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Fleeing the fire

Residents forced to leave to escape toxic fumes

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS in Jubilee Gardens were forced to evacuate their homes yesterday after a massive fire at the New Providence landfill blanketed the community in thick, black hazardous smoke.

Members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force blocked the entrance to the subdivision as visibility dropped to zero. Angry residents became involved in verbal alter-

cations with the police after they were blocked from entering the area.

Several persons were also rushed to the hospital with respiratory complaints.

When The Tribune arrived on the scene, several residents were pouring water on their roofs, as the blaze grew closer to their homes.

Member of Parliament for Tall Pines Leslie Miller was also assisting residents in hosing down their homes and providing transportation for those who needed help.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) activated its emergency management plan yesterday and an evacuation shelter was established at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre which was used as a shelter during the last hurricane - for displaced residents.

The fire at the dump is believed to have been started by a smaller bush fire off Fire Trail Road.

SEE PAGES TWO AND THREE

ANGER AT FAILURE TO PREVENT LANDFILL BLAZES

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ANGRY home owners in Jubilee Gardens yesterday expressed disgust and concern that neither the Progressive Liberal Party nor

the Free National Movement have done enough to prevent the frequent fires at the New Providence Landfill that have caused some of them to develop respiratory issues.

Their comments came as a massive fire was raging at the landfill, which officials believe was start-

ed by a smaller bush fire off Fire Trail Road that spread to the city dump. The fire blanketed Jubilee Gardens and surrounding areas in thick, black smoke and threatened several homes, prompting officials SEE PAGE THREE

A YOUNGSTER flees from the smoke in Jubilee Gardens yesterday after a fire at the New Providence landfill that started in bushes off Fire Trail Road.

Many residents were asked to evacuate their homes.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

GOVT EFFORTS TO ‘INTIMIDATE’ ‘BAHAMAS DESERVES BETTER’ AS ACTIVISTS SLAMMED IN REPORT BAHA MAR OPENING DATE STALLS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE United States has highlighted the Bahamas government’s “intimidation of non-governmental organisations” and efforts by the government and authorities to inhibit “free speech through criminal libel laws” as problems for the Bahamas in its latest human rights report.

The report also refer-

enced alleged cases of immigration officials soliciting bribes from migrants and alleged beatings of migrants and prisoners in custody.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report had “inaccurate” and in some cases “incomplete” information.

Referring to an incident in which Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald SEE PAGE 12

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE original developer of the Baha Mar resort yesterday said the resort’s continued completion delays, missed opening dates and “now supposed staggered opening” of the entire property into late next year shows that Sarkis Izmirlian’s offer “is superior” to the current situation.

However, despite this, and

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

despite not having had any response to his many purchase offers, as Baha Mar’s former developer, Mr Izmirlian said his company “stands ready, willing and able to buy Baha Mar today and complete it immediately with Bahamian workers and Bahamian contractors. The chronic delays created by CCA for either self interest or patent incompetence must stop now. The Bahamas deserves better.”

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Residents forced from page one

A RESIDENT at the scene in Jubilee Gardens yesterday after a fire at the New Providence landfill led to many residents being evacuated from their homes.

The landfill began to burn shortly after noon Sunday; however the first fire truck did not arrive on the scene until nearly 2pm.

The Tribune observed several heavy-duty trucks attempting to smother the blaze by pushing waste from the landfill on top of the fire, however, the wind proved to be a huge challenge and the fire doubled in size by 4pm.

According to Fire Chief Walter Evans, fire trucks were deployed to four other fires in several communities in the capital: one near Loyola Hall; another near NEMA and one near the Bahamas Youth Camp, which are all on Gladstone Road, as well as a fire at Charles Saunders Highway.

“When this fire started we had several other fires going on simultaneously,” Supt Evans said. “There was a home that was destroyed and another home

that was extensively damaged (in those other fires) and so our resources were stretched thin.

“We had in excess of 20 to 30 homes in those areas that were being threatened so resources were deployed there. This fire here in Jubilee is major. We have called for evacuation of persons in the area because in some parts of this community visibility is zero, which means we have to take the necessary precautions to ensure that members of the public

ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force officers in breathing apparatus pictured asking people in the community to evacuate their homes.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

DNA leader Branville McCartney in Jubilee Gardens after yesterday’s fire.

AN AERIAL view of yesterday’s fire.

Photo: Submitted

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, Monday, March March 6, 2017, 6, 2017, PAGE PAGE 3 3

to leave to escape toxic fumes are safe,” Supt Evans said.

“We have asked persons who have relatives who reside in this area to have some compassion and provide assistance and shelter to these people. We have on site ambulances on standby and police cars and several fire engines in this area.

“We need to bring relief to this community and that is what we are going to do.

We have a job to do and we have to keep these people safe. The cause of the fire has not been determined and there are additional resources that are being deployed to assist us.”

Concern Prime Minister Perry Christie arrived in Jubilee Gardens shortly after 3pm.

He was greeted by concerned residents who expressed anger that nothing has been done to prevent the recurring dump fires.

Mr Christie said the government is currently in talks

with two Bahamian groups to take over management services at the landfill.

“For us, we were just completing discussions with the Bahamian group that an-

nounced to the press that they have a foreign partner, who was represented in meetings that I attended.

I indicated that we have to move with speed, anticipat-

ing that these things happen and we want it under full management. We have a second proposal from another group that is being processed,” Mr Christie said.

“The point is that we have to put under management with the necessary resources and capacity, meaning people who manage sites today and that is the intention of the minster and the sad thing is the minister indicated to us some time ago that he was concerned about fires starting outside of the dump and spreading here,” Mr Christie said.

“There is no choice in a matter of this kind, these people need to evacuate.

We have made available the sports centre to assist these people. We have to do whatever is necessary not just to protect the residents and their assets but to ensure that they understand that though they have to protect their property they should not be in harm’s way and that means

to sleep in this. This is ridiculous and I am pissed off,” Mr Duvalier added.

“Some people just sick and they like fire and with this wind there is nothing you can do but move out of your home because of the smoke. If someone decides they are going to light a fire at the dump, what can you do? It’s arson and it happens from time to time, people get mad and light the dump. There is nothing you can do about it, you cannot put up a new dump, you just have to manage it better and have better security. I feel sorry for these people, this is horrendous.”

Mr Miller claims two homes caught fire but were extinguished by residents immediately.

Fire Chief, Superintendent Walter Evans said no lives were lost and he had no reports of homes being destroyed or damaged by the blaze up to press time, however he said several homes were threatened. He could not say how many residents were evacuated.

He said Police Fire Servic-

es were also fighting blazes in other areas: near Loyola Hall, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Bahamas Youth Camp, which are all on Gladstone Road and another fire on Charles Saunders Highway.

The city dump has been plagued with recurring fires for a number of years. Renew Bahamas was engaged by the government in 2014 to manage the landfill and help address the matter, however the company suspended its services in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Since then, The Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG), a consortium of 10 Bahamian waste management groups, has submitted a proposal to take over the operations at the landfill. Yesterday Prime Minister Perry Christie confirmed that two companies, both Bahamian, have submitted bids to run the dump. Mr Christie, who toured the affected ar-

A YOUNGSTER in tears in Jubilee Gardens yesterday after a fire at the New Providence landfill. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

even smoke inhalation.

“That has been our concern, so as far as the government is concerned, whatever is necessary we have to do to remediate and fix this situation and restore it to normalcy and have it placed under management. We have to give very serious consideration to those proposals because Jubilee Gardens and these areas are also the victims. We have to take very seriously the need for speedy action,” Mr Christie said.

Minister of Environment Ken Dorsett said the fire started behind several businesses on Fire Trail Road but because of the strong winds, the fire spread in “no time” to the landfill. He said all resources were moved to Jubilee Gardens to protect the lives and property of persons living in the area.

“The fire department was fighting three or four fires at the time this erupted,” Mr Dorsett said. “All resources are now here in Jubilee

Gardens. They are obviously concerned in the first instance for the lives and property of the people in Jubilee but as was indicated we instructed the police department to advise the residents to evacuate.

“Additional resources are going to be deployed to contain the fire, we now have heavy equipment deployed at the Coral Harbour Base where they will be bringing fill that will cover the material and water trucks as well as the fire trucks that were deployed by the fire department are being put to maximum use,” Mr Dorsett said.

Supt Evans predicted the fire will burn through the night and possibly into the early hours of Monday. The high winds - in excess of 35mph which have been driving the smoke and flames are forecast to last into the week.

Because of the area fires, Aquinas College on Gladstone Road announced that it will be closed today.

eas, said the matter should be resolved shortly.

Residents who live in Jubilee Gardens and surrounding areas were advised by the government to evacuate, with the Kendal Isaacs Gym being a designated shelter for anyone displaced by the fire.

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its emergency plan and all available resources have been mobilised,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“Although it is too early to be certain, at first sight it appears that a number of fires were started in the area. Because of the high winds currently being experienced on New Providence, it appears that at least one of those fires blew across the boundary and ignited the public landfill,” the statement added.

The statement also said the government will reach out to international partners for assistance, if and when the situation warrants it.

ANGER AT FAILURE TO PREVENT LANDFILL BLAZES from page one

to order an evacuation of the area.

However, not everyone was willing to leave their homes.

One resident, Muris Campbell, who refused to evacuate, told The Tribune she has hurricane impact windows and will stay in her home to protect her property.

However, she was concerned that officers, who barricaded the entrance to the subdivision, would not let her return to her home to assist her grandchildren, who were in the house and scared.

“I need to get my grandkids. Three of them are in there, one is 11 and one is nine. I have been here from (former Prime Minister) Hubert Ingraham cut the ribbon,” Ms Campbell said.

“Everyone knows how this place is, they see how it looks when the dump catch on fire. They see what we going through. No one is hearing us, no one is helping us. Where must I go if I evacuate, who will help you? Everyone don’t have people to help. I soon retire and I must stay home to this? No one helping you.

“When you speak out what will happen? I haven’t heard from anyone in the house, I can hardly talk. I wish one of these people come to my door and ask for my vote, they will get what they come for,” she said.

Another resident, Carton Duvalier said he developed respiratory issues because of the frequent smoke and he is “pissed off” that no one seems to care.

