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The Tribune Established 1903

Volume:116 No.95, MAY 10TH, 2019

Weekend

WEEKEND: CELEBRATING A SECOND CHANCE OF LIFE

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1 gardening

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Friday, May 10, 2019

MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS Page 19

It’s never too late

Cancer survivor turns to art

pages 8 & 9

A COMIC’S VIEW HOW A SMALL AXE CAN FELL A LARGE TREE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

CHURCHES: ‘LOOK AT ALL WE DO’

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE help a family relative as she learns of yesterday’s double killing on Kemp Road.

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net POLICE are investigating a drive-by shooting that left two men dead and one man injured in hospital yesterday morning.

The homicides came hours after two men were shot and killed at Potter’s Cay Dock on Wednesday night.

According to Superintendent Shanta Knowles, shortly after 7am police received reports of gunshots being fired in Whites Addition, Kemp Road and that a number of people were injured.

At the scene, Supt Knowles said: “Once the officers got here, they discovered that two persons were in fact injured

• Families’ agony as they grieve over four killed • Police set up special squad to track targets and confirmed deceased.

Another [person] was transported to hospital and is in stable condition.”

Speaking to reporters during a walkabout in the area hours after the shooting, Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Anthony Ferguson said: “The incident involved a

single vehicle that drove through this location and occupants from that vehicle fired indiscriminately thereby fatally injuring two persons.”

Police are actively trying to identify the occupants of the vehicle in question. “So again, we are appealing to the people

in the Kemp Road area to assist us with this investigation,” Supt Knowles said. “Give us as much information as possible that we can bring this matter to a close quickly.”

She added: “Police are asking anyone with information that can assist with this investigation to

contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991/2, Crime stoppers at 328TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.”

Commissioner Ferguson, pictured below, later noted the double homicide from Potter’s Cay Dock and the killings yesterday are not connected.

Supt Knowles could not say whether the victims were known to police at this time.

The Tribune understands the Kemp Road victims are Valentino Cox aka “Porky” and Timothy Lewis aka “Amber” however, their identities were not released by police.

SEE PAGE THREE

THE Bahamas Christian Council has “never left the people”, according to its president, Bishop Delton Fernander, who yesterday noted the council’s work “behind the scenes” to comfort people affected by crime.

He was responding to questions related to the criticism and push-back his organisation has attracted for its strong and vocal position against Bahamas Carnival, and perceived silence on other social issues affecting the country.

SEE PAGE SIX

‘WE’VE LOST GROUND BUT NO PANIC’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE governing Free National Movement has “lost some ground” since the 2017 general election, Health Minister Dr Duane Sands said yesterday.

He nonetheless said there is no need for the administration to panic as he lauded the government’s reforms.

He was speaking to mark the second anniversary of the FNM’s 2017 election victory, which is today.

SEE PAGE FIVE

KAMALAME CAY ‘TO BUY’ LIGHTHOUSE CLUB

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A LEADING Androsbased developer has emerged as the likely buyer of the last Hotel Corporation-owned resort, with a Cabinet minister saying yesterday: “The quicker a deal happens the better”.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, said he was ecstatic that Kamalame Cay’s principal, Brian Hew,

THE LIGHTHOUSE CLUB was “doing due diligence” and negotiating to acquire the Lighthouse Yacht Club

and Marina. He added that Mr Hew’s “wealth of experience” in developing an ultra luxury private island destination just a mile from Andros’ Great Barrier Reef gave the government confidence he could do likewise in transforming the stillclosed Lighthouse Club.

The resort has been shuttered since incurring significant damage from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

DIANE PHILLIPS WHY WE NEED A TRUE FRIEND IN OUR LIFE

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

WE’RE AGGRESSIVELY DEALING WITH CRIMES THAT COULD HIT TOURISM, INSISTS FERGUSON

POLICE were out in force around Potter’s Cay and Kemp Road yesterday

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net POLICE are “aggressively dealing” with incidents of crime that affect tourists, Commissioner Anthony Ferguson has said.

Addressing the circumstances surrounding a recent robbery at John Bull in Baha Mar and the alleged rape of tourist at a Paradise Island beach over the weekend, Commissioner Ferguson yesterday said his agency has made a “determination” to aggressively handle matters that could impact the country’s tourism product.

“Let me say this, I don’t believe that there will be one single person who would not be concerned if something wrong takes place,” he said. “The thing about it is, how do you respond to it is really what has to be considered. And I can tell you that we have made a determination, and we are aggressively dealing with all of those matters.”

Commissioner Ferguson said he is confident in his

officers’ ability to resolve these sorts of crimes.

When asked about these two cases earlier this week, National Security Minister Marvin Dames highlighted the fact that, in his view, the country is now in a better place when compared with recent years.

Referring to the Baha Mar incident directly, Mr Dames said police were advancing in their investigations and he hoped the matter would be brought to a closure soon.

He went on to note the unfortunate nature of the matters, stating specifically: “The thing is here, this incident took place on a property, in the Baha Mar itself, you know, you’re not going to prevent all of these things.”

On the alleged sexual assault, he further stated: “I was also updated by the police, I believe someone is in custody and assisting the police. We continue to work on these matters.”

These incidents came after a Cuban-American businessman was shot dead at his Bimini home on Sunday, April 28.

The Bahamas continues

to grapple with unflattering travel advisories due to incidents involving tourists.

After a US State Department crime advisory was issued earlier this year, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, during a multilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in March, raised issue about the warnings.

Dr Minnis insisted the advisories should be used to raise awareness and not initiate fear. He also said he had concerns that the advisories sometimes contained recycled and out of date information.

When asked this week what negatives could arise from the most recent cases, Mr Dames said while he expected some type of reaction, he was more focused on ensuring the overall safety of the general public.

He said: “Well listen, we’re concerned about every crime, all right. When a crime takes place someone is impacted. We’re concerned with crimes against Bahamians and visitors alike. So we don’t separate. Every crime is a concern to us.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 10, 2019, PAGE 3

FAMILIES’ AGONY AS THEY GRIEVE OVER FOUR DEATHS from page one

The most recent killings pushed the country’s murder rate to 28, according to The Tribune’s record.

Distraught relatives and members of the community flooded the scene where the double homicide had taken place.

Kelly Ferguson, a girlfriend one the of victims, said: “I look calm right now and I’m trying to be as calm as possible, but I just lost everything. I just lost my

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net IN THE wake of two separate double homicides occurring within less than 12 hours, Commissioner Anthony Ferguson yesterday announced a special team was assembled “to look closely at certain persons.”

Despite the recent homicides, Commissioner Ferguson said murders are down and the police will work to continue to decrease the murder rate each year.

At this point, last year there were 30 murders recorded, according to this newspaper’s records, seven percent more than the total for this year so far.

Speaking to reporters at a walkabout in Kemp Road, He said: “There is no spike [in murders] …I think we need to stop putting fear in our people. All of these persons have families both victims and suspects and I think it should be something wnere persons understand that we need to talk to our family members.

“I have assembled a special team to look closely at certain persons who we know, and I expect the team to be very successful in rooting the criminal element out. I just want to caution persons now who may believe that you can be running all over the streets.

There is a day…every day ends, and I want persons to be aware of that.

“There are persons who know of persons who have

children’s father, my husband [and] my everything. They are telling us work with the police, but the police [aren’t] working with us. The police and the people are the community. Together we have to work to make things right and it ain’t working (sic).”

A resident who preferred not to be named, said: “The double homicide that happened this morning was very senseless. We have elderly people around here, children walking to school and right there where the murder

happen children play ball there every day.”

In the face of these brazen shootings, Supt Knowles said the country needs to find ways to encourage young people to resolve their conflicts without resorting to violence.

“We need your help. We need the help from the people in the community. We need the help of mothers. We are burying our young men… We need to find ways to encourage young men not to get involved in gang violence

and criminal activities. I think that’s the message we are trying to get out and that’s what we need in the community,” she said.

When asked if the police were concerned about the two double homicides, she said: “We are always concerned about all matters of crimes that happen in our community. We have not ceased any of our operations since this commissioner came into office.”

She added: “We continue to keep all boots on the ground, we continue to keep our administration

at a low-level and we will continue to work with the public and ask the public to work with us to make our community safe.”

The superintendent said fake news spread on social media contributes to a lot of the fear in the country. She said: “We want to encourage those who are using social media to be concerned, be professional - do not spread information that is false. Wait for the proper authorities to give the information because it is causing fear in our communities.”

