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The Tribune

Volume:115 No.31, JANUARY 5TH, 2018

Established 1903

Weekend

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

Friday, January 5, 2018 books society culture film fashion travel gardening puzzles

Weekend

‘SAIL AWAY’ STYLE Page 12

Captain of his fate

WEEKEND: BAHAMIAN MUSICIAN WITH A UNIQUE AIM

Von Trap’s unique sound

Don’t blame us we warned you

Symonette says migrants had time to register

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette yesterday said there could be no excuse for the fate of unregularised migrants apprehended by increased enforcement measures, which he stated were already underway.

Mr Symonette noted the concerns from the business community; however, he said there has been more than enough time for people to start the regularisation process.

“There will be an increase but the message is very clear, we intend to carry out what we said we’ll

bealiv.com

I KNOW IT’S COLD, MUM, BUT... A ONESIE?

carry out. So when persons are apprehended they only have themselves to blame, because we’ve given them enough notice.”

Mr Symonette warned employers on Tuesday they had the remainder of this week to send all illegal workers home.

Following those comments, business leaders cautioned the government to be sensitive over threats of financial penalties.

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

FORMER Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP George Smith said party members who urged former Prime Minister Perry Christie to keep his promise to step down as party leader in the middle of his last term were were “not treated respectfully and appropriately” by the previous administration.

- Basil Christie

Special Olympics Chairman

/ Friends of the Blood Bank

31 YEARS JAIL FOR WALK-UP MURDER

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN has been sentenced to just over 30 years in prison for fatally shooting another man on Gibbs Corner in 2014.

Justice Bernard Turner sentenced Jason Simmons to 31 years and nine months in prison for the April 27, 2014 fatal shooting of Neko Lloyd.

The sentence is set to take effect from July 17, 2017, the date of his conviction.

Shortly after midnight on the day in question, Lloyd was sitting on a bench near a woman friend’s home when a gunman approached him and opened fire.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

UNION CRIES FOUL IN WSC THEFT PROBE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

THE union representing Water and Sewerage Corporation workers yesterday said it was confident the three employees questioned by police amid an ongoing theft investigation will be “vindicated” while insisting the probe ought to focus on higher level WSC workers.

Dwayne Woods, Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union president, told The Tribune yesterday he believed the workers were dragged into this “frivolous rubble” because “persons are trying to hide something”.

SEE PAGE FIVE

SEE PAGE SIX

CHRISTIE’S PLP CRITICS ‘SHOWN NO RESPECT’

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter

of music Interview, pgs 4&5

since i’ve had ALIV its conside rably less expensive and the service has been remark able

Mr Smith, in an interview with The Tribune, also questioned the timing of Mr Christie admitting this week that he stayed in politics “too long”.

Mr Christie has previously said he did not commit to stepping down mid-term if re-elected for a second, non-consecutive term, but was misinterpreted.

SEE PAGE THREE

BOB PAYS OUT $6.4M TO SKIP DEFAULT A YOUNGSTER dressed for the cold weather yesterday as Bahamians and tourists suited up in sweaters and jackets. See page two for more photographs. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

HIGHER PRICES FOR JAPANESE CARS?

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A JAPANESE firm’s offer to conduct preexport inspections on used vehicles destined for the Bahamas would likely result in increased consumer prices if accepted.

A copy of the proposal

by EAA Company Ltd, which has been seen by

$7,50 0

$ 6,999 Tribune Business, suggests that the inspections would be “self-funding” and paid for by vehicle exporters - not the Bahamian government.

“The exporter of the vehicle is charged directly

by EAA for the costs of the inspection,” the proposal says.

“This method means the Bahamas Government is not required to divert any financial resources in support of the programme.”

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bank of the Bahamas (BOB) is making a $6.4m payout to avoid defaulting on its preference shares, resulting in a $3m “capital shock”.

Wayne Aranha, the struggling BISX-listed bank’s chairman, told last week’s annual general meeting (AGM) that BOB needed to redeem its remaining Series D and E preference shares to avoid a default.

BOB had already missed two consecutive interest payments due to shareholders.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

PAGE 2, Friday, January 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

, Y B A B OH D L O C S ’ IT E D I S T U O

THE COOL weather yesterday saw Bahamians and tourists alike wrap up to stop from shivering - with the odd exceptions as some took to the empty beaches in the cold.

Photos: Shawn Hanna and Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 5, 2018, PAGE 3

TOURIST FALLS AS STAIRS TO CABBAGE BEACH COLLAPSE

By JEFFREY BUTLER

A FRENCH tourist had a lucky escape yesterday when the stairs of the public beach access on Cabbage Beach collapsed as he stepped onto it.

The stairway - the only public access to the beach - had been pounded by heavy surf blown up by the cold front which has hit the island over the last few days.

The French tourist, a man in his 50s, was trying to get on to the beach to take a closer look at the surf and washed-away sands when the steps collapsed beneath him, hurling him on to rocks seven feet below.

His wife and children looked on helplessly as the man - unable to move started being dragged into the ocean by the crashing waves.

Luckily employees of neighbouring properties rushed out to help and clambered down on to the beach to help drag him back to safety.

THE TOURIST covered in sand, above, and the stairs to the beach pictured right.

He was carried back through the broken stairway having suffered cuts

to his face, back and legs before emergency services arrived to treat him.

Christie’s PLP critics ‘shown no respect’ from page one However, Mr Smith alleged those in the party who attempted to hold Mr Christie to this reported promise were victimised.

“When (Mr Christie) won again in 2012, he had promised to remain for a portion of the term. And during that period before the 2017 election, a number of people said that he ought to have kept that promise and that he ought to have recognised that his time had come to leave,” Mr Smith said.

“Well, many of those people (in the PLP) were not treated respectfully and appropriately by the government. Myself included, Philip Galanis, Raynard Rigby, we and many others said that he ought to have kept his word and leave mid-term, as he had promised. He changed his mind, led the party into the devastating 2017 election.

“Frank Smith… was denied the Freetown nomination really because he had not joined that band of… people who, according to Mr Christie, had said that he ought to stay (in office).”

Mr Smith also questioned why Mr Christie would make the revelation at this time that he stayed in politics too long.

“First of all, I don’t think that his recognising what others recognised before is something worthy of praise.

It isn’t (praiseworthy) unless he then would have gone on to say, ‘and those

who agreed that I ought to have gone (or) demitted, they were right, and in retrospect, I owe them an apology. And those who were just asking me to stay because they (knew) that that is what I wanted to do, they were wrong (because it was) contrary to what was agreed.’

“The (nation) seemed to have recognised that the party and the country and the government would have been better served if (Mr Christie) had kept his initial promise. But saying it at this stage really only focuses attention on what turned out to be bad judgment on his part.

“But I wish him well, as all PLPs do, and I think that the party must now recognise that we must see into the defeat of 2017 an opportunity to rebuild the PLP, to reconnect with the Bahamian people, to form an agenda that is based on how people benefit from the service of the organisation and from individuals who are honoured to represent them in Parliament.”

In an interview with Wendall Jones on the Jones Communication Network on Sunday, Mr Christie reflected on his legacy.

