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Hurricane Matthew caused damage estimated at $600m By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  THE Christie administration yesterday moved a resolution for a loan of up to $150m to defray the costs of this country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts as a result of not only Hurricane Matthew, but for last year’s Hurricane Joaquin. According to Prime Minister Perry Christie, the damages caused by Matthew are estimated at $600m, while Joaquin imposed costs estimated at around $200m. The combined total of $800m as a result of both storms, Mr Christie said, equates to 40 per cent of the national budget or 9 per
cent of GDP. Given the hefty price tag attached to the devastation left behind by both hurricanes, State Minister of Finance Michael Halkitis stressed that it was essential that the government accessed the funds as it was not possible to finance the recovery efforts from the existing budget. “The use of the funds by our preliminary indications is that 60 to 70 per cent of the funds will be used for restoration of public infrastructure which is roads, public buildings, schools, etc,� Mr Halkitis said, “the remainder of the funds will be used for citizen assistance programmes.� SEE PAGE SIX
By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  DESPITE Prime Minister Perry Christie’s previous suggestion that the government may need to “tax some item� to accumulate funds for the country’s Hurricane Matthew recovery and repair, he yesterday back-pedalled from this position insisting that the current tax system is sufficient to raise the money needed for the efforts. Mr Christie was adamant, as he spoke in the House of Assembly, that the Ministry of Finance knew this prior
to Matthew’s arrival as external experts presented the information as part of a specially commissioned study. The Christie administration has been subjected to a wave of criticism over the prime minister’s comments on Monday that the country needed to give serious consideration to a more effective way of financing its losses. During that interview he said it might have been time to consider a “selective approach� to accrue the money by “taxing some item that would be of minimal impact on people�.
RENEW Bahamas yesterday confirmed it has “suspended its services� as the New Providence landfill manager, after shootings, tyre slashings and widespread theft in Hurricane Matthew’s aftermath made operating conditions unsafe. Michael Cox, Renew Bahamas chief executive, told Tribune Business that these incidents, combined with the loss of electrical power in the storm’s wake, had brought landfill operations - especially the revenue-generating recycling activities - to “a grinding halt� for the past three weeks. FULL STORY, SEE BUSINESS
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  POLICE are investigating a house fire that led to the death of a six-year-old boy in Abaco on Tuesday night. According to reports, police along with the Marsh Harbour Fire Services were called to a house fire, in the Mudd around 9pm and when they arrived they found a single-storey, wooden structure engulfed in flames. Officers quickly extinguished the fire but on searching the building discovered the burnt remains of a child. The body was examined by doctor at the scene and the boy pronounced dead. Police are actively investigating and are appealing to the public in Abaco who may have information that can assist to contact them at 347-2560/367- 3437 on Abaco911 or 919 or the nearest police station.
DEPUTY Prime Minister Phillip Davis accepts hurricane supplies from Courtyard Marriott yesterday, after 105 cases of gallon water containers and 1,300 cases of half litre bottles of water, plus five chainsaws, were given to help out with relief efforts. See page five for the full story. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
TURNQUEST WARY OF URBAN RENEWAL ROLE IN STORM REBUILDING EFFORTS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest expressed concern yesterday that Urban Renewal is being used as a campaign tool for the Progressive Liberal Party during Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Perry Christie announced on Monday that Urban Renewal is being expanded in the wake of the storm to all constituencies of the country. They will work with area parliamentarians and function like a command centre that will address the issues faced by people in commu-
nities, complementing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). However, Mr Turnquest said evidence exists that suggests Urban Renewal is too politically compromised to play this role. “If you were to go onto Pineridge’s page,� he said, SEE PAGE FIVE
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THREE CHILDREN ARE RECOVERING AFTER BEING SHOT
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net  A FOUR-year-old girl is recovering from emergency surgery after she and her four-year-old sister were shot as they sat in a vehicle with three other children late on Tuesday night. Another young girl is also recovering in hospital from injuries sustained during the shooting, but officers say she received superficial injuries from shattered glass during the incident. SEE PAGE TEN
PAGE 2, Thursday, October 20, 2016
BEFORE AND AFTER THE STORM REPAIRS
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‘Matthew was angry and The Bahamas was his enemy. From this day on if any hurricane come, I am evacuating.’ PASTEL Gardens resi- Residents in southern New Providence dent, Sonia Roberts said that in 50 years, she has are still without power 14 days after never seen a storm rip Hurricane Matthew hit. But the memories through New Providence of the storm’s brutal force are still vivid, with the “anger and wrath” that Hurricane Matthew Sancheska Dorsett hears. its time for us to start seeing did a little over two weeks and doing assessments, Yesterday marked the what we can do and what we ago. Fighting back tears yes- 14th day without power can save because this water terday Ms Roberts recalled for most residents in the is really coming up’. “My boy got up and we put how quick thinking saved area, and with the dozher life and those of her ens of downed power lines my two grandchildren up in grandchildren as she hur- and flood damaged homes, the manhole and we started ried to “shove them in the there is no telling when moving some of the clothes and put them in bags and put manhole” of her home as power will be restored. “We had a surge in the them up in the manhole. the water rushed into the “While we were doing house from broken win- back of Marshall Road that came from that, all I heard was a loud dows and a the beach crack and the pressure from fallen door. ‘By the time we straight up to the rain took off the plyMs Rob- were rescued, Faith Avenue wood from the house and erts told The and we were the window broke and the Tribune that the water was so hit really, re- water was coming inside. So Hurricane high my grand Matthew came baby, who is nine, ally hard,”Ms I was trying to find towels Roberts said. and blankets to stop the wawith one mis“Some peo- ter. Time as I finished that I sion - “to couldn’t stand in houses went into the next bedroom destroy and it. They had to lift ple’s are destroyed, and the whole panelling eliminate”. her and when I people are dropped, so I had put more She said the devastated, it blankets there. homes in her stepped down to is really, really “Now when I went into area, and the go into the truck, hard. Right the next bedroom, the surrounding now, I just don’t whole plywood came off South Beach the water was up have no mind and the water was flapping and Faith Gar- to my breasts.’ to go to work, I and pouring in. So I said to dens subdivisions, were “mashed up” by just don’t have the mind, I’m my boy, ‘We can not worry just so devastated.” about no bed or nothing’, so Matthew’s force. “About 4.30am Thursday I we took the mattress off When The Tribune arrived in the area, repre- morning, I was getting up the bed and we pushed it to sentatives from the National and checking and looking the window to stop the rain Emergency Management outside because we have a from coming in. “We then went in the Agency (NEMA), the Royal lot of pine trees in the back Bahamas Defence Force of the yard and they were bathroom and there was (RBDF), the Department of just licking and hitting and a crack straight down the Social Services and Urban I saw the water in the back wall. The whole house Renewal were canvassing rising. I woke up my son shifted, and the hallway the area, assisting residents and I said ‘We have to go, where the columns were broke up all the tiles and everything. We went in the kitchen and the whole backdoor flew open so I said the best thing to do was leave, the water was coming into the kitchen. “So we started to try and bail the water out and put it in the sink. We then called for help. We had to leave. REPAIR work The water kept rising and I under way on thank God that my governSouth Beach ment and Minister Shane Drive.
SOME of the damage on South Beach Drive.
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Gibson, they build the windows high so the water couldn’t come in too much. “By the time we were rescued, the water was so high my grand baby, who is nine, couldn’t stand in it. They had to lift her and when I stepped down to go into the truck, the water was up to my breasts.” Although she lost so much, Ms Roberts said she is grateful that no one died in the storm. She also said next time the government suggests she evacuate, she will leave her house “without a second thought”. “Miss, this was an experience. I am 50 and I have never experienced anything like this in my whole life - that distraught me. Things were happening so fast,” she said. “We had to forget about things and save our lives. We also rescued about seven people when we were leaving. Hurricane Matthew, I will never forget this as long as I live. Matthew was angry and the Bahamas was his enemy. Matthew came with such a force, like he had an enemy, you could hear the force and the anger in the wind. From this day on if any hurricane come, I am leaving, I am evacuating. The whole of Pastel Gardens and South Beach is mashed up.” Ms Roberts said residents in the area are in desperate need for water, tarp and clothing and any help would be appreciated. BPL says it has restored electricity to more than 80 per cent of customers in New Providence. sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
NORTH ANDROS ‘GETTING BACK TO NORMAL’
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
RELIEF and recovery efforts are “coming along pretty good” in North Andros in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, with government officials yesterday claiming that a sense of “normalcy” is finally beginning to return to residents of the battered community. Leonard Dames Jr, assistant Administrator for North Andros, told The Tribune that the district is “100 per cent different” than it was two weeks ago when Hurricane Matthew decimated the island. He attributed the feat to a “massive clean up campaign” by government officials and others. Mr Dames also said those displaced by the storm, which he estimated to be 304 people - adults and children - have consistently been “well fed” over the last two weeks thanks to 720 meals being distributed per day by Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) personnel from a “container city” in North Andros. Mr Dames also said that container city has the capacity to produce 24,000 gallons of water per day, which he suggested has been more than enough to supply not just those in North Andros but residents in Central Andros as well. Additionally, those displaced residents whose
CLARIFICATION
WE HAVE been asked to make clear that the two Marlin Air planes reported to have been damaged and broken into (‘Businessman claims thieves stole from two planes after hurricane’,
homes are uninhabitable have been put up by the Ministry of Social Services in apartments, motels and “wherever else they found spacing,” he said. Mr Dames said while there are a few areas in North Andros that are still without power, Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) crews have been working “around the clock” and have managed to restore power to Nicholl’s Town, the main road leading to the San Andros airport, and are now working their way into Mastic Point, Morgan’s Bluff and Lowe Sound. However, Mr Dames said officials in North Andros are currently in need of “building materials” as they move into “construction mode” in the constituency. “We’re getting to normalcy in terms of food and water,” he said. “But you know there’s also needs here in terms of building materials and other things as time goes by. “We don’t have them now, so we need those things,” he added. “But for right now and the immediate relief, in terms of persons having something to eat and clothing, we have a handle on that.” Mr Dames said the contributions by various government agencies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as well as the assistance of “private persons” has helped the res-
October 17) were not stationed at or under the supervision of either Odyssey Aviation or General Aviation Centre, which have comprehensive 24-hour security, at the time.
toration efforts in the constituency. “We have a NEMA office set up here, and we have responsibility for Northern and Central Andros,” he said. “We have a Defence Force vessel that comes in every couple days with supplies and we distribute it. Half goes to Central Andros and half comes here in North Andros. “We have Social Services on the ground, (the Bahamas Red Cross Society) on the ground, and volunteer persons,” he added. “The items that come in through NEMA, we have a central command centre. Everything that comes in at the central location, it goes out of central command centre, and we have Social Services volunteers that are distributing the food. “They did their assessments already so they know exactly which areas to target. They package (goods) and they put them on trucks and they go personally and deliver them. And even though those stuff are delivered at the central command centre, we still have an abundance of water, so persons drive up and get water also.” North Andros was one of three locales throughout the country that were catastrophically damaged by Matthew. Based on ini-
tial estimations offered by Prime Minister Perry Christie during a recent tour of the island, the devastation in Lowe Sound alone could cost more than $10m. Last week, many North Andros residents described the state of their lives as “battered and not done” in the wake of the category 4 storm. The Tribune’s tour of settlements in North Andros at the time revealed how homes were rendered too frail, twisted pieces of steel, wire and rock. Additionally, business and recreational spaces had been washed away from the surface of the surrounding community in some areas. Residents described how rip tides and storm surges in Lowe Sound pushed sea water as far as a mile inland in areas, and in some cases, surges of some ten feet above normal sea level. The Tribune’s tour of the various communities at the time also showed how the magnitude of the surges levelled homes and ripped through power lines.
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THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
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Bahamians kept in the dark about investments FOR five years, with lips sealed on serious matters that affect the future of the Bahamas, this government has sat on the Freedom of Information Act. If ever this Act was needed it is now. This week FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest complained that Bahamians were only “bit players” in China’s investment in The Bahamas, mainly through Baha Mar, but also through other investments, some of which Bahamians probably know nothing about. Shortly before the 2012 election when the Ingraham government was replaced with our current government, a Freedom of Information Act was passed to come into operation “on such date as the minister may appoint by notice published in the Gazette.” After much prodding the Christie government announced that the 2012 Act had been put in the portfolio of Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald. However, it would have to be redrafted and presented to parliament for further consideration. Mr Fitzgerald has made noises from time to time with Citizens for a Better Bahamas spending much time on its study and drafting many helpful suggestions for his consideration. The last we heard of our missing Act, which is supposed to enable us to discover how government is handling our affairs, the Citizen’s committee hadn’t even had acknowledgment that its suggestions had been received. Now surrounded by the devastation of Hurricane Matthew, this is probably the end of our precious information act — four years of ministerial dodging. Bahamians seeing the devastation all around us in the wake of the hurricane are becoming anxious about what has been happening behind closed doors with China’s investments in this country. Last month Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who has been unusually quiet for some time, commented that racism and jingoism — for which he himself is noted — is seeping into the dialogue and public discourse of many Bahamians as they attack the Baha Mar investment because, he claims, the investors are Chinese. Mr Mitchell can stop right there. The problem of Baha Mar is not that it is owned by a Chinese citizen, but that it is owned by a government — Beijing — and a dictatorial one at that. Bahamians have long since ceased bowing their heads to the dictates of “massa.” They are used to asking questions and have the right to expect answers – and if they don’t agree with those answers they have a right to make noise about it. This is what they are now doing as they object to being kept in the dark about Beijing’s investments in this country. This is why in this column we often refer to Beijing and not Chinese ownership, because we have no quarrel with the Chinese - after all we have a large and loyal Bahamian community here of Chinese background. They are as Bahamian as anyone of us. However, we agree with Mr Turnquest that it is not wise to “have any one entity, whether Chinese or private, to have such a big stake in the economy that they have the power to affect your GDP overnight.” And this is the concern that Bahamians have about the Beijing controlled ExportImport Bank of China (CEXIM). China’s objective for this investment is not the same as that of the Bahamas. This country was depending upon Baha Mar being the investment — the biggest and best tourism resort in the Caribbean — to save us from the grim reapers —Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s – financial ratings,
which for The Bahamas is a notch above junk. What with the disaster of Baha Mar – yes, it is still an unnecessary disaster — coupled with the devastation of Hurricane Matthew, as the old people would say: “The Bahamas is not in a good place right now.” From the beginning, we have always thought that Beijing’s interest in investing in The Bahamas was political. And so when nearing completion the resortto-end all resorts fell apart we were not surprised. In our opinion it was of no concern to Beijing how long it sat idle. After all Beijing now had a big footprint in The Bahamas - only about 189 miles from Florida. In Freeport there was Hutchinson Whampoa and at the other end of the Panama Canal sat China Construction (CAA) – moving to the Canal before the completion of Baha Mar, which they had brought to a standstill — to continue the economic growth of Panama. Here was the great United States locked in her southern moat of security. Often in the mornings when we spin our Atlas and see the havoc China has also caused in the South China Seas, we break out in cold sweats for the future of our small grandson and his generation. Last year, lawyer Carey Leonard complained that Hutchison Whampoa had “fallen miserably short” on Grand Bahama. He urged it to “step up to the plate” and correct the “management disasters” that had caused the failure of many of its investments. He blamed much of the company’s difficulties in the Bahamas on being “micro managed” by a head office 9,000 miles away — Hong Kong. “To date, Hutchison Whampoa has fallen miserably short of what it can, and should, deliver to Grand Bahama in the terms of their management and, in some instances, the quality of their operations. “Hutchison Whampoa,” he said, “must take responsibility for much of the unemployment and hardship currently experienced by Grand Bahamians. Hutchison Whampoa’s Hong Kong management must take responsibility, as they are the ones who make the decisions 9,000 miles away. Nothing gets done here without Hutchison Whampoa’s Hong Kong management’s approval.” A few weeks before Hurricane Matthew, a businessman complained that Freeport was dead. “The government sold too much land to the Chinese — there is no development, there are no jobs,” he said. “They are developing nothing, jobs that were once there are gone.” He saw little hope and wanted to move to Nassau. Earlier this year, the US House of Representatives Committee of Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere pointed out the need to build a stronger US-Caribbean partnership. We think this is overdue. Last year at the Caribbean Energy Security Summit held in Washington US Vice President Joe Biden told Caribbean leaders — Prime Minister Christie being among them — that Caribbean leaders had to get a handle on corruption and pick the projects that make the most sense. He said although the US was willing to help, it would not do so with its eyes closed. “I guarantee you we will do our part,” he said, “And we can afford it. But we’re not going to waste money. We’re not going to waste money. We’re going to insist on considerably more transparency, greater coordination and changes in regulations. We’re not here to replace one flawed financing scheme with another.” We hope Mr Christie conveyed Mr Biden’s message to his government.
