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VOLUME:116 No.82, APRIL 23RD, 2019

HO US E & 16 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

PA GE S WOMAN: INDEPENDENT BUT DREAMING OF A PRINCE

WSC board dismisses strike votes and questions process

DIRTY WATERS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

EXECUTIVES at the Water and Sewerage Corporation claim that last week’s strike vote by the unions did not meet the requirements to be granted strike certificates.

When contacted yesterday, Labour Director John Pinder said the Water and Sewerage Management Union (WSMU) did not have the two-thirds majority vote required for a strike certificate. However, he said the union representing line staff, the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU), had the required votes mandated by their industrial agreement, however he added Ministry of Labour will have to certify the votes to say if the process was valid.

Meanwhile, a statement released by WSC’s board of directors also said there

appeared to be “a joint effort on the part” of the leaders of the two unions to call a strike poll “in furtherance of a trade dispute between employers and employees, with the ultimate objective of bringing further upheaval”.

The WSC statement noted that, based on numbers it has received, 32 percent of its managers voted in favour of a strike, 19 percent against and 49 percent abstained.

“The Industrial Relations Act states that a representational count must be taken in such actions and no less than 60 percent of employees (two-thirds) in the bargaining unit must vote in favour,” WSC said.

The statement added that the constitution of the Water and Sewerage Management Union says that a decision to call a strike must be decided by twothirds majority in a secret ballot.

SEE PAGE FIVE

CARNIVAL Corporation, the multi-billion-dollar company set to construct a mega port in East Grand Bahama’s eco-sensitive zone, has broken international environmental laws many times in Bahamian waters, according to a newly-released court mandated report.

The report, which covers April 2017 to April 2018 and was prepared by a US court-appointed monitor, reveals how Carnival illegally dumped hundreds of thousands of treated sewage in Bahamian waters

along with more than 8,000 gallons of food waste.

“For example, between June 4-16, 2017, the Carnival Elation (ship) discharged approximately 1,270 cubic metres of treated sewage and 22 cubic metres of food waste in Bahamian archipelagic waters in violation of MARPOL and company requirements,” the report says. “Likewise, on June 15, 2017, the Carnival Conquest, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic and Carnival Vista made prohibited discharges of sewage and food waste in Bahamian archipelagic waters.

SEE PAGE SIX

FACE-TO-FACE

DALE MISSION TO GET BEST OUT OF STUDENTS SEE PAGE EIGHT

BOAT FOUND IN HUNT FOR FISHERMAN

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

RESCUERS searching for a missing elderly Abaconian fisherman have recovered his boat adrift at sea. The Sandy Point community in Abaco has been rocked by the disappearance of 73-year-old fisherman James Green.

The elderly man was last seen by his son at around 7am last Tuesday leaving Sandy Cay in a 17ft white and green striped Malibu boat with a 40HP Yamaha outboard engine.

SEE PAGE SEVEN

CARNIVAL’S CATALOGUE OF OCEAN DUMPINGS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOME

FIVE SHOT BY AUTOMATIC WEAPON

By RASHAD ROLLE & RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporters

BAGS OF FUN

YOUNGSTERS enjoying some Easter fun at the Children’s Hostel on McKinney Drive yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

FIVE people were shot from an automatic weapon in the Montagu Beach area last night. Eight shots rang out at 9.30pm as residents enjoyed the final hours of their Easter holiday break.

The victims were taken to Princess Margaret Hospital but police reported no deaths up to press time.

Authorities responded to the scene within five minutes, one eyewitness said, and, up to midnight, the SEE PAGE THREE

TWO DIE IN HOLIDAY KILLINGS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

TWO men are dead, including a father of one, following two separate shooting incidents over the Easter holidays.

The killings took place roughly six hours apart and brought the country’s homicide count to 20 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

In the latest matter,

KILLED: Byran Smith according to reports, shortly after midnight yesterday police responded

to reports of a male being shot in the area of Forster Street, Chippingham.

Officers at the scene discovered a man with a gunshot wound. Paramedics were called and attempted to revive the victim, but were unsuccessful.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

While police have not yet identified the victim, The Tribune understands that he was Byran Smith, 34, a SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

PETER YOUNG REBELLION? JUST MAYHEM FOR MILLIONS

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE from page one resident of the area. When this newspaper went to the scene around noon yesterday, neighbours referred to the victim as a quiet and reserved father of one, who was reportedly shot after responding to “something he heard” outside of his apartment.

Asking not to be identified, one neighbour said he understood that Smith, at some point before being shot, heard someone attempting to break into his vehicle and stepped out of his home to intervene.

Police yesterday declined comment when asked about these claims.

Attempts by The Tribune to speak to relatives of the deceased were also unsuccessful up to press time, with one relative only confirming the victim’s identity.

In the first incident, police said they responded to the discovery of a body in the area of the Bone Fish Pond, just off Cowpen Road, around 6pm on Sunday.

Paramedics were called to the scene, where they examined the body and pronounced the victim dead.

In a briefing at the scene, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash described the deceased as a dark skinned male, in his early or mid twenties.

He said police were working to determine why the victim was in the area and what may have transpired in the moments leading up to his death.

CSP Cash in his preliminary observation of the scene on Sunday described it as “extensive,” telling reporters that physical evidence collected from the location suggested the victim was shot a short distance from where his body was discovered.

When asked if the victim was known to police, CSP Cash said it was to early into his unit’s investigation to say, adding that once the victim is properly identified, he will update the press.

The two killings are the first homicides to be recorded in the month of April, breaking a nearly four week lull.

Last April, five murders were recorded across the country.

When asked about this

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 3

Two die in separate holiday killings

IN the first incident, pictured right and below, police said they responded to the discovery of a body just off Cowpen Road, on Sunday. Inset, Byran Smith who died in the second incident.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff decrease directly, CSP Cash credited the commissioner’s 2019 policing plan which he said has been “active” in recent policing strategies.

“Again, as we know, we always go after our prolific offenders and our persons of interest who we suspect are involved in these types of matters,” he added.

Investigations into these incidents and several others that occurred over the holiday weekend are ongoing.

Anyone with information on any of these homicides is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

FIVE IN HOSPITAL AFTER THEY ARE GUNNED DOWN

BY AUTOMATIC WEAPON from page one

area of the Nassau Fish Market was blocked off.

Earlier in the weekend, police in Eleuthera shot a man brandishing a machine gun outside a nightclub on Easter Sunday.

Officers responded to reports of gunshots being fired near a nightclub in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, shortly after 3am. Once at the scene, officers reportedly encountered a man who pulled out a firearm and discharged it in their direction. Police said officers engaged the assailant, wounding him in his lower body.

The firearm was recovered, police said, and the suspect was taken to a clinic where he was treated and

later transferred to Princess Margret Hospital in Nassau. A woman patron of the club was also shot during the incident, She is listed in stable condition.

In late March, police said a man was shot and killed at Graham Drive in Yellow Elder Gardens.

At the time, police said they were responding to reports of an armed man in the area. Officers saw a man who matched the reported description.

Police said the man opened fire on the officers, who returned fire.

The man was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Police said they recovered a .40 Glock 9mm pistol with an extended clip and six rounds of ammunition at the scene.

PAGE 4, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

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C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Less noise, more talk THERE appears little sign of tempers cooling at the Water & Sewerage Corporation, a situation which can only see the Bahamian public ending up as losers.

From the outside, it’s hard not to think that relationships between management and staff have broken down. On one side, there is the union complaining that procedure for promotions hasn’t been followed – “meaning they are promoting friends, family and lovers” as the union says, and upset over long-standing issues not being resolved.

On the other hand, management have been upset over disruption to water supply, with chairman Adrian Gibson accusing workers of illegally shutting off water to parts of New Providence and sabotaging WSC property.

There has also been a rather ugly dispute over Bahamas Utilities Service and Allied Workers Union president Dwayne Woods, who has “not performed a day’s work” in years according to Mr Gibson.

Mr Woods counters that he has been on union leave as president, and that he is entitled to such time.

Into this situation, we ought to welcome the call by the WSC board of directors for “dispassionate” talks and a “respectful” relationship.

While we think this would absolutely be a way forward, such a call is shot in its own foot by the rest of the statement which is far from dispassionate itself.

It accuses the union of promoting a charade in the media, and calls out Mr Woods by name, accusing him of being disruptive and saying that he “continues

to bemoan the board’s decision to end his administrative leave”.

Whichever side is most at fault for the ongoing dispute, the clash of personalities involved is helping no one. For the sake of the Bahamian people, it would be best if ego was set to one side and both parties sat down and talked. If there are issues, then work them out, but this unseemly spitefulness is an argument that doesn’t need to be carried out publicly.

We now face a further argument back and forth over whether the vote was substantial enough for a strike certificate to be issued. We are sure that will take some time as both sides present their arguments, but why not take that time to have further talks?

