05102018 news

THURSDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 86ºF LOW 73ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

OBITS

VOLUME:115 No.117, MAY 10TH, 2018

OFFICIA

CLASSIFIED TRADER: CARS, CARS, CARS & MORE CARS

INSIDE

Whipped, beaten and filmed for Facebook

Police investigate savage assault on teenage girl

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net POLICE are investigating the circumstances behind a video circulating on social media of a young girl being beaten for allegedly coming home late.

Police said the girl and a parent in the video have been identified.

Over the course of the one-minute, 30-second video, the girl is punched in the head, beaten with a belt, and struck with a stick by an older woman.

The video was posted in

a local Facebook group, but has since gone viral and has been shared on international pages, including Media Take Out, where it received over 164,000 views and 8,600 shares up to press time.

At the beginning of the clip, the girl, still partially in her school uniform, is backed into a corner.

At first, she is standing and using her arms to protect her head from the belt.

She can be heard screaming: “I can’t take these waps (sic)!”

SEE PAGE THREE

SEBAS Bastian yesterday cited Town Planning’s rapid six-day “U-turn” on his $50m office complex as “proof of my suspicions” that he was being treated unfairly.

The Island Luck chief told Tribune Business it was “almost a penalty to be successful in The Bahamas” after the Government authority finally removed

an eight-month “Stop Order” on the project and granted approval for it to proceed.

He added that the Town Planning Committee had “done in six days what it couldn’t do in eight months”, with the abrupt change in its stance on approvals for the Veridian Corporate Centre coming less than a week after Mr Bastian and his attorneys threatened legal action.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

L SOUR CE

SEX OFFENDER REGISTER BY YEAR’S END

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday pledged the government will establish a sex offender registry before the year’s end.

The plan for a sex offender registry was introduced in 2013 with an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act after the murder of 11-year-old Marco Archer by a serial child predator.

However, it was never created by the previous administration.

“We still don’t have it but it’s coming,” Mr Dames told reporters outside the House of Assembly yesterday.

“We will bring it, and we’re bringing it very shortly.”

When pressed for a timeline, Mr Dames said: “It can’t be (tomorrow), the Attorney General’s Office will have to do some things.”

SEE PAGE NINE

IN UNIFORM? FIRST IN LINE FOR CHEAP HOUSE PLOTS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SEBAS FINALLY WINS PLANNING BATTLE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

$1

THIS image is taken from a video circulated on social media of the incident. The Tribune has further amended the image to prevent the identification of the young woman involved.

COOPER BLASTS GOVT RAGGED RESPONSE

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net EXUMA and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper yesterday criticised the Minnis administration for its failure to rebuild the segments of his constituency rendered “unliveable” in the wake of Hurricane Irma last September.

Opening his communication on the Access to

SOME of the damage in Ragged Island following Hurricane Irma.

Affordable Homes Bill 2018 yesterday, Mr Cooper taunted the government with its failure to deliver

on the many promises it had made during tours of the island in the storm’s aftermath.

“Mr Speaker, as we debate access to affordable homes, it has been nine months since the people of Ragged Island suffered total devastation during a hurricane and very little has been done for them, even as another hurricane season is upon us,” Mr Cooper said

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE TWO

LOTS in Sunset Close and Fox Hill worth $30,000 or less will officially go on sale in June or July, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced yesterday, adding that the lots will be available only to police officers, immigration officers, customs officers, defence force officers, prison officers and teachers in the first wave.

His statement came as parliamentarians debated the Access to Affordable Homes Bill, which would grant people not only land at reduced costs but also customs and excise duty exemptions on construction materials that are necessary for building the homes in government-owned subdivisions.

Under the programme, potential homeowners will be given two years to construct their home.

SEE PAGE 11

INSIGHT

THE FIRST YEAR

PUNCHLINES, GRADE C, AND CAN DO BETTER

PAGES FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN

PAGE 2, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Cooper blasts govt Ragged response from page one in the House of Assembly.

“Nine months since the government made commitments to those people and nine months later, they are still suffering.

“Ragged Island has not nearly been restored and the dreams of a dream city promised by this administration remains a dream.

“Not even so much of a Green Paper or White Paper or position paper or plan to the people of

Ragged Island by this government,” he said. “I know you may tire of hearing it, but I will never tire of advocating for the people of Ragged Island.”

According to Mr Cooper, Ragged Island residents have benefitted primarily

from private aid and donations – this despite the government’s insistence the island would not only be restored, but act as the country’s model for green, environmentally friendly living.

Days after Hurricane

Did you know?

Royal Fidelity manages in excess of $700M in Assets in The Bahamas

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

Royal Fidelity is the Bahamas’ largest asset manager, guiding individuals, financial professionals and institutions in building better financial futures.

Irma ravaged the small community, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said it was the government’s intention to transform Ragged Island into the first fully “green” island in the region.

The prime minister explained renewable energy and smart technology from solar energy and sustainable water purification systems will be utilised for this effort with the help of residents and descendants of the island.

To further support these efforts, Dr Minnis said the government will seek not only the assistance of Bahamians, but look to international counterparts.

At the time, he did not reveal a cost to be associated with this undertaking, adding that Finance Minister Peter Turnquest would offer details at a later date.

In addition to his criticism of the pace of Ragged Island’s rebuild, Mr Cooper said yesterday: “Had this government simply gone to Ragged Island and said it would rebuild the administration building and restore the school and the nursery, and the dock, and the clinic and the police station; with maybe some improvements and committed to fixing the Salt Pond and getting the fishermen back to work; then we wouldn’t be having the conversation today.

“But that wasn’t good enough, Mr Speaker. The prime minister had to go and promise a green island.

And so, while we wait for this green island to materialise, almost a year later, a hurricane season again approaches,” Mr Cooper added.

“No school, no clinic,

BAHAMAS: 242.356.9801 | BARBADOS: 246.435.1955 [ Learn more at www.royalfidelity.com ]

DEPUTY Leader of the Progessive Liberal Party and MP for Exuma and Ragged Island, Chester Cooper. no nurse, no doctor, no government building, no shelter, no reliable water while Ragged Island waits for relief or this magical green island.”

Mr Cooper implored the Minnis administration to return to Ragged Island “a sense of normalcy and basic amenities that everyone else in the Bahamas enjoys.”

Mr Cooper also called for an accounting of all donations made to the National Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the people of Ragged Island.

Mr Cooper also thanked all the private charities that have assisted the residents of Ragged Island post-Irma, primarily HeadKnowles and its founders Gina Knowles and Lia Head-Rigby.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

Baha-Retreat Anti Aging Spa Full Service Spa & Salon

‘EXPERIENCE IT ALL IN A PRIVATE AND ELEGANT ENVIRONMENT’

All Mom’s Are Special & Deserve The Best

MSom’s S pecial pa Packages

Sincere Gratitude

Time For Mom

$175.00 Aromatherapy Body Polish

$215.00

Express Massage w/Hot Stones Classic Manicure Classic Pedicure or Shampoo & Style

Unwind Mom

Swedish Massage or Classic Facial Hot Stone Aromatic Pedicure Classic Manicure Shampoo Treatment & Style

Spa Pedicure Shampoo, Treatment & Style

Like us on Facebook East Bay Street Just East of Luciano’s Tel: (242) 323-6711 • 323-6715

Mother & Daughter Spa Day $310.00

$130.00 Exotic European Rose Manicure

Purchase Instant Gift Certificate Online!

Express Massage w/Hot Stones Eminence Organic Express Facial or Aromatherapy Body Polish CLassic Pedicure

Email Appointments/Inquiries to: info@baharetreat.com

www.baharetreat.com Download Baha Retreat FREE APP

Pamper Mom Mothers Delight $295.00 $430.00 Baha-Retreat Signature Pedicure Baha-Retreat Signature Manicure Baha-Retreat Signature Facial Baha-Retreat Signature Massage Lunch Included

Love your mom with an Aromatherapy Body Polish, Signature Massage, Eminence Signature Organic Facial, Hot Stone Aromatic Manicure, Hot Stone Aromatic Pedicure, Lunch included and Complimentary Glass of Wine.

OPEN:

Monday - Saturday 9am - 6pm MOTHER’S DAY (Sunday) 10am-6pm

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 3

Whipped, beaten and filmed for Facebook from page one

At another moment, she is on the floor, and being struck about the arms and legs with a stick. Eventually the woman drags her out of the corner, climbs over the girl, and begins punching her in the head.

“I sorry,” the girl can be heard sobbing.

The person recording the video can be heard shouting, “You wan’ come home 10; after 10 in the night?” and “Ya think ya is woman?! Goin’ by man (sic)!”

The person recording the video adds: “People helping you, loving up on you.

Ya get lunch money, clean

clothes on ya skin, everyday ya have something to eat. And this what you wan’ do? You wan’ go with man?

Learn ya education!”

In all there are nearly 40 blows with either the leather belt, stick or the woman’s fist, all the while the girl trying to protect herself.

National Security Minister Marvin Dames addressed the video yesterday. While speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he admitted that he had seen it and referred the matter to the police.

“The police, if they’re investigating it, I’m certain the commissioner is very much aware of it and so we’ll see what they come

out with.

“At the end of the day, we cannot, no matter what, we cannot condone abuse.”

When asked if he would classify the woman’s actions as abuse, or whether it was simply part of Bahamian culture as some social media users tried to argue, Mr Dames said: “I’m not going to speak to that particular matter because obviously the police will have a look at it, and I don’t want to in any way prejudice their investigations.

“But it points certainly to a fact that we have challenges within our homes with parenting as well as with relationships and we have to find the most humane way to address

those issues.

“And this is what we’re doing with programmes like Citizen Security and programmes that you will see through Social Services, coming from the Ministry of Youth, and National Security as well.”

“We have to work with building families. It’s as simple as that.”

Yesterday, Supt Shanta Knowles said police were in the early stages of the investigation.

“The young girl and a parent has been identified,” Supt Knowles said. “Police are in the early stages of this investigation and as information becomes available, updates will be given.”

Education Minister Jeff

Lloyd also acknowledged the video and said officials are investigating.

Up to press time, the video posted in the Facebook group had been shared hundreds of times.

Responses varied, with many Facebook users condemning the beating.

Some even referring to it as “abuse” and called for it to be reported to Social Services.

Some said the beating was warranted, and likened

it to their own childhood experiences.

Others said the punishment was fine but criticised the fact that it was recorded and posted on social media.

Yesterday, Facebook had a warning label over the video, telling users that it “may show violence against a child or teenager.” The message also says: “We haven’t removed it from Facebook because it may help rescue the child in question.”

FROM left, chief ALIV officer Damian Blackburn, Long Island MP Adrian Gibson and ALIV general manager for the Central Bahamas Carl Momplaisir.

KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE THANKS TO ALIV ALIV has committed to assisting in raising funds to purchase two ambulances for Long Island – one in the north and one in the south.

The ambulances will assist with medical operations on the island in a great way, according to several residents.

Member of Parliament for Long Island Adrian Gibson thanked ALIV for facilitating the purchase of the ambulances as well as bringing a sense of relief when it comes to telecommunications service on the island.

“Any good corporate citizen contributes to the community and ALIV has demonstrated that to me before and now by committing to assisting with getting us two ambulances, something that has long been needed on the

TWO ARRESTS OVER GUN FIND TWO men were arrested after police found a pistol and ammunition during a car search.

Shortly before 10pm, Monday, Mobile Division officers were on routine patrol on East Street south, in the area of the Independence Highway, when they observed a Nissan Cube with two male occupants traveling at a high speed.

The officers stopped the vehicle and conducted a search of the men and the vehicle and recovered a Smith and Wesson 9 millimetre pistol and 6 rounds of ammunition.

The men are expected to face charges this week.

island,” Mr Gibson said.

“When persons are in their last hours of life they shouldn’t be moved around on the back of trucks in the open sun, that’s not humane.

Additionally, ALIV has also committed to providing computer centres at the two high schools, again showing balance. ALIV is not leaning towards one side of the community but all. Any place wanting to move into modernisation must have steady communications, steady internet service and community involvement and I think ALIV represents that.”

Chief ALIV officer Damian Blackburn said the reception from Long Islanders of ALIV’s presence in a variety of areas has been phenomenal.

“We were welcomed into Long Island like we were

welcomed everywhere else as we brought in the same quality service that we have given other islands,” he said. “The people of Long Island embraced the ALIV service, we have hundreds of customers there and we thank them so very much for that. What we are about to do in Long Island and what we’ve already done is just a small but important part of what we at ALIV

are about. We realised some of the ways in which we can help, and we’ve decided to do just that.”

ALIV’s central Bahamas general manager Carl Momplaisir said residents can expect even more very soon.

ALIV officially opened the Deadman’s Cay, Long Island storefront on April 20 with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Galleria Cinemas

Galleria Cinemas The Mall-at-Marathon BOX OFFICE OPENS AT 10:00 AM DAILY The Mall-at-Marathon

BOX OFFICE OPENS AT 10:00 AM DAILY

EFFECTIVE MAY 11TH, 2018 LIFE OF THE PARTY BREAKING IN AVENGERS:INFINITY WAR AVENGERS:INFINITY WAR RAMPAGE TRUTH OR DARE TRAFFIK

NEW NEW T T T C C

1:10 1:15 1:00 N/A 1:05 1:15 1:15

3:30 3:45 4:00 3:30 3:25 3:30 3:45

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

380-FLIX

6:10 6:15 N/A 6:45 6:00 6:15 6:15

8:30 8:35 8:45 N/A 8:25 8:35 8:45

10:45 10:45 N/A 10:00 10:45 10:45 10:50

Use your e-card to reserve tickets at 380-3549 or visit us at www.bahamaslocal.com

PAGE 4, Thursday, May 10, 2018

Dear Dr Minnis...

By DIANE PHILLIPS

Dear Prime Minister, Cabinet, Loyal Opposition,

I KNOW you are busy, all of you, but please stop for a moment.

Just stop, look around you. Breathe in the air.

Gaze at the sky. Frame and hold the mental image of the waters of The Bahamas, the rich blues of Abaco, the swirling turquoise, aqua and gold hues of the Exumas, think of the white and pink sand beaches, the cliffs of Long Island, the coral reefs, fish, conch, crawfish, the mangroves, the land bursting with colours so vivid artists are challenged to do them justice.

This is your land, our land, this Bahamaland, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth and you hold what happens to it in your hands. Only the decisions you make and acts of God or Mother Nature can preserve or destroy our beautiful Bahamaland.

You have a critical decision to make. Please, please hear our passion and heed the plea from all of us who have the privilege of living in this amazing land of unparalleled and fragile majesty.

Leave whatever oil that is beneath the waters right where it is. Please, for the sake of your children and their children and generations to come. Do not take the risk. All it would take is one tanker to run aground, just as boats do every day on a coral reef in our shallow waters. All it took was one tanker, the Exxon Valdez, to run aground in Prince William Sound spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil to destroy 1300 miles of Alaskan coastline in 1989.

Nearly 30 years have passed since that one tanker hit, $7 billion has been spent and yet the land, coastline, marine life and the people who depended on the life within that body of water have not recovered. The social costs, including increased violence and alcoholism say experts, are incalculable. 30

THE TRIBUNE

FNM making comedy too easy

By INIGO ZENICAZELAYA

years and no full recovery, just imagine the legacy.

Or imagine this: Closer to home in the Gulf of Mexico the BP Deepwater Horizon rig begins leaking oil. It goes undetected at first and by the time it is visible, even 200 miles of containment booms and millions of litres of dispersants dropped from planes flying nearly non-stop overhead cannot control the damage.

Some 230,000 tons of crude oil oozed, destroying just about everything in its path. Birds, fish, reefs, tourism.

Another legacy.

And both of those accidents, totally unpredictable, touched the US where there are strict laws about safety and pollution and immense resources to deal with the aftermath of an oil spill. Still there was no magic fix because there is no such thing as an easy fix for an oil spill. It takes years for eco-systems and the industries that depend on them, including fishing, to recover, if they ever do.

Please, Sir, you promised you would not do anything that would harm the environment. That’s the promise we hold you to after one year and will hold you to each year thereafter. Say no to oil drilling. We can explore other means, LNG or CNG even until such time as renewables are more widely available, but, please, Sir, no drilling. We cannot afford the risk. You cannot afford the legacy if one ship hits one coral head or a single rig goes wrong. Someday you will have grandchildren and they deserve to enjoy The Bahamas you know, the fish you love, the waters you swim, the beaches that draw the visitors and the life that we all treasure.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FNM I WOULD like to personally thank the FNM, as a comedian, they have made my job a walk in the park, with an abundance of material.

“Loon jokes, for days.”

LIKE CANDY FROM A BABY -

Whether it’s the irony or the hypocrisy that is associated with the FNM and it’s governance, it has made the jokes in some cases write themselves, and allowed me more time to enjoy an adult beverage or two.

From the OBAN fiasco, to the “Spy Bill”, to the “EU Blacklisting” to still no form of FOIA in place, to the butchering of the VAT exemptions, to the “Office of the Spouse”, to BPL, to the Speaker of the House “jungaliss” behaviour and remarks in the HOA, to no appointment of an official Chief Justice, to mass layoffs, to lack of consistent accountability and transparency, and so on and so on.

The FNM administration, with all of its failings,

WHETHER it’s watching an Oban representative sign... well... something or talking about hanging a fishing line from the moon, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has provided plenty of moments to laugh - or cry - about in the first year of government. better governance and leadership on your behalf.

ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR finger pointing and double talk, has been a smorgasbord of comedic delights.

A Comedian’s ‘dream’, on one hand and a nation’s ‘nightmare’ on the other.

Ah, the irony.

‘DOC’ IS MY MUSE

Add the political naïveté of PM Minnis, to his unfamiliarity with political protocol, leading to numerous inappropriate public remarks.

And the fish, we can’t Also not to be forgotten, various incidents forget the fish, and the PM’s and issues with the Immi- fixation with fish. Whether gration Department, he got it from “Tougie and and subsequently, QC BoBo” or not.

From “moon fishing” to Fred Smith schooling and humbling the Immi- “stewed”.

“Doc” love up some fish. gration Dept and other I often wonder on which government agencies, over and repeatedly on the PM is fixated more, fish, or being as numerous “Trumpian” as issues, where ‘What is truly possible, minus the governhilarious, is that the orange ment hadn’t hue? done their some of the “Doc”, you due diligence. aforementioned make joke Not to men- FNM MP’s truly writing so easy tion, multiple and fun, but unions that believe they won in all seriousare threaten- their seat on ness, when you ing to take their own merits make former industrial PM Perry action, the and appeal.’

Christie, (one RBPF is still finger salute waiting on their back pay and all) look like a “rocket and nobody can seem scientist”, it’s time you step to get a proper head up your game. count, or figure out the So what if it makes it a “Chinese Arithmetic” bit harder for me to write down there at the Point material? My loss is the development. nation’s gain, in the form of

WAIT, THERE’S MORE

Finally (only because my editor told me to keep it short) what I find most comical about the FNM after one year, is that a majority of their MPs feel they have arrived and are above reproach.

Many are continuously antagonising the media, all the while branding the media’s criticisms of them as “fake news”.

What is truly hilarious, is that some of the aforementioned FNM MP’s truly believe they won their seat on their own merits and appeal.

Reality check, FYI, all FNM MPs, the cold hard truth of the matter is the FNM could have run a goat, blind in one eye, missing a horn, with three legs, named “Lucky” wearing an FNM t-shirt in any one of your constituencies and the goat would have won.

It was never about any of you personally, it was about removing the horrendous PLP administration at all costs.

Continue down this same path, and five years from now, God spare life, I will be writing about a new administration’s first year as the government.

When I reflect on this administration’s first year in office a quote from Comedian Bill Murray comes to mind: “If we lie to the government it’s a crime, if the government lies to us, it’s politics.”

PASS OR FAIL? YOUR GRADE FOR THE FNM IN The Tribune’s latest online poll, we are asking what grade you would give the FNM government after one year in office.

So far, the majority of those voting have given the government a pass - with a ‘B’ grade.

The full results at the time of going to press were: A: 13 percent; B: 24 percent; C: 22 percent; D: 20 percent; E: 5 percent; F: 9 percent and U: 7 percent.

The poll is still open, so don’t miss your chance to cast your vote on tribune242.com.

Readers on The Tribune website have also been reacting to the news that Bahamas Power and Light will be contracting a foreign expert to gauge its electrical service system for potential instabilities.

Proudloudandfnm wasn’t impressed by the idea: “Wow. What an amazing waste of money . . .”

John had some suggestions for improvement: “So they need to bring in a foreigner to tell them BPL’s equipment is old and some obsolete. That they need to upgrade to newer and more efficient equipment and definitely equipment that does not

use bunker C fuel. That they should in fact diversify the fuel use to include renewable fuel and solar energy. Most small Family Island communities can run exclusively off solar power during the daytime and store enough energy to illuminate the streets at night. And, of course, the need to reconfigure the grid in New Providence so that any one fault does not cause the entire island to go dark.”

Joeblow said: “Amazing how easily expats can get a job as a consultant. The trend continues!”

And Well_mudda_take_ sic was also unhappy: “Darnell Osborne should be immediately sacked and Minnis should hang his head in shame. Senior management of BPL/BEC have already told Osborne and Minnis that the power generation system will not be able to handle peak load periods this coming summer, resulting in many long blackout and load

shedding periods during the most sweltering days and nights. Osborne is wasting the taxpayers’ money in hiring a foreign consultant just so that she can lay back during the many blackout and load shedding periods to come and give us the lame excuse that the problems are being studied by a foreign consultant and cannot be addressed until he or she completes and submits a report of their recommendations. This was a classic PLP tactic to deflect blame away from where it rightfully belongs.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 5

INSIGHT THE FIRST YEAR

Slow to start, but now building momentum

By RICHARD COULSON IN the first year of his FNM administration, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has been slow off the ground in announcing new business ventures. Of course, it’s not the function of Government to create commercial entities, but rather to set a business-friendly environment that will attract private sector applicants, select the most promising and then support them without bureaucratic red-tape.

Dr Minnis was initially held back by the legacy of the PLP leadership, whose inefficiency and lethargy, periodic corruption and general resistance to modern business principles drove away many investors, both foreign and domestic. Their devotion to statist control has long blocked the privatisation of obvious candidates BahamasAir and ZNS. In the last few months, a welcome new breath is noticeable. The choice of Grand Bahama for a substantial subsidiary by hi-tech consultancy firm GIBC Digital is just the sort of news to revitalise that suffering

island. Approval of the Emera electric power take-over showed another vote of confidence, as have the announced expansion plans in Freeport’s industrial sector, from Pharmachem to the Grand Bahama Shipyard. When the long-negotiated sale of Grand Lucaya hotel is finally consummated, Grand Bahama will be well on the way to recovery, with kudos to be shared by Government and the Port Authority historical antagonists.

In Nassau, the new broom has swept out deadwood left by the PLP. The disastrous contract for US company Power Secure to run our public electricity system was quickly cancelled and replaced by

a Bahamian management structure.

More recently, the tough decision, longhanging fire, was made to import LNG as the principal fuel supply, a carbon derivative but a great improvement over the present seeping liquids.

The eternally vexing problem of the smoking and air-polluting landfill could not be solved by the PLP’s lap-dog company and will soon be assigned to a new candidate chosen by professionally managed competitive bidding.

The exciting news that Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) has found a major oil company to consider partnership in exploration leading to actual production could revolutionise our economic development, a high tide lifting all boats—provided the potential wealth is invested wisely, as in Norway, and not channeled to a crony group as in certain African nations.

Government should allow BPC’s negotiations to proceed under careful regulation, without obstruction by strident arguments from well-

with a practical measure like establishment of a Delivery Unit to assist the implementation of government policy – and the portents now seem good.

As always, the performance of the economy is likely to affect long-term political success. Two issues on the international front - accession to the World Trade Organisation and the European Union blacklisting - will need particularly careful handling. It is essential to secure a proper balance between the likely benefits of WTO membership and protection of the most vulnerable sectors of the domestic economy; and there seems to be a growing

feeling the Government may be moving too quickly in meeting global regulatory demands so that, together with its CARICOM partners, it ought perhaps to start questioning the dictates of external bodies about the nation’s tax reform and changes to its regulatory system.

The old adage that politics is the art of the possible implies the need for negotiation and compromise in the face of disagreement.

It also means being flexible in response to new developments. I know from personal experience in the 1980s dealing with the Falkland Islands after the conflict with Argentina that the then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, while being labelled the Iron Lady who provided strong and principled leadership, invariably compromised if the situation demanded it – and perhaps that, together with effective public communication, was the secret to her success.

Could these also be the key to the future success of the FNM Government as it seeks to continue to meet the needs of the people?

PROMISING SIGNS FOR FNM

By PETER YOUNG

SINCE governments are elected under the Westminster system for a five-year period, the Prime Minister is surely right to discourage people from judging him prematurely. Equally, it would be unwise simply to dismiss last month’s opinion poll showing a slump in public support. Issues like his so-called missteps over the Oban project as well as a sense of drift and a perceived lack of consultation, coordination and communication have contributed to general disappointment and disillusion.

Nonetheless, the FNM’s position is suddenly looking more promising. Dr Minnis’ recent remarks about the need for humility, unity and good governance were surely well judged while he also spoke of accomplishments like the Over-the-Hill revival scheme, improved crime figures, anti-corruption measures and plans for the economic recovery of Grand Bahama. Add to this some positive developments like energy reform, Shell’s LNG power plant and the deal for an oil drilling joint venture – together

meaning but misguided environmental extremists.

Unfortunately Dr Minnis’ image for experienced business judgment was tarnished by the highly visible Oban refinery project.

Although the venture may eventually prove feasible, his own inept

and impetuous “missteps” have prejudiced its acceptability in the public eye, as questions still arise about legal approval, environmental impact and financial benefit to the country.

Dr Minnis could squelch these questions with a clear response, while also tackling other matters

that have a direct effect on business: turtle-slow mail delivery and frustrating delays in building permits, tax certificates, immigration papers, and passport issuance - all the tedious stuff that fails to energise our civil servants but is essential in a modern economy.

PAGE 6, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Citizenship issues in spotlight

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AT the one year mark, the most existential challenge - as it relates to national development - facing the people’s government is immigration, specifically migrant labour and the right to citizenship.

The first year saw a litany of habeas corpus cases, inclusive of the landmark Jean Rony Jean-Charles case, that have impacted government policy and spurred law reform at a great cost to taxpayers in the form of legal costs.

In addition to drafted regulations for the Carmichael Road Detention Centre - a first for the facility; apprehended irregular migrants are now being charged before the courts ahead of their deportation, a sharp shift in long-standing practice despite the legal mandate.

Foreshadowed changes will ultimately impact the country’s future, specifically its national identity.

“We are working towards the total revamping of the Immigration Act within the next several months,” said Immigration minister Brent Symonette, “but that is obviously a more longterm project but it’s being worked on at the moment.

“Some of these

JEAN Rony Jean-Charles pictured in Haiti prior to his return. (amendments) have come about as a result of the Jean Rony case and other cases, and others have come about because of a desire of the FNM and my department to amend certain aspects of the Immigration law that have not been amended since 1973.”

He continued: “Everyone has the right to jump up and down on what they think they want to, but the Bahamian population has a right too. And when you see fraudulent applications being put forward, and the like, that goes against good judgment.

“When you see an issue that is causing problems that politicians have failed to deal with over the last 40 years, because of political

whatever we want to call it, that goes against [good judgment].

“So there is an issue – there’s a fundamental issue out there, that persons have misunderstood, or it has been misrepresented (about) who is entitled to citizenship. And I think we need to deal with that upfront and central.”

According to Attorney General Carl Bethel, Mr Jean-Charles’ case exposed significant and far-reaching legal challenge over the verification of birth certificates, but also forced the government to reckon with a long-standing challenge that was not covered by law or the Constitution.

Mr Jean-Charles did not apply for citizenship when

he was between the age of 18 and 19, and was deported at age 34 after being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre for some three months.

So far, the government has suggested it will amend policy to offer people who’ve missed the constitutional deadline a shot at permanent residence only.

The government’s Law Reform Commission is also working on a supplementary bill to the Immigration Act called The Unlawful Maritime Entry Bill, which would seek to strengthen the detention powers of the Department of Immigration and the right of an Immigration minister to order the deportation of “illegal aliens” without first obtaining a court order.

