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VOLUME:116 No.34, FEBRUARY 12TH, 2019

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WOMAN: THE PLUS-SIZE POLE DANCER FIGHTING BACK In 2011 Douglas Ngumi went into Carmichael. He got out last year - a broken man. All he wants is justice for the...

STOLEN YEARS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THOUGH it has been more than a year since Douglas Ngumi was released from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, yesterday the Kenyan national broke down whenever his lawyer mentioned how long – six and a half years – he had spent in the facility despite being ordered to be deported.

Through occasional sobs Mr Ngumi, 47, testified about how he was tied to a table and beaten for hours with a PVC pipe, tear gassed during raids by immigration and defence force officers and later detained in the Princess Margaret Hospital for six months because of the “fullblown” tuberculosis he contracted during lockup.

Attorney Fred Smith

is seeking damages of about $1m for him.

If awarded, it would be among the largest payouts ever in an unlawful detention case, rivalling the more than $1m paid to Atain Takitota, a Japanese man unlawfully detained in prison for eight years from 1992 to 2000.

Mr Smith alleges Mr Ngumi was assaulted, arbitrarily and unlawfully detained, falsely imprisoned and had his constitutional rights breached. Though the trial is incomplete, the Office of the Attorney General failed to submit evidence in the case, leaving Justice Indra Charles to suggest she has now to decide how much – not if – damages should be awarded.

Mr Smith said the case is identical to numerous ones to arise recently, SEE PAGE THREE

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday defended recent promotions in his office as “transparent and defensible” as disgruntled senior attorneys consider launching a judicial review over the process.

Mr Bethel responded to reports of growing discord over the confirmation of two retired police officers to the posts of assistant director of public prosecutions, telling The Tribune “the higher up you go, the less easy it is to have social promotion”.

“At the end of the day,” Mr Bethel said, “judgments have to be made between many contenders for very few spots. The higher up the totem you go in any ministry, but particularly the Attorney General’s Office, there are a limited number of posts and many persons who view themselves as qualified.

“There are no personalities involved, judgments are made,” Mr Bethel continued. “Some MPs get elected, not everyone makes it to Cabinet.”

Anonymous sources informed this newspaper SEE PAGE SIX

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

EIGHTY-SEVEN percent of teens ordered by the court to attend group therapy sessions after committing minor violent crimes tested positive for post-traumatic stress disorder at alarmingly high levels comparable with soldiers fighting in the Middle East, a new Bahamian study has found.

Hampered by PTSD, the adolescents view their surroundings as a “war zone”, unable to walk certain streets or ride a jitney of choice, according to Dr David Allen yesterday as he presented the study’s findings.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

LANDFILL DEAL NOW IMMINENT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BETHEL DEFENDS AG OFFICE PROMOTIONS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

‘WAR ZONE’ CULTURE LEADS KIDS TO CRIME

DOUGLAS NGUMI spent six and a half years in the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

A BAHAMIAN consortium yesterday said it is “in the last 50 yards of the journey” to take over management of New Providence’s landfill, and pledged: “We will not, and must not, fail.”

Henry Dean, head of the Waste Resources Development Group, told Tribune Business that “all the major issues” had now been agreed with the government and the two sides were just “cleaning up the language” and addressing “the formalities” of their contractual relationship.

Mr Dean acknowledged the “huge challenge” it faces on remediating a major environmental and health hazard for New Providence residents.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

SLAIN - NINE DAYS AFTER BEING A DAD

BY RIEL MAJOR

NINE days after welcoming the birth of his son, the country’s latest murder victim was shot dead at Potter’s Cay Dock.

Loved ones paid an emotional tribute to the victim, identified only by his first name Jamal on social media yesterday, including his girlfriend Dellie Rolle who said her grief was like nothing she had ever felt before.

Police were called to

MURDER victim Jamal with his new-born baby boy.

Potter’s Cay Dock shortly after 8pm on Sunday after receiving reports that a

man had been shot. At the scene, Superintendent Shanta Knowles said: “This man was patronising a business establishment here at Potter’s Cay Dock when he was approached by another man armed with a firearm who shot him before running away.

“We are appealing to members of the public, especially those who were here during the time of this incident who may have seen SEE PAGE FIVE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

FACE-TO-FACE A LESSON TO CHERISH DON’T GIVE UP

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

WE’RE NOT CONNECTED TO LOANS COMPANY, SAYS FIRM PROMOTING BANTON CONCERT PARADISE Productions, the local Bahamian company staging Buju Banton’s upcoming “Long Walk To Freedom” concert, has said it is not connected to a local company that “is distributing Buju Banton-themed flyers offering loans by phone.”

In a statement released yesterday, the production company said: “Loans By Phone is in no way

affiliated with Paradise Productions or the upcoming concert, scheduled for March 30, 2019 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. Any promotional material related to the concert will be branded with Paradise Productions’ logo.”

Customers who have questions about the concert or wish to purchase tickets are urged to visit www. paradiseproduction.co

SOME of Peter Nygard’s possessions on the deck of a ferry in Arawak harbour.

FASHION billionaire Peter Nygard seems to be making sure his fleet of cars - and a boat - are within quick reach as he recovers from the medical condition preventing him from being arrested here in The Bahamas.

Signs that Mr Nygard was ‘tidying house’ appeared a few weeks ago when The Tribune caught sight of two of his vehicles on trailers being transported out of his Lyford Cay home.

NYGARD MAKING MOVES AS HE RECOVERS FROM ILLNESS On Saturday those two vehicles were joined by a speed boat, Humvee and an open-top vintage sports car on the deck of a ferry in Arawak harbour.

Presumably Mr Nygard needs them at hand as he figures out when he plans to return to The

Bahamas and face immediate arrest for contempt of court.

The Tribune understands Mr Nygard has travelled to New York this week so hopefully this is a sign his recovery is progressing and the courts here will see him soon.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 3

My stolen years from page one with more than three trials scheduled to start later this year.

Mr Ngumi, once a jitney driver in Kenya, came to The Bahamas in 1997.

He said he had a relative who attended the College of The Bahamas. He was granted a work permit in 1998. In 2000 he married Gricilda Pratt, a Bahamian citizen he had met in Turks and Caicos. He testified that his wife reluctantly applied for a spousal permit for him in 2001.

“She thought that if she gave me any documents I would separate from her,” he said. “She thought it wasn’t convenient for her to give me the documents.”

