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80% OF MALPRACTICE CLAIMS SINCE 1980 STILL NOT COMPLETED

Govt to keep total of operator licences to eight

Greenslade COMFORT FOR WIDOW disappointed OF BK BONAMY at outcry after deaths

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe announced in a statement yesterday that the government has decided to limit the number of gaming house operator licenses granted in The Bahamas to eight, a number that will be reviewed after a ten-year period.

By DANA SMITH Web shop who Tribune Staffbosses, Reporter dsmith@tribunemedia.net form the Gaming House Operators Association, POLICE Commissioner advocated for this, urging Greenslade said ahe theEllison government to place was “very, on very moratorium the disappointgranting comments made ofed” newwith operator licenses outby “some persons who should ofknow concern that the industry better” regarding the

would otherwise become saturated.

Mr Wilchcombe compared the government’s decision to the restriction on the number of casino operations allowed in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

However, the restriction does not prevent the minister from issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for a gaming house operator license in the event that an existing its stressedoperator the deathsloses are under license for some reason. the investigation of Her Majesty’s Coroner –no not police, Importantly, such and called on has the public moratorium beento “allow on the the system to work.” placed number of web“This shop commissioner,” houses that willhe “cameto to office with besaid, allowed exist in the clean hands. I am going to SEE hands.”

PAGE SIX leave with clean He

he told reporters.

COMMISSIONER:us,”His MURDER RATE statement came in rea question about ‘DOWN 38% OVERsponse LASTto FEW YEARS’ providing banking services

Bahamas Police Force as well

inas Family Islands where new crime prevention initieasy access toissuch services atives, crime on the decline.

Mr non-existent.

Greenslade made his is often comments at the 41st AnRoyal Bank of Canada nual Scientific Conference (RBC), for instance, recent-of Medical its Association lythe announced closure ofof the Bahamas. four branches, including “The murder figures,” he two on Bimini and Spanish said, “are continually going Wells - the only twowe banks down.

Last year, were ondown thosebyislands.

16 murders and this year the figure trending SEE is PAGE SIX

By LAMECH JOHNSON

MAN awaiting retrial ByAAVA TURNQUEST in the Supreme Court in Tribune Chief Reporter connection with the kidnapaturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie shares some words with the wife of the late B K Bonamy’s and B K Bonamy Jr yesterday at the Police Headquarters yesterday.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

By DANA SMITH Tribune Staff Reporter dsmith@tribunemedia.net

pital after being admitted achieve big. And that’s rewith “a low pulse”. ally the story of his life.”

Mr Christie noted Mr The prime minister also SEE PAGE EIGHT MARK McKenzie being escorted intoBonamy’s court yesterday, wherebeginhe was accused three murder charg“humble praised of Commissioner Eles andApossession of unlicensed Photos:lison Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff NUMBER of poli- firearms. nings” at Arthur’s Town, Greenslade for paying ticians arrived at Police Cat Island and praised his such a tribute to Mr BonaHeadquarters yesterday many achievements during my. morning to pay their re- his life, including becom“We really wanted to spects to former Police ing Police Commissioner, pay tribute to him (Mr Commissioner Bernard K “continuing to contribute” Bonamy) and to the ComBonamy as he lay in state at to the country as secretary missioner for continuing to the Paul Farquharson Cen- to the Gaming Board, and understand that even after tre. being called to The Baha- a police officer has finished Among them was Prime mas Bar. his tour of duty, he is still a Christie stood “Hebefore has done so much,” officer; and any

By Minister LAMECH Perry JOHNSON Chief Mag- police two gunmen whobyfatally who Staff made Reporter brief remarks istrate Mr Christie said.Ferguson“It’s just definition, Tribune Joyann shot him. the commissionafter viewing the body and Pratt wonderful to of see.intentionHe set a er McKenzie of police must ljohnson@tribunemedia.net accused is continue then almeeting with Mr Bonamy’s ally very, very good demonstrate to those causing theexample death for of to leged to have intentionally and family.

He de- 21-year-old new generations Baha- officers whoJanuary have retired, Awife MAN wanted by police Leslie ofGreene caused the 9 death scribed Mr Bonamy as a mians who will come to un- to their family members, for man questioning in a number on February 12. of 22-year-old Carlos Adwho has “given much derstand the meaning of his and to the people of their of shootings in the capital According to police re- country derley, who was someone shot near to the country.” life and to know that they, that once foundMrhimself MagisGreen– notwithstandwas at Der- has a church in the Hill Bonamyindied at the ports, themselves given the best Blue of their trate’s yesterday fac-in byingRoad Yellow Elder age Court of 67, two weeks ago, smallin beginnings – can Heights area.

SEE PAGES 6&7 ing the three murder charges.Hos- Gardens when he was apPrincess Margaret think big, dream big, and SEE PAGE SEVEN

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US CONSULTANTS FLOWN IN TO ASSESS DUMP FIRE

DAVIS: Tribune 600 StaffBAHAMIANS Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net HIRED BY BAHA MAR

SUSPECT FACES COURT ACCUSED OF THREE MURDER CHARGES

Combo $

malpractice claims commenced in court since 1980 have not been completed, a lawyer revealed yesterday during a case study presentation at a medical conference.

RevealingMAYCOCK the findings

By DENISE at theFreeport MedicalReporter AssoTribune ciation of the Bahamas dmaycock@tribunemedia.net Conference at the Brit Colonial Hilton, Giish PRIME Perry ahna SolesMinister of Graham, Christie said the fire Thorton & that Co said thatat the Providence Landof New the 167 cases before fillthe is Supreme “very close“ to conbeing Court cerning claims mediextinguished, andofthat concal malpractice sultants flown in between from the

BACK TO JAIL IN RETRIAL MISTAKE

declared that nothing has been “fixed” or “interfered with.”

SEE PAGE THREE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck CEO SeBy SANCHESKA BROWN bas Bastian suggested yesTribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net terday that he is open to the idea of having his company murder of rateprohas enterTHE the business come banking down 38 per to cent viding services over the last few years Pocustomers. lice Commissioner Ellison “Obviously, from an enGreenslade said yesterday. terprise While perspective…we the Commissioner may fill anyfigdidbe notlooking release tospecific gaps makes ures,that he we said deem because of the good commercial for excellent work ofsense the Royal

A RECENT lull in murders is the result of “consistency” in targeting “prolific offenders” and a “team approach” by law enforcement agencies in executing the government’s most recent anti-crime measures, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said yesterday.

Chief Supt Fernander, the officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), told The Tribune that the recent respite in murders is the result of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) taking the government’s anti-crime policies “to another level” and consequently “touchBy the LAMECH ing right JOHNSON people” in Tribune Staff Reporter crime hot spots on a “conljohnson@tribunemedia.net sistent basis”.

SEE PAGE SIX EIGHTY per cent of

United States by the govSEE PAGE EIGHT ernment are now at the site.

He stressed that the full management of the site by a Bahamian group will also require the coming on board of a US operator to help manage the city dump.

SEE PAGE THREE

BASTIAN OPEN TO ISLAND LUCK MOVING INTO BANKING SECTOR deaths of two men while in police custody.

Amid public outcry over the incidents, Mr Greenslade

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

99

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Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

ping and sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy 600 wasBahamitaken to MORE than court by accident yesterday. ans have been hired at Baha Kohfe Goodman, who is Mar, accordingto to Deputy also scheduled stand trial Prime Minister Dain a month’s timePhilip in connecvis tion as withhetherebuffed murder ofrecent Marstatements the resort’s co Archer, over was brought beprogress asJustice negativity motifore Senior Jon Isaacs for a case dated to beseason heard vated by the election againself-interest. on March 7, 2014. and SEE EIGHT SEEPAGE PAGE TEN

Don’t forget...

Clocks go forward an hour on Sunday at 2am.

PAGE 2, Friday, March 10, 2017

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A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE WALLS OF PRISON

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

YOUNG men from the Yellow Elder community yesterday participated in a voluntary field trip to the

prison as organisers appeal for a resurgence of community involvement and accountability in youth development.

The initiative targeted young men between the ages of 10 to 18, and came as a response to increased reports of gang activity and violence among schoolaged children, according to Clint Conyers, vice president of the Yellow Elder Association and director of the area’s crime watch association.

“For the last couple of months,” Mr Conyers said, “we had a high spike in high school violence and high school crime. It takes a village to raise a child. We have heard there is a lot of incidents happening with young men in Yellow Elder Gardens and we decided to take them on a prison trip.”

Mr Conyers added: “They can choose if they want to live a life of crime, or crime-free. The whole thing is allowing them to see the reality of life; prison is a very hard thing.

“All the young men when they go up there it’s hard for them to deal with. We’re showing these young men that they don’t have to go there.

“Most of them are schoolage young men, they are out of school to have a bird’s eye view that crime doesn’t pay.”

Participating high schools included A F Adderley, Government High, R M Bailey, Charles W Saunders, Doris Johnson, and C R Walker.

“We made sure that we went to all of the schools,” said Mr Conyers, who explained to The Tribune that he was invested in the project as a resident of the community.

DENNIS WHYMNS, 17, a student of BTVI. “I decided to go on this trip to have a life experience,” he said, adding that he wants to make a difference and not to be like others.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff “They were not handpicked, it was open to all of the community. Some of these young men never got in trouble before, but some have. We want to let all have the experience of what crime and jail is all about, so that they can have a life or choice that they don’t need to be involved in any criminal activity,” Mr Conyers said.

“This is my community, I live in Yellow Elder (as) vice president of the association and president of crime watch in the area. If anyone in any other communities want to get it started they can always get in contact with me, and we can see if we can make it happen for them.”

Ken Moss, a chaperone

and father of an eighth grader at AF Adderley, told The Tribune that the prison trip was an opportunity for him to give his son a “rude awakening” about criminality that he may be exposed to in his community.

“I feel it’s important because you have a lot of people around Yellow Elder who have been to prison,” Mr Moss said, “and sometimes my son who may see or be around, and then just to see them come in and out of prison they may feel it’s cool, that prison ain’t no place to fear. I want this trip to be a rude awakening for him so when he go on this field trip and see how it is in prison he will have second thoughts about doing something that could cause him to end up in prison.”

Meanwhile, Mr Conyers said Yellow Elder is one of the “high-risk communities” when it comes to crime.

“We want to show that all is not lost and there is hope,” he said. “It takes a village to raise a child. We want to come together as a community.”

One young man, 17-yearold Dennis Whymms said he decided to take the trip to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in an effort to be an example for his peers.

The teenager is studying an IT programme at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.

“I decided to go on this trip to have a life experience, to not go to jail, like not to be like the rest,” the teenager said. “I want to be different. I don’t want to be, like how Nassau is rampant with this killing. I just want to make that difference, I want to show everyone we could have a different life.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, March 10, 2017, PAGE 3

Call for toxicology tests in aftermath of landfill blaze

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LEADING surgeon Dr Duane Sands yesterday said the government must conduct toxicology sampling of the air, ground and water in Jubilee Gardens before declaring the community safe for residents to return after a massive fire at the New Providence Landfill.

In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Sands said because the contents of the landfill are not restricted, there is “no way to know what the hell” residents are inhaling. He said the government has been very “lackadaisical” about the heath impact fires at the city dump and we may not know for “years” what the repercussions of the smoke may be over the long-term.

Residents in Jubilee Gardens were forced to evacuate their homes on Sunday after a fire at the landfill blanketed the community and surrounding areas in thick, black hazardous smoke. According to police, the blaze spread from a nearby bush fire on Fire Trail Road.

On Wednesday, Minister of the Environment Kenred Dorsett said there is no definite date set for when Jubilee Gardens residents will be able return to their homes. Initially, officials said persons would have to wait five to seven days.

Dr Sands questioned who would give the “all clear” and said through conversations with other doctors he has learned that “several persons” had to see a physician because of the smoke inhalation.

“The contents of the landfill is not restricted and it includes, among other

THE CLOUDS of smoke that rose from the latest fire at the landfill, pictured on Sunday. things, a number of plastics off with a significant popu- years. We do not know and other synthetic items. lation with asthma and now what the implications and Those things pose a tre- you have this exposure to repercussions are going mendous hazard to health smoke, smoke that has not to be long term. I know and when those toxic fumes been tested to see what it there has been an increase in persons presenting are inhaled it can trigger is.

“We don’t know whether themselves because of the asthma and other respiratory symptoms,” Dr Sands it is carcinogenic or toxic. smoke.”

Basically we do not know 0Dr Sands said this latest said.

“We already have a sig- what the hell our peo- fire has the potential to be a nificant number of children ple are inhaling. We have public health disaster.

“The question that ought in this country in asthma been very lackadaisical and unfortunately the rea- about the health impact to be answered is who will son is because of roaches. of this landfill and the on- make the decision to tell So we are already starting going fire and smoke for the people they can return

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff and on what basis will they safe? Ken Dorsett? Perry make that decision? Just be- Christie? Leslie Miller? cause the fire is out it does Who? I mean what the hell not make the homes safe,” do they know?”

Dr Sands said.

The fire at the landfill “What chemical assess- and the surrounding areas ment is being done? How has been burning for five do we know it is safe? They days. Prime Minister Perry need a toxicology sampling Christie in a press conferto see what is in the air and ence on Monday said the the ground and also what government will pay for the water quality is. “This the homes in Jubilee Garhas the potential for a pub- dens that were affected by lic health disaster. Who the smoke, to be deodoris going to determine it is ised.

US CONSULTANTS FLOWN IN TO ASSESS DUMP FIRE “As of this morning (Thursday), I am told that they are very close to putting the fire out, and there has been a significant improvement in terms of the smoke,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Grand Bahama Business Outlook yesterday in Freeport.

“We have also flown in consultants from the US who are (at) the site with us.”

Mr Christie said the priority now is to move rapidly to bring normalcy to the site and to move quickly with respect to determining which of the groups who have applied to manage the

FOULKES: DISGRACE TO USE GYM AS SHELTER

DION Foulkes, the former Free National Movement (FNM) Minister of Labour and Social Development, last night described the government’s decision to house the victims of the recent fire at the city dump in the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium as “an absolute disgrace”.

He said all previous FNM administrations had always sheltered the victims of fire, flooding and evictions in hotels and motels near the residents’ homes. He said that hurricane shelters were used exclusite will, in fact, be selected.

Residents of Jubilee Gardens were forced to evacuate their homes on Sunday when hazardous smoke from the landfill blanketed

sively for the homeowners who suffered as a result of hurricanes.

“The Department of Social Services has accounts at approved hotels and motels precisely for this purpose,” Mr Foulkes said in a statement.

“To house the residents of Jubilee Gardens at the Gymnasium was unnecessary.

Hurricane victims are housed in shelters for obvious reasons, mainly because the entire island is affected by hurricanes, including hotels.”

the community.

Mr Christie stated that proper future management of the landfill site is of utmost importance to the government.

He stressed that the government wants an operator who has an enormous capacity to manage such a site.

“For me, right now I want

to in the shortest possible time to have a full management team on the condition that the management team may be made up of Bahamians, but they have in their mix someone who operates those industrial sites now in the USA,” he said.

“Happily, for us the fire was not started on the site itself, it came from some bush fire that ignited and we had a huge amount of waste stored there from the hurricane. We had a compactor there (for the debris),” said Mr Christie.

The nation’s leader assured Bahamians that the government will assist residents in restoring their

homes.

“If, for example, they had smoke damage we are going to restore that. If their walls are dirty because of smoke, we will fix that. In other words, we will go into the community with a view to determining how they were impacted and how best we can put them back in the position they were in, or even a little better than they were in,” he said.

Mr Christie said that the fire did not destroy any homes.

“We will be painting, fumigating, and industrial cleaning because no houses were destroyed by the fire,” he added.

TENTS DONATED BY ROTARY CLUBS TO HELP FAMILIES DISPLACED BY BLAZE

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Rotary Clubs of Nassau yesterday donated nine “family style” disaster tents to the National Sports Agency (NSA) for persons who have been displaced by the raging fire at the New Providence Landfill and the surrounding areas.

In an interview with The Tribune, Diane de Cardena, president of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, said after hearing the stories of persons who stayed at the

Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, which is being used as an evacuation shelter for persons fleeing the hazardous smoke, the club “had to do something to help.”

The tents, originally earmarked for Andros after Hurricane Matthew devastated the island last year, can hold a family of four comfortably and include a living room and three sleeping areas that are also separated.

Residents in Jubilee Gardens and the surrounding areas were forced to evacuate their homes on Sunday after a massive fire at the landfill blanketed the community

in thick, black hazardous smoke.

On Monday, Minister of the Environment Kendred Dorsett said residents will have to wait at least five to seven days before the evacuation order is lifted and persons are allowed to “safely” return to their homes.

Days later, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller criticised the government for “forcing residents to sleep on a cot in a cold gym,” stressing that the accommodations at the shelter were not adequate.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Miller said he was “shocked” when he saw where the

residents were being housed.

He said dozens of his constituents called him complaining that there is no privacy in the gym and the sleeping areas are not adequate for families. However on Wednesday, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said that some of the displaced families were relocated to alternative housing.

“Rotary Club of the Bahamas donated tents in response to that story,” Ms de Cardenas said.

“The tents are 15x17 and can sleep a family of four comfortably.

It has dividers on the inside and includes a living room area and

has three different rooms in the back with zipper doors. So it has the privacy the families want. We got a lot of them after Hurricane Matthew and we sent some to Andros. They were not all needed and we had some here. We saw a need and the rest is history. I went to the gym and I saw where the people were sleeping. To me it looked nice but for a family of five it is really not private. Having the tents makes a huge difference.”

The tents will remain with the NSA to be used during times of emergency. The tents were received from Disaster Aid USA.

15-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES AFTER BEING THROWN FROM PICK-UP TRUCK

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

A TRAFFIC accident in Long Island yesterday claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy who was understood to have been travelling to Clarence Town in the rear of a truck carrying equipment for the island’s inter-school track meet.

Destin Smith, the younger cousin of the Free National Movement’s candidate on the island, Adrian Gibson, was said to have been seated in the rear bed of the pick-up truck when it struck a bump.

Smith, along with the

contents of the truck, was thrown from the vehicle by the impact. The student is believed to have died of his injuries a short time later.

Other reports have suggested that the cause of the fall was a mattress in the rear of the truck being caught by the wind and being blown out of the vehicle, along with Smith.

Mr Gibson told The Tribune the entire community of Long Island was shocked by the loss of the youngster, who he described as “quiet, humble and decent”.

“This is yet another great and unfortunate act in the history of our island,” said Mr Gibson, contending that the incident demonstrates

an immediate need for improved emergency medical services in Long Island.

“No way am I saying that this incident was the result of a lack of an ambulance or updated medical facilities or even the presence of more doctors,” Mr Gibson said. “My point is that if all of these things were up to par, they could have aided in this case.

“This is one of the largest islands in The Bahamas. No ambulance, one doctor that is being over-worked and archaic facilities. We need more in Long Island.”

In a statement released by the Department of Education yesterday, Director of Education Lionel Sands

noted the loss of the student with “profound sadness”.

The statement read: “It has been brought to our attention that the young man was well loved and touched the lives of many.

Our sincere condolences and thoughts go out to the family and friends of our student and the wider Long Island community.

“During this time, as the school community processes the tragic news and copes with grief, the Ministry of Education will offer counselling and bereavement support services to the students and staff affected.

“To the Long Island High School family and community, once again we convey

our deepest sympathy and profound condolences.

We hope that time and the memories will lessen the burden of your sorrow, and that you may draw some measure of comfort knowing that others care and

share in your loss.”

Loretta Butler-Turner, the Long Island MP, also mentioned yesterday’s tragedy in a Facebook post, asking citizens across the country to “pray for our communities and his family”.

PAGE 4, Friday, March 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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

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Pressing need for new political leadership THE LITANY of disasters surrounding the beleaguered Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government seems to be never-ending.

The latest is the massive fire which broke out last weekend at the dump on Harold Road and which may be considered one of its worst calamities, not only because of the immediate and long-term damaging effects involving so many people but also for the reason that it was clearly avoidable if the government had addressed the issue properly during the last five years.

This is already being seen as yet another example of incompetence and mismanagement by an ineffective and failed government which is also lacking leadership and direction. Nonetheless, we were able to sympathise with Mr Christie on a personal level as he cut a lonely figure surveying the huge blaze and reflecting, perhaps, on this latest misfortune of his ill-fated premiership as being the final nail in his political coffin.

Only last week he was being lambasted over his unacceptably crude, single finger gesture at a political rally in Fox Hill and the equally intemperate public use of offensive language by the sitting MP about a well-respected human rights activist lawyer. But it must be all the more galling to him that this latest catastrophe of the dump fire was directly attributable to his own and his ministerial colleagues’ lack of effort and action.

With a general election fast approaching and evidence of growing numbers of disaffected voters, we detect the raw beginnings of fresh support for the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), whose fortunes have been at least marginally revived recently by a return to the fold of some of the party’s dissident MPs and by the decision of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette to re-enter the political fray.

There is clearly much to be done, however, to achieve sufficient unity within the FNM in order to prevail against a PLP which can always rely on its traditional grassroots supporters since they see the party as having an inalienable right to rule, irrespective of its shoddy record of governance.

For some time, we have also been arguing in these columns that the Opposition parties, which include the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), should unite in order to ensure that a failed PLP is prevented from winning another term which

would be disastrous for the country. If they do not do so, there remains a danger of the DNA splitting the FNM vote again and thus ensuring another PLP victory.

Given the PLP’s shameful record, however, it is hard to believe that there can be a realistic prospect of its return to power with so much dissatisfaction among voters, including younger people coming on to the electoral roll imbued with new ideas and attitudes about how the country should be run. Its failures have been well chronicled and they present a sorry picture of scandal, ineptitude, wrongdoing, victimisation, poor decision-making and alleged corruption.

The list is endless - worsening crime; unemployment; economic mismanagement with the investment downgrade to junk status and the national debt soaring by 40 per cent to $7 billion and the latest half-year deficit up by no less than 112 per cent; the Baha Mar debacle; the BAMSI, Urban Renewal and Bank of Bahamas financial scandals; the missing millions at Road Traffic; the government’s loss of two referenda and its refusal to accept the result of the one on gambling; a Cabinet minister thumbing his nose at the judiciary; and, most recently, blatant gerrymandering in the delayed Boundaries Commission report, and the ‘Spying Bill’ which would have been sneaked through without public consultation had there not been an outcry about encroachment on civil liberties.

Newspapers by their nature are inundated with information from a variety of sources. We are hearing complaints from many decent and well-meaning Bahamians who have seen the deterioration of this country since the period of rebuilding in the 1990s under former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham following the excesses of the Pindling years. They now observe the rise of populism in other countries and want a return to honesty, transparency and propriety in public life together with sound management of the nation’s affairs, not least its finances.

They believe that PLP politicians have been serving their own interests, rather than those of the people, for too long, and that, if the current discredited leaders are allowed to hang on to power, the country will be in real jeopardy.

If The Bahamas is to recover and prosper again rather than continue to regress, it needs to put in place new leadership.

Above all, the people desperately want real change. But is the political class listening?

Bahamas deficit EDITOR, The Tribune.

MANY Bahamians need a job, the PLP Government has been unsuccessful in providing sufficient jobs for a diversified Bahamian workforce in the Bahamas.

Everybody is not a hotel worker in our Bahamas, Baha Mar cannot employ all of the Young Bahamians who are out of High School and College.

The Government needs to pay back part of their deficit you can use part of the VAT now the Bahamas Parliament will soon be dissolved and the PLP is now saying the electorate is late in registering to vote.

The PLP did not say that during the last referendum.

But the PLP had turned the principles around, now the PLP needs to bow to the Bahamian electorate again at the upcoming general election.

The world is watching The Bahamas.

Thursday, January 26th, I personally visited the Princess Margaret Hospital and their computers were down for approximately five hours. Mr Minister of Health, you need to investigate this issue, before the house dissolves.

The first among equals will soon ring the election bell, ring your bell, sir, ring it when you are ready.

Baha Mar is not a Bahamas Government owned corporation. It is a private entity.

So the Government needs to stop announcing incorrect opening dates for a Private Company, Baha Mar. The Bahamas Government has facilitated Baha Mar now you need to do your homework for the upcoming general election.

You lost in the referendum.

The Bahamian electorate needs a change of Government and a change of Government is very much essential for the Bahamian people at this time.

The PLP do not have much time to investigate the corruption at the Road Traffic Department, VAT and the public landfill.

Many Bahamians all over The Bahamas are saying Hell No, Hell No investigate the issue before you go.

The Bahamian electorate is set to make their historic move on election day.

This is my comment as a British-trained political analyst. Based on the political temperature in our Bahamas at this time the people are indeed ready and willing to

rock with Doc and the Free National Movement whenever the Bahamas House of Parliament is dissolved.

The Government should have adequate funds in the consolidated funds that at certain times to finance projects and not to delay all projects and tell the Bahamian people that you are waiting on the corporate entities to pay their company VAT or NI are you running a petty shop? Corruptibility cannot prevail in The Bahamas.

Do you need to borrow more money again to pay back for what we’re missing at the Road Traffic Department?

I would be much obliged for an opportunity to ask the leader of the official opposition ten questions over any of the public media the ten questions would be centred on government and politics.

I would like for the Bahamian electorate to determine if you are a real political leader. The Bahamian people need a visionary leaders who can govern the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Long live the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

BB MOSS Sr Nassau, March 8, 2017.

Bran is a narcissist EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE FNM under Dr Hubert Minnis can win this election without any help from other opposition forces, including soon-tobe former Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner and her former ally, DNA Leader Branville McCartney.

With an impressive slate of candidates, Minnis and Co are more than ready to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was just this past December PLP sycophants were breathing a sigh of relief after Butler-Turner and six former FNM MPs backstabbed Minnis by having the figurehead of the PLP Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling remove him as official Opposition leader in Parliament.

The move by ButlerTurner made the FNM appear in the watching eyes of the electorate to be discombobulated and in disarray.

The FNM must now formally wash its hands of Butler-Turner, as she has spent the greater part of the last three years undermining the FNM leadership.

The FNM must form no alliance with her, as her political stock has plummeted.

She cannot be trusted. The same can be said of ButlerTurner’s former Senate leader, McCartney.

Like Butler-Turner, McCartney is suffering from a serious case of narcissistic personality disorder.

He has an inflated view of his own importance to the country.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Minnis’ revelation that McCartney demanded 16 seats as a prerequisite for an alliance between his fledgling party and the FNM, a major political organisation which has been the government thrice in the last 25 years, should have offended all FNMs. It was unreasonable and borderline offensive to expect Minnis not to field any candidates in Bamboo Town, North Abaco and Central and South Abaco-- three seats the FNM has a great chance of winning without any assistance from McCartney.

The FNM held North Abaco since Hubert Ingraham’s merger with the FNM in the early 1990s and his retirement in 2012.

North Abaco is currently held by Renardo Curry, a PLP MP who has seemingly fallen off the political cliff since his by-election victory in late 2012. Curry has been virtually invisible, amid talks that the PLP has pretty much conceded defeat in that area.

Central and South Abaco is currently held by Edison Key, one of the rebel MPs. FNM candidate James Albury should win that seat with ease. Abaco will once again be FNM Country.

As for Bamboo Town, McCartney received 1,022 votes in 2012. Undoubtedly he played spoiler to the FNM’s Cassius Stuart, who

got 1,661 votes to the then PLP Renward Wells’ 1,940 votes. I believe the FNM takes Bamboo Town. In total, the DNA got 13,225 or 8.48 percent of the votes.

Many of those who voted DNA had no way of knowing that their protest votes would ensure a PLP victory and cause the country to go through five years of living hell under the Christie government.

Hindsight being 20/20, many of these voters would have voted differently. Despite the many political cast-offs and opportunists who have fled to the DNA in order to receive a nomination, the DNA will not win a seat. The party will not even receive 10,000 votes.

McCartney, after he is routed once again in Bamboo Town, will gather up his marbles and return home sobbing.

Hopefully, this inevitable election defeat for McCartney and the DNA will be the nail in his political coffin. Bahamians now see that the only viable alternative to the PLP is the FNM. McCartney and his leadership team will not be negatively impacted by another five years of PLP misrule.

They’ve got it made. It is the small man who will catch eternal hell, as is the case right now. Rank-andfile Bahamians must realise that a vote for the DNA is a vote for the PLP. THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, March 8, 2017.

Miller must apologise EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN a Facebook interview with Guardian talk show host Juan McCartney, Leslie Miller said the following: ”Now luckily, I don’t want to cast aspersions, but at least it’s going way the hell out west so those people that feel what we feel when the fire come, they’ll know how it is... I don’t mean them no harm. But I just want them to feel what we feel.”

Laughter.

Was Mr Miller referring to the people who every

year provide scholarships to Bahamian students?

You know, the people who gave COB a library and have invested $50m into the development of Bahamians?

Was he referring to the black and white Bahamians who live in Lyford Cay and the children who attend the Lyford Cay School?

What about the Bahamians who work in Lyford Cay and the residents of Mount Pleasant? Does he want them to inhale toxic fumes and be forced from their homes for fear of be-

ing burned out?

Exactly who is Mr Miller wishing such a terrible thing on and why would he wish such a terrible thing on anyone?

A public apology in order.

ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, March 7, 2017.

LETTERS EXTRA See page ten

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, March 10, 2017, PAGE 5

BTC post-paid customers angry after overcharging for services

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

IRATE Bahamas Telecommunications Company post-paid mobile customers yesterday told The Tribune they now have “issues of trust” and are contemplating leaving BTC for its competitor Aliv, after they were overcharged for services and did not learn of the issue until weeks after the extra fees were heaped on their bills.

Speaking to The Tribune, one customer who re-

quested anonymity, said he learned of the issue when he checked his BTC bill online last month. While he admitted that BTC phoned him to admit the error, apologised and explained that he would be credited on the next bill for the overages, he questioned whether this was the first instance that the mistake happened.

Yesterday, Janet Brown, BTC’s chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales, said BTC experienced a system glitch and once the company re-

alised the error it was investigated. She said BTC moved to immediately reach out to the less than two per cent of customers who were affected and by now the overages should have been credited.

“BTC emails my bill so when I checked I noticed that there was an absurd amount for two months,” the customer explained. “I have the basic plan which is like $60 per month and since I have had it for around a year I have gone over maybe once or twice.

“But this time I checked

it, it was like $200 for two months. I didn’t really go in to question it.

“Then maybe about two days ago I got a phone call about an error and I was told that I was charged $97 more than I would normally be for the month of January. They said they were going to credit my account.

“However, the situation has sparked some issues of trust issues with me and BTC. Yes they called this time and alerted me, but I can’t help but to think that maybe this has happened before and maybe they

didn’t let me know.”

Another post-paid customer who wanted to remain anonymous said she was over charged by $200.

She called this unacceptable and insisted that this error by BTC has forced her to consider Aliv where she had not before.

“I had already decided to switch to Aliv and thought to wait until they got over some of their growing pains, but this is just propelled me to switch sooner,” the woman said.

“It’s unfortunate on the one hand, but it’s good they

are calling personally trying to temper the anger on the other hand.

“Two-hundred dollars is no little bit of money. Their level of service is already troubling to me. There is a level of trust that was lost that can’t be credited to my account. So from now on, until I decide to take the jump to Aliv, I will have scrutinised each and every one of my bills,” the customer said.

“I am honestly over BTC and will get an Aliv phone at the earliest opportunity,” another customer added.

TENNYSON WELLS SAYS LEADER’S EGO HURTING DNA

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells yesterday said Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney’s ego has been to the detriment of his party, as he predicted an abysmal performance by the DNA in the upcoming general election.

Mr Wells, who resigned from the Free National Movement in 1999 and became an independent candidate, said he didn’t expect the DNA to get more than 5,000 votes, while insisting that the third party has failed to identify with the electorate in the Family Islands.

Mr Wells added that he agreed with the assessments of both FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis and Official Opposition Leader Loretta Butler-Turner, which suggest that Mr McCartney is difficult to work with.

“I agree with Minnis’ assessment of him and apparently Loretta has the same assessment,” Mr Wells told The Tribune when he was contacted. “If the DNA gets 5,000 votes this time around they are lucky.

“That party’s only presence is in New Providence.

They have none in the Family Islands. If you look at the seats he demanded of the FNM, if he was serious he would say let’s do some seats in the Family Islands and some in Nassau.

“If he had a presence there that he thought was tenable, he would have asked for some seats in the Family Islands. He knows he has no presence there.

“So why should the people in Nassau vote for the DNA when he has no presence elsewhere?”

Asked what he believed has changed with the DNA since 2012, when the new party got around 10,000 votes in the last election, Mr Wells said Mr McCartney’s ego has ballooned.

“He has a very big ego and his mind and intellect doesn’t match that ego of his. Many people have realised that.”

On Tuesday night, Dr Minnis revealed to party supporters that Mr McCartney made extreme demands during coalition talks, saying he wanted 16 seats uncontested and that there be an agreement that should the DNA be successful, the third party would choose the Cabinet, name the prime minister and also select ambassadors.

Dr Minnis said 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.

Dr Minnis said he was not prepared to “give away” the FNM or pander to “oversized egos” and blamed Mr McCartney for enabling the Progressive Liberal Party to win the 2012 general

election, “causing pain and suffering” over the last five years.

This week, the former Bamboo Town MP denied this and said Dr Minnis “needs some medication” for making his “untrue” claims. He added that these claims were 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 general 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.

This follows Mr McCartney’s resignation as leader of opposition business in the Senate earlier this month, a post to which Mrs Butler-Turner appointed him in December after she became leader of the Official Opposition. Her appointment to the post was the direct result of the “rebel seven” sending a letter of no confidence in Dr Minnis to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.

On Wednesday, Mrs Butler-Turner told the press that Dr Minnis’ revelation on the breakdown of talks over a coalition between the FNM and Mr 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”.

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham signed the Book of Condolences at the Haitian Embassy yesterday for the late René Préval, who twice served as President of Haiti. Mr Preval passed away on Friday.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS

PHOTOGRAPH CORRECTION IN TWO photographs of the swearing in of three Family Island Administrators in The Tribune yesterday, Frances HepburnSymonette was misidentified as Smith Ingraham, another inductee. Mrs Hepburn-Symonette is pictured right this week, watched

by Charles King, Acting Director, Department of Local Government, at the official ceremony.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 6, Friday, March 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

TEAMWORK IS CREDITED FOR LULL IN MURDERS from page one

The country’s last homicide occurred on February 26, marking the 32nd killing so far this year. This represents a 77 per cent increase in killings compared to the first two months of 2016, when 18 people were killed by the end of February, according to police statistics.

Chief Supt Fernander also said the RBPF is having no issues in its attempts to restore law and order to the streets, asserting: “We are in charge.”

He also suggested that the involvement of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) has contributed to the crime fight, claiming that the two are functioning as “one law enforcement agency” fighting “for one goal,” which is to “make sure that this country is safe

and our citizens and visitors are safe.”

Chief Supt Fernander’s comments came three weeks after National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage announced several anti-crime strategies, including lockdowns, mobile police vans and an armed forces partnership to combat the bloody spate of murders plaguing the capital at the time.

Dr Nottage’s comments at the time came after eight people were killed within the span of one week, including a 15-year-old juvenile, a shooting spree so violent that Prime Minister Perry Christie likened the Bahamas’ crime situation to the “Wild West.”

Since Dr Nottage’s announcement, however, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of murders, with just four

confirmed murders taking place since February 16, according to official police crime reports.

However, there were 10 shooting incidents in that time span, four of which led to the four murders recorded by police since February 16, according to police reports.

“You’ve got to credit your Royal Bahamas Police Force, as you see the operation continues on a consistent basis,” Chief Supt Fernander said when contacted

by The Tribune. “And we are continuing to target those prolific offenders.

And we have been touching some people.

“You go back and check where persons were charged, go back and check for the last couple of weeks, you will see where a number of persons were charged and remanded for a number

of murders, and I’m talking about the recent murders thus far for the year. And even late last year.

“As we speak there is an individual who is being arraigned for two separate murders, and we’re going to bring him down to charge him for an additional one, so that’s going to be three. He’s being arraigned (Thursday) and we will likely bring him down sometime (today) and charge him for a third matter.

“And those persons who have since been arraigned and charged, we know it’s a possibility that they could be connected to some other murders. But we are following our lines of inquiry to continue to build our evidence and then proceed with these individuals.

“And we are doing just that. We are touching some people. We are touching

the right people, and we are consistent in what we are doing out there.”

Of the RBDF’s involvement and consequent impact on the RBPF’s policing efforts, Chief Supt Fernander said: “We are one law enforcement agency, and we are fighting for one goal: that is to make sure that this country is safe and our citizens and visitors are safe. We are fighting for one goal.

“It’s a team approach, and when I say team approach I’m talking about the team approach across the board with all of our uniformed partners and all the law enforcement agencies, we are working together as a team.

And the name of the game is consistency.

“The members of the public want to see that consistent presence out there.

The commissioner’s polic-

ing plan is clear, and we are executing that on a daily basis and we are taking it to another level to ensure that everybody is safe in this country.”

Chief Supt Fernander also said the RBPF is having no challenges in its policing efforts.

“We are in charge,” he said. “As you can see we continue to go after them.

If you are wanted and suspected for a crime we go at you and we go at you as a team. As I continue to say we work in this as a team.

We have no challenges our there, we are in charge and we continue to go in full force as a team to go at these criminals.”

He added: “Nobody is above the law. If you commit a crime, we will be coming after you and we will be coming after you with the full arm of the law.”

Ten-year limit on web shops from page one

country or on the number of such houses each operator will be allowed to have.

This allows the Gaming Board and the government to have the flexibility to “react appropriately to the development of the industry,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

Some operators, like FML Group of Companies CEO Craig Flowers, had encouraged the government to impose restrictions on how many number houses each licensed operator is allowed to have.

A restriction on gaming house operator licenses “will not preclude the Gaming Board from issuing another RFP in the context of gaming house premises licenses,” Mr Wilchcombe said yesterday. “It thus will remain open to existing industry stakeholders to apply for further gaming house premises licenses

during the stipulated period if another RFP, inviting applications for gaming house premises licenses, is issued by the (Gaming) Board during that time.

“If it appears that the market is adequately served by the number of distribution of existing licensed locations, then no RFP for gaming house premises licenses will be issued during the relevant period, whereas if there is an objective need for the licensing of premises (whether in general or in particular areas), then an RFP may be issued inviting applications.”

Zoning A key objective of the newly released regulations on gaming house premises licenses is to minimise negatives impacts on communities as well as negative impacts on the objectives and activities of places of worship, schools, premises where video or simi-

lar games may be played by people, or premises at which pensions or welfare payments are collected.

The regulations say that no gaming house can be located “immediately adjacent, at any property line, to a property whose dominant use is residential, unless zoned to be multi-use (commercial and residential).”

In addition, the regulations say no gaming house can be located “within 100 feet of a place of worship, school, games arcade or premises at which pensions or welfare payments are collected”.

Gaming houses can also not be located “within 100 feet of any other licensed gaming house premise, unless the Gaming Board expressly determines there is good cause to conclude that proximity to another licensed gaming house of less than 100 feet does not offend the character of the area in which the premises is located and the need to

prevent over-proliferation of gaming house premises in any area”.

Web shops will not be required to move if they existed prior to schools and such aforementioned institutions later emerging within 100 feet of them.

Mr Wilchcombe said about 635 web shops existed at the start of the industry’s regularisation process. By June 2016, there were 372 such locations that had been licensed, with 31 pending.

“This will result in a total of approximately 403

licensed locations in the country, which equates to a 36.5 per cent reduction in the number of locations that were active at the commencement of the regularisation process.

“It appears that as a result of the compressed timeframes within which the process was required to be completed, at the time the existing gaming house premises and agencies were licensed, it was not possible for the (Gaming) Board to have regard to zoning requirements, as there was a

lack of clarity regarding the same,” the statement noted.

Nine companies applied for gaming house licenses when the government began to regulate the sector and eight were later provided conditional licenses.

They are Island Luck, Nassau Games, Percy’s Island Games, A Sure Win, Chances, Paradise Games, Bahama Dreams and Asue Draw.

However Asue Draw later announced it will not renew its gaming house operator license for 2016-2017.

Now Accepting Scholarship Applications Scholarships to St Andrew’s School are awarded on a competitive basis to those of a high academic standard. This year, we are also accepting applicants who have outstanding talent in athletics or the arts.

To be eligible for consideration, students must: 1. Be a Bahamian citizen 2. Have attended a Government School for at least (2) years preceding their application 3. Be at least sixteen (14) years of age 4. Have completed Grade 8 5. Have a GPA od 3.00 To apply, students must submit: 1. Completed application form 2. Copies of the last three (3) report cards or transcripts 3. Copy of Birth Certificate 4. Copy of Passport 5. One-page essay about why you wish to attend St. Andrew’s School 6. Two (2) reference letters from teachers and/or counsellors

Deadline For applications Monday, 1st May, 2017 No applications will be accepted after this date.

Exam date will be 6th May, 2017 The student(s) awarded with a scholarship will be expected to maintain high standards of behavior and academic effort (at least a GPA OF 3.00) and will be expected to completed the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

To submit applications, or for further information, contract: Karen Carey Director of Admissions, Marketing & Development St Andrew’s School P.O. Box EE-17340 Nassau, Bahamas For more information about us, please visit our website: www.st-andrews.com

SEBAS Bastian speaking to the media yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

BASTIAN OPEN TO ISLAND LUCK MOVING INTO BANKING SECTOR from page one

Residents of those islands now face the extra cost and inconvenience of leaving their islands to access a physical branch location.

Asked if his company could fill the void, Mr Bastian said: “One thing I can assure you is that the current governor of the Central Bank is in my opinion

a very progressive thinker.

He gets where banking is going. He understands that banking is going everywhere else in the world beyond the conventional brick and mortar and he’s very optimistic and open to other forms of banking, ie electronic banking, mobile banking. You can probably look in the very near future to the Central Bank looking to issue non-traditional

forms of banking license services to service all these shortcomings in what has happened in the islands.”

The Christie administration has not taken an official position on granting banking licenses to web shop owners, although Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe has expressed opposition to such a system in the past.

Though illegal, web shops can be used as money transmission outlets.

FML Group of Companies Limited CEO Craig Flowers has said in the past that the Gaming Operators Association planned to seek a banking license.

Mr Wilchcombe, however, has said that web shops operating as banks would be a conflict of interest.

“I think what should happen is more Bahamians should own banks rather than web shop operators,” he said. “We can see Bahamians owning more banks but definitely not web shop owners.”

Nonetheless, LaTonia Tinker, a consultant in the Ministry of Financial services, has noted that “web shops” don’t apply for banking licenses, people do.

“And in their capacity and knowledge of banking searches and the ability to offer that service to the general public is what has to come into question when the Central Bank of the Bahamas then looks at the ‘fit and proper’ criteria in determining whether or not they are able to do so,” she told The Nassau Guardian in 2015.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, March 10, 2017, PAGE 7

Interest in bringing four well-known brands to Grand Lucayan, says PM

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING his discussions yesterday with the prospective buyer for the Grand Lucayan Resort, Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed that there is an interest of increasing the initial investment to involve four well known brands in the hotel and casino operations in Grand Bahama.

Mr Christie, while speaking at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook in Freeport on Thursday morning, said that discussions held late yesterday afternoon with “the preferred bidder” was very positive, and that he was excited for the first time about potential plans for the property since it was put on the market.

The 409-acre Grand Lucayan Resort property consists of three hotels, with a

combined total room capacity of 1,271. Two of the hotels are closed due to extensive damage caused

by Hurricane Matthew last October.

An unsettled insurance claim continues to delay restoration of the 500-room Breaker’s Cay Hotel, and the 522-room Memories Beach Resort that was previously leased to Sunwing, which later pulled out in February over failed negotiations with the landlord, Hutchison Whampoa, regarding hurricane restoration.

The 198-room Lighthouse Pointe hotel is open, but is the smallest of the three hotels, and hundreds of hotel workers remain unemployed.

While delivering his keynote address in one of the smaller partitioned rooms of the convention centre at Grand Lucayan, Mr Christie expressed his optimism about Grand Bahama and

a potential sale of the resort.

He said: “I want to make a comment about discussions as late as yesterday afternoon I had with the preferred bidder; we had a very positive teleconference with the prospective purchaser who had expanded his offer to Hutchison, increasing the scope and level of investment.

“He is now planning to involve four well-known brands in the operation of the hotels and casino. And I am speaking to it now because it has reached that stage where I can. Two major tour operators that are well-recognised and rated tour operators with much airlift would be involved.”

The prime minister also said that the prospective buyer plans to add other attractions and features and wants to work with stakeholders to develop it into a distinctive destination.

“I was excited…yester-

day; for the first time, I started to feel we have an opportunity, to this level of interest that is now increasing, to integrate into the tourism mix in Grand Bahama some wonderful brands,” he said on Thursday.

Mr Christie has indicated that the prospective buyer has gone as far as identifying the buildings where they will put the four brands.

“The point is that it is so wonderful for me to have had…definitive discussions for proposals of this nature, and agreements are being arrived at,” he said.

The Hutchison properties were placed on the market last year and negotiations were underway prior to Memories, Breaker’s Cay hotels and Treasure Bay Casino closing. It is estimated that some 600 Bahamians could be out of jobs.

Mr Christie said government is now in ongoing discussions with Hutchison,

and Sunwing on the reopening of Memories, while simultaneously dealing with a buyer for the purchase of the entire resort complex and potential operators for the hotel.

Although Hutchison’s insurance claim remains unsettled and complicating the restoration process, Mr Christie said his government is working assiduously to bring to conclusion a possible purchase of the hotels.

“There are active discussions going on. There are active changes going on and I indicated that I am optimistic based on all that I know is taking place, and that I see a great possibility of a really new injection of wonderful brands in the hotel here by new operators, some of whom will be coming in this community for the first time,” he told reporters after his hour-long address.

When asked by reporters about his message to

the many unemployed hotel workers from Grand Lucayan, Mr Christie said that they should know “that people are active – those who are talking and negotiating, and they are in consultation with Hutchison and the government of the Bahamas at the same time.

“It is manifestly in my interest to move it as quickly as possible, and we are doing that with respect to people who are looking for jobs. We want to minimise the extent to which people who have lost their jobs suffer, and we are we are looking for alternative employment for some (of them).”

When asked for more information concerning the casino, Mr Christie would not disclose any details.

“Negotiations are too fluid for me to speak to it except that some very significant brands are being spoken to with a view to being involved in the hotel industry,” he replied.

CHRISTIE’S LEGAL TEAM LODGE BIT TO OVERTURN RULING ON JUDGE RECUSAL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A FORMAL application has been lodged to the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn a decision of a judge who refused Prime Minister Perry Christie’s recusal application which argued that she, while awaiting an approval of her application to extend her tenure as a Supreme Court judge, cannot be perceived to be impartial in hearing an ongoing judicial review into allegations that Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard illegally increased the size of his property.

A notice of motion for leave to appeal the February 6 ruling of Justice Rhonda Bain was filed to the Claughton House, Charlotte Street court on Wednesday and stamped by the court’s registry yesterday.

The application and its supporting affidavit, followed within hours of Justice Bain handing down a 17-page judgment explaining her discretion to refuse leave to appeal.

The motion is expected to be heard next Wednesday, The Tribune understands.

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.

It was also proposed that the judge misdirected herself on the law and failed to properly access the application.

It is fifthly proposed that there was a real danger of bias in the declaration of the ruling that there was a motive to not have the judicial review heard.

It was lastly proposed that notwithstanding the prime minister’s delay in making the recusal application, the judge had a responsibility to do so of her own volition.

Justice Bain, in her ruling on Wednesday, said that the first five draft grounds did not specify any erring or misdirection in law or fact concerning her ruling rendered on February 6.

On the sixth argument, Justice Bain said “there is no realistic prospect of the intended appellant in succeeding on this ground.”

“In his submission, counsel for the intended appellant submitted that the appeal raises questions of great public interest and therefore the court should grant leave. The intended appellant did not raise the issue of an appeal in the public interest as a ground of appeal,” the judge added.

Justice Bain further reasons that the “court has to consider the particulars of each case before making a determination whether to grant leave to appeal.”

She noted that this case was different from that of Melidor “which dealt with

the discovery of documents from government ministries and departments, a matter that had not been pronounced on by the court of appeal.”

“The question of recusal of a judge is not a novel application and has been raised before in matters before the Court of Appeal. Additionally, the matter of public interest has not been raised by the intended appellant as a ground of appeal.”

“The grant of leave to appeal is discretionary and the court must take all the factors into consideration.

After reviewing the proposed grounds of appeal, the court finds that there is no realistic prospect of success. The application for leave to appeal is dismissed.”

“As the court has refused 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.

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.

MARK McKenzie outside court.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

SUSPECT FACES COURT ACCUSED OF THREE MURDER CHARGES from page one

McKenzie is also alleged to be responsible for the December 18, 2016 killing of 22-year-old Maurice Johnson who was shot inside a nightclub on Tonique Williams Darling Highway and died in hospital a short time later.

Due to the nature of the allegations, McKenzie was not required to enter a plea to the murder charges as the three cases are scheduled to be forwarded to the Supreme Court on April 27 through the presentation of voluntary bills of indictments.

However, before McKenzie was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services to await trial on the respective murder

charges, a number of firearm-related offences were brought against him.

It is alleged that he, and 25-year-old Andrew Forbes were found, on March 3, in possession of a Glock .40 pistol and 12 lives rounds of .40 ammunition for the weapon without being the holders of a license or certificate to possess the items.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition charges and will stand trial on May 2.

McKenzie was then charged with Alexis Johnson, 24, Deandra Williams, 28, and Charlton Thurston, 36 on two counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm with intent to supply and a charge of possession of ammunition.

It is alleged that the quartet were in illegal possession of a black and silver Taurus .40 pistol, a black Revolver and 18 live rounds of ammunition on March 2.

They were also alleged to have been found with 13 ounces of marijuana on the same day.

All four denied the charges against them and are scheduled to stand trial on May 9.

McKenzie has retained David Cash to represent him against the allegations he faces.

Thurston and Forbes retained Nathan Smith and Keith Seymour to defend them while attorney Lennox Coleby appeared for the female accused.

All four were remanded into custody.

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PAGE 8, Friday, March 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

STEPHEN GREENSLADE, left, the DNA candidate for Golden Isles, alongside, from left, Andrew Wilson, party chairman; party leader Branville McCartney; Chris Mortimer, deputy leader and Youri Kemp, DNA candidate for Garden Hills.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

I’m backing my ‘big brother’ as our future carer W

ITH all the political manure flying about, as ‘silly season’ has begun, I must admit as a professional comedian there is a ton of material to work with on a daily basis.

I also must confess it gets tiresome, laughing off the continuous political failings of the present administration and the opposition (whoever that is?)

So this week we will take a break from the norm, time to escape the political minutia for a minute.

The usual characters are off this week: no ‘Birdman’, no ‘Branetta’, no ‘Jeromey the Homie’ and definitely no ‘V.A.G’.

Instead I want to focus on potential young leaders of the future from the various political parties.

It’s about time they had the spotlight instead of the political dinosaurs, who’ve been monopolising the

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA stage for the past five decades!

No longer do I want to hear from septuagenarian leaders and their alternative facts.

Neither from the (at times impotent) opposition, in all their splintered forms, who are still rife with political fossils in their midst influencing the decisions and direction of the various factions, stunting the growth of younger candidates within the FNM, DNA, UPM etc.

When one is apolitical such as myself, you can look at things objectively.

I make fun of all politicians and call them out for their blunders equally, all

while giving them kudos for a job well done - when deserved. And therein lies my objectivity.

To this end, over the next few weeks, I will highlight young leaders from the various parties, who if given the opportunity, who have the potential to be the next great leaders of this country and rescue us from this abyss into which we continue to freefall as a nation.

Now before I get into this ... yes DNA candidate for Golden Isles Stephen Greenslade is a childhood friend.

We grew up in the western part of New Providence and, as all close knit neigh-

bourhoods are, Stephen and country, community, Stehis two younger brothers, phen cares and wants the grew up like brothers to me. best for the Bahamas. He Stephen was the oldest and also wants to be a part of the knowledge he imparted the positive change and reto a certain, mischievous naissance in our nation. Not only child just talking was greatly about it but appreciated. ‘Whether God, actually beHe looked family, country, ing a part of out for all community, Stephen the process, of us as we putting in grew into Greenslade cares and the work. adulthood.

That is wants the best for Not because The Bahamas. He also what we it was his need: young job, as an of- wants to be a part of leaders willficer on the the positive change ing to serve RBPF. Ste- and renaissance in and lead by phen did it positive exbecause he our nation. Not just amples. cared (we talking about it but So when I were his lit- actually being a read in the tle brothers, dailies, and and he was part of the process, more impor‘big bro’ - a putting in the work.’ tantly on Faterm I use cebook, of a still to refer potential deto him to this very day.) fection to the FNM, by six Caring is a trait he has DNA candidates, may be exuded all along the way. going down, I had to call my Whether God, family, friend Stephen to get it right from the horse’s mouth, since he was allegedly one of the candidates that were courted by the FNM hierarchy.

“Bro, I’m not going anywhere. I got into politics to help change the entire political culture in this country.

I’m in it for the long haul; win, lose or draw. I want to do my part to create a better Bahamas, not be a part of the political status quo.”

I must admit I was relieved to hear those sentiments from Mr Greenslade.

He needs to stay right where he’s at in order to achieve his political goals.

There is no assurance with the infighting within the FNM (despite recent shows of unity) that he could reach his true political potential. In the DNA he can.

If you do the simple math, the PLP and FNM arguably have potentially 10 to 15 seats. With 39 seats up for grabs, the race is to 20.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394

Here’s where Mr Greenslade has leverage staying in the DNA. Prior to the surprise resignation of FNM candidate for Golden Isles, Kenyatta Gibson, word on the street had Greenslade making inroads into the Golden Isles community, with popular appeal I might add.

Throw in the fact that the incumbent, PLP Michael Halkitis, is on thin ice so to speak, it seems like the stars are aligning for Mr Greenslade. Can you imagine, on Election Day, as the polls close and the votes come in and Mr Greenslade emerges as the winner in Golden Isles!

If it does come to fruition, Mr Greenslade would instantly become one of the most powerful political players in the game. Singlehandedly able to effect change in this country. He will have won the first ever seat in the history of the DNA, instantaneously putting him line for leadership of that party. Sorry Bran; nobody wants to follow a seatless leader.

As I mentioned previously in this column, Mr McCartney seems to be in love with the politics of politics but I doubt he has the backbone to see it all the way through. On the other hand Mr Greenslade has no problem seeing something through from start to finish and putting in the hard work to achieve successful results.

Personally, I want to see my friend stand pat and reap the rewards for his tireless efforts and hard work.

The people of Golden Isles need a young vibrant MP in the House such as Mr Greenslade, accountable and committed to service.

And hopefully others will rise up the ranks in other political organisations, as well as the DNA, to ensure a positive way forward for the Bahamas politically and nationally.

I’d much prefer to have Mr Greenslade as our ‘Big Brother’ watching over us in the House rather than the government’s ‘Big Brother’ in everybody’s house!

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, March 10, 2017, PAGE 9

PAGE 10, Friday, March 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Concern over government statements on election and Baha Mar LETTERS EXTRA EDITOR, The Tribune PLEASE forgive me if I have misunderstood two recent stories which appeared in your respective newspapers.

The first is that the Right Honourable Prime Minister is reported to have said that he was not going to call the General Election “any time soon”. I am not sure on what that statement was based because Article 66(3) of the Constitution is quite specific about the duration of any Parliament following a general election. That paragraph reads: “(3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Article, Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.”

If my memory is correct, I think the present Parliament first sat on 23 May, 2012. That would mean that unless the Right Honourable Prime Minister advises Her Excellency, the Governor General to dissolve Parliament before that date, the present Parliament will “stand dissolved” on 23 May, 2017, with the result that there would be no legitimate government to advise the Governor General and there would not be a Senate because, according to Article 43(1)(a), each senate seat “becomes vacant upon the next dissolution of Parliament after he has been appointed”.

In such an event, it is doubtful that even the powers which the Constitution gives to the Cabinet under Articles 29, 66(4) and (5), in a situation where war or a state of emergency has been declared, can be exercised at all or by whom since in these circumstances there would not be a declared state of emergency or war.

I am aware that in 1987, the Parliament did not actually hold its first sitting following the general election that year until some three months later and that it was for that reason that the date of the general election for 1992 was some three months after the five years would have expired from the holding of the 1987 general election. Clearly that is not the situation now.

FORMER Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer speaking at the We March Bahamas protest march.

Section 32 of the Parlia- lawyers for other parties to the interests of justice, or Article 66(4), which is referred to in Article 66(3), mentary Elections Act pro- the case would be aware of in interlocutory proceedwould only apply if the Ba- vides for writs of election what was in fact decided. ings or in the interests of It must be remembered public morality, the welfare hamas is at war or under a to issue and to be returndeclared state of emergency able within not less than 21 that Article 20 paragraphs of persons under the age of under Article 29; as far as days nor more than 30 days (8), (9) and (10) of the Con- eighteen years or the proI am aware there has been - both of those timeframes stitution apply to that case tection of the private lives no declaration that the Ba- are within the 90 days con- as they do to all other civil of persons concerned in the hamas is at war or that a templated by Article 67 (1) cases heard in the Supreme proceedings; Court or any other court of state of emergency exists so of the Constitution. (b) may be empowered The timeline is now quite competent jurisdiction of or required by law to do so that could not be the basis for extending the life of the short, unless it is intended the Bahamas. Those para- in the interests of defence, to ignore the above men- graphs read: present Parliament. public safety or public or“(8) Any court or other der; or I am also aware that Arti- tioned constitutional and statutory provisions. adjudicating authority precle 67 (1) provides that: (c) may be empowered or The second issue that scribed by law for the deter- required to do so by rules of “(67) - (1) After every dissolution of Parliament arises from the stories in mination of the existence court and practice existing the Governor General shall the newspapers is that there or extent of any civil right immediately before 10 July, issue writs for a general is a great deal of confusion or obligation shall be estab- 1973, or by any law made election of members of the in the minds of some mem- lished by law and shall be subsequently to the extent House of Assembly return- bers of the general public independent and impartial; that it makes provision subable within ninety days about whether, in truth and and where proceedings for stantially to the same effect in fact, Baha Mar has been such a determination are as provision contained in from that dissolution.” instituted by any person be- any such rules.”

That provision seems sold and to whom.

Is it, in fact, true that the fore such a court or other to contemplate a situation Clearly there was no where the Parliament is dis- assets of Baha Mar have, in adjudicating authority, the matter of defence or pubsolved well before its ses- fact, become the property case shall be given a fair lic safety or public order sion is due to end and the of the Export Import Bank hearing within a reasonable to cause the decision not 90 days is the outside limit of China by virtue of a fore- time. to be made public. On the “(9) All proceedings in- other hand, it may argued for the writs of election to closure under a debenture to that entity? If so, clearly stituted in any court for the that because Crown Land be issued and returned.

After all, in the very the debenture should have determination of the exist- and money from the Conwords of that paragraph, been registered in the Reg- ence or extent of any civil solidated Fund was used to the Governor General istry of Records, which right or obligation, includ- pay employees of Baha Mar could only issue writs after would then make it open to ing the announcement of (money that was said to be inspection by members of the decision of the court, owed to China ConstrucParliament is dissolved. shall be held in public.

In addition, regard will the public. tion Company for the conThere is also confusion “(10) Nothing in para- struction of the new road have to be taken of section 32 of the Parliamentary as to how the judgment in graph (9) of this Article from the airport) that the Elections Act (Ch.7) as well a publicly-heard civil case shall prevent the court from interests of justice required as the fact that the present (the Baha Mar compulsory excluding from the pro- the decision, and the reaBudget will expire on 30 liquidation case) could be ceedings persons other than sons for it, to be made pubJune, 2017, and one cannot “sealed” so that no one oth- the parties thereto and their lic, especially when it aphelp but wonder how they er than perhaps the learned legal representatives to such pears to reasonable persons will then deal with the prep- Justice who heard it as well extent as the court that there may have been a (a) may be empowered by conflict of interest on the aration, presentation and as the learned Attorney passage of the necessary General (whose daughters law so to do and may con- part of the government’s bills for the budget for the and husband have busi- sider necessary or expedi- main adviser, the learned upcoming fiscal year which ness interests housed in the ent in circumstances where Attorney General who has building) and, maybe, the publicity would prejudice subsequently reported that starts on 1 July.

there was a sale to a Hong Kong entity and then that the sale is not complete.

These were also not interlocutory proceedings nor were they proceedings concerning the welfare of persons under the age of 18 nor for the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings.

Furthermore, in The Nassau Guardian of Monday, January 30, 2017, pages A25 and A27, there were notices of Voluntary Winding up by 15 companies with the words “Baha Mar” in their names. The notices were apparently issued by Edmund L Rahming.

If those 15 companies are subsidiaries of Baha Mar it raises serious questions about the whole saga of the winding-up proceedings of Baha Mar because voluntary liquidation is normally only appropriate where the company is solvent and the compulsory winding up of Baha Mar would only be justified if that company was insolvent.

Are we to accept that those 15 subsidiaries are solvent while the parent company (if it is the parent company) is insolvent?

It was also reported that the Right Honourable Prime Minister has said that he has instructed the Attorney General to make public the contents of the judgment of the court in the Baha Mar case.

There are two issues which arise from that.

Firstly, if the Attorney General, as Attorney General, can say when a judgment by a Justice of the Supreme Court is to be made public, that raises the very thorny question as to whether the Attorney General is controlling the courts.

Secondly, it raises the question as to whether the Right Honourable Prime Minister, through the agency of the Attorney General, is controlling the courts.

Neither of those possibilities would be consistent with the constitutional requirement for the courts to be “independent and impartial”.

I sincerely hope and pray that the information in the newspapers to which I have referred above is not quite correct for, if it is, then the concept of the rule of law would be otiose in the Bahamas.

JOAN A SAWYER Nassau, March 8, 2017.

DAVIS: 600 BAHAMIANS HIRED BY BAHA MAR from page one

Death Notice For Herbert Leon Treco, 86

of Shirley Slope, Nassau, died peacefully at home on 6th March, 2017

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marjorie, 4 sons: Gregory, Ricardo, Timothy & Vaughn; 4 daughters: Ramona, Joy, Melodie & Daneen; 26 grandchildren; 23 greatgrandchildren; 4 brothers and 6 sisters.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

He also took aim at Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis’ leadership challenges.

“Every day seems to bring another set of misguided statements about Baha Mar,” Mr Davis said in a statement released last night.

“It’s political season, and Bahamians have learned to discount the negative voices as having their own self-interested agenda. The problem for all the critics is that reality has a way of catching up - even in this era of fake news, reality matters.”

Mr Davis added: “And what’s real is that 650 Bahamians have already been hired at Baha Mar. What’s real is that Baha Mar is opening in April. What’s real is that CTFE has increased its commitment on preopening expenses from $200m to $250m of which $65m has already been spent. “What’s real is that Baha Mar is finally in safe hands, with a world-class operator that has succeeded with high-end properties in the Caribbean and across the globe.”

The government reiterated its claim this week that 1,500 Bahamians are being recruited, which would appear to leave two-thirds of the complement to be hired and trained in the six weeks before the scheduled April 21 opening. Baha Mar’s casino, casino hotel, convention centre and golf course are slated to open next month.

While he did not identify any other “negative voices”, Mr Davis’ comments come after a letter to the editor by former Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer was published in The Nassau Guardian.

In her letter, Dame Joan criticises the court’s decision to seal the Baha Mar deal, and the winding up process.

She also questioned the integrity of the independence of the judiciary as it related to the sealed deal, pointing to statements made by Prime Minister Perry Christie.

Dame Joan’s letter said: “It was also reported that the right honourable prime minister has said that he has instructed the attorney general to make public the contents of the judgment of the court in the Baha Mar case.

“There are two issues which arise from that. Firstly, if the attorney general, as attorney general, can say when a judgment by a justice of the Supreme Court is to be made public, that raises the very thorny question as to whether the attorney general is controlling the courts.”

It continued: “Secondly, it raises the question as to whether the right honourable prime minister, through the agency of the attorney general is controlling the courts. Neither of those possibilities would be consistent with the constitutional requirement for the courts to be ‘independent and impartial.’”

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson de-

clined comment yesterday.

The Christie administration has maintained that it did not ask the Supreme Court to seal the Baha Mar deal, but that it was a “commercial decision” made by the lawyers representing the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM).

Former developer Sarkis Izmirlian also recently broke several months of silence by criticising the “uncertainty” surrounding the multi-billion dollar resort’s opening, which was further exacerbated last week

by Rosewood revealing its 200-room property will only open in Spring 2018.

Mr Izmirlian and his BMD Holdings vehicle said Rosewood’s disclosure, which came in an official company release, was “a huge walk back” from the “rose-coloured statements” made by Baha Mar’s new owner regarding the property’s opening.

The government, in a lengthy rebuttal to Mr Izmirlian’s assertions, claimed its actions had effectively saved the beleaguered resort.

Last night, a source close to the project told The Tribune: “There is only one sad reality. Baha Mar is not completed. Baha Mar is not opened. And Baha Mar does not have an owner who can admit to having a firm deal that has actually closed to secure that ownership. What is also sad is the way the Government of the Bahamas is referring to the former developer of the project who they encouraged in the first place to

make the largest single investment in the Bahamas.”

In a statement on Sunday, Dr Minnis called reports on the push back of the grand opening of the Rosewood hotel brand the first in a series of issues that will plague the resort ahead of its proposed soft opening next month.

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

Yesterday, Mr Davis continued: “What’s also real is that if Hubert Minnis had been in charge, Baha Mar would still be in bankruptcy proceedings in the US, the property would be shuttered, Bahamians would not be employed, and Bahamian contractors would still be waiting in line to be paid for work already completed.

“Can you imagine Minnis, who struggles to understand matters in Parliament, who can’t get to the end of a sentence unless he’s scripted, standing up for Bahamians in a complex negotiation like Baha Mar?” Mr Davis added: “Fellow FNMs have called Hubert Minnis ‘deceitful,’ ‘disgraceful’ and ‘incompetent,’ and it’s not hard to see why. But the worst thing about him isn’t that he’s senseless, it’s that he thinks Bahamians are too.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, March 10, 2017, PAGE 11

Eight weeks to go until Carnival and many details still a mystery

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net ROUGHLY eight weeks out from the third instalment of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, officials in the Bahamas National Festival Commission were yesterday still unable to confirm many of the key details surrounding the upcoming event.

In an interview with The Tribune on Thursday, BNFC Chairman Paul Major said event organisers were “still progressing” on many of the event’s concepts, including key performers and the format of daily events.

Officials last year announced that this year’s

Antique Auto Club of The Bahamas Antique Auto Club of The Bahamas. - The Antique Auto Club of The Bahamas has thanked Sun Oil Limited for its sponsorship towards the club’s 30th Anniversary Auto Show and Cook-Out to be held on March 18 at the Cultural Centre at Arawak Cay. The show will open at noon and continue until 6pm. Activities include a children’s bouncing castle and small race track and pedal cars; raffles for various automotive prizes, a fashion show, a surprise visitor from Las Vegas and a Junkanoo rush-out by members of the Valley Boys. Steaks and chicken will be available all afternoon, for $15. If tickets have not already been purchased from club members, there will be tickets at the entry point to the show. In addition, club members will be selling tickets in front of Kelly’s at the Mall at Marathon tomorrow.

Bahamas Association of Administrative Professionals Bahamas Association of Administrative Professionals. - Under the Theme: “The Revolutionary Administrative Professional – Inspiring Excellence” the Bahamas Association of Administrative Professionals (formerly IAAP Bahamas Chapter) will host its 2nd annual educational seminar on Friday, March 17, at the BCPOU Hall (Keith Archer Building), Farrington Road, between 8am and 4pm.

In 1966, five trailblazers formed the Bahamas Secretaries Association (BSA).

It is upon the hard work of Anne Lowe, Mickey Kimberk, Gwen Reid, Barbara Pierre and Norma Barker and many more in the years that followed that BAAP stands firm and dedicated to continue in fostering the growth and development of office professionals.

The seminar will address

JOIN THE CLUB OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@ tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line.

For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 5022373 or 447-3565.

festival would take place April 28-29 in Grand Bahama, and then move to New Providence for its climax May 4-6.

According to Mr Major, those are still the dates his office is working with, as well as how best to allocate the $5m budgeted by the government for this year’s festival.

“We are close on many of the details,” stated Mr Major. “Now when I say close, there are still key aspects of those details that we still have to confirm and finalise, because when we go to the public, we want to have all of these things clear and ready to go.

“We have our dates. We

have a discussed budget.

Now we have to put this all together and we are close to doing just that,” he added.

Since being introduced in 2015, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival has been criticised by many for its lack of return on investment and limited delivery of authentic Bahamian culture.

The first festival was heavily criticised after Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano took top billing over Bahamian band, Baha Men. The fallout from that dispute led to an even more sketchy process for year two of the festival, with officials not naming a headline act until mere weeks before the festival.

Additionally, the commission announced that the festival would not feature one main act, but multiple “headliners”.

That festival, which ran in New Providence from May 5 to 7, 2016, featured a mix of Bahamian artists with several international performers.

Trinidadian soca queen Destra closed the festival’s concert, which included a performance by Grammy award winning Haitian hiphop artist Wyclef Jean.

Of this year’s plans, Mr Major said: “We have several acts identified; but no deals yet and because of that I don’t want to say to much. But, as soon as we

various issues affecting office professionals, including: “Dress for Success, Bringing out the Inner Beauty in You” by Stacia Williams of Total Image Management & Communications Company Limited; “The Revolutionary Administrative Professional – Inspiring Excellence” by Sharon Cleare; “Establishing and Managing your Wealth & Estate”

by Dominic Ferguson of Fidelity Bank; “Women’s Health” by Dr Pamela T Carroll of WomenCare Center and “Mastering the Interview Process” by Laurie Gibson of DHL, Human Resources.

The association’s monthly meetings are held at the British Colonial Hilton, on the third Thursday of each month at 6pm. For more information, contact president Wendy Ferguson at 396-4109, email wendy. ferguson@colina.com, or contact seminar chairperson Monique Minns at 3022623, or mvminns@centralbankbahamas.com.

4:45am sharp from Fidelity Bank Parking Lot (opposite Cable Beach Police Station), West Bay St. This ride is a 20-mile loop. The route is varied. Open to riders capable of 18mph + for 1 hr. Lights are essential.

Contact Shantell 557-3635 to confirm your attendance.

Mid-day ride, weekdays: Leaving 11am from Cable Beach Police Station (near Baha Mar). The ride distance varies (23 miles). The speed varies (10-15mph).

Contact Dwight to confirm your attendance 426-6119.

Afternoon, Tuesdays & Thursdays: Leaving 5:30pm sharp from Old Fort Shopping Center east of Solomon’s Fresh Market. Intermediate riders 17-22mph - see Spyda. This ride is 18miles (faster group leaves North Side Lyford Cay roundabout recommended for strong riders capable of 20mph+ for 1-1.5hrs. (23 miles) Lights are essential.

Upcoming events: March 12 - NPCA Road Race/Team Challenge 36 Road Race Start/Finish Baha Mar Blvd.

March 25 - National Kingdor Parkinson Foundation Walk/Run/Cycle competition starting at Montagu Beach Park at 6am. For information, see www.Kingdornpf.org. Email kingdornpf@outlook.com. Pick up registration forms at Cycles Unlimited.

March 26 - NPCA Road Race Caves Classic, start/ finish caves on West Bay Street, 40 miles.

April 1 - Kiwanis Club fun run walk ride starting at Goodman’s Bay, 6am, donation $12 (includes T-shirt).

April 2 - The Potcakeman Triathlon at Jaws Beach, 7am.

April 16 - NPCA Road Race/Individual Time Trial Start/Finish Baha Mar Blvd April 30 - NPCA Road Race, start/finish Coral Harbour Shopping Centre 42 Miles.

May 27 - Tour De Lootra 100 miles.

November 4 - 31st Annual Conchman Triathlon on Grand Bahama Island.

Register at www.conchmantriathlon.com.

Nassau. - The assistant general manager of the Water & Sewerage Corporation, Cyprian Gibson, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of West Nassau on March 9 at the Poop Deck at Sandy Port. Mr Gibson gave a presentation entitled “Positioning for Sustainability”.

The club meets each Thursday at 12:30pm at the Poop Deck at Sandy Port.

Cycling Club Bahamas Cycling Club Bahamas.

- Weekend rides: Saturday leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s), 43 miles headed west. Leaving P/I bridges optional at the end. The pace will range from 17–20+mph, three-hour duration.

Sundays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 40-50 miles headed east. P/I bridges optional at the end. The pace will range from 17–20+mph, 3-3.5 hour duration (cyclists are invited to join in anywhere along the route).

Weekday rides, east: Morning, Tuesday & Thursday leaving 5am sharp from Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, East Prince Charles Drive. This ride is a 17-mile loop to the Northbound Paradise Island Bridge and back again (both bridges are sometimes incorporated depending on available time). Open to riders capable of 18mph + for 1 hour.

Lights are essential.

West: Morning, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving

Rotary Club of West Nassau Rotary Club of West

INCOMING president Chris Dorsett, left, with assistant general manager Cyprian Gibson at the Rotary Club of West Nassau.

get those done we will say.

“We are going to go with the multiple headline act idea again because you get more bang for your buck that way.

“We are also working to make some changes with the format. It is going to be more or less a lot like last year; but we are working to change some things with the Thursday night set-up.

“But details are close. We will give the public something very shortly,” stated Mr Major.

In February, Free National Movement Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest called for the government to postpone or delay this year’s festival until after the

general election, warning that the event could only be perceived as “vote buying” if staged during the election cycle.

The Constitution mandates that a general election be staged every five years.

The last election was held on May 7, 2012.

Prime Minister Perry Christie has not announced an election date for this year.

“It should definitely be after (the next election),” Mr Turnquest said at the time. “We have to be careful that it is not seen as an electioneering event. It ought not to be a rally of sorts paid for by the Bahamian people.”

PICTURED are Wayne Aranha, Antique Auto Club director, and Shawn Thomas, the club’s assistant secretary, receiving a cheque from Rufus E Johnson, marketing manager of Sun Oil.

PAGE 12, Friday, March 10, 2017

SEBAS Bastian and The isalnd Luck Cares Foundation launch OWN Bahamas 2017, the annual entrepreneur initiative, yesterday.

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS TO FIND THEIR OWN WAY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Island Luck Cares Foundation yesterday announced its third OWN Bahamas entrepreneurship programme, an initiative that provides funding and other development opportunities to budding entrepreneurs.

Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian boasted about the holistic benefits of the programme during a press conference, explaining that in addition to receiving between $5,000 to $25,000, lucky applicants will receive three years worth of free cable and internet services for their businesses from BTC, a free quarterpage advertisement spot in The Tribune, and a six week business course at the University of The Bahamas.

Two applicants will be awarded $25,000; five will be awarded $10,000 and ten will be awarded $5,000.

The competition for the prizes is expected to be competitive, with at least 2,500 applications expected. In previous years, about 2,000 people applied.

A committee of six will whittle down the applications to a select few, and then Mr Bastian will play a role in selecting the winners.

So far, 25 people have been awarded through the programme since its establishment in 2015, and Mr Bastian said their businesses have a success rate of about 90 per cent.

“OWN Bahamas wants to bridge the gap between what one wants to do and is capable of doing by helping people accomplish there dream,” he said.

“We feel some of the root of issues (facing the country) stem from a lack of opportunities.”

Mr Bastian said the IL Cares Foundation hopes to increase the number of people the entrepreneurship programme gives money to

by five per year.

Dr Selima Hauber, owner of Field to Fork Community Farm, was a previous awardee through the programme, receiving $10,000.

Her small, mixed vegetable organic farm in western Nassau benefited from a walk behind tractor it purchased with the money.

“That enabled us to increase our efficiency and our production by 40 per cent,” she said. “It is an amazing piece of equipment and I’m very grateful.”

The farm’s sales to restaurants have increased 300 per cent since it purchased the equipment, she said.

The programme’s application is available at www. ownyourbahamas.com from March 9-30.

Applicants must provide a brief biography, an outline of their goals and aspirations, a copy of their passport and NIB card, a valid police report, two passport photos and three character references.

SEBAS Bastian speaking to the media yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff