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VOLUME:117 No.56, FEBRUARY 12TH, 2020

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

ALICIA WALLACE: AVOID GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

PM SIGNS OFF ON ABACO PROJECT Development tabled pre-Dorian is given full cabinet go-ahead

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net A HEADS of Agreement for a $300m residential resort and marina in South Abaco is to be signed today, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis revealed last night.

Viewed as a project that will aid the economic revival of Abaco, the construction phase alone promises to create 600 jobs, the prime minister said. It is expected to open the door for entrepreneurial opportunities for Abaco residents and other Bahamians in agriculture, fisheries, heritage tourism and many other areas. “I am pleased to

announce that the National Economic Council has approved the project for the construction of a fivestar residential, resort and marina development in South Abaco,” Dr Minnis said in his first televised national address for the year. “The capital investment is approximately $300m and will help in the reconstruction and revival of Abaco.”

A full size golf course is also a feature of the new residential resort.

“The project is expected to employ approximately 600 people during the construction phase and thereafter. The project will

SHOOTOUT SUSPECTS

SEE PAGE THREE

CARNIVAL Corporation’s investment in Grand Bahama, already its largest in the region, has doubled in size and may grow even more by the time the details are finalised, an official said.

When Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis hosted the heads of agreement signing for the project last September, the investment was worth over $100m and

promised to boost Grand Bahama’s ailing economy.

Now the investment is worth at least $200m after Carnival added additional features, including an inland waterway, Senior Vice President of Global Port and Destination Development Giora Israel said yesterday.

His comments came to Bahamian reporters at the company’s headquarters in Miami yesterday.

SEE PAGE TEN

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A YOUNG mother burst into tears and fell to the floor in court in despair yesterday after she and her friend were unanimously convicted of murdering teenage mother Breanna Mackey two years ago.

Zaria Burrows wept loudly and crumbled to the floor of the dock moments after a 12-member jury found both her and Dervinique Edwards guilty of the 19-year-old’s death in January 2018.

Edwards, meanwhile, sat stoney faced when the verdict was announced by the foreman. When the judge asked her if she had anything to say, Edwards SEE PAGE FIVE

...AS CARNIVAL SAYS GB PROPOSAL HAS DOUBLED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TWO MORE GUILTY OF BREANNA MURDER

POLICE shot a suspected armed robber yesterday, moments after he and another man held two people up in a photo studio at a Carmichael Road plaza Full story - Page 2

‘DARKIES’ REMARK FORCES APOLOGY

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A PLP official has issued a public apology after coming under fire for controversial remarks about “darkies” she made at a PLP rally on Monday night.

While introducing PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville at the party’s campaign launch on Monday night, PLP National ViceChair Patricia Deveaux bragged about the party having attractive members, rather than a “bunch of darkies.”

SEE PAGE SIX

CLOSURES SIGNAL ‘ILLEGALS EXTRACTION’ TECHNOLOGY

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net

IMMIGRATION Minister Elsworth Johnson said yesterday immigration officials will “extract” undocumented migrants living in shelters throughout New Providence once those facilities have been deactivated.

However, he insisted operations carried out by the Department of Immigration in dealing with the issue will be conducted in

MINISTER Elsworth Johnson a “humane” manner. “All I’ll say about the shelters is that they will not be used to

circumvent the law,” he told reporters outside Cabinet yesterday.

“We now know who is in the shelters. We now know who is documented. We now know who are undocumented and so as those shelters are closing, we in a humane, courteous and legal way, we will extract those persons.”

His comments came after Minister of Social Services Frankie

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

THE FOLDABLE PHONE HAS US ALL TALKING

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

Shootout suspects

BULLET holes can be seen in the glass door after yesterday’s incident. Money and weapons were also found on the premises.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

Police rush to photo studio after two men hold up workers

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE shot a suspected armed robber at a Carmichael Road plaza yesterday morning, moments after he and another man held two people up in a photo studio.

A portion of the brazen incident was captured on cell phone video and shared on social media. One video shows an officer running towards the FML Plaza and past bystanders with his weapon drawn. Several armed police are seen at the door of the business, as bystanders loiter about, before several shots are heard.

Police said before 8.15am, two men entered

Portraits-a-La Sawyers photo studio dressed in white jumpsuits and claiming to be window cleaners.

They held up the proprietor and a worker and duct taped both of them.

When officers arrived at the scene, the suspected thieves attempted to shoot at the officers and flee the scene, prompting police to open fire. A police officer was also injured during a struggle with one of the suspects.

At the scene, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said officers observed two individuals, one with a firearm, inside the photo studio.

“Once the officers got to the front section of the building, these persons then engaged the officers with an

attempt to fire on them with a view of escaping and the officers, being concerned for their life, opened fire on both suspects subsequently hitting one of them. As a result, the officers, once on the inside there was a struggle between one of the suspects and one of the officers.”

The injured officer got medical assistance while the wounded suspect was taken to the hospital. Both suspects were found with a large sum of money which the police assumed was taken from the business.

CSP Cash noted that the store owner did not appear to be harmed but was “traumatised”. The proprietor’s daughter, Chandra Sawyer, told The Tribune that her father and

the employee were doing okay but “shaken up” after what had happened.

“Well he said him and the employee was in the store and she was going to step out to get something and when she came back in the guys came in and they just came in and they pulled out their weapon and told them to get on the floor.”

A car cleaner, who wanted to remain anonymous, was at the plaza when the robbers suspiciously entered the building.

He said: “When I was setting up this morning, I saw them coming out the bush in the back there.

They politely made their way towards the shop and the lady she just was opening up the shop…when she open up the shop they like

pushed her in and the door end up closing behind her.

“A lady was standing right there, she look at me and when she look at me she end up turning round, and know what she see, she must be see they hold a gun to her. When she saw that, she jump in her car and gone head down by the police station and she bring the police back.

The police was like but a one minute or two behind her.”

Ms Sawyer said while the photo studio had experienced a break-in before, yesterday was the first time an incident like this had happened.

“There’s been a break-in before but you know never like this where persons would come in armed to

rob while the establishment is open.

“It’s kinda of a shock that they would be that brazen first thing in the morning to come into the store to rob at that time of the day. So, it’s just saddening. I pray that we just do something about this in this country you know but that persons don’t have to go through these experiences.”

Fernerin Hanna, the studio owner’s niece, condemned the incident.

“It’s really unfortunate because he’s a hard worker and you know we really have to do something in this country because people have to work too hard for this to happen first thing in the morning – this is a desperate act.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, PAGE 3

from page one

South Abaco project unveiled pre-Dorian given full go-ahead

provide a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities for Abaconians and Bahamians in a number of areas including: agriculture, fisheries, heritage tourism and many other areas.”

Once completed, the resort will create more visitors for South Abaco.

In anticipation of this, the prime minister said government planned to expand and enhance the Sandy Port Airport.

While the signing of such an agreement is a welcomed development for Abaco, the government has come under much criticism over the pace of recovery and clean up efforts.

Dr Minnis also pledged to beef up communication with the public where government had failed to do so.

“If there are aspects of this reconstruction, and rebuilding that we need to improve on, we will take your suggestions,” the prime minister said.

“Where we have failed to properly, or regularly communicate with you on ongoing work, we pledge to improve our outreach.

“I understand the frustrations and I assure you, that we are working very hard, to reconstruct public infrastructure, and to aid in the reconstruction of businesses and homes. We remain, the people’s government. We are servants of the people, who elected us to serve.

“As prime minister, I pledge to you the full effort of the government, to restore Abaco, the Abaco Cays, and Grand Bahama.

“We are one Bahamas, one people, one nation.

When any part of our Commonwealth is affected, we are all affected. To make our country whole again, we must continue the long, and hard work, to restore, to renew, and to reconstruct the second, and third most vital economic centres of our Bahamas.”

As government directs its focus toward the broader aspects of storm recovery, victims of disaster have needed social and rental assistance along with the purchase of appliances. Dr Minnis outlined how the government has helped victims thus far.

“The Department of Social Services continues to provide rental assistance to those displaced by the storm. It has assisted some 514 families, and paid out, more than $700,000 to Grand Bahamians.

Also, appliance assistance continues with some 300

THE CAPITAL investment is approximately $300m and will help in the reconstruction and revival of Abaco, said the prime minister last night

applications, processed to the value of $400,000.

“Unemployment assistance, through the National Insurance Board, provided help to those employees, affected by the temporary closure of businesses after the storm. Over $1.7m in these benefits, has been paid to Grand Bahamians.

“As the minister of social services has advised, the shelter at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium will be deactivated by the end of this month. The shelter at the Bahamas Academy on Wulff Road, will also be deactivated as soon as possible.

“The Department of Social Services, is working with shelter residents, to help them to move in with family members, to transition to rental units, or to relocate to the islands from which they were displaced.”

Ultimately, the government hopes the conditions in the affected islands can

return to normal to allow residents to return to their homes.

Dr Minnis said 22 domes are being erected in Spring City, Abaco and more domes are being brought in for individuals who would like to place one on their own land while they rebuild or make major repairs.

He said “quite” a number of people had already called to request domes.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Power and Light is still working to ensure there is complete power supply in Abaco.

A restoration team has been assigned and work is ongoing in Elbow Cay 60 percent of high voltage overhead work is done and 70 percent of the low voltage systems were replaced.

In Man-O-War Cay, a restoration team was also assigned and poles are being delivered to Guana Cay.

DR Hubert Minnis addressing the nation on TV last night However, in Marsh Harbour and other areas extensive work is needed and continues.

Dr Minnis said; “From Marsh Harbour heading

north, a section of 500 poles remains down. A request for proposals is out for this work.

“Treasure Cay, is still not powered up. BPL has to

run power from the Green Turtle Cay Ferry Dock, to the entrance of Treasure Cay, in preparation to bring power to the settlement, once work has been completed there.

“An additional 150 solar lights are expected to arrive shortly. They are to be placed in Murphy Town, around Marsh Harbour, out to the airport, and elsewhere in Abaco.”

He continued: “To date approximately 50 solar streetlights, are installed in central Abaco. Despite the progress that is being made, there is still much work to be done, to restore electricity.

“Due to the extensive damage caused by Dorian, areas remain without service, and we are working toward full restoration of electricity to Central Abaco.”

