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DNA leader says he has been asked to join Opposition

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney yesterday confirmed he had been approached “several times� by senior members within the Free National Movement, as well as sitting FNM MPs, to join the official opposition.

Mr McCartney said while the DNA will never “fold up� and join a “sinking FNM� he proposed for the two parties to “join forces and work together� to oust the Progressive Liberal Party government.

However, Mr McCartney said FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis “is so full of

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SOCIAL Services Minister Melanie Gibson suggested yesterday that someone has been fired for the suspicious shredding of documents highlighted in Auditor General Terrance Bastian’s report on the department.

In the AG’s report for SEE PAGE SIX

CLEARING UP THE HOLIDAY CLUTTER

himself and bad at politics� that he refused the offer unless the DNA disbands – something the DNA leader said “will never happen�. “The FNM is in the worst state they have ever been in. They have lost traction, they don’t have any money and they don’t want their leader,� Mr McCartney said. “They have a leader who lost five senators in the last four years, a leader who no one wants, a leader who let the PLP grab his testicles, tie them together and wrap them around his back. Dr Minnis cannot keep his party together and they want the DNA to join them.�

SEE PAGE THREE

PM AND MINNIS ACCUSED OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH HAITIAN FLAG DAY

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  BRANVILLE McCartney yesterday said Prime Minister Perry Christie and Leader of the Opposition Dr Hubert Minnis should be ashamed of themselves for making a “political spectacle� of Haitian Flag Day at the weekend.

The Democratic National Alliance leader told The Tribune it was hypocritical, especially for the Prime Minister Christie, to “parade around the event and give speeches� when thousands of Haitians re-

STAFF MEMBER ‘FIRED’ OVER SHREDDED DOCUMENTS

main “disadvantaged�. Mr McCartney said it was all a “ploy� because of the upcoming general elections.

Shortly after the Haitian celebration on Saturday at the Botanical Gardens a voice note began circulating on social media with Mr Christie telling the crowd that he “hopes he is alive to see� another Haitian person, after Stephen Dillet, in the House of Assembly. “I have only come to show my respects and to let you know that a long time ago, there was a man by the name of Stephen Dillet who SEE PAGE THREE

AFTER the holiday comes the clear up, with litter overflowing from bins at Goodman’s Bay following the three-day weekend. For more, see page two.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

BAIN: ROLLE STILL HAS A PRIVY COUNCIL TO HEAR FUTURE IN POLITICS MUSLIM SOLDIER APPEAL

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  FREE National Movement political hopeful Lincoln Bain yesterday said he believes former Senator Lanisha Rolle can still have a bright future in politics, while insisting that he is “saddened� and “sorely disappointed� by her resignation from the upper chamber.

Mr Bain rejected claims that he orchestrated the controversy stemming from

secret recordings he made of Mrs Rolle during a private meeting, and pledged his support for the former Senator despite this ongoing situation.

Asked if he viewed recording Mrs Rolle without her knowledge as unethical or deceitful in any way, Mr Bain responded: “No�.

He was adamant that he did not leak the audio to “set up� Mrs Rolle with a view to ensuring that she would not be considered

SEE PAGE SIX

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold a ruling by former Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett in a constitutional dispute between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and a Muslim officer who refused to participate in a Christian prayer service will be challenged in the country’s highest court, London’s Privy Council.

In a hearing yesterday

before Justices Jon Isaacs, Stella Crane-Scott and Roy Jones, “final leave� to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was sought by Crown representatives concerning the July 2014 decision of the appellate court which upheld Sir Michael’s decision by a vote of two to one.

The court, in the circumstances, granted leave to appeal the decision which favoured former officer Gregory Laramore over SEE PAGE FIVE

HURRICANE SEASON EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORECASTERS are predicting an active 2016 storm season in the Atlantic region, with as many as eight hurricanes forming, of which three are projected to be major storms.

Experts suggest that

this year’s season - which starts officially on June 1 - would be above average, with the most active forecast since the 2012 storm season.

Yesterday, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) director Captain Stephen Russell told The Tribune he endorsed forecasts published

by a number of international meteorology institutions.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is predicting 12 to 14 named storms, of which eight are expected to intensify to hurricane strength, with three becoming major storms – category three or higher.

The forecast provided by

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

the NHC differs slightly from forecasts being offered by other institutions but was supported by AccuWeather, which expected the formation of 14 named storms this season, with eight predicted to be hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Cleaning up the holiday clutter

THE TRIBUNE

IT’S time to clean up after the holiday fun - with rubbish stacked up by bins along Goodman’s Bay after people took to the beaches for the three-day weekend.

Photos: Tim Clarke/ Tribune Staff

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 18, 2016, PAGE 3

‘FNM is not falling apart’ insists party leader Minnis

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis has dismissed criticisms that his organisation is falling apart in the aftermath of the resignation of Lanisha Rolle from the Senate.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Dr Minnis said the FNM is “a strong vibrant organisation” and was “absolutely not” suffering a deepening divide as was asserted by PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts.

Following Mrs Rolle’s resignation from the Senate and the FNM Parliamentary caucus on Friday, Mr Roberts said it signalled a deepening divide and growing unrest within the opposition party which pointed to growing dissatisfaction with the failed leadership of Dr Hubert Minnis.

“Absolutely not,” Dr Minis told The Tribune.

“The Free National Movement is not falling apart.

We are a strong vibrant

party that stands ready to defeat the Progressive Liberal Party.”

Mrs Rolle stepped down from the upper chamber after a series of articles were published exclusively

by The Tribune highlighting disparaging comments she made during a private meeting with FNM political hopeful Lincoln Bain.

During the meeting she disparaged several opposition MPs, including Long Island MP Loretta Butler Turner, who she insisted is unfit to lead and has not proven herself.

She pointed to Mrs Butler-Turner’s tenure during the previous Ingraham administration as minister of state for social development, suggesting the MP was only handed the junior Cabinet appointment because the party could not do better. She also used the meeting to inform Mr Bain that the party had made a decision not to offer him a nomination for the Pinewood Gardens constituency.

Mr Bain has since admitted to The Tribune that he secretly recorded Mrs Rolle in an attempt to protect himself from possible “sabotage”.

“One of Minnis’ primary obligations, responsibilities and mandates as party leader is to build the next generation of political leaders who Bahamians can repose their confidence in to lead this country and he is failing to fulfil that fundamental mandate,” Mr Roberts said in a press statement on Friday.

He further pointed to John Bostwick, Heather Hunt and Michael Pintard as others who have resigned from the Senate in the past several years.

Of these, Ms Hunt was asked to step aside by Dr Minnis; Mr Bostwick resigned after he was charged with illegal ammunition possession; and Mr Pintard resigned over his involvement in the court action against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

The statement contin-

ued: “Just this week in the press, a member of Minnis’ caucus reportedly said that Mrs Rolle’s Senate appointment only underscored Dr Minnis’ poor judgment and leadership capability,” Mr Roberts said. “Now with literally thousands of Bahamians watching and deciding on who is best suited to lead this country, they cannot help but conclude that if Dr Minnis is struggling with leading a political party then how can he possibly hope to lead a country given the myriad of challenges facing The Bahamas?

“For those who would publicly wish me not to comment on the internal affairs of the FNM, I am merely reflecting the observations, opinions, the whisperings and postings of literally tens of thousands of Bahamians as this spectacle – this organisational leadership debacle – plays itself out in the public domain to the horror, amusement, bemusement, befuddlement and dismay of the public,” Mr Roberts said.

from page one

open to discussing a coalition between the FNM and the DNA in order to get the PLP out.

“We have had some conversation with members of the FNM but ultimately the leader makes the final decision,” he said.

“If the FNM is smart and really wants to beat the PLP they would have a real conversation about this. We are open to this, we have spoken about this, but Dr Minnis seems to be stuck on stupid. He is not in his right mind if he thinks he can win on his own.”

Mr McCartney said: “Together, we would be the

worst nightmare for the PLP and we are willing to do what it takes to rid the country of the PLP.” Excluding Mr McCartney and DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer - who are expected to challenge Bamboo Town and Nassau Village respectively - the DNA has now confirmed six candidates for the next election.

In late February, the DNA announced that Podestra Moore would be the party’s standard-bearer in Elizabeth and spokesperson for social services and women’s affairs. Emily Williams was ratified for Mara-

thon and named spokesperson for culture.

Additionally, Bushceme Armbrister was introduced as the candidate in Carmichael and party spokesperson for transport, while Brenda Harris was ratified as the DNA’s candidate for Bain and Grants Town and named spokesperson for financial services.

BRAN OPEN TO FNM COALITION

“We have been approached but the bottom line is the DNA will not fold up,” he said.

“I am not going to the FNM but I gave them a scenario where accommodations can me made. Why would we disband the DNA when the DNA is stronger than the FNM? At the rate the FNM is going, the FNM will be the third party after this election. The DNA joining the FNM is like asking someone to change decks on the Titanic.”

Mr McCartney said he is

SOME of those attending Haitian Flag Day at the weekend - but PLP and FNM leaders Prime Minister Perry Christie and Dr Hubert Minnis have been criticised for politicising the event.