If there are long-standing issues that haven’t been dealt with by the new board, lay out a timetable in which they can be resolved. As for promotions, we always feel a little daylight helps bring clarity – be open about any reasons for deviations from procedure, for all our sakes. Goodness knows we’ve heard enough stories about promotions for political favour, and it helps no one. Let WSC be clear about why promotions were given, and eradicate any doubt over the matter. If they cannot, then perhaps there is substance to the union’s complaints.

In the end, though, this feels like a matter that should not have reached the stage of strike action. Stop the public arguing, and start the private talking.

The Bahamian people don’t need to hear all this noise in the marketplace.

No merit in this troubling story EDITOR, The Tribune IN AN age of rampant misinformation on many social media platforms, the maxim that a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes holds true in The Bahamas. I’m referring to the chaos surrounding the tragic death of the 15-yearold SC McPherson student at a local fast food eatery.

Some dishonest students of the said institution have taken it upon themselves to fabricate a story about a teacher denying the deceased medication -causing his demise. There’s no merit to this troubling story, although I am willing to wager that it was spread like wildfire via Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger by some mischievous students who have no broughtupsy.

READERS have been responding to the controversy over the treatment of a group of swimming pigs at a facility in west Grand Bahama.

Sheeprunner12 said: “This unfortunate pig story is what happens when some fools try to duplicate something that has evolved naturally on an Exuma cay . . . This so wrong and disgusting.”

That prompted this reply from Tell_it_like_it_is: “Yeah, the part about throwing the pigs into the waves was just despicable.

It’s hard to stop people who worship at the altar of the almighty Dollar!! SMH.” Proudloudandfnm posted

A family is left in the wake of this tragedy searching for answers.

Bahamians who believe in the power of prayer must intercede on behalf of the grieving family. Based on the comments attributed to the parents, they have acted in a civil manner, notwithstanding their current harrowing ordeal.

Their conduct is in stark contrast to that of the students of SC McPherson, who are alleged to have engaged in physical and verbal abuse of teachers; vandalism and theft – apparently feigning grief over the loss of their colleague. These rogue students do not care about the family of Robert Valcom Jr or their fallen classmate. They are simply using this tragedy as a pretext to create a helter-skelter situation at

this comment: “This is is just stupid. Close it down.

Ignorant people copying an idea that happened naturally. Just close it down already . . .”

Sue242 had this to say: “People’s attitude towards animals in this country is heartbreaking for the most part. Just take a look at the majority of the neighbourhood dogs they call ‘pets’ for goodness sake?! The integrity of a nation really shows in its treatment of its

the school for the teachers.

This is not an exception to the norm; what we are witnessing here is what these unruly misfits really are – thugs. The family should give serious consideration to not extending an invitation to the memorial service to SC McPherson, in light of all that has transpired since the passing of young Robert. The troublemakers will only cause a disruption at the service.

Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. By their stupid actions, SC McPherson students are dishonoring the memory of Robert Valcom Jr. What they are doing is not how one grieves.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport Grand Bahama April 14, 2019 defenseless animals. That venture should be shut down and those pigs sent to a better place.”

DWW said: “As they say ‘often imitated never replicated’. How about creating some other interesting adventure tour instead of copying the existing model?

Surely these ‘Celebrity Eco’ people could put some brain power into creating something new and interesting instead of trying to capitalise on the success of other enterprises.”

Scampi75 “This story is heartbreaking and shows clearly how little interest we as a people have in the humane treatment of animals.”

Time we stopped turning a blind eye EDITOR, The Tribune A CURSORY review of the draft Nationality and Immigration Bill currently making consultation rounds reveals one glaring example of our national hypocrisy.

As we tinker with this important issue, we continue to turn a blind eye to, and subsequently to codify our blatant prejudice against, the overwhelming majority of Bahamians who are born to unwed mothers.

The Prime Minister has vowed to correct the gender inequalities in current laws, but this bill still divvies up rights on the basis of who was born “legitimately” versus those born “illegitimately”.

In a nation of avowed and sometimes serial “sweethearters”, six in every ten births are to unwed mothers. It would be great if the legal scholars who drafted this bill could first ask government to pass an act to outlaw the very concept of illegitimate children.

One of the legacies left

by Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica, was his passage in 1976 of the Status of Children Act (since amended in 1993 and 2005) which did away with the inhumane label of illegitimacy.

No child has any say in the circumstances of his/ her birth and it is wrong for society in 2019 to still be governed by rules which pass judgment on acts of commission or omission by their parents.

The Jamaican law speaks to a child born out of wedlock. And it made the law retroactive giving a wide sweep to their intent.

It applies to children “whether born in Jamaica or not, and whether or not the father or mother has ever been domiciled in Jamaica”.

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net What Manley did was to tell the world that in Jamaica every person is equal. In fact, the law never refers to a “child” rather, it elevates their status to that of “person” as, by its retroactivity, it covered all adult Jamaicans.

In giving a child personhood, they established the right to dignity and equal treatment regardless of the nature of their birth or the status of the relationship in which they were born.

In the United States the concept of illegitimacy has no currency since all children at birth are guaranteed equal protection under the 14th Amendment of their Constitution. Their children born out of wedlock can inherit property.

It is a safe bet that some in the church will argue that this rewards profligacy and undermines biblical teaching on the sanctity of marriage. But even the church elders must grudgingly accept that our laws do not reflect current society and in fact follows a tradition dating back to slavery when slaves simply were barred from getting married.

The English codified the laws and for a long time they used the term “bastard” to refer to children born to unwed mothers.

Wales always took a different tack using the term “bastard” only for a child not acknowledged by his/ her father.

Even today English law on immigration mirrors our own especially with regard to citizenship. It wasn’t until 2014 that Britain changed the law which had stated that “No child

born outside marriage could inherit British citizenship from their father, only from their mother.”

Notably, they still excluded children of fathers from British Overseas Territories like Turks and Caicos, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. They are still denied UK citizenship.

What brought about the change in 2014 was pressure from the UK parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights (to which they will no longer be beholden if Brexit is ever fully implemented).

It would be helpful if local human rights campaigners would lobby for change to our laws to uphold the dignity of all children and to recognize reality.

To most Bahamians the consequences of this difference in terminology never arises. But changing the law would speak volumes of the things we value as a society.

We could end once-andfor-all terms like “outside child” and “half-brother or -sister”. There will still be deadbeat dads and vindictive moms. But the science of DNA testing is highly accurate, and all children should eventually have the names of their mother and father on their birth certificates.

And if in the box on citizenship either one of the unmarried parents can check “Bahamian” that child should be granted the same welcome to the Commonwealth as the child whose parents can check the box marked “married”.

The dictionary describes “illegitimate” as not authorised by law. It’s time to change the law.

THE GRADUATE Nassau April 21, 2019

DIRTY WATERS

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 5

WATER and Sewerage Union president Dwayne Woods, left, and WSC executive chairman Adrian Gibson, right.

WSC board dismisses strike votes and questions process from page one “Given the same, the WSMU did not meet the lawful threshold for the issuance of a strike certificate. There have been concerns expressed about voting irregularities, ranging from former president’s changing of the time of the voting period from 10am to 6pm to persons seeking to prohibit the board’s secretary – who is a manager – from voting.”

Relative to BUSAWU, WSC said based on the available data thus far, out of 312 non-managers, nearly 34 percent voted in favour, 9 percent voted against and nearly 57 percent or 177 abstained.

BUSAWU’s constitution, according to WSC, states: “This union can only call a strike against a company after a majority vote of its members present at a meeting called for this purpose and who are eligible under

prevailing statutes. This vote must be by secret ballot and must be conducted under conditions set out in the prevailing statutes.”

WSC added: “Given the statute, the two-thirds rule applies. With the current result, BUSAWU has not met that criteria. We understand that additional numbers are coming in from the Family Islands.”

Last Tuesday, members of BUSAWU and WSMU held a strike poll.

A successful strike poll is part of the requirement for a union to be granted a strike certificate by the Department of Labour.

In its statement, the WSC board renewed calls for “dispassionate” talks between the two sides, encouraging both BUSAWU president Dwayne Woods and former WMSU President Ednel Rolle to work to establish a “respectful” relationship with the corporation, one that places the

advancement of staff and corporation at the fore.

The statement read: “We encourage both Mr Rolle and Mr Woods to speak directly to the corporation as opposed to promoting a charade in the media. Moreover, we encourage them (or any successor) to abide by the five step grievance process set out in each of the union’s industrial agreements.

No part of that process speaks to issuing unproductive, untrue and/or defamatory media statements. There are much more important corporate wide goals for both unions to collaborate on that are far more important that seeking to have the executive chairman and the board dismissed.”

As it relates particularly to Mr Woods, the board said it has taken note of his public commentary related to the ongoing industrial unrest.

Specifically, the board said it has taken issue with Mr Woods’

claims about developing a relationship with the board and the executive management team, given his ongoing actions to undermine both.

