02202019 NEWS

WEDNESDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 82ºF LOW 72ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:116 No.40, FEBRUARY 20TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

TECH: TODAY THE FORCE REALLY CAN BE WITH YOU

BPL’s bills blitz in Family Islands $300 in arrears for 60 days and you’ll be cut off

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net HUNDREDS of Bahamas Power and Light customers in the Family Islands could be left in darkness for failure to adequately pay their bills, beginning on March 15.

This decision, The Tribune understands, stems from frustration at the corporation that many customers across several Family Islands do not pay their bills consistently.

Among these, according to sources, is a vast cross section of customers in the MICAL constituency who have not made any payments to BPL for over a year.

BPL chairman Donovan Moxey confirmed the disconnections will start in a little under a month to accounts 60 days in arrears and owing $300 or more.

The company has undertaken a full-scale media campaign to advise customers that mass disconnections SEE PAGE SIX

DARNELL Osborne, the former chairperson of Bahamas Power and Light, is officially suing the government over Works Minister Desmond Bannister’s role in her departure from the board last year and the “defamatory” comments he made about her in the press.

Alfred Sears filed lawsuits on behalf of Ms

Osborne and former BPL board directors Nicola Thompson and Roy Dean last week.

The Tribune revealed in December that the former attorney general sent a “letter before action” to Mr Bannister and the government around October, hoping to resolve the conflict and secure a settlement for his clients outside court.

His decision to now sue indicates negotiations with SEE PAGE SIX

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BRIAN Moree, a senior partner of McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, is widely expected to become the next Chief Justice of The Bahamas.

Mr Moree, QC, was admitted to the Bar of The Bahamas in 1979 and is one of the country’s foremost legal experts on financial services.

He has served as a stipendiary and circuit magistrate and as an acting Supreme Court justice.

He was formerly a member of the Judicial and Legal Services commission, is a former chairman of the SEE PAGE FIVE

‘BEATING CHARGE WILL BE PROBED’

OSBORNE PRESSES ON TO SUE OVER SACKING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MOREE’S MINNIS’ MAN FOR NEW CJ

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

PRETTY ON PARADE

THIS year’s contestants for Miss Teen Bahamas were introduced at the pageant’s 2019 launch event last Sunday. Don’t miss The Tribune’s Weekend section, out on Friday, for the best coverage.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

COMMISSIONER of Police Anthony Ferguson yesterday insisted allegations police tortured the father of a missing child will be fully investigated.

He addressed reports that the boy’s father, Shavar Bain Sr, was beaten in police custody as he defended his officer’s procedural handling of the investigation.

Commissioner Ferguson said: “Let me say: if somebody (makes) a claim, it has to be investigated and at SEE PAGE TWO

NOW ‘COMPUTER GLITCH’ STALLS OBAN

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

ONE year since the controversial deal with “missteps” was inked, officials are still struggling to set a date with Oban Energies to renegotiate the Heads of Agreement for its proposed $5.5bn oil refinery and storage terminal on Grand Bahama.

The labour minister yesterday pointed to a

DION FOULKES computer glitch for the delay in the government’s submission of proposed

amendments to the agreement. “We had a glitch with our computer,” Dion Foulkes, who co-chairs the Cabinet subcommittee spearheading the Oban review and renegotiations, told reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday.

“No, no, we have not submitted (the amendments), but we will do that soon,” he said. He later added: “(The amendments are)

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

ALICIA WALLACE

LESSONS FROM OUR COMMONWEALTH PARTNERS

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

WELLS PLANNING TO ‘RIGHT-SIZE’ HIS MINISTRY

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

TRANSPORT and Local Government Minister c has confirmed that plans to “right-size” his ministry are being looked at, with the action set to target a “poorly staffed” executive management layer.

Speaking to reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday, Mr Wells said his ministry was seeking to, among other things, ensure that it has sufficient essential staff throughout its offices.

The Bamboo Town MP said the phenomenon was shared by many government run agencies and departments, adding his ministry currently operates with a middle layer of senior managers

who often only oversee large complements of staff “at the lower end spectrum,” namely clerks and receptionists.

Mr Wells said: “When we are talking about right-sizing we are talking about putting in the requisite staff amount, a complement throughout, whether it is at the executive level, the middle manager level and then the support staff for that executive and middle manager level.”

When asked directly if the exercise would be carried out through promotions and terminations, Mr Wells said it was his intention to have the process carried out through an analysis of current work force of the Ministry of Transport and Local Government, and the general public service.

Of promotions, he said: “That is

week or the week before and the taking of the requisite offices this week.”

He furthered added on the point: “So we are seeking to ensure that that is a part of the overall programme of government, that we get these requisite departments, that we get them adequately staffed with the persons who are necessary to do the work we are requiring because we have a very aggressive agenda we would like to see in true form on behalf of the Bahamian people.”

On the potential for terminations and the issuance of voluntary separation packages, Mr Wells stated: “Not in the main; that is not going Established to be the 1903 large portion or the lion’s share of what is taking place.”

He continued: “Really, we

are looking throughout the government service to look for individuals who have the requisite skill sets in the middle management area and the senior management, to be able to bring them into the departments within the Ministry of Transport and Local Government so that we have a properly functioning department from top to bottom, again, so that we can get the kind of efficiencies and results that we believe are necessary for the Bahamian people.”

Beyond the departments of Transport and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and Local Government also currently oversees Road Traffic and Port departments, the Post Office and the Maritime Authority.

The Tribune Claims police tortured TUESDAY

A1MAIN RENWARD Wells yesterday

going to be a part of it. For some folk, you would have seen the Prime Minister started some of that, in that a number of persons would have been promoted last

i’m lovin’ it!

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

HIGH 82ºF LOW 72ºF

Biggest And Best!

father of missing child to be fully investigated VOLUME:116 No.39, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2019

from page one investigation we will be able to make our findings available. “All cases, once you make a report, the police will investigate.

Obviously…the investigation is not going to conclude when some people think it ought to conclude. We have to be thorough. Everybody has a due process (that) has to be taken. There’s not one set of laws for one and one for the other. It’s the same principle.”

Mr Ferguson spoke to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of an INTERPOL workshop.

No one has been charged in connection with the kidnapping of three-year-old Shavar Bain Jr; however, investigations are ongoing.

Shavar was taken while he rode a bicycle outside his South Beach Estates home shortly before 6pm Saturday. Police said a witness to the brazen kidnapping stated he saw the toddler taken off his bicycle by two women, who put him in their silver coloured car and sped away from the scene.

Shortly after 7am Sunday - roughly 13 hours later the child was dropped off outside a Sunrise Washhouse on Fox Hill and Joe Farrington roads. Shavar Jr had no visible injuries but was frightened following the ordeal, police said.

Regarding public concern about the matter, Commissioner Ferguson also said it is “difficult” to say whether such an incident will happen again. However, he was firm that police are “ready” to investigate any situation that arises.

WOMAN: A VISION FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

Shavar’s father: ‘Police beat me’

Seized toddler’s dad accuses cops of brutal attack

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune yesterday her HOW The Tribune covered the story yesterday.

Deputy Chief Reporter human rights were viosaid.

“Allcame I can “The police have lated an when krussell@tribunemedia.net officers to say is that arrest her 2am Sunday theatpolice is ready…whatactive investigation,” THE mother of seized and refused to leave her ever incident it is, the police he said.

“Nobody toddler Shavar Bain Jrhas last been bedroom to give her the investigate it. It’s difnight accused authorities with charged in connection privacy will of getting dressed. beating her boyfriend Whileficult this to wassay taking whether or not it.ofThe investigation is being during the time he was held place, she alleges Shavar else like that continued.” by police in the hours their Bain Srsomething had already been would happen.”

Regarding whether son was missing. in police custody for sevDwaynira anwas interview with The eral hoursIn and being police have anyThurssuspects ton alleges police tormented by brutal means Tribune on Monday, the yet, the commissioner said: “tortured” and abused both in an attempt to coerce a toddler’s mother, Dwaynira “Not as yet.

The father, investigaher and the boy’s confession.

Shavar Bain— Sr, it’s ultimately accused authoriRoyalThurston, Bahamas Police tion is still very early, accusing them of kidnap- Force ties Superintendent of beating the child’s it’s over the weekend, today ping their own child. during is Ms Tuesday. investi- father ThurstonSome told The SEE PAGE THREE the time he gations are closed quickly, was held by police in the some take some time and hours their son was missing.

“They beat him (and) we believe in doing things this is everything that he thoroughly.”

Commissioner Fer- told me,” Ms Thurston said. guson was also asked to “He said they put bag on his he bite through address public Askedhead for aand response,

By RASHAD ROLLE concerns communicaTribune Staff Reporter the first bag because he over whether this was Erica an Wells, tions director in the Office rrolle@tribunemedia.net couldn’t breathe.

They put isolated incident or if there of the Prime Minister, said one over his head may be future incidents aof personanother has been identified FORMER Prime Minhe say they and agreed upon for was the suffocating kidnapping. ister Hubert Ingraham is role.

“An him,announcement chocking him. Say one “There’s no in “disappointed and way diswill come shortly,” she said. tressed” at Primewhether Minister CDU determining or “The big Acting Chief officer Justice was sitting Dr Hubert Minnis’ lengthy on his back.

They had him Vera Watkins will continue not something else would delay in filling the post an appointment handcuffed to the ground. happen of that nature,” toheact until of Chief Justice.

INGRAHAM CONDEMNS CHIEF JUSTICE DELAY

“I am disappointed and distressed that the vacancy has not been filled and so should the community as it should have been filled a long time ago,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

is made but we’ve had discussions with her already.”

Denise Lewis-Johnson, vice president of the Bar Association and Wayne Munroe, member of the Bar SEE PAGE FIVE

“He said he was stomping him in his chest and it started he say because the first inspector hit him in his face… burst his head off,” she continued. “Then the officer said put him in the back then they started to beat him.”

Speaking about her experience, Ms Thurston said she was not physically harmed by police, but felt violated and degraded having to dress herself in the presence of three male officers who refused to afford her the courtesy of changing from her nightwear to be taken to the South Beach Police station for a second time.

The police’s handling of the kidnapping incident was also called into question, as media inquires about the matter went unanswered for hours, all while the

ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY THWARTED

BY ALERT NEIGHBOURS

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

BREWERY AXES 73 JOBS IN ‘BEER WAR’

NEIGHBOURS thwarted an attempted armed robbery on Monday morning.

While at home on Fire Trail Road, a woman was approached by an armed man who demanded cash

By NATARIO MCKENZIE sometime around 9am.

Tribune According Business Reporter to police, nhartnell@tribunemedia.net neighbours heard the womCOMMONWEALTH an’s screams and came to Brewery, responsible apprehendfor her assistance, the entire Kalik beer proding the man until uct line, yesterday said a officers tougharrived. economy and competitive The pressures man is from expected to cheaper rival beers had be formally charged before forced it to terminate 73 a Magistrate later staff within its 700 Wines & this Spiritsweek, retail unit. according to police, The brewer, which is who said there were no which is 25 percent owned injuries.shareholders,

by Bahamian said it had made are redundant Police also investigat53 positions on New Proviing an armed robbery in dence and 20 on Grand front a store on Blue Hill Bahama as it of adjusts its business Road to prevailing north market early yesterday conditions that include morning. reduced consumer spending child’s photograph went According reports, a and fierce competition to from viral on social media. man wasBrewery standing its Bahamian & in front Beverage Company rival. estabThis sparked questions of the business about the functionality FULL lishment STORY - SEEwhen BUSINESS he was of the Mandatory Action approached by an armed Rescuing Children Opera- man shortly after 2:48am. tion (MARCO) Alert, The armed man robbed which was re-launched last him of cash and a chain July and raised concerns before escaping in a grey about the handling of coloured four-door vehicle, missing children’s reports. police said.

When asked why police • IN Grand Bahama, did not use this system for police found and removed this matter, Commissioner two firearms from an abanFerguson replied: “I cannot doned building in the Lewis say that it wasn’t used. All

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Yard area on Monday. ASP Tribune Staff Reporter of the procedures as it perTerecita Pinder reported madderley@tribunemedia.net tains to that was followed, that officers of the Drug DESPITE the heavilyas far as I’m aware.”

Enforcement Unit, acting publicised failings of the However, National Security on information, went to doomed Fyre Festival, Minister Marvin Dames on a building rapper Jeffrey “Jawhere Rule”they Atkins has plans toacreate Sunday said the system was discovered black 9mm another music festival. in testing phase. Regarding pistol with one magazine The American rapper this discrepancy, Commisand a black and silver .38 was co-founder of the Fyre Festival of 2017, heldsaid in no arrest sioner Ferguson said, “Well revolver. She Exuma. Billed as a luxury you know I don’t answer was made in the matter and musical event, the event for people. As the Commisinto all matwas investigations a certified disaster – theters fallout which sioner, I should know.” are from continuing.

FYRE FEST - LET’S DO IT AGAIN (REALLY?)

25 AND FACING MURDER

25-YEAR-OLD Keno McKenzie was one of four men who were in court facing murder charges yesterday. Full story - Page 2 Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

garnered significant media attention and two separate documentaries released on the Netflix and Hulu streaming platforms last month.

SEE PAGE 11

WE DID TAKE SUSPECT - BUT IT’S NOT KIDNAP

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Immigration yesterday rejected the characterisation of its arrest of a suspected migrant as a “kidnapping” — maintaining instead that the man in question was “cautioned and arrested” by officers.

The department released a statement yesterday clarifying the matter following

A FRAME from the video. an outcry from an activist group over a viral video of the incident, which depicts

the suspected migrant being placed in the trunk of an SUV by a group of Immigration officers.

When contacted on Sunday for comment, Immigration Minister Brent Symonette told The Tribune he was awaiting a report on the authenticity of the video. Mr Symonette said once authenticity is confirmed, all warranted disciplinary action will be carried out.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

FACE-TO-FACE

A FAMILY BONDED IN HISTORYSEE PAGE EIGHT

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PAGE 3

MINISTER BLAMES COMPUTER GLITCH FOR OBAN DELAY from page one

LABOUR Minister Dion Foulkes talking to the media yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Foulkes concern over Inagua industrial issue

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net LABOUR Minister Dion Foulkes yesterday expressed concerns over ongoing industrial issues at Morton Salt, telling reporters that operations at the salt plant remains critical to employment on Inagua.

“We are very concerned about the situation at Inagua,” he said.

“As you know, there have been several consultation meetings here in New Providence at the Department of Labour. We have settled all the articles in the new industrial agreements except the economic issues related to the increase in salary and I propose increase for their health insurance.”

Mr Foulkes encouraged both sides to operate with the bigger picture in mind, noting the historical and financial role the company plays on that island.

“I would like to

encourage both sides at Inagua, Inagua is dependent on the operation at Morton Salt. It is a one company town. It has a deep historical root in Mathew Town and I want to encourage both sides.

“We cannot force a settlement in any labour dispute. What we can do as a government and from the Ministry of Labour’s point of view and the Department Labour is to encourage both sides to sit down and talk and to give a little bit; both sides, so that we can settle it.

“What we don’t want is any disruption in terms of the operation of the plant there, that is not good for the workers or owners of Morton Salt. As a government and the Minister of Labour, I encourage them for both sides to reach a settlement,” he said.

“I know that’s, to the workers at Inagua, that is something that they are trying to do. I know that management is trying to

do it, but there is stand-off.

That is all I can say on that issue at this time.”

In a statement last month, Morton said it had been meeting with union representatives for almost a year in an effort to reach a new industrial agreement.

It added that its latest offer served both operational and employee needs in order to preserve good jobs.

“We’ve also worked together with a conciliator to help drive toward resolution. Unfortunately, the parties have not yet reached an agreement,” Morton Salt said. “At Morton Bahamas, we’re committed to building productive working relationships with our employees and partners.

We’ve put forth an offer that is fair and serves both operational and employee needs in order to preserve good jobs in Inagua.”

“The Morton Bahamas offer, including its offers from the past week, provided for wage increases

in each year of the proposed agreement as well as updates to the company’s healthcare benefits. In addition, we’re offering a larger production incentive that represents a substantial increase compared with the previous bonus structure when the site reaches agreed upon production targets,” In response, Jennifer Brown, the Bahamas Industrial, Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU) president, recently expressed disappointment with the company’s latest offer, which she described as no improvement over the previous submission.

She added that the union, which represents around 100 line staff, was being pushed to take strike action.

Ms Brown then recently alleged that workers at Morton Bahamas were being “discriminated against, with wages at other plants highly exceeding that of Inagua employees.”

POLICE LAUNCH JOINT WORKSHOP WITH INTERPOL

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

POLICE yesterday launched a joint workshop with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) targeting the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity involving nuclear or radiological material.

The opening ceremony for the three-day workshop was held at the British Colonial Hilton, featuring international representatives and those from a wide array of Bahamian agencies, ranging from law enforcement to the Airport Authority and Ministry of Health.

During his remarks, John Griffin of Global Affairs Canada underscored the importance of ensuring that “the law enforcement community is sufficiently trained and equipped to deal with a…nuclear security incident”.

He noted this is important both for safety reasons, but also “for the purpose of retrieving and examining evidence from a radiological crime scene, in a manner consistent with the requirements of (local) legal processes”.

Consequently, Mr

Griffin highlighted the need for all stakeholder agencies to collaborate and communicate “when responding to a nuclear security incident”.

When asked what will be tackled in this workshop, INTERPOL’s Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Unit Coordinator John Buchanan told reporters: “We will not tackle — the answers lie with the countries themselves, who are well aware of their (criminal) legislation and the court processes.

“What we are looking to do is…for them to explore and to discuss that legislation, those court processes, and ensure that they are fit for the purpose should a terrorist incident occur,” he continued.

“It’s all law enforcement and multiagency partners, because should an incident occur, it’s not something that law enforcement could deal with on their own.

“It involves multiagency partners — it involves the health service, it involves the ambulance service, it involves the fire service, it involves the nuclear regulators. So that there are a wide variety of different agencies who can benefit from this training.”

ANTHONY FERGUSON Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson also delivered remarks at yesterday’s ceremony.

He noted The Bahamas’ strategic geographic position means there are those who view the country “as an ideal trans-shipment point through which radiological nuclear materials could be moved from one geographical location to the other”.

“There are also organised criminal organizations who spare no effort in exploring routes that they deem deficient in human or technical resources,” he continued.

Commissioner Ferguson added it is thus important that the region be equipped with the tools to “detect, disrupt, interdict and prosecute” persons who illegally deal with radiological nuclear materials, technology, or weapons.

“Updated and

meaningful legislation must be enacted,” he said, adding that the penalties for any breaches must be “of such consequence to effectively deter would-be offenders”.

However, he went on to cite the “significant strides” the Bahamas has made to enact legation to combat terrorism — specifically the Anti-terrorism Act, Chapter 107.

The police commissioner noted the 2014 Amendment allows a “freezing order” of funds and assets of an individual who is charged or about to be charged with committing an offence under the Act “to be increased from eighteen months to two years”.

Commissioner Ferguson also cited the 2014 Amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act Chapter 93, which “allows for the seizure of cash and personal property of individuals or entities derived from criminal conduct”.

Speaking to reporters following the ceremony, the commissioner added: “The Bahamas exists on the planet and so anything is likely to happen.

“The most important thing is to be ready and be able to respond to anything that happens.”

comprehensive, it is about 50-pages in total and we had a glitch with our computer, we are trying to get that sorted out.”

This comes after Mr Foulkes told media two weeks ago that proposed amendments were going to be sent out that day.

In an article published

by The Nassau Guardian on February 8, Mr Foulkes reportedly said: “Between today and tomorrow, we hope to have those presented to the new leadership of Oban so that, before we meet, they will have notice of what the government wants.”

The renegotiation team has been working to pindown a date to commence talks with Oban principals for much of the last two months.

In December, Alexander Grikitis, president and managing director of operations at Oban Energies, confirmed that an EIA had been completed. He added Oban would be meeting with the government on January 7.

