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The Tribune

Volume: 118 No.52, FEBRUARY 9, 2021

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WELL, WELL, WELL - BPC STRIKE OUT

Activists celebrate as drilling finds no viable oil deposits

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Petroleum Company announced yesterday that it did not find commercial volumes of oil after drilling a well off Andros.

News of the failure caused BPC’s stock to take a more than 60 percent hit yesterday knocking millions off the value of the company.

In a statement, the company said that some oil was encountered as indicated from “(logging while drilling) tools, gas chromatography and mud logs.”

“Drilling has now ceased, the well having reached a depth of approximately 3,900 metres without incident, and the well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned,” the company said.

“Over the coming weeks, BPC will undertake a detailed evaluation of all technical information gathered during drilling.

In this context, BPC will review the appropriate way forward for future monetisation of its business in The Bahamas, in particular with a view to renewal of a farmin process.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

CULMER INSISTS SELECTION PROCESS IS ABOVE BOARD

By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer has defended his party’s candidate selection process amid complaints the party’s leader is getting personally involved.

He was contacted after a high-ranking FNM council member complained to The

Tribune – under the condition of anonymity – about Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis allegedly “cherry picking” in the candidate selection process, adding there is infighting about some incumbents being denied nominations.

“That is nonsense,” Mr Culmer said. “It’s quite obvious that person was not present at the last council SEE PAGE THREE

‘FORGET THE LAW - YOUR FUTURE LIES IN MEDIA’

SEE PAGE EIGHT

24 HOURS TWO MORE MURDERED

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating two new homicides after a man’s body was found on Cowpen Road yesterday and another man died in hospital on Sunday after being stabbed.

In the most recent incident, police were called to a scene off Cowpen Road shortly before 5pm yesterday where a man’s unresponsive body was found lying on the ground.

Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene.

SEE PAGE TWO

‘ROAD RAGE KNIFEMEN’ JONATHAN GRIFFIN, 21, and a 17-year-old outside court yesterday. Both are accused with murder after a stabbing that left a man dead following an argument after a car accident last week. See page seven for the full story.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

OFFICER HELD ON INAGUA RAPE CHARGE

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net A ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force officer accused of raping a colleague has been “relieved of his duties” pending a police investigation into the allegations, the RBDF confirmed yesterday.

In a press statement, RBDF said the incident took place in Matthew Town, Inagua.

RBDF officials also said the alleged victim has already been seen by a local doctor in the community and is expected to receive counselling.

Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrator has since been placed into police custody.

“With regret, the RBDF acknowledges an alleged rape involving an officer and marine at Matthew Town, Great Inagua. The matter was immediately turned over to the local

police for further investigation, and the victim was seen by a medical doctor on the island,” the RBDF said.

“The alleged perpetrator was immediately relieved of his duties and will be extracted from the island today via police air support and will be placed on administrative leave. Counselling led by the defence force’s chaplain is being prepared for the alleged victim, and any of the other SEE PAGE SEVEN

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

VACCINES PASSPORTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Government is “exploring” whether to adopt so-called COVID19 “vaccine passports” in a bid to make two-way travel involving The Bahamas easier, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

FATE TURNS FOR A HEROINE REVILED NOW A PRISONER

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

A BODY is taken from the scene on a track road off Cowpen Road yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

24 hours two more murdered from page one

Police said the victim appears to be in his late 20s early 30s.

The man had head injuries and his body appeared to have been recently dumped in the area. The matter is being treated as a homicide.

Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters said police had no information on the suspect’s identity. He asked anyone with a missing relative to call the police at 502-9991.

“If someone is aware that a family member, particularly a male, is missing or hasn’t been seen for the last 12 to 24 hours, to let the police know and possibly be able to identify this victim,”

he said.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s victim was identified by relatives as 29-year-old Jayvon Edwards.

Police said shortly before 9pm on Sunday, officers received reports of a stabbing at the intersection of Second Street and Palm Tree Avenue. A man was taken to the hospital in a private vehicle where he later died.

The victim’s aunt, Minister Berthamae Gardiner, was distraught when The Tribune visited the scene. She described her nephew as “mannerly and respectful”.

“I didn’t sleep last night.

It had me in a depressed mood all night and all morning,” she said.

Another family member

said relatives suspect that the attack was connected to a “toxic” romantic relationship the deceased had.

When asked yesterday if the incident was the result of a domestic dispute, ASP Peters said it is possible. However, he said this motive had to be confirmed after interviewing people who were allegedly involved in the matter. No one had been taken into police custody up to press time.

These homicides follow the stabbing death of a man after a car accident on Fifth Street and Palm Tree Avenue last week and a murder in Harbour Island on Friday.

The total murder count for the year to date now stands at 15.

A FAMILY member speaking to The Tribune yesterday about the stabbing incident on Sunday that occurred at the Fish Pot on Palm Tree Avenue last week. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THREE ARRESTED AFTER HIGH-POWERED WEAPONS FOUND

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A JOINT surveillance by law enforcement officers in Grand Bahama has led to the arrest of three men and the discovery illegal high-powered weapons and ammunition in the Freeport area.

Officers of the Royal

Bahamas Police Force’s plainclothes branch, assisted by Bahamas Customs Canine Unit, executed a search warrant shortly after 9am on Monday at a residence on Belgrave Lane in the Back of Town area.

While conducting surveillance, officers saw three men getting out of a vehicle with a firearm.

Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported that two of the suspects proceeded down a service track road and placed the firearm into the bushes.

“Officers then immediately broke surveillance and ran into the direction of the suspects. The suspects upon seeing the officers then fled,” she said.

Mr Pinder said the

suspects were captured and taken back to the bushy area where officers found a black AR15 rifle with a scope attached.

With the assistance of a Customs Canine dog, officers also found a black M16/M4 model with 100 5.56mm rounds of ammunition in the magazine drum.

Supt Pinder said that the

suspects – ages 23, 28, and 32 years – of Freeport, were arrested and taken into police custody.

She said that two of the suspects are known to police and are on bail on murder and attempted murder charges.

In Abaco, police also discovered a firearm and ammunition in bushes.

Supt Pinder reported that

shortly after 11am, officers of the Abaco District, acting on information, went to Murphy Town, where they discovered a black Matrix Aerospace 5.56 assault rifle, with a black magazine containing 19 rounds of ammunition.

She said no arrest was made in that matter. However, investigations are continuing.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 9, 2021, PAGE 3

Culmer insists selection process is above board from page one meeting. The process is, every person who wants to run, their name goes before the vetting committee, who then makes recommendations to the executive committee and then that committee, which consists of party officers, executives selected by the party and some members of Parliament and some from the Senate, completes its work and sends it to council to vote for or against the recommendations.

“At the last meeting, candidate names came in from the vetting committee and the executive committee and all were approved by the council. The leader did not point towards any candidate. It seems like the person giving you this information has their own agenda. It’s not like how they are trying to make it seem.”

Mr Culmer’s comments came after East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest, who is FNM deputy leader, told constituents in a note that he had “been advised by the party leader that I will not receive the nomination for East Grand Bahama.” Mr Turnquest said he assumes the party’s council “will give final confirmation or otherwise on that decision at its next sitting”.

“Peter Turnquest’s situation has not come through any of the committees as yet,” Mr Culmer said yesterday.

“We have not made any decisions on anything to do with him. I can’t say if Turnquest was premature in sending out the note to his constituency officers.

ABACO MP: I’M STEPPING BACK AT NEXT ELECTION

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CENTRAL and South Abaco MP James Albury says he is not seeking re-election but will instead step back from frontline politics to do what’s best for his family.

Mr Albury, who won 66 percent of the vote in 2017, is the parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco.

He told The Tribune yesterday he informed Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis of his intention not to run earlier this year, insisting it was a personal move and not one the Free National Movement forced him to make.

He said Central and South Abaco residents deserve an MP who can give them their full attention, something he “certainly” can’t do.

Whatever conversation went on between Turnquest and the leader, we don’t know about it. I don’t know what was said. That never came to the executive or the vetting committee or the council.

“I can’t say if Turnquest and (Dr Duane) Sands will receive nominations from the party. I am only one person. As the chairman for the council, I will put the question to the floor and leave it to the members to vote up or down. I cannot try to decide or speculate on something.”

The revelation about Mr Turnquest comes a little over two months after his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance when he was mentioned in a Supreme

GB’S PLP CANDIDATES NAMED ‘IN TWO WEEKS’

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PLP LEADER Philip “Brave” Davis said the party should announce its Grand Bahama candidates in the next two weeks.

He said the party has interviewed over 20 aspirants for Grand Bahama.

“Some of them are here with me as you can see, and we at the Candidates Committee are deliberating and assessing, and hopefully, within the next two weeks, you should be hearing about the decisions of the Candidate’s Committee and the General Council,” he said.

