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VOLUME:116 No.68, APRIL 1ST, 2019

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It hurts - it’s been ruined After 38 years, senior officer opens up on his forced departure Insight

By RICARDO WELLS rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government’s handling of the pre-retirement leave process for several senior police and defence force officers “ruined” their departures, according to outgoing Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean.

He said the “political buzz” around the move gave the impression the officers involved were “holding on and refusing to

let go of their glory years,” rather than being open to moving on.

“It hurt,” Senior ACP Dean admitted in an interview with The Tribune. “I wanted it to be done with more respect because the idea the public now has, is that we didn’t want to go home.

“We sacrificed a lot for our organisations. Now instead of our vacation time being looked upon with respect and admiration, it is being questioned and looked at with a level of anger by the public.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

LUCAYAN - STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

WHILE a letter of intent has been signed for proposed new owners to take over the Grand Lucayan, there is a long process ahead.

Michael Scott, Lucayan Renewal Holdings chairman, said the

signing signalled an end to the beginning.

Asked if he saw the LOI’s signing between the government and Royal Caribbean International/Mexican port developer ITM as a success, Mr Scott said: “No, that was what the politicians said.

“If I was asked to speak, I would have said that this SEE PAGE SIX

HOME

MYSTERY ABDUCTOR STRIKES YET AGAIN

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net AN eight-year-old boy was lured from his home on Fox Hill Road south into a silver car and later dropped off near the New Providence Landfill on Friday.

The incident happened shortly before 9pm and comes about three weeks after the last child abductions were reported.

According to police, two boys ages eight and ten were standing in front of their residence when a woman driving a silver vehicle stopped and began talking to the children.

“The ten-year-old boy walked away, (but) the woman lured the eightyear-old into her vehicle and drove off,” police said.

SEE PAGE THREE

KRAVITZ KEEP HIM OUT OF IT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

SUITS YOU, BUJU BUJU Banton on stage during his Long Walk To Freedom Tour concert at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. See page two for more.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

TESTING THE WATER ON HELPING OUR HOSPITALS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE preliminary talks between Johns Hopkins Medicine and local health officials continued over the weekend, with the president of the institution’s global ventures scheme touring several facilities in New Providence.

Dr Mohan Chellappa led a team of representatives to

DR MOHAN CHELLAPPA The Bahamas, where they toured Princess Margaret Hospital and several clinics.

Speaking with The Tribune following their visit to PMH, Dr Chellappa said all discussions have been focused on establishing the needs of The Bahamas, while seeing first hand the potential of local facilities.

He said, moving forward, there will be collaborative discussions on ways to augment the quality of SEE PAGE 12

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THE Ministry of Tourism’s Lenny Kravitz-led marketing campaign has escaped “irreparable harm” after a US court barred disclosure of its commercial terms to a former Bahamian beauty queen.

The southern Texas federal court, in a March 27 ruling, declared the Ministry’s deal with the Grammy award-winning rock icon offlimits to Khiara Sherman and her attorneys on the grounds that it is “not a relevant benchmark” for determining any copyright damages she may have suffered.

The former Miss Bahamas Universe winner sparked alarm at the Ministry of Tourism when she demanded that the court order it to produce the January 2019 agreement with Mr Kravitz for the use of his song, Fly Away, in its multi-million dollar worldwide advertising campaign.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Insight WHEN CHILDREN KILL CHILDREN, WE ARE ALL AT FAULT SEE PAGE EIGHT

PAGE 2, Monday, April 1, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Buju brings out the crowds REGGAE legend Buju Banton wowed hundreds of fans Saturday night during the Bahamian leg of his “Long Walk to Freedom” tour.

The highly anticipated concert was held at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium and also featured artists such as rapper Lil Duval, Glen Washington, Gramps Morgan, Davido,

and Kodak Black.

As Mr Banton took to the stage, the audience used their cellphone flashlights to turn the dimmed stadium into a sea of lights in eager anticipation of the reggae superstar.

Mr Banton performed hits such as “Champion”, “Wanna Be Loved”, “Hills and Valleys”, and “Destiny”, among many others,

during his approximately 90-minute set.

Sporting a suit and his famous dreadlocks, he delivered a well-received performance featuring strong vocals and energetic high kicks.

Mr Banton’s set was met with much awe and enthusiasm from the crowd, which responded to him with raucous applause, singing and dancing.

CROWDS flocked to the Thomas A Robinson Stadium, top, to see Buju Banton perform in his Long Walk To Freedom Tour, above. Other stars included Glen Washington, below.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 1, 2019, PAGE 3

Mystery abductor strikes yet again

from page one “A short time later, the eight-year old-boy was dropped off on Tonique Williams Darling Highway near to the entrance of the city dump. The boy was reunited with his parents, however he was taken to hospital, where he was examined by doctor and is in good health.”

Yesterday, some residents in the area had

no knowledge that an incident occurred while others seemed not to be concerned, evidenced by several group of young boys walking alone in the area.

Inspector Leonardo Burrows told The Tribune police were actively looking into this incident.

He added that police had still not received any substantial information that could lead to the arrest of a woman believed to have taken several boys in

separate incidents despite releasing composite sketches of the suspect.

However Insp Burrows said he was unable to say if this incident was linked to the others although it fits the profile of the assailant in the other incidents.

In early March, four boys were allegedly abducted in two separate incidents in less than 24 hours, but were found a short time later, police said, adding the incidents were being looked at

separately.

On March 7, shortly before 4pm, three boys were taken: two eight-year-olds and a ten-year-old. The boys were walking on Kool Acres Road in eastern New Providence when “they were picked up by a female who was the lone occupant” of a dark coloured vehicle, police said.

The two eight-year-olds were initially dropped off by a Haitian village in the vicinity of Seabreeze and Joe Farrington Road.

THE HOME where the victim of the fatal shooting in Bain Town was killed.

The ten-year-old was dropped off later by the city dump.

The day before, March 6, eight-year-old Tyvon Deveaux was abducted by a lone female driver in a silver-coloured Japanesemodel vehicle. He was later dropped off by the entrance to the dump on Tonique Williams Darling Highway.

On February 16, threeyear-old Shavar Bain was abducted from outside his home and then left

frightened and alone outside a Fox Hill washhouse several hours later, sparking a manhunt for two women believed to be the abductors.

On March 3, an eightyear-old girl was abducted from her home by an alleged male perpetrator.

She was discovered walking in the area of Woodlawn Gardens a short time after the abduction by a passerby and taken to the Wulff Road Police Station.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

MAN WHO ‘DIDN’T BOTHER ANYONE’ SHOT DEAD

By RIEL MAJOR

TENSIONS ran high in the Bain Town community following the murder of a 37-year-old father on Friday.

Police have not released the victim’s identity, but

people in the Augusta Street area said on Friday the victim is Alexander Bullard.

On the scene in the hours following the fatal shooting, those familiar with Bullard were shocked and struggled to grapple with how a man who “didn’t bother anyone” could be the country’s latest

homicide. However, many were at a loss for words and did not wish to comment on the situation.

According to The Tribune’s records, this is the 19th murder for the year.

Police said shortly before 1am Friday, officers were called to the scene in Bain Town where the

unresponsive body of a man was discovered with visible injuries.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but were unable to resuscitate him.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

News of his death spread across social media quickly, with friends and neighbours

BPL CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER RESIGNS

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light confirmed yesterday the immediate resignation of its chief operating officer Christina Alston.

BPL would not confirm any details surrounding her seemingly abrupt decision to leave the company less than two years after taking the position, but an email obtained by The Tribune confirmed CEO Whitney Heastie made the announcement on Saturday.

“This is to confirm that we have received notice of COO Christina Alston’s resignation effective immediately. Until further advised, direct reports of Mrs Alston will continue to report as they have been during her most recent vacation,” the email read.

It came after she tendered her resignation on Friday.

BPL’s director of communications Quincy Parker would only confirm the resignation but declined further comment.

However, Minister of

CHRISTINA ALSTON Works Desmond Bannister said he didn’t see anything to be concerned about.

“She resigned and people resign every day,” Mr Bannister said yesterday.

Mrs Alston, a Bahamian and certified energy manager, officially took up the post in November 2017 after serving as director of supply chain services at Georgia Transmission Corporation.

Sources familiar with the situation told The Tribune her decision to leave had been brewing for quite some time, adding there were disagreements over certain issues at the electricity provider.

It was sparked by the

manner in which executives of BPL were “unprofessionally” operating its affairs, The Tribune was told.

Namely, it is said she took exception to the selection of Finnish Technology group Wärtsilä to build BPL’s new $95m electricity plant.

“Christina is a consummate professional,” one source told The Tribune.

“She just could not live with the host of irregularities present at BPL. “They were operating unprofessionally and her background would not allow it.

“She had issues with the level of people that took voluntary separation

packages leaving BPL without the needed expertise. Overall BPL is a far cry from the places she’s worked.”

Ahead of officially taking the post in 2017, Mrs Altson said she was excited to be able to return home to utilise her expertise and skill set to aid the company.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I am proud and a Bahamian and so excited to have this opportunity. I have spent so many years wanting to come home and really address so many of the problems I understood the Bahamas was facing,” said Mrs Altson at the time.

expressing grief and disbelief.

One Facebook user said: “We grew up on the same street, never knew him to be troublesome. Why though?”

“Omg, my condolences to the family, such a humble young man, he will be missed,” another

user posted.

As investigations continue, police are appealing to members of the public who may have information that can assist with this case to contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2, Crime stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.

PAGE 4, Monday, April 1, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Expressing certainty in an uncertain era IN the course of a single week, there has been all of this: “I have been truthful and consistent on every level since day one,” actor Jussie Smollett told the world after prosecutors dropped 16 felony counts that accused him of making a false police report about being the target of a racist, anti-gay attack.

“I am highly confident,” high-profile lawyer Michael Avenatti said after being accused of trying to extort money from Nike, “that I will be fully exonerated and justice will be done.”

“Complete and total EXONERATION,” Donald Trump tweeted after the attorney general’s summary of the Mueller report’s “principal conclusions” was released. And on Thursday night, before a huge crowd: “The greatest hoax in the history of our country.”

Such certainty across the board. Such vigorous, declarative statements — crystallized, workshopped, simplified into sound bites containing a single message: It didn’t happen. I didn’t do anything wrong. Case closed. End of story. Incontrovertible. Don’t question it.

Ever since the first stirrings of national inevitability in the 17th century, ever since the colonists declared independence by citing truths they held to be “self-evident,” being definitive has been the American way. But in an age of utter uncertainty such as this, the expression of certainty — robust, sure-of-yourself, no-other-possibility certainty — may be the most powerful weapon of all.

“You see this absolute language: ‘Always.’ ‘Never.’ It’s a drive to oversimplify because we fear losing people, we fear the confused mind saying no,” says Shannon Berg, who runs a crisis communications firm in Portland, Oregon.

“We have a lot of binary thinking and really overly simplistic storylines that we try to drive to because, for whatever reason, that’s how we’re wired,” she says. “We’re not comfortable in the space where things aren’t so cut and dried.”

The problem, though, is that certainty is a rare beast.

With Smollett, for example, prosecutors made clear that dropping the charges didn’t mean they’d exonerated him. In Avenatti’s case, prosecutors expressed confidence — maybe even certainty — that they had the goods to secure a conviction. And the president? Attorney General William Barr’s four-page letter on the still-unreleased Mueller report took pains to say that just because it didn’t conclude guilt didn’t mean it had concluded complete innocence.

Yet the practice of protagonists claiming definitive outcomes is as American as Hollywood endings, the expression of a culture that hasn’t had much use for nuance — a word that was deployed against John Kerry during the 2004 presidential campaign to support accusations that he was wishy-washy.

It wasn’t so long ago that Americans lived in a world where they couldn’t amplify themselves globally with devices in their pocket, and the notion of “definitive” was a lot easier to control. So when an avuncular, sure-of-himself middleaged white man signed off his nightly newscast by saying, “That’s the way it is,” anyone who thought that actually WASN’T the way it was didn’t have an immediate and loud way of saying otherwise. The world seemed less fragmented, even though it probably wasn’t.

Now, though, humans carry around the ability to talk to the wider world, and Twitter-style fragments abound.

Opinions, informed and otherwise, buzz about like gnats. A certainty-based central narrative — the kind that was often calming, but also shut out and silenced Americans by the tens of millions — seems lacking. That can encourage critical thought. It can also sow confusion.

One key reason Donald Trump’s voters say they’ve supported him is that they consider him authentic — someone who says what he means.

Few would accuse him of being overly nuanced; that’s not his appeal. And in the age of Trump, that has emerged as a defining tenet of the public sphere: Say what you need to say, plant your feet and insist.

This has a lengthy lineage. American society has long been conditioned — literally, and sometimes by the muscle of policy — to demand sharp, specific, binary outcomes.

The production code that governed Hollywood movies from the mid-1930s to the 1960s required, for example, that moral order be maintained and “the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.” Style guides for romance-novel writers offered similar strictures — and usually demanded happy endings.

But beyond stipulating what KIND of endings things should have, such social engineering also encouraged Americans to expect clarity in life as we do on screen.

This was evident in 2007, when the mob show “The Sopranos” offered up a finale that underscored Americans’ dislike for ambiguous conclusions. The screen went abruptly black to finish off the show, and no one knew whether its protagonist, mob boss Tony Soprano, was alive or dead. It could have been interpreted in any number of ways.

The outcry over the ambiguity was huge; where, people complained, was the definitive ending we were waiting for?

Trouble is, life doesn’t generally work that way.

“The problem with absolute certainty is that it ends up tripping you up,” says Evan Cornog, a political historian and author of “The Power and the Story: How the Crafted Presidential Narrative Has Determined Political Success from George Washington to George W. Bush.”

“There is this fondness for absolutes in this country,” he says. “The upside is you project this aura of certainty. The problem is that reality often moves past it and proves it to be wrong.”

And so, behind the stage of certainty, ambiguity waits in the wings for its inevitable curtain call.

It’s behind the question of why, in the face of what was generally believed to be strong evidence, prosecutors inexplicably let the Smollett case go and moved on, sealing it from prying eyes. It’s in the revelations that will emerge if and when Michael Avenatti faces trial.

And it’s in the tantalising subtlety that Barr shared from Robert Mueller himself in a nearly 400-page report that few Americans have seen and that feeds the uncertainty: “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

Reality is messy. The best TV these days has started to recognize that: “Mad Men,” ‘’Fargo,” Donald Glover’s “Atlanta,” this month’s “Russian Doll” on Netflix. Where once we had “Perry Mason,” we now have “True Detective.” Each has its own way of showing that stories aren’t always wrapped up in tidy bows, and that even things that seem absolutely definitive usually aren’t.

In this context, certainty seems something of a holy grail. But you wouldn’t know it by listening to those in the spotlight during the final week of March in 2019.

“Facts are stubborn things,” John Adams famously said. But that was the 18th century. Today, in America’s era of hyperamplified either-ors, Stephen Colbert may be more appropriate to cite: “Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It’s certainty.”

By Ted Anthony AP National Writer

Jamaal Rolle will return on Sunday

We need financial independence EDITOR, The Tribune.

I ENTIRELY agree with your correspondent Brian E Plummer which you published on Monday, March 25, when he points out that developed economies deal more in manufacturing than the developing economies.

Financial independence is de facto independence, and will avoid us being the servant of developed countries.

I would go further and agree with Sir Ronald Sanders’ article in the same paper where he quotes PJ Patterson in his new book “My Political Journey”, which reports his role as a Jamaican politician and Prime Minister, where he describes how he fought for CARICOM and unity in protecting the Sovereignty of all Caribbean countries, and maintaining the rule of law.

It was sad to hear our Prime Minister on Monday night avoiding any support of economic development such as is being promoted by BAMSI and which will save the country from spending so much money on importing foreign food.

Fortunately today’s paper in the Business Section “Seize New Optimism for Bahamian Empowerment” has made a plea for local investment in local manufacturing and producing

LETTERS

to assist new business applications for grants or finance.

The Industries Encouragement Act Ch 326 enables a new manufacturing business to apply for approval and if the Company is 60 percent or more owned by Bahamians can obtain tax exemptions providing they export at least 95% of their production.

Why is this? The advantage may be to receive foreign currency payments for the exports, but it hinders the circulation of local currency for locally produced goods manufactured here. And it is expensive to ship abroad involving local shipping, local customs inspections and international inspections and regulations.

All in all the better market is the local market, and the law should be changed to permit all new manufacturing businesses to receive the same tax exemptions up until their profits exceed $250,000.00 per annum at least.

And if the product is produced locally, like eggs, why allow imported eggs at cheap prices? Mr Pinder of Abaco Farms is complaining too.

We must make it easier to do business here for Bahamians.

letters@tribunemedia.net entities where the local investment profits can stay in this country and not be a drain on our currency reserves. Maybe one day we can feed ourselves.

Any new business may involve exceptional risk and must depend on two things: Competent and Experienced Direction and Access to expertise.

Financial Commitment and/or security for lenders.

The less we need foreign capital and control the better for our economy.

The current legislation and regulation encourages foreign capital by granting tax incentives, some of which, like VAT are not available to locally owned businesses.

They must support low grants of loans for small amounts specifically to purchase equipment, and an amount for a living wage and rent of premises, to get started. The requirements for the Bahamas Entrepreuneurial Venture Fund Ltd, is far too demanding, almost as bad as a bank, in requiring the documentation of an existing business to support the application.

The Small Business ANTHONY HOWORTH Nassau, Development Centre has March 26, 2019 limited authority and staff

Are the PLP anti-jobs?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I MUST say that I am very surprised at the antidevelopment, anti-job stance adopted lately by Her Majesty’s Official Opposition. The Progressive Liberal Party was once a party of the people, the party of the working man. This is no longer the case, it would seem.

Nowadays, a new-look PLP is everywhere criticising the government for signing deals that create much-needed jobs for struggling communities and give regular Bahamians hope for their future and security for their families.

In fact, they are even repeating the talking points of wealthy and exclusive

special interests who have never felt the bite of economic hardship and therefore have very different priorities from the average Bahamian. How far from the vision of Sir Lynden Pindling. Who would have thought that we would witness this day?

Case in point is the Disney project in South Eleuthera. It would seem that the cries of the people of Bannerman Town and Millar’s, of Freetown and Whyms Bight, can no longer be heard by the PLP. These opportunitystarved communities have been long been hoping and praying for economic salvation in the form of such a project, yet when it finally comes, the Opposition can

see no good in it. All they can do is criticise.

Are they criticising for criticising sake, or is something else going on here?

Could it be that the FNM and Dr Hubert Minnis, with their message that it is “The People’s Time”, have snatched the title of Defender of The People from the PLP, leaving them to search around for a new class of supporters? Are we witnessing the switching of the roles of the country’s two main parties? Is the PLP, the former party of the downtrodden, becoming the party of the elites?

RICARDO JOHNSON Nassau, March 27, 2019.

A drummer’s letter of thanks EDITOR, The Tribune.

MY sincere and heartfelt thanks goes out to the members of The Nassau Beach Alumni Association for an amazingly, spectacular tribute in my honour on March 1st, 2019, at The Barrabas House, Junkanoo World, Oakes Field.

I want to publicly thank, Mr George Myers, Brendan Foulkes, Bryan McCartney, Creselle Dean, Roland Rose and Quinton “Barrabas” Woodside for all the effort, time and talent they gave to making the tribute so memorable, heart warming and enjoyable! Also I thank a host of others who made that event what it was that night, sharing

their music, and kind words of appreciation, as well as their contributions of work, time, food, drink, amazing decorations, etc!

My spirit was lifted and my heart filled with all the generous outpouring of love and appreciation for my years of entertainment work in the Bahamas. To see so many of my Bahamian Entertainment Brothers and Sisters of the past and present, meant the world to me. The night captured the spirit of entertainment as it was long ago. It brought together, so effectively, the old night club memories and feelings of the past to the present generation. The evening preserved the past, lighting the way for the

current and future Bahamian entertainers.

Our Bahamian Musical Heritage and Culture must be preserved, enjoyed and carried on for generation to come!! This event opened a path for this goal to continue into the future, marrying past Bahamian talent to present, as well as hope for future musicians and artists.

Many thanks to all who participated and attended, making this event as spectacular as it was. With a heart full of gratitude and appreciation.

JOHN BERKLEY “PEANUTS” TAYLOR Nassau, March 28, 2019.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 1, 2019, PAGE 5

It hurts it’s been ruined from page one Senior ACP Dean, a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the past 38 years, is one of eight senior officers who received a notice to take accrued vacation leave last month ahead of retirement.

Additionally, several Royal Bahamas Defence Force officers were also given similar notices.

Addressing the matter over the weekend, Senior ACP Dean said: “I don’t have a problem with being asked to leave; I honestly was expecting it from the start of the year. My issue is with the way it was done. The discussion could have occurred somewhat smoother, not come as a shock and a ‘it’s time to go next week’ kind of feeling.”

He added: “I wished that part was done differently.

But it’s funny because I always tell the young officers to be prepared for anything, because the government can say at any minute, ‘we want to do something else or something different.’

“I just hoped for it to be done with more respect. I know for me, I don’t mind going home because my family is waiting for me.

“I want the public to respect our sacrifice. That time isn’t money owed or time held on to, that’s time away from our family, missed weddings, funerals, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and vacation trips.”

