not to downgrade the credit rating. “S&P is coming next week and Moody’s the following week,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “They will be able to meet with the private sector and the government ministers and we will impress on them why we don’t think we should be downgraded. “Moody’s is leaning in
THE FATE of the Baha Mar project remains at the centre of concerns over the economic health of the Bahamas. one direction and obviously it is not what we wanted but we will do our best. If it does happen, then we will deal with it and we will cross that bridge when we get there. They are concerned about the data from the Department of Statistics, but looking forward we want to show them the positive outlook for the country. We will let the facts speak for themselves.” Mr Halkitis said the issues The Bahamas is experiencing at the moment are “not that different” from what is happening around
the world. He said despite the potential negative outcome, he does not believe this will give the government a “black eye”. “We will plead our case and they will do their analysis and come to their conclusion but we are going to show them some of the government’s positive investment promotion exercises,” Mr Halkitis said. “We have the mortgage relief programme that will assist many people, we are also improving the quality of loans and doing positive things for the economy.
They did their initial review and we will speak to them and lay out the plans we have. All over the world, countries are experiencing low growth rates. We have had some bright spots; the economy has not grown how we wanted it to. Baha Mar was supposed to add to the country’s growth and the sooner they open, the better. “These agencies are analytical, they go by numbers, this is what they act on. We have had improvement but they are looking at the numbers but like I said we
will try to convince them and plead our case,” he said. The country has until August to convince Moody’s otherwise, and is also in the middle of the “six-24 month” period set by S&P to determine whether it will follow through on the “greater than one-in-three chance” of a Bahamas downgrade. In its statement released last evening, the government said the country is not exempt from the lower commodity prices and external investment uncertainty through the loss of correspondent bank services that is being felt in the Caribbean region. “Although The Bahamas has not been completely exempt from any of these phenomena, the government is confident that this review will reveal that mediumterm economic prospects for The Bahamas are good given projected foreign direct investment, the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts and the implementation of innovative policy initiatives with respect to certain structural constraints the country has faced in the energy sector and labour market. “The government’s position is that ongoing con-
said he is confident that a resolution to the entire ordeal was near. “As it relates to shortterm benefits we have made tremendous progress over the last two weeks and so we are very optimistic that as it relates to short-term benefits the issues would be resolved by no later than the end of this month. “As it relates to long-term benefits, we want to ensure that our short-term is functioning efficiently. Simultaneously we are working on long-term benefits but we are optimistic that those issues will too be dealt with.” NIB has been engaged in the process of transitioning to a new IT platform for the past several years. Phase one of the transitional process involved the roll out of the new NIB smart card, which was launched in May 2014. The completion of phase two was scheduled for the first week in April of this year.
struction at various projects around the country is generating significant economic activity.” The statement added that there “is no question” that economic activity in much of the country is higher than three years ago. “Growth prospects for the Bahamian economy are also very good with the imminent restart of construction at Baha Mar and its subsequent opening. In addition, challenges within the energy sector are being addressed by the new private sector management team at Bahamas Power and Light and the benefits of this will be realised in the short-term.” The government also said it is addressing rising debt through a fiscal consolidation plan, adding that the successful roll-out of value added tax in 2015 shows the Christie administration’s commitment to this. “The rate of growth of government debt has declined steadily over the past three years and with recent revenue enhancement measures and expenditure control efforts, it is expected that the increase in debt will halt and the level of government debt will begin to decline in absolute terms by 2018/2019,” the statement said.
