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PM: PLP govt is not perfect ‘Voters will look past high crime and unemployment’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MAKING it clear that his administration “never claimed to be perfect,” Prime Minister Perry Christie is confident that voters across the country will look past unflagging issues of high unemployment and crime to return the Progressive Liberal Party to office.

Mr Christie told crowds of supporters at a mini-rally in Marathon on Saturday that notwithstanding challenges, his government never stopped providing opportunities for Bahamians

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MAN SHOT DEAD THROUGH WINDOW OF FOX HILL HOME

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

POLICE have made an appeal for information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect who fatally shot a man through an apartment window as the victim was sitting in the living room on Saturday morning.

While the victim’s identity has not been officially released, police sources have identified him as Marcian SEE PAGE SIX

CARIFTA TRIUMPH FOR WATER POLO TEAM

and remained the “best investment” in the country’s future.

His comments come as parliamentarians prepare for the dissolution of Parliament on Tuesday, April 11, and the end of the government’s legislative agenda.

“We know that there are those of you who are looking for jobs,” he said, “who are looking for security, and who feel that more could have been done. We have never claimed to be perfect but I tell you this, we have never stopped working and providing opportunities for the people of this country.

SEE PAGE THREE

FNM LEADER DOUBTS VOTER REGISTER WILL BE CLEAN

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AS TODAY marks the close of the 2017 voter register, Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was doubtful that the Christie administration could produce a “clean” register before the electorate heads for the polls.

This, he said, was a “prerequisite” for a free and fair election.

Voter registration for the

impending election will end at 5pm today.

Following this, Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall and his department have 14 to 15 days to clean up the hundreds of reported errors presently on the register. There are currently around 167,000 voters on the register and to date Prime Minister Perry Christie has not announced the date when Bahamians can expect to head to the polls.

SEE PAGE SIX

ATHLETES show off their medals after the Carifta Water Polo Championships award presentation and ceremony. Both the under-19 and under-16 teams won medals, with the younger team landing gold. See Sports for the full story. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MITCHELL SAYS ‘FOLLOW THE MONEY’ BEFORE DECIDING WHO TO VOTE FOR

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

CAMPAIGN finance concerns are likely to be a mainstay for the 2017 election campaign cycle, with Cabinet minister and Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell warning Bahamians to “follow the money trail” in reference to opposition candidates.

Mr Mitchell underscored

the critical impact campaign financing had on the political independence and integrity of a candidate during a mini-rally at Claridge Park on Saturday.

As he raised speculation over the campaign of a Freeport candidate, the Fox Hill MP identified five sources for political contributions, and warned supporters to be critical of candidates that accepted large sums of money from

unknown sources.

“I want you all to follow the money trail,” Mr Mitchell said, “there is a candidate in Freeport who is spending money like it’s going out of style. When people spend money, there has got to be some visible means of support, where is the money coming from?

“In this country, there are only a couple of sources SEE PAGE EIGHT

PLP CHAIRMAN BLASTS MINNIS FOR ‘BAD’ CANDIDATES

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has castigated Free National Movement Lead-

er Dr Hubert Minnis saying his “failed leadership” has led the party to select “bad and unfit” candidates to run for the impending 2017 general election.

Speaking to supporters at a rally in Grand Bahama on

Friday, Mr Roberts alleged that FNM Golden Gates candidate Michael Foulkes was suspended from practising law in the United States.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE EIGHT

‘LETTER OF INTENT SIGNED’ FOR SALE OF GRAND LUCAYAN

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Perry Christie revealed on Friday night that a letter of intent for the sale and reopening of the Grand Lucayan Resort has been signed with a new purchaser, whose plans will significantly transform the hotel and the tourism product in Grand Bahama.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe led a team to Canada on Sunday to negotiate a heads of agreement to facilitate “an early completion of the sale,” Mr Christie said.

SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE CROWD at the PLP rally in the Marathon constituency on Saturday night.

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, Monday, April April 10,10, 2017, 2017, PAGE PAGE 3 3

PM: PLP govt is not perfect from page one

“And I have no doubt whatsoever that in the quietude of your homes when you think about it, you know if you’re going to make an investment in your future, the best investment you can make is in the PLP.” Mr Christie maintained his government’s record investment in education, and development of the Family Islands.

“Those who want their children or grandchildren to be educated,” Mr Christie said, “they must know, and if they don’t know, we have to tell them that at no time in the history of this country has more been done to lay the basis of the best possible education for our children.”

Mr Christie continued: “We live in a country that is spread over 100,000 square miles of water. People live through these islands they have come to expect that their government would show that they are aware of their needs.

“At no time in the history of this country have you had a government that has done more on all the islands together in the history of this country than my Progressive Liberal Party. We want to thank the birthday boy for an incredible job that he has done in the field of education in securing the future for our children.

“So when people have to make a choice when they

PRIME Minister Perry Christie addressing the crowd at a PLP rally in the Marathon constituency on Saturday night. ask themselves who they and the continuity of gov- Mitchell said there would the only thing you have to should vote for, look at the ernment jobs and projects be nothing to worry about worry about is if the FNM takes over in May. record. Look at the record was a central theme for if the PLP were re-elected.

“You’ve been hired by “If you vote PLP you and then when they look most of the candidates to the future and the chal- that took to the stage at the government and the don’t have to worry about lenges that will be in front Claridge Park to energise only way that will change is whether you’re going to of this country they must their party’s base and elic- if you elect the FNM to be lose your job after election, ask themselves, one by one it support for ground cam- the government. What you so don’t come asking us need to do on Election Day what’s going to happen afas they examine the candi- paigns.

Fox Hill MP Fred Mitch- is make sure the PLP is the ter Election Day. You have dates in this general election, which party has put ell remarked that area resi- government and then you that power in your hands, up the team that is the best dents have approached him don’t have to worry about vote PLP, you don’t have to about the cessation of gov- losing no job. worry.” team.

“Last year, the PM anFree Town candidate “I have no doubt that ernment job programmes. your Progressive Liberal Making a clear distinction nounced that 3,500 public Wayne Munroe urged supbetween the former admin- servants would go on the porters to “keep the FNM Party has the best team.”

The mini-rally marked istration’s 52-week plan, permanent and pension- out” if they wanted to enthe birthday of Marathon and his party’s “empow- able and that is happening sure that the Urban ReMP Jerome Fitzgerald, erment programme,” Mr right now as we speak. So newal 2.0 programme, and

other community investments continue.

“If they want the government to continue to love them they should vote PLP,” Mr Munroe said, “that is the only party that constantly shows its love for the people instead of things.”

For his part, Southern Shores MP Kenred Dorsett said: “This election is one of the most important elections in this country’s history if you want National Health Insurance vote PLP . . . if you want more jobs vote PLP.”

‘LETTER OF INTENT SIGNED’ FOR SALE OF GRAND LUCAYAN from page one

“It is really a privilege for me to say I have some good news for you,” he told jubilant Progressive Liberal Party supporters at a rally in Freeport at the party’s headquarters on Beachway Drive.

“We have been working hard, and I want the FNM to hear this. Just as we never gave up on Baha Mar, just as we worked around the clock to get Baha Mar open, we have been working very hard on hotel development on this island,” he said.

Mr Christie noted that the government is painfully aware of the impact that Hurricane Matthew has had in Grand Bahama, particularly regarding the extended closure of the Memories and Grand Lucayan hotels.

The island lost 40 per cent of its room inventory, its only casino and 1,100 jobs in the tourism industry following last October’s storm. The Hutchison Whampoa Group of Hong Kong, owners of the Grand Lucayan Resort, had also put the property up for sale over a year ago.

Prime Minister Christie said that he is very excited about the sale and the pro-

posed plans by the new purchaser, who has not yet been revealed.

“What I am about to say is what I come to Grand Bahama to announce tonight,” he said Friday. “It has to do with the sale and reopening of the Lucayan Hotel property.

“I have this afternoon been given permission to speak to this issue. On Sunday, the Minister of Tourism (Obie Wilchcombe) will fly to Toronto, leading a team to negotiate on what I am about to say. Yesterday (Thursday), a letter of intent for the sale was signed for a new purchaser which provides for an early closure of the purchase of the (Grand Lucayan) hotel,” said Mr Christie.

According to the nation’s leader, the prospective new owner has plans not only to upgrade the property, but to also to bring in recognised operators for the three hotels and casino, plus additional tour operators with connections from multiple North American cities.

The government, he said, is working with the new purchaser/developer for the creation of a “compelling and exciting destination experience, which will completely transform and expand the product offer-

TWO MEN IN HOSPITAL AFTER LATEST SHOOTINGS POLICE are seeking the public’s help in locating the suspects responsible for two separate shooting incidents that left two men in hospital on Sunday.

In the first incident, shortly before 1am, a man, who was attending a party, was standing in front of a home at Pine Yard Road, when he was shot.

Police said the occupants of a white Honda vehicle pulled up and shot him before speeding off. The man was taken to hospital where he remains in stable condition.

A few minutes later, shortly after 1am, a man was walking on Cowpen Road just west of Faith Avenue, when a man armed with a handgun approached him and shot him before fleeing on foot. The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in stable condition.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 919, the nearest police station or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS.

ing in Lucaya with lasting results, and not just a short term fix.”

Mr Christie said when the PLP came into office five years ago, the Reef Village was closed and tourism was in the doldrums and the property was being heavily subsidised by the Free National Movement administration.

“Within 12 months, my government started to turn things around with the refurbished Memories Resort and numerous airlifts from Canada in an arrangement with Sunwing. Unfortunately, as a result of the devastation of Hurricane Matthew, the property has been closed for several months,” he said.

Mr Christie said “a lot of people are still waiting for changes to touch their lives” in Grand Bahama.

In addition to the hotel sale, Mr Christie also revealed that Carnival Cruise Line has fully agreed with the terms of the Heads of Agreement for a $200m cruise port in East Grand

Bahama. He reported that Carnival and the Freeport Harbour Company are now in the final stages of settling the legal documentation.

“The economic benefits and entrepreneurial opportunities for East Grand Bahama as well as Freeport from this project will be enormous,” Mr Christie said.

The new port will take two years to build.

Mr Christie explained that this has been made possible after his administration negotiated an agreement for a waiver of exclusive rights that were granted to Hutchison to own and operate ports in Grand Bahama.

In 1994, he said the FNM signed an agreement with Hutchison that gave them the right to control all port development not just in Freeport, but all of Grand Bahama. “We had to negotiate to get more latitude of a better position for investors, including Bahamians,” he said.

Mr Christie also intro-

duced the PLP’s candidates vying for the five constituency seats in Grand Bahama: educator and coach Norris Bain for Marco City; Reverend Preston Cooper for East Grand Bahama; business professional Julian Russell for Central Grand Bahama; Dr Michael Darville for Pineridge; and Mr Wilchcombe, for West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

He said that government

has commenced over $100m in investments in Grand Bahama, including the Fishing Hole Road Bridge, new fire station, reservation and ground breaking of government buildings and sports complex, upgrade to the Rand Hospital and clinics, a seawall in Smith’s Point, government houses, and $28m allocated for a new Freeport Community Clinic.

PAGE 4, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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Donald Trump forced to tone down his rhetoric?

WHATEVER happened to the blustering Donald Trump, who promised to show the world how he was going to put an expansionist China in its place and make “America First” again? Of course, we did not realise that America was not first, but that is the gospel according to Trump — a gospel, which, after only 40 days in office, we have decided to ignore.

After his threats of what he was going to tell China’s President Xi Jinping, President Trump’s attitude seemed to change to “brother let’s sit down and break bread together.”

“We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China,” the US president announced after the two-day summit at his luxury Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

But what had seemingly mellowed Mr Trump? Had he looked to the south of him — in the direction of The Bahamas — and seen the strength of China in our islands? Had his eyes wandered to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea to discover an even more active China among those islands? He probably got palpitations when he looked towards the Panama Canal on the Pacific side and saw that from both ends of that canal President Xi had locked him in.

Mr Trump planned to build a wall to keep the Mexicans out, not realising that China had already occupied the US’s safety moat on the Atlantic side. What had happened to the Munroe Doctrine?

Written by President James Munroe and announced in his seventh annual message to Congress on December 2, 1823, it was the former colonists’ protective moat, forcing the Europeans, especially the English, to respect the Western Hemisphere as America’s exclusive area of influence.

“We owe it, therefore,” according to the Munroe Doctrine, “to candour and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety.”

What must Mr Trump have thought when he realised the true position his country was now in. Did he wonder if he might be in a similar situation as what is now happening in the South China Seas, where China is trying to exert control of the area through possession of a couple of small islands?

Whatever the reason, the two leaders parted with President Trump seemingly in a more subdued and conciliatory mood.

Here at The Tribune we have always considered China’s presence in our islands political, rather than a desire to invest and create jobs for Bahamians.

Rather they have relieved their labour problems in China by bringing their own workers with them. They have been of little help to our jobless Bahamians. For example, it has always been said that the location of Hutchison Whampoa in Freeport was the reward for The Bahamas agreeing to invite the Taiwanese embassy – the People’s Republic of China (PRC) — to leave The Bahamas so that diplomatic relations could be established with the Republic of China. This was done on May 23, 1997. Less than two months later, the Republic of China (ROC) - in recognition of the One China policy— was fully settled in The Bahamas. The Taiwanese embassy had left.

It was all over the fight as to whether the People’s Republic of China (Taiwan) should also have a seat in the United Nations. Mainland China was one of the charter members of the UN and one of

the permanent members of its security council. The argument was that China should have only one representative in the UN and that one should be mainland China – the ROC – and not break-away Taiwan, the People’s Republic. Mainland China was determined that Taiwan was not to be a UN member and so the ROC travelled the length and breadth of the Caribbean enticing those islands with Taiwanese embassies to order them out to be replaced by Beijing. Many of the Caribbean islands got a sports stadium as their reward, as did The Bahamas.

