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First vaccines arrive this Wednesday but all doses not here till end of May By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net THE government’s roll out of its COVID-19 vaccination programme will not proceed as rapidly as previously announced, with only 20,000 doses of the OxfordAstraZenenca vaccine expected in the country this Wednesday. On Friday, officials said these vaccines — a gift from the government of India — would have arrived in the country yesterday. Due to
BASTIAN THE RECORD BREAKER
SEE SPORTS SECTION
LAWYER WHO SAID HE WAS ‘BLIND’ SEEN DRIVING CAR By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
“logistical issues overseas” the shipment has been delayed until Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said during a national address yesterday. Dr Minnis also said the government is expected to receive 33,600 doses out of 100,800 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine purchased through the World Health Organisation’s/Pan American Health Organisation’s COVAX facility “before the end of March”. SEE PAGE FOUR
A SUPREME Court judge has refused to give an attorney “a second bite at the cherry” and appeal sanctions related to his management of a $30m estate on the basis he is “legally blind”. Gregory Cottis was seeking to appeal penalties for breaching Supreme Court orders because he had been “incapacitated by blineness” since December 19 - but Justice Indra Charles noted evidence including him being spotted driving his vehicle numerous times in 2020. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
PLP AIMING TO LOWER VAT AND RAISE MINIMUM WAGE By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leaders said if successful in the next general election they will reduce value added tax to ten percent for one year as part of an economic plan that involves supporting a minimum wage increase, significantly expanding social assistance in
SPORTS
SEA SEARCH GOES ON FOR FIVE CUBANS
the country and reducing the cost of energy by 30 percent. PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis and deputy leader Chester Cooper unveiled their economic plan at The Balmoral Club yesterday. They were accompanied by candidates who have been ratified for the next general election. SEE PAGE THREE PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Health Minister Renward Wells during a visit to the COVID vaccine storage facility on Saturday. Photo: Yontalay Bowe
ONE DEAD, FIVE INJURED IN FRIDAY SHOOTINGS By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net A MAN was shot dead on Friday, not long after two other shooting incidents left five others, four of whom were women, injured. The murder happened on Lyon Road off Sutton Street. Police said after 9pm, officers responded to a shooting incident.
A BODY is taken from the scene on Lyon Road. Photo: Donovan McIntosh/ Tribune Staff “On their arrival, they were directed to a residence
where they found the body of a male in a room with apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services were summoned and on completion of their examination, the body was pronounced lifeless,” police said. The victim’s identity was not known up to press time. About an hour earlier, shortly before 9pm police SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
A SEARCH is ongoing for five Cubans who are presumed missing after 19 others were picked up, including a deceased male, during a joint law enforcement operation in the southern Bahamas last week. According to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the 19 Cubans were picked up during a joint effort with Operation Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and the United States Coast Guard. SEE PAGE TWO
INSIGHT HOW TO THROW $1M AWAY
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Monday, March 8, 2021
MEMBERS of the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM at work in Nassau Village.
THE TRIBUNE
KIWANIS CLUB PAINTS THE PARK A PARK in the Nassau Village community got a much needed upgrade, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM (KCNAM). As part of the Kiwanis One Day Project, the effort to upgrade the park was called the ‘Let’s Paint the Park’ initiative. Kiwanis One Day is the day clubs around the world perform services to improve their communities. Annually, Kiwanis International is known to celebrate Kiwanis One Day in the month of October. However, due to unprecedented times, Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM’s One Day Project was postponed until January 2021. Imposed lockdown restrictions for The Bahamas and safety protocols as a result of increased COVID-19 cases, hindered this much anticipated event. With more time to plan, came the grand idea and pooling of resources to upgrade a park in Nassau Village. In recent times, the Nassau Village community has faced many challenges. “We saw it fit to share a much needed message of hope and love,” KCNAM President D’Andrea Davis said. The Nassau Village park
upgrade started as a One Day Project for KCNAM, but turned into three Saturdays. Under the theme, ‘Making a Difference Together, Passion Led, Purpose Driven,’ Davis, along with Youth Services and Young Children Priority One dedicated three Saturdays, January 23 and 30 and February 6, 2021 to complete the project. The community park stands as a beacon of light to many youngsters looking to blow off steam through the art of basketball and other outdoor sports. A total of 36 Kiwanians with young representatives from K-kids, Builders’ Club and Key Club joined the project. The “Let’s Paint the Park” initiative ended with Kiwanians walking throughout the community distributing 100 treat bags, as well as baby products. Nassau Village Member of Parliament Halson D. Moultrie graciously saluted Kiwanians from KCNAM for their work in his constituency. Kiwanis is a global organisation of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
SEA SEARCH GOES ON FOR FIVE CUBANS from page one On Wednesday, March 3, six individuals were captured after being spotted on Anguilla Cay and taken aboard a US Coast Guard cutter. While in the area, the USCG vessel also saw 18 Cubans on Cay Sal. HMBS Durward Knowles, under the command of Senior Lieutenant Jataro McDonald, was dispatched to investigate. After arriving in the area, the RBDF conducted an extensive search of the surrounding cays, waters and inlet for additional individuals. The RBDF patrol craft met with the USCG vessel on Thursday shortly after 2pm, to receive the six individuals. Shortly after 4pm Thursday, HMBS Durward
Knowles spotted a capsized vessel in waters approximately three nautical miles south of Cay Sal, and retrieved 13 Cuban nationals, including a deceased male. The RBDF and USCG are still in the area conducting searches for the presumed missing individuals. Yesterday, Princess Margaret Hospital said it received three of the Cuban migrants rescued from the capsized vessel, two of whom are patients and the other is deceased. The women migrants were admitted to hospital for management of chemical burns, PMH said. The “initial triage, resuscitation and stabilisation” of the migrants was carried out by the RBDF medical department at HMBS Coral Harbour.