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from page one
Mr Turnquest said Bahamians must understand that another credit rating downgrade would affect the Bahamas’ ability to borrow money and the costs associated with it. “I hope that the government now understands that we have a significant problem and that the things that the opposition has been saying is not pure politics,” Mr Turnquest said yesterday when The Tribune contacted him. “We are trying to help them to understand that what we are facing is a very serious and tenuous position. We ought to be careful about the policy decisions we make along with the measures we take to raise revenue and how we spend the revenue.” He added: “Of course they always say we are playing politics, but now it is evident that the chickens are coming home to roost. “The Moody’s review suggestion that there may be a downgrade is a very ominous warning because as you know the rating standard gives an understanding of the ability to borrow and the cost of borrowing. “The government has been making these rosy predictions for years and we
hardly ever met them. As a result the spending plan based on that revenue has been on the negative side while we are spending more than we are collecting.” The East Grand Bahama MP also criticised the government’s 2016/2017 budget and said the opposition did not have the proper forum to properly pick apart its contents. He said the budget contained too many instances for money to be wasted. “On the spending side there are significant sums allotted to contingencies or market developments, which is just a catch all. There is plenty, plenty fat in that budget and I would have liked to see the government justify that a little more because it is nothing wrong with them projecting the costs but anything outside of this ought to be outside of that budget, they should have been made to come back to Parliament if it became necessary. “We have to look at all these uncontrolled amounts for them to just spend. It all seems to be very fairytale and the risks to the country are very serious. We have to tighten the belt.” Moody’s announcement appears to have been sparked by Mr Christie’s affirmation of official Department
of Statistics data showing that the Bahamian economy contracted by 1.7 per cent in 2015, following a 0.5 per cent shrink in 2014, according to Tribune Business. This contrasted sharply with previous positive growth estimates by the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), prompting Moody’s to determine that the Bahamas is “unlikely” to hit its 1.5 per cent GDP growth potential in the short-term. Apart from its shock at the revised negative growth numbers, Moody’s “review” also appears to have been sparked by concerns that the Christie administration’s consolidation plan has yet to arrest the growth in the $6.6 billion national debt and related ratios. It pointed out that “debt accumulation” has continued to increase, with the government’s direct debtto-GDP ratio growing by five percentage points in two years to hit 65.2 per cent at the June 30 end to the 2015-2016 fiscal year. And Moody’s also appears concerned that the Christie administration consistently fails to hit its budget projections, and the adequacy and effectiveness of its policy responses to The Bahamas’ problems. “The decision to place
the ratings on review was prompted by the continuing rise in risks to the country’s medium-term economic prospects and to its fiscal strength, notwithstanding the government’s ongoing fiscal consolidation programme,” Moody’s said on Friday. “The review will allow Moody’s to assess the likelihood that economic growth prospects will improve, debt metrics will stabilise and government policy will effectively address its macroeconomic and fiscal challenges.” Of particular concern to The Bahamas and its economy, Moody’s warned that any potential downgrade could be “by one notch or more”. It currently has a ‘Baa2’ rating on this nation, meaning The Bahamas is two notches away from being cut to so-called “junk” status - a position where it will lose its existing investment grade status. Moody’s announcement on Friday brings it more into line with Standard & Poor’s (S&P), which presently has The Bahamas just one notch above “junk status.” This thus raises the possibility that The Bahamas could be downgraded to “junk” by both international credit rating agencies almost simultaneously.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 5, 2016, PAGE 7
NIB STILL SEEKING PERMANENT REPLACEMENT FOR DIRECTOR POST By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
ACTING Director of the National Insurance Board V Theresa Burrows yesterday confirmed that she was not in the running to hold the position long-term, saying that a permanent replacement for former NIB Director Rowena Bethel could be named in the coming weeks.
In an interview with The Tribune on Monday, Mrs Burrows indicated that the process to select a new director was already underway, however she was unable to offer any specifics on potential candidates. Last week, Ms Bethel indicated that there were no plans to renew her contract with NIB once it expired on July 3. She was contracted to replace former chair-
man Algernon Cargill in 2014. NIB has reportedly been fraught with rumours of infighting and disagreements among officials in recent weeks. On Monday, The Nassau Guardian’s National Review suggested that Ms Bethel’s decision to step away from NIB was made only after the government refused to acknowledge her ultimatum to either move
forward with her or Senior Deputy Director of Operations Cecile WilliamsBethel. The Tribune understands that the two have long held disagreements on many issues at NIB. The government agency is also battling organisational and technical issues over the past few weeks as it works through faults in its new V3 processing system.
In May, NIB officials said “transition issues” emanating from phase two had resulted in “regrettable inconvenience to a number of our valued customers.” At the time, NIB said the greatest impact was being felt by persons seeking disability benefit claims, along with customers seeking short-term benefit claims, such as maternity, sickness, injury and unemployment. The corporation also
noted that issues being met encompassed both “technical matters and organisational culture adjustments.” At the time, NIB said some 30 per cent of its customer base was being negatively affected as a result. As of Monday, officials at NIB were working on a shortlist of candidates and hoping to name a permanent director by the start of August, a source familiar with the process said.
