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VOLUME:114 No.118, MAY 11TH, 2017

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PLP fired as FNM roars to landslide win

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AFTER leading his party to a stunning landslide victory and dealing a paralysing blow to the Progressive Liberal Party last night, incoming Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis declared that those who have abused positions of trust “have something to fear”.

Speaking to thousands of jubilant supporters at the Q E Sports Centre last night, the Free National Movement leader also announced that he will be sworn in as The Bahamas’ fourth prime minister at 5pm at Govern-

ELECTION 2017 THE PEOPLE SPEAK PAGE 4 DNA ‘TO GO ON’ PAGE 5 PLP BIG NAMES LOSE PAGE 7 YOUR PROJECTED MPS PAGE 9 RESULTS SO FAR PAGE 14 MORE COVERAGE PAGES 2-18 ment House today.

Dr Minnis pledged that his administration will give Auditor General Terrance Bastian the resources it needs to probe how taxpay-

ers’ dollars were spent under the Christie administration.

He said if there is evidence of “criminality”, the new government will allow the law to take its course.

Moments after his maiden speech as the nation’s next leader, Dr Minnis promised that under his watch, Bahamians will have nothing to fear from the government, pointing to victimisation, which he said is “unconstitutional” “immoral” and “wrong”.

According to unofficial results, the FNM was able to pull off a stunning defeat of the PLP, securing a massive 34 of 39 constituencies.

The Parliamentary Registration Department did not release full election results last night, with the last numbers coming in from the government agency around 11pm. However from the unofficial numbers, it appeared that the PLP only

captured four seats: Englerston; Cat Island and San Salvador; South Andros as well as Exuma and the Ragged Islands.

An additional seat, Fox Hill, was still being recounted up to press time.

This marked the worst defeat for a governing party in recent history.

The FNM’s victory came despite a rocky five years that included two challenges to Dr Minnis’ leadership, continued reports of a fractured party and ultimately his removal from the post of leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.

“This was a long fought battle, but the victory is not mine - the victory is yours,” Dr Minnis told thousands of FNMs packed on the carnival grounds.

“This is the people’s time and I am your servant and I SEE PAGE THREE

HUMILIATION FOR CHRISTIE AS HE LOSES HIS SEAT AFTER 4O YEARS

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN a surprising and humbling defeat at the polls, outgoing Prime Minister Perry Christie lost his seat in the Centreville constituency last night by 25 votes after representing the area for more than 40 years, according to unofficial results.

Mr Christie has held the seat since 1977 and has been leader of the Progressive Liberal Party since 1997.

The former Prime Minister lost his seat to Free National Movement (FNM) candidate and political newcomer Reece Chipman, who secured

the win with 1,900 votes to Mr Christie’s 1,875.

According to the unofficial results from the Parliamentary Registration Department, Mr Chipman won seven out of 12 polling divisions in the former PLP stronghold, while Mr Christie won five.

In 2012, Mr Christie won the Centreville constituency for the eighth consecutive time with 2,950 votes. He defeated the FNM’s candidate Ella Lewis by 1,349 votes at the time. Mr Christie won all but one polling division in 2012.

Although he released a statement about the loss, Mr Christie did not speak SEE PAGE SIX

ALFRED SEARS URGES CHRISTIE TO RESIGN AS PARTY LEADER RASPBERRY ICED TEA

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS HE called for former Prime Minister Perry Christie to resign as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) last night, Alfred Sears said he saw the

sweeping defeat coming after Fort Charlotte residents repeatedly told him they could not stand the leadership of the country any longer, despite their personal affection for him.

Mr Sears, who was projected to lose to the Free National Movement’s (FNM)

Mark Humes according to unofficial results, said last night that it is “obvious” the party would have stood a better chance winning the election had he been victorious in the PLP’s leadership race in January, adding that “the party made a mistake” in choosing Mr Christie.

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“The outcome of the convention did not inspire trust or confidence in the Bahamian electorate but that’s behind us now and I think the party has a wonderful opportunity to rebuild and reengineer itself,” he said.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

THE TRIBUNE

‘IT’S THE PEOPLE’S TIME’

SWEET VICTORY: Free National Movement (FNM) supporters celebrate their landslide victory in the general elections at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre last night.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 3

Election 2017

FNM supporters celebrate their landslide victory in the general elections at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre last night.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff

PLP fired as FNM roars to landslide victory from page one “After all, this is your time,” he said.

“At 9 o’clock, the Prime Minister (Perry Christie) called me and he conceded and congratulated me and the people on their victory.

He said to me that if any advice or assistance is needed, he would give it.

“I got a call from Her Excellency the Governor General (Dame Marguerite Pindling) and she congratulated me and invited me to be sworn in tomorrow at 5 o’clock as the new prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

“I want you to always remember this is a great victory for you. Never ever allow the politicians to be in charge again. This is your victory and you will always remain in charge. The people have spoken.

“My colleagues and I in the Free National Movement have been given the solemn responsibility to form the next government of The Bahamas. We have been given a mandate for change.”

‘Awesome mandate’ Dr Minnis told his supporters that he did not take

his role lightly, saying his administration was given an “awesome mandate”.

He said: “As we go about the business of governing, we ask for God’s help: that He protect us from the sins of arrogance and greed; that He keeps us ever mindful that this new day is not about us, but about the people we have the honour to serve.

“It’s the people’s time. I thank all Bahamians who did their duty as citizens and voted in this election, including those who did not vote for us. It is the people who give validity and vital-

ity to our parliamentary democracy. It is the people who give life and meaning to the words of our Constitution and our laws.

“I promise you, we promise you, that we will govern for all Bahamians: those who voted for us, those who did not vote for us, and especially those who were unable to vote. I speak of the thousands of young Bahamians who are still in school or still at home.

“I want to assure those Bahamians who supported a party other than the FNM that they will have nothing to fear from us. Our founding fathers did not believe in political victimisation and neither do we. Victimisation is unconstitutional; it is immoral; it is simply wrong.

“Bahamians have a right to vote for the party or candidate of their choice without fear of victimisation.

All Bahamians deserve to be treated fairly by their government regardless of which party is in power. So we will not deny any Bahamian equal access to opportunities based on partisan politics.”

“I want to state clearly, however, that those who have abused positions of trust may have something

to fear. We will give the auditor general the resources and tools he needs to find out how the people’s money was spent.

“If there is evidence of criminality we will let the law take its course,” Dr Minnis continued.

Dr Minnis said the FNM has much work to do in order to bring order to the affairs of the Bahamian people. He added that the party would work tirelessly to chart a new course of progress and prosperity for the country.

“We have much work to do putting the financial and economic affairs of our country in order. We have much work to do to combat crime and violence.

We have much work to do bringing social improvement and saving our young people who are at risk.

“We have much work to do carrying out our plans for infrastructural development in New Providence and the Family Islands. But I am ready. My colleagues are ready. And I know the Bahamian people are ready for this new day. We go now to begin the work of mounting a new government and governing in the best interest of the people,” Dr Minnis said.

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PAGE 4, Thursday, May 11, 2017

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,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

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-

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The Bahamian people have spoken THE Bahamian people have spoken.

They want a better Bahamas.

They want to be led by fellow Bahamians who will do their best to create a land of equal opportunities. A land in which young men and women, willing to put their shoulder to the plough, can contribute to building a nation in which all can fully participate.

When the polls closed last night, the curtain came down on the Pindling era - an era so absorbed with politicians feathering their own nests that, in the words of Sir Lynden, although he “knew the people were hurting”, he did not realise their hurt was so deep that it “determined what they would do during the election”.

Yes, the people were hurting then as they are hurting now. Bahamians had come to the end of their patience. They could no longer live on promises.

What the people did in 1992, after 25 years of being made to understand that “God gave this country to the PLP”, is what they did to the Progressive Liberal Party at the polls yesterday - they dismissed them.

They dismissed them with such a vengeance that there was hardly a shadow left of the once all powerful, all absorbing PLP when the polls closed last night.

Bahamians can breath again. They will no longer have to bow to their masters for a slice of bread.

Yes, it is a time to rejoice, but there is no time to gloat.

There is just too much work to be done to rescue our country from collapse. Too many repairs have to be made, particularly to the badly damaged Public Treasury.

The PLP made many unkept promises. Before the new government can indicate how many, and how soon, any of them can be delivered will depend on the extent of the financial damage that has been done to this country.

Much has been kept from the people.

The Christie government was banking on the opening of Baha Mar to relieve some of the financial pressure and earn enough revenue from the resort to rescue our dollar from Standard & Poor’s “junk” status.

They accomplished their “soft opening” of the resort before the election, but without paying guests.

As one Bahamian put it this week after taking a tour of the hotel: staff were in place, but there wasn’t a guest to be seen.

This resort - the dream snatched from a young investor who had such high hopes for the upliftment of the Bahamian people - has been shrouded in mystery ever since the Christie government entered into agreements with a Beijing bank, Baha Mar’s creditor. The Bahamian people are entitled to know what those agreements are.

It is now up to the new government to find out exactly what has been agreed,

and whether the Bahamas is to reap anything worthwhile from this once promising venture.

Bahamians are now nervous over government’s new national health scheme, which was promised to make the “health care system more modern, affordable and accessible” to all Bahamians. However, in announcing it, a doctor let slip that government did not yet know how it was to be paid for. This is for the Free National Movement government to reopen and review.

This newspaper has reported large sums of money stolen in various government departments - but so far there has been no announcement as to what has been done about it. And, then of course, there is the crime - crime that the Christie government promised five years ago to solve if elected to government. They were elected, but murders continue to soar. Already in the first five months of this year there have been 53 murders. Under their watch 622 murders were committed, according to our records.

And so the list of broken promises grows.

Last night, the parliamentary registrar’s department closed at 11.30pm leaving much unfinished business and Bahamians still in the dark as to the final results of yesterday’s election.

There is no question that the FNM took the government by a landslide. As far as is known the count was 36 FNM elected to four PLP. We left Fox Hill with a recount to be done for Fred Mitchell, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.

The recount was requested by the PLP. It is understood that Mr Mitchell lost by a small margin.