However, that meeting never took place, and all attempts to reschedule have been unsuccessful.

Addressing the issue yesterday, Mr Foulkes said: “The meeting has not taken place. We have about eight persons from our side that comprise the negotiation team.”

Mr Foulkes added: “On the OBAN side, there are about seven or eight also. The itinerary for all of us, we trying to work that out. As soon as we can, I would get back to you.”

“But I should have an announcement to make on Oban very soon. But I do

not want to give a specific time, because I know all of you would be calling me when that time expires,” he said.

This comes as Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson yesterday confirmed that investigation into how a Bahamas Environment Science Technology Commission file on the energies company would be made sometime last year.

Mr Ferguson yesterday said once the investigation is concluded, his office will make its findings public.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an Interpol Workshop being held at the Hilton.

“Again, let me … I think sometimes, what people have to know (is that) some investigations (take) a long time, some take a short time, and so we have to be thorough in whatever we are doing,” he said. “…As soon as we reach a conclusion, the outcome will be made (public).”

The Oban deal was by the government on February 19 last year and has been dogged by controversy.

Environmental organisations that took issue with the lack of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) given the project’s risk factors. There were also concerns about the background and qualifications of some Oban representatives.

The fallout prompted an admission from Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last March that there were missteps in the government process.

“While our heart was in the right place, these missteps should not have happened. We must, we can and we will do better,” Dr Minnis said.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

A light at the end of the tunnel FOR too long, we have been speaking of the problems facing The Bahamas because of the economy – but a ray of sunlight may have just pierced the gloom.

Tourism figures are on the rise. Up, up and up they go – with nearly half a million more visitors arriving in The Bahamas last year as opposed to 2017.

That’s a rise of nearly eight percent in just a single year – and the figures for air alone are even more remarkable, with a rise of 16.7 percent. For New Providence alone, that figure is up by almost a fifth at 19.2 percent. It’s not just great news year on year – these are the best tourism figures in a decade.

It’s fantastic for the hotel industry particularly – and the long-voiced fears that Baha Mar might not lead to an overall rise but simply take visitors from other resorts seem to have been proven false.

There are problem areas of course – Bimini suffered a ten percent drop in air traffic in the year and Cat Cay and Half Moon Cay were both down overall and those areas need close examination – but there is a lot to be glad about, with average spending up too. Eleuthera, in particular, saw some astonishing results, with an 86 percent rise in arrivals by air after an increase in airlift to the island, while Carnival and Princess Cruises both added more stops to the island for their ships too.

More people arriving and more money being spent is positive for the country – and we hope this is just the start.

There are areas to improve of course – on more than one occasion, officials including Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar have called for people to be more creative in the ways they entice tourists off their ships or out of the hotels.

Speaking earlier this month after the announcement of plans for a new mega-port in Grand Bahama – which it is hoped will more than double the number of cruise visitors to the island – he urged people to rise to the challenge.

“We have to come up with creative ideas to create businesses that will be able to feed off this one million plus visitors that will come through that port,” he said. The same can be said for back in New Providence too – and perhaps that is one area where the government can be a little more active in celebrating the businesses that are capitalising on such opportunities.

Last year, a $50,000 fund was made available for entrepreneurs to help make the most of ideas with potential at a workshop – let’s take that one step further and showcase that The Bahamas Has Talent, with a publicised contest, a financial incentive for ideas and a prize to the business that proves a winner.

Let the success of one good idea spark a dozen more in the community around.

Let’s hear too about the businesses that sprang from that workshop last year – let’s celebrate our success stories.

With all this silver lining, we must not lose sight that a cloud remains, but it’s one we all know about and the first steps are being taken to chase it away.

Sea arrivals to Nassau and Paradise Island were down for the year, by 1.5 percent - that’s not much, but significant when compared to the success elsewhere.

We know the port needs a fresh vision, and the downtown area needs a rejuvenation. Big decisions await the government in this regard – and we hope that all sides can pull together to make sure this area does not fall behind as we ride this wave of resurgence in the tourism market.

Hard to contain waste EDITOR, The Tribune THE City dump - or as we politely call it now - the Environment Disposal Site.

The hype from the final signing months, seemingly of negotiation had to be negotiating down from the original $140 million to $45 million over 15 years one asks, begs accuracy. When

was there a National emergency declared at the dump - ever Mr Minister?

The concern is, will this Agreement decrease the level of retained waste?

New Providence is 21x7… there are very few spaces left where viable alternative waste dump could be located.

Minister - successive

governments are to blame for locating government housing on the perimeter of the dump. The dump was there first, so why wasmore and more housing all approved by successive cabinets?

W THOMPSON Nassau February 16, 2019

And pigs might fly ...

EDITOR, The Tribune THE new tourism promotion advertisement and Lenny Kravitz … Madam DG be careful when stating statistics, as to the good gentleman’s following … accuracy shows professionalism.

The short flash of the Exuma swimming pigs. If you are not attentive really you will miss them. I doubt the Chinese potential visitor, because of the Year of the Pig will take any significance from that. Minister, you did not address the incidents of the pigs biting visitors, not one incident

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net but many. If the pigs are promoted by government and government knows of these biting incidents, without a notice of disclaiming “all and any liabilities”, the government could become liable…add the disclaimer, Minister.

The recently received 737-700 jet ... interesting 15 years old becomes NEW! Descriptive writing latitude of the media and spoken by

the politicians. In jet-lives not that old!

I have the little red FNM manifesto in front of me.

Energy they promise will create a renewable energy economy, by supporting and promoting a National Solarization programme.

LNG has nothing to do with that and as a recent observant letter writer said - Prime Minister the cost of sun has not gone up! We need this now, not on the eve of 2022, Election time now, Sir. D HUTCHINSON Nassau February 17, 2019

Our shared concerns EDITOR, The Tribune

I WATCH the BBC, and Al Jazeera networks daily, to get a good understanding of global events, and trends.

With all of the various cultures nation to nation, it became clear to me while watching, like The Bahamas these other nations in Europe, Africa and other places, their concerns are very similar to the concerns of the Bahamian people.

A list of the concerns that other nations share with The Bahamas are: 1. People do not trust their government.

2. People are concerned about the high cost of living.

3. People are concerned about high taxes on the poor.

4. People are concerned about the lack of affordable health care for the poor.

5. Immigration concerns

in many nations is front and centre.

6. Most nations are facing fiscal challenges.

Locally I ask the questions, is there a way out of this, do we have the will as a people, and will thirty years from now our children, and grandchildren say about us. Well done?

GENE GIBSON Nassau February 18, 2019

Some people are just too gullible EDITOR, The Tribune THE gullibility of some people in positions of influence can be nauseating at times.

The latest victim to fall under the wheels of the self-delusion honey wagon is the sententious gumshoe masquerading as a spinmeister on television’s Eyewitness News – the rambunctious Clint Watson.

The newest thing to take up residence in his craw is a story so outlandish that even the blathering Mr Watson should have passed on it.

Journalists know instinctively to avoid sensationalism. But editorial bias never stopped him before and was dispensed with when recently he dove into the pit of yellow journalism head first.

The latest juicy bit of sip-sip making the rounds on social media allegedly concerns the estate of a man who died before settling an inheritance so large as to cause the richest man in the world, American Jeff Bezos to blush.

Over 20 years ago, Derek Rolle, a man of less than modest means, claimed to have been gifted with billions of dollars by an extremely generous American couple.

This apparently sprouted a deep sense of philanthropic

responsibility in the late Mr Rolle. To show his gratitude he allegedly offered to pay the bills of anyone who asks – provided they pay him a modest fee of $60 for the privilege of having him do them a favour.

The police were amongst those who smelled a rat and Mr Rolle was invited to assist the fraud squad with their investigations.

That was supposed to have been the end of his 15 minutes of infamy.

But thanks to social media his 15 minutes are being stretched.

And not has only the claim of the size of his inheritance grown by eye-popping ratios but it is now claimed to be worth more than the combined GDP of Kuwait and Kenya.

This should have produced nothing more than peals of laughter. But instead it continues to produce hot air. It was even addressed in parliament with the Minister of Finance denying a family claim that the government was complicit with banks, the court and lawyers to deny them their inherited wealth.

In what could only be described as a clutch for another 15 minutes of his own infamy, Centreville MP Reece Chipman dived headfirst onto the conspiracy honey wagon.

He wanted Parliament to

appoint a select committee to look under every rock, nook and cranny in search of the missing inheritance. Naturally, the obstinate Mr Chipman didn’t back down and apologise when the Minister of Finance labeled the whole thing a hoax and threatened to sue to thy kingdom come anyone who slanders the good name of Mr Chipman’s own government.

That should have ended the matter, but the occasion was simply too sensational for the bumptious, syntax challenged Mr Watson to ignore.

He saddled up on his highhorse, dousing the Rolle family conspiracy flames with the kerosene of innuendo, hype and misinformation.

In his own mind, Mr Watson perceives himself to be a modern-day devil’s advocate, asking penetrating questions that our inquiring minds want answers to.

He has apparently studied the moves of American shock-jock news presenters with soundtrack and spinning graphics to boot. His opening salvo has him looking provocatively into camera one to drop his first salacious charge. He then pivots to gaze into camera two to drop his second, unsubstantiated stick of sensational dynamite.

How the matter of Mr Derek Rolle rose to the level of national news, Mr Watson never bothered to explain. But he never does.

Whether debating the death penalty specifically or the justice system in general he never misses an opportunity to preach or pontificate on complex matters that often cannot be reduced to a soundbite.

Mr Watson laid spurious documents in front of his audience which should have been rejected out of hand by the lawyer Romona Farquharson whom he invited on the show as if to give a whiff of legal authenticity.

Counsellor Farquharson started out rubber-stamping his outlandish claims then quickly realised that her own legal reputation was on trial so she back-pedalled and tried to inject judicious temperament to the conclusions Mr Watson was drawing.

There was the claim of a cheque for $4 million from an account supposedly controlled by Rolle. He presented no evidence that the cheque was successfully negotiated. Then there was the anonymous caller who said he saw on a bank teller’s screen that $25 million had been deposited to his account but the next day it vanished.

