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VOLUME:116 No.66, MARCH 28TH, 2019

OFFICIA

CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

A Grand result

Lucayan deal brings massive economic boost

L SOUR CE

NO DRINKS, NO PHONES DRIVING LAWS PASS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

CHANGES to the Road Traffic Act meant to save lives were passed in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The Road Traffic Amendment Act 2019 was passed in one sitting of Parliament after being tabled last September.

Transport and Local Government Minister Renward Wells told the House before the passing of the amendments that the government hoped to disrupt increasing traffic fatalities, which are now ranked among the common causes of death in the country.

Road traffic accidents are now the 13th highest cause of death in the country and without legislative changes, the government believes this will continue.

SEE PAGE SIX

• 2m new visitors to Grand Bahama • 2,000 new jobs • $65m purchase price recovered

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

in Grand Bahama have been waiting for, more than two-and-a-half years since the resort sustained severe THE government signed hurricane damage, forcing a letter of intent yester- the closure of two-thirds of day with Royal Caribbean the property which signifiInternational and the ITM cantly impacted the island’s Group for the purchase of tourism sector. the Grand Lucayan resort At the signing held at and redevelopment of the the Office of the Prime Freeport HarMinister in bour, signalling Freeport, Minan impending ister of State for turnaround Grand Bahama for Grand Senator Kwasi Bahama’s Thompson beleaguered noted the resort economy. attracted some An initial 62 expressions investment of of interest from $195m, which local and global includes $65m firms, and by for the purchase THE GRAND LUCAYAN February 14, 11 of the hotel, has offer letters were been earmarked for the first received and evaluated phase of the development by the board of Lucayan which will take place over a Renewal Holdings. He 24-month period. It is esti- said that on March 22, mated that some 2,000 jobs the board unanimously would be created in the first approved a resolution to phase. recommend to Cabinet the With the redevelop- sale of the 217-acre resort ment of the harbour, it to RCL/ITM. is expected that an addiAccording to Mr tional two million cruise Thompson, the joint venpassengers will be brought ture between RCI/ITM annually to the island. will not only combine The announcement of the hotel sale is one that many SEE PAGE THREE

$1

COP FIRED ‘LIKE AT TARGET PRACTICE’

WHY MY SON? THE MOTHER of 15-year-old schoolboy Perry Rolle Jr, who was fatally stabbed on Tuesday, pictured yesterday. Full story - Page 5 Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE lifelong friend of a teenager whose death at the hands of police sparked the 2010 Bain Town riot yesterday claimed the officer who killed him got down on one knee and shot him as if it was target practice.

Ryan Fernander told jurors that while chasing Bradley Newbold through a yard on Hospital Lane in November 2010, Corporal Ricardo Rolle got down on one knee, “lined up” his friend and shot him.

SEE PAGE 12

BUJU FANS TOLD: BE CAREFUL ON TICKETS

BY RIEL MAJOR

PARADISE Productions officials are warning patrons to purchase their Buju Banton Long Walk to Freedom Tour tickets from authorised sellers only.

At a press conference at the Breezes resort yesterday Hubert Edwards, of Cash and Go, said company representatives have seen some posts on Facebook indicating tickets can be obtained by individuals.

Mr Edwards said: “We

BUJU IN THE BAHAMAS just want to outline a couple of things so that when individuals (come)

they understand fully what is happening. The tickets which we generate use a random code. Every single ticket is unique. At the end of the day, Cash and Go do not deliver tickets in a physical form. Only the other authorised dealers will have physical tickets and Cash and Go tickets will be delivered either by SMS or via email.

“Therefore, if you are buying a ticket from an

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SEVEN

STATESIDE TRUMP TROUBLES NOT JUST IN THE WHITE HOUSE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PRIZE GUYS

LOVE and Harmony Cruise winners: Kiss 96 winner Judy Deleveaux, above, with Hope Shelley Ann and Naughty and, left, 100 JAMZ winner Kelson Rolle With Xcitement and Jatonde. Both won a cabin for two plus roundtrip tickets on Bahamasair to cruise April 13th-18th on the third annual Love and Harmony Cruise with 100 JAMZ and KISS 96.

THERE’S A BUZZ ABOUT AS HAILSTORM HITS G BAHAMA

A WATERSPOUT reportedly seen off Grand Bahama yesterday as seen in this image from a video circulating on social media.

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama experienced a hailstorm due to severe weather conditions that developed yesterday afternoon.

Hail sightings were reported in various parts of the island, particularly in the Lucaya, Port Lucaya, Windsor Park, Malibu Reef and Williams Town areas between 12.30pm and 1pm when weather conditions deteriorated.

The occurrence created some buzz and excitement among residents on the island who posted video and pictures of the hailstorm on social media.

A funnel cloud was also spotted prior to the hailstorm, a weather official confirmed.

Meteorologist Kirk James reported that weather officials received telephone reports at the Met Office of hail.

“Around 12.30pm

telephone reports came in, and looking at the radar around that time there were two cells out there that could have produced the hailstorm due to strong to severe thunderstorms,” he said.

Mr James also reported that a funnel cloud was sighted at 12.05pm.

“This is not a rare occurrence at all,” he said. “None of it occurred at the airport; this occurred far from the airport and we could not see it, but people reported it to us.”

Mr James indicated that hail is not so a rare occurrence for the island and noted that the month of March is usually the time when contrary or strange weather conditions often occur.

He noted that the possibility of severe weather conditions was mentioned in the 6.30am forecast and again in the noon forecast of the chance of strong to severe activity.

No injuries or damage to property were reported.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 3

GOVERNMENT AND BOARD – Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D’Aguilar (seated third left), along with Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson (seated second left), were joined by Michael Scott (seated centre), chairman of Lucayan Renewal Holdings Ltd.; Russell Benford (seated, third right), vice-president of Government Relations/Americas for Royal Caribbean; Mauricio Hamui (seated second right), chief executive officer of ITM, along with Board Members of Lucayan Renewal Holdings (standing) for LOI signing for the purchase of the Grand Lucayan resort, in the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Deal brings massive boost to economy from page one

the redevelopment of the Freeport Harbour as a cruise port of choice but will also transform the Grand Lucayan resort into a theme park, featuring water-based family entertainment, with dining, gaming and entertainment options and five-star hotel accommodations.

“This provides for the opportunity to create more than a hotel with amenities but a unique water park experience with a hotel and all its amenities,” Mr Thompson said. “The project brings the passengers, provides the experience and integrates and connects visitor experiences at the Freeport Harbour and their experiences at the hotel property maximising opportunities for locals throughout the island, particularly in the Port Lucaya area.”

In terms of airlift and sea arrivals, Mr Thompson indicated that the redevelopment of Freeport Harbour is expected to attract a significant increase in cruise arrivals of an additional two million passengers annually, with the addition of multiple cruise lines calling on Grand Bahama.

There will be significant business opportunities for Bahamians, he added.

“Discussions leading to the heads of agreement, subject to the approval of the National Economic Council, will begin immediately on matters related to Bahamian employment requirements and Bahamian participation in specific areas, however it is anticipated that Bahamians will have significant ownership participation in restaurants, retail stores, transportation and watersports,” Mr Thompson said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar believes the development, which will roll out in Grand Bahama over the next 24-36 months, will go far in restoring Grand Bahama’s economy to its former glory days.

“I am pleased...that the much-anticipated sale of the 217-acre Grand Lucayan resort has finally been agreed upon,” he said.

“Today, a letter of intent was signed between RCL, the ITM Group and Lucayan Renewal Holdings Limited, the special purpose vehicle created specifically to swiftly conclude negotiations with the purchaser who emerged as a result of a sale offering to the investment community

by Colliers International,” he said.

He thanked Michael Scott, LRH chairman, and the board of directors for the commendable job they have done to bring the

MINISTER of State for Grand Bahama, Kwasi Thompson, speaking during a press conference and official signing of Letter of Intent for the Purchase of the Grand Lucayan (inset) yesterday. government to this point.

“It was not an easy task and the government placed a tremendous burden on them to find a suitable buyer who will not only purchase and operate the Grand Lucayan but who will also work with the Ministry of Tourism to revitalise the tourism product here in Grand Bahama,” Mr D’Aguilar stated.

Russell Benford, an official with RCL, said the company is excited about the opportunity to develop an “incredible project” in Grand Bahama.

“We are honoured to be chosen from some really great people around the world to do this project,” he

said. “It is not only a hotel and port project and or redevelopment, I think we can refer to it as a revitalisation and rebirth. “. . .We are going to do right by the government,

the people of The Bahamas and those who live here in Grand Bahama,” he vowed.

RCL has a 50-year history calling on ports throughout the Bahamas.

According to Mr

Benford, purchasing the hotel and redeveloping Freeport Harbour was a “no brainer” for RCL, which has investments of some $600 million already on Grand Bahama through its investment partnership in the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

He said that they are pleased to be partnering with ITM. ITM, as hotel operators, operates 600 rooms and convention centres in Mexico. It has a relationship with brands like Starwood, Hard Rock, Nobu, and Accor. It has port projects in Mexico and Honduras.

