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VOLUME:115 No.71, MARCH 5TH, 2018

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The Mud in flames - AGAIN

A PHOTOGRAPH circulating on social media showing some of the destruction in the blaze at The Mud in Abaco.

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net MORE than 80 people have been left homeless and their houses destroyed after another blaze ripped through The Mud in Abaco in the early hours yesterday.

Central and South Abaco MP James Albury told The Tribune between 35 to 40 structures are estimated to have been destroyed as a result of this latest blaze.

At the time he spoke with this newspaper, some 83 people had registered at a local shelter after being displaced by the fire. No one was reported killed or injured in the inferno.

However, Mr Albury said

he and other officials suspect the actual number of displaced persons is much higher than that.

No lives were reported to have been lost during the blaze.

Mr Albury said police have not identified a possible cause of the fire, however, he said officials will still conduct some more “thorough walkthroughs” to determine the cause and the total damage the community suffered. Mr Albury said the main shelter for those displaced by the fire is the local Seventh-Day Adventist church. The Bahamas Red Cross will be managing the relief efforts and distributing food and other items to assist those affected.

SEE PAGE TWO

BETHEL BLASTS ACTIVISTS - SCHOOL BEATINGS MUST ‘FREE SPEECH HAS LIMITS’ BE VERY LAST RESORT

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s top prosecutor has pledged to defend the country’s borders and the “patrimony of Bahamians” from a “long-running silent invasion,” as he hit out at human rights group Rights Bahamas for disseminating “inflammatory” and “misleading” information about the country’s

immigration laws.

Attorney General Carl Bethel, pictured, in a statement, accused the “self-appointed human rights group” of disseminating “highly offensive, inflammatory and deliberately deceptive and misleading” information about the country’s law on immigration and rights, as well as presenting “false SEE PAGE THREE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CHILDREN should be beaten in schools only if all other options have been exhausted and in the most egregious of circumstances, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd, pictured, has said.

He confirmed to The Tribune that under his leadership, education officials may revise school policies

CLINICS’ CLEANING CONTRACTS SLASHED 50 PERCENT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government’s annual healthcare Budget is around $100m short of the system’s needs, despite some controversial contracts being cut by 50 per cent.

Dr Duane Sands, minister of health, told Tribune Business that even allowing for an “aggressive” effort to eliminate waste, inefficiency and under-performance,

a combination of staffing needs and essential capital projects are more than the Government’s finances can currently sustain.

While the Ministry of Health’s spending was down some $32.556m yearover-year in the 2017-2018 mid-year Budget, the Minister said this had been partially achieved by “interrupting” capital works already in progress because the Government’s fiscal constraints mean it simply

cannot fund them.

He said other savings had been obtained from a “contract by contract” review, pointing to the 50 per cent “re-negotiation” of cleaning deals for the Abaco and Exuma mini-hospitals that he heavily criticised in last year’s Budget debate.

Still, Dr Sands said the public healthcare system was “not there yet” when it came to eliminating $100m in waste.

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on corporal punishment, insisting modern research shows it to be an ineffective way of disciplining children.

His comments came after a district superintendent in West Grand Bahama and Bimini, in reaction to a viral video of a child in agony from complications stemming from an alleged beating by a school administrator two years ago, SEE PAGE FIVE

Insight

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SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Monday, March 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

IMAGES circulating on social media showing the blaze at The Mud in Abaco.

The Mud in flames - again from page one Mr Albury also said that the Department of Social Services, in addition to private citizens, are assisting in

relief efforts.

Sunday’s blaze comes just over a month after a fire, alleged to have been arson, broke out at the Marsh Harbour shanty town, destroying scores of

homes and displacing over 150 people. However, Mr Albury said yesterday’s fire, which has since been extinguished, took place in a different area from January’s blaze, on the opposite

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end of the shantytown.

According to initial reports, shortly after 1am police received reports of a fire in The Mud. Police fire services and other emergency volunteers arrived at the scene, and residents of the area were subsequently evacuated.

Fire fighters and other volunteers battled strong winds and as a result many homes were destroyed before the fire could be contained.

Mr Albury told The Tribune he first received news of the fire around 7.30am yesterday, after waking up to a number of missed calls and messages. He said when he arrived at the scene around 8am, the fire had been contained and extinguished.

After he personally inspected the site, he said he returned to the shelter to assist with relief efforts.

“Whenever these things

happen it’s an emergency situation, but the police, the volunteers, the firefighters all deserve kudos for containing it and addressing the issue,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “Right now I’ll call the atmosphere calm, everything in the shelter, the procedure with registering persons went very smoothly. Tensions aren’t too high. People are trying to help one another in the aftermath of the fire.

“It is a bit of an extra blow because there was another large fire in the same community less than six weeks ago, so it is kind of almost a back-to-back blow. But right now people are being calm, collected and we’re just going to have to help them the best way we can.”

In the January fire, approximately 55 homes were destroyed, affecting 170 people. A 42-year-old man was subsequently

arraigned in Abaco’s Magistrate’s Court on ten counts of arson.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has since pledged the area that fire affected will be cordoned off and no structures will be allowed to be rebuilt in that space.

In 2014, a fire in The Mud prompted a pledge from the Christie administration to relocate more than 150 people who were consequently displaced.

A 23-year-old man, Joel Josue, pleaded guilty when he was charged with damaging and endangering property by the wilful and negligent use of fire.

Abaco is home to the country’s biggest shanty town population. Combined, its three shanty town communities: Sand Banks, The Mud and Pigeon Peas, according to statistics, have as many as 1,000 homes.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 5, 2018, PAGE 3

Bethel blasts activists ‘free speech has limits’ from page one

depictions and analyses of significant aspects of Bahamian law.”

Mr Bethel said while people and groups have a constitutional right to freedom of speech, that right is “subject to limitations” and cannot be misused to “spread propaganda, create hysteria and perpetrate deliberate inaccuracies to accomplish a specific agenda”.

Mr Bethel further stressed the government’s sovereign right to “prescribe laws for the acquisition of its citizenship,” that is, to determine who its citizens are, and to “regulate the entry and impose conditions on the entry and stay within The Bahamas of persons who are not citizens or permanent residents”.

Mr Bethel said the government will not allow that sovereign right, along with its “solemn duty” to maintain the rule of law with decency and common humanity, to be “subverted by any person or group of persons.”

Mr Bethel’s statement was in response to a booklet being distributed by Rights Bahamas purporting to issue public guidance on laws relating to immigration and rights, as well as migrant issues and the

ATTORNEY Fred Smith and Attorney General Carl Bethel. operation of the Carmichael a front door” are “obviously Road Detention Centre. not images depicting the However, Mr Bethel said actions of local law enforcebesides containing “mis- ment agencies”. leading” information, the Further, Mr Bethel pamphlet also has images claimed the booklet that, while they would be makes several “false and/ “instantly recognised by or deliberately misleading Bahamians as not repre- statements” about the laws senting anything occurring of The Bahamas, and “rights in The Bahamas,” may and duties of persons”. create the wrong impresMr Bethel said some of sion when circulated those “misconceptions” outside this country. include questions about the According to Mr Bethel, lawfulness of the Carmichael the booklet by Rights Road Detention Centre, Bahamas “deliberately jux- which he in turn maintained taposes” stock photographs is a “lawful” facility where of “military-style arrests” any person who does not and elements of police bru- have “any legal entitletality – which he surmised ment to be or remain in The have been copied from the Bahamas” can be detained internet or elsewhere – and pending their removal or relating events in different investigation of any claimed countries, with local Baha- entitlement to be in the mian images and locations. country.

For example, Mr Bethel Concerning the issue said images of a policeman of deportation orders, Mr holding a leashed dog in one Bethel maintained that hand and an exposed weapon one is only required to be in the other, another using a served on a person who riot shield and a wooden club was lawfully in The Bahaand another “battering down mas immediately preceding

the event leading to the making of the deportation order. Conversely, individuals whose presence in The Bahamas was never lawful, “do not have an entitlement to be served with such orders for the purposes of appealing,” he said.

And concerning a person’s “absolute right” to remain in The Bahamas, Mr Bethel maintained the only persons eligible for that right or a right not to be repatriated or deported are “citizens of The Bahamas,” whether they received citizenship automatically under any of the provisions of the Constitution, or were registered as citizens having qualified and applied under the Constitution or the Bahamas Nationality Act. To that end, Mr Bethel maintained the Immigration Act requires any person who asserts that he/she has a legal entitlement to be or remain in The Bahamas to “co-operate with the authorities in providing documentary of other evidence of the same”.

“The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is a sovereign democratic state within the Commonwealth and the community of nations,” Mr Bethel said. “One of the essential and inalienable attributes of sovereignty is that a state has the right to prescribe laws for the acquisition of its citizenship

MITCHELL WANTS GOVT AND PLP TO UNITE AGAINST ‘UNPATRIOTIC’ ATTACKS

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell warned Friday the recent Supreme Court rulings concerning migrant detention will have an adverse impact on the vulnerable group as he called on the government to align with the Official Opposition in the face of “unpatriotic” legal attacks.

Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hilton in recent rulings has underscored the need for the Immigration Department to take suspected irregular migrants before the courts for due process before they are subjected to lengthy detention times or deportation.

However, Mr Mitchell, a senator and Progressive Liberal Party chairman, has insisted this practice would criminalise migrants and subject them to prison sentences when they are unable to pay fines.

He called the recent applications filed by attorney Fred Smith which Attorney General Carl Bethel said exposed gaps in legislation on the issue - “mischief making”.

“We’re concerned generally about the mischief making that has been connected with this particular attorney and it has been going on for some time, and I hope now that the government is under attack, (Mr Smith) was their supporter but now they themselves are under attack, that they see this is not a partisan issue.

“Both political parties ought to have common face against those people who would undermine the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and its sovereignty and that is what this ventures into. It is being unpatriotic because what you’re doing is you’re trying to sabotage good governance in the Bahamas by overwhelming us with a number of cases which we already have a difficulty dealing with administratively.

“There is all this talk all the time about there being a gap in our laws - there is no gap in the law. I’m not arguing whether the law is right or wrong at this point, what I know is the framers

of the Constitution drafted the Constitution in the way they did because that is what they intended and the intention is clear and the law is clear.

“If your parents are not Bahamian citizens, and you are born in The Bahamas, you are not Bahamian, you have to apply – that’s it. There is no gap, there is no ambiguity, and the framers of the Constitution intended that to be so.”

Mr Mitchell acknowledged the need for reforms at a press conference held in the Minority Room at the House of Assembly.

“The history of how this is done needs to be examined and I guess this will go up to the policy court which is where it has to be sorted out. So if we’re talking about reforms, one of the reforms has to be, and this was on our plate as well, one of the reforms was that the actual registration of Births Act has to be amended to when the child

is born to include a footprint at the time the child is born, and that travels with you.

