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VOLUME:117 No.57, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2020
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Justice in sight but 14 years late Family finally see their mum’s killer admit brutal crime By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE son of a woman fatally stabbed over a decade ago in front of her children is calling for swift justice over her murder, after the man charged with the killing confessed to the crime. Tanrio Fowler, 26, the son of murdered victim and former Tribune employee Ericka Fowler, told The Tribune yesterday that the family wants their mother’s murder trial to quickly come to an end so that they can have closure over her death. His father was charged with
her killing. “Honestly, it’s been like a nightmare, you know,” Mr Fowler said. “It’s like all the years done past. I ain’t forget about (it), but it’s like no justice was coming out of it. So, I decide whatever happen, happens so just leave it and move on with my life. “And, then it coming back up, it just waking me back up to the tragic day you know. It’s a delicate situation and it’s not like something happened between strangers. This a family matter. This a
WATER and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) workers will have to go back to work as Labour Minister Dion Foulkes has referred their strike action to the Industrial Tribunal, saying the issue has “threatened the public interest”. The referral came as armed Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers and police were assigned to guard WSC sites against
SEE PAGE SEVEN
SANDS IS BACK IN TIME FOR SUMMER By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIANS can look forward to Sands beer returning by “early summer”, the brand’s founder revealed yesterday, as he predicted a “massive” effort to rebuild market share. Company founder Jimmy Sands said “kegging” is set to resume by the end of March with drinkers who “favour bottles” likely to enjoy Sands’ return by “the end of May and early June.”
‘NO NEW TAXES’ TO PAY FOR DORIAN
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE THREE
“acts of sabotage,” company officials said. In press statement sent yesterday, Mr Foulkes explained: “Pursuant to Section 76 of the Industrial Relations Act, I have considered that the strike action taken as a result of strike certificates issued on the 23rd April, 2019 relative to trade disputes filed on the 2nd of November, 2018 and the 25th of March, 2019 by the Bahamas Utilities Services & Allied Workers
L SOUR CE
FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
FOULKES WADES IN TO STOP WATER STRIKERS By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
$1
THE Minnis administration’s request for additional borrowing is not for idle purposes, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest insisted yesterday. He told Parliament the country’s insufficient resources led government to seek more money following Hurricane Dorian. SEE PAGE SIX
WELCOME BACK PRIME Minister Hubert Minnis said he was delighted to see the reopening of the British High Commission in Nassau yesterday. Report - Page 2 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
CHINA VIRUS COULD HIT POINTE FINISH By EARYEL BOWLEG ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Pointe’s developer, China Construction America (CCA), is worried that the travel ban on people from China due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak will affect the timely completion of the resort’s construction, according to a Chinese Embassy official. Embassy spokesman Yin Haigang said yesterday that “dozens” of workers have
WORKERS leaving The Pointe not been able to come back into the country as a result of the ban. He revealed
PLP BLASTS MINNIS NATIONAL ADDRESS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
that the Chinese Embassy in Nassau was “very busy” talking to the relevant Bahamian government agencies to resolve the issue of Chinese workers stuck in China. “Some workers who are working on the project of The Pointe – they just cannot come back from China,” the spokesman said. “So the CCA is worried very much about the timely completion of this project at this time. So the
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ first national address of 2020 was a “fake report” showing government is completely detached from reality, Opposition leader Philip Davis said yesterday. Mr Davis hit back at major points of Dr Minnis’ televised speech and branded it “another campaign effort to tenuously hold on to power”.
SEE PAGE FIVE
SEE PAGE SIX
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
PAGE 2, Thursday, February 13, 2020 By LEANDRA ROLLE lrolle@tribunemedia.net THE British High Commission was officially re-opened during a special ceremony in New Providence yesterday nearly 15 years after closing its operations in the country. Speaking at yesterday’s ceremony, British High Commissioner Sarah Dickson said the move will further strengthen the relationship between The Bahamas and the United Kingdom. With the diplomatic office being re-opened, she said, officials will be able to focus on mutual interests shared between the respective countries, including climate, environmental and educational matters. “Today is a celebration, a moment of joy as we intensify the relationship between the UK and The Bahamas by reopening the British High Commission,” she said. “We derive strength and prosperity from the living bridge, individuals and communities, that span the Atlantic Ocean. This reopened High Commission will continue to focus
THE TRIBUNE
British High Commissioner glad to be back in business on these bonds, people to people, company to company, organisation to organisation and government to government.” In 2018, then-British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson announced the UK would reopen a diplomatic office in The Bahamas among other countries. In announcing the move, Mr Johnson, now Britain’s prime minister, said in April 2019: “These new diplomatic posts are in regions which provide huge potential and opportunity post-Brexit for British businesses and will help us to deepen our relationships across the Commonwealth.” The last British high commissioner to The Bahamas was Peter Young, who served from 1996 to 1999,
RAISING the flag at the reopening of the British High Commission yesterday. Inset: British High Commissioner Sarah Dickson. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
when the British High Commission was transferred to Jamaica. However, he remained in The Bahamas as British honorary consul until his retirement in February 2013. While noting the British High Commission should have never left The Bahamas, head of The British Diplomatic Service, Sir Simon McDonald maintained the UK is looking forward to working with the Bahamian people once again. “This is part of my global network and we’re very proud to reopen in Nassau today after a gap of nearly 15 years. We realised we should’ve never have gone so it’s good to be back,” he told reporters. “We’re opening a series of missions around the Caribbean. We’re also coming back to St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and so we’re making ourselves felt.” Asked why the British government decided to reopen its office after all these years, Sir Simon noted that it follows a wider campaign to increase the UK’s presence in the Caribbean following Brexit. “As you may know, two weeks ago we left the European Union and the consequence of being a member of the European Union was to focus evermore on our immediate neighbourhood and to do evermore without European partners,” he explained. “The referendum decided that we should leave and make our own way on the global stage so now we are consciously re-engaging
with older relationships, so we re-opening in Nassau is part of that process.” Also speaking at yesterday’s event was Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who expressed confidence that ties between the two nations will be deepened as a result of the move. “The Bahamas is delighted to see the reopening of the British High Commission, which I am confident will serve to deepen the warm relationship that already exists between the two,” said Dr Minnis at yesterday’s ceremony. “…The Bahamas and the UK are committed to the development of our young people.” “This reopening symbolises and reaffirms the commitment of the United Kingdom to our longshared history and our bilateral relations in matters of mutual interest, bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally.” High Commissioner Dickson has served the British Diplomatic Service for more than 20 years. Her last diplomatic appointment was as UK ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, February 13, 2020, PAGE 3
20-YEAR-OLD REMANDED OVER ‘KARAOKE KING’ ATTACK By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday for trying to kill Bahamian entertainer Demetrius Smith in the course of an armed robbery on Sunday. Rasheed Watson was charged before magistrate Samuel McKinney on one count each of attempted murder, armed from page one domestic matter. This mother and father and kids. People just look at the fact that this a bad person and you know, you need justice but it’s deeper than finding justice it’s a mental thing.” Fowler, a former librarian and archivist at The Tribune, was 33-years-old when she was fatally stabbed. She died from her injuries in the street in front of her Comet Terrace home in Golden Gates on a Saturday night. According to then press liaison officer Walter Evans, Fowler and a man got into a heated argument just before 9pm on the date in question in front of her home. Fowler was attacked with a sharp object, which police believed to be a knife. Four of her five children, as well as her mother reportedly witnessed the crime. Years after the murder, Mr Fowler said he still has nightmares about the whole ordeal. “It messed me up mentally. I was 12 (when it took place),” he emotionally told The Tribune. “Me knowing my father growing up, he was a strict man, a strict individual you know and he always used to talk positive to me and my siblings. It’s hard to understand why he would do such a thing knowing you’re so positive and keen on these things. You know, you could’ve walked away. It’s a different way you could’ve deal with it, you know.” Leo Roderick Johnson was charged with unlawfully killing Fowler days after her death on August 19, 2006. He was arraigned before the Supreme Court the following year. However, the case was left dormant until 2014 when a trial date was set for October 24, 2016 before then-Senior Justice Jon Isaacs. In October 2016, Johnson tried to have the proceedings stayed permanently because of the 10-year delay in bringing the case forward, which he asserted breached his constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time. However, Justice Isaacs ultimately ruled that “on a balance of probabilities, a fair trial can be had despite the delay and breach of the applicant’s constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time.” Johnson entered a guilty plea to manslaughter when he appeared before Senior Justice Renae McKay on Tuesday. Johnson’s lawyer reportedly asked the court to consider probation for him instead of a prison sentence. Giving his thoughts on the requests made, Mr Fowler said he feels “outraged” about Johnson not being willing to deal with the consequences of his crime. “The family is outraged by it. I’m outraged about it but honestly, I don’t really know how I feel about it. It was a terrible crime. It was my mother and nearly 14 years later, he asking for probation. …I just want the whole thing to be over with you know. The thing is I would respect the fact that he accept his fate. The thing is if you accept your fate, that means you accept what you do and you know what you did. “My mother can’t come back and you still have