Mauricio Hamui, CEO of ITM, said that the LOI signing is an “important day” for his company, which has five principle objectives, one of which is to make Grand Bahama “one of the best destinations in the Caribbean” within the next three to four years. Another important aspect, he said would

be bringing more than two million passengers to Freeport, the creation of more than 2,500 jobs for Bahamians, the resurgence of the economy, and the creation of a community centre for Bahamians.

“We make our work and construction with good quality, and that is our idea for this project,” he said.

When asked about the theme park, Mr Thompson said the government is entering into the negotiation period for the heads of agreement, and that all details with respect to the specifics of the project, employment, and Bahamian opportunities, will be negotiated in the document.

He was confident that once that is completed, the government will hold consultation with the public when it would reveal all the specifics of the project.

Editorial Comment - Page 4 See Business for more coverage and analysis

PAGE 4, Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

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Lucayan deal brings back the magic THE Grand Lucayan Resort saga seems, at last, to have a happy ending in sight.

With a letter of intent signed for the resort’s purchase - and for the redevelopment of the harbour - there are very real prospects for a much-needed economic boost to Grand Bahama.

The promise of 2,000 jobs to be created in the first phase of the development – taking place over the next two years – is tantalising enough, but more than that there is the expectation of an extra two million cruise passengers a year being brought to the island.

That potential extra spending power in the local community is a real lifeline to islanders trying to support their families in the tough economy of Grand Bahama. For entrepreneurs on the island, that should also provide a host of opportunities. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has, in the past, called on people to be more creative in the ways they entice tourists off their ships or out of the hotels. Grand Bahama is about to get two million more reasons for entrepreneurs to test their ingenuity.

Prospects of a new theme park for the area are also intriguing, as it could really help to re-establish Grand Bahama as a destination.

Freeport used to be known as the magic city; we hope at last some of the magic will return thanks to a deal long in the making. We salute those who have worked hard on the deal, even through times when it may have seemed a distant prospect.

We also hope that the government will learn the lessons of its slow start to its Over-the-Hill initiative in New Providence, and not sit back and wait for Grand Bahama residents to step up to the challenge but actively seek

out residents and outline the prospects coming to their doorstep – along with ways to take advantage of those opportunities.

Mr D’Aguilar promised that “we are going to do this right; we are going to do right by the government, the people of Bahamas and those who live here in GB”. We suggest residents hold him to that pledge.

This is a landmark moment for the island – but we hope it is not the end goal, but rather the beginning of many more opportunities to come.

Making our roads safer

DRIVING along Bay Street this week, a car in front was weaving dangerously side to side. Whoever was at the wheel seemed to have little control over the vehicle. Was the driver drunk? No, it turned out, he was so busy talking on his cellphone he hadn’t even noticed how close he had come to crashing.

We welcome the Road Traffic amendments passed yesterday in the House of Assembly – which will seek to prevent the use of phones while driving, or carrying an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle.

Too many lives in The Bahamas are lost in traffic accidents – we know a driver who is drunk or on the phone lacks the focus to concentrate on the road, and this law should both prick our consciences to stop such behaviour while providing a stick to hold us to account if we continue.

Over to the Senate now, to approve the laws – and then to the police, to uphold them. But in the meanwhile, let us all choose to be better - and put that phone away.

Credit where it’s due EDITOR, The Tribune IN HIS report to the nation on Monday, Prime Minister Minnis outlined a litany of initiatives his government has/is taking to make the country safer and enhance educational opportunities.

Can we not give the government credit where it is deserving and reserve criticism for the same, e.g. the passport office nightmare?

Isn’t the following welcome, even if it has been foreshadowed?

The upcoming installation of 507 more closed circuit TV cameras in troubled areas in NP. New drone technology and law enforcement bases around our southern border.

Contract for 100 shot spotters for NP. A 25% drop in murder in 2018 over 2017!

18 % decrease in armed robberies.

1,213 law enforcement officers retrained.

130 new police recruits in NP and GB. 90 new vehicles.

124 prison inmates graduated from BTVI New rehab dorm and kitchen at the prison.

Upcoming free UB tuition for qualifying students.

700 students enrolled in a universal pre-primary initiative (Bahamas Early Start Project).

Revision of national preschool curriculum.

Pilot tablet programme for pre-schoolers.

2020 smart school upgrade.

12,000 new digital devices for schools.

Early childhood development training for teachers and caregivers. $2.6 million in Be Your Own Boss scholarships to BTVI. A lower primary school literary push and distance education boost.

The government hasn’t been in office for two years. Sure it’s screwed up big time on several issues and must always be held accountable. But let’s give credit where credit is due and stop this incessant complaining. We have become a society of moaners.

cooperation”, among them China’s grant of the Thomas A Robinson Stadium, for which I am sure we are very grateful, but he also failed to mention the cost of the remedial work Bahamians had to do on that same gift for what I was told at the time was “shoddy” workmanship in some areas. The Chargé then talked about concessional loans and had the brass to mention the Baha Mar resort. In my opinion it should be the last thing he would want to talk about in The Bahamas.

It is the handling of this very resort – which at the Chinese insistence – is still under judicial lock and key presumably to keep the

full truth of the bad faith handling of that contract from the Bahamian people.

Although, the full truth is not yet known, we know enough about the doublecross to know that Red China will not be welcome here.

Also Bahamians just have to look at that so unBahamian monstrosity that the PLP government allowed them to build at the end of Bay Street to know that they should take their influence elsewhere – no The Bahamas ain’t for them!

ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau March 27, 2019

Red China not welcome EDITOR, The Tribune

I DON’T know why Chinese embassy officials got all shook up about Caribbean prime ministers – including our prime minister – meeting recently with US president Donald Trump at his Mar-a- Lago retreat in Florida.

According to a Tribune report the Chinese Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires accused the US government of trying to “disintegrate solidarity and cooperation between China and other developing countries” in the Caribbean— presumably, this includes The Bahamas.

The Chargé then listed the fruits of that “bilateral

A DISGUSTED BAHAMIAN Nassau March 26, 2019

Dr Kelly’s dog whistle EDITOR, The Tribune DR NICKI Kelly is a world-renowned behavioral psychoanalyst who graduated top of her glass at Harvard University and the University of Vienna in Austria and is an authority in the science of assessing the mental health of politicians simply by watching them on television.

Of course, nothing about that paragraph is true or has anything to do with reality. Much like Ms Kelly’s latest diatribe about the perceived mental fitness of the Prime Minister.

With zero empirical, theoretical or practical evidence from any source other than herself, Ms Kelly called Hubert Minnis everything except a child of God. Her not-so-veiled dog whistle is that somehow this learned man with a science doctorate and years of success as a businessman is simultaneously a bumbling Uncle Tom to foreign investors and feared African warrior Shaka Zulu when he goes Over the Hill and is transfixed by the drums.

Her article was patently insulting to all right-thinking Bahamians. We have no way of knowing what Dr Minnis thinks of it. Likely he gives short shrift to writers like Ms. Kelly who has been spewing this brand of hatred for some time under the guise of a soft smile from an old lady who’s seen it all and reported on most of it.

Ms Kelly was over the top and her colleagues in the vaunted Press Club need to call her out for crossing a conduct line that journalists should avoid. Her disrespect for facts is what got her in naughty corner.

Ms Kelly was in the room, apparently, when discussions were taking place between the Hotel Corporation and the management staff who are seeking generous packages to separate from the Grand Lucayan Hotel.

Ms Kelly was judge, jury and executioner when she pronounced the Corporation wrong, Minnis evil for not stepping in, and the managers saints who were being exploited by a hapless self-loathing, neurotic Prime Minister who hates

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net them because they presumably had the audacity to make it into the middle class.

Minnis had supposedly exercised his prerogative as corporation sole, to intervene on behalf of 164 line staff to get them packages which might have been about $15,000 average a person.

Ms Kelly advocated for the 90 management staff to get an average of $50,000 a person instead of the $30,000 on the table. To her, this had nothing to do with economics and everything to do with Minnis’ pettiness and disdain for successful people.

Minnis must have changed because during the years when he practised gynaecology his waiting room was often a cross-section of the poor, middle class and the wealthy with each patient commanding the same amount of his time and the same high-quality medical care.

What was particularly egregious was Ms Kelly’s keen analysis that because he harbours internal feelings of inferiority, Dr. Minnis goes wobbly knees around foreign investors.

The problems of Freeport were many and Ms Kelly must have seen the news reports with Grand Bahamians literally begging their government for financial relief for the island. Minnis tried to do something about it by buying a hotel to jump start the tourism industry and to her, somehow, he didn’t put his foot down in the negotiations.

Obviously, Hutchison Whampoa had zero interest in spurring tourism and were not prepared to put another red cent into the hotel. Minnis bought it back from Whampoa for exactly what the government sold it to them for years ago. If anyone’s crying into their beer over this sale it probably isn’t Minnis.

Then Ms Kelly donned her university proctor’s gown to lecture the Prime Minister on cruise tourism and on the above-his-head

chess game being played by the largest cruise lines in the world for domination in the short-haul cruise market. The Bahamas is ground zero in that battle but somehow Ms. Kelly is certain that Minnis doesn’t get it.