Editorial View - Page 4

Grand Lucayan deal likely to be signed next month

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE sale of the Grand Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama is expected to be made final when a Heads of Agreement is signed on March 2.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made the announcement last night, while foreshadowing the creation of 2,000 to 3,000 jobs and economic benefits — the result of a sale that has been in the making for nearly a year.

Royal Caribbean International and the ITM Group signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of the resort and redevelopment of the Freeport Harbour on March 27 last year.

The government purchased the hotel for $65 million in August 2018. Despite criticism over the move, the Minnis administration maintained it only planned to hold on to the hotel to preserve the island’s economy before selling it to a viable developer.

Dr Minnis said last night: “In order to restore the lives of the people of Abaco and Grand Bahama, we must boost economic activity and development, on both islands.

“On March 2, we will sign a Heads of Agreement

THE GRAND Lucayan resort in Grand Bahama for the sale of the Grand Lucayan resort and casino.

This will help with the longterm recovery and renewal of Grand Bahama. It will result in scores of jobs during reconstruction and development and long-term employment, business and entrepreneurial opportunities for the residents of Grand Bahama.

“This project could mean approximately two to three thousand jobs for Grand Bahama.”

Last week Michael Scott, chairman of government’s

special purpose vehicle that owns the resort, said officials had been eyeing a mid-February deadline for the completion of the sale.

At the time, he said an agreement on the final transaction documents was needed as the final step to the process.

He told The Tribune the sale had been somewhat delayed by deadly Hurricane Dorian. The storm also damaged the hotel.

Asked about the scale of the damage, Mr Scott said last week: “We are trying

to settle the insurance claim now with the adjusters and underwriters.”

The prime minister’s announcement also comes about two weeks after Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said the government had budgeted $16.1m for Lucayan Renewal Holdings as he identified a number of non-hurricane related spending initiatives which totalled $119.9m for fiscal year 2019-2020.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said significant

clean-up efforts in all settlements in East End and Freeport were underway

as the Ministry of Works moved ahead with repairs.

There have also been continuous efforts to restore electricity there.

“There has been significant clean-up, in all settlements in East End and Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Removal of debris efforts are ongoing. The Fishing Hole Road Bridge, which remains structurally strong, received significant damage to the approaching roads,” Dr Minnis said.

“The Ministry of Works has received approval to proceed with the repair of this thoroughfare.”

Government also wants to ensure schools in the impacted settlements are properly repaired. Dr Minnis said officials plan to construct one school to serve East Grand Bahama.

All other public schools in the island are expected to have upgrades in the summer, he said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

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Good news after the storm THE delight was obvious to see in Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ announcements of two big economic deals – one for South Abaco and one for Grand Bahama.

The Grand Bahama deal has been long in the making – the closing date for the Grand Lucayan sale. Indeed, the date for the completion of the purchase by Royal Caribbean and ITM had seemingly slipped a couple of times as negotiations went on. Even Hurricane Dorian was cited as a factor in the delay as the government swung into response mode.

Whatever the reasons for the delays – and they could be as simple as the fact that sealing a major deal takes time – the announcement of the March 2 signing date is very welcome. Dr Minnis says the project could bring 2,000-3,000 jobs, sorely needed in Grand Bahama. More than the construction phase though, it is the long-term employment and the reinvigoration of the visitor market there as the Grand Lucayan brings more visitors to the island that will prove the real longterm economic boost. The deal is not the be all and end all of the opportunities that will spring from it, rather it will be a chance for the whole area to benefit from a revived market if all goes well.

While that deal is one people have long been aware of and just waiting to find out when it would all be signed off, the South Abaco project is perhaps the one that will attract the most discussion.

A $300m residential resort and marina that will bring 600 jobs in construction, it comes to an island sorely affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The jobs will be welcome, the opportunities will be welcome – but the public eye will want to make sure the project holds up to scrutiny too.

The construction of a resort and marina will obviously need thorough examination for the environmental impact, for example. To this end, we would hope consultations are already under way with groups such as the Bahamas National Trust and activist bodies to make sure that when the project is done, it’s done right.

Ask the questions early rather than face the kind of fight that’s been seen elsewhere, such as with the Lighthouse Point project in Eleuthera.

That said, it is heartening to see the shoots of economic recovery taking root. These projects will not only help the recovery after the storm, but the recovery that’s been long overdue from the economic storms that have beset The Bahamas over the years.

In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, we heard too many stories of businesses closing their doors for good or moving elsewhere. Seeing businesses taking the reverse course and opening their doors on the hurricane-affected islands is heartening indeed. It’s a sign that, for all the tragedy those islands experienced, we can rebuild.

There remains work to be done, we are sure. There will be those environmental inspections. There will, we hope, be thorough due diligence carried out to ensure there no repeat of the Oban embarrassment. We hope the Heads of Agreement will be better constructed than the one for the Pointe development reportedly is with regard to Bahamian employees.

But this is welcome at a tough time for islands that sorely need good news.

We wish the projects every success, and applaud all those involved in making sure they have come this far already.

PLP out to win over the media EDITOR, The Tribune I RECENTLY saw a collage of Facebook photos of high ranking Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) officials and prominent media personalities frolicking comfortably at what looked like a lavish social event at a high-end residence. Among those in attendance were PLP Leader Philip Brave Davis; Deputy Leader Chester Cooper and Chair Fred Mitchell. Among the media personalities in attendance were Nassau Guardian Editor Candia Dames and Clint Watson of EyeWitness News and Beyond The Headlines -- arguably two of the most prominent figures in journalism. The outspoken Rodney Moncur, of Freedom March on ILTV Studious, was also in attendance. The former Democratic National Alliance candidate and former Free National Movement (FNM) senator appears to now be a PLP. Previously rumoured to have been an FNM supporter, Watson appears to currently hold no brief for the party. He is more anti-FNM than pro-PLP, however.

Dames’ presence at the event is what is most shocking to this writer, in light of her National Review assessments of the previous PLP government between 2012 - 2017 that

were, quite frankly, downright damning (forgive my French). PLPs who were disheartened by the devastating results of the 2017 general election usually fault National Review as being one of the main reasons for the election loss. Dames being invited to the event is probably a sign that the PLP hierarchy has buried the hatchet with her, and are probably hoping for her and fellow Nassau Guardian columnist Sharon Turner to continue bludgeoning the FNM administration of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

Interestingly, Turner was employed at Bahamas Information Services under the last Ingraham administration. Not being engaged by the current FNM administration, rabid FNMs believe that Turner is not demonstrating any objectivity towards their party in her Perspective column due to her possibly feeling slighted by the party. Her disgruntlement may be the motivating factor behind her incessant criticisms, some FNMs believe.

Minnis’ elevation to the leadership post of the FNM in 2012 has introduced a dynamic with the media and the FNM that never existed when former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham led the party. Indeed, it was Ingraham who deepened the Bahamian democracy by throwing off the

shackles that the late Sir Lynden O Pindling had placed on the media, in a strategic move to muffle dissent. This can explain why the media usually held a favourable estimation of Ingraham, while his successor has had a bumpy relationship with the media fraternity. Like former PLP leader and prime minister, Perry Christie, Minnis has the unfortunate task of being in the journalistic crosshairs of the media. I challenge anyone to locate an article by either Dames or Turner that was critical of Ingraham.

As a seasoned, smart and savvy political veteran, Brave Davis understands quite well that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. By wining and dining the media fraternity, Davis has given the appearance that he is attempting to woo over the media to his side a little over two years before the next general election. By courting media personalities, Davis is shrewdly covering his bases. He can then focus his political resources on fighting the FNM, while not having the headache of dealing with a pesky media.

Whatever the case may be, the PLP and the media makes for strange bedfellows.

KEVIN EVANS Grand Bahama.

February 10, 2020.

Jamaal is on holdiay

Fred Smith was off the mark with Carnival EDITOR, The Tribune

MR SMITH, I am with you on many issues. However, your Carnival defence piece was off the mark.

Kudos to your lifelong adherence to the environment and human rights.

But, as a lawyer, in my opinion you have muddled up some of the logical and ethical responsibilities we have, by defending the indefensible. You state that Carnival is no worse than the rest of the cruise ship companies, and plays a small part in the whole of pollution. So, along that way of thinking, should we turn a blind eye on the teenage street thug who just robbed an old woman because he is only a small part of the rampant crime we are seeing? Yes, I understand proportionality and fairness, but I don’t think your argument holds water.

And, just because you don’t need the income doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t compromised your morals by defending Carnival. We understand that you are well off. So are mobsters and web shop owners and bankers, but they stay with their game, even after they’ve made a bundle, don’t they?

A truly “good” lawyer is one who gets their drug dealing client off, even when caught red-handed.

Is this correct? And then, be able to charge even higher fees because of this miscarriage of Justice. So, we see even in your own profession, that the best and highest paid has nothing to do with justice, so to speak, but rather how well you do for your clients, no matter their true innocence or guilt. Is this a fair statement? A “good” lawyer’s job is to muddy the waters with uncertainty, such that justice, true justice, is hamstrung.

Next, is a quote from your letter. “I am a realist.

My firm also acts for Disney and has acted for the Grand Bahama Port Authority Group of companies and many industrial businesses and developers. People need jobs and economic opportunities. Protecting the environment and sustaining opportunities for continued improvement for the lot of seven billion human beings can, with increased awareness, go hand in hand.”

Well, yes Mr Smith, you are partly right. Commerce and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand, with increased awareness. Here’s my concern. Increased awareness means keeping up with the emerging science. And, most recently it has become clear to all paying attention that what is needed is a wholesale, radical change in the way we do business.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Most importantly, and most controversial, seems to be the absolute necessity of consuming less, much less, each and every one of us. I am not talking about constricting and strangling an economy. I am talking about the existential realism that is needed in this unprecedented point in human history. This point being the very likely possibility that we are on a critical path to extinguish most sentient life on this planet, including ourselves within a generation or two.

These are not the crackpots saying this. These are our most eminent scientists on the planet. If this does not speak to the awareness of which you propose, I don’t know what does. Radical change means just that.

Meaning that it is out of the question for thinking people to suggest that all we have to do is to clean up around the edges and things will get better. We need a radical change in the way we do business.

