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The Tribune

Volume:114 No.96, APRIL 7th, 2017

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THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

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WEEKEND: GOING GREEN FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Going green for the receptio n

Minnis reveals tax break plans

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis last evening bashed Prime Minister Perry Christie for his level of representation in the Centreville constituency over the past 40 years, while stressing that the government is “running scared” of the FNM’s “change team”.

He also spoke to the reported irregularities in the Parliamentary Registration Department’s 2017 voter register, warning the government that 2017 “is not like 1987.”

“They stole it (an election) in 1987 but they will not ‘tief’ it in 2017,” he said, as he predicted a general election date of May 2.

Addressing supporters during the FNM’s regional candidates launch at Christie Park, Dr Minnis also insisted that the level of care shown to Centreville was in line with the level of care the governing PLP has shown the entire Bahamas.

“The PLP lacks compassion,” said Dr Minnis.

“They don’t care about our health or our lives.

That’s why they covered up

THE Free National Movement has raised “grave concerns” regarding the general election 2017

PLP CHAIRMAN DEFENSIVE ABOUT BOBO AND TOGGIE

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Bradley Roberts was on the defensive yesterday when he was asked about his party’s relationship with self-proclaimed “gang members” Wisler “Bobo” Davilma and Livingston “Toggie” Bullard.

The men, who are at the heart of an alleged murder plot against billionaire Louis Bacon and lawyer Fred Smith, QC and were allegedly hired by Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard to engage in criminal activities, attended the PLP’s joint constituency meeting at the T G Glover Primary School on Tuesday night.

SEE PAGE SIX

NHI ACT COMES INTO FORCE TO ALLOW HIRING

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FNM supporters at last night’s event. the Rubis spill. It’s why they bringing in a company that let the dump get out of con- made a complete mess of trol. It is why they haven’t things. An uncaring PLP built a single school in five put VAT on breadbasket years. That’s why FNMs items, making things worse they haven’t finished hospi- for poor people.

“The FNM will remove tals in Grand Bahama and VAT off breadbasket items. the Family Islands.

“The PLP made the Your FNM government problems at BEC worse by would not tolerate wastage.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff You would be able to see people, adding that many and touch where the VAT residents have told him they money will go.” have not seen the nation’s Dr Minnis said the leader for years.

FNM’s slate of candidates “He is very scared that has the PLP afraid of losing he will lose his seat. I have the next election. news for you: Christie will He said Mr Christie is lose Centreville.” on the ground campaignSEE PAGE THREE ing with an entourage of 40

FNM ANGER AT 72 PAGES OF DUPLICATE REGISTRATIONS

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

Weddings, pages 14&15

voter register, among them the discovery of 72 pages of duplicate registrations, names printed of persons born over 200 years ago and some who were born in 2017, according to party Chairman Sidney Collie

yesterday.

Describing this as “negligence” and “ineptitude”, Mr Collie said there are other “irregularities” that have come to light pointing to persons who were reportedly issued citizenship and

voter’s cards on the same day.

Despite the push on all political sides for Bahamians to get out and register to vote, Mr Collie said Parliamentary Registration officials were still “put-

ting road blocks” at some registration centres. These obstacles, he said, deny Bahamians the opportunity to exercise their free and democratic rights.

SEE PAGE THREE

HURRICANES BLAMED AS ONLY 300 OF PROMISED 1,300 HOMES ARE BUILT

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration’s inability to fully honour its mandate to build over 1,300 homes before the end of its five-year term is largely the result of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Joaquin and Matthew, Minister of Environment and Housing Kenred

Dorsett claimed yesterday.

Mr Dorsett said the government’s attempts to raise “significant funds in the market” for the initiative were “dashed” due to the passage of the storms in 2015 and 2016 respectively, which he said impacted its ability to secure funds from the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation (BMC).

However, the Southern Shores MP - a guest on Is-

land Luck TV show “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie Jr - said the government has managed to construct some 300 homes, which he said were built through the BMC’s private initiated loan programme.

Another 60 homes have been constructed in Adastra Gardens through a private-public partnership, SEE PAGE SIX

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

THE National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) came into force yesterday, providing Prime Minister Perry Christie with the power to establish the NHI Authority, the NHI Secretariat announced.

This allows staff to be hired to run the authority and it allows contracts to be executed with primary care providers.

“The establishment of the NHIA highlights the continued commitment to the Bahamian people to make modern, affordable and accessible health care services a reality,” Dr Delon Brennen, NHI project manager, said in a press release yesterday.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

MINISTRY DENIES FAST-TRACKING ON IMMIGRATION BEFORE ELECTION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and Immigration yesterday moved to temper outrage on social media over claims that the government was fast-tracking the naturalisation of people of Haitian descent ahead of the general election.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Friday, April 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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A SUPPORTER of the FNM getting in the mood for last night’s rally at Christie Park.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

FNM leader Dr Hubert Minnis speaking at last night’s rally and, below, scenes from the event at Christie Park.

Photos: Yontalay Bowe/FNM

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 7, 2017, PAGE 3

Minnis reveals tax break plans from page one “He will be the first sitting prime minister who will be kicked out of his constituency.

“They had a rally in the classroom the other day, they are afraid to have a rally outside so they called it (a) constituency meeting.

They had great difficulty even filling the classroom.

“Scores of PLPs have decided to vote FNM. Even much of the PLP base can’t take five more years of Perry Christie.

“We can’t take five more years of VAT money going missing. We can’t take five more years of record unemployment. We can’t take five more years of the PLP risking our health and lives because of their neglect at Rubis, at the dump, and at Clifton. We can’t take five more years of mass corruption . . . We can’t take five more years of Christie

diving for conch (falling asleep) day and night.”

The Killarney MP also used his remarks Thursday to address the government use of law enforcement agencies and the justice system to create a “police state”.

“I remind the PLP that this is a democracy; not a police state. I believe that musicians should refrain from making remarks about the lives of the families of politicians. But bad taste and offensive language doesn’t mean that the police should come knocking at your door,” said Dr Minnis.

“If the PLP wins again, we will go back to the victimising days of the Pindling era when the government tried to intimidate anyone who criticised them.

The PLP doesn’t believe in democracy.

“That’s why Christie absolutely ignored the results of the gambling ref-

erendum. In today’s PLP, if you want your court case dismissed, just be a former client of the attorney general so you can get a nolle to make your case disappear.”

TAX REFORM Dr Minnis also spoke of his party’s regularly touted tax plans, announcing three major initiatives aimed at alleviating tax burdens on inner city communities, pensioners and potential entrepreneurs if elected to office.

Dr Minnis said his party, once elected, would look to launch a programme of further real property tax discounts and rebates for all pensioners over 65 who pay property tax and qualify for the plan.

The Killarney MP specified that the proposed programme would apply to the primary residence of the

approved homeowners.

Additionally, Dr Minnis said a government led by him would instate a programme of “far-reaching” and “targeted” tax initiatives geared toward stimulating businesses throughout inner-city communities.

On his tax plans, Dr Minnis said: “We will help the people in the inner city to invest in their own communities by using the tax code to spur jobs, economic activity and investment.”

He continued: “Within this inner-city tax-free zone, there will be no import duties on construction materials for residential and commercial buildings; no real property tax or business licence fees; no taxes on household furniture within the inner-city; no taxes on business equipment after proper vetting and finally reduced duty on special vehicles necessary for your businesses.”

Further to these two ini-

tiatives, Dr Minnis said his party would look to create a Council of Economic Advisors.

According to the former minister of health, the mission of this council would be to offer the “best advice on economic growth and development” to perspective entrepreneurs.

Of the initiative, Dr Minnis said: “No government has all the answers. We need the ideas, creativity, experience and wisdom of a broad cross-section of Bahamians and residents to help spur growth and boost our economy.”

He furthered: “One of the tasks of the Council of Advisers is to help develop concrete ideas for diversification within tourism, our main industry, and diversification throughout the economy.

“We must urgently boost growth and GDP for broad scale economic development and in the interest of

boosting government revenue. The government has become too reliant on certain taxes as a first resort as a source of revenue.

“Economic growth will help to stabilise government finances.”

Dr Minnis said in order to create economic growth, cut energy costs and address environmental concerns, the FNM, if elected, would also look to launch a national solarisation programme that will help many thousands of consumers to cut their electricity costs and cut the country’s fuel import bill.

Last evening’s event was the FNMs official regional launch of Free Town candidate Dionisio D’Aguilar, Centreville candidate Reece Chipman, Bain and Grants Town candidate Travis Robinson, St Barnabas candidate Shanendon Cartwright and Englerston candidate Raymond Rolle.

mentary Registration officials have not withheld any changes to the register from the FNM, saying the organisation received regularly updates and was able to use this to discover the plethora of issues.

“That is the reason why we were able to analyse 72 pages of complete irregularity. We have shared this with the parliamentary commissioner from our own IT specialists, our consultants and our in house special people.

