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VOLUME:114 No.170, JULY 27TH, 2017
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PM swings axe to turn round economy By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net MAKING good on his promise to slash government expenses in an effort to balance the country’s books, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last night announced a variety of conservative fiscal measures, including a ten per cent cut in spending in all government ministries and no new public sector hiring. In his first televised national address as the nation’s leader, Prime Minister Minnis also said there will be no renewal of contracts for salaries which exceed $100,000 per year. He said he will ensure his ministers “adhere to their budgets and to financial constraints”. He also announced a reduction in government vehicles as part of a “new era of financial discipline”. Dr Minnis said because of the “recklessness and massive waste by the former administration,” his government “must get our financial house in order”. He accused the former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government of spending approximately “a
• 10% BUDGET CUTS TO ALL MINISTRIES • NO NEW RECRUITMENT • SALARIES FREEZE ABOVE $100,000 • CUT IN OFFICIAL CARS • CUT IN FOREIGN TRAVEL BUDGET quarter billion dollars” in the months leading up to the general election. “It is my government’s task to respond vigorously to the economic conditions which confront us,” Dr Minnis said. “In addition to reducing public expenditure, we must move to aggressively stimulate economic growth. One measure I announce this evening (Wednesday) is that all government ministries will have expenditure cut by ten per cent. There will be no new public sector hiring at this time. We must get our financial house in order. We must reverse the arc of government deficit and debt. We will appoint a special committee to advise on state-owned enterprises, with a view to reducing the burden of such enterprises on public finances,” Dr Minnis said. “There will be no renewal of contracts for emoluments
which exceed $100,000 per year. To further reduce expenditure, we will reduce the number of government vehicles. Unlike the former head of government, I will be extraordinarily more vigilant in ensuring that my ministers adhere to their budgets and to financial constraints. “I am not going to sugar coat the medicine that we are going to have to take to restore our fiscal good health. As a doctor, I know only too well that sometimes you need to deploy strong measures to get a patient’s fever to break as you seek to alleviate the symptoms and the underlying causes of ill health. “The former practice of bypassing the Ministry of Finance and bringing new spending requests directly to Cabinet, without review by the Ministry of Finance, is over.” SEE PAGE SIX
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during last night’s national address.
Photo: BIS
‘POLITICIANS CAN’T GET RICH LEAVING THE POOR BEHIND’ By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said last night it is “unfair and unjust” for politicians to accumulate considerable wealth from corruption, while the citizens of a country, es-
pecially the poor, are left behind. During his first national address as this nation’s leader, Dr Minnis said while he will not comment specifically on cases concerning alleged bribery and corrupt practices by public officials, he believes that “all individuals should be treated
equally before the law”. Dr Minnis said he finds it disturbing that persons believe that politicians are above the law, when all around the world, public officials are regularly charged and found guilty of certain crimes. SEE PAGE SIX
GOVT TO TAKE STAKE IN GRAND LUCAYAN By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed in his national address last night the government is negotiating to become temporary joint owners of the Grand Lucayan Resort in Grand Bahama in a bid to boost the hotel until it can sell off its equity. “The government is now involved in negotiations
THE GRAND Lucayan Resort. with the owners of the assets of Grand Lucayan in Grand Bahama and related
assets for the joint ownership of those assets in partnership with a number of
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
investors,” he said. “As was done by the United States during the 2008 Great Recession, my government’s intent is to resuscitate and grow business to the Grand Lucayan as rapidly and as sustainably as possible, and thereafter sell its equity to one of the existing partners or other investors. “We have no intention of remaining as an owner in SEE PAGE SEVEN
PAGE 2, Thursday, July 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PUTTING DOWN THE GADGETS FOR BNT CAMP
CHERI WOOD, an educational outreach officer with the BNT (far right with sunglasses) and Cheralda Arnett, Sandyport Beach Resort manager (front left in white T-shirt) with teenagers at the BNT camp. Photo: Serena Williams Media and Public Relations
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IT’S every kid’s worst nightmare: an electronicfree seven days in which they’re separated from social media and forced to interact with their peers face to face. But for the teenagers selected by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to attend their annual camp, it turned into one of their best weeks of summer yet. “I came with the intention of pushing past my physical limit, my breaking point,” said 16-year-old Fabian Laing, “but also found that the experience which at times was stressful, pushed me to my mental limit too. Overall it was extremely fun and one of the highlights was jumping and diving into a blue hole – I loved that.” Cheri Wood, an educational outreach officer with the BNT, who accompanied the group, explained the intent of the expedition is to help the children overcome their limits. “It pushes them physically. We hike, and when we sleep outside they’ve got to carry everything on their backs for miles. It also pushes them on a social level because we take away all their electronics once we arrive in Andros, so they’re not allowed any cell phones or anything like that. So it pushes them in all different ways, for growth and self-discovery.” Having to face nature’s unpredictability and digital-free interpersonal communication was not as grueling as the campers had first anticipated. “I really loved how they took away the electronics because usually, in our generation, we’re glued to it as an excuse to be anti-social. What I usually choose to do is be ‘jokey,’ so I can create a nice well-rounded atmosphere, and it was really fun because I got to make connections and we practically lived like a family,” Fabian said. “This was an amazing experience for me,” said Trueraine Cox, a 15-year-old camper from New Providence. “I got to do a lot of things I’d never done before. I can truly say I had an amazing time. I never thought that I would actually go a week without my electronics, but it was kind
of cool. “My favourite part of the camp was doing the lab experiments where you would break into a rock and look at all the little tiny organisms that live inside. Also, the scariest part for me, that I didn’t think I could handle, was diving into the blue hole. But I actually did it.” Ms Wood stated all camp activities are planned with a specific focus in mind. “During the week, we do classroom sessions, activities, and field trips, and it’s all to reinforce the importance of preserving and protecting the natural resources of the Bahamas. “It also gives the kids an opportunity to do things they’ve never done before, such as witnessing wild dolphins, and snorkeling in West Side Marine Park. It really gets them out there to see their own space, their own country, and to understand why it’s so important that we take care of what we have.” As has been the case in the past, the BNT ended the environmental educational camping trip to Fresh Creek, Andros with an overnight stay in New Providence’s Sandyport Beach Resort on Friday, July 14. After seven days in the wild, the group couldn’t wait to get into their airconditioned rooms, take a shower and relax. According to Ms Wood, their complimentary overnight stay at the Sandyport Beach Resort was the perfect way to end the trip. “Because the resort is so Bahamian in style and set in natural foliage, staying here is the perfect and gentle transition back into civilisation after the wilds of Andros. It’s the best of both worlds, hotel amenities with nature literally on the door step, even with the birds that we look for in the camp through our binoculars, you can see them right here with all the beautiful flowers and bushes. “We were here last year and it was amazing, and we were really excited [to return]. They were so gracious because I know the hotel is pretty booked right now. The rooms are nice and clean and cool, we can’t wait to get in them and bathe and shower.”
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 3
Audit to be launched for Gaming Board
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net NEWLY-appointed Gaming Board Chairman Kenyatta Gibson yesterday told The Tribune an audit of the board’s finances and a status review of the gaming house industry are first on the new panel’s agenda. He said these things would need to be done before any potential recommendations from the board are given to the government of The Bahamas. Mr Gibson, a former Free National Movement Golden Isles candidate, was asked whether he would push for the implementation of a national lottery and if his appointment as chairman would mean major changes for gaming houses in the country. He said the new board
of directors at the Gaming Board was expected to meet next week once schedules aligned. Mr Gibson, a former member of the Progressive Liberal Party, was Gaming Board chairman under the first Christie administration. In 2004, he announced the Gaming Board was looking at the feasibility of a national lottery being introduced, however those plans never came to fruition. “It is too early to say anything about a national lottery,” Mr Gibson said when he was contacted by The Tribune, “but at this stage we are reviewing the industry in all of its aspects. As a matter of fact we are going to send out a request for proposals (RFP) and request a number of accounting firms to audit the board and its finances. That is a
part of the universal and plenary review. “Gaming houses, (the sector is) a new industry and we feel to do it justice we have to review its finances and resources before we opine (on) its progress and future plans. “We don’t want to be premature so a status report will be done to see where it is and ensure it is best placed to serve the people of the country.” The government finally released its list of appointments to public boards and committees on Tuesday, with several Free National Movement backbenchers and former FNM members of Parliament getting top posts. The listing, which was published in The Tribune, lists former National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest as chairman of Baha-
masair Holdings Limited among the appointees. The list, which refers 104 statutory agencies and/or entities, lists persons appointed members of statutory boards and committees for the period July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, unless otherwise indicated. FNM MICAL MP Rev Miriam Emmanuel has been appointed chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), taking over from former BAIC chairman and former Deputy House Speaker Dion Smith. Other appointees of note include Bahamas Harvest Church pastor Mario Moxey to the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy and Rev Ranford Patterson as chairman of Cable Bahamas.
KENYATTA GIBSON
UNIONS TOLD OF PAYMENTS
THE Government yesterday told executives of the Public Services Union and the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union that lump sum payments would be honoured. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Brensil Rolle, Minister of the Public Service & National Insurance, and Senator Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour, met the union leaders at the Office of the Prime Minister.
The leaders were told the government planned to honour payments in accordance with the Industrial Relations agreement - and the time scale for payments, with payments to be made in August to the BPSU and September to the BEMU. In a statement last night, the government said: “The staggered payments will allow for a more orderly and planned payment process. Union
executives thanked the Prime Minister for his forthrightness regarding payments to its members. The Prime Minister pledged continued dialogue with executives in the weeks and months ahead.” The meeting was also attended by senior government officials from the ministries of the Public Service, Education, Office of the Prime Minister, and the Treasury Department.
TRAINING BEGINS FOR DRUG TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS IN GRAND BAHAMA By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWENTY individuals from the public and private sectors on Monday began training to become certified drug treatment professionals in Grand Bahama. Grand Bahama Health Services (GBHS) is spearheading the training for police officers, school psychologists, social workers at the Department of Social Services, teachers, as well as youth pastors and community leaders. Through the Colombo Plan International Centre for Credentialing and Education of Addiction Professionals Training (ICCE) programme, GBHS hopes to train a cadre of internationally certified drug treatment and addiction professionals here on the island. Clinical psychologist Dr Michelle Lundy, an internationally certified addiction professional, said substance abuse and addiction is a global issue, and the overall aim is to build international treatment capacity through training. “We are training cohorts of 20, and we hope to train at least three groups here in Grand Bahama,” said Dr Lundy, one of the four master trainers facilitating training in Freeport. The Colombo Programme is a universal treatment curriculum that deals with substance abuse disorders and addiction. At the end of training, participants will be able to identify, treat and counsel persons with substance use and addiction disorders, and a benchmark will have been established for all practitioners in the field. According to Dr Lundy, some 169 million people globally are addicted to substances. In the Bahamas, she said that the three most commonly abused substances are alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Ms Lundy noted that there are also other addictive substances such as opioids. “Ecstasy we know is now creeping up, and we know that our young people are mixing concoctions with cough medicine and using it to get high – so we do have a problem,” she said. “We have seen increased violence in the Bahamas with substance abuse and
addiction, and we know it is affecting the health and mental health of the nation,” she said. In Freeport, Dr Lundy noted that 80 per cent of the patients admitted to the Diah Ward have a rooted history of substance abuse disorder. “With this training, we are trying to standardize the way that we treat persons who are addicted to substances so we can have better outcomes,” she said. Ms Lundy stated that in 2014, the US Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section partnered with Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to provide substance treatment training for persons in the Bahamas. Ms Lundy, Kayla Swain, Shaniqua Smith and Brenda Smith are conducting training in Freeport. “We have done training in Nassau already, and we hope to move to the Family Islands next year to train persons there. We realise that once we standardise the training, once people learn what addiction is, what substance use is; and once we follow better practices and follow the evidence-based practices, then the outcome will be excellent,” she said.
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PAGE 4, Thursday, July 27, 2017
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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‘Brave’ Davis predicts 2022 win for PLP FORMER Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, now leader of a four-member Opposition in the new House of Assembly, is confident that given time his party will return to lead the country. In assessing the honest critique of what caused his party such a devastating defeat— given by the party’s newest member Exuma MP Chester Cooper — Mr Davis accepted some of Mr Cooper’s findings, but with reservations. He likened Mr Cooper to a child who tells the truth, no matter the cost. What did Mr Davis mean by that conclusion? The only interpretation possible is that it would have been better to have maintained the lies than face the consequences of the truth. If that is what he meant then it is time that such old stalwarts as Brave Davis and Bradley Roberts disappear into the sunset to make room for a new generation — represented by persons like Mr Cooper, who seems to have a grasp of integrity, the meaning of service, and the need to be honest with the people who have elected him. According to Chester Cooper, the PLP lost the people by ignoring its party’s scandals, its internal errors and protecting the party’s interests over those of the country. He said that the PLP were neither transparent nor accountable. In fact the party was the full blown result of the “all for me baby” generation birthed in the Pindling years. Apparently, Mr Davis, instead of facing the truth about his party, is, like US President Donald Trump, looking for a scapegoat on which to pin the blame, thus removing the spotlight from himself. The Bahamian people saw the truth on May 10 and “impeached” the whole PLP party. We wonder how long it will take the Americans to have the courage to do the same with their own problem. However, President Trump will probably take that burden off them by “tweeting” himself into oblivion. Anyway, back to the PLP. According to Mr Davis, despite the PLP’s “shortcomings, history will judge us fairly… we helped many, we tackled key issues, we left The Bahamas, as a whole, better than it was in 2012”. What a tissue of lies. The truth is they left the country bankrupt facing years of belt -tightening before there is any hope of returning to fiscal health. If their many failings during their past five years was not enough, they took their last gamble to fool the people before going to the polls by spending $250m in
the months leading up to the elections. It would be too much to list all of their financial failings, but BAMSI, which was designed to feed the country and reduce our import food bill, cost another $80m. Maybe under expert agricultural guidance, BAMSI can eventually be groomed into the food basket of the Bahamas. If not, it will end up like Austin Levy’s dairy and poultry farm at Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, which was taken over and destroyed by the inept PLP. The late Sir Lynden Pindling had boasted that Hatchet Bay in PLP hands would be the “greatest success story in Bahamian agriculture history”. It certainly was when it was forced to close as this country’s greatest agricultural failure. The people of Alice Town were distraught at the loss of their livelihood. It has taken Bahamians all these years of losses before their eyes have been opened to the truth. On May 10 this year, they gave the PLP their overdue justice by driving all, but four of them, from parliament. How can Mr Davis possibly say that this country was left better off than it was in 2012 when between then and just before Christmas last year Standard & Poors credit rating agency downgraded our rating to junk status, and Moody’s, which had The Bahamas’ ratings on their “watch” list will reassess our financial situation this year with the threat of also tossing The Bahamas into its junk basket. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, in his inaugural address to the nation yesterday, called the approximately one-quarter of a million spent to win votes before the election “another glaring example of the recklessness and massive waste by the former administration, which still today accepts no responsibility for its disastrous governance, “They stubbornly,” said the prime minister, “refused to change track. In Opposition, we warned them that there was dire trouble ahead, but the response was to go full steam toward the iceberg, spending the people’s money with wild abandon and few results.” Despite this, Mr Davis is certain that the PLP will win the country back in 2022. Unfortunately, for Mr Davis, the only way that that could possibly happen is if a person like Mr Cooper, who can accept the truth and demand change, takes over the leadership and injects some integrity into the party. If not, the PLP will spend another lifetime in the wilderness, a wilderness that they have created for themselves with their own selfish and greedy shortsightedness.
Problems facing Harbour Island EDITOR, The Tribune. I SPENT the past weekend in beautiful Harbour Island. The ride from Nassau to Harbour Island and back is a beautiful experience, especially if the boat is not too “jammed up”. Harbour island is a Bahamian gem. Its success is replicated in several of our Islands, but not to Harbour Island’s extent. Harbour Island is special. Harbour Island has small hotels, complemented by any number of smaller properties (bed and breakfast types) with homeowners, many of whom are Bahamians, who make their properties available to renters, at a pretty good price. There is no shortage of takers. All of this is complemented by an increasing number of high net worth individuals who continue to build very expensive homes. All of the above provide jobs for the island’s residents, from contractors, to hospitality personnel, to yard maintenance professionals.