He never got a spousal permit. He was deported to Cuba in 2002. He received a work permit in 2005 but his application for renewal was denied. Between 2006 and 2011, he said he frequently travelled to Cuba, the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas to avoid overstaying his allotted time and running foul of Bahamian law.

Nevertheless, in 2011 immigration officers arrested him, leading to the worst period of his life. “Y’all don’t know what it is I go through,” he cried, his testimony was suspended as he tried to compose himself.

Among the “numerous” beatings he said he received, one in 2011 was recounted in detail. “I was taken out of the detention centre and carried to the kitchen and I was beaten with a PVC pipe by an officer who thought he controlled the detention centre,” he said. “I was tied up with handcuffs under the table and he beat me with PVC pipes (on) my back...

It was so sore some people had to wipe the puss out of my back. The next days after they were using tissue taking the puss out my back. I wasn’t taken to the hospital.”

He continued: “This man wasn’t stopping. I don’t know what happened to him but he was just upset with something. He was just beating and beating and beating. Somebody had to tell him, ‘we gon’ call the police for you if you don’t stop beating him.’”

Mr Ngumi damned the conditions of the detention centre. “If one dorm supposed to hold 50 people, it held 500 people,” he said. “The bathroom wasn’t clean. The (toilet) never used to flush. We used to drink pump water. They just started bringing (better) water for us, in 2016 or 2017. Before that we had dirty water. When you put it in the bottle, you could see the iron rust in the water.

We had people who got stones. Food, we used to eat mashed potatoes with corned beef for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

Mr Ngumi said over the years he contracted pink eye and a “scratching disease.” He said during his detention he “was the person who served lunch, dinner and water”.

“I used to work for the detention centre (without pay),” he said. “Government cars, I used to wash them. I used to help Mr Peter Joseph, the officer in charge of the detention centre. They would come and say ‘Mr Kenyan, let’s go.’ I never refused.

I wanted my freedom. I never knew which way it would come. I worked for them because I thought one day they would feel sorry for me and release me.”

DOUGLAS Ngumi with QC Fred Smith, left, and Attorney Crispin Hall outside the Supreme Court.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

I was tied up with handcuffs under the table and beaten with PVC pipes ... It was so sore people had to wipe puss out of my back, says Ngumi who is seeking damages of $1m Mr Ngumi recalled three occasions when tear gas was used on detainees. “When you had too much people coming from the boats and Haitians and Cubans fight, they used to throw tear gas on all of us,” he said.

“Nobody used to be separated. If you can’t breathe, they don’t help you. They just say ‘help yourself, help yourself, throw water (on yourself).’”

According to court documents, Mr Ngumi was charged in 2011 with overstaying and engaging in gainful occupation contrary to the Immigration Act. Prosecutors withdrew the latter charge. Mr Ngumi pleaded guilty to overstaying. Though the magistrate ordered that he be deported to Kenya, his detention continued. He was later charged with possession of dangerous drugs in 2013, accused of having four grams of marijuana. He said the drugs were planted on him and noted he had no family to bring him drugs in the detention centre.

“I pled guilty because the judge told me you have one option, you plead guilty, you go back to the detention centre, you plead not guilty, you go to Fox Hill (prison),” he said. “I plead guilty for that reason.” After pleading guilty, the judge took into consideration the time he had spent in custody. He was cautioned and the judge recommended that he be deported to Kenya.

His detention persisted for another four years instead.

Mr Smith filed a habeas corpus application on behalf of Mr Ngumi on July

26, 2017 but before a hearing took place the Kenyan was released on August 4, 2017. The former detainee was concerned for his health.

“I was coughing and I was looking so bad and everybody used to tell me ‘you look bad and you sound bad,’” he said.

He said he went to the Carmichael Road Clinic where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. “(Doctors) gave me a directive to go to PMH because (it might be contagious),” he said. “I did that. They gave me medicine but within two, three weeks they say no, it is a full-blown so I have to

be contained. They bring the police and the ambulance and they locked me up with handcuff and they say I have to stay in the hospital for the rest of my time. I was taking medicine and the result is I’m free of tuberculosis.”

Mr Ngumi said he was homeless for several weeks, his lawyer referring to him as a pauper.

He said he now lives in a “room” at someone’s house in Fox Hill. Immigration officials have refused to grant him a work permit so he is unemployed, he said. Mr Smith asked him to reflect on his life.

“I’m nothing,” he said,

almost in a whisper. “My life is not normal. I can’t work. I have no identification. I have nothing in my life.” His identification documents, including passport and driver’s licence, were lost in the detention centre.

No representative for the Attorney General’s Office was present for most of yesterday’s hearing. Noting ample notice of the hearing had been given, Justice Charles proceeded with the hearing without the government’s legal representatives. Near the end of the session, a government representative arrived and requested that the case be adjourned until she

could examine Mr Ngumi’s transcript to prepare for cross-examination. Justice Charles rejected the request but adjourned the case to address other matters before her.

Justice Charles asked the Crown’s representative to consider reaching a compromise with Mr Smith, one that would result in reduced damages in exchange for concessions such as a work permit for Mr Ngumi.

“The most you could do is lower the damages,” she said. “I don’t know how you can contradict much of what he said with no evidence submitted by your side.”

PAGE 4, Tuesday, February 12, 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,

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jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

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A fleeting moment of humanity and understanding NEARLY a week has now passed since US President Donald Trump delivered his delayed State of the Union address. Everyone from serious nonpartisan analysts to media hyenas has had a chance to digest and pronounce.

It was actually a pretty good speech.

The content was generally uplifting and inspirational, patriotic and aspirational, as it is supposed to be on such occasions.

Trump looked relaxed and comfortable, secure despite the knowledge that over his left shoulder sat the most powerful congressional figure in the US. But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, clad in white sartorial solidarity with her 100-plus sisters in arms in the House Democratic majority caucus, mostly resisted what must have been an overwhelming urge to snark.

Trump is a virtually peerless demagogue at political campaign events.

That’s why his appearances outside Washington still look like his rabblerousing rallies.

That Trump was less apparent last week on Capitol Hill. A memorable highlight during the State of the Union came during what cynics have already dubbed a moment of hypocritical mendacity. In celebrating women’s electoral gains on the centenary of their getting the right to vote, and announcing a new initiative to boost the lives and economic prospects of women across the globe, Trump was clearly startled by the raucous, cheering response of the Democratic House women. His relaxed face showed surprise but not displeasure.

“You weren’t supposed to do that,” Trump remarked in smiling, unrehearsed spontaneity. It was an all too rare moment of humanity and understanding in a presidency notably devoid of both elements.

