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No VAT on Baha Mar completion

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government was yesterday urged to divulge “the full cost to the Bahamian people” of its Baha Mar agreement after evidence emerged to show it had extended an exemption from Value-Added Tax to all companies and suppliers working on the construction completion of the resort.

The tax break - revealed

in an email from the project’s general contractor - could mean the Government forgoing up to $60m in revenue, according to one educated estimate, and is likely to provoke outrage among Bahamians, upset that exemptions are being granted to the Chinese when the same are not being made available to local businesses and consumers.

The email, from China Construction America (CCA) headlined ‘Exemp-

tion of VAT’ and issued yesterday morning, said all companies working on the completion of the stalled Cable Beach development had been granted “a full” waiver from payment of the 7.5 per cent levy.

Sent by Siyao Shen, of CCA (Bahamas) commercial department, it read: “It’s agreed with the Government that the subcontractors and suppliers of CCA Bahamas (CCA) shall be entitled to have the benefit of a full ex-

emption from the payment of Value-Added Tax for works carried out on the Baha Mar project.”

Having effectively confirmed that the VAT waiver covers all Baha Mar-related construction activity, and includes all its sub-contractors and suppliers - Bahamian and foreign - the CCA e-mail suggests that they can also recover the taxes paid on bills submitted by their own service providers and suppliers. It also suggests

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FNM PLEDGES ON SOLAR, HEALTH AND CULTURE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

that all sub-contractors, suppliers and service providers working on Baha Mar will receive “zero-rated” treatment on all their costs and invoices.

However, a Government source familiar with the Baha Mar agreement said it was “not unusual” for sub-contractors working on major foreign direct investment projects to enjoy the same tax incentives as the main contractor.

FULL STORY, SEE BUSINESS

TEENAGER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING A TEENAGER died and another man was wounded after what is believed to be a drive-by shooting at Cordia Street, Foxdale subdivision, near Sandilands Primary School last night.

According to police reports, two men were shot and transported to hospital where one succumbed to his injuries. The other is listed in serious condition but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The incident took place sometime after 8pm. Distraught family members SEE PAGE SIX

OFFERING reprieve from what he termed one of the worst years in Bahamian history and an impotent PLP administration, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday outlined key initiatives his administration would implement to create a socio-economic revival.

In a national address aired on Our TV, Dr Minnis outlined a national solarisation programme that would see tax incentives for Bahamian companies providing services for alternative renewable energy sources, including LNG; and a Catastrophic National Health Insurance Plan that will cover chronic heart diseases, cancer and organ transplants.

SEE PAGE 11

BUTLER-TURNER ‘FORMING BOLD COALITION’ WITH THE DNA

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said yesterday that she is forming a “very powerful and bold” coalition with Branville McCartney and the Democratic National Alliance that will “change the direction of the country.”

In an interview on Hot 91.7 FM’s “Morning Madhouse” with host “C-Note”, Mrs Butler-Turner said the details of the “interesting” coalition will be announced “very soon”.

SEE PAGE FIVE

A TEENAGER was killed and another man injured last night. According to neighbours, Jarvis Roker, a resident of the area, never caused any trouble. Looking on at the scene is his brother who stood in disbelief as police continued to search the area for evidence.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

DNA VOWS TO ‘COMPEL’ COMMISSIONER TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR VOTE DOUBLE THE BACON DOUBLE THE CHEESE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AS frustrated Bahamians continue to lament being turned away from voter registration stations, Democratic National Alliance Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer yesterday threatened to take action that will “compel” Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall to ensure everyone is al-

lowed their right to register.

He said although the party hasn’t defined what this action will be, it could involve a demonstration at the Parliamentary Registration Department on Farrington Road or a decision to take legal action against Mr Hall and his department for infringing upon the rights of Bahamians to register to vote.

This comes as reports reached The Tribune yes-

terday that a student from Abaco, who was headed back to college overseas, was not allowed to register to vote at a registration station in the Mall at Marathon on Tuesday night.

According to a relative of the student who did not want to be named, the woman tried to register in Abaco while there for a tenday holiday from school,

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SEE PAGE THREE

FITZGERALD BLAMES SCHOOLS FOR SUPPLY TEACHER PAYMENT DELAY

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Education has implemented a strict timeline for the submission and processing of payments for supply teachers after irregularities led to scores of teachers going unpaid for months, according to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald.

Mr Fitzgerald spoke to the pay dispute, first reported by The Tribune last week, during a press conference at the Ministry of Education yesterday.

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

Get a fly fishing licence - or risk going to jail under new rules

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THE TRIBUNE

V ALFRED GRAY, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, held a press conference to announce the establishment of a fly fishing industry and new guidelines with industry stakeholders.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

By NICO SCAVELLA said the new regulations Gray, which led to “months” Tribune Staff Reporter will require all persons of consultation and nego(Incl. VAT) nscavella@tribunemedia.net seeking to engage in fly fish- tiations with the Ministry ing, such as guides, anglers of Tourism, fishing guides, BAHAMIANS and visi- and independent fisher- marina and hotel operators, tors could face up to six men, to have obtained a li- fishing lodge operators, the weeks in prison, a $2,000 cense issued by the Depart- Bahamas National Trust fine or both if they fail to ment of Marine Resources (BNT), as well as private adhere to the new fly fish- in New Providence or the sector stakeholders. ing industry regulations set various administrator’s ofThe meetings were chapto come into effect on Mon- fices throughout the Family eroned by the Office of the day, Agriculture Minister Islands before operating.

Attorney General, with “inV Alfred Gray announced Prices for the new li- put” from the Department yesterday. censes range from $5 to $40 of Marine Resources, Mr Mr Gray said under the for Bahamian citizens, de- Gray said. new regulations, persons pending on the desired duAfter several draft reguover the age of 12 caught ration of the license (daily, lations and “world-wide” engaging in fly fishing with- weekly, monthly, or annu- circulation, Mr Gray said out a government issued ally), and between $15 to Cabinet approved the license to do so will face a $60 for non-Bahamians. Li- regulations in October of fixed penalty of $250, or censes for fly fishing guides, last year. Along with the risk over a month’s impris- whom Mr Gray said will be enforcement of the new onment should they opt to exclusively Bahamian, will regulations, Mr Gray said contest the penalty in court. cost $100. a “conservation fund” will Those penalties also apPersons under the age of be established for the “conply to persons who do not 12 will not be required to servation and management engage in catch and release have a license to fish, how- of the flats and its fishery fly fishing, as well as persons ever. resources.” who engage in the sport for Only certified guides “The fly fishing sector is commercial purposes, Mr will be allowed to work as an important part of The Gray said. The MICAL MP guides after successfully Bahamas’ tourism product said the regulations also completing their training, and is responsible for the apply to persons operating Mr Gray said. Those cur- employment of hundreds of non-Bahamian vessels on rently serving as guides will Bahamians throughout the the various “flats” through- continue to carry out their Bahamas,” he said. “This out the archipelago. duties. However, Mr Gray is particularly true for the However, Mr Gray said said his ministry expects islands of Andros, Abaco, persons may engage in fly every guide to be trained in Acklins, Crooked Island, fishing for sustenance. accordance with the regu- Eleuthera, Bimini, Long IsThe fish protected under lations by the Ministry of land and Mayaguana. the new regulations are the Tourism, the Department “Because this sector was bonefish, snook, tarpon, co- of Marine Resources, and not governed by any form of bia and permit. the Fishing Associations in regulations, those involved in Additionally, Mr Gray The Bahamas. the industry acted as they deAdditionally, only Ba- sired, without rules or reguhamians will be allowed to lations and without any safeact as guides under the new guard for conservation and regulations, Mr Gray said. sustainability of the industry.

Mr Gray also noted that This position, we believe, certified guides will be could not be continued.” employed if two or more Tommy Thompson, depBAHAMAS anglers wish to engage in uty director general of the Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau Bahamas ECONOMIC fly fishing “by means of a Ministry of Tourism, said OUTLOOK vessel.” However, he said now that the fly fishing inpersons engaging in fly fish- dustry will be properly ing by themselves, or “do- regulated, the ministry is it-yourselfers” will need no committed to ensuring that fishing guide. the industry remains susOnly Bahamian reg- tainable “and that the fishistered boats will be al- ermen, the fishing guides, lowed on the flats, Mr Gray the lodgers are all making said. Mr Gray made the money and that the wealth announcement during a of tourism is being distribpress conference yesterday uted throughout the islands morning at the Ministry of of The Bahamas.”

Agriculture and Marine “We have a great job in Resources’ East Bay Street terms of promoting fly fishoffice. ing in The Bahamas,” he Discussions to establish said. “We have some of the a legal framework for the best flats, some of the best industry started two years fishing in the world, and we ago, according to Mr want to encourage as many visitors to come and enjoy Established in 1903 The Tribune is the leading daily newspaper in The Bahamas. Having been owned and the resources of The Bahaoperated by the same family since inception “The People’s Paper” lives by the maxim of “being bound to mas.

“We’ll be promoting swear to the dogmas of no master”. this through various shows throughout the US, CanIn addition to hard hitting local news, The Tribune also has highly respected and widely read daily business ada and also Europe,” he and sports sections as well as a popular classified advertising guide and weekly features such as Women & added. “It’s also going to Health, Insight, a Weekend section and a Home Buyers Guide. be prominently placed on the website bahamas.com, and of course we’re going At The Tribune we take pride in being a part of our community, regularly supporting local charitable to be working with mainly organisations and giving a voice to those who would otherwise go unheard. publications and media persons to come to The Bahamas.

“Social media is a big part of what we’re going to be doing, and with the help of the new guides in terms of getting nice clips for us to put on the website and Presented by: to blog will be very useful in terms of us promoting it.

So we see it as a great opportunity for us to increase visitors to the Bahamas for fly fishing, a very lucrative business, and we’re going to get more young people interested in this.”

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Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 3

#TooSexyToVote campaign calls for clear rules on attire

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE #TooSexyToVote registration campaign yesterday brought its plea for “fair treatment and understanding” to the Parliamentary Registration Department, with organisers calling for clear and defined rules on what is expected from potential voters aiming to register.

The social media campaign, launched in the wake of controversial comments made by Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall last week, where he defended the right of his staff to turn away women due to their attire.

Mr Hall at the time told The Tribune women registering to vote with “half their breasts out” would not be permitted.

This came after The Tribune received reports that some women had been turned away from registration based on their clothing.

In response, the social media campaign was launched and encouraged Bahamian women and men to turn up at the department’s Farrington Road headquarters, dressed anyway they pleased, to register to vote.

Lead organiser of the campaign, Tribune Chief Reporter Ava Turnquest, said the lack of a consistent and clear policy has frustrated persons to the point that they have opted to not take part in the process despite wanting to carry out their constitutional right.

According to Ms Turnquest, the offensive and

disrespectful phrasing used

by Mr Hall in his rebuke of potential women voters led the group to plan the protest.

She told reporters outside the Parliamentary Registration Department: “I don’t want to say this (that the turning away of female voters because of their attire) was why voter registration was low, but in an environment of low voter registration already, why are we doing things to further frustrate the process, to make it harder for persons?

“Particularly people who may not have the resources to keep coming again and again. For most people, if they are turned away one time, that inconvenience may be enough to not go back again.

“We have stories coming out on Facebook and on Twitter about persons being turned away two or three times, so I think it is really highlighting the strong desire of Bahamians to take part in this process.

“We are governed by laws and the laws may have been created on the principles of morality and decency, but the laws are such that they can be objective, so that they can work for all people who are here and for all Bahamians,” she stated.

“We feel that once we get into that, it is a slippery slope.

“Once we start to attempt to regulate and box people in based on your own subjective view of morality and decency then it spirals from there.

“So if we can get a clear policy, the Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage

PROTESTORS, from left, Alicia Wallace, Ava Turnquest and Erin Greene speak to the media yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff to his credit he responded lows,” added Ms Turnquest. weighed by someone’s idea “So we are here to proAlicia Wallace, women’s of what is decent and what vide those elements that are swiftly and he also highlighted that is not an issue of just rights activist and director is modest,” she said. required for full access to Ms Greene condemned citizenship. We are here to sexism or discrimination, but of Hollaback Bahamas, and this also speaks to threads of LGBT activist Erin Greene the department for its at- support you in the exercise socio-economic and class be- were also a part of yester- tempt to act on “personal of your rights.” opinions”, insisting that the cause the person that you are day’s protest.

When asked about the Ms Wallace said she move was an attack on “full concerns raised by the camturning away, do they have the resources to come back again? views the right to vote as citizenship.” paign on Wednesday, Mr “I am concerned that Hall said the department “Are they independently “important” for all Bahamobile? What is their work mians interested in partici- women and men that are has adopted the recent sugpoor or marginalised due gestions from National Sestatus, are they employed? pating in the process.

She said no one, whether to a lack education or lack curity Minister Dr Bernard We need to take every opportunity to encourage it is a man or woman should access because of poverty, I Nottage.

Bahamians to come out be turned away due to am here to ensure that they “If they are good from and to get registered and to something as subjective as are allowed full access to the neck up, we will go with the system, but also, so that that,” Mr Hall said. vote, and anything that sort modesty or decency.

“We know that the law they are provided with supof discourages that, it has This week, Dr Nottage no place five months away is objective and people’s port,” she said. responded to the controopinions are subjective, “For some people, enter- versy, saying people’s atfrom a general election.

“We are here to respec- and there is no way that ing a government building tire would not hinder them tively register to vote in the our constitutional right to is a daunting task, just en- from voter registration. way in which the law allows vote should be subject to gaging in government ser• Extra registration stations, and in any way the law al- anyone’s opinion or out- vices is problematic. see page six

“When it was my (relative’s) turn to register the lady said ‘you don’t live here and you can’t register here.’

“Now if she had said to since you are from the island you have to go to the Parliamentary Registration Department and not an outlet that would make sense.

But she didn’t say that. She just said she couldn’t do it there.”

According to the relative, the student was allowed to register at the Parliamentary Registration Department on Farrington Road yesterday morning before heading back overseas. This was her fourth attempt.

For his part, Mr Mortimer said the denial of the opportunity to register to vote over a choice of clothing is “ignorance”.

“There is nothing that precludes people that way,” he said in response to questions from The Tribune.

“There is no dress code requirement to register and quite honestly I think it astounds all of us why all of a sudden the parliamentary commissioner would issue something that has no basis.

“My take on it is it can only be some false sense of his own personal belief in what is right and what is not right for him to make some

sort of dictation or declaration that women dressed in a certain way cannot register. It is erroneous and I think on behalf of the party our stand point is it needs to be changed immediately.”

He added: “People are guaranteed the right to vote under our Constitution.

It speaks nothing to dress code. If he doesn’t comply with the law we will find other actions in which we can compel him to make sure that people are allowed the right to register to vote.”

Asked to clarify this, he responded: “We haven’t defined what those actions are going to be. We may show up on his doorstep with our party members.

We may decide that we may file some sort of action if we have to. But we are not going to allow anybody to deny people the right to vote. Not in this Bahamas.”

Last week, a pregnant woman who did not want to be identified told The Tribune she was told by registration officials at the Elizabeth Estates Post Office that she would not be allowed to register to vote on separate occasions because of what she was wearing at the time.

On her second attempt she went into the post office

DNA VOWS TO ‘COMPEL’ COMMISSIONER TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR VOTE from page one

but was unable to register on two separate instances on that island.

On the student’s first attempt she was told that there were no voter’s cards in Abaco because officials in Nassau hadn’t sent the documents, The Tribune was told. Officials there told her to return when offices opened following the Christmas Day and Boxing Day holidays, she said.

When she did return, the offices were closed.

So she decided to complete the process in Nassau.

“Before going to the mall I called and was told that they would be registering people until 8pm,” the student’s relative said yesterday.

“So we got there at about five minutes to seven and went to the lady and gave her (the student’s) passport.

The lady said ‘we are done for the night’ and she said ‘but I am travelling tomorrow to school.’ “Without making eye contact, she told (us) to talk to ‘talk to that lady over there’. So we went to that lady and (the student) said ‘excuse me ma’am I am being told to speak to you, but I am travelling tomorrow to go to school and I need to register.’ That lady never gave eye contact, she looked back at the one that sent us to her and said take her passport. So she took the passport, we took the picture and we waited.

“And as we were sitting there waiting the lady that I was sitting next to said that she came at 4.45pm and they told her they were doing a lunch break so she had to come back at 5.30 or 6pm. The three people ahead of me said we were lucky because they came at 6pm and they were told that they weren’t taking anymore for the night.”

She continued: “I counted the people there and seven of them were waiting.

There are three people sitting at the desk one writing, only one. So we sat there, we waited.

wearing an ankle length maxi dress, but was still not permitted to begin the process.

Returning for a third try, the expectant mother wore a jacket and was still told that she was too bare, so she had to put on a scarf in order to be registered.

Questioned about this last Thursday, Mr Hall said: “Because you have to take photographs, so if someone comes with half their breasts out and cleavage showing, this isn’t permitted.”

“This has been around not just under my administration but other previous ones where we ask people to dress in decency and in

order. So if my people feel that someone is not properly dressed for the photograph, we ask them to kindly put on the proper attire.

That’s not out of order. It’s trying to help them. So it’s

not to be rude, it’s to make sure that things are done in decency and in order,” Mr Hall added.

The Parliamentary Elections Act makes no mention of dress code.

PAGE 4, Thursday, January 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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Florida’s high court takes puzzling turn on death penalty TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Possibly showing its hand on the future of capital punishment in Florida, the state Supreme Court by a 5-2 vote on Wednesday forbid the state from imposing the death penalty in pending prosecutions, only to withdraw the order hours later as “prematurely issued.”

The highly unusual move was made necessary by an “internal error,” according to a statement issued by court spokesman Craig Waters.

But it leaves prosecutors in a troubling limbo, signaling that they may be taking a risk if they pursue the death penalty in murder cases at this time. One prosecutor said the Florida Legislature needs to act quickly to craft a death penalty law that passes constitutional scrutiny.

“These are the most serious cases we handle, and are incredibly emotional in the best of circumstances,” said State Attorney Jack Campbell, who this week took over as the lead prosecutor for several north Florida counties. “Uncertainty in the law is terrible for the victim’s families, for the defendants. It’s very important to me they get this sorted out as quickly as possible, as definitively as possible.”

Florida’s death penalty law was upended as a result of a case involving Timothy Lee Hurst, who was convicted of using a box-cutter to kill a co-worker at a Pensacola Popeye’s restaurant in 1998. A jury had divided 7-5 over whether Hurst deserved to die, but a judge imposed the death sentence.

The state Supreme Court initially upheld that sentence, but the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2016 declared the state’s death penalty sentencing law unconstitutional because it gave too much power to judges to make the ultimate decision.

The Legislature responded by overhauling the law, but rejected calls to require a unanimous jury decision in future cases, instead allowing the death penalty to be imposed by a 10-2 jury vote.

In October, however, the state Supreme Court voted 5-2 to strike down the new law and require unanimous jury decisions for capital punishment.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi promptly asked the court to reconsider, with one of her senior attorneys arguing in court filings that clarity is needed to “avoid any potential miscarriage of justice.” Bondi’s office also asserted that pending death penalty cases could move ahead as long as their juries unanimously agreed to the punishment.

Then in December, the state justices upended another set of capital punishments, citing a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision that only juries, not judges, can determine whether evidence justifies the death penalty. That ruling made a group of inmates sentenced after 2002 eligible for new sentencing hearings, and could lead to them being released from death row.

On Wednesday morning, the high court rejected Bondi’s request, and said the entire sentencing law “cannot be applied to pending prosecutions.” But only hours later, this firm conclusion was withdrawn.

Lawyers for death row inmates and opponents of capital punishment have warned prosecutors for years that Florida’s death sentencing law was unconstitutional.

Attorney Martin McClain, a veteran of death penalty cases, asserted that as of right now, there “is not a valid process in place” for death penalty cases to proceed in Florida.

By Gary Fineout of the Associated Press

Shame at pro-LGBT UN vote EDITOR, The Tribune.

RECENTLY, we wrote the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, concerning a December 19, 2016, vote at the United Nations pertaining to the appointment of a so called Independent Expert (IE) on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in the person of Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn.

We expressed to Mr Mitchell that while we denounce violence against all persons, we are concerned that the words “violence” and “discrimination” are being distorted to mean any view that does not support the LGBT ideology. Further, we pointed out to Mr. Mitchell that, by his own admission, Professor Muntarbhorn has made it clear that he will use his appointment to advocate for and promote the LGBT ideology.

Mr. Mitchell did not give us (and still has not given us) the courtesy of a response, so we forwarded to The Tribune our correspondence to Mr Mitchell, which was kindly covered in your very next newspaper publication. Therefore, Mr Mitchell was forced to respond. Regrettably, however, in our view, Mr Mitchell’s response was disingenuous and misleading in several respects.

First of all, Mr Mitchell

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net sought to downplay the vote by saying that it was procedural in nature. If the vote was merely procedural in nature, perhaps Mr Mitchell might wish to explain to the Bahamian public why there was such deep and passionate division between member countries, so much so that the vote was won by a very slim margin. Mr Mitchell knows fully well that what was at stake in the vote was whether Professor Muntarbhorn’s appointment would be confirmed or deferred in order to investigate what legal basis, if any, existed for his appointment. After its initial vote in favour of the appointment of Professor Muntarbhorn and his pro-LGBT ideology, on December 19, 2016 The Bahamas again voted along with the slim majority to confirm the appointment without deferment.

Second, Mr Mitchell misapplied and twisted the meaning of our country’s constitutional commitment to Christian values by citing it as the reason The Bahamas voted in support of Professor Muntarbhorn.

What Mr Mitchell fails to realise is that The Bahamas’ vote in favour of Professor Muntarbhorn is actually a betrayal of our Christian values because the LGBT ideology that

the professor has vowed to promote is contrary to the Christian values which the overwhelming majority of Bahamians hold to.

Mr Mitchell surprisingly ignores the fact that a majority of CARICOM countries voted against Professor Muntarbhorn’s appointment. Instead, he boasts that The Bahamas stood with countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union and voted for his appointment. So we are forced to ask: What pride is there in standing with countries that are stripping away rights and freedoms of people who do not support LGBT ideology? Increasingly in these countries it is considered hate speech to call homosexuality a sin, and pastors like us are being fined and imprisoned for doing so.

We therefore maintain our view that in the United Nations votes that dealt with the appointment of Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, The Bahamas’ support for his appointment misrepresented the views and values of the overwhelming majority of Bahamians. Therefore, rather than feeling pride, Minister Mitchell should feel shame about the misrepresentation.

PASTORS Cedric Moss, Alfred Stewart, and Lyall Bethel Nassau, January 3, 2017.

Wake up over crime We must march EDITOR, The Tribune.

EDITOR, The Tribune ACCORDING to Wikipedia, civil disobedience is “the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is a symbolic or ritualistic violation of the law, rather than a rejection of the system as a whole. Civil disobedience is sometimes, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance”.

The continued lack of accountability and transparency of successive governments, the stifling suffering of many Bahamians, the inequitable sharing of the economic pie and the rampant and incessant disregard for the average Bahamian has put us in a state where we need to take collective and corrective action as a people.

The Bahamas does not

have a system in place for enriching the average Bahamian. Only a select few, including many foreigners and a few other Bahamians who manage to beat the odds, are able to live comfortably in this country. We need to focus more on meritocracy, rather than privilege. This is why I am a supporter of the We March Bahamas and any other organisation that shares similar values.

It is time for Bahamians to stand up straight and demand how they want this country to be run. It is time for Bahamians to be able to access capital outside this country and have United States-based bank accounts.

It is time for the average Bahamian to enjoy affordable and reliable energy. It is time for our society to employ our best qualified people as opposed to friends, families and lovers. It is our time.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Civil disobedience be-

comes a sacred duty when the state has become lawless or corrupt”. We have hit an all-time low when it comes to lawlessness and corruption in the Bahamas.

It is our duty to march on January 10 so that our displeasure with our corrupt culture of governance can shine bright like a diamond.

I did not attend the first march, but so help me God, I will be there next Tuesday.

Bahamians, it is time. Dr Martin Luther King said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent”.

Stand firm Bahamians.

Stand firm. We did not get a permit to march but we must.

job via an unwitting Perry Christie.

Whilst there appeared to be no logical reason for Fiery Fred to support her as, intellectually, in my opinion, she is patently deficient, I would point out one of her election promises - and I quote - “she will spend the next two years working within the Commonwealth to decriminalise homosexuality”.

Enough said?

In regards to the pleas of the union leaders for Shane Gibson to fix “once and for all” our labour laws to pun-

ish foreign investors is most interesting.

If Gibson was still the young (read broke) firebrand unionist of years gone possibly. But now? I don’t think so. He is a very wealthy member of the establishment who now has little to nothing in common with the displaced employees of the One&Only Ocean Club.

Money corrupts and he has it and you don’t. Sorry.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau January 1, 2017

Mitchell and Baroness Scotland EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: Baroness Scotland/ Shane Gibson There have been a number of excellent letters in The Tribune about Baroness Scotland (the British person who purports, when it suits her, to have Caribbean roots) who is the present incompetent Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

Fred Mitchell is one of her supporters and sycophant and assisted in her getting this prestigious

THE REALIST Nassau, December 28, 2016.

CRIME? If the Prime Minister, his Minister for National Security and the Attorney General have not been listening to the police reports following a murder then God help us.

How many persons murdered were on the electronic bracelet - how many of the alleged shooters were on the bracelet system?

When the police says the person was known to the police what do they mean?

Until the Bail Act is amended the Murder rate will not decrease - okay possibly constitutionally we cannot possibly create dis-

crimination so for murder or offences involving a gun bail will be a cash bail of $250,000 period no exceptions.

The bracelet system should only be used for the petty crime as it was designed and not as the Judges have been using it.

As long as you have 300 persons charged with killing running around free you will not see a decrease in murder or offences using a gun.

Wake up Government.

AIRBnB and Home Away from Home - the letter writer Mr Raine seems not to understand that persons using these electronic online services are

in breach of the existing law - you need a license to rent homes in this manner and you are liable to VAT at least and probably Resort Taxes.

AirBnB corporately are signing agreements to cover tax liabilities in cities and countries all over the place, so why can’t The Bahamas go after this legal tax revenue?

My last check Home Away from Home alone had more than the total amount of Bahama beds registered and Treasury not earning a dime.

W THOMPSON Nassau, January 4, 2017.

National holiday full of empty promises EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE PLP making a national holiday into a political day is wrong in any sense of the word.

Watch what we will endure all over again as we have endured from Majority Day from the PLP the only theme they know.......

Is ZNS TV going to air...

Roots? Probably and/or any movie that will further divide for one single intention

- to desperately try to bring back the thousands of once diehard PLP’s to support the PLP going into their Convention and election.

Majority Rule Day is a bipartisan National Holiday of all Bahamians.

What difference will it make if they come out in their yellow-gold or in black pink or any other colour the talk - the message of the speakers will be the same old garbage. Truth told the

Barely believable VOTER REGISTRATION -BREAST COVERAGE EDITOR, The Tribune.

Re: ‘Cover breasts to register for vote’. The Tribune, January 2, 2017.

IT would have been interesting to see how the Voter Registration Decency Police might have dealt with the likes of Beyoncé or Mariah Carey. Burqas?

KEN W KNOWLES, MD Nassau, January 2, 2017.

majority still wait attaining the promise - the numerous PLP Governments have done as little as possible to give the majority something tangible.....oh they are good on promises. Remember 2012? Bahamians first!

It is a sad day 50 years after Majority Rule Day when black-mango-conchy-joe and white Bahamians voted for the alternative to the minority party who founded our modern economy which successive Governments have mashed and reduced to almost junk. The majority I suggest are still enslaved as they were pre-1967.

January 10th will be a black day of same old PLP garbage flowing from the mouths’ of those who still have no a clue what the majority want.

CYNTHIA MOSS Nassau, January 1, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 5

DNA: No plan to absorb rebel seven

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance has no intention of absorbing any of the Free National Movement’s seven members of Parliament who revolted against Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly, according to DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer yesterday.

However, if any of the seven “rebel” MPs express an interest in joining the party, Mr Mortimer said the DNA’s Candidates Committee, which is tasked with choosing representatives for the party, would make the decision.

This comes as questions continue to linger over the next move of Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and her FNM counterparts who each face disciplinary action from their party.

Since they ousted Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition, the group has given no clear indication of what move will be next.

However, DNA Leader Branville McCartney has previously said he has not “given any consideration” to public speculation that his party could be the destination for those seven parliamentarians.

The group unseated Dr Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly last month after they submitted

LORETTA Butler-Turner with Branville McCartney. a letter of no confidence in “We have no intention of him to lead them in Parlia- absorbing FNM candidates. ment to Governor General “We have an arrangeDame Marguerite Pindling. ment that we were trying They chose Mrs Butler- to get across to the BahaTurner to lead the group mian people that we were in Parliament moving for- going to do what was in the ward. best interest of our counNot long after she was try first and our people sworn in as Dr Minnis’ second, even if it means replacement, Mrs Butler- working across party lines Turner revealed that Mr to get our shared goal acMcCartney was her pick to complished. be the leader of opposition “Because at the end of business in the Senate. the day a broken country “Anyone who wants to doesn’t make a difference if be a part of the DNA can,” you are FNM, PLP or DNA Mr Mortimer said during a if we continue down the press conference yesterday. road where we are spend-

ing $300m more on fuel for electricity than we should.

We all suffer because of that. “If we have poor governance in this country and it means that after the election, VAT goes to 10 per cent we all suffer because of that.

“So at the end of the day I think that we are trying to make a statement that we are all in this together and there are issues that cross party lines. We have a government that if you ask the person on the street if they are better now than they were four and half years

ago, 95 per cent of the people will tell you ‘no’.

“We are a country that is in a poor state. Just look in the eyes of the young people, walk around the street, look them in the eye. We have soulless people walking around on the street.

(These are) young people with no hope and this is going to be the first generation of young people that will accomplish less than their parents. The first in the history of our country and people want us to play politics. They want us to adhere to the gang culture of being this colour or that colour,” Mr Mortimer added.

“What we are saying is listen we’re going to play grown up politics now.

We’re going to work on the things that matter. Even if it means we have to work across party lines,” Mr Mortimer said.

Before Mr Mortimer’s defence of the party’s decision to join forces with the seven MPs, Mr McCartney urged Bahamians to register to vote. He said the passion once felt by the electorate has been replaced with apathy. Bahamians no longer believe that their votes make a difference and this sentiment is as dangerous as it is pervasive, the former Cabinet minister said.

He said: “Despite the flaws in our politics, it must be noted that of all the rights afforded to us as citizens of this great country there is arguably none more

important than the right to vote. For many years, Bahamians like you and me were unable to exercise that right. Just a generation ago, Bahamians like you and me were excluded from the process of governance and were subjected to the will and whim of a certain class of individuals.

“Even now, in this age of relative freedom, we must be mindful that thousands of men and women around the globe are still being denied their right to democratically elect their own governments. Here in the Bahamas, it took the courageous intervention of brave men and women to change that. As we approach another general election, it is vital that we not take their struggle for granted.

“For this reason I encourage my fellow Bahamians not to turn their backs on the political process, but to view every opportunity to vote as more than just a right, but an opportunity to honour the sacrifice of our fore-bearers, and to play an active role in securing a better way of life for all Bahamians. Voting is more than JUST your constitutional right it is also your responsibility. I encourage all persons who have not already done so, to register now. Your vote is your voice. Don’t be silent,” Mr McCartney said.

The DNA is expected to reveal a new group of election candidates soon.

BUTLER-TURNER ‘FORMING BOLD COALITION’ WITH THE DNA from page one

Despite having her ratification for the Long Island constituency revoked by the Free National Movement’s council, Mrs Butler-Turner also said she believes persons are more inclined to vote for a “person” rather than a “party” in the upcoming election.

Last month, after ousting FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament and obtaining the position, Mrs Butler-Turner appointed DNA Leader Mr McCartney as leader of opposition business in the Senate.

At the time, Mrs ButlerTurner said the move was evidence that her team was willing to put the Bahamian

people first to move forward to defeat the governing Progressive Liberal Party.

Announcing the decision at the time, she insisted that she and the six FNM MPs who support her have not joined the DNA, but were working together for a “common good.”

“Branville and I and the DNA are going to have a very interesting coalition that we are going to reveal hopefully not too long from now,” Mrs Butler-Turner said yesterday.

“I think it is important that persons like ourselves get in the driver’s seat and be able to move the direction of the country. We are going to be bold in what we do. This generation requires us to produce change and if you want change, you have to be bold.

“So, I am forming a very powerful, bold coalition.

Some people will secondguess my judgment but in the fullness of time they are going to appreciate and understand in order to frame history you cannot be passive. You have to go out and make things happen. So kudos to Branville and kudos to the magnificent seven who decided we could not go sit down on our morals and wait for things to happen. We are like fireworks, we will explode things and make sure we are able to make it happen.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said whether or not she remains in the FNM, she will never distance herself from the philosophy of the party.

She also said she believes during this year’s election,

the voters will concentrate more on individual candidates because the country’s history has proven that voting for party “doesn’t really work out”.

“I think philosophically I will never ever distance myself from the philosophy of the FNM. It has framed my political outlook and as you all now time is of the essence and the FNM has disengaged me and whether legal or otherwise they have revoked my nomination as an FNM and so if I am going to continue to run I can’t run under an FNM ticket, but stayed tuned,” she said.

“People will realise they have voted for party for four generations and for four generations look at how we ended up and so we have got to be clear

that we are going to do things differently. I don’t think the people of The Bahamas have ever been faced with the boldness of bringing parties together, there have been parties that came together to form a new entity but as we move forward you are going to see something that is dynamic, that is going to bring fairness to the entire process of who becomes leader and so I think it will be a new option but people are looking for change and if they want change they cannot be picking two sides of the same coin.”

In December, Dr Minnis said he was “more than confident” that political newcomer Adrian Gibson will unseat Mrs Butler-Turner in Long Island.

“We are not worried

about Loretta - Adrian Gibson is running in Long Island as the FNM candidate,” Dr Minnis said last month. “He will carry the torch. Her ratification has been revoked, we have now placed a new candidate in Long Island and Adrian Gibson will represent Long Island.

“I am confident that Adrian will win no matter who runs. You are witnessing a new generation, members of the change agenda. Long Island has always been FNM territory and I am certain that Long Island will remain FNM.” Mrs Butler-Turner and the six MPs who ousted Dr Minnis from his post as opposition leader face expulsion, suspension or a fine from the FNM.

BUTLER-TURNER: YOU’LL SEE SOON WHY I CHOSE RODNEY MONCUR

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner said yesterday that despite newly appointed Senator Rodney Moncur being described as “vile and bombastic,” persons will come to understand “very soon” why she chose the controversial talk show host for the post.

While appearing as a guest on the 91.7 FM show “Morning Madhouse” with host “C-Note,” Mrs ButlerTurner admitted that Mr Moncur will have to “modify his behaviour in Parliament” but reiterated earlier comments, saying she supports his right to express his views and opinions.

Mrs Butler-Turner said Mr Moncur, who has openly advocated against gender equality, is a champion for the “down trodden” and a

voice for those who would “otherwise not be heard.”

“I believe that there was certainly an emotional response when Senator Moncur was appointed and I think people will come to understand in the fullness of time why he was chosen,” Mrs Butler-Turner said.

“In some people’s estimation Mr Moncur can be bombastic and vile, as I have heard it described. I stand by him because the flip side of it is this, he has for many years been an advocate of the down trodden and those persons who feel marginalised. He has gone out boldly to stand up for things he believed in.

I think one of the key things that I looked at was, I realised in leadership you have to make tough decisions and you are not only going to decide on people who think your way or see things your way. You have got to have diverse group of persons.

“Moncur was very hard on me personally, very, very critical of me when I moved for the Martial Rape Bill and continued to be very critical of my actions when I (supported) the Gender Equality Bills and so when people look they say ‘this man does not believe in equality, he is a misogynist.’

Interestingly you have to look at the flip side because Moncur said that women cannot lead but yet he is following me.”

Mrs Butler-Turner said while she encourages Mr Moncur to be himself, he will have to modify his behaviour in the upper chamber of Parliament.

“I am absolutely leading

him and teaching him,” she said.

“I think there is such a thing as modification of behaviour and he has apologised I understand on his talk show to the many person he would have offended. As a senator, he is going to have to modify much of his behaviour, especially in Parliament. That is going to be important. I believe if you are going to fight a battle and you have adversaries and you are able to turn your adversary into an ally before you hit the first blow, you are well on your way to winning that battle.”

Over the years, Mr Moncur has not been shy in vocalising his conservative

and anti-feminist views, which led many to question and criticise Mrs ButlerTurner’s decision to appoint the community activist and justice of the peace to the Senate.

Mrs Butler-Turner was an advocate for the vote ‘yes’ campaign ahead of the gender equality referendum. In 2009, when she was minister of state for social development in the Ingraham administration, she tabled a bill that would have made marital rape a crime. That bill was shelved after pushback from the community.

Mr Moncur did not support the legislation.

Mr Moncur called for all Bahamians to vote “no” in

the June 2016 referendum in order to “save women” from themselves and to “stop foreign men from having the same rights as Bahamian men.” He called the process “witchcraft”.

Days after he was sworn in as a senator, Mrs ButlerTurner publicly apologised for the “inappropriate and insensitive comments” made

by Mr Moncur towards a Tribune reporter who had raised questions about his position on marital rape.

PAGE 6 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

26 new registration stations ahead of vote

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE Parliamentary Registration Department yesterday announced 26 new voter registration stations in New Providence and Grand Bahama, in a move to improve sluggish voter registration numbers.

In an interview with The Tribune on Wednesday, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said his office has not relented in its quest to “pull voters in.”

He added that as of yesterday, 75,404 people had registered to vote.

According to Mr Hall, his office had opted to start several “modern” features, all designed to “improve” the registration process.

In addition to expanded operating hours, the department has 23 centres throughout various communities in New Providence.

That comes in addition to its ongoing centres at various post offices and both

the Marathon and Town Centre Malls.

When asked about the department’s line of thinking behind how the new centres would work moving forward, Mr Hall referred questions to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Harrison Thompson, the new lead organiser of the registration centres.

Mr Thompson, present at the department on Wednesday, said his inclusion in the ongoing process was simple: “Any eligible voter, we are prepared to get them registered.”

He told The Tribune: “Today, there will be 23 new centres throughout New Providence and three more in Grand Bahama opened and ready to go. They will open to accommodate voters where they live, in their communities.

“These new centres will run in addition to the stations that already have opened now. They will stay open throughout this process because we are working

to make this process as easy and trouble-free as possible.

“We will also include more mobile teams that will go to various government agencies starting next week, those, again in addition to the teams we have mobilised now.

“What we are trying to do is give everyone an opportunity to get registered,” he said.

The mobile teams and the stationary teams are all equipped to handle every possible situation that could arise out there in the field, officials said.

“Unless potential voters go way off course, we have authorised our teams in a manner in which they are prepared for every possible situation. Any eligible voter, we are prepared to get registered,” he added.

“Bahamians normally wait for the last minute and we know that it is getting close to that time, so the plan is to be ready and place all the necessary resources in the right places.”

He continued: “We are optimistic that we can get quality numbers with these new initiatives.”

In December, Prime Minister Perry Christie said that the announcement of the next election date could hinge on the progress of voter registration, which has been sluggish.

Mr Christie, speaking about low voter registration numbers on the sidelines of the 2016 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, admitted that the process had been “a struggle” for his administration, pushing officials “back to the drawing board” as they look for ways to encourage voters to “support the process”.

The Centreville MP said he could make a determination on an election date as early as February “if we get the numbers right”.

That declaration has led the department to expand on several initiatives and programmes, all geared toward increasing registration numbers.

THE TRIBUNE

EVENING VOTER REGISTRATION, 5PM-9PM

ALSO AT THESE CENTRES, 5PM-9PM

TEENAGER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING

from page one

looked on as police combed the scene. While the victim has not been identified, The Tribune understands he is Jarvis Roker.

Local residents reported hearing gunshots but few details of the circumstances of the shooting emerged.

Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell lamented the loss. “The son of a dear friend and supporter was murdered tonight in a

drive by shooting in the Foxdale subdivision of Fox Hill,” he said in a statement. “I have spoken to the mother of the deceased by telephone and conveyed my personal condolences and that of the Fox Hill Branch.

“Once again tragedy has struck the community of Fox Hill and I again pledge to do all that I can to rid our community for this senseless violence.”

Police investigations continue.

INVESTIGATORS at the scene of last night’s shooting.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 7

First-time offender told if he can’t handle jail he shouldn’t break the law

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TEEN’S arraignment and admission of guilt concerning firearm related offences yesterday allowed a court official the opportunity to denounce ongoing gun violence and crime in the country.

Chief Magistrate Joyann-Ferguson Pratt told 19-year-old Jamaal Taylor, who admitted to possessing a loaded pistol and was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison, that if he could not handle the pressures of incarceration he should not have broken the law.

Taylor had been asked if he wished to say anything before sentence was passed on him. He initially said “no”, but changed his mind within seconds.

“Please be lenient on me,” he asked.

“Why do you ask that I be lenient?” the chief magistrate asked.

“This is my first offence

and I’m not the type to be in jail. I can’t take the pressure,” Taylor explained.

“You’re contravening the laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas by having an illegal firearm in your possession,” the magistrate responded. “When you break the law, you must be prepared to suffer the consequences. People who cannot take the pressure, they stay within the confines of it.

“I want to send a clear message that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

These illegal firearms are wreaking havoc in the community.”

The defendant was brought before the chief magistrate facing a count each of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

It was alleged that Taylor, on Monday, January 2, was found with a black and silver Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and five live rounds of ammunition for the weapon without being the holder of a certificate or license to

possess the items.

Taylor, when called on to enter a plea to the charges, admitted guilt.

On the day in question, officers were on mobile patrol in an unmarked police vehicle in the area of Potter’s Cay Dock when they observed Taylor standing on the eastern side of the road.

“This male would have appeared to have looked in the direction of the officers and began acting in a suspicious manner by fiddling with the inside front-liner of his pants,” Sgt 603 Lakisia Moss said.

“Officers approached and asked to conduct a search with respect to dangerous drugs and illegal firearm having identified themselves with a warrant card and verbally. On conducting the search, from the front of the inner pants lining, officers retrieved a black and silver firearm found to be a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol containing a silver clip with five live rounds of 9mm ammuni-

tion,” the police prosecutor added.

Taylor was cautioned, arrested and taken to the Central Police Station before he was taken to the Central Detective Unit where he was invited to take part in an interview in the presence of attorney Tai Pinder.

“The defendant had no comment to the questions except for one. He was asked where he got the weapon from and his response was that he found it,” the court heard.

The police prosecutor said this resulted in him being charged with the offences and indicated that he had no antecedents.

After Taylor’s plea for leniency, the chief magistrate said that violence will continue “unless young people make up in their minds that they will do the right thing.”

“And you went to a place that is frequented by so many families and visitors,” the chief magistrate stressed.

“You would be before me for something more serious

had you used the firearm.

On the face of it, you’ve had no brush with the law before and so what you need to understand is that curiosity really does kill the cat.

Wherever you found that firearm, if what you say is so, you ought to have left it there,” the chief magistrate added.

“Yes, ma’am,” Taylor agreed.

“The Bahamian community at large is looking to the judiciary to deal with people who use firearms.

We cannot turn away and pretend it’s not a formidable problem,” Chief Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said.

“The law empowers the court to give a sentence of up to seven years imprisonment. I do not think your circumstances warrant that having regard to your age, albeit you’re an adult who needs to grow up, this is your first brush with the law.

“I’ve observed that you have some family members in court. I could feel your mother’s disappointment.

Look around you. Where are your friends? Surely they must have heard about what happened to Jamaal.

None of them are here to support you. The people who are really hurting are the closest to you and they are the people who mean you the very best. Fox Hill (prison) is not a luxury hotel. It’s a correctional facility,” the chief magistrate stressed.

The magistrate said she hoped this message would also serve as a deterrent to others determined to follow along Taylor’s path.

“I believe this is not the end of the world for you. I choose to believe that you can be redeemed and rehabilitated. You’re young enough to bounce back wiser and stronger but I have to send a clear message,” the chief magistrate concluded.

Taylor was sentenced to 36 months on each of the two counts and the sentences were ordered to run concurrently from the date of conviction.

PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING MOTHER NOT CARRIED OUT

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

AN ORDERED psychiatric evaluation of a man awaiting trial in connection with the fatal stabbing of his mother was not carried out, a magistrate learned yesterday.

Tamaal Adderley, 35, and his lawyer Tonique Lewis appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt for a status hearing on the request made

by Ms Lewis at his initial arraignment three weeks ago concerning the death of 61-year-old veteran educator Lauramae Adderley.

Adderley’s murder charge falls under Section 291 (1)(B) of the Penal Code, meaning the accused

will not face the discretionary death penalty if there is a conviction at the end of the Supreme Court trial.

It is alleged that he killed the teacher on Monday, December 12.

According to initial reports from police, the victim was found dead in her home with apparent stab wounds. After the discovery, police said a male relative was helping in their investigation.

The accused appeared dejected and withdrawn when addressed by the arraigning magistrate on December 20, 2016 and Ms Lewis made a request of the court for her client not to be remanded at the Department of Correctional Services but instead to Sandilands Rehabilitation

Centre (SRC) for him to be evaluated based on instructions she had received from the family.

While there was no objection from the prosecution to the request, there was concern that the SRC did not have the facilities for an individual charged with that kind of offence.

The chief magistrate agreed with the prosecution but made a note that the accused was to have a psychiatric evaluation.

She fixed January 4 for a status hearing in that regard.

However, at yesterday’s hearing, Ms Lewis said her client had not been evaluated.

“I spoke with Mr Adderley and he’s indicated that he’s not been evaluated,”

the lawyer said.

The chief magistrate said she had sent a communication to the officials in charge of the correctional facility on December 21, 2016, adding: “But what I will do is follow up on that request and perhaps we will need a two-week adjournment.”

As Adderley is already scheduled to return to Magistrate’s Court on January 17 for the case to be transferred to the Supreme Court by the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment, the chief magistrate said: “Let’s be hopeful we’ll have the evaluation done by then.”

When asked later by the magistrate how he was doing, Adderley said he was “okay.”

TAMAAL Adderley pictured outside court previously.

PAGE 8 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Sad sacrifices must be made to follow a political calling A Young Man’s View

By ADRIAN GIBSON

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life …

- Time Of Your Life, by Green Day

T

ODAY, I write that dreaded parting column.

This is so difficult to write and whatever version ends up being published has gone through many deletions and rewrites. I have been thinking about this for weeks and pondering upon what I would say to the loyal readers of this column who have devotedly read my columns for 12 years. Teary eyed, I say thank you, thank you so very much.

I have sought to write this column on several occasions but always found an excuse or some fanciful reason not to face the music.

Finally, I had to just do it.

A few weeks ago, I accepted the Free National Movement’s (FNM) nomination to run as its standard bearer in my hometown, Long Island. My acceptance of that nomination, and subsequent ratification, has led to the decision - in all fairness to myself, my readers and The Tribune - to temporarily lay my pen down and suspend my weekly column. This decision does not come easily: it comes with a bit of trepidation, but it is the right thing to do at this time.

I grew up at The Tribune.

Though in college, I was embraced by The Tribune, trained as a reporter and worked the news desk. Before returning to college, then managing editor John Marquis, publisher Eileen Carron and then news editor Paco Nunez concluded

that I was a ‘keeper’, resulting in me becoming The Tribune’s youngest columnist at 20. Then began the column “A Young Man’s View”. As one who always read Nikki Kelly’s columns, I initially insisted that my column be laid out much like hers and in that request - and in many others that came in the years after - I am grateful to The Tribune for obliging me.

Now 32, whenever I review some of my earlier columns, I could see my growth and maturation over the years. Thankfully, I also had people like Sir Arthur Foulkes (a great adviser and reference point) and even Nikki Kelly herself offered advice (publicly and privately). Notably, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis - then a first term MP - sent me a note once offering advice about a coarse reference I made in an earlier column. He indicated that he was an avid reader and, whilst nothing in that particular column mentioned him, his tasteful chiding of me was much appreciated and memorable.

I’ve thanked him over the years.

It has been a wonderful journey to have been exposed to so many people and so many aspects of the life and times of the Bahamas via the vehicle that The Tribune provided me. Mrs Carron, the Iron Lady, has become another mother to me over the years. I have called upon her for personal and professional advice, she donned her lawyer’s garb after years of shelving it and assisted in presenting me to the Bahamas Bar when I was called. I am honoured to know such a great Bahamian woman. Our many conversations over the years have been enlightening and will undoubtedly endure.

Today, I smile about my pursuits as a reporter at The Tribune. From interviews in bathrooms to 3am calls from sources to meeting contacts at clandestine

ADRIAN Gibson speaking to the media during his ratification for the FNM. locations for documents to I love writing this col- umn to be viewed as a selfdeveloping story ideas and umn. I have written well serving tool. That has never pursuing them with the over a thousand columns been the intent and I do not hopes of striking gold … it over the years, including want to tarnish the Young was great! I loved it. supplements and sometimes Man’s View brand. twice weekly. This has been Home is where the heart a much cherished part of is. I could not ignore the my life. call of my Whilst the ‘The time required to people. I door won’t could not be closed write a column and turn down on a pos- to practice law can an opporsible return be all consuming and tunity to to writing serve the a column, intense. To mount interests of I have de- an effective peoplethe people cided to oriented campaign of Long Ispolitically land. enlist with whilst actively doing As I enthe FNM both would be near ter sharkto serve the impossible and unfair infested interests of political my people to those to whom I waters, I in Long Is- owe my best.’ state here land. I am unequivouncertain that my readers cally that I intend to rewould be reasonably per- main true to myself. I am suaded that I can write a a man of conviction and I column with the same can- can assure my readers and did, undeterred fervour and all those who have come to fearlessness whilst pursuing know me over the years that political office. I certainly I will unbendingly stand by would not want my col- my principles and core be-

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liefs, that being an ethical and honest servant of the people’s interest will be a key driving factor in all I do and that much of the approach and dedication I brought to researching and writing this column will be translated to my new life as a politician (wow, I still flinch at being referred to as a politician).

There are many issues that our country faces. I have articulated many of those issues and proposed solutions over the years in these very pages. I am sincerely hopeful that my involvement in the political firmament will foster change and service-oriented governance that focuses upon the issues as opposed to personalities and foolish political barbs and self-serving political horse-trading.

Our country is on the brink of socioeconomic upheaval.

We are one major natural decision or global recession away from near economic collapse. Our society

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 9

ADRIAN GIBSON, left, with FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis and fellow FNM candidate James Albury at the ratification event for the pair in December. has been a volatile powder keg and we are seeing the emergence of a generation who are unconcerned about life, who would kill, rob or maim another human being for as little as $250.

We must stem the tide or lose any semblance of what The Bahamas use to be and the potential of what it could be. Given all that, I have decided to no longer stand on the sideline and now enter the political arena. Honestly, it is a major sacrifice but one that will hopefully result in a better country for my seven-yearold son, my future children and the future of many Bahamians yet unborn. I will certainly commit myself to working hard and doing my endeavouring best to attaining a country where national service, educational parity and opportunities, decent healthcare, functional utilities, effective and service-oriented law enforcement, societal amity and so on, become the norm as opposed to the exception.

In the interest of focusing upon the campaign in Long Island, I am also taking a

leave of absence from the firm Callenders & Co effective immediately. I thank my learned senior Frederick Smith QC for his abiding support and the opportunity to work closely with him over the years.

The time required to write a column and to practice law can be all consuming and intense. To mount an effective people-oriented campaign whilst actively doing both would be near impossible and unfair to those to whom I owe my best.

Thank you to all those at The Tribune - news colleagues and friends. I am pleased to be a part of such a great family.

Most importantly, I say a special thanks to the readers of this column. Thank you for following this column over the years from the Friday edition to the Saturday Big T to the Thursday paper. Thank you for your emails, calls, compliments and input over the years.

I’ve hardly missed a week, writing on vacation or during special occasions to ensure that when you open the papers you are not dis-

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

ADRIAN Gibson reacts last night as he is ratified as the FNM’s candidate for Long Island. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff appointed. I will miss writing for you.

This is both an ending and a new beginning.

As I enter the next chapter of my life, I say to the people of Long Island that your native son is coming home and reporting for duty.

For 12 years, I had the

time of my life. It has been a 12 year blast … and it may return.

Elton John sings that “sorry seems to be the hardest word” but, in all truth, it is goodbye. And so, to my readers, I say goodbye ... for now.

Comments and responses to ajbahama@hotmail.com

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PAGE 10 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

FITZGERALD BLAMES SCHOOLS FOR SUPPLY TEACHER PAYMENT DELAY from page one

JEROME FITZGERALD, Minister of Education, Science and Technology held a press conference yesterday to announce that The Bahamas will host the 9th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

He placed the blame for payment delays on untimely submission from principals in the various districts, and havoc wrought by Hurricane Matthew.

“The issue with supply teachers has now been resolved,” he said. “The challenge we have had with supply teachers has been that we cannot pay supply teachers until we have received the requisite information from the various districts around the country.

“In some instances, principals have delayed the submission of those supply teacher requests and that has contributed to the delay of them being paid.

The second issue, of course, is that we had a hurricane that intervened and that in and of itself caused a delay with regard to processing and the payment of some of those claims.”

Mr Fitzgerald explained that the new policy mandates that all districts submit claims for supply teachers every Thursday. He said his ministry has also been in talks with the Ministry of Finance to solidify a policy position that those claims

are processed in a timely manner.

“We really didn’t have a strict timeline on when they (principals) were to submit them (claims) or a set date for submission,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “We just depended on them submitting them really when I guess they had a batch that accumulated.

“So we have mandated that whether it’s two, three, 40, every week we will have those submitted to the ministry and we will process them within that week as well. So that is going to cut down significantly the time.”

Supply teachers are retirees who have mostly been re-engaged by the government because of shortages across the country. Last week, The Tribune was first to report that nearly 200 of them had not been paid for months.

In August 2016, Mr Fitzgerald expressed concern over the “unexpected” applications for early retirement from 119 public school teachers ahead of the 20162017 academic school year.

Mr Fitzgerald said at the time that the ministry would likely employ some 30 supply teachers to fill vacancies.

$9m spent on school repairs after Hurricane Matthew

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE government spent around $9m to repair hurricane damage to public schools throughout the country, according to Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald, who said yesterday that works have been “significantly completed”.

Mr Fitzgerald said the ministry expected to com-

plete all outstanding work ahead of the opening of schools in New Providence next week.

“The school repairs are significantly completed throughout the country,” he said. “I can tell you that the total cost of the repairs were in the region of $9 million throughout the country and most of those are complete, and we expect that prior to school opening next week in New Providence the re-

mainder of those that are outstanding will be done.”

Hurricane Matthew left large sections of New Providence, Andros and Grand Bahama devastated in October.

Government High School in the capital and Walker Parker Primary in Grand Bahama were the hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew, according to the Ministry of Education.

Mr Fitzgerald provided the

estimation on the total cost of hurricane repairs at a press conference to announce that the government will host the Ninth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education (9IAMME).

At the two-day conference, ministers of education are expected to discuss recent regional developments and challenges, and chart the way forward for the 34 representatives of the Organization of Americas States

(OAS), and observer states.

For the first time in its history, the OAS meeting will feature a trade exhibition of innovative education products from 20 local and international presenters.

The 2017 forum will also feature reporting from the three working groups established at last year’s meeting in Panama City, Panama; the groups focused on the themes: Quality and Equitable Education;

Strengthening of the Teaching Profession; and Early Childhood Care.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “The Bahamas has been at the helm of the global education discussion. We have made significant strides in education and have garnered international attention.”

The event will be staged at Atlantis resort, Paradise Island on February 9 and 10.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 11

FNM pledges on solar, health and culture from page one

Dr Minnis also forecast the creation of a standalone Ministry of Culture; vowed that his party will immediately move to expedite Crown land applications if elected to office; and promised that a government led by him would reverse the recent credit rating downgrade “in short order” by placing an immediate stoppage on “wasteful spending, scandalous contracts,” and “weeding out the corruption.”

“Though the problems we now face are not insurmountable, they have proven to be more than the Christie administration has the capacity to handle,” he said.

Making his case that the country’s development has regressed over this term, the FNM leader highlighted anaemic GDP growth, the rising national debt and a worsening debt to GDP ratio; high unemployment; high murder rate; the rise in poverty and decimation of the middle class; and the recent credit rating downgrade to junk status by Standard & Poor’s (S&P).

He forecast that a series of painful austerity measures will be imposed on the country by the International Monetary Fund if the country is unable to make a turnaround.

“This has happened in other countries,” he said, “including some in the Caribbean, and has led to massive job losses, and a reduction of government services. We must avoid this at all costs. We must have a change in national leadership, and a change of government, in order to save the country.

“However, there is hope,” he added.

Dr Minnis vowed that his administration will immediately make public all details concerning the sale of Baha Mar, and “plot a course towards reversing it” if it is not in the best interest of the country.

He maintained that an

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

FNM government would not be sidetracked from its resolve to create more quality jobs and increase Bahamian ownership. To this end, he highlighted a public/private partnership programme, Building Bahamian Entrepreneurs, that will provide opportunities for the development and management of government services.

Highlighting the unacceptable performance of Bahamas Power and Light, and high cost of electricity, Dr Minnis pledged that his party’s comprehensive energy “revolution” will be undergirded by a national solarisation programme that will allow homeowners to produce their own energy, by utilising governmentsubsidised solar panels.

He said: “Bahamian companies offering services in the development, assembly, installation and maintenance of alternative renewable energy sources, including waste-to-energy,

biodiesel, methane, LNG, wind and solar will be granted incentives and tax concessions. This will create a robust energy sector, reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, and help to maintain our pristine environment.”

Citing the deterioration of the nation’s public healthcare institutions, he pledged to introduce a catastrophic national health insurance plan. The FNM leader did refer to the current administration’s National Health Insurance scheme, scheduled for roll out ahead of elections, or whether the FNM’s plan would accommodate it.

The address was light on crime initiatives, however, with Dr Minnis pledging his party’s commitment to developing a “modern, efficient crime-fighting machine” that was properly staffed, trained and equipped.

He forecast that an FNM

administration will attack crime “at its roots” through child mentorship in collaboration with all community stakeholders, and pointed to special programmes for at-risk youth, particularly boys and young men.

His proposed legislative initiatives include: a Fiscal Responsibility Act; two term limit for prime ministers; a recall system for nonperforming MPs; the introduction of local government in New Providence; establish independence in the Office of the President of the Senate and the Office of the Speaker of the House

- a move he said would entrench impartiality; and an independent director of public prosecutions.

Speaking to anti-corruption initiatives, he vowed that his administration would make the Public Disclosure Commission an independent body, and provide the auditor general with more autonomy to exercise his office’s mandate.

On the part of education reform, Dr Minnis pledged that his administration would provide a monthly stipend and accommodation assistance for all Family Island students attending

the University of The Bahamas. He said his party’s long-range goal is to achieve free tertiary education for each and every qualified Bahamian student.

“This time is your time,” he concluded, “it’s the people’s time. No longer will your families be subjected to callous politicians, wasteful government spending and rampant unemployment. Morning is dawning.

The rising sun will break through the storm clouds, and, oh, what a sunrise that will be. This sunrise will usher in a new and better Bahamas.”

PAGE 12 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Platinum Knights triumph in Freeport Junkanoo parade

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AFTER four years on the scene, Platinum Knights finally walked away as Division A winners of the 2017 New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade in Freeport.

It is the first time the group has managed to hold on to first place, which has been so elusive due to penalties that have cost them the win for the past three years.

“It is our time and nothing could have stopped it,” said group leader Thomas Curry Jr, who celebrated with group members late into evening hours of Tuesday at their shack in the Lucaya area.

According to the unofficial results released by officials of the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee, Platinum Knights took first place in two of the four main categories, including Best Banner and Best Choreograph Dancers. The group got second in both the Best Individual Lead, and Best Performance in Showtime categories.

Platinum Knights also dominated in the individual category of Best Off Shoulder, taking the top three spots. Although the group accumulated the highest total scores for Best Free Dancer in both lap one and two of the parade route, it walked away with third place in that individual category.

The group defeated last year’s winner, the Swingers, a group that has dominated in past pa-

rades.

Because of the hurricane last October, some groups experienced hardships and had to drop out. Only four groups participated in the Division A category – Platinum Knights, Swingers, New Life Classic Dancers, and Superstar Rockers.

Show Time was the only group in the Division B category, making them the winner in that division, with a total of 943 points. The Bush Whackers was the only Division C category group.

The parade was held on Tuesday evening on Pioneer’s Way in downtown Freeport. Allyson Smith, chairman of the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee, had predicted a good parade during an interview on ZNS TV, even though the number of groups participating in Division A this year had declined.

Platinum Knights numbered around 480 members, and Mr Curry hopes the numbers will be in the thousands next year.

“I feel it (the judging) was very fair,” he told The Tribune.

“This is our fourth year. The first year we came out and got fourth place because of penalties; the second year we were in first place, but lost the parade because of penalties; and last year we were in first again but lost again by penalties. But, this year we did it and we took it home.”

The group’s theme was ‘Weather and Storms - Elements of Mother Nature.’

“It was the right fit. Hurricane

Matthew came to Grand Bahama and damaged our shack, but we bounced back with a large crew and we did it. We did what we had to do,” he said.

Mr Curry said their hard work and perseverance paid off.

“Everyday, this yard was filled with junkanooers. While the hurricane set us back a bit, the guys got together and we promised that we would bring Junkanoo to Grand Bahama and make the people feel special.

We got together and gave them a special treat, and it paid off,” he said.

Cliff Barnett, co-leader, said that the win was well deserved.

“It was a lot of hard work and we planned from the beginning that we will give Freeport Junkanoo like that of Nassau,” he said.

Mr Barnett explained that one of the setbacks was money and lack of sponsors. “We did not have the sponsors, and we started working at the beginning of the year and everyone would work at home and carry their pieces at home and work on them.

“The hurricane was also a setback but with hard work and many sleepless nights we pulled it off. We promised we would give GB a good showing and we did just that,” he said.

The official results will be published this week, and the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee is expected to hold a press conference sometime this week to discuss the parade and the results.

THE PLATINUM KNIGHTS, winners of the 2017 Freeport Junkanoo parade.

UNDER the theme “Indians, the Great Gathering” the New Life Classic Dancers were the first group on the route.

THE INDIAN theme was prevalent in the New Life Classic Dancers presentation.

ALL Miami Dolphins fans were thrilled by a large piece depicting Dolphin players riding dolphins, by the Super Star Rockers Junkanoo group. It was along their “National Football League” theme. Off-the-Shoulder dancers carried pieces featuring various teams of the NFL, in spectacular colour.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

TWO HAITIANS APPREHENDED, 19 CUBANS BROUGHT GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Haitian women were apprehended in the Williams Town area on Tuesday evening, an immigration official reported on

Wednesday.

One of the women had been previously arrested in February last year and deported back to Haiti.

The woman is expected to be charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Immigration officials have also had their hands full processing hundreds of Cuban migrants apprehended last year in Bahamian waters while trying to make it to the US. The last group was taken to Freeport on December

26, 2016 when US Coast Guard officials intercepted the migrants in the Cay Sal Bank area.

Immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that the US Margaret Norvell brought 19 Cubans to Freeport, where they were handed over to immigration authorities at Lucayan Harbour.

The 15 men and four women left Cuba on a rustic vessel heading for Florida. Two days after leaving Cuba, they were spotted and stopped by the US Coast Guard in the Cay Sal Bank. The group was processed and flown to Nassau, where they will await repatriation.

Despite the dangers at sea, many Cubans continue to risk their lives for better a life in the US. A ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy allows Cubans who reach US soil to remain in the country legally and apply for residency,

however those caught at sea are sent back.

Since US President Barack Obama announced the normalisation of relations between Cuba and the US in late 2014, there is fear that the ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy would end, leading a rush to leave the communist island.

According to internal Homeland Security Department documents obtained by The Associated Press, the rush has led to the highest number of Cubans trying to make the dangerous sea cross in the past eight years.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20 as the 45th president of the United States, made it clear during one of his campaign stops in Florida that he thinks the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is unfair.

During 2016, hundreds of

Cuban migrants have been intercepted in Bahamian waters and taken to Freeport.

When The Tribune contacted Senior Immigration of Enforcement Jermone Hutcheson II concerning the total number of Cuban migrants, this newspaper was told that officials were still working on the figures.

“We expect to release our statistics sometime later this month,” he said.

Grand Bahama has become a popular transit point for many immigrants trying to enter the US illegally.

Various nationalities, including Brazilians, Chinese, Ecuadorians, Dominicans, Haitians, and Jamaicans have been discovered and apprehended at safe houses in Grand Bahama.

Some of these immigrants pay smugglers as much as $5,000 each to be smuggled to the US.

The correct ad for The Ministry of Social Services, Train the Trainer Workshop, call for participants advert is below. The incorrect ad was published on Jan 3th and 4th. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

THE TRIBUNE

MURDER VICTIMS IDENTIFIED

POLICE have released the identities of two of the country’s latest murder victims.

The man who was killed on January 1 has been identified as 34-year-old Kendal Nesbitt of Doubloon Drive.

Nesbitt was found riddled with gunshots by a group of friends in an efficiency apartment on Dabloon Drive, off Faith Avenue on Sunday.

According to Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander, officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, police responded to the scene shortly after noon, when one of the victim’s friends called to report the gruesome discovery.

The man who was killed Saturday night has been identified as Carnill Darville, 17, of Sandilands Village Road. He and three others were shot during a New Year’s Eve incident on Sandilands Village Road.

The other victims were taken to hospital.

Anyone with information on these homicides is asked to call police at 5029991 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-TIPS.

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 13

FOOD STOCKS LOW IN SOUTHERN HAITI AFTER HURRICANE, REPORT SAYS PORT-AU-PRINCE Associated Press

AN international aid group is warning that hundreds of thousands of people in southern Haiti are at risk of malnutrition three months after Hurricane Matthew pounded the area.

Oxfam says that harvests across the southern peninsula are expected to be “very poor” over the next two months because of large-scale crop losses.

Matthew destroyed 80

per cent of crops and destroyed most livestock in some of the hardest-hit parts of a region considered the breadbasket of the impoverished Caribbean country.

The report released on Wednesday says the United Nations has raised just 38 per cent of a $139m fund to aid victims of the storm.

Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Les Anglais on October 4 as a Category 4 storm before moving on to Cuba and The Bahamas.

FORMER TRIBUNE CHIEF LIBRARIAN DIES, AGED 99, IN HER SLEEP

DORIS BULLARD

DORIS Bullard, 99, died peacefully in her sleep at her East Street south home yesterday afternoon. With her were her niece, Mrs Patricia Coakley, and her grand nephew, Father Rudi Cleare.

Mrs Bullard, a staunch member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church on Boyd Road, celebrated her 99th birthday on September 27.

Mrs Bullard, a valued Tribune staff member for 53 years, headed many of the newspaper’s departments before retiring in 1998 as chief librarian.

Funeral services will be announced later.

PAGE 14 , Thursday, January 5, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

business@tribun

emedia.net

NOTTAGE SAYS

CCA knew Baha M a r doomed 2 month start s before B

#WeMarch Advertisement

By NEIL HART Tribune Busin NELL es nhartnell@ tribun s Editor emedia.net BA HA Mar’s contractor knew the $3.5 was likely to mi billion project ss the March 27, 2015, opening just weeks aft er assuring Prim e Christie and M inister Perry Sarkis Izmirlianthe developer, , all was well.

China Const ica (CCA), in ruction Amermemo sent to a confidential its on January 20 Beijing parent , 2015, warne that the Baha d Ma its stakeholde r project and rs faced “irreversible and cat unless drastic astrophic loss” action was tak en.

The memo, Tribune Busin obtained by ess requesting tha , shows CCA t China State Construction Corporation (C Engineering at least anoth SC EC) send it er 450 Chine se workers to giv e it a chance of

MONDAY, FEBR

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s Warned pare s Demanded exnt of impending disaster in Jan s Chinese feare tra 450 Chinese workers to 2015 s Memo raises d ‘irreversible and catastrophhit March 27 question of PM , Sarkis being mic loss’ isled

hitting the Ma rch Describing its 27 target. cial dash” to me elf as in “a cruCCA warns tha et the opening, tion situation t the construcat very dif ficult” Baha Mar “is need of fixing. and in urgent It admits tha lines for key Ba t several dead- s C o nents had alrea ha Mar compody endangering the been missed, s N p and blames thi March 27 goal, s of CSCEC “su on the failure s P to supply an b-contractors” ‘m adequate workforce.

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By NEIL HART that D NELL Tribune Busin Touche s Sands: $25m ess Editor cat fund open s U sin g tax ing nhartnell@ tribun to ch brea to abuse emedia.net s Smith warns ks to force Agreement ‘rewr the mos s Cites flaws in of potential litiga ite’ ‘watered tion potentia down’ Bill TH E draft Na sources surance (N HI) tional Health In- s Con fidentia Bill requires “a lit y pr pro ov By ject’s isi NE on of a lot more IL HARTNELL s need more work to bring hell These Tribune Busin life”, with one it ess Editor doctor arguing to inc nhartnell@ tribun lude B its anti-fraud that emedia.net an contracto safeguards need d confidentiality to potential ab strengthening. do rs AN use an ou , and accusations tspoken Gover Dr Duane Sa that some nMar’s for ment critic ha Business that nds told Tribune preferen patients were receiving s urged it to plo the “watered do tial treatment. sto ye p using Freepo es, legislation rep wn” February res “T he fact it’s ing investment rt’s expirhaving tried to ented “a start”, [the Bill] only incentives speaking to pri lose out un ad as dre lev ss era his ge cerns over NH mary care raises conto “unlawfully I’s State Con ture and the co ‘mandatory’ na- question of how the Gover the break the Hawksbill Cree nment Agreement” k tion (C SCE tient data, but nfidentiality of pa- intends to use the funds the . were numerou The do Fred Smith QC s gaps aside for catastrophic ca y’ve set and questions , the Calre,” remained.

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PLP IS BEST TO FIGHT CRIME?

CHINESE: Baha Mar Crisis Not Our Fault‘hNeH!llI olefgaislolattiomnorreeqwuoirreks’

Minister of Foreign Affair s Presents a gift from Ba hamas to Chinese Vice Foreign

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QC: Gov’t is ‘b Hawksbill Creereaking k’ deal

WILCHOMBE: MURDER RECORD IS A DISGRACE!

Wednesday Novermber 11, 2015

Chamber chief for public insu calls rer JV

s Urges Gov’t, s A nd suggestsinsurers to partner ‘out of box thin king’

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Busin es nmkenzie @tribun s Reporter emedia.net TH E Chambe r of Commerce’s chair has called for the man Government and insurance consider a ‘jo industry to int venture’ over the Natio Insurance (N HInal Health proposed publi ) scheme’s c ins Gowon Bowe urer. suggested the private sector could contribute ma nagement expertise and lab ou es to Bahama r resourcpotential comp Care, in a romise that could ease ten sio Government ov ns with the er its public insurer plans.

He urged both sides to “think outside the seriously consi box” and der a joint venture, given that it would address some of vations harboure the reserd by each party.

“I strongly be lieve that there has to be som eration to think e considing outside the box betwee ernment and then the Govcompanies as to insurance set up a joint venwhether we the insurance ture, where are able to co companies ntr labour resource ibute their pertise into a s, their excentral unit, and by virtue ownership,” M get shared r Tribune Busin Bowe told ess.

“W hile they [insurers] may lose the op to offer the Vi portunity tal Benefits See PG B11

UNEMPLOYMENT LIN E

ENS FOR UNIVERSA

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MURDERS $3.55

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530

PLP HAS SMASHED FNM’S ALL TIME CRIME RECORD

MAY 7TH TO DECEMBER, 2012 70 MURDERS JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2013 119 MURDERS

JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER, 2016 JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2014 72 MURDERS

530 123 MURDERS

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2015 146 MURDERS

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2016 113 MURDERS

JANUARY Paid Ad: Ci;zens For Responsible Government 2017 2 MURDERS

MURDERS

70 189 312 458 571 573

MURDER S

** Royal Bahamas Police Force Stats**

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 5, 2017, PAGE 15

SANDRA Bain’s house in Sea Breeze Estates depicts the spirit of Christmas through its lights, décor and design.

Photos: BVS Bahamas

The house that outshines the rest for Christmas WITH the Christmas decorations coming down on houses across the country this week, one happy resident may show off her décor a little past the twelfth day of Christmas.

Sandra Bain, a long time resident of Sea Breeze, was judged as the winner of the Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) and Miya Bahamas’ Christmas Decoration Contest 2016.

“I found out about the contest after visiting WSC Thompson Boulevard to pay my water bill,” said Mrs Bain. “I love decorating, its been a hobby of mine for years but I also love seeing the joy it brings to people; especially the children. I get a kick from seeing the excitement from adults too.”

Mrs Bain was among several New Providence residents who entered to win the $1,000 prize and whose homes were judged by an internal panel of three judges who noted that Mrs Bain’s house decorations were “impeccable”.

Mrs Bain, who does her more elaborate home decorating at Christmas, starts her theme planning at the end of summer, with her completed décor up by the first week of December.

“We often see and hear people slowing down as they pass to look at the decorations, some even stop to take photos,” she said. “I’ve even seen families stopping to take their Christmas photos!”

The winning house depicted the spirit of Christmas through its lights, decorations and how well the designs were put together,” said judge Ingrid Strachan.

“Her home created an ambiance that said ‘welcome Christmas’.”

Mrs Bain will now start working on her 2017 theme and plans to use some of her winnings to continue doing the things that she loves, helping people, as she noted there are so many less fortunate. She will also be paying some bills and of course - purchasing some more decorations.

SANDRA BAIN, winner of the Christmas Home Decorating Contest sponsored by Miya Bahamas and Water and Sewerage Corporation, is pictured with Shelithia Minnis, WSC customer service clerk (left) and Alexandria Strachan, WSC customer service clerical officer.

THE SPEARHAMAS Spearfishing team with a Hogfish.

MARTIN Scan bought in 2017 with this nice Wahoo while fishing between Inagua and Turks and Caicos.

CRAIG and Brock got on the Wahoo near Nassau before the New Year celebrations began.

NEW YEAR fishing in The Bahamas continues to yield a Wahoo bounty for locals and holidaymakers alike.

Cameron and Stefan Knowles caught an 80lb specimen near Highbourne Cay, Exuma, while Canadians Marie-Claude Slavin-

ski and Sebastien Dube were delighted with a 26lb Wahoo near Georgetown, Exuma, while sailing their catamaran “One Life”.

Keep checking the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) expert page for fishing reports throughout The Baha-

mas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.

For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242. com or www.bsfn.biz.

• BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com.

CANADIANS Marie-Claude Slavinski and Sebastien Dube caught this beautiful 26lb Wahoo near Georgetown, Exuma.

LOCAL boys Cameron and Stefan Knowles caught this 80lb Wahoo near Highbourne Cay, Exuma.