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VOLUME:115 No.94, APRIL 9TH, 2018
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Can you Pointe out the local workers? By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
developers - China Construction America (CCA) - 70 per cent of the workforce is supposed A TRIBto be Bahamian UNE investiand at the “peak” gation into the of construction $200 million that number development should be about of The Pointe 200 people. in downtown When The TribNassau has raised une looked at the questions of a workers on the possible breach in site in both Januthe terms under ary and February which the project it was a similar should be carried story. Dozens of out. Chinese buildDozens of Chiers walked on to nese construction DOZENS of Chinese the site every day workers pour on from accommoworkers have been to the site daily dation opposite seen on the site. but the Bahamithe development ans who should and virtually no Bahamians be working alongside them anywhere to be seen. are virtually nowhere to be When contacted yesseen. terday, Labour Director On Friday our photogra- Robert Farquharson told phers monitored who went this newspaper his office on to the site and with the had received “no comexception of three or four plaints” about the make-up Bahamians and a guard of the workforce. at the gates of the develHowever, he admitted the opment, everyone else last inspection carried out appeared to be Chinese. at The Pointe was last year, Under the terms of before the May general the heads of agreement signed with the project’s SEE PAGE FIVE
‘FIRE DEATH’ MUM SEEKS BAIL
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE attorney for a 40-year-old woman accused of manslaughter after allegedly setting fire to her one-year-old daughter last year will seek to apply to the Supreme Court for bail ahead of his client’s trial. Bjorn Ferguson, attorney
for Phillipa Marshall, told The Tribune yesterday that he plans to apply for bail by today, with the aim of having a hearing on the bail application by Tuesday or Wednesday. Until then, Marshall remains confined in the female prison at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. SEE PAGE THREE
CHINESE workers at The Pointe development in downtown Nassau. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
MINNIS COUP – ‘NOT TALKS AIM TO SETTLE A CHANCE IN HELL’ NURSING DISPUTE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells yesterday theorised the only credible threat to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ leadership was the country’s economic stability, not another party coup.
Mr Wells sounded off on persistent rumours of discord within Dr Minnis’ Cabinet, telling The Tribune the Free National Movement’s leadership challenges last term served as a lesson for all politicians. Social media and tabloid rumours of a budding FNM coup centre around claims SEE PAGE SIX
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Nurses Union has not yet applied to the Department of Labour for permission to hold a strike vote concerning its dispute with the Public Hospitals Authority over a shift system, Labour
Director Robert Farquharson said yesterday. Mr Farquharson, in an interview with The Tribune, said there is “no such application” before the Department of Labour from the BNU. He said the union did have a strike vote certificate previously, but that was for another SEE PAGE 12
WELCOME TO BEAUTIFUL CABBAGE BEACH INSIGHT
By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
LARGE piles of bottles, discarded poles, and general trash mar the entrance to Cabbage Beach near the Riu Hotel on Paradise Island.
Although trees on either side of the entryway create a stunning frame of
the crystal blue waters, the closer one gets to the sea the more apparent are the
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
large piles of litter. A quick detour away from the water and into the surrounding bushes reveals even more sections of garbage. The Tribune visited the area recently to find out the reaction of tourists and locals to the garbage piles. SEE PAGE 10
PAGE 2, Monday, April 9, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
EASTER TEA PARTY AT GOVT HOUSE SCENES from the Easter Tea Party held at Government House yesterday. The event was hosted by Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling (pictured right) in the Mount Fitzwilliam ballroom. . PHOTOS: Terrel W Carey/ Tribune staff
ACSDA Annual General Assembly Conference 2018 to be held at Atlantis The Annual General Assembly for ACSDA will take place at Atlantis, Paradise Island, April 11th to 13th. The event will be co-hosted by The Bahamas CSD, Barbados CSD, Eastern Caribbean CSD, Jamaica CSD and Trinidad and Tobago CSD.
Ira Storr & the Spank Band, Lady E, Dmac and the Fancy Dancers Junkanoo Group will perform. Americas Central Securities Depositories Association
ACSDA is a non-profit organization comprised of Central Securities Depositories and Clearing Houses of the Americas, headquartered in Lima, Peru. Its By-laws were established at the first General Assembly held in the city of Lima, Peru on August 10, 1999. Its main purpose is to be a forum for the exchange of information and experiences among its members in a spirit of mutual cooperation and to promote best practice recommendations in services such as securities depository, clearance, settlement, and risk management. ACSDA's goal is also to support local markets in their efforts to adopt securities market regulations, while considering their specific circumstances and to serve as a channel for dialogue with other organizations worldwide. ACSDA has 30 member CSDs from the following countries: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Eastern Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines), Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Bahamas Central Securities Depository (BCSD) was accepted into ACSDA in November 2016 and was officially inducted as a member at the 2017 General Assembly held in La Paz, Bolivia. Nerika Burrows, President of BCSD stated “It is such an honor to be a part of ACSDA. We realize that the Association is a major resource of information on best practices for CSDs in the region and around the world, which will lead to the further growth and development of our unique business here in The Bahamas. We have already made great business contacts and formed important regional and international relationships through ACSDA.” In a statement, Keith Davies, CEO BISX said, “On behalf of The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) I look forward to welcoming my regional Exchange colleagues and members of the America's Central Securities Depositories Association (ACSDA) to The Bahamas for their 20th Annual General Assembly. As an Exchange market participant and as a Director of the Bahamas Central Securities Depository (BCSD) we welcome the opportunity to share our experiences and learn from our international colleagues. We expect a very successful conference”.
CO-HOSTED BY THE CARIBBEAN CSDs
This is the first time the ACSDA General Assembly will take place in the Caribbean and BCSD is happy to play country host in The Bahamas, at the prestigious Atlantis Resort. The Caribbean CSDs have collaborated to ensure that this year’s General Assembly will be another tremendous event for our 30 member organizations, as well as our partners and guests. The theme of this year’s General Assembly is “Waves of Change: Oceans of Opportunity” which captures the Caribbean theme and the collaboration between ACSDA’s members in realizing opportunities for growth in each of their markets. Bruce Butterill, ACSDA Executive Director commented that “ACSDA holds its annual General Assembly each year in the location of one of its members. This year, which marks ACSDA's 20th General Assembly it is being held for the first time in the Islands of the Caribbean. I have every confidence that this event will further contribute to the achievement of ACSDA's goal of providing a forum for the exchange of information and experiences among its members in a spirit of mutual cooperation”. The General Assembly will begin on Wednesday April 11, with the Official Assembly of ACSDA, followed by a Welcome Reception for all on Wednesday evening. The Minister of Tourism and Aviation, The Honorable Dionisio D’Aguilar will be in attendance to welcome over 100 Delegates from abroad and stakeholders from the local market. The program for Thursday April 12 and Friday April 13 will include presentations, speeches and panel discussions on a wide range of topics of relevance to CSDs, including Cyber Security, the Future of Market Infrastructures, Trends in CSD Technologies, as well as updates from some of the member CSDs markets. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance The Honorable K. Peter Turnquest, who has responsibility for the local Capital Market will open the Conference on Thursday morning and address the delegates on the Bahamian Market. Later that afternoon the Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, The Honorable Brent Symonette will speak to the Country’s Financial Services Industry. No conference hosted in The Bahamas would be complete without some exposure, for the visiting Delegates, to the local Bahamian Culture. Thursday evening will climax with a Bahamian night, where the best in Bahamian food and entertainment will be experienced and showcased.
Trevor Blake Managing Director ECCSD and a Member of the ACSDA Executive Committee commented, “The Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository Ltd (ECCSD) is delighted to partner with the other Caribbean CSDs to co-host the ACSDA 20th Annual General Assembly, in Nassau. We are indeed grateful to the Government and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for lending us your beautiful Paradise Island for this, the premier industry event in this hemisphere. We must thank ACSDA’s newest member, the Bahamas Central Securities Depository, and in particular, its President, Ms Nerika Burrows, for so ably undertaking the pivotal role of local co-host. I congratulate Nerika and her team for their tremendous efforts in organizing what promises to be an enormously successful conference! Many ACSDA members have over the years looked forward to a ‘Caribbean’ General Assembly. My joint hosts and I are therefore pleased to have finally delivered, and warmly welcome our continental colleagues to The Bahamas for ACSDA XX”. ACSDA’s Annual General Assembly would not be possible without the support and continued commitment of our International partners and local sponsors in our host countries. By participating with ACSDA it allows them another opportunity to deepen further bonds with industry colleagues, identify new business opportunities, strategize about the latest industry trends and join the Association’s collective dialogue to continue to strengthen post-trade infrastructures. ACSDA’s General Assembly forum also offers partners a variety of ways to showcase their capabilities and demonstrate their support for the market infrastructures sector, not only the ACSDA member CSDs, but also representatives from ACSDA’s global partners from leading industry and market infrastructure groups, including sister regional CSD associations. We are pleased to list our 26 partners, 8 international and 18 local, to whom we are most grateful: Platinum - Clearstream Banking S.A, Euroclear, Bahamas Ministry of Financial Services Gold – Swift, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Silver – Percival, Thomas Murray, Nasdaq, EY, Commonwealth Bank, Commonwealth Brewery Bronze – BISX, RDC Partners & Associates, JS Johnson, BTC, FOCOL, BPL Corporate – Montran, Royal Fidelity Merchant Bank, CFAL, FG Capital Markets, Colonial Pension, BDO, BFSB, BICA, Arawak Port Development As in the past, ACSDA’s 2018 General Assembly promises a great combination of active strategic dialogue, business networking and warm hospitality.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 9, 2018, PAGE 3
DEFENCE FORCE RESCUES 13 MAN AND WOMAN CHARGED ABOARD ‘DISABLED VESSEL’ OVER MARIJUANA SEIZURE
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has assisted in the rescue of 13 persons who were stranded at sea aboard a “disabled vessel” after it experienced mechanical problems between Friday and Saturday. The passengers—five Bahamian men and eight Canadians – left Cabbage Beach in a 25-foot Boston Whaler around 1.30pm on Friday heading
for Big Major Cay, aka “Pig Beach,” in Exuma. They did not reach their destination as planned, however, prompting a concerned relative to notify police and RBDF authorities early Saturday morning. The RBDF subsequently deployed its seagoing patrol craft along with one of its aircraft to assist in searching for the “overdue” vessel. On Saturday afternoon, a local fisherman spotted the vessel and took the passengers aboard his craft before subsequently informing the RBDF.