In too many other familiar aspects, Trump persisted with his braggadocio and adherence to campaign promises he and his country should have long ago forgotten. Notable was his obdurate insistence on a southern border wall, which even senior members of his administration admit does not address the most serious immigration concerns.

Encouragingly, in the days since the State of the Union, there have been heartening signs that reason may prevail in this unnecessary political dust-up. We will see what eventually emerges, but a February 15 deadline looms this week

for compromise to avoid yet another government shutdown.

Another imminent deadline doubtless makes Trump much more anxious.

There are numerous signs that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is at last beginning to wrap up his careful, thorough investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 American election. Yet even as that inquiry may soon be concluded, House Democrats are certain to use their new majority power to investigate Trump’s conduct. Names to watch are new House Select Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler. Both are locked and loaded to probe Trump, his businesses and his family.

There is even an effort underway to make public Trump’s tax returns in what may be a largely symbolic attempt to reveal what millions already believe is the source of his curious, continuing, almost inexplicable appeasement of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the aftermath of the President’s speech, rumours are swirling about new Democrats preparing to announce their intention to unhorse him. Trump has been relatively quiet. Everyone seems to be gathering themselves for the big contest now 20 months away.

In that connection, though, several things are becoming clear. Trump is going to run again unless his almost thoughtless corruption proves to fatally indict him, his family and his administration. And barring such an investigative cataclysm, his Republican Party will stand with him at the risk of losing their present political positions.

Trump is also going to be a very formidable contestant. In fact, if he manages to limit his self-inflicted political wounds over the next year and a half, he should be favoured to win re-election. The advantages of incumbency in American politics should never be disregarded, and Trump understands them well.

The Democratic opposition, now giddy with its significant triumphs last November, will need two things to prevail next year which they presently lack.

One is party unity behind a leader to be determined. The second is a clear, cogent rallying message. They appear nowhere near agreement on either issue now and time is shorter than they may realise.

They could be too late.

Gamblers may want instant thrills - but we have enough EDITOR, The Tribune BAHAMIAN gamblers want instant thrills - instant highs with in some cases at the web shops there are over 30 draws a day why even talk about a National Lottery?

A waste of time.

A lottery may offer scratch-off games and once

every 30 days a draw there is zero excitement or thrill so dead on arrival, don’t waste the Gaming Boards’ time.

Regrettably it seems the population like web shops so much the sector has exploded to a level that is extraordinary when considering the GDP and average cash

wealth of the working public.

A gross turn over of $600 million is massive over $4250.00 per working adult!

No more gambling please there is enough.

Clifton and photograph the additional 10-12 1MW generators from Aggreko which are now on-line, but there was no RFP? How did Shell America get their agreement if Aggreko still provides the standby generation units?

Show us how Shell won RFP:#978/17 published October 16th, 2017 if they do not provide the standby generators - that was the intent of the RFP nothing more or less?

LNG costs went up

14-16% over the past years - Prime Minister has the cost of the Sun gone up?

Go with LNG we still have fuel surcharge!

Prime Minister in recent comments you seem to be totally a ‘sun-lover’…the only way all will see a cost of electricity go down.

In your address to Bahamas Business not a single word on electricity?

W THOMPSON Nassau January 23, 2019

Has the cost of the Sun gone up?

EDITOR, The Tribune PRIME Minister said there would be an enquiry into the 80MW Standby BP&L RFP…total utter silence.

As said before how do you allow an existing provider, Aggreko, participate in a fair RFP as obviously they have enormous cost advantage over every new bidder? Aggreko still provide BP&L the generators intact if the media was half awake they would go to

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau January 18, 2019

Fred Mitchell, a thin-skinned self-publicist EDITOR, The Tribune FRED Mitchell is a thin-skinned self-publicist whose playbook includes pillorying his opponents and ridiculous attentiongrabbing stunts, but he retreats to his pious corner to sulk and whine whenever his dirty laundry is hung out to dry.

Recently the ubiquitous former foreign minister let the secretary general of the PLP run interference for him in an attempt to whitewash the record of his complicity in a scheme four years ago to undermine the will of Caricom.

While pleased to watch the dumpster fire that the incumbent foreign minister has set over his mishandling of Caricom’s response to the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, Mitchell (sorry, the secretary general of the PLP) took umbrage at a reference by this writer to Mitchell’s role in disrupting Caricom to support a British woman whose position of privilege at the top of London’s high society obviously impressed him.

When it acts in unison, Caricom punches far above its weight in international affairs. For example, Caricom represents 27 percent of the voting membership of the Commonwealth and 40 percent of Organization of American States. That is nothing to snivel at and the world has taken notice.

In 2015 Mitchell used the old military strategy of divide and conquer to thwart Caricom. It worked because Perry Christie was asleep at the switch.

Christie gave his word to his Caricom colleagues that The Bahamas would support the Antigua and Barbuda candidate for the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth. The position had become vacant when the Indian incumbent retired, and it was, in effect, the Caribbean’s turn to lead the organisation of 53 nations representing 2.4

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net billion people. Back then a now 63-year-old British woman who was born in Dominica but left there when she was a two-yearold baby, was scrounging around looking for a big job and thought the Commonwealth would restart her career in England. No British citizen had ever headed the organisation in its 70-year history.

The Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal sits in the House of Lords, a privilege enjoyed by only about 800 other British citizens at the moment. She keeps that gig for the rest of her natural life.

She is a member of the Labour party, was a former Attorney General of Britain and is a Queen’s Counsel. It’s a safe bet that it wasn’t her Dominica passport that got her entry to Britain’s most exclusive political clubs.

The Baroness may hold a Dominican passport (and God only knows for what reason she would travel on that), so while technically Dominican, she remains for all intents and purposes a British woman.

Mitchell was still splitting this hair recently when he tried to defend his indefensible position of 2015.

Leave aside the damage it did to Caricom for a minute and concentrate instead on what the disastrous decision to put her in the Commonwealth says about Mitchell’s dippy judgment.

This man who wants to be prime minister vouched for her in Parliament.

Big mistake. The Baroness has managed to offend just about all of official Britain and gets a cut-eye from all quarters of the Commonwealth. At home she is known as Baroness Shameless.

She entered the

Secretariat like a bull in a china shop leaving seasoned Commonwealth diplomats scurrying for the exits with at least two of them taking her to court – and winning.

