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Two shot dead at Potter’s Cay By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were shot and killed at Potter’s Cay Dock last night. The men, both shot in the head, died at the scene. Police fought to restrain a woman believed to be a sister of one of the deceased. “They wrong for that. Why they kill my brother?” the woman cried. The double killings come nearly three months after another man was shot dead at the dock and is bound to fuel concerns of the thousands of tourists who holiday at the nearby Atlantis resort. Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle said: “Shortly after 8pm
police received reports of gunshots at Potter’s Cay Dock at one of the local establishments. The officers assigned to the Potter’s Cay Dock area heard those shots and immediately responded to the eatery where they met two adult males suffering from apparent gunshot injuries to the upper body. The assailants after the shooting left heading in the southern direction of the dock and disappeared in the crowd that assembled after the shooting.” In addition to the murder on February 10, a stabbing incident at the dock in January left two men with injuries. “We’re concerned about
THE government is targeting a minimum $21m in extra annual revenue through a “world class” real property tax system that captures every home and commercial building on New Providence. Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finance’s acting financial secretary, said that door-to-door calls will
By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE shooting death of a 20-year-old at the hands of police officers in the Masons Addition area four years ago was justified in the circumstances, a jury found yesterday. The five-member jury four women and one man - unanimously found that police acted lawfully in shooting D’Angelo Bodie Wallace aka “Fingers” on May 16, 2015. Assistant Superintendent Alexander Pierre, Constable 2823 Jahmal Rolle, Detective Constable 2790 Jara McPhee, and Sergeant 771 Kenneth Greenslade were the officers involved in the matter. The decision came after their attorney, K. Melvin Munroe, reminded the jury of what prompted his
STABBING VICTIM DIES OF WOUNDS
SEE PAGE THREE
By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net
be made on all New Providence properties over the next 18 months in a bid to create a modernised tax system that delivers improved revenue yields together with greater taxpayer equity and fairness. Mr Johnson also confirmed the government’s belief that this exercise will increase the number of properties on the tax roll by 30 percent. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
‘LAWFUL KILLING’ IN POLICE SHOOTING
SEE PAGE THREE
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE TAX CRACKDOWN By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
L SOUR CE
THE BODY on one of the two men shot dead at Potter’s Cay last night.
POLICE are investigating the country’s latest homicide after a man was reportedly found walking with visible stab wounds and later died of his injuries in hospital on Tuesday afternoon. According to police, shortly after 4pm, officers received reports of a male walking in the area of Dominica Way, Sunshine Park with what appeared to be stab wounds about his body. Paramedics responded to the scene, stabilised the injured man and transported him to hospital. He was pronounced dead a few hours later. SEE PAGE FIVE
DAVIS DECLARES: MAKE WEED LEGAL
By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
OPPOSITION leader Philip Davis has confirmed his support for the decriminalisation of recreational marijuana as well as the immediate expunction of the records of those who have been convicted of possessing small amounts of the drug. In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, the Progressive Liberal Party leader noted the protocols of
PLP leader Philip Davis decriminalisation have to be “worked out,” adding there should be laws in place to
regulate marijuana use just as there is legislation regarding the use of alcohol. Mr Davis’ comments came a week after PLP deputy chairman Chester Cooper delivered a passionate speech in the House of Assembly where he expressed his own support of decriminalising small amounts of recreational marijuana and also called on the government to expunge the records SEE PAGE SIX
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medical treatment. EMAILS leaked from a ther’s The emails were obtained data breach of China ConThe Tribune following a struction America’s (CCA) by in December highservers show that from story the breach of CCA as early as 2013, Jerome lighting by a San Francisco Fitzgerald was seeking to servers China Construction secure millions of dollars hacker. paid 24 bitcoins in brokerage, trucking, and eventually equivalent of $24,000) limousine contracts at Baha (the have access to their servMar while he sat in Cabinet to restored; however, it apas the Minister of Educa- ers that emails forwarded tion, Science and Tech- pears relating to personnel or nology, The Tribune has to, at CCA were compromised, learned. top officials at Baha The emails contradict the despite saying they were not Minister, who this week de- Mar by the hack at nied ever using his office to concerned time. direct contracts to himself the Mr Fitzgerald writes, “I In an email dated May 18, or his family from the mulam aware that interior ma2013, sent to Mr Izmirlian have began to arrive ti-billion dollar resort. Mr Fitzgerald, with terials hotel. I would really Mr Fitzgerald - the Pro- by Porter, Shelly Cur- for the gressive Liberal Party MP QuentinAlarice Fill copied, appreciate it if we could be and your official brofor Marathon - appears also tis Fitzgerald indicates his appointed 1st 2013.� to be requesting $20,000 Mr to start brokerage ker for June a month from Baha Mar’s He then makes a request McRib readiness is trucking services for original developer Sarkis and of Mr Izmirlian for limouex- the Baha Mar project and sine services at Baha Mar, Izmirlian, citing the Back! the brokers of repenses that were necessary remain as he touted the level of i’mthelovin’ property. for it! to cover the cost of his fa- cord
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MARSH HARBOUR HEALTH CENTRE OPENS AT LAST
The People’s Paper
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
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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seats: Encaptured four Island and Cat were spent under to ers’ dollars administration. glerston; ; South Anand with 1,900 votes San Salvador Christie T the win is evidence dros as well as Exuma 2017 the 1,875. By SANCHESK SKA DORSET new Mr Christie’s to the unofHe said if there ELECTION A DORSETT A VIRGIL By SANCHE Reporter lity�, the Ragged Islands. Tribune Staff Reporter By KHRISN Reporter the same route as According l seat, Fox of “crimina will allow the the planned� even Tribune Staff dia.net from the ParSPEAK An additiona being reDeputy Chief without the government’s ganiser Ranard Henfield ia.net ion ficial results Registratsdorsett@tribu government course. nemedia.net THE PEOPLE sdorsett@ tribuneme PAGE 4 was still permis- that “after revealed nounced its ry kvirgil@tribunemed sion. his Hill, law to take several weeks of last month that the to press time. after g and liamenta ent, Mr Chipman ON’ back planned a decounted up DESPITE being In and forth� the Cabinet his parMoments DNA ‘TO GO PAGE 5 march to mark the PLP IN a surprisin at the Departm out of 12 polldenied the une, an interview with The Tribas the na- This marked the worst in Office on anniversary AFTER leadinglandslide use of Rawson 50th defeat Wednesday Mr Bostwick II g party won seven maiden speech Minand of Majority Rule. LOSE humbling said “there application rejected the group’s leader, Dr Prime Min- ing divisions in the former Squares for a protest Parliament will be no compromise� ty to a stunning feat for a governin This latest development tion’s next PLP BIG NAMESPAGE 7 to protest in Rawson dealing a parapolls, outgoing on Majority lost that under recent history. ld, while Mr and the and Parliaments is yet victory and to the ProgresPerry Christie lle PLP stronghofive. Rule Day in January, We March group will “not be deterred nis promised victory came ns will MPS ister Squares because another set back for the organiED FNM’s blow by this the “event Bahamia The won Bahamas organiser lysing years attempt toward the Centrevi his watch, YOUR PROJECT PAGE 9 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 to fear from Mr Christie wick sive Liberal on II said yesterday Monday, January the abuse of our coercion event� already booked challengIn 2012, have nothingent, pointing to despite conPrime Minister llestration constituency representing the demon- constitutiona 9 - the original rights and date. FAR included two for that observance incoming “will go on as planned, after won the Centrevi the governm which he said that Dr Minnis’ leadership, RESULTS SO PAGE 14 l eighth freedoms�. votes Minnis declared 40 date 25 the than Hubert for on Dr more In a post on Facebook, Progressive Majority Rule Day.announced for of a fracstituency have abused “im- es to victimisation, with the area for Liberal GE lead or- Chairman itutional� g to unof- consecutive time Party that those who trust “have continued reports ultimately However, earlier is “unconst MORE COVERA Bradley Roberts of years, accordin party and the post He defeated this month it “wrong�. PAGES 2-18 positions an- was announced 2,950 votes. moral� and to unofficial tured Ella results. from to fear�. ficial g held in Parliament that candidate removal g has of somethin to thousands Accordin able his Official Opat the Mr Christie 1977 and the FNM’s FNM was leader of the House of Speaking by 1,349 votes rs at the Q all House today. results, the defeat of the seat since of the Lewis Christie won in pledged that to pull off a stunning mas- position in the jubilant supporte last night, ment been leader Party time. Mr a Dr Minnis give Centre has y. division will securing Sports E Liberal but one polling administration Terrance of the PLP, constituencies. Assembl was a long fought National MoveProgressive 39 “This the Free also announced his is not General it sive 34 of since 1997. released a ntary Regbut the victory Prime 2012. ment leader be sworn in as Auditor the resources AVA former Although he Bythe The Parliame ent did battle, the victory is yours,� TURNQUEST loss, The to Bastian will taxpayseat he s about how Departm the t his that Tribune islands of Bimini thousand re- mine Chief Reporter to probe istration ’ fourth prime Minister lost Movement statemen and not speak full election last Dr Minnis told on the carEleuthera, bringing The Bahamas at Govern- needs Christie didaturnquest@tribunemedia.ne not release 5pm Free National packed with the and po- Mr t tal to 25 confirmedthe tominister at SEE PAGE SIX sults last night, in from the of FNMs cases By SANCHESKA DORSETT (FNM) candidater Reece nationwide. nival grounds. people’s time HEALTH officials numbers coming Tribune Staff Reporter litical newcome agency around “This is the servant and I “This is like a lull, terday urged residentsyeswho secured government from the quiet sdorsett@tribunemedia.net Chipman, to period,� Dr I am your remain vigilant McMillan 11pm. However , it ap- and against 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 ce coming afl results, said � or confiden Director e but that’s of Public Health We’re still monitoring and against the action� taken sweeping defeat residents unofficia electoratPearl it is “obvious seven doing our surveillance. think Charlotte and IMcMillan night that stood mian us Dr ROLLE tional Movement Free NaFort now have yesterthey ter l RASHAD him would r “I By behind day aconfirmed MPs think we have told party Reporte has wonderfu been ousted party Leader who winning the the party have repeatedly lead- the andthat there progressing well as Tribune Staff stand the any a better chance been no a.net Dr to rebuild it relates Hubert Minnis new con- to could not he been victori-p opportunity as leader of rrolle@tribunemedi getting the message firmed cases of the country per- election had since the deitself,� he said. the Official Opposition, leadershi er out ership PLP’s their there forreengine partment’s press and persons heeding cause for ous in the release on it. adding that SIX longer, despite him. there is no legal be- THE REBEL AS HE called This Zika thing December SEE PAGE RASPBERRY basis SEVEN of, 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 Butler-Turner, Neko Nain Christie. New added Mr Free we that a the Christie to Andre Rollins. usually get our first Providence from Grant, Theo Neilly, choosing ve Liberal jected to lose to 22 to 23. and case objection has been formal (FNM) in Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Alof the Progressi 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 FNMs are admitting Loretta Butler-Turner recall a parliamentary lead“that and St Anne’s er when they no longer the best course of MP Hubert confidence have the party to take action for Chipman, who last under the said week to lead.� in his/her ability present circumstance the if the matter were s is to to be taken to court, SEE PAGE THREE the
ER N AS PART Y LEAD S CHRISTIE TO RESIG ALFRED SEARS URGE
JUNE 30th,
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FOREIGN former employees of Baha Mar will be paid by the government appointed Claims Commit-
SEE PAGE SIX
HUSBAND KILLED AFTER GUNMEN FORCED COUPLE TO STOP CAR
By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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energy. solar, to produce of agreeof Works The heads the governMINIST ER r said challenges, Desmond Banniste ment requires to “address concerns� pressed certain and BPL delayed t today marks which he suggestedof docu- he has “serious Power and ment and consisten WHILE with Bahamas to “keep the reliable of electricity on the for both sitsubmission the deadlineformer parlia- the tell- supply Providence, Light’s ability are chal- lights on this summer,� of island of New ting and to file financial ments. abiliinclude the Among these the lack mentarians Public Discloobtaining finanThe Tribuneprevent the which will the requirements lenges with from spouses, ing may ty to meet disclosures, ion Chairrecords s reliabilityent from fulfilling of the project.� the instalsure CommissLaroda told cial rly in situation governm requirey involves particula operMyles g This man Mar all the necessar they may have yesterday that all supportinto y lation “of The Tribunestill some that wherebank accounts prior ments in the Baha t. cture necessar ated there were ing�. . He said there- heads of agreemen he is al- infrastru FIVE marriage PAGE to that SEE are “outstand some unwilling yesterday, He added at new, alsion In an interview in his dis- was also ready “looking including and apprehen said ways,� Mr Laroda some persons ness SEE PAGE THREE ternative cussions with to make who are required es, they exthe disclosur
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Christie: It’s like the Wild West
certain neighbourhoods� and the suggestion to do is “emotional and makes so no sense�.
By NICO SCAVELLA do much more to “fully Tribune Staff Reporter derstand this senseless unnscavella@tribunemedia.net of killings,� and have set law PRIME Minister Perry enforcement respond “as Christie yesterday likened quickly as possible� and in a “very meaningful way� the Bahamas’ crime in situation to the “Wild West,� their crime fighting efforts. These efforts, Mr Chrisas he said the recent wave of murders in the capital tie suggested, would likely include dedicating a must solicit a “major� “suband stantial� number “continuous� effort by Manhis ers to patrol the of officEmergency actiadministration to “flood streets The National New Providence and of after they agement Agency (NEMA) ent the streets� with officers sithe police y managem n in multaneously giving cations with from entering the vated its emergenc a bid to do “all that is necesthem T and an evacuatio were blocked SKA DORSET sary to bring this madness “the capacity to interdict plan yesterday ed at the Kenthe movements of peopleBy SANCHE Reporter area. were also shelter was establish to a halt�. Staff um at the Several persons with respira- dal G L Isaacs Gymnasi Centre Mr Christie, speaking on the streets,� incorporat- Tribune tribunemedia.net Sports to the hospital with reporters yesterday, ing more reserve police of- sdorsett@ Gar- rushed Queen Elizabeth shelter during ts. in Jubilee tory complain Tribune arrived on which was used as a for displaced said the “madness� occur- ficers, and “if necessary� RESIDENTS to evacuate their When The ring is due to gang activity incorporating Royal Baharesidents were forced last hurricane mas Defence Force marines dens were after a massive the scene, severaltheir roofs, as the the and retaliation. is believed residents. on landfill homes yesterday Providence thick, pouring water their homes. fire at the dumpby a smaller He said the past bloody in policing efforts. New to The the at in closer ity fire Mr Christie also said blaze grew Parliament for Tall to have been started Road. weekend is a “shocking he blanketed the commun of would be speaking also assist- bush fire off Fire Trail development� that will with black hazardous smoke. Bahamas Member Miller was the Royal Pines Leslie in hosing down their quire the government reTWO AND THREE SEE PAGE THREE entrance Members of to SEE PAGES blocked the visibility ing residentsproviding transportaPolice Force on as homes and who needed help. residents to the subdivisi tion for those zero. Angry dropped to in verbal alterbecame involved of human trafficking. fire off Fire Suppression Act, Chapter James Coakley, 53, a smaller bush to the city a of 106. spread have ed by Cargill Creek, Andros yesterday after Movement fre- Trail Road that blanketed Jubilee The former boxer was in Jubilee Gardens Fire Trail Road. was brought before the Free National areas in prevent the ce dump. The fire from the smoke started in bushes off Chief enough to Magistrate Joyann Fergu- also charged with three surrounding DORSET T d A YOUNGSTER flees and Providen done SKA e landfill that New Gardens the counts of rape filed under at and threatene By SANCHE Reporter New Providenc to evacuate their homes. Hanna/Tribune Staff son-Pratt to answer to quent fires have caused some of thick, black smoke g officials fire at the two Section 6(a) of were asked Photos: Shawn Tribune Staff counts of trafficking in dia.net the Sexual ry issues. Landfill that homes, promptin Many residents persdorsett@ tribuneme mas- several to develop respirato sons contrary to Section Offences Act, Chapter 99. It SEE PAGE THREE s came as a Jubi- them 3(1)(a) of the Trafficking is alleged that he engaged in owners in Their comment at the landfill, raging ANGRY home in Persons Prevention was startyesterday expressed sive fire was SEE PAGE SIX and lee Gardens concern that neither which officials believe nor and Party disgust ve Liberal the Progressi had any redespite not having many purchase O WELLS sponse to his Mar’s former r By RICARD offers, as Baha Izmirlian said cases of im- Tribune Staff Reporte enced alleged ibunemedia.net developer, Mr “stands ready, officials solicitROLLE migration from migrants rwells@tr By RASHAD Reporter his company By AVA TURNQUEST buy Baha By SANCHESKA DORSETT developer ing bribes and able to The bill will allow Tribune Staff beatings of Tribune Chief Reporter a.net the an law as THE originalMar resort willing complete it Tribune Staff Reporter and alleged prisoners in today and Bahamian rrolle@tribunemedi aturnquest@tribunemedia.net commissioner of police, or a ity solely it placed author- sdorsett@tribunem of the Baha the resort’s Mar in the hands of ely with migrants and person acting on his behalf, edia.net n conStates has de- immediat yesterday said the independent judiciary, THE United Bahamas custody. y, the Ministry continued completiondates workers and Bahamia delays ATTORNEY General to obtain a warrant from a adding that POLICE are investigatthe Yesterda the The chronic opening highlighted Allyson Maynard-Gibson Supreme Court judge to in- international the ICB met ing the “intimida- of Foreign Affairs said te� lays, missed stag- tractors. by CCA for either circumstances surent’s tercept and examine a standards supposed governm created “inaccura yesterday defended the incom“now rnmental In- son’s communications per- and also addressed recent rounding the death of a report had cases “incom- and opening� of the en- self interest or patent tion of non-gove terception of Communicanow. The from criticisms and efforts gered three-year-old boy who in some into late next petence must stop was organisations� ent and au- and information. tions Bill as an important telecommunications opera- Devices of the Listening found unresponsive better.� tire property Sarkis plete� in a car an incident year shows that superi- Bahamas deserves by the governm anti-crime tool that would tors, internet providers and Council. Act by the Privy in front inhibit “free of his daycare yesReferring to SEE PAGE SIX Minpostal services. offer “is thorities to enhance the privacy of criminal . Education Izmirlian’s She said any suggestion terday afternoon. lawIn a statement yesterday, Fitzgerald or� to the current situation for in which speech through abiding citizens rather that the The body of the toddler as problems this, and than ister Jerome despite 12 libel laws� latest encroach upon it, as detrac- Mrs Maynard-Gibson ex- “spying legislation was a was discovered However, SEE PAGE in its bill� was false. plained that this move shortly the Bahamas report. tors claim. was ter 2pm on Monday afunprecedented in Bahamiby a human rights also referSEE PAGE FIVE The report SEE PAGE SIX
ATTACKS EX-BOXER ON RAPE, TRAFFICK ING
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DESPITE the country His comments came recording 13 homicides 13 days, Commissioner in hours after the country reof corded its 27th homicide Police Ellison Greenslade the year. Seven people for said the Bahamas is not have ROLLE a state of “crisis� and in been killed since Friday. the r By RASHAD Reporte On Monday afternoon, average Bahamian Tribune Staff a.nettinue to “go about can con- police also reported that a their rrolle@tribunemedi as normal day� without day man was stabbed outside the an establishment Nottage’s fear be on Nassau of being attacked. DR Bernard forever will At na press conference Street while two men were “footprints the Bahamia shot while in the area at police of e� headquarters on Ross etched on landscap Corner. These victims ental Monday developm work as a for- after a weekend of were said “carnage�, Commissioner condition to be in stable through his of the Bahain hospital. mer presidention of Greenslade Athletic said the only soCommissioner lution to the country’s crime mas Associat the Bahamas Greenslade said it problem Associations, ion, theis to “keep prolific ply not enough for is simoffenders people as a behind bars�. He to “point Medical Associatand the finger at the said rthe af- Royal Bahamas MinDoctors’ Union consume FORMER Prime Police and Force (RBPF) is not police in times of crisis� the reminister for , health yet refuse to “manage was to accept ister Perry Christie their fairs, education considering into a defeat,for it as I did when I Opposi- implementing arrears, security, pictured yesterday. W. a in curfew to ity was or “locking down SEE PAGE THREE COMMISSIONER national tenant who Photo: Terrel of Police Ellison Greenslade Philip “Brave� recent sponsibil � he said in response ns airport Staff levelled speaking at a press described tion Leader resigned, conference yesterday. ay. Carey/Tribune from accusatio Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Mr Christieby the government as questions on the criticism Davis said Wednesd in recent , misfea71, died Staff administration moves made by a party pandering at his administration ible spending Dr Nottage, the Cleveof irrespons O WELLS . at a “misstep� thought By RICARD Reporter Wednesday He will receive sance and cronyism that weeks. never any By RICARDO WELLS he was “disap- to its base. acceptmaintained Tribune Staff “There was land Clinic. ia.net the three most recent He also said allegations being in arrangethat I was Tribune relating Mr Christie inci- a double shooting Staff by the ed, Reporter rwells@tribunemed gova state funeral announc documents would on my part ility for any degree dents, which have left on Ross By LAMECH Per- pointed� berwells@tribunemed by the new that a review of one ia.net ments to controversies of any ing responsibof criminality, irreman dead and three others Corner yesterday, lamented Tribune Staff JOHNSON Prime Minister ed tossed around the press secng matters er to these two FORMER Reporter ration the “too bold� according to Office of the yesterday condemnra- ernment concerni his last term as absolve his administ that much whatsoev spending and the notion the country and po- in hospital in serious condi- crimes occurring nature of ljohnson@tribunemedia.net ry Christie during retary for the AS Anthony and prove as noth- sponsible Minnis administ tion. is bare’ is just in the captranspired lice is wrongdoing efforts by the his government in ital recently, as he insisted Prime Minister, continue to grapple that ‘the cupboard Officer-in-charge prime minister.at accusations from of the FNM’s rhetoric l slogans.� A MAN appeared with the latest spate of slogans.� tion to portray as he challenged in Newbold. vio- Central Detective of the that a “handful of prolific Magistrate’s Hitting back Minnis adminisSIX than “politica s I have political light, THREE a PAGE more lent out PAGE crimes, SEE ing Unit, negative the Court SEE a law enforceoffenders� remain hell-bent ryesterchallenge leader to carry of the members of day accused of sexually government officials are seeking Chief Superintendent Clay- on terrorising ng the controveto “One of the the nation’s aswho led the $8m examination the public. ton Fernander, speaking tration concerni saulting a woman during the public’s assistance of more thanclean up as the person led the government to “dispassionate in the media on the sial pay out and who SEE PAGE THREE the Christmas holidays. scene of record�. interview at one vendor for hurricane to an ment She is alleged to be a victim off of $1.2m During a lengthy home on Thursand the write his Cable Beach defended his day, Mr Christie
