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CUSTOMERS TO FACE CONTINUED POWER CUTS

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By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  BAHAMAS Power and Light (BPL) customers can expect “continued outages� and power failures for “at least the remainder of the week� as the electricity provider continues to “struggle� with a significant generation shortfall.

Corporate Communications Manager Arnette Ingraham said yesterday that,because of the generation challenges, “until further notice� customers will experience power outages in two-hour intervals.

Ms Ingraham told The Tribune 15 per cent or more of customers will be impacted at any time as the company struggles to return two major generators on line.

Outages will most likely occur beginning at 10am until the load supply decreases at 10pm. “We are going to try to share the load and spread it out in two-hour intervals so one particular customer is not impacted for a very long period of time,� Ms Ingraham said. “Our peak hours start at about 10am and usually drops off around 10pm when customers go to sleep. Right now we are experiencing a significant shortfall and I would say 15 SEE PAGE SIX

ARMED ROBBERY WARNING FOLLOWS BAHAMAS ALERT TO TRAVELLERS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE United States Embassy released a security message yesterday urging its citizens and US visitors in Nassau and Paradise Island to exercise heightened personal security awareness, pointing out that armed robberies and violent crime remain primary criminal threats.

The security message is the second advisory issued by the local mission this year and notes that

the embassy has received reports of a significant increase in armed robberies throughout New Providence over the past six months.

It comes days after the Bahamas government issued its own travel advisory warning Bahamians, particularly young men, to be compliant and exercise extreme caution when interacting with American police due to escalating tensions over recent fatal police shootings in the US. Yesterday, embassy spokesperson David Allen insisted that there was no link to the July 8

FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE BECOMES A VICTIM OF CRIME IN FLORIDA

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  FORMER Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett said yesterday he was “doing well� and in high spirits after he and a group he was travelling with were the victims of theft during a shopping trip in Florida this week.

Sir Michael told The Tribune that, contrary to reports circulating on social media, he was not held at gunpoint or harmed during the ordeal. The incident happened on Monday while he and others were shopping at an IKEA furniture and home essentials store in

Doral, Florida.

Yesterday, Sir Michael seemed to be upbeat and said the ordeal had not dampened his spirits because “things happen�. “We really didn’t realise what had happened for a while,� he said. “The bags were in the van and the next thing we know is then they weren’t there. I wasn’t held at gunpoint or anything like that. In fact we didn’t even see what happened.�

He declined to comment when asked to reveal the value of the stolen items or what they were.

The incident comes after The Bahamas on Friday SEE PAGE SIX

advisory sent out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Allen explained that the embassy recently put its staff and their families on alert due to increasing reports of armed robberies, and as such was legally required to issue a similar message to its citizens. “The protection of US citizens is US Embassy Nassau’s top priority,� he said. “In carrying out this responsibility, we periodically send messages to ensure that US citizens are aware of ongoing issues and trends that may affect their safe-

ty and security while traveling abroad. “The embassy recently warned its staff and their families to exercise additional caution due to increasing reports over the past six months of armed robberies on New Providence and Paradise Island targeting patrons of ATM machines, parking venues at retail locations, and armed carjackings.

The embassy is legally required to issue a similar message to US citizens.�

SEE PAGE SIX

ROAD BLOCKED OFF IN PROTEST AT WORKING CONDITIONS AT SANDALS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) yesterday protested against the “horrible working conditions� at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort.

As part of the demonstration, heavy-duty trucks and buses were parked in the road to block off sections of West Bay Street adjacent to the Sandals property, leading to the arrest of several people.

BHMAWU First Vice President Omar Maynard and dozens of employees of the all-inclusive Cable Beach property protested outside the resort early yesterday morning, holding placards as the group laid out a myriad disputes and ongoing grievances, which union officials are claiming resort executives are refusing to “adequately address�.

Mr Maynard, in an impromptu speech outside the resort, lambasted hotel executives for their alleged refusal to “sit at the negotiation table� as workers

are being made to work in alleged substandard conditions. “It is deplorable the way you (owners and executives) are running this hotel,� Mr Maynard said. “We will continue to protest until we see the results we need to see. Sandals act as if it is above the law. The way you market your hotel is different than the way you treat your employees.�

It is being alleged that employees are being forced to carry out tasks not consistent with their posts or face dismissal. In some cas-

es, it is alleged that employees hired as security guards are operating as bellmen as the resort attempts to curb overhead expenses.

Additionally, it is being alleged that the resort is infested with mould and overrun by rodents and other pests.

Sources familiar with these issues have suggested that poor conditions at the resort have led to several employees allegedly being hospitalised in recent months.

SEE PAGE TWO

FNM CANDIDATE SUSPENDS HIS ROBERTS: FOLLOW PROCEDURE CAMPAIGN AMID ‘IN-FIGHTING’ IF YOU WANT EARLY CONVENTION

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  LEONARD Sands, the Free National Movement’s (FNM) candidate for Bain and Grants Town, said yesterday the continued “infighting� within the party as well as “personal considerations� have forced him to suspend his campaign.

In an interview with The Tribune shortly after he released a statement an-

nouncing his decision, Mr Sands said it is his wish to see the FNM overcome the issues that are now plaguing the party.

He also said while his reasons for suspending his campaign are not solely because of the drama within the Official Opposition, there are others who “are tired of it� and he predicted more announcements like his.

SEE PAGE THREE

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By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday blasted two veteran PLPs over attempting to “wash the party’s linens in public�, insisting that they both know the proper procedure to have their concerns heard and addressed internally.

Mr Roberts was responding to calls from Tall Pines

MP Leslie Miller and former Cabinet minister George Smith who, on Monday, argued that the party’s convention should be held sooner rather than later.

Mr Miller and Mr Smith want a September date instead of November for the event and were adamant that the party needs to organise itself and excite its base in preparation for the next general election.

SEE PAGE SIX

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Road is blocked off in protest at working conditions at Sandals from page one These and many other matters in recent years have prompted employees, through their union, to demand a series of meetings with resort executives to address these issues. That request has been denied despite interventions by the Department of Labour.

General Manager of the resort Gary Williams refused to comment yesterday. He said that legal matters were still pending in court and had to be resolved.

Meanwhile Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Obie Ferguson said he was not surprised by the action taken by BHMAWU members, suggesting that the years of

“ill will and malice” had finally caught up with “hurt workers”.

“We met with Prime Minister Perry Christie on June 17 on this matter; at that point we expected resolution. If the Prime Minister can’t get hotel officials to the table then there is little to no hope,” Mr Ferguson said.

“I was not surprised by their actions and I expect that this kind of behaviour will continue as workers see no end in sight to their disputes. They feel disrespected by all sides, a resort that doesn’t care and a government that isn’t working on their behalf,” he said.

BHMAWU has had a long-standing dispute with Sandals over the issue of union recognition.

In 2011, the BHMAWU

secured a ruling by the Privy Council that it be recognised as the bargaining agent for Sandals Royal Bahamian employees.

Despite this however, Sandals has refused to negotiate with BHMAWU. Following Tuesday’s protest, police took several people into custody at the scene.

Mr Maynard was taken into custody along with another union steward following their appearance on the “Real Talk Reloaded” radio show on More 94FM yesterday afternoon.

Three truck drivers were later arraigned in Magistrate’s Court in connection to West Bay Street being blocked off and other offences. It is unclear if the union officials will face any charges.

A PHOTOGRAPH sent to The Tribune showing the blocked road.

TRUCK DRIVERS WHO BLOCKED ROAD SAY THEY WERE HIRED TO CARRY OUT A JOB

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THREE truck drivers accused of using dump trucks to block sections of West Bay Street close to Prime Minister Perry Christie’s home yesterday claimed they did so because they were hired to carry out a job.

Irving Walkes, 30, Jarvis Glinton, 28, and Wesley Mareus, 34, made the admission to Magistrate Andrew Forbes through their attorney Krysta MasonSmith.

The three men were brought to court yesterday charged with obstruction and other traffic related offences.

However, Ms MasonSmith did not expound on the claims because she said she was aware that the matter was still under investigation.

Magistrate Forbes said there was “no justification” for their actions regardless of their motive. The magistrate also questioned if allegedly being hired and paid to do such a job was worth potentially going to prison.

Their appearances before Magistrate Forbes yesterday afternoon came hours after dozens of Bahamas Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BMAWU) members staged a protest on West Bay Street after officials at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort reportedly refused to discuss several ongoing labour disputes.

Several trucks and blocked traffic on West Bay Street near Sandals, which is also close to Mr Christie’s home, during the protest.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Ms Mason-Smith

submitted that the three men, all of whom pleaded guilty to their respective charges, had no previous convictions and did not seek to waste the court’s time by entering not guilty pleas.

Ms Mason-Smith also submitted that via their guilty pleas, the men had accepted responsibility for their actions. She also submitted that they had been co-operative with police throughout and asked the magistrate to exercise leniency with the trio.

Magistrate Forbes reprimanded the men for their

actions, charging that they did not make sense. He also said if the men were motivated to draw attention to the protest they succeeded, adding if they only acted for money that did not outweigh the potential trouble they would have gotten into as a result.

All three men were subsequently fined $250 for the obstruction charge and told they would each face three months in prison if they failed to pay.

Walkes was also convicted of and fined $1,000 for possession of forged documents - a licence disc

and an inspection certificate from the Road Traffic Department, respectively.

He was also fined a total of $450 for driving an unlicensed vehicle, failing to submit his vehicle for inspection and driving while not insured against thirdparty risk.

Glinton was fined $100 for driving a defective vehicle and faces one month’s imprisonment should he default on paying.

Mareus was fined $100 for driving a defective vehicle and another $250 for not being covered against thirdparty risk insurance.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, PAGE 3

FNM CANDIDATE SUSPENDS HIS CAMPAIGN AMID ‘IN-FIGHTING’

from page one

Mr Sands also denied rumours that he suspended his campaign because of FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ leadership style, telling The Tribune he respects both Dr Minnis and leader hopeful Loretta Butler-Turner. He added that he has pledged his allegiance to no one.

Meanwhile a well-placed source in the FNM, who did not want to be named, told The Tribune that Mr Sands allegedly had problems financing his campaign, which was part of the reason for his decision. The source claimed Mr Sands had been promised campaign funding from the party.

“The reasons are very personal and related to family considerations and time commitment. I would not be truthful if I said the issues within the party didn’t make my decision that much easier,” Mr Sands told The Tribune.

“It is my desire for something to happen within the party. I have respect for both Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner, who are both capable of running the party and the country.

I am not in any camp. It is

my view that the decisions made in the party now will be very significant in this country.

“I think both persons have to put their issues aside, lock themselves up in a room and stay in there until they find a solution. My reasons may be personal at this time but I believe this will not be the last of this kind of announcement that you will hear.”

Mr Sands said he believes that a “lack of appreciation” is causing a divide within the FNM. “This is why a lot of persons are unhappy. Persons want to be appreciated,” Mr Sands said.