In one instance she was publicly rebuked for not showing up to give evidence to the tribunal investigating her alleged abuses.

With the Commonwealth broke and operating at the mercy of member states, the Baroness spent almost $500,000 renovating the posh apartment in London that she uses as a perk of the job. Reports are renovations included a $400 toilet seat.

Life got better for her friends too. She gave generous contracts to fellow House of Lords members and finagled a private audience with the Queen for one of her best friends, while keeping Commonwealth High Commissioners to London in a holding pen when the Queen visited the Secretariat instead of allowing them to mingle with the titular head of their organisation.

She fired her deputy, a respected Kenyan diplomat who took the case to the employment tribunal and won almost half a million dollars in damages.

Last year an Indian diplomat she let go took her to the same tribunal and won.

Both employees accused her of being spiteful and vindictive.

Mitchell must hang his head in shame on another front. His Baroness has no signature initiative that will be her lasting legacy other than bedlam and acrimony.

Baroness Scotland tiptoes around the Commonwealth these days careful to avoid stepping in the debris that has become Mitchell’s character judgment and political acumen.

Both are shameless.

THE GRADUATE Nassau February 11, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 5

MAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO PROCURE GIRL, 12, FOR UNLAWFUL SEX

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

Just nine days after he became a father, Jamal is shot to death from page one what happened or who may have information that can identify the person responsible to please give us a call on our Crime Stoppers line, 328-8477.”

On Facebook, Ms Rolle wrote that her boyfriend was killed nine days after becoming a new father. She described him as a loving, kind-hearted person who was judged harshly because of his “gold teeth” and

love of motorcycles. “He walked into my life not only accepting me for who I am but also accepting my first son as if he was his biological father,” she posted to her Facebook page. “Many persons didn’t know because their bond was unbreakable no matter what. Jamal provided for (my child) financially, mentally and physically. Jamal was so good at being a father, God decided to bless him with a son that entered this world

A 26-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with one count of procuring a minor for the purpose of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Dwight Johnson, of Mason’s Addition, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with procuring a 12-year-old girl on Wednesday, January 23, for the purpose of having unlawful sex, contrary to Section 7(A)(1) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 99.

Johnson, who was represented by attorney V. Alfred Gray, was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the case was adjourned to March 28 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until that time or until he is successful in securing bail from the Supreme Court.

TWO MEN IN HOSPITAL FOLLOWING SHOOTING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

JAMAL holding his young son and, inset, relaxing.

February 1, 2019. From inception, Jamal placed his son as his first priority leaving nothing for even me to really provide.

“When JJ came into this world, Jamal never ever wanted his baby out of his sight because he felt as though nobody but him could’ve protected and cared for his child like Jamal Sr. February 10th, my boyfriend, my children’s father, my best friend, one of the loves of my life, my everything

was also taken away from his small happy family,” Ms Rolle said. “The pain I’m experiencing is like none other and I just wish I could wake up from this horrible dream (sic).”

One friend described the deceased as a “cool” and “down to earth” guy.

“Mally, if I knew that the last time I would’ve seen you was last year December in my driveway, clowning with the fam, I would’ve hugged you a little bit longer,” the

friend wrote. “Per usual, you were always cool and had a down to earth vibe about you. Rest easy bro.

I’m gonna miss your smile the most. RIP to a real one.”

Police said four people were murdered over the weekend in separate incidents – three on Sunday and one early Saturday morning. These deaths brought the murder count to 10 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

TWO men were taken to hospital following a shooting incident on Sunday in the Eight Mile Rock area.

According to police, three men are in custody assisting them with their investigations into matter.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Terecita Pinder reported that shortly after 4pm police were called to Hanna Hill, EMR, where a group of men were gambling and started arguing.

According to reports, a lone gunman exited a white vehicle and opened fire on the group, injuring two men. The victims were transported by private vehicle to the Rand Memorial Hospital where they were seen by doctors.

ASP Pinder said that one man was treated and discharged, and the other is still detained in stable condition at hospital.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Promotion policy at AG’s office not unfair, says Bethel from page one recently that a number of senior civil litigation attorneys, including several chief counsel at the Office of The Attorney General, received “supersession letters” informing them that they will be superseded or overlooked for promotion to the position of assistant director of public prosecutions by two retired police officers.

Those letters reportedly do not state on what basis the senior civil litigation attorneys are being superseded by the retired cops, according to the source, which noted this was required under the Ministry of Public Services’ General Orders.

“As a result of this apparent breach of natural justice by the Office of the Attorney General/Director of Public Prosecutions Office,” the source said, “they may have no other recourse this time than to make a judicial review application before the Supreme Court in order to secure their rightful positions as senior civil litigation attorneys/prosecutor.”

Yesterday, Mr Bethel explained recommendations

were put forward by department heads to the public service department and then the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

He noted the JLSC conducts a qualitative assessment and has the ability to reject recommendations.

Mr Bethel maintained all considerations were transparent and fair to his knowledge, adding he was not involved in the decisionmaking process.

“There are many either active service police or defence force officers who get law degrees or even retired ones who are brought in and work their way up the pipeline. They are entitled as anyone else to have a fair assessment of their suitability or aptitude.”

He continued: “When you are having to deal with having to choose two or three from a pool of 30, it’s just the reality of the public service, you can’t just have social promotion.

“I didn’t make those judgments, the respective heads of department made those judgments.

“I only assured myself they were operating on a transparent and fair basis.”

RECENT promotions at my office have been transparent and defensible, says Attorney General Carl Bethel.

DIRT BUT NOT MOULD FOUND AT PRIMARY SCHOOL

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Director Marcellus Taylor said yesterday there was a “build-up of dirt” not mould that created the “unsanitary situation” at CW Sawyer Primary School that forced the school’s closure last week.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Ministry of Education’s Student Refocus Week, Mr Taylor also addressed the issue of scabies at Sybil Strachan Primary School.

News broke of the outbreak on Wednesday, which resulted in the school being closed on Thursday and Friday.

However, Mr Taylor said

the first case of scabies was actually reported at the school from the previous Wednesday (January 30) and was being dealt with.

He said classes at Sybil Strachan resumed yesterday morning, adding classes at CW Sawyer were delayed slightly, until the afternoon, to allow fumes from the cleaning supplies to “air out”.

When asked about the issue of mould, Mr Taylor said: “Let’s be clear — there wasn’t any mould at levels that were unhealthy at any school.

“What the public analyst said was that really, it was ‘housekeeping issues’, meaning that there was a build-up of dirt that needed to really be cleaned and so forth. And so we comply

EDUCATION Director Marcellus Taylor when the experts tell us what we should do.”

He added cleaning was done over the last two working days and the weekend.

“I got some reports that the beginning of classes (was) delayed slightly because the windows were closed and some of the fumes from the cleaning supplies was there so we needed to give it time to air out. But by lunch time classes should resume as normal — that’s at CW Sawyer.”

Mr Taylor said the welfare of students and teachers is the department’s “number one” concern for education officials.

“But there is a point at which you must be reasonable with what we are doing,” he continued. “And so when we got reports that teachers suspected mould there, we asked the public analyst from Environmental Health to go in and

check, as we have done in a number of cases. He went in and he indicated that there was no mould but, that there was a build-up of dirt and it was (an) unsanitary situation and that it ought to be cleaned.”

Mr Taylor then addressed the scabies outbreak.

“As it regards to Sybil Strachan, again, this matter was going on from - not Wednesday gone but the Wednesday before. We have called in the health professionals, they advised on what should be done.

And then everything was going fine until such time as an (agitator) came and sort of stirred it up and created doubts in the minds of the teachers as to whether that was a safe environment.

“Public Health official

persons came back, led

by Dr Moxey, explained the protocols. There were some teachers who said that they wanted, still, even though they didn’t present any symptoms, still wanted some precautionary measures taken. They were given the prophylactic and they were instructed as how to take it.

“We expect that, at this point in time (at) Sybil Strachan, classes should be going on as normal, that students are learning and teachers are teaching, as is the agreement we have with everyone. You come to school to learn, you come to school to teach, and only when there is a reasonable concern about health should we be responding or changing our plans of operation. So, from my knowledge, classes are going on at Sybil Strachan as well.”

When asked the final number of affected students, Mr Taylor admitted to not having a final figure, noting he last heard roughly 15 students.

Last week, Health Minister Duane Sands estimated roughly 18-23 students could have been infected.

The Ministry of Education’s Student Refocus Week initiative is an extension of the student suspension programme, where suspended youths receive tutoring at various centres during their time away from school.

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THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 7

THREE MEN FACE CHARGES OVER THREE SEPARATE MURDERS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THREE men were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged in connection with three of the country’s latest homicides.

Shaquille Culmer, 25; Rashad Paul, 28 and Joel Bullard, 22, all stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, each charged with one count of murder.

In the first case, Culmer stood accused of the Saturday, February 2, murder of Randolph James Anderson aka Deon Brice.

It is alleged that on that date, Culmer fatally shot Anderson at Rosedale and Mackey Streets.

According to court dockets, shortly after 3am, police responding to reports of a man being shot, found Anderson with injuries to his body.

Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive him, but were unsuccessful.

Culmer’s attorney Bjorn Ferguson alleged his client was beaten about the body while in custody.

He also alleged his client was threatened multiple times by officers, who purportedly told him

that once at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, he would “get his things”.

Chief Magistrate FergusonPratt said she would make a note of the claims, and asked that Culmer undergo a medical evaluation at BDCS. In the second case, Rashad Paul stood accused of the Saturday, February 2, murder of Kirby Jean Pierre.

It is alleged that on that date, Paul intentionally caused the death of Pierre at Fritz Lane.

According to police reports, Pierre was walking in the area

when he was approached by the occupants of a grey vehicle.

The men shot him to the body before speeding away. Pierre was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paul was not represented by attorney yesterday.

In the last case, Joel Bullard stood accused of the Friday, February 1, murder of Gary Leon.

It is alleged that on that date, Bullard killed Leon outside a bar at Miami Street.

According to reports, Leon was at an establishment at Miami Street and Cordeaux Avenue, when he was approached by a

group of men, one armed with a firearm, who shot him before fleeing.

Leon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bullard was not represented by attorney yesterday.

The three accused men were not required to enter a plea to the charges against them yesterday and their cases were all adjourned until April 5 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. They were all remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim but can apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

War zone culture from page one

Others, 52 percent of them, suffered moderate to severe depression, while 32 percent further reported a life tormented by four or more trauma causing events.

Without proper intervention, these factors could be the perfect cocktail for the teens developing into adults who commit serious crimes or even murder. And often times those who commit murder were sexually and/ or physically abused, it was also found.

Dr Allen, along with Keva Bethell, director of research of The Family, People Helping People organisation, funded by Templeton World Charity, conducted the study on a sample of 25 troubled youths. The programme counsels about 400 victims of crime several times a week.

Ms Bethell said: “(We conducted a) multimethod study of the court ordered adolescents and looked at the group reports of the themes they discussed in the group sessions.

We also gave them three questionnaires: an adverse childhood experiences questionnaire, a post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaire, and a depression inventory.

“In looking at over 80 of the group therapy sessions, the themes that they discussed the most was their choice in friends, which the teens view as a means of feeling safe.”

She also said: “After the choice in friends they discussed their gang activity and came out and discussed this

YOUR

Without proper intervention, these factors could be the perfect cocktail for teens developing into adults who commit serious crimes or even murder, warns Dr David Allen

THERAPY sessions are seeing results and can be effective once intervention is started early enough, says Dr Allen. involvement. These adolescents who are involved in the violent crime, they speak about the things that are driving forces behind what causes people to commit murder – choice in friends, lack of education, gang activity, anger, substance abuse, the fighting (and) less spirituality. Friendship to them is safety but not loyalty. They have no loyalty they just want friends for safety.

“They also have a decreased desire to continue education because of the associated trauma.”

She added: “With the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire - 10 questions were asked about various childhood experiences before 18. If you score four or higher that’s significant. Thirty-two percent of them scored four or higher on this questionnaire indicating they have had at least four or more traumatic experiences in their life before 18. This includes sexual (or) physical abuse, etc. This trauma shapes criminal activity in adulthood. Before inmates were perpetrators, they were victims. Don’t ask what is

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

wrong with you, ask what happened to you.

“Eighty-seven percent of them have moderate to severe PTSD. They tested positive there. Coupled with that trauma is depression. With that test half of them suffered from moderate to severe depression - 52 percent.”

Dr Allen explained that traits associated with PTSD are murderous rage, being easily provoked, on edge, and possessing poor educational results.

“This is the same score that soldiers coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq have. These kids are seeing killing of relatives and neighbours day in and day out. They have to join a gang for safety, but when

they join that their life is in danger too so that’s serious.

“Young kids carrying traumatisation comparable to men and women and war.

So to them they are living in a war zone. They can’t take certain jitneys. They can’t walk certain streets.”

While the results are staggering, Dr Allen believes he has the answer to solving the occurrence of serious crimes, more specifically murder. He told reporters yesterday his therapy sessions are seeing results and can be effective once intervention is started early enough.

The claim was yesterday backed by follow-up results.

Out of 38 participants released from the

programme, 84 percent said since release they did not have any trouble with the law, 50 percent secured employment, 76 no longer struggled with substance abuse and 76 percent say they now make better choices when it comes to friends.

Dr Allen also recommends churches become more active in marginalised communities, the creation of cadet programmes in areas where there are none, the construction of a large residential facility on a Family Island to house abused young men, mandatory licensing for psychotherapists and increased mental health aids at Accident and Emergency at Princess Margaret Hospital.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

M

ANY of us know we have greatness within us. We know we are meant to achieve more and do more than we are at present. Sometimes we blame our circumstances, the people around us, the blocks we face, or even our leaders for us not being where we think we should be. Sometimes, those circumstances can create a hindrance; but by no means do they have to define you.

The journey may take a little longer, but the greatness you seek is within your reach and there is no need to be complacent. Reaching beyond perceivable limits is what got Hubert Edwards where he is today. He was born in a humble little town in Jamaica and today, he is a well-known personality in The Bahamas, his second home; he is an asset in the financial industry in the region and a budding international speaker with his sights firmly set on making his mark in the world.

When he was born in a rural village called Standfast in Brown’s Town in the parish of St. Anne in Jamaica, Hubert almost didn’t make it. His mother, Monica Coke, was all by herself when it came time to deliver him. It was a difficult labour and he almost died as the umbilical cord was strangling him. As fate would have it, his “Granny”, Mary Jane Morrison happened by and saved him. Old wives would say the way you were born often depicts your path in life. For Hubert, that seemed true. He was the fifth of his mother’s seven children and the third of his father, Lewis Edward’s four children. His father nicknamed him “Bobo”, which means “friend” or “child” in African and he was born on a most significant day in Jamaica and the African Diaspora – August 17, the birthday of national hero Marcus Garvey, who happened to have been born in the same parish. He would find this connection to Africa and the destiny of its people to struggle to overcome would define his life.

“My childhood could be characterised as a paradox of happiness and lacking,” said Hubert.

“A time of great love but many times quiet sorrow.

A time of public triumph but private distress. Being capable in school but unable to fund the dream. Having abilities but limited by the experiences around me. A desire for more but always lacking. And even then it was such a rich, diverse experience that there are so many positives that I still take into adulthood. Like the kindness of others, the love of people, of friends helping friends and sharing the little they have. Two of my childhood friends, Mitchell Parke and Anthony Black, are individuals who at the time unknowing helped me to survive. There were many others, community friends, teachers and so on.

‘I am dedicated to finding ways to give back to others. With limited resources, I use my love for teaching to reach others, spending time coaching and mentoring,’ says Hubert Edwards

FAR left, Hubert Edwards stands by a statue of Marcus Garvey; above, celebrating his birthday; near left, with a participant of the Youth Empowerment Programme

A lesson to cherish - never give up In a nutshell - a wonderful journey with a lot of bumps along the way which I think were designed to teach me humility.”

His family ended up moving to a village called Benin, still in Brown’s Town, which overlooked the villages Egypt and Goshen. At the time, the significance of his path did not connect, but in retrospect, Hubert realised how these circumstances were defining his path. Although there were many mouths for his mother, pictured below. to feed, he considers his mother “a wonderful woman who sacrificed all her to make it possible for me to progress”.

“She suffered a lot due to her circumstances at the time but she always had a quick smile and a good heart,” he said.

“She sang like an angel and I owe pretty much everything I am today to her and her example of what it means to persevere and never give up. My father was referred to as Ba-Lew, Uncle Lew, Mass Lewis or just Uncle. A very interesting man he was, difficult to understand at times but he, too had a quick smile, a very brilliant mind and had the kindest heart you will ever find. His generosity is one of the things I hold on to dearly.”

Hubert spent his entire childhood in Brown’s Town in St Anne before he went

to the capital, Kingston for university. He started his career as an auditor at KPMG in Jamaica, rising to the level of a senior auditor.

He left KPMG and brought his wife to The Bahamas after being recruited by Tony Kikivarakis to join Deloitte, where his areas of specialisation were Audit and Regulatory Consulting.

“It was at a point (moving to The Bahamas) where we just had our first child and I instinctively knew based on all the circumstances that I needed to do something dramatically different if I was going to afford them a different kind of life,” Hubert said.

“So I made the trek to The Bahamas supported by the fact that another great friend Orville Lewis was already here. It has been an interesting journey but one I would not trade.”

Hubert moved up the ranks at Deloitte and was promoted up to the level of senior manager. Having worked at Deloitte, being involved in the audit of a number of financial services companies and developing a love for regulatory matters, he decided he wanted to spend sometime with the regulators, The Central Bank of the Bahamas, where he became Senior Bank Examiner. He was actively involved with the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers (BACO) during the time the country was blacklisted and spent many hours working and contributing to the cause. He presented at many seminars and

conferences to help many financial services institutions, through Deloitte, to correct challenges they had.

“It was a great time of learning and so going to the Central Bank was a progression of the desire to grow in that area. I spent two years at the Central Bank and left after a very open and honest conversation with the then Inspector. We saw the institution and the country through different eyes and it was therefore time to part ways,” he said.

Hubert then joined The

Bank of The Bahamas where he held numerous responsibilities including strategic planning, treasury management, corporate sales. He joined as senior manager and rose to deputy managing director. He also provided oversight for the entire sales apparatus of the bank to include branches, corporate, premier banking, trust and marketing.

“In many ways I grew up at Bank of the Bahamas,” he said. “It was in those days that the value of perseverance and the generosity of my parents become a valuable anchor on which I held and work diligently to be as much of an impact as I could. My wish is that I impacted others positively.

There is though, a story I hope to tell one day, of how I found me in the midst of challenges.”

Today, Hubert is working as a consultant, building his consulting firm Next Level Solutions.

Currently, the focus is in the areas of risk management, regulatory consulting, finance and training. He is a Fellow of the Association of Certified Charted Accountants (ACCA); a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Jamaica (ICAJ) and Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountant (BICA); and holds certification as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

He is also passionate about “people and helping others grow” and for this reason, he also owns Hubert Edwards Global – a leadership, speaking, mentorship and coaching institute. This gave birth to

the “Success Summit”, an economic empowerment event successfully held in 2017 and 2018. This month, he will launch a scholarship from funds garnered from the last summit, which will target a student in the inner city areas of New Providence.

“The vision is to have a positive influence to many in The Bahamas, the wider Caribbean region and the world,” he said. “In everything we do, we embrace the African principle of Ubuntu: I am because we are. We measure our success by the level of positive impact we have on others.

We see this event as being more inspirational than motivational. Our objective is to create a mind-shift where persons start to actively think about how to chart their own success.”

Under the Hubert Edwards Global umbrella, he delivers training on leadership as a John Maxwell Certified trainer and an active Toastmaster, providing coaching and mentoring to a number of individuals, as far away as Africa, currently free of charge. Hubert is also the executive producer and host of the radio show “The Essentials!” on 96.9fm Guardian Radio (www.facebook.com/theessentials), he is a former co-host of the radio talk show - “Tell it Like It Is”, and he has also hosted the television current affairs programme “You and Your Money”.

This week, Hubert is back home in Jamaica touring a number of schools to give motivational speeches to students. He is the current president of the Hummingbirds Association (The Jamaican diaspora organisation in the Bahamas); Board Member/ Treasurer of International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA); First Vice-President (currently, for second time, Interim President) of the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services (BIFS); Treasurer of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Bahamas Branch; and Director of the Bahamas Chamber Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC). He has also served in various other capacities on boards of civic and professional organizations including Director of Kiwanis Club.

“It is because of the input of others, many times persons I didn’t know or met only once, that I was able to make some level of progress in life,” he confesses.

“I am totally dedicated to finding ways to give back to others. With limited resources, I use my love for teaching to reach others, spending time coaching and mentoring. I have had the privilege of engaging so many people and helping them see things differently.

I must confess though, that I have been the greatest beneficiary of these interactions and through them, I have over time, been able to better understand myself and create a purpose.”

THE TRIBUNE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE government’s failure to serve defence lawyers with its appeal in connection to the bribery and extortion trial of former PLP Senator Frank Smith has put proceedings in “limbo”, according to attorney Damian Gomez.

However, Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin insisted yesterday he had acknowledgements of service from the law offices of both Mr Gomez and Philip McKenzie.

Mr Gaskin said the documents were served on February 5.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Gomez pointed to a seven-day window for appeal at the Magistrate’s Court level, which passed last Thursday.

Mr Gomez said Mr Smith’s legal team will object to an extension unless the government complied with a Supreme Court order requesting documents from six government agencies pertaining to controversial Crown witness Barbara Hanna and her cleaning company.

The order was granted by Justice Gregory Hilton in a court order dated April 23, 2018 but never complied with, Mr Gomez said.

“If the act states you must file and serve and you haven’t served it, then it hasn’t started,” Mr Gomez said.

“The criminal procedure requires the appellant file and serve his appeal.

We have not been served yet and that must be done within seven days which expired last Thursday.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 9

Government yet to serve appeal, says Smith lawyer

ATTORNEY Damian Gomez, front left, with Frank Smith, third right.

“If we are faced with an application for leave to extend time, we are going to argue that should not be granted until they comply with the order of the Supreme Court. We had asked for any and all documents related to any and all agreements…they never gave it.”

Justice Hilton said the Public Hospitals Authority; the commissioner of police; the controller of inland revenue; the secretary of revenue; the financial

secretary; and the National Insurance Board were given until May 7 to comply with the order.

Justice Hilton ordered the production and consequent surrender of the copies of “any and all written communications” between the board of the PHA and the minister of health between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 relating to the cleaning of the Critical Care Block of Princess Margaret Hospital; as well as copies

of “any and all resolutions” of the PHA board between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 concerning its approval of Magic Touch.

Justice Hilton also ordered the production and consequent surrender of an “opinion” of the Attorney General’s Office rendered to the board of the PHA, and published to the minister of health, which said the board was advised that there was “no corruption” in the grant of the contract to Mrs Hanna in 2016 for

the cleaning of the CCB. The aforementioned entities were also ordered to turn over the value added tax returns for the period January 2015 to December 2017 together with “corresponding documentation” evidencing the payments of VAT payable under the Value Added Tax Act 2014 from the alleged customers of Mrs Hanna and/or Magic Touch.

They were also ordered to turn over all business licence documents for the period December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2017 including “any sworn statements” made by Mrs Hanna concerning her business gross earnings from Magic Touch, and also any document evidencing an agreement by Mrs Hanna to pay outstanding taxes and/or licence fees between herself and the government of The Bahamas.

Justice Hilton also ordered that any and all documents associated with or relating to the payment of NIB contributions for Mrs Hanna’s and/or Magic Touch’s employees, including but not limited to Mrs Hanna sworn statements, any document evidencing an agreement by Mrs Hanna to pay outstanding NIB contributions to her or Magic Touch’s employees

between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017.

Mr Smith was acquitted and discharged of all 15 criminal charges against him.

Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, in her ruling last month, pointed to numerous “inconsistencies” and “discrepancies” in the Crown’s case, and cited the “egregious” behaviour of two Cabinet ministers – National Security Minister Marvin Dames and Health Minister Dr Duane Sands connected to the matter.

Dr Sands has declined comment on the matter, while Mr Dames has rejected calls for his resignation as ‘political nonsense’.

Mr Gomez has called for a commission of inquiry into police conduct, but yesterday acknowledged the authority to launch such a probe rested with the government.

He added: “What was recorded is a very weak appeal, it’s not arguable.

I suspect the only reason it was filed to stop [news media] from printing stories on us.”

“I will wait a while, and then we will issue our civil proceedings for damages, exemplary damages and aggravated damages for malicious prosecution.”

EXUMA MAN DETAINED AFTER ADMITTING POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A 52-year-old man was yesterday arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the seizure of $97,000 worth of drugs last Friday.

Glenroy McKenzie, 52, of Exuma, stood before Deputy

Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain where it was alleged he, being concerned with others, was found in possession of a large quantity of dangerous drugs, namely Indian hemp, with the intent to supply.

McKenzie, who was represented by attorney Ian Cargill, pled guilty to the offence and was sentenced to 21 months at the

Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

In a separate matter, an American couple was also arraigned on drug related charges in connection to quantity of marijuana found in their possession while at the Lynden Pindling International Airport over the weekend.

Scott Philip McGraw, 36, and

Nicole Maria Mozo, 36, both of Syracuse, New York, appeared before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux charged with one count each of possession after several pieces of candy in their possession tested positive for containing marijuana.

The pair pled guilty to the offence, claiming Mozo possessed an American licence to use small

quantities of marijuana for medical purposes.

Mozo said she often uses marijuana in edible form to treat intense fibromyalgia pain.

They were convicted and fined $100 each, which had to be paid before they were released from custody yesterday.

They were not represented by an attorney.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, February 12, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Trump heads to Texas to make case for border wall

WASHINGTON Associated Press

WITH another government shutdown threat looming, President Donald Trump headed to the Texas border yesterday to argue his case that walls work as Democrats spurn his demands for billions to build such a barrier.

Trump was bound for El Paso, aiming to reshape the debate around the wall following a damaging shutdown fight and with his signature 2016 campaign promise hanging in limbo.

In a case of pointed political counterprogramming, Beto O’Rourke, the former

Democratic congressman from Texas now mulling a presidential run, planned an evening El Paso march and rally against the wall with dozens of local civic, human rights and Hispanic groups.

The first duelling rallies of the 2020 election season were set to serve as a preview of a heated yearslong fight over the direction of the country. And they made clear that Trump’s long-promised border wall is sure to play an outsized role in the presidential race, as both sides use it to try to rally their supporters and highlight their contrasting approaches.

TRUMP bound for El Paso The rallies launch a crucial week for Trump as Democrats and Republicans remain locked in negotiations over border wall funding ahead of a midnight Friday deadline that could force another government shutdown.

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While lawmakers and the White House had appeared optimistic at the end of last week that negotiators were closing in on a deal, talks faltered over the weekend over Democrats’ demands to limit the number of migrants whom authorities can detain.

Trump tried to put the blame on Democrats as he left Washington, saying they didn’t want to provide the bed space needed to detain dangerous people wanting to come into the US. “Now it turns out not only don’t they want to give us money for the wall, they don’t want to give us the space to detain murderers, criminals, drug dealers, human smugglers,” he said.

“How bad it that?”

Democrats reject that characterisation, countering that they are trying to curb what they see as unnecessarily harsh enforcement by immigration officials.

Trump has repeatedly pointed to El Paso to make his case that a border wall is necessary, claiming that barriers turned the city from one of the nation’s most dangerous to one of its safest. But that’s not true.

El Paso had a murder rate of less than half the national average in 2005, a year before the most recent expansion of its border fence. That’s despite being just across the border from

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a city plagued by drug violence. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report shows that El Paso’s annual number of reported violent crimes dropped from nearly 5,000 in 1995 to around 2,700 in 2016. But that corresponded with similar declines in violent crime nationwide and included periods when the city’s crime rates increased year over year, despite new fencing and walls.

• President Trump plans to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritise research and development in artificial intelligence. The plan, called the American AI Initiative, comes after China and other countries have pledged big investments to advance and apply AI technology in fields ranging from warfighting to health care.

The White House plan doesn’t include any funding details. The administration says it’s up to Congress to appropriate money.

The order directs federal agencies to make government data and computing resources more available to artificial intelligence experts while maintaining security and confidentiality. It also says federal agencies will establish guidance to ensure the new technologies are developed in a safe, trustworthy way.

WOMAN JAILED FOR URGING BOYFRIEND TO KILL HIMSELF MASSACHUSETTS Associated Press

A MASSACHUSETTS woman who sent her suicidal boyfriend a barrage of text messages urging him to kill himself was jailed yesterday on an involuntary manslaughter conviction nearly five years after he died in a truck filled with toxic gas.

Michelle Carter was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2017 for her role in the death of Conrad Roy III, but the judge allowed her to remain free while she appealed in state court.

Massachusetts’ highest court upheld her conviction last week, saying her actions caused Roy’s death.

A lawyer for Carter had argued the 22-year-old should stay out of jail while her defense team takes her case to the US Supreme Court. Her attorneys said in court documents that she has no prior criminal record, hasn’t tried to flee, and has been receiving mental health treatment.

But a judge ruled that she should start her sentence. Earlier in the day, Massachusetts’ highest court denied an emergency motion filed by her lawyers to keep her out of jail.

Carter showed no discernible emotion as she was taken into custody, though her shoulders sagged as she stood and prepared to be led away.

VENEZUELA CRISIS GOES ON AS MADURO HOLDS ONTO POWER CUCUTA, Colombia Associated Press

NEARLY three weeks after the Trump administration backed an all-out effort to overthrow Nicolas Maduro, there is little sign the Venezuelan president is losing his grip on power.

Dozens of nations have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the presidency and the US has tightened sanctions aimed at cutting off billions of dollars in oil revenue.

But anti-Maduro street protests have come and gone, and large-scale military defections have failed to materialize.

With the US virtually certain not to launch military action, Guaido is trying to regain momentum with an effort this week to move US emergency food and medicine into Venezuela despite Maduro’s pledge to block it.

A SUPPORTER of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro holds a poster of him during a rally yesterday.

Such an operation could provoke a dangerous confrontation at the border — or fizzle out and leave Maduro even stronger.

With so much at stake, Guaido is under increasing pressure to soon unseat Maduro, analysts say. “He is running against the clock,” said Daniel Lansberg-Rodriguez, a Venezuela expert at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of

Management.

“Expectations are running very high — not just among Venezuelans but international allies — that this is a crisis that can be resolved quickly.”

Despite having the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering soaring levels of malnutrition, disease and violence after 20 years of socialist rule launched by the late President Hugo Chavez.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, February 12, 2019, PAGE 11 DORIS Gomez with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.

FRIENDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE DORIS’ 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling paid a visit to centenarian Doris Gomez as she celebrated her 100th birthday.

Mrs Gomez, a former seamstress and interior decorator, was regaled for her deep love and care for her family, entrepreneurial nature, and national pride.

While abroad in Detroit, she worked as a wardrobe mistress for TV broadcaster Jean Roach and later Hollywood silver screen star Ginger Rogers. She returned home in 1968 and opened a dry goods store.

“Her love and care for family proved her devotion and charity to all she came in contact with,” read one tribute.

“To this day, Doris cares for family until her final days on earth - she is and will always be remembered for how she makes us feel, because we are graced with her love and care.”

Also present to congratulate Mrs Gomez

at her home, among family and friends, were Speaker of the House of Assembly Halson Moultrie and Pastor Timothy Stuart.

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