At the time of the fight over the UN seat, and closing the door on Taiwan, we were very concerned for the future of The Bahamas. In our opinion when it came to freedoms, human rights and democracy in general, the ideas of the Taiwanese and those of mainland China were poles apart. As we expressed our fears for the future, the other person with whom we were talking, jokingly quoted the late Sir Etienne Dupuch, who, in another context, had once remarked that The Bahamas was “only a pimple on the backside of the world”. In other words we were too small to be of significance. We disagreed.

We believed that sometime in the future that little pimple would not only grown in size, but also in importance. Is that day here and now with China having invested so heavily in our islands?

If anything goes wrong we have only the PLP government to blame. They fell for the bait, hook, line and sinker – taking The Bahamas with it.

Already Baha Mar, which was supposed to be the gem of the Caribbean — despite its rushed opening to try to regain its reputation — is attracting much unwanted international publicity for the Bahamas.

“Over the past several years,” wrote Evan Siegfried last Thursday in the “Daily Beast”, “countries in the Caribbean and Central America have seen the Chinese seek to expand their influence. Between 2003 and 2012, Chinese investment in the regions increased 500 per cent even as American investment declined. As a result, China has gained a foothold in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Antigua, Panama, and many other countries with geographical proximity to the United States.”

And, he continued, “according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, the American embassy in The Bahamas repeatedly expressed alarm at China’s moves to invest in The Bahamas and other Caribbean nations. Yet, both the Bush and Obama administrations failed to counter China’s actions and aggressive expansion.

“The Bahamas are a nation where up until recently, Americans would invest, work, and vacation. Tourism accounts for over 60 per cent of its GDP, and it used to be filled with resorts that were either owned or financed by American companies. Taking advantage of the Great Recession, Chinese government-owned banking and construction companies moved into The Bahamas with Chinese financing and labour to facilitate major infrastructure projects, from a sports stadium to roads to hotel construction and ownership, making the Bahamian government and The Bahamas itself entirely dependent on China for its economic future.”

Siegfried’s article is interesting and should be read by all Bahamians so that they will understand what is happening to our country.

See: – http://www.thedailybeast.com/ articles/2017/04/06trump-s-americafirst-approach-abandons-the-monroedoctrine-and-puts-china-ahead.html

The tower of Babel EDITOR, The Tribune “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it”. Psalm 127:1.

WE HAVE seen some strange events take place over the past few days that are incredibly baffling.

One day an announcement is made that the Junkanoo Carnival is postponed, and a new date will

be decided. The new date is announced, and confirmed by the Prime Minister, only to be reversed, a few days later. All of this is happening, in the face of a pending general election, which must be held in just a few days.

The entire ordeal has the heads of Bahamians spinning in confusion. It is my hope that that was not the real intent.

The truth is, “Except the

Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it”.

The building of the Junkanoo Carnival house, was not by the Lord, so like the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), it has resulted in confusion, and after the elections, will come to an inglorious end.

PASTOR JEREMIAH DUNCOMBE Lead of The Gatekeepers April 9, 2017

The Carnival merry-go-round EDITOR, The Tribune.

TO some Bahamians, the world came to an end this week because Perry Christie postponed Carnival.

If only we had more pressing issues in this country to get exercised about.

Like maybe if we had an election coming, or about our crumbling economy, or crime, or the parlous state of our education system.

These issues will have to wait because we must first wine and dance and shakeup we self. Wining and gorging won’t solve anything but at least we will get a nice buzz while doing it.

Carnivalistas need to chill. So, the third annual running of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival got pushed back a few days? Big deal.

The vendors who will be out of pocket, the few tourists who would have to tussle with airlines and hotels about changed travel dates, and with employers about changed vacation schedules have a legitimate complaint.

For the rest of the festival-goers, if Monday falls on a Friday they ain’t care.

They just want to party.

The mother of Caribbean carnivals, the pre-Lent bash held in Trinidad & Tobago, has been postponed a few times since 1845 when it first started. As recently as 2015 there was advice given to the government there to postpone carnival as a precaution over the Ebola fears. It went ahead anyhow.

In 1972 carnival was postponed from February to May because of a fear over polio. How did the Trinis react? In song, of course.

Their jokey lyrics about the postponement, were made ever more hilarious by the fact that the heavy rains of

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net May washed away the festival that year.

It was not the end of the road back then. Carnival roared back. It has come close to postponement before, but mostly because of funding issues. Funding issues have led to postponement of carnival in other jurisdictions such as Jamaica.

But money won’t stop we carnival. Christie will scrape every last penny from the VAT cookie jar to make sure the carnival committee has money to waste.

I submit that in our faux outrage over the postponement of carnival we missed the larger point about the failure of leadership and about poor political judgment. Christie failed miserably on both. He postponed carnival in a wishy-washy attempt to try and get us to de-link frolicking in the street from the solemn duty of voting.

He weaseled out of taking responsibility for his postponement decision by saying that it was the carnival organizers who had recommended it. Then Christie somehow woke up the hibernating Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchombe and said “my brother this on you”.

Wilchombe quickly passed that poisoned chalice to the functionaries in his ministry and promptly went back to his dreams about lottery tickets and gaming.

Christie’s judgment was called into question again because once again he rolled the dice on an important social issue and he came up 7-out (i.e. he luck

bad). If given a chance Christie will continue to play craps with the economy and with the society for another five years.

And to underscore that he is a flawed leader who craves approval but caves at the slightest blowback, Christie reversed himself 48 hours later and said that the on-again-off-again carnival on May 4-6 was now on-again.

Weak and indecisive leadership will not get the ship of state off the rocks and back on course. These times demand a leader who will stand up for what he believes and will defend it provided it was a wise and prudent decision in the first place.

Those visitors who rushed to pay the $250 airline change fee when Christie first made the postponement and now have to pay another $250 to change back, can vouch for the fact that indecisiveness can be costly. Now think about our $6 billion national debt and how weak leadership will cause us to have to pay more in interest to service that mortgage.

For the rest of us who know Perry Christie, his flip-flopping was just business as usual. However, running a country isn’t like an illicit game of throwing bones in an alley. But you probably stand better odds of winning a dice game than you would waiting for Christie to show some true grit.

Maybe carnival headliner Trinidadian Machel Montano can give Christie a few tips on how to lead “Like a Boss”.

THE GRADUATE Nassau, April 8, 2017.

Signs of election season EDITOR, The Tribune I AM so glad to see residents finally taking the initiative and working together. As I travel across New Providence, I see lots of activities going on.

Just this week, I saw a community park being properly cleaned up. The benches and tables have been painted, the community centre has been painted and the swings are being repaired or replaced. I even saw residents giving out bags of groceries to their peers.

Additionally, I have heard that several grill outs have been planned in several constituencies. And

guess what? They are all free. All you have to do is show up, eat, drink and be merry.

The activities happening now have a stark resemblance to the activities that occurred around this same time in 2012, when residents attended meetings in mass on public parks, basketball courts and in constituency offices.

I even heard that some persons were compiling a list so that some small contracts can be awarded to people of a particular political persuasion and to persons who need persuasion.

Finally, I even saw a neighbourhood friend driving a car draped with politi-

cal paraphernalia. He has been unemployed for over a year. He told me he got a small job making errands and that if his party is returned to power, he is supposed to get a government job. Lucky him.

Something is definitely in the air and it is called the election season.

If only communities would organise themselves on a consistent basis and lead the way as opposed to politicians giving us handouts every five years for our vote. What if?

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau April 9, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 10, 2017, PAGE 5

Police Staff Association ‘has refused to meet over NHI’

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE NATIONAL Health Insurance Secretariat has suggested that Police Staff Association executives have refused to meet with the government to address uncertainty over the insurance plans that the armed forces now enjoy.

An email obtained by The Tribune and sent to PSA Chairman Inspector Dwight Smith last week from NHI Secretariat Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs stressed that despite the uncertainty and to his knowledge, the armed forced will experience no reduction in their ability to access facilities as they do now under private insurers.

In response, PSA executive chairman Dwight Smith said yesterday that the association has not refused to meet with officials, but that it was more of a matter of scheduling.

In his email, Mr Deveaux-Isaacs said: “I note that in spite (of) an offer to have the minister clear up any confusion there may be and (to) give the necessary assurances even in writing, the security forces have decided to maintain a specific mantra that is far from being correct.

“I know you to (be) an honourable man and one of great restraint, so I don’t hold you responsible for continuing the impasse and know that I hold no grief for the political directorate.

But in the interests of your members, I think a clear

DWIGHT SMITH, executive chairman of the Police Staff Association. assurance from them that there is no plan or intention to tamper with your insurance is needed.

“I repeat, to my knowledge, you will enjoy no reduction in your ability to access the facilities you now do under your private insurers. You will continue to pay the co pays and deductibles you now pay associated with them, that you complained are too high.

“NHI deals with primary care services. These have been defined and posted. There are no co pays, no deductibles, no restriction on age or island of residence (and) absolutely no cost at the point of service. Access is at both private and public health centres. In fact you will find that many of the doctors and centres you now visit have signed up under NHI.”

He added: “Secondary and top up service is not the business of NHI. That is solely the business of your private insurer. This is a privilege that is bestowed on you by virtue of the work you do. I know as you would recall I was instrumental in agitating and negotiating the private insurance you now have.

“But Dwight, 200,000 Bahamians are not so fortunate. Government has to do

something for them. These are the assurances Minister of Labour (Shane) Gibson and other government ministers and the NHI team would have given you and your colleagues, some associations and some unions last Monday.

“I think we missed an opportunity to put this greatly misunderstood matter to rest. The present political climate breeds cynicism and distrust mak-

ing it difficult to comprehend and separate politics from policy. So that you know we are still available should you wish to accept our offer to have that meeting,” he said.

The NHI Act came into force last week.

Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez said last week that a pared down version of NHI’s primary care phase may still be launched this month.

SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS RISE TO THE RANK OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER NEW Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.

NEW Deputy Commissioner Emrick Seymour.

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force announced yesterday the promotions of two senior police officers to the rank of deputy commissioner.

Former Senior Assistant Commissioners Anthony Ferguson and Emrick Seymour received the promotions, which took effect on January 1.

Deputy Commissioner Ferguson heads the RBPF’s Disciplinary Tribunal, Complaints & Corruption Branch, and Force Inspections and Review Branch at Police Headquarters in New Providence.

Deputy Commissioner Seymour heads the Grand Bahama district, which includes the Abaco and Bimini divisions.

In a press release, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade congratulated the two officers.

NHI SECRETARIAT DISMISSES CONCERN OVER NUMBER OF DOCTORS SIGNED UP

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE National Health Insurance Secretariat is rebuffing criticism of the number of doctors who have registered with the institution as primary healthcare providers.

“There is a claim that providers who have signed on for NHI Bahamas represent less than 10 per cent of doctors on the medical register,” the NHI Secretariat said in a statement.

“Only primary care providers have been invited to register to provide services under NHI Bahamas.

There are currently 306 eligible primary care providers in The Bahamas from both the public and private sectors.

“Over 60 physicians in the private sector have applied with NHI Bahamas,

and this number will be further augmented by primary care providers in the public sector, across the country, from the Department of Public Health and Public Hospitals Authority.”

The NHI Secretariat was responding to an article in Tribune Business that was published last Friday. Dr Duane Sands, using the 10 per cent figure, argued that the NHI’s provider registration numbers showed a lack of enthusiasm among doctors for the scheme.

“As the (NHI) Act has come into force, the (NHI) Secretariat expects the list of private sector primary care providers to grow, with providers looking forward to providing health care services to Bahamians. The secretariat continues to accept applications, even as round one of the registration has closed,” the NHI

Secretariat said.

The institution also sought to rebuff claims about the NHI Authority, saying that it is not the result of a merger between the Department of Public Health and the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA).

“The NHIA is an organisation established by the NHI Act of 2016 which came into force on April 5, 2017, independently of the aforementioned agencies.

The Department of Public Health and Public Hospitals Authority continue to operate individually, under the Ministry of Health.

“To note, the amalgamation of the DPH and PHA into the Bahamas Health Services Authority is proposed under draft legislation, in order to facilitate better access to health care services and quality of care for Bahamians in the public health sector.”

“These police executives have, over many years, served the Bahamas with distinction,” he said.

“Through their professionalism and commitment to duty, they have ascended to the prestigious rank of deputy commissioner and I ap-

plaud their appointments. I am confident that they will continue to serve with courage, integrity, and loyalty and further commit themselves to our strategic vision for policing the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”

The decisions were made

in accordance to provisions of the Constitution, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Perry Christie and after consultation with the leader of the Official Opposition, Loretta ButlerTurner, according to a press release from the RBPF.

PAGE 6, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

MAN SHOT DEAD THROUGH WINDOW OF FOX HILL HOME from page one

“Bones” Edgecombe, a man who was charged with the shooting death of a reserve police officer outside a popular laundromat on Prince Charles Drive several years ago.

However, the charge was dropped when the case went to trial months later.

Edgecombe is said to be in his thirties and well known to police. His death is the 41st homicide for the first four months of the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander told The Tribune yesterday that police are following some lines of inquiry, but none of these has led to a suspect being taken into custody.

The incident happened early Saturday morning in the community of Fox Hill.

“Anyone with information is asked to come forward with any information they might have,” Chief Supt Fernander said yesterday.

“Right now we are following many lines of inquiry but we don’t have anyone in custody.

“So we are asking people to please come forward.”