Police set up special squad to track targets

THE SCENE at Kemp Road yesterday. Inset, Commissioner Anthony Ferguson.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff weapons and I think now would be the time for you to say to those persons put that gun down or go and turn it in. I’m not going to release all of what we have because when you go to the battleground you can’t let the enemy know what you are going to do.”

Commissioner Ferguson said the Royal Bahamas

Police Force is in control of this country and in control of the criminal activities in New Providence.

He also warned people not to panic about graphic crime scene images that are spread over social media.

“Members of the public need not to fear. It’s only one Royal Bahamas Police Force despite the fact you

might have persons from social media and that is a habit that we picked up over the recent years where as soon as someone is injured [things are spread online],” he said. “…It’s a very nasty habit of persons putting a camera on persons lying in the road and sending it viral and then adding voice to it. I think

the Bahamian people need to be very aware of those things because it sends fear in the community.”

When asked if police will be beefing up patrols in the Kemp Road area, Commissioner Ferguson said there are adequate police officers on patrol in New Providence on any given day.

He said: “[They are] doing the work that they’re supposed to do. Whether it’s this location, other locations, police officers in great numbers were out last night.

Sometimes you’re not going

to be able to interdict some things, but you have to keep working with it.

“It’s a partnership, it goes along with members of the community when you see things you need to report it anonymously or not. We have the means and the mechanisms to deal with it.”

Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander, who was at the walkabout, said the council is concerned about the spate of murders this month.

He said: “We are trying to curb this trend and help with conflict resolution help with some of the disagreements that we have. As pastors our doors are open to try and help and even get out and touch and talk with people if need be.

“As the council, we were planning ‘Operation Restoration’ before this happened. We were already engaged that Saturday before Father’s Day we were going to take 100 men with their families, and we are going to walk inner city streets to show that all is not lost.”

“I’m satisfied that we know who the person is. I expect very shortly, hopefully by the end of the day [Thursday] we ought to make an arrest in respect to that individual. We also have the associate of the person who was along with the person last night.”

Commissioner Ferguson added it is “unfortunate” that this incident took place at an area as popular as Potter’s Cay. When asked to comment on public concerns about the safety of the area, Commissioner Ferguson spoke about both Arawak Cay and Potter’s Cay. “I believe that we have adequate officers stationed on Arawak Cay. Adequate officers, a little small plot.

But when you have persons who are going out with bad intentions, they are the people that you have to watch out for. And disassociate yourself with those persons.

“So anybody is free to go to Potter’s Cay Dock. It’s still a very much safe area to go in. I sometimes go there. Members of my team sometimes go there, same as it is with Arawak Cay. And so Bahamians need

not allow a handful of lil’ criminals to stop them from going out.

“It goes to what I said last year, and I repeat it again: We have to be very careful of those persons who come and assemble around decent people. And people ought to be able to look around and determine ‘this area just don’t feel right… let me leave from here.’ So I just want to say that. And I say again: you have these incidents of shooting. There are too many weapons in the hands of the wrong people.”

He added many people are not socialised at home and therefore when inebriated become violent.

“And rather than sit down and talk things over, they go and get some. . .tool. That start from at home, aye? That starts from at home.”

Island Delight, the Potter’s Cay stall where the incident occurred, released a statement shortly afterwards, extending condolences to the family and assuring patrons that it is a “well-respected, peaceful establishment and an incident on this scale is rare.”

Two victims with so much to live for

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net

ABACO resident Meric Russell, 33, was making a quick trip to Nassau to attend his cousin’s funeral.

He had only been in the capital for a few short hours before he was fatally shot in a double homicide at Potter’s Cay Dock on Wednesday night.

Latario Lockhart, 27, was the other victim of that tragic incident. A young man of promise, he was described by relatives as “warm-hearted,” “kind-spirited,” and full of talent. In the 10th grade he received a basketball scholarship to attend a Miami high school.

In separate interviews with The Tribune yesterday, the families of both men decried the level of violence in the country as they mourned the loss of their loved ones.

Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson told reporters yesterday afternoon that officers expect to make an arrest “very shortly” and already had an “associate” of the suspect in custody. He also reiterated the safety of Potter’s Cay Dock despite the incident.

“He was an outgoing, fun, lovable type. Anyone who came in contact with him… falls in love with him,” Lakeisha Penn Russell, 30, said of her late husband of four years.

Russell, a father of two young daughters, had been an aviation fireman for over 10 years. He was also an avid fisherman.

“His cousin is a prison officer,” Mrs Russell said.

“His funeral is today [Thursday]. And he came over for that. He only was in Nassau for couple hours before they shoot him. He come on the Bahamasair last flight.”

Mrs Russell said she was at work when she learned of her husband’s murder.

She said he met up with the family after landing and visited Potter’s Cay. “My husband was not

THE TWO VICTIMS: Left, Latario Lockhart and, right, Meric Russell really a partying person like out in the club…So when I get the news that he dead and he dead Potter’s Cay Dock, that’s not my husband type of scene. But he just was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He wasn’t in no gang, nothing.

An honest man working to support his family. And it’s so sad.”

When asked how she’s coping with his sudden loss, Mrs Russell said: “It’s hard, it’s very hard. Because when people kill someone that you love so dear, they don’t know that they also affect you. But…it’s life.

I will never question God and ask why.

“The government really needs to shape up when it comes to this violence,” she added, also calling for an end to bail for accused murderers.

Lockhart, affectionately known as “Tario,” was described by his step-sister Karen Bodie, 26, as a beloved brother, uncle, and friend.

“He’s the baby,” Ms Bodie said. “He’s his mummy only boy…it was just his sister and him.

That’s all she had.”

The grief and love of Lockhart’s mother, Verlisa Pritchard, was powerful.

“He’s a humble sweet person,” Ms Bodie continued.

“He’s always about family. He wasn’t no troublesome person, didn’t get in no problems at all. So this came as a shock to everybody to know that something like this transpired just abruptly.”

According to Ms Bodie, Lockhart returned to Nassau a couple years ago and currently worked in the hotel industry. She added he frequents Potter’s Cay Dock, either by himself or with friends, “just chilling out and having fun.”

“[You trying to] tell me now you can’t go out no more and sit down, have fun? You kill my brother for what?” Ms Bodie asked angrily.

Less than 12 hours after this tragedy, two more young men were killed in a shooting incident on Kemp Road Thursday morning.

During a walkabout of the area, Commissioner Ferguson addressed both tragedies.

“I’ll speak to the incident that took place last night about 8 on Potter’s Cay Dock,” he said. “I want to make it quite clear, despite what you hear on social media, these two matters are not connected.

PAGE 4, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Time to take centre stage NO ONE had to go looking for Bishop Delton Fernander to find out his opinions about Bahamas Carnival – he released a statement.

“Vulgar”, he called it, “a direct contradiction and an affront to our national values”, and a “serious ticking time bomb waiting to explode”.

When it comes to the deadly toll of murders on our streets, though? No rush to Facebook to post a statement in that case. Oh no, instead, Bishop Fernander yesterday talked about the Christian Council’s work “behind the scenes”.

While such work is welcome to reach out to the families and friends of victims of crime, to help people pick up the pieces after their world has been torn apart, why is the work just behind the scenes?

Why the rush to reprimand the woman in a bikini, but an inability to use the same voice to denounce the man with a gun?

Yesterday, members of the council joined police on a walkabout in the Kemp Road area following a double homicide there, the second in under 12 hours.

That can bring comfort. It can bring a shoulder in a time of need. But it lacks the leadership that is needed to speak out in order to stop it happening again.

The victims will be known to church congregations, and so too might the killers. Church members will know who is

in trouble with the law. Church members will know people with guns who should not have guns. Church leaders should be telling their congregations that lawbreaking and gun ownerships should not be tolerated, to exert peer pressure to stay on the right side of the law, to hand in the guns.

Of the many problems with the council’s statement on Carnival, there was the claim that “men and women flaunting near naked bodies” had the potential “to lead to sexual violence, rape and other violent confrontation most especially between our young men who may not be able to handle seeing their female friend in sexual contact with other men on the streets”.

In other words, they were blaming the victim rather than telling the potential attacker to control themselves – not to rape, not to attack.

We have victim after victim of violence on our streets, Christian Council.

Let’s condemn the perpetrators of violence, not those affected, and let’s come out from behind the scenes to take the lead.

“We are trying to do what God has empowered us to do,” said Bishop Fernander yesterday in response to criticism of the council’s stance on Carnival.

It’s time to use that power against gun crime, Bishop Fernander. Step out from behind the scenes.

