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The Tribune
Volume:115 No.80, MARCH 16TH, 2018
Established 1903
Weekend
WEEKEND: THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HANDBAG DESIGNER’S RISE
Water staff fear more heads to roll
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE termination of Glen Laville from the post of general manager of the Water and Sewerage Corporation could be the “tip of the iceberg,” insiders told The Tribune yesterday, adding there are fears others may be fired in the aftermath of Ernst and Young’s audit of the water provider. Mr Laville was fired Wednesday and accused by WSC Chairman Adrian Gibson of mismanaging the affairs of the corporation. Mr Laville, in an interview with The Nassau Guardian, said he would not take his termination lying down and hoped to give WSC an opportunity to retract some of the issues
in the EY report, which he said were false. He has indicated an intention to seek legal redress. “You know things have been shaky here at the corporation for a while now and the firing of Laville doesn’t do anything to help,” one executive told The Tribune yesterday on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly about the matter. “Many of us wonder and are coming to the conclusion that other high-ranking people out of this corporation are next. The line staff and others do not appear to be safe either. We surmise that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. This EY audit has opened Pandora’s box.” SEE PAGE SIX
DRUMMING UP A STORM
THE forensic audit by EY into the Water & Sewerage Corporation needed to dig deeper, the head of its management union argued yesterday. Ednol Rolle told Tribune Business there were several areas in the report where he and his members had “reservations” over the findings, suggesting that they - as middle managers - could have provided some answers and clarity to the accounting firm’s concerns. Declining to identify
these “areas” until he had discussed them with the “new” management team, following Glen Laville’s termination as general manager, Mr Rolle said the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s short-term performance depends heavily on how far the Government goes in “purging” the state-owned body. “There were a couple of things that, on the surface, there’s a bit more investigation required in some of these areas,” the union chief told Tribune Business of the forensic audit. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
LLOYD BEGS TEACHERS: BE PATIENT By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Jeffery Lloyd yesterday called grievances raised by the Bahamas Union of Teachers this week “legitimate,” but urged the union to be patient as the government works to “resolve the issues”. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Mr Lloyd said while the problems presented seem severe, he was of the view that “patient and understanding minds” could come to an agreement on many of the issues raised by BUT President Belinda Wilson during an impassioned speech on Wednesday before a group of disgruntled teachers. Mr Lloyd said he is working “night and day, day and night, non-stop” to address the things the government is at fault for in the SEE PAGE THREE
QC SMITH IN THUMBS-UP FOR ‘FLYING’ MAGISTRATE
‘AUDITORS DIDN’T DIG DEEP ENOUGH’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas hosted its 14th Annual Foreign Languages Day with cultural performances and an international food fair. Pictured is Cuban performer Silvia Irene, of Everything Handmade. See more on page three. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
ATTORNEY Fred Smith, QC, praised the government yesterday for facilitating court hearings on Inagua involving migrants accused of entering the country illegally, though he said there remains a need to provide migrants with access to legal aid. After their conviction on Tuesday, the migrants were deported on Wednesday, proving fears that mass illegal immigration will result from rigorously adhering to laws are overblown, Mr Smith said. “Quite the contrary, all of these people are now presumably back out of The Bahamas,” he said. SEE PAGE THREE
BETHEL: ANY MARITAL VIOLENCE A CRIME By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
AS his office puts the final touches on amendments to the Sexual Offences Act, Attorney General Carl Bethel yesterday made clear proposed marriage controls shopped by the Bahamas Christian Council will not be accepted “quid pro quo”. Mr Bethel said he met with the council to discuss
their recommendations, adding that the final bill – if passed – will criminalise all forms of violence regardless of marital status. The BCC opted to withhold its position on proposed amendments, which would criminalise marital rape, until it has seen the final bill. However, it was revealed earlier this month there had been a progressive shift in consensus from the body on the need for a legislative
approach to abuses that can occur within a marriage. Along with recommendations on proposed amendments, the group submitted a companion bill called Sanctity of Marriage Bill 2018 that seeks to establish another advisory council to set rules for Bahamian marriages, legislate counselling and effect tax incentives for married couples who live together. SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
DEY CAN’ BE SERIOUS SEE PAGE EIGHT