What don’t you get about the term “radical”? To me, this goes to the heart of the “awareness” you speak of.

Someone who truly possesses “awareness” would undoubtedly come to the conclusion that no cruise ships should ever be allowed in Bahamian waters. No matter the money that goes into the government coffers or the menial jobs their presence creates. That would be someone who wasn’t tied to anything other than the true “realism” of our sustainable relationship with Mother Earth. This could also be someone who is clever in creating many more, and better jobs by making the majority of The Bahamas an ecotourism paradise, known the world over for its sound stewardship practices and actual commitment to sustainable tourism. And, they could prove that the needed national investment was a fraction of what is needed to accommodate cruise ships. I lived in Key West, Florida when cruise ships first started coming there. Nothing good came out of them. The reef suffered from the siltation, the downtown suffered because these people don’t spend money off the boat, the class of tourists no longer appreciated what makes this destination special. No, the list of reasonable arguments against cruise ships is long, Mr Smith. Unless, all you see is the money.

Last point, Mr Smith.

Given the number of clients your company acts for, not to mention all the

humanitarian and environmental work you do, likely for free, is it fair to say, you are a busy man? The problem with where humanity is today is that we have lost our essential connections to Mother Earth. Because we have broken these essential bonds is what allows us to commit such horrible acts against Mother Earth and our own interests, as well.

We are well aware of your thrill seeking vacations, and diving with sharks, and being an avid outdoorsman. This is all well and good. But, my point is that most of us humans, including you, have removed ourselves from the rhythms and cadences of our earth, of what actually sustains these seven billion, actually closer to eight billion people, you are concerned with. The earth feeds, clothes, and houses all of humanity, prior to any considerations to an economy.

How do we miss this point?

And this is the root of, not the problem, but the solution. In your world, Mr Smith, commerce consumes the vast majority of your day, your week, your life. I applaud you for the efforts you have made on behalf of many who have no voice.

However, what I am claiming is that you are not the one we must listen to for direction and how to sensibly move into the future.

We must turn to those who have remained in contact with Mother Earth and are able to still impart some wisdom to the modern world, which has mostly lost this wisdom.

With all due respect Mr Smith of your accomplishments, you still occupy the one percent as pertains to economic status in the world. The chances for any true and lasting solutions coming from the upper one percent, is pretty low indeed. The most learned and honest are now suggesting that we turn back to the indigenous peoples, of the ones we haven’t yet exterminated, to seek answers on how to live in harmony on Mother Earth.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that any of us, in this modern comfortable, but abjectly failed, modern industrial society, still have these answers. It has been educated out of our heads. All we do is to make excuses for our terminal ways of using up the world’s resources for ourselves, as quickly as possible. This is exactly what modern day commerce is all about, Mr Smith. We are currently on a dead end road. This has never been more clear. This is what true “awareness” understands.

Jr

NORMAN TRABULSY Andros February 8, 2020

It’s a question of security EDITOR, The Tribune

SECURITY for present and past Governor Generals - Prime Ministers - Judges - Magistrates, etc… can the Minister confirm or deny that none of the above has 24/7 security?

Governor Generals on retirement receive an aide…a vehicle but what about a security person?

Similarly a Prime Minister? Chief Justice no idea and for Magistrates have no idea.

The recent occurrence of a break-in to the residence

of Sir Arthur Foulkes, former governor general, raises a serious issue….if there is no security guard surely their residences should be outfitted with a security alarm?

Coronavirus and what very fortunately turned out to be a mistake by the TV stations in New Jersey where the Phantom of the Seas docked, the cruise boat had not visited Nassau and as Minister Sands correctly stated the last time was the beginning of January, 2020. Sorry; Minister, it is your job to

deny such news reports not put out by some tabloid or social media but these were accredited US TV stations in New Jersey – don’t tell Joe public validate the information.

With over 90,000 cruise passengers weekly coming through Nassau are we, Ministry of Health, doing what is imperative checking every single passenger who wishes to disembark for ‘fever’? Haiti checking!

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, February 8, 2020.

THE TRIBUNE from page one replied: “I’d like to say that even though I get find guilty in this court today, I never one day had no intentions to kill no one, harm no one.”

Before taking her seat, Edwards added: “Anyone who know me, know what type of person I is. I do feel bad for Breanna family.”

Given the jury’s verdict, the pair, who were both on bail, were remanded into custody to await sentencing on March 31.

Before being remanded, Burrows had tearfully asked Justice Grant-Thompson to hug and kiss her toddleraged son, who was being held by either a family member or friend outside of the courtroom.

“That’s the only thing I want do,” Burrows cried.

After doing so, the pair were marched along Bank Lane in handcuffs to be further remanded. Their family and friends, who stood on the side watching them as they passed, offered praises to God despite the circumstances.

One woman could be heard loudly proclaiming things like “God in charge!”

And “God don’t sleep and he don’t slumber!”

“I want them put that in the papers!” the woman exclaimed.

Yesterday’s proceedings marked the end of a four month trial concerning Mackey’s stabbing death at the hands of five girls who were supposed to be her friends because they wanted her to pay for a broken $80 Huawei cellphone that belonged to one of them.

Shortly before 6pm that day, police control room was contacted about reports that a woman was stabbed in the Key West Street area off Cordeaux Avenue.

Police officers were dispatched to investigate.

Upon their arrival, a woman, identified as the victim’s sister, Latisha Woodside, directed officers to a brown and white apartment complex on the eastern side of Key West Street. On the porch, just in front of door number nine, officers discovered Mackey, semi-conscious, lying face down and suffering from four stab wounds to her upper back and two stab wounds to her right arm.

Mackey, a mother-of-one who had turned 19 the day before, was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital where she died at 8.28pm.

During trial, the jury heard how Burrows was driving her car in the area of Key West Street with Williams, Edwards, Davanya Lawes, Yolika Domesle, aka “Gabby”, and Matia Sylverain as passengers.

Edwards said when Williams spotted Mackey, she started saying: “See Breanna, see Breanna on the corner,” before asking Edwards to open the car door and let her out.

Edwards said her door wouldn’t open, so Williams got out by the door on the opposite side.

Domesle, who was seated in the front passenger seat, then got out of the vehicle and threw a bottle at Mackey, which hit her in her face. Burrows said after that, Mackey’s older sister,

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, PAGE 5

Two more guilty of Breanna murder

ZARIA BURROWS, left, and Dervinique Edwards outside court yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Nafetera Brown, consequently told her sister to run, which she did. Williams and the others gave chase.

Burrows said Mackey ended up running in a yard.

While fleeing, Mackey slipped and fell in some mud, according to Burrows.

Williams then grabbed her by the head.

Edwards, in her interview, said she saw when Williams “snatched” Mackey, and said she thought she was punching the victim. However, she said when Williams drew back her hand, she realised she was brandishing a knife.

When asked how many times she saw Williams stab Mackey, Edwards replied: “All I know is a lot, I couldn’t keep up.”

While that was happening, Sylverain was kicking Mackey, while Lawes was running in the road as if she was making a beeline for Mackey. However, Williams had since stabbed Mackey, and so Lawes ran back to Burrows’ car.

The other girls eventually made their way to the car, which was when Burrows realised Williams had a knife on her the entire time. After Williams drew all of their attention to the bloody weapon, Burrows consequently ordered her to throw the knife out of her car. Burrows then dropped

KILLED: Breanna Mackey the girls off at their respective homes.

Edwards, however, said she did not stay home after the incident, and went “riding out Gambier” with Burrows, Williams, Domesle, Lawes, and Sylverain after the incident.

Burrows meanwhile, said after the incident, she picked up her girlfriend and went “riding looking for something to eat”. It was only when she dropped her girlfriend off that she discovered that Mackey had died.

Burrows’ attorney Dervard Francis tried to appeal to the jury to acquit his client, charging that contract to the Crown’s case against Burrows and Edwards, Williams acted “unilaterally and on her own” in killing Mackey.

Meanwhile, Edwards attorney Eleanor Albury asserted charged that based

on the evidence led, her client is effectively absolved of any responsibility for the attack as there was no common design to attack Mackey.

Ms Albury said there was nothing in her client’s ROI that remotely suggested that Edwards committed the offence of which she is charged. Ms Albury added that there was no evidence that Edwards encouraged the mobbing, or even got out of the car to participate in the attack.

However, Crown attorney Cassie Bethel successfully appealed to the jury to convict the pair, asserting the pair valued rolling with their “crew” above distancing themselves from the girl’s attackers.

And at no time did one or both of them do anything to “withdraw” themselves from the January 2018 savagery, Ms Bethel charged.

Instead, Ms Bethel said if Edwards in particular played no part in the attack and was so caught off guard as she claims she was, she wouldn’t have gone for drinks with Mackey’s attackers not too long afterwards. “Didn’t call for help, didn’t get any assistance, didn’t go to the police. They went for drinks,” the prosecutor said.

With their conviction, Burrows and Edwards are

the last of the six girls who were charged with Mackey’s murder to either be convicted for the offense or convicted pursuant to plea agreements.

On April 2nd of last year, Justice Grant-Thompson sentenced the woman who did the actual stabbing, Thea Williams, to 25 years in prison in pursuance of a plea agreement her attorney reached with the Crown.

She is further ordered to undergo one year of counselling, inclusive of anger management lessons, and another year of probation upon completion of her sentence. She will be 46-years-old by the time that comes around.

Meanwhile, an 18-yearold woman whose name has been withheld because she was charged as a minor, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in connection with Mackey’s death. She is also ordered to serve one year’s probation after completing her sentence.

Prior to receiving her sentence, and as part of a plea deal, she pleaded not guilty to murdering Mackey, but guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Her sentence is non-inclusive of any further time deductions.

The following week, Davanya Lawes was sentenced to two years in prison

as part of a plea deal. Lawes, who was previously charged with murder, received the sentence after pleading guilty to causing grievous harm to Mackey during the fatal January 25 incident.

The time Lawes spent on remand up to that point, a year and some four months, was be factored into her prison sentence. She was also ordered to perform community service and undergo counselling inclusive of anger management classes.

Then, on August 29th of last year, the woman who actually owned the phone at the heart of the controversy, and whose named has been withheld because she too was charged as a minor, was freed from prison.