Not the comfort we neeed EDITOR, The Tribune WHEREAS I am sure the president of the Senate, Mrs Forbes Smith, is legally allowed to practice her old profession in PR and communications strategy and I am equally sure the comments made by Mr Carl Bethell AG technically are correct, her defence that her position is rather mundane is not correct, Mrs Forbes Smith is a very important person and people listen to

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net her in part because she is President of the Senate and her sphere of influence I would imagine is vast.

With this said it is my opinion that just because one can do something does not mean one should do it. I believe we are in the midst of what could be a very

unpleasant situation with Carnival Cruise Lines.

Unfortunately the reasons given by Mrs Forbes Smith as to why there is no possibility of a conflict of interest may not give all of us the comfort we expect.

Mrs Forbes Smith, things not only have to be right but it is most important they look right.

LEONARD SMITH Nassau May , 2019

Fire department losing its relevance EDITOR, The Tribune FOR some time now I have been inking remarks about the state of the Bahamas Fire Brigade on New Providence Island. And I am left fascinated, whether or not, it has fallen on deaf ears. I can vividly recall the last time complaining about the number of fire trucks working – then there were seven and to date many months have passed, there are roughly three fire apparatus working... and the aerial ladder truck that had a rusted rung, or the steps to its huge ladder rusted away, but at the time was still drivable...to date, there is no operable aerial ladder truck for the country’s premier fire services.

But, we boast daily about the newly constructed Baha Mar resort on Cable Beach and its high occupancy levels...well, tell me if a fire were to breakout midsection of this, or any other resort and there were guests trapped above the seat of fire (God forbid), what method will be used to get the tourists to safety?

Much like the Landfill fire, will we have to call in the authorities from the United States... to have them fly in the aerial fire trucks onboard military planes? We can and must do better. With big time investments, comes big time responsibility.

I often marvel, how the authorities will deal with the evacuation of such a hotel. And what role, if any, ought the Ministry of Public Works...and Buildings Control Unit play? Who are supposed to have on file the floor plans for all major structures within the Commonwealth of The Bahamas?

Pertinent in these schemes of things are the overall approach to Fire drills, which are a must in any modern society...equally as important, are the access by fire apparatus to water supply...thus, the need for fire lanes encompassing these types of occupancy... water supplies, be it fire hydrants, boar wells, excavated wells... and finally proper foundation to accommodate fire appliances, are key...with access to the Ocean, this inexhaustible supply of water for firefighting purposes...all of which are of the utmost importance.

There is also the

question of fire exits, properly illuminated signage...stairways free at-all-times-from obstruction...panic doors, or exit doors have built in panic bars, meaning that if there were no lighting available, one would only have to crash into the metal bar crossed the centre of that door and the door would open...therefore, it is against the fire code to chain and locked these exit doors.

There was a movie called “Rich Old Asians” or something like that...that was being-shown at the theatre Mall-at-Marathon and so I went to see it...before sitting, decided to see what conditions the exit doors were in? On inspection, I observed that the one I saw was secured by this sizeable chain and locked...I then sought out the person in charge and told him that I was a retired police fire inspector and asked him if a fire were to start, how would the people get out, because theexit- door is locked down? Don’t worry, he said, I have the keys and will take care of it? Do you know that this person still did not undo the exit door...and really, I was complaining in the strongest of terms...After the movie, and out of curiosity, I walked around the northern side of the theatre-building and the exterior of that exit door had a platform, about four feet by four feet and elevated... with three, to four steps to get to ground level...now tell me, what was wrong with this scenario, I asked myself? For starters, we are talking about hundreds of people, give or take...and in the mass-exodus fleeing the would-be-fire, or emergency, my take is that many would be trampled...many more would be prevented from entering that small space...others with broken bones, due to the-abnormal configuration…this exit was a single door...and if my memory serves me right, the exit –exterior door ought to be opened up to a large levelled outside-area... and not some elevated concrete porch-like structure...the fire code as with any regulatory code, serves a specific-purpose and if not enforced, or heeded, consequences will be dire, be they the authorities or not.

Our local fire department, even though they may not...and do not

have all of the required fire apparatus, trust me when I say – and I used to work there– many of our firemen have been trained by the best in the business, names like Chief Fire Officer(CFO) John Sherman-British/USA-trained...

Chief Superintendent Edney Johnson, participated in World War 2...many of the department’s sub officers attended Ocala Fire College and one officer in particular, and specifically, I am certain he would have no objections with his name being mentioned, Elvis Clark, was the top student there, studying the fire sciences.

So anytime the fire officers give their views on a matter relating to “Fireman ship,” those views are based on calculated and established fireman ship principles... views in my opinion, that you can take to the bank, rest assuredly.

Moving right along in our country, the time is long past that we recognised local talents and award them accordingly. The Bible is true that a Prophet has no honour in his own country. Merits have value and people have feelings and rights to be paid a fair sum for work performed, or not performed.

I call on the Parliament of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to begin to put your money, your political-campaign-promises, and the people’s money, where your interests are… and to please compensate these/those specialists of the Royal Bahamas Police Fire Services, for this designation.

Firemanship in part deals with Chemistry, Physics, Hydraulics, Electrical Engineering, First Aid, Building Construction, Molecular Science, Gases, Carbon dioxides, Elements and Compounds, Molecular Mass of a Molecule, Behaviour of Water Mass, and Pressures applied to water mass and its behaviour, etc.

There is this perception and practice …that anytime a large fire erupts, the first thing they decide to do is...oh, call the Airport Crash and Rescue and have them dispatch one of their fire engines. ‘Well, Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, MP Minister of Tourism, Aviation...’Do you know that it is not a wholesome-practice – and ultimately against the Airport Safety Codes, to remove

any-pieces of the emergency equipment… from the confines of that space? (Must always maintain the right quota of Crash & Rescue Rigs/Fire Trucks there and for obvious reasons. Usually ,and there are hundreds of passenger Jets, and thousands of passengers travelling in and out of our airports, especially, the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA)...I will leave it there.

It seems to me that not enough interest is placed on the proper maintenance of the state’s fire services...they are just as important, comparableto-all-of-the-other-government departments, ministries and offices... and ought to have the same parity... given from time to time, especially during the national debates and allocations for the government offices... which is never the case and has been lacking in this area for the greater part of 40 years. One need not look very far, the evidence is blatantly staring us in the face, if we were to visit the fire department at police barracks, East Street...the steel hull housing the fire apparatus was constructed during the year 1980...this rusted hull of a building, looks like a huge mechanics shop...which has been battered by numerous hurricanes...and which is on display for the world to see...each year, firemen from Fire Houses throughout the world, pay courtesy calls on our state’s premier fire department… and housed within the headquarters for the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and in my estimation, is a disgrace... and we must do better...

Mr National Security Minister and Mr Commissioner of Police, the blame is not yours...there is no question that numerous Prime Ministers were given the reports... outlining the deplorable conditions of the state’s fire services, yet nothing has been done...the Public Treasury of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas... is well able to write the cheque for the demolition of this decayed steel structure, but for some reason unknown to me...does not have the will to do so? But I will give my five cents...as a former fire officer, Fire Prevention inspector,

Arson Investigator, Detective, tax payer, husband, father, sibling, cousin, friend, evangelist and Bahamian...I call on the Prime Minister of this country, that if he does not believe me...to pay a personal visit, the same way you have visited other countries devastated by hurricanes...accompanied by your colleagues....

Sir, respectfully, I beg of you to please find the time to visit the Royal Bahamas Police Fire Services at Police Headquarters and see for yourself...and please, take the Minister of Finance Hon Peter Turnquest with you...also the Treasurer of the Public Treasury of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas...

The Hon Minister of Public Works Desmond Bannister...so that the decision to demolish, replace or rebuild the structure, can/will be signed off-on- then… as-you are empanelled at the Senior Officers Mess (SOM), Police Headquarters, East Street North… these are the kinds of action plans we need in our country...the time for talking are long gone...please use the Bahamian people’s money to better the conditions of God’s people...after all, God is watching and we all will be adjudged on our efforts, our stewardship....’Whatsoever ye have done to the least of these , my brethren, ye have done it unto Me”, said God Most High, has spoken it.

Thank you, Editor, for not only the time, but for your platform... which is so much valued in our country, and is vitally important to the balanced views getting out there.

This article has as its focus, the Generations of Bahamians unborn…these are the ones that I continue to have to find the strength to write for and on their behalf...because, I want there to still be a country for them...where they can find property to build their homes...places for employment...and generally, to be the major ethnic grouping in their country, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, that’s all.

FRANK GILBERT Nassau, May 6, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 10, 2019, PAGE 5

PLP SUPPORT FOR MARIJUANA IS ‘POLITICAL PANDERING’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Duane Sands says he finds it “surprising” the tongues of the Official Opposition are suddenly unfettered to advocate for the decriminalisation of recreational marijuana.

This push, he said, was simply political pandering.

On Wednesday, Progressive Liberal Party leader Philip “Brave” Davis confirmed his support for a change in law to treat recreational use of the drug as society now does alcohol.

He also said he would back the immediate expunction of the records of those who have been convicted of possessing small amounts of the drug.

The Cat Island, Rum Cay and Salvador MP’s comments came a week after PLP deputy leader Chester Cooper delivered a passionate speech in the House of Assembly where he expressed his own support of decriminalising small amounts of recreational marijuana and also called on the government to expunge the records of people convicted of possession of small amounts of the drug. “Let me be very clear

that I am a Cabinet minister and as such I have to be very cautious that my statements are consistent with the position of the government of the Bahamas,” Dr Sands told The Tribune yesterday.

“We have decided that we would review the CARICOM document, that we would then empanel the marijuana commission and we would allow them to do their work. Then based on their recommendations and findings that we would consider the national position inclusive of the Dangerous Drugs Act to determine whether or not we would change The Bahamas’ position

on medicinal and or recreational use of marijuana. Having outlined that position it would be inappropriate and premature for me to suggest that any of those things are foregone conclusions.

We have agreed a process. That process I believe has an ideal methodology it is consultative.”

He continued: “The opposition has an official member on the marijuana commission and they are able to opine and make recommendations to that commission. So, I find it surprising now that both the leader and the deputy leader of the Progressive Liberal Party have suddenly had

their tongues unfettered [and] loosed to speak so eloquently on a matter that they were silent on for five years in government.”

Dr Sands said he didn’t believe the PLP was concerned about due process.

The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana (BNCM) was expected to submit its first draft on Bahamian attitudes on the controversial plant— the first step in a larger debate on the prohibition of medical and recreational use, last month.

However, the commission has been granted a three-month extension, Dr Sands confirmed.

Sands: We’ve lost ground but no need to panic from page one

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

He told listeners to Guardian radio’s “Z Live” with Zhivargo Laing: “In general, it’s probably reasonable to say if you look at the percentage of self-reporting supporters that that has dropped across the country and that means we still have an awful lot of work to do, that we need to stay focused. There’s room for improvement and I believe that as we get a little more experience, recover from our missteps, recover from our mistakes, hopefully we learn as long as we remain focused and pay attention on doing the very best that we can, the hope is that in the net that you will have converted some of those people that you lost.”

Dr Sands said dissatisfaction with the Minnis administration is not as pervasive as social media or talk-shows might make it seem.

“I continue to walk the streets of Elizabeth,” he said, “and so when I listen to and read the feeds of social media it is absolutely not what I am

greeted with on the streets in Elizabeth…you’re getting a different response than what you’re seeing on that chat group, this chat group, that Facebook page or what you’re hearing on various talk-shows.”

When Mr Laing suggested people he meets may just be courteous, Dr Sands said: “I’ve been doing this now for ten years. I’ve had my share of people telling me things that wasn’t so and you kinda take some things with a grain of salt but you gon’ get a general feel.

The Bahamian public is not monolithic and they’re very nuanced and they can be very candid when they’re speaking with you one on one. I don’t find that the need for panic is there.”

He added: “I don’t want to exaggerate this because we have lost some ground, we have lost some ground and we have to go out and explain things better and we need to double our efforts to have people feel the improvements in the economy and how it will impact them in terms of their ability to be employed and to

take care of their children and to pay school fees and to be able to get a home and keep a home and do the types of things that make people satisfied with life in this country.

There are still legacy challenges that people have been dealing with in the last ten years and even though things have been better they haven’t gotten that relief, they haven’t been able to say ‘ah, it’s done.’

I have seen where people were unemployed and threatened to lose their homes, they’re now employed and sill losing their homes. You say well, your desire was to get a good paying job, you got a good paying job but their focus now is I need mortgage relief.”

Dr Sands identified many of the the administration’s “successes,” saying: “It’s been an amazing 24 months.”

He said that stabilising the country’s finances has been the administration’s top accomplishment. He cited a reduction of murders, improving roads and hospital infrastructure, investments in education and tourism growth as other positive developments.

HOUSEBREAKER ORDERED TO PAY MONEY BACK TO VICTIMS

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A 31-YEAR-OLD man has been ordered to pay 11 people back the $16,615.28 worth of cash and merchandise he stole from them in separate incidents dating as far back as July last year.

Of that number, $3,353 was obtained while Ambrose Gibson went on a “housebreaking spree” over the last two weeks, something he was sentenced to four years in prison for yesterday.

Gibson, who by his own admission is a convicted rapist, must reimburse his 11 victims or face an additional six months in prison.

When arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday afternoon, Gibson admitted to breaking into Alexis Gardiner’s home and stealing a silver HP laptop worth $600; a grey HP laptop worth $700; a Fossil watch worth $155; a Guess watch worth $140; a gold and silver chain worth $300; a Samsung cellphone worth $149 and $400 cash.

He further admitted to breaking into Stephen Bellot’s home between April 23 and 24 and stealing a 40-inch LG television worth $599. According to the facts, he later sold the television to an unknown individual.

Gibson further admitted to breaking into Sophie McKinney’s house between April 24 and 25 and stealing $170 cash. He also broke into Julianna Mortimer’s home on May 2 and stole a black handbag containing $40 and other personal items, as well as a Huawei cell phone worth $100.

Also sometime this month, he stole a Twin Stack 2HP air compressor worth $546.05; a table saw worth $685.75; a Black & Decker sander worth $90.55; one Dewalt compact router worth $237.95; a drill driver worth $273.89; an angle grinder worth $69.75; a circular saw worth $203.59; a jigsaw worth $105.09; three PVC air hoses worth $182.17; a pocket hole jig worth $221.19; and a nail gun

worth $289.43 belonging to Cazzie Cooper.

Gibson, when arrested, said he sold Cooper’s merchandise to settle his outstanding bills.

Back on April 6, Gibson also stole six bundles of Ice and Water shields worth $602.11 and a Generac generator worth $1,764 belonging to Elvardo Perpall. And between April 29 and 30, Gibson also stole a foot spa tub worth $69.99; two area rugs worth $259.98; and a bicycle worth $644 from Navado Gray’s shed. When interviewed, Gibson admitted to stealing and later selling Gray’s merchandise, but said he didn’t know the names of those who bought them.

Between March 1-7, Gibson also stole a Stihl grass trimmer worth $419.95 from Lameiko Belle. On January 26, he also stole a grill worth $226; a double fryer worth $1,451.81; a gas tank worth $63 and a trimmer worth $187.09 from Cheryl Carey.

On July 23 of last year, Gibson stole a pressure

MAN ARRESTED AFTER DRUGS FOUND POLICE recovered a quantity of dangerous drugs in two separate incidents on Tuesday and have taken an adult male into custody.

In the first incident, according to reports, shortly after 3pm, Mobile Division officers, acting on information, conducted a search of a vacant lot on Flamingo Avenue, Chippingham and recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana.The drugs weighed 5.4 lbs and have a street value of $5,400.

No arrest was made in this incident.

In the second incident, shortly after 5pm, Mobile Division officers were on patrol on Athol Road, Ridgeland Park West when they observed a male driving a dark coloured Honda. Upon seeing the officers, the male began acting suspiciously.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered a quantity of suspected marijuana valued at $400.

The man was taken into

custody and is expected to be formally charged later this week.

Police on New Providence are also looking for a man responsible for an armed robbery that occurred on Tuesday. Shortly after 9am, a man was standing in front of a home on Crepe Myrtle Road, off Soldier Road, when he was approached by an armed man, who robbed him of cash before running away.

washer worth $1,735.55; an angle grinder worth $119.99; three belt sanders worth $228.89 each; a six-inch disc sander worth $219.99; a nine-inch band saw worth $265.97; a Makita Laminate trimmer worth $171.35; a Makita variable speed jigsaw worth $148.50; a Makita circular saw worth $229.99; an 82 piece Dewalt Pro worth $90.95; a Brad nail and compressor combo worth $409.99; and a Makita belt sander with a dust bag worth $589.99 from Alfine Wallace.

When arrested and

interviewed by police, Gibson said after he stole the items he placed them in some bushes, but when he returned to retrieve them they were no longer there.