“One of the reasons why we agreed to implement this policy on November 1, 2014, that everybody had to have a status was to deal precisely with this problem.

We said that those people coming 18 years from now would not have a problem because they would have an official track from the time they were born to the time they apply.”

The Immigration Department has come under heavy scrutiny following the landmark case of Bahamas-born deportee Jean Rony JeanCharles, which officials note has highlighted the need for widespread reforms.

Mr Jean-Charles’ case was among some 15 separate cases in which the government was asked to prove the lawfulness of the applicants’ arrest and further detention at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Justice Hilton, in four separate rulings last Tuesday, said the Department of Immigration did not appear to have utilised the procedures specified in the Immigration Act for reasons “best known to themselves” when dealing with these individuals, and that there is “no other basis” upon which they could be held and detained.

– in other words, to determine who its citizens are – and to regulate the entry and impose conditions on the entry and stay within The Bahamas of persons who are not citizens or permanent residents.

“Further, the law enforcement agencies of this country have a duty to uphold and enforce the immigration laws of this country, and to use every lawful means to do so. Of course, this will always be done with the greatest respect for human rights and common humanity, but the rule of law also requires the enforcement of laws.

“While persons and groups are afforded a constitutional right to freedom of speech, it should also

be remembered that free speech is subject to limitations, and that it cannot be misused to spread propaganda, create hysteria and perpetrate deliberate inaccuracies to accomplish a specific agenda.

“Bahamians and all lawful residents of The Bahamas can rest assured that the government is determined to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this country, and particularly to defend its borders, and the patrimony of Bahamians from what appears to be a long-running ‘silent invasion’ – while maintaining the rule of law with decency and common humanity – and will not allow this solemn duty to be subverted by any person or group of persons.”

PAGE 4, Monday, March 5, 2018

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,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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-

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Trump decisions unsettle the world WAR is very much on people’s minds today in Washington, DC, and New York City. Maybe it is a hot topic in Beijing and Moscow, too. There is certainly concern in Ottawa, London, Paris, Berlin and Mexico City.

Why is this so? Part of the explanation points directly to the foolish, callow and greedy actions of US president Donald Trump. At the end of last week he did several things that have unsettled markets around the world. He began the week by rattling his economic sabre at America’s NAFTA trade partners, Mexico and Canada. Negotiations with America’s two biggest neighbours and two of its three largest trading partners on the 20-year-old regional trade pact have not been going harmoniously.

Then, later in an eventful week, Trump did something for which there can be almost no reasonable explanation. He unilaterally announced a 25% American tariff on imported steel and a 10% tariff on imported aluminum.

Markets sagged in New York and elsewhere. Respected economists in the US and especially Europe were quick to condemn the move, pointing out that its only justification could be campaign pledges Trump made during the 2016 election.

Republicans have championed free trade almost since the days of John Maynard Keynes. Free trade punishes market inefficiencies and may well compel national economies to make corresponding corrections. Democrats in the US, whose major constituency has been and largely remains organized labour, have been cooler toward free trade, but have not consistently fought against it.

Trump tramped around during the 2016 election boasting to workers in the depressed American Rust Belt that trade pacts had hurt them and that he would work to restore dilapidated US industrial sectors. In areas such as West Virginia, northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania and much of the automobile industry-dependent upper Middle West, this played well. A plausible case can be made that this strategy won the election for him But serious policymakers in important nations are speaking out quite forcefully against Trump’s latest impulsive foolishness. A trade war sparked by the impetuous, often thoughtless US president will almost certainly sabotage a heartening world economic surge which is likely founded on globalism and many

of the very policies that Trump criticised for political gain. He has forgotten that he now represents the US national interest and that interest is most definitely not served by selfish, tariff-based international economic policies.

But the week was not limited to the dire economic consequences of Trump’s obdurate short sightedness. Potentially ominous news emerged from both Beijing and Moscow. In the Chinese capital, that nation’s constitution has been amended by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party to rescind a two-term limit on the country’s president and vice president.

This means President Xi Jinping, who assumed the presidency almost exactly five years ago, may potentially serve indefinitely. As he has methodically aggregated power and influence during a political career that has seen him rise quickly through the Communist party ranks, Xi has revealed strong nationalistic tendencies and a propensity for aggressive foreign engagement.

There are reports that Xi admires his counterpart in Moscow. Vladimir Putin chose last week to announce a new weapons system he claimed could elude and penetrate existing US anti-missile defense systems. Whether this is actually true or not – many US observers are sceptical, at least for now – Putin’s own brand of strongly nationalistic aggression beyond Russian borders seemingly got a boost.

Putin’s continued assertiveness in Syria provides further evidence he may be starting to give up on Trump’s impressionability and foreign policy ignorance as a facilitator of significant Russian strategic and tactical advantage.

There is little if any evidence that Russia plans to scale back its hostile attempts to manipulate American elections this year. Virtually every senior American national security policy leader has warned against just this. Only Trump appears to continue to keep his head in the sand.

It all adds up to a growing feeling of pessimism about the future of international economic and political relations.

Things aren’t perfect now: There are active wars raging in Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East. A deepening economic crisis in Venezuela threatens regional stability. Other crises persist. But hope for responsible American leadership recedes with each passing day.

Battling crime EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM concerned and aware of the challenges you face with the free run of criminality in this country. To minimise the excess ‘law breakers’ on the road I notice the new licence plates are not easily seen because the colour and the number on the plates are both dark. The decal window sticker should be exchanged to a different colour every year making it easy for officers to identify expire dates. The colour however appears to remain the same, making it difficult to identify from a distance.

There seems to be a shortage of traffic police so that many offences are frequently committed. The fear of breaking traffic laws seem nonexistent, unlike in the past, where you didn’t know where a police officer would come from.

It appears like more traffic police are needed to be on the road than in offices, as was in the past.

Motor cyclists in particular are needed. There is a shortage of vehicles perhaps our Prime Minister may remember his pledge to supply vehicles.

Law enforcement officers

themselves should also set example by keeping the law.

This war will come under greater control through continued vigilance and cooperation with everyone.

The Bahamas will become a “powerful nation” as we have much to offer. We therefore would have to increase all areas of law enforcement and security as people will continue to come in large numbers.

Preparation should take place now!

and was settling in, he thought it would be good for him to join our Christian Council, which he did.

Not long after, he told the story, that a matter being discussed was put to a vote by secret ballot. The votes were cast, and counted “openly”, and whatever the issue was it was thereupon decided.

But being the curious type,

he looked around the room and counted those attending (and voting) at the meeting and was shocked to discover that “somehow” more votes had been counted than there were people voting. He was shocked!

Fingers crossed !

BRUCE. G. RAINE Nassau, February 27, 2018.

OPTIMISTIC Nassau, February, 2018.

How many votes?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Guardian headline today says “Pastors to Vote on Marital Rape Issue”. As is commonly seen on Social Media these days, I nearly BOL (Bust out Laughing).

It brought back to memory, a number of years ago, when my church engaged a Pastor from Missouri.

Not long after he arrived

Sea Wolf sails into eternity EDITOR, The Tribune.

Almost 40 years ago when Durward Randolph Knowles was boarding a tug-boat to go and pilot a luxury ocean liner into Nassau harbour, he invited two mildly curious young Bahamians to come along for the experience.

We did not know of his great Olympic pedigree and had no way of knowing that we were in the company of one of the greatest Bahamian athletes. Ever.

That he had already burnished his reputation on the sea was lost to us.

He wanted to know what school we attended; what sports we liked and he invited us to stay in school and to do well. He was kind and affable. That is until the mighty hull of the S/S Oceanic came into view.

Then he disappeared as the cruise liner came alongside our puny boat. By what seemed like magic this huge boat was backed into a berth at Prince George Dock. We didn’t appreciate then the skill required to be a harbour pilot. Sir Durward, unbeknownst to us, made it all look so easy.

I didn’t directly encounter Sir Durward again until introduced to him by the late Sir Arlington Butler just before the national team departed for the 7th Pan American Games in Mexico City in 1975. Sir Durward was ebullient.

Although there were no sailors on the team, it was his Bahamian team going into battle and that was all that mattered.

And so, it was with nostalgic pain that I accepted the news of his recent passing. It was as if an old uncle had died, the type of family member that you loved and revered because of all the nice things that you had come to learn about him.

Durward Knowles transcended race and class. He was not born into a wealthy family but because his father made his living off the sea, the family moved in the most well-to-do circles in the country at the time.

None of the expected snobbery or elitism stuck to Sir Durward. His mother had died when he was just four and his sisters helped raise him. He was literally thrown into the water and came up swimming, never

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net once complaining.

He attended private prep school but in old age spoke most fondly about his time at QC and his sporting pursuits there. He had to make a living and so naturally went into the family business - boats.

Only, his definition of family extended beyond the Knowles clan.

The entire Bahamas was his extended family and it was to the development of the country that he applied himself. He went to Britain to qualify for the Olympics and when he and Cecil Cooke won the gold against all odds, it was The Bahamas that he boasted about to all and sundry, not England.

The sociologist Malcolm Gladwell wrote a bestselling book in 2005 called Outliers: The Story of Success. In it he dispelled the myth about success having to do with luck. It was decades of hard work that produced champions.

When Sir Durward won Olympic gold, he had been sailing for decades in and around The Bahamas, Cuba and Florida. He had already mastered Star Class boats.

Taking a tack in the waters of Tokyo Bay was no more difficult than making the cut around Rose Island to get back to the Yacht Club at Montagu before sunset.

He organised harbour pilots after realising that the tourism industry was taking off, bigger cruise ships were calling at Nassau and the insurers in London were demanding that only seasoned captains navigate the rocks and shoals leading into the harbour.

That made Sir Durward a wealthy man. The wealth made him comfortable but not contented. Contentment came from engaging with young Bahamians much like he had done on the deck of his harbour patrol boat back in 1970.

The Sea Wolf didn’t just look back, he gave back.

And the country returned the favour with the kind of love, respect and admiration that I suspect helped to keep him going strong for 100 years. He retired but like the Olympian that he

is, he stayed in the game.

He gave his money away for worthwhile causes. He gave his Olympic medals to the nation to be housed at the national museum. He supported local causes. He was a Rotarian, a humanitarian and a nationalist.

A stauncher defender of Bahamians you would be hard pressed to find.

Bahamians of all races and political stripes found harmony in supporting the political decisions made to honour him when he was alive. He was knighted by the Queen and I am sure Her Majesty would have graciously accepted any of over a dozen reasons for doing so - from his Olympic success, to his community service, his promotion of Bahamian business, young people or even tourism development. He was all of those and more.

I am told that near and dear to him was the Order of Merit that the country gave him as he delighted in all things Bahamian.

Fittingly, there is a Legendclass patrol boat belonging to the Defence Force that bears his name.

He is an original inductee into the sporting hall of fame and his likeness smiles down on tourists who file past our photograph-lined hall of fame at the Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport.

It is most fitting now that we consider a posthumous honour for this legend. Sir Durward was part of the vision and the construction of the Nassau Yacht Haven and the Hurricane Hole Marina on Paradise Island which made super-yacht sailing s high-end contributor to our tourism economy.

We should now consider removing the name of Prince George, the Duke of Kent, from our premier dock in downtown Nassau.

It was named to honour the uncle of the Queen who was killed in a plane crash in Scotland in 1942. We should rename it after this native son who brought us fame and glory on the water. He was a home-grown patriot and an all-round nice guy.

The Sir Durward Knowles Dock has a nice ring to it.

THE GRADUATE Nassau March 4, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 5, 2018, PAGE 5

School beatings must be very last resort from page one said the practice may be discontinued.

Mr Lloyd said: “I am not in favour of corporal punishment as a first, second, third or fourth option. I think there is obviously a place for maybe some use of corporal punishment but I believe that all other options should be exhausted first.

“Unfortunately as a

society that is the first option we run to and I’m not going to tolerate that.

I’m not going to accept it. There are many, many other very important, very effective options that can be utilised long before that is contemplated.

“I mean it really is an egregious circumstance for a child to have to be submitted to corporal punishment; under only the most egregious and I think that the rules require that

any time such an act is going to in fact be exercised you have got to have witnesses there so it could be done in a most respectful and humane way.

“So we have to be very careful about this use of corporal punishment. We have a violent society.

Why would we want to further create a culture of violence by inflicting and utilising this form of correction as a first option when there are so many

other options we could employ? No. I’m not going to stand for that.”

He added: “We’re going to have a discussion with our team and we’re going to look at the policy and we’re going to make the necessary judgment reflecting the science of the day.

“There is evidence now as to what works and what does not work. We don’t have to feel and scramble around about it. You don’t go to a doctor and be

guessing about what kind of treatment for particular maladies of your physical being should be employed.

There are options so that’s what we are going to investigate.”

Traditionally, corporal punishment has had fierce defenders and some critics in The Bahamas.

In 2010, a study by researchers at the University of The Bahamas investigating the prevalence of corporal punishment

of children in Bahamian households found that 77 per cent of households with children reported that “spanking” was sometimes used to discipline the minors.

The study concluded that violence between adults happened more in households where children were spanked “often” than when they were not spanked often.

The survey involved 933 people and 12 case studies.

UNION BACKS SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AFTER STAFF SIT OUT

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Educators Managerial Union defended Stephen Dillet Primary School Principal Phyllis Johnson on Friday in the wake of the “disgraceful public attack” the BEMU said she experienced last week.

Eighteen Stephen Dillet teachers participated in a “sit out” outside the school’s gates after lunch last Monday. The incident came after Ms Johnson allegedly prevented them from holding a lunchtime union meeting inside the school.

The teachers claimed the principal has been disrespectful to them and refused to address their concerns.

They also circulated a petition listing their concerns about her, which was signed by 30 of the school’s 40 teachers.

On Friday, BEMU held a press conference discussing the demonstration and a viral “social recording” that allegedly features Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson calling the principal a “hot mess”.

BEMU President Charles Wildgoose said: “In the past few months, we’ve experienced a number of unwarranted, unacceptable personal attacks on educational managers and supervisors.

“However, this most recent, disgraceful public attack on (Ms Johnson) has left us no other alternative than to make clear to all and sundry that our members have rights which shall not be violated or abused by anyone.

“We take this opportunity

TEACHERS at Stephen Dillet Primary School pictured during their protest.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff “These types of interrupunion meetings during the to inform our members and leaders and all who are the general public that the tions during the course of course of the day.” expected to assist with cer“The meetings were to be tain discipline stuff during mistruths that have been school hours are reasons directed towards (Ms John- why these concerns were held in an allotted time frame; lunchtime, when all the son) by the president of the addressed in our collec- however, this agreement was teachers meet, then the BUT are neither profes- tive bargaining agreement severely abused and the stu- administration of the school (CBA). dents’ instructional time was is left to completely man the sional nor warranted.”

“BEMU’s executive offic- impeded upon.”

Mr Wildgoose continued: entire school population.

According to BEMU “The personal attack being ers have participated in “That particular day, (the referred to as a ‘hot mess’ meetings with BUT…in an Executive Vice President principal) had two adminand the mistruth about Ms attempt to resolve matters Gina Sweeting-Moss, Ms istrators who would not be Johnson being transferred of concern amicably and Johnson never told the present. And so, there was teachers they could not a shortage of manpower to to four schools in five years professionally.

“Each attempt was have a union meeting. by the president of the BUT deal with the safety of all Mrs Sweeting-Moss said the students at one time.” goes against every code of met with gross disrespect ethics adopted by BEMU, towards educational man- the issue “was just the Consequently, Ms Johnour union, the (Carib- agers and supervisors, that timing for that particular son suggested the meeting bean Union of Teachers), is principals who granted day”. be held at 3pm, after school.

“Because when teachers the (International Labour permission (in good faith) According to Mr WildOrganisation) and Edu- for BUT’s president to hold meet at lunchtime, team goose, following this, the cational International, of which BEMU is a bona fide member.

principal was met with “insults in front of (her) staff (by BUT’s President)” and barred from the room.

Mr Wildgoose added: “During this week’s incident, an eight-yearold student experienced a severe asthma attack, during the time when teachers had left their posts and students were unsupervised.

“The child’s classmates had to run and report the emergency to an administrator. An ambulance was called and dealt with the child’s emergency.”

He continued: “While we acknowledge that there are many leadership styles, we can say that (Mrs Johnson) has applied, met the requirements and deemed capable to be promoted to the post of principal in our country’s educational system.

“At present, she has been rated outstanding in her performance.

“Additionally, it has been noted, by her supervisor or superintendent that she is a strong instructional leader, who seeks to improve student achievement.

“At present, we can illafford these persistent interruptions in the educational achievement of our nation’s youth.

“We therefore appeal to the president of the BUT to work with us as we abide by the dictates of our individual CBAs. Our students deserve better.”

As for the petition listing the teachers’ concerns about Ms Johnson, Mrs Sweeting-Moss said the teachers have escalated that to the director of education’s office, adding the BEMU could no longer comment on that matter.

PAGE 6, Monday, March 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Smith to launch judicial review over Oban heads of agreement

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FRED Smith, QC, attacked the government yesterday for a deal prohibiting it from terminating the heads of agreement with Oban Energies whatever an environment impact assessment may find, insisting he will launch judicial review proceedings within weeks to challenge the legality of the provision.

He said “dozens” of Grand Bahama residents have asked him to do so.

A persistent critic of administrations that push developments before consultation and environment assessments are completed, he said this is the first heads of agreement he has seen that features this provision.

Perhaps to mitigate the provision’s effects,

the heads of agreement empowers the minister responsible for the environment to halt use of any equipment that causes environmental infractions.

But Mr Smith said this is useless without environmental laws that give the minister such enforcement power.

He said: “Does the minister of the environment have any statutory portfolio?

Is there an Environmental Protection Act which gives him regulatory power to enforce any of the environment provisions in the agreement? Is there an Environment Protection Agency? This is an ineffectual environmental protection clause because there is no statutory process for enforcement. If they had passed an Environment Protection Act and created an EPA, that would give the minister teeth to sink

into polluters. But that’s the problem. There is no act that the minister of environment can go to enforce anything.”

He added: “This heads of agreement and this particular clause makes a mockery of the rule of law. It undermines all of the statutory bodies in which Parliament has reposed the obligation to receive applications under the Building Controls Act, the Planning and Subdivisions Act, the Port Authorities Act, and the Conservation and Protection of the Physical Landscape Act. It means that all of those regulatory bodies which have been created by Parliament to provide an organised code of regulated development have been illegally stripped by the dictatorship of the Office of the Prime Minister from being able to properly perform their statutory functions.

“Given this heads of agreement, can anyone honestly believe that the director of physical planning under the Subdivisions Act or the building controls officer or the BEST Commission or any functionary in the galaxy of our regularity agencies will be able to control Oban, the developer?

“I can confirm that I have instructions from residents of Grand Bahama to launch a judicial review to set aside the heads of agreement as an illegal agreement because it is entered completely outside the laws passed by Parliament and there has been no consultation with the people who will be most affected.”

Grand Bahama has been in dire need of investments.

The $5.5 billion oil storage and refinery project would employ up to 600 people directly during construction and 250 people when

completed, the heads of agreement said.

Gowon Bowe, president of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants, acknowledged the need to jolt Grand Bahama’s economy yesterday but suggested the no-termination over the EIA clause goes too far.

“The country is not at a point where any and everything should be accepted,” he said. “It still has a tremendous amount of natural potential in so many areas.

While a major island, Grand Bahama should not be sacrificed simply to provide short-term benefit when there is a need for a clear assessment and a longer-term plans.

“Going back to the National Development Plan when we try to turn economic fortunes around, we have to be clear what we are going to leverage from each island. If we

believe Grand Bahama has prospects for major tourist projects in locations where there are tourist attractions now, then we have to be careful not to disrupt that.

While there is anxiety to get the economy jumpstarted, we can’t sacrifice long-term prosperity for short-term gains.”

Mr Bowe said the heads of agreement tabled last week did not answer key questions about the project and he reiterated his view that professionals at the Bahamas Investment Authority should explain their due diligence efforts and the mitigation factors they considered before recommending the project to stakeholders.

“There is still no clarity on who the principal investors are and where the finances for the project are going to come from,” Mr Bowe said.

agreement between Oban and the government and then we looked at the signature page and the signature page had someone who was not at the signing for what was supposed to have been the signing.

“So were there two different documents and if there are two different documents which one are we relying on, the one that’s in the House or the one that was signed (at the Office of the Prime Minister)?

“I’m told there was a whisper across the floor that the signing was only ceremonial but if that’s the case that’s a great fraud perpetrated on the Bahamian people; it’s a hoax and so an explanation has to come forward as to why we’re dealing with two different signatures or signatories to this supposed heads of agreement.”

Mr Mitchell stopped short of questioning the credibility of the process, but said: “Our whole response to this as a party was this heads of agreement was cobbled up simply to get them out of the issue with (House Speaker Halson Moultrie) and the rubbish which he spoke and embarrassed them as a party, so they had to cobble this up quickly together to shift attention away from that and, of course, in the rush you make lots of mistakes and now people are picking it apart.”

Meanwhile former Minister for Grand Bahama and PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville is very concerned about a clause in the heads of agreement that allows the proposed oil refinery project to continue despite the eventual findings of an environmental impact assessment.