The victim was said to be sitting with relatives in an apartment on Springfield Road, Fox Hill when the shooting occurred.

“Shortly after 8am this morning, the deceased along with family members, they were in their apartment building, the deceased was sitting in the living room near to a window when an unknown male fired several shots into to the residence. As a result the deceased was shot to the body,” Chief Supt Fernander said at the scene of the murder on Saturday.

He appealed to local residents to come forward with any information, adding that based on preliminary enquiries the police “feel good where we are at at this time with the investigation to bring some speedy conclusion to this matter.”

He added: “As we move about and investigate matters and deal and seek out a number of prolific offenders, sometime you just arrive on the scene and to be able to recognise the individual and the face of them in and out of custody. This is one of those matters.”

Police have no motive for the crime, Chief Superintendent Fernander said.

THE SCENE of a murder in Fox Hill.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

FNM LEADER DOUBTS VOTER REGISTER WILL BE CLEAN from page one

Last Thursday, FNM Chairman Sidney Collie raised “grave concerns” regarding the election register, pointing to the discovery of 72 pages of duplicate registrations, names printed of persons born over 200 years ago and some who were born in 2017.

He described this as “negligence” and “ineptitude,” saying 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.

Dr Minnis said in a press statement on Saturday that if the Christie administration operated with any “semblance” of competence, the countless errors would not exist at all.

The statement followed a press conference at the FNM’s headquarters

Thursday where Mr Collie addressed the party’s concerns. Dr Minnis was not in attendance.

“Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall (has) attempted to assure Bahamians that the register— containing hundreds of errors—would be cleaned up within 14 to 15 days from the date of its closure,” Dr Minnis said in his statement.

“The register is in such disarray that we have no faith in the government’s ability to produce a clean register, which is a prerequisite to a free and fair election. The experiences of the 1987 general election and the recent referendum conducted by the Progressive Liberal Party are glaring examples that the PLP is incapable of managing this basic responsibility that is so necessary for the holding of free and fair elections.

“If the Christie govern-

ment operated with any semblance of competence, these countless number of errors would not exist at all.

This government has shown a dangerous indifference towards the implementation of our elections under their rule,” he said.

“Recently the government has engaged in a well-planned effort to disenfranchise voters, including turning away Bahamian women trying to register, subjecting them to an unknown dress code. A phantom dress code that is not found in the rules of conduct for public officers nor in the Parliamentary Elections Act.” He continued: “In addition to the long delays this Christie government orchestrated surrounding the boundaries report, they have shown a concerted pattern of disenfranchising the voters as their grip on power continues to slip away.

With all the ineptitude and shenanigans going on at the Parliamentary Registration Department it is no wonder that the Bahamian people are worried about a rigged election.

“Bahamians are now forced to simply wait and hope that this government does in fact mitigate the hundreds of discrepancies in the voter register to ensure a fair election. The Deputy Prime Minister (Philip Davis) may not be concerned of voter fraud, but Bahamians don’t share his irrational confidence.

“For five years they have watched this PLP government manipulate and disassemble their way through one egregious debacle after another. Let’s hope that Bahamians will soon have an opportunity to remove this tyrannical government from power. It is our sincere hope that this election is not rigged for one side. Rest as-

sured the FNM will do everything within its power to make sure Bahamians are given a free, fair and democratic election,” Dr Minnis said.

Despite the push on all political sides for Bahamians to get out and register to vote, Mr Collie said last week that Parliamentary Registration officials were still “putting road blocks” at some registration centres.

These obstacles, he said, deny Bahamians the opportunity to exercise their free and democratic rights.

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.”

Mr Hall has vowed that his department will clean up the voter register and “get it right” after a report in The Nassau Guardian revealed a myriad of errors last week. Attempts to reach him yesterday were unsuccessful up to press time.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 10, 2017, PAGE 7

‘Parties not reaching out to Haitian communities’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net POLITICIANS across the political divide have failed to address immigration challenges in their respective platforms, according to radio personality and community activist Louby Georges, who says that parties have decided to “play it safe” with the hot-button issue to the detriment of unregularised persons of Haitian descent and their families.

Taking the temperature of attitudes expressed by Bahamians of Haitian descent, Mr Georges told The Tribune that while the community appeared to be leaning against the Progressive Liberal Party, there has been no distinctive policy from the Free National Movement or the Democratic National Alliance that would differentiate political hopefuls from the incumbent party. “(The Haitian community), they are very much interested,” Mr Georges said. “They’re keeping a keen eye on things just like everybody else but there is a major issue going on right now but nobody is addressing: immigration. (Political parties) They would breeze right over it, but what is your detailed or outlined plan for dealing with issues.

“Before campaigning season, if you asked someone what was the top three issues it would be crime, education or jobs, and immigration. But yet no one is addressing this thing, and the community is wondering what is going on.

“Obviously it’s that before campaign season kicked in high gear everybody was talking about,” he said.

“All the fringe parties, independents, everyone was talking about it. But now we’re in a position where everybody wants to play politics. What has the FNM proposed to them (the Haitian community)?

This is the same FNM who said they stand shoulder to shoulder with the PLP over these immigration changes (and) who voted in favour of all of it in the House of Assembly.

“Now where is the FNM’s voice, where is the DNA, what are they saying about these things? They don’t want to say anything because they don’t want to piss off Bahamians. As serious as this issue is, it would appear that everyone has

LOUBY GEORGES just decided let’s just leave that one alone.”

Parliament is slated to be dissolved on Tuesday; bringing an end to the Progressive Liberal Party’s legislative agenda this term.

Of the bevy of legislation passed this term, the government’s immigration policy was notably one of the most contentious with the fallout in migrant communities following its implementation grabbing international headlines.

Mr Georges was part of the Bahamian delegation of activists that travelled to Washington, DC, to highlight alleged human rights violations resulting from the government’s immigration policy that was implemented in November 2014.

He told The Tribune on Friday that there were still major issues with the policy. “(The Haitian community) is obviously leaning against the PLP,” he said, “but nobody is really coming out and saying anything.

They want to hear what you are going to do in regards to getting people properly documented, and a policy that deals with the turnaround time at the Department of Immigration.

“Then the belonger’s permit, that is a major issue, they want to know what is going to be done in regards to people who apply for citizenship, and while waiting they are asking them to apply for work permits which is $1,000.”

Mr Georges said: “The belonger’s permit was initially for everybody that falls in the being born to immigrant parents category. But then they came back and changed it and it’s still for people born to immigrant parents, but you

would have to fall into a certain age category now.”

Mr Georges said that persons over the age of 18 require a work permit, which he argues is expensive and indentures an applicant to a Bahamian employer indefinitely, increasing risks for exploitation in an already vulnerable group.

“If you reach 19 and you applied for citizenship and you’re waiting, the belonger’s permit is not for you,” Mr Georges said.

“They are asking those persons to apply for a work permit, and now to apply they have to find a Bahamian employer who is willing to sign for them.

“Those are the issues surrounding immigration that they are concerned about.

Along with certainly children being registered and admitted to schools, some children are getting in, some schools are still doing shit.”

For his part, Mr Georges suggested that the policy be amended to allow qualified applicants to hold permanent residency status while their citizenship application was being processed - which could take more than five years to be completed.

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

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration pointed out that the woman was granted citizenship on February 28, 2017, some nine years after she applied.

Mr Georges said: “If someone qualifies for citizenship you would know, at the very least what we should do at that time is give a permanent residency certificate so the only thing these individuals would

not be able to do is vote. If you apply and we make a determination that it’s met the requirements and we’re going to accept the application, we say ok pay whatever processing fee and next month pick up your permanent residency certificate, at least something.

“We talk about integration and assimilation but it’s easy for a child to do that who is in school. But as an adult,” he said, “how do I blend in as an adult when I can’t open up a bank account, find a proper job, go off to college or university, when I can’t go to cable to open up an account? You’re telling me to integrate but is the door really open?”

Mr Georges said: “It’s keeping not only the Haitian community back it’s keeping The Bahamas back. These are people who were born here, not people who made a conscious decision to migrate to The Bahamas. We need these people to be contributing to the growth and development of

The Bahamas, paying taxes.

We need their brain power to present new ideas. The most important resource of every country is its people and we are strategically or intentionally holding back some of our own people,” he added, “it doesn’t benefit the Bahamas.”

Last October, former Attorney General and the PLP’s Fort Charlotte candidate Alfred Sears called for an amnesty period for undocumented migrants that have a “genuine link” to the country, and the regularisation of those living and working in the Bahamas for more than 15 years.

Mr Sears zeroed in on the hot-button issue of immigration as part of a multi-faceted plan for social reform, a part of his leadership challenge platform. The platform did not specify a timeline for the amnesty or eligibility criteria. Mr Sears lost the leadership race to incumbent leader Prime Minister Perry Christie.

PAGE 8, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Mitchell says ‘follow the money’ before deciding who to vote for from page one

for political contributions the white rich Bahamian, the people in Lyford Cay, the numbers boys, or your own money, or someone is contributing from outside the country, that’s the last thing.

So the question is when you start spending large sums of money and it doesn’t come from one of those sources, you have to ask yourself where is it coming from?”

Mr Mitchell said: “And if it’s coming from someone we don’t know, the question is who will you be working for if you get elected to office? Next time I come on this stage, I’ll finish this story but I tell them, I tell you and I leave it to you to follow the money trail.

“When or if you happen to get into the office, who will you be working for? The Bahamian people or the people paying for the tune?”

FRED MITCHELL, Fox Hill MP in the House of Assembly.

Shortly after being elected to office in May 2012, Prime Minister Perry Christie committed his government to campaign finance legislation talks, going so far as to state that the practice of politicians using money to persuade voters had deteriorated to “repugnant” and sometimes “criminal” levels over the previous 15 years.

Four years later, however, Mr Christie acknowledged that passing a law to address the issue has not been one of his administration’s highest priorities.

Some have found the PLP’s concerns over campaign finance tone-deaf, given the claims surrounding its relationship with fashion mogul and Lyford Cay billionaire Peter Nygard.

Recordings of Mr Nygard were filed last year as part of the murder-for-hire lawsuit waged against him by Save the Bays, wherein he is purported to claim that he donated $5m to the PLP in the runup to the last general election.

In the recordings, Mr Nygard further claims that Mr Christie made promises to him that he had not kept.

Turning his focus to the Free National Movement, Mr Mitchell insisted on Saturday that former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette’s return to frontline politics as the party’s candidate for St Anne’s was a thinly veiled plot to usurp Dr Hubert Minnis’ leadership.

Mr Mitchell charged that it was Mr Symonette who “

manoeuvered” Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner to replace Dr Minnis as the leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, and then subsequently abandoned her to face the consequence while he remained a party supporter.

“The question is why did that happen?” Mr Mitchell asked. “We believe it’s because he wants to succeed his father as premier and then prime minister of The Bahamas. So what he’s done is gotten rid of Loretta Butler-Turner out of the FNM, and set it up so that he can take over the FNM if the FNM comes into office, and worse, if they lose.”

He continued: “The question is whose interest is Brent Symonette going to be serving? The question is will he be serving the best interest of the Bahamian people?

Now they tell us don’t worry about this because they say Brent Symonette has no

interest in taking over the FNM. Well if you believe that you believe there’s a man in the moon.”

The Fox Hill MP questioned whether the party will represent the interests of Bahamians over the interests of former Baha Mar owner Sarkis Izmirlian. He also renewed his party’s claims against Lyford Cay billionaire Louis Bacon, whom he described as a disgruntled billionaire that hated the PLP and funnelled money into environmental action group Save The Bays to serve that end.

“The FNM has some people who are representing some rich billionaires overseas,” he said.

“This the party who has three people who used to work for Sarkis Izmirlian. This is the multimillionaire failed at Baha Mar. He’s bitter, he’s angry, but he’s got people who used to work for them who are now FNM candidates. The

question is if they are elected to office, will they be represent the people of the Bahamas or will they be representing Sarkis Izmirlian.”

On STB, Mr Mitchell claimed: “We found out, your representative (Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald), told the House of Assembly that $8m passed through their (STB) accounts to fight the PLP. When we found out, we found out that $15m was coming so we blew the whistle.

“Today they are paying ads, they have got two people who are connected with them running for the House of Assembly, they are FNM candidates.

“The question is if the FNM is elected to office will they be running for and representing Louis Bacon and Save The Bays or will they be representing the Bahamian people? That is the question you have to ask the FNM.”

Mr Mackey admitted to owing the government $9,500 and paid the money owed shortly after Mr Roberts made the allegation.

Meanwhile, Mr Roberts pointed to the opposition party’s troubled past where MPs, senators, chairmen and candidates “abandoned” Dr Minnis.

Mr Roberts suggested that the infighting that once defined the FNM was a snapshot of how a Minnis led administration would operate.

He said: “The candidates selections of the FNM strikes at the foundation of the quality of any successful leader and that is the attribute of judgment. Minnis, I remind you, was ambushed and removed as the Official Opposition leader because of poor judgment.”

Mr Roberts said both Mr

Foulkes and Mr Mackey were “unfit” candidates. He said the picks were the result of “the flimsiest of vetting systems.”

“Under his leadership (Dr Minnis), seven MPs, six senators and two national chairmen and three candidates abandoned him,” Mr Roberts said on Friday at the PLP’s headquarters in Grand Bahama. “Some said they lacked confidence in his leadership; some said he was dishonest and not a man of his word and therefore could not be trusted and some have called him corrupt.

“It is no secret that he struggled to keep his party together and I am advised that the infighting continues regardless of the amount of lipstick they try to put on that pig.

“How a leader of a political party leads and manages

his party’s affairs is a dress rehearsal for how he would lead a government. The verdict among Bahamians is that he is a failed leader.

