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VOLUME:115 No.73, MARCH 7TH, 2018
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CULTURE CLASH: WHAT’S A WOMAN REALLY WORTH ?
Davis’ threat to scrap Oban deal By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
IF the “reckless” Oban Energies deal continues to be shrouded with “incompetence and dishonesty” then the $5.5bn agreement will not continue under a Progressive Liberal Party-led government should the organisation win the next general election, party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis, pictured, said yesterday. He also warned the PLP is not prepared to do business with Peter Krieger, Oban’s non-executive chairman, who is now caught in another round
of controversy after it was reported he did not sign his own name on the heads of agreement for the deal, which was inked two weeks ago, but signed the name of Satpal Dhunna, the company’s president. Asked pointedly if the PLP would do business with Mr Krieger, Mr Davis responded: “No”. He added: “We have called upon them to clean up this act. If it’s cleaned up by the time we are in office and we see it’s enduring to the benefit of the Bahamian people, it would not be right for us to stop it. SEE PAGE FIVE
‘WHAT DO WE DO NOW?’
THE Prime Minister’s former political nemesis yesterday slammed the Government’s “really egregious missteps” over the Oban Energies project, branding it “a very fishy deal”. Loretta ButlerTurner, who led the “coup” to oust Dr Hubert Minnis as Opposition leader pre-general election, told Tribune
Business that “desperation” to spark greater economic growth may have clouded the Government’s judgment over the proposed $5.5bn oil storage terminal/refinery project. Pointing out that Dr Minnis had “lambasted” his predecessor, Perry Christie, for the same failings, Mrs Butler-Turner questioned why the Government “had the gumption to move forward”. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A VIDEO circulating on social media showing a man brutally killing a sea turtle, believed to be in The Bahamas, is drawing outrage from animal activists and calls for a Royal Bahamas Police Force investigation. The 41-second video shows a man crushing the turtle’s head with a hammer while the animal tries to escape. The man is seen to strike the turtle at least 13 times but none of the blows is fatal leaving the desperate animal bleeding and in pain. He then flips the creature on to its back, the turtle clearly still alive. The video then ends. SEE PAGE 11
CHURCHES PROPOSE MARRIAGE CONTROLS
LORETTA: WHY DID THEY GO AHEAD? By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
HUNT FOR TURTLE’S HAMMER KILLER
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Christian Council yesterday released its proposal for a companion bill to the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act that seeks to establish another advisory council to set rules for Bahamian marriages, legislate counselling and effect tax incentives for married couples who live together. The BCC withheld its position on whether it would support proposed amendments, which would criminalise marital rape, until after the final bill is presented by the government. SEE PAGE SIX STRAW vendor Carol Curry - a vendor for 41 years - stands in front of her shop in Grand Bahama after a blaze ripped through several of the outlets in the market there. See page two for the full story. Photo: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff
SAILOR SURVIVES TEN-MILE SWIM TO SHORE By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
AN Acklins man is missing at sea following a boating accident off Crooked Island on Monday. Derek Collie, 38, and Terrance Bullard, 43, were travelling from Samana Cay to Lovely Bay, Acklins, when their boat capsized in rough weather conditions. Mr Collie is still
missing while Mr Bullard was able to swim ten miles to Crooked Island. Superintendent Shanta Knowles, Royal Bahamas Police Force press liaison officers, confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday. She said: “Shortly after 7pm (on Monday) police on Crooked Island received information of a boat with two men, that went adrift. “One of the men swam to shore. All efforts are being
made to locate the second man.” Leonard Dames, the administrator for Crooked Island and Long Cay, said the men ran out of fuel after they encountered bad weather while out to sea. “Sometime around 10am (Monday), two men left Samana Cay, that’s a cay off Acklins, en route to Lovely Bay, Acklins,” he said.
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SEE PAGE THREE
‘SHANTY TOWNS HAVE TO GO’ By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
WORKS Minister Desmond Bannister said the government is working to fully “eradicate” shanty towns, focusing on clean up and removal as opposed to regulating these areas. Mr Bannister’s comments came days after a massive fire ripped through sections of The Mud shanty town in Abaco for the second time in about five weeks. SEE PAGE SIX
‘What do we do now?’
PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ABOUT a dozen straw vendors at the International Bazaar in Freeport were displaced after their shops were destroyed by fire at the Straw Market early yesterday morning. According to reports, the blaze started sometime around 3.30am at the rear of a building, opposite the Perfume Factory, housing several of the shops. The Royal Bahamas Police Force Fire Division responded, extinguished the blaze and cordoned off the area to the public. With their shops and thousands of dollars of merchandise gone, the vendors are now concerned about how they will be able to support themselves and their families. When The Tribune arrived around noon, the building was cordoned off with yellow tape, the vendors sitting on a bench a short distance away. Tanya Curry, the daughter of straw vendor Carol Curry, said she received a call at 3.30am about a fire at her mother’s shop. When she and her siblings went to check, the entire building was engulfed in flames. “We thought we
would be able to try to save some of the items, but by the time they reached there everything was gone,” she said. Ms Curry said some 11 vendors had been affected by the fire. She said her mother has been a straw vendor at the International Bazaar for some 41 years. “She has been out here all her life since she was a young girl with her mother, and took us here too,” she said. The incident has left vendor Elizabeth Fowler very disheartened. “I have been here since 2014 and I feel very saddened by what happened,” she said. “We just spend the last couple of dollars to fill the shop for the spring break season, and this morning when I heard the news, I could not believe it because this is how I pay my rent and I don’t know how I am going pay my rent now.” Iram Lewis, MP for Central Grand Bahama, and parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works, visited the site and spoke with the vendors. He promised the government would assist them. Ms Curry said the vendors are in need of help because they pay rent
THE TRIBUNE
and have other financial obligations. “He (Mr Lewis) spoke to them and reassured them he would bring help to them soon. The vendors come out here every day because this is all they have, and it is really sad and very emotional for them. “Grand Bahama is not doing well right now, and we really need help,” she said. Ms Curry estimates that thousands of dollars worth of merchandise has been destroyed. In addition to sewing straw, she said that the vendors sell jewellery, bags, t-shirts, and other souvenirs. She said the International Bazaar has changed so much in the past decade. “The stores have all shut down, except the Straw Market. Things are so bad out here, and we are hoping that some temporary accommodations can be made so that the vendors can put up tents and tables until the building can be rebuilt,” she said. Ms Curry is puzzled as to how the fire could have started since there is no electricity at the straw market. Fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.
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ELIZABETH Fowler stands in front the shop where all her merchandise was destroyed and, below, a firefighter tackles the aftermath of the blaze. Photos: Denise Maycock/Tribune Staff
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THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, PAGE 3
Sailor survives tenmile swim to shore from page one
A SATELLITE view of the region where the boat overturned en route from Samara Cays, top, to Acklins bottom.
The men were travelling on a “24ft, single engine, 140 horsepower vessel.” “As they entered the Lovely Bay, Acklins, channel, they encountered rough and bad weather. As a result, they attempted to come to Crooked Island. “On their way to Crooked Island, they ran out of fuel. We experienced the same bad weather (as the rest of) The Bahamas. They were battered by roughly 40ft waves, and the boat flipped over.” According to Mr Dames, “Samana Cay to Acklins is supposed to take about three hours. They ran out of fuel sometime around 4pm, because they attempted or they called somebody on Crooked Island to get some fuel for them, they were coming in. So sometime between 4 and 7, that’s when they were battling out there. “As a result of the boat flipping over, one of the men went under. The other tried to reach out to him but he never surfaced. “As a result, the surviving (man), he swam ten miles in to Crooked Island.” According to the island administrator, Mr Bullard,
after he reached Crooked Island, had to wander through the bushes to try to find a road. “In doing all of that, he ended up at one of the resident’s homes… When he was given water, he collapsed.” Mr Bullard arrived at the resident’s home sometime after 7pm. He was taken to a clinic for medical care because he was exhausted, the administrator said. “You have to keep in mind, from 10 (am), they was on the waters. He didn’t show up in Crooked Island until after 7. They were battling (the waves) all day. “It wasn’t until sometime later when he started to come around that he was able to give a statement to myself along with the police, in terms of the vicinity where he came in.” Local persons on Crooked Island and Acklins formed four search parties to look for Mr Collie, scouring both land and ocean. Mr Dames said: “So we got search parties and went to that area or location. And we combed that area until very late last night, into the early hours of the morning. We resumed the search again this morning (Tuesday) at 6.30.
“There are about four search parties. Persons from Acklins came over to assist persons here in Crooked Island. We all combed the vicinity of the location where the gentleman swam to shore. The police have been notified, the defence force has been notified and NEMA has been notified.” According to Acklins Administrator Marlon Leary, Mr Collie is from Lovely Bay, Acklins, and Mr Bullard is from Delectable Bay, Acklins. On Monday, a 19-year-old American man in Eleuthera was also reported missing at sea. Shortly after 7 am, he was with another man in the area of the Queen’s Bath, south of the Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera. A wave struck them and swept them into the sea. One of the men managed to hold on to a rock and pull himself to safety, but the young American was swept away. The US Coast Guard and members of the public were assisting with the search. The incident came after officials warned the public about crossing the bridge, saying on Sunday it was closed because of high sea surges.
$30M BRIDGE CONSIDERED TO REPLACE GLASS WINDOW By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE government is considering the construction of a new $30m bridge to replace the often-hampered Glass Window Bridge in North Eleuthera. Works Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday suggested the move in an interview with reporters outside of Cabinet, contending the investment could finally alleviate the long-standing issues of residents on that island. The Glass Window Bridge had to be closed on Sunday by authorities due to large and dangerous swells affecting the area. This curtailed travel between the north and south portions of the island. On Monday, police said they were searching for a 19-year-old American man who was reportedly swept out to sea at Queen’s Bath, near the bridge. A day earlier, it was reported four people were injured before 3.30pm as they attempted to climb rocks on the side of the bridge. Mr Bannister said engineers on the ground in Eleuthera have reported that those “shocking conditions” experienced over the weekend have resulted in extensive damage to the bridge and connecting roadways. He told reporters: “In one place, just down from the bridge, they have an area where the water has
cut through the road almost eight-feet deep.” Mr Bannister continued: “So, we have some serious conditions that have been impacting the people in North Eleuthera that we have to look at very seriously and we are doing that right now.” The Carmichael MP said the resulting impact has forced the government to move up plans to either repair or replace the bridge. “As I indicated earlier, we have to look at a longterm solution. The Glass (Window) Bridge is not something that should be in our long-term plans.” Mr Bannister said while officials are open to evaluating the bridge to determine its structural soundness, plans for a new bridge can no longer be delayed. “We need to budget this year to construct a real bridge,” he said. “But the reality is, the long-term solution is we are building a new bridge what could cost in the region of $30m to $40m.” Last weekend’s severe weather and dangerous sea swells also affected sections of New Providence. Residents in western New Providence on Monday faced surges along the island’s northern front. Addressing that occurrence, Mr Bannister said officials also dispatched crews to those affected areas to coordinate cleanup efforts.
PAVING AT FARRINGTON ROAD MINISTRY of Works officials are conducting a paving exercise along Farrington Road over the next 10 days, running from 9.30am to 2pm daily.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area during this period. Works Minister Desmond Bannister announced the exercise yesterday.
He said those efforts were expected to continue throughout the week. Mr Bannister said officials at the Ministry of Works have recognised the increase in cases of severe storms and sea surges. Referring to an InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) $35m loan which was approved last November, the Carmichael MP said the government now possesses the funding needed to replant mangroves along coastal areas across the country, as a means to offset all forms of surge. Mr Bannister said: “We have serious erosion issues.” He continued: “There is an IDB loan where we are going to be seeking to plant mangroves which is really, better sure protection than these walls we are putting up. “We will be seeking to remove a lot of these Casuarina trees which cause the erosion to happen a lot quicker than they have happened. “We are going to try to ensure that we protect our shorelines throughout the country. “That is a critical issue for this country, replanting of the natural vegetation which protects the shorelines much better than sea walls.”
A WAVE at Eleuthera during rough weather this week, as seen in a video on social media.
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PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
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What do you mean, free speech has limits? THE words uttered by the erstwhile hard-working, well-meaning Attorney General Carl Bethel this week “free speech has limits” should have sent chills up and down the spine of every Bahamian citizen or individual resident in this country. Freedom of speech is defined as a principle which supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate opinions and ideas without restraint, censorship or fear of retaliation by government. It is as pronounced in the Constitution of The Bahamas - where there are three references to it - as it is in the Constitution of the United States where it is protected by the First Amendment. A basic tenet of democracy, freedom of speech is one of the most precious protections guaranteed by our Constitution. Like freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and freedom of religious expression, protections guaranteed by freedom of speech must be tenaciously guarded even if that guarding takes the form of openly expressed outrage. To ignore the threat expressed by the Attorney General aiming to silence the group known as Rights Bahamas - thus silencing its ability to expose alleged abuses against anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant or non-Bahamian - is to turn our national backs on the freedoms we hold dear. To ignore what is implied by the threat to freedom of speech is to enter a rabbit warren which can only have one outcome, the increasing silence of the voice of opposition to government. That, indeed, would be a frightening scenario which could only lead to a slow erosion of personal freedoms for which our forefathers fought so hard. Dare we forget the principles on which this country was founded by a people fleeing persecution for their beliefs and seeking a place where freedom of expression would allow them to worship as they wished? We understand the Attorney General is frustrated. Despite what we assume are its best efforts, the government has not fared well in court against Rights Bahamas. A long history of disrespect for immigrants compounded by an announced deadline that all illegal immigrants must be out of the country, compounded by a recent surge of random round-ups, is coming back to haunt the current government. Chaos at the Department of Immigration - where corruption allegedly has been rampant and every Minister with responsibility for the department has tried without success to tackle it - leaves a system dependent on pay-offs and seeped in injustice. That situation and a confused policy has left thousands stateless, including children of parents who overstayed or whose status was never regularised. The result is an underclass of residents. Many of those people work but are unable to bank what they earn because they have no legitimate identification. Others subsist by remaining invisible, picking up odd jobs, living below the radar. Still others dodge and dart afraid of authority, living in conditions no human being in The Bahamas should have to endure. Yet
having lived only in The Bahamas all their lives, they have nowhere else to go and The Bahamas simply does not know what to do with them, acting as if they were a problem to solve like a battery to dispose of rather than human beings with hearts and souls and families and dreams. Yes, we understand the Carl Bethel who came out swinging when the FNM was swept into power in May is today a frustrated man. We had faith in him when he vowed to tackle corruption. We had trust in him when he expanded anti-corruption legislation to the Integrity Commission Bill. We knew he was where he was because of what he was – a bull dog in a fighting ring. But we fear he has taken the desire to fight too far. You cannot fight against human rights or those who expose abuses. You cannot threaten to silence those who expose a flawed and historically troubled immigration system by putting limits on freedom of speech. The Constitution does not “suggest” freedom of speech. Nor does it state the people of The Bahamas are guaranteed freedom of speech when politically expedient. In Article 23 and again in Articles 127 and 137, references to freedom of expression are clear, unfettered and straightforward. Article 23 refers to the “right to receive and impart ideas and information without interference” as part of the protection of freedom of expression. There is only one reason to limit freedom of speech. Known as clear and present danger. Freedom of speech can be limited when information imparted or words spoken incite riot or cause harm. The typical example is screaming “Fire” in a crowded theatre when there is no fire. When Rights Bahamas spells out 52 laws in a pamphlet, laws as basic as Immigration and the Defence Force do not have the right to beat you, or Immigration does not have the right to search your home without a warrant, or it is illegal bribery and corruption for Immigration to make you pay money for you to be released and freed. This is not crying “Fire” in a crowded theatre. It is a cry that Immigration, not the group defending human rights, needs to be fixed. Immigration is a full-time job and should not be assigned to a Cabinet minister with an already hugely burdened portfolio because he is believed to be a man who can get things done. However wrong the assignment, it is a far less grave mistake than an attack on the rights of Bahamians to express themselves without fear of retaliation. Do not make the mistake of tampering with democracy because of an ill temper over a legal battle that deserves to be independently decided by an independent judiciary. Mr Attorney General, we all believe in the rule of law and it is your privilege to take the high road and set an example of legal excellence. Please remember though groups like Rights Bahamas pursue a similar path. Their arguments aren’t personal attacks on anyone or attempts to undermine our society. All they desire is fairness and equality under the law for everyone - as is their right.
Where the sea meets the facts EDITOR, The Tribune. MANY Bahamians make the mistake of getting their “facts” from bloggers, Youtube videos and other social media! Case in point: A number of videos have been circulating in recent days that suggest that the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea at the Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera! And people are falling for this! While it’s an extremely romantic and colourful notion – one that could fire the imagination of visitors to our shores – it’s a total fallacy. The Caribbean Sea does not meet the Atlantic Ocean at Eleuthera, nor at any other point in The Bahamas! This is not
debatable; it’s not a matter of opinion; it’s a fact! If you want an explanation of the seeming phenomenon at the Glass Window Bridge, ask someone – the Bahamas National Trust, the Met Office, et al. Or simply anyone who’s ever picked up an atlas or studied high school level Geography. The “Caribbean Sea, suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean, lying between latitudes 9° and 22° N and longitudes 89° and 60° W. It is approximately 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square km) in extent. To the south, it is bounded by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; to the west by Costa
Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico; to the north by the Greater Antilles islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and to the east by the north-south chain of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the island arc that extends from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad, off the Venezuelan coast, in the southeast. Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. (Brittanica) PENNY BEE Nassau March 6, 2018
Focus more on crime than immigration EDITOR, The Tribune. AN open letter to the Bahamian people and the Ministry of National Security. Dear Bahamians and the staff of National Security. I think we all know how fed up with the years of how the country is going, but as of right now. We’re distracted yet again on a matter that shouldn’t be getting this much attention. That matter is immigration and how foreigners are residing and making money in The Bahamas. We all noticed how much money it may cost to get any immigrant back home, and sometimes, there’s bad apples that mess up the whole basket. Right now, there’s too much noise on immigration, and what do you mean by noise? Too much attention on the matter, that’s what I’m talking about. Haitians make up the largest demographic for foreign illegal migrants. When you look at social media, more of the comments about Haitians are starting to worry me. Why say so much bad about them? Why frame them of being selfish, being parasitic or other derogatory names? They’re still trying to live a normal life. Even though shanty-towns are far from normal standards. I agree on deportation and the needs of regulating, but being worked up against not only immigrants, but at a demographic. This is nearly like prejudice at another set of people, even if we prove otherwise. Bahamians who are well used to a balanced economy and a successful tourism market versus Haitians who are mostly poor, run down and never had a successful industry? It sounds like economic prejudice because we had money from tourism. we can travel freely and enjoy life’s rewards while they can’t make a dime back home or in the Bahamas, and get screwed over every turn. I still know that there’s law and order, but seriously. It doesn’t have to be slandering one illegal demographic, calling them
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net parasitic and leeches is just disgusting, saying that a civil war between Haitians and Bahamians will start is when things go too far and it’s basically hate speech. This is what I hear from some people on Facebook. The ridiculousness is only amplified when we ignore criminal gangs who are basically running schools to recruit hundreds of teenagers into a war on the streets, while the government is catching immigrants who aren’t even killing others unless a gangster got into a sloop and landed in Nassau, but 75% to 96% of Haitians aren’t actual criminals. Otherwise, National Security needs to step up against the criminal elements in the country. In reality, immigrants are locked at the lowest threat, because most of them don’t point a gun at your back. Yet we seem to be boiling over at people who are simply looking for a better life, sure we need law and order, but what about focusing on gangs? Did everyone forget that they still exist? My letter is directed to Marvin Dames, the police and the Defence Force once more and the immigration department because the criminal gangs pose the biggest risk to the Bahamas. For too long, we’ve essentially allowed them to kill too many Bahamians from the 80’s to today, hundreds of people died since then. And almost none of the gangs have been disbanded. Even worse is that they prey on high school kids, and dozens and probably hundreds of them end up in gangs every month or so, yet the police are basically throwing parades and walkabouts when they themselves are at risk and poorly equipped. Why am I saying this? Because crime is a justified threat, and if we can’t stop the gangs, then we lose tourism, which will starve us out of money, then the travel sanctions start hitting
us. Terrorists and drug cartels will more likely enslave Bahamians to be recruited under their ranks or to destroy us all. Immigrants are really just trying to survive, not trying to “take over” the Bahamas. This fear should be on gangsters, not against poor people. For the Bahamian people, you shouldn’t be afraid of Haitians, at least most of them are harmless unless some of them are gangsters themselves. There is no war between Haitians and us, but against the gangs. Who have taken the lives of many Bahamians, and taken your children away from you to be recruited as a thug, drug dealer or prostitute. They’re winning, while we’re blinded by another minor issue. Schools already belong to the gangs to recruit as they wish. The gangs are prepping for another month-long massacre, and we still have our guard down. For the Ministry of National Security. Direct your attention to dismantle these gangs, put millions of dollars into improving the police force to properly fight this threat and the Defence Force for new bases to patrol the country effectively, which will strengthen border security. We shouldn’t care how much money it takes, Law enforcement and the military are never cheap. It comes with a price, and paying that price is more rewarding than playing cheap. Mexico learned that the hard way. We know the biggest elephant in this room. Gangs, and we should pour our efforts into dismantling them and controlling crime, and then tourism will remain safe, and ourselves will be able to enjoy without the threat of being executed by thugs, having our children under their ranks and we see the same, horrid results of the past. We need a future, which will mean that immigrants will be put aside for now. AMMAKA RUSSEL Nassau, March 4, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, PAGE 5
Davis’ threat to scrap Oban deal from page one “But if it continues in the manner in which it is, it is more likely that it will not continue,” Mr Davis told reporters yesterday. He spoke during a monthly PLP press conference at the party’s headquarters on Farrington Road. “When we are in office, we will have to see where they are with this project. We have to see whether or not it has been cleaned up. That will be whenever the election is called. “If it remains as it is today and we are in the same position that we are in today, the answer is it is more likely that we will not continue with this project than to continue with the project.” Mr Davis also said a PLP government would not have agreed to the concessions outlined in the Heads of Agreement when it comes to jobs and the agreed upon change to The Bahamas’ tax incentives to accommodate Oban. According to the document, the Minnis administration will speedily introduce legislation to amend the Industries Encouragement
LEADER of the Opposition Philip Davis. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Act so that Oban can enjoy surrounding it. the thoroughness of consulHe said the issue has been tation with the Office of the an extended period for tax concession, Tribune Busi- compounded by the govern- Attorney General. ment’s lack of transparency ness reported previously. “We are advised that the In the meantime, Mr and frankness leading him BEST Commission, the Davis said the Official to raise several questions government’s official policy Opposition might opt to as far as the deal is con- advisor on the environment call for a select committee cerned. Among these was and its protection, preservain Parliament to review the the level of involvement of tion and sustainability, was agreement and the events the BEST Commission and kept out of the loop on this
PLP LEADER NAMED IN LATEST AUDITS BUT WANTS REVIEW By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis has written to Ernst and Young’s global office requesting a peer review of the Bahamas branch’s audit practices after being forewarned that he is named in another EY report, this time regarding the Water and Sewerage Corporation. This is the second audit by EY in which Mr Davis is named. Last November auditors mentioned Mr Davis in a report, which said during his tenure as works minister his brother had been awarded two Bahamas Electricity Corporation contracts. Mr Davis later revealed he intervened to have the contracts halted and insisted he was never asked by EY to put the findings into context. That audit did not say Mr Davis awarded the contract or accuse him of any wrongdoing. It did reveal that while two BEC executives wanted to award these contracts to two different companies, then-BEC Chairman Leslie Miller wrote to the officials directing them that BEC’s board had requested the contracts instead be given to AL D’s Construction & Roofing, owned by Mr Davis’ brother. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Davis said he believes the firm is being used for political gain by the government. However, he said he was not concerned about the WSC audit. He said: “I was advised when the prime minister was talking about the corruption and being tasked to identify what he termed to be massive corruption (last week) he said to me, ‘sit down because a report is going to come out for Water and Sewerage and your name is in it’. “Well I am not concerned about that to tell the truth. I am concerned about fairness and being balanced in the reporting.
