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VOLUME:115 No.77, MARCH 13TH, 2018

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

WOMAN: NAVIGATING WOMANHOOD IN A SOCIAL MEDIA AGE

Oban deal: We’ll never support it

PLP ADDED 9,000 JOBS TO PAYROLL

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

AN estimated 70 per cent of the contracts awarded to persons for government employment under the Christie administration did not go through the Ministry of the Public Service, Garden Hills MP Brensil Rolle said yesterday.

SEE PAGE FIVE

National Trust: Environment risk too great

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS National Trust is “greatly concerned” about the location of the proposed $5.5 billion Oban Energies oil refinery and storage facility in Grand Bahama, saying it cannot “envisage any scenario” where it could support the controversial project.

The non-governmental organisation said it takes its responsibilities as an advisor to government and manager of the national park systems “very seriously,” adding the proposed location of the refinery

would place it in close proximity to three national parks.

In a press release issued yesterday, BNT said while it was aware of the need to create jobs, it has been documented that oil refineries pose a high risk of air, aquatic and soil pollution.

The organisation also suggested it has been kept in the dark about the deal and has formally requested an opportunity to review the full Heads of Agreement signed by Oban Energies last month and also asked the government make public the proposed SEE PAGE SIX A FLASHBACK to the protest at Cabbage Beach two years ago.

GLENYS DEMANDS: CABBAGE CASE COLLAPSES AFTER WERE WE MISLED? OFFICERS FAIL TO ATTEND COURT

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BRANDING Oban Energies’ executives a “cornucopia of crooks,” Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin questioned whether the Minnis administration “misled” Parliament when a Heads of Agreement was tabled for the $5.5bn project proposed for Grand Bahama.

Insisting yesterday the

document tabled at Parliament earlier this month is not the same document signed at the Office of the Prime Minister on February 19, the MP demanded to know if there were any Bahamians associated with Oban, adding this question among others needed to be answered to understand how such a “strange and peculiar” deal is continuing despite push back.

SEE PAGE SIX

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

TEN people who protested against a blocked access point to Cabbage Beach two years ago will seek “substantial damages” from the government for being “maliciously prosecuted” in a case that saw 13 adjournments, multiple presiding magistrates and no appearance from the virtual complainant

since the day it began.

The announcement came shortly after a magistrate discharged Urvan Moxey, Miguel Joseph, Derek Thompson, Lincoln Bain, Hubert McIntosh, Sam Butler, Trevor Lightbourne, Frances Johnson, Derek Cox and Jahro Saunders from the matter concerning the destruction of a fence blocking the entry of the Paradise Island beach in March 2016.

During a press

conference at his law office after the group was discharged, attorney Branville McCartney told reporters the group will settle for “nothing less” than substantial damages from the government for the “abuse of process” they each endured from 2016 to yesterday; however, he said the amount of damages sought will vary due to the individual circumstances of each claimant.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

WET - BUT BREAKING NO RECORDS

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH the recent rainy weather has been abnormal for March, the country did not experience record-breaking inches of rainfall, Chief Meteorologist Basil Dean confirmed to The Tribune yesterday.

Sunday and Monday’s storms were punctuated by loud claps of thunder, lightning, and flooding in some

FLOODED streets in Nassau. areas of the capital.

Mr Dean also discussed

the cause of the high tides and severe swells the country experienced last week.

When asked about the rains, Mr Dean said: “Well I can say it hasn’t been normal, considering the fact that we usually have reached about three, four inches of rainfall in the month of March.”

“But over the last two days we had…. Certainly, over five inches of rainfall.”

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

‘TURTLE THREE’ GIVEN 500 HOUR WORK ORDER

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THREE people arrested for violation of the Fisheries Act, after cell phone footage went viral of a man killing a sea turtle with a hammer in Grand Bahama, appeared in the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Michael Pinder, 54, of West End, Cyril Pennerman, and his wife, Margaret, both 63, of Freeport, were given a conditional discharge for the offence and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and attend a Voluntary Intervention Programme.

They appeared before Magistrate Gwen Claude, charged with possession of marine turtle under Section 29A of the Fisheries Resources Regulation and Section 24 Subsection (1) of the Fisheries Resources Act, Chapter 244.

It is alleged that the trio between March 6 and 7, SEE PAGE TWO

PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

‘TURTLE THREE’ GIVEN 500 HOUR WORK ORDER from page one being concerned together at West End, possessed a marine turtle without a permit.

Pinder, a self-employed handyman, and Mrs Pennerman, a cook, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but later changed their pleas to guilty. Mr Pennerman, who operates a restaurant in Freeport, pleaded guilty.

According to the particulars, sometime around 8.35am on March 7, Clement Campbell, an officer with the Department of Marine Resources, made a complaint to the police about the unlawful possession of a marine turtle

by Pinder, after a video surfaced online of a man killing a loggerhead turtle by beating it repeatedly on the head.

The prosecutors said as a result of information received, police went to the Drop Take Out Restaurant where they recovered 11 bags of turtle meat weighing some 62 pounds, and subsequently arrested the Pennermans.

Magistrate Claude asked the accused to address the court.

Pinder, who was seen in a video hitting the turtle with a hammer, apologised for what he had done and said he did not know that the incident was being taped.

Mr Pennerman also apologised, saying it was a mistake.

“I want to apologise for the inconvenience – it was a mistake,” said Mr Pennerman. “I am the sole owner of the restaurant, and I take full responsibility. My wife works as the cook and I apologise and beg your pardon.”

Magistrate Claude told the accused that he needed to be aware of the country’s laws on marine resources and asked Mr Campbell to address the court on the laws currently on the books.

Mr Campbell informed the court that laws

CLOCKWISE from top, Michael Pinder, Margaret Pennerman and Cyril Pennerman.

Photos: Derek Carroll

regarding the harvest of sea turtles were amended in 2009 making the capture and possession of green and loggerhead turtles illegal.

He noted that before the 2009 amendment, both species were only harvested during the crawfish season from August 1- March 31.

He recalled that officials at the Bahamas National Trust had called for a ban on the capture and killing of turtles following a similar inhumane killing of a turtle sometime ago in New Providence.

“No one can harvest turtles in The Bahamas… and anyone caught will be prosecuted,” Mr Campbell warned. In addition to the Hawksbill turtle, he said the loggerhead and green turtles are now placed on the endangered species list.

Magistrate Claude asked each of the accused their occupation. Pinder said he was a self-employed

handyman who looked for work daily, and Mrs Pennerman said she was a cook.

The magistrate gave the trio a conditional discharge and told them to make a declaration that they would not possess marine turtles.

She then advised the accused that if they did not agree with the fisheries laws to do something about it and agitate against it.

The judge also ordered the trio to perform 500 hours of community service by repairing the roof of the administration and Magistrate Court building in Eight Mile Rock.

She also ordered them to attend the Volunteer Intervention Programme every Saturday at 5.50am at the EMR Magistrate’s Court for lectures, including a lecture on the Fisheries Act on April 28 by Mr Campbell.

Magistrate Claude set the matter down for review on August 13.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, PAGE 3

WET - BUT BREAKING NO RECORDS from page one

“No record-breaking, in that sometime back we would’ve had about 7.44 inches of rainfall in a single day.”

“So we are nowhere near that, but certainly significant enough to lead to flooding in many of the low-lying areas of New Providence.”

Mr Dean said the storms are not expected to continue. Yesterday afternoon was expected to be “the last of the rains,” he said.

Mr Dean added that “cooler and drier conditions will follow” in the coming days.

The chief meteorologist also confirmed that the high tides and severe swells the country experienced last week were a result of the powerful storm that hit the

Northeast United States earlier this month.

He said: “That was in response to that deep low pressure off the east coast of the United States which generated the large swells that impacted our coastline.”

Although another winter storm is expected to hit the same region of the US today, Mr Dean does not anticipate that the storm will have a similar impact on the Bahamas.

He added that the only area that may see some swells is Abaco.

Last week’s rough ocean conditions sparked a number of sea-related incidents, despite warnings from officials.

On March 4, the Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera was closed due to large and dangerous swells, and the public was told to

SOME of the Haitian migrants who were apprehended.

FLOODED streets in Nassau following the heavy downpour yesterday morning. from waters off Eleuthera stay away from the area.

That same day, four after being swept off the people were injured as they Glass Window Bridge by attempted to climb rocks on severe sea swells.

Chief Superintendent the side of the bridge. On March 5, an American man Stephen Adderley, officerwas washed away into the in-charge of the Eleuthera sea at Queen’s Bath, near Division, said the group the bridge. The family of elected to cross the bridge the 19-year-old, Jonathan by foot despite several Brussow of Michigan, said warnings.

Shortly after 4 am his body was found a “atop a cliff” in Eleuthera on Sunday morning, two men were reported missing at Friday.

Also on March 5, a boat sea after a boat capsized off capsized off Crooked Great Stirrup Cay. Four other men who were Island. Although Terrance Bullard, 43, was able to onboard that vessel were swim to shore, his compan- later found adrift. Three of ion Derek Collie, 38, is still the men are Bahamian and one is Honduran. The other reportedly missing at sea.

On Wednesday, seven two are reportedly still people had to be rescued missing.

Photo: RBDF

Nearly 300 Haitian migrants detained

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net NEARLY 300 Haitian migrants in three different groups were apprehended in the southern Bahamas over the weekend.

The migrants’ arrests were a result of three separate operations by law enforcement off southern Inagua Sunday night.

The migrants are currently being held in Mathew Town, Inagua.

According to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the RBDF vessel HMBS Durward Knowles led the first operation when 100 Haitian nationals were apprehended.

The second group of migrants were detained as a result of a joint operation between a RBDF patrol craft and the US Coast Guard; 86 people were apprehended in that exercise.

According to a RBDF press release, the third group of migrants were taken into custody “following a joint interdiction effort by local law enforcement and members of the Inagua community.”

This occurred “after the vessel landed on Lantern Head Point near the southeast coast of Great Inagua after 8 pm (Sunday) night.”

Seventy-five people were apprehended at the time.

As a result of these efforts, 261 migrants are currently detained in Mathew Town, Inagua.

According to the RBDF,

these successful operations are a result of efforts to “strengthen” a multilateral approach to southern border security.

“These latest arrests are a result of the strategic intent of the commander (of the) Defence Force to strengthen the partnership with local and regional partners in securing the southern border of the Bahamas as a top priority in keeping with the Bahamas government’s intent,” the RBDF said in a press release.

The RBDF noted Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said on Sunday, at the RBDF’s annual church service, that many persons engaged in illicit maritime activities gain access through the country’s southern borders.

Mr Dames reiterated the government’s intent to augment borders in Inagua and Ragged Island, “to sustain long term air and sea operations in this region.”

“These bases are located at strategic choke points for anti-poaching, migrant and drug smuggling operations,” the RBDF said.

Last month, 25 Haitians were apprehended in New Providence by law enforcement.

In January, the RBDF arrested 70 Haitians on board a 40ft sailing vessel east of Wemyss in southern Long Island. In 2017, “the defence force apprehended or assisted with the apprehensions of some 1,300 migrants,” according to a February RBDF press release.

A MIGRANT rests on the floor after being detained.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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

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

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Our evolving respect for our environment IN the mid-1980s, there was a dinner at a private home honouring a Bahamas National Trust guest speaker, a world-famous diver and underwater cinematographer whose documentaries had helped open the eyes of millions to the wonders of the undersea world. The main course featured what the Bahamian host believed was a fine Bahamian delicacy – sea turtle.

There were a few murmurs in the room but most of the small, select crowd of nature lovers and conservationists gulped the turtle with relish.

The meat at that dinner could have been green turtle, leatherback or loggerhead, it would not have mattered at the time. Few in The Bahamas were paying attention though loggerhead turtles had been listed on the threatened species list since 1978, long before that poor animal was killed and served.

Fast forward to last week when a 41-second video of a loggerhead being beaten to death in Grand Bahama went viral, sparking national outrage.

The cruelty of the murder was awful, despicable, gut-wrenching, sights and sounds that were almost too much to bear as the man in the video armed with a hammer repeatedly slammed and pounded the animal, ignoring its attempts to escape and its cries that sounded like a baby wailing.

As horrific as the slaughter was, the outcry of an enraged nation that followed instantly was so encouraging we believe it marked a turning point in Bahamian life.

Less than 12 hours after that video aired, three people, two men and a woman, were arrested, thanks to a fourmember team from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the Assistant Superintendent of Fisheries Clement Campbell. The man and woman reportedly run a restaurant at West End, Grand Bahama and the other man was a fisherman. The meat, we are told, sold for $160. Apparently, authorities also found a turtle shell on the property.

Social media went wild with support for the arrest.

After all the pleading of groups like the Bahamas National Trust, Save The Bays, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Environment, Save Our Seas and others begging us to respect, preserve and conserve our precious natural resources, that support for the capture of the turtle killer showed Bahamians have finally got the message.

Climate change, stronger storms,

eroding coastlines, fear of depletion of conch and fish stocks are all bitter pills to swallow but more Bahamians than ever are willing to take action. If we do not stand up for what remains, if we do not try to restore coral reefs and protect the life that depends on a healthy marine environment whether ocean or wetlands, we run the risk of losing more of what we love at a rate far faster than we ever imagined.

The turtle death was followed a few days later by yet another insult to our resources when the Defence Force spotted and stopped a vessel in the Exuma Land and Sea Park for fishing in the notake zone of the national park where fishing is forbidden. The Defence Force turned vessel, crew and fishing gear over to police who charged crew with violating the Fisheries Act. So in a single week Bahamians applauded environmental wrongdoers getting caught for violations of animal or marine resources rights that even a decade ago would have caused barely a ripple beyond environmental protection groups.

In fact, when the Save Sea Turtles campaign started, it was a quiet movement swimming upstream with a few bumper stickers until letters to the editor and a major demonstration in Rawson Square caught the public’s attention, shaming Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham into signing an act in 2009 that made the capture, killing and sale of any sea turtle or its parts illegal in The Bahamas.

Mr. Ingraham said he knew he was doing the right thing even though he loved the taste of turtle. We applaud him for his courage.

The widespread public support a decade later is an indication Bahamians are beginning to treasure what we took for granted for too long, assuming that regardless of what we took today, more would be there tomorrow.

What is especially encouraging is that once rescued from exploitation, species do re-populate. Not far from Rose Island off New Providence, sea turtles that were once plentiful are back. Elsewhere off a private island in Exuma, six sea turtles swam playfully this weekend.

Like those not too far from Rose Island, the turtles, some weighing hundreds of pounds, swam gently, not afraid of boats or people, living in the world they were intended to inhabit, unaware of the fuss being made about one of their own being slaughtered or the hard lesson the rest of us had to learn.

Failed revolution EDITOR, The Tribune.

A SENSE of euphoria, similar to that felt by the poet William Wordsworth for the French Revolution (”great was it in that dawn to be alive, to be young was very heaven”),was experienced by Bahamians at the end of Perry Christie’s disastrous second reign.

There was hope that the new leader would live up to his word, transparency, good governance, better economy, less crime, jobs and zero corruption, better ease of doing business, among other things.

Unfortunately in ten short months many Bahamians feel that they have been betrayed or at least

deceived. No transparency, no Freedom of information Act, a blame game with the outgoing administration, an indecent haste to impugn corruption against former leaders, a wait of two weeks and four trips for a national insurance letter, a disgraceful display of power by the Speaker of the House of Assembly almost totally supported by seeming puppet Ministers and Members.

But the most egregious action is the signing of an agreement with a group of apparently questionable characters for an oil refinery in Grand Bahama.

What is there in this agreement for The Bahamas and Bahamians? Countries

are moving away from fossil fuels, and we are entering this agreement without proper environmental protections thereby endangering our primary industry, tourism. We are told jobs, but the jobs to be generated by this endeavour seem to be minimal, and, with our D grade average, it could happen that we would be told that there are not sufficient qualified Bahamians to hold these positions.

No, the euphoria has dissipated at a quick pace and has disappeared faster than Wordsworth’s romance with the French revolution.

JEANNE THOMPSON Nassau, March 12, 2018.

Support the best EDITOR, The Tribune.

DID I hear right from the Minister of Social Services that it is the intent of Government to duplicate youth groups who have an impeccable record?

We should be financially

supporting more organisations like - Boy Scouts - Girl Guides - Boys Brigade - Guides etc…

Have you ever hear of a Boys Brigade boy ending up in front of a Magistrate?

These groups have so much experience - years and

years of it and we stupidly want to create something new - untried through Urban Renewal. Hairbrained - hair brained… that ugly politics!

JULIE HUMES Nassau, March 9, 2018.

Oban Energy disrespect for Bahamians EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE newspaper ad that was sloppily designed and ill-advisedly placed, is a clear indication that Oban and the government have absolutely no respect for the Bahamian people. Even though they know full well that we know that they are taking advantage of the Bahamian people, they are still trying to inflict further pain, even while we all are hollering at the top of our voices.

Peter Krieger, a convicted felon was on his game, he knew who he was dealing with, so he was “shucking and jiving” and laughing at the “the Banana republic” mentality, while he signed Satpal Dhunna’s signature, in front of Prime Minister, Rt Honourable Dr Hubert Alexander Minnis and Camille Johnson, Cabinet Secretary, carefully observing.

Krieger performed a David Copperfield magic trick, right before their eyes. The photo-op showed all smiling with great approval. Dhunna though, preferred to use Houdini in his act of being invisible.

The cabinet has now been reduced to a circus with clowns, side shows, that had great big elephant’s disappearing act, in real time.

Oban “hog-tied” several members of the government, including the senate, into having been promised something, to trot out in the public lobbying for the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net project. It is alleged that top senators are assisting with the PR and “starry-eyed” radio personalities are running from pillar to post “singing Oban’s praises” to the obvious detriment of the Bahamian people.

What is most astonishing is there’s a mad rush to tell us we don’t have any reason to be concerned.

The blatant disrespect is that alleged fraud by false pretences occurred and no one in the government appears to have any shame or concern about what we, the Bahamian think.

The million dollar question is, will there be any prosecutions?

The sad part that I am sure innocently happened was that the naive Permanent Secretary, the technocrat that should be doing her due diligence to serve as a buffer for the government, shirked her responsibilities and “fired herself” by ignoring her duties. I hope she is wise enough to know that the Bahamian people cannot trust her with the country’s business anymore.

There are several MPs, and I dare say Cabinet Ministers who would want us to believe that they are the smartest people since Einstein, with a superiority complex, stood there with a sheepish grin on their faces,

oblivious that they were tricked. The only thing that mattered was that “a white man” was throwing some crumbs to the people and they approved. Now they are saying, “did I do that!”

Are any members of the Cabinet resigning from their collective responsibility as it appeared that fraud by false pretences was being committed?

Since Ernst & Young are working directly for the government, did they have oversight of the intricacies of the numbers presented.

The reputation of the accounting firm cannot get any worse, judging from the fishing expedition that happened and the sloppiness displayed. Confidentiality, trust, honour and integrity, must have been stricken from their mission statement. Has professionalism taken a back seat to “in your face” association with individuals in government?

Just asking, when will the government that was elected since May 10 begin governing. When will they accept their responsibility and top blaming the previous occupants of the House. Do the renovations and “shut your mouth!” Oh by the way, stop whining, pay all of the bills you met, just like the PLP paid all the bills the Ingraham led FNM left. Get it?

IVOINE INGRAHAM Nassau, March 12, 2018.

W.

At what cost?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

LAST week we heard the Minister of National Security criticise the past Government over their alleged waste of funds but blow me down this Sunday, today we see the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has its church service although Royal Bahamas Police had there’s - I believe there was a combined one and Immigration

had one as did Customs.

How much did these Church Services cost as obviously a church full of RBDF Officers and Marines someone darn paying someone.

Is this all necessary?

It is a fact that less than 50% of the population attend on a Sunday a church of their choice anyway so why hold such event for each uniformed

Service/Branch-have one and be done with that?

Then there has to be duplication on Grand Bahama…they send the full Band for that at each one!

Minister let’s see how much did each service cost - Sir? Let’s see if it was well spent scarce money?

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, March 11, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, PAGE 5

PLP added 9,000 jobs to payroll from page one Mr Rolle, who is the minister responsible for National Insurance and the public service, told Parliament this allowed Cabinet ministers to act “willy-nilly”.

He said at the end of the Progressive Liberal Party’s last term in office, 9,000 people were added to the public service.

Direct hiring to the Departments of Customs and Immigration, Mr Rolle also said, was done without consultation of the public service. In 2016, 114 customs officers were hired along with 217 immigration officers between March and April of 2017 and were told to report for duty without letters of engagement, the MP said.

The majority of them were just vetted when the Minnis administration took office, he said. However, according to Mr Rolle, around 50 of these persons have not been able to pass the vetting process. The government, he said, has been advised by police to not even consider them for engagement.

“Imagine, Mr Speaker working with Inland Revenue when they created that small revenue collection agency,” the MP said during his contribution to the midyear budget.

“Four hundred persons in Inland Revenue were given contracts for six months. That was the life expectation of the persons employed in Inland Revenue.

“Now because individuals’ contracts expired in

their period and the government perhaps did not renew the contracts, they are saying that this government fired and terminated.

They had all those rights to make those persons permanent and pensionable to give them a yearly contract.

They had the right to do anything.

“They could have done what was done for the person at the Bridge Authority and said if the government wants to part with you they have to give you three years’ notice before. They could have done that but they chose to give them six months and when the contracts expired, because some of them were not renewed, they turn around and said the government is insensitive.”

Mr Rolle was referring to

a contract given to a Bridge Authority executive outlining no fixed termination date and specifying there was to be no less than three years’ notice in the event of termination.

The Tribune revealed this back in January. The contract was worth $100,000.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said he will not honour the agreement, which he called questionable.

Mr Rolle continued: “My ministry has ascertained that there are nearly 70 per cent of the contracts created within the last five years under the PLP were not processed through the Ministry of Public Service.

“Mr Speaker this allowed ministers to act willy-nilly.

They could do anything.

They did not have to go to the public service to ensure

that persons were properly contracted.”

Regarding hiring in the Customs and Immigration Departments he said: “Mr Speaker, several officers could not pass the vetting.

The majority of the officers were vetted since coming to office and many of them went in the programme where they were told they were now a customs officer but the rules of engagement are serious. Having been vetted there are at least 50 persons from this exercise who cannot pass. The police recommended that we should not even consider them.”

He also said there were hundreds of people contracted to work with the Road Traffic Department under the same conditions.

However, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, who

is also the former transport and aviation minister, denied this claim.

She also accused Mr Rolle of misleading the House when it came to hiring outside of the public service.

She said every ministry was a part of the public service and has a permanent secretary to execute certain functions.

On the background check issue, Mrs Hanna Martin said all persons entering the Department of Road Traffic were vetted, but may have been vetted subsequent to entering their programme.

She said they would not have qualified if they were not vetted.

However, she admitted there were concerns with one or two individuals, but these issues were dealt with.

THE PARADE following the annual church service for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER ON COASTAL SECURITY MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames announced the government will establish a multi-agency law enforcement coastal security programme to mitigate threats against the country’s borders and national security.

His announcement came at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s annual church service on Sunday, which was followed by a march.

“When expanding transnational criminal networks are taken into consideration against the backdrop of The Bahamas’ geographical challenges and ever-stretching resources, the need for even greater collaboration with local and regional partners to minimise their threats to our national security is clearly evident,” Mr Dames said.

“To mitigate these

threats, our government through one of its policy directives is moving towards the establishment of a multi-agency law enforcement coastal security programme to include the RBDF, RBPF,” and other officials.

“This multi-agency program, will be responsible for conducting onshore/ offshore patrols. We must better secure our borders,”

he said. “The status quo is no longer acceptable.”

He said the government will also make provisions for the development of a multi-law enforcement

drone programme, with the RBDF as the lead agency.

Programme participants will include the police force, customs and immigration officers, and the Bahamas

Department of Correctional Services.

He said the drone programme will commence during the second half of this year.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Oban deal: We’ll never support it from page one site of Oban’s facility and all the information it now has on the company.

BNT also asked for the opportunity to “weigh in” on the project’s environmental impact assessment prior to its completion, saying up to now, it has only been receiving information from press reports.

However, BNT said notwithstanding the results of the EIA, the group does not see how it can support the project given the associated environmental risks.

“The Bahamas National Trust has requested information from the government of the Bahamas regarding the oil refinery and storage facility in Grand Bahama, known as the Oban Project,” BNT noted.

“BNT is greatly concerned with regards to the location of the facility, which if the reports in the press are correct, would place the refinery in close proximity to three national parks – The Lucayan National Park, the East Grand Bahama National Park, and the North Shore - The Gap National Park.

The BNT has asked the government to provide the

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, left, with Peter Krieger, of Oban Energies.

Photo: Yontalay Bowe/OPM Media Services exact location of the site Bahama Island, 35 miles and to see the full Heads of east of Freeport’ which Agreement. We have also would place the facility asked for the opportunity extremely close to the East to weigh in on the environ- Grand Bahama National mental impact assessment Park,” the BNT said. before completion.

When contacted for “BNT wishes to state comment yesterday, Envivery clearly however, that ronment Minister Romauld notwithstanding the results Ferreira said the manageof the EIA, even if there are ment and evaluation of local project impacts that all EIAs are vested in the the Bahamas Environment BEST Commission, and as and Science and Technol- such, out of his purview. ogy Commission and the Oversight of the BEST government might deem Commission was previously acceptable if mitigated, we transferred to Prime Miniscannot envisage any sce- ter Dr Hubert Minnis. nario where BNT could The government has been support this project. What- attacked for a clause in the ever the specific location, Oban Heads of Agreement this mammoth oil refinery which prohibits the proand the industrial project ject’s termination whatever will be located somewhere an EIA concludes. between three ecologically However, the agreeimportant national parks. ment empowers the “Indeed, the Oban Ener- minister responsible for gies website says that the the environment to force facility would be ‘located off the discontinuation of any the southern tip of Grand “operation or equipment”

from the project that causes an environmental infraction.

BNT wrote yesterday: “(We are) sensitive to the need to create jobs, especially considering Grand Bahama’s depressed economy. It is absolutely crucial however, that this is not at the expense of the island’s, and by extension, the country’s, most important asset, the natural environment.

“BNT is hopeful therefore that if the assessed impact of this project is determined to be unacceptable, that the government does have an escape clause to allow us to protect the environment, contrary to what has been reported in the press.

“BNT wishes also to note that this facility advances the expansion of fossil fuels, one of the acknowledged greatest contributors to climate change.”

The statement added: “The extremely high risk that oil refineries in particular present in terms of air, aquatic, and soil pollution and their impact on flora, fauna, sea life, and local communities is extremely widely documented.

“Indeed, it is primarily environmental and safety concerns that has meant that no new refineries have been built in the United

States since the 1970s, albeit existing refineries have been expanded.”

In addition to noting the fact the project would be built in an area highly susceptible to hurricanes, the BNT highlighted the importance of the three parks which would be near the refinery.

Speaking specifically to the East Grand Bahama National Park, BNT said: “(This site) is located in the area south of Sweeting’s Cay, a series of tidal creeks (that) provide prime flats fishing habitats that support the local communities in east Grand Bahama.”

Additionally, BNT said the extensive mangrove forests also act as corridors to the offshore reef system that are included in the proposed national park for East Grand Bahama.

The group also noted that the explored blue hole systems on Sweeting’s Cay are connected to undisturbed underground karst systems that are supported as national parks to benefit the local economy of Sweeting’s Cay. Of the Lucayan National Park, which BNT recognised as the most highly visited national park in the country, the group said: “(This park) protects one of the longest charted underwater cave systems in the world; a

unique system of elevated walkways through the last intact mangrove wetland on the southern shore of Grand Bahama, a magnificently wide unspoiled beach showcasing the tallest sand dunes on the island and a wealth of flora and fauna.

“This park exhibits all the Bahamian vegetative zones and is an amazing outdoor classroom for Bahamian students.”

Then lastly, of the North Shore – The Gap National Park, the BNT said: “The coastal area on the north shore consists of mangrove wetlands, tidal creeks, sand and mud flats, beach strand and rocky shores.”

BNT said an extensive area of blue holes and an unexplored karst cave system also exists in the coastal area northeast of Dover Sound.

In addition to these factors, BNT said further inland, there are pine woodlands where many bird species live.

In a paid advertisement published in The Tribune last week, Oban’s President Satpal Dhunna advised Bahamians not to pay attention to the “noise in the market” but to be aware of the positive things the project will bring to Grand Bahama, such as jobs and an expected economic boost.

their presence…yet he was signing the name of the president of the company Mr Dhunna who was in the papers with some contorted explanation.

“He’s telling us after the fact now that he authorised Mr Krieger to sign and that he signed too because he couldn’t be here. But if you signed too why was the agreement in here dated the 19th of February, but you say he couldn’t be here that day but your agreement is dated that day and it ain’t witnessed by nobody and the man you send here who can’t do certain things in America signed your name, Mr Speaker?”

She continued to question whether the House was misled.

“The document laid in this House said to be the Heads of Agreement is not the same document we witnessed being executed in the formal ceremony where our prime minister was and the Cabinet and touted the Heads of Agreement.

“The document laid in

this House was apparently signed by someone else.

I can’t read the signature, but it is alleged to be Mr Dhunna, but who knows.

Who knows who signed?

I don’t know who signed Mr Speaker, but if the government said Mr Dhunna signed I got to accept that, Mr Speaker. But that within it self creates questions because I am asking Mr Speaker has this House been misled?”

The Englerston MP said the Heads of Agreement did nothing to protect the environment and placed the country in an inferior position.

“We note the BEST Commission was removed, no announcement to the Bahamian people, and placed in the Office of the Prime Minister therefore it is at his feet the member for Killarney, the prime minister, that we lay squarely the grotesque and unprecedented departure of standard provisions over the decade for the protection of our environment.

“It is stunning to see that under this deal the developer may abandon the project if it does not wish to take steps that are commercially reasonable. So even if it’s commercially reasonable they don’t have to do it.

“Under this agreement the penalties for damage to the environment caused by failure to remediate infractions are capped at $3.5m.

Remarkably the agreement gives the developer immunity and/or exemption from any future laws or regulations any future approvals or legal requirements, which is applied including any changes in the condition applicable to the issuance of any approval.

So what does this do Mr Speaker?

“This is exempting Oban from complying with for example new environmental laws that change the current construct. This is unheard of, Mr Speaker.”

She also said: “They are going to take the agreement that we gave them and go out and raise some money.

They don’t have the money.

They are going to use our agreement to go out there and raise money.”

Oban Energies President Satpal Dhunna has said Peter Krieger signed the Heads of Agreement with the Bahamas government during a “ceremonial” event at the Office of the Prime Minister three weeks ago because he, Mr Dhunna, could not make it.

In a March 7 letter addressed to the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Dhunna said he signed “the original counterparts” of the Heads of Agreement “for and on behalf of Oban Energies” in Nassau prior to his return to London.

“As I was unable to return for the ceremonial signing scheduled for February 19, 2018, Peter Krieger, non-executive chairman, attended under the consent of Oban Energies, including but not limited to its members, the ceremonial signing for and on behalf of Oban Energies LLC,” Mr Dhunna’s letter notes.

“Oban Energies... hereby considers itself bound by the Heads of Agreement and is fully committed to progressing the project in accordance therewith.”

GLENYS DEMANDS: WERE WE MISLED? from page one

She also questioned whether Oban had the money to fund this project.

The MP further sought to draw a connection between the removal of the BEST Commission from the portfolio of Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira to the purview of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and connect it to the proposed oil refinery and storage for Grand Bahama.

She said the clauses in the Heads of Agreement do not in her opinion honour Bahamian provisions for the protection of the environment and the failure to do so should be laid at the feet of the prime minister.

This along with public uncertainty on the scope of

the project, issues relating to Crown land and the proposed use of the seabed has compounded this matter, Mrs Hanna Martin said.

Her remarks came as Mr Ferreira was yesterday reportedly unable to give answers when he was pressed by reporters on the impact the project was expected to have on the environment.

“Where y’all find these people Mr Speaker?” the MP asked yesterday during her contribution to the midyear budget debate.

“We have learned that the foreign investors touted to invest in our Bahama land are of dubious character. Y’all bring investors of dubious character here.

“To think of the investor as someone whose role has been shifting before

our eyes and has more lately, when I wrote this last night, he was more lately described as an ambassador, but today he is being called a non-executive chairman so we got a ping pong of whoever this man is.

“We know he has a conviction of fraud. He has been barred by the SEC from engaging in a multiplicity of activities, but we bring him here to invest in our country.

“The ambassador was seen on our national TV seated next to our prime minister purporting to execute a $5bn Heads of Agreement. If this wasn’t real we’d be laughing our heads off right now. While singing someone else’ s name not his own. This lil man who can’t do anything in America was in

Funeral Service

Angela Jeanette Ward, 61 of Nassau, The Bahamas, who died peacefully at Doctors Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau, on Friday, 9th March, 2018, will be held at the Chapel of Love, Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, Palmdale Avenue and Bradley Street, Nassau, on Thursday, 15th March, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Derek Benjamin will officiate. Cremation will follow.

She is survived by her husband, Gilbert A. Ward; sons, H. Glenn Minnis and Graham Ward; daughter, Shelley Ward; grandsons, Asher, Reuven, Gabriel and Shiloh Minnis and Sebastian Ward; granddaughters, Eden Minnis and Sofia Ward; brother, Mischa Gringras; nephews, Daniel Bayssassew, Justin and Tobin Gringras, Corey Erskine and Jesse Simms; nieces, Courtney Gringras, Hannah Bayssassew, Jessica Erskine and Lauren Stevenson; aunt, Elizabeth van Veen; daughters-in-law, Alexis Minnis and Monica Ward; grand nephews, Benjamin and Kaeleb; grand nieces, Madison, Abigail, Anna and Alice; brother-in-law, Gerald Cash; sister-in-law, Sharon Erskine and many other relatives and close friends including “Her Girls” Elizabeth Evans, Linda Ionson, Vicki Allen, Christa Palmer, Santina Brothers, Suzanne Black, Paulette Davis, Shirley Cartwright and Faye Sands, Cornel and Myrna Collins, Mesfin Bayssassew, Dr. David Allen, Sharon Deveaux and Annabelle Hammond.

Our deepest gratitude to Doctor Downes and the Nurses and Staff at Doctors Hospital along with her Private Nursing Staff.

She will be especially missed by “Benji” In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be sent to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, P.O. Box S.S. 6539, Nassau in memory of Angela Jeanette Ward.

Relatives and friends may pay their respects at Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited, Palmdale Avenue, on Wednesday, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Arrangements Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited.

Death Notice For

Godfrey Brathwaite, 80 a resident of Sunset Park and formerly of Trinidad and Tabago, died at The Geriatrics Hospital on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018.

He is survived by his loving wife: Mrs. Kimberly Brathwaite; three sons: Bishop Ian Keith Brathwaite Sr., Derek (Lyle) Brathwaite (deceased) and Kamron Lockhart; two daughters: Mrs. Inger Archer, and WRC. 772 Shcanla Rahming-Todd; Daughtersin-law: Prophetess Koralee Brathwaite and Mrs. Lynn Brathwaite; Sons- in-law: Mr. Kevin Archer and Mr. Beaumont Todd; Sisters-in-law: Rachel, Jenna, Katherine Neilly, and Shandia Saunders; Brother-in-law: Mr. Mario Neilly Sr.; two brothers: Aaron Blatche and Carl Sanchez (deceased); numerous nieces and nephews; grands; great grands; and a host of other relatives and Friends.

Funeral announcement will be announced at a later date.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, PAGE 7

THE “Cabbage Beach Ten” outside court yesterday with their attorneys, Branville McCartney and Don Saunders, Tall Pines MP, after their case was discharged by a magistrate.

Photo: Nico Scavella

Cabbage case collapses after officers fail to attend court from page one Mr McCartney also said Essex Law Chambers, whose senior partner is Tall Pines MP Don Saunders, will be assisting with the suit of malicious prosecution against the government pending the instructions of the intended claimants.

Mr Saunders was the other attorney on record for the matter.

Hours prior to his announcement, Mr McCartney, Mr Saunders and their clients were present at the Magistrate’s Court complex from 10am in anticipation of the commencement of their matter, which saw some 13 adjournments since they were initially arraigned on March 9, 2016.

Since that date to yesterday, the virtual complainant in the matter, Alexander Roberts, never showed up in court. And the actual trial, which commenced on February 28, 2017 – almost a full year after the initial arraignment – only saw testimony from one Crown witness, Superintendent Philip Hinzey, according to Mr McCartney.

Yesterday, when Magistrate Ambrose Ambrister instructed the police prosecutor to call his witnesses in connection with the matter – Supt Hinsey and Assistant Commissioner of Police Leamond Delevaux – and the officer did so, the court was subsequently informed there was no appearance by either officer.

The police prosecutor subsequently made an application to withdraw the charges against the former accused pursuant to Section 230 2(b)2 of the Criminal

Procedure Code (CPC).

However, Mr McCartney subsequently rose and asked the magistrate to consider a complete discharge and acquittal of his clients, pursuant to Section 203.

Magistrate Ambrister ultimately opted to not acquit the group for legal reasons, but discharged them instead. He said while only two indictable charges against one or more in the group can be brought back against them, it is unlikely that will happen based on the fact the virtual complainant in the matter never showed up to court.

Magistrate Ambrister said the other offences, which are summary in nature, are barred by statute.

At a press conference after the “Cabbage Beach 10” were discharged, at his law office on Village Road, Mr McCartney said notwithstanding the group being discharged, they have all been “disadvantaged” due to what he maintained was a “malicious act by the prosecution”.

Mr McCartney said some of the former accused were never arrested, cautioned, or interviewed by police in connection with the matters they were previously charged with, and only found out what they were being charged with at the court hearing.

Mr McCartney also said Mr Moxey, who was initially arraigned on three counts each of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, and an additional count of damage, had a warrant issued for his arrest when he left the court complex due to the matter not starting on time.

When asked by The

Tribune how much in damages the group will seek as a result, Mr McCartney said: “That will depend on the individual circumstances as well.

“But we will go for substantial damages. We won’t do it for nothing less, but it is something that the court would have recognised previously. So we’re not going to just throw a number out in the air and say this is what we’re claiming. Each and every individual will have to be interviewed and depending on their individual circumstances as well, a particular claim will be made in that regard.”

He added: “This matter started under the former administration, and it’s unfortunate, but governments are continuous. So when administrations or prosecutions are done, and they’re done maliciously, ultimately its the Bahamian people that will pay, and that’s not fair to the Bahamian people.”

Nonetheless, the “Cabbage Beach Ten” said the entire ordeal has not deterred them in any way, and that they would protest the same way they did in 2016 if a similar situation arises.

“We have been vindicated,” Mr Bain said during the press conference. “And would we do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat.”

Jahro Saunders, the youngest member of the group at 25, echoed Mr Bain’s sentiments, and warned the government that it will see more of the group should it try something of a similar nature in the future.

“This only the start of something big, trust me,” he said. “This Cabbage Beach

HUNT FOR MISSING MEN FROM CAPSIZED BOAT CONTINUES THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force is assisting in the search for two people who went missing at sea on Sunday after their vessel capsized.

Four other occupants of the boat – Don Smith, Alan Rolle Jr, Karkin McLuaglir (a Honduran) and Doswell Coakley — are fortunate to be alive, following the harrowing incident, the RBDF said.

They were onboard the MV Diamond Express formerly known as Cat Island Express, en route to Great Harbour Cay in the Berry

Islands having left Freeport about 9pm on Saturday.

Their vessel capsized along the way and as a result they sounded “mayday” alerts, the RBDF said.

A joint search and rescue operation ensued by OPBAT, BASRA, RBDF and civilian vessels. The US Coast Guard helicopter located the capsized vessel and a civilian boat in the area rescued the four male occupants who were clinging to the overturned hull, the RBDF noted.

“Further investigations

reveal that the two additional persons onboard the ship remain missing. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, BASRA, and OPBAT continue to search the surrounding areas to locate the men. A private salvage company is also assessing the wreck to determine if any of the men were trapped on the inside.

“Fishermen and boaters in the area are asked to remain alert when transiting waters around Freeport and Great Harbour Cay,” the RBDF said.

Ten ain’t going nowhere.

And if the government ever try any stunt like this again, you best believe y’all gone see the ten of our faces again.

“I just want to tell the government they better watch they self,” he added.

“This ain’t no more the

people laying down and letting the government do whatever. This our land.”

In January, some of the men complained they had been abandoned by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, who pledged while in opposition that his

administration, if elected, would expunge their records. Press Secretary Anthony Newbold later said Dr Minnis did not regret making the pledge, saying he still intended to “live up to the commitment” he made them.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

The people’s time to clean up our doorstep

BY FELICITY INGRAHAM I REMEMBER when I spent a few months in Virginia and my friends were all excited to go to the beach. Virginia Beach is the spot, according to them, and it was a big deal for them. They were preparing to drive from Richmond fully outfitted with towels and beach gear. I decided I’d stay home, because where I come from, we have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – so I wasn’t missing out on beaching. When they returned with their photos, I couldn’t believe it. The greys and browns shocked me. Beaches in The Bahamas are lovely shades of blues and white, sandy beaches. Oh, how we take our beaches for granted.

When I returned home to New Providence, I totally appreciated my country a thousand times more. The sun was shining in America, but I would look at it and wonder where the warmth was. It just wasn’t the same. If you haven’t travelled much, you may think “sun, sand and sea” is just a cliché. But if you leave The Bahamas for any significant amount of time and live in a northern country, you’ll be begging for home sweet home. You will then understand why millions of tourists flock to our beaches every year. It’s a sweet escape from the greys of the city. The colours of the water alone are enough to inspire great writers, artists and the like.

It’s obvious many Bahamians take the beaches for granted. I spent my Sunday visiting Bonefish Pond with a friend. The pristine environment was so refreshing. I saw a couple of puffer fish with intricate patterns, some grunts and sergeant majors and a few sea cucumbers. The air was clean and you could see nothing but mangroves for miles. The birds were adorable. But as I sat on the bench, I noticed plastic bags and Styrofoam containers stuck in the mangroves.

It was very disheartening.

People still won’t tote their garbage behind them and they are doing a grave injustice to our environment.

If you travel the world, you would appreciate this country more. I don’t even see this type of littering and dumping in other parts of the world where beaches exist. This type of nasty behaviour may exist elsewhere, but it’s no excuse for

THE EASTERN ROAD

Bahamians making a mess of their own home. It seems if nothing else, people around the world try to hold on to whatever natural resources they have. They understand that if they don’t make an effort to preserve it, it won’t be around for future generations.

The Bahamas government, environmental organisations, youth groups – so many institutions have taken on the charge to clean up the beaches and educate Bahamians about the importance of preserving our beaches. Remember the “Clean, Green, Pristine” campaign?

Well, we were all enthused for a while, but once the ads stopped consistently running, it seems beachgoers simply forgot the rules.

The Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority has been doing an awesome job of cleaning up, but I don’t think the workers can keep up with the amount of refuse dumped on our shorelines every weekend. BREEF does a great job also, and funding and manpower are out into educating Bahamians and saving the environment.

The Bahamas National Trust has been holding the fort for ages, yet people still use the beautiful sea and beach for a dump.

Do people not get that plastic suffocates the fish, turtles and other marine life? How hard is it to place your garbage in the back trunk until you find

A SEAGULL looking at a plastic bag on Montagu Beach.

an appropriate container?

How much would it take out of you to discourage a friend from dropping their fast food junk on the ground? The only way for this to work is for every citizen to take a personal responsibility to ensure that they don’t litter the beaches and parks. We must set an example for the children to follow.

I left Bonefish Pond to do a little travelling around the island to see just how pervasive this problem is. I came face to face with the reality – as beautiful as the beaches in New Providence are, there are lots of nasty beach-goers. Even the night sneakers who have sex on the beach – don’t leave your condom on the beach either. The tide comes in, and takes that plastic sheath out to sea, and the little fish can swim right in and suffocate, or a bigger fish may swallow it whole.

I also had some issue with the fact that so many wonderful shorelines are on private property. I feel that there should be more areas for public beaching.

However, Bahamians must do a better job at protecting the little that is available in order to make a case for more access.

The Tribune’s Grand Bahama reporter Denise Maycock wrote a piece around this time last year, noting that beach litter was a “big concern” on the island.

She wrote: “During a visit at Taino Beach last week, rubbish and garbage bags full of trash were strewn about around beach park grounds. Trash receptacles were overflowing and the children’s playground was filthy and littered with trash.”

The Family Islands are in far better condition than New Providence. There are still scores of beaches practically untouched and in pure pristine condition.

However, the trash problem is obviously spreading and for this reason, this column seeks to put the spotlight on it right before the Easter

GOODMAN’S BAY

STOKE’S CABANA BEACH, East New Providence Monday holiday. Traditionally, it’s the first day that Bahamians go in the water for the year. After Easter Monday, the beaches in New Providence tend to look deplorable. From this holiday on, families flock to the beach every weekend.

It’s time to establish a new culture. If your home and lawn is not strewed with garbage, don’t do it to our national front lawn – the beach.

In late September 2016, the Eleutheran newspaper reported that a massive cleanup performed by the island’s kids took place at Northside Beach, Rock Sound. There, 1,080 pounds of litter were collected in less than a mile. Items such as “syringes, fishing gear, straws, plastic food wrappers, plastic bottles and caps, foam containers, and plastic fragments were collected from the beach”.

This was a part of an international campaign led by the Ocean Conservancy, which hosted the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 17. Through this effort, in one year more than 18 million pounds of trash was collected by nearly 800,000 volunteers worldwide.

In Exuma at the departure lounge in the airport, there is a beautiful ocean scene near the security booth that was created by kids. It was made with hundreds of bottle covers. While admiring it, I discussed the piece with a native who explained that the piece was created after a coastal clean up. The kids used the covers of all the bottles they collected to

create this piece. It spoke volumes.

Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Renward Wells heralded the coming of the “blue economy”. He pointed out that as the world begins to turn its attention towards the oceans and the

vast source of wealth they hold, places like The Bahamas would become critical players in the new industry and that the country could position itself to be a world leader. In order for this to happen, we had better clean up our doorstep before the guests arrive.

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO BLACKLISTING ACTION: THE news that the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Financial Services were heading to Europe to plead the Bahamas’ case against being “backlisted’’ by the EU, prompted a lively reaction from readers on tribune242.com.

Spoitier said: “Take back our natural resources from the elites and put it in the hands of the people and we will be all right regardless of any blacklist that the EU put on us.”

Prompting Dawes to ask: “Outside of the aragonite what natural resources do we have over here? And how much would we get if we had control of the aragonite?”

DEDDIE had this to say: “Stop jumping through hoops. Let them do what

they have to do. What is so ridiculous, they themselves can’t meet their own criteria. If they were honest they would blacklist themselves.”

TigerB said: “Guys don’t forget, that blacklisting will affect all Bahamians, no matter what colour of shirt dey does wear, maybe we should hope for the best . . . maybe.”

• On Monday, The Tribune also reported that the Minnis administration is considering acquiring a building in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera to

house a clinic - which means $535,348.77 paid to Carey’s Construction for work on a new clinic under the previous government will be wasted.

Joeblow criticised the Minister of Health: “Sands has been itching to be in this position for years. He finally has it and the only thing he seems to be able to do is expose the failings of the former administration.

As a doctor who has been in the system for years and has been shadow Minister of Health he should have had a much better grasp of the challenges in health, should have formulated a workable plan that would have delivered results to the Bahamian people by now. No such luck.”

And there was this from

Stillwaters: “I am getting so tired of the FNM just digging up the PLP’s corruption. We know all this . . . and more that is still being hidden . . . we know there was widespread corruption, but it’s time for the FNM to go start doing it’s JOB. Don’t get me wrong . . . I don’t want to see, hear, or smell the PLP ever again . . . but go do your damn job!!!!!”

• In The Tribune’s latest online poll, we asked readers if they were in favour of Oban Energy’s proposed oil refinery in Grand Bahama.

At the time of going to press, 57 percent said they supported the refinery plans. The poll is still open, so don’t miss your chance to vote and have your say on tribune242.com.

BONEFISH POND

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, PAGE 9

WINNERS SHINE IN ESSAY CONTEST AT ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE

PETER YOUNG, former British high commissioner, with participants in the Ministry of Education’s award ceremony for the essay competition.

ST AUGUSTINE’S College has produced the overall winner of the annual economics essay competition held last month at Anatol Rodgers Senior High School in Nassau.

Kiran Halkitis was judged to have written the best essay and came first in the competition. The runner-up was Kennesha Fraser of CI Gibson Senior High School while Kentel Lloyd of CV Bethel Senior High School took third place.

Proposed originally two years ago by The Nassau Institute and sponsored by the Templeton Religion

Trust, this second annual competition was organised by The Department of Education in collaboration with the Institute. It was open to entrants from both public and private schools who were enrolled in business studies programmes.

Sixty-five students from a dozen different schools took part.

They were required to write an essay in their own words under examination conditions on a subject based on the book “Economics in One Lesson” by the renowned American economist Henry Hazlitt.

This book was circulated in advance to the schools concerned for the students to read in preparation.

At an awards presentation ceremony in the Ministry of Education on Friday, the three winners shared a cash prize of $1,000. Each was also presented with an inscribed trophy for submitting the best essay from their individual schools. In addition, the overall winner will attend a three-day high school economics seminar in Atlanta, Georgia in July under the auspices of the Foundation for Economic

Education with all expenses paid. Apart from these winners, those who produced the best essay for each school received an inscribed trophy and all entrants received an individual certificate of participation.

The awards ceremony was attended by Mrs Keyshan Bastian, Assistant Director of Education, and

by Rick Lowe, President of The Nassau Institute, as well as the teachers from the schools which participated. Mrs Bastian congratulated all the students who took part

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

and thanked those who organised the competition.

Former British High Commissioner Peter Young, who spearheaded the competition as a director of The Nassau Institute, presented the prizes.

Mr Young praised the students for the high standard of their essays and paid tribute to those concerned in The Department of Education for their effective work in arranging such a successful event. He mentioned, in particular, Gwendolyn Johnson, Education Officer for Business Studies, who

had overall responsibility for the competition and he commended the efforts of Samantha Keziah Knowles of Central Eleuthera High School and Lakell Johnson of CR Walker Senior High School who handled the detailed arrangements. He also thanked the sponsors for their generous support.

The Nassau Institute has pledged to continue to work with The Department of Education in organising this annual essay competition and has also expressed a willingness to co-operate on other related projects in the future.

More than 130,000 NIB contributions not processed

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MINSTER of the Public Service and National Insurance Brensil Rolle yesterday revealed the National Insurance Board has not processed 133,130 contributions, suggesting thousands of Bahamians could not access benefits as a result of poor management under the former administration.

Mr Rolle lamented the excessive backlog was the result of the premature launch of the new $14m V3 system, which is riddled with bugs and has slashed productivity at NIB by 43 per cent. The system was launched in 2016.

“The Contributions Department has 133,130 contributions forms to process. Persons coming to NIB and saying ‘listen I want to make my payment to the board,’” Mr Rolle said.

“We supposed to put these contributions in a computer system, there are 130,000 that are not in the system, that means there are 133,000 persons who cannot claim a benefit. When I went into NIB,

these contributions were locked in a box stashed away because they thought they couldn’t handle the situation…same in North Abaco.

“I apologise to the Bahamian public, that is our responsibility.

We will address it, and we will deal with it.”

Mr Rolle told Parliament the system will likely cost an additional $2.3m to fix, with some officials sceptical of whether issues could be completely resolved.

Short-term benefits were usually processed within three working days, Mr Rolle said, noting the process now took longer than a month and with twice as many human resources.

“This reduction has had severe impact on the customer side,” he continued. “There has been no improvement in a turnaround time in the processing long term benefits which takes 90 days.

“From April 2016 to November 2017,” Mr Rolle said, “4,660 short term benefits claims are outstanding, claims persons made to the board that have not been addressed, and 1,887 longterm claims.”

Following his contribution, Official Opposition Leader Philip Davis asked Mr Rolle to clarify whether the backlog figure represented a number of entries, for which there could be multiple entries relating to an individual, or actual customers. Mr Davis pointed out that NIB’s 2016 annual report indicated there were an estimated 143,000 active employees.

“Which means only 10,000 persons are not being impacted,” Mr Davis added, “to send a message that 123,000 Bahamians who are working out of a lot of 143,000, doesn’t send a good message.”

To this, Mr Rolle said: “You would agree that it’s multiple entries or single entries, the fact that thousands of entries are not made is unacceptable. It could be multiple entries, they could be singular entries, what I did say was that the possibility is this, that 133,000 persons are impacted, it may mean that one person may be asking for two or three different benefits or it may mean that NIB was supposed to pay on this benefit three years ago and since that time

SUSPECTED DEALER CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF DRUGS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SHARKEAL Belizaire was charged in the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court yesterday with possession of dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

Belizaire, 23, appeared before Magistrate Gwen Claude. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

It is alleged that on January 22 at Eight Mile Rock, the accused was found in possession of Indian Hemp with intent to supply.

According to the particulars, at about 7pm on the date in question, officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit went to a car wash where they searched Belizaire and found one clear plastic bag with suspected marijuana.

The police conducted a

further search of the area and discovered an additional 17 foil wraps in a container.

Magistrate Claude asked Belizaire to address the court. He said that he had not been in any trouble with the law before and that it was the first time he was arrested. He claimed that the drugs were for his personal use and that he never intended to supply it to anyone.

However, after being questioned by Magistrate Claude about the quantity found, Belizaire admitted that he had purchased the drugs for $50 to sell and that he would have made some $60 to $70.

Belizaire told the court that at the time he was not employed, but had recently got a job with a roofing company. He also admitted to smoking marijuana.

The magistrate asked

him if he has a high school diploma. “No,” he replied.

Magistrate Claude asked the accused if he preferred to go to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in Fox Hill for four years or to the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.

Belizaire said that he did not want to go to prison.

The judge ordered the accused to register at BTVI and to perform 500 hours of community service. Belizaire is also required to attend the Voluntary Intervention Programme (VIP) on Saturday mornings at the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court.

She also told Belizaire that if he failed a random drug test, he would have to serve a four-year sentence in prison.

Magistrate Claude set the matter down for review on June 18.

(the customer) entered more benefits that should be paid because he didn’t get the first one…the point

is the PLP only wanted to say that they did something, rather than waiting until the system was ready

and able to do the job, they just wanted to make an announcement that they did something.”

PAGE 10, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

PACKAGE BOMBS IN TEXAS CAPITAL LIKELY TIED TO EARLIER BLAST TWO package bomb blasts a few miles apart killed a teenager and wounded two women in Austin on Monday, less than two weeks after a similar attack left a man dead in another part of the Texas capital.

Investigators said the bombings are probably connected, and they are looking into whether race was a factor because all of the victims were minorities.

The blasts unfolded just as the city was swelling with visitors to the South By Southwest music festival.

The first of Monday’s attacks killed a 17-yearold boy and wounded a 40-year-old woman, both of them black. As Police Chief Brian Manley held a news conference to discuss that attack, authorities were called to the scene of another explosion that injured a 75-year-old Hispanic woman. She was taken to a hospital with potentially life-threatening wounds.

Authorities suspect that both of Monday’s explosions were linked to a March 2 attack that killed a 39-year-old black man, and they urged the public to call police if they receive any unexpected packages.

“This is the third in what we believe to be related incidents over the past ten days,” Manley said while briefing reporters near the site of Monday’s second explosion. He at first suggested that the blasts could constitute a hate crime, but later amended that to say authorities had not settled on a motive and could not rule anything out.

“We are not ruling anything out at this point,” said Manley, who said the intended targets were not clear since multiple people live in the homes where explosives were placed.

“We are willing to investigate any avenue that may be involved.”

The police chief refused to provide many details

about the explosives, citing the ongoing investigation.

But he said they were an “average size letter box” and “not particularly large”. In all three cases, he said, the packages did not appear to have gone through the US Postal Service or private carriers like UPS but were left on doorsteps without a knock or ringing of doorbells.

The explosions happened far from the main events of the wildly popular festival known as SXSW, which brings about 400,000 visitors to Austin each year. The police chief urged visitors to “be aware of what’s going on”.

“Enjoy yourself. Have a good time,” he said.

“There’s no reason to believe that you are at any greater risk other than be aware, look for things that are suspicious.”

In a tweet, organizers of the festival said “SXSW is heartbroken by the explosions in Austin,” and they urged visitors to stay safe.

Gov Greg Abbott offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Four years ago, a driver plowed through a barricade and into festival-goers, killing four people and injuring many others. Extra security measures were taken, including additional policing, tougher security checks and brighter street lighting.

The three explosions occurred in different parts of east Austin. Monday’s first blast happened at a home in Springdale Hills, a leafy neighborhood of houses mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. After the attack, officials in hazardous materials suits came and went regularly.

That was about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the home where the March 2 package bomb killed 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House. House’s death was initially investigated as suspicious but is now viewed as a homicide.

The day’s second

AUTHORITIES are investigating the scene in East Austin, Texas, after a teenager was killed and a woman was injured in the second Austin package explosion in the past two weeks.

explosion occurred around the Montopolis neighborhood, about 5 miles south of the day’s first blast.

Joanna Samarripa, who lives around the corner, said she saw a woman slumped

in the doorway of the home after rushing over moments after the explosion.

“The cops were running and telling everyone ‘Get out of the house! Get out of the house!’” Samarripa

said. “I’m still scared. I’m still shaking. I don’t even want to leave my daughter no more.”