“This brings me to Minnis’ selected candidates.

Howard ‘Rickey’ Mackey in North Eleuthera is a bad candidate and I will drop some more bombshells after he is nominated; another is their Golden Gates candidate Michael Augustine Foulkes suspension to practice law in the USA strongly conveys that he is an unfit candidate,” he claimed.

Mr Roberts further hit out at the selection of Michael Pintard as the FNM’s pick for Marco City. Mr Pintard resigned as chairman of the FNM and from the Senate over his involvement in investigations that led to a contentious lawsuit against Peter Nygard on

March 21, 2016. Mr Pintard insisted that his resignation was not an admission of guilt.

Added Mr Roberts: “Michael Pintard is another bad and unfit candidate, we can see through Michael Pintard, it is inexplicable, disrespectful and arrogant that Michael Pintard could pass the flimsiest of vetting systems to become a candidate for high office. If Pintard was forced to resign in disgrace from the Senate and as FNM national chairman, then what makes him suitable for the House of Assembly?

“Can anyone tell me where is Pintard working? Who is providing him the monies he is throwing around and building a big new house I am told out of his pocket? Some say he is on the payroll of Save the

Bays and loose lip Fred Smith. Something is stink in Denmark and it is not the cheese, ladies and gentlemen.

“When the FNM talks about it being ‘the people’s time’ we know just who ‘people’ they mean,” he added.

“And these people know how weak of a leader Minnis is. Brent Symonette and his boys, (Dionisio) D’Aguilar, Marvin Dames, Jeff Lloyd and others under the spell of (former Baha Mar developer) Sarkis (Izmirlian), and of course Save the Bays, have all said to themselves, if (Long Island MP) Loretta (Butler-Turner) could dislodge Minnis, so can they. Be careful Grand Bahama. A vote for Minnis and the FNM, is a vote for a nightmare waiting to happen,” Mr Roberts said.

PLP CHAIRMAN BLASTS MINNIS FOR ‘BAD’ CANDIDATES from page one

However, when contacted yesterday FNM Chairman Sidney Collie said the claim was not true. He said Mr Foulkes had not been suspended. Attempts to reach Mr Foulkes up to press time were unsuccessful.

In reference to businessman Howard “Rickey” Mackey, the FNM’s candidate for North Eleuthera, Mr Roberts said he would “drop some more bombshells” once the candidate nominated to run in the election.

Last month, Mr Roberts revealed during a campaign rally that Mr Mackey owed the Bahamas government thousands of dollars in customs duties which he committed in writing to pay, but did not.

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the stories behind the news

insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017

Handouts v hand up P

erry Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) have been abusing us for years. It is a fact, and the sooner we come to accept it, the better off we will be as a people.

As we stand on the edge of the official start of the 2017 political season, we must acknowledge such things and come to grips with both where we are and where we would like the Bahamas to be.

Right now, the Bahamas is sinking in a flood of violent crime, with one murder after the other, where a gang culture has taken root in our public and private schools.

Right now, the Bahamas is gripped with crushing unemployment and rampant corruption at almost every level of Government.

In days gone by, we as people had something the old folks use to call shame.

That, however, has faded quickly and been replaced by a culture of greed and handouts, where everyone is looking for their next ‘quick fix’. This political season will - by far - be the

Malcolm J Strachan questions why PLP support is so strong in areas where their party has left them among the most impoverished, depressed, unserved and crime-ridden in the Bahamas worst yet.

We were told a story yesterday of an Opposition party member walking up to a home that traditionally supports the PLP in a neighbourhood that is at best described as depressed and crime-ridden. The family members, all eight of them from the home, sat outside as the politician walked up to hand out their pamphlets and discuss national issues with the voting members of the family.

They were interrupted immediately and told if there wasn’t any money either rolled up in their hand, or in their pamphlet, they could keep moving on from the house as they would be supporting the PLP. The candidate challenged the

home to think beyond the handouts and see the larger picture of their circumstances and give another party a chance at representing them. The matriarch ended the discussion by explaining that she needed to purchase her pressure medication so unless they were talking in dollars and cents, there was little conversation to be had.

The candidate thanked the family for speaking with him and left to continue canvassing.

We tell you that story today to draw a few illustrations of how low we have come as a people.

The lack of shame that one must have to beg a stranger for money, in front of your other fam-

ily members, speaks to a level of desperation that many of our inner-city communities face. These communities have traditionally supported and been loyal to the PLP for almost a generation. After all, the party back in 1967 had a strong message that resonated with the poor and downtrodden. “We are one of you,” they said; “we know your pain!” Give us a chance and we will make the Bahamas great for you and your family. We will provide opportunities for all Bahamians of colour especially, to rise and enjoy the fruits of this wonderful land.

It’s hard not to see why the masses bought into the message and gave the PLP 25 uninterrupted years at fulfilling the dream.

But, like most words uttered from the mouth of a politician, those promises turned out to be nothing more than hot air, as those same communities today are the most impoverished, depressed, unserved and crime-ridden in the country. Take, for example, South Andros. There is no way that the PLP in 2017 should be able to win South Andros again. This constituency was represented by the ‘Father of the Nation’, Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, for decades and there is nothing that can be shown of his representation. Nothing.

“There is no way that the PLP in 2017 should be able to win South Andros again. This constituency was represented by the ‘Father of the Nation’, Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, for decades and there is nothing that can be shown of his representation. Nothing.” were canvassed last week

by The Tribune’s reporter Rashad Rolle, who went door-to-door testing the Prime Minister’s support and approval in the area.

For the first time in a long time, the Prime Minister has reason to be worried.

Bahamians are funny people. We don’t normally like to tell people how we are voting or which party we support, especially on camera, especially when you know your MP can find you and make your life a living hell. Well, for some residents in Centreville, even the power of the great office of the Prime Minister could not hold back their criticism of Perry Christie. he remark that caught our ear on The Tribune’s Facebook livestream was from a lady who put it simply, “Christie has to go. He’s been there for too long and done nothing for the people. Christie got to go.”

It may be a simplistic reason, but the point is made.

Perry Christie has been in

T

“But why would the nation’s leader want to keep his Centreville constituents dependent on him and this system of “handouts” in the 21st century? It must be about control. Control, and power.”

The constituency barely has any functioning infrastructure and it has voted PLP now consistently without rhyme or reason. The area’s current MP, Picewell ‘Soca’ Forbes, by all accounts a likeable individual, has himself lambasted his own party for failing his people. Mr Forbes knows that he can barely show his face in his constituency because he has been made to look like a fool, with one broken promise after the next going unfulfilled to a people who have paid their dues to a party for decades.

This example can be mimicked throughout the country: Englerston, Bain and Grants Town, St Barnabas, and the crèmede-la-crème Centreville, which our current Prime Minister still maintains a shaky hold on.

Centreville residents

Parliament longer than half of the people living in the Bahamas today have been alive! Forty three years of doing the same thing, over and over again. We could understand if the Prime Minister could point to a stellar record of achievement and advancement made by his people, but clearly that is not the case in Centreville. Crime is still a problem. Unemployment is through the roof. Young men and women are selling their bodies to make ends meet. The young and old in the constituency still must carry buckets of water from the city pump to their clapboard homes with their unsanitary outside toilets to boot.

It’s something that you would not expect in a constituency that could be transformed overnight with the stroke of the Prime

Minister’s pen.

Which brings us to our larger point. Why has it not happened after all these years?

Surely the Prime Minister must not hate the people he represents. We know he hasn’t even walked in his constituency in years and will likely try to flood the streets with cash to win over supporters. But why would the nation’s leader want to keep his constituents dependent on him and this system of “handouts” in the 21st century? It must be about control. Control, and power.

The Prime Minister, like all politicians, get their power from you, the electorate. If you realised the value and might in your votes, then and only then would we not be so quick to throw it away for $20 to $50. Then, and only then, will we realise that we should not, and cannot, accept any old foolishness that they would throw our way on the campaign trail and tell us to vote for them.

We want jobs, yes.

We want crime to be dealt with, yes.

But we also want to know what our Government has been doing with the people’s money.

We want to know what our Government has been doing with the Chinese and other investors that they have kept from the public’s view.

We want to know how they plan on creating opportunities, real opportunities, for Bahamians to flourish in their country.

We want to know that we will have a Government that looks out for Bahamians first, and not the interest of the politicians and their families.

We want fairness and openness, transparency and accountability.

We want to know that we are not being lied to and taken for a ride every single day the Lord sends.

We want a Government that will give the Bahamian people a hand up, not a hand out.

Now, if only such a thing existed, wouldn’t that be the day!

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

Carey Leonard’s series looking at the pitfalls of Chinese investment in the Bahamas will continue next week with an examination of the agreements signed by Hutchison Whampoa with the government in 2016.

PAGE 10 MONDAY, April 10, 2017

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

Six reasons to vote PLP Lawyer and former Tribune columnist Andrew Allen flags up the Government’s achievements and urges Bahamians to put country before party when voting in the election 1 VAT

I

n the Business section of The Tribune of April 6 (the day my opinion piece entitled “Six Reasons not to Rock wit’ Doc” was published) a report appeared from an International Monetary Fund (IMF) analyst which described the Bahamas’ Value-Added Tax (VAT) regime as having the highest productivity in the Caribbean region and actually being well above the average for First World countries.

This is in line with all international observations of our VAT system, which have been surprised at how well the system was designed - by Ingraham’s Free National Movement (FNM) - and implemented - by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). The same report directly contradicts Dr Hubert Minnis’ statement a day before that exemptions for select items (like ‘breadbasket’ goods, electricity and medical services) would somehow help the poor.

In fact, exemptions are a foolhardy and slippery slope which would, according to the IMF, lead to immediate passing of additional expenses onto the population they seek to help.

The IMF was supported a day later by Chamber of Commerce President Gowon Bowe (who is, with Edison Sumner, a rare example of fair mindedness among the Bahamian intelligentsia these days). Mr Bowe not only agreed that it is a ‘fool’s

argument’ that Dr Minnis makes, but credits the VAT system we have for avoiding a recessionary impact.

Sadly, too few who know better are principled enough to speak truth to ignorance.

2 National Health Insurance Few developments undertaken by any government in Bahamian history stand to have as lasting and positive an impact as the advent of universal health care.

The present system (apart from enriching doctors and insurance companies) has served our country badly.

Bahamians pay more per capita for health care than anyone in our region and most places on the planet.

Yet yawning gaps in healthcare delivery mean that infant mortality and life expectancy rank us lower than far less prosperous countries. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has made it clear that universal health care would significantly boost the Bahamas’ already high standing on its Human Development Index, by helping to close the gaps in living standards between income groups.

KPMG, which provided the consultancy services to the government on National Health Insurance (NHI) have stated on record that the system, as designed, would likely be among the best functioning they have seen, and would also likely boost Gross Domestic Product growth. This stands to reason, given that

The government’s achievements, including a national university for the Bahamas and a revamped state-of-the-art Defence Force fleet should be enough for any objective observer to give credit where it is due. the spending power of the Bahamian health consumer has supported so outsize and wealthy an industry, while sending profits to reinsurers outside the country. Of course, the usual suspects balked at it, much as they balked at VAT implementation under the PLP and Ingraham’s FNM.

3 The University of The Bahamas This achievement speaks for itself. Or at least it should. The issue of having a national university has, sadly, been a matter of indifference to too many members of the Bahamians intelligentsia and political class.

Some months ago, a wellknown letter writer lazily opined that we do not need a university. That Belize, with a similar population

and vastly less wealthy citizenry has had a national university for decades may be no embarrassment to some, but it speaks volumes to the bad priorities of successive Bahamian governments.

This achievement is not only a reason in itself to support the government that brought it about, but it makes a mockery of the question “where the VAT money gone?” We know where all tax money has gone in the Bahamas since the 1973 Constitution: into a Consolidated Fund. But anyone who has driven the length of Thompson Boulevard recently will have seen where a good chunk of that collective money came out.

4 Operation Sandy Bottom Another good investment of the VAT money has been the $232 million spent on the acquisition of nine new Defence Force craft, the construction of two new bases and upgrade of existing ones.

By all accounts, the long-overdue investment in securing our borders has already resulted in fishermen from Long Island to Spanish Wells reporting healthier stocks of crawfish than in the last 20 years and a noted reduction in sightings of Dominican poachers in Bahamian waters.

Any objective observer would give the PLP credit for persevering with this important investment at a time when funds were not abundant.

5 Reclaiming our skies I count myself among the critics of both governments for not having long ago negotiated a transfer of the control of Bahamian airspace to the Bahamian government.

This is simply a no-brainer on many fronts. Given the expanse of the Bahamas and the fact that we have more airports per capita than any other country in the world, the aviation industry could have been created with the Bahamas in mind.

Fees from overflight of our waters will help to defray the cost of keeping so many airports and, more importantly, the deployment of the skills needed to manage the airspace will be a source of employment and entrepreneurship.

Naturally, having done diddly squat about the issue

when in power, the FNM now finds itself in pedantic mode, questioning why the need for a ten-year period of leasing back to the Federal Aviation Administration until the final transfer takes place.

But it stands as another solid achievement that only the most partisan among us can deny.

6 The FNM: A coalition of hidden interests and ignorance In their haste to attack the PLP over corruption and conflict of interest, the FNM seems to have forgotten the very definition of these things. On a scale unseen before in Bahamian politics, Minnis’ FNM has formed a coalition with private (often monied) interests and allowed itself to be used pretty nakedly as an instrument of these commercial and special interests. At the other end of the social spectrum, it has shamelessly played on fear, ignorance and downright stupidity on matters that are of deep import to the country’s development.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, a friend and business associate of Baha Mar’s former owner (and a director of the original Baha Mar) is now the party’s official spokesman on the matter, heaping nonsensical and highly personalised scorn on the new owner’s prospects from the privileged position of party office.

