03282018 news

WEDNESDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 80ºF LOW 67ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:115 No.88, MARCH 28TH, 2018

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

CULTURE CLASH: WHAT LIES UNDERNEATH DRESS CODE FOR SCHOOLS

Chipman fury: PM crossed the line

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

REECE Chipman, the Centerville MP fired as chairman of the Antiquities Monuments & Museum Corporation, said yesterday he is examining the country’s defamation laws and is considering suing Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis for “insinuating” he had engaged in impropriety.

As the feud escalates, Mr Chipman, pictured, said up to last night it remained unclear to him why he had been sacked.

He said Dr Minnis has not lived up to his expectations as prime minister, had

now “crossed the line” and now he will become a more outspoken critic of the administration, especially in the House of Assembly.

Dr Minnis’ comments and handling of the matter has hurt him personally, he said.

“You have to be hurt,” he said.

“I’m only human and I’m new to the business of politics.”

Dr Minnis has not revealed to the public why he fired Mr Chipman.

He told reporters on Monday that Bahamians elected him “to do a job” and “if there is undoing” by people in either party, it will be dealt with.

SEE PAGE THREE

PLANE HACKERS’ DAYS NUMBERED

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said he expects regulations that would restrict a pilot’s ability to classify flights as commercial or leisure to be reviewed and legislated within the “next month or two,” as part of a move to crack down on the deadly practice of “hacking”.

SEE PAGE SIX

READY FOR CARIFTA TAKE-OFF

UNLAWFUL ORDER LED TO ‘BAHAMIAN NIGHTMARE’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net CANADIAN Bruno Rufa has endured a “Bahamian nightmare” since being subjected to an unlawful deportation order, the Court of Appeal ruled yesterday.

In 2015, Mr Rufa was given just seven days to wrap up his affairs in Grand Bahama and leave the country – despite having earlier being given a 150-day visa to stay in the country.

The seven–day order came at the end of a longrunning dispute with the

Immigration Department which had seen protracted court appearances over a number of years.

Former Appellate President Dame Anita Allen, along with appellate Justices Stella Crane-Scott and Roy Jones, in a written ruling released yesterday, said the director of immigration’s actions on December 23, 2015, against Mr Rufa were beyond his powers under the Immigration Act and thus not supported by law.

And as there was no evidence the director of immigration acted on the SEE PAGE THREE

CARIFTA is almost ready to begin - with the opening ceremony taking place on Friday. A Team Bahamas member is pictured getting in some practice ahead of the event. See Sports for the full story.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

POST OFFICE FINALLY SEBAS: WE’RE TRYING GIVEN NEW HOME TO PROTECT PLAYERS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MOULD and a broken air-conditioning system could soon be problems of the past for General Post Office workers, with press secretary Anthony Newbold revealing yesterday that Cabinet has decided to relocate the

institution to the old Phil’s food store building on Gladstone Road.

The government acquired the building through compulsory acquisition, Mr Newbold said. He could not say how much it will cost to renovate the building or when workers will officially relocate.

SEE PAGE 12

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck CEO Sebas Bastian yesterday said criticisms aimed at web shops, particularly complaints of over saturation, were not backed by empirical data.

Mr Bastian flagged the industry’s efforts to

encourage responsible gaming on the sidelines of his foundation’s OWN Bahamas initiative, telling The Tribune current and future programmes are evidence-backed to ensure the protection of patrons and operators.

“A lot of persons make statements with the absence SEE PAGE SEVEN

CHRISTIE GOVT SLOWED HELP FOR US ON CRIME HOME INSURANCE

AUTO INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

MARINE INSURANCE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

CO-OPERATION between law enforcement agencies in the Bahamas and the United States “waned” under the Christie administration but has increased under the present administration, a

AN INTERCEPTOR vessel donated to The Bahamas by the United States government under the PLP government. new report from the US The International NarState Department says. cotics Control Strategy

Covering The Bahamas for over 40 years.

NEW PROVIDENCE | GRAND BAHAMA | ABACO | ELEUTHERA | EXUMA

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

(BAHAMAS) LIMITED. INSURANCE BROKERS & AGENTS

www.InsuranceManagementBahamas.com

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

Report covers January 1 to December 31, 2017 and was released this month.

The Bahamas is identified as one of 22 countries designated by US President Donald Trump as a major illicit drug producing and/or drug-transit country.

SEE PAGE FIVE

PAGE 2, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Cultural festival brings hope to Marco City LISTEN TO WIN, ONLY ON 100 JAMZ

AND LOOK FOR CLUES ONLY IN THE TRIBUNE THE SECRET SOUND WILL BE PLAYED ONCE PER SHIFT BETWEEN 6 AM – 10 PM DAILY

THIS YEAR’S 100 JAMZ SECRET SOUND IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEAUTY SHACK

MARCO City MP Michael Pintard, right, with conch vendor “Purple” at the Marco City Cultural Festival on Saturday.

Photos: Dave Mackey

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter Dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE first Marco City Cultural Festival was held on Saturday at the Mary Star School field, providing the opportunity for people to sell their products and services and artists to showcase their musical talent.

There were live performances by Stileet and Simeon Outten and fun activities and games for children of all ages, including a bouncing castle, face painting, sack racing and hula hooping.

Marco City MP Michael Pintard said that all of the vendor booths were occupied and that some people interested in booths had to be turned away.

The booths were provided free of charge to vendors, and Mr Pintard’s constituency office covered the cost of the infrastructure and securing the grounds for the festival.

“This is essentially about bringing the community together and giving people an opportunity to generate funds, and there were

games for children,” he said.

Mr Pintard said that some vendors sold tickets in advance. “They were more than pleased with the results, and we believe this will continue to grow, and I am excited about what is ahead for what’s to come for Marco City.”

The MP stated there would be other opportunities provided for constituents.

“One of the commitments we made before the last general election is to be a part of creating economic opportunities for residents.

And one component of that was to create some events where residents would be able to sell their products or services to the community the cultural fest was one of those ideas.”

Mr Pintard said that he was pleased with the variety of products and services available for sale, and took time out to greet each vendor. He said live entertainment was provided by young budding artists who were primarily from Marco City.

The MP said he knows that many people are facing

financial challenges on Grand Bahama.

“I am sympathetic to them… and so it is opportunities like the cultural festival that is going to enable someone who might be at home to provide them a chance to make some resources, and we intend to have multiple opportunities like this for them,” he said.

Mr Pintard said he is “cautiously optimistic” about what is expected to happen in Grand Bahama.

“In the west, three major projects are happening, and the hotel we know we are at the tail end of the sale of the Grand Lucaya. In the east, we are working through the challenges in the way in which that project (Oban) was launched, and as the PM said hitting the reset button in terms of making sure all of the correct steps are followed.

“Again, I am optimistic about what is happening in the medium to longerterm, and in the short-term cautious optimistic only because I understand that there is a sense of urgency that residents have who are having financial challenges,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 3

Chipman fury: PM crossed the line from page one “We said we would root out corruption and bring honesty and integrity into governance and that we will do,” Dr Minnis said Monday when asked about Mr Chipman’s firing.

He suggested future administrations will see all the details of why he fired Mr Chipman through government records. It is this suggestion that drew Mr Chipman’s ire.

“The public should be outraged that a prime minister of a country does what he has done to someone,” he said. “He crossed the line. The firing is fine but you don’t go over the line and make such insinuations and assertions about somebody. There’s nothing wrong with firing somebody; the person may not be what you wanted for some reason. My concern is when you do something like that you ought to realise that we are all Bahamians, we live in one country; you don’t get in an interview the next day and say you have some things which the next party or whatever will see or will be on the record.

This is our highest office in the country and we expect better.”

Mr Chipman denied reports he and Dr Minnis engaged in a heated

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Reece Chipman, Centreville MP. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff argument before his firing. Thompson and Director of “Whatever it is and says office have fallen short in “Neither of us is that kind AMMC Keith Tinker dis- should be made public so my books.” of person, we are both mild- liked his management of others behind us can learn Past parliamentarians what they shouldn’t and who always towed the party mannered people,” he said. the institution.

He expressed doubt over should do.”

“We had an appropriate line now confound him, he Asked if he supports Dr said, adding: “Sometimes exchange; it was not harsh.” claims that an unreleased He said before his firing auditor general’s report into Minnis as prime minister, there’s so much credit I Dr Minnis never warned the AMMC prompted Dr he said: “I have to support give to the MPs of the past him about his performance Minnis’ decision, saying he him as prime minister in who could go through that or suggested he was dis- initiated that report, though terms of the fact that he is entire process for years holding the highest office. without having an opinpleased with him. On the he hasn’t seen it.

“I don’t see why that However, I have expressed ion other than what their other hand, he felt Permanent Secretary in the Office would have anything to do and will continue to express peers had; you wonder if of the Prime Minister Jack with the decision,” he said. that the expectations of that the House of Assembly is

a democratic place. The period of time for me is up where I gave my administration an opportunity to lead and to direct. I thought when I made a decision in the House in support of the government that my Cabinet had gone through the details. I leaned on the fact that they were qualified individuals able to make decisions, able to analyse and come up with a decision I can support. Based on this I’m not sure that is the case; I won’t be silent anymore.”

However, he expects to remain an FNM supporter.

“I think the party philosophy of Sir Cecil, a leader among equals, is one I live by. For me to even consider not being an FNM MP would be something that is a challenge.”

Mr Chipman said he has not “yet” hired a lawyer, but is examining defamation laws with the help of his family. Among the cases he is reviewing is one in which an Australian prime minister was sued for implying a former minister engaged in improper conduct.

He expects to reach a conclusion about whether to take legal action this week.