There were letters to banks and

to the Central Bank and polite replies that confirmed or denied nothing. There was even a letter from a private attorney who is now a cabinet minister.

Mr Watson wondered aloud why that Minister never responded directly to the issue on the floor of parliament.

Mr Watson should acquaint himself with some very old legal concepts. Such as attorney-client privilege which prevented the Minister from speaking out. Or the difference between circumstantial evidence (which he seems to be full of), and direct evidence which someone gives under penalty of perjury.

He tried and failed spectacularly to present a prima facie case that someone was holding on to a pot of money so large that it would represent 25% of all the money in all of the banks of the Bahamas, including the offshore ones that hold the bulk of it.

Mr Watson could do well to learn that just because a juicy tidbit goes viral on social media, doesn’t make it true or even newsworthy.

Besides, $70 billion is almost as big as his ego.

THE GRADUATE Nassau February 19, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PAGE 5

PROFESSOR BETHEL LOOKS TO BE REINSTATED AT UNIVERSITY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

IN a letter last month to lawyers for the University of The Bahamas, Wayne Munroe demanded Associate Professor Felix Bethel be reinstated.

Mr Bethel was terminated in January after 45 years on the staff.

Recounting the events that led to the termination, Mr Munroe wrote that UB president Dr Rodney Smith sent Mr Bethel a withdrawal letter on September 19, 2018 which advised that the offer of employment to Mr Bethel for the upcoming academic period was withdrawn and that he would be compensated for his services during the “uncontracted period.”

The withdrawal letter said should Mr Bethel wish to continue employment for the academic

from page one

Public Service Commission and is a former director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board.

While the Office of the Prime Minister has kept secret the identity of the prime minister’s choice for chief justice, a number of senior lawyers and political officials quizzed on the matter yesterday identified Mr Moree as the anticipated appointee.

A call to Mr Moree’s firm was not returned up to press time, and a representative for the OPM declined to comment on the matter.

Some senior lawyers believed Acting Chief Justice Vera Watkins would be confirmed in the post.

Although she has reached the retirement age of 65 and has had her tenure extended in accordance with the constitution, some lawyers said her appointment to the substantial Chief Justice role would likely be unconstitutional.

year, he needed to submit a letter requesting consideration of this.

Mr Bethel’s former lawyer, Christina Galanos, subsequently sent the UB president a letter asserting the “withdrawal of the offer is of no effect and your letter’s intention to compensate Mr Bethel without more is unlawful.”

Ms Galanos presented Dr Smith with two options: permit Mr Bethel to finish the academic year pursuant to his contract or “compensate (him) the entire amount owed to him under the contract for the entire academic year.”

“Should you choose to go this (latter) route,” she said, “Mr Bethel is also seeking to be paid his pension and his gratuity in full.”

Two months later in a December 14, 2018 letter, the “university purported to opt to exercise the second option as mentioned,” according to Mr Munroe’s letter.

“Although the university purported to exercise option two as outlined in this letter, Mr Bethel was given a schedule of lectures for the courses Political Science 313-01 and Political Science 113-03 and the mentioned courses were offered to its students during registration for the Spring 01/2019 semester, with Mr Felix Bethel listed as the lecturer,” the letter said, adding Mr Bethel taught three classes in January.

On January 12, 2019 Mr Bethel was approached by two university security officers and was denied entry into the Michael Eldon building and asked to leave campus. Then on January 14 he was approached by seven security guards and once again prohibited from entering the building.

He received his termination

THE Court of Appeal is currently mulling over whether to reinstate Ministry of Works Registrar Omar Archer’s appeal of his conviction for threatening a former assistant commissioner of police in a social media post some four years ago.

The appellate tribunal of Justices Jon Isaacs, Roy Jones and acting Justice Sir Michael Barnett reserved their decision concerning Mr Archer’s threats of harm conviction for what he said about former senior ACP Leon Bethel on his Facebook page in 2015.

Mr Archer had posted on his page that he remembered being poked by the senior officer and his colleagues 10 years earlier while studying at the University of the West Indies and that he would “pull” the senior policeman’s file.

At the time, Mr Archer also said the senior officer should adjust the surveillance cameras at his home in a better angle.

On April 11, 2017, after having spent 24 days in police custody in relation to that matter and another case, Mr Archer was convicted and sentenced to time served for the offence of threats of harm.

Mr Archer appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, having filed a notice of appeal on April 26, 2017.

After doing so, Mr Archer’s legal representatives, Callenders & Co., received a notice from the Supreme Court that his appeal was set down for May 8, 2017.

However, an affidavit by Callenders & Co. attorney Martin Lundy stated that there was a huge mix-up with the record of appeal— the wrong record was sent, and on May 3, 2017, Callenders & Co. received a call from the Supreme Court registry which gave them a new date for the hearing as May 16, 2017.

under the 2018/2019 employment contract and would therefore be entitled to compensation for this unused vacation,” his letter said.

In addition, Mr Bethel’s lawyers said because their client was listed as a professor for the spring semester and was directed by his superiors to teach classes, this indicates he was employed for the semester.

“Consequently Mr Bethel was unfairly terminated by the university,” he wrote. “The ‘mistake’ or ‘error’ that you refer to in your correspondence does not vitiate the actions and representation of employment made to Mr Bethel.”

Mr Munroe’s firm gave lawyers for the university seven days to respond to his letter. He told The Tribune on Monday that at the request of the university’s lawyers, that period was extended to February 15.

Moree is Minnis’ choice for new Chief Justice At least three sources said Mr Moree may not enter office until June, spending the intervening time addressing internal matters at his firm and winding up affairs.

Though his expected appointment is likely to be welcomed by many, it is not without some critics in the political and legal world, according to several sources.

On Monday, Denise Lewis-Johnson, vice-president of the Bahamas Bar Association and Wayne Munroe, Bar council member, said the council is satisfied with Dr Minnis’ choice for Chief Justice; neither revealed the identity of the person to The Tribune.

“We could find no great objection to the choice,” Mr Munroe said.

BRIAN Moree is expected to become the next Chief Justice.

COURT OF APPEAL TO DELIBERATE OVER ARCHER CONVICTION APPEAL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

letter on January 15, his lawyers said. The termination letter indicated Mr Bethel, pictured below, would not be allowed to remove his personal effects from his office at the university.

Mr Munroe said the payout of Mr Bethel’s employment contract based on the termination letter “does not purport to include any payment in lieu of notice.”

He said the breakdown of the payout to Mr Bethel did not reference one month’s notice pay, severance pay and/or vacation pay. “Consequently,” he said, “the university is in breach of Mr Bethel’s employment contract and of s.29 of the Employment Act.” “We are further instructed that to date our client has not taken any vacation afforded to him

That date was not convenient for counsel, so a new date was agreed: June 16, 2017. However, on May 9, 2017, Callenders & Co. received a record of appeal from the Supreme Court that contained a notice of hearing which showed that the date for Mr Archer’s appeal was still listed as May 16, 2017.

Mr Lundy, who had carriage of the case, was out of office until May 19, 2017, and was not aware that the appeal was moved back to May 16, 2017 until he subsequently got a call from the Registry advising that Mr Archer’s appeal had been “struck out for want of prosecution”.

According to court documents, the matter was struck out for want of prosecution because Mr Archer and/or his attorneys did not show up on the date the matter was set to be heard.

As a result of the dismissal, Mr Archer’s legal representatives filed a summons to reinstate the appeal. That matter was heard by the Chief Justice on June 12, 2017, who stated that the Court was functus officio (of no further official authority or legal effect) after striking the appeal out for want of prosecution, and thus had no jurisdiction/power to reinstate the appeal.

Mr Archer’s attorney Fred Smith, QC subsequently appealed the former chief justice’s decision, questioning whether a Supreme Court judge has the power to reinstate an appeal that was dismissed for want of prosecution before a final order had been made in relation to same, and whether Mr Archer’s right to a fair hearing as provided under Article 20 of the Constitution was breached.

Furthermore, Mr Smith asserted that there was no evidence before the Court at that time to suggest that Mr Archer’s and Mr Lundy’s absence was

“intentional” or “contumelious”, as there was a misunderstanding between Mr Lundy and the Registry about the dates for the hearing.

But in any event, Mr Smith asserted that Mr Archer’s and Mr Lundy’s appearance would not have mattered because the appeal would not have been able to proceed and be heard because Mr Archer’s attorneys did not have the full record of appeal from the Magistrate’s Court at the time.

Furthermore, Mr Smith noted that given the size of the Bahamas’ legal community, it is common practice for attorneys to contact their colleagues if the issue of tardiness and/or absence arises in a matter, something he submitted is particularly the norm with his legal team given their law firm’s close proximity to the Supreme Court.

However, Mr Smith asserted that both the former chief justice and Crown counsel strayed from the usual practice to reach out to Mr Archer’s attorneys to inquire about their absences.

In the circumstances, Mr Smith submitted that it was “more than just and practicable” that the Supreme Court should have reinstated Mr Archer’s appeal.

He further charged that it would be a “dark day” that the Supreme Court had no residual power to revisit something it “obviously” should revisit.

Sir Michael seemed to agree with that line of thinking, as he questioned how the chief justice’s decision would hold up against a situation where Mr Archer was involved in a traffic accident on the way to court, could not leave the scene as a result, called the police who in turn took their “sweet time” in arriving, and subsequently, for whatever reason, could not touch base with the Court to inform them of what happened.

The unprecedented delays in filling the Chief Justice post has drawn commentary in the last year from Justice Watkins, several Queen’s Counsel and former Attorney Generals. On Monday, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham told The Tribune he was “disappointed and distressed” by the delay and said the wider Bahamian community should be as well.

According to Supreme Court records, it has on average taken mere days for the transition from one office holder to another to take place. Historically, a Chief Justice announces their intention to leave office weeks in advance so that by the time that official departs, a swearing-in ceremony

would take place the next day or week for his/her successor.

However, the gap between Sir Hartman Longley’s departure from office in 2017 and Justice Stephen Isaacs’ promotion to the role last August is the largest gap in at least the last 60 years, according to Supreme Court records.