He continued: “So it hurts when I hear my vacation time being discussed the way it is because it is truly a sacrifice. I have the comparative advantage over some of my colleagues because I am so well known in the public’s eyes. They know Stephen Dean, so when they see the time and

my departure, they know it’s more to do with a man serving his country than anything else.

“But let’s be clear, a senior police (officer) can’t take time off during a crime wave.

“Yes, there were days I wanted to call in sick or go on vacation, but how can I when the country needs me to do my job?”

The moves, since being announced, have become a talking point with members of both sides of the political divide giving their position on what it could mean for the respective agencies.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames has pointed to the significant financial strain excessive accrued vacations poses for the government as key reason for the moves.

In late March, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was also asked to address the controversy, and he echoed Mr Dames’ sentiments.

“What’s wrong with asking individuals to go on vacation? When we came in we initiated a policy, government initiated a policy,” Dr Minnis said on March 23. “We asked individuals who have long vacation leave to go on vacation because this government will not pay you for it. That was a problem of the past.

We are watching the Bahamian money.

“I’m not saying this happened with the police.

Now don’t get me wrong.

I worked in the public service. I came up through the public service and it was not unusual that individuals employed in the public sector would have taken their leave but not record it and then at the end coming near their retirement they would have three four years vacation.”

However, the Progressive Liberal Party claimed that a “political purge” was taking

SENIOR Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean. place in the police force, figures, but handed down charging that it was an exclusively by the senior attempt to eliminate PLP command of the force.

He explained: “The supporters from the public basic mandate of the force service.

PLP chairman Fred doesn’t change. We might Mitchell has slammed the put some relish on things and dress it up, that’s the move as “evil and wicked”.

Nonetheless, Senior ACP politics, but it still comes Dean defended the RBPF down to the basics, that’s against claims of politi- the execution.

“Police have to prevent cal meddling, insisting that over his years of service, he crime and protect life and never witnessed any sort of property. That’s the basics and that will never change. political interference.

He said despite the Now people who are in rumblings, the RBPF has charge, when they change, remained a mandate-cen- we see changes in approach tric agency, where directives and faces.

“Now that part is true, are discussed with political

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff but, I want to make it clear, been tied to every party. no politician has ever come Every time the governto me…I’ve never seen a ment changed, someone circumstance where a poli- said to me, ‘boy Dean, your tician has told a police how people reach.’ I say to them, to police,” he said.

I am loved and respected by “I’ve seen recommenda- all because my job comes tion and mentions of, ‘hey first. I am a man that love look at this or do more of standards. I am not cutting this.’ Now, there were times through nothing and do what over my years where things it takes to get the job done. have been done with more “So if a government of a political spin. But you comes in, I read the manihave to understand and festo and I get to work on respect that these persons the things being emphaare voted into office and sised and seeing how best when things go bad, it’s on we can relate that to our them. That’s a lot to live up overall mandate as a force. to,” he added.

Nothing wrong with that,” “Over the years, I’ve he said.

‘BRING IN MENTORSHIP SCHEME FOR CHILDREN AT RISK’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education should consider a law enforcement-based mentorship programme for at risk youth, departing Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean has recommended.

Senior ACP Dean, whose last day in office ahead of an extended pre-retirement vacation was Friday, told The Tribune that at-risk youth were being “pushed to the side” via suspensions and expulsions rather than being mentored by “officers who can make the difference”.

Senior ACP Dean implored education officials to consider developing a curriculum that would see these students remain in the system with core classes of English and math, supplemented by counselling, mentorship and vocational classes.

“I think our teachers are doing a herculean effort to raise our children. And I say raise with emphasis because many of our children go to school without being properly socialised and we see teachers having to step in. The same is the case with discipline. Allow our trained and skilled officers in there to help bring about that discipline instead of putting them out of the school setting to be preyed on by gangs,” he said.

“We need to keep our students in the schools no matter how severe the case is; in schools and away from the street,” he added. “We are quick to point the finger and scream for police in the school when something

negative happens, but the truth is, there are ways to have officers — police and defence force officers — in the school year-round.”

He continued: “I am of the view that there should be a mix of officers and a system where officers are allowed into the classroom, maybe for a session or two to mentor and work with these children.”

He also said the culture of gangs is built on going after young men and women who are disenfranchised by society.

He said social ills have left many young people exposed, without the proper mechanisms to properly defend themselves against the allure of gangs.

“Like I said before, we have kids raising kids now.

A mother who, for whatever reason, has had a child at a young age and in most cases for a man that is absent.

“How does she still go to school, attempt to create a life for herself and still raise that child?

“She can’t do both. So for her and that child, when is that development happening?

“That’s where the gangs come in, they attract that young child because while that young mother is off trying to provide, that gang is there developing that young child in the wrong ways,” he contended.

“So I am calling for more meaningful involvement for our law enforcement agencies. Allow them to be proactive with what it is they have to do.

“If you want senior police and defence force officers in there, bring them in. If you want retired officers in

there, bring them in. But it can’t be just from a security standpoint,” he asserted.

The topic of school policing has drawn new attention following the stabbing death of a 15-year-old student near a primary school last week.

In response to the killing, National Security Minister Marvin Dames has insisted that the government has not scaled back on school policing.

Mr Dames said he and

Education Minister Jeff Lloyd have been in discussion over how to improve the level of school security, noting that a request for proposals has gone out for additional CCTV cameras throughout New Providence which will take into account “some of these schools as well”.

School-based policing was first introduced in 2002 by the first Christie administration and re-implemented in 2012 during the second

Christie term.

When implemented in 2012, it was explained an inspector will have direct responsibility for the assignment of officers within each division.

The school-based police officer would have a reporting relationship with the inspector of his division and the principal of the relevant school.

Last August, Mr Dames touted his version of the initiative ahead of start of the

2018-2019 academic year, calling for officers to be stationed at schools and an increased police presence in and around school zones.

“We hope to enhance the initiatives that were in place,” Mr Dames told reporters outside of Cabinet at the time.

“We’ll do that through increased visibility, more use of resources, greater presence within the school zones from officers on foot patrols to traffic officers.”

PAGE 6, Monday, April 1, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

THE GRAND Lucayan Resort.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

Lucayan - still a long way to go from page one is not the end, it’s not even the beginning of the end.

It’s the end of the beginning, which means we have a long way to go to get it done because we have

a 90-day due diligence period.

“Once the contract is signed then we have two months to completion so in total it’s a maximum of five months from now today or yesterday, so by the beginning of the fall season - the

beginning of September we will be kicking in.

“So what you people need to understand with this deal is we did not allow anybody to finance the acquisition of the hotel in exchange for commitments to develop.”

Public Notice PREFERENCE SHARE REDEMPTION

Commonwealth Bank’s Board of Directors, exercising its powers under the first schedule of the Bank’s Articles of Association, has approved the redemption of classes J, K, L, M and N preference shares effective May 1, 2019.

The Official Register for shares in classes J, K, L, M and N will be closed effective April 25, 2019. No further transactions will be allowed with these shares thereafter. On May 1, 2019, all preference shares of classes J, K, L, M and N will be cancelled.

TERMS OF PREFERENCE SHARES CLASSES

J, K, L, M, N Existing Shares (to be redeemed)

Share Price

$100

Authorized Capital

Class J – 100,000 Class K – 100,000 Class L – 100,000 Class M – 100,000 Class N – 100,000

Yield

Prime + 1.5%

Maturity

Perpetual

Voting Rights

Non-voting

Early Redemption

At the discretion of the Board with 30 days’ notice in writing, provided the shares have been outstanding for at least five years and the approval of the Central Bank of The Bahamas has been obtained

Dividend Payment

Non-cumulative

Security of Preference Shares

Unsecured

The Central Bank of The Bahamas has approved the redemption.

Shareholders of classes J, K, L, M and N will receive further details by mail.

Charlene A. Bosfield Corporate Secretary

www.combankltd.com

“The minister of tourism and I insisted that you are going to cash out on the hotel and the back end where concessions or initiatives are we’ll help you with those, but the point is that it is a streamlined planned development over a two-year period, the first phase with timelines and milestones of development will be linked against concessions and initiatives and, of course, some other things will be going on.

“You also have the Carnival thing (a proposed port for Grand Bahama) and then hopefully we can

get some movement on the airport.”

The government signed the LOI with RCL/ITM on Wednesday for the purchase of the Grand Lucayan and to redevelop of the Freeport Harbour.

The move is seen as the beginning of a turnaround for Grand Bahama’s struggling economy.

An initial investment of $195m, which includes $65m for the purchase of the hotel, has been earmarked for the first phase of the development which will take place over a 24-month period. It is

estimated that some 2,000 jobs would be created in the first phase.

With the redevelopment of the harbour, it is expected that an additional two million cruise passengers will be brought annually to the island.

The announcement of the hotel sale is one that many in Grand Bahama have been waiting for, more than two-and-a-half years since the resort sustained severe hurricane damage, forcing the closure of two-thirds of the property which significantly affected the island’s tourism sector.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

MORE THAN JUST A UNIFORM

SENIOR Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean speaking at the Rotary Club of west Nassau.

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net “NO, it wasn’t just the uniform for me. It was the attitude and professionalism of the first officers I came into contact with. It was my admiration for them and how they treated my family during a very serious time, that’s what drove me to the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” was how outgoing Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean summed up his initial interest in the organisation he would help develop over a 38-year period.

With the announcement of his pre-retirement vacation being announced a few weeks ago, the man has spent a great deal of his time aiding the press, agreed to sit down with The Tribune to discuss his legacy in law enforcement.

Sitting upright and relaxed in the same chair he spent so many stressful days and nights in, Mr Dean said he was happy that his time to ride off in the sunset had come.

The boy from Eight Mile Rock who had his house broken into several times, has achieved his life long dream.

Dean started in his career in the Criminal Investigation Department in Grand Bahama. After eight years, he was transferred to drug enforcement.

After some time there, and a few short stints in Cat Island and New Providence, Dean said he was moved to Mayaguana. Despite his initial dread, he said the move “fundamentally changed” him.

Recalling his time in a small office with no electricity and two other officers, it was here where Dean said he became “a true officer”.

“I had to learn quickly that city policing could not work, I was in a completely different world.

The lack of actual criminal cases, according to Dean, often meant that officers assigned to family island communities had “step up” in different way.

“The culture was different. I remember going to church my first couple of weeks there. I got all dressed up. I though on my best suite, best shoes and went down to the church.

Boy did I hear about that;

STEPHEN Dean at the scene of a murder.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

STEPHEN Dean reading a storybook to students of St Francis & Joseph Primary Catholic School at their pyjama book night.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff the talk came quick because many in the community felt a way about me after that,” he said “In the family islands, a police chief became the physical representation of law and order. They were needed at the schools, churches, office buildings, ceremonies and all of that.

“We weren’t trained to know that back then. We were told when we were sent out, keep things in line and don’t mess up. That was it,” he added.

“But that job prepared me for what was to come.

The foundation of my community work started there.

It wasn’t about walking around all big and strong as if you were above the people, you became more sensitive to the issues and more oriented to helping.”

After an eight year stint in Mayaguana, Dean eventually made his way back to Nassau.

It was this stop, under the tutelage of future Commissioner of Police, the late B K Bonamy, that Dean said the skills he developed in Mayaguana flourished.

The onset of 1980s drug epidemic was beginning to give way to the 1990s gang culture. Dean said the strong-arm practices of the RBPF needed to change.

“Crime had change and the force had to change with it,” he said. “We needed officers that were more educated, not just a man in a uniform. The criminals were different. We moved away from being a reactive organisation to, with more technology, research and education, to a proactive agency.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff “We viewed it, on the heels of the drug years, in order to get a grapple on crime we had to get a grapple on our communities; especially our children.

Hence you saw more initiatives and programmes come on stream where police would take up more of service role.”

Dean admitted that throughout the 80s, 90s and early 2000s; the drug years and gang years, it was those educated, service oriented officers that made the difference.

“I get emotional when I talk about those years because it was around that time when we saw the home structure the Bahamas always had, start to fade and fall apart. The drug dealers and gang leaders had truly surpassed the church leader and police and doctors as the common place role model,” he said.

“Those years really did a number on the Bahamas and for many police officers, we had the worst seat,” he added.

Dean recalled circumstances where he would visit homes so ravaged by drugs and gangs, he would encounter teenagers left to raise their younger siblings.

He said this factor often bleed into other, more major issues that contributed to crime.

“Many times, I know for me it hurt because one day it was a 12-year-old lingering around with no one home, to a few years later he’s now a 16, 17-year-old with a gun or knife and pocket full of drugs.

“That bothered me because most of the time it wasn’t a bad choice that made him a criminal, it was the lack of opportunities.

I, like many other officers around that time, wanted to carry more to those areas than just men, cars and handcuffs.

“We wanted to take books, pencils; computers and classes and programmes and food and uniforms and in some cases, for some officers, money.”

Of the dilemma, he added: “It worked in some places, but were it didn’t, the results were often fatal.”

Reactions to this, according to Dean, laid the ground work for what became Urban Renewal.

He said police, through government mandates, attempted to rebuild the

social fibres of inner city communities.

The initiative was first launched as a pilot project in the constituency of former Prime Minister Perry Christie, in June 2002.

The community was targeted because it featured high rates of crime and other social ills.

Within just six short weeks of its inception, police officers assigned to the Farm Road Project visited every household and business establishment in the community. They collected data and intelligence on environmental concerns, health issues, housing problems and criminal activities.

Reminded of that launch, Dead told The Tribune: “The intention was so good there. We realised that our communities were hurting because homes were falling apart all around us.”

He continued: “You can say what you want about that initiative, but before you speak ill of it, go and speak to the children and families saved by that programme.”

“We needed a way to alleviate the social ills. In my opinion, this was the only way to do that. The practice I had in Mayaguana, knocking on doors, sitting in living rooms, talking with residents; that was the community policing I used when I got back in Nassau.

I didn’t save everyone, but I tried. We did what we could with the resources we had, again just like how we did it in Mayaguana.

“You’re talking about joblessness, poor living conditions; a number of other things. We worked through these setback and attempted to work with and develop the next generation; just like I did from my small office, with no electricity back in Mayaguana.”

Dean said when he looks back at his career, it would be these two periods that he remembers most.

He said the impact his time in Mayaguana and years in community police has had on his life, has shaped him as a man.

“You need to have a heart when you come into this service. That’s the message I give to every recruit I talk to. You have to love people and have your love for people drive you in the way you do things,” he added. “That’s what policing has always been to me; that’s it.”

PAGE 8 MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

When we have children killing children we are all at fault

By MALCOLM STRACHAN EVERYONE becomes the expert in times of tragedy. There is no shortage of judgment and criticism when empathy would do just fine. When a child’s life is taken - as in the case of the young boy stabbed last week - we fear that in our violent society this could have happened to any one of our children. Emotions run high and people seek to point out who is at fault.

However, that is one of the most harmful things we can do in times like these.

We blame the politicians, the police, the schools and more commonly, the parents. Sadly, all of this took place, only to serve as another reminder that despite the decrease in murders, our society has devolved to a heartbreakingly low place. We are barely two years removed from the brutual murder of Adonai Wilson – another student whose life was taken too soon at the hands of two other teenagers.

But let’s not make a mistake and think just because the youth violence

that occurs in this country normal – until one teenevery day doesn’t make the ager murders another and it news there isn’t a real crisis makes the front page. Now, taking place. it has everyone’s attention, Chiland there is dren who no shortage ‘Children who attend our of blame to go attend our government around. schools face government “It’s extreme conthe PLP’s schools face ditions on a fault.”

“It’s daily basis. extreme conditions the FNM’s These kids on a daily basis. fault.”

“It’s come from the school’s some of the These kids come fault.” “Nope, toughest neigh- from some of it’s the parbourhoods in the toughest ents’ fault.” the inner-city We’ve – ones plagued neighbourhoods heard it all in by violence, in the inner-city the wake of drugs, poverty – ones plagued every senseand infested less murder. with the glo- by violence, But now, rification of drugs, poverty we must ask gang culture. and infested with ourselves: To delude “What will it the glorification ourselves take to realinto thinking of gang culture.’ ise that all of they exist in the blaming “safe enviisn’t getting ronments” when they’re at us anywhere and perhaps school is foolery. the violence that exists in No place is safe. our country among youth is Bullying, robberies and only a microcosm of much gang fights take place at larger societal issues we’re a rate that has become failing to address?” so commonplace in these Certainly, parents, schools that now we just government, the police simply treat it as if it’s and teachers all play a

significant role in protecting the lives of our youth. However, no one wants to accept that it’s a shared responsibility for fear of being seen as incapable of doing their job.

When pride and ego get in the way, we are able to see just how fragmented we are on such issues.

The reality is when we have children killing children, the entire community is at fault. We’ve all failed our children when that happens. But shaming one another isn’t the answer. As a collective, we have to figure out how to become better as a society and foster environments that are conducive to young people growing up to become responsible, empathetic adults - ones that know how to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.

For such a small society, many of us have become so disconnected from one another – living in our bubbles, insulated from imminent danger. Worse, the alternative realities we consume through social media have further desensitised us.

We hear about arguments, fights, killings and other acts of violence much quicker through social media than local news media. Imagine someone’s life leaving their body right before your very eyes, and your first instinct being to record it and share it via Facebook and WhatsApp – all for instant gratification of being the first.

That is where we are in today’s society - no care or concern for life or the families of these victims. A complete lack of empathy.

How tragic.

Hearing the excruciating cries from the mother who lost her son this past week should have struck a nerve within us all – not lead us to judging her as a parent.

Likewise, we ask questions of the suspect in this case and what led to this moment.

STUDENTS at TA Thompson school mourning during their special assembly following the stabbing of fellow student Perry Rolle.

In short, we can surmise that it is the breakdown of the family that has been most tragic for our society. With “sweethearting” being a culturally accepted norm, kids are likely to continue showing more aggression among one another in the absence of a secure and loving home.

Family is the nucleus of a society and oftentimes is a good indicator of the type of adult a child will grow up to become. In most instances, children from healthy and loving families go on to be productive members of society.

Similarly, where there is brokenness, abuse and dysfunction, children face a steep uphill battle. Even when children come from loving families, the tense climate saturated with misconceptions of manhood that our young men have to navigate can be treacherous.

Without a doubt, greater importance must be placed on family values by the government. Some policies that have been observed in other jurisdictions to have an impact on strengthening families have been in affordable healthcare, increasing the minimum wage, and enacting legislation to assist in family planning. Additionally, a stronger economy and a burgeoning middle class also play a significant role.

Granted, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach and our cultural norms will dictate how we can employ some, if any, of what has been seen to be working in other countries. Nonetheless, we can all agree that something has to give.

Surely, the challenge for us as a community is daunting. With the rate that babies are being born out of wedlock and into disadvantageous conditions, the ripple effects will be felt by generations to come.

Most societies don’t seem to have an answer for this problem. However, one thing is for certain pointing the finger at one another, rather than coming together with our sleeves rolled up will only produce more of the same.

We must focus on becoming a more supportive community. Setting good examples in our homes and being attentive parents – not just providers – must take priority as we try to rebuild our society.

PHOTO: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff Although these are children, they still make choices for themselves – sometimes poor ones. It is our duty to figure out the root causes of such poor choices and start there.

These kids are hurting.

They are angry. There must be reasons why. Yet rather than the focus being on fixing systemic issues, we only want someone to be punished.

Thus, it has been regrettable that in a time where the moment calls for compassion, there have been a multitude of people calling for parents to be held accountable for their children’s crimes. Member of Parliament for Fort Charlotte Mark Humes was one of the more notable voices suggesting that parents should be held responsible. While we can see why many would feel this way, we must consider that this alone is not the answer.

Rather, it may cause more harm to this vulnerable segment of society.

A major determinant of violence among youth is attributed to being raised in broken homes.

An American study on the root causes of crime revealed some interesting parallels between broken homes and youth violence.

Research showed that in the past 30 years, violent crime rose in tandem with families abandoned by fathers. Additionally, crime hot spots were also characterised by a higher concentration of homes without a father present.

The research from this study also found that the rate of violent teenage crime corresponded with the lack of a father being present in the home.

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THE TRIBUNE

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019 PAGE 9

GAIN AN EDGE scription Kristal’s for battle to versified hter tackle Bahamas’ on isfuture key lplastic equitypollution GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

KRISTAL Ambrose is

have both a changemaker.

She has participated in research traditional conferences around the available in been recogworld and has programmes nized for her fight in ending believed in her potential plastic Kristal’s vice to pollution. enough invest her. It advocacyto and theinwork of en and was the boost non-profit she neededshe to a Bahamian believe in have herselfalso and been purays Remiska founded sue her own dreams. featured in international e, English Stephanie is showcasing convinced publications at BTVI that college unlocked a the work ofhas environmental

A Lyford Cay Foundations scholar aims to serve through medical technology

Stephanie’s ultimate goal is to return to The Bahamas and partner with an estabopportunities available have been involved in our lished laboratory company through thebusiness Foundations educational programming.� KRISTAL AMBROSE, of the Bahama Plastic Movement at the Ka to expand its to inwere more a driving As The following is an Sierra Club. clude diverseforce. medical a scholar, Iservices. was aware technology Herof excerpt from a recent inter- government to commit to salt glands to protect their their support of a variety view with Kristal from banning all single-use plas- eyes from the sand, so it whole new world for her and hope is that her training innovators.