“You can’t just go out there talking about people like that,” he said. “I have three children.”

UNLAWFUL ORDER LED TO ‘BAHAMIAN NIGHTMARE’ from page one

directions of the Immigration Board in revoking Mr Rufa’s permission to land and remain in The Bahamas, the appellate judges found that a Supreme Court judge’s order for the matter to be reconsidered by the Immigration Board was “erroneous” and thus worthy to be quashed.

The appellate judges declared that the word “vary” in subsection 22(3) of the Immigration Act is to be given its “natural and ordinary meaning” which, based on the context, is that the director of immigration only has the power to “change” or “modify” by “increasing” for good cause, and up to a total maximum period of eight months, any lesser period of leave which may have been granted under Section 22(1) of the law by an immigration officer upon a person’s arrival in The Bahamas.

The appellate judges also ordered that the costs of the appeal be awarded to Mr Rufa, to be taxed if not agreed.

However, the outstanding issues, such as whether Mr Rufa has successfully pleaded and proved the alleged breaches of Article 20(2) of the Constitution via the whole ordeal, and if so, whether he is entitled to constitutional redress, including an award of vindicatory damages, are remitted to the Supreme Court for “full consideration and determination”.

According to the ruling, the judges’ orders mark the end of the “latest saga” in Mr Rufa’s “ongoing Bahamian nightmare” concerning issues he has endured with immigration officials dating back to 2015.

In January 2015, the Canadian was arrested by immigration officers and charged for allegedly working in The Bahamas without a work permit. Mr Rufa owns a unit at Coral Beach Condominiums and has resided in The Bahamas for about 20 years.

The present appeal arose out of judicial review proceedings in which Mr Rufa challenged the lawfulness of a decision by the director of immigration on December 23, 2015, to cancel the

BRUNO Rufa at a previous court appearance. five-month entry stamp visited Mr Rufa at his home that had been placed in his and asked to inspect his passport by an immigration passport. After inspecting officer upon his arrival in the entry stamp the officers The Bahamas on Novem- went away. Two days later, ber 23, 2015, and to give he was visited by three him seven days to “wrap up immigration officials who his affairs and leave”. invited him to meet with the Even moreso, the appel- assistant director of immilate judges said Mr Rufa’s gration, Hubert Ferguson. appeal raised an issue of Mr Rufa and his attor“general public impor- ney subsequently went to tance” concerning the the Immigration Departcorrect, legal interpreta- ment, and while there, he tion to be given to the word was told that the director of “vary” as it appears in immigration had cancelled Section 22(3) of the Immi- his stay and given him one gration Act, Chapter 191. week to “wrap up his affairs According to the ruling, and leave”. The entry upon arrival in The Baha- stamp that was placed in mas on November 23, 2015, his passport previously was Mr Rufa filled out a landing consequently marked “cancard and requested a stay celled” and he was verbally of 143 days or until mid- given seven days to leave April the following year, the country. which was in line with the period he had traditionally requested for his annual winter visits.

The immigration officer then processed Mr Rufa’s landing card. His passport was subsequently stamped by the immigration officer to indicate that he was given leave to land and remain in The Bahamas for a period of five months, that is, until April 20, 2016.

His passport was returned to him, after which Mr Rufa left the airport and went home.

Some three weeks later on December 21, a number of immigration officers

On December 29, 2015, Mr Rufa sought leave to commence judicial review proceedings to challenge the lawfulness of the cancellation of his permission to land and remain that he was previously granted on November 23, 2015.

Those proceedings took place before Justice Petra Hanna-Weeks over a five-day period during December 2015 and in January and February of 2016.

The judge ultimately found that the word “vary” in Section 22(3) of the Immigration Act should be given its plain, ordinary meaning, that would permit the director of immigration to increase, decrease, reduce, revoke, cancel, modify and alter a period of stay previously granted at a port of entry.

The judge also found that Mr Rufa had a legitimate expectation to remain in The Bahamas for the 150-day period granted to him on arrival, and that his legitimate expectation and the “rules of natural justice” had been breached.

However, the judge found he had no entitlement to remain in The Bahamas for the 150-day period.

The judge subsequently ruled that the decision to allow the appellant seven days to wind-up his affairs and leave The Bahamas was set aside and must be reconsidered by the Immigration Board.

Mr Rufa subsequently appealed that decision, essentially arguing via his attorney Fred Smith, QC, that the judge’s decision was “wrong and contrary to the legislative scheme and

objectives of the Act construed as a whole”.

Mr Smith further contended that the literal meaning of the word “vary”, which counsel for the Crown had advanced and which the judge adopted, would effectively allow the director of immigration to by-pass the due process procedures that Parliament had set out in Section 40 of the law to govern the deportation and removal of persons who had lawfully entered The Bahamas.

Mr Smith also held that, given the legislative scheme of the Immigration Act, the literal meaning of the word “vary” would confer greater power on the director than the Legislature itself had intended to confer.

Conversely, attorney Loren Klein representing the director of immigration and the Queen, the respondents in the matter, submitted that Parliament’s will as reflected in the clear words of Subsection 22(3) was to give the immigration director a wide discretion, for good cause, to “vary” the original period of leave granted to a person to enter and remain in the Bahamas subject to only two conditions: that the variation of the period of stay must be for “good cause;” and the director could not extend the period for more than eight months from the day of landing.

Mr Klein contended there was nothing in the statutory context to construe the word “vary” as meaning anything but its “plain, common-sense, dictionary meaning” which, as the judge found, was

wide enough to permit the “increase, decrease reduction, revocation or cancellation” of a period of stay granted to a person or visitor at a port of entry.

The Court of Appeal ultimately ruled Mr Rufa’s appeal “must be allowed as the learned judge failed to demonstrate that she conducted a fully informed review of the Immigration Act”.

“It is clear to us that she failed to examine the context of the word ‘vary’ as it appears within the Subsection 22(3) and specifically failed to demonstrate that she had properly analysed the scope or extent of the variation power in the light of the objects of the act and the Parliamentary intention manifest in the act read as a whole”.

The appellate judges also said Justice Hanna-Weekes’ further finding that the director of immigration is not obliged to give reasons for the Immigration Board’s decisions is also quashed.

The judges also noted that questions still remain on whether an award of vindicatory damages ought to be made for any “unjustified interference” with Mr Rufa’s constitutional rights, which a court may yet find him to have suffered at the hands of the director of immigration, or whether a “suitable declaration is all that may suffice to vindicate any breach.”

However, the appellate judges said the “appropriate course” to be taken is for Mr Rufa’s claim for constitutional relief to be remitted to the Supreme Court for review.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Passport office a throwback to a bygone era THE Passport Office on Thompson Boulevard is a lesson in how not to run a government office or, for that matter, an office of any kind. It is a throwback to a bygone era.

In an age when you are able to order anything from airline tickets to a new car online, the Bahamas Passport office is a relic that should be relegated to a classic textbook example of maximum inefficiency. It is a testament to the practice of an art form called “line up to line up”. And because Bahamians are largely obedient people, that is exactly what they do at the Passport Office.

We do not know how offices at embassies or consulates in other cities work but we can address the issues at the office in Nassau and urge a total renovation of the process that robs people of their time and patience while disrespecting them totally.

If you have not had to renew a passport lately or apply for a new passport because yours has been lost, stolen or damaged, you have not had the privilege of being herded like cattle and ordered to sit small. It is not as though anyone in particular is rude; it is just that the process, frankly, stinks.

Here is how it works. It starts out fine.

You can download a form online, print and complete in all caps, blue or black ink. With that in hand along with three passport photos and the cash you will need, renewal is $50, you go to the office on the hill. You called ahead to see what are the best days or hours but they can’t tell you, it is always busy, they say politely. So you take your chances.

Once in the door, a member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force hands you a number and tells you to take a seat. Do not pay attention to the numbers that come up on the screen, he says.

That’s for some other part or parts of the process. So you take a seat and minutes tick by, then a half hour, then an hour, then more minutes. There are only eight more numbers ahead of you. More minutes. You are thinking of everything you could be doing or need to do or will you be able to do the school run and how much trouble will you be in at work.

And finally, it is your turn. 56, 56 they shout. You climb over all the other people in the row of chairs, moving as fast as possible lest they think you have left and call 57 and you have to repeat the whole process all over again. Go to the window over there, you’re told. You do. The lady behind the window which you are stooped at takes your papers and your photos. She enters information on her computer, hands you a form and a number. It’s a new number, different

from the one you surrendered.

You are told to sit back down and wait for that number to be called. You do as told. Again, minutes tick by. Eventually your number comes up on the monitor which shows numbers for steps two and three so there is a lot of confusion among those people who do not get it that sometimes numbers ahead of theirs are called because it is for a different part of the process.

So you, now at step 2, go to the cashier’s window. $50, she says, you hand her the money. She hands you yet another number and by now you know the routine. You have a number in your hand which signifies that you should have a seat attached to your bottom. You take one and wait for the third step in the process. It is called enrolment.

Again, the minutes tick by, you have now been there more than two hours, the woman who came in to sell fruit has left and the woman at the front whose job it appears is to keep the peace is telling you you should see it on a busy day.

You don’t want to, you assure her.

Finally, your number shows on the monitor. You go to Window 3, again noticing that there are six windows but only two or three seem to have anybody working behind them at any given time.

Two and a half hours later, you emerge with the information that your passport will be ready in a month. A month!

Well, it could be a little sooner. Do you want us to call you if it comes in before, the lady asks nicely and adds a name and number to a list she is keeping on a steno pad.

There are only two reasons for a system that relies on patience, obedience and a dozen windows for a three-part process. One is an opportunity for pay-off. You can skip the herded cattle treatment if you know somebody and give them a few dollars. Or whatever the going amount is. Or, if not to encourage pay-offs, then it is simply because no one cares about living in the past when the world has moved on.