It is highly probable that Mr D’Aguilar’s open animus toward Chow Tai Fook Enterprises was reflected in Dr Minnis’ clownishly menacing statements about “selling” Baha Mar to mysterious others. If so, this would not only to be a conflict of interests, but one that places the party in direct conflict with the most obviously good development in our recent history.

On NHI, the FNM has been less directly antiprogressive, depending on surrogates like The Nassau Guardian, whose compromised journalism is put on shameless display every time it deploys its dishonest, spurious and distorted arguments against universal healthcare without declaring that its parent company is deeply involved in the private healthcare business.

While every objective international observer has stated that NHI will cost Bahamians less than they are paying the insurance and medical industries right now and

that it will boost the economy even in the short term, The Guardian continues to argue (irrationally) that we cannot afford NHI, but can somehow afford to support the healthy profits of the likes of its parent company instead.

A principled Opposition would distance itself from these self-interested and dishonest critics, like the Democratic National Alliance sensibly did early on.

The attack on the socalled ‘spy bill’ (to which the FNM has predictably pandered) is interesting in that it seems to have animated so many ‘privacy activists’ who were strangely silent when it was revealed that every single mobile phone conversation in the Bahamas was spied upon by organs of the US government (an entity that has shown itself to be utterly untrustworthy with such powers, over and over again).

Meanwhile, what nobody is saying is that the Interception of Communications Bill simply seeks to render legal what is taking place technically illegally right now. It seeks to permit Bahamian law enforcement to use electronic eavesdropping against suspected dangerous criminals and it would require a judge to sanction any such action. At present, the US uses such surveillance in contravention of Bahamian law and uses the evidence in cases that it deems fit for its own interests, in which case it extradites the suspect.

What ‘killing the bill’ will mean is that Bahamian authorities will continue to be unable to use such technology against criminals who impact only the Bahamas (like importers of machine guns from the US), but the US will keep selectively nabbing those it wants for sending drugs to the US. To the shady interests behind the silly marchers, that sounds about right apparently.

All in all, when a balanced observer juxtaposes the sometimes slow, defensive and plodding (but visible and solid) achievements of the PLP against the frightening and unprincipled coalition of shady interests and purveyors of industrialscale untruths that the FNM has become, the choice is easy. It is to be hoped that enough Bahamians can see past party colours and vote as patriots first.

• Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia. net

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017 PAGE 11

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

An inglorious day in the history of the OAS World View

By SIR RONALD SANDERS “It was a coup d’état followed by a lynching”.

That’s how an official of the Organisation of American States (OAS) described a meeting of the Permanent Council of the hemispheric body held on April 3 in the most unorthodox circumstances and at which 17 countries tore up the rule book to force through a resolution on Venezuela.

If the meeting had been held two days earlier, no onlooker would have been blamed for believing it was an April Fool. As it turned out, the meeting that was on, then off, then on again, was akin to a tragi-comedy.

At its root was a determination by a group of 17 countries, led by Canada, Mexico and the United States, to adopt a resolution on Venezuela in which the Permanent Council would “undertake as necessary further diplomatic initiatives to foster the restoration of the democratic institutional system, in accordance with the Charter of the Organisation of American States and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, including the convening of a ministerial meeting”.

Such a Resolution would normally have been controversial among all 34 member states of the OAS but it had a chance of widespread support on March 31 after the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (STJ) suspended the powers of the elected National Assembly and arrogated them to itself. Only a small minority of the OAS member states could close their eyes to this action, which amounted to a serious alteration of the constitutional regime in Venezuela. My country, Antigua and Barbuda, expressed its deep concern.

In the context of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, the situation would have been akin to the Supreme Court annulling the authority of Parliament and rendering elected representatives impotent and stripping them of parliamentary immunities. The democratic system, as CARICOM countries know and practice it, would have been shattered.

No political party, lawyers’ association, trade union or church organisation would have stood for it.

Few could argue - and none with any validity - that the actions of the STJ had not altered the constitutional regime in Venezuela.

And, according to Article 20 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, that alteration allowed “any member state or the Secretary-General” to “request the immediate convocation of the Permanent Council to undertake a collective assessment of the situation

and to take such decisions as it deems appropriate”.

It was against this background that, on Friday March 31, there was a groundswell of support, including from the majority of CARICOM countries, for a Resolution that would demand a reversal of the STJ’s actions and the restoration of the powers of the Venezuelan National Assembly. However, the lead nations of the group of 17 recognised an obstacle: that on the next working day of the Permanent Council Monday, April 3 - Bolivia would replace Belize as the Chair of the Council. They calculated that Bolivia, an extremely close ally of Venezuela, was unlikely to be in a hurry to call a meeting of the Permanent Council to discuss Venezuela under the only thing that allowed such a discussion, which was Article 20 of the InterDemocratic Charter. So, without consultation with other member states, the powerful countries of the group of 17 persuaded the outgoing Chair, literally in the final hours of his tenure on March 31, to convoke the meeting for the afternoon of April 3.

However, on April 1, the authorities in Venezuela did exactly what the majority of member states of the OAS were planning to urge at any upcoming meeting of the Council. They instructed the TSJ to rescind its two rulings (155 and 156) that had effectively eviscerated the National Assembly. On the same day, the TSJ rescinded its decisions and the powers and immunities of the National Assembly were duly restored.

By so doing, the authorities in Venezuela had pulled from the jaws of OAS condemnation the alteration of the constitution that would have permitted a discussion of Venezuela by the Permanent Council without the consent of government. And, it is important to understand that the antiquated Charter of the OAS and the outmoded Inter-American Democratic Charter forbid interference in the internal affairs of a member state without its permission. Only Article 20 of the Democratic Charter allows a discussion.

Effectively, then on April 3 there was no further basis for a discussion of Venezuela within the rules laid down by the two governing Charters. As predicted, the Bolivian Chair, who assumed office at 11 o’clock that morning, decided to suspend the formal meeting of the Permanent Council scheduled for 2pm; instead he summoned an informal meeting of all member states for 4pm at which all countries could discuss the events in Venezuela, with Venezuela’s partici-

DIEGO PARY RODRÍGUEZ, the Bolivian Chair of the Organisation of American States Permanent Council, holds up notice of the afternoon meeting on April 3 meeting to consider the events in Venezuela.

Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP pation, away from the live television coverage that accompanies formal Council meetings.

The leaders of the group, who had engineered the formal meeting of the Council, protested its suspension and with the help of the Secretary-General (himself at loggerheads with the Venezuelan government), the meeting was re-instated without proper notice. Consequently, almost half of the member states were not present. Faced with a refusal by the Bolivian Chair to hold the meeting and an equally firm refusal by the Vice Chair from Haiti to step in, the dubious honour of chairing the meeting fell to Honduras, which was one of the group of countries that had demanded the meeting.

It remains more than doubtful that the meeting was held within the rules of the OAS. This was underlined by the elected Bolivian Chair, who made a cameo appearance at the meeting only to denounce it as a “coup d’état” before walking out. Then a Resolution, which was also not presented within the rules of the OAS, was adopted by “acclamation” by only 17 of the 34 member states, whereas the guiding rule states unequivocally that “decisions shall be taken by the vote of an absolute majority”.

Whatever anyone thinks of the situation in Venezuela, April 3 was an inglorious day in the history of the OAS. The events of that day did nothing to advance concerns about a member state; slammed the door on the opportunity for a tough and meaningful discussion; and hardened the lines of antagonism between mem-

ber countries.

The rules and the Charters of the OAS are outmoded and in need of urgent review but disregard for them while they remain the only guiding principles, has eroded confidence and trust in the organisation.

And, that is a great shame at a time when the world needs strong institutions of multilateralism.

• Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He

is also Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sironaldsanders.com

PAGE 12 MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2017

Email: insight@tribunemedia.net

Creating a well-rounded student

W

hile the wider academic world continues to debate the concept of “the well-rounded student,” at the University of The Bahamas (UB) the focus on keeping “the building of character” always on par with academic excellence means providing many avenues for students to grow beyond the excellence of their academic achievement.

At UB, the search is always on for new ways of engaging students.

UB President Dr Rodney D Smith has said the

Ambitious plans at the University of the Bahamas will open many avenues to graduates University must “respect the fact that our rapidly expanding technological age has produced generations of young people who are unable to imagine not having a computer in their pocket, a cell phone, immediate access to information on any topic, along with the means

to communicate instantaneously with millions of people around the world”.

The mission of the University demands that whether through teaching, conducting research in the laboratory or in the field or through service within the community, academic ex-

All enrolled undergraduate students of the University of the Bahamas will soon be required to complete a study abroad experience before the end of the junior year.

Funeral Services MARGUERITTE ELAINE DAHL, 97 of #24 Myrton Avenue and formerly of Fresh Creek, Andros, will be held on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Anglican Church, Howard Street, Chippingham.

Canon Peter Scott will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Church Cemetery, Virginia Street.

Precious memories will forever linger in the hearts of her children: Dr. Anthony Dahl (Massachusetts), Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, Ann Dahl-Smith, Dr. Iva Dahl, Donald (Patricia) Dahl (Michigan) Georgette (Jerry) Dahl-Butler, Sheryl Taylor; Sisters: Icelyn Pratt and Maxine Wright; Grandchildren: Dr. Jason Regis, Dr. Deon (Heather) Regis, Stacey (Vaughn) Smith-Miller, Dr. Jamal (Lizette) Smith, Cappucienne Brown, Gavin Brown, Jamal Moss, Paul Dahl, Donald (Michelle) Dahl, Crystal (Ivan) Henderson, Asia Butler, Christopher Jerry Butler, Carol Minnis, Glenn Miller; Great Grandchildren: Teurea, Ayana and Nasir Regis (Atlanta) Gabriel, Canaan and Noa Regis (Ohio), Kaiden Miller, Isabelle Smith (Maryland), Poet, Pace and Sheppard Dahl (Atlanta), Marliegh and Ivan Jr. Henderson (Philadelphia); Nieces: Val (Glen) Miller, Linda (Lloyd) Smith, Buena Wright, Anita (Alfred) Ramsey, Susan (Patrick) Cargill, Joan (Christopher) Evans; Nephews: Leopold Wright, Colin (Patrice) Wright, Christopher (Sonia) Wright, Berne (Tanya) Wright, Hartman, George (Dorothy), Michael and Gregory (Marlene) Johnson; Care Giver: Jacqueline Beckford; Other Relatives and Friends: Lorette and John Fuller, Eleanor Powell, Noel Powell, Doris Powell, Earnest (Bert) and Cecile Edgecombe, Terry, Kevin, and Trevor Kemp, Mary Marshall and Family, Neville, Barbara Albury and Family, The Blyden Family, Jaunita, Terezah and Fenwick Tynes, Rt. Rev. Bishop Laish Boyd and Family, The Lewis Family, Albert and Jackie Grey and Family, The Galanis Family, Holy Spirit ACW Family, Joe Darling and Family, Chris Smith, Agatha Cumberbatch, Sheila Lightbourne and Family, The Minnis Family, The Bostwick Family, The Rahming Family, The McKenzie Todd Family, Cannon Scott, Fr. Micklewhite, Holy Spirit Family, The Myrton and Baldwin Avenue Family and a host of other relatives and friends.

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians #34 Nassau Street, on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

MERCIA LOUISE STRACHAN, 76 of #44 Village Road, will be held on Wednesday, 12th April, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Anglican Church, Baillou Hill Road. Fr. I. Ranfurly Brown will officiate. Interment will follow in the Western Cemetery, Nassau Street.

She is survived by her Brother: Philip Strachan; Sisters: Myra Thompson, Tanya Seymour; Nieces: Natalie Roberts, Miracle Strachan; Nephews: Robin Roberts, Gavin Strachan Sr. & Danny Seymour; Grand Nephew & Niece: Gavin Jr. & Gavriel Strachan; Cousins: Paula Stevenson, Agatha Wells, Constance Comery, Lillian Rolle, Sheryl, Bernard, Wayne, Maurice, Rubin, Cypriana Brice & Family, Charlene Strachan, Leroy & Andrea Fountain, Doris, Bernadette & Andrew Brown, Anne Pratt-Moss, Edene Cox, Franklyn Strachan & Family, Audrey, Ricardo, Vivian, Jackie & Lynn Deveaux & Joann Callender, Paula, Katy, Sharon, Craig, Dwayne, Trevor, Deborah and Donna, Louise “Vannie” Renee, Inga, Satella & Dwayne, Jackie, Zany, Leslie & Angela, Linda Sheryl, Gregory, Dwayne, Stephen & Taphen Deveaux, Oscar Deaveaux Jr., Oswald Sawyer & Family, Rebecca Moss & Family. Alison Sealy & Family; Other Relatives and Friends: Alteon Michel & Family, Vivian Lockhart & Family, Tanya Hamilton, Robert & Gail Cartwright & Family, Pandora Johnson, Willamena Grant, Ethel Brown, Barbara Smith, Mrs. Patricia Jervis & Family Judith Rolle and Family, Orien Williams, Marva Jervis, Osbourne “Mo” Pintard, Lorraine Turnquest & Family & Host of Godchildren: Dr. Leslie & Beverly Culmer, Dr. Herbert Olander, Dr. Locksey Munroe, Dr. Kevin Moss, Dr. Tracy Roberts, Kirkwood Seymour & Co, The McCartneys, Coramae Major, Kim Major, Vaughn Adderley, Charles McCartney, Nicholia “Mickey” Reed, Preston Sweeting, Melvin Gray & Jackie Roberts, Pedro Roberts Jr., Mimi Roberts, Marilyn Knowles, Nurses Susie Lockhart, Marlyn Knowles, Kalfani, Priscilla McKenzie Williams, Garth & Carmie Johnson, Charles Davies Family, Roscoe & Keith Ellis Jr& Family, Mavis Davies, Lilian Lobosky, Rosemae Bain, Presley Seymour, Tonielle Branca, Rosemary Hanna; Staff of: Princess Margaret Hospital, especially Private Medical, Intensive Care, Female Medical, Eye Ward Oncology, Rand Memorial Hospital, Ministry of Health HIV Department, Commonwealth Drug Agency, Bahamas National Drug Agency (BNDA), Nassau Drug Agency Limited, Lowes Wholesale Drug Limited, Rosie Fawkes, Done Lowe & Staff Kitchen PMH, Rev. Irene Coakley, Sandilands, Meridith of Rubins Store, Shavonne of Adam & Eve, Rehabilitation Centre, Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association, Bahamas Women’s Volley Ball Association.

Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians #34 Nassau Street, on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

cellence and excellence of character must always find equal footing at UB. Traditionally, “wellrounded” referred to the interplay between such things as a student’s grades and test scores, challenging course load, extra-curricular activities which show passion and leadership and the winning of awards. In the UB context, however, the term “well-rounded” takes on both a broader and more local impact. In addition to such considerations as job placement services, internships and the suite of extracurricular activities, UB students are exposed to a wider palette of activities and initiatives.

For instance, consider the UB focus on internationalisation: it is seen as imperative that the University’s curriculum be internationalised as UB prepares graduates for competition on the world stage. With that in mind, all enrolled undergraduate students of the University will soon be required to complete a study abroad experience before the end of the junior year.

Students will then complete their senior year at the University prior to graduating.

Another unique feature of the UB experience is the emphasis on Bahamian cultural studies. As the culture changes and develops, matures and morphs, UB will

document these changes and encourage students to fully engage in Bahamian culture. As Dr Smith has said, academics will be integral in the explosion of appreciation for Bahamian culture. This is yet another avenue of expansion of the typical UB student experience.

One particularly exciting feature of the UB student experience is the opportunity to participate in the collaborations that come from such public-private partnerships as that which UB has entered with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) for the creation of a unique technology innovation laboratory. Designed by UB architecture students, it will be housed within the Harry C Moore Library and Information Centre and will have the most up-to-date technology. Students will create new apps, design and implement new and improved social media and create new global companies.

The proposed $20 million UB Student Centre will likely be the hub of the extracurricular aspect of the well-rounded student experience. The new student centre will be designed in consultation with UB students and will house the student government, society and club offices, student newspaper, TV and radio

production studios, student lounges and other meeting areas, a cinema, food courts and many other amenities specifically crafted for and by students.

Through collaborations between UB academic programming and the National Sports Authority, UB is effectively expanding the campus to include the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Aquatic Centre and all the other athletic venues under the NSA’s authority including a nine-hole golf course and the Roscoe A L Davis Soccer Complex.

As our nation’s university continues to grow and progress to meet the academic needs of Bahamian students, the university will work to ensure that students have a diverse and wellrounded college experience.

• “Gain An Edge” 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.

EASTER WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE Today

Tuesday

Thursday

Business - the tax breaks proposed by Dr Hubert Minnis should the Free National movement win the election would “bankrupt the country”, according to Sir Franklyn Wilson, the Sunshine Holdings chairman. Neil Hartnell reports

Woman and Health weekly advice on taking care of your mind and body and women making waves in the Bahamas

Obituaries and Religion, a weekly review

Sports - Steven Gardiner breaks the national 400m record in Grenada, joy for Bahamas in the water polo pool and on the judo mat, but defeat in the Davis Cup tennis.

Wednesday

Plus the latest properties for sale and rent in the Home Buyers’ Guide

Plus comment from Nicole Burrows and sporting mischief and mayhem with Inigo “Naughty” Zenicazelaya

The starting gun for the general election is fired as the date is announced

Weekend - an Easter special 28-page section devoted to the best in arts, music, fashion, food, books, entertainment, gardening, animal matters, fitness, history and interviews ‘On da Hook’, a weekly look at fishing in the Bahamas

Tribune Tech - a weekly look at what’s new in the world of technology during Earth Month

Every day in The Tribune, news, business, sports, weather and Classifieds Trader - the best guide to cars for sale, real estate, help wanted and more.

Plus Larry Smith’s forthright Tough Call column

Plus breaking news and updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 10, 2017, PAGE 13

GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS WATER & SEWERAGE CORPORATION WATER SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS – CAT ISLAND

INVITATION FOR BIDS COMMISSIONER of Police Ellison Greenslade outside the House of Assembly as he reads the proclamation to prorogue Parliament.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

GREENSLADE READS PROCLAMATION TO PROROGUE PARLIAMENT

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

COMMISSIONER of Police Ellison Greenslade, in his capacity as provost marshal, read two proclamations on Friday - one to prorogue the House of Assembly immediately and the other advising of a new session of Parliament on Tuesday.

This is the date Prime Minister Perry Christie has said Parliament will be dissolved.

Despite the announcements, which signal the end of the Christie administration’s five-year term in office and brings the current Parliament session to a close, no mention was made of a proposed date for the 2017 general election.

However, Bain and Grants Town MP Dr Bernard Nottage, who has responsibility for elections and referenda, hinted last Tuesday night that elections could be planned for the first week or second week in May. House of Assembly Chief Clerk Maurice Tynes explained on Friday what the proclamation to prorogue the House of Assembly meant. He stressed it does not affect people registering to vote, as those who have not ensured they are on the voter register will have until today at 5pm.

“Prorogation means that the current session of Parliament will terminate today. The life of Parliament is usually five years and technically there can be a prorogation each year within that five-year period and so this prorogation will end the current session of Parliament,” Mr Tynes said at the House of Assembly.

“That means the government’s legislative agenda comes to an end and everything that is on our House of Assembly agenda or Senate agenda will fall away.

The difference is that prorogation ends a session of Parliament (and) dissolution ends the life of Parliament and after the life of Parliament comes to an end there must be a general election. All seats then become vacant.

“Prorogation today will not affect the registration process in any way. People will still be able to register . . . up to Monday at 5pm.

So the prorogation does not impact that at all,” he added.

Standing on the steps of the House of Assembly,

Commissioner Greenslade read both proclamations signed by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.

“Whereas, by virtues of Article 66(1) of the Constitution the governor general acting in accordance with the advice of the prime minister may at any time by proclamation prorogue Parliament,” Commissioner Greenslade said as he read the first proclamation.

“Now, therefore, I, Dame Marguerite Pindling, governor general of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, do hereby prorogue Parliament as from Friday, April 7, 2017. Given under my hand and the public’s seal of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at Government House in the city of Nassau this April 7, 2017 in the year of our Lord 2017 and in the 66th year of Her Majesty’s reign.”

The second proclamation read: “Whereas the Parliament of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas stands prorogued from April 7, 2017 and whereas it is provided

by Article 65 of the Constitution that each session of Parliament shall be held at such place and commence at such time as the governor general may by Proclamation appoint now.

“Therefore, I, Dame Marguerite Pindling, governor general of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, acting in accordance with the advice of the prime minister, do hereby proclaim that the next session of Parliament shall be held in the city of Nassau in the island of New Providence on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 and shall commence at 10 o’clock in the forenoon given under my hand and the public’s seal of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas at Government House in the city of Nassau this 7th day of April 2017 in the year of our Lord 2017 and in the 66th year of Her Majesty’s reign.”

In a press statement from Bahamas Information Services, Dr Nottage urged Bahamians to get registered to vote, so that they can exercise an important franchise afforded to lawfully qualified citizens.

Beginning on Tuesday, registered voters in New Providence will be able to collect their voter’s card at the Parliamentary Registration Department headquarters, Farrington Road. In the Family Islands, residents can collect voter’s cards at the office of the Family Island administrator.

TWO MEN DETAINED AFTER DRUG SEIZURE AT BIRD CAY TWO men - one of them a Jamaican - are in police custody after a drug seizure in waters near Chub Cay. According to police, shortly after noon on Saturday a team of officers assigned to the Drug Enforcement Unit and the Police Marine Support Unit, assisted by US Drug Enforcement officers, intercepted a 32-foot vessel in waters off Bird Cay near Chub Cay with the two men on board.

Drug Enforcement Unit officers conducted a search of the vessel and found six packages containing 60 pounds of marijuana. The two suspects, one a Baha-

mian, were taken into custody in connection with this find.

Police also arrested an American man shortly after 11am on Saturday for drug possession in New Providence.

Officers from the Tourism Policing Unit were on routine foot patrol at Pompey Square, when they saw the American male who aroused their suspicion.

The officers conducted a search of the man and found a quantity of marijuana in his possession. He was then arrested.

Investigations into these

The Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (GOCB) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to US$28.5 million towards the cost of the Water Supply Improvement Project (the Project) and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under this contract. Payment by CDB will be made only at the request of GOCB and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than the GOCB shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Project is being implemented by the Water & Sewerage Corporation (WSC).

WSC now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the design and construction of the water supply infrastructure upgrade for Cat Island. The works include the installation of water mains; the supply and installation of water storage tanks; site preparation for the installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plants; and the construction of pumping stations and disinfection systems. Provision is to be made for connections to the WSC’s existing and potential customers. The distribution system is to include side streets in between the start and end point as indicated on the drawings. Site preparation for the RO plants is to include pavement design and construction, inclusive of provision for all utilities and photovoltaic lighting. Bidders may bid for any individual Lots or for both Lots, as follows: LOT NO. 1: North Cat Island Lot from Bain Town Settlement to The Bluff Settlement The design and construction of approximately 106,794 feet (32,551 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 460 water service laterals; site preparation for an RO plant to be located at Bennett’s Harbour.

LOT NO. 2: South Cat Island Lot from Smith's Bay Settlement to Old Bight Settlement The design and construction of approximately 95,512 feet (29,112 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 430 water service laterals; site preparation for an RO plant to be located at New Bight.

LOT NO. 3: South Cat Island Lot from Knowles’ Settlement to Smith’s Bay Settlement.

The design and construction of approximately 16,835 feet (5,131 m) of transmission and distribution mains and approximately 80 water service laterals.

Consideration will be limited to firms or joint ventures of firms, which are legally incorporated or otherwise organised in, and have their principal place of business in an eligible country and are either: (a) more than 50% beneficially owned by a citizen or citizens and/or a bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country, or by a body corporate or bodies corporate meeting these requirements; or (b) owned or controlled by the Government of an eligible country provided that it is legally and financially autonomous and operated under the commercial law of an eligible country and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of the CDB Guidelines for Procurement (2006).

All countries are eligible.

Eligible bidders will be required to submit full qualification information with their bids establishing their eligibility to bid and qualifications to perform the contract. Bid and qualification information are to be submitted in the English Language on the prescribed forms inserted in the Bid Documents. Submissions that do not provide the information required, or do not demonstrate the prospective contractor’s ability to perform satisfactorily, will not qualify and will not be considered for further evaluation.

Qualification requirements in respect of each individual Lot include, inter alia: (a) an average annual construction turnover (defined as certified payments received for works in progress or completed) within the last 5 years of at least One Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD1.8M) for Lots 1&2 and One Million United States Dollars (USD$1Mn) for Lot 3. (b) an average annual design of works turnover (defined as certified payments received for works in progress or completed) within the last 5 years of at least One Quarter Million United States Dollars (USD$0.25M) for Lots 1, 2 & 3. (c) a demonstrable cash flow (including access to credit) of Three Hundred Thousand United States dollars (USD300,000) for Lots 1 and 2 and Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD$200,00) for Lot 3. (d) experience as a contractor/sub-contractor in the construction of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last ten (10) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete). (e) experience as a designer of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed project activity within the last ten (10) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete).

Bidding Documents may be obtained by eligible bidders from the first address below, as of Monday April 3, 2017 at 10:00 hrs Bahamas time, for a non-refundable fee equivalent to Fifty United States Dollars for each Lot. Requests may be made by written application including email. Written applications must be clearly marked: “Request for Bidding Documents for the Design & Construction of Water Supply Systems – Cat Island” along with the relevant Lot Number(s). Written requests must also include the name, address and contact information of the bidder for which Bidding Documents are being requested. Payment should be by wire transfer, bank draft or bank guaranteed cheque made payable to: Water & Sewerage Corporation.

Information to pay by wire transfer can be obtained from the first address below.

Applicants who request that documents be forwarded to them must submit an account number from a local courier agent that accepts freight collect charges. Documents will be promptly dispatched, but under no circumstance will GOCB or WSC or their authorised agent be held responsible for late delivery or loss of the documents so transmitted.

Submissions in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Bid for the Design & Construction of Water Supply Systems – Cat Island” along with the relevant Lot Number(s) and must be received at the second address below not later than 16:00 hrs Bahamas time on the 8th May, 2017. Bid opening will take place immediately after the deadline for submission at the second address below in the presence of bidders representatives who choose to attend. Qualification information only must be simultaneously submitted to the third address below. All bids must be accompanied by a completed Form of Bid Securing Declaration.

GOCB/WSC reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to annul the process and reject all bids, at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected prospective bidder(s) or any obligation to inform the affected prospective bidder(s) of the grounds for GOCB/WSC action. GOCB/WSC will not defray any costs incurred by any bidder in the preparation of bids.

