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VOLUME:114 No.87, MARCH 27th, 2017

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SPORTS: SERENA BROWN SETS NEW NATIONAL DISCUS RECORD

Mackey ‘forgot’ debt to Customs FNM candidate owed $9,500 in settlement deal

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Free National Movement’s North Eleuthera candidate yesterday took “full responsibility” for his failure to settle a 15-year-old debt worth $9,500 to the Department of Customs, and pledged to pay the full amount outstanding today.

Howard “Rickey” Mackey told Tribune Business he had “completely forgotten” about the settlement agreement he made with the Customs Department in mid2013, relating to $12,789 in outstanding import duties owed by his company since

TEARS FOR KEISHON - THE BOY WITH THE BRIGHT SMILE

FREE National Movement Yamacraw candidate Elsworth Johnson yesterday suggested that the Progressive Liberal Party’s “statistic driven” approach to law enforcement has ultimately hampered the judiciary and national security forces, all while lamenting ongoing issues plaguing both areas in their efforts to arrest crime.

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net POLICE are seeking the public’s assistance in solving the country’s latest homicide after two men were shot, one fatally, near a nightclub in the Wulff Road area over the weekend.

The homicide took the country’s murder count to 38 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

According to reports, shortly after 1.30am Saturday, the two men were at a nightclub on Quintine Alley and Wulff Road when they were shot.

SEE PAGE 12

ACTIVIST SAYS PASTORS WRONG TO FOCUS ON LGBT ISSUES

June 2002.

Mr Mackey made one $3,197 payment to the Public Treasury, via RBC’s Harbour Island branch, in April 2013 but left around $9,500 due and owing until exposed by his political opponents this weekend.

Bradley Roberts, the Progressive Liberal Party’s chairman, told his party’s campaign rally at Hatchet Bay: “The FNM candidate for North Eleuthera, Howard ‘Rickey’ Mackey, to date owes the Bahamas government thousands of dollars in Customs duties which he committed in writing to pay, but has failed to do so.”

SEE PAGE SIX

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CHURCHGOERS should admonish their pastors to focus on issues like providing relief for people affected by the city dump fire - not on the United States’ “benign” policies concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, an activist said yesterday.

Erin Greene’s comments came after The Tribune’s report that several Bahamian pastors, along with scores of their regional counterparts, petitioned US President Donald Trump to revoke any US policy implemented under his predecessor that promotes same-sex marriages in the Caribbean region.

SEE PAGE 11

JOHNSON LAMENTS FAILURE TO TACKLE CRIME ISSUES

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

MAN DIES IN SHOOTING CLOSE TO NIGHTCLUB

In an interview with The Tribune on Sunday, the former Bar Association president contended that the government’s belief in “painting the perfect and safest picture” has ultimately opened the door to “maximum levels” of crime.

The attorney said despite overtures and recommendations by “those capable of addressing the problems at hand,” the Christie SEE PAGE 12

CONCERNS AS SURREY HORSE SEEN LYING IN THE STREET TEARS at a memorial service at A F Adderley School celebrating the life of Keishon Williams, the 13-year-old who was killed in Yellow Elder last week. Family and friends came together on Friday to show their respects for Keishon.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net TEACHERS, classmates and loved ones gathered on Friday for a tearful tribute to murdered 13-year-old Keishon Williams, who was remembered as a friendly and positive student leader.

At an emotional memorial service for Keishon at A F Adderley’s gym, family, friends and faculty lament-

ed the “stupidity” behind the death of a boy they said was “innocent and so undeserving of what happened to him”.

Moreover, they described the 13-year-old victim as a boy with a “bright smile” who was also kind-hearted, energetic, honest and obedient.

School officials said Keishon was a “very active student” who served as president of the Builder’s Climb, was an active mem-

ber of the Student Christian Movement, and a member of A F Adderley’s Positive Male Mentorship Group.

“I said, ‘Bye baby’,” a sobbing teacher, Sharell Edwards, said of her last interaction with Keishon, recounting that the slain student resiliently flashed his “beautiful smile” at her despite being scolded for taking too long to complete his coursework.

SEE PAGE 13

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net THE country’s surrey horse industry is again under fire after a short cell phone video surfaced over the weekend on social media showing an apparently injured horse lying on the street being attended to by several individuals in the downtown area.

While little is known about the incident, Ministry of Transport officials in the capital have announced plans to formally investigate the matter.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Monday, March 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

POLICE SEEK TO QUESTION ACTIVIST OMAR ARCHER POLICE have issued a wanted bulletin for political activist Omar Archer Sr for questioning in reference to the possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Mr Archer Sr, a 45-yearold Nassau Village resident, is a vocal supporter of the Free National Movement on social media.

On Thursday, Mr Archer Sr posted a photo to his page that depicted himself holding a shotgun with a text overlay that read “Minnis messenger paid for by the Free National Movement”.

In the comment section, he explained that the edited photo was “the work of desperate PLP’s trying to discredit me in any way possible”.

Mr Archer Sr is a former Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member and onetime chairman of the now defunct third party, the Bahamas Democratic Movement (BDM).

An outspoken and controversial political figure, Mr Archer Sr has often clashed with members and supporters of opposing parties due to his confrontational style of campaigning.

Earlier this month, Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney announced that he has filed legal action against him in the Supreme Court over allegations he described as “gutter politics”.

In a Facebook Live video, Mr Archer allegedly cautioned Mr McCartney to not criticise or speak ill of Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, and threatened to

OMAR ARCHER SR reveal allegations about Mr McCartney’s family business and other personal details should the DNA leader not take heed.

In May 2015, police issued a wanted bulletin for Mr Archer Sr in connection with several ongoing investigations into intentional libel allegations. He grabbed headlines during that time after he jumped out of a secondstorey window at the South Street Court Complex and broke his legs in the fall. Mr Archer Sr was at the court for an unrelated matter.

In 2013, Mr Archer pleaded not guilty to charges of intentional libel and two counts of threats of death against National Security State Minister Keith Bell and a police officer.

It was alleged that on or about May 2, 2013, he unlawfully published defamatory remarks about Minister Bell and also threatened the senator with death.

It was also claimed that he threatened Cpl 1405 Adrian Miller with death on May 3, 2013.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 3

‘Govt is distorting truth about nation’s economy’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday accused the Christie administration of distorting the truth about the nation’s economy.

In a statement to the press on Sunday, Dr Minnis called it concerning that despite the introduction of value added tax (VAT) and collection of over $1b in revenue, the national debt continues to rise.

The Killarney MP suggested that the while the nation’s economy sits on the brink of collapse, the PLP continues to “spin out their fantasies.”

Dr Minnis urged the electorate to view the upcoming general election as a “call to arms” for the country’s economic and social future. “… We need new leadership that will listen to the people and work to turn our country around,” Dr Minnis said.

He added that a new FNM government will “immediately begin to repair the damage caused by the PLP’s five long years in office.”

The statement read: “As the economic state of The Bahamas continues to decline, the government’s deficit in leadership has become as significant of a concern as the budget deficit itself.

Even after collecting over $1b in VAT, the national debt continues to rise. Their lack of leadership was again demonstrated by Deputy Prime Minister (Philip) Da-

vis, who said on Wednesday that our budget was ‘thrown off course by $400m’ as a result of the two recent hurricanes.

“This explanation isn’t a simple miscalculation; it is another distortion the government believes it can use to blind their constituencies from its obvious mishandling of the nation’s economy. It’s a depressing fact that the government continues to blame everyone and everything—including the weather—on their inability to meet their campaign promise from five years ago when they pledged to get the Bahamian economy on a path of growth and prosperity.”

Dr Minnis’ statement continued: “Five long years, and our economy continues to shrink. For so many Bahamians nothing is getting better, it’s only getting worse for them and their families. The PLP got their way, imposing their onerous VAT tax on the people.

“They said the revenue was needed to pay down our debt. Yet gross national income has declined each year under the PLP government, while our debt has skyrocketed. This government’s continued mismanagement has led our country’s credit rating to be downgraded to junk bond status by the international rating agencies.”

Dr Minnis said the FNM, if elected, would look to enact comprehensive economic recovery plans that put people to work and leads to true economic growth that

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis. benefits all Bahamians.

He added that Bahamians cannot afford five more years of an “inept, ineffective PLP government where pointing fingers and placing blame has replaced leadership and solutions”.

The FNM leader ended his statement with the indication that the FNM will pursue economic policies that strengthen every section of the economy, to create a path to opportunity for all.

The Christie adminis-

tration has drawn wide criticism for its handling of VAT revenue amidst growing national debt.

Last week, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham criticised the administration’s lack of transparency over the economy this term, challenging that the Christie-led administration’s fiscal performance over the past five years could not rival his party’s governance during a global recession.

At that time, during an interview on Bahamas at

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff Sunrise, the former prime Deputy Prime Minister minister said that public Philip Brave Davis said concerns over the national the former prime minisdebt and VAT would be ter was “missing the spoteased by greater transpar- light,” suggesting that his ency. comments were motivated Mr Ingraham said the by the pain of watching country was of the view that his successor - Dr Minnis revenue earned from the “wander around in a fog of tax would have been used to incoherence.” pay down the government Moreover, Mr Davis debt, adding that the gov- questioned how Mr Ingraernment still has answers to ham could find the nerve give as to why the debt has to complain about how the increased to such an extent country’s economy was resduring this term. cued, given the state he had In the days following left it in when he was voted Mr Ingraham’s comments, out of office in 2012.

PASTORS PRAISE PRIME MINISTER FOR BAHA MAR ‘VICTORY FOR BAHAMIAN WORKERS’ SEVERAL local pastors have praised Prime Minister Perry Christie and his administration for the impending opening of the Baha Mar resort and called it a “victory” for Bahamian workers.

In a joint statement released on Sunday, four pastors said Mr Christie and his government “are to be commended for working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the imminent opening of Baha Mar.” The statement was signed

by Bishop Simeon Hall, pastor emeritus of New Covenant Baptist Church, Bishop Ross Davis, senior pastor of Golden Gates World Outreach Centre, Bishop Victor Cooper, senior pastor of New Bethany Baptist Church, and Rev Philip McPhee, senior pastor of Mt Calvary Baptist Church.

“The prayers of the naysayers have been nullified and 5,000 Bahamians stand the chance of gainful and meaningful employment,” the statement continued.

“Right thinking Bahamians do not care about the irrelevant aspects of the politics involved. Moreover, the false and misleading logic that a Baha Mar employee will lean towards a certain political party is a non sequitur. Those who will be employed ought not have to answer as to who they are inclined to vote for.

MAN DIES AS CAR IN COLLISION WITH TRUCK

A MAN is dead after his car was in collision with a Mack truck in Exuma on Saturday, police said.

The collision occurred on Queen’s Highway in George Town, Exuma, around 6pm involving a Suzuki Solio motorcar driven by a man and a Mack truck also driven by a man.

The driver of the car received serious injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene by the island’s local doctor, police said.

Officers from the Traffic Department in New Providence travelled to Exuma on Sunday to help with the investigation.

“Thank God for those who will be employed and add a much needed economic boost to their lives and to the Bahamian economy.

We believe that the time has come for us to take the focus away from our personal interests and focus squarely on the nation’s goals and efforts,” the pastors’ statement added.

Baha Mar officials have said the resort will open in phases starting with a “soft opening” on April 21, when invited guests are expected to stay at the resort.

Last week the government, eager to demonstrate progress at Baha

Mar ahead of the imminent general election, staged the handover of the temporary occupancy certificate from general contractor China

Construction America (CCA) to prospective purchaser Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE).

The Free National Move-

ment has criticised the event as a “photo op” given the fact that the sale to CTFE has not yet been finalised and Baha Mar has

not started taking bookings for the property.

Officials have said that some 1,000 people are now employed at the resort.

PAGE 4, Monday, March 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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A ‘boogeyman’ chasing ‘Brave’ Davis?

SPEAKING at a PLP town hall meeting last Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned his listeners that the return of former deputy prime minister Brent Symonette to frontline politics was proof that the FNM was now representing the interests of the “Bay Street Boys” – not that of the people. Mr Davis had returned to the old PLP game of divide and conquer — “them and us!”

It’s a wonder we didn’t hear the cranking up of the production cameras to replay “Roots”, which in the days of Pindling was the background theme for almost every election.

“To me,” bellowed Mr Davis, “I see the Bay Street boys, that’s what I see.” That’s what Mr Davis claims he saw last Monday in an hysterical moment of historical falsehood. For us it was a flashback to infancy when children of our era were warned that if we didn’t go to bed quietly and fall asleep quickly, the “boogeyman” man would get us. Many children were frightened to sleep by that non-existent “boogeyman.” It would seem there is an attempt to make the “Bay Street Boys” the “boogeyman” of this election.

We hope that Bahamians today are more intelligent than to be frightened off by Mr Davis’ misrepresentation of history. It’s bad enough that our schools are graduating D- students, but it is unforgiveable when their leaders feed them falsehoods from a public platform – crushing them further down into the valley of ignorance.

We would defy Mr Davis to walk the length and breadth of Bay Street today and point out what was known back then as “the Bay Street” boys. When we walk, all we see are “our people”.

In the days when the term was used it referred to a white oligarchy of Bahamian merchants who controlled trade on Bay Street. Many older Bahamians today will remember the JP Sands store, where black Bahamians would be served on one side of the store while white Bahamians would scoop their rice out of a barrel on the opposite side. There are few Bahamians left today who remember that era. We question whether Mr Davis, who was born and lived most of his youth at Cat Island, or even Mr Symonette, the son of Sir Roland Symonette, the first premier of the Bahamas, would have personal knowledge of that period of our history.

“Brave” Davis was born in Cat Island in 1951, 66 years ago. Mr Symonette, three years his junior was born in Nassau in 1954. At the time of their births, Mr Davis, if he were older, could not have gone freely to certain public places - certain restaurants, none of the hotels and certainly not the Savoy Theatre on Bay Street, while Mr Symonette would have been able to enter any one of them.

Mr Davis was five years old, and Mr Symonette just two when the late Sir Etienne Dupuch, The Tribune’s editor and publisher, stood on the floor of the House to move a resolution asking members to go on record as deploring “discrimination in hotels, theatres and other places in the Colony against persons on account of their race or colour.” Such discrimination, said the Resolution, was “not in the public interest.”

At that time and in that social climate it was an unpopular move. It was a fight that was to cost The Tribune editor serious financial loss. On the night of his

Resolution he knew that he faced possible arrest with which he was threatened by the Speaker. But he also knew that a principle was involved… a principle far bigger and more important than himself, his business loss, or his personal security.

It was a night of tense drama with shouting crowds encircling the House below. We were The Tribune’s reporter on duty that night — in those days the House met at 8pm. At least two House members of what would have been known then as belonging to the “Bay Street” crowd supported Sir Etienne’s motion. They were the late Dr Raymond Sawyer, and the late Donald McKinney of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes. Mr McKinney was the uncle of today’s FNM member for Montagu, lawyer Richard Lightbourn.

And who can forget Mr Lightbourn’s wonderful mother, the late Mallie Lightbourn, who refused to tolerate discrimination in any form. She lived in London and her welcome mat was always out, especially for Bahamians of whatever colour or background - she seemed to feel a proprietary right over them as though it was her duty to take care of them while in her city of London. This is how she raised her three sons — discrimination in any guise was not tolerated in Mallie’s house.

Sir Etienne’s Resolution was sent to committee — this was the burial ground for such pesky resolutions. But it was not lost. Three days later — January 23, 1956 – the majority of Nassau’s exclusive hotels announced that they were open to everyone, regardless of race, the only standard being good behaviour and proper dress.

By Saturday, January 28, the British Colonial owners, the last to make the announcement, said that there was no discrimination at their establishment.

It was a tremendous victory - discrimination in public places was at an end. But what was interesting was that it is the only date scrubbed from the PLP calendar as never having taken place. They seem to forget that they are smugly where they are today because of the tremendous personal sacrifices made at that time.

However, to get back to Mr Davis and Mr Brent Symonette. Although, Mr Symonette was born into the fading era of the “Bay Street” boys, he was not of it.

He belonged to a different generation.

He was only 13 years old when the PLP came to power in 1967 and 17 when the UBP (known as the Bay Street Boys’ party) was disbanded. Much of the time he was abroad at school. So in fact Brent Symonette was not a part of that scene - a young, impressionable observer, but not a participant. It was the generation before him that held the burial service for the UBP – Sir Geoffrey Johnstone, Peter Graham, Godfrey Kelly, and the late Basil Kelly, to name but a few.

By 1971 the young so-called UBP members after quietly giving their party a decent burial merged with the Free Progressive Liberal Party, which is now the FNM. Today the UBP exists only in history books, and so, if Mr Davis is suddenly seeing Brent Symonette as a part of the Bay Street Boys — a group to which he never belonged and which no longer exists– then the “boogeyman” who frightened a bygone age to sleep, must indeed be after Mr Davis.

We hope he soon wakens to reality before he is classified with Donald Trump as lost in a Land of Lies and is no longer relevant.

Give us change EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS is a concern citizen born and raised in this Beautiful Bahamaland, I have a major concern with our Bahamian Government Perry Christie and his governing party.

My concern is, I have been working in government for the past long, long years from a very young man, why is it that the government doesn’t implement increase pay raise or promotions, I am on one whose

had the same salary from Noah build the ark, but how is it that they expect us to keep you in power.

It’s not looking good for you PLPs in the next general elections and beyond.

Give us what we want, what we need, and that is change. Be for your people, help your people, all we asked is if you look into the government system and see who hasn’t seen a raised pay in years.

Man, come on, the economy is really rough, our

salary remains the same and the living expenses is increasing every day, you have added VAT to every and anything in our livelihood.

Please, governing party all I ask is if you can’t really look into this situation because God is truly not please.

From a concerned citizen of The Bahamas.

CONCERNED CITIZEN Nassau, March, 2017.

Is Minnis irritating Christie?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

PERRY Christie stood on hallowed ground in South Andros and unleashed a poorly timed rant aimed at Hubert Minnis. It backfired big time. Instead of meeting the intent of maligning Dr. Minnis as unfit for the Office of the Prime Minister, it showed that the current occupant lives in la la land.

The objective reader was pained to follow the press account of what Christie had to say. It was disjointed, contrived and loaded with so many meaningless fluff phrases that even the students at the new primary school he was opening could tell that the Prime Minister had drifted off the reservation. He was there, after all, to praise the man in whose honour the school was being named.

Andros has produced some of the smartest Bahamians ever to have served in public office. Former Cabinet Secretary Rodney Bain hailed from Andros, as was timber voiced Clarence Bain who first put the phrases “Fish, cut bait or get the hell out the boat” and “Andros, my Andros” into Sir Lynden Pindling’s mouth.

And, of course, the Governor General, Dame Marguerite Pindling is a proud Androsian who can easily spot a bullfrog dressed up in soldier clothes.

Androsians know that book learning doesn’t necessarily produce the smartest people. They have more time for those who speak softly but carry a big stick.

Christie tried just a bit too

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net hard to impress them with his fancy words but his efforts fell flat.

He embarrassed himself and proved to even the first graders in the audience that perhaps the untested Dr Minnis is a better choice this election than the verbose, loquacious, do nothing Prime Minister now begging to continue in a job that will keep him on the public dole until he is just shy of 80.

Against that backdrop, Minnis (a spritely 62 year old) must resist the temptation to sit back and let Christie shadow box his way into greater public ridicule. Impetuousness got the better of Christie on a public stage and he lashed out with vulgar sign language. When Minnis gets under his skin he gets petty and personal.

Even Christie’s handlers are perplexed. A video making the rounds on social media shows a zombielooking Christie alighting the stage only to walk right past the lectern before being guided back to centre stage to perform his ring master act in a campaign choreographed solely to say what the PLP thinks Minnis can’t do if he won the government, rather than to account for what the PLP did (or rather didn’t) do these last five years.

Obfuscation is the hallmark of Christie’s stump speech for political rallies.

We await the manifestos this political season be-

cause no doubt the PLP’s gospel of promises could win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction writing. This time their snake oil pitch will probably lack catchy phrases and feel good slogans.

The phrase “Believe in Bahamians” will only bring them scorn and ridicule so they will have to ditch that.

“Solutions for Crime”, is a late non-starter. And the promise of 10,000 jobs, well, even poker-faced Brave Davis couldn’t pull off that snow job this time around.

And so it will likely be that the PLP, in existence since 1953 -- a respectable 64 years, 35 of which they have been in government – will have to pin their hopes on the revival of a dubious economic gamble called Baha Mar. Jobs there are reserved for a lucky few who live in Nassau. Dog eat your lunch if you live on Grand Bahama or any of the Family Islands that Christie turned his back on.

If Baha Mar opens before election day and if the PLP can throw a big enough carnival and provide enough Tshirts, cold beers and other “refreshments”, then maybe enough people will forget the misery inflicted on them these past five years and send Christie and his team back into power.

As invigilators of our politics Bahamian voters tend to mark hard. They are not likely to be as forgiving or as gullible this time around, as Christie is praying they will be.

THE GRADUATE Nassau, March 25, 2017.

Weep for the country EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN your December 11 publication, Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling has lamented that “somebody has fallen down on the job” and that she feels “like weeping” and the Prime Minister is “stunned” by yet another

young life lost to violence and of the crime situation which NOW requires the government investing in security equipment in schools.

Here we have two people occupying the two highest offices in the country sitting in positions of power to do whatever it takes to find a solution, and yet by what they

say evidently they choose not to comprehend that the buck stops with them.

Weep for the country, your government; is the somebody who has fallen down on the job!

P HUDSON Nassau, March 10, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 5

Former chauffeur of Dion Smith to challenge him for Parliament

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.com THE former chauffeur of governing Progressive Liberal Party MP Dion Smith said on Friday that the PLP does “not care” about Bahamians as he announced his candidacy with the Democratic National Alliance where he will go head-to-head with his former boss.

Mario “Ducky” Lockhart, who described himself as an “individual who sat in the front seat beside one of them,” said his campaign to win the Nassau Village seat will be honest and aims to cater to the needs of area residents who have been neglected.

Mr Lockhart was one of five new DNA candidates announced on Friday as the party looks to complete its slate of candidates for the 2017 general election.

Others included former College of the Bahamas President Dr Leon Higgs for the Mount Moriah constituency, Sky Bahamas CEO Captain Randy Butler for South Beach, Bishop Margo Burrows for St Anne’s, and Cindy Coakley-Knowles for Fort Charlotte.

“Up until Tuesday of (last) week I was the driver and have been for the last two years of the member of Parliament for Nassau Village. I hope that ain’t a

MARIO LOCKHART

CAPTAIN RANDY BUTLER

CINDY COAKLEY KNOWLES

shocker to any of you all,” Mr Lockhart said as he addressed DNA supporters gathered at the party’s headquarters on Baillou Hill Road South.

“So when you hear persons say this and that about what this government is really doing to the country, I’m an individual who sat in the front seat on the side of one of them, so I know for a fact. It’s not what I’ve been told or heard; this is what I’ve seen with my own eyes and my own ears. I can guarantee you, Bahamas, and especially the constituents of Nassau Village, they do not care.

“There were times when I had to stand up in a few team meetings for the area.

The team was made up of about 30 persons and two of them actually live in the area. (If) you are in a con-

stituency and you can’t get 30 people in the constituency to support you and they are a party, (then) you should have an idea of what is really going on,” he added.

“I have stood up in meetings before and I have had to say, ‘Hey, are you aware that I am one of them?’

Mario Lockhart’s campaign is going to be honest (and) to the point. I’m not going to play the smearing game, but there are some things that are very distasteful (and) the constituents must know.

“To the constituents that may see this, know that ‘Ducky’, ya boy from the soil, ya boy you played basketball (and) dominoes with (and) gang bang with...I’m here. It’s up to us to take care of us,” he said.

The DNA plans to com-

plete its ratifications this week.

Mount Moriah candidate Dr Higgs has had extensive administrative and teaching experience.

He is currently the secretary general for the Bahamas National Commission for UNESCO, and the former director of higher education and lifelong learning at the Ministry of Education. He has also served as the director of training for the Bahamas government and the assistant general manager of human resources at the Water and Sewerage Corporation.

Meanwhile, the DNA’s South Beach candidate, Captain Butler, has amassed more than 25 years of industry experience in the field of aviation.

Mr Butler, who ran on the DNA’s ticket in the 2012 general election for

DR LEON HIGGS the North Andros and the Berry Islands constituency, worked in the Department of Aviation from 2000 to 2007, helping to lead the country back to category one status in the International Aviation Safety Assessment ratings by the FAA within one year of being downgraded.

And then in 2007, he moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation as the first manager of aviation security.

In 2008, he was appointed as CEO and president of Sky Bahamas. Under his leadership, the airline has expanded operations from three to 13 approved domestic and international routes, the staff complement has doubled, and the airline’s fleet has grown to seven aircraft.

Bishop Burrows, run-

BISHOP MARGO BURROWS ning for St Anne’s, is an insurance industry professional, but has had more of an extensive run as a Christian ambassador. She is the founder and senior pastor of Bethel the City of Refuge Bible Ministries International. She has also been consecrated to the bishopric office by the electoral wards in Barbados, and received double honours from the CICA International University and Seminary in Houston, Texas.

The DNA’s Fort Charlotte candidate, Ms Coakley-Knowles, has extensive experience in the banking sector and hospitality industry. She holds several hospitality certifications, including more recently in hotel revenue management and hospitality management from Cornell University.

CHRISTIE’S RIVAL SAYS CENTREVILLE IS ‘HURTING’ FROM NEGLECT REECE Chipman, the Free National Movement’s candidate for Centreville, has challenged Prime Minister Perry Christie to a debate over the constituency he has represented for the past 40 years, an area he said is “hurting” from neglect.

In a statement released on Friday, Mr Chipman said it is obvious that Mr Christie is “unaware” of the many issues facing his constituency.

He said some area residents still do not have indoor bathrooms or running water and electricity.

“I would like to debate him on what has been done and what he intends to do for the communities of East Street, Farm Road and Centreville,” Mr Chipman said. “I am not sure he realises that yes, we still have outside toilets, yes, we have

eight government assisted housing and apartment buildings that are not being taken care of by their landlords. Yes, we have many persons without light and water, and yes many persons who are homeless and most importantly directionless.

“I would like to challenge him on the work of his street generals/community leaders and campaign team (about) whether or not the community benefits in the way that it should,” Mr Chipman continued. “He should be challenged on his record of representation, and whether homes can show, if, any kind of benefit that came from his representation. I would challenge him to take on a different community at his age and stage in life, as this one requires a lot of work.

“I would like to challenge his Urban Renewal record in the area, his NEMA record in the area, and most importantly his record of knowledge as to exactly who lives in his communities, the types of people, their way of life, their pain, their struggles, their needs.

The rate of poverty, the rate of child mortality and obesity. The rate of crime, oh and need I forget, the rate of recidivism. I thank God for this opportunity to assist as many people as I can, in any way that I can.”

Mr Chipman also suggested that with the money allocated for Mr Christie’s constituency allowance, the area should be flourishing.

“I would like to challenge the incumbent on the use of the budget for Centreville, $30,000 per year for a community office, $100,000 per

year for the waste removal, garbage collection and other community needs, the more than $200,000 per year allocated for schools in the community, and most importantly, the more than $500,000 collected at Fort Fincastle Heritage Park,” he said.

“With this type of money, our community should be flourishing, more community jobs, better education fa-

cilities, more small business assistance, better health facilities, proper waste management and garbage collection. Adequate housing, better managed Urban Renewal and developmental programmes.

“The health of the community is at stake, as many are stricken with chronic illnesses, and debilitating diseases. Centreville, East Street, and Farm Road are

hurting. Hurting from neglect, misrepresentation and the death of our hope, our spirits and our dreams.

The community of Centreville is sad, sad because they have put so much into their son of the soil, but now has to remove him. Farm Road and East Street are looking for change, a community pregnant with potential.”

Mr Christie has represented the area since 1977.

PAGE 6, Monday, March 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Concerns as Surrey horse seen lying in the street from page one The incident prompted President of the Bahamas Humane Society Kim Aranha to renew calls for the surrey horse industry to be shut down on the grounds of its inhumane nature and treatment of horses.

Meanwhile Dr Maurice Isaacs, director of the Cabs (Hackney Carriages) Board, yesterday told The Tribune that his office was

aware of the incident, receiving a “highlighted report” on the occurrence shortly after it transpired.

Dr Isaacs indicated that the horse fell over unexpectedly, was attended to, assisted to its feet and was able to walk away following the incident.

The Cabs (Hackney Carriages) Board is responsible for regulating the surrey industry.

In late 2012, after a surrey horse collapsed and died,

Dr Isaacs told The Tribune that the current legislation regarding the sector is outdated and needs to be amended.

On Sunday Mrs Aranha, in an interview with The Tribune, said treatment of horses involved in this sector has long been an “enormous problem,” adding that despite the government’s best efforts horses are being forced to operate in “severe” conditions.

“I am almost embarrassed to being having this conversation because we have fought on this issue for so long to no avail,” said Mrs Aranha.

She continued: “Watching the short clip is disheartening because you see the police directing traffic

and telling the person not to record, where is that attitude when these horses are being made to carry overloaded carriages and run tours despite being exhausted?

“This breaks my heart because these animals are being subjected to this treatment and when we come out to aid in this, our comments and concerns are being pushed to the side and overlooked.”

Mrs Aranha urged the government to “do the humane thing” and bring an end to this practice, adding that the existence of the surrey horse industry is neither a cultural nor a driving economic force.

• See Insight on page nine.

AN IMAGE from a video posted on social media.

MACKEY ‘FORGOT’ DEBT TO CUSTOMS In this Bahamaland, you should build on...

C-Commitment U-Unity R-Reliability R-Responsibility E-Equality N-Never Failing T-Truth L-Love...and then...

Y-You’ll build a safe and stronger nation for future generations

~Betty Taylor ~

Original Author

from page one

Mr Roberts subsequently publicly disclosed the contents of what appears to be the Customs Department’s entire file on Mr Mackey, including his April 18, 2013, letter seeking agreement on his payment plan. Also revealed are a cheque payment by Mr Mackey, plus numerous receipts, invoices, bills of lading and Customs entries.

Mr Mackey questioned how the documents ended up in Mr Roberts’ possession, describing the PLP chairman as “a political hack”.

Another issue, perhaps more pertinent for Bahamian taxpayers and the public, is why the Customs Department waited more than a decade to pursue outstanding taxes owed to it.

Confirming that he still owed $9,500 to Customs, Mr Mackey told Tribune Business of his settlement proposal and the debt: “I had completely forgotten about it.

“I’m not denying it,” he added. “I take full responsibility, and tomorrow [today] I will take care of my obligations to the Customs Department.”

• For the full story, see Tribune Business.

HOWARD ‘RICKEY’ MACKEY

PLP CAMPAIGN FOR ELEUTHERA HOPEFULS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party’s re-election campaign rolled through Eleuthera Friday, with residents turning up to Hatchet Bay to show support for Clay Sweeting and Clifford “Butch” Scavella, the candidates for North Eleuthera and Central and South Eleuthera respectively.

Prime Minister Perry Christie pitched Mr Sweeting, who lost the 2012 race

to the Free National Movement’s Theo Neilly, as the kind of man “that young men should be like in the Bahamas.”

“Convince (the people) of your goodness Clay,” Mr Christie said. “Let them know that you are real.

Any mother could say to her child, ‘I want you to be like Clay.’ There can’t be no more eloquent a statement in support of that.”

Mr Scavella rose through the ranks in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) because of his dis-

ciplined nature, Mr Christie said.

The nation’s leader reflected on how Mr Scavella became RBDF commodore.

“I had the privilege of commissioning an inquiry into the defence force by the Canadian armed forces,” Mr Christie said. “They sent out a real admiral of the navy and a major general of the army about what we could do to improve the force.

They said Mr Prime Minister, we have to advise you on who in our opinion should be made the lead person at the defence force. We have looked carefully at all who are eligible for appointment to that post. We are unanimous, and they were joined

by Paul Adderley and Dr Keva Bethel, and they said there is one person we have found who is so committed to discipline that we feel he might only last five years because he’s a man of great discipline, say people (going to) run from him. That man who could whip the defence force into line right now is ‘Butch’ Scavella.”

Mr Christie did not directly refer to the FNM and its candidates for Eleuthera in his speech.

PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts did, however.

He accused the FNM’s candidate for North Eleuthera, Howard “Rickey” Mackey, of owing money to the Bahamas government, including thousands of dollars to the Department of Customs.

Mr Mackey has since confirmed to Tribune Business that he does owe the government agency money, promising to pay the outstanding sum today.

The PLP chairman also accused the FNM candidate for Central and South Eleuthera, Stephen Thompson, of allegedly allowing his BTC bill to go unpaid for months.

Observers have suggested that recent boundary cuts, which transferred two polling divisions formerly in North Eleuthera and placed them into South Eleuthera, fortifies the two major parties’ strengths in the respective constituencies, that is, the FNM’s traditional strength in the north and the PLP’s strength in the south.

the stories behind the news

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2017

insight@tribunemedia.net

Real investment in people An object lesson in unlocking potential and banishing fear of failure

at a company, I got a salary and then I quit and I decided to open my own company and have a startup and I raised money and I had to close after a year because it wasn’t good enough, she would say ‘ok, what is your next idea’. It is very common, very accepted, and CEO’s of startups proudly tell how they failed.

“There is a big startup in Tel Aviv called Wix. It started very small and the CEO will tell you, when ever he speaks, he tells the story on how his first idea failed horribly and the second time it was awful and he went bankrupt and his wife divorced him and the third startup was Wix and now he is a billionaire. So he is very happy that he could fail

Sancheska Dorsett finds the Bahamas has much to learn when it comes to progressive entrepreneurial spirit after her visit to Israel

I

had no idea what to expect when I headed to Israel last month.

Of course, I relished the opportunity and was excited to experience a new culture, but with each new experience comes the apprehension of facing the unknown. That fear was compounded by hordes of negative comments when I told friends and family I was headed to the Holy land.

Some of these comments included (but were not limited to): “be safe, don’t get blown up” and - my personal favourite - “Girl, you know they in war?”

Nonetheless, apprehension aside, I packed my bags and dived headfirst into one of the greatest experiences of my life. After five intense days and my own gonzo journalism experience with other media professionals from the Caribbean, my perception of Jerusalem (old and new), Tel Aviv, Nazareth and my view of the “Birthplace of Christ” completely changed. While the threat of being caught between the crossfire of one of the many countries that oppose Israel never really leaves your thoughts, it was almost always overpowered by the culture, the technological progression and the demeanour of the people of one of the most progressive countries I have ever visited.

The Bahamas is beautiful.

For a small island nation independent for 43 years and with a population of just under 350,000, we have come a very long way. However, after visiting a place that has more startups per capita than any other country in the world and attracts more venture capital firms per person than anywhere on the planet, you realise how much further our little archipelago has to go. To get there, there is a lot we can learn from Israel.

At time it seems as if we have forgotten who we are, where we came from and the potential that lies within every Bahamian. Tourism is our number one industry and we have been flourishing for decades due to our natural resources. We have mastered “service” so much so that most of the jobs available to our people are either in or directly related to tourism. With a heavy investment in one area, that means if tourism fails our economy fails. However, there are ways we can guard against this by diversifying

our portfolio.

The first lesson we can learn from Israel: how to invest in your people.

Israel has the highest concentration of startups outside Silicon Valley, USA, and the government’s focus on creating a culture of innovation has been integral in establishing a vibrant ecosystem for startups to thrive.

In Tel Aviv, I visited a coworking area called “The Library”. Mira Marcus, International Press Director at the Tel Aviv Municipality and our tour guide for the day, explained the purpose of the building and the genesis of the name. The building used to be a public library but suffered from a lack of use. However, an investment from City Hall led to its refurbishment.

Most of the books were removed (some kept for aesthetics) and an open space was created, with up to 60 workplaces for entrepreneurs to develop Internet startups and technologically advanced companies. In addition, The Library hosts networking events, meetings and professional infrastructure for young technological visionaries.

The biggest requirement are that startups become involved in some aspect of civic innovation, whether it’s focusing on improving city services or urban quality of life. That’s it: the lone stipulation. For about $76 a month, entrepreneurs have unlimited access to work spaces as their ideas move from dreams to reality. rs Marcus explained that at the core of the Israeli innovation policy is the Chief Scientist’s matching grants programme.

Through this initiative, firms submit research and development proposals to the Chief Scientist, and grants are awarded on a competitive basis, with between 66 per cent and 90 per cent of the research costs covered.

“For companies, if they (the government) believes that they are good companies in an aspect of good technology and they have a good team, good potential good market, they will loan you back and you pay it back just from profit,” she said. “So the government takes a risk and it helps young companies have seed money. The maximum they will do is match money you bring from other sources because the government

M

Israel has the most internet startups per capita in the world.

The Tel Aviv skyline is testament to Israel’s modernisitc approach.

The Library in Tel Aviv has been reinvented as a space for entrepreneurs to develop internet start ups and network.

will never take the full risk but It is very helpful.”

Mrs Marcus also said she believes Israel’s compulsory military service is one of the reasons there are lots of successful businesses thriving in the country because the military not only provides early training in sophisticated technologies but it also teaches responsibly and courage.

“There is a mandatory service in Israel for men and for women. So first of all, a lot of men and women go into the army and get technological knowledge. They work in intelligence and get knowledge they could never get anywhere else. Secondly you gain an extreme amount of courage form going into the army,” she said.

“I was only 18 when I went into the army and I was on the bomb squad. I taught my soldiers how to take apart bombs. So here I am, 18, and I have the responsibility of the lives of my soldiers in my hands and I need to tell them over the radio if it’s the red wire or the black wire ... by the way it’s always the red wire ... but think how much I grew up and what a responsibility

I had. The lives of people were in my hands. So when you come out of the army after doing that, you are capable of everything. I can invent anything, I can begin a startup and you think that you are invincible. So that’s the army side of the reason why these phenomena of startups are taking over.”

Mrs Marcus also said that the country’s “acceptance of failure” makes it easy for

people to start their own companies because persistence and perseverance have become culturally ingrained in all aspects of society.

“It is very accepted in Tel Aviv to fail. There are a lot of societies, say Japan, that if you fail, you leave face and it’s a shame. Here it’s very very accepted,” she explained. “If I sit with my aunt and I tell her I worked

“Can you imagine if our government invested in us? I mean really invested in us? Gave us working space, capital and believed we could be involved in more than just the hospitality industry? The potential for success is endless.” twice in order to get to Wix and be successful.”

Can you imagine if our government invested in us?

I mean really invested in us? Gave us working space, capital and believed we could be involved in more than just the hospitality industry?

The potential for success is endless. By the way, Tel Aviv has a population of around 400,000. So, if they can do it, why can’t we?

If you needed proof of the the power of entrepreneurship created in Israel, Google this list of powerful companies: Wix, Pixie, ZUtAlabs, Zebra, Vroom, Mobileye, Vyber, Waze and Gett. All multimillion dollar companies, all started in Israel.

NEXT WEEK: why I think the Bahamas needs a similar model to Israel’s compulsory military service and the amazing benefits it can have for our little country.

• Comments and responses to sdorsett@ tribunemedia.net

PAGE 8 MONDAY, January 16, 2016

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

The end of ‘wet foot-dry foot’ is a parting gift - for whom?

World View

Tomas Regalado, the Mayor of Miami - long a hot bed for Cuban exiles - has described as a “parting gift” the decision of the waning Obama administration to end the United States’ ‘wet foot-dry foot’ policy toward Cubans seeking entry to the country. The question is: a parting gift to whom?

President Obama announced the decision last Wednesday in a three-paragraph statement on Cuban Immigration Policy.

Regalado believes the decision is a parting gift to Raul Castro, the Cuban President, with whom Barack Obama worked last year to establish diplomatic relations between their two countries after more than five decades of tension and hostility. But, in reality, the decision is more a parting gift to the United States - one in keeping with the policies on immigration that President-elect Donald Trump pledged, during the Presidential election campaign, to put in place.

The gift to the US is that it will no longer be taking in, without question, any number or type of Cubans who manage to land on US soil. Over the years since 1995, when President Bill Clinton put the ‘wet foot-dry’ policy in place, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have jumped into anything that could float in order to reach US shores in the certainty that once they got there, they would become US citizens within a year. That persistent migra-

By SIR RONALD SANDERS tion of a large numbers of people has put a strain on the US to absorb them.

The strain was worse before Clinton established the policy. Prior to 1995, Cubans on boats at sea were picked up by American vessels and carried to the US where they were immediately given residence.

In the previous year, over 35,000 Cubans were taken off rafts and brought to US shores. It was in response to that strain that Clinton introduced the policy that stopped automatic entry for Cubans who did not actually reach US soil.

In four years since October 2012, more than 118,000 Cubans landed at ports of entry along the US border. During the 2016 budget year, which ended in September, Homeland Security reports that more than 41,500 people came through the southern border. Another 7,000 arrived between October and November.

And it is not the US alone for whom this migration caused problems. In recent months Cubans trying to get to the US have travelled through at least nine coun-

tries - Ecuador, Colombia, The Bahamas, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. These countries have been under pressure to handle the migrants gathered at their borders.

If the decision to end the ‘wet foot-dry foot’ policy is a “parting gift” by Obama, it is far more a gift to the US and the beleaguered countries struggling to cope with the migrants than it is to Raul Castro.

The US will no longer have to deal with the arrival of unpredictable numbers of Cuban immigrants who turn up with full entitlement to the benefits of residence and citizenship paid for by US taxpayers.

In the case of Castro, his government will now have to manage a population whose needs have to be satisfied. The ease on the government’s resources that was provided by those who left for the US is no more. This is hardly a ‘parting gift’ to Castro; it is more in the nature of a poisoned chalice.

It is true that the Cuban government has com-

“The Cuban government has complained repeatedly that the ‘wet foot-dry-foot’ policy has encouraged gifted professionals to leave, depriving the country of their skills, but is also true that many who left were unskilled labourers.” plained repeatedly that the ‘wet foot-dry-foot’ policy has encouraged gifted professionals to leave, depriving the country of their skills, but is also true that many who left were unskilled labourers.

More tellingly for the Castro government is that the end of the policy will remove the embarrassment of people risking their lives to leave Cuba - a blot on the reputation of the government which rightly boasts that it has an enviable record in education and health. Not surprisingly, simultaneously with President Obama’s announcement, the Cuban govern-

ment also proclaimed the policy change calling it “an important step” in resolving illegal migration and bringing to an end “special treatment” for those fleeing illegally.

Cuban detractors in the US - more particularly the Cuban-American community - claim that Cubans seek to flee Cuba because of political oppression and persecution. In fact, while that claim might apply to some politically active persons, the reality is that, like many other refugees from around the world, Cubans have been leaving to find better economic opportunities. And the US has of-

fered itself as a magnet for such opportunities ever since it started the economic embargo on Cuba.

Indeed, had it not been for the five-decade long embargo, Cuba might have been better developed today and its economy much stronger.

With a stronger economy integrated into the global network and having to respond to the demands of liberalisation and competition - the tight political hold on the country might have loosened.

In any event, the end of the ‘wet foot-dry foot’ policy is a further step in the normalisation of relations between the US and Cuba.

That is a good thing for both countries, notwithstanding the anger and rancour that will be loudly vocalised in the coming days and weeks by the Cuban-American community. It is also a good thing for the Caribbean region, which would benefit from the easing of tension between the US and Cuba and the economic opportunities that could flow from it.

• Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Britain faces difficult balancing act over EU exit ARRIVING back in The Bahamas after a pleasurable Christmas and New Year trip home to England gives a timely opportunity to reflect on ‘Brexit’ since the subject of Britain’s impending departure from the European Union (EU) following last June’s referendum came up for discussion wherever my wife and I went.

It has become a modern political phenomenon about which everybody has a view and which has divided not only the nation as a whole but even caused rifts in families and amongst friends.

With both our sons voting to leave, and evidence of other young people doing likewise (including a cerebral and well-informed niece), it is clear that it was not only, as claimed, the older generation who opted for ‘Brexit’. A discussion with a farmer godson about replacement of EU agricultural subsidies was revealing, as was being lectured by a young banker about the need to protect, postBrexit, the UK’s vibrant financial services sector.

The fact that the referendum result was relatively close - 52 per cent voting to leave and 48 per cent to remain, with more than 30

Peter Young finds Britain’s future with Europe top of the agenda after a holiday in England million people participating - has made the outcome all the more controversial, so a fierce domestic debate continues about how the result should be implemented. But what is already clear is that Prime Minister Theresa May’s government will honour the wishes of the majority by triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty (the formal procedure for quitting the EU) by the end of March.

By common consent, the process of Britain’s disengagement from more than 40 years of EU membership will involve the most complex and demanding negotiation of a generation.

The immediate debate has now largely boiled down to a choice between a hard or soft exit, which essentially is taken to mean complete withdrawal or retaining full access to the EU single market which, in turn, requires adherence to the four EU

freedoms of the movement of goods, capital, services and people. The latter is a major sticking point for the UK because the key message from the referendum was public concern about continuing uncontrolled immigration from within the EU. In her first television interview of 2017, Mrs May made it clear that the UK was leaving the EU and should not attempt ‘to keep bits’ of its membership. Rather than viewing the issue as a choice between hard and soft, the government intended to seek the best possible deal for the nation in establishing - from a position of strength given the existing bilateral trade imbalance in the EU’s favour - a new relationship with the bloc from outside it. This would mean, ideally, continuing to operate within the single market and strengthening

Theresa May is expected to outline details of the UK’s exit from Europe this week. co-operation in other areas but immigration had to be controlled. Despite her reluctance so far to reveal the government’s negotiating strategy - and accusations by her ambassador in Brussels (subsequently retired) of ‘muddled thinking’ - this may now be clarified publicly as early as this week.

Meanwhile, the British economy is booming, with the stock market at a record high and a lower pound sterling boosting exports. New investment has been announced by companies like Siemens, Nissan, Google and, most recently, the USbased messaging and social media firm Snapchat which is planning to establish headquarters in London.

Sixty per cent of business leaders polled by the Institute of Directors in December were optimistic about business prospects during the coming year while for-

mer governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King has called for Britain to leave the single market and customs union in order to be able to embrace the opportunity of new trade deals with, for example, the US, China and major Commonwealth countries.

All this makes a mockery of the pre-referendum predictions of economic gloom and doom by the previous government, the Bank of England and bodies like the International Monetary Fund, not to mention the ill-judged intervention by President Obama. Some economists are now admitting that their analyses were simply wrong. However, what foreign commentators, in particular, have failed to grasp is that a fundamental issue in the referendum, apart from trade and the economy, was whether to put an end to

the supremacy of EU law and thus prevent further curtailment of the Westminster parliament’s capacity to legislate - put simply, whether Britain should continue to be bound by laws and regulations emanating from Brussels or return to being a democratic, selfgoverning country while co-operating as much as possible in other ways with neighbouring EU countries to their mutual benefit.

Furthermore, the referendum sent a clear message that, after the government of the day chose earlier not to sign up to the eurozone single currency or the Schengen agreement on open borders, the British public rejected the notion of ‘ever-closer union’ towards an EU federal superstate and the dismantling of the nation-state.

The promised revelation of the government’s ‘Brexit’ strategy will be a hugely significant next step. The fervent hope of so many is that Mrs May will not only ensure that the clear wish of the majority ‘Leavers’ prevails but also that, in seeking to heal divisions over ‘Brexit’, her government will try to find a way of accommodating, to the extent possible, the views of the ‘Remainers’ - surely a difficult balancing act but an important one since respecting the views of the minority is a central premise of democracy.

• Peter Young is a retired British diplomat living in Nassau. From 1996 to 2000 he was British High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017 PAGE 9

Act now before it is too late for the horses and donkeys How much longer can those in authority stay silent on the growing animal issues in The Bahamas, Kim Aranha asks

O

N Saturday, I I called upon V Alfred got a report Gray, the minister responthat a surrey sible, to address the farmhorse went ers of our country and help down, apparently on Bay those who have lost their Street. livelihoods because of bad I am in possession of pig-feed. a short video clip taken Silence. by somebody driving by.

Then came the bombWhat is so very interesting shell that, thank goodness, and telling is that the same was totally ignored by the police force which turns a public, when Minister Gray blind eye to all the surrey announced that he thought horse drivers’ infractions, the pigs died from an airwas right there flexing its borne disease. What kind muscles and instructing the of disease did he have in person taping the incident mind? to stop filming.

If that was actually the Excuse me, but since cause then I asked: “Has when are we a police state the native pork for sale in that can dictate if we can our food stores been testfilm an animal, especially ed? Is it safe to eat?” one that is treated with such This, too, was met with disregard, normally in The silence. Why did the minBahamas? The same group ister make the sweeping of men and women who bla- statement that he thought it tantly ignore the mistreat- might be like the dogs and ment of animals daily, now the distemper epidemic, a strong-arm a citizen when few years back? Thank the they try to film the horse Lord that the suggestion down in the of an epidemic street. did not cause ‘The concept I would like of conservation panic. But, then, to know why I guess, everythat person had is to protect body knows that to stop filming. while there is there was taintWas it to pro- still a healthy ed pig’s feed. tect the driver?

I have asked Will this query population, not for the reports of mine be met to wait until and finding on with silence too? samples supthe last has I find it posedly taken alarming that withered and from Big Major’s after reach- gone and then Cay. Silence. We ing out to our asked for a neccry over it.’ government on ropsy report. SiFebruary 27 lence. when I wrote an Insight Clearly this administraarticle asking if the surrey tion is using the silent treathorse drivers are above ment in the hope that these the law, there has been no questions will simply disresponse. solve and disappear. The At the time, I asked why Bahamas Humane Society they were not stopped for (BHS) as the leading NGO overloading their carriages animal organisation, and with too many passengers, the people of the Bahamas, why policemen allow this need to know what the situblatant law breaking to con- ation really is. tinuously occur in front of At this point I would only them, without so much as a feel comfortable if I saw an glance. The response I got independent report from an was ... silence. offshore laboratory. I am So now there has been an past believing anything at incident with yet another face value. surrey horse and this will The farmers of New be met with more silence, I Providence are getting a guess. very rough deal; they are On March 6 in this col- not being considered, their umn I brought up the issue animals have been dying of the swimming pigs and and now they have to toltheir death by supposed erate and survive in the “sand impaction,” even fetid and acrid air that must when hundreds of pigs were permeate their farms daily dying around New Provi- from the fires. dence. I called upon the The concerns are huge minister of agriculture to is- for the surviving animals sue an immediate recall for but also for the farmers who all the government-made have to work in those condipig feed. tions. This concern too has Silence. been met with ... silence.

Profile of a rising professional – Martiniqua Moxey From pg8 Bank of Canada (RBC) scholarship through the Canadian Lyford Cay Foundations.

As a part of my programme at Trent, I was able to study abroad at Jönköping University in Sweden for a year.

Without the scholarship, it would have been very difficult because the day that I received my scholarship was also the same day that I lost my father.

The scholarship gave me access to international opportunities, including being able to participate in a mock United Nations assembly in New York, explore an array of cultures and take full advantage of my university experience without stressing about tuition.

These experiences made me very marketable on returning home.

What challenges did you face finding employment?

Despite all my international experiences, I never wanted to work anywhere else other than home. I felt an obligation to my country to put what I learned into practice.

I believe it was my work experience during school that assisted me in quickly

finding a career. After briefly working for RBC after returning home, I found out about the opportunity at Central Bank. Two weeks after I applied, I was hired and have been growing here professionally ever since.

I’ve been at Central Bank since 2012, and I try to keep myself marketable through education, volunteering and reading.

What advice do you have for young Bahamians who are looking for employment in their industry?

Have realistic expectations! You may not land your dream job right away, so take full advantage of each opportunity.

Then when you find your career, also find a hobby and turn that into a second income stream.

As a young person, don’t be afraid to break the mould and create your own!

As a professional on the rise, how do you contribute to the development of your community and to the nation?

I welcome any opportunity to work with young people. I currently volunteer on Saturdays as a tutor and mentor at a church in Coco-

SOME of the swimming pigs in Exuma. Concerns have been raised after several of the pigs were found dead.

Conservation Inagua has many wonderful natural tourist attractions, including the flamingos, parrots and donkeys.

But a group in Inagua last week for a three-day visit did not see one donkey, despite looking for them continuously during their visit.

They spotted old droppings on the road, but no fresh ones. I was told by one of the people there that when they looked from an elevated area they could see a substantial distance, and not one donkey did they see.

It is known that they are shot and butchered, and sold for their meat. The Inagua donkey is known all over the world. These could well be a sub-species, as they have lived in that arid and salty environment for generations. Do we not fear for their future as they disappear?

The flamingo population thrives because it is protected. The parrot community is healthy because it is protected. The sea turtle population continues to increase because they are protected.

The donkey population is under threat because it is not protected and is being eaten. Isn’t there some shame in that?

Therefore, whilst I am again reaching out to our government, I will call for protection of this precious Bahamian symbol of resilience. Please can the Ministry of the Environment hear the cry of the BHS and protect what few donkeys are left before they wind up on somebody’s dinner nut Grove.

Some of the students that I have worked with have gone from an F level in BJC English to later achieve As and Bs in BGCSE English.

It’s not because I’m a great teacher, but it’s because I relate to them, make them feel comfortable and encourage them to find their own mistakes.

I also try to support Lyford Cay Foundations in any way that I can as an alumna.

I believe it’s important for Bahamian professionals to contribute to the country. It doesn’t take billions of dollars to create effective change.

Collectively, we need to all work toward a better future for our children. If you can do it, then why not do it?

NEXT WEEK: Building relationships to help achieve further academic goals • “Gain An Edge” is a weekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

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plate?

For a long time the Bahamas boasted a sub-species of horse in Abaco. There was much chatter and pride and speculation and whilst this was going on, the last wild horse of Abaco died.

The reaction? Silence.

The Abaco Barb, also known as the Abaco wild horse, used to be plentiful there when I was growing up. There was a book I loved called “Jingo the Wild Horse of Abaco”, first published in 1959 and again in paperback in 1977, written by Jocelyn Arundel with illustrations by Wesley Dennis. It was a delightful book: now the book and the topic is purely history.

How much longer can the starfish be plundered and sold before there are none left in the sea, but a few in some aquarium, or

dead and wizened on somebody’s bookcase, forgotten, collecting dust? I have reached out and suggested they be somewhat protected and that their wanton street sales not be allowed; what did I hear back? Silence.

My biggest concern is that nothing to do with animals or nature appears to be held sacred. No importance is given to flora and fauna.

The surrey horse problem continues to loom over this country and many people see it as a black mark on our tourism product though many in government will insist that it is essential to the Bahamian tourist experience. I beg to differ.

We brashly cut down tress, bulldoze historic buildings, over fish our waters, allow thousands of sea creatures to be picked up, killed and sold, all in the

name of the all-mighty dollar. We rape and destroy the resources we have, to hand over a meagre dowry to our children and grandchildren.

The pleas from those who care is met with ... silence.

The concept of conservation is to protect while there is still a healthy population, not to wait until the last has withered and gone and then cry over it.

All the ministries affected by these losses and who exercise this stony silence need to step up and respond, act and do something about all the animal and environmental issues the BHS gets involved in by default because nobody else will.

Kim Aranha is the president of the Bahamas Humane Society. Send comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

PAGE 10 MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

De-risking a serious threat to Caribbean security World View

FOR over a year in the Councils of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Caribbean countries have been warning of the threat to the region’s economic and political stability arising from the withdrawal by US banks of correspondent banking relations to Caribbean banks.

Those relations have been in place for over a century, giving significant profits to US banks.

The cost of the correspondent banking relations (CBRs), including the additional costs related to safeguards against anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing, have been borne by Caribbean banks.

Not a cent of it has fallen to the account of US banks.

Factors causing withdrawal of CBRs It is worth repeating the factors that have triggered the decision by US banks, with a global reach, to withdraw CBRs from banks in the Caribbean.

The first is that the regulatory bodies in the United States have issued guidelines to banks relating to money laundering and counter terrorism financing. Among the guidance, they have provided is that Banks should exercise extreme caution in their relationship with foreign banks because of the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing. As part of the anti-money laundering, counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regimes, penalties for offences have increased dramatically. In some cases the magnitude of the fines are many times

Tuesday Woman and Health - weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in The Bahamas.

Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo

By SIR RONALD SANDERS greater than the size of the actual offence.

The second is that uninformed political rhetoric has wrongly labelled the Caribbean area as a “tax haven”.

These two factors have caused the US banks to take the position that the rewards they get from providing CBRs to Caribbean banks are not worth the risk of a money laundering or terrorism financing incident that would cost them to be fined millions of dollars.

Therefore, all but one of them has withdrawn their relations. The one bank that remains has also given notice of its imminent departure.

The effect of losing CBRs In effect, the loss of these CBRs is severing the Caribbean from the global trading and financing system.

It is isolating the region from doing business with it largest trading partner, the United States of America, and it will affect trading with other countries in Latin America since settlement of accounts with these countries are usually through US correspondent banks.

The importance of CBRs CBRs are necessary for Caribbean countries to pay

“Naughty” Zenicazelaya.

for goods and services they buy from the US, purchases of which bring revenue and jobs to the people of the United States. It is significant that for the last 20 years, the US has enjoyed a massive annual balance of trade surplus with the Caribbean. Last year, for instance, the US benefited from a balance of trade surplus of US$5.1 billion with the 14 countries of CARICOM. So, in the end, the loss of CBRs will hurt the United States, even as it could emasculate the Caribbean if it is left unchecked. But CBRs are also vital for the Caribbean to be paid for the goods and services it sells to the US and other countries in Latin America that settle their accounts through US banks. Among these services are: payment of tourism receipts and remittances from the Caribbean diaspora.

Caribbean – not a tax haven A “tax haven” is an area or jurisdiction where payable tax is hidden, and where countries, in which such payable tax originates, are prohibited from receiving information on these taxable assets. That description does not fit the Caribbean; it is other countries – some in the Organisation for

Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), but not the Caribbean.

All Caribbean countries have tax information exchange agreements with the US and many other major nations; all but two CARICOM countries are signatories to the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) which obliges them to report US citizens or companies that store financial assets with them; Caribbean countries are also signatories to many Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties under which they provide legal and law enforcement assistance to other countries on tax matters and financial crimes. No money or transactions are hidden or protected from investigation.

Strict AML/CTF laws and enforcement On the anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing front, every Caribbean country is compliant with the rules of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). They are also subject to regular reviews of their systems by the FATF and the IMF when it conducts its financial appraisal programmes of individual jurisdictions.

It is significant that no bank or other financial institution in the Caribbean has been a party in any of the cases of money laundering or tax evasion prosecuted in the US. The Security Concern Three specific difficulties that the complete loss of CBRs would create for the Caribbean are: (i) in-

terrupting the flow of foreign direct investment: (ii) blocking remittances to the poorest and vulnerable in Caribbean societies; and (iii) forcing AML/ CTF risks underground and away from regulation and monitoring.

If the Caribbean loses control of the flow of money, the danger is that a pernicious, secret system will take over, emasculating all the valuable work in transparency and accountability that Caribbean jurisdictions have done, and creating opportunities for criminals and terrorists to take advantage of underhanded schemes over which governments have no control. The effect of this will not stop at the borders of Caribbean countries.

Caribbean economies are deliberately wide open to foreign investment. Because their populations are small, there is not enough domestic capital formation in Caribbean states to finance public or private sector development, therefore there is a reliance on foreign direct investment (FDI) to push the pace of growth, create jobs and increase national wealth.

Caribbean small states have much to lose if FDI inflows are impeded by the withdrawal of CBRs. For example, net FDI inflows correspond to 17% of GDP in St Kitts and Nevis, 14% in St Vincent & the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda, and 11% in St. Lucia and Grenada.

On the remittance side, the loss of CBR’s has al-

THIS WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology.

Plus Larry Smith’s forthright Tough Call column.

Thursday

No ordinary airport - the Lynden Pindling International Airport celebrates 10 years of excellence. Free 28-page anniversay guide.

Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review.

‘On da Hook’, a weekly look

at fishing in The Bahamas.

Friday

Weekend - a 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews.

Sports - The Finish Line, a look at the local sports scene,

by Brent Stubbs.

Plus A Comic’s View Naughty’s unique take on the week in The Bahamas.

Saturday The Tribune’s Top 5: a spe-

ready adversely affected agencies that deal with the transmission of remittances from the diaspora to Caribbean countries, causing several of them to close. These remittances are extremely important to Caribbean states which cannot afford comprehensive social welfare schemes. In the case of Haiti, remittances account for 22.7% of its GDP; for Jamaica, it is 16.3%; and for Guyana 10.6%.

The loss of CBR’s, leading to economic contraction, an upsurge in employment and an expansion of poverty, threatens to weaken small economies still further and cause social and political destabilisation. Persons without work and with no other means of support, inevitably turn to crime. The most attractive and lucrative crimes are related to drug trafficking, which knows no national boundaries, and which permeates throughout the hemisphere, directed mostly at the United States and Canada.

Therefore, no country in the hemisphere will be immune from the harmful effects of the withdrawal of CBRs and de-banking that now confront the Caribbean.

The OAS and all its member states should move now to stop this cancer.

The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the OAS. He made the following statement on behalf of CARICOM countries at a meeting on 23 March of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of the OAS

cial video review of the week’s top stories by Khrisna Virgil on www.tribune242.com.

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THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 11

Activist says pastors wrong to focus on LGBT issues from page one Grace Community Church Pastor Lyall Bethel and Pastor Allen Lee, president of Teleios Theological Training Institute, were among 17 Bahamian ministers and nearly 300 Caribbean church leaders who signed the letter that was sent to President Trump in January.

Among other things, former US President Barack Obama issued a presidential memorandum in 2011 directing federal agencies to ensure that US diplomacy and foreign assistance promoted and protected the human rights of LGBT people.

Under President Obama’s tenure, USAID, a US government agency responsible for delivering international aid and assistance, was also empowered to make the promotion and protection of LGBT people a fully integrated part of its work.

This involved creating a new position: a special envoy for the human rights of LGBT people.

So far, President Trump has retained that envoy, Randy Berry, a gay career foreign service officer who was appointed by President Obama two years ago.

However, there has not been any specific US policy that pressures countries in the region to embrace same-sex marriage.

Ms Greene said yesterday that pastors should therefore focus their attention elsewhere.

“I think it’s obvious to everyone that there are far more important issues for the representatives of the Christian church to be focused on,” she said. “Bahamians should see it as their obligation within their own faith to have continuous dialogue with their pastors and help them focus on issues that are more important to Bahamians at this time. Tell them that perhaps focus on providing

ERIN GREENE services for people suffering from the (landfill) fire, or bring calm and reason to our communities during the election season. Focus on providing opportunities and safe spaces to our young men and other real priority issues like food security. I would respond to their parishioners and tell them to help them refocus on the Christian message right now.”

Another LGBT activist, Alexis D’Marco, said last week that the tone of the pastors was “vitriolic,” and she accused them of wanting the country to become a theocracy.

Pastor Lee knocked these accusations in a letter sent to The Tribune on Saturday, and took issue with being portrayed as homophobic.

He added that the pastors’ position springs from their belief that a “marriage between a man and a woman is best for an ordered society”.

He said their concern is with the same-sex marriage, not individual LGBT people.

Pastor Lee said: “We well understand and respect the response of Ms D’Marco – and we say that with the utmost sincerity – however, we are extremely disappointed in the manner in which she has chosen to express it.

She, unfortunately, takes on the same ‘tone’ with what she charges us. Due to the importance of the issue and the hope that perhaps a foundation can be laid for

ongoing constructive dialogue, we are compelled to respond in some detail to her remarks ... and we do so in a spirit of love and genuine concern for the spiritual and sociological welfare of our people.

“As mentioned, Ms D’Marco begins by describing our letter as ‘vitriolic.’

First, if this is so, we humbly apologise on part of all signatories. That was not our intention. We can truly say, in a sincere attempt to follow our Saviour, and as good Bahamian Christian citizens, ‘we love you,’ and believe that, since He died for all people, we are all similarly ‘precious in his sight.’

Pastor Lee added: “ ...Also, she, as well as most of those who responded to (the initial) article on your website, have inappropriately broadened our focus on same sex marriage to include all those of the LGBTQ community personally. This is an inaccurate, judgmental conclusion. Our concern in the letter is with the issue of same sex marriage, not the individual per se.

“That is also why we avoid name calling or judgmental accusations of individuals. Something that most of the respondents on (The Tribune’s) website unfortunately appear so eager to do, thus diverting our attention away from the issue itself.

“Ms D’Marco also charges us with being homophobic. Again, it amazes me how such unfounded accusations are made by those who hold the contrary view to ours. Name-calling and personal attacks against one’s character are almost automatic. Again, I direct you to the respondents to (the) article on your website. How often, if at all, do you see us ‘take the low road’ and retaliate with such terms as “heterophobic” or “Christian-phobic” against those of who hold a contrary view?”

PAGE 12, Monday, March 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

JOHNSON LAMENTS FAILURE TO TACKLE CRIME ISSUES from page one

administration has “routinely attempted to disregard the system in hopes that the resulting numbers would tell the public that work has been done.”

Clarifying comments he made during a recent FNM community rally in which he branded the government a force unlike anything seen before in The Bahamas, Mr Johnson said yesterday that no resolution has come to record crime figures because the government has turned its back to “solving” and embraced a “show that we are working” approach to crime.

“They are mainly interested in statistics because (the government is) of the view that numbers are what matters,” said Mr Johnson.

“They created this con-

cept of grading a government’s success on crime statistics. As a result, the government is now doing what it can to protect its numbers, while painting the perfect and safest picture.

“Meanwhile, everything else has gone to hell. We now have maximum levels of crime and every time you mention it, their answer is to run to some statistics and say, ‘well this means that crime is down.’

“We know better. We know the reality. The judges know the reality. The police know the reality. There is no hiding the obvious, no matter how hard they try to present misleading numbers, the truth is known.”

Mr Johnson, a one-time member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), asserted that the PLP has infringed upon the autonomy of the commissioner

of police and the judiciary on several occasions since coming to office in 2012.

He claimed the recent call on the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to aid police circumvented the commissioner’s jurisdiction, adding that the call to do so should have been “totally up to” Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.

Mr Johnson added: “These are the times we are in. (Mr Greenslade) is being treated as a tool of the government, when in fact the law provides for him to do his job in the ways he deems progressive.

“The government made the call for the defence force, that broke the law.

The (commissioner) should have been the person making that call.”

In February, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage announced joint

operations between the RBPF and the RBDF following an alarming spate of murders to start 2017.

The move made some members of the police force uneasy, according to Police Staff Association Chairman Inspector Dwight Smith.

“We are in a serious state as a state. Only the commissioner police is constitutionally responsible for fighting crime,” Mr Johnson told The Tribune.

He continued: “Did the commissioner make this call? Is something up with his mental capacity, limiting his ability to do his job?

“This government is acting unconstitutionally with respect to both law enforcement and the judiciary.”

Mr Johnson claimed the judiciary has been lambasted to a degree that has never been seen before in the Bahamas.

He highlighted the treatment of Supreme Court Justice Indira Charles and Justice Rhonda Bain.

In January, attorneys for the prime minister filed a motion in the Supreme Court asking that Justice Bain recuse herself from the judicial review into allegations that Lyford Cay resident Peter Nygard illegally increased the size of his property - or any other cases in which the prime minister is a party - on the basis that she is set to attain the legal age for retirement in April.

Mr Christie has to make a decision on whether to extend Justice Bain’s time on the bench.

Last year, Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald moved a resolution in Parliament for the House Committee on Privilege to determine whether Justice Charles, Save The Bays Director Fred Smith, QC, and lawyer Ferron Bethell should be held in contempt of the House of Assembly.

Last May, Justice Charles

ELSWORTH JOHNSON, candidate for Yamacraw.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff ruled that Mr Fitzgerald infringed on constitutional rights when he tabled the private e-mails of Save The Bays in Parliament, and therefore could not be protected by parliamentary privilege. Justice Charles ordered Mr Fitzgerald to pay $150,000 in damages for the breach, and granted a permanent injunction barring parliamentarians from accessing or making public the personal information of the non-profit organisation, Save The Bays.

Mr Fitzgerald has since appealed that ruling and the parliamentary probe has been delayed pending that appeal.

Mr Johnson added: “If a judge operates against the will of this government they are put in a box and pressured to do otherwise. If this is the case, when can they ever defend the law and prosecute those that run afoul of it?”

He also said: “The judiciary is not a back door to the Attorney General’s Office.

If a ruling is made, it should be respected.

“ . . . Heck, this government amended the Bail Act to restrict the ability for magistrate to offer bail during initial hearings, so you have persons pleading guilty in an effort to avoid two weeks in prison. All for the government to say, ‘look, we are doing something.’”

In February, during his ratification Mr Johnson suggested that the country’s judicial system is heavily saturated by “political interference,” adding that this political involvement has resulted in disrespect of not only this system but of judges, who are regarded as the highest and most distinguished officers of the court.

Mr Johnson also said that the Royal Bahamas Police Force that he once knew no longer exists, and that its current manifestation was also under the influence of politics.

In response at that time, Deputy Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis claimed Mr Johnson’s assertions were nothing more than an attempt by him to endear himself to his new party.

Mr Davis said previously: “Mr Johnson, stop trying to impress your fellow FNM politicians for a moment, and spare a thought for how your comments may be perceived by the many stakeholders in our justice system.

“There are many Bahamians working hard to improve the judiciary, and to improve its functioning and reputation, and their achievements should be acknowledged and celebrated – instead, you paint a picture of a nation whose judges are tainted by politics.

“That you would drag judges into the political arena and try to damage our nation’s reputation in an attempt to score cheap points is a very debased way to begin your political career.”

MAN DIES IN SHOOTING CLOSE TO NIGHTCLUB from page one

The two men were taken to hospital where one of the victims died from his injuries.

Police have not identified the deceased, but The Tribune understands that he is 32-year-old John Hutchenson, killed a mere two days before his birthday.

The shooting comes less than a week after a construction worker was shot dead while on the job and two teen boys were found

with gunshot wounds lying on a dirt road in the Yellow Elder Gardens area.

Anthony Neely, 40, of Pinewood Gardens, was shot by a gunman at the old City Market site where he was working on the construction of the new post office on Monday, March 20.

A day earlier, 13-yearold Keishon Williams and 15-year-old Davante Lindsey, of Knowles Drive, Bozine Town were found shot to death.

As crime and frequent homicides continue to be a concern to Bahamians, Prime Minister Perry Christie recently said 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 last Wednesday, Prime Minister Christie said there is direct correlation between unemployment, a lack of education and violent crime in 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 that 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.

Anyone with information on these matters is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328TIPS.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, March 27, 2017, PAGE 13

Tears for Keishon the boy with the bright smile from page one

“You see, Keishon was not just a student, but he was one of my children,” she said. “No matter what happened in my class, he knew I loved him and I would do anything for him.”

The plan was for Keishon to finish up his Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) art project – a turtle – by next week, and then move on to “decorating” it after having spent too much time trying to finish the turtle’s head, according to Mrs Edwards, who remarked that the turtle was “hard as a rock” because he had applied too many layers of papier-mâché.

After sternly “rowing” him about his turtle, Mrs Edwards said Keishon simply smiled and responded: “Yes, ma’am, I gone get it done.”

When the school bell rang, while leaving her classroom for what would be the last time, Mrs Edwards recalled Keishon said to her: “‘Bye Mrs Edwards,’ flashing that beautiful smile I grew accustomed to seeing.”

Instead of returning to school with a finished turtle, Mrs Edwards said his project now “sits incomplete.”

The bodies of Keishon of Plantol Street, and his cousin Davante Lindsey of Knowles Drive, Bozine Town, were discovered early on Sunday, March 19, on a dirt road off Graham Drive in Yellow Elder Gardens.

The Tribune understands that the pair were found side-by-side with gun shot wounds. Their bodies were found around 9am by people walking in the area.

“Friendly was a perfect adjective to describe Keishon,” said Mrs Edwards, struggling to speak while fighting back tears.

“He was one of the happiest persons I knew, and it was truly a pleasure to teach him. If you were looking for someone who was reliable, honourable, mannerly, Keishon was your boy. In fact, he was the only child I know who smiled even when I was rowing.

That smile I will miss.”

Mrs Edwards added: “Keishon was dedicated to learning everything he could. Every activity I planned, he ensured he participated. Skype sessions, Edmodo lessons – he did them all. Every club I fa-

SOME of the students who paid tribute to Keishon Williams during a memorial service at A F Adderley school. cilitated he was there serv- with Dikaioo providing the ing and leading. If there beat boxing in their slain was something you needed friend’s honour. done he was always the first to volunteer. He was a hard No problems worker, who worked diliWhile many students gently.” visibly shed tears for their For his homeroom teach- fallen schoolmate througher Kenya Ferguson, Keis- out Friday’s service, Odian hon was more than just a smiled while telling The student, but also a loyal Tribune about the moments companion. Ms Ferguson he and Keishon shared tearfully recounted how she as best friends, especially would be one of the first, if Keishon’s love of rap music. not the first, persons Keis“I will personally miss the hon would seek to greet fact that every single day he THE MEMORIAL service at A F Adderley paid tribute to Keishon Williams, the 13-year-old who was upon coming to school, and comes to me, and he’s like, killed in Yellow Elder.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff also how he would join her ‘Bey, you do that country with people, he always had get that extra 10 per cent, he “Every day we’d come to for lunch on a daily basis. rap yet?’ ‘Let me hear this “First thing in the morn- rap. Bey, let me do this rap’, wants to push you to 110 per this crazy smile. And his school, we’d just chill and lips were huge, so that smile we’d talk and we’d crack ing he comes straight to ‘Bey, I come up with a new cent.

“Keishon was never a was just boom – just out jokes, just kid stuff, you my homeroom,” Ms Fer- rap idea’,” Odian said of his guson said. “If he was late friend. “Every time you see problematic child, he was there. And we’d just be hav- know? Just having fun,” said Odian. he came to let me know he him he comes up with a new always trying to be friends ing fun. was to school. Break time rap or a new beat or somehe came to me, lunchtime thing new. And I’ll always he would eat lunch with me miss that about him.” everyday. After school even “Sometimes I used to if he didn’t have my class he clown around with Keiswould come to get my bags hon, but he wouldn’t really to take to my car,” she said. be playing with me,” said “That’s just the kind of Odian. “And he’d get a litchild (he was), innocent and tle angry; you could see it so undeserving of what hap- in his expression, but all in pened to him. all he’s still smiling and he’s “Having Keishon for always just there and being the past three years in my happy and always smiling. homeroom has indeed been For four-and-a-half years an enjoyable experience. I knew Keishon, from priKeishon was very kind, he mary school to now, and he was helpful, he took initia- was never ever really trying tive; anything that he sees to get into any problems.” that needs to be done he Odian added: “He never would automatically just started a problem with anydo it. He was kind, very one. He was always quiet encouraging to his class- and gentle, but active. If you mates...And even if some- put him to a task he’ll do it, one would crack a joke and if you felt like you need (about) him, he would still to just quit he was always laugh along with them. He there for you to back you wouldn’t allow the negativ- up to tell you keep on goity of the world to keep him ing, just push a little harder, down. Even being someone just keep going just a little with a speech impediment, bit more. Even if it’s just to he would laugh along with them and he would make ANY’S DON’T FORGET OUR P M fun of himself.”

O C S S According to school ofLIGHT FIXTURE A U GL A ficials and friends, Keishon S S LIQUIDATION SALE NA was an avid lover of music, NOW GOING ON so much so that during the memorial service his two best friends, Odian Decius and Dikaioo Miller, decidLIGHT FIXTURES ed to perform a rap song,

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PAGE 14, Monday, March 27, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Portal for trade to launch online next month

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

Services, which has responsibility for trade, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and the Employers Confederation.

Ms Strachan and Dr Darville met in Grand Bahama with the consultants who are assisting in the design and development of the portal.

Ms Strachan said that Alfons van Dujvenbode and Joost van der Kooij, managing partners of Globally Cool in the Netherlands, are providing sensitisation on the portal.

“The ministry and the chamber are confident that the Trade Information Portal will provide Bahamian businesses with power information and technical support to identify emerging export markets with impressive growth and un-

THE highly anticipated Bahamas Trade Information Portal will officially be launched online April 6, and is expected to facilitate trade exports from the Bahamas to potential international buyers.

Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachan and Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville urged Grand Bahamian exporters and potential exporters to register to have their businesses appear in the portal’s exporter directory, which is free to all businesses in the country.

The portal is a joint initiative of the government, led by the Ministry of Financial

tapped potential,” she said.

“The portal is a unique online platform that provides market intelligence and information to Bahamian entrepreneurs, aimed at filling the information gap and thereby creating new opportunities for trade.”

Ms Strachan said in October 2016, the International Trade Centre was retained to provide services to design and develop a trade portal for the Bahamas, and ITC engaged Globally Cool to assist.

The portal will assist in the ongoing efforts to drive diversification of the Bahamian economy by expanding trade with regional, hemispheric and international trading partners.

She stressed that the objective is to create a “onestop-shop” for relevant and current national, regional, and international trade information.

HOPE STRACHAN, minister of financial services.

“By creating a central- their products to potential ised location for vital trade buyers.

Dr Darville believes that information, the portal will serve as an important busi- the new portal will be a ness facilitation tool by re- game-changer for Grand ducing the cost and time Bahamian export comparequired to access reliable nies, and will have a positive trade information, and, in impact on the local econturn, improves the ease of omy, while fundamentally doing business in the Baha- changing the way in which Bahamians do business in mas,” she said.

Ms Strachan said the international markets.

“As a result of accessing critical feature of the trade portal is the exporter di- this portal, local Grand Barectory, which will provide hamians will be able to save Bahamian companies with the cost of attending global an opportunity to showcase trade shows,” he said. “In-

stead, they will be able to showcase their work, as well as products and produce in international markets, while also giving international buyers access to the local Grand Bahamian market, all at the click of a button.”

Dr Darville said he welcomes the use of this new innovative technology and encouraged local entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to further grow and expand their businesses.

MINISTRY: HAITI SIGNING CONVENTION ON STATELESSNESS WILL NOT AFFECT BAHAMAS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HAITI this month joined Jamaica to become the second country in CARICOM to become a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

The convention sets rules for the conferral and nonwithdrawal of citizenship, in an effort to combat statelessness.

The rules include granting nationality to people born in territories who

would otherwise be stateless.

Haiti’s decision does not affect The Bahamas, which is not a signatory to the convention.

However, in a statement yesterday, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration spokesman said this country already has mechanisms in its laws to deal with statelessness. “…The policy and the law of the Bahamas is that one obtains citizenship by descent, which means through your parents,” the ministry’s spokesman, Al Dillete, said. “There

are no plans to change that. The ministry further observes that there are existing mechanisms in Bahamian law to deal with statelessness. In the case of individuals born in the Bahamas of foreign parentage, including those born to Haitian parentage; those persons are not stateless at birth nor thereafter.”

The Bahamas government has maintained that based on Haitian law, no matter where they are born, children of Haitian descent are Haitian at birth. According to exist-

ing policy, such people would require a Haitian passport and a residence permit to be in The Bahamas.

Nonetheless, activists and scholars have said for years that there are thousands of “de facto” stateless people born to Haitian parents living in the Bahamas, people with no ties to Haiti. Advocates for constitutional reform of citizenship provisions have argued that the Bahamas’ citizenship laws contravene various international conventions that relate to statelessness.

POLICE HUNT FOR GUNMEN AFTER RAID ON JEWELLERY STORE

Isn’t Your Health Worth It?

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

POLICE are looking for two gunmen who robbed a jewellery store in the Mall at Marathon on Friday. It was one of three armed robberies over the weekend.

In the first incident, shortly after 11am on Friday, March 24, two men armed with handguns, robbed a jewellery store in the mall of an undisclosed amount of jewellery before fleeing on a motorbike, police said.

Then later that night, shortly after 9.30pm, a man armed with a handgun robbed a mini-mart located on Carmichael Road of an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing on foot.

In the final incident, shortly after 2am on Saturday, March 25, a woman was at St Alban’s Drive, when another woman, armed with a handgun, robbed her of cash before fleeing on foot.

Police are actively investigating all of these incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to anonymously call police at 919 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 328-TIPS in New Providence or 1-242-300-8576 in the Family Islands.

• 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

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION

• 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

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TO ADVERTISE IN THE TRIBUNE, CONTACT 502-2394

PAGE 16, Monday, March 27, 2017

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