01172020 NEWS

FRIDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 78ºF LOW 66ºF

The Tribune

Volume:117 No.38, JANUARY 17TH, 2020

Established 1903

Weekend

WEEKEND: STREETS TO CANVAS FOR JUNKANOO ARTIST

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1 Friday, January 17, 2020 art|entertainment|theatre |film|fashion|music|food| puzzles|animals

Weekend

Minnis turns on critics over statements made after pledge conference PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis accused critics yesterday of making “silly, confused and uniformed statements” about Monday’s pledge conference for Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts.

The government has announced $1.5bn in funding and in-kind services were pledged during the event. However, attention has centred around the largest pledge made: a

COMMISSIONER of the Department of Correctional Services Charles Murphy has called claims that he victimised and intimidated correctional officers “baseless allegations”.

Ryan Wilson, president of the Correctional Officers Staff Association, this week threatened that officers would “revolt” as they have been victims of “intimidation” tactics of

SEE PAGE THREE

A COMIC’S VIEW ANOTHER TIMELY LESSON FROM THE US ON MARIJUANA

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PM BROTHER AND LAWYER BOTH DENY HARM CLAIM

CYRIL “Boxer” Minnis, the brother of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, and lawyer Tiffany Dennison were both formally charged in the Freeport Magistrates Court in connection with an incident which occurred at the Registrar General’s Office in Grand Bahama.

The arraignment was held on Wednesday before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

SEE PAGE FIVE

the commissioner who they claim makes frequent walkabouts and transfers officers on a whim. However, Commissioner Murphy told The Tribune that “this is not an issue”.

According to Mr Murphy, Mr Wilson was “out of line” for speaking to the media.

“Mr Wilson is totally out of order, in violation of the General Orders and in violation of the Correctional Act. It’s not a union, it’s an association. All of his

pages 4 & 5

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

$975m concessionary loan from a US-based company, The P3 Group, which promises to provide funding upfront while requiring repayment from revenue generated from completed projects.

Critics say the offer should not have been included in the tally of pledges because it is not a donation. During yesterday’s opening of the Business Outlook conference at Baha Mar, Dr Minnis did not mince words addressing them.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

RISING SEAS THREATEN 15% OF GDP

‘INTIMIDATION CLAIMS ARE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS’

By SYANN THOMPSON Tribune Staff Reporter sthompson@tribunemedia.net

Page 13

Junkanoo Renaissance

Artist’s new take on cultu ral staple

‘Silly, confused and uninformed’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

2020 VISIONS

JUNE TRIAL FOR ALLEGED CHILD ABDUCTOR ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Gibson was back in court yesterday and told she will stand trial in June on four counts of abduction. Full story - Page 2 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is among the nations forecast to be hit hardest by rising sea levels with up to 15 percent of GDP and 11 percent of its people in peril, according to rating agency Moody’s who were looking at the threat to creditworthiness posed by climate change.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

‘WE’VE LOST TRUST OF MOST CUSTOMERS’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power & Light chairman Dr Donovan Moxey yesterday admitted the utility has “lost the trust of most of our consumers”, while also conceding: “Our customer service is terrible.”

While addressing the Bahamas Business Outlook conference, Dr Moxey pledged that the state-owned monopoly will undergo a “customer

BPL’s Donovan Moxey centric” cultural transformation as part of the $650m bond refinancing that aims

to finally place it on a sustainable financial footing.

Dr Moxey said he had personally stood in bill payment queues to “understand the pain and frustration”, and promised all BPL’s front office staff will be “trained to talk to, and empathise with”, longsuffering consumers who have had to put up with high costs, ever-increasing load shedding and unreliable supply for years.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

DIANE PHILLIPS

HARD TO BELIEVE PLASTIC BAG ISSUE HAS BECOME SO BIG SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Friday, January 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Alleged child abductor to stand trial in June

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Gibson will stand trial in six months’ time charged with abducting four little boys, one as young as three, from various places in New Providence between February and March of last year.

Justice Bernard Turner said the hair stylist will stand trial on June 30 on four counts of abduction stemming from allegations that she abducted three eight-year-old boys and a three-year-old between February 16 and March 29, 2019.

The Crown, led by prosecutor Abigail Farrington, is seeking to have all four allegations tried at once; notice of that pending application was given to Justice Turner

by Ms Farrington yesterday.

The application for joinder is expected to be made by February 25.

Gibson, who was on bail up until last month when she was charged with attempting to steal a sevenyear-old boy on December 9, 2019, was remanded into custody until that time.

Last April, Gibson was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with abducting three eight-year-old boys and a three-year-old between February and March.

During her initial arraignment, her attorney at the time, Howard Thompson Jr told Magistrate McKinney that the accused has a history of mental health issues. He said in October 2018, Gibson spent some time in the psychiatric ward of Brookdale University Hospital in New York.

At the time, Mr Thompson said. he had also received legal instructions from Gibson that ranged from “incomprehensible” to “bizarre”.

As a result, Magistrate

McKinney remanded the woman to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and adjourned the matter to have a psychiatric report on her mental fitness presented to the court. That psychiatric report revealed she was in fact fit to plead to the charges. She subsequently elected to be tried in the Supreme Court.

Gibson was later granted $20,000 bail with two sureties by Justice Gregory Hilton.

As part of her bail conditions, Gibson was ordered to have regular check-ups at SRC every two months, follow her treatment plan and provide proof of compliance to the court.

She was also ordered to surrender her passport and wear an ankle bracelet. She was also ordered to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On July 31 of last year, when Gibson was presented

with her four VBIs, it was revealed that the Crown had upgraded her charges from child abduction to child stealing.

Child abduction carries a maximum prison term of two years. However, if convicted of child stealing, Gibson would face up to 10 years in prison.

Five months later, the 30-year-old was again arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on a single count of attempted child stealing. And at the time, Gibson broke down in tears and blamed the “lodge” for “plotting” against her.

Although she was not required to enter a plea to the charge, Gibson, who was on $20,000 bail for the previous allegations, maintained her innocence, and insisted that she would never compromise her freedom by committing such an act.

“I feel as though, this that

ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Gibson outside court yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff they putting on me, I did not do it,” she insisted. “I’m not guilty and I would not jeopardise my freedom…”

Despite her pleas, however, as attempted child stealing is an indictable offence and one that can only be tried in the Supreme Court, she was ordered to be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the end of February, when a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) will be served.

Prior to being remanded, Gibson had alerted Magistrate McKinney to her other charges, and that she was on bail in relation to those. She then asked if she could be remanded to SRC as opposed to going to prison, given her documented mental health issues.

“Is it okay if I go— because I’m a Sandilands patient and I take medication and everything—is it

okay that I go to Sandilands? Because I have court January 16 for my other case,” she asked.

However, Magistrate McKinney maintained that she would be remanded to BDCS, and that the best he could do in the circumstances is order that she be seen by a psychiatrist while at the Fox Hill facility. That is, unless she is successful in securing bail a second time from the Supreme Court.

He subsequently adjourned that matter to February 28.

As she was being escorted away by the officers for her previous matter, Gibson, visibly frustrated, tearfully said: “All of this is because of what I do? Because I here? And like I tell them I feel as though the lodge is plotting on me. So I really don’t know what I did to deserve this, sir.”

Gibson is now represented by attorney Uel Johnson.

THE TRIBUNE from page one grievances are supposed to be presented to the commissioner first, who will take them to the minister (of national security) — he’s in total violation,” said Mr Murphy.

When asked if he received any formal complaints in writing, Mr Murphy said: “Not one line, not one word.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mr Wilson outlined issues with Commissioner Murphy that include senior officers allegedly being disrespected daily; officers being treated like inmates and the president of the association allegedly being attacked personally for addressing pertinent matters affecting staff. Also, the association complained about a new policy that restricts the amount of medication and food officers can bring into the Fox Hill compound when on duty. While Mr Murphy did not speak to this issue, over the past few years several correctional officers

Friday, January 17, 2020, PAGE 3

Commissioner says prison intimidation claims are ‘baseless’ have been arrested and charged in connection with smuggling contraband into the facility.

Staff morale is said to have been impacted due to health matters and working conditions. Mr Murphy refuted these concerns, saying improvements to the physical state of the facility have been progressing under his leadership.

“We’ve never had such a great change and thrust of improving the environment

in the prison today since I took office. So there shouldn’t be an issue as to conditions. The conditions are being improved daily.

We are remodelling the whole cell block and housing units for the inmates to live and for the officers to work – new office area, new restroom, lounge, airconditioning — just some of the things we have implemented and continue to do,” the correctional chief said.

The slop bucket system

COMMISSIONER of the Department of Correctional Services Charles Murphy is still used for inmates to urinate and defecate

in due to a lack of toilets in some areas, which the association said is a health hazard to officers. When asked directly about the sanitation of BDCS, Mr Murphy said, “We are making some efforts to improve the condition and the situation. We are moving towards correcting them. We are improving upon the working environment and the conditions for our staff.”

In the midst of the allegations, Mr Murphy said

that he will continue to carry out his duties and obligations for the betterment of his organisation.

He said, “As far as I’m concerned the association nor Mr Wilson could never have the best interest of the officers and the organisation at heart more than me. I am going on to do what I was appointed to do and that is to run the organisation and run it in a professional way and to the standards of international policies.”

ACTIVISTS URGE BIG FINES FOR CARNIVAL

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

LEVAN Cliff Bannister and (inset) Javaugn Devon Charlton outside court yesterday

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Man, 26, admits having assault rifle

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 26-YEAR-OLD man was remanded in custody for seven weeks to await his sentencing for being caught with a prohibited assault rifle and 30 rounds of illegal ammunition earlier this week.

Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt said Levan Cliff Bannister will be sentenced on March 10 for admitting to being caught in possession of the illegal items on January 14.

Bannister would have been sentenced yesterday, but his attorney Dion Smith requested an adjournment so he could be furnished with a report from the Department of Social Services, which, he said, would allow him

to make a more “detailed” plea in mitigation on his client’s behalf.

It came after Bannister admitted to being caught with a Spikes tactical AR-15 assault rifle, one .223 magazine and 30 rounds of .223 ammunition that he was planning to distribute to others.

According to the facts read by the prosecutor, Samantha Miah, around 3.30am on Tuesday, the police control room issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the occupants of a white Nissan Cube who had fired gunshots in the Nassau Village area.

A team of officers, while in the area of Bay Lily Drive in Seabreeze, observed the vehicle travelling east on Seabreeze Lane. The officers pursued the vehicle, using their car’s fog horn and siren to get the other car to

stop. The Nissan Cube eventually came to a stop at the intersection of Rico Street and Pepe Avenue.

Bannister, who was driving the car, was told to get out so that he and the car could be searched for dangerous drugs and firearms.

The search, which was conducted in Bannister’s presence, yielded a black and green AR-15 assault rifle along with one .223 magazine containing 30 live rounds of ammunition. The items were found on the back seat.

As a result, Bannister was cautioned and arrested.

While under caution, Bannister told the officers that he got the gun from a “white boy” named Dave from West Palm Beach, Florida while the pair were at Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island at around 5.30pm on Monday. As

a result, Bannister was taken to the East Street South police station for further investigation.

Later, while at the Central Detective Unit, a senior officer conducted a record of interview of Bannister in Mr Smith’s presence. During the interview, Bannister would only say “no comment” to all of the questions asked.

He was ultimately charged with the three offences.

Meanwhile, another man, 21-year-old Javaugn Devon Charlton denied being caught in possession of an unlicensed, black Taurus 9mm pistol and four unfired rounds of 9mm ammunition on January 11.