Resident left to live in a toilet for eight years Tribune reader Deno P Ellis raises the plight of one elderly Nassau resident and makes a plea to government to help its citizens AT THE rear of the Needle’s Inn Club on Washington Street and Lincoln Boulevard on the right of the street sits a small brick/ wooden structure disguised a little by a patch of bush. Last month, I was asked to accompany an associate to this residence of an elderly Bahamian living in extremely poor and unhealthy conditions. The occupant is a man in his seventies respectfully named Mr Saunders, but who has been nicknamed “Toilet Man” by the community as a result of his living arrangements. Although Mr Saunders lives in a constituency that borders those of Prime Minister Perry Christie and Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation, for the past eight years, he has been calling an outside toilet with plywood built around it to hold a bed, home. Invited onto the property and greeted by the kind gentleman, he respectfully gave me the opportunity to take a few pictures inside and outside the shack. Taking a peek inside - and declining the invitation to step in due to the strong stench
escaping from the door - I took notice of a few things. Linedup in the tiny block area was a number of buckets that Mr Saunders said he often used for toilet and water touting purposes. In the wooden area was a dirty bed on bricks with a string tied from one end being used for a closet. He said that during rainy conditions, the roof leaks heavily, the sewage overflows in and out of the tiny shack as well as all over the yard that he and his family members share. There is a larger house on the property, occupied by a family of 15 including teenagers and small children. “There is no room for me,” he told me. “I begged my family to have work done to the sewage, because it overflows and settles into the yard, where I can hardly get out unless I walk through it.,” he continued. “But no one wants to do it. I don’t know if they have the money, but it has to be done. I have a few buckets inside that I use when the septic floods and I have to take the stuff (waste) and throw it into the bushes down the road.” As if the sight of his condition wasn’t painful enough, on hearing his story I desperately struggled to fight back tears. I believe that Mr Saunders is only one of the many families that are living in these kind of conditions today in the Bahamas. Others with small children are liv-
ing in buildings with floors falling out, buildings with holes in the roof, etc. But it seems as though we, the people of this nation, have migrated from looking out for each other to becoming accustomed to accepting this as okay. The provision of practical and cost effective living to accommodate the wider extent of the Bahamian people who are living dollar to penniless, is necessarily urgent. Politicians are indulging themselves in extreme greed while allowing the people to live like dogs. This is the Bahamas and we, the birthright inheritors of it, should not be forced to live like this. It is not healthy for Mr Saunders to be living, much less eating in and breathing in sewage waste. In the sight of God, this is very sad and not right. However, it will only get worse if the people of this country don’t stand up and speak out against those who allow such living coniditions for too many of us. It doesn’t matter who we are in this Bahamas - “Everybody is somebody”. No matter what our intellectual or economic divide may be, we all have a value and that virtue should be respectfully recognised by our political leaders. There are many issues that confront the poverty-stricken ghetto communities and whether it’s participation through organisational programmes
FORMER ZNS REPORTER ORDERED TO PAY $15,000 IN CONTEMPT RULING from page one
Mr Brown in contempt of court, she should have directed the attorney general to lead prosecution against Mr Brown under the Penal Code so he would have faced a new trial under another judge. Justice Charles said she found this view “novel” and therefore invited the attorney general to assist in providing an interpretation of Section 82 of the Penal Code, which concerns perjury. After doing so, a representative of the Office of the Attorney General argued that a second trial under another judge was indeed necessary. However, Louis Adams, attorney for Louis Bacon, argued that this was optional. Justice Charles agreed with him, saying a failure for
the matter to be dealt with by her court would fly “in the face of court” and be a “mockery of courts and a colossal loss of judicial time”. Noting that Mr Brown had not complied with the Norwich Pharmacal order, Justice Charles said he was also not under any pressure or coercion and he had not admitted to providing false testimony nor has he shown any remorse for his actions. “Every good citizen obeys court orders,” she said. Justice Charles ruled that the defense must pay indemnity cost. Counsel for Mr Brown was given up to yesterday evening to say whether they will seek a stay in the matter so they could be granted leave to appeal Justice Charles’ ruling. Justice Charles’ ruling stems from an ongoing feud between Mr Bacon and fashion designer Peter Nygard, who own adjacent
mansions at Lyford Cay. Mr Bacon, an environmentalist, claims that Mr Nygard has retaliated against him because he believes it was Mr Bacon who complained about the alleged environmental damage being done by the dredging of the seabed to expand the Nygard Cay property. Mr Bacon is suing Mr Nygard for $100m for defamation. He has alleged that the fashion designer organised rallies, marches and protests where he was defamed, created and distributed defamatory T-shirts and signs, published defamatory accusations about him and used websites to defame him. However, Mr Nygard filed a $50m countersuit in April accusing Mr Bacon of a “vendetta” against him, including harassment and frivolous litigation. Each has denied the other’s allegations.
$90,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR MISS TEEN BAHAMAS WINNER HIGH School student Ariannah Wells-Bain was crowned Miss Teen Bahamas International (MTBI) on Sunday night, winning in the process a scholarship to Liberty University worth $90,000. She now goes on to represent The Bahamas in Jacksonville, Florida, this summer at the Miss Teen International competition. “I’m most looking forward to sharing my platform on an international level,” she said. “Now that I have the opportunity to take it to an international arena, it will be so exciting to share my knowledge, and
gain knowledge from other people.” Ariannah said the scholarship to Liberty University has eased at least one worry for her family. “I’ve taken such a burden off my mother. It’s incredible for me to know I was able to help with my own education. She is happy, and that makes me happy.” Runner-up Lezlia Jones, received a $30,000 scholarship to Liberty University while Marechan Burrows received $20,000. Anthony Smith, MTBI’s National Director, said the academic partnership with Liberty University has add-
ed a priceless component to the pageant. Not only has MTBI become an enrichment programme that teaches the young ladies makeup application, selfdefence, counselling, fitness, communication, videography - and more - but, it has now become an important gateway to tertiary education for the young ladies. The field of 18 young women was a mix of public school, private school and college students. Full story and photographs, see Woman section today
or government funding, it is vitally important that the government gets involved to help the people. It is an uphill battle. Nonetheless, I think the burden is on the political leadership in these constituencies to operate with compassion, clarity and integrity to make the message clear that all lives matter in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, especially at the grassroots level. The reason why there is so much violence in this town and among our men and boys is due to the lack of people’s empowerment. The people are hopeless and there isn’t much enthusiasm or encouragement towards their future in this country as a result of hardship. It is a vital must that emergency assistance reaches these communities without prejudice and all of the bureaucracies. Indeed, I think it is distasteful for the government to use people’s desperate poverty-stricken situations to exploit them handing out T-shirts and a few bucks to push their political agenda. For the sake of generations behind, for the sake
THE OUTSIDE toilet with plywood built around it that Mr Saunders has called home for the past eight years of your sons and daughters, for the sake of Mr Saunders, the “Toilet Man”, and all of
us, we must stand up, speak out and fight back against our oppressors.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Service before self
THE TRIBUNE
“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY” - JOHN F KENNEDY, US PRESIDENT, JANUARY 1961
E
VEN as I continue to travel, pursuing dreams and opportunities and commitments beyond the borders of my country, I’m constantly thinking about what I can do for my people and my country while I do what I want and need to do for myself. Can I do both at the same time? The question of running for public/political office has come up several times. It’s something I never would have considered even a few years ago, but I often wonder if taking that route would enable me to have a welcome and more effective hand in the changes I believe need to be made in my country in order for it to be better, the place it once was (safer, kinder, more socially wealthy), or the place I think it could be, the place I see it should be given all its potential. But, then I wonder, does having a direct hand in the government of my country make a difference? I know many people, who, if they united, could more easily bring a necessary positivity to the way things operate at home. But will banding these people together bring the desired outcome … who’s to say? And there’s no way of knowing. Moreover, there’s no way to get them together without them all believing it is possible. But who wants to give away what could easily amount to the rest of their lives? Leadership is such a thankless job, especially in the administration of a country’s governance ... especially with a population of people who don’t like to be told what to do … especially with a people unmotivated or ill-prepared to
By NICOLE BURROWS
make very difficult changes. What makes me think I’m qualified to lead my Bahamian people anyway? Well, there’s either one of two things that would drive anyone into politics, the way I see it. Either they think they can get something out of being a politician, which, as far as I can tell standing on the outside with the rest of the governed, is what most enter politics to do … get something. Or, they have a passion to make changes that convert to an overall positive difference in the lives of the people they serve. The latter is the reason most would officially disclose, whether or not it was actually the truth. They say even with those noble intentions, though, once you enter politics and government, it is so easy to get caught up … to go with the flow, to accept the norm of the environment of which you’ve become a part, to milk the system for your personal benefit or that of others you know … to please people. But I’m not, nor have I ever been a people-pleasing person. I don’t, cannot, brown nose. I know how to express myself better than most, and I know how to use my charm to achieve something when I really want it, but it will never be driven simply by the desire to have friends or satisfy the whims of anyone who makes a request. In fact, even though people tend to think they can take advantage of me when
dustries meant money was good, frequent, flowing, but there was nothing of real value backing that up. We were not an industrious people as a result of creating an industrious environment. If we were, we would they first meet me because I have that industry available appear quieter, gentler, that to us now. We were getting they can get by with things our pockets filled by the ... I’m pretty severe and money that fell from the unyielding. When I open tables of those with lots of my Pandora’s box on them, money to spend enjoying they are painfully sur- life or getting wealthy. We prised. But is that the sur- might as well have been prise they want to get? They standing at the table with don’t want a harsh leader … our hands out. And when in some places they call that you’re used to ‘earning’ this tyranny. But what strained way, what do you do when version of that can we have, the bottom falls out? You have no other insomething not so concentrated, a ‘tyranny’ more dustry so you sit and wait palatable to the people of for another benevolent my country, because this donor to send food down the chute. diplomacy/ Believe me, democracy “This is a dirty job. as the child doesn’t seem of someone to be work- This is a thankless who worked job. This is a job ing. A strong in tourism for hand is need- where it will easily 40 plus years, ed for every problem that take decades to see I understand having any kind of gains or that we face. that dollar In reality, commissions from was better the number than not havin favour of your hard labour. ing it. I got to a better place Who is prepared to live are to give up personal go to college because of outnumbered those dropby those who opportunities for pings from don’t even national needs?” the table. recognise But because that it isn’t a we didn’t create other ingood place to live. Does the average Baha- dustries while those scraps mian think that things are were dropping to us, by the awful all around in The Ba- time I got back home from hamas? Their pockets may college all I could do was be empty, but they’re not sit at a table and wait for relating that immediately scraps too, a situation made to a deficiency of good gov- worse by the fact that the ernance, are they? All they structure of our economy know is they can’t get the was never so much for the money they want or need benefit of the people of the and that must be because Bahamas, but for the peosomeone is not giving it to ple who came to the Bahamas, on a vacation or on them. For years the nature of paper in offshore banking our tourism and finance in- funds. The Bahamas was never built for Bahamians. You have to understand the root source of the problem in our economy to have any hope of fixing it. Knowing that, we can diversify. So why, after so many years, has there not been a leader of The Bahamas who saw that it would be necessary to diversify the country’s economy? That is why the people who “blame successive governments” blame
them. So what does it take for those who govern The Bahamas to make changes in a system that was never built for Bahamians? Think about the answers to that question. The first requirement is you cannot think traditionally about that question. There is nothing done before that would improve the status of all Bahamians, or else we would already be better. It will require leadership by new people who think differently … who don’t buy into the “tourism is our bread and butter” slogan and can see more for The Bahamas with its magnificent resources. People will always want to travel to other countries, they will always seek to do business outside their own countries, but that all changes over time. It was never going to always be The Bahamas. I look at my country and I see a failed opportunity to be a rare and brilliant gem in a paradise. Our people could have been further along, had there only been some folks who had greater vision … who saw their opportunities to lead their people as more than the opportunity for the provision of another handout in exchange for misplaced loyalty. Because now our handout community doesn’t understand why it can’t qualify for more in life. It got so accustomed to getting the extra from the table, so caught up in the temporary dollars that were passing through their hands that they didn’t even realise when the tides were shifting away from their favour. Who can govern people who are not qualified for much? Who is the best person to lead a people who are so desperate now that they will do anything to eat? When good education is an elective or luxury item? When they are so mired in misery that they can’t see a way out other than desperately grabbing at the things that float past them to survive? Who can lead these people? Because this is a dirty job. This is a thankless job. This is a job where it will easily take decades to see
any kind of gains or commissions from your hard labour. Who is prepared to give up personal opportunities for national needs? What do Bahamians require of the people who lead them? What will make them vote for one person over another in 2017? Are they looking for more handouts? Because, if they are, that will seal the fate of the future of the Bahamas … you might as well sign the promissory note of national allegiance over to another sovereign country. Put England on speed dial. If other countries defect the UK post ‘Brexit’, maybe they’ll take us back? Yes, that’s a joke. We would be a more strategic interest for a country that is closer to us, or to a country that wants to have a formidable presence in or near to a country that’s closer to us. We have a host of problems, few of which are solvable tomorrow. If we don’t choose the right leaders next year, we are fodder for the larger nations around us. If we don’t see the worth in being truly independent, which, let’s face it, we are so definitely not, then what are we fighting for? For a country where no one can survive? Where no one with any decent amount or quality of education wants to live? What’s your sovereignty worth, Bahamas? What do you want in two years? Five years? Ten years? 20? Can the people you see before you now in government give you what you need in the way of opportunities and not handouts, to have a life in the Bahamas that’s worth living? If not, replace them with some others who can, no matter how humble they appear. Tell me, tell them, what it is that would get your vote in 2017. Otherwise, this wheel you are on will keep spinning with you on it, while you’re getting exhausted and going nowhere. And while you’re at it, tell me what you’d want of me, if I could help you get the country you deserve … Send email to nburrows@tribunemedia.net
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 5, 2016, PAGE 9