“We suspect that they don’t have everything they need to do a good job. (We hope) the free will assistance of the FNM in identifying for them all of the issues we have discovered (will be put to use).

“We have discovered persons born in 1764 on the register, 1787, 1878, 2017 and from our own analysis we have multiple registrations of the same persons with the same name middle name (and) date of birth in multiple constituencies.

“As I said before, the FNM will not allow the PLP to conduct an election under these circumstances. This register must be cleaned up and we are doing our part to ensure that it is.”

Asked if the party accepted Mr Hall’s explanation earlier this week that the errors were clerical and made in human error, Mr Collie said the mistakes of this magnitude were negligent.

He questioned why the process had not been improved to move away from handwritten documents.

“Human error of 72 pages of routine errors, this is negligence and ineptitude.

There is some human error, no doubt.

“That brings me to the

point of in the age of such technology my five-year-old grand daughter is now using technology like an expert in this age, why for the mercy of God is the Parliamentary Registration Department still handwriting in 2017 important data and statistical information to comprise the voter registration?

“Why can’t the NIB card, the passport and other documentation be scanned into the system and uploaded into a national database and the use of technology be used so that we can minimise human error?

“There is no excuse for it.

The government says it has a first class e-government system, (well) put that egovernment system into the Parliamentary Registration Department,” Mr Collie said.

On Wednesday, Mr Hall vowed that his department will clean up the voter register and “get it right” after a report revealed a myriad of errors.

Mr Hall emphasised at the time that the register was a manual system, and as such, most of the discrepancies were due to human error at the data-entry level.

Insisting that “no typo” will jeopardise the election, he advised that his department took responsibility for the mistakes and noted they have 14 to 15 days to clean up the register once it is closed.

As for duplicate registrants, he maintained that the onus was on each applicant not to commit perjury by registering more than once.

The discrepancies were first published by The Nassau Guardian.

Attempts were made to contact Mr Hall yesterday, but he could not be reached up to press time.

FNM ANGER AT 72 PAGES OF DUPLICATE REGISTRATIONS from page one

And while the party painted a grim picture of the integrity of the voting process, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was not present. Party officials were asked why this was the case.

The reply was that an earlier notification that he would be at the press conference had been sent in error.

Mr Collie went on to note that the party was also concerned that the Parliamentary Registration Department was not operating as a coherent unit, but running two operations – one led

by Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall and the other by the permanent secretary.

Mr Collie added that the FNM was worried about several voter registration centres, such as the Remnant Tabernacle Church Hall, St Barnabas, Jean Street and St Anne’s. He did not go into detail about this particular issue.

But despite the troubling state of this process, Mr Collie said the party was not pressing for the removal of Mr Hall because it was simply too late for a new team.

However, he said, these officials needed to “clean up” the register as he suggested there may be attempts by the Christie administration to “steal the election.”

“Yesterday afternoon, we reached out to the parliamentary commissioner to notify him that we had found 72 pages of duplicate voter registrations; persons born over 200 years ago and persons born in 2017 all on the current register,” Mr Collie said at the FNM’s headquarters at Mackey Street.

SIDNEY COLLIE, chairman of the Free National Movement. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff “Also of grave concern to us today are other irregularities that have been brought to our attention, including persons who were issued citizenship and voter’s cards on the same day.

Even though the Registration Department continues to encourage Bahamians to register to vote, they are putting roadblocks at some voter registration centres, which deny Bahamians the opportunity to exercise their free and democratic rights.

“To add to the chaos at the Registration Department, we understand that there are now two separate and distinct operations, with one being led by the parliamentary commissioner and the other being led by the permanent secretary. To add insult to injury the staff members have been split in half, one group reporting to the parliamentary commissioner, being paid and receiving al-

lowances on time and also being directed to perform specialised tasks. The second operation led by the permanent secretary have been denied payments and allowances and are directed to perform other tasks.”

He continued: “In this 50th year since the Bahamas’ Majority Rule, there is one thing Bahamian voters agree on, when democracy can work, democracy works. We also know that the most important job of any government is to maintain a free and fair election, which can only be held with a clean register.

“Unfortunately today, the register is not clean. It appears this government has a propensity for promoting confusion, dishonesty and chaos as was evident in every election for which the PLP has had oversight.

Regrettably the FNM does not trust this PLP government to willingly adhere to local and internation-

ally accepted democratic principles when it comes to the conduct of free and fair elections.

“For five years, we have seen this government cast aside the needs of our communities, as they focused on helping themselves and their allies at the people’s expense. They have turned government corruption into an art form.

“We call upon the Christie government not to repeat the fiasco of 1987, in which the outcome was stolen. The FNM and the Bahamian people will not allow this government to steal the election. We hold this Christie-led government and his minister responsible for elections to ensure every Bahamian citizen is able to exercise their democratic right without political shenanigans,” Mr Collie said.

Discovery Mr Collie told reporters yesterday that Parlia-

STILL NO ANSWER ON WHY PM’S OFFICE HAS QUADRUPLED BUDGET

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DAYS after the government’s mid-year fiscal performance was tabled in the House of Assembly, The Tribune has still not received a response from officials on why the budget for the Office of the Prime Minister quadrupled.

Details of the government’s mid-year fiscal performance revealed the $62.532m increase. The increase came under the

heading “grants, fixed charges and special transactions”.

Despite seeking answers, The Tribune has not received a response from the Office of the Prime Minister over the recurrent spending increase.

This comes a week after Prime Minister Perry Christie, during his parliamentary communication on Value-Added Tax, emphasised the importance of financial transparency.

The budget for the Of-

CORRECTION - TOGGIE AND BOBO ON yesterday’s front page of The Tribune, Wisler ‘Bobo’ Davilma was incorrectly identified in a photograph at a Progressive

Liberal Party joint constituency meeting on Tuesday as Livingston ‘Toggie’ Bullard. We are happy to set the record straight.

fice of the Prime Minister, approved as $17.069m last year, expanded to $79.947m.

In an interview with The Tribune last week, Free National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader Peter Turnquest said this increase was

“absolutely crazy”.

Last June, the Office of the Prime Minister’s budget increased from $9.8m in 2014-2015 to $17,069,450 in 2016-2017.

That increase was attributable to funding increases for several high-profile pro-

jects that came under the Office of the Prime Minister.

This included the National Health Insurance Secretariat (NHIS), which received $2.5m in last June’s budget.

The mid-year budget per-

formance documents tabled in Parliament last week were not as comprehensive as yearly budgets typically are, however, making it impossible to determine what the huge increases in the Office of the Prime Minister’s budget were for.

PAGE 4, Friday, April 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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Integrity, honesty and fairness will be key elements in the election IN ANTICIPATION of the fast approaching general election, we analysed in these columns yesterday the poor performance of the ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and called for unity amongst the opposition parties in order to bring about political change in the Bahamas.

Today, in taking an objective look at our domestic politics, we urge all those concerned in the three main parties to place less emphasis on their fundamental differences and, instead, try where possible to seek common ground with their political opponents in the hope of developing greater national unity in our small country.

About one quarter of the member states of the United Nations have populations of a half a million or less. Since each has a vote, small countries matter in the UN. But, in order to thrive in a competitive, inter-connected world, each needs to harness all its own resources in order to maximise its potential strength as a viable nation.

Whilst politicians may agree amongst themselves the definition of our national interest, the manner of achieving the country’s aims and more detailed objectives will vary and be open to debate. But, although their respective approaches to a range of issues may be dissimilar, there seems to be little basic ideological difference between our political parties.

So we believe that, for the sake of the nation as a whole, they should co-operate more with their opposition counterparts in resolving the country’s problems in a bipartisan way rather than giving precedence to their party’s narrow interests. A government will justifiably seek, as a matter of priority, to implement its own policies, but it should also ensure, in fulfilling its mandate to govern the whole country, that it acts for the benefit of all Bahamians irrespective of political affiliation.

It is not unreasonable that the long-held views and prejudices about the origins of the PLP and the Free National Movement (FNM) - and what they have traditionally stood for - should persist to this day. But we judge that in more modern times voters are less interested in historical differences, divisions and past affiliations and more concerned about how the country is now run for the benefit of all.

They value the democratic values and rules enshrined in our written Constitution which was inherited from Britain as

the former colonial power. They equally value the checks and balances provided by the separation of powers designed to curb potential excesses of politicians which could lead to dictatorship; and above all they respect the supremacy of the rule of law in a community which should protect the rights and interests of rich and poor alike.

In an increasingly open society, with communications technology developing and improving almost daily and everyone looking over somebody else’s shoulder while keeping in touch on social media, the electorate has become more demanding and questioning of the political class and it is prepared to challenge those who are intent on hanging on to power at any cost for their personal benefit. Modern voters may also judge whether a politician has the national interest at heart and whether he is prepared to work together with parliamentary colleagues for the common good.