“Notably, Mr Woods continues to bemoan the board’s decision to end his administrative leave and direct him to return to work. Mr Woods is well aware that he submits yearly requests for administrative leave (by letter) and that it is within the discretion of the board. The administrative leave applies solely to the president and is separate from the union leave.

However, even if it union leave and administrative leave was the same - per Article 14.01 of the Industrial Agreement - it states that ‘an employee, elected to a permanent Union Office, which requires Union Leave, may be granted such leave, as the corporation determines….’ Given the same, it is evident that that remains within the purview of WSC.

“Unfortunately, Mr Woods has been disruptive ever since his administrative leave was terminated and he was ordered back to work. Last month, given his failure to report for duty, his $60,000 salary—which he enjoyed for nearly eight years without coming to work—was stopped.

This, it appears, resulted in some of the recent actions. President Woods is encouraged to report for duty.”

The board further acknowledged that Mr Rolle’s term as leader of WSMU ended in March of this year.

Notwithstanding this, the board alleges that Mr Rolle has refused to call an election.

“One of the union’s trustees has written to the Department of Labour, urging them to intervene and force an election.

“Given the aforesaid, Mr Rolle — by law —cannot and ought not to have been allowed to have a strike poll,” the board stressed.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

MULTIPLE ARMED ROBBERIES MAR EASTER WEEKEND POLICE are looking for the suspects behind several armed robberies that occurred on the weekend.

Beginning at 1pm on Thursday two men were in the parking lot of West Ridge Shopping Plaza when they were approached a man armed with a gun who robbed them of cash before speeding away from the scene in a red Ford Focus.

Later at 10pm that day a man was walking on Collins Avenue from page one According to the company, the cause of these events ‘appears to be associated with the interpretation of procedure.’”

The report documented more than a dozen incidents.

“While anchored at Half Moon Cay (within The Bahamas archipelagic baseline),” it reported, “a plastic bin containing a plastic bag and non-comminuted food waste fell into the sea due to it being not properly secured to a pallet. Incident occurred when one local tender was transferring back to ship the food waste generated on the island.

Half Moon Cay does not have a waste facility and hence all food waste that is generated on the island by the ships guest are brought back on board to be disposed of by the ship. The plastic bin, waste bag, and some food waste was recovered but approximately 15 pounds of food waste could not be recovered.”

The effects on the environment of much of Carnival’s unlawful actions are unclear. The courtappointed monitor said the violations were unintentional. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) dictates when and where ships can release comminuted food waste and treated or untreated sewage into the sea. It specifies rules for how such materials must be discharged.

According to the Miami Herald, separate court documents show that the Carnival Conquest ship illegally dumped 66,000 gallons of ballast water into Bahamian waters in November 2018. The release of untreated ballast water could introduce invasive species into an

near to Ninth Terrace when he was appoached by two armed men who robbed him of cash and a cell phone before fleeing.

An hour later a man was walking on Bay Lilly Drive when three armed men in a burgundy Nissan March pulled up next to him and robbed him of cash and a cell phone before driving off.

At 1am on Friday another robbery occurred on Collins Avenue near to Wulff Road when a man was approached by two armed

men who again demanded cash and a cell phone before escaping.

At 5am on Friday a man was standing in front of a home in South West Ridge when he was approached by an armed man who robbed him of cash before running off.

Shortly after 9pm on Saturday, two gunmen entered a business in Kennedy Subdivision and robbed the cashier of cash before fleeing in a blue Honda Fit. About an hour later, a woman

was standing outside a residence on Recovery Way, St Albans Drive when she was approached by two gunmen who robbed her of a handbag containing cash, a cellphone and other personal effects, before escaping.

Police also said two people were robbed shortly after 3am on Sunday.

A man and a woman were standing outside a home at Croton Avenue off Faith Avenue when they were accosted by two

gunmen who robbed them of cash before fleeing on foot.

Shortly after midnight yesterday, a man was driving his car on Faith Avenue near Firetrail Road when he was stopped by two gunmen who robbed him of his car and cellphone.

The thieves left the scene in the man’s 2003 Honda Accord, plate number AJ2859, police said.

Investigations into all these incidents are continuing.

Carnival’s catalogue of ocean dumpings

MAIN picture: the Carnival Elation ship which discharged approximately 1,270 cubic metres of treated sewage and 22 cubic metres of food waste in Bahamian archipelagic waters Inset: Sam Duncombe, president of reEarth environmental group. environment, devastating local ecosystems. It is not clear if the ballast water released in local waters was treated. The Miami Herald wrote: “In that case, the engineer involved offered to falsify records to make it look like the dump happened at open sea to his superior, who instructed him to report it correctly.”

In December 2016, the Princess Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of a Carnival Corporation, pled guilty

to seven felony counts related to vessel pollution and efforts to conceal that pollution, one count of conspiracy, four counts of failure to maintain accurate records and two counts of obstruction of justice. The cruise line had to pay a $40 million criminal penalty, the largest ever for deliberate vessel pollution. A five-year term of probation was applied that requires all ships from eight Carnival cruise lines to participate in

a supervised environmental compliance programme.

The company is required to retain an outside independent third party auditor and to fund a court-appointed monitor.

A US federal judge recently threatened to stop Carnival Corporation from docking its ships in US ports as punishment for its possible probation violation. Court filings show Carnival Corp sought to avoid unfavourable findings

by preparing ships ahead of audits and by falsifying records, among other things. At a scheduled June hearing, US District Judge Patricia Seitz is expected to decide whether to revoke Carnival’s probation and punish the company.

In February, Carnival announced plans to develop the world’s largest cruise port in East Grand Bahama. The facility would be able to accommodate two of their largest ships

at the same time. The company is leasing 329 acres of land in an area known as Sharp Rock in East Grand Bahama, which is known as an eco-sensitive zone.

Carnival Corporation executive Giora Israel recently said the company is big on protecting the environment, and promised that Carnival would not harm the environment during the construction phase, and would preserve 110 acres as a natural wetland.

Sam Duncombe, president of reEarth environmental group, said yesterday: “Carnival has been caught. What about the ships that have not been caught? Who is out there watching what goes on? It’s a cost to this country that we certainly cannot afford. We make our living because of environment and if we keep ripping out mangroves and dumping all of our garbage and sewage into our oceans that bring people here we’re not going to have a tourism industry.”

TWO HAITIANS FACING COURT

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

TWO Haitian nationals were recently arraigned in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court - one for illegal landing and the other for harbouring an undocumented migrant.

Arty Alexis, 33, and Myrtha Bertrand-Jeantinord, 49, appeared in Court One last week before Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson.

Alexis was charge with illegal landing. It is alleged that on April 16, he was found in Freeport having landed elsewhere than at an authorised port of entry.

He pled guilty and was fined $300, or in default ordered to serve 12 months in prison. He paid the fine and was ordered to be deported to Haiti.

Jeantinord, a Haitian national and permanent resident, pleaded not guilty to harbouring an undocumented migrant.

It is alleged that on April 16 at Freeport, she harboured Alexis at her residence on Bass Lane, Freeport in an attempt to evade immigration authorities.

She was granted $1,500 cash bail and the matter was adjourned to May 16.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 7

BOAT FOUND IN HUNT FOR ELDERLY FISHERMAN from page one

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association, local fishermen and the US Coast Guard have been searching for him.

Jason Roberts, pastor of Mount Zion Native Baptist Church in Abaco, told The Tribune

yesterday: “I visited his wife about four days back and also his brother. The community has been rocked by such a sudden and seemingly tragic occurrence. Mr Green is known as a veteran and seasoned fisherman and he would have been the last person anyone would imagine this would happen to. To my knowledge everything was recovered from his fishing

boat with the exception of his gas tanks. The hope is that he is floating on those tanks somewhere and will be found. The community at large continues to pray for the family’s strength during this immense time of difficulty.”

A RBDF spokesman confirmed that the man’s boat was found. He said a US Coast Guard helicopter and a defence force aircraft

conducted an aerial search that was extended from the southern Abaco area and its surrounding cays, including Moore’s Island, to Great Sturrup cay and the Berry Islands.

In January 2018, a Bahamian sailor who was missing for two weeks was rescued by the United States Coast Guard from a boat taking on water off the coast of Florida.

Baha Mar lifeguard Samuel Leroy Moss Jr, 23, disappeared off the coast of Bimini on January 14, 2018 before being found two weeks later. He later told The Tribune his experience included fleeing wild hogs in Andros, being guided by dolphins in the Atlantic, and going hungry after his food supplies ran out.

Two pedestrians killed in separate traffic accidents

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A CHILE WELCOME

DAME MARGUERITE PINDLING, Governor General, received Letters of Credence from Francisco Javier Bernales, Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Chile to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas during a brief ceremony at Government House.

TWO pedestrians were killed in separate traffic incidents over the Easter holiday period.

In the first incident, a man was driving a Toyota Coaster bus travelling north on Blue Hill Road in the area of Wellington Street when he hit a woman pedestrian shortly before 11pm on Saturday. The woman was taken to hospital where she later died.

In the second incident, a man was knocked down by a private vehicle on Montrose Avenue in the area of St George’s Church early Sunday morning. Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs said he was taken to hospital, but later died.

Traffic deaths have been frequent this year. Last week Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he told Cabinet that the time had come to increase penalties for serious traffic violations.

The US cited traffic fatalities as a major concern in an advisory last week, noting there was a 29 percent increase in traffic-related deaths from 2017 to 2018.

Dr Minnis said the advisory was “coincidental” as he has already told Cabinet ministers “fines must be more harsh than what we’re seeing”.

RUDOLPH Coakley is believed to have been killed by a tour bus on Saturday.

“Vehicular manslaughter, we must look at that because it’s insulting for individuals who have been knocked or hit and suffer when they die and it’s just basically a slap on the wrist (for the perpetrators),” he said. “I think the fines need to be a lot more harsh. I’ve spoken to the Law Reform commissioner and asked her to look at traffic fines, violations, etc, so we

could have proper legislation to deal with ordinary society.”

Currently, people who accidentally kill in the course of dangerous driving pay a maximum fine of $10,000, a vexing fact for many.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames echoed Dr Minnis’ view.

He said last week: “I’ve had the opportunity to speak to families who would’ve lost a loved one who has been struck by a careless driver only to find out at the end of the day that many of these persons are still walking the streets as if nothing happened.

We have to look at how we can bring some balance there. As you can see, the amount of traffic accidents, it’s crazy.

“We should not be having that much on an island that is seven by 21. There are a lot of reckless drivers. That’s why we introduced the law with cell phones and we are looking at breathalyzers because it’s on the books. You have a lot of people sitting behind the wheels of these vehicles who are plastered.

Taking a life is a serious thing and you have helpless people out there who can tell you stories of loved ones who are gone and persons who have been responsible for their deaths are still walking the streets as if nothing happened.”

PAGE 8, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

W

E often complain about the public education system – its shortfalls and setbacks – but we don’t often praise some of the hardworking educators who go above and beyond to overcome these hurdles to invest into the lives of our children.

Their contributions make a difference. Even when some parents don’t seem invested enough, there are teachers who move into action to nurture the potential of their students.

Dale Marshall is one of them. Her 17 years as an educator has been characterised by an out-of-the-box approach to getting the best out of her students. Her keyword – mindfulness. She believes so much in this that she has set herself apart as not only an educator, but as a coach and consultant.

Her motto: “Transforming Youth through Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, and Social Responsibility”.

Mindfulness is the art of cultivating the ability to focus your attention in a particular way, she explained. It enhances positive neuro-connections in the brain and, over time, it has been proven to even reconfigure the way we respond to stress and anger.

Harvard studies on mindfulness and neuroplasticity explain how mindfulness can literally change the landscape of the brain to rewire our emotional behaviours, even after trauma. It is an invaluable tool to enhance learning, self-regulating behaviour and helping children with test anxiety and social stress.

“Not only do I know the rigours and stressors of parenting, I also understand the widespread symptoms of burnout and the struggle to cope in education that many of our teachers are facing in this new era,” Dale explained.

“While we all have a mission to educate and inspire, we too cannot pour from an empty cup. Research has spoken loudly about the benefits of mindfulness as a tool for educators. It helps them to learn techniques and tools for being more empathetic instructors and leaders and showing them how to hold themselves with deeper care so that students and the profession get the best of them.”

So mindfulness works both ways, positively impacting the teacher and the student. As a professional educator with a broad scope of experience in all levels of the education sector, having a consistent track record of innovation in educational entrepreneurship and being passionate about civic involvement in youth development and transformation, Dale found this idea of “mindfulness” being one of the most profound in education.

Dale is currently a social studies and civics specialist teacher in the Public Schools high school system.

She is in the second successful year of an after school programme that she created a curriculum for based on empowerment, environmental stewardship,

THE TRIBUNE THE UNIVERSITY of the Bahamas student govt association teams up with Dale’s Conscious Kids Movement to clean up beaches. Inset, her two children.

Dale’s life mission - to get the best out of her students mindfulness, yoga and self-awareness. She also developed other curriculum and tools for mindful awareness for women, mothers, homeschoolers and kids and she does online mindfulness coaching and consultations.

The Bahamas, mainly New Providence, is facing criminal activity on school campuses and there appears to be widespread disregard for authority in education.

These same problems have been significantly curbed by school districts in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom using mindfulness based interventions.

“I am deeply concerned about the imbalance of focus on creating healthy internal landscapes for our children versus attaining academic merit,” said Dale.

“There should be a healthy balance… and I am excited about the possibilities that mindfulness can bring to discipline reform, teacher morale and restoration, school pride,

empathy and values here in The Bahamas, in the near future.

“I want to impact the country and educational system by offering mindfulness workshops and sessions, curriculum and programmes to schools, civic organisations and corporations as a part of holistic health and development. I can create corporate workshops, classroom and club sessions as well as guided one-on-one consultations.”

In 2017, Dale began to create curriculum and programmes to integrate mindfulness and education content. Mindfulness research in education and its affect on self-regulation, schoolwide discipline, focus and learning outcomes inspired her to do so. Her Conscious Kid Creative Writing Retreat held in the summer of 2017 blended the connection between what is perceived and what is created in written composition classes. Across the country, she said, this

DALE MARSHALL, left, teaching youngsters about mindfulness, above and right.

continuous to be a weak aspect for many children due to factors beyond reading, namely a disconnect in how they focus on and perceive stimulus in their environment.

Dale found her life purpose through a most unfortunate tragedy. Her mother and father, Victor and Pauline Wells raised their daughters Dale and Danielle in Grand Bahama.

Prior to being in Freeport with her parents, Dale was raised in New Providence by her grandmother, Dorothy Coakley, until the age of five. The Wells home was a loving one. Pauline was a nurturing and strict mother who believed in good oldfashioned values, education and structure. The home was always immaculate, she took great care of her family and made sure her girls had all they needed.

This helped them to value stability, steadfastness, putting in work, substance, tradition and comforts.

Victor - a “dynamic father”.

He was a strict law enforcer in the public eye with a “truly strong presence”.

However, at home he was the most jovial loving father always making the girls laugh and never actually using corporal punishment with them. Dale saw him having “a great balance between strength and compassion”. He inspired her love of eclectic soul music

as she grew up listening to his music collection, including Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, Mozart, Bach, Bob Marley and Beethoven. But at the age of 18, Danielle died of sickle cell anaemia.

Dale’s first trusted friend, supporter and confidante had left her at such an early age.

“I lost a part of my heart at that point,” she painfully recalls.

“She was both an inspiration and an example of authenticity, knowledge, intelligence, wit and vibrancy. It was pivotal in pushing me towards a life purpose.”

Forging a path to that purpose was fuelled by lessons she learned from her grandmother during her formative years: “God and the human connection to the Divine has always been a very fundamental part of my life. My grandmother was a devoted Christian and a praying woman who taught me that prayer and spirituality were at the cornerstone of our existence.

So as I grew older and matured, I explored the world interpreting her lessons as a deep ‘knowing’ that we are multi-layered, purposeful beings who are more than our day to day lives and physical experiences.”

Somehow, Dale always knew she wanted to work with children in a

restorative and healing way. She was five-years-old when she started scribbling chemical formulas to heal cancer and other diseases and wanted to be a physician. However, upon graduating from Sunland Lutheran School and due to financial constraints, her mother, guidance counsellor and one of her teachers convinced her to attend the College of the Bahamas and pursue a degree in education, noting her natural knack for working with and caring for children.

“Once I graduated college, it was in my first year of teaching that I knew that mentally and emotionally supporting and connecting with children meant so much more to me than having them regurgitate material,” Dale said.

“I would pick children up on the weekends, mentor them, and have sessions and videos about their heritage and inherent talents and gifts.”

Over the years, Dale has created a number of meaningful programmes for children including the Rose Club – an after school programme for girls and at-risk girls helping them to “understand, appreciate and manifest their petals with purpose before the world had a chance to miseducate them that they were for beauty or pleasure”; and Summer Belles – a female empowerment summer programme that incorporated self-awareness, empowerment, yoga, etiquette and entrepreneurial skills.

When her daughter was born, Dale wrote the book “Superstar Me - Adanna and the Dog Star” (available on Amazon and Kindle) which addresses “positive self-image as a black Bahamian female, bullying, single parent family dynamics, pursuing careers in science as a female realising one’s interconnectedness with all of God’s creations”.

