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VOLUME:116 No.89, MAY 2ND, 2019
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CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS
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TALKING TOUGH Carnival warned criminal actions will be paid for By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net TRANSPORT and Local Government Minister Renward Wells said yesterday the Attorney General’s Office is assessing the extent of criminality attached to sewage and food waste discharged from Carnival’s vessels in Bahamian waters. The government will also seek compensation or recompense if it finds damage was done, Mr Wells said yesterday. He said an accelerated investigative process is now underway in an effort to make decisions. Mr Wells stressed the government’s firm positions, including that no ship entering this country’s waters should discharge anything harmful, adding the environment and waters will not be compromised and all ships
passing through will be held in all respects to the highest international standards. Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, the minister outlined the government’s multi-fold response to Carnival’s actions, which were revealed last month in a report by a United States court appointed monitor. It covered Carnival’s actions from the period April 2017 to April 2018. During that time Carnival ships dumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of treated sewage and more than 8,000 gallons of food waste in Bahamian waters, the report revealed. “The bottom line for us is two-fold: no ship privileged to enter Bahamian waters should discharge anything harmful into our waters. Our environment, our waters, will
CARNIVAL Corporation has again explained its discharge of treated sewage in Bahamian waters, releasing a statement that also highlighted its planned construction of a port facility in Grand Bahama and its productive relationship with The Bahamas. Leading environmentalist Joseph Darville said the corporation’s explanations are not satisfactory, however, and
SEE PAGE THREE
OFFICER DREW GUN ON DRUNK MARINE
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
‘IT’S TIME TO RELAX THE RULES ON CANNABIS’
SEE PAGE THREE
that the multi-billion-dollar corporation should apologise for what happened something which was missing from their lengthy statement yesterday. A recently released US court mandated report highlighted several instances when Carnival ships released treated sewage and food waste within The Bahamas’ archipelagic zone. Carnival has faced intense criticism following the revelations.
L SOUR CE
THE Royal Bahamas Defence Force has launched an internal investigation into reports a marine was forced to draw his gun on another officer in an altercation at Prince George Dock yesterday. A RBDF press officer yesterday stated: “There was a minor incident at the port facility but we are looking into it now.” No further details were confirmed by the RBDF; however, an internal police report logged on the matter made its rounds on social media yesterday. According to that report, a marine reported for duty drunk and made death threats towards a specific officer, and other marines present. SEE PAGE SEVEN
...AS SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
$1
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
TAKING ON THE WORLD REPRESENTING ELEUTHERA, Nyah Bandelier, above, is one of eight beauties vying to be Miss Bahamas World. The 2019 contestants were unveiled last Sunday and this year’s queen will be crowned on May 26. Full coverage in Tribune Weekend out tomorrow. Photo/MBO
EXUMA and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday called on the government to immediately expunge the records of people convicted of possession of small amounts of marijuana. Mr Cooper said officials needed to re-examine the law concerning the quantity of drugs that met the “intent to supply” threshold, characterising the status quo as a “failed” policy. He reiterated his full support of the legalisation of medical marijuana, and expanded his position to include the SEE PAGE SEVEN
CHURCHES BLAST ‘VULGAR’ CARNIVAL
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Christian Council yesterday trashed Carnival’s Road Fever event as revellers gear up for this year’s weekend of festivities. Christian Council president Bishop Delton Fernander said “reported” displays of lecherous conduct represents a moral stain on the country. He
BISHOP DELTON FERNANDER fears activities involving people who wear “little clothing” will lead to sexual
violence or other violent confrontations because young men “may not be able to handle seeing their female friend in sexual contact with other men on the streets”. Bishop Fernander’s statement drew rebuke from many across social media yesterday. Now in its fifth year, Bahamas Carnival’s popular Road Fever parade will take place on Saturday.
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
SEE PAGE FIVE
MEMORIES OF A BRAVE MAN OF HONOUR
SEE PAGE 12
PAGE 2, Thursday, May 2, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands with Disney executives at Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday.
Disney executives tour PMH pediatric services
MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands led executives from Walt Disney Company and Disney Cruise Lines on a tour of Princess Margaret Hospital’s pediatric services yesterday. The Health Minister apprised the group on improvement works earmarked for the southern corridor of the Children’s Ward, pointing out the critical need for major upgrades to the roof, ceiling, electrical and air conditioning systems. The upgrades, he noted are part of the Public Hospitals Authority’s objective to ensure that PMH’s pediatric services meet all
regional and international standards. Dr Sands also led a tour through the accident & emergency department where he informed the group about the progress of the ongoing urgent & emergency care project. A stop was also made at the pediatric emergency unit and asthma bay, before the Disney group visited the critical care block’s neonatal intensive care unit. Leading the representatives from Disney was Jeff Vahle, President of Disney Signature Experiences. Other members of the delegation included Kim Prunty, Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, Zenia Mucha, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer and Elissa Margolis, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Social Responsibility, of the Walt Disney Company. In 2018, Disney announced a five-year, global commitment of $100 million to help reimagine the patient journey in children’s hospitals through its signature philanthropic initiative, Disney Team of
Heroes. The company’s interest in the improvement projects at PMH stems from Disney’s long-standing charitable commitment to children facing serious illness and their families, which goes back to founder Walt Disney. PHA Managing Director, Catherine Weech, PMH Hospital Administrator (Actg) Sonia Rose, Consultant Pediatric Oncologist at PMH, Dr Corrine Cinquee-Brown, and Nicholas Reece, a member of the Public Hospitals Authority’s Board of Directors, joined the Minister for the tour. Following the tour, the Minister met with the Disney team to briefly discuss how the organisation could potentially help with the important projects earmarked for pediatric services at PMH. The Disney representatives expressed to the Minister that following the tour at PMH, they would be touring two of the public clinics in Eleuthera and are in discussions to support upgrades to those health facilities.
PROTEST AGAINST JOINING WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION
ONE of the protesters at Rawson Square yesterday. DOZENS of protestors gathered in Rawson Square yesterday to show they rejected the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. A spokesperson for the group, Kendal Colebrook, admonished those gathered to study WTO’s ramifications. He called WTO “the enemy” to the country and its citizens, adding that to join would allow foreigners to capitalise on Bahamian assets.
Mr Colebrook said the government’s decision to join WTO showed it did not care about Bahamians. In early April, a government delegation, headed by Brent Symonette, minister of financial services, trade and industry and immigration, and Zhivargo Laing, the chief WTO negotiator, went to Geneva for the fourth Working Party meeting on the Bahamas’ accession bid.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 3
from page one
Cruise liner warned it will have to pay for any criminal actions
not be compromised. Our turquoise blue waters, shipping lanes and ocean belong to the people of the Bahamas and we will assure their protection. “All ships trading in or passing through Bahamian waters will be held in all respects to the highest international standards of conduct. “This is our bottom line. No compromise.” Mr Wells said the government’s reaction entailed numerous approaches. He continued: “So what are we doing about this? The government of The Bahamas has responded very rapidly to this news. “We have asked the Bahamas Maritime Authority along with the Port Department and all relevant agencies to immediately investigate any and all discharges from vessels in Bahamian waters; to promptly report regarding such discharges; to assess any environmental
damage that might have been caused and to make recommendations as to best practices across the board. “We have communicated with Carnival on several occasions to elicit clarification and substantiation regarding any and all incidents concerning the Bahamas.” Mr Wells said the government has now received two records from Carnival. One was a description
of all incidents caused by Carnival’s vessels in Bahamian waters, regardless of registry. The other was a description of all incidents caused by Carnival group Bahamas registered vessels regardless of location. Both encompass year one – April 2017 to April 2018 — of Carnival’s US court operational audit and year two of the audit, spanning from April 2018 to
last month. Mr Wells told parliamentarians that officials were also processing, cross-referencing and investigating this information using all resources. And on Monday, he said a joint task force meeting was held to establish coordination among ministries and government entities in what he called an accelerated investigative process. Mr Wells said the government will ensure the
RENWARD WELLS
interests of the country, its people and precious marine resources are in all aspects protected. “We will institute whatever systems and controls are necessary to secure our interests and particularly in these circumstances to seek compensation or recompense for any damage which may be found to have been caused to the ecosystem, waters and fisheries,” he said.
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: ONE OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION’S CRUISE SHIPS
...AS SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD FOR CARNIVAL
from page one
Its statement yesterday said: “We are always committed to being in compliance, and often our internal policies are even more restrictive than applicable regulations. For example, MARPOL regulations require that discharges occur greater than three miles from land while our policies dictate 12 miles. “In 2017, the improper discharges cited in the recent news articles all occurred beyond 12 miles. All cases were self-identified and self-reported and followed established and accepted reporting protocol. All discharges from our ships were fully treated prior to release, posing no threat or harm to the marine environment based on independent studies. We have over a thousand transits annually in the Bahamas. Those 2017 incidents represented a very small fraction of the total transits for that year. Since the end of 2017, there has only been one instance of an improper discharge, again self-identified and self-reported. However, we feel even one incident is one too many.” Under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), “nearest land” refers to the baseline from which territorial sea of a state is established. While Carnival says it released sewage beyond 12 nautical miles of any physical land in The Bahamas, the company does not say it released sewage beyond 3 nm of The Bahamas’ archipelagic baseline, which would be
necessary to comply with MARPOL regulations. “Since the very first days of our venture in the cruise industry,” the corporation said, “Carnival has held the islands, waters and people of the Bahamas in special regard…Today, we are entering into an exciting new era in this partnership with the construction of Carnival’s largest private port facility anywhere in the world in Grand Bahama. This is expected to create up to 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for Bahamians. A unique cruise destination, the food, beverage and retail offerings will be 100 percent operated by Bahamian companies and when the facility opens, we believe the potential for spin-off enterprise will be enormous. Meanwhile, the launch of our new Excel-class of ships
means that Carnival will be capable of bringing a much higher volume of passengers than ever before to Nassau, Grand Bahama and other ports of call, stimulating economic activity and generating countless opportunities for Bahamians. Carnival is committed to The Bahamas and will always be extremely grateful to its people for allowing us to showcase the country’s unique natural wonders
to so many people from around the world. We regard this as a very special, mutually beneficial relationship.” Mr Darville, chairman of Save the Bays, said yesterday that sewage “shouldn’t be dumped anywhere”. “It should be brought into a port and whatever mechanisms are in place to dispose of it, it should be done in that particular manner,” he said. “They
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should be apologising for what they did and I thought to a certain extent they recognised the wrong they did and that they will do all in their power to correct it. Any black water, it does not matter if it’s 12 or 20 miles out, shouldn’t be released. And how do we know it was 12 miles away from any land area? They would have to give you a GPS indication of exactly where they dumped it and
until we see that all we will know is it was dumped in our territorial waters. We have a meeting on Friday with Carnival dealing with the Grand Port and I’m sure these matters are going to come up. As an environmentalist and someone seriously concerned about our ocean, I need to know from them that they are conscientious about anything they do near or in our waters.”
PAGE 4, Thursday, May 2, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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A legacy to live up to TOO often in this column, we lift our pen to criticise – with justification – many of those who fill our political landscape today. Too often, there are stunts being carried out for attention, or a failure to fulfil even the most basic functions of governance. To pick one, let’s look at the PLP, whose MPs seem to pop up at the drop of a hat and march themselves out of Parliament, often enough that we’ve previously suggested fitting a revolving door on the building for them. Or another – how about the failure of the FNM government to table Heads of Agreements in a timely manner, or the environmental impact assessments to go with them? Let’s look at the Public Accounts Committee, which has singularly failed to hold anything to account for more than one government’s term and which seems mired in political gamesmanship rather than any real desire to find ways to improve our nation. Pick your own unresolved matter – be it questions over letters of intent, a Prime Minister who fails to live up to his promises on quarterly press briefings, an Opposition leader who shrugs his shoulders and says it was nothing to do with him when unfavourable subjects crop up about the government in which he served as Deputy Prime Minister. You’ll have your own topic of choice, we’re sure. This is the country we live in – but turn to page 12 today and you’ll find the story of one of the men who helped
build the nation to give us the opportunity to strive to be better than we are. It is now 50 years since Donald Bruce McKinney CBE was lost at sea, a man who stood for equal rights in our country. It is easy to run with the crowd, to do what suits your friends and your party, to go along to get along. It is hard to take a stand, but it is those who take a stand who make the most difference. Mr McKinney said it well when he stood alongside Sir Etienne Dupuch in the House of Assembly in 1956 and spoke out in favour of equality: “It is wrong that a man who is willing to die for his country should be discriminated in the very country for which he is prepared to die. It is wrong, Mr Speaker. It is wrong.” How many of our modern politicians can you say with complete certainty will speak out when they see something is wrong? Not asking whose party a thing will benefit, not asking if it will favour friends, family or lovers? How many could learn something from the bravery of Donald McKinney? His strength helped to change our nation for the better. He helped to bring down the barriers that kept our people divided. We hope our leaders – and our future leaders – read his story today and consider what it took for him to stand up to his peers and say “No”. Our nation must have leaders who do not seek advantage for themselves, but rather a benefit for all. That is a legacy that Mr McKinney would deserve.
Beware a different dumping Copying America of sewage not the way to go EDITOR, The Tribune JUST why can’t this Hubert A Minnis government ever get a public relations occasion right? Copy of the US President and The White House traditional Easter Egg Hunt Minnis not to be outdone in his deliberate Americanisation programme organises an Easter Egg Hunt on the grounds of OPM. His Health Minister - his Chair of NHI must have AFTER officials from the Ministry of Environment and Housing called for business owners to reach out to the ministry to be educated on the impending 2020 ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam, readers posted their reactions on tribune242.com. Tell_it_like_it_is said: “Yeah, I think this is a good thing. The recent study that showed just how much microscopic plastic materials are now within Bahamian waters . . . which now adds to the illegal dumping of waste materials, along with the uptick in cancers and other illness - we have to take a more serious look at environmental impact studies. “Every other day it seems like they are opening a beached marine animal to find it died from consuming 40lbs of plastic, or 20lbs, etc. When the sea creatures are consuming these dangerous materials and then we consume the sea creatures, this is a recipe for disaster. I hope this truly comes to fruition,
flipped as the Minister of Health is constantly telling us cut back on sugar and the Chair of NHI wants a Sugar tax…but the Most Honourable seems not to agree with either but the level of diabetes sky rockets and obesity in our young people gets larger and larger. Budget around the corner…is the sugar tax included because if it is this certainly will explain just why the massive election support the FNM received
even though it may seem inconvenient initially.” Well_mudda_take_sic had this to say: “This is long overdue but will achieve very little if it does not also apply to all hotels and cruise ships that operate anywhere in our country.” Islandboy242242 posted this comment: “Get the official info released by Cabinet then people can get an educated look at the specifics of the ban. As with the previous VAT changes, no sense speaking in generalities until the official docs are approved. On a similar note, why is the new breadbasket list such a great secret? The Minister said he has the changes but is waiting to announce in the House, if there’s no more consultation then pass it, give the people the documents so they can prepare.” John said: “Japan is one
was not for their achieving it, it was because the People had their time and kicked Perry Gladstone Christie out, including out of Centreville…yes it was the People’s Time not electing the FNM and Minnis,, but kicking Christie and the PLP. Da, does anyone in the FNM knows what they are doing? W THOMPSON Nassau April 28, 2019 of the few countries that recycle styrofoam, simply because they have immediate use for the recycled product, in car bumpers, electronics or for additional packaging. And fishing crates. The banning of styrofoam for single use will benefit the health of Bahamians who still put this product containing their food in the microwave. “Other plastics are more easily recyclable, but there is little or no profit in recycling unless there is mass production like in China or Japan and the recycled product can easily reach the industrial areas. “But is the world ready to give up single-use plastic and styro completely? Imagine the strain this will put on forests and the potential for deforestation. And of course, it will drive up the prices of other wood-based products including furniture (okay, that’s mostly plastic anyway) and in a few years after the ban, the world will rethink the use of plastic.” Join the debate on tribune242.com.