TWO MISSING AFTER AIRCRAFT CRASHES By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net TWO Bahamians are still missing after an aircraft crashed near Salina Point, Acklins on Friday. Delvin Major, chief inspector at the Air Accident Investigation Authority, said the search continues for the two men. He said his department was told that a Royal Bahamas Defence Force vessel along with two planes from the United States Coast Guard are involved in the search. “They also expanded their search area including some cays and the shoreline and they were not able to locate the aircraft or any of the occupants of the
aircraft,” he said yesterday. He said it is not known if weather conditions played a factor in the crash. “We don’t know at this time... we’ve already requested from the Meteorological Department a copy of the weather report around that time. So at this time we do not have any idea if weather may have been a factor in the accident. We’ll know more once we get an update on Monday.” On Friday, the AAIA said it was investigating an accident involving a Piper PA28 aircraft with United States registration N2932Y with two people on board. The aircraft departed Nassau en route to Inagua, but crashed near Salina Point.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 8, 2021, PAGE 3
PLP aiming to lower VAT and raise minimum wage from page one Mr Cooper said a Davis administration would decrease VAT for one year, after which the rate would be reassessed. “This is not a huge difference,” he said, “but it will put consumers in a position to afford a little more of what they need to get by, which will help get the economy going again. The government receipts are likely to increase as more transactions will yield more VAT payments.” Although Mr Cooper said VAT will be reduced to 10 percent “across the board,” it is not clear if the party plans to remove VAT exemptions from breadbasket and other items. The party has traditionally advocated for maintaining as few exemptions as possible so as to keep the rate low and broad. Mr Cooper said the PLP would recommend to the National Tripartite Council that the minimum wage be increased to $250 per week in the private sector. “Our goal is to phase in a liveable wage,” he said, “so that everyone who works is able to live with dignity and in a way that is acceptable in a modern Bahamas.” Asked about the consequences of increasing the minimum wage at a time when businesses are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Cooper said PLP officials have analysed the matter. “We looked at what
PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis and deputy leader Chester Cooper at the launch of the PLP economic plan. Photo: Racardo Thomas happened when the previous PLP administration increased the minimum wage by 40 percent,” he said. “We are comfortable that what will happen as a result is small businesses will have more money, the economy will grow, there is more money in circulation, the government will in fact receive some taxes back as a result of more money in circulation, (and there will be) more money in spending by the persons with $250. We are committed to a liveable wage because we believe that every Bahamian ought to be able to live in dignity. We don’t just believe that it is good financial modelling, we believe it’s the right thing to do.” Mr Cooper said the party
will aim to reduce the cost of energy by 30 percent during its term “by mobilising a comprehensive plan”. “This will include targeting 30 percent renewables on the grid by 2030 (which) is consistent with our 2013 national energy plan,” he said. “Finally, the government can bring immediate relief by addressing the arrears owed to many government vendors and the salary arrears owed to public servants. “By first stabilising the public finances, and then stopping the waste and the economic mismanagement currently underway, we can and must bring immediate relief to the many thousands of ordinary
Bahamians who are desperate to move forward with their lives,” he said. Mr Cooper said a PLP administration would boost housing assistance. “Already too many Bahamians are sleeping on friends’ floors and in cars,” he said. “We will work with tenants and landlords to reschedule rent payments in line with people’s short-term ability to pay, providing some breathing room until the economy recovers and avoiding a severe homelessness crisis. “We will also increase funding to social assistance for rental assistance. “Where landlords are relying on rent to pay mortgages, we will work with
lenders to reschedule their payments to avoid defaults. “We will work with banks to keep home-owners in their houses, delaying a portion of mortgage payments for qualifying individuals until the economic recovery is underway. Our main objective is to avoid allowing the crisis in homelessness to grow. “We will implement additional immediate relief measures for the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and Ragged Island as they continue to rebuild after devastating hurricanes.” Mr Cooper and Mr Davis were pressed on how they will pay for their ambitious plans given the already precarious state of the country’s fiscal affairs. “There is no need at this point to contemplate new forms of taxes,” Mr Cooper said. He added that, through its plans, a Davis administration would reap revenue “upwards of $250m”. He said the PLP would do a rapid assessment of the country’s finances “to know the true state of things” within its first 15 days in office. A Davis administration would revive the Revenue Enhancement Unit “to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes,” he said. He added: “Under the previous PLP administration, this unit collected an average of $30m per month. “We will ensure that highend properties pay the real property tax that they’re legally required to. We will
also ensure that commercial and foreign-owned properties are on the register, and properly valued for tax purposes. To bring in more foreign currency, we will also move rapidly to collect revenue from international overflights. “We will also look to secure carbon credit payments for our natural resources, especially those such as mangroves and sea grass, which acts as natural carbon sinks for the rest of the world. “And we will fast-track and incentivise those foreign and domestic investments which can yield the most significant value. “Apart from the short and medium-term benefits to the public finances, these revenue-raising initiatives will strengthen our negotiating position when we have the first opportunity to restructure the national debt in 2024.” Mr Cooper said the PLP will once again embrace the National Development Plan which was drafted under the Christie administration. “This is the most robust strategic guide ever created to support the development of our country. Despite the shocks from Hurricane Dorian and the COVID19 pandemic, it is still the sturdiest guide to where we want to be and how we should get there. Our economic plan marries the practical realities of our current situation to the vision and recommendations set out in the National Development Plan and Vision 2040,” he said.
HOMEOWNER PROMISE ‘WAS NOTHING NEW’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis at Great Harbour Cay on Friday. Photo: Yontalay Bowe/BIS
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has insisted that recently announced plans to offer concessions to young, prospective homeowners was sparked by goals in his party’s manifesto and not because an election is approaching. While in the Berry Islands on Friday, the Prime Minister reiterated that plots of land have been identified in western New Providence and that a new subdivision is in the works.
He argued that the initiative for affordable land ownership and housing is “nothing new”. “When we came in, just review our manifesto, we’ve always said that we must create wealth and we must have redistribution of land,” the Prime Minister told reporters. “I’ve always expressed my concern about individuals who have hoard(ed) land – Crown land, etc – and young people like yourself not given an opportunity and I’ve said from day one that I would take back a lot of these lands and create
subdivisions for Bahamians, so that’s nothing new.” The Free National Movement’s 2017 manifesto highlighted the party reaffirming its 2012 pledge, which included to “continue the development of new government housing subdivisions to address the unmet demand for affordable housing”. Dr Minnis further explained the motivation for the move: “We have a lot of Bahamians who finish university, who come back professionals and they have great difficulty purchasing a home because land
is too expensive within the Bahamas.” The Prime Minister gave more details about the subdivision. “The multi-family would be 50,000 and the single family would be 40,000 and they would own these properties outright,” he said. “It’s a way of creating wealth and we start off with 150 and we’ve identified another plot of land also. “Our intention is to do this throughout the entire Bahamas. Giving everybody an opportunity to own, not only land, but own their homes.”
MINNIS: AN ELECTION BEFORE MAY 2022? KEEP WATCHING By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis advised those speculating that there could be an election called earlier than May 2022 to “continue to observe” and insisted the decision is for the government to make. For months, there has been speculation that Dr Minnis could call an election earlier than next year. House Speaker Halson Moultrie, who recently quit the governing party to become independent, has predicted an election will be called early this year while the opposition Progressive Liberal Party has shared similar sentiments. Last week, the Democratic National Alliance’s members protested outside Parliament demanding Dr Minnis “ring the bell”. Addressing questions about the issue, Dr Minnis explained to reporters on Friday during a trip to Great Harbour Cay that an early election is a matter that will need to be discussed. He said: “The FNM is a team. We’re a party. We’re a government. We discuss various different things before we bring it forth. So, when we talk about election, (an) election is not due until May of 2022 but it’s a matter that still has to be discussed even if we decide to bring it in April 2022, Feb 2022. They have to be ready.” Political parties have recently been ratifying
candidates and ramping up campaigning in various communities. When asked what he would say to those who believe an election date will be set soon, the Prime Minister said: “I’ll tell them to
continue to observe. I mean it’s great that we have so much interest. So, now we’ll have a lot of things done. The opposition would, I guess, they’ll be on the ground doing some work also.”
Dr Minnis previously joked in Parliament he would “stand here now and ring the bell” if others were ready but added that he has to be “advised by all”. Meanwhile, FNM incumbent North Andros and
Berry Islands MP Carlton Bowleg expressed confidence he will win his seat. He said on Friday: “I’m more than confident because of what I’ve done. I’ve not neglected my people. I’ve not turned
my back on my people. I’ve stayed in contact with everyone. I live at home. I don’t just fly there. So definitely. “Whatever it is, I am confident I’ll be back as the member of Parliament.”