PM AND MINNIS ACCUSED OF PLAYING POLITICS WITH HAITIAN FLAG DAY

from page one

became the first man of colour to be elected to the House of Assembly and he was from Haiti,” Mr Christie was heard to say at the event.

“They have named the school after him because he served in the House of Assembly for three years and I know sometime soon there will be another Stephen Dillet, I hope I am alive to see it. God bless all of you.”

Mr McCartney said he hopes the Haitian community “sees through” Mr Christie and Dr Minnis and not allow themselves to be “used as pawns”.

“In light of the fact that

both of them are voting in favour of equality but their presence there was all political. If they wanted to do anything about equality they would address the needs of persons who are being disadvantaged most,” Mr McCartney said.

“There are still thousands of persons who have a right to apply for citizenship, who are not being being looked at. Many persons fall into that category and because of the circumstances they are in, they are unable to go to college, find a legal job, continue their education and not be able to travel.

“Their life is at a standstill but you have these two men parading around Flag Day and their administra-

tions have done nothing to assist these persons. It was pure politics and they should be damn ashamed of themselves. I hope the Haitian community realises that and be smart and realise it was just politics and remember that those who can vote, do not let the FNM and the PLP use them as pawns.”

Haitian Flag Day honours May 18, 1803, which Haitians regard as an iconic date in their country’s historic struggle for freedom.

The holiday has been celebrated in The Bahamas since 2002, when a group of Bahamians of Haitian descent wanted to “show reverence and show respect to their culture”.

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 18, 2016

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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Mexican president proposes legalising gay marriage MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed to legalise same-sex marriage in Mexico on Tuesday, a move that would enshrine on a national level a Supreme Court ruling last year that it was unconstitutional for states to bar such couples from marrying.

If it is approved, Mexico would become the fifth country in Latin America to make same-sex marriage legal. The announcement was hailed by LGBT activists and criticised by church officials in Mexico, which is home to the secondlargest Roman Catholic population on the planet.

Speaking at an event on the International Day Against Homophobia, Pena Nieto said he signed initiatives that would seek to amend the constitution and the national civil code.

Pena Nieto said he wants to change Article 4 of the constitution to clearly reflect the Supreme Court opinion “to recognise as a human right that people can enter into marriage without any kind of discrimination”.

“That is, for marriages to be carried out without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or nationality, of disabilities, of social or health conditions, of religion, of gender or sexual preference,” he added.

Pena Nieto’s Twitter page and other government Twitter accounts were changed to include the rainbow colours as he made the announcement.

A two-thirds majority vote in congress is required to amend the constitution.

Pena Nieto’s party and allies control about half the seats in both houses, and the measure could also pick up support from the leftist opposition Democratic Revolution Party.

It would then need to be ratified by a simple majority of states before going to the president for his signature.

The Rev. Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City, urged lawmakers to listen to their “conscience” and oppose the initiative.

“Marriage has some very concrete aims which, of course, two people of the same sex do not fulfill,” Valdemar said, referring to procreation.

He called Pena Nieto’s initiative a “distraction” in a country where “there are more serious issues that should be attended to” such as violence and corruption.

About 80 per cent of Mexicans are Catholic, though only about 15 per cent to 20 percent regularly practice the faith, said Andrew Chesnut, chairman of Cath-

olic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

He added that a recent Pew survey said Mexicans’ acceptance of gay marriage and LGBT issues in general closely mirrored views in the United States, where same-sex marriage was legalised by the Supreme Court last year.

The president’s announcement “is just of monumental significance,” Chesnut said. “It really is symbolic of the rapidly waning, eroding influence of the Catholic Church on both politics and the social front.”

Gay marriage is already legal in some parts of Mexico such as the capital, the northern state of Coahuila and Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean coast. Adding it to the constitution and the civil code would expand gay marriage rights across the country.

Last June, the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional for Mexican states to ban same-sex couples from getting married. But the decision did not specifically overturn state laws, meaning couples have had to sue in court in each particular case.

Alejandro Brito, director of Letra S, a human rights group specialising in sexual diversity issues, called Pena Nieto’s announcement great news.

“I think it sends a very clear message of respect and against discrimination toward sexual diversity,” Brito said. “If it is enshrined in the constitution and the Supreme Court has established a precedent on this, it would seem just a question of time before all (government) entities across the country recognise equal marriage. ... I think this is a battle that has been won.”

Twenty-three countries around the world have legalised gay marriage, according to Pew Research. Argentina became the first in Latin America to do so in 2010, followed by Brazil and Uruguay in 2013 and Colombia earlier this year.

Chile allowed same-sex civil unions last year. The US island territory of Puerto Rico also legalised gay marriage by executive decree after the US Supreme Court ruling.

“This, in tandem with Colombia, which is still close to about 80 per cent Catholic and is usually kind of looked to as the most devout Catholic nation in Latin America ... it’s amazing,” Chesnut said.

By E Eduardo Castillo and Peter Orsi of the Associated Press

Arrogance over vote EDITOR, The Tribune.

ARROGANCE is the killer alike an acute cancer of MPs and a Government I suggest to Mr Philip Davis that your public response to apologising for the extreme unparliamentary act in 2002 Referendum is just that and if you don’t recognise it, then face the consequences.

In 2002, the PLP in Opposition voted FOR every item on the Referendum but then switched as they saw going in opposition could lead to being elected in the immediate General election and we all know it did. Don’t tell me that lame excuse of no consultations.

Remember readers, in 2002 even the Amendment to allow for Judges to continue

to work was defeated, it only got a 29 per cent vote.

Talking about apologising? The one-two still living of those who attended the Constitutional Talks pre1973 need to apologise as it was their drafting of the Constitution that deliberately enshrined that no Bahamian woman in 1973 would have equality - it is mud in your face coming now talking all that piety and the same goes for members of the Church who were around then. It was a deliberate act of a group of men to enshrine this provision. Anyway, everyone understands the Bahamian male position and Mr Christie needs to stop fooling himself and the people.

Incredible that Christie & Co and their cohorts

are trying desperately to give the impression that this move 43 years later is some incredible democratic breakthrough...

Editor that is what all of those so-called ‘fathers of our Nation’ deliberately agreed to every single one.

QC Harvey Tynes said a mouthful yesterday on Guardian Radio... what if two Bahamian men get legally married outside of The Bahamas - return and apply to the Supreme Court in Nassau to register their legitimate-legal marriage?

How can the Matrimonial Act supersede, control The Constitution?

P HUMES Nassau, May 13, 2016.

Referendum costs EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS week, the Minister for National Security, responsible for the referendum advised Parliament that the upcoming exercise on June 7, will cost $1.57m.

The Opposition sat there in Parliament and said nothing nor asked any question.

It seems millions are like

we knew was a lot of money previously, say $100,000 but today if anything costs less than $1m, boy we aren’t spent.

I hope the good Minister will immediately itemise the costs?

Are the spokespersons for the ‘Yes’ campaign getting paid? Who is getting paid? Surely the cost of printing say 100,000 voting

cards is not say $500,000 so what is the rest being spent on?

In this day, when it seems whatever the PLP touches, it explodes over budget $1-2-12m Minister please advise us the itemised costs.

O MUNNINGS Nassau, May, 2016.

LGBT lives matter EDITOR, The Tribune IN view of several antiLGBT incidents recently reported in the national news, it appears that The Bahamas is still grappling with the struggle for LGBT rights in our rather homophobic and misogynist society.

Despite passage of antidiscrimination laws that protects the human rights of its LGBT citizens in most progressive western democracies, such as Canada, the UK, and more recently, the USA, in The Bahamas, our laws, mores, and attitudes toward LGBT issues and gender equality remains more reflective of our colonial past.

Interestingly, genderbased discrimination laws were enshrined in our constitution from its inception. Consequently, for the second time since our Independence in 1973, a national referendum will be held on June 7, in accordance with the procedures for amending our supreme laws, to correct these deficiencies.

In 2002, when the first referendum on ‘Gender Equality’ failed, the present ruling party, then serving as the official opposition, voted in favour of the proposed bills in parliament; but, apparently, engaging political skulduggery, they reversed their position and campaigned against the referendum before the populous vote. Undoubtedly, their actions contributed to its defeat at the polls. nically, today, many who oppose gender equality do so on the false premise that it will result in the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Accordingly, a group of Christian fundamentalist pastors, along with a few parliamentarians, are urging the electorate to vote

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net “NO” on the upcoming referendum, solely on this basis.

Subsequently, a few weeks ago, four Bahamian transgender activists held a news conference, in reference to the referendum, at a leading hotel in downtown Nassau. Although, there is absolutely no mention of LGBT rights in the bills, these poised transgender women made a public appeal for their human rights and dignity to be respected in our society.

In an over reaction to the news conference, an MP of the governing party, renowned for his impetuous comments, suggested that all transgender Bahamians be “exiled to a private cay”.

This MP’s irresponsible pronouncements sparked heated debates on talk radio across New Providence, and prompted the chairman of the ruling party to publicly distance their party from the MP’s homophobic remarks.

However, despite the chairman’s efforts to neutralize the controversy, a few days following, a group of LGBT participants in the Junkanoo Carnival Parade, allegedly, were violently attacked by some onlookers. In a shocking video, purportedly, of the incident circulating on social media, the melee took place in full view of police on crowd control duty, who appear either apathetic or reluctant to intervene.

Consequently, the chairman of the ruling party has called for a full police investigation into the circumstances. However, in view of the questionable actions of the police, as evidenced

in the video, coupled with a perception by LGBT Bahamians of a general “police apathy” whenever they are victims of criminal assaults, it is incumbent upon the police commissioner to conduct a separate investigation into the behaviour of his officers towards this marginalized minority in our society.

Naturally, a call for the police to investigate itself may be viewed with some degree scepticism; nevertheless, the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into this matter could be the impetus for positive change.

Obviously, a dialogue and lines of communication must be established between representatives of the LGBT community and the police. Furthermore, sensitivity training should be ongoing for members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force when dealing with the LGBT community.

A professional police organization should never be perceived as unwilling or reluctant to “protect and serve” anyone within its jurisdiction, regardless of race, colour, creed, national origin, sex (including male or female trangenders) and sexual orientation.

The bottom line is, Bahamian LGBT lives should matter to all of us, simply because they are APART of us; they could be our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; in spite of the fact that The Bahamas may not be evolving as quickly as other western democracies on the issues of homophobia and gender equality.

Respect.

ZENNERMAN SHERMAN May 14, 2016

Z

Thanks for the lesson EDITOR, The Tribune.

JUST a quick note to thank you for today’s editorial (May 17). I had been trying for more than two months to ascertain exactly at what point former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in 2002 said whoever won the referendum would win the general election. Unfortunately, providence had it that I was in Singapore for

the 2002 referendum, so I had no recall of the campaign. My sense told me that his statement was precipitated by the about face of the PLP, but I could not find the support. So, tonight I was pleased to read in the editorial that Mr Ingraham uttered those words quite some time after the about face of the PLP. I note that you referred to your reporter who made the

point in the news story with Mr Davis saying that he and the PLP had nothing to apologise for. I recall seeing the story, but did not bother to read it as I had heard Mr Davis’s unrepentant statement on radio news earlier.

Once again, thanks for the history refresher!

PASTOR MOSS Nassau, May 17, 2016.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 18, 2016, PAGE 5

Jury shown images of aftermath of murder

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A SUPREME Court jury yesterday was shown nearly five 100 images illustrating the aftermath of the murder of a web shop employee in Deadman’s Cay, Long Island.

Crime Scene Investigator Constable Nakeisha Rodgers-Carey spoke of her role in the investigation into the the death of Andrea Carroll 17 months ago.

Constable Rodgers-Carey said that on November 29, 2014, she was on duty at the Central Detective Unit in New Providence when she received information about a homicide in Deadman’s Cay. She and a team of officers travelled to the southern island where they met a colleague who walked them through the scene of the homicide. The officer said she took a number of digital photographs.

The jury was shown a power point presentation detailing the various images captured by the investigator.

The first 20 images illustrated the road (Queen’s Highway), different angles of the house and the yard itself.

The jury saw an image of a trampled bush where broken glass and kitchen utensils were found under a window.

Images 30 to 55 covered the kitchen, front room and hallways of the house.

It was in images 56 to 60 in which the jury saw the lifeless body of a woman, clad in her night garments, lying face down in the doorway of a bedroom where the door frame appeared to have been damaged.

Images 61 to 64 showed a black cellular phone, deposit papers and empty money bags. An apparent footprint was shown in image 67.

The subsequent images depicted blood stains in

various parts of the floor and room.

Image 80 showed the jury a black handled, silver blade knife and 84 a black cord binding the female to a fan. Photo 86 showed her feet were bound.

Daphne Knowles, of Cartwright’s, Long Island, is on trial before Justice Bernard Turner on murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges.

Knowles is alleged to have killed Carroll between November 28 and 29, 2014.

It is further alleged that Knowles conspired with others for 58 days to commit robbery and actually robbed Carroll of cash belonging to Bowe’s Web Games Ltd. The accused, who denies the allegations, is defended by attorney Sonia Timothy. Cephia Pinder-Moss and Basil Cumberbatch are prosecuting the case.

The trial resumes today.

PRIVY COUNCIL TO HEAR MUSLIM SOLDIER APPEAL

from page one

the RBDF. Laramore converted to the nation of Islam nearly two decades ago. He filed a civil suit against the RBDF for breaching his freedom of religion when he was disciplined for stepping out of morning and evening colours parades during a Christian prayer service.

The service took place on April 25, 2007, when Mr Laramore was a petty officer. He said he was dismissed from the force later that year.

Crown attorneys argued that the release was not until three years later. They also noted that the Defence Force issued a temporary memorandum in 1993 allowing those of faiths other than Christianity to fall out of line during ceremonial prayers.

They also submitted that the memorandum was no longer in effect as of 2006, when the new Commodore issued a new memorandum revoking that clause and ordering that all persons be required to stand in line.

The disputed incident took place in 2007, a year after the change.

The Crown said that the plaintiff was not required

YOUR

to recite the prayers during the parade, only to remain there as the parade was a formation exercise. In April 2013, Sir Michael awarded the officer $10,000 in damages for a breach of his rights.

“The plaintiff was required to suffer indignity and costs of disciplinary proceedings for standing up for his constitutional rights,” the chief justice said in his 2013 ruling.

“He is, in my judgement, entitled to an award of damages to compensate him for that infringement. I award him the sum of $10,000 as damages for the breach of his constitutional rights.”

In a written judgement posted on the Court of Appeal’s website in July 2014, then Justice’s Abdullah Conteh and Justice Stanley John both upheld Sir Michael’s judgement.

“I am convinced and satisfied that the judgement of the learned chief justice, including the award to the respondent, is otherwise eminently sustainable and in accordance with the evidence in the case and the Constitution of The Bahamas,” Justice Conteh said.

“The appeal is accordingly dismissed with the costs awarded to the respondent to be taxed, if not agreed.”

However, in her written judgement, the appellate court’s president, Dame Justice Anita Allen, said she could not come to the same conclusion.

“I am of the view that the decision does not interpret the Constitution as it stands but rather follows a line of authority not based on Constitutions similarly structured,” she noted.

“It is not denied that the respondent sincerely held the Muslim belief and that he did so from 1993 to at least until he retired in 2007. Moreover, morning and evening colours were held twice a week and that portion of the parades which included prayer, was of minimal duration.

“It seems to me that while standing in formation, the respondent had the opportunity to pray to his God and (maintain) his religion and in between colour parades, he had more than reasonable opportunity to worship, practice and observe his belief at HMBS, or at his home, or mosque and to manifest and propagate his religion as and when he saw fit.”

“For this reason, I would allow the appeal, quash the declaration and award of damages granted by the learned chief justice,” Justice Allen noted.

CHOICE FOR THE FAMILY WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JOYFM1019

A PHOTOGRAPH reportedly from the scene of yesterday’s shooting in western New Providence.

MAN EATING LUNCH IN HIS TRUCK IS ROBBED, SHOT AND LEFT ON ROAD

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AUTHORITIES are investigating two separate shooting incidents yesterday - one involving a man who was inside his vehicle eating lunch when he was accosted by a gunman.

According to reports, at around noon, the victim was inside his Ford Ranger truck on Yamacraw Beach, when a man armed with a gun entered the vehicle and ordered him to drive to the Automatic Teller Machine

(ATM) on Wulff Road, where he forced him to withdraw cash.

The gunman, police said, then ordered the victim to drive to an area in western New Providence where he shot the victim and forced him out of the truck. The armed man then escaped in the victim’s vehicle.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he is said to be in serious condition.

Police later recovered the victim’s truck abandoned in an area at Carmichael Road.

Another incident occurred shortly after

12.30am when a man walking on Miami Street and Cordeaux Avenue was approached by another man with a handgun who shot him.

He was rushed to the hospital where police said he is in stable condition.

Investigations are continuing in both matters.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, May 18, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Crooked Island, San Salvador restoration near conclusion

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS in Crooked Island and San Salvador, two of the islands ravaged

by Hurricane Joaquin, yesterday revealed that restoration efforts are nearing an end.

Crooked Island and Long Cay Administrator Francita Neely detailed the state of repairs in Crooked Island in a telephone interview with The Tribune.

According to Ms Neely, repairs there were now primarily focused on new home construction efforts.

All minor to mid-level repairs were now complete, she said.

In the wake of Hurricane Joaquin Prime Minister Perry Christie had estimated that 50 homes in Crooked Island required some degree of repairs.

The Department of Housing are currently finalising the construction of four new homes – two in Cabbage Hill, one in Johnny Hill and the other in Cripple Hill.

In the days following the passage of Joaquin, there were reports that sections of Crooked Island had been condemned.

Those reports came after 46 residents had to be evacuated from the island.