robbery and receiving stemming from the February 9 incident. It is alleged Watson, armed with a knife, robbed Mr Smith of his red Chevrolet Tahoe worth $70,000 that contained $2,500, and tried to murder the local personality, known as the “Karaoke King”. It is also alleged he dishonestly received Mr Smith’s Chevy Tahoe in the process. According to initial
reports from police, shortly after 3am on Sunday, Mr Smith was at a residence on San Souci off Eastern Road when he was approached by two men who robbed him of cash and a red Chevy Tahoe. Mr Smith, who was physically assaulted and stabbed during the encounter, was taken to hospital where he is currently listed in stable condition, police said. A short time later, officers on the scene observed a
red Chevy Tahoe canvassing the area. The officers pursued the vehicle but the driver refused to stop and led police on a chase. The Chevy crashed in the area of Fox Hill Road and Eastern Road where the two men got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. However, officers pursued the suspects and caught them a short time later. Both males were arrested and taken into custody, police said.
DEMETRIUS SMITH, known as the “Karaoke King”
Watson was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to March 31 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim. He has the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. Watson is represented by attorney Ian Cargill.
Justice in sight but 14 years late GASKIN: THERE WAS ARGUABLE EVIDENCE OF MANSLAUGHTER DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin last night explained to The Tribune why his office had been willing to accept an admission of manslaughter by Johnson rather than to proceed with the original charge of murder. “When the matter was brought to my attention, it was duly noted that one has to be minful of a number of factors,” said Mr Gaskin. “The defendant has had a charge hanging over his head for nearly 14 years, not for any fault of his. His constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time has clearly been infringed. The law speaks to a reduction in sentence because of the delay in getting to trial. “There is never any happy medium in these kinds of matters. There was arguable evidence of Manslaughter in the matter.” Mr Gaskin added that there was an established sentencing guide in murder and manslaughter cases and in this matter the Crown had asked for an 18 year sentence. “In extreme circumstances, where the defendant has previous convictions for crimes of violence the sentence range for a determinate number
TANRIO FOWLER, the son of Ericka Fowler. some objections to what’s going on, that ain’t right.’ Mr Fowler added that his mother’s brutal death has also affected his relationship with his family members. “Since the tragedy, everybody split up and nobody was in communication with each other no more. It was just a broken home. Sometimes, we’d see each other and just pass each other straight,” he said. “And there are times, you have children vibing (sic) against each other because some have already accepted the fact with what happen and moving on with life while you have some still wondering when the justice could come. It’s just mixed emotions.” Johnson is expected to return to court for sentencing on February 18. Editorial View - Page 4
Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
of years for Manslaughter can go up to 35 years. The maximum term of imprisonment, in law, is life. “Given the delay in getting to this week’s hearing which merits a reduction in sentence and bearing in mind Johnson’s version of events, the DPP settled on accepting a manslaughter plea. “If things had been different we would have clearly wanted more but taking into account all of the issues we said we would do what we did,” said Mr Gaskin. “The defence (which has asked for probation) can do whatever they wish. Sentencing in the matter is now appropriately in the hands of the Court.”
VICTIM: Ericka Fowler
PAGE 4, Thursday, February 13, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
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The long, slow path to justice for Ericka IT HAS taken a long time for any measure of justice to be reached over the death of Ericka Fowler. It is approaching 14 years since she was stabbed to death outside her home – and this week, Leo Roderick Johnson finally confessed to her manslaughter. Director of Public Prosecutions Garvin Gaskin last night explained that the length of time the case has been going on without resolution played a part in his office accepting an admission of manslaughter rather than murder – along with Mr Johnson’s version of events, including claims of infidelity. Such claims of course have not been tested in court – but Mr Gaskin says the Crown has asked for an 18-year sentence, even as the defence has asked for probation. This was a personal case for The Tribune – you see, Ericka was one of our own. She worked as the librarian at The Tribune. After Ericka was killed, Mr Johnson was arrested and charged on August 23, 2006. The case was adjourned until September 27, 2006. He was remanded in custody and was released from prison about 14 months later with his case still unheard. Ericka Fowler was an ambitious young woman with a promising future. She came to The Tribune nine years before through an employment agency. We needed an office cleaner and Ericka fitted the bill. However, we soon discovered that she was a misfit. Ericka was much too smart for the job she was doing. We had never seen anyone so keen to learn. Her smile was infectious and as Ericka, after completing her chores, drifted into the various departments, staff were eager to train her on the computers. Eventually our little cleaner became the assistant librarian. Not only was she an expert at filing, but she was a wonderful organiser and transformed that department. She is still missed. She filled in on the switchboard, took photographs for the advertising department and moved into the circulation department where she had an early morning route delivering The Miami Herald with The Tribune. Eventually, she started to bring in news stories, which she had written herself. She was described as the “most versatile employee” at The Tribune. She could fill in in almost any department. And at Christmas time she was an expert decorator of our offices. Ericka was going places when her life was cut short. Her death was witnessed by her mother and her children. Her mother, Roselda, said that on the
night of Ericka’s death, the children and Ericka were at home “when a man came around. He tried to get in the house, and Ericka halfway opened the door to him”. Mrs Fowler was in her bedroom when she heard her daughter “and the man fussing and fighting”. “I went into the kitchen and told them to stop fussing all the time,” she recalled. “He threatened to kill the children right there in the kitchen, but I said he would have to kill me first.” On the man’s insistence, one of the children had opened the kitchen door and let him in. “Ericka ran outside to get help from a neighbour and he came up behind her, running after her down the road,” her mother said. She was stabbed, then dragged onto the back seat of a car where her throat was slit as her 12-yearold son begged that her life be spared. The children took their mother out of the car, laid her on the ground, where she gasped for breath, then died. The man, with another man behind the wheel of the car, drove off. The Tribune inquired on several occasions about the state of the prosecution of her killer. After his release from prison without trial, no questions were being answered. In 2007, we wrote to the then Attorney General raising Ericka’s case. With that letter, we sent Ericka’s diary. One of the entries stated: “He tell me I will not live to see my 34 birthday – that he promises.” Ericka was 33 when she was killed. In 2008, we again raised the case with the Attorney General – who could find no record of the case. In 2010, we wrote again, this time to the Director of Public Prosecutions to acquaint her with the case. Today, we report on the anguish of Ericka’s son, Tanrio, at the pain that has stretched out for years as the justice system failed to deliver an outcome until this week. He was 12 years old when the attack happened. “It’s been like a nightmare, you know,” he said, “I ain’t forget about what happen, but it’s like no justice was coming out of it… it messed me up mentally.” Ericka has been failed by the justice system for many years, and her family has paid the price. That this case has taken too long to reach this point is beyond doubt. That it has finally reached a verdict after being left to gather dust is a matter deserving of praise for the current prosecutors. That it finally reaches an end and Ericka’s killer faces justice is essential. Like Ericka’s family, we await the sentencing and hope that at last there will be an appropriate resolution.