EDITOR, The Tribune RECENTLY, the government and many in our nation have expressed outrage upon learning that Carnival Corporation cruise ships dumped almost 500,000 gallons of sewage in Bahamian waters in 2017, and rightly so. However, there has been little to no outcry against the dumping of moral sewage into the moral water table of our nation by the Christie-led PLP government’s introduction of carnival that has taken place for the past four years. And barring divine intervention, for the fifth year the dumping of moral sewage will continue this weekend when carnival participants take to our streets and public spaces in pornographic displays of public nudity, brazen vulgarity, unbridled debauchery, and wanton lawlessness. And what’s worse is as they break our laws governing public nudity, public drunkenness, public nuisance, littering, and road safety, the police will look on, and in some cases aid and abet them in doing so. Imagine having members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force using their sea craft to escort and protect Carnival Corporation’s cruise ships on escapades through Bahamian waters, facilitating and permitting them to dump actual sewage. That would be scandalous and outrageous. Yet, in a moral sense, that’s exactly what members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force do with carnival: they escort and protect carnival participants on our streets and public spaces and facilitate and permit them to dump moral sewage into
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net our moral water table. And many are ignorant of or indifferent to effect of this facilitated public moral pollution. I know some will ignorantly say that I’m trying to impose my morality on others. I’m not. I’m simply advocating for commonsense considerations and government controls for how we conduct ourselves in shared space. The government has a duty to uphold our public decency and other laws, not facilitate the breaking of them. Why are carnival participants permitted to do as they please on public streets and public spaces and break our laws? As I’ve said before, the fairest solution is to allow them to take their pornographic parades and concerts to private property where they can debase themselves in private, and those who wish to view such debasement can join them. But for the government to permit such vulgar conduct on our streets and public spaces is not governing; it is a dereliction of duty. It is also troubling to see legitimate corporations like BTC fund carnival and all that it represents. Surely, BTC can find worthy causes to fund that will build up The Bahamas, not break it down, and I trust that they see the wisdom in discontinuing their support of carnival. BTC and other legitimate companies should leave the funding of carnival to illegitimate companies like the numbers houses (my view
of them). Let them use their easy come, easy go slush fund which they heartlessly amass from the needy and greedy who gamble. The truth is that while we need to be greatly concerned about Carnival’s dumping of actual sewage, we need to be equally concerned about carnival’s dumping of moral sewage. However, as the government has foreshadowed passing laws to protect our natural environment, the concerns about actual sewage dumping from Carnival Corporation will go away. However, unless and until the government similarly sees the need to protect our moral environment, in terms of how citizens are allowed to conduct themselves in shared public space, the moral sewage which carnival is once again poised to dump in our moral water table will continue to fuel our descent to national disgrace, something that cannot be fixed a better economy. Once again, those of us who belong to Jesus Christ need to pray that God will give our leaders the courage to lead and make the hard decisions for the common good and not just for the good of a few who enjoy the moral cesspool of carnival and are insistent that they enjoy it on public streets and in public spaces. And let us pray that God will grant us national repentance, remembering the unchanging truth that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). PASTOR CEDRIC MOSS Nassau April 29, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 5
A ticking time bomb Churches blast ‘vulgar’ carnival and claim it threatens young women from page one “Before the first staging of what was then ‘Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’ several years ago, the Bahamas Christian Council expressed serious concern about the introduction of this type of event into our country and strongly warned of the potential harm that we could be exposing our young people especially our young women to,” Bishop Fernander wrote in a statement yesterday. “Since its inception, Bahamas Carnival continues to challenge the moral, ethical, cultural traditions and practices of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas most especially the principles enshrined within our constitution which promotes the foundation of our nation as a country of ‘Christian values,’ the spirit of ‘industry’ and a commitment to the ‘rule of law’. “The band owner’s association now organises and stages their ‘Road Fever’ event comprised with individuals wearing very little clothing, consuming alcohol from various mobile open bars and performing sexual acts on one another throughout the streets of New Providence. “The reports are some of these Road Fever participants who make up various groups, openly perform vulgar and sexual acts while becoming intoxicated during their parade route throughout our streets and at times in front of young children and the elderly. “We believe that Bahamas Carnival most especially road fever is a
direct contradiction and an affront to our national values, Christian principles and social decency and order. “We strongly condemn this open display of sexuality, nudity, open consumption of alcohol and indecency associated with this event. We also further state our deep concern for the safety of our young people, especially our young women during these Carnival events.” The bishop’s statement continued: “With a mixture of men and women flaunting near naked bodies, engaging in sexual contact with event participants and the open flow of alcohol, we stand with others who believe this event has the potential to lead to sexual violence, rape and other violent confrontation most especially between our young men who may not be able to handle seeing their female friend in sexual contact with other men on the streets. “Simply put, we believe that Bahamas Carnival Road Fever is a vulgar, sexually charged event which many believe is a serious ticking time bomb waiting to explode into a dangerous series of circumstances. Especially, as we as a nation seek to develop wholesome initiatives to correct so many of the social ills in our society. “We call on the all social stakeholders to take a serious look at the staging of Bahamas Carnival especially Road Fever to determine if this kind of event is what we want to allow on the streets of our country and to also
CHRISTIAN Council president Bishop Delton Fernander.
determine if the staging of Road Fever is in line with our laws regarding public nudity. We must also as a nation determine if this kind of event is beneficial to the health and well-being of our young people and to our national and cultural identity.” People disparaged the Christian Council for its statement on its Facebook page. “Dear BCC, no one cares what you think,” one person wrote.
FAMILY OF KILLED BUSINESSMAN CLAIM PLEAS WERE IGNORED By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net FAMILY and friends of slain Cuban-American and Bimini resident Alain Perez, 47, have maintained they volunteered to fly the victim off the island to a Florida hospital after he was shot — pleas they claim were “ignored” by Bahamian officials. However, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands yesterday described the offer to transport Perez unattended as “inappropriate”. Instead, Dr Sands reiterated air ambulances from Florida and Nassau “with appropriate staffing” were contacted, as he doubled down on his defence of local efforts to save Perez’s life. Dr Sands also said he is “satisfied” that Perez’s care was “appropriately managed”. Dr Sands made these remarks during his contribution in the House of Assembly yesterday. Perez, a father-of-three and owner of Big John’s Bar and Grill in Bimini, was shot and killed Sunday around 1am. Describing the incident, Perez’s roommate told police the victim heard reportedly knocking at the door of his condo and when he opened it, he was shot multiple times in torso by a mystery assailant. The murder has shocked Perez’s relatives, friends, and community. Jose Perez, son of the victim, told South Florida’s NBC 6 that his family attempted to airlift his father, but were not assisted by Bahamian officials. “Jose Perez said the
family had put down a $100,000 deposit to have his father airlifted, and had worked out a back-up plan to have the US Coast Guard pick him up at sea, but Bahamas authorities didn’t help the rescue effort,” according to the NBC report. Mr Perez told the station: “Coast Guard said ‘if you can get him on a boat, get him five or six miles out, we will be able to pick him up. The police over there were not allowing that, they were
ALAIN PEREZ saying they have orders. Until they were given the okay they were not going to release him. There’s two planes that were ready to go, the helicopter, they were not giving them permission.” Mariana Cancio, a Miami attorney who described Perez as a “friend of the family”, expressed similar sentiments to the Miami Herald. “She said her son-in-law and his family were in Alice Town when Perez was shot and that Bahamian authorities at the clinic where he died ignored pleas for up to three hours to fly Perez to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami,” the Herald article reports. Dr Sands responded to these allegations in
the House of Assembly yesterday. “I wish to address erroneous reports about the quality of health care that Mr Perez received at the clinic in Bimini, and the mischaracterisation of the clinic as inadequate,” Dr Sands said. “At the clinic, Mr Perez received Advanced Trauma Life Support treatment, which is used by medical providers in the management of acute trauma cases. All efforts to seek specialist care were made. “The offer to transport Mr Perez unattended in an airplane on the ramp without medical staff was inappropriate, and therefore air ambulances from Florida and Nassau with appropriate staffing were contacted.” Dr Sands reiterated the clinic in Alice Town, Bimini is “well-equipped and modern” and offers services that are “appropriate” for the community. “The clinic is also staffed by a full-time Bahamian board-certified physician, supported a qualified medical team,” he added. “The facility is comparable to the facilities serving small communities in most countries.” Dr Sands noted Perez “presented in shock” from the multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries “less than two hours after his arrival at the clinic”. He added Perez’s body was flown to Nassau and an autopsy was set to be performed yesterday. He offered condolences to Perez’s family and underscored the situation is under active investigation by the Bahamian police.
“I need this same energy for the convicted child sex offender who now has a new church,” another person wrote. “Thanking you in advance. Side note if parents know of this socalled vulgarity, it’s on them to not have their children see this.” “Not everyone in the Bahamas is a Christian,” wrote someone else. “Also, Junkanoo gets violent every year - women are constantly sexually harassed there with
sweaters on. When you guys decide to start addressing and actually helping with real issues, instead of always bashing people for having fun and dealing with life in their own way, then you’ll start making sense. This makes absolutely no sense, and it’s organisations behaving like you are, in this post, that have kept this country down for decades. Please get a real message that actually helps people because this joke is old, and stale.”
Carnival this year is sponsored by BTC, Commonwealth Brewery Limited, the Grand Hyatt, Baha Mar, Superclubs Breezes and Bahamasair. It was previously heavily subsidised by the government and was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Perry Christie, who modelled it after similar events in the Caribbean. The first Bahamas Carnival event was launched in 2015.
PAGE 6, Thursday, May 2, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
NEW CROWN LAND POLICY ON THE WAY By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
LAST night’s event was billed as a town hall for Fort Charlotte, Centerville, St Barnabas, Bain & Grants Town, Englerston and Mount Mariah constituencies. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
A NEW crown land policy that will be laid out in the upcoming budget exercise will give Bahamians unprecedented access to crown land, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis suggested yesterday. His statements came as he rallied supporters at the Edmund Moxey Park in a speech that touted the country’s recent economic growth while promising the administration won’t rest without focusing on “putting money in (people’s) pockets.” “We are initiating our new land reform project and you’ll hear a lot more about this in our new budget,” Dr Minnis said. “Essentially what this reform will do, there are many Bahamians who would’ve applied for crown land and were told that they’d be given ownership. Commencing after the budget, we’ll start with Inagua, move north, throughout the entire Bahamas, no island will be left out, all Bahamians who applied for crown land and had commenced instructions will be given their grants. Then after we’ve completed that throughout the entire Bahamas, we will commence phase two. All Bahamians who applied for grants and were promised grants will be given their land. And finally, we will commence phase three. We will encourage you to apply for crown land so that you can become a part of this new wealth we are about to give out. No Bahamian will be left behind.” Yesterday’s event was billed as a town hall for Fort Charlotte, Centerville, St Barnabas, Bain & Grants Town, Englerston and Mount Mariah constituencies but residents were never invited to ask questions. The event lasted nearly two hours, attracting a crowd of several hundred. Dr Minnis hit familiar themes throughout his speech, attacking Progressive Liberal Party leaders and accusing the PLP of corruption.
MP FOULKES DELIVERS DAMNING MINORITY REPORT By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
MINORITY government members of the Public Accounts Committee yesterday decimated the opposition’s argument that the Minnis administration has handicapped its ability to carry out its constitutional objective. Golden Gates MP Michael Foulkes read a stinging minority report
into the record of the House of Assembly yesterday showing how opposition members, who represent the majority on the committee, were attempting to execute a “song and dance” about current unedited accounts, which were not within the remit of the PAC rather than direct its focus on any of the 21 reports submitted by Auditor General Terrance Bastian since 2017. Many of these reports
highlight gross mismanagement and failures. Mr Foulkes said it was apparent that the Official Opposition was not determined to properly review matters that are within the remit of the PAC because such a review might confirm errors and breaches of the Financial Administration and Audit Act under the former Christie administration. The PAC’s minority consists of two government
members, including Mr Foulkes and Long Island MP Adrian Gibson. The majority members are Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis who is Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP; Chester Cooper, Exuma and Ragged Island MP, and Mangrove Cay and South Andros MP Picewell Forbes. The majority members say the Minnis administration has misinterpreted
former House Speaker Dr Kendal Major’s controversial 2015 ruling. Dr Major’s ruling effectively blocked the PAC’s investigation of a leaked audit report into Urban Renewal 2.0 at the time, and the government has since taken the position that it bars the committee from reviewing anything not brought to the House of Assembly by the auditor general. House members did not accept the majority report. A motion for members to stand in rejection was carried and the majority did so with the exception of Centreville MP Reece Chipman and Vaughn Miller, Golden Isles MP. Mr Chipman stood along with Mr Davis, Mr Cooper and Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin to reject the minority report. However, it was accepted by the House as majority members in Parliament supported it. Garden Hills MP Brensil Rolle was in the gallery at this point and did not contribute. Mr Miller also did not stand for the adoption of the minority report. Mr Foulkes said: “The said ruling by the Speaker of the House Dr Kendal Major dated Wednesday, May 13, 2015, indicates that he sought the advice of the law officers of the Crown which occurred previously, as early as 1943, regarding a similar matter. He requested advice on two specific questions; the first speaking to the issue, which is subject of this minority report and indeed the majority report. “The relevant question herein that he posed was as follows: is the PAC confined to examining only those documents which have been audited, tabled and referred to it? “The said ruling states that for the reasons given below, the answers to the questions which have been submitted by the honourable speaker as follows: the answer to the question whether the PAC is confined to examining only those documents which have been audited tabled and referred to it is yes, although it is not to be construed conjunctively. “The Speaker then states most emphatically ‘What is clear is that the PAC may only examine and report on documents which are before the House.’