Wrong way to use tax money EDITOR, The Tribune YES we feel for every soul in The Bahamas affected by the passing of cruel, devastating Matthew; however there are rights and there are no rights. The Prime Minister’s proposal to allow for “low
cost loans” to civil servants is clearly one of those proposals which falls under the ‘no rights’ title as monies in the Public Treasury are for all, Mr Prime Minister, not a select group. If civil servants get, everyone has to get. There is a massive dif-
ference between Commonwealth Bank, Atlantis or any other private corporation doing this for their employees - that money is not public tax money! W THOMPSON Nassau October 17, 2016
Following Hurricane Matthew EDITOR, The Tribune I’M not a psychiatrist, but a Bahamian who experienced and survived Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans eleven years ago. I know how many of you feel in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew....if you do feel anything. Exhaustion, helplessness, depression, panic and the adjectives continue... Yes, it is all normal, and it DOES get better. Trust me. After experiencing the storm in New Orleans, I was living with strangers; friends of friends. My husband and I lay awake at night with our twelve-yearold son sleeping on the floor beside us. Night after night we discussed how to put our lives back together after our lovely world in New Orleans had been kicked like an ant pile, and we all scattered to every corner of America. It was like a puzzle... We worked hard during the daytime and planned at night. We hardly slept due
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net to anxiety and fear of what the next day would bring or wouldn’t bring. I knew one thing, we would do this together as a family with the help of friends and loved ones. In such times of hardship and loss, as evacuees we pulled together and networked, collaborated, shared whatever we could, helped whoever we could, were patient, kind, and generous. One day a group of Moms and I were having coffee together, and one of them had a Harvard professor brother who sent her an e-mail describing PTSS..Post trauma stress syndrome. I read the description and realised that it was exactly what we were ALL experiencing... ( it sure helps to know why you feel the way you do!) Trust me, don’t take any of it lightly. The most suc-
cessful men and women in our community were taken down by Hurricane Katrina emotionally. Life will improve when your days return to some semblance of normalcy, ie normal sleep, a warm shower, electricity, internet, a proper meal, air conditioning, a normal work day, kids back in school. What I learned from my Katrina experience was resilience, patience, faith, and a sense of humanitarianism. Help your neighbour, an elderly person, or a loved one. Put your guns and anger away and realise that mother nature is the boss, and we are here at her mercy. Gather yourselves, and together as Bahamians you will prevail. In the end you SHOULD be a better person. Good luck from a Katrina survivor, you can do it! JUST AS I DID October 11, 2016.
Rein in the spending instead of adding tax EDITOR, The Tribune NOTWITHSTANDING your editorial accolades for our Prime Minister today, I have to ask if he is playing with a full hand when he proffers the thought that we need a “hurricane tax” now. Taxes, of course, bring revenue into the Government coffers, but profligate spending, such as this Government is wont to do, pays it away faster than it can be collected. It is not necessary to list the litany of misspent and stolen money, as that is now a matter of public and historic record, but it seems
to me that if Mr Christie were simply to put a bridle on this reckless and wasteful spending, we very likely would not even need VAT. Most people don’t even stop to think that the tax base, in this country, is not simply the 350,000 to 400,000 people who live here but it also includes, in one degree or another, the many millions of tourists who visit this country every year. They pay duty on whatever they buy here, and VAT now as well. So, yes we have a massive tax base, yet, because of our government’s abysmal management of its tax revenues,
we are facing financial collapse and our credit rating destruction. How many miles of underground electric cabling could we have done with the $20m blown and lost on two Carnival failures? We don’t even know what, or on whom, it was wasted. If only even a few of our Government members could experience the human emotion of shame we would all be that much better off.
deal. I was told that the Doppler radar would cost approximately $20m. Who cares about Doppler radar? We want Junkanoo Carnival.
The people want to party, especially after this devastating hurricane.
BRUCE G RAINE Nassau October 18, 2016
Time for another Carnival EDITOR, The Tribune I TRULY feel that now is the time for another Junkanoo Carnival. Another $7m to $10m to put on the carnival is no big
MR CARNIVAL Nassau October 18, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 5
MARRIOTT HOTEL DONATES HURRICANE SUPPLIES
THE Courtyard by Marriott hotel yesterday presented Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis with a donation of hurricane relief supplies, to be distributed in the coming weeks by the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) in areas ravaged by Hurricane Matthew. Desiree Moxey, Director of Sales and Marketing at the resort, said the donation - 105 cases of gallon water containers, 1,300 cases of half litre bottles of
water and five chainsaws - was the company’s way of giving back to the community. Mr Davis thanked ownership, management and staff for the Courtyard Marriott for its “gener-
ous donation”, adding “every little bit helps and it is always pleasing when corporate citizens demonstrate that they are part of our citizenry by giving back as Courtyard is giving now.”
Deputy PM: Alternatives being discussed to fund relief effort By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
SEEKING to quell public outrage over the suggestion of a hurricane tax, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday insisted that there are other alternatives yet to be discussed as the government mulls over how it will fund Hurricane Matthew relief efforts. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a donation exercise spearheaded by Courtyard by Marriott resort, Mr Davis defended the government against criti-
cism that such a tax would be unnecessary and counter-intuitive in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Prime Minister Perry Christie on Monday said the Cabinet might consider introducing and implementing a special tax to help finance Hurricane Matthew repair and recovery efforts across the country. However, that announcement has been meet with harsh criticism and vitriol, with many Bahamians taking issue with the lack of clarity on revenue earned by the government through the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) early last year.
“It is only a discussion,” Mr Davis told reporters on Wednesday. The Cat Island MP said that while Mr Christie’s comments gave the impression that tax discussions were far along, actual discussion on the topic were not advanced, nor extensive. He said: “What the Prime Minister is saying is look, this has been a tremendous loss to our country; this is likely to cost us hundreds of millions of dollars and we have to start off by deciding how we are going to pay for what we have to do.” “(How) we pay govern-
TURNQUEST WARY OF URBAN RENEWAL ROLE IN STORM REBUILDING EFFORTS from page one
referring to Pineridge MP Michael Darville, “you’ll see what I’m talking about. You can’t tell me or the Bahamian people that Urban Renewal officers - and including seniors officers - were not out actively campaigning, before the storm, after the storm. The pictures were there so I stand by my comment.” Mr Turnquest clarified to The Tribune that he was referring to pictures on the Facebook page of Dr Darville that were taken before the storm, showing numerous people wearing gold, PLP shirts, carrying items throughout the Grand Bahama community. Those photographed, he said, included the Deputy Director for Urban Renewal in Grand Bahama, Michelle Reckley, and her centre managers. “They were dressed in PLP shirts handing out items saying they were from the Minister of Grand Bahama,” he said. Mr Turnquest’s comments came amid a broader critique in the House of Assembly of the government’s recent strategies, including appointing Shane Gibson ‘hurricane czar’. Regarding the borrowing of $150m to help cover the costs of recovery, he said: “We are concerned about
the control and management of these borrowed funds under the management of Cabinet minister as the hurricane czar. What oversight is there to ensure that once funds are placed in the consolidated fund that those funds will be spent on ‘qualified’ restoration projects without unfair political influence or partisan contracting and beneficiaries? “Will funds be granted to residents and business suffering damage from the hurricane only as opposed to neglect of maintenance or will these be zero per cent loans or low percentage loans to be repaid to the Bahamian people? We are concerned that this hurricane restoration effort is not being overseen by NEMA and its director rather than a Cabinet minister facing an upcoming general election.” The government has sought to emphasise the independence with which Urban Renewal will operate. Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin defended Urban Renewal, for instance, saying: “I don’t know about the political side because I have very little involvement in their day-to-day activities. They are on the ground for years. “They have programmes in place with the elderly, with the young. They do
walkabouts. They know the community like the back of their hands. It’s an existing vehicle that is very valuable and I want to commend the Prime Minister. I think it was an excellent decision to use an established vehicle, headed by the police force and the urban commission, that will get out in the community as they have done all these years without fear or favour, meeting the needs of these communities.” Nonetheless, not all of Mr Turnquest’s statements were negative. In a move that prompted applause from members of the governing side, he congratulated Mr Christie for his efforts prior to the storm to warn people. “I congratulate the Prime Minister for his attempts to prepare the people of the country for the incoming hurricane. Quite frankly I think what he did was a magnificent job in the leading up.” However, Mr Turnquest added that not enough was done to prepare the country for the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. “We had situations where people had to be rescued, where we had panics, situations where heaps of lives were either turned away or frustrated in some instances. Now is not the time so I believe and I hope this again serves as a direct lesson for all of us.”
ment bills, government revenue, is usually by taxing.” “And I think that is what he is talking about.” “There has been no decision to introduce any tax at the moment,” Mr Davis said. He said the Christie administration was examining the country’s present tax structure, to determine if there are any “gaps” that could pool enough resources together to aid the government with its hurricane relief efforts. “As we do in everything, we identify what the issues are, then we try to find a solution to those issues if they
become challenges.” Mr Davis continued: “I think the first thought that comes to mind is tax, but that is not the only way to resolve the issues of raising funds. Identifying the gaps in the present system and aggressively addressing that, and you may find sufficient (resources) in that gap.” On Tuesday, sources informed The Tribune that Cabinet ministers rejected a sin tax on tobacco and alcohol to accumulate the necessary funding for repair and recovery efforts. Those sources claimed the majority of Cabinet
ministers opted to pursue avenues that would free Bahamians from additional taxation. Mr Christie has previously suggested that repair efforts associated with Hurricane Matthew could exceed $200m. On Wednesday, the government moved to create a $150m Hurricane Reconstruction Bond.
