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VOLUME:116 No.21, JANUARY 24TH, 2019

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CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

‘We’re coming for our money’

$100m student loan debt forces hiring of collection agency

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Education Loan Authority’s (ELA) delinquency recovery rate needs to increase seven-fold, a Cabinet minister admitted yesterday, with Bahamian taxpayers “on the hook for $100m”.

Jeffrey Lloyd, minister of education, told Tribune Business that the authority’s board was about to hire a private collection agency “with the teeth” to pursue deadbeat borrowers after its staff found themselves “overwhelmed” by

the sheer magnitude of the task.

With legal action as the ultimate recourse, Mr Lloyd said the delinquency recovery rate needed to increase from the present $60,000-80,000 per month to $400,000-$500,000, or from $1m per year to $6-$7m, if the authority is to “put a serious dent” in what it is owed.

Warning that his and the authority’s “patience has simply run out”, the minister slammed the “stubborn and recalcitrant” defaulters who refused to enter into settlement discussions.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman resigned from the Public Accounts Committee yesterday out of frustration with the immobility of the traditionally powerful parliamentary sub-committee. The PAC, which examines public

finances, has done little of consequence this term.

The Minnis administration has refused its requests for information, having interpreted a 2015 ruling from former House Speaker Dr Kendal Major as barring the committee from reviewing anything not brought to the House SEE PAGE SIX

BACON RANCH

BURNING CONTAINER SHIP HEADS TO FREEPORT

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A MEGA freighter burning off Canada’s east coast since January 3 is now seeking refuge in Grand Bahama, The Tribune understands.

The MV Yantian Express, a 320-metre container vessel being operated by the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, was originally destined for Halifax, Canada, but due to unfavourable weather, has now been rerouted to the Freeport Container Port.

The Express was en route to Halifax from Colombo, Sri Lanka via the Suez Canal when a massive blaze erupted aboard the ship.

OVERTIME WILL BE PAID - BUT BUDGET NOW BLOWN

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SIMPLY SUITS

DESIGNER Gustavus Cox contributes to the power suit evolution with a new venture, tailoring bespoke suits for women in The Bahamas. Read the full story in Weekend in The Tribune tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of Gustavus Augusta

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the Public Hospital Authority’s $1.2m monthly overtime bill could not continue “unchecked” as he defended the forecasted slowdown in overtime payments for healthcare workers.

Dr Sands stressed all commitments to overtime pay would be honoured; however, he suggested the timely release of those payments would depend on central government.

An internal PHA memo, which was leaked, advised that overtime assigned and incurred from February onward will be paid “subject to the availability of funding”.

SEE PAGE FIVE

UK WIFE BEATER ‘HIDING’ IN BAHAMAS

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

A BRITISH man who has fled his prison sentence in the United Kingdom may be hiding out in The Bahamas, according to international reports.

British police are searching for Shane Murphy of Cambridge, who has been recalled to prison. In May 2017, he was sentenced to four years and four months

WANTED: Shane Murphy for a number of domestic violence offences relating to his wife Zoe. The claims

include that Mr Murphy broke his wife’s leg while she was pregnant, locked her in rooms with no electricity, and threw objects at her, according to Cambridgeshire Live.

“It is believed businessman Shane Murphy has swapped his prison cell in Peterborough jail for the beaches of the Caribbean island after being released on licence - and failing to return,” Cambridgeshire

ALSO AVAILABLE IN

WWW.BURGERKING.BS

L SOUR CE

SEE PAGE 13

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

FED UP CHIPMAN LOSES PATIENCE

$1

/BURGERKINGNASSAU

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE TWO

DIANE PHILLIPS PUTTING OUT A FESTIVAL FYRE STORM

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, January 24, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

UK WIFE BEATER ‘HIDING’ IN BAHAMAS WHERE HE HAS BUSINESS INTERESTS from page one Live reports. “Cambridgeshire Live understands Murphy was released on licence from prison and breached that order and may have fled to Brazil and possibly flew on to The Bahamas where he has business interests. It is also believed he joined his girlfriend.

“Mr Murphy was building up a business empire at the time creating Limitless Mobile providing broadband and wireless telecommunication services in rural counties in central Pennsylvania,” the report continues.

“The company was founded in 2004 and Murphy is said to have secured funding of $49,000,000.”

At some point, Murphy began operating in The Bahamas. A report from Mirror News states that he moved to the Bahamas; while on his personal website, Murphy describes himself as a “Bahamas based business owner”.

Described by Cambridgeshire Live as a “cruel and controlling” husband, Murphy reportedly abused his wife for years. “(In 2009) When she was 20 weeks pregnant Murphy broke her leg and warned if she told anyone he would make sure she would never meet her baby,” the News site reports.

“The decade of abuse

also included locking his wife Zoe in rooms, telling her she was fat, worthless and ugly and throwing objects at her on a regular basis amid relentless controlling behaviour.

“He would order her to be home by a certain time and would often not let her leave the house, even to walk their dog.

“While on police bail, Murphy changed his wife’s mobile phone password, suspended her account and changed her Apple ID password.

“Murphy would check her receipts and previous journeys on a sat nav (satellite navigation).”

The entrepreneur admitted a string of charges committed in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

“Murphy was convicted of engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour, inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) without intent (the 2009 offence), assault by beating and two counts of sending communications conveying a threatening message in relation to Zoe’s stepfather and teenage son.

“Between August 1 and November 21, 2017 Murphy breached the conditions of his release from prison, as well as his restraining order.

Hertfordshire police were also notified of an assault on November 9 where Murphy had locked Zoe in a bedroom, pushing her around and grabbing her by the throat,” the report noted.

POLICE APPEAL AFTER DRIVE-BY SHOOTING A WOMAN is in hospital after she was injured during a drive-by shooting yesterday. Shortly before 11am, the victim was sitting in a vehicle on Gray’s Terrace off Bernard Road, when the occupants of a silver Honda Accord, licence #AR6981, were seen firing shots at people in another vehicle, resulting in the woman being shot. She was taken to hospital and is listed in stable condition. New Providence police are appealing to anyone with information concerning this incident to contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 3

I’ll give away my $600k winnings, promises Buddhist poker player

SCOTT WELLENBACH, who had his big win at Atlantis, will donate his winnings, as he always does.

JUNKANOOGATE: POLICE PURSUE BRIBERY CLAIMS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are continuing their probe into Junkanoo bribery claims, but the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence has established its own sub-committee to investigate the claims. The committee will review allegations that made headlines after audio recordings between a purported female judge and George “Bommer” Armbrister, a costume designer for the Genesis group, circulated this month.

JCNP Chairman Silbert Ferguson said seven people have been appointed to the committee. They have 14 to 28

days to complete a report, he said.

“They are responsible for writing the protocol going forward,” he said.

“If any impropriety surfaces in the future, they will write the necessary punishment.”

In the recordings, the purported judge solicits money from Mr Armbrister in exchange for reducing the scores of rival groups. Mr Ferguson said JCNP officials have met with police twice since the investigation began.

The newly established sub-committee will have special responsibility of ensuring that cooperation continues by responding to requests for information, Mr Ferguson said. Chief of

Police Superintendent Solomon Cash told The Tribune yesterday authorities are still gathering information as they investigate the bribery claims.

During a press conference yesterday, the JCNP and the parade management team also announced the certification of the results of the New Year’s Day parade. Although there were changes to scores in a few categories, the overall ranking remained unchanged from the unofficial results announced on January 2. The Valley Boys group was declared the official winner of the parade, with Roots second, the Shell Saxons Superstars third, One Family fourth and Genesis fifth.

A BUDDHIST poker player who won more than half a million dollars at a tournament at the Atlantis resort last week plans to give it all away.

Scott Wellenbach, a 67-year-old Canadian, won $671,240 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure tournament last week and said he will donate the winnings, as he always does.

According to Canadian news outlet CBC, Mr Wellenbach, who works as a translator of Buddhist documents, has a deal with the “poker gods” who allow him to win games as long as he donates the winnings.

He finished third in the tournament on January 16 and meditates before playing.

“I’ve been able to do so much better than really my ability or my experience would warrant. I’ve been so fortunate,” he told Maritime Noon last week.

“The deal that I have with them ... has been an excellent one and I will do nothing to change it. I might start losing.”

CBC also reported his donations over the years are into the hundreds of thousands of dollars; he has donated to Doctors Without Borders as well as Canadian groups, among others.

The outlet said Mr Wellenbach won six figures in a tournament in Barcelona two years ago and pledged much of it to a Buddhist nunnery in Nepal.

“I would say the world could use a lot more of that at the moment everywhere.

And if women receive an education such that they can assume positions of significance in the world I think we all might be better off,” he told CBC.

PAGE 4, Thursday, January 24, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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,

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Universal Health Care or Socialised Medicine?

WHILE Health Minister Dr Duane Sands is to be commended on his announcement regarding Universal Health Care, we, as Bahamians, need to answer some fundamental questions as to the future of our public healthcare before we go any further down this slippery slope of a single payer, income-tax funded socialised medical system, such as they have in Canada and the UK. Firstly, do we consider healthcare to be a right of all the people, or a commodity made available based on income or a civil servant making gut-wrenching life or death treatment decisions? Or are we as a nation prepared to accept the elephant in the room and refuse to acknowledge the appalling hospital mortality rates and heartbreaking survival rates for Bahamian children as opposed to those diagnosed with similar cancer and other auto-immune diseases in Canada and the USA? There are a number of reasons for the unfortunate reality that those who live in the first world – USA, UK, Australia, Japan, Canada and Europe – live, on average, 20 years longer than those residing in the world’s poorest counties.

The reason is obvious.

If you have private health insurance, then you go to the doctor on a regular basis, resulting in life-threatening illnesses being detected at an early stage when they can be effectively treated. If you are of the working-class, or among those less fortunate – without health insurance that keeps you out of a doctor’s office when you are ill or cannot afford annual physicals – your chances of survival from a serious illness are significantly reduced. These are the facts even though you might be treated in our nation by the very same physicians who work at both Doctors and Princess Margaret Hospitals.

Secondly, our problems are magnified ten-fold when talented physicians, nurses and support staff are asked to deliver patient care in the “crumbling dilapidated infrastructure of our nation’s public healthcare system….,” the details of which former Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority, Mr Herbert Brown, shockingly revealed in his pre-retirement letter to the then newly appointed Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

Shedding light on his repeated requests to the former government for funds to repair the extensive damage suffered by the PMH roof and wards during Hurricane Matthew [2016], which were “impacting patient outcomes,” Mr Brown reported that the structural deficits; unfunded obligations; lack of a capital budget; increases in personal emoluments, allowances, overtime and sessional pay and ongoing revenue woes, such as the PMH’s financial systems, which had been unable to send out patients’ bills; insurance reimbursements or charge tourists for services since 2012 — a period of almost seven years. All of this led to inexcusable short falls in funds needed to purchase medicines, vaccines, medical/surgical supplies or undertake repairs and maintenance.

According to Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), a scheme has been devised so that no one will be excluded on the basis of their current illness, nor will they be charged.

“One of the major problems in our health care system is we lack equity,” said Dr Robin Roberts, explaining

that “those who need care can’t get it and those who need more care can’t get anything. They just don’t have the money…”

This is a rather simplistic explanation from Dr Roberts in view of Mr Brown’s final report as he departed the system.

Dr Roberts should know that our current public healthcare system is not designed to provide quality, cost-effective care for anyone. Adding a Health Income tax on top of an outdated, bureaucratic system which has been destroyed by politics, conflict of interest and alleged systemic corruption makes a solution almost impossible. Having refreshed our memory by having a quick look through The Tribune’s files one could make the argument that our current public healthcare system enables a select few to benefit from chaos with a glaring lack of accountability thus ignoring the appalling patient outcomes.

How else could anyone explain a hospital without a roof or patient beds?

Or an institution whose billing systems are so outdated that they cannot issue patient bills, submit reimbursements to private health insurance providers for patients or even charge tourists resulting in receivables which the Minister of Health has publicly said are close to $800 million? Or how about the financial secretary agreeing to generous raises for the Consultants Staff Association. Obviously they have not taken the time to read the PHA Act resulting in many getting raises, but no one raising the issue of patient care.

How can interns and medical residents receive a reported 80-plus days paid leave a year? What about patients in public wards of the PMH receiving private bills from entities claiming fees for services for physicians contracted by our nation to work as part-time civil servants?

Even the blind can see how surprising it was to read that some had withdrawn their services from treating public patients, yet, continued to admit and treat private patients in the operating theatres and wards of the very same public heath institution from which they had withdrawn their services hours earlier. Refusing to treat patients unless they are rich enough to pay by cash, credit card or are in possession of health insurance is unconscionable.

To the former administration’s credit they allocated the Public Hospitals Authority $1.1 billion between 2012 -2017. Sadly, as Dr. Duane Sands pointed out in his 2017-2018 Parliamentary Budget contribution money cannot fix a toxic culture of “politics, entrenched corruption, chronic incompetence, unaccountability and lackadaisical leadership.

“What is needed,” he said, “is a healthcare revolution.” Without a radical transformation and revamp along the lines of the airport authority, BTC, and BPL, a select few will reap the benefits, as they always have, while tens of thousands of Bahamians will still be unable to get the healthcare they need and deserve.

For decades, every man, woman and child in Canada and the UK has been guaranteed healthcare through a singlepayer health care programme. In fact, while Universal Healthcare in a variety of forms exists in every wealthy industrialized country, they are not single payer, socialised medicine schemes like Canada or the UK.

A question of faith EDITOR, The Tribune CHAPLAIN to the prison? Can the Minister of National security confirm the individual denominations of the persons in Fox Hill? Traditional faiths…by

name. Evangelistic; Others: atheists, My suspicion is you will find as in the past persons saying they are Catholic to be in the lead…It was a few years a back.

Surely you should not be

appointing a Chaplain of a particular faith which might not be the predominate faith of the prisoners?

R SAWYER Nassau January 18, 2019

Let’s check patrol logs EDITOR, The Tribune POLICE walk-about are they not showing the lack of and bad side of policing?

Montell Heights is not a known peaceful area, in fact it is known for criminal activity. The ZNS News report showed many violations of zoning - environment - policing but, Editor, your journalists should have reported this is no different to what Montell Heights was like 20-30 years ago, but we keep on

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net holding these ludicrous walkabouts!

Clearly Environmental Health should be charged for dereliction of their duty and not enforcing the law.

Immigration the same.

The RBPF the same - the journalists should ask for the patrol logs of the closest police station patrolling Montell Heights that will

clearly confirm patrol cars drive by, see the violations and do nothing except when the news video cameras are running.

Go into Glenison Gardens - big tractor heads parked on residential lots - Westward Villas construction trucks parked on residential lots with covenants, but unless there is a TV walkabout naught done.

A BROWN Nassau January 18, 2019

No smoke without Fyre EDITOR, The Tribune IT IS not the first time that serious allegations have been made concerning the promotional event… before we all forget there was the Caribbean Music Fest - $’000s paid and a no show everything stupid, Rawson Square and nothing.

The Frye Exuma Festival and the recent exposure on Netflex makes very serious allegations of impropriety

in certain areas, all of which have been denied.

In both cases there cannot be any doubt the Ministry of Tourism must have had a part – it might have been only small, but you cannot put on a promotional event of this size without tourism, the police, customs, immigration having a hand or being involved that suggests that public funds might have been involved, and if so, that means

rightly there has to be an investigation.

I call on both these events and hopefully within three months will come back and table a full report. If prosecutions have to occur then let it be.

Misuse of public funds - tasing brides - requiring payments to get services are offences.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau January 22, 2019

Get in the right lane EDITOR, The Tribune BETWEEN May, 2017 and now there has been a considerable increase of taxi licence plates issued, but the question I wish to raise did they pass some form of a driver’s test?

Have no problem with the enterprise, but the driving of these mid-sized

cars is in some cases dangerous…they seem not to know the most fundamental rules of the road. switching from one lane to another.

They crawl doing a tour obstructing the reasonable level of movement of traffic. Stop go. Oh please stay in the inside lane, left, on a dual carriageway if you are crawling.

Coming off Princess

Street…below Government House they do not know which lane to be in and suddenly you find them pushing to switch to the left lane traffic heading west… please get in your lane from the corner after Central Bank.

K ALBURY Nassau January 22, 2019

This fish head stinks EDITOR, The Tribune

CAN Shell America substantiate that their project for an LNG fuelled electricity power plant will not cause extremely serious damage to the environment?

I noticed the feeble press article trying to say well if back when then Chair of BEC Leslie Miller was entertaining the LNG pipelines from Grand Bahama and Ocean Cay so Shell suggests it was a God-send that the pipeline was not built…dah

Shell between then and now have made millions on us providing Bunker C and other fuels to BEC and its successor BP&L at top prices which the consumer has paid through their mouth’s through Fuel Surcharge.

To convert the LNG to a useable fuel you need a high level of water which through the process becomes highly toxic so where does Shell plan to dump this? We already have substantial leaks of Bunker C at Clifton so we will push this contaminated

water into deep wells?

Must remind your readers of the highly questioned RFP remember how the 80MW standby generator RFP went to 275 MW and the existing provider - Aggreko still has the contract to provide standby generation…but somehow Shell wins!…Well a magician could not do better - this needs explaining as in any language this fish head stinks.

W THOMPSON Nassau January 15, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 5

Overtime will be paid but budget now blown from page one

Dr Sands said: “The intention is to be able to operate the PHA as efficiently as possible making sure you’re paying all your bills etc but bear in mind that we are part of a financial chain and that financial chain is a part of central government, that is responding to the demand on all of its agencies as well as revenues. So if people aren’t paying real property tax, VAT etc then the Ministry of Finance is unable to pay its commitments in a timely fashion.”

He added: “That hasn’t been a problem but the principal is, that it is the receipts that you get that determines how promptly you pay your bills.”

The PHA has already exceeded its $4m overtime budget for all facilities and respective agencies by $2m, according to Dr Sands, who confirmed the shift in policy would impact overtime assigned in February onward.

The policy shift impacting approved and incurred overtime and sessional workers was also outlined in the PHA memo, which noted the bloated overtime costs put the authority in a “precarious financial position”.

Dr Sands acknowledged the shortage of highly skilled staff but insisted the organisation could not be allowed to continue to “rack up expenses with no regard as to how they are going to be paid”. He added: “That has been the way it’s been historically.”

The PHA memo confirmed overtime pay earned in December and January will be paid the following months respectively.

“At no point in time,” Dr Sands said, “that’s against the law, unless you in the United States during

THE INTENTION is to be able to operate the PHA as efficiently as possible, says Dr Sands.

government shutdown, people are not going to be expected to work without being paid.

“We are going to have to ensure we are prudent stewards of the public purse and do whatever we can to safely contain public expenditure.”

This week, the Nassau Guardian reported that the Bahamas Public Services Union has advised PHA employees to not work overtime shifts in light of the funding issues.

“We’re advising them to not work the overtime unless it’s

YOUNGSTERS GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR JUNIOR JUNKANOO

consistent with what our agreement says,” BPSU president Kimsley Ferguson told the daily.

He added: “It was clear what their note said. It said that overtime will be paid based on the availability of funding.

They may have some funding

in June. They may have some funding in December, and so persons may work overtime in February and [not] get it until December. So ‘consistent with our agreement’ means you work February, [and] you get paid at the end of March.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, January 24, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Frustrated Chipman loses patience and quits role from page one of Assembly by the auditor general. Mr Chipman sought to table his PAC resignation letter in the House of Assembly yesterday, but Speaker Halson Moultrie denied him, saying he did not give notice of his intention to table the document beforehand as protocol requires.

In the letter later sent to the media, Mr Chipman said: “The Public Accounts Committee is one of the most prestigious committees in the Commonwealth parliamentary system. As a matter of fact, Westminster acknowledges it as the most important committee of the House of Assembly. In addition to its constitutional functions, Parliament maintains oversight of government’s financial matters through the Public Accounts Committee.”

He also noted: “Public Accounts Committee can only review reports laid before the House, most of which are substantially behind and irrelevant at this time. The only relevance is the political ping-pong which the next generation of Bahamians can care less about. The Bahamian people want clarity on, how much money we have? How much do we need and what are we spending it on?”

Speaker Moultrie, in an interview with The Tribune yesterday, said Mr Chipman’s letter highlighted several grievances that have nothing to do with the PAC. The letter captures Mr Chipman’s frustration with Parliament’s failure to move motions to establish select committees on several issues he has raised. Last April he said he would move a motion calling for separate committees to investigate “fake news” and natural resources.

He wrote in the letter: “The select committees on the natural resources and sovereign wealth

CENTREVILLE MP Reece Chipman resigned from the Public Accounts Committee yesterday. fund and fake news (are) still on the agenda for almost a year. Once again the Westminster system allows for democracy and freedom of speech and rights of privilege.”

In response, Speaker Moultrie told The Tribune: “Once you give notice of your intention to move for the appointment of a

select committee, whenever I go through the order of business, I ask for the appointment of select committees. He is supposed to get up at that time and move for his select committee, state the reasons for it, start the debate on it, have someone second it and if no one wants to second it, put it to a

vote. If you read his letter you get the impression that for one year he’s been trying to get this committee and he was not permitted to do so, which is not accurate.

“I explained to him before we went into the summer recess, I asked if he was ready, he indicated to me at that time that he wasn’t

ready and I said okay, your matter is already on the agenda, as soon as we reconvene after the summer you can bring your matter. But he just never brought it.”

Mr Chipman also complained that Parliament has yet to facilitate a question-and-answer period as rules allow. Additionally, he complained that House rules are not settled because there are multiple rule books in rotation.

He said: “Therefore, Mr Speaker, in light of the above, as well as the absence of a House approved terms of reference for the Public Accounts Committee and the fact that the member for Killarney and the prime minister of the Bahamas has publicly called the Public Accounts Committee functionless, I hereby submit my resignation effective immediately.”

For his part, Mr Moultrie has yet to say whether he agrees with his predecessor’s ruling on the powers of the PAC or accepts the Minnis administration’s interpretation of it.

He said he cannot rule on the matter because PAC Chairman, Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay MP Philip “Brave” Davis, has not officially raised the matter in the House of Assembly.

“As I explained to the chairman of the PAC, I cannot as the presiding officer just appeal a ruling,” he said. “Someone has to make an application to me, stating the grounds upon which I should act to revise the decision and perhaps overturn it.”

The Official Opposition has made little effort to get him to resolve the matter in their favour, Mr Moultrie admitted.

“It is their Speaker that made the ruling,” he said, “and I think the difficulty that they are having is that if they make an application and set out the particular grounds, they will feel they are undermining their own Speaker.”

GB’S THOMPSON PRAISES THE LATEST JOB FIGURES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of State for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson has praised latest job figures which show a decline in the island’s unemployment rate and that more than 800 people were employed since May 2018 to November 2018.

Referring to statistics in the latest Labour Force Survey, Mr Thompson, pictured right, said the rate of unemployment dropped from 12.4 percent to 11.9 percent in that period.

He noted the island has seen 845 more people employed.

“It is the first time since 2008, a year which we commonly refer to as the modern day Great Recession, that the unemployment rate decreased below 12 percent,” he said yesterday at Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport.

Mr Thompson also felt it important to highlight

the number of discouraged workers also fell in GB by 9.8 percent.

He explained that discouraged workers according to the standard definition of the International Labour Organisation are people without work and available for work yet not actively seeking jobs because they are not hopeful about their prospects.

Senator Thompson said: “What we see in the figures and the decrease of discouraged workers is really a good indication that not only are more people finding employment, but more people are hopeful about finding employment in GB. He added the survey shows there was an increase of 2,650 more people employed in Grand Bahama since May 2017, when the Minnis administration took office.

The minister of state

indicated the Minnisled administration has been focused on Grand Bahama, encouraging private sector growth, building a new tech industry, rebuilding and promoting tourism abroad, supporting the island’s strong and growing industrial sector and assisting small business development.

Mr Thompson said the survey also included an overall increase in self-employed persons, noting the government has injected almost $400,000 into the economy through its small business grant programme, which has seen new businesses develop and expand.

On the topic of the Grand Lucayan resort, he stated that preserving the operations of the hotel is also critical in ensuring that the island’s major tourism property is stable and ready for redevelopment.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 7

NEW FUNDRAISER TO HELP PEOPLE AFTER FAILED FESTIVAL IS TARGETING $400K

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net A NEW fundraiser for locals impacted by the failed Fyre Festival is seeking to raise $400,000.

Moved by the overwhelming outpouring of support for shafted restauranteur Maryann Rolle, the Exuma Foundation launched its GoFundMe campaign on Monday.

Up to press time, it had raised $7,690 of $400,000 goal.

The foundation seeks to support community needs in Exuma, and states it will establish a “strict and fair process for distribution of funds to the local people who were financially affected.”

The Exuma Foundation is a US public charity, and donations by US tax payers are deductible.

Its campaign read: “We at the Exuma Foundation were saddened by the unfortunate impacts the Fyre Festival had on the people of Exuma. The Netflix Fyre documentary gave a compelling insight into the story of how a community suffered devastating losses in the aftermath of the festival.”

It continued: “To help our community and fill the need to get funds directly to Exuma, we have set up this account to benefit the victims of the Fyre Festival.”

Meanwhile, donations continue to pour in for Exuma Point Restaurant owners Maryann and Elvis Rolle.

Their GoFundMe campaign had raised $179,762 of its $123,000 goal up to press time with donations from 6,464 people in nine days.

DEBRIS left after the failed Fyre Festival.

Diane Phillips - Page 8

Peruvian found not guilty of killing DJ in club

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A PERUVIAN man has been acquitted of killing a disc jockey and attempting to kill another man following a scuffle in a downtown nightclub three years ago.

A Supreme Court jury found Jesus Ramos not guilty by 9-3 of the murder of Jorge Herrera and unanimously acquitted him of the attempt on Hanna Palomino’s life on September 4, 2016.

According to initial police reports, shortly after midnight on September 4, 2016, three men, believed to be Hispanics, were put out of the Tropicana Bar and Grill on Woods Rodgers Wharf after creating a disturbance.

Shortly after 3am, however, one of the men returned to the club armed with a handgun. He then got into an argument with Herrera - the disc jockey who attempted to disarm him, police alleged. This led to the disc jockey, the armed man and Palomino being shot.

The armed suspect then fled the scene in a Nissan vehicle.

Police later recovered a .40 handgun in the area, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. Herrera and Palomino were taken to hospital.

The disc jockey died of his injuries six days later on September 10. The other wounded man survived.

During trial before Justice Bernard Turner, Police Corporal 3105 Nelson Miller testified how he,

while in possession of a search warrant and operating on information gathered following a shooting at the Tropicana Bar and Grill, led a team of officers to the home of Eduardo Martinez, where they found Ramos, his son, with the wound.

According to PC Miller, shortly after he arrived at the home of Mr Martinez, he indicated his reason for being there and informed the father that his son was believed to be involved in a shooting incident at a nightclub.

PC Miller said he was given access to the home and upon entry, saw a man openly bleeding on a couch in the home – that man was later acknowledged to be Ramos.

PC Miller said his first attempt to communicate with Ramos was unsuccessful because the accused could not comprehend English, and the officer could not speak Spanish.

To bypass the language barrier, PC Miller said he communicated his purpose through both Ramos’ father and the accused’s younger brother who he did not name in court.

The officer said he informed the two that Ramos was suspected of having been involved in a shooting and needed to be taken into custody.

He said he saw Ramos’ father and brother communicate what he had said, in Spanish, to Ramos; adding that the reaction by all three and Ramos’ mother, who was also present, suggested that Ramos fully comprehended what was going on.

PC Miller said upon seeing the state Ramos was in he called for an ambulance.

Ramos was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where he was treated and later released into police custody.

Meanwhile, in separate testimony, Vandyke Russell, a witness to the aftermath of the scuffle at the nightclub, claimed that in the process of giving aid to a wounded Jorge Herrera, he saw another person being helped away from the scene.

Mr Russell told the court that given the chaotic scene, he was unable to clearly make out whether the person being assisted was a male or female, or the extent of their injury.

He told the court that all he could see was a person, who he believed was a man, being helped into a car.

When asked to give a description of the car, Mr Russell said the car resembled “a matchbox”.

“A dark coloured car.

Like one of those matchbox cars. A small Nissan Cube,” he said.

Mr Russell said his full attention was on Jorge Herrera, who indicated there was a problem with his legs and side.

“He was holding his leg…. Saying ‘my leg, my leg, I can’t feel it, can’t feel it.’”

“Then he said, ‘my side, my side,’” Mr Russell told the court. The disc jockey would die from his injuries several days later.

Attorney Shaka Serville represented Ramos.

COURT OF APPEAL RESERVES ITS DECISION ON ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has reserved its decision on whether or not the acting chief justice was right to find that two police officers had no case to answer concerning the 2013 death of 20-year-old Aaron Rolle.

The court delayed its decision yesterday after fielding submissions on Acting Chief Justice Vera Watkins’ ruling that there was no evidence linking Constables Akiel Smith and Carl Smith to Rolle’s death.

The Crown has appealed

ACJ Watkins’ May 10, 2018 decision.

Wayne Munroe, QC, the attorney for the two officers, told The Tribune yesterday that his clients’ court battles over Rolle’s death could come to an end should the Court of Appeal rule in their favour.

However, he said, should the appellate court accede to the Crown’s submissions, the matter would be remitted to the Supreme Court for a new trial, something he said his legal team would likely appeal to the Privy Council.

Rolle was found dead at the Southern Police Station

on February 9, 2013, having died of haemorrhaging and a ruptured intestine caused by blunt force trauma to his chest.

The constables were charged with manslaughter after jurors concluded during a 2013 Coroner’s Court inquest that Rolle’s death was a result of an “unlawful killing”.

Last year, however, ACJ Watkins directed the jury to acquit the two officers of the manslaughter charges, following a no case submission by Mr Munroe that no evidence was led to show that the officers committed a crime.