MICHAEL FOULKES “The Speaker further states that the role and function of the PAC, like any other standing or select committee of the House is confined to the terms of reference which the House has given it and a select committee which purports to act outside the delineated are would be acting ultra vires. “The Speaker also states that the functions of the PAC and the category of documents which it may examine or report on are set out and relate to reports or financial statements which have been properly laid before the House pursuant to constitutional or statutory requirements or the procedural rules of the House. “And finally and most pointedly, the Speaker could not be clearer when he stated that as the audit report pursuant to which the PAC is purporting to exercise powers to send for persons and papers and records has in fact not been tabled or laid before the House, the PAC cannot take cognisance of it, nor exercise any of its investigative powers in respect of it, without a specific reference from the House by way of a resolution.” He continued: “As we indicated, the said ruling is clear, unambiguous, pointed and addressed the gravamen of the matter, the real and true issue at hand. “The Speaker left no real opportunity for any reasonable doubt as to the question, its answer having regard to the real, true and authentic issue at hand. “The PAC only has a legitimate function as to reports or financial statements or audited reports that have been laid before the House. “Clearly and undeniably, based on the Speaker’s ruling, the PAC has absolutely no other function. “To act otherwise, as the ruling states would be ultra vires.”
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 7
It’s time to relax the rules on cannabis, says Cooper
from page one
Mr Cooper’s remarks came after Health Minister Dr Duane Sands told Parliament there have been a number of confiscations at the nation’s border after his ministry met with Department of Customs officials and police over the influx of CBD and THC products hitting shelves locally. Dr Sands said confiscated samples tested by a police forensics team have revealed a lack of consistency in the content of products advertised to contain CBD, with some containing no CBD and others containing significant amounts of THC. For his part, the health minister urged Bahamians to be patient while the Bahamas Marijuana Commission completes its report as there is no guarantee of the safety and efficacy of products imported illegally. “We acknowledge the changing environment around us,� Dr Sands said, “however the law is neither gray uncertain nor nebulous. It is impossible to predict the outcome of our sovereign deliberations. And
decriminalisation of small amounts of recreational marijuana during his contribution in the House of Assembly. “For the life of me,� Mr Cooper said, “I don’t understand why we are still arresting and charging and criminalising young men with possession of small amounts of marijuana. “We’re giving these people criminal records and forcing them into the underworld as they can’t get jobs, can’t travel.� He continued: “What do we expect them to do but turn to crime when they can’t participate in the legitimate workforce? We have to address this as a Parliament and as a nation. “I support the legalisation of medical cannabis and decriminalising of small amounts of recreational marijuana. “That may not be a popular view in this place,� he added, “but that is my position. And no I have never smoked and neither have I inhaled.�
By FREDERICK SMITH, QC Rights Bahamas legal director
Time to grow up, Bahamas
while we encourage vigorous debate and participation in the process to affect desired change or to maintain the status quo, we enjoy a healthy democracy where contentious and controversial issues can be discussed and ventilated. In the meantime the public is urged to remain patient because it is through this process that nation building continues.� Dr Sands pointed to the nearly 50-year track to decriminalisation and legalisation policies in some US states that began with California’s first failed attempt in 1972. In the US, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level; however, medical marijuana is legal in 33 states, with recreational use legal in 10 states. “The Bahamas and Bahamians have also developed a keen interest in cannabis,� Dr Sands continued. “Simultaneously there has been an increased adoption of the use of products of the plants for various indications, including construction. “While we acknowledge
OFFICER DREW GUN ON DRUNK MARINE from page one
base and Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson. However Commissioner Ferguson told The Tribune police were not investigating the matter. The incident comes in the wake of the shock killing of veteran marine Petty Officer Philip Perpall, who was shot multiple times in his upper body and killed by his subordinate at Government House early Sunday.
An exchange of words followed, and the intoxicated officer allegedly charged at his colleague, who drew his service weapon in defence. According to the circulated report, the marine was subdued by several other officers and the matter was reported to the RBDF
According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames, the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s investigation into the killing is progressing and officers should be coming to the public in short order. Mr Dames said police were speaking to a number of people in connection with the incident, when asked if anyone was still in custody.
The Tribune Always uncovering more
R 29TH, 2017
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seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to South Aners’ dollars administration. glerston; 1,900 votes and San Salvador; Christie the win with is evidence 2017 the as well as Exuma By SANCHESKA A DORSETT Mr Christie’s 1,875. unofHe said if there�, the new dros VIRGIL ELECTION Islands. DORSETT By SANCHESK Reporter to the Tribune Staff Reporter By KHRISNA Reporter the same route as seat, Fox According the the Ragged of “criminality planned� even Tribune Staff net from the Parwill allow SPEAK An additional being resdorsett@tribunem Deputy Chief without the government’s ganiser Ranard Henfield ibunemedia. ficial results Registration government course. THE PEOPLE edia.net nemedia.net sdorsett@tr PAGE 4 was still permis- that “after revealed nounced its kvirgil@tribu sion. his Hill, law to take several weeks of last month that the to press time. and liamentary t, Mr Chipman after ON’ back planned a decounted up DESPITE being In an interview and forth� the Cabinet his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 march to mark the PLP IN a surprisingat the Departmen out of 12 pollwith The Tribdenied the as the na- This marked the worst in Office on anniversary AFTER leadinglandslide use of Rawson 50th defeat party won seven maiden speech Minand Parliament une, Mr Bostwick II said “there Wednesday rejected the group’s of Majority Rule. LOSE humbling leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former Squares ty to a stunning feat for a governing will be no compromise� application to protest for a protest This latest development Mr tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 dealing a parapolls, outgoing that under recent history. in Rawson and the and Parliaments Rule Day in January,on Majority group will “not is yet victory and to the ProgresChristie lost PLP stronghold, while will nis promised victory came MPS ister Perry Squares because another set back for the organiFNM’s blow Bahamians The won five. Bahamas organiser We March attempt towardbe deterred by this the “event lysing years the Centreville his watch, YOUR PROJECTED conflicts with another sation that planned to protest Party last night, fascist his seat in last night by Christie John Bost- and a rocky five PAGE 9 to fear from Mr Christie wick sive Liberal on y II said yesterday Monday, January the abuse of our coercion event� already booked challengIn 2012, have nothing , pointing to despite conPrime Minister constituenc representing the demon- constitutional 9 - the original rights and date. FAR included two for that observance incoming the Centrevillestration “will go on as planned, said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, the government RESULTS SO PAGE 14 freedoms�. Minnis declared date 25 votes aftermore than 40 won n, which he for the eighth on Dr Hubert es to abused In a post on Facebook, Progressive Majority Rule Day.announced for for of a fracstituency have “imvictimisatio with area who reports the E Liberal unoftime tional� to lead or- Chairman Party that those continued and ultimately However, earlier consecutive He defeated is “unconstitu MORE COVERAG Bradley Roberts of trust “have years, according party this month it “wrong�. PAGES 2-18 positions an- was announced the post 2,950 votes. moral� and to unofficial tured to fear�. ficial results. in Parliament that candidate Ella removal from has held Opsomething to thousands of According able his at the the Official Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s Speaking the FNM wasdefeat of leader of the House of by 1,349 votes at the Q ment House today. since all Lewis results, seat won that the the in a stunning pledged jubilant supporterslast night, Mr Christie leader of Dr Minnis ion will give to pull off securing a mas- position has been Liberal Party time. polling division in E Sports Centre ies. Assembly. but one of the PLP, administrat a long fought National MoveProgressive “This was victory is not the Free also announced his General Terranceit sive 34 of 39 constituenc ry Regthe since 1997. released a Prime 2012. he By ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources Parliamenta t did battle, but AVA yours,� former is Although The TURNQUEST loss, The the aboutTribune the islands of Bimini his seat to that he will fourth prime Bastianto probe how taxpay- istration Departmen re- mine - the victory thousands Chief Reporter Minister lost Movement statement didaturnquest@tribun and not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carEleuthera, bringing The Bahamas’ at Govern- needs Christie not release 5pm the toemedia.net tal Free National packed with the and po- Mr minister at to 25 confirmed SEE PAGE SIX sults last night, in from the of FNMs cases By SANCHESKA DORSETT (FNM) candidate Reece grounds. nationwide. time nival HEALTH newcomer numbers coming people’s officials Tribune Staff Reporter litical agency around “This is the “This is like a lull, terday urged residentsyesand I who secured government from the and I am your servant quiet sdorsett@tribunemedia.net Chipman, to period,� Dr remain vigilant McMillan 11pm. However it apagainst SEE PAGE THREE vironmental factors en- “We continue to get said. unofficial numbers, samFORT that ples as they the PLP only conbreedof the mosquitoes send them in for Dr Andre Charlotte MP peared that despite Rollins “The outcome the inspire “lull� intrust local transmis- testing but we have no fur- night that “there said last according to vention did not ther cases, which sioninofthe will be no theBahalast Zika virus. Mark Humes is good. disciplinary results, said coming afor confidenceDirector but that’s of Public Health We’re still monitoring and against the action� taken “obvious� mian electorate sweeping defeat residents unofficial seven doing our surveillance. Dr Pearl think that it is ROLLE tional Movement Free Nanow and IMcMillan yesterhave stood behind us day they night ter Fort Charlotte “I think we have By RASHAD Reporter MPs who told him party would wonderfulthat there has aconfirmed been ousted party winning the the party have repeatedly lead- the progressing well and Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance been no as it relates Hubert Minnis Leader Dr to rebuild nemedia.net new con- to could not he been victori- opportunity as leader rrolle@tribu getting the message firmed cases of the country per- election had since the deitself,� he said. leadership out the Official Opposition, of there and persons partment’s press for for- ership despite their beous in the PLP’sadding that reengineer heeding cause there is no release on it. SIX longer, him. AS HE called This Zika thing December legal basis THE REBEL SEVEN of, SEE PAGE RASPBERRY 5, which Minister Perry sonal affection for was pro- race in January, for such a move. made a mistake� mer Prime ard Lightbourn, Lorettafrom left, Hubert Chipman, Edison Key, the number of cases raised down in July, which came who ICED TEA “the party resign as leader is when RichMr Sears, He added that Butler-Turner, Neko in New we usually Mr Christie. Free NaChristie to Providence from a formal Andre Rollins. Liberal Grant, Theo Neilly, get our first case objection to lose to the (FNM) in choosing 22 and to Progressive jected 23. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune has been the Alof There is one case Movement’s last night, SEE PAGE SIX against “the bogus lodged solidify widespread support Staff each on the tional Party (PLP) FNM’s Executive said he saw levelled against himcharges� around a new leader.� Commitfred Sears tee would not have His remarks came six other members and the a case ment who took of Parlia- e-mail in response to in an because the group’s actions part ques- “were consistent action of removing in the tions from The Tribune. constitutionally with the Dr Rollins echoed nis from the post. Dr Minprotected Dr Rollins sentiments the said a growing of Long Island right of parliamentarians to number of MP recall a parliamentary FNMs are admitting Loretta lead“that and St Anne’sButler-Turner er when they the best course of MP Hubert confidence no longer have the party to take action for Chipman, who last in his/her ability under present circumstances the said the if the matter week to lead.� were is to to be taken to court, the SEE PAGE THREE
ALFRED SEARS URGES
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R N AS PARTY LEADE CHRISTIE TO RESIG
No.152, JUNE
30th, 2017
W
CRUNCH DAY OVER
Covering The Bahamas for . it must be abandoned as Hurri40 years. Island is so devastated on the island has
Ragged remained “Every home The Nobody Minnis warns with those whohomes last week. Does it Better! their NEW PROVIDENCE Minister Dr Hubert en Rag- discussion battered has been destroyed. GRAND BAHAMA facilityABACO has been health on storm-strick Min- cane Irma 242.394.5555 residence Prime ELEUTHERA destroyed. The 242.350.3500teachers’ There is no water. and safety conditions EXUMA to deteriorate, urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is 242.367.4204 no light. 242.332.3211 HEALTH the he smell242.336.2304 school will only continue destroyed. There about, you can yesterday as The in the afterged Island Minnis said to evacuate “As we walkcarcasses, dead animals. deister Dr Hubert on the island reduced will of dead stench(BAHAMAS) of the individuals remaining residentsIrma, which has REPORT LIMITED. INSURANCE we get them that of rubble and SPECIAL health conditions Russell, BROKERS & math of Hurricane it’s essential said. AGENTS there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey www.Insura nceManagem teriorate and most structures Dr Minnis entBahamas the only Pictures: Terrel island unlivable. Dr Minnis .com off this island,� reluctant to leave for rendered the stay here,� saw for the ably understand home, expressing concern “They cannot A1MAIN Many were and a delegation and days known as said after he damage left by Irma ripped through place they’ve ever the hurricane of their residences, first time Five monster will have about the safety personal belongings. behind. We Defence by the smell after the Category island. “They are concerned may have left exacerbated here and the the same of all es- whatever materials they the small southern physical condition, dispatch a vessel and at the destruction still The island’s carcasses andto strongly urge those can the Defence Forcecommence the cleanup said. animal Dr Minnis try to of rotting led Dr Minnis Force will that there is security,�Established small community SEE PAGE 1903THREE sential services, to leave until the time ensure Island has been on Ragged Ragged Island and be restored. to the residents; a walk through “I’ve spoken Minnis said following i’m lovin’ it! Dr devastated,� WIPEOUT: Prime
ROLLINS: NO LEGAL BASIS DISCIPLINING THE REBEL FOR SEVEN
PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR
the holiday would on the actual date be observed of the historic event, Tuesday, January The change in the 10. public holiday calendar has been perceived by many as an attempt by the government to strike success of a seconda blow to the event by We March Bahamas. SEE PAGE SIX
HUSBAND KILLED AFTER GUNMEN FORCED COUPLE TO STOP CAR By
SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunem edia.net CHIEF Superintendent Clayton Fernander, in-charge of the officerDetective Unit, Central drivers yesterday warned to tra cautious� after be “exmen forced a couple armed to stop their vehicle in the of the road before middle shooting and killing the driver. Chief Supt Fernander said police believe armed robbery may be the for the killing. He motive incident could havesaid the “happened to anyone�. The murder took place shorty after 9pm day in the area on Tuesof nium Gardens, off MillenWilliams Darling Tonique and brought the Highway, murder count to country’s 109 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
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By AVA TURNQUE ST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@t ribunemedia.n et WATER and Sewerage Corporation Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the existence of a “do not list populateddisconnect� by scores of elites at the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdown to on delinquent accounts. Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list� held “confidential 221account with a combined s, total of $175,000 for ending June the period 2017. He said that he plans to direct the corporation to notify all persons owing excessive arrears to resolve debts or face disconnecti on. “There is dential list,� a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think corporation over the last s year or two, and more particularly May of this in year, there has been tion paid toclose attenthat list by the managemen t with a view to changing the way those lists usually operate. “As it stands, this confidential list of persons has a number on it, and really and truly used to notify it’s being courtesy call persons by I can say too or letters. chairman of that as the the corporation I am going that all personsto direct excessive arrears owing who are SEE PAGE EIGHT
By RASHAD Tribune Staff ROLLE prepared. Reporter rrolle@tribu By SANCHESK During a nemedia.net A DORSETT address fromlive national Tribune Staff Reporter homicides WITH as his office sdorsett@tr the guarding the well as safeibunemedia. fore- last night, Dr cast for Hurricane net residents of Minnis Fox Hill. Maria said: “Hurricane projecting the ACTING Maria is Commission storm to pass another During a near the Southeast of Police Anthony potentially er walkabout dev- son Fergu- Fox Hill on Tuesday, Baha- astating hurricane in mas Friday morning, Prime must carefully that we the announced yesterday Commission Acting Minister Dr establishme Hubert Minnis Ferguson nt of two said the er He added: monitor.� is urging residents Though most separate Royal Anti-Gang Bahamas Firearms of those of the Bahamas and islands to was spared Police Force anti-crime tigation Tracing and Invesbe vigilant units aimed and Unit will operate SEE PAGE TWO gang activity at eliminating out of the Central Detectry, reducing in the coun- tive Unit (CDU) the number while the of SEE PAGE 11
INSURANCE MANAGE MENT
TUESDAY
Christie denies claims ong spendin
RS IN THE SPOT
OH, AND THERE’S AN ELITE WATER LIST TOO
LESLIE MILLER $42,219
WHO RUNS BPL
?