At the time, Justice Grant-Thompson sentenced the woman, who is either 18 or 19-yearsold, to two years in prison pursuant to a plea agreement she reached with the Crown. The sentence was ordered to run from the date of her incarceration, January 25, 2018. However, because prison terms are not calculated on a full calendar year, her time expired on May 25 of this year.

Prior to being sentenced/ released, the woman, who turned 18 on August 21, pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to causing grievous harm.

RESERVE POLICEMAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RESERVE Sergeant Dwayne Decosta was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday for abducting and assaulting a teenage girl at a police station two years ago.

Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson sentenced the 56-year-old convict to six months behind bars for his actions towards the then13-year-old girl at the South Beach Police Station in July 2018.

The judge also ordered that Decosta be placed on probation for one year, and that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The sentence was ordered to run from yesterday’s date. However, Decosta’s attorney, Murrio Ducille, successfully requested that his bail be continued while he files the necessary documents to appeal the judge’s decision.

Decosta’s sentence came notwithstanding the judge’s acknowledgment of good character references on his behalf from several notable persons, including former Prime Minister Perry

Christie, something she said she was “impressed” with.

The judge also noted that during the trial, Decosta was always a punctual and respectful defendant, and was someone she never “had to look for” whenever his matter was called up for hearing.

However, Justice GrantThompson said it “troubled” her that although the teenager did not admit to any sexual misconduct on the reservist’s part, “a father and 56-year-old grown man” took a “young, underage female” who was “legally vulnerable” upstairs in the police station “into a room alone”.

The judge said the girl must have already felt “vulnerable” to be in a police station without a friend or guardian. To compound that by dealing with a “male stranger” who moved her to an “abandoned, restricted area” indicates “some bad judgement”.

“Why take a female child to such an area, for even a minute?”

Justice Grant-Thompson asked.

“So it means that the convict may have shown these esteemed persons (Mr Christie and his other character witnesses) one face, and

yet in his very uniform, in full sight of the surveillance cameras, practices another face.”

Decosta’s sentencing came roughly five months after a jury unanimously acquitted him of having sex with the girl, but instead convicted him of abducting and assaulting her.

During trial, it was initially alleged that Decosta digitally penetrated the teenager, who is now 14, and made her perform oral sex on him in a room upstairs in the station’s fire services garage.

The allegations emerged from a statement the girl gave to Inspector Altida Bowles in her mother’s presence on the same date of the incident.

However, when the girl gave sworn evidence, she denied telling police about any sexual acts allegedly committed by Decosta, and in fact said the contents of her statement were “incorrect”.

The teenager said although she signed her statement, she did not read it over before she signed, and it was not read back to her by the interviewing officer. She also said she didn’t sign the document truthfully.

The girl also testified in open court that she could not remember if her mother was present during the interview.

And those admissions came after she doubled down on her previous testimony that “nothing” sexual happened between her and Decosta at the South Beach Police Station.

Insp Bowles, who took the statement from the girl and conducted Decosta’s record of interview, subsequently testified that not only did she read the girl’s statement back to her, but the eighth grader signed it “in four places” along with her mother before she herself signed it.

During the trial, the girl confirmed that she told police that while inside the station, an officer wearing navy blue, said to be Decosta, approached her. She initially denied telling police that the officer called her outside, but then told the prosecutor that an officer did in fact call her outside.

The teenager went on to confirm that she told police that Decosta told her to go to the rear of the building, which she said she did.

She confirmed that she told police

that Decosta followed her to the rear of the building before instructing her to take a flight of stairs. She said she told police that Decosta was behind her the entire time.

Subsequent to the no-case submission stage of the trial, it was revealed that the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse was no longer before the jury, but rather the lesser charges of abduction and assault.

On Mr Ducille’s advice, Decosta elected not to give any evidence to counteract the prosecution’s claims, though he maintained: “I’m innocent of all charges.”

After Decosta was convicted, the prosecution said it was seeking the maximum sentence for both convictions — three years for assault and two years for abduction.

At that time however, Decosta’s attorney questioned the logic behind such a submission given that Decosta was a first-time offender.

For Justice Grant-Thompson however, the deal-breaker was the fact that Decosta’s lack of remorse “leaves the chance that it could happen again”.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from page one “We have a real doctor coming down tonight. He’s another light skin, handsome, curly-haired fella,” she said. “You see we have plenty nice looking people here in this party. We don’t have a bunch of darkies all over the place heating up the place.”

A video of her comments immediately went viral on social media prompting an apology from Mrs Deveaux, as well as a statement from PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis.

“The public is advised that I have seen the unqualified apology issued by PLP National Vice Chair Patricia Deveaux for comments made at a PLP sponsored public meeting,” he said.

“I am satisfied that she has dealt with this matter responsibly and it is now in the past.”

Still, Mr Davis said it is important for the public to “remain focused” on “larger national issues” like the “consistent delivery of poor governance” and the “miserable performance of the FNM,” which he claimed was the “source and cause of much of the misery Bahamian

THE TRIBUNE

‘Darkies’ remark at PLP rally forces an apology families continue to suffer today.”

“I caution Bahamians not to be distracted by the FNM propagandists and social media trolls who seek to cast an excellent and invigorating public meeting of hope and inspiration in a negative light,” Mr Davis said. “I again thank the Bahamian people for their overwhelming support and confidence reposed in the PLP by their great numbers last evening as we move forward. There is much work to be done on their behalf.”

In her apology, Ms Deveaux also admitted to using language which she has now come to regret.

“During our PLP rally at Columbus Primary last night, I introduced Senator Dr Michael Darville using language that I regret,” she said in a separate

statement. “I meant to suggest that the PLP is a party that embraces all, but I ultimately made comments that alienated and offended some members of my own race.”

Ms Deveaux insisted she was a “proud black woman” that has worked with the PLP for a number of years for the “upliftment of all people.”

She said she hopes the message of the rally, which she described as “conveying the failed policies of the Minnis administration” and its attack on the poor and middle-class in “favour of rich special interests,” was not overshadowed by her “misstatements.”

“I apologise unreservedly to the leadership of my party and to the Bahamian people,” she said.

“I hope that we can all

PLP National Vice-Chair Patricia Deveaux move forward as Bahamians to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Still, Free National Movement Chairman Carl Culmer said he does not believe Ms Deveaux’s apology was genuine.

Labelling her remarks as racist and divisive, he told The Tribune: “I believe after she saw the reactions and heard the comments from persons (she issued an) apology just to smooth over what she said. Her comments were most definitely racist and like the Bible says, out of your mouth comes your heart.”

Mr Culmer also said he believes the PLP has been a racist party from its “inception.”

“They are very divisive and whereas we in the FNM see all Bahamians as one, the PLP try to divide and conquer,” Mr Culmer said. “(They try) to have the blacks on one side, the whites on the other side, the lights on another side and darks on another side. We don’t believe in that, but they use the race card for a

political advantage which is totally wrong.”

However the FNM has also faced similar backlash. Last year, Bennett Minnis, a Water and Sewerage Corporation board director, came under public scrutiny after making a number of racially insensitive remarks against several PLP leaders.

In a voice note widely circulated on social media that summer, Mr Minnis, the FNM’s Mount Moriah constituency association chairman, called the PLP a party of “corrupt, thieving, no good, bastard, homosexual, African monkeys.”

In response, the PLP called for the government to force Mr Minnis to resign from his WSC post, and for the FNM to condemn his remarks.

Woods calls for removal of Gibson and plans ‘full strike’

By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE unions representing the managers and line staff at the Water & Sewerage Corporation called for the removal of WSC executive chairman Adrian Gibson and for the corporation’s executives to meet with both unions to address their

grievances during day one of a joint strike.

Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) president Dwayne Woods said both unions will engage in a “full strike from Bimini to Inagua,” until their issues have been addressed.

“First on the agenda is the removal of Mr Gibson, our counter proposal for

the industrial agreement, overtime and holiday pay for Abaco restoration, as well as overtime for all Family Islands of New Providence,’ he said at a press conference across from WSC headquarters. “...This is getting ridiculous at the Water & Sewerage Corporation (and) it reminds me of the quote of Shakespeare:

‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely,’ and we say we will take no more.”

According to Mr Woods, BUSAWU did not meet with the chairman last week. He said instead, corporation executives “put a false meeting out,” where they sent in the deputy general manager and two other employees who could not “answer any questions” or

“resolve any issues.”

“The union said to the corporation, please let us meet, sit down and deal with the matter on a caseby-case basis,” he said.

“They have refused to do so.”

Water & Sewerage Management Union (WSMU) President Ednel Rolle added that the unions were forced to exercise a strike certificate after being allegedly being “bullied” by Mr Gibson.

“Now both him and the general manager seem to have a problem with organisational skills,” he said.

“They clearly have no idea how the Water and Sewerage Corporation works (and) they do what they please to the detriment of workers.”

The WSMU also issued a press statement yesterday, noting it has been observing the unrest that has been taking place at the corporation.

“The corporation has asserted allegations of misconduct, however our union has not been provided with any information to substantiate these claims,” the statement read. “We are unequivocal that the management union opposes corruption at every level at WSC, line staff, middle management, executive and board level.

“It is the view of our union, that all allegations of wrongdoing should be handled with due process, where a proper investigation is carried out, the findings presented, the accused persons advised with due union representation and where substantiated, the appropriate consequences should follow.”

WSMU also outlined recent experiences which “affirm” complaints made by the line staff concerning a lack of due process.

These include the WSC’s alleged “refusal to recognise the WSMU executive team; due process as it relates to termination; allegations of wastage and abuse of WSC financial resources; staffing and the impact on the public.”

The union plans to host a press conference today.

Meanwhile, Mr Woods insisted both unions are calling on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to do the “honourable thing” and remove Mr Gibson so that the unions can be taken “out of Egypt.”

When asked to respond to the WSC’s warning concerning pay deductions for workers who engage in an “illegal sickout,” he added: “We’re saying this is indicative of the behaviour of the executive chairman where he believes that he is above the law, because the law says that we are entitled to

DWAYNE WOODS two sick days without a doctor’s certificate.”

He also apologised to the corporation’s customers, for any inconvenience that the demonstration might cause.

“We feel for you but the union has tarried with bringing this type of action but the people just can’t take no more...we love you to death…but we have matters at hand that we have to deal with.”