Dale is professionally trained trained as a Youth Leadership Development Facilitator through the world renowned Centre for Creative Leadership; Mindfulness practitioner; Certified Mindfulness Essentials Educator; and Certified Mindfulness Instructor for both adults and children through Mindful Schools International programming. She can be reached for personal or group sessions at telephone: 242-442-0610; Email: daledmarshall@gmail.com;

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 9

Bethel confirms Cabinet had authority to release new Bill

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel has confirmed that Cabinet had authorised Law Reform Commissioner Dame Anita Allen to release the proposed Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2018 for consultation.

This contradicts statements from Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, who last week said public consultation on the bill was started prematurely without his official review and input.

Mr Symonette, outside Cabinet on Tuesday, suggested the consultation process would

be halted to give way to his department’s review and assessment.

He said immigration officials were awaiting a formal response from Dame Anita on changes they submitted.

Mr Symonette said once that process was complete, a true public consultation process would get underway.

However, in response on Thursday, Mr Bethel in a statement said Dame Anita did have the goahead from Cabinet to begin the necessary consultation for the bill.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, the public is advised that the Cabinet of the Bahamas did, in fact, authorise Dame Anita Allen to launch and to conduct

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel

public consultations on the draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill,” the short statement said.

The release followed comments by Dame Anita herself, who on Wednesday told The Nassau Guardian she was authorised by Cabinet to proceed with consultation.

The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2018 features expanded grounds for the refusal of citizenship under the constitution, and registration and naturalisation under the law to include terrorism, human and drug trafficking, as well as gang-related activities. Activities that are against the interests of national

security and public policy are also included as proposed grounds for refusal.

The bill also specifies that deprivation of citizenship applies to people who have been naturalised under articles 7, 9 and 10 of the constitution. This includes people who were born in The Bahamas and applied to get citizenship because their parents were non-Bahamians; people who were born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian woman and applied to get citizenship; and foreigners who marry a Bahamian citizen and got citizenship through application.

The bill was published on the government’s website in February.

ROBERT F Kennedy toured the Over-The-Hill community with Rev CB Moss and his team over the weekend.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

KENNEDY JNR TOURS BAIN TOWN & GIVES GRAND BAHAMA TALK AT THE weekend, conservationist, environmental attorney and author Robert F Kennedy Jr gave a lecture entitled: “Access to clean water, it’s a human right” at the Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama.

Rashema Ingraham, executive director of non-profit Waterkeeper Bahamas, a close collaborator with Save The Bays, was delighted to welcome Mr Kennedy to The Bahamas once again. She said: “He has been here many times before and has taken a keen interest in the preservation of our precious environment. He has a wealth of knowledge to share with the public.

“We wanted all Grand Bahamians to come out and listen to this world renowned environmental advocate discuss a matter that is so critical to our society. Water quality issues affect nearly every aspect of daily existence in a small island nation - from health, to quality of life, to economic opportunities.

Know your rights and know what can be done to ensure that future generations of Bahamians can enjoy the benefits of access to clean water.”

Robert Kennedy Jr helped found and is the current president of Waterkeeper® Alliance,

a global network with over 300 members and affiliates that is focused on promoting waters that are swimmable, fishable and drinkable. Around the world, Waterkeepers are on the front lines of the global water crisis, patrolling and protecting more than 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents.

From 1986 until 2017, he served as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit environmental organisation. He served from 1984 until 2017 as board member and chief prosecuting attorney for Hudson Riverkeeper.

For over 30 years, Kennedy has been a professor of Environmental Law at Pace University School of Law. Until August 2017, he also held the post as supervising attorney and co-director of Pace Law School’s Environmental Litigation Clinic, which he founded in 1987. He is currently professor emeritus at Pace.

Kennedy co-hosts Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated American radio programme, and has written or edited ten books, including two New York Times bestsellers and three children’s books.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

M Rebellion? Just mayhem

EMORIES of youth seldom fade.

I still recall a teacher in my far-off schooldays who seemed more interested in demonstrating his own intellectual prowess than in leading young minds to new ideas and concepts. ‘Liberty or licence’ (see below) was one of his favourite topics for essay-writing, without bothering to explain the difference in advance.

It was this recollection which struck me forcibly when watching the disruptive activities of a self-appointed climate change group called Extinction Rebellion which organised widespread demonstrations in London over the past week. They caused mayhem, including almost bringing the capital to a standstill. In so far as anyone can determine its motives, the group is demanding radical though undefined action by British authorities against the effects of climate change and global warming.

These events are particularly interesting because I think one can draw from them lessons of a general nature.

The protesters claim that causing maximum economic disruption will make the politicians listen, and they say they are settling in for the long haul. But people ask why they should target their own country when Britain’s performance in relation to the issue has been relatively good. A Google check reveals the UK’s Climate Change Act of 2008 committed Britain to cutting carbon emissions by 80 percent (on a 1990 baseline) by 2050 and that the nation is on track to achieve that, with emissions already 38 percent lower than in 1990.

There have been similar demonstrations elsewhere in Europe; in Rome, and also in Paris though apparently unconnected to the violent ‘yellow vests’ rioting that is still taking place there. Despite the seriousness of it all, there has been surprisingly little US television coverage.

The protesters in London congregated in the busiest areas like Oxford Circus and Parliament Square and succeeded in shutting down one of the main bridges across the River Thames

and misery for millions The Peter Young column

while also interfering with the Docklands Light Railway and threatening to close down parts of the city’s famous Tube network.

London’s traffic, including emergency vehicles and bus services, was severely disrupted. Millions of ordinary people were inconvenienced and their lives made a misery - not least those in need of medical care so that actual lives were put at risk - and traders and shops lost business. Ironically, the resulting traffic jams and fumes from idling vehicle engines created more of the pollution and damage to the environment against which the demonstrators were protesting.

To my mind, all this raises three main questions about demonstrations and civil liberties; namely, can such mass action affecting others ever be justified, what is the role of the police and is such action likely to be effective?

Going back to liberty and licence, these are essentially two aspects of personal freedom. It is widely accepted that liberty is about the ability to do, without hindrance by government or anyone else, what is generally regarded as good and proper and morally right. But this has to be exercised according to certain rules of society without which there would be confusion, chaos and anarchy. Everybody, of course, has to act within the law, not least that on defamation, slander and libel; and there have to be restraints on behaviour that menaces society.

So, ideally, as well as being free to express one’s own opinions and exercise one’s own rights, all should treat others fairly and respect their rights in return. By contrast, the other aspect of freedom is licence or the ability to do whatever someone wants through excessive or unsocial behaviour with a complete lack of restraint; and, just to muddy the waters, some people even

POLICE patrol past a village of tents during a climate protest in London where the group Extinction Rebellion is calling for a week of civil disobedience. argue that any action by an individual is defensible as an act of freedom itself.

Whatever view one takes about this, in an ordered democratic country there can be no justification for civil disobedience at such a level that it violates the rights of millions to go about their everyday lives peacefully and without interruption. The right to

protest is an essential part of democracy. But any claimed parallel right to make the lives of others a misery, on the grounds that a cause is sufficiently important to justify extreme action, is not.

As for the police, their initial softly-softly approach was clearly mistaken. They seem to have based this on the

TURN ON THE TAP TO HELP BOOST THE ECONOMY AS an outsider who has been fortunate to be able to observe the Bahamas for many years, it has always intrigued me that in an archipelago spread out over such a large area so much of the nation’s vast potential has not been adequately exploited.

In an excellent article published in The Tribune earlier this month, Richard Coulson pointed out that, with modern communications, geographical distance between islands is becoming less of an impediment to travel and development and that the nation’s combined landmass

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dwarfs that of most of its Caribbean neighbours. He also contended that to achieve economic growth and other expansion there was a need for more human resources – and thus new immigration policies – in a country that is basically underpopulated.

In my own view, the unique advantages enjoyed by The Bahamas, of which proximity to the US is a significant one, should be routinely promoted and publicised more widely, particularly further afield in Europe and elsewhere.

Too often, I have heard visitors talk

about the country basically offering the traditional sun, sea and sand without realising how much more it is able to provide.

There is not the space here to describe those advantages in detail.

But looking at the topic prompts one to reflect once again on the apparent need to utilise more effectively the untapped resources of the Family Islands - including opportunities for eco-tourism - in order to develop a more robust economy for the benefit of all Bahamians. I hope to return to this subject in a future column.

non-violence of the protesters. The evidence shows that, when circumstances demand strong action, the British police can be as tough as their counterparts elsewhere in the world, using batons, teargas and other devices - though not water cannon which is deemed to be inappropriate in British conditions - and making arrests if protesters become aggressive and violent. However, in the case of Extinction Rebellion they underestimated the extent of the disruption and chaos and failed to realise they have an obligation to serve the whole population and not pander to protest groups, whatever the worthiness of their cause.

The initial police response was seen by many as inadequate and even shameful.

But, subsequently, the Home Secretary (Minister of Interior equivalent) declared the full force of the law should be applied against anti-social protests and, as a result, the policing has become more robust, with those involved being moved on and some 700 arrested.