Seniors go big for
WEEK END: SENIO
The privileged
Revealed: on the eliteNames list and what they owe d
By AVA TURNQUE ST Tribune Chief officials could Reporter aturnquest@ not be reached up tribunemedia to .net According press time. FOUR former to sources Progres- close to the sive Liberal Party Cabinet Monday Mr matter, as of ministers owed Wells has since more than paid $9,000 on $20,000 each his accounts at Bahamas with an outstanding Power and Light, balformer minister with one ance of some $8,600. The source for some $60,000 in arrears also said as ARNOLD as of July, of Monday according to FORBES a list obtained in talks withMr Forbes was by The Tribune. $62,023 to settle the the company The Credit and Collec- a three-mont balance over tions Departmen h period. Mr MPs, senators t listing of Forbes, former PLP Mount and board Moriah MP, members for the period to Cabinet was appointed ending July in January that former 31, revealed and previously served 2015, State Minister chairman as the in the Ministry of the Bahamas Arnold Forbes of Works Agricultural and Industrial Corporation owed $62,023.14. BPL . Others on The list obtained the “do not Tribune contains by The disconnect� list are: former delin- Minister of Health quent accounts Perry of six Gomez, former Dr former PLP Cabinet minisPines MP Tall ters, two former Leslie Miller, PLP MPs, former Minister two private of one sitting entities, and Dr Danny Johnson, Youth former Cabinet min- Nassau Village ister: Bamboo MP Dion Renward Wells. Town MP Smith, former Tourism Minister Obie Mr Wells, Wilchcomb DR DANIEL e, $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach MP JOHNSON two separate $3,703.96 at Cleola Hamilton $24,413 $12,981.03 in locations - former Minister of and total – did not for Legal State want to comment Affairs Damian yester- Gomez. day, and the other former SEE PAGE EIGHT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business utility operator Editor nhartnell@tr ing to “walk is quite willibunemedia. away� from net maximum $25m, five-yearit BAHAMA BPL Light’s (BPL)S Power & if themanagement contract board and hold a “crunchboard will administrat Minnis ion with PowerSecur meeting� The meeting,wish it to go. with the outcome e today, be attended which will ical in deciding likely crit- executives by PowerSecur and their attorneyse latter remains whether the from the US, is viewed as manager. Multiple Tribune CLEOLA as key to determining Business sources whether HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up� or WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL separate. $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individuals $3,413 July. The sums named on the BPL “do HURRICANE not disconnect� do not include any payments list INSURANCE: made or furtherand the amount they owed at the end of debt incurred since that date. Are you Covered
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Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre has a tortured history, one of missed deadlines and claims of shoddy of- workmanship, all without GOVERNMENT clear accountability. ficials commissioned the any The facility’s original Marsh Harbour Healthwent bankrupt. care Centre in Abaco yes- contractor the of Construction THURSDAY, terday, touting it as a longDECEMBER began centre 29, 2016 awaited boost to the island healthcare the former Ingraham TheTribune PRICE – $1 (Family and the Christie adminis- under Islands $1.50) tration’s National Health administration. When the Christie adInsurance plans. came to power, Like the Child and Ado- ministration renovating the $" ) (0-% Ś $1m the new health centre in lescent and Robert Smith it spent PRIME Minister Perry Christie tours SEE PAGE SIX Abaco yesterday. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff (CARS) Complex that was commissioned last year, the
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FIREFIGHTERS yesterday battled a large blaze at the New Providence Landfill, nearly three weeks after tackling a massive fire at the city dump that burned for nearly a month. Officer in Charge of Fire Services, Chief Superintendent Walter Evans said the current fire is “not connected� in any way to the previous blaze and at this time officials do not know PRIME Minister what caused the fire. HowDr Hubert Minnis meeting ever Environment Minister Kendera Woodside, the mother of Kenred Dorsett told remurdered Eugene Woodside. he RASHAD porters at the siteBythat TribuneinStaff ROLLE suspected “sabotage� Three Reporter rrolle@tribu He said nemedia.net Photo: Yontalay after relation to the fire. murder that days the Bowe team he “instructed� the struggle withpushed the country’s composure. THE the hugs and have Dr Minnis said of firefighters towords comforting the national violent crime into he felt the fam- Each citizen has of Prime ily’s spotlight yet “before a responsibili blaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remained and again, even pain. “What makes Hubert ty our countries. Minnis and today and me feel has whatever information worse is that nomination day� “He ain’t even acute. Patricia we must bring Yes one most we see in Minnis couldn’this wife God,� Baha Mar’s live a life, certainly beforethe that forward. mother more than I feel for this the yard, of those These criminals my answer Mrs I can say.� questions Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that consumed “He’s a baby. Woodside cried. my years as a medicalI, during Mrs Minnis, live among us.� said he will Kendera shortly Woodside yesterday medical attention doctor, to ensure The blaze started breath right I could give my the family who emphasised Mrs she grieved is provided andfor as baby now just for that her appearWoodside, after 3am Wednesday to her son, eightance to year-old my who before be right here. is pregnant. said officEugene, who “You can see Chief Supt Evans They take political move,them was not a was killed my heart out my four theago. the grieving fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through,� and “This my “Why but daythese only son. for at least another he people almost in mourning one day this week said. “I assured her They ing a “huge� that somefor murder time today they bringing ain’t tell- and theyshoot my daughter he said the wind isme victims. “As (Friday) too right now?� a mother, I’m my son inside medical personnel we will have factor. she cried between calling me. What they (the house) with all mothers screams come do to my family? because I upon after her as SIX SEE PAGE Dr Minnis believe mothers because she’sto look really console the tried to What they do to us? would’ve delivered nant. can family at their “Why they most of them said Mrs Minnis, who stop this,� her I have to make surepregbud Road home where Rose- live 29 years, ain’ carry me? I so they are closer to me knowing at times. “We have was tearful both and her unborn infant that was shot by Eugene they are my He’s a baby.� our sons who well and are former patients,� a stray bullet we cradle Tonio Woodside, Monday as Minnis, a gynaecolog on father, arrangemen we will also make Dr become from birth and as he did his homework. Eugene’s ts to make they consoled ist by men we are fession, said. sure the as he struggled his wife even still with necessary medical “The messagepro- them. We have personnel we them. to speak with look after her to maintain must send to the entire I think all is the police Bahamas women should regular basis and see her on a can’t fight this wear alone. and black one day this of her and herto ensure the safety week mourn what’s unborn infant.� happening in SEE PAGE TWO PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts lashed out at his former party colleague Vincent Peet last night, accusBy NEIL HARTNELL ing the former North AnTribune Business so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP Editor by the Caribnhartnell@tr bean Financial ibunemedia. of being a “political enemy� net Action Task By RASHAD ROLLE Force’s (CFATF) Tribune Staff THE Attorney who mounted an independreIn June, Reporter ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@tribu Gen- report on The he told Pareral yesterday ent campaign because he Sciliament nemedia.net quest from Minister of Education, slammed that he instructed Bahamas the nomination a deficiencies denied was cost Bahamians to ence and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald. BRENSIL anti-money in the nation’s to begin work on his staff of from the governing party. Rolle, min- increases such addressing ister laundering the flaws from was $10,149,738 of public regime as Speaking to PLP supfor Limolink in The The revision . “entirely unacservices and clientele with which his agent Mr Bethel early June. ceptable�, warning You are encour- porters at a rally in North blasted the said National Insurance, he included comes after limousine company was fa- Bahamas. between put The Bahamas they had former Christie more aged to get a reference from Andros last night, Mr Robmiliar. “in great tration for failing adminis- 2016 and May December 1,700 workers that werethan if erts said “this is war� as danger�. 2017, the in his original not regard the the president of Viacom “Also withA1MAIN known weaknesses to tackle public purse count. Carl Bethel wish. Please feel free he urged the crowd to vote ballooned Amid the told Trib- necessary urgency. with the $16,532,738 because limousine business we you by une Business contact me personally for incumbent Dr Perry Liberal Party’sProgressive of he had been FULL Christie are ready to meet with to administrat the criticism have your agents contact Gomez, adding that a vote STORY - SEE your people anytime,� he or the BUSINESS hiring of new public ion’s of the Minnis administraMr Porter our Managing for Mr Peet is a vote for service tion because of workers during writes. its firings Free National Movement. directly.� that period. “As indicated we really Director SEE PAGE SIX SEE PAGE SIX only cater to highend cusSEE PAGES TWO & THREE tomers and are the official
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Top cop and PM eing the fire divided on crimeFle FIGHTING DEPRESSIO N: AUTHOR
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WELLS By RICARDO Reporter Tribune Staff nemedia.net rwells@tribu
NG concern ADMITTI Bernard Notin over what Dr have battled last tage may his isolation during Prime Minisdays, former yesterday for ter Perry Christie admiration the expressed forth by the effort put security to former national the build-up minister in election. the May general from his Breaking away since being public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion Mr Chrishis visibly troubled portions of his tie detailed with n last conversatio and longfriend childhood colleague on time political Thursday. Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who throughout naciously� he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display n. conversatio last By SANCHESKA DORSETT SEE PAGE SIX Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia. net
Greenslade: Bahamas is not in crisis
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Christie: It’s like the Wild West
certain neighbourhoods� and the suggestion to do By NICO SCAVELLA is “emotional and makes so no do much more to “fully Tribune Staff Reporter DESPITE the country sense�. derstand this senseless unnscavella@tribunemedia His comments came recording 13 homicides .net of killings,� and have set law 13 days, Commissioner in hours after the country reof corded its 27th homicide PRIME Minister Perry enforcement respond “as Police Ellison Greenslade Christie yesterday likened quickly as possible� and in the year. Seven people for said the Bahamas is not have a “very meaningful way� the Bahamas’ crime in ROLLE a state of “crisis� and in been killed since Friday. situation to the “Wild West,� their crime fighting efforts. By RASHAD Reporter On Monday afternoon, average Bahamian can the These efforts, Mr Chrisconas he said the recent Tribune Staff wave nemedia.nettinue to “go about their day police also reported that a of murders in the capital tie suggested, would likely rrolle@tribu man was stabbed outside as normal day� without include dedicating the an establishment must solicit a “major� Nottage’s fear be on Nassau and stantial� number a “subof being attacked. DR Bernard forever “continuous� effort by Manwill At a press conference Street while two men were his ers to patrol the of officEmergency acti“footprints the Bahamian administration to “flood streets shot while in the area The National at on police New Providence and of headquarters on Ross of t etched after they agement Agency (NEMA) the streets� with officers siCorner. These victims tal landscape� the police managemen in multaneously giving developmen work asMonday a for- after a weekend of were said to cations with from entering the vated its emergency evacuation a bid to do “all that is necesthem be in stable “carnage�, and an Commissioner condition through his of the BahaKA DORSETT were blocked sary to bring this madness “the capacity to interdict at the Kenplan yesterday in hospital. the movements of peopleBy SANCHES Reporter mer president of Greenslade area. were also shelter was established to a halt�. Athletic said the only soat the Commissioner Staff lution to the country’s crime mas Association Several persons with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymnasium Mr Christie, speaking on the streets,� incorporat- Tribune ibunemedia.net Greenslade said Centre s, the Bahamas problem to the hospital Association , theis to “keep prolific ply not enough it is simElizabeth Sports with reporters yesterday, ing more reserve police of- sdorsett@tr during Gar- rushed offenders for people on Queen as a shelter Medical Association TS in Jubilee their tory complaints. said the “madness� occur- ficers, and “if necessary� and as a behind bars�. He to “point the finger Tribune arrivedwere which was used for displaced said RESIDEN the at the incorporating Royal Bahaaf- Royal Bahamas police to evacuate MinDoctors’ Union When The hurricane ring Prime is due consumer to in gang were forced times massive several residents as the the last FORMER activity mas Defence Police Force of crisis� reminister for Force marines dens yesterday after a landfill the scene, and retaliation. health and (RBPF) is not yet refuse to “manage to accept the believed on their roofs,homes. residents. ister Perry Christie homes their a defeat, was as I did when I the dump is smaller fairs, education, considering Providence pouring water Opposi- implementing their He said the past bloody in policing efforts. The fire at by a for it arrears, into pictured yesterday. W. a curfew fire at the Newcommunity in thick, blaze grew closer to or “locking down SEE PAGE THREE COMMISSIONER Mr Christie also said for Tall national security, who was in sponsibility response to been started weekend is the Photo: Terrel of Police Ellison Greenslade he Philip “Brave� of Parliamentalso assist- to have off Fire Trail Road. airport tenant described recent resigned,� he said in levelled speaking at a press development� a “shocking would be speaking with blanketed e Staff smoke. tion Leader . conference Member fire was as yesterday. accusations criticism Christie bush Carey/Tribun the that will reMiller Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Mr black hazardous ion from Davis said Wednesday questions on the Royal Bahamas Pines Leslie in hosing down their 71, died ion in recent Staff quire the government TWO AND THREE administrat le spending, misfea- moves made by the government SEE PAGE THREE entrance Members of to SEE PAGES Dr Nottage, the Clevea party pandering at his administrat blocked the visibility ing residentsproviding transportaof irresponsib WELLS at “misstep� by Police Force as By RICARDO Reporter Wednesday He will receive homes and who needed help. “disap- a any thought sance and cronyism. that weeks. was never residents to the subdivision said he was being to its base. those Clinic. By RICARDO WELLS acceptfor maintained Angry Tribune Staff “There also land tion was the arrangeHe zero. I three in to most recent inci- a nemedia.net that Tribune Staff relating Mr Christie dropped , Reporter by the allegations govdouble shooting on Ross in verbal alterrwells@tribu a state funeral announced documents s would on my part ty for any degree dents, which have left By LAMECH Per- pointed�around by the new berwells@tribunemedia.ne a review of one became involved irret ments to ing responsibili of human trafficking. man dead and three others Corner yesterday, lamented Tribune Staff JOHNSON Prime Minister tossed matters that to these two controversie the press secion of any whatsoever of criminality, FORMER fire off Fire Reporter Suppression Act, Chapter the “too bold� as according to Office of the the notion James Coakley, 53, administrat yesterday condemned ernment concerning a smaller bush to the city his last term the country and po- in hospital in serious condi- crimes occurring nature of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net of 106. absolve his and prove that much sponsible spending andbare’ is just after a ry Christie spread retary for the AS Anthony have ed by Cargill Creek, Andros Minnis administra- transpired during tion. in the caplice Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee Gardens yesterday is as noth- that ‘the cupboard is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in The former ital recently, as he insisted Prime Minister, continue to grapple was brought before Fire Trail Road. fire the smoke in Jubilee Officer-in-charge prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric slogans.� the Free National A MAN appeared with the latest spate of areas in Chief also charged boxer was in bushes off to prevent dump. The tion to portray as he challenged flees from the in Magistrate Newbold. vio- Central Detective of the that a “handful of prolific Magistrate’s “political political slogans.� with Hitting back Minnis adminislight, KA DORSETT YOUNGSTER done enough the New Providence Gardens and surrounding landfill that started PAGE SIX lent SEEcrimes, ing more than challenges I have Unit, offenders� remain Court yester- son-Pratt Joyann Fergu- counts of rape filed three SEE PAGE THREE a negative leader to carry out a law enforceof the at and threatened A at the New Providence to evacuate their homes. Hanna/Tribune Staff By SANCHES Reporter under hell-bent day accused of to answer to two Section quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke the controvergovernment officials are seeking Chief Superintendent Clay- on terrorising officials fire “One of the asked n of the members the nation’s sexually as- co Photos: Shawn Tribune Staff 6(a) of t fill that $8m to issues. ion concerning examinatio s, prompting dia.net n who led the esidents were