New, younger voters tend to be more worldly and better informed, which makes them critical of established social mores and practices and they are prepared to express dissent. Unlike previous generations afraid of victimisation in a small community, they will not tolerate illegality and obstructionism by previously unaccountable politicians accustomed either to committing, or turning a blind eye to, the sort of blatant corruption and dishonesty which has been endemic in our nation’s body politic for too long.

As political campaigning begins in earnest soon, we believe that, while the economy and crime will be of prime importance, issues like integrity - including honesty, fairness and decency - in public life will now take centre stage. Since there is little ideological difference between the two major parties, voters will also be looking for competence in running the economy and the country as a whole; but, most fundamentally, they will demand that any new government must be accountable for its actions.

If the opposition FNM can convince a sceptical electorate that it is capable of emulating the success of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in bringing the nation back from the brink in 1992, it could win the forthcoming election. Such much-needed change would be widely welcomed. But these are still early days and the election campaign will surely be hard-fought.

The rise in homelessness EDITOR, The Tribune.

HAS anyone taken notice of the increasing number of homeless and destitute people that roam Nassau’s streets both day and night?

Daily at almost every intersection, traffic light or parking lot one is approached by individuals, many of them children, begging for either money or food. While many of us might consider these unfortunates an unavoidable irritation, which some no doubt are, I personally find

it depressing and distressing that so many of our young, elderly and physically and mentally challenged citizens have been seemingly abandoned by government, the church and society at large.

No doubt our Minister for Social Services will point a finger at a lack of resources, but far too many of our people are hurting and are in desperate need of the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter while our government continues to squander millions on frivolities like Junkanoo

Carnival.

Bahamian society has largely been bled dry of the milk of human kindness; our Leaders have become hardened to the plight of our people and our people to the plight of their neighbours. I can only think to myself as I put my hand in my wallet or put a bag of food in some small hand, there but for the Grace of God go I. IAN MABON Nassau, March 31, 2017.

My opinion EDITOR, The Tribune.

BEGINNING with my column, Perspectives, which was published every Monday for 8 years, I have offered my opinions publicly via The Tribune since 1999.

While it is an incontrovertible fact that I am the son of Sir William Allen, a former FNM Cabinet Minister, I deem that fact immaterial to either my opinions or my de-

cision to publicise them.

As such, my opinion piece which appeared in The Tribune of the 6th April was, in my view, needlessly followed by an editorial post-script which identified me as the son of Sir William Allen. I find it necessary to point out that any and all opinions I have or will ever share in The Tribune are in no way political, nor do they concern any relations

of mine, PLP or FNM. The concern is that, in so tribalistically political a society as ours, some readers need very little encouragement to fixate on the political angle of family associations, rather than on the merit of the commentary itself.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, April 6, 2017.

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

Jamaal Rolle will return on Monday

What food are we producing?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN the wake of the Brazilian beef ban, Consumer Protection Commission Chairman Jerome Gomez has suggested that we need organisations to watch and to warn us about what is going on in other parts of the world.

I agree with him and would like to take it a step further. We need right now an agency (the CPC?) to tell us about what is going on here at home with regard to food production.

I am especially concerned with what kind of agriculture is being practised and taught by BAMSI. I hope and pray that they are not using the

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net American model which is heavily dependent on pesticides, chemical fertilisers and, in the case of meat production, hormones.

All of these are poisoning people and damaging their reproductive health as well as degrading the environment.

I hope that BAMSI and Bahamian farmers will follow the Cuban model of organic farming which is much healthier and which the Cubans developed as a matter of necessity. The Cubans even use certain plants to repel insects rath-

er than health-destroying pesticides. And I certainly hope that BAMSI is not importing genetically-modified seeds and seedlings from America.

It is better to have the banana we used to produce here, which is not as pretty as the imported banana but tastier and healthier. I also hope that we will be planting the same kind of corn we used to plant rather than the genetically-modified American corn which is fructose-rich but lacking in nutrition.

Will someone in authority please assure me?

HOPEFUL Nassau, March 28, 2017.

The PLP Iron Lady EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE island of Grand Bahama has two PLP MPs, Obie Wilchcombe and Dr Michael Darville. In terms of the political pecking order, one would think that Wilchcombe is ranked higher than Darville, due to him being minister of tourism in addition to being a 15-year veteran in the House.

Darville is presumably the chief of Grand Bahama. Or so it seems. Grand Bahamians are of the view that the top government official on their island is neither Wilchcombe nor Darville; it is Michelle Reckley, head at Urban Renewal. I dare say that Reckley is the most powerful government official on that struggling northern island.

Whereas Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling is the figurehead and matriarch of the PLP, Reckley is the undisputed Iron Lady of the party with tremendous clout. Grand Bahamians whispered that

there were rumours of a power struggle between the Iron Lady and Darville.

If true, it further confirms the rumours that Reckley, with PM Perry Christie’s tacit approval, wields more power than the two Cabinet ministers on that island.

The kind of influence she wields was amply demonstrated when her choice for the Central Grand Bahama nomination, Senator Julian Russell, was selected over perceived front-runner Ginger Moxey. Her political invincibility was clearly on display when she blatantly missed a scheduled meeting with Urban Renewal Cochair Cynthia “Mother” Pratt in early 2013.

Grand Bahamians are also of the view that the Iron Lady has so much political clout, she can hire in the civil service. All in all, Grand Bahamians are angry at the blatant abuse of power that has been exhibited over the past five years by the Iron Lady and her party on their island.

They are afraid to publicly voice their disapproval of the Iron Lady for obvious reasons. They are afraid of her. Even business owners are scared stiff of her. FNM civil servants are scared to wear FNM paraphernalia in public due to the tribal nature of politics when the PLP is entrenched in power.

They cannot risk the Iron Lady knowing of their political persuasion. Christie has publicly thrown pity parties when detractors mention his family. Yet he is silent when FNMs are persecuted by his supporters.

Apparently, these taxpaying, law-abiding FNMs are not as important as his family. In a few short weeks, Bahamians will head back to the polls to put an end to this nightmare. They are eager to show to the Iron Lady that the power lies with the people.

There are others that are rumoured to soon be undertaken by the government and I wonder if and when these will be put out for public participation so that the public have an opportunity to submit proposals to offer the object of these initiatives.

In pursuing these PPP initiatives there should be some element of a competitive and transparent process. Failing such, these initiatives become a breeding ground for corruption and conflict of interest. As a matter of fact, it is one of the preferred vehicles to facilitate public corruption because very little accountability and transparency are in the process.

It seems curious that all of these that are rumoured to soon be undertaken, with one or two exceptions, are for the construction of buildings which are to be leased back to the government. One is left with the impression, that these are simply pre-lease arrangements between the government and the favoured private developer(s) that if you build a complex the govern-

ment will lease it.

While I appreciate that PPP initiatives can be somewhat beneficial if they are well structured and intentioned, however, I am equally aware and concerned that these PPP initiatives can be used to engage in and conceal corrupt practices.

In many cases, there are no real advantages in employing them as opposed to traditional methods of public financing, especially in the case of constructing building facilities for government use if they only amount to nothing more than rent collecting opportunities for a few connected individuals at overly inflated rent rates and at commercially offensive terms.

And usually this is the case.

It is important that the government be open and transparent in these initiatives. The details of these agreements should be made available to the public save for those that have National Security implications.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER Nassau, April 2, 2017.

Accountability over PPP EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY permit me to share my views on the recent public pronouncement by the Prime Minister on the Government plan to aggressively utilise Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the provision of Public infrastructure and services and more particularly the need for any future government to legislate to ensure protection for investors in these PPP initiatives.

That is quite admirable and welcome.

However, my question is what is the government’s current policy with respect to attracting and granting these PPP initiatives and how does the public become aware that the Government is or may be seeking a PPP initiative for the provision of a particular service(s) or some infrastructure development.

The public only seems to be made aware of these initiatives after there has been an agreement in principle or in substance with the private partner. Why haven’t these been put out to the wider public for solicitation of mutually suitable proposals?

CLAUDE HANNA Nassau, March 22, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 7, 2017, PAGE 5

A WORKER in a protective mask at the dump fire last month.

Requests for management of dump to be issued next week

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE request for proposal (RFP) for the management of the beleaguered New Providence Landfill will be issued by the beginning of next week, Environment and Housing Minister Kenred Dorsett announced yesterday.

Mr Dorsett also dismissed assertions that the RFP process might be overtaken by the upcoming general election, and that it will be left to the next administration to decide the way forward, while speaking as a guest on the Island Luck TV show “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie Jr yesterday morning.

To this, Mr Dorsett said:

AID ACCEPTED BY MINISTRY THE Ministry of the Environment and Housing has accepted an offer of assistance from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to assess conditions in the vicinity of the New Providence Landfill following a bush fire last month which spread to the landfill and threatened residents living in Jubilee Gardens.

PAHO has brought a team consisting of two technical officers to New Providence who will conduct site visits at the New Providence Landfill and the Jubilee Gardens Subdivision. They will advise on

safety issues and produce a report once the assessment is completed.

The PAHO team is collaborating with officers from the Ministry of Health, the Department of Environmental Health Services, the Water and Sewerage Corporation and the National Emergency Management Agency.

The Ministry of Environment is pleased to have the expertise of an independent and highly recognized international organisation such as PAHO involved in the aftermath of the extensive fire, officials said in a press release.

“I disagree with that … governments are continuous.”

Last month, Mr Dorsett told Tribune Business that a RFP was being structured, and that it would be issued “as soon as possible”.

The minister’s comments at the time represented the first indication that the government is putting the landfill management contract out to public tender via an open, structured process in which all contenders will know the rules and criteria under which they are bidding.

The Waste Resources Development Group (WRDG), a Bahamian consortium, is among those who have submitted bids to take over the landfill’s management following the most recent blaze at the dump site. A rival group also has a Bahamian component in the shape of Providence Advisors and its chief executive, Kenwood Kerr.

However, Tribune Business sources said last week that the government had yet to formally respond to bidders and notify them of its

intentions and how it plans to proceed.

“The issues that we have with the dump are ones that have certainly plagued this nation for 40 to 50 years,” Mr Dorsett said yesterday. “We began an aggressive programme by bringing in commercial recycling at the landfill.

We began the preparation of the remediation plan for it so that we could address the environmental degradation that is going on. That environmental remediation plan, that was approved last year by the government.

“It is forming the basis of the request for proposal that is going to be going out, I believe either the end of this week or the beginning of next week.”

Residents of Jubilee Gardens were evacuated from their homes after a massive blaze broke out on March 5 at the city dump, sending plumes of choking smoke billowing over parts of New Providence.

Three weeks later, Mr Dorsett claimed that the massive blaze was the result of thieves burning wires in

search of copper.

Mr Dorsett told The Tribune at the time that while a formal assessment had not been completed, government officials discovered wires in the area where they believe the fire began, behind Epic Battery on Fire Trail Road, before spreading to the landfill.

Yesterday, Mr Dorsett admitted that the government has been challenged by the “unregulated” scrap metal market and those that operate within it, as he doubled down on his previous assertion that copper thieves were behind the blaze.

“There are scrap metal dealers who are the certified persons who can deal with established businesses who have copper,” he explained. “There is a structured programme that takes place when it comes to copper, because clearly they’re not manufacturing copper, but it does exist when you have construction and demolition ... and there are certified people to deal with it.

“Our challenge is the unregulated market and those

persons who are stealing for copper who are then selling the copper to unlicensed unregulated people out there, and I don’t know how they’re exporting it because anything that’s exported should go through customs and therefore should be checked.

“But I think that notwithstanding the regulatory framework that we have there are considerable deficiencies in the programme.”

The city dump has been plagued with recurring fires for years, with the most recent fire being considered as the worst to hit the site.

Renew Bahamas was engaged by the government in 2014 to manage the landfill and help address the matter.

However, Renew Bahamas pulled out of that deal last year claiming low profitability. It had previously been seeking to renegotiate its management contract and associated financial terms with the Christie administration, having revealed to Tribune Business that it had been incurring continuous, heavy losses.

SYMONETTE CHALLENGED TO ST ANNE’S CONSTITUENCY DEBATE

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) St Anne’s candidate Brent Symonette has been challenged to a constituency debate by his opponent from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Dr Charles Clarke.

Dr Clarke, who as well as being a candidate for St Anne’s, lives in that community, told reporters yesterday that Mr Symonette’s return to the area came as a surprise because his earlier tenure yielded very little positive results.

Speaking on the sidelines of the PLP’s ‘Meet the Candidates’ function held at the

University of The Bahamas (UB), Dr Clarke said he viewed public debates as the best way to determine what candidates have to offer.

“I challenge you today Mr Brent Symonette, I challenge you to a debate,” he declared. “I think that is where we would put the rubber to the road. That is where we would find out just what you are about.

“In fact, I would like to take this time to send out a challenge to Brent Symonette, who is my main political opponent; I want to see what he can bring to the table.

“After all, he has had 10 years there before in my constituency. I can’t see what he has done.”

Early last month, UB’s Chair of the School of Social Science Dr Christopher Curry launched the institution’s series of town hall meetings centred on national debate, political polling and scientific research.

Subsequently, the school hosted its first event on March 15. Senator Keith Bell from the PLP, Marvin Dames from the Free National Movement (FNM), Stephen Greenslade from the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), Sharell

McIntosh from the Bahamas Constitution Party, Alex Morley from the African Peoples Socialist Party and Andrew Stewart from the Bahamas National Coalition Party addressed the issue of crime for their respective organisations.

Plans are underway to host the second event in this series in the coming weeks; however, the panels are not designed to allow constituency challengers to address each other on plans for their communities.

Attempts to reach Mr Symonette on the challenge issued yesterday were unsuccessful.

Mr Symonette, the former Deputy Prime Minister, is returning to frontline politics after a one-term hiatus.

Approximately 4,337 voted in the St Anne’s con-

stituency during the 2012 general election. The constituency was one of the primary constituencies altered by recent boundary cuts ahead of the upcoming general election.

Several political pundits have suggested that the changes benefit the FNM and Mr Symonette.

PAGE 6, Friday, April 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Hurricanes blamed as only 300 of promised 1,300 homes are built from page one

Mr Dorsett said, while 16 homes have been completed in Strachan’s Hill.

Construction is also underway in the Bahamian West area in Grand Bahama, as well as the construction of 16 to 18 homes in Spring City, Abaco.

Mr Dorsett also said plans have been approved for the construction of 304 homes that will make up an area to be called Carmichael Village, to the west of Dignity Gardens, and that the House of Assembly has approved the granting to his ministry of a five-acre tract off Milo Butler Highway the shantytown site previously known as “The Yard” - where his ministry intends to build a “40 to 50 home development”.

However, Mr Dorsett ultimately said: “Until we are able to raise money for the housing programme, then nothing could be done.”

In 2012, Mr Dorsett announced that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)

MINISTER of Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett. has a mandate to build el has been beset by high 1,300 homes before the end delinquency rates that have of its five-year term. exceeded 30 per cent, makThe BMC, despite its ing it progressively harder weak financial state, has for the BMC to meet its obtraditionally financed home ligations. construction, and the buildThis was the primary out and infrastructure in- reason why Mr Dorsett, in stallation, for all govern- 2014, said it would be “irment subdivisions, raising responsible” for him to use funds from institutional the BMC to finance the investors - the lion’s share government programme, at from the National Insur- the time conceding that its ance Board (NIB) - via cash-strapped status had bond issues. proven a “tremendous chalThese funds are then re- lenge”. paid via the mortgages isSpeaking as his minissued to purchasers of the try signed a memorandum government’s affordable of understanding (MOU) homes. However, this mod- with Bahamian realtors to

help advance the government’s housing initiative, he reiterated that the Christie administration was trying to restore the corporation to health by securitising its loan portfolio.

Nonetheless, in his 20152016 budget presentation, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that the BMC had approved the issuance of $100m in bonds, which he said would “jump start the government’s aggressive housing programme and add over 1,000 new housing units to our inventory”.

“While the Prime Minister in 2015 announced that he thought the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation was at a point to issue $100m in bonds in his budget contribution, it was followed very quickly

by Hurricane Joaquin, and once that happened our finance (advisors) asked us to put on the brakes,” Mr Dorsett said yesterday. “The following year they indicated that they thought that I could issue about $65m, then we

were visited upon by Matthew.

“And so our opportunities for being able to raise significant funds in the market for the housing programme were dashed.”

Of the status of the housing plan to date, Mr Dorsett said: “Until we are able to raise money for the housing programme, then nothing could be done … Nothing is going on in any meaningful way before the general election. We’re completing what we have already built out. People are moving into their homes in Bahamia West in Grand Bahama, people are moving into their homes in Adastra, and there are two more homes to be completed in Strachan’s Hill, they will take occupation in the next few days.”

Going forward, however, Mr Dorsett said the government is still trying to bolster its “ability to issue bonds so that we can have a robust housing programme” as well as seeking out additional private-public partnerships to further mitigate

against Bahamian taxpayers “having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars after we build these subdivisions to come back and repair the homes”.

Meanwhile, he said there is currently a waiting list of about 5,000 to 6,000 seeking to apply for homes within the price range that the government has “traditionally offered”.

“Now that doesn’t mean that all of them are qualified, but we’ve got about 5,000 to 6,000 applicants,” he said. “There’s probably another 3,000 to 4,000 people who qualify for amounts less than $60,000 or $70,000. But my point is I think that’s where the greatest opportunity lies for the construction industry in terms of providing products at a lower amount of money to facilitate some of those who don’t qualify for $90,000 and above being able to move into a home.

“And so we’ve now redrawn and redesigned plans for simpler construction to enable the small man to be able to move into a home.”