TVET is a firstofoption for not work out.a path looks as if they’re crying. So community, education YES! Magazine, a publica- tics countrywide. setSince her on towards will help the country closer 1982, Lyford Cay some is an important step y, success. as a society, while I’m holding down her and conservation-based inition dedicated to telling the She has used every provide a wider array of She was in Seattle Foundations has supported towards progression. The temoment collar jobs of her Associate’s medical services tiatives.laboratory The visibility and stories of people building a recently to address the fins, she’s crying and I’m Bahamians pursuing higher that is talented with . programme Our educa- child explore decall locally withoutprovided having to the platform by better world. regional office of the US crying. I’m saying to myself, education.the toOver their hands is just as intelseparates aspects of the little-known send the more complex labthe Foundations to expand “At age 22, on an expeEnvironmental Protection “I’ll never drop a piece of ades Bahamians have ligent as the child who as“great potenfield of medical technology. oratories abroad for testing. upon our work has been dition in the middle of Agency about her group’s plastic on the ground again. demonstrated their to talent pires pursue medicine. hose students “It’s an exciting field that She also hopes and to spread the “Then in 2012 I met monumental greatly the Pacific Ocean, Kristal work. She sat down with and ideas combined with Social equity begins with est. allows you to make sure word at home about the imDr Marcus Eriksen, who appreciated.�

Ambrose witnessed a Fran Korten to talk about post-secondary education, for the carpenter and ountries suchareus, that doctors givingcreate their portance ofwent this critical field. cofounded the 5 Gyres Kristal on to comhorror she couldn’t unsee: a how she took on plastic polequip them to lead, the doctor both end up conwhose educapatients the right diagno“College has allowed me the Institute, which studies plete a master’s degree vast patch of garbage, made lution in the islands. and innovate totributing the benefit to the society as a rivals most, testing,� sis through she chance to really look toward at Dalhousie University. up mostly of plastics.

Yes: You have mounted the huge circulating ocean of Bahamas.

To Thus, earn whole. failure to have 5 said. perThe cent of Stephanie knows that the future with and seek opher out passion She was onboard the ship a successful campaign currents that trap marine her BA in Environmental both TVET andArmed traditional se a technical although there are many portunities where I she couldn’t and her studies, feels of the 5 Gyres Institute, a to reduce plastics in The debris. He was mounting an academics in all Science at Gannon Univer-available sed to the trawell-trained physicians in see them before,�

Steph-to Los Angles-based nonprofit Bahamas. What inspired expedition that would sail confident in her said capacity programmes is truly sity, Kristal one emics*.

What is school The Bahamas, thereamong is a anie. “Thisher opportunity was from the Marshall Islands continue fight to better that studies gyres, ocean you to do that? a disservice to our children ogreat can need take aBahamians some 3,000for who equally well- the just the first rung on a very all the way to Japan to our world. currents that trap marine Kristal: In 2008, when I and ultimately our country. d trained put itreceived back have scholarship healthcare technol- tallShe ladder.

I plan to continue said: “Every day I am debris. What she saw was 18, I was working at an study the Western garbage At thisCay pivotal moment, Gabrielle, who funding from Lyford ogy professionals. to climb and I’m going towards to conmaking progress inspired her to take on the aquarium in The Bahamas. patch. I wanted to go. there is no simple answer s Foundations. like artwork After graduation, Steph- tinue my education by any “So I raised money to get my and ever-expanding vision. problem of plastic pollution We had a sea turtle that had to solve2013, our social ecohad the opIn November anie plans to pursue a means possible.� to the Marshall Islands and With the Foundations’ supback in her home country some internal blockage.

For nomic ills.

Nevertheless, rly on to be Kristal launched the Bachelor’s degree in bio• “Gain Edgeâ€? isand a port bothinAn personally of the Bahamas. two and a half days we had back home from Japan. I one of our answers lies cess for who non-profit organisation logical sciences or clinical weekly collaboration of professionally, I am conNow 29, Ambrose is an to go inside the rectum of lived on the boat for 20 days placingMovediversified educapposed to She thePlastic Bahamas biology. will also do the Lyford Cay Foundastantly growing in my field environmental educator the sea turtle. We pulled with all these strangers who tion at the forefront.

All that society ment.

The organization was further study to become a tions, Bahamas Technical and driving historic change and founder of the Bahamas out one piece of plastic were trying to understand countries, especially deo certified them?

For a Lyfordspecialist Cay Foundations’ in hema- and Vocational in The BahamasInstitute thanks Plastic Movement, a youth- after another. My role was the problem of plastic. We veloping countries, need these, techgrant recipient for its youth tology and microbiology. and University of The Bato the assistance of young led initiative that last year to hold down her front flip- were out there where there balanced development nal education summer camp in Eleuthera.

This combination of train- hamas aimed at promotthrough all of Bahamian the educa- students that convinced the Bahamian pers. Now, sea turtles have were no landmasses, just us, (TVET) is “The philanthropic ing will allow her the versa- ing a national dialogue on tional sectors in order to tility to pursue career fields higher education. To share REMISKA WILDGOOSE make significant progress rethatare still range from pathology your thoughts, email gain- STEPHANIE STUBBS, Keiser University Graduate and Lyford Cay in terms of national devel- and look to 2027, when our well-diversified educational duce instantaneous results, edtotopublic be made and allied health. anedge@tribunemedia.net. scholar.

(Bennell,1996). educational system pro- system is one small but sig- it is an alternative that will ional system, opment he fact that We must see beyond 2017 duces more than enough nificant step towards long- make a tremendous differqualified, visionary citizens term economic prosperity ence. who could build a world in our nation.

For many students at the While further investment Bahamas Technical and class resort that would rival most. Implementing TVET into developing our educa- Vocational Institute, TVET Parents, get involved in child toddler stage not may pro- develop programmes and having a tional system may is theirfeelings only choice because your children’s lives before of jealousy and resentment • Have it is what they love. As lead- structure in your it is to late life ers, teachers, andchild’s parents, IF we want to stop Let us raiseitgood produc• Know is incumbent that we con- their whereaviolence, we need to undertive children at as all times tinue to embrace bouts TVET stand what causes it in the • Do not turn a blind eye • Do not an alternative at all levels so leave your chilfirst place. Young men and when your child is doing can dren uncared for to be at all individuals become women who carry out acts wrong risked.

Get involved with valuable contributing memof serious violence are often By SERGEANT 3150 • Do not start disciplining every aspect of their lives. bers of society. experiencing deep-rooted NATHALIE RANGER your children at the adoStories like that •ofGive Ro- your children a problems. The majority of money from you, they want At this whose stage, name strong has foundation of disciLikewise, if you criti- lescent stage. chelle, youths in custody are them- to speak to you, share their cise your kids efforts or their mind-set is changed already forpline been the and pru-godliness. selves victims of abuse. experiences and sometimes look down upon him/her develop and ispose openof to peer • Boost this article, are their self-esteem Some experience suffering need to hear your comfort- by comparing with others pressure. • Set limits and be conmuch too common.

Like and violence at home. The ing words. • Start disciplining the sistent with your discipline achievements, then your so manyat others, medical struggle many of these chilCommunication is school did not work out. In dren have experienced so the only thing that will the end, she still pursued early in their short lives is strengthen your bond, not what she loved - beauty a key factor in their violent expensive gifts. trades. criminal behaviour.

The deal should be to be Children start developing the parent, your children Sources their sense of self as babies, want to hug and spend time *Mark Phillips (2012). when they see themselves with, not the ones who are Why should we care about Vocational Education? through their parent’s eyes. like ATM machines. **Bennell, P (1996).

Your tone of voice, your body Kids may inadvertently General versus vocational language and your every perform odd behaviour to secondary education in deexpression are absorbed by attract parent’s attention. veloping country: A review your children. Your words At the end of the day, the of rates of return evidence. and action as a parent affect most overwhelming key to The Journal of Developtheir self-esteem more than a child’s success is the posiment Studies. anything else. tive involvement of parents “Gain An Edge� is a weekly collaboration of How involved are you in Put your children on a the Lyford Cay Foundayour children’s lives? schedule! tions, Bahamas Technical How well do you think Kids are more likely to and Vocational Institute you know them? Do you pick up negative activities and University of The Baattend regular parent or fall into the wrong crowd hamas aimed at promotteacher association (PTA) when they are not on a ing a national dialogue on meetings? Or better yet schedule. higher education. To share do you know the names of After school programmes education and training is important to your thoughts, email gainyour children’s teachers? such as subjectTECHNICAL lessons is vocational a anedge@tribunemedia.net. students, How about their friends great option tohelp ensure your says Remiska Wildgoose. and their friends’ parents? child has an advantage in Do you know what your class. kids are doing after school?

Other options such as We have been hooked sporting teams, music and onto our phones, or social band participation are also media or somewhere else great options. while we should have been I know as parents you paying attention to our get so busy trying to prochildren. vide the best for your little Parenting is a skill which darlings that you just do must be practised diligently not view these things as – it is one of the most chal- important, but an involved lenging jobs in the world to parent is a more informed raise a problem-free child parent and it lessens your who is a proper balance of children’s chances to sucmorals, values and disci- cumbing to peer pressure, pline. Each child is different experimenting with drugs, and so is the parent. The becoming teen mothers and idea of rearing a child differs getting involved with gang from parent to parent. activities.

Children who are propAre you giving your chil- erly cared for become more dren any of your time? competent and independGuilty of being glued to ent adults. your phone’s screen when your child is demanding Speak life into your you play with him/ her? children!

Got an official call and Labelling children as lazy cannot listen to your child or dumb and using these telling you about his/her words in public can sigday? Stop! Your children nificantly hurt a child and do not just need food or lower his/her self-esteem.

Iwi shoreline in Hawaii for the wildlife, and the garbage.

We pulled this huge discarded net onto the boat.

There were all these different types of plastic. As we looked through the waste I realised that everything there were things that I was using at home — plastic bags, Styrofoam, plastic cutlery, straws. I realised I was the biggest offender that I knew.�

You can find full article “Where Kids Fought Plastic Pollution — and Wonâ€? on https://www.yesmagazine.org • “Gain An Edgeâ€? is a weekly collaboration of the Lyford Cay Foundations, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute and University of The Bahamas aimed at promoting a national dialogue on higher education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

CHILDREN ARE WATCHING WHAT WE DO Police advice

• Make communication a priority • Tell your children that you love them and show that your love is unconditional • Teach them that manners, respect for themselves and others will take them through the world. • Be more aware, attentive and alert, get more involved. After all your children are a reflection of you.Â

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PAGE 10 MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

THE INGREDIENTS WHICH KILLED THE DINOSAURS MAY BE THERE FOR OURSELVES

By Simon Beard, Lauren Holt and Paul Upchurch “WHY did the dinosaurs die out?” The consensus, among palaeontologists and dinosaur crazy sevenyear-olds alike, seems to be that about 66m years ago a 10km diameter asteroid crashed into what is now Central America. It raised up a cloud of dust and ash that spread across the upper atmosphere, blocking out the sun, cooling the Earth and destroying the ozone layer that protects life from harmful cosmic radiation.

These effects lasted more than a decade, devastating Earth’s plants and plankton.

The devastation rapidly travelled up food chains, first killing off the large herbivores, who were unable to find enough food, and then the carnivores, who soon found themselves in the same position. A staggering 75 percent of species, including all “non-avian” dinosaurs, died out. This event, known as the endCretaceous mass extinction, is one of the “big five” such extinctions known from the past 500m years of Earth’s history.

But this was not the only dramatic event to coincide with the death of the dinosaurs. At around the same time, in central India, a truly colossal series of volcanoes were spewing out over a million cubic kilometres of lava together with sulphur and carbon dioxide that changed the climate

and caused global acid rain. Meanwhile, a slowing of undersea tectonic activity led to one of the most rapid periods of falling sea levels in the history of the planet, devastating coastal ecosystems.

This has led to some pretty heated debates about what “really” killed the dinosaurs, especially as there have been times when similarly dramatic events occurred without seeming to cause nearly so much harm.

Perhaps this is the wrong question to ask.

PROFOUND, COMPLEX, INTERCONNECTED CHANGE Growing evidence now suggests these events were interconnected and the dinosaurs’ extinction cannot be explained as a simple process during which one “bad thing” fell out of a clear blue sky and everything died. Rather, it involved profound, complex and interconnected changes to the global systems that support life.

For instance, the late cretaceous period saw gradual and subtle restructuring of terrestrial ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to catastrophic collapse.

Such restructuring was potentially brought about by multiple evolutionary and ecological changes related to climate change,

the increasing dominance microorganism, an asteroid of flowering plants, and impact, and a humongous fluctuations in the diversity area of volcanic activity in and abundance of particu- present day Siberia that lar dinosaur groups. erupted for a million years.

Nor is this But the complexity an greatest unusual fea- Humanity lives far changes may ture of mass more precariously have taken extinctions. place in the than we think, Across all Earth’s oceans. five of Earth’s dependent upon a There were devastating great many global large-scale global catas- systems, from emissions of trophes, there methane from is a verita- the environment the ocean ble whodunit that provides us floor,the of possible with food, water, stagnation causes. These of ocean clean air and include currents, asteroids, increased energy to the volcanoes, cli- global economy levels of mate change sulphur diox(both warming that supplies ide causing and cooling), goods and services phytoplankthe evolution ton death, where we want of new species and declinsuch as deep- them and when ing levels of rooted plants we want them, oxygen. that turned With so bare rock into often on a “just much going rich soil for in time” basis. on, it is less the first time, surprising that and even the 90 percent of effects of nearby exploding all species died out than stars. that 10 percent survived.

Yet, the biggest of all mass extinction events, the “Great Dying” at the end of the Permian period What does this imply 250m years ago – which killed 90 percent of all about our current age, species on Earth – looks which many now see as even more complex. No constituting a “sixth” mass fewer than seven poten- extinction? At the Centre tially catastrophic events for the Study of Existenare associated with this tial Risk at Cambridge period in geological his- University, we often come tory. These include the up against the problem of “unprecedented” evolution of new strains of today’s

PRECARIOUS TIMES

global threats. Some of these, like the threats from nuclear weapons or Artificial Intelligence, may seem akin to asteroids falling out of the sky, and we are often asked which most worry us.

One thing we can take away from the study of previous mass extinctions is that this question may be misplaced.

Humanity lives far more precariously than we think, dependent upon a great many global systems, from the environment that provides us with food, water, clean air and energy to the global economy that supplies goods and services where we want them and when we want them, often on a “just in time” basis.

From looking at the historical and the geological record it becomes clear such systems can easily pass through phase changes in which a previously stable system quickly, and sometimes irrevocably, changes into a chaotic one. Scientists have already identified how this might occur in relation to phenomena such as climatic tipping points (where climate change becomes self-sustaining, rather than being simply “man-made”), ecosystem collapse (where the loss of a few key species can cause whole ecosystems to disappear), and hyperinflation (where previously stable economic institutions cease functioning and money loses its value).

Another thing we learn from these past events is there is no law of nature

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that prevents such phase changes becoming global in scope or catastrophic in nature. If pushed far enough, global systems can evidently collapse into a death-spiral, whereby the damage to one species, ecosystem or environmental process causes problems for others, creating positive feedback that accelerates change and makes it self-sustaining.

Indeed, while the popular “Gaia hypothesis” suggests global systems act to promote the overall stability of our planet, there is no conclusive evidence that the biosphere adjusts to changes to support the continuation of complex life.

Indeed, it was recently suggested that one reason life may be rare on other planets is that its emergence often pushes planetary systems away from the conditions necessary for its continued existence.

It is not impossible that this could still happen on Earth.

Nor may the systems we ourselves have designed be any less fragile in this respect. Indeed, many of our institutions have shown themselves to be almost entirely unconcerned with human well-being; so long as they can serve the interests of short-term profit maximisation, voter turnout and other, ultimately useless, goals.

Yet, it might not be all bad news for humanity.

Some theorists suggest the catastrophic effects of a mass extinction tend to sweep away the highly adapted specialists of the era, and allow more flexible generalists to survive and eventually flourish into new forms. So perhaps we can take comfort from the fact that humans have showed themselves to be the ultimate generalists, adapting to survive, though not always thrive, in every habitat on Earth, and even in outer space.

But we should also reflect on the fact that most of this flexibility flows not from our biology but from the technologies we have created. Not only are these the very technologies that are leading us to push global systems as far as we have, but they are rapidly passing out of the realms of human comprehension in their complexity and sophistication. Indeed, it now requires immense individual knowledge to use and maintain them, making each of us, individually, just the sort of adapted specialists most vulnerable in a mass extinction event – something that may not be quite such good news after all.

• Written by Simon Beard, senior research associate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge; Lauren Holt, research associate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge; and Paul Upchurch, Professor of Palaeobiology, UCL. First published on theconversstion.com

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 1, 2019, PAGE 11

‘Turning blind eye to gang wars will only make them worse’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

NOTED psychiatrist Dr David Allen says the stabbing of a teen boy last week highlights longstanding gang wars in inner city communities, adding that as long as the nation turns a blind eye to the issue it will only get worse.

According to Dr Allen, who works with troubled youth, many young boys claim they are unable to walk on certain streets or ride a bus of choice due to gang involvement or for fear of being victims of gang violence.

In the aftermath of 15-year-old Perry Rolle Jr’s tragic death, Dr Allen said it may be time to implement a system that will ensure children are safe as they walk to and from school.

The plan involves paying former gang leaders to escort children in poor communities where gang violence is prevalent.

This he said will ensure children’s safety and put money in the pockets of exgang members who have fallen on hard times after turning from a life of crime.

“If kids can’t walk home in safety we have a huge problem,” Dr Allen told The Tribune in a recent interview. “This goes to the heart of the nation.

“We are denying that kids are in gangs but the fact of the matter is the gangs do things for them, control them, set them up with money and other things.

‘We are denying that kids are in gangs but the fact of the matter is the gangs do things for them, control them, set them up with money and other things. We have to stop denying it.

There has always been a warring faction between CC Sweeting and TA Thompson (schools) because the gangs are here and they are among our young people.’

PSYCHIATRIST Dr David Allen.

“We have to stop denying it. There has always been a warring faction between CC Sweeting and TA Thompson (schools) because the gangs are here and they are among our young people.

Even the parents don’t realise how deep this is.

“These kids say they can’t walk in certain areas.

They can’t ride on certain buses. That is wrong. These

kids are carrying weapons and this shouldn’t be on an island 21 by 7.”

He also said: “Going from home to school, children should be able to walk home safely and if they can’t do it we should train people to do it. I will take the ex-gang leaders and pay them to get these kids to and from school.”

Rolle was stabbed

multiple times during an altercation with two high school students last Tuesday afternoon after school outside the premises of TG Glover at around 3pm.

He was walking home in the Pitt Road area when he was accosted by two young men who are students of 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,” Education Minister Jeff Lloyd said in an update to reporters following the incident. “The victim was taken to the

hospital and succumbed to his wounds.”

Rolle’s mother Gladys Louis, 38, has questioned why he was killed.

In an emotional interview with The Tribune the after her son’s death, she said: “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.”

Police said last week that two boys, one 15 years old and another 16 years old, are in custody.

Authorities have not yet said what charges they will face or when this may happen.

PAGE 12, Monday, April 1, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

LEADERS of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) attended the Johns Hopkins welcome dinner. Pictured from left are the Rev Carl Campbell, of Nassau Methodist Church; Robert Dupuch-Carron, PHA deputy chairman; Wesley Campbell, consultant to Trade Union Congress; PHA deputy managing director Lyrone Burrows; Ronnie Armbrister, president of BEMU; and Duane Woods, president of the WSC Union.

Not photographed but also in attendance were Jewel Munroe, president of Airport Airline Allied Workers Union [AAAWU]; Elenor Campbell; Rosmand Carey; Mr and Mrs Philip Johnson; Oria KnowlesWoods; president of Community Sports Agency Apostle Diane Knowles; Mr. and Mrs Natasha Adderly; Philip Grey; Pharmacist Dr Susana Campbell.

Testing the water on helping our hospitals from page one

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands with US chargé d’affaires Stephanie Bowers and Dr Mohan Chappalla, of Johns Hopkins.

healthcare being delivered in The Bahamas.

“We are essentially looking at increasing the way we can help the capacity building and areas of patient safety and other processes that will improve the overall quality of care here,” he said. “We saw some areas that need a lot of attention

— the ICU, the paediatric units and the emergency room. But there were also areas that we saw that really impressed us — the medical and surgical areas — which are very good.”

Dr Chellappa added that once all of the needs have been documented, more specific consideration can be given to moving talks between the two sides forward.

In addition to their various tours, the Johns Hopkins team also held discussions with other key community stakeholders, including several union bodies. The US charge d’affaires, Stephanie Bowers, is understood to have taken part as a guest during the Johns Hopkins visit which included a welcoming dinner followed by discussions with Health Minister Duane Sands and a number of public hospitals officials.

In a statement yesterday the Public Hospitals Authority said the talks “focused on possible opportunities for collaboration with the PMH and Ministry of Health on initiatives that will result in long-term improvements to health care in The Bahamas.”

“The preliminary discussion included opportunities to improve hospital services, redevelop community based healthcare and the possibility of raising $200m to eventually expand the Princess Margaret Hospital campus to include a state of the art A&E/Childrens and Maternal Health Tower.

“Johns Hopkins was invited by Mr Robert Carron, deputy chairman of the Public Hospitals Board of Directors, who helped to facilitate discussion of partnership with an organisation possessing the wherewithal, experience, talent and resources to elevate the operations, infrastructure and environment of the public hospital

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands speaking to visitors from Johns Hopkins. institutions of the PHA. “Discussions also included an opportunity for initiatives to enhance public clinics across the country into branded primary care/urgent care facilities promoting greater access to quality care for communities throughout The Bahamas.

“A key benefit of partnership will be the opportunity for public health and clinical training for staff through world renowned institutions such as the Hopkins/Bloomburg School of Public Health and the United States Institutes of Health.

“These initiatives would enhance The Bahamas’ capacities to prevent, manage and treat communicable and noncommunicable public health issues improving the health of Bahamians.”

In February, it was first announced Johns Hopkins Medicine had an interest in exploring the merits of a strategic health services agreement with the Bahamian government to create a Caribbean Centre of Excellence to transform the delivery of healthcare in here.

Calling the potential partnership “exciting” Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said consideration of the proposal was in the earliest stages.

Dr Sands, at the time, said a “rough analogy” of the possible partnership would be the Lynden Pindling International Airport, which is owned by the government, but operated by the Vantage Airport Group.

He said there is no timeline for the government to make a decision on the proposal, adding: “It requires review and digestion and discussion and consideration.”

PHA is preparing to begin renovations of the Accident & Emergency Department of the hospital. During the first phase, the front area of the A&E section will be redone, including the drive up onto Elizabeth Avenue. The department itself will be expanded by 50 percent, Dr Sands said.

The government has undertaken the redevelopment of PMH, which would be a $160m to $180m project to be done through a public private partnership, according to Dr Sands.

DISCUSSIONS taking place with representatives from Johns Hopkins.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 1, 2019, PAGE 13

MICHAEL NEYMOUR, 63, left, and Bernard Clarke, 43.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn

Two face court accused of stealing electricity

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net TWO men accused of more than $650,000 worth of electricity theft and causing damage to Grand Bahama Power Company property were arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Michael Neymour, 63, and Bernard Clarke, 43, both of Freeport, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court Three on seven counts each of abstracting electricity and causing damage.

In count one, it is alleged that between August 11, 2014, and March, 16, 2019, the accused being concerned together and with others unknown fraudulently used electricity in

the amount of $113,760.81, belonging to GBPC, a licenced company in Grand Bahama.

They were also subsequently charged with causing damage. It is alleged that during the same period, the accused intentionally and unlawfully caused material damage to conductors and electrical wires at Sav Mor Drugs in the amount of $18,674.

Neymour was charged separately with abstracting electricity in December 2016 when it is alleged that he and others unknown fraudulently used GBPC electricity in the amount of $208,003.44, and caused material damage in the amount of $8,123 to the company’s property (conductors and electrical wires) located at the Island Seas Resort.

MAN FOUND SHOT AT BUSINESS A MAN is in hospital after he was shot in Grand Bahama on Saturday, police said.

Police were called to a business at East Mall Drive shortly before 11pm where they met a man lying inside with multiple gunshot wounds.

He was taken to Rand Memorial Hospital by ambulance and at last

report was listed in critical condition.

In other crime news, police in Bimini found two packages of suspected marijuana while in the area of Whispering Pines.

The discovery was made before 10pm on Friday. The drugs have a street value of $8,000.

No arrest was made in the matter.

It is alleged that between January 31, 2018 and March 16, 2019 both men, being concerned together and with others unknown, fraudulently used electricity amounting to $43,666.46, and caused $4,700 worth of material damage to GBPC property at KFC. Neymour and Clarke allegedly abstracted electricity between January 31, 2018 and March 2019 by fraudulent using electricity in the amount of $65,610.95, and causing material damage of $5,214.14 to the company property at Pollo Tropical.

It is also alleged that the pair, between January 31, 2018, and March 16, 2019, being concerned together and with others unknown, fraudulently used electricity in the amount of $21,360.76, and caused material damage to GBPC property located at Burger King on Yellow Pine Street.

It is alleged that between October 12, 2018 and March 15, 2019, the men, being concerned together and with others unknown, fraudulently used electricity amounting to $21,760.76, and caused material damage in the amount of $4,714.13 at Burger King, Ranfurly Circus.

It is also alleged that between January 31, 2018 and March 16, 2019 the

men fraudulently used $70,543.68 worth of electricity, and caused $5,750 in material damage to property at Burger King on East Mall Drive.

And, it is alleged that between January 18 and March 16, 2019, the accused fraudulently used electricity amounting to $70,665.30, and caused material damage in the amount of $6,214.13 at Burger King in downtown Freeport.

Neymour and Clarke elected summary trial and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutor Sergeant Calsey Arthur objected to bail based on the total cash figures involved in the matter. He noted that other persons are still being sought in the matter and argued that the accused might try to interfere with witnesses or obstruct the course of justice.

“We also object to bail due to the nature and seriousness of the offence and the strength of the evidence,” he told the court.

As it relates to the offence of causing damage, Prosecutor Arthur explained that the Magistrate’s Court lacks jurisdiction to grant bail.

Brian Hanna, who represented Neymour, told the court while his client was charged with abstracting electricity at

certain properties, they are all owned by other persons.

He stated that his client did not use any of the properties or benefit anything from the property.

Mr Hanna also noted that the charge referred to the men using electricity. “Are they the right persons to say that they would have used electricity - did they use it?

Did they live there? What is there to suggest that they abstract electricity? Otherwise my understanding is that they may have allegedly installed items there, and that is it; there is nothing to suggest that they abstracted any electricity.

They have no possession of the property they are not in charge of the property.”

Wendell Smith, who represented Clarke, told the court that on the issue of abstracting electricity the consequences if found guilty would be a maximum penalty of $2,800 fine imposed regardless of the huge sums involved in the case.

“Bearing in mind what the maximum consequence is, I ask the court to consider granting bail to both of the defendants, bail with respect to abstracting electricity,” he said.

However, while the court has no jurisdiction to grant bail with respect to the offence of causing harm,

Mr Smith noted that none of the accused have any antecedents. “Both are industrious individuals in the community, they have families, they have ties in the community and so there is nothing that was mentioned by the prosecutor with respect to the abstracting electricity charge why both of those individuals are not able to get bail in the Magistrate’s Court,” he said.

Mr Smith raised another point regarding the abstraction of electricity charge.

He explained that when looking at the particulars with respect to the trial and the ability of both defendants to have a fair hearing, the law gives a timing on the time when summary offences are to be lodged before the court. He noted that the prosecutor has to look at all counts of abstracting electricity which should have been limited, and would affect that actual amount of the electricity that is alleged to have been fraudulently used.

The judge asked the prosecutor to look into the suggestion made by counsel.

Bail was denied and the matter was adjourned to July 22 and 23, 2019.

Both Neymour and Clarke would have to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

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THE TRIBUNE

JUDGE BACKS OBAMA OIL DRILLING BAN

PRESIDENT Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed bans on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean, a US judge said in a ruling that restored the Obama-era restrictions.

US District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in a decision late on Friday threw out Trump’s executive order that overturned the bans that comprised a key part of Obama’s environmental legacy.

Presidents have the power under a federal law to remove certain lands from development but cannot revoke those removals, Gleason said.

“The wording of President Obama’s 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress,” said Gleason, who was nominated to the bench by Obama.

A Department of Justice spokesman, Jeremy Edwards, declined comment on Saturday.

The American Petroleum Institute, a defendant in the case, disagreed with the ruling.

BIDEN ‘WILL LISTEN’ AFTER KISS CLAIM FORMER Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday he doesn’t believe he ever acted inappropriately toward women but will “listen respectfully” to suggestions he did.

Biden, who is deciding whether to join the 2020 presidential race, responded to allegations from a Nevada politician that he kissed her on the back of the head in 2014 and made her uncomfortable.

“In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately,” he said. “If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention.”

The allegation was made in a New York Magazine article written by Lucy Flores, a former Nevada state representative and the 2014 Democratic nominee for Nevada lieutenant governor.

Flores wrote that she and Biden were waiting to take the stage during a rally in Las Vegas before the 2014 election. “I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze.

‘Why is the vice president of the United States touching me?’” Flores wrote. “He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head.”

ACTIVISTS of the World Wide Fund For Nature set up led-lights in front of the illuminated Brandenburg Gate to mark Earth Hour, in Berlin, on Saturday.

Photo: Markus Schreiber/AP

THE LIGHTS GO OUT FOR EARTH HOUR NEW YORK Associated Press

CITIES around the world marked Earth Hour on Saturday by turning off lights at 8.30pm local time in a call for global action on

climate change.

Earth Hour, spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund, calls for greater awareness and more sparing use of resources, especially fossil fuels that produce carbon gases and lead to global warming.

The Empire State Building participated as clocks hit 8.30pm on the US East Coast with a dimming of the skyscrapers’ lights - while others taking part included Hong Kong’s major buildings, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, and more.

US grapples with strain on migration system WASHINGTON Associated Press BORDER officials are aiming to more than quadruple the number of asylum seekers sent back over the southern border each day, a major expansion of a top government effort to address the swelling number of Central Americans arriving in the country, a Trump administration official said on Saturday.

It was the latest attempt to ease a straining immigration system that officials say is at the breaking point. Hundreds of officers who usually screen cargo and vehicles at ports of entry were reassigned to help manage migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen asked for volunteers from nonimmigration agencies within her department, sent a letter to Congress late this past week requesting resources and broader authority to deport families faster, and she met with Central American and Mexican officials.

The efforts are being made while President Donald Trump is doubling down on threats to shutter the US-Mexico border entirely, a move that would have serious economic repercussions for both the US and Mexico but wouldn’t stop migrants from crossing between ports. His administration also announced it was cutting aid to the Central American countries home to most of the migrants.

Right now, about 60 asylum

CENTRAL American migrants wait for food in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, in a pen erected by US Customs and Border Protection. Photo: Cedar Attanasio/AP seekers a day are returned to Mexico at the San Ysidro, Calexico and El Paso ports to wait out their cases, the official said. They are allowed to return to the US for court dates. The plan was announced January 29, partially to deter false claimants from coming across the border. With a backlog of more than 700,000 immigration cases, asylum seekers can wait years for their cases to progress, and officials say some people game the system in order to live in the US. Officials hope to have as many as

300 people returned per day by the end of the week, focusing particularly on those who come in between ports of entry, said the official, who had knowledge of the plans but was unauthorised to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

But the process so far has been slow-going, and such a sizeable increase may be difficult to achieve.

The plan has already been marred by confusion, scheduling glitches and an inability by some attorneys to reach their clients. In San Ysidro

alone, Mexico had been prepared to accept up to 120 asylum seekers per week, but for the first six weeks only 40 people per week were returned.

Plus, US officials must check if asylum seekers have any felony convictions and notify Mexico at least 12 hours before they are returned. Those who cross illegally must have come as single adults, though the administration is in talks with the Mexican government to include families. Children are not returned.

Homeland Security officials have been grappling with an ever-growing number of Central American children and families coming over the border. Arrests soared in February to a 12-year-high and more than half of those stopped arrived as families, many of them asylum seekers who generally turn themselves in instead of trying to elude capture. Guatemala and Honduras have replaced Mexico as the top countries.

Democratic congressional leaders expressed deep concern, saying the administration wanted to revive “horrific” and “immoral” plans, noting its failed hardline border policies have created “senseless heartbreak and horror.”

“Democrats reject any effort to let the administration deport little children, and we reject all anti-immigrant and anti-family attacks from this President,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

MUELLER REPORT TO BE RELEASED ‘BY MID-APRIL’ WASHINGTON Associated Press

A REDACTED version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on the Russia investigation will be sent to Congress by midApril and will not be shared with the White House beforehand, Attorney General William Barr said on Friday.

Barr’s timeline sets up a possible showdown with House Democrats, who insist they see the full report next week.

In his letter, Barr said he shares a desire for Congress and the public to read Mueller’s findings, which are included in the nearly 400-page report the special counsel submitted last week.

Barr said President Donald Trump would have the right to assert executive privilege over parts of the report. But he noted that Trump “has stated publicly that he intends to defer to me and, accordingly, there are no plans to submit the report to the White House for a privilege review”.

Mueller officially concluded his investigation when he submitted the report last Friday. Two days later, Barr sent a fourpage letter to Congress that detailed Mueller’s “principal conclusions.”

Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign coordinated or conspired with Russia, Barr wrote, and did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr said he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decided Mueller’s evidence was insufficient to establish the president committed obstruction.

Barr said he is preparing to redact information from the report and Mueller is helping the Justice Department identify sections that will be blacked out in the public version.

Those include grand jury material, information that would compromise sensitive sources and methods; information that could affect ongoing investigations, including those referred to other Justice Department offices.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 1, 2019, PAGE 15

The Bahamas matches US in gender equality report

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas has been ranked 62 out of 187 nations in a recent World Bank report analysing countries where women are fully equal to men under the law.

The report, published in February, found only six countries received a score of 100. The Bahamas’ score is 83.75 - the same as Kenya, Malawi, and the United States.

Entitled “Women, Business, and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform”, the study analyses how laws impact women by either advancing or impeding their efforts for gender equality.

The Bahamas ranked fourth of regional countries such as St Lucia (which scored 89.38), the Dominican Republic (88.75), and Guyana (86.88).

However, it ranked above countries such as Jamaica (68.13), Barbados (73.75) and Trinidad and Tobago (77.50).

“To develop a better understanding of how women’s employment and entrepreneurship are affected by legal discrimination, (the study) examines ten years of data through an index structured around the economic decisions women make as they go through their working lives,” it notes.

“We know that achieving gender equality requires

more than just changes to laws. The laws need to be meaningfully implemented - and this requires sustained political will, leadership from women and men across societies, and changes to ingrained cultural norms and attitudes.”

The study is divided into eight categories.

The Bahamas scored 100 in five categories: going places; starting a job; getting married; managing assets; and getting a pension.

It scored 75 in two: getting paid and running a business; and scored 20 in one: having children.

The going places category “measures constraints on freedom of movement, including whether women can independently decide where to go, travel and live.”

The second, starting a job, “analyses laws affecting women’s decisions to enter the labour market.”

The getting paid section measures laws concerning the gender wage gap and occupational segregation, while the category of getting married focuses on legal constraints regarding marriage — for example, the introduction of domestic violence laws.

The section on having children focuses on laws “affecting women’s work after pregnancy”, such as those relating to paid maternity leave.

The category of running a business “analyses

LIVING THE DREAM ON a small road with big dreams, members of the Lewis Street community gathered on Saturday to unveil their Dream Wall of Respect, pictured, a vibrant collection of murals with powerful messages of love and hope and tributes to heroes.

Undaunted by a steady drizzle of rain, friends and well wishes from a wide cross section of Nassau joined the community off East Street in a musical rush through the tiny neigbourhood coloured with history.

The event saw the naming of “the Martin Luther King house” - the home Dr. King stayed in when he first visited Nassau in 1958 to meet with Sir Randol Fawkes, father of the Bahamas trade union movement.

King penned his famous

“I Had a Dream” speech while visiting Bimini a decade later.

The Lewis Street project is the result of a partnership between Lend a Hand Bahamas and Transforming Spaces, the registered non-profits.

Last October, the organisation opened their newly refurbished Neville and Dora Dorsett Community Centre in the heart of the area.

It’s here the group runs a core hands on curriculum centred on 4H programming with a focus on vocational, writing and life skills.

The historically significant events of Lewis Street inspired Transforming Spaces 15th anniversary theme - SUSTAIN. I Have a Dream. I Am the Dream.

We Are the Dream.

constraints to women starting and running businesses”.

For example, gender discrimination in access to credit, whether women are allowed to register businesses, sign contracts, and open bank accounts in the same way as men.

The category of managing

assets measures gender differences in inheritance and property law while getting a pension examines laws “affecting the size of a woman’s pension”.

The study also notes how reforms can be made to reduce gender discrimination.

“There are certain

triggers for reforms benefitting gender equality,” it says. “Advocacy by women’s groups coupled with public interest litigation is one such trigger as is support from bilateral and international organisations.

“These catalysts are very similar to reforms in other

areas such as the business environment, where reforms are often driven by internal constituencies or encouraged by international organisations.”

In 2016, voters rejected a constitutional referendum which sought to give men and women equal rights under the law.

PAGE 16, Monday, April 1, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Four face court over marijuana charges

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FOUR men were charged with possession of dangerous drugs in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Corey Nixon, 23, and John Davis, 22, appeared before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson charged with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

It is alleged that on March 26, the accused were found cultivating Indian hemp, namely six marijuana plants and 33 silver foil wraps weighing six pounds, valued at $6,000.

The men pleaded not guilty to the drug charge.

In a separate matter, Davis was charged with two counts of stealing and one count of attempted stealing from a vehicle.

It is alleged that on March 26, the accused stole a grey Honda Pilot parked at Coral Reef Loop and stole $40, the property of Estepheny Zephy. It is also alleged that between February 17 and 18, Davis stole a black 2016 Ford Focus at Coral Reef Estates and a pair of brown Oakley shades valued $250, the property of Ricardo Rolle.

It also alleged that between February 17 and 18, at Freeport, the accused intended to steal from a 2006 Honda GR at Coral Reef Loop, the property of Natasha Dean.

Davis pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutor Sergeant Calsey Arthur told the court that Davis is a prolific offender with antecedents and objected to bail. He told the court that the accused is likely to fail to surrender to authorities and commit an offence while on bail.

Brian Hanna, who

represented Nixon, asked the magistrate to give his client bail, whom he said was employed in landscaping.

Deputy Chief Magistrate granted Davis and Nixon bail in the amount of $2,000 each and adjourned the matters to June 17.

Meanwhile two men — Joel Prenelus, 21, and Aaron Storr, 19 — pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs.

According to the particulars, on March 27 at Freeport, sometime around 11.30am, police stopped a vehicle occupied by Prenelus who was found in possession of a clear plastic bag, containing one gram of cocaine valued at $5, and Storr, who was found in possession of one gram of Indian hemp, also valued at $5.

Magistrate Ferguson asked the accused if the drugs were for their private use, and both said yes.

Prenelus, who is employed as a cook helper, told the judge that he wanted to try something new.

Storr, employed in food and beverage, said that he smoked Indian hemp for relaxation. “It keeps me at ease and focused, so I could stay out of trouble,” he told the judge.

Magistrate Ferguson advised the young men that doing drugs would not benefit them.

“It is not a good habit to develop; I can’t tell you how to live your lives, but if you continue to do drugs you will be back here in court,” she said.

She convicted both Prenelus and Storr of possession of dangerous drugs and imposed a fine of $700 each or four months in prison.

She also ordered the exhibits to be destroyed.

THREE ACCUSED OF OVERSTAYING

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THREE foreign nationals, two Colombians and one Haitian, were arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Friday for overstaying and illegal landing.

Diana Mireya Quintero Briceno, 43, and Gary Alexander Paez Manotas, 35, of Colombia along with Jackson Jean, 34, of Port de Paix, Haiti, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson in Court Three.

Interpreters were brought in to assist the court.

Briceno and Manotas pleaded guilty to the charge of overstaying. According to the particulars, both entered the country legally and were granted a period of seven days by an immigration officer. However, it was discovered that they had overstayed their time in the country by one month.

An immigration officer told the court that on March 28 at about 11.30am, while on routine patrol on Polaris Drive, immigration officers saw the pair walking towards the Stop and Shop. As they were acting in a suspicious manner, the officers approached them.

They were asked their legal status and to produce their passports. The pair did not have their passports on them and the officers accompanied them back to their apartment where they were shown two Colombian passports, which revealed that Briceno and Manotas entered the country on February 28 and were landed for a period of one week.

Briceno told the judge that she was not aware she had to apply for an extension, and apologised to the court.

“I travelled to a lot of countries…and I did not have to apply for extension in those other countries, which did not check those things. Nobody told me I could apply to have an extension,” she explained with the aid of an interpreter.

She added that her father had died and she wanted to stay in the country to avoid going back to deal with the sadness of his death.

Manotas told the court that he too did not know he had to get an extension and apologised.

“I am ashamed of this matter and I ask the judge to be compassionate towards us,” he said.

Magistrate Ferguson explained that while the court appreciates them as visitors they broke the law by overstaying their time in the country. “If I went to Colombia, I am granted a period of time to stay there as the law allows. The law in the Bahamas allows you to ask for more time which would have been considered and awarded – that is the law you both have breached,” she said.

The judge fined both Briceno and Manotas $3,000 each, or 18 months in prison. Both paid their fines and were turned over to Department of Immigration officials for deportation to Colombia.

On the matter of illegal landing, Jean pleaded guilty and was fined $300 or one year in prison.

According to the particulars, on March 28, Jean was found in Freeport having landed from a place outside the Bahamas without the leave of an immigration officer.

Jean paid his fine and was turned over to immigration officials for deportation to Haiti.