Already the gap in having someone succeed Justice Isaacs is nearly the second largest in that time, though the circumstances are without precedent because Justice Isaacs is the first in the modern era to die while in office.

By the end of this month, it will be six months before Justice Isaacs has been replaced.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BPL’S BILLS BLITZ IN FAMILY ISLANDS from page one

are coming. Some of the constituencies to be targeted include Exuma and Ragged Island and MICAL. “We don’t want to use the term mass disconnection exercise,” Mr Moxey said. “Where we are right now is this: as BPL from a policy standpoint everybody has been informed that any account that’s 60 days or more past due with a balance of $300 or more is subject to disconnection.

“Now one of the issues that we

face as BPL is sometimes we have situations where customers have been allowed to continue on for months and months and months without making payment. That’s detrimental to BPL as well as to the customer.

“And so what we are trying to do is bring some structure around our policy as it relates to payment of bills and as it relates to disconnection exercises. So what you would have seen is information that’s gone out to the public that (says) listen if you have a balance that is more than $300 and if you are 60 days or more in arrears

as per our policy that you are now a candidate for possible disconnection.

“And so we just want customers to be aware of that.”

Mr Moxey said BPL is looking to ensure the public understands what BPL’s policy is so that everyone does the best they can to adhere to that policy.

“Like I indicated earlier we are also working on options for our customers to be able to better pay their bills. So we want to have a really good comprehensive strategy around helping our customers pay their bills.”

About two months ago, BPL

launched a holiday reconnection programme where it relaxed the disconnection policy for the holidays.

Customers whose electricity supply was disconnected could have power in time for Christmas if they paid 25 percent of their past due balance.

Regarding this programme, Mr Moxey said the board made a decision not to make public how many customers took advantage of the relaxation plan.

“As a board we decided that we didn’t want to make that particular information known at the time

$

because one of the other things that we are doing now.

“We are embarking on a number of programmes to help our customers pay their bills.

So what we wanted to do is put together a much more comprehensive list of programmes and then once we have those in place we can look at the statistics of how many customers took advantage of a wide range of programmes.”

Mr Moxey said there was a board meeting scheduled for tomorrow when some options will be discussed to better assist customers.

No electricity problems this summer, predicts Moxey

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussel l@ tri bunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power and Light chairman Donovan Moxey says there should be no issues in the coming summer months when consumers will use more electricity.

Mr Moxey said BPL was working on a solution for the summer, but, as yet there was not enough information available to make it public at this time.

But as he was expressing high hopes for the summer yesterday, New Providence experienced load shedding after one of BPL’s generators tripped off.

“We’re working on a

solution for the summer and once we have enough information we’ll make that available for you,” Mr Moxey said yesterday in an interview with reporters following a presentation to the Rotary Club of Nassau at Luciano’s of Chicago.

“From our perspective given the assets that we have and provided there are no significant impacts on those assets in terms of their ability to operate, we should have no issues in the summer time with the plans that we have now to shore up some generation at Clifton. So we are pretty hopeful that things will be in place between now and the summer time to cover all of our needs.”

Mr Moxey was also asked when Bahamians could expect lower electricity costs. He explained that the fuel surcharge has remained at a capped rate of 19.15cents, but said the true cost is 22 cents.

Consumers do not pay the latter rate right now due to a decision to finance the difference in cost, cushioning the blow.

However, Mr Moxey said the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority has said all costs have to be absorbed by the consumer.

He said BPL is working on putting together a process where overtime as the cost of electricity goes down, passing those costs that were financed by BPL

BAHAMAS Power and Light chairman Donovan Moxey. on to the customer. Still he insisted this didn’t mean electricity costs would again return to elevated levels, pointing to the capped 19.15cent fuel surcharge.

“What affects persons’ bills is the fuel surcharge.

That’s where the fluctuation comes in with the price of oil and so given the fact that the price of oil right now is around $60 to $70 a barrel given the fact that because of the assets we are using now, we are using the most expensive diesel oil that

impacts cost. So as I indicted earlier what we are trying to do is put in solutions in place that essentially has us using the least expensive oil which is HFO and also eventually as quickly as we possibly can transitioning off with the rental units, which use the more expensive fuel oil as well.

“The thing that impacts cost to customers is really the fuel surcharge and to be quite honest with you, usage. So one of the things we talked about today was

embarking on an energy conservation awareness programme where we can tell folks: ‘summer is coming make sure that you have your homes with the proper insulation, that you get high efficiency low cost light bulbs (and) put your water heater on a timer. All of those are things that actually reduces your electricity consumption and we are going to try our best to get our customers ready for the summer time so that they can use less electricity,” he said.

OSBORNE PRESSES ON TO SUE OVER SACKING from page one

the Office of the Attorney General broke down. Mr Sears is seeking various damages for Mrs Osborne, according to filed writs obtained yesterday.

These include damages for wrongful dismissal, “damages for misfeasance of public office” by Works Minister Desmond Bannister, “compensatory damages for slander” in connection with statements Mr Bannister told journalists and “aggravated and exemplary damages for slander and misfeasance in public office.”

Mr Sears is seeking a declaration that Mr Bannister “usurped and interfered with statutory functions of the Boards of BEC and BPL, at the exclusion of (Mrs Osborne) as chairperson of the boards.”

He is seeking a declaration that Mr Bannister’s “decision to dismiss or remove (Mrs Osborne) as a director and executive chairman of the boards without a reasonable cause and without affording her procedural fairness was unlawful, ultra vires the Electricity Act 2015 and a breach of the rules of natural justice, procedural fairness and the duty to act reasonably.”

He is also seeking a declaration that Mr Bannister “deliberately abused and exceeded his statutory power and authority by unlawfully usurping the functions of the boards, intermeddling in the affairs of the boards behind the back of (Mrs Osborne), issuing specific and general directions to the boards, wrongfully terminating

DARNELL OSBORNE, former chief of Bahamas Power and Light.

(Mrs Osborne’s) appointment and publishing false and retaliatory statements intending to disparage, embarrass and damage (Mrs Osborne’s) personal and professional reputation thereby committing misfeasance in public office in relation to (Mrs Osborne).”

Mr Sears is seeking similar declarations on behalf of Ms Thompson and Mr Dean and he wants an injunction restraining Mr Bannister from making further defamatory comments about his clients.

In his letter before action, Mr Sears wrote that he would seek more than $80,000 for Ms Osborne over the defamation issue.

Ms Osborne, Mr Dean and Ms Thompson were appointed to BPL’s board on July 1, 2017.

Over time the former board became increasingly dysfunctional, disintegrating into two factions, one involving that trio and the other involving Patrick Rollins, Ferron Bethel and Whitney Heastie.

According to Mr Sears’ letter before action, the board fought over the proposed Shell North America Power Purchase Agreement, the ability of BPL CEO Whitney Heastie to hire and fire employees without board approval and the appointment of Patrick Rollins as BPL executive director without board consultation, among other things.

Not long after BPL’s board collapsed last year, Mr Bannister criticised the trio. He said Mrs Osborne submitted personal bills for BPL to pay, including make-up bills to the tune of hundreds of dollars. Mrs Osborne has insisted Mr Bannister’s claims were false and that the make-up service was for a BPL photo shoot which involved other employees.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis promised in August he would launch an investigation into the saga that doomed BPL’s former board. Five months later, he has failed to launch the investigation.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PAGE 7

TASKFORCE SET UP TO CHECK BOATS ARE SAFE

By RIEL MAJOR

TRANSPORT and Local Government Renward Wells said yesterday a taskforce has been established to ensure all vessels participating in the tour-boat industry meet the required standards to operate.

Mr Wells told reporters outside Cabinet yesterday the Bahamas Maritime Authority had compiled a report recommending the ministry increase the staff compliment.

He said: “We should increase the staff compliments to be able to go through the Family Islands to ensure that self-built boats and commercial vessels brought from aboard; that they all comport with the requisite specs to be

able to be used in the commercial industry.

“And we went ahead and did that.”

The minister said the new unit is going through the Family Islands very systematically, looking at all boats engaged in the commercial and tourism industry to assure operators are meeting the requisite requirements to be licensed in those industries.

According to acting port controller Raymond King last October, the Port Department manpower audit revealed the need for 60 to 70 more people to effectively carry out a mandate that includes ensuring commercial vessels are properly registered and inspected.

His statement came a week after the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s report into the deadly Four C’s Adventures accident in Exuma, which concluded the port’s inadequate resources is crippling its functioning.

The BMC’s report said that in Exuma there are 18 commercial charter boat companies in operation, only six of which are registered with the Port Department while the others have applications pending but continue to operate commercially.

The port is now gearing up for joint operations with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to target law-breakers across the country, Mr King said.

RENWARD Wells yesterday

“We did an exercise in San Salvador where we recognised it was less than one fifth of the vessels that were registered and so we have operations lined up to reach all these Family Islands, particularly ones that have a high volume of maritime activity,” he added.

“We are going to make sure persons have been compliant with laws and regulations.

It is a mammoth task when you realise we have 13,000plus private vessels in the country, another 8,000 commercial vessels, plus smaller watercraft vessels which total about 500. The port could definitely use an increase in manpower.”

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SENIOR CREDIT INSPECTOR

Commonwealth Bank is the premier Bahamian Bank with branches located in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera. We are committed to delivering superior quality service, to training and developing our employees, to creating value for our shareholders and to promoting economic growth and stability in the community.

ROLE OVERVIEW

By RIEL MAJOR THE ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) yesterday announced the development of a comprehensive programme to decentralise their operations in a bid to combat human smuggling.

The agency addressed strategic tactics in a press release highlighting a collaborative multi-layered security approach within the Family Islands to fight against illegal maritime activities like drug and weapon smuggling as well as poaching and natural disasters.

“The programme therefore involves the acquisition of ships, dredging of harbours, construction of quay walls and jetties, expansion and/or construction of bases, the acquisition of detection and tracking technologies and the strengthening of security cooperation with local and regional partners over the next five years,” the statement read.

“In essence, decentralisation’ is a long-term, sustainable solution that facilitates the implementation of short-term measures by the Defence Force in rolling back a diverse number of illicit activities.

Additionally, this approach allows the Defence Force to provide necessary assistance to civilian authorities such as police, customs, immigration, the Department of Correctional Services, the National Emergency Management Agency and others.”

The trafficking of undocumented migrants is a crucial threat to The Bahamas. The RBDF stated the patterns and trends associated with the trafficking of human, gun and drugs into the country have changed.

The RBDF’s statement added: “In the case of smuggling of undocumented migrants, there have been noticeable changes with the

RBDF TARGETS NEW WAYS TO TACKLE SMUGGLERS

type of vessels being used and the maritime routes taken by smugglers to enter The Bahamas.

“Smugglers are now using conventional sailing yachts, as well as motorised boats that make it more difficult to detect them. To improve their chances of evading authorities, smugglers are also networking with locals in the islands. As the Defense Force makes headway in shutting down main smuggling routes, human smugglers naturally shift to new or alternative routes. With this balloon effect in play, common smuggling routes or access points now include the traditional northward passage, as well as additional maritime corridors in the southern Bahamas.

“These access points exist from as far east as the Turks and Caicos Islands to as far west as Cay Lobos (on the ocean’s edge south of Andros Island). This southern gateway spans a distance of over 300 nautical miles (nm) making it possible for smugglers to by-pass Defence Force and US law enforcement assets operating in the south.”

The press released also highlighted the need for the collaboration of multiple

tracking equipment to successfully guard the Bahamian borders.

“An effective decentralization programme should therefore incorporate a multi-layered security approach consisting of ships, aircraft, radars, drones, Automated Identification Systems (AIS), Forward Looking InfraRed Cameras, CCTVs, space satellites, and other detection equipment to enhance operational effectiveness.”

“The RBDF also aims to strengthen our borders to prevent, monitor, detect, deter and apprehend those trying to infringe the maritime laws. The intent is to create a collaborative effort with regional partners, such as the United States, Turks and Caicos Island, the Republic go Cuba and Jamaica, by sharing information and security cooperation.

“The Defence Force also looks forward to engaging in security cooperation dialogue with its counterparts in the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic through the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The Senior Credit Inspector is responsible for the day-to-day execution of credit inspection projects, while ensuring quality reporting standards are maintained and adhered to in accordance with CB Credit Inspection Methodology. The position supports the Senior Manager, Credit Inspection with developing and executing the annual inspection plan and the risk management assessment framework to drive credit inspection projects.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES The Senior Credit Inspector must exhibit a seasoned knowledge of Banking Credit Policies and Procedures, including: Credit Granting, Adjudications, Monitoring and Delinquency Management. The successful candidate should have an awareness of Information Security, Anti-Money Laundering, Data Protection and Disaster Recovery and the policies of the various Bank’s Departments.

QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE • Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or Accounting or equivalent qualification from a recognized tertiary institution.

• Banking or credit professional certification or related qualification (BIFS, ABA, etc.)

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience within a financial institution, with experience in retail or commercial lending, including but not limited to credit, adjudications, monitoring, and delinquency management.

• A minimum of two years or more at supervisory level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES Knowledge: The candidate must have knowledge in the following areas: • Intermediate knowledge of data analytics software.

• Working knowledge of Teammate software.

• Awareness of Bahamian legislation and Central Bank regulations and guidelines, specifically related to credit risk.

Skills: The candidate must demonstrate the following skills: • Good organizational and people management skills.

• Sound problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal and decision making skills.

• Sound computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office.

• Result-oriented, with a good work ethic and time management skills.

• Advanced knowledge of accounting, financial reporting and credit inspection standards and best practices.

• Good written communication and presentation skills.

• Integrity, creditability and confidentiality.

• Ability to work independently.

Personal Attributes: The applicant should, maintain the highest standards of conduct and display characteristics of honesty, integrity and sound work ethics.

REMUNERATION PACKAGE: Commonwealth Bank is a Great place to work! We offer an exciting work environment with the opportunity for growth and development. We also offer a competitive compensation package, reflecting the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications, including a performance based incentive plan, health, vision, dental and life insurances and a pension plan.

Qualified individuals should complete the online application @ www.combankltd.com no later than Friday March 1, 2019. “ Commonwealth Bank sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in becoming a part of our team, however, only those applications being considered will be contacted.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Learning from the lessons of our Commonwealth partners

D

OZENS of Commonwealth government leaders and advisers are attending the Equality and Justice Forum in Cape Town, South Africa hosted by the Equality & Justice Alliance (EJA) this week.

They include former Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat Dr Josephine Ojiambo, Neomai Maravuakula, Senior Human Rights Advisor of the Regional Rights Resources Team in the Pacific, Hon Naveed Qamar, Member of Parliament in Pakistan, HE Dr Joaquim Chiassano, President of Mozambique, and Judith Alpuche, CEO of Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation in Belize. The participants are fully engaging in the forum focused on legal reform, gaining insights from the other regions represented.

EJA was formed after UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement of regret regarding the colonial legacy of discriminatory laws that undermine human rights, especially those of women and girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexually diverse (LGBT+) people. It is funded by the UK government to support Commonwealth countries in advancing equality through legal reform. It will work not only with governments, but also with policymakers, civil society, criminal justice experts, and diplomats.

In the opening speech, Dr Josephine Ojiambo gave an overview of the Commonwealth’s formation 70 years

IN her opening speech, Dr Josephine Ojiambo gave an overview of the Commonwealth’s formation.

ago, the Commonwealth Charter, and the diversity of member states. She emphasised the importance of the role of civil society, saying: “[Civil society organisations] play a role in advocating for responsive legislation and policy as well as lobbying, providing technical assistance and supporting responsive government.”

Dr Ojiambo thanked civil society organisations for their work, and encouraged them to push the envelope through continued participation in public debate and demands for transparency.

She noted discrimination against LGBT+ people often goes hand in hand with corruption and leads to negative economic consequences while LGBT+ inclusion leads to higher levels of entrepreneurship and innovation.

She noted she is currently providing technical support to the EMBRACE movement in Kenya which is working toward equality in parliament as well as in the public and private sectors. This set the tone for the three-day forum which included case studies from Mozambique, Solomon Islands and the Pacific and Belize.

Mozambique The 2004 Mozambique constitution recognises the rights of all citizens regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social position and a range

of other identity markers.

Article 36 of the constitution affirms the equality of men and women in all spheres of life and Article 122 directs the state to promote, support and value women’s development.

The country also reformed its Family Law Act in 2004. The Act recognizes marriage equality and increased the minimum age of marriage to 18. It introduced a new law on domestic violence in 2009 and adopted a National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy in 2011. It has signed a number of conventions including those on human trafficking and CEDAW. It became clear there were discrepancies between new legislation and policy and the 1886 penal code. As a result of advocacy by civil society and lobbying, a new penal code was drafted to address sexual offences, domestic violence, abortion, “offences against nature,” and trafficking.

The consultative process started in 2010 and parliamentary debates started in 2013. It needed more work before it was finally adopted at the end of 2014.

Kubi Rama of Gender Links noted that, in undertaking legal reform, timing is critical, political will is necessary, and attention must be paid to the harmonisation of laws and policies.

Solomon Islands and Pacific In her presentation, Neomai Maravuakula gave an overview of the Family Health and Safety Study conducted in 2009 to produce statistics reflecting the reality of violence against women in the Pacific. Participants were women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49. Sixty-four percent of every partnered woman have experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Seventy percent of them did not tell anyone and those who did told a family member.

It is notable that countries in the Pacific have moved away from separate pieces of legislation for domestic violence, sexual violence and protection of children. Instead, they each have a Family Protection Act or Family Safety Act. Vanuatu passed it in 2008, Fiji in 2009, Palau in 2012 and others followed.

Domestic violence legislation in the Pacific covers domestic violence, protection orders, duties of police, lawyers, judges and health professionals, and counselling.

Before the Solomon Islands Family Protection Act, the Evidence Act put the burden of proof on survivors, allowed sexual history to be considered and called for proof of resistance.

Maravuakula also noted the “scattered approach” — Islanders Marriage Act, Islanders Divorce Act, Maintenance and Affiliation Act — to family law was not working.

The Family Protection Act was a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Women and Ministry of Justice with civil society support. There was a joint effort between the government and civil society to advocate for the bill which went through 13 drafts.

Solomon Islands learned from the experiences of other countries in the region who had already gone through the process.

They knew it was important to prepare the ministers to respond to questions and comments about the bill and they produced material in response to cultural and religious concerns. The bill passed without objection and this is credited to the regional awareness, learning from other countries, technical expertise of civil society organizations and consistent collaboration throughout the process.

As with many other countries, the challenge is in implementation. This requires awareness and understanding of the bill, national leaders’ commitment, and training police, magistrates, and health professionals.

Belize Judith Alpuche presented on the reform of the sexual offences legislation in Belize. This reform process started in the 1990s with the rights-based Families and Children’s Act. This was necessary for compliance with the Convention on the Rights of a Child.

There was also an inability for the law to adequately deal with rape, sexual abuse and sexual offences outside of penile penetration.

The colonial laws saw women and girls as victims and men and and boys as perpetrators.

“Indecent assault” was used as a catchall for a range of unnamed offences. A participatory stakeholder process led to a

2006 draft of amendments, and high profile cases in 2009 created a sense of urgency. There was a cabinet directive in 2010 for a Criminal Code Amendment Bill. The Ministry of Human Development and the Special Envoy for Women and Children advocated for two years and prioritized the drafting of the bill.

Alpuche noted that financial bills tend to be prioritized, often to the detriment of others. She also shared that the National Gender Policy saw controversy because it included “respect for diversity” and explicitly mentioned sexual orientation.

Faith-based groups that had ignored the consultation process were quickly financially backed by other groups in North America and launched strong opposition campaigns. There was an unprecedented level of civil society engagement during the process which was seen by the government as an opportunity to educate. The legislation passed, bringing equal protection for boys and girls, articulation of violation with and without penetration and stiffer penalties.

Lessons learned, she said, include the need for smaller countries working toward legal reform to prepare for a marathon rather than a sprint, the value of ongoing stakeholder analysis, and the benefit of having champions to help prioritize the reform. Alpuche also noted that reform processes undertaken in Belize led to more public dialogue on issues of importance.

The EJA forum has created a space for legislators, advisors and young people to share experiences and ideas, ask questions, and access technical assistance.

Fourteen countries are present, fully participating in the dialogue and showing commitment to bringing the legal reform needed to eliminate discrimination against women, girls, and LGBT+ people. The programme is completely voluntary and countries need only contact the EJA to join.

While The Bahamas is not eligible to receive funding, it is welcome to participate in regional meetings, access other resources, and engage in knowledge exchange with other Commonwealth countries.

It would certainly be advantageous for the Bahamian government to access all help available so the next attempt to advance constitutional gender equality can be more productive and we can get back to work on the marital rape bill as well as others that beg for our attention. We can do better for the women, girls, and LGBT+ in this country and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. We both need and deserve it.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PAGE 9

In France, the Force is strong with lightsaber dueling FRANCE Associated Press MASTER Yoda, dust off his French, he must.

It’s now easier than ever in France to act out “Star Wars” fantasies, because its fencing federation has borrowed from a galaxy far, far away and officially recognised lightsaber dueling as a competitive sport, granting the iconic weapon from George Lucas’ saga the same status as the foil, epee and sabre, the traditional blades used at the Olympics.

Of course, the LED-lit, rigid polycarbonate lightsaber replicas can’t slice a Sith lord in half. But they look and, with the more expensive sabers equipped with a chip in their hilt that emits a throaty electric rumble, even sound remarkably like the silver screen blades that Yoda and other characters wield in the blockbuster movies.

Plenty realistic, at least, for duelists to work up an impressive sweat slashing, feinting and stabbing in organised, three-minute bouts. The physicality of lightsaber combat is part of why the French Fencing Federation threw its support behind the sport and is now equipping fencing clubs with lightsabers and training would-be lightsaber instructors. Like virtuous Jedi knights, the French federation sees itself as combatting a Dark Side: The sedentary habits of 21st-century life that are sickening evergrowing numbers of adults and kids.

“With young people today, it’s a real public

JULIEN ESPRIT, left, competes with Jean Baptiste Marchetti-Waternaux during a national lightsaber tournament in Beaumont-sur-Oise, north of Paris. In France, it is easier than ever now to act out “Star Wars” fantasies. The fencing federation has officially recognised lightsaber dueling as a competitive sport.

Photo: Christophe Ena/AP health issue. They don’t do have always had a big fencing. He spent about 350 any sport and only exercise impact on our federation euros on his protective body with their thumbs,” says and its growth,” Aubailly armor (sturdy gloves, chest, Serge Aubailly, the federa- says. “Lightsaber films have shoulder and shin pads) and tion secretary general. “It’s the same impact. Young on his federation-approved becoming difficult to (per- people want to give it a try.” lightsaber, opting for lumisuade them to) do a sport And the young at heart. nous green “because it’s the that has no connection with Police officer Philippe Jedi colours, and Yoda is my getting out of the sofa and Bondi, 49, practiced fencing master”. playing with one’s thumbs. for 20 years before switch“I had to be on the good That is why we are trying to ing to lightsaber. When a side, given that my job is create a bond between our club started offering classes upholding the law,” he said. discipline and modern tech- in Metz, the town in eastern Bondi awoke well before nologies, so participating in France where he is stationed dawn to make the foura sport feels natural.” for the gendarmerie, Bondi hour drive from Metz to a In the past, the likes of says he was immediately national lightsaber tourZorro, Robin Hood and The drawn by the prospect of nament outside Paris this Three Musketeers helped living out the love he’s had month that drew 34 comlure new practitioners to for the “Star Wars” universe petitors. It showcased how fencing. Now, joining and since he saw the first film at far the sport has come in even supplanting them are age seven, on its release in a couple of years but also that it’s still light years from Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan 1977.

Kenobi and Darth Vader.

He fights in the same wire- becoming mainstream.

The crowd was small and “Cape and sword movies mesh face mask he used for

a technical glitch prevented the duelers’ photos, combat names and scores from being displayed on a big screen, making bouts tough to follow. But the illuminated swooshes of coloured blades looked spectacular in the darkened hall. Fan cosplay as “Star Wars” characters added levity, authenticity and a tickle of bizarre to the proceedings, especially the incongruous sight of Darth Vader buying a ham sandwich and a bag of potato chips at the cafeteria during a break.

In building their sport from the ground up, French organisers produced competition rules intended to make lightsaber dueling both competitive and easy on the eyes.

“We wanted it to be safe, we wanted it to be umpired and, most of all, we wanted it to produce something visual that looks like the movies, because that is what people expect,” said Michel Ortiz, the tournament organiser.

Combatants fight inside a circle marked in tape on the floor. Strikes to the head or body are worth five points; to the arms or legs, three points; on hands, one point.

The first to 15 points wins or, if they don’t get there quickly, the high scorer after three minutes. If both fighters reach ten points, the bout enters “sudden death”, where the first to land a head- or body-blow wins, a rule to encourage enterprising fighters.

AND NOW FOR THE WEATHER ON MARS, COURTESY OF NEW NASA LANDER CAPE CANAVERAL Associated Press AND now for the weather on Mars: NASA’s newest lander is offering daily reports on the red planet’s frigid winter.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory began posting the highs and lows online yesterday, along with wind speed and atmospheric pressure from the InSight lander.

On Sunday, InSight recorded a high of two degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17 Celsius) and a low of minus 138 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 95 Celsius). Compare that with Sunday’s coldest US temperature: minus 27 degrees (minus three Celsius) in Taylor Park, Colorado.

Scientists need to know the local Mars weather to determine if InSight’s seismometer is registering real marsquakes or simply wind or pressure changes.

InSight landed near the Mars equator in November.

NASA’s Curiosity rover also gives weather updates, while roaming around Mars about 340 miles away.

THIS image from December made available by NASA shows the InSight lander. The scene was assembled from 11 photos taken using its robotic arm. The two white stalks between the centre and the solar panels are weather sensors. Starting this week, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is posting the high and low temperatures online, along with wind speed and atmospheric pressure from the InSight lander.

Photo: NASA/AP

• TWITTER said yesterday it is tightening up rules for European Union political ads ahead of bloc-wide elections this spring, following similar moves by fellow tech giants Facebook and Google.

The social media company said it is extending restrictions already in place for federal elections in the United States.

Under the new rules, which will also apply in Australia and India, political advertisers will need to be certified.

It’s also taking steps to increase transparency. Ads, in the form of “promoted tweets”, from the past seven days will be stored in a publicly accessible database showing how much was spent, how many times it was seen and the demographics of the people who saw it.

Facebook and Google have put in similar systems ahead of the EU vote in May, as the US tech companies respond to criticism they didn’t do enough to prevent misuse of their platforms by malicious actors trying to sway previous elections around the world.

“This is part of our overall goal to protect the health of the public conversation on our service and to provide meaningful context around all political entities who use our advertising products,” the company said in a blog post.

Hundreds of millions of people are set to vote for more than 700 European Union parliamentary lawmakers.

Political advertisers can start applying now for certification under Twitter’s stricter ad rules, which take effect March 11, by providing more information such as photo ID or a company identification number.

• TRAVELERS in Berlin will soon be able to use a single app to switch seamlessly between public transport, rental bikes, carsharing and taxis without signing up for each service individually, officials said on Monday.

Lithuanian startup Trafi said Berlin will be the first major European capital to get a transport app that handles billing for all services centrally and requires only a single login. Similar services are already available in Vilnius, Rio de Janeiro and Jakarta.

So-called “deep integration” apps, which remove the annoyance of dealing with multiple providers, are seen as important for cities trying to prevent people from clogging up congested roads with their own cars.

“This goes in precisely the right direction,” said Andreas Knie, a mobility expert at the Social Science Center Berlin. “Transport services need to be connected, just like cellphone networks, so you can easily roam from one to another.”

Berlin’s aging transport system — a maze of underground lines, trams, buses and commuter rail covering an area the size of Dallas — is straining as its population heads toward four million.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

CAPE COAST CASTLE, Inner Courtyard, Ghana. Slaves were kept here before going to the New World.

B Largest forced oceanic

ETWEEN 1500 and 1866, slave traders forced 12.5 million Africans aboard transatlantic slave vessels. Before 1820, four enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic for every European, making Africa the demographic wellspring for the repopulation of the Americas after Columbus’ voyages. The slave trade pulled virtually every port that faced the Atlantic Ocean – from Copenhagen to Cape Town and Boston to Buenos Aires – into its orbit.

To document this enormous trade – the largest forced oceanic migration in human history – our team launched Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, a freely available online resource that lets visitors search through and analyse information on nearly 36,000 slave voyages that occurred between 1514 and 1866.

Inspired by the remarkable public response, we developed an animation feature that helps bring into clearer focus the horrifying scale and duration of the trade. The site also implemented a system for visitors to contribute new data. In the last year alone we have added more than a thousand new voyages and revised details on many others.

The data have revolutionised scholarship on the slave trade and provided the foundation for new insights into how enslaved

migration in history

VOLUME and direction of the transatlantic slave trade from all African to all American regions. people experienced and resisted their captivity.

They have also further underscored the distinctive transatlantic connections that the trade fostered.

Records of unique slave voyages lie at the heart of the project. Clicking on individual voyages listed in the site opens their profiles, which comprise more than 70

distinct fields that collectively help tell that voyage’s story.

From which port did the voyage begin? To which places in Africa did it go?

How many enslaved people perished during the Middle Passage? And where did those enslaved Africans end the oceanic portion of their enslavement and begin their lives as slaves in the Americas?

Given the size and complexity of the slave trade, combining the sources that document slave ships’ activities into a single database has presented numerous challenges. Records are written in numerous languages and maintained in archives, libraries and private collections located in dozens of countries. Many of these are developing nations that lack the financial resources to invest in sustained systems of document preservation.

Even when they are relatively easy to access, documents on slave voyages provide uneven information.

Ship logs comprehensively describe places of travel and list the numbers of enslaved people purchased and the captain and crew. By contrast, portentry records in newspapers might merely produce the name of the vessel and the number of captives who survived the Middle Passage.

These varied sources can be hard to reconcile. The numbers of slaves loaded or removed from a particular vessel might vary widely. Or perhaps a vessel carried registration papers that aimed

to mask its actual origins, especially after the legal abolition of the trade in 1808.

Compiling these data in a way that does justice to their complexity, while still keeping the site user-friendly, has remained an ongoing concern. Of course, not all slave voyages left surviving records. Gaps will consequently remain in coverage, even if they continue to narrow. Perhaps three out of every four slaving voyages are now documented in the database. Aiming to account for missing data, a separate assessment tool enables users to gain a clear understanding of the volume and structure of the slave trade and consider how it changed over time and across space.

While gathering data on the slave trade is not new, using these data to compile comprehensive databases for the public has become feasible only in the internet age. Digital projects make it possible to reach a much larger audience with more diverse interests. We often hear from teachers and students who use the site in the classroom, from scholars whose research draws on material in the database and from individuals who consult the project to better understand their heritage.

Through a contribute function, site visitors can also submit new material on transatlantic slave voyages and help us identify errors in the data.

The real strength of the project – and of digital history more generally – is that it encourages visitors

Article written by Philip Misevich, Assistant Professor of History, St. John’s University; Daniel Domingues, Assistant Professor of History, University of MissouriColumbia; David Eltis, Professor Emeritus of History, Emory University; Nafees M. Khan, Lecturer in Social Studies Education, Clemson University; Nicholas Radburn, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southern California, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. theconversation.com

to interact with sources and materials that they might not otherwise be able to access. That turns users into historians, allowing them to contextualize a single slave voyage or analyze local, national and Atlantic-wide patterns. How did the survival rate among captives during the Middle Passage change over time? What was the typical ratio of male to female captives?

How often did insurrections occur aboard slave ships? From which African port did most enslaved people sent to, say, Virginia originate?

Scholars have used Voyages to address these and many other questions and have in the process transformed our understanding of just about every aspect of the slave trade. We learned that shipboard revolts occurred most often among slaves who came from regions in Africa that supplied comparatively few slaves. Ports tended to send slave vessels to the same African regions in search of enslaved people and dispatch them to familiar places for sale in the Americas. Indeed, slave voyages followed a seasonal pattern that was conditioned at least in part by agricultural cycles on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The slave trade was both highly structured and carefully organised.

The website also continues to collect lesson plans that teachers have created for middle school, high school and college students.

In one exercise, students must create a memorial to the captives who experienced the Middle Passage, using the site to inform their thinking. One college course situates students in late 18th-century Britain, turning them into collaborators in the abolition campaign who use Voyages to gather critical information on the slave trade’s operations.

Voyages has also provided a model for other projects, including a forthcoming database that documents slave ships that operated strictly within the Americas.

We also continue to work in parallel with the African Origins database. The project invites users to identify the likely backgrounds of nearly 100,000 Africans liberated from slave vessels based on their indigenous names. By combining those names with information from Voyages on liberated Africans’ ports of origin, the Origins website aims to better understand the homelands from which enslaved people came.

Through these endeavors, Voyages has become a digital memorial to the millions of enslaved Africans forcibly pulled into the slave trade and, until recently, nearly erased from the history of not only the trade itself, but also the history of the Atlantic world.

THE TRIBUNE

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ... MINISTER READS TO YOUNGSTERS AT THELMA GIBSON EDUCATION minister Jeffrey Lloyd dazzled fourth and fifth grade boys and girls of Thelma Gibson School ‘s with a spirited reading of Bahamian tales. Mr Lloyd read the ‘Hard Head Bird’ and ‘Why a Rainbow Comes After the Rain’ from the book, “Once Below a Time: Bahamian Stories” by Telcine Turner.

He also showcased his teaching skills, drilling the students -- asking the names of the stories and authors, encouraging them to listen and remember, and requesting definitions of words during one of the events of Literacy/Parents’ Month, which is recognised in February. His antics, actions, creativity and wit brought smiles and loud laughter to the children’s faces.

The South Beach MP said he was “glad” to participate in the activity. “I need to be with my favourite people,” he said, “our children especially in terms of reading which is something that our parents should do every night with the younger ones.

We want them to have a sense of not only to being able to listen, but to recall and to interpret their own circumstances so that they can give an analysis of what they have heard. The earlier they begin - it teaches them how to think - the better for them.”

Wednesday, February 20, 2019, PAGE 11

PAGE 12, Wednesday, February 20, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

KARL Lagerfeld in Paris in 1996. Below, in 1997 with Diana, Princess of Wales and Elton John at the memorial for Gianni Versace.

ICONIC DESIGNER KARL LAGERFELD DIES IN PARIS

PARIS Associated Press

KARL Lagerfeld, the iconic couturier whose designs at Chanel and Fendi had an unprecedented impact on the entire fashion industry, died yesterday in Paris, prompting an outpouring of love and admiration for the man whose career spanned six decades.

Although he spent virtually his entire career at luxury labels catering to the very wealthy — including 20 years at Chloe — Lagerfeld’s designs quickly trickled down to low-end retailers, giving him global influence.

Former supermodel Claudia Schiffer, who credits Lagerfeld as her mentor, called him her “magic dust.”

“What (Andy) Warhol was to art, he was to fashion; he is irreplaceable,” she said.

The German-born designer may have spent much of his life in the public eye — his trademark white ponytail, high starched collar and dark glasses are instantly recognisable — but he remained a largely elusive figure.

Such was the enigma surrounding the octogenarian

Lagerfeld that even his age was a point of mystery for decades, with reports he had two birth certificates, one dated 1933 and the other 1938.

In 2013, Lagerfeld said he was born in September of 1935 — which would make him 83 today — but in 2019 his assistant still didn’t know the truth — saying he liked “to scramble the tracks on his year of birth — that’s part of the character.”

Chanel confirmed that Lagerfeld, who had looked increasingly frail in recent seasons, died early yesterday in Paris. Last month, he did not come out to take a bow at the house’s couture show in Paris — a rare absence that the company attributed to him being “tired.”

“An extraordinary creative individual, Lagerfeld reinvented the brand’s codes created by Gabrielle Chanel: the Chanel jacket and suit, the little black dress, the precious tweeds, the two-tone shoes, the quilted handbags, the pearls and costume jewelry,” Chanel said.

The brand’s CEO Alain Wertheimer praised Lagerfeld for an “exceptional intuition” that was ahead of his time and contributed to Chanel’s global success.

“Today, not only have I lost a friend, but we have all lost an extraordinary creative mind to whom I gave carte blanche in the early 1980s to reinvent the brand,” he said.

Trump: I have ‘absolute right’ to declare an emergency WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump declared yesterday that he would prevail over a multistate lawsuit challenging his emergency declaration to pay for a USMexico border wall.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he expected to do “very well,” against the suit, adding that he had an “absolute right” to make the declaration.

“I think in the end we’re going to be very successful with the lawsuit,” Trump said. “I actually think we might do very well, even in the 9th Circuit, because it’s an open and closed case.”

A group of 16 states, including California, New York and Colorado, filed a lawsuit on Monday against Trump’s emergency declaration. The lawsuit filed in the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco alleges Trump’s declaration is unconstitutional.

All the states involved in the lawsuit have Democratic attorneys general.

Using a broad interpretation of his executive powers, Trump declared an emergency last week to obtain wall funding beyond the $1.4 billion Congress approved for border security. The move allows the president to bypass Congress to use money from the Pentagon and other budgets.

PRESIDENT TRUMP Democrats have seized on the move as an example of executive overreach. The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a press release that stated: “No one is above the law. Republicans must join Democrats to uphold the Constitution and stand with the American people - against the President’s brazen assault.”

Trump argued that the wall was needed to “stop drugs and crime and criminals and human trafficking.”

He has repeatedly sought to paint a dire picture of conditions at the border, though illegal border crossings are down from a high of 1.6 million in 2000.

After weeks spent battling with Congress over border funding and what constituted a wall versus a fence, Trump said: “I can call it a barrier, but I think I don’t have to do that so much anymore, we’ll call it whatever we want.”

Trump’s use of the emergency declaration has drawn bipartisan criticism and is expected to face numerous legal challenges.

A top White House adviser said that Trump was prepared to issue his first veto if Congress votes to disapprove his declaration of a national emergency.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump singled out California for its lead role in the suit, seeking to link the state’s high-speed rail project to his plan for the wall.

On Twitter, Trump claimed the “failed Fast Train project” was beset by “world record setting” cost overruns and had become “hundreds of times more expensive than the desperately needed Wall!”

STONE MAY LOSE BAIL AFTER ‘GUN’ PHOTO

A FEDERAL judge has ordered Roger Stone to appear in court to consider whether to revoke his bail after the longtime Donald Trump confidant posted a photo on Instagram of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun.

US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Stone must show for a hearing tomorrow and prove why she shouldn’t modify or revoke his bail or implement a full gag order in his case. On Monday, Stone posted a photo of Jackson with what appeared to be crosshairs near her head. Later in the day, Stone and his attorneys filed a notice with the court that they recognised the “photograph and comment today was improper and should not have been posted.”

Art event on black hair history OHIO Associated Press THE ART of the Afro and high-top fade took centre stage at the Toledo Museum of Art’s GlasSalon during an event to promote the creativity and history of black barbershops and their role in community wellness.

“The Art of the Cut” featured live demonstrations from barbers affiliated with a ProMedica initiative that partners with predominantly black barbershops

to provide health screenings and education there. “It gives us an opportunity to display our skills while bringing people together,” said barber Corvette Derden, who showed off his talents on stage.

“We’re very connected to the community so we brought a lot of people out with us. It’s just an amazing experience.”

In between cuts showcasing styles from the 1950s through the 2000s, attendees listened to era-appropriate music as well as live performances from barbershop quartet Water.