Neighbour Keith Reynolds heard what sounded to him like a propane

explosion. He rushed outside and saw a cloud of hazy smoke and others on his street running to help.

“There was a horrible screaming. You knew that something terrible was happening,” Reynolds said, adding that the victim’s body was riddled with holes as emergency responders took her out of the house and into an ambulance.

“It’s just a regular family neighbourhood,” he said.

“It’s just a grandmother, you know what I mean?

Like, why?”

FBI teams from Austin, San Antonio and Dallas were investigating as was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Manley said anyone receiving a package they were not expecting should call 911.

“Under no circumstances should you touch them, move them or handle them in any way,” he said.

The victims in Monday’s blasts were not immediately identified.

CENTRAL BANKS WARNED TO WEIGH PAPUA NEW GUINEA QUAKE DEATH RISKS OF VIRTUAL CURRENCIES TOLL AT 55 AS AFTERSHOCK HITS

BITCOIN tokens at a shop in Sandy, Utah.

A GLOBAL financial body warns central banks should carefully weigh the risks before introducing their own virtual currencies, saying such innovations could risk destabilising banking systems and unleash disruption across borders.

But it said some forms of digital innovation could help by making trading in stocks and currencies more efficient.

Monday’s report from the Bank for International Settlements, an international organisation for central banks in Basel, Switzerland, says virtual currencies issued broadly by central banks could worsen bank runs. A virtual currency could do that by making it easy to move money entirely out of the commercial banking system with a mouse click during a panic.

The report said virtual money issued by a country’s central bank could, if widely used in cross-border transactions, lead to disruptive international capital flows and exchange rate fluctuations.

The report noted that any virtual currency would have to comply with requirements

aimed at stopping money laundering and financing of terrorism. That could limit how anonymous holding it could be.

The report doesn’t dismiss the idea. It said virtual currencies issued for wholesale use only — that is, by banks and financial institutions to settle payments rather than by consumers for purchases — could help make trading securities and foreign currencies more efficient.

That would not be so far from how central banks operate today. They already use money in an electronic form in the reserve accounts at the central bank that can be held only by banks and other designated financial institutions. Everyone else can access money issued by the central bank in the form of cold hard cash.

Benoit Coeure, chair of the BIS’ committee on payments and market infrastructures, said that that virtual currencies issued by central banks showed promise in wholesale payments.

“Central bank digital currencies could help make settling trades of securities and foreign exchange more efficient in the future. But

more work and experimentation would be needed to explore these benefits,” he said. Coeure is also a member of the executive board at the European Central Bank, the central bank for the 19-country eurozone and the issuer of the euro currency.

Coeure said that no central bank has so far decided to issue a virtual currency.

But the question has arisen in places such as Sweden, where the use of cash for everyday transactions is dwindling. Sweden’s central bank, the Rijksbank, is studying the possibility of issuing an e-krona. A decision is expected later this year or early next year. Sweden isn’t a member of the euro.

Central bankers in Europe have recently cast doubt on the usefulness of private virtual currencies such as bitcoin due to their volatility and lack of security. “At this time, the general judgment is that their volatile valuations, and inadequate investor and consumer protection, make them unsafe to rely on as a common means of payment, a stable store of value or a unit of account,” the report said.

A POWERFUL earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea last week has left at least 55 people dead and authorities fear the toll could exceed 100, as survivors faced more shaking early Wednesday from the strongest aftershock so far.

Southern Highlands governor William Powi said people were feeling traumatised from the disaster and ongoing aftershocks. The latest large temblor was a magnitude 6.7 quake that struck just after midnight Tuesday.

It was the strongest shake since the Feb 26 deadly magnitude 7.5 quake that destroyed homes, triggered landslides and halted work at four oil and gas fields.

The central region where last week’s quake struck is remote and undeveloped, and assessments about the scale of the damage and injuries have been slow to filter out. Powi said he didn’t know if the latest aftershock had caused more injuries or

damage, but he said it had added to the distress people were feeling.

“It is beyond the capacity of the provincial government to cope with the magnitude of destruction and devastation,” he said. “Our people are traumatised and finding it difficult to cope.”

Powi said provincial authorities were trying to prioritise the greatest needs by getting people with severe injuries to medical centers and providing water and medicine. He said help from abroad and from local aid agencies was slowly coming in.

“It’s a mammoth task.

Most of the feeder roads are washed away or covered with landslips,” he said.

“People’s livelihoods are devastated, their personal property is gone.”

Powi said 39 people died in his province after families were crushed by their collapsing homes or buried by landslides during last week’s

earthquake. He said death reports were still coming in from remote places, and he feared the death toll would rise to over 100.

A spokeswoman at the National Disaster Centre said the official death toll is currently estimated at between 55 and 75, although they don’t yet have firm numbers.

The US Geological Survey said Wednesday’s quake was centered 112 kilometers (70 miles) southwest of Porgera at a shallow depth of ten kilometers (six miles). Ten aftershocks in the hours since ranged between magnitude 4.7 and 5.2.

Papua New Guinea is home to seven million people on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia. It sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.

DAMAGED building following an earthquake in Mendi, Papua New Guinea.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, PAGE 11

Kavalas prepare to hold last luncheon for seniors

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS Dr Mallikharjuna Rao Kavala prepares to host his final senior citizens luncheon which has become a popular event on Grand Bahama, the physician’s legacy of service, kindness and caring for people will always be remembered.

For the past 22 years, Dr Kavala and his wife Nalini have touched the lives of hundreds of seniors on the island through their annual event at St Stephen’s Parish Hall in Eight Mile Rock.

The luncheon, which also features live gospel entertainment by The Cooling Waters group, has grown throughout the years catering to more than 500 seniors exceeding the hall’s capacity and is now held under large canopy tents on the church grounds.

This year, the Kavalas will hold their last luncheon on April 26. Dr Kavala said many people have come on board to help make the event a success over the past 20 years.

He said the event takes months of planning and preparation and he is no longer able to continue because of his age.

“When I started 22 years ago, I was still a physician in the government service,” he recalled. “I would ask the nurses to collect the names of the senior citizens in Eight Mile Rock and send the fruit baskets to everyone.”

After a couple of years, the physician decided to bring everyone together by hosting a luncheon.

Since then, every year the event has been expanded to include seniors in other

DR M R Kavala and his wife, Nalini, are holding their final senior citizens’ luncheon in Grand Bahama on April 26. settlements and eventually Melanie Griffin and other of them and show them that as a general practitioner Cabinet ministers, MPs, and they are appreciated, and working in a governthe entire island.

Dr Kavala bussed sen- local government officials that is why it has expanded ment clinic in Andros. He to this level,” he said. moved to Grand Bahama iors from far away from have attended the event.

According to Dr Kavala, Dr Kavala said despite his in 1984 and was stationed settlements in East Grand Bahama to the event every an invitation has been busy schedule as a doctor, at Eight Mile Rock where extended this year to Prime he and his wife always he served 34 years before year.

“In the early years, my Minister Dr Hubert Minnis found time to devout to retiring from government wife and myself and one or in addition to other govern- the charitable event. He service. said he hopes the activity is “For the first 15 years I two other persons would go ment officials.

The physician said the continued by energetic and was the only physician in to the hall with the brooms EMR, the biggest settleto clean and decorate event has brought him enthusiastic young people.

Mrs Kavala said she is ment in the Bahamas. I am the room, and we started much satisfaction over the with 100 or so seniors,” he years, especially seeing very proud of her husband. the longest serving physithe smiles on the faces Dr Kavala, who is a cian in government,” he recalled.

The event soon spurred of the seniors enjoying native of India, also travels said. back to his home country After his retirement, Dr community participation, themselves.

“I feel very good about it and hosts a similar lunch- Kavala remained in the and residents wanted to Eight Mile Rock community become involved. Former because we must remember eon for people there.

He was recruited in 1982 where he lives and operates Minister of Social Services our seniors and to take care

his private practice.

He thanked persons such as Ralph Russell who allowed him to use a small building to start his practice. After purchasing a house from the Butlers, Dr Kavala said Henry Johnson got architectural drawings for the clinic.

The Kavalas’ two daughters – Gita Kavala, who specialises in global health at the University of New York, and Latha Kavala, who has been working at Jarvik Heart, which manufactures artificial hearts – attend the luncheon every year.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, March 13, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

YOUTH IN THE PARK

A YOUTH and Culture in the Park event was held by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture at Mother Pratt Park at the weekend, including music, demonstrations by organisations and youth groups and more.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff