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The Tribune

Volume:115 No.127, MAY 25TH, 2018

Established 1903

Weekend

NAUGHTY: THE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THE FNM ENOUGH TIME

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1 puzzles

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Weekend

Police checking links to earlier child assaults POLICE are investigating another sexual assault on a young girl with preliminary findings indicating the incident may be the work of a serial offender.

Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash told The Tribune it was too early in the investigation to definitively link the assault of a 12-year-old girl on a dirt road in the area of Big Pond to the other two incidents; however, he said there were

distinct similarities in the victim’s profiles.

Last night, police reported the girl was walking in the area of the Big Pond park next to the National Insurance Board off Baillou Hill Road when she was accosted by a man who sexually assaulted her before running away.

Earlier this month, it was revealed two young girls, aged six and 12, had been sexually assaulted in threeweek span by a lone male perpetrator.

SEE PAGE THREE

THE Government sanctioned around 33,000 real property tax delinquents in both 2015 and 2016, according to an OECD report revealing the extent of struggles to collect revenue.

The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation

and Development’s (OECD) peer review of The Bahamas’ ability to meet beneficial ownership and tax information standards, obtained by Tribune Business, also discloses that penalties for Value-Added Tax (VAT) non-compliance more than tripled in number in 2016 compared to the tax’s first year.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

Pages 14 & 15

Out of the depths

TEACHER’S MURDER: GUILTY AS CHARGED

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court jury yesterday found Allister Williams unanimously guilty for the September 2016 murder of pregnant Charles W Saunders Baptist school teacher Marisha Bowen.

The 12-member jury, 11 women and one man convicted Williams after just under two hours of deliberation.

The Crown is seeking the death penalty for Williams, of Garden Hills, pursuant to section 291 (1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

The jury also found him unanimously guilty of robbing Ms Bowen of two cellphones and an iPod. SEE PAGE THREE

DAME JOAN: FNM EATING ITS WORDS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement is “eating its words” on major issues it admonished the former Christie administration over, according to retired Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer.

In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Dame Joan said she was shocked at how much the Minnis administration has “come around” on severa policies and strategies it criticised while in opposition.

SEE PAGE SIX

33,000 FAILING TO PAY PROPERTY TAX

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

MISS WORLD

Hopeful note to ‘Swan Song ’ series page 7

Girl, 12, victim of new attack

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRACK road behind the government park where a young girl was assaulted.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

POINTE PROBLEMS - FOULKES BLAMES THE PAPERWORK

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

WHILE the government remains committed to honouring the Heads of Agreement with China Construction America for The Pointe project, Labour Minister Dion Foulkes

called the document “badly drafted” and blamed it for much of the Bahamian Contractors Association’s frustrations regarding workforce numbers.

According to Mr Foulkes, The Point has expressed a position that at any given time the Bahamian to foreign worker ratio will not

reflect 70/30 as detailed in the HOA, especially at this current time where a maximum number of specialised foreign workers are being utilised.

The Minnis administration accepts this, the minister told The Tribune SEE PAGE FIVE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

TWO GUNMEN SHOT VICTIM AS CHILDREN SLEPT NEARBY

By FARRAH JOHNSON A 31-YEAR-OLD father died in hospital after he was shot during a home invasion early yesterday morning.

Two gunmen kicked in a door of the residence at Lobster Avenue off Baillou Hill Road and opened fire on the victim as several other relatives, including small children, slept in their rooms.

SEE PAGE THREE

PAGE 2, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

THE HAMSTER Road shanty town, where demolition has already begun.

Shanty town residents ‘to get help to find housing’

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunmedia.net OFFICIALS have conducted a study exploring affordable housing options to assist those who will be left homeless when the government continues shanty

town demolition in New Providence.

Labour Minister Dion Foulkes revealed the study will be used to assist shanty town dwellers in finding affordable rentals to relocate, suggesting most residents could financially afford to live elsewhere.

Residents living in these illegal residential areas in New Providence have been given a deadline of July 31 to move along with residents of Abaco shanty towns, namely the Mud and Pigeon Peas.

He said: “I assure you there is no problem finding

affordable rental units for residents of the shanty towns of whom most are working. Over 70 percent of all of the adults interviewed are gainfully employed.

Some of them have two jobs.

“The other 30 percent you may say that they are unemployed, but that is not necessarily so. Then you have a huge percentage of married women and women who have relationships with men who have small children who stay at home and do not work. Just like you have in the wider society.

“So it isn’t that they don’t have money. It is very inexpensive to live in a shanty town. The rent is very low.”

He continued: “What that does is it gives an opportunity for the Bahamian Haitians and Haitian nationals to send more money to their loved ones back in Haiti. It isn’t that they don’t have money to afford affordable housing because I know many Haitian workers who are here legally who live in regulated housing districts whether it is Fox Hill, Over-the-Hill, whether it’s in the Carmichael Road area, whether it is in the south.

“But this survey did not capture that, this survey only captured the residents in the shanty towns. Officials will use the study to assist in finding affordable housing.”

He said the survey was done in conjunction with the Haitian Bahamian leadership.

On Tuesday, Mr Foulkes, who is chairman of the Shanty Town Action Task Force, said a date had not been set for the start of a census in Abaco where there are several major shanty towns. He previously announced officials would conduct a survey on that island following the completion of a questionnaire in the capital.

“This week, I am meeting with the leaseholders of the land,” the minister told reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting.

“All of the shanty towns are located on land that has the legal vested right in Bahamians.

“And I want to meet with them to basically give them notice of what we are doing and give them the opportunity to rectify the situation.”

Asked where people with status living in shanty towns were expected to go when their homes were torn down, Mr Foulkes said: “I do not want to announce it now, but we have a plan that we are going to follow. We have been giving this a lot of consideration and I want to assure the Bahamian people that it is very precise and it is going to be done in a methodical way.

“We are not going to be rushed and we are not

going to be pressured. In shanty towns are children so we have to be extremely sensitive.”

Preliminary census results released last week show that of the total number shanty town residents, an “overwhelming” 70 percent have a legal right to reside in the country.

The survey conducted by the Shanty Town Action Task Force (SATF) assessed 1,410 residents from the 428 households, and revealed most are long-term residents aged 40 or older with an average of three persons per household and total weekly incomes of less than $400.

Twenty-three percent of interviewees did not provide information on their legal status, and only six percent of residents that did were undocumented.

The largest grouping, 32 percent, held work permits, and 21 percent of interviewees had permanent residency, survey findings revealed.

Bahamian residents stood at 15 percent, and three percent of interviewees had a spousal permit.

The survey was conducted in ten shanty towns over a four week period from Elizabeth, Carmichael (Garden Hills), and Golden Isles constituencies, and with the help of 60 enumerators from various governmental agencies.

BERNARD ROAD CEMETERY PROPOSAL ‘REJECTED’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net A PROPOSAL to construct a cemetery on Bernard Road has been rejected by the Town Planning Committee, The Tribune understands.

Asked to confirm this yesterday, Charles Zonicle, director of the Department of Physical Planning, said: “A decision has been made but we haven’t communicated it to the applicant as yet.”

When The Tribune tried to ask him a follow-up question, he abruptly ended the call after asking how this newspaper got his “private cell”.

The cemetery proposal spawned considerable

protest from area residents, culminating in a well attended public hearing at LW Young Junior High School a little more than a week ago where concerns were voiced.

Among the chief concerns was that traffic would increase while the value of properties in the area would decline. Residents were also concerned the project would impact the water table and increase flooding in the area.

The 13.504 acres of vacant land owned by James Bain is situated near the Budget Convenience store, east of Sands Addition.

Attorney Bjon Ferguson, a staunch opponent of the proposed cemetery, praised the government’s purported decision yesterday.

“We’re just happy that the committee gave weight to the relevant factors and arrived at the right conclusion,” he said. “We would greatly appreciate consideration being given to adding more green and recreational space in our community. The children in the affected communities are forced to play in the streets due to the lack of green and recreational space. We would fully endorse developments that included these considerations. We do understand that a developer has a right to develop his land but his development cannot negatively impact the community. It should provide a positive impact to the community and society at large.”

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 3

Girl, 12, victim of new attack from page one

Last night, Mr Cash said officials were working on a sketch of the suspect in the latest incident.

“We’re investigating,” Mr Cash said. “It’s a bit early so we don’t want to be definitive to say they’re linked but if we look at the profile of all the victims then yes, it’s a possibility that they may be linked. Looking at MO, we’re looking at everything now. We’re not ruling out the perpetrator may be linked.”

The first victim was the six-year-old girl. She was assaulted off Baillou Hill Road on April 28.

The 12-year-old girl was attacked shortly after 3pm on May 14.

Reports of a third assault has stunned area residents who told The Tribune tensions in the community have skyrocketed since police exonerated a man who had been held by

residents under suspicion he was connected to the two previous assaults.

“They gotta catch him, this can’t go on like this, man these are children, this is so sick,” said one resident last night, a mother of two who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This is the worst of the worst, to prey on children, man. People can’t stand for it. Somebody have to know who this is, stop protecting this man.”

Police had arrested the man on Sunday after he was held by Wulff Road residents, but reported on Wednesday he had been “exonerated” and subsequently released.

They are now urging the public not to exact vigilante justice but to report any information that may assist investigations to authorities.

Activist groups across the country have reacted to the assaults, calling for the implementation of a

sexual offenders registry, a separate sexual offenders court, and reform in the judicial system and at a cultural level.

Ms Patterson told The Tribune the Crisis Centre has been calling for a sexual offences court “for years”.

She added although youngsters should be taught tips on how to protect themselves “the burden shouldn’t be on children” to prevent these kinds of attacks.

“We have to make sure our system makes people accountable for their behaviour. If you would look at the prison statistics you would see a very small number of sexual offenders end up in prison,” she said.

Police yesterday reiterated their appeal for parents and guardians to encourage their children to walk in groups when traversing isolated areas, or to simply avoid isolated areas altogether.

A GOVERNMENT park next to a track road where a young girl was assaulted.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

TWO GUNMEN SHOT VICTIM AS CHILDREN SLEPT NEARBY from page one

ROBERT RYAN SMITH

While police have not officially released his identity, The Tribune understands he is Robert Ryan Smith.

Police said shortly after 5am two men forced entry into the home of Smith and shot him before fleeing on foot.

Paramedics were called to the scene and transported the victim to hospital, where he later succumbed to the injuries.

Residents in the area, who requested anonymity, said they had never experienced an incident like this before.

One neighbour, who has lived in the area for more than 27 years, said: “Normally I would be alert on what’s happening around

because if a cat jump(s) I normally (would notice), but that one, all I could say, man the good lord must be just put me to sleep last night and say don’t witness anything like that… I didn’t hear nothing.

“So this morning when I got up around 5:45am I just saw lots of lights flashing basically, then I saw a lot of police officers.”

The Lobster Avenue resident added he could not think of a motive the shooters could have had, and said he is uncertain if the incident is gang related.

“I’m very familiar with the victim he was like a son to me, (he was) very respectful (and he would) always stop and hail... I knew him from a youngster (and) I watched him grow up, so it really hit me hard this morning,” the

neighbour continued.

Although he can’t say for certain, the neighbour said he also thinks the victim has two young children: one son and a daughter.

“I think the father said they (the shooters) came from the back because they have washroom in the back and a door in the back that they walk through,” he said.

Another neighbour said the first they knew of the murder was when the body was being removed from the home because they had to drop their children to school.

“I don’t know whether it was a break-in or anything because when I come everything was done over.

I only saw the ambulance and the police car. The young gentleman was a very quiet child. I didn’t

expect something like this to happen here because it is a very quiet area.”

Police are appealing to members of the public for any information that can assist in the investigation to call 919/911, CDU at 5029991/2 or crime stoppers line at 328-8477 (328-TIPS).

Investigations are ongoing.

• Police reported last night another man had died as a result of a shooting in a bar at Market Street and Bahama Avenue.

Officers who were called to the bar after reports of shots being fired discovered a man with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital but died subsequently died of his injuries.

The two deaths bring the total number of murders recorded by The Tribune so far this year to 35.

TEACHER’S MURDER: GUILTY AS CHARGED from page one

The count of receiving he was previously charged with fell away.

Justice Carolina Bethel said Williams will receive his sentence on July 24.

A probation as well as a psychiatric report was consequently ordered to be prepared.

Ms Bowen, a native of Guyana, was murdered sometime during the morning hours of September 9 in her apartment on Red Sea Road off Sumner Street.

According to initial reports, police said Ms Bowen was found shortly after 8am on the Friday in question in her apartment by other tenants. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miriam Brown, a tenant at the apartment and Ms Bowen’s upstairs neighbour, testified how around 7.30am she was lying down listening to the news when she heard screams from downstairs and someone asking: “How you get inside here?”

Ms Brown said she heard that remark just once.

During trial, Detective Corporal Javod Frazer said subsequent to arriving at the Red Sea road complex, he saw blood on walls, the floor and miscellaneous items in the Guyanese woman’s apartment before ultimately finding her “lifeless” and “nude” body lying in a “large accumulation” of blood on her bed.

Det Cpl Frazer said the woman had what appeared to be a yellow dress with suspected blood covering her face, as well as a black cloth belt wrapped around her neck. He said he noticed visible injuries to the woman’s neck and chin and also a grey towel with blood stains in the area of her right arm.

Forensic Pathologist Dr Caryn Sands, in her autopsy report, said the 35-year-old died as a result of six stab wounds to the neck and oxygen depravation.

Dr Sands’ report said the half-dozen stab wounds caused injury and bleeding to the soft tissue and blood vessels in Ms Bowen’s neck leading to blood loss.

Dr Sands’ report also noted Ms Bowen was approximately three months pregnant at the time of her death. The autopsy revealed a “normally formed” foetus whose measurements were “consistent with a gestation of 12-13 weeks”.

Additionally, the report said the 35-year-old had a belt around her neck with

an underlying “furrow” consistent with pressure applied to her neck by the belt, which were associated with ruptured blood vessels in her eyes, mouth and larynx.

That would have caused lack of blood flow to her brain and contributed to her death, Dr Sands’ report noted.

Dr Sands’ report further noted Ms Bowen suffered numerous other injuries, such as upper lip lacerations and both lower and upper lip contusions, a contusion on the right side of the chest, intramuscular haemorrhage of the tongue and laceration to the mouth.

During previous proceedings, Rachel Oefelein, a forensic DNA analyst at DNA Labs International in Florida, testified how the DNA profile obtained from a “sperm fraction” found on Ms Bowen’s vaginal swab matched the DNA profile obtained from Williams.

Ms Oefelein said the chance that an unrelated person, chosen at random from the general population, would match that

DNA profile is approximately one in every 160 quadrillion individuals.

Additionally, Ms Oefelein said her forensic analysis of Ms Bowen’s fingernail clippings, which showed indications of blood matter, revealed a DNA profile “foreign” to the victim.

And that foreign DNA profile, Ms Oefelein said, indicated at least one male contributor. Ms Oefelein said Williams could not be ruled out as a possible contributor to that foreign DNA profile, thus, it was reanalysed using probabilistic genotyping methods.

Due to it being reanalysed, Ms Oefelein said the

DNA profile obtained from the fingernail clippings is approximately 31,000 times more probable if the sample originated from Williams and Bowen than if it originated from Bowen and an unknown person.

Therefore, she said there is very strong support that Williams and Ms Bowen contributed to that mixed DNA profile, rather than Ms Bowen and an unknown person.

At the close of the Crown’s case, Williams opted to remain silent but called two witnesses on his behalf - his mother and attorney Lessiah Rolle, whose evidence he used to corroborate his alibi that he

could not have been at the scene of the crime on the date and time in question.

Williams’ mother testified that on the date in question, her son was at home in Garden Hills before he left with her to do school runs.

She claimed she ultimately dropped him off in the downtown area. Mr Rolle, meanwhile, testifed that at 9:45am on the date in question, he met with Williams for an appointment.

Stanley Rolle and Marianne Cadet from the Office of the Public Defender represented Williams. Roger Thompson and Fania Joseph, from the office of the attorney general, prosecuted the matter.

PAGE 4, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

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Ripples of US-China relations wash up on our shores WITH much of the US media obsessed with endless so-called breaking news about the state of the Trump presidency, it seems less attention than it deserves has been given to this month’s important bilateral trade talks with China.

The threat of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies has been looming since the US deficit with China reached a record high in 2017 and President Trump complained constantly about the unfairness of the bilateral trade relationship, saying not only was the trade deficit unacceptable but Beijing was restricting US investment and stealing American intellectual property.

In April, he proposed a 25 percent tariff on a range of imports from China who responded on a tit for tat basis.

Following the trade talks, China has agreed to increase significantly the purchase of American goods and thereby reduce the trade deficit while also strengthening co-operation on intellectual property. So it seems there has been a truce and a full-blown trade war has been averted, at least for the immediate future – in the words of the US Secretary of the Treasury, the two sides are “putting the trade war on hold”.

This is important for the rest of the world because a bilateral trade dispute on such a scale could not only translate into wider tensions affecting global supply chains but could also have a bearing on the broader Sino-American relationship and global security including such major issues as militarisation of the South China Sea and denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

It is encouraging that, notwithstanding these trade differences, bilateral relations between the US and China remain good. The remarks this week in Washington by the Chinese foreign minister about the need to address the trade imbalance and conduct further consultations will surely be welcomed by all concerned. He also gave assurances about China’s continuing commitment to help to bring about a solution to the nuclear weapons dispute with North Korea.

All the while, what happens between the two behemoths could be significant for us in The Bahamas given that we are dominated by one of them - our giant neighbour who is our major investor and source of tourism - and are becoming more and more involved with the other through its increasing direct investment in our country.

Over the past decade, China’s involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased significantly.

Concentrating on spending on major infrastructure like ports, roads, hotels and sports stadia as well as energy and agricultural projects, it invariably insists on tough conditions and advantageous terms including tax concessions and the use of Chinese labour. Some observers see this growing economic support and involvement as a means of China broadening and improving its international

relationships and increasing its influence in regions that are on the doorstep of the US whose engagement in the area has been declining. Meanwhile, the issue of recognition of Taiwan by Caribbean countries appears largely to have fallen away as most have switched allegiance.

China’s outreach seems also to be intended to enhance its status as a world power and to increase its prestige while demonstrating to others that its own political and economic model is an alternative to the West’s liberal democratic values.

However, the Chinese themselves maintain they are not trying to challenge or replace the US by being a strategic competitor – rather, they are simply on a path to modernisation of their nation that is unstoppable.

One notable development is China’s declared intention to extend to the Caribbean its One Belt and One Road Initiative. This is designed to deepen and expand economic co-operation through trade and investment and creation of a unified large market and also to include issues like promotion of sustainable development and diversification based on projects financed by the Chinese; and it is interesting Trinidad has recently signed a partnership agreement with China under its Belt and Road programme.

Since The Bahamas depends on foreign direct investment, there can be no doubt Chinese financial involvement here presents welcome opportunities for our economic development. The most significant recent example is Baha Mar which is now functioning properly and will provide a substantial boost to the economy - as should The Pointe though the development of both has been mired in controversy which should not be easily forgotten.

We believe, however, that overall we ought to be wary of becoming too dependent on excessive Chinese involvement in our economy because it is now clear they will probably be seeking in the long-term a breadth and depth of co-operation which may not be suitable for us as a small and proud independent country. This is likely soon to become an important issue which the Government will need to address.

We need, of course, to interact as widely as possible with other countries to sustain our living standards and to secure economic stability. But, while not relying on any single source of investment, it would be wise to continue to concentrate on our traditional partners like the US on whom we rely for our security. It is in our interests as a nation to maintain and strengthen the existing close economic and other cooperation between our two countries – and we should surely now also seek to foster anew our links with Britain as the former colonial power that has now revived its interest in Commonwealth countries and has announced plans to re-establish a diplomatic presence here.

Driving out the tenants?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

HAS the Minnis Government considered the effect if a landlord takes advantages of the FNM Grants-Bain scheme and adds an inside toilet and flowing water service?

Can’t remember which news but very recently in interviews residents of Bain-Grants Town were very clear in their thoughts… add an inside toilet and running water means we will not be able to afford the

increased in rent.

So is this FNM-Minnis policy going to cause worse problems than we already have?

If there is any chance for this Grants Town-Bain Town urban renewal it is to start with owner-occupier residencies first.

The uninformed person’s cheaper housing scheme, $30,000.00 for the lot, etc… well how many in the uniformed services have $6-8,000.00 cash to qualify to get a mortgage for the $30,000.00 let alone to build the house,

$50,000.00 is nowhere near the cost even without customs and VAT try $60-70,000.

If these officers rely exclusively on what the treasury pays them then this scheme is dead-on-arrival.

Are the rush with these proposals all tied to the bad polling results from Domain? There does not seem to be too much thinking in them.

W THOMPSON Nassau, May 17, 2018.

The other Baha Mar EDITOR, The Tribune

AFTER reading Tuesday’s article highlighting former Attorney General Allison Maynard-Gibson’s self-congratulatory commentary in regard to Baha Mar, I felt completely disgusted.

Maynard-Gibson stated “Go to Baha Mar. Look at the happy faces of the young people working there. If that is not enough, consider that by any yardstick Baha Mar is successful.”

Unfortunately, this only tells half the story. While the employment of thousands of Bahamians is always to be celebrated – let us be clear on a few things. There were also thousands of Bahamians that were happy, fulfilled and empowered in the project’s previous phase as well.

Maynard-Gibson and others from her PLP cohort have selective memories with regards to the Baha Mar narrative. As much as the Christie Administration tries to play the role of “Baha Mar savior”, there is no doubt that they were complicit in torpedoing the project. By inserting itself into the debacle as a partial stakeholder – not for the Bahamian people, but rather, siding with the Chinese – the Christie Administration’s actions led to a series of events that shuttered the project, wrestled it from the hands of its visionary and led to the termination of over 2,000 Bahamian citizens.

For many who were given the privilege to be a part of such a dynamic team, we believed in the original Baha Mar dream.

Sure, some would say we “drank the Kool-Aid” or blindly followed the “pied piper”, but the reality is that we were a part of something that felt bigger than we were. Only those that fought the battles can speak to the victories.

Many employees of Baha Mar, though going through a questionable time, still believed in what its owner stood for and knew that he had our best interest at heart.

The government’s decision to sabotage and confuse

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net the Bahamian people on the Chapter 11 process was, without a doubt, the single greatest source of a complete disaster. Not only did people lose their jobs, but many lost hope. Many families felt the strain, as dual income households had to depend on a single earner.

Surely, there were tough times, and many of us felt that the government had let us down.

While we were happy to share the collective experience of being Baha Mar Citizens, we would’ve been happier to see the dream of Sarkis Izmirilan arrive to completion with him at the helm. The Baha Mar you see today, is not the Baha Mar we fought tooth and nail to bring to life. It is a resort trying to find its way among luxury brands of the world. But the core principles, values and training that had been engrained under the previous owner cannot be duplicated.

Though we cannot challenge Baha Mar’s economic importance, the current version of Baha Mar is a diluted shell of what it could have been. It is still as beautiful and mesmerising to the eye as we all would have envisioned, but it lacks its soul – the soul given to it by Izmirlian.

Do not be mistaken - the new owners have taken absolutely no creative direction in its inheritance of Baha Mar. They did not have to do any of the heavy lifting previously done by Izmirlian and team, as the table was set for them by the former government in an act of desperation.

CTFE, as a result of the insidious acts of the former government, were able to open an incomplete hotel with bare essentials, no proper training and a nonexistent employee culture.

All of the backroom wheeling and dealing taking place at the eleventh hour in the lead up to election day still was to no avail. The PLP’s political ploy failed in an embarrassing crash.

Perhaps the most laughable sentiment from the

PLP has been that the FNM should apologize to the PLP for its previous statements on Baha Mar. Notwithstanding the current government’s shift in tone, there’s no way the former government deserves an apology from anyone! The people of the Bahamas spoke in an almost unanimous decision on how they felt about the leadership and direction of the Progressive Liberal Party. If any apologies are to be given, it should be from the previous government for its many failings during its last term.

Nonetheless, it is quite a pleasure to see that our dream has come to fruition and what once started as pilings in the ground, has been transformed into a beautiful resort – a masterful blend of precision and great attention to detail.

While the efforts of the previous government to compensate staff was greatly appreciated in our time of need, the PLP is undeserving of any Baha Mar related praise. That notion is a downright insult to the previous developer and the team that he selected to bring his vision to life. Quite the contrary, the glory, still and always will rest in the hands of the original visionary and Baha Mar development team.

Though governments love to accept praises, neither government is deserving of such accolades.

It is now a new day and Baha Mar is yielding many positive fruits on the tourism front. While this is an amazing feat for the resort and exceptional news for the Bahamian economy, we can’t help but wonder, “What if?” Unfortunately, we will never know. However, many among the development team believe things may have panned out far better, had the original owner been allowed to proceed in the best interest of his organisation.

Hopefully, Baha Mar continues to achieve sustained success for the country. We are depending on it.

FORMER BAHA MAR CITIZEN May 24, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 5

WORKERS at The Pointe development on Bay Street.

Pointe problems - Foulkes blames the paperwork from page one and is satisfied with assurances that at some point Bahamian worker numbers will exceed the specified 70 per cent.

Despite the contention drawn by this situation, Mr Foulkes said CCA is prepared to meet with Mr Sands.

“Now the issue about the composition and the percentage of Bahamians to non-Bahamians there is a view on that which I agree to,” the minister said yesterday when he was contacted.

“What The Pointe is saying is that at any given time there will not be a 70 per cent Bahamian 30 per cent non Bahamian split as the Heads of Agreement calls for.

“It so happens that at one point its going to be close to 83 per cent Bahamian which would be way above the 70 per cent and that will go on for over a period of a year that will make up for the earlier percentages in favour of non-Bahamians.

“And if you read the agreement carefully you can interpret the agreement that way. A lot of people are saying that it has to 70/30 end of story at all times. If you go out there now tomorrow every hour it has to be 70/30.”

He continued: “What China Construction

MINISTER of Labour Dion Foulkes. explained to us is that high percentage of Bahathrough the super structure mians and at the end of for the high tension concrete the project it will be way placement that their com- beyond the 70 per cent that pany around the world, the the Heads of Agreement largest construction com- calls for.” pany around the world, they “I think the Heads of have a policy that for the Agreement is a badly super structure they have drafted Heads of Agreetrained persons who are ment. If we were to do it all accustomed to the way they over again, we would have want it done. That is why the made it very clear,” Mr percentage is what it is today. Foulkes also said.

“When the super struc“But there are a lot of ture is done which is things in that Heads of basically the main structure Agreement that in my view of the building, Bahami- are badly done. But governans will be hired to do all ment is continuous and we the other stuff - the brick want to honour it once it is laying, the sheet rock, all legal.” of the cement work, all the Asked to further explain tiling (and) all the other other aspects of the agreestuff. That will be a very ment constituting poor

construction, Mr Foulkes said: “I don’t want to get into it because I don’t want to put a damper on what is going on. Our main effort now is for the project to move along and for them to meet their 2020 deadline.

“Five hundred Bahamians will be employed full-time and even though we want maximum benefits for the construction industry we also want to get those Bahamians working full-time.”

This comes after BCA President Leonard Sands said Tuesday government’s engagement with his organisation remained unsatisfactory. He also claimed the association had not been invited to a key stakeholder meeting last week despite numerous attempts to uncover these details.

Mr Foulkes took exception to these claims but said he would attempt to organise a third meeting.

He said: I met him (Leonard Sands) first at a public event. It wasn’t a planned meeting. Actually he saw me and he came up to me and I told him that my office was trying to reach him and that we wanted to setup a meeting between himself, his executive and the top executives of The Pointe. He agreed.

“I told him that we will reach him and that we will confirm it.

BAHAMASAIR NEAR MISS CONFIRMED

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DELVIN Major, head of the Air Accident Investigation Department at the Department of Civil Aviation, said yesterday though Bahamasair pilots performed an “evasive manoeuvre” after spotting a Silver Airways plane in the area, during a flight Tuesday afternoon the severity of the situation was “low”.

His statement came after a passenger on board Bahamasair flight BHS137 expressed alarm

at the closeness of the two planes.

The passenger said he was told by a member of the crew the issue related to “missed/mixed coordinates”.

Mr Major said: “I did get a report from Bahamasair and all it mentioned is the fact that the Air Traffic Control did point out another conflicting aircraft to Bahamasair and once they saw the aircraft they decided to reduce their climb because both the aircrafts were climbing to their altitudes.

“They saw the aircraft

and they reduced their climb, which is the same as an evasive manoeuvre because if you keep climbing stuff could happen.

“But according to them any severity or risk of any midair incident was low because they did see the aircraft after ATC pointed it out in time and they reduced their climb rate to allow the aircraft to go by.

“From a passenger’s point of view he doesn’t realise what’s going on in the cockpit so he would say it’s a near-hit or near-miss but from what took place it’s a routine procedure.”

In a statement to The Tribune, a representative of Silver Airways also said: “We have researched Silver Airways flights that were operating during the time of the reported Bahamasair flight. While Silver did have a flight traveling between Eleuthera and Fort Lauderdale, the flight operated safely without incident.”

The Bahamasair flight had left Nassau around 5pm Tuesday. The concerned passenger said he stayed behind after other passengers disembarked and spoke to the First Officer on the plane.

MOTORCYCLIST DIES AS HE CRASHES INTO WALL

BY DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A MOTORCYCLIST was killed shortly before 10pm on Wednesday after colliding with a car and wall on Kemp Road.

Police said the victim died in hospital of injuries sustained in the crash.

The motorcyclist has not been named.

In Grand Bahama meanwhile, police have officially released the names of three people killed in recent traffic accidents on Grand Bahama.

ASP Terecita Pinder reported the second male victim who died in hospital following an accident on May 10 at the Warren J Levarity was identified as Saisal Muhammad, 31, of

Indonesia.

The female passenger killed in a traffic accident on May 13 at East Mall Drive and Explorer’s Way has been identified as 49-year-old Carolyn Belazaire, of Seagrape, Eight Mile Rock. And the man who died in a traffic accident on May 22 has been officially identified as Devon Poitier, 19, of Deadman’s Reef.

“My understanding is my office did confirm the meeting with him. However the first date that was given was adjourned. We didn’t meet that day. Neither did he show up at my office on that day.

“But it was adjourned to another date which The Pointe agreed to but it was because I had an unscheduled Cabinet meeting. The second meeting I’m told that my office confirmed that they contacted him.

Now it is very possible that they did not (and) I don’t want to blame Mr Sands.

“But I am going to try a third time to bring the parties together, but The Pointe has agreed to meet with him. I am trying to be fair to them because they did make the commitment.”

Mr Sands has insisted The Pointe is in breach of labour ratio requirements in the Heads of Agreement.

He said BCA members pressure him continually to advocate for greater inclusion of Bahamian workers on the project.

Mr Sands could not be reached for comment up to press time yesterday.

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PAGE 6, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Dame Joan: FNM eating its words from page one Referencing to the recent passage of the Interception of Communications Bill (ICB) 2017, and the current run of success at Baha Mar, Dame Joan said the current government stands as evidence of why political organisations should “be careful of what they say while in opposition”.

In the lead-up the last election, Dame Joan railed against the Christie administration for its handling of the controversial legislation and its timing.

Calling the bill “suspicious” on several occasions, she at one point penned an open letter in which she questioned the bill’s intent and level of transparency place around it.

When contacted by The Tribune yesterday, Dame Joan questioned if anything had “really changed”.

“With (the PLP) we got them to slow down and come to us on this bill.

This group was a part of that push and now, I can’t believe it, they jump right on it and push basically the same thing on us.”

She continued: “The government should have come to the people and consulted them. Like the last group, where is the green and white papers on this Bill? I mean, we haven’t seen anything but the reports that they were tweaking it and making changes.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

When asked if she was, at any point, consulted by

FORMER Court of Appeal President Dame Joan Sawyer speaking at the We March event last year. the Minnis administration on the Bill, Dame Joan added: “Consult me? No, they never consulted me or anybody that I know of, on this. They came in and ran straight to this and forgot the promises they made.”

Dame Joan said she was of the understanding the bill would be

completely overhauled and presented for consultation, prior to being tabled in Parliament.

“I don’t think that happened,” she added.

“I don’t know what happened. It’s like this government is all in the business of following the last. Where is the respect for the people?

“When you consider this and consider Baha Mar, they are eating a lot of the words it tossed at the last government. It’s shocking.

But I have been around and I know better, this doesn’t shock me,” she furthered.

Dame Joan was referring to Aviation and Tourism Minister Dioni-

sio D’Aguilar’s recent admission that his views on Baha Mar had changed - now publicly praising the resort he preivously criticised .

“It’s something to see these things play out,” Dame Joan said. “They say something today, and tomorrow they play forget.

There is nothing new under

the sun.

“They do what the have to do for the US, and they do what they have to do for the UN; but where is the effort for the Bahamians?

That is what I want to know.

“The people deserve better.”

The ICB 2017 has now moved to the Senate for debate and passage.

ACTIVISTS CALL ON POLITICIANS TO STAND BY THEIR BELIEFS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net RIGHTS Bahamas President Stephanie St Fleur yesterday implored several of her former colleagues-turned politicians associated with the FNM to “support” the protection of a citizen’s right to privacy.

Ms St Fleur was addressing the passage of the controversial Interception of Communications Bill (ICB), 2017 in the Lower House on Wednesday.

In statement circulated by Rights Bahamas, Ms St Fleur called on State Minister for Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson, Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira, Water and Sewerage Chairman Adrian Gibson and Senator Renard Henfield to continue to stand with Bahamians opposed to the ICB - as they did in past.

Addressing the men directly, she said: “We

understand the realities of our system of party politics and the intense pressure to toe the party line, as many who broke ranks over the years were targetted, intimidated and ostracised.”

However, she said despite the fear, the men should “stand up for what is right” and “maintain the courage of their convictions on this most important issue”.

Ms St Fleur joins several public figures who have spoken out against the government’s failure to slow the legislation and extend the consultation process, as it promised it said it would do when elected to office.

Ms St Fleur said every citizen in the Bahamas should be concerned by the “terrifying attempt” by the government to erode their civil liberties.

“Once a fundamental freedom is taken away from the people, it is rarely if ever given back. Rights

Bahamas is prepared to challenge the Spy Bill in court,” she added.

Ms St Fleur also called on journalists to “stand up with” Rights Bahamas.

She said: “The Spy Bill has now been passed, it will only be a matter of time before outspoken reporters find their phones tapped, their emails intercepted and their confidential sources compromised. This has happened all over the world where such anti-democratic laws are in place.”

The ICB was passed by Parliament on Wednesday without input of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who once opposed the bill, and in the face of strong pushback by members of the Official Opposition.

The FNM’s advancement of the Bill comes a little more than a year after the party used the Christie administration’s draft Bill to castigate the Progressive Liberal Party in their general election campaign.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 7

Woods wants industrial deal after hotel union president win

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net NEWLY-elected president of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) Darrin Woods yesterday pledged the group’s targeted focus on getting a registered industrial agreement negotiated and executed, following his team’s landslide victory.

History was made at the polls on Wednesday, when members voted in a general secretary as president, ousting long-time president Nicole Martin.

Darrin Woods, BHCAWU president, said he gives God thanks for giving him an opportunity to “serve the people”, and said it was very “humbling” to have been selected to serve in such a capacity.

The president admitted while the win was expected, the group was hoping that more people would come

DARRIN WOODS out. Still, he attributed the past five years. the turn out to what he “We believe that if we are described as a “drought” able to focus on empowthat had been affecting the ering our members and hospitality industry over advancing their cause,

we will be able to reconnect with our membership in terms of benefits that we’re going to be offering to them. So we believe that going forward the support for the union will begin to grow again,” he said.

The previous industrial agreement expired in 2013.

Mentioning the new agreement will include “increases and benefits” to empower members, Mr Woods said: “We are going to be introducing a membership discount card that will give them discounts at various business houses. So in the meantime while they are negotiating a contract, we are going to extend their buying power – the dollar that they spend.”

“We’re also going to focus on medical care for our members by partnering with First Care that will give discounted fees on what they pay monthly for the medical stuff, and (we will) also (focus on)

the major medical department with the union health and welfare that has been established since 2003, as it offers our members a major medical of a million dollars for around a $157 a month,” he continued.

Mr Woods said they plan on amending their outdated constitution because of the “challenges” it produces.

He said they are also hoping to establish an assistance program so members can receive a benefit in times of disasters, adding that the union is in full support of Health Minister Dr Duane Sands’ proposal to change breadbasket items.

“We also want to look at focusing on a healthier lifestyle for our membership because we realise persons are developing non-communicable disease such as hypertension and diabetes when we can try to encourage them to eat more healthier, and do a little bit more exercise,”

he explained.

Another initiative the president mentioned was introducing financial seminars to help prepare members for retirement, qualify for homes, and to provide them with a “different outlook” on what it takes to become a “well rounded group of employees and members of the union”.

“One of the things my administration intends to do is have a courtesy call meeting with the Minister of Tourism to find out how the hotel union - who’s responsible for the number one industry - can be a more intricate partner and help with the building and revitalisation of the hospitality industry… (in hopes that) the government will win, the country will win, our members will win, the investors will win, and of course the union will end at the end of the day,” he said.

BAHAMAS RADIO SHOW TAKES TO THE AIR IN FLORIDA THE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (BMOTA) has partnered with a Florida-based multimedia broadcast company to create, produce and broadcast a customised digital radio show.

The 30-minute radio talk show Bahamas Travel will be produced

by Alpha Media in Palm Beach, and is set to launch on WFTL 850AM on Saturday at 10am through to July 14.

For eight weeks, listeners from Broward and Dade counties in the south to as far away as Tampa in the north will be able to tune into Bahamas Travel, the first and only travel talk show, on WFTL 850 AM. Thousands more will be able to listen in by streaming online on any of Alpha Media’s digitised channels as well as via www.Bahamas.com/radio.

Each week a lucky listener will also be given an opportunity to win a prize ranging from a complimentary airline or cruise line ticket to The Bahamas, a luxurious hotel stay or an exclusive authentically Bahamian destination experience in The Bahamas, when they tune into the show and answer correctly, the weekly trivia question on www.850wftl.com.

Bahamas Travel is the newest marketing initiative organised by the BMOTA Plantation Office and is designed to further heighten The Bahamas’ diverse and impressive brand, increase market visibility, engage loyal listeners, increase visitor interest and bookings to its destination and simultaneously, promote the latest developments, trends and tourism activities occurring in the 700 Islands of

The Bahamas. Some of the leading hospitality, travel and allied industry professionals will also be featured on the show, weekly.

All content material, commercials, formatting and production will be controlled by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

Veteran hospitality professionals at the Ministry of Tourism Earnestine Moxyz, global communications manager and Donna Mackey, senior sales manager will serve as the show’s radio hosts.

Participating sponsors for The Bahamas Travel Show are: Bahamasair, Silver Airlines, FRS Caribbean, Balearia, Sandyport Beach Resort, Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco and Treasure Cay FROM left, Bahamas Travel radio show hosts Earnestine Moxyz, Robyn Beriro, Beach Resort in Abaco.

Account Manager at Alpha Media and Donna Mackey.

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PAGE 8, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS MAY BUILD LINK WITH TOP HEALTH PROVIDER THE Ministry of Health and the Public Hospitals Authority are exploring opportunities for sustainable collaborations with Johns Hopkins International.

Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands met with managing director of global services at Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) Irma Purish to explore engaging and sustainable models of patient-centered care that allow for innovative

collaboration and raise the standard of care delivered.

Ms Purish toured Princess Margaret Hospital, met with the Public Hospitals Authority Board, and senior exectuves of the PHA and delivered a presentation on JHMI’s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Additionally, she outlined services offered to their international partners which include: core services; patient services and global services. Deputy chairman

IRMA PURISH, managing director of global services at Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

of the Board of the Public Hospitals Authority Robert Carron spearheaded the meeting as chair of the Board’s Strategic Planning, Infrastructure, Institutional Redevelopment and Public Relations sub-committee.

Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) is a partnership programme established by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to raise the standard of health care through long-term mission-driven agreements.

MANAGING director of global services at Johns Hopkins Medicine International Irma Purish meets Ministry of Health and Public Hospitals Authority officials. She is pictured on this page consulting with executives including Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands; Public Hospitals Authority deputy managing director Lyrone Burrows; PMH hospital administrator Mary Walker; and PMH medical chief of staff Caroline Burnett Garraway.