Last week, the PLP announced 18 candidates for the next general election.

He spoke to The Tribune while he was in Grand Bahama on Saturday.

During the trip, he distributed care packages to many residents in the Freeport and Eight Mile Rock areas.

Deeply moved by the expression of appreciation from residents, he said the event “drives home the desperation and despair that is

settling in Grand Bahama.”

While speaking at PLP House in Freeport, Mr Davis said: “We in the PLP party recognise the pain and suffering that the residents of Grand Bahama are going through and continue to go through that we needed to bring some relief to them.

“And, it is our appreciation and understanding and sensitivity to the needs they have. We hope we have brought some relief; it is not all I know they would need, but it is some token of what we can do for them.

“We want GB to know we are here for them and continue to be here for them and hope to be able to bring relief and help that they deservedly need.

“We did a similar exercise in Eight Mile Rock, and the residents were very appreciative for what we did; they expressed their appreciation. And, we were deeply moved to be able to do so, and deeply moved by the expressions of thanks for what we have done.

And it drives home the desperation and despair that is settling in GB, and we need to alleviate that more urgently now than ever.”

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

JAMES ALBURY, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco and MP for Central and South Abaco.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/ Tribune Staff

Court lawsuit relating to an alleged $27m fraud. He is not listed as a defendant in the matter, however, and has maintained his innocence.

There is also speculation that Elizabeth MP Dr Duane Sands, who resigned as health minister last year, will not get a nomination.

Dr Sands has been critical of the Minnis administration since leaving his post, but was recently seen campaigning in FNM paraphernalia in his district.

The FNM council member who spoke with The Tribune suggested there is more drama going on behind the scenes.

“Right now we are in a serious state in the FNM,” the source said. “Constituency officers and members

“I would have met with the Prime Minister earlier this year and given him my reasons as to why I didn’t want to run again.

He accepted that and was very understanding. There was no pressure from any corner to force me out, this was a strictly personal decision.”

Mr Albury, 27, said ever since he was elected, he considered whether a position in frontline politics was something he wanted to continually pursue.

“Politics is a very stressful, overwhelming field to be involved in,” he said. “It’s always been a highpressure job, which was fine, I knew and prepared for that. But my wife and I want to start a family of our own and want to pursue other avenues in our professional and social lives.”

Asked if he enjoyed his time on the frontline, he said: “In retrospect, politics is a really difficult

are fighting to have certain incumbents run. The leader has taken this on personally and is seriously taking away the party’s democracy. I’ve never seen our party like this before. He is cherry picking because of his personal feelings.

“He is trying to cut off certain incumbents before their names reach the council level for approval. The leader cannot and should not be making any ‘one man’ decisions as to who or who does not represent each constituency, especially when the constituency officers have made it clear either through a vote or verbally that person is who they want to run.”

The source claimed there are many constituency officials who have called and

field to be in. Thousands of people depend on the decisions you make and the actions you take.

“I’d say I enjoyed it. I’m still very passionate about politics and national service. It’s something I’m really grateful for, that I had the opportunity to do this.”

Mr Albury said Hurricane Dorian, which ravaged Abaco in 2019, affected his decision.

“It weighed on me,” he said.

“Not only in my constituency, but in my personal life. My family lost just about everything in the storm.

We lost quite a bit as well. It was a damaging experience. It took a great deal from us. The pressure in the constituency turned way up and there were so many more problems overnight. It caused a lot of pressure and a lot of things that needed to be done. It was not the only reason for my decision, but it played a factor just like every other in my life.”

told the council members and Mr Culmer that they want certain incumbents to run and “no questions were asked and requests were met”.

However, the FNM source said Dr Minnis is picking out those “he does not like” and rejecting them from the fold.

“We are in a pathetic state,” the source continued. “We are looking down the barrel of election and the leader is playing petty politics, putting his hand in the jar and pulling out those he has personal vendettas against. It’s all about him as far as he is concerned.

He is not putting our party first. The FNM is in serious trouble.”

On Sunday night, Dr Minnis released a statement

BOXES of food being given out by the PLP in Freeport on Saturday.

saying the party will have a mix of new entrants and incumbents in the next election.

“Some people who ran in 2017 will not run in the next general election,” Dr Minnis said.

“The party is grateful for the service of all incumbents who are moving on.

They have been instrumental in helping our administration advance policies to empower Bahamians.

“There will be much public speculation as decisions are made as to who will and who will not run.

Out of respect and courtesy, our party will first privately inform those incumbents who will not be nominated again before we make public announcements.”

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

As MP Turnquest heads to exit door, PM arrives in GB

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis flew into Grand Bahama yesterday afternoon to meet with executives of the East Grand Bahama Constituency Association.

The Tribune was at the Western Air terminal at Grand Bahama International Airport around 4pm when Dr Minnis’ flight touchdown in Freeport.

When asked the purpose of his trip to Grand Bahama and whether it was for the selection of candidates, the Prime Minister denied that. “No, I am not here for that,” he said, walking quickly to his vehicle.

The Tribune later learned Dr Minnis was in meeting with the executives of EGB Constituency

Association at 6pm at the Freeport Bible Church.

Mr Turnquest revealed in a note over the weekend to his constituents that the party leader advised him that he would not be receiving the party’s nomination for East Grand Bahama.

The Tribune went out to get reaction from constituents about the news.

Lloyd W Miller, a resident of East Grand Bahama, claimed Mr Turnquest was not a good MP. “I am going to be honest to you about Peter Turnquest, he didn’t help me all; he did nothing for me,” he said. “I been to him over and over to help me fix my roof and my roof still ain’t fix.”

Mr Miller, a taxi driver, said he voted for the FNM and supported Mr Turnquest’s campaign.

“You think when you vote for the party you are

HERBERT Seymour said he thought Peter Turnquest was “a good MP” and that the FNM should give him a second chance.

going to get help, but I did not get no help even though I vote for him. But people who did not vote FNM get help, and I ain’t get none.

I been with them over and over and they send me about the place - go here, go there, and I never get help from nobody.”

“I don’t care whether he (Mr Turnquest) gets the nomination, and if he does, I ain’t voting for him,” he said. Peter Turnquest is not a good MP at all.”

Mr Miller noted that he has also voted in the past for the PLP and has gotten no help from them either.

East Grand Bahama constituent Herbert Seymour says he thought Mr Turnquest is “a good MP”.

“I support him, and I think he is a good MP. I feel bad and they should not do him like that. They should give him a second chance; they should try him again in EGB. He did a good job as a MP,” Mr Seymour said.

When asked who felt would be a good candidate for East Grand Bahama, Mr Seymour said: “I can’t say who would be a good candidate for that area because I was voting for Peter,” he said.

Livingston “Winky” Butler, who is not a constituent of EGB, also shared his view on situation.

“I don’t live in EGB, but according to what I see, I don’t think he did a good job. People may think because I am on the other side, I am saying this, but in the chat groups I heard he was leaving to go to Nassau to run,” he said.

When contacted yesterday, constituency chairman Derek Kingsaid: “My reaction is that it is a fluid situation so I have no comment at this time.”

PM’S WIFE TAKES UP CARICOM APPOINTMENT PATRICIA Minnis, wife of the Prime Minister, has been appointed new chair of the Spouse of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN).

In a brief statement, the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “under her strong leadership, the growth of awareness on matters pertaining to children and women will reach new heights.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended Mrs Minnis on her accomplishments and wished her success during her tenure at her new post.

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis arriving in Grand Bahama yesterday.

Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff

PEOPLE ‘MAY NEED A BOOSTER SHOT’ FOR COVID TEMPLE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 2021-2022 Temple Christian High School will hold its Entrance Examination on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at the school on Shirley Street from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon for students wishing to enter grades 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Application forms are available at the High School Office. The application fee is twentyfive dollars ($25). Application forms should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, February 12, 2021.

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

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Chief Medical Officer Dr Delon Brennen said it is likely that people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 this year may need a booster shot in the future to continue their protection against the disease.

Dr Brennen made the revelation yesterday while on the Guardian Radio show Morning Blend, where he talked about the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and its impending rollout in the country.

When asked if he thought it is possible that a vaccinated person would have to get a COVID-19 jab again next year, he said, “I do actually.”

“It isn’t just a variant thing it is how long the protection from either native infection and/or vaccination has shown up around the world.

“So when you look at once someone has actually been infected with COVID-19, they have natural immunity to the vaccine.

So they produce their own antibodies and the like that tends to last up to three to four months.

“So we’ve seen re-infections from COVID-19 specifically because this has been going on for more

TOTAL CASES TOTAL DEATHS

8,289 176 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES SUNDAY 2 CASES ELEUTHERA PENDING

TOTAL TESTS

62,738

1 1

HOSPITALISED

12

than a year. We’ve seen people who have been infected that have been re-infected.

“So it is entirely possible that if you get vaccinated now you have protection for some undetermined amount of time.

“We don’t know exactly what’s that going to be yet but it is very likely that going on into the future

CASES IN ICU

0

RECOVERED

6,837

that you will have to receive let’s call the booster doses or a dose of you know a vaccine that covers the strains that are predominant in your region or in your hemisphere in the next season like we do for influenza.”

When contacted about these comments, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease

Programme at the Ministry of Health Dr Nikkiah Forbes pointed out to The Tribune that data is still needed on the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy against emerging strains of the virus.

“So what we know thus far is that with emerging new variants that not all of the vaccines are fully efficacious against these strains,” she said.

“They may have some efficacy, but we already know with certain strains like the South African strain that the efficacy in these vaccines is reduced somewhat.

“It may become fully possible that boosters are developed that will help to cover the newer strains that may emerge.

“This is something that is being looked at and worked on and the other thing is we still need data on the time immunity will last for the COVID vaccine.”

Still she said there is a silver lining, explaining these vaccines are still efficacious against many COVID-19 strains and there is evidence that these vaccines can prevent severe and symptomatic COVID-19.

The country recorded two COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the nation’s toll to 8,289.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 9, 2021, PAGE 5

Well, well, well - BPC strike out from page one The company said its operational activity in the near term will now focus on work in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Simon Potter, BPC’s CEO, said: “I am proud to say that after many years of diligent effort we did what we said we would do: BPC drilled the Perseverance #1 well safely and without incident, testing for the presence of hydrocarbons in the southern seas of The Bahamas. This was the very specific objective of the well – not a scientific or

geologic experiment, but to seek hydrocarbons in commercial quantities.

“In a technical sense, the well successfully validated the existence of oil, seal and reservoir. Together, these factors verify the existence of a working lower cretaceous petroleum system and sequences of reservoir quality within the Aptian, pointing to the overall hydrocarbon potential of other untested prospects captured by BPC’s extensive acreage holding.

“However, at the Perseverance #1 location, the volumes of oil encountered are not commercial.

“Perseverance #1 is the first exploration well in The Bahamas for decades, and the data gathered from this well will prove invaluable in providing a modern analysis as to the regional potential of the petroleum system, which, in our view, reduces technical risk for any future/ further exploration in this new frontier province. The company will proceed to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the data derived from the well, as we believe the results provide a sound technical basis for renewed farm-in discussions.”

BPC’s drilling began on December 20, 2020 and ended on Sunday, with the company completing its exercise within its projected 45-60 days window.

BPC’s project has faced opposition from environmentalists. Judicial Review proceedings are ongoing.

Waterkeeper Bahamas Ltd and the Coalition to Save Clifton Bay are seeking to quash approvals the company received to begin drilling.

In a statement yesterday, Our Islands Our Future, an environmental group, said it greeted BPC’s announcement with a sigh of relief.

Casuarina McKinneyLambert, the executive director of BREEF, said: “We need a full moratorium on oil exploration and extraction in Bahamian waters. The drilling that took place off the west coast of Andros for the past 48 days caused considerable damage to the seafloor and was a clear threat to our waters and our economy and that of our neighbours.

“It was a risk to the wellbeing of our ecosystems and our people who depend on healthy oceans for tourism and fisheries, and ultimately our way of life.

This will send the message

to the world that we take protection of our environment seriously, that we care about our people, and that we are serious about building a climate-resilient future.”

Our Islands Our Future said in its statement: “The recent announcement by BPC now leaves many Bahamians with more questions than answers as to whether BPC fulfilled its end of the ‘air-tight’ agreement with the Bahamian government by beginning to drill and even though the status of the licence fees was not satisfactorily answered.”

‘WHAT’S THE PLAN FOR ABACO SHANTY TOWN RESIDENTS?’

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL human rights activist says he hopes the government will have a proper contingency plan in place that includes housing alternatives for occupants of a new shanty town in Abaco when it moves to demolish the newly built illegal structures.

Louby Georges told The Tribune yesterday that hundreds and possibly thousands of people could be displaced if the government does not find housing alternatives for residents in the Farm Road community that is targeted for government demolition.

His comments come after Works Minister Desmond Bannister along with other government officials toured some parts of the Farm Road shanty town over the weekend. Noting the situation will not be an “overnight fix”, Mr Bannister pledged to Abaconians that the government will take the necessary action to deal with unregulated developments on the island.

Aerial surveillance, released by Abaconions earlier this month, showed new construction taking place, with buildings being built more strategically and sturdier than what was seen in the irregular communities

AN AERIAL view of some of the properties that have sprung up. pre-Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Georges said while he understands the government’s need to take action, there must also be a structured plan in place to avoid people being left homeless.

“The rules are the rules, the law is the law and at the end of day, if we don’t have any rules or if we don’t have any laws then what type of society will we have,” he told this newspaper.

“So, in that case I totally

understand the government’s position and I can’t knock the government’s position in that regards but on the flip side of things, when you take a look at the reality of Abaco… housing, as an essential element of the community, is not readily available in Abaco as we speak.”

He added: “So, while we need to reconstruct, repair and build back the island itself, I’m not talking about

Photo: Stephanie Hield any particular part or community, the island needs to be rebuilt. We need the resources, we need human labour to be there to rebuild the island.

“Where are these people going to live? So, in a sense it’s like being caught between a rock and a hard place and if you go and the government decides to demolish all of these homes, then we’re back at square one so same way

Hurricane Dorian displaced people, they’re now going to be displaced again so where do they go?”

Mr Georges said many of the residents living in those communities are in the country legally and urged Bahamians to be responsible in their commentary.

He said: “If you can go back to the 2018 task force report that the government did, the government’s own report, we saw that the

overwhelming majority of the shanty town dwellers were actually legal residents of the Bahamas. So, it hurts me when I hear (media) reporting these ‘illegal migrant communities’ because.. that’s so dangerous and so unfortunate.”

Before Hurricane Dorian decimated them last year, shanty towns across Abaco had more than 1,000 homes and an estimated population size of 3,500, according to government reports.

However, two weeks after the storm hit the island, the government issued an immediate ban on the construction of any new buildings in the four major shanty towns on Abaco.

Despite the government ban, unregulated homes continued to spring up on the island.

Mr Georges said the government is to blame for allowing the situation to get out of hand.

He said: “You have the Abaco authorities or the government officials who allowed this to happen.

“Reports were coming out from there last year sometime that something was going here but you guys (officials) sat by and did nothing so if the government knew this was being built and allowed this to happen for so long then I would think the responsible thing to do is ensure that you have a proper plan in place,” the activist said.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 9, 2021

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,

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

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There’s nothing in the well after all SO MUCH for the oil drilling.

After all the bluster, all the court hearings, all the protests… it turns out Bahamas Petroleum Company hasn’t found enough oil to make a commercial operation worthwhile.

“Drilling has now ceased, the well having reached a depth of approximately 3,900 meters without incident, and the well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned.”

The statement from BPC makes noises about the future, talking about “future monetisation of its business in The Bahamas, in particular with a view to renewal of a farm-in process” and “renewed farm-in discussions” but the reality is that this expedition has not found enough oil to make it worth extracting.

There will of course be celebrations by opponents of the whole drilling process to begin with – but there are two things we should note here.

First, any future discussions involving BPC and any talk of renewing licences and so on needs to be very carefully conducted. Every piece of paperwork needs to be checked, every required part of agreements upheld. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has spoken of his opposition to drilling in The Bahamas – so it will be interesting to see how encouraging he is of any such future discussions.

It’s election season of course, so that applies equally to those who would challenge Dr Minnis for leadership of the nation.

Secondly, while the debate wrangled on over whether drilling should go ahead, the absence of substantial oil reserves is not a good thing.

Economically, the country is in a deep hole – and having a reserve of oil might have been a financial lifeline, if all hurdles could be cleared about extracting it safely. That lifeline has gone now – and regardless of concerns over this particular expedition, so have any chances of it boosting our nation in the future.

And while there has been much talk of the potential costs of any clear-up of oil should the worst ever happen, now is the time for a different clear-up – of the rules and regulations surrounding any talk of oil drilling in the future.

A number of politicians talked of taking the question of whether oil drilling should be allowed in the future to the people. It seems unlikely that will be a referendum, given how previous such votes have gone, but it absolutely should be a part of each election platform.

How will each party stand on oil drilling should BPC or another entity have a proposal in future? Let’s have some clear answers.

It’s also time to assess what BPC has done. The executive director of BREEF has already highlighted “considerable damage to the seafloor”. Well, let’s inspect it. This was just a fraction of a full operation – so let’s see how much damage we’re talking about.

Not that we would expect swift action on that – we’re still waiting to hear about damage to the seabed near the Berry Islands allegedly caused by cruise ships sheltering in Bahamian waters.

The government’s gone silent on that – will they surprise us with a swift and public assessment on this occasion?

This chapter is not quite closed, but the page is starting to turn. Let’s not just shut it and forget about it – let’s learn from it.

FNM candidate process Does Carl Culmer think people can’t tell which way the wind is blowing?

The FNM chairman has denied party leader Dr Hubert Minnis is getting personally involved – right after Peter Turnquest told his constituents that he had “been advised by the party leader that I will not receive the nomination for East Grand Bahama”.

That sounds like personal involvement to us, Mr Culmer.

Mr Culmer went on to say that he “can’t say if Turnquest was premature in sending out the note to his constituency officers”.

So which is it, Mr Culmer? If Mr Turnquest was “premature”, doesn’t that mean the conversation did actually take place but he just wasn’t supposed to tell people about it yet?

Mr Culmer adds: “Whatever conversation went on between Turnquest and the leader, we don’t know about it I don’t know what was said. That never came to the executive or the vetting committee or the council.”

So in a few sentences, Mr Culmer’s gone from saying personal involvement didn’t happen to Mr Turnquest being premature in talking about it and now to Mr Culmer not knowing anything about it. Come on, Mr Culmer. Show some respect for the Bahamian people – after all, you’re going to be asking for their votes soon.

Use of an offensive word on air EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WONDER if the constant use of the word “negroes” by Rodney Moncur (host) on his show televised on Island Luck TV, Channel 224 is offensive in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of URCA or other communication legislation.

It seems repugnant to one’s common sense as to why anyone would constantly refer to a person as a negro or negroes whose race is representative of a community where the majority of its people are black. It seems so regressive, oppressive, and offensive to keep referring to our Bahamian people as, for example, “the negro

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

writer “the negro policeman, the negro healthcare professional or the negro teacher”, etc.

As I recall history, using the term “negro” is derogatory and painfully reminiscent of the slave trade. Later that same reference ‘spawned’ into the term of ‘coloured people’ and now African-Americans (black people who reside in the USA).

I thought it most interesting that the police, in their reporting of deceased person (s) found, is now referring to those person (s) as “a negro man” or negroes. This must the most asinine reference anyone with an iota of sense could use since the majority of people in the country are

black. The logical inference is that if a person is found as reported he is a black person — it should only be where a person whose race does not reflect the majority of people people — then that person’s race would be described, for example, a white person or caucasian.

Despite this regular offensive and oppressive term being used on a daily basis, the Fifth Estate/Journalism appears to give the host awards for his role in journalism which could be regarded as denigrating the role played by some of its finest journalists in this country.

E ALBURY Nassau, February 6, 2021.

Jamaal Rolle is on holiday

Another bad move for tourism EDITOR, The Tribune.

BIDEN’S first move to combat COVID-19 and its newest strains became controversial for the Bahamas, as all travelers globally will now have to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival and the Ministry of Tourism fears that it will discourage travelers and prolong the economic downturn locally.

When Bahamasair and the tourism officials announced of expanding markets on the news a few days ago, I was hoping that they would change their travel destinations to avoid catching the new COVID strains in the US. Unfortunately; they still kept insisting on new destinations to infested US cities, only now it is Nashville and the state of Connecticut. Worse, D’Aguilar had to complain to the Biden Administration to ease restrictions but this has created an embarrassing display of the lack of professionalism shown in diplomatic affairs.

Asia is on track to become one of the first regions to have successfully suppressed COVID-19 in most of their nations while we’re twisting in the wind, trying to beg to Washington, DC, to ease up the new travel restrictions on the Bahamas. The West is virtually deadlocked with vaccines in scarce supply, lockdowns became ineffective because of rampant disobedient citizens and new strains on the loose.

However, the main focus on this matter is

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Bahamasair’s new destination markets. For starters, Nashville, Cleveland, the state of Massachusetts and the state of Connecticut don’t really count as new markets. It’s the same middle class Americans with two different cities.

Plus, the new national restrictions are still in place so it won’t do much good as long as the spread of the virus remains uncontrollable. Secondly, the US has the original strain, and the new ones from South Africa, Britain and Brazil.

If Florida has one of the most cases for one of the new strains, then we should start to really reconsider our post-COVID strategy for tourism. Then Bahamasair is talking about opening the Latin American markets when they’re also unstable?

This new marketing is setting up to fail us again like July last year. If the Bahamas wants to suppress the spread of COVID and save the economy, then the Ministry of Tourism and Bahamasair will have to be realistic. The US, Latin America and Europe will have to be put off for tourist arrivals for now.

The way is to unlock new markets is for East Asia, the UAE and some parts of Africa in order to preserve our economy while keeping COVID numbers down as it will allow their airlines to come here. No

one can stress this matter enough; because when we look at America, Mexico and Brazil, that will set the example on a botched pandemic response.

Not only did the citizens refuse to follow laws, the politicians from those countries have also horribly failed because they politicised the tragedy and they sat there and allowed it to spread so that it would hurt political rivals instead of doing the right thing and it caused further complications with the vaccines in the market. Our current government administration are usually watching the news at their homes and at work and they can clearly see the disastrous result of total malfeasance in the US, but instead of dealing with proper countries with an effective pandemic response plan, we reopened last year and greatly damaged our economy.

In short, the only sane option left at the table is to launch negotiations with the East Asian markets and any country out there that has the virus effectively suppressed. The US can’t help us at this point, Canada is closed, Britain and Europe are stuck in a rut and we’re economically sinking. This is a risk to completely change our entire market, but it’s better than waiting until the Bahamas capsizes as our Northern neighbour is crippled.

AMMAKA RUSSELL Nassau, February 4, 2021.

We must save our coral reefs EDITOR, The Tribune.

ORIGINALLY from South Africa, I have lived in Nassau, New Providence for five years. I am passionate about the ocean and consider myself to be a mermaid. Shortly after I arrived in Nassau, I started volunteering for BREEF, participating in their beach clean-ups, snorkel events and coral restoration programme.

I realised the best way I could give back to the community was by educating students and tourists about the importance of our precious coral reefs. After all, coral reefs are our first line of defense against strong

waves and hurricanes. Not to mention, coral reefs also provide a sustainable fisheries and tourism industry.

Sadly, each time I go for a dive, I witness firsthand the serious decline of our coral reefs. It has become blatantly obvious there is so much work to be done.

Reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate due to human-induced threats like climate change, coastal development and pollution, and future generations may lose the chance to enjoy the beauty of our ocean as we do today.

Corals are especially vulnerable to diseases and death with the continual rise in water

temperature. The fate of our reefs depends on us reducing our carbon footprint and moving towards sustainable development.

Everyone can play a role in protecting our coral reefs.

It all starts with making environmentally conscious daily decisions, even little efforts like reducing our plastic use, conserving energy in our homes, and choosing sustainable seafood for consumption. We must all do more to protect the coral reefs that protect us.

MELLISA ALTENBURGER Nassau, February 5, 2021.

‘Great Reset’ of economy EDITOR, The Tribune.

RE: Business Section, Feb 3, 2021 - “Challenge to IMF’s Proposal” Mr Anton Saunders, nor any other Risk Insurers, should worry too much

about this, as the Bahamas Government has endorsed the proposal and the IMF certainly has enough cash in its coffers to underwrite the entire risk premiums of all those property owners who are unable to pay such premiums

themselves.

We are now enjoying “The Great Reset” of the World Economic Forum.

RIP VAN WINKLE Nassau, February 3, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 9, 2021, PAGE 7

PAIR ACCUSED OF CROWN LAND FRAUD BAILED

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO people, accused of pocketing thousands of dollars from the fraudulent sale of a plot of Crown Land, were yesterday granted $10,000 bail before their trial.

Hertha Jenkins, 53, and Dawson Bullard, 34, appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged with over 50 fraud related offences that the prosecution alleged they committed between January 2020 and January 2021.

Yesterday, Jenkins was individually charged with 11 counts of fraud by false pretences, 11 counts of attempted stealing, four counts each of possessing and uttering a forged document and 10 counts of money laundering.

It is alleged the accused defrauded a woman of $2,100 after she took the money as a down payment for a parcel of Crown land in the Carmichael Village area on January 2, 2020.

According to the prosecution, the land is valued at $44,000 per acre.

Jenkins was also accused of fraudulently obtaining $4,000 from another woman in two separate payments of $1,500 and $2,500, after she accepted the funds as a down payment for the same plot of Crown land in May and June of last year.

The prosecution said the defendant unlawfully obtained over $30,000 from nine other people between July and December of last year after promising them access to the Carmichael Village area property.

The prosecution said the 53-year-old was also found with forged Department of Lands & Survey

acknowledgement letters, which were printed in the name of several of her clients. They further argued she knowingly acquired the proceeds of crime on 10 different occasions between January and December of last year.

Yesterday, Jenkins’ coaccused, Bullard, was individually charged with three counts of possession of a forged document, three counts of attempted stealing, two counts of fraud by false pretences, two counts of money laundering and a single count of uttering a forged document.

Bullard was accused of having another set of forged acknowledgement letters from the Department of Lands & Surveys in his possession, he was further accused of accepting thousand-dollar down payments from people to secure the plot of land in Carmichael Village.

In one case, the prosecution alleged the defendant fraudulently obtained $3,500 from a man sometime between November 2019 and January 2020 for the property.

In another instance, Bullard was accused of defrauding another man of $3,500 on January 2 for the parcel of land.

Both Bullard and Jenkins were collectively charged with another two counts each of fraud by false pretenses, attempted stealing and money laundering after they were accused of defrauding a man and woman of $3,500 and $2,800 on January 7 and 12 of this year.

During the arraignment, both defendants denied all of the allegations and their matter was adjourned to April 13 for trial.

Jenkins and Bullard were granted $10,000 bail until that time.

OFFICER HELD ON INAGUA RAPE CHARGE from page one

individuals psychologically affected by the incident.”

Yesterday, RBDF Commodore Raymond King strongly denounced all forms of sexual violence, insisting the agency will not hesitate to take action against any of its employees found committing such acts.

“This administration does not condone or support sexual assaults, rapes or any such act that includes sexual harassment. Such persons committing those acts will be placed before the courts,” he said.

“I wish to encourage members to be disciplined, ascribe to our core values, sentries of customs, and

military traditions. We are a disciplined force and if personnel are unable to fulfil those obligations, they ought to resign or retire from the service. We have zero-tolerance for such acts or allegations, and these individuals will be dealt with swiftly and transparently with due process.

“Further, there is no fraternisation policy in the public service or the other uniform branches in the country to discourage consensual intermarriages and relations. However, such policy is being given careful and deliberate consideration by the commander of the defence force at the time.”

Police have confirmed they are investigating the rape report on Inagua.

$1,000 FINE FOR SELLING MARIJUANA

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net A 24-YEAR-OLD man who told police he was selling marijuana to make a “couple of dollars” was yesterday fined $1,000.

Robert Johnson Jr was arrested after officers found $85 worth of Indian hemp in his home on February 5.

He pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous drug possession with the intent to supply during a hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

The court heard officers went to Johnson Jr’s Florida Court residence around 10.45am on the day in question. When they arrived, they noticed the defendant standing outside. However, the prosecution said when he noticed the officers, he ran into his home. Officers then knocked on the door, showed Johnson Jr their

warrant and informed him that he would be searched in reference to dangerous drugs and firearms.

After the officers found the marijuana in Johnson Jr’s room, he told them that he bought the drugs to smoke. He also said he was selling the drugs to “make a couple dollars”. The defendant was subsequently arrested and charged.

Yesterday, Johnson Jr told the magistrate that he committed the offence because “things were hard right now”. He also asked him to be lenient when passing his sentence.

In response, Magistrate Forbes said although he took note of the defendant’s early guilty plea, he still had to consider the fact that he had been charged with similar offences in the recent past. He fined Johnson Jr $1,000 or six months behind bars.

JONATHAN GRIFFIN, 21, and a 17-year-old outside court yesterday.

Photos: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

‘Road rage knifemen’

By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN and a teenager were charged with murder yesterday in connection with a stabbing that left another man dead following an argument after a car accident last week.

Jonathan Griffin, 21,

and a 17-year-old male appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes charged with the death of Andrew Sturrup on February 2.

According to initial police reports, shortly after 6pm police were called to a scene at the junction of Palm Tree Avenue and Fifth Street.

Upon their arrival, they found a male lying in the street unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police initially said the altercation occurred after a car accident.

During the hearing neither defendant was required to enter a plea and the matter was adjourned

to March 24 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Due to the nature of the charge, they were denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until that time.

Griffin and the teenager have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

Forget the Law – your future lies in media

DEBBIE BARTLETT

“F

OR every cause, there is an effect... for every action, an equal and opposite reaction!”

Debbie Bartlett started out her famous show “Reaction” on ZNS Channel 13 with this quote for over a decade.

This was back during a time when cable television was not popular in The Bahamas, with people relying on antennas or a satellite dish if they wanted to watch something other than programmes produced by the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.

Many a Bahamian household can attest to family members gathering around the television when Debbie’s show jingle came on and her famous quote resounded. We were guaranteed an exciting show tackling issues of the day in the country - investigative, strong human interest, shocking. By the time Debbie was hosting that show, she’d already had a long career in journalism.

And since that popular show, Debbie has gone on to do so much more. She has an outstanding career in journalism, broadcasting and entrepreneurship.

Even though she has done enough to rest on her laurels, Debbie is still going strong today – educating and informing the public and seeking ways to empower her fellow man.

She owned the radio station Gems 105.9FM for many years, and is the owner of an international network of high-calibre professionals from almost every field, called the CEO Network.

The network hosts some of the most powerful international conferences and awards ceremonies in The Bahamas and in Atlanta.

Political, business and professional leaders attend from The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United States and international communities.

The keynote speaker for the 2018 CEO Network Conference was Prime Minister Dr Hubert A Minnis. Also at The CEO Network Conference in May 2018, Debbie was conferred as a Princess

by Nigerian royalty, Her Royal Highness, Princess Moradeun Ogunlana and Her Royal Highness Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin.

While the CEO Network continues to flourish, Debbie has embarked on a new endeavour. She hosts “The Economic Emancipation” show, which airs across the US through 360Wise TV network. It is one of the largest major-market media operators in the country and a leader in social media marketing, news, brand and public figure advertisement. The show is now also being seen and heard in the UK on Heritage TV. It is a product of her Economic Emancipation Empowerment Movement and is about to launch in Africa through strategic partnerships Debbie has created there.

She has interviewed some of the world’s greatest influencers, such as Nelson Mandela, former US President Bill Clinton; the former President of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide; Dr Tony O’Reilly, the Chairman of Heinz; and three Bahamian Prime Ministers, including Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling.

Dr Deborah Bartlett, affectionately and popularly known as Debbie, has so many accolades it would be hard to list them all here.

But today, I take the time to honour one of my mentors in the field of media who continues to serve her country, and reach the world.

She owes her success largely to her grandparents Lillian Bartlett, Leonard G Bethell and Joanna Wilchcombe-Bethell; as well as her parents Frank and Mizpah Bartlett, mainly because of a very strong family network.

Warm childhood memories abound of a time when her family moved to Montrose Avenue, and lived next door to her aunt, Susan Wallace and Uncle Sidney Wallace.

Every weekend, Debbie and her brothers would go to their grandparents on the Fort Hill (Fort Fincastle) and there, grandfather Leonard

DEBBIE with US President Barack Obam a.

PROUD moment in journalism - meeting and interviewing South African President Nelson Mandela.

ABOVE: Debbie as a young reporter with the wife of Prime Minister Lynden Pindling, who went on to become Governor General Lady Marguerite Pindling.

LEFT: Debbie, a regular host of national events such as Independence, pictured with fellow reporter Brad Hanna.

would have countless old time stories and tales of wisdom to share.

“My grandparents first lived in West End, Grand Bahama, Debbie shared.

“My grandfather was determined that they would have the first radio in West End. And they got it! And my grandfather would say, ‘I am a great man’. He was a wireless operator. My grandmother wanted to be a teacher, and she would gather the whole community together, and that was her classroom. They always wanted their children to have the best education, and all eight of them moved to Nassau. They moved to Nassau Street, and where they lived, the rats would run over them. My grandfather told them, ‘don’t think of the rats, think of the future’. He was saving to build a two-storey home. He wanted to have the first one of it’s kind in his community. They moved to Fort Hill, and got that home, and my grandfather said, ‘I am a great man’. He would always say, ‘my children will one day help rule the world... and how will they do it?

They will do it through service’. That has been what has shaped me to this day.”

H

er parents made sure that Debbie and her brothers remained close knit. The family ate together almost every single day. Her aunt, Louis East was a diplomat in the United States and Debbie and her siblings had the opportunity to go to New York to be with her, where they got some exposure to the inner workings of the United Nations.

The Bartletts sent their children to family and friends in Canada to learn French, and they enjoyed an educational tour of Europe to broaden their horizons. They were given music lessons Debbie played guitar in a band with her brother Greg for a time. Mizpah wanted to be an actress one day and therefore, named her daughter after her favourite actress, Deborah Kerr. Destined for

greatness, her daughter would find a lifelong career in front of the television.

Debbie attended St Anne’s Anglican Primary School and High School, where she graduated as Head Girl. In 1974, she attended Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication.

She received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organizational Leadership/ International Media from Michael University in 2011.

“I knew I wanted to be in media since I was in high school,” she told me, “But I thought more about being an actress.

“When I went to college, I thought the thing to do was be a lawyer. So I ignored my desire to get into media until I went to college and I was taking up speech and drama.

The professor said to me, ‘You don’t belong in law, you belong in media!”

It was enough to ignite an already budding passion: “I became one of the first blacks on our college’s radio station.

They would call me ‘Debbie B... the queen of the DJs’.

They selected me to intern at CBS and I became the first black reporter on CBS television in that area. They utilized me to help elect the first black mayor in Rock Island, Illinois. CBS Chicago sent for me. They offered me a Green Card and asked me to move there. They said in two years, I would be on the big screen. I turned it down with this notion that if I said yes, my success would’ve been attributed to my geographical location the USA. So, I decided to come home... contributing to nation-building here.”

She returned home to work at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.

She entered as a copywriter. Months later, she was the television talk show host of a popular programme “Woman”.

About a year later she expanded her television target market with the programme “Reaction.”

It was the first programme in The Bahamas with a studio audience. Reaction was the

Number One programme throughout it’s time on television. Hosting talk shows yielded to leadership roles in the newsroom. Debbie was news anchor, chief news editor and eventually Assistant General Manager with responsibility for news, programming, production, sales and marketing.

She still managed to make a difference in the US. Guest appearances on the Rightside television show, which is seen on 84 television stations including ABC, CBS and Fox affiliates and XM Radio and is hosted by Armstrong Williams, gained her popularity abroad.

In 2006, the media arm of the CEO Network was started with the establishment of Gems 105.9 FM. Gems chose women as its focus market, and succeeded.

Interestingly, the station also gained a strong following among men and inner city communities. Gems 105.9 FM is a trailblazer in the international community as well. The Gems team, including myself, covered the Democratic and Republican Conventions and the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

For more than 30 years, Debbie has initiated and supported initiatives for inner city transformation.

She used media platforms to promote and advance social outreach initiatives. She initiated the Yellow Elder Club as a crime intervention programme in 1983. The CEO Network established the first computer labs for DW Davis Junior, CC Sweeting Junior and CC Sweeting Senior Schools through its Brand New Hope Campaign.

“Say Yes to Life, Say No to Drugs”, was her brainchild and was one of the most successful anti-drug campaigns in the Bahamas. Her former colleague who was ZNS News Director at the time, Obie Wilchcombe invited her to co-host and co-produce a documentary called “Base Streets” which highlighted persons caught up in the cocaine epidemic in the 1980’s. This show captured an international award.

Debbie served as a consultant to the Trade Union Congress of The Bahamas and served on several Boards, including Zamar International. She served for 32 years on the Board of Governors of Bahamas Faith Ministries International founded by Dr Myles Munroe.

She presently serves as Senior Advisor to The Embassy International founded by Apostle Benjamin Smith. Debbie’s love for community development initiatives harnessed her event planning skills, and she organized the biggest concert in the Bahamas in the 1980’s featuring Grammy awardwinning artist, Candi Staton.

Her influence in the international community continues to expand. She served alongside Ambassador Andrew Young as co-chair of the International Board of the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

S

he has served as an international consultant for various international development projects. In 2006, Debbie served as managing consultant for the establishment of the first national television station in the Turks & Caicos Islands. It was the first HD station in the Caribbean.

She was Senior Consultant of International Affairs for the Campaign for Maxo Joseph, Presidential candidate in Haiti in 2015. She was appointed Managing Consultant for the Caribbean for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Legacy Awards for three years (2012-2015). In 2013, her CEO Network were responsible for coordinating the events for the Caribbean for the 50th anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” Speech, and also the celebration of a global day for Coretta Scott King that was held on April 27, 2013. In 2018, Debbie was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the Martin Luther King Day ceremony in Atlanta.

In 2019, she was a keynote speaker in Ghana at a women’s conference. In 2020 she

met with African Royals in London led by the King of the Remo Kingdom.

With all her accomplishments in media and communications, Debbie still found time to be a successful entrepreneur. She owned a gift and souvenir store for 20 years in the Melia Hotel, formally Radisson Resort.

She also owned a Deli on Elizabeth Avenue, downtown Nassau for a number of years, and she has significant holdings in real estate.

“I believe a part of the reason I was born was to help inspire the human potential,” Debbie said.

“We were born to be economically liberated. We were born to be governed by vision that produces peace and prosperity. Vision it keeps you focused and when you have vision, it means you have a sense of purpose.

Vision can only thrive in the right environment. Also, there is submission to the laws of success. One of those laws is productivity... diligent hands will rule the world. So I work hard; I go the extra mile. I believe in excellence.

I am compassionate and I believe that success is defined by how we help each other.

I live by the philosophy of helping each other succeed.

“My grandfather always told me that a good name is to be preferred over all the riches in the world. I give best efforts to protect my good name. I am careful with my company. Your company gives a glimpse of your future.

“I love to help people who don’t see a way out yet, but I won’t stay there if they are not willing to develop their vision. I help people who have a dream and are waking up to see a new reality. You can only grow as high as your thoughts.”

Of her beloved country, she says, “I don’t think it’s an accident we live in paradise.

We have allowed contaminated thinking, warped thinking to convince us that success and prosperity are unnatural and only a small percent of the population can become rulers. I believe differently, and that is based on God’s word. We must develop our skills and talents in order to change the world and leave a generational legacy.”

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 9, 2021, PAGE 9

MYANMAR nationals living in Thailand hold pictures of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi gesture with a three-fingers salute, a symbol of resistance, as they protest in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday.

Photo: Sakchai Lalit/AP

FATE’S WHEEL TURNS AGAIN FOR A HEROINE THEN REVILED AND NOW PRISONER AGAIN WITH political confrontation and accompanying violence happening around the world all the time, much of it goes unreported in the international media as other news competes for attention. But events in one place in particular - the Asian nation of Myanmar - are often covered, largely because of its famous politician, Aung San Suu Kyi. Now, this former British colony - which was known as Burma when it played such an important role in the struggle against the Japanese during the Second World War - is top of the international news agenda.

This is because of an army coup there at the beginning of this month against a popularly elected government, followed by the summary and unlawful imprisonment of politicians and civil society leaders.

Among those detained is Aung San Suu Kyi who, as State Counsellor, is the hugely popular de facto leader of the country. She is under house arrest on trumped up charges of illegally importing walkietalkies. This eerily mirrors her confinement to her house for some 15 years over a 21-year period when, in the late 1980s and beyond, an upsurge of democratic fervour propelled her into the domestic and international limelight. In the latest situation, there are fears her new detention could lead to a jail sentence or worse in order to remove her from the scene.

The armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, have declared a State of Emergency for one year. They claim last November’s election, which the opposition

National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi won by a landslide, was fraudulent. Such a claim has been dismissed

by UN election observers, but the military junta has declared its intention to replace it by holding a new election at the end of the emergency.

The international community has already reacted forcefully to these events.

While stating that it considers the election results credibly reflected the will of the people, Britain has condemned the coup and the unlawful detention of democratically elected politicians, and it has expressed ‘revulsion and sadness’ that the people of Myanmar have been robbed of their inherent democratic rights. The US has threatened to intensify existing sanctions and the UN has expressed deep concern about arbitrary detentions. There is also wide public disapproval of the coup in Myanmar itself - and, despite the army’s reputation for brutal suppression of dissent and its shutting down of the internet to impede communication, mass public demonstrations and anti-coup rallies have been taking place that could lead to a civil disobedience campaign.

While this crisis unfolds, it is interesting to look briefly at the background.

With a population of some 54 million, Myanmar’s history has been described as violent and tragically repetitive. The country has been ruled by an oppressive military junta since 1962 and it has long been considered a pariah state. A degree of gradual liberalisation leading to elections

The Peter Young column began in about 2015, after which Aung San Suu Kyi held various government posts, including Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016. But the Generals running the country have been accused of gross human rights abuses including the killing of their own people as well as atrocities against minorities like the Muslim Rohingya.

The UK takes the view that the November elections, though by no means perfect, were a step in the right direction on Myanmar’s path to democracy.

But the transition has remained troubled - with the systematic atrocities and brutality and discrimination against minorities, a constitution rigged in favour of the military and a faltering peace process.

Arguably, its action against the Rohingya has constituted the worst of the junta’s crimes. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague conducted a hearing into what the UN had labelled a textbook case of ethnic cleansing that amounted

WORKING BETTER, TOGETHER ALWAYS on the lookout for information about the UK’s involvement in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region, I have found it interesting to read recent reports about last month’s virtual conference of Caribbean Directors of Public Prosecutions.

Eighteen countries were represented, and this included our own DPP. The conference was organised by the British High Commission in Barbados and was jointly funded by the UK and US governments.

The DPPs came together to discuss some of the current difficulties and challenges their countries collectively face as organised-crime groups seek to exploit certain structural vulnerabilities arising from the COVID-19 crisis; and the conference provided a forum to agree action

on serious crime and on criminal justice reform.

The delegates heard from regional and international experts on a range of issues - including ‘judge-alone’ trials in light of the ban on jury trials during the pandemic and the vulnerabilities of witnesses in serious crime and sexual exploitation cases.

What struck me as significant in the opening remarks of the Charge d’Affaires at the British High Commission was his emphasis on identifying regional best practice in the fight against organised crime and the need to explore the potential for a collaborative approach in policy-making.

All will surely welcome this - apart, of course, from those engaged in criminality; and it made me think of the priority given to regional co-operation by

our Chief Justice, Sir Brian Moree, when he invited his counterparts from several different Caribbean countries to participate, virtually, in the Opening of the Legal Year ceremony in January.

This conference of DPPs from around the Caribbean seems to me a good example of the collaboration, coordination and team work that is so clearly needed to combat crime and deliver justice across a number of small island states in the region.

It is heartening to learn of Britain’s role in organising and partly funding it, and I hope this can be reasonably interpreted as a sign of increasing long-term UK involvement in the Caribbean as - post-Brexit - it looks to strengthen once more its traditional ties with Commonwealth countries.

to genocide, resulting in refugees in the hundreds of thousands being forced to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh and in the deaths of thousands more. In response, despite the clear evidence, Myanmar denied violating their human rights and maintained that military operations against them were justified because of attacks on security posts

by Rohingya insurgents.

It was her attendance at this hearing that turned Aung San Suu Kyi from international peace icon of democracy - who became an almost saintly figure revered and adored in the West - into an outcast.

She fell from grace as her international halo slipped when, as the representative of Myanmar at the

ICJ hearing, she denied its armed forces were guilty of persecuting the Rohingya or that they had raped and killed civilians or torched houses in 2017.

To many, it was not only ironical but almost inexplicable that Aung San Suu Kyi tried to defend the indefensible when, for so many years, she was a figure who stood for democracy and human rights in opposition to the military junta - and, in 1991, she had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle which was seen as one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent decades.

Given the latest developments, however, I imagine commentators will

now reassess their view of what many regarded as her cowardly volte face as well as their condemnation of her as just another self-serving politician more interested in her own survival than in defending democracy. Perhaps it is too early to judge while this sorry saga is still unfolding, but some are now saying that Aung San Suu Kyi was placed in an impossible position when she testified before the ICJ. She had been forced to take her stance in order to stay in government while working from within to bring about true democracy.

Now, she has been betrayed by the military for whom she provided cover at the ICJ. Her situation looks to be distressingly bleak.

MARCH IN, MARCH OUT AND MOVE ON THE INSPIRATIONAL centenarian Captain Sir Thomas Moore - the retired British Army officer and bemedalled veteran of the Second World War whose epic walk earned him a place in history and who died last week - left instructions for his funeral: ‘march in, march out and move on’.

He had recently been diagnosed with pneumonia and later contracted COVID-19 - and to many, those instructions summed up the no-nonsense person he was who endeared himself to so many and became a symbol of hope in the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

At the time, I recorded in this column his amazing achievement in raising the equivalent of about $45m for the National Health Service by walking 100 laps of his large garden to mark his then impending 100th birthday.

By completing what was a gruelling task for someone of his advanced age, his life changed dramatically as his efforts caught the imagination of the British public.

He was knighted by The Queen, the Army made him an Honorary Colonel and he recorded a No 1 single duet, with well-known British singer Michael Ball, of the Liverpool football team’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” - and this made him the oldest person ever to top the charts.

Apparently, at Christmas he received literally thousands of cards; and, finally, in January he made a trip to Barbados, courtesy of British Airways, which he said had been on his “bucket list” for years.

Capt Sir Tom’s year of fundraising was nothing short of remarkable.

He created affection and respect in others and touched the hearts of the nation. His passing induced a collective sense of loss of

CAPTAIN Tom Moore at the end of his 100 laps. an inimitable old soldier who, with his indomitable spirit, came to signify all that is worthy in a person.

After his passing was announced, people came out in droves nationwide to applaud him publicly in groups and there is now talk of erecting a statue in his memory.

In more reflective mode, all this encourages one to ponder a bit more on the qualities of such a man. It is evident that he was a quiet and unassuming person who lived without fuss or drama - and that during the course of his long life he was motivated, tough, resourceful, resilient, generous, selfless and patriotic as well as being witty and decent in his dealings with others.

Some say these are oldfashioned but admirable characteristics, attributes and virtues that all too often are missing in today’s “easy come, easy go” environment. In the modern world, some seem to lack a moral compass in the “me, me” culture that attaches greater importance to the rights of individuals than to their responsibilities and obligations in society and their accountability for personal behaviour. I wonder whether it was because people recognised some of these fine qualities in Tom Moore that so many instinctively found him to be the inspirational figure he became - as well as, of course, his completion of those 100 laps of his garden.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 9, 2021

THE TRIBUNE

FANS cheer during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday.

Photo: Mark Humphrey/ AP

A Private Graveside Service for

Rev. Pearline Rosileta Davis, 94 of Congotown, South Andros, will be held on Friday, 12th February 2021 at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum, J.F.K. Drive. Officiating will be Pastor A. Geoffrey Wood assisted by Bishop Wenith Davis.

Due to current Government regulations in respect of Covid-19, attendance is limited to twenty (20) persons.

She is predeceased by her beloved Husband: Isaac W. Davis and Son: Granville Davis.

Her loving memories are cherished by her Children: Jacqueline Bain, Clifford, Jerome and James Davis; Daughter-in-law: Leona Davis; Sister-in-law: Marinell Davis; Adopted Children: Beth Stewart & Family, Rev. Alfonso and Tryphenia Lewis (Abaco) & Family, Rev. Michael Sands & Family, Yvonne Parks, Sherlene Davis-Karrer, Ettamae Davis, Melanie Stirrup, Albert and Flowers Campbell, Ettamae Forbes, Magaleana Penn, Latiah Forbes and Tony Henfield (Inagua); Grandchildren: Kevin, Latisha, Phillip and Cherry Davis, Tangella Forbes (Florida), Jermaine, Samara, Tamarine (Switzerland), Lavar and Natalie (New York), Cleopatra and Gene Sayer, Turkeesa McIntosh, Meleekha and Sheldon Smith, Evita, Granville Jr., Rea (Florida), Clifford Jr. and Jazzy, James Jr. and Liz (Georgia), Quinn and Nadia, Jamaal and Chanti (Lousianna) Amelia (Ohio), Jeronique, Jerome Jr., Jeremiah, Jeana, Sabrina, Glodean (Florida) and Basil; Great Grandchildren: Tangenique, Clement, Chanice, Crystal, Tenaje, Tamar, Patricka, Noah, Zara, Shawnique; Jamison, Janelle, Kalani, Philardo, Philicia, Isaac, Phillippa, Phyllis, Malek, Remone, Liam, Caramia, Jemini, Roman, Chriszantio, Candace, Zion Rashad; Travell, Shalom, Kiera, Andrea, Alexander, Tyron, Aliyah, Taneya, Tamar and Santiago. Great Great Grandchildren: La’niya and La’najae Sturrup, Patrell and Tallyah Davis and Kaiden Forbes; Nieces and Nephews: Dora Mooten, Johnny & Retha Fye, Milton & Sharon Walker (Florida), Cynthia, Claudia, Joee & Juliette, Holmes, Cornell Rolle, Rose, George & Dee Burrows, Harry & Laverne Sands, Freeman, Floyd & Kate Davis, Sidney, Dave & Menna Bastian, Barbara Bodie-Maduro (New York), Roland Bodie, Regina Ivy, (Alabama), Jannice Miller (Delaware), Almonica McBain, Kendall Taylor, Vera and Branford Chase, Cynthia Gibson, Patrick Kelly, Coralee & Jane Bodie, Edwin & Eunice Culmer, Angie Dean, Greg & Lisa Duhaney, Keva Darville, George Francis, Lelenza & Rosina Bain, Eric & Dee Bullard, Marie Kelly, Tyrone, Sabrina & Leonardo Burrows and Families of the late Gwen Francis and Jenny Knowles; Godchildren: Jackie Brown, Endric Deleveaux, Jane Grant, Pearl & Paul Lewis, Maxine Gibson, Rachel Robinson, Corporal Lloyd Rolle, Florinda & Ann Forbes, Willard Johnson and Huey Duvalier; Special relatives and friends: Claudia Nueesch & Family, (Switzerland), Al & Permal Schimpf (Chicago), Jeff, Nadja, Lawrence, Sherry Waterman & Jackson family, Donna Newton, Gaye Bowe, Maxine Bolden (WPB), Sidney & Rhoda Rolle, Constance Saunders, Pat Russell, Marie Davis & Paul King, Kermith Graham, Brothers of the Kiwanis Club over the Hill, Alfred Poitier, Ricardo & Ethelyn Davis, Florsetta Johnson, William Dilus. Yvonne & Stephanie Lynes & Family, Sister Ena (St. Martins Convent), Venus Bodie, Ella Johnson, Barbara Smith, Carolyn Davis-McKinney, Rena Duvalier, Vanessa Coleby, Beverly Smith and Family, The Bodie, Sweeting, Thompson, Fernander, Knowles, Nottage, Poitier, Chase, Rahming, Miller, Stuart, Jackson, Burrows, Bain, Johnson, Cartwright, Rolle, Deleveaux, King, Forbes, Bastian, Chase, Saunders, Davis, Duvalier, Gibson, Duncombe, Kemp, Lynes, Kelly, Carey and Funderburke Families; Caregivers: Cheryl Skyer, Claire, Mary & Jasmine Meadows; Special Friends: Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Hon. A. D. Hanna, Dame Marguerite Pindling, Hon. Picewell Forbes, and the Entire P.L.P. Family, The South Andros (Congotown), Mangrove Cay and Boyd Road Communities, Jacqueline Smith & Family, Mrs. Shirley Greene & Family, Marion Davis, Rev. Elva Russell, Rev. Ross & Wenith Davis, St. Joseph’s Church Family, Rev. Geoffrey & Minister Heather Wood, Pastor A. D. & Andra Moss, Temple Baptist Church Family, The Zion United Baptist Church Convention Family, Canon Delano Archer and The Anglican Diocese; Special Friends - Andros: Rev. Eulalee Gibson, St. Matthews Baptist Church, Donnie, Christine Nottage, Rev. Edna & Josh Rolle, Rev. James & Mary Pratt, Rev. Moses Pennerman, Rev. Rosenell Forbes, Preston Johnson, Norwood & Genesta Rahming, Rev. Glendina Knowles, Rev. Stanley Forbes, Sis Nairn, Stephanie & Yvonne Lynes, Bishop Theophilus Neely, Lofton Neely, Lighty Adderley, Ezekiel Nottage, Edmond & Emily Rahming, Rev. Said Duvalier, Sylvia Duvalier, Mildred Burrows, Archibold Barr, Bonnie Forbes, Nurse Rahming, Jack Andrews & Families. Families of the late Vera Bethel, late Pearl & Leonard Neely, late James & Norabell Nottage; Special Friends - Grand Bahama: Sybil Ferguson, Cecilia Moxey, Madeline Stubbs, Donita Carey, Ingrid & Philip Carey, Rev. Harrison & Diane Butler, Cecile Moxey, Esthermae Johnson and Rev. Peter & Joycelyn Pinder and Zion Baptist Church Family.

May Her Soul Rest in Peace!

Friends may pay their last respects at Gambier House, PLP Headquarters, Farrington Road on Wednesday February 10th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Special Service at 10:30 a.m.); and at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44 Nassau, Street on Thursday February 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

TAMPA MAYOR ADDRESSES MASKLESS SUPER BOWL FANS TAMPA, Florida Associated Press SO MUCH for the mayor’s order requiring masks at Super Bowl parties.

Videos went viral on social media, showing throngs of mostly maskless fans and packed sports bars as the clock inside Raymond James Stadium ticked down on a hometown Super Bowl win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It is a little frustrating because we have worked so hard,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during an early Monday morning news conference with the Super Bowl Host Committee. “At this point in dealing with COVID-19, there is a level of frustration when you see that.”

Some 200,000 masks were handed out ahead of

the game, and “a majority” of people and businesses followed the rules, she said.

Hours later, during another news conference, Castor’s remarks shifted, saying that at least among those people that she saw celebrating, most of them were masked.

“I’m proud to say the majority of individuals that I saw out and about enjoying the festivities associated with the Super Bowl were complying,” she said.

“They understood their level of personal responsibility and they were doing the right thing. I’m very proud of that.”

To meet coronavirus protocols, the NFL capped the crowd at under 25,000 in a stadium that normally holds some 66,000 fans, and required masks.

But outside the stadium, crowds of fans who weren’t wearing masks or practicing social distancing could be seen celebrating the Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Folks cheered, crammed into bars and hugged in several hotspots around the city — and swarmed the streets — all without masks.

In hopes of curbing so-called super-spreader events, Castor had signed a largely voluntary executive order requiring people wear face coverings during the Super Bowl festivities, even while they’re outdoors. She pleaded with people to celebrate safely, noting the city could issue fines of up to $500.

It wasn’t clear on Monday how many citations the city handed out, if any.

Having COVID may not stop you catching new variants

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer EVIDENCE is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defence the first time, new research suggests.

How long immunity lasts from natural infection is one of the big questions in the pandemic. Scientists still think reinfections are fairly rare and usually less serious than initial ones, but recent developments around the world have raised concerns.

In South Africa, a vaccine study found new infections with a variant in 2 percent of people who previously had an earlier version of the virus.

In Brazil, several similar cases were documented with a new variant there.

Researchers are exploring whether reinfections help explain a recent surge in the city of Manaus, where three-fourths of residents were thought to have been previously infected.

In the United States, a study found that ten percent of Marine recruits who had evidence of prior infection and repeatedly tested negative before starting basic training were later infected again. That work was done before the new variants began to spread,

said one study leader, Dr. Stuart Sealfon of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

“Previous infection does not give you a free pass,” he said. “A substantial risk of reinfection remains.”

Reinfections pose a public health concern, not just a personal one. Even in cases where reinfection causes no symptoms or just mild ones, people might still spread the virus. That’s why health officials are urging vaccination as a longer-term solution and encouraging people to wear masks, keep physical distance and wash their hands frequently.

“It’s an incentive to do what we have been saying all along: to vaccinate as many people as we can and to do so as quickly as we can,” said Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government’s top infectious disease expert.

“My looking at the data suggests... and I want to underline suggests... the protection induced by a vaccine may even be a little better” than natural infection, Fauci said.

Doctors in South Africa began to worry when they saw a surge of cases late last year in areas where blood tests suggested many people had already had the virus.

Until recently, all indications were “that previous infection confers protection for at least nine months,” so a second wave should have been “relatively subdued,”

said Dr Shabir Madhi of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Scientists discovered a new version of the virus that’s more contagious and less susceptible to certain treatments. It now causes more than 90 percent of new cases in South Africa and has spread to 40 countries including the US. Madhi led a study testing Novavax’s vaccine and found it less effective against the new variant. The study also revealed that infections with the new variant were just as common among people who had COVID-19 as those who had not.

“What this basically tells us, unfortunately, is that past infection with early variants of the virus in South Africa does not protect” against the new one, he said.

In Brazil, a spike in hospitalisations in Manaus in January caused similar worry and revealed a new variant that’s also more contagious and less vulnerable to some treatments.

“Reinfection could be one of the drivers of these cases,” said Dr Ester Sabino of the University of Sao Paulo. She wrote an article in the journal Lancet on possible explanations.

“We have not yet been able to define how frequently this is happening,” she said.

California scientists also are investigating whether a recently identified variant may be causing reinfections or a surge of cases there.

NETANYAHU DENIES CORRUPTION JERUSALEM Associated Press

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty yesterday as his trial on corruption charges resumed in a Jerusalem courtroom just weeks before national elections in which he hopes to extend his 12-year rule.

Netanyahu was indicted last year for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes

in three separate cases. In recent months, Israelis have held weekly protests calling on him to resign over the charges and criticising his government’s response to the coronavirus crisis. Protesters gathered outside the courthouse could be heard inside the hearing.

He stands accused of accepting lavish gifts from wealthy friends and offering to grant favors to powerful media moguls in

exchange for favorable coverage of him and his family.

The latest hearing was postponed last month due to lockdown restrictions on public gatherings.

“Everyone knows the cases against me are rigged,” Netanyahu said, adding that the prosecutors hadn’t done a good job. Still, he said holding the evidentiary stage at this time would amount to election “interference”.