There was a time when you could apply online for an appointment. The form still exists. It is dated 2005. We did not see any evidence of appointments being handled now. That would be too sensible.

Time is the most valuable, non-renewable resource we humans have. Fix the passport mayhem and treat people with respect. This is one step the government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs can do that will cost little to nothing and could save money by making the process less labour intensive and a far better experience.

Education minister talking down EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Catholic Church has been the bedrock of The Bahamas, since time immemorial. The mission work that was once carried out by nuns and the church made its mark as it related to caring for the poor, sick and shut ins. The charitable outreach work is legendary and should be commended.

In short the Catholic Church has been and is synonymous with caring for the least among us.

I, personally can remember the assistance given to us from Bain Town through St Joseph Church with Father Marcian Peters at the helm. During the midto-late ‘50s, I can vividly remember the cheese and dry milk that we eagerly waited for. That is my memory of the environment I grew up in — Father Marcian, the nuns and all associated with the church at that time were all, mild

mannered, even tempered with calm dispositions.

The main reason for the walk down memory lane is because I have been slapped in the face of reality when I listened to Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd and could not ignore his brash, superiority complex like attitude.

I was stunned because I know that he is a deacon of the Catholic Church, which is out of character for someone in that position.

The insensitivity and cold attitude commonly displayed when he is referring to human suffering is uncharacteristic. “I don’t care what the people say” is such a poor choice of words when talking about people who have been sent home to starve by a callous government. His condescending tone, and holier than thou pronouncements are glaring.

He could easily be called, “Mr Goody two shoes!”

No matter how you slice it or dice it, being unemployed

is a tragedy. If Mr Lloyd or any member of the Hon Dr Hubert Minnis’ government had an ounce of heart, they would not be so inhumane.

But what they have not said, is no expatriate has been sent home, only poor people from over the hill.

All foreign contract workers, with the free education, free housing, no VAT, and entertainment allowances have kept their jobs, and are protected.

That is why, there will be no whites, Philippines or Chinese on the immigration bus during their round up, none at the detention and none will be arrested or taken to prison.

But the Education Minister who is a deacon “could care less”.

What goes around, comes across!

IVOINE W. INGRAHAM Nassau March 22, 2018.

Elections and talk of deficits EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT is rather funny but serious that today we hear regularly from the FNM that one of their highest priorities is to eliminate deficit budgets, but they do not explain what it will mean to us… wonder why?

In government the FNM has not been the best of the best in reducing deficits. I recall so well after the first term Algernon Allen, the leader of the House, exclaiming “thanks to deficits we are elected again!”

The $165m!

The FNM can’t suggest that the electorate voted them in with the massive majority they hold on removing deficits because that is totally wrong - the FNM won because the voters wanted to get rid of the PLP and as Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham said at that crucial stage - “A vote for the DNA will return the PLP!” — his words caused the FNM election.

Removing deficit budgets was never in anyone’s thoughts.

If deficit budgets become something of the past we are going to be faced with

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net an austere future as there is no way the private sector FDI or local investment will make up the slack and taxes revenues to compensate.

PMH, etc, requires millions - Bahamasair Cabinet refused to increase logically loosing fares on routes by as little as $20.00 – roads need upgrading – just the stretch of Farrington Road to repave, $770,000.00!

BOP needs millions BP&L needs $150m plus and still the rates will increase (they haven’t dropped that as yet, but folks it’s coming). NIB payments have to increase or the pension side will be insolvent and the list goes on. Government is owed millions, which they can’t collect.

As a consumer how much can you spare for more taxes? None if you are the majority.

This Over-the-hill development plan is totally fools-talk - firstly the residential centre of Nassau is now Carmichael to

Seabreeze - the retail centres followed and Mr Prime Minister they ain’t moving back! Don’t get swung with the figures they throw out they will spend over five-years, the bigness of them impresses you. Did an Economist complete a study to show this proposal possible –feasible and might work? Politics!

Surely we have not put all our fragile eggs in Oban?

The Bahamian economy can’t work without deficits - spending, yes, has to be within budgeted limits - no overruns but remember that whopping $100m New Providence Road overrun who did that?

We can follow Margaret Thatcher’s approach, but you know that will bring layoffs of hundreds who have government jobs and do little any day in the working week, but this is the solution.

Mr Finance Minister it is time you explained the pain that will come with a balanced budget and no deficits.

ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau, March 25, 2018.

Oban plan EDITOR, The Tribune.

I would like to know certain rather basic items from Oban Energies.

1) A considerable amount of electricity is required for a refinery… does Grand Bahama Power and Light have the capacity or anything near capacity?

Is there a danger through providing for the refinery Grand Bahama will start having long load sharing in favour of the refinery?

2) A refinery needs an enormous amount of

Water…GB has a large supply of fresh water but has the Minnis Government given them approvals to draw off the Grand Bahama water table?

There is an enormous amount of waste water – it not a question that we will mediate that but as there is such a level of toxic waste water how does Oban expect to get rid of it?

It was interesting watching those who attended the first public meeting of Oban that they all came out of the meeting carrying food containers!

The Government has

been swung already – the public must challenge every inch of this as we will destroy pristine beauty of the coast of Grand Bahama.

Everyone accepts that Freeporters have suffered long but we have to guarantee that our God-given beauty is not raped for the Almighty dollar and the fancy of some so-called investors and politicians.

Pre-May, 2017 the FNM promised different - I see absolutely no difference.

W THOMPSON Nassau, March 26, 2018.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 5

Christie govt slowed help for US on crime from page one The country is also listed as a major money laundering country, this defined as a country “whose financial institutions engage in currency transactions involving significant amounts of proceeds from international narcotics trafficking”.

The report said a “country’s presence on the foregoing lists is not a reflection of its government’s counternarcotic efforts or level of cooperation with the United States”.

In its country report on The Bahamas, the report says: “The new government

has increased co-operation and information sharing between Bahamian and US law enforcement agencies, which had waned under the previous government.”

That the new administration “has prioritised addressing public corruption as part of its national agenda” is mentioned, with the US noting three prison officers were arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply following investigations last year by prison management and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The report also revealed that cooperation between Bahamian law enforcement agencies and Operation

Bahamas Turks and Caicos led to the confiscation of 772 kilograms of cocaine, 8.32 metric tons of marijuana, $410,219 in currency and other assets valued at $935,5000 between January 1 and October 25 last year.

A marijuana field and 1,501 marijuana plants were also eradicated.

The report concluded illicit trafficking through the country “remains high”.

“Smugglers exploit the wide distribution of numerous islands and the high number of recreational vessels flowing through The Bahamas,” the report said.

“Large loads are split into smaller loads before entering the southern Bahamas,

sometimes bypassing the customs station in Great Inagua, strategically located between the Turks and Caicos Islands, Haiti, the Dominican Republican and Jamaica. Traffickers move cocaine through The Bahamas via ‘go-fast’ boats, small commercial freighters, maritime shipping containers and small aircraft.

“Small sport fishing vessels and pleasure craft also move cocaine from The Bahamas to Florida by blending in with legitimate traffic that transits these areas. Large ‘go-fast’ and sport fishing vessels transport marijuana from Jamaica both to The

CRIME scene tape outside the home of the home in Yellow Elder where a man shot his wife before killing himself.

Bahamas and through The Bahamas into Florida.

“Haitian and HaitianBahamian drug trafficking organisations, networked between Haiti and significant diaspora in The Bahamas, continue to play a role in the movement of cocaine.

“Investigations reveal Bahamian drug trafficking organisations use the Turks and Caicos Islands as a transshipment point.

“Strong familial connections between the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas, coupled with direct flights between Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands, result in many Bahamian smugglers

traveling to Haiti via the Turks and Caicos Islands with large amounts of cash for future smuggling ventures. Aerial drug transshipment remains a cause for concern. Small, privately owned and operated planes carry loads of cocaine from and between significant source countries in South America into the Caribbean.

“Law enforcement information suggests that drug trafficking organisations utilise airdrops and remote airfields to deliver cocaine shipments to the Turks and Caicos Islands and to The Bahamas from Venezuela and Colombia,” the report also noted.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

POLICE WERE ON PATROL IN AREA AT TIME OF MURDER-SUICIDE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net ON the morning of a “tragic” murder suicide in Yellow Elder Gardens where a husband shot his wife to death before killing himself, Royal Bahamas Police Force officers were in the immediate area on patrol.

Despite their proximity to the West Dennis Court home, officers were unable to save either of the couple’s lives.

According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames, this speaks to deeper issues in The Bahamas making crime an issue that transcends police parameters.

Shortly before 2am on Sunday, police officers were called to the home the couple shared after it was reported a man was there armed with a firearm. However, as officers approached

SHAWN AND NICOLA BETHEL the home, they heard gun shots and discovered both Shawn and Nicola Bethel dead. Their three children were said to be inside the home at the time.

This incident, and the fatal stabbing of 70-year-old bodybuilder Paul Melbourne by a woman who has since been charged in court, mark two domestic violence incidents for the month.

The Mount Moriah

MP said this is why the government is taking a multi-agency approach to the issue.

He said while domestic violence has plagued The Bahamas for quite some time, there are other issues including mental illness and social problems which have nothing to do with the police that come into play and are often overlooked.

“Well no matter where it happens, it’s certainly a tragic event,” the minister told reporters yesterday ahead of the morning Cabinet meeting. “I grieve for the families of all of those involved. On Sunday, I had an opportunity along with the Yellow Elder Gardens Association’s executives and executives from Mount Moriah constituency team.