A Pointed comment YOU couldn’t make it up. Construction at The Pointe – which has been criticised for not hiring enough Bahamian workers – now might be delayed because the coronavirus outbreak and the ban on travel from China means, THE news that Carnival Corporation’s investment in Grand Bahama, already its largest in the region, had doubled in size and could grow by the time the details are finalised, prompted this exchange on tribune242.com. TimesUp said: “‘Carnival has submitted an environment impact assessment’ – How could this ever be a safe thing for the environment? It will have a terrible impact to the island’s environment. It has somehow received the backing of our environmentalists which is troubling to say the least. “Because the people of Grand Bahama are so
wait for it, they might not have enough Chinese workers. Forgive us for being so bold but might we suggest the solution that has been there all along? Hire more Bahamians.
desperate for any investment this will undoubtably be given the green light. Once the land is cleared and filled in and the ocean is dredged and the canals are cut I hope it won’t just fizzle out!” That prompted this response from Proudloudandfnm: “What makes you think this will be bad for the environment? And
what do you want from us? We need this, desperately. I’m really tired of environmentalists shooting EVERYTHING down as though any project whatsoever will destroy our lives. You people need to chill. Life must go on . . .” Which, in turn, led to TimesUp posting this: “Well for starters, cruise ships are terrible for the environment. If you have ever been to the proposed site you would have seen it is very unique and you would have noticed that to build the proposed development will require major work to fill the site.
A JAPANESE man with a sweet tooth who believes in smiles has become the world’s oldest male at 112 years and 344 days old, according to Guinness World Records. Asked about the secret to longevity, Chitetsu Watanabe had this advice: Don’t get angry and keep smiling.
Still struggling for a fair society EDITOR, The Tribune THE spinning sound we heard this week was not a carnival ride, rather, the late patriot and statesman Sir Milo Boughton Butler turning in his grave. We got a glimpse of toxic colourism from none other than the National Vice Chair of the PLP. Colourism is a form of prejudice where black people with lighter skin are perceived to be ethnically better than darker skinned people. It was not just that the Vice Chair has an obvious fascination for lighter skinned blacks, subconsciously she may suppress a trailer load of unsettled issues surrounding race. That Patricia Deveaux quickly apologised doesn’t end the story. No doubt her comments resonated with more than a few people no matter how galling they are. The PLP leader, Brave Davis didn’t seek to put distance between the party and its out-of-touch Vice Chair, rather he accepted her apology and tried to brush off the transgression. But it is not merely a distraction to be brushed off, rather it is a symptom of a larger rot in the party and in society. The fascination with “light skin” and “curly hair” runs deep. But almost 60 years after Sir Milo stormed into the
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Royal Bank of Canada main branch on Bay Street to demand that they offer more teller positions to people Ms. Deveaux views as “darkies”, portends that we have not progressed as far as we had hoped. The history of the PLP and the struggle not just for “darkies” but for a more equal and just society for all Bahamians is perhaps lost on the Vice Chair. She now holds the office that was first occupied by John S. Carey in 1953. And she probably never had a conversation with William Cartwright, Cyril Stevenson or Sir Henry Taylor – all light skin, curly haired men who were fed up with how darkies were being treated in the country. They formed the party she is now privileged to serve and which she has stained by her oblivion to its history. How sad. This is not a PLP or an FNM problem. It is a Bahamian problem and simply accepting an apology and moving on will never help us eradicate it. We need to look at how our recent history is being taught in schools. Perhaps we spend too much time
glorifying Christopher Columbus and Woodes Rodgers and not enough time on Bill Cartwright or Milo Butler. Ms. Deveaux needs now to atone for her ignorance. Her apology bus tour must make more than just the one stop at PLP headquarters for she offended more than just party supporters. Instead of coming to regret her language only after she was called out for it, she needs to demonstrate that she gets why her language was so offensive. She needs to study our history so that she can fall in love with our diversity, our tolerance and our forgiveness. She can start by looking at the love story that is the real history of the man who she was so gushingly, but yet so naively, trying to introduce. Dr. Michael Darville was too polite to call her out immediately for her insensitivity. But his own family is a prime example of true colour blindness. His late mother did heat up any room she was in, but she used her charm, her smile and her boundless generosity to do so. Come on, Madam Vice Chair, you must be better than this. THE GRADUATE Nassau February 12, 2020
Unselfish volunteers EDITOR, The Tribune
FIVE dreary months have passed since Hurricane Dorian lay waste Abaco and Grand Bahama, and daily in the local press we hear and read of persons being dissatisfied with the pace of hurricane reconstruction. However, I am sure that at least ninety-five if not one hundred per cent of those who were adversely affected by the hurricane were members of churches and paid collection or tithes on a weekly or monthly basis. Consequently, it is not unreasonable to think that these churches would assist their parishioners or
their congregants in some meaningful way. When disasters have occurred in our country, and especially since hurricane Andrew, I have been impressed by the work done by the denomination of Jehovah’s Witnesses who quickly mobilised members of their organisation, both local and foreign to expertly repair and replace their places of worship and the homes of their members. From personal knowledge I am aware that homeowners have only to provide building supplies, if they have the means, and volunteers, at no personal remuneration, assist in making the homes habitable.
Surely the other denominations have members who are carpenters, masons, electricians and plumbers who are willing to devote some of their spare time to assist their members in this way? For, whilst repairs generally are proceeding at a snail’s pace, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have successfully repaired homes and their Kingdom Hall in Marsh Harbour will be ready for their annual Memorial service in April this year. All through the unselfish work of volunteers. JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau February 12, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, February 13, 2020, PAGE 5
CARNIVAL TO SPEND $100M ON NEW GB DOCK By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
MONTHS after a crane collapsed and damaged Grand Bahama Shipyard’s largest dock, Carnival Corporation is planning a $100 million investment to build a new and bigger dock. Giora Israel, senior vice president of global ports and destination development, said the investment, which has not been finalised and is in the beginning
stages of discussions, will also comprise development of infrastructure to expand the shipyard’s capacity. “We are determined to make this yard again a great yard, possibly bringing it back to the number one cruise ship repair facility in the world,” Mr Israel told reporters yesterday in Miami. “(The dry dock) will be the biggest floating dock to be built in the last decade anywhere in the world and it’s likely to be built in China.”