The effectiveness of last week’s demonstrations is hard to judge. Unlawful protests tend to achieve little other than catching people’s attention. It appears the British public broadly agrees with its government’s plans to tackle global warming by reducing carbon emissions.

So the protesters’ action in disrupting the lives of millions may have backfired by damaging their own cause. Instead of participating in debate and dialogue, they have risked alienating the very people whom they are seeking to convince.

In summary, I believe it is reasonable to conclude that in a civilised society a fundamental requirement should be to protect and enforce, as a priority, the public’s right to go about its lawful daily business freely and without obstruction or any kind of hindrance.

When an English poet missed home ‘OH, to be in England now that April’s there’ is the first line of 19th century English poet Robert Browning’s famous work ‘Home-Thoughts from Abroad’, and is often quoted by British expatriates. The poem was written when Browning himself was abroad and was missing home. It has sometimes been regarded as representing nostalgia for a romanticised world left behind by a traveller, and it is reputed to have aroused

PEOPLE enjoy the April sunshine by the River Cherwell on a bright spring day in Oxford, England. such emotions in the hearts of colonial administrators stuck alone in an uncomfortable environment somewhere in an empire that extended across the globe and on which, it was said, the sun never set.

In today’s world, this work - together with another much lauded poem entitled ‘A Shropshire Lad’ by fellow Englishman, AE Houseman, describing the local countryside - is good for attracting tourists as, by

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common consent, Browning’s poem in particular paints, vividly and accurately, a glorious picture of rural life in England awakening once again to the joys of spring. His work is a description of the power and wonder of Mother Nature, with the resurgence of the land and plants together with the reemergence of animals, birds and other wildlife from the ravages and hibernation of winter.

This is the annual miracle that he describes so realistically - with April the harbinger of warmer days and new life to come - in a poem that has been well known to generations of English people. Some say it is also a time for human beings to make a fresh start in a spirit of optimism when it is better to seize the moment than indulge in endless nostalgia. Carpe diem.

• Peter Young is a retired career diplomat and former British High Commissioner to The Bahamas where he is now a permanent resident.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 11

D’Marco says new LGBTI office will help advocacy

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community has taken another step toward formalising a means of public sensitisation and education through the formation of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs.

Pointing to the influx of Bahamian LGBTI people to Canada, spokeswoman Alexus D’Marco said there is a need for a formal office as a means of advocacy against stigma for the community.

The Bahamas also needs structure in order to have a seat at the table at respective regional levels, Ms D’Marco told The Tribune.

“The impact is dissemination of information, education and sensitisation regarding LGBTI people,” she said in a recent interview.

“People should know that it has nothing to do with a person’s sexual preference. It’s a basic human right. Everyone can get service at Princess Margaret Hospital, but some still face stigma receiving medical care. Again this is a basic human right that all should be afforded. So some sensitisation is needed in this regard.

“So we need structure and to have a paper trail so when we do sit in regional forums we have proof that we did, for example, reach out to the government or do certain things.

“When the government goes into international arenas they say we don’t have LGBTI issues, but there are some and they sign all these conventions, but in this country there isn’t any work being done.

“So we say we need a structure.”

The office also will be used as a means for formal dialogue with the Bahamas Christian Council.

“The church poses the greatest opposition to the LGBTI community,” Ms D’Marco added. “We do have some allies, but there is still some opposition.

“We have reached out to them before and they acknowledged our email but that’s it.”

The local LGBTI community has been busy in the last several months doing ground work for a greater presence in the country.

Earlier this month Ms D’Marco said there had been a “vast improvement” in the general treatment of transgender Bahamians adding, however, that more still needs to be done in terms of mental health services and other areas.

She is also the lead spokesperson of the D’Marco Group and the newly launched United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTrans).

Referring specifically to several ongoing discussions on ways to improve legal frameworks and health policies that presently discriminate against

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ALEXUS D’MARCO transgender Bahamians, Ms D’Marco said The Bahamas was now “setting the pace” for “inclusion and understanding”.

“There is a vast improvement,” she said. “As far as respect for trans persons goes, and how they identify in The Bahamas, people are now realising and understanding that there is a difference between sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Ms D’Marco said a streamlined education strategy alongside a steered public discussion on the transgender lifestyle has aided an overall campaign of understanding. She said based on this education, there has been a shift in culture. To that end, Ms D’Marco said local trans persons are “blessed” to sit at the table with local “decision makers and gatekeepers,” namely the Office of the Attorney General with whom discussions concerning rights, protections and avenues to communicate perceived bias or oppression have been had.

“For them to open their door to us is a step in the right direction because back in the past you wouldn’t have had that,” Ms D’Marco said. “I think we are moving and progressing slowly, but we are making some headway.

“We have our seat at the table,” she added.

Attorney General Carl Bethel later confirmed that legal officers attached to his office had spoken to community representatives on a “technical level”.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE CENTRAL American migrants, part of a caravan hoping to reach the US border, move on the road in Escuintla, Chiapas State, Mexico earlier this month.

Migrant caravans: Are they in the Caribbean’s future?

IMAGINE the scene if people with little hope of a better life in Caribbean countries could walk to the United States.

Undoubtedly, many would do so, joining the tens of thousands in the present so-called ‘caravan’ from three countries

CANDIDATES COMMITTEE REPORT April 5TH, 2019 LIST OF ENDORSED NAMES: EXECUTIVE MEMBERS: 1. Rosemary E. Burrows 2. Maralyn Genette Burrows 3. William Ingraham 4. Cyril Morris Jr. 5. Wayne Thompson 6. Kameisha Delique Wells 7. Judd T. Williams TRUSTEES: 1. Jacqueline Lorene Mckenzie 2. Bolinder Newbold – Munroe 3. Vernincha Louise Delcine Simmons 4. Lana Monique Williams-Smith 5. Haldane Alfred Stubbs AREA VICE PRESIDENTS: NORTHERN BAHAMAS: 1. Ann Marie Bullard 2. Eldecia Shaquincha Ethlyn Thompson GRAND BAHAMA: 1. Quintin Howard Laroda 2. George Austin Trevor Mills.

NEW PROVIDENCE: 1. Vernon Jemell Rodgers SOUTHERN BAHAMAS: 1. Ann Louise Strachan ASSISTANT TREASURER: 1. Catherine Knowles-Stubbs 2. Katress Wells SECRETARY – GENERAL: 1. Helena Cartwright 2. Dion Damien Johnson 3. Tiffany M. Delancy-Laing ASSISTANT SECRETARY – GENERAL: 1. Juanita T. Gaitor 2. Cedricka Rolle PRESIDENT: 1. Joan Knowles-Turnquest VICE PRESIDENT: 1. Tiffany Burrell-Roberts 2. Jason Haley From the desk of John Musgrove Secretary-General The Bahamas Union of Teachers.

in Central America – El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Television, cinema and other media have for decades painted a portrait of the United States as a land of plenty where fairness, justice and the rule of law prevail and where the poor, however uneducated and unskilled, have a better chance to improve their lives than they have in their native lands.

If that portrayal was ever true, it certainly is not so now. And, to be clear, the unwelcomeness of unskilled and uneducated immigrants did not start with the present US administration of President Donald Trump.

The famous legend at the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore”, has long been abandoned.

Recall the turning back of shiploads of Haitians risking their lives in perilous journeys across the sea to US shores in the 1980s. It was President Jimmy Carter’s Democratic administration in 1980 that introduced detention camps for Haitians – a tool Republican President Ronald Reagan embraced fully when he came to office in 1981. President Bill Clinton also maintained the system, trying at one point to convince other Caribbean countries to absorb thousands of the Haitian detainees held in the US. After 9/11, the detention regime expanded under President George W Bush, and it continued until it has reached the present point of political controversy in the US. The controversy is not over the desire to curb immigration; it is over how it is done. All parties in the US want the issue tackled.

That includes the former administration of President Barack Obama which also detained immigrants and deported illegal ones and those that committed crimes.

The point should be made that the US has no policy to stop immigration. The country has one of the most liberal legal immigration schemes in the world through which skilled and trained persons from every continent have gained access to the US. But, it wishes to stop illegal and uncontrolled immigration, mostly by unskilled people who would increase unemployment, enlarge impoverished areas and add to the national welfare bill.

In this overall desire, the US is no different from any other country.

The Caribbean region has experienced – and resisted - migration from countries such as Guyana, Jamaica, Dominica and St Vincent to others like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados

IT was President Jimmy Carter’s Democratic administration in 1980 that introduced detention camps for Haitians. and Antigua and Barbuda which, at one point, were more economically prosperous. Haitians have also migrated illegally to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas where the reception of them was little better than in the US. And, if Haitians could walk to the US, as can the people from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, they would be among the huddled masses on the US southern border.

What causes this migration from the three Central American countries and Haiti? Some of the factors are now normal. They include high unemployment, limited economic opportunities, inadequate education and training, high crime, poverty, corruption, violence and downright bad governance. But, now, there is a new factor, one that will become a more important determinant in the future – Climate Change.

Thirteen independent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are differentiated from the three Central American countries and Haiti by three things: a continuing commitment to democracy and the rule of law, including freedom of expression; investment in education and training up to the tertiary level; and lower levels of poverty and crime. These elements allow for continuing investment, both local and foreign, in their economies; keeping poverty levels relatively low; maintaining a steady level of employment; and political stability.

If these CARICOM countries depart from their democratic values, including the rule of law and political freedoms, the effect on good governance will choke-out investment and collapse their economies, driving up unemployment and poverty. In turn, economic refugees will emerge and they too will find their way to the borders of richer nearby countries such as the US and Canada. Fortunately, there is no sign of such a departure in CARICOM states where people participation in political life remains organised, vibrant and accepted.

However, climate change

could well prove to be the common factor that could create refugees for CARICOM countries and Central America in the future. The Global Climate Change conferences in France and Poland talked much but delivered little.

The worst aspect of both these conferences was the acceptance that climate change, with its attendant global warming and sealevel rise, is a fact of life now and in the future. The pledging of money to build resilience and mitigate disasters is, of itself, a glaring admission that, instead of stopping climate change, the abuser countries are delaying the total extinction that it will wreak by giving abused countries money here and there to manage increasingly fatal destruction.

Rising temperatures, more extreme weather events and increasingly unpredictable patterns — like rain not falling when it should or pouring when it shouldn’t — have disrupted agricultural cycles, severely affecting farming communities. This is evident in Central America and the World Bank reported last year that climate change could create 1.4 million refugees as people flee their homes in Mexico and Central America and migrate during the next three decades.

In the Caribbean, in 2017, all the residents of Barbuda became the first climate refugees – people who had to abandon their island which was decimated by Hurricane Irma. Hundreds of Dominicans also had to seek refuge in Barbados and Antigua. As global warming increases to more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, coastal areas of Caribbean countries will gradually be severely eroded, adversely affecting tourism and marine industries, including fisheries. The first impact will be unemployment and increased poverty. The affected people will have no option but migration, and, to survive, they too will join the caravan of refugees – however they can.

That is why, Caribbean governments and all stakeholders in Caribbean islands and countries with low-lying coastal areas, such as Guyana and Belize, must rail in every global forum against the clear and present danger of climate change.

The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 13

Who knows the T real origins of Easter traditions?

By JANE STEVENSON Senior Research Fellow at Campion Hall, University of Oxford

HERE’S a lot of confusion about Easter – not least because this most important of all Christian festivals moves around so much from year to year, decided by a complex set of calculations based on the vernal equinox and the phase of the moon. Easter symbols – eggs, bunnies, lambs and the rest – give the festivities an air of preChristian paganism.

So where do the origins of Easter and the rituals observed by so many – whether Christian or not – really lie?

The first mention of Eostre is in the eighth century, in The Venerable Bede’s frustratingly cryptic account of the native Anglo-Saxon calendar in De Temporum Ratione (On the Reckoning of Time). The Anglo-Saxon equivalent of April called Eostremonath is named for the goddess Eostre – but we only know about Eostre via Bede’s writings and the only thing he tells us about her is that “feasts were celebrated” in her honour. So, if modern Easter is frequently a festival of overeating, this has tradition on its side.

But Eostre was evidently significant enough for the Anglo-Saxons to later transfer her name to the Christian festival of the resurrection rather than adopting the Latin name “Pascha”.

Similarly, Easter is “Ostern” in German – which implies she must have been known outside England. Confusingly, the great 19th-century folklorist and philologist, Jacob Grimm, invented a German goddess called Ostara – “the divinity of the radiant dawn, upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing” – on purely etymological grounds: the name is derived from a proto-Indo-European root meaning “to shine”.

But Grimm didn’t present a shred of supporting evidence that such a deity had ever been worshipped in Germany, leaving us with just Bede to go on.

WHY do we eat chocolate bunnies at Easter?

It’s a long story ...

Easter roughly coincides with the spring equinox – so there is a good deal of lore attached to the season which is not actually Christian. Easter is preceded by Lent – a period of fasting in memory of Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. But it is also a season when, in pre-modern Europe, food would have been running low. Winter supplies would have been coming to an end and there was not enough sun and spring growth yet for hens to start laying and cows to give milk. In a sense, therefore, Easter is a natural feast – to celebrate passing out of that hardship.

The association of lamb with Easter is something we have borrowed from Jewish tradition and Passover

– which was also the festival that Jesus and his disciples celebrated with their Last Supper.

At least as far back as the 15th century, Easter was also marked in England by eating “tansies” – a kind of custardy pudding made with the bitter (and poisonous) herb tansy and sometimes with other bitter greens such as nettles. The 17th-century antiquarian John Aubrey adds a further detail: Our tansies at Easter have reference to the bitter Herbs [eaten at Passover by Jews] though at the same time ’twas always the Fashion for a man to have a gammon of Bacon, to shew himself to be no Jew. Eggs are an ancient and natural symbol of

returning life in many parts of Europe, but the Easter egg may also derive from Passover – which includes, among various symbolic foods, a roasted egg: the beitzah. Until at least the mid-20th century, more people marked Easter with decorated, hard-boiled hen’s eggs than chocolate ones.

The earliest documented mention in England of decorated eggs comes in 1290, from the household accounts of King Edward I for 1290, which records the purchase and decoration

of 450 eggs , some gilded, some dyed. These eggs were presented to the royal household at Easter, and cost 18 pence.

In many parts of Britain the custom was for people, children especially, to play with their “pace-eggs” by rolling them down a chosen slope before eating them. In Iona and Peter Opie’s 1959 study The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, a child reports that: “In Cumberland we take more notice of the pace eggs than chocolate eggs.” Easter eggs as also rolled on the lawn of the US White House, a custom going back to 1878.

The association of hares with Easter also considerably predates foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies. As early as 1682, Georg Franck von Franckenau’s essay De ovis paschalibus (About Easter Eggs) speaks of a German tradition of an Easter hare bringing coloured Easter eggs for the children.

In southern Germany, children used to be told that a hare laid the paceeggs and they would make a nest for the creature to lay them in. The Easter hare was also known in parts of the British Isles and was particularly associated with having to hunt out eggs hidden in the garden, where the hare was supposed to have put them.

A curious entry in the Calendar of State Papers

for April 2 1620, suggests that hares were also often eaten at Easter: Thos. Fulnety solicits the permission of Lord Zouch, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, to kill a hare on Good Friday, as huntsmen say that those who have not a hare against Easter must eat a red herring.

Hares were also ritually hunted at Easter in England – there is a note in the Chamberlains’ Accounts for the year 1574 that twelvepence was “given to the hare-finders at Whetston Court”.

An Easter hare hunt survived as part of Leicester’s ritual year as late as the 18th century, though by then a dead cat was substituted for an actual hare. Jacob Grimm, looking at this evidence for an association of ritual activity involving hares with the Easter season, conjectured that the hare was sacred to the goddess Ostara, piling one conjecture on top of another.

So the truth is that Easter rituals as we know them today represent an untidy collection of customs connected with celebrating spring growth and the end of austerity – a time for new clothes and rich food. Any connection with pre-Christian paganism is entirely coincidental. theconversation.com

PAGE 14, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

SPACEX SUFFERS SERIOUS SETBACK WITH CREW CAPSULE ACCIDENT CAPE CANAVERAL Associated Press SPACEX has suffered a serious setback in its effort to launch NASA astronauts into orbit this year, with the fiery loss of its first crew capsule during testing.

Over the weekend, the company’s recently flown Dragon crew capsule was engulfed in smoke and flames on an engine test stand at Cape Canaveral. SpaceX was testing the Dragon’s abort thrusters when Saturday’s accident

occurred. The company said the test area was clear and no one was injured.

This capsule flew to the International Space Station last month on a crew-less trial run, and it was supposed to be reused in a launch abort test in June. Another capsule was supposed to follow with two astronauts as early as July.

Astronauts haven’t launched from Florida since 2011.

NASA said yesterday it was too early to revise the target launch dates, given that the accident

is still so fresh. “This is why we test,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

“We will learn, make the necessary adjustments and safely move forward with our commercial crew program.”

Until Saturday, SpaceX was on a roll to resume crew launches from Florida. The March test flight, to the space station and back, went smoothly. The SuperDraco thrusters embedded in the sides of the capsule were not used during the demo.

The thrusters are crucial to protect astronauts in flight; they’re designed to fire in an emergency and pull the capsule safely away from the rocket.

The University of Southern California’s Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who directed space operations for SpaceX until last year, said it was a “tough day ... not good” for the company. “But thankfully no one got hurt and with everything we learn from this anomaly Crew Dragon will be a

safer vehicle for all her future crews,” he tweeted.

SpaceX said it will make sure, through the accident investigation, that the Dragon is one of the safest spacecraft ever built for astronauts. The California-based company released few details, though, on the accident itself and how it might impact future flights.

Former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, now with Syracuse University, said via email that it’s “too early to tell what the implications may be.”

RELATIVES carry a coffin for burial during the funerals yesterday of three members of the same family who all died at the Easter Sunday bomb blast at St Sebastian Church in Sri Lanka.

Below: Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard in front of the St Anthony’s Shrine.

Sri Lanka military gets special powers as death toll nears 300 COLOMBO Associated Press SRI Lanka’s president gave the military sweeping police powers in the wake of the Easter bombings that killed nearly 300 people, while officials disclosed that intelligence agencies had warned weeks ago of the possibility of an attack by the radical Muslim group blamed for the bloodshed.

The suicide bombings struck three churches and three luxury hotels on Sunday in the island nation’s deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended in 2009. The government shut down some social media, armed security forces patrolled the largely deserted, central streets in the capital of Colombo, and a curfew went into effect.

The military was given a wider berth to detain and arrest suspects — powers that were used during the civil war but withdrawn when it ended.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he feared the massacre could unleash instability and he vowed to “vest all necessary powers with the defense forces” to act against those responsible.

Adding to the tension, three unexploded bombs blew up yesterday inside a van parked near one of the stricken churches as police were trying to defuse them, sending pedestrians fleeing in panic. No injuries

were reported. Dozens of detonators were discovered near Colombo’s main bus depot, but officials declined to say whether they were linked to the attacks.

The government blocked access to Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram after the blasts, creating confusion and doing little to reassure residents and visitors that the danger had passed.

A nationwide state of emergency was scheduled to begin at midnight last night, the president’s office said, following the attacks that killed at least

290 people, with more than 500 wounded, according to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara. The three stricken hotels and one of the churches, St. Anthony’s Shrine, are frequented by tourists, and dozens of foreigners were among the dead.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said 39 foreigners were killed, although the foreign ministry put out a different figure, saying the number of dead was 31.

The US State Department confirmed that at least four Americans

were among the dead and several others were seriously wounded, but it did not release any identities.

The Sri Lankan government said other foreigners killed were from the U.K., Bangladesh, China, India, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and Australia. A national day of mourning was declared for today.

International intelligence agencies had warned that the littleknown group, National Thowfeek Jamaath, was planning attacks, but word

apparently didn’t reach the prime minister’s office until after the massacre, exposing the continuing political turmoil in the highest levels of the Sri Lankan government.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the intelligence agencies began issuing the warnings on April 4; the defence ministry wrote to the police chief with information that included the group’s name; and police wrote April 11 to the heads of security of the judiciary and diplomatic security division.

President Maithripala

Sirisena, who was out of the country on Sunday, had ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in October and dissolved the Cabinet. The Supreme Court later reversed his actions, but the prime minister has not been allowed into meetings of the Security Council since October, which meant he and his government were in the dark about the intelligence.

It was not immediately clear what action, if any, was taken after the threats.

Authorities said they knew where the group trained and had safe houses, but did not identify any of the suicide bombers, whose bodies were recovered, or the two dozen other suspects taken into custody.

All the bombers were Sri Lankans, but authorities said they strongly suspected foreign links, Senaratne said.

Also unclear was a motive. The history of Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka, a country of 21 million including large Hindu, Muslim and Christian minorities, is rife with ethnic and sectarian conflict.

In the civil war, the Tamil Tigers, a powerful rebel army known for using suicide bombers, was crushed by the government and had little history of targeting Christians. While anti-Muslim bigotry fed by Buddhist nationalists has swept the country recently, there is no history of Islamic militancy.

NORTH KOREA’S KIM TO MEET PUTIN AT CRUCIAL DIPLOMATIC MOMENT SOUTH KOREA Associated Press NORTH Korea confirmed Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un will soon visit Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin in a summit that comes at a crucial moment for tenuous diplomacy meant to rid the North of its nuclear arsenal.

North Korea has so far not got what it wants most from the recent flurry of high-level summitry between Kim and various world leaders — namely, relief from crushing international sanctions. There are fears that a recent North Korean weapon test and a

series of jibes at Washington over deadlocked nuclear negotiations mean that Pyongyang may again return to the nuclear and longrange missile tests that had many in Asia fearing war in 2017.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency released a terse, two-sentence statement saying Kim “will soon pay a visit to the Russian Federation,” and that he and Putin “will have talks.” A date for the meeting was not released, and it wasn’t clear if Kim would fly or take his armored train. There are some indications the meeting will be held this week in the far-eastern port of Vladivostok, not too far from Russia’s

border with the North. The Kremlin said in a brief statement last week that Kim will visit Russia “in the second half of April,” but gave no further details.

It’s not clear how — or even if — Putin will push the stalled nuclear talks along, and the visit may have more to do with each nation’s economic interests. Russia is interested in gaining broader access to North Korea’s mineral resources, including rare metals. Pyongyang, for its part, covets Russia’s electricity supplies and wants to attract Russian investment to

modernize its dilapidated industrial plants, railways and other infrastructure.

Kim, pictured below, and President Donald Trump have had two summits, but the latest, in Vietnam in February, collapsed because North Korea wanted more sanctions relief than Washington was willing to give for the amount of disarmament offered

by Pyongyang.

For a leader often perceived by foreign media as isolated, Kim has had a remarkable string of summits, meeting with the leaders and other senior

officials of South Korea, China, Vietnam and Singapore. He has also sent his deputies to Washington and received Trump’s lieutenants in Pyongyang as part of nuclear talks.

But Kim’s patience appears to be wearing thin. The North last week announced that it had tested what it called a new type of “tactical guided weapon.”

While unlikely to be a prohibited test of a medium- or long-range ballistic missile that could scuttle the negotiations, the announcement signaled the North’s growing disappointment with the diplomatic breakdown.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, April 23, 2019, PAGE 15

DISNEY ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME FOR FEMALE CADETS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net DISNEY Cruise Line (DCL) has announced an all-female scholarship arrangement with the LJM Maritime Academy, permitting female cadets with leadership aspirations an opportunity to enrol in a three-year programme.

The move was disclosed in a press statement on Thursday, as a part of a collection of new initiatives the cruise line has undertaken across the region.

DCL said it is aiming to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the maritime industry, insisting its new youth programmes are designed to empower girls and young women to pursue careers in the cruise industry and chart a course for success.

Beginning this year, DCL said it will sponsor four scholarships at the LJM Maritime Academy for female cadets who aspire to be ship captains and shipboard leaders.

The scholarships, one for each of the ships in DCL’s fleet, will include tuition to the three-year programme,

two years of study at the academy and one year of service aboard a DCL ship.

Jeff Vahle, DCL president said: “Our Disney characters have a unique ability to inspire and connect with children, and we know Captain Minnie will encourage young girls around the world to consider a career in the maritime industry.”

He added: “We are excited to work with LJM Maritime Academy to offer scholarships for young women who are pursuing their passions and following their dreams in our industry.”

DCL joins Royal Caribbean International as scholarship sponsors at the LJM Maritime Academy.

Royal Caribbean in January announced that two graduates from the institution - Shante Pearson and Trevon Ferguson - were awarded scholarships for American Caribbean (Maritime Foundation) programmes.

The two students graduated with a diploma, one year beneath a bachelor’s degree, with the scholarship covering housing and tuition.

TREE TRIMMING LIKELY TO CAUSE ROAD DELAYS BAHAMAS Power and Light has warned that traffic delays are expected when it starts its tree trimming exercise today to prepare the route its teams will take to transport engines for its new $95m power plant at Clifton Pier.

BPL teams will travel west along West Bay Street from Arawak Cay to Baha Mar Boulevard, then along Baha Mar Boulevard to JFK, then from JFK to West Street, then along West Street to Serenity Gardens, then through Serenity to Nelson Road and finally along Nelson Road to West Street to Clifton Pier Power Station.

The tree trimming is expected to take approximately one week to complete.

“Preparations continue for the installation of the new 132 megawatt power plant at Station A of Bahamas Power and Light Company Ltd’s Clifton Pier

Power Station,” the power provider said in a brief statement on Thursday.

“The newest round of preparation is the tree-trimming operation set to begin Tuesday, April 23, and BPL is warning that there will be some traffic disruptions due to these works.

“Beginning on Tuesday, trees overhanging the route along which the seven new Wärtsilä 50DF multi-fuel engines and generators will be transported will be trimmed back or, where necessary, removed.

“BPL has contracted Enviroscope 2000 to carry out the exercise, and has assured the public that none of the trees affected are of any ‘protected’ species.”

Last week BPL said the seven multi-fuel engines are expected to arrive in the capital on May 4 and will take 23 days to be placed.

It added that the engines are to be commissioned in late summer.

PAGE 16, Tuesday, April 23, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

EASTER FUN

EASTER Monday Fun Day at the Adventure Learning Centre yesterday.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff