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VOLUME:116 No.65, MARCH 27TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

ALICIA WALLACE: WHY NOT ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED?

Knifed to death outside school Juvenile held after boy, 15, fatally stabbed

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

A NINTH-grade student was fatally stabbed yesterday following an incident outside a school with another teenage boy.

The Tribune understands the victim is Perry Louis, a 15-year-old TA Thompson Junior High School student.

The perpetrator is said to be a 16-year-old student from another school.

According to police, Louis and the other boy

were involved in an argument in the Pitt Road area when “one of the males produced a knife and stabbed the other”. While the fight did not occur at either of the boys’ schools, the violent scene unfurled outside the premises of TG Glover Primary School.

Education Minister Jeff Lloyd yesterday told The Tribune he is “deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence” and “grieves heartily with his family and school community”.

SEE PAGE THREE

THE second person involved in Sunday’s fatal traffic accident has died, Inspector Leonardo Burrows confirmed yesterday.

According to a police report, shortly after 11pm on Sunday, officers were called to the scene of a traffic accident on East Bay

A UNION executive at the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association says that managers at the Grand Lucayan resort are not being unreasonable and are only asking for “fairness and justice” in the negotiations of their voluntary separation packages.

The lawyer represeting Lucayan Renewal Holdings said they will not be participating in any further proceedings in the matter set at the Industrial Tribunal in Freeport.

Following last week’s proceedings, Kirk Russell, vice president of BHMA, said he was not concerned by their withdrawal from the process as he believes that justice will prevail in the matter.

SEE PAGE 11

POLICE shot and killed a man who allegedly fired a gun at them on Monday night.

The incident took place before 10pm when officers responded to reports of an armed man on Graham Drive, Yellow Elder Gardens. They encountered a man fitting the description and as officers approached the suspect, he produced a firearm, pointed it in the direction of the officers and discharged it, police said.

“Officers being in fear for their life, fired their service weapon at the suspect, injuring him,” a police report noted. “Paramedics were called to the scene

Street. Police said the male driver of a black Honda coupe lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a wall.

The driver died on scene and a male passenger was taken to hospital, where he was initially listed in a stable condition. However, he died yesterday.

SEE PAGE 11

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SUSPECT SHOT DEAD FOR FIRING AT OFFICERS

CRASH CLAIMS SECOND VICTIM

BY RIEL MAJOR

LUCAYAN MANAGERS ‘JUST WANT JUSTICE’

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE VICTIM: Perry Louis, a 15-year-old from TA Thompson Junior High School.

‘WE CAN’T AFFORD NURSES’ OVERTIME’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

AS the Public Hospitals Authority has found itself saddled with high overtime bills - at one time climbing to $750,000 in just one month - Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said the controversial shift system for nurses has been a vexing issue.

Giving nurses what they want is not easy, he said yesterday, as paying money

DR DUANE SANDS owed to them is tied to the civil service which has restrictions on how much

the government can offer or how quickly this happens.

However, he said officials have been looking at how they could possibly change the compensation for nurses.

While stressing yesterday another strike would not serve the interests of Bahamians, the minister said the government was committed to finding a real solution to the issues raised by the Bahamas Nurses Union.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL TEACHES STUDENTS WITH VIDEO GAMES

SEE PAGE NINE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Hacking clampdown

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net REGULATIONS clamping down on the practice of air “hacking” are imminent, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar revealed yesterday.

According to the minister, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority will soon issue an advisory of the necessary regulations to the public.

“I’m in consultation with the director general of the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr D’Aguilar said yesterday outside Cabinet. “I think that he is about to issue the necessary regulations and to advise the public (of the same).

“Obviously there is a period where you decide to roll out those regulations that you have to notify the public and so I am hoping that that period will happen shortly.

“The director general has a process, which I’m not in a position right now to tell you what all the steps are, but he is following those steps and I expect something imminently.”

The minister previously said these regulations would come by the end of this month.

Whenever the regulations are made public, it would come more than a year after the tragic January 17, 2018, plane crash off Mastic Point, Andros, which killed six people including the pilot.

Following the incident, the Air Accident Investigation Department recommended that the BCAA “increase its surveillance and oversight of the general aviation sector and put in place policies to reduce the high incidence of unauthorised commercial operations”.

The January 2018 crash was not the first time a flight operated by a “hacker” resulted in deaths in The Bahamas, but aviation officials pledged an unprecedented effort to clamp down on the “hacking” practice in the aftermath.

BCAA last year revealed initiatives to clamp down on illegal flight operations.

These initiatives were to include requiring Bahamian pilots

holding foreign licences to apply for Bahamian licences, a public education air safety campaign and the creation of a multi-agency law enforcement task force.

At a press conference last year, BCAA director general Captain Charles Beneby said: “Any attempt by a member of the public to engage such services makes that person complicit in an illegal act. This is a warning to all persons that are engaged in such activities, now is the time to stop.

We’ve talked about this before my time. We won’t talk about it any more.”

Mr Beneby also said more manpower is needed to properly police the sector, ensuring operators all have requisite certifications.

The AAID also recommended in a report that a “plan of action be instituted to ensure all airmen who are owners or operators of foreign registered aircraft are in possession of Bahamas-issued licences as required by CAGR”.

The AAID recommended that surveillance be increased to “ensure all airmen who are owners/operators of foreignregistered aircraft, they are in possession of required medical certificates while operating those foreign-registered aircraft in the Bahamas airspace”.

Policies and procedures requiring all valid licence applicants must be familiar with Bahamian air laws and procedures have also been recommended.

TOUCHDOWN FOR BUJU BUJU Banton arrived in Nassau yesterday ahead of his concert on Saturday.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

PLP UNDERWHELMED BY PM’S NATIONAL ADDRESS

By RIEL MAJOR

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell criticised the prime minister’s national address, saying it provided no new information.

In a press statement yesterday, Mr Mitchell said the national address was a useless exercise in self-praise.

Mr Mitchell said: “The Progressive Liberal Party and its supporters were underwhelmed by the national address of the prime minister.”

His comments came a

day after Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis held his second national address for the year.

Mr Mitchell said: “With regard to education, the PM rehashed the same tired promises and deceits on education that we have heard before. Nothing that was said on that subject was new and nothing that the PLP had not agreed to do before losing office in 2017.

“The air-time could have been better spent telling us how he is going to put money back into this economy and get people back to work.”

The chairman said the prime minister should have announced the dismissal of Health Minister Dr Duane Sands and National Security Marvin Dames.

He said: “(They) are two MPs and ministers condemned by a judicial authority for their conduct in the Frank Smith case. They must resign or be dismissed.”

During his address on Monday night, the prime minister said education plays a critical role in preventing and addressing crime as he spoke of

strides the FNM has made in the education sector since coming to office in 2017.

He said: “At the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year three new pre-school classrooms were opened in New Providence, with an additional four new state-of-the-art pre-school classrooms just about completed. To date, more than 700 additional students have been enrolled in public and private pre-schools through the universal pre-primary initiative. Of these, just

under 400 vouchers have been paid to the Ministry of Education-approved private pre-school providers through the Private Pre-school Partnership Programme.

“Three and four-yearolds whose parents could not afford to send them to pre-school now have access to pre-primary education, to prepare them for first grade. We have launched a lower primary school literacy effort. The goal is to implement strategies to increase the percentage of students achieving A-D in

language arts in the Grade Level Assessment Test, known as GLAT.” On the issue of crime, Dr Minnis warned criminals that they will be relentlessly tracked down and brought to justice.

The war on crime will be expanded, he said, through the acquisition of 90 new vehicles for the police, adding 130 new recruits to serve in New Providence and Grand Bahama, installing 507 more closed circuit television cameras in the capital and the roll out of a drone programme.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 3

from page one

Knifed to death outside school

The incident occurred around 4pm in the vicinity of Pitt Road, according to police.

“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the stabbing of a juvenile male student, which occurred shortly before 4pm this afternoon on Pitt Road,” Inspector Leonardo Burrows said yesterday.

“The male was transported to hospital and is listed in serious condition. A juvenile male is in custody assisting police with their investigations.”

Unfortunately, a short time later Insp Burrows confirmed that the victim had died of his injuries.

When contacted by The Tribune, Mr Lloyd regretted the tragedy. “I am advised that a tragic incident involving a public school student occurred around 4pm this afternoon,” he said.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence and grieve heartily with his family and the school community that he attended.

“It is further deeply regrettable of the incidences of violence attendant to our young people, particularly our young men. And this ministry will seek every available intervention to address this scourge of antithetical and violent and disruptive behaviour in our society.

The minister reiterated that this incident did not occur on school grounds and wished to underscore to parents that “campuses are safe”.

“Unfortunately in our communities, our youth are enmeshed in circumstances that threaten their vitality, health, and safety,” he noted.

However, in February, a male student at CC Sweeting was stabbed while at school.

The boy was taken to hospital at the time and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Yesterday Mr Lloyd added the investigation is ongoing, saying he will comment further as more information is revealed.

This marks the 18th murder for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Editorial Comment - Page 4

ABOVE and left: the scene at Pitt Road outside TG Glover school where the incident occurred. Right, TA Thompson Junior High School where Perry Louis was a student.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff

CROWN TO APPEAL DECISION TO ACQUIT EVANS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has granted the Crown leave to appeal its decision to acquit Clinton Evans of murdering Detective Constable Jimmy Ambrose and trying to kill another officer almost 20 years ago.

Appellate President Sir Hartman Longley and fellow Justices Sir Michael Barnett and Milton Evans granted leave for the appeal to be heard before the Privy Council in London on the “usual conditions” concerning the unanimous acquittal last month of Evans of the March 29, 1999 crime, The Crown claims the appellate court was wrong in finding that Evans’ trial was unfair because of the admission of Inspector Terrence Higgs’ report— which linked the gun Evans allegedly had to the shooting—without calling him to testify and/or be cross-examined by Evans’ attorney.

The Crown also contends that the appellate court was wrong in finding that other than the ballistic evidence, the only other evidence implicating Evans was the identification of eye-witness John Campbell, particularly as the majority on the tribunal affirmed the convictions and sentences for the firearms offences.

The Crown also takes issue with the appellate court’s decision to not order a retrial for Evans having regards to all of the circumstances of the case.

The Crown further contends that Evans’ matter involves “substantial points of law of general public importance on which it is necessary to have the advice of the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty’s Privy Council.”

In particular, the Crown argues that the issue of the trial judge’s discretion to admit Insp Higgs’ report was “clearly one of great public importance,” as it “affects the manner in which that discretion

should be exercised generally, and the admissibility of such evidence generally.”

The Crown asserts that given the “regularity” with which analyst’s reports are relied upon, it is an issue of “far reaching effect”.

However, in seeking to persuade the appellate court to refuse the Crown’s application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, Evans’ attorney Ramona Farquharson-Seymour contended that the Crown has not raised any point of law for the Privy Council to determine, and that no issue of law arises from the Court of Appeal’s decision.

She further contended that the Crown’s appeal would be “academic”, since it would “make no difference” to the outcome. She further asserted that there were “multiple failures” in the trial process that rendered her client’s trial unfair and his convictions unsafe, and not just the “unfair admission” of Insp Higgs’ report.

During proceedings yesterday, the appellate judges noted what they considered to be a salient issue, namely whether Evans’ trial was fair in light of the trial judge admitting Insp Higgs’ report into evidence, despite having already determined that it was in the “interest of justice” that he attend to give evidence and be crossexamined, and that the Crown did not take all reasonable steps to obtain Insp Higgs’ oral testimony.

Thus, Sir Michael questioned if he and his appellate colleagues were correct in criticising the trial judge for admitting

Insp Higgs’ report into evidence if its admission was not dependent on the officer’s availability to give evidence.

Mrs Farquharson-Seymour noted her disdain that the court had formulated that question, as such a point was not referred to in the Crown’s notice of motion, nor its submissions in support of the action.

However, Justice Evans noted that if the appellate court is to send a matter up to the Privy Council, they themselves “need to be sure what we’re sending”.

In January, Evans was acquitted by majority decision of D/C Ambrose’s murder and the attempted murder of security officer Marcian Scott outside the now-closed Club Rock Disco on West Bay Street.

Sir Michael and Justice Evans quashed both his sentence and conviction and did not order a retrial because it would not be in the “interest of justice” to have him undergo a trial “for the fourth time some 20 years later.”

Sir Hartman dissented on the decision to acquit Evans, asserting that Sir Michael and Justice Evans “have engaged in acts of fantasy” to reach that conclusion.

Sir Michael Barnett and Justice Milton Evans said in the absence of a ballistics report that stated that the gun Evans allegedly had matched bullet casings found at the scene of the incident, they were not satisfied that the identification evidence “was such that a jury properly instructed” could convict him.

The appellate judges further stated that admitting the report by Inspector Terence Higgs—which was essential to the Crown’s case against him as it linked the gun Evans allegedly had to the shooting—into evidence without calling the officer to give evidence and be cross-examined, deprived Evans of a fair trial.

Further, the appellate judges noted that the only other evidence against Evans came from eyewitness John Campbell, who misidentified Evans

as Stubbs during the identification parade on April 20, 1999, despite claiming to have known Stubbs for almost a decade up to that point.

Evans’ two former coaccused, Stephen “Die” Stubbs and Andrew “Yogi” Davis, had their life sentences quashed and a 45-year sentence imposed on them both by the appellate court, which was further reduced to 35 and 34 years respectively from yesterday’s date to reflect the 10 and 11 years they have already served.

According to the Court of Appeal ruling, Stubbs has already spent 10 years in prison while Davis has spent 11 years.

Stubbs’ mother, Nathalie Stubbs, as well as his girlfriend Jacqueline Miller, both indicated to The Tribune after the hearing that they planned to instruct their attorneys to appeal the decision to the Londonbased Privy Council.

Ian Cargill, Davis’ attorney, also confirmed that he plans to take the same course of action concerning his client.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

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,

jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

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The challenge of tackling knife crime THE death of student Perry Louis in a stabbing yesterday is a tragedy that will resonate with every parent across the country.

Everyone with a child who went out to school will know the horror at the thought of that child not coming home, while students will have the shock of coming to classes tomorrow to discover a friend has gone forever.

As investigators begin to find out what happened in this latest incident, one thing is true: knife crime here is a challenge even greater than gun crime for police to tackle.

While much of the emphasis for police have been the high number of shootings – a number that thankfully has been coming down – knife crime is more difficult to deal with simply on account of the availability of knives. Guns can be more easily confiscated and removed, but any kitchen has potential weapons to be used for those wanting to commit knife crime.

While we do not know the circumstances of this latest fatal stabbing, we know that sometimes people will carry a knife as a sign of bravado, perhaps for show in a gang, and not understanding the reality of what might happen if they use it.

If someone stabs somebody else, they may not intend to kill them – but that is what can happen. A single stab wound can lead to someone bleeding to death, and the person holding the knife becomes a killer – and carrying a knife before an incident can show an intent.

The person wielding the knife suddenly

faces a long time behind bars – two lives shattered in an instant. More than that – for all the families and friends connected to each person.

Both in the schools and in our homes as parents, we must make children aware of the costs of knife crime – of the dangers that come with carrying a blade.

We hope the police will take the time to speak to students at TA Thompson Junior High School, where Perry Louis was a pupil, about what to do if faced with someone with a knife, how to protect themselves, how to get to safety.

We hope officers also talk to those who might carry knives and encourage them to find a better way, before any situation might get out of hand.

We also hope lawmakers ensure they give police their ear, and see if there are any changes to the law that may be needed to help prevent knife crime.

Knives are a tool, but is that the same for all knives? If people are found carrying one in circumstances where it is not needed, is that a matter where the law might intervene before it is used as a weapon rather than a tool?

As we say, it is a tougher situation than with gun crime – but this is a moment where we can reach out and try to educate about the consequences that may go with carrying a knife. If we can change just a few minds, it may save lives. For those of us who worry about our children out at school after tragedies such as yesterday’s, and for those who experienced that horror, we must rise to meet that challenge, and try to stop such things from happening again.

The better your service, the safer your job, son EDITOR, The Tribune MY SON who was about to embark on his first job asked me what he had to do to ensure job security.

My response to him was that ensuring job security was easy. Just remember the owner/manager hires you, but only you can fire you. “What, what do you mean?” “Well let’s take a look. You are going to work as a bus boy right? Ok first you have to remember that ultimately the guest is your boss, he pays you and all you have to do is make sure he is happy by giving him the best courteous service possible. He doesn’t want much, just that his food and drinks are served the way he ordered in a timely manner by a friendly smiling face. And that you keep his water glass filled and his coffee hot.”

The better your service performance, the safer is your job..

Secondly you have to respect your supervisors and your peers. Last, but not least, remember to AFTER Grand Lucayan chairman Michael Scott confirmed a preferred bidder for the resort is likely to be announced this week, readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

Well_mudda_take_sic had this to say: “This will no doubt be another gargantuan ‘giveaway’ to foreign interests, much like the recently announced Disney deal. Like the Disney deal, the concessions given to the new Lucayan owners will be so overwhelmingly generous that they will effectively constitute a most disgusting

always refer to the companies handbook and obey the rules and regulations agreed to by your union and the company. Do the do’s and not the don’ts. Do this don’t do that. Also you will encounter a few guys that are not supportive of the system. They will try to goad you into joining them, be wary of them. On the other hand there are guys that are role models.

Always to work on time, always taking care of their guests, these are the ones you want to emulate. See how simple that is? And, oh by the way, remember if you mess up and lose your job you will eventually lose your friends. No one wants to hang out with a loser.

Don’t get me wrong now, they won’t disappear overnight, but they will. By and by one by one. Check this out in the beginning you will meet them at the pub where all of you used to hang out after work. They will buy you drinks and give you a little something to put in your pockets. They will even stop and give you

burden on Bahamian taxpayers for decades to come.”

That prompted this reply from Bahamas09: “What do you mean ‘giveaway’?

If not foreign interests then who else is prepared to run with the ball? It’s foreign interests that have the money and are prepared to take the risk of making any business viable on GBI. That damn hotel has been

rides should they see you walking.

But one night and the nights thereafter you show up at the pub and none of your former coworkers are there. Even the ones who used to crack jokes with you stop talking to you. You soon notice that you don’t even see any of your friends on the streets. They’re now putting the duck on you.

That’s when it will dawn on you. “I messed up, I really messed up and fired myself by picking fights with my coworkers and always getting up in my supervisor’s face. Lost a good job making good money by not taking care of my guests and not following simple rules and procedures. Now because of my bad record I’m finding it hard to get a decent job.”

You get my drift, see what I’m talking about?

Good, now go out there and knock ‘em dead. Make your old man proud.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau March 23, 2019 closed for over 2 years and who knows what kind of state its in currently and how much it will take to restore it. I’m not aware of any bidding war if it was such a great deal!! It’ll take millions of dollars to re-build the brand and I’m not talking just paint and drywall.”

And Bonefishpete posted this: “Honestly, I don’t know how that hotel could ever swing a profit without government handouts. It is what it is.”

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

Not enough indians, too many chiefs EDITOR, The Tribune THE Free National Movement (FNM) government of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is being accused of purging the civil service, especially the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters, after eight assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) were sent on leave. In order for this troubling allegation to have any merit, it would first have to be proven that all eight ACPs were vocal supporters of the PLP, otherwise those making these allegations are only engaging in political demagoguery.

With The Bahamas being traditionally split right down the middle, what is the likelihood of Minnis playing Russian roulette with the Bahamian electorate with an election only three years away? Based on what National Security Minister Marvin Dames has said to the press, each of the ACPs had accrued upwards of 100 weeks of vacation, and all had served 30 years. It was my understanding that anytime after 30 years would be totally at the pleasure

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net of the government. After you would’ve done your 30 years, the state has the prerogative to send you home with no strings attached.

With the ACP salaries being in the neighbourhood of $60,000 annually, it would mean that the state would be offloading $480,000 that it would otherwise have to dole out to eight of the officers collectively had they remained engaged. If this exercise is political victimisation, then the very meaning of the word has been turned on its head, based on the attractive incentive each of the senior officers have been given.

The ACPs all get to chill out at home doing nothing while collecting an impressive monthly salary of $5,000 for a year or more.

Then they will transition to retirement with an impressive pension that is double the minimum wage salary of civil servants.

In closing, it is difficult to understand why the morale of the police force would be low in light of the

recent dismissals, considering the police manpower audit tabled in the House of Assembly last year that revealed that the senior command of the organisation was “too top-heavy,” with only half the constables needed currently engaged - officers who typically engage in combat with the criminal elements.

In other words, the RBPF has far too many chiefs and not enough indians. There’s reason to believe that the RBPF promotions of 2014 and 2017 were politically motivated.

With the youth employment of those between the ages 15 to 24 being over 24 percent nationally, civil servants over 60 as well as those eligible for pensions should be jettisoned in order to make room for these young Bahamians who are finding it difficult to gain employment. I am inclined to believe that the dismissals of the eight ACPs were based on economics, not politics as has been alleged by political demagogues.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama March 24, 2019

We would need an officer on board EDITOR, The Tribune AS A result of the meeting with President Trump are we to understand that the US was offered to up their presence in the southern Bahamas presumably the Inagua RBDF base, to police the waters south of Inagua for contraband — migrant smuggling and especially drugs which head to the US? Great this could

save the Treasury millions - no need to sail our expensive to operate patrol craft down to Inagua - no need to purchase those Minister Dames toys - drones, etc, he wants the US to cover us 1000%.

My single stipulation is that RBDF marines and an officer will be on the US Coast Guard cutters at all times.

Finally the FNM are

thinking, or was it the US who were tired of the lack of performance of the RBDF? Have at least two US Coast Guard cutters based at Inagua with air support, by jingo we finally have something that will improve on what we don’t have now…

W THOMPSON Nassau March 24, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 5

We can’t afford nurses’ overtime, warns Sands from page one A panel was appointed to look at their outstanding issues and some changes made, Dr Sands said. The changes included replacing old beds at public health care facilities to address nurses complaints about back injuries. There is also about to be installation of more than ten new stations for clocking in after nurses complained those already in the hospital were not functioning properly.

His comments to the press came yesterday ahead of a statement from PHA that it was willing to re-engage the BNU in discussions over the standardised shift system. At present, of all of the PHA’s existing categories of staff, only the nursing cadre’s work schedule remains out of step with widely accepted practice, the statement further pointed out.

This statement also comes several days after BNU president Amancha Williams said talks between nurses and PHA were at an impasse.

“I’m not aware there was an impasse,” Dr Sands told reporters. “Certainly, this has not been a topical matter over the last few weeks to months. Certainly, the discussions have been more focused on the way forward in terms of retention, recruitment (and) improving the conditions of service for nurses.

“We would have had a panel to look at the outstanding issues regarding nursing in the Bahamas.

We want to drill down on the specific concerns. So changing out the beds at the hospital is a major issue because of the problems with movement, back injuries and so on.

“Looking at safety, looking at being able to clock in. Nurses complained that when they clock in sometimes they have to wait ten or 15 minutes. We’re about to instal more than ten new stations to make that a bit easier.

I’M NOT aware there was an impasse, said Dr Sands, top right. Above: Princess Margaret Hospital.

“We’ve been looking at how we could possibly change the compensation for nurses at a very fundamental level.

“This vexing issue of the shift system gets at the very heart of the challenge that the PHA had a $750,000 overtime bill for one

month and that is not sustainable and the imposition on the people of The Bahamas is huge and we now have to work together in the interest of finding some common ground as to how we can control this runaway expenditure.”

In its statement yesterday, PHA

COOPER: DISNEY DEAL LEAVES CRUMBS FOR THE SMALL MAN

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA MP Chester Cooper said yesterday the country is being “chopped and sold for control” to the interests former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling “spent his life keeping at bay”.

The latest Progressive Liberal Party member to criticise the Disney Island Development agreement for South Eleuthera, Mr Cooper said the deal only leaves locals with “crumbs”.

However, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar defended the deal yesterday, noting the government feels it is important to “create opportunities for that community”.

Mr Cooper also called on Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to stop political victimisation against PLP supporters “forthwith”, describing the practice as “wicked and destructive” and a “barbaric state of play (that) sets our country back 100 years”.

Mr Cooper made these remarks at a PLP South Andros branch meeting yesterday.

Mr Cooper expressed dismay as he compared Sir Lynden’s legacy to the current Minnis administration.

“I thought how sad that we went from such a giant of a man who had such a

heart for his own people, to a government that now only pretends to care,” Mr Cooper, pictured below, said.

“I wondered what Sir Lynden would think if he saw the nation that he loved so much being chopped up and sold for control to the interests he spent his life keeping at bay. I wonder how he would feel seeing this FNM government usher in the next era of the Bay Street Boys.

“I wondered what he would feel if he saw how this FNM government would so carelessly disregard so many of our own countrymen who are hurting and in need all in the name of impressing and doing the bidding of international agencies.

“I also lamented that the FNM can’t even dream of having leaders like Sir Lynden anymore.

People who stand up for their country, not tear it down and call their countrymen corrupt on the world stage.”

He went onto address the Disney deal, hitting out at the government for giving a 50-year seabed lease in Eleuthera “to a cruise line for peanuts, and still give them Crown land and all the tax exemptions in the book.”

He added: “We get just over 100 jobs and no business opportunities, no shops, no restaurants.

Watersports that is reserved

for Bahamians given away to the cruise lines.

“Only crumbs left for the small man, the selfemployed and the budding entrepreneurs.”

Mr Cooper’s remarks echoed that of fellow PLP and Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, who on Monday said the Minnis administration negotiated miserably on behalf of Bahamians, producing a “shameful” deal.

Yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar was asked to respond to the PLP’s ongoing criticism of the Disney deal.

“I disagree, of course,” he told The Tribune. “Mrs Glenys Hanna Martin obviously has a point of view.

We think that it was a good deal. South Eleuthera, of course for many years has been impoverished and we feel that it is important to create opportunities for that community. I mean what was amazing is the people in South Eleuthera were seemingly very supportive of it.

“And so…as I say, it’s important to get spades in the ground to get the deal done. Mrs Hanna Martin is probably someone who negotiates and takes a long time to make a deal. We feel that it’s important to make the deal, let’s get the boots on the ground, the spades in the ground, and people employed and people enjoying empowering people and creating employment for our people. So we think it’s a good deal,” the tourism minister said.

SUSPECT SHOT DEAD FOR FIRING AT OFFICERS from page one

and transported the suspect to hospital where he later succumbed to injuries.

Police have recovered a .40 glock 9mm pistol with an extended clip and six rounds of ammunition at the scene.”

Police said the coroner is investigating the matter.

In other crime news, police also said they are investigating the circumstances in the

death of a woman tourist whose body was found at a hotel on Monday. Shortly after 10pm, police were called to a resort on Paradise Island where the lifeless body of a woman was discovered. Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive the woman, but were unsuccessful. There were no visible signs of injuries to her body and foul play is not suspected at this time, police said.

However, an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

maintained the shift system has many benefits, in clear conflict with Ms Williams’ position on it.

On Friday, she insisted no nurse would work under the system.

“Late last year, the PHA announced that it would defer its original implementation date

of December 10, 2018,” the statement said. “While no new implementation date was given, the authority maintained that it was open to further discussions with the BNU in an effort to arrive at a compromise regarding the amount of compensation proposed via a shift premium, recognising that the authority has limited financial resources to support this initiative,” the statement read.

“The original proposal provided compensation for nurses scheduled to work between the hours of 6pm to 6am of $1.75 per hour in addition to their regular pay.

“The PHA maintains that the successful implementation of the new shift system will: establish a standardised eight-hour daily shift and a 40-hour work week which greatly improves our ability to roster nurses; improve the delivery of healthcare and ensure better patient outcomes through better nursing coverage; reduce the number of accidents and errors given the reduced hours of work during the night shift — eight hours compared to ten and eliminate inequities of the current night shift system that allows nurses to work four days then be awarded four nights off, resulting in night duty nurses to be on paid leave for 77 more days per year compared to nurses that work day shifts.”

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net FREE National Movement chairman Carl Culmer has branded Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ claims the government is “purging” the police force of Progressive Liberal Party supporters as reckless.

Mr Culmer insisted the PLP is seeking to cast aspersions on the current process to cover-up its own bad practices.

“The last time I checked, there were no PLP policemen, there were no FNM policemen,” Mr Culmer told The Tribune yesterday.

“This reckless statement shows that under their administration, they only looked out for PLPs.” Mr Davis claimed the government, in its decision to send eight senior police officers on pre-retirement leave, was purging the force of PLPs.

THE TRIBUNE

‘No PLP policemen, no FNM policemen’ He also suggested the move could stall the organisation.

In response yesterday, Mr Culmer said no political party should seek to overrun the policies and systems of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He further suggested if Mr Davis remained bound to his position, the country should view it as an admission that “only PLPs got promoted under the PLP”.

Mr Culmer explained in this instance, many of the

MEMORIAL SERVICE for

officers in question were promoted under the former Christie administration.

“They promoted who they wanted, regardless of whether or not they qualified or were competent,” the FNM chairman said. “We don’t do that in the Free National Movement. We look at talent and at those persons who can get the job done.

“It’s a shame and a disgrace that they would offer up such a reckless and ridiculous statement. This shows what they did while in power,” he added.

In view of this, Mr Culmer insisted the Minnis administration has set out to do all necessary to set the RBPF “on course.”

He said moving forward, the initiatives and strategies being touted by both Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and National Security Minister Marvin Dames will continue to bear fruit and aid the public.

Dr Minnis, in his second national address of the year, said: “We will be relentless in preventing and fighting crime.

We will relentlessly track down those who do us harm.”

The war on crime will be expanded, he said, through the acquisition of 90 new vehicles for the police, adding 130 new recruits to serve in New Providence and Grand Bahama, installing 507 more closed circuit television cameras in the capital and the roll out of a drone programme.

He also noted a contract was awarded in late January for the installation of 100 shotspotters in high crime areas. This technology increases the ability of police to more quickly respond to gun-related crime.

Additionally, he said there are plans to enhance law enforcement’s interception capabilities by decentralising the dispatch of vessels in the southern Bahamas.

Mr Culmer also yesterday slammed his PLP counterpart, Senator Fred Mitchell over claims he recently made related to the Passport Office.

Mr Mitchell had previously suggested that if elected in 2022, he would immediately commence plans to construct a new

FNM chairman Carl Culmer Ministry of Foreign Affairs building to alleviate the woes of the current Passport Office. Mr Mitchell served as minister of foreign affairs for two nonconsecutive terms, most recently from 2012 to 2017, a timeframe when there were also complaints about the Passport Office.

Mr Culmer in response yesterday, said Mr Mitchell should be ashamed of himself, noting that that the former senior Cabinet minister had several opportunities to make this dream a reality, and never elected to carry out such a project.

“He was there for (10) years. Why talk about it now?” Mr Culmer asked.

He added: “Passports were given out to persons who did not qualify. The current minister is doing all he can to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

I know it is a little tedious, but we must do what is right.”

Mr Culmer urged Mr Mitchell to “keep it real” with the Bahamian people, insisting the former Fox Hill MP had nothing left to offer in the political arena.

“He couldn’t get it done while he was young and had strength. He will be almost 70 if he comes back, what can he get done at that age?”

Complaints of long lines and disorganisation have long plagued the Passport Office.

Applicants seeking new travel documents over the last several weeks have described the process as “frustrating” and “backwards”.

In response, current Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield said his ministry had created an internal committee tasked with improving procedures at the office.

CULMER: OUR PARTY STILL BEST FOR BAHAMAS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE a reported decline in support, the Free National Movement is still the best option to lead The Bahamas, party chairman Carl Culmer said yesterday.

He was addressing comments made by Transport

and Local Government Minister Renward Wells, who on Monday suggested the government’s “very hard and fast decisions” may have soured some voters.

Mr Culmer said despite this reality, he is certain the brilliance of Bahamians would, in time, win-out over the bitterness brought on by the government’s choices.

“The Bahamian people are really brilliant people, they understand where the country was in 2017,” he said. “They felt the brunt of the PLP and the can remember what our country was like when (the PLP) held the reigns of this country.”

He added: “Now I won’t go as far as (Mr Wells did), but I can say that some things haven’t gone the way we wanted. But I am sure the people understand.

They don’t want to go back (the PLP).”

Referencing what he

termed “advancements” made by the Minnis administration since coming to office in May 2017, Mr Culmer said the government has steadily and deliberately pulled the country out of a period of economic and social stagnation.

“There was no opportunities in this country,” Mr Culmer stressed. “No opportunity for young people, no business opportunities for business folks.

When you look around today… things are happening.

“How do you measure if an economy is moving?

You look at the job market and the construction of new homes. Not many homes were being built under that group…look at what is happening now, homes are being built and people are going to work,” he said.

“We’ve worked to restore our communities. People are now feeling sense of pride, a sense of ownership.

Bahamians truly understand and appreciate what the FNM is doing today,” Mr Culmer added.

A Public Domain poll carried out last April reflected that fewer than 50 percent of Bahamians were generally satisfied with the government’s performance.

The number of Bahamians generally dissatisfied with the administration had increased by 28 percent in a year-over-year analysis, this as the number of people generally satisfied with the administration had declined by 18 percent.

The poll also showed a substantial percent of people surveyed believed the country was headed in the wrong direction.

The poll was conducted from March 15 to April 7, 2018, and relied on a random, weighed sample of 1,000 Bahamians.

It came as the Minnis administration was nearing its one year anniversary.

GAS LEAK CLOSES INSURANCE COMPLEX THE National Insurance Board’s Clifford Darling Complex headquarters was temporarily closed yesterday morning to address a reported gas leak.

According to a statement from NIB, all customers and staff were evacuated from the building to ensure the safety of those working in and visiting the building.

“The NIB buildings and facilities team along with the fire department and external

vendors were engaged per the board’s emergency protocols to investigate the matter and advise on next steps,” NIB said.

“Proper assessments have been carried out and the building will be cleared for safe entry after it has been fully ventilated.”

NIB underscored that the safety of all staff and the visiting public is of paramount importance, and apologised for any inconvenience the incident may have caused.

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 7

Negotiations with teachers to start ‘within a few days’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd said formal negotiations with the Bahamas Union of Teachers are expected to begin “in days” over a new industrial agreement for the union. The previous agreement expired last June.

Mr Lloyd told reporters it is hoped these negotiations will not be acrimonious or filled with tension, adding a labour negotiator has been appointed to formulate a way forward.

He admitted formal negotiations had yet to take place despite the union presenting the government with a proposal last year.

However, BUT president Belinda Wilson said the union had not received a communication from the ministry that formal talks were to begin.

This comes after Mrs Wilson said on Friday the union planned to present the government with a letter on Monday demanding a response within seven days.

That letter was not sent until yesterday.

She insisted that in recent weeks government officials had given wrong details regarding the teacher’s industrial agreement.

“A counter-proposal has already been prepared and they are being submitted as we speak to the union leadership,” Mr

EDUCATION Minister Jeff Lloyd

‘OVER-THE-HILL INITIATIVE FAILS TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEMS’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government’s Over-the-Hill initiative is being ignored because of bureaucracy and its failure to address the root causes of the social and economic challenges facing innercity residents, according to Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell.

The senator was responding to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ recent defence of the Economic Empowerment Zone initiative in the face of a low participation rate.

On Saturday, Dr Minnis told reporters the inner city was neglected for 50 years and a turnaround cannot be expected quickly.

The Tribune exclusively reported last week that nearly four months after the Over-the-Hill zone went live, just 17 applications for concessions were submitted and of these, 14 were approved.

When asked about it on

Saturday, Dr Minnis admitted more needed to be done to inform inner city residents of the initiative’s offerings.

“It’s amazing that the inner city was neglected for 50 years and you want resolution in one. It can’t happen overnight,” he said.

For his part yesterday, Mr Mitchell in a statement said his party took issue with the assertions, claiming that it made significant investments in inner city communities over the course of its representation of these areas.

In fact, Mr Mitchell pointed to Dr Minnis as an example of that investment, noting that his very existence as a product of the inner-city opposes his position on this issue.

Dr Minnis has long highlighted his rise from a young, disenfranchised child of the inner city to noted physician and politician.

“The prime minister is a product of the PLP’s investment in Over-the-Hill, so

his very existence exposes the lie that is his assertion,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We go further: many of this country’s leaders over the last 50 years in many areas of national life are also products of the PLP’s investment in the human assets and capital in the inner city. The record is clear and incontrovertible on that fact. The prime minister must not confuse buildings with development and progress.”

He said the initiative continues to be plagued by bureaucracy and its refusal to address root causes of systematic challenges facing inner city residents.

Instead, he said the programme only encourages gentrification and a target for the rich to buy up the valuable real estate and effectively displace those who currently live there.

“The policies of the Minnis government have resulted in higher unemployment and a sour mood throughout those communities,” Mr Mitchell said.

Lloyd said yesterday outside Cabinet.

“I have had conversations with the president, the deputy prime minister and his team have had conversations with the president and of course the president has met with the prime minister. So while there has not been formal negotiations with the union, there have been conversations and discussions and those formal negotiations are going to begin.”

He continued: “The government has appointed a particular labour negotiator who is also a part of the team and those persons are going to be gathering with the BUT in formulating a way forward by way of an industrial agreement.”

Asked how soon the negotiations would be concluded, Mr Lloyd said he could not say knowing the nature of matters like these. But from the government’s standpoint, officials were prepared and ready to go forward with negotiations, he said.

He gave no indication what the government’s counter-proposal looks like, but said it was certainly a point of discussion.

“The union obviously has objectives. We have objectives.

That’s what is important for us, to have that kind of relationship.

We are obviously on the same page. We want what is best for The Bahamas by way of its education system and standards.

“The union is committed to that and it’s going to be a robust

and I think very lively conversation with the union and its leadership.”

He also said: “We have had a lot of conversation between myself and the president and our executive team and the union’s leadership so I think we will be very fruitful and beneficial and at the end of the day it will be for what is best for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and our people.”

In January, The Tribune reported that the union’s proposed industrial agreement featured a 20 percent pay increase over three years among other demands.

Teachers, Mrs Wilson insisted at the time, deserved this raise as they serve in a profession that requires a bachelor’s degree prior to permanent employment at the entry level.

The union leader said a higher cost of living is another reason why teachers needed a raise.

Back then, Mr Lloyd also said the ministry was working on a counter-proposal.

However, he said, BUT’s demands had to be contextualised with the requests of other unions, adding that for too long issues like these have been one-sided.

He said the country needed to move to a point where accountability is also factored into union negotiations. Nonetheless, he said, the raise could only be considered as far as the country’s finances allowed.

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

T Ask people what they

HE Economic Empowerment Zone programme launched in the Over-the-Hill community seems to be going nowhere fast with only 17 applications for concessions. It is perplexing that this was presented as a poverty alleviation initiative given its emphasis on businesses rather than households, individuals and vulnerable communities.

The plan depends on the market economy, through tax incentives and the attached requirements, to alleviate poverty in the area by decreasing costs incurred by businesses. The expectation is that more businesses will result in more jobs, those jobs will lead to less unemployment and that will result in the eradication of poverty. It appears as though the government intends to be more handsoff as resources are created and reallocated by the free market. The assumption is economic development will improve living conditions for everyone.

There is no plan to address the specific needs of any group of people within the Over-the-Hill community.

There are people living Over-the-Hill that have particular needs that need to be addressed.

They include women, migrant people, differentlyabled people and homeless people - they have not been addressed by this plan.

There is no consideration to women’s health needs, discrimination against migrant

need then maybe we’ll have the right answers A6MAIN

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 20, 2019

THE TRI

GRAND LUCAYAN BUYERS DOWN TO ‘THREE OR FOUR

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

The

Alicia Wallace

column

people, limited educational opportunities for differently-abled people, or the difficulty homeless people face in simply acquiring identity documents.

While they may all live in the same area and are stricken by poverty, they face a range of challenges that cannot be addressed by a plan than does not intentionally consider them and their needs.

A major issue with the plan is its failure to acknowledge its limitations, or to identify and suggest remedy for issues its implementation could cause. For example, there is no acknowledgment of

the way the Free Market approach can further disadvantage Over-the-Hill residents. There is no builtin safeguarding against exploitation of residents or predatory behaviour of business owners. It is possible for people to open new business branches without hiring residents, or hiring a minimum, and for corporate social responsibility commitments to be abandoned.

There needs to be clarity about how these systems will be enforced, not only on an annual basis when businesses seek approval for concessions, but on an ongoing basis, year-round.

One of the first steps to

There’s no excuse for political silence on police brutality IT IS no secret police officers abuse suspects in custody. In fact, many applaud police officers for misusing their power, seeing it as punishment for whatever the person in custody may have done. We often hear stories of people who confessed to crime under duress, whether or not they were guilty. When it was reported last week that an ambulance was called for a suspect in custody at CDU, there was no surprise.

We still have yet to see a response from anyone in our main political parties, especially Members of Parliament.

We do not see these kinds of reports every week, or even every month, but we are all clear on the culture. It is not unusual, when talking about a crime, for someone to say, “When they police hold him!” The suggestion is that police officers will mete out justice on their own. Some parents and guardians even take children to police stations to be “roughed up”.

These two frequent occurrences point to the ineffective state of the judicial system and lack of faith in it, the disfunction of law enforcement and the perception of police as villains. The reluctance to address and remedy makes clear the disregard for human rights and due process.

Attorney Christina Galanos said: “They are beaten and made to confess and when it goes up to trial they may not have any injuries or their injuries aren’t significant enough for a judge to throw a matter out and and most juries don’t know anything about the legal system and how the police operate, so they may well convict on this confession.”

It does not help in the administration of justice. It does not help the image of law enforcement, or encourage people to come forward with information. It has to be stopped, and abusive police officers need to be relieved of their duties and ordered to get help. This is inexcusable.

THE government has narrowed its list of potential purchasers for the Grand Lucayan down to “three or four” out of 60 interested bidders, according to Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar.

Mr D’Aguilar also revealed that government personnel were presently “negotiating quite closely” with the handful of unnamed, short-listed bidders.

The Freetown MP said that the government, now in critical negotiations to sell the property and conclude voluntary separation

alleviating poverty is listening to the people who deal with it every day. Find out about their daily challenges and what they need to overcome them. What can be done to ensure every household has proper plumbing with access to potable water? This is a basic need that needs to be addressed now. Who are the leaders within these communities who have access to residents, are trusted by them, and can work with government officials to design people-centered initiatives that are responsive to their needs? Involve the people themselves in the process, giving them agency to identify critical issues and recommend solutions. Over-the-Hill will not be transformed overnight, but we have to criticise the exclusion of residents, lack of focus on the right areas and failure of the current administration to see where it has gone wrong and make adjustments rather than carrying on in the same way because it can.

from page one Some said their homes or businesses do not need to be renovated. People like August Stevens, owner of a mom-and-pop store in Masons Addition, want to renovate their property but won’t because they don’t own the land. Others like Mr Moss said the concessions are too limited to address problems that have locked their families into a cycle of poverty for generations.

For their part, government officials note hardly three months have passed since the Economic Empowerment Zone went live in late November and officials are preparing to ramp up their education campaign to encourage more people to take advantage of the concessions.

“People are calling in, we’re receiving numerous calls,” Samita Ferguson, head of the Overthe-Hill Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister, said yesterday.

“We didn’t have a target of how many (applications) we wanted by a certain point. We are speeding up in our public education.

We are working on a commercial. We will make sure it’s spread through social media. The environmental monitors we have hired will be very strategic because when they walk about in the zones they will be able to pass out flyers or get names or numbers of persons that would be interested in tapping into the concessions.

“We have also tapped into the Urban Renewal Centres so applications can be found there.” Ms Ferguson said some who called her unit have been directed to the Small Business Development Centre, which, among other things, can provide financing to small businesses and may be a better fit for their needs.

Government officials also stress that the Overthe-Hill programme is bigger than tax concessions.

The government wants to create a food market for native products in the area; eliminate outside toilet use by 2025; create an auto-mechanic cluster that eliminates roadside mechanics in residential areas; build a multi-purpose community centre that offers care for children, the elderly and opportunities for counselling and construct a sports complex, among other things.

“The concessions part of the Over-the-Hill programme is just one part of a much broader programme that is really geared towards addressing different needs,” one OPM official said.

“There are other things going on within the programme. It’s a multi-layered

STAFF from the Department of Gender and Family Affairs attended the United Nations 63rd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the New York City headquarters with a delegation of approximately 70 people who, according to Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Frankie Campbell, funded themselves. This year, CSW focused on social protection systems and access to public services and proper infrastructure as we work toward gender equality as well as the link between women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

It is not unusual for government officials and delegations of varying sizes to travel and attend international meetings and conferences. Unfortunately, we rarely receive information about what transpired upon their return. It is important to note that the participation of members of the government delegation

packages talks with some managers at the resort, did not want show its “entire hand” in the press.

“Yes, (negotiations are) proceeding very, very well,” he told reporters yesterday. “I am quietly optimistic something will happen very shortly; we’ll wait and see.”

He added: “We’re in the negation phase so we’re a little… we’re hedging on what we can disclose and not disclose, but its for a reason.

“We are negotiating. We don’t want to show our entire hand in the press. I know you’re anxious for information, but we are doing the best that we can to negotiate

and to keep you as informed as we can.

“When its done, we’ll let you know. We’re focused on probably three or four; we are negotiating quite closely with them so I am quietly optimistic,” he added.

Meanwhile, addressing those ongoing negotiations with managers at the resort seeking a way out, Mr D’Aguilar yesterday said stalled discussions had been jump-started by “fruitful” talks between legal representative for the managers, attorney Obie Ferguson, and himself.

“I met with the union yesterday, they are progressing very well,” Mr D’Aguilar told reporters. “We are in the negotiation phase, so

I rather not negotiate this in the press.

“It’s a negotiation and were waiting for the negotiation process to complete, but it is moving, we’re talking, everything is going well,” he added.

Mr D’Aguilar’s comments come on the heels of a recent Tribune report which revealed a $9.2m on operations and payout spend by the government at the resort since it acquired it last year.

A high-ranking government official on the request of anonymity confirmed $6m in taxpayer dollars was spent on operational costs and $3.2m paid to line staff who opted to receive voluntary separation packages.

However there has be money expended on capital projects.

The figure sharply falls Progressive Liberal deputy leader Chester Co estimation last Tuesday $14m in taxpayer fund been used since the go ment temporarily took ov hotel.

He called the exerc “frolic” as the PLP do down on criticising the ernment’s handling of G Lucayan employees and execution of the plan t the resort. He further call greater accountability in spending of tax dollars.

PM’s initiative only attracts 17 applicants

TOP: TREVOR MOSS, 53, is renovating his tire shop but has not sought concessions from the government to do so, saying the cost of buying duty-free materials to equip his business is still too costly. He said he would be better helped if the government removed duties off tires.

LEFT: AUGUST STEVENS, 46, owns a convenience store on Masons Addition. He said he would like to renovate his shop, but he will do so only if his landlord gives him first preference if he decides to sell the property.

RIGHT: Pete Poitier said he wants to renovate his home, especially the inner structure, which has become “drop down.” However, he said even with concessions, “the money ain there.” programme that is the first of its kind on this scale.

The concessions, in terms of the application process, it hasn’t been three months yet. It’s kind of like an aircraft carrier, it takes a while to turn. We are collecting data, we are monitoring and we are happy with the progress but it takes time.”

Meanwhile, more than 70 standpipes have been

repaired in the zone, which stretches from Nassau Street to Collins Avenue and from Delancey Street in the north to Wulff Road in the south. The remodelling of at least two parks, the Father Marshall Cooper Park in Mason’s Addition and McPherson Park on Hay Street, has been completed and free Wi-Fi will be installed in those areas

soon in an effort to tackle the digital divide on the island, officials said.

Still, the tax concessions, first mentioned

by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis while he was in opposition in 2014, have been the most touted part of the Over-the-Hill programme since its inception. Several town-halls, broadcast by ZNS, have

been held to discuss the concessions.

Mr Moss, 53, owns a tyre shop on Meadow Street and was one of the few residents who has heard about the concessions.

“I spoke to Travis (Robinson) recently and told him nobody feeling nothin’ no more,” he said, referring to the area’s MP. “Everything is foreign, the foreigners get

all the real opportu but there is nothin’ f small man.”

Mr Moss is renovat business. He wants to restroom and create a ing area so custome watch TV and enjo conditioning while he their tyres.

It is the kind of im ment and expansio property that the the-Hill programme to facilitate. But Mr said he has not soug the available tax c sions. “That ain’ h me,” he said. “You h percent duty on the a $3.50 environmenta tax, then you have 1 cent VAT, all on tyres. really want to do som for the small busines give us exemptions o “Even occasional e tions on duties or would help.”

Dr Minnis in oppo said a Free National ment government exempt Over-the-Hil dents from customs on imported mat That idea was late tailed – technocrats fe would cause substant revenue leakages be it would be too diffic prevent goods boug retailers within the from being sold to chants outsize the zon The government’s quent decision to e duty only on imp materials used for struction, equipping completing buildin seen by some reside the zone as too limi make an impact and explain why only people have applied f concessions, Mr Moss “Lots of people and when you say, ‘ the price of the tyres roll back out becaus don’t have the mone said. “If we could in tyres duty-free, I reduce the average of tyres by 30 or 4 cent. Only me one here. I want to br someone but I can’t. I seven days a week. times I tired. I work from 8am to 10pm, 11 night every day. I su a mild stroke in Feb 2017 because I was worked but had little to recover before I h get back to work an still struggling.”

HOW The Tribune reported on the story earlier this month.

Now the real work begins

FOULKES CALLS FOR ‘GIVE AND TAKE’ IN SALT TALK

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

AMID tenuous negotiations between Morton Salt (Bahamas) and the trade union representing its linestaff, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes has called for a process of “give and take,” urging the two sides to move closer to a resolution.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, Mr Foulkes pleaded for peace as he begged those involved in the negotiation to let cooler heads prevail.

On Sunday Jennifer Brown, president of the Bahamas Industrial, Manufacturers & Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU), told Tribune Business the union — which represents around 100 line-staff at the Morton Salt operation — was disappointed by the company’s recent decision to employ part-time workers

on the weekend shift. She blasted the move as a “tit for tat” tactic, one she said the BIMAWU would file a trade dispute over.

According to Ms Brown, this latest setback in a long-line of mishaps at the operation came to a head when full-time workers recognised that last weekend’s schedule was made-up exclusively of part-time workers.

She alleged that regular workers were never asked if they wanted to work, a move taken as payback for recent shortfalls in “tonnage” output at the company.

“They’re upset they’re not getting the tonnage they usually get, but what they expect if our workers are disgruntled,” she said on Sunday.

“We will be filing a trade dispute on that. They claim they are working on a counter-proposal. It’s been two weeks now. We have been negotiating for over a year. We are not signing for

a 1.5 percent wage increase. Th insult. I don’t care what kind o sure they apply, we’re not acc that,” she added.

Meanwhile, addressing the m yesterday, Mr Foulkes said h awaiting a report on the dispute the director of labour.

Nonetheless, seemingly bothe with the ordeal, Mr Foulkes call peace, stressing that entering tiations with an attitude of “giv take” would be the only way to a resolution.

“I know for the workers in I things are rough; I know tha the government is very empa to the plight of the workers the most I can say at this poi want both sides to give and he said.

“As the minister of labour, I h stay in the middle. I cannot take on any of these issues,” he adde

FRANKIE Campbell at the UN is restricted. They cannot, for example, be a part of a panel or make any comments that may be (mis)read as government positions. They are able to attend the United Nations General Assembly sessions and scores of side events organized by NGOs, running from early in the morning until late into the evening.

It is important for us to know what takes places at these international meetings. If commitments are made by the Bahamian government, we need to know about them. Scores of Bahamians attended CSW and there must be information they can share with the general public.

This particular session must have been quite instructive to the Ministry of Social Services as it focused on the need for social protection which is an area that needs major improvement. Social protection

refers to interventions that reduce economic and social vulnerability including poverty and hunger. It includes income support for those who need it including unemployed people, low-income people, and the elderly, access to food and food security programmes, labour market interventions, harm-reduction strategies and programmes and natural resource management. This has not been a strong suit of any government administration in The Bahamas, and is desperate need of attention.

It is encouraging that so many people took interest and attended the session.

Now we need to know what they learned and discussed, and how the experience will benefit the Bahamian people. We, the people, must demand that our representatives and employees report back. Attendance is only the beginning. The real work takes place right here, at home.

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THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 9

School teaches students with video games SIOUX FALLS Associated Press WHEN eighth-grader Alyssa Lingen started her information and communications technology class this year at Patrick Henry Middle School, the art student was repulsed by anything related to computer science, she said.

But the minute she saw the little elephant she created move across a computer screen, dodging bad guys to gather coins, computer science completely changed her future, she said.

That wouldn’t have been the case, though, if her teacher, Jason Whiting, had not opted to pioneer a coding course for middle school students this year.

The course comes from Code.org, a national nonprofit focused on giving students access to computer science skills in schools

for women and underrepresented minorities, according to the organisation’s website, the Argus Leader reported.

He’s the only one in the Sioux Falls School District doing so, and he hopes teaching students how to build their own video games will only be the jumping off point for students to take computer science skills into future careers, he said.

“It’s really good,” Lingen said. “When I came into it, I didn’t think I was going to like it at all, and then I started learning how to code. ... And now I’m planning on taking JavaScript coding in high school, actually.”

Whiting chose to start the course after doing six years of the organisation’s Hour of Code event, which provides one-hour coding tutorials in 45 languages all over the world, he said.

He realised he could help

EIGHTH-GRADERS JURY OKENE, front, and Alyssa Lingen evaluate Lingen’s video game from Jason Whiting’s information and communication technology class at Patrick Henry Middle School in Sioux Falls. teach programming languages on a larger scale for his middle school students by reaching them through something most of his students love, he said.

“The collaboration, which you can see in the classroom right now, the critical thinking, the problem solving, they get all those skills along the way as they’re learning basically a second language,” Whiting said.

And because each video game is different and personalised, students have thrived, especially after getting feedback from their peers, Whiting said.

Students are even researching how to code their own games outside of school hours, and bringing those skills back to the class, going beyond what the basic curriculum calls for, Whiting said.

The course took eighthgrader and regular gamer

Jury Okene out of her own comfort zone, she said. She created a little alien whose mission is to collect silver coins versus gold coins, she said.

“I learned mostly about being patient and how to look more into things,” Okene said.

“Sometimes, the mistakes can be obvious. And I liked collaborating with my peers.

Usually, I don’t talk to many people, but it was a good experience.”

His students may never use coding in JavaScript beyond his class, but they’ll have at least a basic knowledge for how things work, Whiting said. That’s enough to know students like Okene and Lingen will go into high school next year with new skills they can apply to their daily lives, he said.

“These students now, they all play video games,” Whiting said. “You hear

them now, talking about Fortnite.

Now they’re understanding how complex those things they use every day are. And it doesn’t matter what career they go into, they need problem solving. They need critical thinking, and they need collaboration.”

While graduation might be a few years away for Lingen, she’s already thinking past her freshman year of high school.

She now wants to become a programmer, a complete 180-degree turn from what the artist wanted to do before taking Whiting’s class, she said.

“Creating something on a computer I can control and the game process of it is a lot of fun,” Lingen said.

“It’s amazing, and it’s never really finished because you always want to go back and add more or edit it to make it look prettier.”

First artificial intelligence Google Doodle features Bach MOUNTAIN VIEW Associated Press

GOOGLE is celebrating composer Johann Sebastian Bach with its first artificial intelligence-powered Doodle.

Launched last week, the animated Google Doodle shows the composer playing an organ in celebration of his March 21, 1685, birthday under the old Julian calendar. It encourages users to compose their own two-measure melody.

Google says the Doodle uses machine learning to “harmonise the custom melody into Bach’s signature music style.” Bach’s chorales were known for having four voices carrying their own melodic line.

To develop the AI Doodle, Google teams created a machine-learning model that was trained on 306 of Bach’s chorale harmonisations. Another team worked to allow machine learning to occur within the web browser instead of on its servers.

The Doodle will prompt

users who are unsure of how to interact with the animated graphic.

GOOGLE is celebrating composer Johann Sebastian Bach with its first artificial intelligence-powered Doodle. Google says the Doodle uses machine learning to “harmonise the custom melody into Bach’s signature music style”.

• NASA has nixed the first all-female spacewalk over a spacesuit sizing issue.

Astronaut Anne McClain was supposed to float out of the International Space Station this Friday with newly arrived Christina Koch, to replace old batteries. But McClain pulled herself from the lineup because there’s not enough time to get two medium suits ready for them.

Koch will go out with a male crewmate, Nick Hague.

NASA spokeswoman Brandi Dean said Tuesday that McClain trained before flight in both medium and large spacesuits. She wore a medium when she went out on her first spacewalk last Friday and was supposed to switch to a large this week.

But after last week’s spacewalk, she decided that a large would be too big.

It would have taken 12 hours to get another medium spacesuit ready and potentially compromised safety, according to Dean. These spacewalks are months late, and with cargo deliveries coming up, NASA wants to keep everything on track.

In 54 years of spacewalking, women have only gone outside with men. That’s because men have always outnumbered women in space. As women continue to make up a greater percentage of the astronaut corps, more gender records will be set and not just in spacewalking, Dean noted.

McClain, Koch and Hague are part of NASA’s Astronaut Class of 2013, the only time there have been the same number of women accepted as men. NASA chose four women and four men that year.

Koch and Hague will continue the battery-swapping work that McClain and Hague began last Friday outside the space station.

Old nickel-hydrogen batteries in the solar power grid are being replaced with new, powerful lithium-ion batteries.

McClain will get another shot at spacewalking April 8 when she ventures outside with Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques. There are six US spacesuit tops on the station — or hard upper torsos, as NASA calls them — with two considered spares. Both Hague and Saint-Jacques take large.

• A PIONEERING use of drones to fly blood samples across a North Carolina hospital campus launched yesterday in the latest move to expand their roles in business and health care.

The short trips between WakeMed buildings in Raleigh mark the first time the Federal Aviation Administration has allowed regular commercial flights of drones carrying products, according to UPS and drone company Matternet, which partnered with the hospital on the programme.

“This is a turning point, and it’s an historic moment because this is the first FAAsanctioned use of a (drone) for routine revenue-generating flights,” Bala Ganesh, vice president of UPS’ advanced technology group, said in an interview before the announcement.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Manslaughter conviction: Judges dismiss 20-year sentence

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ALL-Andros Crab Festival Committee at the Ministry of Tourism’s offices (l-r): Director Andrew Fernander, Chairman Wayne Cleare, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar, Secretary Rosanah Lewis, and Deputy Chairman Hugh Edgecombe.

AS ANDROS gears up for the 2019 AllAndros Crab Fest, and as more than 10,000 people from as far afield as China, Greece, Belgium, England, United States as well as The Bahamas start making plans to swarm Central Andros June 20-22 for the island’s long-awaited All Andros Crab Fest, Wayne Cleare, chairman of the All Andros Crab Festival committee, and committee members, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D’ Aguilar.

For more than 20 years, the All-Andros Crab Festival committee has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to make Crab Fest an exciting culinary experience in The Bahamas and the plan is to expand it to become the world’s Premier Crab Event.

Mr Cleare continued: “The event started 21 years ago when Central Andros was looking for an economic boost, and local government partnered with the Ministry of Tourism. It began with two to three vendors serving a few crab dishes: now scores of vendors prepare the crabs in many different ways ranging from crab n’ dough, stuffed crab, crab n’ rice, curried crab, crab souse, crab fitters, crab salad, garlic crab... the list goes on.

In thanking Minister D’Aguilar, Mr Cleare stated that without the Ministry’s commitment to culture and

ANDROS CRAB FESTIVAL READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD

entrepreneurship throughout The Bahamas, festivals like the Crab Fest would be nothing. He said: “It is because of the Ministry of Tourism’s direct involvement that, indeed, during the last three years the All-Andros Crab Festival Committee along with local corporate partners has donated over $40,000 in scholarships and Back-to-School supplies to the students of Central Andros.

The Crab Festival site has had over $150,000 invested in upgrades to the facilities, including a new air-conditioned VIP Lounge, as well as construction of the Crab Festival’s Financial Centre and ticket booth.”

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

THE Court of Appeal has overturned a man’s manslaughter conviction for killing another man in Super Value’s parking lot because while his fingerprint was found on the deceased’s vehicle, there was no evidence as to how long it was there.

Due to the “tenuous nature” of the case’s evidence, a retrial has not been ordered. The appellate tribunal of Justices Jon Isaacs, Stella Crane-Scott and Milton Evans unanimously quashed Kesnor Lexidor’s conviction and 20-year sentence for killing Tamar Morley aka “Rasta” in 2009.

The appellate judges said Lexidor’s appeal “must be allowed” because the fingerprint evidence—the only admissible evidence against him and upon which his conviction could properly be founded, could “at its highest” only show that he came into contact with the deceased’s truck “at some indeterminate point in time”.

According to the ruling, on December 23, 2009, Morley was sitting in his truck in the parking lot of Super Value’s Golden Gates location waiting on his wife when a man armed with a handgun, and alleged to be Lexidor, entered the

truck’s cab with intentions of robbing him.

There was a struggle during the course of which Morley was shot. He later died from his injuries.

Lexidor was charged along with Valentino Yustare with murder and armed robbery. The Crown’s case at trial was that Morley was shot and killed by Lexidor in the commission of the armed robbery, and that Yustare had acted in concert by driving him to the scene of the crime.

Following a trial before Justice Bernard Turner, both Lexidor and Yustare were acquitted of murder, but were unanimously convicted of manslaughter.

Lexidor was subsequently sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison, which reflected the time he spent on remand.

The evidence against Lexidor was the discovery of a single fingerprint on the passenger door on the right side of Morley’s truck. That evidence was led through Reserve Superintendent Clifford Ferguson, a senior latent print examiner whom the trial judge had deemed to be an expert in fingerprints and examination of fingerprints.

The Crown had thus tried to assert that the presence of Lexidor’s fingerprint on the truck’s right hand door must lead to the “irresistible conclusion” that he was the person who entered

Morley’s truck on the night in question and shot and robbed him.

However, the appellate judges said such an assertion was “fraught with difficulties” because the Crown’s case also contained evidence of four other fingerprints found on the right passenger door of Morley’s truck and were never identified as belonging to certain people.

Furthermore, there was no evidence adduced by the Crown to give a time frame for when Lexidor’s fingerprint may have been placed there. Additionally, Res Supt Ferguson testified at trial that finger marks could be lifted from a surface up to three years after they would have been initially placed.

Thus, the appellate judges said the fact that fingerprints may remain on an object for up to three years after being placed there, combined with the presence of the “other unidentifiable fingerprints” should have caused the trial judge to stop the trial and direct the jury to acquit Lexidor.

“In the premises we were satisfied that the appeal must be allowed,” Justice Isaacs said. “Thus, we quashed the conviction and set aside the sentence. Due to the tenuous nature of the evidence led in the case against (Lexidor) we did not order a retrial.”

SALLY-ANN PRATT Registrar of Marriages

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

SALLY-ANN PRATT Registrar of Marriages

SALLY-ANN PRATT Registrar of Marriages

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 11

LUCAYAN MANAGERS ‘JUST WANT JUSTICE’ from page one

“What is the problem with the Bahamian people at Grand Lucayan? Why must they be treated different?” Mr Russell asked. “Why should we send these people home with a portion of their money? Fairness and justice is all we are asking for; we are not making anything up. Every monetary allocation that is set out in our proposal is in our industrial agreement; every single penny.”

Jacey Whitaker, an attorney that represents LRH, informed the court last Monday that the tribunal as a statutory board lacks jurisdiction to deal with this particular matter.

“The tribunal understood the legal points but the union had some issue understanding the legal arguments presented. However, it is our position that the tribunal does not have proper jurisdiction to deal with this matter and it should possibly go somewhere else if it is not resolved,” he explained.

Mr Whitaker stated that they are removing themselves from the process and will not attend the next proceeding that is scheduled for May at the tribunal. He added that they have gone beyond what is required to help the union.

“We have given the union everything they have asked for in the past, but they are refusing to accept what the true facts of this

case are. At this point, we are simply saying we come forward with clean hands and we tried to help; we done this as more of a favour to the union, not because we are legally required to attend and participate, but in an effort to help, and our help seems to be unwanted. So, at this point, we are removing ourselves from the process in the tribunal.

“What that means for the union, what their next step maybe, I don’t know. But for us, this is the end of the matter for us,” Mr Whitaker told The Tribune.

Mr Russell said the union is not really concerned that the attorney for the other side has chosen to withdraw from the process.

“We will meet back at the

tribunal on May 6 of this year.

BHMA will not speak to what their attorney wishes to do. I know that the court based on the (law) has jurisdiction to resolve disputes, and that is what we have here,” he said.

“The more pressing thing the other side ought to be concerned about is that they would have submitted a defence on November 1, 2016, outlining that LRH fully accepts the industrial agreement, and they would be guided by it and the language and honour it,” he said.

Mr Russell contends the tribunal has full jurisdiction to hear and decide on matters, and to award damages in industrial agreements.

“We believe justice will prevail,” he said. “BHMA does not want to be here. All we are saying is that there is nothing in law that can guide you as to how you settle a voluntary separation package, but the other side is insisting.”

“All we are saying is let us negotiate in good faith and be guided by the precedent set with other hotels in The Bahamas over the years and with other government companies, and come up with a number that make sense. You can’t expect to send a worker home and he don’t have any job, and you agree to pay him based on Section 29 of the Act - that is a problem.”

Crash claims second victim from page one

THE SECOND victim is believed to be Prinston Rolle.

The Tribune understands the deceased men are Prinston Rolle, who was the passenger, and Adorian Williams, the car’s driver, though their identities were not released by police.

News of Rolle’s death spread across social media quickly, with many friends and former classmates expressing grief.

Many people praised Rolle’s character.

An Instagram user said: “Oh how the mighty have fallen. Today I lost a brother and it ain’t sink in yet…but before the tears start flowing and my heart starts to ache. . . RIP Prinston you are in God’s hand now and I love you brother.”

One Facebook user said: “Schoolie, (sic) I am so lost for words. You were such a good person. May your soul rest in peace.”

Another Facebook user said: “Wow...sweet guy!

Rest in peace.”

THE SCENE of the crash on Sunday night.

His death brought the traffic fatality count for the year to 15, according to The Tribune’s records.

According to police statistics, 69 people died

in 63 traffic accidents in 2018. This represents a 28 percent increase in traffic deaths; 54 people died in 49 traffic accidents in 2017.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

TRUMP TAKES VICTORY LAP - NEXT MUELLER RELEASE IN ‘WEEKS’ WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump took a victory lap on Capitol Hill yesterday, emboldened by the end of the special counsel’s Russia probe, even as Democrats demanded the release of Robert Mueller’s full report and intensified their focus on health care and other policy disputes.

A Justice Department official said it will take Attorney General William Barr “weeks, not

months” to finish reviewing Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation report and make a version available for the public. It’s not clear how much of what is made public will be in Mueller’s own words and taken from his underlying report and how much might reflect Barr’s summary or synthesis of the special counsel’s findings.

Radiating a sense of vindication, Trump strode into the Senate Republicans’ lunch flanked by party leaders. GOP senators applauded.

“It could not have been better,” Trump said of the summary of the Mueller report by Attorney General William Barr, which did not find the president colluded with Russia over the 2016 elections.

He told senators he was given a “clean bill of health,” according to those in the room.

But Trump cut short the celebration by quickly turning senators focus on the challenges ahead, claiming, “The Republican Party will soon be known as the party of health care. You watch!”

Inside the meeting, he urged Republicans to figure out a way to repeal President Barack Obama’s signature health care law and replace it with a GOP version, a major Trump goal that has eluded the party during the first years of his presidency.

“I was a little surprised he came out of the chute in health care,” said Sen. John Kennedy after the meeting “He wants us to try again.”

“He’s in a very good mood. He’s in a good form,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer.

Trump’s trip to Capitol Hill came right after his administration said late on Monday it would not defend the Affordable Care Act in a court challenge — and as the House Democrats, led by Pelosi, were unveiling a sweeping measure to rescue the program, also known as “Obamacare.”

At her own closed-door caucus meeting, Pelosi urged rank-andfile Democrats to “be calm” and focus on policy promises that helped propel them to the House majority.

Fury as case against Smollett abandoned

CHICAGO Associated Press

PROSECUTORS yesterday dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett, an astonishing reversal that the “Empire” actor called vindication, but that the Chicago mayor angrily dismissed as a “whitewash” of allegations that Smollett lied about being the target of a racist, anti-gay attack.

Authorities said they still believe Smollett concocted the attack, and they offered little explanation for the decision to abandon the case barely five weeks after charges were filed. In return for the dismissal, Smollett agreed to do community service and to forfeit the $10,000 he paid to get out of jail.

The mayor and police chief blasted the move and stood by the investigation that concluded Smollett staged a hoax. Mayor Rahm Emanuel lashed out at Smollett, saying he had dragged the city’s reputation “through the mud” in a quest to advance his career. At one point he asked, “Is there no decency in this man?”

Smollett’s attorneys said his record was “wiped clean” of the 16 felony counts related to making a false report that he was assaulted by two men. The actor insisted that he had “been truthful and

JUSSIE Smollett talks to the media after leaving court yesterday. consistent on every single level office said the dismissal came “after reviewing all of the facts and cirsince day one.”

“I would not be my mother’s son cumstances of the case.” Tandra if I was capable of one drop of what Simonton called it “a just disposiI was being accused of,” he told tion and appropriate resolution” reporters after a court hearing. He but also said it not an exoneration.

In some dropped cases, prosthanked the state of Illinois “for ecutors will insist that the attempting to do what’s right.”

In a statement, a spokeswoman defendant accept at least a measfor the Cook County prosecutors’ ure of responsibility. Outside court,

neither Smollett nor his legal team appeared to concede anything about his original report in January.

Defence attorney Patricia Brown Holmes said Smollett was “attacked by two people he was unable to identify” and “was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator.”

Authorities alleged that Smollett, who is black and gay, knew the men and arranged for them to pretend to attack him.

Emanuel, who is in his final weeks in office after two terms, said the hoax could endanger other gay people who report hate crimes.

“Now this casts a shadow of whether they’re telling the truth, and he did this all in the name of self-promotion,” he said.

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stood by the department’s investigation and said Chicago is “is still owed an apology.”

“I’ve heard that they wanted their day in court with TV cameras so that America could know the truth.

They chose to hide behind secrecy and broker a deal to circumvent the judicial system,” Johnson said at a graduation ceremony for new police cadets.

Many legal experts were surprised by the dismissal, especially since it did not include any condition that Smollett apologises.

ALGERIAN ARMY CHIEF MOVES TO DISMISS PRESIDENT ALGIERS, Algeria Associated Press

ALGERIA’S powerful army chief said yesterday he wants to trigger the constitutional process that would declare President Abdelaziz Bouteflika unfit for office, after more than a month of mass protests against the ailing leader’s long rule.

The Algerian army’s chief of staff is one of the country’s top power brokers, so the announcement by Gen Ahmed Gaid Salah could pave the way for Bouteflika’s departure after 20 years in power — or lead to a showdown with the president’s closest protectors. The 82-year-old Bouteflika, pictured below, has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke.

Gaid Salah said that “the only guarantee for political stability” is to apply the article of the Algerian Constitution that empowers the Constitutional Council to determine if the president is too ill to fully exercise his functions and to ask lawmakers to declare him unfit.