“I did mention to him that earlier that day the minister of works mentioned to me that they are going to lay a report about Water and Sewerage and that my name appears in that report. I questioned him to tell me what it is in connection with, what are the details of my name being in the report and the circumstance under which my name finds itself in the report. “He indicated to me that he could not tell me, so I said ‘it didn’t make sense you telling me in the first place if you can’t tell me what is in there’ and that’s what was left of that. I just walked away from him.” He continued: “But during the course of the debate, when challenged, the prime minister saw it fit to mention it in Parliament again. Well what disturbs me is the manner in which this government is witchhunting and going around smearing and scandalising persons’ reputation without any regard for human decency.” In a letter to Mark Weinberger, global chairman and chief executive officer of EY, Mr Davis pointed to this situation saying there appeared to be a gap in the procedures used during the forensic audit. Concerning this new audit, Mr Davis said EY officials did not extend the courtesy of a phone call or an interview in the interest of fairness and balance. He called on Mr Weinberger to jealously guard EY’s brand. He said if by chance the Free National Movement is involved in a high-profile witch-hunt, it was necessary that EY is not seen or perceived to be facilitating such an exercise. The letter read: “As you might be aware, I was publicly named in a recent audit by Ernst and Young and accused of wrong doing, specifically a conflict of interest citation, in my capacity as a Cabinet minister in the area of contract administration in relation to
a government corporation, the Bahamas Power and Light which was assigned to the portfolio of the Ministry of Works, a ministerial post held by me between 2012 and 2017. I was never notified or allowed the opportunity to respond to this so-called audit ‘finding’. This ‘finding’ or citation proved to be false and the current minister of works admitted to the error and issued an unqualified public apology to me only after the charged were vigorously refuted by me with supporting documentation. “On the face of it, there appeared to be a gap in the procedures used during the forensic audit as a simple phone call or an interview could have diffused the entire redundant matter and the confusion and embarrassment it caused. This matter is presently before my legal counsel for advice and action if it determined that it is appropriate in the circumstances. “Sir I do not have to tell you that forensic audits and the published findings can and have had far reaching implications for individuals, institutions both public and private, the governments and by extension, society. For this reason I am respectfully requesting a peer review of the standard auditing and reporting procedures, practices and processes of your Bahamas based strategic business unit…”
project. Why is that? “BEST is reportedly unaware of the location of the proposed project therefore was unable to offer any policy advice to the government on this matter,” Mr Davis claimed. “I am sure the prime minister has an explanation for his decision to exclude the BEST Commission in this environmentally sensitive project,” he added. He repeated his call for the government to table the agreement signed by Mr Krieger, suggesting the prime minister had not been forthcoming because he did not disclose that the agreement signed two weeks ago was ceremonial. “The prime minister did not disclose to the House that there was a ceremonial signing and therefore possibly two different documents. The impression was that there was one document and that was the one he produced to the House. “So questions have to be asked whether there are two documents or one? Is the document signed by Mr Krieger with Mr Dhunna’s name the document that was tabled by the prime minister in the House? “Is the document tabled in the House then a true
and valid agreement? “Whatever the answer to these searching questions, this represents a fundamental dishonesty and government by sleight of hand. “The country is entitled to implicitly rely on the word of the prime minister. The prime minister has an ethical responsibility to tell the truth. He has a legal responsibility not to mislead the House. “In any other system of parliamentary democracy, this would be (a) ground to move a vote of no confidence and censure the prime minister and the government from materially misleading the country and the House.” Mr Krieger’s participation at the event marking the Heads of Agreement’s signing reportedly caught some members of the Minnis administration by surprise, The Tribune was told. His involvement was owed to a family connection he has to at least one of the project’s beneficial owners, two sources in the Minnis administration have said. He has since been permanently removed from his public role in the project, this newspaper was told.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE is accepting applications for teachers in the following areas for the 2018 – 2019 school year
ENGLISH LANGUAGE / LITERATURE
English Language / Literature teacher required for the junior and senior high section of the school.
MATHEMATICS
Experience in preparing students for external examinations (BJC, BGCSE, AP & SAT) is a requirement.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Studies / History and Geography teacher needed. Experience in preparing students for external examinations is a requirement.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
To teach Spanish to grades seven through ten. .
BUSINESS STUDIES
To teach Commerce / Economics / Accounting to Grades 10 to 12. Experience in preparing students for external examinations (BGCSE) is a requirement.
LIBRARY SCIENCE
To teach Library Science to all grade levels with the responsibility for information management.
COMPUTER STUDIES
To teach Computer Keyboarding, Basic Personal Computer Applications and Computer Science to grades seven through twelve. The applicant must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Web Page Design
SCIENCE
To teach General Science and Chemistry to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations. To teach General Science and Physics to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations To teach General Science and Biology to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations
RELIGION
To teach Religion to all grade levels. The applicant must have a degree in Religious Education (not the same as R. K.) All applicants must hold a degree from an accredited University and a Teacher’s Certificate or must have some teaching experience. Two letters of reference, copies of all degrees and certificates, proof of teaching experience and two passport size photos should be submitted. A commitment to the values of Catholic, Benedictine education is expected of our teachers. Only those persons who have no difficulty with Roman Catholic beliefs and teaching need apply. Please submit applications and required documents by hand addressed to: THE PRINCIPAL ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE P.O. BOX N-3940 NASSAU, BAHAMAS Applications should be submitted by March 26, 2018
PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Churches propose marriage controls from page one However, legal counsel Michael Allen explained there has been a general consensus from the body on the need for a legislative approach to abuses that can occur within a marriage. Mr Allen said the council’s concerns centre on proving the abuse, and the strength and range of penalties; he added the council has suggested the sentencing tribunal is afforded the full range of options from counselling to life imprisonment. It was also suggested the intervention of the attorney general in these matters be dropped, with an exception for cases involving people under the age of 21.
BCC President Bishop Delton Fernander yesterday said the council believes its companion bill, named the Sanctity of Marriage Bill 2018, will strengthen “God-ordained” marriages and offer corrective incentives that could prevent the incidence of abuse. The proposed Marriage and Family Advisory Council would be chaired by a representative chosen from the BCC, and advise the minister of social services, according to the bill, which explains the council’s objectives will include a review and implementation of national public education on marriage and family life, and the creation of a guide for marriage preparation that will be used by marriage officers to determine the eligibility of
engaged couples. It gives marriage officers the right to refuse to marry people if they are “not satisfied” both parties have been adequately prepared for or understand the contents of the marriage guide, adding the officer did not have to provide any explanation for his refusal. However, the bill notes this section does not apply to the marriages of non-residents of The Bahamas. Bishop Fernander yesterday restated the council’s stance against all forms of abuse, but underscored it was a societal obligation to “fix some of the ills” that have been illuminated since the marital rape discussion was put back in the spotlight. “We believe what was
THE aftermath of the shanty town fire in Abaco this week, above and below.
‘SHANTY TOWNS HAVE TO GO’ from page one
More than 30 homes were razed. Local officials and residents told The Tribune the community is under constant threat from fires and environmental hazards borne by illegal building practices. The Carmichael MP, who spoke to reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday morning, said despite calls for true regulation, the government has not relented on its mandate to “get rid” of shanty towns. Mr Bannister said: “So there is no question of regulations. We are looking to get rid of them as the prime minister has indicated and there was a view when we went to Abaco, some of you went to Abaco with me, you saw some of the things that is happening there; we need
to get rid of those shanty towns.” Referring specifically to The Mud, Mr Bannister also said: “That area that was burnt, the Ministry of Public Works will fence that off, clear that up and create a green space and we will continue to get rid of shanty towns.” Mr Bannister said officials have presented a “full plan” to the Cabinet. Asked to expound on that plan, he added: “I am sure that plan will be shared with the public by the ministers responsible, but there is a complete plan to eradicate the country of shanty towns; starting with some in New Providence and going straight through the country.” According to Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield, many of the residents displaced by Sunday’s fire have been “absorbed”
by the surrounding community. Mr Henfield, who was also interviewed by reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday, indicated officials had made available a nearby church to host those displaced by the fire. However, he said officials have reported that no one has utilised the facility to date. During the fire which ripped through The Mud in late January, approximately 55 homes were destroyed, affecting 170 people. A 42-year-old man was subsequently arraigned in Abaco’s Magistrate’s Court on ten counts of arson. Following that fire, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis pledged that the area would be cordoned off and no structures allowed to be rebuilt there.
being presented to us (by government) was a law to fix marriages that were being challenged. “We believe as the church we are mandated to do that which is necessary to strengthen God-ordained marriages,” Bishop Fernander said, “to put those marriages in a position that they will never have to go before the courts, never have to fall into these categories if it is that the church can help in that regard.” The Sanctity of Marriage Bill introduces a “marital duty of care”, an obligation for married couples to treat each other with due regard, care and respect in an understanding manner, demonstrating a commitment to the welfare and meeting the needs of the
other party as they would reasonably “wish” to be treated. An aggrieved spouse under this section can then apply to a magistrate for an order mandating the pair seek marriage and family counseling, pay fees, and reappear to provide evidence of compliance with that order. The legislation suggests a ten per cent reduction in annual car licence, driver’s licence, and real property tax fees for married couples that can prove they have been living together for a period of six months. Eligible couples would fill out a form that, once notarised, would represent a “certificate of residing together”. Bishop Fernander continued: “To assist with
implementation of a national educational plan, for the education of marital couples and family, maintaining what we call a healthy marriage. We don’t just want to give these ideas to the state, we are now going to mount a national campaign to assist marriages. We will do work necessary as a council to make our nation healthy again, to make our marriages healthy.” The proposed Marriage and Family Advisory Council, according to the bill, would consist of two marriage officers, a family law attorney, a marriage and family counseling professional - all chosen by the Social Services minister and a representative chosen by the BCC.
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, PAGE 7
Court to appoint lawyer as man appeals over girlfriend’s murder By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN seeking to challenge his half-century sentence for murdering his 15-year-old girlfriend at a sports bar in Grand Bahama four years ago will receive a court-appointed lawyer for his appeal application. Appellate Justices Stella Crane Scott, Roy Jones and Milton Evans yesterday granted Basil Black’s request to be appointed an attorney at the public’s expense to aid him in contesting his 55-year sentence for murdering Alexis Smith in 2014. The matter was adjourned to May 9 for mention. On March 8, 2016, Black was found guilty of murdering Smith, who was shot to death outside the Platinum Sports Bar in Eight Mile Rock during the early morning hours of March 30, 2014. He was sentenced on June 17, 2016. While giving previous testimony under oath, Black said he and Smith had lived together and were involved in an intimate relationship. He claimed he never knew her age. Black claimed the day
Smith was killed, they were both at a sports bar when, at one point, the victim told him she was drunk and walked outside. After she did not return, Black said he went outside where he saw her lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He said he subsequently felt her stomach and checked for a pulse. “I asked Alexis what happened, and I was over her body,” he said during the trial. “I saw police lights flashing and I remembered I had drugs on me; I sell powder cocaine in little packets in the club and that’s how I make my money. “I ran to the basketball court and then I went home to sleep.” Black was arrested the next day at his home. Prosecutor Erica Kemp maintained that Black shot Smith because he became jealous after seeing her dancing with other men at the bar. During the trial, it was noted Black tested positive for gunpowder residue on his hands. Black had claimed when police officers arrested him at his residence in Pinedale, they took him in bushes in Holmes Rock where they gun butted him in the back and the gun accidentally
discharged, thus explaining how he had gun residue on his hands. However, there was also evidence that while in prison Black had contacted a friend, Joshua Demeritte, and told him where he hid the gun and asked him to retrieve and sell it. While attempting to sell the gun, police arrested Demeritte. The gun was sent to a forensic lab where it was tested. The projectile removed from Smith’s skull was compared with the one police had fired from the gun and it was determined the same gun was used to kill the teen. Additionally, the prosecution called three eyewitnesses, who testified they saw Black, in the early hours of March 30, pull a silver gun from his pocket and shoot Smith in the back of the head. The witnesses all testified they knew Black. It was also noted during trial that the three eyewitnesses had also identified Black in a police photo line-up as the shooter after he had refused to participate in a police ID parade. Three separate photo lineups were conducted with Black’s photo placed in different positions among a line-up of 12 individuals.
BASIL Black pictured after his conviction in 2016.
PM: SIR DURWARD WAS A GREAT BAHAMIAN PATRIOT By MATT MAURA Bahamas Information Services
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis hailed the late Sir Durward Randolph “Sea Wolf” Knowles as a great Bahamian patriot on Monday. Prime Minister Minnis said Sir Durward’s legacy represents the very best of what the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is as a country. Addressing mourners attending Sir Durward’s funeral service at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, Prime Minister Minnis said the legendary sailor, Olympian, businessman and philanthropist was a “great Bahamian who was driven by the stars and the call to service”. “He constantly reminded us that life is not only about making a living, but more importantly, (that) life is about making a life worth living. He used his privilege to help the under-privileged and the vulnerable. This was a testament of his faith, and to his commitment to
good citizenship,” Prime Minister Minnis said. “Just as he reached for the stars, Sir Durward helped many fellow Bahamians to reach for the stars and to pursue lives of passion and excellence.” Prime Minister Minnis said Sir Durward’s commitment to, and pursuit of, equality and justice for all, was also commendable, as was his “nobility and largeness of spirit for others”. “As I noted on another occasion, Sir Durward demonstrated the nobility and largeness of spirit to confront certain historic wrongs in our country which some others chose to silently ignore at best. “He had great empathy for others and was generous in his support of education, athletics, and for persons with physical and mental disabilities. He passionately believed that we all deserved a chance to succeed in life and spent his life helping others to succeed and to fulfill their potential. “His involvement with the community of persons living with disabilities, demonstrated a core value of Sir
AMMUNITION FOUND ON BEACH By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A LARGE quantity of illegal ammunition has been discovered buried on a beach in South Bimini, police reported. Although no arrest has been made, officers are being commended for the excellent work in the discovery and seizing of some 500 rounds of ammunition.
YOUR
According to reports, shortly after 8pm on Monday officers acting on information went to a beach area where they found a cooler buried in the sand. On searching the cooler, they found some 481 rounds of 7.62 rounds of ammunition and one .40 drum magazine; two black .9mm magazines, two 7.62 magazines. All the items were taken into custody. Police inquiries continue.
CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019
Durward,” Prime Minister Minnis said, “it is a value he has taught us about through his lifetime of service. This value is the dignity of all of God’s people, regardless of any circumstance of birth or life.” Prime Minister Minnis said Sir Durward’s true greatness was as a family man and father and as a man deeply committed to community service, volunteerism and philanthropy. “A patriot, Sir Durward loved our Bahamas with joy and exuberance. His patriotism and love of country were expressed in his intimate involvement in the One Bahamas Foundation which has as its goals,
national unity and cultivating a love of country. “Sir Durward was an accomplished businessman, a man of excellence who exhibited discipline in every field of endeavour,” said the Prime Minister, continuing that he was a world-class athlete and Olympic medalist in his beloved sailing. “He had the tenacity of a rugby player, a sport he played with relish. Yet, as Sir Durward would attest, his true greatness was as a family man and father, and as a man deeply committed to community service, volunteerism and philanthropy.” Sir Durward, who passed away February 24, 2018 at
the age of 100 years, earned a number of Bahamian, British and international honours and medals during his lifetime, which included: the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s Captain of Industry Award, Bahamian Icon Award, Sir Victor Sassoon Golden Heart Award, and the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Sir Durward was knighted by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace in 1996 for his outstanding community service and received the Bahamas Order of Merit (BOM) in 1997. In 1989, Sir Durward was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest tribute awarded by the International Olympic
Committee. Sir Durward served as Commodore of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association; co-chairman of One Bahamas; was a founding member of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association along with the late Bobby Symonette; and served as Chairman of the Queen’s College Foundation. Sir Durward also served as President of the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled and President of the Rotary Club of East Nassau. In 2014, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force named one of its ships, the HMBS Durward Knowles.
PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Ask yourself - what are the women in your life really worth? T
OMORROW shared an interesting artiis International cle — “The Invisible Women’s Day Workload of Motherand this year’s hood is Killing Me” theme is Press for Pro- — from the Scary gress. The annual year-long Mommy website. campaign inspires people It clearly struck all over the world to con- a nerve with sider the issues women face many mothers, year-round, think about in The Bahamas solutions and bring people and elsewhere, together to take action for who relate to change. having a long Last year, the US wom- list of tasks no en’s hockey team adopted one else notices the #BeBoldForChange unless they go theme, rallied for equal undone. Many pay and caused a stir when of them seem it refused to play in the like small things, national finals without a like remembersatisfactory deal. They were ing birthdays, inspired by the campaign but when considand found a way to use it ered cumulatively, to their benefit. Through- we have to admit out the rest of 2018, we are they can be called to press for progress. overwhelming. We have to do more than We see some of think, ask and wait and the work mothers do. we certainly cannot settle. Meal preparation, launOver the past few months, dry, shuttling children I’ve been thinking a lot to and fro and constant about work cleaning are in — what we ‘How costly and plain sight. do and do not This artihow sad is it that see as work, cle, though, what we think mothers are, was focused deserves pay on the mental and who we all at once, our emothink should do salvation and our and work specific kinds source of endless tional undertaken by of work. Work unpaid labour?’ mothers. is political. Knowing As a gender everyone’s likes rights activist, I spend at least a part of every day and dislikes, rememberthinking about feminism, ing which grocery items gender equality, the current need to be used before state of affairs and what they expire or spoil, keepit will take to create the ing track of permission slips change we need. Around and field trips, planning International Women’s celebrations and making Day, I think more deeply childcare arrangements are about where we are and all in a day’s work. How often do we think what the campaign theme inspires. This time around, about these things and recadmittedly, my thoughts ognise them as labour? If are at least partly guided by someone outside of the household was responsible social media activity. As I scrolled Facebook for this work, would we on Monday, I noticed a pay them? If we had to do number of friends had this work for other people,
would we expect to be paid? I was reminded of the old song, “No Charge.” You’ve probably heard the Shirley Caesar version, especially if you spent any amount of time at your grandparents’ house listening to 1540AM. It’s about a little boy who went to his mother with a bill, itemising and pricing all of the tasks he’d completed. He charged five dollars for mowing the lawn, 50 cents
SINGER Shirley Caesar
for a trip to the grocery store and even charged five dollars for his own good grades. It’s cute and funny, imagining a child demanding payment, but interesting that he recognised it all as work. Seeing it as a teachable moment, the mother listed some work of her own, emphasising that she didn’t charge a dime. For the nine months I carried you, holding you inside me, no charge For the nights I sat up with, doctored you, and prayed for you, no charge For the time and tears and the costs throughout the years There is no charge When you add it all up the full cost of my love is no charge Summing it up in the last verse of the song, Caesar sings about Jesus giving his life for her, paying the price
so she had no debt. On one hand, it’s a beautiful, moving comparison. On the other, how costly and how sad is it that mothers are, all at once, our salvation and our source of endless unpaid labour? Unpaid labour doesn’t begin and end with mothers. It extends to sisters and daughters too. At a recent Women’s Wednesdays event, we heard from a number of women who talked about the burden of unpaid labour in their own homes. They told stories of expectations and demands, made to do work that wasn’t required of their brothers. Cooking, cleaning and taking care of other siblings are duties generally relegated to girls and the pattern continues into adulthood. Who is usually responsible for the care of elderly relatives? It was even pointed out that we understand the need to pay non-relatives when they cook, clean and care
for us, but do not put the same value to work by our family members. Many of us don’t even think to offer our help. In another Women’s Wednesdays conversation, this time about money, panelists agreed women should consider getting paid help in the home. This led to two other points — every woman can’t afford to pay for help in the home and the women who are paid to help in others’ homes are generally underpaid. The conversation was a reminder and perfect example of how layered these issues are and how much work is left to be done. We can agree it’s great to have help in the home, but what about the people who can’t afford it? How can we better at sharing the workload? It’s great to find affordable help, but what is the cost to all of us when they don’t get a living wage? This International Women’s Day, I am imagining new ways of thinking and going about our work. I’m thinking about the women who have ten jobs, but only get paid for one. The people who get home from work to work even harder than they did at their fulltime jobs are on my mind. I’m putting myself in the shoes of the people who are so desperate for help they don’t think about the long-term effects of underpaying the people they hire to help. I wonder what I can do, you can do, we can do to see work — no matter where it’s done or who does it — as work, and figure out appropriate compensation, or how to share the burden.
READERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS AFTER ABACO SHANTY TOWN BLAZE THE Tribune’s coverage of the latest fire at the nation’s largest shanty town - The Mud in Abaco – prompted a lively response from our online readers. DonAnthony was frustrated with politicians: “We have been plagued as country with a never-ending succession of gutless leaders, FNM and PLP alike. Perhaps nothing has held us back more in our development. Any person with common sense knows the solution to this vexing problem: regularise in an expedited fashion those that qualify and deport the rest, with massive fines for any employers of illegal aliens. It is the common sense fair thing to do, no one should be in limbo all these years. Sadly I have
almost zero hope in it being done. It seems we cannot address, much less solve any serious problem in this country.” DDK said: “I believe our current PM said, at the site of the last fire, that his would be the administration to sort out the growing shanty town mess. THE PEOPLE are still waiting. The Tribune’s headline is a good one, but persons have died before in shanty town fires in Marsh Harbour. Perhaps they are waiting for mass casualties and the
burning of the town.” Joeblow had this to say: “We want to remind the PM that his Dec 31st deadline has long passed. This is an excellent opportunity for the PM and Minister of Immigration to identify who is not here legally and process them to appear before the courts. Those without a constitutional right (ie. a real Bahamian parent) can be housed at the detention centre for repatriation. Its the humane and legal thing to do!” After Education Minister Jeff Lloyd said children should be beaten in schools only if all other options have been exhausted and in the most egregious of circumstances, TalRussell asked: “Did the minister just signal immunity for teachers
and school officials who BEAT their students with his clear statement ‘CHILDREN SHOULD be BEATEN’ in schools only if all other options have been exhausted?” But SP said: “Education Minister Jeff Lloyd is out to lunch again. What is wrong with properly dispensed corporal punishment?” There was this from Ashley14: “How barbaric! Parenting requires a lot of patience, they are children. Their little brains are not even capable of mature behaviour. They learn through curiosity and exploring! Parents are to raise their children. That means teach them at every level they go through. Not beat them and destroy their spirit. You wonder why they
are joining gangs? Beating in 2018 is unacceptable. Then they grow up and beat their spouse. All they know is dysfunction and the cycle continues. What they need is education, love and care. Security not fear. I can’t believe this is going on.” Athlete12 said: “School beating did not help the kids when I was growing up. They became worse actually because beating them does not fix the underlying problem. Send these kids to counselors and find out whats really going on with them. Many of them are unmotivated because they have to experience real abuse when they go home. I got beaten in school a few times for not turning in homework, lol. Which looking back now was ridiculous
and barbaric but it had no effect on my grades or my motivation to do better. Simply look where it has gotten us, a D average. F in the nation’s capital.” And Tricyzshop offered this comment: “Teachers need to be more skilled in managing adolescent behavior. If such skills are employed this would defuse most situations and focus on identifying the core issues of the student. Many students have undiagnosed conditions and as a result many are functionally autistic. Behaviour always speaks to an underlying issue and sadly skills to identify such is what is lacking in our educators.” • Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, PAGE 9
YOUR WI-FI CAN BE HACKED DUE TO WPA2 PROTOCOL VULNERABILITY CALLED KRACK THE group of cybersecurity experts has recently found the greatest and unprecedented vulnerability in the security of Wi-Fi networks. The most popular security protocol for WI-FI networks – the WPA2 protocol appears to be the weak link. What is KRACK? New vulnerability called KRACK allows hackers to intercept and steal passwords, monitor user actions on the Internet and replace messages or data. A joint group of cybersecurity researchers from the University of Leuven, Huawei Technologies, and the University of Birmingham, presented their work called: Key Reinstallation
RBS to pay $500M for deception on mortgage-backed securities THE Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to pay $500m to New York for using deceptive practices while marketing and selling mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Tuesday that the settlement includes $100m in cash to the state and $400m worth of consumer relief for New York homeowners and communities. Under the agreement, RBS admitted that it sold investors residential mortgage-backed securities that failed to comply with underwriting guidelines. Schneiderman said the bank’s actions harmed “countless New York homeowners and investors” by contributing to the crash in home values. The British taxpayerowned bank announced last month that its 2018 earnings could be hit by a pending multibillion-dollar settlement with the US Department of Justice over its pre-financial crisis mortgage-backed securities. Under the settlement, RBS will conduct communitylevel remediation including funding construction of more affordable housing, helping communities transform code enforcement systems and buying distressed properties to prevent them from being bought up by predatory investors. “Today’s settlement is another important step in our comprehensive effort to help New Yorkers rebuild their lives and communities,” Schneiderman said. The bank in July reached a $5.5bn settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Attacks: Forcing Nonce Reuse in WPA2, which is shortly called KRACK. These newly discovered WPA2 vulnerabilities allow hackers to bypass protection and “listen” for Wi-Fi traffic between the access point and the device. Virtually all devices connected to Wi-Fi are in danger. So the
risk extends not only to your computers, mobile phones, laptops, and tablets but to your smart TV, smart refrigerator, and even your smart lock. KRACK gives hackers an opportunity to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and push network members into reinstalling the
encryption keys that protect WPA2 traffic. In case networks are configured to use GCMP or WPA-TKIP protocols, attackers can not only listen for WPA2 traffic but also inject packets into victim data. Even though all the major manufacturers of Wi-Fi routers and other devices were informed of the vulnerabilities of the WPA2 protocol more than six months ago, most of them have not been able to find and implement solutions to address the issue. It means that most devices using Wi-Fi networks are still vulnerable. Although security researchers do not have any pieces of evidence that this vulnerability was ever used by hackers, we still need to
exercise the best security practices to stay safe. What can you do to protect your personal data?
• A password reset trick, in this case, cannot prevent the possibility of an attack. Researchers advise making sure that the router uses the latest firmware version. • Do not use sites that are not secured by SSL encryption. Websites protected by SSL encryption always start with https: // • Avoid public Wi-Fi at all costs. For example, McDonald’s, hotels, airports are the most likely places to attack the device. • Use a VPN on all of your devices: Mac, Windows or even on your Wi-Fi router.
WHITE HOUSE WANTS USER-FRIENDLY ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS
THE Trump administration Tuesday launched a new effort under the direction of presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner to overcome years of problems with electronic medical records and make them easier for patients to use. Medicare will play a key role, eventually enabling nearly 60 million beneficiaries to securely access claims data and share that information with their doctors. Electronic medical records were ushered in with great fanfare but it’s generally acknowledged they’ve fallen short. Different systems don’t communicate. Patient portals can be clunky to navigate. Some hospitals still provide records on compact discs that newer computers can’t read. The government has already spent about $30bn
to subsidise the adoption of digital records by hospitals and doctors. It’s unclear how much difference the Trump effort will make. No timetables were announced Tuesday. The government-wide MyHealthEData initiative will be overseen by the White House Office of American Innovation, which is headed by Kushner. His stewardship of a broad portfolio of domestic and foreign policy duties has recently been called into question due to his inability to obtain a permanent security clearance. Medicare administrator Seema Verma said her agency is working on a program called Blue Button 2.0, with the goal of providing beneficiaries with secure access to their claims data, shareable with their doctors. Software developers
are already working on apps, using mock patient data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is also reviewing its requirements for insurers, so that government policy will encourage the companies to provide patients with access to their records. “It’s our data, it’s our personal health information, and we should control it,” Verma said, making her announcement at a health care tech conference in Las Vegas. The long standing bipartisan goal of paying for health care value — not sheer volume of services — will not be achieved until patients are able to use their data to make informed decisions about their treatment, Verma added. Independent experts said the administration has
identified a key problem in the health care system. “This is a good first step, but several key challenges need to be addressed,” said Ben Moscovitch, a health care technology expert with the Pew Charitable Trusts. For example, the claims data that Medicare wants to put in the hands of patients sometimes lacks key clinical details, said Moscovitch. If the patient had a hip replacement, claims data may not indicate what model of artificial hip the surgeon used. “Claims data alone are insufficient,” said Moscovitch. “They are incomplete, and they lack key data.” The administration could address that by adding needed information to the claims data, he explained.
ELECTRICS BUZZ BUT GAS-GUZZLERS STILL SHINE THIS year’s Geneva auto show is crowded with new cars flaunting electric and autonomous technologies meant to help unclog city streets and fight global warming and air pollution. That didn’t stop carmakers from offering their traditional crowd-pleasers: ostentatious displays of overweening horsepower in sleek, fossil-fuel burning and very expensive sports cars. The contrast isn’t unusual when it comes to auto shows but it was particularly striking this year, as automakers push to get ahead of expected shifts toward electric and autonomous vehicles — while high-end cars remain a profitable business. French automaker
Renault unveiled its futuristic and funky EZ-Go, a six-seat self-driving electric vehicle that aims to bridge public and private transportation needs, with options like on-demand pickup, like by a taxi. It features a rooftop opening that allows passengers to enter by a ramp for easy access. Mercedes-Benz rolled out its EQA concept car, a compact battery electric vehicle with a virtual radiator that changes appearance depending on the selected driving program. Carmakers are positioning themselves for a future tipping point in which longer battery range, more places to charge, and falling costs make electrics as attractive
• Tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google are taking steps to police terrorists and hate groups on their sites but more work needs to be done, the Simon Wiesenthal Center said on Tuesday. The organisation released its annual digital terrorism and hate report card and gave a B-plus to Facebook, a B-minus to Twitter and a C-plus to Google. Representatives for the three companies did not immediately return emails seeking comment. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Wiesenthal Center’s associate dean, said Facebook in particular built “a recognition that bad folks might try to use their platform” into its business model. “There is plenty of material they haven’t dealt with to our satisfaction but overall, especially in terms of hate, there’s zero tolerance,” Cooper said at a New York City news conference. Rick Eaton, a senior researcher at the Wiesenthal Center, said hateful and violent posts on Instagram, which is part of Facebook, are quickly removed but not before they can be widely shared. • There’s a dirty little secret about artificial intelligence: It’s powered by hundreds of thousands of real people. From makeup artists in Venezuela to women in conservative parts of India, people around the world are doing the digital equivalent of needlework —drawing boxes around cars in street photos, tagging images, and transcribing snatches of speech that computers can’t quite make out. Such data feeds directly into “machine learning” algorithms that help selfdriving cars wind through traffic and let Alexa figure out that you want the lights on. Many such technologies wouldn’t work without massive quantities of this human-labeled data. These repetitive tasks pay pennies apiece. But in bulk, this work can offer a decent wage in many parts of the world — even in the US. And it underpins a technology that could change humanity forever: AI that will drive us around, execute verbal commands without flaw, and — possibly — one day think on its own. • The top 10 movies on the iTunes Store. iTunes Movies US charts for week ending March 4, 2018: 1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 2. Coco (2017) 3. Lady Bird
MCLAREN Senna as conventional vehicles. Driverless cars, meanwhile, remain in the testing phase. Analysts at IHS Market forecast that autonomous cars will have their first year of significant volume sales in 2021. Luxury sports car maker McLaren showed off its
4. Darkest Hour 211-mph (340 kph) Senna, named after the driver Ayrton Senna. The car is styled like a race car with prominent intakes and a rear spoiler. The production run of 500 is sold out at the factory, at a starting price of at 750,000 pounds, or $1m at current exchange rates.
5. Murder On the Orient Express 6. The Shape of Water 7. Pitch Perfect 3 8. Thor: Ragnarok 9. I, Tonya 10. Ferdinand
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Hunt for turtle’s hammer killer from page one
The law prohibits people from taking, possessing, buying or selling sea turtles. Contravening relevant regulations can result in a fine of $3,000 and/or up to a year in prison. Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Butler said he will investigate the matter to determine if the video was filmed in Grand Bahama, as some alleged. Environmentalist Sam Duncombe called the video “sickening”. “What a disgrace,” she said. “All sea turtles are endangered. If people don’t get that, we are in trouble.”
Eric Carey, executive director of the Bahamas National Trust, emphasised that the matter needs to be investigated by authorities. “I almost had to puke,” he said. “The police Cybercrime Unit, whoever deals with this needs to act and investigate it. This is horrendous and is a crime against the environment.” Mr Carey said the turtle may have been captured and was then harvested for its meat. “People have been eating turtles for years, so the killing of a sea turtle is not in itself inconceivable,” he said. “What we witnessed here is sheer brutality; it’s inhumane. They could’ve easily
given the turtle a quick and painless death by slicing the throat which is still gross but to bash the turtle in the head and you could see it’s still alive, that is just a gruesome act. Someone who would do that has a twisted mentality and something is definitely wrong with them. We have to do more environmental education. I’m hoping someone can identity the culprit. He should be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law.” Green turtles are endangered – it is estimated that less than 500,000 may be in existence around the world. In 2009, the government banned the capture and sale of sea turtles. THE MAN in the video pictured before attacking the turtle and, above right, after the attack.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018, PAGE 11
PAGE 12, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
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Promoter of failed Fyre Festival pleads guilty to fraud THE promoter of the failed Fyre Festival in the Bahamas — once billed as the “cultural experience of the decade” — pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges Tuesday, agreeing to serve up to a decade in prison for lying to investors and sending false documents. Billy McFarland, 26, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court in a deal with prosecutors that suggested he serve between eight and ten years in prison. “I deeply regret my actions, and I apologise to my investors, team, family and supporters who I let down”, a chastened McFarland told US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan. He said he planned to organise “a legitimate festival” when he planned the Fyre Festival as an outgrowth of a digital application he launched in May 2016 to help concert promoters and private individuals directly book musicians for concerts. “I grossly underestimated the resources that would be necessary to hold an event of this magnitude,” he said. “In
BILLY MCFARLAND, the promoter of the failed Fyre Festival in the Bahamas, leaves federal court after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges, Tuesday, March 6, 2018. an attempt to raise what personal finances. Those experience of the decade”, promoted on social media by I thought were needed lies included false docu- an ultra-luxurious event Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, funds, I lied to inves- ments and information.” on the Bahamian island of Emily Ratajkowski and tors about various aspects The festival was pro- Exuma over two weekends other models and celebrities of Fyre Media and my moted as “the cultural last April and May. It was coaxing people into buying
ticket packages ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000. Customers hoping to see Blink-182 and the hip hop act Migos arrived to learn music acts were canceled. Their luxury accommodations and gourmet food consisted of leaky white tents and cheese sandwiches. Customers lashed out on social media with the hashtag #fyrefraud. A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles called the festival “nothing more than a getrich-quick scam”. It said the festival’s inadequate food, water, shelter and medical care left attendees stranded on a remote island in a “dangerous and panicked situation”. As part of his plea, McFarland also admitted raising money for the festival by giving a ticket vendor false information about Fyre Media’s financial condition last April to induce the vendor to pay $2m for a block of advance tickets. McFarland and his attorney, Randall Jackson, declined comment outside court. McFarland has been free on $300,000 bail since his June arrest. Sentencing was set for June 21.
Prosecutors race to get edge if accusers testify against Cosby LETTING jurors hear from Bill Cosby’s dozens of accusers would strengthen prosecutors’ he-said-shesaid case by showing the one criminal case against him fits an alleged fivedecade pattern of sexual misconduct, legal experts said Tuesday. Prosecutors are eager to widen the scope of Cosby’s April 2 retrial as they attempt to portray the once-beloved entertainment icon as a serial predator who made a sadistic habit of drugging and molesting women. At Cosby’s first trial last year, which ended in a hung jury, Judge Steven O’Neill barred prosecutors from mentioning Cosby’s past and allowed just one other accuser to testify. O’Neill did not rule Tuesday on arguments made over two days by prosecutors and defense lawyers on how many, if any, of Cosby’s other accusers will be allowed to take the stand. He’s also yet to rule on whether the defense can mention details of a financial settlement Cosby paid in 2006 to the accuser in his criminal case, Andrea Constand. Cosby’s lawyers said jurors should only get to hear testimony about the alleged 2004 assault that
led to the criminal charges against Cosby, not “ancient allegations”, that would confuse, distract and prejudice the jury against the 80-year-old comedian. Prosecutors want as many as 19 women, including model Janice Dickinson, to testify about allegations dating as far back as 1965 and as recently as 1990 or 1996. That’s at least eight years before Constand says he assaulted her at his suburban Philadelphia home. “It’s not about what happened 50 years ago. It’s
not about what happened with other people,” Cosby lawyer Becky James told O’Neill. “The jury has to be focused on that one issue.” For prosecutors, having several accusers tell similar stories about Cosby would give them a chance to smooth over issues with Constand’s credibility and insulate her from attacks from his lawyers, who are keen to portray her as a money-grubbing liar. Dave Zuckerman, a former prosecutor who practices criminal defense
BILL COSBY arrives for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case.
in the Pittsburgh area, said that “might help put the case over the edge in favor of the prosecution”. “Now it becomes more than just one accuser against Bill Cosby,” he said. “Now you have a pattern of multiple women.” Cosby lawyer Tom Mesereau said he wants to make Cosby’s settlement with Constand a focal point of the retrial. He said jurors will learn “just how greedy” she was when they hear details about how much money she demanded from Cosby
and what the star wound up paying her. Constand sued Cosby after prosecutors in 2005 declined to press charges. Cosby testified over a decade ago as part of that lawsuit, eventually settling for an undisclosed sum. His deposition was sealed for years until a judge released parts in 2015 at the request of The Associated Press, prompting a new set of prosecutors to take a fresh look at the case and charge him. Mesereau argued the settlement ties directly to a claim from Constand’s former co-worker who said Constand spoke about fabricating sexual assault allegations against a celebrity so she could sue and get money. Cosby’s old legal team agreed with prosecutors to keep the settlement out of his first trial. Dennis McAndrews, who prosecuted chemical heir John E duPont for murder in 1997, said the new strategy could backfire. “That settlement cuts both ways,” said McAndrews. “If it was a large settlement, why did Cosby pay such a large settlement for something that he says didn’t happen?”
Cosby has pleaded not guilty to charges he assaulted Constand, a Temple University women’s basketball administrator, while he was a powerful alumnus and trustee. He has said the encounter was consensual. He remains free on bail. Pennsylvania allows prosecutors to present evidence of alleged past misdeeds if they demonstrate the defendant engaged in a signature pattern of crime. Prosecutors argue Cosby used his power and appeal as a beloved entertainer to befriend younger women, then plied them with drugs or alcohol before assaulting them. If additional accusers are allowed to testify, Zuckerman said, the jury would be instructed to consider the testimony only as possible evidence of Cosby’s pattern of behavior — not conduct that they should punish him for. But, he said, all that testimony is sure to carry an emotional wallop that could push jurors to convict. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand and Dickinson have done.
PORN STAR SUES TRUMP OVER NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT A PORN star who has said she had sex with President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement that she signed days before the 2016 presidential election, which prevented her from discussing the alleged sexual encounters. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that the agreement is “null and void and of no consequence” because Trump didn’t personally sign it. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, said she wanted to go public with the details of her alleged sexual relationship with Trump in the weeks leading up to the election, according to the lawsuit. Clifford and Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen signed the nondisclosure agreement on Oct 28, 2016. Clifford alleges that she began an “intimate relationship” with Trump in
2006 and that it continued “well into the year 2007”, according to the lawsuit. She said the relationship included encounters in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and Beverly Hills, California. Trump married his current wife, Melania Trump, in 2005. Clifford has claimed she had sex with Trump once and then carried on a subsequent years long platonic relationship. She has also, through a lawyer, denied the two had an affair. Cohen has denied there was ever an affair. Cohen has said he paid the porn actress $130,000 out of his own pocket as part of the agreement. He has also said that “neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly”. The lawsuit charges that the “hush agreement” is legally invalid because it
was only signed by Clifford and Cohen. The agreement refers to Trump as David Dennison and Clifford as Peggy Peterson, but an attached exhibit details their true identities. Clifford’s lawsuit also alleges that Trump and Cohen “aggressively sought to silence Ms Clifford as part of an effort to avoid her telling the truth, thus helping to ensure he won the Presidential Election”. “To be clear, the attempts to intimidate Ms Clifford into silence and ‘shut her up’ in order to ‘protect Mr. Trump’ continue unabated”, the lawsuit said. Clifford alleges that as recently as last week, Trump’s attorney tried to initiate an arbitration proceeding against her. Neither Cohen nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday evening. NBC News first reported the existence of the lawsuit.
STORMY DANIELS, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing President Donald Trump.