IS • FORMER PM BY DAVIS TRIBUTE TO LEGACY OF ‘DISAPPOINTED’ FNM ALLEGATIONS COLLEAGUE • SAYS GOVT DIDG NOTHING WRON T OVER $8M PAYOU • CALLS FOR REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS
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interests, our local deliberations have not yet been completed. We do not know what the commission will decide but the Bahamas is a country of laws and the Dangerous Drugs Act remains in effect. “As such marijuana, cannabis, THC, and yes CBD remain illegal without a licence,� Dr Sands added. Speaking to the over-thecounter sale of CBD products, Mr Cooper accused Dr Sands of “trying to block the hustle� of a substance in wide distribution around the world. “There aren’t any psychotropic effects, as evidenced by the great body of work that is out there,� Mr Cooper said. “The world has moved on. “It’s regrettably too late for us to lead on this, but it’s not too late to be progressive. “I digress,� Mr Cooper added, “but we must ensure that our punitive stance on minor offences do not impose the unintended social consequences for ordinarily law-abiding citizens.�
IT’S TIME The Bahamas grew up. If we want to be a big player like Singapore on the world stage and if we want to be in the First World category, then we need to embrace immigration for investment and development purposes. For far too long, the amazing potential of the Bahamas has been choked by oppressive, repressive, discriminatory and abusive immigration policies. I support the government 100 percent in this initiative. In fact, I don’t think the government is going far enough. It should amend the Commercial Enterprises Act (CEA) to insert the Hawksbill Creek Agreement as a category in addition to tech hub industry promotion initiatives, as Freeport was designed to be a cradle of innovation for the benefit of the entire country. It was the short-sighted immigration policies that stifled Freeport in 1969 and the Magic City, the goose that was laying the golden egg, nearly died. As the government is now seriously promoting GB as a tech hub once again, the CEA needs to apply to all licencees of Freeport. This would resurrect the economy of Grand Bahama, and by extension the whole country. If the Bahamas wants to be in the big boys’ club, we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with these closedminded and fearful protectionist policies and liberalize immigration dramatically, especially in Freeport, which the government could use as an experiment. Attracting the best and the brightest to our shores would create amazing transfers of cutting edge skills to our people and lead to an explosion of economic activity which would benefit all Bahamians. Ironically, we bring five million people here a year yet we make it almost impossible for them to come back to invest with all the red tape and especially immigration hurdles. If we want to grow, we have to roll out the red carpet and roll up the red tape.
PAGE 8, Thursday, May 2, 2019 HOW many of the 20 Democrats currently running for president of the US can you name? If you can identify more than half of them, maybe you should consider throwing your hat in the ring as the latest challenger to James Holzhauer, the incumbent champion on TV’s 55-year-old quiz show Jeopardy. Holzhauer is approaching 20 straight victories and $1.5 million in winnings on ABC’s long-running early evening mainstay. He’s beginning to threaten the legendary success achieved only by Jeopardy icon Ken Jennings. A fan told the news media “I’m not ready for Holzhauer to lose. I love this winning streak.” The latest Democrat to throw his hat in the ring in Washington has no such record of success. In fact, Joe Biden is a two-time loser in the American presidential primary sweepstakes. His first foray, in 1988, ended ignominiously when it was revealed he had plagiarised parts of a speech. And as has been widely recalled in recent weeks, Biden hardly covered himself in glory in his management in 1991 as Senate Judiciary Committee chair of the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings and Anita Hill’s sensational, salacious charges against Thomas. Biden, a member of the US Senate since 1973 when tapped as Barack Obama’s running mate in 2008, had run earlier that same year against Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. That bid also fizzled, perishing like a desiccated corn husk in the heat of the Iowa primary race. And after eight years THIS is one of the busiest seasons in professional American sports. Everywhere you look, something that feels important is going on. And the big-time college sports of football and basketball are quiescent, so the pros have the TV screens and internet blogs to themselves. The 2019 baseball season is now a month old and divisional races are starting to take shape. Big-spending giants like the Red Sox and Yankees are beginning to make moves out of early season slumps, and plucky challengers like the Brewers and Rays are still holding their own against growing threats from more established rivals. Both the NFL and the NHL are into the second rounds of their long playoff grinds, with very different results so far. In the NBA, most favourites have advanced to produce fascinating, worthwhile matchups. With no LeBron James in the playoffs to tilt the playing field, BucksCeltics, 76ers-Raptors and Warriors-Rockets are all exciting and entertaining. The outcome of these early series is very much in doubt, and that makes a nice change from recent years. In the NHL, many of the perennial title contestants of recent years have already been dispatched, so
THE TRIBUNE
Biden his time - will it be Joe’s final glory? JOE Biden has launched his third bid for the presidency.
STATESIDE with Charlie Harper
as VP under Obama, Biden decided against running in 2016, emotionally crushed by the recent death of his eldest son. Now he has launched a third bid for the presidency. Biden is familiar to US voters. He is still “Uncle Joe,” jocular, open and funny. He misspeaks occasionally. But perhaps
more than any of the other Democratic contenders, Biden brings to the table strong blue-collar appeal and trade union affiliation, together with a stronger than might be expected appeal to African American voters. He offers the tantalizing possibility of flipping Michigan, Wisconsin and his native state, Pennsylvania, back to the Democratic column. That would likely be enough to push Donald Trump out of the White House. Dispossessing Trump of the presidency is quickly emerging as the centrepiece of Biden’s fledgling campaign. While the other candidates tiptoe around Trump, impeachment and corruption in the White House, Biden has launched what amounts to a crusade against Trump. In his first campaign video, Biden said the 2020 race would be a battle for America’s soul. If Trump loses next year, his tenure might be seen as “an aberrant moment in time”. Biden warned that if Trump is re-elected, “he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation.” Any observer still undecided about polarisation in current American politics can have few lingering doubts after reading that.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE: HOW A HIGH-SPEED LIFE CAN CHANGE YOU
TV’s wall-to-wall sport there is a fresh element in the extended NHL season too. Upstarts Carolina and Columbus in the East have already turned things upside down with their unexpected success, and they may not yet be finished with their upsets. Horse racing is getting ready for the Kentucky Derby which will kick off its month of Triple Crown relevance on the national sporting scene. Golf is in
the midst of its sequence of four major championships. Even American soccer is showing signs of sticking around on the national scene after several calamitous flameouts over the past several decades. Speaking of soccer, sports fans should consider the Champions League, where the world’s best players are now competing for European club soccer’s biggest prize in the semifinals of
this annual tournament. In one bracket, two titans that are among the world’s best exponents of the beautiful game collide. Barcelona opposes Liverpool. The decisive game of their home and away competition is Tuesday on TNT. If you admire the beauty and grace of soccer at its best, this match is definitely worth a watch or a recording. It starts at 3.00 pm. Barcelona won the first leg 3-0. And then there’s the NFL. Are you happy with your team’s choices? Are you thinking more about Josh Rosen’s chances of lifting the Dolphins from an upcoming season of dispiriting mediocrity more than you are thinking about the Rays knocking off the baseball big boys in their division? Maybe you’re talking about Tyreek Hill, the brilliant Chiefs wide receiver whose latest domestic violence episode revelation may sideline him forever. No one in the NFL is playing any games for three more months, but few forget the NFL.
WHAT do a high-profile pair of accomplished twins and Albert Einstein have in common? Quite a bit, as it turns out. The American journal Science has just published the results of a 2015 experiment to validate part of Einstein’s special theory of relativity. In that theory, which was promulgated in 1905, Einstein postulated that someone moving at high velocity ages more slowly than someone on Earth. This became known as the twins paradox. Four years ago, the American space agency NASA saw an opportunity to test the theory. Twins Mark and Scott Kelly were NASA astronauts, so the agency sent Scott up to the International Space Station while Mark remained on Earth. The idea was to monitor both and see what researchers found. In low space orbit, Scott was travelling at 17,500 miles per hour. Mark, earthbound, was travelling significantly more slowly and in a different direction. Mark is married to former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly killed in an assassination attempt at a Tucson supermarket in 2011. Mark is
running for the US Senate from Arizona as a Democrat next year. “I look younger than he does,” Scott told newspapers recently. “He’s busy running for office. His telomeres (linked to DNA and chromosomes) are going to be way worse than mine. I’m not worried. I’ll be on a beach in The Bahamas, and he’s hopefully going to be in the US Senate. He’s going to age much faster than me.” But more seriously, NASA’s study did reveal that the human body (in this case, Scott’s) does go kind of haywire in the zero gravity of outer space. Scott’s immune system and body responded to his exit from and return to the earth’s atmosphere as if it were under attack. At the same time, though, tests showed that Scott’s telomeres did lengthen in space. That might indicate that space travel could extend the normal life expectancy for a human. But his telomeres shortened significantly upon re-entry and return to Earth. So maybe Scott would live to 150 or beyond if he continued to travel in space. Only one thing: no return to Earth. Maybe Star Trek isn’t such a fantasy after all.
TWINS SCOTT, left, and Mark Kelly
THE TRIBUNE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PARLIAMENT yesterday began debate on amendments aiming to better regulate the water sports industry, among them a fine of up to $5,000 and/or one year suspension of a certificate for inadequate safety provisions. A fine of up to $5,000 or as many as two years in prison for failing to register and licence a watercraft is also a feature of the new amendments. One of the amendments also increases the fine from $75 for any person using an unregistered motorboat to $2,000. The changes are outlined in a Bill for an Act to Amend the Commercial Recreational Watercraft Act and a Bill to Amend the Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control Act, which were debated in the House as a compendium yesterday. Once passed, the changes will create legal penalties for an operator who refuses access to an inspector or fails to cooperate with the inspector’s instructions. The fine will not exceed $2,500 or one year suspension of the certificate of registration or both. There is also a requirement for submission to the government of engineering plans where individuals decide to build vessels. And in the event of a mishap, the amendment makes it mandatory for operators to have proper insurance. Further, the minister of transport and aviation can also set a maximum number of crafts to be registered in the country. Transport and Local Government Minister Renward Wells told the House a clampdown is needed given increased visitors to the country, which now stands at around 6 million annually. He said the new provisions were also expected to counter the perception that the water sports industry is lawless. The Commercial Recreational Watercraft Amendment Bill makes provisions for the registration of crafts and licensing of all operators and requires mandatory information on applicants to include their electronic contacts like emails. Mr Wells said this was necessary for effective communication in the modern era with watercraft operators and all persons concerned in the industry. Further the amendment
Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 9
Tough new laws on way to make water sports safer
THE EXPLOSION on board a chartered boat in Exuma is thought to be behind these new regulations. provides guidelines and requirements to register with the authority any crafts operated and let for hire in the port area in which the craft operates. He said this provision will also correct the anomaly that certain incidents expose where individuals build and operate craft for commercial purposes without submitting a detailed engineering plan for that boat. The authority will also have rights under the Bill to deny the renewal of a craft licence where an applicant has been convicted of an offence in relation to driving or use of craft and in the opinion of the authority suggests that the applicant is not suitable to be a registered owner.
POLICE HUNT TWO MEN INVOLVED IN SEPARATE ARMED ROBBERIES POLICE on the Island of New Providence are seeking assistance in identifying and locating two men responsible for two armed robberies which occurred on Tuesday, April 30. In the first incident, according to reports, shortly after 10pm a man standing in front of a residence on Water Lilly Lane, Yamacraw, when he was approached by an armed male who robbed him of cash before running away. In the second incident, according to reports, shortly after 11pm a woman was sitting in her vehicle in front of a residence on Carmichael Road when she was approached by an armed man who robbed her of
cash before running away. Police also arrested a man after finding an unlicenced firearm during a search of a home on Tuesday morning. Shortly after 4am that day, officers from the Central Detective Unit, acting on information, conducted a search of a home at Twin Close, Ridgeland Park and recovered an unlicensed shotgun and 35 rounds of ammunition. A man who was present during the search was taken into custody and is being questioned in connection with the unlicensed firearm and a number of recent armed robberies. Investigations are ongoing.
As for fines and penalties, clause 10 of this Bill “creates offences by the owner of a craft who operates or lets for hire an unregistered or unlicensed craft or who lets for hire a craft to an unlicensed operator.” It also states: “An individual who commits such an offence is liable to summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.” Regarding the Water Skiing and Motor Boat Control (Amendment) Bill, Mr Wells said it helps to beef up the government’s enforcement arm to ensure proper regulation of the maritime industry. Among its features is
the extension of the definition of who an authorised officer is or who an enforcement officer in the recreational water sports business is. It defines an “authorised officer” as a member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, any port enforcement officer of the New Providence Port Authority or Port Department and any officer authorised under Section 38 of the Local Government Act, Mr Wells said. This will allow for those islands where there is no port officer present to allow the local government agent on that island to act in that capacity to ensure compliance with our maritime law requirement.
Under this amendment the fine of $75 for any person who uses an unregistered motor boat will be increased to $2,000. A new section will be introduced for the appointment of safety inspectors. It also defines their functions and power, defines the duty to cooperate with the inspection process and defines the power of the authorised officers. “We will see in Section 11(b) that one of the functions of the safety inspectors will be to inspect a motor boat or any of its machinery or equipment for structural integrity or compliance with the provision of this Act,” Mr Wells said. “This again helps to enhance our capacity to be able to
avoid unfortunate minor and major incidents and accidents.” It goes further to also enforce penalties if an operator refuses access to an inspector or fails to cooperate with the inspector’s instructions. The fine will not exceed $2,500 or one year suspension of the certificate of registration or both. If an operator is aggrieved, the Bill further provides an avenue for fines and penalties to be appealed. These new regulations are thought to be in direct response to the June 30, 2018 explosion on board a 40-foot chartered Exuma tour boat with 10 passengers and two crew members.
PAGE 10, Thursday, May 2, 2019 By DUDLEY POSTON Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M University and ROGELIO SÁENZ Professor of Demography, The University of Texas at San Antonio SINCE the settlement of Jamestown in 1607 and the start of the Colonial period, the US has been predominantly white. But the white share of the US population has been dropping, from a little under 90% in 1950 to 60% in 2018. It will likely drop below 50% in another 25 years. White nationalists want America to be white again. But this will never happen. America is on its way to becoming predominantly nonwhite. The US federal government uses two questions to measure a person’s race and ethnicity. One asks if the person is of Hispanic origin, and the other asks about the person’s race. A person is defined as white if he or she identifies as being only white and non-Hispanic. A minority, or nonwhite, person is anyone who is not solely non-Hispanic white. Whites were not the first people to settle in what is now the US. The first immigrants were a people known today as American Indians and Alaskan natives, also commonly referred to as Native Americans. They arrived in North America around 14,000 years ago. When Christopher Columbus arrived in America in 1492, there were around 10 million American Indians living in the lands north of Mexico. But by the 1800s their numbers had dwindled to about 1 million. They are now the smallest race group in the US. The first sizable stream of immigrants to what is now the US were whites from England. Their arrival at Plymouth in 1620 in search of religious freedom marked the start of large waves of whites coming to this land. When the US was established as a country in 1776, whites comprised roughly 80% of the population. The white share rose to 90% in 1920, where it stayed until 1950. The proportion of whites in the US population started to decline in 1950. It fell to gradually over the years, eventually reaching just over 60% in 2018 – the lowest percentage ever recorded. Although the majority of the US population today is still white, nonwhites account for more than half of the populations of Hawaii, the District of Columbia, California, New Mexico, Texas and Nevada. And, in the next 10 to 15 years, these half dozen “majority-minority” states will likely be joined by as many as eight other states where whites now make up less than 60% of the population. Census Bureau projections show that the U.S. population will be “majority-minority” sometime between 2040 and 2050. Our research suggests that this will happen around 2044. Indeed, in 2020, there are projected to be more
THE TRIBUNE
Why the US will never be a white country again
A WHITE AMERICAN FAMILY
A BLACK AMERICAN FAMILY nonwhite children than white children in the U.S. The nonwhite population is growing more rapidly than the white population. Minorities accounted for 92% of the US population growth between 2010 and 2018, with Latinos comprising just under half of the nation’s overall growth. Why are the numbers of white people declining, and
why are nonwhite numbers increasing? The answer is basic demography: births, deaths and immigration. White women have an average of 1.7 children over their lifetimes, while Latina women average 2.2. The total fertility rates of blacks, Asians and American Indians are in between. So whites have fewer births than all nonwhite groups.
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There are also big differences in age structure. Sixty-two percent of Latinas 15 years of age or older are of childbearing age. Only 42% of white women fall into this group. Latinos also have lower mortality rates than whites. Demographers call this the “epidemiological paradox.” In 2015, for the first time, there were more white deaths in the US than white births. Indeed, as of 2016, in 26 states, whites were dying faster than they were being born. The states with more white deaths than white births include California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan. How about immigration to the US.? Of the more than 43 million foreignborn people living in the U.S. in 2015, 82% originated in Latin America and Asia. Only 11% were born in Europe. So whites don’t increase their representation in the U.S. via immigration. The aging white population, alongside a more youthful minority population, especially in the case of Latinos, will result in the U.S. becoming a majorityminority country in around 2044. The demographic shift in the US has resulted in many whites proclaiming that they are losing their country, and that they already are or will soon become a minority group. In her research on working-class whites in rural Louisiana, sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild observes that many whites feel frustrated and betrayed, like they are now strangers in their own land. In Trump, they saw a white man who brought them together to take their country back. Hochschild points out that at a Trump campaign rally, whites held signs with slogans such as “TRUMP: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” and “SILENT MAJORITY STANDS WITH TRUMP.” The decline of the white share of the US population could result in the shifting of racial boundaries to assign whiteness to some people of color so as to bolster the white numbers. This has happened before. Groups that were initially seen as very different from whites, such as the Irish and Italians, once sought to distance themselves from blacks, and eventually were accepted as white. In addition, although persons of Mexican origin largely identified racially as white, in the 1930 census “Mexican” was used as a racial category, at a time when there was heightened hostility against Mexicans due to their growing population size and the Great Depression. But any future changes cannot override demography. The US will never be a white country again. theconversation.com
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Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 11
BERRY ISLAND TALENT HAS ITS CHANCE RN Gomez All Age School showcased a sample of Berry Islands talent, during the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Adjudications, at St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, on Bullock’s Harbour. Students and music teacher Lester Johnson performed for music adjudicator Trent Elliott Davis, who also gave pointers and played accompaniment for a few entrants. There were also community entries in photography by Antonio Roberts. Photos: Eric Rose/BIS
20-year-old shot dead by police as he chased another man By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was shot and killed by police in 2015 reportedly while they were in pursuit of a man he had threatened to kill, a Coroner’s Court jury heard yesterday. Deangelo Bodie Wallace, whose street alias was “Fingers,” and three other men allegedly chased an unarmed neighbour through the streets of the Fort Fincastle and Mason’s Addition area in the moments leading up to an intense shootout with police on the morning of May 16, 2015. The unarmed man, referred to as “Brother A,” at some point during the chase contacted both police and members of his family to express his fear. One of those calls was made to his brother, referred to as “Brother B,” who, in a state of shock, left his nearby home halfdressed, hoping to help his sibling. In his testimony yesterday, Officer Deno Gaitor, who was attached to the Mobile Unit at the time of the incident, told jurors that while on routine patrol he received reports of a shooting in the Fort Fincastle area from the Police Control Room and responded. He said while en route to the scene, he encountered “Brother B” who was “bareback, with no shoes,” running frantically in the area of East and Hay Streets. He said he stopped the man who indicated that he was running to meet up with his brother, who was at the time “running for his life” in the area of Fort Fincastle and Mason’s Addition. Officer Gaitor said he was subsequently led by “Brother B” to a nearby location where “Brother A” was found hiding.
He said he had to convince “Brother A” to step out of the dimly lit area to question him about the circumstances which led to his being in that location. According to Officer Gaitor, “Brother A” said he had had an argument with a neighbour who was now pursuing him, along with other armed men. “Brother A” said he knew two of the men, who he identified as “Fingers” and “Bucket,” telling Officer Gaitor specifically that these two men were armed with “a long gun and a handgun” and were trying to kill him. Officer Gaitor said he accepted the details as being in line with the reports he had obtained from the Police Control Room, and determined it best to take both men to the Central Police Station for further questioning. He testified that during this transport, he could hear “loud,” “rapid gunfire” off in the distance - suggesting that it was in the area of Fort Fincastle and Mason’s Addition. Officer Gaitor said after ensuring the two men were secured at Central Police Station, he returned to the Fort Fincastle and Mason’s Addition area to give further assistance, but noted that at the time of his return, all gunfire had ended. Yesterday marked the third day of testimony in a Coroner’s Court inquest into the death of Wallace Bodie. On Tuesday, Police Superintendent Dereck Butler, whose unit was first to arrive at the scene, testified that he feared he had lost his entire unit after they encountered intense fire from a high-powered, assault rifle. “If I hear one, one, one shots, then I know that my officers have a fighting chance. But when I
hear [continuous machine gun fire] then I know,” he told jurors. “I felt like I was by myself… like I had lost everything… I thought anything could’ve happened.” Supt Butler also testified that he too came into contact with a man fitting the description of “Brother A” along a dirt road that connected McCullough Corner and Spence Street, whom he permitted to leave the area to allow him and his officers an opportunity to possibly apprehend the group of men pursuing him. According to reports, officers were responding to gunfire in the area of Fort Fincastle and Mason’s Addition when they encountered Wallace, with three other men. Two of the men were arrested after the incident and a fourth man was, at the time of the incident, still being pursued. “Quick action by police has resulted in the arrest of two suspects who opened fired at them and the fatal shooting of another suspect who also opened fire on police,” a police report noted. Police said they recovered a Glock pistol from the deceased, and an AK-47 assault rifle that was dropped by one of the men who was arrested at the scene. Assistant Superintendent of Police Alexander Pierre, Detective Constable 2790 Jara McPhee, Sargent 771 Kenneth Greenslade and Police Constable 2823 Jahmal Rolle; along with the mother of the deceased, Monique Wallace are listed as the interested parties. The officers are represented by attorney K Melvin Munroe, while Anishka Missick sits as marshal in the inquest. The case will continue tomorrow before Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez.
NOTICE ANNUITANT VERIFICATION As part of the verification of benefits procedure, Colina Insurance Limited requires all recipients of annuity payments to produce evidence of their continuing eligibility to receive such payments twice each year – during the months of May and November. To be verified during the month of May 2019, annuitants must visit any of the following Colina locations and be verified by a Customer Service Representative: • • • • • • • •
21 Collins Avenue 56 Collins Avenue Carmichael Road (Walk-In Medical Clinic bldg) 12 Village Road RND Plaza West East Mall & Poinciana Drive (Freeport) Don McKay Boulevard. (Marsh Harbour) Turnquest Star Plaza (George Town)
Clients may also visit CFAL (308 East Bay St., 3rd Fl.) The following documents must be presented at the time of verification: • Annuity card, and • Valid Passport, Drivers License or Voters Card Annuitants residing outside of The Bahamas, or those who are unable to visit our offices physically, may download the Life Certificate Form from the Company’s website, www.colina.com. The form should be completed, validated by a Notary Public and delivered to our office at the address below. Colina Insurance Limited 21 Collins Avenue, P. O. Box N-4728 Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas Annuitants who fail to verify on or before May 31, 2019 will have their payments suspended until this process is completed. Should you require additional information, please contact our Customer Service Centre at 356-8300.
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THE NIGHT QUICK-THINKING DONALD AVOIDED BLOODSHED By EILEEN CARRON Editor THE Bahamas today suffers the fall-out from, but has no resemblance to, The Bahamas of the days in which Donald McKinney lived. His father, Herbert, owned the oldest retail store in The Bahamas - John S George - and had a large family, the youngest son’s body having been lost somewhere on the beaches of Normandy during that historic landing. Donald was the lawyer who established the law firm of McKinney, Bancroft and Hughes. He was a quiet man and, as many of his social class, he belonged to the yacht club and was quite the yachtsman. I remember that dreadful day when I sat with his father and a group of friends listening to BASRA’s announcements as they searched for him. He was lost at sea. Just imagine a Bahamas where every business on Bay Street was owned by a white Bahamian (hence the name “Bay Street Boys”). There were no political parties in those days. The By DOON MCKINNEY ON APRIL 27, 1969 the loss at sea of Donald Bruce McKinney CBE was a tragic event for our family, and for our nation. Our mother lost her devoted husband, my sisters and I lost our beloved father, friends, colleagues and family lost a loyal friend, and our country lost a man who was willing to fight so that all Bahamians - women, men, black, white - every adult could vote in this country. He was a man of strong courage and conviction who was deeply committed to serving the people he represented - the Bahamian people. I’m so proud that my father took a stand and fought for equal rights. Against massive criticism and opposition, he took a stand in the House of Assembly in 1956, along with Sir Etienne Dupuch, and said with deep conviction: “It is wrong that a man who is willing to die for his country should be discriminated in the very country for which he is prepared to die. It is wrong, Mr. Speaker. It is wrong.” Donald was a founding partner of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes, was the MP for the Exumas and founded,
only movie theatre — the Savoy Theatre — on Bay Street refused to admit people of colour — their theatre was “over the hill” near the Southern Recreation Grounds. The JP Sands store, owned by the family of the late Sir Stafford Sands, was the shop that both shades from white to black could shop – only the blacks shopped on one side and the whites on the other! The hotels admitted no one of colour and one hotel even excluded Jews. This all came to a head around 1954 when late one night my father got a call from Hugh Springer, at that time the Registrar of the University of the West Indies, later governor of Barbados, and one of the most important men in the field of education in the West Indies. Sir Hugh with a political delegation was flying back to England by way of Nassau and Bermuda. All members of the delegation were put up at a hotel for the night. Sir Hugh was told that there was no hotel for him and so he would have to sit on an airport bench until the next day to resume the flight to Bermuda. My father was the only person Sir Hugh remembered meeting at a
social function in London. When my father got the call he was in the middle of his editorial for the next day. He dropped everything, drove to the airport and brought Sir Hugh home where he spent the night with us and, after breakfast, was taken back to the airport to catch his flight. By the time Sir Hugh landed in Bermuda, the officials, having been notified of how he was treated in Nassau, laid out the red carpet for him. My father was so angry that he swore that such an incident would never happen again in Yhe Bahamas, and so he moved his resolution at his first opportunity in the House. In those days the House met at 8pm and I was the reporter for The Tribune. The Tribune had announced that the Resolution would be moved. You can imagine the crowds that encircled the House. It was an angry crowd that was tired of humiliation. There was no airconditioning in those days, so all the windows were wide open and the remarks from the crowd could be heard in the chamber above, as below they could hear what was going on in the House above.
DONALD MCKINNEY, right, with former Governor Sir Ralph Grey, pictured in 1967. When the division came it was a brave white man who would stand up and vote on the wrong side. In fact there were two white men – Dr Raymond Sawyer and Donald McKinney. However, it was Donald McKinney who prevented bloodshed that night. When someone in the gallery shouted for all lights to be turned off when my father was threatened with arrest, it was a quick thinking Donald McKinney
who moved that the House be adjourned to the next day. The adjournment was agreed. My father walked downstairs with my mother and myself, stood on the steps of the House and tried to talk sense to the crowd. One young lady, whose father served with my father on the Sahara in the First World War, pulled a butcher’s knife from her blouse, telling my father that she was going to “chop” anyone who touched him. The “Bay Street Boys” with Sir Stafford Sands in the lead were chased down Bay Street with the crowd behind them and the police trying to protect them. My father ordered the young lady to put the knife away, return home and be at home by the time he got to his own home and called her father. She quickly disappeared. It took a brave white man that night to face his social set and say that he was no longer prepared to accept their prejudices – equality for all, he said. I am satisfied that it was his quick thinking, asking for an adjournment, that avoided blood being spilled that night.
50 Years On. . . The Legacy of Donald Bruce McKinney CBE
SENATOR DONALD MCKINNEY, right, pictured with friends in 1969.
along with Bobby Symonnette, the Out Island Regatta in 1954. He later became an independent senator. Apart from his work for human rights which earned him a CBE, he also was a supporter, like his father Herbert McKinney before him who was a founding member, of the Bahamas National Trust. He recognised how essential it was that we protect this fragile ecosystem of ocean and land on which we live. Every year on the anniversary of my father’s death I contemplate what he gave to this country and I ask myself whether I, and my children and grandchildren are continuing to help grow this nation in an ethical way. Ethics is not just about how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters: it is also about how we treat the planet and ocean on which we live and are the stewards of - Mother Earth. I am so proud and grateful for the immense dedication and tireless work that my daughter Casuarina has put into sustaining our oceans as the director of BREEF (Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation). My youngest daughter Taja has worked for many years fighting against human trafficking, sending support personnel to disaster areas, and teaching. Despite Donald‘s commitment to empowering Bahamians and conserving our environment, now 50 years on, there is such a feeling of helplessness and despair about not being heard and not being able to make a difference to better our country. How is it that, despite there being over 34,000 signatures to protect Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera from development by Disney, that, instead of taking the concerns of the people to parliament as it’s done when there are over 10,000 signatures in many other countries such as the UK, the petition was instead ignored? How can it be that
the politicians who we elected to serve the people are not willing to listen or talk to the people? Where is the oft-spoken of ‘transparency’? The environmental impact assessment study for Lighthouse Point absolutely MUST be carried out by an internationally recognized non-biased third-party and held to the very highest standards of research, public consultation and transparency. How can a massive private cruise port that proposes bringing up to 20,000 people/ week to an extremely fragile sacred site not impact it in a negative way? What will the people in South Eleuthera eat when all the surrounding reefs have been destroyed? How is it that Disney has been given permission to lease the seabed around Lighthouse Point for $1000 per acre/year for 50 years? Considering there is a viable alternative with more year-round jobs and less destruction of the environment from the Bahamian consortium of the One Eleuthera Foundation, BNT, The Leon Levy Foundation and The Island School, all of whom have an excellent track record in doing beneficial, sustainable projects for Eleuthera, makes the Disney plan even more horrifying. I know that my father, and many other of our nation’s forefathers, are turning in their graves in horror at what we Bahamians are allowing to take place under “our watch”. Today my personal grief of losing my father is magnified tenfold when I realise our government and elected politicians are not following a due process that respects the rights of all for a sustainable future. We can do better. It’s time for all of us Bahamians to demand real transparency and true protection of our fragile environment to sustain it for current and future generations.
THE YACHT Donald McKinney was on when he went missing.
THE TRIBUNE By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net THE ROYAL Bahamas Police Force is hoping to decrease the amount of traffic fatalities and traffic accident on the streets of New Providence, Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs said yesterday. Speaking to reporters at an Aliv press conference held at the Paul Farquharson Centre, ASP Stubbs said in 2018 police saw an increase of traffic fatality victims by 28 percent. “We also saw where the major contributing factor of these accidents were distracted drivers. Persons engaged with the use of handheld devices while operating their vehicles. Globally the use of handheld mobile telephones has emerged as a road safety problem as drivers or road users are distracted while operating a vehicle where they fail to remain in their lanes, stop at traffic signals and obey the traffic signs,” ASP Stubbs said. “... The use of handheld devices has caused more traffic fatalities or other traffic related incidents where motorist talking on cell phones drive as badly as if they were drunk. “As we know the amount of accidents has impacted family members, impacted our health care, impacted our many agencies as relates to families losing loved ones and some people still have disabilities as a result of road traffic accidents.” Yesterday, the RBPF announced it had partnered with mobile phone company Aliv as well as the Bahamas Motor Sports Association to promote road safety. Aliv will host an interactive and informative road safety event at Fusion Superplex on May 11. Jayme Pinder, Aliv marketing executive, said beginning May 6, which is the start of Global Safety Week, the company will officially launch its safe driving campaign dubbed, “Arrive Aliv”. Ms Pinder said: “[The
Thursday, May 2, 2019, PAGE 13
Police renew bid to Amazing escape reduce traffic fatalities A11MAIN
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Monday, April 15, 2019, PAGE 3
“What is the problem with the Bahamian people at Grand Lucayan? Why must they be treated different?” Mr Russell asked. “Why should we send these people home with a portion of their money? Fairness and justice is all we are asking for; we are not making anything up. Every monetary allocation that is set out in our proposal is in our industrial agreement; every single penny.” Jacey Whitaker, an attorney that represents LRH, informed the court last Monday that the tribunal as a statutory board lacks jurisdiction to deal with this particular matter.
“The tribunal understood the legal points but the union had some issue understanding the legal arguments presented. However, it is our position that the tribunal does not have proper jurisdiction to deal with this matter and it should possibly go somewhere else if it is not resolved,” he explained. Mr Whitaker stated that they are removing themselves from the process and will not attend the next proceeding that is scheduled for May at the tribunal. He added that they have gone beyond what is required to help the union. “We have given the union everything they have asked for in the past, but they are refusing to accept what the true facts of this
case are. At this point, we are simply saying we come forward with clean hands and we tried to help; we done this as more of a favour to the union, not because we are legally required to attend and participate, but in an effort to help, and our help seems to be unwanted. So, at this point, we are removing ourselves from the process in the tribunal. “What that means for the union, what their next step maybe, I don’t know. But for us, this is the end of the matter for us,” Mr Whitaker told The Tribune. Mr Russell said the union is not really concerned that the attorney for the other side has chosen to withdraw from the process. “We will meet back at the
tribunal on May 6 of this year. BHMA will not speak to what their attorney wishes to do. I know that the court based on the (law) has jurisdiction to resolve disputes, and that is what we have here,” he said. “The more pressing thing the other side ought to be concerned about is that they would have submitted a defence on November 1, 2016, outlining that LRH fully accepts the industrial agreement, and they would be guided by it and the language and honour it,” he said. Mr Russell contends the tribunal has full jurisdiction to hear and decide on matters, and to award damages in industrial agreements.
“We believe justice will prevail,” he said. “BHMA does not want to be here. All we are saying is that there is nothing in law that can guide you as to how you settle a voluntary separation package, but the other side is insisting.” “All we are saying is let us negotiate in good faith and be guided by the precedent set with other hotels in The Bahamas over the years and with other government companies, and come up with a number that make sense. You can’t expect to send a worker home and he don’t have any job, and you agree to pay him based on Section 29 of the Act - that is a problem.”
Crash claims second victim from page one
TAXI DRIVER SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES AFTER ALL THIS ...
The Tribune understands the deceased men are Prinston Rolle, who was the passenger, and Adorian Williams, the car’s driver, though their identities were Friday, April 12, 2019, PAGE 3 not released by police. News of Rolle’s death spread across social media quickly, with many friends and former classmates expressing grief. Many people praised Rolle’s character. An Instagram user said: “Oh how the mighty have fallen. Today I lost a brother and it ain’t sink in yet…but before the tears start flowing and my heart starts to ache. . . RIP Prinston you are in God’s hand now and I love you brother.” One Facebook user said: “Schoolie, (sic) I am so lost for words. You were such a good person. May your soul rest in peace.” THE SECOND victim Another Facebook user is believed to be said: “Wow...sweet guy! Prinston Rolle. Rest in peace.” DE’EDRA GIBSON,
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29-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH ABDUCTING FOUR CHILDREN
THE SCENE of the crash on Sunday night. His death brought the traffic fatality count for the year to 15, according to The Tribune’s records. According to police statistics, 69 people died
centre, outside court yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Michelle Gibson was charged in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday with abducting four little boys, one as young as three, from various places in New Providence between February and March. The 29-yearold appeared before
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A TAXI driver is nursing “minor” injuries after miraculously surviving a devastating collision with a Bahamas Waste trash collection truck on West Bay Street yesterday afternoon. Police said the taxi driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the point of contact and the force of the impact flung him into the rear seat. The injuries he sustained as a result of the severe accident were said to be non-life threatening, and he was transported to hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment. Though the nature of his injuries were not confirmed up to press time, one officer said the taxi driver sustained injuries on his arm that may or may not require stitches, while another officer said he only had a limp. Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs, the officer in charge of the Traffic Division, said the driver of the Bahamas Waste truck was pinned inside the vehicle due to the collision, but was ultimately extracted by Fire Services personnel. He was also transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. However, the Bahamas Waste truck sustained “significant” damage, especially to its front left side and undercarriage, CSP Stubbs said. Meanwhile the taxi was a complete “write-off,” CSP Stubbs said, as The Tribune understands that after it collided with the Bahamas Waste truck, the larger vehicle continued to roll over the top of car, completely ripping it to shreds.
Yesterday’s collision came less than 24 hours after seven people, inclusive of three children between the ages of four and seven, were hospitalised after the car they were in collided with a Casuarina tree on Saturday evening less than a mile away from where yesterday’s accident took place. When The Tribune arrived on the scene yesterday, one of the car’s doors could be seen wrapped around the stump of a tree to the northern side of the east-bound lane near the accident. The car’s engine hood had been blown off and was lying just feet away from the rest of the wreckage. The car itself was an absolute wreck. Numerous passers-by expressed utter shock after finding out that the driver of the taxi had managed to survive, and were even more surprised after discovering he had only suffered relatively minor injuries. CSP Stubbs told reporters that both vehicles were traveling east along
the West Bay corridor on Sunday, the truck in the southern lane and the taxi in the northern lane, when for reasons police are still trying to determine, both of them collided. He said the taxi driver was not wearing a seatbelt as required by law, but said based on the wreckage, it would have likely been more to his detriment if he was in fact wearing one, as he would have likely been pinned in the front seat. Nonetheless, CSP Stubbs said he and his division are “concerned” about how motorists drive their cars on dual carriageways. “People tend to accelerate more than the required speed limit to either get in front of a vehicle or pass a vehicle,” he said. “We’re asking you to obey the speed limit, exercise caution at all times.” Just hours earlier on Saturday evening, a car with seven occupants was traveling in the west bound lane on West Bay Street near the Wendy’s restaurant
campaign’s] purpose is to bring awareness to not only our subscribers but Bahamians at large on the importance of safe driving. We intend to do this with visual campaigns that will be disseminated to the public on a frequent basis with the assistance of various media houses along with our partner over at Fusion Superplex. “We understand that we have given our subscribers great products and
when the driver lost control and collided with a Casuarina tree. All seven occupants were sent to hospital, and according to CSP Stubbs, both the driver and the front seat passenger were still said to be “very ill” in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). He said officers are currently trying to determine whether speed or the driver being “distracted” caused and/or contributed to the accident. Then on Friday night, a man was struck and killed by a motorist on San Salvador while walking on that island’s highway. According to CSP Stubbs, the deceased was walking on Queen’s Highway sometime before 10pm when a Ford Explorer, headed in the same direction, struck him. The pedestrian was transported to the local clinic where he died sometime later. CSP Stubbs said a team of officers from his division travelled to San Salvador to investigate and have since returned. He said his division will await the confirmation of a few other details, such as the vehicle’s speed, before it decides whether to charge the driver or place the matter before the Coroner’s Court. Last Thursday, 25-yearold Keshawn Lightbourne, an employee of Mr Ship It, died following an accident on John F Kennedy Drive. At the time, officers said it was too early to say what caused the accident, which culminated in the victim’s 2007 Honda Accord hitting a utility pole, but said speed may have been a contributing factor.
great service and we want them to be able to use their devices all the time, but safe driving is best driving. The same way we believe in best is the same way we believe in safety and nothing is more important than your life.” Aliv’s campaign will also include an event on Saturday May 11 that will give information on safe driving. She said: “[Attendees will receive] free phone accessories for your vehicle
THE ACCIDENT on West Bay Street near the Wendy’s restaurant. All seven occupants went to hospital. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
SUPPORTERS hold Venezuelan and U.S. flags as they listen to opposition leader Juan Guaidó speak during a rally in Caracas yesterday.
AMID the ongoing political and civil crisis in Venezuela, the Bahamas government has reiterated its concern for the “deteriorating situation” in the South American country as well as its calls for the protection of the Venezuelan people. However, these sentiments which were released yesterday in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, were rejected by Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell who described the statement as “hypocritical”. Mr Mitchell, who is the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, instead reiterated his stance that The Bahamas has generally stuck to a principle of non-interference. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the deteriorating situation in
LUCAYAN MANAGERS ‘JUST WANT JUSTICE’ from page one
PLP CRITICISES GOVT STANCE ON VENEZUELA
By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
Wednesday, March 27, 2019, PAGE 11
Venezuela with concern,” the government’s statement noted. “The government of The Bahamas calls upon the Venezuelan authorities to safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Venezuelan people. “The government of The Bahamas expresses the hope that a peaceful resolution is realised in accordance with resolutions adopted by the Organisation of American States and the Inter-American Democratic Charter which all member states have accepted.” Mr Mitchell, however, criticised these remarks. “The statement by the Bahamas government on Venezuela is hypocritical,” he said. “This FNM government abandoned the country’s principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries. “Instead it helped to foment the disorder we now see, condemning the
present Venezuelan government as illegitimate, yet it now calls on that same illegitimate government to keep order. “Our government should always be an honest broker and not promote policies which foment disorder. “The PLP says the Bahamas has no dog in the hunt and should have stuck to the non-interference principle.” Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has previously noted the Bahamas’ position on Venezuela has remained firm and in line with the OAS: that if the recent election in Venezuela was illegitimate, then the government is illegitimate. This has differed from the official stance of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has stated Venezuelans must be allowed to “decide their own future” and called for “non-intervention” and “non-interference”.
Magistrate Samuel McKinney to face four counts of abduction stemming from allegations that she abducted three eight-year-old boys and a three-year-old between February 16 and March 29. Prior to the charges being read, however, her attorney, Howard Thompson Jr, indicated to the court that his client has a history of mental health issues. In fact, Mr Thompson said just
last October, Gibson spent some time in the psychiatric ward of the Brookdale University Hospital in New York. Furthermore, Mr Thompson said he has received legal instructions from Gibson that have ranged from “incomprehensible” to “bizarre”. This, he said, was as recently as yesterday morning, when he visited her at the Central Detective Unit (CDU).
Police think speed may have been a factor in fatal crash
Thus, he said, proceeding with the arraignment in the normal fashion would not be prudent, and that a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Gibson is mentally fit to comprehend the legal proceedings and allegations mounted against her would be appropriate given the circumstances. Magistrate McKinney noted Mr Thompson’s claims, and said he would
A11MAIN
not require Gibson to enter a plea to the charges, nor would she be made to elect
THE TRIBUNE whether to have the matter
ATTORNEY Howard Thompson
Tuesday, March 26, 2019, PAGE 11
tried in the Magistrate’s or Supreme Court. He remanded the woman to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) and adjourned the matter to May 13, at which time a psychiatric report will be presented to the court on Gibson’s mental fitness.
THE SCENE of the accident on John F Kennedy Drive yesterday morning,
ADORIAN WILLIAMS, left, is believed to have died in a traffic accident, pictured above, on Sunday night on East Bay Street.
from page one
2007 Honda Accord with extensive damage to its passenger side and with front end damage. “Police also discovered that a male, believed to be in his mid-twenties, on the inside of that vehicle. Unfortunately, this male succumbed to his injuries at the scene. “EMS were called. They administered what they needed to administer, however he could not be saved. We believe that speed may have contributed to this accident. We are in our preliminary stages of this investigation, but it is too early to tell what caused the accident definitively.” Regarding the nature of the incident, Supt Hinds said: “We believe that he touched some of the light poles before he came down, colliding into the shrubbery on the southern end of this thoroughfare before ultimately colliding into the high tension utility pole.” Supt Hinds said the Jaws of Life was brought in, however it ultimately did not have to be used to extricate the victim. The officer could not say whether there were any signs of distracted driving. When asked if the victim was wearing a seat belt, Supt Hinds could not confirm, however he said
in 63 traffic accidents in 2018. This represents a 28 percent increase in traffic deaths; 54 people died in 49 traffic accidents in 2017.
Two more killed in late night accidents from page one
officers are examining that “very carefully”. Supt Hinds also issued safety tips for motorists, advising them not to speed or drive distractedly. “We always advise our drivers, particularly on this thoroughfare, to wear their seat belts and to not speed,” he told reporters, noting the speed limit on that road is 45 miles per hour - the highest for any road in the country. “We know that it is a long journey, it is a long thoroughfare, but we recognise that speed does not make your situation better. So we would ask that persons not drive distracted, with cellphones, eating food, fixing hair, or anything that may cause them to lose awareness of what they’re doing as a driver.” He also addressed the impending amendments to road traffic laws. “As you are aware, those new regulations have not passed, so we have
embarked on an education awareness and enforcement campaign in anticipation that they will be passed very shortly.” Late last month, amendments to the Road Traffic Act were passed in the House of Assembly after being tabled last September. Lawmakers passed amendments that will criminalise both the use of phones while driving and driving with an open alcoholic beverage. The amendments will have to be passed at the Senate level and then published in a gazette before they are officially enacted and become law. Road traffic accidents are now the 13th highest cause of death in the country and without legislative changes, the government believes this will continue. According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames, there were 63 traffic fatalities last year which represented a 29 percent
HOW The Tribune has reported traffic fatalities - and lucky escapes - in recent weeks.
including a phone holder and a Bluetooth headset, free bumper stickers that will allow you to be chosen to win numerous prizes and surprises by random selection and the most exciting and perhaps a little chilling of it all, is the simulator experience that will allow you to see and feel some of the effects of an accident caused by distracted driving.” She added: “While we will be heavily pushing this campaign throughout that
increase from 2017. He said unfortunately, resulting from those 63 accidents were the deaths of 69 victims, reflecting a 28 percent increase from the previous year. Of the traffic fatality victims by island, 42 of the fatalities occurred on New Providence, 11 on Grand Bahama and 10 on the remaining Family Islands, he said.
The Tribune understands the deceased is Adorian Williams, however his identity was not released by police. In the second incident, shortly after 2am yesterday, police were called to a scene of a traffic accident on Baillou Hill and Wulff Roads. According to police, a dark blue Honda Accord and a light blue Honda Accord, each driven by a man, crashed into each other. Unfortunately, a male pedestrian was hit and died at the scene. Both matters are being investigated by traffic police. These traffic fatalities brought the count for
the year to 14, according to The Tribune’s records. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a local government workshop yesterday, Transport and Local Government Minister Renward Wells highlighted the number of deaths in 2018 due to traffic fatalities. Mr Wells said: “(In 2018) we had more deaths in the first three months of the year than we had murders in the Bahamas. More deaths by traffic fatalities. I think we have to realise that in our push for modernity and making the Bahamas more modern we created a lot more highways. “Bahamians were just use to single lane traffic for the most part in New
Providence and single lane traffic throughout the entire Family Islands with the exception of Grand Bahama.” He added: “You can get away with doing certain things when you have dual lane highways where someone can travel at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 miles an hour...looking at the cell phone for a second (and) picking that up and drinking and being a (little) tipsy...there are a lot more issues that are possible when moving at that kind of rate of speed so we need to address it now because we no longer live in a fishing village.” According to police statistics, 69 people died in 63 traffic accidents in 2018. This represents a 28 percent increase in traffic deaths;
week, this is an initiative that we will continue to push to the public for the rest of the year and beyond. We will also be releasing new devices in our stores for purchase in the near future to help you on the journey to safe driving. “We hope to see you all on Saturday, May 11 as we work to enforce safe driving in the Bahamas in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Bahamas Motorsports
54 people died in 49 traffic accidents in 2017. The minister said on Wednesday he will lead the debate on the amendments to the Road Traffic Act in the House of Assembly, which are meant to make the country’s roads safer. He said: “We’re seeking just to simply…for me it’s just legislation about life and how we save lives and how we make the life and fortune of the Bahamian, how we increase the life and fortune of the Bahamian people so that’s what the road traffic amendments are going to entail.” The proposed amendments, tabled in the House of Assembly last September, will make it illegal to drive or operate a vehicle
while using a cellphone, or with an open alcoholic beverage. Failing to “immediately” produce one’s driver’s licence and insurance certificate when asked to do so by police will also become illegal as the Minnis administration seeks to eliminate provisions that gave drivers two days to produce such documents in order to escape penalties. The bill will also make it illegal to drive or operate a vehicle while using an electronic communication device, “whether by holding in ones hand or both hands or with any other part of the body or otherwise,” unless the device is attached to the vehicle or is a part of a fixture in the vehicle.
The legislation further requires “the device remain affixed while being used or operated, or is specially adapted or designed to be affixed to the person of the driver or operator as a hands-free device and is used to enable the driver or operator to use or operate the electronic communication device without holding it.” Driving instructors also will be prohibited from holding electronic devices under the bill, but the stipulation will not apply to those driving emergency vehicles or a vehicle that is lawfully parked and not impeding traffic. The penalty for contravening these provisions will be a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Association by extension the FIA.” Last year, police said there were 63 accidents that resulted in 69 deaths. Forty-two of the traffic incidents occurred in New Providence, 11 in Grand Bahama and 10 in the Family Islands. This represents an increase of 29 percent when compared with 2017 — a year when there were 54 traffic fatality victims in 49 accidents.
PAGE 14, Thursday, May 2, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
VENEZUELANS TAKE TO STREETS AS UPRISING ATTEMPT SPUTTERS CARACAS Associated Press VENEZUELANS heeded opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s call to fill streets around the nation yesterday but security forces showed no sign of backing his cry for a widespread military uprising, instead dispersing crowds with tear gas as the political crisis threatened to deepen. Thousands cheered Guaidó in Caracas as he rolled up his sleeves and called on Venezuelans to remain out in force and prepare for a general strike, a day after his bold attempt to spark a
mass military defection by forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro failed to tilt the balance of power. “It’s totally clear now the usurper has lost,” he proclaimed, a declaration belied by events on the ground. Across town at the Carlota air base near where Guaidó made his plea Tuesday for a revolt, intense clashes between protesters and troops loyal to Maduro made clear the standoff would drag on. There and elsewhere state security forces launched tear gas and fired rubber bullets, while bands of mostly young men armed with makeshift shields threw rocks and
set a motorcycle ablaze. “I don’t want to say it was a disaster,” Marilina Carillo, 54, said, standing in a crowd of people blowing horns and whistles. “But it’s wasn’t a success.” Opposition leaders hoped that Guaidó’s risky move would stir a string of high-ranking defections and shake Maduro’s grip on power. Instead, some analysts expect the embattled socialist leader to emerge even more emboldened. While the chief of Venezuela’s feared intelligence agency broke ranks, most others stood steadfast. The dramatic events could spell
THOUSANDS cheered Guaidó in Caracas yesterday.
even more uncertainty for Venezuela, which has been rocked by three months of political upheaval after Guaidó re-energized a flagging opposition movement by declaring himself interim president, saying Maduro had usurped power. Now the struggle has heightened geopolitical dimensions, with the United States and more than 50 other nations backing Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president and powerful Maduro allies like Russia lending the beleaguered president military and economic support.
UK DEFENCE CHIEF DENIES LEAKS BUT STILL FIRED
MASS GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS FOR MAY DAY Associated Press HIGHER salaries, better working conditions, maternity leave, minimum wage and an end to discrimination against temporary or foreign workers were among the concerns as hundreds of thousands of union members and labour activists rallied around the world to mark May Day. The tradition of May Day marches began in the United States in the 1880s. It spread and, over the decades, the protests have become an opportunity to air general economic grievances. Two protesters and a police officer were injured in the Italian city of Turin when police blocked a demonstration against the construction of a high-speed rail line between France and Italy.
LONDON Associated Press
WORKERS wear masks during a May Day rally in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday.
White House wants $4.5bn emergency border funding WASHINGTON Associated Press THE Trump administration yesterday asked Congress for an additional $4.5 billion in emergency funds for the US-Mexico border as it grapples with a surge of Central American migrant families seeking refuge in the US. Most of the money requested would be used
to increase shelter capacity and care for the migrant families who have been fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries. Department of Homeland Security officials said they would likely run out of money without the extra cash. “DHS projects it will exhaust resources well before the end of the fiscal year,” read the
administration’s formal request letter to Congress. The request is just the latest in a flurry of efforts by the administration to cope with what it calls a “crisis” that officials say has overwhelmed federal resources and capacity. President Donald Trump has railed against aides and Congress for failing to do more to address the situation, but has also made clear he
believes his hard line on immigration was key to his 2016 victory and intends to continue to hammer the issue to motivate his base heading into his 2020 reelection campaign. It also comes a day after a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy in the care of U.S. Health and Human Services died after falling ill with a fever and chills. His death is under investigation. Two other children died in Customs and Border Protection custody late last year. The 2019 fiscal year budget already contained $415 million for humanitarian assistance at the border, including $28 million in medical care, senior administration officials said Wednesday. But the White House now wants an extra $3.3 billion to increase shelter capacity for unaccompanied migrant children and for the feeding and care of families, plus transportation and processing centers. Of the new request, $1.1 billion would go toward operational support, including personnel expenses, detention beds,
PRESIDENT TRUMP transportation and investigative work on smuggling. The remaining $178 million would be used for mission support, including technology upgrades. It’s unclear, however, if Congress will approve the extra funding. Getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on how to address the border situation has been a challenge, especially on the heels of the longest government shutdown in history over Trump’s demand for border wall funding. Trump eventually declared a national emergency declaration to circumvent Congress to get the funding elsewhere.
BRITISH Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was summarily fired yesterday after an investigation into leaks from a secret government meeting about the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, but he denied any involvement in the case. An investigation was launched last week after newspapers reported that Britain’s National Security Council, which meets in private, had agreed to let Huawei participate in some aspects of Britain’s new 5G wireless communications network. The Conservative government insists that no decision has been made yet about Huawei. The security council includes senior ministers, who receive briefings from top military and intelligence officials, and its meetings are considered highly sensitive. In a letter to Williamson, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she “can no longer have full confidence” in Williamson in the wake of the investigation. In the letter released by her Downing St. office, May told Williamson that there was “compelling evidence” suggesting his “responsibility for the unauthorized disclosure” from the National Security Council. “No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified,” she said. But Williamson, pictured below, denied he was the source of the leak in a letter posted on Twitter. He said he was confident that a formal and thorough inquiry would have vindicated him. He says that he appreciated being offered a chance to resign but “to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case.” Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, was appointed to replace Williamson. She becomes the first woman to hold the post.
OLYMPIC RUNNER SEMENYA LOSES FIGHT OVER TESTOSTERONE RULES GENEVA Associated Press
THE sports world’s highest court ruled yesterday that Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya and other female runners like her with unusually high testosterone must take medication to reduce their levels of the male sex hormone if they want to compete in certain events — a landmark decision with far-reaching ramifications for other women’s sports. In a 2-1 ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld proposed rules issued by track’s governing body, the IAAF, saying that they are discriminatory but that “such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means” of
“preserving the integrity of female athletics.” The IAAF argued that high, naturally occurring levels of testosterone in athletes like Semenya with “intersex” characteristics that don’t conform to standard definitions of male and female give them an unfair competitive advantage, and it decreed a maximum level for females.
CASTER SEMENYA
The court decision could open the way for similar rules in other women’s sports where size, speed and power make a difference, such as weightlifting, boxing, swimming, rugby, field hockey and soccer. Semenya — a 28-yearold South African whose sculpted biceps and super-fast, blow-awaythe-competition times have led others to question her accomplishments — declared she will not be deterred. “I know that the IAAF’s regulations have always targeted me specifically,” Semenya said. “For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the CAS will not hold me back.”