PAGE 8, Thursday, January 24, 2019

T

HERE’S hardly a soul who hasn’t heard of the Fyre Festival debacle, an elaborate scheme to lure the newly rich and somewhat famous to the beautiful beaches and waters of Exuma for days of languishing in the sun, frolicking in the sea and imbibing the best of champagne and Bahama Mamas with intervals of music and dance.

The dream was writ large – celebrities and wannabes with carved and sculpted bodies would stay in the finest of accommodations, pampered from sunrise to sundown. They would revel in debauchery, dine on delicacies so exquisite counting calories would be tossed into the balmy breeze for the duration. Shoe-ins for reality shows like Bachelorette would flit about, looking for love in a setting built for romance.

The only problem was that none of that happened. Fyre Festival bombed. Hundreds of attendees arrived in Exuma to find that their “luxury accommodations” were leaky tents on a beach, no extra charge for rain or mosquitoes. The delectable delicacies turned out to be processed meat or cheese between slices of white bread, the kind that sticks to the roof of your mouth and no matter how hard you try to move it with your tongue it stays put until it decides to get up and slide around. Not what is on the menu for a festival with ticket prices that topped out at $100,000.

All of that took place in 2017. In March of 2018, nearly a year after the fiasco, event organiser Billy McFarland, 26, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and was sentenced to six years in prison. Two attendees sued and were awarded $2.5 million each.

That might have been the end of the story, at least in the public’s eye, had it not been for a few recent developments that cast new light on Fyre Festival, demonstrating that even in the depth of tragedy human kindness shines.

Two TV documentaries, one on HULU and a more interesting one on Netflix, were released last week, dredging up memories the Ministry of Tourism and others might better wish were buried.

But just as the conversation was again fuelling headlines, a few amazing things happened.

A local, hard-working woman in Exuma who was contacted

THE TRIBUNE

More than one way to put out a Fyre storm LIVING the dream: event organiser Billy McFarland.

because of the TV documentaries shared her behind-the-scenes reality of Fyre Festival, a nightmare that cost her everything. She had cooked round the clock preparing. She delivered 1000 meals a day. She stocked up on so much food and equipment to be ready for the biggest ticket to hit her island and in the end, she lost everything. She never asked anyone and blamed only herself. Then just over a week ago, she started a GoFundMe page. Contributions poured in. In nine days, those who felt her pain and wanted to help raised more than $179,000, more than three times what she lost in Fyre Festival.

Today, January 24, as I write this, I got word that a broader effort to help local victims of Fyre Festival is being launched.

Now, the same team who helped put the pigs of paradise

on the map have approached the US arm of the highly respected Exuma Foundation to set up a broader GoFundMe page. It will be under the banner https://www. gofundme.com/the-exuma-foundation-for-victims-of-fyre-festival.

The funding goal is $400,000. A committee is being established to vet applicants. Receipts will need to be provided to show financial investment.

What so many of us neglected was the toll that Fyre Festival took on local hopefuls. We took pity on those who bought expensive tickets and were fooled into believing they were going to a Woodstock with class. We focused on the rich who were duped but probably did not see their lives cave in as a result. We should have been focusing on locals who were victims because they believed the dream, as outrageous

as it seemed. There was such incredible promotional material.

Such hype. Such excitement in the air. Followed by a sickening thud.

Entire life savings were wiped out. It was the local Exumans who were the true victims.

There may be dozens, if not more than a hundred who could benefit from this new effort.

The country should applaud the attempt to help but we should also stop and ask, why, one more time, did it take a foreigner, a Peter Nicholson and Jeff Todd from Canada, both with Bahamian connections, to say, “Hey, maybe we can help”.

Because Nicholson owned the largest number of units at Grand Isle Villas when Fyre Festival occurred and Grand Isle housed as many as the resort could take even as its kitchen turned out all the food it could to

YOUR

assist. Nicholson and Todd understood the struggle. There were maybe 100 people who either did not get paid for their work or lost their life savings and when they saw the response to the woman from Exuma Point, they raced in, as Todd explained, to contact the Exuma Foundation and create the GoFundMe page.

Todd, a writer, is also working on a story for the BBC. The desire to help is likely to be felt as far away as Europe and Africa.

Fyre Festival is not going to slip quietly into the night. It’s too juicy.

But there is more than one way to take advantage of a fire besides toasting marshmallows.

Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest had an interesting take on Fyre Festival. After watching the Netflix documentary, he told a small group of private wealth managers at a meeting this week that as poorly planned and horrific the event was, the TV exposure showed the sheer beauty of The Bahamas, He reiterated astronaut Scott Kelly’s declaration from space that he was flying over the most beautiful place on earth.

Kelly has since landed and upped his commitment to maintaining that beauty, contributing to the Exuma Land & Sea Park in a generous way and presenting a year’s worth of photos to the country as a gift.

Beyond exposure to the scenery of The Bahamas to an audience potentially of millions, the rush to assist a single woman who lost so much was historic. Coming to her aid showed the compassion we store in a virtual closet and pull out, like a raincoat, when it is needed most. The Fyre may be extinguished but the warmth is beginning to fuel another level of history.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 9

Former housing partnership ‘too expensive’, claims Ferreira

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE public private partnership that resulted in the construction of dozens of new houses at Ardastra Gardens Subdivision under the former Christie administration resulted in many homes being “overpriced”, Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira revealed yesterday.

When the Minnis administration took office, officials found that the price of these single-family homes was inflated by between $13,980 and $18,650, the minister told members of Parliament. Arawak Homes, which subcontracted the building project to an estimated 30 to 40 contractors, managed the overall process. The cost per unit was $150,00 to $160,000, officials said back in 2016.

This served as motivation, Mr Ferreira said, for the government’s decision to discontinue offering turnkey homes, but instead serviced lots.

During his contribution yesterday, he did not name the private company responsible for building the houses or where they were located. However, after the morning sitting of the House, he confirmed that he was referring to those constructed in Ardastra.

“The government is committed to fulfilling its mandate to continue the development of new government subdivisions in The Bahamas,” Mr Ferreira said as the mover of a resolution to convey 1.267 acres of land at the southwest junction of Romer Street and Armbrister Street for the sale of serviced lots to be called the Lionel Davis Subdivision.

The land will be divided into 10, 50x100 lots. “These

subdivisions are developed with the singular purpose in mind to address the unmet demand for affordable housing in this country.

We believe that this is a dire situation that there are thousands and thousands of Bahamians that have unmet needs when it comes to the provisions of housing.

“The old way of doing business, Mr Speaker has ceased. When we came to office, we met subdivisions in place, one in particular and I want to explain why, so the Bahamian public can be very clear why the old way of doing business could not go on, why the old way of business as practised under the Christie-Davis administration could not go on.

“We met a subdivision in place where based on the appraised value and this is why it’s important, the houses were overpriced by between $13,980 and $18,650. No one in their right mind wants to pay more for something.

Whether it’s a house, whether it’s a conch snack or whether it’s conch salad, nobody. So the Department of Housing made a decision that we will no longer build houses. Today the department focuses on installing the necessary infrastructure on undeveloped land to produce residential serviced lots.”

However, Central and South Andros MP Picewell Forbes rejected the government’s strategy, insisting turnkey homes are what works. He said: “The PLP has already established its policy position on this of which the serviced lot for the most part could not and would not help the larger housing crisis with our people unable to finance the construction of homes after they get these lots through the process that has been constructed.

WE are committed to continuing the development of new government subdivisions in The Bahamas, says Romi Ferreira.

“That is why the government was in the housing construction business for the most part under the PLP. Because it was cheaper, more efficient and this structure would have allowed for single mothers in particular to be able to afford a home.

“The other issue right now, Mr Speaker, if one were to visit the Fox Hill area you will see that the density of the population is quite high in the area that we are talking about, the roads are quite narrow and the question is whether or not we attended to the traffic problem and whether

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the additional population density in the area will be conducive to peace and order in that community, which already has challenges with keeping peace in everyday life.”

The government further plans to offer 60 serviced lots in the Carmichael Village area later this year. It is expected that these lots will be sold for less than $30,000.

In total, around 360 lots would have been offered in this first phase of the Minnis administration’s housing plan. The programme will also extend to the Family Islands.

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PAGE 10, Thursday, January 24, 2019

I don’t see where there are any new jobs, says Philip Davis.

THE TRIBUNE

No evidence that 10,400 jobs have been created, says PLP leader Davis

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis says he sees no evidence to prove that 10,400 net jobs were created in the country since the Minnis administration took office nearly two years ago.

The claim was made in a Ministry of Finance press statement released Monday and appeared to be the government’s attempt at shifting attention from the grim prospect that statistics released the same day showed unemployment climbed from 10 percent to 10.7 percent.

The assertion, Mr Davis said, is a tough sell. He urged the government to show the proof.

“I don’t know where he is getting his stats,” Mr Davis said in response to a question from The Tribune.

“I would like to see that.

Where can we point to that, could he tell us how many new persons have been put on the register of National Insurance for example or are these just what I call replacement people – people replaced in jobs that were lost by attrition or otherwise?

“So, new jobs? I don’t see where there are any new jobs.”

He continued: “The only jobs that were created in this country are that which were provided by Baha Mar. The Baha Mar project is the only project from which new jobs would have been created.”

Those in the government have praised the newly released jobs statistics.

Two senior Cabinet members – Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar and Labour Minister Dion Foulkes - on Tuesday in separate interviews said the numbers were proof the Minnis administration’s strategy was working.

The PLP leader rejected this. He said: “I note the gloat and apparent celebration from the members that have come out. My response to that is we are still far, far away but the numbers speak that this government is not growing this economy fast enough.

“We’re still not creating enough initiatives for us to make a meaningful assault on the unemployment numbers. More particularly what is damning is the fact that our young females are the ones who seem to be the victims of this unemployment scourge that is attending our economy.

“Again, it shows their callousness to gloat over terminating persons in the public service now. We’re

talking about the public service and if you look at the demographic of those that were let go, they were those who were on minimum wage and to say that the private sector is picking them up again we need to see the hard evidence. It’s not what we are feeling on the ground.

“When I move through the country, Grand Bahama, the Family Islands, New Providence, the inner-city communities the people on the ground they’re not feeling it. They’re saying well where are these jobs that were created?”

Mr Davis’ comment, however, seemed not to take into account that unemployment also rose under the previous Christie administration.

In January 2015, the Department of Statistics said unemployment rose from 14.3 percent in May 2014 to 15.7 percent as of November that same year.

That report covered the period from October 27 to November 2, 2014. The previous survey completed before that was done in May 2014.

The survey said that the unemployment rate in New Providence jumped from 15 percent to 16 percent while in Grand Bahama it rose from 14.7 per cent to 18.6 per cent.

‘WE WANT TO ENSURE WOMEN ARE TREATED EQUALLY IN THE WORK PLACE AND THAT THERE IS EQUAL PAY’

BY RIEL MAJOR

AFTER recent labour statistics showed that women were more likely to be unemployed than men despite higher education levels, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell said his ministry is concerned about the issue.

He said departments within his ministry have ongoing programmes meant to push equality.

Speaking to reporters outside of the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Campbell said he’s not sufficiently aware of the pattern of the unemployment statistics to say if they are trending in one way or the other. However, he highlighted the role of Department of Gender and Family Affairs in promoting equality.

“The ministry is sufficiently concerned whenever there is the appearance of imbalance,” he said.

He added: “We continue to rely on the programmes that we have been promoting to ensure that women are treated equally in the work place that there is equal pay for equal work done.

“We also continue our programmes that will empower women to become entrepreneurs that will help to add employment within the economy and employ more women to bring us towards the balance that we are working (towards).

“The suggestion is where there is a woman qualified

CONCERNED: Frankie Campbell to do the job give that woman, like you would a man, the opportunity to do the job. Where there is a woman doing a job on par with a man pay the woman on par with the man.

“I am aware that there has been and continues to be a concern about unequal treatment of women in other regards. We promote equality and likewise in the work place. We stand for equality and equity for women.”

Senior Statistician Cypreanna Winters and Acting Director of the Department of Statistics Leona Wilson released the latest statistics earlier this week.

Overall, 210,560 people make up the employed labour force, while there are 25,135 people unemployed, according to the latest numbers.

Mrs Winters revealed that another study now being completed by officials showed that despite women having more credentials than their male counterparts, more of them remain without jobs.

Mrs Winters said: “Among the employed labour force, there were more men, 110,280, than women, 100,280, (employed). However, in all the islands surveyed, except Grand Bahama, men were fewer in numbers among the unemployed labour force.”

“Overall, the unemployment rate for women reached 11.3 percent in November, compared with 10 percent for men. Young women, those aged 15-24 and core-aged women, those aged 25 to 54, were more likely to be unemployed than their male counterparts.”

These findings, according to officials, seem to fall in line with youth unemployment in the Caribbean.

In the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) most recent report, youth unemployment in the Caribbean is among the highest in the world, with the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 reaching 42.7 percent.

“Similar patterns persist in the Bahamas, as youth unemployment for women was the highest recorded for all age groups. The unemployment rate for young women reached 24.1 percent, compared with 22.4 percent for young men, 23.1 percent for both sexes,” Mrs Winters said.

Overall unemployment increased from 10 percent in May 2018 to 10.7 percent in November 2018, according to the latest job figures.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 11

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Law enforcement agencies sign up for $1.9m deal to pinpoint gunfire location

LAW enforcement agencies will begin using gunshot detection technology this year to pinpoint the location of gunfire after the government signed a $1.9 million contract yesterday with a provider, ShotSpotter.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and National Security Minister Marvin Dames said the new programme highlights their commitment to modernising crime fighting tools and equipping agencies with the latest technologies.

After the elaborate ceremony, which was held at SLS at Baha Mar, Mr Dames also told reporters the government will likely spend $2m to $4m this year to considerably expand its use of CCTV. Murders decreased by 25 percent in 2018 compared to 2017 and Mr Dames has declared his desire to record fewer than 90 murders this year.

Gunshot detection systems work by deploying optical and acoustic wave sensors that detect impulsive noises atop rooftops or utility poles. The sensors locate the origin of gunshots and the information is quickly transmitted to law enforcement agencies.

Mr Dames said he has “completed sufficient research” and is satisfied the technology will help reduce the high numbers of gun related violence in the Bahamas.

“There is numerous evidence in the United States where this technology is aiding in the reduction of gunshot violence in high volume crime cities such as Chicago where police are recording double digit decreases in murders and shootings,” he said.

Mr Dames cited a CNN report which credited “data-driven policing” like the gunshot detection technology for murder reduction in Chicago over the past two years. There were 100 fewer murders in that city in 2018 than in 2017. A Fox News report which Mr Dames also referenced quoted Chicago Police Commander Kenneth Johnson as saying ShotSpotter showed the location of gunfire and how many rounds of gunshots were fired, noting that one area of the city, Englewood, saw a 43 percent drop in shootings last year.

The New York Police Department launched a pilot programme using the system in 2015.

LEFT, Gary Bunyard,senior vice president, and Eugene Poitier, acting permenant secretary of national security, sign the contracts. Above, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune

led a team to Miami Dade to visit the Miami Gardens Police Department last year and saw the ShotSpotter technology in use. The technology will come to the Bahamas by the end of this quarter, Dr Minnis said. It will cost $1.9 million over a three-year period, he added.

ShotSpotter technology is not without its critics. Privacy advocates have questioned if the technology could pick up

Two years later, according to the Wall Street Journal, use of the technology was expanded. The NYPD concluded the technology allowed it to respond to shootings it would not have otherwise known about. Up to August 2017, the organisation said 1,740 shootings were detected with the technology, resulting in 61 arrests and the seizure of 31 guns.

Mr Dames said Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson

DON’T INCREASE UTILITY BILLS ON GB, URGES PASTOR

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

increase February 1, 2019,” he said.

Pastor Victor said the rate increase, inclusive of 12 AMID economic percent VAT, will increase challenges on Grand the total bill for water Bahama, the Coalition supply by 5.5 percent and for Concerned Citizens is sanitation services by 5.6 calling for a halt of rate percent. increases by the Grand He indicated that there Bahama Utility Company was no public notice in in water supply and garbage the media about the rates collection fees. increasing, nor were there Pastor Eddie Victor, any town meetings with president of the CCC, stakeholders. noted that customers Pastor Victor noted that have received notices in the responsibility of any their water bills of a 5 regulator is to protect the percent hike in the rates. consumers. He said the He is asking for regula- Coalition believes that tors, namely the Grand the water being supplied Bahama Port Authority, to West and East Grand to hold off on the rate Bahama should also be increases. regulated by the Utilities “Today the Coalition Regulation Competition e is very concerned about bunAuthority (URCA). heBigTgestriand T And Best! the recent notice received “Any rate increases on ne water bills Grand in customers’ TheBiggTestriAndbu Bahama adds more Best! concerning an OBITS increase of economic burdens to conINSIDE rates for water supply and sumers and contributes ribune he eeTcost sanitation services” he said. to increases in T the W kendof “Based on information we living,” he said. “Economic have received, sanitation development in Freeport h the rates increased on January is one of theWatc - every filmresponsibili1, 2019, and water rates will , ties of the GBPA this agonisingand dslide win

will not be achieved by increasing the cost of doing business.”

The CCC has also spoken out against the high cost of electricity on Grand Bahama, holding marches, petitions, demonstrations, and boycotts against the Grand Bahama Power Company.

The organisation also announced its support of a new Bahamian company that is proposing to build a $30 solar plant to supply electricity to West and East Grand Bahama.

In December, the CCC collected over 300 letters of support from residents about a proposed firm solar plant for West and East Grand Bahama, and delivered them to the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport. In the letters signed by residents, they are also asking the government not to renew the expired East End and West End agreements that would allow GB Power to continue to provide electricity to those areas.

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By SANCHESKAReporter to the unofBy KHRISNA Reporter seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality et Tribune Staff from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being reDeputy Chief bunemedia.n ficial results Registration government course.

THE PEOPLE nemedia.net sdorsett@tri PAGE 4 was still its kvirgil@tribu his Hill, law to take to press time. and liamentary , Mr Chipman after ON’ decounted up his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 IN a surprisingat the Departmentout of 12 pollas the na- This marked the worst in AFTER leadinglandslide defeat party won seven maiden speech MinLOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former ty to a stunning feat for a governing Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry The FNM’s won five. lysing blow Party last night, years the Centreville PROJECTED watch, Bahamians his from 9 YOUR his seat in last night by Christie a rocky five PAGE to fear Mr Christie sive Liberal challengIn 2012, have nothing , pointing to despite conPrime Minister constituency representing FAR included two incoming the Centrevilleeighth said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, the government RESULTS SO PAGE 14 Minnis declared 25 votes aftermore than 40 won the n, which he Dr Hubert of a fracstituency for time with have abused victimisatio tional” “im- es to the area for to unofthat those who trust “have continued reports ultimately according consecutive is “unconstitu MORE COVERAGE and of 2-18 years, party He defeated “wrong”.

PAGES positions the post 2,950 votes. moral” and to unofficial tured to fear”. ficial results. candidate Ella removal from has held Opsomething to thousands of According able his at the Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s of the Official FNM was Speaking by 1,349 votes at the Q House today. results, the stunning defeat of leader in the House of won all the Lewis the seat since a pledged that jubilant supporterslast night, ment Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis on will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre but one administrati Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembly. a long fought National MoveProgressive 39 “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General it sive 34 of ry Regsince 1997. released a but the Prime 2012. ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources former is yours,” Although he the loss, The Parliamenta did battle, The to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Department re- mine - the victory lost his seat thousands statement about speak told needs Minister not election full Movement Mr Christie did carThe Bahamas’ at GovernDr Minnis not release 5pm Free National packed on the with the last and pominister at 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, 11pm. However 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 they night us now and ter Fort Charlotte

By RASHAD Reporter told him the party wouldwinning the behind a wonderful has Staff repeatedly leadparty Tribune the stand the any a better chance rebuild and emedia.net could not he been victori- opportunity to rrolle@tribun 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 Sears fred

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

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FOR THE CURE Page 21

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boardroom Interview, pages 4&5

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TO RESIGN AS URGES CHRISTIE

HURRICANE

PARTY LEADER

INSURANCE:

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Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.

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safeas well as of homicides A DORSETT guarding the residents

By SANCHESKReporter in Fox Hill. et Tribune Staff walkabout bunemedia.n During a Acting prepared. live national sdorsett@tri er Fox Hill on Tuesday, ROLLE During a Ferguson Commission his office

By RASHAD Reporter ACTING Fergu- Commissioner and address from Dr Minnis Tribune Staff Anti-Gang of Police Anthony emedia.net yesterday said the Inveslast night, Maria is rrolle@tribun 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 TWO PAGE Minister Dr those of SEE and is urging residents be vigilant islands to

wrenching, awful second.

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PLP CASUAL HIRES COST EXTRA $10M

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 et Tribune Business services he included that were not The Bahamas ibunemedia.n report on his staff ister of public nhartnell@tr 1,700 workers Gen- that he instructedaddressing and National Insurance, in his original count.

December Progressive THE Attorneyslammed to begin work on June.

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 unac- former Christie to tackle $16,532,738 because because on’s tion “entirely failing administrati regime as SEE PAGE SIX they had tration for with the Christie public service ceptable”, warning “in great known weaknesses hiring of new that period. put The Bahamas necessary urgency. workers during danger”.

Trib- FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS told Carl Bethelhe had been une Business

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ROBERTS: PEET A ‘POLITICAL ENEMY’ FOR ANDROS BID

SIVE Liberal were obtaineda from a ther’s PROGRES The emails Bradley 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 d, Jerome Fitzgerald. from the governing tion, Science Tribune has to, to PLP supcompromise 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. last which his Bahamas. You are encourcontradict the saying with at Andros from hack is war” as faThe emails this week de- Mar clientele a reference by the if erts said “this writes, “I limousine company was vote aged to get of Viacom Minister, who his office to concerned the crowd toPerry Mr Fitzgerald matime. 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 business from the mul- 2013, sent to Mr to contact agents contact Gomez, adding would with for the I vote with limousine a hotel. or his family resort. is be meet your Mr Fitzgerald, Cur- for the for Mr Peet Movement. it if we couldbro- are ready to he or have 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 directly.” his tis and 1st 2013.” writes. really Director gressive Liberal ker for June - appears also Mr Fitzgerald indicates a request TWO & THREE indicated we cusmakes PAGES “As brokerage SEE for Marathon then start $20,000 He for limou- only cater to highend for readiness to 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 of Baha Mar of re- sinehe touted the level original developer the ex- the as the brokers citing Izmirlian, were necessary remain for the property. penses that cost of his fa- cord to cover the Healthcare hisMarsh Harbour tortured a ROLLE Centre has missed deadBy RASHAD Reporter tory, one of of shoddy Tribune Staff emedia.net lines and claimsall without rrolle@tribun ip, ity. of- workmansh ENT clear accountabil GOVERNM ed the anyThe facility’s original bankrupt. ficials commissionHealththe contractor went of Marsh Harbour n in Abaco yesConstructio care Centre centre began it as a longIngraham terday, touting to the island healthcare under the former awaited boost on. adminisin and the Christie Health administrati Christie adhealth centre When the e Staff tours the new tration’s National came to power, RASPBERRY Perry Christie the W. Carey/Tribun 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 the (CARS) Complex ed last year, commission

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Picture perfect

SEASO N ARRIV

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Christie denies ai cl ms on spending

RS IN THE SPOTL

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FORMER PM TELLS OF LAST TALK WITH NOTTAGE

WELLS

By RICARDO Reporter Tribune Staff nemedia.net rwells@tribu

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

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

IS • FORMER PM BY DAVIS TRIBUTE TO LEGACY OF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ FNM ALLEGATIONS COLLEAGUE • SAYS GOVT DID NOTHING WRONGT OVER $8M PAYOU REVIEW FOR • CALLS OF DOCUMENTS

ROLLE

By RASHAD Reporter Tribune Staff emedia.net rrolle@tribun Nottage’s DR Bernard forever be will “footprints the Bahamian etched on tal landscape” developmen work as a forthrough his of the Bahamer president of Athletic mas Association s, the Bahamas Association , the Medical Association and as a afMinDoctors’ Union for consumer and FORMER Prime the reminister Christie accept health to Perry ister 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 levelled e Staff tion Leader as Carey/Tribun the criticism recent on from accusations Mr Christie Davis said Wednesday. in questions on on 71, died administrati e spending, misfea- moves made by the government pandering at his administrati Dr Nottage, the Cleveby a party of irresponsibl WELLS at 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 “There was land Clinic.

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

Hitting back Minnis adminislight, as he SEE PAGE SIX ing more than challenges I have the SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a members of the controvergovern“One of the the nation’s te examination of the who led the $8m to tration concerning of more thanclean up as the person led the government “dispassiona sial pay out 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

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IT’S MAY 10

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LEAD IN MPBA

CHAM PIONS HIP

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Prime Minister rings the bellrace for election

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

His televisedOffice of the House you will also be dethe ing so, en live at the came mowho will form Prime Minister, Commis- ciding of the BahaPolice government five years. ments after Greenslade, for the next that mosioner Ellison as provost mas make will “You what ns in his capacity decision in pray proclamatio marshal, readHouse of As- mentous hope and 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 confident the and will fol- elections fair at our command.” be free and and peaceful SEE PAGE TWO low a spirited is consistent campaign that political with this country’s

TERED 170,000 HAVE REGIS NG DAY AHEAD OF POLLI

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

By RASHAD Reporter register, ridding Tribune Staff ised errors. emedia.net much-public enough staff to rrolle@tribun “We have “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 ry Com(Tuesday’s) tion, Parliamenta Hall said day’s accordance with the In Elections missioner Sherlyn ry pubParliamenta 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 connewspapers people registering last day of ing the date, place in when the on Monday, and times registration. 172,000 peo- stituencies papers must be There were to vote in the nomination delivered. ple registeredelection.

PAGE THREE SEE general 2012 ry Regis The Parliamenta Department istration

THE ELECTION

race is under

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

way - as pictured

MINNIS CALLS FOR ON DECK ALL HANDS VIRGIL

in this cartoon

from Jamaal

Rolle.

host JOHNSON Deal” with

By LAMECH Reporter “The Real

By KHRISNA Reporter A BROWN Ortland Bodie, Archdeaet Tribune Staff Deputy Chief bunemedia.n

By SANCHESK said this elecnemedia.net Reporter con Palacious “difficult” for ljohnson@tri kvirgil@tribu et Tribune Staff Sr was tion will be and the FNM Move- sdorsett@tribunemedia.n of OMAR Archer both the PLP is no FREE National convicted Dr Hubert N Archdea- and at this point there how yesterday senment Leader to harm a ANGLICA 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 heralded Election bring the governing Movement Davis seats in the will 30 SEE PAGE SEVEN win that will 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 THREE PAGE SEE

ES OVER BPL BANNISTER WORRITHE 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 finans mentarians Public Discloing The Tribuneprevent the whichmeet the requirement 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 to lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha re necessary ated there were He said there heads of agreement.he is al- infrastructu g”. that SEE PAGE FIVE are “outstandin yesterday, to marriage. some unwilling-n He added at new, alIn an interview in his dis- was also ready “looking including and apprehensio said ness Laroda ways,” Mr some persons SEE PAGE THREE ternative cussions with to make who are required they exthe disclosures,

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it must as HurriIsland is so devastated remained on the island home has with those whohomes last week. “Every The en Rag- discussion battered their has been destroyed. has been health facility on storm-strick 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. only most structures Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis to leave the for off this island,” rendered the bly reluctant stay here,” saw for the understanda home, 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 about the safety personal belongings.

We will have are concerned may have left behind. the Defence by the smell after the Category island.

“They and exacerbated of all es- whatever materials they the small southern a vessel here the same physical condition, the destruction still Force dispatch the cleanup and at The island’s carcasses and strongly urge those the Defence said.

Dr Minnis of rotting animalled Dr Minnis to small community can Force will try to commence SEE PAGE THREE there is security,” sential services, to leave until the ensure that time Island has been on Ragged Ragged Island and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following Dr devastated,” Dr Hubert Minnis

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TERS yesFIREFIGH a large blaze terday battled Providence at the New three weeks Landfill, nearly a massive that after tackling city dump fire at the nearly a month. burned for Charge of Fire Officer in Chief SuperinServices, Evans said tendent Walter is “not confire the the current any way to this nected” in and at previous blazedo not know time officials the fire. Howwhat caused t Minister ever Environmen told rehe Kenred Dorsett the site that porters at “sabotage” in said suspected He fire. the 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 a “huge” is wind he said the factor.

SEE PAGE SIX

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

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

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

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

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

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conversations among people. Its effectiveness has also been criticised by some, with the Fall River Police Department in Massachusetts reportedly ending its use of the technology last year after saying it worked less than 50 percent of the time. “...At the end of the day if we figure this is not working out, because we are going to do our study, if we figure we’re going to move in another direction, it’s not

going to cost us the life of the contract to move,” Mr Dames said.

“We can exit. There is an exit clause in these contracts. That’s the way we do business.”

Gary Bunyard, senior vice president public safety of ShotSpotter, said how agencies respond to the system’s data will determine its effectiveness.

“There have been a number of systems deployed around the (US),” he said. “Each agency tracks the efficacy of the system a little bit differently. Obviously we’re providing the role to help the agency determine the source of the gunfire. The real key is how they respond to that gun crime intelligence data, the kind of response the agency applies, the kind of resources that are apply to it so there are a variety of factors behind just the application of the technology that can affect the overall efficacy and performance. A lot of agencies want to track arrests, reductions and homicides, we really discourage them from limiting their view to those types of metrics and instead look more broadly at the effects of outcomes on the communities.”

PAGE 12, Thursday, January 24, 2019

By MARLENE DAUT Associate Professor of African Diaspora Studies, University of Virginia

M

ARVEL’S blockbuster “Black Panther,” which recently became the first superhero drama to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, takes place in the secret African Kingdom of Wakanda. The Black Panther, also known as T’Challa, rules over this imaginary empire – a refuge from the colonialists and capitalists who have historically impoverished the real continent of Africa.

But fans of the box-office hit might not realize that they don’t need to look to the make-believe world of the Black Panther to find a modern-day black kingdom that aspired to be a safe haven from racism and inequality.

The fictional kingdom has a real-life corollary in the historic Kingdom of Hayti, which existed as a sort of Wakanda of the Western Hemisphere from 1811 to 1820.

The Haitian Revolution led to the creation of the first free black state in the Americas. But the world was hardly expecting a former enslaved man named Henry Christophe to make himself the king of it.

Media accounts from the era, some of which I’ve collected in a digital archive, serve as a window into a brief period of time when the kingdom stood as a beacon of black freedom in a world of slavery. Yet, like Wakanda, the Kingdom of Hayti wasn’t a utopia for everyone.

On Jan. 1, 1804, an army led by former enslaved Africans in the French colony of Saint-Domingue staved off France’s attempt to bring back slavery, and declared themselves independent and free forever.

The leader of the revolutionaries, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, had defeated Napoleon’s famous army and made himself emperor of the newly-renamed Haiti.

But in October 1806, Dessalines was assassinated by political rivals, leading the country to be divided into two separate states: General Henry Christophe named himself president of the northern part of Haiti, while General Alexandre Pétion governed a completely separate republic in the southern and southwestern part of the country.

In March 1811, President Henry Christophe surprised everyone when he anointed himself King Henry I and renamed the northern republic, the Kingdom of Hayti.

Henry I soon had a full court of nobles that included dukes, barons, counts and knights to rival that of royal England.

Haiti’s first and only kingdom immediately attracted the attention of media outlets from around the world. How could there be a republic on one side of the island

THE TRIBUNE

Inside the Kingdom of Hayti, the Wakanda of the Western Hemisphere

AN 1811 wood engraving depicts the coronation of King Henry. and a monarchy on the other, they wondered? Was the new black king trying to mimic the same white sovereigns who had once enslaved his people, others asked?

The edicts establishing the royal order of Haiti were immediately translated into English and printed in Philadelphia, while many American and British newspapers and magazines ran celebrity profiles of the Haitian king.

One newspaper described him as “the elegant model of an Hercules.” Another described him as “a remarkably handsome, well-built man; with a broad chest, square shoulders, and an appearance of great muscular strength and activity.”

In 1813, construction of the opulent SansSouci Palace – meaning literally “without worry” – was completed.

The palace was partially destroyed by

“Your Majesty, in his paternal solicitude,” an earthquake in 1842; today, its remains have been designated a world heritage one edict reads, “wants for every Haytian, indiscriminately, the poor as well as the rich, UNESCO site. to have the ability to become the owner of During its heyday, the palace dazzled.

There were the elegantly manicured the lands of our former oppressors.”

Henry’s stated “paternal solicitude” even gardens and a unique, domed cathedral.

The structure was flanked by a dramatic extended to enslaved Africans. While the double staircase leading to the entryway Constitution of 1807 had announced that and two arches detailed with etchings and Haiti would not “disturb the regimes” of inscriptions. One acknowledged Henry, the colonial powers, royal Haitian guards rather than Jean-Jacques, as the country’s regularly intervened in the slave trade to free captives on foreign ships that entered “founder.”

Haitian waters. An October 1817 issue There were also two painted crowns of the Gazette celebrated the Haion the principal palace façade, tian military’s capture of a slave each of which stood at 16 feet ship and subsequent release tall. The one on the right of 145 of “our unfortunate read “To the First Monbrothers, victims of greed arch Crowned in the New and the odious traffic in World.” The one on the human flesh.” left said “The Beloved Yet life in the Kingdom Queen Reigns Forever of Hayti was far from Over Our Hearts.” perfect. Henry’s political King Henry lived in rivals noted that people the palace with his wife, frequently defected to the Queen Marie-Louise, and southern Republic of Haiti, his three children, Prince where they told stories of Victor Henry, and the prin- I am reborn from my ashes’ was the monarch’s favoritism cesses, Améthyste and the motto of Henry I, the former and the aristocracy’s abuse Athénaire. slave who became king. of power.

Newspapers around the Worse, Henry’s famous fortress, the world reprinted articles from the monarchy’s official newspaper, the Gazette Citadelle Laferrière, was, according to Royale d’Hayti, detailing the royal fam- some accounts, built with forced labor. For ily’s lavish dinners, replete with bombastic this reason, Haitians have long debated speeches and lengthy toasts to famous con- whether the imposing structure, which was temporary figures such as King George III restored in 1990, ought to symbolize the of England, U.S. President James Madi- liberty of post-independence Haiti.

Henry’s dreams of a free black kingdom son, the King of Prussia, and the “friend of humanity,” the “immortal” British aboli- would not outlive him. On Aug. 15, 1820, the king suffered a debilitating stroke. tionist Thomas Clarkson.

The Gazette also recounted the deca- Physically impaired – and fearing a fracturdence of Queen Marie-Louise’s August ing administration plagued by the desertion 1816 official birthday celebration, which of some its most prominent members – lasted for 12 days and had 1,500 people in Haiti’s first and only king killed himself on attendance. On the final day of the party, the night of Oct. 8, 1820.

Despite some questions about living 12 cannons fired after the Duke of Anse toasted the queen as “the perfect model of conditions in the Kingdom of Hayti, its ruler can still be recognized as a visionary. mothers and wives.”

There was much more to King Henry’s Even one of his most ardent rivals from the south, Charles Hérard Dumesle, who reign than luxurious parties.

On March 28, 1811, King Henry installed often referred to Christophe as a “despot,” a constitutional monarchy, a move lauded nonetheless praised the remarkable “new by many in the British elite. The famous social order” outlined in the Code Henry.

British naturalist Joseph Banks champi- Dumesle appeared to lament that the oned Henry’s 1812 book of laws, titled the king’s “civil laws were the formula for a “Code Henry,” calling it “the most moral social code that existed only on paper.”

For all those who still dream of black association of men in existence.”

“Nothing that white men have been able liberation, strong – if ultimately flawed – leaders, like both the King of Hayti and to arrange is equal to it,” he added.

Banks admired the code’s detailed reor- Black Panther, have always been central to ganization of the economy, from one based these visions.

King Henry was even depicted as a sort on slave labor to one – at least in theory – based on free labor. This transformation of superhero in his time. As one article was wholly fitting for the formerly enslaved from 1816 noted of Henry, “History demman-turned-king, whose motto was “I am onstrates that no people has ever done anything great entirely by themselves; it reborn from my ashes.”

The code provided for shared compensa- is only ever in collaboration with the great tion between proprietors and laborers at “a men who become elevated in their midst full fourth the gross product, free from all that they raise themselves up to the glory duties,” and it also contained provisions for of accomplishing extraordinary deeds.” the redistribution of any land that had pretheconversation.com viously belonged to slave owners.

A WOMAN climbs the stairs on the remains of Sans-Souci Palace in 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 13

THE MV Yantian Express, a 320-metre container vessel, on fire. It has been rerouted to the Freeport Container Port.

Burning container ship heading to Grand Bahama from page one

According to reports, the ship was positioned some 1,900 km southeast of Halifax when this occurred.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Peter Ziobrowski, a Halifaxbased shipping blogger, said recent photographs and updated information from Hapag-Lloyd had revealed the blaze had been brought under control by tug vessels equipped with water cannons in recent weeks.

He said those same updates suggested that the ship’s first 12 bays, and some of the cargo in the two holds beneath those bays, have already sustained some level of damage.

Mr Ziobrowski, the brainchild behind the website Halifax Shipping News, has provided detailed reports of the dilemma since news first broke that a few containers on the vessel was under threat.

In one of his latest updates, Mr Ziobrowski highlighted that operators have pegged the Freeport Container Port as “the best option” moving forward.

“It appears the container caught fire back on the 3rd and the crew attempted to fight it, but had to retreat,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “It was either on the 5th or the 6th when tug boats were called in to assist.”

In a more detailed update posted to his blog on January 6, Mr Ziobrowski wrote: “Twelve of the crew have been transferred to the Smit Nicobar, the remainder will be taken off the ship. The Maersk Mobiliser is planning to tow the ship to Halifax.

Weather has improved, and firefighting from the Smit Nicobar is underway.”

He added in a subsequent update that day: “The remainder of the crew has been safely removed to the Smit Nicobar. HapagLloyd reports all crew are unharmed.

Firefighting efforts from the tug are ongoing. The ship is now reported to be 800 (nautical miles) off Nova Scotia.”

All 22 crew members onboard the vessel were evacuated.

In an update on January 20, Mr Ziobrowski reported: “The tow has been underway since the 16th,” referring to a renewed effort to find the vessel some level of refuge after earlier plans for Halifax docking fell-through.

“They have covered 270 nautical miles, making 70 nautical miles per day.

Halifax no longer appears to be the destination – one of the tugs is showing Freeport, Bahamas as the destination, and the Shanghai Trader arrived in Savannah, Georgia today.”

The Shanghai Trader is container ship dispatched

by Hapag-Lloyd to collect salvageable cargo from the MV Yantian Express.

The post concluded: “The reason for the change in location is unclear. Certainly not having to deal with North Atlantic weather could be one factor, another possibility is that Canada refused a place of refuge request. I have requested status on this with Transport Canada, and will be attempting to figure out the ships new destination.”

The very next day, Monday, January 21, Mr Ziobrowski reported that tug boats had definitively

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given their destination as Freeport, posting: “Maersk Mobiliser and Sovereign (the tug vessels) are giving their destination as Freeport, Bahamas. Horizon Star is Headed back to Halifax, with an ETA of the 25th. No word on a place of refuge from (Transport Canada) or the (United States Coast Guard) as of yet.

“Freeport does have a sizeable container terminal, equipped for trans-shipment so it’s certainly a plausible location,” the post concluded.

Five senior officers attached to the Yantian Express, including the captain, were recently returned to the ship to supervise its journey to its final destination.

In the company’s latest release on Tuesday, HapagLloyd wrote: “Professional salvors continue to assess the situation based upon relevant factors such as safety and operational items, in order to best determine the vessel’s next port of call.”

The release added: “Attention: At this point in time we would ask that all US consignees and brokers retract their US Customs entries, if previously made for the MV Yantian Express on the intended port calls. This should be performed as soon as possible, however no later than Monday, January 28, 2019.”

Attempts by The Tribune yesterday to get clarification from administrators at the Freeport Container Port were unsuccessful.

Representatives from the company had promised to address reports when initially contacted, but had not done so up to press time yesterday.

GN-2172

PAGE 14, Thursday, January 24, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

EX-WHITE HOUSE LAWYER COHEN DELAYING TESTIMONY TO CONGRESS WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will not testify before a House committee next month as scheduled, his adviser said yesterday, depriving Democrats for now of a prime opportunity to scrutinise Trump, his links to Russia and payments to buy the silence of a porn star.

Cohen indefinitely delayed his February 7 appearance before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. He blamed threats from Trump and the president’s attorney-spokesman, Rudy Giuliani, and cited his own ongoing cooperation in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia

investigation. Cohen adviser Lanny Davis said the decision was made on advice of Cohen’s lawyers. “This is a time where Mr. Cohen had to put his family and their safety first,” Davis said in a statement.

The statement did not detail the threats. But Trump and Giuliani have publicly urged the Justice Department to investigate Cohen’s father-in-law, insinuating he was part of some unspecific criminal activity. Trump, for example, told Fox News this month that Cohen “should give information maybe on his father-in-law, because that’s the one that people want to look at.”

Asked about the claim of a threat, Trump accused Cohen of lying. “He’s only been threatened

by the truth, and he doesn’t want to do that, probably for me or other of his clients,” Trump said at the White House. “He has other clients also, I assume, and he doesn’t want to tell the truth for me or other of his clients.”

Trump’s fixer-turned-foe is a central figure in Mueller’s investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump’s campaign. Cohen also played a pivotal role in buying the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who both alleged they had sex with Trump. The president has denied their claims.

Cohen pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations and other offenses connected to the payments. Federal prosecutors have said Trump directed

LAWYER MICHAEL COHEN

Cohen to make the payments during the campaign.

Newly empowered Democrats wanted to make Cohen the first high-profile witness since they regained control of the House and have promised an aggressive effort to investigate the president.

It is unclear how long Cohen is seeking to delay his testimony, but Cohen “looks forward to testifying at the appropriate time,” Davis said. Cohen is scheduled to report to prison on March 6 to begin a three-year sentence.

Democrats have suggested they may subpoena Cohen to compel his testimony and the committee’s chairman, Rep. Elijah Cummings, said Cohen could be brought from prison to appear before Congress.

Pelosi blocking Trump’s State of the Union address WASHINGTON Associated Press

IN A high-stakes case of dare and double-dare, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi served notice that President Donald Trump won’t be allowed to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday after the president said he was aiming to show up even though he was not welcome.

Pelosi told Trump yesterday that the House won’t approve a resolution allowing him to come until the government reopens.

“That’s a great blotch on the incredible country that we all love,” Trump shot back, calling it a “very, very negative part of history.”

Pelosi’s snub confronted Trump with the need to find another way to put his views to the nation — one lacking the spectacle and history afforded by a State of the Union speech in the House chamber, the traditional venue.

“We’ll do something in the alternative,” he said, while branding Democrats “radicalised.”

It was the latest round of brinkmanship between the president and Pelosi as they remain locked in an increasingly personal standoff over Trump’s demand for border wall money that has forced a partial government shutdown, now in its second month.

Pelosi asked Trump last week to make other plans but stopped short of denying him the chamber for his address. She issued that denial Wednesday after Trump told her he wanted to go ahead with it — in essence, calling her bluff.

In a letter to Pelosi earlier yesterday, Trump dismissed her previous suggestion that the speech be postponed or delivered in writing due to security issues related to the partial government shutdown. Declaring there are “no security concerns,” Trump said he planned to fulfill his “Constitutional duty” to report to Congress on the state of the union.

“It would be so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location,” Trump’s letter said.

But Pelosi made her decision final not long after. She told him the House “will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened.”

The president cannot speak in front of a joint session of Congress

SPEAKER of the House Nancy Pelosi, above, responds questions after officially postponing President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address until the government is fully reopened.

without both chambers’ explicit permission. A resolution needs to be approved by both chambers specifying the date and time for receiving an address from the president.

White House officials have been working on a backup plan to have him give the speech somewhere else if Democrats blocked access to the House chamber.

Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said before Pelosi’s letter was released that it would be “remarkably petty” for the speaker to deny Trump the location.

Each side has been accusing the other of pettiness since Pelosi raised doubts about the speech and

Trump followed up by revoking her use of a military aircraft, thereby canceling a congressional delegation visit to Afghanistan.

Trump said the Homeland Security Department and the Secret Service assured him there would be “absolutely no problem regarding security” for the State of the Union and “they have since confirmed this publicly.”

Officials have been considering alternative venues for the speech, including a rally-style event, an Oval Office address, a speech in the Senate chamber, and even a visit to the Mexican border. Multiple versions of the speech were being drafted to suit the final venue.

• A STRONG majority of Americans blame President Trump for the record-long government shutdown and reject his primary rationale for a border wall, according to a new poll that shows the turmoil in Washington is dragging his approval rating to its lowest level in more than a year.

Overall, 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance in a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That’s down from 42 percent a month earlier and nears the lowest mark of his two-year presidency.

The president’s approval among Republicans remains close to 80 percent, but his standing with independents is among its lowest points of his time in office.

The drop in approval comes as Trump begins the third year of his presidency under the weight of the longest government shutdown in US history, an international trade war that’s straining the global economy and new revelations about his push for a real estate deal in Russia during his 2016 campaign.

I’M PRESIDENT, DECLARES GUAIDO AMID PROTESTS CARACAS, Venezuela Associated Press

VENEZUELAN opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in a defiant speech yesterday before masses of anti-government demonstrators who took to the streets to demand President Nicolas Maduro’s removal — a bold move that was immediately recognised by the Trump administration and a growing number of other Western nations.

President Donald Trump called on Maduro to resign and said the US would use the “full weight” of its economic and diplomatic power to push for the restoration of Venezuela’s democracy. Canada as well as Brazil, Colombia and several other Latin American nations followed suit in throwing their support behind Guaido.

“The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law,” Trump said in a statement.

Maduro responded by cutting off diplomatic relations with the United States, the biggest importer of Venezuelan oil, and said American diplomats had 72 hours to leave the country.

“Before the people and nations of the world, and as constitutional president. .... I’ve decided to break diplomatic and political relations with the imperialist US government,” Maduro told a crowd of red-shirted supporters gathered at the presidential palace. “Don’t trust the gringos. They don’t have friends or loyalties. They only have interests, guts and the ambition to take Venezuela’s oil, gas and gold.”

The challenge to Maduro’s rule came two weeks after Maduro’s decision to ignore international opposition and take the presidential oath to a second six-year term widely considered illegitimate after his main opponents were banned from running against him.

FIVE FATALLY SHOT INSIDE FLORIDA JIMMY PAGE’S DRAGON GUITAR BANK, SUSPECT NOW IN CUSTODY REBORN AFTER 50 YEARS ON ICE FLORIDA Associated Press

LOS ANGELES Associated Press

A GUNMAN who opened fire inside a Florida bank yesterday afternoon killed five people before surrendering to SWAT negotiators, police said.

Zephen Xaver, 21, was arrested after the shooting at a SunTrust branch, Sebring police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.

“Today’s been a tragic day in our community,” Hogland said. “We’ve suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime.”

A man called police and reported that he had fired shots inside the bank, Hoglund said. Initial negotiations failed to persuade the barricaded man to leave the bank, so the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team entered

AFTER five decades, Jimmy Page’s dragon has reemerged from its lair. Fender instruments yesterday gave the public its first look at its recreation of a Telecaster guitar that Page once painted with a dragon, a long-lost piece of six-string history that marked the guitar hero’s last days in the Yardbirds and first days in Led Zeppelin.

The instrument with the psychedelic green-and-red serpent on its body represents “a pivotal moment for the guitar and music,” said Paul Waller, the master builder who worked side-byside with Page to make him a spot-on match of the guitar before making 50 more by hand to sell to the public.

The reboot was hatched when Page was looking through photographs for a book celebrating last year’s 50th anniversary of Led

LAW enforcement officials take cover outside a SunTrust Bank branch yesterday. the building to continue negotiations, and the man eventually surrendered, he said.

Police didn’t say what charges Xaver would face or indicate a motive.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was in the region for an infrastructure tour and traveled to Sebring after news of the shooting broke. He said the Florida Department of Law

Enforcement would assist Sebring police and the Highlands sheriff’s office in any way possible.

“Obviously, this is an individual who needs to face very swift and exacting justice,” DeSantis said of the gunman.

An FBI mobile command unit arrived at the bank Wednesday evening to join the investigation.

A RECREATION of a Telecaster guitar Jimmy Page, inset, once painted with a dragon, a long-lost piece of six-string history.

Zeppelin. The dragon guitar, which he says was once his “Excalibur,” kept popping up in them.

The 1959 Telecaster, pre-paint, had been a gift from fellow former Yardbird bandmate Jeff Beck.

He would use the guitar to write and record songs Page first decorated it with mirrors, then pulled out poster paints and used his

art-school skills to summon the dragon. But a clueless house-sitter, not thinking much of Page’s painting, put his own mosaic artwork over the dragon and presented it to Page as a gift.

Page said it was all he could do not to hit the guy over the head with it. Instead, he stripped it bare and angrily threw it into storage, where it sat for 50 years

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, January 24, 2019, PAGE 15

HAITIANS SENT BACK FROM GB

SIXTY-TWO Haitians were repatriated from Freeport, Grand Bahama to Portau-Prince, Haiti on board a Bahamasair charter flight under heavy escort by law enforcement officers yesterday morning.

According to the Department of Immigration, 33 of the migrants were arrested in New Providence for various immigration offences and 29 were apprehended in Grand Bahama. Twenty-five of the

Grand Bahama group were arraigned earlier this week in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court.

The group was repatriated after 8am.

“In an effort to economise, the New Providence enforcement team along with officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force joined Grand Bahama’s enforcement team to execute this repatriation exercise,” the Department of Immigration said.

BUCKET

20

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(INCL. VAT)

8 PIECES OF CHICKEN 1 LARGE FRIES 4 BISCUITS

The Tribune Always uncovering more

PAGE 16, Thursday, January 24, 2019

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