“No one has done anything for us, the issue is poor management on all these governments,” he said. “The dump was here before we came here, we moved here in 1996 and the dump was here and they continued to build and now people can look out their back window and see the dump.

“I developed respiratory issues because of this.

When I went to the doctor because I couldn’t breathe properly he asked me where I live, I say I live Jubilee Gardens and the doctor say that’s why I have problems.

Everyday, when it isn’t the smoke, it’s the scent. Come on, something have to done about it. I blame the government, the PLP, the FNM and the residents because we sit here and we suck it up and do nothing. People lives being threatened, people homes being threatened - imagine the kids that have

HUMANE SOCIETY PLEA FOR DONATIONS THE Bahamas Humane Society has issued a call for donations for any animals that may be affected by a fire at the New Providence Landfill.

According to the BHS Facebook page, the group needs large dog bowls or tubs, canned pet food with the easy open tops, towels, blankets, carriers and crates.

Donations can be made to the BHS at Dunmore Avenue.

Recurring problem Member of Parliament for Tall Pines, Leslie Miller said the government “has to find the answer.”

He said his constituents cannot continue to suffer but the solution is not to move the dump.

“The foreign people that was here gone, and now the dump is back in the government hands,” said Mr Miller, who tried to help the situation by pouring water on smouldering areas in Jubilee Gardens. “Hopefully they do something quick, but the answer is not to move the dump, a minimum for the dump is 200 acres of land, there is nowhere in New Providence that is close to that to put up a new dump, we have to run this properly and keep the stragglers out.

For the last 30 years people have been starting these fires intentionally.

PAGE 4, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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What is Bran McCartney’s plan - if not a coalition?

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance leader Branville McCartney, in an interview with The Tribune, explained that he had resigned his Senate seat to which he was appointed by Official Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner because it has become a distraction to his party.

He criticised Mrs Butler-Turner for not having a political plan in moving forward.

To be successful in politics, he said, she must “have a plan and stop winging it.”

After all of this confusion and talk of plans, we would now like to know what Mr McCartney’s political plan is. Although his party won no seats in the 2012 election, it is agreed that it was the cause of the FNM being unseated by the PLP, leading to the confusion about which Bahamians today complain.

Today, thinking Bahamians believe that the only way to rid this country of the present government, which is surrounded by incompetence and failure, is to present a united opposition. In other words Bahamians of whatever political stripe should come together to defeat the present government and start – although faced with a near empty Treasury – at least with new plans for survival - and eventual success.

And so it seemed that reality was dawning in the two competing Opposition camps when Mrs Butler-Turner and Mr McCartney at last sat down to talk.

What came out of that meeting was that Mrs Butler-Turner, newly appointed Opposition Leader in the House, appointed Mr McCartney as opposition leader for business in the Senate.

At that time, Mrs Butler-Turner said Mr McCartney’s appointment was the result of “collaboration” between the two to rid the country of the Progressive Liberal Party in the next general election. That decision met general public applause. At last sense was starting to dawn between the two main rivals, and hope for a future was rekindled for many very concerned Bahamians.

In one of her later public pronouncements, Mrs Butler-Turner, enthusiastically announced that she and Mr McCartney had formed a “powerful coalition.”

On hearing this Mr McCartney crumbled and resigned his Senate seat. The political honeymoon was over before it had even begun.

According to Mr McCartney, Mrs Butler-Turner lacks a plan. What we would now like to know: What was Mr McCartney’s plan if it was not to have a working coalition with the FNM to defeat the PLP in the 2017 election? This did not mean that either side would lose their political identity, it just meant that as separate entities they would work together on one important project. Surely, Mr McCartney, a lawyer, understands a partnership, as distinct from ownership.

It suggests that Mr McCartney came to the negotiating table with a separate, but

undisclosed strategy.

According to Wikipedia, a “coalition government is defined as a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament. A coalition government might also be created in a time of national difficulty or crisis (for example, during wartime or economic crisis) to give a government the high degree of perceived political legitimacy or collective identity it desires while also playing a role in diminishing internal political strife. In such times, parties have formed all-party coalitions (national unity governments, grand coalitions). If a coalition collapses, a confidence vote is held or a motion of no confidence is taken.”

Really Mr McCartney has us completely confused – what was his plan when he accepted an FNM Senate seat? Why did he accept it? Was it because he believed — as many of his detractors have said — that he must at all times be the leader?

Doesn’t he know that one-man rule went out with Lynden Pindling? Doesn’t he know that the PLP have lost favour because they have ignored the wishes of the people?

As the prime minister stood yesterday afternoon, a forlorn figure watching a community dump burning again, did he see all of his many dreams and ambitions for his country going up in smoke? Did he think of Bahamians soon going to the polls to decide on his party’s many broken promises — crime out of control, unemployment rising, even more threatened

by Baha Mar’s uncertainty of an opening date — a government reduced by Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency to “junk status”?

Mr Christie tried to push aside Standard & Poor’s assessment, by saying his government would be saved by the soon to be opened Baha Mar. However, by the news in today’s Tribune, the presumed new owners are already playing dice with opening dates. Is their Chinese construction company giving them the same turnaround that it gave Baha Mar’s developer by not being able to complete on time?

Whatever the answer. The PLP has failed on every promise.

Now it is time for Mr McCartney to disclose his plan if it was not to join opposition forces to make certain that this country will not be saddled with a failed PLP for another five years. It is now time to unsaddle this political horse and put it out to pasture - with or without Mr McCartney.

It is now time for all opposition forces — who sincerely want the best for their country ­— to join hands in this worthwhile cause.

Bahamas post service EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM finally to the point that I am resorting to writing to the newspaper even though I know that it will not really change anything.

I am so beyond tired of the work ethic in our country.

A large populace of our work force have no pride in their performance at work no matter where they are employed. It seems to be that there is no concern about their job security, all they have to do is show up and hang around until time to go home.

That is what must be going on at our Post Offices.

Here is a prime example: My car insurance bill was printed on JS Johnson letterhead on December 28,

2016.

JS Johnson stated that once the bills are printed and enveloped, they are sent to the Post Office to be stamped and mailed.

The envelope was stamped January 31, 2017......that’s one month. I received it in my postal box on March 2, 2017. That’s two months to receive a bill.

My insurance expired on February 17, 2017, and I am very sure that had I had an accident I would have received no assistance from my insurance company.

Can anyone please explain how it can take two months to move an envelope from one box to another?

Using our Postal Office for mailing anything impor-

tant is just not a viable option.

Most companies are more often resorting to emailing their customer statements for two reasons, it’s less expensive, but more importantly, it will reach its destination!

Do you think that the Post Office jobs will become redundant?

Who would be to blame for that?

Oh, I forgot, you can’t be terminated if you work for government.

We must just continue to pay for nothing. Tired of Incompetence.

RHONDA CARTWRIGHT Nassau, March 3, 2017.

Abuse of government power?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE latest episode with the government attempting to pass legislation without public discussion or input, is yet another apparent abuse of power by this government.

Had Civil Society not raised eternal hell the government proposed passing the Bill without public consultation.

Now that government has backed down, I submit their action is simply to calm the waters so to speak, and will process the Bill anyway in whatever form they wish.

As Sy Leon noted in his book None Of The Above; “Elected politicians, we are told, represent us. But this is nonsense, as any sane person can see. Where is the politician that represents you? Where is the politician that consults you and acts as you wish him to? Where is the politician that you can fire, or refuse to pay, if he does not render satisfactory service? Representation in the present system is a sham; it is nothing more than a front for political power.”

What makes this latest push by the government even more egregious is they are not even following their own Parliamentary process as they outlined at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting here in July 2016.

In their own newspaper supplement entitled “Modernisation: An Essential Element for the Independ-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net ence of Parliament and the Deepening of Democracy,” they printed for all to see the process of how laws are made.

They confirmed as follows: • Identifying Issues And Opportunities: Laws spring from the need to address issues and opportunities that already exist or might arise.

Furthermore, laws may spring from the election promises of the governing party.

• Proposals for New Laws/Amendments: Proposals come from a variety of sources - government ministries and departments, non-governmental organisations, the Official Opposition or even individuals. These proposals for new laws can relate to issues across the Bahamian society and economy.

• Stakeholder Consultation: If a proposal for new legislation receives Cabinet approval, the next step involves consulting with experts, interest groups and the people of constituencies and islands likely to be affected by the plans. Often, in the case of very large issues of national impact, interested parties are asked to comment on a ‘green paper’, which gives an introductory outline of the idea. Following consultation, a ‘white paper’ might be produced, giving a more

concrete statement of the government’s intentions.

• Proposals are Made Into ‘Bills’: Proposals for new laws are sent to the Office of the Attorney General (AG) where the lawyers there turn the instructions of the Cabinet into special forms called “Bills” (with) detailed language that reduces the chance that the intention of the bill may be misinterpreted. The major Bills reflect the policies the government intends to establish in a parliamentary session. They are usually announced in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of each new session (of Parliament).

If the usual approach is taken with this consultation, there will be no concessions by the government on the Spying Bill, not unlike other “consultations” regarding proposed legislation. One thing it will do though is prove the government’s willingness to abuse the powers they’ve been granted by the electorate.

Isn’t it curious that the Spying Bill was complete before the process of consultation is to begin?

I daresay they will not hold themselves to the same standard of the laws they force on citizens confirming George Orwell’s admonition that, in the mind of governing politician’s, some animals are more equal than others.

RICK LOWE www.weblogbahamas. com

That’s where the VAT has gone EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT seems we are witnessing where the VAT money is going......official fancy banquets.

Big do over on PI-Atlantis during the visit of the Privy Counsellors.....was it necessary? I don’t think so possibly some function like a reception would have saved ‘ooo’s.

Banquet at British Colonial Hilton tonight for the President of Guyana.

Now the come from nowhere State visit - I remember under Sir Lynden right before an election he got then President Neyere to visit at short notice.

It is all imaging for none other than PM Christie.

‘What are the links between the Bahamas and

Guyana? Zero except in CARlCOM. I do note they found recently a large deposit of Oil. Imagine trying to show PM Christie in an imperial role in contrast to Doc and any other potential. Tax payers paying.