He returns to court today for a fixture hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis.

MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN ACCIDENT

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A MOTORCYCLIST in New Providence was killed in traffic accident on Wednesday night. Police reported the incident happened shortly after 11pm at West Bay Street and St Alban’s Drive involving

a motorcycle and a white 2013 Ford E-350 van. The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries and died on scene while the driver of the van was not injured.

Officers from the Traffic Department are continuing investigations.

The accident came a little over a week after Chief

Immigration Officer Bradley McDonald was killed in an Abaco traffic accident.

That incident occurred shortly after 3pm on January 6 when Officer McDonald and another man were travelling in a Jeep Wrangler, west on Earnest Dean Highway, near Sandy Point, when the

driver lost control of the vehicle and overturned.

The two men had serious injuries and were transported to Marsh Harbour’s medical facility, where Mr McDonald died from his injuries. The other man was airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention.

ACTIVISTS had harsh words about Carnival’s illegal dumping in Bahamian waters, calling for the cruise line to be heavily fined.

Phoebe Shaw, campaign director of “Stop Disney – Last Chance for Lighthouse Point”, said the latest news of Carnival Cruise Line’s dumping highlights the concerns activists have about cruise ships in general, namely their carbon emissions and ocean contamination.

For her part, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, executive director of the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF), said the dumping was “not acceptable” and the organisation hopes the cruise line’s actions will not be tolerated.

Ms McKinney-Lambert added: “This jeopardizes the health of our marine environment which is absolutely essential to our fishing industry and our tourism industry and our way of life in The Bahamas.”

A monitor appointed by a south Florida federal court recently disclosed Carnival’s further environmental infractions – some of which occurred while vessels were in port in Nassau and Freeport – that took place in 2019.

The monitor’s latest report, filed on New Year’s Eve, detailed incidents, including the March 6, 2019 discharge of 34 cubic metres of black water/sewage in Bahamian waters from the MS Maasdam as it sailed from Half Moon Cay, the private island, to Fort Lauderdale. Also cited was a September 9, 2019, episode involving the Carnival Sunrise where “a considerable amount of rust” was discharged into Nassau harbour after a technician started up an “infrequently used water pump” while the vessel was docked at Prince George Wharf.

The Environmental Planning and Protection Act allows fines for up to $30 million and imprisonment of no more than ten years as punishment for environmental offenders. When asked what penalty was an appropriate punishment for the company, Ms McKinney-Lambert replied “we should use all measures that we have,” adding Carnival’s fine should be in the “tens of millions”.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Carl Bethel said the government will seek compensation against Carnival under recently passed environment laws.

PAGE 4, Friday, January 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Pledges and politics IT STARTED off as an event widely hailed as a good thing.

The pledge conference for Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts brought together donors, organisations and the government with the goal of finding ways to generate support for the ongoing rebuilding after the deadly storm.

In this column too, we wished Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis well in his efforts to attract pledges to build upon the wealth of support the country has already received.

Indeed the outcome of it was declared to be $1.5 billion in funding and services – a sizeable sum indeed.

But then came the nitpicking. What about the near-$1bn pledge from the US-based P3 Group, offering funding upfront with repayment coming from revenue generated from completed projects? That particularly has come under fire, with widespread scepticism.

What about the list of pledges made so the public can examine them more closely?

What about this? What about that?

We can understand Dr Minnis’ frustration yesterday when he hit out at “silly, confused and uninformed statements”, some of which we would add are political point scoring.

Let us consider this – the conference has just happened, so now comes the time to go through the pledges and see which ones can benefit the nation, and which ones might have too many strings attached.

Due diligence takes time – the government can’t receive a pledge on Monday and tell you everything about the finances behind the pledge on Tuesday.

In fact, failure to do due diligence has been the source of valid criticism in the past – remember Oban? – so absolutely the government should take its time to assess what has been put forward.

Even for those pledges that the government doesn’t wish to take up – the conference has been a way of opening doors to potential future sources of funding and building relationships with potential future partners.

We agree that the full list of pledges should be made available at the earliest opportunity so the public has a clear sight of what has been offered. The P3 pledge of course catches the eye because of its size – without that, the total of pledges drops to around $500m.

But let’s give the government time to examine the pledges before we jump up and down pointing our fingers and claiming the conference was a waste of time.

This was a good example of out-ofthe-box thinking by the government, trying things a different way to see if it will help with the recovery. If nothing comes out of it, all we’ve wasted is time.

If even half of the pledges prove useful, they will help those who need it most of all – the victims of Hurricane Dorian.

For their sake, let’s hope the pledges are successful – and that they don’t get overshadowed by politics.

Lord, please have mercy on our own stupidity

Rapists should be flogged in public EDITOR, The Tribune I AM deeply saddened after reading news of a woman being sexually violated by a sex beast during a home invasion in the Marshall Road area of New Providence. I can only imagine how traumatised that family must be. The system continues to fail women and children in our beleaguered communities which are under siege by hardened malefactors. Incidents such as the foregoing, which was printed in The Nassau Tribune, are why we have witnessed a sharp increase in vigilantism. In this regard, successive governments must shoulder some of the blame for the crime situation in Nassau.

Where is the outcry from Rights Bahamas and the D’Marco Organisation

concerning this disturbing incident?

Women, be they Bahamian or Haitian or whatever ethnicity, appear to be very vulnerable in our patriarchal culture that views them simply as sexual objects. Incidents of rape and other forms of sexual abuse, inclusive of paedophilia, are unacceptably high in a country that has less than 400,000 in population. Punishment for rape and other sex crimes are unduly lenient, in my opinion. Victims are left feeling as if the judicial system and the legal fraternity are both fighting to preserve the freedom and dignity of the criminal element.

This perceived leniency has helped in fostering a culture of misogyny, where would-be rapists are well aware that they would only

get a slap on the wrist in the event they’re caught and successfully prosecuted.

Bahamians should petition the Free National Movement government to ignore the hue and cry of Amnesty International and other international human rights organisations and implement corporal punishment for rapists and paedophiles.

If flogging or caning is administered in a public forum away from the prying eyes of our tourists, it would be an effective deterrent to would-be criminals. Such a barbaric measure would send a strong message to rapists and paedophiles that the government will no longer tolerate the abuse of women and children.

KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama January 15, 2020

Is The Pointe complying with HoA over workers?

EDITOR, The Tribune THE Pointe - has there been compliance with the Heads of Agreement regarding the number of non-Bahamian construction workers?

This is determined totally by the terms of the Heads of Agreement, tabled in Parliament and one supposes the Ministry of Labour is responsible for ensuring compliance.

From the start there was an issue with this project… first some said there was language in the Agreement

which was not mutually understood but months went past - further floors built and no statement if there was compliance… why? Clearly no!

It is not difficult to recognise the difference between a Chinese worker and a Bahamian even probably a blind man can do that my listening, but not Department of Labour they seem to be totally blind and deaf – with ‘000’s of construction workers out of work it was the responsibility of the Department of Labour to regularly

inspect and take a count of the number of Bahamians onsite working at The Pointe, but no, Labour did nothing…now at the peak the rush to compete news says there may be 224 Bahamian construction people working on site.

Someone has to explain…OPM FDI coordinators Minister for Labour - Director of Labour someone needs to explain.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau January 16, 2020

EDITOR, The Tribune I HAVE concluded that The Bahamas is just like one of the network Soap Operas…should we take politicians seriously - are they serious - do they realise what they say, so regularly?

PLASTICS BAGS… how do plastic bags get to the beach and into the sea seeing that is seemingly the issue? Simple, Prime Minister you must have seen it at Goodman’s Bay after a holiday, it looks like the landfill. You and I take the plastic/garbage to the beach.

Have we heard in this socalled environmental thrust anything about prosecuting the public who litter?

Not a squeak, but this is the root cause of plastic in the oceans.

Drive through any sub-division…road side garages…residential lots being used to garbage heavy equipment…when last did Physical Planning or Environmental Health ever prosecute?

So we ban plastic bags but then sign a 25-year contract for $170million worth

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net of fossil fuelled BP&L engines…now that’s Soap opera decision making and all that environmental talk.

We are blessed with God’s sunlight at least 340-days in a year and Government - BP&L refuses to permit a 100-120MW solar clean generating electricity platform for Nassau - this is totally Soap Opera style…

PM solar is the only way your folks south of the arch will get cheaper electricity but what so we do? No solar under any conditions - we ban that in a commercial form then we say we helping The people - just hog wash!.

Super Value charge the 25 cents then discount the sale by 25 cents…plastic bag charge gone! God are we so stupid?

PMH - $700 million is owed…Soap Opera style who created that? You and I and PHA for not collecting for services over the past years…another Soap Opera experience…PM Dr

Duane Sands if you have costs you have to collect or the Treasury pays for them – try this principle at home soon house gone!

How much does Government and its agencies owe various utility companies, etc? BP&L said to be over $25 million…pay your bills Mr Finance Man this is not a Soap Opera, it is the real world.

It is real time, Prime Minister, you either do or in 2022 bush crack Doc & Co will be gone…can’t you uphold the Law? Just come to me…BP&L them again they are a Soap Opera on their own…they purchased a GE generator for $35 million for Blue Hill facility - BP&L please confirm when was there a RFP for that?

NATIONAL HONOURS - we are unique we give them in duplicate Bahamian and British on demand of recipients who believe they have the right to them…on demand!

Lord have mercy on our stupidity.

W THOMPSON Nassau, January 14, 2020.

I was amazed by Pinder comments EDITOR, The Tribune I AM amazed at the comments made by the Director of Labour, John Pinder, regarding the conditions put forward for the issuing or renewal of Visas (work permits I guess).

I have a permit for a gardener from Haiti and I would like Mr. Pinder to please send me Bahamians I can apprentice to my gardener to train in the care of my garden!

I would also like to

comment on the charge for plastic bags levied by the Government. When travelling to other countries in the world during the last five years or so, in many countries, especially in Europe, whenever I have made a purchase in a grocery or other store I have been charged a fee for a bag if I request one.

It is about time we did it to curtail the use of these bags.

When travelling from Treasure Cay to Marsh

Harbour the other day I looked out at the ponds in the area of Hill Creek and was amazed, and disgusted, to see the amount of plastic bags hung up in the mangroves and shoreline of these ponds. They are in an area that will never be cleaned so we will have to see them, and wait a lifetime for them to disappear.

CHIM Nassau, January 16, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 17, 2020, PAGE 5

from page one

Minnis turns on critics over statements made after donor conference

“Like most donor conferences, and as was clearly understood at the (Pledge) Conference, most of the aid pledged was not in the form of cash donations,” he said.

“I have noticed some confusion in the public sphere as to what a pledging conference is and what these commitments mean.

“Unfortunately, some who were not present at the event seem very confused and very poorly informed.

Had they informed themselves they would not have made silly, confused and uninformed statements in the press. Some, who have an obligation to be more responsible, are irresponsibly making up false narratives of what happened. Again, some seem not to understand what transpired or the nature of a donor conference.”

While the international community has made various offers and pledges, Dr

Minnis said: “It is up to the government of the Bahamas to carefully review these pledges and to decide what is best for the Bahamas and for the people and communities in affected areas.”

Katherine Forbes-Smith, managing director of the Disaster Recovery Authority, has said officials have not examined The P3 Group’s business affairs or its offer. On Wednesday, former Central Bank

Governor James Smith told The Tribune it is not likely the government would seek access to concessionary loans from private groups, insisting the terms are unlikely to be better than what could be obtained “through the normal capital markets.”

