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VOLUME:114 No.75, MARCH 9th, 2017

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Residents still displaced by fire

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MUNROE IS PLP PICK TO RUN IN FREE TOWN

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe, QC, has been selected as the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for the newly named Free Town constituency, The Tribune understands.

According to sources in the party, the Candidates Committee chose Mr Munroe over Senator Frank Smith and the National SEE PAGE 13

No date yet for SIGNING UP IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD return to homes in Jubilee Gardens

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett yesterday said there is no definite date set for when Jubilee Gardens residents will be able return to their homes, as he revealed details of the government’s “comprehensive” plan to tackle the chronic issues at the New Providence Landfill.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, the Southern Shores MP said the Christie administration’s plan involved shipping used tyres at the landfill out of the country, methane extraction technologies to mitigate against future fires and additional water wells drilled and trenched

around the entire site to better facilitate fire fighting efforts, among other things.

Beyond revealing that the shipping company tasked with handling the dump’s used tyres would visit the landfill later this week, Mr Dorsett did not give a definite timeline of when the measures would take effect.

He said he also reached out to the United States government for assistance. However, he did not go into detail regarding how the US might assist, but he said discussions on this matter were ongoing.

Residents in Jubilee Gardens evacuated their homes on Sunday after a fire at the landfill blanketed the community in thick, black hazardous smoke.

SEE PAGES TWO AND THREE

HOPE Strachan signs an International Women’s Day poster in Rawson Square watched by fellow PLP MPs Melanie Griffin and Glenys Hanna Martin yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

DNA LEADER REJECTS MINNIS CLAIMS LORETTA: GREED NOT MY MOTIVATION

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday denied Dr Hubert Minnis’ recent claims that the third party wanted 16 uncontested seats and an agreement to have the final say on the makeup of the government, including who would be

named prime minister.

Mr McCartney said the Free National Movement leader “needs some medication” for making his “untrue” claims on Tuesday night, adding that the claims are proof that Dr Minnis is not only “clearly obsessed” with the DNA, but also that he sees the former Bamboo Town MP as “his biggest threat” heading into the next gen-

eral election.

Charging that Dr Minnis’ claims were an “indictment” on his leadership, Mr McCartney suggested that the Killarney MP instead “ought to be insecure” about the potential threat to his leadership by former deputy prime minister and FNM St Anne’s candidate Brent Symonette.

SEE PAGE NINE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner yesterday responded to speculation over the motive behind her part in ousting Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as opposition leader in the House of Assembly, saying women in this coun-

try are always criticised for “wanting more”.

She rejected allegations that her ascension as leader in the House was based on “personal greed” as she pointed to the “invitation” from the six male opposition members of Parliament to lead them. She said they also wanted more, not only for the country, but for Bahamian women.

As she made the com-

ments, which were a part of her remarks in observance of International Women’s Day, seated Progressive Liberal Party MPs laughed and taunted her.

Following the morning session of the House, Mrs Butler-Turner also told the press that Dr Minnis’ revelation on the breakdown of talks over a coalition SEE PAGE SIX

NO PAYOUT FOR FOREIGN WORKER AT BAHA MAR

MANSLAUGHTER VERDICT FOR KILLING OF BANKER

PETER Lisosky was highly optimistic when he left his job in the United States in 2015 to work at Baha Mar. But now, more than a year after he was made redundant, he is among a group of expatriates waiting to learn if they will receive compensation from

LAMAR Albury cursed in the Supreme Court yesterday within moments of a jury returning a 10-2 guilty verdict for manslaughter by provocation concerning the 33 stab wounds he inflicted on a banker he claimed had made a sexual pass at him.

Thirty seconds after the jury forewoman’s an-

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

the Claims Committee that the Christie administration established last year to administer ex-gratia payments provided by the China Export-Import Bank (EXIM).

The committee previously announced that all foreign former employees of Baha Mar would receive some compensation, but Mr Lisosky, who worked in the Food & Beverage SEE PAGE SIX

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

nouncement that the 26-year-old was found not guilty of the 2015 murder of Devince Smith but was criminally liable on the lesser charge of manslaughter, the Chippingham resident said: “F*** dread.”

Before the verdict was announced, Albury had his head bowed in prayer in the prisoner’s box. He is now scheduled to return to the SEE PAGE SEVEN

PAGE 2, Thursday, March 9, 2017

ENVIRONMENT Minister Kenred Dorsett.

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THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

SOME of the damage at the rear of AF Adderley Junior High School after the fire.

AQUINAS COLLEGE SHUT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

AQUINAS College will remain closed until further notice as a result of fires near the Gladstone Road high school, according to the Catholic Board of Education.

The school has been closed this week due to a fire, which officials said started on Fire Trail Road, spread to the New Providence Landfill. Firefighters are also battling a forest fire on Gladstone Road.

The school will provide further updates on when the institution will reopen, once it is given the all clear from authorities.

Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) was closed

yesterday because of the air conditions resulting from the landfill fire but will be open today.

A statement from the school said: “LCIS was closed today as a precaution of the air conditions in the western area. Due to prevailing winds coming from the east, many residents in the west have been experiencing unfavourable conditions due to the fire in the central part of the island.

“As opposed to an indefinite closure, we are opening tomorrow with the understanding that precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.”

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 3

Residents still displaced by fire from page one The fire also threatened some homes in the area, however officials have said no houses were destroyed.

In this regard, Mr Dorsett said assessments of homes and businesses will begin “in earnest” once the fire at the landfill has been completely extinguished.

“As Prime Minister Christie stated on Monday, assessments will be conducted on all homes and businesses impacted by the fire in an effort for the government to provide the necessary assistance,” Mr Dorsett said in an update to the House of Assembly yesterday.

No homes destroyed “I want to reiterate that no homes were destroyed during the blaze as erroneously reported on social media, but from the naked eye considerable soot and smoke damage appeared evident throughout the Jubilee Subdivision.

“Toward this end while no definite date can be given for the return of residents affected by the fire, fire (chief) Superintendent Walter Evans advised me yesterday (Tuesday) that significant improvement has occurred in the area, namely the visibility level increasing and colour of smoke changing, which makes breathing bearable for residents.”

Regarding the government’s measures at the landfill, Mr Dorsett also said: “Mr Speaker, a new temporary tipping floor has been completed under the guidance and instruction of our consultant engineers and today the landfill resumes tipping of all waste streams excluding construction and demolition waste.

“Another tipping floor is being completed also under the direction of our consultant engineers, which will enable us to resume full waste receiving activities next week.

“Bins for electronic waste, hazardous waste, plastics, tyres, and white waste will be placed on the landfill to ensure that such waste are not tipped into the landfill,” Mr Dorsett said.

“In a few weeks additional bins will be placed in the entrance of the landfill to enable tipping of waste under 100 pounds to ensure that they can be facilitated thus ensuring that private vehicles and trucks

MEMBER of Parliament for Tall Pines Leslie Miller visiting the Kendall Issacs Gym on Tuesday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff do not have to enter the landfill. Green waste will be diverted to a specified area under the control of the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority green waste will be sorted and mulched. “The material will be available for the use of farmers and for island wide beautification. The public should also note that mulch from hurricane debris is now available at the Department of Environmental Health Services on Farrington Road and contact should be made to that office for persons interested in the same.”

“One of our major shipping partners will visit the New Providence Landfill later this week and we will begin placing all used tyres on the landfill in containers for shipment out of the country. The government has completed a comprehensive plan for the New Providence Landfill. It outlines all efforts that will be undertaken at the landfill to solve the challenges it currently faces,” he continued.

nate illegal entry into the area.

“Methane extraction technologies will also be used to mitigate against future fires in areas that have been covered and compacted.

“The public should also note that after 13 years of no compaction taking place at the landfill, when the DEHS took over the landfill a few weeks ago, we tested the employment and use of a compactor for daily operation,” the minister said.

On Monday Mr Dorsett said residents in Jubilee Gardens will have to wait at least five to seven days before the evacuation order is lifted and they are “safely” allowed to return to their homes.

At a press conference

at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Dorsett said firefighters do not expect the fire at the New Providence Landfill to be extinguished for approximately a week.

He said firefighters are battling two different types of fires, one at the landfill and a forest fire in the surrounding areas.

The city dump has been plagued with recurring fires for a number of years.

Renew Bahamas was engaged by the government in 2014 to manage the landfill and help address the matter, however the company ended its services in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew last October.

The government subsequently took over management of the landfill.

Illegal entry “Currently the public should be advised that additional water wells will be drilled, trenched and capped, around the entire site to better facilitate fire fighting efforts. In addition a buffer around the entire site would be cleared for ease of access and mobility for security monitoring of the perimeter and proper perimeter security fencing and proper check points will be established to elimi-

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THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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GOP health care bill is critical first test for Trump WASHINGTON — As conservatives revolt over Republican health care legislation, Donald Trump faces a crucial first test of his presidency: Can he translate his bully pulpit and popularity with conservative voters into a legislative win?

For Trump, it is a new arena five rocky weeks into his presidency. Thus far his accomplishments have been carried out mostly via executive authority or appointments ratified by the Senate, often overshadowed by self-inflicted distraction.

Now the Washington newcomer finds himself in the more complex realm of legislative deal-making, as GOP leaders push forward their long-promised plan to undo former President Barack Obama’s health care law and replace it with a conservative blueprint that shrinks the federal role and reduces assistance to help voters buy coverage.

With the plan under attack from conservatives as well as medical groups and the AARP on Wednesday, congressional Republican leaders made clear they will rely on Trump to corral restive lawmakers and bring them in line.

A lot of them haven’t experienced what it’s like “with Air Force One landing in their district,” Rep Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said Wednesday before his panel met to begin voting on the legislation. “I think when the president of the United States, who campaigned on repeal and replace, says this is the repeal-and-replace bill ... I think the dynamic changes.”

In their early outreach, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met Wednesday with conservative leaders who have raised objections about the bill. But the activists emerged from the White House with some optimism.