PLP CHAIRMAN DEFENSIVE ABOUT BOBO AND TOGGIE from page one

Contacted yesterday, Mr Roberts suggested that he did not know the men were at the event and said despite Davilma being outfitted in a PLP shirt and pictured alongside National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, it did not mean that he had ties to the governing party.

However, he insisted that The Tribune contact Dr Nottage for further questions on this matter. At-

tempts to reach the Bain and Grants Town MP were not successful up to press time.

Mr Roberts said: “Were they (at the event)?” Asked if the men were affiliated with the PLP, he said: “I don’t know. I don’t know the fellas.”

When his attention was drawn to a photograph on the front page of Thursday’s Tribune of Mr Davilma and Dr Nottage, Mr Roberts said: “You could be dressed in (a PLP shirt) too and so could the Devil. They were

out there and they passed them (shirts) around to people.”

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett, as a guest on “The Real Deal” with host Ortland Bodie Jr, was asked about the men’s attendance and suggested that they were a part of the PLP’s “big tent”.

He said: “The PLP is a big tent. We want everyone in there. But the bottom line is we are a big tent.

We’re here to represent the small man and the big

man, the light skin man, the white man and black man.

The PLP is a party for everybody.”

This comes at a time when Mr Roberts has repeatedly attempted to implicate Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as being connected to “Toggie” and “Bobo”.

Earlier this year, Mr Roberts castigated Dr Minnis over his “silence” regarding FNM candidate for Marco City Michael Pintard, who resigned as chairman of the FNM and

from the Senate over his involvement in the lawsuit against Mr Nygard on March 21, 2016. His resignation, he insisted, was not an admission of guilt.

On the same day that Mr Pintard stepped down from the posts, Dr Minnis admitted to The Tribune that he had met Bullard at his home.

Dr Minnis said Bullard, his constituent in Killarney whom he said he met three times, contacted him to pass on a warning to Mr Pintard that he was about

to be allegedly “set up” by a high ranking member of government and others.

Dr Minnis was adamant that the two never discussed Mr Nygard, adding that he did not hear of the alleged murder-for-hire plot until The Tribune published claims in an affidavit filed on March 9, 2016 by directors of Save The Bays.

According to court documents, Davilma and Bullard have also claimed they have lucrative maintenance contracts with the Ministry of Works.

BELINDA WILSON ELECTED AGAIN AS BUT PRESIDENT EMBATTLED former President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) Belinda Wilson was returned to the helm of the organisation yesterday, according to unofficial results.

The BUT held an election for its executive slate yesterday.

In 2014, Mrs Wilson and BUT Treasurer Lorraine Knowles were suspended amid allegations from the union’s executive committee that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account was wrongfully spent.

In January 2015, Mrs Wilson had her suspension overturned by a three member appeals committee, that

said it found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the president as was alleged.

In March of that year, however, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Knowles were again served with another suspension for “blatant violations” of the union’s constitution.

Mrs Wilson was later suspended “indefinitely” pending the results of a police investigation into alleged violations of union procedures.

She had been embroiled in a bitter dispute with members of the union’s executive team over the accusations and frequently locked horns with Zane Lightbourne, who served as acting president during her suspension.

MINISTRY DENIES FAST-TRACKING ON IMMIGRATION BEFORE ELECTION from page one

Photos of the naturalisation certificate and voter’s card of a 34-year-old Southern Shores woman were circulated yesterday, with many speculating that the citizenship was granted for political expediency as both documents were dated April 4, 2017.

In a press statement yesterday, the ministry called the speculation an “obvious and unfortunate mischievous political inference, attempting to conflate what is normal ministry business on naturalisation with current politics”. The statement further explained that the woman’s citizenship was granted on February 28, some nine years after her application was submitted.

“The ministry has, for some time, committed to the public to try to process applications for work permits, naturalisations and citizenships in the most timely manner possible,” it read. “That has not changed.”

The statement continued: “The work of government in general and the work of this ministry in particular is serious, sober business and is conducted according to strict rules and regulations

that have been in place for many years and are followed to the letter by this ministry.

“That will continue to be the case. We encourage the public not to become distracted by attempts at mischief emanating from social and other media.

“While the release of specific information is not normal policy, in the circumstance, the ministry notes for general information that the individual in question applied on March 17, 2008 and applied for citizenship past the constitutional deadline of her 18th birthday,” the statement read.

“The individual had to rely therefore on the provisions of the Bahamas Nationality Act, which requires a minimum of seven years residence in the Bahamas and pursuant to our international obligations on citizenship matters, she was granted citizenship on February 28, 2017, some nine years after she applied,” the statement noted.

“There is nothing unusual about the application or its approval. The ministry notes that there has been no unusual activity with regard to citizenship at the Immigration Board despite the social media and other attempts at mischief and gross exaggeration.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 7, 2017, PAGE 7

Relief agency anger at Customs run-in

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AN international disaster relief agency is crying foul after a disastrous run-in with officials from the Departments of Customs and Immigration that led to the seizure of their charitable cargo and the imprisonment of its founder in Exuma.

Captain Ray Thackeray, executive director and founder of International Rescue Group (IRG), told The Tribune yesterday that he was nonplussed by the entire ordeal as the cargo was ultimately cleared by the Bahamas Department of Customs, but he was slapped with an excessive $3,000 fine for overstaying his 14-day visa due to engine failure.

He spoke to this newspaper as he prepared to leave the country onboard another sailing vessel to continue his mission to deliver Hurricane Matthew disaster relief to Haiti - IRG’s sixth mission since the category four storm hit in October last year.

“As the executive director of a disaster relief agency, this was inexplicable,” he said. “Normally in this type of situation the country

would say ‘ok you have two days to get out,’ or grant an exception, but there was no help or welcome.

“The immigration officer appeared to be a young, very ambitious officer who I think tried to make some kind of name for himself.

He was very aggressive to the point I couldn’t even talk about (the) organisation or try to explain, he was just screaming at me,” Captain Thackeray said.

“Then, when I was in the court before the judge adjudicating the case of overstaying, I tried to explain who I was, what I do, the circumstances. He wasn’t interested, didn’t want to see credentials.”

He added: “It’s customary in any country to provide some latitude and support in these type of situations to disaster relief agencies, but that was not the case in the Bahamas.”

Prior to the arrest and seizure in Exuma, the IRG team was docked in North Eleuthera. According to Capt Thackeray, the IRG’s vessel Sir Martin II and two IRG reserve boats had set sail to continue their mission to Haiti when the lead vessel experienced engine failure, forcing the crew to sail the 97-foot gaff-rigged

vessel engineless into George Town, Exuma, for repairs.

IRG, an accredited US non-profit, operates three wholly owned boats in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to its press statement.

The IRG Reserve is a network of privately owned boats who sign up and are accredited as support vessels by IRG. Once in George Town, on March 30, the crew began offloading the damaged vessel’s cargo onto the reserve boats: a ketch “Good Run” and a catamaran “Rat Catcher”.

Cargo consisted of recycled sails from www.sailsforsustenance.org to be distributed to Haitian subsistence fishermen, tools, food and other supplies bound for various charity and orphanage partners that IRG has been working with for years, according to an IRG statement.

Capt Thackeray told The Tribune that it was at this point, that the team caught the attention of border officials.

In a Facebook post on April 1, he wrote: “I am under arrest by Bahamas customs and immigration because we have been

transferring cargo bound for Haiti to IRG Reserve boats. Our affiliate boats are ok but the officials here will not listen to anything or any evidence that we are a disaster relief organisation until Monday.”

Capt Thackeray added: “If anyone has any contact with NEMA Bahamas, a friendly official giving us the okay because our cargo is for Hurricane Matthew relief in Haiti would go a long way. In the meantime I may be incommunicado until Monday.”

IRG’s executive director was charged in Magistrate’s Court on Monday, but would remain in the George Town jailhouse until Tuesday because he was unable to pay before the court closed. Capt Thackeray insists that officials had closed the court 15 minutes earlier than the stated deadline.

“The judge was not the slightest bit interested in the fact that IRG is an accredited NGO running missions that in the past have benefited The Bahamas,” said Capt Thackeray in an IRG press release circulated to international partners.

“I requested in writing the court case number, sum-

mary judgment and other details of the case, including the judge’s name and so far have been refused, being told at the court that they don’t know if they can give me this information.

All I have to show for this entire incident is a receipt for $3,000,” he said.

The press release noted that The Bahamas’ Hurricane Matthew exigency order was still in effect through its emergency management organization NEMA, pointing out it was customary for aid NGOs to be extended aid and latitude to operate in such times across The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Even though he paid his fine, Capt Thackeray said the drama did not end there, as the Department of Immigration in Exuma demanded that he sail out immediately or face deportation on May 7.

He said: “My crew have all flown home so I am the only person on board a traditional gaffer sailing vessel with disabled engine, being told to sail out into adverse conditions that would quickly put the boat onto the rocks. Naturally I refused, to be told that I am being deported and will not be allowed back into the

country to retrieve my vessel, which few people know how to sail or maintain.”

“This was an outrageous molesting of a disaster relief and humanitarian aid charity,” said Captain Thackeray.

The Tribune tried to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration over the incident, but did not get a response up to press time.

“I am sailing out of the stinking crap-hole that George Town, Bahamas has become,” wrote Capt Thackeray in a post on Facebook yesterday, “with IRG Reserve S/V Good Run under command of the excellent Captain Thiago bound for Haiti where I will do some volunteering and help coordinate supplies that IRG has transported in response to Hurricane Matthew.”

He continued: “My efforts to correct the despicable money-grabbing actions of the immigration authority here will stall for about a week, but rest assured I will not stop until this story gets out and government officials get an earful until they reverse this injustice to an accredited NGO performing disaster relief operations.”

NHI ACT COMES INTO FORCE TO ALLOW HIRING OF STAFF from page one

“Moreover, the legal establishment of the body that will usher in the provision of NHI Bahamas will move our country closer to achieving universal health coverage.”

The press statement said the NHIA will be extending job offers to Bahamians after completing a recruitment process over the past few months.

Offers are being prepared for an immediate start, involving customer services representatives, finance officers, information technology staff, facilities manage-

DR PERRY GOMEZ, Minister of Health. ment, benefits management and quality management.

Enrollment in NHI is expected to begin later this month.

The Tribune understands that although no official press statement has been released, the Christie administration has already selected a public insurer that is preparing for the launch of NHI. On Wednesday, the NHI Secretariat announced that more than 60 doctors have registered as primary care providers so far.

Dr Duane Sands, Free National Movement (FNM) candidate for Elizabeth, said yesterday that given the number of doctors in the country, this didn’t seem like an enthusiastic buy-in, “particularly given the fact that this has been

the most advertised, reported, discussed programme in healthcare in the recent history of The Bahamas”.

As for doctors who have registered as providers, he asked: “What did they sign up for? Most of us have no idea what they signed up for because it remains a state secret. It speaks to a level of lack of transparency that makes it difficult to make decisions to plan, to budget, to staff, to gear up for a programme you don’t know much about.”

The government has not yet finalised its reimbursement scheme with doctors, The Tribune understands.

Dr Sands, however,

claimed yesterday that the government has been entering into “agreements of understanding” with individual doctors.

“Reimbursement talks have taken a divide and conquer strategy,” he said.

“They’re one-on-one negotiations for the most part.

Individual doctors are signing on one-by-one. There is no widely circulated document available for perusal by the Medical Association.

It’s a case where you speak to one, they cut a deal; speak to another, they cut a deal. Deals are being cut all around right now.”

Earlier this week, Minister of Health Dr Perry

Gomez said portions of the government’s NHI primary care services could be “omitted” before the plan is rolled out as the Christie administration looks to finalise critical aspects of the scheme prior to the general election.

The government has missed several target dates for NHI. The primary care phase was initially supposed to be launched in April last year.

However that date was later pushed back to January, 2017. But that proposed January date was missed and Mr Christie later said the plan would be launched in the first week of April.

SENTENCE DELAY FOR MAN WHO USED COUNTERFEIT MONEY IN GAMING HOUSE

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN who admitted to using counterfeit money in a gaming house was spared an immediate prison sentence by a magistrate yesterday.

Mario Kikivarakis, 45, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney facing four counts of possession of forged currency notes contrary to Section 379(2) of the Penal Code and three counts of fraud by false pretences contrary to Section 144 of the Penal Code.

It was alleged that between March 31 and April 3, he had 15 $100 US notes, knowing they were not real.

It is was also alleged that on March 31, April 1 and April 2, he used $900 of the counterfeit money to gamble at a FML Group of Companies ‘web shop’ in hopes of winning greater sums.

Kikivarakis pleaded guilty to the charges.

The Penal Code notes that “whoever fraudulently obtains from any other person by any false pretence anything the value of which does not in the opinion of the court exceed $500 shall

be liable to imprisonment for three months.”

It also states: “If any person without lawful authority or excuse (the proof whereof shall lie upon him) receives from any other person or has in his possession any forged or altered note purporting to be a currency note, knowing the same to be forged or altered, or any unfinished or incomplete note purporting to be a currency note issued by the commissioners, he shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years.”

His lawyer, Devard Francis, asked the court not to

impose a custodial sentence on his client who did not waste the court’s time and was remorseful for his actions.

Magistrate McKinney asked Kikivarakis how much of the seven years at the Department of Correctional Services did he wish to spend. “None,” the 45-year-old said.

“If you don’t want to spend the time, you shouldn’t do the crime,” the magistrate said.

“I was trying to better my life. I’m a self-employed landscaper but its hard out there,” Kikivarakis said.

“It’s not an excuse. There are a lot of unemployed people who go to jail if they commit a crime,” Magistrate McKinney said.

The magistrate fined the 45-year-old $4,500 and said that if he did not pay the fine he would spend 12 months in prison.

“You are also ordered to compensate FML $900 you deposited that was counterfeit or you’ll receive an additional six months,” the magistrate added.

Mr Francis asked the court if his client could pay half of the fine and produce the balance in installments.

“FML isn’t in need of monies but he does want to make restitution,” the lawyer pleaded.

The magistrate told Mr Francis that his client would be released from custody if he paid $3,000 before the end of the day.

However, Kikivarakis was given a week to pay $450 to FML Group of Companies.

The remainder of the $1,500 fine and $450 compensation has to be paid by May 15, the magistrate concluded.

Sgt Philip Davis prosecuted.

THREE ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS APPEAR IN COURT FOR HEARING

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THREE men awaiting trial for armed robbery appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday for a status hearing.

Mario Duncan, 22, Franklyn Mackey, 24, and Giovanni Rahming, 26, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for an update in their case concerning two armed robber-

ies on January 1, 2013.

However, Crown prosecutor Erica Duncombe requested an adjournment until April 13 for the Crown to indicate its position.

The three men are accused of the knifepoint robbery of Raymond Toussaint and Gladstone Davis. On New Year’s Day, 2013, Toussaint and Davis were on a bus heading south on Market Street when three armed assailants relieved them

of $180 and two cellular phones.

Rahming, Mackey and Duncan were formally arraigned in October, 2013, when they denied the allegations.

Joseph Darceuil represents Mackey while Duncan is represented by Jiaram Mangra. Glendon Rolle is the lawyer on record for Rahming though Mr Darceuil held the brief from Mr Rolle in his absence yesterday.

PAGE 8, Friday, April 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

On-off-on again Carnival is a joke in any language O

NCE again our political landscape mirrors today’s hottest reality tv and epic soap operas of days gone by.

The more I look at the side plots, back stories and mud being slung by some of the best ‘spin doctors’ in all of politics, over the past week, I’m sure this ‘silly season’ will be one for the books!

Here are a few stories that caught my eye this past week. Some of these may be a flash in the pan, others will spawn more chapters whose characters will have recurring roles throughout ‘silly season’ and beyond.

One thing for sure: the jokes will be in abundance and all of this posturing for ‘silly season’ is ‘comedy manna’ from ‘comedy heaven’ and further proof God has a sense of humour.

Carnival comedy ...of errors Now, before I begin, for the record I have never been a big supporter of the whole ‘Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’ idea.

I think the money spent could better serve other areas of our society, like feeding the hungry and homeless, or maybe boys and girls clubs in the various constituencies offering after school tutoring and sports, or perhaps enhancing our own indigenous Junkanoo product and marketing it to the world in lieu of this ‘copycat’ product we are obsessed with continuing, despite a lacklustre response over the past two years.

Nonetheless, I do find it appalling that after two years of pumping tax dollars into the bottomless ‘Carnival commode’ to promote the event globally and

A Comic’s View

By INIGO ‘NAUGHTY’ ZENICAZELAYA encouraging Bahamians to in The Tribune, the Minbuy into the BJC idea and istry of Tourism issued the invest in the event, from following statement: “The ‘bands’ to entertainers, ar- Minister of Tourism said tisans, vendors etc, it has whilst he understands the come to this. thinking that led to the deAfter two years of less cision made by the Carnival than desired results and Commission that resulted wastage of the taxpayers’ in the change of dates for money, we are finally gar- the annual event,” the statenering interest interna- ment read, “the minister tionally with groups from is satisfied that, after full abroad booking flights and consideration of all matters hotel rooms to attend the pertaining to this year’s carevent ... and suddenly it’s nival, an intervention was postponed? To accommo- necessary. The intervention date our general elections. was predicated by the voic(Minister of National Secu- es of the local stakeholdrity Dr Bernard Nottage has ers and in consideration said the genof the many eral election guests who will be held ‘As a Bahamian, have made in early May, fan of Carnival or preparations but a specific not, this is further to travel to date has not the Bahamas yet been an- embarrassment for this year’s to our nation on nounced. carnival on Fixed elec- the world stage, the original tion dates dates.” would elimi- embarrassment That may nate this type which could have be all well of confusion.) been avoided with a and good Just as I with the Minwas about to fixed election date.’ istry, a quick go off on the fix to a sticky Carnival postponement in situation. the next few paragraphs, However, Bahamas Carjust like a BPL load shed nival Band Owners Asso(yes, they still are load ciation (BCBOA) President shedding) it’s on again!

Dario Tirelli told The TribYes, the Bahamas Jun- une the event’s brand repukanoo Carnival is back on tability and the 2017 festival again, back at its original have been dealt a major date of May 4 to 6 in Nas- blow. He said bands have sau with an April kick off indicated that nearly 3,000 in Grand Bahama after an participants or “revellers” “intervention” by Minister were expected to take part of Tourism Obie Wilch- in the festival. combe.

Mr Tirelli said the banAccording to an article downers would try to sal-

LAST year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Road Fever Parade. vage the battered reputa- ceptable in the right forum tion of the event. “We’re if I do it, considering my all excited,” he said. “We’re profession. I can even use meeting now to start plan- sign language similar to ning and looking at count- that of our own PM and get down from today, and an applause break for my to coin our press release efforts and delivery. Again, respectively to go to the commonplace in my line of world. We are going to try work. to make a concerted effort But such ‘graphic’ lanto turn this around, but we guage is totally unaccephave lost. This is still a big table (in public) if you are financial loss, some people the Prime Minister of the just ain’t coming. Persons Bahamas, President of the have already cancelled their United States or the Presitickets, tried to get refunds, dent of the Philippines, just messed up their plans.” to name a few.

Let’s cut to the chase. You Yes, those holding those mean, after two years of respective offices have the failing, we finally seemed to same right to free expresbe getting it right in regards sion as the common man; to BJC with the bookings to however, unlike the comprove it, and we shoot our- mon man, there is a entirely selves in the foot again due different level of protocol, to nonchalant governance? political correctness and As a Bahamian, fan of diplomacy that comes with Carnival or not, this is fur- their positions. ther embarrassment to our Where I may have the opnation on the world stage, tion of biting my tongue, in embarrassment which could some instances politicians have been avoided with a must bite theirs, period! fixed election date.

Following ‘Birdgate’ Also, I can relate to the maybe the PM’s ‘piss’ referposition taken by the BC- ence was a feigned attempt BOA. Their investments for ‘shock value’ and like so hang in the balance by a many other Christie initiathread, due to politics, with tives, ended as another epic no plan for reimbursement failure. or restitution for the BCOn the other hand maybe BOA in sight if the whole Mr Christie’s outburst is a thing goes belly up again, sign that he’s finally comno fault of their own. pletely transformed into a All the while the politicos grumpy ‘old man’, way past (present administration and his political prime and expiopposition alike) continue ration date, content to be a with their agendas while curmudgeon. Better suited Bahamians bear the brunt to chasing kids off his lawn of their impulsive, impracti- than making vital political cal decisions. decisions for the betterment of our nation.

Piss poor pronouncement Since our PM has made “Even though I have having a ‘potty mouth’ in a brilliant young man in vogue and obscenities as (State Minister of Finance) the order of the day, here’s Michael Halkitis, a gradu- a little something for our ate of the College of the embattled PM, in Christie Bahamas, I have to be able speak: to challenge him. Because it Dear Mr PM, is so important to recognise I’m so glad you introhow easy it is to piss away duced the word ‘piss’ into money. the Bahamian vernacular, “Excuse me for the lan- and thanks for the vivid guage. That’s what you call definition also. rich language and one day Until your definition, you will have to teach it as I thought the word ‘piss’ a very graphic expression of would be destined for usage annoyance by definition,” in comedy clubs, barberMr Christie continued. shops, sporting events, bar In my line of work as a rooms, construction sites professional stand-up co- etc. median I’ve had to use Never did I imagine it ‘rich language’ to express would be made acceptable my annoyance graphically in mainstream conversain a joke or dealing with a tions in today’s society, with drunken heckler. It’s ac- folks being so ‘politically

correct’ and all. But with a ‘Trumpian’ like effort you broke down all those barriers.

So, taking advantage of this window (now that the word ‘piss’ is so applicable to this present administration) let’s put it to good use, shall we?

First off, why has your administration seemed so ‘pissy’ drunk with power?

Two failed referenda and no resignations?

Why have you saddled us regular folks with VAT on top of empty campaign promises and left many Bahamians without a ‘pot to piss in’ or a window to throw it out of?

Some feel your administration’s performance has been ‘piss poor’ in your performance, since it’s left the majority of Bahamians feeling ‘pissed off’.

Finally, why haven’t you called elections already? Is your government afraid of being told to ‘piss off’?

Signed, A Curious Bahamian (who’s full of piss and vinegar) Now, before some of you thin-skinned politicos get all bent out of shape, relax.

I was demonstrating a form of British humour know as ‘taking the piss’ which by definition is “a Commonwealth term which is an expression meaning to mock, tease, ridicule or scoff.”

Basically, I was only teasing you, like I do each and every week, all thanks to those little nuggets you leave me to work with in the public domain. And like the good fiscal conservative you admonish Minister Halkitis to be, there’s no way I could ‘piss away’ comedy gold when I see it.

• Inigo ‘Naughty’ Zenicazelaya is the resident stand-up comic at Jokers Wild Comedy Club at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort and presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday, and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm on KISS FM 96.1. He also writes a sports column in The Tribune on Tuesday. Comments and questions to naughty@ tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 7, 2017, PAGE 9

$200,000 donation helps bring basketball court to reality A NEAR $200,000 investment in a basketball/ volleyball court and rock climbing facility at the Wemyss Bight Primary School by the grandson of the founder of Pan American Airways is set to create new opportunities for the South Eleuthera community.

Construction on the new court has been going on for three months, led and financed by William “Doug” Douglass, who, in 1994, cofounded investment firm K2 Advisors, now part of

Franklin Templeton Advisors (FT).

Mr Douglass has been coming to Eleuthera since 1962 and is the grandson of Pan Am founder and South Eleuthera resident Juan Trippe, who died in 1981.

“This island and this community in particular meant a lot to my grand parents,” said Mr Douglass. “They envisioned that South Eleuthera was going to be the next big spot for the world and they had the confidence not only in the island’s beautiful sea

and land but more importantly its Bahamian people.

“Since Mr and Mrs Trippe’s passing, the economic activity of South Eleuthera has deteriorated. So today I’m happy to see the recent movement of bulldozers and work in the original Cotton Bay. In addition, the recent announcement of the Jack’s Bay development is great to hear. I know that there is a lot left to be done on the charity for the lovely people of Eleuthera and that is where I am stepping in.”

Mr Douglass and local contractor Carey’s Construction mobilised nearly a dozen workers from throughout the island to construct the 92ft x 50ft cushioned court and 9ft rock climbing wall. The recreational court will serve as a hub for community games and has already been identiifed as an ideal location for an upcoming competition involving athletes from neighbouring countries.

These are the kind of opportunities that Natasha

Bethel-Sands, principal of the Wemyss Bight Primary School, is looking to see become more readily available to her students and other children in the surrounding settlements.

“We had one old swing that didn’t have any seats and one basketball rim for the community that kept on breaking,” she said. “It was not ideal, so this world class facility is a tremendous asset for the school and for the entire area, because Wemyss Bight encompasses

so much of South Eleuthera.

“This gives us the proper exposure right here in Wemyss Bight and this court can touch so many people because we are central.

Chris Brown came from here and who knows? The next big athlete could come right from here because of this.”

The state-of-the-art recreational court is set for completion early this month and will be dedicated in memory of Juan and Betty Trippe.

BTC SUPPORTS STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS BTC has announced that it will be the title sponsor for this year’s Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Programme.

The programme will highlight over 100 students from the public and private schools across the country. It will climax with a ceremony recognising the most outstanding student.

BTC CEO Leon Williams said: “BTC has supported this programme for several years now. It is always important for us to recognise the accomplishments of our

budding and upcoming generation.

“These are the brains that will chart the course of the country for years to come. The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation has recognised over 1,800 students through this programme.

It is important to also note that these students are not just academically inclined but also civic minded.”

As title sponsor, BTC will assist with providing funding for sixth grade students to attend high schools.

FROM left, Myra Mitchell, BTC project manager, and Bahamas Primary Student of the Year foundation member and Leon Williams, BTC CEO.

READERS RESPOND AFTER U-TURN ON CARNIVAL DATES READERS on tribune242.com have been giving their reaction to the news that Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is back on for its original date of May the 4 to 6 in Nassau, with an April start in Grand Bahama.

ThisIsOurs said: “This was the best decision they could have made in this comedy of errors. They should have made it on the first day. Now it just looks like craziness. These people have lost their minds.

They’re clearly panicking.

I hope the FNM has prepared their 100 day strategy for their new administration. No going in and showboating, things are in bad shape. Get ready to work.”

Seaman thought the PLP were in “panic mode”: “In all fairness . . . it’s to late to cancel carnival. Too many people here and abroad have made plans. It’s not fair for them to pay for Mr Christie’s lack of vision. It should not have been planned for this year, knowing our budget and being an election year.

Tide has turned on the PLP and they are in panic mode. How things look now, it’s possible the FNM could easily win by a major landslide.”

MassExodus had this to say: “These people in government our managing our country, and they can’t even manage themselves. This has got to be a bad dream.

If you’re going to waste the tax payers money on a party, although we have far more pressing needs, at least don’t mess people around on the dates. Y’all need to think before you make public statements, after all you are the government . . .”

And there were concerns raised after Sherlyn Hall vowed that his department will clean up the voter register and “get it right” for the country’s general election.

ThisIsOurs said: “That fact that Mr Hall is WAITING to correct these errors says a lot. If he can give candidates a digital copy upon request, at the end of every day he could have been running a report on new registrants to capture errors.

This could have been done WITH the manual system.

With that in place he could have had minimal errors to correct next week.”

Quoting Mr Hall, Themessenger responded with: “‘We will do the best job to clean up the register; the law gives us 14 to 15 days, we’ll get it right.’

Sure you will, the question is will it be before or after the election?”

Thomas said: “This is where they should have spent the money that was wasted on the new NIB cards and the staff and consultants for NHI.” Seaman feared things could go wrong on election day: “The real fun will start on election day . . . when the results of the election will be known to all but Hall will not know what is going on. What will happen if

the unofficial results show one party slightly ahead of the other? Will there be chaos in the Bahamas? Get this man out before there

is major conflict. Can you imagine what would happen if unofficially the FNM gained one seat more then the PLP, but Mr Hall was

not ready to call it for a day or two. God help us.”

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

ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE

is accepting applications for teachers in the following areas for the 2017 – 2018 school year

ENGLISH LANGUAGE / LITERATURE

English Language / Literature teacher required for the junior and senior high section of the school.

MATHEMATICS

Experience in preparing students for external examinations (BJC, BGCSE, AP & SAT) is a requirement.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social Studies / History and Geography teacher needed. Experience in preparing students for external examinations is a requirement.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

To teach Spanish / French to all grade levels. The ability to prepare candidates for external examinations is a must.

BUSINESS STUDIES

To teach Commerce / Economics to Grades 10 to 12. Experience in preparing students for external examinations (BGCSE) is a requirement.

COMPUTER STUDIES

To teach Computer Keyboarding, Basic Personal Computer Applications and Computer Science to grades seven through twelve. The applicant must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Web Page Design.

SCIENCE

To teach General Science and Chemistry to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations.

To teach General Science and Physics to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations.

To teach General Science and Biology to all grade levels. The applicant must have experience in preparing students for external examinations.

RELIGION

To teach Religion to all grade levels. The applicant must have a degree in Religious Education (not the same as R. K.) All applicants must hold a degree from an accredited University and a Teacher’s Certificate or must have some teaching experience. Two letters of reference, copies of all degrees and certificates, proof of teaching experience and two passport size photos should be submitted. A commitment to the values of Catholic, Benedictine education is expected of our teachers. Only those persons who have no difficulty with Roman Catholic beliefs and teaching need apply.

Please submit applications and required documents by hand to addressed to:

THE PRINCIPAL ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE P.O. BOX N-3940 NASSAU, BAHAMAS Applications should be submitted by April 20, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, April 7, 2017, PAGE 11

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH AT MONTAGU CONCERNS are being raised again about rubbish piling up in the skip at the Montagu ramp and being left uncollected.

Photographs taken this week show the skip overflowing with plastic bags of domestic garbage, vegetation and discarded food and drinks cans with rubbish strewn around the area, which is close to the dock where vendors are selling fresh fish. Concerned visitors are worried about the health hazards this pre-

sents. The eyesore is also close to the boundary with the neighbouring Royal Nassau Sailing Club.

“There is a private club next door that has to live with this infestation,” one person told The Tribune.

“There are vendors less than ten yards away selling ‘fresh fish’. It is a disgrace!”

The Tribune raised similar concerns last year when the skip was overflowing and action was taken at the time to collect the rubbish regularly.

BAHAMASAIR TAKES PRE-SCHOOL TODDLERS UNDER THEIR WING

By TA’VAUGHNA R THOMPSON

TODDLERS at Willard Patton Pre-School got a closer look at airplanes and the many roles of pilots during their recent discovery week.

Under the supervision of teacher Briel Jacques, a group of 21 students spoke to professional pilots to get a deeper understanding of the different types of aircraft.

Two pilots - Meko Gibson, of Bahamas Evac Charter and Cargo Services, and Lieutenant Rolle of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force - visited the school on Augusta Street, while the students were hosted on memorable field trips by Elizabeth Lynes, of Bahamasair, and Elizabeth Ferguson, from Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), who took them on a tour of the terminals at the Lynden Pindling Internatonal Airport.

The students asked questions about why we use airplanes, types of airplanes, what we need to travel on

MRS A Rolle (left) and Briel Jacques (right) with the Willard Patton Pre-School students outside Bahamasair. airplanes and about the parts and insides of them and gained real-life experience for their chosen topic.

Mr Gibson said: “It was an enjoyable opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned and know onto the younger ones,” commending the students on how eager and receptive they were to his presentation. He engaged

the students by having them give instructions to the student ‘pilots’ through the headset and spoke of his duties, such as flying people with medical emergencies.

Some of the girls played the role of a stewardess.

Lt Rolle gave an interactive presentation about his duties and the different planes. “He also told the

students about the parts found on planes such as the yoke, rudder, wings, engines and the glass cockpit,” Ms Briel said. “The presentation was informative and engaging for the students.

Each child was able to touch the yoke and took pictures with the headset.”

The Ministry of Education Pre-School Division

WILLARD Patton Pre-School students serving the customers at Bahamasair. supports the use of the project approach, which is a programme centred on students rather than teachers.

Students were also able to travel to Bahamasair, where they greeted patrons and received tickets to different islands.

The culmination of the project was a display of

the students’ work from the four weeks of the programme and their experiences, which parents and guests came to the class to view.

“Overall, the project was a success and students would have answered all of their questions through real life experiences,” Ms Jacques said.

PAGE 12, Friday, April 7, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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TE A INTEGRATED Building Services presented the 10th annual Build A Bridge challenge. Students had to display creative structures that had to withstand the weight of sand in a bucket.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

Meet the young

engineers

US FIRES CRUISE MISSILES AT SYRIAN AIR BASE BEIRUT Associated Press

PRESIDENT Bashar Assad’s government came under mounting international pressure after a chemical attack in northern Syria, with even key ally Russia saying its support is not unconditional and the US launching a barrage of cruise missiles at a government-controlled air base in the country Thursday night.

Turkey, meanwhile, said samples from victims of Tuesday’s attack, which killed more than 80 people in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, indicate they were exposed to sarin, a highly toxic nerve agent.

Syria rejected the accusations, and Moscow warned against apportioning blame until an investigation has been carried out.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with The Associated Press that “unconditional support is not possible in this current world”.

But he added that “it is not correct to say that Moscow can convince Mr. Assad to do whatever is wanted in Moscow. This is totally wrong.”

Russia has provided military support for the Syrian government since September 2015, turning the balance of power in Assad’s favor. Moscow has used its veto power at the Security Council on several occasions since the civil war began six years ago to prevent sanctions against Damascus.

The two countries “enjoy a relationship of cooperation, of exchange of views and full mutual support,” said Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin. Assad and his army are “the only real power in Syria that can resist terrorists on the ground,” he said.

Syria maintains it didn’t use chemical weapons, blaming opposition fighters for stockpiling the chemicals. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the toxic agents were released when a Syrian airstrike hit a rebel chemical weapons arsenal and munitions factory on the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun.

“I stress, once again, that the Syrian Arab Army did not and will not use such weapons even against the terrorists who are targeting our people,” Syria’s Foreign

Minister Walid Moallem told reporters in Damascus.

US President Donald Trump said the attack crossed “many, many lines,” and put the blame squarely on Assad’s forces. Speaking Thursday on Air Force One, Trump said the attack “shouldn’t have happened, and it shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”

Late Thursday night, the United States fired cruise missiles into Syria in a surprise strike that marked a striking reversal for Trump, who warned as a candidate against the US getting pulled into the Syrian civil war, now in its seventh year.

About 60 US Tomahawk missiles, fired from warships in the Mediterranean Sea, targeted an air base in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that American officials believe Syrian government aircraft launched with a nerve agent, possibly sarin.

The president did not announce the attacks in advance, though he and other national security officials ratcheted up their warnings to the Syrian government throughout the day Thursday.

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