Upon pleading guilty to the charges, and in response to a question posed to him by the magistrate, Gibson said his actions were the result of the “wrong set of company I was keeping.”

He also noted that he’s a fisherman, but that crawfish season is closed, implying that funds were scarce.

In handing out his sentence, Magistrate McKinney

took into consideration that he pled guilty at the first opportunity and did not waste the court’s time.

However, the magistrate noted that all four of the houses he broke into were in the same general area, and that he likely caused “great concern” amongst the residents, who were likely fearful of leaving their homes unattended and just as worried about returning home to find some of their belongings were gone.

Gibson has the right to appeal his sentence to the Court of Appeal.

PAGE 6, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

NEW CENTRAL LOCATION FOR BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A BRANCH of the Small Business Development Centre was opened on Baillou Hill Road on Wednesday, providing a central location for budding inner city entrepreneurs seeking to access the programme’s training and financing services.

The SBDC offers advisory, training, mentorship, advocacy and capital access services to small and medium-sized businesses and is the Minnis administration’s from page one Bishop Fernander, who presently serves as pastor of the New Destiny Baptist Church, said the council’s commitment to the Bahamian society has “remained consistent”.

He explained that on a daily basis his organisation has “dedicated” itself to “doing God’s work in the community.”

“You see, the point I often make is we don’t need cameras to do what pastors do every day, and that is counsel and guide the people that we lead,” he told The Tribune.

According to Bishop Fernander, the council has done its part to “support” persons adversely affected by recent tragedies.

“As we speak, we are in the Wulff Road area headed to Kemp Road with the police,” he said, referring to a walkabout the BCC and police carried out following a second double homicide in New Providence in less that 12 hours yesterday.

“The Christian Council is always present; praying with the people, providing counsel where necessary, mediating in some cases, that job never stops. We are working in our communities daily. We assist when we are called upon and we are consistent in our effort.”

He continued: “We are in these communities praying with the families, letting them know that the church stands with them. That is ongoing. We speak to these people in situations like this to determine how best to approach the issue of crime.

“The church realises that something has gone wrong in our society and as

central programme for boosting ownership opportunities for Bahamians.

Davinia Blair, executive director of the SBDC, said $100,000 has been set aside exclusively for Over-the-Hill residents within the Economic Empowerment Zone. Individual residents will be allowed access to $2,500.

To obtain funding, a person will have to be recommended by the SBDC and the recommendation will depend on one’s performance during training and advisory services. The SBDC board will make the recommendation. The SBDC

can recommend that people receive additional funding beyond the available $2,500.

Ms Blair stressed that access to the grant can only happen if residents complete the training programme. “We expect to build a long-term relationship with you.

Your advisor will be with you for the first three years. They will be calling you once a week for the first year, once a month for the second year and at least once a quarter for the third year so you have long term assistance to make sure you meet your goals,” Ms Blair said.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert

DAVINIA BLAIR at the opening

Minnis said in the past several months the SBDC has trained nearly 500 people through its twoweek programme of classes and provided almost 300 hours with its one-on-one business advisory services while registering over 3,500 people in the country.

“This branch is a part of our ambitious and broader Overthe-Hill programme. There are several goals we are promoting with the opening of a SBDC branch here and these goals are economic development and economic expansion for more Bahamians,” he said.

We never stop helping in the community, says Christian Council

BISHOP Delton Fernander and colleagues on their walkabout yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff Carnival, Bishop Fernander the country. Ahead of the in sexual contact with other said the council remains event, he said he feared men on the streets.”

“The church feels no resolute, insisting that its activities involving people actions are “guided by God”. who wear “little clothing” sort of push-back. We are In a statement last week, will lead to sexual violence standing on behalf of God Bishop Fernander said or other violent confronta- and our steps and actions “reported” displays of lech- tions because young men will always be guided by erous conduct at the festival “may not be able to handle him,” he said yesterday. represents a moral stain on seeing their female friend “We feel no push-back, we

stakeholder, we are working to do all we can to improve or correct those issues that trouble our communities,” Bishop Fernander added.

Meanwhile, when asked directly about the council’s public image in the wake of its recent statement on

are trying every day to be that pillar for our communities and provide a space for [people] to lay their spiritual and emotional burdens.

We exist for our community all of the time, every time.

“We are trying to do what God has empowered us to do. The church doesn’t look to be popular or in line with the popular opinion. We are going to do what God has called on us to do, that is shepherd our people.”

Since Easter, the country has recorded 10 murders, according to this newspaper’s records, pushing the year’s murder count to 28 for the year. This time last year, there had been 30 killings, according to The Tribune’s records.

As a part of his 2019 policing plan, Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson announced strategies to heighten police visibility in the various inner-city communities.

These areas have also been referred to by National Security Minister Marvin Dames as areas of importance in discussions surrounding Shot Spotter and CCTV technology.

Editorial View - Page 4

‘CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES OWES US COMPENSATION AS WELL AS APOLOGY’

By FARRAH JOHNSON

THE Coalition to Save Clifton said Carnival Corporation “owes” the country financial compensation in an addition to an apology for dumping treated sewage and food waste in Bahamian waters.

In a press release on Thursday, the group’s chairman Rev Dr C B Moss insisted that Carnival Cruise Lines should “at least” recompense the country as a “demonstration of good faith.”

“According to a report by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Carnival Cruise Lines violated their policy, which states how food waste and sewage must be disposed,” the statement said.

“In the United States, millions have been extracted from various cruise ship companies, who have operated in compliance with MARPOL. Despite this, no legislative framework has been created or proposed

concerning this issue in the Bahamas.”

Rev Moss insisted that the issue was especially concerning as Carnival Cruise Lines is planning an “extensive project” in Grand Bahama, in an environment that is deemed by environmentalists as “extremely sensitive.”

Rev Moss said the revelations over Carnival’s dumping raised concern for the proposed Grand Bahama project.

“So if they acknowledge dumping the [substances],

as they did, then they should be willing to compensate the Bahamas in some way, demonstrating good faith,” he said.

“We are calling upon the government to ensure that this is not swept under the table, but that Carnival Cruise Lines does the right thing, which is to compensate the Bahamas for the damage it has done.”

The Tribune previously reported how Carnival ships dumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of treated sewage and more

than 8,000 gallons of food waste in the Bahamas in 2017, according to a US court-mandated report.

In so doing, the corporation violated the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which specifies how food waste and sewage must be disposed.

This newspaper has also detailed how one of Carnival’s bridge officers offered to cover up the prohibited dumping of 66,000 gallons of ballast water in the Bahamas

by its Carnival Conquest ship last November. Carnival responded with a statement to this newspaper that it “self-reported” the case, adding its focus is on “full transparency and continuous improvement”.

Carnival Corporation said the ballast water in question was released “far from shoreline in deep water”. The corporation said the release should have “absolutely” no impact, harm or damage to the Bahamian marine environment.

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 10, 2019, PAGE 7

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net THE government will now have to defend a case it had previously tried to prosecute when a Jamaican woman, who alleged she had been raped by an immigration officer, gets her day in a civil court, years after the criminal rape case was thrown out.

In 2015, mother of three, Claudia Edward Bethel claimed she was picked up in a nightclub raid and held over the weekend at the Central Police Station and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

She is married to a Bahamian, and at the time of her arrest said she had a copy of the spousal permit that she has held since their marriage in 2010, However, officials claimed it was an uncertified copy.

The Jamaican Consulate reportedly made two attempts to have her released over the weekend in question, but was unsuccessful.

Instead, Mrs Bethel was released into the custody of senior immigration officer Norman Bastian for a procedural home check and interview at the Immigration Department with another officer.

However, the pair did not make it to the department until after it had closed for the day as they drove around in the senior officer’s truck as he did several errands.

In the government’s writ, it was confirmed the interview was conducted “late afternoon/early evening” by the officer.

“We then left the Immigration Department,” Mrs Bethel’s writ read, “I kept asking when I would be allowed to go home to my children and Mr Bastian kept saying ‘not yet’.

He asked me if I knew the names of some very bad men and I told them yes, I have heard of them. One of them known as ‘Death’ and he said, ‘that’s my nephew’. “‘I also have a licenced firearm,’ he said. I felt really scared now because I felt if I attempted to leave I would be in trouble and he has a gun. I was very afraid so I followed all his commands even while protesting. I really wanted to get home to my children.”

She was then taken to his house where he allegedly violated her several times before taking her home the following day.

That morning, she said she took the condom he used and hid it in her bosom and also recorded the numbers of cameras he had in his room while he had gone to answer the door.

At the time of the allegations, Mrs Bethel was 28 and Mr Bastian was 54.

In her statement of claim, she wrote: “I felt that Mr Bastian would deny that he forced me to have sex

Jamaican who claims she was raped by an immigration officer to have her day in court

CLAUDIA BETHEL, right, talks to Tribune chief reporter Ava Turnquest.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff with him so I wanted someone else to see me in his company on the morning after so I asked him if he could take me to the Grove Police Station where I had reported my lost spousal permit and he agreed.”

However, Mrs Bethel said she did not report anything at the station because she could not get a private moment alone with an officer and was afraid to report anything in the presence of Mr Bastian. She said she then asked him to take her home, and he did.

In his witness statement, Mr Bastian corroborated most of Mrs Bethel’s account but maintained the sex was consensual and at her request.

“After the interview, we continued to call her husband who never answered or came to the office and

Death Notice For

Audrick Wilfred Smith, 81 a resident of Mortimer’s Alley off Kemp Road, died at Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

He is survived by his wife: Frances Smith; 6 sons: Charles, Phillip, Glenford, Ted, Salvatore & Wilfred Smith; 8 daughters: Deborah Ann Knowles, Kim Clarke, Audrey Porras-Kemp, Anna smith-Knowles, Elsie Smith-Gray Sophia Smith-Palahickey, Esther Princess Mayet & Ruth Fisher; 5 sisters: Angela Hanna, Ruth Demeritte, Lavern Hargess, Ann Ingraham & Sharon Ferguson; 1 brother: Donald Smith; numerous grand, great grand & great great grandchildren & a host of other relatives & friends.

Funeral arrangements announced at a later date.

will

be

I told her that I could not leave her stranded as it was late and she responded that she was afraid to go home because of what she told me and the police,” Mr Bastian’s witness statement read.

Mr Bastian claims Mrs Bethel confessed to prostitution, and further revealed that the Montell Heights club where she was arrested operated as a brothel and strip club.

He said she further confessed that her husband was a former customer, and her 2010 marriage was arranged for her to gain status in the country.

“When I arrived at her apartment,” Mr Bastian’s statement read, “she wanted my number to see me later and I told her that she needed to get her life together and I left.”

Mrs Bethel’s account grabbed headlines in her home country; however, the criminal matter was never put before a jury because Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt ruled on a no case submission that Mrs Bethel’s testimony was not credible.

During the preliminary inquiry, Mrs Bethel told the court she had recently had an ectopic pregnancy at the time of her arrest and was still on antibiotics, and experiencing discharge.

She said she did not drink wine offered to her by Mr Bastian as they drove around in his truck and only pretended to do so at his request; however, Mr Bastian claims they shared two bottles.

On cross-examination, she admitted that she and

her husband did not live together and that she had lived with a boyfriend for several years.

“Upon hearing the evidence of the Crown with particular reference to the virtual complainant,” read the chief magistrate’s ruling, “I found her testimony inherently unreliable. I also had regard to her demeanour in the witness box and concluded that she was untruthful when stating that sexual intercourse was without her consent.”

The ruling continued: “Further, she did not stand up to cross-examination and her testimony was terribly shaken.”

The government did not appeal the ruling, but Mrs Bethel still has a pending civil suit against the government seeking damages

for battery, assault, false imprisonment and the breach of her constitutional rights.

The civil case will be heard before Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles on May 27.

For its part, the government has called Mrs Bethel’s claim for constitutional redress an abuse of process that should be dismissed.

In its writ, the government argued that Mrs Bethel’s arrest and time spent in detention was lawful.

Respondents added that if the allegations against Mr Bastian were true, he did not act as a servant or agent of the government, and did so “outside the scope of his employment”, and therefore, the state cannot be held liable.

PAGE 8, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

My Aunt Kay would have put these drivers in their rightful place HANDICAPPED? ..... NOT! JUST PLAIN STUPID!

MY late Aunt Kay, who was like my second mother and who also happened to be wheelchair bound in the latter portion of her life, was a source of inspiration and a pillar of strength to me throughout my life. In fact it has long been said that she’s where I get my “hard mouth” from.

In her time she lived up to that old adage “small axe fall big tree”.

Checking in at a “gigantic” 5 foot 2 inches she was always the protector and enforcer for the family. (Mainly getting my backside out of hot water on one of the many occasions my mouth signed a cheque my butt couldn’t cash.)

May 3 made a year she left to go and stir things up in heaven.

Tuesday, May 7, would have been her 84th birthday.

So I feel now it’s my duty and obligation to my dearly departed sweet Auntie, to continue to address a certain issue that not only affected her while she was alive, but other handicapped persons island-wide to this day; the abuse of “handicapped” parking spots by non handicapped persons.

BLUE MARKS THE SPOT These spots were created to facilitate handicapped persons in their attempt to lead normal, productive lives, not to be abused by the “D” average jungaliss who’s

just “flashing in” to top off their phone and grab a bar of “cake soap”.

It’s also not for the wannabe bad boy whose food order is ready.

It’s sad that in 2019 many drivers (both legal and the ones who bought their licences) don’t regard those blue lined spaces as hallowed ground; as in off limits unless you are truly handicapped.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE More bizarre than this blatant disregard for common courtesy—and the law—are some of the excuses I’ve heard in my misadventures into parking ‘La La Land,’ where, on occasion, I’ve had to pull a page out of my aunt’s book and “bless’’ said transgressor: 1. Kelly’s parking lot, Marathon Mall.

I questioned the offender to which she replied, “I just spend a gunk on dese nails for one wedding. You can’t see they match

my head?” (They did match the purple, yellow and pink colours in her ghetto fabulous hairdo.) I can’t walk all the way across this big breezy parking lot and mess up my nails.”

It was clear her etiquette matched her fashion sense… non-existent.

2. Super Value, Cable Beach.

This was a weird case, not only did the offender take the handicapped spot right from under the nose of a legitimate handicapped person, she had no conscience about the matter, exiting her vehicle with no remorse as she sauntered to the front door.

When I told her how “cold blooded” she was she simply replied, “Mister, my kids well rude I can’t bring them in here behind me so I has to park dem close so nuttin’ will happen to them” 3. Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, Nassau East.

The final one is the most atrocious infraction of them all.

The offender illegally parks in the handicap parking space in front of the food store only to bypass the food store and beeline it to the more enticing liquor store.

What left me shocked and awed was the fact that the offender was in his full Royal Bahamas Police Force uniform.

As the youth of today so frequently say… “Savage.”

I’m still scratching my head on that one.

MOVING FORWARD The only advice I can offer is this. Real handicapped people be strong, keep the faith and know that you still have me as a “champion” for your cause, trained

by Auntie Kay, so you know these offenders will be chastised and made humble for their indiscretions.

To the offenders I say this: Your lack of respect, common sense, compassion, rationale and blatant disregard for your fellow man is lousy and pathetic.

By your actions it’s obvious you are handicapped socially – not legally.

And before you ask, being called “crazy” doesn’t get you a handicap parking permit either.

Until next week, let your conscience be your guide, especially out of handicapped parking spaces.

Love you and miss you “Tia”.

BTC was this week branded “our most inefficient business” by its owner despite mobile customer losses dropping to a record quarterly low. Readers responded on tribune242.com.

John said: “BTC saw its most profitable and growth years under Bahamian leadership and technicians.

Then they brought in the foreigners who did not understand the culture of Bahamian businesses.”

ThisIsOurs had this to say: “BTC’s inability to put forward some sort of strategy baffles me. They have the resources, they know the market . . . they seem to respond to Aliv rather than compete. But the good news may be with Aliv stating that they will be reaching profitability – there may be room for two companies and more lower priced offerings for Bahamians.”

Opposition leader Philip Davis has confirmed his support for the decriminalisation of recreational marijuana, prompting this comment from Geostorm: “Seriously, legalise it for recreational use to have more empty heads walking around! If you think we have a problem with our young men now, watch and see what happens when you legalise marijuana. Marijuana impairs judgment and many of these young people lack judgment without its use so imagine with its use!

I do agree, however, that if we are using it for medicinal purposes, under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, then we can legalise it.”

And Gowon Bowe, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants president, said The Bahamas must not fear competition in a post-WTO environment.

Well_mudda_take_sic had this reaction: “Bowe said: ‘I think the main message coming out of it is that we should not be afraid of WTO (the World Trade Organisation) because we are afraid to compete.’

“We’re not afraid to compete Mr Bowe. What we are afraid of is competing on a playing field where the rules are set by the much larger developed countries and don’t apply to all equally. Just take a look at how our financial sector has been all but annihilated since the early 1990’s as a result of us having signed on to everything put to us by the OECD, FATF, IMF, etc. We would quickly find the playing field for full WTO members to be just as uneven, unfair and detrimental to the overall economic well being of our small country.

“Put another way, featherweight boxers who step into the ring with heavyweight boxers are only asking for serious trouble.”

Don’t miss your chance to join the debate on tribune242.com.

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 10, 2019, PAGE 9

POPE MANDATES REPORTING OF SEX ABUSE TO CHURCH, NOT POLICE VATICAN CITY Associated Press

POPE Francis issued a groundbreaking new church law yesterday requiring all Catholic priests and nuns around the world to report clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups by their superiors to church authorities, in a new effort to hold the Catholic hierarchy accountable for failing to protect their flocks.

The law provides whistleblower protections for anyone making a report and requires all dioceses to have a system in place to receive the claims confidentially. And it outlines internal procedures for

conducting preliminary investigations when the accused is a bishop, cardinal or religious superior.

Abuse victims and their advocates said the law was a step forward, but not enough since it doesn’t require the crimes to be reported to police and essentially tasks discredited bishops who have mishandled abuse for decades with policing their own.

It’s the latest effort by Francis to respond to the global sex abuse and cover-up scandal that has devastated the credibility of the Catholic hierarchy and his own papacy. And it provides a new legal framework for US bishops as they prepare to adopt accountability measures

next month to respond to the scandal there. “People must know that bishops are at the service of the people,” said Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the Vatican’s longtime sex crimes prosecutor. “They are not above the law, and if they do wrong, they must be reported.”

The decree requires the world’s 415,000 Catholic priests and 660,000 nuns to tell church authorities when they learn or have “well-founded motives to believe” a cleric or sister has engaged in sexual abuse of a minor, sexual misconduct with an adult, possession of child pornography — or that a superior has covered up any of those crimes.

It doesn’t require them to report to police, however. The Vatican has long argued that different legal systems make a universal reporting law impossible, and that imposing one could endanger the church in places where Catholics are a persecuted minority. But the procedures do for the first time put into universal law that victims cannot be silenced, that clergy must obey civil reporting requirements where they live, and that their obligation to report to the church in no way interferes with that.

The global victims group Ending Clergy Abuse, or ECA, said the Vatican shouldn’t hide

behind the argument that mandatory reporting to police is a problem in some countries.

“The church should establish the law for reporting and justify the exception,” said ECA’s Peter Iseley. “Instead, they are using the exception as a pretext for not reporting sexual abuse to civil authorities and to keep abuse secret.”

If implemented fully, though, the Vatican could well see an avalanche of abuse and coverup reports. The decree can be applied retroactively, meaning priests and nuns are now required to report even old cases of sexual wrongdoing and cover-ups.

FAKE GERMAN HEIRESS BEHIND BARS

WE’RE OFF TO THE MOON, SAYS BEZOS

NEW YORK Associated Press

WASHINGTON Associated Press AMAZON”S Jeff Bezos yesterday said he’s going to send a spaceship to the Moon, joining a resurgence of lunar interest half a century after people first set foot there.

Bezos said his space company Blue Origin will land a robotic ship the size of a small house, capable of carrying four rovers and using a newly designed rocket engine and souped-up rockets. It would be followed by a version that could bring people to the Moon along the same timeframe as NASA’s proposed 2024 return.

Bezos added: “This is an incredible vehicle and it’s going to the Moon.

It’s time to go back - this time to stay.”

JEFF Bezos speaks in front of a model of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lunar lander in Washington yesterday.

US seizes North Korean ship as tension mounts WASHINGTON Associated Press

THE US said yesterday that it has seized a North Korean cargo ship that was used to violate international sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that comes amid a tense moment in relations between the two countries.

The “Wise Honest,” North Korea’s second largest cargo ship, was detained in April 2018 as it travelled toward Indonesia. It’s now in the process of being moved to American Samoa, Justice Department officials said.

Officials made the announcement hours after North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles toward the sea, the second weapons launch in five days and a possible signal that stalled talks over its nuclear weapons program are in trouble. The public disclosure that the vessel is now in US custody may further inflame tensions, though US officials said the timing of their

THE WISE HONEST was detained in April 2018 complaint was not a response to the missile launch.

Justice Department lawyers laid out the case for confiscating the ship in a complaint filed in New York, arguing that payments for maintenance and operation of the vessel were channelled through unwitting US financial institutions in violation of American law. The coal trade itself is also believed to fund the isolated country’s nuclear

weapons and ballistic missile programmes. “This sanctions-busting ship is now out of service,” Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department’s top national security official, told reporters. He later added: “The US sanctions against North Korea reflect the threat these programs pose to U.S. national security.”

The 581-foot Wise Honest was used for coal transports to ports in

China, Russia and other countries, according to the complaint, generating badly needed revenue to a country that is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program. The ship also delivered heavy machinery back to North Korea.

The vessel was owned by a subsidiary of a North Korean shipping company that is controlled by the country’s military and is on a Treasury Department sanctions list.

North Korea sought to disguise the nationality of the ship and the origin of its cargo, according to the complaint. The ship also turned off an automatic signal system intended to alert other ships of its course and location. Indonesian authorities seized the Wise Honest in the East China Sea. The captain of the ship was charged in Indonesia with violating that country’s maritime laws and convicted, the complaint says.

It was not immediately clear what happened to the rest of the crew, which at least at one time totaled two dozen members.

ANNA Sorokin, the German con artist who passed herself off as a wealthy heiress to swindle banks, hotels and even close friends as she lived out a high-society, Instagram-ready fantasy in New York, was yesterday sentenced to four to 12 years in prison.

The 28-year-old, who had played with her own tabloid image during the trial by wearing stylish dresses to court, looked despondent as the verdict was announced. Judge Diane Kiesel said Sorokin, pictured below. had been “blinded by the glitter and glamour of New York City” as she turned to fraud to finance a life she could never afford. But she turned down a request by Sorokin’s lawyers that she be sentenced to the time she has already spent in jail awaiting trial.

“I am stunned by the depth of the defendant’s deception,” Kiesel said.

Sorokin was convicted last month on multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services and has been in custody since her October 2017 arrest.

BBC DJ FIRED AFTER ROYAL BABY TWEET LONDON Associated Press

A BBC radio broadcaster was fired yesterday for using a picture of a chimpanzee in a tweet about the royal baby born to Meghan the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry.

Danny Baker, who had a weekly show on BBC Radio 5 Live, said that he has been fired after posting an image of a couple holding hands with a chimpanzee dressed in clothes and the caption: “Royal baby leaves hospital.”

The tweet came on the same day Harry and Meghan posed for photos with their first child.

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

FORM B Notice of Intended Marriage (Section 7(3))

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

Shane A. Miller Registrar of Marriages

PAGE 10, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

A Sunday conversation with a friend Friends are easy, tough, strong and weak. They demand so much of us and we of them. We make friends almost as early as we say ‘Mama,’ ‘Dada,’ we link hands when we are just about old enough to reach out and touch someone other than our parents.

Even when we are too young to know the word for friends, they are there for us.

As we grow older, we learn the meaning of friends and friendship. We depend on them to celebrate and reaffirm the value of our successes, making them larger than they are because we are not alone in marking the moment. They are with us when we are down, when our first boyfriend dumps us for someone else or another team beats us in sports. They are there. And that’s the important, the most valuable, critical and crucial thing about friends.

They are there for us.

Steve Jobs might have led a happier life if he had friends. Like others who were incredibly successful in their careers and changed the world with

their inventions and ideas, instead of cajoling, prodding, urging people to work 100-hour weeks to develop a product or service that could change the way the world works, if they had just had a friend, their lives might have turned out differently. They might have been less productive – or more – they would have been different.

There is nothing to compare to a friend.

Although we didn’t need scientists and researchers to tell us this, they did.

Recent studies by Harvard and other medical schools have proved that friendship is as important to our overall health as eating properly and exercising. On the Liveabout website, the reference to

friends is straightforward.

“The people we bring into our lives as friends will show us how to forgive, laugh, and make conversation. The basic components of any relationship, from our marriage to our coworkers, are all founded in friendship. We learn how to interact with people because of our friends, even the ones that are opposite from us or share a different worldview.”

And that’s where the recognition of the importance of friendship comes in.

This past weekend, my oldest, dearest friend came to Nassau. She is a Trump supporter. I think the man is mad, egotistical and bordering on dangerous. She is a former flight attendant with a great flair for the

arts. I was a political science major with equal credits in philosophy and sociology and taught economics while in graduate school before turning back to journalism full-time. We could not have been more different – or more alike. We went to high school together, to college. We were connected by a friendship that was founded in our roots more than 50 years ago and that is what counts. I will forgive her voting for Trump in 2020, she will forgive me for not, but the connection during a Sunday afternoon conversation trumps any kind of political overtones.

True, deep down friendship overrides everyday headlines. Politics don’t matter. Religious differences dissipate. What really matters, in the end, is a link that says I know you, all the low and high points, the successes, the failures, the hopes and dreams, and no matter what I will be there to hold your hand just as I was when we were children.

It is not surprising that friends rank among the highest category of what makes us happy. Money

buys things. Friends seal hearts. The friends we made early in life might not be the people we would gravitate toward now if our world views and our interests were distinctly different, but friendships with history are incomparable.

They deserve nurturing.

Truth be told, most of us probably spend more time and effort maintaining our cars than we do our friendships. If your mind runs across an old friend today, pick up the phone and do the old-fashioned thing, call and say, hello, I was just thinking about you.

Yellow fever

WHOEVER declared the yellow elder the national tree of The Bahamas must have had an instinct, the ability of a seer to know what they would look like this year.

Never has the yellow been brighter, the blooms more prolific, the tree more glorious in the joy it spreads, especially when it’s in someone else’s yard.

Why I’m a fan of The Word Game WHILE the rest of the world is into Game of Thrones, I am obsessed with the Game of Words.

Okay, it is not a real game and there is no legitimate reason to capitalise the name, but for anyone who earns a living by the written or spoken word, there’s an unwritten, unspoken understanding.

Choosing the exact right word is as essential as air itself to life and failure to contemplate whether to use frequent, for instance, instead of often in a sentence (there is a slight difference) or to speak in the first or third person or to choose between ‘relinquish’ or ‘give up hope’ is like a woodpecker forgetting it needs a tree.

The Game of Words, though fascinating, can be exhausting because it is never-ending which is both a good thing and a bad thing. Why is it that some words sound exactly like what they mean? Say scudding clouds and you can see fluffy grey-white forms quickly dancing across the sky. Take words like murderous,

EMILIA Clarke in a scene from Game of Thrones - the alternative to The Word Game.

scandalous and scurrilous - they all sound evil.

And then there are the annoying words that sound nothing at all like what they mean. Ennui.

What is a word with such a romantic sensation doing to describe a state of boredom or why does enervate mean to lose energy, become lethargic or otherwise just plain deprivation of ambition when it sounds like it should be on the label of a power drink?

Words fascinate yet the best story can often be told in a very few. It comes down to selecting the most descriptive, active ones from among the 171,476 words that most authorities agree exist in the English language. By the way (or should it be, As an aside), we are informed that the average American uses one new word a day until middle age and then stops increasing his or her vocabulary which averages between 20,000 and 35,000 words. Which leaves me pondering how do these people figure out average?

TAXI DRIVERS WILL TAKE DRASTIC ACTION IF ISSUES IGNORED, WARNS UNION BOSS

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net KWASI Thompson, State Minister for Grand Bahama, said the government remains committed to working with the Grand Bahama Taxi Union, revealing that an increase in the taxi rate for cab drivers on the island has been approved and should take full effect next month.

This comes after the union demanded on Wednesday that the government address the myriad of issues confronting taxi cab drivers in Grand Bahama, including a rate increase in taxi fares and the illegal movement of visitors at the harbour, airport, and other places.

During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, Mr Thompson said that the ongoing issues taxi drivers have been experiencing are unfortunate.

He noted that the Ministry of Tourism has approved the taxi rate increase which has been tabled in Parliament, and will be gazetted in short order.

Before it comes into full effect, Mr Thompson said that the last step is for it to be gazetted.

“I have been advised that this process should be completed before the end of the month,” he said. “We want to work with the union to ensure that the entire tourism product continues to strive.”

Mr Thompson noted

that taxis are an extremely important tourism partner for Grand Bahama.

On Wednesday, the GBTU listed a number of longstanding issues confronting cab drivers in Freeport, including the reported breach of the law relating to the movement of visitors at the harbour and airport.

Union president Harold Curry warned that they are prepared to take “drastic action” if the ongoing issues are not dealt with by the relevant authorities who have been aware of complaints regarding their concerns and the reported illegal practices in ground transportation.

Mr Curry stressed that taxi jobs are reportedly being illegally solicited and taken away from them by tour operators and shipping agents.

“We have a lot of concerns about a lot of things happening that are not fair, and we want the relevant authority to ensure we get justice,” he said on Wednesday at the Grand Bahama Taxi Union Hall.

“We hope to send a strong message today to let them know that if they do not proceed on making things happen and making sure that the law is enforced, we will have to step out there and take action.”

Taxicab drivers here are also still waiting on an increase in the fare rates.

Although a rate increase was granted for cab drivers in New Providence before the last general election, Mr

Curry said that none was granted for them in Grand Bahama.

“We are still waiting for the increase in the taxi rate.

We sent a proposal to the government on August 8, 2016, and more recently on July 23, 2018,” he said, adding that the cost of living in Freeport is high.

However, the taxi union president stressed that illegal practices and activities in ground transportation, particularly at the harbour, airport and some resorts, is a big concern.

He claimed that although they have provided photographs of the illegal activity taking place the harbour to the authorities in the Department of Road Traffic and the Ministry of Tourism, nothing has done to stop those breaching the law.

“There are concerns with the cruise ships, the Celebration, Balearia, and Classica, about some unfair business happening on there. So we want to make sure these things are dealt with before we take major steps,” Mr Curry said.

He claimed that while the majority of jobs on the Celebration should go to taxi drivers, people are soliciting those jobs on board the ships in Bahamian waters and also when the ship docks in port on the ground.

Mr Curry said that there are activities that are being sold as tours such as taking passengers from the cruise port to Club Fortuna Beach.

PAGE 12, Friday, May 10, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

SIX BUS SHELTERS TO BE BUILT ON LONG ISLAND

LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson announced this week that he has signed off on the construction of six bus shelters for his constituency.

The project is being funded by the Long Island constituency fund.

“The contract was awarded to Peter Fox Construction,” Mr Gibson said in a message to constituents. “This is the first of two phases. The second phase will see another six to eight bus shelters constructed in

other locations including Mangrove Bush, Oneil’s, Turnbull Road, Miller’s, etc.

“During this current phase, bus shelters will be constructed in Dunmore’s, Deadman’s Cay, Salt Pond, Simms/Whymms area, Burnt Ground and Glintons,” he added The MP said construction on the bus shelters has already begun in Dunmore’s and teams will be heading north, completing each structure over the next few weeks.

JOIN NATASHA TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR LUPUS WHEN her mother in law passed away from complications from Lupus in 2016, Natasha Nixon knew she wanted to do something that would not only honour her legacy but also help raise awareness and funds about the immune disease.

As a runner, the answer seemed obvious - a fun run/walk held during Lupus Awareness Month.

“Because I am a runner, I knew a lot of other runners and so I decided I would invite them to a pop up run. Pop up runs are literally a run where you just ask people to join you at a particular location and then everyone can either run or walk along the route.”

The event has grown since the first time she hosted it. “The first year it was small and we raised over $300, the second year we raised more than $770 and this year I am hoping we can raise $1000,” she explained.

There is no entrance fee, instead participants are asked to make a donation which Natasha passes on to the Lupus 242 organisation - the organisation which serves as a support group for persons battling the disease.

Natasha said that after her mother in law passed, she knew that she had to do something. “I am the mother of two daughters, her granddaughters and Lupus is a disease that is heredity and so it is just important for me to do whatever I can to educate persons about Lupus,” she said.

The Lupus Pop Up Run/ Walk in memory of Crystal Stubbs takes place this evening at 6.30pm on what is World Lupus Day. The event starts at Goodman’s Bay and the route goes to Sandals resort and back for a total of four miles.

The Pop up run/walk, is one several events that have been planned for Lupus 242 Awareness Month in May. A church service was held at Living Waters Kingdom Ministry last Sunday. Next Saturday (May 18) there will be a health talk at by Dr K Neil Parker at the University of the Bahamas at noon and on Saturday, May 25, there will a Hope Floats Memory Ceremony and Ribbon Formation to remember those who have passed away from the disease. The ceremony will take place at Fort Charlotte at 6pm.