Seeking to create a Bahamian democracy
Your Say By MARK HUMES
O
UR country has a number of major issues that need tackling immediately. The ones that immediately come to mind are crime, education, lack of job opportunities, the failing economy, the lack of accountability, and lack of transparency in national affairs. We spend a considerable amount of time, energy, and money creating legislation and programmes to address these issues yet they remain. As a matter of fact, under this Progressive Liberal Party’s term in office, these issues have gotten progressively worse. Try as we might, we may not make much of a dent in any of these issues if we do not attack one lingering vestige in our social upheaval. I hope I am not reaching, but I would go out on a limb and say that at the heart of our inability to create a modern, orderly Bahamian democracy – free of many of the social nuisances that we are now experiencing – is our insistence on maintaining the current defunct Westminster system of governance under which we exist, the umbilical cord that has us tied up just short of reaching true socio-political “independence”. This old colonial system of absolute rule was put in place, with the ultimate authority to run the state in the hands of a “king” who was believed to rule by divine right. When The Bahamas became an independent nation, we did nothing to change and free ourselves from this system, despite the effect it had on us prior to us becoming independent. Our leaders took over this old oppressive system that at one-time disadvantaged us as a people and, today, they continue to take advantage of its oppressive ways. They are now starting to do this for as long as they can, most times to the detriment of other potential leaders and national progress. What we are now witnessing, in the growing chaos taking place in our society under this second term of Perry Christie, is how our system of absolute rule - where the prime minister is the chief and ultimate decider – continues to be as socially oppressive, as it was before majority rule, particularly when the “king” prime minister is found inadequate. Jamaica possibly recognised the failings in this colonial system and is seeking to correct the issue for the future, moving to have the queen, and in some ways, the Westminster system, replaced with a new system that has a non-executive president as head of state. Likewise, as a people, we have complained about the Westminster system of governance as an impediment to our true independence for decades, but no leader has been bold enough to take a similar stance and commit to and lead on calling for amendments to our Constitution similar to those being called for in Jamaica. Such a step would require a leader who can advocate passionately and convincingly, with the forward movement of society in mind, for Bahamian people to pack up their stuff from the middle of the desert and make the major decision to leave the Commonwealth of the Bahamas behind and get on the road leading to the Republic of The Bahamas – where we should honestly be accountable to ourselves and have our own president as the head of state. Perhaps the Free National Movement (FNM), in considering a more progressive reform to its own party’s constitution at its national convention, can also consider the ramifications of replacing the Westminster system as our governance system. And, if
the pros outweigh the cons, have it become a part of the party’s campaign platform and a top legislative item coming out of convention. The FNM can push for the change if it sees the suggestion as one that moves us, as a people and country, in the right direction of change. In the region, we would be joining, not only Jamaica, but also Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago in seeking to become or in being a republic. After considering this item and other legislative amendments that would limit the powers of this new head of state, the FNM convention can also consider platform items that would call for: (I) fixed national election dates, (II) term limits for the head of state, (III) reform to the election processes for national and local government posts, and (IV) recall and criminal proceedings legislation that can be brought against corrupt public officials and parliamentarians.
FIXED NATIONAL ELECTION DATES There is no getting away from the fact that not knowing the exact date when an election will be called is a major problem. In an article, Professor Robert Blackburn describes this unfair advantage by saying, a “Prime minister sets an election date at the time when he thinks he is most likely to win it. Conversely, he will avoid such times as he is likely to lose it. The anachronistic state of the law on electoral timing adversely affects the fairness of the election process as a whole. It gives the party in government a tremendous tactical advantage over the opposition parties, and of all the possible flaws to be found in our electoral law and administration, this perhaps above all other matters does most harm to the integrity of the electioneering contest.” There is no getting away from it. Our current electoral system causes a tremendous amount of anxiety and confusion for voters and creates great tension between the governing party, the opposition and the nation – with the last two usually being left in the dark. Having fixed national dates will take some of the chaos out of the election process and levels the election playing field for all involved in the process. Again, if the society demands to have a more equitable and transparent election process and the current plan is not working, then it would be incumbent on us to get rid of the plan in favour of something new – if we really hear society’s demands; the FNM should be the proponents of this new plan. Do away with people being held hostage to the party that is the government, even if we are that government. If the party decides to be bold and amend its constitution to have fixed dates for conventions, election of
party officers, and leadership, then fixing the dates for the national election would be a beneficial complement to that change. Coordination efforts between the two would be less messy, more convenient, and more manageable.