“I had an opportunity to walk the immediate area and speak to a number of the neighbours and also visited the home and

spoke to a number of the family members and spent some time with the (grand) mother and the children up in Golden Gates.

“When you have events like this it’s never a good time and as I said before we grieve for the family we are praying for the family.”

He added: “This is one of those incidents and we continue to say as a government the reason why we are focusing on a holistic approach to addressing the issues.

“Because if you can recall that morning of the incident, police were actually on patrol in that immediate area and right in the proximity of the home but despite their proximity they weren’t able to save any of the lives.

“So it speaks to a more deeper issue and when we say that crime is more than just a police problem and it’s going to take the combined or collective effort

of everyone involved and all of the stakeholders.

That’s why we are taking a multi-agency approach to addressing this issue.

We’re looking at our community centres which will be focusing too on domestic violence.”

He said the government is also looking at a revived new face of Urban Renewal to launch in a few short weeks along with several other initiatives.

“Our national neighbourhood watch council is certainly on bridging the

gap between the police and the community. They’re also looking at wholesome activities for kids and family members as well.

But we are working from a multi-agency approach and the steps that we are taking should go a long way in addressing some of these issues. Because there are a lot of issues out there.

There are people who are going through an inordinate amount of stress caused by any number of factors and sometimes they keep it to themselves.”

DAMES: COOPER POLICE PLEA A WASTE OF TIME

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames said he hopes Progressive Liberal Party Deputy Leader Chester Cooper is not wasting the police’s time with his pledge to contact them about comments made by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis this week.

Mr Dames branded the matter as “garbage” – the kind of “petty politics” of which Bahamians are tired.

On Monday, Mr Cooper said he was compelled to report to police Dr Minnis’ warning that he should “be careful” in response to the Exuma and Ragged Island MP’s calls for the prime minister to resign for “misleading” Bahamians on the Oban Energies project planned for Grand Bahama.

Dr Minnis did not explain

what he meant when he warned Mr Cooper to be careful.

Asked by The Tribune if he believed the threat to go to the police was a part of a political game by Mr Cooper, Mr Dames said: “If he feels that he has a legitimate complaint then he is citizen, he can make it.

“But I hope he is not wasting the police time because police have so much more to be focused on.”

Earlier in his interview with reporters, Mr Dames said: “I don’t know the full extent of the complaint or his concerns, but I would say that one of the things that I try to do as a neophyte in this business is to rise above the fray of political antics.

“It’s nonsense and the Bahamian people are sick and tired of it.

“It’s time for all of us as politicians no matter which side of the fence we sit to

get to business and do the people’s work. I am not going to play those games.

I have a focus I will stick to. That focus is working together with my ministry and all of the agencies involved and all of the departments and other ministries involved along with the Bahamian people in reducing the level of crime in this country.

“We need to get people back to work. We need to improve our educational standards in this country.

We need to improve the health system. We need to improve the economy and these are the things our politicians need to be focusing on.

“All of this garbage and petty politics needs to be a thing of the past. One of the commitments I made before coming into politics is that I will try to stay away from that.”

As he was responding to questions on Monday from

reporters about concerns expressed by Centreville MP Reece Chipman, who was recently fired as chairman of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, Dr Minnis said: “I spoke to the Oban issue in Parliament. I was very, very thorough with what I said and every now and again the PLP throw lil’ daggers at me. I would only say to them be careful. Be careful, don’t throw.

“I tell him be careful too,” he said specifically in response to Mr Cooper, who on Saturday had called for Dr Minnis to resign over the Oban controversy.

Mr Cooper later issued a statement questioning if the prime minister’s words were a threat.

“I hope the prime minister’s words do not constitute any threat. However, out of an abundance of caution, I feel compelled to report this matter to the police,” he said.

in observance of the

Eastt HHidays

PAGE 6, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Plane hackers’ days numbered from page one In an interview with reporters outside of Cabinet yesterday, Mr D’Aguilar said he has implored senior officials at the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority to close efforts on the new regulations, allowing him to bring the proposed changes to the public “very soon”.

“We are removing the choice from the pilots to determine whether it is a commercial (flight) or carrying your friends or family,” he said.

Earlier this month, Mr D’Aguilar warned pilots engaged in selling seats on planes without the proper licences for commercial activity, a process known across the country as “hacking”, to get properly certified and licenced, saying “no more” will they be allowed to carry out this practice.

Mr D’Aguilar, at that time, said the BCAA had implemented a number of new measures that would end the unregulated practice once and for all.

These included evaluating the single pilot air operator requirements with the goal of streamlining the process to encourage illegal operators to become compliant; the institution of a more structured on the job training programme for inspectors; conducting various enforcement investigations in conjunction with the legal counsel of the director general and

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR, Minister of Tourism and Aviation.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff a service threshold that And so, in that way, to would automatically clas- verify that they have (a) sify flights transporting a licence that allows them to predetermined amount of transport passengers compassengers or operating mercially and to ensure with consistent numbers on that their planes have been a consistent basis, as com- properly inspected and mercial flights. licensed.”

To that end, he added: Mr D’Aguilar said the “Once you hit this thresh- new regulations will act old, you are now in the as a “funnel point” for category where you need to verified information, be properly licenced.” from which officials will Mr D’Aguilar explained: be better able to monitor “The terminals through operations. which (pilots) go, (is) genHe added: “So that is eral aviation, to check their what we are intending to paperwork before they go do, to empower the fix out on to ramp and when base operators to check they come off of the ramp. the paperwork of the pilots

capturing the new Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority logo to be displayed on approved operator aircraft among other things.

Furthering the crackdown, the Freetown MP yesterday said current proposals before the BCAA call for all final flight designations to be made by aviation representatives, meaning pilots would no longer get to classify if a flight is being operated commercially or for personal reasons.

Mr D’Aguilar said the proposals also call for the implementation of

to ensure that they are not hacking.

“Also, we intend for the fix base operators, starting in Nassau, to check how many times they fly in and out and to find out how many people they are carrying.

“I think, I forget what the threshold is we are coming up with, but if you are making more than the limited number of flights or carrying a limited number of people every month, that would be the threshold.

“Because, you see right now, the pilots get to decide whether they are taking someone for commercial purposes or they are doing something privately and because the licence to carry people commercial is a little bit more of a risk, they say these are all my friends and family; they are not paying.

“They are circumventing the system, and that is hacking,” Mr D’Aguilar said.

“And so, if you are carrying more than a certain amount of passengers a month you will reach that threshold and automatically trigger you going into a different category.”

Back in January, in the wake of plane crash that killed six people near Andros, Randy Butler, CEO of Sky Bahamas, told The Tribune that while existing regulations governing the industry may be stiff, they were inadequately enforced.

At the time of his comments, he said at least 28 planes operated illegal

charters each day.

A number of certifications and licences are required before a commercial flight can take off, including an aircraft airworthiness certificate, valid airmen certificates which relate to the physical fitness of a pilot and aircraft maintenance licences, among others.

According to Mr Butler and many other industry insiders, many of these regulations are often overlooked or bypassed at airports in small Family Island communities.

Officials have said no flight plan was filed before the Andros plane, which was destined for New Providence, took off. It was also revealed the pilot did not have a commercial licence, nor was he certified to operate multi-engine planes.

Following the fatal crash, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority pledged an unprecedented effort to clamp down on illegal charter operations by embracing technology, involving law enforcement and increasing surveillance to identify and prosecute law-breakers in the aviation industry.

The pledge was made by BCAA Director General Captain Charles Beneby, who, at the time said the BCAA had engaged police, customs, immigration and airport authority officials, among others, to “draw a tighter net and a tighter noose around the practice of hacking.”

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral 2018 Holy Week/Easter Mass Schedule ****************************************** Holy Thursday

– Thursday, March 29 Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m. followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Good Friday

–

Holy Saturday

– Saturday, March 31 Vigil for Easter at 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday

– Sunday, April 1 Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Friday, March 30 Dramatization of the Passion of the Lord at 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon.

****************************************************

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 7

SEBAS: WE’RE TRYING TO PROTECT PLAYERS

from page one

of data,” he said, “and we’re working on a lot of our initiatives right now. We’re (members of the Gaming Operators Association) in the process of launching our responsible gaming programme…but I can say that the industry is working to mitigate any vices that

gaming may cause, and we have the data.

“And we’re using it to better tailor our approach to the community in a way that everyone is protected, the patrons, the operators, the regulators. We’ll continue to work with the stakeholders and the regulators to come up with policies and changes to ensure that everybody is

protected.”

The government has placed a ban on opening new web shops with some 400 licenced locations in the country.

In an interview with The Tribune in January, Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar acknowledged concerns over the government’s ability to enforce zoning regulations designed

to prevent web shops from operating near schools, churches and in residential areas.

The expansion and proliferation of web shops throughout The Bahamas has caused concern, especially on the Family Islands where they have been accused of “sucking the life” out of local communities and economies.

Long Island MP Adrian Gibson has been vocal on the negative impact of gaming in his constituency.

Yesterday, Mr Bastian said: “What we do see is that the data contradicts a lot of statements that are being made, and we obviously look forward to sitting down with the stakeholders and utilising

the data to tailor policies.

We’re always in talks (with government). We engage with the Gaming Board on a daily basis so there’s no tension between the operators and the Gaming Board.

We have an excellent relationship with the regulator and they’re doing a commendable job and we look forward to continue to be working with them.”

ENTREPRENEURS URGED TO BRING TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ASPIRING entrepreneurs were yesterday challenged to present creative indigenous projects with the potential to bring technological advancements to the country for the fourth edition of the OWN Bahamas entrepreneurship initiative.