The group, inclusive of women and small children were flown to New Providence to receive medical attention after receiving minor cuts and bruises during the storm.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade at that

AN AERIAL view of the damage to the Club Med complex in San Salvador at the time of Hurricane Joaquin.

Ms Neely noted that all time claimed that if the group was flown to Nas- that followed we worked.

There was a lot of hard of those issues have been evacuations hadn’t taken sau.

An October 6 Tribune re- work. A lot of things we had addressed and are now opplace, many of the residents would have had to port described the scene as to get corrected and now we erating at peak capacity.

Currently, officials on either sleep outside, in “sombre”, stating that chil- are at a place where things flooded cars, or in puddles dren clung to their mothers are starting to feel the way the island are working to and others sat in disbelief it did before Joaquin.” conclude civic plans for the of water.

The infrastructure of upcoming 2016 storm seaCrooked Island at that that all of their possessions time was referred to as a were completely lost be- Crooked Island was also son.

Community personnel “war-torn area”, with a cause of Joaquin’s strong damaged considerably.

The island’s airport re- responsible for preparedlarge percentage of the is- winds and storm surges.

Reflecting on the storm, ceived structural, interior ness efforts are said to be land’s population fleeing the island in the days that Ms Neely yesterday insisted and roof damage. It also meeting and communicatthat “the heart” of Crooked acted as a makeshift com- ing on the way forward for followed the storm.

When The Tribune ar- Island had not been tar- mand centre for operations Crooked Island. on the island following the The next meeting is rived at Crooked Island, nished.

She said many of the resi- storm. scheduled for tomorrow. scores of residents had just Many of the roadways Meanwhile, the islands of been brought by helicopter dents that left had now refrom Landrail Point and turn, many of whom were were rendered impassable. San Salvador and Rum Cay The island’s clinic was are also said to be finalising surrounding settlements – “back to life as usual”.

“There hasn’t been a de- transformed into a shel- repair efforts. which were completely inPrime Minister Perry accessible because of debris crease in the population ter for residents, many of and flooding – to the Colo- here,” she said. “It was ex- whom stayed there for an Christie estimated that tremely rough in the mo- extended period after the roughly 227 houses in San nel Hill airport.

Salvador and 23 in Rum Once at the airport, the ment, but in the months storm.

HURRICANE SEASON EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE AVERAGE

from page one

Global Weather Oscillations (GWO) has predicted the formation of 17 named storms, with nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

In comparison to the 2015 forecast, this year’s predictions call for two more major storms (0-1 in 2015), at least four more hurricanes (1-4 in 2015) and nearly double the amount of named storms (5-10 in 2015). The 2015 forecast was considered the one of the more calm compared to 30-year averages.

Experts contend that while there is no direct correlation between prediction and occurrences, in recent history predictions have often

proved accurate.

Despite its calm forecast, two of the storms from the 2015 Atlantic basin storm season have now been officially retired due to their destruction - Erika and Joaquin.

Joaquin devastated the southern islands of the Bahamas last October as a category four hurricane with strong winds and storm surge.

The two storms were the 79th and 80th Atlantic storm names to be retired since 1954. The naming list is recycled every six years and Erika and Joaquin will be replaced

by Elsa and Julian.

The 2016 Atlantic storm names are Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Juli, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto, Paula, Richard, Gary, Tobi-

as, Virginie and Walter.

Capt Russell told The Tribune that his office is already working to implement a number of “course corrective measures” throughout many of the Family Islands adversely affected by Hurricane Joaquin last year.

Last month representatives from NEMA travelled to Long Island to meet officials there to ensure that plans were “underway” to guard against storm-related disasters.

Similar meetings have also taken place in Crooked Island and are expected to take place in a number of other Family Islands in the coming days.

“The key is to make sure that we have everyone, all the essential personnel on board. They need

to be in communication as we get closer to the start of the new hurricane season. While we like to look at the projection and work based on that, the point is to be ready on all fronts to deal with what may come,” Capt Russell said.

“We are pushing the social media angle as we look to get everyone to stay in communication as easy as possible. In Grand Bahama, Crooked Island, Long Island, San Salvador and Acklins, essential personnel are all communicating via social media. This is our effort to make sure that an inter-island link exists between the various critical response groups on those islands.”

The 2016 hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Cay received some degree of damage.

When contacted by The Tribune for comment, San Salvador and Rum Cay administrator Gilbert Kemp referred all questions to NEMA’s home repair consultant Paul Bain.

Mr Bain indicated that efforts on the islands were 70 per cent completed.

To date, some 90 homes have been repaired in San Salvador and 15 in Rum Cay. Four homes in San Salvador were to be completely reconstructed.

These figures only referred to homes being repaired and constructed through government programmes and initiatives, not those repaired through private sector efforts.

Hurricane Joaquin ravaged the central and southern Bahamas on October 1 and 2, destroying homes and buildings and causing flooding in many areas.

San Salvador, Rum Cay and Crooked Island were three of the five major islands devastated during the passage of Joaquin last October.

It was initially estimated that roughly 836 homes were completely wiped out by the storm, however, that figure was later adjusted to reflect the number of homes damaged by the storm.

The National Recovery and Reconstruction Unit (NRRU) was formed in late November and made responsible for the construction of some 60 new homes throughout the southern Bahamas.

BAIN: ROLLE STILL HAS A FUTURE IN POLITICS

from page one

by the party for the Pinewood Gardens candidacy.

He made the comments as a guest on Guardian Radio talk show The Revolution.

Mrs Rolle resigned on Friday after The Tribune exclusively published a series of stories highlighting three audio recordings in which both Mrs Rolle and Mr Bain discuss their political futures at length.

The audio revealed disparaging comments made

by Mrs Rolle about several FNM members of Parliament. During the meeting, Mrs Rolle informed Mr Bain that the party would not offer him the nomination for the Pinewood

Gardens constituency, and further claimed that the ratification of incumbent FNM MPs had been purposefully delayed.

“If I released something the whole Bahamas gonna know that I released it,” Mr Bain said. “I don’t hide behind nothing. If I released some tapes I am going to say look here this Lanisha, this the tapes (and) that’s me. Anyone who knows me knows that if I tell you that I did not release the tapes to the media, I did not.”

“I want to start by saying I am disappointed at what ended up happening to Lanisha. I am a supporter of all of the young bright minds of the future.

“I am sorely disappointed

and I still think that Mrs Rolle can recover from this and have a great political future. I hope she does and if she does I will be one of those persons supporting her despite whatever may have happened and what people may think.”

Regarding the content of his meeting with Mrs Rolle, Mr Bain said his constituency executives were angered by her assertion that he would not get the nomination and these views were expressed to FNM executives.

“There was this thing that people were pushing that was a total blatant lie that I didn’t receive the nomination and that I recorded this to set up Lanisha Rolle and took it to persons so that I

could get the nomination.

That is a lie from the pits of hell.

“At the meeting certain things were said. Basically she was saying that she was getting the nomination and not me and that I must support her and back her and manage it and that I must get the association on her side and basically if I didn’t then…

“So I spoke to my Pinewood executives and only them. I didn’t speak to party leadership. I spoke to Pinewood executives and let them know well I have been told by Lanisha that she is going to get the nomination. They were up in arms. They were distraught (and) they were extremely upset that it came from her

and that it came at all because they are behind me 100 per cent.”

He continued: “They had a meeting with the party leadership where they expressed their views. I don’t want to share the details of the meeting, but they said who they support and that’s it.

“The party leadership spoke to the good lady about it and she denied everything. She denied the content of it. She denied we spoke about Pinewood.”

On Monday, Mr Bain was adamant that he did nothing wrong as he admitted to secretly recording former Senator Lanisha Rolle during a private meeting, saying his actions were a bid to

“protect myself” from possible “sabotage”.

Mr Bain claimed the audio recording only “came into play” to prove to party executives that the private meeting had taken place.

Insisting that he does not go around recording people, he maintained that it will soon be abundantly clear that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Asked to explain this alleged “sabotage”, Mr Bain responded that someone called to put him on alert about an upcoming meeting with Mrs Rolle and warned him to “be careful”.

Several attempts were made to contact Mrs Rolle, however they were unsuccessful.

STAFF MEMBER ‘FIRED’ OVER SHREDDED DOCUMENTS

from page one

the period July 2013 and June 2015, Mr Bastian said the destruction of government documents at the Department of Social Services raised questions about whether fraud was perpetuated.

Asked about this yesterday, Mrs Gibson said: “The auditor had a concern about the shredding of documents going way back as far as 2010. We were not in office at that time and it seems to have been continued so

definitely steps have to and have already been taken to ensure that something like that does not continue.”

Pressed on what steps have been taken, she said: “There are rules and regulations in the services that speak to what should happen to documents that must be shredded or are outdated. We have to ensure and we will ensure that those rules and regulations are carried out.”

Asked if anyone had been fired for shredding the documents, she said: “Immediately we found there

were inconsistencies. One person was dismissed; other two were put on administrative leave and subject to the rules and regulations of the public service. In addition to this the matter has been handed to the police and they will do their job.”

However, it’s not clear that anyone has been fired for suspiciously shredding documents.

Mr Bastian’s report noted that one staff member was terminated from the department and two others were placed on administrative leave––but this

was done not because they shredded documents; it was done because they engaged in food coupon fraud, using coupons intended for welfare recipients for personal use.

As for the police investigation into that fraud, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson and Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said yesterday that authorities are not yet investigating the matter.

“We don’t have anything about that before us yet,” Mr Ferguson said when

contacted by The Tribune yesterday.

Many Bahamians are watching the matters closely to see if anyone will be held accountable for possible crimes.

A complaint must be made by a senior officer in a government department or agency before a police investigation can take place.

Government departments usually conduct internal investigations before determining whether to make an official complaint to the police.

Earlier this month, Mrs

Griffin confirmed that the fraud matter had been forwarded to the police.

“It’s all in the hands of the police now, so they will have the opportunity to do their jobs,” she said.

“Since the report has been completed we are now in a position to take further action. What we’ve done has always been a process.

First of all we took steps under the rules and regulations of the public service, and we’ve also proceeded with forwarding the matter to the police for their further investigation.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 18, 2016, PAGE 7

Call to fast-track laws on tackling hate crimes

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

CALLS for parliamentarians to fast-track hate crime legislation were widely supported by members of the LGBT community yesterday.

Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) secretary Paco Nunez renewed the organization’s plea for the government to place laws banning hate crime in The Bahamas at the top of its legislative agenda.

In a press statement, Mr Nunez said the GBHRA is very concerned that legislators have failed to acknowledge and address the increasingly hostile atmosphere for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the country.

He urged them to take action before it is too late.

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bitrary consideration,” Mr Nunez said.

Erin Greene, human rights activist and a leading advocate of LGBT rights in the Bahamas yesterday called the initiative a challenge that was “timely and necessary”.

She underscored that social conditions for the LGBT community have deteriorated as a result of the public vitriol incited by bill four of the upcoming gender equality referendum.

The bill, which seeks Paco Nunez to put an end to discrimiequality, amounting to of- nation based on sex, has ficial recognition that any sparked widespread debate form of discrimination on over whether the change the basis of individual iden- will lead to same-sex martity is unacceptable. riage.

“The point is that eveAccording to Mrs ryone should be allowed Greene, the lack of clarito express themselves and fication on current misunpromote their own interests derstandings has left LGBT and the interests of their members exposed on a perIN community with to sonal level.

A1MAhaving face humiliation or suffer The government has refear for their safety, regard- peatedly rejected claims less of their gender, sexual that suggest the June 7 reforientation, nationality, erendum is being used to heritage, religion, political secretly advance same-sex M 2 4 2 . C Oand U N Emarriages persuasion, orOany other I Barspecialised R T N S

rights for members of the LGBT and transgender communities.

Alexus D’Marco, head of Bahamas Transgender Intersex United (BTIU), said she also recognised the immediate need for such a legislation, stressing that members of her association, and to a wider extent the LGBT community, are now among the most vulnerable in The Bahamas.

Ms D’Marco said while she hasn’t seen any of the recommendations being put forward by the GBHRA, she is fully on board with the move to protect LGBT and BTIU members from recrimination and ill-treatment.

Both Ms D’Marco and Ms Greene said they were interested in assisting the GBHRA with drafting a document to present to the House of Assembly on the needs of their respective organizations.

Yesterday, Mr Nunez pointed to a “shocking escalation” of hate speech towards LGBT members. He referred to comments made

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Leading News hama Isl ds’ Nassau & Ba The Universal Declara- the Caribbean.

But beyond legal frametion of Human Rights asDiscrimination increases works and human rights serts that “all human beings the vulnerability of entire monitoring systems, we are born free and equal in communities by driving have to address the underdignity and rights”. In or- them away from life-saving lying issues of humanity der to truly achieve this, we services like health. Our and dignity. As UNAIDS must overcome prejudice words, actions and attitudes Executive Director, Michel and discrimination eve- really do hurt.

Sidibé has reminded us: rywhere, including in our From June 8 to 10, Unit- “We can only be free when homes, streets, classrooms, ed Nations Member States we respect the freedom of workplaces, clinics, police will meet at the High Level our LGBT brothers and sisstations and parliaments.

Meeting on HIV in New ters.”

Social and economic York to agree on a fast track Dr César Núñez is inequalities add layers of approach that will allow us UNAIDS Latin America vulnerability to people’s to end the AIDS epidemic and Caribbean Regional lives. Imagine what hap- as a public health threat by Support Team Director

ILT Y OF U G S R E IC F F O E IC L PO BTC M O R F S E N O H P G STEALIN

by Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, who suggested that members of the transgender community should be exiled to a private island.

Mr Nunez said the video of a Nassau Street brawl on the sidelines of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival has evidenced that conditions have escalated to physical violence.

It was alleged that two festival-goers were chased and beaten by a mob in a homophobic attack.

However, sources within the Royal Bahamas Police Force have suggested that the resulting investigation did not connect the matter to hate crimes.

Additionally, The Tribune understands that no formal charges were sought in connection with the fight.

Last week, PLP Chairman Bradley Roberts called on the Royal Bahamas Police Force to fully investigate the allegations. Mr Roberts warned that hate speech used on social media to advance an agenda against the upcoming gen-

der equality referendum could encourage “hate crimes”, and called for a full investigation and prosecution.

“Perhaps most alarmingly,” Mr Nunez said, “a video of the incident circulated on social media appears to show several police officers standing by, doing nothing at all to restrain the attackers or protect the clearly terrified victims.”

“Political leaders must pay attention to the signs.

These incidents should not be viewed as isolated; collectively they point to a extremely worrying trend in Bahamian society where those seeking to express their individuality are being maligned and vilified with impunity.”

“We are at a very dangerous crossroads as a nation and if we are not careful, this could quickly degenerate into a society where any perceived failure to conform with the biases of the majority is punishable by harassment and violence,” he said.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 18, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

‘Brexit’ vote too close to call

C

OMPARED to the protracted process of a US presidential election, the time available in British elections for aspiring politicians to make their case to voters is relatively short.

Normally measured in weeks rather than months, election campaigns have to be concentrated on the main issues during a sprint rather than a marathon.

Thus, the long notice of Britain’s forthcoming in/ out referendum about the European Union (EU) has come as a surprise to some.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced on February 20 that the referendum would be held on June 23, giving four months for the contestants to make their respective cases and convince voters of their cause.

However, since there have been only two such nationwide referendum polls during the last 40 years, there is little precedent and most consider that the issue of whether to stay in the EU or to leave is of such importance that this amount of time is justified in order to have a substantive and meaningful national debate in the run-up to the vote.

The EU referendum, therefore, has already come to dominate Britain’s political and economic landscape and will continue to do so with ever increasing intensity.

The Remain side (or Britain Stronger in Europe), with active government support and involvement (including vigorous campaigning by Mr Cameron himself and delivery to every household of pamphlets making the case to stay), has wheeled out numerous retired politicians, captains of industry, business tycoons, senior military leaders, security chiefs and others to warn of the dangers of leaving the EU. These emphasise the loss of access to the single market, reduced security co-operation which would threaten the safety of all, the EU’s role in keeping the peace within Europe over the last 70 years and a diminution of Britain’s place in the world.

In response, the Vote Leave group, urging a socalled ‘Brexit’, has labelled this derisively as Project Fear, maintaining that because of the way the EU is developing towards a supranational federal state it is essential for Britain to leave now in order to protect its identity as a sovereign nation. Furthermore, given the importance of the UK market to the EU, which exports more to the UK than it imports, it is absurd to suggest that it would be impossible to negotiate a proper trade deal with the

The outcome of Britain’s referendum on European Union membership next month is in the balance, says Peter Young EU following a Brexit.

Perhaps the most significant voice against a Brexit has been that of President Obama, who provided a perspective from the other side of the Atlantic during his visit to London last month.

He made it clear publicly that Britain’s place in Europe had helped significantly to maintain peace and security there and that, if the nation wanted to retain significant influence in the world (as well as the existing special relationship with America), it must stay in the EU. The US view was that, while NATO was the ultimate guarantor of the security of Europe, the EU had played a large role not only in suppressing nationalism on the continent itself and thus keeping the peace but also, through the offer of potential EU membership, in providing an incentive to the satellite countries of the former Soviet Union to embrace democracy.

All this had been to the benefit of America, which had consistently looked to the EU for support in a range of international issues including, most recently for example, dealing with the Russians over the Ukraine and Crimea and helping to negotiate with Iran over nuclear weapons. Moreover, the US needed Britain’s help from a position inside the EU in relation to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; and there were fears that a Brexit would not only weaken the EU economy but might also deal a fatal blow to the whole viability of the EU itself. The geopolitical repercussions would be far reaching and unpredictable.

In line with this and with the received wisdom amongst foreign policy experts that, in the absence of a successfully functioning EU, violent nationalism could re-emerge in Europe, Mr Cameron has now warned of the risk of the continent sliding back to war and genocide if the EU became destabilised - or even collapsed - following a Brexit.

Notwithstanding these apocalyptic warnings, the proverbial man-in-thestreet in Britain is likely to give less weight than ex-

pected to such broad and strategic considerations about Europe as a whole - in practice, the average voter is likely to be more worried about the short-term direct effect on Britain itself.

As the debate develops, Vote Leave is stressing notably in a recent speech by leading campaigner Boris Johnson, a Conservative MP and former Mayor of London - that the issue of Britain’s EU membership is, in essence, political rather than economic because what is at stake is the nation’s future as an independent sovereign state. As such, it should be in charge of its own destiny and be able to make its own laws, some 60 per cent of which, he claims, now originate in the EU Commission. It should run its own affairs without interference and regulation by Brussels, including control of its own borders and giving its Supreme Court more powers in relation to European law.

I

n a wide-ranging analysis, Mr Johnson warned that the EU was an undemocratic organisation (verging on a dictatorship) which already enjoyed the trappings of nationhood (a flag, an anthem, a parliament, a passport, a currency and a supreme court). It was continuing to move towards a federal superstate which would see bureaucrats in Brussels taking control of the core functions of national governments like defence, foreign affairs and taxation.

It would also result in the disappearance of the EU nation states which would become regions of a new country called Europe.

In such circumstances, it was essential to leave now because, if Britain chose to stay, the EU would be emboldened to press ahead, riding roughshod over member states, with its plans for political and fiscal union; and all the while dragging Britain along despite its refusal so far to join the eurozone or the Schengen agreement and despite its opt-out from further political union.

Furthermore, the argument continues, given the EU’s position as a major supplier to the lucrative UK market and the difficulty for Britain (as only

one of 28 member states) of influencing the rules of the single market in any meaningful way, it did not make sense to have to provide a budgetary contribution of some $500 million weekly for access to that market.

Moreover, they say, co-operation on security matters would surely continue as before simply because this would be in the interest of all the countries concerned.

Mr Johnson went on to argue that, freed from the shackles of the EU, Britain could not only go it alone as a global power in its own right (the world’s fifth largest economy, a successful trading nation, a nuclear state, a leading member of the G7 and G20 and of NATO and the Commonwealth and a permanent member of the UN Security Council) but would positively thrive, being able to trade on its own terms with the rest of the world, and would finally assume once again responsibility for its own governance.

So the battle lines are well and truly drawn, but the debate will ebb and flow in the face of new revelations about particular issues; for example, concerns about immigration and excessive pressure on public services will increase following the most recent report of the Office of National Statistics showing that during the last five years some 1.5 million

‘

In the absence of a successfully functioning European Union, violent nationalism could reemerge in Europe. Mr Cameron has now warned of the risk of the continent sliding back to war and genocide if the EU became destabilised - or even collapsed following a Brexit.’

more EU migrants were admitted to the UK than the government had earlier announced.

Publicity has also been given to a film entitled “Brexit The Movie” which some claim will open people’s eyes to the EU’s imposition of laws on member states drawn up by unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats without transparency or proper oversight by the hopelessly ineffectual European Parliament. The film also warns of the EU’s long-term plans to create the modern equivalent of a supranational empire in which Britain (and the others) as a nation will cease to exist. Others say that this is simply threatening and overblown rhetoric and that the status quo of continued EU membership and full access to the single market, as articulated by the Prime Minister, is the only safe way forward.

The latest polls, which are many and varied and published almost daily, show little difference statistically between the rival camps, but the bookmakers, who

are rarely wrong, are predicting a “yes” vote to stay.

Although the Remain side enjoyed a flying start with the support of the government machine, commentators are now suggesting that the 30 per cent or so in the “don’t know” category may well be alarmed by Vote Leave’s revelations about what EU membership may entail in the future and consequently be persuaded to vote “no”.

The next important step is several televised debates between the main contenders in early June. These could play a decisive role in determining attitudes. But, whatever happens between now and referendum day to influence voters one way or the other, they will be participating in what has been termed the most important decision of a lifetime for British people.

So far, the signs are that it will go right to the wire.

• Peter Young is a retired British diplomat living in Nassau. From 1996 to 2000 he was British High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

How defining entrepreneurship will help alleviate poverty

‘

Your Say

By ROCHELLE DEAN IN economies that are slightly behind their modern industrial counterparts, entrepreneurship is often viewed as an important component in stimulating economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and in alleviating poverty.

There are many factors that affect entrepreneurship in developing countries, including the lack of capital and financial innovation.

This is no different in the Bahamas as entrepreneurs are faced with having to turn to external financial sources that charge high interest rates due to the risk, foreseen or unforeseen, within the nature of new business projects.

This has forced many entrepreneurs to find jobs or other means of income to sustain their businesses and themselves. While the advantages of this are that we foster diversification, which leans to preparing Bahamians for the global market, it speaks to the strength of the country’s domestic market.

The Bahamas must recognise that this type of entrepeneurial practice allows its nationals to focus on niche markets where there are less needs and where major markets are crowded

The Bahamas must begin to eradicate poverty through working together to foster a domestic market that has enough growth potential so that entrepreneurship is an option and not a means of getting by. The Bahamian people have generated a culture that the rich stay rich while those with good ideas and the potential to become rich need not apply.’

ROCHELLE R Dean with other businesses. This method opens a gateway for people to learn and become informed through self knowledge about the way that growth-oriented firms become successful.

Entrepreneurship is heavily influenced by cultural beliefs and the Bahamas must now consider how understanding these differences and becoming culturally aware are critical components in fully understanding the entrepreneurial activities in the country.

The Bahamas must now define entrepreunership and seek to encourage

growth within this area by giving clarity as to the formal and informal economy, stress the idea that selfemployment is simply not entreprenuership but the means of stepping toward being an entreprenuer, and seek the means to encourage lending opportunities for good ideas to propel the country in the right direction.

Organisations committed to entrepreneurial growth like the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, which are committed to uniting and strengthening the mer-

cantile interest of its members, has done a good job in marginalising its members’ growth and forming oligopolies (in which a market or industry is dominated by a small number of sellers).

It is the responsiblity of the government to assist its people in becoming entrepreneurs and not self-employed individuals.

While the government and organisations encourage the start-up of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), which are important to the domestic market due to their yield for employment, most small scale entrepreneurs are survival entrepreneurs who are driven by profit.

The degree to which entrepreneurs will engage in techincal, innovation and specialisation depends on the size, functioning and understanding of the market itself. SMEs’ dynamism derives from profitability and flexible labour markets.

Without these two elements our market is in crisis.

The Bahamas must begin to give a more hands-on approach to entrepreneurship by making grants easily accessible to up-and-coming individuals with good ideas. It is important for the Chamber to lend support to these individuals.

The country must also begin to eradicate poverty through working together to foster a domestic market that has enough growth potential so that entrepreneurship is an option and not a means of getting by.

The Bahamian people have generated a culture that the rich stay rich while those with good ideas and the potential to become rich need not apply.

It has created a mindset of survival rather than thriving and working toward positive financial outcomes, including freethinking, financial freedom and innovation.

The domestic market in the Bahamas has been restricted by inappropriate regulations or strangled by predatory leaders and monopolies and there is little incentive for entrepreneurs to introduce innovations that are new to their businesses and will impact the market and society at large.

The Bahamas must now seek to revive a dead domestic market that has not fully prepared the nation to embrace globalisation and competition. Entrepreneurship stems from diversification, which brings concentration and expertise because, as a country grows to becoming a wealthy nation, its people will promote moving away from the informal to the formal.

Bob Marley, the influential Caribbean musician and entertainer said: “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.” Let’s free ourselves from the thinking of our predecessors that was fitting for establishing the building blocks of an independent colony.

Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.

THETRIBUNE TRIBUNE THE

Wednesday, May 18,18, 2016, PAGE A99 Wednesday, May 2016, PAGE

IF YOU walk down a hallway in the new Renaissance New York Midtown hotel, the walls come alive.

On one side, there is an interactive digital tapestry of images and sounds that changes as you pass by.

On the other side, merely point at the wall and a tourism portal opens up, providing information about things to do and see in response to your gestures.

“It’s a unique opportunity to come in and discover the city in a different way,” said hotel manager David DiFalco.

“It’s all designed to be interactive. We want it to be an engaging experience.”

Both are examples of how the hospitality sector is going hightech. Jessica Rodriguez, an expert on new technology in the hospitality sector who works for the Wagstaff Worldwide marketing firm, says “technology as a whole in the hotel space has advanced to a completely new level”.

The tourism portal at the Renaissance feels like something out of a sci-fi movie.

You stand in footprints in a circle on the floor, point at categories displayed on the wall, and screens open up delivering information on things to do within a 10-minute, 20-minute or 30-minute walk, including price, hours and a map.

Attractions include shopping, shows, museums and restaurants.

“It ranges from the band playing at Madison Square Garden to a real cool sushi bar nearby that maybe not a lot of people have heard about,” Mr DiFalco said.

The digital tapestry is an interactive work of art with 50 displays that respond to movement as people pass by.

The tapestry changes colour and form and also offers sound effects, with images ranging from leaves to buildings to starbursts to abstract art.

Ms Rodriguez says some tech applications in the hotel sector are designed to improve service, with texts that let you know when your room is ready or apps that provide

smart hotels INTERACTIVE

DIGITAL WALLS OFFER ART AND INFORMATION

PEOPLE using a digital tourism portal at the Renaissance NY Midtown hotel in New York. (AP) keyless entry to your room via cellphone. Others combine function with fun: robots that deliver towels or room service that can be ordered by emoji text.

Among other things, technology can also help hotels gather data on what their guests require and use that information to improve the hotel experience by anticipating customer needs.

Ms Rodriguez says some hotels are replacing the big, notebookstyle directories typically found in guest rooms with tablets that offer room service menus and howto information. Many hotels see the switch to digital as important in appealing to ‘millennials’ who may think that using a landline to call the front desk for help is absurdly old-fashioned.

But she cautioned against hotels going overboard with technology.

“Sometimes you want to go analogue. Sometimes you just want to turn on the light.”

A HALLWAY at the Renaissance NY Midtown hotel in New York with an Associated Press interactive digital tapestry on the wall. (AP)

SETTING THE TRENDS ON FACEBOOK

HYPERLOOP ONE SHOWS OFF SUPER-SPEED PROPULSION TECHNOLOGY A RECOVERY vehicle and test sled sit on a track after a test of a Hyperloop One propulsion system in North Las Vegas, Nev. (AP) A LOW-profile block of aluminum zipping across a short stretch of what looked like railroad tracks before crashing into a tuft of sand seconds later in the desert north of Las Vegas last week marked the first public glimpse of the Hyperloop One propulsion system that its creators hope will rocket people and cargo through tubes at the speed of sound in five years.

“It’s going to eliminate the barriers we face every day of time and distance. It’s going to change our lives,” CEO Rob Lloyd said.

“It’s real. It’s happening now.”

The propulsion technology involves levitating pods that use electricity and magnets to move through a low-friction environment at more than 700mph.

Executives with the Los Angeles-based company said the system could whisk people the 350 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 30 minutes.

They say the tubes could run un-

derground, a safe alternative to highway crossings and inclement weather.

The idea was first articulated

by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk in 2013, when he was busy building his electric car and rooftop solar companies, and offered to whoever wanted to try it out.

The idea has sceptics. While experts credit Musk for the new idea on how to move objects through tubes, he said backers would face myriad public policy issues before it’s installed on a large scale, including questions about safety, financing and land ownership.

Hyperloop One hopes to start moving cargo by 2019 and people by 2021, announcing that it had completed another $80 million round of financing and was partnering with firms including GE and SNCF, the French national railway company.

Associated Press

FACEBOOK has revealed how its ‘Trending Topics’ feature works after a report in the tech blog Gizmodo claimed that the social media giant downplays conservative news subjects.

Last week, Facebook denied that report, which relied upon a single anonymous individual with self-described conservative leanings.

In its own blog post, the company said a series of checks and balances - involving both software formulas and humans - ensures that stories displayed in the “trending topics” section are not biased. The post linked to a 28-page internal document Facebook uses to determine trending topics.

Facebook’s list of 1,000 news outlets contains several popular conservative sites, including Fox, the Drudge Report, Glenn Beck’s site The Blaze, the Daily Caller and the Washington Times.

Justin Osofsky, Facebook’s vice president of global operations, said the guidelines ensure that stories in trending topics represent “the most important popular stories, regardless of where they fall on the ideological spectrum.

The guidelines do not permit reviewers to add or suppress political perspectives.”

Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and chief executive of the social media site, took to Facebook to say he plans to talk with leading conservatives in

coming weeks. “I want to have a direct conversation about what Facebook stands for and how we can be sure our platform stays as open as possible,” he said in a statement.

Facebook has not said how many people are responsible for the trending topics team, although a report in the UK daily The Guardian said the team was as few as 12 people.

Trending topics were introduced in 2014 and appear in a separate section to the right of the Facebook newsfeed.

According to Facebook, potential trending topics are first determined by a software formula, or algorithm, that identifies topics that have spiked in popularity on the site.

Next, a team of trending topic staffers review potential topics and confirm the topic is tied to a current news event; write a topic description with information corroborated by at least three of 1,000 news outlets ; apply a category label to the topic; and check to see whether the topic is covered by most or all of ten major media outlets.

Stories covered by those outlets gain an importance level that may make them more likely to be seen.

Each Facebook user’s trending topics are then personalised via an algorithm that relies on information about the user such as “Likes” and their location.

Associated Press

TECHTALK • YOUTUBE is testing a messaging feature in its smartphone app so people can share and discuss videos without resorting to other ways to connect with their friends and family.

The messaging option initially is only being offered to a small group of people with YouTube’s app installed on an iPhone or device running on Google’s Android software. If all goes well, messaging will be included in a future app update available to everyone with an iPhone or an Android phone.

YouTube is examining whether the messaging feature will encourage its audience to spend even more time inside its popular video app. Currently, people typically copy links to YouTube and paste them into text messages or other messaging apps such as Snapchat, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. • INVESTIGATORS in the United States can now probe Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites as a part of background checks for security clearances, something that lawmakers says is a classic case of the government playing catch-up with technology.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper signed a policy directive last week that allows investigators to collect publicly available social media information pertaining to the person whose background is being checked. Unless there is a national security concern or the need to report a crime, any information pertaining to people who appear in the subject’s social media will not be investigated or pursued, the directive says.

• A SOLAR-powered airplane has landed in Oklahoma after taking off from Arizona on the latest leg of its around-the-world journey.

The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from Phoenix Goodyear Airport and landed without incident at Tulsa International Airport 18 and a quarter hours later. After Oklahoma, the plane is expected to make at least one more stop in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or northern Africa. The globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.

• A NEW study has shown that eighth-grade girls in the United States are better than boys at thinking through problems and using technology to solve them.

The findings released yesterday come from a first-of-its-kind assessment of technology and engineering literacy by The Nation’s Report Card.

The 2014 assessment had 21,500 students in 840 schools tackle real-life challenges on computers, such as designing a safe bicycle lane and improving a pet iguana’s habitat. The report found that 45 per cent of girls and 42 per cent of boys scored at or above proficient at understanding and using technology to develop solutions.

• ANTHONY Levandowski, a robot-loving engineer who helped steer Google’s self-driving technology, is convinced autonomous trucks hauling cargo will be the next big thing on the road to a safer transportation system.

A co-founder of Otto, Levandowski is aiming to equip trucks with software, sensors, lasers and cameras so they eventually will be able to navigate the more than 220,000 miles of US highways on their own, while a human driver sleeps in the back of the cab or handles other tasks.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, May 18, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

PLP has fallen short for Freeport, says senator

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FNM Senator Kwasi Thompson has accused the PLP government of falling short of achieving “the bold and necessary” changes needed in Freeport to address the high unemployment and the current economic crisis in Grand Bahama.

Referring to the recent Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), which extended the tax concessions in Freeport, Mr Thompson says it will not provide the needed relief that Freeport and the island desperately requires.

“Prime Minister Perry Christie’s statement on Freeport leaves more questions than answers,” he said in a statement yesterday.

“Freeport continues to suffer. Unemployment, which is higher than the national average, is too high. Home foreclosure is too high.

Property sales are sluggish.

Our local economy is not growing fast enough.

“In Freeport, our taxes are too high for our current economic crisis, and our cost of living which has risen in some cases above the national average, is too high.

The construction industry is stagnant, the housing market is stagnant and the PLP has failed bring sufficient economic development.”

Mr Thompson claims that the Prime Minister’s remarks to Parliament were a gross overstatement of what is actually in the MOU, noting that the government cannot be trusted because

it says one thing and does another. The MOU, he said, extends the tax concessions for 20 years in consideration of mostly vague statements with no timelines, no details or specifics and no penalties or incentives to comply.

“What is also most egregious is there are performance check points for everyone else except the major party to the agreement which is the Port Authority and its companies. They have been given a blanket extension. They are really the party that needs the five year performance checkpoints,” Mr Thompson said.

“The Government has agreed to continue the status quo for the GB Port Authority and its companies for what in many cases amounts to nothing more than a promise to collaborate or enter into further discussions.”

According to Mr Thompson, the MOU has no specific timelines and details on a vital recommendation that the GBPA and Port Group Ltd establish and capitalise an independent investment promotion agency with expertise in retaining, expanding and attracting businesses to Freeport.

“There should have been no compromise on this point. This is the whole purpose and obligation of the GB Port Authority.

The MOU only speaks of a vague promise to collaborate with the government.

Who will pay for it? When must it be in place?” he asked.

Additionally, he points out that the Prime Minister also refers to matters which do not even appear in the MOU, leaving the impres-

sion that commitments have been made in these areas.

Mr Thompson criticised the government for waiting too late to begin the process of negotiating the Hawksbill Creek Agreement extensions, appointing a Commission five months before the August 5, 2015, deadline.

“The PLP knew the date of the deadline for the tax extensions before the 2012 elections, yet they negligently appointed the Commission five months before the first deadline causing the process to be unnecessarily rushed. We are only left to conclude that the delay was as a result of the neglectful attitude the PLP shows to Freeport,” he said.

Mr Thompson indicated that government also dismissed the wishes of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and many licensees who called for more control and involvement by the private sector.

The MOU, he stated, only provides for one director on the Board of the Port Authority leaving the licensees with insufficient control or influence. Mr Thompson believes that the licensees should have a more significant role than one seat on the board.

Mr Thompson also criticised the government for having extended real property tax exemptions to the Grand Bahama Development Company when it had stated that those exemptions may not be extended for non-Bahamians who own undeveloped land as an incentive to develop.

“However, it (the government) has essentially approved the extension for the non-Bahamian com-

pany that owns the largest amount of undeveloped land and who has been the main problem in land sales.

The PLP has again missed the point. There is no incentive for GB Development Company to begin to develop their land or even offer their land at discounted prices,” he said.

“The MOU ought to have committed the GB Development Company to allocate land at discounted prices for the government’s housing programme, which would have helped the economy.”

‘

Freeport continues to suffer. Unemployment, which is higher than the national average, is too high.

Home foreclosure is too high.

Property sales are sluggish. Our local economy is not growing fast enough. In Freeport, our taxes are too high for our current economic crisis, and our cost of living which has risen in some cases above the national average, is too high.’

Kwasi Thompson

NELERENE HARDING HAILED AS ‘TRADE UNIONIST EXTRAORDINAIRE’

THE National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas yesterday paid tribute to “trade unionist extraordinaire” Nelerene “Nell” Harding.

“The trade union movement in The Bahamas has lost a giant of a woman and trade unionist,” the press statement said.

“We salute her today for the many contributions she has made to the growth and development of Bahamasair, the Credit Union, AAAWU, NCTUB, the trade Union movement, the people of the Bahamas and our country as a whole.

Sister Nelerene Harding’s life and work will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of all Bahamasair employees, management, trade unionists, government officials and should be recorded in the history of our nation.”

Mrs Harding, 52, died last week.

“This outstanding trade unionist has served the trade union movement for over thirty years with excellence,” the statement continued.

“Nell came up through the ranks of the movement serving as AAAWU Shop Steward for the Flight Attendants, Trustee, and Treasurer, becoming President in 2003 and served with distinction until her passing.

“As President of AAAWU, she also served on the Board of the Bahamasair Employees Provident Fund, the Board of the National Worker’s Cooperative Credit Union and on the Panel to interview Flight Attendants.”

It continued: “Through being a member of the Provident Fund she became

a Master Trustee completing various courses in Canada and the USA. In the Congress she served with excellence as the Assistant Treasurer and Third Vice President of the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) until her death.”

“Always one who was willing to assist and lend a listening ear, Nelerene exemplified all of the ideals of a model trade unionist.

She was short in stature but a mighty force to reckon with when you sat across the table from her. Sister Harding never raised her voice in any discussions but quietly, succinctly, knowledgeably, concisely and expertly advanced her thoughts.”

The statement added: “The trade union movement has lost a great champion and our nation has

indeed lost another soldier.

Nelerene ‘Nell’ has fought a good fight, she has finished her course, and she has kept the faith.”

Former Minister of Labour and Social Development Dion Foulkes also expressed condolences on the death of Mrs Harding, to whom he referred as a “dynamic and vibrant personality”.

“She was passionate about and worked tirelessly to ensure the needs of workers in general and in particular the members of the AAWU. I recall how tough but reasonable she was at the negotiation table,” Mr Foulkes said.

“Nelerene was a Bahamian patriot. She will be missed by her family, the staff of Bahamasair and Nassau Flight Services, the labour movement and the nation.”

NELERENE HARDING

TRIBUTES PAID TO ‘OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR’ MURIEL ENEAS

VETERAN educator and nation builder Muriel “Finnie” Eneas has died.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson yesterday paid tribute to her legacy as an “outstanding educator”.

Mrs Eneas was among the small group of women who joined with Mrs Mary Ingraham to start the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

She taught at the Government High School, St John’s College and St Anne’s High

School, where she became principal.

She is the wife of late dentist and former Senator Dr. Cleveland W Eneas, Sr. Her three children are Dr Cleveland W Eneas, Jr, Dr Judson Eneas and Dr Agreta Eneas-Carey.

“Mrs Eneas was an outstanding educator,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said, “by whatever yardstick is used to measure excellence. As well as seeing to it that her students attended to their

academics, she saw to it that they learned how to really think and gain life skills.

“Her commitment to a good education, Christian family life and nation building led her to positively impact the lives of the people that she taught; all students at St. Anne’s Anglican High School of which she was a long serving and outstanding principal; the Anglican Central Education Authority; the Girl Guides; the Nassau Festival of Arts and

Crafts; the Kirk where she was a Choir member and Elder; the Carver Garden Club of which she was president; the Nassau Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc of which she was a Founding Member and President; and, so many more NGOs and advisory committees.

“And, she was a loving mother to Fritzie, Judson and Agreta and all of their friends. Mrs Eneas availed herself of every opportu-

nity to encourage people, of all walks of life, wherever she met them, to excel and always do their best.”

“She was an adoring and dedicated wife and helpmate,” she continued, “including golfing partner to Dr Eneas, who along with men like Dr Jackson Burnside, Dr Kenneth Rodgers and others were trailblazers as young professionals in the medical and other fields, including politics.

“Dr Eneas never hesi-

tated to let everyone know that he was blessed with a wonderful wife, also the love of his life, who was the wind under his wings.”

Mrs Allyson MaynardGibson said: “Their love for each other enveloped everyone with whom they came into contact.

“May she rest in peace.”

Mrs Eneas was born in Savannah, Georgia. She met her future husband at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee.

READERS REACT TO SECRET RECORDING ROW

AFTER FNM political hopeful Lincoln Bain admitted to secretly recording former Senator Lanisha Rolle during a private meeting, readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com.

RUKiddingMe backed Mr Bain: “Given her behaviour in the past - I don’t blame him for recording her. Her mouth is what precipitated her downfall - not his recording.”

Jackbnimble voiced a similar sentiment: “Jokes!

She is her own worst enemy.

Loose lips sink ships. Glad to see the back of her!”

Sheeprunner12 said: “This is both an ethical and criminal issue . . . they have successfully ruined each

other’s political future . . . good riddance to two fools.”

Honestman pointed the finger at the party leader: “This whole episode just speaks to the utter failure of Hubert Minnis as the leader of the FNM. Senior FNMs have a few months left to persuade him to stand down otherwise the party will destroy itself.

The only hope of ousting the worst government in the history of The Bahamas is for the FNM to ap-

point a new leader and then enter into an electoral pact with Bran McCartney and the DNA. The two parties MUST NOT contest each other next year.”

To which Marrcus added: “So TRUE. If DNA and FNM were ONE in 2012.

PLP would be sitting on the sidelines right now.”

Cmiller4 looked ahead to the election campaign: “Let the games begin!!!! These fools are going to tear each other apart to get next to

that VAT money!!!”

Birdiestrachan had some questions: “I would like to know why they were meeting in the first place. What was that all about? He, like Pintard, was ready with his recorder. It is an FNM thing. and she talks about failing Government? She had better check out the man who appointed her.

How many Senators has he appointed so far?”

Fitmiss said: “If you were so concerned with appear-

ances, either let her know she was being recorded, have the meeting around witnesses or in a public place. He is a prime example of what is wrong with this country. People do as they feel and do not see the harm in hurting another person. I wouldn’t vote for him regardless of the political party he is in.”

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

THE TRIBUNE

STUDENTS DONATE $100 TO ENVIRONMENT GROUP

IT TOOK about three weeks and committing to extra chores but two Grade 6 students from St Andrew’s School pooled their resources to donate $100 to Save The Bays on Earth Day. “They walked in and said ‘Do you remember us?’” said Romauld Ferreira, director of the social and environmental organisation.

Samuel Chan and Kyle Todd met Mr Ferreira when he visited St Andrew’s early last month for a presentation on the Planning & Subdivision Act 2015. The talk, tailored for their particular

age group, addressed the need for legislative framework surrounding sustainable development in the Bahamas, noting that adults are borrowing resources from future generations.

“It was a lively discussion,” said Mr Ferreira. “A number of them [students] told me they wanted to raise money to help Save The Bays, and the next thing I know I got a call and they turned up with a cheque for $100. They seemed proud to be a part of the movement.”

In addition to visiting schools around Nassau, Mr Ferreira, an environmen-

tal consultant and attorney with Ferreira & Company, hosts an annual Earth Day Science Competition, working with students on topics ranging from waste management solutions to renewable energy and deforestation with the ultimate goal of encouraging students to take the lead on environmental issues for the sake of their own future.

“You may not see any reaction [initially], but they’re taking it in,” he said. “They are the leaders in the environment that are going to solve some of these problems we have.”

Wednesday, May 18, 2016, PAGE 11

SAMUEL Chan (left) and Kyle Todd (centre), two Grade 6 students from St Andrew’s School, present Save the Bays Director Romauld Ferreira with a cheque for $100.