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By AVA TURNQU EST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunem edia.net WATER and Sewerage Corporation Adrian Gibson Chairman yesterday confirmed the existence of a “do not list populate disconnect� of elites at d by scores the government owned utility provider as he pledged initiate a crackdow to n on delinquent accounts. Mr Gibson told The Tribune the list� held “confidential 221accounts, with a combined 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 disconnection. “There is dential list,� a list confiIsland MP said.the Long “In fact, I that all the would think over the last corporations year or two, and more particula rly in May of this year, there has been tion paid toclose attenthat list by the managem ent 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@tribunemedi By SANCHE During a SKA DORSET a.net T homicide address fromlive national Tribune Staff Reporte WITH s as his office sdorsett@ r the guarding the well as safetribunemedia.net fore- last night, Dr cast for Hurrican residents of Minnis e Maria said: “Hurrica Fox Hill. projecting the ACTING ne Maria Commissioner storm to pass another is of Police During a near the Southeas potential walkabou Anthony Fergu- Fox t Baha- astating hurricane ly dev- son announce mas Friday Hill on Tuesday, t in that we the d Acting Minister Dr morning, Prime must carefully monitor.� establishmentyesterday Commissioner Hubert Minnis Ferguson He added: of two said the Anti-Gan is urging residents Though most separate Royal g and Bahamas Firearms Tracing of those of the Bahamas islands to was spared Police Force anti-crim be vigilant and units aimed and e tigation Unit will Invesoperate 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 MANA GEMENT
O WELLS By RICARD Reporter Tribune Staff ia.net rwells@tribunemed concern ADMIT TING 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 being since public silence office in hisof a voted out last month, toric fashion ChrisMr his visibly troubled portions of tie detailed tion with his last conversa longfriend and childhood colleague on time political Thursday. Centreville The former Nottage as Dr MP saw “fought tehis someone who ut througho naciously� he loved and life for thosetrait he said he a supported, up to their saw on display tion. last conversa By SANCHESKA DORSETT SEE PAGE SIX Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net
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.
CHIEF Superintende nt 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. Chief Supt Fernander tee next month, said committee mians, the victim, identiChairman James Smith said former most of the foreign fied by police as Kendrick yesterday. employees Simms, was driving ceive all that is duewon’t reSince the money his wife, when anotherwith to Mr Smith said theythem. pulled en on an ex-gratia was givcar will, basis by however, ahead the China Export-Impo receive a “high ing them to of them forcstop. rt figure�. Bank (EXIM) and “The man was tended primarily was indrivfor BahaSEE PAGE FIVE ing through Millennium SEE PAGE FIVE
PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
Covering The Bahamas for be abandoned.
ed it must as Hurri40 years. is so devastat on the island home has Ragged Island “Every those who remained Nobody Minnis warns The last week. Does it . Better! discussion with their homes NEW PROVIDENCE Minister Dr Hubert has been destroyed battered icken RagGRAND BAHAMA facilityABACO has been health s on storm-strPrime Min- cane Irma 242.394.5555 residence ELEUTHERA destroyed. The 242.350.3500teachers’ There te, is no water. and safety condition EXUMA to deteriora urged the 18 been has been destroyed. The is 242.367.4204 no light. 242.332.3211 HEALT H 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 ls will of dead has T stench(BAHAMAS) s of the individua remaining residents e Irma, whichof rubble and SPECIA L REPOR LIMITED. we get them that INSURANCE health condition Russell, BROKERS & math of Hurrican AGENTS and it’s essential said. s there to piles Words: Khrisna W Carey www.Insu teriorateranceMan Minnis Terrel agementB most structureisland unlivable. Dr the only Pictures: ahamas.c island,� Minnis leave Dr off this om for reluctant to rendered the stay here,� saw for the n understandablyhome, expressing concern “They cannot A1MAIN Many were and a delegatio and days known as through s, said after he damage left by Irma they’ve ever gs. ripped residence place their hurricane safety of first time the Five monster personal belongin d about the left behind. We will have after the Category island. ted by the smell “They are concerne they may have and the Defence condition, exacerba the small southern on of all es- whatever materials a vessel here and at the same physical destructi dispatch the still Force The island’s e the cleanup carcasses and strongly urge those the Defence said. Dr Minnis of rotting animalled Dr Minnis to small community can Force will try to commenc security,�Established SEE PAGE 1903THREE that there is 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 d,� devastate WIPEOUT: Prime
Christie denies claims ong spendin
ORS IN THE SPO
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By AVA TURNQU EST Tribune Chief officials could Reporter aturnquest@tribune not media.net reached up to press time. be According 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 outstandi Power and ng balLight, former 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. the company $62,023 to settle the balance The Credit tions Departm and Collec- a three-month period. over Mr MPs, senators ent 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 Industria owed BPL Corporation. l $62,023.14. Others on The list obtained the “do not Tribune contains by The disconnect� list are: former delin- Minister of Health quent accounts of six Perry 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, Wilchcom DR DANIEL $9,277.07 and who owed former South Beach be, 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
CRUNCH DAY OVER WHO
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By NEIL HARTNE Tribune Busines LL utility operator s Editor nhartnell@ tribuneme ing to “walk is quite willdia.net away� from maximum $25m, five-yearit BAHAMAS BPL Light’s (BPL) Power & if themanagement contract board and hold a “crunchboard will administr Minnis ation meeting� with PowerSe The meeting,wish it to go. cure today, with the outcome which be attended by PowerSecwill ical in deciding likely crit- executive ure s and their attorneys latter remains whether the from the US, as manager. Multiple Tribune CLEOLA to determini is viewed as key ng whether Business sources HAMILTON OBIE yesterday two sides will “kiss and the confirmed $6,118 make up� or separate. WILCHCOMBE that the DAMIAN US FULL $4,911 STORY - SEE GOMEZ BUSINESS NINE individuals $3,413 July. The sums named on the BPL “do HURRICANE not disconnec do not include t� list any payments INSUR ANCE: made or furtherand the amount they owed at the end of debt incurred since that date. Are you Covere
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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 Reporte rrolle@tri He said Photo: Yontalay relation to the fire. after bunemedia.net r 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 responsib blaze extinguished Minister Dr her pain remained and again, even pain. “What makes Hubert ility our Minnis and today and me feel has whatever informati worse is that countries. Yes acute. nomination day� “He on Patricia his we ain’t one most wife must I feel for even Mar’s we see of those Baha Minnis couldn’t bring that forward. mother more live certainly beforethe than I can say.� this answer God,� Mrs Woodsida life, my my yearsin the yard, I, during These criminals questions Dr Minnis opening on Friday. that consume “He’s e cried. as a medical Mrs Minnis, live among us.� said he will Kendera shortly d breath a baby. I could Woodside yesterday medical attention doctor, to ensure The blaze started give my the family who emphasised she grieved right now is provided andfor as baby after 3am Wednesday just for to her ance before that her appear- Mrs Woodside, who is year-old said officpregnant Eugene, whoson, eight- my to be right here. They my “You can see Chief Supt Evans political move,them was not a heart out my take was killed four theago. the grieving . fire body. ers expect to battledays to wear black called on women pain she’s going through,� and “This “Why my but only son. for at least another daythese people he in mourning one day this week said. “I assured her They ain’t tell- almost shoot my ing a “huge� that somefor time today they daughter too he said the wind isme “As a mother, murder victims. (Friday) right now?� bringing my son and they inside (the medical personne we will have I’m calling factor. house) with she cried between me. What all mothers screams they do to l come because I upon after her as SIX SEE PAGE Dr Minnis my family? 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 our sons who well and we are former patients,� a stray bullet we cradle Tonio Woodsida baby.� Monday as will also make arrangem Dr become from birth and as he did his homeworon father, consoled e, Eugene’s Minnis, a gynaecologist they necessary ents to make men we are by prohis wife even fession, said. “The k. as he sure the them. still medical with struggled We message have to speak personnel look after we to maintain must send to the entire her and see with is the police Bahamas them. I think all women can’t fight this wear should regular basis to ensure her on a alone. and black one day this the safety of her and her 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 HARTNE ing the former North AnTribune Busines LL so alarmed dros and Berry Islands MP s Editor by the Caribnhartnell@ tribuneme bean Financial of being a “political enemy� dia.net Action Task By RASHAD ROLLE Force’s (CFATF) Tribune THE Attorney who mounted an independreIn June, ONE of the leaked emails showing a draft rrolle@tri Staff Reporter Gen- report on The he told Pareral yesterday ent campaign because he Sciliament bunemedia.net quest from Minister of Education, slammed that he instructed Bahamas the deficiencies was denied a nomination 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 addressing ister the flaws from launderin was $10,149,7 such of public regime as Speaking to PLP supfor Limolink in The 38. The revision “entirely unac-g services 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 weakness to tackle public purse count. Carl Bethel wish. Please feel free he urged the crowd to vote ballooned es with the $16,532,7 Amid the told Trib- necessary urgency. limousine business we you by une Business 38 because Progressive contact me personally for incumbent Dr Perry of the Liberal Party’s he had been FULL Christie are ready to meet with to vote a that contact adding agents Gomez, administr your criticism have STORY - SEE your people anytime,� he or the BUSINESS hiring of new public ation’s of the Minnis administr Mr Porter our Managing for Mr Peet is a vote for aservice tion because of workers during writes. its firings Free National Movement. directly.� that period. “As indicated we really Director SIX PAGE SEE SEE PAGE SIX only cater to highend cusSEE PAGES TWO & THREE tomers and are the official
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Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 3
Two shot dead at Potter’s Cay THE SCENE at Potter’s Cay Dock last night following the shooting of two men. Below middle,, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle talks to the media. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
from page one every murder,” Mr Rolle said. “We want to ensure that every person in The Bahamas is safe so we view murders for what it is and we treat all of them with our utmost concern.” Asked whether police presence was adequate, Mr Rolle reiterated that police were on the dock and that officers responded to the gunshots. “We will continue to police as the need arises,” he said. However, he declined to say if patrols of the area will be increased. “I don’t know if we would call this a hotspot. This is an area where people come to have a good time and we want everyone to feel safe and move about and enjoy yourself.” • IN an unrelated incident, shortly after midnight this morning, police responded to reports of gunshots via Shotspotter and discovered an adult male suffering from gunshot injuries to his lower leg. Tthe victim was taken to hospital for medical attention. Editorial View - Page 4
LAWFUL KILLING IN POLICE SHOOTING, JURY DECIDES from page one clients to take the action they did—that Wallace shot at both ASP Pierre and P/C Rolle after defying the latter’s orders to drop his weapon. And that came after he was said to have tried to kill his neighbour, Cleveland Sawyer. The only reason that didn’t happen, according to the evidence, was because the gun Wallace had, a .40 Glock Smith & Wesson auto-loading pistol, malfunctioned twice when Wallace pulled the trigger on Mr Sawyer. However, Mr Sawyer told police that even while he was running from Wallace, he could still hear gunshots behind him. And in any event, the evidence suggested the four officers were severely “outgunned” throughout the entire ordeal, as they also had to contend with the likes of a high-powered “imitation” AK-47 assault rifle with only their police service weapons, with the former capable of shooting some 1,300 feet per second faster than the latter. According to the evidence, P/C Rolle said in the early morning hours of May 16, 2015, he and ASP Pierre were on duty at the junction of East Street and Wulff Road when they received certain information from police control room about shots being fired in the Masons Addition area. P/C Rolle said when he and ASP Pierre arrived at
the location around 3.30am, he observed a group of males, one of whom was armed with the high-powered weapon. P/C Rolle said upon their arrival, the males fled the area, prompting him and ASP Pierre to give chase. He said the male with the rifle ran east into a nearby yard, while the rest headed west towards East Street behind a house and some bushes. After managing to apprehend and arrest a suspect, he said he heard a barrage of gunshots that sounded like “violent lightning and thunder” coming from the direction of East Street to the west. P/C Rolle said while the suspect they had apprehended was still at his side, one of the males dressed in black from earlier, who was armed with a weapon, ran from a house and to the east away from East Street. P/C Rolle said he ordered the male to drop the gun, and expected him to do so. However, he said the male refused, turned and fired a single shot in their direction. P/C Rolle said ASP Pierre, who was closest to the shooter, threw his hands up in defence, and given the look on his partner’s face, led him to believe he had been hit. While this was happening, Sergeant Sean Thurston, en route to the Masons Addition area after being sent there by police control room, said he could
hear officers over the radio saying they were being shot at that they could actually see the fire and the smoke from the gun in question. In fact, there was evidence that ASP Pierre frantically said he felt something whiz past his head. Nonetheless, P/C Rolle said he was able to harken to his training days and fired two shots in the shooter’s direction. He also said ASP Pierre also had the opportunity to discharge his weapon after the first shot was fired. P/C Rolle said the shooter continued running in an easterly direction. P/C Rolle said a short time later, other officers arrived on the scene. He said they went in the direction the shooter ran, and ultimately found him lifeless with a .40 Glock Smith & Wesson auto-loading pistol lying near his body. Forensic Pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, in giving testimony, said Wallace suffered two injuries: one to the torso and another to his right foot. However,
she said no bullets or bullet fragments were recovered. However, Charles Bain, an expert firearms examiner, said ballistic evidence revealed that Wallace did in fact fire a weapon on the night in question, as swabs taken revealed that residue from a discharged firearm was found on his hand. Another senior officer testified that he too was sent into the Mason’s Addition area in reference to gunshots being fired. Upon arriving in that area, he observed a male, bareback, who was running for his life. The senior officer said he subsequently took that male to another male to the Central Police Station, and while en route, could hear gunshots being fired in rapid succession from the Masons Addition area. Meanwhile, Woman Constable Briana Mackey stated that while on duty at Central Police Station, she spoke to two males: Cleveland Sawyer and Leroy Russell, the former of whom told her that his neighbour
who he knew as “Fingers”, pulled a black handgun on him and tried to kill him. W/C Mackey said Sawyer told her that when “Fingers” pulled the trigger the first
time, nothing happened. When he tried again, the gun jammed. But she said Sawyer told her that as he ran from “Fingers” he could hear shots being fired at him.
PAGE 4, Thursday, May 9, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
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So what will the US Embassy think? ON EASTER Monday, five people were shot in a car as they drove past Montagu Beach. We said at the time the police needed to up their presence at this location as in recent years it has become increasingly popular with both locals and tourists, especially with the advent of Airbnb luring visitors into areas well beyond where they would normally secure accommodation. Since that time we have seen scant reaction by the police to demonstrate to criminals that this high-value tourist destination is ‘out of bounds’. We canvassed people who work the beach area on a daily basis and they asked for the same we had suggested. Nothing has happened. Our concern was the impact on tourism once the stories inevitably make the press of people held up at gunpoint for their wallets, cell phones and the cash in their pockets. What better way to fuel the American crime alerts than to allow these things to happen, be warned to do something about them and yet do nothing Just a week ago there was a report of a sex assault on Paradise Island by a Bahamian on a female tourist. Can you think of anywhere worse this could happen in New Providence? Every taxi sitting down town is waiting to take a busload of day visitors either to a boat trip or Cabbage Beach. God forbid the next US State Department report puts Cabbage out of bounds. Which brings us to today. Just five or six weeks ago there was what some would call a “routine” killing not Over-the-Hill but at Potter’s Cay. Most of us who live in the East drive
past Potter’s Cay but never stop - unless on a special occasion to buy fish Mostly, however, people drive past and never turn left, moving as quickly as the traffic lights allow to move past those who spend their lives living in and outside the numbers houses south of the bridge - let’s be honest, their lives don’t look easy. A few months ago one of their number was shot dead in what seemed a rare killing, gunned down in Potter’s Cay a few hundred yards away. We took it is a one-off. Last night two more were shot dead while having a drink in exactly the same area. Put yourself in the place of the Duty Officer in the US Embassy this evening reporting to his boss. Hundreds of thousands of Americans drive precisely over this area every single month to get to Atlantis, Riu, The Grove, The Warwick, The Ocean Club, Comfort Suites. A decent number of them are directed to Potter’s Cay as a nearby alternative to taking a cab to fish fry at Arawak. If you were the concierge in good conscience would you send them there? It’s time to get real folks. We survive on tourism, virtually nothing else. People get killed 1,000 yards from the front doors of Atlantis and it’s going to change. Mr Dames, our confident Security Minister, should sort this out now. You’ve had success elsewhere by putting boots on the ground and we’ve seen the dead toll fall. No-one can afford to see it fail so close to where the majority of our visitors head; it’s too much of a risk not to ignore.
Does the BCC speak for you? EDITOR, The Tribune
WHEN the Bahamas Christian Council speaks on an issue who exactly do they talk for? The BBC has been dominated forever by Baptist Revs I don’t think ever has there been an Anglican or Catholic or Methodist leader of the BBC - let’s call it spades - when they talk do they talk for the traditional denominations and if not, why doesn’t the leadership of those traditional well established churches issue a statement? For years now the Catholic leadership has been quiet on every issue as if READERS have been posting their reactions to the news on tribune242. com. The authors of a study on full WTO membership said The Bahamas may have to release the government’s stranglehold over the foreign investment approvals process in return for higher tariffs that protect domestic producers under WTO. That prompted this from DDK: “Our political ‘leaders’ are definitely biting off more than they can chew. Perhaps they envisage more travel perks. Seems they are not only blinded by what they imagine will be the ‘glory’ of joining this global rule maker, but are uncaring about the consequences for the average Bahamian, in much the same way they fail to acknowledge the dire consequences of the 24/7 numbers racket.”
they have no concern rarely do you hear from the Methodists and Anglicans, but the Baptists - Evangelistics and Pentecostals they make controversial statements on everything – do the Catholics-Anglicans agree?. Politics and Church? I find it totally unacceptable that politicians feel they have a right to go into the temple-church of God and presume they can make a “political” statement as if because the statement is ushered from there it is god-like? In church the Prime Minister and his merry men and lady of Cabinet are as equal as
TheMadHatter said: “They won’t give up FDI control in order to protect ordinary Bahamians. Guaranteed. Don’t forget everything (of importance) is a secret with our government.” Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis is calling for the Minnis administration to “revamp the entire road traffic regime”. TigerB had this to say: “I believe this man was an MP for 10 years, five as the DPM . . . he never addressed any of these issues he is talking about now, but suddenly he sees them as issues . . . I love
the pauper and the sinner the Church leaders should insist the politicians stay in the pews - that’s their place they go to church I presume for more than political reasons, or is that why? Listen and gain and be educated. 50% of any church congregation are not your supporters that’s a given. In the pews, sir, the Most Honourable Prime Minister be humble. Curious, as a Catholic, Mr Minnis you seem to stay away from your churches wonder – why? ABRAHAM MOSS Nassau May 6, 2019
Perry better, Perry had more scruples . . . a much better leader.” Finance Minister K Peter Turnquest urged web shop operators to pay their taxes out of an obligation to the government regardless of beliefs or legal arguments they intend to mount. Sickened asked: “Why pay if there is no penalty for not paying? It’s not like their licenses are going to be revoked until taxes are paid.” And in The Tribune’s online poll, we asked readers if they agreed with Attorney General Carl Bethel that the government’s two years in office have been free of fundamental errors. At the time of going to press, 56 percent of those voting agreed with the Attorney General, with 44 percent disagreeing.
Time to find paper trail EDITOR, The Tribune DEVELOPMENTS continue and projects are ongoing in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, but why do we seem to be always regressing in our understanding of the procedures and approvals required from our government agencies. Yes, I get it, we hardly trust anything related to the government and its ability to function to our benefit, but we must remember while we discount all institutions; (some may be deserving) we are also demeaning and dismissing the professionals who are given the charge of due diligence and due process. The proposed $45 million Boutique ‘Briland Resort is yet another project that is presently under the microscope and scrutiny,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net this time it’s the residence of Harbour Island and the tiki torches are out again. We should note a project of this magnitude requires steps and approvals from more than one government agency. If we as a country would only try to understand agencies like The National Economic Council (NEC), The Bahamas Investment Authority and Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST) and the laws and precepts associated with these agencies, which are easily accessible on The Bahamas government website, we the people will find ourselves in debates that
are less ‘on the surface’ and reckless conversations that have no bearing. It is one thing to object against a project that may harm our environment that does not positively impact a community, but to totally dismiss Bahamians who have no financial benefit, but to only do their job is really a red herring and discouraging to Bahamian experts who have years of experience. Anyone with a flicker of a light bulb going off should know that this type of project was years in the making, and I am positive a huge paper trail has been in existence fastened with review comments and consultative methodologies. LITTLE BAHAMA BANK SHALLOW OBSERVER Nassau May 2, 2019
The colours of confusion EDITOR, The Tribune CAN we or should we contrive that the choice of a particular colour means anything in the global spectrum of politics? Take RED…first comes to light is Communism - socialism, but then red is the US Republican party colour…you see red extensively worn in Venezuela and we all know their politics. This tie thing…under the PLP yellow - under the FNM red and they wear Red officially all the time to when it is funny.
A friend who is in with the political muck a mucks told me recently that he had to stop wearing a yellow tie, by far his favourite, because he was labelled a PLP sympathiser! Colours I suggest do mean something… there was a reason why Sir Cecil chose red for the infant FNM…is the real political colour of the FNM socialism? CHET ALBURY Nassau May 6, 2019
Nearly there - Carnival just needs some polishing EDITOR, The Tribune. CARNIVAL the presence of visitors participating - before we hear all kinds of crazy statistics let MOT give us their basic evaluation as I have not seen any photograph-video in the media or on social media that indicates that there was as the groups are now promoting ‘000’s of visitors. There could have been but you would have so
easily identified them unless the majority were Afro-American! 2020 Carnival with the licence there should be a clean-up fee - $10,000.00 would suffice, but the mess I a saw someone caused it and someone should have cleaned it up - why are we so disgusting – bring your tings take them back don’t leave them underfoot. Licensing laws - I suspect a total 100% breakdown - why? Health, Food
Handlers - Liquor and vendor licensing this weekend of frolic was not Tax Free weekend! Carnival just needs some polishing and a good dose of obeying the law – it could be big, but let’s be careful not to over claim things like Junkanoo does about visitors…Proof is in the seeing - I ain’t see them. T HUDSON Nassau May 7, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 5
TASK FORCE TO LOOK INTO GOVERNMENT HOUSE SECURITY By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames announced yesterday the appointment of a “review committee” tasked with investigating the security issues related to the shooting death of Petty Officer Percival Philip Perpall at Government House on April 28. The committee is composed of retired Commissioner of Police Reginald Ferguson, who will chair the group; retired Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rodrick Bowe; retired Superintendent of Police Douglas Hanna; and retired police officer and attorney Paul Jones.
The investigation will span two months, according to Mr Dames, and once complete its findings will aid in the formulation of new security measures for government buildings. During his announcement at the Churchill Building yesterday morning, Mr Dames said the committee will ultimately determine whether there were any breaches or failures in security at Government House during the morning of the incident. He did, however, note the findings of this probe would not impact the ongoing criminal case associated with the case. P/O Perpall, a 30-year veteran of the RBDF, was fatally shot while sitting in the guard room with two of his colleagues around
2.30am, according to police reports. Another RBDF officer, who was a subordinate to P/O Perpall, has since been charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident. Mr Dames insisted that given this particular circumstance, his office deemed it necessary for all reviews of the matter to be done in a transparent and balanced manner. “In order to address this incident in a transparent manner, I am appointing four imminently qualified professionals of note and associated backgrounds to form the review committee which will conduct the inquiry with immediate effect,” he said.
Mr Dames said the committee has the “full backing” of the government and is mandated to conduct this investigations over the next two months. He continued: “…The main objective behind all of this is that, at the end of the day, once the committee would have concluded their findings they would also be making recommendations for improvements and that is the critical objective behind this overall inquiry. “If you remember now, the investigations into the death of P/O Perpall has been concluded by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and so we want to keep that separate. “And hence the reason for
imminently qualified individuals would have been selected, because they understand investigations, bring law to the table and they will know how to keep that dividing line to ensure that from these findings that we can bring about the needed improvements in the long-term to a place like Government House. “And this will assist us too, in some of the work that we have already started as it relates to protection of government buildings,” Mr Dames contended. At the conclusion of the investigation, the committee is expected to submit its findings to the Ministry of National Security which will, in turn, communicate the findings to the public.
STABBING VICTIM DIES OF WOUNDS
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
from page one
DID SHE KILL FATHER OF FIVE? By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 32-YEAR-OLD woman charged with murdering a 34-year-old father-of-five yesterday complained of inhumane and degrading treatment while in police custody awaiting her arraignment for the crime. Natasha Charles, of Hamster Road, made the complaints while being arraigned before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt over Brian Smith’s murder in the Chippingham
area on April 22. Charles and a 17-year-old, inset above, are charged with Smith’s murder, as well as conspiring to kill the Montrose Avenue resident on the date in question. According to initial police reports, shortly after midnight on that Monday, police responded to Foster Street in Chippingham after receiving reports of a male being shot. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man with injuries to his body. Paramedics were subsequently called to the scene and attempted to revive the man, but were unsuccessful.
He was pronounced dead on the scene. Neither of the accused were required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to next Monday. On that date, the chief magistrate is expected to further entertain the issue of Charles’ complaints about her experiences in police custody, as well as deal with the issue of bail for the teenager, which was raised by his attorney Bjorn Ferguson. The two were remanded into the state’s custody in the interim.
TRIO DENY PLANNING TO SELL MARIJUANA WORTH OVER $1M
FROM left: Howard Rolle, Clyde Dawkins and Pizzario Brennen By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THREE Bahamian men between the ages of 35 and 50 yesterday denied being caught off South Andros last week with over $1m worth of marijuana they intended to supply to others. Howard Ednel Rolle, Clyde Dawkins and Pizzario Alvon Brennen each entered not guilty pleas to charges they were caught on a boat on Friday, May 3 with $1,627,000 worth of marijuana they planned to sell. The trio further denied conspiring to import and consequently importing the drugs in question. According to initial
Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
reports, shortly after 6am on the date in question, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers, Marine Support Services officers and US law enforcement officers intercepted a 27-foot white speedboat in waters 20 miles southwest of South Andros. A search of the vessel uncovered some 43 crocus sacks with suspected marijuana, weighing 1,627 pounds and worth $1.6m. Three adult males who were on board were subsequently taken into custody. Given their not guilty pleas, the matter was adjourned to a later date for trial. Bail was denied and they were each remanded to the Bahamas Department
of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim. They have a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Suriname native Sergio Juan Smith was charged before Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain with importing some $1,000 worth of cocaine into the country he conspired to distribute to others. He pleaded not guilty to all but one of the counts, namely importation of dangerous drugs. As such, the matter was set down for trial next Friday. Bail was denied and he was remanded to the BDCS in the interim. He too has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
The Tribune understands the deceased is fatherof-three Lamont Fisher, however, his identity was not released by police. Meanwhile, police are looking for the suspect behind a shooting that left a man in hospital on Tuesday night. According to police, shortly after 11pm, a man was sitting in front of his home on Alexandria Road off Carmichael Road, when he was approached by a group of armed men. The men opened fire in the victim’s direction hitting him multiple times about the body. The assailants fled the scene in a grey Jeep. The victim was transported to hospital and is listed in serious condition. Additionally, two men are in custody in connection with a separate stabbing incident that left one man in hospital yesterday. According to reports, shortly after 2am, a man got into an altercation with two men at a home on Marshall Road off Baillou Hill Road south. The man was stabbed about his body and transported to hospital and is listed in stable condition.
THE TRIBUNE understands the deceased is Lamont Fisher.
PAGE 6, Thursday, May 9, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
Time to make marijuana legal and erase criminal records, declares PLP leader Your Mother has fulfilled her duty by bringing you in the World. Now you perform your duty by ensuring that she is loved and taken care off.
~Betty Taylor ~ Original Author
Happy Mother’s Day For more original and inspirational quotes, please get a copy of the book “Hold On To Life and Love”at Logos Bookstore, located in the Harbour Bay Shopping Centre.
from page one of people convicted of possession of small amounts of the drug. When asked if he agrees there should be a move to decriminalise recreational use of marijuana, Mr Davis said: “Yes. Once we understand all of the social implications and impact… And I think there are other things and protocols that go along with decriminalisation, which ought to be worked out and sorted [so] it doesn’t have any adverse
effects on people, on society, et cetera. “As you recall, I called for decriminalisation for medicinal use some time ago,” Mr Davis continued, adding he thinks recreational decriminalisation “should be phased in”. “And of course, the saddling of our young people with criminal records has really proved a social challenge for our country, in that you have a huge group of young persons who cannot get into the mainstream [economy] of our society because of having been convicted of these small amounts of marijuana and usually in the context of their recreational use of it.” When asked if their records should be expunged, Mr Davis answered in the affirmative. He added the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act currently provides for expunction “after a period of time.” However Mr Davis said after decriminalisation comes about, he supports expunction with “no waiting period”. “Yes,” he replied. “Yes… and/or, in fact the law permits expunction under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act but it’s after a period of time. I think the call is, once you move to
decriminalise, at the same time we should move to expunction as opposed to what I call the ‘waiting period’, that’s provided for in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. “That’s a period I think of six or seven years…the number isn’t in my head right now. But it’s a period of time after conviction that one’s record is expunged. But that period of time, I think what he’s saying is once decriminalisation comes along, there should be no waiting period, they should be expunged at the same time. “ Mr Davis added he supports this position. When asked if he is calling for the complete decriminalisation of recreational marijuana or just small quantities, the PLP leader replied: “Those protocols have to be worked out. I mean like you say, small quantities versus on the whole, I mean what do you mean by whole? “I think once I speak to, you speak to the decriminalisation of marijuana, that’s the whole,” he continued. “Now the difference is if you’re talking about persons who are going to continually flout the law — because even in decriminalisation of marijuana, there will be
laws in place to regulate its use, just as we have laws that regulate the use of alcohol.” Last July, Mr Davis issued a statement saying his party sympathises with those who have been affected by the country’s anti-drug laws. He also said the PLP is proposing the appointment of a review panel to make recommendations on the issue. Last July a CARICOM committee released a report calling for the end of marijuana prohibition in the region. Also last year, Public Domain released a poll which said 71 per cent of 998 Bahamian residents surveyed believed marijuana should be legalised for medicinal purposes, and all respondents ranked marijuana as the least harmful substance by comparison to tobacco, alcohol, and sugar, across the board. The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana (BNCM) was also formed to “codify” Bahamians’ view on “all things related to marijuana” and make recommendations to the government on all positions concerning the drug. The group has yet to report on its findings. The marijuana debate - Page 10
THE TRIBUNE By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net ONLY 100 of the more than 3,500 registrants of the Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) are from the Over-the-Hill community, SBDC chairman Geoffrey Andrews said yesterday. Mr Andrews made this observation during a press conference held yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister, where the Over-the-Hill rejuvenation initiative received $500,000 from three separate donations. Mr Andrews described the donation as a “great seed of capital”. The funding will also benefit the Over-the-Hill Community Development Foundation, and the redevelopment of the Southern Recreation Grounds. Businessman Mark Holowesko first donated $100,000 to SBDC, which provides small business grants to entrepreneurs. Mr Andrews accepted this donation and subsequently delivered remarks. “A donation like this provides a great seed of capital,” he said. “To date, only 100 of our 3,500-plus registrants are from Overthe-Hill. We hope that with this donation and the programming that we launch in the area we’ll see that number grow exponentially. “This donation…will go a long way in helping us to boost the local economy, create jobs, and develop ownership,” Mr Andrews said, as he celebrated 22-year-old Benjamin Davis, a University of the Bahamas student, who recently became the first local entrepreneur to receive capital funding
Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 7
$500,000 donations for Over-the-Hill projects
PICTURED from left: Prime Miniser Hubert Minnis, Mark Holowesko, Geoffrey Andrews and Robert Turnquest. Inset: Tyrone McKenzie. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff from commercial banks through SBDC. He also noted the launch of a SBDC office at the Edmund Moxey Cultural Centre on Baillou Road, which took place last night. “We believe that in the long-term having immediate access within walking distance will help the pace of growth of the small businesses within central New Providence,” Mr Andrews said.
During his speech, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he’s challenged SBDC with the establishment of a programme so that the money be dispensed “as grants in tranches of $2,500$3,500”, particularly for small businesses such as barbershops, beauty salons and stores, and tailor shops. Mr Holowesko gave another $100,000 to the Over-the-Hill Community Development Foundation,
which is a newly established non-profit chaired by Robert Turnquest. Mr Turnquest yesterday said the foundation’s goal is to “serve as a vehicle for bringing lasting and tangible benefits to this important and historic community and its people”. He also underscored the “participatory and collaborative” nature of the foundation as he appealed for public assistance with
the initiative. “The foundation will be responsible for the comprehensive programme of Over-the-Hill,” Dr Minnis added. “We are trying to present and come forth with opportunities for the inhabitants of the inner city so that they themselves will be able to improve the quality of their life and become entrepreneurs in society.” Finally, Dr Tyrone McKenzie, former senior
vice-president of Albany Bahamas, presented Dr Minnis with a $300,000 donation — the second half of the total $600,000 contribution Albany has given to the redevelopment of the Southern Recreation Grounds. Describing Albany as a “great partner”, Dr Minnis said: “We’ve already started the rejuvenation of the Over-the-Hill programme. As you know we’re more than 3/4 way completed with the Southern Recreation grounds.” He added it will be an “excellent facility” and tourist attraction and be a “model park” within Bahamian society. Of the inner city, Dr Minnis said: “We’ve declared that area a taxfree zone and we would look (further) to extending these tax free zones to other under privileged areas.”
SPEAKER QUESTIONS FNM’S POSITION ON PAC
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Minnis administration’s restrictive view of the powers of the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee “seems odd” and may be unconstitutional, House Speaker Halston Moultrie said yesterday. He stressed that this is only his preliminary view on the matter. Opposition leader Philip Davis, head of the PAC, recently tabled an interim report that said the committee has been stalled, thwarted and handicapped in its mandate to serve as a check on the executive. He blamed
the Minnis administration’s interpretation of former House Speaker Dr Kendal Major’s 2015 ruling about the PAC’s powers. That ruling was made during the last Christie administration, of which Mr Davis was a part. The Minnis administration has said the ruling allows the PAC to exercise its power to subpoena, investigate, examine and review only audited accounts tabled in the House of Assembly, not public accounts generally. Stressing that his investigation of the matter is incomplete, Speaker Moultrie, pictured right, said: “If we function within the scope of the existing ruling there is still a lot of work that can be
done by the Public Accounts Committee because since becoming Speaker I think I’ve tabled some 21 reports from the auditor general. There were many issues raised in those reports. “However, what [Dr Major’s] ruling does restrict is the Public Accounts Committee’s ability to access information, call persons, compel the production of papers for matters that have not been audited, tabled or referred to the committee. That is the restriction. In all of my studies and research on the matter that seems to me an odd position and it seems in my estimation an almost unconstitutional position
WE ARE COMPLIANT, SAY WEB SHOPS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Gaming Operators Association has unequivocally denied Finance Minister Peter Turnquest’s recent comments on the state of tax compliance by web shops, insisting three of them are fully compliant, representing 70 percent of all taxes due to the government. While he encouraged operators to pay what is owed to the state, Mr Turnquest said on Tuesday there was some delay in
collection as one operator was completely compliant, another only partially compliant and then some had not complied. The BGOA took exception to this, releasing a statement yesterday that the comment was “wholly inaccurate”. It read: “Currently, there are three operators that have paid all of their outstanding taxes, which represents 70 percent of the operator taxes due. We are uncertain as to why the minister of finance would make such a public statement, that he knows or
ought to know is demonstratively false.” It continued: “As for patron tax on lotto winnings, initially a tax on patron deposits, gaming operators could not lawfully begin collecting these taxes on April 1 as the government intended. “To implement such a tax, operators’ systems must be modified, internationally tested, certified and approved by the regulator as fit for purpose. Only once that process is completed can the collection of taxes on lotto winnings commence.”
to put the Public Accounts Committee in. I believe fundamental to the constitutional position of Parliament is that it should be in a position to check the executive in the best interest of the citizens of The Bahamas. “That is a fundamental role of Parliament given the separation of powers. Nothing should impede the functioning of any of the standing committees of Parliament because it is through those standing committees that Parliament is able to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate.” The PAC is the only standing committee that is traditionally
controlled by the Official Opposition. To aid his decision-making, Speaker Moultrie said he is consulting his peers globally. “I’ve sent that previous ruling to some colleagues in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and see if there is any precedence with respect to the role and function of the Public Accounts Committee that has been made in the past,” he said. “I’m also reviewing all the circumstances that led up to that ruling. The greatest challenge I’m having right now with respect to completing it in a timely fashion is the fact that our business and rules committee hasn’t met to give me a final position on the rules.”
PAGE 8, Thursday, May 9, 2019
Avengers: Kerching! HAVE you seen Avengers: Endgame yet? It’s no exaggeration to say this film has taken the US by storm. Some multiplexes are showing the film on every screen to meet the unprecedented demand. Disney’s Marvel comicsbased film franchise now comprises 22 films that have grossed $21bn; Endgame will be the franchise’s highest earner, since it is already in second place all-time with a $2.4bn gross worldwide. Top grossing Avatar is within reach at $2.8bn, while another James Cameron film, third-placed Titanic, is already in Endgame’s wake. Endgame features a superstar ensemble cast headed by Robert Downey Jr, pictured, whose return from drug-fuelled cinematic oblivion has been made possible by his numerous portrayals of Iron Man; bewitching Scarlett Johansson, the world’s highest paid actress; and dozens of other recognisable stars including Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin and even Robert Redford and Michael Douglas. It will spoil little to reveal this entertaining epic depicts the triumph of good over evil. And it has already made a lot of people very rich.
HERE’S hoping some heeded my advice to tune in to the European Champions League semi-final soccer match between Liverpool and Barcelona. This was the second of a two-leg playoff, Barcelona having won 3-0 at home six days earlier. No matter. In what will be recorded as one of the greatest comebacks in soccer history, Liverpool, despite missing scoring ace Mohamed Salah and forward leader Roberto Firmino, overwhelmed the bemused visitors and Lionel Messi, winning 4-0 to advance to the Champions League Final for the second straight year. Even the most cynical soccer observer would have been touched by TV images of Liverpool fans’ emotional rendering of You’ll Never Walk Alone after the match. The team will be favourites to beat Spurs - who had an amazing comeback of their own yesterday - in the final on June 1 in Madrid. See Sport for more
THE TRIBUNE
When our heroes speak out or are silent
PRESIDENT Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump applaud Tiger Woods during a ceremony awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the golfer at the White House on Monday.
THE highest civilian award that an American president can bestow is the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Under its current format, the award was begun by President John F Kennedy. The long list of recipients includes current (Joe Biden) and recent (Ben Carson) presidential candidates; Walt Disney; Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra; Sir Sidney Poitier of Cat Island; Pan Am founder and South Eleuthera developer Juan Trippe; Margaret Thatcher and Angela Merkel; Walter Cronkite and Oprah Winfrey; Martin Luther King, Jr, Jesse Jackson and Nelson Mandela, and eight astronauts. Athletes such as Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth have also been honoured, along with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. On Monday, Tiger Woods joined that distinguished list and received his medal from occasional golf partner and current US President Donald Trump. To describe Trump as controversial is to describe the summer as warm. Woods has said he respects the Office of the Presidency whether or not he agrees with all the president’s policies. Nonetheless, Woods’ award has revived for some a long-running debate in
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
the US on whether and to what extent it is appropriate for star American athletes to be involved in politics and social issues. The conventional wisdom until the Vietnam War was that they should not. Then a transcendent figure arrived on the scene and everything changed. Muhammad Ali shook America’s then-leading sport of boxing to its roots by first dethroning Sonny Liston and then speaking out on racial injustice and his principled opposition to the Vietnam War. In doing so, Ali shattered existing convention. For example, even as Jesse Owens gave the lie to Nazi racist nonsense by winning at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he triumphed with quiet dignity. That set a tone, echoed by heroic and prodigiously talented Jackie Robinson as he broke baseball’s colour barrier with the Dodgers. Ali violated all those taboos. In the decades since Ali faced prison and temporarily lost his boxing
licence for defying the military draft, the US public and media have reacted ambivalently to athletes and coaches speaking out. Hall of Fame running back and lifelong activist Jim Brown aligned with Ali at the same time he was successfully transitioning from football fields to Hollywood as a leading man in feature films. More recently, while NBA star coaches Steve Kerr (Warriors) and Gregg Popovich (Spurs) have suffered little for openly criticising Trump, ex-49ers title-winning quarterback Colin Kaepernick may have been blacklisted by the NFL for publicly protesting police violence against African-Americans. At the height of his glory, Michael Jordan was often urged to speak out on social issues. He largely refused to do so. Perhaps not coincidentally, he made enough of a fortune as a pitch man for Nike and as an investor to buy the Charlotte NBA franchise. Many believe that tennis legend Martina
Navratilova suffered in popularity and endorsements for coming out as gay and speaking unreservedly on various social issues. But LeBron James has spoken out against Trump and on other social matters, so far with minimal negative consequences. Woods has also been urged to speak out forcefully on social issues, but has largely declined to do so. As he has amassed a reportedly staggering fortune and battled health issues, Woods seemingly remains politically agnostic. Cynics may believe Woods and Jordan are playing the white man’s game while getting rich off their talent, business acumen and politically cautious reticence. Others steadfastly defend their right to follow their own conscience and values. That debate aside, one thing is clear. Both Woods and Jordan enjoy The Bahamas. Perhaps one reason is that no one here is asking them about American politics and social issues.
Another year, another story MAX Scherzer of the Washington Nationals and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians have been among baseball’s very best pitchers over the past half dozen years. Mad Max has won the Cy Young award three times during the past six seasons, in 2013 (with the Detroit Tigers), 2016 and 2017 with the Nationals. A three-time league strikeout leader and four-time leader in season wins, Scherzer has made at least 30 starts in the past ten major league seasons. Few have done that. Known as Klubot for his autonomically consistent delivery and performance, Kluber is a two-time Cy Young winner with the Indians, winning the ERA title for the major leagues in 2017. Also a twotime league wins leader, Kluber is probably best remembered for carrying Cleveland to the seventh game of the 2016 World Series against the similarly long-suffering Cubs of Chicago. In that Series, Kluber won games One and Four and started Game Seven, though he was not involved in the decision. He had a 1.63 ERA through the playoffs as he led the injury-ravaged Indians pitching staff to the Series. So far this season, though, both have faltered significantly, contributing to the disappointing early performances of their respective teams. Kluber was already off to a dismal start to the season before he was sidelined indefinitely by a line drive last week. When that hit broke a bone in his arm, Kluber was 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA. Scherzer, pictured, still apparently healthy, has only been the third best pitcher on his own team this spring as the Nats have staggered out of the gate. He is 1-4 with an ERA of 3.78, and Washington has lost his last seven starts. This has baseball observers wondering if one of baseball’s true stalwarts has lost something. There is reason for some hope in his still-strong strikeout totals. It’s all further proof that in baseball, you never know what a new season may bring.
THE TRIBUNE By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A TEENAGE boy from Grand Bahama is assisting police with an investigation into an incident of alleged school bullying that was captured on cell phone video. The Tribune spoke with the mother of a boy who said her son was a victim of bullying. She is upset about cell phone video showing a male student assaulting her son during school hours. In the video, other students can be heard egging on the boy’s attacker. Persis Pinder claims her son, who attends the St Georges’ High School, has been a victim of repeated bullying and attacks which have been reported to school and Ministry of Education officials. She and her son filed an official police complaint at the Lucaya Police Station on Tuesday morning. “This is not the first time my son has been attacked at the school,” she said, claiming that he was also assaulted four weeks prior to this latest incident which occurred in the school’s gymnasium. In a 50-second long video, Ms Pinder’s son is seen sitting on school bleachers while a male student is standing behind him. Another male student who is recording the video says: “Boy, crack him, boy.” The male student then punches Ms Pinder’s son in the back of the head and in his back before the two become involved in a full on altercation exchanging blows while several male students watch, with some egging on the attack. Her son is seen raising his hands giving up, and telling the other boy to stop. Ms Pinder said she was very disturbed when she saw the video of the student hitting her son. “I feel there is no one to protect these children in the schools,” complained Ms Pinder, who fears the outcome could have been worse. She recalled incidents
Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 9
Teenager helping police over school bullying allegations where students were stabbed and killed in government schools or near their premises, particularly in New Providence. “We send our children to a war zone. Clearly, in the video there are no adults there supervising those children. This has been going on since last year with my son being bullied at that school,” she claimed. “I made several contacts at the school in reference to the bullying,” she said earlier this week, adding she got no satisfaction after making her complaints. “I also went to the Ministry of Education to make contact with the Superintendent Ivan Butler, and left message there with his secretary, and to this day I did not get a return call from those people. So, it is like they don’t care. I feel like my son is a target and no one cares.” “I have a problem and I am calling on the Ministry of Education to address this type of stuff. Why is my kid being bullied and everyone is taking it lightly? “I have been to the Ministry of Education and they took my name and number four weeks ago, and nothing. They don’t even acknowledge it. I make sure to pick up my son on time after school so they would not attack him outside the school, but he was attacked while supposedly being
VIDEO grabs of the incident under the watchful eye of a teacher.” Ms Pinder claimed that bullying happened to other students too. “I am saying to parents speak up because my son is not the only child this happened to. There is a rule that kids are not allowed to
have cell phones in school. However, there was a cell phone being used by a student who was cheering on the aggressor. And he used the phone to record my son being bullied [for jokes] - I am very upset,” she said. When The Tribune contacted Superintendent Ivan
Butler at the Ministry of Education, he said officials do not condone bullying. He also noted that he was made aware of an incident that occurred at St Georges’ and that the situation is being dealt with at the school level. He stated that during a
visit at the school on Tuesday morning, the principal had informed him of the incident, however, he was not aware of any other prior incidents of bullying. “The principal of the school showed me a video of an incident that happened at the school. This is a very difficult situation because this woman is quite known to the Ministry of Education in going to the media,” said Mr Butler. When asked about bullying at the school, he said: “We do not condone bullying. I was at the school and the principal shared with me an incident that took place that involved her son and the principal was dealing with it at the school level. And that is where most incidents of this nature would happen. So, if anything happened at the school the principal is the first [to deal with it]. If she is not satisfied with what the principal recommended or did, then the next course of action would be my office.” Mr Butler stated that he had not received any prior complaints from Ms Pinder concerning prior incidents of bullying involving her son. “I saw her this morning [Tuesday] at the school and she did not say anything to me about it,” he said. Efforts to reach the school principal proved fruitless up to press time.
The marijuana question
PAGE 10, Thursday, May 9, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
PEOPLE were divided on the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana. Clockwise from far left: Addington Cambridge, Oneil Mitchell, John Forde and Etienne McKenzie. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By FARRAH JOHNSON EXUMA and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper called last week for the legalisation of medical marijuana along with the decriminalisation of small amounts of its recreational use. The Tribune interviewed a number of people who expressed mixed views concerning the possible revision of cannabis policies in the country. O’Neil Mitchell, 45, of Cowpen Road said: “As a Christian I’ll have to disagree because anything that is going to distort your thinking I say no. In terms of medical marijuana, if it’s going to help you heal [then] yes. I don’t do drugs and I wouldn’t advise nobody else to do drugs. It appears that’s the drugs nowadays have something in them that totally rearrange your thinking, your facial features and everything else. “I don’t agree [with the decriminalisation for minor amounts] because if you are smoking in your home you wouldn’t be charged. If you are caught breaking the law in public, you should face the consequences of your actions. After a certain amount of time your record is expunged, I believe [the time period] is seven years.
Cooper sparks debate but public divided over how law could change Well in your youth you do a lot of dumb things, so the older you get the wiser you become. So in those seven years you could reflect on the dumb choices you have made and then moving forward after your record is expunged, you probably won’t do it again.” Addington Cambridge, 64, of Golden Gates said: “I don’t think that it should be legalised because it is proven now that the young people today, when they get any type of drugs into their heads, they simply feel as if though they are super humans and that they can do anything. They are not responsible. “Maybe later on down the years when the younger generations show that they are more responsible we can look at that, but to legalise marijuana for social and recreational use, I say no. For medical reasons, I have no problem and even that has to be regularised very closely. But for social or personal use, no it cannot be done. If Mr Minnis is actually thinking of doing that it just shows that he himself is not aware of what’s going on in this country. It was law then that if you have marijuana on you — don’t care what amount — you would have to go to jail, so let them serve their term up there.”
Etienne McKenzie, 35, of West Bay Street, said: “I didn’t hear his [MP Chester Cooper’s] exact statements, but I do know that part of being a citizen is abiding by the laws. So if something is illegal when you commit a crime, then you have to pay the penalty for it. As for the legalisation of medical marijuana, I support it because as a drug it wouldn’t be any more dangerous than Panadol. As I stated, it is a part of the law so there has to be a penalty. But I do think that we may be overdoing the penalty for maybe the purposes of complying with international pressures.” John Forde, of Fort Fincastle, said: “I do agree because if marijuana is categorised as something for a medical concern it should be put in place one hundred percent. Alcohol is the worst drug in the world. Throughout the world, if one would check the statistics, more people die from alcohol more than any other drugs in the world. I think it’s better on both governments not to put somebody in prison for one or two joints. That’s terrible and that’s demoralising also. “I think it’s real bad for somebody to be locked up for a joint or two and it goes on their record.
Honestly to me, it’s not fair. I feel like if somebody has been caught with a joint they could do community work. Why put all these young children up in prison for a joint or two? What sense does it make?” One store manager who requested anonymity said: “It’s a good and a bad side in a way, but what I would say if someone’s caught with one joint, I would let them go, but if it’s someone who’s pushing thousands of pounds and hundreds of dollars of it, they should get penalised for it. But as far as them smoking it, I think that’s better for them to smoke than drink because drinking does alter your mind more than marijuana. So I think they should clear a young boy’s record if they were caught with just a small amount.” Tanoya Gaitor, 30, said: “I strongly agree [with Mr Cooper’s statements] not only [regarding] medical marijuana, but [also recreational cannabis] once it’s in small use, and once it isn’t an abusive substance where they’re selling it in large quantities. I would agree because some guys, it’s going on their records and they are considered criminals even though they are not harming anybody. [The current policy] is targeting a
lot of guys, especially black guys, because of their circumstances and where they come from, the ghetto, they tend to smoke more and the police are quick to pick them up for any little thing. It doesn’t really give them a chance to do anything in life. [Concerning] medical marijuana, I think it would be different because it’s prescribed. So I think if the doctor recommends it, then the doctor knows best.” The Minnis administration created the Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana (BNCM) to investigate and report on Bahamians’ views on cannabis. The group was
expected to submit its first draft on Bahamian attitudes on the controversial plant— the first step in a larger debate on the prohibition of medical and recreational use — this month. However, the commission has been granted a three-month extension. The Regional Commission on Marijuana, which presented a report to CARICOM on the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana in the region last year, recommended that in a regulated framework, marijuana should be treated like tobacco and alcohol.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 11
Significant number of pupils not vaccinated By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.netw AS THEY move throughout schools in New Providence, Ministry of Health officials are finding a “significant” number of children are missing some of their needed vaccinations. Realising this, there is an effort to target school aged children until the summer break, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Delon Brennen yesterday. This is part of the government’s push to ensure people receive the measles vaccination — MMR1 — amid an international outbreak of the highly contagious disease. “What we’re doing right now is not focusing on the
general public,” Dr Brennen told The Tribune. “We’re actually going into the schools and focusing our efforts in the schools and making sure that our school children are caught up with their vaccines, not just measles, we are focused on measles because that’s the big concern right now, but we’re catching them up on other vaccines as well. “So we want to do that until school lets out since we have a captive audience with the children being in school at the present, but once school lets out then we’ll go back to doing the general public again.” Asked what health officials have discovered in the schools, Dr Brennen said: “I think there is a significant portion that are
missing some of their vaccines. Most people aren’t missing all of their vaccines, they’re missing maybe one or two depending on the age group.” Back in February, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands told The Tribune that nearly 50,000 people needed the MMR1 vaccine. This included targeting 7,000 children between one to 15-years-old and 40,800 of them 16-years and older. About two weeks after The Tribune exclusively reported this, two cases of measles were recorded. The first case was seen in a four-year-old tourist. It was discovered after the child had gone to a private health care facility in New Providence with the symptoms of the disease. According to a statement
at the time from the Ministry of Health, the parents gave a recent history of travel from Europe and a vaccination history for the child, which did not include the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation. Not long after, the boy’s brother, 10, had to be quarantined because he also contracted measles. They were the first two confirmed cases in The Bahamas in over 20 years.
HOSPITALS around the world are warning people about the dangers of measles.
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PAGE 12, Thursday, May 9, 2019
THE TRIBUNE
ARCHIE MEETS THE QUEEN THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex have named their newborn son Archie Harrison MountbattenWindsor. Introducing him to the cameras, Meghan said: “He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm. He’s been the dream.” As they laughed, Prince Harry said: “I don’t know who he gets that from.” The announcement came after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh met their eighth and newest
great-grandchild for the first time at Windsor Castle. By deciding to call their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, Harry and Meghan have chosen not to use a title for their first born.
PRINCE Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joined by her mother Doria Ragland, show their new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle.
Attorney General held in contempt WASHINGTON Associated Press
THE House Judiciary Committee voted yesterday to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats’ extraordinary legal battle with the Trump administration over access to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia report. The vote capped a day of ever-deepening dispute between congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump, who for the first time invoked the principle of executive privilege, claiming the right to block lawmakers from the full report on Mueller’s probe of Russian interference to help Trump in the 2016 election. Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York declared the action by Trump’s Justice Department a clear new sign of the president’s “blanket defiance” of
ATTORNEY General William Barr Congress’ constitutional rights to conduct oversight. “We did not relish doing this, but we have no choice,” Nadler said after the vote. The White House’s blockade, he said, “is an attack on the ability of the American people to know what the executive branch is doing.” He said, “This cannot be.”
But Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said it was disappointing that members of Congress “have chosen to engage in such inappropriate political theatrics.” Barr made “extraordinary efforts” to provide Congress and the public with information about Mueller’s work, she said. Though the White House initially hesitated on invoking privilege, Trump told his staff and political advisers in recent weeks to refuse to cooperate with Democrats, believing the party’s goal was simply to damage him politically going into his re-election campaign. The coming legal battle could stretch to 2020, and the White House is aiming to tie up congressional probes until Election Day. Executive privilege is the president’s power to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality
of the Oval Office decision-making process. The president’s decision was weeks in the making, the next inevitable escalation between the White House and Congress over a number of probes. The White House has rejected all efforts to probe Trump’s business dealings or tax returns as well as the West Wing’s security clearance procedure. The committee voted along party lines, 24-16, to recommend the full House hold Barr in contempt, but only after some five hours of heated and, at times, emotional testimony. Democrats made their case that Congress was at a historic juncture as it confronts what they consider Trump’s stonewalling of lawmakers’ ability to conduct oversight of the administration. Republicans portrayed the majority as angry and lashing out at Barr after the special counsel did not find that Trump colluded with Russia to swing the 2016 election.
CALIFORNIA TO BAN PESTICIDE LOS ANGELES Associated Press
THE nation’s most productive agricultural state moved yesterday to ban a pesticide widely used to control a range of insects but blamed for harming brain development in babies. The move would outlaw chlorpyrifos after scientists deemed it a toxic air contaminant and discovered it to be more dangerous than previously thought. California Environmental Secretary Jared Blumenfeld said it’s the first time the state has sought to ban a pesticide and the move was overdue. “This pesticide is a neurotoxin, and it was first put on the market in 1965,” he said. “So it’s been on the shelf a long time, and it’s past its sell-by date.” The decision comes after regulators in several states have taken steps to restrict the pesticide used on about 60 different crops in California.
TRUMP LOSSES ‘FOR TAX PURPOSES’ PRESIDENT Trump has said the losses his business made in the eighties and nineties were “for tax purposes”. He was tweeting in reply to a New York Times article claiming that from 1985-95 he made losses of over $1bn. The newspaper said that Mr Trump’s property empire from 1985 “continued to lose money every year, totalling $1.17bn in losses for the decade”. Mr Trump tweeted “You always wanted to show losses... and often re-negotiate with banks. It was sport.”
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Thursday, May 9, 2019, PAGE 15
Children’s hostel has late Easter party THIRTY residents of the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel enjoyed an Easter party courtesy of Cyn Fantasies – Event Planning. The property of the McKinney Drive home was transformed into a fairground complete with pastel coloured balloons and Easter-themed décor. For founder Cyntish Johnson, the occasion touched her in more ways than one. Like some of the children in the hostel, she lost both of her parents at the age of 12 then, at the age of 18, she found herself seeking refuge in a facility similar to the hostel in order to escape a situation that may have crushed her spirit. “I lost both of my parents at a young age so I understand the void that creates
in the life of a child,” said Johnson, lead event planner and self-proclaimed kid adventurer. “Then in my late teens I actually lived for a short period at Great Commission Ministries in order to escape abuse from a family member. As a child spending time in a home, you sometimes miss out on a lot of activities afforded children living in traditional families. I decided to provide an opportunity for these children to let loose and have some fun in the comforts of a familiar space.” The children, aged 5 – 15, were treated to snow cone, popcorn, cotton candy, a candy table and hotdogs churned out by machines which dotted the grass. Readily, they worked off the calories by jumping
around in a bouncing castle, searching for eggs during an egg hunt, having their faces painted and playing the latest video games on two 50-inch TV screens and board games. They were also entertained by a bunny mascot who doled out prizes and Easter baskets. “We are always very grateful to individuals and companies that seek to enrich the lives of the children here at the hostel,” said Sabrina Smith, Administrator, Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel. “Cyn Fantasies approached us to host this event and we were truly amazed at the level of thought and attention that went into planning this Easter party. The joy was evident in all of the children.”