Address for Correspondence

Address for Bid Submission and Bid Opening

Address for Completed Qualification Information Only

The Project Coordinator Water Supply Improvement Project Water & Sewerage Corporation #87 Thompson Blvd Nassau, New Providence COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

The Office of the General Manager Attn: Internal Control and Compliance Division Water Supply Improvement Project Water & Sewerage Corporation #87 Thompson Blvd Nassau, New Providence

Procurement Officer Caribbean Development Bank P.O. Box 408, Wildey St. Michael BARBADOS, W.I., BB 11000

Tel: Fax: E-mail: CC: CC: CC:

(242) 302-5548 (242) 302-5547 wccdbproject@wsc.com.bs wcleslie@wsc.com.bs dnairn@acojvbahamas.com mvbastian@acojvbahamas.com

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

Tel: Fax: Email:

(246) 431-1600 (246) 426-7269 procurement@caribank.org

PAGE 14, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

D’Aguilar: Fiscal Act on day one for the FNM

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Free Town candidate Dionisio D’Aguilar has committed his party to several “day one” initiatives should the FNM triumph in the general election, including the immediate implementation of a Freedom of Information Act and a Fiscal Responsibility Act. He also contended that the ousting of Prime Minister Perry Christie and the Progressive Liberal Party government would again give way to “good governance” spearheaded by the FNM. The PLP passed a revised FOIA this term, however the legislation has not been enacted.

On stage at the FNM’s regional candidates launch at Christie Park on Thursday, Mr D’Aguilar questioned the Christie administration’s handling of valueadded tax (VAT) revenue collected over the past three years.

“Emperor Christie and his band of bandits have plundered this country over the past five years,” the well-known businessman told supporters. “(Some of them) made their bank accounts fat signing contracts and making deals that benefits them and their families, leaving the poor Bahamian people to pick up the tab for his out-of-control spending.

“Everything they touch smells stink. They have spent $400m of taxpayer money, your VAT money, bailing out loans for their cronies from the Bank of The Bahamas. They have spent tens of millions.

Some say $50m, some say $100m - the exact figure we

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR, FNM candidate for Montagu. will never know - awarding contracts to their friends and families to build buildings at BAMSI, sometimes twice.

“Then there is the tens of millions that went missing at the Road Traffic Department and the Passport Office. And let us not forget the hundreds of millions that have been allocated and spent on housing projects, new schools, garbage collection and the dump and we have nothing, I

mean nothing, to show for it. “...FNMs, if we give Emperor Christie another five years, he will drive our economy over the edge.

When the PLP came to office in 2012, our national debt was $5 billion. Now the national debt is $7 billion. And that is even after they collected $1.4 billion in VAT,” Mr D’Aguilar said.

He said Mr Christie’s unrelenting push for re-election should stun voters, as it

comes despite the evidence that the Centreville MP’s lengthy political career had done nothing but improve the lives of his friends, family and colleagues as everyday Bahamians struggled to survive.

He said his party would also look to “guard against” the potential of any other leader pursuing legacy terms in office by implementing fixed election dates, term limits and an independent Boundaries Commission.

“FNMs do you believe that Christie is a god? Do you want Christie to remain the emperor?

“And we know why he doesn’t want to leave. He loves the pomp, he loves the pageantry, the nice Mercedes, the beautiful Lexus, the bodyguards, the outriders, the private jet for him and his family.

“What other job can Christie find where he can get away with the slackness he does now? Please, please my fellow Bahamians, in the name of Jesus, on Election Day let us send Emperor Christie home.”

Mr D’Aguilar went on to mention the prime minister’s propensity to fall

asleep while at public functions. He alleged that during a meeting in which he and Mr Christie represented Bahamian interests, the nation’s leader feel asleep during negotiations.

“Emperor Christie did close his eyes and bam, he was asleep,” Mr D’Aguilar said.

“I had to bang my hand on the table to wake him up. Unbelievable. Embarrassing. FNMs, Emperor Christie is tired. He is exhausted. Let us retire him on Election Day,” he added.

Addressing his Free Town candidacy, Mr D’Aguilar said he would put his 25 years of business experience to use improving the lives of prospective constituents. He said the constituents of Free Town are in need of jobs. He insisted that unlike attorney Wayne Munroe, the PLP’s Free Town candidate, he was suited to meet the needs of these residents.

“FNMs, I have had to use my ingenuity, my passion, my creativity to grow my business to create job opportunities for Bahamians and I pledge tonight that I will do the same for the people of Free Town. I am

certainly better qualified to deliver on this promise than my PLP opponent, lawyer Wayne Munroe. We need to make it easier, not harder to start a business.

“We need to make it easier, not harder to operate a business. Do that and the jobs will come and the crime will go down. In addition, I want to use my many years of running a business to empower the people of Free Town to start and run their own businesses.

“I will provide seminars.

I will teach them myself on the do’s and don’ts of how to make a business successful.

The FNM will also create a tax-free zone in the inner city for small and mid-sized businesses, making it easier and cheaper to start a business in these economically depressed areas.

“Free Town, I hear you and I will do my best to create employment opportunities for you.”

In addition to Mr D’Aguilar and Mr Munroe, the Democratic National Alliance has ratified Karen Davis as the party’s standard-bearer in Free Town, while the Bahamas National Constitutional Party has ratified Andrew Stewart.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 10, 2017, PAGE 15

Belinda Wilson ‘vindicated’ by teacher union victory

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING a landslide victory over her chief opponent, former Vice President Zane Lightbourne, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said on Friday that the win has “vindicated” her over the allegations that led to her controversial suspensions from the union.

In an interview with The Tribune the morning after the union’s election, the embattled unionist said she won “overwhelmingly” over Mr Lightbourne for the top post.

Mrs Wilson said the unofficial results indicated that she won in nearly every island, with New Providence voting “heavily” in her favour.

Labour Director Robert Farquharson also confirmed that Lorraine Knowles and Mizpah Munroe succeeded in being elected as union treasurer and trustee, respectively.

Mr Farquharson said the Department of Labour is still awaiting results from some Family Islands, which he expects to be submitted by midday today.

“The results were not even close,” Mr Farquharson said of the unofficial results. “They were extremely lopsided.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Wilson told The Tribune that it is now up to her opponents and dissenters within the organisation “to accept and to swallow the bitter pill” as “the people have spoken loudly and clearly.”

She emphasised that

At one point, Mrs Wilson had instructed her attorney, Wayne Munroe, QC, to take legal action against people who had spread untruths about her controversial suspensions.

However, she told The Tribune that she is prepared to work with those who rallied against her, adding that the onus is now on them to accept the election results and her consequently reassuming control of the organisation.

“First of all I am a mature woman, and so I believe that I may be among the eldest on the executive committee,” she said. “And so I - first of all as a wife, a mother and a Christian have to conduct myself in a professional manner. The second thing is it was actually them, most of all, slinging mud and attacking me.

Very few times you would have heard me respond. So it’s up to them to accept and to swallow the bitter pill, that after all they would have done, the people would have returned me to office, and in the largest ... this is the largest win ever in the history of the union. So that speaks volumes within itself. “...The people have spoken loudly and clearly, because based on the numbers now I’m leading him by about 600 votes with only probably about 40 or 50 votes to come in,” she continued. “So whoever it is who has a problem with me being the leader, they’re going to have to make a decision whether they will remain or whether they are going to leave. That’s personal to them.”

BELINDA WILSON, who has been re-elected as president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers. those critics will “have to make a decision whether they will remain or whether they are going to leave”, however, she said, she is a mature woman and would conduct herself in a professional manner.

According to Mrs Wilson, she defeated both Mr Lightbourne and Jacqueline McKenzie for the union’s leadership; Mrs Knowles defeated former acting Treasurer Terez Conliffe; while Mrs Munroe and Vernincha Simmons defeated Marguerite Albury and Victoria Willis for the trustee positions.

Jude Knowles-Turnquest

is the BUT’s vice-president, after defeating Mr Lightbourne in a “partial election” last June.

“I feel vindicated, and I’m really humbled by the support that I would have received from the teachers, and not only in New Providence but throughout the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” Mrs Wilson told The Tribune. “Because based on the numbers it seems as though I would have won every island except for one. And New Providence really voted heavily in our favour. But to me it shows that I’m the individual whom the mem-

bers want to represent them at this time.

“I think the members’ voting yesterday (Thursday) was not only vindication for me and my team, but I think their voting yesterday and voting so overwhelmingly for us is that hey we’re tired of it, we want the individuals in the seat who are going to work on our behalf,” she added. “And I believe that they would have shown us that yesterday, that Belinda Wilson, Lorraine Knowles, Mizpah Pintard Munroe and Vernincha Simmons are the persons for the job.”

Mrs Wilson and Ms

Knowles had been suspended for six and three months respectively in December 2014, due to concerns from the union’s executive committee that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account had been wrongfully spent.

In March 2015, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Knowles were again suspended for “blatant violations” of the union’s constitution. Mrs Wilson was later hit with an “indefinite” suspension pending the results of a police investigation into alleged violations of union procedures.

INDEPENDENT MORTIMER SAYS DON’T BE FOOLED BY EMPTY PROMISES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

DONALD Mortimer, the Independent candidate for Central Grand Bahama, is urging Bahamian voters not to be fooled by false hope and empty promises by politicians.

“We should not be prepared at this time to entertain more promises ... This is no time to accept excuses,” the plumbing contractor said on Friday.

Mr Mortimer said there are many challenges facing Grand Bahamians. He stressed that people are still experiencing the negative effects of Hurricane Matthew due to the devastation of properties; that unemployment remains an ongoing problem; and that crime is high.

With the election season approaching and political parties now holding rallies, the Independent candidate told Bahamians to be mindful of “more false hope”.

He expressed his concerns about the joblessness in Grand Bahama and the inability of people to improve their living conditions.

Mr Mortimer held a press conference at the closed and dilapidated International Bazaar, where hundreds were once employed.

The area is now considered an eyesore and a ghost town in the heart of Freeport.

Nothing is being done to revitalise the area and stimulate business and employment, he said.

“Where there is no vision the people will perish,” Mr Mortimer said, referring to the Bible verse Proverbs 29:18.

Another issue he spoke about is the discrimination of people in minority groups due to their origin.

“I hear the cries of the discriminated ... we are all God’s people,” he said.

Mr Mortimer said he plans to the make a difference in Central Grand Bahama.

He said constituents deserve to live in areas that are improving and modern.

He pledged that he will be a voice for all constituents residing in the settlements of Hunters, Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, Mack Town, Hepburn Town and Williams Town.

He also vowed to bring good representation for the people of Malibu Reef, Imperial Park, Bahamia and Sunrise Subdivisions.

“It is evident in Central

(Grand Bahama) that the post-hurricane clean-up is causing the infestation of rats and the possibility of diseases associated with such infestations. This must be dealt with by the removal of waste,” he said.

He will also prioritise areas such as health care, youth empowerment, education and employment.

Mr Mortimer said additional pharmacy services are required and he believes that extending working hours in clinics to midnight at weekends must be considered. He said there is a demand for more specialist doctors.

Mr Mortimer said that the youth represents the future of the nation. He said students at the schools in Central Grand Bahama deserve an education in mod-

TURNER CHOSEN BY DNA FOR TALL PINES THE Democratic National Alliance has ratified Kishon Turner as the party’s standard-bearer for the Tall Pines constituency.

“Mr Turner is an individual who has dedicated himself to service,” the DNA noted in a statement released yesterday.

“He is a 17 year professional in allied health, who has advocated for improvements in pre-hospital care.

He is highly qualified in

emergency medical services, having attained certifications in both the management and education of emergency medical care.

“He has also spent considerable time advocating for changes in the current system of governance. His focus on social activism has been fostered through letters, opinion pieces, social media, radio and marches.

“This young man represents the kind of emphasis

the DNA places on the inclusion of young Bahamians who have established themselves as nationalists in their own right and who are prepared to challenge the status quo and preserve the country for future generations,” the party said.

Mr Turner will go up against incumbent representative Leslie Miller, a member of the Progressive Liberal Party, and Free National Movement candidate Don Saunders.

ern facilities where active learning is promoted.

He claimed that job creation for youth remains an empty promise by the cur-

rent administration. “And the overall improvement in quality of life that was promised, is on the decline,” he said.

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• Ensures compliance with all regulatory agencies such as JCI and MOH • Manages and monitors clinical and environmental audits

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• Superior analytical and problem solving skills • Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills • Ability t o work independently and under pressure to meet stringent deadlines • Strong budgeting skills • Ability to influence and lead change

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• Graduate Degree in Nursing Administration preferred or Bachelors Degree in Nursing • Five years experience in a nursing leadership or senior role • Registration with the Nursing Council of The Bahamas • Key certifications required: BLS, ACLS, & PALS • Proficiency with MS Office Suite Application deadline: Friday, April 14th, 2017 Email resume to hr@doctorshosp.com with subject line: Assistant VP Patient Care

Please submit resume to: The Human Resources Department Doctors Hospital P.O. Box N-3018 Nassau, Bahamas Fax us at: (242) 302-4738 Email: hr@doctorshosp.com Website: www.doctorshosp.com

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PAGE 16, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Voters ‘feel neglected’ by govt in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net AS campaigning and election fever ramps up, some voters in Grand Bahama say they feel neglected and forgotten by the current government.

The Tribune recently canvassed voters on the island to get their take on the election choices before them.

There were mixed views about which party would win.

“I am not voting for none of them,” said a man who identified himself as Leroy.

“I am registered to vote and I have my voter’s card, but this (election) here, only the good Lord could bring the Bahamas and the people out of this compunction,” he said.

“What the nation and the Bahamian people need to do is to go pray and when they pray, the Lord will speak to them.”

Several straw vendors did not wish to comment, and one woman told The Trib-

une she did not want speak on the election because she feared she would be victimised.

When The Tribune approached a group of cab drivers at the Port Lucaya taxi stand, no one wanted to comment about the election.

The cabbies were glum about the island’s waning tourism sector.

When asked how they felt about Grand Bahama’s tourism industry, one cabbie asked: “Do we have a tourism industry in Grand Bahama?”

Grand Bahama has lost 40 per cent of its room inventory and 1,100 workers in the tourism industry are unemployed due to closure of Breaker’s Cay at the Grand Lucayan Resort, and the Memories Resort, and the casino in Lucaya, which all sustained severe hurricane damage last October.

Airlift from 13 US and several Canadian cities by Sunwing Travel Group have been discontinued to the destination, resulting in a

significant decline in air arrivals.

A straw vendor who identified herself as Beverly said: “Tourism, I don’t know what that word is when it comes to Grand Bahama. We have been neglected and forgotten about in Grand Bahama.”

She said the Progressive Liberal Party has failed Bahamians in Grand Bahama.

Beverley said she voted for the PLP in the 2012 general election, but says she will not be supporting the party this year.

“I am a registered voter and I can’t wait for Election Day,” she said. “In 2012, the PLP tell me to believe in them because they believe in the Bahamian people.

“But in the three years of me believing in them, this PLP government sent police to my home with a summons for me to go to the Supreme Court to be put out my house,” said the struggling resident, who acquired a home loan through the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, a government

entity.

The straw vendor said the government is not sensitive to the plight of Bahamians who are dealing with hardship because of the poor economy in Grand Bahama.

“I was a good paying customer, but I fall on some hardship and medical difficulties. They (the PLP) said they believed in Bahamians; I believed in them, but I can’t wait to pay them back - I ain’t voting PLP.” The straw vendor said she is supporting the Free National Movement and its candidate Michael Pintard in Marco City.

“I am fired up and ready to vote them out,” she said.

She believes the FNM will win.

Straw vendor Gloria McPhee, however, is confident that the PLP will win again. She said the PLP government has done a lot for the Bahamian people during its five years in office and has not forgotten Grand Bahama.

“I know that the PLP

is going to win the general elections,” she said. “The government has done a lot within five years for this country, and the Bahamian people can see for themselves what this government has done.”

While Ms McPhee agrees that tourism is not doing well in Grand Bahama, she said the sector has not been performing for over a decade.

“Tourism was not doing too good in Grand Bahama now for about 15 years.

We have not seen the type of tourism that we used to see from Sir Lynden’s time.

I am not being biased, but Obie (Wilchcombe, minister of tourism) is doing a very good job.”

Ms McPhee claims that the FNM party is broken and its leader Hubert Minnis is clueless.

“The leader of the FNM needs to keep his mouth closed. He has said that when he wins he will sell Baha Mar, I don’t know how he figured that,” she said.

She was also critical of comments Dr Minnis made about making the University of Bahamas free for Bahamians, and claims that her granddaughter attends UB and is already given a free education.

“He does not know what is going on in his own country and he wants to be prime minister – something is wrong with him,” she said.

Ms McPhee said the FNM has split over leadership issues, referring to the seven FNM MPs who expressed a lack of confidence in Dr Minnis and had him removed as leader of the Official Opposition.

Third party the Democratic National Alliance, according to the outspoken vendor, “is just blowing smoke. “ “Branville McCartney, (DNA leader) has never finished a term in Parliament.

You need to serve before you can become prime minister. He needs to stop looking for power and first serve his country,” she said.

CABBAGE BEACH PROTEST ‘MORAL VICTORY’ DESPITE LOSS OF APPEAL IN THE COURTS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE losing an appeal, Halson Moultrie, lawyer for the Cabbage Beach Business Owners Association, said last year’s protest against restrictions to the main access path to the popular Paradise Island beach translated into a moral “victory” for the vendors.

Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner had previously ruled that the CBBOA had no legal position to file an injunction or block the property’s owners from restricting vendors, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Mr Moultrie said that there has been no interference of access to the beach since the protest, which saw the tearing down of a fence that was erected to block one of the two access points to the beach. He added that since then there has been “a free open access now to Cabbage Beach for more than a year, without incident.”

On May 5, 2016, Justice Turner sided with Access Industries, the landowners, over a dispute about whether vendors had a right to traverse the path in question near the Riu Palace Paradise Island Hotel to get to Cabbage Beach.

Justice Turner acceded to a position put forward by legal counsel for Access Industries suggesting that

THE ACCESS to Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island.

CBBOA did not hold the “Whether we accept or aplegal position to file an in- peal the judge’s decision, junction or block the prop- the matter is far from being erty’s owners from restrict- over.”

When contacted on Friing vendors.

At the time, Access In- day, Mr Moultrie told The dustries had applied for the Tribune that the CBBOA union’s legal action claim- appealed Justice Turner’s ing the right to operate decision, but to no avail, as their business to be struck he said the judge’s decision out on April 4 on the ba- was upheld by the appelsis that the CBBOA, as a late court. Nonetheless, Mr union registered under the Moultrie said his clients Industrial Relations Act, still secured a moral vicdid not have the capacity to tory, which he attributed to the actions of those who bring the action.

Access Industries further participated in last year’s charged that the vendors protest.

“We were satisfied that had signed agreements giving the property owners the the action of the Bahamian right to cancel the contracts people in the demonstration that caused the gate at any time.

Shortly after the ruling, and the fence to be removed Mr Moultrie suggested to was sufficient to maintain The Tribune that the CB- the access,” he said. “And BOA still had a card or two even though Atlantis and to play in the matter, telling AI Bahamas Ltd were sucthis newspaper at the time: cessful before the courts,

they dare not put that gate or fence back up.

“And so the whole purpose of our action was really to maintain the access to Cabbage Beach. So we felt that we earned a victory despite the court’s ruling.”

When asked if his clients have faced any issues in accessing the beach since last year’s problem, Mr Moultrie said: “There’s not been any interference with respect to access since then.

The fence has not been put up, nor has the gate been restored.

“The gate is no longer there that was locked every evening at 6pm. That has been removed from the day of the demonstration, and it has not been replaced. And so there’s a free open access now to Cabbage Beach for more than a year, without incident.”

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, April 10, 2017, PAGE 17

THE SENATE MEMBERS OF 2017

THE 2017 Members of the Senate posed for their official photograph last week. From left: Jerome Gomez, Tanisha Tynes, Robyn Lynes, Rodney Moncur, Alex Storr, Allyson Maynard Gibson (Government Leader), Lady Sharon Wilson (President of the Senate), Joseph Curry (Vice-President of the Senate), Gregory Burrows, Monique Gomez (Opposition Leader), Gary Sawyer and Jude Knowles.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/ BIS

12-year-sentence upheld for sex attack that led to child having an abortion

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has affirmed the conviction and 12-year sentence of a man who a Supreme Court jury found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor and aiding her into a forced abortion.

Dwight Bethel, 43, stood trial in October 2014 before Justice Vera Watkins on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and abetment to abortion concerning the crimes committed between 2008 and 2013.

Bethel denied the accusations when interviewed in police custody and during his trial. However, the jury believed the complainant’s testimony that Bethel began molesting her in 2008 when she was 11.

The complainant said she did not tell her mother what was happening because she was afraid. The teen said she told Bethel she was carrying his child in June 2013, and he took her to a clinic four months later to terminate the pregnancy.

However, the operation was halted by her mother’s calls inquiring as to her whereabouts. As a result, she had to pass the foetus at home and wrap it in a plastic bag as directed by Bethel before he came to collect it.

The alleged abuse was revealed and reported to police later that day when the girl’s mother took her to the Princess Margaret Hospital, where she was diagnosed and treated for an incomplete septic abortion.

The jury unanimously convicted Bethel and in February 2015, Justice Watkins imposed a 12-year sen-

tence for the two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and seven years for abetment to abortion to take effect from the date of conviction.

Bethel and his appeals lawyer, Murrio Ducille, challenged the conviction on the basis that the judge was wrong to not allow Bethel’s trial lawyer to question the girl concerning her sexual history.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision handed down on Thursday, dismissed the appellant’s challenge with Justices Jon Isaacs, Stella Crane-Scott, and Roy Jones rejecting the argument.

However, the court was split 2-1 concerning Section 34 of the Evidence Act. “There were two hurdles the appellant had to surmount before he could be allowed to ask the virtual complainant questions related to her sexual encounters with anyone other than the appellant,” Justice Isaacs said.

“First, were the questions relevant to the issues joined in the trial between the Crown’s case and the appellant’s case? Second, would it be unfair to deny him the opportunity to ask the questions?

“The exchange between defence counsel and Watkins J shows quite clearly that the two questions he proposed to ask of the virtual complainant were of no relevance to the issues joined between the Crown’s case and the appellant’s case.

“Counsel failed, therefore, to surmount the first hurdle; as such there was no need for the judge to consider whether he had sur-

mounted the second hurdle although she did do so,” Justice Isaacs said.

On the issue of section 34 of the Evidence Act, Justice Isaacs said: “It is clear that it was Parliament’s intention to provide protection to victims of unlawful sexual intercourse.”

“Unlawful sexual intercourse is in essence a rape offence as it is sexual intercourse with a minor who by law cannot consent to the act. To conclude that unlawful sexual intercourse is not ‘a rape offence’ especially in light of Parliament’s decision not to define the same within the Act, makes, in my view, a mockery of the provision.”

Justice Crane Scott, on the rape argument, stressed that “it is undeniable that the purpose of Section 34 is to protect a complainant who is testifying in a trial involving ‘a rape offence’ from being questioned, without the leave of the court, about a sexual experience with a person other than the accused where the particular question or the proposed line of crossexamination merely goes to credit.

“Parliament has also provided in Subsection (2) of Section 34, a procedural mechanism whereby upon application to the court by or on behalf of an accused person, the court, in the absence of the jury, for the purpose of exercising its discretion to grant or deny leave, inquire firstly, into the relevance of the evidence to be adduced by the proposed question or line of cross-examination; and secondly, whether it would be unfair to the accused to refuse to allow the evidence

to be adduced or the question to be asked.

“Given the paucity of the information which had been placed before her, the judge could not be faulted for concluding that the crossexamination proposed by defence counsel had simply sought to discredit the complainant in the eyes of the jury and should be disallowed,” Justice Crane-Scott added.

She further noted that Parliament “evidently did not consider it necessary for purposes of Section 34 to define the expression ‘a rape offence’ and it cannot be assumed that Parliament made a mistake merely because a definition was not provided.”

“In my view, the expression is not inherently unclear or ambiguous and in the absence of a definition we are required to look to the natural and ordinary meaning of the words for the true meaning of the term. The word ‘rape’ is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary broadly to mean ‘unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception’.

“Giving the word ‘rape’ in its natural and ordinary meaning, I am satisfied that the expression ‘a rape offence’ in Section 34 is intended to cover offences within the broad spectrum of ‘rape,’ rather than the narrower, more restrictive definition found in Section

3 of the Sexual Offences Act to which no express reference is made,” Justice Crane-Scott found.

Justice Jones, in his dissent on the issue of Section 34, said that the trial judge’s statement “cannot be sustained for two reasons.”

“First, it is a non-sequitur,” the judge noted. “Although sexual intercourse is a common feature to both offences, the difference between ‘unlawful sexual intercourse’ and a ‘rape offence’ is primarily the requirement in rape that sexual intercourse took place without consent, or with consent obtained by force, fear or fraud.

“Second, Section 34 of the Bahamas Evidence Act, Chapter 65 which came into being in March, 1996, is in pari materia with Section 2 of the UK Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, enacted 20 years earlier,” Justice Jones noted.

“However, unlike the Bahamian Evidence Act Chapter 65, which presented no definition of a ‘rape offence,’ the UK statute in Section 7 defined a ‘rape offence’ as ‘any of the following, namely rape, attempted rape, aiding and abetting, counselling and procuring rape or attempted rape, incitement to rape, conspiracy to rape and burglary with intent to rape.’ In my view then, Watkins J, could not properly restrict the appellant’s cross-examination under Section 34 of the Bahamas Evidence Act Chapter 65 since the appellant was not charged for ‘a rape offence’ but for unlawful sexual intercourse under section 14(1) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic

Violence Act Chapter 99.”

That was where the dissent ended.

Justice Jones, however, agreed with his colleagues that questions to witnesses in a trial “must be relevant to an issue in the case.”

“Whether the complainant had sexual intercourse with another person can, in my view, be relevant to the issue of whether she had sexual intercourse with the appellant. It all depends on the way the case is being presented to the court. It is also relevant to the complainant’s credibility,” he added.

“However, in this case, the questions foreshadowed by the appellant’s counsel at the trial did not seek to discredit the complainant’s evidence or challenge her credibility in any way. The questions proposed were plainly irrelevant either to the issue before the jury in the trial or to credibility of the complainant.

“They were therefore inadmissible and the judge below was right to prevent counsel for the appellant to cross-examine the complainant using them. From this it must follow that the verdict of the jury is not unsafe or unsatisfactory,” Justice Jones concluded.

Stanley Rolle represented Bethel at the trial while Algernon Allen II prosecuted the case.

Garvin Gaskin, director of public prosecutions, Erica Duncombe, Eucal Bonaby and Joel Seymour were the Crown respondents in the appeal.

The appellate court’s full judgment, which was rendered on Thursday and published on Friday, is available on its website.

PAGE 18, Monday, April 10, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

GOOD DEEDS FOR AUTISM MONTH

MEMBERS of staff from the Water and Sewerage Corporation during the ‘good deeds’ day for autism awareness month at Stapledon School. Staff cleaned up the outside of the school along with painting trees and tires with assistance from the students.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff