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VOLUME:116 No.8, JANUARY 3RD, 2019

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Belinda: Meet my demands - or else Teachers union boss’ ultimatum in school row

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A TEACHER strike at CH Reeves Junior High School could spoil the start of the new school term after the Bahamas Union of Teachers received a strike certificate on Monday.

BUT president Belinda Wilson said only if her demands are satisfied, including an independent assessment that mould has been eliminated from classrooms, would a strike be averted. She assembled the press to tour the school yesterday, claiming Education

Minister Jeff Lloyd would tour the campus with her.

However, Mr Lloyd never appeared. Instead, school officials called the police and the press was told to leave the premises.

She said: “No teachers are going in the classrooms at CH Reeves on Monday unless and until the Ministry of Education can provide for one, an independent report that the mould has been tested, two, that the termite infestation in an area has been eradicated and three, that the teachers and the students will occupy the new 12 SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE Bahamas “will have some serious concerns” if its inclusion on a Dutch “blacklist” means European Union countries are going further than the bloc’s own anti-tax evasion offensive. KP Turnquest, deputy prime minister, yesterday told Tribune Business that the government had already mobilised its diplomatic contacts in a bid to discover

the rationale for the Netherlands “unusual” action.

He added that its decision to include The Bahamas on a list of 21 “low-tax jurisdictions”, which were singled out on the basis that they have no or low corporate income tax rates below 9 percent, was especially troubling given this nation’s efforts to comply with the anti-tax evasion demands of the 28-nation EU - of which the Netherlands is a prominent member.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

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TEENAGER IS FIRST MURDER OF YEAR

BY RIEL MAJOR

POLICE are investigating the first recorded murder of the year which claimed the life of 19-yearold Terrance Rolle Jr. According to police, shortly after 11am on January 1, a man was walking with other persons on Market Street in the vicinity of CR Walker Senior High School, when he was approached by another man armed with a firearm, who shot him before running away.

Paramedics were called to the scene and took the injured man to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

CRUISE LINES TAKE SHOT AT RIVALS’ PORT PLANS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Nassau port bid allied with the cruise lines yesterday slammed its rivals for offering “unnecessary” extras that will undermine Prince George Wharf’s “long-term viability”.

The Port of Nassau Partnership, the alliance between four cruise lines and the Bahamian investor group formerly known as Cultural Village (Bahamas), did not explain how or why the offers from Global Ports Holding and Nassau Port Partners would have this effect.

However, the partnership’s statement targeted the berth expansion plans submitted by one of their rivals - believed to be Global Ports Holding.

THE BAHAMAS Union of Teachers president, Belinda Wilson, hosted a press conference yesterday at CH Reeves Junior High School.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

NY JUNKANOO - TIME TO SWITCH DATE?

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

AS NEW Year’s Day Junkanoo attendance this year hovered at 57 percent, Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence president Silbert Ferguson told The Tribune officials are mulling over a decision to either change the date of the parade or offer it as a payper-view option on cable television. In past years,

NY winners Valley Boys ticket sales have capped at around 60 percent, Mr

Ferguson said, again sparking conversation about holding the parade on Majority Rule Day instead of so soon after Boxing Day. However, he said it was unlikely parade participants would take this route, noting the January 10 holiday held a significant meaning. He further expressed doubt that a date change would fix the notoriously low attendance at the

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PAGE 2, Thursday, January 3, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Is it time for a new date for the New Year’s Junkanoo? from page one parade. But if viewers can opt to pay to view the parade on TV on New Year’s morning, it could solve the attendance issue and amass possibly thousands of dollars, something that has never before been done, Mr Ferguson said.

“It’s a conversation that has been brought up two years ago and is now being discussed again,” Mr Ferguson said yesterday, “and accordingly the groups will make a decision. No one other than the Junkanoo groups will make this decision. Until the groups can decide, things will remain the same.”

He added: “But honestly, junkanooers ain’t gonna change the date. It was just a conversation.

“No one is talking about pay-per-view. That is the most important conversation that needs to be had. Around the world everyone celebrates New Year’s using this and that but ours is Junkanoo.

“We are maintaining 57 to 60 percent sales so the junkanooers are all talking about pay-perview. When on New Year’s you have the other 40 percent at home who can pay the $8 or $9 dollars to watch it, that’s several thousand dollars we can make, more than we have ever done before.”

Ticket sales for the New Year’s Day parade struggled this season. Three days ahead of the event, Mr Ferguson told The Tribune sales were sluggish and standing at around 30 percent, adding he had hoped the sales would climb.

The day before the parade, rumours circulated that tickets had been sold out, however he confirmed this was not the case and that only seats in the Scotia Bank area were sold out.

It is unclear how this affected the overall ticket sales. As a result the JCNP opted to sell tickets until 2am on the morning of the New Year’s Day parade.

THE VALLEY BOYS, above and top, in action in the New Year’s Junkaroo.

Photos: Donavan McIntosh

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 3

LEFT and top, Prodigal Sons’ Junkanoo shack. Top right,Eric Knowles, Prodigal Sons’ Junkanoo group leader. Right, Perry Thompson, treasurer of Music Makers.

We ran out of cash, say two groups in parade

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net TWO major Junkanoo groups yesterday blamed a lack of funding for their decision to scrap participation in the 2019 New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade.

Despite previous reports that Music Makers and Prodigal Sons had been disqualified from participating in the parade, officials from both Category A groups said seed funding from the government was simply insufficient and forced their choice to sit out.

However, as the receipt of seed funds is a contractual obligation, President of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence Silbert Ferguson said one of the groups – Music Makers – will have to pay back half the money.

While Music Makers signed an agreement to receive $30,000 in seed funding, Prodigal Sons only received $15,000.

The $30,000 seed contract stipulates there must be participation in both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades. Any group receiving $15,000 is only expected to show up for the Boxing Day parade.

Both groups were disqualified in the Boxing Day parade and blamed congestion in the set up area for not being able to assemble on time and as stipulated to participate.

Mr Ferguson said: “When you sign an agreement with the government of The Bahamas for seed funding for Junkanoo it says two parades. If you sign a $30,000 contract with them it’s for two parades. The Music Makers only participated in one parade they will have to return $15,000 to the government.

“The Prodigal Sons as I understand it also received the $15,000 and they performed in one parade. They have nothing to return.”

Neither group pushed back against the possibility of having to return seed money, but they explained the funds are insufficient and were used as they should have been. Mr Ferguson also confirmed that both groups gave the JCNP

advance notice that they would not attend the New Year’s Day parade, which gave the organisation sufficient time to plan.

According to Music Makers treasurer Perry Thompson, showing up for both parades was also a challenge in the 2017-2018 parade cycle. However, he said this year all of the seed money was exhausted on the 2018 Boxing Day parade when it should have covered both parades.

“We didn’t come out and the primary reason was from lack of funding,” Mr Thompson said yesterday.

“We got $30,000 from government, $15,000 for each parade. That was supposed to assist us for Boxing Day and with the New Year’s Day. “Quite frankly government has been our sponsor for the last several years so the $30,000 that we get we put into one pool to assist with the preparation of our costumes. Commonwealth Bank came in to assist us with a portion. Outside of Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation, who helps with the girls, that’s it.”

He also said: “So we are really in a serious predicament when it comes to funding. That has always been our challenge and continues to be the challenge today. Despite that, we do this for the love of Junkanoo. We appreciate the culture called Junkanoo, we love the culture and whatever it means we will be a part of it. It doesn’t discourage us from wanting to come to Bay Street.

“The only discouragement is not being able to obtain funding to be able to compete on the same level as the rest of the major Junkanoo groups.”

Asked to reveal when the group knew it was not possible to rush in the New Year’s parade, Mr Thompson said: “We were hoping and expected some things to come through and tried to meet with certain hierarchy people but that fell through so that put a dilemma on us trying to get the extra funding. It wasn’t for lack of preparation.

“Even with Boxing Day it was a whole lot of

challenges that the public didn’t know about. We were held up from 7.42pm until 9pm. The police wouldn’t let us through so we weren’t able to assemble how we needed to. So we had to start up with the brass not lined up properly, with the girls not lined up properly.

That was a main source of the disqualification.”

But Mr Thompson added that in his view to disqualify groups is “tasteless and insensitive”.

As for returning the seed money, he said: “That is a decision the government of The Bahamas has to make at the end of the day.

Because for me it’s not like the funds weren’t used, they were used properly and

adequately and if you look at the size of the group we were bigger than last year, the costumes were pretty (and) they were colourful.”

For his part, Prodigal Sons leader Eric Knowles said his call to not participate was due to the lack of funds to pay for trucks to transport costumes and show pieces. He told The Tribune he usually uses personal funds in addition to seed money, but these were exhausted.

He said: “We received help from the ministry. It was like $15,000 for one reason or the other and it contributed to the support that we would have gotten but we missed some parades based on Hurricane

Matthew. And I honestly believe that that basically hampered our effort to get full funding so we got half which basically funded one parade in the A category.

We wanted to do the New Year’s Day but financially I just didn’t have it.

“We got $15,000 everyone else got their $30,000.

If we had gotten maybe another five thousand it would have covered our trucking issue.

“You could have the

stuff but if you don’t have the money to pay the fellas to bring the trailer head and stuff they ain’t moving.”

Regarding whether he would return seed money, Mr Knowles said: “We got half of the seed funding.

But if the ministry is pressing us to give some of that back then I guess we have to comply. Even though we got half of it that should have been for one parade which we did.”

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THE TRIBUNE

New Year’s Day Junkanoo

THE EVENT was a huge success attracting hundreds of residents and visitors to Pioneer’s Way in Freeport on Tuesday evening.

Photos: Derek Carroll

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 5

GB Superstars

THE SUPERSTAR ROCKERS, right, the unofficial winner of the New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade in Grand Bahama, dethroning two-time defending champion Platinum Knights, below. Photos: Derek Carroll

Rockers the unofficial winners as Platinum Knights hit by penalties

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE Superstar Rockers emerged as the unofficial winner of the New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade in Grand Bahama, dethroning two-time defending champion Platinum Knights which fell from the top standing after penalty points were applied.

According to the unofficial results in the division A category, the Rockers placed first with a total of 2,607 points, with the Swingers taking second place with 2,487 points, and the Platinum Knights placing third with 2,267 points.

The Classic Dancers were disqualified in every category. The division B category winner was Showtime with 1,382 points.

Bushwhackers, Sting and Freedom International Ministries were disqualified.

The event was a huge success attracting hundreds of residents and visitors to Pioneer’s Way in Freeport on Tuesday evening.

Fans lined the parade route as bleacher seating was sold out, leaving only VIP seating which was also filled to capacity.

Superstar Rockers took fans back to school with its theme, “Alumni Night” that presented Grand Bahama schools then and now.

The group’s banner featured the blue logo of the University of the Bahamas, the country’s tertiary education institution. Offthe shoulder costumes showcased colourful symbols of schools on the island, including Lewis Yard Eagles, Mary Star of the Sea Stingrays, Lucaya International School Buccaneers, and Sir Jack Hayward Wildcats, and St Georges Jaguars, among others.

Platinum Knights was first out the block during the parade, setting a strong pace with “Colours of Your Imagination” as its theme this year.

The group’s banner depicted a brand new box of Crayola crayons. The costume pieces were bursting with vibrant colours and hues of baby blue, purple and brown.

Costumes included a red dragon, pink flamingos, and the fairy tale characters of

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, among others.

Group leader Thomas Curry depicted a black panther, alongside his wife who was costumed as a black widow spider.

The choreographed section featured dancers costumed as a flock of pink flamingos, followed by bright blooming yellow elders close behind, and a sea of blue marlins.

Free dancers took to the streets prancing around in royal blue. Some were angels, green and purple butterflies, white peacocks, and a lady in red.

The lead costume was an ocean theme, depicting the deep blue sea with King Triton, mermaids, blue marlins, sea urchins, and a collection of sea creatures.

The second group out on the parade route was Showtime with its theme, “Love”. The banner consisted of a wedding scene, and two crosses which depicted God’s greatest sacrifice of his son, Jesus, who demonstrated love for mankind.

The off-the-shoulder costumed dancers depicted various symbols of love, such as a ‘love bug’ and hearts. Beverages that people love to consume were also displayed.

The group also depicted Bahamians’ love for gambling. The group’s music section entertained with the sounds of bellers, scrapers and bass drummers dressed in various colours that depict love.

The lead costume piece featured a love boat, with decorated hearts suspended above, and tropical fish and flamingos.

The Swingers presented fans with a “Tour Through the USA”. The banner featured historical and cultural structures in Washington, DC and a depiction of President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

Many of the visitors loved the costumes which highlighted various popular US states and the group also featured major US events and holidays such as the Indianapolis 500, the US Open, Thanksgiving Day, and the 4th of July.

The choreographed dancers were dressed as Las Vegas showgirls, while the free dancers were costumed as Native Americans, US currency, All American

sporting teams, and other American symbols.

The lead piece featured popular Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino, with Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Prince impersonators.

Up next was Sting, with its theme, “Freeport Rush”.

The small B division group’s theme highlighted political, economic and social challenges and issues facing the country, and encouraged Bahamians to live more peaceful lives.

For the first time, a religious group Freedom International Ministries participated in the parade. Under the theme, “Jesus is

Coming”, the group’s banner portrayed Jesus ascending in a cloud.

The choreographed dancers were dressed in costumes as angels dancing to the sounds of gospel music and biblical characters carried Bible verses.

Under the theme, “A Wonderful Year of Celebrations”, The Classic Dancers put the crowd in a celebration mode with its costumes depicting joyous holidays and special occasions in the Bahamian calendar.

And the final group on the parade route was the Bushwhackers whose theme this year was “Wacking With the Bushwhackers”.

PAGE 6, Thursday, January 3, 2019

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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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

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Why it’s time we took tackling climate change seriously HOW serious are we about tackling climate change here in The Bahamas?

We ask because the rest of the world seems to be leaving us in their wake.

A new project in the US – Vineyard Wind, which you can read about on page 13 today – is set to generate enough electricity for at least 400,000 homes, all from an offshore wind farm.

Think of that – 400,000 homes. That’s enough to supply our entire nation and more.

We’ve known we need to change our power generation for years, but with a system seemingly perpetually on the verge of breakdown BPL and government have put their faith in a “quick” fix of using liquefied natural gas as the future for The Bahamas. This solution is so old that Leslie Miller crept out of the woodwork before Christmas to remind everyone how he advocated for LNG back in 2005.

Just for clarity, LNG is natural gas that has been converted to liquid form, making it easier to store and transport.

It creates about a third less pollution than burning fuel oil – but is that the limit we should be aiming for? After all, the main talk about the LNG deal being pushed at BPL is all about price to consumers rather than environment.

In 2014, it was then-prime minister Perry Christie who warned of the dangers facing the country. A line he often touted while abroad yet seldom seemed to emphasise at home, he warned the United Nations Climate Summit in New York City that “for The Bahamas, climate change is serious business”. He added: “This threatens our very existence. Here is what the scientists say, 80 percent of my nation’s land mass will be lost if the sea level rises 1.5 metres. They also say that with a warming of 3.7-4.8°C,

as currently predicted, The Bahamas we know would be no more.”

The former PM called for developed nations to honour a commitment to pay $100bn a year to help tackle climate change. The deadline on that sum?

Next year 2020. He said The Bahamas expected its fair share of that figure.

So, with a year to go, how much are we getting – and can we use it to be a little more ambitious in supplying the power needs of our nation?

It’s a baton picked up by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis when he attended meetings in New York last year, who pointed to the effects of hurricanes, saying “the war we’re fighting in terms of hurricanes is not our war, it’s a war caused by climate change… we make very little contribution to the climate change as we see it but we’re the ones who feel all the effects”.

The most obviously environmentallyfriendly project to be suggested by the government is the plan to use solar power in the reconstruction of Ragged Island – but that proposal seems to have gone deathly quiet. In addition, last month Dr Minnis said the government intends to bring legislation to allow homeowners to have some degree of solar power. Little steps for customers, but is there a chance for a bold move by the government? Where is our longterm goal? Countries such as Iceland, Albania and Uruguay generate nearly 100 percent of their power from renewable sources – couldn’t we follow suit?

There seems little political will to aim for such a goal. But as we continue to work out a deal over another way of burning fossil fuels to serve the nation’s needs, can we ask ourselves if there is a way of being better?

Or is “It’s better in The Bahamas” really nothing more than a slogan?

If you resist the devil, he will flee from you EDITOR, The Tribune HEY you, yeah you who all about terrorising the country. Killing, robbing innocent people and raping young women. Yeah you it’s you I’m talking to.

Going around giving our country a bad name. People being warned not to come to the Bahamas. Nice tourists places like the fish fry getting caught up in your stupidness.

You’re dealing drugs, carry guns, and knives, killing and seen your friends killed. And you’re barely out of your teens He was only seven and you shot him while he sat at the table doing his homework. Now you are in McDonalds in KFC ordering a Big Mac, a five dollar fill-up feeling no pain. What have you done, what have you done?

His mom will never hear him call out to her again at nights. His brothers and sisters will never be able to tease him again. What have you done, My God, what have you done?

They were engaged to be married, they had kids and you shot and murdered them. You shot and killed your best friend, your best friend, man. WOW! On orders from your leader over some drug deal gone bad. A leader that is too cowardly to do the dirty work himself. What have you done? You used to eat out of his Ma pot. Now he is dead and you killed him.

He was your buddy.

Question for you while you out there committing all of these crimes where is your boss, your leader, the Don? What is he doing.? Well in case you forgot let me remind you. He is locked down with a bunch a gals drinking champagne and eating steak and things.

Well pal time is running out on you and as the year closes out Minister Dames and commissioner Ferguson are ‘determined to eradicate the streets of people that think and act like you do.

“The headline read murder count for 2018 lowest in years”. Well it’s

going to drop far lower in 2019.

Your Time is up, buddy, they’re coming for you. But it don’t have to be that way there is still time for you to make a change.

Get involved in a church or some positive civic congregations before it’s too late. The good book says Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. You’re young, you’re smart, you have a wonderful life ahead of you, don’t throw it away.

Do a quick hundred and eighty degree before it’s too late. You’re breaking your mom’s heart you’re killing her, putting her into an early grave.

God loves you, he loves you so much that he sent his Son to die in your place. You’re being offered another chance. Don’t blow it.

TP Nassau December 30, 2018

Promises taking the joy from life EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE incomparable Dionne Warwick sang a song that went like this: Promises, promises I’m all through with promises, promises now I don’t know how I got the nerve to walk out If I shout, remember I feel free Now I can look at myself and be proud I’m laughing out loud Oh, promises, promises This is where those promises, promises end I don’t pretend that what was wrong can be right Every night I sleep now, no more lies Things that I promised myself fell apart.

These lyrics are most appropriate for the people for The Bahamas, but Grand Bahama in particular.

Just as a reminder, Grand Bahama delivered all of its seats, five to the FNM in the last election. The people were duped into believing that things were

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net going to get better. So they bet their whole hand on the Free National Movement and sweet Willie.

But since May 10, 2017, there were numerous occasions when the people were built up with a proposed project, only to have their feelings dashed.

It has become the norm that an announcement is made and nothing happens afterwards. Our Lucaya is a classic example. This is the people on a rollercoaster, pulling, yucking, rolling, rising and falling at warp speed. This dizzying experience has caused many to not only lose hope, but destroyed their equilibrium.

Grand Bahama, has the Deputy Prime Minister, yet nothing happens. This begs the question, does anyone really care? Who among the MPs are going to genuinely fight for the people?

The naked truth is only one

seems to be speaking on their behalf.

The stark reality now is, the FNM has taken the people for granted, they believe that Freeport is really FNM country as they said in the past. But the truth be told, the promises that have been made are simply not kept.

The only thing would pacify the people from this point going forward, will be a real opportunity for them to survive because they have had enough of the promises.

Oh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a life Oh, promises, those kind of promises, take all the joy from life Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hope, but no plans Two years would elapse in May, how much longer should the people wait?

Oh Lord, how long?

IVOINE WHITNEY INGRAHAM Nassau January 2, 2019

Why Dr Minnis still gets my vote EDITOR, The Tribune I VOTED PLP and DNA before, but 2017 was the first time I voted FNM. I’m glad I did. The party was the best choice on May 10, 2017, and it remains the best choice today.

Thus far, there has been no scandal involving an FNM minister taking money or being mixed up in corruption. That is important for me.

The economy has grown.

I have read in the newspapers that a record number of stopover visitors are coming this year. That’s good for all of us.

Though December has been a bad month, murders are down significantly this year. That’s good too.

We need this count to keep going down each year for a while. Our lovely Nassau has become gangster town.

The government is getting ready to sign the final contract to build a new power plant in Nassau.

That is very important.

What BPL has now is not enough. I have lost several appliances in my home because the power goes in and out.

Since the FNM won, the international ratings agencies don’t downgrade us anymore. That’s a major success.

The government is also finalising the redevelopment of the dump on Gladstone Road.

Dr Hubert Minnis is not the friendliest man.

He isn’t the best speaker.

He has no charisma. But he is a better prime minister than Perry Christie.

On the ballot on May 10, 2017, I saw Dr Minnis and Mr Christie. I believed Dr Minnis was better. That was based on watching Mr Christie and seeing how terrible he was.

I am happy that the last year and a half has demonstrated that this Dr Minnis is better than Mr Christie would ever have been.

Despite all the things you could complain about, we all made the right choice in choosing the FNM over the PLP. MARTHA S GREENE Nassau December 27, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 7

Meet my demands or else, warns BUT chief from page one classroom block in back of the school.”

She also demanded written proof that mould in classrooms has been remediated by a professional company, not a “man off the stree”.

The Department of Labour initially declined to give BUT a strike certificate because not all teachers in the country had the chance to vote in a strike poll. C H Reeves teachers were the only ones that participated.

Officials have not explained why they reversed their decision, but Mrs Wilson claimed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis intervened in the matter after she spoke to him. Labour Director John Pinder suggested the strike certificate was issued without his recommendation when contacted yesterday. He referred The Tribune to Labour Minister Dion Foulkes who did not respond to questions up to press time last night.

More than anything else, the BUT said it will not accept an assessment of whether C H Reeves is fit for occupancy if the assessment is done by Anthony Ryan, a public analyst at the Department of Environmental Health. The assessment, the BUT said, must be conducted by an independent company.

Mrs Wilson said: “Initially Mr Ryan was the officer who came and was supposed to do an assessment of the mould on behalf of the Ministry of Education. He never tested the mould. Now today he is setting up a machine to test the mould in the 19 classrooms. He

ONLY if her demands are satisfied will a strike be averted, says BUT president Belinda Wilson. was supposed to do it initially, six to eight weeks ago. He did not do it. Now we are saying anything Mr Ryan presents to us as it pertains to C H Reeves we will not accept.

We want an independent company to do the assessment.”

Mrs Wilson said the BUT did not tour the school campus yesterday as expected. She said the deputy director of education told them no photos or recordings could be taken, causing them to bail on the walkabout.

“It’s not his place to give us any

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instructions because it’s the BUT that took the Ministry of Education to labour (officials),” she said. “That’s one of the reasons why we left.”

As for the 12 new classrooms, Mrs Wilson insisted they must be ready for occupancy because the campus’ other buildings are too old.

“Teachers were teaching in those classrooms, but they’re not the best classrooms,” she said.

“The place is old, it is dilapidated; teachers have been making

it work. Those buildings, if they haven’t been condemned, they need to be condemned. The government was supposed to be getting an occupancy certificate for the new 12 classrooms in the back area of the campus. We thought today they would be able to assure us that the new block which has 12 classrooms would be available for use on Monday, but we have not received that assurance.”

Mrs Wilson said: “When we walk into this school, teachers

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune and students on January 7, we want to walk into an environment that is conducive for education and teaching. We don’t want any foolishness, any lies, any misinformation, from the Ministry of Education, from the person coming from the Ministry of Environment and we want commitments that whatever is not done today will be done in time for the opening of school on Monday. If it is not done we will invoke our right to strike at C H Reeves.”

PAGE 8, Thursday, January 3, 2019

O

VER the holidays as our little public relations office was officially closed, I worked there nearly every day anyway because it is what I do.

I am not proud of that. Sorry, that is not entirely true. I am proud of the work, but not of the fact I’m always doing it. I have not fully mastered the art of procrastination, a subject with which I am growing increasingly fascinated.

There are lots of people who are really good at it, procrastination, that is.

They know how to use the ‘no’ word and say to customers or clients in their own business (where you would think they would be motivated to make a living) or those standing in front of them at a government office ‘later’ or ‘Sorry, I am going to lunch now’; or ‘Yes, I know you have been in line for 45 minutes but do you see the clock over there, the one that says five o’clock? Good. Then you understand why you have to come back tomorrow.’ Wow, they know how to procrastinate like experts, like they have a degree in it.

They are the ones who contribute to those messages from your favourite utility or airline, the messages that end with the words, “Sorry for any inconvenience” and are actually an outright insult to the intelligence of those they are offending.

There is a good reason why those entities try to appease us with repeated apologies and, on a regular basis, have the nerve to think a heartless “sorry” soothes our ruffled soul. Do they expect we’ll just go quietly in the night saying, ‘What a shame we have no power and everything is going to spoil in the refrigerator: but, since they apologized it’s all good?” No, we are not going to settle for that.

The reason they are apologising all the time is because they procrastinated about getting important work done, raising funds - however you have to do it - to modernise, solarise an otherwise generate consistent quality power without interruption.

It’s not just BPL - and we don’t mean to point fingers at them just because they’re an easy target. It’s throughout society, embedded in the culture.

Put off until tomorrow what you can do today and you’ll never run out of work.

Look, we all procrastinate to some extent. Procrastinating is easier than it’s ever been before, thanks to all the available data at our fingertips. We can put off balancing our chequebook, a job

THE TRIBUNE

Admit it - there’s never been a better time to put off what you have to do today

THE MONA Lisa took so long to paint because Leonardo whiled away most of those 16 years doodling instead of painting. we dread, because we are busy reading the news online, which is far more interesting. The juiciness of the Royal Family, true or not, certainly beats the dryness of adding and subtracting what you deposited and what you spent and seeing if the bank got it right, which it probably did.

The consequence of procrastination - the longer you put it off, the bigger the task becomes until eventually maybe the need for it is totally negated, like if you had banked with Penny Savings, you would not have to worry about what’s in your account. But that is the exception to the rule.

Most of the time procrastination just makes the task at hand even more onerous and dreaded.

The untouched job germinates, it

mushrooms like algae in a dark, moist environment.

If you think procrastination is something that’s recent history and our ancestors toiled from sun-up to sun-down, here’s the news flash. There is actually a history of procrastination that dates back to 3500 BC and is populated with dozens of fascinating examples.

According to one writer who researched the subject, Sarah Stodola, who published a paper in 2015 tracking procrastination through the ages, for as long as man has been alive he has taken the opportunity to do the task less demanding. Leonardo da Vinci, for instance, spent 16 years painting the Mona Lisa, not because it was a particularly

difficult painting for him, says Ms. Stodola, but because he whiled away most of those 16 years doodling instead of painting. She points to the Roman Senate “stymied by fear” unable to make a single decision. And she references a Greek poet who wrote: ‘Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin.’

How many times have we picked up something and moved it from here to there just because it filled the time and we did not have to face a tougher job? How often have we said to ourselves, ‘I’ll just watch a few more minutes

of this show and then I’ll…?” You fill in the blank.

I’ve done all of the above, I confess. But the one thing I failed at is procrastinating when it comes to work and that is why I have been in the office nearly every day over the holidays while promising myself my New Year’s resolution would be to create a better balance and work less. It is only New Year’s Day, as I write this before the sun is fully up and already I have failed.

Procrastination when it comes to work is an art form I have yet to master though if you know a good teacher who has succeeded in life, please send the contact information as soon as possible. Don’t put it off. I cannot go on putting off learning to put off what can be done today until tomorrow.

On the lighter side...

I CAME across a 1982 copy of National Geographic yesterday (while in the office) with a fullpage ad “It’s Better In The Bahamas.” That was 36 years ago, oops, 37. The top half of the page shows what appears to be a tourist family (they’re white) rushing with a Junkanoo group and with younger Bahamian children dancing in front.

The bottom half of the ad features a man and woman swimming on their backs, not side by side but over and under, the woman’s head on the man’s chest and all four

legs outstretched. In The Bahamas, it reads, you never run out of things to do. Guess not if you’re that couple.

The ad copy teases “Prance in a Junkanoo parade.” Just try that today and see what happens. And it says: “You can do all this for so very few dollars because it costs less to get here from most places in the U.S.” Like where, Alaska?

Something to be said for 1982 or for procrastinating the sorting out of old magazines. There’s treasure between those covers.

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medical treatment.

EMAILS leaked from a ther’s The emails were obtained data breach of China ConThe Tribune following a struction America’s (CCA) by in December highservers show that from story the breach of CCA as early as 2013, Jerome lighting by a San Francisco Fitzgerald was seeking to servers China Construction secure millions of dollars hacker. paid 24 bitcoins in brokerage, trucking, and eventually equivalent of $24,000) limousine contracts at Baha (the have access to their servMar while he sat in Cabinet to restored; however, it apas the Minister of Educa- ers that emails forwarded tion, Science and Tech- pears relating to personnel or nology, The Tribune has to, at CCA were compromised, learned. despite top officials at Baha

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FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a large blaze at the New Providence Landfill, nearly three weeks after tackling a massive fire at the city dump that burned for nearly a month.

Officer in Charge of Fire Services, Chief Superintendent Walter Evans said the current fire is “not connected” in any way to the previous blaze and at this time officials do not know PRIME Minister what caused the fire. HowDr Hubert Minnis meeting ever Environment Minister Kendera Woodside, the mother of Kenred Dorsett told remurdered Eugene Woodside. he RASHAD porters at the siteBythat TribuneinStaff ROLLE suspected “sabotage” Three Reporter rrolle@tribu He said nemedia.net Photo: Yontalay relation to the fire. after murder that days the Bowe team he “instructed” the struggle withpushed the country’s composure.

THE the hugs and have Dr Minnis said of firefighters towords comforting the national violent crime into he felt the fam- Each citizen has of Prime ily’s spotlight yet “before a responsibili blaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remained and again, even pain. “What makes Hubert ty our countries.

Minnis and today and me feel has whatever information worse is that nomination day” “He ain’t even acute.

Patricia we must bring Yes one most we see in Minnis couldn’this wife God,” Baha Mar’s live a life, certainly beforethe that forward. mother more than I feel for this the yard, of those These criminals my answer Mrs I can say.” questions Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that consumed “He’s a baby. Woodside cried. my years as a medicalI, during Mrs Minnis, live among us.” said he will Kendera shortly Woodside yesterday medical attention doctor, to ensure The blaze started breath right I could give my the family who emphasised Mrs she grieved is provided andfor as now that Woodside, after 3am Wednesday just her appearto her baby ance before for year-old said officEugene, whoson, eight- my to be right here. They my “You can see who is pregnant.

Chief Supt Evans political move,them was not a heart out my take was killed four theago. the grieving fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through,” and “This my “Why but daythese for at least another people ain’t he almost shoot only son. They in mourning one day this week said. “I assured her ing a “huge” tellthat somefor my daughter time today they he said the wind isme “As a mother, murder victims.

(Friday) too right now?” bringing my son and they inside (the medical personnel we will have I’m calling factor. house) with she cried between me. What all mothers screams they do to come to look because I upon after her as SIX SEE PAGE Dr Minnis my family? believe mothers because really console the tried to What they do to us? would’ve delivered family at their said Mrs Minnis, can stop this,” nant. I have to makeshe’s preg“Why they most bud Road so Roseof they them her sure who are closer to home where live 29 years, ain’ carry me? I me knowing at times. “We have was tearful both and her unborn infant that was shot by Eugene they are my He’s a baby.” our sons who well and are former patients,” a stray bullet we cradle Tonio Woodside, Monday as Minnis, a gynaecologi on father, arrangemen we will also make Dr become from birth and as he did his homework.

Eugene’s ts to make they consoled men we are st by fession, said. sure the as he struggled his wife even still with necessary medical “The messagepro- them. We have personnel we to speak with look after her to maintain must send to the entire and see is the police Bahamas them. I think all women can’t fight this wear should regular basis to ensure her on a alone. and black one day this the safety of her and her week mourn what’s unborn infant.” happening in SEE PAGE TWO PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts lashed out at his former party colleague Vincent Peet last night, accusBy NEIL HARTNELL ing the former North AnTribune Business so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP Editor by the Caribnhartnell@tr bean Financial ibunemedia. of being a “political enemy” net Action Task By RASHAD ROLLE Force’s (CFATF) Tribune Staff THE Attorney who mounted an independreIn June, Reporter ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@tribu Gen- report on The he told Pareral yesterday ent campaign because he liament Bah nem st from Minister of Education, Sci-

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By AVA TURNQUE ST Tribune Chief officials could Reporter aturnquest@ not be reached up tribunemedia to .net According press time.

FOUR former to sources Progres- close to the sive Liberal Party Cabinet Monday Mr matter, as of ministers owed Wells has since more than paid $9,000 on $20,000 each his accounts at Bahamas with an outstanding Power and Light, balformer minister with one ance of some $8,600.

The source for some $60,000 in arrears also said as ARNOLD as of July, of Monday according to FORBES a list obtained in talks withMr Forbes was

by The Tribune. $62,023 to settle the the company The Credit and Collec- a three-monthbalance over tions Departmen period. Mr MPs, senators t listing of Forbes, former PLP Mount and board Moriah MP, was members appointed for the period to Cabinet ending July in January that former 31, revealed and previously served 2015, State Minister chairman as the in the Ministry of the Bahamas Arnold Forbes of Works Agricultural and Industrial owed BPL Corporation. $62,023.14.

Others on The list obtained the “do not Tribune contains by The disconnect” list are: former delin- Minister of Health quent accounts of six Perry Gomez, former Dr former PLP Cabinet minisPines MP Tall ters, two former Leslie Miller, PLP MPs, former Minister two private of one sitting entities, and Dr Danny Johnson, Youth former Cabinet min- Nassau Village ister: Bamboo MP Dion Renward Wells. Town MP Smith, former Tourism Minister Obie Mr Wells, Wilchcomb DR DANIEL e, $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach MP JOHNSON two separate $3,703.96 at Cleola Hamilton $24,413 $12,981.03 in locations - former Minister of and total – did not for Legal State want to comment Affairs Damian yester- Gomez. day, and the other former SEE PAGE EIGHT

CRUNCH DAY OVER

OH, AND THERE’S AN ELITE WATER LIST TOO

LESLIE MILLER $42,219

DR PERRY GOMEZ $24,498

RENWARD WELLS $12,980

DION SMITH $9,275

WHO RUNS BPL

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business utility operator Editor nhartnell@tr ing to “walk is quite willibunemedia. away” from net maximum $25m, five-yearit BAHAMA BPL Light’s (BPL)S Power & if themanagement contract board and hold a “crunchboard will administrat Minnis ion with PowerSecur meeting” The meeting,wish it to go. with the outcome e today, be attended which will ical in deciding likely crit- executives by PowerSecur and their attorneyse latter remains whether the from the US, is viewed as manager.

Multiple Tribune CLEOLA as key to determining Business sources whether HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up” or separate.

WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individuals $3,413 July. The sums named on the BPL “do HURRICANE not disconnect” do not include any payments list INSURANCE: made or furtherand the amount they owed at the end of debt incurred since that date.

Are you Covered

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SOUTH ISLANDS ON MARIA ALER PUT T

By RASHAD Tribune Staff ROLLE Reporter rrolle@tribu nemedia.net

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During a live n

By AVA TURNQUE ST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@t ribunemedia.n et WATER and Sewerage Corporation Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the existence of a “do not list populateddisconnect” by scores of elites at the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdown to on delinquent accounts.

Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list” held “confidential 221accounts with a combined , total of $175,000 for ending June the period 2017.

He said that he plans to direct the corporation to notify all persons owing excessive arrears to resolve debts or face disconnectio n.

“There is dential list,” a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think over the last corporations year or two, and more particularly May of this in year, there has been tion paid toclose attenthat list by the managemen t with a view to changing the way those lists usually operate.

“As it stands, this confidential list of persons has a number on it, and really and truly used to notify it’s being courtesy call persons by I can say too or letters. chairman of that as the the corporation I am going that all personsto direct excessive arrears owing who are SEE PAGE EIGHT

POLICE LAUNCH FOX HILL OFFENSIV E

By SANCHESK A DORSE Tr

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 9

POLICE ARREST WOMAN AFTER SHE SHOOTS GUN FROM MOVING VEHICLE

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN was taken into police custody on New Year’s Day in connection with a viral video taken of what is believed to be her shooting a gun from a moving vehicle.

Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Superintendent Shanta Knowles confirmed the arrest yesterday.

In the 41-second long clip, the woman was seen firing a shot into the bushes from the passenger seat of a car.

Other people in the vehicle can be heard offcamera instructing her on her technique.

“Give me it, give me it,

let me do it,” the woman can be heard saying as she reaches for the gun.

“Pull the head back,” a man says.

“Watch ya wrist, watch ya wrist,” another woman says. “Hold it tight, and watch ya wrist.”

Eventually the woman fires the gun.

Supt Knowles said yesterday: “Police have taken a 30-year-old female into custody, Tuesday, 1 January, 2019 in connection with the viral video of a female firing an illegal firearm from a vehicle. Investigations into this matter are ongoing.”

Police, however, did not confirm where the incident occurred.

Up to press time, the video had been shared over 1,000 times on Facebook,

Teenager is first murder of year from page one When asked if the murder was gang-related, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said: “We have to protect the integrity of investigations. We don’t really want to put a bad image on any victim because you know they have families who love them.

“He is known to us in the extent that we conducted investigations and his name came up.”

CSP Cash said two persons of interest are in custody in connection with this incident.

The killing came after the country wrapped up 2018 with its lowest murder count since 2010.

YOUR

Ninety-one killings were recorded last year, according to this newspaper’s records. Not since 2010, when 94 people were murdered, have fewer than 100 murders been recorded in a single year.

Eighty-seven people were murdered in 2009. Authorities are now aiming to keep the murder tally below 90 in 2019, National Security Minister Marvin Dames has said. Police recorded 127 murders in 2011; 111 murders in 2012; 119 murders in 2013; 123 murders in 2014; 146 in 2015; 111 in 2016 and 122 in 2017.

Anyone with any additional information on Tuesday’s incident, or any other crime, is asked to call police at 502-9991/2 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

To advertise in The Tribune contact 502-2394

with many people expressing concern and outrage.

“No one knows how far a stray bullet travels before hitting an unknown target! This is how innocent people are killed,” one user commented.

RIGHT, video grabs of the woman in custody.

PAGE 10, Thursday, January 3, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Sexual assaults the most reported criminal activity on cruise ships making calls to the United States

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net ALLEGATIONS of sexual assault remain the most reported criminal activity on board cruise ships making calls to the United States, according to year-end statistics.

For the past three years, alleged incidents of sexual assault represented more than 60 percent of criminal activity reported by vessels under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA).

This trend follows for major cruise lines with routes to The Bahamas, like Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean.

In 2017, 76 percent of reported crimes on board Carnival vessels were for sexual assault; as was 68 percent of crime reported on board Royal Caribbean vessels.

Statistics for 2018 are not complete; however, figures up to September 30, 2018 indicate criminal activity is on pace with 2017.

Up to September 30, there were 86 incidents reported - 60 of which were for sexual assault.

There was the same number of sexual assault incidents reported for that time period in 2017,

out of 85 incidents. There was a total of 106 incidents reported for 2017.

In 2016, officials recorded 92 incidents with 62 of them for sexual assault.

Criminal activity statistics for cruise ships making stops in the United States has continued to climb since reporting requirements were changed in 2016 - making it mandatory to include all incidents of missing persons and alleged crime.

Prior to this, only incidents that were no longer under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation were compiled and released through the US Transport Department.

In 2015, there was a total of 28 reported incidents - 13 of which were for sexual assault.

This comes as The Bahamas continues to manage the impact of crime warnings from the United States and Canada on its tourism product.

Last week, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar confirmed Royal Caribbean Cruise Line had agreed to withdraw a travel advisory warning passengers about the Arawak Cay Fish Fry as a “particular area of concern” for crime.

The Royal Caribbean advisory was one part of a double blow for the Fish

Fry, as the same language was also repeated in the Canadian government’s revised December 20, 2018 travel advisory to its citizens.

Royal Caribbean is one of four cruise lines involved in the bidding to take over management/operations at Nassau’s cruise port, the industry-grouping having partnered with Cruise Ports International – the Bahamian group formerly known as Cultural Village (Bahamas), headed by exFamily Guardian President Gerald Strachan.

The cruise line, Mr D’Aguilar said, has replaced the advisory with

a generalised warning to Royal Caribbean passengers that does not mention Nassau by name and could be taken as referring to any of its ports of call.

“Effective immediately, the travel advisory letter to all Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines guests will be replaced with the following text in the Cruise Compass newsletter,” the cruise line wrote to Mr D’Aguilar, referring to language

that encouraged passengers to “use the same common sense you would in any major city.”

Referring passengers to US and other government websites if they needed more information, Royal Caribbean added: “We will begin with replacing the letters in all Royal Caribbean International ships calling on The Bahamas, and review for the remainder of the global fleet beginning early 2019.”

GRAND BAHAMA MAN IN HOSPITAL AFTER SHOOTING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A GRAND Bahama man is in hospital following a shooting incident in the Eight Mile Rock area late Tuesday evening, according to a senior police official.

Shortly before 10pm, police responded to gunshots heard in the Pinedale, EMR park area where officers discovered a man with injuries to the upper body.

ASP Terecita Pinder said two men were involved in an altercation when one shot the other with a firearm and fled.

EMS responded and transported the victim to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he is listed in serious, but stable condition.

ASP Pinder said that a 20-year-old male resident of Seagrape, Eight Mile Rock, was later taken into custody and is assisting police with their investigation into the matter.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 11

Another two dozen Haitians charged with illegal landing

HAITIAN migrants boarding a bus to be transported to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre last month.

Photo: Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rolle/RBDF

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net TWO dozen Haitian migrants were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with illegal landing.

According to court dockets, the group of nine women and 15 men were arrested during a joint law enforcement operation along the southern coast of New Providence on Tuesday morning.

Initial reports from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) indicated that 16 migrants were captured after their wooden sloop was discovered in waters off South Beach around 1am on January 1.

In subsequent searches of the Yamacraw Beach, Joe Farrington Road, Sea Breeze, Sir Lynden Pindling Estates, Pinewood Gardens, South Beach and Marshall Road

communities, officers captured several more migrants, one of whom was a minor, all suspected of being passengers on the sloop.

In court yesterday, all 24 migrants pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal landing and were convicted by Magistrate Kara Deveaux-Turnquest and turned over to the Department of Immigration for deportation.

This was the second group of Haitian migrants prosecuted for illegal landing in less than a week.

One hundred and sixteen Haitian migrants were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court on Monday, all charged with illegal landing.

The group was captured with several minors, bringing the total to 124.

According to the RBDF, over 400 Haitian migrants were captured in 2018.

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not be officials could T to press time. reached up

By AVA TURNQUES to sources Reporter of According .net Tribune Chief matter, as tribunemedia close to the Wells has since aturnquest@ Mr Progres- Monday his accounts FOUR former Cabinet paid $9,000 on balParty an outstanding ARNOLD sive Liberal more than with $8,600.

FORBES ministers owedat Bahamas ance of some also said as $62,023 The source Forbes was one $20,000 each Mr Light, with Power and in arrears of Monday the company former minister as of July, in talks with balance over settle the Mr for some $60,000 a list obtained to three-month period. a according to PLP Mount

by The Tribune.and Collec- Forbes, former was appointed MP, Credit The 2015, listing of Moriah in January the tions Department and board to Cabinet served as MPs, senators the period and previouslythe Bahamas of for members 31, revealed chairman and Industrial July ending State Minister Agricultural . that former of Works Corporation the “do not Others on are: former in the Ministry owed BPL list disconnect” Arnold Forbes Health Dr of $62,023.14.

by The Minister former Tall The list obtained delin- Perry Gomez, Leslie Miller, Tribune contains of six Pines MP Youth Minister of former quent accounts Cabinet minis- former Johnson, Dion former PLP PLP MPs, Dr Danny Village MP ters, two former Tourism DR DANIEL entities, and Nassau , two private Cabinet min- Smith, former JOHNSON Obie Wilchcombe one sitting $24,413 Town MP Minister South Beach MP and former ister: Bamboo Hamilton State Renward Wells. who owed Cleola of Mr Wells, $3,703.96 at former Minister Damian Affairs $9,277.07 and locations - for Legal two separatetotal – did not Gomez.

SEE PAGE EIGHT $12,981.03 in yesterwant to comment other former day, and the

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By AVA TURNQUES Reporter t Tribune Chief ibunemedia.ne aturnquest@tr Sewerage WATER and Chairman Corporation yesterday Adrian Gibson existence the confirmed disconnect” of a “do not by scores list populatedthe governof elites at utility owned to ment he pledged provider as on initiate a crackdown accounts. delinquent told The Mr Gibson l “confidentia Tribune the 221accounts, of list” held total with a combined the period $175,000 for2017. ending June he plans He said that corporathe to direct all persons tion to notify arrears owing excessive or face debts to resolve n. disconnectio a list confi“There is the Long dential list,” Island MP said. would think I fact, “In s corporation that all the year or two, in over the last and more particularly year, there May of thisclose attenhas been that list by tion paid to t with the managemen changing the a view to lists usually way those operate. this con“As it stands, a number has fidential list on it, and of persons it’s being really and trulypersons by used to notify or letters. courtesy call that as the I can say toothe corporachairman of to direct tion I am going owing that all personswho are excessive arrears EIGHT SEE PAGE at the end of

DR PERRY GOMEZ $24,498

LESLIE MILLER $42,219

DION SMITH $9,275

RENWARD WELLS $12,980

BPL WHO RUNS is quite willCRUNCH DAY OVER utilityto operator from it “walk away”

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By NEIL HARTNELL Editor $25m, five-year maximum t contract et Tribune Business ibunemedia.n BPL managemen nhartnell@tr and Minnis if the board wish it to go. on Power & BAHAMAS board will administrati which will The meeting,PowerSecure Light’s (BPL) by meeting” hold a “crunch e today, be attendedand their attorneys key with PowerSecurlikely crit- executives is viewed as the from the US, with the outcome whether the to determining whethermake and ical in decidingas manager. sides will “kiss latter remainsTribune Busi- two separate. up” or Multiple - SEE BUSINESS yesterday FULL STORY US ness sources that the confirmed

HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT

seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875.

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AS HE called SEE PAGE SIX RASPBERRY Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, made a mistake” mer Prime who ICED TEA “the party resign as leader Mr Sears, Mr Christie.

Free NaChristie to Liberal in choosing to lose to the Al- jected Movement’s (FNM) of the Progressive last night, the tional Party (PLP) said he saw fred Sears

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Dr Hubert MinPRIME Minister Kendera Woodside, nis meeting murdered Eugene the mother of

this Yes I feel for y our countries.than I can say.” more ensure has a responsibilit one mother said he will Each citizen information Dr Minnis provided to and whatever that forward. medical attention is is pregnant. the composure. said he felt the fam- has we must bring among us.” who after feel live Dr Minnis Mrs Woodside, the grieving and days makes me Three These criminals who emphasised country’s he “You can see of those pushed the ily’s pain. “What through,” Mrs Minnis, that her appearis that most during murder that violent crime into ROLLE she’s going someI, even worse

By RASHAD Reporter not a pain “I assured her that the family the yard, struggle with spotlight yet again, them was doctor, to will have we see in Tribune Staff ance before called on women said. today (Friday) we to look the national as a medical emedia.net acute. rrolle@tribun come my my years political move,one day this week time her pain remained live a life, medical personnel she’s pregand comforting cried.

“He ain’t even to wear blackfor murder victims.

Dr because THE hugs sure that after her Prime Minister wife God,” Mrs Woodsidegive my in mourning calling upon nant. I have to make I’m his words of could I and infant are a baby. my really “As a mother, Hubert Minnis couldn’t answer “He’s right now just for because I this,” her and her unborn will also make take all mothers can stop Patricia Minnis that consumed breath be right here. They well and we sure the to believe mothers who was tearful both ts to make the questions yesterday as babyheart out my body. who arrangemen medical personnel They said Mrs Minnis, eight- my Kendera Woodside have our sons on a only son. for her son, killed times. “We birth and as they necessary her and see her “This my my daughter too after she grieved of them at from the safety who was still with look almost shoot (the house) with would’ve delivered most knowing we cradle basis to ensure infant.” year-old Eugene, men we are to me with regular they inside four days ago. people ain’t tell- and What they do to my family? so they are closer patients,” Dr becomeWe have to speakshould of her and her unborn PAGE TWO SEE them. my former women proare all “Why these bringing my son me. they do to us? by they st I think week me? I we them. ain’ carry one day this ing me they she cried between What Minnis, a gynaecologi “The message “Why they wear black what’s happening in a baby.” tried to right now?” fession, said. the entire Bahamas 29 years, He’s Dr Minnis and mourn Eugene’s Rose- live screams as must send to this alone.

Tonio Woodside, family at theirEugene wife even is the police can’t fight console the consoled his home where on father, struggled to maintain bud Road a stray bullet as he was shot by did his homework. he Monday as

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By NEIL HARTNELL Editor Rolle, minForce’s (CFATF) BRENSIL et Tribune Business services he included that were not The Bahamas ibunemedia.n report on his staff ister of public nhartnell@tr 1,700 workers Gen- that he instructedaddressing and National Insurance, in his original count.

December Progressive THE Attorneyslammed to begin work on June.

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by Liberal Party’sadministrablasted the 2016 and in the nation’s the ballooned Mr Bethel deficiencies adminis- public purse laundering of the of the Minnisof its firings anti-money former Christie to tackle $16,532,738 because on’s tion because “entirely unacfailing administrati regime as SEE PAGE SIX they had tration for with the Christie public service ceptable”, warning “in great known weaknesses hiring of new that period. during put The Bahamas necessary urgency. workers BUSINESS danger”. told Trib- FULL STORY - SEE Carl Bethelhe had been une Business

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TERS yesFIREFIGH a large blaze terday battled Providence at the New three weeks Landfill, nearly a massive that after tackling city dump fire at the nearly a month. burned for Charge of Fire Officer in Chief SuperinServices, Evans said tendent Walter is “not confire the the current any way to this nected” in and at previous blazedo not know time officials the fire. Howwhat caused t Minister ever Environmen told rehe Kenred Dorsett the site that porters at “sabotage” in said suspected the fire. He relation to the team he “instructed”to have the of firefighters “before and blaze extinguished day” today nomination Baha Mar’s certainly before Friday. opening on started shortly The blaze and Wednesday after 3am officEvans said Chief Supt battle the fire to but ers expect another day for at least wind is a “huge” he said the factor.

SEE PAGE SIX

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G concern ADMITTIN Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Christroubled his visibly portions of his tie detailed with last conversation and longfriend childhood colleague on time political Thursday.

Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who throughout naciously” he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display . last conversation PAGE SIX SEE

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Prime Minister rings the bellrace for election

traditions. just a short ROLLE “Earlier today,present ParBy RASHAD Reporter the while ago, Tribune Staff officially disemedia.net liament was Christie said. rrolle@tribun Mr of Perry solved,”seat in the House “Every PRIME Minister the prover- Assembly is now vacant. the to you, Christie rang morning, “It is now left beloved bial bell yesterday that the 2017 citizenry of our who will announcing be held on nation, to decide in the next election willMay 10. fill those seats In doWednesday, address, givof Assembly.

His televisedOffice of the House you will also be dethe ing so, en live at the came mowho will form Prime Minister, Commis- ciding of the BahaPolice government years. ments after Greenslade, mas for the next five Ellison that mosioner as provost “You will make in what ns in his capacity decision proclamatio pray marshal, readHouse of As- mentous hope and fair elecoutside the Governor Gen- I earnestly be free and a spirited will from Pinsembly Marguerite Let tions following eral Dame Parliament. peaceful campaign. dling dissolving said he is but the forthcoming Mr Christie election will us contestwith all the vigour confident the and will fol- elections fair at our command.” be free and and peaceful SEE PAGE TWO low a spirited is consistent campaign that political with this country’s

TERED 170,000 HAVE REGIS NG DAY AHEAD OF POLLI

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PAGE 12, Thursday, January 3, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Pet society chief dismisses claims that dogs there have low life expectancy

BAHAMAS Humane Society.

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Humane Society president Kim Aranha said claims by a Canadian news site that dogs in the local shelter have a life expectancy of “only two to three years” are “absolute nonsense”.

On December 21, 2018 the Peterborough Examiner reported the successful delivery of 10 puppies from the Bahamas Humane Society to the Peterborough Humane Society through a global animal welfare partnership.

When contacted about this exchange, Mrs Aranha praised the partnership and noted it was the first of its kind for the Bahamas Humane Society. However, she denied the report about the dogs’ life expectancy.

Photo: Donavan McIntosh The Peterborough Examiner article stated: “Currently the small shelter in Nassau is providing shelter to more than 200 dogs, and because of the limited resources in the area, most dogs there have a life expectancy of only two to three years.

“The puppies were brought to Canada with the hope they will enjoy a longer life here.”

Mrs Aranha described those remarks to The Tribune as “absolute nonsense”.

“I have no idea what they’re talking about saying that their life expectancy is two to three years,” she said.

“The only thing I think that that might come from is we had said that if dogs live on the street, they probably won’t live more than two to three years.

“But once they get to the Humane Society and they’re taken care of and they find a good home, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t live 12-15 years.”

“I read that in the Peterborough (Examiner) and I thought, ‘what are they trying to say?’”

Mrs Aranha continued. “It’s absolute nonsense.”

When asked how long dogs live in the Bahamas Humane Society if they are not adopted, Mrs Aranha said they haven’t had any animals who have stayed longer than a year and a half before they’ve found a home, but noted they can live “as long as they have to” at the Humane Society.

“There is no finite number…a dog in the shelter, as long as he’s happy, will live as long he will live anywhere else,” she said.

The Peterborough Examiner article noted that 24 puppies in total travelled from Nassau to Peterborough.

Mrs Aranha clarified that the additional dogs came from Claire Cash, who has a local rescue called Puppy Palace.

“Claire takes a lot of our puppies for us, because we get overflow,” Mrs Aranha said. “So that’s where the fact that some of these puppies were ours, some of them were hers.

“It was a collection of puppies from her organisation and ours and some of them were ours that had been at her place for some time.

“She organised the whole thing…Obviously I knew about it, I was supporting it, but I was not an organiser.”

Mrs Aranha also provided some

background on the global animal partnership.

“It’s just a group of humane societies around the world that are trying to help each other out and place animals or puppies especially.

“There are a lot of refuge centres in a lot of cities that actually don’t have very many puppies.

And so they’re looking for puppies.

“So we have too many puppies, they don’t have any puppies, the idea is to try and (send) these animals around the world so they’re at the right places for the right homes.”

When asked how often this kind of exchange takes places from the Bahamas Humane Society, Mrs Aranha said: “It’s the first for us.

So hopefully it will happen more often.”

The Tribune Always uncovering more

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 3, 2019, PAGE 13

Why the offshore wind industry is set to take off

By MATTHEW LACKNER Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst and ERIN BAKER Professor of Industrial Engineering applied to Energy Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst

THERE are only five wind turbines operating in US waters today. But that will likely soon change, partly because of states with ambitious offshore wind targets.

Off the Massachusetts coastline, for example, Vineyard Wind aims to build one of the nation’s first commercialscale offshore wind farms. This planned 800-megawatt offshore wind farm will be capable of generating enough electricity to power at least 400,000 homes. And Rhode Island has given the company Deepwater Wind a green light to build a 400-megawatt offshore wind farm as well. These turbines, all of which are slated to be located near the island of Martha’s Vineyard, would be among several big offshore wind projects that could transform the grid.

We lead an offshore wind energy graduate programme at the University of Massachusetts that brings together engineering, wildlife ecology, public engagement and political science students. Through this work, we have come to believe offshore will become a major new source of domestic renewable energy for the nation.

Momentum from the market and the states The Massachusetts and Rhode Island ventures are planned to be built only a few miles away from the site that had been slated for Cape Wind, which was supposed to be the first commercial-scale offshore wind project ever built in the US. What changed after those plans collapsed in 2015 following a 13-year effort?

Perhaps the biggest momentum is coming from market forces, which have improved.

Cape Wind’s troubles stemmed from a mix of high costs and public and political opposition that doomed the project. But the pace of nuclear and coal-fired plant closures has picked up since then.

Meanwhile, the cost of generating electricity through wind off the coast of Europe, the one region where the industry has gained critical mass, has decreased sharply.

In the US, the Trump administration is approving new leases for offshore wind development. And the industry is gaining state-level support, especially in an East Coast corridor that runs as far south as North Carolina.

Despite Cape Wind’s demise, Massachusetts became the first state to set offshore wind goals in 2016. It aims to install at least 1,600 megawatts of electricity – enough to power over 600,000 homes – by 2027. Soon after, New York released an even more ambitious master plan, which aims to install 2,400 megawatts of electricity by 2030.

Then, New Jersey went further, committing to a 3,500-megawatt goal by 2030.

Besides these three states, another five – Maryland, Virginia, Rhode Island, North Carolina and Delaware – are also moving forward, with federally approved leases to develop offshore windfarms. One in five Americans lives in these eight states. The 600,000 jobs the Energy Department predicts that onshore and offshore wind energy will create by 2050 help explain their interest.

Meanwhile, things are moving forward in other states as well. Hawaii plans to rely heavily on offshore wind as part of its goal of getting all its power from renewable sources by 2045. Like states on the West Coast, Hawaii has not got federal approval yet for any leases.

An energy gap When you flip a switch, you expect the lights to turn on. Yet few Americans are aware of the delicate balance between supply and demand that makes it possible for the nation’s lights, appliances and factories to keep humming.

Grid operators ensure different sources of generation, primarily coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy like wind, hydropower and solar, meet demand.

This mix varies by region, time of day and season, and the balance between these different electricity sources has changed significantly in the past two decades.

The biggest transformations are the rising share of power derived from natural gas and wind and the decline in coal. As recently as 2000, coal produced more than half of the nation’s electricity, while natural gas contributed only 13 percent, and a combination of wind, solar and geothermal energy powered less than one percent of the grid. By 2017, the share of coal-fired power had fallen to 30 percent and natural gas had jumped to 32 percent. The share of electricity from renewable sources aside from hydropower – primarily wind – had hit eight percent and was growing rapidly.

The share of nuclear power has remained steady at about 20 percent of the national grid, but that will change as many old nuclear reactors are decommissioned. In New England, for example, the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, will shut down in 2019. Four nuclear plants serving customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania are now scheduled to close as well.

Meanwhile, the Brayton Point coal plant, the last in New England, also stopped operating in 2017. All told, utilities and state power authorities are retiring about 16 percent of the region’s generating capacity between 2013 and 2021, including coal-fired plant and nuclear reactor closures.

With all the coal and nuclear closures across the country, experts anticipate that the US will need approximately three terawatt hours of new capacity by 2050.

This projection, which is based on historical trends at a time when the grid is being transformed, is a massive amount of electricity, equal to about three-fourths of all the power Americans consumed in 2017.

Filling that gap may be daunting, but it also creates a chance to upgrade the nation’s power infrastructure while helping to tackle climate change.

Lower offshore wind prices Even with an impending burst of demand for new power sources, the offshore wind industry would not be nearly as promising if not for the plunging prices seen in Europe, where the industry has already taken off. In 2010, electricity generated through offshore wind off the European coastline cost around 17 cents per kilowatt hour, more than twice what utilities were paying for power derived from burning gas and coal. The price fell to around 13 cents by 2017. But when Germany and the Netherlands recently awarded some of the first unsubsidised offshore wind contracts, bids had fallen to as little as six cents.

What’s driving this decline? A number of factors. Wind turbine blades keep getting longer. These blades are now nearly as long as football fields – about 270 feet – on eight-megawatt turbines. The extra length means they capture more power, generating more revenue from every turbine.

In addition, offshore wind turbines have grown more reliable, and government subsidies and mandates have incubated and sped the development of Europe’s industry. While electricity from US offshore wind farms will initially cost system operators more in the US than in Europe – as is common with any breakthrough projects – we predict that prices will fall once the market gets bigger here.

The Energy Department projects that there will be a total 86 gigawatts of US installed offshore wind capacity by 2050, about seven percent of the capacity of today’s grid and only four percent of the vast potential to harness this kind of energy. Given the speed with which prices are falling in Europe, we believe that offshore wind could ultimately play an even bigger role than that, especially should the federal government again make fighting climate change a top priority. theconversation.com

PAGE 14, Thursday, January 3, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BORDER AGENTS FIRED TEAR GAS INTO MEXICO ON NEW YEAR’S DAY TIJUANA, Mexico Associated Press

JUST after people raised their glasses to ring in the New Year, about 150 migrants gathered at a section of border wall in Tijuana to try to cross into the United States, many of them asylum seekers fed up with waiting months to have their claims processed.

On the other side, US border patrol agents wearing camouflage and night-vision goggles and carrying assault-style rifles yelled, “Get back!” in Spanish.

American activists accompanying the migrants shouted at agents in English not to fire tear gas because children were present.

Several migrants tried to climb the corrugated metal wall,

MCDONALD’S CUSTOMER ARRESTED FLORIDA Associated Press

A MAN is under arrest after authorities say he grabbed the shirt of a Florida McDonald’s employee and tried to pull her over a counter. The employee responded by punching the customer several times in the face at the St. Petersburg restaurant on Monday.

A witness says the fight started when the customer asked for a straw. Police say the video shows Daniel Taylor grabbing Yasmine James’ shirt. James responded by hitting him several times. Taylor is charged with two counts of simple battery for grabbing James and for kicking another worker in the stomach as he was being escorted out.

prompting agents to fire the first volley of tear gas. When migrants approached the wall again, authorities fired a second round and then a third.

The migrants fled, screaming, crying and coughing. One mother was hysterical after briefly losing her children in the thick smoke and darkness.

It was the second time in a little over a month that US authorities fired tear gas into Mexico. The action drew sharp criticism from politicians and activists on both sides of the border and raised questions about the use of force against migrants.

President Donald Trump yesterday defended the actions.

Tuesday’s confrontation showed that “people tried to charge the

border and couldn’t,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

He described the border as being “like a sieve” and noted that the tear gas was “flying” overnight to deter the migrants and added that it’s “very tough” to keep immigrants out.

Trump was making his case for $5.6 billion from Congress for a wall at the border and vowing that the partial government shutdown now in its 12th day will last “as long as it takes” to get the money.

US customs and border protection said tear gas, pepper spray and smoke were used to target rock throwers, not the migrants who were trying to cross. It said agents could not help small children who were being passed over

US border protection officer arrests a migrant who crossed the border fence to get into the US

the concertina wire from getting hurt because of the rocks being thrown.

Several teenagers, wrapped in heavy jackets, blankets and rubber mats, were also put over the concertina wire.

An Associated Press photographer saw rocks thrown only after US agents fired the tear gas. Customs and border protection said the incident would be reviewed to ensure compliance with the agency’s use-of-force policy.

The agency said 25 migrants were detained while others crawled back into Mexico through a hole under the fence. An AP photographer saw migrants put their hands up or behind their heads once they crossed the border as agents approached.

Romney’s blistering attack on Trump WASHINGTON Associated Press MITT ROMNEY, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and incoming Utah senator, has quickly set himself apart from other Republicans in the new Congress with a blistering attack on President Donald Trump’s leadership and character. Romney’s strong denunciation could mark the start of a new rivalry within the party.

Romney put to rest expectations that he would take

his time getting his footing in Washington. Instead, in a column published two days before Romney was sworn into office, he said Trump’s “conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.”

Trump, in a Twitter response, said he hoped Romney wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of Sen. Jeff Flake, who often criticised Trump and paid the price, opting to retire rather than

risk defeat in a GOP primary in 2018. “Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful,” Trump tweeted. “I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!” Romney’s remarks prompted swift backlash from allies of the president in the Republican Party — including his own niece, Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.

McDaniel retweeted Trump’s remarks about Romney and added that the president is constantly “attacked and obstructed” by the media and Democrats.

“For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack” Trump @realdonaldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive,” McDaniel tweeted.

GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said the 2020 election hopes of many Republicans in the Senate and House will be tied to Trump. He said that the criticisms were bad for the Republican Party and made it harder to get things done in the Senate.

“I don’t think the president deserves a new senator coming in attacking his character,” Paul said.

MITT ROMNEY Romney will be sworn in as a senator today. By taking on Trump so early in his Senate career, Romney could be picking up where Flake and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., another retiring senator, left off.

Their retirements left some wondering whether any other Republicans would be willing to publicly criticize the president. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., noted that almost half the Senate Republicans are up for reelection in 2020 and some may feel the need to push back against Trump.

“They just saw what happened in 2018,” Durbin said, referring to Republicans losing the House majority in November. “I think, once they do polling back home, not all of them but many of them will find that independence is being rewarded.”

Romney has had his public run-ins with the president before and tried to prevent him from

winning the GOP nomination in 2016. In one speech, Romney said there was plenty of evidence that Trump was “a con man, a fake.” In that same speech, he said, “Dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark.”

But after the presidential election, Romney eased off the criticism and interviewed to become Trump’s secretary of state. Trump picked former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who lasted about 14 months before Trump fired him.

During his Senate campaign, Romney insisted that he would agree with Trump on some issues and not be shy about disagreeing with him on others. Romney appears to have more room with GOP voters in Utah to take on the president. More than half the voters in the state, 64 percent, would like to see Romney confront the president, according to data from AP VoteCast, a survey of midterm voters.

Romney, in his opinion column, credited Trump for cutting corporate taxes, stripping out what he described as excessive regulation and appointing conservative judges. But he said policies and appointments are only part of being a president.

A president, Romney wrote, must also demonstrate honesty and integrity and elevate the national discourse.

BRAZIL’S BOLSONARO TARGETS MINORITIES ON HIS FIRST DAY SAO PAULO, Brazil Associated Press

NEWLY installed President Jair Bolsonaro targeted Brazil’s indigenous groups, descendants of slaves and the LGBT community with executive orders in the first hours of his administration, moving quickly after a campaign in which the far-right leader said he would radically overhaul many aspects of life in Latin America’s largest nation.

Sao Paulo’s stock market, meanwhile, jumped 3.56 percent to a record closing of 91,012 points as new Cabinet ministers reinforced the intent to privatise stateowned companies and a Brazilian arms maker benefited from Bolsonaro’s plans to loosen gun controls. Similar spikes in stock

prices also occurred during the presidential campaign.

One of the orders issued late on Tuesday, hours after Bolsonaro’s inauguration, likely will make it all but impossible for new lands to be identified and demarcated for indigenous communities. Areas set aside for “Quilombolas,” as descendants of former slaves are known, are also affected by the decision.

Another order removed the concerns of the LGBT community from consideration by the new human rights ministry.

In a move favorable to his allies in agribusiness, which have criticized giving large swaths of lands to the indigenous, Bolsonaro transferred the responsibilities for delineating indigenous territories from the Justice Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry.

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PAGE 16, Thursday, January 3, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Road at Smith’s Point will reopen after railing installed

THE SMITH’s Point settlement is well known for its weekly Fish Fry on Wednesdays.

The seawall resolves many years of coastal erosion at the settlement

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

www.dunkinbahamas.com @dunkinbahamas

IRAM Lewis, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, said that the closure of the road along the seaside in Smith’s Point is for public safety and will reopen as soon as the railing is installed on the newly constructed seawall.

He said the absence of a railing poses a risk to the motoring public and he is asking Grand Bahama residents and the public to have a little more patience.

The area has been under construction for the past two years to accommodate the $4.8m seawall project undertaken by the government. Barricades and fencing have been erected to prevent public access of the road along the seaside.

When The Tribune visited the area in late December, resident Marcel Wilson, of Outriggers Beach Club, said residents are pleased with the work, but are eager for the road to be reopened to the public.

Mr Wilson said that reopening the road is vital to

the livelihood of area residents. The Smith’s Point settlement is well known for its weekly Fish Fry on Wednesdays.

Residents operate small family restaurants and bars in the community and rely on customers who frequent the area.

“We are happy with the job; just a little frustrated now because it has been two years. We need it to be open because people are starting to feel the pinch economically from the road still being closed,” Mr Wilson said in late December.

When contacted on Monday, Mr Lewis indicated that the contractor, Waugh Construction, has ordered the railing for the seawall and is now waiting on the suppliers to have it shipped to The Bahamas.

“There have been a lot of requests for the road on the seaside to be reopened, but we would be putting the government at serious risk,” Mr Lewis said.

The parliamentary secretary, who is also an architect by profession, said that the government has to ensure

the area is safe for the public before reopening the road.

“We know persons have been walking through, patronising the conch stands and businesses, but from our perspective, the road is not open to vehicular traffic because of a safety factor,” he explained.

“During the yuletide season we could have opened it, but we cannot afford for one person to be injured or any life lost. We are asking residents and the public to be patient for a little while longer,” Mr Lewis said.

He said that Waugh Construction had done a tremendous job with the seawall project.

“To put pressure on the contractor (to open the road) after doing such a great job and put them at risk is not a predicament we would want to put anyone in,” he said.

In addition to the seawall, the government has also completed road repaving at Smith’s Point. The seawall resolves many years of coastal erosion at the settlement and protects against storm surge.