JACOB WILLIAMS Nassau, March 3, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 5

PLANE SKIDS OFF RUNWAY IN HIGH WINDS A LIGHT airplane was reported to have skidded off the runway at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on Sunday as strong crosswinds made landing conditions difficult.

The single-engined Cirrus SR22 was damaged but there were no injuries reported.

THE SCENE at Lynden Pindling International Airport yesterday after a plane skidded off the runway.

GIBSON: WITHDRAWAL NOTHING TO DO WITH MINNIS KENYATTA Gibson said yesterday that his withdrawal from the 2017 general election has “nothing to do” with Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

On Friday, the FNM’s former Golden Isles candidate announced in a statement released by the party that he was no longer going to run in the next general election. He is the fourth candidate ratified by the

FNM to have dropped out of the race.

“This has nothing to do with Dr Minnis, nothing at all,” Mr Gibson, a former Progressive Liberal Party MP, told The Tribune yesterday. “I really like him and we get along, this was purely a business decision.”

Well-placed sources told The Tribune that Mr Gibson decided to leave politics because he was offered a

“once in a lifetime” business opportunity. The Tribune also understands that Mr Gibson has decided to spend more time with his wife and family instead of front line politics.

In the statement released on Friday, Mr Gibson noted “professional and business obligations” as key reasons for his withdrawal, adding that he was thankful for the opportunity presented to him by the party and Dr

Minnis.

The surprise announcement comes on statements made by PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts Thursday night, in which he indicated that sources had informed him of Mr Gibson’s plans to quit the race.

In remarks made during the PLP’s latest community meeting at Garvin Tynes Primary School on Thursday, Mr Roberts said his “garbage can” was reveal-

ing “rough waters ahead” for the now former Golden Isles candidate.

Mr Roberts went on to hint that he had more information on the situation; however, he opted to “say no more for now.”

The FNM ratified Mr Gibson in February 2016.

Prior to joining the FNM, he was elected twice under the banner of the PLP - during the 2002 and 2007 general elections in

the former Kennedy constituency.

He crossed the floor to join the FNM in 2009. He lost his bid to represent the Southern Shores constituency in 2012.

In recent months, Howard Johnson, Walt Saunders and Leonard Sands have also withdrawn their bids for the South Beach, MICAL and Bain and Grants Town constituencies respectively.

McCARTNEY: BUTLER-TURNER NEEDS A PLAN TO BE A SUCCESS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said in order for Official Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner to be “successful” in politics, she must “have a plan and stop winging it”.

In a recent interview with The Tribune, Mr McCartney said Mrs Butler-Turner will never get to her desti-

nation if she continues on her current path.

On Thursday, in an effort to distance him from the “drama” surrounding Mrs Butler-Turner, Mr McCartney resigned as leader of opposition business in the Senate.

In an interview with The Tribune at his law office, Mr McCartney said Mrs ButlerTurner and “her antics” have become a distraction to the DNA, adding that his party cannot be attached to

someone who has “no plan” and changes her mind “every other day.”

“If I had to offer her some advice,” Mr McCartney told The Tribune, “I would tell her to have a plan.

“Have a plan and then execute on it. Without a plan, you will never get to your destination and she does not have a plan, there is no plan. That is not my opinion, look at what she has said and what she has done.

She has told the country

DNA UNVEILS FOUR MORE ELECTION CANDIDATES

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Democratic National Alliance (DNA) ratified four additional candidates for the general election on Friday: Dr Madlene Sawyer for Southern Shores, Karen Davis for Freetown, Jedrick Robinson for Central Grand Bahama and Candace Weatherford for North Eleuthera.

Dr Sawyer is a “certified lawyer, physician and

surgeon,” according to her biography. She was once an associate professor at the University of Miami and medical director of the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

She is also a former president of the Medical Association of the Bahamas.

During the DNA’s ratification announcement, she bemoaned a country she said has lost its way, describing party Leader Branville McCartney as the man equipped to help lead the

country back on track.

Ms Davis, who previously joined the Free National Movement before returning to the DNA, is the owner and chief executive officer of Royals Cleaning Company and FGL Security Firm.

Ms Weatherford, wife of social media pundit Graham Weatherford, owns Sure Alarms, which the pair purchased in 1995.

Mr Robinson is a yardplanning supervisor in the trans-shipping industry in Grand Bahama.

with her utterances over the last month or so that she is winging it. Have a plan and do something with it. That is my advice, have a plan and stick to it. Don’t just do and say anything.”

Mrs Butler-Turner appointed Mr McCartney as leader of opposition business in the Senate in December, shortly after being appointed leader of the Official Opposition after she and six other Free National Movement MPs moved to have FNM

Leader Dr Hubert Minnis removed from that role.

At the time, Mrs ButlerTurner said Mr McCartney’s appointment was the result of “collaboration” between the two to rid the country of the Progressive Liberal Party in the next general election.

However, tension began to grow between the two after Mr McCartney refuted claims by Mrs Butler-Turner that the DNA was forming a “powerful coalition”

with the Official Opposition leader and the other dissident FNM MPs. Mrs Butler-Turner then accused Mr McCartney of throwing her “under the bus.” In turn Mr McCartney said if the Long Island MP felt that way, he was prepared to resign from the Senate.

Mr McCartney also reiterated last week that there never have been any plans for a coalition with Mrs Butler-Turner.

PAGE 6, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Minnis: Rosewood delay latest sign of tenuous secret deal

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday called reports on the push back of the grand opening of the Rosewood hotel brand resort at Baha Mar the first in a series of issues that will plague the resort ahead of its proposed soft opening this April.

Dr Minnis, in a statement on Sunday, said every new detail that “drips out” to the public concerning the $3.5bn resort sheds even more light on the “tenuous, secret deal” made between the Christie administration and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) - one he claimed leaves more questions than answers.

This comes in the wake of a Tribune Business report which indicated that Baha Mar’s new owner was unable to address portions of a press statement released by Rosewood late last month.

That statement read: “Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by the Bahamian subsidiary of Hong Kong-based development company, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), to operate and manage Rosewood Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, which will open in Spring 2018.”

This revelation pegs that hotel’s opening at roughly a year behind Baha Mar’s planned soft opening on April 21, and four to six months behind Baha Mar’s grand-opening slated for November through December 2017.

Dr Minnis in his statement said that neither Mr Christie nor his “Chinese allies” could produce a “firm” completion date for the resort.

“They have done much to publicise a soft launch, yet we learn that the resort has no intention of advertising that opening. An opening without customers – how sadly ironic,” stated Dr Minnis.

“In fact our government won’t even reveal who actually currently owns the resort under this new deal.

But we do know that some of their Chinese allies received sweetheart provisions – such as having the onerous VAT tax waived.

“As is typical, the latest discovery of possibly more opening delays is met with stony silence from the people that should be able to

provide the answers. With rising deficits, a delayed opening will also delay tax revenue benefits – something we cannot afford.

“It also could rob many Bahamians seeking steady employment the job they so desperately need.”

Dr Minnis added: “Everything the embattled prime minister and his government has done with Baha Mar has been shrouded in secrecy.

Hiding details from the public; becoming unhinged; and having public meltdowns when challenged with new information that leaks out, has become the typical response.

“The embattled prime minister expects the people to simply trust him and his party yet they have done nothing to earn that trust.

Moreover, because of their

secret dealings it will be the public who will suffer the consequences of their repeated failures and continued delays with Baha Mar. “This is unacceptable.

It is time the people had a government that serves the people, instead of a government that just serves their own self interests,” stated Dr Minnis.

The initial Tribune Business report added that the Rosewood’s Baha Mar property will feature 185 rooms and five beachfront villas. The amenities will include four signature dining venues, including Commonwealth, a farm-to-table restaurant that will include a private Rum Room for exclusive, island-style dinners.

Moreover, the other options are the Pool Grille, Bar Riva and the Library

Lounge, the latter of which will feature Bahamian-style afternoon tea and unique tea cocktails.

Prime Minister Perry Christie announced the official sale of Baha Mar to CTF BM Holdings, a subsidiary of CTFE last December, at the time stating the resort set for a phased opening beginning in April 2017 and a full completion by this fall.

However, Mr Christie did not disclose the sale price of Baha Mar, adding that details of the deal are still sealed by the Supreme Court at the request of the Export-Import Bank of China.

The government has since announced plans to table the sealed Baha Mar documents ahead of the April soft opening.

‘BAHAMAS DESERVES BETTER’ AS BAHA MAR OPENING DATE STALLS from page one

The statement, released

by Mr Izmirlian’s company, BMD Holdings, also criticised the continued involvement of the project’s construction firm, China Construction America (CCA).

“The undeniable financial harm caused by the project’s construction firm, CCA, continues unabated.

The misleading, and often illogical statements now being made about progress at Baha Mar and its opening have made Baha Mar into a Potemkin hotel - that is, using this still incomplete property to deceive others into thinking the situation is better than it is,” the statement said.

The statement also said the “undeniable financial harm” caused by CCA continues unabated, adding that there is now “no reason to have confidence” in the project.

“Bahamians do not really know if there is a final ownership deal firmly in place for Baha Mar,” BMD Holdings said. “Bahamians do not know what promises and giveaways may have been made to Chow Tai Fook, the alleged new owner, to attach its name for now to the property. And, for sure, the real future of the project still sadly remains in the hands of CCA, which has a long clear record of misleading and failing on Baha Mar.” BMD said the misinformation about the resort must stop immediately, as it was causing complete chaos for all those intimately involved and those Bahamians depending on the project for employment.

The statement continued: “Just last week, for example, a statement was made to the media that, when we were the developers of Baha Mar, it did not have a completion guarantee from CCA. “That assertion is patently false. Specifically, we required and had two completion guarantees from CCA’s parent company, China State Construction

Engineering Corporation.

CEXIM also held a completion guarantee from CSCEC. “In fact, as the public record shows, our Baha Mar brought suit to enforce the completion guarantees in the United Kingdom contemporaneously with the commencement of the Chapter 11 reorganisation process.

Unfortunately, as the public record also demonstrates, the government of The Bahamas interfered and instead forced Baha Mar into liquidation proceedings, bringing additional delays to the project.”

BMD claimed that the Christie administration’s “hand-picked” provisional liquidators did nothing to actively pursue the completion guarantee claim, which it noted, could have amounted to “hundreds of millions of dollars” for Bahamian creditors.