The Tribune sat down with Mr Symonette to discuss the progress made in his ministry on tackling long-standing issues that were central in the Minnis administration’s campaign manifesto.

He believes strongly in the need for a national debate on the introduction of limits on work permits and the transference of citizenship, but stressed critical discourse should not be derailed by the emotional appeals of longsuffering applicants.

“If you were born in

Miami because you lived in Abaco,” he said, “and your child was born in Ft Lauderdale, second generation born outside of The Bahamas is not Bahamian, so we have it in our Constitution at the moment.

“The only difference (between second generation Bahamians and naturalised citizens) is you were born outside the country.

Mr Symonette said: “But we ask the question could we restrict, and that’s what our Immigration Act will look at. I mean can two legals make a legal. I’ve raised that issue at our public meetings and a lot of people have a problem with that.”

With a rigid work schedule that sees him visit the aging Hawkins Hill complex every day, and take home thick stacks of files over the weekend, Mr Symonette insisted the immigration backlog will never be cleared without such limits.

“The level of service here,” he said, “no matter how high or hard we try, and no matter how much of a good will the people working here do, it’s the pure volume. The system needs to be updated.”

Mr Symonette said: “We are close to have moved from this building to the building across the street, close to 350,000 files. These

are separate cases. Everybody has got a file. Some of them are bigger some of them are smaller. All nationalities. This is not permanent residency; I’m just talking about permits.

“We have to have an immigration debate... because if there are 10,000 houses in Nassau, the best we can have is 10,000 Haitian work permits. And I’m not picking on Haitians, don’t get me wrong, but I have before me in any given day a request for a Haitian to clean the yard. “…I think Bahamians have given up on the whole certain jobs, live in housekeepers Bahamians don’t do, gardeners tend not to be. So we talk about developing the agricultural business and grow our chickens… the majority of the people who worked for (chicken farms) weren’t nationals so do we develop industries on the back of non nationals?”

The new immigration system is slated to come online in July, and with it vital statistics and tracking. It would also provide an inkling of just how many unregularised persons are in the country.

He added: “One thing we have to have a discussion on how many we have here…We need to sensitise the people.”

confirmation letters, teacher salaries that have not been adjusted.

“We still have teachers who are awaiting reassessment and reclassification, some of whom who have been waiting for ten, 12 years,” adding that BUT is in conciliation in the Department of Labour on some of these matters.

When asked if these issues could culminate in a strike, Mrs Wilson reiterated that at a meeting several weeks ago, teachers gave her the mandate to file a trade dispute.

She added they have several options.

“Now you know filing a trade dispute is really one of the first steps toward industrial action, so if these matters are not resolved in a timely manner in the Department of Labour, then we have the option of the industrial tribunal, we have the option of the Supreme Court, we even have the option of taking a strike-out,” said.

“So we are hopeful that these trade disputes would be settled during our conciliation with the Department of Labour so that we do not have to take drastic measures going forward.”

In response to those who berate teachers for taking industrial action, Mrs Wilson said critics do not see the behind-the-scenes efforts that the Union makes before taking such extreme action.

According to Mrs Wilson, this is not a new idea. She recalled such a programme was introduced at the Stephen Dillet Primary School several years ago. The BUT president suggested the Ministry access this data, assess it and determine its success. Then would she suggest doing a pilot programme.

However, she noted the idea needs more thought, consultation and discussion with various stakeholders.

to locate weapons, and called for security officers to be “beefed up”.

She also referenced the need for officers to be dressed in a manner that would allow them to respond to urgent situations swiftly.

Mrs Wilson also called for assistance programmes to receive more funding, space and teachers, citing the Star Academy on Wulff Road.

“We’re still waiting to find out what is the status of that institution, when is that going to be prepared and ready, because that is supposed to be an institution for our at-risk students,” she said.

She added a suspension programme had been created, whereby students who had been suspended could have sessions with guidance counsellors, and pastors; and still complete and get assistance with assignments.

However, it has not come to fruition.

“So it is so much — education is so vast, and I am not yet convinced that we have the right team in place right now, to move education to the level that I feel that it should be heading at this time,” she said.

Mrs Wilson said overall, the state of education is in “transition”, with a need for “clear articulation” as to where it is going, by what means, and what the main priorities are. She also hoped that a follow up to April’s forum would occur.

“Now I noted that in that forum, the ministry has a cycle of 2018-2023. So I’m hoping that within [that] time period … the stakeholders are back to the table to be able to analyse and to asses written documentation as to where it is that education is going, and what role the stakeholders such as the Bahamas Union of Teachers, would play in ensuring the success of education.”

She also hopes that going forward, students and parents are able to play a more major role in the educational system.

EDUCATION A PRIORITY - BUT NOT MUCH CHANGE SO FAR

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Free National Movement took office in May 2017, education was among the top priorities.

In the Speech from the Throne, the Minnis administration identified education and the training of Bahamians as “key factors in the progressive and sustainable economic development of our nation”.

Last week, The Tribune interviewed Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson on how she viewed the status of education in the country after one year of the FNM. “I would say that in the

past year I’ve not yet seen any fundamental changes,” Mrs Wilson said.

However, she applauded Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd, who she said has improved “communication” and “open dialogue”, by being accessible to union executives.

According to Mrs Wilson, the “best” thing that has happened so far is the education forum that took place last month.

The forum’s theme was “From policy to implementation”, which Mrs Wilson said was “a step in the right direction”, stressing a major challenge in the country has always been implementation. She added she is waiting with “bated breath” to see these ideas put into action.

Teacher shortage and strike The first challenge Mrs Wilson discussed is the ongoing teacher shortage, which is compounded by the significant number of teachers still awaiting confirmation.

“There are several teachers who would have attended orientation [in August 2017]. They’re still at home awaiting employment,” she said.

“And what is so disturbing for me is that some of those teachers that are at home have been the recipients of scholarships to the then-College of The Bahamas, now The University of The Bahamas, on tax payers money.

“We still have the perennial problem of teachers

Single gender classrooms In the FNM’s manifesto, the party promised to introduce a pilot programme of single gender classes and schools.

School violence While noting the rate of school violence has decreased in recent years, Mrs Wilson acknowledged it still exists. While advocating for security measures such as metal detectors and security officers, she also suggested more preventative solutions be implemented.

“What my concern is that we are too reactive and we’re not proactive,” she said.

She referenced a violent incident at a school prompts people to discuss policy without ever making steps to concrete change.

“When you see violence in our schools emanating from our students, [there is] a deeper underlying issue than just a student came to school today and he or she got in a fight.”

Mrs Wilson suggested a holistic approach. This includes having teachers, parents, administrators and other community members identify children with behavioural changes or challenges.

She also discussed the need for collaboration with Social Services. “[In my mind], Social Services should be collaborating and consulting with education, letting education know who the families or children of school age are [in their system] and who may need a closer eye by the guidance counsellor or their teachers,” she said.

In addition to this proactive approach, Mrs Wilson said she is a proponent of metal detectors in schools

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 7

THE VIEW FROM THE STREET ON FNM’S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE

INSIGHT THE FIRST YEAR

PICTURED: RAYVONNE BETHEL

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

I didn’t vote for them in this election. Next time, I doubt it.

IN a street talk conducted last week a cross-section of Bahamian society was asked their views on the Minnis administration thus far and it was very much a case of the jury is still out.

Our reporter focussed on three major questions were: What are your thoughts on the FNM thus far? What do you think they can improve on? Will you vote for them in five years?

Many were ready to voice their opinions - on these questions and a lot else.

Stephen Murphy, 55, Englerston Well I think Minnis needs to go because they want a raise and people still ******* in outside toilets and children going to be hungry. We ain’t gat no space in town for that. No raise, feed the people.

So far they can’t improve nothing, they’re totally wrong. Don’t care what they say about the PLP, the PLP used to make sure those old age people get they old age pension.

Since Minnis gone there, the people gat hell to get they old age pension and get they food stamps. It’s a disgrace.

They’re too bad to improve. Minnis is not leadership material. Minnis is a man who get dictate to.

We don’t need that.

Rayvonne Bethel, 49, Paradise Island: I guess the prime minister is settling in right now.

It’s really nothing really radical that has happened since he came to office that I can think of… I think the biggest thing when he was getting into office was the Baha Mar thing, and that settled down by itself. And that’s about it.

I just saw a statistic about crime and I saw that was going down [especially murders]. So that would be the biggest concern. You don’t want to think that it’s getting worse… So that’s important. And [people] need to work.

Would I vote for them next time? You’re looking at someone who didn’t vote the last election. I don’t know. If I decide to vote again, maybe.

Maria Cartwright, 56, Golden Isles I don’t like what they did.

People who get position, we voted for them, put them in, and they ain’ get no post.

I don’t like that one bit.

People like Vaughn Miller.

He win, that’s a big area, Golden Isles. I campaigned for him. And no position he win. I don’t like that. I think that was bad. People who [Minnis] give position to, like the Attorney General and them, they didn’t run, they didn’t campaign.

Like I say, I am very disappointed in this government. To start off with, tell the truth. No lies. They promised to take VAT off the tings, they ain’ do it. A lot of things was promised.

I am disappointed in this government.

Vote for them next time? I don’t think so.

Ramon Newbold, 28, Rockcrusher So far the FNM look like they was doing well, but in the process of it they’re messing up [at] the same time. People are getting lay off from jobs and it look like they only letting people they know get in. So they need to improve in certain things. The crime look like it’s actually getting way out of hand than way before then when [the] PLP was in power. So they need to pull up they pants and do what they supposed to be doing.

The rate they’re going in now, no, they wouldn’t get my vote.

Osbourne Lockhart, 29, Garden Hills.

I don’t really have a thought. I mean, I guess they’re doing some kind of headway. I’d like to see more done. Especially [in terms of crime] and for the citizens in terms of business.

Dyson Knight, Fort Charlotte (pictured) I’m a strong believer that you have to quietly pave the road to your own successful future. I think if you rely on government, if you rely on your mummy and your daddy, you only go so far. Because you only go so far as what they can do for you. But you can go much farther if you rely on what you can do for yourself. And you have to be quiet because sometimes people get upset that you’re not using their help and they try to stop you. So just be humble, be quiet and keep moving and pressing forward, as hard and passionately as you can.

Everyone has room for improvement, the government included. I think the expectation is very, very high and they just have to focus on the very big promises that they made to the Bahamian people. If they want to continue forward and be liked by the Bahamian people, just do what they say they’re going to do. Or at least reform their stance on the things that they said that they were [going to] do.

I think if they are open and honest about what they can do then the only choice we have is to accept it and appreciate that they decided to be straightforward and be honest with the people and then execute this new plan based on the information that they have.

I think as an artist, I would want for the stage to be set a certain way to encourage growth in my industry. Not just for me but for everyone that exists in the industry. Because I can’t make it unless we all make it.

Because then everyone [will] have a respect for what we do as artists.

Will I vote for this government in the next [election]? I think it’s really too soon to say. I won’t say that I won’t vote for them, but there’s a possibility that I won’t. Because I am a Bahamian first, and I wear colours second.

Melanese Coakley, 40s, Marathon It’s difficult to measure [because] they haven’t been as transparent as they had promised. So… you don’t know how they’re doing because they’re really not saying to the people. Communication is definitely key. If we don’t know as a people what they’re doing, then based on what is happening in our own lives, the difficulties that we’re experiencing then, we’re going to measure it by that stick.

Next election?

That’s a difficult question at this time. Very difficult.

8. Hugene, 29, Adelaide I think it’s pretty average.

To be quite honest, I don’t see anything massively different or massively ground-shaking or impressive. But then again, it has only been just one year.

I know in a democracy there’s only so much you can do in one year with all the red tape and different combatting things in government.

So, I haven’t seen anything impressive, but I do see that they have been serious on this trying to find corruption and stuff, which I do find pretty good. But there are still many things that can be improved on within the whole country [in] general, not just the government.

Country-wise I believe they could improve in education, for one. Not just academic education but in terms of entrepreneurship, business education.

And help promote people becoming financially independent and building businesses. As opposed to only just promoting more jobs. That’s what every government does.

It’s too early to say about how I will vote next time. We’ll see what happens in the next four years of their term.

Damian Brown, 20, Centreville Honestly, I don’t follow up, so I don’t really know what’s going on. But I guess they’re doing good.

I feel as though we could do more in terms of getting younger people involved within the community.

Because that’s a big thing to me because we’re losing plenty young people to violence and drugs. So I feel as if… they put programmes to take them out, to show them a better way, instead of just leaving them alone, then we’ll be able to see some sort of a change.

Because you know it takes a village to raise a child.

And if you just have somebody; you could carry them to church. They could feel blessed and all that. And they ga come home with all the excitement inside them.

But by the time as they go back to that negativity, that drinking and all that cussing going on inside the home [they’ll lose it]. So put forth programmes to… show them a better way.

Would they get my vote? If it’s something for me, yea. [Something] that

could help me, to put me in a better position so that I could help others, yea.

Michelle Eccles-Major, 56, Killarney Not much going on right now. I think it’s still kind of early and nothing’s happening. I think they may need some more time. But at this point I kind of see it as flat, the whole economy and everything.

The economy, the job situation is really bad. And a lot of people [are] still unemployed and people need to work. And until that happens, it’s always going to be a problem.

Jonathan Thompson, 27, Seabreeze Well, I can’t give a definite opinion but I can see that they’re trying. I see that there’s some things that they’re trying to sort out. I just hope that they stick with it, stick with all of their plans and hopefully the government will be in longer than just five years so that whatever plan they

started can be finished.

If they are doing something…say [they’re] building something that’s going to improve the Bahamas, I would vote for them merely for the fact that they have to finish it.

Christy, 22, Mount Moriah I think that they’re doing very well. I like how they’re catering more to the people, and I like how they just started… the food plan.

What they should do is look more into the government offices, for sure.

Corruption and everything— the people not working, the people not doing their jobs, and especially in the hospitals. The care for the people in the hospitals - that really needs to improve.

Would I vote for them? Most definitely. I think that they’re doing a bit better than the PLP were doing.

Ian, 50, Southern Shores It just seem like the FNM

and the PLP are the same.

They just come with so much hope and this ga be so much different and so much better and it’s the same old same. No improvements.

Actually to me things are the same or they even get worse.

I think all governments need to focus more on education. Educating the people. Just the overall stability of the country.

The rich have it all and the poor get none. They need to do more for the average person.

I can’t say yes or no if I’d vote for them. I just analyse that as it comes to see the performance of the MP. I have to see his performance. But you don’t see anything specific in the area or anything outstanding.

You don’t see anything with most MPs. That’s why it’s the same old same.

The thing is with me, I’m not specific. I’m not a Bahamian who is party [affiliated]. I look at the person and what they’re doing in the community.

PAGE 8, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

The FNM enters its second year AS the curtain is lowered today on the Free National Movement’s first year in office, the second year opens on a sombre note. High unemployment, a medical and educational system under siege, damage from the last hurricane still to be repaired, and a crippled Treasury, unable to meet the demands of an expectant people, promised much, but who now have to face reality – the cupboard is bare.

One expects noise from the Opposition benches — especially as there are only four of them and they have to keep raising their voices to remind the public that they are still part of the show — and someday might again be relevant.

But the subjects on which they choose to make their voices heard only draws attention to their own inept five-year administration.

Fred Mitchell, for example, then Foreign Affairs Minister, during the world recession when investors were keeping their money close to their chests, announced in June, 2013, that he would be out of office for most of that year looking for investors. He said a substantial part of his time would be spent in the Middle East and Asia — an area plagued with major problems of their own — hunting down new funding sources for our “capital-starved” country. He explained that his ministry had been given a mandate to find new capital for The Bahamas as traditional sources were winding down on lending.

“This does not mean abandoning our traditional friend,” he said, “but at a time when our country is capital starved and there is excess capital in areas of the world outside our normal sphere of influence it would be foolhardy not for us to search,” he said.

And true to his word he globe-trotted, never stopping to give Bahamians an accounting of either the cost or success of his trips. Three years later, he was still globe-trotting, stopping only once to give the Bahamian people a surprise - about $500,000 worth of “high grade phosphate” fertiliser that had been donated to The Bahamas by the Government of Morocco and was available for purchase “at a very reasonable price”.

Mr Mitchell considered the donation a reflection of the “strong relationship” between The Bahamas and Morocco while then Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray emphasised that agriculture will be treated with “particular importance” under the Christie administration. At the time, The Tribune published a photograph of Mr Mitchell and Mr Grey displaying the fertiliser.

Explaining how the donation came

about, Mr Mitchell said diplomatic relations and technical cooperation agreements between Morocco and the Bahamas were first struck in 2012 at a conference in Casablanca regarding “the situation in Syria”. Mr Mitchell considered the donation a reflection of the “strong relationship” between the Bahamas and Morocco while Minister Gray emphasised that agriculture will be treated with “particular importance” under the Christie administration.

That was the first and last time that we heard of technical cooperation with Morocco, and, as for the special phosphate fertiliser, we presume it was sold.

As far as we can recall, Mr Mitchell has never announced the number of investments he negotiated — if any — to make his globe-trotting – at the expense of the Treasury – beneficial to The Bahamas.

And yet we have PLP Leader “Brave” Davis criticising Prime Minister Minnis on his first official overseas trip with a large delegation to attend the recent CARICOM meeting in Haiti. The Bahamas is a member of CARICOM. Last month Prime Minister Minnis was also in Lima, Peru for the Third CEO Summit of the Americas, where he was invited to speak. It was at this meeting that he was unfairly criticised for talking about crime in The Bahamas, oblivious of the fact that crime was the subject of the conference, and each member had a contribution to make on that subject.

The prime minister, and a delegation, also attended a CHOGM conference, which also met in London last month.

The Bahamas is an active member of these official bodies, which deal with problems common to our area. As The Bahamas is no longer a lost backwater drifting off the coast of Florida, a Bahamian delegation has to attend these conferences. As this was the first time for the introduction of new ministers to areas in which they must be active, it would not be surprising if the first delegations were large.

However, these are a new government’s first trips of international introduction from which Bahamians expect an expense report as promised.

But in fairness, Bahamians have to wait until more time has passed. If the FNM abuse this travel as did the PLP, then will be the time to complain — but at the moment, it is still too early.

In the meantime, we are still awaiting an accounting of the cost of former Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell’s globetrotting expenses during the Christie administration. Perhaps Mr “Brave” Davis can oblige by producing this for Bahamians.

What next at Potter’s Cay? EDITOR, The Tribune.

IT is good to know that government’s plans to upgrade Potter’s Cay and help it live up to its massive potential as a tourist mecca are “already in the public domain” (according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s latest statement).

What is not clear, however, is how being “in the public domain” is any kind of substitute for actual action of any kind. We are told that the Ministry last met with stakeholders on the matter ten months ago.

In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of guests at Atlantis and the Bahamian public have been passing over an unsightly and dangerous nest of vagrants under the bridge to the region’s premier resort destination. Last week, it was

the site of the country’s latest murder.

Under the PLP (remember the guys who were only motivated by ‘self-enrichment’ and – aside from saving Baha Mar, doubling scholarships, establishing the University of The Bahamas and building BAMSI – did nothing for the country?) Potter’s Cay was already under active redevelopment.

Under the FNM, it has stopped - like the Andre Rodgers stadium, the Post Office project (relocated to the boondocks with no consultation), NHI and the cruise port in East Grand Bahama.

Like his colleagues at Health and Education, who have become most adept at describing problems (especially where it involves telling the public how no-good and

undeserving we are) the Minister of Agriculture has shown a stunning inertia when it comes to actually doing something at Potter’s Cay, even though the plans were handed to him and his colleagues by their predecessors.

Potter’s Cay is a most obvious potential mecca of tourism, recreational activity and entrepreneurship.

Any of our neighbours would yearn for such an untapped opportunity, of which there is none comparable in the region. Its transformation would instantly boost visitor spending. To have failed to act on it because of budgetary constraints is a case of absurd priorities.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, May 9, 2018.

Nottage’s questions remain EDITOR, The Tribune.

BELOW is an article written by Hon Bernard J. Nottage in reference to the Baha Mar project.

This article was published on October 2010 and it is amazing that, eight years later, the exact questions and concerns still linger today. It makes us wonder if we have indeed changed governments, or if we have the same leadership with new faces.

Employment of Chinese Construction Workers There has been much discussion about the number of Chinese nationals who will be required to work on the construction phase.

Concerns have been raised as to the skill levels of the Chinese and whether they will be employed doing tasks which Bahamians can do. Bahamians want to know whether there will be Chinese labourers imported to perform any unskilled tasks that Bahamians are capable of performing. There would be strong objection to that.

Bahamians want to know whether there are construction methods being used on the Core Project, which are new and unknown to Bahamian workers. If the answer is yes, they should be defined and in accordance with the original 2005 HOA, arrangements should be made to ensure that there is transfer of skills and technology to Bahamian workers during the course of this project.

As it is very likely that Chinese financing will be used for future projects, it is incumbent on the government (GOB) to ensure that the lack of such skills can no longer be used as an excuse for depriving Bahamian workers of the opportunity to work on projects in their own country.

Concerns have also been expressed as to how the government will evaluate the workers who are

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net brought in as to their character, their health and their skill levels. The accusation that some workers may have criminal records should be dealt with. The need to ensure the good health and freedom from contagious diseases must be satisfied. The skill levels must be monitored and confirmed.

Concern has also been expressed as to the terms and conditions of employment for the migrant workers. Will they be paid according to Bahamian wage scales in accordance with ILO Conventions?

What are the living conditions under which they will be accommodated? What Health and Safety Regulations will be in place?

One of the concerns of the developers of the project is that Bahamian construction workers do not have any experience working at the heights that will be required for the 24 storey buildings. There is fear about the safety of the local workers.

The Health and Safety Act was passed but has not been enforced because of the lack of regulations needed to support it. In the meantime, there have been several serious incidents on construction sites, which have resulted in loss of life, which might have been avoided had the appropriate regulations been compiled and enforced. It is essential that this be done in time for the start of this project, which will have conditions requiring them.

Additionally the safety of the construction environment must be monitored by agents of the Ministry of Labour.

Recent discussions have suggested that there are no special skills or new construction technology to be utilized in the Core Project.

There is a view that what is different is the rate at which the foreign workers will be compensated and the conditions under which they will be working and housed.

Further there is a view that, having regard to the cultural and language differences, the chances for disharmony cannot be discounted. There is a need to ensure that the environment is created to avoid such problems.

There are also concerns that workers who are brought in for this project may stay in The Bahamas after the project has been completed and further deprive Bahamians of jobs in the future. It is understood, however, that part of the agreement is that all persons brought in for this project will be repatriated at the end of construction.

It is incumbent on the government to ensure that this is done.

A VOICE FROM THE PAST Nassau, May 8, 2018.

Nine weeks to move cars EDITOR, The Tribune While I understand the Environmental Department has its hands full, it should not take nine weeks to respond to an appeal to rid our neighbourhood of two derelict cars.

The cars on Malawi Street in Elizabeth Estates are an eyesore and a haven for rats. The residents put a lot of effort into the upkeep of their properties and the situation is very distressing.

We have telephoned the department on numerous occasions and they always promise to come, but never show up.

Help!

DISTRESSED LIZZY Nassau, May 9, 2018.

IN

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 9

SEX OFFENDER REGISTER BY YEAR’S END from page one

CONVICTED child killer Kofhe Goodman.

“The AG and I have had a conversation on that already, and we will give the notification that we would wish to proceed as quickly as possible with that registry.

“I can assure the Bahamian public that that registry will come, and it will come this year, very soon, very soon.”

Marco’s killer, Kofhe Goodman, was sentenced to 55 years in prison on Monday following a retrial. The seven years he spent in custody will be deducted from the sentence.

He had been sentenced

to death after his first trial over Marco’s killing, however that was overturned on appeal.

The 11-year-old’s death in 2011 gripped the nation, and also sparked amendments to the Child Protection Act, which established a MARCO Alert system for missing children.

The Child Protection Amendment Act 2014 came into operation on August 26, 2015. The government implemented the MARCO Alert system in July 2016.

Yesterday, Mr Dames said the administration had been tied up with its compendium of financial/crime bills but held the registry as a high priority.

HELPING TO BEAT THE CRIMINALS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE yesterday hosted a symposium designed to better inform business operators of the varying forms of crimes which adversely affect their sector.

The one-day forum was hosted at the Paul Farquharson Conference Centre by officers from Northeastern Division and featured presentations

by Royal Bahamas Police Force crime and fraud experts.

Superintendent Oswald Nixon, officer in-charge of the Northeastern Division, said the symposium came about as a result of an analysis of crime trends specific to his division.

The Northeastern Division encompasses three of New Providence’s highesttraffic shopping districts - Mall at Marathon, Palmdale and Harbour Bay. These districts have been, in recent years, targeted by criminals and on several occasions became the locations of major robberies and murders.

Supt Nixon said the division’s inquiry section identified trends that specifically targeted businesses,

its employees and unsuspecting customers.

“Once we would have looked at those trends, we came up with the concept of having a business symposium to make the business persons in the area aware of those trends to better help them in protecting their businesses and their customers,” he said. “We have a number of areas involved here, mainly those areas from the Criminal Detective Unit.”

Supt Nixon added: “We have the persons from the armed robbery section here to give tips on armed robberies; persons from the family liaison sections to help those victims of crime; we have persons here from the computer related, tech area to deal with computer related cyber crimes; and we have persons from the area which deals with fraudulent uses of credit cards and debit cards here.”

Of those in attendance, Supt Nixon said he hopes business operators walk away with a better understanding on how best to protect themselves, their businesses and their customers.

He also stressed the need for business operators to optimise the use of technology as it relates to

CCTV, insisting the use of video cameras within stores and establishments often enhance the coverage of security officers on site.

Supt Nixon continued: “(We want them to be) aware of certain trends of criminals; to monitor their customers who are coming in, to make sure that the person who is coming in – you can’t figure out everybody who is a criminal, but at least put you on notice to say that this particular behaviour, this particular person who walks into your store and they are asking for a certain product then they go back out and come back into your store, and you see a vehicle outside, that should prompt you to say, ‘let me be on my Ps and Qs as it relates to this particular person.’”

The symposium was carried out in accordance with Commissioner Anthony Ferguson’s 2018 policing plan.

While there are no immediate plans to repeat the forum, according to Superintendent Shanta Knowles, police press liaison officer, crime prevention initiatives are being regularly executed throughout the country in accordance with the commissioner’s plan.

SEMINAR TO TACKLE GENDER VIOLENCE

By FARRAH JOHNSON THE Pan American Development Fund hosted a seminar to train local law enforcement and medical professionals on the proper techniques to help manage gender-based violence.

The two-day session, held May 7 and 8, is part of an ongoing project called the Women’s Initiative for NonViolence and Development (WIND), and so far, more than 80 officers have been trained.

Latara Evans, country coordinator for the PADF, said the conference focused on forensic science training, the neurology of trauma and the science of the collection of evidence as it relates to rape and sex kits.

Ms Evans said the decision to include forensic and science training for law enforcement and medical staff was made after the foundation saw it “fit” to add another component.

“We hope that this is the first of many to come.

We realise for victims the journey is very long from the initial stage of being assaulted…and so we would like for both personnel – medical as well as law enforcement – to be on the same page in their treatment and their execution of dealing with victims.”

Ms Evans added that the organisation has seen some improvement with law enforcement since the training started.

“It’s very important that we have (training) – it won’t be seamless, but it’ll be in a way that is less traumatic if you will, for victims. With anything it takes time, and like I said before we’ve reached more than 80, and obviously the police force is larger than that so these things take time, and over the course of time we will begin to gauge exactly what we have been successful in.”

Representing PADF,

Jana French, nursing director and DC forensics nurse, led the training for the conference. She said the exercises will cover how to properly care for victims of sexual assault, and how to review proper evidence collection technique, along with the science behind it.

She added that the sessions will teach law enforcement and medical staff effective interview techniques, to ensure that everyone understands their purpose and the role they play.

“I think it is always, when you are caring for patients (who have experienced sexual violence), really understanding how it may manifest in how they’re speaking to you, how they’re acting, how they might be answering questions, and really understanding and appreciating that everyone comes to it from a very different place,” Ms French said.

Ms French said both law enforcement and medical staff should be able to understand why a patient might not be able to sequence an event very well. “(They should know) why the brain is responding that way, and understand that it’s not necessarily the patient lying, it’s just the way the person’s brain is responding to the traumatic event they’ve experienced,” she explained.

Shanta Knowles, superintendent of police, said the police force is pleased to partner with PADF. “Randomly we choose officers or front line officers, who are on patrols and who are most likely to get a call of a domestic dispute or even a sexual assault…we’ve been dealing with sexual assault for a very, very long time… but as we change offices, or we transfer officers, not very many of them get official formal training, and this morning we hope to formalise some training with as many of the officers as possible,” she said earlier this week.

Ms Evans explained

that PADF in conjunction with the US State Department has been running the WINDS – Women’s Initiative for Non-Violence and Development project – since August of 2016.

“We’re doing it right now,” he said, “we’re doing it right now. The AG and I have been talking about it, we had any number of significant bills that we had to (deal with), especially this compendium of

financial bills, financial/ crime bills that we had to get through to meet certain requirements so this is very important to us, the registry, and Bahamian people can expect to see it very shortly, we’re in motion on

MURDER victim Marco Archer.

PAGE 10, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Dames: We have more work to do

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames forecast the Minnis administration has a “hell of a lot of work ahead” as the government marks its first year.

“We have a lot of work to do,” he said, “we have a lot of work ahead of us. We may have accomplished some things but there is a hell of a lot of work ahead. We recognise as a government coming in that certainly the first year was never going to be easy given what we have inherited, an economy in shambles, unemployment off the charts - especially among the youth, persons struggling to survive day by day, a number of social issues, including crime, and everything else.

“I look at it as a year where you had an opportunity to examine our current structures and models. For example within our ministry of National Security... you can do one or two things, you can accept the status quo, and we know the model is broken and in need of fixing.

“So one of the things we did is we examined our model to see whether it was current, whether it would serve our needs moving forward, and if it would help us achieve the things that we had on our agenda to achieve. So recognising that was not the case we did a lot of work trying to retool, restructure, and reengineer, so we can become more efficient and we can serve the needs of the Bahamian people.”

Mr Dames spoke to media following the morning session of the House of Assembly yesterday.

He also remarked on the anniversary of the sinking of HMBS Flamingo on May

MARVIN DAMES, Minister of National Security.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff 10, 1980. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force will remember the tragedy and honour the fallen marines during a ceremony today.

“This is a very important period in our development as a country,” he said, “when four marines lost their lives in the protection of this country. We as Bahamians should never forget that, we should never forget the sacrifices that these men made and those who survived.

“Many of them are still living today. We have one who is still a member of

the defence force and so we’re proud of our marines too. Often we’re critical but sometimes we have to pause and see the value of what these men and women bring to our country.”

Mr Dames added: “As we are at home at night or going about our business not having any concern about anything, these men and women are out there in rough waters sometimes very bad days under very tough conditions, ensuring we all are safe and we’re grateful to them for that.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 11

In uniform? first in line for cheap house plots

from page one Dr Minnis said the average lot to be sold for $30,000 or less is valued at $100,000.

“Certain material for homebuilding will be duty free, which may save homeowners approximately an additional $30,000 to $40,000,” he said.

Dr Minnis said similar benefits will be given to Bahamians in the Family Islands next year looking to establish bed and breakfast businesses.

“We recognise that what’s happening today,” he said.

“Foreign individuals are building second homes in our Family Islands and they are using those homes as bed and breakfast or room inventory and if the government does not take control of this matter now, ten, 20 years from today Bahamians will lose their Family Islands and tourism industry. The legislation to be brought sometime next year, the commercial component, will allow Bahamians to purchase land for bed and breakfast at reduced costs with all the infrastructure in place and they will be able to build again duty free.”

Dr Minnis said such businesses which sell only “Bahamian products as breakfast” will receive further perks.

“What is most important about the legislation that will come is that we understand that bed and breakfast means that you’re selling breakfast as part of your package,” he said. “If a bed and breakfast facility sells only Bahamian products as breakfast they will be incentivised again...We

HOUSING Minister Brensil Rolle. also recognise that as business starts to grow, those individuals will possibly ask for facilities as they may want to now provide lunch in addition to breakfast. In such a situation such as these, they will be further incentivised.

“However, if one nonBahamian item appears on your breakfast or lunch menu then you will lose

your incentives,” Dr Minnis said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest stressed that despite the affordable housing programme, the government is careful not to distort the construction and real estate industries by making the benefits available outside government designated subdivisions.

“We are mindful that we also have to protect the Treasury,” he said, addressing critics wondering why exemptions under the programme won’t be given generally to people building homes in The Bahamas.

“We cannot afford wholesale elimination of duties and excise taxes across the board, otherwise we will have chaos,” he said.

“So this is very targeted, intended to assist the most vulnerable, those families who are deserving, who are qualified to access affordable homes.”

Critics are concerned that under the bill, the minister of finance is solely empowered to approve applications of people seeking tax exemption benefits.

Matt Albury, chairman of the Organisation for Responsible Governance, said such a provision concerns him.

“The tendency of legislation to give ministers power of approvals is contrary to transparency and increases the potential for political favoritism,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “The terms and process needs to be crystal clear and independent of the political process. From an efficiency perspective, we have seen repeatedly that having a commission or board make decisions can streamline efforts like this. Although this is only for 300 lots in the first wave, having ministry approval would not seem sustainable in any expansion of this programme.”

Similarly, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper, during his contribution yesterday, said: “Why risk a politician holding something so important as this in hand and making him the sole arbiter of who is approved? Many Bahamians already live in fear of being victimised by this government.”

Mr Turnquest in turn said only the Minister of Finance has the statutory power to grant tax exemptions. He also said the bill mandates that the minister tell applicants in

writing why their request was refused.

“The bill specifically anticipates that some minister may in the future, because it won’t be this one, decide that he wants to be spiteful or political or vindictive or whatever and the Act requires that minister to outline in writing why he would’ve denied such an exemption. And it could go to judicial review at the end of the day if you’re not satisfied,” Mr Turnquest said.

Mr Cooper said whatever the law’s intent, it has “fantastical” aims “when it comes to its practical application.”

“Most people can’t qualify for the $100,000 or so a local bank would facilitate for building a home especially after having to qualify for the lot,” he said. “…The lot is $30,000, the house will be, let’s say 1,000 square feet at, oh, low balling $100 per square foot for what a private contractor would charge, so we have a nice round number. That’s $130,000 for a house and the land. How many Bahamians can realistically afford that on their own through a financial institution? Now, if you say the intention is to facilitate these loans through an entity like the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, then that makes more sense.”

Nonetheless, Housing Minister Brensil Rolle said through the law, Bahamians will be “reasonably” able to get a house for $100,000.

Otherwise, he said the cost of government homes obtained through the Ministry of Housing has been growing, increasing from $120,000 in 2012 to $160,000 five years later.

PAGE 12, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Jury to consider verdict in double murder case

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THREE men accused of the double murder and armed robbery of a Deadman’s Reef couple are expected to learn their fate soon after Justice Estelle Gray Evans wraps up her summation of the case at 10am today and turns it over to the jurors.

Justice Evans began summing up the case around 10.42am but was unable to complete it because of the vast amount of evidence presented during the eight month-long trial.

The trial opened last October. The prosecution called 26 witnesses to give evidence and three witnesses were called by the defense.

Defendants Paul Belizaire, Devaughn Hall, and Kevin Dames are charged with two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is alleged that four masked armed men shot and killed Barry and Sheena Johnson at their residence in Deadman’s Reef on September 12, 2015. A set of keys and a GMC truck belonging

THE three men accused of the double murder and armed robbery and Paul Belizaire – at an earlier court appearance.

Belizaire, to the couple were also represents then asked Justice Evans stolen.

The case was prolonged whether inquiries were conas a result of several ducted into his complaint about untoward remarks adjournments.

Before proceeding, Jus- made against him by the tice Evans addressed the forewoman and two other forewoman about the jurors after he was found in absence of juror number contempt.

Justice Evans said she nine who was replaced by did not see the need to conone of four alternates.

“One of your number is duct one because she had missing?” she asked. The not heard what he said had forewoman explained that happened. Jethlyn Burrows the juror was away and was and Carlson Shurland, who unable to return for the rest represents Hall and Dames, respectively, said they too of the month.

Defence counsel Geof- had not heard any untofrey Farquharson, who ward statements made by the jurors.

The judge thanked the jurors for their commitment to public service. “I thank you… you spent seven or eight months with us. We understand you have taken time out of your lives to render service,” she said.

1,081 sq.ft. 2 open plan areas, conference, She told jurors that their reception, kitchenette, bathroom and IT closet. task is to decide whether the three men are guilty or $4,233.92 pm inc. CAM + VAT not guilty of the offences they are charged with.

1,056 sq.ft. 4 offices, conference room, reception, She advised them that kitchenette and bathroom, IT closet. during the trial there were exchanges between the $3,696.00 pm. Inc. CAM + VAT court and counsel, with some outbursts behaviour, Contact Mr. Simon Chappell on and that they should not 327 1575 or 477-7610 give consideration to that.

Email: simon@cavesvillage.com “You are deciding the fate of three young

CAVES VILLAGE

Premium Office Space for Lease

– Kevin Dames, Devaughn Hall Photo: Vandyke Hepburn men charged with serious offences and each has pleaded not guilty,” the judge said.

Justice Evans said that they must look at the facts from all the evidence produced by the witnesses, both oral and the items exhibited in court, and decide what or who they believe, and what witnesses statements they accept or reject.

Jurors were told to disregard anything they may have heard or read outside of the courtroom.

She said while it is a tragic case that caused a gamut of emotions, they must not allow sympathy for the families of the deceased, or defendants to affect them, or their perception of crime in the society as general.

Justice Evans said that persons brought before the courts are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

None of the defendants, she said, has to prove his innocence because the law presumes they are innocent and the prosecution must prove they are guilty.

The prosecution has to prove two things, she said.

Firstly, that an offence has been committed, and secondly, that the persons who committed the offence are the defendants.

The law, he said, requires the prosecution to prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. You must be without a reasonable doubt, if you have a doubt then the Crown has not proven its case and the defendants must be found not guilty.

Justice Evans told jurors it is a joint trial involving multiple charges against the defendants and that they must consider each count separately, and bring a separate verdict for each count in the case of each of the three defendants.

She said that the prosecution does not have to prove motive.

According to the judge, the defendants being concerned together are accused of intentionally causing the death of Barry and Sheena Johnson by means of unlawful harm on September 12, 2015, and that they are concerned together with robbing them of a set of keys and their 2003 GMC truck valued at $8,000.

The prosecution has to prove that the Johnsons died by means of unlawful harm, that their deaths occurred within one year and a day of the shooting, that unlawful harm was inflicted by persons and that defendants who are accused are the persons who committed the offences.

According to evidence, the couple was found shot to death on the morning of September 13, 2015. Mr Johnson died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and Mrs Johnson was shot six times about the body, including the head. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor. Mr Johnson’s body was discovered outside the residence in a pool of blood, and Mrs Johnson was lying on the ground at the entrance of the doorway of the residence. Pathologist Mandy Pedican, who performed the autopsies on September 14, testified that the victims’ cause of death was from the gunshot injury to the head.

In reference to the murder charges, the judge noted that the prosecution must prove there was no lawful excuse for the killing of Barry and Sheena Johnson, and that whoever inflicted harm intended to kill them.

“You cannot convict

unless you feel sure the perpetrators had specifically intended to kill them,” the judge said.

In reference to the armed robbery charge, she said it must be proven that the accused were armed with offensive instruments and that in doing so, used force, or violence against persons or seeks to put persons in fear.

While evidence was presented in court indicating that the accused did not intend to steal the truck and keys, the property was taken without the consent of the owner. The judge said because Barry and Sheena are deceased they cannot testify or say that, but noted that witnesses had testified that they knew the GMC truck T-8688 registered sticker in their names, belonged to them.

Justice Evans said the prosecution is relying on the evidence of co-defendants Alan Alcime and Virgil Hall, who were initially charged with the five men and accepted plea deals and pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

Alcime and Virgil Hall identified Devaughn Hall as the shooter. According to evidence, Hall told Alcime he knew where some $2million and cocaine was and wanted to know if he wanted to go with him to get it and told him to bring along another person.

Alcime invited Virgil Hall.

The prosecution’s case, she said, is also based on video footage from cameras recording murders, police statements and recording of interviews given by defendants Paul Belizaire and Kevin Dames following their arrests, a video recording of Belizaire on inquiries with police to several areas where he pointed out to police where the truck and keys were abandoned on a dirt road near the container port, and where they waited in bushes in Deadman’s Reef for Mr Johnson to arrive home.

It is alleged that Dames dropped the men off to Deadman’s Reef. He testified in the box that he did not know what the men were going to do.

The judge told jurors that they must use common sense as they consider the facts in the case.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 10, 2018, PAGE 13

PROTESTORS in Rawson Square yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

Rawson protest on govt’s anniversary

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net ONE day before the anniversary of the Free National Movement’s landslide electoral victory, a group of protestors gathered in Rawson Square to demonstrate against the Minnis administration.

Police officers estimated that 50 protestors were in attendance, representing the organisation Operation Sovereign Bahamas.

The protestors had signs which read “Ban Oban,” “No to WTO,” “Protect our children,” and “No more shanty towns!”

“Everything this government is doing is ad hoc,” OSB director Adrian Francis said, while promising to stand up for all Bahamians.

Mr Francis, a radio talk show host whose programme was cancelled by government-owned broadcaster ZNS earlier this year, also criticised the planned Oban Energies oil refinery for Grand Bahama and said he is worried about its potential health impacts.

He also criticised the country’s economic state as well as the prime minister.

“When (Dr Minnis) talks to the press, he speaks to us

like we are crazy, like we’re nothing,” he said.

“Everything that he claims (Perry) Christie was, he is. Everything the last government said, they’re doing.”

He claimed the government has not kept its election promises.

Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine addressed the march outside Parliament yesterday.

“You have a right to protest, once you do so decently and in order,” he said.

“You have a right to hold your government accountable and transparent, and we should have no problem.

“The Free National Movement should have no problem with nobody protesting because after all they are people, and it’s the people’s time.”

Mr McAlpine also addressed the Oban Energies controversy, reiterating his previous concerns.

“I think it’s very bad for the environment, I think it’s messing up our virgin territory of beaches, the air, and sand, and sea, and our vegetation life, in the eastern area, and so my views have not changed,” the FNM backbencher said.

“There’s been many

question marks and even though there have been reports about the industrial area as to not being the cause of, again by way of perception, many people don’t believe that to be the case.

“And so my view on Oban is that the environment must be priority before doing any investment, not just that of Oban, but any investment that may be an endangerment to with the people and our land area and sea, wildlife, must have a question mark over it.”

Mr McAlpine also spoke to the importance of Grand Bahama experiencing an “economic infusion”.

“Grand Bahama has the potential to be touristic, industrial, a tech hub… but at the same time, let’s just get it moving.

“Grand Bahama don’t need 50 jobs or 100 jobs, Grand Bahama needs an economic infusion, and not at the expense of destroying the lives of people.

“So, we don’t need just jobs, we need jobs that’s going to get at least 2,0003,000 people to work in order for Grand Bahama to feel the turn around and the economic impact that it needs to have.”

PAGE 14, Thursday, May 10, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Russian billionaire payments revealed WASHINGTON Associated Press

A GEOLOGIST examines a part of the inactive fissure 10 in Leilani Estates subdivision near Pahoa on the island of Hawaii.

Photo: US Geological Survey

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO ‘COULD EXPLODE’ PAHOA, Hawaii Associated Press

GEOLOGISTS warned last night that Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano could erupt explosively and send boulders, rocks and ash into the air around its summit in the coming weeks.

The US Geological Survey said the risk will rise if the lava drops below the groundwater level beneath

the summit’s caldera.

An influx of water inside could cause steam-driven explosions. There’s also potential for ash, steam and sulfur dioxide emissions.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It has destroyed 36 structures since it began releasing lava into fissures that opened in a Big Island residential neighborhood last week.

Since the eruptions began, 14 such fissures have opened in a subdivision and destroyed dozens of structures, including 26 homes.

In the weeks ahead, the volcano could eject blocks up to two yards (meters) in diameter a little less than a mile (a kilometer) away, the USGS said. It may also send pebbles shooting into the air several miles (kilometers) away, the USGS said.

STORMY Daniels’ lawyer says he has information showing that President Donald Trump’s long-time personal attorney received $500,000 from a company associated with a Russian billionaire within months of paying hush money to the porn star who claims a longago affair with Trump.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti also said hundreds of thousands of dollars streamed into Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s account from companies, including pharmaceutical giant Novartis, AT&T and Korea Aerospace, with US government business interests. Those three companies have confirmed the connection.

Avenatti isn’t disclosing the source of his information or releasing documentation. But in a seven-page memo, Avenatti details what he says were wire transfers into and out of the account Cohen used to pay Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 to stay silent

about her alleged tryst with Trump in 2006. He denies having an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Financial documents reviewed on Tuesday by The Associated Press appeared to back up Avenatti’s report.

The memo says Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian billionaire, and his cousin “routed” eight payments totaling approximately $500,000 to Cohen’s company, Essential Consultants, between January and August 2017. The reason for the payments was not immediately known.

Avenatti’s memo says the deposits into the account controlled by Cohen were made by Columbus Nova, an American investment company headed by Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, and affiliated with the Renova Group, which Vekselberg controls.

Andrey Shtorkh, a spokesman for Vekselberg and the Renova Group, said in a statement that “neither Victor Vekselberg nor Renova has ever had any

contractual relationship” with Cohen or Essential Consultants.

He said questions about a relationship between Columbus Nova and Cohen would have to be answered by Intrater “because Columbus Nova is a company owned and managed by him”.

Columbus Nova’s lawyer, Richard Owens, said in a statement the company is “solely owned and controlled by Americans.” He said that after Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, the company hired Cohen as a business consultant “regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures”, but that it had nothing to do with Vekselberg.

“Neither Viktor Vekselberg nor anyone else, other than Columbus Nova’s owners, were involved in the decision to hire Cohen or provided funding for his engagement,” he said.

Cohen and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

AMERICANS FREED FROM NORTH KOREA WASHINGTON Associated Press FREED after more than a year in prison, three Americans flew homeward from North Korea late on Tuesday toward a big middle-of-the-night celebration featuring President Donald Trump — the latest sign of improving relations between longtime adversaries in the buildup to a historic summit between Trump and North Korea’s King Jong Un.

Trump promised “quite a scene” at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington for the detainees, who were released as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea on Wednesday to finalise plans for the summit.

Singapore was the likely site, late this month or in early June, for Trump’s most ambitious foreign police effort yet.

Trump made a point of publicly thanking North Korea’s leader for the

prisoners’ release — “I appreciate Kim Jong Un doing this” — and hailed it as a sign of cooling tensions and growing opportunity on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea had accused Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim, all Korean-Americans, of anti-state activities. Their arrests were widely seen as politically motivated and had compounded the dire state of relations over the isolated nation’s nuclear weapons.