PAGE 4, Monday, March 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
Rollout will take months from page one The remaining 64,200 doses should be in the country by the end of May, he said. Dr Minnis said because the government is receiving vaccine doses in “smaller batches”, his administration has to slightly deviate from the previously announced plan. Those eligible to receive these first doses will now be: healthcare workers in the public and private sectors; residents and staff of eldercare homes; and non-ambulatory residents registered in the public health system. “This first and critical priority group includes those who are our first line of defense against the COVID-19 virus and those among the most vulnerable in our population,” Dr Minnis said. “It is expected that healthcare workers may begin booking their vaccination appointments online within days of the arrival of the vaccine. Details on how the appointment process will work will be published within the next few days.” It had been previously announced that uniformed branch members; frontline workers; critical workers in high-risk settings and other essential services would also be in the priority group to receive the first vaccines, however this appears to have changed due to the smaller batches being shipped in. The roll out of the first 20,000 doses is expected to begin days after the arrival of the vaccine. “A phased approach must
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Health Minister Renward Wells during a visit to the COVID vaccine storage facility on Saturday. Photo: Yontalay Bowe be applied to all islands in this first batch,” Dr Minnis said. “At this stage, vaccines will be administered in phases on New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands. “The Ministry of Health and the National COVID19 Vaccine Consultative Committee have developed a distribution plan to ensure a smooth and seamless roll out of the vaccine and to ensure equity in the distribution of the vaccine.” In an apparent reference to those who may be critical of the adjustment to the inoculation roll out, Dr Minnis stressed that vaccines “are in extreme demand globally and are difficult to secure.” He added: “This means we have to be prepared to adjust as necessary based on the availability of the vaccine. We have had to be flexible throughout the pandemic. It is important that we continue to
exercise patience during this process. “We are fortunate to receive these vaccines at this time. We are working aggressively and on several fronts to secure vaccines from approved providers as quickly as possible.” The government was first expected to receive vaccines through COVAX late last month. A down payment was made towards this purchase last year. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a two dose shot administered eight to 12 weeks apart. In February, Minister of Health Renward Wells said the government would likely use the first batch all at once to vaccinate citizens, meaning that if 100,000 doses were shipped to the country, 100,000 people would be able to be vaccinated. At the time, Mr Wells insisted there would not be a stall in inoculations across
PLP PROMISES FREE TESTING FOR ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSURE TO VIRUS By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Senior Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party has pledged to offer free testing to Bahamians concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19 and to reform the government’s food assistance programme if it wins the next general election. The party’s leaders, Philip “Brave” Davis and Chester Cooper, unveiled their economic plan yesterday. In addition to free testing, Mr Cooper said the PLP would “eliminate restrictions not based on science”. “People need food,” Mr Cooper said. “The current government programme does not do enough to help
hungry Bahamian families. It is regrettable that the government elected to provide food by using a wasteful bureaucracy, giving $1m per week to an independent organisation. The government still has not disclosed to the public how much of that money went to providing food, and how much went to the organisation. “Our approach will be different. We plan to use the RISE prepaid debit card. No more standing in the hot sun waiting for vouchers that can only be spent at a particular store or receiving a box of the same cheap provisions every week that someone else has decided you should eat. “We will increase the
amount people receive as well, so that it is reasonable and in line with the high cost of living. As people will be able to buy food from shops all around the country, this will also help the hundreds of small businesses struggling to stay afloat.” Other plans in the PLP’s economic agenda include a grant system for $5,000 unsecured for legitimate small businesses through the Small Business Development Centre. “Once repaid in full, (there will be) automatic eligibility for a $10,000 loan,” the plan says. The party would “immediately invest $50 million to fund entrepreneurial developments and up to $250m over five years.”
Graveside Service For Thelma Agatha Moree, 95
of Montague Heights, Nassau, The Bahamas who died at her residence on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021, will be held at Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Soldier Road, Nassau, on Tuesday, 9th March, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Rob Elliott will officiate and interment will follow.
She was predeceased by her husband, Garnet and her children, Phillip, Derek, Steve, Martin and Sherry; her granddaughter, Chelique; her brothers, Rudy and George and her sister, Ramona. She is survived by her sons, Andrae and Craig and her daughters, Bernice, Michelle and Calisse. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Nicole, Dakota and Brittany Moree and Lauren Fitz-gerald, her great granddaughter, Skylar Moree; her daughter-in-law, Lisa Moree and her son-in-law, Lewis Fitz-gerald; her brother, Delbert Carroll and her sister, Angela Knowles many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Special thanks to Dr. Eugene Gray, Dr. Dean Tseretopoulos, Dr. Crispin Gomez and Dr. Agreta Eneas-Carey. Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.
the country once those first doses have already been administered. He said the government had already secured ways to receive additional vaccines. Last week, PAHO said COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be in short supply throughout the year. Meanwhile, international news outlets have reported that rich nations like the United States, Britain and Canada have been buying up stocks of the vaccines, leaving poorer nations shut out. Once the vaccines arrive,
Dr Minnis said they will be stored at the National Immunisation Cold Storage Facility in New Providence and transferred to other islands as required. This “state-of-the-art” cold storage facility is a secure, temperature-controlled, clean and protected environment, he said. The facility’s temperature can be monitored remotely and it has a back-up generator supply. Fallback facilities have also been identified. The national storage facility has the capacity to safely store hundreds of thousands of vaccines and will be under 24-hour guard by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Last night, Dr Minnis also made a strong push for vaccine sceptics to take the shot once it becomes available. He said this will help save the country’s economy and keep COVID-19 cases low. “As we have said repeatedly, the vaccine is not mandatory. But I urge everyone to take the vaccine as soon as you are eligible to do so. “If we are disciplined and take the vaccine, our country will be even more attractive to travellers, especially from our leading tourism market, the
United States. “If we refuse the vaccine and there is a resurgence of the virus, fewer visitors will come to The Bahamas. This virus will not magically disappear. It is highly infectious and there are new variants. These new mutations are dangerous and easier to catch.” Healthcare workers will be vaccinated on-site at their respective institutions while residents and staff of eldercare homes and the registered non-ambulatory will not be required to make an appointment, Dr Minnis said. Mobile units will be used to vaccinate residents and staff of eldercare homes and the non-ambulatory on-site, in New Providence and Grand Bahama. In the Family Islands, medical teams will administer vaccines to healthcare staff on the island and at eldercare homes and to the non-ambulatory. Dr Minnis said the path out of the emergency phase of the pandemic is twofold: maintaining current public health practices and vaccinating the population. He added that at the “appropriate time” the country will hold a Day of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for those who died during the pandemic.
TOTAL CASES
TOTAL DEATHS
NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES SATURDAY 13 CASES
NEWLY CONFIRMED DEATH
8,629 182 GRAND BAHAMA 6 NEW PROVIDENCE 5 ABACO 1 PENDING 1
FRIDAY
• A 43-year-old woman from New Providence, who died on February 7.
7 CASES
GRAND BAHAMA NEW PROVIDENCE
6 1
THURSDAY
9 CASES
NEW PROVIDENCE 5 GRAND BAHAMA 3 ABACO 1
TOTAL TESTS
70,113
HOSPITALISED
19
CASES IN ICU
1
RECOVERED
7,465
43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN DIES FROM COVID-19
THE country’s COVID19 death toll has increased to 182 after the death of a 43-year-old woman was reclassified as coronavirus related on Friday. The New Providence woman died on February 7.
According to the Ministry of Health, 13 new cases were recorded on Saturday, five of which are in New Providence, six in Grand Bahama and one in Abaco. This pushed the nation’s coronavirus toll to 8,629.
Seven new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday, March 5, while nine new cases were recorded on Thursday. At last report, 20 patients were in hospital with one in intensive care.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 8, 2021, PAGE 5
ONE DEAD, FIVE INJURED IN FRIDAY SHOOTINGS from page one were called to another shooting in the area of Second Street, south of Palm Tree Avenue. Responding officers found five women in a burgundy coloured Toyota Corolla, four of whom had gunshot wounds. “Inquiries revealed that the vehicle was travelling north along Second Street, when the occupants heard sounds of gunshots. Moments later, the victims realised that they were shot. They were all transported to the hospital.” The women are said to be in stable condition. Earlier on Friday, shortly after 7pm, a man was shot while trying to escape from his assailants.
Police said the man was walking north on Key West Street when he was accosted by two men. One of the suspects produced a handgun. “The complainant managed to run from his assailants,” police said. “However, he was shot in the right hand by the armed suspect while doing so. The suspects made good their escape. The victim was later transported to the hospital, his condition is not known at this time.” It is unclear if any of these incidents are connected. Friday’s murder marked the 23rd for the year, according to this newspaper’s records. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to call police or the Criminal Detective Unit at 502-9991.
THE SCENE of a shooting at Second Street on Friday.
Photo: Donovan McIntosh/Tribune Staff
Marco killer seeking to appeal 55-year sentence By FARRAH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter fjohnson@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal is set to determine whether Kofhe Goodman, the man convicted of the murder of 11-year-old Marco Archer, will be granted permission to appeal his 55-year prison sentence. Archer, a student at Columbus Primary School, went missing from Brougham Street on September 23, 2011, and was found dead days later in bushes behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive near where Goodman lived. It is believed that Archer died from blunt force trauma to his head. The boy was reported missing by his family after failing to return home from a neighbourhood store where he went to purchase candy. His family begged for help in ensuring that he was returned home safely. Goodman was initially convicted of Archer’s killing on August 2, 2013 and sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Bernard Turner on October 29, 2013. However, the Court of Appeal overturned that conviction and sentence and ordered a retrial because of the “lurking doubt about the fairness of the trial”. Goodman was reconvicted of the murder on May 30, 2017, following the second trial before Justice Carolita Bethel. Wayne Munroe, QC, represented him at the time. In May 2018, Justice Bethel sentenced Goodman to 55 years in prison for killing the young boy after rejecting the Crown’s
KOFHE GOODMAN, pictured outside court previously. call for the death sentence. Seven years were ordered to be deducted from that sentence to account for time he had spent in custody up to that point. At the time, Goodman had 21 days to file notice of an appeal against his conviction; however, he failed to do so. Now, a little over two years later, public defender Stanley Rolle is trying to persuade the panel to consider Goodman’s appeal. On Friday, the appellate tribunal of justices Sir Michael Barnett, Jon Isaacs and Roy Jones heard arguments from Crown attorney Garvin Gaskin and Mr Rolle on the matter. In his submissions, Mr Gaskin argued that there was a “pattern” which connected Goodman with the crime. He also referred to the case of Caryn Moss with which, he said, the panel was “familiar”. “This was a convict who was convicted of an offence of conspiracy to commit murder. She was sentenced originally to 20 years and when she appealed, that sentence was increased to 35 years,” he said. “This
was an appellant who appeared before you with no previous convictions, she had some relative youth on her side and so there were some mitigating factors, but this court found it appropriate and proportionate to sentence her to 35 years”. Mr Gaskin said the Crown was of the view that Goodman did not “carry the same mitigating qualities and features” of Ms Moss as he had “multiple convictions for crimes of violence”. He also asked the panel to consider the fact that the accused had been “spared” from the death penalty “based on sentencing principles” and also highlighted the fact that the seven years he had spent on remand were deducted from his overall sentence. During his presentation, Mr Gaskin referred to the “relatively recent” case of Dion Bethel, an appellant with no previous convictions who had his 40-year murder sentence affirmed by the Court of Appeal. He said these cases were just some examples that demonstrated how the court had responded to matters when it came to the “exercise of proportionality and the material issue of whether there was an error in principle”. “The last criterion is the prejudice to the intended appellant, and we simply contend that in the circumstances of this particular case that there is prejudice as the matter certainly has taken some two years plus – a far cry from the required or prescribed 21 days,” he furthered. “We say that in all of the circumstances (regarding)
MAN DIES AS CAR HITS TREE IN ABACO AN Abaco man died in a traffic accident yesterday. According to police, shortly after 5am officers were called to a traffic accident at Forest Drive, Dundas Town. Police said a white Honda Civic coupe with two male passengers was
driving east on Forest Drive, when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered right and hit a tree, sustaining major damage. The driver of the vehicle was taken to the Abaco medical centre by ambulance where he was seen by a doctor.
He is listed in serious condition and will be airlifted into New Providence for further medical attention. However, the male passenger died at the scene. Officers from the Traffic Department in Grand Bahama will investigate this matter.
BODY FOUND NEAR ARAWAK CAY PARKING LOT By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A MAN’S body was found yesterday near a parking lot at Arawak Cay. Assistant Superintendent Audley Peters told the media at the scene that police do not suspect foul play at this point, however, they are still following the necessary protocols to determine whether a homicide has occurred.
He said police received reports shortly after 11am of a body being found near a parking lot at the popular dining spot. The deceased appeared to be 30 to 45 years old. “Officers responded and on their arrival they found a body of a male unresponsive. EMS visited the scene and after their examinations they pronounced the body lifeless,” he said. “We’re awaiting an autopsy report to determine
the cause of death and also the identification of the next of kin to determine the identity of the victim. “It is suspected that the body has been here for some time. To say how long it has been, I’m not able to say that at this juncture.” Anyone who has a missing relative in the age range specified is asked to contact the nearest police station or the Criminal Detective Unit at 502-9991.
MAN ARRESTED OVER SUSPECTED EDIBLE DRUGS A 35-YEAR-OLD man was arrested by police after he was found with edibles believed to contain marijuana and suspected Indian Hemp oil. According to reports, at
around 7am Wednesday, officers went to a home in the western district of New Providence where they executed a search warrant. The officers’ search found a suitcase containing a
quantity of suspected marijuana brownies, marijuana gummy bear candies, and suspected Indian Hemp oil. As a result, the man was taken into custody. Police said investigations are continuing.
the explanation of delay, we ask that the court find it wanting . . . There are rules, and the rules are important, and they are to be complied with. You don’t say for instance that ‘I have a strong case so I’m going to approach the court when I see fit’. That’s not how it works”. In his defence, Mr Rolle asked the court to consider whether “adequate and efficient facilities” have been put in place to help “facilitate” people who wish to appeal their convictions, as they examined the reason for delay in Goodman’s case. Still, Justice Isaacs said while the “system was not perfect, it was well known” that a person had 21 days to file their appeal. He also stated that Goodman should be familiar with the
way the procedure ran as he had gone through the process before. On another ground, Mr Rolle questioned the competence of Goodman’s previous counsel, Wayne Munroe, QC, for failing to call on Goodman’s alibi witnesses. He also argued that some jury members could have been influenced by pre-trial publicity as the jury had asked a question regarding sexual assault before any evidence suggested an offence of that nature had occurred. In rebuttal, Mr Gaskin said that argument was an “inaccurate representation of evidence” as references were made to the issue at hand during trial before any questions of a sexual nature were posed by the jury. In his closing arguments,
Rolle noted that the summing up was “crucial to the balancing of the trial process”. He said that in view of that fact, he was asking the court to “have regard to the way in which the summing up was dealt”. “The bulk of the summing up is simply a regurgitation of prosecuting counsel’s speech with very little cross reference and factual basis to what actually was the evidence,” he asserted. After listening to the submissions from the Crown and defence attorneys, Sir Arthur Barnett said the panel would reserve their decision so that they could “take time to consider the matter”. He said that a decision would be made in “due course” and both parties would be notified of the judgement.
PAGE 6, Monday, March 8, 2021
THE TRIBUNE
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Vaccine is coming - but delay is disappointing DID good news ever sound so disappointing? Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis gave a national address yesterday to announce what had already been announced, and to undercut what Health Minister Renward Wells had promised. Of course, it was more than that, but we had already been told on Friday that 20,000 very welcome doses of vaccine would be arriving from India yesterday… only for that date to slip back to Wednesday this week. Dr Minnis was only reiterating what had already been released with that information. Then he turned to the topic of the vaccines that Mr Wells had said would be with us last week, only to tell us they will be here by the end of the month… and only some of them. About a third of the promised 100,800 doses from the World Health Organisation and Pan American Health Organisation will be with us by then. The other two thirds? By the end of May. Mr Wells seems to have missed his guess by a lot. Mr Wells was even saying that jabs would have already started by now – while Dr Minnis is now only promising that the vaccinations will start within days of the arrival of the first 20,000 doses. The spacing out of deliveries also might put an end to Mr Wells’ suggestion that the government would use all 100,000 doses at once, to give 100,000 people their first of two vaccinations. Dr Minnis yesterday spoke of the worldwide demand for vaccine and the difficulty of ensuring supply. Without a sure timeline for the second jab, it seems unlikely we will use all the first jabs at once. Better, surely, to give everyone who takes a vaccine the right dosage rather than jab and hope. There were other aspects of the speech that were useful, clarifying how elements of the rollout will take place. The first people to be vaccinated will be healthcare workers, residents and staff of care homes for the elderly, and non-ambulatory residents registered in the health system. There will be a booking system, although details of that have yet to be announced. We can expect to hear more on that in the coming days – and we’d better, with the vaccine arriving on Wednesday. All the same, if parts of the jigsaw puzzle are still being put in place – what on Earth was the shape of our plan when Mr Wells was busily telling us the vaccine was about to arrive? Dr Minnis sounds more sure of his facts than his minister, and more determined to encourage people to take the jab when it becomes available. Still, in a pandemic, it’s not a great look for a health minister if we have to check his facts with his boss. From expecting 100,000 jabs
imminently, now we have a fifth of that from a different source than we were expecting. That’s a welcome bonus to have 20,000 more – but the delay in receiving the vaccines we were told were about to arrive takes the shine off our silver lining. This should be a good day for the government. But if you promise more than you deliver, you can’t be surprised when people are skeptical.
Economic promises Speaking of promises, the PLP has unveiled a whole bunch of them. Their economic plan says they’ll decrease VAT… for a year. Then they’ll reassess that. They will also increase the minimum wage to $250 per week in the private sector, significantly expand social assistance and cut the cost of energy by just under a third. Bold claims – although we’re not sure how they will pay for them with the country already facing a soaring deficit and income from traditional sources such as tourism still at rock bottom. There was also some confusion over whether VAT exemptions would be removed from breadbasket items – which we would imagine won’t be removed when the PLP realises how badly that will affect its would-be voters. As for the energy plan, it aims to have 30 percent renewables on the grid by 2030. If the see-saw of parties in power goes on the way it has for the past few election cycles, that will put that promise’s delivery squarely in the hands of whichever government would succeed any possible PLP administration. Where will the money come from for much of this? Well, deputy leader Chester Cooper thinks with lower VAT people will spend more money and the government will make more out of it overall. Smaller tax, greater income. Aside from that, there are promises about cutting waste – honestly, is there a more general promise made on the election trail by any party than cutting waste – and economic mismanagement. Through all these measures, the PLP believes it can reap revenue “upwards of $250m”. If it’s planning on spending more on social assistance, that won’t go very far. Now part of this might be the PLP promising a castle when the country can hardly afford the bricks, but honestly no party has a magic wand to fix the economic problems brought upon us by the pandemic. The first step of any recovery is getting past the problems caused by this virus. After that, whoever is in charge will have a major task to rebuild the economy we had before COVID-19. We can get there – but it won’t be easy. No quick VAT cut is going to fix things in a hurry.
A poem to Duke Smith EDITOR, The Tribune.
Duke B Smith, is 80 today PLEASE publish long march here this birthday poem that from March 1, 1941 I wrote for my oldest how is he different brother, Duke Bradley what has he lost Smith. since the days of his prime time has altered and has changed his body and his mind not as agile, as nimble, as quick as he once was when he was sprite-like, like an acrobat, able to leap off ceiling and to leap off walls lapsed into tranquility now, his steps drag, his thoughts slow,
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his voice low recognition of those whom he knows well is delayed, requiring patience, requiring to be accommodated as he is now the present is the present no other is available to be unwrapped, unpackaged or loved only in the present is there air to breathe. OBEDIAH SMITH Nassau, March 1, 2021.
President of UB should have pension EDITOR, The Tribune. THE revelation that the prestigious and highly responsible post of President of the university is not pensionable is at once amazingly surprising and utterly astounding! For, according to his own word, the incumbent, Dr Smith, has stated that he will not seek the renewal of his contract when it expires in 2022 precisely because there is no provision for a pension. What? Do you mean to tell me this highly educated, experienced and competent “Son of the Bahamian Soil”, who having presided over the transition of our premier institution from collegiate to university status, would, at age seventy have to seek employment abroad simply because no pension is provided so that he may retire with dignity and decorum in his homeland? Must this not be a matter of grave concern to all Bahamians? Surely it merits the most urgent consideration of “the powers that be!” As I reflected profoundly on this situation, I could not help remembering how a close relative, many years ago, was in one like it. You see, my dearly beloved cousin, the late Lillian Weir-Coakley, gave many years of service to our young nation as the Librarian at the Southern Public Library. When in the year 1948 she graduated from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, with her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, I daresay that you could count on your fingers the number of Bahamians who had earned academic degrees! With such an educational background, she could have easily obtained
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net a prestigious and lucrative post at a tertiary educational institute abroad. Instead, she elected to return here “to serve her Bahamian people,” for she was very patriotic. Hers was no “nine to five” job, as she stayed at the Library “often going beyond the call of duty.” You see, in those days, before the most excellent Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, then a young dynamic statesman, took the initiative “in electrifying the community of over-the-hill, students who couldn’t do homework at home “because they had no light,” would study at the Library until it closed at 9pm. Mrs Coakley stayed at the Library until they went home. Many prominent citizens of our beloved Bahamaland, including The Hon Allyson Maynard-Gibson, The Hon Alfred Sears and Ms Rosalie Fawkes, veteran educator, greatly benefitted from her disciplined supervision. Yes, she toiled long and hard imparting knowledge to her fellow Bahamians. But alas! When the time drew nigh for her to retire, it became apparent that there was no provision for a pension for her. Yes, teachers, policemen, customs officers and prison wardens were all pensionable; but nothing for librarians. Eventually, largely as a result of “the lobbying” and influence of Dr Cleveland Eneas, special legislation was passed in the House of Assembly making the office of Librarian pensionable as it is today! After her passing, the Southern
Public Library, where she served so many years, was renamed “The Lillian Weir-Coakley Library” in recognition of the contribution to the development of Library Services in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It is submitted that a similar course of action is appropriate in the case of the President of the University of the Bahamas. For it is ultra vires the fundamental principles of social justice to allow anyone who has occupied a high and prestigious office to descend after demitting office into a state of “struggle to make ends meet!” Isn’t this precisely why we (the Bahamian tax payers) provide an annual allowance of $70,000 (seventy thousand dollars) plus “perks” to the person who has served in the highest ceremonial office of Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas upon retirement? (See also II Kings 25:27-30) where the Babylonians, Israel’s arch enemies, procured a daily allowance for the dethroned King of Israel and permitted him to dine at the King’s table. With regard to the amount of the president’s pension, it is germane to observe that economists now estimate that one needs about 75% of salary earned in order to retire with “dignity” in addition, there are often other “perks” to be provided at the discretion of the council. Taking all factors into consideration, this is a matter which requires urgent and decisive action. JOSEPH E WEIR, OM Freeport, Grand Bahama. March 6, 2021.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, March 8, 2021, PAGE 7
NEW RADAR EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT FORMER US MISSILE TRACKING STATION
THE TRACKING station at Mayaguana and, above right, the team during the visit at the weekend.