The company added that the receivers, as agents of the China EXIM Bank, also did not pursue the suit to enforce the completion guarantees.

BMD noted that the move did not come as a surprise to them because China Exim Bank was owned by the same company that oversaw CSCEC and its subsidiary, CCA. Sunday’s statement continued: “It also is important to note that subsequently our affiliate, Granite Ventures, brought proceedings in the Bahamas Supreme Court in an attempt to have the guarantees claims pursued. But, reflecting its common ownership with CSCEC, CEXIM chose not to pursue the claims despite it being to the detriment of all parties affected

by CCA’s failures on Baha Mar. “Such performance guarantees in terms of CCA once again are very much called for with respect to Baha Mar. As the Chapter 11 filings and Bahamian court papers make clear, CCA was a serial failure in meeting schedules it set to complete Baha Mar. “That same incorrect statement to the media about performance guarantees also noted the high costs associated with the original development of Baha Mar. “These costs are almost all a direct result of CCA’s documented over billing and numerous failures—its failures to perform competently, its failures to have proper procedures and controls in place, its failures to properly staff the project, and, importantly, its failure to meet completion commitments made both to us and Prime Minister Christie. Throughout the process, independent mediation on numerous occasions found CCA to have committed these violations.

“And now, sadly for The Bahamas and the prospects of Baha Mar, the same song, with some slightly different notes, is being played.

“Chow Tai Fook, which

has refused to close on its supposed ownership of the property until construction is completed, suggests publicly a possible, although seemingly unrealistic, opening time for Baha Mar only to, within days, push that opening back to a much later ambiguous date—admitting in so many words it is all dependent on when CCA actually completes, if it ever does.

“Chow Tai Fook’s statements regarding a soft opening which it presently projects for April can’t even provide an approximate number of rooms that will be open.”

BMD said it, like the entire country, was still waiting some clear indication on who will operate the resort’s casino, or whether a gaming license has been granted at all to the resort.

“Hyatt issues a very bare bones press release confirming it will be part of an opened Baha Mar, but says nothing more about when,” BMD said.

“Rosewood goes a step further and, in what appears to be a huge walk back from Chow Tai’s Graeme Davis’ rose-coloured statements about soft and full openings, makes clear that it will not commit to being part of Baha Mar until sometime in 2018.”

BMD said with delays now into 2018, CCA and the liquidation process have cost the Bahamas nearly $4bn in revenue, 15,000 jobs and over $500m in tax revenue.

“As Baha Mar’s former developer, we reiterate our position that, despite never having received a response to our many purchase offers to CEXIM, we stand ready, willing and able to buy Baha Mar today and complete it immediately with Bahamian workers and Bahamian contractors.

The chronic delays created

by CCA for either self-interest or patent incompetence must stop now. The Bahamas deserves better,” BMD added.

Last October, Mr Izmirlian, CEO of BMD Holdings Ltd, made an offer to purchase the stalled $3.5 billion dollar resort “at a price in excess” of selected undisclosed bid.

In a letter dated October 10, addressed to Liu Liange, vice-chairman and president of the Export Import Bank of China, Mr Izmirlian said BMD Holdings was prepared to pay 100 per cent of all “substantiated” Bahamian claims and all money owed to Bahamians and foreign employees.

He also said BMD Holdings would drop “all of our appeals and legal actions in effect within the Bahamian courts” upon acceptance of the offer.

In response, Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson said the purported offer by BMD was a matter for consideration, in the first instance, by EXIM. The resort was then reportedly sold in December, with the details of that deal yet to be presented publicly.

the stories behind the news

insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017

Residents smoked out again by toxic fumes from the blazing city dump have had enough of empty promises, Malcolm J Strachan says

L

ast night, Bahamians had to evacuate their homes in Jubilee Gardens and the surrounding areas to escape the smoke from a massive fire at the city dump.

They left behind all their belongings to seek refuge at a hotel, the emergency shelter at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium or moved in with friends and family. This morning, they hope to return to find their homes still standing and not the remains of a burnt out shell.

It is a disgrace that in 2017, the poor management of the national dump can have such an impact on hardworking Bahamians who live near that facility.

For years, spanning both Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement administrations, the question of what to do about the city dump has gone unanswered.

Yes, both parties have made grand pronouncements, but what has actually happened to remediate this horrendous problem? Nothing.

So yesterday’s fire comes at a time when we, as citizens, must not let this opportunity pass without demanding more of our government to put steps into place to fix the problem.

For the moment, the PLP leads our government, and they are in the hot seat. The time for action is now - and we cannot kick this particular can down the road anymore.

By all accounts the fire yesterday at the dump is the worst one we have had in recent memory.

Homes have been lost, and residents have once again been exposed to toxic fumes as gusting, high winds whipped clouds of smoke across New Provi-

dence.

Children and elderly in the area have complained of chronic respiratory problems for years.

Residents of the area and surrounding communities have written letters, complained to their MPs, the Prime Minister, marched and demonstrated to no avail.

So the question is - what do you do next?

You raise hell, that’s what.

Last night a video was making the rounds on Facebook of a woman from Jubilee Gardens expressing her frustration at calling for fire services to come and assist them, only to be told that only two firetrucks were available.

To the credit of the fire services, she did not know that there were at least two other blazes that they were fighting, but the woman was frustrated. When the cameras arrived, with the Prime Minister in tow, she could be heard exclaiming, “What is he here for? My neighbour’s house is on fire. This is ridiculous!”

Bahamians are frustrated. They see their Prime Minister showing up at a dump when it is on fire, when they have been trying for years to get him to notice them. They have done everything in their power to get his attention and the attention of his government to no avail.

Now, with an election around the corner, Mr Christie can find the time and energy to visit? It’s an insult, and it fools no one.

The Prime Minister would have been better suited to send his hapless Minister of the Environment and stayed away. But we know for the optics alone he had to make an appearance.

Last week our Prime Minister flipped off the country with a crude hand gesture, so now was the

“The Prime Minister knew he had failed to do anything to remediate this dump that was a disaster waiting to happen. He knew children and families were being impacted by the smoke from the dump for years, and he did nothing to correct it.”

time for politics at its best.

He had to demonstrate empathy and civility.

He had to demonstrate strength and caring for a people who clearly did not want to see him. It takes a certain level of gusto for Prime Minister Christie to walk through that community today. To take the glare and insults of the people who no

doubt hurled some hurtful remarks his way.

He knew he had failed to do anything to remediate this dump that was a disaster waiting to happen. He knew children and families were being impacted by the smoke from the dump for years, and he did nothing to correct it. He knew his own colleagues, like the Member of Parliament for Tall Pines Leslie Miller, had berated him and the government for failing to do anything, and yet he went anyway. Like I said, it takes guts, guts and balls of steel.

So to our Prime Minister and his colleagues, who this week will no doubt dive head first into a vat of promises of what they will do about the city dump, prepare yourselves for the push back. Prepare yourself for the blank stares and bewildered looks that you will face.

Prepare yourself for your waiting public who have had enough.

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia. net

PAGE 8 MONDAY, March 6, 2016

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

Government is making a pig’s ear out of treatment of animal deaths

A

Kim Aranha questions why an immediate recall of contaminated pig feed from the government’s feed mill has not been forthcoming and calls for the release of the report of the investigation into the deaths of Exuma’s swimming pigs

s the reaction to the death of what I believe to be seven pigs (the numbers keep changing) on Big Major Cay - aka Pig Beach in the Exumas continues to resonate across the globe, I have been contacted or quoted by journalists from some of the most respected or renowned media groups: BBC, CBC, the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, Elle UK, The Independent (UK), The Washington Post, the New York Times, the National Geographic, Il Corriere della Sera (Italy) to name but some, I am trying very hard to get as much or all the information that is out there.

Alas, many people are afraid to talk. Others are very willing to talk but absolutely do not wish to be named because of the fear of becoming the target of victimisation. The latter category has been very vocal and I have greatly appreciated every bit of information. It has brought to light more than one concern to think about.

As reported in The Tribune on Thursday, there was a large batch of pig feed milled at the governin some cases all - their pigs ment entity, the Gladstone died. I spoke to a couple Road Agricultural Centre of farmers, as recently as (GRAC), that was tainted: this weekend, who sufthe cause of this, as far as fered huge losses following I can find out, is that, alpurchasing this feed; they legedly, the corn that was blame the feed and giving it brought in from the United to their livestock. What we States to enable GRAC do not know, but we hear to make the pig feed was repeatedly from people left on the docks for three very close to GRAC, is weeks in a container in the that they, too, lost a large hot sun, and when the shipquantity of their breeding ment was finally cleared pigs, so many that they dug and brought to the facility a mass grave and buried to be milled, it had already them rather quickly. This “soured”. However, in their has not been verified, but is wisdom, they went ahead certainly the topic of many with the task at hand and conversations I have had. made a considerable batch What we do know is of pig feed. Now this is there was spoiled feed, pigs where it all gets very condied and yet nobody I know cerning ... the bags of pig of has heard of a single feed were sold to farmers recall or warning from the all over the island and, perhaps, to boat operators who government. No announcements on the radio, no were trying to be responwarnings on TV, nothing in sible and were purchasing the papers … which leads what they thought would to the second question, why be best for the “swimming on earth not? pigs”. I say “perhaps” because I doubt we will ever Surely the very first order know for certain. Some of the day would be to warn operators have told me all the farmers who may (confidentially, of course) still be in possession of this that they had bought feed feed? from GRAC to give the I ask myself why the tourists to feed the pigs.

Ministry of Agriculture What we do know for is not scrambling to help LCF-2017 General did 3x8-BW-TRIB.pdf 1/6/17 who 9:34 PM sure is many farmers these1 farmers have lost buy the feed; in many - and a huge part of their liveli-

The world’s press have picked up on tourists feeding alcohol to Exuma’s swimming pigs, from Swiss free commuter newspaper Blick Am Abend in its Zurich editon to The Daily Telegraph in Britain and many more. Meanwhile, new signs have been erected giving guidance to visitors.