Also in attendance were representatives from other national trade unions who stood in solidarity with WSC union members.

Bernard Evans, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB), said he believes Mr Gibson should do the “honourable thing” and resign if he is not removed.

“It is sad when you have an executive chairman who disregards both unions that have been in existence for over 30 years...this is a prime example of someone in the wrong place. Obviously he’s run his course and from what I’m hearing they’re not going to go back until he is removed.”

Addressing the matter yesterday outside Cabinet, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes also said that he has been in contact with both sides and hope to get the issues resolved.

“As you know, last year as a result of the strike vote several meetings was held (with) the director of labour...significant progress was made in those meetings last year so I was a little bit surprised of the problem that arose this year.

“It’s unfortunate that it resulted in strike action because as you know water is an essential element for the survival of all of us and it’s very essential that the flow of water continues in New Providence and in the Family Islands.”

WSC officials did not respond to the strike up to press time yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, PAGE 7

SANDS: CHINA VIRUS TO COST GOVT $100K

By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE SHELTER at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium will be closed by the end of this month.

CLOSURES SIGNAL ‘ILLEGALS EXTRACTION’

from page one

Campbell announced the shelter at Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium will be closed by the end of this month.

It is not clear when the other remaining shelter — Bahamas Academy — will be deactivated.

However, Mr Campbell has said it will be closed “in the shortest time possible”.

“We’ve continued to work to assist persons to move in with family members, to transition into rental units that we were assisting with and other persons to go back to their original islands,” said Mr Campbell. “... My hope is that the work we’re doing in assisting persons with rental and the work that is being done with sister agencies in terms of transitional homes and domes in the various islands, will enable us in the shortest possible time to also deactivate Bahamas Academy.”

The gym has been housing storm victims since Hurricane Dorian displaced thousands of residents from Abaco and Grand Bahama.

However, in recent weeks, many have been calling on the government to close the temporary housing sites and clear out the gym of undocumented immigrants.

While Mr Johnson vowed to address the matter, he was clear that it will be done “a humane, courteous and legal way.”

In the meantime, Mr Johnson said officials will be focusing its efforts in Andros as the Department of Immigration continues a joint operation on the island.

“Those type of operations will be ongoing and not just in Nassau, but in any of the islands,” he told reporters yesterday. “…When our intelligence say to us that there are persons who might be anywhere in the Bahamas, we mount an effort to go and see how best we can deal with the situation in a humane matter. “…But in the operation, it’s not always about migrants and I always say that when we meet migrants, we have to go in protection mode. We have to protect them because they’re vulnerable and persons

sometimes attempt to abuse vulnerable people.”

Mr Johnson was also clear that anyone found harbouring undocumented migrants on Andros will also have to face the consequences.

“We have not brought anybody to custody for harbouring. . .persons, they just do not miraculously appear in the Bahamas. It’s a multimilliondollar industry,” he said.

“And so, I’m speaking with the Immigration Department because we know that there are persons who are giving shelter and we are going to deal with those individuals. “…And I want to say to the Immigration Department, we need more persons to be apprehended especially when they can’t give a reasonable account as to why they have persons living with them or working for them. And I want to say to Bahamians, that the offence for trafficking is still $10,000 or five years imprisonment.”

Similar warnings have also been expressed by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who also recently vowed to clamp down

BPL offloading Aggreko units, says Bannister

By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light is currently in the process of getting “rid” of its Aggreko units, Minister of Works Desmond Bannister said days after a fire occurred at one of the company’s plants.

“BPL has a number of rental units called Aggreko units to what everybody is aware of, they have been very expensive, and BPL is in the process of getting rid of them as we get generation in,” he told reporters outside Cabinet yesterday.

“One of those units had a fire in it. It was contained and it had absolutely no affect on power generation in the Bahamas and no affect on any community at all in relation to power and as I indicated previously, we’re getting rid of those units.”

“So, they’re being phased out.”

His comments came days after BPL officials confirmed that a fire, involving the Aggreko unit, occurred at its Blue Hill Station plant.

In a press statement released last weekend, BPL noted that the incident did not pose a “significant threat” to its generation assets nor had it caused customers on the island to be affected.

“Only a single unit was involved in the fire and the incident had no effect on the load to the grid, therefore no customers were affected,” the power provider said in a statement released on Saturday.

“The unit was a part of a bank of 25mw of rental units maintained and operated by Aggreko personnel, and the fire was quickly

brought under control and then extinguished.”

This is not the first time that there has been a fire at the power provider’s Blue Hill location.

The power provider has previously said it intends to end its reliance on rental generations by the Fall of 2021 in a move that would save long-suffering consumers $2m-plus per month.

Asked yesterday if BPL officials are seeking to take any precautions to avoid future fires, the minister replied: “These are things that happen fairly regularly at these kinds of sites when you have these little rental generation things and so the best thing we could do is prepare and BPL (will) continue their normal maintenance checks.”

Speaking to reporters, the works minister also gave an update on the new bridge causeway at Fishing Hole Road in Grand Bahama, noting that officials are expecting repairs to be completed within the next “two months.”

“The causeway was damaged (during Hurricane Dorian) and as a result of the damage of the causeway, the asphalt on the causeway was damaged,” he told reporters.

“What the government

DESMOND BANNISTER

has done now is approved a little over a million dollars to take that asphalt off, put concrete on there.

“That work, the concrete and the materials, etc, has been ordered by the contractor and we anticipate that in the next two months we are going to have that causeway finished so that people could utilise it on a regular basis.”

The new bridge causeway, which runs between Hawksbill Creek, was constructed at a cost of $6.5m in response to many years of ongoing flooding at Fishing Hole Road, especially during hurricanes and severe weather conditions.

While noting that officials are anticipating for repairs to the causeway to be completed soon, Mr Bannister said the government would have preferred building a bridge to better rectify the issue.

“Fishing Hole Road is always, in my mind, that area has always been an environmental nightmare because of the things that have been allowed to happen and because of the development that has happened in there, the people in Queen’s Cove and other communities in Grand Bahama has continually been flooded,” he said.

“The intention of this government would have been to have a bridge there rather than a causeway.

That causeway was built under another administration. They started it; we’re finishing it. It’s like the causeway in Abaco. Ya’ll saw what happened to that in the storm. It was our intention in little Abaco to build a bridge. As the minister of public works, I’m going to build a new bridge in Abaco.”

on the problem in a humane manner. Andros has come into focus as the government seeks to lift a Supreme Court injunction blocking the demolition of shanty towns around the country and address immigration issues related to their existence.

Former Chief Councillor Peter Douglas, 60, claimed recently in an affidavit that there are 900 people living in three shanty towns across North Andros.

And in a recent statement about the discovery of E coli in water on the island, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said it was examining whether Northern Andros’ groundwater was contaminated by unregulated shantytown communities.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resource has been actively working to determine whether any agricultural crown land has been encroached upon by the migrant community of North Andros or Bahamians and will do everything under the law to ensure that if such encroachment has occurred, it is brought to an end,” the ministry said recently.

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands estimated the coronavirus quarantine process will cost the government nearly $100,000. Yesterday he pegged the figure for this initiative at $75,000-$85,000 and expects that expense to climb.

He said that the cost accounts for accommodation, food, security, transportation, etc, but does not include the cost of personal protective equipment, explaining that would have been a part of the ministry’s emergency supplies.

Last week, officials said 15 Bahamians were being quarantined but the minister said the number has gone down to 13.

Dr Sands did not reveal the quarantine location but said the individuals were being held in a “safe place”.

“Some people are quite comfortable where they are. Some people wish that the accommodation was slightly different but thus far things have worked out quite well,” he said before a Cabinet meeting.

When asked if the accommodation was adequate, the minister expressed confidence in public health officials.

“I believe that the public health team have outlined strategies for all of the islands of The Bahamas that would accommodate any need that would present itself and thus far we have managed to deal with the quarantine quite effectively,” he said.

Last month, officials announced a travel ban on non-residents who had visited China in the past 20 days. Returning residents who had visited China during that period would be subject to a 14-day quarantine.

Chinese officials have urged health officials to consider reducing the 20 day timeframe to 14 days.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Elsworth Johnson said in light of the deadly virus, work permits will not be granted to anyone coming from China as one person could “wreak havoc” in the Bahamas. He did not say how long this policy will remain in place.

Mr Johnson said: “We have 100,000 square miles to protect. Tourism represents more than 50 percent of our gross domestic product, not only that, we have to protect the inhabitants of The Bahamas.”

UNIQUE VACATIONS LIMITED VACANCY Manager – Call Center Operations Unique Vacations is looking for a dynamic and results oriented individual who is intelligent, persuasive, forward thinking, and above all, able to demonstrate excellent leadership skills. In addition to extensive leadership experience, the candidate must have held a management position in a well-established company and be able to demonstrate a track record of sustained success. A sound knowledge of call center operations is an asset and customer relationship management is essential; as is a broad understanding of Caribbean travel. A strong appreciation for the sales and customer service function with a focus on meeting clients’ needs though understanding clientele is required.

Job Summary: • Develop all agents, supervisors and managers through monitoring of work performance and counseling them in the areas of quality service, telephone etiquette, overall product knowledge, sales techniques and provide the individual with a development plan.

• Maintain and track the agent’s daily performance and phone statistics; analyze data to identify strengths and weaknesses and counsel individuals accordingly.

• Ensure a “goal” plan is set for each agent, supervisor and manager. Every goal plan ensures the maximum productivity and is customized based on their individual needs.

• Completes group-monitoring sessions each week.

• Hosts periodic focus groups to identify employee concerns and satisfaction.

• Assist in planning and executing call center promotions and morale boosting activities.

• Administer disciplinary action when necessary.

• Enforce rules of conduct based on company/ department policy.

• Communicate the standards of performance and assist individuals in achieving these standards.

• Disseminate new information, procedures and programs and communicate to the agents, supervisors and managers in a timely and effective manner through daily/ weekly briefings and/ or emails.

• Communicate effectively with other managers, peers and subordinates through both written and verbal skills both locally and in other sites.

• Encourage participation, teamwork and establish an open and trusting environment.

• Evaluate the agent’s, supervisors and managers performance to ensure that each is performing up to measured standards.

• Supervise that all necessary documentation is processed in a timely manner.

• Review all documentation for accuracy prior to submitting (i.e.:

administrative forms to HR, etc) • Submit and verify all personnel action forms to payroll on a timely basis to provide accurate reporting.

• Process shift swaps and vacation/ floating holiday requests for all call center personnel.

• Work closely with Work Force Management to ensure effective scheduling and staffing.

• Conduct company annual performance appraisals as required by management.

• Assist in the interview and selection process of new positions.

• Identifies and assists in developing follow up training courses.

• Must be able to escort Familiarization trips as needed.

• Must remain current with all the resorts updates and if required by management, must take opportunities to view first hand.

• Must be available to work nights, weekends and holiday schedules a needed.

• Other duties as required.

Experience/Skills/Qualifications: • Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or similar • Minimum of 5 years management experience in a Call Center***(preferred) Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.Interested persons should submit their applications by February 13th, 2020 with curriculum vitae to

hrreport6@gmail.com

PAGE 8, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

T

HIS past weekend, my father celebrated his birthday and we marked the occasion by attending his church. I realised, not for the first time, that it was quite easy to go through the motions of sitting and standing, responding when prompted and follow the entire service without aid.

Years of weekly attendance with my great-grandmother ensured that, not only was the mass cemented into my memory, but several versions of it.

From church to church, some of the melodies are a bit different, but the prayers and hymns are essentially the same. I did not have to be fully present to give the appearance of a devout, even enthusiastic subscriber to and participant in the Anglican faith.

This is rather worrisome, I believe, because it is far too easy to pretend without trying, to blend in and to present as something we may or may not be. What does it mean to physically be in a place when we could be somewhere else mentally, or completely vacant?

I see the appeal of attending church and being or feeling like a part of a larger body. It is empowering to be surrounded by people who believe what we believe, behave as we behave and share in an understanding of what this membership or gathering means and how it should look to those participating and those on the outside.

It builds a confidence that does not stay within the sanctuary. We take it with us to our homes, schools, jobs, personal relationships, leisure activities and political arenas. Some of these spaces have their own membership and doctrine that come with a set of rules of engagement, codes of conduct and outward presentations of togetherness.

We see it at BAISS sports meets where students compete as faculty, staff, parents and other students cheer wildly with chanting, sometimes even with jeers

THE TRIBUNE

Going through the motions is the easy option - but not the right one The

Alicia Wallace column aimed at other schools.

They assume a shared identity, united under banner of their school, the leadership of their mascot, the drapes of their school colour.

We see it at Junkanoo and in the weeks following the unofficial results which are almost always contested. Few people look objectively at the competition and see where their preferred groups did not meet the mark, knowing only that they deeply desire that win and every win.

We see it at political rallies and deeply embedding in every conversation about politics, but especially partisan politics. Free National Movement supporters often have a much different view of the state of affairs from Progressive Liberal Party supporters, and those views tend to be quite different from those of Democratic

National Alliance supporter.

They can look at the same situation, access metrics if they are available, review the words of representatives and arrive at markedly different conclusions.

Sure, there is cognitive dissonance, varying degrees of ignorance, refusal to admit to being wrong and many other factors, but at the root of it all is the shared identity – the oneness with a group of people that, without thinking, can make the symbols, say the chants, recall specific moments in history and automatically support the party leaders.

It is so easy, it could be mistaken for a meaningful phenomenon, but it is not.

It is an indication of where we are as citizens, individually and collectively, and a determinant of our course as a nation. It is easy to recite The Lord’s Prayer,

FEW people look objectively at the competition and see where their preferred groups did not meet the mark, knowing only that they deeply desire that win and every win. too effortless to wear our school colours, too natural to fall into the Junkanoo bounce, too normal to

reserve judgment of our political parties.

It takes effort to assess, analyse, interrogate, challenge,

demand and reassess, not only the systems to which we conform, but our own standings and participation.

Church sanctions sexual violence with its silence Man charged with burning wife with hot fat. Murder accused says his bruises were caused by “lovemaking”. Double rapist loses bid to overturn 14-year sentence. Two men remanded on unlawful sex charges.

Forty-six-year old man charged with incest. Two men accused of molesting teen girls. Man charged with child porn granted bail.

Sentencing delay in love triangle killing.

THESE are just a few headlines in national newspapers over the past few weeks. They are clear indications of the gender-based violence crisis so many are intent on ignoring or denying, the vulnerability of women and children and the insufficiency of the court systems particularly where sexual violence is concerned.

The scourge of genderbased violence has its roots in many facets of our lives. One of them is the unflinching allegiance to, not necessarily Christianity, but leaders of the Christian church and dependence on their interpretations of biblical text and positions on social issues, often adopting them as our stance without further consideration.

Many of these positions are wholly unchristian, not supported by biblical text, contested by other people of the same faith and lacking in breadth especially when we consider research, scholarship and all that changes as time goes on.

Religious rhetoric and opinions of religious leaders cannot be the basis upon which we legislate or adjudicate. They cannot define violence for us. They cannot define humanity for us. They cannot be the gatekeepers of access to human rights, safety or justice.

Comments made by Bishop Walter Hanchell last week in response to the issue of marital rape being raised were completely reprehensible, dangerous and misogynistic. Hanchell

BISHOP Walter Hanchell said: “I don’t believe there is such a thing called marital rape.”

Rape is rape. Marital rape really need not be called by this two-word name except to emphasise this particular act occurs within a marriage. To say that marital rape does not exist is to say women do not have the right to give and withhold consent and become property when they marry. This is quite synonymous with slave owners being free to physically abuse the people they enslaved because they were not considered human, but property, and a person can do with their property whatever they choose.

Is this where we want to go with the conversation about rape and, more specifically, the humanity of women?

Hanchell continued: “It originated from the United Nations. As a result of that, they are pressuring countries around the world, like The Bahamas, to [fall] in line.” This is one of many examples of our refusal to accept The Bahamas is signatory to United Nations conventions by choice. We have not been forced to fall in line with international law; our representatives saw fit to sign them and now need to be

held accountable. Whether or not there is pressure from an external body, it the duty of the government to protect the rights of the people and ensure our safety. Alignment with UN mechanisms is consistently painted as a weakness when it is a strength and, when taken seriously and actions, is to our benefit.

Hanchell said he does not believe in violence against women, but “sexual activity is a key part of [marriage]”.

He said where a woman refuses to have sex with her husband, it should be resolved with divorce or separation.

This is a troubling perspective on marriage, its purpose, and the supposed obligations of the partners which deserves its own conversation. For now, let us focus on violence against women as wrong and unacceptable, regardless of the circumstance. If a marriage is to be dissolved due to refusal to participate in sexual activity and the parties agree, so be it. It remains that rape is an act of violence, would presumably be considered a sin, and must be understood by us, within society and defined by the law as a criminal act.

Causing harm to another person can never be okay. Physical and sexual violence should not be excused. They need to be recognised in the law.

Religious leaders with understanding of human rights, women’s bodily autonomy, consent and issues of violence ought to speak up and not allow one person to characterise them all or negatively influence the populous. They need to speak up. Their silence on this issue only serves to sanction sexual violence and that is as unacceptable as reckless statements that victim blame and encourage the dehumanisation of women. They need to speak up, stand with women, and push the marital rape bill forward.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, PAGE 9

SAMSUNG’S NEW FOLDABLE PHONE: CHEAPER, BUT STILL A NOVELTY

By RACHEL LERMAN and KELVIN CHAN AP Technology Writers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Samsung on Tuesday unveiled a new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip, its second attempt to sell consumers on phones with bendable screens and clamshell designs.

The new phone can unfold from a small square upward into a traditional smartphone form, and will go on sale Feb. 14 starting at $1,380.

The company announced the phone at a product event in San Francisco.

Samsung’s first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, finally went on sale last September after delays and reports of screens breaking. The Fold, which carries a price tag of nearly $2,000, folds at a vertical crease rather than horizontally as a flip-phone design would.

Motorola has also taken the flip-phone approach with its new $1,500 Razr phone.

The foldable phones represent manufacturers’ attempt to energise a market where sales have slowed. Many consumers are holding onto old phones longer, in part because new phone features offer increasingly marginal benefits. But these foldable models come with higher price tags and are likely to appeal for now mostly to tech enthusiasts and others at the forefront of technology.

“While there’s a lot of excitement around this new

SAMSUNG’S Galaxy Z Flip Phone.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) category, it is still early days and they will evolve significantly.” said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight.

“While these innovative new designs are nice to have, they’re not must-have, sought-after features among users.”

The Z Flip can stay open at different angles for use watching videos or taking photos. When the phone is closed, it will take selfies and display notifications in a small window on the cover. Unfolded, its

screen measures 6.7 inches diagonally.

Samsung says it added fibers to the gap between the hinge and the phone to keep out dust and improve hinge function, likely to address shortcomings of the Galaxy Fold.

On the more traditional front, Samsung offers its S series. In a nod to the start of the 2020s, the South Korean company showed off the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra, skipping directly to the S20 from its previous S10

series.

The S20 phones are designed to take high-quality pictures in dark settings, Samsung product manager Mark Holloway said. The phones can take both video and photos at the same time, using artificial intelligence to zero in on the best moments to capture the still images.

Samsung’s renewed focus on the camera follows other smartphone makers.

Apple last fall announced the iPhone 11, which offers an additional lens for

wider-angle shots and combined multiple shots with software to improve lowlight images. Google’s Pixel phones also offer a similar low-light feature.

Samsung’s S phones already offer the wider angle and some features for low-lighting. But the company says the new phones will focus on high-resolution photos and the ability to zoom in 30 to 100 times, depending on the model.

The camera on the S20 series is “a giant leap,” said Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy, who argued that people might gravitate toward the more expensive models even as the sales of smartphones slow.

Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen called the S20 “astounding,” but worried that the crowd at the event had a muted response.

“I think we’ve reached the point in the technology timeline that all of us have technology that’s so good, better than we can even grasp or take advantage of, that anything new that’s introduced is not greeted with the same enthusiasm,” he said.

The S20 phones go on sale in the U.S. on March 6, and will range in price from $1,000 to $1,400. All S20 models will be compatible with next-generation cellular networks known as 5G, although it’s still an early technology that consumers typically won’t need yet. The Z Flip will not work with 5G networks.

US LETS AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE BYPASS HUMAN-DRIVER SAFETY RULES

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — For the first time, the U.S. government’s highway safety agency has approved a company’s request to deploy a self-driving vehicle that doesn’t need to meet the same federal safety standards for cars and trucks driven by humans.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted temporary approval for Silicon Valley robotics company Nuro to run lowspeed autonomous delivery vehicles that were designed without any accommodations for human drivers.

That means no side and rear-view mirrors, windshield wipers, steering wheels or brake pedals.

The vehicles previously were subject to federal standards for lowspeed vehicles that travel under 25 miles per hour. Those didn’t need to have steering wheels, brake pedals or human backup drivers, but were required to have windshield wipers, backup camera displays and mirrors. Nuro’s battery-powered vehicles can be monitored and controlled remotely by a human operator, if needed.

The approval is the first sign that NHTSA is moving from abstract statements and voluntary standards governing autonomous vehicles to actual regulation, said Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who studies vehicle automation. It’s a signal that the agency, which has stated publicly that it doesn’t want to stand in the way of the new technology, is likely to approve more vehicles, he said.

“This is the first time that the agency said ‘yes we approve this vehicle that does not meet traditional

NURO’S self-driving vehicle ‘R2’ carrying bags of groceries. (Nuro via AP) driver-oriented standards,’” he said.

“That’s a big step because it makes it much more concrete, more real for the agency and really for the public.”

Under the temporary approval, Nuro will have to make real-time safety reports to the agency. Nuro also will have to hold regular meetings with the agency and reach out to the community in areas where the vehicles will travel.

“NHTSA is dedicated to facilitating the safe testing and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies, including innovative vehicle designs, which hold great promise for future safety improvements. As always, we will not hesitate to use defect authority to protect public safety as necessary,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator James Owens.

The agency will use enforcement powers if it finds any evidence of an unreasonable risk to safety, the statement said.

In December Nuro announced

plans to use its low-speed delivery vehicles in partnership with Walmart to deliver groceries to customers in Houston. The service was to start early this year and use the vehicles as well as automated Toyota Prius hybrid cars. Nuro also was testing deliveries with Kroger in Arizona and Houston.

Nuro, of Mountain View, California, announced new version of its autonmated delivery vehicle called the “R2” on Thursday. It’s the second generation of a vehicle that’s custom built to deliver goods, but not people.

The company said it plans to deploy fewer than 100 vehicles this year, but has permission from NHTSA to eventually run as many as 2,500.

The delivery vehicles, equipped with laser, camera and radar sensors, will travel with regular traffic on public roads.

The exemption from motor vehicle standards from NHTSA also allows

Nuro to run its rear cameras all the time. Current standards require backup camera displays to turn off when vehicles are moving forward so the displays don’t distract human drivers, the company said.

Nuro said in a statement that the R2 has a front-end that protects pedestrians by collapsing inward.

It’s also equipped with temperature controls to keep perishable goods or meals fresh.

The vehicles make curbside deliveries to humans who can open the storage compartments with a code that’s sent to them and unload the goods.

Nuro said NHTSA’s approval came after three years of work with the agency.

“By replacing heavy passenger vehicles utilised for shopping and other errands, Nuro is ushering in a new era of neighbourhood-friendly and socially responsible zero-occupant vehicles,” the company said in its statement.

Company co-founder and President Dave Ferguson said NHTSA’s decision “shows that exemption can mean more safety.”

Still unresolved is an application from General Motors to allow a selfdriving Chevrolet Bolt that doesn’t meet safety standards for humandriven vehicles that travel at higher speeds. GM wants the Bolt to be allowed without a steering wheel or brake pedals.

Tech companies and automakers have been able to test autonomous vehicles without NHTSA approval in the past because they have had steering wheels, brake pedals and other features required of human-piloted cars and trucks.

TECHTALK • AN OFF-FIELD umpire will use technology to judge when bowlers illegally overstep the crease during the ICC women’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The front-foot no-ball technology was trailed in India and the West Indies recently and will be used in a major tournament for the first time. The International Cricket Council says the third umpire will monitor the front foot landing position on each delivery during the Feb. 21-March 8 competition.

On-field umpires have been instructed not to call any frontfoot no balls unless advised to do so by the off-field official.

Part of the bowler’s front foot must be behind the crease in the delivery stride. On-field umpire’s at the non-striker’s end usually make the decision.

The ICC said the technology was recently trialed across 12 games, during which 4,717 balls were bowled and 13 no balls were called. All deliveries were judged accurately.

“Cricket has an excellent track record of introducing technology to support the decision making of our match officials and I’m confident that this technology will reduce the small number of front foot no ball errors,” ICC general manager for cricket, Geoff Allardice, said.

“No balls are difficult for umpires to call accurately, and even though the percentage of deliveries that are no balls is low, it is important to call them correctly.”

• TWITTER has rolled out a new tool to help users find accurate information about this year’s U.S. Census.

People who search for censusrelated terms will automatically see a link to the federal government’s census website, which contains information about participating in the census, what information is collected and how it is used.

It’s the latest example of how technology companies are trying to staunch the flow of misinformation related to the census, which is used to apportion seats in the U.S. House and allocate billions of dollars in federal funding.

“Ensuring the public can find information from authoritative sources is a key aspect of our commitment to serve the public conversation on Twitter,” the company said Tuesday in a statement announcing the change.

False claims about the census could skew the results if they discourage participation. On Monday, a prominent Latino organisation urged the Census Bureau to do more to stamp out rumours that it includes a citizenship question.

President Donald Trump’s administration had sought to include a question asking for census participants’ citizenship, but it was overruled by the Supreme Court.

Advocates for immigrants say the question would have discouraged immigrants from participating and led to an undercount of minorities.

Twitter will also add a tool making it easier for people to report content that contains inaccurate or misleading census claims.

All the major platforms — Twitter, Facebook and Google — have announced that they are working directly with the Census Bureau to reduce the amount of census-related misinformation circulating on their platforms.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

COMPANY TO SPEND $48M ON ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CARNIVAL Corporation officials say the company has been experiencing a decline in sewage discharge problems as it embraces wide ranging measures to improve its environmental safety record. A top official said the company will invest $48m over the next two years to address the issue.

After pleading guilty several years ago to environmental from page one He said Carnival has submitted an environment impact assessment to the relevant bodies and is discussing it with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Bahamas Environment Science & Technology Commission (BEST).

Construction is scheduled to begin in the early summer, according to David Candib, vice-president of development and operations. He said up to 1,000 locals will be employed during the construction phase and between 500 and 1,000 will be employed during operations.

Mr Candib said about 480,000 guests visit Grand Bahama each year on Carnival ships. Officials project that this number will soar to at least one million within the first year of the port coming into operation.

The Carnival project will be built on 329 acres and will be capable of docking two of Carnival’s largest vessels at once––its Mardi Gras brand of ships which are currently under construction.

Amenities will be blended into Bahamian designs and cultural elements, Mr Candib said.

Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, the subsidiary company that will use Grand Bahama’s new port the most, said the

violations, the corporation has been under probation and is supervised by a US court-appointed monitor who has been critical in his assessment of the company’s culture on environmental issues.

During a meeting with reporters at the company’s headquarters in Miami yesterday, Vice Admiral William Burke, the company’s chief maritime officer, stressed the corporation’s transparency in self-reporting incidents that can then be publicised around the world.

He said since 2017, company records show the number of sewage related regulatory issues have declined from 21 in April 2017 to seven in March 2018.

Improper sewage regulatory performances constitute just 0.01 percent of all the company’s discharges, he said.

To better protect the environment, Admiral Burke said officials have addressed confusion regarding the Bahamas’s archipelagic baseline, have improved voyage planning and training and have

closed loophole communications after discharges while revising their sewage discharge policy.

At the same time, he emphasised that the sewage discharges noted by the court-appointed monitor have been treated sewage which do not harm the environment.

Carnival also emphasised its progress with other environment related policies, including significantly reducing single-use plastics and reducing its carbon intensity footprint.

Last year, a court mandated report which covers April 2017 to April 2018, revealed how Carnival illegally dumped hundreds of thousands of treated sewage in Bahamian waters along with more than 8,000 gallons of food waste.

Last month, Tribune Business reported that Carnival’s courtappointed monitor disclosed further environmental infractions - some of which occurred while vessels were in port in Nassau and Freeport - that took place in 2019.

Carnival says its GB proposal has doubled

TWO of Carnival’s Mardi Gras brand of ships - currently under construction - will be able to dock in Grand Bahama company’s commitment to the island never wavered despite Hurricane Dorian’s impact.

“We see it as a

partnership that is important and we want to be there no matter what,” she said.

“Hurricanes aren’t new. Obviously this

one was devastating for the Bahamas which for us meant even more quickly what could we do to provide support first and

foremost to the people of Grand Bahama and making sure we are able to bring supplies and food and whatever was needed

by ship as quickly as we needed so we never once questioned amongst ourselves that we wouldn’t continue with the project.”

Funeral Service for WHITNEY FORBES, 85 of Burial Ground Corner and formerly of West End, Grand Bahama, will be held on Wednesday, February 12th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Boyd Road. Officiating will be Monsignor Alfred C. Culmer, assisted by other ministers of the Clergy. Interment will follow in the Catholic Cemetery, Tyler Street.

He is survived by his Brother: Neville Forbes; Children: Tyrone (Shelia) Forbes, Jennifer (Jairam) Mangra, Wayde Forbes and Robert (Eulah) Forbes; (Graylin Forbes and Whitney Forbes Jr. having pre-deceased him); Stepchildren: Tanya (Trevor) Carey; Grandchildren: Bradley (Meredith) Forbes, Robyn Forbes, Tyrese Forbes, Adele Mangra, Wayde Forbes Jr., Jaheem Dean, Raheem Dean, Tamar Rahming, Trystan and Torrance Carey; Great grandchildren: Brett and Alicia Forbes; Rakeitra Forbes, Norvette Forbes, Christian Forbes and Rodreka Forbes; Shogun Neymour and Turia Brown; Sister-in Law: Emerald Bethel. Nephew: Hon. Picewell Forbes and Family, Damian Knowles, George Huyler and family; Nieces: Kim Ritchie and family, Deidre (Renee) Clarke, Megan Sweeting and Lisa Forbes; Cousins: Megan and Damien, Philip (Iceletta), Michael (Angela), Kevin (Karen), Joseph, Linda, Loretta and Eugene Rolle, Marvin (Sandra) Bain, descendants of the late Edison Sweeting, Edward and Beryl Poitier and family, Coralee (Forrester) Bowe and family, Patrick Forbes and Family, Helen Smith and family, descendants of the late Geraldine Hamilton, Ruth Swaby and family, descendants of the late Bernadette Lotmore, descendants of the late Naomi Rolle, descendants of the late Merceletta Rolle, descendants of the late Shirley Bartlette, descendants of the late Harcourt Gray, descendants of Atwell Gray Jr., descendants of Leslie Gray, Descendants of the late Harold Gray, Marie Gray, David (Charmene) Wallace, Maureen Wallace, Spencer Parker, descendants of the late Wilfred Forbes, descendants of the late Janet Bodie, Hilton and Errol Miller.

Friends may pay their last respects at the Church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, PAGE 11

FOUR LAWYERS QUIT CASE AFTER DOJ DECISION ON STONE PRISON TIME WASHINGTON Associated Press FOUR lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone quit the case yesterday after the Justice Department said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Donald Trump’s longtime ally and confidant.

The decision by the Justice Department came just hours after Trump complained that the recommended sentence for Stone was “very horrible and unfair.”

The Justice Department said the sentencing recommendation was

made on Monday night — before Trump’s tweet — and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it.

The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia team, had made up the Justice Department’s trial team and had signed onto a Monday court filing that recommended up to nine years in prison for Stone.

The department’s decision to back off the sentencing recommendation raised questions about political interference and whether Trump’s views hold unusual sway

over the Justice Department, which is meant to operate independently of the White House in criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Attorney General William Barr has been a steady ally of Trump’s, clearing the president of obstruction of justice even when special counsel Robert Mueller had pointedly declined to do so and declaring that the FBI’s Russia investigation — which resulted in charges against Stone — had been based on a “bogus narrative.”

On Monday night, prosecutors had recommended Stone serve

seven to nine years behind bars after being convicted of charges including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. The recommendation raised the prospect that Stone could receive the harshest sentence of any of the half-dozen Trump aides charged in Mueller’s probe.

In a tweet early yesterday, Trump said the case against Stone was a “miscarriage of justice.” A Justice Department official said authorities decided

to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prosecutors had told the department to expect a shorter recommendation.

It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted.

CHINA REPORTS ANOTHER DROP IN NUMBER OF NEW CASES BEIJING Associated Press

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Bernie Sanders waves to supporters at a primary night election rally in Manchester, New Hampshire yesterday.

Sanders edges Buttigieg as Biden begins to fade NEW HAMPSHIRE Associated Press BERNIE Sanders last nightwon New Hampshire’s presidential primary election, narrowly edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Party’s chaotic 2020 nomination fight.

In his win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former Midwestern mayor - two men representing different generations and wings of their party. “This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump,” Sanders declared.

As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, an unexpectedly strong performance from Amy Klobuchar gave her a path out of New Hampshire as the contest moves on to the string of state-by-state primary contests that lie ahead. Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren posted disappointing results and were on track

RIVAL Pete Buttigieg to finish with zero delegates from the state.

The New Hampshire vote made clear that the early days of the Democratic contest will be a battle largely between two men four decades apart in age and ideological opposites. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, calling for substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the

economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental changes, giving Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance and making a point of appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump.

“Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn’t be here at all has shown that we are here to stay,” Buttigieg told cheering supporters.

Yet Sanders and Buttigieg enter the next phase of the campaign in different political positions.

While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, wellfinanced and with an ardent army of supporters, is quickly becoming the leader of the progressive wing of the party.

Meanwhile, Buttigieg still has moderate rivals to contend with, including Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire.

Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina, while former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg

was not on Tuesday’s ballot but looms next month.

After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would provide clarity in their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of jthree candidates of colour left in the race.

Warren, among the front-runners for months, offered an optimistic outlook as she faced cheering supporters: “Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started.”

The action was on the Democratic side, but Trump easily won New Hampshire’s Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.

CHINA earlier today reported another drop in the number of new cases of a viral infection and 97 more deaths, pushing the total dead past 1,100 even as the country remains largely closed down to prevent the spread of the disease.

The National Health Commission said 2,015 new cases had been reported over the last 24 hours, declining for a second day. The total number of cases in mainland China is 44,653, although many experts say a large number of others infected have gone uncounted.

The 97 additional deaths from the virus raised the mainland toll to 1,113.

Despite the official end o the extended Lunar New Year holiday, China remained mostly closed for business as many remained at home, with some 60 million people under virtual quarantine.

The World Health Organization has named the disease caused by the virus as COVID-19, avoiding any animal or geographic designation to avoid stigmatization and to show the disease comes from a new coronavirus discovered in 2019.

China’s official media reported that the top health officials in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, have been relieved of their duties. No reasons were given, although the province’s initial response was deemed slow and ineffective. Speculation that higher-level officials could be sacked has simmered, but doing so could spark political infighting and be a tacit admission of responsibility.

The virus outbreak has become the latest political challenge for the party and its leader, Xi Jinping, who despite accruing more political power than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, has struggled to handle crises on multiple fronts.

MORE THAN 2,400 FOETUSES ACTOR JUSSIE SMOLLETT FACES FOUND AT HOME TO BE BURIED SIX NEW CHARGES IN CHICAGO CHICAGO Associated Press

CHICAGO Associated Press

IN WHAT’S sure to be a politically charged ceremony, more than 2,400 foetuses found last year at the suburban Chicago home of one of the Midwest’s most prolific abortion doctors will be buried today in Indiana, a state with some of the nation’s toughest anti-abortion laws.

Indiana’s top law enforcement official will preside over the mass burial in South Bend. The service comes five months after relatives sorting through Dr Ulrich Klopfer’s belongings after his death in September came across 2,246 sets of preserved foetal remains stacked floor to ceiling in his garage. Later, 165 more were found in a trunk of a car at a business where Klopfer kept several vehicles.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will speak at the burial and later offer an update on the investigation into Klopfer and

JUSSIE Smollett was indicted yesterday for a second time on charges of lying to police about a racist and anti-gay attack he allegedly staged on himself last year in downtown Chicago.

The indictment came from a special prosecutor who was appointed after Cook County prosecutors dropped the same charges last March.

Special prosecutor Dan Webb said in a statement that Smollett faces six counts of disorderly conduct, charges that stem from four separate false reports that he gave to police in which he contended he was a victim of a hate crime “knowing that he was not the victim of a crime.”

Smollett, who is black and gay, was originally charged with disorderly conduct last February for allegedly staging the attack and lying about it to investigators. The allegations

DR ULRICH KLOPFER, a reviled figure among anti-abortion activists whether anyone assisted him in moving the remains to his home in Crete, Illinois, about a mile from the Indiana state line.

The burial plot at Southlawn Cemetery was donated by the Palmer Funeral Home, and all the remains will be laid to rest in the same grave, Hill’s office said.

Klopfer, who was 79, performed tens of thousands of abortions over

40 years, mainly in Indiana and often as the only abortion doctor serving South Bend, Gary and Fort Wayne. He was a reviled figure among anti-abortion activists, who held weekly demonstrations outside his clinics, sometimes blocking entryways. Protesters once hacked holes in the roof of the South Bend clinic and poked a water hose through a mail slot, flooding an entry room.

JUSSIE SMOLLETT were dropped the following month with little explanation, angering police officials and thenMayor Rahm Emanuel.

Tina Glandian, Smollett’s attorney, did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday.

Smollett told police he was walking home early in January 2019, when two masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing. He said his assailants, at least one of whom he described as white, told him he was in “MAGA country” — a reference to President Donald

Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

Several weeks later, authorities alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on “Empire” and wanted to drum up publicity for his career.

A judge in August appointed Webb, a former US attorney, as a special prosecutor to look into why the original charges were dropped. Webb also was looking into whether calls that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx had with a Smollett relative and a former aide of former first lady Michelle Obama unduly influenced the decision to drop charges. Foxx recused herself from the case but continued to weigh in.

At the time, Judge Michael Toomin, who assigned the case to Webb, raised the possibility that Smollett could be charged again.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, February 12, 2020

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

STATE Minister for Disaster Reconstruction Iram Lewis

LEWIS WARNS BUILDING CODES WILL BE FIRMLY ENFORCED

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WITH an estimated $3.4bn in losses and damage caused by Hurricane Dorian in the northern Bahamas, State Minister for Disaster Reconstruction Iram Lewis has warned there will be a review and more “aggressive” approach in enforcing the building code.

He also indicated that in reviewing the code, recommendations likely could arise for “no build” and “restrictive building” in some vulnerable areas.

While speaking during the launch of the Small Homes Repair Programme in Grand Bahama on Monday, Mr Lewis stressed the toughening and enforcement of the code would reduce the risk associated with superstorms like Dorian.

“In reviewing the code and considering the storm surges attached to superstorms, it is

likely that recommendations may arise with respect to nobuild and restrictive building in areas or zones deemed dangerously susceptible to the worst types of flooding,” he said.

“While reviewing the building code is important, in this circumstance, we must realise that without enforcement of the code, moving forward would be fruitless, hence it is our intention to be more aggressive in enforcement of the code.”

Mr Lewis said the government is committed to learning from what transpired in the wake of Hurricane Dorian and to prepare for future storms.

The home repair programme is for residences in the designated disaster zones.

The initiative aims to help those in need of resources to restore their homes to liveable standards, giving rise to more economic development and

normalcy in the zones, he explained.

With some scientists warning that powerful storms could occur more frequently due to climate change, Mr Lewis said governments of small, vulnerable nations must take stringent measures to protect against damage.

“In the era of climate change, Category Five storms are more frequent, and they are especially threats, to economic, social and environmental development of small island nations of the Caribbean region,” he said.

“Based on empirical evidence, it is likely that superstorms will continue to intensify, hence it is incumbent upon government and the people of countries that are impacted by these storms to undertake stringent measures deemed necessary to mitigate the destruction of superstorms,” Mr Lewis said.