PAGE 6, Thursday, October 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
$150m loan for storm repairs from page one
agreed to participate in the financing that we are about to present by way of resolu“In light of this damage tion to Parliament. and devastation the govern“I also note for the informent must respond and we mation of members that ormust respond quickly and dinary citizens and residents we must respond adequately. of The Bahamas have also “It is not possible to fi- expressed an effort in particnance the recovery efforts ipating in this effort and in from the existing budget. this respect the Ministry of Therefore we are here today Finance has designed a twoto propose this resolution to tranche approach. A tranche raise up to $150m to finance for commercial banks for up the reconstruction and re- to $120m and a tranche for covery efforts. the public in the amount of “We have had discussions $30m.” with the Central Bank and “The Central Bank has with the financial institu- recommended that non resitions and we are confident dents with a nexus to The that should we need to ac- Bahamas be allowed to parcess the full amount, we will ticipate in this offer. So these have the commitment for the are high net worth individufinancial institutions to take als who live in The Bahamas up the full amount. We have who the Central Bank would this commitment to raise all facilitate their participation of the money should we re- in the $30m offering. quire to use the full $150m “Yesterday (Tuesday) my and I want to make that government accepted the point because it indicates recommendation of the Centhat we have the capacity to tral Bank. It is for me therehave access to money. fore to indicate that these “We will raise this financ- funds would be exclusively ing at rates below the prime used for the reconstruction rate which is less than 4.5 effort.” and the prime rate is 4.75. He added: “The initial My advice is we will raise focus on the reconstruction this money at just over 4 per effort has been in ensuring cent.” restored access to essential Mr Christie further ex- services such as electricity plained that the Ministry and water. The next phase of Finance designed a two- will be the repair and retranche approach to dealing construction of homes and with the funds. He said the parallel to that phase refunds were exclusively for construction of public inthe reconstruction effort frastructure would be adHe said: “The Royal dressed. Mr Speaker the Bank of Canada is the gov- entire government would ernment’s banker. It is with be involved in all phases of gratitude and pride that I this effort working with lonote that all of the banks cal and international partcontacted have readily ners.”
PRIME Minister Perry Christie pictured during his tour of the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Andros. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS
RESOLUTION Whereas Article 129 (1) of the Constitution requires the Minister of Finance, before the end of each financial year, to cause to be prepared annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for public services during the succeeding financial year, which shall be laid before the House of Assembly and which estimates have been laid before the House of Assembly; And whereas Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015 and created significant damage to the infrastructure and personal property of residents of Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Mayaguana, Inagua, Long Island and San Salvador; And whereas Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 also created significant damage to the infrastructure and personal property of North and Central Andros, Berry Islands, New Providence and Grand Bahama; And whereas the government has found it necessary to undertake additional borrowings to finance Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Joaquin recovery and reconstruction efforts; And whereas from time to time the House of Assembly has approved borrowing by way of loan agreements with banks to finance approved expenditure; And whereas by section 18 of the Financial Admission and Audit Act, 2010 (No. 26 of 2010), it is provided that no loans shall be raised by the government and no guarantees involving a financial liability shall be binding upon the government unless entered into with the prior approval, of the House of Assembly, signified by Resolution thereof: Now therefore be it resolved that this House authorises the Minister of Finance to raise by way of loan or loans a sum not exceeding $150m in aggregate the currency of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and approves the proceeds of the said loan being used for the purposes of defraying expenditure for recovery and reconstruction efforts as a result of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Joaquin.
PRIME MINISTER BACKS AWAY FROM HURRICANE TAX PLAN from page one
However, when he stood in Parliament for the first time since Matthew pummeled New Providence, Grand Bahama and Andros, Mr Christie suggested that his comments on Monday were the result of an off-record conversation
with reporters. The nation’s leader asserted that it was “natural” to ask a question to invoke debate as to how the government would tackle debt caused by natural disasters. He seemed bothered by the media’s decision to publicise the comments, which have incited outrage among Bahamians who mainly voiced their sentiments on social media site Facebook. Mr Christie said: “We were given the assurance of the technical staff of the Ministry of Finance that the funding to service this debt can be derived from the existing tax system in a policy neutral manner. That is no change in the existing rates.” “This assurance was done by way of a study on behalf of the ministry by external experts (and) the study was commissioned and presented to the ministry prior to the arrival of Hurricane Matthew. “The key finding of the study is that with a more structured compliance programme, the revenue base could grow by 10 per cent in the short term and up to 20 per cent in the medium term,” the prime minister continued.
“The study indicated that with the investments made by this administration in information technology to support tax collection efforts that this was not only doable, but it was achievable. “My government decided to engage in a study that would put it in a position not to panic over an issue of this kind but to sit in the Cabinet, like we did yesterday and have the Ministry of Finance speak to us about the options available to us and to be able to say before we go any further let us collect the money that is available to be collected. Let us take special efforts to go out there and do it as the study indicates before we go any further and talk about anything because we know the extent to which people are suffering, it doesn’t arise.” On Tuesday high-level government sources told The Tribune that Cabinet discussed the possibility of a sin tax on tobacco and alcohol to raise the necessary funding. However, this idea was rejected by the majority of Cabinet ministers who believe that to raise money, the Christie administration
should consider avenues that free Bahamians from additional taxation, The Tribune was told. Among these is the suggestion of a cruise ship passenger tax, which would ensure local taxpayers are not subject to further tariffs, the source explained to this newspaper. Cabinet has not made a final determination on the issue, The Tribune was told. The idea of a new hurricane tax was welcomed by staunch Progressive Liberal Party members who praised the prime minister for advancing a suggestion that could be the country’s solution to recovering from the devastation caused by Matthew. Among these was PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts. He was adamant that a “temporary tax” was the key to the dilemma the government now faces. Former PLP Cabinet minister George Smith also welcomed Mr Christie’s special tax suggestion, but said he would go further to suggest that the government insure all of its buildings and spaces so that in the event of a natural disaster, there would be no disruption of the budget cycle.
BTC TO CREDIT LANDLINE CUSTOMERS LEFT CUT OFF BY HURRICANE MATTHEW BTC announced yesterday that it will issue a credit to landline customers whose service was impacted by Hurricane Matthew as it outlined an aggressive agenda to restore services. Landline service has been restored in Fox Hill, Yamacraw, George Street, Lawson Court, Sea Breeze Lane and Sunset Park, the communication company said in a statement. It confirmed that Clifton Heritage and Odyssey mobile towers are now operational. CEO Leon Williams said: “We are continuing to work aggressively toward full network restoration. Notwithstanding our
efforts, we do realise that there may be some landline customers still impacted. As a result, we will provide a one-month landline rental fee credit for these customers.” The statement continued: “The company recognises that due to the extended loss of commercial power, there may be some customers that are experiencing difficulties with services. In response, BTC has purchased additional generators as an added layer of redundancy until commercial power is fully up and running. “As a result, BTC will issue a credit to these affected residential landline
customers. The credit adjustment will appear in the November bills,” it added. Prior to Hurricane Matthew, BTC held its “Triple Bubble” promotion, giving customers three times the top-up amount. Immediately following the storm, BTC also provided a $5 credit for all pre-paid and post-paid mobile residential customers throughout the country. Consumers are encouraged to report any service issues they may be experiencing with landline, mobile or internet by phoning, CALL-BTC (225-5282) or sending a message on any of its social media pages.
THE POINTE DONATES $100,000 TO NEMA THE Pointe, through its parent company China Construction America (CCA), has made a $100,000 donation to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to help ongoing for hurricane relief efforts. CCA Chairman Ning Yuan said the donation is a show of the company’s solidarity with the people of The Bahamas, saying the
country remains special to the company. “We watched with much concern as the storm made its way through The Bahamas,” Mr Yuan said. “We were very relieved and happy that there was no loss of life. On behalf of my company I want to extend my sympathies to the people of the Bahamas that have been im-
pacted at any level as a result of the devastation. We will stand with you during this time and demonstrate good stewardship through a $100,000 donation to the ongoing relief efforts.” NEMA Director Captain Stephen Russell and members of the National Disaster Recovery Unit accepted the cheque.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 7
SOME of the damage in Grand Bahama after Hurricane Matthew.
November goal to open after storm BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Smith’s Point/Taino Beach area suffered severe beach and coastal erosion with the passage of Hurricane Matthew, but proprietors in the area are working diligently to restore the area and reopen for business by November. The area is a popular spot for locals and visitors, with the popular Fish Fry at Smith’s Point. And just west of it is Taino Beach, where there is Toni Macaroni, the Junkanoo Beach Club, Stoned Crab Restaurant, and Pirate’s Cove water theme park. The Smith’s Point settlement fared “very well” compared to the other southern coastal communities of Grand Bahama which were devastated by the storm. Marcel Wilson, of the family-owned ‘Outriggers Beach Club - Home of the Fish Fry,’ said that the clean-up debris has started in the community of about 150 to 200 residents. The family’s fish fry business is awaiting the delivery of supplies for repairs and expect to reopen to the public in another two weeks. The huge Casuarina trees that lined the roadside along the bayside of the settlement were taken down in preparation of the sea wall construction, but some were uprooted in the storm, leaving the area naked of vegetation.
The Outriggers sustained damages when one of the huge Casuarina trees was uprooted. “The roots under a portion of the structure caused some damage when the tree was blown down. At first, it looked worse than it really was, but after cleaning up the debris we started to see our way forward, and now with the supplies on the ground, we expect about another two weeks or so before we should be up and running,” Mr Wilson said. “It was rough,” he said of the storm. A lot of residents went for higher ground and most of the structures held up very well compared with the other settlements like West End and Pinder’s Point - I think we did very well.” Homes in Smith’s Point, he said, suffered some roof damage and blown off shingles. “For the most part, it was a lot of debris about the place and we did not have any flooding but the water came up over the beach as far as the hill,” he added. The community began the clean-up process very quickly because they depend on locals and visitors coming there for the fish fry and to relax and enjoy the beach. Although the government had signed a contract months ago for construction of a sea wall at Smith’s Point, construction work had not yet commenced.
Mr Wilson stated that residents are looking forward to the seawall. “If we had the seawall, we would have had minimal (coastal) damage,” he said. The Outriggers lost a lot of sand at its beachside property. “We have started to replenish sand back on the beach with tractors and will continue to work at it until we restore the beach,” he said. At Taino Beach, the broad walk at the Junkanoo Beach Club was destroyed and the structure sustained some damage. The small straw market there was also impacted. Prior to the storm, the Stoned Crab Restaurant was under renovation by new owner Olivia Paige. It will probably set back construction and the opening date. Next door, the newly built Pirate’s Cove water theme park, sustained in excess of $100,000 in damages. David Wallace, one of seven investors, reported that clean up and beach restoration is now underway. They expect to reopen on November 1. “Like many other places in Freeport, we received our share of damages to the park. But we have begun the clean-up process early in the week, moving all the debris and down trees that have fallen on the property,” he said. “We are now in the restoration process of moving sand back onto the beach,
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DAMAGED road surfaces and beach erosion has badly affected parts of Grand Bahama. and we are going to continue the restoration process by working with the Power Company to get full power at the site,” explained Mr Wallace. G B Power has restored electricity to 5,200 customers on Grand Bahama, which accounts for 25 per cent of its total customer base. The company continues to energize new areas daily as crews work feverishly to restore the 1,400 down poles, including 250 transmission and distribution poles and their accompanying attachments. Mr Wallace indicated that their container buildings sustained severe roof damage, and there were minor damages to other structures on the property.
Insurance adjusters are expected to visit the site on Sunday morning. “Once that happens, we will begin the process of tearing down the roof, and once we would have settled the insurance claim we will begin the process of building the roof on the containers,” he explained. In the meantime, he said that Pirate’s Cove will able to operate. “We know that Pirate’s Cove is a pivotal part of the tourism destination now, and in order for the cruise ships to begin traveling back to Grand Bahama they want to be assured there are activities on the island for their guests,” Mr Wallace said. He indicated that the wa-
ter park is being cleaned to be put back out in the ocean. There will jet skis, banana boat, power boat ride, and jet packs will be available when the park reopens. When asked about the zip line, he said: “We are in preliminary discussions with a company to put in a mobile zip line that will be able to zip two persons at a time from about 300ft in the air, and we will be offering that in the not too distance future, while we begin rebuilding the park.” As the island is trying to rebuild and recover from the devastation, Mr Wallace said they want to offer residents and visitors on island someplace they can go and enjoy themselves.
PAGE 8, Thursday, October 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Let me suggest how you pay for hurricane recovery, Mr Christie
“We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” - Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
T
HE goalpost shifting, public relations gaffes, wobbling ways and revisionist spin in the wake of Hurricane Matthew is on full display this week, with Prime Minister Perry Christie jamming his foot into his mouth and launching an avalanche of rebukes when he told The Tribune and ZNS that the Cabinet would consider, when they met yesterday, the introduction and implementation of a special tax to help finance repair and recovery efforts. Undoubtedly, the backlash must have felt like a nicely plaited, Long Island tamarind switch, soaked in water and collectively put across the governing party’s hide by an angry and dejected populace. Previously, Mr Christie said the government intended to create a $150 million Hurricane Reconstruction Bond that would assist people, as well as small and medium sized businesses impacted by the hurricane and also to help accelerate reconstruction efforts. Mr Christie said: “We have to give serious consideration to a more effective way of financing the loss that the country has experienced because we’re also paying now for Hurricane Joaquin and it may well be that we have to give consideration to a selective approach to raising money by taxing some item that would be of minimal impact on people. But it’s a matter we have to look at because it’s an enormous challenge to the country. We’ve been faced with downgrading. This is not an easy situation. We thought the way was clear with Baha Mar. But now we have Hurricane Matthew. “The options to a government is to initially find the money as quickly as possible even knowing it wouldn’t be enough,” he said. What’s more, Mr Christie - who draws a handsome salary, does not have to pay for gasoline or vehicle maintenance, has a personal chef, doesn’t have to pay for a
NEMA, Social Services, Urban Renewal and the RBPF assessing the South Beach community for damage after Hurricane Matthew. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
A Young Man’s View
By ADRIAN GIBSON
gardener or landscaping tion of a new tax would of any sort, hardly if ever have “minimal impact” on pays for plane tickets when already struggling Bahamihe travels, enjoys a cus- ans. toms allowance/exemption Yesterday, The Tribune of thousands reported of dollars that amid claimed that “Mr Christie lives fiery critiif such a tax an opulent lifestyle cisms of the is implement- and, though he Prime Mined, it could ister’s sugbe imposed might serve as the gestion that in a way that MP of a depressed there could has “mini- constituency, he be a special mal impact tax to assist on people”. is unqualified to the country How would claim that the in the afMr Christie imposition of a new termath of know what Hurricane impact such tax would have Matthew, the a tax would ‘minimal impact’ on Cabinet dishave on peo- already struggling cussed the ple? He lives feasibility of an opulent Bahamians.” a sin tax on lifestyle and, tobacco and though he might serve as alcohol to accumulate the the MP of a depressed con- necessary funding for restituency, he is unqualified pair and recovery efforts. to claim that the imposi- The Cabinet purportedly
rejected such a tax and is now considering a cruise ship passenger tax. Let me make it clear: I won’t be paying a penny of any hurricane tax unless, of course, it’s hidden in current taxes. Other than that, they might as well get the handcuffs now. And I mean that! I will not pay another penny in unaccounted for taxes. Mr Christie, for me and so many other Bahamians, “them’s fightin’ words!” We do not yet have a full accounting for the collection and expenditure of our Value Added Tax. We do not know what the money is being spent on. We see no tangible evidence of the proper usage of our taxes generally. Mr Christie was greasing his own political skids and could only have been a little punch drunk when he made his statement. Yes, most of us have become accustomed to Mr Christie’s make believe professorial disquisitions, but his talk of another tax grated my soul. The utterance of the Prime Minister leads one to question the common sense of those who govern us. Mr Christie now strikes me as a tightly wound, beleaguered
stage manager, unsure of issued by your government how of answer the questions go to tender and reduce the of reporters and vacillating contracts to reflect the true on his positions, seemingly worth (in some cases, that debating one version of means cutting a contract himself with another. down by 50 per cent) I read his comments with 6 Reduce the size of dela raised eyebrow. egations travelling with In the wake of Hurricane yourself and your ministers Matthew, rather than pre- inside and out of the Bahaparedness and a properly mas executed hurricane plan, 7 Take back all governwe are watching the Prime ment-issued credit cards Minister, his Cabinet and 8 Prohibit all ministers Bahamas Power and Light/ (you included) from travelBahamas Electricity Cor- ling first class poration scrambling around 9 End the service of exlike kids hopped up on sug- pensive alcohol (unless abary treats. solutely necessary) at state A hurricane tax, or any functions other tax - with a general 10 All travelling governelection on the horizon - ment personnel (including would result in sudden po- you) should not stay at exlitical death for the Progres- pensive hotels sive Liberal Party. 11 Slash customs, enterThe Bahamas is bathing tainment allowance and in red ink. other perks for government What about fiscal reform officials Mr Prime Minister? 12 Ensure that red plate, Will we ever see the en- government-owned vehicles actment of are parked Fiscal Re- “I won’t be paying on weekend sponsibility and after a penny of any legislation? hours We see no hurricane tax 13 Actransparency unless, of course, it’s count for the by the curfuel being rent adminis- hidden in current meted out at tration. They taxes. Other than government are not even depots such that, they might pretending to as Water be transpar- as well get the and Sewerent. age, BEC, handcuffs now.” Our econthe Ministry omy is not of Works. diversified; we see untold There must be a fuel audit wastage of public funds, we conducted. see a lack of accountability 14 Postpone all conferand corruption is rife. ences scheduled for the rest Moodys, in its half-yearly of this calendar year credit rating assessment of 15 Implement a national the Bahamas (2015-2016 fis- lottery, which would yield cal year), expressed concern returns for more than a about the Bahamas’ “per- handful of numbers men sistent rapid debt accumu16 Urgently shift the way lation”. The international business is done, thereby credit rating agency warned implementing reforms to rethat this nation’s “under- move red tape and improve performing” economic the ease of doing business. growth was producing a This nation has slipped to higher-than-expected debt 106th in the World Bank’s burden that will “eventu- rankings. ally weigh” on its sovereign 17 Embrace renewable creditworthiness. Accord- energy ing to Moodys, the amount 18 Attorney Leandra Esof ‘red ink’ incurred dur- fakis sent me an email yesing that period was almost terday that made me smile. equivalent to the Christie She has agreed for me to administration’s full-year reference it. She said that a projection. new tax “should work like Economic growth has this: all the Parliamentarproved elusive for the Ba- ians who did not make a hamas in recent years, with declaration in 2012 should Department of Statistics be forced to make a decdata showing the economy laration now, for 2012 and contracted in 2014 and 2016. Then apply the Hurri2015. The current govern- cane Tax to the 75 per cent ment is, in part, responsible of their assets which are for the fragility of the Baha- over and above what they mian economy. declared in 2012. I think And so, Mr Christie, that would help.” Mr Chrisrather than trying to kill us tie, take note. with another tax, here are 19 Reform and fully prisome quick fixes to reduc- vatise loss-making corporaing the deficit and stabilis- tions such as Bahamasair ing our economy: and the Water & Sewerage 1 Dismiss 60 per cent of Corporation, which have the crony consultants hired become multimillion dolby your administration lar albatrosses around the 2 Cut the bloated pay of necks of taxpayers. remaining consultants (40 I could say so much more. per cent) by 25 per cent I digress. 3 Cut the pay of Cabinet Mr Christie, I trust that Ministers and yourself by you would find these auster10 per cent ity measures useful. 4 Reduce the size of your Cabinet Comments and responses 5 Ensure that contracts to ajbahama@hotmail.com
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 9
POWERSECURE bucket trucks arriving in Nassau to be inspected and licensed as part of efforts to restore power to the island.
POWERSECURE - A FEW QUESTIONS I NOTED Power Secure’s fashionably late but very flashy arrival on Tuesday. I have a few questions for the government. 1. Has Power Secure secured work permits? 2. If they have been, who paid for the work permits and how much was paid? 3. Were the vehicles inspected and do they have licenses to be on the streets?
POWERSECURE workers fixing a damaged pole yesterday. Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
PAGE 10, Thursday, October 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
TIGER WU, president of CCA South America, Sir Baltron Bethel, senior policy advisor to the prime minister, HE Qinguo Huang, Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas, Ning Yuan, chairman of CCA, Prime Minister Perry Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, and Daniel Liu, president of The Pointe at the opening ceremony. Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS
Garage opens to mark first phase of The Pointe THE first phase of development on The Pointe in downtown Nassau has been completed, with the official opening of the seven-storey, 900 space parking garage. Prime Minister Perry Christie, along with executives from China Construction America (CCA) and the owners of Neworld One Bay Street, the developer of The Pointe, officially opened the garage on Tuesday night, the first phase of
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the ambitious plan for Nassau’s harbour front. Mr Christie said The Pointe will be a beachfront branded condo-hotel and marina resort which will expand the entertainment and retail offering in the downtown area, offer sporting and entertainment venues and create of new and innovative commercial products, “all of which will serve to enliven and re-energise our nation’s capital”. He said the fully automated garage will be offering corporate rates to the public and will help to alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow in the downtown area. “The ga-
rage includes a rooftop bar and offers for sale six 3,000 square foot ‘live and work’ condo units as an ideal option for those who wish to completely eliminate the daily commute to and from work,” he said. Mr Christie thanked CCA and Neworld for taking the decision to extend their investment in the Bahamas “at a time when we were faced with the crippling effects of the Baha Mar work stoppage and insolvency proceedings, when they, like other creditors of Baha Mar, were uncertain whether they could recoup their losses. Neworld has since has injected over $10
million into the economy during the construction of this garage, employing over 500 Bahamians, representing the majority of workers on site during the construction period. “Neworld also contracted the services of over 100 local sub-contractors, suppliers and service companies during its various stages of the garage’s development, further stimulating employment at a critical juncture in New Providence’s economic cycle.” Mr Christie hailed The Pointe’s impact on the western corridor of downtown Nassau. “With successive phases of the master plan’s
development coming on stream we can expect to see a transformation of our waterfront and the beginnings of a revival of the City of Nassau in a way that will meet the needs of 21st century Bahamians, residents and visitors alike, thus restoring prominence to one of the most attractive and dynamic city centres in the Western Hemisphere,” he said. He 0said he had asked the developer to participate in the restoration of the public beach from The Pointe’s western boundary along Junkanoo Beach to the Fish Fry and to construct a boardwalk that would connect the Fish Fry to the de-
velopment. The public will have access along the public beach to The Pointe,” he added. “Additionally, I am asking the developer, which is one of the world’s largest construction companies, to partner with the Government in solving the flooding problem that occurs along West Bay Street in the area between The Pointe stretching west to Chippingham Road.” He described the project by Neworld as coming at an opportune time and representing “the dawn of a new era for the downtown area; an era of hope, opportunity, dynamism and progress”.
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SIGNS in place at The Pointe for such facilities as a Wellness Centre and a Performing Arts Centre. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
THREE CHILDREN ARE RECOVERING AFTER BEING SHOT from page one
The girls were in the back seat of a white Toyota Corolla, parked through Amos Ferguson Street, when three gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, immediately killing the driver before fleeing the area in an unknown direction. The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Carlos Holbert, aka “Ice”. The murder took place shortly after 7.30pm and brought the country’s murder count to 79 for the year,
according to The Tribune’s records. Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said police are unsure of the motive for the killing and currently have no suspects in custody. “Right now we don’t have a motive for this shooting. Right now we are actively investigating this matter. Right now the detectives are on the ground with uniformed officers they are canvassing the area,” Supt Dean said. “We have to make the regular appeal to members
of the public who might have been traversing this area; no matter how insignificant it seems we want you to contact the police. This matter is of paramount concern to us when innocent children become involved in these shootings and that is something that they should not experience.” Police are also investigating another late night shooting that left a young boy and a man in hospital. The incident took place shortly after 11pm on Tuesday.
According to reports, two men with handguns fired several shots at a home at Higher Drive before fleeing on foot. A young boy was shot and taken to hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Additionally, a man was shot and taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries and discharged. Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 11
PICTURED at the signing of a Memornadum of Understanding for the scholarship initiative on Monday are (from left); Reginald Saunders, Ministry of Education Scholarship & Educational Loans Division; Monique Hinsey, Scholarships Resource Centre, Ministry of Education; Donella Bodie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education; Dr Robert SummerbyMurray, President and Vice Chancellor, Saint Mary’s University; Marie Braswell, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Saint Mary’s University; and Susan Summerby-Murray, Saint Mary’s University.
SCHOLARSHIP DEAL TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAINT Mary’s University and the Ministry of Education have announced a renewable four-year scholarship aimed at deserving Bahamian Grade 12 public high school students. It is the only Bahamian scholarship of its type with a Canadian university. The scholarship is equally funded by the university and the ministry, with each organisation providing CAD$12,000 per year for four years for a total value
of CAD$96,000. The first recipient will begin classes at the Halifax, Nova Scotia based-university in September, 2017. “We were very happy to find such a fitting way to honour the history we have shared together with this great region and to celebrate our ever-growing Bahamian student alumni population” said Dr Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary’s University.
“We’re very proud of the hundreds of Bahamian Santamarians over the years who have returned to help contribute to the growth of their communities.” The Memorandum of Understanding between Saint Mary’s and the Ministry of Education was signed on Monday by Dr Summerby-Murray and Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology. “We recognise we cannot
grow our economy without a well-educated population, so we have been seeking to develop scholarships for deserving public high school students,” said Mr Fitzgerald. “The partnership we have created together with Saint Mary’s University provides opportunities where they might not exist otherwise.” One scholarship will be awarded per year. The student will be jointly selected by Saint Mary’s and the
ministry’s Scholarships and Educational Loans Division. Saint Mary’s University welcomes over 50 Bahamian students a year, adding to its flourishing base of international students on campus. “It is so great to see this scholarship come to fruition and we look forward to expanding upon the great relationships we have in the region,” Marie Braswell, Director of Admissions and Recruitment
for Saint Mary’s University, said. Founded in 1802, Saint Mary’s University is a modern, urban university with more than 7,300 full and part-time students. Saint Mary’s has developed a reputation for diversity with international students comprising 30 per cent of enrollment. It has the internationally renowned Sobey School of Business and award-winning Arts and Science Faculties.
COB signs contract for $100m residential hall By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net COLLEGE of the Bahamas officials yesterday inked a contract with a local investment management firm for the construction of a near $100m, 1,000 bed on-campus residential hall, something officials said is a “major tool” in helping to further augment the college’s transition to university status. At the Harry C Moore Library and Information Centre yesterday morning, COB President Dr Rodney Smith said signing the contract with Providence Advisors Ltd signifies a “tremendous change” and “transformation” for the college as it draws nearer to its November transition deadline. According to officials, ground is expected to be broken for the construction of the residence hall by mid-summer 2017, with an aim to completing the residence hall by Fall 2019. “We’re at a point now in our history when we’re about to jump to another level,” Dr Smith said. “We’re about to make a significant change on this campus that’s going to help to change what is happening in the entire country. “We are in a rebuilding mode in our country after a devastating hurricane. But simultaneously, we are building for the future of this country. And that’s what this residential hall means.” According to officials, the residence hall will fea-
ture study rooms on each floor, a “food court” styled dining facility and a stateof-the-art fitness facility. Additionally, Dr Smith said a parking deck will accompany the building, along with retail stores. “It’s going to be a tremendous change, a transformation,” he added. “We’re talking about economic development as well, we’re talking about recruiting more international students to our campus, we’re talking about giving our Family Island students more of an opportunity for an education.” Dr Smith said, for years, COB has been able to house just 60 students, the majority of whom he said are usually Family Island students. However, he said, COB usually ends up with a waiting list of “well over 200 students”, something that should be alleviated with the construction of the new residence hall. “This building is also going to allow us to begin recruiting international students,” he added. “Students have already told us from around the world that if we had a residential hall here in the Bahamas they would be here without question. Students who have visited this campus want to come back as students as well. “So we are indeed exceptionally excited, not only for the fact that we’re making a transition that is changing this institution, but also the lives of many people, and it’s actually putting a feather in the cap of The Baha-
THE UNVEILING yesterday of plans by the College of the Bahamas for a 1,000-bed residential hall facility. of their time to assisting Thanksgiving Service at the mas is an historic milestone mas totally.” Dr Smith also an- relief and recovery efforts Christ Church Cathedral, of national, regional and nounced that COB has for those most impacted by and end on November 11 international significance, with the road renaming cer- we are compelled to ensure amended its University Hurricane Matthew. According to Dr Smith, emony at the Oakes Field that this transition is obof the Bahamas Charter event schedule so that the list of scheduled events Campus. served in a manner which “While the charter day of reflects our restoration prithose attending and other will now start on Sunpersonnel can devote most day, November 6, with the the University of the Baha- ority,” Dr Smith said.
THE COLLEGE of the Bahamas signs contracts for a 1,000-bed residential hall facility at the Oakes Field campus with Providence Advisors Ltd. From left, Rodney Smith, president at The College of The Bahamas, Lowell Mortimer, of the College Council, and Kenwood Kerr, CEO of Providence Advisors Limited. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
PAGE 12, Thursday, October 20, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Nygard bid to subpoena PM to be heard next month By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
AN application to subpoena Prime Minister Perry Christie to give evidence in committal proceedings against Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard in Supreme Court will now be heard next month. The subpoena announcement was made two weeks ago by Elliot Lockhart, QC, who represents Mr Nygard in the committal proceeding in which it is alleged that he breached an order during an ongoing judicial review to determine whether the fashion designer had illegally increased the size of his property. Mr Nygard was present in the Ansbacher House courtroom when the request was made. Mr Lockhart had been given a deadline to file the requisite documents and
serve them on the affected legal parties involved in the current legal case brought by Save The Bay’s (STB). In yesterday’s expected hearing, Mr Lockhart said that Hurricane Matthew’s impact had left many on the island without power and he was among those affected. He said it was for this reason he had failed to carry out the court’s instructions. The motion will now be heard on November 8. STB’s battle with Mr Nygard over the construction/development activities at his Lyford Cay home stem from allegations that they have led to substantial growth of the property. The group claims that the Lyford Cay resident has almost doubled his property’s acreage, from 3.25 to 6.1 acres, since he acquired it in 1984, by allegedly reclaiming Crown Land from the sea. The advocacy group has alleged that Mr Nygard
achieved this without the necessary permits and approvals, claims that have been denied by the fashion designer. That comes against the backdrop of Justice Bain’s ruling in 2013 that until the conclusion of judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of the construction of a groyne and the dredging of the seabed off Nygard Cay, neither activity could continue. However, since then, STB has submitted photographic evidence in court alleging that the opposite has happened. Gia Moxey and Khrisna Higgins also appeared for Mr Nygard in yesterday’s hearing. Fred Smith, QC, Dawson Malone, Romauld Ferreira and Crispin Hall appeared for STB. Wayne Munroe, QC, and Hyancinth Smith appeared for the Crown.
KEOD SMITH, pictured outside court on an earlier occasion. Ten months later, Keod and advisor to Mr IngraSmith attempted to with- ham. Keod Smith also claimed draw the application for the recusal, notwithstanding a that Justice Bain had made section of an affidavit filed several rulings in favour of in January entitled “Justice Fred Smith, who in the past had been affiliated with the Bain, who is she?” He alleged the judge once FNM, and “can only be exworked under former Prime plained as coming about as Minister Hubert Ingraham, a result of her bias”. In December 2014, Justhat she was appointed to a high-ranking position in the tice Bain found Keod Smith Attorney General’s Office guilty of contempt for the because of her ties to the “scandalising” affidavits he FNM and that her two sons had filed which undermined were fathered by a person the integrity of the judge he claimed is a close friend and the judicial system. His
then lawyer, Mr Ryan, was also informed that he “cannot escape liability” for the affidavits. At a contempt hearing a month later, Mr Lockhart appeared for Keod Smith, a former Progressive Liberal Party MP, and expressed his reservations about the proceedings and argued that the court had already arrived at a determination without first considering any evidence to refute the charge of contempt. The judge ruled, after a
hearing in March 2015, that the court would proceed with notice against the attorney to show cause why he should not be committed to prison. However, the judge stayed contempt proceedings pending the outcome of Keod Smith’s application before the Court of Appeal. In January, Mr Lockhart was unable to convince appellate court judges that his client’s appeal was not premature and Mr Smith’s appeal was dismissed.
PETER NYGARD, who has filed an application to subpoena the prime minister.
LAWYERS IN BIAS CASE TO FACE COURT IN DECEMBER By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
COMMITTAL proceedings against two lawyers who accused a Supreme Court judge of bias will now be heard in December. Keod Smith and Derek Ryan were due to appear before Justice Rhonda Bain yesterday for a contempt hearing to show cause why they should not be committed to prison concerning a series of affidavits filed by Mr Smith, who was represented by Mr Ryan, in January 2014. However, yesterday marked a third straight nonappearance by both lawyers since September, when the judge said she may resort to indirectly servicing them with notices to show cause if they refused to voluntarily make themselves available. The court and Elliot Lockhart, QC, lawyer for both, agreed to an adjournment for the hearing on De-
cember 8. Justice Bain is presiding over the judicial review filed by the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay, which is challenging an application by Peter Nygard to further develop his premises in Lyford Cay and gain a lease for Crown Land reclaimed from the sea. Fred Smith, QC, lead counsel for the environmental group, alleges that over the last 30 years, Nygard Cay has nearly doubled in size as a result of construction work undertaken without the appropriate permits and in a manner that had caused significant damage to the surrounding environment of Clifton Bay. In January 2014, Keod Smith filed a series of affidavits claiming that Justice Bain should recuse herself from a judicial review proceeding as she had allegedly made a series of decisions based on her affiliation with the Free National Movement.
LAWYER ABSENT FOR HEARING ON RAID ON DEPUTY PM’S HOME By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO remaining defendants awaiting trial in connection with the robbery of Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ home nearly three years ago appeared in Supreme Court for a status hearing on their case yesterday. However, Tyrone Knowles, 25, and Marc McCartney, 21, will have to return to court on October 26 as their lawyer Geoffrey Farquharson was absent for the 1pm hearing. Senior Justice Watkins enquired of the accused if they had been able to contact their lawyer. Both said no. Crown prosecutor Patrick Sweeting also said he had not received any message from Mr Farquharson. “If he’s not here, he would call,” the judge said. Mr Sweeting agreed. The judge told the accused that October 26 would be their last opportunity for a status hearing
to resolve any outstanding matters before their December 5 trial date. The court will not be sitting during November. The pair are accused of robbing Mr Davis of jewellery worth $93,000, a jewellery box worth $200, Baraka gold jewellery worth $700, an opal top wallet worth $450, a Royal Bank of Canada credit card and a driver’s licence worth $15. They are also accused of robbing Mr Davis’ wife, Ann Marie, of $2,953, and Wilberforce Seymour of $10. Mr Davis was Acting Prime Minister at the time of the incident as Prime Minister Perry Christie was out of the country. A third accused, 25-yearold Jeffrey King, was to stand trial with Knowles and McCartney. However, last month, he was killed in a shootout with police in Yellow Elder Gardens. He was on bail at the time. McCartney is on bail while Knowles is on remand at the Department of Correctional Services.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 13
DEMOCRATIC presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump debate during the third presidential debate at UNLV in Las Vegas last night.
Trump won’t say if he will accept election results LAS VEGAS Associated Press THREATENING to upend a fundamental pillar of American democracy, Donald Trump refused to say Wednesday night that he will accept the results of next month’s election if he loses to Hillary Clinton. The Democratic nominee declared Trump’s resistance “horrifying”. Trump had spent the days leading up to the third and final presidential debate warning voters that the election would be “rigged.” Asked whether he would accept the outcome if Clinton emerges victorious, he said, “I will tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense.” Trump’s assertions raise the prospect that millions of his supporters may not accept the results on Nov. 8 if he loses, thrusting the nation into uncharted territory. Free and fair elections, with the vanquished peacefully stepping aside for the victor, have been the underpinning of America’s democratic tradition since the country’s founding 240 years ago. The Republican National Committee immediately disavowed Trump’s statement. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and election officials across the country have denied and denounced Trump’s charges. Wednesday’s contest quickly shifted from a calm, policy-focused faceoff into a bitter and deeply personal confrontation. Trump called Clinton a “nasty woman”, while the Democrat panned him as “unfit” to be commander in chief. Clinton, who began the debate with a lead in nearly all battleground states, forcefully accused Trump of favoring Russia’s leader over American military and intelligence experts after the Republican nominee pointedly refused to accept the US government’s assertion that Moscow has sought to meddle in the US election. She charged that Russian President Vladimir Putin was backing Trump because “he’d rather have a puppet as president of the United States”. Trump denied any relationship with Putin and said he would condemn any foreign interference in the election. But he notably declined to back the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia was involved in the hacking of Democratic organisations. The Clinton campaign has said the FBI also is investigating Russia’s involvement in the hacking of a top adviser’s emails. The 90-minute contest in Las Vegas came just under three weeks before Election Day and with early voting underway in more than 30 states. Trump has struggled to expand his support beyond his most loyal backers and must reshape the race in its closing days if he hopes to defeat Clinton. The candidates clashed repeatedly over their drastically different visions for the nation’s future. Trump backed Supreme Court justices who would over-
turn the landmark Roe vs Wade ruling, while Clinton vowed to appoint justices that would uphold the decision legalising abortion, saying, “We have come too far to have that turned back now.” The businessman entered the final debate facing a string of sexual assault accusations from women who came forward after he denied in the previous contest that he had kissed or groped women without their consent. That Trump denial followed the release of a video of in which he’s heard bragging about exactly that. Trump denied the accusations anew Wednesday night, saying the women coming forward “either want fame or her campaign did it.” He falsely said the women’s allegations had been debunked. Clinton said Trump “thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth”. She avoided answering a question about her husband’s infidelities. Trump pressed Clinton on immigration, accusing her of wanting an “open borders” policy, a characterisation she vigorously disputes. The Republican, who has called for building a wall the length of the US-Mexico border, blamed some “bad hombres here” for drug epidemics around the country, and promised “we’re going to get ‘em out”. Clashing on trade, Trump said Clinton had misrepresented her position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, noting that she had originally called it the “gold standard” of trade agreements. Clinton shot back that once the deal was finished, it didn’t meet her standards. “I’m against it now. I’ll be against after the election. I’ll be against it when I’m president,” she said. Both were asked if they would consider tax increases or benefit cuts to support Social Security and Medicare programs. Trump said he would cut taxes and repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but he did not detail any plans for Social Security or other entitlement programs. Clinton said she would put more money in the Social Security trust fund through increasing taxes on the wealthy and other methods and promised not to cut benefits. She also argued that the Affordable Care Act has extended the solvency of Medicare and said she would work to bring costs down. On foreign policy, Clinton reasserted her opposition to sending a large-scale US troop presence to the Middle East to defeat the Islamic State. She’s backed a no-fly zone in Syria, which would mark an expansion of the current US strategy. For Trump, the debate marked one of his final chances to shift the trajectory of a race that appears to be slipping away from him. Clinton’s campaign is confidently expanding into traditionally Republican states, while Trump’s narrow electoral path is shrinking. Still, Clinton has strug-
gled throughout the campaign to overcome persistent questions about her honesty and trustworthiness. In the campaign’s closing weeks, she’s begun appealing to Americans to overcome the deep di-
visions that have been exacerbated by the heated campaign, saying on stage Wednesday that she intended to be a president for those who vote for her and those who do not. Clinton faced debate
questions for the first time about revelations in her top adviser’s hacked emails that show her striking a different tone in private than in public regarding Wall Street banks and trade. But she quickly turned the discus-
sion to Russia’s potential role in stealing the emails. Underscoring the deep discord between Trump and Clinton, the candidates did not shake hands at the beginning or end of the debate.
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN AT RANFURLY
T
he Ranfurly Homes for Children has been a safe haven for thousands of Bahamian children since 1956. The Home provides a safe, structured environment for children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned. YOU can make a difference in the lives of the children at Ranfurly. With your support children can have nutritious food, warm beds and a safe environment where they can discover the joy of being children. For years the children living and learning at Ranfurly have made great social and academic strides. Their further development requires additional support in the form of a Transitional Home, planned for construction on the Ranfurly property. This residence will cater to teenagers and young adults who are beyond school age, but need accommodation while they find work and gain independence from the Home. We look forward to your continued support in this worthwhile endeavour.
MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES Individuals, Families & Corporate Sponsors Children Helping Children - $5 (Individual children from ages 6 - 18) Individuals Helping Children - $50 (Individual adults 18 years and over) Families Helping Children - $100
CIRCLE of FRIENDS Silver: $1,500 - $2,499 Gold: $2,500 - $4,999 Platinum: $5,000 plus
OPPORTUNITIES • • • •
Invitations to Ranfurly events Assist with fundraising events Involvement with special activities Adults are eligible to join the Board after three months • Stay in touch with Ranfurly through website and newsletters
BENEFITS
• Personal fulfillment in knowing you are impacting lives • Ranfurly children’s appreciation and positive response • Continued support provides stability and constant care
For more information visit: www.ranfurlyhome.org Please “Like” us on Facebook Ranfurly Home for Children, Mackey Street P.O. Box 1413 Nassau, Bahamas 242-393-3115
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 20, 2016, PAGE 15
11-YEAR-OLD Mason Baker spears his first grouper.
BAHAMAS Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) is reporting a first for one young fisherman, with 11-year-old Mason Baker spearing his first Grouper this week, as fishing in The Bahamas has been slow to get back after Hurricane Matthew. Keep checking the BSFN expert page for fishing reports throughout The Bahamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on
gear and fishing methods being used. For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242. com or www.bsfn.biz. BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com.
TRU TRU POSTPONED AFTER VENDORS HIT BY HURRICANE DAMAGE THE TRU Tru Bahamian Festival, scheduled to take place next month, has been postponed until early 2017 due to the effect of Hurricane Matthew, the organisers announced yesterday. The date has been changed from November 5 to February 11 to accommodate several Bahamian vendors who were severely impacted by the category four storm when it ripped through The Bahamas two weeks ago. Tru Tru Bahamian Festival is the brainchild of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and other corporate sponsors. The festival, which is in its second year, will be held at the John Watling’s Distillery and looks to bring together all the flavours of the Bahamas along with local entertainment and fun for the kids. “BHTA, in the spirit of the Tru Tru Movement, recognises that many of us are still in the process of healing and helping others in the aftermath of
Hurricane Matthew,” said BHTA president Stuart Bowe. “We understand, now more than ever, the Tru Tru Bahamian Festival will play an important role in the recovery process as we strive to ensure local entrepreneurs are afforded the opportunity to reestablish their respective businesses through events such as this festival.” The festival will welcome throngs of locals and visitors and provide a plethora of authentic experiences: Bahamian sights and sounds showcased through the presentation of arts and crafts, culinary creations, traditions and representations of cultural expressions from times past. The festival will highlight the vast and diverse archipelago and the variety of experiences unique to each island. Some of the organisations participating in next year’s festival include the Long Island Association, the Andros Crab Association, FIFA, rake n’ scrape out of Cat Island, Bahamian cultural dancers, fire dancers and the Bahamas National Youth Choir.
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