He noted that the site of the proposed project is in “an environmentally sensitive area” in East Grand Bahama.

Dr Darville believes that the clause should have been excluded from the agreement, saying signing such a document without an EIA first is putting the cart before the horse.

“In browsing the HOA tabled (Thursday), I understand that this issue with the EIA is of concern. I

would say clearly that the people of GB will not stand by and allow a project in East Grand Bahama to destroy the environment that is so necessary for the survival of this entire island,” he said.

“I have great concern about it (the clause). I do not think it should be included in the HOA. I always say it is not good to put the cart before the horse. And I think in this particular case, the government should have done their due diligence to ensure that the EIA was adequate for the proposed site rather than going the opposite way.

“They will definitely have major criticisms because of that clause. And to backpedal now to try to figure it out could mean litigation or some issues for the government to try to pull out of the deal,” said Dr Darville.

Dr Darville says he has been following the matter with Oban very carefully since the announcement by the prime minister about the project for East Grand Bahama.

“I can say that I have some concerns that stem back from the time when I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of Oban’s technical team,” said the former minister for Grand Bahama.

Senator Darville indicated that he visited the

proposed site which is near Stat Oil when working closely with Carnival for a heads of agreement for a cruise port in that area.

“What we found is that there are some sensitive water aquifers under the ground that is very important for the longevity of water supply for the entire island of Grand Bahama,” he said.

“So any project that would go into that area must satisfy these environmental concerns.”

The heads of agreement says: “The parties agree that the government shall not have the right to terminate these heads of agreement based upon any EIA report, but instead shall work with the developer to mitigate any concerns. If the government does not provide any such comments to the EIA within (a) 60-day period, the EIA shall be deemed acceptable to the government.”

The agreement requires the developer to first conduct an EIA for the oil refinery or terminal part of the development, then for all subsequent portions of the project.

The government would have 60 days after the agreement is submitted to provide comments and to prompt the developer to take precautions or make modifications that could address its concerns.

MITCHELL: IF KRIEGER DIDN’T SIGN HEADS OF AGREEMENT, WHAT DID HE SIGN?

By RASHAD ROLLE and DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporters

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell is questioning why the heads of agreement for Oban Energies that Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis tabled Thursday evening featured no signature from Peter Krieger.

Mr Krieger is the nonexecutive chairman of the company who signed a document two weeks ago at a media event at the Office of the Prime Minister marking the signing of the heads of agreement.

However, his signature was nowhere on the tabled document. That agreement was signed by Satpal Dhunna, identified as the president of Oban Energies.

At an immigration press

PETER Krieger at the signing ceremony. conference on Friday, Mr Mitchell said: “Which document is the document that we are relying on as the heads of agreement? Yesterday the government tabled what was supposed to have been the heads of

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 5, 2018, PAGE 7

KFC killer seeks more time for appeal challenge

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN sentenced to life in prison for murdering and robbing a messenger of a fast-food restaurant in Grand Bahama during his deposit run 12 years ago, is seeking more time in which to legally contest his punishment.

Angelo Rahming appeared before appellate Justices Jon Isaacs, Roy Jones, and acting appellate Justice Sir Michael Barnett concerning his intended appeal of his conviction and sentence concerning the

murder and armed robbery of Troy Seymour in November 2006.

However, the matter was ultimately adjourned to April 18, at which time the appellate judges will adjudicate on Rahming’s extension of time application to appeal his conviction and sentence, and if that application is successful, then deal with the substantive appeal.

In 2013, Rahming, of Eight Mile Rock, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a second time following his retrial over the fatal shooting and stabbing of Seymour on

November 13, 2006. The first time he was sentenced for the crimes was in 2010.

On the day in question, Seymour was held up for $11,529 belonging to Kentucky Fried Chicken shortly after picking up the deposit bag from the establishment.

While being chased, he was shot in the hip and the back. When he sought help in his grandmother’s home, he was repeatedly stabbed in the back by Rahming.

Rahming was initially convicted and sentenced to life for the matter after attempting to change his

guilty plea, claiming he was intoxicated when the plea was entered.

In February 2012, Rahming challenged the conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal, which consequently ordered a retrial. The prosecution conceded that the process in determining if the plea should be accepted was unfair.

Rahming’s retrial began in early 2013, at which time evidence surfaced that Rahming had previously worked for KFC as a landscaper. According to a worker in the franchise, he was hired through Seymour

for the job.

A witness testified that while walking on Bayshore Road, he saw a white KFC truck drive past him and then heard a loud shooting sound. He saw Seymour, whom he knew as a pastor, get out of the driver’s seat and run. He was pursued by a man who fired two more shots.

The witness saw Seymour run into a pink and white house. He was followed by the assailant, who after some time, left the building and was picked up by a Ford Taurus car.

The man went to the house and heard a woman

screaming for help. She wanted someone to call for an ambulance.

Police testified that Rahming, who they arrested nearly a year later in September 2007, pointed out a basketball court where he waited with a friend on a lookout for Seymour with whom he eventually caught a ride.

At the end of his retrial, the Crown sought the death penalty because the murder was executed during the course of a felony.

However, Justice Carolita Bethel did not agree with the Crown, and instead imposed a life sentence.

A CHEQUE is presented at the first DJ Soundclash held at the University of The Bahamas by Aliv on Thursday. Pictured presenting DJ Melody with the cheque are, from left, Office of University Relations representative Nikki Bethel, Chief Aliv business developer Gravette Brown, DJ Melody, vice president of institutional advancement and alumni affairs Davinia Blair and Aliv events and sponsorship manager Bianca Bethel-Sawyer.

SOUNDCLASH TURNS UP THE TALENT AT UNIVERSITY ALIV successfully held its first DJ Soundclash at The University of The Bahamas on Thursday.

Two UB students showcased their musical talents on the turntables at UB’s courtyard and were judged by Aliv’s own social media influencer, DJ Ovadose.

DJ Ovadose also shared

with the participants and the crowd valuable lessons to focus on such as crowd interaction and mixing. DJ Melody, who faced DJ Flex, took home the crown and received free tuition for one course at UB. Pictured right with the two contestants is 100 Jamz representative DJ AI.

GIBSON CALLS FOR TIGHTER LAWS OVER HIT AND RUN INCIDENTS LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has called for stricter traffic laws relating to hit and runs.

His comments came after a jogger, Penny Sirra, was killed during a hit and run in Cable Beach last week.

Mr Gibson said he was also the victim of a hit and run, but thankfully was not hurt even though his car was damaged.

“Mr Speaker, I was the victim of a hit and run on Tuesday,” Mr Gibson said Thursday, while speaking in the House of Assembly in a debate on the Financial Transactions Reporting Bill and the Proceeds of Crime Bill.

“I was driving west along West Bay Street, near St Alban’s Drive when a black/dark blue Nissan Teana, driven by a dark male drove out of the yard of a nearby business place and sped head-on into me. Then the driver reversed his vehicle and sped along Bay Street heading east, notwithstanding the fact that witnesses were clearly on

site and it was recorded by video cameras. Physically, I’m fine; thank God the driver’s side is to the right.

However, my car has been seriously damaged.

“And just yesterday, I found out that the lady killed on West Bay Street – by hit and run that morning – was Penny Sirra.

Penny was a long-time friend. “...Penny was a wonderful person; loving, always smiling and joking.

When I last saw her a few months ago, we talked and laughed about old stories and pondered the future.

She expressed how proud she and her family was of me, their friend and student.”

Mr Gibson said his experience and the death of Sirra shows the need to strengthen the laws as it relates to hit and runs.

“A police officer told me of the thousands of uninsured drivers on our roads and the need to clamp down on that, even if it means having serious and frank conversations

with the insurance companies relative to their processes.

“Unquestionably, the vehicular licencing processes must be reviewed.

People must know that there will be consequences for such barbarous, inhuman acts. This is becoming too frequent. It is as if some people have no moral code, no moral centre, no sense of right and wrong, no sense of decency.”

Concerning the bills which were being debated last week, Mr Gibson said he supports the legislation but said they would only be successful if enforced.

“We have always been weak in the pursuit of white collar crimes. These bills — and their enforcement — will tighten the noose around those businesses and persons who participate in the same but get away scot-free.”

He added the following suggestions: “Mr Speaker, the unexplained wealth order aspect of the Proceeds of Crime Bill demonstrates a

MAN DIES AS HE IS FLUNG FROM TRUCK IN CRASH A MAN is dead after a traffic accident in New Providence on Friday.

According to police, shortly after 9pm a traffic accident occurred at Gibbs Corner and West Avenue involving a Nissan Teana and a white Ford F-150 truck. Two male passengers who were on the back of the truck were ejected and taken to hospital with serious injuries.

One of the men was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police said the drivers

of both vehicles remained at the scene and are assisting police with the investigation.

The incident marked the 16th traffic fatality for the year.

Last week Assistant Commissioner of Operational Support Kendall Strachan, in the wake of recent traffic fatalities, pleaded with the public to exercise good road safety habits.

He said: “We are appealing to every one of you, drivers and

pedestrians, to pay attention. And while we are also appealing, we constantly remind you of the importance of ensuring that you, firstly, and secondly the vehicle that you are driving, are appropriate for the streets.”

He called for drivers to hold valid licences and all vehicles to be properly licenced, registered, and insured.

He advised pedestrians to wear bright clothing, stay on the sidewalk, and exercise in well-lit areas.

flexibility that traverses both the civil and the criminal law. I appreciate that; however, I urge that — given the extent of the section — it should be applied with the greatest caution, ensuring that checks and balances are evident in line with the Constitution.

“Whilst at it, Mr Speaker, I also say that

the applicability of the new legislation relative to attorneys — must align with an attorney-client confidentiality as set out in the Bar Code of Ethics and is codified by the Constitution.”

The Proceeds of Crime Bill was sparked by weaknesses identified in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s assessment of

the country’s anti-money laundering defences last year.

Among other things, the bill will allow authorities to target the wealth of civil servants, politicians, their relatives and suspected criminals who live beyond their legal income.

The two bills are meant to clamp down on corruption and crime.

PAGE 8, Monday, March 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

No trial until 2019 for alleged killers in Fox Hill shooting

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE mother of a victim of the 2013 Fox Hill mass shooting yesterday condemned the decision to delay the trial of her son’s alleged killers until late next year.

Sonia Kemp told The Tribune the ruling for the 2019 trial had left her feeling no one cared about the death of her son, Shaquille Demeritte.

On Friday, three men appeared in court charged with Demeritte’s murder along with the deaths of Claudezino Davis, Eric Morrison and Shenique Sands.

Justin Williams, Jermaine Curry and Peter Rolle were told they will stand trial between November 11-22, 2019, before Supreme

Court Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson for their alleged involvement in the killings.

They are also charged with trying to murder Chino, Janet and John Davis, Benjamin Demeritte, Samuel Ferguson, Jermaine Pratt and Leroy Taylor.

Around 6pm on the day in question, occupants of a small, dark vehicle opened fire “with a variety of weapons” in the area just behind the basketball court where several people were gathered awaiting Junkanoo results.

Claudezino Davis was pronounced dead at the scene while ten others were taken to hospital in private vehicles and an ambulance.

Shaquille Demeritte, Morrison and Sands died in hospital of their injuries.

Last week, Shaquille Demeritte’s mother told

The Tribune how difficult life had been since she lost her son.

She was devastated when this newspaper broke the news to her that the trial will now not take place for another 20 months.

“I am in total shock,” the devastated mother said.

“I just can’t stop the tears flowing out of my eyes.

Every time I look at a statement that says, ‘Shaquille Demeritte’ and ‘murdered’ behind his name it kills me.

“Oh my God, I don’t know what to say. It feels like nobody cares. What is going on? If it’s 2019 ‘til the trial that will make six years. If we need six years to try somebody in this country that can’t be right.

I have seen cases come and go in a matter of months, less than a year so why do we need six for the murder of my innocent son?”

SONIA Kemp at the funeral of her son, Shaquille Demeritte.

THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force worshipped yesterday with the Church of God of Prophecy on East Street.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

Oban could make billions.

We don’t even get a few cents on the barrel Not what we hoped for - yet again, Dr Minnis ANY number of pronouncements made by the prime minister can be pointed to when trying to assess what has caused the rapid deterioration of the goodwill he’s had with the Bahamian public.

Whether we look at the use of superfluous campaign rhetoric that has come back to haunt him, or careless use of speech on a few too many occasions when we needed to hear from a coherent and composed leader.

The prime minister is now seen as a walking public relations timebomb that can go off, or say something that will typically cause confusion and disbelief at any moment. It is simply what we’ve come to expect from Prime Minister Minnis.

Certainly, he must dread having to face the media. Perhaps this is why those promised press conferences that were recommitted to at the beginning of the year haven’t happened as yet. And being quite honest, based on his last interaction with the media when he attempted to suggest them doing their job could be likened to sitting atop the moon to fish, helps us to understand why.

Just as he dreads it, so do we. In a short tenmonth span, we have heard so many cringeworthy statements leave the prime minister’s mouth that it has become must-see TV – the kind you know is not good for you, but you still can’t take your eyes off the box. This is what we’ve come to expect when we hear from our nation’s leader.

It is utterly tragic.

While some have made it their sole purpose to remain a thorn in the prime minister’s side, I think there are a great many of us who want to see him succeed. This is not necessarily because we represent the “Hubert Minnis fan club”, but because we want to see the country become a better place.

However, with respect to the consistent questionable decision making, and lack of a plan that is accessible to the general public to be able to cross reference and make sense of, we aren’t left with much else.

The government’s most recent decision to sign a heads of agreement with Oban Energies without an EIA - which includes a stipulation that prevents

us from pulling out if the report reveals potentially hazardous findings - is one such decision. With all of the implications that exist, the government has compromised us to a degree where we have been bounded to work with Oban to cooperate and “mitigate” any potentially hazardous situation.

Seriously. Are we this much of a Third World country?

Moreover, those same rules, per the heads of agreement, do not apply to Oban, which can abandon the project at any point throughout its development.

Let’s be clear. The deal has great potential to be a very lucrative venture.

However, who really stands to benefit? Furthermore, it is just poorly constructed and was terribly communicated to the Bahamian people.

The least the prime minister could have done was explain to us why , at the signing ceremony in Oban’s representative we were looking at the antithesis of whom we would like to see the government signing deals with.In fact, his presence was merely for show. A public relations spectacle.

For the prime minister who came into office championing transparency and accountability, how are we to have confidence in a leader whose word is so shallow?

He hasn’t even addressed the public regarding the confusion that exists with who the owners of the company are and why have we not tried to achieve the best possible deal for his people - the Bahamian people. What is the difference between the former administration, which Minnis railed against for not being a government of the people, and the current one if both bring forth these landmark deals that only produce jobs for Bahamian people.

Could not the government be creative enough to negotiate a few cents on every barrel? Is our big win in this whole deal simply 250 jobs? Further, could they honestly

present it to the Bahamian people as a big accomplishment when juxtaposed with the billions of dollars Oban stands to make on this deal?

When are we as a people going to demand more from our government? When is our government going to demand more for its country?

The major disappointment is the prime minister led us all to believe he would be that leader.

He would usher us into a new era after the pain and suffering that has been experienced for far too long for so many of our brothers and sisters.

Rather, he follows an unsustainable model for advancing our country.

Job creation alone will not serve as our endall, be-all.

The more astute business minds in government must know this and advise the prime minister accordingly.

The cost of living is rising much higher than wages, and while jobs will be a much-needed help for our brothers and sisters in Grand Bahama – how sustainable is this model if it is all we have to offer them?

Just as a job can be given, it can be taken away. And unfortunately, our government signed a deal that does not guarantee protection of those jobs, in the event Oban decides to pull out.

At a time when the nation would like answers from their government from their prime minister - we get defensiveness.

We are somehow the enemy because we don’t like how something is done, and therefore, must be disregarded.

This flawed thinking will land this government where it landed the last one – on the outside.

Thus the story of the revolving door of governance goes. But in the meantime, what of the hopes and dreams of regular Bahamians who want to experience the fullness of the possibilities that living in a country so beautiful should provide?

Our circumstances do not exist because we do not have the resources.

Rather, they exist because of the underwhelming use thereof.

Our government should first get a clear understanding of what the Bahamian people really want, since it truly seems as they have no clue.

Our circumstances have become so depressed too

PETER KRIEGER, executive director of Oban Energies, at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Photos by: Yontalay Bowe/OPM Media Services many of us settle and sit on the sidelines while successive governments have run the show as they pleased to our detriment.

We decided last year that we had had enough.

Now, it is obvious that we must continue with the same fervour towards demanding our government earn our confidence.

We are hurting ourselves with the nonsensical lowering of what should be the debate when we argue over silly party politics.

Undoubtedly, if we are unable to see the great potential of not just this deal, but the many more that will come under this administration, and not

allow ourselves the freedom to be critical of it, we are doomed to fail.

The reality is no one in government is an expert on governing. Certainly not the prime minister, as we have seen through the series of missteps he has had. Therefore, the government, in particular Prime Minister Minnis, should be listening twice as hard as they speak.

Because it will be a long four years, not only for us, but for him as well. And once that time is done, if he is a man that truly cares for others, and also what they think of him, life as a civilian will not treat him kindly.

It is our incessant hope the prime minister is able to continue forming and hopefully become the leader we need him to be.

His wagon is hitched to that of future generations of Bahamians.

He should not only want his legacy to be one that affects that positively, but he should also work for it. If that means being able to accept that people are going to be critical of what he does, he has to be able to be humble and rise to the occasion.

It is the only way he will grow and realise his potential as prime minister.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Why ‘Get papers or get out’ is pure political nonsense

By FREDERICK SMITH QC THE policy of ordering irregular migrants to either “get papers or get out” is a glaring example of utter political nonsense. There can be no other term for it. This harebrained dictat is not only illegal; it is also completely irrational, totally hypocritical and fundamentally flawed in just about every way.

No doubt, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and Immigration Minister Brent Symonette are aware of this. The policy clearly has no practical use in achieving their own stated aims and should be viewed as nothing more than a cheap public relations stunt to take advantage of the discriminatory undercurrents in this society.

First of all, the policy itself is fundamentally inconsistent; even selfcontradictory. The Prime Minister, in urging irregular migrants to secure status, said: “there are too many individuals who are here illegally and taking jobs of Bahamians. They must be dealt with. I’m not saying you can’t stay, but there is a law and we are a society of laws – respect our laws, that’s all I ask.”

So, the objective is to protect Bahamian jobs, but at the same time a person can remain here, so long as they somehow manage to get “status”?

According to the nation’s leader then, people who have violated the Immigration Act can take Bahamians jobs after all, provided they manage to obtain the appropriate papers – although how they are supposed to do this by any legal means remains a mystery.

As it stands, the Immigration Department will not even consider an application for status from a person who has arrived here illegally or who has overstayed, unless they are out of the country. Telling people “You can remain if you get status” – when under the circumstances, status is impossible to get – is the very height and definition of deception and hypocrisy, and they know it.

Yet the smugness with which the FNM apply this baldfaced double standard

THE CARMICHAEL Road Detention Centre. was aptly highlighted by decades ago.

This gives rise to several Minister Symonette’s puerile, small-minded taunt to ironies. The first is there is migrants: “Don’t blame us” no law which requires any if you are deported – you person born in The Bahamas to “Get Papers”, or were told what to do.

Secondly, though the “Get Straight”, or “Get stated target of this policy Regularised” and finally is people who are “here “e-Documented”.

The second is that to the illegally”, in practice the victims have overwhelm- extent those born here do ingly been people born apply, it is the government in The Bahamas to for- itself that has failed to effieign parents. PM Minnis, ciently process thousands of status applicaSymonette tions of people and Immigra- A further born here, and tion, continue has not seen to abusively contradiction is fit to educate and tragi- that even while such individucally conflate urging people als about the migrants, application whether illegal to “regularise process, or or legal, with themselves” and their rights the thousands get their papers and entitleof persons ments under born in The in order, the the law.

Bahamas who Immigration “Get papers are in fact Department or get out,” Bahamian Citizens in continues to target suggests people have Waiting. foreigners who a choice. In These indi- have actually reality, it is viduals have a case of the not entered abided by the government without per- dictates of this manufacturmission or absurd policy. ing its own violated the category of Immigration Act in any other way. helpless victims, then perThey are totally innocent secuting them for political of any wrongdoing what- gain.

Thirdly, even if we take soever, yet they become the convenient scapegoats Minnis and Symonette at in this underhanded politi- their own word, the result cal game. Instead of being is a scenario in which born in a country that rec- people who violated the ognises their constitutional law can stay and have jobs, birthright citizenship, they but people with a legitiare born with the Original mate birthright who have Sin of their parents perhaps followed the proper prohaving entered illegally cedures but have been

ignored by government are to be targeted, deprived of their liberty and expelled.

A policy aimed at protecting Bahamian jobs that ends up privileging foreign lawbreakers over Bahamian-born followers of the law.

What could be more perverse than that?

A further contradiction is that even while urging people to “regularise themselves” and get their papers in order, the Immigration Department continues to target foreigners who have actually abided by the dictates of this absurd policy.

As numerous court filings and news reports attest, in the last few months alone, several individuals able to prove they are married to a Bahamian and who had submitted applications for a spousal permit were nevertheless arrested, detained and held for extended periods of time under threat of imminent deportation.

They, just like the many thousands of Bahamianborn individuals still in limbo, might be waiting months or even years for a reply from the very same Department that then turns around and deprives them of their liberty. They obeyed the Prime Minister, applied to “get papers”, but they still have to “get out”.

But perhaps the supreme irony is where the Prime Minister says: “We are a society of laws – respect our laws, that’s all I ask”.

This is precisely what the human rights community

would say to the Prime Minister, Minister of Immigration and the Department of Immigration – respect and follow your own laws, that is all we have ever asked. To this extent, the “Get papers or get out” policy is nothing more than a continuation of the tyrannical policies of former minister Fred Mitchell, whose speciality while in office was running interference for the Immigration Department while they continued to act illegally.

Concerning people who were born here, the policy is a complete contravention of their citizenship rights and their rights under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Immigration Act and the Constitution. What it says is: “If you don’t have a piece of paper which evidences that you have been granted citizenship or permanent residency, we will treat you as a ‘non-person’ and you will be denied all of your statutory and constitutional rights – we will be able to arrest you, detain you, never take you before the courts, and illegally expel you because we, the government, have not yet given you a paper to say you have a right to be here (even though the Constitution says we must) and worse still if you haven’t applied, we will simply get rid of you before you can apply.”

And yet while the government is deporting people who were born here, it is giving permits and visas to people who are not born here to come and work, get permanent residency and even citizenship and offering children from Dominica public education while denying or making it almost impossible for children born in The Bahamas of Haitian parentage to attend public school.

This is particularly perverse in relation to Bahamian-born people of Haitian parentage – the government is shipping those born in The Bahamas (including children) to Haiti against their will, while giving thousands of people born in Haiti permission to come and work in The Bahamas.

So, the policy does not protect jobs, it does not enforce the law and it targets innocent children, those who have not violated the Immigration Act, or those who have complied with the policy itself.

Clearly, the only real point of this otherwise futile exercise is to put on a very big, but ultimately false show of fighting illegal immigration for politically expedient purposes.

This is the more flattering interpretation. Another possibility is the policy amounts to a cover and distraction, the real aim being to systematically detain and expel from the country most or all members of a particular ethnic minority – a practice known to the international community as ethnic cleansing.

The truth is probably somewhere in between, but either way, what it amounts to is we have a government that is willing to pull the wool over the eyes of the public, engage in demagoguery, pander to a xenophobic lynch mob and

foment hate and discrimination against a vulnerable group, all in the name of continued popularity.

While the policy itself may be utter nonsense, its long-term consequences for our society are deadly serious.

The fact the Immigration Department has been allowed and even encouraged to continue to act illegally by successive governments is a threat to the rule of law and the very fabric of our democracy.

Consider that human rights activists have not only asked the Immigration Department to operate within the law, but have also repeatedly called on various branches of the executive – the Prime Minister, Minister of Immigration, Attorney General – to show the legality of their immigration policy.

They have all consistently ignored such requests while issuing harsher and harsher policies. It is as if they consider themselves above the law.

Even the notorious Loftus Roker, once widely regarded as the harshest and most draconian immigration minister in our history (whose place in the annals of embarrassing Bahamian history has of course been overtaken

by Fred Mitchell with PM Minnis and Symonette in a close dead heat) has declared the Department’s behaviour illegal, pointing out in a recent radio interview that every detained person should go before a court as soon as possible, rather than being deprived of their freedom indefinitely.

Yet the illegal behaviour is allowed to continue. How can the average citizen, the average migrant even, be asked to obey the law, when the authorities themselves refuse?

Meanwhile, Minnis and Symonette’s policy has sparked a series of hugely damaging public expressions of concern from dozens of top international observers.

For example, a joint statement calling for an end to the targeting of Bahamian-born children was signed by several groups, including Amnesty International; the Caribbean Institute for Human Rights; Robert F Kennedy Human Rights; and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

Amnesty International also issued an “Urgent Action” for one particular Bahamian-born individual, Jean Rony Jean-Charles, who disappeared while in the custody of the Immigration Department. And Dubravka Šimonovic, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women, warned the policy would lead to the “detention and quick deportation of hundreds of individuals, targeting the Haitian descent community disproportionately, some of whom may be born in The Bahamas.”

The Bahamas was also singled out in a major international declaration for its continuing practice of deporting people to Haiti without due process. It was signed by more than 20 international organizations and human rights activists, including the Washington Office on Latin America; the Americas Network on Nationality and Statelessness; the Centre for Justice and International Law; the Hope Border Institute and the National Lawyer’s Guild of the United States.

The “Get papers or get out” policy is not good news for The Bahamas on any level. It does not protect jobs, nor does it stop irregular migration; meanwhile, it is ruining our international reputation and making a mockery of the rule of law.

We must tell our politicians to cease the political tricks and gimmickry, and deliver honest, effective, fair and legal policy proposals for tackling our immigration problems.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018 PAGE 11

PEDESTRIAN AND DRIVER SAFETY TIPS

WALKING is a healthy activity, but you need to know the rules of pedestrian safety. Especially if you are walking in an area where there aren’t sidewalks or paths separate from the road. To stay safe walking, follow these rules.

1. Walk Facing Traffic When Walking on the Side of the Road If there is no sidewalk and you must walk on the side of the road, choose the side where you are facing oncoming traffic. This gives you the best chance to see traffic approaching closest to you.

2. Cross Safely Look both ways before crossing any street. Make eye contact with any drivers who may be turning. Give them a wave. Make sure they see you.

3. Walk Single File When Not Separated from the Road Unless you are on a E TRIBUNE sidewalk separated from the road or you are in a wide pedestrian lane, you should walk in single file.

This is especially important on a road with curves and where traffic has only a split second chance of seeing you before hitting you.

Police advice

By SERGEANT 3150 NATHALIE RANGER

4. Stay Aware of Bikes and Runners Share the road and path with bikes and runners.

Bike riders should alert you when approaching from behind with a bike bell.

Listen for them, and move to walk single file, allowing them to pass safely.

Runners should also call out for passing.

5. Be Visible Wear bright colours when walking in daytime.

When walking at night, wear light-coloured clothing and reflective clothing or a reflective vest to be visible. Drivers are often not expecting walkers to be out after dark, and you need to give them every chance to see you. Be just as cautious at dawn or twilight, as drivers still have limited visibility or may even have the setting or rising sun directly in their eyes.

or tripping hazards. Potential criminals see you as a distracted easy target.

Adopt habits that can keep your phone in your pocket, or at least stop in a safe place to complete your phone tasks before moving on.

9. Walk Dogs on Short Leashes 6. Be Predictable It is terrifying and tragic Make a practice of staying on one side of the path to witness dogs running out while walking rather than into traffic or getting into a weaving randomly from fatal dog fight, whether on side to side. Watch your leash or off leash. But there arm motions, or you may is also a danger when walkend up giving a black eye ing your dog on a long leash to a silently passing walker, that you will trip other walkers or bikers. runner, or biker.

10. Know When to Stop 7. Keep the Volume Walking Down Heat sickness, dehydraDon’t drown out your environment when listening tion, heart attack or stroke to your headphones. Keep can strike walkers of any the volume at a level where age. Learn the symptoms you can still hear warnings of medical emergencies from other walkers, bikers and carry a cell phone to E3SPORTS dial 919 or 911 and runners.

11. Be Aware of Stranger 8. Hang Up and Eyes Up Chatting, texting or play- Danger Choose your walking ing games on a mobile device while you walk is as route for paths frequented dangerous as doing those by other walkers, jogthings while driving. You gers, and bikers. If you see are distracted and not as someone suspicious, be preaware of your environ- pared to alter your course ment. You are less likely or go into a store or public to recognise traffic danger, building to avoid them. passing joggers and bikers Acting alert and aware

can convince bad guys to While Intoxicated (DWI). choose an easier target.

Alcohol slows your reflex12. Drivers ing, temporarily lowers • Stop for pedestrians at your mental acuity and crosswalks. can thus compromise your • Slow down and obey ability to control a vehithe speed limit. cle and drive it safely. A • Yield to pedestrians DUI arrest can lead to and cyclists when turning. expensive consequences, • Be careful when passing including spending time in stopped vehicles. jail, a suspended driver’s • Keep 100% of your licence and fines. If you hit attention on driving at all and/or kill someone while times. no multi-tasking. you are driving impaired, • Don’t use your phone the consequences are even or any other electronic worse. device while driving.

It is also illegal to have an • Slow down. Speeding open container of alcohol gives you less time to react in your car. If you’re transand increases the severity porting alcoholic beverages, of an accident. they should be sealed and • Don’t attempt to in the trunk. retrieve items that fall to Remember to buckle the floor. up, drive safe, be aware of • Always wear your seat pedestrians and other road belt and drive sober and users. Save a life that can be drug-free. your very own.

• Be aware that some Let’s make The Bahamas medications cause drowsi- a safer place to live, work, ness and make operating a visit and play vehicle very dangerous.

Friday, September 30, 2016, PAGE 3 • Don’t allow children • Please visit the Royal to fight or climb around in Bahamas Police Force your car, they should be Website at www.royalbahabuckled in their seats at all maspolice.org or Facebook times page at www.facebook.com/ Driving after drinking rbpforce for latest news, too much alcohol is known daily crime reports and as Driving under the Influ- additional crime prevention ence (DUI) or Driving tips.

Securing the skills the global economy wants

By STEPHEN MCPHEE, Principal of LW Young Jr High School

AS economies grow, countries are forced to change and make adjustments to national plans in order to benefit from this growth.

Many countries, as a result of the growth, have developed and improved existing plans for the future where emphasis is placed on soft and hard skills training as a vital component in their transformational process.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which is the acquisition of skills and knowledge for employment, has become a buzz topic for stakeholders.

These skills are viewed as the driver for a booming economy.

Similarly, American academician, Joel Spring, underscores the importance of possessing global skills in these modern times. He described skills as “the new global currency” and further highlighted that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank and the World Economic Forum are globally promoting skills-based training. Additionally, he listed six skills wanted by Global Business. These include: • the ability to obtain and process information • the capability to analyse quantitative data • the possession of technical information related to the job • the expertise of computer software programmes • the ability to create and edit written reports • the skill to sell or influence others.

As such, our students must decide quickly the trajectory they would like to pursue in order to participate in this economic advancement. Our students

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

must decide now how they will prepare to become productive citizens. Our students must decide if TVET is for them. How will they know TVET is for them? I feel there are three indicators: 1. If you are hands on, then TVET is for you. If you learn better by doing and if you rather work on projects, on case studies, in virtual labs using simulations, then it is best to pursue a technical education. If you have an affinity for automotive technology, plumbing, photography, cosmetology, fashion design, engineering, robotics, electrical contracting, culinary arts or health care, then TVET is for you. Technical schools lend themselves to practical experiences.

2. If you are not interested in a traditional college education, then TVET is for you. Most technical schools offer shorter programmes that can take up to two years to complete - provided you have the admission qualifications, whereas academia requires up to four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree. Consequently, those pursuing a technical education enter the workforce quicker.

3. If funding for tuition is an issue, then TVET is for you. A technical education is less expensive. Associate degrees, certificates, diplomas and certifications cost less than Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees. TVET allows individuals to further their

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education without ‘breaking the bank.’

In summary, TVET clearly plays a pivotal role in preparation of students for the workforce. Meanwhile, the mission of The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute - the premier school of its kind in the nation - is to provide learning opportunities that enable individuals to be globally competitive and economically independent. This institution has to remain faithful to its mandate to ensure our high school students are fully trained to participate in the global economy.

GAIN AN EDGE

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

PRINCIPAL of LW Young Jr High School Stephen McPhee with students in the school’s technical drawing workshop. From left, Ricardo Oberson, Crystal McDonald, Mr McPhee and Darron Allen.

PAGE 12 MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

INSIGHT

Well, that’s all clear then. I don’t think so.

Oban Mythology

SO now we have the 41-page Heads of Agreement that presumably any citizen may read, as I have done. It is signed for Oban Energies LLC not by Peter Krieger, the corpulent gentleman who featured in press photos with Prime Minister Minnis both putting pens on something — what? But Mr Krieger we were told is only the non-executive chairman, or “ambassador” for Oban.

The actual document bears the signature of Oban’s unseen President, Satpal Dhunna.

On the first page, one reads Oban has applied to construct in Grand Bahama a 20 million barrel liquid bulk Terminal costing $1.5bn and a 250,000 barrel-perday Oil Refinery costing USD $4bn. The remaining 40 pages tell how this is to be done, for completion by December 31, 2030, with ample provisions about environmental protection, Bahamian employment, use of Crown Lands, etc. Oban was approved as developer by the National Economic Council on December 1, 2016, laying some responsibility on the PLP administration.

Analysis of this lengthy material is futile and irrelevant, for one

reason: nowhere does it tell us who or what is Oban Energies LLC, other than a Florida limited liability company with a convenience address in Palm Beach Gardens — not a word is given about its shareholders or directors, its capital and assets, its corporate history and business, its financial track record, or any committed bankers. Messrs Krieger and Dhunna and the other executives named in its website (abruptly scrubbed after initial publicity) have been fully exposed by our vigilant press as people lacking the expertise, reputation or financial resources competent to lead this project.

To get the job done, only two possibilities exist: either Oban is already backed by experienced, well-funded principals whose names are not being revealed, or it will soon be looking for such principals. In Dr Minnis’ promised explanation of the HOA, perhaps he will comment on these unsavoury alternatives, which violate all principles of transparency.

The Changing Face of Banking There can only be applause for Government’s decision to cut red tape by scrapping the requirement of a street address for

a bank account, an absurdity in these days of mobile people connected by digital technology.

Changes go far deeper. Many of the daily financial services needed by the average citizen are now provided by firms like Omni Finance, operating 15 offices including three in the family islands, rather than by RBC Royal Bank, struggling to run a half dozen in New Providence and two in Grand Bahama. Omni is growing, with about 70 staff while the Royal is unabashedly shrinking its personnel, to offer better online service – they claim.

The officer who spoke a bit rashly at a recent conference has abruptly “retired”, with Royal’s best wishes.

In routine transactions like transferring funds between local banks, the Royal seems muscle-bound by its own procedures, taking three days to clear— and don’t even query the 30 days needed to credit a check drawn on a US bank.

Omni and its competitors like Western Union (operating through local franchisees) thrive by making thousands of instantaneous lowticket transfers, averaging $250, between Bahamian customers, which present no threat of money-laundering. The rare $10,000 entry, or any attempt at “layering” small amounts, is easily detected and investigated by a senior compliance officer.

The small transfer fees give Omni enough cash flow to enter the business of micro-lending, providing loans up to $2,500 payable within a year, without the cumbersome bfinancial statements and security documents demanded by commercial banks. And the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) has granted Omni a $1m credit to enter the factoring business. It provides the immediate cash essential for small and medium-sized businesses by purchasing their accounts receivable, a first in our country.

Well regulated and capitalized commercial banks will always be needed here to provide mortgage or consumer loans, or raise finance for large commercial projects, fields where Omni has no interest in competing. These

OLD bank on bay street. functions can be handled by specialised banking units, leaving Omni to provide money transfer services as licenced by the Central Bank and corporate administration under the Securities Commission.

Whether it might enter the business of securities dealing for its large stable of customers, is an open question.

Headquartered in a restored Colonial building on Parliament Street, entirely Bahamian-owned, Omni may be a good candidate to go public.

Equity investors would see a Board of well-known leaders like Dr John Rogers, Donald Tomlinson and Mike Alexiou and long-time CEO Harvey Morris. Certainly BISX could use another listed company to help its role of spreading wealth more widely throughout our economy.

ALIV and Well ALIV’s super-successful offering of preference shares, over-subscribed by nearly 250 percent, gives it a major stimulus for expanding its lines of business. If all continues on schedule, ALIV may match the profitability of its parent-manager Cable Bahamas, and become another eventual candidate for an equity IPO. It might then use the proceeds to buy out the $70m investment held by the moribund Government company known as HoldingCo15 Limited, a left-over from the PLP’s dream of creating a statecontrolled investment fund.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Bay Street Eyesores In all the grand talk about improving urban Nassau to become a tourist mecca, we rarely hear about specific schemes, aside from the welcome boardwalk just getting started. Having once photographed up and down the central corridor, I am happy to propose a few improvements, among many others that we pass so often that we tend to ignore: • Corona Hotel. That cockroach heaven has been standing gloomy and vacant for years, blighting a whole block on the south side of eastern Bay Street. The owners are unknown to me, but surely are tax-delinquent, allowing Government to seize, demolish and offer a bargain price to an imaginative developer.

• Union Wharf. This 3.9 acre waterfront site, key to unlocking the area’s potential, has been on the market ever since commercial shipping moved to Arawak Cay. No buyer will be found until Government revises zoning rules, raising the height restriction well above the present six floors.

• A derelict structure looms like a greying widow between the Government Dock and the former Betty K parking lot. It just needs paint and a heavy commitment of wood and stone-work to emerge as a colonial architectural gem. I understand the willing owners are perennially blocked by the Antiquities

Department refusal to permit any changes to a Historic Site, even a decaying one.

• The massive Baker Building, once the Windsor Hotel, empty except for ground-floor shops, occupies the bustling intersection of Bay and Frederick Streets. The late property magnate George Baker refused to divest as much as a square yard of realty, but there are hints his heirs may at last take a different view towards a sale or joint venture. Any inducements Government could offer in the way of zoning variances, tax abatements or traffic diversions would pay their way in kick-starting modern development of this crucial location.

• Empty bank. Directly across Bay Street, the shuttered premises of a major bank still remain empty and unappealing. Doubtless the landlord is trying to find a tenant, but the continued vacancy of a prime downtown site does not speak well for the dynamism of our economy.

I do not enjoy making invidious comparisons, but the compact businesscum-tourism districts of Hamilton, Bermuda, and George Town, Grand Cayman, do not suffer the indignities of Bay Street.

Surely we have enough imagination, creativity and wealth to match the accomplishments of those two tiny but meticulous communities.

NEW BUSINESS HOURS HOTEL Corona.

As of

Monday, March 5th, 2018 The d’Albenas Agency Ltd.

Will open for business at

7:30am

and close at

4:30pm

Monday through Friday.

Both the office and warehouse will have the above business hours.

Signed, Management Palmdale 242-677-1441 242-322-1441

GOVERNMENT Building.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 5, 2018, PAGE 13 GUILLERMO del Toro

KOBE Bryant Photo by Jordan Strauss/AP

FORMER LAKERS STAR KOBE BRYANT WINS OSCAR FOR ANIMATED SHORT LOS ANGELES, CA Associated Press

KOBE Bryant is a winner in retirement, too.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star won an Oscar in the animated short category for “Dear Basketball,” a poem he wrote after ending his 20-year career on the court in 2016.

He’ll add it to an already jammed trophy collection that includes five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals, NBA Finals most valuable player awards, a league MVP award and four All-Star game MVP awards.

Backstage, Bryant looked lovingly at the statue cradled in his hands and mouthed, “My God.” “I feel better than winning championships,” he said, a smile never leaving his face. “This is crazy, man, it’s crazy.”

As executive producer of the six-minute film, Bryant accepted his golden Oscar statue from “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill on Sunday night. He shared the award with Disney animator Glen Keane.

“You don’t have to sit in a tub of ice,” Keane told Bryant backstage.

Among those offering their congratulations via Twitter were Hall of Famers Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate who admitted, “I’m jealous lol.”

Since hanging up his basketball shoes, Bryant has delved into business (a new Nike shoe) and various forms of storytelling.

The 39-year-old sports superstar believed the nomination validated that he could succeed off the court.

“I mean, as basketball players we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble but I’m glad we do a little bit more than that,” Bryant said on stage.

Bryant said he heard dismissive comments like “That’s cute” when he told people he wanted to become a storyteller in retirement.

“The hardest thing when you start over, you have to quiet the ego and begin again. You have to learn the basics of things,” he said.

From the stage, Bryant thanked his wife, Vanessa,

and three daughters, naming each of them. He spoke a few words of Italian — a language he learned as a child growing up in Italy — and closed by telling them, “You are my inspiration.”

Backstage, Bryant credited Oprah Winfrey and writer-producer Shonda Rhimes for sharing their knowledge of the entertainment business.

“When you have mentors like that in your life, everything tends to work itself out,” he said.

Bryant’s honor comes in the midst of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements to expose abuse and harassment.

In 2003, Bryant was accused of raping a 19-yearold hotel employee in Colorado. He admitted to a sexual encounter with the woman, but denied the assault allegation.

The criminal case was dropped after Bryant’s accuser refused to testify.

She later filed a civil suit against him, which was settled out of court and included Bryant’s public apology to her, although he admitted no guilt.

NO DRESS CODE, BUT PLENTY OF REFERENCES TO METOO AT OSCARS Associated Press THERE was no #MeToo or Time’s Up dress code on the Oscar red carpet. But the topic was, to no one’s surprise, a major talking point of the evening — and host Jimmy Kimmel got right to it in his opening monologue.

“Here’s how clueless Hollywood is about women,” Kimmel said. “We made a movie called ‘What Women Want’ and it starred Mel Gibson.”

Mixing the serious theme with a little humor, Kimmel said the world was watching — and that Hollywood needed to set an example.

“If we can stop sexual harassment in the workplace, women will only ever have to deal with harassment all the time, every place else they go,” he quipped.

And he evoked the nowdisgraced name of Harvey Weinstein, whose sexual misconduct — revealed late last year — launched the stunning reckoning that has spread to other areas of society in just a few months.

For years one of the biggest players at the Oscars, Weinstein has now been thrown out of the academy. Kimmel marveled that the only other person ever

kicked out was a character actor who shared screeners.

The most emotional #MeToo moment, though, came courtesy of actresses Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra and Salma Hayek, three women who were instrumental in the unfolding Weinstein revelations.

They came onstage to introduce a montage that celebrated diversity in cinematic storytelling — including gender and race.

Judd, whose accusations appeared in the first New York Times article about Weinstein, spoke about “new voices, different voices, OUR voices.”

“Time’s Up!” she said.

On the red carpet, one of the many guests speaking about #MeToo was the founder of the movement, Tarana Burke.

“We did the dress code thing, and now we’re doing the work,” Burke told The Associated Press. “The plan is to continue to do this work to give people resources.”

But elsewhere on the carpet, an uncomfortable drama was playing out, as a number of stars appeared to spurn Ryan Seacrest, the E! anchor who has recently been accused of sexual misconduct — including groping — by a stylist who worked for him.

Timothee Chalamet, Viola Davis, Armie Hammer, Margot Robbie and others appeared to pass him over.

Some stars did speak to him, including nominees Allison Janney, Christopher Plummer and Mary J Blige, who noted in another interview that Seacrest was “fighting for his identity.”

Seacrest has denied the allegations and E! has stood by him. But many on Twitter complained about reports that the network had instituted a 30-second delay to prevent awkward confrontations.

The network said that it was “business as usual. As always, we tape multiple sources of content simultaneously to deliver the best possible show, and there are often brief delays between interviews.”

Burke, before the awards, had said Seacrest shouldn’t be on the carpet, putting stars in an awkward position. “We shouldn’t have to make those choices of, ‘Do we or don’t we?’” she told Variety.

E! was already under fire at the Golden Globes in January, where actress Eva Longoria used her interview to criticise the network over a pay equity dispute involving former anchor Catt Sadler.

FRANCES McDormand

LUPITA Nyong’o

NICOLE Kidman

GARY Oldman

JORDAN Peele

2018 OSCAR WINNERS FULL LIST THE 90th annual Academy Awards full list of Oscar winners: • Best Picture: “The Shape of Water” •Director: Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water” •Actor: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” •Actress: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” •Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” •Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”

•Original Screenplay: “Get Out”

•Score: “The Shape of Water”

•Adapted Screenplay: “Call Me by Your Name”

•Song: “Remember Me” from “Coco”

•Foreign Language Film: “A Fantastic Woman”

•Production Design: “The Shape of Water”

•Animated Feature: “Coco”

•Cinematography: “Blade Runner 2049”

•Visual Effects: “Blade Runner 2049”

•Costume Design: “Phantom Thread”

•Film Editing: “Dunkirk” •Animated Short: “Dear Basketball” •Live Action Short: “The Silent Child” •Documentary Short: “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405”

•Makeup and Hairstyling: “Darkest Hour” •Documentary Feature: “Icarus” •Sound Editing: “Dunkirk” •Sound Mixing: “Dunkirk”

PAGE 14, Monday, March 5, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE VACANT lot next to Cosmo’s Fashion on East Bay Street that has been said to be an eyesore to many.

Neighbours hit out at tent eyesore on Bay St THE owner of a vacant lot next to the East Bay Shopping Centre is refusing to clear what is being described as an “eyesore” and a “flea market” from the premises, despite the complaints of property managers, tenants, clients and tourists.

The vacant lot, which houses a haphazard assortment of wooden beams and a ragged tarpaulin extension, is located opposite the Paradise Island Bridge.

One concerned citizen told The Tribune she is “ashamed” that tourists see this “eyesore” when they leave the bridge.

The lot is owned by the proprietor of a clothing store located in adjacent shopping centre. The shop

owner began construction of the structure in 2014, much to the annoyance of his neighbours.

An area store manager told The Tribune: “Everyone feels pretty negatively about it. It’s not the most attractive thing. It kind of looks broken down.

“I think if it was kept differently or arranged differently, it would be better for everybody in the surrounding areas. But (unfortunately) a lot of times, that’s the only thing we can use as a landmark.

“We have to (tell clients): ‘you know that broken down-looking place with the fences and stuff that are kind of in disrepair?’

“I don’t think it’s the best first impression for this

Death Notice Foster Francis Bethell, 81

passed away in Nassau on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years Joan and his loving children Ferron Bethell, Marcia Reynoso, Francis Bethell and Dr. Kimberley Bethell.

Much beloved grandfather of Aleana Reynoso-Bui, Sebastian Bethell, Francis-Patrick Bethell, Isabella Reynoso, Francesca Bethell and Cataleya Bethell.

Fondly remembered by son-in-law, Luis Reynoso; daughter-in-law, Justice Carolita Bethell and Stephen Sweeting and Leisa Bethell.

His grandson-in-law, Phillip Bui; long time childhood friend, Adrian D’Aguilar and loyal friend, Ed Brown.

He will be dearly missed.

Farewell service will be held on Saturday, March 10th , 2018 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Church on Shirley Street.

The family has requested that in Lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Foster Bethell to The Ranfurly Home for Children, P.O.Box N.1413, Nassau, The Bahamas.

Arrangements Limited.

by

Kemp’s

Funeral

Home

plaza, but there’s only so much we can do.”

She continued: “We don’t like it, but unfortunately we just rent, so there’s not a lot that we can do under the circumstances.”

Meridian Law Chambers is also located in the plaza.

Partner Dywan Rodgers told The Tribune: “I know there’s been several complaints about that eyesore, considering that here in this plaza the rent is kept quite sizeable.

“But unfortunately, I think he actually owns that particular unit, and that’s why they haven’t been able to do anything with him.

“I know there’s been complaints from everybody in here. I know Morley Realty, which deals with the overall up-keep of this plaza, (has) spoken to (the store owner) on several occasions.

“In fact, he used to have derelict cars out there, and they finally got him to move those. But I don’t know what kind of unsightly thing he’s trying to do out there.

“And you would figure it affects his business as well.

I don’t know why government or whoever hasn’t gotten involved to say ‘Listen, tourists pass this all the time. Why don’t you do something, why don’t you clean it up?’”

When asked if the eyesore affects business for the law firm, Mr Rodgers said:

“I wouldn’t say it necessarily affects business, because once you have a client, they come here.

“But at the same time, it detracts from the aesthetic of the buildings and the beauty of the place. No matter how much we pay to clean up (inside), that (eyesore) is still the first thing you see.”

Mr Rodgers has also had foreign clients comment on the structure. He said: “Most people don’t really pay attention to it, I guess since it’s not (our company’s) structure, but foreign clients have come in here and said, ‘what’s going on in

the front there?’”

Morley Realty also spoke with The Tribune about the matter. Broker David Morley detailed the plaza’s history with the eyesore.

He said: “Well it has nothing to do with East Bay Shopping Centre at all, first and foremost. That vacant lot on the corner is owned by a third party. “...It’s not in keeping with what the rest of the area looks like. We’ve been trying to pursue him to get it cleaned up and to make it look presentable, and as can you can see we’ve gotten nowhere.

“We’ve reached out to

the Department of Environmental Health, as it related to the two (derelict) vehicles, and I believe they finally after several years got those removed.

“We’ve referred it to business licencing; we’ve referred it every government agency that we can think of to see if we can get some action by them.

Unfortunately, we’ve gotten no luck.”

Mr Morley added: “I hope this story will bring some results, not just for the owners of the EBSC and all the tenants that are in there, but for the immediate area, but everybody who passes by that site multiple times a day.”

The store owner in question refused to comment on the matter despite several attempts by The Tribune to speak to him.

Multiple attempts by The Tribune to get a statement from the Department of Physical Planning were unreturned.

Minister of Works Desmond Bannister told The Tribune: “This looks like a temporary tent that someone forgot to take down.

No need for me to make a statement on it.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 5, 2018, PAGE 15

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL QUIET ON DETAILS OF MARITAL RAPE VIEWS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Christian Council will send Attorney General Carl Bethel recommendations for outlawing marital rape today, according to BCC President Bishop Delton Fernander.

He said the decision to send Mr Bethel amendments to the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act was made last Tuesday during a vote, although he did not reveal how many people voted.

The council’s religious leaders did not specifically vote on whether they supported the proposed amendments disseminated

by Mr Bethel.

That amendment would criminalise the act of sexual intercourse with a spouse without consent, or where the actions of the defendant spouse is of such a kind or in such a manner that, if the defendant spouse had used reasonable caution and observation, it would appear to the defendant spouse that there is no consent or that there would be great risk of there being no consent, he shall be presumed to have intended to have sexual intercourse without the consent of the other spouse, until it is shown that he reasonably believed that the other spouse gave consent, commits an offence and is liable to a term of

imprisonment not exceeding ten years.

Bishop Fernander said: “We’ve had a meeting last week Tuesday in our annual session where we took the vote after hearing the presentation of our legal team.

We allowed a few days to tweak; comments to be sent.

And we’ve decided and voted that the council will present our amendments to the attorney general on Monday. We will go in person and meet with him and go over the presentation of our amendments that we would like for the Sexual Offences Bill. It is our hope that in the spirit that it was given to us it will be received. After we meet with the AG, that bill would become public.”

PRESIDENT of the Bahamas Christian Council Delton Fernander.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MAN SET HIMSELF ON FIRE AFTER ARGUMENT WITH GIRLFRIEND

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

A MAN in his midthirties set himself on fire Thursday night outside a laundromat in Eleuthera.

Superintendent Shanta Knowles said the incident occurred shortly before 9pm on Thursday and

occurred after a possbile “domestic dispute”.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Adderley, of the Governor’s Harbour Police Station, also confirmed this report to The Tribune.

He said: “We received a report of a male who had set himself afire at a local laundromat.

“When we arrived, we

discovered a male lying in the parking lot who was suffering from burns to his face and both arms and chest.

“And speaking to nearby witnesses, they informed us that he had a conversation with his ex-girlfriend. Words were exchanged and as a result he took a bottle of

substance and poured it over his head.”

Chief Supt Adderley continued: “One of the bystanders attempted to assist in (preventing) him from harming himself.

“But within a quick second he had lit the substance and it caught afire.

And as a result nearby persons doused the flames

using blankets and some soil.

“As a result of that he received extensive burns to his face and upper arms.

He was treated at the local clinic and then flew into Nassau. He was airlifted sometime between one and two am in the morning.”

Supt Knowles confirmed

that up to eight o’clock on Friday morning the man was in the Intensive Care Unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Tribune understands the man’s name is Devon Leroy Forbes.

The incident and photos of the man went viral on social media Friday morning.