Dr Minnis said yesterday: “The Bahamas has never experienced a storm like Dorian. As a result, we have not had a high-level pledging

conference of this nature.

The Bahamas received pledges of financing, grants, technical assistance, intellectual assistance, humanitarian aid and other forms of assistance. The categories of pledges funding included: concessionary loans, equity, grants and guarantee financing. Let me emphasise that there were different types of funding pledged and that potential loans are only one type of possible funding.”

Pledges on Monday included initiatives for homebuilding and repair, educational assistance, renewable energy partnerships, relief aid, grants, direct assistance to storm victims, parks restoration and loans and financing, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. Among those pledging were the United States of America, which pledged $2.1 million to restore law enforcement

capabilities to the affected islands; Baha Mar, which announced a $300,000 donation and delivery of furniture to affected residents in Grand Bahama; and Global Ports Holding, which pledged more than $500,000 for infrastructure needs, restoration of coral reefs, mangroves, small home rebuilding and small business projects.

Editorial View - Page 4

IN group photo, from left: Rev Dr Timothy Stewart, Canadian High Commissioner HE Laurie Peters, The Counsellors Ltd. President/CEO Joan Albury, Prime Minister. Hubert Minnis, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos the Rt Rev’d Laish Boyd, and BCCEC CEO Jeffrey Beckles.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe/BIS

Don’t be too quick to dismiss pledges, warns Forbes-Smith

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

KATHERINE Smith, managing director of Disaster Reconstruction Authority, has expressed her dismay over criticisms about pledges made during the Hurricane Dorian Pledging Conference held on Monday.

While speaking to reporters in Grand Bahama on Wednesday, she said critics should “be careful” of “vilifying” people in the media about the pledges they have offered. “We really should be very careful what we say about people who come to pledge. We should not criticise people and their pledges, we should be thankful and grateful for whatever they are pledging,” she said.

She was referring to criticisms concerning the offer by P3 Group, which put forward $975 million in financing for various projects..

Philip “Brave” Davis, leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, had expressed scepticism over the $1.5 billion in pledges.

“Let us strip down how this $1.5bn is made up,” Mr Davis said on Tuesday. “I daresay, when you talk about donors, you are expecting donations to be made without strings attached. So I would ask (the prime minister) to identify the donors, identify the conditions on what

KATHERINE FORBES-SMITH, managing director of Disaster Reconstruction Authority “No, we have not decided donations are being made and we need to separate on any kind of financing what is borrowed from with respect to loans at the what is being donated and moment. But we have to be then we would understand careful how we are accuswhat the true import of ing and how we are vilifying the exercise (on Monday) people in the media about their pledges. I mean, it is produced.”

PLP deputy leader very sad because we want Chester Cooper said the to continue to encourage borrowing rate of the pro- our local and international posed $975m in funding is a donors to continue to work with The Bahamas,” Mrs concern.

“We would like to know Smith said.

She stated there was why this route would be any more feasible than a nothing “sinister” about the national investment bond Pledge Conference.

“Just on the issue of the that would allow Bahamians to participate,” Mr $1.5 billion is really for Cooper said on Wednes- people to understand that day. “The structure of any it was not just cash. I know potential deal must also be there has been a lot of carefully vetted and due dil- talk in the media about P3 igence done in P3 and the Group who pledged $975 million, and that was not finances.”

However, Mrs Forbes- pledged in cash.

“But the Pledging Smith indicated some of the backlash may be prema- Conference is no secret. ture, as no decisions have Whatever was pledged is been made yet and a full being worked out now and breakdown of the pledges will be publicised, I believe (Thursday),” she said. will come soon.

She added: “There is nothing sinister about the Pledge Conference - we should be a grateful people to the organisations and entities who came and pledged.

“The IDB has to figure out the several billions of dollars that are really necessary for the rebuilding of this country. And so, we are happy and pleased and appreciative of persons who are prepared to support the government and people of the Bahamas.

“We need as much as technical support in this journey of recovery, rebuilding, and resiliency, and what we get is well appreciated.”

Mrs Smith said that Bahamians should be grateful people are willing to support the Bahamas in this effort.

She indicated that there are a number of disasters around the world, including the earthquake in Puerto Rico.

“People are moving to the next disaster. It is important for us as a country and an Authority to let the world out there know that, yes, the Bahamas is on its way back to rebuilding, but we also continue to need the support of the international community and local community. And Bahamians abroad have really jumped in and been very supportive. There are so many people out there willing to help,” she said.

Death Notice For Gregory George Culmer Jr., 20

of #530 East Street South and formerly of Miami, Florida died in Miami, Florida on Sunday, January 12th, 2020.

He is survived by his Special Friend: Andrea Dumbcombe; Mother: Patricia Moss; Stepfather: Alexi Broke Martinez; Son: Alexi Borke Martinez; Sisters: Aubria Williams, Rukeya Taylor Ferguson, Georgette Culmer, Tea-Leoni Culmer, Shawdalisa Fowler & Shavon Burnside; Brothers: Patrico Culmer, Terrel Williams, Rashad Sweeting, Kayne Farquharson, Kevin & Shawn Ramsey; Grandparents: Deloris & Oswald Francis & George Paul and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

Arrangements for the funeral service are being finalized and details will be announced at a future date.

PAGE 6, Friday, January 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Govt planning to speed up the removal of debris from Abaco

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE government is looking at several alternatives to help speed up the process of debris removal in Abaco this year, according to Chairman of Disaster and Reconstruction Authority John-Michael Clarke.

“We want to speed up the (clean-up) process this year…(so) we are working out a mechanism where we could have the owners of private homes and businesses expedite the debris removal because a lot of it is actually on private

property,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“And (because) the government can’t enter property without permission, we’re trying to put the structure in place now so we could have the rest of the businesses clean up faster…. (so) it could improve the morale of the place and the look of the place.”

After Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and Grand Bahama in early September, the government awarded contracts to several companies to assist with the clean-up process

on the storm-impacted islands.

However, in recent weeks, many residents of Abaco have expressed disappointment with the process, noting they are not pleased with the work done thus far.

In an effort “to improve the efficiency of the process”, Mr Clarke said officials are currently in the process of reviewing those clean-up contracts.

“We’re evaluating contractors who are doing the collection to view and improve the efficiency of the process,” he said.

“…There were 27 companies that were contracted for debris collection and lots of those are still working and some have completed the work that they have been doing,” he said. “.. And (what we) want to do is just make sure that everybody is working to the terms that they agreed to the government in a manner that is as economically feasible as possible... we want to be responsible in the way those contracts are being executed.”

While debris removal in the shanty town

EXTENSIVE damage from Hurricane Dorian can be seen in this aerial photo over Marsh Harbour taken on September 4. communities in Abaco has progressed, officials have noted that operations to clean up the residential communities on the island are still underway.

Speaking to The Tribune on the matter last month, Works Director Melanie Roach said: “The Mudd is 85 percent cleared. The Pigeon Peas is 100 percent cleared and Sand Banks 1 is completely cleared. The contractors are currently working on Sand Banks 2.

“We have now completed all of the scopes of works for the school repairs…and

we have seven contractors working in various sections of Dundas Town, Murphy Town, Central Pines, Marsh Harbour, Spring City, Treasure Cay and Blackwood.

“The smaller contractors, they are doing residential debris removal.”

She wrote in a comment under a previous article on the The Tribune’s website, that “as of 16th December 2019, the Ministry of Public Works had prepared payment certificates totaling $6,606,363.19 for various contractors in Grand Bahama and Abaco.”

WELCOME TO THE YEAR OF THE RAT THE CHINESE Spring Festival was held at the Hilton Hotel last night and was hosted by the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China, celebrating the Year of the Rat. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 17, 2020, PAGE 7

Chinese held after trying to get into US by yacht

By FARRAH JOHNSONÂ fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

‘tour group of aliens’ in the Bahamas, transport them to South Florida and return to the Bahamas on July 26.�

According to the report, in the affidavit, the yacht’s charter captain said he did not check to see if all passengers on board had the proper documentation to enter the United States. “A search of the yacht uncovered 10 cellphones in the bridge area; none of the Chinese nationals had mobile phones on them.

Based on my knowledge and experience in human smuggling cases, smugglers often collect cell phones from migrants until they are paid for delivering the migrants to the US’ wrote HSI special agent David Jansen, who added that none of the passengers carried any luggage.�

The US Coast Guard also uncovered $118,100 hidden behind the wall paneling of the yacht’s master bedroom.

Investigators also seized allegedly more than $2,800 from Mr McNeil. “Both Bradford and McNeil were indicted on charges of conspiring to transport aliens into the United States and bringing them here for financial gain.

To resolve his case, McNeil pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of alien smuggling to make a profit.

He faces up to 10 years in prison. Bradford is awaiting trial in Fort Lauderdale federal court.�

“When officers radioed the vessel to ask how many people were on board, the yacht’s response: two crew and eight Japanese passengers with passports, who did not need additional visas to enter the United States.�

According to The Miami Herald, a US Homeland Security Investigations criminal affidavit proved that their statement was a lie. “About 10 miles east of Port Everglades, Coast Guard officers boarded the yacht and asked crew member Robert L McNeil Jr to bring all the passengers on deck. The officers counted 12 passengers with passports from the People’s Republic of China but without required visas to enter the United States, according to the HSI affidavit.� “One of the Coast Guard officers asked McNeil why there were 12 Chinese nationals on board instead of the eight Japanese, as initially represented in the radio communications. “McNeil said it must have been a misunderstanding and asked the Coast Guard officer, ‘Are we in trouble?’ McNeil further said that he ‘worked with the underground railroad and anti-human trafficking and would never do anything wrong,’ the affidavit said.�

According to the report, the US Coast Guard concluded that none of the Chinese nationals had documents that would allow them to enter the United States legally.

This led to the all of the yacht’s passengers being transferred to the Coast Guard cutter. “During questioning, Bradford said he left South Florida on the Hatteras yacht bearing the name CAREFREE on July 22 and arrived in Nassau, Bahamas, that day. He admitted that the purpose of the trip was to pick up a

A NUMBER of Chinese nationals and one Bahamian were detained

by American officials after attempting to illegally enter the United States by boat last year.

A dozen Chinese and one Bahamian were smuggled from The Bahamas to South Florida by luxury yacht operators who charged each passenger thousands of dollars for the short journey, the Miami Herald reported yesterday.

According to the report, the US Coast Guard intercepted two vessels attempting to sail to South Florida last year.

This led to the arrest of three men who were accused of transporting 26 Chinese passengers and one Bahamian, according to US court records.

The cases were unrelated.

In the first incident, Rocco Oppedisano, a 51-year-old Italian, was stopped by the US Coast Guard on December 2 while he was commandeering a 63-foot Sunseeker yacht named INXS FINALLY. 14 Chinese passengers and one Bahamian were found on the vessel. “Rocco Oppedisano‌is scheduled for arraignment in Miami federal court Friday on charges of conspiring to transport aliens into the United States and bringing them here for financial gain,â€? The Miami Herald reports. “Assistant US Attorney Brian Sattler said in the indictment that authorities seized the vessel as well as $172,000 in Bahamian dollars and $41,000 in US dollars.â€?

In the second incident, a US Coast Guard cutter came across a 70-foot Hatteras yacht about 20-miles east of South Florida on July 23, 2019.

PM BROTHER AND LAWYER BOTH DENY HARM CLAIM from page one

guilty to the charge and was granted $1,000 cash or suretor bail. His matter was adjourned to March 30.

Meanwhile, Dennison was charged with allegedly assaulting Minnis on the same date and and at the same place. She pleaded not guilty to the assault charge and was also granted $1,000 cash or suretor bail.

Her matter was adjourned to March 23.

Minnis, 70, was represented by Harvey Tynes, QC, and Dennison, 51, was represented by lawyers Wendell Smith and Gregory Moss.

Minnis was charged with allegedly causing harm to Dennison on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at Freeport. He pleaded Tribune not

The

WEDNESDAY

The Tribune

i’m lovin’ it!

Established 1903

UNE ON TRIB G NEWS

VOLUME:114

242.COM

Biggest And Best!

AKIN 24/7 BRE

17

OBITS INSIDE

& TECH

Photo:

fired as FNM

No.208, SEPTEMBER

Terrel W. Carey/Tribune

242.COM

THE PEOPLE’S

PAPER: $1

20TH, 2017

KARAW AN BUSIN ESS:

ORCHED! , CARS, CARS

Established 1903

UNE ON TRIB G NEWS

Biggest And Best!

The privileged

$1

OFFICIAL SOURCE

D TRADER: CARS

A1MAIN

AKIN 24/7 BRE

HIGH 92ÂşF LOW 78ÂşF

A1MAIN

AS ATLAN TIS LEAVE S ROLE

CEO

not be officials could to press time. reached up

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

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

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

Arnold Forbes of Health Tall The Minister $62,023.14. by former The list obtained delin- Perry Gomez, Leslie Miller, Tribune contains of six Pines MP Youth Minister of former quent accounts Cabinet minis- former Johnson, former PLP MP Dion PLP MPs, Dr Danny and Nassau Village ters, two former Tourism DR DANIEL entities, two private Cabinet min- Smith, former JOHNSON Obie Wilchcombe, one sitting $24,413 Town MP Minister South Beach MP and former ister: Bamboo Hamilton State Renward Wells. who owed Cleola of Mr Wells, $3,703.96 at former Minister Damian Affairs $9,277.07 and locations - for Legal two separatetotal – did not Gomez.

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

DION SMITH $9,275

RENWARD WELLS $12,980

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

Staff

slide win roars to land CHRISTIE AS HE

ing

By NEIL HARTNELL Editor $25m, five-year maximum contract Tribune Business emedia.net BPL management nhartnell@tribun and Minnis if the board wish it to go.

Power & BAHAMAS board will administration which will The meeting,PowerSecure Light’s (BPL) meeting� attended by hold a “crunch today, be their attorneys executives and as key with PowerSecure likely crit- from the US, is viewed the with the outcome whether the to determining whethermake and ical in decidingas manager. sides will “kiss latter remainsTribune Busi- two separate. up� or Multiple - SEE BUSINESS yesterday US FULL STORY ness sources that the confirmed

HUMILIATION FORAFTER 4O YEARS LOSES HIS SEAT

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

RGIL He said if there the new dros ELECTION Islands.

By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofseat, Fox According eporter the the Ragged of “criminality�, Tribune Staff media.net from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being reedia.net ficial results Registration government course.

THE PEOPLE sdorsett@tribune PAGE 4 was still its his Hill, law to take to press time. and liamentary Mr Chipman after ON’ decounted up Moments ing his parDNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 IN a surprisingat the Department, as the na- This marked the worst in out of 12 polldefeat party won seven maiden speech ng landslide MinLOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former feat for a governing ling a paraMr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 polls, outgoing that under recent history.

Christie lost PLP stronghold, while will the Progresnis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Bahamians The FNM’s won five. years the Centreville his watch, rty last night, YOUR PROJECTED his seat in last night by Christie PAGE 9 to fear from despite a rocky five Mr Christie In 2012, have nothing conme Minister constituency representing pointing to that included two challengFAR the Centrevilleeighth the government, nnis declared RESULTS SO PAGE 14 25 votes aftermore than 40 won the which he said es to Dr Minnis’ leadership, of a fracstituency for time with victimisation, o have abused al� “imthe area for to unofcontinued reports ultimately consecutive He defeated trust “have is “unconstitution MORE COVERAGE years, according party and the post “wrong�.

PAGES 2-18 2,950 votes. moral� and to unofficial tured fear�. ficial results. candidate Ella removal from has held of Ophis According able at the o thousands Q the Official Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s the FNM wasdefeat of leader of the House of today. by 1,349 votes orters at the won all ment House pledged that results, the Lewis the seat since in Mr Christie leader of pull off a stunning a mas- position ntre last night, Dr Minnis has been Liberal Party time. polling division in will give to securing Assembly. but one a long fought ational Move- his administration Terrance of the PLP, Progressive 39 constituencies. “This was victory is not General Regit sive 34 of also announced since 1997. released a but the Prime 2012. as Auditor the resources former Although he the loss, The Parliamentary did battle, the victory is yours,� be sworn in The to Bastian taxpayabout how his seat thousands re- mine istration Department as’ fourth prime needs to probe Minister lost Movement statement did not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carChristie not release 5pm at GovernFree National packed with the and po- Mr SEE PAGE SIX sults last night, in from the of FNMs (FNM) candidate Reece nival grounds. people’s time numbers coming litical newcomer agency around “This is the and I who secured government from the and I am your servant Chipman, However 11pm. it apSEE PAGE THREE unofficial numbers, the PLP only of the conpeared that “The outcome trust according to vention did not inspireBahalast Mark Humes in the results, said coming afor confidence that’s “obvious� mian electorate but think sweeping defeat residents unofficial that it is I ROLLE have stood behind us now and they night ter Fort Charlotte

By RASHAD Reporter told him party would winning the the party has a wonderful repeatedly lead- the Tribune Staff dia.net stand the any a better chance rebuild and could not he been victori- opportunity to rrolle@tribuneme of the country per- election had itself,� he said. leadership for for- ership despite their ous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer longer, him.

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

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

FRIDAY i’m lovin’ it!

By AVA TURNQUEST Reporter Tribune Chief emedia.net aturnquest@tribun Sewerage WATER and Chairman Corporation yesterday Adrian Gibson existence the confirmed disconnect� of a “do not by scores list populatedthe governof elites at utility owned to ment he pledged provider as on initiate a crackdown accounts. delinquent told The Mr Gibson “confidential Tribune the 221accounts, list� held total of with a combined the period $175,000 for2017. ending June he plans He said that corporathe to direct all persons tion to notify arrears owing excessive or face debts to resolve disconnection.a list confi“There is the Long dential list,�

Island MP said. would think “In fact, I corporations that all the year or two, in over the last and more particularly year, there May of thisclose attenhas been that list by tion paid to with the management changing the a view to lists usually way those operate. this con“As it stands, a number has fidential list on it, and of persons it’s being really and trulypersons by used to notify or letters. courtesy call that as the I can say toothe corporachairman of to direct tion I am going owing that all personswho are excessive arrears EIGHT SEE PAGE at the end of

DR PERRY GOMEZ $24,498

LESLIE MILLER $42,219

HIGH 91ÂşF LOW 80ÂşF Volume:114

No.215, SEPTEMBER

29TH, 2017

W

THE PEOPLE’S

WEEKE ND:

LED A MAN’S

MEAL

SANDWICH

Incl. VAT

AU

/BURGERKINGNASS

.BS

29, 2017

FOR THE CURE Page 21

Watch the film - every agonising, wrenching, awful second.

Then give up Eugene’s killer

POLICE LAUNCH SIVE FOX HILL OFFEN

boardroom Interview, pages 4&5

DREAM S

HURRICAN

LEADER

E INSURANC

E:

Are you Covered?

Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.

Nobody Does it

safeas well as of homicides DORSETT guarding the residents

By SANCHESKA Reporter in Fox Hill.

Tribune Staff media.net walkabout During a Acting prepared. live national sdorsett@tribune on Tuesday, ROLLE During a Ferguson Commissioner Fox Hill his office

By RASHAD Reporter ACTING Fergu- Commissioner and address from Dr Minnis Tribune Staff dia.net Anti-Gang of Police Anthony yesterday said the Inveslast night, Maria is rrolle@tribuneme Tracing and announced dev- son establishment of two Firearms Unit will operate fore- said: “Hurricane the potentially Bahamas tigation WITH we the DetecMaria another hurricane that separate Royal anti-crime out of the Central the cast for Hurricane Force storm to pass astating monitor.�

(CDU) while projecting the Baha- must carefully Though most Police aimed at eliminating tive Unit SEE PAGE 11 units counHe added: near the Southeast was spared gang activity in the morning, Prime of mas Friday Hubert Minnis of the Bahamas the number try, reducing Minister Dr of those SEE PAGE TWO and is urging residents be vigilant islands to

NT INSURANCE MANAGEME LIMITED. INSURANCE

Woodside.

Photo: Yontalay

Nassau & Bahama

Islands’ Leading

Bowe

VIDEO OF PM’SAT VISIT ONLINE TRIBUNE242.COM

EXUMA ELEUTHERA 242.336.2304 ABACO 242.332.3211 GRAND BAHAMA NEW PROVIDENCE 242.350.3500 242.367.4204 242.394.5555

(BAHAMAS)

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

this Yes I feel for our countries.than I can say.� more ensure has a responsibility one mother said he will Each citizen information Dr Minnis provided to and whatever that forward. medical attention is is pregnant. the composure. said he felt the fam- has we must bring among us.� who after feel live Dr Minnis Mrs Woodside, the grieving and days makes me Three These criminals who emphasised country’s he “You can see of those pushed the ily’s pain. “What through,�

Mrs Minnis, that her appearis that most during murder that violent crime into ROLLE she’s going someI, even worse

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

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

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

Better!

AGENTS BROKERS &

as.com

anagementBaham

Nassau & Bahama

www.InsuranceM

Islands’ Leading

Newspaper

PLP CASUAL HIRES COST EXTRA $10M

MY AG WARNS ECONOR’ IN ‘GRAVE DANGE

799 65 9

Friday, September

Weekend

Living the dream

WHICH FULFIL A JOURN EY

e n u b i r T The TO RESIGN AS PARTY

CHRISTIE ALFRED SEARS URGES

WWW.BURGERKING

PAPER: $1

gardening art theatre music film books fashion food culture RACE

From Andros to the

DAMIAN GOMEZ OBIE $3,413 WILCHCOMBE CLEOLA $4,911 HAMILTON they owed $6,118 list and the amount since that date. disconnect�

BPL “do not made or further debt incurred named on the NINE individualsdo not include any payments July. The sums

PUT SOUTH ISLANDS ON MARIA ALERT

une The eeTrkeibnd A1MAIN

OH, AND THERE’S AN ELITE WATER LIST TOO

s Revealed: Name list and on the eliteowed what they

he told Parto In June, cost the ROLLE such liament of

By RASHAD Bahamians $10,149,738. by the Carib- Tribune Staff Reporter so alarmed Action Task rrolle@tribunemedia.net increases was comes after bean Financial draft The revision more than

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

December Progressive THE Attorneyslammed to begin work on June.

Amid the said between 2017, the criticism May flaws from early eral yesterday

by Liberal Party’sadministrablasted the 2016 and in the nation’s the ballooned Mr Bethel deficiencies adminis- public purse laundering of the of the Minnisof its firings anti-money former Christie to tackle $16,532,738 because because “entirely unacfailing administration’s tion regime as SEE PAGE SIX they had tration for with the Christie public service ceptable�, warning “in great known weaknesses hiring of new that period. during put The Bahamas necessary urgency.

BUSINESS workers danger�. told Trib- FULL STORY - SEE Carl Bethelhe had been une Business

Newspaper

Nassau & Bahama

Islands’ Leading

Newspaper

no master e dogmas of th to r ea sw to The Tribune Being bound The Tribune Tribune The ee OBITS W kend A1MAIN

Established 1903

WEDNESDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 85ÂşF LOW 69ÂşF

A1MAIN

Established 1903

A1MAIN

THURSDAY

VOLUME:114

TRIBUNE EWS ON AKING N 24/7 BRE

i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 84ÂşF LOW 70ÂşF

No.103, APRIL

Biggest And Best!

Fitzgerald sought millions from Baha Mar

CLASSIFIE

242.COM

THE PEOPLE’S

PAPER: $1

E - SEE WOMAN

NLIVEABLE TAKE AND BEAUTY

ed Minister’s repeat contracts requests for ed and deals expos TION

WEEKEN D: SENIOR

DORSETT

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

SIX PAGE SEE

MARSH HARBOUR

HEALTH CENTRE

Friday, June 30, 2017

BAHAMIAN PROJECT Pages 20&21

prom Fashion, pages 14&15

Christie denies claims on spending

S IN THE SPOTLIG

HT AS PROM

SEASON

FORMER PM TELLS OF LAST TALK WITH NOTTAGE

- BUT SOME DEADLINE TODAY DING DISCLOSURES OUTSTAN

$

20

ANY LARGE PIZZA SPECIALTY

(INCL. VAT)

INDULGE YOUR

TASTE BUDS.

LEAD IN MPBA

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

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

RED 170,000 HAVE REGISTE DAY AHEAD OF POLLING

with correctnow engaged the voter ROLLE ing and editing it of its

By RASHAD Reporter register, ridding errors.

Tribune Staff dia.net much-publicised staff to rrolle@tribuneme “We have enough “We 170,000 peo- do this,� Mr Hall said.certiJUST over sure it’s to vote have to make after tople have registered 10 general elec- fied some 14 daysdate.� for the May Comday’s (Tuesday’s) with the tion, Parliamentary Hall said In accordance Elections missioner Sherlyn pubParliamentary yesterday. what he de- Act, Mr Hall will give of This follows election in a “mad rush� notice of the week, statscribed as to vote lic this of newspapers people registering place in conthe last day ing the date, times when on Monday, and registration. 172,000 peo- stituencies papers must be were nomination There to vote in the delivered. ple registeredelection.

SEE PAGE THREE 2012 general Regis The Parliamentary Department istration

ROLLE

By RASHAD Reporter Tribune Staff dia.net rrolle@tribuneme Nottage’s DR Bernard forever be will “footprints the Bahamian etched on landscape� fordevelopmental work as a through his of the Bahamer president of Athletic mas Association the Bahamas the Associations, Medical Association, and as a afMinDoctors’ Union consumer FORMER Prime reminister for health and to accept the ister Perry Christie a defeat, was as I did when I fairs, education, Opposifor it arrears, into pictured yesterday. W. national security, who was in sponsibility response to Photo: Terrel Philip “Brave� airport tenant described recent resigned,� he said in Staff levelled tion Leader as the criticism recent Carey/Tribune from accusations Mr Christie died in Davis said Wednesday. questions on administration spending, misfea- moves made by the government pandering at his administration Nottage, 71, Cleveparty Dr a by irresponsible of WELLS at the a “misstep� thought

By RICARDO Reporter Wednesday He will receive sance and cronyism. that weeks. never any he was “disap- to its base. acceptmaintained Tribune Staff edia.net “There was land Clinic.

He also said allegations being in arrangethat I was degree relating Mr Christie by the rwells@tribunem gova state funeral announced, documents would on my part for any Per- pointed�around by the new be a review of irrements to Prime Minister tossed matters that to these two controversies of any ing responsibility the press secof criminality,notion FORMER according to Office of the term as administration much whatsoever and the yesterday condemned ernment concerning his last his the spending that Christie absolve for ry retary and prove as noth- sponsible Minnis administra- transpired during Anthony is bare’ is just is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in Prime Minister, that ‘the cupboard prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric slogans.� tion to portray as he challenged Newbold. “political political slogans.�

Hitting back Minnis adminislight, SEE PAGE SIX ing more than challenges I have SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a of the the controvergovernof the members “One of the the nation’s who led the $8m to examination tration concerning of more thanclean up as the person led the government “dispassionate out pay sial and who record�. interview at one vendor for hurricane to an ment off of $1.2m During a lengthy home on Thursand the write his Cable Beach defended his day, Mr Christie

OPENS AT LAST

ORS TAKE THE

ter Prime Minis rings the bellrace for election

IS • FORMER PM BY DAVIS TRIBUTE TO LEGACY OF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ E FNM ALLEGATIONS COLLEAGU • SAYS GOVT DID NOTHING WRONG OVER $8M PAYOUT • CALLS FOR REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS

be abandoned.

it must Hurriis so devastated the island as Ragged Island remained on “Every home has Minnis warns with those who last week. destroyed. The Minister Dr Hubert Rag- discussion battered their homes has been has been health facility on storm-stricken Min- cane Irma Prime teachers’ residence no water. destroyed. The and safety conditions to deteriorate, urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is no light. There is HEALTH he smell the school will only continue destroyed. There about, you can yesterday as The in the afterged Island Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animals. deister Dr Hubert on the island reduced will stench of dead of the individuals remaining residentsIrma, which has them REPORT that we get of rubble and SPECIAL health conditions Russell, math of Hurricane it’s essential there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey teriorate and Dr Minnis said. most structures the only Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis off this island,� reluctant to leave for rendered the stay here,� saw for the understandablyhome, expressing concern “They cannot as Many were and a delegation and days ever known through said after he damage left by Irma place they’ve hurricane ripped of their residences, first time the Five monster will have about the safety personal belongings. behind. We by the smell after the Category island. “They are concerned may have lefthere and the Defence exacerbated of all esmaterials they the small southern same physical condition, dispatch a vessel and at the the destruction still whatever The island’s carcasses andto strongly urge those can the Defence Forcecommence the cleanup said. animal Minnis to Dr try rotting Minnis of led Dr Force will that there is security,� small community SEE PAGE THREE sential services, to leave until the time ensure Island has been on Ragged Ragged Island and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following Dr devastated,�

ARRIVE S

WELLS

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

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

ROBERTS: PEET A ‘POLITICAL ENEMY’ FOR ANDROS BID

SPECIAL INVESTIGA

IT’S MAY 10

PAPER: $1

Weekend

30th, 2017

Picture perfect

AU

/BURGERKINGNASS

Nassau & Bahama

Islands’ Leading

Newspaper SHOPPING CENTRE

& PRINCE CHARLES ssau.com SAUNDERS BEACH | www.pizzahutna TEL: 603-3333

DECEMBER

Monday,

March

12, 2012

N A I R G B A

E R N D F I

-%

Čą

tuition school

Ĺš ˜•Â? ÂŠÂœÂ‘Čą Â?Â&#x;Š—ŒŽ $" ) (0 ÂŠÂœÂœÂŠÂžČąÇ›Ĺ—Čą ž¢Ž› Â’Â?‘ȹ žŠ—Â?Â’Â?¢ Š—”

Ç›ČąĹœĹ?ĹœČŹĹšĹ–Ĺ™Ĺ˜

ž•ěȹ Â?ȹǭȹ ŠœÂ?Čą Â? ˜ŒŠÂ?ÂŽÂ?ǹȹ ÂŽÂĄÂ?Čą Â˜Â˜Â›ČąÂ?Â˜Čą Œ˜Â?’Šȹ

ADS

328-0002

SELL! / 502-2351

(Family Islands

$1.50)

CARS! CARS! CLASSIFIEDS

TRADER

AT

STARTING

$25

ch ‘We will still marion’ without permiss Henfield revealed of back ganiser Ranard several weeks that “after he Cabinet Office on

HIGH 90ÂşF LOW 82ÂşF VOLUME:114

ALS

HOU

$1

AND HO SE

Y, H

WEEKEND BLOODBATH Six shot dead in 48 hours including boy aged 15

even as planned� same route permis-

i’m lovin’ it!

RT

for rent

PHOTO Call today

UN ON TRIB G NEWS

Biggest And Best!

AKIN 24/7 BRE

13th, 2017

S&

observed would be the holiday date of the historic the PLP month that the 50th on the actual January 10. nounced last to mark event, Tuesday, in the public holiRule. planned a march The change perceived of Majority anniversary development is yet day calendar has beenby the govThis latest the organithe y as an attempt

BROWN

By SANCHESKA Reporter Tribune Staff media.net sdorsett@tribune are dead, SIX people ju15-year-old including a another man is venile, and his life in hosfighting for four separate pital after in less shooting incidents in the capital. than 48 hours took the The homicides count to country’s murder 43 days of the 26 for the first to The new year, according Tribune’s records. an isPolice launchedlast night of land-wide search suspected for two men dead in Yelthe shooting a man Gardens in Elder low latest incident.bloody weekDespite the Commisend, Assistant Police Stephen sioner of “hundreds� of Dean said patrolwere police officers over the past ling the streetseffort to keep an few days in well as visitors the public as safe. officer-ineanwhile -

XX X X X

The Tribune

HIGH 81ÂşF LOW 69ÂşF VOLUME:114

By AVA TURNQUEST Reporter Tribune Chief nemedia.net aturnquest@tribu Bahamas Bar FORMER President ElsAssociation yesterday worth Johnsoncalls for Bajoined activistorganise prohamians to resistance tests and public tabled Inters to the recently he ception of Communication 2017, which Bill (ICB) spying called “dangerous� legislation. who was Mr Johnson, week as the ratified last Movement’s Free National Yamacraw, for pubcandidate the level of bill, questioned on the lic consultationthat it imunderscoring entrenched pacted deeply SEE PAGE SIX

X

X

XX XX

UN ON TRIB G NEWS

Biggest And Best!

AKIN 24/7 BRE

TURNQUEST: CHANGES TO MONTAGU ARE SHAMELESS

By AVA TURNQUEST Reporter Tribune Chief nemedia.net aturnquest@tribu MoveFREE National Leader Peter ment Deputyyesterday acTurnquest government of cused the gerrymander“shameless recently tabled he ing� over changes that boundary the “deliberclaims affect of middle ate elimination from the forclass areas� constituency. mer Montagu with The In an interview characterised Tribune he boundary and the proposed a “desperate changes as emoattempt to the perverted� tionally manipulate electorate.

SEE PAGE 11

EQUIPMENT OR

WOMAN

Top cop and PMe divided on crim ION: AUTHOR

UNVEILS

Greenslade: Bahamas isis not in cris

� certain neighbourhoods do so DORSETT and the suggestion to no

By SANCHESKA and makes Reporter is “emotional Tribune Staff media.net sense�. came sdorsett@tribune His comments rethe country after the country DESPITE homicides in hours its 27th homicide for of corded Seven people have recording 13 the year.