The downside of the island is, regrettably, why I write this letter. Every time I visit Harbour Island, I see the increased deterioration of the Island. I cannot figure out why the Island’s councillors and former representatives were not able to arrest the deterioration and preserve this special place. The increased filthiness; the dilapidated golf carts along the streets and in private yards; the uncontrolled traffic in the main business areas, especially close to the conch stands, all lead to the decay of this island. Harbour Island was especially idyllic and picturesque for its simplicity; its cleanliness and for its many golf carts motoring along the way. Suddenly, large cars and trucks have begun to consume the island. Why do you need a Ford F-150 on an island that is 3.5 long and half mile wide? Half of the 3.5 miles is private residential space and so the travel space is approximately 1.8 miles long. Do you really
need a huge truck or car to travel 1.8 miles? Are you kidding? Can you imagine a car or truck travelling at 20mph hitting a golf cart broadside? Yes, you need trucks and heavy equipment for construction and heavy duty projects. You do not need them for cruising about town. It makes no sense. The increased numbers of cars and trucks are destroying the Island. I have spoken with the Island’s representative and I know the passion that he and the Minister for the Environment have for keeping the environment as friendly as possible. Too many of our islands and settlements continue to fall apart, primarily because of the economy. That is not Harbour Island’s apparent problem. I am hopeful that Harbour Island, a thriving economy, can regain and retain its idyllic ways. THE ACCOUNTANT Nassau, July 25, 2017.
The shame of the Bank Lane Shuffle EDITOR, The Tribune. SINCE when did the pursuit of justice start with the public humiliation of an accused person? For too long we have sat on the sidelines and watched as defendants in criminal cases are brought before magistrates and judges handcuffed, shackled at the feet and escorted by the burliest officers on the Police Force. This was not always the case. But as with everything else, its prevalence now has much to do with the presence of TV cameras outside the court house door and more significantly the over-use of the procedure by elected prosecutors in the United States intent on showing voters that they were being tough on crime. This all came to a head in the 1980s as then US Attorney for New York Rudy Giuliani wanted to show that he was cracking down on white collar criminals by parading Wall Street bankers through a public place to name and shame them. Never mind the fact that some of these defendants later learned they had no case to answer or were exonerated by the justice system. Giuliani got a reputation as a tough-on-crime politician and he rode that pony as far as he could, even trying to become President of the US. The so-called “perp walk” for perpetrator walk (we refer to it here as the “Bank Lane shuffle”) is, in my humble opinion, a violation of the defendant’s fundamental right to dignity. Luckily, in our system, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and when we look at renditions of Lady Justice she
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net is always portrayed blindfolded, as justice must be. We should be able to trust the Commissioner of Police – or the senior officer in charge – to have some discretion when deciding who should or should not be escorted into the court house in handcuffs, leg shackles or other forms of restraint. Years ago, the judiciary in the United Kingdom issued guidelines for the custodial management of so-called undertrials – an undertrial being any person who must appear in a court because they have been accused of a crime. If the presumption of innocence for undertrials is to prevail then he or she must be unfettered as they make their way to court, unless there are reasonable grounds to put them under restraint. The old people used to say you should never let a judge use your name to wash out his mouth. In local parlance, try your best to never have to be taken to court. But if circumstances demand your appearance in front of a judge, especially if you went to the police of your own volition, then at the very least the state ought to allow you the dignity of swinging your arms on your way to court. In some circumstances the police will have reasonable cause to suspect the risk of escape, the use of violence, unruly behaviour or even that the defendant may physically harm himself if left unrestrained. In such cases it should be in order for the police to use
handcuffs. In most cases having two burly and buffed police officers at your side and other armed officers bringing up the rear is all you need to strike the fear of God in those minded to flee. Courts in England have ruled that unjustifiably placing handcuffs on defendants can constitute a civil trespass even though the arrest itself is lawful. Our Constitution seems to warn against this in Article 17 (1): “No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Recently we had two high profile matters brought before the courts involving former law-makers who are now being alleged to be law-breakers. The courts will try the facts and will rule on their guilt or innocence. But, going into that courthouse, they should be presumed to be innocent. The accusations of a political witch-hunt are wide off the mark, but if proven true then the courts will no doubt come down hard on those responsible. Kenred Dorsette and Frank Smith were humiliated, in my humble opinion, by being handcuffed when they walked to court. But it is well to remember that 80-year-old Fred Ramsay, who was of a different political persuasion than the current accused, was also handcuffed and shackled. No doubt in these and other cases the police were simply following the normal procedure. Let’s change the procedure. THE GRADUATE Nassau, July 26, 2017.
Listen to the truth, Mr Davis EDITOR, The Tribune. OPPOSITION Leader Philip “Brave” Davis likened PLP MP Chester Cooper to “a child who tells the truth no matter what the cost” for his very candid assessment of their party’s re-
cent election loss. Mr Davis, in his efforts to exonerate his party’s performance while in office, gives the impression that there must be more than one way to tell the truth. Davis and the PLP would likely not be as diminished
as they are if, instead of being honest with the Bahamian people for the last five years, they had just told us the truth. IAN MABON Nassau, January 26, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 5
A ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force marine is pictured giving directions to some of the Haitian migrants at the RBDF Base on July 26.
Photos: RBDF Marine Seaman Kyle Smith
Long Island swoop stops over 100 Haitian migrants By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net TWO days after some 60 migrants were apprehended on Little Inagua, Royal Bahamas Defence Force patrols on Tuesday apprehended more than 100 Haitian migrants near Long Island. Immigration Director William Pratt yesterday confirmed there has been an upswing in the apprehension of Haitian migrants; however, he noted that it was a seasonal trend due to favourable weather conditions. Mr Pratt advised that the department plans to repatriate 142 Haitian migrants to Port-au-Prince today. Ten Cubans were repatriated yesterday, he said, with some 50 Dominican migrants scheduled for repatriation to the Dominican Republic on Friday. Due to the large number of Haitian migrants apprehended this week, Mr Pratt said the department was considering another repatriation exercise next week. On Tuesday, RBDF officials searched a Haitian sailing sloop off Galloway Cay, Long Island. The of-
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SOME of the Haitians detained near Long Island and, below, the HMBS Rolly Gray entering the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base on July 26 with 190 Haitian migrants on board. ficials apprehended 124 suspected Haitian nationals, according to a RBDF report, which noted that the discovery followed the apprehension of 66 migrants on Little Inagua. Both groups were transported to Nassau shortly after 11am yesterday, the RBDF report stated. “This is the fourth migrant vessel that has been apprehended in Bahamian and Bahamas immigration HMBS Lignum Vitae. “The Royal Bahamas waters for the month of officials resulted in the apJuly,” the RBDF’s state- prehension of 64 migrants on Defence Force remains Ragged Island and on July committed to protecting ment continued. “On the 15th of this month, 3, a total of 69 Haitian mi- the territorial integrity of a joint operation by the Roy- grants were apprehended on The Bahamas and keeping al Bahamas Defence Force the Great Bahama Bank by our borders secured.”
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PAGE 6, Thursday, July 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
PM swings axe to turn round economy from page one “We are in a new era of financial discipline. The former administration was addicted to luxury travel, often spending extraordinary sums of money on delegations travelling the world at great expense. We will reduce the amount of money spent on foreign travel by government officials.” Dr Minnis said several forensic audits are being conducted in government ministries to recover, where possible, the people’s money. He said the PLP recklessly spent public funds without checks or balances. “Approximately a quarter billion dollars was spent
by the last administration in the months leading up to the general election. This was another glaring example of the recklessness and massive waste by the former administration, which still today accepts no responsibility for its disastrous governance,” Dr Minnis said. The Tribune previously reported a “horrendous” $234m was added to the government’s fiscal deficit during the May 10 general election quarter, according to Central Bank data released earlier this month. “They stubbornly refused to change tack,” Dr Minnis continued. “In opposition we warned them that there was dire trouble ahead. But the response was to go full steam toward the iceberg,
DR Hubert Minnis in 2015 with an FNM delegation outside the burned dormitory at BAMSI. Last night, Dr Minnis cited the expenditure at BAMSI as an example of a poor return on investment. Photo: Yontalay Bowe/FNM spending the people’s money with wild abandon and few results. One glaring example is the $80m spent on BAMSI. While there is a need for such an institute, there is little value to be seen for the vast sum of money spent.”
Dr Minnis also referred to a looming review and potential credit downgrade by international rating agency Moody’s, saying the prospect “is the result of five years of gross mismanagement and incompetence by the former admin-
istration.” Last month, the Minnis administration passed bills to borrow more than $722m to cover inherited outstanding bills along with the costs associated with running the country moving forward. Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest explained that $400m was needed to satisfy expenditure for the past year, while $322,462,707m will be borrowed for the 2017-2018 budget, amounting to a whopping $722,462,707m.
‘POLITICIANS CAN’T GET RICH LEAVING THE POOR BEHIND’ from page one
His statement follows recent arrests and prosecution proceedings against highprofile Progressive Liberal Party politicians at the conclusion of police bribery and extortion probes.
However, Dr Minnis also said if judicial or police officials do not have the requisite paperwork necessary to charge any citizen, regardless of standing in the country, that individual should not be charged until the appropriate time.
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“If all people deserve to be treated equally before the law, I find it disturbing that some people believe that politicians in The Bahamas should be above the law and should not be held accountable for misfeasance or misdeeds while in office,” Dr Minnis said. “Around the world, politicians are often charged for certain crimes and when found guilty they pay the penalty for such crimes. Political leaders next door in the United States of America regularly are charged and found guilty of certain crimes. Bahamian politicians are not so special that we should be exempt from the rule of law. This includes members of my party and my government.” Dr Minnis said public corruption places a “heavy toll on the country” and “foreign investors become frustrated or often stay away because of corruption.”
“Millions that can be used for the public good too often end up in private pockets. Public finances are wrecked when there is mass corruption by politicians and public officials,” he said. “The watchdog group Transparency International has reported often on the toll corruption takes on national development, including in developing countries such as ours. It is unfair and unjust for politicians to accumulate considerable wealth from corruption, while the citizens of a country, especially the poor, are left behind. We need a new era of public integrity and reform. This era is upon us.” In keeping with its campaign promise to wipe out malfeasance in government and increase transparency, the Free National Movement administration pledged in the Speech from the Throne to create and enforce anti-corruption legislation for parliamentarians and public officers.
Crime Last night, Dr Minnis also spoke about the country’s worrisome crime problem. He said while his administration will remain “tough” on the issue, it will also introduce initiatives to transform the lives of those involved in criminal activity. “Too many of our young people are caught up in the vicious cycle of crime and violence,” he said, noting the high number of homicides recorded so far this year. “My government is committed to providing the necessary resources to help our young people make better decisions. We must invest in them before they go astray. “While we are committed to providing the resources to change the situation, it is important to acknowledge how we got here. “...The crime problem we face today was set in motion by the sins of the past. Leaders chose corruption and fast money over the best interests of our people.
“We must restore the productive values of Bahamian culture. I intend to lead that fight by ensuring there is honesty in government; that there is fairness in contracting; that public service promotions are based on merit; and that the corrupt are no longer able to use power to protect themselves from the law. “I do not accept that any group of Bahamians should have special protection. We are a nation of laws. All Bahamians should follow those laws or face the consequences of transgression. “To help transform the prospects and lives of those in gangs or those minded to criminal behaviour, my government will introduce a number of ambitious social intervention and training programmes, even as we remain tough on crime. “Those who are open to being helped, will be helped. But those who decide on a life of crime, and who seek to do violence, will feel the full weight of the law,” Dr Minnis said.
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THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 7
PM says it’s no go for more NPO
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said his “mouth is on lockdown” as he sought to contextualise his use of the medical term “NPO” on Tuesday in response to questions over whether he would meet with Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis following the latter’s strongly worded letter to him regarding PLP arrests. “NPO is medical terminology meaning nothing by mouth, nothing orally,” the prime minister explained to The Tribune yesterday.
Dr Minnis’ use of the term on Tuesday sparked wide discussion on social media site Facebook yesterday with many seeking to understand how the term fits as an appropriate response to the PLP leader’s request for a meeting over the arrests. He was questioned about it by the press on Tuesday following a tour of Atlantis. He continued: “In other words, ‘Brave’ Davis has already disseminated the information - the letter - to the media, to social media and throughout The Bahamas. So he wants them to respond, not me. “So nothing will come out of my month. I am
finished with that. All it means that since he did it I am under NPO. Nothing by mouth. (He should) allow those who he sent it to, to respond. That’s who he wrote the letter to, not me because he could have picked up the phone and called me. If you send me a letter, you don’t send it to the media and everyone else, so my mouth is on lock down. NPO,” Dr Minnis told The Tribune. Last week, Mr Davis wrote a harsh letter to Dr Minnis regarding criminal probes of PLPs. He warned: “When you set out to dig a grave for your enemy, dig two.” The letter was leaked to
The Tribune and other media and also circulated on Facebook and messaging platform WhatsApp. Dr Minnis suggested he rejected the letter because it was made public. He said Mr Davis could have called him, but as it stands, the Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP has not done so. He also said he would not meet with Mr Davis on the matter. “The leader of the opposition, if he wanted to speak to me, he knows what to do if he sent a letter to me. He subsequently gave the letter to the press and social media. He is not talking to me. He knows protocol,” Dr Minnis said
Tuesday. When asked Tuesday if he would meet with Davis about his concerns, Dr Minnis said: “The answer is N-P-O. No.” The Tribune did not receive the letter in question from Mr Davis. Mr Davis’ letter, which was written on July 18, highlights his frustrations with the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) anticorruption investigations. Calling investigations like the one into former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Dion Smith an “abuse of power,” Mr Davis warned: “When such abuses of power occur, the offending parties, be
they police officers or politicians, need to understand that there will come a day of reckoning for them as well. “What goes around, comes around. And let me hasten to add that that is not a threat. It is an immutable law of the moral universe, one that is sometimes expressed in these words: when you set out to dig a grave for your enemy, dig two.” Mr Davis added: “Those who are committing these abuses should therefore understand they cannot do so with impunity. To use your own words: where you do wrong and abuse your position, there are consequences.”
administration on specific proposals for economic diversification and economic growth. “I have appointed an Ease of Doing Business Committee, appointed to make speedy recommendations for reducing red tape for domestic and international investors,” Dr Minnis also said. “In due course, I will announce targeted investment
and trade missions to attract international investors, who may want to partner with Bahamian investors in areas such as renewable energy, agriculture, aquaculture and other industries. “My government is giving consideration in transforming the Hotel Corporation into a Tourism Development Corporation, which will have as its mission diversification within tourism and the development of more boutique resorts in the Family Islands.” Dr Minnis said his government will introduce incentives for small hotels to use local produce and will also build a native food market for locals and visitors. There are also plans for the Antiquities, Monuments and Museum Corporation to draw up guidelines for the development of public-private partnerships with respect to public historical and heritage sites. This will include, after public consultation, the development of fee structures for the sites, Dr Minnis said.
GOVT TO TAKE STAKE IN GRAND LUCAYAN
from page one
the hotel business for any extended period of time. All signs point to the beginning or renovations at the resort within the next month with the facility ready for business for the winter season.” Dr Minnis did not give specifics about the plan and it is unclear what amount of investment the government is willing to make in the resort. The nation’s leader said his administration has identified “a number of integrated travel and hospitality companies that can bring quality brands to Grand Bahama but also much needed air transportation.” Grand Bahama, whose economy has floundered for years, took a big hit after Hurricane Matthew devastated the island last year. When contacted by The Tribune, former Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) Chairman Gowon Bowe emphasised yesterday the government must have a clear entry and exit strategy for seeking to acquire the resort’s assets even as he expressed concerns about its plan to do so. “Based on what I’ve been told about the cost of renovations required, if the government is prepared to inject that amount of money into it, that is a major investment and there must be a very clear exit and entry strategy,” Mr Bowe said. “It shouldn’t just be a reaction to the current circumstances on the island but should be methodical and well thought out. “If the government goes in as co-investor, what are the terms? What equity stake are they taking? Will they recover their investment as a priority investor if they sell their stake? “When we look at history in terms of the Bahamas Hotel Corporation and properties they purchased back in the day, the Nassau Beach, the Wyndham, they didn’t turn out to be success stories because the unfortunate element is government owned assets are perceived to be able to lose money without consequence. When you look
THE GRAND LUCAYAN RESORT at running hotels, it is a costly venture and one that requires having a finger on the pulse,” Mr Bowe continued. “The government deciding to invest in those types of investments need to have very careful planning. But is this a knee jerk reaction to try to kick start something without a proper strategy to make sure it doesn’t become a burden to the public purse? The better route would be to become a better promoter to get a private transaction done, stimulating interest in initiatives around the economy.” Nonetheless, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Mick
Holding has encouraged the government to take over the Grand Lucayan “if all else fails,” saying it is crucial to the economy of his island that the resort be open for the winter season. “It is essential the hotel opens as soon as possible, and whatever it takes to do so should be considered,” he told Tribune Business last week. “If it’s good for the economy of Grand Bahama, how could anyone oppose it?” Among those said to have considered investing in the Grand Lucayan are former Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian and ex-South Ocean investor Roger Stein. Other parties said to be interested are
Warwick Hotels and Resorts, the owner/operator of the former Holiday Inn on Paradise Island, and a New York-based group. In his speech Wednesday night, Dr Minnis also said his government is also focused on stimulating growth for smaller hotels throughout the country. He said he has appointed a National Economic Advisory Council to advise his
PAGE 8, Thursday, July 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Appeal court rejects woman’s appeal over killing of husband
By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal has dismissed a woman’s appeal against her manslaughter conviction in relation to her husband’s killing. The court was not convinced that a lawyer being given an extra day to prepare his client’s defence would have increased the chances of a Supreme Court jury accepting the convict’s claim that she killed her husband in self-defence. Mikiko Black, 29, appeared in the appellate court in March for the substantive hearing of her appeal against a manslaughter conviction concerning the death of Leonardo Black, a Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer. However, her lawyer Ramona Farquharson-Seymour was unable to convince Justices Dame Anita Allen, Jon Isaacs and Stella Crane-Scott to interfere with the verdict or quash the sentence her client received during the March 14 substantive appellate hearing. The panel had said it would issue its reasons, in writing, for dismissing the appeal at a later date. In the 71-page judgment published on Tuesday, Court of Appeal President Justice Dame Anita Allen explained what led the panel to unanimously dismiss the appeal. “Defence counsel requested two clear days to prepare, and to be in the best position to present the appellant’s case, however, the judge granted counsel one day to prepare. While the desire for expedition in the completion of criminal trials is a commendable aim, it must not be accomplished at the expense of
compromising an accused person’s right to a fair trial which encompasses the right to be given adequate time to prepare for the trial. “In the present case, however, notwithstanding the brief time allotted for preparation, defence counsel marshalled the appellant’s case as best he could in view of the formidable evidence arrayed against the appellant in the Crown’s case. The provision of an extra day or even a longer period of time would not have provided the appellant with any greater advantage such as to lead to a more favourable verdict. “Relative to the complaint that the trial judge erred in law by not upholding the appellant’s no case submission, the evidence revealed that at the close of the prosecution’s case, there was ample material on which the judge could ground her decision to call on the appellant to make a defence, namely, the wound track, the lapse of time before the appellant alerted persons about the incident, the presence of a knife in the deceased’s hand and the demonstration given by the appellant as to how the shooting occurred. These were matters which were inconsistent with a spontaneous event. They suggested a scene which had been contrived to support a story of a struggle. The clear inference from the prosecution’s evidence is that the appellant shot the deceased from an angle above and slightly behind him.” The panel also noted the appellant “complains that the judge erred in not discharging the jury when defence counsel indicated in open court and in the jury’s presence that he intended to make a no case to answer submission”. “The statement of coun-
MIKIKO BLACK, pictured at a previous court appearance. sel without more in the jury’s presence did not rise to the level of a material irregularity sufficient to affect the fairness of the trial or prejudice the appellant’s case.” The other grounds concerning Black’s right to give an unsworn statement and the judge’s failure to give a good character direction were also dismissed. “It is well established that the ‘right’ to give an unsworn statement from the dock does not arise until an accused is given their election. In the present case, the appellant’s trial commenced on July 1, 2013 and her election was put to her on July 12, 2013, well after the right to give an unsworn statement had been abolished in 2011. The appellant, therefore, had no ‘right’ to give an unsworn statement from the dock.” The ruling continued: “As to a good character direction, the state of play in the appellant’s case, to
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my mind, did raise the issue of her credibility. In the circumstances, therefore, there was a duty on the judge to direct the jury on the appellant’s good character both in terms of credibility and propensity. However, the failure of the judge to direct the jury on good character does not inevitably lead to a successful appeal. In a case such as this, due to the sheer force of the evidence against the appellant a good character direction would not have affected the jury’s verdict. “As to the appellant’s complaint on the lack of a Lucas direction, the appellant intimated that she had no knowledge of how to operate a shotgun. The Crown, however, called a rebuttal witness to demonstrate to the jury that the appellant was possessed of a certain familiarity with the shotgun. By doing so it belied her assertion to the contrary; and by so doing, brought home to the jury that the appellant was lying
to them because she feared the truth and wanted to avoid the consequences of her act. Notwithstanding the failure of the judge to give a Lucas direction, a miscarriage of justice did not result due to the state of the prosecution’s evidence.” Concerning the issue of the sentence that the appellant received, the appellate court saw nothing unreasonable with the penalty given. “The average range of sentences for manslaughter are 18–25 years’ imprisonment. Nevertheless, there may be cases where a sentencing judge goes below or above the range but it would be expected that cogent reasons for so doing would be provided by the judge. In this case, the judge gave her indication for the sentence she imposed and the appellant has disclosed no reason for this Court to interfere with the sentence so imposed, nor have we detected any error in principle
by the Judge in arriving at the sentence she imposed,” the court concluded. The widow had denied the murder charge she initially faced and maintained that her actions on the night of April 19, 2010, were not intentional or due to provocation. On that night at the couple’s apartment on the corner of Boil Fish Drive and Adderley Terrace, off Faith Avenue, police found the body of the 27-year-old marine with gunshot wounds in the left side of his face. The accused was arraigned four days later and her trial began on July 1, 2013. Black testified that before April 19, 2010, she and her husband had been evicted from three apartments because of domestic disputes and fights between them. Black said that on the day in question, she and her husband got into an argument that turned physical. While in the living room, both Blacks reached for a weapon and she claimed she only recalled a shot going off and then her husband falling to the floor, the court was told. On July 23, 2013, a jury found Black not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. Six months later, in January 2014, Justice Vera Watkins ruled that she would not get the probation for which her then-lawyer Moses Bain had asked. Instead, a custodial sentence of 14 years was considered appropriate in view of the fact that she had expressed no remorse or sympathy. Anthony Delaney and Destiny McKinney appeared for the Crown in this appeal. The full judgment was published on the appellate court’s website.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 9
Family waits again as RBDF legal team not ready for case
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net GRIEVING family members of Christopher Turnquest, a 25-year-old who was killed in a boating accident involving the Royal Bahamas Defence Force last year, will have to wait until today for the inquest into their loved one’s death to begin as the matter was adjourned yesterday because the legal team for the law enforcement agency had not been properly briefed. A lawyer for the RBDF, Calvin Seymour, apologised and requested the adjournment, saying: “We know nothing about the case or the interested parties. Our firm’s name was tossed around with no instructions and so we did not see a need to go further. “We humbly request an adjournment to sit, discuss with police officers and get the file.” Mr Seymour said they were given instructions in the case only yesterday morning. Coroner Jeanine WeechGomez called the situation “unfortunate”, and she blamed the RBDF for the delay, saying: “I don’t know why the defence force waited until the eleventh hour to get this going. It’s not like this matter happened
CHRISTOPHER TURNQUEST
THE FAMILY of the late Christopher Turnquest is pictured at Nassau Street Court, above and below. yesterday. It’s most unfortunate having regard to all the circumstances. They were informed from April and should’ve been ready for Monday.” Asked by The Tribune for a response to its lack of readiness to proceed with the inquest in a timely fashion, the RBDF did not respond up to press time yesterday. In the courtroom yesterday, a number of defence force witnesses sat near the Turnquest family. The deceased was in the harbour off Potter’s Cay Dock in a 13-foot skiff around 8pm on October 2, 2016 when his skiff was struck by a RBDF vessel. He was on the skiff with
his cousin who jumped from the vessel moments before the collision and survived the crash. According to the family, an autopsy of Christopher’s body revealed he had died of blunt trauma to the body. The Turnquest family has been upset about how slowly the matter has progressed. They created a Facebook page called Justice for Chris to honour him. The matter was initially expected to start on Monday, however when Turnquest’s relatives arrived at court, they were told the coroner had taken two “personal days.” The inquest will resume at 1pm today.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PAGE 10, Thursday, July 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Strategic approach as police starts anti-crime operation
By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net IN the face of several recent shootings that have occurred in broad daylight, police in the capital yesterday formally introduced a new crime fighting strategy, Securing the Inner City Strategically, aiming to apprehend would be offenders in the act. Flanked by more than a dozen armed officers in the Over-the-Hill area, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said that after extended consideration, police have identified several “hotspots” noted for criminal activities. He said residents in these areas can expect to see large groups of officers and equipment in their neighbourhoods for extended periods of time. ACP Fernander, the officer-in-charge of crime investigations, also suggested police intelligence identified these communities because drug sales, shootings and other forms of crime occur in and around them frequently. “After analysing a number of recent crime trends with a number of shootings that occur in broad daylight within our communities, we live in these communities, and these incidents continue to happen,” ACP Fernander told reporters as curious Bahamians looked on. “We have stepped up our strategies. What we are doing here today, we are on foot, we are moving around in vehicles; we are walking in these communities. “We are taking (our) whole shift into these communities to stay in there. We don’t want the prolific offenders to believe that there is no law for them within the communities. “They continue to sell drugs. They continue to
THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force commenced a major crime suppression operation in several communities yesterday. Officers are pictured in the Bain and Grants Town community. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff just fire off shots within the communities. Good people live in these areas and we have to ensure that they are safe,” he added. A man, identified by loved ones as Everette Rolle, was shot dead around 6pm Saturday while cleaning a car in the Pinewood Gardens area. His death marked the fifth killing last week. A day earlier, around 4pm Friday, a man on bail was shot dead in the Oakes Field area. In the wake of the killing, police promised hundreds of officers would swarm the streets as they unleash a “major assault” against criminals in the country. ACP Fernander yesterday revealed that officials saw these murders as the start of a trend that need-
ed to be immediately addressed, adding that the Securing The Inner City Strategically (STICS) initiative will deploy officers in a “saturated” fashion across a single community. He added: “What we have done, we have analysed and we have mapped out all of our crime hotspots and we are spending time in there. So if they (offenders) want to hang out, they will hang out with us, officers. They will hang out with us because we will no longer tolerate that. “We are walking through as you can see. We have the mobile station van. We are setting up. As you can see, we have an eye in the sky; we have the drones that are out. That is a part of our intelligence strategy that we have moving through these
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areas that we consider to be hotspots.” “If you are selling drugs, we will park the mobile van right in front of your residence to disrupt what is going on. We will stop your sales and if we find drugs, you will be put before the courts. “You will be charged and put before the courts. So we are continuing our effort in this fight.” Police in recent years have launched several crime fighting strategies to combat crime, most of which last only for a short period. When questioned on how long this initiative would last, ACP Fernander said police officials intend for the STICS to be sustained for some time. “Consistency; we have found a way to now sustain these operations,” he said. “Members of the public will see us, the presence out there, the response time; when you stay in these hotspots, if something happens, the response time is right away or (we) will engage the individual right after the crime and we will have what we call a shootout if it comes to that.” Concern Some residents on hand to witness the operation expressed varying levels of concern about the initiative, primarily questioning the need for such a large number of well-armed officers. Lawrence Winters, 24, said he has always felt safe
in the West Street area. He told reporters he was somewhat “scared” by the police presence Wednesday. Mr Winters questioned why officers, all armed and sporting bullet-proof vests, would descend on such a small community in such large numbers. “I don’t mind, just don’t bring the guns and the things out like that because that is do bad,” he said. “The guns and the vest and all of that…. they need to conceal those things because we don’t need (to see operations like that).” When asked what he thought could have worked better, Mr Winters added: “They can just pass through. Let everyone know they passing through, bring all they sirens; like have a motorcade or something. Just ride through.” He continued: “I think it is threatening to the residents because I am a little scared right now. I think (a regular presence) is enough.” Meanwhile, there were several residents on hand Wednesday to praise the efforts by police. Kirkfort Moxey, a retired history teacher, while expressing support for police, questioned the quality of parenting in inner-city communities. He, among other things, suggested a direct correlation between bad parenting and youth turning to a life of crime.
Mr Moxey, who claimed to be a former teacher of Bain and Grants Town MP Travis Robinson, insisted that many of the children in his neighbourhood are left to raise themselves by parents detached completely from their lives. “…… Parental control is not there. You can do what you want to do, go where you want to go, when you want to go, come when you want to come; whatever. “It is affecting the children to the max. Then you find, some of the young girls, some of them don’t even finish junior high; a lot of them sexually involved. And you know, when young girls get sexually involved that is ‘bang a lang,’ and when you 13, 14, you are lost.” He later added: “I had this person right here in front of my gate, this mother had a problem with somebody, some kid, I don’t know the name; and she stood in the middle of the road right there, drop her pants, her panties and everything; and then everybody say kiss this (alluding to her backside). “I didn’t say nothing to her at that time, because I could see she was fiery, but I spoke to her later and then she made some adjustments. But, those sort of things is not good for the young kids.” Mr Moxey concluded by urging the government to enact legislation that would mandate parents pay closer attention to their children.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 11
Bail hearing next week for murder accused By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION leader Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.
READERS RESPOND TO DAVIS’ VIEW ON THE ROAD AHEAD FOR THE PLP AFTER Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis addressed PLP supporters on Monday, saying the road ahead of the party would not be “an easy one”, readers on tribune242.com gave their responses. John thought the PLP did not need to do all its healing and rebuilding in public: “At some point the PLP has to roll back its election artillery, pack up its battle tents and allow the country to be governed by those who were elected to do so. They continue to expose themselves to more wounds (many self inflicted) when they continue to launch attacks on the sitting government. Many of the healing and rebuilding and restructuring of the PLP party does not need to happen in the public eyesight. Remember in years and especially the recent months prior to elections, no one could even fathom the strength, the cohesion and the readiness of the FNM even to fight the election much less to win in such a resounding way. They ignored the noise in the market for the most part and continued steadfast.” Sickened said: “‘Not easy’? More like impossible. You old guard can NEVER be trusted again. Scared Davis, you need to get out of the way just to give the PLP a glimmer of hope.” Well_mudda_take_sic thought it was time for another political party to form: “The time has never been better for the conception, gestation and eventual birth of another political organisation to take the reins of governance in a future general election when (not if) the Minnis-led FNM government missteps in a serious way that leaves the people feeling the best interests of the country are
not being well served.” Tribune Business reported that Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest did not rule out the Government ‘nationalising’ Freeport’s Grand Lucayan resort. The_Oracle wasn’t convinced that was a good idea: “Government seizing or compelling a sale of private property is a slippery slope. What next? What when they come for your property or business? No, it has been proven over and over that Government can run nothing. Not a postal system, not a hotel, not healthcare, not FDI, not a prison or court system, not any aspect of the country.” Trae20137 said: “Pressure has to be exerted on all resort investors to keep the properties presentable or open for business. Xanadu property and Princess Properties must not be neglected either. Grand Lucayan is important but all the large resorts are vital for Grand Bahama’s rebirth. This island once had over 6,000 rooms and two casinos to provide entertainment to the tourists – gambling or casino shows. Nightlife is missing for the island even though you have day time activities. I do remember the drain that was on the Bahamian economy when the government had assets that it couldn’t sufficiently operate or manage. To repeat this mistake should always be the last course of action for any government be it PLP, FNM or DNA for the Bahamian people.” And in The Tribune’s lat-
est online poll, we asked readers if they agreed with National Security Minister Marvin Dames that the death penalty needs to be enforced. At the time of going to press, the majority of those voting - 82 per cent - said they agreed with the Minister. Commenting on the poll, DillyTree said: “I voted ‘yes’, but with the caveat of having exhausted all competent avenues of appeal and allowing the accused fair and diligent representation.” There was this from jus2cents: “NO. This question is like asking ‘who are the enlightened ones!?’ Still interesting to see the responses. LOL! They can’t even enforce the existing laws, that alone would stop a lot of crimes. Are we evolving or regressing? What do we achieve by killing those who are the victims of a society that has been wrecked by inept and corrupt politicians? Who are the real villains then? i.e. If the government schools were managed properly would we have so many young people without the skills to support themselves? It is simply political smoke and mirrors. The death penalty as a subject is just an old trick used by politicians to polarise and distract people from the real problem: their incompetence and inability to manage!” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
A SUSPECT awaiting trial on a murder charge will have his bail application heard next week. Shawn McPhee and his lawyer Calvin Seymour appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs seeking pre-trial release for McPhee before his October 10 trial before Justice Bernard Turner. However, Crown prosecutor Maria Zancolla requested an adjournment to prepare an affidavit in response to the application filed by McPhee. As a result, the bail hearing was adjourned to August 2. McPhee, and a 16-yearold, both of Nassau Village, face a charge of murder concerning the February 13, 2016 death of Cyril Cartwright. It is alleged that the pair intentionally and unlawful-
ly caused his death. According to initial police reports, Cartwright was stabbed while in the area of Sumner Street following an argument with another man. When officers arrived, they found the lifeless body
of a man with multiple stab wounds in his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. While McPhee’s juvenile co-accused was released on bail last year, he remains in custody at the Department of Correctional Services.
PAGE 12, Thursday, July 27, 2017
THE TRIBUNE
Minister: We must stop the catastrophe of traffic deaths By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas has already recorded just over half the number of road traffic fatalities in 2017 that it recorded last year, according to the latest traffic fatality statistics. The numbers, revealed by Transport and Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell, show how at 22, the country is now just 21 traffic fatalities away from the 43 which were recorded last year. Similarly, the number of traffic accidents with serious injuries currently stands at 66, just 24 off from the 90 recorded in 2016. The country has also recorded more than half of the 2,162 traffic accidents with minor injuries recorded last year, with 1,261 currently documented. The number of hit-andrun accidents recorded in 2017 currently stands at 644, 531 less than the 1,175 recorded in 2016. Damage to public property, private property and vehicles currently stands at 4,533 for the year, as opposed to the 7,710 recorded for the whole of 2016. The statistics Mr Campbell presented yesterday differed from those contained in the 2016 Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) crime statistics, with the former showing various increases and decreases throughout the respective categories. Nonetheless, Mr Campbell, during a press conference attended by various members of the Road Safety Committee, said it is
MINISTER of Transport and Local Government Frankie Campbell. “vital” that the government “continue to focus on road safety”. He said the “cost of this catastrophe to a developing country like The Bahamas is far too high”. “Some of our brightest and best have perished in accidents, or suffered life altering injuries which have devastated their families and diminished our nation’s capacity to be at its very
best,” he said. “Despite the challenges associated with adjusting behaviour on our roads, we must persevere, as road accidents are preventable. “It is therefore important that we focus our energies in this direction.” He added: “Improving road safety is a shared responsibility. Reducing the statistics referred to
Photo: Derek Smith/BIS requires concentrated action across a number of sectors in our country. In addition, each citizen must make road safety a personal priority, in order to ensure that we reduce the number of fatalities on our streets throughout the country.” Mr Campbell encouraged motorists to adhere to the various road traffic
laws, such as using pedestrian crossings rather than crossing the road arbitrarily, obeying the maximum speed limits both in the city and highways, and avoiding texting while driving. The latter, Mr Campbell said, is “far too prevalent” in Bahamian society and the possibility exists for the introduction of legislation against texting while driv-
ing sometime in the future. “All things are being considered,” he said. “You will know that there was a time when we didn’t have a seatbelt law, and we eventually evolved to that based on the trends that were developing. And I can safely say that the trends as it relates to the use of cellphones is sufficient for such legislation to be considered.”
SMALL BUSINESS CENTRE PLAN FOR GRAND BAHAMA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K Peter Turnquest revealed plans are underway for the establishment of a small business centre in Grand Bahama to assist small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs. He said that the centre would be attached to the University of The Bahamas and supported by the Min-
istry of Finance. “In that small business centre, we expect to get all resources necessary for small and medium-sized enterprises to go from contract to getting a license, to operation. Whether for finance, for people, advice, mentoring or whatever - it would be at that centre,” said Mr Turnquest at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon last Friday in Freeport. He indicated the centre would also partner with the Joint Venture Capital
Fund, to which government has committed to contributing $5m. “We want it to have access to the Jump Start, Fresh Start programme that we will relaunch, and we want it to have access to the Bahamas Development Bank,” he said. “We want all the services that small and mediumsized businesses need to be at the centre, and with qualified people who are about service to the community versus self-interest so that our entrepreneurs have a great chance of being successful.” Regarding new investments on Grand Bahama, Mr Turnquest said there have been “impressive investment proposals” for industrial development in various parts of the island. As a result, officials are establishing a Bahamas Investment Authority in Grand Bahama that will fo-
cus on investment proposals for the island, he said. “So hopefully no longer will investors have to submit to the GBPA, to the government, the Ministry of Grand Bahama, and to the central government in Nassau,” said Mr Turnquest. “We have to make the ease of investment as simple and efficient as possible, and so we will have an investment office here...to deal with investment proposals for this island.” While the government has a partnership with the GBPA, he noted that the purpose of an investment office is to ensure “we limit the amount of contact necessary by either party”. Mr Turnquest believes that simplifying and streamlining the requirements, through a one stop shop kind of approach, is essential so that investors are not duplicating their
efforts and wasting time chasing from one agency to another. On the topic of Grand Bahama’s economy, the minister of finance said the revitalisation of the island’s economy would require a careful, “well thought” seamless master plan to address the many challenges confronting the island. He indicated that “two months in office is a little bit much” to expect that a master plan is going to be ready to mobilise. In the meantime, Mr Turnquest said government would be revitalising the economy by supporting existing businesses and industries, as well as supporting apprenticeship programmes, such as at the Grand Bahama Shipyard to ensure that young people acquire useful skills for the future. “Grand Bahama, we have had a very difficult 20 years. Just as we started to get back on our feet Hurricane Matthew came, and the process has had to begin all over the again,” he said. He said the rebuilding process is nowhere near complete, but measures are being taken to prepare for the next disaster. Having a response plan well ahead of any storm or event is critical, he said, instead of trying to develop
and manage a disaster in the middle of a crisis. “I am pleased to state that Minister (of State) for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson has already issued instructions to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and leading agencies in this regard to establish a formal disaster plan from how first responders act, how rescues are done, evacuation, supplying evacuation shelters, and how we will engage in recovery efforts hereafter,” he said. “We went as far as initiating rules of understanding and establishing contacts to ensure we know well ahead of time what our exposure is going to be, what our risks and gaps are, and what our finances may need to be in respect to recovery efforts.” Mr Turnquest said: “We don’t need to have the kind of surprises we have today where $150m has been spent, and it is hard to say…” He said officials are well aware there is still a tremendous rebuilding and repair effort needed throughout the island. “We are continuing to mobilise the limited resources at our disposal to assist as best we can and ask continued patience in these very difficult circumstances,” he said.
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Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 13
Foundation honours scholars for success in their studies THE Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation has announces that four more Tara Scholars have successfully completed their secondary education thanks to the generosity of the foundation and its supporters. Since its creation in 2006, the foundation has awarded 33 scholarships to outstanding Bahamian high school students. The foundation is dedicated to the holistic development of young people by empowering them to achieve a positive sense of self and to realise their full potential as productive, responsible and contributing citizens. A key goal of The Foundation is to encourage young Bahamians to take maximum responsibility for improving themselves. This year’s graduates, Monique Chandler, Nastacia Turnquest, Ralph Sealy and Shania Lewis, all attended St John’s College and served as prefects, student leaders, and active members of many organisations. Monique plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania which has awarded her a scholarship valued at $16,000. Nastacia, Ralph and Shania will be attending the University of The Bahamas. Nastacia plans to become a veterinarian. Ralph plans to study entomology and to that end he will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in biology while Shania plans to pursue a degree in business administration. “We are truly proud of each of our Tara Scholars,” said foundation chairman Livingston Hepburn. “Each one of them exemplifies how much young people can achieve when given the right support and encouragement.”
In addition to the students graduating this year, the foundation is also proud of its scholars in lower grades, Deneil Rolle and Dwayna Archer, who, with Ralph Sealy, are a part of St John College’s “Green Lightening” team. This team of 12 students competed in the Solar Car Challenge at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Tara Xavier Hepburn Scholarship is open to graduates of Bahamas Government Junior High Schools and students of St John’s College and St Anne’s School who have successfully completed grade 9. The scholarship is tenable at St John’s College and St Anne’s School. In order to be considered for a scholarship, applicants must be nominated by their school, attain at least a 3.0 GPA, have demonstrated leadership ability and/or community involvement, be of good moral character and successfully pass a minimum of five BJC subjects which must include English and Mathematics with grade C or better. Applicants also may be required to attend an interview. The Tara Xavier Hepburn Scholarship covers full tuition and the cost of books. The Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of donors including Lyndhurst Limited, Mrs Patricia Vouch, Mrs Giovanna Knowles, Richard Campbell Limited, Dr Livingston Marshall and the Anglican Central Education Authority, all of whom continue to support and invest in the youth of our nation through the work of the foundation. Without the support of donors, it would not be possible for the Tara Xavier Hepburn Foundation to carry out its mandate.
CLOCKWISE from top left, Nastacia Turnquest, Shania Lewis, Ralph Sealy and Monique Chandler.
PAGE 14, Thursday, July 27, 2017
Our evolving understanding of issues of gender
“Gender equality is not a woman’s issue, it is a human issue, it affects us all.” – Unknown. “WHAT gender am I?” Most of us have not had to ask this question, but many have. The simplistic answer that there are two sexes and that is it, no longer sits well with our current knowledge. It is not really a mental health issue, though we do help with people, mainly adolescents, with gender dysphoria. This is not really a mental illness, but the anxiety and depression that accompany the strong feeling that they are not the gender they appear to be, does need psychological help. This condition must not be confused with homosexuality and the medieval
attempts to “cure it.” The Church of England has recently called on the British government to ban “conversion therapy” and condemned the practice, which aims to change sexual orientation, as unethical and potentially harmful. It is now about 50 years since the laws on homosexuality began to change in England with the acceptance that sexual acts, between consenting adults, in private that did no physical harm should be legal. The Inter-
national Psychiatric Association also accepted that homosexuality was a normal variant and should not be seen as needing treatment. The laws and opinions are constantly changing, they have followed developing science and the scientific community now accepts that there is a strong biological part to sexual orientation which is influenced by genetic, environmental and hormonal factors. This means that our sexual feelings be they heterosexual,
homosexual or otherwise are not a simple freewill choice. It may be of interest to some that there is an exhibit at a British museum which traces historical writings and artifacts which clearly show that gender variance and same sex desire has always existed in all places and at all times. Many cultures have always accepted a third gender, for example Native Americans had a word in the Dakota language “Winkte” which means “wants to be a woman.” This area has created enormous difficulties for the Olympic committee where gender equality is enshrined in the Olympic charter, which compels the IOC to encourage and support the promotion of wom-
en in sports at all levels. This seemed easy enough when science discovered chromosome testing, females had XX chromosomes and males had XY chromosomes. Then it was realised that there could be more combinations of chromosomes and even more difficult; people could be born with both male and female sex organs. This has really complicated things if you looked externally like a female but have testes in your abdomen which produce male levels of testosterone. Are you cheating? If it makes you feel any better the Olympic association keeps reversing itself and does not seem to know what to do either. This brings us back to
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equality; which simply means the equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender. I am still puzzled that the Bahamas has twice rejected by referendum the concept that men and women are equal. I am sure political shenanigans played its role, but it seems such a simple human right that we should all have equal opportunities regardless of race, gender and other supposed differences. • Dr Mike Neville is a forensic psychiatrist who has practised for more than 40 years in The Bahamas, working at Sandilands, the prison and in private practice. Comments and responses to mneville@tribunemedia.net
A SUPPORTER of LGBT rights holds up an “equality flag” on Capitol Hill in Washington yesterday in support of transgender members of the US military.
LGBT outrage over Trump ban on transgender military service NEW YORK Associated Press MOST LGBT-rights activists never believed Donald Trump’s campaign promises to be their friend. But with his move Wednes-
day to ban transgender people from military service, on top of other actions and appointments, they now see him as openly hostile. Leaders of major advocacy groups depicted Trump’s Twitter pronouncement as
an appeal to the portion of his conservative base that opposes the recent civilrights gains by the LGBT community. “His administration will stop at nothing to implement its anti-LGBTQ ideol-
ogy within our government — even if it means denying some of our bravest Americans the right to serve and protect our nation,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president of the LGBT-rights group GLAAD. Transgender service members have been able to serve openly since last year, after a move by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Trump’s vow to end that policy was the latest, and perhaps the most stinging, of a string of actions since his election that have dismayed supporters of LGBT rights. Some examples: • The administration rescinded federal guidance advising school districts to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice. It said state and local officials should decide the issue. • Several of Trump’s high-level appointees have solid records as opponents of LGBT-rights advances, including Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. • At Trump’s direction, Sessions is developing new guidance on religious liberty for federal agencies that is expected to make it easier for people with religious objections to refuse to recognize LGBT rights. • The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed an amicus brief in a case to which it’s not a party, arguing that a federal civil-rights law doesn’t cover sexual orientation. The case was filed in 2010, when a skydiving instructor sued his employer, saying he was fired for his sexual orientation in violation of the law. • Six members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS resigned, asserting that Trump “simply does not care” about combating HIV and AIDS as it continues to beset the LGBT community. The Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBT-
rights group, depicted the Republican president’s tweets Wednesday as a “heinous and disgusting” attack on transgender service members. “It is also the latest effort by Trump and Mike Pence to undo our progress and drag LGBTQ people back into the closet by using our lives as political pawns,” said the group’s president, Chad Griffin. Trump’s pronouncement was hailed by some conservatives who have long complained that the military was undermining its effectiveness by allowing gays, lesbians and transgender people to serve openly. Opponents also have contended that the military should not bear the cost of any medical procedures related to gender transition. “Our troops shouldn’t be forced to endure hours of transgender sensitivity classes and politically correct distractions like this one,” said Tony Perkins, a former Marine who heads the conservative Family Research Council. Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, denounced Trump’s declaration as “simple bigotry”. “This attack has nothing to do with military readiness, reason or science,” she said. “It is indefensible.” Among those dismayed by Trump’s tweets was Lt Cmdr Blake Dremann, a transgender man who’s served in the Navy for 11 years and received his latest promotion after the policy change last year. “Trans service members are continuing to do our jobs,” Dremann said. “People know who we are now and it becomes personal, especially when you’ve got families that are going to be affected by this.” Another active-duty transgender soldier, Army Capt Jennifer Peace, said she was concerned how a possible ban would affect
her, her family and other transgender service members. “My command has told me in the past the only thing that we should discriminate on is job performance, and I hope that military leadership will handle this issue the same way,” Peace said in an email. Capt Jacob Eleazer, a transgender man who serves in the Kentucky Army National Guard, said he was stunned by Trump’s action. “Fired by tweet. It was honestly pretty shocking,” said Eleazer, who took the day off from his job as a therapist in Lexington, Kentucky, to assess the situation. It’s unclear whether Eleazer’s career will be affected. Eleazer, 31, has been in the military since 2006. In 2014, he told his superior officer he was transgender, and he got full support. Attorney Sasha Buchert, a transgender woman who works for the LGBT-rights group Lambda Legal, recalled feelings of fear and isolation while serving in the Marines in the 1980s, decades before her gender transition. “It’s not a question of whether transgender people will serve,” she said. “It’s a question of whether they’ll be serving openly or will be hiding like they did in the old days.” Another transgender veteran, retired Army Col Sheri Swokowski, said it’s important for transgender people and their allies to push back against Trump’s decree. Swokowski, 67, of Windsor, Wisconsin, transitioned to female after retiring from the military in 2004. “The military has taught us to fight and this administration shouldn’t be surprised when we do,” she said. “We need to impress upon the administration that we’re not living in the dark ages.”
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CLEAN-UP AT CORAL HARBOUR THE Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) kicked of its action-packed Summer Sea Camp on Monday with a Coral Harbour beach clean-up. This year’s camp attracted 30 participants.
It began July 24 and ends on July 28 and is being held at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo. An informative and interactive camp, the 2017 theme, ‘Tippy’s Pollution Solution,’ focuses on the havoc plastic pollutants and other marine debris wreak
RISING Kingsway Academy ninth grader Sierra Blair disposes of litter on a Coral Harbour beach.
on a marine environment and how to effectively address that problem. A BREEF creation, Tippy the Sea Turtle, is the organisation’s mascot whose job is to spread the message of keeping Bahamian waters plastic-free. Throughout the week, campers will learn the importance of healthy marine ecosystems and proper waste disposal. Underwater adventures abound as campers get up close and personal with sea creatures while snorkeling at Jaws Beach, Bonefish Pond National Park and Caves Beach. There’s also an off-shore snorkel expedition with Stuart Cove’s. The week wraps up Friday with a land-based activity at Ardastra.
Thursday, July 27, 2017, PAGE 15
CAMPERS, volunteers and BREEF staff take a break following a Coral Harbour beach clean-up. Photos: Precision Media