TERM LIMITS ON A HEAD OF STATE The lack of term limits on a head of state emanates from European, colonial styled “democracies”. And one of the disadvantages of this colonial Westminster system is that the leader stays in office for too long and becomes insensitive to the needs and wishes of the people as time goes by, which can stifle progress. In systems where power is spread more widely and evenly, the lack of term limits can possible work well. However, in the Bahamian Westminster system, where power is centralised, we are experiencing how this system becomes and remains problematic. With the idea that Perry Christie can serve another five years in office, despite two terms of poor performance, most of us are coming to our senses once again that we do not need these types of leaders remaining in power for too long in the future. The thought of another Christie term reminds us that regular and guaranteed changes at the top is not only wanted but needed. So, in addition to considering limiting the term of its own party leader, the FNM should also look at proposing term limits to national leaders as a part of its party platform.
REFORM TO THE ELECTION PROCESS In my previous article on modernising the FNM platform, I put forward some recommendations for the party’s consideration in relation to reforming the party’s leadership election process. Many of the suggestions for reforming the national and local government electoral processes are based on the same reasoning I used for reforming the party’s election process in the previous article. In a subsequent article, I will expound on reforming the national and local process because it calls for a greater depth of discussion, particularly on the restructuring of the whole machinery, than this space would allow. The main thing, however, is to understand that reformation to the election process is to open it up to more people at the local level as a form of deepening democracy.
RECALL AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS This is self-explanatory. There should be no rea-
son why this should not be a part of any party’s platform and early legislative agenda if it wishes to become and establish itself as the more progressive of the other political parties. I am and will advocate for the FNM party to take the necessary bold moves at convention and in its platform coming out of convention, particularly in the above areas, to begin laying the framework for its own party’s reinvention and the reinvention of Bahamian democracy that is different from the one the former colonialists left in place for the Bahamian society and more compatible with a democracy that is a symbolic representation of where most Bahamians are in their thinking as a people trying to move out of a 20th
century colonial past into a more modern, 21st century Bahamas. In Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau says, “Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.” The Bahamian people have been saying for decades what type of government they would like to have that would command their respect, but they do not seem to be obtaining it because government really does not see anything wrong with itself and the way it does business. And even though times and the governed have changed and continue to change, the government has not and does not seem willing to change itself. Our developing democra-
cy is kicking and screaming for change. And to create trust in the mind of voters and signal that the Free National Movement, coming out of convention, is the party most prepared to put in place systems that meet the current needs of this generation of Bahamians, again, I would like to suggest, once again, that we must use our convention to show that we can make better decisions by examining issues at their core and solving these core issues, that we are not afraid of the challenge when it comes to taking on these core issues, and that we are the party with the ideas that can inspire change, growth and innovation because of our willingness to tackle the core issues. The FNM’s platform and legislative agenda, coming out of convention, should be a clear indication of our priorities, and fixing government and governance should be seen as one of our first and top priorities. I can almost guarantee you that what we are seeing in our people’s so-called delinquent behaviour today is simply them saying to us, “stop trying to fix us; fix yourselves first.” So, FNMs, let us - in our platform and works. • Mark Humes is a professor at The College of The Bahamas and former Democratic National Alliance candidate for Fort Charlotte and former chairman of that party. He is also president of the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas. Mr Humes joined the Free National Movement earlier this year.
PAGE 10, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
US naval crew helps to beautify West End area By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS part of a community service initiative, the crew of the USS Oscar Austin participated in a local beautification project in the West End community on Sunday. The US naval destroyer ship out of Norfolk, Virginia arrived in Freeport over the weekend and its crew decided to volunteer some of their free time to a local community project while
on Grand Bahama. Commander Janice Smith, along with 25 crewmen, cleaned up several sites, including the pond park at the entrance of the West End settlement. They removed debris, planted coconut trees, and cleared away all the rubbish from the area. Commander Smith, the second woman of African American descent to command a naval destroyer, said the naval ship was on training and stopped in for a visit to Freeport, where a
reception was also held on board the vessel as part of the USA’s 240th independence anniversary, which is celebrated today, July 4. A number of Bahamian officials and American residents were invited to a reception Saturday evening aboard the ship which was docked at Freeport Harbour. “While here, we are helping with community relational projects; we are out for training and we happen to have an opportunity to stop in the Bahamas and in-
teract with some of the local and civil authorities here,” Commander Smith said. “We travel to a lot of different countries throughout the world and part of that is partnering with the local community to do things in the community for improvement, and so that’s why we are here today – part of our mission as the US Navy is to help around the world in whatever capacity that we can,” she explained. Commander Smith and her team covered a number of areas along the settlement.