HONOUR FOR JUSTICE ESTELLE GRAY-EVANS IN observance of the United Nation’s International Women’s Day 2021 today, the International Federation of Women’s Lawyers (FIDA) Grand Bahama Chapter announced plans to highlight Senior Justice Estelle G Gray-Evans. “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” is this year’s theme. Freeport attorney Hadassah Swain, regional vice president North America FIDA, said: “We take this opportunity to spotlight a woman in leadership who epitomises the goals and objectives of FIDA and UN WOMEN, the Honourable Senior Justice Estelle G Gray-Evans,” she said. Ms Swain said FIDA Grand Bahama Chapter is proud to salute Justice Evans as its Woman in Leadership – “a woman who continues to make a positive impact on the lives of women and children, particularly girls, in her community,” she said. Justice Evans, a native of Forbes Hill, Exuma, attended Prince William Baptist High School, Nassau. She went to Shaw Business College in Toronto, Canada, and the College (now University) of the Bahamas. Evans was admitted to practice as a Counsel and Attorney-at-Law in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas on December 16, 1988, after articling in the law firm of Callenders & Co, the firm with which she also served as secretary, bookkeeper, office manager (September 1974 to December 1988), and associate attorney from December 1988 to December 1994. Justice Evans joined the Public Service and served as the first Acting Assistant Registrar, then Acting Deputy Registrar, of the newly opened Supreme Court in the Northern Region, during the period March 7, 1994, to June 30, 1994. Justice Evans returned to private practice, but in January 1995 went back to the Public Service in the dual role of Acting Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate and Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, Northern Region. She served in the former position for one year, and in the latter until April 1999 when she relocated to New Providence to take up the position of Project Coordinator for the computerisation of the Courts, a post she held
SENIOR JUSTICE ESTELLE GRAY-EVANS until February 28, 2004. Evans was appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court on March 2004 - the first female to hold that substantive post, and served in that position until August 31, 2007, when she was appointed to act as a Justice of the Supreme Court on September 1, 2007. Justice Evans was later confirmed in her appointment on November 1, 2008. She was appointed a Senior Justice on January 1, 2019. She also acted as Chief Justice of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas on three occasions in December 2018, April 2019, and February 2020, due to the absence on leave of the substantive holders of that post. Justice Evans is the daughter of Shirley Weech. She is married to former Assistant Commissioner of Police Shannondor H. Evans. They have five children, ten grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Justice Evans is a Christian and currently worships at Beth-El Ministries which is pastored by her son, Rev Adrian Bethel. Her community activities include the establishment and operation of Grace House, a half-way house for pregnant teens and their babies, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, from August 1998 through 2007. During that time, 48 young women and several of their babies were assisted with shelter – some short-term and others as long as 18 months. Evans still maintains contact with some of the young women and their children whom she considers as her “grands”. She continues to work with some of the young women and their children, assisting as she can by providing a full fouryear scholarship to one of her “grands” and partial scholarships to two others. Through her church, Beth-El Ministries, she coordinates the bi-monthly rummage and give-away of clothing and household items to persons in need in Grand Bahama.
BAHAMAS meteorological office staff were in Mayaguana this weekend with Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network alongside for the installation of new radar tracking equipment at the island’s
former US missile tracking station. Overseeing the work was Department of Meteorology director Trevor Basden, assistant director Jeffrey Simmons with BASCWN’s vice president of development
Adam Darville seeing the Meteorological team at work. The new radar will help provide real time aviation, climate and severe weather sensing for both the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
A million dollars for a smart new complex - now tear it down By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net AN estimated $1m of taxpayer dollars has been wasted in the part construction of a new building on the campus of Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute which is now “just sitting there out back waiting to be demolished”, Insight can reveal. In 2016, the Christie administration broke ground at BTVI for the “smart” building, ushering in a new era at the institution which dates back as far as October 1949. A government press release issued at the time said it was anticipated that the new block would be completed in six months at a cost of $2.3m. A well-placed source told us there were challenges with the construction of the prefabricated building, leading to it being left unfinished after an estimated $1m was shelled out. The Ministry of Works has been asked to demolish the building because of its current dilapidated and hazardous state. The Tribune contacted BTVI president Dr Robert Robertson to explain what had gone wrong, however he referred us to BTVI’s chairman, Kevin Basden, saying he would know more about it. “The best person to contact is chairman Kevin Basden as this started under the previous board and Mr Basden was on the previous board,” Dr Robertson said. “So it (the previous board) was here when they cut the ground for it, but everything has been done before I came, in terms of the agreement. I don’t know all the details of the situation. Mr Basden knows about it. “He also has been speaking with the Ministry of Works about the demolition of the building as it’s just physically sitting there at the back waiting to be demolished.” Asked why the building was not completed, Mr Robertson said, “I think it was an issue of finality, but I really wasn’t involved in it to that extent. I think it went for probably about a year after it got started and then came to an end, but again Mr Basden is your best point of contact for that.” Despite multiple attempts, The Tribune could not reach Mr Basden nor Minister of Works Desmond Bannister for comment. According to The Tribune’s source, problems occurred during construction. “Originally the building was supposed to be a ‘smart’ building housing the IT department’s classes as well as other IT related services,” said the BTVI source. “It was made from composite wall designs which were manufactured by a company in the US then sent here to be put together by the contractor. “So the drawings would be sent to the US firm and they cut the walls out with the doors and windows cut into it, places to put the floor connections. That means when the building parts were shipped you just connect it. I saw (a worker) struggle to properly put the building together because it’s like a jigsaw puzzle, you
just have to know how to put the pieces together. “You can force a piece that don’t fit to fit but you damage those parts in the process. That is essentially what happened to the building because the wall parts are sleeved down on each other. (Someone) forced the wall parts together instead of sleeving them using a small crane to drop the pieces together. “Then the plumber was not aware that his pipes could sleeve through the cavities in the wall so they cut new pipelines into the wall, effectively destroying the wall. It comes where it could sleeve the electrical and plumbing into the wall.” The building is 6,600 square feet and was to have eight classrooms for interactive learning, multimedia and visual systems. The BTVI source said a building that size would take a contractor on average about eight months to a year to complete, but with the “smart” building, one could complete it in four months. The BTVI insider said, “So the project started in August 2016 and in February 2017 it got as far as the top floor’s walls and the roof frame - the skeleton for the roof and then the work stopped. It has been sitting there exposed, meaning all of that wood frame which is not designed to endure the elements, has been sitting there for years. The top of the wall, which is a composite wall, is not sealed from the environment.
“The roof is supposed to cover that. So you will have moisture seepage, which means mould, all through those walls. The building’s walls and the skeleton of the roof are no good anymore. We are talking about over about one million dollars’ worth of materials which has just sat there for the past four years and the elements have rendered it compromised. It’s useless now.” The source expressed concern about the silence from BTVI on the failed project. “There has been silence on the campus regarding this building,” the insider said. “There has not been any report or any kind of statement or any internal exchange in regards to the status of the building. Then to top it off they built a bathroom block on the side of it using the same material. The bathroom is also sitting there unused. It’s in the same status, just sitting there for the past four years.” Canadian Jim Boucher of Commonwealth Construction and Development Limited was the contractor for the building. The com-
THE GROUNDBREAKpany is ING ceremony, top, registered in and, above, Jim the Boucher shaking The Bahabuilding hands with then mas but offered to Prime Minister Perry no longer send men Christie. appears to here to make be operating. sure the buildWe were unable ing was erected to locate a busiproperly,” the BTVI ness address or phone board insider continued. number or any recent “Mr Boucher was upset signs of it carrying out any and said he does not need projects. anyone looking over his The Tribune made sev- shoulder because he knew eral attempts to research how to put the building Mr Boucher but without together. success. “When we started A source on BTVI’s holding off on payboard said Mr Boucher’s ments, a politician visited a company was removed board member angrily and from the project because told him to ‘stop messing “the work they were doing with the money and pay the was not adding up” and man’. At that point it was “they didn’t know what getting crazy so we had to they were doing”. fire him and of course he “They had to go, so was mad as hell. unfortunately the building “This building that was stayed there and wasted. meant to be such a shining Over $1.2m in funds gone example of modern conto waste,” said the board struction was so ill fated,” member. the insider said. “We fired The source said the Boucher and of course he manufacturers of the pre- was mad as hell.” fabricated building actually The board insider said offered to come to Nassau at one point BTVI ordered to supervise putting the the building to be painted in building free of charge but an effort to save the surface the contractor declined of the walls as appointtheir services ing another contractor “The company that made to complete it was being
considered. However, with materials having gone missing at the site and with the prefabricated building ruined by unnecessary drilling, among other things, it was decided to pull the plug on the project. Daniel Thompson, head of the Union for Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas, said the president needs to pay some attention to the building instead of union busting. UTEB is seeking to represent workers at
BTVU. He said it was a shame that the public’s money was wasted without consequence. Mr Thompson said, “Four and a half years later, the prefabricated quick construction incomplete smart building sits at the rear of the Soldier Road campus as an eye sore, all under the presidency of Dr Robert Robertson, whose contract was recently renewed. “Rather than concern himself about the quality of teaching and the completion of the smart classroom block, which is critical during this COVID-19 pandemic era, Dr Robertson has engaged and committed himself to union busting and distraction activities. He ought to engage in the investigation of the lack of accountability in the construction of the smart classroom block which is indicative of gross mismanagement of the institute.” BTVI has denied claims of union busting. Meanwhile, Mr Thompson called on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to investigate the matter.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021 PAGE 9
Delays and frustrations but the end of the tunnel is in sight By MALCOM STRACHAN
others or whether it was as effective, but it is the same THERE was a sense of Oxford-AstraZeneca vacrelief among Bahamians on cine we are due to receive social media when it was 100,000 doses of through announced the first vaccines the Pan-American Health (PAHO). would arrive in the coun- Organisation try today. When this news It’s merely made locally in was followed by an update India by the Serum Instithat the vaccines would be tute, the world’s largest delayed until Wednesday vaccine manufacturer. It because of “logistical issues has the same effectiveness with the airline overseas”, as the Oxford-AstraZeneca that relief shifted to weary vaccines made elsewhere. This seems to cynicism. be a different After all, ‘Misfires such donation from we’ve already as the delays in the vaccines had Health arrival of the coming from Minister RenPAHO too. vaccine tend ward Wells The vaccine is going back and to encourage supposed to be forth on his doubts rather taken as two predictions of doses, and if it than reassure when the vacis administered cine would people of the that way then arrive, even that’s another truthfulness of as overseas 10,000 people those experts officials have who can receive said they have they ought to their jabs as part told countries of this first wave be listening exactly when to of vaccinations. to rather than expect doses. Added to the Regardless the conspiracy 100,000 doses of Prime Minpromised elsetheorists who ister Dr Hubert where, that is Minnis’ words point to such 60,000 people on Sunday - and problems in the that could soon really all he rollout and say have the vacleft us with last cine in their night was more they told you so.’ arm. delays - all this That should leaves an underindisputably ensure that standable air of frustration healthcare workers can in the air as Bahamians just be vaccinated for a start, want government to tell us as well as a considerable like it is. number of those who have If we look past that frus- co-morbidities that would tration, however, it would put them more at risk were seem there is some genu- they to catch COVID-19. inely good news. Delayed Minister Wells has suguntil Wednesday or not, gested the government will that first batch of vac- likely use all doses at once. cines will be here soon, it This was when we were seems. This is a donation expecting 100,000 doses, from the Indian govern- which would have meant ment of 20,000 doses. Some 100,000 people getting the doubts were being floated first jab. on social media about He said: “We have always whether this vaccine from talked about the 100,000 India was different from dosage which is about
50,000 doses if you give everyone two doses, but the dose is obviously spread over a period of eight to 12 weeks for AstraZeneca. That’s when they say it’s most effective. “So more than likely the government will vaccinate everyone first, give them their first shot of those who are wanting to be vaccinated. That could be 100,000 persons barring we don’t have any spillage or waste.” At the time, he said that the government had approached the Serum Institute for more doses – and that would appear to be how the extra 20,000 doses have been secured. What the government doesn’t want to happen is giving everyone the first dose and then not having the second dose to follow it up. Mr Wells said that would not be the case, and that “we can assure the Bahamian people we will have additional vaccines”. That might be the case, but Mr Wells has also assured people that the first vaccines would have arrived last week – and that turned out to be incorrect. Still, as we inch closer to the first vaccines actually arriving, we also hope that the plan for the rollout goes without a hitch. There is perhaps no more important task facing our nation than the effective delivery of these vaccines right now. We have logistical challenges, we know that. The Bahamas is a chain of islands. The majority of the population might be centred in New Providence and Grand Bahama but a significant portion of our people are on various Family Islands and distributing the vaccine to those residents is where the greatest difficulty will come.
Thankfully, the vaccine we have available does not need the super-cool freezers to keep it effective, but it will still need to be transported securely and in the right conditions not just to different islands, but to sometimes quite remote parts of those islands. The COVID statistics issued by the government each day have shown spikes in places such as Abaco, so do we blitz an island experiencing such a spike to try to kill off the virus there, or do we start in islands that haven’t experienced it as much yet to try to keep it from securing a foothold at all? There are a lot of decisions to be made, none of
them easy, and all of them which can only be made easier by increasing the supply. After that, there is the need to convince people to take the vaccine. With the state of the nation and all that we have gone through, you wouldn’t think this would be too hard, but there are still people who claim it is all a hoax and who listen to self-proclaimed experts who post on their Facebook wall rather than genuine experts whose qualifications hang on their real walls. Sadly, misfires such as the delays in arrival of the vaccine tend to encourage doubts rather than reassure people of the truthfulness of those experts they ought
to be listening to rather than the conspiracy theorists who point to such problems in the rollout and say they told you so. What is most encouraging is that where the vaccine has been rolled out, there have already been signs of a reduction in infections. That’s what we all want. No more family members in the hospital, no more friend and colleagues at risk and no more having to deal with a shutdown economy that cannot restart properly. The vaccines might not have arrived today. They might not arrive tomorrow, or Wednesday. When they do arrive, however, will be the first day we can truly see the light at the end of the tunnel.
PAGE 10 MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
Small states diplomacy pays dividends on ‘de-risking’ World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
IT was an odd law into which to place it, but new and welcome directives on “de-risking” - which has plagued Caribbean countries - has become law in the United States. The law in which the helpful directives are embedded is the ‘‘William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021’’ (NDAA). It was vetoed by former President Donald Trump and it should, at that point, have died. But for the first time in Trump’s presidency, the Congress mustered the twothirds majority needed to overturn his veto.
Trump’s veto had nothing to do with “de-risking’’. It was directed mainly at the bill’s removal of the names from military facilities of Confederate officers. A significant number of Trump’s supporters come from the former confederate states. Section 6215 of the NDAA, which deals with Financial Services DeRisking, is the result of painstaking work by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and his instructions to me, as Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States, to leave no stone unturned in engaging the US Congress
THE NOVEMBER 2019 US Congressional Round Table. From left, far side of table, Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet. and particularly the House - consequences of de-riskLittle attention was paid and entities such as those Banking Committee, to ing for the Caribbean’s to the reality that all the sending remittances from draw attention to the banking system. Browne is banks in CARICOM coun- the United States to their harmful - if unintended the lead CARICOM head tries and all their assets families overseas and cerof government for financial and transactions do not tain domestic and overseas services. total five percent of the jurisdictions that have The Chairperson of assets and transactions in experienced curtailed the Committee is the for- the world. Therefore, in the access to cross-border midable Maxine Waters, unlikely event that all five financial services due, in representative in the House percent of financial trans- part, to de-risking; the for California’s 43rd district. actions are dirty in some financial exclusion caused Throughout the latter half form or another, it stands by de-risking can ultiof 2019, she was bombarded to reason that the countries mately drive money into by approaches from Anti- and banks, responsible for less transparent, shadow gua and Barbuda in written the remaining 95 percent channels through the carand personal presentations, of assets and transactions rying of cash or use of explaining why de-risking were large tax havens and unlicensed or unregistered by US global banks was purveyors of illegal finan- money service remitters, depriving Caribbean banks cial services. thus reducing transparof crucial correspondChanging this image of ency and traceability, which ent banking relations, and the Caribbean, laying out are critical for financial The Board of Directors of Commonwealth Bank threatening to cut-off the the evidence, and making integrity, and can increase Limited has declared a Quarterly Dividend for region from participation solid arguments were all the risk of money falling in the global trading and necessary, particularly for into the wrong hands; and Common Shares, to all shareholders of record at financial system. a US Congress confronted anti-money laundering, In early 2019, banks in with a multitude of domes- countering the financing March 15, 2021. some CARICOM coun- tic and global issues on an of terrorism, and sanctions tries had lost all their hourly basis. In Maxine policies must ensure that correspondent banks, and Waters, the Caribbean the policies do not unduly Common Shares 1¢ per share institutions in other states region found a tough but hinder or delay legitimate were tenuously holding on decisive person, sceptical access to the international to only one. All this had but willing to listen and to financial system for underThe payment will be made on March 31, 2021 through arisen because of US regu- examine the evidence. served individuals, entities, latory directives to its banks The Caribbean effort and geographic area. Bahamas Central Securities Depository, the Registrar & concerning money launder- that was spearheaded in Those were the very ing, financing of terrorism Washington by Antigua and points which were put forTransfer Agent, in the usual manner. and the mythical but popu- Barbuda strongly supported ward by the representatives lar view that Caribbean by Belize and St Lucia, cul- of small Caribbean states countries were ‘tax -havens’ minated in a Congressional who can be pleased that one Charlene A. Bosfield and their banks were awash Round Table in November of the law’s fundamental with dirty money. 2019, chaired by Waters directives is that “policies Corporate Secretary The facts told a different and attended by Gaston that encourage financial story. In the 10 years up to Browne, St Lucia Prime inclusion must remain a 2019, $26 billion has been Minister Allen Chastenet priority”. imposed worldwide as fines and Ministers from TriniThe NDAA is a small “Leader in Personal Banking Services” for non-compliance with dad and Tobago, Barbados, but significant step by money laundering, but not and Jamaica. Waters had the US Congress and www.combankltd.com one bank was located in the invited to the meeting senior especially by the House Caribbean. representatives of major US Banking Committee, led banks as well as other mem- by Congresswoman Maxine bers of the House Finance Waters. It was a big leap for Committee. A full and frank small Caribbean countries discussion ensued. and a triumph for their diliAt the end of it, Waters gence and diplomacy. and her Congressional colMuch work remains to leagues promised action. be done but an important Deal making in the US pathway to rectifying and Congress is more art than balancing de-risking has science. It results in mat- been opened. Amid the ters inserted in a law where ravages of COVID-19, it is it may seem to have no rel- welcome good news. evance. But that is the trade • Responses and previfor support that occurs. In ous commentaries: www. the result, the promised sirronaldsanders.com action was delivered in the NDAA. (The writer is Antigua Among the matters that and Barbuda’s Ambassador the law stipulates as guideto the United States and the lines are: providing vital Organization of American humanitarian and develStates. He is also a Senior opment assistance and Fellow at the Institute of protecting the integrity of Commonwealth Studies at the international financial the University of London system are complemenand Massey College in the tary goals; access issues University of Toronto. The are a concern for other views expressed are entirely underserved individuals his own.)
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‘The Royal Family did not protect us’ By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Reporter cbrennen@tribunemedia.net PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle accused the Royal Family of not supporting or protecting them from racist attacks and said they even questioned whether their future child would have dark skin and not be given a title. In a deeply candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan admitted at her lowest point she contemplated suicide and said that she begged the “institution” to help her. In the interview, Meghan said that she entered her marriage without a clear indication of just what would be expected of her, saying she had to Google the English national anthem and the first time she met the queen, she had no idea that she would be required to curtsy. “I thought that was part of the fanfare, I didn’t think that was what happened inside,” Meghan said. “I said I thought, this is your grandmother.” Harry simply reminded her that she was not just his grandmother, she was the Queen of England. But she says unlike the movies there were no “princess” classes to help her learn just what was expected of her. “I went into it naively.” The former actress says she was told the palace would protect her from tabloid gossip in exchange for her towing the line. Instead, she felt trapped and silenced by her husband’s family. She says it was her biggest regret. “I regret believing that, because had I really seen that wasn’t happening, I would have been able to do more. But I wasn’t supposed to see it. I wasn’t supposed to know.” At one point during the interview, she compared herself to Ariel the little mermaid - who found her prince but had to lose her voice. But she gets her voice back in the end, she said. While she said members of the family welcomed her initially, the couple said ultimately the lack of support left them no choice but to
PRINCE HARRY, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey for the interview broadcast last night on CBS. Photo: Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP make the bold step to leave royal duties behind. “It’s hard for people to distinguish the two, because it’s a family business and then there are the people who are running the institution and those are two separate things… the queen for example has always been wonderful to me. I loved being in her company.” Prince Harry said he had no desire to leave his family, but said he just wanted support. “My biggest concern was history repeating itself,” Harry explained, referring to his mother, Princess Diana. “To receive no help
at all and to be told ‘This is just how it is, we’ve all been through it’.” In fact, he said his family has cut off financial ties and said he is only able to provide for his family because of the money that his money the late Princess Diana, left him. “Yeah, my family cut me off. And if it wasn’t for the money that my mum left me, Meghan and I wouldn’t have been able to do this and be on our own. “You asked what my mother thought of this, and I think she saw it coming.” Harry says at one point his father stopped taking his calls and acknowledged that there is “space”
between himself and his brother Prince William. Harry says both relationships need to be repaired. “I feel really let down because he’s been through something similar,” said Harry, referring to Charles’ high-profile marriage to Princess Diana. “He knows what pain feels like, and Archie’s his grandson. But at the same time, of course I will always love him. But there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened and I will continue to make it one of my priorities to try and heal that relationship. As for William, he said: “I love William to bits. He’s my brother, we’ve been to hell together. But we’re on
different paths. The relationship is ‘space’ at the moment,” he continued. “And time heals all things, hopefully.” Harry says that he was trapped in his royal life until he met Meghan in 2016. “I didn’t see a way out. I was trapped but I didn’t know I was trapped. Trapped within the system like the rest of the family. My father and my brother are trapped. They don’t get to leave, and I have huge compassion for that.” The couple also revealed that they are expecting a baby girl and said that this will make their family complete.
The couple married at Windsor Castle in May 2018, and their son, Archie, was born a year later. Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties began in March 2020 over what they described as the intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the duchess. In Britain, the interview is seen as poorly timed. It will air while Harry’s 99-yearold grandfather Prince Philip remains hospitalised in London after undergoing a heart procedure. The UK’s Sunday Times newspaper, citing an anonymous source, reported that the queen would not watch the interview.
AT LEAST 15 DEAD, 400 WOUNDED IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA BLASTS OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Associated Press A SERIES of explosions at a military barracks in Equatorial Guinea killed at least 15 people and wounded more than 400 others yesterday, authorities said.
State television TVGE read out a statement from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema which said the explosion was due to the “negligent handling of dynamite” in the military barracks located in the neighborhood of Mondong Nkuantoma in Bata. He said that the explosion
occurred at 4pm local time. “The impact of the explosion caused damage in almost all the houses and buildings in Bata,” the president said in the statement, which was in Spanish. Equatorial Guinea, a tiny West African country of 1.3 million people located
south of Cameroon, was a colony of Spain until it gained its independence in 1968. Health officials said that they believed there were people missing in buildings damaged by the blast. There were some discrepancies with the death toll, with TVGE reporting
20 dead, a Health Ministry tweet saying 17 were killed and the president’s statement mentioning 15. State television showed a huge plume of smoke rising above the explosion site as crowds fled, with many people crying out “we don’t know what happened, but it is all
destroyed.” Images on local media seen by The Associated Press show people screaming and crying running through the streets amid debris and smoke. Roofs of houses were ripped off and wounded people were being carried into a hospital.