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VOLUME:114 No.85, MARCH 23RD, 2017

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FNM: Baha Mar move a photo op

L SOUR CE

HOUSE TO BE DISSOLVED IN ‘WEEKS, IF NOT DAYS’

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

BAIN and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard Nottage said yesterday that in a matter of “weeks, if not days” the House of Assembly is likely to dissolve, implying that an election date is soon to be announced.

SEE PAGE SIX

‘How can govt hand over keys to property they don’t own?

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE FREE National Movement yesterday called the transfer of mega resort Baha Mar to Hong Kongbased Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd on Tuesday a “great public relations exercise” with no “real significance”.

In a press statement, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis questioned how the Progressive Liberal Party could “turn over a set of keys to a property they claim they don’t own,” and said if running a government “was just a series of photo ops and staged events

this PLP government would be batting a thousand.”

However, the hand over of Baha Mar on Tuesday was executed by China Construction America (CCA), the resort’s general contractor, giving to CTFE its temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO), which now allows visitors to occupy rooms and utilise other resort amenities.

During the handing over ceremony, Prime Minister Perry Christie also hinted that Dr Minnis should be “ashamed of himself” for hoping the resort would fail in order to gain political mileage.

SEE PAGE SIX

CURRY DEFENDS MISSING 102 OUT OF 220 ASSEMBLY SESSIONS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

NORTH Abaco MP Renardo Curry yesterday said his shoddy attendance at House of Assembly proceedings to date was due to him being “challenged” by the conflicting nature of his jobs as both MP and parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco.

Mr Curry has been absent from parliamentary proceedings 102 times out of the 220 times the House

of Assembly has met this term, according to a local newspaper report.

Mr Curry, in an interview with reporters outside of the House of Assembly yesterday, said it has been “somewhat of a challenge” moving “back and forth” between Abaco, where he and his family live, and New Providence to honour both obligations.

He also said it would be “more questionable” if MPs that live in New Providence and represent SEE PAGE 13

FIREFIGHTERS work to extinguish the blaze in the shanty town last night.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

FAMILIES DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IN SHANTY TOWN BLAZE

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AT LEAST six families are displaced after a fire devastated a shanty town late last night.

Fire Chief Superintendent Water Evans said

police did not have an official count at the scene of how many people had lost their homes in the blaze but up to press time, four homes had burned to the ground.

The massive blaze started shortly after 9pm and quickly spread through the

small community, just west of Fire Trail Road. Supt Evans said all firetrucks in New Providence were immediately dispatched to the scene.

“The first unit arrived minutes after receiving the call and they met multiple structures on fire. Im-

mediately they made call the for all of the available trucks on the island from the Royal Bahamas Police Fire Services to come out to assist in extinguishing the blaze,” Supt Evans said.

SEE PAGE TWO

DEAL TO TAKE COUNTRY CLOSER POLICE ABSENT AS PARLIAMENT TO COLLECTING OVERFLIGHT FEES REGISTRATION STAFF ROBBED

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE government yesterday hailed as “fundamental progress” its signing of an agreement with the United States Federal Aviation Administration, which brings the country one step closer to collecting its own overflight fees from aircraft transiting

Bahamian airspace.

Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said the FAA has agreed to enter an agreement for a ten-year management of this country’s airspace with “terms to be agreed”, which she said would include the payment of a management fee to the FAA and SEE PAGE NINE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage yesterday expressed “regret” over the “traumatising” armed robbery of several Parliamentary Registration Department officials who were wrapping up voter registration activities

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

at the St Barnabas Church Activity Centre on Tuesday night.

According to Dr Nottage, two men, one armed with a gun, robbed the officials of personal items, including cell phones and cash.

According to police, the victims were three women.

The Bain and Grants Town SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, March 23, 2017

FIREFIGHTERS work to extinguish the blaze that claimed homes in the shanty town last night.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

FAMILIES DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES IN SHANTY TOWN BLAZE from page one

“The trucks were engaged in a vigorous operation once on site and the trucks were able to keep the fire at a level where they met it. Some four structures where destroyed and we

received information that some six families are displaced. We do not have a total at his point in terms of the number of adults and children but that is forthcoming.”

Supt Evans said the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

A FIRE at the shanty town off Cowpen Road just west of Faith Avenue.

CHIEF superintendent of the fIre department Walter Evans.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 3

PM: COUNTRY MUST UNITE TO ASK HOW TO SAVE YOUNG BOYS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie said last night the country must come together, unselfishly, and answer the critical question: “What are we going to do to save our young boys?”

While speaking at the University of The Bahamas’ President’s Lecture Series, Prime Minister Christie said there is direct correlation between unemployment, a lack of education and violent crime in The Bahamas.

Mr Christie’s comments came three days after two teenage boys, ages 13 and 15, were shot and killed while walking home and two days after a construction worker was gunned down on the job. The country’s murder count now stands at 37 for the first

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the Inaugural Presidential Lecture series under the theme “The Significance of Caricom for the Bahamas National Development”.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff three months of the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

He said everyone must come together to save the reputation and integrity of

The Bahamas.

“We have to address this issue about what we are going to do to save our young men? What are we going to do to save our young boys?

It is a critical question that we all have to answer,” Mr Christie said.

“We must all advance this discussion on crime.

Too much of our brain power is preoccupied with taking us not in the direction the country should be going in but in the selfishness of persons who have their own agendas. Crime, violence and unemployment are what we see too often affect young people, this did not just happen overnight. It happened because we did not pay sufficient attention to the development of youth across our nations, in our public policy and in our educational systems.

“We perhaps accepted

that youth development in our society would be organic but we know today that it must be done through deliberate policies aimed at youth development.”

Mr Christie said he is “particularly concerned” with the young men in the country and the fast pace in which women are outshining men in education and other aspects of society.

“I am particularly concerned about the issue of young males and the social issues which seem to affect them greatly whether by accidents or by homicide. You ask yourself the question, why do the women continue to outshine them in school and across the economy?

“In this institution (University of The Bahamas) the ratio is as high as three females to one male. This has all sorts of implications and ramifications on the general society and its

development. The question must also be asked, is there a link between the educational dysfunction of the young male and the exposure to domestic violence among young women?

What has happened to our Caribbean man?”

More than 600 people have been killed since the PLP took office in May 2012, according to The Tribune’s records.

Before the 2012 general election, the PLP posted billboards throughout New Providence - in areas heavily trafficked by tourists and locals - which said there had been more than 490 killings under the five-year Ingraham administration.

The PLP, then in opposition, campaigned that it had the answer to violent crime while the Ingraham administration did not. It promised that if elected it would get crime under control.

No protest planned at Prime Minister’s home

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net WE March Bahamas lead organiser Ranard Henfield yesterday moved to clarify public misconceptions over his group’s plans to march next month, now emphatically stating that the group has no intention to protest at the home of Prime Minister Perry Christie.

In a letter addressed to the Centreville MP and later published to Facebook, Mr Henfield laid blame for the misunderstanding on the media, suggesting that a quest for sensational coverage and emotional stories refocused the point of his initial comments to the press on Sunday.

In the letter dated March 22, Mr Henfield said he was “astounded and perturbed” by newspaper articles that attributed a warning from Mr Christie to We March that its actions could “ignite something that they least expect to happen.”

Mr Henfield insisted that he nor members of his group ever intended to march to the home of Prime Minister Christie or orchestrate a public campaign that would encourage personal attacks on his family.

“In my short stint in the public’s eyes, I’ve learnt to clarify major misinformation and misunderstandings before they spiral unnecessarily and quite unintendedly into something that they are not,” stated Mr Henfield.

“Direct from the horse’s mouth, I wish to relay to you and the office that you represent that We March has no intention whatsoever to march to your residence or as the article attributes to yourself, ‘inviting a sec-

RANARD Henfield at the We March Bahamas protest. tion of the public, unhappy with his administration and its policies, to speak of him and members of his family in a way that would cause large-scale confrontations between them and his supporters.’”

The Tribune on Monday reported that We March had opted to move its third march forward by a week, April 9 to April 2, with ongoing issues facing the New Providence Landfill becoming the focal point of the protest.

That report made no mention of a time or route for the planned march.

However, other media outlets reported that We March had intentions to march from Scotia Bank in Cable Beach.

Mr Henfield told The Guardian on Sunday: “We are marching to the prime minister.”

Mr Christie’s office and home are both located in Cable Beach, however the newspaper said it was not clear where the group intended to march.

On Tuesday, The Tribune reported that with We March finalising plans for its third protest, one that would reportedly see the

group make stops at his home and office, Prime Minister Perry Christie had warned that the organisation’s “poor judgment” could “ignite something that they least expect to happen”.

It was not clarified in that report that Mr Henfield had not directly said his group would march to the home of Mr Christie.

In response Wednesday, Mr Henfield said the true nature of We March has always been to “raise awareness of the plight of tens of thousands of Bahamians and to inspire them to show up, stand up and speak up for themselves rather than endure their respective despair in silence.”

Mr Henfield added: “You (Mr Christie) and I both can agree that our people have laid dormant for a very ling time, mumbling amongst themselves and relying on the opposition party of the day to voice their concerns.

“This in no way, regardless of any (sensational) headline to the contrary, encourages those thousands of Bahamian that have found their voice to speak of yourself, any member of your family or party in a way that can cause any level of confrontations.

“We have all seen the videos circulating social media of many party supporters arguing in the streets and I’m sure that every right thinking Bahamian is disheartened by these incidents. I do not wish to see you and I involved in a back and forth over whether Bahamians finding their voice is igniting something.

“We should both be encouraging our people to embrace our democracy and express themselves peacefully, respectfully and

in decency and in decency and order.

“Seemingly as We March has gotten your attention, I wish to express to you directly that our procession on April 2 - from the vicinity of the Scotiabank parking lot to the vicinity of the Office of the PM, and back to the parking area from which we will originate.

“In your previous correspondence to me, you indicated that you know too well the plights of our people in these unprecedented times. I implore you to do something about them in the coming weeks.

He continued: “Knowledge of the fact that there are thousands of Bahamians unemployed, thousands of young people being murdered or thousands of Bahamians in fear of this administration is not enough.”

Mr Henfield said We March intends to march in an effort to attract attention for urgent compensation to the residents affected by the dump fire; the postponement of the “unprofitable” Junkanoo Carnival festival; the outright cancellation of the “intrusive” Interception of Communications Bill; the announcement of an election date; the unsealing and realise of the Baha Mar deal and the implementation of Commissioner Ellison Greenslade’s crime fighting strategy.

In February, We March announced that it planned to stage 12 more “events and protests” throughout the Bahamas before the next general election.

At that time, Mr Henfield said the group was still on a mission and would continue to “stay focused” despite “the tactics and anger of people that want to resist change”.

SAVE THE BAYS WELCOMES PM’S ALERT OVER DANGERS OF PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS SAVE The Bays has welcomed Prime Minister Perry Christie’s warning over dangers of hostile public demonstrations, pointing out that its own members have been pleading for years for relief from aggressive and intimidating protests that have placed them in fear for their lives.

The embattled environmental group, which emphasised that the safety of its members remains under serious threat because of its public interest advocacy, said it agrees with Mr Christie that under certain circumstances, demonstrations can lead to violence and harm.

STB Legal Director Fred Smith said in a press release: “The difference is that while the We March movement of which the prime minister complains has already held two peaceful and well organised events, giving no indication whatsoever that there is anything to fear from their April 2 march, the members of STB have been subjected to open hos-

tility and intimidation by masked aggressive men on several occasions, creating a real threat of violence and harm.

“Following this, individuals came forward to admit their part in (an alleged) plot to murder several STB members because we had challenged the activities of certain powerful foreign developers. All of this was ignored by the authorities and our repeated complaints to the police fell on deaf ears.

“Although we do not believe that the prime minister has anything to fear from the We March movement, it is our hope that his sudden realisation of what could happen when protests are organised from the outset with aggressive intentions in mind, will lead to some action by law enforcement against the perpetrators of these repeated malicious attacks against our members.”

Mr Smith added that members of Save The Bays continue to face serious and

urgent threats from “unscrupulous developers and their agents as well as from corrupt elements within the government.”

“We sincerely hope we can now count on the prime minister to be an ally in our fight to bring an end to the kind of heinous public attacks they have faced over the last several years,” he said.

We March Bahamas will mount another protest on April 2. On Sunday, group spokesman Ranard Henfield said protestors would march from Scotiabank in Cable

Beach and head towards the prime minister. Mr Christie’s home and office are both located in Cable Beach, and it was inferred that Mr Henfield meant the group would protest outside the prime minister’s residence. Mr Henfield has denied this.

This led Mr Christie to say the group’s “poor judgment” could “ignite something that they least expect to happen.”

Mr Henfield has since clarified that the group will march to the Office of the Prime Minister, and not to Mr Christie’s home.

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THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

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Trump collides with reality on Russia WASHINGTON (AP) — Reality is catching up with President Donald Trump.

Hours after Trump dismissed reports that his campaign associates were being scrutinised for colluding with Russia as “fake news,” FBI Director James Comey confirmed the investigation is real.

The FBI chief also repeatedly insisted there was no evidence to back up Trump’s explosive claim that his predecessor wiretapped his New York skyscraper.

And Adm Michael Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, knocked down a report about Britain helping President Barack Obama with the alleged surveillance, although the White House had pointed to the report to try to bolster Trump’s case.

Taken together, the disclosures in Monday’s lengthy House intelligence committee hearing amounted to an extraordinary undercutting of a president, whose headline-grabbing accusations and Twitter-friendly attacks crumbled quickly under the weight of sworn congressional testimony from some of the nation’s top security officials.

Many of Trump’s most ardent supporters are unlikely to be swayed by Monday’s spectacle. Still, Trump’s credibility and his standing as a reliable ally for his fellow Republicans in Congress are less assured. Even if his advisers are ultimately cleared in the Russia probe, as the White House insists they will be, the investigation could loom over Trump’s presidency for months or even years, distracting from the ambitious domestic agenda he’s vowed to enact.

That reality was abundantly clear Monday. Most cable news channels carried Comey’s and Rogers’ five hours of testimony live instead of the first congressional hearing for Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s widely praised nominee for the Supreme Court. The Russia hearings came as Trump tried to give a hard sell to Republicans wary of his health care package, a legislative gamble with long-lasting implications for Trump’s relationship with his own party.

The president’s political position was already shaky heading into the hearing, the first of several public sessions the House and Senate intelligence committees are expected to hold. His approval rating has tumbled to 39 per cent, according to a new Gallup poll, down 6 points from a week earlier.

Trump has long been shadowed by questions about his ties to Russia, given his friendly posture toward Moscow and his advisers’ curious web of ties to Russia. The White House insists the campaign did not coordinate with Russia on the hacking of Democratic groups during the election and dismisses the swirling controversy as little more than a political witch hunt.

Yet Monday’s hearings left the White

House scrambling for cover, though there was little to be found.

Spokesman Sean Spicer launched into a series of confounding arguments during his daily briefing. He touted statements from lawmakers and former Obama administration officials saying they had seen no evidence of collusion between Trump associates and Russia. But he dismissed nearly identical statements from some of those same officials about Trump’s wiretapping allegations, saying it was too early in the investigations to draw any conclusions.

In one particularly eyebrow-raising moment, Spicer resorted to claiming one associate, Paul Manafort, had a “very limited role” in the 2016 election. In fact, Manafort was hired in March as Trump’s convention manager and promoted to campaign chairman in May. Spicer also described foreign policy adviser Michael Flynn as simply a “volunteer”. Flynn travelled frequently with the president, delivered a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention and served as his first national security adviser.

Both Manafort and Flynn were fired by Trump after revelations about their connections to Russia.

Manafort left the campaign in August, when news reports about his business ties to pro-Moscow Ukrainian oligarchs became a political liability. Flynn was fired in February for misleading top officials about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to the United States.

Both Manafort and Flynn are among the Trump associates under scrutiny for possible contacts with Russia during the election. The Senate intelligence committee has also asked Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser, and Carter Page, an investment banker who briefly advised the campaign on foreign policy, to retain documents related to its inquiry.

The White House, with the backing of some Republican lawmakers, says the real controversy is how the investigation into Trump’s advisers became public.

They argue the focus of the probe should be ferreting out who leaked classified information.

Trump tried to go on the offence in the middle of the hearing, launching a series of tweets from his official White House account, including one that appeared to blame the Obama administration for leaking details of Flynn’s contacts with the Russian envoy. Another tweet incorrectly said Comey and Rogers told lawmakers that Russia “did not influence” the electoral process.

In a moment of real-time fact-checking, the FBI director made clear that was not a declaration he had made.

“We don’t have any information on that subject,” he said.

By Julie Pace, AP White House Correspondent

McCartney and how God works EDITOR, The Tribune.

“RIGHTEOUSNESS exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” In my last letter I wrote about the Biblical story of David, recorded in 1Samuel 16. In the many responses, someone said that if Mr. McCartney is not successful in winning the next election, it means that God did not direct me to endorse him. There were other comments that implied the same.

Unfortunately too many persons who believe they are experts on the Bible, and fully understand how God works, do not read the entire story.

I must confess that I also often misunderstand God. For example, the prophet Samuel, as well as David, believed that David would immediately ascend the throne of Israel. Thus when David was first invited to the palace, there was unbounded excitement, as he anticipated that his reign as king was about to begin. The truth to be told, not only did David’s reign

not begin immediately, but he ended up as a fugitive, being pursued by King Saul, before coming to the throne, some seventeen years, and chapters later (2 Samuel 2:4), at the age of thirty years (2 Samuel 5:1-5). So because God led me to endorse Mr. Bran McCartney and his executive team, at this critical point in our nation’s history, does not mean that Mr. McCartney will immediately become Prime Minister. It remains for us to simply “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”.

What is most important to the child of God, is not to be successful, but to be faithful, and do what God tells us to do. For me even if I knew that McCartney would not be successful, I am still going to endorse him, because that is how God has directed me, and I know He has a divine plan.

PASTOR JEREMIAH DUNCOMBE, Leader of The Gatekeepers, Nassau, March 20,2017.

Butler-Turner should not go independent EDITOR, The Tribune.

LORETTA ButlerTurner may have had FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in her crosshairs when she told Parliament that the salaries of MPs who are consistently absent should be cut. I say that because fellow Rebel 7 MP Dr Andre Rollins raised the issue of Minnis being chronically absent from the House. PM Perry Christie also harped on the matter, in order to gain political brownie points. The Nassau Guardian has since revealed that of the 220 sittings of the House this term, Minnis has been absent a mere 11 times.

Rollins’ Rebel 7 leader, Butler-Turner, has missed 33 sittings.

Methinks Messrs Christie and Rollins owe Minnis a public apology for spreading an untruth.

Any talk of there being some sort of reconciliation between Rollins and the FNM must now be abandoned. Rollins is too unstable and schizophrenic. Any criticisms he had for Minnis for chronic absenteeism must be directed to official opposition leader. If ButlerTurner had Minnis in mind

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net when she raised the matter, it is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Butler-Turner and opposition forces not named FNM continues to embarrass themselves. There were talks of her merging with the Gatekeepers. But the leader of the group, the Rev Jeremiah Duncombe, said in a letter-to-the-editor that the Lord has led him to endorse Branville McCartney – whose DNA embarrassed itself in Abaco after only a handful of residents showed up to their rally.

Abaco’s cold-hearted indifference towards McCartney and Co underscores the stubborn reality that this upcoming election will be a contest between the FNM and the PLP. Butler-Turner is on the outside looking in. She played her hands poorly. Whoever advised her obviously misjudged the political climate within the FNM. She really needs to stop listening to these people as they have screwed up her political career. ButlerTurner should not run as an

independent if she desires to see the PLP defeated.

Her running could lead to a PLP victory in Long Island.

If she sincerely desires to see a change in government, then she should throw her weight behind FNM candidate attorney Adrian Gibson. Butler-Turner should encourage her Long Island supporters to vote FNM. If she goes ahead and runs as an independent, this should be viewed as an unpardonable sin by the FNM. However, whatever happens in Long Island will have little bearing in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco. I believe the FNM is poised to sweep Abaco and Grand Bahama.

I also believe that the FNM will take at least 15 seats in New Providence. Therefore, if Butler-Turner decides to play hardball by running, it will be to her political detriment. The FNM can afford to lose Long Island. And as it has shown Butler-Turner and her group of Rebel 7 MPs, the party can do just fine without their support also.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, March 22, 2017.

When the smoke clears at the dump EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE election season is upon us again. As I travel around New Providence all I can see is political messages and persons campaigning for a particular candidate.

This can also be considered the smoky season. I have never seen the New Providence Landfill cause this much damage for such a sustained period. I, like thousands of Bahamians ,am literally sick to my stomach. I have experienced burning eyes, shortness of breath and irritation in my throat.

In the run-up to the 2012 general elections, Nassauvians had to deal with the New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) which caused traffic jams and ultimately closed many businesses. When the smoke had cleared the Free National Movement (FNM) lost the government.

Now in 2017, all around New

Providence, residents are breathing in toxic fumes that can potentially have life threatening consequences in the immediate and near future.

Like the NPRIP, we are again affected by another government debacle, not withstanding crime and an economy that is not growing. Businesses have lost sales, schools have had to close periodically and many residents lives are in utter turmoil.

The irony of the situation is that in 2012, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) used all of its political ammunition to expose the NPRIP blunder by the FNM. But the FNM has to be guarded in their criticism of the present PLP government because the FNM had 15 years in office and they too never properly addressed the New Providence Landfill.

The big question is whether Bahamians will make the connection and be honest with themselves about the

government’s performance or lack thereof. Will a parent who has recently taken their five-year-old child to the hospital for smoke-related injuries because of the burning landfill still be dancing and drinking at mass political rallies?

Will a parent whose child is now ten years old and has been diagnosed with lung problems because of the landfill also be cheering at a political rally? Our maturity as a nation will only be enhanced when we as a people start to make informed decisions.

Will this latest negligence by the PLP government be the tipping point to have them voted out of office as did the FNM? When the smoke clears, I hope the collective choice makes it better for us and our children.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau, March 22, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 5

Two years on and still no new defence commodore

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TWO years after the contract of former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Commodore Roderick Bowe expired, an announcement on his replacement will finally be made “shortly,” National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said yesterday.

He did not give a more precise timeline.

This is not the first time a government official has said an announcement on Mr Bowe’s successor is forthcoming. In March 2015, State Minister for National Security Keith Bell said the new commodore would be named on May 1 of that year.

Government officials have not said why there has been such a long delay in officially naming someone to the substantive position.

In the interim, Captain Tellis Bethel has served as acting commander of the RBDF. The delay has caused the government to be accused in some circles of playing “politics” with the position.

The Tribune understands that the former commodore, Mr Bowe, remained the holder of the substantive post for months after his contract expired because he had taken a year of pre-retirement leave from the force.

He told officials in 2012 that he would not seek to have

his contract renewed, which expired in January 2015.

In March 2015, he officially joined the Baha Mar team, however it was unclear when he officially left the RBDF. Darren Henfield, a former defence force officer who is the Free National Movement’s (FNM) candidate for North Abaco, told The Tribune this week that the government’s failure to officially name someone as commodore “demoralises the force.”

“I think the government is doing the force a disservice by failing to name a commander for so long,” he said on Tuesday.

“It demoralises the force and the officers that try to lead it and the young men and women that make up the organisation. It’s been left too long in ambivalence, this discussion of leadership in the force. Because of that, it’s likely people are assuming lines that they would follow, thinking my side is going to get it verses another side. That’s not a good thing to have in a military organisation.”

Mr Henfield also said: “Someone should be named to head it and should be allowed to put in place succession planning so we don’t have this problem again.

The climate in the force is one that is by nature adversarial. If you work hard, you hope to be recognised for your service and ability. After a while someone should

CAPTAIN TELLIS BETHEL, Acting Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. be recognised as reaching the top. They deserve it.

They have the finest training the world offers to officers and we have multiple officers capable of leading

the organisation.”

In response to such criticism, Dr Nottage said yesterday: “I don’t think we have an unstable position on the defence force as a result

EXTRA SERVICES AT WEEKEND AFTER CABLE TV DISRUPTION CABLE Bahamas announced that as of Wednesday afternoon, 97 per cent of its REVTV video services were restored across its entire national network.

Technical teams continue to work to restore the remaining video channels, a statement from the company said. As a result of the problem, the company will offer all of its TV services to subscribers this weekend.

“We realise how important our TV services are to our subscribers and

apologise to you for this unforeseen disruption,” the statement added. “In appreciation of your patience and understanding, all REVTV services will be made available to all subscribers on all set-top boxes this weekend beginning Friday, March 24, starting at 6pm to Monday, March 27, at 6am.”

At 10am Tuesday, Cable Bahamas experienced service issues on its video network. This resulted in multiple channels across New Providence, Abaco, Grand

Bahama and Eleuthera experiencing intermittent service outages, the company said.

Technical teams immediately launched response protocols and began investigations. Multiple vendors were engaged to assist Cable Bahamas’ engineers in troubleshooting the issue.

Due to the malfunction of a major piece of equipment repairs took longer than anticipated, the company said.

According to Cable Bahamas, technical teams

were able to begin stabilising the network on Wednesday morning.

“During this period, the system restoration suffered a setback and Cable Bahamas technical teams and vendors continued to work through the issues to stabilise all TV services,” the company said.

“Cable Bahamas regrets the impact this issue has had on its valuable subscribers and will continue to monitor the network for any anomalies.”

of the lack of appointment of a commodore. But that matter is under consideration and an announcement will be dealt with shortly.”

In the absence of a com-

Photo: Shawn Hanna mander, the acting commodore of the RBDF is empowered by law to perform the responsibilities of the substantive holder of that position.

PAGE 6, Thursday, March 23, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

FNM: Baha Mar move a photo op from page one Meanwhile in an interview with The Tribune yesterday, FNM Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said despite what the government may think, the FNM does not wish for the project to fail but rather the opposition party just wants all the information surrounding the deal to be made public.

The East Grand Bahama MP said despite the “handing over ceremony” the fact is, there are still no “rooms available for booking” and the resort still has no casino

operator license.

In his statement on Wednesday, Dr Minnis said that Mr Christie’s suggestion that the Killarney MP wants the property to fail is “far from the truth.”

“Let’s dispose of the PLP’s notion that the FNM is opposed to the opening of Baha Mar,” Dr Minnis said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, just the opposite is true.

We welcome the additional rooms and attractions to our tourism product but we question the wisdom of prematurely opening the doors without one scintilla of advertisement in the mar-

ket place. It is time for the Christie led government to speak truth to the Bahamian people and authorise the release of the sealed documents so that all could see what they have committed the Bahamian people to,” Dr Minnis said.

“What are they hiding?

The details that have leaked out have been disturbing and lead to even more questions about this latest PLP photo op. How can the PLP state that we are weeks away from a deal being signed then hand the property over to a foreign entity prior to the finalisation of a sale? Beyond that, Bahamians deserve to know whether this new owner paid the same rate on VAT and stamp taxes that Bahamians are obligated to pay, or will these taxes be levied at all? The people have grown tired of the PLP’s empty rhetoric and broken promises, it’s long past time for the PLP to unseal their Baha Mar deal.”

For his part, Mr Turnquest said he finds it “sketchy” that a hotel that is opening in less than a month, is not taking any bookings.

“I mean it was all a great public relations exercise but the fact is there is still no booking availability so if you go online and try to book a room there is no room available,” Mr Turnquest said.

“As far as we know there has been no marketing campaign so when they say they are having an opening, does that mean that the doors are going to be unlocked

PRIME Minister Perry Christie smiles on as CTFE President Graeme Davis speaks with the media on Tuesday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff or what? Because in terms based on the information ting to commemorate its of doing business we have that we have been given, it opening. a ways to go. We still have still seems sketchy.”

Officials plan to launch When asked Tuesday the stalled resort in phases the whole issue of the (casino) license and will all when the resort would beginning with a soft openthe amenities be available begin taking guest reser- ing on April 21. to guests? When it comes vations, Graeme Davis, At this time the golf to guests are they just de- CTFE Bahamas president, course, the Grand Hyatt, pending on walk-ins? That said “very, very soon” with the convention centre and being said, we wish them the launch of Baha Mar’s other amenities will be all the best because Baha- advertising campaign. opened.

He went on to suggest mian jobs depend on it and Mr Davis said there is a the economy needs it. So that non-paying guests very short term booking certainly contrary to what would “fill” the resort on window with an “incredthe government may say, its first day of operation, ible amount of pent up dethe FNM is not rooting for explaining that guests were mand,” adding that there the project’s failure. We “invited” for Baha Mar’s are no concerns in this rehope they are successful but celebration and ribbon cut- gard.

HOUSE TO BE DISSOLVED IN ‘WEEKS, IF NOT DAYS’ from page one Dr Nottage, who is the minister with responsibility for elections and referenda, went on to suggest that Prime Minister Perry Christie would wrap up the legislative term, saying next

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Monday at Parliament he is expected to respond to criticisms that have been levelled at the government over a wide range of national issues, including value added tax revenue.

Responding to questions over possible repercussions for members of Parlia-

ment who have consistently missed House of Assembly sessions, Dr Nottage hinted at the close of Parliament before saying that it would be “irrelevant” to take any action toward the MPs before the close of the governing Progressive Liberal Party’s 2012-2017 term in office.

Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder and North Abaco MP Renardo Curry, members of the PLP, have been singled out in recent days as having missed several consecutive House meetings.

Dr Nottage said: “The House, when it returns on Monday, he (Prime Minister Perry Christie) will be making a number of statements in response to queries that have been asked over the weeks about a variety of government initiatives, including this question about VAT and where the VAT money gone and those types of things as far as that is concerned.

“In addition, you will recall that we just tabled a resolution to be debated to make land available to Moore’s Island, Abaco who do not have title to the land on which they live on and the intention is to give them title so that they will be able to use those assets to help themselves.”

He also said: “With respect to Mr Ryan Pinder, I am not aware of any steps being taken to reprimand him for anything. What I will point out is that the House is likely to be dissolved within the matter of weeks if not days and I think that such action will be irrelevant and he’s not offering himself to run in the next election, so. When people are absent you have to be careful that you know why they are absent and I don’t think that anyone has indicated why he was absent.”

While the government has not given any indication of when the next election will be called, North Eleuthera MP Theo Neilly used yesterday’s House session to thank his supporters. He is not offering himself for reelection.

Last week, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell thanked his colleagues in the House for their years of dedicated service and foreshadowed a win for the Progressive Liberal Party at the polls. This heightened speculation that the government will “ring the bell” for the general election very soon.

Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins also thanked his constituents and Prime Minister Perry Christie for giving him the opportunity to serve while confirming that he will not be offering himself as a candidate in the next general election.

As of Monday, 141,698 people have registered for the upcoming general election. This equals 82 per cent of those registered for the 2012 election cycle.

THE TRIBUNE

Keod Smith given until Monday to find counsel

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A JUDGE yesterday refused an attorney’s request for a stay of committal proceedings arising out of legal cost hearings that stemmed from a recusal application where the attorney accused the Supreme Court judge of bias.

However, Justice Rhonda Bain told Keod Smith she would give him until Monday, March 27, to instruct counsel concerning his alleged refusal to take an oath before the registrar concerning his financial means to pay the costs awarded the environmental group Save The Bays (STB) in December 2014. At the time, the judge had found the lawyer guilty of contempt for the “scandalising” affidavits he had filed which undermined the integrity of the judge and the judicial system.

In asking for an adjournment of the proceedings yesterday, Mr Smith said he was seeking to also adopt a notice of motion recusal that had been filed by Damian Gomez, QC, on behalf of Canadian fashionmogul Peter Nygard who has made a new bid for the judge to step aside in hearing judicial reviews concerning the alleged illegal expansion of his western New Providence property.

“I was able to view the documents filed by Damian Gomez, QC, and it has a direct impact on proceedings before you today. I’ve really tried to instruct counsel, but have been unable,” Keod Smith said.

Fred Smith, QC, lead counsel for STB, objected to the adjournment and said that the notice of motion being adopted by Keod Smith had not been served to STB. “This is becoming a mockery of the administration of justice and the request by Mr (Keod) Smith on the basis that he’s not been able to retain coun-

sel when throughout JR-1, he’d obtained any number of attorneys to act for him in various aspects,” STB’s lawyer said.

“It is true this is a very serious matter because we are seeking a custodial sentence for his conduct before the registrar was contemptuous but this request for an adjournment must be put in the context that Norwood Rolle is in court and robed.”

Fred Smith said the latest request and the basis undermines his previous apology in court for the affidavits filed by the former Progressive Liberal Party MP. “It is as if Mr Keod Smith, Peter Nygard and the prime minister are tied at the hip in their serial recusal applications on this court,” STB’s lawyer stressed.

Keod Smith took strong objection to the latter assertion or the suggestion that the request was an attempt to disrupt the proceedings.

He stressed that the Constitution provided him the right to instruct counsel in matters where his liberty was at stake.

He asked the court for seven to 14 days to secure a lawyer for the mentioned hearing.

Justice Bain ultimately gave him until Monday.

Following the order to pay costs in 2014, the former Mount Moriah MP had been given a 10-week deadline that ended on February 1, 2015. The ruling on costs was never appealed.

On April 20, 2016, the registrar confirmed the costs at $263,500 from the day the order was made by Justice Bain and a certificate of taxation verified the same and authorised an extension.

However, Keod Smith subsequently sought an injunction against the effect of the order citing prejudice.

He filed an affidavit arguing that he should not be made to pay funds to a

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 7

JURY EXCUSED FOR DEBATE DURING ROBBERY AND MURDER TRIAL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

KEOD Smith pictured at the Supreme Court yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff nominal plaintiff whose on/or before December 12, the stipulated period. company had no known 2016.

He also proposed to arassets and would not be in A week after the Novem- gue at the appellate court a position to refund costs ber 9 decision, Mr Smith that Justice Bain failed to paid to them if the court lat- sought leave from Justice give sufficient consideration er ruled he was not a proper Bain to appeal the order to the allegation that STB party to the proceedings. to the Court of Appeal in was a nominal plaintiff and He also alleged he would a notice of motion filed No- the damage he would suffer suffer damage to his profes- vember 16, 2016. for having to make the paysional reputation.

His grounds for leave to ments within the specified Justice Bain, in a ruling appeal were that Justice period. handed down November Bain was wrong, in law, to However, a ruling dated 9, 2016, stressed that Keod exercise her discretion to January 12, 2017, the judge Smith had not appealed the extend the time for the ap- refused an attorney’s aporder for costs and had, in pellant to comply with the plication to appeal an order fact, participated in the tax- order when there was no ev- for extension of time for ing of the costs, and “is not idence or reason provided $263,000 in legal costs to be able at this stage to object to the court by the respond- paid. to the order for costs.” ent, STB, for failure to preThe ruling has subseThe court ruled that Mr sent a bill of costs to Mr quently been affirmed by Smith would pay the costs Smith for payment within the Court of Appeal.

A JURY sworn to hear evidence in an armed robbery and murder trial was excused yesterday while lawyers for the prosecution and the accused held legal discussions with the presiding judge.

Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs ordered the 12-member panel to return to the Supreme Court on Friday, March 24, as the discussions concerning the case of 29-year-old Henley Claridge were expected to last two days.

Claridge is on trial before Senior Justice Isaacs on two counts of armed robbery and a single charge of murder, alleged to have been committed on March 4, 2014.

It is claimed that he robbed Tonika Laroda and Darius Adderley of two Samsung cellular phones together valued at $600. He is further accused of intentionally killing Adderley by means of unlawful harm.

On Tuesday, the jury heard that shortly before 9pm, Adderley was sitting in his 2003 Dodge Town and Country Van on Roseland Street with a girlfriend when a masked gunman armed with a handgun robbed them.

As he was leaving, the suspect shot at the vehicle, hitting Adderley in the back. The woman was unharmed during the robbery. Adderley was taken to hospital by ambulance, but died of his injuries shortly after his arrival.

Claridge, when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court on July 4, 2014, pleaded not guilty to all three charges. He maintained that plea at the start of trial this week.

He has retained attorney Jiaram Mangra to represent him while Desiree Ferguson and Cassie Bethel represent the Crown.

MURDER JURY DISCHARGED AS ACCUSED UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DEFENCE COUNSEL

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JURY was discharged in a murder trial after the presiding judge in the case was told by the accused

that he was not comfortable with his defence counsel communicating with the prosecutors in his case.

The 12-member panel had been sworn to hear evidence in the trial of Anton

Wentworth Wright concerning the April 28, 2008, stabbing death of Theron Armbrister.

On Wednesday, Senior Justice Vera Watkins was told by Wright’s lawyer, Allen Emmanuel, of the

disagreement in the latter’s ability to properly defend him against the allegation in light of Wright’s complaint.

The judge, out of precaution, discharged the jury and fixed a date for

status hearing to April 11 when the court will be informed on Wright’s ability to obtain new counsel.

The judge told the 36 year old that on May 8, the trial will proceed with or with-

out a lawyer.

Wright was remanded to the Department of Correctional Services in the interim.

Eucal Bonaby, Linda Evans and Joel Seymour represented the Crown.

PAGE 8, Thursday, March 23, 2017

Resolution to acquire land at Moore’s Island

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday tabled in Parliament a resolution for the acquisition of more than 460 acres of land in Moore’s Island, Abaco.

Calling it a matter of “extreme importance,” Mr Christie said the move will guarantee that residents of Moore’s Island now have the title to 464.40 acres of land they now occupy.

Moore’s Island is a cay just 28 miles off Great Abaco.

The resolution approves the conveyance of the land, Mr Christie said yesterday.

The resolution read: “Whereas pursuant to the provisions of the House Act Chapter 199, 2000 Revised Statute Law of the Bahamas, the minister responsible for housing is desirous of acquiring land described in the schedule for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the establishment of such projects and facilities as would appear to him to enhance the

standard of living, general welfare and wellbeing of persons.

“And whereas the said land is vested in the treasurer of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, a corporation sole established under Section 4 (1) of the Ministry of Finance Act, Chapter 23, Revised Statute Law of the Bahamas 2000 in trust for Her Majesty in right of her government of the said commonwealth for public purposes.

“And whereas by section 5 (3) (a) of the said Act, the treasurer shall not sell or make any other disposition of the fee simple of any land vested in her without the prior approval of both House of Parliament signified by resolution thereof: “Now therefore be it resolved that pursuant to section 5 (3) (a) of the said Act this House approves the conveyance by the treasurer to the minister responsible for housing of the said land.”

Debate on the resolution is expected to begin on Monday.

THE TRIBUNE

POLICE ABSENT AS PARLIAMENT REGISTRATION STAFF ROBBED from page one

MP told reporters he was “disappointed” that the incident happened and said had Royal Bahamas Police Force officers, who were usually stationed at the registration centre on Baillou Hill Road, been present the criminals would not have entered the property.

However, Dr Nottage said the unfortunate incident will in no way compromise the electoral process as no voter’s cards, counterfoils or seals were stolen.

Asked about the incident, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall said: “One fella pointed a gun at my people.”

While he could not give an estimate of how much money was stolen from the workers, Mr Hall said police are presently investigating the incident, which occurred shortly after 8pm.

Dr Nottage spoke to reporters yesterday following the morning session of the House of Assembly. Prior to this, he gave a brief update on the matter in the House at the request of Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins, who questioned whether the robbery would affect the upcoming general election.

He added that the Official Opposition was concerned about the mental state of the workers who

DR BERNARD NOTTAGE, Minister of National Security. were robbed.

“The parliamentary commissioner indicated that two men entered the distribution centre at St Barnabas Church Hall and sought to rob, one of whom I am told was armed with a gun, and they demanded personal goods from the persons who were there who included the parliamentary workers obviously,” Dr Nottage said following the morning session of the House of Assembly.

“This was a traumatising experience for them, a matter which I regret and it is my intention to go to the Parliamentary Department today and meet with those persons and give them the assurance of our support

and our protection.

“I was a little disappointed that for some reason the officer or officers who were supposed to be stationed at the centre were not there because had they been there I don’t think this incident would have happened.

“We went to great pains to have all of the centres protected and I’ve had words with Commissioner of Police (Ellison Greenslade) about this who is himself very disappointed and they gave me the assurance that they’ll make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

He added: “With respect to the process, people are concerned about voter’s cards and stamps and those

types of things. My information is that those types of things were not in the centre at the time because I think it was close to their closing time and the paraphernalia and the cards were on their way back to the parliamentary commissioner’s office.”

As a result of the incident, the St Barnabas Church voter’s card distribution centre is closed temporarily.

Registered voters of the St Barnabas and Englerston constituencies should collect their voter’s cards from the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium until further notice, officials said.

Police are searching for the two men responsible for the robbery.

1,100 UNEMPLOYED IN TOURISM AND SHORTFALL IN ROOMS AFTER CLOSURES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SOME 1,100 workers in the tourism industry are unemployed, and the closure of the two major hotels has resulted in an inventory shortfall of 1,024 rooms in Grand Bahama, according to a Freeport

tourism official.

Betty Bethel, director of the Ministry of Tourism in Grand Bahama, reported that airlift has been significantly affected due to the lack of room inventory.

The closed 482-room Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort and the 545room Breaker’s Cay section of the Grand Lucayan Re-

sort, represents an inventory shortfall of 40 per cent, she said.

Ms Bethel was speaking on the topic, “The State of Tourism on Grand Bahama Island,” at the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday.

The tourism executive reported that the destination has lost the bulk of its

winter programme, which has been reduced from nine gateways to just two - Toronto and Montreal.

“Additionally, the summer programme, which would have commenced May 25 from 13 US gateways via Vacation Express, a subsidiary of Sunwing Vacation, has also been lost due to the reduction in hotel inventory,” she explained.

“You are aware Treasure Bay Casino is closed because of the hurricane, and coincidentally the expiration of their operator’s extension agreement also came about, and they have moved on. So in summary, we have 1,100 industry workers that are back on the unemployment line,” she said.

On the other hand, Ms Bethel shared some positive news, including the $4 million upgrade of the reopened Viva Fortuna All inclusive Beach Hotel, where occupancies are 90 per cent and higher.

She reported that Viva is also expecting the Alpatour Italian Charter to return in

June. “That will keep occupancy high as well into December,” she added.

Other properties that are open for business are the 198-room Lighthouse Point, which has had some sold out dates; the 186room Pelican Bay Resort and Suites; the 118-room Castaways Resort has completed repairs; the 198-unit Island Seas Resort; the 70-room Old Bahama Bay Marina and 32-room Blue Marin Cove in West End; the 65-room Ocean Reef Resort; and the 31-room Bell Channel Inn. Ms Bethel also noted that the island’s tours and attractions are all up and running post Hurricane Matthew.

“I would like to think that we are not in a bad state of affairs,” she told businesspersons who were not convinced of her viewpoint.

Ms Bethel said that the goal now in tourism is to return to the 4,000 room inventory during the period of 2000 and 2002 when air arrivals stood at 300,000 plus.

“Our benchmark is not to return to the 2,500 rooms and 178,000 arrivals achieved after the Sunwing partnership,” She noted that the period of 2000 to 2002 represented a renaissance period in tourism for Grand Bahama.

“If (you) must look back, it has to be to this period of branded hotel product, and hosting internationally known event like ABC’s televised superstar athletic challenge,” recalled the tourism executive.

“As difficult as it may seem to digest, Hurricane Matthew has prevented an opportunity for Grand Bahama and Grand Bahamian stakeholders to return to industry sustaining practices that we strayed away from that have a proven track record.

“That was the time when we were in excess of 200,000 air arrivals. We must be prepared to compete and win delivering satisfying destination experiences to each other and arriving guests, and we have to start today,” she said.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 9

Deal signed to take country one step closer to collecting overflight fees from page one the collection of “our own overflight fees”, the latter of which she said has been performed by the FAA for the last 60-plus years.

The aforementioned is the result of yesterday’s signing of the Declaration of Intent on Flight Information Region (DIFIR) by both parties, which deals primarily with the overflight fees issue, as well as the formalisation of an arrangement between the two countries for the management of the Bahamas’ airspace, associated fees, and “agreeing or working together to agree a mechanism for the collection of overflight fees”.

The FAA and the Bahamas government also signed off on the Radar Data Sharing Agreement (RDSA) yesterday, which FAA officials said will ultimately improve “both the efficiency and the safety of the system and the flights that are taking place in numerous amounts between the United States and The Bahamas.”

Under international laws, countries require airlines and other aircraft to pay a fee for the right to fly over their airspace. The administration of those rights in The Bahamas has been performed by the FAA since 1952, meaning Bahamasair and other Bahamianowned carriers have had to pay the US for the privilege of flying over their own country.

According to Mrs Hanna Martin, the payment of overflight fees by Bahamian aircraft for domestic flights to the FAA has been in abeyance since January 1 of this year, which was around the same time in which Prime Minister Perry Christie expressed optimism that a “final agreement” would be reached to “govern the

GLENYS Hanna Martin holds up the Declaration of Intent on Flight Information Region yesterday after it was signed by the government and the US at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. She is pictured alongside Carey Fagan, FAA executive director, international affairs.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff terms and conditions of the FAA’s management of Bahamian airspace.”

Yesterday, Mrs Hanna Martin said the signing of the DIFIR as well as the RDSA is the “culmination of a journey” towards The Bahamas ultimately regaining full control of its own airspace, after previously engaging in several years of negotiations with the FAA on the matter.

“So it’s a more collaborative, cooperative environment, which I think is really a major step forward as opposed to the United States managing the airspace and we’re the recipients of that excellent service,” she said.

“We’re now in a cooperative and a collaborative environment where both states work together for a singular objective, which is the interest of safety and efficiency in the global aviation sector.”

When asked by The Tribune as to when the agreements might be finalised with the FAA, Mrs Hanna Martin said: “They are meeting now, they’ve gone into caucus now to get into the issue of the ten-year agreement. I’m not sure they would conclude that (yesterday), but that is the next thing on the table.

And we expect that to be

concluded very shortly, on the agreed terms of the continued management of the airspace.

“This is on the fast track to completion, and we hope in a very short period of time everything will be regularised.”

Meanwhile, Carey Fagan, FAA executive director of international affairs, said the signing of both documents is an “excellent example of the cooperation that exists” between the US and The Bahamas.

“We’ve made great progress in our discussions, we’re working towards the agreements that are necessary to enable us to manage

the upper airspace on behalf of The Bahamas under a mutually acceptable arrangement, and that’s what we will continue to work on over the next few months,” Ms Fagan said.

“We’re also very happy that we are able to make some changes in our regulations to allow us to exempt certain flights that are flying amongst the Bahamian islands, and it’s something that we had been wanting to do for quite some time and we went through that process in the United States to enable that,” she added, referring to the overflight fees.

“So we look forward to

continuing that here in The Bahamas as well.”

In January, Mr Christie said the government-subsidised national flag carrier, Bahamasair, had paid overflight fees “in excess of $1m” over the last three years.

At the time, Sky Bahamas chief executive, Captain Randy Butler, also said Bahamian airlines have been paying $100,000-plus to the FAA in overflight fees per annum.

“That’s anywhere from four to five persons’ salary,” he said at the time.

• Govt urged to clarify overfly deal - see Business.

PAGE 10, Thursday, March 23, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Miller: Christie administration must answer for PowerSecure

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

Light, saying the Christie administration, not him, would have to answer questions over the management deal it signed with PowerSecure.

Mr Miller further

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller again hit out at officials at Bahamas Power and

Isn’t Your Health Worth It?

claimed that several members of the Christie Cabinet were not on board with the PowerSecure deal, however, stopped short of identifying who those persons actually were.

Speaking as a guest on Island Luck Television’s “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie, the former minister of trade and industry brushed off concerns over the company by both the show’s host and callers, asserting that all questions on the success and failures of the company ought to be directed to “the people who put them there.”

Mr Miller served as executive chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC), now called BPL, until late 2015. He was removed from his post at the utility provider shortly after the government announced that a transition service agreement had been signed with PowerSecure.

The outspoken MP was later made chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

Yesterday he expressed anger over the present state of the company as he insisted that many of the ongoing issues faced by BPL were in the process of being resolved under his regime.

“I don’t talk to nobody at (BPL) and I will never use (the name BPL), I know BEC. (The government) brought in the foreigners, let them live with it,” Mr Miller stated bluntly when asked about his current thoughts on the company.

When asked about the contents of the deal signed with PowerSecure, Mr Miller said he had not the slightest clue, saying that much of what was brokered between the two sides was done so at the Cabinet level and he was not privy to that information.

“I don’t have the slightest idea,” the Progressive Liberal Party MP said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with me. What agreement?

“It has nothing to do with Leslie Miller. Go ask the people who put them there, what are you asking me for?

I didn’t put them there. Go ask (the government).

“Whoever it is, go ask them.”

TALL Pines Member of Parliment Leslie Miller.

Mr Miller added: “When we tried to make a difference at BEC, what did they do, they ship us out. What do you want me to do about it?

“I am not a minister in the government, how many times do I have to say that?

I don’t make decisions.

“I am not hiding behind nothing. Hiding behind what gown-tail?

When asked about the role Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development Philip “Brave” Davis played in negotiations, Mr Miller indicated that he was of the view that Mr Davis “didn’t make that decision.”

When pressed on what he meant by that, Mr Miller stated: “Man listen here, I am not going there. It is not my decision.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

“Call me what you like, I am not going there. I am not going there because it isn’t my business.”

Mr Miller subsequently shifted the focus on the conversation to his handling of WSC. He said: “I know I am the chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC). I know that the board of directors that we had at BEC did as best we can on behalf of the Bahamian people.

“Why don’t you get the chairman of (BPL) to come here?”

Since taking over the management aspects of BPL, PowerSecure has been inundated with technical issues resulting in several extended blackouts.

Last December, Prime Minister Perry Christie took issue with BPL’s in-

ability to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to New Providence.

At the time, Mr Christie told The Tribune he was not only “distressed” by the outages, but that he ordered a probe to uncover the root cause of the most recent outage.

That outage occurred the day before the opening ceremony of an international civil aviation conference being held at the Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium, an occurrence Mr Christie suggested embarrassed the government.

Mr Christie’s position appeared to differ from that of Mr Davis, who days earlier had said he thought BPL was “meeting its mandate” and blamed the constant power outages on “aged machines”.

READERS RESPOND TO BAHA MAR TRANSFER Career Opportunity

NURSING INFORMATICS OFFICER “Looking for a GREAT place to work in Healthcare?” Then join the DH team!

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is responsible for integrating nursing science with multiple types of information management to identify, manage, and communicate data and in overall nursing practice. It: • Uses informatics to support evidence-based practice, research, and education • Provides leadership to clinical departments in developing, implementing, and maintaining effective clinical information systems • Initiates and communicates action plans regarding system implementation • Develops policies and procedures pertaining to the use of clinical information systems and ensures that such policies are regularly updated • Maintains open and active communication with vendors • Provides support and guidance to appropriate members of staff

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Skilled at observing set nursing standards and protocols • Strong analytical and problem solving skills with ability to provide resolution and a course of action • Ability to work independently • Places value on collaboration and demonstrates strong interpersonal skills

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• An Associates or Bachelors Degree in Nursing • Five years nursing experience and experience in nursing informatics with certification preferred • Broad knowledge of hardware, operating systems, and operational analysis and protocols • Management and project management experience preferred • Mandatory certifications before employment: BLS and ACLS • Currently registered with Bahamas Nursing Council Application deadline: Friday, March 31th, 2017 Email resume to hr@doctorshosp.com with subject line: Nursing Informatics Officer

Please submit resume to: The Human Resources Department Doctors Hospital P.O. Box N-3018 Nassau, Bahamas Fax us at: (242) 302-4738 Email: hr@doctorshosp.com Website: www.doctorshosp.com

I

I

I

DESPITE not having a casino operator licence, China Construction America officially “transferred” the Baha Mar resort to Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd on Tuesday. Readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

TalRussell asked: “Comrades, there is justification to demand straight talking transparency answers from the PM and his cabinet colleagues over the ‘sale’ of Baha Mar to the Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd - but why belittle the thousands of support workers responsible for servicing the very lifeblood our Bahamaland’s vital tourism industry? Is there any doubt that both the PLP and Red Movement are attempting to gain their own political advantage to benefit from Baha

Mar’s opening or not opening? Let the sucker open and then we will deal with the PLP cabinet - positively, or run them from office come the 2017 General.”

Craig was sceptical: “Fake news!! How can CCA hand over a partially completed resort? What, three floors in two of the towers almost ready for occupancy, a partially completed casino, few tenants, one or two restaurants, hoarding and temporary barriers everywhere to prevent guests from wandering into areas that are still under construction, restaurants in and near the

casino that will have to be completed while the casino is operating and on and on.

There is still so much to be done. I wonder what are the terms of the TCO? They should make the terms of the TCO public so that everyone will get the true picture of the grand handover.

What a farce!! The PLP is using this as a political tool to try get re-elected. It is nauseating to witness.”

As was Sickened: “Fool me five times . . . shame on you. Fool me six times . . . shame on me! You ain’t fooling me no more Perry!

I’ll believe it when I see paying guests coming and going!”

Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Paul Maynard’s backing for the proposed amendments to the country’s labour laws, prompted Economist to give this suggestion:

“Maybe the law should be changed to require the unions to set aside retirement funds, say 25 per cent out of the dues currently paid, for every member of the union.

That they should do this in equal increments of 8.33 per cent each of the next three years. They would holler very loudly.”

Justthefactsplease said: “Well there is a surprise . . . Paul Maynard supporting the PLP . . . shocker!!!”

And there was this from Sickened: “It sickens me that unions think that every single union member since the creation of unions has been a model employee who deserves more. There has never been one lazy, nonperforming union member?

Shocking!”

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

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 11

Why should I vote?

Your Say

By TAVIA AUMOITHE

In 1961, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), a group of like-minded individuals, made an effort to reWHILE browsing through sev- place the ‘Bay Street Boys’. Despite eral social media platforms, I have having fewer votes than the PLP, observed people expressing they the UBP won the election. During feel no need to vote. this year Eugenia Lockhart and Dr Adding to that, I have had conver- Doris Johnson flew to London to sations with people who are unin- present a petition for women to vote terested in registering to vote. Now, and after fighting tirelessly, women while being enlightened by them, I were given the right to vote for the feel Bahamians have forgotten the first time in The Bahamas on Nosentimental value behind voting. It’s vember 26, 1962. not just a fingerprint. Voting in The On January 10, 1967, Sir Lynden Bahamas is an historical voice.

Pindling, at 39, formed the first The Bahamas was black government in the once a country that was ‘I feel history of The Bahacontrolled by whites remas. The father of our Bahamians ferred to as the United country made it possible Bahamian Party (UBP) have forgotten for Bahamians of differor the ‘Bay Street Boys’. the sentimental ent skin colours, backThe same Bay Street grounds and social staBoys introduced univer- value behind tuses to equally have an sal suffrage, where some voting. It’s opportunity to vote. The Bahamians (women in- not just a majority were heard and cluded) from poorer finally given a choice, backgrounds, darker skin fingerprint. which led to this day offiand employment sta- Voting in The cially becoming Majority tuses, were ineligible to Bahamas is Rule Day. vote.

Many other historical Alongside the Bay an historical events contributed to our Street Boys manipulating voice.’ democratic governance. the boundaries to favour The Bahamas, unlike one class of voters and some, is very fortunate people, we (the blacks) were not to have had people who fought for allowed to work certain front desk provisions for every Bahamian to jobs, we weren’t allowed downtown have a voice. Voting is deeper than after 6pm, we had to enter Govern- choosing a party with ink on your ment House through the back gate, thumb. It’s an expression of gratiand we actually had bathrooms for tude. blacks only - all of this until 1967, • Tavia Aumoithe is a 24-year-old under Sir Lynden Pindling’s gov- Bahamian student at university in ernance.

Beijing, China.

SIR Lynden Pindling

States cannot legislate morality THERE are many religions in the world with a very large number of followers. The five with the largest are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and non-religious or atheists.

Within each group there are subgroups - but I won’t get into these. That is not necessary for the proposition I wish to put to Tribune readers and for the conclusion I wish to draw.

View from afar

By JOHN ISSA

Each group generally believes that it has the “truth”.

Additionally, there are beliefs that they all hold: here

I am referring to beliefs about not killing, stealing, lying and such like.

The differences often

have to do with marriage, sexual mores, eating habits, holy days, types of prayer and worship, modes of dress, the afterlife and such.

We also need to remember that we are not referring to fringe groups but are talking about groups with numbers of over 2.3 billion in the case of Christians to 400 million for Buddhists, the fifth largest group.

Atheists number about a billion. Thus we see that

there are some overlapping beliefs, but there are many differences and each group thinks it is right.

That’s fine and there is also nothing wrong with trying to convince someone to change their belief to your own.

What, however, is wrong is when one group dominates a nation and then tries to legislate their religious beliefs. If one’s action does not harm another it is not for the State to get involved.

There are numerous examples in history that when nations have tried to legislate religious beliefs, disaster always follows. But we don’t have to look backwards, we just have to look at the examples which exist today.

Let us learn from the past and what we see around us today.

• John Issa is executive chairman of SuperClubs.

He is writing regularly in The Tribune.

PAGE 12, Thursday, March 23, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

BTC gives its backing to Spelling Bee winners TOP spellers received top awards from BTC last Sunday.

Jee’von Pratt, a seventh grade student at St Augustine’s College, won the National Spelling Bee and will go on to participate in the Scripts competition.

BTC PR Manager Indira Collie said: “BTC was proud to partner with the National Spelling Bee. “We are encouraged by the efforts of these kids and we were happy to be able to reward them with a special token from BTC.” The top three students received 4G-LTE smart phones.

NATIONAL Spelling Bee winner Jee’Von Pratt, a seventh grade student at St Augustine’s College, with BTC Social Media Coordinator Zina Williams.

SECOND place winner Sarthak Saxena, a seventh grade student at St Andrew’s School, with BTC Social Media Coordinator Zina Williams.

THIRD place winner India Bowleg with BTC Social Media Coordinator Zina Williams.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN YOUR

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

APPLICATIONS for the 2017 Carleton W Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship - which offers a full six-year academic scholarship to a participating private school of their choice - have this year been extended to Grand Bahama.

A Bahamian qualifying student graduating from a public primary school in Grand Bahama will be eligible for the scholarship, under which all tuition fees are covered.

The Carleton W Williams scholarship was created in 2016 in honour of the former Chairman of Carribean Bottling.

The Strapp twins, T’ron Strapp and D’Ronn, who graduated from Garvin Tynes Primary School were the first recipients of the scholarship.

Application forms are available on www.cbcbahamas.com or can be collected at CBC’s main office in New Providence or in Grand Bahama.

THE STRAPP twins, T’ron Strapp (left) and D’Ronn, with Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Caribbean Bottling Company Brand Manager, after receiving the Carleton W Williams scholarship last year.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 13

Curry defends missing 102 out of 220 assembly sessions from page one constituencies situated in the capital are notably absent from the House, as he said it is “much more convenient” for them to attend proceedings.

He also suggested that his attendance in the House of Assembly should not be a measure of his performance as a member of Parliament, claiming that “representation is about understanding what the people really need, and getting those things done” as opposed to “just making a speech” in the House.

However, Mr Curry criticised the newspaper that published the story regarding his absences, stating that it is “unfortunate that on the eve of an election, they would print such things to try and discredit me and my representation in Abaco.”

Meanwhile, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, leader of government business in the House, said he is not aware of any plans to penalise Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder for his absences from the House, which reportedly amount to 58. Mr Pinder has reportedly not attended a House sitting since last December. “…What I will point out is that the House is likely to be dissolved within the matter of weeks if not days and I think that such action will be irrelevant and he’s not offering himself (Mr Pinder) to run in the next election,” Dr Nottage said.

“When people are absent you have to be careful that you know why they are absent and I don’t think anyone has indicated why he was absent.”

According to the same newspaper report, Dr Nottage has the best attend-

ance record amongst parliamentarians with just six absences.

“I see they say I was absent for six days and I don’t recall being absent for any days,” Dr Nottage said of the report. “I can speak for myself and say that I have been absent for the least amount of days.”

According to a report in The Nassau Guardian, which was based on information contained in records of the House of Assembly, Mr Curry led all parliamentarians with 102 House absences. Marco City MP Greg Moss followed close behind with 93 absences; Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell with 69, and West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe with 48.

For the Official Opposition, Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner was absent 33 times, while Killarney MP Dr Hubert Minnis was absent 11 times.

When questioned on his absences yesterday, Mr Curry said he was “a bit surprised” at the numbers contained in the newspaper report and that he “didn’t recognise that it would be 102.” However, he said he disagrees “somewhat” with the figures given.

“For me I am the parliamentary secretary placed in the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco,” he said.

“I don’t have an apartment here in Nassau, so it’s been somewhat of a challenge, back and forth. Much of my workload would include me having to do a number of things there, so it would keep me there sometimes, more often than I would like to.

“But the House of Assembly, when I try to come as much as possible, I try to be here to make my contribution. But it’s unfortunate that on the eve of an elec-

RENARDO CURRY, pictured during his first appearance in the House of Assembly. tion, they would print such things to try and discredit me and my representation in Abaco.”

He added: “In North Abaco, the people of North Abaco know that I am always on the ground, I live among them, and the reality is the job is a very strenuous job, it entails a lot of work not only at the Office of the Prime Minister in Abaco, but travelling to Nassau.

And often times when I’m in Nassau, I’m about different ministries doing what we need to do to accomplish our work.

“And so yes they can make a political point out of it, but for me, I believe representation is about understanding what the people really need, and getting

MINNIS CRITICISED FOR NO-SHOW IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DEPUTY Prime Minister Philip Davis criticised Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday for his “no-show” in the House of Assembly.

“Another day in the House of the Assembly, another chair left empty by FNM Leader Hubert Minnis,” Mr Davis said in a statement.

“His latest no-show performance is a clear indication that he is avoiding all possibility of being exposed as unable to defend his misstatements on matters of national importance.

“Today (Wednesday), the prime minister shared with colleagues that an important milestone has been realised with the handover of facilities at Baha Mar by the general contractor to the new owner. “ . . . The progress leading up to the April 21 phased opening of the Baha Mar resort is real and exciting. The project is abuzz with bustle and activity.

New employees are com-

ing in for training, things are moving forward all on course not only for the initial opening on April 21, but timely completion of other components of the project in phased openings

by SLS and Rosewood in the ensuing months. These prestigious operators and brands will be joining Hyatt and CTF Enterprises with outstanding and impactful additions to our tourism product and the economy of the Bahamas.

“If Minnis had come to Parliament, he would have been asked to pay particular attention to this portion of the prime minister’s remarks: ‘Over 1,000 Bahamians have already been hired at Baha Mar and 1,500 employees will be hired by the April 21 opening. Baha Mar, like Atlantis will then open in phases – with more job opportunities at every phase.

No one knows better than I do how these jobs will change lives – these new opportunities are going to

bring meaningful change for a lot of Bahamian families. That is why we have worked so hard to make sure Baha Mar was delivered to successful and safe hands.’”

Mr Davis said these are “the facts in the real world, not in the alternative factfree reality that Minnis has constructed to serve his political needs.”

He added: “He (Dr Minnis) has disgusted Bahamians, who wonder how he could be rooting against the creation of thousands of jobs so badly needed by so many families.

“I asked Minnis’ FNM colleagues to fill him in on the day’s developments — they, at least, had the courage to show up.”

Dr Minnis and the FNM have countered the argument that the opposition party is rooting for the resort’s demise, saying the party is only focused on getting answers to unanswered questions and concerns surrounding the deal.

those things done.”

When pressed by a reporter on how his constituents may respond to his absences and possibly view it as a form of neglect, Mr Curry said: “The times that I’ve been absent from the House of Assembly, I would always be present at the Office of the Prime Minister working.

“So it’s not that I’m taking some time off to play golf or take a vacation. No, it’s no such thing. It would always be that I would be always present at my office, and I’ll follow those deliberations at the House of Assembly, even though I may not be physically present.

So it’s a continuous work and my constituents can tell you we have an open door

policy at the Office of the Prime Minister and at times if they don’t see me in the House they can always find me at my office working.

“This was something I believe that was done for the first time having in the Family Islands, (the) Office of the Prime Minister having a parliamentary secretary posted there at that office. The challenge is great because now my family is there, I live there on that island and my appointment is there.

“Most of the members of Parliament that you see in the House with the exception of some of them, most of them live here in Nassau.

They have homes here. So it’s much more convenient for individuals like that who are a part of the House of

Assembly to be present.”

Nonetheless, Mr Curry said he is looking into securing some form of lodging in New Providence “to make it much more convenient in keeping that balance.” However, he maintained that his performance as an MP should not be judged solely on his attendance record.

“It would be one thing to say that Mr Curry would have missed all these days in the House of Assembly and nothing was done on the ground to show for it,” he said. “The reality is there is evidence on the ground that shows that work is being done in North Abaco and has been done to better the constituency as a whole.”

PAGE 14, Thursday, March 23, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

London attacker kills four and injures 40 before being shot LONDON Associated Police A KNIFE-WIELDING man went on a deadly rampage in the heart of Britain’s seat of power Wednesday, plowing a car into pedestrians on London’s Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death inside the gates of Parliament. Five people were killed, including the assailant, and 40 others were injured in what Prime Minister Theresa May condemned as a “sick and depraved terrorist attack”.

Lawmakers, lords, staff and visitors were locked down after the man was shot by police within the perimeter of Parliament, just yards from entrances to the building itself and in the shadow of the iconic Big Ben clock tower. He died, as did three pedestrians on the bridge, and the police officer.

A doctor who treated the wounded from the bridge said some had “catastrophic” injuries. Three police officers, several French teenagers on a school trip, two Romanian tourists and five South Korean visitors were among the injured.

Police said they were treating the attack as terrorism. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Mark Rowley said police believed there was only one attacker, “but it would be foolish to be overconfident early on”. He said an unarmed policeman, three civilians and the attacker died. Forty others, including three police officers, were injured.

Islamic extremism was suspected in the attack, Rowley said, adding that authorities believe they know the assailant’s identity but would not reveal it while the investigation was ongoing.

The threat level for international terrorism in the UK was already listed at severe, meaning an attack was “highly likely”.

Speaking outside 10 Downing St after chairing a meeting of government’s emergency committee, COBRA, May said that level would not change. She said attempts to defeat British values of democracy and freedom through terrorism would fail.

“Tomorrow morning,

CONSERVATIVE Member of Parliament Tobias Ellwood, centre, helps emergency services attend to an injured person outside the Houses of Parliament, London, yesterday.

Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP Parliament will meet as normal,” she said. Londoners and visitors “will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.”

US President Donald Trump was among world leaders offering condolences, and in Paris, the lights of the Eiffel Tower were to be dimmed in solidarity with London.

London has been a target for terrorism many times over past decades. Just this weekend, hundreds of armed police took part in an exercise simulating a “marauding” terrorist attack on the River Thames.

Wednesday was the anniversary of suicide bombings in the Brussels airport and subway that killed 32 people last year, and the latest events echoed recent vehicle attacks in Berlin and Nice, France.

In the House of Commons, legislators were holding a series of votes on pensions when deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced that the sitting was being suspended and told lawmakers not to leave.

Parliament was locked down for several hours, and the adjoining Westminster subway station was shuttered.

Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, whose brother was killed in the Bali terror attack in 2002, performed first aid on the wounded police officer, who later died. About ten yards away lay the assailant.

“I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth to mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood,” Ellwood said. “He

had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back.”

The attack began early Wednesday afternoon as a driver in a gray SUV slammed into pedestrians on the bridge linking Parliament to the south bank of the River Thames.

Former Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski was in a car crossing the bridge when he heard “something like a car hitting metal sheet” and then saw people lying on the pavement.

“I saw one person who gave no signs of life. One man was bleeding from his head. I saw five people who were at least seriously injured,” Sikorski told Poland’s TVN24.

Ambulances arrived within minutes to treat people who lay scattered along the length of the bridge.

One bloodied woman lay surrounded by a scattering of postcards.

Police said one injured woman was pulled from the river.

The car crashed into railings on the north side of the bridge, less than 200 yards (meters) from the entrance to Parliament. As people scattered in panic, witnesses saw a man holding a knife run toward the building.

“The whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben,” said witness Rick Longley. “A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman. I have never seen anything like that. I just can’t believe what I just saw.”

The attacker managed to get past a gate into Parliament’s fenced-in New Palace Yard, a cobbled courtyard in the shadow of the

Big Ben clock tower.

Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said a man in black attacked the police officer before being shot two or three times as he tried to storm into the building.

“As this attacker was running towards the entrance two plain-clothed guys with guns shouted at him what sounded like a warning, he ignored it and they shot two or three times and he fell,” Letts told the BBC. The attacker fell to the cobbles just yards from the entrance to 1,000-yearold Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the parliamentary complex, busy with visitors and school groups. Beyond that, a corridor leads to the building’s Central Lobby, flanked by House of Commons and House of Lords chambers.

The prime minister was among lawmakers near the Commons at the time of the attack, and was quickly ushered away by security officers and driven back to Downing Street.

To get that far, the attacker would have had to evade the armed officers who patrol the Parliament complex in pairs, as well as Parliament’s own security staff, who don’t carry guns.

The attack unfolded near some of the city’s most famous tourist sites, including the London Eye, a large Ferris wheel with pods that overlook the capital. It was halted after the attack, stranding visitors in the pods, with an aerial view of the attack scene.

London Ambulance Service said medics treated 12 people for serious injuries and eight who were less seriously hurt.

Dr Colleen Anderson of St Thomas’ Hospital said some of the wounded had

“catastrophic” injuries.

The French Foreign Ministry said that three students on a school trip from SaintJoseph in the Brittany town of Concarneau were among the injured. Two Romanians were also among the injured, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

US President Donald Trump spoke with May by telephone and applauded “the quick response of British police and first responders,” spokesman Sean Spicer said.

London has often been the target of terrorist attacks, from IRA campaigns in the 1970s and 80s to more recent Islamist plots.

On July 7, 2005, four al-Qaida-inspired British bombers blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus in London, killing 52 people.

British security forces say they have thwarted some 13 terror plots over the past four years, but in recent years the UK has largely been spared major international terror attacks such as the ones seen in Belgium and France.

Last year, a far-right supporter shot and killed British lawmaker Jo Cox, who had campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union. Prior to that, an attacker claiming to be motivated by Syria stabbed three people at a London subway station.

The most gruesome recent attack occurred in 2013 when two Muslim converts of Nigerian descent attacked Lee Rigby, a British soldier who was walking down the street. The men ran Rigby down with their vehicle and then used a cleaver to hack him to death as bystanders watched in horror.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MONITORING LONDON ATTACK THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration released a statement yesterday saying it is monitoring the reports into Wednesday’s deadly attack outside of Parliament in London.

According to the short statement, the ministry said it has contacted the Baha-

mas High Commission in London and all Bahamian personnel there, the Bahamas Tourist Office and the Bahamas Maritime Authority, are reported to be okay.

The ministry said it will continue to monitor the situation.

According to the UK

Guardian, “five people died after a single terrorist attacked Westminster, stabbing a police officer to death as he tried to storm Parliament, and killing three members of the public as he careered through the heart of the capital in a 4x4 vehicle”.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 23, 2017, PAGE 15

Fresh Prepared, In-store, Daily.

‘ZEBRAS’ are still biting in Spanish Wells.

DEAL

AUSTIN Long with the results of a nice dive off Grand Bahama.

PAT Deau found the Bimini Mahi Mahi this week.

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(INCL. VAT)

THE MAHI Mahi bite is on for Spanish Wells Fishing.

HAPPY Reel Addictive Charters clients in Long Island.

JAMES McVay on the Mahi Mahi in Andros.

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