13 days, Commissioner Greenslade been killed since Friday. afternoon, Police Ellison is not in a On Monday said the Bahamas and the reported that “crisis� police also outside a state of can conwas stabbed Nassau on day man average Bahamian about their the an establishment men were tinue to “go two without Street while in the area of as normal day� attacked. shot while victims fear of being conference Ross Corner. These stable on At a press to be in of were said in hospital. at police headquarters a weekend Monday afterCommissioner condition Commissioner it is simso“carnage�, said said the only for people Greenslade country’s crime Greenslade enough not lution to the “keep prolific ply finger at the to to “point the crisis� problem is bars�. He in times of their offenders behind Bahamas police to “manage not yet refuse said the Royal (RBPF) is SEE PAGE THREE Police Force implementing sidering n

- SEE SELF-HE LP BOOK

Christie: It’s like the Wild West

to “fully undo much more senseless set derstand this and have law

By NICO SCAVELLA Reporter of killings,� respond “as Tribune Staff emedia.net enforcement and in nscavella@tribun as possible� in Perry quickly meaningful way�

PRIME Ministerlikened a “very fighting efforts. their crime Mr ChrisChristie yesterday crime situThese efforts,would likely the Bahamas’“Wild West,� suggested, a “subation to the recent wave tie dedicating the as he said in the capital include number of officstreets of of murders a “major� and stantial� to patrol the and simust solicit effort by his ers New Providence them “continuous� to “flood multaneously giving in to interdict administration with officers “the capacity of people the streets� that is necesmovements incorporata bid to do “all this madness the on the streets,� police ofsary to bring ing more reserve to a halt�. speaking and “if necessary�

Mr Christie, yesterday, ficers, Royal Bahamarines with reporters occur- incorporating Force mas Defence said the “madness� to gang activity in policing efforts. said he ring is due also Mr Christie with and retaliation. past bloody be speaking He said the a “shocking would SEE PAGE THREE weekend is that will reto development� at a press quire the government Staff Greenslade speaking of Police Ellison Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Photo: COMMISSIONER conference yesterday.

Act, Chapter Suppression fficking.

OXER ON RAPE,

6TH, No.72, MARCH

UNE ON TRIB G NEWS

242.COM

Biggest And Best!

AKIN 24/7 BRE

2017

RT

AND HO SE

S TRAFFICKING CHARGE

$1

Y, H O E S & R M

Fleeing the fire

INSIGH T: CHRIST $1

14th, 2017

FIGHTIN G DEPRESS

‘DANGER SPYING BILL

X

No.58, FEBRUARY

M E242.CO

R

7 OME Insight, page CALL FOR ing you - see Perry is watch RESISTANCE TO Big Brother OUS’ PRICE – $1

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Cars For Sale Real Estate Help Wanted Rental Ads and much, much more...

TheTribune

Tra

S M A H A B A

help wanted

WATER CORP

29, 2016 sifieds Clas der

carssale for

THURSDAY,

real estate

Biggest And

DEAL - SEE BUSINESS

No.57, FEBRUARY

i’m lovin’ it!

Newspaper

ENT

VOLUME:114

Islands’ Leading

Established 1903

TUESDAY

M E242.CO

E

Paper The People’sBest!

Newspaper

E

HIGH 90ÂşF LOW 82ÂşF

42.COM BUNE2 ON TRI NE WS L ATEST

OVER CHIEF’S ANGER

Islands’ Leading

The Tribune PROP

Newspaper

Nassau & Bahama

A1MAIN

PROP

82ÂşF 69ÂşF

MOSTLY SUNNY

Rolle.

ME

The Tribune A1MAIN

i’m lovin’ it!

i’m lovin’ it!

from Jamaal

Established 1903

.BS

A1MAIN

me: 113 No.27

in this cartoon

A1MAIN

SANDWICH

Incl. VAT

The Tribune

UNIONS MILLER BLASTS

ARCHER PLP IS OMAR CONVICTED ARCHDEACON SAYS ITS LIFE’ OVER THREATS ‘FIGHTING FOR

way - as pictured

Nassau & Bahama

MONDAY

MEAL

65 9

Established 1903

Islands’ Leading

race is under

MINNIS CALLS FOR ON DECK ALL HANDS VIRGIL

OVER BPL BANNISTER WORRIES THE LIGHTS ON ABILITY TO KEEP

energy. solar, to produce of agreeof Works The heads the governMINISTER said challenges, Desmond Bannister ment requires to “address concerns� pressed certain and BPL delayed today marks which he suggestedof docu- he has “serious Power and ment and consistent WHILE with Bahamas to “keep the reliable of electricity on the for both sitsubmission the deadlineformer parlia- the tell- supply Providence, Light’s ability are chal- lights on this summer,� of island of New ting and to file financial ments. the abiliAmong these the lack will include finanmentarians Public Discloing The Tribuneprevent the whichmeet the requirements with obtaining may ty to disclosures, Chair- lenges from spouses, cial records in situations reliability from fulfilling of the project.� sure Commission the instalLaroda told requireoper- government This involves supporting man Myles yesterday that particularly Mar all the necessary they may have all lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha necessary to ated there were He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructure that SEE PAGE FIVE are “outstanding�.yesterday, to marriage. some unwillingHe added at new, alIn an interview in his dis- was also and apprehension ready “looking including said ways,�

Mr Laroda some persons ness SEE PAGE THREE ternative with cussions to make who are required they exthe disclosures,

799

WWW.BURGERKING

MONDAY Nassau & Bahama

THE ELECTION

host Deal� with LAMECH JOHNSON “The Real Reporter

By KHRISNA Reporter Archdea- By BROWN Tribune Staff media.net Ortland Bodie, Deputy Chief edia.net

By SANCHESKA said this elecReporter con Palacious “difficult� for ljohnson@tribune kvirgil@tribunem Tribune Staff media.net Sr was tion will be and the FNM Move- sdorsett@tribune of OMAR Archer both the PLP is no FREE National Dr Hubert Archdea- and at this point there how yesterday convicteda senment Leader to harm ANGLICAN gauge said said the threatening way to “properlygo.�

Minnis yesterday“all hands con James Palacious officer through need that the Progres- the results will came one ior police his social media FNM will vote the Pro- yesterday Party appears a post to two years ago.

His comments on deck� to Party gov- sive Liberal its life�

Deputy Prime nearly he to be “fighting for neither day after Phillip “Brave� page 45-year-old Nassau gressive Liberal of office as that The ernment out Day, May and predicted party nor the Ministerpredicted that the Village resident appeared Davis heralded Election seats in the SEE PAGE SEVEN Movement that will bring the governing will win 30 10, as a day Free Nationalseats in next PLP SEE PAGE TWO 30 change. spoke dur- will wingeneral election. at month’s Dr Minnis on conference as a guest ing a press Appearing SEE PAGE THREE

WIPEOUT: Prime

ME

ib is ck!

SEE LEAKED EMAILS INSIDE

W1WEEKEND

THE PEOPLE’S

entertainment puzzles film fashion gardening art books theatre

No.152, JUNE

Seniors go big for

A TRIBUNE medical treatment.

E Liberal were obtaineda from a ther’s PROGRESSIV Bradley The emails EMAILS leaked following of China Con- by The Tribune Party Chairmanout at his highdata breach (CCA) Roberts lashed story in December of CCA struction America’s colleague Vinthat from the breach former party night, accusservers show2013, Jerome lighting by a San Francisco cent Peet last North Anto servers China Construction as early as was seeking ing the former Islands MP hacker.

Fitzgerald of dollars eventually paid 24 bitcoins dros and Berry enemy� $24,000) secure millions trucking, and (the equivalent of of being a “political an independin brokerage, to their servat Baha who mounted because he to have access it aplimousine contracts showing a resat in Cabinet ers restored; however, ent campaigna nomination forwarded leaked emails Mar while he of Educathat emails ONE of the Education, Sciwas denied party.

Minister of as the Minister and Tech- pears relating to personnel quest from or Jerome Fitzgerald. from the governing tion, Science Tribune has to, to PLP supcompromised, ence and Technology Speaking at CCA were in The nology, The a rally in North officials at Baha porters at night, Mr Robagent for Limolink despite top they were not learned. which his Bahamas. You are encourcontradict the saying at from Andros last is war� as faThe emails this week de- Mar clientele with a reference by the hack if erts said “this writes, “I limousine company was vote who aged to get concerned of Viacom Minister, the crowd toPerry Mr Fitzgerald mahis office to time. the president feel free he urged Dr nied ever using to himself the an email dated May 18, am aware that interior arrive miliar. with regard the you wish. Please In for incumbent that a vote “Also Izmirlian terials have began to really we direct contracts me personally adding business from the mul- 2013, sent to Mr the to contact with contact Gomez, hotel. I would or his family resort. is a vote for be limousine meet with or have your agents Mr Fitzgerald, Cur- for the for Mr Peet Movement. it if we couldbro- are ready to he ti-billion dollar - the Pro- by our Managing Porter, Shelly appreciate anytime,�

Free National Mr Porter Mr Fitzgerald Party MP QuentinAlarice Fill copied, appointed your official your people SEE PAGE SIX his Director directly.� tis and 1st 2013.� writes. gressive Liberal we really ker for June - appears also Mr Fitzgerald indicates a request TWO & THREE “As indicated cusSEE PAGES for Marathon start brokerage $20,000 He then makesfor limouto highend for readiness to only cater to be requesting official Baha Mar’s and trucking services and of Mr Izmirlian Baha Mar, tomers and are the project a month from Sarkis services at Baha Mar re- sine touted the level of original developer the ex- the brokers of he as the citing Izmirlian, were necessary remain for the property. penses that cost of his fa- cord to cover the Healthcare hisMarsh Harbour a tortured ROLLE Centre has missed deadBy RASHAD Reporter of tory, one of shoddy Tribune Staff dia.net lines and claimsall without rrolle@tribuneme of- workmanship, T accountability.

GOVERNMEN the any clear facility’s original The ficials commissioned Healthwent bankrupt. the Harbour contractor of Marsh in Abaco yesConstruction care Centre centre began it as a longIngraham terday, touting to the island healthcare under the former awaited boost adminisin and the Christie Health administration.

Christie adhealth centre When the Staff tours the new tration’s National came to power, RASPBERRY Perry Christie the W. Carey/Tribune Insurance plans. and Ado- ministration renovating Photo: Terrel ICED TEA PRIME Minister it spent $1m Like the Child SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday.

Robert Smith lescent and that was (CARS) Complex last year, the commissioned

HURSDAY

GH W

ON THE UNIVERS

Volume:114

FIREFIGHTERS TACKLE MAJOR NEW BLAZE AT LANDFILL

HOU

UNE ON TRIB G NEWS

Biggest And Best!

, CARS & TECH

PAPER: $1

SERIES CHAMPI ONSHIP

ALS

AKIN 24/7 BRE

HIGH 92ÂşF LOW 79ÂşF

OFFICIAL SOURCE

INSIDE

, CARS D TRADER: CARS

THE PEOPLE’S

12TH, 2017

SPORTS : REGULAT

i’m lovin’ it!

$1

20TH, 2017

Established 1903

No.99, APRIL

242.COM

ENT

he Tribune

VOLUME:114

A1MAIN

FRIDAY

242.COM

UNE ON TRIB G NEWS

Biggest And Best!

AKIN 24/7 BRE

IE FIDDLES

BURNS WHILE NASSAU

- PAGE SEVEN

ed to leave Residents forc c fumes to escape toxi

ManEmergency actiThe National after they agement Agency (NEMA) the police management cations with from entering the vated its emergency evacuation and an DORSETT were blocked at the Kenplan yesterday

By SANCHESKA Reporter area. were also shelter was established at the Tribune Staff media.net Several persons with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymnasium Centre sdorsett@tribune to the hospital Elizabeth Sports during Gar- rushed on Queen as a shelter in Jubilee tory complaints.

Tribune arrivedwere which was used - for displaced RESIDENTS to evacuate their When The residents last hurricane dens were forced after a massive the scene, several as the the believed on their roofs,homes. residents. landfill homes yesterday the dump is smaller Providence pouring water their a The fire at fire at the Newcommunity in thick, blaze grew closer to started by for Tall to have been Road.

Parliament blanketed the smoke.

Member of Miller was also assist- bush fire off Fire Trail black hazardous the Royal Bahamas Pines Leslie in hosing down their TWO AND THREE entrance Members of SEE PAGES blocked the visibility ing residentsproviding transportaPolice Force as homes and who needed help. residents to the subdivision those for Angry tion zero. dropped to in verbal alterbecame involved fire off Fire a smaller bush to the city after a spread have ed by Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee Gardens yesterday Fire Trail Road. fire the smoke in Jubilee the Free National The areas in prevent in bushes off to dump. flees from the DORSETT YOUNGSTER done enough the New Providence Gardens and surrounding landfill that started at and threatened A at the New Providence to evacuate their homes. Hanna/Tribune Staff

By SANCHESKA Reporter quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke officials fire were asked Photos: Shawn Tribune Staff media.net prompting issues.

Landfill that Many residents several homes, sdorsett@tribune to develop respiratory SEE PAGE THREE came as a masJubi- them owners in Their comments at the landfill, raging ANGRY home was startyesterday expressed sive fire was lee Gardens concern that neither which officials believe nor disgust and Liberal Party the Progressive had any redespite not having many purchase WELLS sponse to his Mar’s former

By RICARDO offers, as Baha Izmirlian said cases of im- Tribune Staff Reporter edia.net enced alleged developer, Mr “stands ready, officials solicitROLLE migration from migrants rwells@tribunem

By RASHAD Reporter his company buy Baha developer ing bribes and able to Tribune Staff dia.net beatings of THE originalMar resort willing complete it and alleged prisoners in today and Bahamian rrolle@tribuneme and of the Baha the resort’s Mar with immediately day said n cones has migrants

ANGER AT FAILURE

LL BLAZES TO PREVENT LANDFI

AS S DESERVES BETTER’ DATE STALLS ‘INTIMIDATE’ ‘BAHAMA GOVT EFFORTS TO IN REPORT BAHA MAR OPENING ACTIVISTS SLAMMED

PAGE 8, Friday, January 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Another timely lesson from the US on marijuana AS OUR National Commission on the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana is now operating at a breakneck pace, to legalise and decriminalise marijuana, both medicinally and recreationally, on the heels of Prime Minister Minnis’ endorsing the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana in the Bahamas.

(Obviously other nations got the memo in regards to this billion dollar global industry, eons ago, but I’m glad we are finally in the race).

Moving forward here’s some very interesting news from Florida, in regards to legalisation and decriminalisation, and enforcing the law moving forward in regards to marijuana possession in Florida.

I suggest we study it as a nation, especially where it can benefit us as a nation.

Now in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, marijuana possession cases will no longer be prosecuted in Tallahassee, and the surrounding areas.

Jack Campbell, the State Attorney for Florida’s 2nd

Judicial Circuit, informed law enforcement agencies that the difficulty in easily differentiating hemp and marijuana led to the decision.

The action was taken in response to the legalisation of hemp in Florida earlier last year and at the federal level with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

SPITTING IMAGE : Campbell also reminded the local media, “Hemp products look and smell exactly like marijuana products.”

“And while they may seem to be made from marijuana based on their smell or appearance, there isn’t a way to tell without sophisticated laboratory analysis.”

Campbell, whose biggest concern was wrongful arrests, said that his office would no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases due to the difficulty of differentiation, regarding illegal marijuana and illegal hemp.

“Until such time, that a scientifically proven test, that can be introduced into evidence, that can

distinguish illegal marijuana from legal hemp, is available, we will no longer prosecute marijuana possession cases.”

NOT BY ALONE :

SMELL

Additionally, Campbell also informed all police departments and sheriff’s departments in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, that his office would no longer authorise search warrants based on field tests for THC, the smell of marijuana, or an alert from drug-detecting dogs.

“Much of the search and seizure law hinges on either the officer’s or K-9’s ability to smell. This seems to now be in significant doubt.”

Considering the prevalence and popularity of both, Indian Hemp and Sinsemilla (Marijuana strain) in the Bahamas.

Tallahassee’s approach and plan, offers several viable options for us to examine and potentially implement in our national plan, for an effective, a successful legalisation and decriminalisation process.

‘POLICE COMMISSIONER IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES’

AFTER correctional officers threatened to “revolt” over long standing issues and victimisation they allege has come from the actions of Commissioner Charles Murphy, readers responded on tribune242.com.

Clamshell said: “Agree.

I don’t care what a criminal has done, if he’s locked up in a supposedly civilised nation, he deserves at minimum a toilet that flushes.

We can’t achieve this?

Really? It doesn’t even require electricity, which we can’t guarantee, either.

So, so sad.”

Well_mudda_take_sic had this to say: “Commissioner Murphy is doing an excellent job in the most difficult of circumstances.

Those who complain about him conducting frequent walkabouts and transfers of officers should know that

he is on to some of them and their corrupt activities within the prison system involving the trading of contraband items with prisoners. Keep up the good work Commissioner Murphy.”

Tribune Business reported that Bahamian retailers fear losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in plastic bags they cannot sell when the full ban takes effect on June 30, prompting this comment from Watcher: “I can’t be the only one who saw the writing on the wall ages ago, and started to save my plastic bags

for such a contingency. I reckon I have a good few years to go until I run out of my stockpile. No doubt many people are doing the same, which is why sales are sluggish.

Next step - Government will say it’s against the law for citizens to own their own plastic bags, forcing us to buy the re-usable ones and Mr Roberts will get his money, even if it is belatedly.”

And Economist had this to say: “Haven’t heard any complaints. Seems that the large majority of us understand the reason for the plastic ban and are supporting it. Ours is a beautiful country and though we don’t always show it, we do love and care for it.”

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

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 17, 2020, PAGE 9

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Entrance Examination

SENATOR Jamal Moss was guest speaker, presenting on the topic of ‘Majority Rule’ at Sandilands Primary School’s Special Assembly earlier this week. The programme commemorated Majority Rule Day under the theme, “The Price of Freedom,” and was a celebration of prayer, scripture reading, poems, tribute, skit, and choir selections.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS

Temple Christian High School will hold its Third Entrance Examination on Saturday January 18, 2020 at the school on Shirley Street from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon for students wishing to enter grades 7, 8, 9 and 10 Application forms are available at the High School Office. The application fee is twenty-five dollars ($25). Application forms should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, January 17, 2020

For further information, please call telephone number: 394-4481/394-4484

PAGE 10, Friday, January 17, 2020

H

ERE comes a group of women, all belonging to the same church.

There’s something awry about their shape so you wonder if it has to do with their particular form of worship or was it what they served after Sunday School?

It’s so bizarre that even though you usually refrain from staring at other women’s breasts lest they get the creepy impression that you lust after them which couldn’t be further from the truth, you can’t help yourself. You are glued to their fronts. There is definitely something going on here.

And then it hits you.

They went to the food store AFTER church, found out that plastic bags cost 25 cents, said no way and valiantly proceeded to bag their own groceries in what they had at hand, pocketbooks, pockets and that ever useful piece of clothing that normally holds breasts above the waistline, bras. Amazingly, some of them, the better endowed, were able to cart home all the soda cans and bottles of juice just by jamming them down the handy, helpful bra.

Mystery solved but still you can’t help but stare.

Is this really what strong, powerful Bahamian womankind has been reduced to, stuffing foodstuffs into brassieres, losing face to save a quarter? I don’t know whether to admire or admonish them and then I realise, it’s not their fault.

The whole bag charge thing just took them by surprise.

In a way, it is hard to believe the grocery bag issue has blown up as big as it has given the state of the world - what with Harry and Meghan dropping royal duties, Trump continuing to embarrass the US while playing to a base that believes he can do no wrong and Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek fighting pancreatic cancer.

Then, of course, there is the aftermath of Dorian but for now the 25-cent grocery

THE TRIBUNE

If your hands are full, what else can a girl do? bag is the 800lb elephant in the room and it never had to be that way.

Lots of places have banned single-use plastics.

The UK did it in 2015 and I’m told that compliance was almost immediate. Of course, the cost of plastic bags, if you wanted to go that way, was considerably less, five pence which is either a penny or less than a dime. Math is not my strong point especially when it comes to calculating conversion. Antigua and Barbuda banned single use plastic the following year, 2016. China, Romania, Senegal, Colombia, South Korea have all banned it. Do you see Chinese women stuffing bottles down their bras? No, but then they would have to be pretty small bottles.

So while I am first to admit the campaign could have been handled much better by partnering with those businesses that use single-use plastics including grocery stores, restaurants, lounges and more, and by

demonstrating the pain and suffering plastic abuse causes wildlife and marine life and what it does to the environment long-term, I say the intention was definitely right.

It’s not too late to adjust the price or to amend the campaign to include the reasons why, nor is it too late to begin forging partnerships, but it is too late to turn back. The prime minister and others who say there is no going back are absolutely right. Don’t confuse the p’s – plastics and politics. This is not about electability. It is about survival of the planet and the life that depends upon it.

So congratulate the Minister of Environment for his strong stance and all those who have the courage to stand up for what’s right for the earth – and then, please, get on with fixing the campaign lest breast-feeding take on new meaning and men decide there’s a place they can lug home groceries, too. If I stare at that, please forgive me.

IT is hard to believe the grocery bag issue has blown up as big as it has given the state of the world.

WATCH OUT FOR THE LADIES IN THE HOT PINK GEAR Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend and Marathon Bahamas celebrate 10 years with the coming weekend’s activities, including a 26.2-mile full marathon which organisers call the premier endurance event in

The Bahamas. There are others including Race for Pompey in Exuma and the Conchman Triathlon in Grand Bahama that may be equally physically challenging but none has ever equaled the kind of attention,

sponsorship or funds that Susan G Komen Race for the Cure has.

With participants from 31 countries registered, the events on Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19 will showcase not just the beauty of The Bahamas to people

from around the world, but the heart and stamina of the people in a country beset by record high and heartbreaking rates of breast cancer. Hats and pink tutus off to the whole team at Sunshine Insurance who started this event, helped

raise more than $400,000 over the years and expend so much energy every year making it a success.

Team Diane Phillips & Associates will be on the course in full gear. Watch out for the ladies in hot pink!

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, January 17, 2020, PAGE 11

3,000 HOMES ASSESSED FOR HURRICANE DAMAGE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

OVER 3,000 homes have been assessed for hurricane damage to date by the Department Social Services on Grand Bahama.

Assistant Director of Social Services Paula Marshall revealed on Wednesday that the department has completed 3,050 home assessments on the island.

In early February, the government expects to launch its home repair programme to assist homeowners that sustained

damage during Hurricane Dorian in early September. Only those who have been assessed by Social Services will be included on the list for the home repair programme.

At a press conference held at the Disaster Reconstruction Authority, Katherine Smith, managing director of the Authority, said the agency will be coordinating home repair efforts with both international and local NGOs on the island to maximise coverage.

She indicated that there are still a lot of people in the community who have not

been assessed for whatever reason. She said those people should go the Department of Social Services.

According to Mrs Marshall, the department is still completing assessment applications between the hours of 9am to 2pm at the island’s National Insurance Board building, where due to limited space they are only able to accommodate about 30 to 40 applicants daily.

However, she said officials will be relocating to their regular office space in the Sun Plaza on West Settler’s Way on Monday,

January 20, where they will be able to accommodate more persons.

Mrs Smith stated that the Authority plans to utilise a voucher system for the home repair programme, and is now meeting with a number of local vendors to provide goods and services on the island.

“Because 70 percent of the island was underwater, we do not want to restrict vouchers to just building supplies as people lost appliances, furniture, and bedding, and we are trying to make sure people can get the help they need.”

Mrs Smith explained that the Authority also plans to meet with all NGOs who are also doing home repairs on the island.

“What the Authority is attempting to do is organise as best we can all of the home repair programme projects going on by all international NGOs, and churches as well.

“We believe if we do not coordinate the home repair programme properly, we may find a situation where some are receiving much more help and others no help at all, she said.

Additional assistance

is being offered by the Department of Social Services for victims of the storm.

Mrs Marshall said that hurricane victims who have been able to get back in their homes and apartments can receive assistance with furniture and appliances—strictly for refrigerators, stoves, and microwaves.

“Government has also made the decision to assist with beds,” she added.

“This assistance is for hurricane victims, and persons who we have assessed will benefit from this.”

I’m pleased but we could do better, says Turnquest A ROAD cuts through the rubble of homes that belong to the same family, destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in Rocky Creek, East End, Grand Bahama.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister Peter Turnquest is generally pleased with relief distribution in Grand Bahama but admits that a “better job can be done” concerning the dispersal of building materials to residents in East End. “It is taking longer than we are like, and we are all impatient with respect to getting it done as urgently as we like,” the East Grand Bahama MP said during a recent interview.

“But, nonetheless, we are just grateful we are reaching that day where we will

start to see dollars put in people’s hands to be able to do what they need to do.”

East End was the hardest hit area of Grand Bahama

by Hurricane Dorian in early September. Although there has been some debris removal and road access restored, the area is still in need of massive clean-up and restoration.

When The Tribune visited the area on Saturday, the devastation was still evident – there we were lots of damaged structures and homes, and many downed utility poles.

When asked how he felt about the progress of restoration efforts in East Grand Bahama, Mr Turnquest

DPM Peter Turnquest said: “Some areas are progressing quicker than others due to equipment and resources that individual contractors may have, but I think all are making progress. We have added resources to some of the areas to quicken the pace and we will see some

noticeable differences in terms of clean-up.”

Concerning the removal of debris from private properties, the MP said officials need “the partnership and cooperation” of homeowners to take down structures to remove debris from those individual properties.

“Again, we are making progress and this is a long process, unfortunately. It does take a lot of effort and resources, and equipment.

“Generally speaking, yes, I am pleased with relief distribution on Grand Bahama, but believe that we can do a better job in getting building materials to those who are prepared to receive it.

DARVILLE ADDS HIS VOICE TO OPPOSE CHARGING SHOPPERS FOR PLASTIC BAGS

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

SAVE the Bays Chairman Joseph Darville has joined the chorus of people calling on the government to abandon the 25 cents to $1 fee merchants are mandated to charge customers for single-use plastic bags.

The environmentalist said while he supports the new plastic ban, the government should abandon the fee and create a more effective way to encourage the public to embrace the initiative.

Mr Darville, pictured, told The Tribune he believes shoppers should be given plastic bags free of charge until retailers “run out of stock”. This, he said, would give customers sufficient time to purchase reusable bags.

Under the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act, businesses can possess and sell the banned plastic bags for a fee until June 30. The fee is meant to be

a deterrent, spurring residents from using single-use plastic items. The Ministry of Environment began an awareness campaign about the new law — which came into effect on January 1 — in early 2018. “Plain and simple, the plastic ban is a good thing but I think it’s wrong for people to be charged 25 cents for a bag,” he said. “If you go to a grocery store right now and you have enough groceries that would require four of those plastic bags, that’s a dollar. A lot of people cannot afford that.

“I stood in line in a grocery store in Freeport just the other day and this woman almost cried because she was buying for her whole family and she had to pay 25 cents for every bag. And so I gave her some assistance just to take the stuff out in my arms because I too was not going to pay 25 cents for a bag.”

Stating that he did not

understand the logic behind the charge, Mr Darville said he does not believe the additional 25 cents will “create a sense of awareness” in the public that would promote the importance of sustainability.

“There’s got to be a more just and equitable and also reasonable and sensible way to go about it,” he insisted. “Older ladies can hardly pay for the groceries that they have on the belt now. They cannot afford to add another 25 cents depending on how many bags they have.”

When asked what he believed would be a more effective way to enforce the plastic ban, Mr Darville said it would be better for stores to go back to using paper bags. He also said it should be “obligatory” for supermarkets to provide containers for shoppers with large grocery purchases.

Ministry of Environment

officials have said they are not encouraging people to use paper bags, which lead to deforestation and create waste, but reusable bags.

Mr Darville also said: “It isn’t wise logic in that whole process as far as I can see.

If you’re going to charge them, then have a reasonable price on reusable (and) biodegradable bags and then charge a minimum fee.”

Mr Darville also said the government should consider manufacturing biodegradable plastics.

He added: “I saw some really angry people in the food store recently and (the 25 cents charge) is going to leave a really bad taste in people’s minds and hearts and they’re just going to have a hostile view towards the whole thing moving towards getting rid of plastics period.”

The new law also banned Styrofoam, single-use plastic utensils and straws as well as the release of balloons into the atmosphere.

“We need to get the labour component up and going because while some properties may be prepared and ready to receive materials, they have no ability to actually do the construction that needs to happen.”

Mr Turnquest said that the government programme will come on stream very shortly and would provide “tangible” assistance to affected residents.

“We anticipate according to the minister (Iram Lewis) that on February 1, the assistance programme should be rolled out, and that should make a tangible difference in getting materials on the roofs and walls, and put people back

into their homes,” Mr Turnquest, minister of finance, said.

On the airport, Mr Turnquest said discussions are being held while the temporary facility is up and receiving international flights.

“As to the wider development, the government is having discussions with Hutchison (Whampoa) about the future of the airport and what that may look like, and how that partnership will look at the end of the day,” he said.

Grand Bahama International Airport sustained severe flood damage and was destroyed as a result of storm surge in early September.

PAGE 12, Friday, January 17, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

SEVEN KILLED, 14 TORTURED IN EXORCISM TERROR RITUALS PANAMA CITY Associated Press

SEVEN people were killed in a bizarre religious ritual in a jungle community in Panama, in which indigenous residents were rounded up by about 10 lay preachers and tortured, beaten, burned and hacked with machetes to make them “repent their sins,” authorities said yesterday.

Police freed 14 members of the Ngabé Buglé indigenous group who had been tied up and beaten with wooden cudgels and Bibles.

Local prosecutor Rafael Baloyes described a chilling scene

found by investigators when they made their way through the jungle-clad hills to the remote Ngabé Buglé indigenous community near the Caribbean coast.

Alerted by three villagers who escaped and made their way to a local hospital for treatment earlier, police were prepared for something bad, Baloyes said, but were still surprised by what they discovered at an improvised “church” at a ranch where a little-known religious sect known as “The New Light of God” was operating.

“They were performing a ritual inside the structure. In that

ritual, there were people being held against their will, being mistreated,” Baloyes said.

“All of these rites were aimed at killing them if they did not repent their sins,” he said. “There was a naked person, a woman,” inside the building, where investigators found machetes, knives and a ritually sacrificed goat, he said.

The rites had been going on since Saturday, and had already resulted in deaths, Baloyes said.

About a mile away from the church building, authorities found a freshly dug grave with the corpses of six children and one adult. The dead included

five children as young as a year old, their pregnant mother and a 17-year-old female neighbour.

“They searched this family out to hold a ritual and they massacred them, mistreated them, killed practically the whole family,” Baloyes said, adding that one of the suspects in the killing is the grandfather of the children who were slain.

All the victims, and apparently all the suspects, were members of the same indigenous community.

Ricardo Miranda, leader of the Ngabé Buglé semi-autonomous zone known as a Comarca, called the sect “satanic” and said it went

against the region’s Christian beliefs. “We demand the immediate eradication of this Satanic sect, which violates all the practices of spirituality and co-existence in the Holy Scriptures,” Miranda said.

Apparently, the sect is relatively new to the area, and had been operating locally only for about three months.

Things reportedly came to a head on Saturday, when one of the church members had a vision.

“One of them said God had given them a message,” Baloyes said. That message apparently boiled down to making everyone repent or die.

STARBUCKS SET TO SERVE ITS LATTES IN POOR AREAS

AUSSIE RARE DINOSAUR TREES SAVED CANBERRA Associated Press SPECIALIST firefighters have saved the world’s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree from wildfires that razed forests west of Sydney.

Firefighters winched from helicopters to reach the cluster of fewer than 200 Wollemi Pines in a remote gorge in the Blue Mountains a week before a massive wildlife bore down. The firefighters set up an irrigation system to keep the so-called dinosaur trees moist and pumped water daily from the gorge as the blaze that had burned out of control for more than two month edged closer.

Firefighting planes strategically bombed the fire front with fire retardant to slow its progress.

DETROIT Associated Press

WOLLEMI pines, the world’s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree, tower above the forest floor in New South Wales

Senators swear oath of ‘impartial justice’ WASHINGTON Associated Press THE US Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump with quiet ceremony yesterday — senators standing at their desks to swear an oath of “impartial justice” as jurors, House prosecutors formally reciting the charges and Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

The trial, only the third such undertaking in American history, is unfolding at the start of the election year, a time of deep political division in the nation. Four of the senators sitting in judgment on Trump are running for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge him in the fall.

“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!” intoned the Senate’s sergeant at arms, calling the proceedings to order at noon.

PRESIDENT TRUMP YESTERDAY Senators filled the chamber, an unusual sight in itself, sitting silently under strict rules that prohibit talking or cellphones, for a trial that will test not only Trump’s presidency but also the nation’s three branches of power and its

system of checks and balances. The Constitution mandates the chief justice serve as the presiding officer, and Roberts made the short trip across the street from the Supreme Court to the Capitol. He has long insisted judges are not politicians and is expected to serve as a referee for the proceedings. Senators rose quickly when he appeared in his plain black robe.

“Will all senators now stand, and remain standing, and raise their right hand,” Roberts said.

“Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?” The senators responded they would, and then they lined up to sign an oath book.

Trump faces two charges after the House voted to impeach him last month. One, that he abused his presidential power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military aid to the country as leverage. Trump is also charged with obstructing Congress’ ensuing probe.

The president insists he did nothing wrong, and he dismissed the trial anew yesterday at the White House: “It’s totally partisan. It’s a hoax.”

Eventual acquittal is expected in the Republican-controlled Senate.

However, new revelations are mounting about Trump’s actions toward Ukraine.

The Government Accountability Office said that the White House violated federal law in withholding the security assistance to Ukraine, which shares a border with hostile Russia.

STARBUCKS has a point to prove: There’s more to the company than selling $4 lattes to rich people. The Seattlebased coffee giant that has cultivated a reputation for being socially responsible said yesterday it is expanding its effort to put more coffee shops — and create more jobs — in poor neighbourhoods.

Starbucks plans to open or remodel 85 stores by 2025 in rural and urban communities across the US. Each store will hire local staff, including construction crews and artists, and will have community event spaces. The company will also work with local United Way chapters to develop programs at each shop, such as youth job training classes and mentoring.

The effort will bring to 100 the number of “community stores” Starbucks has opened since it announced the program in 2015. “All of these programs are with the intent of being purposeful and profitable,” said John Kelly, Starbucks executive vice president of public affairs and social impact.

Starbucks opened its first community store in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2016, two years after the riots that broke out over the shooting of an unarmed black man by police. It has added 13 more locations since then, including stores in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans and Jonesboro, Georgia. Another one will open this spring in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Starbucks estimates the shops have created more than 300 jobs.

The project could help the company overcome lingering mistrust in some communities after the furor that erupted in 2018 when two black men waiting to meet someone in a Philadelphia Starbucks were arrested for not ordering anything.