The number of successful applicants has nearly tripled since the Island Luck Cares Foundation’s first round in 2015 with a wide range of corporate partners offering mentorship and services to budding entrepreneurs.

The foundation will select 25 applicants after submissions close on April 30, Island Luck CEO Sebas Bastian said yesterday.

“We’re very optimistic on how this programme is going to further impact the economy in the future,” he said, “and we want to encourage corporate Bahamas to continue to be a part of this initiative via coming on board and assisting in the funding of grants to aspiring entrepreneurs.”

Applicants will be eligible for funding grants from $5,000 up to $25,000.

“We have an independent committee that goes through all the applicants and we look for businesses that we feel are necessary,” Mr Bastian said, “businesses that we feel are going to be successful in this particular economy. We make sure that the funding that we award is sufficient enough to give that business the necessary financial

support it needs as well as our mentorship.

“We have our partnerships with the various media houses that will give media services complimentary to the successful applicants.

What really sets the applicants apart from each other is just being innovative, being creative and finding that niche of a business that sparks the interest of the committee.”

To date, the foundation has awarded grant funding to 35 applicants with $750,000 given to startups over the past three years.

At this year’s launch yesterday, Mr Bastian flagged a success rate of “well above” 75 percent with all recipients still in active businesses.

“There are many businesses that definitely we’re

SEBAS Bastian at the launch of this year’s OWN Bahamas entrepreneurship scheme. proud of,” Mr Bastian said, that are interested in app session “Fifty Shades of “last year we had a lady who development.

Success” at the Atlantis “Anything that tech- Ballroom on April 10. was manufacturing different types of local indigenous nologically advances our Partners include but are teas and there was also a country today.” not limited to: the Bahamas For its fourth round, the Chamber of Commerce; lady that manufactured local indigenous spices here foundation will also stage CIBC FirstCaribbean; The educational seminars called Tribune; the University in The Bahamas as well.

“We’d like to encour- OWN Talks, featuring high of the Bahamas; Atlanage manufacturing and the profile local and interna- tis; Aliv, DigiPrint & Signs creation of new indigenous tional business persons like Bahamas Ltd; NUA Insurprojects by Bahamians. Les Brown and Rick Fox. ance; Azulify Websites; the Mr Bastian is also billed Nassau Guardian; the PreBut it’s not limited to that obviously, we have a keen to present entrepreneurial scription Parlour Pharmacy; eye on technology, persons tips and tricks at the first and Quality Home Centre.

BANK MANAGER BAILED AFTER APPEAL OVER ACCOUNT THEFTS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER manager at the Bank of the Bahamas sentenced to three and a half years in prison for stealing $21,000 from the savings accounts of several of the bank’s customers has been granted bail pending the appeal of his sentence.

Acting Appellate Justice Milton Evans granted Renrick Bowe bail in the amount of $15,000 with two sureties, and required him to report to the Cable Beach Police Station no later than 6pm every Monday and Friday.

Justice Evans, in a written ruling, stated he was not satisfied there was any evidence that would lead him to find Bowe as a flight risk if granted bail.

The appellate judge also said that if, in his appeal, Bowe is able to satisfy the appellate court that an audit report by an unidentified Canadian consultant concerning his unlawful actions is either inadmissible or unreliable, he stands a “very good chance at succeeding on his appeal”.

Thus, Justice Evans said it was in those circumstances he came to the conclusion that Bowe has a “good chance of success” in challenging his conviction and sentence, which he said is an “exceptional circumstance which ought to be considered in the exercise of my discretion to grant bail”.

According to the Court of Appeal ruling, Bowe was hired in June 2013 as a manager in the Information Technology (IT) department of BOB. As manager, his primary responsibility included the support of all IT applications and providing security to the bank’s IT systems.

As application support manager, Bowe focused a lot of his work hours on the Euro-Net. That system, which is also called the “Card Platform”, stores data and controls all of the activities associated with ATM, Visa, pre-paid and gift cards, which are issued from BOB. Additionally, as manager of application support and security, Bowe’s access to the Euro-Net card platform was that of a “super administrator”, and as such, he had full access to the card platform. The ruling said he need that unfettered access in the event that fixes to applications need to be made, he could execute those tasks without “undue or unnecessary delay”.

Between January and February 2015, unauthorised ATM withdrawals were

made from four clients’ savings account held at BOB. The affected accounts were held at different BOB branches.

The bank’s manager of loss presentation and information consequently initiated an investigation for fraud, which ultimately revealed that two ATM test cards requested and received by Bowe from the bank’s card centre were used to make the unauthorised withdrawals.

Through the card platform, Bowe was able to access the Flexcube, where data for customers’ savings accounts are stored, and linked the four customers’ savings accounts to the test cards.

The linking of the savings account to the ATM test cards gave the card holder total access to those savings accounts. Once that linkage took place, Bowe was able to perform all activities on the savings accounts that the legitimate accounts holders could perform, the ruling said.

The ATMs at two BOB branches, namely Harold Road and Shirley Street, were what Bowe used to make unauthorised withdrawals from customers’ savings accounts. A total of $21,000 was withdrawn from the affected clients’ accounts, which were held at various BOB branches.

Bowe was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the unauthorised ATM withdrawals.

He admitted to requesting and receiving the test cards linked to the withdrawals, but denied conducting the unauthorised activities associated with the cards and stealing funds from the four customers’ savings accounts.

Nonetheless, he was tried, found guilty and consequently convicted in the Magistrate’s Court of 13 counts of stealing by reason of employment; five counts of attempted stealing by reason of employment; and five counts of unauthorised use of a computer.

Bowe was consequently sentenced to three and a half years on each count of stealing by reason of employment; two years on each count of attempted stealing by reason of employment, and two years on each count of unauthorised use of a computer.

Bowe lodged an appeal before the appellate court against his conviction and sentence which contained several grounds.

According to the ruling, Bowe based his appeal on the inadmissibility an audit report prepared by a “yet unnamed individual” said to be a Canadian consultant to BOB who was not

called to give evidence in the matter.

Bowe further charged there was no evidence adduced concerning that consultant’s qualification or relationship to the bank or any of the parties involved in the matter, or to his unavailability for trial, or even “that his computer used by him in his investigation was working properly”.

As Bowe put it, the only evidence linking him to the crimes in question were “BOB computer log-in information and printouts which were the results of the findings of the aforementioned Canadian consultant”.

“The prosecution’s entire case is based on a computer report,” Bowe charged.

On February 2, 2017, Bowe applied to the Court of Appeal for bail ahead of his appeal.

In his ruling, Justice Evans wrote that a person charged before the court is entitled to be afforded the opportunity to face his accusers.

“In this case the report formed the basis on which this matter moved before the court. As such one would have expected that the person who prepared the report should at least have been provided so that (1) his/her qualifications could be ascertained; (2) he/she could explain the methodology utilised to come to the conclusions reached and (3) to be available to be cross-examined on that evidence,” the judge noted.

Justice Evans also said an additional cause for concern was that Renee Ijeoma, who held the position of senior manager with overall responsibility for BOB’s IT department in 2015, was, according to her own evidence, the only other bank employee whose profile and password permitted her full access as a super administrator to the card platform.

Thus, Justice Evans said it was important that an independent analyst conduct the investigation and prepare the report. However, Justice Evans said the magistrate, based on his reasons for convicting and sentencing Bowe, “did not appear to address his mind to either the absence of the Canadian analyst nor to the fact that Mrs Ijeoma may not have been an independent witness”.

Additionally, Justice Evans noted that Bowe was not the only person with expert knowledge and “controlled access” to the systems — the other being Mrs Ijeoma. He also noted that the information pertaining to the two ATM test

cards Bowe used to commit the crimes were “obtained from this report which is at issue”.

“In the absence of the report which the applicant says should not have been admitted without his ability to cross-examine the Canadian consultant it is doubtful that the learned magistrate would have arrived at the conclusion which he did,” Justice

Evans said. “It follows that if the applicant is able to satisfy the court on appeal that the report was either inadmissible or unreliable he stands a very good chance of succeeding on his appeal.

“It was in these circumstances that I came to the conclusion that the applicant has a good chance of success on his appeal which is an exceptional

circumstance which ought to be considered in the exercise of my discretion to grant bail.

“I was not satisfied that there was any evidence which lead me to the new that the applicant would be a flight risk if granted bail.

It was for the above reasons that I made the order granted bail to the applicant on the terms indicated above.”

PAGE 8, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

What really lies underneath this dress code for schools WHAT are you concerned about today? What is at the top of your list of qualms, battles to fight and issues to raise? It is always interesting to see what demands attention, riles us up and pushes us to take action. For so long we have been taking what has been dished out, finding ways to work around disadvantageous systems, and complaining in small circles.

To see people rise up is new for many, even if it has been happening in pockets for generations. Social media has increased visibility and, in some cases, given some a sense of security through anonymity. Resistance is uncomfortable, even for the people observing it.

Sometimes it feels unsafe for people, but most times it just seems unsafe for the systems and norms we know well. Even change for the better can be scary. As they say, “Ya know what ya got, but ya don’t know what you gon’ get.”

It makes sense there are some things we just don’t want to let go. It makes sense when it directly affects us, but what is our excuse for opposing progress for other people? How do we decide what is progressive and what is regressive?

One issue we are not likely to agree on is dress.

While it has become acceptable to wear bright or pastel colours at funerals, red dresses at weddings and jeans on Fridays at the office, we hold on to some old, nonsensical rules we like to call “standards”.

That term makes it easier to subjugate, shame and force people into compliance. It means anyone who does not fit the mould is less-than, and we can look down on them, never bothering to think about the real

‘ADULTS are free to wear what they wish and there need not be ridiculous limitations on what parents or guardians wear when collecting children from school or engaging with administration or teachers.’

difference between us and them.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education posted a dress code for “visitors” to school compounds on its Facebook page - and everything is wrong with it. To start, if we really want to talk about “appropriate” appearances,

the Ministry should hire or contract a graphic designer, or at least graduate from using the word art in Microsoft Word.

In the post, the Ministry demands visitors refrain from wearing mini skirts, tank tops, pum-pum shorts, high cut or off the shoulder

tops, visible cleavage, see through clothing, tightly fitted clothing, and t-shirts with violence or sexual images. It further states that security has the right to deny property access to anyone deemed “inappropriately dressed”. Far too similar to the Parliamentary Registration Department’s foolery during the voter registration period ahead of the 2017 general election, this dress code is misogynistic.

It targets women, limiting what we wear in what seems to be an attempt to make us invisible by hiding body parts deemed dangerous to the sight of others — namely unsuspecting, innocent, impressionable childlike men. It does not address low-hanging pants or exposed butt cracks.

Interesting.

What is wrong with a parent collecting their child in a tank top and jeans?

What, exactly, is the issue with a v-neck that, on certain body types, will expose cleavage? Why are women expected to be ashamed of our bodies? Some of us have cleavage and many pieces of “work appropriate” clothing will not conceal it. It does not even seem possible to have a conversation about cleavage when this dress code reveals a problem with shoulders and legs.

The comments on the dress code post are not surprising, but disgusting nonetheless. People are celebrating this announcement, some asking for other articles of clothing — like leggings — to be added to the list while others suggest a similar policy for teachers. In a conversation about the inappropriateness of this dress code, someone tried to convince me that is acceptable because teachers and employees at other places of business have a dress code to follow. Rather than argue about the history of colonialism and its persisting affects on former colonies like The Bahamas, I pointed out that employees choose — though we can argue about real choice and the illusion of choice — to sign on to policies through employment contracts and that is not a sensible parallel.

Adults are free to wear what they wish and there need not be ridiculous limitations on what parents or guardians wear when collecting children from school or engaging with administration or teachers.

If I am a waitress whose uniform includes a mini skirt or pum-pum shorts and I take a break to collect my child from school, I will be in violation of the dress code. Is that more important than being there to take my child home from school?

If I work shifts and break my sleep for the school run, I won’t be able to enter the school compound in a tank top and shorts? I need to suit up for the trip?

The dress code is based

MAYBE this is what they had in mind as “appropriate”?

Sister gal is rocking that suit but no one dresses this way everyday. Especially not to make school pickups or visits.

on personal taste, and what is deemed “inappropriate” is completely subjective. I wonder if the people celebrating this dress code are the same people who complain about how many children are left in the schoolyard for hours, or how few parents show up for meetings at the school.

Dress codes go beyond sex, sexuality, nudity and discomfort with the human body. They are often rooted in respectability politics.

There are expectations of black people that are not held over white people because there is an idea that black people need to do more work to be worthy of respect. A white women and a black woman could be in the same place wearing the same outfits and receive completely different responses because of the way we see gender and race as a package. The same goes for women of different sizes, or even different ages.

In majority black spaces, it seems we work even harder to fight stereotypes, putting the burden on individuals to undo centuries of oppression by checking all of the boxes that are supposed to grant access to a better life and perception of the entire race. Still, it doesn’t work. A black man in a suit with a school-boy haircut, fancy watch, nice car and university degree is still a black man.

Students of the University of The Bahamas are currently fighting a battle against administration. UB president Rodney Smith — the same former president known for plagiarising part of a speech in 2005 — has banned stoles and decorated caps from future graduation ceremonies. He

claimed such things are not “academic” or “dignified”.

It is interesting he would dare to utter those words given his past, but of course a man with the gumption to reapply for the position of president of the University of The Bahamas, after accepting responsibility for plagiarism, would have the confidence to steal joy from his moral high ground.

UB students are not accepting his position. They are not prepared to give up their traditions because this man has decided it just doesn’t look good or fit his perfect vision of the ceremony. I hope they fight hard and refuse to stop until he and the entire administration acknowledge the ceremony is about the students. It is not about his personal taste. It is a celebration of many years — because we all know it takes far more than four trying years for many to be done with UB — of dedication, waiting to register, pay and be advised in the hot sun, rat run-ins and financial hardship. They deserve better and they deserve our support as they fight for it, whether we like stoles and decorated caps or not.

Just because you’ve bought into respectability politics doesn’t mean everyone else must. If you are comfortable living in that box, good for you. Wear turtlenecks, blazers, culottes to pick up your children from school. Shield the eyes of your children from the offensive legs and shoulders around you. Avert your eyes from the “undignified” newly-degreed young people. Let people have nice things, even if those things are not nice to you.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 9

APPLE CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple event at Lane Technical College Prep High School.

Apple aims to school rivals with new iPad, education apps CHICAGO Associated Press

APPLE wants to play a more prominent role in education, but it isn’t willing to cut prices to make the grade.

Instead, Apple is clinging to a thesis that has helped turn it into the world’s most valuable company: Our products are more expensive, but they’re worth it.

On Tuesday, the company introduced a variety of features tailored for teachers and students while keeping the price for its cheapest iPad tablet unchanged, even as budget-strapped school administrators have been turning to cheaper devices powered by software from Google and Microsoft.

The new iPad starts at $329 for the mass market and $299 for schools — the same as last year’s model.

Apple is adding the ability to use its digital pencil to write and draw on the screen of the new iPad — something previously limited to its more expensive line of iPad Pro tablets.

The pencil costs $99 extra, or $89 for schools.

By contrast, most Google Chromebooks sell for $200 to $250, though there’s no pencil option.

Apple is also rolling out a new educational app called Schoolwork to help teachers make assignments and monitor their students’ progress.

And it’s offering teachers and students 200 gigabytes

THE FROGGIPEDIA App using the Apple Pencil on the new 9.7-inch iPad. of free storage through its iCloud service so they can access documents, photos and other digital content from any internet-connected device. Apple normally offers five gigabytes for free and charges $3 per month for 200 gigabytes.

As it often does, Apple resorted to some theatrical

staging to help convey a message. In an unusual move, the Silicon Valley company held its annual springtime event at a Chicago high school to highlight its renewed emphasis on education — a niche that Apple has long focused on to get kids hooked on its products with the hope of converting them into lifelong customers.

In 2017, laptops and tablets running Google’s Chrome or Android system accounted for nearly 60 percent of the mobile computing devices sold in classrooms from kindergarten through 12th grade, according to the research firm Futuresource

Consulting.

Microsoft’s Windows devices ranked second with 22 percent of the market, followed by Apple’s iPad and Macintosh laptops. That’s a reversal of fortune from 2013, when Apple held a 50 percent share of mobile computing in US classrooms.

Technology analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights believes Apple will have to lower prices to reclaim its perch because “schools want low-cost solutions that are very simple to use”.

“I think Apple moved the ball forward, but I don’t see districts swapping out Chromebooks or PCs en masse,” Moorhead said.

NASA’S MARS ROVER CURIOSITY MARKS 2,000TH DAY ON RED PLANET CAPE CANAVERAL Associated Press NASA’S Mars rover Curiosity has now marked 2,000 days on the red planet.

That’s 2,000 days by Martian standards. A Martian sol, or solar day, is equivalent to 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds. So 2,000 days on Mars equal 2,055 days here on Earth.

Either way, it’s a big milestone this week for scientists

eager for Curiosity to begin drilling again, this time into potentially clay-rich rocks on the slopes of Mount Sharp.

The six-wheeled rover has travelled 11.6 miles since its arrival in 2012.

The rover Opportunity, though, has Curiosity beat.

Last month, NASA’s busy Opportunity surpassed its 5,000 day on Mars. It’s been exploring Mars since 2004.

NASA plans to send another robotic geologist to Mars in

May. Named InSight, the lander will stay in one place as a heat-measuring device burrows deep into the Martian terrain.

Curiosity’s flight controllers, meanwhile, are testing a new drilling method. The rover’s drill stopped working properly in 2016, and so engineers devised another way to bore into Martian rocks and get the pulverised rock samples into the rover’s lab instruments.

THE MARS Curiosity rover, right, snaps an uphill view of Mount Sharp, which Curiosity has been climbing.

Spanning the center of the image is an area with clay-bearing rocks that scientists are eager to explore; it could shed additional light on the role of water in creating Mount Sharp.

• SELF-DRIVING car spinoff Waymo will buy up to 20,000 electric vehicles from Jaguar Land Rover to help realise its vision for a robotic ride-hailing service.

The commitment announced Tuesday marks another step in Waymo’s evolution from a secret project started in Google nine years ago to a spin-off that’s gearing up for an audacious attempt to reshape the transportation business.

The Jaguar deal will expand upon a fleet of selfdriving cars that Waymo has been gradually building in partnership with Fiat Chrysler since 2015. Waymo initially equipped about 600 Pacifica minivans with its self-driving technology before negotiating to buy “thousands” more of the vehicles.

The minivans will be part of a ride-hailing service that Waymo plans to launch in Phoenix later this year. If all goes well, Waymo expects to expand the service to other states.

Jaguar will deliver its vehicles for Waymo’s ridehailing from 2020 to 2022.

The 20,000 “I-Pace” models will provide up to one million rides per day, according to Waymo.

Financial terms of Jaguar’s deal with Waymo weren’t disclosed. Jaguar lists the starting price for its I-Pace model at about $70,000, a figure that translates into $1.4bn for 20,000 vehicles.

The alliance with Jaguar will give Waymo a way to appeal to passengers who want to ride in a more luxurious car or want to avoid the pollution caused by vehicles fueled by gasoline.

• NASA is delaying the launch of its next-generation space telescope — its highest science priority — until at least 2020.

Top officials said Tuesday that more time is needed to assemble and test the James Webb Space Telescope, which is considered a successor to the long-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

It’s the latest in a series of delays for the telescope, dating back a decade. More recently, Webb was supposed to fly this year, but last fall NASA bumped the launch until 2019.

“Simply put, we have one shot to get this right before going into space,” explained Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator of science.

For such a highly complex machine designed to “look at the universe in a way that we’ve never seen it”, there can be no shortcuts, he stressed. The telescope will study planets orbiting other stars, while probing the earliest times of the cosmos.

Some mistakes were made while preparing the telescope, which slowed work.

At the same time, NASA underestimated the scale of the job, Zurbuchen said.

Unlike Hubble, which was serviced regularly by space shuttle astronauts, Webb will orbit the sun at a point about one million miles from Earth — unreachable in case of a breakdown.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Audit ongoing into BAMSI - but no date for release

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE forensic audit into the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute is still ongoing, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Renward Wells said yesterday, however it is expected the report will be made public before the House of Assembly’s full-year budget debate later this year.

When asked by reporters if there were any updates on the audit, the Bamboo Town MP reiterated that it is still in progress.

He also said he does not want to speak to the details of the audit before he receives the full picture.

Mr Wells added: “When we get (the audit), we’re an open and transparent administration, and I will put it forward to the Bahamian people.”

He continued: “You all would have seen from the contribution of Michael Foulkes, the executive chairman of (the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation) BAIC, how we just put it all out there on the table as to how much in arrears we are, the fact that no audits were done since 2012 in the corporation.

“Whatever the results are in BAMSI, we will be putting those forward as well.”

Mr Wells was also asked on Tuesday when BAMSI’s buildings are set to open.

While he mentioned that at the end of 2017 many of these buildings were “very close to completion”, Mr Wells declined to give a specific date.

“When we do open, obviously we’re going signal to

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, centre, during a tour of BAMSI during his time as Opposition leader. the public that we are.

“We intend to do some more works down there in BAMSI on the school side, we also intend to expand the farm,” he said yesterday.

Mr Wells said that BAMSI has about 1,000 acres of property, with only about 100 acres under cultivation.

He added that the intent is to expand this

to 500 acres over the next year, with the goal being operating at full capacity.

“We’re going to use the complete 1,000 acres of BAMSI to start production so that we can begin to produce more than just 8 per cent of we eat in this country.”

When asked when this report will be tabled, Mr Wells said he is planning

to do it before the budget debate in Parliament.

Calls for audits into BAMSI go back as far as 2014.

In September of that year, then opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis demanded a fiscal audit of the institute after it was revealed that the Christie administration had spent nearly $50m on the project.

Approximately $20m was

initially budgeted for the project.

Dr Minnis questioned whether the surplus from the government’s previous estimation on costs had been “pocketed”.

He asked at the time: “Where is the other $30odd million, was it placed in someone’s pocket, and if so, whose?

“The Bahamian people want a breakdown of the

money supposedly spent that the Ministry of Agriculture is talking about.

“We need to know where that money was spent and we need to account for that.”

In May 2017, following the general election, the Minnis administration announced that a forensic audit would be conducted on BAMSI, among other government entities.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 11

HIGGS & Johnson welcomed Atlantis president and managing director Audrey Oswell (eighth from left) as the keynote speaker for the firm’s first Power Women’s Breakfast on March 23. Ms Oswell is the first woman to lead the resort. The event brought together 25 top woman executives as part of Higgs & Johnson’s focus on diversity and leadership.

Power Women in the spotlight EXPOSURE and information are key to ensuring that women have fair and equitable opportunities for engagement and advancement in the workplace, says Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Oswell, who in 2017 became the first woman to head the iconic resort and largest private employer in The Bahamas, delivered the keynote address at the first Power Women’s Breakfast hosted by leading full service corporate and commercial law firm Higgs & Johnson in Nassau on March 23. The event, which is part of the firm’s focus on diversity and leadership, brought together 25 women executives from financial services, law, energy, shipping and the public sector to examine the challenges facing women in the workplace and to discuss the conditions necessary to overcome them.

“The legal profession might not be the first industry you think of when it comes to recognising progress and diversity,” said Higgs & Johnson partner

and co-chair of the firm’s Power Women’s initiative, Tara Archer-Glasgow.

“Many people still think of distinguished gentlemen in ivory wigs and ebony robes when they think of lawyers in The Bahamas, but the profession is changing and Higgs & Johnson is well represented by strong leaders who happen to be women.

“Nevertheless,” she said, “we recognise that, while in many respects we’ve moved forward as women in business and the professions, there is still more work to be done. In many companies across this country, there is still an under-representation of women at the top.

It still challenges women disproportionately to combine a successful career with a life outside of work, and with being an active parent raising a family. It is against this backdrop, and with the aim to become the solution we seek, that the Power Women’s initiative was conceived.”

Ms Archer-Glasgow said Ms Oswell, a 30-year veteran in hospitality and gaming, was a natural

choice to address the gathering because of her ability to shatter glass ceilings in what has been arguably a male dominated industry.

“Today I believe that you can achieve whatever you set out to do, but, growing up, I had no frame of reference for the term ‘corporate executive’,” said Ms Oswell, who admits her first choice of career was in early childhood education.

“Becoming a CEO was never on my radar. I aspired to be a teacher because it was what I knew to be one of the few options for women at the time. Today, I appreciate social media, for example, for providing young people with information and exposure to what’s going on in the world and what’s attainable for young women.”

Examining the advancement of women in the workplace, Ms Oswell said women should be mindful of the universal call on leaders to help others succeed.

“Women and other minorities have come a long way since I started my career, but we still have a long way to go. What we do, what we

say, who we help, will make a difference to the people who come behind us. What really makes you an example is the extra steps you make to help other people.

“As I look back on my career now, it was the help I gave to other people that I am most proud of – not the promotions or the success.

It all comes down to doing the right thing.”

Ms Oswell returned to Atlantis, Paradise Island in early 2017 as chief operating officer, and in September 2017 was appointed president & managing director of the resort. Previously, she held the position of chief gaming officer for Atlantis, from 2011-2013. Most recently, Ms Oswell served as chief operating/executive officer for Seneca Gaming Corporation. Throughout her impressive career, she has served in top executive leadership positions, including chief executive officer at Resorts Atlantic City, president at Caesars Atlantic City, and chief operating officer at the Cosmopolitan and Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas.

‘IMPERATIVE’ THAT MAN JAILED FOR 20 YEARS GIVEN SHOOTING RETRIAL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE COURT of Appeal has ordered a retrial “as a matter of priority” for a man previously sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for the shooting death of someone he allegedly thought had put a bounty on his head.

Appellate President Sir Hartman Longley, Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs and Acting Appellate Justice Sir Michael Barnett said it is “imperative” that Kevan Musgrove be retried for the shooting death of David Bowleg Jr in 2010.

This, the appellate judges said, was due to them concurring with Musgrove’s submissions that the sentencing judge erred in law when she failed to direct the jury on how to weigh the evidence of an “inconsistent witness” who was treated as being as hostile.

According to the ruling, Musgrove was initially charged with murder concerning an incident that took place in February of 2010.

According to an alleged confession statement presented by the prosecution during the trial, Musgrove admitted to shooting Bowleg because he believed the deceased had put a bounty on his head.

Musgrove reportedly said he’d watched the deceased pull up in the driveway of his Highbury Park home and enter the house through an unlocked door.

Having a gun on hand while waiting in a hallway, he shot Bowleg Jr in the shoulder before binding him with tape and dragging him back to the Honda Accord he had arrived in.

After driving to Holiday Drive, Musgrove allegedly shot Bowleg again before calling someone to pick him up.

During trial, Mary Neely, a Crown witness and Musgrove’s mother, had to be treated as hostile as the evidence she gave under oath differed from the statement she had previously given to the police.

According to the summation to the jury during trial, the prosecution ended up cross-examining its own witness concerning the statement she gave to police on March 1, 2010, and how it was inconsistent with the testimony she gave in court at the time.

The Court of Appeal ruling noted that while summing up the case, the trial judge essentially told the jury it could rely on the witness’ previous statement to police. However, the appellate judges said the trial judge’s “misdirection” on that matter was a “fundamental one”.

“By wrongfully allowing the jury to take into account the earlier statement of the mother, there is the danger

that the jury took that earlier statement into account in its evaluation of the record of interview which was the only other evidence against the appellant.

“In the circumstances, this conviction is unsafe and must be quashed.

“As this was a misdirection of the judge and not that of the prosecution, it is our view that a retrial must be ordered.”

The appellate judges added: “We are painfully aware that the appellant has been in custody since 2010. He was sentenced in 2012 to 18 years at hard labour. He has been incarcerated for eight years.

“It is imperative that the matter be retried as a matter of priority.”

Stanley Rolle from the Office of the Public Defender appeared for the appellant while Vernal Collie, assistant director of public prosecutions, appeared for the Crown.

AUDREY OSWELL, first president and managing director of the Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort, says exposure to what young women can attain will be key to helping them advance in what has historically been male-dominated professions.

PAGE 12, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

POST OFFICE FINALLY GIVEN NEW HOME from page one

“The long nightmare that the staff at the General Post Office has been enduring for at least the last five years is about to come to an end,” he said during yesterday’s press briefing.

“The Cabinet has decided by compulsory acquisition to acquire the former Phil’s building on Gladstone Road and to retrofit it to accommodate the General Post Office. What it will cost to do that, the amount

of time it will take, the Ministry of Works will have to go in there and make a determination. I know we all remember the sit-outs, the mould, the lack of air conditioning. Those will be a thing of the past once the government is able to get this building and do the work that needs to be done with it.”

Previously, the Christie administration launched a public private partnership (PPP) to relocate the office to the Independence Drive Shopping Centre off

Tonique Williams Darling.

However, the Minnis administration halted that project last year, with Works Minister Desmond Bannister saying it received the green light without approved plans or a building permit for construction.

He said though technical officers at the Ministry of Works advised the administration a traffic impact study was needed, none was performed and nor did the government determine if ground contamination from the nearby gas station

would occur.

Environmental and social assessments were also not conducted.

Yesterday, officials could not say what will become of that PPP arrangement.

“There may be other uses,” one official said, adding a determination has to be made.

Reporters asked Mr Newbold if the Gladstone Road location location is conducive for many of the people who will be accessing the General Post Office.

“Everyone will have to

make a way to get to the post office,” he said. “We got to do something for those people in the post office. Right now that appears to be the best option and so the good thing about it is it’s on a major roadway. Buses run there for people who need to get there but it’s also a busy roadway. A lot of people coming from the southwest got to pass the post office either to go to work or to go home. How permanent it’s going to be I can’t say but at the present

THE TRIBUNE

time that is the best option; good size, good space.”

For many months General Post Office workers have worked shortened shifts at their East Hill Street location because of the “hazardous” conditions, including a malfunctioned air conditioner and a mould infestation problem.

Last year Bahamas Chamber of Commerce CEO Edison Sumner said the shortened work hours were a “pretty vexing issue” for a number of businesses.

DION Foulkes during a recent tour of shanty towns.

Foulkes blasts critics of shanty town census plan

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Minister Dion Foulkes yesterday pushed back at critics who have said a planned census

for the 11 shanty towns in New Providence might fail because community leaders were not consulted ahead of the initiative’s launch.

The census was slated to begin last weekend, but was rescheduled to start

sometime this week.

Following Mr Foulkes’ announcement that a questionnaire was being created for shanty town residents, activist Louby Georges was adamant the exercise could “fail” rendering it a waste

of resources in the absence of a public education campaign to sensitise shanty town dwellers of what they could expect when officials descend upon their communities.

Without this, he said last week, residents will “run and hide” at the sight of officials.

Dr Jean Paul Charles, president of the Haitian League of Pastors, also said while he had no knowledge of plans for a government census, his organisation would support it with the right approach.

In response Senator Foulkes said: “Well that is not true (that government didn’t consult community leaders or sensitise residents). I spoke to the Bahamian Haitian Association - to their leadership - and they are aware of our action plan and the survey initiative.

“I spoke to 16 members of the Bahamian-Haitian pastors link and I also advised them.”

While he said he could not say whether shanty town dwellers would cooperate with officials, the minister said he was

hopeful teams would get the information they need.

“I am hopeful they will.

It is to everybody’s benefit that this works.”

Mr Foulkes said government workers from five separate agencies underwent training to properly conduct the census.

The workers have been split into 11 teams of five members.

The government’s intent is to ascertain how many residents are in the respective shanty towns, their ages, how many children live there and how many of them are enrolled in local schools.

They also want to know whether there is anyone in the illegal residential spaces with disabilities among other issues, Mr Foulkes said.

Last week Mr Georges said: “Not knocking the idea, but I don’t think it make sense to jump in there this week without doing any sort of public education campaign.

“I think this will be a fruitless exercise, and a waste of resources if it’s not done in conjunction or collaboration with the Haitian

community itself then it will fail.

“Unless they are going to go on some law of average, there is no way they would get any amount of information close to what they are looking for and help them make determinations moving forward.”

He continued: “You doing this in the height of the immigration talks going around town, people are going to be running, hiding, and even if you get someone to talk to you I doubt it will be accurate. You need a public education campaign to help to get those individuals to understand why it’s important to have a census, so they can deal with shanty towns.

“No education, no campaign, you can’t just jump up; don’t just launch it, train people - collaborate with persons known and already trusted in the Haitian community, join forces with them and have an educational campaign through churches and activities in those communities.

“Talk to the people and sensitise them,” he also said.

CRAWFISH SEASON CLOSES APRIL 1 THE Department of Marine Resources has reminded the public of the closed season for harvesting crawfish, which runs April 1 until July 31.

During this period, it is an offence for an individual to capture, have in one’s possession, kill or offer for sale or market any fresh or live crawfish.

Individuals possessing crawfish trapping permits, crawfish exporter’s licences and permit holders authorising the use of air compressors are reminded that these all expire on March 31. During closed season, all crawfish traps must be stored on land and, all crawfish processors, restaurant and food stores must file a report to the Department of Marine Resources stating the exact quantity of crawfish in their possession as of April 1.

Processors with intentions to export crawfish during its closed season are reminded that they must first obtain a special permit from the

Department of Marine Resources.

The utilisation of an air compressor during the period of the closed crawfish season to aid in any fishing in The Bahamas is prohibited. Persons are to further note that during this time it is an offence to both have marine resources and an air compressors onboard vessel at the same time.

“Fisheries inspectors will be vigilant to ensure compliance with the regulations,” the department noted in a press release.

“Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Department of Marine Resources requests the full co-operation of all fishers towards it mandate of ensuring the sustainability of all marine resource for the future generation of Bahamians.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, PAGE 13

JAMAICAN DANCERS AND SEVEN OTHER FOREIGNERS FACE COURT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TEN foreigners were brought before the Freeport Magistrate’s Court for various offences this week including engaging in gainful occupation, overstaying, harbouring illegal persons and illegal landing.

Among them were three Jamaican women who were employed as dancers and charged with illegally working in The Bahamas.

Stacey-Ann Patrician Williams, 34, Samona Tamika Campbell, 28, and Sasha-Gaye Olivia Burke, 21, appeared in Court Three before Magistrate Rengin Johnson.

The particulars are that on Saturday, March 24, the women were found at a nightclub in Freeport employed as dancers without first being granted a work permit by the director of immigration in accordance with Section 30 of the Immigration Act. The trio pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay $1,500 each or serve six months in prison. Magistrate Johnson also ordered their deportation on payment of the fine or completion of their custodial sentence.

Jamaican national Deserene Gretta Johnson Phillips, 50, was charged with overstaying.

It is alleged that on March 23, Philips was found at a home on Nansen Avenue after allegedly overstaying her time in the Bahamas by one year.

According to information presented in court, Philips was granted a 14-day visitor stay on February 5, 2017, by an immigration officer and her time had expired on February 19, 2017.

She pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine or serve six months in prison. Magistrate Johnson ordered Philips to be deported on payment of the

PERSONS arriving at court in Grand Bahama to face immigration charges. fine or completion of her serve one-year imprisoncustodial sentence. ment. Magistrate Ferguson Meanwhile Willieson also ordered them to be Noel, 32, a Haitian national deported on payment of the born in The Bahamas, fine or completion of custowas charged in Court One dial sentence. before Deputy Chief MagisAlso appearing before trate Debbye Ferguson with Magistrate Ferguson harbouring illegal persons, was Mirmose Joseph, 35, contrary to Section 47A and charged with illegal landing.

(1)(a) of the Immigration The particulars are that Act. It is alleged that on on March 23, immigration Friday, March 23, he har- officers discovered Joseph boured two persons, namely at an apartment on Nansen Schiler Francois, and Elene Avenue, Freeport. It is Henri, at his residence in alleged Joseph arrived in Bartlett Hill, Eight Mile the Bahamas illegally.

Rock to help them evade He pleaded guilty to apprehension by immigra- the charge and was also tion officials. ordered to pay a fine of Noel pleaded guilty to $300 or serve one-year the charge and was ordered imprisonment. to pay a $1,000 fine or serve Additionally Ronny one-year imprisonment.

Saintfleur, 36, and Fifi Noel told the magistrate Charles, 38 were charged that he was only trying to with illegal landing. help out his people. He paid Saintfleur was discovthe fine and was released. ered on March 24, and The two Haitians nation- Charles was discovered on als, Francois, 29, and Henri, March 26 by an immigra25, were charged with ille- tion officer in an apartment gal landing. at Hanna Hill, Eight Mile It is alleged that on Rock, having arrived in March 23, the accused were The Bahamas from another found in an apartment country without leave from located in Bartlett Hill, an immigration officer. having arrived in the BahaBoth pleaded guilty to the mas from another country charge and were ordered to without the permission of pay $300 each or serve onean immigration officer. year imprisonment. They They pleaded guilty were also ordered to be to the charge and were deported on payment of the ordered to pay a maxi- fine or completion of their mum fine of $300 each or custodial sentence.

BEACH ACCESS MAY REOPEN ‘WITHIN TWO WEEKS’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE collapsed stairway which forced the “temporary closure” of a public access path to Cabbage Beach could reopen within the next two weeks, according to officials at Atlantis who yesterday said repairs are now 75 percent completed.

In an update on the repair schedule yesterday,

Atlantis’ Senior Vice-President of Public Affairs Ed Fields told The Tribune that while original plans were delayed due to weather and design issues, he expects the pathway to be reopened in the coming weeks.

Mr Fields has maintained officials will keep the pathway closed until all the repairs are finished and inspected, insisting the resort wants to ensure the pathway is up to code.

In January, it was

reported that a 50-year-old French tourist was badly hurt as he tried to get on to the beach when the steps collapsed beneath him, hurling him on to rocks seven feet below. His wife and children looked on helplessly as the man - unable to move - started being dragged into the ocean by the crashing waves.

He was later rescued and pulled to safety by employees from several surrounding properties.

PAGE 14, Wednesday, March 28, 2018

THE TRIBUNE