To her, the Disney deal on Eleuthera was good because of intense local (but you just know she thinks mostly international) pressure on the parties.

Never mind Minnis’ political obligation to listen to the people first and his government’s manifesto promise to be custodians of the environment. Disney made him do it, according to her.

A national tourism consensus must emerge that should point out the sheer madness of pumping billions of dollars into supporting the cruise industry when we all know that the rate of return on this investment pales in comparison to what we get from airline passengers.

Yet because the airline bosses aren’t beating a path to our door while the cruise masters think of new ways to outdo each other and our Treasury, Ms. Kelly attempted to educate this uppity lil boy from Over the Hill (there, the beans are spilled).

She metaphorically wagged her finger in his face and scolded him should he even think of selling out the Bahamas to the cruise lines. She knows that we have laws and regulations and a pesky little settled policy called Bahamianization.

But that is never a part of her narrative when she analyses the Prime Minister’s intentions.

Criticism comes with the territory and journalists have a role to play in bringing transparency to government dealings. But casting aspirations on a man and summarily branding him a power craving, bogeyman with self-esteem and unsolved racial inferiority issues is beyond the pale, even for this once grand scribe.

She should hang her head in shame for this hatchet job.

THE GRADUATE Nassau March 19, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 5

POLICE SAY DEATH OF 15-YEAR-OLD LIKELY TO BE GANG-RELATED

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net WAILS pierced the air of TA Thompson Junior High School as students uncontrollably wept in response to the murder of their classmate, 15-year-old Perry Rolle Jr, at the hands of a 16-year-old student at neighbouring CC Sweeting High School.

During a press conference held at TA Thompson yesterday morning, Education Minister Jeff Lloyd described the students as “traumatised” and also noted that there appears to be a “social dissonance” circulating in the small area comprising TG Glover Primary School, TA Thompson, and CC Sweeting. However, Mr Lloyd reiterated that school campuses are safe environments.

Police told The Tribune last night they are investigating the incident as being gang-related.

Joan Gray, principal of CC Sweeting, noted this is a

difficult time for the schools involved as they are “intertwined”, both in terms of instruction and the fact that there are relatives who attend both schools.

Rolle was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with two high school students on Tuesday afternoon after school outside the premises of TG Glover.

Mr Lloyd provided further information during an address in parliament yesterday. “At approximately 3pm yesterday afternoon, a young man suffered his untimely demise,” Mr Lloyd began.

Mr Lloyd said Rolle was walking home in the Pitt Road area “when he was accosted by two young men who are students at the CC Sweeting school”.

“The two young men, one of which was in possession of a knife and handed the knife to the other young man and directed him to stab the victim, which the young man did several times about his body, one of which was his chest.

“The victim was taken to the hospital and succumbed to his wounds.”

Mr Lloyd added he was told by police that officers have two males, one 15-years-old and the other 16-years-old, in custody.

He also said police have advised him that they have been “dealing with challenges of gang violence within the community that houses the students of TG Glover, TA Thompson, and CC Sweeting.”

He added: “And that the students of these three schools live in the Bain Town or the Englerston (constituencies). And they have marshalled their resources to assist in the intervention of this most sordid circumstance in which our students find themselves.

“They are unable and were not willing, at the time of our conversation, Mr Speaker, to suggest or indicate that this incident may have been gang related. That investigation continues.”

Mr Lloyd also referred to his visit to TA Thompson,

where he met with Rolle’s mother and other relatives and spoke to the students and staff of the school.

“What was particularly grieving and heartbreaking for me was I was directed and ushered into a room of students, about nine young men, and three young women, who were all crying uncontrollably and who were all witnesses of this most unfortunate tragedy. So uncontrollably and inconsolable that they were unable to speak to me or the counsellors who had gathered at that time. Young men and young women.”

Mr Lloyd added grief counsellors have been requested to provide support for the school for “as long as necessary”.

He also said the police’s Family Liaison Unit is also providing support for the families of the victims and perpetrators.

During his press conference, Mr Lloyd said it is “unfair” that the nation’s youth must “negotiate a life that seems to be peppered with incidences of senseless

PERRY ROLLE JR acts of violence,” adding “this is a traumatising affair for us here in the Ministry of Education.”

“And I am advised that there seems to be a social dissonance that circulates particularly in this vicinity among the three schools that neighbour each other— TA Thompson, TG Glover, and CC Sweeting,” Mr Lloyd continued.

He went on to encourage all stakeholders, particularly parents, to engender a sense of “harmony and peace” in students. He also underscored the safety of campuses, noting this event is a “community misfortune”.

Speaking to reporters on the outskirts of an assembly at CC Sweeting, Ms Gray described this school’s reaction to the tragedy. “When we heard news yesterday of the incident, we were all very saddened and traumatised because it’s not something we would have been expecting.

“It is a difficult time for us, here at CC as well as TA Thompson, because our schools are intertwined, both professionally in terms of the instructional process because students from TA Thompson generally come over here. But also because there (are) family members at both schools who have been affected.”

Extending her condolences to Rolle’s family, Ms Gray added: “But for us also at CC, it is a difficult time because one of our very own, two allegedly, is accused of committing this fatal incident. And so we encourage all of you to just reach out and give support to all families. Because in the end both families have been tragically impacted.”

Emotional interview with the mother of stabbed schoolboy

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net IF SHE could say anything to the two teenagers who conspired to fatally stab 15-year-old Perry Rolle Jr on Tuesday afternoon, his mother, Gladys Louis simply has one question, “Why?”.

“Tell me well, why did you hurt my son like that? Why did you take his life like that? Because my son didn’t have that in him, to take another person’s life,” the 38-year-old mother told The Tribune yesterday.

In an emotional interview, Ms Louis discussed the harrowing experience of losing her firstborn and only son to violence — which she described as the culmination of serious bullying that has occurred throughout this past school year.

Rolle, a ninth-grade student at TA Thompson Junior High School, was fatally stabbed after school near the premises of TG Glover Primary School by a 16-year-old student of the neighbouring CC Sweeting High School.

Education Minister Jeff Lloyd said two teenagers, one of whom was in possession of a knife, directed the other perpetrator to stab the victim, which he did, several times about his body.

Ms Louis insisted her son was “targeted”, adding in the fall 2018 term he was stabbed twice—once in the arm and once under his eye.

To this end, she said the perpetrators of her son’s murder should be tried as adults.

Rolle, who was affectionately known as “PJ”, was described by Ms Louis as an affectionate son and protective brother of his two younger sisters, ages 10 and 8.

“He wouldn’t allow people to do them anything,” she said of her son’s relationships with his sisters.

“You could see where he cares for his sisters, he looked out for them.

He never wanted nothing bad, nobody to mistreat them.”

When asked about their own relationship, Ms Louis said the night before his murder, her son was particularly affectionate. “(He) kissed me, hugged me, cracked silly jokes with me,” she said. “Because he was a (comedian).

“And for some reason lately it just was getting more and more and more. Like I would meet him in my room and then he would come playing with me or I’d be laying down in the bed and he (would come in) there and he

Why did they have to take his life? Why? PERRY Rolle’s mother Gladys Louis, centre, yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff hugging me and throwing himself on me.

“In these last few weeks…he really was showing the love.”

Ms Louis added her son promised to take care of her in her old age.

“I always used to ask him, ‘when I get older, you going to take care of me? Because you see the struggle, I struggle with y’all.’

“I say ‘PJ, you ga do stuff for me when I get older?’ He say, ‘yes mummy, what you meaning? I ga take care of you.’”

‘PARENTS NEED TO HELP WITH CRITICAL THINKING’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

IN the wake of the stabbing death of Perry Rolle Jr, Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell yesterday encouraged parents and guardians to do more to help children in the area of critical thinking.

Mr Campbell addressed the topic of recurring school violence during his ministry’s launch of Child Protection Month.

He stressed that many young Bahamians are unable to make a direct connection between “altercations” and “someone being hurt”.

“One of the things I would like to admonish is that we as parents and guardians help our children in the area

of critical thinking in the area of consequential decision-making,” he said.

“It is those skills and tools that will help our child to decide yes, I have been offended. Yes, I have been aggressively approached by another individual. But, returning the favour, what is the consequence?

“Should I go and access the means that are available to me to report the matter to someone who is responsible and the end result could be much different from an altercation that results in someone being hurt,” he added.

Mr Campbell believes many incidents would go differently if the children involved chose to report matters, as opposed to taking it on personally.

The distraught mother said despite the bullying, her son loved school. She also commended the staff of TA Thompson for the love they showed her son.

“He loved school. I tried to take him out of school because it was so much going on (in terms of bullying). One day he comes home with his face swollen, where someone punch him. Then there’s a time when he got stab on his arm area. There’s another time again they stab him under his eye, beat him up.”

Ms Louis said these incidents began last September. Regarding the perpetrators, she said he knew both boys, and alleged he had an altercation with the perpetrator before.

When asked if the school could have done more to combat the bullying, she replied: “I think the school was trying, but if the law enforcement did push in more, because it’s so much going on, less things would happen.”

Ms Louis called for more police

assistance because there’s only “so much the teachers could do.”

“I must say, (the teachers) really was there for them and they showed him a lot of love.

The school showed him lots and lots of love. And to watch the students them…those students really love him,” she added, referencing how distraught the students of TA Thompson were as they filled the school’s halls yesterday morning.

Regarding the perpetrators of her son’s murder, Ms Louis said: “I only would like to ask them a question, and ask them why. Why they felt like they had to take his life? Why? I would like to hear what their response will be to me, face to face.

“I think they should be tried as adults. Because they knew and it wasn’t the first incident. Seeing that it wasn’t the first incident, I could say ‘maybe they didn’t…’ you know? But you did something to him before and you turn around and went after him again.”

Ms Louis also addressed the widespread issue of youth violence in the country. “All I could say right now is this: my son passed. He is not coming back to me. In the meantime, if everybody could work together to save the other children, the other boys, save their life, save them from going to prison — pitch in and do more. Because maybe if everybody did pitch in and do more, what happened yesterday (Tuesday) maybe wouldn’t have happened.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

PURGE OF THE PLP CONTINUES, CLAIMS CHAIRMAN MITCHELL

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net A LOCAL government administrator, perceived to be a supporter of the Progressive Liberal Party, has been dismissed, according to party chairman Fred Mitchell.

The claim was made in statement circulated by the party yesterday, in which Mr Mitchell claimed an unnamed island administrator was given a total of seven days to vacate his district.

While he did not name the administrator, The Tribune understands that Preston Cunningham, an administrator on the island of Andros, has been asked to vacate his post.

“The purges continue,” Senator Mitchell said. “Local government administrators perceived to be from page one During her contribution to the debate, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin noted that breathalyser provisions had still not been activated.

According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames, there were 63 traffic fatalities last year which represented a 29 percent increase from 2017. He said unfortunately, resulting from those 63 accidents were the deaths of 69 victims, reflecting a 28 percent increase from the previous year.

Of the traffic fatality victims by island, 42 of the fatalities occurred on New Providence, 11 on Grand Bahama and 10 on the remaining Family Islands, he said.

As a result, lawmakers passed amendments that will criminalise both the use of phones while driving and driving with an open alcoholic beverage.

Motorists will also immediately have to produce proof of insurance and a driver’s licence upon the request of a police officer.

The amendment also requires the payment of outstanding traffic offence

PLP are also being sent home.

Last week, one was given seven days to get out of the district even though he has a wife in the district and a minor child in school.

“Six more are to go,” he added.

When asked about the claim yesterday, Transport and Local Government Minister Renward Wells said he had no comment.

Mr Mitchell in his statement yesterday also fired back at Free National Movement chairman Carl Culmer following his response to PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis.

In an interview with The Tribune on Tuesday, Mr Culmer took issue with Mr Davis’ suggestion that the dismissal of eight senior police officers were “political”.

Mr Culmer called the statement reckless and claimed that Mr Davis and the PLP were seeking to cast aspersions on the current

process to cover-up their own bad practices.

“The last time I checked, there were no PLP policemen, there were no FNM policemen,” Mr Culmer said at the time. “This reckless statement shows that under their administration, they only looked out for PLPs.” In that same interview, he also questioned whether or not Mr Mitchell had anything else positive to offer in the political arena due to his age.

Responding yesterday, Mr Mitchell said: “So the chairman of the FNM has suddenly discovered that there are no PLP or FNM policemen. He must be the only FNM leader who believes that because the evidence is that the FNM government has been systematically going through the force and anyone who they perceive to be PLP or allies of former

Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade is being sent home summarily.”

He continued: “The prime minister in his usual clumsy way sought to cover up this FNM misdeed by suggesting that this is all about officers who have long accumulated leave. The PLP has seen the list of those with accumulated leave and among them is the commissioner of police himself who has 58 weeks of leave. He remains on the job. So clearly it isn’t leave that is the issue.

“This comes off as the FNM (being) a brutal, nasty group of people who care not one wit for decency.

“The fact is the police force is more divided than ever politically as a deliberate policy of the FNM. This is going to affect the force’s reliability as a neutral arbiter in fighting crime and in guarding the

ballot boxes when the elections come.

“The PLP is very concerned about this,” he added.

Mr Mitchell asserted that this new course of action, as it relates to the police force, stemmed from National Security Minister Marvin Dames, whom he noted was assigned to head up the security detail at the Lynden Pindling Airport under a former PLP administration. Mr Dames was a senior police officer at the time.

“Instead of applying himself to the task, there were complaints coming from FNM parliamentarians about his new assignment.

The government changed shortly thereafter and as soon as the FNM came to power he was reassigned,” Mr Mitchell noted.

“So FNM chairman don’t try to fool us,” Mr Mitchell said.

No drinks, no phones driving laws on way fines before renewing a driver’s licence.

Driving instructors will further be prohibited from holding electronic devices under the bill but the stipulation will not apply to those driving emergency vehicles or a vehicle that is lawfully parked and not impeding traffic.

A person failing to adhere to these provisions would be liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000, according to the amendment however Mr Wells told The Tribune yesterday this would be reduced to $500.

The amendments also mean motorists will be perfectly within the parameters of the law if they make a cautious left turn on a red traffic light.

The amendments will have to be passed at the

Senate level and then published in a gazette before they are officially enacted and become law.

“It is legislation for life,” Mr Wells said. “It is legislation to save lives.

“Mr Speaker, those who chose to behave responsibly should not continue to be put at risk by those who do not and we in this government will not allow this to continue,” Mr Wells also told the House yesterday.

“Distracted driving has caused many unnecessary and untimely deaths. Texting and driving increases the risk of an accident by about 32 percent. The Bahamas will now become the 33rd country to enact such laws.”

He continued: “We want the Bahamian people to know and understand that

they will be able to use their cell phones if it is blue toothed through their cars or ear sets that they will wear. We want all and sundry to understand that the law requires when you are driving you are supposed to have both hands on the wheel, so if you want to text you should probably pull over to the side of the road because the two or three seconds will make a difference in saving a life.”

When she spoke in Parliament, Mrs Hanna Martin argued that the fine was too high and urged the government to revisit the provision requiring motorists to produce proof of insurance immediately. She said given the prevalence of car theft in the country, this would give the upper hand to would be criminals.

Additionally, she criticised the government for failing to enact legislation drafted by the former Christie administration, adding the Minnis administration chose to use certain part of it.

She said: “My sentiments are not simply politics but genuine disappointment.

“What we do see here today, by and large, is that provisions have been pulled out, here and there, from that draft Bill, which they have been sitting on for the last two years.

“The question that has to be asked, is this administration playing games with the lives of the Bahamian people coming into this Parliament on the proverbial white horse claiming to be introducing this legislation as a commitment to road

TRANSPORT and Local Government Minister Renward Wells safety? Even if this government did not accept aspects of the policies driving the Bill, certainly the Bill must have provided a solid foundation for reform; after all this time should we have not seen some appropriate version brought forward.

“The draft Bill addressed this vexing issue specifically provided for prison sentences of up to 10 years and disqualification of driver’s licence to replace the current minimal penalties in

place for causing death,” Mrs Hanna Martin also said.

“Why are we not debating amendments to this end today?” she also asked Mrs Hanna Martin said other reforms in that draft Bill includes the creation of a National Road Safety Council, an important policy position to provide oversight of road safety initiatives for the prevention of fatalities.

Editorial Comment - Page 4

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 7

from page one

Buju fans told: Be careful on tickets

individual out there and they are giving you something that looks like a print out or a photocopy we guarantee you it is not authorised. The thing everyone needs to understand very clearly is once the code is scanned it is not valid anymore.”

He added: “Individuals who may have purchased tickets from someone or who may have decided they are going to defraud the process and copy and share their tickets the first individual across the threshold will be the individual in and everyone else will not be able to enter.

“Any individuals that turn up with a ticket which has been previously scanned, we will be signalling the police to deal with them. The situation is very

BUJU BANTON serious—if you have a ticket that has been purchased (at a cost) less than advertised that’s an indication that something is wrong. You should not attempt to photocopy or regenerate any ticket for this event.”

Clarence Albury, of Falcon Security, said firearms, knives, glass items, flammable material, backpacks or large handbags, food, liquids or illegal substances will be prohibited.

Security will also not allow hair picks or rat tail combs.

Mr Albury said: “The Thomas A Robinson Stadium is a non-smoking venue so there is no smoking allowed. Any cigarettes, beedi or lighters found will be confiscated.

“Bottle zones have been created in general

INSPECTOR Leonard Barr warned fans not to misbehave. admission, VIP, and platinum areas where patrons will be able to continue enjoying the concert and their bottle service. These areas will be manned with security officers and

members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.”

He also advised there will be no reentry to the stadium once a person exits.

Inspector Leonard Barr, of the Royal Bahamas

SCHOOL CHILDREN ENJOY JUNKANOO COMPETITION

WALTER Parker Primary School students formed two groups, while Hugh Campbell Primary School students formed three, as they competed in the Junkanoo Best Combo primary class, during the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications, at the Grand Lucayan Resort Convention Centre lawn area, in Freeport. The adjudications take place until April 5 at the Convention Centre, free and open to the public.