Some time ago Mr Mitchell vowed that he would never again sit on the parliamentary back bench. Depending upon the result of the recount he might yet get his wish.

However, one thing is for certain: no matter which way the recount goes, he will not be sitting on a front bench for another five years.

It is never healthy in a democracy for any government to command such a large lead with no Opposition to keep it in check.

However, after this election campaign, the FNM must know that they have no time to waste. First of all it has to be discovered what damage the PLP government has done and the true position of our national debt.

A Freedom of Information Act must be passed in the first term of the new Parliament.

The FNM might not have a strong Opposition in Parliament, but yesterday the Bahamian people discovered their voice.

It is now the people who are going to ensure that their representatives function for the good of the nation - the whole nation - under God.

Comparing relays, Praise for ‘Plane beach soccer and negligence’ report early voting EDITOR, The Tribune EDITOR, The Tribune

RECENT events should be compared.

First the IAAF World Relays and the FIFA Beach Soccer went without any hitch and applauded by foreign officials, athletes, and all (First World status).

Compare that with the chaos surrounding the recent early voting (Third World status).

The moral? Either privatise or set up a separate independent Government process or fire all the lazy, suck teeth, eating and or sleeping so-called Government employees.

INTERESTED SPECTATOR Nassau May 9, 2017

I AM a Bahamian physician and pilot and I would like to thank you for a wonderful piece of investigative reporting as published “Plane negligence” on May 8, 2017.

Earlier this year I flew a small private US-registered aircraft from Nassau to the Dominican Republic. I was dismayed to receive a bill from the FAA in the amount of $530.73 for their service in US Airspace over The Bahamas. It is my sincere hope that some of the money that I have paid will come back to the Bahamas Government.

H AROLD MUNNINGS, MBBS,FAGG, FRCP Medical Director, The Centre for Digestive Health Grosvenor Medical Centre, May 10, 2017

Voters lost trust in the government EDITOR, The Tribune THE Whistleblower predicted in this daily some weeks ago that the Free National Movement would win at least 29 seats in Parliament.

His projections were off by at least six seats as preliminary results show the FNM having won a staggering 34 or 35 seats.

Perhaps the most astonishing development in this election is the unofficial report that former Prime Minister Perry Christie has lost his Centreville seat to the FNM’s Reece Chipman - a seat he has held since 1977.

Christie is said to have worked the grounds in his former constituency, even to the point of handing out bags of grocery to Centreville residents.

It also appears that the only PLP Cabinet ministers to have been re-elected are Philip “Brave” Davis, Glenys Hanna Martin and maybe Dr Perry Gomez.

The PLP Cabinet was virtually wiped out. This is the first time a sitting PM has lost his seat.

The people have spoken.

They were simply fed up with the myriad allegations of scandals and corruption by the likes of Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Shane

Gibson, V Alfred Gray and Jerome Fitzgerald.

They felt that Christie and his corrupt administration were only catering to the Chinese, Peter Nygard and the ‘Numbers Boys’.

They lost trust in a government that could not adequately explain where their hard-earned VAT money had gone. They became suspicious after allegations surfaced that Social Services, Road Traffic, BAMSI, the Passport Office, Public Hospitals Authority and the Ministry of Finance were missing collectively tens of millions of dollars, at a time when so many Bahamians cannot find employment. They were rightly peeved at Christie for not taking disciplinary action against Fitzgerald for begging Sarkis Izmirlian for lucrative contracts and Maynard-Gibson for her glaring conflict of interest at Baha Mar. They were angry about the Rubis gas leak saga.

They were angry that a Cabinet minister issued a nolle prosequi for former clients of another Cabinet minister.

They were angry that a Cabinet minister read the private emails of Bahamian citizens in Parliament.

They were angry that the same minister got up and

arrogantly said if you touch one PLP parliamentarian you touch all.

They were angry that a Cabinet minister interferred with a judicial matter.

They were angry that his only punishment was having one of his portfolios taken from him, even though he would collect the same hefty salary for less work.

They were angry that Christie failed to abide by the 2013 gaming referendum.

They were angry that a PLP Cabinet minister called the late Dr Myles Munroe stupid.

This election reminds the Whistleblower of the 1997 election, when the FNM won 34 of the 40 seats. T he people have spoken loud and clear. They have chastised the PLP. They have shown them who is boss. Christie’s legacy will now be etched in the annals of Bahamian history as having presided over two scandal-ridden administrations.

This PLP government nearly destroyed this country.

They did not care about this country. Good riddance.

THE WHISTLE BLOWER May 10, 2017

Cool and steady won the race EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN THE end, Cool and Steady won the race.

Stabbed in the back by his parliamentary colleagues and ridiculed by a biased and gullible media, Dr. Hubert Minnis remained focused during a vicious and relentless campaign, shoulders squared, inching his way forward.

Neither the jeers of the ruling PLP nor the deceit from within his own parliamentary caucus, nor the cruel jibes deterred him.

What so many people mistook for weakness turned out to be strength.

With the cool and steady hand of a skilled surgeon, Dr. Minnis worked tenaciously behind the scenes, building a strong support base and defying the political pundits.

Today is Dr. Minnis’ day. It is the FNM’s day. Today is the People’s Day. It’s a well-earned victory for the man, his party and the people.

In the coming days, we will learn the true extent of the damage that has been inflicted upon our country in the last five

years. Many campaign promises will remain simply promises for now as the country struggles to regain its footing.

The road ahead won’t be easy.

Working to get a handle on the staggering growth in the public debt, economic development and job creation, crime and the attendant social and educational ills must take centre stage.

But the people have found their voice through organisations like We March and hopefully will never again allow their rights to be trampled, their voices to be quelled or their tax dollars to be squandered.

The people must no longer tolerate secret deals and corruption.

They must hold the new government to the highest standard of accountability.

But above all, they must give Dr. Minnis and his government a chance to move our country forward, together.

ATHENA DAMIANOS Nassau, May 10, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 5

Election 2017

DNA ‘will go on’ despite failure to win any seats

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net ALTHOUGH the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) failed to win any seats in the general election or capture a significant portion of the votes, party Leader Branville McCartney last night insisted that it “will go on” but said his future at its helm will be determined by party executives.

“There will be a meeting in the week that will determine how we as a party move forward,” Mr McCartney said after he led the DNA unsuccessfully in a second consecutive election.

“As it relates to me returning, that is something that the DNA will have to make a determination on,” he told The Tribune. “But we will have a meeting within the coming days to deter-

mine how we move forward in the DNA and in Bamboo Town,” he remarked.

Mr McCartney also congratulated the Free National Movement on successfully contesting the 2017 general election.

Mr McCartney said he remains “hopeful” that the incoming Minnis administration is “capable of addressing the many issues that the county faces”.

“I hope and pray that this government will fix the many ills. The work starts now. Crime, lack of jobs, issues with healthcare, that dump that is still burning this administration has a lot on its plate.

“I wish them all the very best. The people have spoken and the FNM is the new government and the work, like I said, starts now.”

The DNA contested 35 of the 39 constituencies yesterday.

DNA leader Branville McCartney speaking to The Tribune yesterday.

LONG ISLAND REJECTS BUTLER-TURNER

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

VOTERS in Long Island last night dismissed incumbent MP Loretta Butler Turner in convincing fashion, electing Free National Movement candidate Adrian Gibson by a 354-vote margin.

To the surprise of many outside the island, Mrs Butler Turner captured only 14 per cent of the vote, the lowest among the three candidates contesting the seat.

A buoyant Mr Gibson thanked his supporters for “buying into his plans” for the island from which he hails.

In an interview with The Tribune shortly after Mrs Butler-Turner conceded defeat, Mr Gibson - a former Tribune columnist - said the residents of Long Island voted to ensure their “seat at the table”, noting that “my people saw me as the best option for our home”.

“It feels awesome because this meant so much to us. My ‘us’ has to be emphasised because I made this journey because my people demanded it of me. It has paid off.

“The euphoria on the ground is not anti anyone. It is about the people of Long

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LORETTA Butler-Turner pictured at the advanced polling for the election at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The independent candidate for Long Island lost out to FNM candidate Adrian Gibson yesterday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff She thanked her “amazIsland taking their voice ing Blue Team who gave back.”

Progressive Liberal Party their all in a valiant and candidate Glendon Rolle honest campaign,” praising captured 528 votes to Mr them for their devotion and Gibson’s 882 and Mrs But- industry.

“Congratulations to my ler-Turner 243.

Mrs Butler Turner, who opponents, especially the led a revolt of seven FNM newest MP elect, Mr AdriMPs in a vote of no confi- an Gibson. It was my esdence in Dr Hubert Minnis teemed honour and indeed in December and declared a privilege to have had the to run as an Independent, opportunity to serve the said: “I have fought a good wonderful people of my befight ... l have finished my loved Long Island for these past five years.” course.”

PAGE 6, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

PLP CABINET MINISTERS LOSE SEATS IN FNM ROUT

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net NEARLY all of the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) Cabinet ministers and senior members lost their parliamentary seats following yesterday’s landslide victory for the Free National Movement (FNM) in the 2017 general election.

Although the full results were not released by the Parliamentary Registration Department last night, it appeared that the former governing party only secured four constituencies: Englerston; Cat Island and San Salvador; South Andros and Exuma and Ragged Island.

Up to press time, the constituency of Fox Hill, represented by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell since 2002, was said to be in a recount.

It was the heaviest loss for a governing party in recent Bahamian history.

According to the results available as of last night, the PLP only won one constituency in New Providence: Englerston with the area’s incumbent Glenys Hanna Martin. The only other Cabinet minister who retained a seat for the PLP was Philip “Brave” Davis in Cat Island, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works.

Picewell Forbes, who retained his South Andros seat, was a backbencher in the Christie administration, while Chester Cooper who won Exuma, is a newcomer to politics.

Headlining the list of defeats is outgoing Prime Minister Perry Christie, who lost his Centreville seat to the FNM’s Reece Chipman, a seat he had held since 1977 back when the constituency was referred to as Farm Road.

Similarly, former National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, 71, lost his Bain Town seat to the FNM’s 22-year-old new-

comer Travis Robinson.