RBDF patrol craft P-129 later met the fishing vessel, took the 13 passengers off, and subsequently escorted the distressed vessel to the RBDF’s Harbour Unit. All 13 people were found to be safe and in fair health, RBDF officials said. They were handed over to police and Port Department officials for further investigation. “The Royal Bahamas Defence Force takes pride in safeguarding the sovereignty and heritage of the country,” the RBDF said in a statement.
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A MAN and a woman were charged in a Magistrate’s Court on Friday in connection with the seizure of almost $80,000 worth of marijuana from a home in western New Providence last week. Patrick Bosfield, 47, and Veronica Beauchesne, 53, stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney faced with one count each of cultivation of marijuana and two counts each of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. The alleged acts by the two that led to the charges were allegedly committed on April 5 in the Coral Harbour area. According to initial police reports, around 6am on the day in question, officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit
(DEU), Marine Unit and K-9 unit, with assistance from US Drug Enforcement Agents, conducted a joint operation at a home on Devonshire Drive, Coral Harbour. That operation resulted in the seizure of 173 marijuana plants and several packages of suspected marijuana. The weight of the drugs was 72.6 pounds with a street value of $77,000. Both Bosfield and Beauchesne pleaded not guilty to the charges as they were read Friday. Bail was denied and the two were ordered to be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until June 12 for trial; however, they have the right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. The pair are represented by attorney Ian Cargill.
‘FIRE DEATH’ MUM SEEKS BAIL FROM PAGE ONE On Friday, Marshall, of Kemp Road, was arraigned on a single count of manslaughter stemming from the December 2017 incident. It is alleged that late last year, Marshall intentionally caused the death of Philicia Marshall by means of unlawful harm. Prosecutors reportedly alleged she doused her child with gasoline and set her afire at her Faith Gardens home after hearing voices. Marshall had previously been housed at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) for some 12 weeks due to mental health issues. She was released from SRC last week, after which she was charged in connection with the child’s death. The child died in February this year having been cared for at Princess Margaret Hospital. Marshall is due to be presented with a voluntary bill of indictment on May 14.
THE funeral for former Cabinet minister and parliamentarian Theresa Moxey-Ingraham was held at St Agnes Anglican Church. PHOTOS: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR ‘TRUE 21ST CENTURY WOMAN’ THERESA MOXEY-INGRAHAM By MATT MAURA Bahamas Information Services PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Friday described former Cabinet minister and parliamentarian Theresa Moxey-Ingraham as a “true 21st century woman” who was vocal in her support for equality for women in the Bahamas. Dr Minnis further described Moxey-Ingraham as a drum major for what was good, right and just. “A committed Christian and public servant, she was a drum major for justice. She was a drum major for democracy. “She was a drum major for her students and young people whose lives were graced with her teaching ministry and compassion,” Dr Minnis said at the official funeral for Moxey-Ingraham at St Agnes Anglican Church on Friday. “Theresa was a devoted wife, mother, daughter and sister. “She was a friend of the poor and the vulnerable in our country. She was a fearless warrior in fighting for what was right, especially for the rights of women. “She leaves behind a committed life, and a life of service and devotion to her family, friends and country. May her fine example encourage us all to be drum majors for what is good, right and just,” Dr Minnis said. Moxey-Ingraham was also a proponent for access to adult and tertiary education opportunities. A former parttime lecturer at The Bahamas Hotel Training College; executive director of the Bahamas Campus of Sojourner-Douglass and president of the Association of Tertiary Institutions in the Bahamas (ATIB), Mrs Moxey-Ingraham was praised for lobbying for funding and better
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaks at the funeral. financial support for the “other tertiary institutions that were also making valuable contributions to tertiary and adult education in the Bahamas.” Dr Minnis cited MoxeyIngraham’s push for greater access for women through the areas of education, skillstraining and professional development, and her work in improving in the lives of Bahamian children, as two of the other great hallmarks of her life’s work. He referred to MoxeyIngraham as a “bold and courageous spirit” who loved her country and who refused to “stay on the sidelines of history and the life of her country.” “Yet, Theresa was an educator and teacher at heart,” Dr Minnis said. “She loved being in the classroom and molding and guiding young people to develop their gifts and talents. “Theresa was beloved by her students and her fellow teachers and later government colleagues. She was a superb model for her students (and) her former
students still speak fondly of her creativity in the classroom. “Theresa Moxey-Ingraham was a true 21st century woman,” Dr Minnis said. “It never occurred to her that she was less than anyone else or that her gender should limit her career choices or her professional development. “She was vocal in her support for equality for women in the Bahamas, and pushed for greater access for women through education, skillstraining and professional development. “She played an important role in developing legislation by the Free
National Movement to improve opportunities for women in the Bahamas and to improve the lives of children.” A former educator, hotelier and senator, MoxeyIngraham was first elected to Parliament in August 1992. She served as minister of transport from August 1992 to August 1993 before subsequently serving as minister of social development and National Insurance and minister of health and the environment. She was sworn in as minister of labour, immigration and training on March 18, 1997, following the general election, and three years later was appointed minister of commerce, agriculture and industry, a post she held until February, 2001, when she became minister of the public service and cultural affairs. In 2017, Moxey-Ingraham was appointed chairman of the National Training Agency where she guided the training and preparation of young Bahamians in acquiring new work skills. She also contributed to the arts as a member of the Dundas Repertory Company and as chairperson of the board of directors of the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts, and was a member of the Coconut Grove Chorale under the late, Edmund Moxey. She died on March 20 at age 64 after an illness.
ONASIS Rafael Santos Estevez is taken to court.
DOMINICAN MAN CHARGED OVER FRAUDULENT BAHAMIAN VISA
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A DOMINICAN accused of possessing a fraudulent Bahamian document was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court last week. Onasis Rafael Santos Estevez, 41, appeared in court one before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson. He was charged with possession of a fraudulent Bahamian visa with intent to deceive an immigration officer. According to the particulars, on Monday, March 26, while at the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Estevez presented a fraudulent visa to an immigration officer knowing that it was false with intent to deceive the officer. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine or serve one year in prison. On payment of his fine or on completion of a custodial sentence, he is to be deported from the Bahamas.
PAGE 4, Monday, April 9, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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Is the Bahamas committed to its own success? IN a pre-retirement speech at the Royal Fidelity Bahamas Economic Outlook in February, Tim Rider, Royal Bank of Canada’s vice president of sales, gave Bahamians a bit of sound advice that they did not want to hear — especially coming from a white man, and a foreigner at that. Mr Rider told Bahamians that they cannot allow the educational “status quo” to persist if the Bahamas is to be competitive in the global economy. He pointed out that in moving to a digital platform he has been asked many times to “slow down and give folks time to adjust,” but, he said, “we cannot be slowing down. In fact, we need to be speeding up.” And then he posed the question, a question to which all Bahamians should give very serious thought: “Should a global lender like RBC be committed to the Bahamas if the Bahamas is not committed to its own success?” He warned that without change to bring the Bahamas up to world class standards it will continue to fail. The Bahamas, he said, cannot allow the “status quo” in education to persist if it is to be competitive in the global economy. In his view the single factor “that is now and will continue to lead to income and wealth inequality in the Bahamas is the inadequate education and training of its citizens.” Corruption, poor fiscal responsibility, detrimental mortgage and lending laws have had adverse consequences for the banking industry, he said. A Tribune reporter interviewed Opposition Leader “Brave” Davis after the talk to find out his views on what Mr Rider had said. Mr Davis made it clear that he was not pleased. But he went further. He said he wrote the Royal Bank of Canada urging officials to take whatever action they deemed appropriate. No one can fire a person for telling the truth, if indeed that was what Mr Davis was suggesting. We would suggest the bank write Mr Davis and advise him to reread what Mr Rider had said, digest it and for the sake of the Bahamian people do something about it.
We later talked with a Bahamian businessman, who had attended the function and heard the same speech. “What surprised me,” he told us, “was that Bahamian businessmen were outraged about the presentation. I knew that they knew that what Mr Rider was saying was correct, but my impression was that they were outraged that a white foreigner dared to say such things.” It would seem that after all of these generations the “massa complex” still courses through the collective veins of this country. This is another problem – in many cases it is a major problem. And so Mr Rider’s good advice has been tossed through the window because he is white and he is foreign. Well here is the same opinion – not foreign, but all Bahamian – expressed in this column 11 years ago under the heading: “Illiteracy threatens Bahamian economy.” It was an editorial on the revue of the Coalition for Education Reform, written by Bahamian employers and trade unionists, who concluded that if not corrected the woes and corresponding low academic achievement of today’s (2007) Bahamian educational system will lead to “low economic growth and increased social instability.” The Bahamian Coalition pointed out that too many of today’s (2007) public school youth on leaving school are unemployable. They cannot meet the requirements of a technological age. Nor are many of them well enough equipped to fill less skilled jobs. This is what Bahamians – not a white foreigner —were saying 11 years ago. Not much has changed since then, except that there is no longer a breakdown from the Ministry of Education of the BGCSE exam results for the public to see just how dismal the averages – E and Ds – remain in the public school system. It is the Bahamas and its people that will suffer – and are already feeling the predicted pinch — if this country’s leaders do not take Mr Rider’s and the Coalition’s warning seriously.
Is a Clifton polluter involved in LNG bid? EDITOR, The Tribune. About a year ago, BEC’s deputy general manager Shevonn Cambridge and safety and environment manager Bharti Jones were quoted in the press saying BEC is “not the sole contributor” to Clifton’s oil pollution problems. According to a Tribune Business story, they were referring to the presence of nearby facilities belonging to the three major oil operations – Rubis, Sol Bahamas (Esso), and FOCOL (Shell). According to them, these operations are at least partially responsible for the unsightly and extremely environmentally harmful toxic waste that has been leaking into the ground and water around Clifton for years. If this is so, the companies in question should be made to clean up their mess immediately. Certainly, they should not be rewarded for bad behaviour. Therefore, the FNM government must come clean and tell the public whether one
of thee alleged polluters, namely FOCOL is involved in Shell’s bid for an LNG terminal which has been in the papers lately. Everyone knows that Shell is usually synonymous with FOCOL in the Bahamas and if this is not the case with this particular deal, the facts must be clarified. If on the other hand, FOCOL is involved, then something is very, very wrong. How can the government consider giving a major energy contract to one of the alleged polluters at Clifton? At the very least, none of the companies operating in that area should get any further government business until a thorough investigation is conducted of who is responsible for this environmental catastrophe. CALEB Nassau., April 8, 2018.
Saving grace will be Baha Mar EDITOR, The Tribune. WELL we have some would say endured a week plus of House of Assembly pontificating but at least we did learn a little as to what the Minnis Government has been working on since May 2017. Interesting how Capital expending is told… politicians seem to have realised saying $5million does not resonate so they say $25 million and then quietly add over the next five-years.
$5m towards soft small business loans is a start I presume but based on the past 10-15 years of experience with The Development Bank a total waste of energy or perception Government will ever see the other side of that money once loaned. Did you notice the high number of clichés used in Ministers’ speeches for some it was obvious they hadn’t a clue what they were reading but they crowed like honey.
Our saving grace will be the performance finally of Baha Mar - it took 15-16 years coming but it will add to the GDP and our foreign currency earnings and employment…Credit has to go to Sarkis’ conception - the Christie Government and EXIM without who Baha Mar would not exist (Don Robinson) thanks a million, the forgotten hero in the story). W THOMPSON Nassau, March 22, 2018.
Govt making wrong decision on Post Office EDITOR, The Tribune. I’ve spoken with a lot of Bahamians concerning the Post Office move to Gladstone Road. They say it’s foolish, does not make sense and it’s the wrong decision the government is making. Dr Minnis, you said, “It’s the people’s time”, you said we have to listen to the people. Moving the Post Office, which is “CENTRAL”, out in the wilderness could put at risk the lives of many Bahamians and visitors alike with the crime situation.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net
This is a great inconvenience to the Bahamian people. 1. How will the elderly get their mail? 2. How will this move affect businesses, banking, private offices, etc? 3. How will this affect the tourist who wants to buy stamps, etc? 4. Why not rebuild it on the same site since you are going to “implode” the old building? With all due respect, Dr Minnis, it is my sincere
and honest opinion that you and your government are making the wrong decision. This move is certainly not in the best interest of the Bahamian people. Again, Dr Minnis, with all due respect, you are not listening to the Bahamian people when you say “It’s the people’s time”. May Almighty God continue to bless and protect the Bahamas and its people is my sincere prayer. Sincerely in Christ TONY G ZERVOS Nassau, April 6, 2018
94 years of helping people EDITOR, The Tribune. This letter is prompted by things that other people, mostly my wife, show me on Facebook. I don’t do Facebook, but I am impressed by what social media can achieve – so much good, and so much evil – like a recent video of a pit bull killing another dog. The Bahamas is blessed with charities and each seems directed at specific needs of our people, so I would like to talk about the Bahamas Humane Society. In case you didn’t know it, the Humane Society is the oldest charity in the Bahamas. It has been helping PEOPLE since 1924, but its detractors would have you believe that the BHS only helps animals, which is nowhere near the truth. Yes, the BHS focuses on animals, but everything they do, for any animal, benefits humans and this has been true from day one. Take horses. Go back to when the principal means of travel was on horseback, or by horse-drawn vehicles. The first time I landed my plane on Rum Cay, Constable Bain came to the airstrip, riding a donkey.
Big animals have helped people for thousands of years, as have small pets – birds, cats, dogs, rabbits, need I go on? EVERYTHING the Humane Society does to help animals helps the people who live here. Sometimes, the help is direct – as when the BHS donates food to people who cannot fully afford to care for their animals but would be distressed if their pets were to starve to death; or to a horse owner who lets a horse starve to death, while the food lies unused. At other times, the help may be indirect – good examples of this are the spay-and-neuter programmes, which have reduced the number of stray dogs and cats that infested our streets. Each of us is better off without those strays. You don’t need to be an animal lover to know that many, many people, rich and poor, are devoted to their animals. The rich can afford private vets, the poor depend upon the Humane Society to continue helping them – as the society has been doing, every day, for 94 years, this month. PAUL C. ARANHA Lyford Cay, Nassau, April 7, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
CAN YOU POINTE OUT THE LOCAL WORKERS? FROM PAGE ONE
election, when he said the ratio of Bahamian to Chinese workers was “in accordance” with the original heads of agreement. Mr Farquharson admitted he could not say what the ratio of Bahamian to nonBahamian workers now is. Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration Brent Symonette also could not confirm the ratio of workers when contacted last night. “The heads of agreement was 70/30 (Bahamian workers to foreign), not sure if they are compliant with that, but we’ll find out,” Mr Symonette told The Tribune. For his part, if complaints are lodged with the Department of Labour, Mr Farquharson said it will “take steps to confirm that the terms of the heads of agreement are complied with.”
Permits The heads of agreement for the project, tabled in Parliament in 2017, granted China Construction America between 400-500 work permits for the $200m development. The deal, dated June 18, 2015, stipulated that Bahamians would comprise 70 per cent of the total construction workforce, once those employed by local sub-contractors were included in the calculation. And Bahamian sub-contractors were supposed to receive “approximately 40 per cent of development work…in various classifications,” although those were not listed. However, the document stated the parties “may, through mutual agreement, vary their employment ratio if it becomes necessary for earlier completion.” The 70 per cent Bahamian labour component was thus subject to alteration, but based on the 400-500 Chinese work permits, that implied around 800-1,000 construction jobs for Bahamians. The document also committed CCA to “make every effort to fill as many jobs as possible with Bahamian citizens.” However, it then added: “The government recognises, however, that due to the development of the proposed high-rise structures and the tight schedule to complete the development, non-Bahamian labour with special skills and expertise that are not readily available in the Bahamas will be required.” In 2016, then Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell claimed there were too many non-Bahamian workers at the site. The Department of Labour was subsequently
PICTURED are Chinese workers at The Pointe development at the weekend. Photos: Terrel W Carey/ Tribune staff
asked to probe the ratio of Bahamian workers to foreign workers at the Bay Street development. Former St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman, then shadow minister of foreign affairs, also stated it appeared the majority of workers on the Bay Street property were Chinese nationals. At the time, Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) President Leonard Sands also demanded the government and developer clarify how many Bahamian companies and labourers were employed on Phase II of The Pointe. When questioned on the matter yesterday, Mr Farquharson said: “I can’t say what it is now, but the last time the Department of Labour conducted a survey, and that would have been I think before the May general election. “We conducted a survey, an inspection at The Pointe, and we confirmed that the ratio of Bahamian to Chinese workers was in accordance with the heads of agreement. And I think that is 70 (per cent) Bahamian and 30 per cent non-Bahamian. “… I can’t say what it is now. If there are concerns, I’m sure the Department of Labour will take steps to confirm that the terms of the heads of agreement are complied with.” When asked if any complaints have been made recently concerning the ratio of Bahamian to nonBahamian workers at the site, Mr Farquharson said: “We have had no complaints from anybody regarding the ratio of Bahamian to nonBahamian (workers) at The Pointe resort.” Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis recently took Cabinet colleagues on a visit to The Pointe to check on its progress. “The labour component, we have had discussions on that,” Dr Minnis said after touring the development in February. “We came to an agreement that the labour component can be no less than 70 per cent Bahamian and 30 per cent foreign nationals and they have stuck to that commitment of 70/30.” At the time of that visit, the president of The Pointe, Daniel Liu said at the current phase of the project, 58 Bahamians were involved and that CCA was keeping to its promise of a 70/30 labour split in favour of local workers. Mr Liu added a total of 150 Bahamians contractors had been involved since The Pointe project began.
Monday, April 9, 2018, PAGE 5
PAGE 6, Monday, April 9, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
DAVIS: PETER TURNQUEST IS ‘WORST’ MINISTER OF FINANCE LEADER of the Official Opposition Philip “Brave” Davis has labelled Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest as the “worst” Minister of Finance, accusing the Minnis administration of borrowing more than $1 billion since assuming office but having nothing to show for it. He said he is convening a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee tomorrow, as, Mr Davis said, government borrowing continues, but Mr Turnquest continues to blame the Progressive Liberal Party for the country’s debt levels. Mr Davis’ comments are the latest in a back and forth with Mr Turnquest, sparked by comments the PLP leader made at a press conference last week. “Peter Turnquest’s ad hominem and highly emotive attacks on me and the PLP for holding the FNM government’s feet to the fire smacks of arrogance and desperation,” Mr Davis said in a statement. “He must account for the government’s stewardship of the people’s scarce resources in pure policy terms. To date, the FNM government has not been forthright, transparent or accountable to the Bahamian people. This is unacceptable.” He said the Minnis administration had borrowed a “staggering” amount of money in its first year. “I simply asked where the money went and will continue to do so on behalf of the Bahamian people. His answer was that the FNM was paying off bills from the previous administration. Well during the last fiscal year this same Peter Turnquest reported
to Parliament and the media that the FNM paid $381 million of bills in June 2017 he claimed were left behind by the PLP government. We are now in a new fiscal year; the borrowing continues and he is
“Peter Turnquest’s ad hominem and highly emotive attacks on me and the PLP for holding the FNM government’s feet to the fire smacks of arrogance and desperation. He must account for the government’s stewardship of the people’s scarce resources in pure policy terms.” Philip ‘Brave’ Davis singing the same incredulous tune of deflection – it’s the PLP’s fault. I am convening a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, April 10. “. . . We in the PLP see that the human suffering index in the Bahamas has gone up exponentially,” Mr Davis said. “The poor can get no relief; the minister of health proposes to tax poor people’s food while he can’t get sufficient medicine and beds in the public hospitals. The FNM has intentionally added to the rate of unemployment and there is a steep deterioration in public infrastructure.
“Mosquitos are out of control and road traffic accidents are killing our people with no programmes in place to stop it. There are bloody murders of our young people every week without fail while promising young minds are steadily leaving the Bahamas for the US, Canada and the UK because there is no support for them here. This is what we see.”
Stagnant He said Grand Bahama’s economy remains stagnant, while the Minnis administration tries to “force an economically questionable and environmentally unsustainable project on the people there,” referring to the controversial Oban Energies oil refinery and storage facility. “There is no economic or social policy for the Family Islands,” Mr Davis added. “The picture by any measure is pretty grim and no amount of bombast and personal attacks of deflection can change those facts. We also know that Mr Turnquest has failed as minister of finance. He does not understand the sophisticated world of public finance administration; he is a dismal failure at cash flow management.” Last week, Mr Turnquest responded to a previous verbal attack from Mr Davis. He said Mr Davis was in no position to speak about fiscal prudence, as the former Christie administration “mismanaged the country’s financial resources, exceeding their last budget by over $500 million alone.”
LEADER of the Official Opposition Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. Mr Davis had questioned what the government was doing with its more than $1bn in approved borrowing, but Mr Turnquest retorted: “Make no mistake about it, this last administration had oversight of millions of dollars in inflated contracts of questionable value, and should be the last to open their collective mouths with anything to do with financial matters or fiscal propriety.”
Schools Targeting the “excessive use” of taxpayer dollars on schools and clinics in Mr Davis’s constituency of Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, he added that this all fell “curiously” within the former deputy prime minister’s territory. “Under his watch as a minister in the former government, the opposition leader helped
preside over a massive ramp-up of government debt even after introducing value added tax, which added hundreds of millions of new revenue to the government purse,” Mr Turnquest said. “With this dismal record of performance, quite frankly the opposition leader and his colleagues are in no position to talk about fiscal propriety. “Their government grossly mismanaged the country’s financial resources, exceeding their last budget by over $500 million alone, so his critique particularly rings hollow.” Of the government’s approved $1.4 billion borrowing for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, Mr Turnquest said $323 million was to cover this year’s deficit, while another $400 million was “to settle unpaid bills” left behind by the former administration.
MINNIS COUP – ‘NOT PITCH PERFECT A CHANCE IN HELL’ PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis throws the first pitch to start the Old Timers Softball Season on the weekend at the Archdeacon William E Thompson Softball Field.
FROM PAGE ONE
2012 and 2016 was a lesson or message to all of them if they have any of diminished confidence in Dr political savvy. Minnis is very politiMinnis from his parliamentary cally astute, don’t mind what you caucus. see out there, Minnis know what he The FNM has not yet decided doing. Those who wanna raise their whether it will hold a national conhand against him, they just get it cut vention this year, as mandated by its off. constitution. “I’m surprised they would even “I think they should follow what think about it at this stage less than TENNYSON the constitution say,” Mr Wells year after they win the government. I said when contacted by The Trib- WELLS don’t see nothing happening with it.” une yesterday. “You hear rumours FNM Chairman Carl Culmer told about it but I don’t think there’s any valid- The Tribune yesterday the possibility of ity to it, nobody could beat Minnis now. a convention has not come up before the Every government had the same kind of party’s Central Council, but the matter will things (missteps); it’s been played up more have to be raised before July. He believes now than ever in the past, but persons knew the rumours are the machinations of the about mistakes and pitfalls, they always Progressive Liberal Party, keen on exploitthere in every government. ing perceived weaknesses and distracting the “Whoever’s contemplating (a coup) that government from its agenda. don’t stand a ghost chance in hell. I see those “We haven’t gone to council,” Mr Culmer things but it’s nonsense, they wasting their said. “I don’t preempt nothing, it’s a democtime. The first possible chance of getting rid racy and we allow the council to dictate what of Minnis, if that happen, would probably it is.” be if the economy hasn’t moved 18 months As for the rumours of discord, Mr Culmer before the next election. continued: “There is no such thing as no “If (Minnis) hasn’t performed or shown confidence (in Dr Minnis), there are so any evidence of performance by then, it’s a much other things to be accomplished. All possibility and only a possibility.” (Cabinet members) busy trying to work their The Tribune canvassed several senior ministries and make sure Bahamians are FNM members yesterday, most of whom first, and making good on the obligations we believed the rumours were opposition tactics made to them.” working to unseat Dr Minnis or at the very He said: “Everyone’s busy doing what least erode his public image. they supposed to. The PLP is manufacturing One MP suggested the Official Opposi- propaganda, we don’t pay that no mind.” tion was attempting to exploit Dr Minnis’ Last week, Health Minister Dr Duane perceived insecurities or “thin skin” by fab- Sands expressed his full confidence in Dr ricating discord reminiscent of his clash with Minnis’ leadership while dismissing social former Official Opposition leader Loretta media and tabloid rumours of a budding Butler-Turner. FNM coup. Yesterday, Mr Wells said: “Most of the “No truth at all (to the rumours),” he said people talking and pushing these things are last week, “no truth at all, idle hands clearly cowards and wouldn’t lift a finger. Between is the devil’s work.”
PHOTOS: Shawn Hanna/ Tribune Staff
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
The God’s honest truth
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
O
NE month shy of the current administration wrapping up its first year in government and thus far, there have been few surprises. Many of his critics saw Dr Minnis as ineffective in his capacity as Opposition Leader, both inside his party and the public sphere. Somehow though, he was able to scrape by, barely maintaining control of a party that was miraculously able to galvanise itself at the eleventh hour and win an election that was theirs to lose. Despite leading the charge on the crushing defeat of the PLP, we’ve heard it all too many times this year - the support for Minnis was simply repackaged disdain for the PLP. Almost a year later and nothing much
has changed since Prime Minister Minnis assumed the position as head of government. His shaky command of the English language is still, at times, agonising to witness. Also, given the highest level of authority in the country, his decision-making can still be very questionable, to say the least. To make matters worse, while once being seen as a humble, “every man’s man”, Prime Minister Minnis has recently taken on an arrogant bravado that has quickly become extremely unflattering. As unbefitting as these characteristics are with a head of state, they are the reality we see in our prime minister. Perhaps some of us were hoping a form of evolution would have occurred – that the prime minister would have figured it out by now. Unfortunately, the
God’s honest truth is that it seems this could not be further from the case. His shortcomings have now been illuminated under the bright lights of governing.
Promises His limitations are painfully harder to watch in his role as prime minister. Too often he is stringing together incoherent statements and paying lip service to anyone still gullible enough to place any value in his words after the multitude of promises left unfulfilled. No doubt, buyer’s remorse is widespread. So much so the people still blindly supporting the prime minister seem drunk off something stronger than what the Christie supporters indulged in. Staunch supporters of the FNM are disappointed with how the country
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018 “Perhaps some of us were hoping a form of evolution would have occurred – that the prime minister would have figured it out by now. Unfortunately, the God’s honest truth is that it seems this could not be further from the case.”
has progressed under the Minnis administration, while PLP and DNA supporters join in a chorus to shout “I told you so” from
“Staunch supporters of the FNM are disappointed with how the country has progressed under the Minnis administration, while PLP and DNA supporters join in a chorus to shout ‘I told you so’ from the rooftops.” the rooftops. Meanwhile, fringe voters are doubly upset because it feels all too familiar to the previous five years under the PLP, where the Christie administration worked from a similar playbook.
It would seem as if Prime Minister Minnis has either forgotten, or was never aware to begin with, that what endeared him to many sympathisers and supporters, was his ability to appeal to the common man and differentiate himself from our political archetype. He is unfortunately too flawed to realise the people are the ones who make or break you. Whether their methods would have been seen as genuine or self-promoting, a few of his ministers have tried to advise the prime minister in this regard. Most notably, Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine, who has been fearless in his critique of the government, much to the dismay of his colleagues, and State Minister for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson have both been very expressive in how they feel the country ought to be governed.
Principles As it relates to McAlpine, the writing on the wall is clear - he is not popular with the prime minister. Yet, he is firmly bound to his principles and the mandate of his constituents. What is even more refreshing is to see those in government that value holding strong convictions over saving face and offering blind support. Likewise, Johnson, a former Bahamas Bar Association (BBA) president, recently urged the prime minister to appoint a Chief Justice, as to not leave the seat vulnerable to political abuse and the judicial arm of the country is intact. Johnson was castigated from all sides for what some felt was him, a junior minister, being overly critical of the prime minister in public. While Johnson has since apologised for his public comments about the prime minister, McAlpine, to his credit, seems as though he could not care less about being a part of the club, as he has been resolute in his crusade for good governance. Simultaneously, Centerville MP Reece Chipman, who was fired as Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Chairman (AMMC) is considering suing the prime minister for defamation. Although the concerns he raised with the prime minister upon being fired seemed just, the narrative seems to be that it is not okay to challenge the prime minister.
This begs the question: Would we rather our elected members of parliament be publicly critical of government? Or, would we prefer to be presented with a seemingly cohesive government that values loyalty to each other over the electorate? This is something we tend to struggle with. When one speaks up against what they view as wrongdoing, we tend to assume they are engaging in political gamesmanship, breaking Cabinet protocol or disrespecting the prime minister, rather than exposing the government for a lack of accountability. As a self-proclaimed believer in transparency and accountability in leadership, it is quite hypocritical to ostensibly not want to be questioned or challenged. The prime minister tends to seem very uncomfortable when prodded by the press to answer questions important to the electorate. Likewise, he seems easily offended when challenged by those he expects to walk to the beat of his drum. This would have been acceptable had his voting power stretched throughout all the other 34 constituencies won by the FNM on May 10, 2017. However, he should be reminded that he is merely one out of 190,000 voters, and the Members of Parliament took an oath to work for their constituents – a responsibility they should not be penalised for, especially when they are stating – as Fred McAlpine called it – “the God’s honest truth”. The truth is not unattainable for those that wish to see. The majority of Bahamian citizens are unhappy, and as McAlpine noted, the government is losing credibility. Prime Minister Minnis may have lost all of his and is only being buoyed by some of the highly regarded members of his Cabinet whose images are still taking a hit by remaining silent while others are speaking up. It would not be the worst idea for the prime minister to examine the criticism against him and, if he cares at all about evolving, have himself a come-to-Jesus moment of sorts. One thing is certain, if he continues on his current course, his political expiration date will be etched in stone, and those that sat by in silence won’t be able to so easily wash off the stink.
PAGE 8 MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018
INSIGHT
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
THE TRUTH ABOUT SHANTY TOWNS - PART 2
When what looks like a crisis can become an opportunity By FREDERICK SMITH, QC
shanty towns in the Bahamas hail from Haiti or are of Haitian descent. While North Americans and Europeans may hesitate to visit that poverty stricken and often dangerous country, many would jump at the chance to experience – within the relative safety and comfort of their cruise ship vacation to the Bahamas – a small slice of the world’s first black republic, the only society of former slaves to throw off the yoke of European slavery. Additionally, Haiti is world renowned for its paintings, wooden sculpture, metallic work, dance and musical expression. Why not make a wonderful virtue out of necessity and celebrate the Haitian ethnic culture in our midst
I
N THE Bahamas, the irregular communities that we disdainfully refer to as shanty towns are looked upon as a regrettable nuisance, a shameful stain on our national image that must be ‘eradicated,’ as one cabinet minister recently put it. The truth is, such communities are a fact of life in every region, including the most advanced and developed societies in the world. These outposts of misfortune, a seemingly inevitable by-product of human civilisation everywhere and at all times, are populated by individuals who for various reasons find themselves excluded from society’s grand plan, forced to scrape together an existence by whatever means necessary. But it does not have to be this way. Over the past few decades, several progressive developing countries have found exciting and innovative ways to turn these harsh realities to their social and economic advantage. Along the way, this has often translated into an increased appreciation of the tragic human drama that is playing out within shanty towns every day and a greater recognition of the fundamental rights and basic humanity of the residents.
MEANINGFUL CHANGE
THE VILLAGE of Kampung Pelangi in Indonesia (above) and Santa Maria in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (left).
THE LIVES OF OTHERS Curiosity has long inspired a fascination with the day-to-day reality of those who live on the fringes of society. Often referred to somewhat disparagingly as “slum tourism,” the practice of visiting poverty stricken neighbourhoods first emerged in Victorian London where wealthy citizens began touring the East End, drawn by the opportunity to scrutinize lives that were starkly different from their own. Today, this practice is making a comeback: wealthy Westerners are once again seeking to journey into homegrown communities across the globe – from the barrios
of Mexico to the favelas of Rio, the slums of Mumbai and even the skid row areas of American cities like Detroit and LA. Concern has been expressed that this practice can be voyeuristic and exploitative, but not if undertaken with sensitivity. If done right, it can have a profoundly transformative and positive effect on the communities themselves and on society as a whole. The idea is to redirect the focus away from the usual
complaints about irregular communities – unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, lack of clean water, etc. – and allow other more positive and unique aspects to shine through. People who manage to survive the daily struggle to exist are by necessity resourceful and industrious. They have incredible and heartbreaking stories to tell, innovative homegrown skills and technical abilities that were born of necessity, vibrant artistic
and handicraft cultures. Offered the chance to thrive in a reimagined tourism industry in which they are themselves the attraction, many transform virtually overnight into highly productive tour guides, souvenir craftsmen, sales people, chefs, performers, entertainers and street artists. A good portion of the profit is usually reinvested in the community, leading to improved conditions and an expanded local economy. Soon, neighbours who once lamented the existence of these communities find themselves drawn in, taking part, contributing to and benefiting this new local industry. It is a model that has produced incredible results around the world. BRAZIL In 2008, in preparation for hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 summer Olympics, the government of Brazil began cleaning up the sprawling hillside slums known as ‘favelas’, a feature of virtually every major city in the country. Initially this was viewed with hostility by suspicious favela residents and as a waste of public money by wealthier Brazilians. Today, the result is a thriving tourism industry that in many of the largest favelas, has brought not only sanitation and health problems under control, but also crippled the once endemic violence and shut down several major drug trafficking rings. The change required significant investment to provide the utilities and sanitation services that were lacking and to establish permanent police units within the communities, but the results have been nothing short of amazing. Almost immediately, crime began dropping, conditions improved and the value of the land began to rise. And today, a single favela in Rio de Janiero, known as Rocinha, welcomes upwards of 50,000 tourists a year. INDONESIA A more relevant model for the Bahamas in both
size and scope might be the village of Kampung Pelangi in Indonesia. Once a dilapidated hillside eyesore, this group of 232 houses has been transformed into one of the country’s top tourists spots through a plan that required very little investment at all. Using the equivalent of around $22,000 in funding from the government, last year every building in Kampung was covered with multicoloured stripes, creating a stunning “rainbow village” that people now come from around the world to see. The project took only a month to complete, yet one year on, thousands upon thousands of tourists have already made it their destination of choice, boosting the local economy to such an extent the government is now actively working to repeat the model in several other villages. Its popularity is driven by the ever-growing frenzy on social media for new images of this unique and vibrant spectacle. Kampung Pelangi has become a bonafide internet sensation. The locals have taken full advantage of the newfound attention, selling homemade crafts and souvenirs to the visitors, then reinvesting in their village where social and sanitary conditions are improving dramatically. All it took was some vision, a little inspiration, and a fresh coat of paint. SOUTH AFRICA Other plans focus on the historical value of a location, for example the famous township of Soweto, locus of the Soweto Uprising in 1976 when unarmed students were attacked and killed by police for refusing to study in Afrikaans. The community has been very successful in marketing itself as “the heart of the freedom struggle” and the centre of South African black urban culture. Today, the streets of Soweto teem with local art work for sale and the town hosts a number of cultural festivals each year. Many tours include a visit to the Apartheid Museum which is a short distance away, as are several theme parks and adventure excursions. In this way, the surrounding areas are benefitting from the economic buzz generated by this historical attraction. Visitors are encouraged to stay overnight in Soweto and immerse themselves in the now vibrant and bustling local scene. In addition to creating employment for craftsmen and tour guides, this approach has created a huge boost for hotels, guest houses and families seeking to rent out rooms. Many, though by no means all of the residents of
The benefits of this approach go far beyond the financial, leading to unforeseen but far-reaching social benefits as well. Seeing themselves as the object of interest – and in many cases concern – for people from around the world often instills in the residents of these communities a new sense of capability and self-worth. Suddenly, that crippling sense of despair that is poverty’s conjoined twin and the driver of so much antisocial and criminal behaviour begins to dispel and once hopeless people begin to imagine a brighter future. They begin to engage in constructive pursuits and take a greater interest in their safety and the appearance of their surroundings. They allow themselves to have hopes and dreams for their children that go beyond mere survival. This is the essence of real community. Over time, the perspective of the wider society towards questions of poverty, race, class, ethnic difference, etc., can begin to evolve as places and groups once considered blemishes upon the face of a country become valuable assets to be deployed in the national interest. Far from merely highlighting differences, if done properly ‘slum tourism’ can actually bridge the perceived gap between people, bring them together, make them understand one another and dispel many of the negative stereotypes that plague societies like ours. To the extent the authorities in this country feel something must be done about our irregular communities, I implore them to reflect on these and other models of positive, progressive change, and begin to think of our shanty towns not as a crisis but rather an opportunity. A chance to end the cycle of violence and human rights abuses against the ‘undesirable’ class of people; a chance to create grassroots economic activity that is organic, self-sustaining, self-perpetuating and does not rely on giving away our valuable patrimony to some foreign investor in return for a few jobs; a chance to help the country shine on the world stage as a locus of innovative and positive change. This is the kind of outof-the-box, transformative thinking people expect from a ‘change government’ – one elected by a population that was sick and tired of business as usual and wanted a radically different approach. I encourage the Minnis Administration to take up this challenge and find positive, creative, lucrative solutions to the shanty town situation that also recognise people’s basic humanity and establish tolerance and acceptance as ideals that are fundamental to our national character. It may take nothing more than a history story or a fresh coat of paint.
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
INSIGHT
MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018 PAGE 9
Trade wars in no one’s interest T
HE Government of the People’s Republic of China wrote to the Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on April 4, registering a dispute with the Government of the United States of America over duties that would be applied by the US only to China’s products. The Chinese action was a response to the publication on April 3 of a list of products by the US that would attract an additional ad valorem duty of 25 percent on entry into the US market. According to China’s submission, the US measures “appear to be inconsistent with the relevant provisions of WTO covered agreements”, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The first step in this DSB process is “consultation” between China and the US to determine whether the dispute could be settled by discussion between them. If the consultation fails, a long process follows of trying to agree on an arbitration panel, hearings by the panel and probably appeals against the panel’s decision if either of the parties find it unacceptable. During all this time, the US duties on the Chinese goods would remain, harming their competitiveness in the US market and driving up the price of these goods to the US consumer. The US government claims that its decision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods comes after years of failed efforts by previous administrations to get Beijing to change its behaviour which unfairly advantages China’s goods and services. While the Chinese government took the formal step of registering a trade dispute with the US over the proposed imposition of tariffs on its products, it also retaliated by announcing a list of US exports worth about $50bn that it plans to target with a new set of duties. So, despite the WTO mechanism, set-up specifically for settling trade disputes within an internationally agreed framework, the trade war between the US and China is escalating. During his campaign for election, and since his assumption
US President Donald Trump has blamed unfair Chinese trade practices for the US trade deficit with China.
of office, President Trump has blamed unfair Chinese trade practices for the US trade deficit with China, which has now reached $375bn. In response, the Chinese have contended that US fiscal policies and export controls are mostly to blame. Several countries, mostly European, have also been saying that China’s trade practices are unfair, but none of them has gone as far as the US in unilaterally imposing tariffs that have provoked a titfor-tat reaction from China. Even the Business Roundtable in the US has said that the US administration “should work with US allies on an approach that advances meaningful reform
in China without imposing significant harm on America’s economy.” Clearly, they recognise three things: first, the rise in costs of Chinese imports will push-up the cost of living for the US as well as affect the viability of some US manufacturers who rely on less costly inputs available from China; second, US farmers will suffer from the retaliatory tariffs applied to their goods entering the Chinese market; and third, as Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, has pointed out, the US-China tariffs war could cost the US almost 190,000 jobs. Eventually, both the US and Chinese economies will suffer.
So, too will the rest of the world. For as these two giant economies decline, their capacity to serve as engines of growth for the global economy will also wane, causing an international slump. Small developing countries will be the first to feel the pain. What is also significant about all this for small countries is that the WTO machinery is being sidelined. It is significant because as the WTO is shunted aside in favour of bilateral trade agreements with no international arbitration, small countries will be disadvantaged in trade negotiations with more powerful nations and they will have no independent machinery to which to appeal in the event of a dispute. African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have already suffered from agreeing a so-called Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 28 European Union (EU) countries outside of WTO agreements. The result is that EU countries gained much more than the limits set by the WTO and the ACP countries have no resort to an
independent, international mechanism for arbitrating disputes. Alongside the US-China trade war, the other trade issue that should be of concern to Caribbean states is the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the US, Canada and Mexico. At the insistence of the US, discussions have been going-on between these three countries to change the terms of the Agreement. Each of the three countries is a trading partner of the Caribbean, although the Caribbean has a greater interest in the prosperity of the US and Canadian economies, given that they are primary sources of tourism and remittances as well as markets for Caribbean goods. An important aspect of the NAFTA discussions has been arbitration of disputes. The US favours bilateral discussion instead of the present mechanism of an impartial tribunal. But, as small countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda, have learned to their detriment, they cannot hope for justice in a bilateral negotiation with a powerful country like the US whose agents can choose not to honour obligations, and even not to negotiate. The WTO system is imperfect. It cannot enforce judgments arising from a trade dispute. But it can provide impartial hearing and judgment. And, as imperfect as it is in enforcing judgments, it is far better than leaving small states to the mercy, or lack of it, of the powerful. Trade wars, such as the ones the world now witnesses, creates instability and decline; meaningful discussion of unfair trade practices in a global framework, where culprits are made to change their behaviour by the weight of collective international negotiation and agreement, is far more constructive. • Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders. com The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and to the OAS. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.
INSIGHT
Welcome to beautiful Cabbage Beach PAGE 10 MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018
FROM PAGE ONE One local bystander told The Tribune that the trash is “the business owner problem,” presumably referring to hotel owners on the island. However, the presence of the garbage did not seem to hamper the experience of the numerous tourists on the beach below. One visitor who identified herself as Eileen from Ireland, told The Tribune: “I think because we just arrived this morning and we’re going straight to the water, we had tunnel vision so it never really affected our view. “We’ll definitely keep an eye out on the way back, but the view of the beach was too good to take your eyes away.” A mother of two from Washington, DC said neither she nor her family had noticed the litter. Visiting on a cruise, she said they were transfixed by the sea.
OLD beach chairs, debris and trash on famed local beach and tourist attraction Cabbage Beach. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff
EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 9, 2018, PAGE 11
Dames on ‘inmate’ videos: ‘It disgusts me’ By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames on Friday expressed disgust over viral video recordings purported to have been taken of inmates at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. While officials have not completed investigations into the authenticity of the videos, Mr Dames said the clips posted to social media were unsurprising given longstanding challenges of corruption within law enforcement agencies. He stressed these incidents were the result of the greed of a small minority, which would be flushed out of the system as the government works to radically transform standards for recruitment, training, development and succession planning. “It disgusts me,” he told The Tribune on Friday, “because I know the vast majority of correctional officers and law enforcement officers are hardworking, this angers them. The vast majority are totally against this kind of nonsense and its stuff like this that disgusts me. They don’t care for this or the persons responsible, but we will seek them out, expose them, and clean out these agencies one incident at a time.” Four videos were shared on Facebook, one of which shows only the hands of the men
MINISTER of National Security Marvin Dames. breaking down what appears to be a package of marijuana. Another video shows two men making hand gestures and making profane statements, while another depicts four men in a smoky cell with a portable speaker. Mr Dames said: “I’m not surprised, from the time I was serving in the force this was one of the challenges we faced. That’s the challenges of corruption within our law enforcement agencies. While we continue to say the vast majority of our officers are decent, hardworking individuals unfortunately there is still a small element, as small as it may be, but it exists and these are the challenges we face. “I can tell you the times we had to go into the prison and execute raids on these cells and find everything from blunt instruments to drugs to cell phones. We know that these things exist
A STILL from one of the videos showing the hands of the men breaking down what appears to be a package of marijuana. and unfortunately they’re making their way into prisons with the assistance of prison staff who have no respect for the oath that they would have taken, and no respect for the vast majority of their colleagues who come to work on a daily basis and work hard to keep us all safe. “This is especially sad, and
an unfortunate situation we sometime find ourselves,” he continued. “This is nothing new but I can assure you one thing,” Mr Dames said, “we’re working very hard as a government, we’re working very hard with leadership of these agencies to bring about a level of transformation that will make
incidents like these go away.” He added: “This is why we have to focus on recruitment, the way we recruit our officers. We’re going through psychological testing, all of the individuals a part of this upcoming prison officers entry, are tested. And we’re doing a battery of other testing to ensure we get the best out there.”
13 CUBANS CAUGHT IN BAHAMIAN WATERS BY US COAST GUARD
Police investigate two weekend armed robberies
THIRTEEN Cuban migrants were interdicted last week at sea near Anguilla Cay and brought to Grand Bahama by the US Coast Guard. This was the second group of Cubans discovered in Bahamian waters within a week. On March 30, 13 Cuban men spotted near Cay Sal Bank were brought
POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding two separate armed robberies that took place within hours of each other on Sunday. According to reports, around 10am yesterday a gunman entered a gaming establishment on Baillou Hill and St Vincent Roads, held up the employees and
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
to Freeport and turned over to immigration officials. According to reports, this latest group was picked up on Monday, April 2 after having left Cuba the previous Saturday aboard a rustic, wooden sail boat. They were trying to get to Miami, Florida. The USCG Cutter ‘Bluefin’ brought the migrants – all males – to Freeport Harbour, where they were handed over to Bahamian authorities on Tuesday, April 3.
They were taken to Department of Immigration headquarters where they were processed and examined by medical personnel. The group is expected to be flown to New Providence where they will be detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre to await repatriation. Cubans frequently risk their lives on the ocean to reach the US on rustic vessels made of wooden pallets and other scrap materials.
More than 2,000 marijuana plants found in Andros By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
MORE than 2,000 marijuana plants have been recovered by police following the discovery of a marijuana farm in North
Andros over the weekend. According to police reports, around 6pm on Saturday, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers assisted by US Drug Enforcement agents discovered a marijuana field in
bushes approximately one mile off the road in Stafford Creek. Some 2,500 marijuana plants were consequently recovered. No arrests were made and investigations continue.
‘PREPARE NOW FOR HURRICANE SEASON’
DESTRUCTION on Ragged Island after Hurricane Irma last year. By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net AS WEATHER experts expect a slightly above average 2018 hurricane season, Chief Meteorologist Basil Dean urged residents to take advantage of this dry season to make preparations in anticipation of any possible dangerous and destructive storms that could affect the county. Colorado State University (CSU) issued its preliminary seasonal forecast on Thursday, ahead of the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 through November 30. The season, according to CSU, is expected to be above average, producing 14 storms, seven of which are expected to become hurricanes with three being major storms. The report also included the probability of major hurricanes making landfall including 63 per cent for the
entire US coastline, 39 per cent for the US East Coast, including the Florida peninsula, 38 per cent for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle and 52 per cent for the Caribbean. In an interview with The Tribune Friday, Mr Dean said “it’s preparation time”. “As usual my message is simple: we need not worry too much about the numbers, just worry about the one that may impact you because that’s all it takes for you to have a busy season,” Mr Dean told The Tribune. “Over the years we have seen an increase in tropical cyclone activity in The Bahamas with New Providence getting a brush of it with Hurricane Matthew, so these are just some sort of reminder to residents that hurricanes are dangerous and can be very, very destructive, hence we need to do the necessary things to ensure that we are able to survive the approach and the wrath of these forces of nature.
“Again I appeal to residents to take advantage of this dry season - and as you can see it is getting away from us - to tend to those roofs that may have some needs and also you want to ensure that your shutters and things are in good working order. This is also a good time to do tree trimming because we are now into spring, so you want to make sure those things are taken care of especially those near power lines.” While above the longterm average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes, this forecast is quieter than 2017, which had 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and six major hurricanes. Although hurricane season in the Atlantic starts June 1, the majority of storms occur between midAugust and mid-October, meaning this prediction is coming four months before the bulk of hurricane activity.
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
robbed the place of cash. The suspect then got into a grey vehicle with another man and sped off. A short time later, however, Mobile Division officers stopped the vehicle, and during a search, recovered a firearm and cash. Two men are in custody assisting with the matter. In the second incident, around 1pm, a gunman entered a fast food restaurant at West Bay Street, held up the employees and
robbed the eatery of cash before fleeing on foot. Investigations continue into that matter.
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PAGE 12, Monday, April 9, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
GOVT ‘WILL HAVE TO BREAK A FEW EGGS’ FOR BALANCED BUDGET MINISTER of Finance Peter Turnquest said the government will have to make some “unpopular” decisions and “break a few eggs” to achieve its target of a balanced budget by 2020. However he said yesterday he did not think there is a need to increase taxes currently, saying the Minnis administration intended to keep its campaign promises of lowering certain taxes – some of which will be fulfilled in the new fiscal year. His comments came while he was a guest on the 96.9 FM talk show, “Q & A” with host Quincy Parker. When asked if he thought an increase in taxes was necessary, the deputy prime minister said the Bahamas had lower taxes on average than other countries in the region, but he was not convinced there was a need to raise the tax threshold. “I think we have some room in comparison of our neighbours, however I am not convinced yet,” Mr Turnquest said. “This is a debate that goes on in the Ministry of Finance as we analyse policy and where we go from here, I am not convinced yet that we need to do that. I believe we need to look
“We have a target, we want to have a balanced budget I think in 2020, is our target, and in order to do that we have to break a few eggs, do some things differently.” Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest more effectively and objectively at our existing revenue streams to ensure we are collecting what we are supposed to be collecting.” He added: “I am not there yet in terms of a need to increase the taxes – it is something we are looking at, we in the Ministry of Finance – and I encourage the economists to examine all alternatives. As I said earlier, if you are not innovating, changing, adapting to the times you are going to fall behind. “We have a target, we want to have a balanced budget I think in 2020, is our target, and in order to do that we have to break a few eggs, do some things differently. It’s uncomfortable, it’s unpopular, I’m sure by the end of it I’ll probably be unpopular, but I take the view that no matter what, when I leave here hopefully I would have made a difference in a positive
way so I could have made it easier for the next guy. “Yes, taxes is an unpopular topic, not something people want to hear, it’s not my view, at least currently, that we need to increase our taxes, in fact I think we need to lower our taxes in certain areas, and we are looking at some things. We made some promises on the campaign trail and we intend to live up to them, looking at that now and certainly we will make some announcements in the upcoming budget to fulfill some of those promises, the ones that we can anyway at this particular time. Hopefully at the end of the day, the public will agree that we are moving in the right direction in terms of the types of policies that we are putting in place that are based upon sound economic principle, rather than emotion and politics.”
MINISTER of Finance Peter Turnquest
TALKS AIM TO SETTLE NURSING DISPUTE FROM PAGE ONE issue with the PHA that has since been referred to the Industrial Tribunal for resolution. Nonetheless, Mr Farquharson said he chaired a “very productive and positive meeting” between BNU and PHA officials on the matter on Friday, and expects to continue discussions with the union with a view to having the issues resolved. His comments came just days after BNU President Amancha Williams announced the union’s plan to apply to the Labour Board for permission to hold a strike vote over a shift system for non-union members. The union is threatening industrial action over a dispute with the PHA concerning expatriate nurses on
contract being asked to work 12-hour shifts. Ms Williams previously said while that matter specifically impacts expatriate nurses, it still concerns those covered by the union. Unionised nurses reportedly work four days and are off for four days. Ms Williams previously noted the union fought against the shift system for its members. However, she claimed the PHA did not consult with the union concerning the new shift system.
Last week, Ms Williams noted the union’s hopes to apply to the Department of Labour for permission to hold a strike vote concerning its issues with the shift system. At the time, she noted the union’s possession of a strike vote certificate, which she said was approved last year. However, she said the union wants to ensure that it is still valid for use to allow the union to “do what we need to do.” When contacted on the matter however, Mr Farquharson said: “I can’t speak for strike action because the Bahamas Nurses Union does not have a strike vote at this time. “They had a strike vote for a different matter previously with the Public Hospitals Authority. “That matter has been referred to the Bahamas Industrial Tribunal for
resolution. And pursuant to Section 74 of the Industrial Relations Act, all matters that are referred to the Tribunal, all unions are prohibited from taking strike action on those matters. “Now the Bahamas Nurses Union has the right to apply for a trade dispute to have their matter (reconciled) and to have apply to the minister to conduct a poll for a strike vote. We have no such application before us. “Now that’s what the law says; you have to take a legal strike. “Obviously, any union can do what they want but as far as a legal strike pursuant to the Industrial Relations Act there is a procedure that every union should go through.” Mr Farquharson said Friday’s meeting was attended by Ms Williams and a number of other BNU officials, Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Obie Ferguson, as well as the managing director and other officials from the PHA. “We had a very productive and positive meeting,” he
said. “It lasted about three hours. We identified what the issues were. And we proposed to continue discussions, we’re supposed to call on Monday…to continue
discussions with the view to having the matter resolved. “We know what the issues are, we know all the issues involved and I think we have a roadmap for having the matter resolved.”
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
CREDIT OFFICER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: • proposing sound and viable adjudications, adhering to company policies while striving to achieve weekly credit targets; • assisting clients with general account inquiries; • working closely with the collections team to minimize de linquencies; • lending assistance to the operations department. THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST: • have a basic understanding of loans; • be able to identify risks to non-repayment when processing an application; • have the ability to effectively work in a team; • have a strong work ethic; • have positive, high energy and very personable to interact with clients; • be proactive in securing new clients; • be organized and motivated by targets set . Note: Previous credit experience favored. REMUNERTION: • competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications; • medical and pension package. Interested persons should submit their resumes to lendingjobs242@outlook.com no later than Monday, 16th April, 2018. Only candidates who are short listed will be contacted.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, April 9, 2018, PAGE 13
RUFA’S RESIDENCY WOES DRAG ON By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE his recent Court of Appeal win, Canadian homeowner Bruno Rufa’s immigration troubles have not let up, according to legal counsel. Mr Rufa and Sandra Georgio are petitioning the government for a determination on their annual home owner’s resident card (HORC) applications by April 13, or they will seek a judicial review. The pair purchased a Coral Beach condo Freeport, Grand Bahama in May 2005. They filed for a HORC last year but had their applications returned in late August reportedly because it did not include a utility bill, according to a letter sent to Minister of Immigration Brent Symonette and Immigration Director Clarence Russell last week.
Documents “Your department provided us with a list of required documents which list included a utility bill,” read the letter, signed by attorney Carey Leonard. “But the laws and regulations governing HORC applications do not require a utility bill and our clients do not receive bills from any utility companies as they are in a condominium.” The letter continued: “Our clients are entitled to have their HORC applications considered according to law, that includes without a requirement for a utility bill
which is not required by law, and in a reasonable time. HORCs are to be renewed annually and our clients have now waited six months for their applications to be determined. “Clearly this is not acceptable,” it added. Mr Rufa has owned a unit at the Coral Beach Condominium for some time and served as president of the Coral Beach Management Company.
Visa In 2015, he was given seven days by the Department of Immigration to wrap up his affairs and leave the country, despite being granted a visa giving him permission to remain in the Bahamas for 150 days. Former Court of Appeal President Dame Anita Allen, along with appellate Justices Stella Crane-Scott and Roy Jones, ruled last month the director of immigration’s actions on December 23, 2015 against Mr Rufa were beyond his powers under the Immigration Act and thus not supported by law. The appellate judges found that a Supreme Court judge’s order for the matter to be reconsidered by the Immigration Board was “erroneous” and thus worthy to be quashed. The Supreme Court is to determine if Mr Rufa is entitled to vindicatory damages for constitutional relief. The Department of Immigration is ordered to pay all Mr Rufa’s costs in the Supreme Court trial and in the Court of Appeal.
OMAR ARCHER SR CONTINUES CRIMINAL LIBEL LAWS CHALLENGE By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
OUTSPOKEN social media commentator Omar Archer Sr’s constitutional challenge against the Bahamas’ criminal libel laws continued last week with legal arguments centering on whether the state’s charge of criminal libel was a necessary and proportionate response to his conduct. His motion, filed in April last year, seeks a declaration from the court that the charge, prosecution, trial, liability to conviction and sentence to a fine and or imprisonment of up to two years for the offence of intentional libel, are “void, illegal and of no effect” as they breach his constitutional right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 23(1) of the Constitution, the country’s supreme law. The complaint against Archer alleges he published defamatory material on his Facebook page about a local reporter.
Offence Corporal Moses Curry, the attorney general’s court liaison, acknowledged the right to freedom of expression is interfered with by the offence of intentional libel; however, it is proportionate. Mr Curry maintained the offence of intentional libel is necessary and constitutionally valid in a responding affidavit filed on March 14. In his response affidavit, Mr Curry said: “A person’s reputation is valuable to that individual’s dignity, to the public and the law attaches a high value to it. “For much of the same reasons as the Supreme Court, their lordships reject this particular argument for saying that crime of intentional libel is not reasonable (sic) required. “Looking at the position overall, they are satisfied that it is indeed reasonably required to protest the people’s reputations and does not go further than is necessary to accomplish that objective. “Once besmirched by an unfounded allegation, a reputation can be damaged forever, especially if there is no opportunity to vindicate one’s reputation. When this
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE: Omar Archer happens, society as well as the individual is the loser.” Mr Curry said it should not be assumed the protection of reputation was only important to an affected individual or his family, but such protection was conductive to public good. “Consistently,” Mr Curry continued, “with these considerations, human rights conventions recognise that freedom of expression is not (an) absolute right. “Its exercise may be subject to such restrictions as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society for the protection of reputations of others.” In his reply submissions, Archer’s legal counsel Fred Smith posits the parties appear to agree on the issue of interference with freedom of expression, making the key question one of proportionality. Mr Smith stated: “A person considering themselves to be defamed has significant and powerful civil law rights to claim damages and secure injunctions and so on. In many cases, these are the only rights available to people. “The state might alternatively be required not to prosecute the plaintiff for intentional libel, on the basis that, to do so on these particular facts, would constitute an unnecessary and
disproportionate response. The plaintiff avers that we are in this territory.” Mr Smith added: “It was plainly open to the state to protect the reputation of the alleged defamed person, by lesser means, and in particular, in this case, by the enforcement of his civil rights as opposed to using the criminal law.
Serious “The plaintiff submits that, in the modern era, the criminal law should only be used, consistent with the fundamental constitutional right to freedom of expression, for the most serious or egregious cases, or where there is real harm suffered by the allegedly defamed person. “This is not such a case.” Archer Sr’s challenge last year followed a similar motion by Maria Daxon, a former police constable and vocal defender for the rights of police officers. She was charged with intentional libel concerning alleged statements written about then Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade and Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethell. Those criminal libel proceedings were discontinued via a nolle prosequi.
CANADIAN homeowner Bruno Rufa. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TWO KILLED AFTER SHOOTING IN MIAMI NEIGHBOURHOOD MIAMI (AP) — Authorities say that two people have died after a shooting in a Miami neighbourhood. The Miami Herald reported that four people were shot Sunday in Liberty City. One of those who died was 17 years old.
Police said that the other two men are being treated at a local hospital. The newspaper reported that officials are still looking for the shooter, noting that there is possibly more than one. None of the victims have been officially identified.
Kiara Delva, a spokeswoman for Miami Police, said that the four “young males” were sitting outside a home in a public housing apartment complex when the shots rang out. She said police do not know if the shooting was a “vindictive act.”
PAGE 14, Monday, April 9, 2018
CANADIAN TOWN MOURNS 15 KILLED WHEN TRUCK, TEAM BUS COLLIDE By JEREMY HAINSWORTH AND ROB GILLIES, Associated Press HUMBOLDT, Saskatchewan (AP) — A hockey arena became the epicenter of grief for a small Canadian town Sunday as friends, relatives and those who housed members of a youth hockey team gathered to mourn 15 people killed when a semi-trailer slammed into the team’s bus. Fourteen were also injured, some critically, in a collision that left the country, its national sport and the hockey-obsessed town of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, reeling. The bus had 29 passengers, including the driver, when it crashed at about 5 p.m. Friday on Highway 35, police said. Among the dead are Broncos head coach Darcy Haugan, team captain Logan Schatz and radio announcer Tyler Bieber. Residents of this town of less than 6,000 people have been leaving flowers, team jerseys and personal tributes on the steps of the arena’s entrance, forming a makeshift memorial. One tribute included a Kraft macaroni and cheese dinner box, which was a favorite meal of deceased forward Evan Thomas. A bouquet of pink roses adorned the box, which read: “to Evan, game day special, love your billet brother and sister Colten and Shelby.” While most of the players were from elsewhere in western Canada, they were put up by families in the small town of Humboldt. Billeting families are a large part of junior hockey, with players spending years with host families. Dennis Locke, his wife and three young children came to the arena to hang posters of forward Jaxon Joseph, who was the son of former NHL player Chris Joseph. The Locke family hosted Joseph and treated him like a son. “Best person ever,” Locke said. “Down to earth, loved playing with the kids.” His wife wiped away tears from swollen eyes. Forwards Logan Hunter and Conner Lukan and defensemen Stephen Wack, Adam Herold and Xavier Labelle were also among the dead, according to family members and others. Assistant coach Mark Cross, bus driver Glen Doerksen and stats keeper Brody Hinz, who was 18, were also killed.
THE TRIBUNE
Suspected poison gas kills at least 40 in Damascus suburb By PHILIP ISSA, Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Suspected poison gas was used to attack the last remaining foothold for the Syrian opposition in the eastern suburbs of Damascus, killing at least 40 people, including families found in their homes and shelters, opposition activists and local rescuers said Sunday. The attack on the besieged town of Douma came almost exactly a year after a chemical attack in the northern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun killed dozens of people. That attack prompted the U.S. to launch several dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. President Donald Trump blamed Syrian government forces for what he called a “mindless CHEMICAL attack” and warned there would be a “big price to pay.” He did not elaborate. In a series of tweets, Trump held Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s chief sponsors, responsible. The Syrian government denied the allegations, calling them fabrications. First responders entering apartments in Douma late Saturday said they found bodies collapsed on floors, some foaming at the mouth. The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense rescue organisation said the victims appeared to have suffocated.
Survivors They did not identify the substance used, but the civil defence organisation, also known as the White Helmets, and the Syrian American Medical Society, a medical relief organisation, said survivors treated at clinics smelled strongly of chlorine. Those reports could not be independently verified because of a government blockade around the town. Hours after the attack, the Army of Islam rebel group agreed to surrender the town and evacuate their fighters to rebel-held northern Syria, Syrian state media reported. The group also agreed to give up its prisoners, a key demand of the government. The government agreed to halt its assault after three days of indiscriminate air and ground attacks. “There’s nothing left for civilians and fighters. We don’t have anything to stand fast,” said Haitham Bakkar, an opposition activist inside the town. He spoke to the Associated Press by WhatsApp. “People now are going out in the streets looking for their loved ones in the rubble,” Bakkar said. “And we don’t have any space left to bury them.” More than 100 buses entered the town Sunday night to transport fighters and their families to
THIS image released early Sunday by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) Jarablus, a town under the shared control of rebels and Turkey, said Syrian state-affiliated al-Ikhbariya TV. The preparations follow a pattern of evacuations around the capital and other major Syrian cities as the government reasserts its control after seven years of war. Human rights groups and United Nations officials say the tactic amounts to forced displacement, a war crime. The U.N. Security Council planned to hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the attack. The Army of Islam could not be immediately reached for comment. In his tweets Sunday, Trump called Assad an “animal” and delivered a rare personal criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin for supporting him. A top White House aide, asked about the possibility of another U.S. missile strike, said, “I wouldn’t take anything off the table.” The developments come as Trump has declared his intent to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria in the coming months despite resistance from many of his advisers. Bakkar said several bombs laced with chemicals landed in Douma Saturday night. Another activist, Bilal Abou Salah, said a large, yellow cylinder smashed through the roof of an apartment building and came to rest on the third floor and started to discharge gas.
The Syrian Civil Defense group documented 42 fatalities but was impeded from searching further by strong odors that gave rescuers difficulties breathing, said Siraj Mahmoud, a spokesman for the group. A joint statement by the civil defence group and the medical society said that more than 500 people, mostly women and children, were brought to medical centres complaining of difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth and burning sensations in the eyes. Some had bluish skin, a sign of oxygen deprivation.
Chemical The symptoms were consistent with chemical exposure. One patient, a woman, had convulsions and pinpoint pupils, suggesting exposure to a nerve agent, the statement said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights issued a higher death toll, saying at least 80 people were killed in Douma, including around 40 who died from suffocation. But it said the suffocations were the result of shelters collapsing on people inside them. “Until this minute, no one has been able to find out the kind of agent that was used,” Mahmoud said in a video statement from northern Syria. The Syrian government, in a statement posted on the staterun news agency SANA, denied
the allegations. It said the claims were “fabrications” by the Army of Islam and a “failed attempt” to impede government advances. “The army, which is advancing rapidly and with determination, does not need to use any kind of chemical agents,” the statement said. The latest assault on Douma came after talks between the Army of Islam and Russia collapsed Friday, ending 10 days of calm for residents trapped inside. Russia denied any involvement in the attack. Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko was quoted by Russian news agencies Sunday as saying Russia was prepared to send specialists to Douma to “confirm the fabricated nature” of the reports. Douma has been crippled by close to five years of siege by government forces. It was once one of the hubs of the 2011 Arab Spring uprising against President Bashar Assad’s government. In recent weeks, government forces have recaptured villages and towns in the eastern Ghouta suburbs of the capital. Douma was the only town left holding out. A 2013 chemical attack in eastern Ghouta that killed hundreds of people was widely blamed on government forces. The U.S. threatened military action but later backed down. Syria denies ever using chemical weapons during the war and says it eliminated its chemical arsenal under a 2013 agreement brokered by the U.S. and Russia.
PAGE 16, Monday, April 9, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
US SAYS NORTH KOREA IS WILLING TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
By JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea’s government has communicated directly with the United States to say that leader Kim Jong Un is ready to discuss his nuclear programme with President Donald Trump. Last month, Trump accepted an unusual offer from Kim to hold a meeting. But the offer had been conveyed second-hand to the U.S. via South Korea. Initially, the U.S. had not heard directly
from the North that Kim was willing to discuss denuclearisation. That fueled speculation about the seriousness of the offer. A Trump administration official says Sunday that the United States has now “confirmed that Kim Jong Un is willing to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.” The official wasn’t authorised to be quoted by name and demanded anonymity. The meeting could occur as early as May.