“Residents in the Exuma Cays are insulted by the ingested sand report; they feel slighted and cheated and they fear a cover up that the ‘swimming pigs’ got caught in the middle of something by accident and unavoidable circumstances.” hood. “Bring back the bags, we will reimburse you” should be the order of the day. The responsible thing to do must be to find out who lost pigs, the quantity and then help them get back on their feet by supplying pigs for free. There are families who have lost a considerable part of their income, immeasurable for some. Where is the humanitarian aid here? Even if they don’t care about the pigs, what about the people affected, families losing their livelihoods?

Getting back to the “swimming pigs” and what fate befell them, I suspect we will actually never have the absolute cause.

The entire operation has undertaken a nefarious air and the cloak and dagger demeanour with which the “investigation” has been conducted makes one

automatically think the very worst. The refusal to give information, to return calls or to even discuss the circumstances gives cause for concern.

Cover up I have been contacted - confidentially again, of course - by more than one veterinarian who has unequivocally stated that they do not believe it possible that those pigs died of sand ingestion. I do not think that anybody denies that the pigs had sand in their stomachs, but that would not be unusual and it is an amazing coincidence for them to all die at the same time! I have received Facebook messages from residents in the Exuma Cays who are insulted by the ingested sand report; they feel slighted and cheated and they fear a cover up that the “swimming pigs” got caught in the middle of something by accident and unavoidable circumstances.

They want explanations and reports that are not forthcoming.

We know for sure that those pigs have been on Big Major’s Cay for years.

Obviously a point of considerable concern is that when the Bahamas Humane Society sent down its Inspector on the Sunday after the discovery on February 17, he found that the natural source of water had all but dried up and the “tubs” of water were inadequate and muddy. I question who has actually been responsible for the water for these animals and how do they transport sufficient daily water for the pigs? I do know that many tour operators bring

them fresh water, but that, at best, must be sporadic.

We have been told that there was a necropsy performed but the only information released is that there was sand in the pigs’ stomach, which was not remotely surprising.

How many pigs were examined?

What else was in their stomachs?

Were fecal samples taken from the cay?

Was the water tested?

How thoroughly were the remaining pigs examined?

Were tests conducted on the living pigs at all?

Two weeks have passed and the world continues to ask questions and we all get fobbed off with “sand in the tummy” routine.

I understand that there will now be supervision.

There are already signs and, hopefully, the sad situation of the occasional tourists, visitors or Bahamians, undertaking random acts of stupidity like feeding the pigs alcohol will now be curbed. The world press has picked up on these reports and keep asking why tourists are being blamed.

This is rather like a game of “To Tell the Truth”. As a concerned community we need the answers and the truth. Incidentally, for once in a long time, that expression “the eyes of the world are upon us” has never been so accurate as the world press clamours daily for answers.

I call upon those in charge to release the information on the tainted feed and to step up and help those farmers who have been devastated by loss.

Surrey horses The Surrey horse situation continues to weigh on our collective shoulders. I do know that there was a Surrey horse inspection last week and that one horse was removed for a month’s rest period. This horse will be under the supervision and care of a veterinarian during the time it is off the road.

The Surrey horse industry is expensive as horses in the Bahamas are very costly. Our Surrey horses are not fed during the day,

though many horse experts will tell you that they should be. However, even not feeding them during the day, the cost of feeding a horse is high: hay costs $35 a bale and each horse should have at least half a bale a day, so the cost of the hay alone is $122.50 a week. When you add in the various grains and vitamin or mineral supplements, the cost of feeding a horse each month amounts to between $600 and $700. Horses, especially those walking on the roads, need to be shod every six weeks and once a year they have to have their teeth floated (shaved down by an expert to enable them to eat properly). The bridles and necessary tack for these animals can run to hundreds of dollars, and these costs are before you concern yourself with the condition and safety of the carriage the horse pulls. A very expensive undertaking all round.

Many people dispute that the Surrey horse could be replaced by Tuk Tuks, popular three-wheeled motorised taxis found in Thailand. This would enable tourists to have a “quaint” form of transportation all over New Providence, with no rest periods and more flexible load limits. The Surrey operators would most certainly make far more money operating Tuk Tuks.

Of course, the drivers would require valid licences issued by the Bahamian government. Now, that is not a requirement and sometimes you have to ask yourself if young Surrey drivers are actually aware of the rules of the road.

We can but hope that the governing bodies responsible for animal welfare in this country sit up and embrace accountability where the pigs and the feed disaster are concerned and address the Surrey horse drivers blatantly ignoring the rules. We can but watch and hope … and continue to report all and any infractions, preferably accompanied by a photograph.

• Kim Aranha is the President of the Bahamas Humane Society. Comments and responses to insight@ tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2016 PAGE 9

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

Nassau’s Ground Zero I

HAVE just finished last year’s fascinating book, ‘Power at Ground Zero’ by Lynette B Sagalyn, about the rebuilding in downtown Manhattan after the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed the two 110-storey World Trade Center buildings, whose collapse blighted an entire city neighbourhood.

Although we have never suffered a similar catastrophe, we nevertheless live with our own urban Ground Zero, the zombie zone of derelict structures, vacant storefronts and empty lots that dominate eastern Bay Street, turning what should be a vibrant mixed-use district into a wasteland shunned equally by tourists and natives - and, incidentally, losing millions of potential tax revenues.

The origin of this wasteland was not an abrupt act of willful violence but a planned government policy. The decision to remove commercial shipping from downtown Nassau was a rational move to improve traffic and raise property values by shifting away from docks

Richard Coulson bemoans the lack of progress in re-developing the downtown area of the Bahamian capital city

and warehouses to higher value uses - in short, to create an entirely new environment.

The problem was, and remains, that only the first half of the policy was ever carried out. Shipping was moved to Arawak Cay by the decisions of then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, where our container port was built and successfully operates as a public-private partnership. But the new Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration took no interest in the second half: replacing the huge gaps, both physical and economic, left by the departed shipping industry. Prime Minister Perry Christie’s many words of enthusiasm for change have, as often, been followed by no action.

In New York, within a few days of the traumatic shock of September 11, 2001, the public and private sectors were already committed to

rebuilding. Newly-elected Mayor Bloomberg soon detailed the abrupt economic impact on New York and decreed essential budget cuts and layoffs of city employees - can one imagine Mr Christie ever taking such decisive action?

In the following years, Ms Sagalyn’s book describes how the city and state governments came together with the bi-state NYNJ Port Authority to obtain federal “Liberty Bond” financing from Washington and secure commitments from a stubborn private real-estate investor, to rebuild not only office buildings but a transportation hub and a memorial for the dead. As she tells in 900-page detail, the process was long and painful, with many bitter personal and political conflicts to negotiate between the players, until today much of the work is completed, with cost over-runs

accepted as a cost of the final result.

The underlying message of her book is that the public sector had to become intimately engaged and take the leadership. Even with our infinitely smaller problem, nothing like this has happened in our capital city. One cannot point to a single government initiative to improve downtown from Rawson Square east to Armstrong Street. Several years ago, the Chinese owners of the British Colonial Hotel spoke of their proposal to re-develop the area: dead silence from government since then.

The private owners of prime waterfront property just east of Prince George Dock provided a detailed plan to restore fire-ravaged vacant lots with their own financial resources: no response from government, presumably because the developers were not PLP cronies. Our government does not even have the commercial savvy to develop its own assets: the out-dated publications building, with dock and parking lot, occupies space that could accommodate a variety of profitable

ventures.

Even worse, government has actually taken a step to block development.

It permitted the key 3.9acre Union Wharf property to be sold to a Barbados company with no requirements of use.

As long as this parcel is allowed to sit vacant behind locked gates, it will stymie any improvement of the adjacent area. The owner company has, as its Bahamian director, Eric Gibson, known to be Peter Nygard’s property manager and brother of Minister of Labour Shane Gibson; perhaps this ownership structure discourages any rational sales, joint-venture or leasing programmes.

Surveying this scene, Minister of Tourism Obie

Wilchcombe can only utter his constant laments that our touristic offerings need change and revival, reinforced by cruise ship owners’ frequent complaints about downtown’s uninspiring attractions.Unfortunately, little is likely to change during the remaining two months (at least) of Mr Christie’s government of inertia.

• Comments and responses to insight@ tribunemedia.net

PAGE 10 MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2016

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

GAIN AN EDGE

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Finding where the jobs are “COLLEGE is a waste because there just aren’t any good jobs out there!”

It’s an old argument that’s just not true. Even in the toughest job markets, studies consistently show that college graduates are more likely to land jobs with higher salaries, better benefits and greater job satisfaction than those who don’t pursue education after high school.

Inevitably, those who are able to secure employment in their chosen field after college are those who have taken the time to research and plan before even declaring a college major.

Here are three proven tips to map out a road that leads straight from college to a successful career.

1 Anticipate industry trends The famous ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky said: “I don’t skate to where the puck is or was - I skate to where it will be.”

Like a well-trained athlete, you have to anticipate the next big move. That means identifying trends before most people see them, and using these trends to plan your education and career. Ask yourself: • What are the trends that I’m seeing in society?

• What career fields are short-staffed in The Bahamas?

The Lyford Cay Foundations offers three tips for students on mapping out their progress to career success

• Is there a need in the country that’s not being met? What field of study can help me fill this need?

The Bahamas government is an excellent resource for such research.

Through the Department of Labour you can find information about growing career fields in The Bahamas.

Likewise, the Department of Statistics has reports that outline which industries are being outsourced because of a lack of trained local talent in those field.

Your perfect career match should be one that you are both passionate about and one that your research shows you that there is a need you can help fill.

2 Become an expert College trains you for your chosen profession and shows the world that you have developed some level of expertise in your field.

The more expertise you have, the better you are positioned for the right career opportunity.

Additional ways of gaining expertise include: • Joining a professional association. No matter what

you are studying, there is a professional association affiliated with your field.

Many of these associations have vibrant college chapters that can open doors for you.

• Getting involved with community organisations.

Organisations like Rotary and Kiwanis help you develop an extensive network and help further your leadership skills.

• Seeking out internships.

These unpaid professional opportunities offer something even more valuable than a paycheck - real life experience. When you graduate from college, you’ll be competing with other new graduates, as well as those who have years of experience. An internship enables you to compete. Start early and seek out internships beginning in your first year of college.

3 Position yourself for success Your education and experience will grab a recruiter’s attention, but it takes more to snag the job, such as: • A professionally-crafted resume and polished

interview skills. Your college’s career centre can help you create a resume, practice your interviewing skills and instruct you on what interview attire is appropriate. Professional mentors can also help you sharpen these skills.

• The ability to build and harness a network.

“We provide several opportunities for our Scholars to network with each other, potential employers and our donors,” Dr Giavana Jones, Lyford Cay Foundations’ Programme Director of Scholarships and College Success, says. “Through networking, our Scholars have been able to make connections that have led to job leads and even interviews.”

By forecasting career trends, actively developing your expertise and making sure you are positioned for opportunities, you increase your marketability. With patience and planning, you are destined for career success.

NEXT WEEK: careers supported by a University of the Bahamas education “Gain An Edge” is a weekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

LYFORD Cay Scholar Lezley Rahming, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, used her internship experience to help her obtain a full-time position in the culinary field after graduation.

THIS WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday

Woman and Health weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology Plus Alicia Wallace begins a regualr column on social and political issues

of the moment in The Bahamas Thursday

Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in The Bahamas Friday Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports

scene, by Brent Stubbs Plus A Comic’s View Naughty’s unique take on the week in the Bahamas Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a special video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www. tribune242.com Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports, weather and Classifieds Trader - the best guide to cars for sale, real estate, help wanted and more.

Plus breaking news and updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com

NOTICE

TO FORMER EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES OF SOCIÉTÉ GENERALE PRIVATE BANKING (BAHAMAS) LTD. AND ITS RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES

_______________________________________

Re:Surplus of Bahamas Group Employee Pension Fund (“Pension Fund”)

We, CIBC TRUST COMPANY (BAHAMAS) LIMITED, the Trustee of the Pension Fund, hereby give notice of the position of Former Employees (being those whose employment was terminated prior to 30th November 2016) and Employees (being those who remained employed on 30th November 2016, but not after that date) in relation to the surplus of the Pension Fund.

Former Employees, please be advised that, pursuant to sections 6 and 11.1 of the Pension Fund Plan Rules, you have received your full entitlement under the terms of the Pension Fund and are not entitled to further payment.

Employees, please be advised that you have received your initial entitlement under the terms of the Pension Fund and will be granted a share in the surplus of the Pension Fund, after the annual audit has been completed. Please note that the purposes of the audit are, inter alia, to account for all of the expenses incurred in the administration of the Pension Fund and to arrive at the correct figure representing the funds available for disbursement as surplus thereof. We assure you that we are making every effort to work with the auditors to expedite the completion of the audit. Accordingly, we ask for your continued patience and undertake to keep you updated as matters progress.

CIBC TRUST COMPANY (BAHAMAS) LIMITED Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre West Bay Street P.O. Box N3933 Nassau, Bahamas Tel: 356-1800; Fax: 322 3692

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 11

PM’s one-finger salute ‘was because of VAT’

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said Prime Minister Perry Christie, who he called “Gold Finger,” did not stick up his middle finger at a public event last week because his family was attacked, but claimed Mr Christie made the obscene gesture because he was questioned about value added tax and government spending.

While addressing a crowd of FNM supporters in Eleuthera recently, Mr Turnquest also said the prime minister needs to spend less time talking about the controversy in the FNM and worry about his own Cabinet ministers who “have been trying to get rid of him for the past five years”.

Mr Christie was subject of much ridicule and criticism last week after he “flipped the bird” during a PLP event.

After nearly two days of intense backlash, Mr Christie expressed “regret” for

his behaviour in the House of Assembly, saying it is “not what I’m like.”

He insisted that in hindsight he would not have made the obscene gesture, as he suggested that it might have caused embarrassment not only to the nation, but also to his family. Mr Christie questioned how those in public life ought to react in the face of “egregious assaults of untruths and distortions.” He said such instances become “exceedingly difficult” when his wife and children are attacked in a manner that goes to the root of their existence.

However, Mr Turnquest said he is not buying that excuse.

“Our prime minister, I call him ‘Gold Finger,’ has always shown you what he thinks of you, the disrespect he showed the entire country because someone dared to ask a question, that’s all they did,” Mr Turnquest said.

“Don’t mind him talking about someone was talking about his family, they were not talking about his family at all.

They asked a question, just like the Bahamian people have asked. ‘Where the VAT money gone?’ That’s it. They thought it was a joke, it’s no joke. They wanted to know, just like you want to know, where is the money from VAT and all the other taxes?

Where are they spending our money?”

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Christie highlighted on the opposition’s internal fights and divisions and said a party that is so divided and so weak as the FNM “would wreck this country while they continue their fighting.”

“If the FNM were the government of the Bahamas today, who would be running the country?”

Mr Christie asked. “Who could say today that they know who would be running the country? I’ve lost track of how many senators, how many leaders and wannabe leaders they’ve been through. You vote for one today and the next day you got somebody else.”

However Mr Turnquest said the PLP has its own

PLP CHAIRMAN: OPPOSITION IN CONFUSION AS BRANVILLE QUITS PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts said the resignation of Branville McCartney from the Senate last week only underscores the fact that the Official Opposition is a “ball of confusion.”

Mr McCartney, leader of the Democratic National Alliance, announced on Thursday that he quit his post as leader of government business in the Senate.

He was given the appointment last December

by Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner after she was appointed leader of the Official Opposition. This came after she and six other Free National Movement MPs wrote to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling expressing no confidence in FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

“This decision calls into

question Mr McCartney’s judgment,” Mr Roberts said in a statement. “Was Branville McCartney in a Ripvanwinklesque cryogenic slumber when Loretta Butler-Turner sowed the seeds that created one big ball of confusion in the FNM? Butler-Turner turned her party’s convention into a circus and later led the gang of seven to emasculate and undermine her duly elected leader who she danced with and pledged her undying support for. Did Branville not see that coming? Is he that slow as a leader?

“McCartney was in the media blaming his resignation and his uninspiring and failed leadership in the Senate on Butler-Turner. He said that ButlerTurner failed to demonstrate leadership, a clear vision and ‘sowed seeds of confusion.’ It is unfor-

tunate that Bran missed an entire public spectacle where Loretta managed to break up and split the FNM, throwing the party into total chaos.”

He also said: “More broadly, where is the opposition? Dr Andre Rollins wants to go back to the FNM but they are not sure if they want him. Hubert Chipman is contemplating running as an independent in St Anne’s and Loretta Butler-Turner is pursuing an independent FNM bid in Long Island. There is even talk of the rebel seven returning to the FNM, effectively firing Loretta ButlerTurner as opposition leader and returning that post to Dr Minnis.”

Mr Roberts said in contrast, the PLP is “a stable and united organisation” committed to moving the country forward.

share of controversy just like the FNM. “The prime minister said his party is unified, he said ‘we can’t trust them other fellas because we don’t know who will be leader.’

Well I have news for him, if he don’t know himself, his members have been trying to get rid of him for the last five years. Ask Alfred Sears, ask Obie Wilchcombe, ask Fred Mitchell, ask ‘Brave’ Davis, who isn’t so brave because he wouldn’t take the shot, at least Alfred Sears took the shot,” Mr Turnquest said.

“They all tried to get rid of him and Mr Christie had the nerve to say well ‘I staying because my people tell me they want me to stay.’ So the news ask the members of the governing party and one by one they say ‘not me I didn’t ask him to stay.’

But because of the way they operated their party they couldn’t get rid of him, but since they failed, your FNM with the help of God we will do the job for them. We will fire Mr Christie and this worthless PLP as soon as they are bold enough to call the next election.”

PRIME Minister Perry Christie making an obscene finger gesture during a speech last week.

ROBERTS IN ‘FAKE NEWS’ CLAIM OVER REPORT PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has dismissed an opinion piece published in The Nassau Guardian last week as “fake news,” while also accusing former PLP MP George Smith of allegedly supplying the information in the report to the newspaper.

The report in question, published in the daily’s National Review section, said the PLP predicted a win of 14 out of 39 constituencies thus far, based on information supplied by a source.

Mr Roberts denounced

the report and declared “beyond a shadow of a doubt” that the source in question was former Exuma MP George Smith, who he said has not been actively involved in the operations of the PLP for several years.

Mr Roberts’ statement said: “In my opinion the said article falls squarely into the ignoble category of been FAKE NEWS (sic)!”

“I note that this very same newspaper sought an electoral prediction from the FNM and correctly contacted the official source, that party’s national

chairman, and identified the same. To use George Smith’s opinion, hides his identity, bypasses the party’s chairman and project Smith’s personal opinion as the official position of the PLP is unseemly even for opinion journalism . . .”

When contacted yesterday, Mr Smith, a PLP stalwart councillor, said he had not seen Mr Roberts’ press release.

He said Mr Roberts’ allegations were not true, adding that he would give an “appropriate and measured response” at a later date.

PAGE 12, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Govt efforts to ‘intimidate’ activists slammed in report from page one discussed the emails and financial information of Save the Bays in Parliament last year, the report says: “Cabinet members sought to intimidate a local environmental group by reading its hacked e-mails and financial information from the floor of Parliament, accusing the group of attempting to overthrow the ruling political party.

“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights requested the government to undertake precautionary measures to protect six members of the environmental group following reported threats against their lives and personal integrity ... An activist with a reform-oriented organisation (also) claimed

MARIA Daxon outside court her case is highlighted in the report by the United States. police questioned him for his activities. Police reportedly investigated the background of a judge who ruled in favour of a human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO).”

Regarding the pursuit of people based on criminal

libel laws, the report referred to a case involving an explicit song recorded about Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family, suggesting the pursuit of “suspects” in the case raises questions about the country’s commitment to freedom of speech.

The report says: “Although the International Press Institute called on the government to begin reform and elimination of criminal defamation laws, the government increased its use of libel laws during the year.

In August the government arrested two men for a rap song that attacked Prime Minister Perry Christie in explicit language, held them for 36 hours before release, and continued to investigate them for criminal libel. One of the detainees was an outspoken activist frequently

critical of the Christie administration.

“In September authorities arrested a lawyer on criminal libel charges for ‘defamatory statements’ intended ‘to inure and expose’ senior police officials to ‘general hatred, contempt, or ridicule.’”

The last example refers to attorney Maria Daxon, who was hauled before the courts on charges of defaming Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel. Ms Daxon was eventually released on $100 bail.

In its report, the US also describes in detail some of the problems encountered by juveniles who interact with the justice system.

“Children as young as 10 years old can be charged as an adult or a juvenile before

a criminal court,” the report says. “When a juvenile is arrested and taken into custody, if authorities are unable to contact a parent or guardian, police call in a social worker as a de facto parent. There was no protection to prevent juveniles from being shackled to, or transported with, adult offenders.

“The (Bahamas Department of Correctional Services) maintained a juvenile area at the prison facility; however, there was no strict enforcement of the sight/ sound separation of juvenile and adult inmates.”

The report adds that juveniles face a conflict of interest obstacle, as “the government-assigned social worker tasked with protecting and safeguarding the welfare of the child is the same individual tasked with writing the report to the judge recommending the appropriate punishment for the child.”

‘Bribery and beatings’ Over the years, the US has continually identified bribery of immigration authorities as a problem.

Addressing the matter in more detail than usual in this latest report, the US says numerous Haitian migrants “reported being detained by immigration officials and solicited for bribes of $1,000 to $3,000 Bahamian dollars, with the Carmichael Road Detention Centre front office functioning as a clearing house.”

“Many claimed that immigration officers targeted their dwellings once their undocumented status was discovered, demanding multiple bribes,” the report said.

Treatment of prisoners also remains a concern, the report indicates.

Describing an incident not reported to the press, the US alleged: “On July 8, a foreign citizen reported he had been beaten by two or more corrections officers at the Bahamas Department of (Correctional Services).

He said that following an altercation with an inmate, prison guards placed him in handcuffs, bent him over a cart, beat him with a PVC plumbing pipe wrapped in duct tape, and then took him back to his cell without providing any medical attention.

“A migrant held in the immigration detention centre in Freeport alleged unprompted, regular beatings from the guards, as well as inappropriate sexual behaviour toward female detainees.”

Other human rights problems highlighted by the US include inefficiencies in the judicial system, the “perception of impunity on the part of law enforcement and immigration officials accused of using excessive force,” as well as “substandard detention conditions, including poor nutrition, violence and discrimination against some, sexual abuse of children and discrimination based on ethnic descent, sexual orientation, or HIV status.”

Similar to previous reports, the US also criticises the government’s contract procurement process, saying its lack of transparency, lack of requirement for public tenders and its failure to review award decisions makes the process “particularly susceptible to corruption.”

On Sunday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration released a statement which said representatives of the government spoke with representatives of the United States prior to the release of the report.

“During those conversations, it was made clear to the US that the proposed report contained significant inaccurate information with no basis in fact and in some cases incomplete information,” the ministry’s statement said.

“Now that the US report has been publicly released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is preparing an official response from the Bahamas government and intends to issue a formal protest in this regard.

“With regard to the matter pertaining to the minister of education, the ministry reminds the media that the ruling of the Supreme Court is being appealed and it is only upon the resolution of the matter that it can be substantively addressed further. The media is further reminded that it is the position of the Parliament that no court can injunct the Parliament or MPs in what they can say.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 13

Ruling deferred on whether Nygard faces jail for contempt

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A JUDGE on Friday further deferred her ruling on whether Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard will face prison for contempt of court.

Justice Rhonda Bain was expected to rule on an application to commit the Lyford Cay resident to the Department of Correctional Services, Fox Hill, after it was alleged that he engaged in dredging activities off the coast of his Nygard Cay home in defiance of a court order.

When the matter was called on Friday morning, Justice Bain revealed that because closing submissions in the committal proceedings had not been heard on the original scheduled dates, it had reduced the length of time for her to consider and produce her ruling in the matter.

However, she said the decision will be ready on Tuesday at 10am.

Local environmental group Save The Bays (STB) has brought several judicial review cases against Nygard over offshore construction works allegedly carried out in the absence of necessary permits and approvals and which have resulted in the near doubling of the size of his property.

An injunction against such activities was handed down by Justice Bain on

June 13, 2013. It is alleged that Nygard violated this in December, 2014.

In addition to requesting his committal to prison, STB is asking the court to order that Nygard be required to remove all of the sand, spoil or other material that has been dredged and extracted from the sea bed since December 11, 2014, which was subsequently spread along on a beach at Nygard Cay and placed along the public beach at Clifton Bay, known as Jaws Beach.

In closing arguments on Monday afternoon in Supreme Court, STB’s lead lawyer Fred Smith, QC, told the court that clear evidence had been presented, in the form of photographs and witness testimony, proving that for a period of nine days in December, 2014, Nygard periodically dredged the sea bed at Simms Point/Nygard Cay in explicit contravention of the court order.

He claimed that Nygard has not denied that he was fully aware of the terms of the injunction and therefore knew he was breaching it by conducting such activities. Mr Smith argued that the dredging was clearly authorised by Nygard, as it was carried out on his property and, at times, under his supervision.

In his closing arguments, Nygard’s attorney, Elliott Lockhart, QC, told the court that a permit to dredge the sea floor was

PETER Nygard entering court on Friday. granted to Nygard Holdings carried out the dredging Ltd and not Peter Nygard in complained of in STB’s application. Peter Nygard and October, 2014.

Therefore, he argued, Nygard Holdings Ltd, Mr and in the absence of any Lockhart stressed, are sepdefinitive evidence to the arate entities.

He added that no evicontrary, the court should assume that the company, dence had been adduced to and not the individual, prove that Nygard was per-

sonally responsible for the dredging which took place off the coast of his property.

Mr Smith branded this an “absurd” argument which “defied logic” as it would allow any individual, prohibited by the court from undertaking certain activi-

ties, to simply carry them out under another name.

Dawson Malone, Romauld Ferreira and Crispin Hall appeared with Mr Smith at Friday’s hearing.

Damian Gomez, QC and Roy Sweeting appeared with Mr Lockhart.

FRENCH-CANADIAN WOMAN DENIES SEX ASSAULT ON MINOR

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A FRENCH-Canadian woman pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a mi-

nor in Supreme Court on Friday morning.

Karine Gagne, 23, of Quebec, Canada, appeared before Senior Justice Bernard Turner a month after her case was forwarded to

Supreme Court through the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment concerning the unlawful sexual intercourse charge she is facing.

That concerns an al-

leged incident on January 5 at Great Sturrup Cay with a 15-year-old boy, who cannot legally give consent to have sexual intercourse.

After her formal arraign-

ment, at which she denied the allegation, Senior Justice Turner told the accused that she would stand trial on June 6, 2017.

A status hearing was fixed for May 26. She remains on

remand at the Department of Correctional Services until her next court appearance.

Tonique Lewis appeared for Gagne in Friday’s Supreme Court arraignment.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 6, 2017, PAGE 15

POWER COMPANY HOPEFUL OVER SUMMER SEASON DEMANDS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power & Light (BPL) CEO Pamela Hill on Friday expressed optimism that the company will be able to meet generation demands heading into the summer peak season.

Ms Hill told The Tribune she feels “very good about the level of work that our employees have conducted and our ability to be ready for the summer.”

These efforts, she said, include taking key units at both its Clifton Pier and Blue Hills Power Stations that will be utilised the most offline, one at a time, and conducting “major maintenance” on them.

Ms Hill also said the company is taking steps to strengthen its transmission and distribution networks, adding that “summer readiness work” was underway in the Family Islands.

Last month, The Tribune

PAMELA HILL, CEO of BPL. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff reported how BPL, in an age between November 29 internal memo sent to the and December 4 last year, government and obtained which BPL said stemmed by this newspaper, provided from widespread equipassurances that the over- ment failures at the Clifton haul and maintenance of Pier Power Station. generators at both Clifton The memo, dated DePier and Blue Hills will cember 12, outlined a be completed ahead of the “comprehensive strategy to summer peak season. mitigate future occurrences That report came after of a similar nature.” two island wide outages, Those include the inand another major out- stallation of supplemental

transmission circuits between Big Pond and Blue Hills, which the company expects to complete within the first quarter of this year.

In two cables, faults were repaired and returned to service--with one of those cables requiring the assistance of a fault location expert from American utility provider Southern Company.

As for generation, BPL noted in the memo that all overhaul activities to generators at the Clifton station, inclusive of auxiliary systems, would be completed

by April - ahead of the summer peak season.

Speaking to the overhaul of one of its largest units at Clifton, BPL’s memo said that the major overhaul planned for January would “enhance its preparedness and/or performance for the 2017 peak load season.”

“We are in fact in the midst of our summer readiness initiative and our summer readiness programme,”

Ms Hill said when questioned on the matter on Friday.

“And essentially what that involves is making sure that we take our units that are going to be calling on the most, that we take them offline. Not all at once, one at a time, and conduct major maintenance on them.

And so we are in the midst of doing that at Blue Hills as well as at Clifton Pier and we’re also are doing summer readiness work in the Family Islands.

“Beyond generation we are also strengthening our transmission and distribution. So for instance there is a cable that runs from Big Pond to Blue Hills. That cable plays a very critical role in our reliability and we are in the midst of completing the refurbishment of that cable. We are doing the same thing with some of the smaller transmission and distribution work so that we can be ready for summer.

She continued: “And for us, although Mother Nature says the calendar of summer begins in the June 22 period, we really begin our summer calendar in May, because we know temperatures begin to heat up there. So that is our goal, to ensure summer readiness is completed in May. “Regarding where we stand with summer readiness, I do feel very good about the level of work that our employees have conducted and our ability to be ready for the summer.”

Power Secure signed a five-year management services agreement, reportedly worth as much as $25m, with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation in February 2016.

Since taking the helm however, PowerSecure’s efforts at restructuring the cash-strapped utility provider has been marred by island-wide power outages in the capital, and on some Family Islands.

Industrial pollution was to blame for series of disorders 30 years ago

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net INDUSTRIAL pollution in Grand Bahama was responsible for significant gastro-intestinal disorders, chronic eye disorders and acute skin disorders, according to an investigative study which was undertaken by the government 30 years ago but never publicly released.

The Tribune recently obtained this report on the effects of the industrial pollution around the combined industrial complex on Grand Bahama.

The results of the report indicated that these health conditions were associated with exposure to industrial pollutants. It advised that persons should protect their eyes in the affected areas.

The investigative study was headed by chief investigator Dr Farhat Mahmood, who at the time was acting medical officer of health with responsibility for community health services, including epidemiology, at the Ministry of Health.

Dr Norman Gay, the then health minister, was credited in the report as someone who had “a special interest in health promotion, in-

cluding the environmental matters, and without his support the project would never have gotten off the ground.”

Among those also involved in the study were Dr Alfred Brathwaite and Dr Eric Brown, nurses and other hospital staff.

The affects of the industrial exposure on the eyes, ears, respiratory function, blood function, liver function, kidney function, skin function and the reproductive function were assessed by a cross-sectional method for four groups on Grand Bahama.

The groups were students, teachers, workers in the industries and a random selection of residents from the community.

The exposed cases were members of the groups that went to school, taught, worked or lived in the exposed area, within a fivemile radius around the industrial site for a minimum of five years.

No association was found between exposure to the pollution and disorders of either the respiratory system, blood function, or kidney function based on exams or lab results, however slight associations although none of them significant were indicated from reported past histories in either one or several of the four study groups.

The alleged disorders included hypertension, diseases of genitourinary tract, gastro-intestinal disorders, and to a lesser extent respiratory disorders and symptoms associated with coughs, colds, and fevers.

The report indicated that for disorders of the eye and skin observed through physical examinations, the results indicated several significant associations.

For the eyes, these included chronic conjunctivitis in the workers and community groups. The skin exams showed excess cases of acute eczema in the groups of the exposed workers, teachers, and those from

the communities, and of ulcerative lesions in the exposed group from the community as well as from the sample of students.

According to the report, documented complaints were reported since the mid-1970s of the industries and their potential environmental pollutants. It was noted that over the past few years, the number of complaints had escalated.

It was noted there had been reports of foul smells and coats of oily substances settling on the schools located in the area, and that on many occasions the schools had to be dismissed and the students sent home as a result of reported cases of nausea and vomiting, headaches, sore throats, fainting and asthma attacks that were allegedly related to the emissions from the industries.

The report indicated that the emissions had resulted in the loss of learning hours for students with reduced teaching hours.

‘Hazards’ “The ministry undertook an epidemiological study to assist in identifying the need for control measures on health hazards in identifying priorities for training, research and legislation.

The study was to also serve as a baseline for the evaluation of the effectiveness of any preventive health measures introduced,” the report said.

The study was the first of its kind on the industrial park area in Grand Bahama.

The unexposed group that participated in the study were those sampled from Freeport which is beyond the exposed area and who had never attended school, taught, worked or lived in the exposed area for any length of time, were considered the control or comparison group.

A total of 100 students from three schools in close proximity to the industrial plants: St Vincent de Paul, Lewis Yard,

and Hawksbill Primary and a total of 88 from schools in Freeport – Mary Star, Sunland, and St Pauls - that were not in the exposed area, were examined.

It was indicated that based on past diagnoses reports by students, there appeared to be an excess number of cases in the exposed group when compared with control students for gastrointestinal disorders, disorders of the eye, and symptoms related to coughs, colds, and the flu.

It was found that exposed students diagnosed with gastro-intestinal disorder was more than five times that of students attending schools in Freeport.

Data analysed on the eyes of the 188 students that participated in the study, showed 47 cases of acute conjunctivitis, three cases of chronic conjunctivitis and two cases of cornea opacity.

In terms of colds, cough and flu reported by students, the exposed students’ chances of having any symptoms was twice that of students outside the exposed area.

In conclusion, the analysis of the results revealed some associations between exposures to the combined emittants from the various industries did appear.

There were also associations between exposure and diseases of the genitourinary tract in the four exposed groups. There was also correlation between exposure and gastro intestinal disorders in workers and more strongly in the student sample.

The report also indicated that while some of the apparent association were extremely weak, “the fact that they occurred in more than one of the sample groups does warrant some attention.”

According to the report, other apparent associations were observed between exposure and respiratory disorders in teachers and between exposure and

coughs, cold and fevers as well as eye abnormalities in the students.

The report stated that cases of cornea opacity, cataracts, and chronic conjunctivitis were far more prevalent in the exposed groups and indicated a much larger risk in that exposed group.

“This becomes even more important due to the fact that this relationship is seen in not one, but several of the study groups, namely workers, those from the community for chronic conjunctivitis, students and teachers and community for corneal opacities, and the community group for cases of cataract.”

In the report, it was advised that “in the interim the eyes should be protected as much as possible in areas known to have excessive pollution and recommended more frequent eye examinations to help determine the extent of the problem and the threat.”

Based on the study there was no increased risk to kidneys, liver functions or detection of disorder of haematological system to disease primarily affecting many other organs in which blood cell changes occur as secondary manifestations.

When The Tribune asked Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Darville about the report, he said that the document, along with other subsequent reports conducted by the government, was turned over to PAHO/ WHO teams to assist them with their investigation into the health and environmental risk assessment of the industrial plants in nearby communities, which was conducted in 2014/2015.

The PAHO/WHO report indicated that there was no health and environmental risks to residents living in close proximity to the industrial plants.

The Pinder’s Point Lewis Yard Environmental Committee and resident of Pinder’s Point rejected the latest report and is calling for the relocation of residents from those communities.

SIX CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED BY US COAST GUARD

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SIX Cuban migrants intercepted at sea near Cay

Sal Bank were brought to Grand Bahama last week.

The US Coast Guard handed over five men and one woman to Bahamas immigration authorities on March

2 at Freeport Harbour.

Immigration officer Napthali Cooper reported that the migrants were taken to the Department of Immigration headquarters, where

they were examined by medical officers. They were flown to New Providence where they are detained at the Detention Centre to await repatriation to Cuba.

PAGE 16, Monday, March 6, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Guyana president hails Bahamas as example to the Caribbean

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net STABILITY in the country’s economic, education and environmental sectors were hailed as “successful examples” for Caribbean states by President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana David Granger this weekend during an exit interview with local press.

In an address moments before he boarded his return flight Saturday, concluding a three-day state visit to The Bahamas, the retired Brigadier General commended the Christie administration for sustaining one of the region’s premier countries in the wake of one of the world’s most severe economic downturns.

General Granger, in the presence of Prime Minister Perry Christie at the Lynden Pindling International Airport’s VIP Lounge Saturday, said he viewed the three sectors as “important lessons” that could be adopted and adapted by every other country in the region, adding that his “economic visit” to The Bahamas would be viewed as a success in his country despite not returning with any written agreements.

General Granger, who throughout his time in The Bahamas pointed out that the Caribbean stood as a fragmented region that could advance through cooperation, said his belief was emboldened by what he witnessed specifically in Grand Bahama.

He said that the “sincere and successful” effort to by the government to deal with the economic issues plaguing the communities there showed him that “patience,” “passion” and “forward-thinking” were factors that could aid in his

PRIME Minister Perry Christie shakes the hand of Guyana President David A Granger as he prepares to depart from the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff mas has shown the way for country’s efforts.

His country, like many General Granger accom- small states and is a les- other nations in South panied Mr Christie on a son and example for other America, is battling trip to Freeport, Grand Ba- states to learn. I have also through a massive economemphasised that in some ic decline. hama, last Friday.

Of the trip, he said: “We areas, particularly in the In addition to that ordeal, liked what we saw. It may areas of our economical the country is reported to just be container terminals, development, our tour- be locked into a territorial it may be just shipyards; ism, we could learn from dispute with neighbouring but we saw at the second the tremendous years of Venezuela, something that level, and I like to mention experience and the wealth has seen “battle ready” this, the work that is being of expertise that we saw in warships move into Guyadone in education and for The Bahamas, to develop nese waters over the course the youth. Because just go- our tourist product.” of the last two years.

He added: “I would like ing to the Hugh Campbell According to General Primary School, you could to feel that in more busi- Granger, his journey to feel the energy from those ness like visits, my minis- The Bahamas was geared young people and I would ters would be coming back around finding feasible lolike to come back 20 years to work one on one with gistical concepts that could the responsible minister on be implemented by his from now.

“The Bahamas has set the Bahamian side to en- country to ease the grip of an example to the rest of sure that these lessons are the continent’s economic the Caribbean as to how not just filed away, but that woes. we can transform smallness they become the pillars of and poverty into economic partnership between what ‘Grateful’ they call, the northern most power,” he stated.

In response to his praise General Granger said his English speaking Carib- of the Bahamas on Satcountry would adopt the bean state and the southern urday, Mr Christie said premise, “smallness doesn’t most English speaking Car- the objective praise was necessarily mean weak- ibbean state. So you have something his administraness,” from The Bahamas not seen the last of us.” tion was intrigued to hear, Last week’s visit marked adding that the Bahamian moving forward.

“There is no doubt, the General Granger’s first of- populace could now see government of The Baha- ficial visit to The Bahamas. and hear from countries in

GUYANA President David A Granger waves farewell at the end of his state visit to The Bahamas. similar conditions and com- to move these facilities to pare and contrast the rate at international standards which The Bahamas is per- $150m, he noted. forming.

Mr Christie added: “You Mr Christie, noting how don’t earn that, you have to “grateful” he was for the go out and borrow it …… it president’s comments, said adds to the national debt.” his administration has from The point was supported a fiscal point of view “done by General Granger who all it could” given the de- noted that his country, mands of our country. which is larger than The Cautioning the pub- Bahamas, has only two airlic over the opposition’s ports to manage. “doom and gloom talk”, Mr Christie noted that Mr Christie added: “Unlike most countries in the region any other country in the are grappling with similar region, and I argue even in problems and a united efthe hemisphere, we have an fort, in time, could alleviate island nation that requires the pressures faced by all in duplication resources - the region. schools, hospitals, clinics, To thank The Bahamas roads, water and it is a work for hosting him and memin progress, it costs a lot of bers of his delegation, Genmoney.” eral Granger presented Mr Advancing his argument, Christie with a painting of a Mr Christie contended that jaguar; the animal is considhis government has to man- ered noble in Guyana. age and promote a total Additionally, General of 28 airports, several of Granger pledged to ship which have to operate inter- several of his nation’s nanational flights. tional tree crops to the BaHe said his administra- hamas as a part of Guyana’s tion has gauged estimates National Tree Day celebraon how much it would take tion later this year.