COMMANDO Squadron Graduates along with Marine Forces North team and instructors and senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and, below, action from the training courses.
“The Bahamas is big on the ecosystem and we want to set the example of how the environment should be kept and to assist with that while we are here.” West End resident Nakera Wilchcombe, who is also an environmental official with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, said that residents are very thankful to the US Navy for volunteering their time to help beautify their community. “We are so grateful and we are more than pleased that the US Navy is part
SIXTY-THREE participants from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force successfully completed various training courses conducted by the Marine Forces North of the United States Marine Corps. Lasting just under three weeks, the training included: combat skills training (CST), urban tactics (UT), marine core martial arts programme (MCMAP) and tactical questioning. Some of the areas covered included combat shooting skills, combat operations in urban areas, hand-to-hand and close quarters combat techniques and detainee and document handling in offensive, defensive, stability and support operations. All training received focused on the development of each marine’s character, responsibility, leadership and teamwork skills needed in today’s modern battlefield. The participants were split into four groups,
of this venture this morning and volunteering in this way,” she said. Ms Wilchcombe said the team also did work on the mini-seat parks that are located in the community as green spaces for persons to sit, relax and enjoy the environment and nature. The mini-seat parks were installed in the community through a small grant programme and Ms Wilchcombe stressed that upkeep of the parks is important because they serve as green public spaces for residents.
from which outstanding graduates were awarded for their excellent performance during the training. Marines who excelled within their class included: combat shooting training – Marine Seaman Samuel Lewis; close quarters combat – Marine Seaman Lyndon Rolle; marine core martial arts programme (MCMAP) – Marine Seaman Rhemar Lewis; tactical questioning – Leading Seaman Oscar Finlayson. In addition to receiving certificates, all participants of the MCMAP training received grey belts, which is the second belt ranking. Congratulating the graduates was Captain Clyde Sawyer who encouraged the graduates to put all they have learned into practice. He also extended his appreciation for the effort and commitment shown during the course of their training.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS HIGHLIGHTED AT BTVI GRADUATION QUOTATIONS from a Buddhist monk and a Greek philosopher enlightened the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) 2016 graduating northern campus class in Freeport on Friday when the Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr Michael Darville, addressed their commencement ceremony. As a trained engineer, Dr Darville said he fully understood the importance of technical training and that he was pleased with the role BTVI continues to play in the training and certification of thousands of Grand Bahamians. “As the Ministry for Grand Bahama is mandated to grow and diversify the economy of Grand Bahama Island, I ask this institution’s continued assistance in developing programs that will further prepare our people to play a more active role in the agricultural, industrial, tourism and manufacturing sectors of our economy, which will maximise the potential for economic development of our island,” he said. Quoting Bodhidharma, he said: “Only one person in a million becomes enlightened without a teacher’s help.” He added: “It is said that the most impor-
tant contributions that any individual can make to the advancement of his or her country is to provide the next generation with the gift of a well-rounded, quality education.” Dr Darville told the graduates they should all be proud of reaching this particular milestone and that the Government is working with the private sector to create employment and business opportunities, particularly for those trained in the technical and vocational areas. “Aristotle once stated, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit!’ This commencement exercise is not the end, but rather the beginning of your journey to excellence. I am counting on each of you, therefore, to now take the knowledge and skills you have attained at BTVI, and apply them; in order build a better life for you and your family; and to make positive contributions to your communities, island and country.” Also addressing the graduates were BTVI’s newly appointed president, Dr Robert W Robertson, as well as Kevin Stuart, Terminal Manager of Statoil South Riding Point Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, July 5, 2016, PAGE 11
Junkanoo
Summer SUMMER Junkanoo made a return at the weekend, with crowds flocking to Arawak Cay for a host of parades, music and events.
PAGE 12, Tuesday, July 5, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Hailing our Icons The fourth annual Bahamian Icon Awards were held at the Melia Nassau Beach Resort on Saturday night. The winners were: Lifetime Achievement Award - Janet Bostwick Fine Arts - Jamaal Rolle Commerce - Barry Rassin Education - Gillian Wilson Entertainment - Patrice Johnson Entrepreneurship - Paul Aranha Health - Dr Darius Unwala Humanitarianism - Andrea Sweeting Live Entertainment Ensemble - Gea Pierre, Crazy Love Media - Clint Watson Music - Sami Starr People’s Choice - Harrison Thompson Jr Rising Star - Te’ja Munnings Tourism - Quintin ‘Barabbas’ Woodside Youth Development - Yonell Justillien Sports - Shaunae Miller Photos: Aaron Davis