Embattled former Marathon MP and former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald lost his seat to the FNM’s Romauld Ferreira, after battling multiple controversies during this last term, mainly the Rubis gas leak and recent revelations that he had solicited lucrative contracts from Baha Mar while he sat in Cabinet.

Shane Gibson, the former Minister of Labour, lost his parliamentary seat of Golden Gates to Michael Foulkes, a seat Mr Gibson has held since 2002.

The PLP, which had secured two seats in Grand Bahama in the 2012 general election, now will have no representation on that island after both former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe and former Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville lost their West End and Bimini and Pineridge seats, respectively.

The PLP also won Marco

THE TRIBUNE

DEFEATED: Perry Christie, Dr Bernard Nottage and Jerome Fitzgerald.

City in 2012. However, the breeze seat to former FNM rity and senator, also lost winner of that race Greg Senator Lanisha Rolle, his bid to represent CarmiMoss quit the party in 2015. while former Social Servic- chael.

Yesterday’s crushing deHe did not offer himself for es Minister Melanie Griffin re-election and the seat last lost her Yamacraw seat to feat of the Christie adminnight was won by former former Bahamas Bar As- istration signals the end of FNM Senator Michael Pin- sociation (BBA) President the party’s controversial recent term in office, which tard, according to the unof- Elsworth Johnson.

As far as junior ministers was marred by allegations ficial results.

In southern Shores, for- go, former State Minister of corruption, malfeasance, mer Environment and of Works Arnold Forbes, cronyism and inefficiency.

For some observers, the Housing Minister Kenred former State Minister of Dorsett lost his seat to the Finance Michael Halkitis, PLP’s defeat also repreFNM’s Frankie Camp- and former State Minister sents a new era in Bahabell following five years of for Investments Khaalis mian politics, characterised frustrating and recurrent Rolle all lost their parlia- by the removal of the old guard like Mr Christie and fires at the New Providence mentary seats.

The three men formally Dr Nottage from governlandfill, with arguably the worst fire taking place on represented the Mount Mo- ance, and the subsequent riah, Golden Isles and Pine- election of Dr Hubert MinMarch 5. nis as only the country’s Hope Strachan, the for- wood seats respectively.

Keith Bell, former state fourth Prime Minister in 44 mer Minister of Financial Services, also lost her Sea- minister of national secu- years of independence.

Humiliation for Christie as he loses his seat after 40 years

from page one

publicly or address the small crowd of sombre supporters that gathered at PLP headquarters last night expecting a victory.

In his statement after conceding defeat to Prime Minister-elect Dr Hubert Minnis, Mr Christie said it was an honour and privilege “to serve as Prime Minister of this great nation.”

He made no mention of losing Centreville in the short statement.

“I called Dr Minnis earlier this evening to congratulate him on his party’s victo-

ry. I understand as perhaps few others the challenges that await Dr Minnis, and I wish him only success on behalf of our nation. He has my full support for a smooth transition,” the statement said.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Prime Minister of this great nation.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Bahamian people for that opportunity.

“To those who served alongside me, I thank them for their dedication to our shared ideals. May God bless us all, and may God

bless the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”

On nomination day last month, Mr Christie told reporters that would be his last time running as a candidate for Centreville.

Mr Christie entered front line politics in 1974 as one of the youngest senators ever appointed at the age of 31.

He joined the House of Assembly after the 1977 general election as the member for Centreville and went on to win his seat eight consecutive times, including the 1987 general election when he contested the seat as an independent candidate.

THE scene last night at Clifford Park, as the PLP’s election victory event was cancelled.

ALFRED SEARS URGES CHRISTIE TO RESIGN AS PARTY LEADER from page one

When asked if he thought Mr Christie should resign as party leader, Mr Sears said: “Certainly. I think the party needs to be refreshed.

I don’t see how the party

can rebuild without new leadership.”

One of Mr Sears’ peers, former State Minister for Finance Michael Halkitis, told The Tribune last night that he is now finished with frontline politics and will not run again.

Mr Halkitis was the incumbent MP for Golden Isles. Last night it appeared that he - like the majority of his colleagues - lost his seat; however all of the poll results were not made available up to press time.

Mr Sears, however, said he saw the defeat coming.

“As I canvassed, the refrain that I met almost unbearably is that ‘we like you, we respect you and we feel you would be a good member of Parliament for this constituency and also we feel that you have a significant contribution to make on the national stage.

But we cannot in good conscience continue with the leadership of our country

for another five years under the PLP.’ That is what I met in so many of the homes in constituencies in Fort Charlotte, including registered members of the PLP.” PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts was the first prominent official to concede defeat yesterday, adding the party will have to enter an era of rebuilding.

He said he was surprised by the results and that officials would have to review the matter to determine the way forward for the party.

His statement came at the PLP’s headquarters on Farrington Road.

By 9.30pm the building was nearly empty as the few PLPs who had gathered in

hope of celebrating victory left as the results foreshadowed a staggering loss.

Some people were near tears as they sighed while watching the results.

“Perry cause this,” one elderly man said, while others dressed in PLP paraphernalia agreed.

“Today thousands peacefully exercised their democratic right to elect the government of their choice in free and fair general elections,” Mr Roberts said.

“We congratulate them on their civility as the Bahamas cherished its international reputation as one of the oldest and most stable democracies.

“They spoke loud and

clear and there is an adage that the voice of the people is the voice of God. We believe this and we humbly accept their verdict. We congratulate those that are victorious.

And the PLP will have to go in a mode of rebuilding.

“We would have to review this matter obviously because this was unexpected; it caught me by complete surprise but, as I said, the voice of the people is the voice of God.” Mr Christie did not speak to supporters or the media last night. However he released a statement conceding his loss and congratulated the country’s Prime Minister elect, Dr Hubert Minnis.

THE TRIBUNE

Election 2017

FNM SUPPORTERS ‘ELATED’ AFTER ELECTION VICTORY

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of euphoric Free National Movement (FNM) supporters celebrated at the political party’s headquarters last night when it became clear that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) had been comprehensively removed from office.

Men, women, teenagers and senior citizens alike, all clad in FNM and ‘Roc wit Doc’ paraphernalia, gathered in droves in jubilation on Mackey Street as election results poured in.

Flaming torches were brought out once word arrived that PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts had conceded defeat and that Dr Hubert Minnis, a now three-time parliamentarian for Killarney, was the next Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

“I’m so elated right now that words can’t even begin to express how I feel,” Kevin Knowles Jr told The Tribune last night.

Humble “As I was standing on the line to vote today, I recalled the recent events that took place in the House of Assembly when Mrs (Loretta) Butler-Turner ousted our now Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as the leader of the Opposition. And I recalled how humbled he was even through all of that. The first lost that she took in trying to vie for the leadership role of the party which he won and then she overthrew him in Parliament as the leader of the opposition, he stood his ground, held his head up high and was a humble man.

“So I said to myself that this is the man that I’ve come to truly, truly appreciate after having been with the Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham when I started voting in 1992.”

Debbie Oliver said last night’s results “feels very good” and expressed excited that Reece Chipman unseated former Prime Minster Perry Christie for the Centreville constituency, according to unofficial results.

Destiny Kenriva Bethel thanked God for the outcome and said: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. I am proud today my son saw and understood the need to participate in his nation’s destiny … No more entitlers,” she screamed.

“I am elated that the FNM regained the government,” Valene Johnson said. “I feel that for the last five years we honestly as a people were oppressed and there were numerous scandals and the former government looked out for foreign interests and not so much for the people. I feel that our economy hasn’t grown. The Bahamas has regressed but I feel hopefully that Dr Minnis and his wellrounded team are going to do a great job as long as the citizens hold their feet to the fire, no pun intended, but I really feel that we can now accomplish a lot,” Ms Johnson added.

A civil servant who did not want to be named told The Tribune that Bahamians have spoken. “Thank the Lord that the FNM is now in power, the PLP is gone and we need to take them to the courts to we could find our

FNM supporters outside the party’s headquarters following their election victory.

VAT money.”

A law enforcement officer told The Tribune: “We the people took plenty foolishness from the PLP government (but) now ‘it’s the people’s time’ (and) we have a real Prime Minister. Tell all those PLP who have those money, return it now or go to jail,” he said.

Sefrent Rolle, a staunch FNM supporter, said this was a victory not just for the party but for the whole country.

He said while the party is celebrating, hard work is ahead.

“After being let down by the PLP government, now we have a hard task ahead and we have a leader and a team who is up to the task,” Mr Rolle stressed.

The attorney did say however that the election outcome was a “vindication” for all who doubted the support among the electorate for Dr Minnis to be commander in chief.

Thursday, Thursday, May May 11,11, 2017, 2017, PAGE PAGE 7 7

PAGE 8, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Voting suspended in Elizabeth and Seabreeze VOTING was suspended in polling divisions of the Elizabeth and Seabreeze constituencies yesterday morning after concerns were raised about ballots.

In Elizabeth, voting in polling division 11 stopped for a more than two hours after candidates claimed that 144 unused ballots from the advanced poll were “missing”.

There were also allegations that the division’s ballot box had been “unsealed”.

A statement issued by Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Charles Albury yesterday stressed that in spite of these concerns, “no irregularities were discovered in the electoral process” in these two areas.

Progressive Liberal Party Trustee and National Coordinator Valentine Grimes also dismissed the concerns in Elizabeth as “irrelevant” and “irresponsible,” adding that unused ballots from the early vote are never used in the general election.

In Seabreeze, there were reports that some people mistakenly voted on ballots from the Nassau Village constituency which were sent to the wrong area. This prompted a voting suspension in one polling division for around two hours.

There were also reported difficulties at the St Anne’s voting stations.

As a result of the hiccups, voting in Elizabeth and Seabreeze was extended.

Yesterday morning, Free National Movement Elizabeth candidate Dr Duane Sands raised alarm about the “missing” ballots, which he said could be a threat to the country’s electoral process. He spoke to The Tribune shortly after voting resumed in polling division 11.

“This is about safeguarding our democracy and something as serious as this cannot be allowed to go unresolved. These are ballots that could potentially be used in any one of these polling divisions,” Dr Sands claimed. “This is deeply concerning and distressing.

“People have been waiting patiently for over two hours and 15 minutes, a decision has been made notwithstanding the irregularities which have not been resolved to continue with the voting,” Dr Sands said.

“There are challenges with the existing ballots, some of them have the returning officer’s signatures in red ink as opposed to green ink.

“The number of ballots cast do not match up to what was expected and there are still 144 unused ballots that are missing,” he claimed.

“Despite that, we will proceed. It appears as if this poll and perhaps this entire electoral process will come under scrutiny, however, people have been waiting patiently in the sun and a decision has been made, not by us but by the parliamentary commissioner’s office, to proceed with the election, despite the acknowledged challenges.

DNA Elizabeth candidate Prodesta Moore also expressed similar worries yesterday morning.

“We had a suspension of polling division 11, this is the room where the advanced poll ballots were counted in. The delay was that the count was incorrect, we recounted them, we asked for a suspension of the polling division,” she said.

“We have 144 unused ballots that were attached to the box, (that are) missing. The box was open, un-

FREE National Movement (FNM) Elizabeth candidate Dr Duane Sands (left) yesterday raised alarm about the “missing” ballots, which he said could be a threat to the country’s electoral process. Hubert Chipman looks on. sealed, the envelopes were open, it was tampered with and we have no account for 144 unused ballots,” she claimed. “We’re concerned that those 144 unused ballots are floating around somewhere.”

‘Irresponsible’ However, when approached about the claims, Mr Grimes accused the FNM of being inflammatory and spreading misinformation.

“Apparently the FNM made an issue about the absence of unused ballots - 144 unused ballots,” Mr Grimes told The Tribune at the Thelma Gibson Primary School. “It’s irrelevant.

The unused ballots are not supposed to be in this poll and so the fact that they are absent is nothing new.

“There is no poll where the unused ballots from the advanced poll are here, the fact that they are trying to be irresponsible and make something to do about nothing - in my mind I don’t understand why they would

do it.”

He dismissed concerns that the unused ballots could be circulated and used in other polling divisions.

“No they can’t,” Mr Grimes said. “At the end of the day, again this is the irresponsible way that they go about things. At the beginning of the poll all the ballots are counted, white ballots are counted, as in there, where there were 425 white ballots, coloured ballots are counted in there, where there are 75 coloured ballots, all those ballots have to be accounted for.

“The ballots are counted in the beginning, a form is issued to agents, and at the end of the day a form is issued to agents which accounts for all the ballots. So the question about ballots out there is irrelevant and irresponsible.”

Alex Storr, the PLP’s Elizabeth candidate, also acknowledged the ballot issue. “When the ballot boxes from the advanced poll were opened this morning, after the initial count in front of the agents it seemed that it was one short,” Mr Storr said. “After recounting a few minutes later, the count is the count that was given at the advanced poll. But there is still the issue of the unused ballots from the advanced poll were placed on top of the box, taped up and sealed, and those are (now) missing, so we’re trying to determine where are those.

It seems that the count has normalised. . . it’s just the unused ballots we’re trying to locate.”

Other issues In Seabreeze, FNM candidate for the area Lanisha Rolle told The Tribune that somehow ballots from Nas-

sau Village ended up in that constituency instead.

“At polling division four, there was a ballot book and the cover of the ballot book the title was Seabreeze but in the ballot book there were ballots for Nassau Village,” Mrs Rolle said. “At that point in time 13 people had voted and we stopped the process. The Free National Movement was alerted and we realised that one of the voters brought it to our attention. He saw other people’s names, not Lanisha Rolle. The returning officer was called and he dealt with it. The 13 persons that voted have been contacted and asked to come back because otherwise their votes won’t be counted. Voting resumed ten minutes to 11am. The delay was about an hour.”

In St Anne’s, FNM candidate Brent Symonette said there were issues in that constituency as well.

“When we opened the boxes for the advanced poll, having been told the contents would be in polling division number eight, it turned out to be in number five. They were then walked to number eight out of the box, though in the hands of the polling officials; they were loose. We had to recount all of those and put them back in the box. But the more important thing is the unused ballots are still not found. One hundred and twenty one of them unaccounted for. (If not resolved) we would potentially take the matter to the Election Court.”

St Anne’s PLP legal counsel Clement Maynard said: “The ballots voted on in the advanced poll are fully accounted for and signed off by all sides. What he is speaking about are the

ballot books, the remainder that were unused were not together with all of the ballots. It’s not an issue as far as we are concerned because the official tally was taken at the advanced polls which outlined all of the ballots that will be ,used; it outlined the counterfoil numbers, etc, so it’s very easy at the end of the day whenever they appear to resolve what was left behind.

“Certainly everything that was used and voted upon, the number that was gotten at the end of the advanced poll correlates with the number that was counted at the end of the advanced poll.”

On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Registration Department released a statement about the confusion.

Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Charles Albury acknowledged that voting was suspended in Elizabeth and Seabreeze “due to some technical problems related to a few ballots.”

“Voting had to be suspended to allow for these issues to be resolved,” a statement from Mr Albury noted.

Mr Albury extended voting hours in the Elizabeth Constituency until 6.15pm, with the exception of polling division 11, which was extended until 8.15pm.

In the Seabreeze constituency voting in polling division four was extended for an additional two hours until 8pm, the statement noted.

“The parliamentary commissioner wishes to stress that no irregularities were discovered in the electoral process in both of the constituencies mentioned,” the statement noted.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 9

Election 2017

YOUR PROJECTED NEW PARLIAMENT

HUBERT MINNIS, Killarney

PETER TURNQUEST, East Grand Bahama

TRAVIS ROBINSON, Bain and Grants Town

RENWARD WELLS, Bamboo Town

DESMOND BANNISTER, Carmichael

IRAM LEWIS, Central Grand Bahama

JAMES ALBURY, Central and South Abaco

HANK JOHNSON, Central and South Eleuthera

REECE CHIPMAN, Centreville

DUANE SANDS, Elizabeth

MARK HUMES, Fort Charlotte

DIONISIO D’AGUILAR, Free Town

BRENSIL ROLLE, Garden Hills

MICHAEL FOULKES, Golden Gates

VAUGHN MILLER, Golden Isles

ADRIAN GIBSON, Long Island

MIRIAM EMMANUEL, MICAL

ROMAULD FERREIRA, Marathon

MICHAEL PINTARD, Marco City

MARVIN DAMES, Mount Moriah

HALSON MOULTRIE, Nassau Village

DARREN HENFIELD, North Abaco

CARLTON BOWLEG JR, North Andros and Berry Islands

HOWARD ‘Ricky’ Mackey, North Eleuthera

FREDRICK MCALPINE, Pineridge

REUBEN RAHMING, Pinewood

LANISHA ROLLE, Seabreeze

JEFF LLOYD, South Beach

FRANKIE CAMPBELL, Southern Shores

BRENT SYMONETTE, St Anne’s

SHANENDON CARTWRIGHT, St Barnabas

DONALD SAUNDERS, Tall Pines

PAKESIA PARKEREDGECOMBE, West Grand Bahama and Bimini

ELSWORTH JOHNSON, Yamacraw

PHILIP ‘Brave’ Davis, Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador

GLENYS HANNA MARTIN, Englerston

CHESTER COOPER, Exumas and Ragged Island

PICEWELL FORBES, Mangrove Cay and South Andros

UNDECIDED: The Fox Hill constituency remained unclear, with Fred Mitchell and Shonel Ferguson in a close race.

PAGE 10, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Smooth process for voters in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE voting process went smoothly throughout Grand Bahama, except for the delayed opening at one polling station in Freeport where some voters waited in line for more than half an hour, well past the scheduled 8am opening time.

East Grand Bahama’s polling division three at the Freeport Primary School got off to a very late start, opening at 8.35am. Polling divisions nine and 12 opened on time.

“They were delayed by 35 minutes, and I don’t know what that was about,” said incumbent MP Peter Turnquest, who reported that there were also a lot of is-

sues with the register.

“We had voters this morning who had their voter’s cards but were not on the register. Unfortunately, we don’t know what happened with them, but they had attempted to vote.

“It is unfortunate that in this day we still have these kinds of issues and it speaks to the process. It speaks to the incompetence or wilful action, and we hope it is just incompetence because we would hate to think that someone would deliberately try to interfere with the electoral process in the country,” he said.

After he was declared the unofficial winner in his constituency last night, Mr Turnquest said: “I am elated by the results. I am humbled and I look for-

A mother’s love is genuine and endless.

It helps to mend the broken hearts of her children. It gives them the strength they need to survive. They can cry on her shoulders---and she will never--say goodbye

Happy Mother’s Day ~Betty Taylor ~

Original Author

ward to serving for another five years and I am certainly committed to the further development of East Grand Bahama and improvements for the people.

“Overall, I think the margin of victory was very gratifying and humbling. I want to thank the supporters and constituents again for their trust.”

There were long lines. At one point, the line at polling division 12 had come to an abrupt stop for 20 minutes after a female voter had been challenged by an FNM party agent over an address discrepancy.

Mr Turnquest was very encouraged by the turnout.

“We expect victory at the end of the day. The lines are long which is encouraging and it seems the Bahamian people are making a deliberate decision to choose their next government.”

Mr Turnquest of the FNM said Bahamians are tired and ready for change.

Ernie Wallace was very confident that Mr Turnquest would win.

“We know there are some shenanigans that are going on in Nassau. Hopefully, the situation with those ballots that are supposedly missing will be sorted out,” he said.

Voters in Central Grand Bahama reported that the process was very quick at St Georges High School.

Barry Malcolm said that the process went very well.

“In Grand Bahama, it has gone relatively well, but I am disturbed by what I heard from some of the areas in Nassau.

“This election is really transformative for the country. It represents a major shift from the Majority Rule generation in this country to the younger voters in the country. I think if you look at what happened with just the presence of the impact of social media on the whole election process this time around, it speaks to the very positive engagement of young people in our country.”

Mr Malcolm and his wife, Linda, said they are happy

TOGETHERNESS in the voting lines in Grand Bahama yesterday.

“The wonderful thing that their daughter Brittany is now able to vote for the about this process is that we are going to have a chance first time.

“We are elated. She just to have full and frank inturned 18 earlier this year vestigation of many matters and we were determined that the PLP has presided that we would all come over, inclusive of this elecout together as a family to tion. We are confident, by vote,” he said. “I feel very the grace of God, that we good that she is voting for will prevail,” he stressed.

Mr Bain was pleased with the first time, I hope her ‘x’ makes a difference. We are the turnout of voters, but looking forward to progres- said it was difficult to presive stuff in this country and dict who the voters are supa change is much needed,” porting.

“Some people are turnsaid Mrs Malcolm.

“I was surprised at how ing out in colours, but the quickly the lines moved and majority of people are votI was excited to be a part of ing in plain clothes and we are not going to make any it,” said her daughter.

The Tribune caught up prediction, we are just going with Marco City candidates to wait until 6pm. But I am Michael Pintard (FNM) glad to see that Bahamians and Norris Bain (PLP) at are exercising their demoMary, Star of the Sea Cath- cratic right, and I feel very confident at the end of the olic Academy.

Mr Pintard said: “We are day I will win Marco City confident based on the work and that the PLP will be rethat the team has done and turned as the Government based on the response from of The Bahamas,” he said.

Mr Bain was concerned the community. Today, we don’t anticipate that the about voter intimidation smear campaign ran by the and said that some party PLP or inducements they agents were in areas they may have offered would should not have been in.

“One thing I have been make a difference. We are confident that change will seeing is what I term as voter intimidation. People come today.

are in positions they have no right to be in. The voter should be able to go to the poll and vote and the persons that are agents should be at least 100 yards from polling area…but we are seeing the law being violated where every voting area I have been, I had to deal with it,” he said.

Pakesia Edgecombe, the FNM candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, said she is encouraged by the support of voters.

“We are really encouraged by what we are hearing and seeing on the ground.

We are very confident in what we have done in the past few weeks and we feel we will be victorious,” she said.

Mrs Edgecombe reported that the polls opened on time in West Grand Bahama, but that here may have been one or two challenges in regards to one polling station in Bimini.

The Tribune attempted to reach Reno Smith, assistant parliamentary commissioner on Grand Bahama, but he could not be contacted up to press time on Wednesday.

BARRY Malcolm with his wife, Linda, and daughter Brittany, a first time voter.

SOME of the scenes in Grand Bahama as voters went to the polls yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Election 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 11

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, the remedy for a country’s ills H

e is only the fourth person and first non-attorney in Bahamian history to run for and win the office of Prime Minister.

But last night Dr Hubert Minnis, 63, achieved what many thought he was not capable of as he led the Free National Movement to a decisive victory over the Progressive Liberal Party.

He survived a vote of no confidence by seven of his party’s parliamentarians and claims that he was too inexperienced to lead the nation and lacked the personality to sway the electorate.

However, voters proved yesterday that they were ready to ‘Roc wit Doc’.

His win also marks an incredible new chapter for Dr Minnis, who rose from humble, impoverished beginnings in Bain Town to become a leading gynaecologist before entering politics. He took over the FNM leadership after Hubert Ingraham stepped down following the party’s crushing defeat in 2012.

It also signals a new era in Bahamian politics, as Dr Minnis is the first non-career politician and the first doctor tobecome Prime Minister elect (as we must call him for the moment).

He may appear to lack the charisma of Sir Lynden Pindling, Perry Christie and Ingraham, but he has shown himself to be determined as evidenced by seeing off two leadership challenges

Cara Hunt looks at the doctor who rose from humble beginnings to unite a divided party and become leader of his country

D

DR HUBERT MINNIS will be the first non-attorney to become the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.

Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune Staff from Loretta Butler-Turner - well organised and politically acute after the defection of the rebels last year seemed to leave the Opposition in tatters.

Dr Minnis was born in Bain Town to Rosalie North, a struggling seamstress, and Randolph Minnis, the proprietor of the well-known Minnis Service Station on Market Street.

He attended Our Lady’s Primary School, Western Junior and St Augustine’s College - a great financial sacrifice for his family.

During his school years he worked many part-time jobs to support his studies, including selling newspapers, shining shoes and working as a tailor.

According to the FNM’s Killarney website, Dr Min-

The end of an era in Centreville F

ormer Prime Minister Perry Christie’s record as one of the country’s longest serving parliamentarians has come to a humiliating end.

After representing the Centreville (formerly Farm Road) constituency since 1977, he has now lost, not just the government, but his seat in an historic defeat of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) at the polls.

Mr Christie has served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister, his much vaunted hopes of a third in tatters.

A career politician, the 73-year-old attorney was first elected Prime Minister in May 2002, defeating the Free National Movement (FNM), then led by Tommy Turnquest.

In turn Mr Christie and his party suffered defeat in 2007 with the return of the FNM, under the leadership of his former law partner, Hubert Ingraham. However, in 2012, Mr Christie once again led the PLP to victory. On nomination day last month, Mr Christie announced that he was standing for election in the Centreville constituency for the ninth and last last time.

Although the seat was always considered a safe one and a PLP stronghold, the former Prime Minister came under massive criticism from the Official Opposition for “neglecting” his constituency over the past four decades. He also received criticism for a num-

cialisation MRCOG (Member of Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) from London in 1985, Dr Minnis returned to Nassau and worked at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

During his 22-year career, he delivered more than 5,000 babies, the largest being 14lbs at birth.

Dr Minnis is also a former president of the Medical Association of the Bahamas, a member of the Medical Council, the chairman of the Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas, and an associate lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

A 40-year political career comes to a shocking end as PLP faithful turn on their leader.

Cara Hunt reports ber of scandals his Cabinet was involved in and questions over how the Value Added Tax money was being spent.

Mr Christie is believed to have been the youngest Bahamian ever appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling in November, 1974. He served in that capacity until June, 1977.

In January, 1977, he was appointed chairman of the Gaming Board, which regulates casinos in the Bahamas. Receiving the PLP’s nomination for the Centreville constituency in the 1977 general election, Mr Christie was elected member of Parliament and shortly afterward appointed minister of health and National Insurance. During the June 1982 general election, he was re-elected in Centreville, and was again appointed to the Cabinet, this time as the minister of tourism.

A dynamic minister, Mr Christie took tourism in the Bahamas to new heights. In 1984, however, he was dismissed from the Cabinet, and during the 1987 general election ran as an Independent. He managed to retain his seat in Centreville.

Three years later Mr Christie returned to the fold of the PLP and was appointed minister of agriculture, trade and industry. His ministerial responsibilities included mining, geological surveys, petroleum, fuel, oils and petrochemicals, industries encouragement, manufacturing, relations with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation, relations with the Bahamas National Trust, the Andros reef and blue holes, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Co-operatives.

In January, 1993, following the PLP’s defeat in general election five months earlier, Mr Christie was elected co-deputy leader of the PLP with responsibility for party activities outside Parliament. Victorious in the newly-created Farm Road constituency in the general election, he was elected leader of the PLP at a special convention on April 5, 1997, and appointed as leader of the Official Opposition by the Governor General on April 7.

Mr Christie thus succeeded Sir Lynden, considered the ‘Father of the Nation’, who had led the PLP since 1956.

nis has said: “I was always business-minded, even as a young high school student.”

He also worked at his father’s service station, pumping gas and patching tyres. Even when he considered dropping out of school to work full-time, his mother insisted that he continue his studies.

He became the first member of his family to attend college. Growing up “Over the Hill”, from an early age Dr Minnis rushed with John “Chippie” Chipman during Junkanoo.

He joined the Saxons in 1990 and has rushed with them ever since as a beller or a bell ringer.

Dr Minnis spent his first year of his tertiary educa-

tion at St Thomas College in Minnesota, before transferring to the University of Minnesota. There, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.

At the University of Minnesota, Dr Minnis was influenced by Professor Coleman, a nuclear physicist for whom he worked on experiments on the breakdown of atoms. Again, he had to work to help pay for his studies.

Dr Minnis originally considered a career in marine biology, but his mother and sister encouraged him to pursue medicine instead.

After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine from the University of the West Indies and his medical spe-

r Minnis first ran in Killarney in 2007, saying at the time: “I have accomplished most of what I wanted to accomplish in medicine. I have trained younger doctors, and now it’s their time to take over. Everything in life is about timing. I want to continue to be of service, but now just in a different capacity.”

He is married to the former Patricia Beneby and is the father of three sons Tremaine, Jamil, and Runako. He worships at the Resurrection Catholic Church.

After he won his seat as Killarney’s Member of Parliament in 2007, Dr Minnis was named Minister of Health, a position he held throughout the FNM’s reign between 2007 and 2012.

And now thanks to the mandate his party has been given, he will have the chance to pursue his vision for the Bahamas - to see small businesses excel and at the same time for the government to engage in more strategic planning for preparing the youth for the future.

PAGE 12, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

VOTERS queue to have their say on election day in The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

Forbes hopeful even as voters gave their verdict Khrisna Virgil canvasses election day opinions in Mount Moriah as the candidates await the voters’ choice

DNA candidate Kishon Turner (Tall Pines) yesterday.

DESPITE a strong showing of support for Free National Movement Mount Moriah candidate Marvin Dames yesterday, incumbent Progressive Liberal Party candidate Arnold Forbes said he was confident that his party would not only retain representation in the constituency, but remain in power.

Speaking to The Tribune as hundreds of voters turned out at Government High School and St John’s College yesterday to cast ballots, Mr Forbes said ultimately, constituents are quite aware of what the Christie administration has done for the country.

Meanwhile, Democratic National Alliance candidate Dr Leon Higgs expressed confidence in a win also for the third party in the area and over both the PLP and FNM to lead the country.

According to officials of

FNM candidate Michael Foulkes with supporters yesterday. the Parliamentary Registra- it. They know who has been tion Department the voting working and they know process in Mount Moriah who they can trust to get experienced no hiccups or the work done and I believe reports of tampering. The that I am still the man for process at both polling sta- Mount Moriah.

“Other than being visible tions also began on time at 8am, officials told The Trib- in my community I can also say that what shored up my une.

“I feel great about my can- support was being there for didacy,” Mr Forbes said on the people when they need the sidelines of voting at GHS me. Whether it was Hurricane Matthew a few months in Yellow Elder Gardens.

“My voters are out. I be- ago providing building suplieve that by 1pm or 2pm plies, I was the first man out this will be a done deal. I after the hurricane providbelieve that we will retain ing water for every family in the Mount Moriah constitu- this constituency.

“The PLP is a party that ency for the Progressive Liberal Party. The people does the difficult tasks. We know work when they see complete difficult tasks.

When there is a difficult decision to be made in this county it is historically proven that the PLP is that party.”

Mr Dames seemed optimistic about his political run for the constituency; however, he was not eager to say he believed a win was forthcoming.

He said: “We have executed our plan and we felt that our plan was a good one and so we are excited.

We are not going to sit back and pine over it. We put in the effort. We were the first campaign that came out with a constituency plan and the first constituency in The Bahamas with an annual report card for the member of Parliament.

People want representation.

“They are sick and tired of politicians who show up a few weeks before a general election with gifts. People want an opportunity to provide for their families year round.”

Asked how he thought it was possible to win this seat while both major parties have strong candidate, Mr Higgs said he was certain that the DNA’s message resonated with voters, giving him confidence in a victory.

Mr Higgs said: “I think our message has resonated with voters in the area.

This is a result of interacting with people. One of the things that came out is that a lot of the young men in the area are hurting and sometimes they need someone who they can open up to and in a lot of cases they are not there.

“So one thing I will focus on is once I am the representative for this area is a mentoring programme for the young people in this community and that is something that several of them mentioned to me and I agree. I think that has resonated with the constituents,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Election 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 13

SCENES from the voting during election day yesterday.

Minnis concerned at reports of irregularities in constituencies

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HOURS before the polls closed on Election Day, FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis raised concerns about the management of the Parliamentary Registration Department, saying he has received reports of “irregularities in at least five” constituencies.

Dr Minnis said he has “always had concerns” about the effectiveness of the parliamentary commissioner’s office.

“I was complaining about the parliamentary commissioner’s office for some time. I had expressed concerns that individuals would have valid cards and their names may not necessarily appear on the register,” Dr Minnis said minutes after casting his vote at St Paul’s Catholic Church Hall for the Killarney constituency.

“I was not happy with the management of that office and that is in keeping with this government’s gross mismanagement . . . and it is reflected in the parliamen-

tary commissioner’s office.

What we were complaining about is what we are now seeing coming to fruition.

There have been serious complaints, especially with the Elizabeth constituency.

“I have been informed that about 142 ballots were missing, were unaccounted for, and our fear is that those ballots can occur at another time, counted and subsequently change the whole outcome of the Elizabeth election.”

The ballots to which he referred were unused ballots from the advanced poll. Officials in the Progressive Liberal Party dismissed fears over this issue yesterday, saying unused ballots from the early vote are never used in the general election.

“We understand that there were irregularities in at least five constituencies,” Dr Minnis continued. “We would be very, very vigilant because there is no way, absolutely no way we are going to allow the PLP Christie to t’ief this election. We believe in democracy. Each individual has a right to vote, vote fairly and whoev-

AN IMPROMPTU selfie during election day yesterday.

er they vote for, their choice should be accepted by all.”

Voting in Elizabeth was suspended for two hours on Wednesday after 144 unused ballots were “missing,” according to FNM candidate for the area Dr Duane Sands.

Voting in polling division 11 resumed around 10am after all parties agreed that despite challenges the division should be reopened.

Dr Minis also said the Bahamian public should learn from him and understand no matter what, you should never give up.

“I feel great now that I coming to the end of this long journey,” Dr Minnis said before the polls closed.

“There were many obstacles but I want the Bahamian people to know that once you have a goal and something you want to do and you have a mind for it, let nothing stop you. Push, persevere and remember to put God first. With God’s guidance and believing in God and with family support and determination you can and will succeed, never ever give up.”

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

PAGE 14, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

CONSTITUENCIES WITH COMPLETE RESULTS (winner in bold) Carmichael Buscheme Armbrister DNA Desmond Bannister FNM Keith Bell PLP O’Brien Knowles BNCP

Philip Davis Gadville McDonald Samuel Strachan 337 2959 1584 35

Centreville Name Party Votes Lorraine Arthur BNCP 15 Reece Chipman FNM 1900 Perry Christie PLP 1875 James Darling BCP 12 Celi Moss DNA 139 Frederick Sawyer IND 32 Harold Ward IND 6 Garden Hills Name Party Votes Youri Kemp DNA 300 Sharell Ali McIntosh BCP 25 Kendal Major PLP 1612 Brensil Rolle FNM 2392 Rodney Curry BNCP 22

PLP FNM DNA

844 546 7

Central and South Eleuthera Name Party Votes Hank Johnson FNM 1742 Clifford Scavella PLP 1679 Derek Smith DNA 32 East Grand Bahama Name Party Votes Preston Cooper PLP 1626 Elkanah Pinder DNA 261 Peter Turnquest FNM 3709 Long Island Name Party Votes Loretta Butler-Turner IND 243 Adrian Gibson FNM 882 Glendon Rolle PLP 528 TOTALS SO FAR (INCOMPLETE RESULTS - totals recorded but all listings missing polling divisions)

South Beach Name Party Votes Randy Butler DNA 278 Cleola Hamilton PLP 1252 Jeffrey Lloyd FNM 2980 Leyvon Miller IND 69 Claridge Williams BCP 13

Bains Town & Grants Town Name Party Votes Brenda Harris DNA 54 Joshua Darling BCP 0 Bernard Nottage PLP 536 Travis Robinson FNM 780 Allan Bain BNCP 3

Southern Shores Frankie Campbell Kenred Dorsett Livingstone Lynes Jr Marlin Newton Madlene Sawyer

Bamboo Town Name Party Votes Anastasia Bethell TPM 28 Greg Burrows PLP 1431 Branville McCartney DNA 573 Renward Wells FNM 2412

FNM PLP IND IND DNA

2589 1728 37 9 266

St Barnabas Name Party Votes Shanendon Cartwright FNM 1834 Karen Butler IND 23 Gerrino Saunders DNA 139 Cheryl Bazard PLP 1273 Dwayne Huyler BCP 11 Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador Name Party Votes

Elizabeth Name Party Votes Jay Armbrister IND 0 Dione Pratt BCP 1 David Bastian TPM 4 Craig Bowe IND 0 Terneille Burrows IND 44 Prodesta Moore DNA 65 Alex Storr PLP 547 Duane Sands FNM 881

Englerston Name Party Votes Wesley Campbell BNCP 2 Glenys Hanna Martin PLP 370 Stephanie Lightbourne DNA 36 Alex Morley IND 1 Raymond Rolle FNM 300 Hector Smith BCP 7 Fort Charlotte NO RESULTS PRESENTED Name Party Votes Mark Humes FNM Cindy Knowles DNA Randy Rolle BNCP Alfred Sears PLP Lavida Thurston BCP Fox Hill NO RESULTS PRESENTED Name Party Votes Shonel Ferguson FNM Fred Mitchell PLP Kendal Smith DNA Angela Cox BNCP Free Town Name Party Votes Dionisio D’Aguilar FNM 1232 Karen Davis DNA 90 Wayne Munroe PLP 596 Andrew Stewart BNCP 35 Golden Gates Name Party Votes Sharmaine Adderley TPM 9 Rudolph Dean DNA 162 Michael Foulkes FNM 1432 Shane Gibson PLP 1060 Agnes Glinton BCP 22 Anthony Rahming IND 6 Golden Isles NO RESULTS PRESENTED Name Party Votes Stephen Greenslade DNA Michael Halkitis PLP Kareem Hanchell IND Vaughn Miller FNM Darvin Russell IND

Killarney Name Party Votes Reneika Knowles PLP 949 Arinthia Komolafe DNA 370 Hubert Minnis FNM 3680 Marathon Name Party Votes Romauld Ferreira FNM 1774 Jerome Fitzgerald PLP 1456 Paul Moss TPM 51 Emily Williams DNA 157 Denise Wilmore BNCP 13

Mount Moriah Name Party Votes Marvin Dames FNM 1366 Leroy Butler BNCP 11 Leon Higgs DNA 81 Arnold Forbes PLP 787 Nassau Village Aaron Cox Mario Lockhart Halson Moultrie Paul Rolle Dion Smith

BCP DNA FNM BNCP PLP

6 62 574 6 306

Pinewood Name Party Votes Lincoln Bain DNA 322 Alecia Hart IND 12 Don Wesley Lockhart BNCP 29 Brunell McKenzie IND 8 Reuben Rahming FNM 1957 Glen Rolle TPM 20 Khaalis Rolle PLP 1480 Seabreeze Name Party Votes Hope Strachan PLP 1112 Michael Cox BCP 11 Anne Marie Glinton-Rolle BNCP 44 Lanisha Rolle FNM 2031 Chris Mortimer DNA 302

St Anne’s Name Party Votes

THE TRIBUNE

Charles Clarke PLP 217 Otis Forbes IND 7 Margo Burrows DNA 59 Brent Symonette FNM 1135

Tall Pines Name Party Votes Philip Ewing BCP 3 Leslie Miller PLP 388 Fredrick Rolle BNCP 1 Donald Saunders FNM 493 Kishon Turner DNA 35

Yamacraw Name Party Votes Melanie Griffin PLP 757 Elsworth Johnson FNM 1113 Kendal Lewis BNCP 4 Charlis Robins DNA 70 Carol Thompson BCP 8

Family Islands Central and South Abaco Name Party Votes James Albury FNM 1696 Eva Bain PLP 901 Ruth Flowers DNA 65 Churtan Toote BCP 12 Central Grand Bahama Name Party Votes Iram Lewis FNM 3329 Donald Mortimer IND 28 Jedrick Robinson DNA 157 Julian Russell PLP 1589 Exumas and Ragged Island Name Party Votes Navarro Bowe FNM 1184 Chester Cooper PLP 1319 Colin Miller BCP 12 Mangrove Cay and South Andros Name Party Votes Farrington Austin IND 73 Picewell Forbes PLP 741 Zendal Forbes FNM 618 Cyril Miller DNA 15 Marco City Name Party Votes Norris Bain PLP 1181 Michael Pintard FNM 2328 Nevar Smith DNA 89 Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay - NO RESULTS PRESENTED Name Party Votes Miriam Emmanuel FNM V Alfred Gray PLP North Abaco Name Party Votes Claire Basden DNA 66 Renardo Curry PLP 980 Darren Henfield FNM 1836 Kathleen Knowles BCP 10 Cay Mills IND 122 North Andros and Berry Islands Name Party Votes Carlton Bowleg Jr FNM 1118 Perry Gomez PLP 966 Samuel Kemp DNA 5 Vincent Peet IND 75 Denise Rolle BCP 10 Urill Usher BNCP 1 North Eleuthera Name Party Votes Howard “Ricky” Mackey FNM 1047 Clay Sweeting PLP 907 Candace Weatherford DNA 20 Pineridge Name Party Votes Michael Darville PLP 1609 Kendel Knowles BCP 30 Leslie Lightbourne DNA 146 Frederick McAlpine FNM 1995 West Grand Bahama and Bimini Name Party Votes Shane Faustin BCP 4 Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe FNM 1516 O’Brien Rolle IND 7 Obediah Wilchcombe PLP 1557

FNM

THE TRIBUNE

Election 2017

CELEBRATIONS

AN AERIAL view of the stage at the Carnival site last night following the FNM’s election victory.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune staff

tions last SCENES from the FNM celebra

night as the party’s supporters

PLP LOSS LEAVES CLIFFORD PARK EMPTY A DESERTED Clifford Park last night. The PLP had set up a stage in anticipation of an election victory.

PHOTO: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff

turned out in big numbers.

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 15

PAGE 16, Thursday, May 11, 2017 Election 2017

PLPS pictured during election day in The Bahamas.

THE TRIBUNE

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

23 HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS DETAINED AT YAMACRAW

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A TOTAL of 23 suspected Haitian migrants were apprehended in the Yamac-

raw area yesterday, with many more suspected to be at large, Department of Immigration officials said yesterday.

Kirklyn Neely, officer in charge of enforcement, told

The Tribune that although 20 men, two women and one child were taken into custody yesterday, officials still have to “go back out in the morning” and conduct additional searches, given

that the vessel they arrived on can hold an estimated 150 to 200 persons.

According to Mr Neely, the apprehension took place at around 2pm in the Hanna Road area. He said it was made possible by “private citizens” who notified the department of possible migrant sightings, although he said they gave the department different locations, ranging from Hanna Road to the Seabreeze area.

He also said there were claims that some persons were spotted near the canal in the Seabreeze area. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) assisted the department in a search of that location. It proved fruitless.

“We didn’t find anybody

there so like I said we have to go back out tomorrow morning and beat the areas, get some more people,” he said.

In March, over 60 suspected Haitian migrants were apprehended in waters just off the Exuma chain, according to RBDF officials.

At the time, patrol craft P-49 under Chief Petty Officer Ross Seymour, apprehended 64 migrants — 54 males and nine females — near the northern end of Ship Channel Cay. The migrants were taken to New Providence and handed over to the relevant authorities for further processing.

Last December, the bodies of four women washed

ashore in southern New Providence and dozens of Haitian migrants were picked up by law enforcement after a sloop capsized.

At the time, RBDF and immigration officials said they received reports that dozens of suspected migrants could be seen attempting to make it to land from a stranded vessel in waters next to the Misty Gardens community.

Once on that scene, RBDF officers intercepted about 42 suspected Haitian migrants at various points throughout the community - 20 in waters near the capsized vessel and the remaining 22 in bushes near the coastline. The group included 29 men and 13 women.

THE TRIBUNE

Election 2017

Election Day

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 17

as it happened

FROM MISSING BALLOTS TO LATE CLOSING POLLS - HOW AN HISTORIC BALLOT UNFOLDED 9.45am: PLP Sea Breeze candidate Hope Strachan has said that Nassau Village ballots were mixed in with Sea Breeze.

9.50am: There are issues in Elizabeth with Polling Division 11 closed. DNA Candidate Prodesta Moore speaks to the media on the situation 10.10am: FNM Candidate for Elizabeth raises his concerns about the situation in the constituency this morning 10.20am: Voting has now resumed in Polling Station 11.

10.25am: PLP legal advisor Valentine Grimes has accused Dr Duane Sands and his team of spreading misinformation and being irresponsible. Mr Grimes said unused ballots that are said to be missing in Elizabeth were never supposed to be included in the ballot box. He also said that Dr Sands and his team are inflaming the situation.

10.28am: There are issues with Advanced Poll ballots at the St Anne’s polling station, the most pressing of which is that 121 missing ballots are said to be unaccounted for – however a PLP official has disputed this. FNM candidate Brent Symonette said if the matter is not resolved they would take the issue to the Election Court. At the moment the parties have agreed to carry on with the poll.

10.40am: Dr Duane Sands gives an update on the situation in Elizabeth: 10.55am: PLP National Coordinator Valentine Grimes speaks about the situation in Elizabeth 11am: PLP Mount Moriah candidate Arnold Forbes says he’s confident of victory at the polls. His FNM opponent, Marvin Dames, was a little more apprehensive in predicting a victory.

11.10am: Vote at East Grand Bahama Polling Division 12 has been protested and police have been called. Many FNM poll workers are on the scene and a challenge is being made.

11.20am: Voting was suspended for an hour in the fourth polling division in Seabreeze after it was discovered that officials had the wrong ballot book - reportedly the one for Nassau Village. Thirteen people were said to have voted already at that point before a voter realised and brought the flaw to the attention of officials. Officials have been trying to contact those early voters so they can come back to the polling station to vote - otherwise their votes will not count.

11.50am: Free National Movement Leader Dr Minnis encouraged Bahamians to always put God first and “never give up on their dreams” after voting, accompanied by his wife, in the Killarney constituency moments ago. Speaking with reporters Dr Minnis said with God’s guidance

and his own determination he will keep the faith that the FNM will be victorious.

He also said he had serious concerns about the irregularities at several polling stations throughout the New Providence and said the issues are a reflection of the current government.

12pm: Now you seen him, now you don’t: The Progressive Liberal Party had to make a hasty change to its ‘Forward Together Bahamians’ literature over the weekend after one candidate was omitted from the party’s 2017 election line up on Friday. Alex Storr, who is running in Elizabeth, was left out of the glossy pamphlet last week but his picture was hastily added in the reprinted version on Monday.

12.10pm: Prime Minister Perry Christie has responded to reports of issues with today’s voting: “I’m hoping that all the reports amount to very little because it is difficult for anyone to make a judgment to suspend voting and I’m hoping that that kind of experience can be avoided.

I find it inconceivable that there could be any kind of intent to deceive or intent to confuse. We think we have put in place the personnel to prevent that,” Mr Christie said.

Mr Christie also remained optimistic that the PLP will be victorious at the polls.

“I did the very best that I could, worked as hard as I could to explain to the people the issues that I think are important to the country. The significant danger that the country faces is an untested opposition, an untested leader, one who has had the unfortunate predicament of not being able to keep a party together,” Mr Christie said.

“I’ve been able to, I think, throughout the length and breadth of the country, communicate what I thought are the important points that would impact the future of our country and our policies that are connected thereto, intended to advance the future, secure the future. And so, having been through this on so many occasions, I am well aware that ultimately it is the people’s choice and that the people have expressed themselves and that we have to be satisfied with that expression.

“I’m hoping that the elections will go without any real incidents, that we can demonstrate to the world that we have a high voter turnout, that we can do so peacefully and that whatever happens it can be accepted and the country can move on.”

The Prime Minister made his comments this morning at ceremony to remember marines that were killed in the 1980 HMBS Flamingo incident at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force base.

12.20pm: Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson has denied that she gave

EARLY morning queues as voters line up to make their mark.

VOTERS at Eight Mile Rock High School in Grand Bahama. legal opinion that allowed additional names to be included on the Register for last week’s advanced poll, as former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham claimed this week. Mr Ingraham claimed her actions caused last week’s delay.

In a statement released today, Mrs Maynard-Gibson: “As a former Prime Minister, Mr Ingraham is well aware that this is impossible. The Attorney General has no power to add names to the Register. The only person who can add names to the Register is the Parliamentary Commissioner.

The law prohibits him from adding any name after the Register has been Certified. In accordance with the law, the Register was Certificated well before the Advanced Poll.”

12.50pm: Golden Gates MP Shane Gibson says this turnout this morning was “absolutely wonderful”.

1.15pm: Alfred Sears, PLP candidate for Fort Charlotte, said there had been no issues with ballots as far as he was aware at the St Francis/Joseph Primary School.

“The numbers have been steady ... and, from the reports that I’ve gotten from our agents inside of the polls, the opening has gone smoothly,” Mr Sears said.

“The voting commenced in a timely fashion and the lines have been moving at a very reasonable pace so we’re off to the race so to speak and I’m very optimistic about the outcome.”

DNA Polling Officer Charlotte Williams also told The Tribune that there were no reported issues with voting at the St Francis/Joseph Primary School. Williams, who worked polling division no.4, said 89 people

had turned out since the polls opened at 8am for that division.

1.30pm: FNM Bamboo Town Candidate Renward Wells on election “chaos”: 1.35pm: FNM Candidate for Marco City Michael Pintard is pictured at Mary Star of the Sea School polling station. The voting process is going smoothly there, with no long lines.

2pm: PLP Marco City candidate Norris Bain says he has issues with “voter intimidation” because party agents are too close to the polling stations. Mr Bain said agents should be at least 100 yards from the polling area. He further stated that there are supposed to be two or three agents to be outside the polling stations but the law is being violated.

3pm: Polling stations at the University of the Bahamas for the St Barnabas constituency have been running smoothly with no long lines.

3.15pm: DNA leader Branville McCartney speaks in Bamboo Town today.

3.20pm: A statement has been released from the Parliamentary Commissioner about extended voting in Elizabeth and Seabreeze: “The Parliamentary Commissioner Mr. Charles Albury, wishes to advise voters in the Elizabeth Constituency that due to some technical problems related to a few ballots, voting had to be suspended to allow for these issues to be resolved. In the Seabreeze Constituency, voting was also suspended to resolve some issues.

“In both Constituencies, voting has resumed. However, in order to allow all of the registered voters to exercise their rights to vote the Parliamentary Commissioner, in accordance with Sec. 52 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, has extended the voting hours in the Elizabeth Constituency until 6.15 p.m., with the exception of Polling Division 11 which has been extended until 8.15 p.m.

“In the Seabreeze Constituency voting will be allowed in Polling Division 4 for an additional two hours until 8:00 p.m. The Parliamentary Commissioner wishes to stress that no irregularities were discovered in the electoral process in both of the Constituencies mentioned.”

3.50pm: Incumbent Long Island MP Loretta ButlerTurner said she remains optimistic about her political run as an independent for the constituency.

She said the day has continued “pretty peacefully”.

However, Mrs ButlerTurner said there was a small incident earlier today

PRIME Minister Perry Christie at the ceremony to honour the crew of the HMBS Flamingo earlier yesterday. where a woman who was close to the privacy barrier in the voting room saw that her mother voted for Butler-Turner and wanted to get the ballot from the box after it had already been placed.

She was able to see how her mother voted because the ballot hadn’t been folded properly, Mrs Butler-Turner said.

4.15pm: Andre Rollins says he has “tremendous confidence” that the FNM’s Renward Wells will be returned as the member of Bamboo Town.

5.50pm: The Parliamentary Commissioner has released a statement on social media claims - and an update on late voting: “CALLS FOR CANCELLATION OF GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE TOTALLY FALSE” “It has come to the attention of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner that there are claims on social media that international election observers have called for the cancellation of the 10th May 2017 general elections in The Bahamas.

“These social media postings are absolutely false and are categorized as Fake News.

“Under law, only the Parliamentary Commissioner has the constitutional power to cancel elections in whole or in part.

“The general public is advised that voting has been

going on smoothly across The Bahamas since 8am this morning as scheduled and with the exception of a total of three Polling Divisions in Elizabeth and Seabreeze, all other polling divisions will close at 6pm this evening as scheduled.

“Specifically, Polling Division 11 in Elizabeth will close at 8:15 pm and Polling Division 13 has been extended to 6:26 pm due to a medical emergency experienced by a staff member.

Polling Division 4 in Seabreeze will close at 8pm.

“Bahamians are urged to disregard these acts of mischief and peacefully exercise their constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights to vote.”

She said the day has continued “pretty peacefully”.

However, Mrs ButlerTurner said there was a small incident earlier today where a woman who was close to the privacy barrier in the voting room saw that her mother voted for Butler-Turner and wanted to get the ballot from the box after it had already been placed.

The complete blog can be found on www.tribune242. com with videos The Tribune reporting team: Ava Turnquest, Khrisna Virgil, Rashad Rolle, Sancheska Dorsett, Lamech Johnson, Ricardo Wells, Nico Scavella, Denise Maycock, Shawn Hanna and Terrel Carey

PAGE 18, Thursday, May 11, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Personality disorders

WHAT makes you who and what you are? Where did your personality come from?

Well, we know some of it is inherited from your parents and grandparents; we all know that certain traits run in families. There are also many personality traits that we have learnt from our homes, schools, churches, friends - in fact, the whole of our culture. These are known as environmental factors.

There is also some degree of choice; there are parts of us that with hard work can be changed.

Our personalities are made up of a large number of traits. There are actions, attitudes and behaviours, hundreds and hundreds of them, such as being conscientious, dependable, honest, or more negative traits such as dishonest, pompous or just plain nasty.

There are, of course, hundreds of traits that can be measured, most of them existing within all of us to a greater or lesser degree.

We all have them. This constellation of traits is only considered abnormal when groups of traits are either far too strong or completely absent. We all like our partners to be a little bit jealous but when the jeolousy trait has them inspecting underwear and making bizarre accusations then the jealousy trait is definitively abnormal.

It is when groups of traits are found together in abnormal quantities that the diagnosis of a personality disorder is made.

Mental health of the nation

By DR MIKE NEVILLE

The concept of character goes back to ancient Greece; later in England the term ‘moral insanity’ came into use. Then psychopathic personality began to be used to describe anti-social behaviour not explained by psychosis. The current diagnosis of personality disorder is made when significant problems with relationships and self, along with certain pathological personality traits, are present over time.

They also must not be explained by a medical condition or in someone whose personality has not had time to develop.

These disorders tend to overlap and often co-exist and so are grouped into three clusters.

The first group consists of the paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal disorders: these people tend to be very odd, eccentric and often seem quite bizarre. They do not trust others and are suspicious, feel shame and hold on to grudges. It is difficult for them to build long-term stable relationships. There are similarities in thinking with people with the illness called schizophrenia but there is no evidence of psychosis.

A second group or cluster consists of avoidant, dependent and anankastic

disorders and comprise of people who are excessively anxious and fearful. There is a severe lack of self confidence with an excessive need for others to look after them. There are great difficulties with relationships and social interactions. The anankastic type has similarities with the anxiety disorder OCD but the other personalty traits make relationships extremely difficult.

The third group of personality disorders is perhaps the most troublesome.

The anti-social, borderline histrionic and narcissistic types combine to create great hardship to society.

People with these disorders have a callous disregard for others, lack of empathy and remorse combined with an overvalued sense of self importance.

This group seems to be over-represented in the Bahamas, perhaps due to the high incidence of child abuse. These traits were valuable in times of war as these individuals have little fear and win medals for apparent bravery.

In times of peace, however, they are not constrained by a conscience - that little voice in the back of our heads that tells us when something is wrong and that nagging sense of guilt when we do mess up.

Imagine if that did not exist. It opens doors to despicable behaviour with absolutely no remorse. They can even pass lie detector tests.

These individuals miss out on so much it is clear they need help. Unfortunately, there are no pills or potions for these condi-

tions and, whilst some benefit from talking therapies, those with a complete lack of a trait are blissfully unaware that there is something wrong with them. They are much more likely to blame others.

Present day psychiatry can help if someone really wants to change but with

many there is little that can be done.

• Dr Mike Neville is a forensic psychiatrist who has practiced for more than 40 years in The Bahamas, working at Sandilands, the prison and in private practice. Comments and responses to mneville@tribunemedia.net

Maynard-Gibson accuses Ingraham of spreading untruths ALLYSON MaynardGibson has accused former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of spreading untruths about her, saying in a statement that she had no connection to the late arrival of ballot boxes to the advanced poll last week.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson labelled this as a “final last push of desperation” on the part of Mr Ingraham.

“Mr Ingraham claimed that ballots arrived late to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium at last week’s advanced poll because the attorney general provided legal opinion allowing additional names to be added to the register,” Mrs MaynardGibson noted in a statement.

“As a former prime minister, Mr Ingraham is well aware that this is impossible. The attorney general has no power to add names to the register. The only person who can add names to the register is the parliamentary commissioner.

The law prohibits him from adding any name after the register has been certified.

In accordance with the law, the register was certificated

well before the advanced poll.

“The Bahamas is known for free and fair elections.

The election officials are fair and impartial. The process is transparent. Registered voters are encouraged to exercise their right to vote,” she added.

On Tuesday, Mr Ingraham claimed yesterday that ballots arrived late to the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium at last week’s advanced poll because the day before, Mrs Maynard-Gibson allegedly advised the Parliamentary Registration Department that it could add additional people to the register.

Although the much derided advance poll was supposed to start at 8am, ballots did not reach the location until later and voting didn’t begin until after 9am.

Last week, the former Parliamentary Commissioner Sherlyn Hall suggested that actions were taken with respect to the poll that helped cause last Wednesday’s chaos, actions with which, he said, he didn’t agree.

“The (Parliamentary Elections) Act does not mention anything about

agents, election agents, voting at the advanced poll,” Mr Hall told ZNS News last week. “So I was compelled to accept the poll workers’ application form K as if they were election workers.”

When asked by ZNS who advised him to do this, Mr Hall said: “I would not reveal that ma’am. Of course there would have been consequences.”

He said he did not know what those consequences would have been.

“To err on the side of caution I decided to accept them.”

Mr Hall has also blamed Carl Smith, permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security and senior returning officer for the poll, for the problems, citing him as the reason the voting sites were cut from two to one in New Providence.

Mr Hall’s three-year contract expired last Thursday.

He has since been replaced by Acting Parliamentary Commissioner Charles Albury, the former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.

FIRE engines at the home of Richard Lightbourn.

LIGHTBOURN’S HOME SUFFERS ONLY SLIGHT DAMAGE AFTER BLAZE IN PROPERTY’S GARDEN

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net FIREFIGHTERS were called to a blaze at the Eastern Road home of a former parliamentarian on Tuesday night.

Richard Lightbourn, who served as the Free National Movement MP for Montagu (now renamed Free Town) from 2012 to 2017, said he received a call and headed home immediately.

“Last night there was a fire,” Mr Lightbourn confirmed yesterday. “I’d kept a pile of branches that I was saving and planning to mulch. I don’t know what caused it but it was quite massive. Thankfully the fire trucks got there quickly and put it out and only the roof of the garage was singed.

But there was no injury to anyone or serious harm,” he said.

The Eastern Road resident said the garage where

the blaze occurred had no electricity “so whether someone threw a cigarette or something I don’t know”.

The fire truck was summoned to the scene around 10pm, according to eyewitnesses and the fire was quickly brought under control.

Mr Lightbourn was one of seven rebel FNM MPs who broke from the party after a vote of no confidence in leader Dr Hubert Minnis.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 11, 2017, PAGE 19

THE DAMAGE caused by the fire yesterday.

THE SMOKE rising from a fire at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday.

ONE MAN BADLY HURT IN BLAZE AT DOCK

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

morning sending plumes of black smoke over the Paradise Island Bridge.

There were reports that one man was severely injured, suffering severe burns and being transported to Doctors Hospital. He is be-

FIREFIGHTERS extinguished a blaze at Potter’s Cay Dock after a container caught fire on yesterday

lieved to have been transferring fuel by pump between trucks. Police Fire Chief Walter Evans confirmed to The Tribune that a team of firefighters were on the scene; however he could not provide further details.

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