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VOLUME:116 No.97, MAY 14TH, 2019

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

HEALTH: 60-PINT TARGET IN DRIVE FOR MORE BLOOD

‘No-one can tell us what to do’

A NEW FACE-TO-FACE

FELICITY HOLDS HER BABY FOR THE FIRST TIME

SEE PAGE EIGHT

Ministers insist: We control our borders, not you

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel delivered a robust defence of Bahamian sovereignty yesterday in response to a claim that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) can order the country to change its citizenship laws.

The Bahamas was called before the IACHR in Jamaica last week in response to a petition on

the treatment of migrants and their descendants from Rights Bahamas and the Washington-based group, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights. During the hearing, Margarette Macaulay, rapporteur on the Rights of Women and Persons of African Descent and against Racial Discrimination, said the body could rule that The Bahamas must amend its laws. She invited civil society to pursue legal action that could produce such an outcome.

SEE PAGE SIX

CCA: WE’VE LOST OUT, NOT SARKIS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA MAR’S main contractor is demanding a minimum $150m in damages from Sarkis Izmirlian over alleged “shareholder oppression” that wiped out its entire investment in the project.

China Construction America and its affiliates, in their counter-claim to Mr Izmirlian’s lawsuit, alleged that his decision to seek

Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the $4.2bn project was a key factor that cost them their $150m preference share investment in the development.

The Chinese construction company claimed in papers filed with the New York State Supreme Court that it should be “compensated for the loss of benefits” associated with its investment in accordance with The Bahamas’ Companies Act. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

I HAVE TO MAKE MY MUMMY PROUD

DOMINIQUE (right) with her mother, Tami Gibson, who was killed in last year’s Labour Day tragedy.

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net SINCE her mother Tami Gibson died in the crash at Nassau’s Labour Day parade nearly a year ago, 17-year-old Dominique Gibson has been doing everything in her power to keep her life on track.

“My mother was my best friend, provider, superhero, biggest cheerleader and greatest critic all rolled into one,” Dominique told Tribune Woman. “I don’t think that I will

ever be able to explain all that she meant to me, but she was and still is my everything.”

It has been the support from her family which has helped Dominique carry on and maintain her excellent grades in school. The teen attends grade 12 at St Augustine’s College and recently received a presidential scholarship to attend Philander Smith College, a private historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dominique added: “My mother’s death made me try harder and push myself beyond my

threshold because I knew that it would make her proud. Although her death changed my life in ways that I cannot express, it also helped me to realise my fullest potential because of my (wish) to make her beyond proud of what I’m doing. She did everything for me and helped me with everything, so not having her emotional and physical support truly took a toll on me, but having the greatest father, Dwight Gibson, and aunt, Tanya Miller, really made life a little easier after the loss.”

FULL STORY - SEE WOMAN

SENATE PRESIDENT’S CARNIVAL ‘CONFLICT’

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

OPPOSITION leader Philip Davis yesterday called on Senate president Kay Forbes-Smith to choose between her political appointment and private practice as he characterised her engagement by Carnival Cruise Line as “influence peddling”.

Mr Davis acknowledged there were no laws blocking

PRESIDENT Kay Forbes-Smith parliamentarians from working, but noted when it came to entities doing

business with the government, “it’s a matter of principle”.

Mrs Forbes-Smith declined comment on the matter yesterday.

“I think in the context of influence peddling,” Mr Davis said, “it has always been frowned upon in our political regimes and so those of us who hold elected or appointed office ought not to be putting

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE FIVE

PETER YOUNG

A TIME TO BOW OUR HEADS AND GIVE THANKS

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Tuesday, May 14, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

LEND a Hand Bahamas held a charity cocktail reception and silent auction on Saturday at Rosewood at Baha Mar. to raise funds for its outreach programmes. The group’s mission is to bring more activities and opportunities to socio-economically disadvantaged areas of The Bahamas through hands-on 4H based programming and enhanced collaboration with local, national, and global nonprofits, corporations, foundations, and individuals.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, PAGE 3

ALLEGED CHILD ABDUCTOR FIT TO STAND TRIAL

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ALLEGED child abductor De-Edra Michelle Gibson has elected to be tried in the Supreme Court over allegations she abducted three little boys, one as young as three, from various places in New Providence between February and March.

Her selection came after a psychiatric report confirmed that the 29-year-old was in fact mentally fit to enter a plea to four counts

of child abduction stemming from allegations she abducted three eight-yearolds and a three-year-old between February 16 and March 29.

Given her choice, the other option being trial in the Magistrate’s Court,

Gibson was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) until June 24, at which time she will be served with a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).

Gibson appeared not to have wanted her matter

ONE PERSON SHOT DEAD AND FOUR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HOSPITAL ONE person was reported to have been shot dead and four more taken to hospital in a serious condition late last night after an incident on Plantol Street, Nassau. For the latest news, go to tribune242.com

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A 42-YEAR-OLD was remanded to prison yesterday over allegations he murdered another man outside of an abandoned building on Hospital Lane earlier this month.

Seron McQueen, of Dean’s Lane, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on a murder charge stemming from Barron “Jam Dawg” Roberts’ death on May 4. McQueen was

to be tried in the Supreme Court, and at the very least, seemed to be opposed to her family having a part in the decision making, as she could be overheard telling her attorney, Howard Thompson Jr, that “they don’t have no say”.

Nonetheless, after she told Magistrate Samuel McKinney of her selection, and he remanded her to the BDCS to await service of a VBI, she said in a disgusted voice: “I hope they happy.”

Meanwhile, Mr Thompson indicated to The Tribune that he would be

DE-EDRA MICHELLE GIBSON

seeking to apply for bail in the Supreme Court for his client.

During her initial arraignment, Mr Thompson told Magistrate McKinney that his client has a history of mental health issues. In fact, he said just last October, Gibson spent some time in the psychiatric ward of the Brookdale University Hospital in New York.

At the time, Mr Thompson said he had also received legal instructions from Gibson that ranged from “incomprehensible” to “bizarre”.

42-YEAR-OLD ON MURDER CHARGE further charged with being in possession of a black .40 Luger pistol and 15 live rounds of ammunition on May 7. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and will return to court at a later date for trial.

Concerning Roberts’ murder, according to initial police reports, shortly after midnight on the date in question, a group of persons were sitting in front of an

abandoned building on Hospital Lane, when they were approached by a lone gunman who opened fire in their direction. One of the men ended up getting hit. The gunman fled on foot. Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to revive the victim but were unsuccessful.

He was pronounced dead on the scene.

McQueen was not required to enter a

plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to June 19 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Bail was denied and he was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim. He has a right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

‘WE NEED A DEDICATED SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE’

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

IN the wake of the fifth suspected suicide of the year, mental health officials are calling for a functioning national suicide prevention hotline. Yesterday, The Tribune contacted the government’s national suicide hotline and discovered the number was out of service.

This newspaper then contacted the Department of Social Services’ hotline and was advised to contact Accident and Emergency at Princess Margaret Hospital or the Bahamas Crisis Centre.

This newspaper contacted the Bahamas Crisis Centre and was told the group does not handle suicide matters. The Tribune was then referred to the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre (CCAC) at Sandilands.

CCAC Clinical Psychologist Dr Tracey King said The Bahamas does not have a functioning national suicide prevention hotline.

Dr King said: “We don’t have a national suicide prevention hotline for someone to pick up the phone and say, ‘this is what is happening, what can I do, or can I talk to someone.’

I think we need a national helpline just because we see more and more persons trying to get help or trying to reach out or struggling.

“We do need a national suicide prevention hotline, but we also need to improve easier access to mental health services.

When people call the hotline and you telling them to go to [a particular] area, it may be more challenging to them so we need a hotline, but we also need to make it

easier for people to access mental health treatment.”

Dr King explained when a person is suicidal there are many factors that may lead them to suicide and there is not one specific way to help.

She explained: “One sign does not equal suicide, it’s a combination of all of these warning signs that persons really need to be aware of. Some will be the outright talking about death, wanting to kill themselves, you’ll see persons preparing for their death by giving away things or [preparing] funeral arrangements, making suicidal threats.

“Feelings of hopefulness, helplessness, feeling no hope for the future, isolation or feeling alone. You may see an increase in substance abuse, and people may be extremely different, not their typical self, maybe more irritable.”

The clinical psychologist said there are five main steps to help a person battling suicidal thoughts.

“One is asking the question because sometimes we may suspect it and we walk past the persons or we observe something that doesn’t seem right. That may be an indication of a suicidal warning sign. If you notice these things, ask the person, ‘are you ok and are you thinking of harming yourself?’

“Some persons will say if you ask that question that it’s going to put in their mind, but actually research has said that it doesn’t.

It allows the person the opportunity to talk. . .A lot of persons who are suicidal feel alone and very isolated.

“The next one is to keep them safe because when we talk about suicide sometimes it’s kind of impulsive

the person who has easy access are more than likely to be successful in their suicidal attempt so we want to make sure all means can be removed or the access to it removes itself. For example, people will remove pills or bleach, any type of tools that can be used for suicide.”

She added: “The other step is to be there. . . You want to make sure to be there and listen to them.

You do an assessment of what is going on with the individual. A lot of people may think because they aren’t in the mental health field they can’t help someone who is suicidal but we all can help them get

connected to help.”

Psychiatrist Dr David Allen said for the past 24 years, The Bahamas has been averaging seven suicides a year.

Dr Allen said: “What worries us is [we have] five already and we are only in May. The point is when homicides go down, suicides go up. When a person is deeply hurt the same energy, they can use to hurt somebody else they can also hurt themselves.

“As we clamp down on homicides, we have to build up the psyche of our nation so people can realise that life is worth it. You may find as we clamp down on [homicides] no one is clamping

down on people hurting themselves.”

He added: “I thought there was [a suicide prevention hotline] and if not, we should [have one].”

Keva Bethell, director of research at The Family, People Helping People, said those in need of help can attend a free counselling group.

Ms Bethell said: “Our office is open Monday through Friday 9 to 5. Call (242)-698-0155 and we will get you connected to a counsellor or invite you to a group.”

Police said they were investigating an apparent suicide after a woman was discovered unresponsive

inside a home with injuries to her body on Friday.

Police said shortly after 11am, officers were called to a residence on Falcon Crest, Eastern Estates, where a woman was discovered with visible injuries to her body.

She was pronounced dead, police said, adding that an autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

Those who may be having suicidal thoughts and think they might need help are asked to contact the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre at (242)-323-3293/5.

Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 4, Tuesday, May 14, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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

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Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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jamaaltheartist@gmail.com

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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Our greatness is shown by how we help those in need IN the time of deepest despair, it appears we are leaving our friends, families and colleagues with no one to turn to. When The Tribune tried to contact the national suicide hotline yesterday, there was no help to be found. The number was out of service.

Imagine being in that darkest hour, and summoning up the ability to pick up a phone, to reach out to say yes, I need some help – only to find the so-called hotline is very cold indeed.

Seeking help elsewhere seems to be a fruitless game of pass the parcel – a call to the Bahamas Crisis Centre prompted a response that they don’t handle suicide matters, and referred us to the A&E department at the hospital or the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre (CCAC). Over at CCAC, psychologist Dr Tracey King confirmed there was no such hotline working.

There are many causes behind suicide – as Dr Mike Neville wrote in The Tribune in 2017: “Suicide doesn’t kill people, sadness kills people”.

Throughout our country, we have people who face such sadness every day, alongside mental illness, struggles against poverty and many more issues.

There is a stigma too about suicide that sadly has not yet been lifted. It is still illegal to commit suicide, attempt suicide or to abet the commission of suicide, while the Church has historically held stern views – still some pastors would choose excommunication for suicide or attempted suicide.

In truth, a suicide hotline is one of the last resorts we need in trying to tackle suicide. There is so much more before someone gets to that stage that can be done. As Dr King at CCAC said: “We also need to make it easier for people to access mental health treatment.”

Look around our streets and you’ll see many people who don’t have that access. The homeless, the desperate we see trying to get by through the day but who are paid attention to by too few.

They have fewer options for finding their way out of their situation.

It is far from just on the streets that people have problems though – and depression and mental illness can affect any of us. There are things we can do ourselves. We can reach out to the neighbour we haven’t seen in a while. We can call the friend we haven’t spoken to. We can stay in touch, and we can listen when someone wants to talk.

Over at The Family organisation, director of research Keva Bethell says anyone in need of help can call 242-698-0155 and they will connect you to a counsellor. That is invaluable – but the hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, and there are too many hours there where someone will be in need.

Other nations have these as standard – over in the UK, The Samaritans organisation fills the role, providing an ear and advice whenever needed.

A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its members most in need.

The absence of a simple hotline to help those in the greatest need of all speaks poorly for our nation. We would hope Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis would instruct the creation of one without delay.

There have been five suspected suicides this year. We don’t want anyone else to be left without someone to talk to. In that moment of despair, let us make sure someone is there. After all, it could be any one of us who needs to make that call.

We can stop the boats EDITOR, The Tribune IN FEBRUARY, a boat left Haiti with reportedly 97 persons on board: The boat reported capsized and sunk in Bahamian waters in the Abacos. The media published the reports and told us, that law enforcement in The Bahamas would be investigating this major incident. We have heard no more of the incident and the result of the investigation.

In a letter to the press, dated February 6, 2019 I had suggested, that an investigation would likely expose a Human Trafficking Group, that exists in New Providence and Haiti. At the time of my letter I expected that the following action would have been taken by our law enforcement agencies to acquire the evidence that would expose the persons involved.

My recommendations included : (a) Search of the boat

by RBDF divers for evidence of the name of the vessel and any documents on board, that may READERS have been voicing their views on the stories making the news on tribune242.com. After Glenys Hanna Martin said the government’s performance in its first two years has been “abysmal”, Realitycheck242 said: “BPL new generators have arrived and are at the container port.

Installation will be completed in 3-4 months. Power outages will be a thing of the past. Staff at the post

identify ownership, the captain and crew and the list of passengers. (b) The media disclosed, that there were 18 survivors, who were to be cleverly interrogated to acquire information; on the identity of the captain and crew (could they have been among the survivors) the cost of the trip, to whom the money was paid, in Haiti or in New Providence. (c) The media disclosed, that there were 21 persons, who identified dead bodies from this disaster.

It was expected, that the 21 persons would have been interrogated regarding their knowledge of the deceased making the trip to The Bahamas and their involvement in the financial or other arrangements.

Their failure to co-operate with law enforcement would have been cause for the Bahamas Immigration Department to reconsider their status here.

As expected nothing has been heard from the government of Haiti and its Consular representative here. One would have

office are operating at their new offices in the TC Mall this week. That’s what you call getting results. Opposition MPs need to sit small and stop the babble about insignificant things.”

Education Minister Jeff Lloyd called for parents to

thought, that a disaster in which so many persons must have died would initiate some law enforcement attention from in that country, which could have resulted in the exposure of the traffickers, their arrests and prosecution. There has been no comments from the Haitian Consul, whose nationals have died under circumstances, that may have been through gross negligence.

It is my information, that the boat left from an island off Haiti, named; l torte, which is familiar to Haitian law enforcement. I have worked with the latter in Haiti and found their Police to be disciplined, efficient, effective and most importantly commands an Intelligence Unit, that is aware and up to date. In a dictatorship the Police are expected to be alert and well informed. It is my opinion, that the government could stop the illegal trafficking promptly.

PAUL THOMPSON Nassau May 9, 2019 ensure students come to school prepared to learn and not engage in nefarious activities. Stillwaters posted this in response: “As soon as a lot of parents understand the concept that the school is helping them raise their children, instead of thinking that they are doing the school some kind of favour by living up to THEIR responsibilities towards THEIR children, the better things will get.”

Be part of the digital world Editor, The Tribune BAHAMIAN retail businesses truly seem to want to remain in the backwater of the digital age. A Google search says that Visa does around 1,700 transactions per second on average (based on a calculation derived from the official claim of over 150 million transactions per day). That is only one card and obviously a global count. Does anyone, even here in the Bahamas, think that someone is scribbling down the National Insurance Number of the user, or their driver licence number, before accepting these charges. But in the good old Bahamas, and Nassau in particular, the speed and ease of paying with your credit or debit card is smashed against the wall when the cashier says “Can I see your ID please”. And

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net then proceeds to manually transcribe the identity card number onto the cash register receipt. Quicker to pay cash and be on your way.

Every benefit of digitalisation is now lost, and I wonder if these business owners think that if something is amiss, would they or the police be able to locate the person by going to National Insurance Board, or Road Traffic, to find out where the person’s last place of abode was?

That, of course, is if the ID is for the person presenting the card, or for the person whose wallet was stolen, and the ID now matches the name on the card anyway.

I have a friend who best describes this layer of

Bahamian security, likening it to a man who keeps his trousers up, using first a belt, plus a pair of braces or suspenders, and in case all else fails, a piece of string.

Dear me. Can we give this nonsense a pass and let the issuer accept or decline the card electronically, and hopefully the owner will advise the issuer as soon as their card is stolen. The entire world economy would grind to a halt if every credit or debit card purchase had to be vetted by the receiver. And how would we buy anything from Amazon or eBay at the far end of the Internet somewhere ? Do these business owners travel outside the Bahamas ? Do they know how the rest of the world works ? Geeez.

BRUCE G RAINE Nassau March 12, 2019

Changing leadership EDITOR, The Tribune

PLEASE be advised that contrary to Mr Abraham Moss’ assertion in today’s issue of The Tribune: Anglicans and Methodists have served in executive positions of The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC). As a matter of fact, a Methodist, the late Rev Edward L Taylor, served as the President of the BCC for a number of years. During his long tenure, the late Canon William Thompson, Rector of St Agnes Anglican Church, also served as a member of the Executive Committee.

Regrettably, the so-called

“established” churches, have, over the years, on a consistent basis, seen their membership/attendance at regular services, diminish; while the “newer” more “evangelical” churches, have experienced significant increases in membership/church attendance. As a result, it should not be surprising that the leadership of the BCC would reflect this corresponding change in its leadership composition.

COMMITTED BAHAMIAN METHODIST Nassau May 9, 2019

Foremost, Sir Cecil’s parents were Bahamians by birth and at heart EDITOR, The Tribune INCLUDED with your newspaper on May 10, 2019 was a supplement written and produced by Rights Bahamas. At page 31 of the publication, the authors state that “Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield must be turning in his grave at what his FNM party has become”. My answer to that would be that he is more likely to be turning in his grave over the highly inaccurate column about him in the said publication, occurring as it did one day after the 29th anniversary of his death.

It incorrectly states: Sir Cecil Vincent Wallace Whitfield - Born to a Bahamian mother and an American father, the former leader of the Official Opposition and founding leader of the Free National Movement, Sir Cecil died in 1990”. While

I appreciate that the supplement is not The Tribune’s publication, no contact information is provided in the supplement for me to direct this missive to Rights Bahamas.

For their benefit, they should be advised that both Sir Cecil’s mother AND father were Bahamians.

Kenneth Oswell Whitfield grew up in The Pond area near where Butler’s Funeral Home is today and also had roots in Kemp’s Bay, Andros. Because of economic conditions at that time, each of Sir Cecil’s parents chose to emigrate to the USA and later became citizens of that country. But first and foremost, they were Bahamians, by birth and at heart.

C VINCENT WALLACE-WHITFIELD Nassau May 11, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, PAGE 5

GDP grows by 1.6% but it’s below IMF’s 2.3% prediction

THIS is the first time the country has had decent economic growth over five years, says Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest.

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE country’s real gross domestic product grew by 1.6 percent last year compared to 2017, new data from the Department of Statistics reveals.

The increase contrasts with the average yearly real GDP growth of just 0.4 percent from 2015 to 2017. However, the growth is below the International Monetary Fund’s projected 2.3 percent growth for 2018.

Department of Statistics officials said nine of 17 industry groups contributed to the increase in real GDP, with real value added increasing by $16 million (0.9 percent) for the real estate industry group; $43 million (3.0 percent) for the wholesale and retail trade group; $42 million (4.2 percent) for the financial and insurance

sector and $253 million for the accommodation and food services industry on the back of a 7.9 percent increase in tourist arrivals.

Statisticians used the production and expenditure approaches for its GDP analysis. Household expenditure increased by $140 million (1.9 percent); non-profit institutions serving households grew by $7 million (2.2 percent); exports of goods and services increased by $244 million (6.3 percent) and imports of goods and services decreased by $23 million (0.4 percent), they said.

The GDP for 2018 was $12.4 billion in nominal dollars and $10.8 billion in real dollars.

In a statement yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said: “This is the first time the country has had decent economic growth over five years.

When we look at where we are

now compared to where we were, these results are confirmation; there has been a significant turnaround and our policy mix is effectively placing us on a path of sustained growth.

“The key takeaways are that economic growth is positive, our momentum has firmed and it is being driven by the private sector.

Just five years ago, the country was experiencing negative growth at -3.0 percent, and for several years, the country struggled to arrest the decline. Now, we have turned things around and we are set up for future expansion and sustained growth. This will allow for expanded job opportunities for Bahamians and improve our ability to withstand shocks.”

However, Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper accused Mr Turnquest of political spin, saying in a statement that the GDP growth was softer than

expected. “It is interesting to see that this administration repeatedly touted its projection of over two percent GDP growth for 2018 as a sign of its supposed economic stewardship, only to have been brought back down to earth by the facts,” he said. “That the minister of finance reacts with glee after a lower than expected real [GDP] is curious, yet dizzyingly out of touch statement. The minister’s projections are simply not being met; not even close. That GDP growth for 2018 was 1.6 percent, as disclosed in the report by the hardworking professionals at the Department of Statistics today, should be alarming to Bahamians.

With the opening of Baha Mar, record tourist arrivals the current administration had nothing to do with, the booming US economy and no major shocks to the economy, like a hurricane, over the past year, the government must

explain why the growth projection was not met.”

Mr Cooper questioned whether the government missed its projections because of the rise in value-added tax “and the subsequent starving of capital expenditure to meet a rigid deficit target.”

For the first time, the national accounts section of the Department of Statistics released a quarterly GDP using the production approach. Its quarterly data was provided for 2015 to 2018.

Leona Wilson, acting director of the department, said: “The reason for the quarterly report is a response to the demand for GDP on a more regular basis, instead of waiting for the annual GDP once a year. Both policymakers and international organisations want to have some idea of what is happening in the economy on a more timely basis.”

SENATE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO RESOLVE CARNIVAL CONFLICT, SAYS DAVIS from page one

themselves in the position where obvious conflicts between the role that you hold publicly and the discharge of any private interests.

“Where that happens one has to choose between private life and public life. You can’t hold onto the two. I call upon her to decide whether she wants to continue holding public office or pursue her private interests.”

PLP leader Philip Davis.

Mrs Forbes-Smith confirmed her engagement with Carnival as a local consultant and advisor during

an interview with The Tribune earlier this month.

Mrs Forbes-Smith explained she was retained last year as a part of a team of people, and defended her right to continue her private practice. During the interview, she also noted that she did not participate in debate as Senate president.

Yesterday, Mr Davis said it was not a responsible position because as Senate president she is called upon to exercise her entitlement to vote in the event there is a tie.

“I’ve always been working in PR and comms [communications] strategy,” Mrs Forbes-Smith said on May 5.

“I would not take a contract with any government entity, I think that would be a conflict. But anything I do in my private life in the private sector is different.”

The revelation prompted the Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) to renew its call for the government to pass the Integrity Commission Bill.

ORG Executive Director

Matt Aubry noted there were no laws preventing parliamentarians from engaging in private work, but underscored the law would facilitate the independent and objective review of ethical concerns.

In a press statement, Progressive Liberal Party National Vice Chairman Obie Roberts said it was not an issue of the law.

“The issue is whether or not it passes the test of propriety, the proverbial smell test,” Mr Roberts said.

“In other words, would

an objective observer say that there is no conflict?

Would a PLP supporter feel assured that in a competition for work on the Carnival site believe that he has a fair chance given the connection between [Carnival], the FNM government and the Senate president who is an FNM politician?

“The matter must be reexamined in that light and the appropriate action taken by the president to correct it.

She must resign as a senator or give up the consultancy,” Mr Roberts added.

PAGE 6, Tuesday, May 14, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

THE BIG IMMIGRATION DEBATE from page one As the Senate debated and later passed Immigration Act amendments yesterday evening, Mr Bethel denounced the idea that the country’s citizenship laws are under threat from an international court challenge.

“There is not a country on earth that will mortgage off its right to control its own borders,” he said. “You might as well sign up to be a client state. And so the Bahamian people can rest assured that this government will fully, thoroughly, completely and comprehensively defend the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas against all who would challenge it and as they say in America, foreign or domestic. We will defend the sovereignty of the Bahamas and the right of the Bahamian people to chart their own destiny in matters that are fundamental to their constitution and to their constitutional expectations and protections.

“We will in due course put out a properly diplomatically worded statement to send to (to the IACHR) to indicate that we feel that

WE CONTROL OUR OWN BORDERS, SAY MINISTERS

they may have gone a little to far in some of the rhetoric exchanged across the table. I’m not sure if it is the appropriate actions of the commission to invite people to sue their own government. I’m not sure that’s within the remit of their duty. But let us deal with it at that level in the appropriate way. I want to assure the Bahamian people that they need not fear that this government or any government is ever going to give grounds on something as fundamental as the right to Bahamian citizenship under our constitution.”

For his part, Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said he has “difficulty” with international bodies that attempt to force sovereign states to act outside “the best interest of that country.” The Bahamas has held two referenda

to address issues of gender inequality in the constitution, both rejected by the electorate.

During Friday’s hearing, the IACHR president raised concerns about detention of migrants and statelessness in the Bahamas.

President Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño said: “I emphasise the right not to be detained because of migrant status.

It cannot be due to the fact of being a migrant, there is a prohibition of that. To be a migrant is not an offence, it is not a crime and prison, detention is for crimes, violations of the law.”

She added: “There are so many stateless children who were born in the Bahamas and cannot get citizenship because they cannot provide the sufficient documentation in order to get

it, and even when they’re 18 they have to apply for citizenship within a certain time or they miss the boat if they exceed that time. This is extremely difficult to accept and the commission wants to work with the Bahamas to see how we can resolve this issue.”

Mr Symonette said he will reserve full commentary until he has spoken to Minister of State for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson who represented the Bahamas during the hearings.

However, he said: “I think unfortunately we have to look at the total picture in the Bahamas.

I don’t think a number of persons fully appreciate the influx of illegal immigrants here in the Bahamas and the cost. So, for instance a boatload of 100 persons arrive on our shore today—are we supposed to

let them walk around the street until we decide when to repatriate them? These are issues. We have 100,000 square miles of water; illegal immigration is a large problem. We spend about $1.6m a year repatriating non-Bahamians.”

On the issue of statelessness, he said: “There are economic conditions in Haiti that require that persons leave…Did they take into consideration the fact that we had a number of persons die in Abaco recently? These are real situations that affect each and every one of us. They talked about statelessness for instance and that’s not a provision in certain areas because a person has the right to apply for citizenship.

“So stateless becomes, when you are stateless in my opinion, which is,

MINISTER of State for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson I mean you’ve got to be careful on that tight frame.

So in some countries, third generation born outside the country are stateless —fine, we can deal with that. But someone who’s born, first generation born in the Bahamas, has the right to a passport of another country. They always have that. So they are not stateless. That’s very clear. Now whether or not they want to go and get that passport is a different issue.

“So for a commission to say they’re stateless, I have a different understanding of the law than what they’re saying.”

Symonette stands firm on changes

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net THE opposition’s criticism of amendments to the Immigration Act is a “political red-herring”, Immigration Minister Brent Symonette said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference held at Baha Mar, Mr Symonette not only defended the bill but also insisted there was consultation on the matter.

However, he admitted there was no consultation with the head of the Bahamas Bar Association (BBA) which has also criticised the amendments.

In a recent statement, the Progressive Liberal Party said the bill “will loosen the controls” the country currently has “to protect the integrity of our borders and our work force”.

In response, Mr Symonette said: “It doesn’t loosen the borders and for someone like [PLP chairman] Fred Mitchell to say that is ridiculous because he was a minister of immigration.

“Immigration officers have a very wide ambit of powers that can deny persons access so that’s a non-starter. That’s a total political red-herring.”

The PLP also said there was “no consultation with affected stakeholders” or the general public — sentiments previously expressed

by BBA President Khalil Parker, who condemned the government last month for not consulting with his group.

Regarding consultation, Mr Symonette said: “We consulted a number of persons. I personally went to a number of the top law firms in the Bahamas and discussed this whole issue.

“We dealt with the Association of International Bank and Trust companies, the Bahamas Financial Services Board, all of whom have a number of subsidiary members, the tourism industry was consulted — as a matter of fact [in] a lot of cases these were people driving the amendments and so therefore, yes, there was consultation. Did I speak to [Khalil] Parker as

head of the Bar Association? No.” Mr Symonette went on to defend both parts of the Immigration Bill.

“So the Immigration Bill is being discussed in the Senate today (Monday), of which Mr Mitchell’s put out a press release and saying it’s taking us back, dismantling Bahamianisation.

“There are two aspects of that bill. One is the BH-1B visa which I think you’ve heard us talk about, where it is an attempt to get tech businesses here in The Bahamas, where for instance United States is restricting the number of visas they issue from some 65,000 down to 45,000.

“Those you might have heard me say before are gobbled up in four days of becoming online and so therefore there’s a great need for that industry.”

Mr Symonette noted this “dovetails” into the Commercial Enterprise Act, which gives successful application work permits for up to 14 days and reduces the minimum investment threshold to $250,000.

“‘Does it stop Bahamians?’ Which is one of the issues I think that’s been raised. No because Bahamians are entitled to do that and they are entitled to get the B1-B visa, so it doesn’t prevent Bahamians from going into business and so on and so forth.

“You could argue that we have to find ways, and we do have to find ways, for making it easier for Bahamians to get credit. So any of you know you’re going to the bank, they want too many documents to get a loan.

“So we have to find a way to ease up the ease of getting business. In Switzerland, I’m told it’s like two percent interest, and we’re paying what, seven, eight per cent here so we’ve [got to] find a way to get around that.”

“The second issue of the Immigration Bill which I think you really want to focus on is more of the controversial side of it and again there’s two parts of that,” Mr Symonette continued.

“Fourteen days you can come in…without getting a visa. The average tourist

IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette in the Bahamas is here for about 2.9 days. So there’s some issue…that when you fill out the immigration form to come in there’s a section ‘are you visiting for business’.

“Even though you tick yes, the immigration officer has the right to refuse you entry and all you have to do is look at the Immigration Act, it has draconian powers, a lot of people don’t realise it, but the immigration officer at a border has the right to refuse you entry into this country. Full stop.

“So this new policy which we’re enshrining in law is an attempt to make sure discretion is very clear cut, the bill says what you’re coming in for.”

Mr Symonette added persons who attempt to use this visa to “circumvent a work permit” will be caught by immigration officers who will then refuse them entry.

He also referenced the recent World Trade Organisation report from Oxford Economics, which noted The Bahamas cannot continue its current business model.

“Even this morning, Ryan Pinder, former [PLP] minister of financial services said in his speech, we have to expand the way the Bahamas does business. So if we’re going to continue to follow what the PLP is suggesting and keep a very restricted environment on business, the country will not continue to grow.”

BETHEL: PLP FOSTERING RACIAL DIVISIONS AND FEAR

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel yesterday slammed members of the Official Opposition for their position on the divisive amendments to the Immigration Act, accusing them of seeking to block all meaningful progress by the government.

Mr Bethel’s comments came during Senate’s debate of the amendments.

He said the Progressive Liberal Party has adopted an extremely negative approach “crudely designed” to foster racial divisions, and to generate fear and mistrust of the government in the minds of the public.

According to Mr Bethel, leader of government business in the Senate, the acts have been “nothing short of crude race baiting and fear-mongering,” referring specifically to the PLP’s intentional association of amendments with Immigration Minister Brent Symonette and his involvement.

The PLP has argued the bill would mark the end of the “Bahamianisation” policy.

The party has also said the amendments “will loosen the controls that we presently have to protect the integrity of our borders and our workforce.”

The Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2019, which was passed in the House last month, will create two new visas. The BH-1B work visa would grant a work visa biometric card to anyone who has permission to engage in gainful

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel occupation in the country that has a specified commercial enterprise certificate under the Commercial Enterprises Act. The BH-4S permit would allow the spouse or dependent child of a BH-1B work visa holder to reside in the country and enrol in educational institutions during the duration of the permit. The bill also allows for exemptions for short-term visas.

Taking direct aim at the PLP’s current position, Mr Bethel said without a major shift in the practical implementation of immigration policies and a major lessening of restrictive practices, The Bahamas could risk losing thousands of jobs in the financial services sector.

He said the loss of these jobs would decimate the country’s entire middle class and force Bahamians into further unemployment, suffering and loss.

“It is no longer a world of the survival of the fittest: it’s all about survival of the slickest,” he said.

“Those who adapt fastest and effectively to the changes which have been imposed on offshore centres by the world’s powerhouse countries, will have a chance to survive the onslaught.

“I have often said to the sector and now I say to every Bahamian that well enough is no longer good enough. We must change, we must’ve adapt to forced changes, and we have to be smarter than those who would seek to harm us,” he added.

“We would be fools to change the whole basis upon which business is transacted in the offshore sector, and expect that things would remain the same with no changes to some domestic policies,” he said.

“But if we leave the old and restrictive work permit regime in place it is clear, to tall and short, that there would be a massive flight of business from the Bahamas.

“Such an exodus of offshore business would further decimate Bahamian employment in formerly offshore banks and trust companies.

“Such an exodus of business, which is in fact the unvarnished truth of the goals of the OECD and the EU, would have a devastating effect on the banking sector and hundreds if not thousands of good paying, even high paying jobs for hundreds and even thousands of Bahamian professionals in the financial sector,” he added.

Meanwhile, PLP Senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis asserted that the amendments, as proposed, indiscriminately equips

foreign companies with the means to fully staff their local operations with foreign workers, at the expense of qualified Bahamians.

Mrs Coleby-Davis said the amendments would allow companies to bring in their entire executive team, and then receive work visas within 14 days, and the argument in support is Bahamians will learn skills.

She asked: “Who will monitor that skills are actually being passed down? Who will keep a record of the amount of Bahamians excelling in these businesses?

“Actually, who is keeping a record on the present benefits received since the passing of the Commercial Enterprises Act? “Did we have an influx of companies, are thousands of Bahamians getting jobs with these companies?

“How many businesses signed on and opened in the Bahamas since coming into force?

“How many executive positions does Bahamians hold in these companies?

“How many work visas permits have been granted following the coming into force of that legislation?

“On a scale of 1-10, 1 being nothing, how much financial gain has the country received from the passing of the Commercial Enterprise Act?” Mrs Coleby-Davis speculated that the amendments could open the “flood gates” and allow for several sectors of Bahamian professional to be overran by foreigners.

“Anyone can now land and say,

here for a business meeting with this particular company, no need to show proof of meeting, no prior communication required from the company to advise of entry.

How are we going to protect our borders?

“We saw just two weeks ago that one of the principles in the marina project [in Harbour Island} has a previous conviction of drug possession, prior to that we had principles of Oban with previous fraudulent convictions… this FNM government has had some issues since coming to power with properly vetting the foreign investors, it seems like they just jumping on any band wagon to say they have movement in the economy,” she added.

For his part, Senator Ranard Henfield called for several slight changes to the amendments, citing that the Senate is mandated to what’s needed to ensure the government “gets it right.”

Mr Henfield said while he has no issue with the issuance of the new BH-1B and BH-4S visas, the complete amendments do present glitches that allows foreign skilled workers to abuse the system by taking on gainful employment without the adequate visa or immigration status.

He implored his Senate colleagues to include a provision that notes that persons receiving the access provision be barred from gainful employment; reduce the amount of access days from 14 to three business days and expressly state that the access provision can only be utilised twice per year.

THE TRIBUNE

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, PAGE 7

FERGUSON TO INTERVENE IN THREATENED WATER STRIKE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

TRADE Union Congress president Obie Ferguson said yesterday he intends to intervene in a strike threat by the Water and Sewerage Management Union to avoid what could be a serious situation.

WSMU on Friday released a statement saying action was certain as it accused the Water and Sewerage Corporation of stringing the union along after one meeting to discuss issues was postponed and another at the Department of Labour not attended by anyone from the water provider.

Mr Ferguson said

industrial action could be a collaborative effort with WSMU and Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union.

He urged unions to move away from approaching issues confrontationally.

His comments came yesterday during a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism where it was announced an agreement had been reached between the government and Grand Lucayan managers to receive voluntary separation packages.

The managers will receive a total of $4.3m - $3.7m of that will come approximately from government as it is the shareholder of the property. The remainder will come from money

that was put into an annuity plan.

Mr Ferguson, pictured right, also suggested that VSEP programmes be incorporated into collective agreements to avoid protracted discussions and contention.

Regarding matters related to WSC unions, Mr Ferguson said: “I made a suggestion and I will make it again today that the dispute at Water and Sewerage can be resolved without what you see happening.

“It’s a simple matter of parties sitting down recognising the interest of both sides and finding a resolution.

“I am prepared to do that because if both of those

unions go out on strike it would [a] serious effect on the system.

“Certainly I would not wish that to happen and I would suggest that a meeting be convened with persons who can make decisions and get the mater resolved.”

He also said: “But my position is that I will be trying to met with the minister responsible for labour and a principle of Water and Sewerage Corporation. That to me is very important because the Bahamian people will be affected.

“The system will be compromised if both of those unions go on strike. The

issue involved is not the kind of issue that warrants what is happening. You say [and] I say [and] accusing this one for the next thing - that type of thing is not productive in my humble opinion.

“So I will do whatever I can to speak with the minister of labour who is a lawyer and a former trade unionist who will understand why it is necessary for us to resolve these things.”

Mr Ferguson said unions should also keep in mind that no organisation will go into negotiations and achieve 100 percent of their demands.

On Friday WSMU claimed the corporation was not acting in good faith.

“Yesterday, May 9, 2019 there was to be a conciliatory meeting at the Department of Labour and the corporation did not show up. Clearly these acts show an unwillingness by the corporation to act in good faith or even to deal with the issues at all. It appears to the union that the corporation is just stringing the union along,” the statement said.

The union said in light of this it appeared that industrial action was “certain” due to Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson’s attitude towards the union and workers.

‘GOV’T JAUNT TO JAPAN TO WATCH RELAY RACES’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PICEWELL Forbes, the PLP spokesman on sports and culture, has accused the government of being hypocritical after “jaunting” off to see the IAAF track and field relays in Japan despite cancelling The Bahamas’ hosting of the event.

“This government of hypocrites, who unceremoniously cancelled the IAAF track and field relays because they claim it was too expensive, led a huge delegation on a jaunt to Japan to watch the same relays they cancelled in 2017,” Mr Forbes noted yesterday.

He said the delegation reportedly includes Mrs Rolle, her husband, Deputy Permanent Secretary Darren Turnquest, Pauline Davis Thompson,

SOME athletes from The Bahamas in Japan

NEW PROVIDENCE HIT BY LOAD SHEDDING - AGAIN

By FARRAH JOHNSON

A GENERATION shortage yesterday forced Bahamas Power and Light to institute load shedding, leaving customers in the eastern and western areas of New Providence without power for hours.

A statement published yesterday on the company’s Facebook page advised the public that an engine problem at the Blue Hills Power Station had forced the company to suspend its services in a number of areas.

Quincy Parker, BPL’s director of communications, confirmed the shortfall yesterday, stating that load shedding is not a “planned exercise”.

“The estimated time for load shedding to have ended in this instance was 2 o’clock, but the reality is that that was an estimate,” he told The Tribune.

“Because load shedding is a response to an unexpected problem, it’s impossible to say that it’s over - period.”

Mr Parker added that although some areas were still left without power after 2pm, the company worked diligently to ensure that power was restored.

When asked if the problem was caused by old equipment, Mr Parker said

that while the company’s infrastructure is old, the equipment has been “maintained fairly well.”

He insisted that while the age of the equipment was “part of the problem”, BPL was addressing the issue with an “aggressive maintenance schedule”.

“The difficulties that we may have in generation is not that the machines are not working properly, but that so many of them are down for maintenance that you can’t just cycle up a machine if you have a load demand because the machine may be down for maintenance.

“It is in part how aggressive that maintenance is that is precipitating some of the generation issues that we’ve been having,” he explained.

Areas affected by yesterday’s outages include Glendale Subdivision, Nassau Village, Highbury Park, Redland Acres, parts of Soldier Road North, Prince Charles and the Kennedy Subdivision.

Mr Parker also confirmed that there will be a planned outage on Johnson Road between Eastern Road and Johnson Terrace today from 9am -1.30pm for the company to conduct overhead maintenance.

He told The Tribune that

the scheduled overhead maintenance “has nothing to do with generation,” but will instead deal with electricity lines to ensure that there are no obstructions that will interfere with the overhead system.

Yesterday’s load shedding comes less than a month after BPL executive Patrick Rollins said the company would do its best to minimise its occurrence.

When asked about Mr Rollins’ comments regarding this summer being the last for load shedding, Mr Parker said that the BPL executive was referring to the “advent” of the 132megawatt (MW) power station at Clifton Pier.

“Once the new power station at Clifton Pier is up and running, then the generation challenges that we would have had will be addressed to a significant degree,” Mr Parker said.

Still, he admitted that it was “impossible” to predict if the problem would go away permanently.

“Again, so much of what happens in a country like The Bahamas is unexpected,” Mr Parker said. “But we will have with the new power station a much more stable and reliable, high efficiency, high energy output foundation for our generation.”

MAN IN HOSPITAL GRAND BAHAMA AFTER SHOOTING ARMED ROBBERY POLICE on New Providence are investigating a shooting incident which left a man in hospital. According to a police report, shortly before 10pm on Sunday, a man was standing in front of a residence on Dunmore Street off Baillou Hill Road, when the occupants of a blue Nissan vehicle opened fire in his direction, hitting him before speeding away. The victim was transported to hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.

GRAND Bahama police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a residence in Queen’s Cove on Sunday.

According to reports, two armed men entered a home shortly after 1pm and robbed the male occupant of personal items and cash.

Police are appealing to anyone with information that can assist them with their investigation to call 350-3107 through 12, 911/919 or call your nearest police station.

and Lisa Russell, the minister’s personal assistant.

“In the absence of a clear and cogent development plan for sports and cultural development for the benefit of our youth and young athletes, the government’s actions come across as selfish, hypocritical and exploitative of the country’s athletes and a waste of scarce public financial resources, especially the VAT money.

“What is the purpose of this trip other than a free jaunt at tax payers’ expense? To show government support for the same Bahamian athletes the Minnis administration disrespected and turned their backs on? That is hypocrisy in its worst form.

“Instead of exploiting athletes and wasting tax payers’ money, the government should articulate

a comprehensive plan for the development of sports and culture for our youth and athletes where Bahamians can own and operate this new industry as a significant pillar of the Bahamian economy.

“A good start would be for the government to complete the sporting facility and sports academy on Moore’s Island in addition to refurbishing all existing sporting facilities throughout the Family Islands started by the PLP government.

That would demonstrate some semblance of a commitment to our athletes and their athletic development.

“In stark contrast to the FNM, the PLP remains committed to transforming sports and culture into a significant pillar of the national economy, owned and operated by Bahamians,” he said.

PAGE 8, Tuesday, May 14, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

When things don’t quite go as you planned, some unexpected heroes step up

PROUD PARENTS: Felicity holding her baby Victory for the first time, and father Victor.

“Welcome to the world!”

THOSE were the resounding words declared by the surgeon as he pulled out my baby girl on the morning of April 24, 2019. With tears of joy flowing from my eyes, I heard her cry and saw the beautiful body that was growing inside of me all those months… all 8 pounds, 8.5 ounces of her.

Things didn’t work out the way I wanted, but I accepted the situation and made the best of it. I was looking forward to a normal delivery. For months, I had practised my hypnobirthing techniques and was ready to use mind over matter to conquer the contractions and have a great delivery.

However, my little princess Victory was cozy in her mother’s womb and was not ready to exit. All the walking, drinking thyme tea, Epsom salt baths and stairs climbing did not bring her. I had to oblige the doctors and have a C-section, as I was not a candidate for induction of labour.

My requests for delay cord clamping, immediate skinto-skin and breastfeeding went out the door once the surgery was ordered. I was disappointed but not defeated.

What the turn of events did create was an

A new Face to Face opportunity for me to experience Princess Margaret Hospital’s Critical Care Block, not only because of the surgery, but because Victory spent her first several days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

I spent my first day on the post natal ward being prepped for surgery the next day. Meantime, I had to have at least two people donate blood to the blood bank before the surgery.

My husband and mother-inlaw donated blood because without it, my surgery could not be initiated. I did not know that before-hand.

If you ever have to go for surgery there, be prepared ahead of time to ask at least five people to donate blood to the blood bank.

SUPERSTARS OF SURGICAL The next day, I went for surgery. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the area and the doctor’s dock

where there were groups of doctors and support staff conversing and planning the surgeries. There, I was greeted by anaesthesiologist Dr Brennen and Nurse Bowe. They were the best two people I could meet at this time. They made me feel comfortable as they prepped me. Nurse Bowe used tact and care, and assisted with friendliness and a big smile. As for Dr Brennen, I am certain the whole process would have been much more harrowing without him. He was with me from preparation until the completion of the surgery and because of his presence, I remained calm and felt confident every step of the way. This young man was very professional, yet very relatable. He cared about my well-being, and he went out of his way to make me feel comfortable. His handling of me was the epitome of what I expect to see from a health care provider – health and care at the highest level.

He talked me through the entire process and had a healing touch that made a big difference in my experience.

In the theatre, I was once again impressed. It appears to be state-ofthe-art with everything the professionals need to do their job. As Dr. Brennen wheeled me in, Tarrus Riley’s “She’s Royal” was playing, and I couldn’t think of any song more fitting to calm my nerves as I entered the room with huge lights and surgical equipment. It was there that Dr Sealy, an upbeat and to-the-point surgeon did his job. He led the team that took care of my baby and I – from the local anaesthesia, to the delivery, to the care of the baby, to the sealing up of the process. Dr Sealy was a great leader and the event was a success.

In recovery, Nurse Bowe, joined by Nurse Brown,

did a great job of taking care of me.

Back in the Post Natal ward, I learned my baby would have to be taken to NICU for monitoring. It was heart wrenching for me.

I didn’t get to hold her the following day like some of the other mothers who’d delivered by C-section. I knew, however, that doctors were doing what they thought was best for her well-being.

The Post Natal ward is a far cry from the Critical Care block. I had this feeling the ward had not changed much at all since I had been there last – some 14 years prior. It was difficult recovering on those beds. They were worn out and offered little support for mothers who are in dire need of good back support and comfortable resting spaces. Underneath the beds appeared rusty and rickety, therefore it made no sense asking if the bed could be elevated for your comfort.

Basically, you just want to get out of there. I went to sleep dreaming of my own bed at home.

STARS OF THE POST NATAL WARD The staff, however, made the experience of that ward a bit more pleasant.

Nurses Bethel and Saunders are veterans in their field who understand what a mother is going through right after delivery. It’s amazing how important kind words, warm smiles and caring gestures are in a patient’s recovery. There was a Filipino nurse who inserted my catheter and responded whenever you called for her on the night shift whose name I did not get, but she, too, deserves commendation. I also have to commend Dr Dorsett who was the first to check my wound, and she did so with tender care.

What health care providers should take note of, especially in Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) is that patients are in a vulnerable state.

They don’t need to be rushed (whether in providing care or in explaining one’s condition), treated with disrespect, ignored, or underestimated. Each

provider should identify themselves to the patient.

They should explain what they are doing, not just start strapping on a device or preparing an injection without informing the patient of what is being administered. The patient must be treated with a higher level of respect.

It is because of the inconsistencies I witnessed when it comes to the care of the patient that I made it a point to focus on the “superstars” – the health care providers who went above and beyond in this week’s column. None of them had any idea that I am a writer and that their good deeds would be written and recorded in this way for the nation to take note. They were just happy to do their job. For those who enter the hospital doors to work and they are not happy to be there, they should find another vocation; because in some cases, it’s a life and death situation.

KUDOS TO THE CAFETERIA AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT I was impressed that the food that came to us as patients from the hospital cafeteria was of a good standard. It was much better than I expected. I indicated from the start that I am a vegetarian. Each day, meals came to me that were adequate. Considering the hundreds of patients who must be fed daily, I thought it noteworthy to mention that my meals included fresh, quality ingredients and seemed to come from a kitchen that took pride in what was being served.

SUPERSTARS OF NICU The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is a level three facility, is nothing short of amazing. This facility is of the highest standard and provides care for newborns who may have otherwise not made it, considering their start in life. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes to see some of the babies weighing only a pound or two in their

incubators. Day and night, nurses and doctors provide care for these tiny human beings.

There are stringent rules for entering the area, and procedure is taken seriously.

One of my main concerns was my ability to breastfeed my baby while in their care.

It appeared to me that some nurses and doctors are a little more open and receptive to breastfeeding than others. I was thankful that Dr Major mentioned that PMH is indeed a “breastfeeding friendly” hospital. I would like to see that philosophy be adopted in every aspect of mother and baby care in the hospital. My husband and I truly appreciated the help of NICU’s Nurse Bullard. She went above and beyond to ensure that she assisted me with whatever I needed to be able to comfortably breastfeed, and she also made sure to give my baby all the milk that I pumped and left for her during the night. She also took the time to answer any questions we had, understanding how difficult it is for parents having to part ways with their tiny bundle of joy each day. Dr King puts a lot of love and care into his job. Although our baby did not need as much of his attention as some of the others, and although he could have interacted with us a bit more, we did observe how well he took care of the babies and how much effort he puts into his job.

We were thankful for Dr Lochan who initially consulted on our baby’s care.

He is a veteran and we felt confident in his level of care. We extend special thanks to Dr Mendes-Rolle.

She explained things well and after speaking with her, I could breathe a sigh of relief. She knows how to relate to parents and she led her rounds with professionalism. And finally, Dr Maples and Nurse Christie-Brown in the OBGYN Day Unit are outstanding.

They made my postpartum care experience enjoyable.

Christie-Brown is a gem among nurses.

I took the time out to say thank you because all too often, good work goes unnoticed. PMH may be in need of improvement but there are some things to be commended.

THE TRIBUNE

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE Minnis administration has no intention of forgiving any of the unpaid taxes owed by gaming operators, according to Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday.

Even as negotiations continue between the four web shop operators who are considered non-compliant and government officials, the minister issued the warning, insisting that at some point they would have to conform to what is required.

He said currently three operators were fulfilling their obligations, accounting for 70 percent of government’s projections.

“We’re negotiating with the remaining four,” the minister with responsibility for gaming said yesterday.

He was asked about the issue during a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism’s Bay Street offices where it was announced that a voluntary separation package agreement was finalised with managers of the Grand Lucayan hotel in Grand Bahama.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, PAGE 9

We won’t be letting web shops off unpaid taxes, warns D’Aguilar Minister K Peter Turnquest, while encouraging operators to pay what is owed to the state, said there was some delay in collection as one operator was completely compliant, another only partially compliant and then some had not complied.

However, the Bahamas Gaming Operators Association released a statement hitting back at his comments.

A 30-YEAR-OLD Haitian man has been sentenced to one year in prison after a magistrate rejected his defence to claims he fondled his co-worker after promising to drop her home as “untruthful”.

Loody Loriston avoided the maximum three-year penalty for the incident however he cried loudly and fell to the floor in apparent agony after Magistrate Samuel McKinney delivered his decision yesterday morning.

The Tribune understands his attorney, Keevon Maynard, plans to appeal the decision.

Loriston and the woman both work at Warwick Hotel on Paradise Island.

Loriston said he started working there in December 2018, but said he has since been suspended due to his court matter. He also has another job at Cleaning Masters, where he has worked for some two years.

According to the evidence summarised by Magistrate Samuel McKinney, the woman reported that on January 25, Loriston offered her a ride home. She said she accepted his offer because at that time of the year, dark falls quickly. She said earlier that day, Loriston had took her to a bank in Palmdale to run an errand.

The woman said while driving to her home, the route Loriston took became concerning to her. She said Loriston drove through many corners that she thought were shortcuts at the time. Nonetheless, she said as she was out of New Providence for six years, the turns made her somewhat disoriented.

She said Loriston eventually brought his car to a stop in front of a residence in an area she was unfamiliar with. She said when she asked him why they were there instead of at her residence on Market Street, Loriston did not answer, and instead fondled her.

The woman said she was able to fight him off, and when she was able to break free from his hold, she opened the car and ran away. She said she ended up at a stranger’s residence where she sought help from the person who lived there, who turned out to be a police officer. It was around 6.20pm by that time.

Her boyfriend was subsequently contacted, who later took her to a police station where she filed a formal complaint.

According to Magistrate McKinney, the officer who the woman got help from confirmed her story.

The woman officer said she heard the complainant

patron deposits, gaming operators could not lawfully begin collecting these taxes on April 1 as the government intended.

“To implement such a tax, operators’ systems must be modified, internationally tested, certified and approved by the regulator as fit for purpose. Only once that process is completed can the collection of taxes on lotto winnings commence.”

TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar “We can negotiate all we want but at the end of the day they will have to become compliant with the tax that’s due. We are not in any way going to forgive any of the debt, so we’ll continue to negotiate.”

Asked pointedly what would be the result of operators continuing not to pay the gaming taxes, the minister said: “There are remedies which I’d prefer not to discuss now.”

Last week Finance

HAITIAN TO APPEAL AFTER HE’S JAILED FOR GROPING CO-WORKER

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

It read: “Currently, there are three operators that have paid all of their outstanding taxes, which represents 70 percent of the operator taxes due. We are uncertain as to why the minister of finance would make such a public statement, that he knows or ought to know is demonstratively false.”

It continued: “As for patron tax on lotto winnings, initially a tax on

calling for help, but out of an abundance of caution did not open her door.

Instead, the officer said she got a cell number from the woman, called that number and gave the person who answered certain information. Loriston was later arrested and charged with indecent assault.

When he took the witness stand in his defence, and with the aid of a translator, the accused said around noon on the date in question, the woman asked him for a ride home once their shift had completed at 5pm.

He said the day prior, he had given her a ride over the Paradise Island bridge to the bus stop.

Loriston said when 5pm arrived, the woman came looking for him. When they both got into his car, she then asked him to do her an additional favour by taking her to a bank in the Mackey Street area, taking her back over to Paradise Island, before dropping her home.

Loriston said he again consented. He said he took her to the bank, where she withdrew some funds, then took her back to Paradise Island for her to drop off the money. At some point, he said the woman used his cellphone to call her cousin to get the money she withdrew. Afterwards, he said they left Paradise Island for the second and final time en-route to her home.

Loriston said as they were driving, he got a call from someone named Finlayson who asked him to pick up some money. According to Loriston, Finlayson is the woman’s ex-boyfriend, who also worked at Warwick Hotel covering the night shift.

He said she consented to going along.

Loriston said when he arrived at Finlayson’s place in the Mackey Street area, and when Finlayson walked out to greet him, the woman abruptly got out of the car and told him that if she knew Loriston was going to see her ex-boyfriend she never would have never gone with him and instead would have gotten off on the corner.

Loriston insisted that the woman told him: “My boyfriend is a police, I’m a Bahamian, and you’re a Haitian. I will deal with that.”

Loriston, in response to questions put to him by Mr Maynard, denied touching the woman, saying, “No, never.” He also said she never complained during the ride.

Loriston also noted that at the time he gave the woman a ride, which was around the 5 o’clock hour, there was a lot of traffic on Mackey Street, so she could have stepped out at any

time as opposed to waiting for him to bring the car to a stop.

However, Magistrate McKinney said in order to accept Loriston’s claims, it would mean that the woman was in the area in question for roughly an hour before showing up at the woman officer’s residence. Conversely, the magistrate said the woman’s version of events offered a more “plausible” explanation for the time gap, in that she said Loriston drove her around until she got disoriented.

The magistrate noted that based on a previous ruling - Marlon Henfield vs Commissioner of Police - it is dangerous to convict someone on the evidence of a woman or a girl alone, because sometimes complainants tell entirely false stories that are easy to fabricate but difficult to refute.

And according to that ruling, some of those stories are fabricated for all sorts of reasons, and sometimes for no reason at all.

In the present case however, he found the Crown proved its case against Loriston to the requisite standard, and consequently rejected Loriston’s claims.

The magistrate thus said the sentence imposed should reflect the “gravity” of the offence and must serve as a deterrent to others who plan to violate others.

Full Military Funeral Service For PETTY OFFICER PERCIVAL PHILIP PERPALL, 52 affectionately called “Michael or Mikey”

of #6 Wallace Road, Chippingham, will be held on Thursday, May 16th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Church of God Convention Center, William Johnson Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road. Officiating will be Bishop Moses A. Johnson, assisted by Reverend Prince Bodie, Bishop Carlton J Stuart. Interment will follow in Bahamas Veterans Cemetery, Infant View Road.

Precious memories will remain in the hearts of his two (2) sons: Maleek and Miguel Perpall; Three daughters: Lakell, Michaella, and Latoya Perpall; one (1) grand-daughter: Myla Perpall; one (1) brother: Tyronne Perpall; one (1) sister: Dedrie Perpall; one (1) sister-in-law: Jacqueline Perpall; one (1) nephew: Tyronne Perpall (Jr); and two nieces: Tylen Perpall and Dazia Dean. Special Friend: Linda Charles; One (1) uncle: Pedro Perpall; three (3) aunts: Sandra Adderley, Vera and Mary Perpall; Cousins: Roscoe, Ricardo, Fred, Hughes, Shawn, Elvardo, Marcia, Patrice and Verneka Perpall, Shanique Mackey, Vincent Rollins (Sr.), Patricia Johnson, Janice Carey, Anita Bodie, Monique Wallace, Derek Todd, Eric Taylor and Jovan Saunders, Rodwell, McAllen and Joel Knowles, Berthamae, Denise, Quint, and Bonita Thompson, Barbara Romer, Winifred Allen, Creswell and Deborah Stirrup, Karen Neilly, Sarah Bethel, Cecil Stuart, Geoffrey and Claudette Bannister, Nola Knowles, Geneva Cunningham; Other friends and relatives include: Louise Bain, Allyson Weech and Linda Cleare; Godfather and neighbor: Donald Wilson and family, Ramon Major, Floricka Davis Daniel, Kenmore & The Entire Sturrup Family, Jay Knowles & Family, The Johnson Family, The Munroe Family, Edison Francis and Family, Andre “Annieman” Wright, Reno & Linda Marshall and Family, Calvin McIntosh & Family, Felix Florissant, Remanda Goodman & Family, Gloria Rolle & Family, and Taniesha Adderley & family, The members and friends, Church of God Cathedral and Greater Chippingham, Saint Michael Methodists, and Temple Fellowship Churches in New Providence, Kingdom Worship Center, Central and Fairfield Church of God Churches in Grand Bahama, Honorable Marvin Dames, Minister of National Security, Commodore Tellus Bethel, The Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Entire Royal Bahamas Defence Force, especially Squad No. 22, The Charlottesville and Boyd Sub-division Community Crime-Watch Association, The Management and Staff of Virgo Car Rental Sales & Parts, Bank of the Bahamas Limited, Intertek (Bahamas) Limited, H.O. Nash Junior High School, Equinor South Riding Point, LLC and Bank Lombard Odier, The entire Bain Town and Farrington Road Communities. We the family, apologize for any names we may have missed, it was not intentional.

Viewing will be held in the Celestial Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until service time.

PAGE 10, Tuesday, May 14, 2019 KEEPING alive memories of significant events in its history is a mark of a civilised nation. An important aspect of this is public recognition and remembrance of those who lost their lives in war so that honouring their sacrifice should continue for years afterwards.

One manifestation of this is the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which was established by Royal Charter in Britain in 1917 and is responsible for the commemoration in perpetuity of the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars.

A recent example in Britain was the national commemorative events in November last year to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. But it is inevitable that memories fade as old soldiers pass away and new generations emerge with the result that major battles which were famous at the time become more remote in people’s minds. Nonetheless, Britain still commemorates, for example, the two most important battles of the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century, Waterloo and Trafalgar.

Since many veterans of the Second World War and their dependants - together with numerous other people who were involved still survive, there are many events associated with that relatively recent conflict.

These include, in particular, the ceremonies next month to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings which led a year later to the liberation of Europe from occupation

by Nazi Germany. That historic occasion is both commemorated and celebrated annually on May 8 as Victory in Europe Day (known simply as VE-Day), and it is followed a day later

by Russia’s Victory Day to recognise the anniversary of the defeat of Germany which had invaded the then-Soviet Union in 1941.

Furthermore, the anniversary of the lifting of the Berlin blockade, imposed by the USSR as a show of strength, falls in May, and Europe Day, commemorating the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, is observed on

THE TRIBUNE

A time to bow our heads, remember and give thanks The Peter Young column May 9. This was the precursor of the European Union because it was designed to lock together economically its six founding members, including France and Germany, as a first step to reduce the risk of future conflict.

So the month of May is important in the international calendar, and it has become significant in The Bahamas as well since the last four general elections here have been held during that month. In Britain one cannot escape from all the ‘mays’, so may I say Prime Minister Mrs May may quit before the end of May, or she may not!

The anniversaries of VE-Day and Russia’s Victory Day are significant globally and the difference between the scale and nature of their ceremonies has become striking. In 1995, I found myself leading, at the official level, the civilian side of the British

BRITISH Chelsea Pensioners who are veterans of the World War II Battle of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord, and D-Day pose for a group photograph during a D-Day 75th anniversary photocall at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London yesterday. government’s events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE-Day and, of course, we reported to ministers for direction and guidance. It was right to give due weight to the military side – not least to recognise the sacrifice of so many lives, both military and civilian. It was necessary as well to remember that at the time of VE-Day the war in the Pacific against the Japanese was far from over. But the events we organised in London and around the country were designed essentially as a celebration of the successful conclusion of the conflict in

Europe. The emphasis was on peace and reconciliation in the spirit of Churchill’s famous dictum – In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Good Will.

The events in London culminated in re-creation of the scene on May 8, 1945 when the King and Queen and the two Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret -- accompanied by Prime Minister and wartime leader Winston Churchill appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of huge and ecstatic crowds.

Fifty years later to the day, The Queen together with the Queen Mother and

Princess Margaret stood on the same balcony in front of another massive cheering crowd (according to police estimates over 100,000 strong) which reached well down The Mall. This was followed by a fly past by the famous Red Arrows and by vintage WW2 aircraft. It was a moving and unforgettable spectacle.

Contrast all that with this year’s Victory Parade in Moscow and other Russian cities which marked the 74th anniversary of Germany’s defeat. Claimed to be the largest ever such parade in Moscow, it was a massive and extravagant display of

military hardware and personnel – some 13,000 troops participating in a lengthy march past – amounting to a demonstration of raw military power; and this was followed by a public pledge

by President Putin to keep strengthening the nation’s armed forces. In the past, some in the West tended to underestimate the longlasting effects in Russia of the nation’s terrible losses during the Second World War – an estimated 20 million casualties together with huge destruction – and they often failed to understand Russian fears of what was termed German ‘revanchism’.

Modern Russia, however, has become a threat.

Reportedly, this month’s parade was boycotted by Western leaders because of Russia’s current expansionist policies including the annexation of Crimea, the supply of arms and other support to secessionist forces in eastern Ukraine and its military threat to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Its support of Assad in Syria and alleged involvement in Venezuela, together with proven interference in the 2016 US presidential election, have also been condemned by the West.

The Victory Parade in Red Square this year provided chilling evidence of Russia’s military capability under a leader who, as a former colonel in the KGB, apparently yearns for a return to the glory days of a powerful Soviet Union on the world stage. So the danger of an expansionist Russia is all too real.

THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT ARCHIE BUT THE QUEEN IS STILL THE INSPIRATION PRINCE Harry and Meghan, joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, show their new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle

ON A happier note, just about the whole world will know by now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new baby has been given the name of Archie. Some say that is a shortened version of a famous Scottish name, Archibald, meaning ‘true, bold and brave’.

There has been some surprise that a more traditional royal name like James, Arthur or Edward was not chosen.

Everybody will surely wish to congratulate Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on the birth of their son. The media frenzy and worldwide publicity has been extraordinary but perhaps not unexpected as the younger Royals, in particular, are permanently in the public eye. Although some people say that for the Royal Family to continue to prosper it must adapt and become more attuned to modern Britain, public interest in what is known as ‘the Firm’ remains undiminished and its popularity is far-reaching.

Perhaps this is because of the naturalness and informality of its younger members.

But the role of The Queen as a symbol of stability, unity, continuity and tradition should never be underestimated. As I wrote at the time of her 93rd birthday last month, she remains widely loved and revered – long may she stay in good health and continue to perform her public duties as an inspiration to the nation.

We can only hope Trump will apply restraint on Iran THE world is apparently in unending crisis. To name a few examples, as well as the menace of Russia there is the resumption of nuclear testing by North Korea, China’s militarisation of the South China Sea and its trade war with the US, endless conflict in Afghanistan, the re-emergence of ISIS now in Libya and West Africa and climate change. But the US dispute with Iran is now seen by many as the greatest danger of all.

Tensions between the two have grown since President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal last year and he has re-imposed tough sanctions restricting Iranian oil exports. He

has also designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation and has beefed up substantially the US military presence in the Gulf region.

Doubtless, the US is responding to evidence of Iran’s aggression in the Middle East, as the number one sponsor of terror while threatening to annihilate Israel.

But it seems also to have been influenced by Israeli intelligence about Iran’s continuation of its nuclear programme in contravention of the 2015 deal.

As the rhetoric is ratcheted up and Iran refuses to be intimidated, the danger of miscalculation or, for example, an Iranian attack on US commercial shipping that

would provoke American retaliation, is surely increasing. So there is a serious risk of conflict by accident that could have catastrophic consequences.

The US administration has stated publicly that it does not want military conflict with Iran but it has not ruled this out. While critics accuse Mr Trump of being impetuous and impulsive rather than exercising calm and reflective judgment, many thought his officials would curb his excesses. According to reports, ironically it is now his advisers who are pushing him

towards confrontation with Iran.

Notable amongst these is the National Security Adviser himself, John Bolton, pictured below, who, despite the overwhelming evidence, still refuses to accept the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a strategic disaster that destabilised the Middle East and led, indirectly, to the rise of ISIS. Critics even suggest this was the worst miscalculation of US statecraft in history. Bolton was an adviser in the Bush White House at the time and apparently pressed for the invasion. He has

been described as an unremitting Bush-era war hawk who has now advocated regime change in Iran.

To some commentators, there are now parallels with the run-up to the invasion of Iraq and they question how someone with such a track record should now be in a position to advise the president on such an important issue of foreign policy. The rest of the world can only hope Mr Trump will apply restraint and common sense. Iran is a larger and more formidable military adversary than Iraq.

From what I have heard and read, many believe military intervention there would lead to disaster.

As an observer, I happen to think they are right.

THE TRIBUNE

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net NEGOTIATIONS are on track and the government is continuing its due diligence for the sale of the Grand Lucayan resort, according to State Minister for Grand Bahama Senator Kwasi Thompson, who said last week that his government is “anxiously” awaiting a completion of the process.

Earlier this year, the government signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Royal Caribbean International and ITM Group for the purchase of the resort.

“We look forward anxiously like the rest of Grand Bahama to having this process completed, and we continue to work as diligently as we can to ensure it is completed in a short period of time,” he said.

He also noted that an application is before the National Economic Council with respect to the former Royal Oasis resort and the Xanadu Hotel.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to add a lot…, because it is still under active consideration for NEC. I would not want to make any sort of announcements or any detail information until that process is completed. We believe that process should be completed shortly,” he said.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, PAGE 11

Grand Lucayan sale still on track - Kwasi

In 2004, the old Royal Oasis properties suffered severe hurricane damage

by Hurricane Frances. The initial owners, the Driftwood Group, decided to close the property, leaving more than 1,000 hotel workers jobless.

Although the properties were purchased in 2007 by the Harcourt Group for $33m, the developers’ plans for redevelopment did not happen due to the economic crash of 2008.

The junior minister said his government remains hopeful about the economy and the future of Grand Bahama, and believes things are getting better generally.

“It does not mean things are better for everyone,” he said. “We accomplished a significant amount, but we have a whole lot more.

We have not hit the halfway mark yet, but we are close to it. We made progress, but we have a lot to do.

SANDS REPEATS HIS CALL FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATIONS AGAINST MEASLES

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands has repeated his call for Bahamians to get up to date on vaccinations in the face of a worldwide measles outbreak.

He also reiterated the Bahamas’ immunity/vaccination penetration rate for children has slipped to 89 percent, stressing the current rate “is not good enough.”

As a result the Ministry of Health has embarked on a “catch-up” campaign to identify those children who have not been vaccinated, particularly against measles mumps and rubella (MMR).

“We used to have about 95 percent penetration, meaning 95 percent of the children got all of their immunisations. That has dropped down to 89 percent, and that is not good enough,” he told The Tribune.

In addition to their campaign targeting school children, Dr Sands said the ministry is also looking to vaccinate people who work at port of entries in the country, such as police officers, airport workers, and immigration officers etc.

“The best thing that we can do to protect our people against measles is to have what we call herd immunity of about 95 percent. So 89 percent is not good enough. If you know you have not vaccinated your children or your child; or you are a grandparent and know that your children did not do what they were supposed to do, take your child to a clinic to be vaccinated,” he said.

“We are going to be going to all the schools. We are in the midst of that process and we anticipate to get between 30,000 and 40,000 additional persons vaccinated, and above about 5,000 babies that get vaccinated every year. “ With summer approaching, many Bahamians will be preparing to travel to the US to vacation and shop.

Dr Sands indicated the measles outbreak has really shocked the entire developed world.

“Bahamians are not as well vaccinated as we need to be,” he said. “When many developed nations declared the end of the measles in almost 2000, and in The Bahamas 10 years ago we thought we seen the end of it.

“Unfortunately, what

DR Duane Sands happened was there are a number of people who would have followed pretty fallacious views about the risks of vaccination and they created a quite a significant anti-vaccination movement.”

Dr Sands explained that this created pockets of poor vaccine penetration which left those populations susceptible to the measles outbreak.

He noted that around the world between 2017 and 2018, health officials have seen a 300 percent increase in measles, and almost 100,000 deaths in 2018.

The health minister described it as a very serious problem.

In The Bahamas, he said public health officials give vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella together. He noted that two doses are administered.

“We generally give the first one in the first year of life and then typically at age four to five years,” he explained.

He said officials are reviewing evidence regarding booster shots for adults who were vaccinated some 30 years ago.

“Adults who had one shot, there is something circulated that if you were born before 1989, you should come and get a booster. We are reviewing that evidence to determine whether or not if you had two MMR shots whether that is necessary. At this point those persons are not yet on our radar,” Dr Sands said.

“So please, if you were vaccinated and had two doses of MMR and you have your vaccination card that confirms it, sit tight. We are more concerned about those kids who have gotten either none or one. Bear in mind, we have not seen any locally grown cases. All of the two cases of measles we saw was from the same the family who came from France.”

“And that is why we have to continue to remain focused in Grand Bahama, to work and press forward to improve the lives of every Grand Bahamian.”

Mr Thompson applauded Grand Bahama MPs for the work they are doing in their constituencies.

“The MPs have been doing an excellent job working through their own constituencies, so we have seen MPs like Pakesia Parker (Edgecombe), Michael Pintard, Peter Turnquest, and also Iram Lewis who have been making significant contributions to their constituencies and impact the lives of those constituents,” he said.

The minister did not mention the MP for Pinerigde, Frederick McAlpine, who has been at odds with his party on a number of national issues.

THE GRAND Lucayan resort.

PAGE 12, Tuesday, May 14, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

DEEPEST EVER DIVE FINDS PLASTIC BAG

HOLLYWOOD LEGEND DORIS DAY DIES AT 97 DORIS DAY, whose films made her one of the biggest stars of all time, has died aged 97. The singer turned actress starred in films such as Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk and had a hit in 1956 with Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). Her screen partnership with Rock Hudson is one of the best-known in the history of romantic movies. She married four times, was divorced three times and was widowed once.

In a statement, the Doris Day Animal Foundation said she died on Monday at her home in Carmel Valley, California. It said she had been “in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia”.

“She was surrounded by a few close friends as she passed,” the statement added.

MAIN picture: Doris Day in Calamity Jane which came out in 1953. Above, Doris Day pictured in 1989.

Monsanto to pay $2bn in weed killer cancer case SAN FRANCISCO Associated Press

A jury yesterday ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto Co. to pay a combined $2.055 billion to a couple claiming that the company’s popular weed killer Roundup Ready caused their cancers.

The jury’s verdict is the third such courtroom loss for Monsanto in California since August, but a San Francisco law professor said it’s likely a trial judge or appellate court will significantly reduce the punitive damage award.

The state court jury in Oakland concluded that Monsanto’s weed killer caused the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Alva Pilliod and Alberta Pilliod each contracted.

Jurors awarded them each $1 billion in punitive damages in addition to a combined $55 million in compensatory damages.

Alberta Pilliod, 76, said after the verdict that she and her husband, Alva, have each been battling cancer for the last nine years. She says they are unable to enjoy the same activities they participated in before their cancer diagnosis.

“It changed our lives for ever,” she said. “We couldn’t do things we used to be able to do, and we really resent them for that.”

One of the Pilliods lawyers, Michael Miller, conceded that the $2 billion punitive damage award was likely to be reduced on appeal, but said they are prepared for a long legal battle.

A federal jury in San Francisco ordered the weed killer maker in March to pay a Sonoma County man $80 million. A San Francisco jury last August awarded $289 million to a former golf course greens keeper who blamed his cancer on Monsanto’s Roundup Ready herbicide. A judge later reduced the award by $200 million.

The three California trials were the first of an estimated 13,000 plaintiffs with pending lawsuits against Monsanto across the country to go to trial. St. Louis-based Monsanto is owned by the German chemical giant Bayer A.G. Bayer said yesterday that it would appeal the verdict. “The verdict in this trial has no impact on future cases and trials, as each

one has its own factual and legal circumstances,” the company said.

The company noted that none of the California verdicts has been considered by an appeals court and that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers the weed killer safe.

The EPA reaffirmed its position in April, saying that the active ingredient glyphosate found in the weed killer posed “no risks of concern” for people exposed to it by any means.

“There is zero chance it will stand,” said University of California, Hastings School of Law professor David Levine. He said the ratio between the $2 billion in punitive damages and $55 million in compensatory damages is too high.

AN AMERICAN explorer has found plastic waste on the seafloor while breaking the record for the deepest ever dive.

Victor Vescovo descended nearly 11km to the deepest place in the ocean - the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench. He spent four hours exploring the bottom of the trench in his submersible, built to withstand the immense pressure of the deep. He found sea creatures, but also found a plastic bag and sweet wrappers.

It is the third time humans have reached the ocean’s extreme depths.

The first dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench took place in 1960 by US Navy lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard. Film director James Cameron then made a solo plunge half a century later in 2012 in his bright green sub. The latest descent, which reached 10,927m beneath the waves, is now the deepest by 11m making Victor Vescovo the new record holder.

JIMMY CARTER BREAKS HIP

FORMER president Jimmy Carter is recovering from surgery after a fall yesterday in which he broke his hip. The Carter Center said in a statement that Carter, 94, was leaving his home to go turkey hunting when he fell. The former president is recovering after surgery that his surgeon said was successful. “President Carter said his main concern is that turkey season ends this week, and he has not reached his limit,” the Carter Center said in its statement. “He hopes the state of Georgia will allow him to roll over the unused limit to next year.”