“He heard our concerns, our very serious concerns with the House draft bill,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. “I’m encouraged that the president indicated they’re pushing to make changes in the bill.”

Trump also vowed during the meeting to travel to states he won in November and hold big rallies to put unsupportive senators on the spot, according to one meeting participant who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose details of the private discussion.

And the president acknowledged the repeal and replace effort could fail, the person said. If that happens, Trump argued, Obamacare will continue sputtering and Americans will blame Democrats.

Trump has kept an arm’s length from legislative maneuvering on Capitol Hill thus far, sending mixed signals that have led to repeated bouts of confusion about what exactly he supports. Yet with more than 26 million Twitter followers, he can sway GOP lawmakers with a tweet. Before the president was even sworn in, Republicans backed off plans to gut an independent ethics office after he objected over Twitter.

On Tuesday, Republican House members who are part of the GOP votecounting team met with the president at the White House, with several saying later they were pleasantly surprised by the president’s level of engagement on the health bill. He made clear he is fully behind the plan and willing to engage with individual lawmakers to get them on board. Hours after the meeting wrapped up Trump made good on that commitment with a tweet aimed at Sen Rand Paul, R-Ky, an outspoken critic of the House health legislation.

“I feel sure that my friend @RandPaul will come along with the new and great health care program because he knows Obamacare is a disaster!” the president wrote.

“He said he’s 100 percent behind it, he’s going to be very engaged, he’s going to dedicate as much time as he can possibly do to it,” said Rep Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla, who was in Tuesday’s meeting with Trump.

“The White House and the president have the largest pulpit in the world,” said Rep Tom Reed, R-NY, another lawmaker in Tuesday’s meeting. “And to have that spotlight on you as a member, you better be able to explain your position and you better be able to explain why you’re supporting Obamacare and not working with us to repeal it.”

Also Wednesday Trump dined with Texas Sen Ted Cruz, a onetime GOP presidential rival and conservative luminary, his wife, Heidi, and their two daughters. Cruz said it was “principally a social dinner but I’m sure the conversation will turn to the repeal of Obamacare.” Cruz said he has serious concerns about the House bill as drafted and doesn’t think it could get through the Senate, but hopes to work with the administration to improve it.

Trump’s team is deploying three former House conservatives — Pence, budget chief Mick Mulvaney and Health Secretary Tom Price — to persuade some of the most skeptical members of the GOP caucus, including members of the Republican Study Committee and the Freedom Caucus.

Pence hit the airwaves on Wednesday with local television interviews in swing states Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.

Mulvaney went so far as to invite members of the House Freedom Caucus to join him for a night at the White House bowling lane next week.

Even some holdouts acknowledged that such pressure could make a difference.

“I would be the first to admit that calls from the president will certainly influence members and to suggest otherwise would be to ignore politics,” said Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, whose members have been speaking out against the bill.

By Erica Werner and Ken Thomas, Associated Press

We must stop the false news EDITOR, The Tribune.

I MUST say truth in the News is becoming these days highly questionable and we have to be exceptionally careful when we read and hear statements and must, have no alternative, to get the facts verified as best we can.

False News, invented to the highest level prevailed throughout the immediate past US Presidential election and it seems we have caught this contagious practice.

Eight-homes burnt to the ground at the dump fire. False News.

WhatsApp story that two gunmen have been driving around threatening women.

False News.

Men dressed as Water & Sewerage employees have been mocking on doors.

False News.

Faith Fest, an event upcoming in Freeport - Tourism now - hotel sold out, Our Lucaya which to my knowledge has 1,200 rooms but listen - 300 people have reserved for the Faith fest which at the max. means 300 rooms sold. False News.

Number of Tourists, Tourism touting now six million. False News.

Truth don’t lie, Editor.

Why have we decided to adopt this so negative position? Almost hourly on WhatsApp or Facebook there is an item of deliberate False News. Get posi-

tive and constructive.

There is a grave security danger in this - on the night of the General Election someone puts out a false news story stating who has won the election - totally false - this could easily cause a disruption on the streets totally unnecessary and unwarranted. We can’t risk that.

Headlines just to sell the newspapers - we see it daily.

Talk Shows minute by minute on most false news – false information and false ideas. False News is no news - let’s stop it before no one believes anything.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, March 7, 2017.

Hold Halkitis to account EDITOR, The Tribune.

AT what point will the media in this country stop treating State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis with kid gloves and hold him accountable for the shocking, dramatic deterioration of the economy?

Halkitis must be held up to the same standards as was the Ingraham government in managing the economy. We are just half way through the current budget period, yet the deficit is an alarming $314m.

At this current trajectory, the deficit will be $600m at the close of the budget period. Halkitis and Co would have added $2 billion to the national debt.

Nearly a $1 billion in VAT revenue has been collected since its implementation yet we are nearing the precipice of having our dollar devalued after suffering four financial downgrades under the PLP, the latest being a junk status downgrade in December 2016 by Standard & Poor’s, which is a first for this country. How is it even remotely possible to run a $314 deficit in a six month period while collecting hundreds of millions in VAT, in addition to other tax revenues? How is it remotely possible to add $2 billion to the debt while collecting $1 billion in VAT? Even to a simpleton nothing is adding up with this government. One billion dollars in VAT and virtually nothing to show for it, other than the massive hiring binge of PLP lackeys in the public sector, more particularly the plethora of high priced senior PLP consultants who have been hired, many of whom are already pensionable.

This might be one reason Halkitis has struggled to explain to the Bahamian people how their VAT money is being spent. How can Halkitis say with a straight face to jobless college educated young Bahamians that his administration has hired many senior PLPs as high priced consultants while they are struggling to find meaningful employment in this anemic economy?

Many of these college educated Bahamians who have been fortunate to find employment are working in fast food eateries or are working as security officers – both of which are minimum wage jobs. All the pre-election chatter about Christie being the bridge to Sir Lynden O Pindling is

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net just that – chatter.

Look at the three top posts in the PLP, which are all manned by senior citizens. Never-mind the cliche of believing in young Bahamians; this PLP government does not believe in Bahamians. Period. With the exception of those within their clique.

The current financial quandary the country finds itself in is due to the bungling incompetence and mismanagement of the economy by finance minister PM Perry Christie and Halkitis, whom many PLPs boasted of being far more conversant in economics than former PM Hubert Ingraham during the last FNM administration, when the economy was experiencing severe challenges precipitated by the Great Recession in North America.

PLPs compared Halkitis’ resume with Ingraham’s. Ingraham trained in law; Halkitis in economics. Halkitis is a graduate of St Augustine’s College.

Moreover, his alma maters includes COB and the University of Western Ontario, Canada, where he earned a Bachelors degree in economics.

According to his online biography, he served as a private banker, trader, portfolio manager and financial analyst. Based on his academic resume, one can see why Christie has reposed so much trust in him, even though he has played a significant role in helping to run the economy aground.

We believe Halkitis is the brain behind whatever financial policies the Christie government has brought in since 2012. His senior finance minister, Christie, is not an economic expert, having never trained in the field. Whatever Halkitis would have proposed has been green lighted by his superior before it sees the light of day.

Remember, Halkitis was touted in some PLP circles as being a knight in shining armor who would rescue the Bahamian economy that was purportedly devastated by Ingraham and Co. Yet nearly five years later the economy is worse off today than it was under Ingraham, who was not fortunate to have the added advantage of VAT. The PLP told the Bahamian people that VAT would be solely

used to facilitate the national debt reduction. That was the rationale used to implement it. But with a $300m plus deficit in just six month, clearly Halkitis and Co have squandered all that VAT money, and have made a catastrophic mistake in placing VAT revenue in the consolidated fund.

The Bahamian people need to remember that it was Halkitis and his Cabinet colleagues’ decision to stonewall Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian, who attempted to save his development by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware.

The Baha Mar debacle has helped to cripple the economy. Baha Mar was and continues to be the PLP’s economic panacea for the entire Bahamas.

Without Baha Mar, they really don’t have much of a plan to stimulate economic growth. It can be argued that both Christie and Halkitis are directly responsible for the 2,000 redundancies at Baha Mar, which increased the jobless numbers exponentially. Name me one other PM who has caused that many redundancies by the mere stroke of a pen. While their policy regarding Baha Mar has caused unnecessary hardship to hundreds of families, they and their cronies are living high on the hog. Halkitis has often escaped criticism due to the perception of him being superbly talented in the field of high finances. Yet here we are today with a national jobless rate in the mid to high double digit range and Grand Bahama lying flat on its face. His accomplishments in academia and in the business world have not translated to success in government, as the past four and a half years have amply demonstrated.

Quite frankly, Halkitis should by rights be removed from his post due to his abysmal performance. In any other jurisdiction which has a modicum of competence, he would have been fired outright.

In many newspaper photos of him, he looks like a deer caught in the headlights. Halkitis’ fingerprints are all over this economic wreckage. He is complicit with Christie in their administration’s mismanagement of the economy and must be held accountable.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, March 7, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 5

PLP chairman rounds on Minnis over landfill spending

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts yesterday called on Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis to investigate the “apparent waste” of $33.5m earmarked for a solid waste management programme in New Providence.

“The FNM borrowed $23.5m from the InterAmerican Bank and used $10m from the Public Treasury to finance this project that to date has produced very little fruit if any,” Mr Roberts said in a statement issued yesterday.

“This is a good starting point for Dr Minnis.”

This loan was approved in February 1999, during a previous Ingraham administration, and the loan contract was signed in October of that year.

Dr Minnis was elected to Parliament in 2007 and served as a Cabinet min-

ister during the last Ingraham administration.

The loan was intended to support existing government programmes in a bid to improve solid waste management in New Providence and on several Family Islands.

Primary components were said to include: institutional strengthening and regulatory adjustments; priority investments for disposal facilities; public awareness campaigns and recycling programmes.

The project is listed as completed on the IDB’s website; however, project details indicate a cancelled amount of USD$ 1,689,746, and repayments totalling USD$17,308,414.

Some $4.5m is listed as outstanding.

The programme was preceded by two loans for technical cooperation, but project details for the loans were not available online.

The first loan contract, valued USD$750,000, was intended for the prepara-

tion of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for a solid waste management project, and was signed in February 1995. The project is listed as completed on the IDB website, which also notes a cancelled amount of USD$16,774.

The second loan contract was signed in May 1997 and is also listed as completed with a total value of USD$100,000.

Mr Roberts was firing back at criticisms levelled at the government by Dr Minnis over recurring fires at the New Providence Landfill.

He went on to criticise the FNM leader, who had responsibility for the site in the previous term, over his alleged “shameful record.”

To elucidate his point, Mr Roberts recalled statements made by Dr Minnis about a 2008 fire at the New Providence landfill during his tenure as minister of health and social development.

Mr Roberts maintained the Christie administra-

tion’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to achieve a resolution following the withdrawal of Renew Bahamas.

“Let us take for example the New Providence Landfill fire that burned for two days between 25th and 26th March 2008 while Dr Minnis served as minister of health and social development,” Mr Roberts said. “[Dr] Minnis pontificated about how ‘recycling and mulching techniques could play critical roles in eliminating the amount of garbage that is being deposited at the Sanitary Landfill…’ but alas he never saw his way to implementing a plan to achieve this; he simply talked a good plan.”

Mr Roberts continued: “Dr Minnis even promised to produce a comprehensive report to address this vexing problem at the landfill.

He said his comprehensive report indicated that at least 40 per cent of the garbage within the Bahamas can be recycled and another 15-20

per cent of that garbage can be mulched…but alas he never saw his way to establishing this programme to address this problem when he sat around the Cabinet table with the authority to make executive decisions to positively impact the lives of many families in the southwest corridor of New Providence.”

In a statement yesterday, Mr Roberts also renewed his accusations of conflict of interest over Dr Minnis’ company having a contract with the Public Hospitals Authority while the FNM leader was the minister of health.

Dr Minnis’ company, Leechez Investments Ltd, was awarded a two-year contract with the PHA to rent its Stat Care building in 2005, before he entered politics.

However, the arrangement was continued on a monthto-month basis while he served as minister of health from 2007-2012, and is reportedly continuing.

Dr Minnis has said he

told the PHA to move its building after advice from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, however the agency never did. Dr Minnis did not declare the contract when he registered as a candidate in the 2007 general election, but has maintained that he declared his interests in the company after he was elected to office.

Mr Roberts said: “Minnis’ record of failure is clear: he never formulated a plan for National Health Insurance and he never formulated a plan to address the environmental and health issues connected with the New Providence Landfill.

“Dr Minnis does not represent the change the Bahamian people need,” he said.

“From all data available to us, he is a failed leader and a failed Cabinet minister who talks a good game, but fails to deliver. He is not new or fresh – he has been at the Cabinet table and has been confronted with governance challenges and has failed over and over again.”

UNION SIGNS DEAL WITH NIB OVER COMPENSATION THE National Insurance Board (NIB) and the Public Managers Union (PMU) yesterday signed an industrial agreement that calls for a performance management system with meritbased compensation.

The agreement brings to conclusion many months of negotiations between the two parties.

NIB Chairman Felix Stubbs commended both teams for their “professional representations” and for conducting efficient proceedings during the deliberations.

The new pact is in its nascent stage at NIB. The pilot phase of implementation, which was launched in January, is underway and the programme will continue to be fully phased in over the ensuing 12 months.

Mr Stubbs said the agreement will come into effect on registration by the Registrar of Trade Unions and Industrial Agreements and shall expire on December 31, 2019. Terms of the new

POLICE HUNT FOR ARMED ROBBERS

POLICE are searching for several suspects responsible for two separate armed robberies on Tuesday.

In the first incident, shortly before 1pm, a man was leaving a business on Soldier Road to make a deposit at a bank when three men with handguns approached. The suspects robbed him of a bag containing a large amount of cash before speeding off in a white Honda vehicle, police said.

In the second incident, shortly after 9pm, a man had just pulled up to his home off Soldier Road in his silver 2004 Honda Accord, when a man with a handgun approached and robbed him of his vehicle before speeding off.

Police also reported that officers recovered a handgun thrown from a car after a suspect crashed into a utility pole during a highspeed chase.

According to reports, around 6pm on Tuesday, Mobile Division officers were on routine patrol on Wulff Road and Market Street where they observed a black Nissan Murano that failed to stop at a traffic light.

The officers signalled to the vehicle to stop but it sped off, police said. A chase followed that ended on Meadow Street, where the vehicle collided with another vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. The male driver then threw a handgun to the ground and fled on foot.

The officers were unable to catch the driver. However the handgun was recovered and found to be a .45 pistol with seven live rounds of ammunition, police said.

agreement will be retroactive to April 1, 2015.

“We are delighted to be concluding this new industrial agreement with the Public Managers Union and look forward to our continued co-operation and collaboration, as we work together to strengthen NIB for the future,” Mr Stubbs said.

The PMU has been in existence for over two decades and aims to defend the rights and benefits of middle managers at NIB, Bahamasair and University of the Bahamas.

The agreement also entrenches health and safety standards, supports intellectual development through tuition assistance provisions, and provides relief at the top of their salary scale.

Abraham Butler, consultant, headed the team for NIB and Leslie Munnings, president of the PMU, headed the team for union members during the negotiations.

NIB and the Public Managers Union signed an industrial agreement yesterday. Leslie Munnings, PMU president, and Felix Stubbs, NIB chairman, are pictured signing the deal.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Thursday, March 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

No payout for foreign worker at Baha Mar from page one Department at Baha Mar, says he and other former foreign Baha Mar employees have not yet been paid - nor can they get in contact with committee officials.

The Christie administration has prioritised Bahamians when it comes to who receives a share of the $100m provided by the EXIM Bank, emphasising that its first obligation is to Bahamians and that under the former Chapter 11

bankruptcy process initiated by Baha Mar’s former leaders, employees would have likely received nothing at all.

But during correspondence with the Claims Committee last year Mr Lisosky and others were led to believe that they too would receive some compensation.

More than a month’s worth of emails and phone calls to officials of the committee have since gone unanswered.

“On December 30, (2016),” he said, “they said

they were sorry for the delay and that a decision (on the payments) would be made on January 31 - that was our last contact. They had been pretty good at answering phone calls and emails before that. I’ve made maybe five attempts at reaching out to them since.”

Contacted yesterday, James Smith, chairman of the Claims Committee, encouraged The Tribune to direct its questions to an accountant on the Claims Committee, but that person could not be reached before press time.

Last year, Mr Smith said former foreign employees of Baha Mar would receive a “high figure” compensa-

tion. He said yesterday that some such employees may have been left out so far.

During a previous court supervised bankruptcy proceeding, Mr Smith said, there were indications that a “special group of expats” deserved preferential treatment equivalent to creditors.

“No offer would have been made to those people until the court determined how to proceed,” he said, adding that he could not describe who belongs to this category.

For Mr Lisosky, regrets abound over his decision to accept the job at Baha Mar. “I still don’t understand why one employee is differ-

ent from another employee, regardless of national origin, but I understand what the government is trying to do,” Mr Lisosky said yesterday.

Mr Lisosky came to the Bahamas from Washington in 2015 “with high hopes and the best of intentions”.

In March 2015, he said he worked 14 and 15-hour days in preparation for Baha Mar’s opening. He left the country in August, 2015, after he stopped working at the resort.

He got a call from a Baha Mar official in October of that year informing him that he had been made redundant. When he returned to the US, he moved from

Washington to Florida where he now resides.

“One of my friends had a family with a wife and was ready to move down but then they stopped the payments,” he said.

Mr Lisosky has not been contacted about possibly being rehired by Baha Mar’s new team.

“Several of the folks are in my boat. We left jobs in the US to work at Baha Mar in good faith and we understand things happen but fair treatment and some pay, that’s what all of us are asking for,” he said. “I’m not trying to whine and not trying to be a problem I just want to know if something should be expected.”

LORETTA: GREED NOT MY MOTIVATION from page one

between the FNM and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Leader Branville McCartney was an opportunity for the public to read between the lines and decide who was telling the truth and who was just perpetrating a “falsehood”.

On Tuesday night, Dr Minnis said the talks failed because the former Bamboo Town MP wanted 16 seats uncontested and an agreement for his party to have the final say on the makeup of the government, including who would be named prime minister and deputy prime minister.

This follows Mr McCartney’s resignation as leader of opposition business in the Senate last week. Since he left the post, Mrs Butler-Turner said she has not spoken to the DNA leader because “there was no need to” do so.

Mrs Butler-Turner appointed Mr McCartney to the post in December, not long after the “rebel seven” MPs submitted a letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis and voted to have the Long Island MP lead them in the lower chamber.

“I said last year we have not

LORETTA BUTLER-TURNER, leader of the Opposition.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff had a lot of significant changes She also said: “We love since we (women) got the right to see women ascend, but to vote and there is so much you know sometimes there more that can be achieved,” seems to be some very powMrs Butler-Turner said in the erful forces within our own House of Assembly. country that say ‘fine - that’s “I didn’t realise last year, beautiful to see it happen in Mr Speaker, that when I another country, just don’t spoke that this year the sig- let it happen here in The nificance is that a woman Bahamas.’ would have actually made “So until we reach that a move. Not on her own, as position where we become the narrative is in the public mature enough to underdomain, because there are stand that women do in fact many that assumed that I make up over 50 per cent am now the leader of the op- of the world and that we position because of personal should demand more, we greed and wanting more. should want more. It’s not “But I thank these men immoral to want more. It’s to the left of me who in- not immoral for us to want vited me to be the leader of to elevate ourselves higher.” the opposition in this place When the House of Asbecause they wanted more. sembly broke for the reThey want more for our cess, Mrs Butler-Turner country. They want more was asked for her take on for our women. They want the bad blood between the more for everyone,” she FNM and DNA. told Parliament.

“Clearly it’s a demon“Mr Speaker, you know stration that something is they make fun when wom- wrong,” she said. “I have not en want more, but when a come out publicly to say what man wants more it is okay. I felt about the comments atThey call us that word that tributed to me by Mr McCarhymes with witch. They rtney, but I think the public call us catty. They call us now has an opportunity to greedy. They call us all read between the lines to see manner of things because exactly who was telling the it’s all right for a man to truth and who was just perwant more, but when a petrating a falsehood. woman wants more, she “So I guess the FNM and needs to know her place.” the DNA will have to work

out their difference or move beyond it the same way that I have moved beyond it.”

She added that it appeared to be difficult for politicians on differing sides of the divide to work together.

“To be very honest I think it is always difficult for politicians to do, even though we all say that we are fighting for the greater good, when it becomes a position of power or a position of leadership it seems like that seems to be a huge hang up.

“I can’t speak as to what went on with the DNA and the FNM. I am not a part of either of those teams. I just know that in attempting to do my little part I know what happened and obviously you see those other persons who are unable to work through a deal always have something to say. I think that if you are negotiating you keep those things to yourselves and you move forward. If it doesn’t work, you move forward.”

Regarding former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette’s ratification with the FNM on Tuesday night for the St Anne’s constituency, Mrs Butler-Turner seemed indifferent about this, saying the FNM needs all the help it can get.

“At the end of the day, the PLP is not good for the country. Ultimately there is got to be a coming together.

That coming together is not going to happen before the election with the opposition forces obviously. But I guess we all need all the help we can get if we are going to get rid of the PLP,” Mrs Butler-Turner said.

The Long Island MP plans to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming election.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 7

JURY DIRECTED TO ACQUIT PAIR OVER ROLE IN SHOOTING DEATHS

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court jury was directed to acquit Stephen “Die” Stubbs and Giovanni Roberts of abetment to murder yesterday.

Stubbs and Roberts, 37 and 30 respectively, were alleged to have had a role in the September 15, 2011, shooting deaths of Gamacio Jones and Clayton Smith.

An unidentified gunman shot Jones and Smith while in a car on Roland Avenue in Ridgeland Park on the date in question.

Though the jury had been empanelled last week, no evidence was taken in the case due to extensive legal

discussions held between Crown and defence counsel in their absence.

Yesterday, when the matter resumed and the jury called into court, prosecutor Ambrose Armbrister offered no further evidence against the men on trial resulting in Justice Milton Evans directing the jury to acquit them of the charge.

Roberts, who was granted bail, did not appear for his trial and was being tried in his absence. Stubbs, who serving a life sentence for another matter, had denied the charge.

Murrio Ducille appeared for Stubbs, and Wayne Munroe, QC, and Ryszard Humes appeared for Roberts.

STEPHEN ‘Die’ Stubbs at a previous court appearance.

Manslaughter verdict for killing of banker from page one

Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 14 at 11am for his sentencing hearing as his defence lawyer Michael Hanna, waived an initial request for a probation report to be considered by the court.

Mr Hanna had requested a psychiatric report but the request was dismissed by Senior Justice Vera Watkins, who noted that such requests are only made in cases where the death penalty and/or life imprisonment arises upon a conviction for murder.

Albury had denied the murder charge against him.

Smith’s partially decomposed body was found shortly after 2.30pm on December 21, 2015 at his St Alban’s Drive apartment.

Smith was a sports coach and was employed at Pictet Bank & Trust Ltd. He was also a former president of the New Providence Volleyball Association.

Prior to excusing the jury to deliberate on the evidence at 1.30pm yesterday, the judge implored the 12-member panel to “disregard any preconceived views you may have had prior to being sworn as a juror.”

The judge stressed that their verdict could not be based on theories, emotion, sympathy, affection, and ill will for either the accused or the deceased.

“You must confine yourself to the evidence in this case and you must have regard only to the evidence you heard from this witness box,” the judge said.

“If I do not mention something to you in my summation, my failure to mention evidence does not mean it is not important to the case. Your function is to determine the facts,” the jury was told.

Senior Justice Watkins stressed to the panel: “One of your primary functions is to determine who is telling the truth.

“When evaluating the evidence from witnesses, you must take into account their ability to recall the events, the length of time elapsed between the incident and giving testimony, the demeanour or body language of the witness, the ability of the witness to express themselves, the veracity or truthfulness of the witness’ evidence, the interest, if any the witness has in the matter and the integrity of the witness.”

The judge added: “Each of you took an oath to return a true verdict and you must be true to that oath.”

The judge also reminded the jury that Albury had a constitutional right to presumption of innocence according to Article 20.

On the first day of trial, the jury heard that Albury allegedly confessed to his relatives that he fatally stabbed the banker, who

had hired him to do a paint job at his apartment for an upcoming holiday gathering, when the victim allegedly made a sexual advance at him.

The second day of trial, Smith’s housekeeper testified that in the three months she had known Albury, the accused had been to Smith’s apartment on three occasions and on two other occasions, the accused and Smith were seen in the victim’s Jeep drinking.

The prosecution’s final witness was forensic pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, who testified that the wounds, which included a slit throat, were unlikely to have been caused by a painting knife as Albury had told police when interviewed in custody 14 days after the incident.

On Monday, Albury was asked by Senior Justice Watkins to indicate whether he would remain silent at his trial or elect to given testimony under oath.

Albury elected to take the stand and spoke of how his accepting a “compliments to the season” Hennessey drink from Smith when he arrived at the apartment before he started the job spiralled into a scuffle and stabbing after the banker allegedly made a sexual advance at him.

When cross-examined, it was suggested to Albury that in his voluntary record

of interview in police custody, he made no claim that Smith made a pass at him.

Albury said it was shameful to speak about the attempted sexual assault so he withheld the information.

The accused denied that Smith was running away from him. However, he conceded that Smith had no weapon.

Albury was asked why were the chairs in the living room overturned if the scuffle occurred upstairs and Smith collapsed at the base of the stairs.

The accused said when he left Smith there, he could not say that he was still alive and that Smith might have overturned the chairs.

Albury conceded that he turned himself in with a lawyer 14 days after the incident.

However, he claimed that he hold his relatives what happened the day after and not December 29/30 as the jury heard.

Albury did concede that he burned the clothes he wore on that day.

In closing addresses to the jury on Tuesday, Mr Hanna told the jury that they heard him testify that he was sexually assaulted and that he was taken by surprise.

“He never went there other than to do a job and in the circumstances he was in fear for his life,” Mr Hanna argued.

“We saw no motive of robbery in this matter because he went there at the invitation of the deceased.

There was no forced entry.

None at all,” Mr Albury’s lawyer added.

Mr Hanna likened what happened to his client during the days of slavery and colonialism, an era “where sexual harassment happened on the job everyday and not just to women, but to men.”

Mr Hanna implored the jury to look clinically and dispassionately at the evidence before them and determine that Albury acted in self-defence.

Cordell Frazier, who has

prosecuted the case with Anya Allen, told the jury: “It’s now time for you to decide what and who you believe.”

“At the opening of this case I told you that the accused had a right to presumption of innocence and now I’d like to tell you that the deceased had a right to life and that right was taken away from him.”

“By stabbing the deceased the number of times that he did, we say there was no other intent than to kill,” Ms Frazier said.

Ms Frazier reminded the jury that prior to being picked up by Smith to carry out the job at the apart-

ment, there was a conversation between Albury and Smith where the latter had requested of the accused to bring a girl or two for sex.

She also questioned how Albury could bring paint to the apartment if he hadn’t been shown by Smith what he wished for him to paint.

“Did he really go there to paint? That’s a question for you,” Ms Frazier said.

The jury’s deliberation on more than two weeks of evidence heard in the case lasted two hours yesterday.

Albury, who was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services to await sentencing, could face as many as 35 years in prison.

PAGE 8, Thursday, March 9, 2017

Grand Bahamians to attend UN session

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FIVE women from Grand Bahama are among the official delegation from the Bahamas who will be attending the 61st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (SCW61) at the United Nations in New York, which will be held March 13-24.

Justice Petra HannaWeekes and lawyers Charisse Brown, Jethlyn Burrows, Karen FergusonBain, and Patrice Johnson will leave for the session on Sunday, March 12.

The priority theme this year is “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work.”

Some other topics also will be addressed, including, “The Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls,” and “The Empowerment of Indigenous Women.”

The sessions are held annually and in recent years at the event, Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin has presented the position of the Bahamas government to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the issues under consideration.

“We are privileged to be included among the official delegates from the Baha-

mas attending the session this year,” said Mrs Burrows.

As members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (Federation Internacional de Abogadas -FIDA) Justice Weekes, Mrs Brown, and Mrs Burrows, intends to also use the opportunity while attending the session to promote FIDA’s upcoming International Convention set for November 1317.

Mrs Burrows said the Bahamas is aligned with North American region.

“Because of a rotation system, this means that no international president will be elected from our region for another 15 years and when that does happen, it is more likely than not that the next international president will be someone from mainland North America as opposed to the Caribbean,” she said.

Meanwhile, she thought it was an honour for the Bahamas, particularly Grand Bahama, to host this year’s 36th International Triennial Convention in Freeport.

The previous international convention was held in Bangalore, India, in November 2014 when Mrs Burrows was elected international president.

“We have hundreds of attorneys who are eager to attend the convention in Freeport,” she said, report-

ing that some 400 attendees are expected.

While the convention is eight months away, Mrs Burrows anticipates that it will bring some economic boost to the island.

“With the state of our economy right now, any injection is a help. We are happy that Grand Bahama has been selected because the convention could have been held anywhere in the Bahamas,” she said.

Participants will be accommodated at the Grand Bahama Lucayan Resort.

FIDA is an international non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). They meet every year in New York at the same time that the Sessions on the Commission of the Status of Women are taking place.

The organisation’s mission is to promote the welfare of women and children and the principle and aim of the United Nations in their legal and social aspects.

FIDA obtained UN consultative status in 1954.

Mrs Burrows said the organisation performs various community service initiatives in the region. She said the local chapter in Grand Bahama offers scholarship every year to a student at The University of The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

FLORENE CRAWLEY, signing her documents as her daughter, Linda Gibson, looks on. Also pictured is Chanelle Brown, project manager of the E-Passport Unit of the Passport Office.

Photo: Derek Smith/BIS

BRINGING THE PASSPORT TO 90-YEAR-OLD APPLICANT THE Mobile Unit of the Passport Office paid a visit to the home of 90-year-old retiree Florene Crawley of Seabreeze Estates on Tuesday to process Mrs Crawley’s passport on-site.

The processing of pass-

ports by the Passport Office’s Mobile Unit is an expansion of a system that is already in place for Family Island residents who live in remote areas and are unable to come to Nassau for their passports.

The unit, which only operates in special circumstances, is mobilised once certain criteria is met. Individuals wishing to have the service would have to meet those special requirements.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 9

DNA leader rejects Minnis claims from page one Mr McCartney, who served as junior immigration minister under Mr Symonette in the previous Ingraham administration, said it is “not realistic” to believe that the former St Anne’s MP, “a man who has acted as prime minister on many an occasion” and “one who has been in the political arena for many years” would “take a back seat” to Dr Minnis.

On Tuesday night, speaking to a raucous crowd of party supporters, Dr Minnis said negotiations for a coalition between the FNM and the DNA failed because Mr McCartney demanded that the FNM not contest the Bamboo Town, Seabreeze, Garden Hills, Carmichael, Golden Isles, Southern Shores, Marathon, Elizabeth, Pinewood, Fox Hill, Golden Gates, North Abaco, Central and South Abaco, Marco City, Yamacraw constituencies as well as St Thomas More – if that one was reintroduced.

The DNA further wanted an agreement that should

BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY, leader of the DNA. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff they be successful, the didates over to their side, and party would be tasked with “not the other way around.” deciding the deputy prime He also claimed that Dr Minminister, the make-up of nis wanted the DNA to disthe Cabinet and ambassa- solve “with the understanddors, Dr Minnis said. ing that we have three seats.”

Dr Minnis said he was not “The Free National prepared to “give away” the Movement is clearly obFNM or pander to “over- sessed with the (DNA),” he sized egos” and blamed Mr added. “That the leader of McCartney for enabling the the (FNM) would last night Progressive Liberal Party to dedicate so much time at win the 2012 general election, the ratification of its final “causing pain and suffering” candidates, among them over the last five years. the former deputy prime In response, however, Mr minister, is an indictment McCartney claimed that it on Dr Minnis’ leadership was the FNM that has been and a clear example of why trying to “sway” DNA can- the DNA has no confidence

in Dr Minnis and no interest in forging any sort of agreement with the FNM. “We didn’t ask for 16 seats,” he continued. “I don’t know where Dr Minnis got that from. I read where he said we asked for all sorts of things. That was untrue. The good doctor has not been truthful in that regard. Asking about embassies and Cabinet posts, I don’t recall that at all.

“Dr Minnis I think finds that his biggest threat in this election is me. And so you would see that there would be a number of things going on now…I’m his biggest threat. He realizes that, and the FNM, he knows will not win this election the way it is now. So therefore he’s speaking out against the DNA now and doing all sorts of others things to try and put a stop towards the movement of the DNA.” Mr McCartney also suggested that Dr Minnis could face yet another challenge to his leadership by Mr Symonette, given the latter’s political portfolio.

At the end of February, Mr Symonette, who had announced his retirement

from frontline politics five years ago, revealed his intention to run on the FNM’s ticket for St Anne’s, insisting at the time that there were “no strings” attached to his decision.

Despite his public support for Official Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner during her most recent failed leadership bid last year, Mr Symonette, who represented the area from 2007-2012, said he is ready to work closely with Dr Minnis after much consideration.

The announcement came as speculation swirled recently that Mr Symonette was attempting to broker a deal with the FNM where would run on the party’s ticket but under the condition that he be made party deputy leader.

“I have no doubt that in some form of fashion, perhaps in the very near future, there will be a run for Mr Symonette to lead that party,” Mr McCartney said when questioned on the matter.

“And that will be a tremendous threat to Dr Minnis.

You would recall that Mr Symonette was not supportive of Dr Minnis until recently.

He was supportive of the leader of the Official Opposition who is Loretta ButlerTurner. And at the end of the day I know Dr Minnis ought to be insecure about that.

“Because in some form or fashion I find it strange that the former deputy prime minister of this country, a man who has acted as prime minister on many an occasion, one who has been in the political arena for many years, will take a back seat.

That’s not realistic, and let’s not be fooled by that.

I think we ought to keep on listening and see what’s happening with the FNM and the leadership thereof when it comes to Dr Minnis and Mr Symonette.”

He added: “I can tell you that Mr Symonette, who I’ve had the good honour and privilege of working with and under when I was in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and responsible for immigration, he thinks things out and he makes calculated decisions.

This decision to run at this stage and to have gone about it the way he did was calculating and for a reason, and that reason I’m quite sure we will see in short order.”

places not to take money on shore, that sort of thing.

They have those types of notices on the cruise lines.

“So this crime concern that we have is a very serious thing and if we don’t get it under control we’ll see more cruises looking for different ports.”

Mr McCartney also suggested that Mr Bayley’s concerns were not just made in the spur of the moment, charging that The Bahamas’ crime situation has likely been a concern of RCI for some time.

“I think for them to have mentioned that has been in their discussions, and they are watching the circumstances concerning crime very closely in this country,” he said. “And if it’s not fixed I think we’ll get some

other announcement from the cruise line indicating that they’re heading elsewhere.”

In 2015, The Bahamas was named by Yahoo Travel as one of the Caribbean’s most dangerous cruise stops.

At the time, Yahoo Travel listed The Bahamas, along with St Lucia, Antigua, St Kitts and Guatemala as “problematic,” citing the US State Department’s latest crime warning to its citizens about escalating criminal activity in the capital.

That same year, Mr McCartney also accused Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe of allegedly refusing to discuss the nation’s crime woes with representatives of a leading cruise line, charging that it would result in a

security warning to cruise ship passengers.

At the time, Mr McCartney accused Mr Wilchcombe of ignoring emails from Carnival’s Vice President of Commercial Port Operations Carlos Torres de Navarra on three separate occasions between August 31 and September 26 (2015).

In copies of the emails shown to the media by Mr McCartney, Mr de Navarra expressed the cruise line’s official interest in talking to Mr Wilchcombe about the country’s crime issues.

Mr Wilchcombe maintained that he never received the emails and it was later revealed that the cruise official had incorrectly spelled Mr Wilchcombe’s email address.

‘GOVT SHOULD BE CONCERNED AT CRUISE LINE’S WORRIES’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE government should be “very concerned” about a major cruise line’s recently expressed concerns about the country’s crime woes, Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday.

He said should the government not get crime under control “we’ll see more cruises looking for different ports”.

In an interview with The Tribune, the former senator said the concerns expressed

by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) President and CEO Michael Bayley are “very serious,” as they indicate that RCI is “watching the circumstances con-

cerning crime very closely”.

On Tuesday, Mr Bayley said he is “concerned” about crime levels in the country, stressing that “we want our guests to be very safe” in The Bahamas where more than 600 murders have been recorded over the past five years.

Mr Bayley told The Tribune that if customers do not feel safe visiting the country, they will no longer vacation here, adding that these concerns have been communicated to the government through the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

And Mr Bayley’s remarks came two weeks after Baha Mar executive Graeme Davis, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) Bahamas president, suggested that if

the Christie administration is unable to control crime, the country’s tourism product could be headed in a negative direction.

“We should be very concerned about that as a country,” Mr McCartney said.

“We know that the cruise lines bring in a significant amount of tourists to our shores, but we should be very concerned.

“But this is nothing new for the government, this government and the previous government. On the cruise lines today, they warn against the crime in this country to the passengers. You go and you travel on them, they specifically warn against this crime epidemic that we have here, and they tell you to be very careful, not to go to certain

McCARTNEY SAYS HE HAS FILED LAWSUIT AGAINST OMAR ARCHER SR

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday said a writ has been filed in the Supreme Court against Omar Archer Sr for allegations made against him.

Mr McCartney, during a press conference at DNA

headquarters on East Street South, said he has alerted the police to Mr Archer’s allegations and has filed a lawsuit against the one time chairman of the now defunct third party, the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM) for “defamatory, libelous and scandalous” comments.

Mr McCartney also said Mr Archer’s alleged statements were indicative of

“gutter” politics.

In a Facebook Live video posted over the past week, Mr Archer allegedly cautioned Mr McCartney to not criticise or speak ill of Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Minnis, while making salacious allegations against the former Bamboo Town MP. He also threatened to reveal allegations about Mr Mc-

Cartney’s family business and other personal details should the DNA leader not take heed.

When questioned on the matter yesterday, Mr McCartney said: “I’ve been in contact with the police with the comments made by that gentleman, and today we’ve sent a writ down to the Supreme Court in a suit against him for comments made (related) to that.

“It’s gutter politics, we plan on staying away from that type of politics, we plan on dealing with the issues, we plan on dealing with the concerns that the country has and we plan on putting forward like we’ve done over the last five years the policies and the position of the DNA and how we wish to run the country and how we wish to fix the situation.

“This gutter politics is something that should not happen. I certainly won’t practice it or get personal with anybody. So I’ve taken the necessary steps in relation to the threats in terms of the police and in terms of things that were said that were defamatory, libelous and scandalous. I’ve filed suit, as a matter of fact the writ is down at the courts today.”

PAGE 10, Thursday, March 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Kidney disease and obesity are twin perils of the 21st century Your Say

By DR ADRIAN SAWYER

T

ODAY has been designated as World Kidney Day. This initiative undertaken and sponsored, now for the 11th successive year, by The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and The International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), aims to bring global awareness to the importance of kidneys to overall health.

Since the inception of this initiative in 2006, March of each year has been designated as Kidney Month and the second Thursday in March is observed as World Kidney Day, with specific targeted themes related to the effects of kidney diseases on populations. The aim is to inform, educate and raise awareness of the emerging epidemic of kidney disease worldwide with a view to engaging local and national health authorities in efforts to plan for and undertake measures to treat and prevent the devastating sequelae - End Stage Kidney Disease (ESRD) which requires dialysis and/ or kidney transplantation for the maintenance of life at substantial costs for the individual, health care providers and governments.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the major risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

In the Bahamas, diabetes and high blood pressure are major non-communicable diseases that are highly prevalent; the current government initiatives to implement a National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme

DR Adrian Sawyer is the Director and Chief Nephrologist at The Dialysis Centre Bahamas. have significant implications for funding allocations considering that the cost for treating ESRD by dialysis or transplantation will consume disproportionately high levels of health care expenditures.

The current direct cost of one year of haemodialysis treatment per patient is more than $86,000.

Data on the prevalence of diabetes in the adult population of the Bahamas from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for 2014 was 13.3 per cent, one of the highest among its members.

Data by Moser et al on the prevalence of high blood pressure in adults in the Bahamas has been reported to be 27 per cent for males and 36 per cent for females.

Figures for adolescent hypertension suggest that 10 per cent of this age group may be hypertensive. The prevalence of obesity nationally is 36.6 per cent, placing the Bahamas tenth highest in the world for this emerging medical disorder.

Corresponding figures for regional countries are Barbados 33.2 per cent; Trini-

dad & Tobago 32.3; Jamaica 26.8; Antigua 31; Canada 30.1; and the United States 35.

The relevance of this years’ World Kidney Day theme - Kidney Disease and Obesity - to the national health planning agencies, government, health care providers, the public and economic burden attendant to the consequences of diabetes, hypertension and obesity on the everincreasing numbers of patients with kidney diseases, cannot be ignored.

In defining and clinically assessing obesity doctors use the combination of measured waist circumference, recorded in centimetres or inches and a Body Mass Index (BMI), which is derived from your weight measured in kilograms, and your height, measured in metres.

Values between 18.5 to 24.9kg/M2 are regarded as normal or ideal; between 25.0 to 29.9kg/M2 are considered as overweight; in excess of 30.0kg/M2 are the definition of obesity, which have three levels of classification: mild, moderate and morbid.

Waist circumference measurements currently vary related to ethnicity. A further refinement of assessment of obesity clinically is the ratio of the circumferences of the waist at its maximal point to the hip circumference at its widest point.

The combination of these measurements, which are easy to document in the ordinary clinical setting, have been proven to correlate with the proportion of body fat distribution in multiple clinical studies that show

NOTICE

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

_______________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

evidence of increasing morbidity and mortality associations, disease specific associations and comorbidities, with increasing values of these parameters.

last 30 years, a specific form of kidney disease related to obesity has been recognised that causes a specific form of damage to the glomeruli which are the essential functional units of Disease risks the kidney (approximately Multiple clinical and ob- 1,000,000 in each kidney), servational studies have for which the only effecshown that increasing tive treatment is weight loss obesity is associated with alone which can reverse the reduced life expectancy, disease. cardiovascular diseases, Indirect effects of obesuch as coronary sity include the vessel athero- ‘The direct cost genesis of high sclerotic disease blood pressure of one year of leading to heart and diabetes, attacks, high haemodialysis leading to avblood pressure treatment, enues for pro(hypertension), gressive kidney without diabetes, dyslipidamage by prodaemia (abnor- hospitalisation moting atheromal circulating considerations, sclerosis, blood fat components, vessel damage, cholesterol and is more than blood perfusion $86,000 per triglycerides), abnormalities sleep-apnoea patient; a kidney to vital organs (disordered such as the brain breathing during transplant heart and kidsleep), certain operation only neys leading to cancers and pro- has a direct strokes, heart gressive CKD attacks, heart cost of close and ESKF. failure and Diabetes is a to $100,000, kidney failure. progressive dis- not including Obesity has also ease with time been reported to and requires in- the cost of increase the risk creasing doses medications of kidney stones of anti-diabetic required and is also an medications due established risk to continuing to prevent factor for kidney loss of beta cell rejection of the cancer. function in the The major factransplanted pancreas. The tors associated risk of progress- kidney.’ with the increasing to ESRD ing worldwide over 20 years of diabetes is epidemic of obesity are a 30 to 40 per cent. combination of a sedentary For almost all national lifestyle, high caloric intake registries that track the kid- and lack of exercise. The ney failure/dialysis popula- issue of the source of calotions, diabetes is the single ries, specifically carbohyleading cause, accounting drates in the form of highly for approximately 40 to 45 absorbed carbohydrates/ per cent. Hypertension ac- starch products or fructosecounts for 25 to 35 per cent based products used in the of kidney failure leading to production of soft drinks dialysis or transplantation. and as components of fast The combination of diabe- food products, are areas of tes and hypertension ac- intensive interest currently count for more than 70 per and some countries have cent of all cases of ESRD. taken measures to reduce Obesity affects kidney availability of such product disease directly and indi- to the consumer. rectly. Directly, increasing levels of obesity have been Economic implications found to increase the risk of The increasing numbers chronic kidney disease by of obese persons worldcausing increasing amounts wide and more specifically, of protein loss from the kid- nationally, have significant neys which leads to progres- import for the health care sive structural kidney dam- budget. age; obesity also accelerates Obesity is a largely prethe rate of deterioration of ventable disease, but difkidney function in people ficult to treat. Pharmawith non-obesity related ceutical treatments have kidney disease. Over the significant adverse effects

and studies have found that sustainable weight loss is an elusive goal; the recent introduction of various forms of gastric (stomach) bypass surgery have been shown to be effective and in some cases have reversed protein loss in the urine and also diabetes.

The costs that will have to be incurred with this modality of surgery to an increasing population need to be considered along with the potential for adverse effects. There have been estimates that the number of new patients that will progress to end stage kidney failure and require dialysis or transplantation in the Bahamas, is between 200 and 300 per year. The direct cost of one year of haemodialysis treatment, without hospitalisation considerations, is more than $86,000 per patient; a kidney transplant operation only has a direct cost of close to $100,000, not including the cost of medications required to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney, which are required for the life-time of the transplant.

With the total number of dialysis-dependent patients currently around 400 to 450, the anticipated increase in numbers for the future due to obesity-induced diabetes and hypertension, could well eclipse $20m per year.

Any plans for considering kidney failure as a candidate for catastrophic care by the proposed NHI, will need to take cognisance of this hard fact.

The only effective strategy to meet this epidemic of obesity and obesityrelated kidney disease is prevention by education of parents and children of the negative impact of obesity on health; the undertaking of initiatives on a national scale, to reduce the availability of the foods that contribute to obesity, f such as fast foods and high sugar-calorie drinks; the implementation of weightreduction and increased exercise programmes from a young age; and reducing daily calorie intake efforts to abolish the local myth that increased body mass is a sign of health.

• Dr Adrian Sawyer is the Director and Chief Nephrologist at The Dialysis Centre Bahamas

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 11

Judge rejected recusal appeal as she felt it was likely to fail

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunememedia.net

A JUDGE yesterday determined that there were no reasonable prospects for success of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s appeal to the country’s second highest court concerning a recusal application she rejected which asked for her to step aside in hearing an ongoing judicial review.

That review is probing allegations that Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard illegally increased the size of his property while awaiting an approval of her application to extend her tenure as a Supreme Court judge.

On Tuesday, Justice Rhonda Bain had refused leave to contest her February 6 decision to the Court of Appeal and indicated that she would provide her reasons, in writing, for the refusal within 24 hours.

Yesterday, the judge handed down a 17-page judgment explaining her discretion to refuse leave to appeal.

The prime minister’s application seeking leave to contest the February 6 decision was made on six “draft grounds of appeal”.

It was argued that the judge was wrong in law and in fact to not recuse herself after receiving a letter from Mr Christie’s counsel concerning the facts and law where the requisite test for recusal was made out.

It was also proposed that the judge was wrong to come to the conclusion that a recusal was not warranted in the circumstances.

The judge was also alleged to have been wrong in determining that she could not continue hearing the aforementioned “part heard” committal proceedings if she had recused herself.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie, who was denied leave to take his recusal bid to the Court of Appeal.

It was also proposed that no realistic prospect of the government ministries and the judge misdirected her- intended appellant in suc- departments, a matter that had not been pronounced self on the law and failed to ceeding on this ground.”

“In his submission, coun- on by the court of appeal.” properly access the applicasel for the intended appel“The question of recusal tion.

It is fifthly proposed that lant submitted that the of a judge is not a novel there was a real danger of appeal raises questions of application and has been bias in the declaration of great public interest and raised before in matters bethe ruling that there was a therefore the court should fore the Court of Appeal. motive to not have the judi- grant leave. The intended Additionally, the matter of appellant did not raise the public interest has not been cial review heard.

It was lastly proposed that issue of an appeal in the raised by the intended apnotwithstanding the prime public interest as a ground pellant as a ground of apminister’s delay in making of appeal,” the judge add- peal.”

“The grant of leave to the recusal application, the ed.

Justice Bain further rea- appeal is discretionary and judge had a responsibility to soned that the “court has the court must take all the do so of her own volition.

Justice Bain, in her ruling to consider the particulars factors into consideration. yesterday, said that the first of each case before making After reviewing the profive draft grounds did not a determination whether to posed grounds of appeal, the court finds that there specify any erring or mis- grant leave to appeal.”

She noted that this case is no realistic prospect of direction in law or fact concerning her ruling rendered was different from the ref- success. The application erenced case of Melidor for leave to appeal is dison February 6.

On the sixth argument, “which dealt with the dis- missed.”

“As the court has refused Justice Bain said: “There is covery of documents from

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

leave to appeal, the application for stay of proceedings will fall away” the judge added, before awarding costs against the first respondent – the prime minister – for the unsuccessful application.”

With the judgment, the prime minister and his attorneys can review the ruling and determine whether they wish to proceed with a direct application to the Court of Appeal concerning the February 6 decision.

Attorneys for the prime minister had filed a motion in the Supreme Court on January 26 asking that Justice Bain recuse herself from the judicial review - or any other cases in which he is a party - on the basis that she is set to attain the legal age for retirement in April.

She has an application for extension that would have to be authorised by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the Official Opposition.

The motion of recusal was filed by Mr Christie’s lawyers in his capacity as minister responsible for Crown land and was argued on January 30.

In a 40-page ruling handed down on February 6, Justice Bain reminded Mr Christie of the independence of the judiciary from the executive, stressing that cases are distributed by the chief justice – a role that cannot be “usurped by the prime minister.”

The judge also said the prime minister should have immediately filed a motion seeking her recusal if he had concerns, instead of choosing to “sit back and do nothing for upwards of seven months” while other Nygard matters were continuing in court.

Nygard’s first committal matter was completed on Tuesday with the Canadian fashion mogul being convicted of contempt of court by Justice Bain and fined $50,000 for breach of the Supreme Court’s order concerning illegal dredging near his property in Lyford Cay. Nygard was given until March 21 to pay the fine or he will spend 14 days at the Department of Correctional Services in Fox Hill. He paid the fine on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson, and plans to appeal the ruling.

He was further ordered to remove the excavated sand from his property and return it to Jaws Beach by April 7. Failure to do so will result in an additional $50,000 and a $1,000 fine for each day this subsequent order is not carried out.

PAGE 12, Thursday, March 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

AT the Department of Local Government’s induction ceremony for Family Island Administrators on Monday are (from left): Laverne Harris-Smith, administrator; Frances Hepburn-Symonette, inductee; Earl Campbell, inductee; Hope Strachan, Minister of Financial Services and Local Government; Smith Ingraham, inductee and Charles King, acting director, Department of Local Government.

ADMINISTRATORS SWORN IN TO TAKE UP ROLES IN THE FAMILY ISLANDS

NEW Family Island administrator Smith Ingraham with Hope Strachan, Minister of Financial Services and Local Government.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

AFTER three months of training, three new Family Island Administrators have been sworn in this week.

Earl Campbell, Frances Hepburn-Symonette and Smith-Ingraham have all worked in various agencies of the government.

During an induction ceremony at the Department of Local Government on Monday, the inductees were congratulated for their hard work and volunteerism.

Minister of Financial Services and Local Government, Hope Strachan, said that the task ahead was a “daunting” but “rewarding” one.

“You’re striking out into a new world with new responsibilities but the good thing is that, that path has

already been beaten, therefore, please reach out to others to get the assistance that you need and try to use all the resources available to you so that you can do your best,” Mrs Strachan said.

Acting Director of the Department of Local Government, Charles King, also encouraged the new Administrators to seek support from others.

The new Administrators will be relocated to various Family Islands and will have the responsibility of managing the affairs there.

They will work closely with government agencies as their duties will encompass all facets of governmental operations.

HOPE STRACHAN, Minister of Financial Services and Local Government, with Family Island Adminstrator inductee Earl Campbell.

A CHANCE FOR INTERNS TO SIGN UP FOR SHARK LAB TWO more Bahamians will have the opportunity of an internship at the Bimini Biological Field Station (BBFS), more commonly known as ‘The Shark Lab’, this summer.

Applications for the internships are being accepted under the Alf Thompson Memorial Scholarship (ATMS), which was started in 2011 to honour the passing of the Bahamian scientist and engineer.

Since then, 12 young Bahamians have been given internship opportunities, at first at NASA in the Kennedy Space Center and then at the BBFS. All have said that the opportunity afforded them has impacted their lives, their studies and career choices as a result.

Tristan Guttridge, Executive Director BBFS, said the institution would be delighted to accept more Bahamian scholars. “Bianca (Barone) and Jewel

BIANCA BARONE

JEWEL THOMPSON

(Thompson), who interned at the Shark Lab during the summer of 2016, were indeed stellar and popular members of our team,” he said.

Dr Samuel Gruber, Director and Founder of BBFS, emphasised the im-

portance of the internship.

“It should be clear that we really love the ATMS interns. The students have all been first class and are very helpful to the station and BBFS’s Foundation,” he added.

Open to motivated Ba-

hamians between 20 and 26, the internship offers the unique opportunity to work and live at the BBFS with shark and marine biology research scientists, graduate students and other interns from around the world. The scholarship covers expenses for travel, food and lodging during the four-week internship.Deadline for submitting applications is May 1 and the announcement of awards on June 1.

Jewel Thompson described her time at the BBFS last summer as an “extraordinary experience” with no two days the same.

She said she went through “multiple levels of trainings including scientific data collection, boat handling and safety and GPS navigation to name a few”.

“As an intern, I gained new hands-on skills such as repairing gill nets, maintaining shark behavioural study enclosures, boat navi-

gation/driving and proper shark handling,” she said.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to be directly involved with data collection and handling of multiple elasmobranch species including Galeocerdo cuvier Tiger sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum Nurse sharks, Dasyatis americana Southern stingray, Negaprion brevirostris Lemon sharks, Squalus acanthias Spiny dogfish sharks, and Mustelus canis Dusky smooth-hound sharks.

“This experience further roots my appreciation and enjoyment of working with likeminded scientists from around the world, as well as in lush coastal environments.”

Bianca Barone echoed Ms Thompson’s experience, praising the staff for their creatively planning of activiites every morning. “Each day was a new and exciting adventure from scrubbing

pen mesh or mending gill nets to “working-up” nine foot Tiger sharks at 3am in the morning and everything in between, not excluding fighting off gigantic “outisland” mosquitoes,” she said.

“As I left the lab, I felt a great sense of empowerment having garnered new knowledge and skills that I could immediately put into action in my current position as an Aquarist and having made new friends and connections with such a diverse group of talented, highly educated and like-minded individuals from various parts of the world.

“If it were not for the generosity of Mrs Barbara Thompson, Mr Alf Thompson, the ATMS through the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, the vision, tenacity and dedication of Dr Gruber, Shark Lab staff, volunteers and countless others I would not have been afforded this amazing, life changing and inspiring experience. If given the opportunity, I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Information and applications can obtained by emailing info@tropicbirds. org or phone 242-324-7060.

CRUISE SHIP CRASHES INTO GANGWAY WASHINGTON Associated Press

THE National Transportation Safety Board says a cruise ship returning from the Bahamas last year approached a Baltimore pier too quickly and at too steep an angle before it struck a gangway and caused nearly $2.1m in damage.

An accident brief released on Tuesday finds that the Carnival Pride’s staff captain, the second in command, allowed the ship to approach the pier too fast and at a steep angle as it docked in May, 2016. It says the staff captain recognised the problem, but was not able to assume manual control.

No one was injured, but the gangway fell, crushing three vehicles on the pier.

The gangway also was destroyed and the ship’s hull was damaged, along with a mooring platform.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 13

SUNFLOWERS, brownies, guides, rangers and their leaders toured LPIA to explore careers in the fields of science and technology. Pictured in the centre is Anita Bernard, president of the Bahamas Girl Guide Association accepting a cheque from Elizabeth Ferguson, duty supervisor and tour guide at NAD.

Girl guides invited to tour airport IN recognition of International Women’s Day and to help celebrate Bahamas Girl Guides Week, Nassau Airport Development Company officials invited members of the Bahamas Girl Guides Association to tour Lynden Pindling International Airport.

The tour was designed to encourage the girls to consider careers in the field of aviation and to expose them to vocations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), where women are often under-represented.

In addition to the tour, NAD presented the association with a donation collected from passengers in special collection boxes positioned at LPIA to assist local non-profit organi-

sations. The funds will go towards the construction of the group’s new headquarters, which will include meeting rooms, office spaces, training areas, accommodations for girl guides visiting from other countries and other essential work areas.

“We applaud the Bahamas Girl Guides Association for the positive work that they continue to do with girls and young women in our community, and we are happy to be able to contribute to their efforts to shape and mould girls and young women,” said Jan Knowles, vice-president of marketing & communications at NAD. She continued: “By exposing the guides to the fields of technology that are

found here at the airport, we are hoping to spark an interest in careers where women are typically underrepresented.”

The guides visited the IT communications rooms, nurses’ station, Bahamas customs, various terminals and saw the baggage handling systems up close. Careers as engineers, IT technicians, air traffic controllers, pilots and entrepreneurs are just a few of the possible occupations currently available at LPIA. As a part of the airport’s community outreach programme, NAD conducts regular tours for students from pre-school up to the college level. The guides described their trip to the airport as an “awesome”

MUNROE IS PLP PICK TO RUN IN FREE TOWN from page one

General Council is expected to ratify Mr Munroe on Monday.

When contacted for comment, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts said an announcement will be made on Monday.

However, Mr Munroe told The Tribune he “heard from a few persons” that he would be representing the party, but he has not received official confirmation.

Mr Munroe was expected to be ratified by the National General Council of the PLP last month, but the nomination was postponed in view of the high-profile fight between supporters of Mr Smith and Mr Munroe, which played out at a party meeting a day earlier.

Mr Smith is a long-time PLP member, having run for the party in the Blue Hills constituency in 1997, which he lost, and having represented the now defunct St Thomas More area in Parliament from 2002 to 2012.

He lost to Richard Lightbourn in the Montagu constituency - recently renamed Free Town - in 2012.

Mr Smith was appointed as a PLP senator this term and is chairman of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

Mr Munroe joined the PLP in 2015. In 2012, he ran unsuccessfully on the Democratic National Alliance’s ticket.

Mr Munroe said he has “respect” for Mr Smith but he is “not surprised” that he was chosen as the party’s standard-bearer.

“I am not surprised, why would I be? The committee voted for me as I understand it,” Mr Munroe told The Tribune on Wednesday.

“My colleague Mr Frank Smith engaged in the democratic process as the Progressive Liberal Party allows and then the party went through the process of making a determination.

I have high regard for Mr Smith but this is a matter for us, the party had a process,” Mr Munroe said.

Last week, it was revealed that the PLP’s Montagu branch voted to nominate Mr Smith before the Candidates Committee decided to give the nomination to Mr Munroe, according to a press statement from the branch.

The PLP’s constitution says all prospective candidates must either be recommended by the constituency branch or a member in good standing.

In the event that the National General Council chooses a candidate that is different from one who is recommended by the branch, the PLP’s constitution says there “shall be a joint meeting comprised of the branch and/or affiliate member and ten members of the National General Council appointed by the national chairman in consultation with the leader and that joint committee shall amicably resolve the matter and report to the leader its findings.”

The PLP has named candidates for every constituency except Free Town.

experience.

Anita Bernard, president of the BGGA, thanked the team at NAD and LPIA for showing the girls another side of the airport and for their financial support.

“We appreciate NAD’s generous support of the Bahamas Girl Guides Association, which will help to make our goal for a new space a reality,” she said.

The BGGA began operating in The Bahamas in 1915. It comprises girls aged five and up in groups, including the Sunflowers, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. The recent tour is a part of NAD’s ongoing anniversary celebrations.

The company is counting down to April 1, its 10th anniversary as operator at LPIA.

NAD IT technician Theotis Taylor shows sunflowers, brownies, guides and rangers the communications room at LPIA

Fifteen Partial Scholarships Application Opportunities Offered to Bahamian Students to Study at Midwestern State University, Texas, As Bridgette Francis Named Exclusive Agent

Press Release Caribbean Student Honors

Bridgette Francis Palm Beach Atlantic University Alumn Service Award Recipient

Bahamian students were prominent on the list of honors for fall 2016 at Midwestern State University.

Semester honors are awarded in three categories. The President’s List for students earning a perfect 4.0 GPA featured six Bahamians. Honor recipients were Armbrister Shanee Bain Kyle Bethel Pollyann Musgrove Shonae Rolle Bry’Ton Rolle Ryan The Provost list for persons at 3.75 or higher featured two Bahamians, namely Whyms Shaphelle Fisher Ramesh And the Dean’s list for those at 3.5 or higher featured Percentie Mi’Kyle Williams Juwel Rolle Theo Sweeting Michael Hanna Raysheca Schaffer Alexis Smith China Symonette Angelica Munroe Justice Bethel Dineko Darville Demerus Miller Tavaris Vice president, Dr. Keith Lamb, commended the Bahamian students who were among ninety three Caribbean students honored. He noted that the Caribbean Program, now in its 25th year, is a permanent part of the university and that fifteen more places will be available to Bahamians in 2017 with partial scholarships.

PAGE 14, Thursday, March 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

March to highlight levels of sexual violence against women A BAJAN hashtag encouraging women to share stories of sexual violence has transformed into a regional march with the suport of the United Nations and local organisation Hollaback! Bahamas.

Locking arms with sisters, advocates and allies from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica, The Bahamas march kicks off at

2pm on Saturday.

Joined by the Urban Renewal Music Masters Youth Band, participants will march from Potter’s Cay to The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street for an afternoon of art, self-care, and other therapeutic practices.

“The post-march event will begin with a Tiny Talk Speaker Series featuring various organisations and

A CEREMONY was held to honour police officers yesterday at Government House.

Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling presented medals for gallantry,

meritorious awards for distinguished service, and long service for those who have completed 18 years of continuous service.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

initiatives,” HB director Alicia Wallace said.

“They will each have 3-5 minutes to introduce their work, share visions, and invite the public to visit their booths throughout the afternoon. Immediately following the tiny talks, participants will be welcomed to 5 rounds of 20-minute sessions at the booths of their choice - all free. The activities will include a sto-

rytelling workshop, yoga, therapeutic techniques, and art therapy.”

Hollaback! Bahamas, a project powered by Equality Bahamas, is the national organiser for the #LifeInLeggings regional march on March 11. The event’s major sponsor is Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas. #LifeInLeggings is a Caribbean women’s movement that started with a hashtag,

inviting women to share stories of sexual violence ranging from street harassment to rape. The founders have partnered with UN Women to organise a regional march of feminine solidarity.

Ms Wallace said: “Hollaback! Bahamas is part of a global movement to end street harassment, recognising it as part of the sexual violence spectrum. We

use storytelling as a tool for awareness-raising, public education, and evidencegathering for the development of policies and strategies to create systemic change.

“As such, our focus for the march in The Bahamas is on the power of storysharing, creating a safe space for dialogue, and working toward the healing of survivors.”

Honouring our protectors

READERS RESPOND TO GOVERNMENT ACCUSATION AGAINST IZMIRLIAN AFTER the government accused former Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian of misleading the public with inaccurate, unpatriotic and unsubstantiated claims, readers hit back on tribune242.com.

Hallmark asked: “How they could respond to this so quickly, and still can’t tell us where our VAT money gone yet? WOW!” Norman_t said: “It would be instructive to find out WHO penned the word

‘unpatriotic’. History would show that there are few greater dangers to a populace. I cannot imagine a more dangerous person than someone who believes that patriotism is in going

along with an utterly corrupt, ignorant and greedy administration. Bahamians better educate themselves as to the history of ‘patriotism’. Soon, comments such as mine will be deemed unpatriotic, and next they will censor the papers. Paying attention to our Office of Foreign Affairs? You should be . . .”

BaronInvest had this to say: “This article is a good example why no one in their right mind would come to

this country and invest their money. Just imagine there would be wealthy people outside The Bahamas reading this website to get themselves informed about The Bahamas.”

Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has revealed that negotiations for a coalition between the FNM and the DNA failed because Branville McCartney wanted 16 seats uncontested and an agree-

ment for his party to have the final say on the makeup of the government including who would be prime minister.

Theplpsucks criticised the DNA leader: “What a total narcissist Bran is. He has to get over himself, he can’t win one seat on his own yet feels he can demand. What a joke.”

Proudloudandfnm wondered: “What happens if the DNA take eight per cent again? I wonder if Minnis

made a counter-proposal?”

Hallmark asked: “So a party that did not win any seats is responsible for the pain and suffering in our nation? How Minnis figure that? And if they are, as he proclaims, ‘the party of choice’ why was he even meeting with McCartney?

Go ahead and let the people choose.”

• Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation on tribune242.com.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 9, 2017, PAGE 19

BAHAMAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY LTD. EXTERNAL VACANCY NOTICE

Introducing AIRWICK PURETM

PROJECT ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS, BUDGET & MANAGEMENT REPORTS FINANCE DIVISION A vacancy exists in the Company for a Project Assistant in the ABMR Department, of the Finance Division.

Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to the following: •

Generate and track monthly statements for all miscellaneous receivable accounts;

•

Flag customers’ accounts, when applicable, for preparation of demand letters for forwarding to the legal department;

•

Prepare monthly report on the collection of or difficulties experienced with collection of balances due (e.g. disconnection request report for long overdue accounts);

•

Contact customers with a balance on account advising them to come in to settle the account;

•

Update customer’s master file as necessary, including filing receipts etc;

•

Organize and manage miscellaneous receivable customer files;

•

Assist with logging refund cheques in the refund cheque register, tagging “Cash Only” accounts and contacting customers for collection of refund cheques;

•

Make copies of all relevant information for attachments as source documents for arrangement applicants;

•

Set up miscellaneous receivable customers’ accounts;

•

Assist with preparing receipts and invoices for customers on a daily basis;

Job requirements include but not limited to: • • • • • • • •

Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration/Accounting or equivalent; A minimum of 3 – 4 years of experience; Knowledge of the Accounts Receivable module in HTE system and Microsoft Office programs (in particular, Word and Excel); Good verbal and interpersonal communication skills to interact effectively with consumers and coworkers; Requires knowledge of the general ledger system to review expense and contra accounts; Exceptional customer services skills to properly and respectively manage uncooperative or irate customers; The ability to operate computer and standard office equipment; Ability to perform basic mathematical calculation.

Interested persons should apply by completing and returning an Application Form to: Manager – Human Resources Department, Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd., Blue Hill & Tucker, P. O. Box N-7509 Nassau Bahamas on or before: March 17, 2017.

Only candidates meeting the criteria will be contacted.

Blue Hill and Tucker Roads, P.O. Box N-7509, Nassau, Bahamas | T: 242.302.1000 | F: 242.323.6852 |www.bplco.com

Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd.

BUILDING FOR BETTER

HOME IS IN THE AIR

DISTRUBUTED BY

TM

PAGE 20, Thursday, March 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

A 15LB Mutton Fish caught by Luke Maillis, of Reel Addictive Charters.

TWEEDIE Deep Sea Fishing and Guide on the tuna.

Fresh Prepared, In-store, Daily.

KEEP checking the Bahamas Sport Fishing Network (BSFN) expert page for fishing reports throughout The Bahamas: this will be helpful in tracking the “hot spots” and providing advice on gear and fishing methods being used.

For a sample of the spectacular fishing to be had in The Bahamas, expert

advice, tournament dates and results, informative features and photo galleries visit the BSFN page at tribune242.com or www.bsfn. biz or on Facebook - Bahamas Sport Fishing Network.

BSFN slideshows can be found on USA Today’s website in the Travel section at experience.usatoday.com.

CAPTAIN Deek on the fish.

A HEFTY 6lb 14oz Strawberry Grouper landed by Captain Tyson, of Tyman Fishing, near Spanish Wells.

COLD BREW COFFEE. SLOW STEEPED FOR FULL-BODIED FLAVOR.

DEAL

20

$

(INCL. VAT)

• 8 PIECES OF CHICKEN • LARGE FAMILY FRIES • 4 BISCUITS

#WICKEDGENIUS

Starting at

3

$ 99

(INCL. VAT)

Deliciously sweet with salted whipped cream

•Prices vary by location

www.dunkinbahamas.com @dunkinbahamas