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THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 9

Independent prosecutor to be appointed next month

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net THE law establishing an independent Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) came into force on May 18, Attorney General Carl Bethel said in the Senate yesterday.

However, he told The Tribune the government still has to “pass a further law to transfer a number of statutory powers vested in the Attorney General to the Director of Public Prosecutions”.

“This will happen after the budget,” he said. “Also, (the DPP) has still to receive his instrument of appointment from the Governor General. That is to be

arranged for mid June.”

“The days of attorneys general signing nolle prosequis, maybe not signing them personally, are over,” he said in the Senate. “The days of what could have been seen as political supervision of the prosecutorial arm are over in the Bahamas. As of this day we have an independent, autonomous Director of Public Prosecutions fully responsible for all actions of the conduct of his office.”

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2017 empowers the DPP to “institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court in respect of any offence against the law of the Bahamas; to take over

and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority; to discontinue, at any stage before judgment is delivered, any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by himself or any other person or authority.”

The law was not passed without its critics. The attorney general can still direct the DPP to make certain decisions on matters relating to three categories: public policy, national security and international obligations of the Bahamas. Critics say these categories are broad and vague, providing a loophole through which administrations can undermine the independence of

FROM left, Shonique Farquharson, Sandyport Beach Resort; Cheralda Arnett, assistant general manager, Sandyport Beach Resort; pirate Jack Sparrow; Jennifer Gardiner-Bannister, area manager, BMOTA-Plantation and Donna Mackey, Sr, sales manager, BMOTA-Plantation.

BRINGING BAHAMIAN SPIRIT TO FLORIDA CHILDREN of allages flocked to the 16th Annual Our Kids World Family Fun Fest last month, featuring Bahamian companies Bahamasair and Sandyport Beach Resort.

The Islands of The Bahamas were prominently showcased at the twoday show, which attracted more than 20,000 families on April 28 and 29, at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The South Florida event, which is held twice per year, in April and August, was organised by Alpha Media Network, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s (BMOTA) newest partner and featured some of the popular

characters from Disney Films including Moana, Princess Ariel, Elsa and Jack Sparrow of Pirates of The Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest, the latter of which was filmed in The Bahamas in Sandy Cay, Exuma, and Gold Rock Creek, Grand Bahama.

Scores of children and their parents lined the booth to meet, greet, photograph and interact with Disney’s famous characters and register to win a Bahamas vacation, including round trip airline tickets for two on Bahamasair from Florida to Nassau and a four days, three nights stay at Sandyport Beach Resort.

“Participating in Our Kids World Family Fun Fest was a natural fit for us

at Sandyport Beach Resort.

The characters were a hit with all the children. Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean and the mermaid Ariel really set the island tone for us. With sugar-soft sand perfect for sandcastle making, 300 days of sunshine, and beautiful crystal-clear waters that simply take your breath away, The Bahamas is the perfect destination for families,” said Cheralda Arnett, assistant general manager, Sandyport Beach Resort.

“Our resort is perfect for families and provides everything, from three bedroom suites and full kitchen facilities, ideal for catering to kids to our zero-entry sand edge swimming pool and water slides,” she said.

BAHAMAS CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE RENEGOTIATED

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE government has successfully renegotiated the country’s catastrophic risk insurance, agreeing to a new policy that would divide The Bahamas into three distinct zones and structure payouts based on that arrangement.

Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday confirmed that the government was successful in having the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) agree to “segregate” the Bahamas into “north, south and central” regions with different premium and attachment points for each.

Mr Turnquest said the move will allow for more relevant and fair assessment and payouts after an event, as the attachment point for each zone reflects the risks to infrastructure in that specific area.

The East Grand Bahamas representative said the government intends to disclose the attachment points for each zone during the upcoming budget communication.

Last September, Mr Turnquest revealed the Minnis administration was working to amend the status of the country policy agreement with CCRIF, first signalling that a similar move to the one he announced yesterday, could yield The Bahamas its best value.

At the time of the suggestion, The Bahamas was due to receive a $234,000 Hurricane Irma-related payout from CCRIF, which reflected less than one per cent of the total Irmarelated payouts the CCRIF had made in the region.

Moreover, the payment represented a fraction of the multi-million dollar relief fund needed in the southern islands at the time.

The former Christie administration said

it withdrew from the CCRIF “after careful consideration” and advice from several government agencies.

Just months before Mr Turnquest’s comments, Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis announced that the move was made after the country was denied a claim after the passage of Hurricane Joaquin in 2015.

A committee was formed, he said, consisting of technical officers in the Ministry of Finance, the Meteorological Department and the Port Department, found that it was “ineffective to continue with insurance” from the CCRIF and said “it would be more costeffective if the government self-insured.”

At the time, Mr Davis said the committee found that “premiums paid to CCRIF would’ve been better placed into an account to aid with hurricane disaster relief.”

the DPP. To discourage this, the law requires that any instruction from an attorney general to a director be gazetted, although a rationale for the instruction is not explicitly required. National Security Minister Marvin Dames said last year: “The Bahamian people will immediately be informed through the media of the specific directive, such as terms and rationale given by attorney general (when directions are given to the DPP).”

The establishment of the independent office fulfills a promise the Free National Movement (FNM) made in the lead-up to the 2017 general election as part of its good governance reform agenda.

ATTORNEY General Carl Bethel.

PAGE 10, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

The people have given the FNM enough time WHEN the Free National Movement (FNM) came to power, there were great expectations of this government.

On the campaign trail, Minnis and Co railed against corruption, and promised to be a government of transparency.

“It’s the People’s Time” had a nice ring to it, and conjured up all kinds of thoughts about a utopian five years for those who believed.

Reduced VAT on breadbasket items?

Sure.

Tax free zone over the hill?

No problem.

Abolishment of the “Spy Bill”.

Gone.

Freedom of Information Act? Done.

Recall system for nonperforming members of parliament?

You got it.

Term limits for the Prime Minister? No doubt.

Because of the tortuous five years Bahamians have suffered under the previous Christie administration, if only the FNM had moved quicker to enact just those six basic campaign promises, they would be ‘looking pretty and smiling’ as we speak.

ruckus surrounding the Speaker of the House, the country’s European Union blacklisting, the excessive borrowing, the unnecessary drama surrounding the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice and the very malodorous Oban Energies deal, and now the passing of the “Spy Bill” the only people who should be shocked are those not paying attention.

And right now, a lot of Bahamians are paying attention.

“We all watchin’ da wibe still.”

In all fairness, the nation didn’t expect things to change overnight.

We have given the present administration the desired “time” they needed to get things “in order”.

What we didn’t expect, however, is that things could be just as bad and in some cases worse, than the previous PLP administration.

SPITTING IMAGE

After branding it as a “Spy Bill” during the election campaign, and using it as a major talking point, including predicting its abolishment if elected, the FNM has changed course on yet another issue of national importance.

PM Dr Hubert Minnis had absolutely nothing to say as the controversial bill was passed in the HOA on

A SUPPORTER of the FNM holding up a sign declaring It’s The People’s Time - but have the people given the party enough time now?

Wednesday.

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All the while, wether consequences.”

• Work with internal and external development resources to ensure they realise it or not, the Basically, the government you deliver engaging experiences for our customers.

FNM is slowly morphing can listen to your business, into the previous PLP they just can’t talk it on • To work alongside the Technical Product Manager team to set the administration. slack. And we all know how roadmap, aligning all programming resources behind a common Looking like their “dop- well we Bahamian’s keep goal. pelgängers” with failed secrets. delivery on campaign • Work with external technical partners to ensure best practice is promises, hypocrisy, double being followed and provide support while internalizing much that talk, finger pointing and legacy knowledge to provide redundancy. that God forsaken “and so” • Work with UI/UX resources to ensure the technical feasibility of attitude.

Maybe the PM had nothdesigns. ing to say in regards to the • Develop API for new lottery games to enable them to do passing of the “Spy Bill” What amazes me, the because he lost his voice integrated into 3rd party RGS. PLP “copied” their version waxing poetic about our • Create all API documentation.

FAST FORWARD

Senior C#/.net Developer

FAIR WINDS AND ROSES IN BLOOM

THE FNM ‘COLD’ HEY

nation’s tourism, at the grand opening of the Rosewood Resort at BahaMar, finally completing the first phase of the sensational, controversial resort.

“Tourism is doing exceptionally well in The Bahamas. But we can do even better.

“The government is committed to the revitalisation of tourism in Grand Bahama.

“We must better monetise cruise ship visits to New Providence and Grand Bahama.

“There are a number of developments being negotiated for the Family Islands.

We will announce a number of upgrades to infrastructure, including a number of Family Island airports.

“Here in New Providence, the ongoing transformation of downtown Nassau is essential for the visitor experience.

“The new Straw Market and the movement of the Container Port from downtown were important developments in the revitalisation of downtown.

Considerably more must be done.

“In due course, we will announce a number of developments and initiatives to truly transform downtown for Bahamians and visitors, including hotel and resort guests and cruise ship passengers.”

“Fairwind, of course, is the nautical term for a favourable wind for a sailor.

In this vein, Baha Mar and tourism in general are experiencing exceptional fairwinds throughout our archipelago.

“These favourable winds will gather speed and will benefit even more Bahamians as our economy continues to grow, and as our Bahamas brand continues to attract even more visitors to the islands of The Bahamas. Today is indeed one of celebration. Congratulations again to all who made today possible.”

That’s a lot of pontification, on our tourism product.

It’s most probably, to distract the masses from the fact, that the FNM has quietly cosied up to the BahaMar resort, giving the impression that it was their ‘baby’ all along, with no mention of the FNM’s criticism of said resort while on the campaign trail, and the PLP’s contribution to the project.

Cold!

In closing, a fitting quote from one of my favorite comedians of all time, the late great, Lenny Bruce comes to mind “Politicians and diapers have one thing in common.

They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.”

Interested candidates are required to possess the following managerial skills and qualifications: • Must have experience in building and leading technical teams within a lean/agile development environment within the Gaming industry ideally with exposure to the B2B world.

• Strong knowledge of the .NET framework, C#, OOP and SQL a must • Also Java, HTML5, ASP.NET, Web API, MVC / MVVM, JSON • Familiarity with various design and architectural patterns • Ability to work with turn basic requirements and user stories into meaningful, reliable tasks.

• A background in Sports betting and/or Lottery industry with the ability to output technical design documents suitable for use by 3rd parties.

• Ability to maintain a good balance between short-term delivery and longer term planning.

• An analytical and inquisitive mind-set with the ability to translate business cases and analysis into tangible outcomes.

• High levels of commitment and enthusiasm.

• Interest in and knowledge of the latest technology and media trends • Highly organized and self-motivated, with a desire to see a job through to conclusion.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written and comfortable operating at all levels.

• High proficiency in use of MS Excel and Office suite in general.

• Ability to be proactive and work with minimal supervision.

• Degree in Computer Science.

Interested qualified candidates may submit their resume via email to info@242careers.com.

Deadline for submissions – May 28th, 2018 Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Rotary Club of East Nassau THE Rotary Club of East Nassau, in commemoration of Barry Rassin leading the 1.2 million Rotarians as their president in 20182019, held a Hollywood Glam Party and auction to raise funds for a scholarship to the University of The Bahamas.

The Barry Rassin Scholarship, valued at $10,000, will be divided between two students. A $6,000 allocation will go to a full-time student in any degree programme for a year; and a Family Island student will be given $4,000 to cover living expenses for one year.

UB President Dr Rodney D Smith expressed his gratitude to Mr Rassin and the Rotary Club of East Nassau for this initiative highlighting the benefits it will have for the recipients.

“This is the beginning of an excellent relationship and I know that the students who will benefit from it will be deeply appreciative.”

Pictured from left: Dr Mayuri Deka, UB professor and rotarian; Cheryl Carey, director, scholarship and financial aid; Peter Mitchell, director, development; Dr Rodney D Smith, president, UB; Barry Rassin, Rotary International PresidentElect; Esther Rassin; Hope A Sealey, president, Rotary Club of East Nassau;

Joanne Smith, director, East Nassau Rotary Club Charitable Trust; Diane Philips, CEO, Diane Philips and Associates; and Constance Gibson, chair, Rotary Club East Nassau Community Service.

JOIN THE CLUB

OUR Clubs and Societies page is a chance for you to share your group’s activities with our readers.

To feature on our Clubs and Societies page, submit your report to clubs@tribunemedia.net, with “Clubs Page” written in the subject line.

For more information about the page, contact Stephen Hunt on 502-2373 or 447-3565.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 11

BATTLING BOWLERS ANNE’s Town Clinic/Prison Health Team.

SCHOOL Health/Hospital Liaison Team

FLEMING Street Clinic Team

ELIZABETH Estates Clinic Team

NURSING Administration Team

NURSES of the Department of Public Health celebrated Nurses Month 2018 with a fun night at Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace. Eight teams competed for a Floating Trophy donated by Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA).

A team from Princess Margaret Hospital also participated. The Floating Trophy was won by the combined team of Blue Hill Road and Coconut Grove clinics.

BLUE Hill Road/Coconut Grove Clinics Team MCH/Surveillance/TB Team

Funeral Service For LUCIEN CHER-AIME, 72 of Fowler Street, off East Street, North and formerly of Port De Paix, will be held on Saturday, May 26th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Haitian Baptist Church, West Avenue, off Mc Cullough Corner. Officiating will be Dr. Henri Cher-Aime.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road.

Left to cherish his memories are his beautiful wife of 49 years: Vernante Jonassaint Cher-Aime; Children: Wilfred Cher-Aime (Lina) of Port St. Lucy, Florida, Marie-Loude Poliard (Wilmac) of Haiti, Fernande Cher-Aime of Canada, Adline Timothee of Canada, Philippe, and David (Daniele) Cher-Aime of Orlando, Lysette Saint-Phard (Chovel) of Canada, Miguel Cher-Aime of Nassau; Grandchildren: Verlinda K. Cher-Aime of Tampa, Kathy F.Cher-Aime, Lamard W. Cher-Aime, Brandin Cher-Aime, Bradley B. Cher-Aime, of Port St. Lucy. Wanda and Mike Poliard of Miami and Stephanie of Haiti, Cherlinta Cher-Aime, Ronald Jr. Bouquette of Canada, Danisha Decius and Theresa Decius-Timothee of Canada, Ruth S. Cher-Aime Marlah and Myra Cher-Aime, Phillip E. Cher-Aime of Orlando, Dangee and Davry Cher-Aime of Orlando, Nicholas, Alisha and Sophia Saint Phard of Canada; In-laws: Yvette, Marie, Onell Raymondville, Emilio Joansaint, Rene Durant; Brothers and sisters: Naomi Joseph (Paradis), of Haiti, Josue Cher-Aime of Haiti, Pastor Dr. Henri Cher-Aime (Margaret) of Bahamas, Cerese Poliard of Fort Lauderdale, Penina Debrosse (Martino) of Fort Lauderdale; Nieces and Nephews: Yvette Docteur (Sauveur) Haiti, Lunie Cher-Frere (Pericles), of Miami, Riguad Mertilien (Diana) of Bahamas, Vinston Cher-Aime (Kerline), of Haiti, Dina Resias (Darry) of the Bahamas, Yvela, Joanne, Marline, Lemenne, Ronald, Clovis, and Nathalie Joseph of Haiti Hermoine Tassy, of Haiti Aldoph Cher-Aime of Brendenton Florida, Edicine Joseph Paul Jr., Roosevelt, Cher-Aime of Haiti. Serge Vixamar (Milande), of Pampano Beach Chantale and Rodny Joseph of Bahamas, Karline Accuis (Guilluame), Shirley, Jessica, Christopher, Jude , Benoni Cher-Aime of Fort Lauderdale; Adopted niece: Emma Alix (Claude) of Bahamas; Fedner and Wiljames, Poliard of Haiti Jimmy, Dijinia, Christin, Poliard of Fort Lauderdale, Samuel, Jasmine, Rachel, Sarah, and Laura Debrosse; Host of other relatives and friends: Carlo, Marco, Valdimer, Fabi Docterur, Ruth and Junior CherFrere, Emerson, Nancy, Rudkelvin Cher-Aime, Jeremiah, Alythea Mertilien, Leo Joseph, Gaelle Accuis, Delvan Pierre, Andrew, Christopher Jr. Cher-Aime.

Mark-Chloe, Mark-Barnisky Tassy, Mathis Durand; Godchild: James Roberts; Special Thanks: Calvary Haitian Baptist Church family.

Viewing will be held in the Serenity Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Ltd., Robinson and Soldier Roads on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until service time.

PAGE 12, Friday, May 25, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Weinstein to turn himself in over sex abuse claim NEW YORK Associated Press HARVEY Weinstein was expected to turn himself in to police Friday morning to face charges involving an aspiring actress who said he forced her to perform oral sex on him, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

It would be the first criminal case against Weinstein to come out of the barrage of sexual abuse allegations from scores of women that destroyed his career and set off a national reckoning that brought down other powerful men in what has become known as the #MeToo movement.

The two officials said the criminal case involves allegations by Lucia Evans, who told a magazine that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex. She was among the first women to speak out about the 66-year-old film producer.

One official said it’s likely the case also will include at least one other victim who has not come forward publicly.

Evans confirmed to The New Yorker that she was pressing charges.

“At a certain point, you have to think about the greater good of humanity, of womankind,” she told the magazine.

Weinstein was expected

to be charged at least with criminal sexual act, a crime that carries up to 25 years in prison, the officials said.

Weinstein’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, declined to comment, though Weinstein has said repeatedly through his lawyers that he didn’t have nonconsensual sex with anyone.

Evans told The New Yorker in a story published in October that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex during a daytime meeting at his New York office in 2004, the summer before her senior year at Middlebury College.

“I said, over and over, ‘I don’t want to do this, stop, don’t,’” she told the

magazine. “I tried to get away, but maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I didn’t want to kick him or fight him.”

Evans, who is now a marketing consultant, didn’t report the encounter to police at the time, telling The New Yorker that she blamed herself for not fighting back.

“It was always my fault for not stopping him,” she said.

Brafman said in court

HARVEY WEINSTEIN paperwork filed this month in a bankruptcy proceeding that the allegations that Weinstein forced himself on women were “entirely without merit”.

“I am trying my very best to persuade both the federal and state prosecutors that he should not be arrested and or indicted, because he did not knowingly violate the law,” Brafman wrote.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance had been

under enormous public pressure to bring a criminal case against Weinstein. Some women’s groups, including the Hollywood activist group Time’s Up, accused the Democrat of being too deferential to Weinstein and too dismissive of his accusers.

A grand jury has been hearing evidence in the case for weeks. More than 75 women have accused Weinstein of wrongdoing around the globe.

FREEMAN APOLOGISES AFTER ALLEGATIONS LOS ANGELES Associated Press

MORGAN FREEMAN

OSCAR-WINNING actor Morgan Freeman apologised on Thursday to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior, after CNN reported that multiple women have accused the A-list actor of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on movie sets and in other professional settings.

“Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally

offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy,” the actor, now 80, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press by his publicist, Stan Rosenfield.

“I apologise to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent.”

Freeman won the 2005 Oscar for best supporting actor for Million Dollar Baby. He was nominated four other times, including for Driving Miss Daisy and The Shawshank Redemption, and is renowned for his prolific voiceover work.

Earlier this year, he was honored by SAG-AFTRA with a lifetime achievement award. In a statement to The Associated Press, the organisation, which represents actors, journalists and others, called the allegations “compelling and devastating” and contrary to its attempts to make sure working environments are safe in the industry.

The CNN report includes the account of a production assistant on the 2017 heist film Going In Style, who detailed an incident in which the actor repeatedly

tried to lift up her skirt, and asked if she was wearing underwear. She alleged that Freeman subjected her to unwanted touching and comments on a near-daily basis on the film.

Several women alleged that he made frequent comments about their bodies, or would stare at them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. CNN spoke to 16 people about Freeman; eight said they had experienced harassment or inappropriate behavior, and eight said they had witnessed such conduct.

PROBE: MISSILE THAT DOWNED PLANE CAME FROM RUSSIA-BASED UNIT BUNNIK, Netherlands Associated Press THE missile used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 aboard, belonged to a Russia-based military unit, an international team of investigators said Thursday after painstakingly studying video and photos of a military convoy.

The criminal investigation team “has concluded that the Buk Telar with which Flight MH17 was shot down is from the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade from Kursk in the Russian Federation,” said Wilbert Paulissen, head of the Netherlands’ National Crime Squad, referring to the missile system used.

It was the clearest link yet published by the investigators to the involvement of Russian military in the deadly surface-to-air missile strike on the Boeing 777, and it echoed findings published in 2016 by the Bellingcat investigative group.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of Flight 17, which was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was blown out of

the sky at 33,000 feet (about 10,000 meters) over warravaged eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

Bodies, debris and burning wreckage were strewn over a field of sunflowers near the rebel-held village of Hrabove in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Russian border, where fighting had been raging for months.

On Thursday, Russia criticised the Joint Investigation Team, or JIT, for relying on claims by Bellingcat. “If the international investigative team is indeed interested in tracking down the real culprits of the MH17 catastrophe, its members would better rely on facts and witness testimony and not fakes produced by Bellingcat and Ukraine’s Security Service,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also criticised the investigators for allegedly ignoring evidence provided

by Russia, including radar surveillance of the airspace at the time of the flight.

“In these circumstances, we have legitimate questions about the true underlying cause of the decision of the JIT

to disclose the preliminary conclusion,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.

Prosecutors said they have presented their findings to Moscow and are seeking answers, but so far have not received a response. The international team running the criminal investigation appealed for help from witnesses who can testify about the involvement of the Russian military’s 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade.

Prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said the new conclusion raised new questions, “such as the question about how actively involved the brigade itself was in bringing down Flight MH17”.

Westerbeke said the JIT is not yet ready to identify suspects, but added: “I can say that we are now entering the ... last phase of the investigation.”

Prosecutors said in 2016 that the plane was shot down by a Buk 9M38 missile fired from territory controlled by Russia-backed rebels, using a mobile launcher trucked in from Russia and hastily returned there.

Thursday’s presentation went a step further by identifying the exact unit allegedly involved.

MYSTERY OVER SONIC ATTACK FEAR BEIJING Associated Press

NO explanation has yet been found for a US government employee’s report of abnormal sensations of sound and pressure, China said Thursday, as the incident in southern Guangzhou city recalled the experiences of illness-stricken American diplomats in Cuba.

“China is already conducting a careful investigation, and we have already given the US preliminary feedback,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu

Kang said during a regular news briefing.

“At this point, we have not yet found any reason or clue leading to the situation described by the US,” Lu said, adding that China adheres to the Vienna Convention on protecting foreign diplomats.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that when the US informed China of the incident in Guangzhou, “They said all the right things and have demonstrated their willingness to help

us identify the vector which led to this medical incident.”

The State Department has dispatched a medical team to Guangzhou, where “subtle and vague, but abnormal, sensations of sound and pressure” were reported by an American government worker.

Last October, the State Department ordered nonessential embassy personnel and the families of all staff to leave Havana after at least 24 Americans experienced a range of mysterious ailments, often after hearing an unusual sound.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 25, 2018, PAGE 13

A DAY TO REMEMBER Students celebrate university graduation

THE UNIVERSITY of Bahamas held its graduation yesterday at the national stadium, with a total of 751 women and 157 men graduating.

Photos: Terrel W Carey/ Tribune Staff

PAGE 14, Friday, May 25, 2018

Dear Client,

THE TRIBUNE

‘The Bahamas’ own street philosopher’

We are resuming operations at our East Mall Branch location on Friday, 25 May, 2018 with normal banking hours.

We wish to thank you for your patience and support during this transition period. Our bank remains committed to providing you with exceptional customer service.

Our Instant teller machines remain accessible at the following locations: • • • • • • •

East Mall Drive Port Lucaya Solomon’s Port Lucaya Solomon’s Queens Highway RAND Memorial Hospital Municipal Motors Boulevard Service Station

We regret any inconvenience and remind you that our Internet and Mobile Banking Services are available 24-hrs.

To donate to the Potcake House Fire Relief Fund, go into or electronic transfer to any Bank of The Bahamas branch, to account number 5510082190 (main branch 157) in the name of Loxley Thompson