A Royal Caribbean International ship was being serviced when the dry dock’s crane collapsed, injuring eight employees. Mr Israel said officials expect to lose tens of millions of dollars this year after the accident left the company functioning at only 25 percent of its capacity. “We are now in a situation that is obviously not very welcome in Grand Bahama of having the world’s largest cruise ship
repair facility really crippled and its production gone down dramatically,” he said. Hundreds of expatriates have already been laid off and forced to return to their countries. However, the company has committed to employing all its Bahamian staff on a 40-hour work week schedule even though, Mr Israel said, it could let go about 100 of them because of the reduced needs. “We are just sweating it through until we are able
to get the operation back,” he said. “We have a lot of pressure from shareholders to support our operating expenses, obviously labour, but also our debt servicing for the loans that are outstanding at the yard. The cruise lines that are 80 percent owners of the shipyard, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, have not yet taken out one single penny of a dividend.” Shipyard officials hope to meet government representatives within the
next few weeks to discuss plans for expanding the shipyard. In addition to last year’s crane accident, Hurricane Dorian damaged another one of the docks at the facility, further reducing its capacity. Mr Israel said the setbacks came even as officials began discussing plans for a larger dry dock that could take in larger ships. He said to break down the damaged dock, the company has spent about $10m.
China virus could affect Pointe completion date
WORKERS leaving The Pointe earlier this year. from page one embassy will talk about this with the Immigration Department.” Director of Labour John Pinder gave an assurance in January that the $200 million development is set for completion in the second quarter of this year. Last month, it was announced non-residents will be denied entry in the country if they have visited China within the last 20 days. On Tuesday, Minister of Immigration Elsworth Johnson said in view 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. Embassy officials will host a press conference today to talk about the travel ban and the Department of Immigration’s recent ban on work permits, the spokesman said. “It’s our position that we understand that the Bahamian government is seeking measures to protect the Bahamian people and that’s quite understandable. We also refer to the recommendation of (the) World Health Organisation to the different departments of the Bahamian government, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the embassy official said.
“We believe that any measures taken by the Bahamian government should be based on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation and should not overreact. We do not want to see normal people-to-people exchange and the normal economic cooperation be impacted by those measures.” The 2019 coronavirus has killed at least 1,115 people and sickened more than 45,000 worldwide. While several Bahamians who have recently visited China are in local quarantine, officials have said there is no suspected or confirmed case of the virus locally. The Pointe has grabbed headlines recently over the ratio of foreign workers to
THE number of Bahamians in quarantine after travel to China has declined, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health. Four people have been released already and two more were expected to be released from quarantine yesterday, the ministry said. Officials did not provide a specific figure of the amount of people who remain in quarantine, however, last week the Ministry of Health reported that the number had risen to 15 at one point. Quarantine measures were put in place in the wake of the spread of the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus in China. This week, the World Health
Organisation announced the virus’ official name is COVID-19. “To date, there remains no suspected, reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Bahamas,” the Ministry of Health said. “Currently, there are more than 44,000 cases confirmed on mainland China, with at least 1,000 deaths with spread to at least 27 countries.” The Ministry of Health said update meetings were held with operational stakeholders regarding the implementation of the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (CPRP). “The number of persons arriving at Bahamian ports for processing and screening
for quarantine measures has declined,” the ministry added. “Currently, four persons have been released from quarantine, and another two persons are expected to be released today (Wednesday). The individuals that were monitored and those presently being monitored have shown no symptoms of the virus. Quarantine measures remain set at 14 days.” Representatives from the Ministry of Health will visit Grand Bahama today to meet with relevant stakeholder groups on that island. Cruise ship is refused entry by four countries - Page 10
QUARANTINE NUMBERS FALL
Bahamians. In the heads of agreement between China Construction America (CCA) and the government, it states that 70 percent of the workers are supposed to be Bahamian and 30 percent should be foreign. However, a recent Department of Labour inspection
report uncovered 229 Chinese workers and only 90 Bahamians; 35 people of other nationalities were working on the site as well as two Bahamian companies. When asked about this, Mr Haigang said: “Our position is that there is an agreement between the
Chinese company and the I think Ministry of Labour. Of course the agreement should be respected by the company. The embassy always encourages the Chinese company to hire as many as possible local workers.” Editorial View - Page 4
PAGE 6, Thursday, February 13, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
NO NEW TAXES TO PAY FOR DORIAN, SAYS TURNQUEST from page one
FOR SALE
While national resources remain “significantly” less than what is needed, the deputy prime minister reiterated that there will be no new taxes and no increase of existing levies to cover costs associated with the damage done by Dorian.
New and “necessary” financing requirements amount to $540.7m but there is only $32.8m in offsetting income, Mr Turnquest explained. He said finance officials were also looking at the possibility of gross domestic product shrinking by one percentage point as a result of the hurricane.
Mr Turnquest made the remarks as Parliament debated the 2019/20 supplementary budget. There is currently a resolution in the House for government to borrow $587.9m. “Unfortunately, the government has very few immediate and realistic options to offset the
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legitimate obligations…” he said yesterday. “We received a $12.8m payout from our Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility as a result of a restructured policy, which I am proud to say we pioneered. In the past, insuring with the CCRIF had unfortunately become politically charged. Not everyone was convinced the insurance scheme was meeting our needs as an archipelagic nation. “We successfully renegotiated a better deal for the Bahamas, tailoring the policy to separate the archipelago into three geographic zones with unique parametric triggers for each region. Rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater, we recognised that flexible insurance that allows for tailored coverage is essential to our multi-layered approach to disaster risk management and for meeting our country-specific disaster needs. “Aside from the CCRIF, we amended the law to allow funds transferred from the expired Dormant Accounts at the Central Bank to be used for disaster relief. The government earmarked $20m from this fund: $10m of which is to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises capital grants and credit programmes. “If you look at the math, it speaks for itself: we have $540.7m in new and necessary financing requirements and only $32.8 million in offsetting income. We are also looking at the possibility of GDP shrinking by one percentage point as a result of Hurricane Dorian.” Mr Turnquest said as for donations, these are far less than what the public perceives, adding many of the public pledges reported were actually in-kind and not yet received, and many of them are actually donations to private sector
organisations and not the government. According to the National Emergency Management Agency, which receives donations on behalf of government, as at January 31, approximately $9.4 million was received as actual cash donations, and another $2.8m in-kind, the East Grand Bahama MP said. He said the latter may have changed slightly as of yesterday. Mr Turnquest said: “While this is certainly appreciated and has helped to cover costs associated with the acquisition of recreational vehicles (RV) for volunteers and staff that are on the ground working in Abaco and Grand Bahama, as well as with the temporary dome structures that are currently being erected in Spring City, Abaco, it simply is not enough to cover the greater cost of recovery of Hurricane Dorian. When you compare $9m in donated funding to cover over $400m in Dorian expenses and revenue losses, it is plain to see that our own resources are not enough for this massive response. “Faced with this reality, the government decided that it will not impose additional tax burdens on Bahamians to cover the cost of recovery. More taxes could slow down the already strained economy as people would consume less given the need to pay more in taxes. Although we have a large budget gap to close in the immediate term, this is not a viable option. “Therefore, the government will not be increasing taxes, or introducing any new taxes, to cover the cost of Hurricane Dorian. “So, what are our alternative options? Well, we could slash spending by a few hundred million, but that means starving the economy of job opportunities
DPM Peter Turnquest and commercial activities by way of reduced capital and other major projects. “Large spending cuts would also reduce the resources available to assist the vulnerable with social assistance benefits and other recurrent programmes. To balance the budget in one swoop, we would have to cut total expenditure, across the board, by over 20 percent, based on spending estimates at the time of the National Budget. Indiscriminate cuts like this would affect everyone, and not just in the storm affected islands. This is not an option. “The operations of the government must continue to function. Again, the government realised that an economy of our size facing a $3bn hit would be further impacted negatively by massive cutbacks in public expenditure.” While government is departing temporarily from its original fiscal consolidation plan and given the options to either raise taxes higher or to cut spending drastically, the government took a “prudent decision to raise the necessary resources through increased borrowing - and to focus this borrowing largely to fix the infrastructure and provide direct support for persons most impacted by Dorian,” Mr Turnquest said yesterday.