Photos: Eric Rose/BIS

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff Police Force, encouraged those attending the concert only to create mischief and mayhem to stay home.

Insp Barr said: “The police force will be out in full force if persons want

to come out and disrupt events, we have suites for those persons at 24 hours at no cost. We are asking persons to please come out and enjoy yourself. There will be police officers in

the parking lot, feel free to leave your cars.”

Tickets will be available at Cash and Go locations up to 4pm on Saturday; after that all tickets will be sold at the stadium.

PAGE 8, Thursday, March 28, 2019

Who will make the final four?

IF YOU like betting on favourites in the annual NCAA college basketball tournament nicknamed March Madness, you’re in clover this year. Of the last 16 teams still playing, an astounding 14 were originally seeded to advance this far. One of the other two teams, Auburn, rated a 5 seed so it hardly counts as an outlier. Only 12 seed Oregon is truly an exception. Advancement to this point wasn’t easy for everyone, though. Duke just squeaked by a Central Florida team anchored by a player who stands seven and a half feet tall. Tennessee and LSU had close calls, too. As the field is reduced this weekend from the sweet 16 to the final four, number one seeded Duke and North Carolina look like strong bets to advance. It says here, though, that 3 seed Purdue will prevail in the South regional and 4 seed Florida State will advance to the finals in Minneapolis from the West regional.

NEARLY everyone who follows the NBA is buzzing about the Los Angeles Lakers, but it’s for the wrong reasons. The Lakers won’t make the playoffs this year, and will likely replace their coach after the season. One of America’s glamorous pro sports franchises, the team has in its history featured George Mikan, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and now, Lebron James. James has played in the NBA finals for the past eight years, but he will be sitting at home when the 2019 postseason begins next month. The reason is that beyond James, the team had insufficient depth to survive its injuries this year.

It’s all about 2020 in LA, with numerous high-profile additions likely soon.

THE TRIBUNE

Trump’s troubles aren’t just in the White House WANT to hear some more about Donald Trump, Robert Mueller and Bob Barr? If not, how about the symbol of several actual lawsuits against Trump, his family and his company? That would be the Trump International Hotel, situated on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC between 11th and 12th streets. In this location, it is just about midway between the US capitol and the White House, where the hotel’s owner presently resides. Trump’s Washington showcase is also near the much more famous Willard Hotel and the flagship J W Marriott Hotel, named after the distinguished chain’s founder.

The Trump hotel occupies “the old post office building,” a 130-year-old structure whose bell tower is the third highest structure in Washington.

The building was originally commissioned as the headquarters for the US Postal Service. But by the 1960s, the building and its immediate neighbourhood had fallen into disrepair.

Redevelopment along Pennsylvania Avenue started under President Lyndon Johnson and continues to this day. The post office building followed along, viewed alternately as a white elephant or a symbol of urban renaissance for five decades. One of Donald Trump’s companies was picked in 2012 to redevelop the property as a luxury hotel. The bidding and award processes were controversial. But just one week before the November 2016 American general election, the Trump International Hotel staged its grand opening.

The hotel has been as controversial as its owner. Panned by Vanity Fair as a dump inside its ornate outer shell but praised by Trip Advisor and others, the hotel is reportedly doing a brisk business under the direction of a trust headed by Trump’s two adult sons.

The hotel itself is neither garish nor superficially offensive in any way.

A welcoming doorman respectfully

STATESIDE with Charlie Harper opens the heavy wooden doors for visitors, who enter the vast interior eight-storey high courtyard protected by a thick transparent roof. The courtyard now houses reception, a tasteful bar, restaurant and expansive space to relax and chat. A friendly concierge explained the original, highly visible steel girders still support the building.

Old stairwells and elevator lobbies have been carefully restored, she said. A very democratic mix of people enjoyed themselves, with tourists and elegantly attired partygoers comfortably sharing the space.

Trump opponents and government ethicists raised an uproar about the hotel from the moment some of his inaugural events were held there. The

director of the Office of U.S. Government Ethics, Walter M. Shaub, wrote that Trump’s divestment “plan does not comport with the traditions of our presidents over the past 40 years. Every president in modern times has taken the strong medicine of divestiture.”

In June 2017, the attorneys general of the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia sued the president on the basis of the U.S. constitution’s emoluments clause which forbids presidents from profiting personally from their office. Other states have taken similar action. Is Trump’s behaviour toward his hotel illegal or just different from his predecessors? The courts will let us know, in due time.

Times are finally changin’ As the 2020 Year of the Woman approaches in the U.S., preparations are underway to commemorate 100 years of American women’s right to vote.

Six Democratic women, including four senators, are already running for president. One of them, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, is running on an avowedly feminist platform. The American women’s soccer team, three-time World Cup winners and perhaps the world’s preeminent women’s athletic squad, has sued the U.S. soccer authority for equal pay with their male counterparts, whose achievements pale by comparison but who make more than twice as much in salary.

America’s oldest college acapella singing group, the Yale Whiffenpoofs, have admitted their first female member for next year, 52 years after the university first admitted women as undergraduates. And by the way, the most powerful American legislator, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, below, has said President Donald Trump “is not worth impeaching.” It’s not the same old, same old.

After ruling the world, Blockbuster down to its final show REMEMBER Blockbuster? Fifteen years ago, the video rental giant had franchised 9,100 stores and employed 84,000 people.

South Florida billionaire business mogul Wayne Huizenga, pictured right, who at one point or another owned the Dolphins, Marlins and Panthers major league franchises in football, baseball and hockey,

co-owned Blockbuster. He also founded Fortune 500 companies Waste Management and AutoNation. Huizenga died in Fort Lauderdale just a year ago. But Blockbuster may now be just about to follow Huizenga out the door: The second-to-last remaining franchise, in West Morley, Australia,

will close this week. That will leave the very last store in Bend, Oregon, a city of 76,000 on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains with a very large service area for video rentals. Situated in a strip mall near a cannabis retailer and a pet crematorium, this last Blockbuster has a sevenday rental policy and no plans to close anytime soon.

2,442 CASES OF CHILD ABUSE REPORTED FROM 2015-2018

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THERE were roughly 2,442 cases of reported child abuse from 2015 to 2018, according to Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell.

The figures were given yesterday at the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development’s launch of Child Protection Month.

According to records provided by the Southern Shores MP, 2,442 cases of child abuse were reported across the country during the same period.

Of that number, there were 562 cases of physical abuse, 600 cases of sexual abuse, 1,070 cases of neglect, 53 cases of abandonment, 96 cases of incest, 30 cases of verbal abuse and 31 cases of emotional abuse.

Mr Campbell said while much of the thought given to child abuse cases often goes toward physical and sexual abuse, the other forms carried out on children have equal or an even greater impact.

Referring to his own trauma, Mr Campbell called on society to view all forms of abuse as critically important and do all necessary to eradicate them.

Addressing specifically emotional and verbal abuse cases, he said: “…These may actually be the highest in occurrence, and these might be ones that have the worst and longest lasting effect.

“I stand here before you with lasting memories of having been told that I will be nothing, with memories of having been told that I am nobody, with memories of having been belittled because of my mother’s nationality,” he added.

Mr Campbell’s mother was a Haitian immigrant to this country.

Mr Campbell, citing the work of psychotherapist

SOCIAL Services Minister Frankie Campbell. and author David Calof, noted that survivors of chronic childhood abuse often always deny or minimise their memories of the abusive situation.

He continued: “But while the knowledge, body sensations and feelings are shattered, they are not forgotten. They intrude in unexpected ways: through panic attacks and insomnia, through dreams and artwork, through seemingly inexplicable compulsions, and through the shadowy dread of the abusive parent.

“The show up through uncontrollable behaviour, drug abuse, suicide ideation or actual suicide, depression, low self-esteem, criminality, bruises and welts, burns, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, promiscuity, and so many negative physical, behavioural, psychological and social challenges.”

To that end, Mr Campbell called for parents and guardians to be vigilant and more receptive to the emotional and mental health of the children around them.

He further implored parents to step up their parenting skills, urging them to be more capable of speaking to their children as they develop about the things they face daily.

Mr Campbell also took aim at the modern practice of raising a child between multiple homes.

He claimed the action often leaves children exposed and susceptible to negative influences.

“So the child is living between mommy and grammy, and grammy thinks that the child is with mommy and mommy thinks that the child is with grammy, and 48 hours later they both realise that the child is missing.

“Even where those circumstances exist. We have the benefit of communication tools,” he said.

In addition to media programmes and educational campaigns, Child Protection Month will also feature a church service on April 11, a blue carpet event on April 25 and an award service on May 2.

The Department of Social Services, through its Child Protection Unit, currently operates a 24-hour hotline to provide assistance to those seeking help.

If you suspect that a child is being abused or is in need of help, you are asked to call either 322-2763 from 9am to 5pm, or 422-2763 at any time, where trained professionals are available to provide assistance.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 9

30 nurses leave PMH in only two months

By RIEL MAJOR

THIRTY Bahamian nurses left Princess Margaret Hospital in a span of two months, Bahamas Nurses Union president Amancha Williams said yesterday.

The BNU president is calling for a solution relating to nurses being paid outstanding overtime.

Ms Williams told The Tribune: “The overtime occurred in the month of February and it is not just the nurses. It is the porters, maids, X-ray department, the ECG department. It is everybody who works in PMH, not just the nurses.

“I am the president that is speaking up for the nurses.

There are other unions and they’ve already told their members not to work the overtime if the government is not going to pay them. So, let the hospital remain dirty, nobody to sweep it, nobody to mop it, nobody to clean up the bathrooms…let the hospital remain dirty. No X-rays will be done if you don’t pay the people.

No blood works will be done and definitely no nurse will be working overtime if it’s not paid.”

Ms Williams, pictured right, said 30 nurses left the public healthcare system in December 2018 and January 2019 from the ICU and the NCU. She said: “Not foreign nurses, Bahamian nurses (left)…doesn’t that speak volumes? Obviously, you have incurred a shortage. Shift change will not make a difference if you have a manpower shortage.

You will incur overtime so you can’t tell the individual you can’t pay them. “‘Do you work (at) Wendy’s overtime and not be paid? No, do you work the gas station and not get paid? No…why are we doing it in the hospital?

Then what you saying to your nurses is they don’t really need you, so the nurse is going to go out and work somewhere else and realise her employer respects her and she is going to quit PMH and you’re going to have more nurses leave…30 plus another 30.

YOUR

“The employer must be able to treat the employees reasonable, respectable in order to keep the function of an institution. Duane Sands isn’t making no sense. ‘You ain’t got no money? What you mean you ain’t got no money?’

This government promised it was going to be better for the past two years. For the nurses, we’ve been catching hell. Qualified nurses…you don’t appreciate us. We are spending 16 hours in your institution. You are begging us to stay because (you don’t) have nobody.”

Last year, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands acknowledged a critical shortage of nurses in public healthcare, saying more than 600 were needed to fill the gaps.

The BNU received a strike certificate in December 2018 and have alluded to possible strike action over outstanding issues.

When asked about the nurses’ stance on a possible strike, Ms Williams said yesterday: “At the end of the day I really don’t want to talk about the strike because if we strike… could you imagine? We have a shortage now, who you think gone hold up your fort. Wouldn’t we be putting our country in a serious state? “(A strike) would not be in the interest of the Bahamian people so why are you pushing these people to a level that you don’t want them to get.

BNU and the government have been at an impasse regarding overtime pay and a new shift system the Public Hospitals Authority wants to implement.

On Tuesday, Dr Sands said as PHA has found itself saddled with high overtime bills - at one time climbing to $750,000 in just one month - the controversial shift system for nurses has been a vexing issue.

Giving nurses what they want is not easy, he said on Tuesday, as paying money owed to them is tied to the civil service which has restrictions on how much the government can offer or how quickly this happens.

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

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

PRINCESS Margaret Hospital

PAGE 10, Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Memories of what we left behind on the Moon

By MICHELLE HANLON Professor of Air and Space Law, University of Mississippi “HOW about that package out of your sleeve? Get that?” is certainly not the most famous phrase uttered by a human while on the Moon. And the items nestled in a small packet that astronaut Buzz Aldrin had stowed in the pocket just below the shoulder of his extravehicular mobility unit were certainly not mission critical. They were sentimental objects, intended to be left on the Moon purely for symbolic and commemorative purposes.

You may be surprised to learn that a partial catalogue of human-made objects on the Moon fills more than 20 single-spaced pages. There are more than 100 sites on the Moon with evidence of human activity. The sites contain materials from the European Space Agency, Japan, India, Russia, China and the United States. Not only do these sites contain ongoing experiments, they hold invaluable data. For example, engineers are hoping to examine these materials to determine how they

have fared after continuous exposure to the elevated radiation levels on the Moon. Along with scientific equipment, robotic landers and other objects left behind to lighten the load for the return home, there are a number of memorial and tributary items.

But perhaps most important, these varied objects, and their position on the lunar surface, alone can reveal the true story of humanity’s history on the Moon. A chronicle which celebrates the persistence and passion of hundreds and of thousands of scientists, engineers and aviators throughout human history who have supported the effort to “slip the surly bonds of Earth” and reach the stars.

I am not a historian. I am a space lawyer and have made it my mission to develop the laws we need to protect historic artifacts and sites in space. I cofounded For All Moonkind, the only organisation in the world dedicated to preserving human heritage in outer space, to assure archaeologists, historians, scientists and tourists are given the opportunity to learn the valuable lessons of our past.

PRESIDENT Richard Nixon welcomes Apollo 11 astronauts aboard the USS Hornet, the recovery ship, where they are quarantined. L-R: Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin.

Buzz Aldrin and fellow Moonwalker Neil Armstrong chose to go to the Moon with an Apollo 1 patch. It was selected to honour the ultimate sacrifice of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee, who perished in a fire during the first test of the Apollo command and service module.

The astronauts also chose to remember their fallen Soviet competitors and carried with them two Soviet medals, honouring cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, who died in the Soyuz 1 spacecraft in 1967 and Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth, who was killed in an aircraft in 1968. Aldrin and Armstrong understood that even as Americans raced the Soviets to the Moon,

success would be shared by all. That’s why they also carried a small gold olive branch – a global symbol of peace – and a silicon disk about the size of a United States half dollar. Inscribed on this disk in microscopic text are messages from the president of the United States and leaders of other 73 nations solicited by Thomas Paine, then head of NASA. The messages, intended to be left on the Moon for posterity, are poignant, proud and congratulatory. Some speak of their own national heritage, others salute the courage of the three humans who strapped themselves into a rocket and catapulted into the unknown. From Afghanistan to Zambia, the messages have one common theme: peace.

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According to his biographer, James Hansen, Neil Armstrong identified three favourite messages. The president of Costa Rica hoped the Moon landing would produce “new benefits for improving the well-being of the human race.” The king of the Belgians remained “deeply conscious of our responsibility with respect to the tasks which may be open to us in the universe, but also to those which remain to be fulfilled on this Earth, so to bring more justice and more happiness to mankind.”

Finally, the president of the Ivory Coast asked that the first human messengers to the Moon “turn towards our planet Earth and cry out how insignificant the problems which torture men are, when viewed from up there.”

I personally find the message of the president of Mexico rather prescient as he noted “in 1492, the discovery of the American Continent transformed geography and the course of human events.

Today, conquest of ultraterrestrial space – with its attendant unknowns – recreates our perspectives and enhances

our paradigms.” He went on to remind that human migration to space carries with it “a new far reaching responsibility”.

Space historian Tahir Rahman, who has published an award-winning book that tells the full story of the Messages of Peace, recounts that Aldrin and Armstrong nearly forgot to leave the disc and other mementos on the lunar surface. Indeed, according to NASA records and transcripts, it wasn’t until the Moonwalkers were climbing back into their spacecraft for the return journey to Earth when they realized their oversight. At the last minute, the disc was tossed from the ladder and settled in the regolith without pomp or circumstance.

Once in the capsule, Armstrong verified that “the disk with messages was placed on the surface as planned.”

The mystery is not that these busy astronauts almost forgot to leave the disc behind. After all they were pretty occupied being the first humans to set foot on the Moon. I think it is strange that the two most popular films about Apollo 11, “First Man” and “Apollo 11,” make no mention of the disc and its moving and hope-filled messages.

On July 20, 1969, the world united to celebrate the most remarkable technological achievement in human experience. And in that celebration, our leaders focused on our common hope for peace. This is the lesson of humanity’s effort to reach the Moon. I believe this is the history that we must embrace. It is our responsibility to explore space in peace, together as a species.

Let’s not forget, or forsake, the lessons of our past.

The first step is to protect the sites which chronicle our history on the Moon.

And hopefully, along the way we can recapture the goodwill that Neil and Buzz left behind. theconversation.com

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THE TRIBUNE

THE public health system has become the first in the region to introduce the ZOLL X Series cardiac monitor and ZOLL Auto Pulse equipment, something officials have heralded as a red letter day in healthcare.

The emergency medical technology which comes at a price tag of almost $400,000 is expected to significantly improve the delivery of care for critical emergency cases.

Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands described the achievement as a personal and special one harkening back to when he served as the country’s first director of National Emergency Medical Services.

“For me this is personal to see how far EMS has come, and to know that we have invested significantly in the tools needed for them to continue the incredible work that they do,” Dr Sands said.

He added, “Giving them the opportunity to be able to impact the lives of those in medical distress is what we ought to be doing, and so we have spent nearly $400,000 on this equipment and we will spend more if it means that it is going to improve patient outcomes.”

Calling it a huge advancement for emergency services in the country, Director of NEMS Dr Alvery Hanna said the

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 11

New equipment will help deliver critical care

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands tries out the equipment.

Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) is the first to introduce this level of medical technology.

“The X Series Monitor is particularly designed to work in the ambulance and the auto-pulse is a mechanical automated chest compression device that administers CPR at the prescribed rate and depth according to best practices and the guidelines of the American Heart Association,” she said.

Dr Hanna further noted that the devices will enhance safety for staff. “For proper hand

placement (during chest compression) staff would have to be standing in the moving ambulance and that is of course a challenge, and there is of course the challenge of fatigue. So with the use these automated devices those challenges would be eliminated,” Dr Hanna said.

Trainers from global manufacturer ZOLL Medical Corporation demonstrated the features of the devices to NEMS managers and staff and provided instruction over two days in preparation for the installation of the new equipment in ambulances.

PAGE 12, Thursday, March 28, 2019 from page one The evidence came during a visit to the scene of the shooting which was requested by the jury for it to have a better understanding of how events unfolded on November 20, 2010.

On that date, Newbold was shot and killed by Cpl Rolle moments after he and former Sergeant Trevor Green approached him, Mr Fernander and Mr Fernander’s cousin as they sat on a wall at Hospital Lane.

According to forensic pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, Newbold died of two gunshot wounds to the torso.

His death sparked massive protests in the Bain Town community, events that would eventually come to be known as the “Bain Town riot”. Police officers and their vehicles were said to have been stoned by members of an angry mob and at least one car was set ablaze. Even news reporters covering the riot were said to be harassed by the angry mob.

Yesterday, the jury, Her Majesty’s Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez and counsel were escorted to the scene on Hospital Lane, where both

THE TRIBUNE

Cop fired ‘like at target practice’ Mr Fernander and Mr Greene demonstrated to the jurors what they recalled happening.

On that day, Mr Fernander said he saw the two officers approached from King Street and simply told them “don’t move”.

Mr Fernander said he and his cousin, who is currently incarcerated in the United States, stayed put. When asked why he did, Mr Fernander said: “I just didn’t think there was no threat”, especially considering they were seconds from their homes.

Newbold, though, opted to flee, causing the officers to give chase.

Previously, Mr Fernander said he found it “somewhat” strange at

the time that Newbold decided to run. Yesterday however, in response to a question by one of the jurors, Mr Fernander said he wouldn’t say Newbold’s decision to run was because he could not say whether or not Newbold had any previous history with the officers.

According to Mr Fernander, Newbold darted to the rear of the property and ran “like he trying to get out”. He said as soon as Newbold put one foot up on a large cesspit towards the rear of the property near a large, two storey apartment, Cpl Rolle kneeled down, lined Newbold up in his sights and shot him.

When that happened, Mr Fernander said he and

his cousin hopped over the wall, but as soon as they did, the two officers told them to turn back or else they would be shot.

Afterwards, Mr Fernander said he ran to the house where Newbold and his other family members grew up and informed them Newbold had been shot.

Then, he said he ran to his home, which is two houses down, and told his family members.

Then, he ran on King Street and told people what had happened to Newbold.

By the time he came back to the property, a white police jeep was parked in front, which took the two officers away.

However, Cpl Rolle’s attorney Bjorn Ferguson challenged Mr Fernander’s narrative by noting that he did not mention the part about Cpl Rolle kneeling down to shoot Newbold when he previously took the stand, nor when he spoke to police.

Mr Ferguson further accused Mr Fernander of being an “untruthful witness”, and said his memory “selectively recalls events” convenient to him.

Meanwhile, Former Sgt Green, recited much of the testimony he previously gave from the witness box.

Mr Green, now a teacher employed by the Ministry of Education, walked the jury through how on date in question, he and Cpl Rolle, while on foot patrol on the area, approached three young men sitting on a wall, identified themselves and proceeded to search them in reference to firearms or drugs.

However, the former officer said after one of the men, who turned out to be Newbold, noticed the police badge pinned on his left chest, he jumped the wall and ran. Mr Green said Cpl Rolle, gave chase, and he followed suit.

During the foot chase, which Mr Green said lasted no more than a minute, Newbold clutched his waist and withdrew a black, KelTec 9mm Luger pistol and aimed it at Cpl Rolle and himself. Mr Green said Cpl Rolle told the man to drop the weapon twice, commands that were not obeyed.

Then, he said he heard two gun shots, and later saw when Cpl Rolle fell on top of Newbold on top of a cesspit. By the time he caught up to them both, Mr Green said Newbold’s breathing was “laboured”.

Yesterday however, he explained that after Cpl

Rolle shot Newbold, a mob of people, predominantly young men, started to gather with one young man in particular “inciting” the mob over what had happened.

At that point, he said he told Cpl Rolle they would have to stand “back-toback” for protection. He said he also secured the firearm Newbold had, discreetly handed it to Cpl Rolle and told him to put it in his pocket for safe keeping.

Then, he said the guy who was inciting the crowd came over the wall to where Newbold was, and the other young men with him followed suit. Mr Green said rather than cause a confrontation by trying to secure the scene and consequently ward off the mob of young men, he and Cpl Rolle were forced to leave Newbold’s body and move to the porch of the apartment building on the property. After that, he said they went back onto Hospital Lane, unable to ever secure the scene.

Mr Green said he saw when rocks and bottles started to be thrown, but said he was closer to Hospital Lane when that started happening.

The matter is adjourned to April 24.

CORONER’S COURT RETURNS OPEN VERDICT ON POLICE SHOOTING

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A CORONER’S Court jury was undecided on whether a police officer was justified in shooting and killing a 21-year-old man who tried to evade capture in a reported stolen vehicle.

The five-member jury returned a unanimous open verdict concerning the lawfulness of Phillip Armbrister Jr’s death at the hands of Detective Corporal Maurice Arthur in March 2016. The open verdict means the jury confirmed the death was suspicious, but was unable to reach any other verdicts open to them.

However, the jury unanimously found that D/Cpl Arthur’s colleague, Local Constable Benson Miller, acted lawfully when he shot and killed the man Armbrister was with, 21-year-old Kristen Russell.

According to police, both deceased men were shot and killed in the Sunset Park area on March 31, 2016, after fleeing a Nissan Sylphy registered to Neville Rolle and running to the rear of residence #54 on

Vendell Drive while firing shots in D/Cpl Arthur’s and L/C Miller’s direction.

Prior to that incident, Mr Rolle had reported to police that sometime between 5.30pm on March 30, 2016 and 6.20am on the date in question, some unknown person/persons stole his champagne coloured Nissan Sylphy from his residence.

According to reports, while on mobile patrol in an unmarked car in the Sunset Park area, both D/ Cpl Arthur and L/C Miller observed a champagne coloured Nissan vehicle with two male occupants acting in a suspicious manner.

L/C Miller, who was the driver, decided to follow the vehicle.

After doing so, the Nissan vehicle picked up speed north along Vendell Drive before making a left turn onto Anthony Lane.

The driver of that vehicle subsequently made a right turn into the driveway of a green trimmed white residence. Both occupants then got out of the vehicle while it was still moving, each brandishing a firearm.

The driver of the vehicle pointed his weapon in L/C

Miller’s direction, who, in fear for his life, fired two shots from his police service revolver in the suspect’s direction.

The suspect continued running north towards the rear of the residence and hopped the fence with the weapon in hand.

After doing so, he again pointed his weapon at L/C Miller, who in turn fired another two shots at him.

The suspect ran for a short distance afterwards before collapsing on the lawn in front on residence #52, dropping the firearm in the process.

Meanwhile, after both suspects had exited the car as it was still moving, the passenger ran to the rear of a utility house and pointed a handgun in D/Cpl Arthur’s direction. Being in fear for his life, D/Cpl Arthur fired his police service pistol in the suspect’s direction and hit him.

Paramedics were subsequently called to the scene and upon examination of both males, pronounced them dead. Armbrister died of gunshot wounds to his torso and both upper extremities, while Russell died of a gunshot wound to the chest and left thigh.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 13

NORWAY CRUISE SHIP ENGINES FAILED FROM LACK OF OIL COPENHAGEN, Denmark Associated Press

A CRUISE ship that was the focus of a daring rescue operation off Norway’s North Sea coast became disabled because its engines didn’t have enough lubricating oil, the country’s top maritime official said yesterday.

Low oil levels were the “direct cause” of the engine failure that stranded the ship during a storm Saturday, Lars Alvestad, the acting director general of the Norwegian Maritime Authority, said.

Sensors detected the oil shortage and automatically shut down the

Viking Sky’s engines to prevent a breakdown, he said.

The ship’s harrowing weekend ordeal injured dozens of people, including 36 who were admitted to hospitals. Four people from the ship remained hospitalised Wednesday, including one being treated in an intensive care ward in critical but stable condition, Norwegian health officials said.

Alvestad said the amount of oil was “relatively low” but still “within set limits” as the Viking Sky neared Hustadvika, a shallow area known for shipwrecks that has many reefs but no larger islands to offer boats shelter from

pounding waves. “The heavy seas probably caused movements in the tanks so large that the supply to the lubricating oil pumps stopped,” Alvestad said during a news conference. “This triggered an alarm indicating a low level of lubrication oil, which in turn, shortly thereafter, caused an automatic shutdown of the engines.”

Viking Sky “suffered power ‘blackout’ in challenging weather conditions,” he said.

The ship’s operator, Viking Ocean Cruises, said it welcomed “the prompt and efficient investigation” of the weekend emergency and accepted the

findings. “We have inspected the (oil) levels on all our sister ships and are now revising our procedures to ensure that this issue could not be repeated,” the company said in a statement.

The Viking Sky ended up in a dangerous situation when the engines stopped Saturday. With the ship carrying 1,373 passengers and crew members rocking violently, the crew sent out a mayday call. Passengers would recall a large wave crashing through glass doors and knocking people across the floor of an area where they were instructed to gather as a muster point.

The crew anchored the Viking Sky in a bay as it came close to hitting rocks and the airlift to get passengers off the ship began.

Five helicopters winched passengers off one-by-one as winds howled in the dark of night.

Waves up to 26-feet- (8-meters-) high were smacking into the ship, ruling out an evacuation by boat.

The rescue operation ended Sunday when the engines restarted, after 479 passengers had been airlifted to land. The ship traveled under its own power to a Norwegian port with nearly 900 passengers and crew members remaining onboard.

May says she will quit if Brexit deal is passed LONDON Associated Press PRIME Minister Theresa May offered up her job in exchange for her Brexit deal yesterday, telling colleagues she would quit within weeks if the agreement was passed and Britain left the European Union.

May’s dramatic concession that “there is a desire for a new approach - and new leadership” was a last-ditch effort to bring enough reluctant colleagues on board to push her twice-rejected EU divorce deal over the line.

It came as lawmakers sought an alternative to May’s unpopular deal after wrestling control of Parliament’s agenda away from her Brexit-weakened government.

May has been under mounting pressure from pro-Brexit members of her Conservative Party to quit. Many Brexiteers accuse her of negotiating a bad divorce deal that leaves Britain too closely tied to the bloc after it leaves.

Several have said they would support the withdrawal deal if another leader took charge of the next stage of negotiations, which will determine Britain’s future relations with the EU.

MAY is under mounting pressure from pro-Brexit members of her party to quit.

In a packed meeting of Conservative legislators described by participants as “somber,” May finally conceded she would have to go, although she did not set a departure date. “I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party,” she said, according to a transcript released

by her office. Anti-EU lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has clashed with May throughout the Brexit process, said she had been “very clear” that if Britain leaves the EU as foreseen on May 22, she will quit soon after.

He said the prime minister had been “very dignified.”

“She put her case well, and

TRUMP ASSEMBLING AN ARMY OF OPERATIVES FOR RE-ELECTION FIGHT WASHINGTON Associated Press

IN 2016, President Donald Trump compared Hillary Clinton’s campaign to the lumbering federal bureaucracy. Now he’s building one of his own.

From an office tower across the Potomac River from Washington, from the bowels of the Republican National Committee’s headquarters on Capitol Hill and from field offices across the country, Trump is assembling an army of operatives to fight for victory in what stands to be a legacy-defining political battle. Even with a sea of still-unfilled desks, his 2020 campaign is already unrecognisable from the fly-by-night operation of the last effort, when Trump won the White House despite his inexperienced campaign team.

Trump may still consider himself his own best strategist and communicator, but this time he’s leaving nothing to chance. Trump’s 2020 effort is melding the RNC and his presidential campaign into one functional entity, with the two organisations sharing staff, resources and data in what they argue is the perfect model of the modern integrated campaign.

“We are creating the largest and most efficient campaign operation in American history with the ability to reach more voters than ever before,” said Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.

Still, the constant and greatest source of uncertainty for the new effort remains Trump — his disdain for feeling managed and his unwavering belief in his own gut instincts above all else.

“Everything the campaign does is to complement and reinforce the candidate, it’s not a substitute for the candidate,” said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “The candidate

DONALD Trump has his eyes on a second term. needs to be in sync with the campaign.”

Trump’s attacks on the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona earlier this month marked an example of how a candidate could unsettle his own political effort.

Driving the 2020 operation is Parscale, a confidant of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is the White House overseer of the campaign. Parscale brings an unusual pedigree to the position: He did website work for Trump’s golf properties before being hired to run Trump’s digital efforts

in 2016, when his targeted Facebook ads helped drive Trump voters in the Midwest to the polls.

A priority of both Parscale and Kushner, aides said, is reducing the disruptive staff turnover that defined Trump’s first White House bid and continued through his first two years in the White House. Key campaign hires have had to pass muster with both men. And Parscale, with his 13-month tenure in the job, already has lasted longer than any of Trump’s three 2016 campaign heads.

reiterated that she had done her duty,” he said.

It was unclear whether May’s offer to resign would be enough to win backing for her deal, which was defeated by 230 votes in January and by 149 votes earlier this month.

High-profile Brexiteer Boris Johnson announced soon after May’s statement that he would support the agreement, which he has previously called a “humiliation.”

But other hard-liners said they would continue to reject the deal, and Northern Ireland’s small but influential Democratic Unionist Party was also maintaining its opposition to a deal it has called “toxic.”

Two years ago, Britain triggered a countdown to departure from the EU that ended Friday, March 29, 2019. With that date approaching and no Brexit deal approved by Britain, the EU last week granted a delay. It said that if Parliament approves the proposed divorce deal this week, the UK will leave the EU on May 22. If not, the government has until April 12 to tell the 27 remaining EU countries what it plans to do: leave without a deal, cancel Brexit or propose a radically new path.

GUNMEN OPEN FIRE ON CHILE AMBASSADOR IN HAITI PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Associated Press OFFICIALS say gunmen have attacked a motorcade carrying Chile’s ambassador to Haiti, wounding two people and leaving three missing. The ambassador was not harmed.

The Santiago, Chile-based charity America Solidaria said in a statement yesterday that gunmen opened fire as Ambassador Patricio Utreras and his wife were driving to a clean-water project in the Haitian capital’s Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood with Haitian infrastructure officials and 13 of the charity’s volunteers from Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Haiti.

Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Chilean security agents repelled the attack. The ambassador’s driver was hit by a bullet in the wrist and an America Solidaria official was also lightly wounded.

America Solidaria said a Haitian driver for the charity and two Haitian government officials were missing.

THE TRIBUNE

THE SCENE of the accident on Grand Bahama.

MALE DRIVER DIES AT SCENE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

one occupant, the driver succumbed to his injuries,” he told reporters at the crash scene Tuesday night.

A MAN was killed in Supt Henfield is appeala traffic accident on the ing to motorists to drive Grand Bahama highway in with caution and care, parFreeport on Tuesday night. ticularly when travelling on A senior traffic official roads that lack adequate described the incident as lighting. a “sad day” for Grand “We know that GB Bahama, where the fatality Highway is one of those count now stands at two for thoroughfares with minimal the year. lighting, and so we just appeal According to police to motorists to drive with sufreports, the accident ficient speed so that they are occurred shortly after 9pm able to see and not overdrive at Grand Bahama Highway the headlights,” he said. and Coral Road, involving “Today, we record a grey Mitsubishi Galant another death for Grand which crashed into a tree.

Bahama; it is a sad day for ASP Terecita Pinder us. We in the Traffic Departreported that the male ment will continue to do driver, who was the only our part on the streets, and occupant in the vehicle at to see that persons keep the time, died at the scene. within the parameters of the The man’s identity has law,” said Supt Henfield. not been released and The first Grand Bahama investigations are continu- traffic fatality occurred in ing into the accident.

West End earlier this year.

Supt Jeremy Henfield, On January 25, sometime officer in charge of the around 11pm a male resiTraffic Division, said the dent of West End was killed vehicle was travelling north when his vehicle apparon Coral Road, and had ently went off the road entered Grand Bahama and crashed into bushes.

Highway when it crashed The vehicle was engulfed into bushes on the northern in flames and the driver, side of the road.

Drexel Martin, died at the “At the time of the crash, scene.

SUPT JEREMY HENFIELD, above, at the scene of the car crash.

Photos: Vandyke Hepburn

Thursday, March 28, 2019, PAGE 15

PAGE 16, Thursday, March 28, 2019

THE TRIBUNE ST Anne’s School fifth grader Lacey Huyler, left, provided the impetus for the school observing World Epilepsy Day.

YOUNGSTERS GO PURPLE TO SUPPORT WORLD EPILEPSY DAY

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands joined administrators, staff and students of St Anne’s School as they went purple on Tuesday in support of grade five student Lacey Huyler’s push for nation-wide celebrations of World Epilepsy Day. World Epilepsy Day is celebrated annually on March 26. The day has become known as “Purple Day” and people globally are encouraged to wear the colour purple in order to increase awareness of epilepsy. Administrators, staff and students at the school all wore purple during a special “Purple Day” assembly on Tuesday.

Lacey lives with epilepsy. Her goal is to spread epilepsy awareness throughout the

country. “I have seizures a lot and many times I do not remember what happens after a seizure,” Lacey told classmates and students.

“It is hard to be happy sometimes, but I know that my family loves me even though I have epilepsy. I wish someone could find a cure for this disease because I do not enjoy having seizures. There are over 30 types of seizures and sometimes I feel like I have most of them. I am happy to be alive and I like my school because they always look out for me. I wish the Bahamas would join the rest of the world in recognising March 26, as World Epilepsy Day,” she added.