“The appreciation will lead to togetherness and that will be the solution. We need to come together, the entire grouping of persons, in order to rescue this nation. We need to figure out the best way to go forward.”

In his statement, Mr Sands said it is his sincere hope that the FNM “recognises the magnitude of the time we are in” adding that the decision to suspect his campaign was difficult.

“There are undoubtedly times in every individual’s life when difficult decisions will have to be made.

In the past few weeks a lot has transpired within the FNM which has resulted in much debate in and around the country,” the statement said.

“However, I’ve made the conscious decision to suspend my campaign in the Bain and Grants Town constituency at this time.

Subsequently, I would like to thank the executive committee of the FNM Bain and Grant’s Town Association, party leader Dr Hubert Minnis, and the candidate selection committee in confirming my candidacy.

“In conclusion, it is my sincere hope and prayer that the FNM truly recognises the magnitude of the time we’re in. As we head into our national convention I hope all FNMs and delegates realise that history has always showed us that there are some battles which are so significant, the possible outcome so frightening that it may require enemies of sorts to unite to ensure a victory against a common foe.”

Last night, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie released a statement on the issue, thanking Mr Sands for his work with the party so far.

“On Sunday, July 10, I

LEONARD SANDS, who is suspending his campaign in Bain and Grants Town. received a letter from Mr Bahamas. I appreciate his joined the party.

Leonard Sands that he willingness to come forIn a press release at the would be suspending his ward to be part of the elec- time, Mr Sands said: “I campaign for the Bain and toral process but we under- am proud to join this orGrant’s Town constituency stand that public service is ganisation because I am for personal family rea- a commitment - and we also convinced that the Free understand family always National Movement is the sons,” Mr Collie said.

“I would like to thank Mr comes first.” only party that is capable of Last September, the moving the Bahamian peoSands for his many years of service, work, and commit- FNM announced that Mr ple from promise to possesment to the FNM and The Sands, an architect, had sion.”

Butler & Sands brand Minnis a ‘divider’ as leader of the FNM

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and Senator Dr Duane Sands yesterday castigated Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, branding him a “divider” behind closed doors despite his claims to want to unify the organisation.

The duo, who are seeking to unseat Dr Minnis and FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest at the party’s convention later this month, insisted that there were efforts underway within the party to “stack the deck” against them.

The allegations were made in a statement issued by their “Forward-Together” campaign responding to an announcement from the FNM’s ratified Bain and Grants Town candidate Leonard Sands that he was yesterday suspending his political campaign. Mr Sands was ratified in January along with seven other candidates.

His “untimely departure”, which comes after he endorsed Dr Minnis’ during his campaign launch last

week, underscores a “disappointing” leadership, they maintained.

The reality, they said, is that Dr Minnis has been abandoned by many of his own hand-picked leaders and pointed to the resignation of Senator and former Cabinet minister Desmond Banister in 2013 among others.

“We have taken note of today’s press reports regarding the self-described ‘suspension’ of the political campaign of Mr Leonard Sands, the ratified FNM candidate for Bain and Grants Town and the larger issues of suspected shenanigans being perpetrated by our opponents.

“We will use the structure of the FNM’s constitution to aggressively fight every single underhanded or inappropriate effort to ‘stack the decks’ against us.

And where the constitution is silent, we will use every other legal means to ensure the integrity of the electoral process in the upcoming convention.

“While our opponents might not see it or agree with it, the FNM is still the political party with the highest standards for trans-

parency when it comes to Bahamian politics. In this regard, we will fight to ensure that we do not become like the PLP.” The statement continued: “With respect to Mr Sands, as a ratified candidate, the FNM’s constitution gives Mr Sands the authority to serve as a member of the Central Council - and by definition - as a voting delegate at the upcoming convention.

“As a dynamic young candidate, Mr Sands’ voice has been a good addition to our party as we have all sought to be more responsive to the voice of young, entrepreneurial-minded Bahamians.

“While we note the ‘suspension’ of his campaign, our party constitution makes no provision for suspension on the part of a ratified candidate. Integrity and respect for the voters of Bain and Grants Town must now compel him to be fish or fowl. He appears to be out - by his own choosing and without a push from anyone - so he is apparently out. This is not the time for playing games with the people who represent the FNM in

Bain and Grants Town.”

Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands said integrity, honesty, openness and transparency must now drive other declared but unannounced quitters to publicly announce their intentions before the upcoming convention.

They insisted that these people should also see the moral imperative of not making critical leadership choices for which they are not personally invested and for which they will not be around to actively support.

“Mr Sands’ untimely departure, coming as it did after he addressed Dr Minnis’ campaign launch last week, underscores a disappointing reality about Dr Minnis’ leadership: Dr Minnis has been abandoned by many of his own hand-picked leaders.

“Senator and former senior minister Desmond Banister left his team after a matter of months (and) Senator and former Minister of State Zhivargo Laing left Minnis’ team after a matter of months.

“Senator Heather Hunt was fired as retribution be-

MINNIS WARNS COUNTRY WILL BE HURT

BY FURTHER DOWNGRADE BY MOODY’S A FURTHER downgrade from international credit rating agency Moody’s would “hurt our country immensely”, Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said yesterday.

“Every day since Moody’s placed The Bahamas’ ratings on review for downgrade we have learned of a new impact this failure of the PLP government is having on The Bahamas,” the Killarney MP said in a statement.

“This time it is being reported that international buyers are ‘pulling back’ on their investment in real estate due to the possible downgrade. Even though the PLP is in denial that the downgrade will happen, according to Moody’s own release they say it is likely. Instead of sticking their heads in the sand and saying everything is fine it is time to take action.”

His comments came after

Tribune Business reported that international buyers are “pulling back” because of uncertainties caused by Moody’s threat potentially to downgrade The Bahamas’ credit rating to junk status, according to local realtors.

“A further downgrade would hurt our country immensely - as shown through The Bahamas’ foreign real estate market taking a step back,” Dr Minnis’ statement added. “The PLP continues to drag the Bahamas through the dirt day in and day out. It is inexcusable that they refused to listen to the warnings that they needed to rein in their spending and now we are in this inexcusable situation.

The Prime Minister claims that they have reigned in spending and reduced the deficit but that is just more empty rhetoric and broken promises according to Moody’s assessment.

“The ‘savings’ that the Prime Minister continues to

tout comes on the backs of the hardworking Bahamian people through the PLP’s higher taxes and fees. Even with tax increases and higher fees they keep spending and putting The Bahamas’ financial standing at risk.

But unfortunately for the Bahamian people they have become accustomed to the empty rhetoric and broken promises from the PLP.” He added: “The Bahamian people deserve a government that will stand up and fight to improve our economy. Our country’s future won’t improve until we have real leadership that will stop the empty rhetoric and broken promises and roll up their sleeves and fight for the Bahamian people every day.

The FNM will provide this real leadership for the Bahamian people that they desperately need and deserve.”

On July 1, Moody’s announced that it was placing The Bahamas “on review” for a potential downgrade,

CORRECTION - THE NASSAU FLORIST IN the profiles of the 43 Bahamian Cultural Legends to be honoured at the anniversary of Independence (The Tribune, July 8) Al Collie Sr, the noted musician, entertainer,

businessman and owner of Club Luna, was also described incorrectly as the general manager of The Nassau Florist. We are happy to make clear that it was Al Collie Jr who was

formerly employed by The Nassau Florist, a business which has always been and continues to be solely owned by Jim Whitehead.

We apologise for the error.

due to both its unexpected economic contraction and further deterioration in the government’s fiscal position.

Richard Coulson, page 8

cause she supported Loretta Butler-Turner in the last leader election (and) Senator John Bostwick was fired because Dr Minnis felt it was easier to distance himself from Bostwick rather than to stand with him publicly in the face of his deepest personal and political challenge.”

Mr Bostwick was relieved of his Senate post shortly after he was arrested on an ammunition charge, of which he was later convicted.

“And, six of Dr Minnis’ parliamentary colleagues decided it was time to move on, after four years of defending him and propping him up,” the statement added.

This comes after former FNM Chairman Darron Cash on Monday accused Dr Minnis of removing two people from the FNM’s Executive Committee, which he alleged was done “for the purpose of adding a few more votes at convention”.

In a scathing statement released to The Tribune, the former senator accused Dr Minnis of being “petty” and “vindictive,” saying the Killarney MP does not want those who have oppos-

ing views around him.

Mr Cash said he has also heard rumours that he, too, was going to be removed from the FNM’s Executive Committee. He said while this has not been confirmed, he would not be surprised if it happened.

Dr Minnis could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The allegations are the latest to emerge from the FNM, a party that has been dogged with infighting and tension over the past few years, with some dissatisfied with Dr Minnis’ leadership.

Last Wednesday, Dr Minnis and Mrs Butler-Turner both launched their campaigns for leader at separate events. While Dr Minnis had the largest crowd, Mrs Butler-Turner had the most support from present and former FNM parliamentarians and senators.

The convention is scheduled for July 27-29.

Wednesday, 13th July 2016

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PAGE 4, Wednesday, July 13, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

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GOP ‘dump Trump’ rebels mobilise CLEVELAND (AP) — From a spartan 16th-floor office they’ve rented just blocks from this week’s preliminary meetings of the Republican National Convention, some of the GOP rebels trying to head off Donald Trump are laying the groundwork for revolt.

Dumping the party’s presumptive presidential nominee is a longshot. They’re up against an alliance between the Trump campaign and leaders of the Republican National Committee, which this week includes two dozen campaign operatives combing hotel lobbies and convention corridors counting votes and pressing delegates to oppose the dissidents.

Republicans say the Trump-RNC votecounting “whip” team will swell to 150 when the Cleveland convention is in full swing next week.

Countering that, the renegade Republicans are setting up a high-tech messaging system to coordinate with organizers on the convention floor and plan to launch ads micro-targeted to the delegates’ social media pages. They say they have organizers inside at least 35 state delegations who will help coordinate their drive to let the convention’s 2,472 delegates vote for whichever candidate they want.

“There’s so much energy to do this,” said Dane Waters, co-founder of Delegates Unbound, one group challenging the widely held conventional wisdom that GOP rules require nearly all delegates to back a specific candidate, based on state primaries and caucuses. “Delegates are the authority of the Republican Party. This is about the future of the Republican Party.”

Allied with other groups like Free the Delegates, they face a GOP establishment determined to prevent a toppling of the presumptive nominee — or any embarrassing, nationally televised showdowns during the four-day convention.

Underscoring that, the GOP rules committee — a bastion of establishment loyalists — on Tuesday formally proposed to renew rules that require delegates to back the candidate they are “bound” to. With no chance of prevailing at that meeting, the dissidents are saving their effort for later this week, when the separate convention rules committee meets to craft a rules package to be considered by the full convention next week.

“I highly doubt it,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a brief interview of the prospects that the rebels would succeed. “I’m hearing less and less of it, actually. I think the unbind stuff has died off considerably over the last 10 days or so.”

Others are more definitive. Randy Evans, a member of the RNC from Georgia, says Trump and party loyalist forces appear to have the convention “under control,” with growing numbers of Republicans eager to avoid “the prospect of chaos” if the rules are abruptly changed.

Evans said Trump can apparently count on at least 1,700 devoted delegates — enough to fend off any rule changes.

An Associated Press count shows that Trump has 1,543 delegates ready to back his nomination — more than the 1,273 he needs to officially clinch the top slot.

Dump Trump advocates say they have at least 400 delegate supporters but won’t provide more detail. Though Trump won more than 13 million votes and captured around 40 primaries and caucuses, his foes say he’s not conservative enough and is likely to lose and drag down GOP congressional candidates with him.

“He’s not a Republican, that’s the problem,” said Bill Eastland, a Trump delegate who like many of the dissidents preferred Trump’s former rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Eastland says he supports the movement to allow delegates to back anyone, but concedes it will be “very, very difficult” to prevail. He says he fears blocking Trump “will actually do damage” to the GOP, in part because of how a spurned Trump might react to such a move.

Kendal Unruh, a Colorado delegate for Cruz and a leader of the “Dump Trump” effort, is pushing a proposal to let delegates vote their conscience by supporting the candidate of their choosing. She claims at least 28 members of the 112-member convention rules committee will support her — which if true would mean the full convention could vote on her proposal.

If she succeeds, top party and Trump campaign officials say her plan would be defeated. “I’m sure she’d lose,” said Steve Duprey, a Republican national committeeman from New Hampshire who’s on both rules committees and opposes the rebellion.

Unruh, Waters and their allies have other options. There’s talk of other amendments proposing things like requiring the presidential candidate to release tax returns and restricting future Republican primaries to only registered Republicans. Both proposals are aimed at Trump, who has not released his returns and won many independent votes in the Republican primaries.

The dissidents say they’ve enrolled parliamentarians and lawyers to help demand roll call votes, recounts of how delegates are voting and other steps that might turn the convention into an embarrassing, televised battle.

But such moves aren’t easy. The convention’s presiding officer — who at times will be Priebus or House Speaker Paul Ryan — has clout to decide who to recognize on the convention floor to make procedural motions.

In a show of party leaders’ determination to keep things in hand, Duprey says: “It’ll be a quick debate on the floor.

We’re not going to spend two hours debating rules.” If they do, said Unruh, “It will be on international TV that they ignored” the rebels and their interpretation of party rules.

By Alan Fram and Steve Peoples, Associated Press

Bahamian lives do matter EDITOR, The Tribune FRED Mitchell seems to always come under fire because of his foreign affairs policies - and rightly so.

He is a controversial figure. Some call him a spin doctor and many people forget that he is a Harvard graduate.

When he issues responses on certain policy matters, they are calculated and, whether right or wrong, he appears to stand by what he says.

His latest controversy came in the issuance of a travel advisory for Bahamians travelling to and residing in the United States. He said that Bahamians should be very careful when interacting with police officers

because of the recent shooting deaths of two black men by police officers and the shooting deaths of several police officers in Dallas by a sniper.

I think Mr Mitchell this time is spot on.

Many Bahamians reside in and travel to the United States and, like he said, we are phenotypically similar to black Americans. He urged Bahamians to do all they can to co-operate with police, especially during traffic stops, and said that we should not get involved in any protest I believe because this might further put Bahamian lives in danger.

So what’s all the fuss about in The Bahamas amongst Bahamians? This

is a heightened travel season for Bahamians and many of us are shopping and vacationing in the US. The US rightly advises its citizens when they feel that a threat exists to their countrymen.

We just celebrated our 43rd Independence a few days ago. For those of you who still don’t know it yet, Bahamian lives do matter and it is incumbent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to alert Bahamians living in international jurisdictions of looming danger.

Kudos to Mr Mitchell this go round.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, July 12, 2016

Passport Office’s shame EDITOR, The Tribune MY recent experience in trying to renew an e-passport for my juvenile daughter has rendered me almost ashamed to be a Bahamian.

I applied for this passport renewal on March 23 and was given a pick-up date of May 5. Based on what I was hearing, I decided to give the passport office an extra month, and went back on June 6 at 8am.

Immediately I found myself no.41 on a line of persons who had come to pick up their passports. Tempted to leave, I decided to remain when I discovered that the no.1 person had arrived at 5am.

We were out in the elements awaiting the opening of the office at 8.30.Thankfully, at about 8.20, office personnel ushered in the elderly, the visually pregnant and those with very young children. Then they started allowing in 10 persons at a time. I eventually got inside the building and after about one hour was told that my daughter’s passport was not ready and I should return to pick it up the week of June 27.

I reported back to the passport office on June 29 at 7.30am and this time found myself at no.15 on the line. Every time I had to face that line, I found it to be dehumanising. Bahamian citizens lining up for hours outside under the blazing summer sun just to pick up a passport.

By now I had been noticing that at all hours of the day when I passed this place, there were large numbers of persons outside on that hellish line.

But I digress. I got inside at about 9.15am. Shortly afterwards the skies opened up and the rain poured down on about 70 men, women and children outside. Although I was on the inside, I was traumatised by this and actually felt guilty that while I was enjoying air-conditioned comfort, my fellow citizens were out-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net side getting soaked to their underwear because after being on that line for hours, they did not want to lose their position by leaving to seek shelter.

After waiting for about an hour and a quarter, I was told that once again the passport was not ready and I should return on July 1.

On leaving the building I observed that the rain had abated and the sun was now out in full blaze, drying off the people that the rain had soaked shortly before. You would imagine that only cattle are treated like that; however, the reality is that unbelievably this is what is happening to Bahamians in 2016, some 43 years after independence.

We have been issuing passports since 1973 and we are well aware of the summer rush. It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if 120 persons are going to show up at any one point and you only have indoor accommodation for 40 then you need to re-locate.

Getting back to my story, I returned on July 1, this time with a firm determination that I was going to get that renewed passport that day at all cost. I got there early again, faced the line again, eventually got inside and was eventually advised that - yet again - the document was not ready.

I was given a choice to remain or to return at 1pm, when I would not have to stand outside in line. I chose the latter, and for the fourth time, the travel document was not ready.

Determined to stick it out, I left the passport office with my daughter’s passport at 6.40pm that day.

On one of the days when I was making those timewasting trips to the passport office, I conversed with a gentleman who told me that his Jamaican wife recently took a three-day

trip to her homeland and returned with her renewed passport. Jamaica is a country of four million people.

Our population is less than 400,000.

Why can’t we get even close to the Jamaican standard in passport renewals since we love to compare ourselves with them and other Caribbean nations in so many other areas?

But it gets worse. From conversations I had with other persons during this experience, I discovered that the government is actually profiting from its own inefficiency by way of the $200 “rush” fee. If we were capable of producing or renewing passports in a timely manner in the first instance, there would be no need for a “rush” passport fee.

What is worse, many persons who paid the $200 in the interest of time after their original or subsequent pickup dates were not honoured, still did not get their documents on the promised “rush” date, and were not refunded their monies if they requested a refund. That action by the passport office, a branch of our government, is akin to the mafia. It is either extortion or stealing by reason of service. Either way, it is a terrible thing for a government agency to be doing to Bahamians.

If the manner in which our passport office operates in 2016 is indicative of the remainder of the public service, then I can easily see why 43 years post-Independence this country is no better off that it actually is. All of our governments should hang their collective heads in shame and disgrace. We change governments, but the systems do not change.

This horrific experience is just one of several reasons why I did not celebrate Independence this year.

ROOSEVELT “WELLY” FORBES Nassau, July 11, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, PAGE 5

Butler-Turner defends 30-year sentence plan LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner has defended her plan for a 30-year minimum sentence for convicted murderers, stressing that a country led by her and running mate Dr Duane Sands would “enact tough measures” on crime while not infringing on anyone’s constitutional rights.

Mrs Butler-Turner’s “Forward Together” campaign released a statement yesterday responding to a Tribune article that featured criticism from Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson on the proposed plan.

“We welcome Bar Association President Mr Elsworth Johnson to our dialogue with the Bahamian people,” the statement said.

“We regard his critical comments and push back on our tough stance on criminal sentences as a welcomed component to the spirited debate we must have if we are going to transform our criminal justice system.

“We accept Mr Johnson’s criticisms and are confident that they reflect nothing more than his years of dedicated service in the legal profession. We welcome his important voice to this dialogue. He has a lot to offer and once we emerge from convention, we will embrace him and the ideas he brings.

“To his larger point, we submit that the system is clearly broken. The Christie government - with its two national security ministers and previously two justice ministers - has proven itself to be incapable of making any meaningful progress.

They don’t talk to each other and they are quick to avoid responsibility and point fingers at the judiciary

LORETTA Butler-Turner at the launch of her leadership campaign. rather than get to the root cause of the problem.

“Loretta Butler-Turner and Duane Sands intend to provide new leadership.

Even as we embrace him and his ideas, we say in no uncertain terms that this team will represent the Bahamian people who are sick and tired of getting caught in the middle of slick lawyers and a broken system. Those who do the crime will do the time justified by those crimes.

As the people’s representatives we will enact the tough measures required, while

not infringing on anyone’s constitutional rights. We will not be timid about enacting tough measures that the times demand,” the statement added.

Mr Johnson told The Tribune that Mrs ButlerTurner’s call for a 30-year minimum sentence without parole for convicted murderers would infringe on the discretionary power of judges.

According to Mr Johnson, judges must maintain the ability to weigh the circumstances of all crimes.

He said unique factors in each crime, even murders, allow judges to identify the mitigating circumstances of a case and rule accordingly.

“I know the saying states that a murderer is a murderer, but as it relates to the judiciary, the loss of a life as the result of the actions of someone, that can take on a number of classifications.

For us to say that the premeditated murder of man is the same as murder perpetrated through negligence or some accidental means is for us to generalise our judicial

system,” Mr Johnson said.

“I want to say this in the purest sense, I think the response to crime is as much political as it is social, economics, educational. None of these measures can resolve crime unto themselves, but politicians have forced crime into the political arena and away from the others,” he stated.

During the launch of her campaign for leader of the Free National Movement last Wednesday, Mrs Butler-Turner outlined her plans for a new Bahamas.

One idea to crack down on crime was tougher sentences for convicted murderers.

Mrs Butler-Turner and Dr Sands will challenge FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest for their posts at the party’s convention at the end of this month.

SEVEN FACE COURT OVER GUNS FOUND DURING RESORT RAID

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

SIX adults and a minor were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday on weapon and ammunition charges stemming from a firearms raid at a small West Bay Street resort over the weekend.

Deshoan Smith, 21, Dennis Mather, 25, Peron Bain, 29, Matneice Ferguson, 20, Berneciea Hart, 25, Nathaniel Miller, 28, and a 17-year-old girl all stood before Magistrate Constance

Delancy faced with two charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

It is alleged that the individuals, being concerned together, were found to be in possession of a black Austria Glock .45 pistol while not having a firearm licence, as well as allegedly being in possession of 13 rounds of .45 ammunition without having the relevant firearm certificate.

All seven pleaded not guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned to August 11 for trial.

Yesterday’s arraignment stemmed from a raid at a resort on Saturday.

According to initial police reports, around 1am, officers from the Selective Enforcement Team, acting on information, executed a search warrant on three rooms at a small resort located on West Bay Street, where they uncovered two pistols along with 34 live rounds of ammunition.

Four males and four female occupants of the rooms were taken into custody in connection with the find.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BUILDING TO STAY CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) will remain closed to the public until Monday as officials continue efforts to repair a faulty air-conditioning unit at its Thompson Boulevard offices.

In a statement yesterday, officials said that repairs are expected to commence later this week and to be conclude by July 18.

On Friday, officials confirmed that parts had been purchased to repair the airconditioning unit and that they were expecting them to arrive in New Providence this week.

MOEST has been closed to the public since Friday.

Employees at MOEST and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, cotenants in the Thompson Boulevard office, have endured intense heat and difficult working conditions for nearly a month.

The Tribune reported MOEST employees and those at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cul-

ture, a sub-tenant of the building, had to vacate the building around 11am last Wednesday to escape rising temperatures inside.

MOEST instituted a shortened work day early

last week at the office, from 9am to 1pm, to help with the arduous conditions.

The Thompson Boulevard office complex is owned and operated by the National Insurance Board (NIB).

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PAGE 6, Wednesday, July 13, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Nassau crime alert by US from page one

Mr Allen added: “Our July 12 message to US citizens was not linked in any way to the July 8 travel advisory issued by the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Just as the United States has a responsibility to inform its citizens when traveling abroad, the Bahamian government has the same right and responsibility to inform its citizens traveling to the United States.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ warning went viral after it was issued and has come under fire from American commentators who argue that the notice was political - a claim Min-

FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE BECOMES A VICTIM OF CRIME IN FLORIDA from page one

issued a travel advisory warning Bahamians, particularly young men, to be compliant and exercise extreme caution when interacting with American police due to escalating tensions over recent fatal police shootings.

Five police officers were killed and seven wounded last Thursday during a protest in Dallas, Texas, over SIR MICHAEL BARNETT the fatal shootings of two black men by police, Alton Sterling in Louisiana, and Philando Castile in Minnesota. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs came under fire for this advisory with some American commentators insisting that the move was political - a claim Minister Fred Mitchell has denied.

The US Embassy then released its own security message yesterday morning urging its citizens and US visitors in Nassau and Paradise Island to exercise heightened personal security awareness, pointing out that armed robberies and violent crime remain primary criminal threats.

In May, a Florida news station, WSVN, reported that members of the College of the Bahamas’ Concert Choir were also the victims of theft after stopping at a Dave & Buster’s in Oakwood Plaza, Opa-Locka, Florida, around 10pm.

Hours later, around 1am when they returned to the vehicle, it was broken into and more than $6,000 in valuables, including their costumes, laptops and iPhones were stolen.

The group of 31 students and four professors had been on a tour - with their own money - with a view to bringing a little Bahamian flavour to South Florida.

ister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell has denied.

Mr Mitchell said yesterday that he believed the timing of the US advisory was not politically motivated but coincidental, and declined further comment.

The US Embassy’s message read: “This message is to remind US citizens resident and visiting New Providence Island (Nassau) and Paradise Island to be mindful of their surroundings at all times and employ practical personal security awareness when in public and at home to avoid being a victim of crime.

“Over the course of the past six months,” it continued, “the US Embassy has

received reports of a significant increase in armed robberies throughout New Providence, specifically targeting patrons of ATM machines, parking venues at various retail locations, and armed carjackings.”

Five police officers were killed and seven wounded last Thursday during a protest in Dallas, Texas, over the fatal shootings of two black men by police, Alton Sterling in Louisiana, and Philando Castile in Minnesota.

Two other countries, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, have also warned their citizens travelling to the US to be careful in view of the incidents last week, according to interna-

tional reports.

The US Embassy’s security message is the second warning of its kind this year. The first was sent out in January after an American woman was allegedly raped by a man riding a jet ski at Cabbage Beach.

Days after that incident, the local mission warned American citizens and visitors to “be aware of their surroundings and remain on heightened alert to avoid being victims of crime” and to not patronise jet ski operators in this country.

It further noted that US Embassy personnel were “prohibited” from using jet ski rentals in Nassau, saying the industry is “minimally regulated”.

Yesterday’s advisory urged US citizens to avoid using ATM machines in isolated areas or when alone, and to keep car doors locked and windows rolled up when driving. Other tips included how to act in a violent or threatening situation, if followed or confronted by armed criminals.

“Do not display or wear expensive jewelry that may make you a target for criminals,” the advisory read.

“Avoid wearing gold necklaces, bracelets, expensive watches, or other flashy jewelry.”

It continued: “In traffic or in a stopped line of cars, leave at least a half a car length between your vehicle and the car in front of you

to provide an escape path.

This also prevents a chain reaction accident in the event that you get hit from behind and pushed into the car in front of you.”

Last month, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage said that overall crime in the Bahamas had dropped by 29 per cent from January 1 to June 14 compared to the same period in 2015.

In 2015, the US Embassy issued just one security message to its citizens living and travelling to The Bahamas appealing for heightened security awareness during the holiday season.

The embassy sent out four security messages in 2014.

CUSTOMERS TO FACE CONTINUED POWER CUTS from page one

per cent or more of customers will be impacted by the outage. One of our major generators, we are trying to get back up by hopefully this evening and if that happens some of the load will be eased. But this could last for the rest of the week or longer.”

Ms Ingraham asked customers to be patient with BPL as the situation is “extremely volatile” and the old engines are unpredictable. However she said the company has ordered temporary generators for the summer that should assist with the outages.

“These engines don’t have the best track record.

I may say the engines are good today but tomorrow they may not be. We are working on two of our major engines and we expect one to be up and running this week and the other one some time after that,” Ms Ingraham said.

“We have been having

problems for a week now; when one engine is repaired another one goes down right after that. It’s like trying to keep an old car up and running. We just want customers to be patient as we try to resolve what is happening.”

Customers are advised to check BPL’s Facebook page for continued updates on the affected areas.

Yesterday, BPL also released a statement that said it “fully understands” the frustration of its customers in New Providence and some Family Islands after weeks of sporadic power cuts.

“The company has faced challenges in providing consistent power in several islands as generation, transmission and distribution systems have been compromised due to adverse weather conditions, an aging infrastructure, usual wear and tear, third party damage (accidents) and a general lack of availability of adequate generation to meet customer demand,”

the statement said.

“Nowhere have these challenges been more pronounced than in New Providence where the majority of the outages experienced recently have been caused by the unavailability of consistent power.”

BPL said its generating capacity in New Providence is 236.5 megawatts but the demand from customers hovers around 230-240 megawatts daily, meaning that at times there may not be enough generation capacity for the island.

“The impact to our customers has been periods of supply interruption mostly during the daytime and evening hours. While BPL has an intermediate and long term strategy to improve power reliability, in the short term the company is doing all it can to increase reliability to its customers.

“Repairs are underway to several unavailable units at both Blue Hills and Clifton Pier Power Stations. It is anticipated

that once these repairs are complete (some as early as the end of the week and others needing a bit more time) this will drastically improve reliability. Additionally, BPL has contracted 40 megawatts of rental generation that the company expects will be operational this summer.

“Over the next few days BPL is asking for its customers’ patience. Where possible, BPL will limit power cuts to larger entities with standby generators. If it becomes necessary to impact small commercial and residential customers, the company will do its best to ensure that these outages are managed so that no particular area is impacted for prolonged periods.

“BPL expects that its efforts in the next few days and weeks will drastically reduce the frequency of supply interruptions in New Providence. Similarly efforts are underway in the Family Islands to improve reliability in those communities that too have been

impacted by frequent outages. BPL takes very seriously its commitment to improving reliability to all of its customers.

“While major improvements will not happen instantaneously, the company believes that over time customers will begin seeing positive changes in BPL’s service delivery,” the statement said.

This failure to keep the lights on comes months after American company PowerSecure was contracted to take over management at the governmentowned utility provider. The new management deal was touted by the government as being the answer to subpar electricity service and high electricity bills.

BPL’s load shedding also comes after meteorologists warned residents last week to expect scorching temperatures with the heat index expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Daily temperatures over the past week have been in the high 90s.

ROBERTS: FOLLOW PROCEDURE IF YOU WANT EARLY CONVENTION from page one

However, Mr Roberts dismissed this, saying he had not learned of their concerns until he read the comments in The Tribune yesterday.

“The PLP does not conduct its business in the newspaper and we certainly don’t wash our linens in the public eye,” Mr Roberts said.

“If they are desirous of an earlier convention they know the proper instruments for this. I won’t be responding to such requests in the newspaper.

Delegates are being chosen, are getting ready and looking forward to the convention.”

Mr Roberts also responded to Mr Smith saying he hopes changes take place at the next PLP convention and that someone replaces the chairman.

To this, Mr Roberts said he was not concerned as he welcomed candidates to contest him as they should in a working democracy.

However, he told The Tribune that he had not yet decided whether he would offer himself for the post.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff The chairman said all vacant. I don’t think that members of good stand- should be said to people. ing were invited to contest It would really be a slap in whichever positions they the face not to call a conchoose. vention earlier than NoOn Monday Mr Miller vember.” said: “Politics is a funny The Tall Pines MP added game. The longer the con- that he fears PLP members vention goes on and the are complacent in the face decision is made to have it of the Free National Movein November, it is telling ment (FNM) leadership us in Parliament and other fight that has grabbed headPLPs around the country lines and brought hundreds that they are trying to avert of FNM supporters out last anyone standing for any of week to separate events in the positions that could be a show of support for their

preferred leader between Dr Hubert Minnis and Loretta Butler-Turner.

“I think many politicians who just reach believe that because of the infighting in the opposition, this makes it easier for the PLP,” he said. “It would be a drastic mistake for anyone to make. Bahamians don’t vote for the opposition.

They vote against governments.”

The need for an earlier convention, Mr Miller said, is highlighted by the fact that the governing party is disconnected from everyday Bahamians amid persistent crime and high rates of poverty and unemployment.

For his part, Mr Smith, a former member of Parliament for Exuma, said an early convention would show the PLP is in touch with the grassroots.

“The FNM is going through their convention later this month,” he said. “I’m not a believer in a party copying another but I do believe the PLP should have a convention earlier than November.

There is no doubt that the Prime Minister is going through a rough period in

terms of government performance.

“There are challenges, challenges that I hope the government overcomes.

But the fact is, since we haven’t had a convention since 2009, it’s questionable whether the present holders of the office in the PLP have positions that are constitutional.

“We need to look to try to embrace new, vibrant candidates and to re-examine every candidacy particularly in areas where we know the incumbent has problems. We should make a noble effort to try to make sure that the candidates have the aptitude, motive, conviction and intelligence to be able to address the problems facing the Bahamas.”

Initially, the convention was planned for November, 2015, but was rescheduled for April, 2016, because of the devastation left by Hurricane Joaquin in the Family Islands and recovery efforts, which were underway at the time.

The April date was then rescheduled until later this year to allow full attention to the June referendum on gender equality.

READERS RESPOND TO TRAVEL ALERTS BY BAHAMAS AND THE US THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel advisory for Bahamians travelling to the United States - and the subsequent advisory from the US Embassy on crime in The Bahamas - prompted a lively reaction from readers on tribune242.com.

Responding to the ministry’s advisory, ThisIsOurs said: “Gee ... when will the travel advisory be issued to Family Island residents for standing on the corner, traveling to the ATM or getting out of your car in the driveway in New Providence? These are long overdue, no? I don’t think a travel advisory was necessary, it’s inflammatory, you know they’ll be incensed that we did it, and why would you want that fight? They could have issued a general statement to

accomplish the same thing.

Our mistake is thinking we have just as much muscle as the big bad USA, we’ll get squashed every time.”

But DillyTree offered this: “There is a real danger to black people in the US. We’ve seen how this plays out time and time again.

The Bahamas has the right to protect its citizens who travel abroad. I don’t think there’s an agenda, and even if there is, who cares if It makes one young black Bahamian man more aware of his surroundings?”

Cobalt agreed: “The Ba-

hamian Government was absolutely justified in posting this advisory. The US is constantly warning their citizens about our crime problem. They pretend as though their country has no criminal issues. Its time for them to clean their own homes before pointing fingers at ours.”

Zakary said: “This is political posturing, plain and simple. US based media and commentaries are going to town on this one. It was not necessary. The politics surrounding all of these events are already petty, pathetic, and stupid, why add to it?”

There was this comment from Vyknott: “Given his official position, it makes sense that Fred Mitchell issued this bulletin. However, according to FBI statistics, in 2013, for the US black/

African American population - the group with the highest proportion of murder victims - the murder rate was 15 per 100,000. In the Bahamas, our murder rate was 29 per 100,000!

Both too high, but I wonder if he thought of this?! Or perhaps issuing a bulletin for young males, especially, to be careful while out and about in Nassau. Perhaps his message should be: ‘Be safe. Visit a Family Island this weekend’.”

Honestman had this to say after the US Embassy’s advisory was released yesterday: “Mitchell would have served Bahamians better by issuing a travel advisory to all Bahamians and non-Bahamians visiting New Providence! While the Bahamas government was quite within its rights to is-

sue its advisory, was it really the cleverest thing to do given our dependency on the USA? Firstly, the advisory wasn’t telling Bahamians anything they didn’t know already and, secondly, it had no impact whatsoever on the USA. Today’s advisory from the USA will almost certainly impact the number of tourists visiting The Bahamas. This will hurt us and for what? Just because Mitchell wanted to score some cheap political point over the USA. This was a case of Mitchell’s ego prevailing over common sense.”

But Cas007 said: “Exactly 43 years after Independence, and Bahamians are faulting the government for exercising a very basic function that is the right and responsibility of every sovereign nation.”

And John offered this response: “Many of us fail to realize that the symbiotic relationship between the Bahamas and the United States is not one of a parasitic nature but one of mutualism where both countries benefit from the relationship. While America may flex its muscles at the Bahamas a number of times some feels is too often, most of the misunderstandings and disagreements are not much more than personality conflicts and clashes of egos. And since the truth must be told sometimes race does come into the mix and The Bahamas must not always feel that is has to sing for its supper. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, PAGE 7

Junkanoo-style party to celebrate great employees A JUNKANOO Carnival-styled celebration with over 300 people taking part in a parade and lining the route was the highlight of a day during which outstanding members of employee teams from The Cove and The Reef at Atlantis, Paradise Island, were recognised.

Each department took part in the celebration, entering creative lead banners while showing a passionate representation of team members seeking to win the

coveted monthly prize.

Thirteen line staff and a manager received recognition pins and certificates, along with a commemorative photograph at the monthly Employee Recognition ceremony last month.

“Each month we at the Cove and Reef Atlantis aim to explore and implement innovative and exciting opportunities to recognise and reward our outstanding employees,” Quality Assurance Director Kenneth Romer said. “This month

we wanted to recognise our stand out team members for the month of May and to also refocus in on the established core values of the Atlantis family.”

“We believe that we will only gain the competitive advantage through our employees who we challenge to exceed guest goals; and as they focus on our guests, we will continue to focus on them and celebrate the many excellent stars working among us,” said Mr Romer.

SOME of the scenes as outstanding employees from The Cove and The Reef were recognised for their work in a Junkanoo celebration.

ATLANTIS TRAINS VOLUNTEERS FOR HURRICANE SEASON ATLANTIS has been getting ready for the hurricane season by hosting a series of volunteer training exercises at the Paradise Island resort for team members who have signed up for duty should a storm threaten the area.

A recent two-day shel-

ter management course facilitated by Bill Coteron, General Manager and Vice President responsible for Conference Planning, took participants - new for some, a refresher for others - through shelter management fundamentals and the rules, letting

them know the teams and individuals that will be assigned and what is expected.

“This course tells us what needs to happen if there is a storm and we need to bring all of our guests into one tower. This training exercise is very important to en-

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

sure that peace and proper protocol are maintained in the shelter,” Mr Coteron said.

He also addressed the possible challenges that could arise because of the scheduled Coral Towers renovation works. “We have to ensure that the

people we choose to take on the awesome responsibilities associated with an evacuation and shelter management are up to par as far as commitment to the task and leadership abilities are concerned,” he added.

The 2016 Atlantic Hur-

ricane Season could be the busiest in recent years.

Forecasters are predicting an average of 12 to 14 named storms, eight of which are expected to intensify to hurricane strength, with three reaching major storm status of category three or higher.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, July 13, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Halkitis must be heroic facing the sharp lances of rating agencies

Moody’s and S&P will ask the Minister of State for Finance a number of uncomfortable questions as they consider a downgrade for the Bahamas, Richard Coulson says THIS week and next, the warriors of the dreaded international rating agencies will ride into town to pick at the bones of our financial structure.

Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), each with its own rigid criteria, will send their best and brightest analysts whose lances will be lap-top computers loaded with data from our own Department of Statistics and Central Bank, all sent to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for the world to see.

The task of these functionaries, with no animus against the Bahamas, will be simply to “tell it like it is” and decide whether to follow through with their “reviews” that threaten to downgrade us a couple of notches, below investment grade. Moody’s will not be scared off by James Smith’s proposal that Government

fire them for a demotion - unbelievably bad advice from a former Central Bank Governor, a sure bet to give us an international black eye.

Both public and private sector spokesmen can be expected to defend our position.

Doubtless the Minister of Finance (aka Perry G Christie, Prime Minister) will make a ceremonial appearance, but the labouring oar will be stroked by his hard-working deputy, Minister of State Michael Halkitis. Our sympathies go out to Mr Halkitis, an experienced financial technician burdened with squeezing incoming revenues to finance the everincreasing expenditures approved by his seniors in the Cabinet, which he may not personally embrace but must support under joint ministerial responsibility.

His quoted words betray that he approaches the coming sessions with grim determination rather than buoyant enthusiasm: “The agencies are analytical ... we will try to convince them and plead our case ... we have to be optimistic ... if it [downgrade] does happen, then we will deal with it and cross that bridge when we get there.”

Mr Halkitis’ main problem will be that he must

Full Military Funeral Service For Retired Crown Sargent #343

Earlin Leon Turnquest Sr., 76

& Gladstone Road.

of Miller’s Heights and formerly of Deadman’s Cay, Long Island will be held on Thursday, July 14th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of The Most Holy Trinity, Trinity Way, Stapledon Gardens. Officiating will be Fr. Mark Lindsay-Fox assisted by Rev. Fr. Roderick Bain and Rev. Fr. John Kabiga. Interment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens, John F. Kennedy Drive

He was predeceased by his wife: Levenia Fowler Turnquest; mother: Olga Burrows; father: Edgar Turnquest; grandparents: Sarah and John S. Turnquest; brothers: Carl and Bernard Burrows; sister: Sherry Turnquest; Cherished memories will forever linger in the hearts of his children: Retired Defence Force Leading Mechanic Omar Turnquest, PC 3225 Earl Turnquest Jr., Steven Turnquest, Registered Nurse Nicola Fowler Lewis, Sheena Collie, Lakesha Turnquest and Lana Sawyer; grandchildren: Tamaro Reckley, Cameron Fowler, Nicholas Whylly, Shanee Collie, Terrance Collie, Gabrielle Collie, Alex, Kadidra Armbrister, Alexandria Miller, Keshawn and Ashton Miller, Nekera Turnquest and Vonnae Turnquest, Ramone, Stevie, Dylan, Alex, Oryan Turnquest, Douglas Cleare, Drieco Cleare and Captain Ron Simms; great grandchildren: Tamiah Reckley and Derreco Collie; sisters: Nancy Arangil, Noam Major, Lynmore E. Wells and Dolcena Cooper; brothers: Reevers, Reginal and Phillip Turnquest; nieces: Kay Turnquest, Nina Forbes, Seeta Roberts, Rhonda Major, Alexandria Davis, Melissa Cooper, Samantha and Laratta Smith; nephews: Mark, Woody, Michael, Steve and Jonathan Turnquest, Dwight and Ernest Major, Mitchell Smith, Pablo Watkins, Ashtin Wells, Prescott Jr. and Shaquille Cooper; mother-in-law: Florine Coakley; sisters-in-law: Ida Ferguson, Shirley Coakley, Dorette Rolle, Michelle Maycock and Sister Marva Coakley; brothers-in-law: Gary, Jerome, Mario, Keith, Timothy, Sidney, Dominick and Tyrone Coakley; son-inlaw: Terrance Collie; daughters-in-law: Bonnie and Mavis Turnquest; numerous relatives and friends including: John A. Turnquest (timer), Natheil Fowler and Family, Altera Clarke and Family, Krishanna Culmer, Amanda and Elwood Higgins and Family, Andrea and Anastacia Ferguson and Family, Angelique Higgs and Family, Laquinta Reid (Orlando) and Family, Annabelle and Keith Cornell and Family, Arnetra Bean and April Coakley (Miami, Fl.), Alicia Coakley and Family, Ralph, Rashard and Rapheal Rolle and Family, Roslyn Hamilton and Family, Bernadette Knowles and Family, Myrtle Minnis, Sandra Leadon, Agnes Cash, Anna Johnson, Lowell Moree, Maria Zoncola, Dr. Charles Clarke and Family, Dr. Pinder Butler, The Holy Trinity Church Family, The Staff of PMH, Female Surgical Ward II and Male Medical Wards, R.B.P.F Family and numerous others too numerous to mention.

Viewing will be held in the Foyer of The Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre, Police Headquarters, East Street on Wednesday (TODAY) from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and at the church on Thursday from 9:30 am until service time.

balance hard, present facts against unproven, future promises. There is no doubt that Government debt has reached the critical level of 76 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (up from 55 per cent in 2011), while Mr Halkitis can merely claim that the rate of growth is slowing, not declining. Any reduction of debt must depend on success in controlling budget deficits, but here the Central Bank did sabotage his case by disclosing that the deficit for the first 10 months of this fiscal period increased to $266 million, up 16 per cent year-on-year. Imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT), Government’s major fiscal initiative, has brought MINISTER of State for Finance Michael Halkitis. in $550 million of tax rev- vouring the Chinese, would zone and boardwalk, once enues, still not enough to bring quick results, and ap- promoted by Mr Christie proved three first-class trips as the next Chinese contricover expenditures.

The rating agencies will to Beijing by the Attorney bution, now dropped into not be blind that VAT was General and her substantial oblivion, although nothing originally sold to the Ba- entourage for fruitless ne- could be more important for our central city’s appeal hamian public as a direct gotiations.

Mr Halkitis’ other exam- to tourism? application against debt A couple of major forincrease, only to learn that ples of growth projects can that the proceeds are swal- only be regarded, through eign direct investment lowed into the Consoli- no fault of his own, as pretty (FDI) ventures are still in dated Fund, where, since lame. He refers to mortgage the realm of vague Memodollars are fungible, they relief: it failed once, the new randum of Understandings, simply pay for whatever in- version is only at the thresh- as we wait to see whether creased expenses the politi- old, and how many mort- MSC Shipping will start cians approve. In their talks gages will be restructured? digging at Ocean Cay and with the private sector, the He refers to $30 million for the Swiss-Italian heiress do analysts will not find many public-private partnerships the same at the Barreterre citizens claiming VAT has to restore the Rodney Bain islets off Great Exuma.

The persistent inspectors improved public services, Building, the Post Office and “some will doubtless cross-examreduced other di- ine Mr Halkitis politely public inef- “The persistent lapidated about measures taken to ficiencies or governshrink current expendilowered im- inspectors will ment build- tures and raise revenues. port duties doubtless crossings” - pea- Even in the air-conditioned to reduce examine Mr Halkitis nuts. comfort of the spacious his food bill Our only Wallace Whitfield Centre - quite the politely about two major boardroom, we can imagcontrary, as measures taken publicine beads of sweat forming every low- to shrink current private on his brow as he tries to er-income expenditures and projects, defuse such political landshopper the airport mines as: finds the raise revenues. Even the - Your plans to privatise necessities in the air-conditioned and Arawak BahamasAir to end the anof life have Cay con- nual $20 million subsidy? become a comfort of the tainer port, struggle to spacious Wallace were suc- Will Bahamas Broadeconomise, Whitfield Centre cessfully casting Corp. be taken or do withboardroom, we can created off Government books out. long before by the many qualified Of course imagine beads of the present private Bahamian TV Mr Halki- sweat forming on his Progresand radio executives? tis speaks sive Libabout future brow as he tries to eral Party - Does the real economic economic defuse a number of administra- return from the roughly $20 growth, the political landmines.” tion.

Mr million spent on Carnival prime esHalkitis in the last two years justify sential for debt reduction ratios. He says nothing about any repeat performances?

- When can injection of leans heavily on Baha Mar, similar new initiatives. The referring to its “imminent” Moody’s and S&P investi- public funds into Bank of construction restart and gators may well ask: what Bahamas cease?

- What are the results opening. Well, perhaps ... about the much ballyhooed we have heard that predic- reorganisation of the Grand from enforcing real proption many times already Bahama Port Authority erty tax collection?

- Will any low-performfrom the ever-hopeful with a new foreign investor Prime Minister, as he as- and Government itself tak- ing public employees be sured us a year ago that his ing a stake? What about the terminated to reduce the method of foreclosure, fa- downtown redevelopment ever-growing Government

payroll?

- When Government acquired the majority interest in telephone monopoly BTC, a “foundation” was created to support public needs, funded with two per cent of BTC shares. Who runs the foundation, and how have funds been spent for the common benefit?

In analysing Government promises to encourage private sector growth, the rating agencies will surely keep in mind two recent warnings from the American Embassy. The first points out the risks of corruption from our opaque and inconsistent procurement and bidding procedures for bigticket projects, still kept in the dark by absence of freedom of information laws.

The second highlights the failure of our lawyers’ ethics committee to lower the boom on practitioners who permit, or even assist, in endless delay for clients litigating claims against clear defaulters.

These warnings coincide with the World Bank’s recent rating of the Bahamas as no.106 out of 189 nations in the “ease of doing business” index, a disastrous figure for a country that must attract a steady flow of FDI in competition with Singapore (no.1), Hong Kong (5), Mauritius (32) and even Jamaica at 64. Mr Christie has now acknowledged that this ranking must be improved, having just noticed the years of businessmen’s frustration at getting permits and approvals.

We wish Mr Halkitis fortitude and eloquence over the coming weeks. A saying once attributed to Mark Twain tells us that a happy second marriage results from the victory of optimism over experience.

The Bahamian people are blessed with optimism and never crushed by grim experience. Even if our rating is lowered to junk-bond status, they will see the silver lining: with borrowing more expensive and harder to find, our political leaders will have to rein in their enthusiasm for extravagant spending - or possibly be replaced by new leaders at the polls next May. • Richard Coulson is a retired lawyer and investment banker born in Nassau and from a long line of Bahamians. He is a financial consultant and author of ‘A Corkscrew Life - adventures of a travelling financier’.

Hard work and discipline crucial to the alleviation of poverty Your Say

By ROCHELLE DEAN THE Bahamas is experiencing the impact of a global recession that has stagnated the growth of the country’s economy. While this state of affairs may lead many to fear, become angry or simply feel as if they are in a debilitated state, it is important for the Bahamas to make sensible decisions and good use of its time while it seeks to find ways to sustain, promote and implement sound economic policies toward sustainable development.

The unemployment rate in the Bahamas is 16 per cent and while the government has promoted jobs skill readiness opportunities and initiatives that promote employment like its 52-week job programme, the country has also promoted entrepreneurship.

While entrepreneurship is a good thing, this form of sustainability must be fully defined. It’s the responsibility of the government to foster proper opportunities to promote job readiness and entrepreneurship. This is the key to also encouraging proper employment practices. In an era of ongoing unemployment, it’s imperative that the country’s young people recognise the value and importance of work.

Employment is a means to learn basic skills that will be

ROCHELLE Dean applied to entrepreneurship.

The country continues to have a low productivity rate due to informality. The Bahamas has seen very little movement and a struggling labour market. Many nationals actively partake in the informal economy but the country struggles with transitioning from the informal to the formal.

The Bahamas continues to encourage self employment of its nationals who have no work ethic or understanding of customer services or other qualities that need to be applied to successful entrepreneurship. The country continues to fuel the informal economy at the expense of the formal.

Employment is a fundamental tool that promotes human dignity and wellbeing of the community. It is also the starting point of becoming financially successful, a business owner or an entrepreneur. It is also the means by which workers can become more qualified

for further advancement.

What happens when a country has failed because of lack of transparency?

The Bahamas has failed because we have created a group of individuals who grow the informal economy and continue to feed that one area of economic sustainability.

The Bahamas has not grown its economy: it has created a group of individuals who are not entrepreneurs but simply selfemployed individuals with no understanding of proper work practices and therefore the country cannot grow.

The Bahamas must encourage its nationals to work, learn proper work practices and become knowledgeable in the barriers to formality as well as the benefits and obstacles to informality as an individual and as a society at large.

The government must promote effective employees who can learn to become employers, which will give them the skills and tools to become self employed and transition into entrepreneurship.

The formal and informal economies work together to allow the people to grow along with the gross domestic product. The ultimate goal is that as a country thrives, so do its people.

The Bahamas must begin to see the importance of employment which will en-

courage both tangible and intangible effects for the country.

For the future it is important that Bahamians are encouraged to see the value and importance of work skills and taking advantage of the resources and opportunities for skills-based advancement that are available to them.

In a downturn, employment becomes vital along with the sharpening of personal development and education opportunities.

The Bahamas must begin to reset its understanding of its economic position and promote proper practices of its nationals as individuals who promote and take responsibility for their own economic activity. That will then translate into taking control of the country’s economic sustainability.

Bahamians must seek to become employable, hard working individuals who can then transition into other areas of sustainable development. The alleviation of poverty begins with gaining proper work ethics and employment.

Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.

THE THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 2016, PAGE Wednesday, July 13,13, 2016, PAGE A99

TECHTALK

POKEMON GO TAKES OVER THE (real) WORLD THE Pokemon Go craze has sent legions of players hiking around cities and battling with “pocket monsters” on their smartphones.

It marks a turning point for augmented reality, or technology that superimposes a digital facade on the real world.

But the game’s popularity has created unintended consequences in everyday life, from annoyed property owners dealing with hordes of monster hunters to store owners using the game to attract customers. Perhaps that is to be expected from a game that has players visit real-world landmarks such as train stations, churches and museums in order to find and trap cartoon creatures.

Since the game went live last Wednesday several ‘Pokequestions’ have been raised.

CAN DIGITAL LURES LEAD TO REAL CASH? Some shops are exploring ways to use Pokemon Go to drum up business.

An Atlanta cafe owned by digital advertising agency Huge turned out to be roughly 30 feet away from two prominent “Pokestops” - game representations of physical landmarks where players can stock up on digital game gear. So it spent about $40 in real money to add digital “lures” to the stops, refreshing them every 30 minutes. The lures increase the chance that rare

Pokemon with names like “Starmie” and “Poliwag” turn up nearby, drawing players in turn.

In San Francisco, enthusiastic players working for Kawika’s Ocean Beach Deli likewise set out lures and branded the store as a “charging station” for drained phones (the game is notoriously hard on batteries.)

Given that the shop is bracketed by Pokestops on one side and a battle arena on the other, players “have no choice but to walk past us,” says its owner, who plans additional Pokemonrelated activities in the future.

WHO IS TO BLAME WHEN PLAYING REALLY GETS OUT OF HAND? In St Louis, police say robbers perched near attractive digital spots to rob players engrossed in the game. A man who lives in a former church says his home - now also a Pokestop - has

become a digital magnet for Pokemon Go players, who sometimes block his driveway and passing traffic as they pull over to stare at their phones.

Phoenix police are telling people not to trespass while playing the game; New York’s subway is warning people not to jump onto the tracks to chase digital “Rattatas”; and the National Safety Council implored players not to play and drive.

A 21-year old player in Forest Grove, Oregon, even shrugged off a stab wound to continue his gaming. He approached a stranger on the street and asked him if he was playing, too, police say. The other man then stabbed him. Police say the player described his attacker, refused treatment and continued on his Pokemon hunt.

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, called playing the game inside its walls “extremely inappropriate” and is try-

ing to remove itself from the game.

Todd Richmond, a director at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, says a big debate is brewing over who controls digital assets associated with real world property.

“This is the problem with technology adoption: we don’t have time to slowly dip our toe in the water,” he said. “Tenants have had no say, no input, and now they’re part of it.”

HOW BIG CAN AUGMENTED REALITY GET? Stock in Nintendo, which part owns Pokemon Go, jumped 25 per cent on Monday and another 13 per cent yesterday, adding nearly $8 billion to its market value as investors assessed the breakout game.

But Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal says that is just the beginning and now targets a share price of 30,000 yen,

nearly a third higher still. Nintendo is transitioning from console games to smartphone games, and “it has just started that journey,” Goyal says.

The game’s success on smartphones also could spur faster development from hardware makers - Microsoft with its HoloLens, the secretive startup Magic Leap, or Google, which could still revive its failed Glass headgear, says Timothy Carone, a professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

DOES THIS AFFECT MY PRIVACY? Adam Reeve, principal architect of security firm Red Owl, however, found that Pokemon Go required overly broad permission for those using a Google account as a sign-in. Even setting aside the location data collected by the app, he said, the app is a “huge security risk”.

He noted the app, in theory, could allow Pokemon Go to read one’s Gmail, send email as you and access your Google search history.

On Monday, Niantic said in a blog post that it never intended to request such sweeping data access, has not collected information beyond the user’s ID and email address, and is working with Google to pare back the authorisation.

‘FIRST CYBERWARFARE

RELEASE OF ALTERED MOSQUITOES ATOMIC BOMB TO START IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS HAS BEEN DROPPED’ AN EFFORT The plan calls to reduce mosquifor the release of toes and prevent millions of modithe spread of vified male mosquiruses such as Zika toes of the Aedes in the Cayman Isaegypti species. lands by releasing The males do genetically altered not bite, but they mosquitoes is to will mate with festart this week, males and produce officials in the offspring that die British Caribbean before reaching territory have anadulthood. nounced.

Aedes aegypti Mosquito abateare not native to ment authorities the Cayman Isin the Cayman lands and spread Islands and BritZika, dengue and ish biotech comyellow fever. pany Oxitec had AEDES aegypti mosquitoes are seen in a There has been mosquito cage at a laboratory in Cucuta, planned to release Colombia. (AP) one confirmed, the genetically imported case of modified organZika in the terriism (GMO) insects last month. But tory. GMO mosquitoes have been the project was put off by a delay in released in Brazil seeking to halt getting an occupancy permit for the the spread of disease there as the laboratory in which mosquitoes are country preapres to host the Olymbred. pic Games.

The release of the mosquitoes will Oxitec and officials in the Florida begin tomorrow on 300 acres in the Keys have proposed testing there as West Bay area of Grand Cayman, ac- well and are awaiting US regulatory cording to a government statement. approval.

OSCAR-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney believes the first atomic bomb of the cyberwarfare age has already been dropped.

That bomb was Stuxnet, a computer virus that is the subject of Gibney’s latest movie, “Zero Days”.

Stuxnet disrupted an Iranian uranium-enrichment facility beginning in 2010 and set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran considers Stuxnet part of a concerted effort by Israel and the United States to undermine its nuclear programme through covert operations, though neither government has acknowledged any involvement.

“Zero Days” is an examination of Stuxnet: how outside security researchers got wind of it, where it came from, and what it portends for global security in the future.

In the movie, Gibney warns of the destruction that could come from the proliferation of state-sponsored hacking. The movie opens on Friday in US cinema, online and through video on demand .

“The potential threat from these kinds of cyberweapons is huge, especially when you start talking about shutting down electric power grids,” Gibney, who won the Oscar for a documentary on Afghanistan and has also tackled WikiLeaks, Enron and Scientology, said.

He had one frustration in making the film. “I would have liked to have gotten more into the espionage stuff. I just really wasn’t able to figure out how the original version of Stuxnet got into the Iranian nuclear facility. We think it was a spy, but we don’t know exactly how it happened.”

• SNAPCHAT, the popular visual messaging service, is giving users a new way to save old “snaps” they shared with friends.

The tool, called Memories, lets you save content on the app that was previously ephemeral. This includes photos, videos or photo montages called “stories”. You can later scroll through them or send them on to your contacts.

While it was already possible to save snaps to your phone’s camera roll, Memories lets users save them privately within the Snapchat app.

The update will become available to Snapchat users over the next month. To find the Memories tool, open Snapchat and swipe up from your camera screen.

• BAHAMIANS familiar with the basic aluminum hurricane shutters that block light from their homes during a storm may be interested to learn that in America a new type of translucent shutter “AstroGuard” is being marketed by hurricanefabric. com.

The shutter is claimed to be a high strength, high tenacity hybrid fabric that offers great hurricane protection and is translucent, eliminating that “in-a-cave feeling associated with other forms of hurricane protection”.

The panels come 100in high and 204in wide, can be cut to size easily and come in a tan colour.

• FACEBOOK is adding to its Messenger app this summer an option for encrypted chats that can only be read on devices where they are sent or received.

Users also will be able to set a timer to control how long the message remains visible to anyone, the company announced.

The “secret conversations” feature, which is optional, does not work across different devices. So even if a person has Messenger on a phone and on a computer, the conversation will be visible on only one device.

WhatsApp, the Facebookowned messaging service, already uses end-to-end encryption on all messages.

• TWITTER says it will livestream CBS News’ online coverage of the Republican and Democratic conventions later this month, a first for the social media outlet.

People will be able to watch video of the conventions on mobile devices and desktops alongside a feed of political tweets, the company said on Monday. The Republican convention in Cleveland begins on July 18, with the Democrats in Philadelphia the following week.

Besides being the latest example of Twitter’s foray into video, the announcement is a major shot of exposure for CBSN, which is CBS News’ two-year-old live online stream.

• AN experimental solar-powered airplane is due to arrive in Egypt today on the penultimate leg of its globe-circling voyage.

Organisers said the Solar Impulse 2 flew from Seville, Spain, on Monday and was heading for Cairo on a flight expected to last 50 hours.

The around-the-world voyage began in March, 2015, in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and is due to finish there too.

The plane arrived in Seville on June 23 after an unprecedented three-day flight across the Atlantic.

The wings of Solar Impulse 2 are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, July 13, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

43 reasons why the Government lost the referendum

Your Say By the Rev Dr Patrick Paul

I

T appears that the Bahamian people may have not just rejected the Referendum on the four “Gender Equality Bills”, but may have also sent a message to the government, expressing their belief that it is out of touch.

Apparently, Bahamians are disgusted with the administration of the Progressive Liberal Party, the major proponents of the referendum bills, Deputy Prime Minister Brave Davis, the Attorney General Allison Maynard Gibson and all Members of Parliament who agreed to the four bills.

On the June 7 Constitutional Referendum day, the people of the Bahamas spoke loud and clear. Almost three to one, in favour of the “No Vote”. The clarity echoed many reasons that led to the No Vote on all four Bills in the 2016 Referendum. Here are 43 reasons why.

1. Bahamians apparently no longer trust the Prime Minister and the administration of the PLP government to do what is in the best interest of the people.

2. Many people felt that the Bills appeared to be fraudulent.

3. Bill No.1 appeared to discriminate against those born in The Bahamas since 1973.

4. Bill No.2 promoted opportunity for foreigners to have citizenship by way of marriage, which was seen as more of a disadvantage to the vulnerable among us.

5. Bahamians saw Bill No.3 not so much about equality but rather as promoting citizenship for for-

PRIME Minister Perry Christie and his family, pictured with former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest on referendum day. eigners again.

6. Bill No.4 created anxiety of an open homosexual society in The Bahamas, bringing moral and spiritual condemnation on the nation.

7. Bahamian people rejected the involvement of the Prime Minister in the

Funeral Service For

Susanna Louise Martinborough, 95

of Claridge Cove, formerly of Mortimer’s, Long Island, will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church, Montrose Avenue. Officiating will be the Venerable G. Kingsley Knowles assisted by Rev’d Fr. Scott Brennen and Rev’d Paulette Cartwright. Interment will follow in Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spikenard Roads.

Left to cherish wonderful memories are her daughters: Maria Darville and Emily Martinborough; grandchildren: Trevor, Esau, Foster and Renea Dean, Susanna Dean-Rolle, Roger “Ronnie” Darville, Chantelle Fox, Shanel Darville, Khaml Kharim Martinborough, Gregory Martinborough Jr. and Rosanna Martinborough; great grandchildren: Raynard, Leon, Reshon and Reagan Williams, Keva Dean, Tramiane, Desi, Crystal and Regina Dean, Khamaal and Jaden Martinborough, Trevanna and Trevonya Rolle, Carlee and Seth Darville, Chrysanthea and Ceanna Fox; brother: James Pratt; sister: Joanna Allen; son-in-law: Freeman Dean; sisters-inlaw: Mavis Pratt, Annie Pratt and Ethelyn Cartwright; nieces: Grace Beneby, Margaret Knowles, Dulcita Ferguson, Genny Colo, Jackie Cooper, Francillon and Joanne Martinborough, Margaret Major, Albertha Clincy, Felicity Walker, Jelva and Eugenie Cartwright, Shirley Gomez, Rev. Paulette Cartwright, Ceolah Turnquest, Camelita Treco, Toinette Major, Julieanna Bullard, Elease Smith, Sister Felecitas Pratt, Pamela Smith, Kendra and Maria Rolle, Carla and Natasha Pratt, Erica Kemp, Nicole Holley, Barbara Albury, Joy Darville, Shirley Russell, Linda Sawyer, Margaret Andrew-Swan, Janet Hunt, Paulette, Linda, Jamie, Christina and Gabriel Pratt, Shantel, Andira and Sophie Smith, Nasah Minis and Carla Luna; nephews: Bernard, Anthony, Corneilus, Tony and Nedley Martinborough Jr., Rudolph, Leo, Ken, Edward Pratt, Captain John Pratt, Former Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson, George Knowles, Nathaniel and Michael Rolle, Jonathan Pratt, Bernard, Shephard and Patrick Hanna, Simeon and Matthias Cartwright, Elkanah Major, Nigel, Miguel, Lavar, Peter, Glenroy and Terrence Pratt, Kirk, Matthew, David, Raymond, Robert and Aaron Darville, Andrew, James Jr., Phillip and John Pratt; special relatives and friends including: the Venerable Keith N. Cartwright, the Venerable G. Kingsley Knowles and Mrs. Knowles, Rev’d Fr. Dwight Bowe and Mrs. Bowe, Rev’d Fr. Michael Gittens, Rev’d Fr. Ernest Pratt and Mrs. Pratt, Rev’d Fr. Jonathan Archer and Mrs. Archer, Canon Harry Ward and Mrs. Ward, the Venerable James and Rev. Angela Palacious, Rev. Fr. I Ranfurly Brown; and a host of other relatives and friends including: McField Mortimer and family, Tiffany Turnquest, Raphael and Chole Cartwright, Leonard Darville, Constantakis and Ramacola family, Kevin Pratt and family, Baltron Major and family, Carlton Cartwright and family, Cynthia Turnquest and family, Tom and Lorene Watson, Valance Turnquest and family, Celestine Cartwright and family, David Dean and family, the Minnis Boys, Oral Bowe and family and the Communities of Southern, Long Island.

Special thanks to: Dr. Yvette Carter and the medical staff of the Health Centre, Deadman’s Cay, Long Island, Dr. Agretta Eneas-Carey, Dr. Madeline Joseph and Nurse Jackie.

Friends may pay their last respects at Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets, (TODAY) Wednesday July 13, 2016 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at the church on Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

Yes Vote Campaign. As the leader, people expected him to allow the Bahamian people to make their own decisions without trying to unduly influence people to vote Yes. 8. The Prime Minister’s comments to the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, raised suspicion of full support of the LGBT community having more rights than everybody else.

9. The Bahamian people remembered the Prime Minister’s address in the 2002 Referendum, when he urged the people to vote No. 10. Bahamian people remembered that the government rejected the concerns of the people, as noted in the Constitutional Commission Report.

11. Bahamian people believed that the government was influenced by an international agenda but refused to be transparent about it.

12. Bahamians saw the government as having its own priorities, with no regard to what was top priority for the masses.

13. The Bahamians’ concerns expressed to the Constitutional Commission was about crime and joblessness as priorities.

14. The proposed Education Committee on the Referendum turned into a Vote Yes campaign which became overly aggressive, labelling dissenters as “ignorant” and “stupid”.

15. The government appeared to have disregarded the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission that it be made clear and enshrined in the Constitution that marriage in the Bahamas will be between a male and female (at birth). This would have allayed the expressed fears of the people.

16. Bahamians therefore felt that they were not sufficiently involved in the process of the Referendum.

17. Many Bahamians felt that they were not respected in the process.

18. Many Bahamians rejected the ambiguity and uncertainties that the four bills presented.

19. Many Bahamians were offended by the fact that some in the Yes Campaign and many of their supporters referred to Bahamians as “Ignorant D average people”. After all it is our educational system that produced the D average.

20. Many Bahamians rejected the leader’s open refusal to operate in the spirit of democracy by refusing to finance the Vote No campaign.

21. The major spokesperson for the educational campaign, Ruby Ann Nottage, admitted that the bills

were not tested and that they would subsequently have to look at some aspects of them.

In addition to the foregoing, the history of the PLP administration is overshadowed with many concerns in the minds and heart of the Bahamian people, with respect to the social and economic state of the country. Many Bahamians are disgusted and fed-up with how the affairs of the country are being handled.

22. Apparently the people took note of the disrespect of the principle of democracy, when the powers that be overstepped their boundaries and overthrew the majority “No Vote” on the Referendum to legalise the number houses. Many saw this as going further than Almighty God did when the children of Israel voted for a King. God permitted them to have a King.

23. The numbers houses are not properly regulated, they should not be in the communities of the poor.

Furthermore, they are raping our people.

24. Many Bahamians see the government developing the spirit of dictatorship.

25. Many Bahamians want a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

26. Many Bahamians believe that the PLP has long strayed from the spirit of the Preamble of the Constitution that stresses national discipline, loyalty, unity, industry, respect for Christian values and the Rule of Law. 27. Many Bahamians do not believe that the PLP “Believe in the Bahamian People”. In 1967, The Bahamas got social equality and 43 years later there is no plan for economic empowerment for the Bahamian people.

28. Many Bahamians believe that foreigners own the Bahamian economy.

29. Many Bahamians believe that the PLP is now the greatest supporter of division in the country.

30. Many Bahamians believe that the handling of BEC is a perfect example of the strategies of the government that reflect that it does not believe in the Bahamian people.

31. Some Bahamians were told of a company that offered to give Bahamians 51 per cent share ownership in BEC via a Sovereign fund, and to decrease the cost of electricity by almost 45 per cent while absorbing the legacy debt of BEC. But they were denied.

32. 41,000 Bahamians living below the poverty line.

33. 30,000 plus foreigners living and working in the Bahamas 34. 35,000 Bahamians are

unemployed 35. 15 per cent of our children go to bed every night hungry.

36. Homicide rates are the highest ever recorded in the history of the modern Bahamas. Bahamians are living in fear of their lives due to the level of crime in the country.

37. BAMSI, contracts given to contractors who have no construction insurance, resulting in taxpayers money having to be used to rebuild a destroyed building.

38. Baha Mar saga where it appears that the government favoured the Chinese over Sarkis Izmirlian.

39. Many Bahamians believe that the government is giving away Bahamian assets.

40. Many Bahamians believe that the Prime Minister’s sanctioning of Junkanoo Carnival has loosed a depraved, corrupt, immoral and sinful spirit and behaviour in The Bahamas, which will further degrade our women, pervert our men and deceive our children.

41. Many Bahamians also believe that there is no accountability for how taxpayers dollars are spent in this regard.

42. $46m stolen from Road Traffic and nobody appears to be charged or held accountable.

43. There are some preachers in The Bahamas who have been fired by Heaven.

The four bills in the Referendum and the apparent mismanagement of the Bahamas government all add up to the outcome on June 7.

In the words of a former President of the United States of America, “give the people the truth and the facts and they will figure the rest out for themselves”.

There has been no facts, no transparency on VAT, BEC, BAMSI, Junkanoo Carnival, Bank of the Bahamas, Baha Mar, Resorts World Bimini and National Health Insurance (NHI).

I was told that many Bahamians want NHI but don’t trust this government to provide it for them. It appears that the government’s practice is to not produce a complete plan for the Bahamian people. Not to mention, most seem to favour foreign involvement over Bahamians. Many Bahamians want to know the cost of phase one, phase two and phase three. They want to know what is involved and what will it cost the Bahamian people each step in the development.

Therefore, the information provided is insufficient, as it is not clear how much it is going to cost and how it is going to be paid for.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff The Bahamian people want a government that will be willing to invest $200m over a year to five-year period, in building the human resources in The Bahamas.

Successive governments have invested $200m plus in new airport facilities, $300m on roads, $200m in new Defence Force ships and $100m to bail out Bank of The Bahamas.

Tragically, The Bahamas has declined in the “Ease of Doing Business” ratings from 30th to 106th in the world. The infrastructure and systems in our country are failing all due to partisan and biased positions.

The US Embassy has put out several warnings to its citizens with regard to corruption and high crime levels in The Bahamas. Now the Canadian government is warning its citizens coming to The Bahamas to not travel with large amounts of cash etc in fear of being robbed.

Bahamians are looking for new leadership in government.

Bahamians need leadership that will bring Bahamians together; not divide us with colours.

Bahamians need leaders who will inspire us to further our education, to go further and become owners of our major industry, tourism, and our natural resources industries.

Bahamians need leadership that loves them and respects the law of democracy; “by the people, of the people and for the people”. Leadership that will bring major social and economic decisions to the people.

Bahamians need leadership that will ensure that organisation and systems are in place to guide and maintain the human integrity, recognising the potentiality of good and evil.

Bahamians need leadership that will protect the rights of being Bahamian and after elections, know how to build the bridges to build a better Bahamas.

Bahamians need leadership that will provide infrastructure, organisation and systems to assist in the secondary and collective efforts of its people.

Bahamians need leadership that will provide vision, insight and forecast that includes and speaks to people’s gifts, talents, dreams and aspirations.

• Rev Dr Patrick Paul is the former President of the Bahamas Christian Council and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, PAGE 11

GRADUATES are all smiles in their caps and gowns.

Photos: Shantique Longley

BTVI students celebrate achievements at graduation

By PLESHAE MCPHEE

THE Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution (BTVI) is not “a dumping ground for low-achieving students or those who are not college material”, graduating students heard from the insititution’s first president during its recent commencement exercise.

Dr Robert W Robertson emphasised that people who have a vocation should not be frowned upon because the world needs them and their place in society is crucial. He said the quest to remove the stigma associated with technical and vocational education is gradual but progressing with the help of international organisations like J P Morgan. Earlier this year, the banking giant announced its commitment of $75m to career technical education programmes.

Dr Robertson further stressed that it is career and technical education that is a catalyst for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

“Hence, one should not consider vocational learning as a last resort for those who have failed academi-

cally. It is quite challenging,” he told the 200 graduates.

Dr Robertson highlighted examples of how BTVI has been foundation of success stories, citing Sidney Sinclair, owner of Sinclair’s Rent-A-Tool; Bernard Rolle, owner of Rolle’s Electrical; Roderick A Simms II, principal of Electrical Design and Services and an electrical contractor, and natural hairstylist and BTVI instructor, Chi-Kara Armbrister.

“In the hospitality industry, what would we do without construction workers to help build bed and breakfasts, motels, and resorts?

And which organisation does not have office assistants or administrators?

Furthermore, in hotels, you can find massage therapists, aestheticians, barbers, nail technicians, cosmetologists and more. These are just some of the disciplines we provide training for at BTVI,” he said.

Gowon Bowe, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation, also sought to dispel the pre-established notions.

“We live in an often polarised society. However, we must start cultivating a society of bold citizens, who are willing to participate in changing the course of the country.” He created his own acronym for BTVI - Boldness, Talents, Visionary and Innovation.

Mr Bowe offered the graduates advice regarding customer care and experience, adding that the smallest things make the biggest difference. “The mechanic that cleans the car before returning it, the electrician that carries all of the debris and old parts as he departs and leaves the environment as if he has never been there … the service provider that knows your name and what your preferences are even before you ask,” he said.

Angela Pratt-Rolle, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Education, praised the institution and its graduates. “BTVI exposes students to the innovative, rapidly evolving field of technical education, enabling them to be globally competitive and economically independent. So, there is no doubt that the graduates seated here have received a quality education

LEONARDO DAVIS, who works in BTVI’s finance department, was one of four BTVI employees to graduate. He is pictured with president Dr Robert W Robertson.

HELLISHA Demeritte celebrates.

GRADUATES in their caps and gowns.

and have been equipped with the adequate skills to join a 21st century, globally competitive workforce,” she said.

Mrs Pratt-Rolle also assured the graduates of how they are needed in the development of their country. “Some of you have learned how to install air conditioners in homes or manage the technology in an office to turn the most ordinary hair and nails into a work of art. No matter what you have learned during your time here, I can say that all of you are graduating today not just with a great education, but with the skills that will let you start your careers and skills that will make a more modern and prosperous Bahamas.”

Pleshae McPhee is an 11th grade student at St Andrew’s School and a summer student at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution.

BERCARIO Bodie raises his fist in triumph as he walks across the stage at BTVI’s 2016 commencement exercise.