PLP BLASTS MINNIS NATIONAL ADDRESS from page one
Meanwhile, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper urged Bahamians to “stay woke,” insisting Dr Minnis had only made “grandiose” campaign promises in the address. When he spoke at Parliament yesterday, Mr Cooper pointed to Dr Minnis’ recent campaign launch, saying as it was now campaign season, “politicians talk any number of things”. The Free National Movement’s campaign for the 2022 election launched last month at what was billed as a town-hall meeting, prompting a critical response from the Progressive Liberal Party. “The prime minister’s fantasy pronouncements (nearly) six months after Dorian in his national address are a dollar short and a day late, similar to his planning, management and execution of this natural disaster,” Mr Davis said in a press statement. “His address was just another campaign effort to tenuously hold onto power. Much like his recent fake town hall meeting, which was really a campaign rally, this is a fake report with the prime minister engaged in self congratulation and back patting while labouring to sugarcoat the grim reality of post-Dorian life for most Bahamians in lies, broken promises, incompetence, meanness and failed leadership.
“From his address, the prime minister clearly lives in a parallel universe, detached from the Bahamian reality and experience. “The source of the deception on the international pledges was not mischief makers, but the prime minister himself who sought to intentionally mislead the Bahamian people by conflating loans with donations. Further, the government has failed to accurately account for the amount of financial donations received to date and how these funds were expended. “As for the economy, the prime minister must not use taxpayer’s dollars to perpetrate untruthful propaganda. The PLP did not mismanage the economy and as a matter of fact, the economy the PLP left in place in May 2017 allowed them to secure loan offers of $3b just months after coming to office. This over subscription of government bonds placement exposed the FNM campaign lie that the country was left bankrupt by the PLP.” In his national address, Dr Minnis announced a March 2 date for the signing of a Heads of Agreement for the sale of the Grand Lucayan in Grand Bahama and revealed a $300m project for South Abaco. He accused the PLP of leaving public finances in a disastrous state and borrowing money in large amounts. They also misspent in large amounts, the prime minister said. Dr Minnis said his administration had to stabilise the country’s finances through honesty and discipline. But according to Mr Davis, before the PLP was voted out of office in 2017, the party left in place an economy that has allowed the FNM government to go on a borrowing binge with no tangible results to show for
the billions borrowed and spent. Mr Davis added that what the prime minister proclaimed on Tuesday night contradicted the facts on the ground as observed by the PLP on a recent fact-finding tour in Grand Bahama and Abaco. “The unbearable stench from scores of unidentified dead bodies still in trailers in Abaco after six months fills the air,” he claimed. “This is disrespectful to the families who have lost loved ones. “There is simply no excuse for leaving piles of dead bodies in trailers for six months. These are people, who in death deserve dignity and a Christian burial, in line with our values as a people. We may not know their names, but to leave them rotting in trailers is unforgivable. It requires nothing more than a conscience, and a willingness to do the right thing. Piles of Hurricane debris could be seen everywhere six months later.” Mr Cooper had similar critiques of Dr Minnis’ address. “Mr Speaker, I noted the prime minister’s address last night (Tuesday),” Mr Cooper told the House of Assembly. “He spoke about the Grand Lucayan resort. He talked about many other things. I want to urge the Bahamian people to remember that the prime minister has indicated that the campaign season has started and during campaign seasons politicians talk any number of things. They make grandiose promises. “…So I urge the Bahamian people to remember that when the prime minister speaks he is speaking as a prime minister who has declared that campaign season has started. So stay woke. Stay woke Bahamas and stay alert,” Mr Cooper said.
THE TRIBUNE from page one Union and the Water and Sewerage Management Union, has threatened the public interest. I have, therefore, referred the disputes which have given rise to the strike actions to the Industrial Tribunal.” Section 76 of the law allows a minister to refer a dispute to the Industrial Tribunal if the strike or lock-out taking place does not breach Section 74 or 75 and the minister considers that the public interest is affected or threatened. The section stipulates that parties should be notified by writing and any person participating in the strike or lock-out should discontinue. If persons to do not cease strike action within 24 hours of being notified, they can be found guilty of an offence and face penalties such as a $200 fine or three months in jail. Before Mr Foulkes’ statement was issued, about dozens of WSC workers assembled outside the corporation’s headquarters on day two of their strike. Montgomery Miller, the ‘elected’ President of the Water and Sewerage Management Union (WSMU), accused WSC Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson of creating “chaos” and “discord” within the union and gave him until Friday to sign the union’s industrial agreement. He also claimed WSC’s general manager avoided him recently. “We together went to pay a visit to the general manager, he avoided us,” Mr Miller said at a press conference. “He said on the telephone, and I’d dare say he had called 911, to speak with the chairman who in writing has said he himself is not the person who involves himself in the matter of the corporate, those are for the executive team. However, the executive team is not in any way engaging with the executives of this Water and Sewerage Management Union.”
Thursday, February 13, 2020, PAGE 7
Foulkes wades in to stop water strikers
ARMED Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers and police were assigned to guard WSC sites against “acts of sabotage,” company officials said yesterday.
Mr Miller’s claims of being the elected WSMU president has caused some confusion, as Ednel Rolle maintains he is president of the union despite Mr Miller showing what he claimed to be a valid certificate of the election of officers showing that he won the position unopposed on November 22, 2019. The confusion came because the Ministry of Labour and Director of Labour John Pinder, who is also the registrar of trade unions, had set a date for nominations and supervising an election of WSMU
executives and officers on November 22, 2019, without the union’s consent. WSMU brought the matter to the Supreme Court arguing that this breaches the Industrial Relations Act and the union’s constitution. The matter is still ongoing. Yet, there was no tension between the two men and they both expressed a mutual feeling about the unfair treatment of workers and stalling from WSC executives on the union’s industrial agreement. Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union president Dwayne Woods took issue with the armed officers at WSC sites, saying they were carrying M16s and AK47s. Mr Woods said this action
was “indicative” of what the union is facing with corporation executives. “We can’t come to work and demonstrate in a peaceful manner that we have to have the defence force with all of its gun and artillery pointed at us – something is drastically wrong,” Mr Woods said. “We demonstrating peacefully and we don’t condone wrongdoing and nor will we ever attempt to sabotage or go the wrong way in damaging the infrastructure of the company. We see that type of behaviour as treason to the government. “So we want to say and make it clear to the executive chairman and the general manager that at no time we plan to sabotage
WSC EMBARKS ON ‘RIGHT-SIZING’ PROGRAMME THE Water and Sewerage Corporation is embarking on a process of staff transfers to “rightsize” departments and ensure better efficiency. In a statement released yesterday, WSC officials said: “As we move to realign the corporation to heighten its efficiency, we are commencing various institutional strengthening and other initiatives to undergird (our) thrust for greater employee productivity, to support staff morale, to better measure output and underscore institutional reform. “Given the above, the corporation has determined to—pursuant to, and in line with, our organisational interests and mandate—commence a few institutional improvements and changes that also include transfers of both managers and non-managers in an effort to right-size departments and to ensure greater efficiency in essential areas. “In recent days, WSC determined to transfer 11 of our 70-plus managers into departments where we believe their expertise and/or experience can add value, improvement and greater efficiency to those areas. There are a few other departments where the corporation will be looking to make shifts/transfers at
both the management and non-management levels in an effort to strengthen our organisational standing, particularly as WSC evaluates the restructuring and re-alignment of departments. “All managers were given the customary two weeks’ notice before taking up their new assignments.” WSC will also engage a local human resources consultant to assist with its employee effectiveness programme, review of the role profiles of employees (particularly for non-managerial staff) and various other HR matters. The announcement came as WSC workers were ordered to back off on their two day strike and return to work, after Minister of Labour referred their trade dispute to the Industrial Tribunal. WSC said of its 420-member staff, including 75 managers, only 35 to 40 persons participated in yesterday’s strike. “Out of an abundance of caution, the government has assigned RBDF officers to assist with guarding our major installations and ensuring that our loyal customers are not impacted by any act of sabotage,” WSC said. “The defence force is actively engaged. Since yesterday evening, they have been moving around with our teams. These
officers are ensuring that all of the critical meters and valves, 14 critical sewer stations and plants are all safeguarded. “A year ago, following union action, the water supply was sabotaged and disrupted with further sabotage to our sewer stations and other facilities. The police are also actively patrolling key sites. Sites such as the Blue Hills Hydro Tower and the Windsor and Winton Stations are being monitored 24/7 by the control room via CCTV.” WSC also said it wants to resolve the outstanding Industrial Agreement with its management union. Due to a dispute over the union’s duly elected president, WSC said this has caused issues. “We are desirous of arriving at an amicable Industrial Agreement with our managers. Our managers are very important to us and we want to resolve all such issues. That said, the management union is at a cross roads and, as such, WSC has been unable to recognise either of the two persons asserting their right to the presidency.” Both Ednel Rolle and Montgomery FergusonMiller have asserted their claims to the presidency, “with both individuals writing under the letter head of the WSMU and both signing
off as president,” WSC said. The matter is now before court for a decision. “Given the above, and the extant court matter, the corporation is unable to recognise the presidency of Mr Miller and awaits the ruling of the court. Moreover, the corporation is also constrained from recognising the presidency of Mr Rolle. Unfortunately, the dilemma the corporation faces is one where WSC is unable to determine which persons claiming the presidency and the executive team has the capacity to bind the union. As it stands, the union appears to have two presidents and the matter is subject to a decision of the court.”
your infrastructure and at no time do we want to be treated inhuman with
coming to the work place with guns pointed at us,” he said.
PAGE 8, Thursday, February 13, 2020
T
HEY put a Rotary Club awards ceremony on American national TV last week. Several US networks interrupted their normal turgid noontime programming to broadcast an event that stood out even during the astonishing presidency of Donald Trump. It wasn’t actually a Rotary Club ceremony – no offence meant whatsoever to that exemplary worldwide service organisation. It just felt that way. What was televised was a self-congratulatory 75-minute rant by Trump in the biggest room of the White House, the ballroom in the East Wing. Packing the room were some of the major Republican legislative figures who defended Trump during the House impeachment process in December and the subsequent Senate trial in January. Members of his legal team were there. Ivanka and Melania were there. Lots of staff members and other supporters and various hangers-on were present. The back of the room was filled with reporters and camera people. It was a rally, celebrating Trump’s acquittal by the Senate on charges he abused his presidential power and obstructed Congress in its attempts to investigate his alleged misdeeds. But Trump conducted it like an annual service club awards ceremony. He artfully pointed to and spoke intimately about dozens of House and Senate members who had spoken out in support of him during the hearings on Capitol Hill. There was humour and evidence of genuine affection from the president toward many of those whom he singled out.
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Watch who Trump targets - that may be his biggest contender STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
There was also trademark venom from the president toward House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Utah senator Mitt Romney, who have taken primary positions on Trump’s roster of political piñatas to be whipped and beaten at every turn of the news cycle. Pelosi, as we all recall, ostentatiously tore up Trump’s State of the Union speech after he finished delivering it. And Romney was the lone GOP senator who supported even one of the two articles of impeachment forwarded by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Trump is really nothing if not unpredictably predictable. Most observers had forecast a vengeful aftermath to the whole impeachment process. How right they were. And yet who thought the US president would open to the national press what amounted to a family gathering of his most ardent and committed supporters?
Seeking to build on whatever momentum his Senate acquittal affords him, Trump has also moved aggressively onto the campaign trail. The president has obviously decided that it’s a good idea to hijack the exhaustively covered Democratic primary votes by holding a rally in those states on the eve of the election there, even though Trump only faces token opposition from within his own party. He did this in Iowa, a state he may well carry later this year. He did it earlier this week in New Hampshire, a state where he very narrowly lost the vote three years ago and that he might well also carry this November. Both are overwhelmingly white states with a strong conservative streak. They are often fertile ground for Republican candidates. At Trump’s rallies, he smiled smugly at cries of “Lock Her Up”. Four years ago, these were memorably
PRESIDENT Donald Trump gestures to supporters during a campaign rally in New Hampshire directed at his opponent, Hillary Clinton. At least for now, the chants are directed at Nancy Pelosi, who may just be Trump’s most powerful and skilled opponent in this critical election year. You have to give Trump
credit. He has an unerring knack for identifying and vilifying the political opponent who represents the greatest threat to his political future. First it was Hillary Clinton. Then it was Joe Biden, with various less
prominent foes in between. It will be interesting to see whom he most forcefully attacks next. That might give us some good insight into the strongest of his potential Democratic opponents.
BIDEN’S ON LIFE-SUPPORT NOW TUESDAY’S New Hampshire primary has spawned lots of commentary. Here are some of the themes: Bernie Sanders is in control. Amy Klobuchar is coming fast from the rear. Elizabeth Warren is finished. Joe Biden is on life support. Mike Bloomberg is spending many more of his millions. Pete Buttigieg is everyman with a husband. Tom Steyer and Tulsi Gabbard are intriguing but insignificant footnotes. And so forth. As the Democratic campaign train slogs on to Nevada and South Carolina in the coming weeks, much will be made of the role African American and Latino voters will play in those states. The focus in this regard will be on Joe Biden, whose appeal to those groups may help revive his campaign after fourth and fifth place finishes in the first two primary states. The wild card this year, as he was four years ago, is Sanders, a lifelong political maverick who still labels himself as Independent while caucusing with Senate Democrats. His self-identification with socialist policies worries voters in both parties. But he has built a fund-raising
JOE Biden appealing to his supporters machine and looks strong if hardly unbeatable at this stage of the campaign. Sanders makes the Democratic party establishment uncomfortable in 2020. Trump made the Republican party establishment uncomfortable in 2016. There might be a lesson there. Meantime, the field was further winnowed when interesting businessman Andrew Yang, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick withdrew from the race. While there is undoubtedly a
‘THE MOST PERSONAL IS THE MOST CREATIVE’ DID you watch the Academy Awards show on Sunday night? It was too long, as usual, too pretentious, as usual, but, also as usual, it was exciting to watch all those beautiful women and men on TV in real life. Yes, most of the time the cameras caught them posing. But hey, they are actors! A highlight was the opening dialogue between two of America’s funniest people, Steve Martin and Chris Rock. Here are two snippets: MARTIN: A couple of years ago, there was a big disaster here at the Oscars where they accidentally read out the wrong name (for best picture), and it was nobody’s fault. But they have guaranteed that this will not happen this year, because the academy has switched to the new Iowa caucus app.
long way to go until November, the Nevada and South Carolina votes will be significant. Depending on the outcomes there, the critical Super Tuesday primary votes on March 3 may feature still fewer surviving candidates. In less than three weeks, the Super Tuesday line-up includes such pivotal states as California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Several of these may be toss-ups by the time of November’s general election, so results will be watched especially closely.
KIING of the Oscars: Bong Joon Ho
MARTIN: Chris, think how much the Oscars have changed in the past 92 years… In 1929, there were no black acting nominees. ROCK: And now in 2020, we have one. Among the biggest moments were the numerous (four in total) appearances on the awards stage by South Korean director Bong Joon Ho. This tall man with the spectacles and the messed-up hair and the fetching smile made people happy for him. You could tell, because each time his Korean-language film, Parasite, won another award, the audience leapt to its feet in enthusiastic applause. The film won for Best Director and Best Picture, among other Oscars. It was the first Best Picture award for a foreign language film in the history of the Academy Awards.
But its director stole the show with his grace and modest charm. Accepting the directing award, Bong said through his equally charming interpreter, “When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is, ‘The most personal is the most creative.’ He then attributed the saying to much-decorated US director Martin Scorcese, who seemed exuberantly happy for his Korean counterpart. And then Bong, with obvious honestly, quipped after his first win that he would enjoy a drink. In fact, Bong progressed from anticipating one celebratory drink to promising a full night of riotous imbibing. You had to love it. And to completely believe it.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, February 13, 2020, PAGE 9
MINNIS: GOVT WILL ONLY TAKE UP PLEDGES WHICH ARE IN OUR INTERESTS THE government will only pursue offers coming out of January’s Hurricane Dorian Pledging Conference that are in the best interests of the residents of the areas affected by the storm, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said on Tuesday. During his first national report for 2020, Dr Minnis stressed the government is examining what offers may be most beneficial to The Bahamas. “The offers we accept will be laid out for the Bahamian people to see,” he said. “It is essential that we promote a culture of transparency with disaster relief By FARRAH JOHNSON fjohnson@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of State for Disaster Preparedness Iram Lewis said his ministry plans to introduce building proposals in the upcoming months to “support the view of building for resiliency.” During his speech in the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Lewis said an assessment of the devastation Hurricane Dorian left on Abaco and Grand Bahama revealed that some of the damaged homes were in violation of the country’s building codes. “On several occasions I met with architects, engineers and contractors, in fact several persons from this specialised field comprised a delegation that travelled with me to view the damages on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama,” he said. “The results from the professional team’s cursory assessment was rather stunning as the majority of homes destroyed by the wind, revealed extensive breaches and lack of enforcement to building codes. Mr Lewis said that as the country moves forward, “such practices will no longer be “tolerated.”
assistance, especially because of the questionable and corrupt practices with hurricane funds as we have seen in the past.” On January 13, governments, NGOs, multilateral institutions, companies and individuals came together in a first-of-its-kind pledging conference in The Bahamas. The conference was attended by hundreds and open to the media. Approximately $1.5 billion in recovery financing, inkind services and some donations were pledged. “I must emphasise that this was not all cash and that these were offers each of which we will
carefully examine,” Dr Minnis said. “The pledges included initiatives in homebuilding and repair; educational assistance; renewable energy partnerships; relief aid; grants; direct assistance to storm victims; parks restoration; loans and financing. It was a mix of many types of possible assistance.” By far the largest pledge came from The P3 Group, a commercial real estate and boutique development and consulting firm, which pledged $975m in financing for various projects. Dee Brown, president of the company, has said the firm would provide the
funding upfront but expect repayment once projects are created. On Tuesday, Dr Minnis also provided an update to the nation on the reconstruction programme in Abaco and Grand Bahama, a little over five months since Dorian struck the country’s second and third most populated islands and economic centres. Dorian was the strongest hurricane to hit The Bahamas. Its gusts of 220 miles per hour, and surge of more than 20 feet, wiped out generations worth of infrastructure, and progress, throughout Abaco, its cays and Grand Bahama.
We must have resiliency in buildings, says Lewis MINISTER Iram Lewis “Industry practitioners are in support of convening thematic groups sessions to review the building codes with the aim of recommending, where necessary, new approaches to building in conventional areas, and introduce more stringent policies when building in coastal or areas prone to flooding,” he explained. “Mr Speaker, I wish to present this House with few examples and provide brief explanation on building proposals that my ministry intends to introduce in the
coming months to support the view of building for resiliency and invariably a better Bahamas.” Mr Lewis also made mention of a recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pledge Conference, where he referenced a presentation made by a local entrepreneur. “Mr Carlos Palacious... highlighted the comparison of two homes that were built in close proximity of each other and on the coast of one of the islands that incurred severe damages from Dorian’s strong winds and tidal surge,” he said. “In the aftermath of the storm, one house was literally destroyed and the other stood firm. “As an architect and subsequent to close examination of the two homes, I simply concluded that one home owner built his or her home with the mindset that unnatural high
tides must not be impeded, but allowed to flow freely, hence this individual built his/her home on stilts — the house remained intact after the passage of Dorian.” Still, Mr Lewis said the other homeowner did not consider the “force of the ocean when propelled by intense wind storm,” which caused their house –which was “built on a foundation erected a few feet above ground level”–to be destroyed by Dorian’s storm surge. During his presentation, Mr Lewis also gave house members examples as well as a brief explanation of the building proposals his ministry intends to introduce to support the idea of an “invariably better Bahamas.” “The role of the ministry is centered on the institution of policies that takes into consideration best practices and the application of
MAN ON BAIL FOR MURDER JAILED FOR OWNING GUN By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A MAN previously on bail for murder was sentenced to over two years in prison yesterday after being caught with a loaded gun in his home two days ago. Magistrate Samuel McKinney sentenced Andre Thompson to twoand-a-half years in prison for being caught with a loaded 9mm pistol at his Winton Meadows home on Tuesday. Prior to being sentenced yesterday, the 26-year-old was on $20,000 bail ahead of his 2021 trial over allegations he murdered Joel Russell on January 10 last year. Russell’s body was discovered with injuries by police shortly after 11pm on Majority Rule Day at Willow Tree Avenue after they received reports that a man had been shot. Justice Cheryl GrantThompson had just granted Thompson bail in December, mandating that he be outfitted with an electronic monitoring device and abide by an 8pm to 6am curfew. This came almost a full year after he was first charged with Russell’s murder in January 2019, meaning he spent an entire year on remand before being successful in his bail application. Yesterday, Thompson was one of three people, inclusive of his father and girlfriend, who were charged in connection with a gun and ammunition seizure on Tuesday.
However, the police prosecutor, Corporal Samantha Miah, withdrew the charges against the pair after Thompson admitted the offences. According to reports, sometime around 3.30am that day, a team of officers armed with a search warrant went to a home on Holly Road in the Winton Meadows area. Upon their arrival, they knocked on the front door. Thompson, his father, and girlfriend answered the door. The officers presented to search warrant to the trio, which they appeared to have read. Afterwards, the officers conducted a search of the residence in Thompson’s presence. While searching a western bedroom, which was occupied by Thompson, one of the officers discovered a silver and brown 9mm pistol, the serial number erased, that contained a black magazine with 10 live rounds of 9mm ammunition inside. The weapon was lying on a shoebox in the closet, the prosecutor said. Thompson was consequently arrested in reference to possession of a firearm and ammunition. While being arrested, he told the officers: “I ain’t gone lie officer. That’s mine. I feel like I cursed. I had it for my protection.” Thompson was subsequently transported to the police station for safe keeping and further investigations. Later that day, police interviewed him under caution at the Central Detective Unit (CDU). However, Thompson
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DENIES INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE principal of a Christian school has been remanded to prison after denying allegations he indecently assaulted a teenaged female student last month. Thomas Nottage, of Grace Christian School of Excellence, denied claims he interfered with the 13-yearold when charged before
It is estimated that Dorian cost The Bahamas $3.4 billion dollars in losses and damage. “The task of restoration ahead of us is awesome and wide scale. We have never before, suffered this scale of destruction in our history,” said Dr Minnis. “However, I have every confidence that the Bahamian people are up to the challenge. Bahamian labour and creativity built this chain of islands into the most dynamic tourism economy in the region. “What Dorian destroyed, we will build back better and more resilient.”
Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt earlier this week. Police claim the incident took place on Jan 29. Given his not guilty plea, a date of May 12 was set for Nottage’s trial. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until Monday, when the chief magistrate is expected entertain submissions on whether or not she has the jurisdiction to grant him bail.
answered “no comment” to every question that was asked by the investigator. Yesterday, Thompson’s attorney Devard Francis pleaded with the magistrate to be as lenient as possible in sentencing his client. Thompson, meanwhile, apologised for his actions in court, particularly to his girlfriend’s parents who were present. However, magistrate McKinney noted illegal firearms are a problem in this country, adding that in a majority of the serious crimes in the country,
a firearm is the weapon of choice. The magistrate said that notwithstanding his apology and Mr Francis’ plea in mitigation, it would have been “very likely” that he would have received a custodial sentence in any event. Magistrate McKinney subsequently sentenced Thompson to two-anda-half years on the gun charge, and one year on the ammunition charge, to run concurrently. Attorney Christina Galanos represented the elder Thompson.
new technology in building for resiliency and invariably a better Bahamas,” he insisted. “I should note that
revising building codes or policies to enhance building practices will only prove effective if there is enforcement.”
TEMPLE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 2020-2021 Temple Christian High School will hold its Entrance Examination on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the school on Shirley Street from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon for students wishing to enter grades 7, 8, 9 & 10. Application forms are available at the High School Office. The application fee is twenty-five dollars ($25). Application forms should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, February 14, 2020
For further information, please call telephone number: (242) 394-4481 (242) 394-4484
PAGE 10, Thursday, February 13, 2020
THE TRIBUNE
POPE REFUSES TO APPROVE ORDINATION OF MARRIED PRIESTS IN AMAZON VATICAN CITY Associated Press
POPE Francis yesterday refused to approve the ordination of married men or women as deacons to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has divided the Catholic Church and emboldened his conservative critics. In an eagerly awaited document, Francis didn’t refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider married priests or women deacons. Rather,
the pope urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and to send missionaries to a region where faithful Catholics in remote areas can go months or even years without Mass. The pope’s dodge disappointed liberals, who had hoped he would at least put both questions to further study. It outraged progressive Catholic women’s groups. And it relieved conservatives who had used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten their opposition to the pope, and saw his ducking of the issue as a victory.
Francis’ document, “Beloved Amazon,” is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples from the first Latin American pope. He has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazon’s land, its importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices against its peoples. Quoting poetry as frequently as past papal teachings, Francis addressed the document to all peoples of the world “to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours and to invite
them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery.” Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon: respecting the rights of the poor; celebrating their cultural riches; preserving its natural beauty and life; and showing the indigenous features of its Christian communities. Francis had convened bishops from the Amazon’s nine countries for a three-week synod in October to debate how the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to its people.
The Argentine Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are making gains in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where Mass can be regularly celebrated. According to Catholic doctrine, only a priest can consecrate the Eucharistic hosts distributed at Mass, which the faithful believe are the body of Christ. Given the priest shortage, some remote communities only see a priest and attend a Mass once every few months or years.
LAST BLACK CANDIDATE IN 2020 RACE DROPS OUT
SIBA STEALS THE SHOW AT WESTMINSTER NEW YORK Associated Press PRIMPED and poised, Siba the standard poodle owned the ring. Even with the crowd at Madison Square Garden chanting for a popular golden retriever, the statuesque Siba strutted off with best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. Adorned with black puffs and pompoms, the 3-year-old Siba was the absolute picture of what many see as the epitome of a show dog. Siba put on an entertaining performance in the nonsporting group juding on Monday night, doing the downward dog yoga pose before circling the ring. A day later, she was again at her best.
WASHINGTON Associated Press
SIBA, the standard poodle, competing for Best in Show during the 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York
Cruise ship is refused entry by four countries CAMBODIA Associated Press A CRUISE ship turned away by other Asian and Pacific governments due to virus fears anchored earlier today off Cambodia, which is checking the health of its 2,200 passengers and crew. The Westerdam was unwelcome elsewhere even though operator Holland America Line said no cases of the COVID-19 viral illness have been confirmed among the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members on board. The ship is anchored a kilometre from the main Sihanoukville port and a team of health officials will conduct health checks and determine the disembarkation process, Preah Sihanoukville Gov. Kouch Chamrouen said. Some 20
THE MS Westerdam anchored outside the main Sihanoukville port in Cambodia earlier today passengers have reported stomachaches or fever, Cambodian health officials said. The ship’s health staff considered them to be normal illnesses, but the ill passengers were being isolated from others, health
ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine said. She added that if tests show any passengers have the disease, they’ll be allowed to get treatment in the country. US Ambassador Patrick Murphy said he sent an embassy team to work with the ship’s representatives and Cambodian officials to help Americans disembark and transfer to their onward destinations. “We have also coordinated with foreign embassies of other nationalities,” he wrote on Twitter. Thailand refused to allow the Westerdam to dock this week after it had already been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Guam. The Westerdam’s cruise will end in Sihanoukville and passengers can take charter flights to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, to return home, Holland America said.
“All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support,” the statement on the cruise operator’s website said. The ship’s request to remain in Cambodia was approved through next Monday. The Westerdam began its cruise in Singapore last month and its last stop before it was refused further landings was in Hong Kong, where 50 cases of the viral disease have been confirmed. COVID-19 has sickened tens of thousands of people in China since December, and more than 170 cases have been confirmed on another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which made stops in Hong Kong and other ports before arriving in Japan last week.
FORMER Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity, ended his 2020 campaign yesterday after his late bid failed to catch fire or resonate with voters. “The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical win at the campaign’s back to go on to the next round of voting.” Patrick said in a statement. Patrick came in secondto-last in New Hampshire on Tuesday with just over 1,200 votes, after ignoring Iowa and focusing most of his time and resources on the first primary. His decision leaves just one other candidate of colour, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in the Democratic contest. It brings the number of Democrats in the presidential primary race to eight. Patrick launched his bid for president in mid-Novem-
ber but failed to register in polling and fundraising and never made it onto a presidential debate stage. He blamed in part what he characterised as a media narrative created around his late entry in the race. “I’ve met many people on the campaign trail who lament how they wished I had entered the race sooner,” he said. “We cannot keep mistaking media narratives for political outcomes. Political outcomes are entirely up to voters.” Stateside - Page 8
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Thursday, February 13, 2020, PAGE 11
MAN ‘SERIOUS’ AFTER STABBING A MAN is in hospital after he was stabbed while walking on West Bay Street yesterday morning. Police said that shortly after 2am, the victim was walking on West Bay Street near McDonald’s restaurant, when he was approached by two men who stabbed him about the body before running from the area. The injured man was transported to hospital and is listed in serious condition. New Providence police are also looking for the men behind two armed robberies that occurred on Tuesday. In the first incident, shortly after 3pm,
a man was sitting in a yard on Key West Street near Cordeaux Avenue, when he was approached by a man armed with a firearm, who robbed him of cash, before running away. In the second incident, according to a police report, shortly after 7pm, a man was walking on Baillou Hill Road in the vicinity of BPL, when he was approached by a male armed with a sharp instrument, who robbed him of a cell phone, before running away. No injuries were reported during these two incidents. Investigations are ongoing.
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