“When I apply retroactive thinking to it, objectively, I can make the judgement that I have been in politics too long,” Mr Christie said.

“Take for example how I dealt with Centreville, I should not have lost that seat in Centreville, it is impossible virtually, but I

FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie. did not campaign. I reached me, it really bothers me... the point where I dedicated I have had an exceptional myself to finishing policies, run in public life and I owe one of which was a major a great deal of gratitude to intervention on the supply thousands of Bahamians of electricity at an afford- who made it possible for me able price for Bahamians to sustain myself in public and I left in place a pack- life for so long.

“I am in the company age that we will talk about later on... People seem to of Sir Roland Symonette want me to stay in politics who did 50 years and Sir because when you tell egre- Lynden Pindling who did gious ignorant lies about 41 years and when you add

my public life it’s 43 years and so I am in very rarefied company in terms of the history of our country.

There have only been three of us who have been able to put that kind of time in.”

In response to Mr Christie’s comparison of his tenure in office with that of Sir Roland and Sir Lynden, Mr Smith said: “It isn’t the years you put in that’s

important, it’s what you put into the years.”

He said while Mr Christie had some successes during his first term, from 20022007, such as economic growth and stability and the part-opening of Baha Mar in his second term, the former prime minister’s legacy cannot be likened to Sir Lynden, the country’s first prime minister.

STILL CONCERNS OVER POST OFFICE, WARNS UNION

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter

DESPITE the promises of the government, the mould problem at the East Street General Post Office remains a major concern, says Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President Kimsley Ferguson.

The mould issue, rat infestation, heat from a broken air-conditioner and alleged rashes from handling mail are just a few of the problems post office workers protested throughout last year.

In the run-up to Christmas the broken air condition system was finally repaired and workers agree to return to their duties having staged a walkout.

Mr Ferguson told the Tribune yesterday: “The

only thing that has been done in the post office so far is they’ve installed an air conditioner. Nothing other than that has been done, and we had agreed that a mould remediation process would take place.

“What the air condition is now doing is blowing the mould that was existing before the air condition was installed. It was said by management that a cleaning exercise would have been embarked upon, but we have found out that that hasn’t been done as yet either.

“We were hoping that things would have been done in the order of priority, what would have guarded the health of those persons who actually are working in there.”

Other issues include “cosmetic concerns” such as “the filthy carpet that

was supposed to have been removed, and then some tiling would have taken place there.” “(Additionally) the ceiling tiles (need to be) removed and the nonfunctional restroom (needs correcting) as well.”

Mr Ferguson said he’s had dialogue with Minister of Transport Frankie Campbell and other representatives from this ministry, “and according to them the work is supposed to be ongoing.”

When asked if a timeline has been given for mould remediation, Mr Ferguson said: “I… have spoken with (a representative) from Environmental Health, who (said) that they would have advised the post office what they needed to do to ensure the environment is conducive for working.

“That person could not say whether or not any of the recommendations that he (made) would have been carried out. And so on Monday I’m supposed to have a walkabout with him, and then I would be able to (give) a more definitive response.”

Minister of Environment Romauld Ferreira could not be reached for comment. Mr Campbell, who is out of the country, told The Tribune that he will not give any responses until he has returned.

Last month, Mr Campbell confirmed the air-conditioning unit at the General Post Office had finally been replaced. He also vowed: “We’re doing everything in our power to bring the conditions up to at least that minimum standard that will allow for the employees to

be able to return to normal In early 2017, then-BPSU working hours.

President John Pinder “Mould remediation, threatened industrial general cleaning, removal action if the government of carpeting and replac- did not immediately reloing them with tiles, we cate employees from the have the Department of “unsanitary” building. At Environmental Health the time, he said his memServices (DEHS) on tap bers were forced to work to assist with the cleaning in a mould infested buildand to assist with rodents, ing with rats, termites and a etcetera.” leaking ceiling.

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THE TRIBUNE

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Foreign challenges await for Trump WITH a cold dose of reality after the peace and goodwill of Christmas and the resolutions of a new year, the current crisis in Iran is suddenly top of the news agenda while the simmering dispute with North Korea over its nuclear programme has taken a potentially significant new turn.

Few can plausibly deny President Trump’s apparently successful start to the year on the domestic front with a surge of business confidence across the land in the wake of his tax and regulatory reforms. But, while he now turns his attention to immigration and his much vaunted border wall together with rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, he will also have to focus on North Korea and Iran as the two major foreign policy issues of the moment. The way he handles these crises and the outcomes that are achieved will have repercussions worldwide.

US diplomacy in recent years to try to prevent North Korea developing nuclear weapons has been largely ineffective, but it is questionable whether Mr Trump’s blustering and threatening rhetoric can help to achieve his aim of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula – particularly when he resorts to crude language about his finger being on a bigger nuclear button which actually works. That seems to be pouring fuel on a smouldering fire when the North Korean leader has now suggested sending representatives to the Winter Olympics and has proposed talks with South Korea which could reduce tensions.

Important as this is, how the President reacts in the longer term to the serious unrest in Iran may become even more significant in preserving world peace.

The two nations have been at loggerheads dating back to Iran’s revolution and establishment of an Islamic Republic in 1979 followed by the US embassy hostage crisis and then the accidental shooting down of an Iranian airliner by an American warship in 1988.

As the current wave of protests in Iran, precipitated by economic failure and abuse of human rights, gathers momentum, the President’s initial reaction was to condemn the Iranian government for its domestic oppression as well as its adventurism in the region as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is consistent with the US policy of standing up to dictators and supporting dissent while promoting democratic values. His willingness to react strongly contrasts with his predecessor’s muted response when thousands of Iranians took to the streets in 2009 following a rigged election.

The US has made it clear that it will not accept Iran as a nuclear power that would constitute a threat to the West and one option now is to terminate the 2015 nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions. Presumably, military intervention is also an option, but America would surely be reluctant to become embroiled in another major international conflict.

As with North Korea, the preferred choice should surely be to contain Iranian influence through diplomatic means and sanctions.

The latest unrest in Iran could mean that its 40-year old fundamentalist regime is now vulnerable. Totalitarianism – whether in Russia, China or Nazi Germany during the last century -means an all-embracing ideology and a single party with complete control over the economy, the police and the means of communication. It also involves suppression of competing ideologies and values, brutal oppression and a ban on freedom of expression and religion.

But even a dictator who violently suppresses all opposition and rules through force and coercion rather than consent knows that those who are ruled obey only through fear or because doing so better serves their own interest than insurrection.

Totalitarianism finally fails when a regime is either defeated from outside, by military means as in the case of Nazi Germany, or from within when other ideas emerge (perhaps from the non-totalitarian world) and it governs so brutally and inefficiently that the masses are stirred to revolt : in the words of George Orwell, there is also the danger of ‘the growth of liberalism and scepticism in their own ranks’. Most totalitarian regimes have not lasted long since in due course ideas prevail so that ultimately they determine which way the police and soldiers point their guns.

Meanwhile, in considering totalitarian regimes or authoritarian governments, we are reminded of our good fortune in The Bahamas of living in a democracy with freedom of expression and movement under the rule of law. Generally, in smaller countries political leaders are well known to the people and ought to be accountable for their actions. But without the checks and balances of larger nations there is also the danger that they can gather a small group of loyalists around them in arrogating to themselves excessive power.

Thus, while watching events on the world stage unfold, we need to be on our guard constantly against any tendency towards authoritarianism here at home.

The big debates ahead for 2018 EDITOR, The Tribune.

2017 was a challenging one for most Bahamians.

We’ve recorded unprecedented levels of criminality, especially when it comes to homicides. Unemployment remains “high” but there are signs of an emerging economic recovery. Baha Mar, thank God, is now up and running and some 4-5000 grateful Bahamians are employed at that property. Mr John Isaa, the owner of Breezers, and his stellar management team continue to improve the ambience of that fine resort (where hundreds of Bahamians are currently employed).

The housing market remains sluggish and far too many Bahamians, unless there is a liberalisation of Crown Land Policies, will never be able to actually “own” a home or a piece of the proverbial rock. Our educational centres must

be expanded and we really have to pay attention to the curriculum being matched with fostering jobs skills and clear career paths.

Yes, we are mass producing “graduates” but the vast majority of them are functionally illiterate and are, basically, useless except for manual labour, which has it’s place.

The people voted in the May, 2017 general elections and rolled out the “old” PLP then led by Mr Perry Christie, much to our delight. Yes, I am a NEW PLP but I was obliged to vote for Marvin Dames and the FNM. I had no alternative as did many of us. We did what we had to do and the rest is now history.

The greatest debates this year, in my view, will focus on: the economy; marital rape legislation; the establishment of a National Lottery and, of course, the formulation and rationalisation of sensible immigration

policies. Despite my reservations, I am persuaded that the Minnis led FNM administration will not “fail” us they way the “old” PLP did under Christie’s disjointed leadership. The NEW PLP, led by my leader; friend and benefactor, the Hon Philip “Brave” Davis (PLP-Cat Island), is up and running.

The internal organisation of the party is rolling out and in the months ahead I fully expect to see the NEW PLP keeping the FNM on it’s collective toes.

And so, in the weeks and months ahead, we Bahamians, as a nation, have much work that needs to be done.

We will, however, prevail, god willing. To all and sundry who made it into 2018 Happy New Year and all the best but remember that: “In all things, to God be the glory”

Bitcoin in The Bahamas Cryptocurrencies in the Bahamas EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS letter is in regard to today’s Business section; an article was posted about Bitcoin being a “game changer” according to Mario Curry. I, while a supporter of cryptocurrencies, do not agree on this for The Bahamas – at least not in the next few years.

Cryptocurrencies are a topic that’s seeing mainstream media recently and is being treated like a buzzword to make people seem smart or in line with the times. There’s a lot to look at before you can even take it into practice in a country like ours. These range from banking regulations to support for online payments, to more than just dealing with one of the dozens of crypto currencies, to handling the wildly volatile state of these ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings).

The list goes on.

At present, we barely have a proper online shopping system in The

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Bahamas, most use countries that don’t support The Bahamas and so need to use US accounts or, if lucky, find a local vendor. I found one recently that ripped off the name of a major online payment vendor. Even then, we barely have any main places using online payments unless they’re a utility company or a hotel.

Then again, some of the websites our biggest companies have here aren’t that great either.

There’s the matter that countries are trying to regulate the ICOs, with the US now set to tax earnings from them this year. Some banks across the world are against ICOs while some are for them and will likely start their own. Estonia is looking at building their ICO called estcoins.

There’s also the other cryptocurrencies other than Bit coin like Bitcoin Cash,

which is a fork of Bitcoin, or Etherium or Litecoin or Dogecoin or Ripple or Tangle, which isn’t an ICO but works similarly, and the list goes on.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the reason people even started talking about Bitcoin with such fervor recently was because of how its price soared, but not as much after it then crashed by over $4,000 weeks later.

In sum, I say that until we can raise our technical savviness as a country, cryptocurrencies have no staying power for actual use other than investments. Certain companies may take it on, but they risk crashes of hundreds or thousands of dollars. Build a stable foundation before looking at volatile possibilities, and have people that know what they’re talking about to lead the way.

MICHAEL ARMOGAN Host@Tech Talk – MOAR; Cookies January 3, 2018.

National awards vs Queen’s honours EDITOR, The Tribune.

NATIONAL Heroes Act 2016 was assented into Law on January 27, 2016.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is one of the so-called Realm members of The Commonwealth which basically means Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State, The ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Governor General sits in lieu and representing of Nassau, Her Majesty.

January 4, 2018.

As a realm country even Independent, Civil Awards of the Queen, New Year’s Honours - Queen’s Birthday Honours are yes, British Awards but we are permitted to have our own Awards.

Archdeacon Campbell for a long time has protested that The Bahamas continues to award these UK-originating awards but as an Anglican ordained priest surely every time he

says Mass he acknowledges Her Majesty as the titular Head of the Anglican Faith?

I am surprised that Rev Campbell has not jumped over the Catholic Orders of Knighthood and the recipients pretending they can call themselves ‘Sir or Dame’ which needs to stop.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, January 3, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 5, 2018, PAGE 5

Nation’s leaders ‘not clear’ on marijuana decriminalisation

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net DEMOCRATIC National Alliance (DNA) leader Christopher Mortimer said yesterday the country’s leaders are not clear enough about their views on marijuana.

Debate on the issue was reignited this week after it was announced CARICOM was hosting a town hall tonight to learn how Bahamians feel about decriminalising the substance.

“The past 24 hours has seen social media explode with public opinion regarding the possible decriminalisation of

marijuana in The Bahamas,” Mr Mortimer said in a press statement.

“The chatter comes ahead of a planned CARICOM sponsored meeting designed to obtain information on the social, economic, health and legal issues related to marijuana use and gauge regional opinions on this global issue.

“While it should be noted that the Democratic National Alliance has been clear on its position, we remain concerned however, that the country’s current leadership has not made its position clear – a reality which paves the way for the narrative on this issue to be written for us. Now is

the time for this administration to clearly articulate a formal position and open the debate so that the Bahamian electorate may have its say on the way forward.

“Failure to do so, will see our collective voices drowned out of the discussion. This would be a travesty. Rather than allowing external forces to dictate the way forward on this matter, we have the opportunity now to set the tone on this issue and take the kind of action that is most beneficial for The Bahamas and its development. The DNA encourages the government not to take a backseat approach to this issue but rather to do the necessary

legwork to ensure that the will of the people is done.”

Ahead of the May 2017 general election, the DNA said it would reduce penalties for the possession of small quantities of marijuana if elected to office. The party also previously said it supported the decriminalisation of marijuana.

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has said marijuana legalisation is not on the Minnis administration’s agenda. He said the government does not intend for The Bahamas to lead the region on the issue.

Tonight’s town hall is scheduled for 6pm at the Holy Trinity Activity Centre.

DNA leader Chris Mortimer.

THE GRAND Celebration pictured on Wednesday after it broke away from the dock in Freeport.

GRAND CELEBRATION ‘NOT DAMAGED’ IN DOCK INCIDENT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson has confirmed that while the Grand

Celebration cruise ship broke away from the dock at Freeport Harbour on Wednesday due to bad weather, there was no damage to the vessel or injuries to passengers during the incident.

“I was advised of an incident at the Freeport Harbour involving the Grand Celebration. I am further advised by harbour officials that the vessel broke away from the dock for a period of time,” he

said yesterday.

On Wednesday, several tugboats were called in to assist the vessel and guide it to a more secure location in the harbour because of rough sea conditions. It is believed that after the

vessel broke away, strong currents pushed it into the concrete dock.

Mr Thompson said the vessel’s departure was delayed, but it was able to sail back to West Palm Beach, Florida later that

evening.

He also said he was aware of an incident at the airport in Grand Bahama in which a small plane after landing turned over, but that the occupant was not injured.

UNION CRIES FOUL IN WSC THEFT PROBE from page one

His comments came the day after the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s probe into theft allegations at the water provider intensified.

On Wednesday beginning at around 10 am, police interrogated three non-managerial WSC staff members. They were later released.

“We have to let the police do the investigation,” Mr Woods said yesterday. “We are convinced our persons will be vindicated. Our members were arrested and they were discharged.

It is obvious the police see through the frivolous rubble. It looks to me the police can see past the corporation.”

Asked to reveal his thoughts on what sparked this investigation, Mr Woods said: “Persons are trying to hide something.

They need to look up to the top.

“We don’t own no subdivisions. Persons with (fire) hydrants are persons who own the subdivisions.”

The Tribune was told on Wednesday WSC officials have now discovered seven fire hydrants are allegedly

missing from a corporation storeroom.

Before authorities questioned the three employees, The Tribune was told several internal memos were circulated warning employees of the unauthorised use of corporation equipment or its property for personal purposes.

This probe has been a point of contention Mr Woods, who told this newspaper on Tuesday the investigation at WSC is over as far as the union representing line staff is concerned.

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

Mr Woods told The Tribune on Tuesday the corporation had 20 days to investigate the claims according to the union’s industrial agreement and since the time has expired and they could not produce the evidence, the investigation must be closed.

Late last month, the union threatened to commence a “withdrawal of enthusiasm” if the corporation did not withdraw its alleged intent to dismiss three union employees over allegations they stole a fire

hydrant from WSC premises. The three employees are still reporting for work at the WSC. The Tribune also reported in December that authorities were called in to review files of the internal investigation at the corporation, which began as a theft probe but since turned up other “sensitive matters”.

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

“The persons who were suspended have returned to work and the corporation has not said anything to the union about their intention to take action.

So as far as the union is concerned, the matter is closed,” Mr Woods said on Tuesday.

“According to the industrial agreement, you can suspend an employee pending the outcome of an investigation with pay for 20 days maximum. They met that maximum so the union’s position, whether they write us or not, is the investigation is done.

So legally that industrial agreement is binding and so what the union is saying is any action beyond this

point becomes illegal, including continuing the investigation. He who alleges must prove. It

is finished, the battle is over. If the corporation pursues, they will leave the union no alternative

but to withdraw its enthusiasm, if they continue their investigation it spells war.”

NOTICE

The offices of The Tribune and Radio House

WILL BE CLOSED

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

PAGE 6, Friday, January 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

New Road Traffic HQ stalled amid partnership concern

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A $25M public-private partnership (PPP) to establish a new Road Traffic Department headquarters on Tonique Williams Darling Highway is stalled because the government has yet to decide how it will deal with PPPs arranged by the Christie administration.

The delay is “unreasonably long and costly,” Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday.

The Christie administration decided to demolish the Clarence A Bain Building which previously housed the Road Traffic Department, moving the headquarters to a temporary location at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. In rainy or hot weather, the stadium facility lacks shelter to shield residents seeking the department’s services, causing great frustration.

“One would expect you

would have seen some sense of urgency to make a decision as to what the administration is going to do or not do on the matter,” Mr Davis said.

The Christie administration had entered into a partnership with (PPP1) to develop a new administration building and vehicle inspection centre. The project was expected to include a “world-class, 30,000-square-foot administrative facility, vehicle inspection bays with full car lifts, and accommodations for a state-of-the-art information technology system,” according to a Nassau Guardian report last year.

It was also expected to include four main buildings: a main administration complex, a technical support and facilities management building, a vehicle inspection centre, and storage and maintenance areas.

The project was initially slated to be complete in December of this year. However, the Minnis administration halted it amid general concerns

about PPPs arranged by the Christie administration.

Works Minister Desmond Bannister generally criticised PPPs arranged by his predecessors, but he highlighted the Road Traffic Department arrangement as an example of how such projects should be executed in his speech during the budget debate last year.

“The model for a commercially viable publicprivate partnership is the one that the honourable member for Exuma and his business partners have put together for an office complex on Tonique Williams Darling Highway, where the government will invest in the project and will be given preference shares in the ownership of the company that will own the building,” he said. “The government will then rent the building for ten years and at the end of that period the building will be turned over to the government for $100. On top of that the government will be paid 60 percent of the residual revenue in the

ownership company. So, at the end of the day the government will get its initial investment back. That’s a win, win agreement. It’s the type of agreement that would make sense.”

Despite this previous positive view of the arrangement, Mr Bannister, when contacted yesterday, said PPPs by the former administration are still currently under review by the Office of the Attorney General.

Asked if too long a time is being taken to reach a position on the matters, Mr Bannister said the AG’s Office has a heavy workload.

“Coming into office, the Office of the Attorney General had an amazing load to bear and so much to deal with,” he said. “There were so many irregularities, so many issues. I think they are working as assiduously to do what is right and when it comes with the law, we don’t ever want to rush them when it comes to their determination.”

Nonetheless, Mr Davis

said there are costs associated with the “starts and stops” of such projects.

“As long as it goes without attention there’s a cost associated for taxpayers,” Mr Davis said.

“There would have had to be mobilisation; they may have rented equipment and space; they may have equipment on site that they may have to secure; they have to have security. There are costs. There may have been legal advice about what was arranged that one might seek but decisions have to be made. On the question about whether the project will continue or not, that’s a decision one could make without any legal input.

The only legal question is where there are binding arrangements in respect to those projects or not. If there are, they will have to decide what then are the consequences if they don’t go through with it?””

Last year the Minnis administration halted construction on two other PPP projects arranged by the previous administration: a

multi-million government complex in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama and a new post office building at the Independence Drive Shopping Centre in New Providence.

Mr Bannister last year criticised the price structure of the Grand Bahama project which he said involved prepaying interest to the contractor, a fact he called “inconceivable.” He said he stopped the project because, among other problems, the concrete “was not sufficient strength for the structure.”

As for the post office project, Mr Bannister halted the project after determining it commenced without any approved plans or building permits. He said no traffic impact study was performed and no proper site assessment was completed to see if “there was any possible ground contamination from the nearby gas station,” among other issues.

Attorney General Carl Bethel said yesterday he will review where the administration is on the PPP matters.

MINISTRY PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER CIVIL SERVANT THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture released a statement saying it is saddened by the recent death of Patricia Bazard, former civil servant.

Bazard served in the Cultural Affairs Division of ministries with responsibility for culture from 1972, when she joined the Community Affairs Division of the Ministry of Education under the leadership of the late E Clement Bethel, up until her retirement in 2011.

“Over many years, Mrs Bazard has positively impacted our beloved nation in several key areas,” the ministry said.

“From 1976 to 1991, she served as the organising officer for the National Arts Festival and was instrumental in the revitalisation of the festival, which continues to serve as a platform for the exposure of performing artists of all ages.

Mrs Bazard also served as administrator for the National Dance School of The Bahamas, and was the founding director of the National Children’s Choir established in 1992. Also in 1992, Mrs Bazard led the Bahamian delegation to CARIFESTA in Trinidad and Tobago, and to the

PATRICIA BAZARD, who served in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and retired in 2011. She died on Christmas Day, aged 71.

Commonwealth Arts Festival in New Zealand.

“Throughout her life, Mrs Bazard exuded Bahamian culture. As a published author with books such as

‘Tingum Dem Say’ in 1998, she shared with the world what Bahamian life was like, capturing glimpses of Bahamian culture in the simple and seemingly

mundane. As an avid storyteller, Mrs Bazard, through the Ministry of Tourism’s People-to-People programme, hosted international guests in her home

where she shared with them Bahamian stories. Mrs Bazard also traveled the world with numerous choirs representing The Bahamas. Mrs Bazard served her country and humanity to the utmost. She mentored many outstanding cultural artists.

We are ever so grateful to

have had her passion and creativity enrich us.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard and the staff of the ministry extend heartfelt condolences to Bazard’s family and loved ones.

Bazard died in hospital on Christmas Day. She was 71.

DON’T BLAME US WE WARNED YOU from page one

Arawak Port Development (APD) CEO and BCCEC Chairman Mike Maura said the Minnis administration’s latest warning to employers about hiring undocumented immigrants was “establishing fear” in the minds of business owners.

However, both men acknowledged there should be no excuse for any business to hire illegal employees.

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

Mr Symonette said modernisation efforts underway at the Department of Immigration were progressing, but did not give a timeline on when a new computerised

system will be fully rolled out. The high volume of permit applications was described as the greatest challenge faced by officials.

In August last year, Mr Symonette explained the inundated system is further exacerbated by outdated manual processing and limited physical capacity at the aging, rented complex on Hawkins Hill.

Yesterday, he said: “People who have been here for ten or 12 years and ignored going to (the Department of) Immigration at all, they can’t use the excuse that they haven’t heard back from (the Department of) Immigration. Those people aren’t getting deported because they should be able to show proof they applied.

“Some people get a work permit, let it expire for years and when they get caught, try to renew. No, you gotta be current all the time, those are the laws of this country. Efficiency at immigration has nothing to do with it.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 5, 2018, PAGE 7

Bus robbery sentence upheld but fake gun appeal allowed

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN sentenced jailed for robbing a bus driver as well as up to 30 of his passengers with a gun almost six years ago had his legal bid to contest his sentence dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Former Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, along with fellow Justices Jon Isaacs and Roy Jones, dismissed Javon Roberts’ appeal concerning the armed robbery of Vance Noel and others on his 15A bus in February of 2012.

However, the appellate judges allowed Roberts’ appeal against his conviction for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to resist lawful arrest, after finding it was “improper” to marry that charge to the armed robbery charge.

According to the ruling, sometime between noon and 2pm on February 15, 2012, Roberts caught a 15A bus, driven by Mr Noel, on Baillou Hill Road near an Island Luck location. When the bus got in the area of the old lodge hall, now the Blue Waters Restaurant across the street from the CR Walker High School, Roberts shouted for the bus to stop.

When Mr Noel stopped the bus, Roberts pulled out a gun, put it to the bus driver’s head and robbed him of money and cell phones. The COA ruling said Mr Noel recognised the gunman

as someone he knew for some eight years as “Little Hopper” who often rode in his bus.

After Roberts robbed Mr Noel, he robbed other passengers – between 13 to 30 people. Jennifer Bowe was the last person he robbed, according to the ruling. He put the gun to her forehead and ordered her to give him her phone and money.

Roberts then escaped on to Baillou Hill Road.

He was apprehended by police the following day after two police officers on mobile patrol in an unmarked police vehicle observed Roberts playing dominos in a vacant yard with a group of men in the area of West Street and Cambridge Lane.

Roberts fled from the officers when they spotted him, heading west on to Wilkinson Street and it was alleged that while being chased by the officers, he pulled out a black firearm and pointed it in their direction. In fear for their lives, the two officers fired their police service revolvers.

Roberts subsequently dropped the gun along with a cell phone and continued running. He was later captured off West Street by another officer with the assistance of several other police units.

According to the ruling, Mr Noel attended an ID parade on February 18 and identified Roberts as the man who robbed him and the passengers on his bus three days prior. The COA ruling said there was

no officer who spoke to Ms Bowe attending an identification parade, but she maintained she had done so.

The COA ruling further noted Ms Bowe’s claims of attending an ID parade were not challenged by Roberts during the trial; the only allegation Roberts made was that “she had been prompted by the police to pick him out”.

After electing to do so, Roberts gave sworn testimony and claimed that on February 15, 2012, sometime around noon, he was in the area of Prince Charles and Robinson Roads. He was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet on that date.

He said he did not catch Mr Noel’s bus, and neither did he rob Mr Noel or Ms Bowe on the date in question.

Roberts did confirm that at 12.38pm he was on Baillou Hill Road heading downtown, travelling in a car. However, he said he turned around because of a road block and he went to Hospital Lane.

Roberts further testified that on February 16 officers Coakley and Smith chased him, saying he pulled a weapon from his waist and dropped it, but never pointed it at the officers.

During a record of interview conducted by Corporal 796 Francis, Roberts denied knowledge of the armed robbery, but admitted to being in possession of an imitation firearm.

The ruling said Roberts also admitted he was also known as “Little Hopper”.

According to the ruling, Roberts was fitted with an ankle monitoring device prior to the robbery as a bail condition in an unrelated case that enabled the company ICS to track his location and movements, which it did on the date in question.

And on that date, Roberts was tracked traveling on Baillou Hill Road in the area of where the robbery occurred at 12.38pm.

On July 21, 2015, Roberts was convicted on two counts of armed robbery and one count of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to resist lawful arrest.

On September 17, 2015, he was sentenced to 15 years on each armed robbery count and 10 years on the firearm charge.

Roberts filed an appeal form on September 30, 2015 that contained six grounds of appeal. However, on January 23, 2017 he was permitted to rely on new grounds, which included, but were not limited to, that a “serious material irregularity” occurred during the trial and “had greatly reduced the fair trial of the appellant” and that the “joinder of the count for possession of an imitation firearm while resisting arrest was so prejudicial that it has resulted in the fair trial of the appellant being violated”.

All but one of Roberts’ grounds of appeal were dismissed and/or disregarded, namely the one concerning the imitation firearm. Roberts had taken issue with

the Crown joining the firearm related charges arising from events that occurred the day after the incident to the armed robbery charges.

He charged that by including those charges in the indictment, the minds of the jury were “prejudiced” against him because those counts “tended to connect him to the armed robbery in circumstances where there was no such connection”.

The COA ruling noted that during trial neither Mr Noel nor Ms Bowe provided a description of the “gun” Roberts used to rob them. Neither was there any evidence that suggested the imitation firearm secured by police on February 16, 2015 was connected in any way to the armed robbery the day before.

Additionally, the ruling said the armed robbery offences occurred on Baillou Hill Road whereas the imitation firearm related offence allegedly occurred at a different location and on a different date. And neither was there anything “to suggest that the offences were part of ‘a series of offences of the same or a similar character.’”

The appellate judges thus found that the relation of the armed robbery charges and the firearm charge was “improper” and the consequent conviction for the firearm charge “must be quashed and the sentence set aside”.

Further, the appellate judges noted that in the absence of any real connection between the firearm

count and armed robbery counts, they are “satisfied” there was a “great likelihood that the jury was improperly influenced by the evidence of an unrelated arrest” which they noted was “probative of nothing and was irrelevant”.

Nonetheless, the appellate judges said the combination of both Mr Noel and Ms Bowe’s identification of Roberts as the robber, as well as the report generated from the ankle bracelet “provides a cogent and compelling case against the appellant”.

The appellate judges said this led them to the “sure conclusion that had the armed robbery counts been tried separately the jury would inevitably have convicted the appellant of the offences”.

“There was an error in the joinder of the charges which ought to have led the judge to discharge the jury due to the degree of prejudice the appellant may have experienced,” the ruling said. “Nevertheless, we are satisfied that this is a proper case in which to invoke the proviso to section 13 as no miscarriage of justice has actually occurred; and we do so.

“Thus, the appeal against the convictions for armed robbery is dismissed. We affirm the convictions and the sentences imposed by the judge on those counts.

We allow the appeal in respect to the firearm count, quash the conviction therefore and set the sentence aside.”

CLIVE G WYATT, in front, and Delano Black, behind him, appeared in the Supreme Court in Grand Bahama for a bail hearing.

TWO CHARGED IN GUN AND ASSAULT CASES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO men charged in separate criminal matters appeared in the Freeport Supreme Court yesterday

for a bail application hearing before Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley.

Clive G Wyatt, who is facing charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition, appeared in court represented by attorney

Wendell Smith.

Mr Smith asked the court for reasonable bail with conditions for his client to report to the police station once weekly.

Prosecutor Olivia Blatch did not object.

Justice Hanna-Adderley granted Wyatt $9,000 bail with one or two sureties and ordered that he report to the Lucaya Police Station by 6pm on Fridays.

In a separate matter, Delano Black was charged

with assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutor Blatch noted that while Black has antecedents involving a case in which he was ordered to pay a fine of $2,950, she did not object to bail.

Justice Hanna-Adderley

31 YEARS JAIL FOR WALK-UP MURDER from page one

Lloyd was hit multiple times in the upper body as well as in his lower extremities.

While the gunman fled on foot, Lloyd ran to the

front of his friend’s home where he collapsed. A short time later he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Crown’s key witness, who gave evidence through live television-link to ensure her safety, told

a Supreme Court jury the accused was one of three to four men who ran into a yard moments after about seven shots rang out in the area.

The witness claimed she was sitting on the porch with her boyfriend at the

time, and said she could clearly see the men, who were about five to ten feet away. She said due to the set-up of the porch, she was able to see Simmons, but he could not see her.

She also claimed

Simmons was carrying a small gun. She said she witnessed Simmons trying to stuff the gun into his waist to conceal it shortly after he and the other men ran into the yard.

However, the witness later said she did not see

granted $5,000 bail and ordered Black to report to the police station every Friday by 6pm. She then advised him that he was not to have contact with the virtual complainant or any of the witnesses in the case.

Simmons shoot and kill anyone with this gun at the time of the incident in question.

Simmons was represented by attorney Moses Bain while Darell Taylor prosecuted the matter on behalf of the Crown.

PAGE 8, Friday, January 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

MEMBERS of the government before last year’s budget presentation - but what next for the government’s campaign promises in the year ahead?

Five hopes for the new year IT’S a brand new year, a clean slate so to speak.

It’s time for The Bahamas to turn over a new leaf, on multiple levels. And pen a positive new chapter for our nation, moving forward.

Here’s 5 things I look forward to in 2018.

1. Government fulfilling campaign promises i. This administration breaking the cycle, and actually delivering on their campaign promises. ii. I want to see the much needed FOIA, (after consultation with the nation) passed in the HOA. iii. I also want to see, actual “bread basket” items becoe VAT free. iv. A strong suggestion, if not an “answer” to crime. v. The “Spy Bill” and

than most of us, at the 2017 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade!

How Saxons came in third is beyond me.

the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) abandoned, as promised in April and May of 2017, by the FNM on the campaign trail.

2. A pivot toward investing more in Junkanoo (now that we’ve cut the purse strings to Carnival) I want to see us explode culturally as a nation, with all indigenous art forms flourishing.

I’ve always wondered, why do we invest in

imitating another nation’s culture, while neglecting our own?

Junkanoo, definitely needs a renaissance, and an investment of “the Carnival money” by the present government into Junkanoo, would be the catalyst to said renaissance.

For now, the government should at least supply the judges with glasses.

Yes glasses, because they were obviously watching a totally diffefent parade

3. Bahamians taking advantage of technology to educate themselves (hint: there’s more to the internet than Facebook) I want to see Bahamians issue in the digital era, and with the same ferver they play “numbers”, “candy crush” and instigate Facebook “beef” online.

4. An improvement on the national grade average (even though they won’t tell us what it is anymore) Last time I heard the “official” national grade it was D. I want to see an

improvement, I mean you can only go up, right?

The improvement I want to see, is not just in the classrooms, but with all the mechanisms that are in place in our educational system, with both the internal and external arms given the tools to succeed.

Because, sadly every weekday afternoon, starting at 3pm, we all can be reminded of how a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

5. Healing In 2017, a lot of people lost loved ones; some to murder, some to illness.

Believe me, I know it takes time but my hope is we will all find peace and begin to heal in 2018.

I know how those of you

feel who lost a loved one this past year, regardless of the circumstances, it is a life altering moment.

I lost my beloved mother to cancer on Valentine’s Day 2013 at 5:15am.

(Coincidentally, I’ve woken up at 5:15am ever since she passed away.)

Through the Grace of God, he allowed me to perform onstage that night, allowing me to honor my mothers wishes for me to always finish what I started, and always to the best of my abilities.

That day and night, I learned to trust God’s timing and not question it.

Despite the anguish you are going through, trust in Him without question and you will find peace.

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1/25/17 11:54 AM

A BAHAMIAN delegation is aiming to prevent the nation from becoming “a dumping ground” for poor-quality used cars with a mission to Japan. Readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

Proudloudandfnm thought the mission was “laughable”: “I have owned four Japanese imports and every single one was more than worth it. I could never get the same value buying a used local car or one from the USA. This whole mission is laughable.”

Happyfly had this to say: “Japanese imports are popular because there has been a long history of credible imports from that marketplace . . . which is more than anyone can say about the local vehicle market place. It’s just another example of these small communist-minded cartel members trying to prop up their monopolies without addressing the reason why people think it’s a better deal to buy a car from a stranger in Japan and ship it halfway around the world – rather than from a dealer down the street from them.”

BahamasForBahamians believed the issue might be political: “Watch this issue closely. It is way more political than it appears from the surface. The current administration is closely tied and has an interest in the commercial banks and car lots that would prefer Bahamians go to a bank and take out a $50,000 loan to afford a car. The more affordable Japanese options threaten the millions of dollars profits they could realise if they eliminate this Asian competitor.”

Avidreader was also sceptical: “Sure enough, keep your eyes on this one and notice carefully the names of the members of

the delegation. If they can cut off this line of supply or at the very least make it more difficult to import used vehicles from Japan they will be able to say ‘mission accomplished’.

Whether or not they can force the general public to sign up for one of those $50,000 new cars is another matter. They are fully aware that the Japanese government is very careful about ‘lemons’ being exported since such occurrences hurt the reputation of their entire, very large, auto industry. As the man said, ‘I smell a rat’.”

JohnDoe said: “Dis what the ‘People’s Time’ look like I guess. It is more like the rich people’s time all over again with a vengeance. Less than one per cent already control 90 per cent of the wealth in this country and they still cry like little babies at even the hint of competition.

This is nothing but a very transparent ruse to cater to these guys trying to sell economy cars for $50K that will cost more to repair in a year or two than an entire Japanese car that would last you five years maintenance free. It is this self-interest, corrupting culture that is constantly pandering to the privileged class or those willing to pay that has this country where it is today.”

But there was this from John: “A few years ago it was a common practice for large American Corporations to donate their used (and near obsolete) computers to schools and civic organisations in the

Caribbean. Come to find out the real reason behind this was it was easier to donate and export these computers than it was to dump them. And with Japanese vehicles selling for as low as $25.00 (yes twenty five dollars) a standard has to be set. Especially since parts are no longer available for vehicles after a certain year. The Bahamas cannot afford to be a dumping ground. And eventually standards have to be set for all majors appliances as well.”

And RickLoweBahamas offered this comment: “As a member of The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association I am not aware of any relationship with Government that works to our advantage. They are, in my view, a detriment. In fact, as a business we are very highly taxed and regulated.

My personal position is if people want to buy Japanese vehicles online it is their money. I certainly oppose people operating a used car business without being subject to the same laws, taxes and regulations the BMDA members face. Just as a matter of information, with a new vehicle that lists at $46,982, the government receives approximately $17,488.75 in taxes ($13,797.20 duty, $3,104.65 VAT and $586.90 Business License Tax).

Maybe this is why the government would want people to buy new cars.

If someone is operating a used car/parts business they should comply with the same regulations and taxes the BMDA membership face. Unless the government is willing to allow us to operate outside the law.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 5, 2018, PAGE 9

IT’S SO COLD IN FLORIDA, IGUANAS ARE FALLING FROM TREES MIAMI BEACH, Florida Associated Press

IT’S so cold in Florida that iguanas are falling from their perches in suburban trees.

Temperatures dipped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) early Thursday in parts of South Florida, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

That’s chilly enough to immobilise green iguanas common in Miami’s suburbs.

Palm Beach Post columnist Frank Cerabino tweeted a photograph of an iguana lying belly-up next to his swimming pool. WPEC-TV posted images of an iguana on its back on a Palm Beach County road.

The cold-blooded creatures native to Central and South America start to get sluggish when temperatures fall below 50 degrees (10 degrees Celsius), said Kristen Sommers, who oversees the nonnative fish and wildlife program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

PLANS TO EXPAND OFFSHORE DRILLING WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a plan that would open up federal waters off California for the first time in more than three decades.

The new five-year drilling plan also could open new areas of oil and gas exploration in areas off the East Coast from Florida to Maine, where drilling has been blocked for decades.

While some lawmakers in those states support offshore drilling, the plan drew immediate opposition from governors up and down the East Coast, including Republican Govs Rick Scott of Florida and Larry Hogan of Maryland, who pressed Trump to withdraw their states from consideration.

IRAN BLAMES CIA FOR WEEK OF PROTESTS

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Thursday directly blamed a CIA official for a week of protests calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic, as the strength of the demonstrations was uncertain with fewer reports of rallies.

The Trump administration has denied having any hand in the protests, and the CIA declined to comment.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the drop in reports of new demonstrations challenging Iran’s theocratic government meant the protests were subsiding or that the authorities’ blocking of social media apps has managed to stop protesters from offering new images of rallies.

SESSIONS LIFTS OBAMA POLICY ON MARIJUANA WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration threw the burgeoning movement to legalise marijuana into uncertainty Thursday as it lifted an Obama-era policy that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will now leave it up to federal prosecutors to decide what to do when state rules collide with federal drug law.

Sessions’ action, just three days after a legalisation law went into effect in California, threatened the future of the young industry, created confusion in states where the drug is legal and outraged both marijuana advocates and some members of Congress, including Sessions’ fellow Republicans.

A PERSON crosses an icy Pleasure House Rd. in Virginia Beach, Virginia amid a cold blast along the US coast.

Photo: Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot via AP If temperatures drop below that, iguanas freeze up. “It’s too cold for them to move,” Sommers said.

They’re not the only reptiles stunned by this week’s cold snap: Sea turtles also stiffen up when temperatures fall. The wildlife commission’s biologists have been rescuing coldstunned sea turtles found floating listlessly on the water or near shore, but no such rescue is planned for iguanas.

Well-meaning residents

finding stiffened iguanas are advised to leave them alone, as they may feel threatened and bite once they warm up. “Don’t assume that they’re dead,” Sommers said.

Green iguanas are an invasive species in Florida known for eating through landscaping and digging burrows that undermine infrastructure. They can grow over 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, and their droppings can be a potential source of salmonella

bacteria, which causes food poisoning.

The wildlife commission has begun holding workshops to train homeowners and property managers to trap or manage iguanas.

The reptiles may be easier to catch this week, Sommers said.

“This provides an opportunity to capture some, but I’m not sure it’s going to be cold enough for long enough to make enough of a difference,” she said. “In most cases, they’re going to warm back up and move around again, unless they’re euthanised.”

A two-week cold snap with temperatures below 40 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) in 2010 killed off many iguanas, along with Burmese pythons and other invasive pests that thrive in South Florida’s subtropical climate. Those populations have since rebounded.

Elsewhere in Florida, the effects of a brutal winter storm rolling up the East Coast were less exotic. It snowed briefly Wednesday in the Tallahassee, for the first time in 28 years.

AN IGUANA that froze lies near a pool after falling from a tree in Boca Raton, Florida, yesterday.

Photo: Frank Cerabino/Palm Beach Post via AP

Trump-Bannon feud opens new Republican party fissure WASHINGTON Associated Press THE acrimony surrounding former White House adviser Steve Bannon’s very public break with President Donald Trump escalated Thursday, suggesting a permanent split between the president and the pugilistic strategist who helped put him in the Oval Office. The new fissure in an already fractious Republican Party cast doubt on Bannon’s hopes to foment a movement centered on “Trumpism without Trump”.

White House officials described the president as furious at Bannon’s criticisms, laid out in an explosive new book that quoted the former aide questioning Trump’s competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr, Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as “treasonous” and

“unpatriotic”.

A parade of administration officials and allies worked to discredit Bannon as a disgruntled has-been.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders went so far as to suggest that Bannon ought to be booted from Breitbart, the populist website he helps run.

“I certainly think that it’s something they should look at and consider,” she said.

Bannon had helped Trump form a coalition of anti-establishment Republicans, blue-collar working class and economic nationalists that launched him to the White House, but Trump had long ago grown frustrated that Bannon seemed to be overstepping his role as a staffer.

The self-appointed keeper of Trump’s nationalist flame during the president’s first six months in office, Bannon had soured on the president even before he was pushed

out of the White House for feeding the perception that he was Trump’s puppeteer.

None of Bannon’s close associates was willing to speak publicly about the fallout but privately conceded that the explosive comments may forever tarnish his brand. Bannon’s political appeal had been deeply tied to the perception that he was an ally of Trump’s. Those close to Bannon feared that the connection had been permanently severed.

Bannon was preparing to launch a nonprofit organization designed to help give Trump’s brand of conservatism populism a permanent base. It’s unclear how Bannon’s new rift with the president, and the related impact on major donors, will affect the organization, dubbed Citizens of the American Republic.

But it has already cost him a key backer. Rebekah Mercer, the billionaire GOP donor and Breitbart coowner, issued a statement

Thursday distancing her family from Bannon.

“I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected,” she said. “My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements.”

Current and former White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, said Bannon had miscalculated by attacking the president and his family. Much of Bannon’s political clout, they argue, stemmed from the assumption that he was acting with the imprimatur of the president, even if Trump wasn’t visibly in lockstep.

Some Trump allies also expressed satisfaction that Bannon appeared to be finally cast out of the president’s inner circle.

“Bannon has no

contingent,” former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday between media interviews to defend Trump. On Thursday, Gingrich echoed Trump’s charge that Bannon had “lost his mind.”

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a longtime punching bag for Bannon, reveled in the aide’s break with the president. “I’d like to associate myself with what the president had to say about Steve Bannon yesterday,” he said mischievously Thursday.

Since leaving the White House, Bannon spent much of his time courting donors to help finance his self-declared war on the Republican establishment.

He vowed to find Republican challengers for virtually every GOP senator seeking election this fall, chiefly for the purpose of electing candidates who would remove McConnell as majority leader.

STUDIES SHOW MORE DAMAGE TO CORAL REEFS WASHINGTON Associated Press

GLOBAL warming is making the world’s oceans sicker, depleting them of oxygen and harming delicate coral reefs more often, two studies show.

The lower oxygen levels are making marine life far more vulnerable, the researchers said. Oxygen is crucial for nearly all life in the oceans, except for a few microbes.

“If you can’t breathe, nothing else matters. That pretty much describes it,” said study lead author Denise Breitburg, a marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “As seas are losing oxygen, those areas are no longer habitable by many organisms.”

She was on a team of scientists, convened by the United Nations, who reported that the drop in oxygen levels is getting worse, choking large areas, and is more of a complex problem than previously thought. A second study

IN this 2010 photo provided by the Smithsonian Institution, corals and crabs lie dead from low oxygen in Bocas del Toro, Panama. A study released yesterday finds that oxygen levels dropping in the world’s oceans, choking large areas, is worsening and more of a complex problem than previously thought.

Photo: Arcadio Castillo/Smithsonian via AP finds that severe bleaching caused by warmer waters is hitting once-colorful coral reefs four times more often than they used to a few decades ago. Both studies are in Thursday’s edition of the journal Science .

When put all together, there are more than 12 million square miles (32 million square kilometers) of ocean with low oxygen levels at a depth of several hundred feet (200 meters), according to the scientists with the Global

Ocean Oxygen Network.

That amounts to an area bigger than the continents of Africa or North America, an increase of about 16 percent since 1950. Their report is the most comprehensive look at oxygen deprivation in the world’s seas.

“The low oxygen problem is the biggest unknown climate change consequence out there,” said Lisa Levin, a study coauthor and professor of biological oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Levin said researchers have seen coastal “dead zones” from fertilizer pollution from farms before, as well as areas of low oxygen in open ocean blamed on warmer waters, but this study shows how the two problems are interconnected with common causes and potential solutions.

“Just off Southern California, we’ve lost 20 to 30 percent of our oxygen off the outer shelf,” Levin said.

“That’s a huge loss.”

Some low oxygen levels

in the world’s ocean are natural, but not this much, Breitburg said. A combination of changes in winds and currents — likely from climate change — is leaving oxygen on the surface, and not bringing it down lower as usual. On top of that, warmer water simply doesn’t hold as much oxygen and less oxygen dissolves and gets into the water, she said.

“Oxygen loss is a real and significant problem in the oceans,” said University of Georgia marine scientist Samantha Joye, who wasn’t part of the study but praised it. Levels of ocean oxygen are “changing potentially faster than higher organisms can cope.”

In a separate study, a team of experts looked at 100 coral reefs around the globe and how often they have had severe bleaching since 1980. Bleaching is caused purely by warmer waters, when it’s nearly 2 degrees (1 degree Celsius) above the normal highest temperatures for an area.

DISPUTE OVER CRACKDOWN ON HOMELESS AHEAD OF ROYAL WEDDING LONDON Associated Press A POLITICAL storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s May 19 wedding over whether to crack down on homeless people and beggars in the well-to-do English town of Windsor.

The wedding will be held at Windsor Castle, the town’s most famous landmark and a favored residence of Queen

Elizabeth II. It is expected to draw thousands of extra visitors to the picturesque riverside town 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of London that is already popular with international tourists.

Borough council leader Simon Dudley kicked off the controversy by tweeting over the Christmas holidays about the need to clean up Windsor’s streets. He then wrote to police and Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May suggesting that

action be taken to reduce the presence of beggars and the homeless.

Dudley referred to an “epidemic” of homelessness and vagrancy in Windsor and suggested many of those begging in the town are not really homeless. He said the situation presents a beautiful town in an unfavorable light.

The prime minister said Thursday she does not agree with Dudley’s call for police action, emphasising

that councils like the one Dudley heads must act to help the homeless.

“I think it is important that councils work hard to ensure that they are providing accommodation for those people who are homeless,” said May. Homeless charities reacted angrily Thursday to his suggestion that homelessness should be treated as a police matter so Windsor can make a positive impression on visitors

during the royal nuptials.

They also rejected the assertion that Windsor’s homeless were living on the streets by choice.

Greg Beales, a spokesman for Shelter, said people sleeping on the streets are in desperate need of help, particularly in winter when the weather can be dangerously cold.

“Stigmatizing or punishing them is totally counter-productive,” he said.

PAGE 10, Friday, January 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

New Year Junkanoo ACTION from the New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 5, 2018, PAGE 11

ACTION from the New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

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MEMBERS of the Shell Saxons Superstars on their way to victory during the New Year Junkanoo parade.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff