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VOLUME:115 No.30, JANUARY 4TH, 2018

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Police detain 3 in WSC theft probe

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force’s (RBPF) probe into theft allegations at the Water and Sewerage Corporation intensified yesterday after investigators questioned three WSC employees, The Tribune can confirm.

These interrogations, The Tribune was told, began around 10am and involved non-managerial staff members attached to WSC’s New Providence operations.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle, the officer-in-charge of the RBPF’s Anti-Corruption Unit, confirmed his team began their interviews yesterday, but declined to give further details.

He said he could not say

WHY KILL MY JOEL?

whether any of the three people would be held overnight for questioning.

Preceding this aspect of police investigations, The Tribune was told several internal memos were circulated warning employees of the unauthorised use of corporation equipment or its property for personal purposes.

This probe has been a point of contention with Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union President Dwayne Woods, who told this newspaper on Tuesday the investigation at WSC is over as far as the union representing line staff is concerned.

He added that if the corporation continued probing this issue “they will have war”.

SEE PAGE FIVE

ILLEGALS OFFENSIVE UNSETTLES BUSINESS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net BUSINESS leaders yesterday lined up to caution the government over threats of financial penalties if they are caught employing illegal immigrants.

Edison Sumner, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer Confederation (BCCEC) CEO said while companies should comply with the law the government should remember businesses shoulder the weight of the economy.

He was joined by Arawak Port Development (APD) CEO and BCCEC Chairman Mike Maura who said

the Minnis administration’s latest warning to employers about hiring undocumented immigrants was “establishing fear” in the minds of business owners.

However, he too was adamant there should be no excuse for any business to hire illegal employees.

The business community spoke out the day after Immigration Minister Brent Symonette warned employers had the remainder of this week to send all illegal workers home while at the same time signalling the government’s “aggressive” campaign to clamp down SEE PAGE SIX

ULEAN AUGUSTINE, the wife of Joel Augustine, who was killed in Grand Bahama on Monday night, looks through a photo album. See page three for the full story.

Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff

BIG FISH

THE Grand Celebration cruise ship broke from its moorings in rough seas in Freeport harbour and a small airplane toppled over after landing at the airport due to severe weather conditions that moved into Grand Bahama yesterday.

According to reports, a strong cold front moved across the northwest Bahamas bringing strong winds and gust to gale force winds across the extreme northwest

THE CRUISE ship after the collision with the dock.

Bahamas while also generating sea swells and rain.

Conditions were very chilly and windy in Grand Bahama.

The island experienced cloudy to occasionally overcast skies,

cool and windy conditions, along with widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly over the extreme northwestern. Seas were eight to 12 feet or higher in moderate to large northeasterly swells.

The Tribune understands that sometime around 2pm, while the Grand Celebration was docked at the harbour, the ship’s mooring lines broke loose and the vessel was pushed into the concert dock as a result of rough sea conditions.

SEE PAGE TWO

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PM THANKS STAFF AFTER EYE OPERATION PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis praised the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday who he said gave excellent service while he underwent a minor surgery to remove a cataract from one of his eyes.

Dr Minnis left the hospital shortly after the surgery on Wednesday and said he is recovering well at home.

He said his first order of business when he gets back to work is focusing on improving the quality of life for all Bahamians.

Speaking to The Tribune shortly after being discharged from PMH, Dr Minnis said he had great confidence in the doctors there.

“I have the great confidence in the health care system, (the general public) should also. After all, my entire career was with PMH and the healthcare system and PMH has contributed to where I am today.”

SEE PAGE SIX

MARIJUANA ISSUE ‘NOT ON AGENDA’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands reiterated yesterday that legalising marijuana is not on the Minnis administration’s agenda.

His statement came as CARICOM prepares to host a local town hall meeting in Nassau tomorrow on the issue.

“We would prefer to use our political capital on issues of job creation, empowerment of Bahamians, crime, health and education because while you can walk and chew gum at the same time, there is only so much contentious debate that you ought to engage in at any given time,” Dr Sands told The Tribune.

SEE PAGE THREE

GRAND CELEBRATION PORT DRAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

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SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, January 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

CRUISE passengers waiting as they see whether they can go back on the ship after the collision.

Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff

Grand Celebration port drama by

THE GRAND Celebration in port after the collision.

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Several tugboats were dispatched to assist the vessel, which was seen being pushed away from the dock to another area in the harbour.

Meanwhile, many of the ship’s returning passengers began arriving at the terminal around 3pm to board the ship, but could not because the vessel had been moved to another berth.

The strong winds also brought down the huge canopy tent at the terminal

to protect passengers from the rain. Passengers waited in long lines outside the terminal waiting to board the ship.

It is believed the ship’s hull may have sustained slight damage during the incident. However, The Tribune could not reach the shipping agent for the cruise ship or port officials to confirm the information.

There was also an incident at the Grand Bahama International Airport involving a small plane which was toppled over by the breeze.

According to a witness,

the plane had just landed and was taxiing down the runway when it was blown over by the wind.

The pilot was not injured in the incident.

According to weather reports, similar conditions are expected to continue in Grand Bahama on Thursday.

For the next two days, a cold front is expected to move through the central and southeast Bahamas Thursday ushering in cool and breezy conditions with scattered showers in the southeastern islands.

A PLANE apparently flipped by the winds in Grand Bahama, in this photograph posted to social media.

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THE TRIBUNE

Why kill my Joel?

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ULEAN Augustine is devastated over the shooting death of her husband and wants to know why anyone would want to kill the father of her three children days after he celebrated his 40th birthday.

Joel Augustine, a 40-year-old electrician, was shot dead outside the family’s residence at Gladstone Terrace on New Year’s Day. His murder in Grand Bahama was the country’s first homicide for 2018.

Police have no leads and are investigating the matter.

Mrs Augustine described her husband of ten years as a hardworking and caring person. She was at the Junkanoo parade when she received a frantic call from her daughter telling her to come home.

“When my daughter

called, she told me to hurry come home, and I was like what happened, so I dropped everything and locked the barber shop,” she said.

Mrs Augustine said when she arrived in the area, police had blocked off the road, and she could not get through.

“I asked them what happened, they said that someone got shot and that they could not let me through because it was a criminal investigation,” she recalled.

Mrs Augustine’s brother told her the tragic news.

“I saw my brother, and he told me that...Joel just got shoot, and I broke down.”

Her husband was a selfemployed electrician for many years on Grand Bahama.

Augustine was also the owner of the Arcade Barber Shop in downtown Freeport. He also acted as a talk show host of a radio

programme which aired every Saturday night on Love 97 FM. Mrs Augustine said her husband was a good father.

The couple has an eightyear-old son together, and Augustine was the stepfather to his wife’s two children.

“They are taking it very hard,” she said. “Joel was a hard worker and loved his family and his son; he was always smiling and cracking jokes, and he cared for people and would give you his last to anyone.

“This is a shock to the family,” said Mrs Augustine, adding her husband just celebrated his 40th birthday on Christmas Eve, and the couple’s son is expected to celebrate a birthday this month.

The family recently moved into the neighbourhood last year, and Mrs Augustine is puzzled as to who would do this to her

husband. She said her husband and their son were very close.

“Our son is going to be nine on January 15, and they did everything together,” she said.

With her husband gone, Mrs Augustine said it is hard to fathom running the business alone because “he was always there; he (was a huge) part of my life.”

“Every time I see someone that he is close with, it brings back memories, and it hurts. I want to know why. I don’t think he did anything to no one, and so what is the reason? He is liked by everyone. He was a nice person, and he always tried to help people,” she said.

Police are appealing to anyone with information that can assist them with their investigation to call police at 242-350-3109 through 12, 919, 911 or the nearest police station.

Thursday, January 4, 2018, PAGE 3

JOEL AUGUSTINE

MARIJUANA ISSUE ‘NOT ON AGENDA’ from page one

“This is like Junkanoo, a Valley and Saxons thing.

People have strong feelings that either you shouldn’t or you should legalise the drug. Some older persons believe that it is the root of all evil. Some people in law enforcement genuinely believe it destroys the brain and bear in mind if you look at the experience we had with marijuana in the 1970s, a longstanding hypothesis was that marijuana started us down the road to the drug culture. Whether valid or not, it is certainly an existing, respected view in this country.”

Dr Sands said when the time comes, the country must be prepared to “debate very tough, emotive issues” like marijuana.

“My concern is a lot of these discussions end up with terms like ‘ya ma’ or ‘carry your you know what,’” he said. “I don’t know how much of it is a discussion or a row. As the former US President Barack Obama said, we have to be able to advance these conversations and disagree without being disagreeable.”

Meanwhile, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said in a statement the opposition party is interested in the medicinal possibilities of marijuana and in saving young men from the stigma associated with using the drug.

Before he became an elected official, Dr Sands publicly expressed support for decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana. He now stresses that as a Cabinet minister his personal views don’t matter because, in keeping with Westminster traditions, he speaks on behalf of the government.

In a Facebook post in 2014, the Elizabeth MP said: “Let us decriminalise possession of small quantities of marijuana to free up our criminal justice

DR DUANE SANDS MP system for more heinous crimes.”

Yesterday, he said the government’s official position is that marijuana “is not an issue The Bahamas is going to lead the discussions on, notwithstanding the fact that this is a very topical issue not only around the world but in the Caribbean.

Dr Sands added: “There are people who believe that marijuana could be the economic saviour of the region.

Conspiracy theorists suggest that if we are too slow this will be another product that the western world will control and yet again the persons in the Caribbean will become slaves to those who have controlled the economy of ganja.

“Whatever you believe, this is clearly an important discussion and while we are prepared to facilitate the discussion and canvass views of the Bahamian population, this administration is not seeking to drive this agenda.”

Dr Sands said global trends won’t dictate the administration’s marijuana policy.

“If you look at what’s happening in the US, many states have not only decriminalised but legalised both medicinal and recreational use of marijuana but the

POLICE HUNT FOR SHOOTING SUSPECT POLICE are searching for the suspect responsible for a shooting that left a man in hospital on Tuesday.

Shortly after 11pm, a man was standing outside a residence on St John’s Road in Pinewood Gardens, when he was approached by a man armed with a firearm, who shot him before running off, police said. The victim was taken to hospital where he is detained in stable condition.

An is ongoing.

federal government has not. You go further north to Canada they have an even more liberal view perhaps. But just because other countries are doing it and have done it, while we have to be mindful of what’s going on in the world, at the point in time when this becomes an important agenda item driven by the population and the narrative, then I think we can advance with the debate as a civil society.”

CARICOM’s regional commission on marijuana was established in 2014. Its objectives include examining the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean to determine whether the drug should be made more accessible. The regional commission will hold its first town hall in the Bahamas tomorrow at the Holy Trinity Activity Centre at 6pm to learn how Bahamians feel about decriminalising the substance.

Asked about his party’s marijuana views yesterday, Mr Mitchell said: “The CARICOM process on marijuana which is now unfolding is one which was initiated at CARICOM with the support of the government of the Bahamas when the PLP was in power. We nominated Bishop Simeon Hall as

our representative on the commission.

“We believe that having regard to the changing attitudes toward marijuana use around The Bahamas, the region and in the United States and Canada, there needs to be a study of the issue to provide guidance from our various peoples on which direction the law should take. We encourage all people to go to the meetings and air their views on this important subject.

Someone from our party will attend. We are particularly interested in saving so many of our young men from the continued stigmatisation of their lives and work because of marijuana use, and we are interested in any possible medicinal uses. The PLP believes in informed choices, thus our support for the CARICOM wide study.”

According to statistics police provided last year, 1,346 people were arrested for matters related to marijuana in 2016. Of these, 799 were taken into custody for possessing the drug, 537 for possession with the intent to supply, eight for cultivating marijuana plants and two for possessing capsules containing marijuana. In New Providence, 3,766.64lbs of marijuana were seized by police while 95.35lbs of the drug were seized in the Family Islands.

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THE TRIBUNE

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Opportunity in Utah for Romney SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — He has already made a fortune in business, managed an Olympics, served as governor and secured a presidential nomination. Now, Mitt Romney, at 70 years old, is considering a new career in Congress.

Those who know Romney best expect him to announce plans in the coming weeks to seek a suddenly vacant Utah Senate seat. Such a decision would mark an extraordinary resurgence for a Republican leader who had faded from the national spotlight after two failed White House bids and an unsuccessful push to block President Donald Trump’s rise to power.

While Romney has softened his anti-Trump rhetoric over the last year, longtime associates suggest the former Massachusetts governor is eager to bring a new moral conscience to the Republican Party in Washington.

“Obviously, he’s ambitious. But he’s ambitious for the right reason: to serve,” said former New Hampshire Attorney General Tom Rath, a longtime Romney friend. “Mitt Romney is a grown-up voice that America needs.

He will add dignity and common sense.”

Romney’s closest political allies were not given advance notice of Utah Sen Orrin Hatch’s announcement Tuesday that he would not seek reelection this fall, but the decision was not a surprise.

Romney, who moved to Utah after losing the 2012 presidential contest, met privately with Hatch last year to discuss Hatch’s possible retirement.

In the subsequent months, and with Hatch’s apparent blessing, he quietly expressed interest in running for the seat in Hatch’s absence. In recent weeks, however, Hatch seemed to be changing his mind — at Trump’s urging.

Facing the prospect of Romney’s resurgence, Trump openly pressured Hatch to stay in the Senate. His private lobbying campaign was bolstered by a public love fest in December, with Trump inviting Hatch with him on Air Force One in December when he shrunk the boundaries of two Utah monuments.

“Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President,” Trump tweeted Tuesday. “He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the US Senate!”

Few in Romney’s small inner circle were willing to speak publicly about his intentions Tuesday, preferring instead to keep the day’s focus on Hatch’s decades of public service.

Several spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss private discussions. None tamped down

speculation about Romney’s Senate ambitions.

Should he run, Romney is not expected to face significant resistance in Utah’s GOP primary contest or in the November general election.

Romney, who has five sons and 24 grandchildren, is perhaps the highestprofile Mormon in America and is hugely popular in Utah, where about 60 percent of residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

Beyond his religious connections, many remember Romney for turning around Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal. In the same city, he delivered a scathing speech in the spring of 2016 attacking Trump as “a fraud” who “has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president”.

The takedown resonated in Utah, a state steeped in a culture of courtesy, where people struggled to embrace Trump’s brash demeanor and comments about women, minorities and Muslims.

He finished third in the state’s Republican presidential caucus and earned a smaller percentage of the vote than any GOP presidential candidate in the last two decades.

Just last October, GOP Utah Gov Gary Herbert called Trump’s tenure up to that point “erratic” and noted that governing is different than running a business and is not a “dictatorship”.

But beyond Utah, Romney remains hated by many Trump loyalists. The hashtag NeverRomney quickly sprung up on Twitter in the hours after Hatch’s announcement. There also emerged a sense of resignation that little could be done to block his path to the Senate.

“The Republican base views Mitt Romney with the same disdain that they view Mitch McConnell,” said Andy Surabian, senior adviser to a pro-Trump super PAC allied with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon. “I think the conservative movement will look to weaken him at every turn to ensure he never becomes anything more than a junior senator from Utah.”

That’s just fine for some Utah Republicans, who are concerned with the fate of the GOP under Trump’s leadership.

Derek Miller, the president and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah, who had been considering a run for Hatch’s seat, said Romney would be a stabilising voice of the Republican Party.

“The Republican Party is going through turmoil right now, unfortunately,” Miller said. “I think Gov. Romney’s voice is an important voice right now in that debate of what the Republican Party stands for.”

By Steve Peoples and Michelle L Price, Associated Press

Dining with the media EDITOR, The Tribune.

function without a tie, Ministers! I must ask - are tights WOW, what a laugh - appropriate female dress just look how Dr Hubert code?

Minnis tried desperately Now let’s see what to swing the minds and Bahamian ting was on the thoughts of the local media menu? Well, starter a salad who he attacked so delib- - main course, from the erately only a few weeks photos shown, was salmon ago? a Ia ‘Exuma’ the only ting With a big fancy dinner at Bahamian because, sorry Government House. folks, the Prime Minister Photographs appearing obviously does not support on Facebook tell an inter- Bahamian cuisine. esting story. Look at the Who was there? lack of appropriate dress The whole of the Cabicode for Government net less wives - Patricia House? You do not attend (Minnis) was. any Government House Funnier still was with

whom the PM took a photograph - clearly he stills avoids facing the journalists who ask the divisive questions.

A piece of salmon, I doubt, will change the position of the Media. They will not forget those words from the Prime Minister quickly.

2018 will I believe see a more aggressive media as a result of the lack of performance of the Minnis Government.

ROSEMARY MOSS Nassau, December 31, 2017.

Marital rape law in action EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT is apparent that many who have submitted letters concerning marital rape do not understand the nuances involved with this topic.

Firstly, rape is an allegation that has to be proven, it is not a statement of fact.

Or is it an automatic conclusion that all men are guilty of marital rape if the charge is brought forth?

Consider the chaos it would cause if every allegation of a potentially criminal act were believed without proper investigation.

Secondly, rape does not have to be a violent act as many have suggested.

It is non-consensual sex between two people at the time it occurred, if I am not mistaken. There may be threats of violence or harm, but violence does not have to be involved. Rape and marital rape can occur with use of force or even threat of force. If force is threatened, there may be no physical evidence of force.

So now you have a situation where it is one person’s word against another.

Consider the scenario where a man comes home

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net extra tired, his wife is in the mood but he is not and he tells her this. He falls asleep and awakens to her “forcing” herself on him. Since he did not give consent and stated before he fell asleep that he did not want to, would she be guilty of marital rape if he were to press charges? Which begs the question of why would a person bring a charge of marital rape against their spouse unless the marriage is already over, for obviously the charge against one’s spouse would certainly end the relationship!

In addition, how many men would come forward in such a scenario? What if a wife says no, but her husband knows from experience that no may mean yes, is he now guilty of marital rape as well? So we see an inherent gender bias in this topic.

Consider another scenario where there is physical abuse in a relationship. A man beats his wife religiously and has for many

years. Everybody knows this, her family, his family and their neighbours.

Consider that as a part of their sick ritual they have “make up sex”. That sex is consensual. If that woman goes to the police station after they have made up, bloody and bruised and DNA analysis shows evidence of her husband’s “presence” would he be guilty of marital rape?

He may be guilty of domestic abuse, but not rape in this scenario.

Make no mistake, genuine marital rape may and probably does occur. Abuses of all kinds occur in marriages that are perpetrated by both sides. In our society the mere accusation of marital rape can cause a person their reputation or more. It cannot be approached with frenzied emotion.

At the present time, it seems to be an argument grasped by those who want to use it as a tool of female empowerment, not those who want justice for real victims.

JB Nassau, December 28, 2017.

Have new awards been approved?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AWARDS from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas are the sole legally supported Awards of the State by the Head of State in The Bahamas.

Has the Minnis Government obtained approval of Her Majesty to institute the recently approved Awards of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas?

A little research will show that New Zealand,

like us, has Her Majesty as their Head of State but they have recognised and awarded a List of New Zealand National Awards given by the Queen of New Zealand, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The implication of this is the newly approved Bahamas Awards are rinky-dink Awards of no recognition except in The Bahamas and probably not legal here as such awards have to be recognised by the Head of State - Her Majesty The Queen of

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Please note Archdeacon Sebastian Campbell, are they recognised by her?

2018 Queen’s New Year Honours List is more than interesting - it seems Larry Cartwright receives double awards - his appointment as Consul General in New York and a CMG (for I presume services for removing the past Long Island MP!) W THOMPSON Nassau, December 30, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 4, 2018, PAGE 5

Police detain 3 in WSC theft probe from page one Mr Woods told The Tribune the corporation had 20 days to investigate the claims according to the union’s industrial agreement and since the time has expired and they could not produce the evidence, the investigation must be closed.

Late last month, the union threatened to commence a “withdrawal of enthusiasm” if the corporation did not withdraw its

alleged intent to dismiss three union employees over allegations they stole a fire hydrant from WSC premises. The three employees are still reporting for work at the WSC. The Tribune was told yesterday WSC officials have now discovered seven fire hydrants are allegedly missing from a corporation storeroom.

The Tribune also reported in December that authorities were called in to review files of the internal investigation at the corporation,

which began as a theft probe but since turned up other “sensitive matters”.

It is not clear whether this is the same investigation to which Mr Woods has referred.

“The persons who were suspended have returned to work and the corporation has not said anything to the union about their intention to take action. So as far as the union is concerned, the matter is closed,” Mr Woods said Tuesday.

“According to the industrial agreement, you can

suspend an employee pending the outcome of an investigation with pay for 20 days maximum. They met that maximum so the union’s position, whether they write us or not, is the investigation is done. So legally that industrial agreement is binding and so what the union is saying is any action beyond this point becomes illegal, including continuing the investigation. He who alleges must prove. It is finished, the battle is over. If the corporation pursues, they will

leave the union no alternative but to withdraw its enthusiasm, if they continue their investigation it spells war.”

At a press conference last month, WSC Chairman Adrian Gibson told reporters he made the decision to file a formal complaint with police over findings of the Internal Controls and Compliance Division after consultation with Works Minister Desmond Bannister.

In addition to the internal investigation, the

government also engaged Ernst & Young to undertake a forensic audit of WSC. Five people have been sent on leave since investigations began; however, Mr Gibson confirmed three of these have since been brought back to work.

Asked by reporters about theft, Mr Gibson said there was an alleged theft of items and when asked the value, he said in the “thousands of dollars.”

He added there were several “offshoots” which were of grave concern.

MAN ACCUSED OF FIREARM OFFENCE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FROM left, Teiko Moss and Janvonne Rolle, who are accused of a robbery at a convenience store, and Jahfin Osias, who is accused of an armed robbery of a web cafe.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

THREE FACE COURT OVER RECENT ARMED ROBBERIES

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

TWO men were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the recent robbery of a convenience store that saw the thieves lock themselves in a walk-in freezer to evade capture.

Janvone Rolle, 22, and Teiko Moss, 20, both stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with one count each of armed robbery, receiving and possession of

an imitation firearm in connection with the December 31 incident.

It is alleged that on the day in question, while armed with a black handgun, the two robbed the Hurry Hurry convenience store of $410 cash, the property of Andrew Sinclair.

It is further alleged the two were also found in possession of a black, 9mm Taurus millennium PT-111 while committing an indictable offence.

According to initial reports, shortly before

6pm on Sunday, two men armed with a firearm entered the convenience store on Poinciana Drive, held several employees at bay and robbed them of cash.

Police said as the men were attempting to leave the store, they were confronted by an employee who was armed with a licenced shotgun.

The suspects then locked themselves inside a walk-in freezer.

Officers were called to the scene and took the men into custody. The stolen

cash was recovered as well as a firearm.

Neither man was required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to February 28 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim.

Another man was arraigned in connection with the armed robbery of a Chances web cafe of over $1,000 at the beginning of last month.

Jahfin Osias, 19, stood

before the chief magistrate charged with one count of armed robbery stemming from the December 2 incident.

It is alleged that on the day in question, while being concerned with others and armed with a black handgun, Osias robbed Chances web cafe and Denecia Smith of $1,418.57.

Osias was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to February 28 for service of a VBI. He was remanded to the BDCS in the interim.

A 32-YEAR-OLD Freeport man was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition in a Freeport Magistrate’s Court this week.

Clive Wyatt, 32, of Lucaya Towers, appeared before Magistrate Rengin Johnson where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services until March 6 for trial.

In a separate matter, a 28-year-old Freeport resident was charged with causing grievous harm.

Kenneth Adrian Beckles, of McGillen Crest, pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre until March 20.

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PAGE 6, Thursday, January 4, 2018

Illegals offensive unsettles business

THE TRIBUNE

from page one

on private businesses in the coming days.

He said anyone found employing illegal migrants will face a fine and criminal sentencing before the courts.

Mr Sumner responded: “We heard the announcement by the minister advising businesses to be cautious or careful about who they hire and to ensure that they are not hiring persons who are not documented or operating here legally. We sent out a notice to our members before on this matter to ensure that they comply with the rule of law.

“That’s still our admonition to our members and the business community to ensure that they are operating within the confines of the law. Until we have an opportunity to make amendments to the law we are going to be acting as responsible businesspersons and asking for businesses to comply.”

He continued: “The other aspect of that though was the announcement that employers who find themselves in non-compliance may face fines and the rest of it. While that may be good from a regulatory standpoint, I think we have to be careful about talking about fees and penalties right now when the business sector is trying to hold the economy together and trying to keep their businesses operating in what may be challenging times for many. We continue to have meetings with the minister and very active engagement with his ministry.

“We want to encourage

MIGRANTS detained in a recent interception by the RBDF. our members to be compliant with the law and not hire persons who you are not certain are documented persons in the country. If you have a challenge with it we would suggest you do the reasonable thing and make an application or work permits for these individuals and let the government provide the necessary approvals to hire and engage these persons.

Based on our discussion with the government, the minister and others we expect the entire process of

work permit applications to improve quite significantly in the shorter term rather than the long term.”

For his part, Mr Maura said this situation must be looked at carefully.

“I don’t think there is any excuse for a business, you should know who works for you, period. That said I think it is incumbent upon the government to be humane in this process and recognise that this is not as simple as one big broom and you just sweep everybody. It has to be looked at

Photo: RBDF carefully,” Mr Maura said.

“I think that to be able to be trusted through the process as a government and for the citizens to be able to make the application for someone and have a fair opportunity to address the situation, because I think to create and establish fear in the minds of both business owners and home owners that may be employing someone, all that does is cause people to get a bigger rock to hide the issue. Hopefully the government will approach it the right way.”

Dr. Robert Ramsingh Office Number Down Our office number is down due to circumstances beyond our control.

Our new numbers are

601-8684 or 823-9862

In the aftermath of the government’s December 31 deadline for all illegal immigrants to leave the country voluntarily or face aggressive pursuit and deportation, Mr Symonette said on Tuesday there are also plans to make the penalties for those who break the law more stringent.

“So we’ll continue aggressively this year starting on every nationality who is here,” Mr Symonette said. “Those persons from whichever country they came from who have not regularised themselves have had their time to regularise themselves and the natural consequences will flow.

“As I announced on January 1, we are also going to enforce a rule that is on the books that employers who employ persons illegally will also be prosecuted. Up to now we have tended to not deal with that so now for instance (this applies to) building sites (and) business houses so on and so forth.

Those owners should make sure that this week they send those persons home or else they face a fine and criminal sentence.

“We talk about criminal sentences and a lot of people take this very lightly but you know when you go to get your US visa and you have a criminal record, we all know what happens. “So I really implore employers to ensure that they take this seriously because it will be a new issue.”

He added: “On another point, we are looking at and we probably will later this year increase the penalties for employers hiring illegal immigrants and that’ll follow. I will say at this point that this is not targeted at any particular nationality, it is targeted across the board.

So whether you’re a banker or a gardener, a landscaper, whatever industry you’re in will be targeted right across the board.”

However, those who have begun the process to regularise employees have nothing to fear, once the receipt of this process is presented, he said.

He said the government will also look at ways to beef up detecting repeat offenders, meaning those who repeatedly enter the country illegally despite deportation.

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Dr Minnis also thanked members of the public for their well-wishes and concern about his health.

“Those who had prayed for me, I thank them all and be assured that when I return to work we will be concerned on improving the quality of life for all Bahamians, the economy and getting Bahamians back to work.

“I want them to remember my heart still remains with the poor, the inner city, the Family Islands and especially Junkanoo.”

Dr Minnis extended thanks to his surgeon Dr Jeffrey Sweeting, Dr Mark Weech, an anaesthetist, the theatre staff and other workers who gave “outstanding” service at PMH. He also gave special thanks to porter Maycock, “one of the porters who insisted he was my driver for the day and move (me) in and out of the hospital safely”.

Dr Minnis said he will be back to work tomorrow and there will be Cabinet meetings on Monday and Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest is serving as acting prime minister while Dr Minnis is recovering.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 4, 2018, PAGE 7

Smith: Time to be less timid over Grand Bahama plans

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net PROMINENT attorney and activist Fred Smith yesterday berated the government for its “timid, tepid” performance in Grand Bahama, warning policymakers residents would not tolerate “same old, same old”.

Mr Smith, a business owner and Grand Bahama resident, said the island’s depressed economy would only benefit from aggressive and dramatic upheaval of existing policy, and gave his full support for fully liberalised immigration and investment incentives.

Mr Smith said: “The prime minister needs to administer a dose of economic insulin into the veins of Freeport’s economy intravenously. He needs to do something to jumpstart this economy, not follow in the PLP’s footsteps. Repealing the Grand Bahama Incentives Act and extending the expired tax provisions is nothing new, and it’s nothing different.

“We need to go back to basics in Freeport with an extremely liberalised

immigration and investment scenario,” he said.

“Freeport currently has infrastructure in place for hundreds of thousands of people, we need huge immigration in Freeport, both domestic and international and in fact the government should consider doing a citizenship lottery like they have in US and try to promote large scale foreign immigration to Freeport, which is what created Freeport in the first place.”

Mr Smith stressed the government’s new Commercial Enterprises Act did not go far enough to significantly impact Grand Bahama’s stalled economy, and argued the island’s future was not simply tied to the resurrection of a “failed hotel”.

The government recently announced a letter of intent (LOI) has been signed between the owners of the Grand Lucayan hotel strip in Grand Bahama, Hutchinson Whampoa, and the Torontobased Wynn Group.

Mr Smith said: “As a liscencee and resident of Freeport I am disappointed in the lacklustre performance of the government in resurrecting the Grand

Bahama economy, it is regrettable that both the PLP and the FNM governments continue to be outmaneuvered in business negotiations by Hutcheson and the Grand Bahama Port Authority group who leverage their private financial losses onto the Bahamian taxpayer’s back.

“Basically, hiving off to the government a hotel that has failed due to Hutchison’s dismal investment performance, yet retaining all the benefits given to Hutchison (Whampoa), the harbour company, the airport and DEVCO in the 20-year tax exemption. So effectively the Bahamian taxpayer is paying for the hundreds of millions of Hutcheson losses at the hotel.”

The Grand Lucayan closed last October after Hurricane Matthew and deprived Grand Bahama of 59 per cent of its room inventory and at least 1,000 jobs.

“Although it is important for the hotel to reopen,” Mr Smith said, “it is not the future of resurrecting the GB economy. This government has been given a hyper majority and they should make dramatic changes in the investment

environment in Freeport as opposed to taking tentative, half-hearted, half measures which will only continue to cause Freeport and Grand Bahama to limp along like an economic zombie.

“It is time for them to open wide the immigration doors, and make the Grand Bahama Port Authority the quick efficient and effective one-stop shop investment authority.

“I keep telling the government to get out of this daily minutia of interfering and running business in Freeport,” Mr Smith continued, “that is the business of the Port Authority under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. They should completely liberalise the exchange control, no more investment board approvals or review of applications.

The government should only hold the authority accountable for promotion, infrastructure development, and domestic investment.

“But right now, the FNM is following in the same failed footsteps of the PLP for many past administrations. Doing the same old, same old like the PLP is not going to cut it for Freeporters.”

ATTORNEY Fred Smith.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

APPEAL COURT ACQUITS MAN OF CONSPIRING TO ROB JOHN BULL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE COURT of Appeal has acquitted one of two men previously sentenced for conspiring to rob John Bull’s flagship store in 2011, ruling that as his two coaccused were acquitted of the matter before him, “no one remained for him to agree with”.

Former Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, along with fellow Justices Jon Isaacs and Stella Crane-Scott, in a 2-1 written decision, allowed David Collins’ appeal “in part” by quashing his conviction and 20-year sentence for conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the May 22, 2011 incident.

Justices Isaacs and Crane-Scott, in their respective dispositions, both agreed that as Collins’ two former co-accused

Jasper Curry and Jonathan Armbrister were previously acquitted – Curry on a directed acquittal during trial and Armbrister on appeal – Collins “must also be acquitted”.

In doing so however, they dissented partially from the views espoused

by Dame Anita who maintained that as she had no “lurking doubt” about the “safety” of Collins’ conviction, and that there was no “irregularity” in the trial that substantially affected the merits of the case, Collins’ conviction should thus be confirmed.

However, both Justice Isaacs and Justice CraneScott agreed with Dame Anita’s suggestion that Parliament should “put the application of the common law rule of conspiracy to the Bahamas beyond all doubt by enacting legislation like the English have done to modernise the law, and to prevent any further

absurdity and injustice.”

According to the ruling, sometime before noon on the Sunday in question, two armed men robbed the John Bull store on Bay Street. Officers 3379 Gilbert and 3488 Peters were first on the scene, and when they arrived, they observed the men get into a champagne coloured Honda and drive away.

Collins, Curry and Armbrister were subsequently arrested and charged with offences in connection with the robbery.

The Crown’s case was the three men, armed with both an AK-47 assault rifle and a hammer, held up John Bull, smashed a showcase and robbed the store of a number of Rolex watches which were later said to have been found in Armbrister’s and Collins’ possession.

The evidence adduced by the Crown in support of their case consisted of

statements by Curry and Collins who admitted to being involved in a plan to rob John Bull. Collins also admitted to having two of the Rolex watches in his possession.

Collins also admitted in his record of interview that some three days after the robbery, he had a bag containing two gold Rolex watches that he said were given to him by “J J.” The watches had John Bull tags on them and serial numbers which were traced to watches owned by John Bull.

The three men were tried by jury before Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles, during which a voir dire – a ‘trial within a trial’ – to determine the admissibility of evidence or the competency of a witness or juror, was held to determine the “voluntariness and admissibility” of the out-of-court statements attributed to Collins and Curry.

And the end of the voir dire, the judge excluded Curry’s statement, but admitted that of Collins.

Curry was subsequently acquitted on the direction of the judge as the statement was the only evidence against him. The trial then continued against Armbrister and Collins, who were eventually convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Collins was also found guilty of receiving.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge of receiving against Armbrister, and he was ordered to be retried on that charge. They were both acquitted of armed robbery and causing damage, however.

Collins was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, but has yet to be sentenced for receiving, the ruling said. That sentencing was adjourned by the trial judge

to await the retrial of Armbrister on the receiving charge.

In her disposition, Dame Anita noted of the decision: “I am at a loss as to why this course was adopted by the learned judge.”

Collins filed an appeal against his convictions on November 27, 2012, which contained 10 grounds.

However, in his amended notice of appeal, Collins discontinued his appeal against the charge of receiving and reduced his grounds of appeal to six.

The Court of Appeal ruling noted that Collins’ “abandoned appeal” against the receiving conviction is consequently dismissed and the conviction affirmed. It further stated that Collins should be sentenced for receiving “forthwith for there was no good reason for deferring sentencing for that conviction for what has now been more than five years.”

PAGE 8, Thursday, January 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

As we celebrate two lost lives, can I ask a favour?

By Diane Phillips

T

WO funerals are think of the frighteningly scheduled for narrow chasm between life tomorrow, one and death, no more than a for a toddler split second. One minute named Aidan Carron who we are breathing, perhaps spent the last year of his holding a hand, laughing, two-year life in a hospital loving, being loved. A split battling the effects of ther- second later, the light is apy-related leukemia. The gone, the laughter silenced, other funeral is for Patricia the love turned to longing Bazard, cultural icon, the and sadness by the ones left founder of the National behind.

Children’s Choir, a talented, That chasm between humble woman who along being alive and not being with the late Kayla Lock- alive, between creathart Edwards and Clement ing memories and being T Bethel helped to shape remembered, is chilling. the policy So as we related to One minute we are prepare to culture in say goodbye The Baha- breathing, perhaps to Aidan and mas. While holding a hand, Patricia and Aidan others who laughing, loving, Carron and will be buried being loved. A split or Patricia whose Bazard never second later, the lives will be crossed paths light is gone, the celebrated and in age and memowere decades laughter silenced, rialised this apart, their the love turned to week and deaths and in coming longing and sadness weeks, their funerals is on the same by the ones left it too preday shake us. behind. That chasm sumptuous They shake of me to beg us not just between being alive a favour of because of and not being alive, anyone readtheir loss between creating ing this? If which in it is, please both cases memories and don’t worry is significant being remembered, about it. and tragic, is chilling.

Continue especially about your tragic in the day and I case of two-year-old Aidan hope it is beautiful. It’s because he should have had okay. Do not feel you have his entire life ahead of him. to participate.

But they startle and scare But if you do want to, us because they force us to here is what I would like to

PATRICIA Bazard and Aidan Carron, whose funerals are both being held tomorrow. ask you to consider. Find for Children. It could be presiding over the Grand one person, just one, or one - as a dedicated mother Bahama Humane Society, cause that touches your heart and daughter team are Save The Bays, helping and make a commitment to doing - presenting comput- to secure funding to teach improve that person’s life or ers equipped with reading every child in Grand software through music to Bahama how to swim, that cause’s position.

It could be feeding the students in various schools in his 70s, still collecting hungry, teaching a car- and then reading with stu- trash from the beach and pentry workshop, tutoring dents. They have made ideas for younger folks a student who is having The Bahamas their class- who look up to him as trouble reading. It could room – all at their expense, their local hero. How he be, as close friends of their time, their dedica- was overlooked in honmine are doing who are tion. Because they believe ours is a mystery, but it getting married in Febru- the biggest difference you must have been an overary, asking that instead of can make in the future of sight. Nor can I imagine gifts, guests make a dona- The Bahamas begins with how Frank Crothers was overlooked for his work tion to the Ranfurly Home education.

You could do as the with the Salvation Army tireless Joe Darville in and Bahamas Feeding Grand Bahama does, Nework. I hope both will

be honoured next year.

Each of us has a cause that touches our heart. Let the deaths of Aidan and Patricia mean something that lasts. Let their passing arouse that quiet steak of kindness and gentleness in us that we too often ignore in our hurry to get things done.

That fine sliver of time between life and death is just the time we need to convert what we should do for a small piece of the world around us to what we will do. I’d like to think that somehow Aidan and Patricia will know.

NOTICE

The offices of The Tribune and Radio House

WILL BE CLOSED

from 12 noon on Friday, January 5th, 2018 and will re-open at 9am on Monday,January 8th, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 4, 2018, PAGE 9

Insurance association perists in saying NHI work unlawful

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the Office of the Attorney General’s opinion on the matter, the Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) said in a statement yesterday it still believes the work of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat was unlawful and should not be ratified by the NHI Authority board.

The statement followed a Tribune report yesterday that a legal opinion from the Office of the Attorney General determined the actions of the NHI

Secretariat were essentially lawful and the NHIA board cannot significantly alter the programme without considering the pre-existing arrangements executed by the secretariat before a board was appointed and before key provisions of the relevant legislation came into force.

Nonetheless, to push NHI forward, the BIA said, it will take “appropriate corrective actions however difficult those may be” in cooperation with the government, NHI Authority and the Insurance Commission of The Bahamas.

The BIA said it wants the government to publicly

release the legal opinion of the Office of the Attorney General.

“The Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) notes with interest The Tribune report entitled ‘NHI legal’ ruling upsets overhaul’ and published on January 3, 2018,” the statement noted.

“According to the aforementioned report, the Office of the Attorney General has issued a legal opinion on the actions taken by the National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat acting erroneously as the statutory NHI Authority (NHIA) prior to the appointment of the

NHIA board. The BIA is not in possession of the legal opinion issued by the (Office of the Attorney General) and is therefore not in a position to render informed commentary on the opinion. In this regard, we implore the government to release the opinion to stakeholders including the BIA in the spirit of transparency, accountability and good governance.

“In the interim and until evidence to the contrary is provided, the BIA maintains its position stated in its press statements issued in July 2017 that the NHI Secretariat acted unlawfully and ongoing actions

by the NHI Authority may have no basis in law. Specifically: the appointed day notice that has been gazetted brought only Part I, Part II and Section 45 of the NHI Act into force, albeit the actions of the NHI Secretariat went beyond these referenced sections.

“The NHI Authority may be currently acting illegally as regulated health administrator and an insurance company in breach of the NHI Act and Insurance Act. The NHI Secretariat did not have the authority to act as if it were the NHI Authority. It is unclear to the BIA how the board of the NHIA could possibly

ratify these actions in contravention of the law that created it and in violation of the Insurance Act. We urge the government to ensure that a dangerous precedent is not set vis-àvis disregard for applicable laws. The Bahamas has to act in accordance with the rule of law and public officials cannot knowingly violate duly passed law. The BIA reiterates its agreement with the concept of universal health care and is committed to working with the NHI Authority to ensure that a sustainable NHI plan is implemented and administered successfully for The Bahamas.”

WILLIAM PRATT, former immigration director. irregular migrants living since the implementation in the country to of its November 2014 immileave, become regularised gration policy, which was or face aggressive appre- introduced by the Christie hension measures. administration. Criticism The department has also ramped up in recent faced considerable back- months from human rights lash from activist groups groups, who argue the

enforced policy and practices are unconstitutional and inhumane. Criticism centred around apprehensions, mass deportations and detention times at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

MITCHELL CONCERN AT PRATT DEPARTURE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Minister of Immigration Fred Mitchell has expressed concern that William Pratt’s departure from the Department of Immigration was mishandled by the government and that it may have cast aspersions about his character.

He noted there was no formal announcement or public handover between Mr Pratt, former immigration director, and former Passport Office Superintendent Clarence Russell, who has replaced him.

The former minister welcomed Mr Russell, whom he said worked closely with the Department of Immigration to implement the border management system and new passport.

Describing the job as both challenging and thankless, Mr Mitchell, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman, cautioned the government not to put unrealistic expectations on Mr Russell given fiscal limitations.

“One example of the thankless task during my time is the fact that the department often could not obtain what it needed to do its job,” Mr Mitchell said, “at the same time as the country was

demanding more.

“For example there was no transportation in the major islands including New Providence for officers and their detainees, no boats to conduct interdiction exercises, half-hearted support from other agencies, attacks from ‘loony toon’ so called human rights activists played up by the press who simply saw no distinction between the quest for a good story and the need to report faithfully on legitimate law enforcement efforts.”

Mr Mitchell continued: “In Abaco for example, the department had to rely for surveillance and interdiction on the goodwill of private citizens to move them around on land and sea. Payment of overtime, purchases of weapons, the list is endless of defaults because of lack of money.

“Given all of the competing demands for money, the resources were simply not there.”

He added: “So as we say farewell to Mr Pratt, I do not want the country and this government to put unrealistic expectations on Mr Russell. Unless he gets the money and support, he cannot do the job which is demanded. He and the Minister will have to work closely together.”

Meanwhile, Mr Pratt

thanked his staff last week and encouraged the department to continue its work as Mr Russell takes up the post this week.

In an internal memo, Mr Pratt reflected on his time spent at the ministry where he worked his “entire youthful years,” and his five-year tenure as director.

“I will be transitioning into the next chapter of my life as pre-ordained by my Creator,” the December 29 memo noted.

“So I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have made the last five years enjoyable, although stressful at times.”

It continued: “It was your loyalty, and commitment that has made my tenure here at the department successful. It was a pleasure of working with all of you and I have found you to be a group of hard working employees, who have always put your best foot forward and worked with a spirit of excellence despite the challenges within the organisation.

“It is my firm belief that you will continue to work with the same vigour as always and give the same support to the incumbent director.”

Mr Pratt’s departure comes on the heels of the government’s December 31 deadline to

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PAGE 10, Thursday, January 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

SNOW FALLS IN FLORIDA

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

A BRUTAL winter storm dumped snow in Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three decades before slogging up the Atlantic coast and smacking Southern cities such as Savannah and Charleston, South Carolina, with a rare blast of snow and ice.

Forecasters warned that the same system could soon strengthen into a “bomb cyclone” as it rolls up the East Coast, bringing hurricane-force winds, coastal flooding and up to a foot of snow.

At least 17 deaths were blamed on dangerously cold temperatures that for days

have gripped wide swaths of the US from Texas to New England.

A winter storm warning extended from the Gulf Coast of Florida’s “Big Bend” region all the way up the Atlantic coast. Forecasters said hurricane-force winds blowing offshore on Thursday could generate 24-foot (7-meter) seas.

Schools in the Southeast called off classes, and police urged drivers to stay off the roads in a region little accustomed to the kind of winter woes common to the Northeast.

In Savannah, snow blanketed the city’s lush downtown squares and collected on branches of burly oaks for the first

MORMON CHURCH PRESIDENT DIES

TRUMP TWEETS ABOUT HAVING ‘NUCLEAR BUTTON’

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Thomas S. Monson, considered a prophet by nearly 16 million Mormons worldwide, has died at the age of 90 after a nearly a decade as church president.

He expanded the church’s reach and its transparency and was known for promoting humanitarian causes despite leading a divisive fight against gay marriage.

Monson died on Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins.

Monson spent more than five decades serving in top church leadership councils — making him a well-known face to Mormons. A church bishop at the age of 22, the Salt Lake City native became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2008.

WASHINGTON Associated Press

YOU thought President Donald Trump might mellow out in 2018? Refrain from taunting world leaders tweet by tweet? Think again.

Trump is storming into the new year in exceptionally aggressive fashion, picking fresh fights on Twitter with such speed that his aides, international partners and the public are struggling to catch up. If he was brash on the global stage in Year 1, the first days of Year 2 suggest he was just warming up.

Pakistan? Liars and swindlers who enable terrorists, the president tweeted just hours after the world celebrated the arrival of a new year.

The Palestinians? No more US aid until they get their act together and agree to peace talks with Israel.

time in nearly eight years.

William Shaw, a Savannah native, used baby steps to shuffle along a frozen road from his home to the post office.

In Tallahassee, Florida, Michigan transplant Laura Donaven built a snowman 6 inches (15 centimeters) tall.

The city tweeted that snow fell there for the first time in 28 years.

Florida’s largest theme parks announced that water attractions such as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay and SeaWorld’s Aquatica were closed. Temperatures were running well below normal for this time of year, and the lows are expected to hover right around freezing.

Iran? “Failing at every level,” Trump tweeted as he declared full-throated US support for protesters there opposing the government.

And North Korea?

Leader Kim Jong Un may have a figurative “nuclear button” on his desk, but Trump’s is “much bigger,” the president quipped, flippantly tossing off a threat to launch the world’s first nuclear strike in more than 70 years.

To Trump’s supporters, and even to his critics, it may seem business as usual.

After all, in his inaugural year Trump relentlessly pushed presidential boundaries with provocative declarations that often weren’t fulfilled.

Yet for foreign nations trying anxiously to interpret the US leader, such statements can have real-world consequences. Pakistan is livid at Trump’s remarks,

A SNOWMAN, built by Marty Ritter, sits on the back of his truck outside Morrow Cleaners, in Tallahassee, Florida, yesterday.

Photo: Hali Tauxe/Tallahassee Democrat via AP

summoning the US ambassador in Islamabad to explain the disparagement of a key US security partner. North Korea experts worry Trump’s taunting of Pyongyang could lead the two countries to stumble into war.

“This is not a game,” former Vice President Joe Biden said in an NBC News interview Wednesday. “The president has to come to better understand that words matter from a president.”

“I think the president is much, much too cavalier — and it’s dangerous,” Biden said.

The White House played down the furor.

Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders insisted Trump wasn’t “taunting” Kim Jong Un, merely “standing up for the people of this country.”

What would be dangerous, Sanders said, would be for Trump to stay silent.

“This is a president who is not going to cower down and is not going to be weak,” she said.

Trump’s rapid-fire spate of new pronouncements on foreign policy came as the president, fresh off his holiday vacation, made clear the second year of his presidency would be no less of a rollercoaster than the first.

On Wednesday, much of official Washington gasped as Trump, responding to a new book filled with criticism and insider gossip about his administration, issued a statement blasting his former chief strategist Steve Bannon as “out of his mind.”

“This is just who he is,” Ari Fleisher, former press secretary to President George W. Bush, said of Trump. “One year in, he still appraises his job as an outsider, not as the insider who leads the government, but the outsider who tweets

and critiques and lets it rip.”

Trump’s social media taunts have left officials at the White House National Security Council, the State Department and other agencies scrambling over the past two days to determine whether he was setting new directions on a dime, or simply giving some New Year’s oomph to his pre-existing foreign policy.

For the most part, it turned out to be the latter.

Senior administration officials said they’re directing government staff to consider the tweets to be “just tweets” and assume that no new policies are announced unless told otherwise through formal channels.

On Pakistan, for instance, Trump tweeted about slashing the country’s aid because its leaders treat US leaders “as fools” and “give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan.”

PRESIDENT BLASTS FORMER AIDE BANNON WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on former top adviser Steve Bannon on Wednesday, responding to a new book that portrays Trump as an undisciplined man-child who didn’t actually want to win the White House and quotes Bannon as calling his son’s contact with a Russian lawyer “treasonous”.

Hitting back via a formal White House statement, Trump insisted Bannon had little to do with his victorious campaign and “has nothing to do with me or

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my Presidency”.

“When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind,” Trump said.

It was a blistering attack against the man who helped deliver the presidency to Trump. It was spurred by an unflattering new book by writer Michael Wolff that paints Trump as a leader who doesn’t understand the weight of the presidency and spends his evenings eating cheeseburgers in bed, watching television and talking on the phone to old friends.

White House aides were blindsided when early excerpts from “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump

White House” were published online.

The release left Trump “furious” and “disgusted,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who complained that the book contained “outrageous” and “completely false claims against the president, his administration and his family.”

Asked what specifically had prompted the president’s fury with Bannon, she said: “I would certainly think that going after the president’s son in an absolutely outrageous and unprecedented way is probably not the best way to curry favor with anybody.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 4, 2018, PAGE 11

Culmer: Govt to help impoverished areas FREE National Movement (FNM) Chairman Carl Culmer said yesteday the Minnis administration will work hard in the coming months to improve the economy in impoverished areas after spending its first seven months in office fixing problems left by the former government.

Mr Culmer said when the FNM was elected in May 2017, the economy was in “dire straits”.

“We had suffered downgrade after downgrade, sky

rocketing unemployment and clearly the... PLP government was more focused on helping themselves than the people they serve,” he said.

“The new FNM government rolled up its sleeves and went to work with the goal of bringing financial stability back to the country. We are now seeing the positive results of those actions. Downgrades came to an end when Standard and Poor’s (S&P) elected to maintain our status because

of the recent steps the FNM government has taken. We passed the Commercial Enterprises Bill to encourage new investments in the Bahamas - investments that will help diversify our economy while creating new higher paying jobs and long-term job security to the Bahamian worker.

“The previous PLP administration spent five years all but destroying our economy and our country through its greed, mismanagement, (and) ineptitude... We knew

MEMBERS of Bahamas Waste helping All Saints Camp as part of an ongoing partnership.

Bahamas Waste helps fight against HIV/AIDS THE global HIV/AIDS epidemic has claimed the lives of a staggering 35 million people. Here in The Bahamas, the number of persons living with the disease is equally distressing; in fact, it is estimated that more than eight thousand cases of the illness have been found, placing The Bahamas ahead of all other countries outside of subSaharan Africa.

The troubling data has been the impetus for heightened efforts on the part of healthcare professionals and advocacy groups alike to raise awareness about the disease and provide support to persons living with the illness.

Bahamas Waste has dedicated considerable resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS through an ongoing partnership with the All Saints Camp.

The All Saints Camp was founded back in 1989 in response to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Since then, the home has continued to provide room, board, and treatment for up to 60 persons who may otherwise not be able to receive the care.

“We’ve developed an amazing relationship with the team at the All Saints Camp” explained Bahamas Waste Operations Manager, Ethelyn Davis. “For the past 12 years, we’ve worked with All Saints to

provide the items which they need to make the lives of their residents more comfortable.”

Each year, the staff at Bahamas Waste pulls together to make the donation possible providing food supplies, toiletries and even clothing. With the holiday season now in full swing, staff of Bahamas Waste returned to the All Saints Camp to present them with their annual donation of Christmas needs.

“This donation was truly a blessing and could not come at a better time. The holidays are all about gathering with those closest to you and sharing a meal and fellowship and so this donation will go a long way in ensuring that we are able to give our residents the Christmas they deserve,” said administrator Diane Ingraham.

“As a non-profit organisation, we depend heavily on the kindness of corporate citizens and everyday Bahamians to do the work we do.”

Persons interested in assisting the All Saints Camp can contact Diane and her team 477-1275.

All contributions made are an integral part of the fight against the deadly disease helping to raise awareness and encourage more Bahamians to protect themselves and finally stop the spread.

change would not happen overnight and would take a lot of hard work. Stability was necessary so we would have a solid foundation on which to build lasting prosperity for all. With a new year, a new focus has now set in as our government shifts from just stabilisation to true prosperity.”

He said the public can expect action, not rhetoric from the government.

“For years we watched as politicians promised change in the ‘Over-the-Hill’

communities and then ignored them and the challenges they faced. We now have a prime minister who grew up in those very same communities and will not forget or ignore people or promises made by the FNM government. We will work harder each day to create an economy in those communities and across the country that will allow all Bahamians to secure a better life for themselves and their families. Education is critical to improving the opportunities

and outlook for our youth and our people and we will place special emphasis on improving educational opportunities for our citizens.

“In just seven short months, we started to right the ship and have taken positive steps in the right direction and now we plan to build off of that progress.

We will not lose focus and know that together we can keep taking strides to reach a better future for all citizens of The Bahamas.”