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Chinese ‘agree’ to complete Baha Mar

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net  PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday touted the government’s success in negotiations with the Export Import Bank of China (EXIM) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) over the stalled Baha Mar re-

No word on payment for Bahamian creditors

sort, saying all parties have entered into a “framework agreement� to complete the project “as expeditiously as possible�.

However he gave no concrete resolution on the issue of payment to unsecured Bahamian creditors, only saying they would be

“considered� during the re-mobilisation process, adding that negotiations were underway to agree to appropriate timelines and a schedule for completion.

Mr Christie further addressed concerns over whether new contractors would be hired to complete

$22m has been allocated so people can be “paid to work and train in a very formal manner, with certification on completion of the apprenticeship period�.

Perhaps anticipating criticism, Mr Christie said the programme is unlike the 52-week jobs programme created by the former Ingraham administration in 2011 that was bashed by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), then in opposition, as an attempt to sway votes ahead of the 2012 general election.

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE government will launch a $22m apprenticeship programme aimed to reduce youth unemployment, Prime Minister Christie announced during his 2016/2017 Budget Communication yesterday.

The programme will be jointly managed by the Office of the Prime Minister and the National Training Agency, he said.

Mr Christie said yesterday that under the government’s new programme,

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Holdings - the developer of Baha Mar - this defies the sensibility of all Bahamians who toiled so hard in the belief that the $3.5bn hotel would be opened in a timely manner as a world-class destination.

The developer said it is very discouraging that the

VAT CUT FROM EDUCATION FEES, ‘FANTASY BABY CLOTHES, SOME GROCERIES BUDGET FAILS

By NICO SCAVELLA measures� the government Tribune Staff Reporter is proposing to execute, Mr TO TACKLE nscavella@tribunemedia.net Christie announced while  delivering his 2016/2017 PROBLEMS’ THE government is seek- Budget Communication in

$22M APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME ‘NOT LIKE 52-WEEK PROGRAMME’

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Baha Mar. He said courtappointed receiver managers confirmed that CSCEC and China Construction America (CCA) Bahamas are contracted to, and will remain in place to, finish the resort.

However, according to a statement released by BMD

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday.

Photos: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

ing to eliminate the 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on ancillary fees paid for education services in the country, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday.

The proposal is one of 16 “tax relief and rationalisation

the House of Assembly.

According to VAT legislation, education services, including tuition-funded courses at schools and programmes leading to graduate and undergraduate

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net   DESPITE the failure of the government’s mortgage relief plan early in this political term, Prime Minister

Perry Christie yesterday announced plans to revive the scheme, revealing that it will cost taxpayers $20m over four years.

This initiative was one of the Christie administration’s underperforming

programmes and led the Prime Minister to admit in 2013 that only four or five homeowners were expected to receive assistance through the initial plan.

SEE PAGE SIX

FRESH PLEDGE FOR $20M MORTGAGE RELIEF

SEE PAGE SIX

BUDGET COVERAGE ON PAGES 2,3,5,6,7, ADRIAN GIBSON ON PAGES 8-9 AND IN BUSINESS

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday called the Prime Minister’s 2016/2017 Budget Communication “a complete fantasy� being used to “secure an Election Day victory�.

He provided the opposition’s preliminary response to Perry Christie’s extensive budget presentation, criticising the government for doing “next to nothing� to address the nation’s SEE PAGE SEVEN

CASH: IT IS TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net  FORMER Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash yesterday blamed FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis for the “dismal state� of the Of-

ficial Opposition and said it is now time for the party to seek “fresh, new� leadership.

In a statement, Mr Cash said Dr Minnis and his entire leadership team must give a full accounting of his stewardship of the FNM. He also said a full conven-

tion with all the accountability factors built in is the right way for that to happen and called for it to be held in the next 90 days.

Mr Cash also lamented that the FNM has become “a shadow of its former self� and risks being “sunk by an anchor of leadership that

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EXIM Bank, knowing full well the serious irregularities already demonstrated by its sister company CSCEC, would now turn to this very same entity to complete the work which its subsidiary CCA has failed to do time and again on previous schedules that it has provided.

SEE PAGE THREE

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has been found wanting�. “There are many people who share responsibility for this unfortunate position, but there is no escaping the harsh reality - the current dismal state of the FNM goes to leadership.�

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Thursday, May 26, 2016 2016 THE TRIBUNE THE TRIBUNE

PRIME Minister Perry Christie and his parliamentary team arrive at the House of Assembly.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

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LICENCES ‘SOON’ FOR NATION’S SECOND CELLULAR PROVIDER, SAYS PM

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) will award licences to the country’s second cellular mobile services provider soon, Prime Minister Perry Christie said during his budget communication yesterday.

He added that within three months after the licences have been granted, the provider will be obligated to provide coverage to 99 per cent of New Providence and 80 per cent of Grand Bahama.

Additionally, within six months the provider will be obligated to provide reliable service to Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini, Andros and Exuma.

And within eight months, the provider will be obligated to provide coverage to 85 per cent of Andros, 99 per cent of Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini and Exuma.

Within 12 months, Mr Christie said, the provider will be required to provide 99 per cent of coverage to Andros, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador, the Berry Islands, Inagua and Ragged Island.

And within 18 months, the provider would be required to give coverage to 99 per cent of Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, Rum Cay and Mayaguana.

In October last year, Cable Bahamas Ltd (CBL) won the bid to participate in the process that would liberalise the cellular mobile market.

As such, under the government’s terms, CBL will

be a minority shareholder (48.25 per cent) in a new company, NewCo, that will provide the cellular services. Another company, HoldingCo, 51.75 per cent owend by CBL, has been formed to be NewCo’s majority shareholder. Both entities will be 100 per cent Bahamian owned.

While the government is currently the sole shareholder of HoldingCo, Mr Christie said the task force on cellular liberalisation will begin “soliciting eligible investors” to take control of the company.

Those potential investors include institutions like “local pension/mutual funds” and “co-operative credit unions”, he said.

Mr Christie said the shares in HoldingCo will be offered to such institutions within the next few months.

“Such an offering will ensure that the equity ownership in HoldingCo is as widely distributed as possible so that there will be broad Bahamian ownership,” he said.

Nonetheless, he did not specify when NewCo will receive its licenses.

The government currently has a 49 per cent stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), which is currently the country’s only cellular service provider.

“We understand the market and the expectations of Bahamians,” said Anthony Butler, CBL president.

“The mobile service needs to be reliable, affordable and fully support applications that customers want to use, and that is what Bahamians can look forward to from us.”

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 3

Chinese ‘agree’ to complete Baha Mar

from page one During his lengthy 2016/2017 Budget Communication, the Prime Minister said the new framework agreement was the result of two days of “successful meetings” between Bahamian government officials, the EXIM Bank and CSCEC. He told Parliament that late last week, the government was invited by the EXIM Bank to Beijing, China, with a view to resolving pertinent issues to enable the early remobilisation and completion of the project, including addressing the legitimate interests of Bahamian creditors.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson and Sir Baltron Bethel, senior policy advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister, led the delegation that represented government interests in Beijing.

The announcement was a point of contention during the budget presentation with seated opposition members shouting “shameful” and “sell out” as Mr Christie spoke.

“Mr Speaker, it is always shocking when you see people who are elected to Parliament to represent the Bahamian people wishing and hoping that something would not happen but it has happened,” he said in response to jeering from the side opposite.

“I am satisfied based on the statement and the assurances given in Beijing that every effort is being made to enable an earliest possible re-mobilisation and that adequate funding is in place to provide for the completion of the project and the satisfaction of the legitimate claims of Bahamian contractors and suppliers.”

NEGOTIATIONS While reading a joint statement on behalf of the EXIM Bank and CSCEC, Mr Christie maintained his optimism saying the framework agreement provided a pathway forward for the completion of the resort.

He said the arrangement

on any schedule they provide.

The statement read: “Today’s statement by CEXIM and CSCEC defies the sensibility of all Bahamians who toiled so hard in the belief that Baha Mar would be opened in a timely manner as a worldclass destination. It is very discouraging that China EXIM Bank, knowing full well the serious irregulariBAHA MAR ties already demonstrated provided a framework for agree appropriate terms by its sister company Chiputting in place the financ- for construction to recom- na State Construction Ening required to complete mence and to prepare a con- gineering Corp, would now Baha Mar and for CSCEC’s struction agreement which turn to this very same enindirect subsidiary CCA will provide the schedule tity to complete the work Bahamas to re-mobilise timeline for completion of which its subsidiary CCA and restart construction to the project. It is expected has failed to do time and finish the project as expedi- that many contractors who again on previous schedhave participated in the ules that it has provided. tiously as possible.

“When CSCEC was construction of the project “What we now have is hired, when China Export will be reengaged in this The Bahamas being forced Import Bank came into the process. to witness to its potential “The requirement of the detriment, as the former financing, the Progressive Liberal Party was in op- unsecured Bahamian credi- great baseball star Yogi position. This was a matter tors will also be considered Berra said, ‘déjà vu all superintended by the FNM during the re-mobilisation over again’ at the hands of and the PLP government and Mr Speaker what I am CCA. so happy about (is) EXIM, inherited it. “... This is of particular “Following two days of CSCEC and CCA Bahamas concern if CCA is to undersuccessful meetings be- will work closely with the take the completion absent tween representatives of Bahamian government with of independent testing and the government of the a view to see the Baha Mar supervision such as that Bahamas, the Export Im- resort project through to provided by the original port Bank of China and 100 per cent completion so developer.

The possible China State Construction that Baha Mar can achieve ramifications of all of this Engineering Corporation, its true purpose providing include fatal impairment to we are pleased to confirm thousands of high quality the unsecured creditors, the that EXIM and CSCEC, jobs to the Bahamian peo- depriving of much needed the lender to Baha Mar ple and ongoing economic work for Bahamian conand the parent company boom to The Bahamas. tractors, and increased risk “The Bahamian govern- with respect to whether or of the resort’s general contractor respectfully, have ment is fully committed to not the resort will indeed entered into a framework provide all necessary as- ever open.” agreement which provides sistance and cooperation It continued: “We once a pathway forward for the required for the early com- again urge China EXIM completion of the Baha pletion and opening of the Bank, for the sake of the project.”

Mar resort.

Bahamas, and for its own Following the Prime economic self-interests, to “The arrangement prorevelations, enter into discussions with vides for a framework for Minister’s putting in place the financ- BMD Holdings said there us with respect to our ofing required for complet- is nothing in CCA’s past fer, which would allow the ing the project and for performance at the West unsecured creditors to be CSCEC’s indirect sub- Bay Street development paid, the bank to not to that 26th it May sidiary CCA Bahamas to that lent confidence have2016 to incur a discount on Thursday, re-mobilise and restart would complete the resort the monies it is owed, and construction to finish the project as expeditiously as A thought on 'Courtesy': possible.”

"Remember the days when He added: “Negotiations between CCA Bahamas you let 10 cars out of a and the receivers appointed corner, you heard 10

by EXIM are underway to different horn sounds?

which would facilitate the return of many Bahamians to work. We also look forward to a full hearing in the Bahamian court on the claims against CCA and CSCEC for their lack of performance.”

Baha Mar announced that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 29, 2015 in a US court. However the cases for the resort’s Bahamian properties were thrown out.

Last October, the Su-

preme Court placed the resort into receivership at the request of the EXIM Bank.

A formal sale process for the $3.5 billion project began last month, when Baha Mar’s court appointed receivers hired a Canadian real estate firm to market the project to potential buyers.

The resort was initially slated to open December 2014, but faced a series of delays, which it blamed on CCA.

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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 .

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

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Brazil leaders hit by secret recordings RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Secretly recorded conversations hit two more key allies of Brazil’s acting president Wednesday, leaving the country wondering if there are more taps that could affect the interim government after only 13 days in office.

The audios involve prominent members of the fractious Brazilian Democratic Movement Party led by Michel Temer, who took over the presidency after the Senate suspended President Dilma Rousseff pending an impeachment trial.

The first recording has Senate President Renan Calheiros proposing in a conversation with a former senator to weaken one of the key tools prosecutors have used to catch politicians and businessmen in a sweeping corruption scandal at the big state oil company Petrobras.

The second audio reveals former President Jose Sarney promising to help the same ex-senator overcome the probe into what prosecutors say was a multibilliondollar bribery scheme involving Petrobras contracts. In it, Sarney also says “certain conditions” were negotiated with the opposition to replace Rousseff with Temer, her vice president.

Transcripts and audio recordings of the conversations, published by the newspaper Folha de S Paulo, seem likely to feed widespread suspicions that top lawmakers are trying to stifle the Petrobras investigation. They also could bolster Rousseff’s contention that the impeachment process was more of a political solution to the Petrobras scandal than a punishment for her alleged violation of fiscal rules.

In the first audio, Calheiros suggests legal changes to bar the use of plea bargains with people who have been arrested in the Petrobras case. Prosecutors have used such deals, offering lighter sentences to persuade suspects to implicate highranking businessmen and politicians, including Calheiros.

“You can’t make a plea deal while arrested. That’s the first thing,” Calheiros says in a wide-ranging conversation about the Petrobras probe with Sergio Machado, an ex-senator and former head of another state oil company, Transpetro.

Machado also is being investigated.

The Supreme Federal Tribunal, Brazil’s highest court, is considering seven investigations against Calheiros in the Petrobras probe. Even so, in the recording, Calheiros says he could “negotiate” with the justices a “transition” from Rousseff to Temer. He didn’t provide details in the taped conversation.

Rousseff was suspended by a Senate impeachment vote earlier this month and Temer will be acting president while senators put her on trial within six months.

A conviction would permanently remove Rousseff and Temer would serve out her term that runs to the end of 2018.

Calheiros’ office issued a statement acknowledging the conversation took

place but insisting the comments “don’t reveal, indicate or suggest any mention or attempt to interfere with” the Petrobras probe.

Later Wednesday, Folha released the second recording in which Sarney promised Machado that he would work to keep the investigation of the former senator out of the hands of lower court judge Sergio Moro.

Moro, the lead judge on the Petrobras probe, has gone after many people who don’t hold federal elected offices or Cabinet positions. Only the Supreme Federal Tribunal can decide to try the latter.

Sarney, who is also the father of Temer’s environment minister, said in a statement that he was driven by “solidarity” for Machado. “I regret that private conversations become public because they can hurt others we would never want to reach,” he said.

Sarney also said that a plea bargain by executives at the giant Odebrecht construction company is a “machine gun” against politicians of all political parties, including Rousseff. Calheiros agreed with that assessment in his audios.

The newspaper did not say when or by whom the recordings were made. However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Federal Tribunal announced that Machado had reached a plea bargain with prosecutors, making it a strong possibility he made the recordings.

The court did not provide details of the deal and Machado’s whereabouts could not be determined.

The audios came out two days after another recording released by Folha, also involving Machado, raised suggestions that this month’s impeachment and suspension of Rousseff was part of an attempt to stifle the Petrobras investigations.

That audio showed Romero Juca, a senator who was part of the Cabinet named to replace Rousseff’s, strategizing with Machado about impeaching Rousseff to stop “the bleeding.” Juca announced he was taking a leave of absence within hours after the recording was released.

Rousseff has repeatedly said the allegations that she broke fiscal rules in managing the federal budget are a cover for a “coup” aimed partly at limiting the Petrobras probe.

On Wednesday, the Senate’s impeachment commission was considering a timeline for Rousseff’s trial.

Sen Antonio Anastasia suggested the final vote happen Aug. 2, only three days before the opening of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. More than 100 heads of state are expected to arrive in the days before the games begin.

Rousseff allies have said a schedule should not be set until after her defense is sent to the commission next week.

By Mauricio Savarese and Peter Prengaman, Associated Press

Questions over equality vote EDITOR, The Tribune.

REGARDING the upcoming referendum, I asked my self two questions. Firstly, will the genders truly be equal if the bills are passed?

Secondly, who stands to benefit most?

It must be obvious that despite all the arguments generated by the four points posed by the drafters of this referendum, the genders will not be equal if these bills are passed. This makes the branding of this referendum as a gender equality issue disingenuous.

This point alone made me question the actual intent behind the proposals.

Secondly, does the country or Bahamians at large

really benefit? Again the answer is no. There should be clearly defined criterion for citizenship and any qualified person should be able to apply. Whether or not they are married should be irrelevant.

If a single person meets the criterion for citizenship and they apply, should they be denied?

A married foreigner should go through the same process as the single person to qualify.

In my opinion, no foreign spouse of either sex should be granted consideration for citizenship on the basis of marriage alone.

Concerning children born out of wedlock, don’t they have citizenship in a country already? Are they

not able to make application to become Bahamian citizens through processes now available?

With the mammoth problems facing this small nation, I question the wisdom of having this referendum at this juncture. It seems that the time, effort and public funds spent in relation to this referendum issue is a waste of time and merely a distraction.

The posing of the questions of this referendum only highlights the fact that what we really need are clear guidelines and pathways to apply for Bahamian citizenship.

JB Nassau, May 20, 2016.

Analsying bills in the referendum EDITOR, The Tribune.

PERHAPS the best explanation of the fourth question in the upcoming Referendum can be found in an analysis done by a partner in one of the major law firms in The Bahamas.

It comes down to an understanding of the English language and the power of words. Most successful lawyers know more about English than they know about the Law, and they win many of their cases on technicalities and their adversaries ignorance to the many nuances and inferences embodied in the terms and expressions that are inherent in the English language; explicit or implied.

For us to have an understanding of what is amiss in Bill Four, we will have to consider what is an attribute. In most dictionaries, an attribute has a couple of associated meanings; an inherent characteristic, an accidental quality, an object closely associated or belonging to a specific person, to regard as a characteristic of a person or thing, in brief it has a definition that is fluid.

“Article 26 (3) prohibits discrimination based on five grounds: race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, and creed. Sex is not

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net included in the list of attributes.”

If Bill Four is passed, Sex will be defined as an attribute in Article 26 (3) because it is included in a list of other attributes. If Bill Four passes we will also be creating a conflict within the Constitution itself, a conflict that will have to be settled in Court. Is that why there is a Gate symbol for a “No” vote?

With this in mind, it can be said that this Referendum exercise is more about opening a door or gate so that an “assertion” can be made. We must be reminded that with the insertion of “Sex” into Article 26(3), the definition of “Sex” becomes fluid.

If we sum it all up we can see that the Bill will do more than establish equality, it will establish “equivalence” and will end “distinctions” between men and women. “It will make men and women interchangeable”.

The Yes Campaign and its main spokesperson who is an esteemed Law professor may have to go back to her books or get her priorities right. Someone even more

esteemed than herself, the Hon Paul Adderley, posed the same concerns in the 2002-2006 Referendum exercise; I do not know if he was paid the same amount of money that she is being paid but I know we got reasonable service from him. She and her Party of which Mr Adderley was a founding father are doing this nation harm through her obvious bias.

I also wanted to touch on Bill Three that may allow for citizenship to be granted, without the act of sex being involved, but that is another letter.

Note: Bill Three needs closer attention. Let me give you an hypothesis: A young Bahamian male is in a foreign land and he comes upon hard times.

He is able to make some money by being a sperm donor, depending on how much he “donates”, there could be enough little soldiers to populate one of our Islands. Giving many women and even couples who are not Bahamian the right to produce Bahamian offspring. Editor, can you check on the retroactive nature of the first three bills, it seems like that is still undecided.

EDWARD HUTCHESON Nassau, May 20, 2016.

Perpall’s Tract drainage EDITOR, The Tribune I LIVE in Perpall’s Tract in Nassau and I have been living there for over 40 years. It is a lovely and peaceful neighbourhood, with caring and concerned individuals. I would not choose to live anywhere else in this country.

However, we in Perpall’s Tract have been plagued with a nagging problem from since I can remember our family moving here.

The drainage system in our neighbourhood is terrible. Attempts at solving the problem were made some years ago; however, even though the results were good, in our opinion, they were not good

enough.

My good neighbour pointed out to me today that if Nassau were to be “hit” with a category 4 or category 5 hurricane, our residences would be seriously compromised. So we are trying to be proactive in trying to convince the Minister of Works to take our plight under extreme consideration and come to a conclusion that these people are in desperate need of help.

I am not exaggerating.

Nassau has been fortunate for a long time now as far as experiencing the destructive properties of dangerous hurricanes. We, in Nassau, were lucky again last year when the Bahamas were in

Joaquin’s path. Joaquin utterly destroyed some parts of the Family Islands. Part of the remnants of these destructive hurricanes is flooding and all that is attendant with it. What we are trying to do in Perpall’s Tract is to head the anticipated problem off at the pass.

It was an excellent suggestion by my good neighbour to write this letter in the hopes that Phillip “Brave” Davis would see it and do something about it very quickly - before it is too late.

MARVIN G LIGHTBOURN Nassau May 25, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 5

PM committed to NHI - but no word on cost or timetable

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Tribune Staff Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

WHILE insisting that the government remains committed to implementing National Health Insurance (NHI), Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday failed to reveal a definite cost for the scheme or a concrete timeline for its roll out.

However, the Prime Minister said Cabinet has approved a single governance model that will accelerate the implementation of universal health coverage while providing effective oversight of the programme.

The approved, integrat-

ed universal health coverage governance structure will allow for quick and effective decision making with transparency and accountability, Mr Christie said.

During his 2016/2017 Budget Communication, Mr Christie was passionate in lamenting the “unacceptable” 70 per cent of Bahamians that still do not have health insurance.

Mr Christie said not being able to afford healthcare can result in illnesses that are preventable and that can be avoided through access to primary care, the first phase of coverage.

He said: “The provision

of practical and cost effective universal healthcare to Bahamians remains a key priority of my government.

The subject of National Health Insurance continues to attract healthy debate among medical practitioners and others.

“However, my commitment, and that of the government, to the accessibility and affordability of basic medical services and the improvement of the quality of life for Bahamians, is unequivocal and together with the involvement of leadership from the NHI Bahamas Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, the Public Hospitals Authority and

our global partner in health care, KPMG Bahamas, we are committed to delivering health care that is modern, affordable and accessible for all legal residents of The Bahamas.

“It is also unacceptable that 32 per cent of Bahamians who needed medical treatment at some point did not seek it because of cost.

It cannot be underscored enough that in a modern Bahamas this is our opportunity to provide all Bahamians with the means and wherewithal to obtain routine medical services for themselves and their families.”

Mr Christie said the im-

$22M APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME ‘NOT LIKE 52-WEEK PROGRAMME’

from page one

That programme paid and placed Bahamians who were unsuccessful at finding jobs in various positions in both the private and government sector. The employers then had the option to permanently hire the workers if they so desired after 52 weeks.

In criticising the plan, the PLP said some people paid under the scheme did not show up to work.

In speaking yesterday about his government’s new apprenticeship programme, Mr Christie said: “The programme differs from the jobs programme introduced by the previous administration in that it is not strictly about job placement for the unemployed but rather training to ensure that persons are able to attract and retain long-term employment.

“The government also intends to employ immediately individuals from the apprenticeship programme to work on the creation of two green spaces for public use in New Providence. One will be situated at Lake Killarney and the other, at the National Heroes Park, in an area just south of the Botanical Gardens. We have promised a National Heroes Park and now it is being brought about.

“Young people with an aptitude and willingness to learn professional landscaping will be engaged to assist with the development of these green spaces and will be apprenticed to professional and skilled land-

plementation of NHI Bahamas is reflected in the government’s continual assessment and evaluation of medical professionals, healthcare facilities, allocation of resources and effective delivery of services. All of these elements, he said, are of vital importance to

the core of health systems strengthening and an essential aspect of the successful implementation of NHI Bahamas.

NHI’s primary care phase was supposed to be launched in April. However the government delayed the roll out earlier this year.

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PARLIAMENTARIANS ahead of yesterday’s Budget presentation. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff spective trades.” youth unemployment inMr Christie similarly an- creased by nearly five per nounced last year that $20m cent in the second part of was allocated through Ur- last year compared to the ban Renewal to deal with previous period for which a youth unemployment. That survey was conducted. programme was launched The unemployment rate in conjunction with the In- for people aged 15 to 29 was ter-American Development recorded at 30 per cent.

Bank.

Yesterday, Mr Christie Specifics were not giv- also said, within the fiscal en, but Labour and Na- year, the government will tional Insurance Minister seek to bring the number of Shane Gibson said that temporary and contractual programme would identify workers to an irreducible at-risk youth and provide minimum. them with “training and capacity building” that would equip them with new skills.

There has not yet been a public accounting of the progress made under that programme.

Nonetheless, according to data by the Department of Statistics in December,

scapers. Both of these projects will be co-ordinated and managed by the Parks and Beaches Authority with Lake Killarney being done in concert with Bahamas National Trust and the Nature Conservancy,” he said.

Mr Christie said the programme is structured similarly to a programme that already exists between the government and the Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd (GBSL). The GBSL plan is expected, he said, to increase its intake under its apprentice programme “for skilled trades to 40 per year, of which roughly three quarters will be trade apprentices and one quarter technical/commercial apprentices.”

He added: “At the end of the training period, the trainees will be assessed and certified by external, US examiners and will then work alongside experienced workers for a six- to 12-month period to become fully proficient in their re-

PAGE 6, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

VAT cut from education fees, baby clothes, some groceries

from page one degrees, are exempt from the tax. However, ancillary fees, which are typically requisite fees levied by academic institutions outside the actual cost of tuition, are not covered by the exemption.

Using the College of the Bahamas as an example, VAT would be removed from the institution’s non-degree related fees.

Mr Christie also said the government is proposing to allow for the waiver of real property tax arrears for owner-occupied properties with values less than $250,000, which he said could potentially benefit over 41,000 homeowners. Mr Christie also said the government is seeking to allow the real property tax concessions granted to residential properties last year to be extended to commercial properties with the exception of “properties which are now subject to collection”.

Mr Christie also said the government is proposing to “reduce or eliminate” the duty on a number of household grocery items, including appliances and parts, prepared turkey, ham, beef and chicken meat, macaroni, spaghetti, ice cream, biscuits, waffles, cakes and pastries.

He also said the government plans to eliminate the duty on baby clothes and reduce the duty on used clothing; eliminate the duty on costume jewellery, perfumes and certain leather goods, as well as reduce or eliminate the duty on various building materials such as plywood, sheet rock and cement.

Mr Christie also said that $10m in interim payments for former CLICO (Bahamas) policyholders have been made as of last month.

Mr Christie said 3,078 cheques totalling $10.2m in payments had been collected as of April 29. Conversely, he said a total of $2.1m - spread amongst 1,649 cheques - remains uncollected by former policyholders.

PRIME Minister Perry Christie delivering his Budget communication yesterday.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff

FRESH PLEDGE FOR $20M MORTGAGE RELIEF

from page one

However, three years later, during his last budget communication before the next general election, Mr Christie said his administration has designed a “comprehensive” mortgage relief programme in collaboration with the Clearing Banks Association to assist borrowers negatively impacted by the financial crisis.

The revamped programme will provide financial incentives that will allow banks to offer bor-

rowers who have some ability to pay, but have fallen behind, the chance to get back on track, Mr Christie said.

“Subject to programme eligibility criteria, banks will offer qualifying borrowers a minimum 20 per cent to 25 per cent reduction in monthly payments,” the Prime Minister said during his 2016/2017 Budget Communication.

“For their part, borrowers will be required to attend a financial counselling programme that will be established and run by the government.

“According to initial estimates, upwards of 1,000 delinquent borrowers, which are persons who are 90 days or more in arrears as of May 1, 2016, are anticipated to qualify initially for the mortgage relief programme. That number could of course go higher.

“The programme has been designed to make it as attractive as possible for eligible borrowers to agree to participate - eg, through large reductions in monthly payments, the ability to immediately start paying lower amounts prior to loan modification paperwork,

etc,” he said.

“As well, the programme has been designed on the basis of the most current information from the banks’ own portfolios, thereby maximising the chances that programme participation will materialise. The total cost is estimated to be in the range of $20 million over four years and will be paid by the government.”

Mr Christie said he is fully cognisant that this programme, although well structured, does not address the root cause of the mortgage crisis in the Bahamas, nor does it provide a

guarantee that persons who may fall into financial difficulty are afforded a duty of care by their lender with respect to their home.

In this regard, he said the government is also discussing with the Clearing Banks Association guidelines on how to treat delinquent mortgagors.

“We want to ensure that a Bahamian who is delinquent is afforded opportunities to retain his or her home or, if all else fails, gives up that home in a dignified manner. To achieve this objective of which I have spoken - to keep Bahamians in their homes - a revised Home Owners Protection Bill will be presented to this House for passage before the end of this calendar year. We are in the pro-

cess of settling this.”

He said additional details on the mortgage relief programme would be provided during the budget debate, which will begin next month.

When the PLP’s mortgage relief plan was officially introduced in September, 2012, there were an estimated 4,000 homeowners in mortgage payment arrears.

That year, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said that around 1,000 would likely qualify for assistance under the plan.

As a result, the government later announced that $10 million would be allocated to the plan, which was a major 2012 election campaign promise and listed in the PLP’s Charter for Governance.

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 7

‘Fantasy budget fails to tackle problems’

LEADER of the FNM Dr Hubert Minnis outside the House of Assembly yesterday. FNM deputy Peter Turnquest described the Budget as a “fantasy”.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff from page one increasing unemployment, debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio and international credit ratings.

“Despite their best efforts there is no running from the truth,” stressed the East Grand Bahama MP. According to Mr Turnquest, the speech was “carefully crafted” with the intent of misleading the Bahamian public and give the impression that the government had successfully resolved the Baha Mar dispute and cut fiscal borrowing - two things the government moved to “grossly misrepresent”.

“There was nothing exciting about this budget,” he said. “It is interesting to me and I am very amazed that there was not more pork in this budget and of course, the details will tell us exactly where they plan to reallocate (this money).”

“The Prime Minister himself seemed subdued.

His Cabinet colleagues were thoroughly unimpressed and that is telling you something. It is telling you that the economy is in such a position that they cannot even risk - we are on such a precarious edge in terms of our ratings in terms of our international standing - giving out any additional election funding,” he said.

Mr Turnquest said that the Bahamas has spent most of the last four years in economic purgatory. He insisted that the stagnant outlook of the country’s economy stands in complete opposition to the points presented

by Mr Christie.

“We all know that there has been no progress and there is nothing here to celebrate. And I think the fact that there is nothing new here is an indictment, it is a confirmation that this government has run

out of ideas and they have no creativity left; no vision and frankly, have ran their course.”

Mr Christie, during his nearly four-hour presentation, lauded his government’s ability to secure a “framework agreement” to resume construction efforts at the Baha Mar resort and cut the government’s fiscal borrowing over the course of the next budget cycle.

He also announced a revamped mortgage relief initiative, an apprenticeship programme aimed to reduce youth unemployment, adjustments to customs rates and even minor programmes aimed at spurring economic growth.

However, Mr Turnquest said the government’s presentation did not address any of the underlining factors that have plagued the country’s economy over the last four years.

Discussing the ongoing Baha Mar matter, he said Mr Christie has once again failed to deliver on bloated promises.

“That I believe was a real letdown for most Bahamians. The Prime Minister has made this build-up that there was going to be some announcement today,” he said.

“What the Prime Minister brought today was an agreement between the government and the EXIM Bank to have a further discussion to some resolution to some date in the future.

Well, we have known that before.

“What we are looking for is some concrete steps, some concrete positions and a date certain when this project will be recommenced, when people will go back to work.”

He added: “The vendors, the contractors who are owed money, they want to know when can (they) expect to have (their) money.

We don’t want to hear that

you are in further discussions.”

Speaking on the government’s ability to lower its rate of borrowing from more than $500m in 2012 to roughly $99m in the upcoming fiscal year, Mr Turnquest warned the devil is in the details.

“The thing about that to watch is, while they borrow $99m to fund that deficit, they also borrow other money for other special projects along the way,” he said. “They are right, we don’t have to borrow the $500m that they normally borrow and you know why?

Because they have been taking it from the Bahamian people through VAT (Value Added Tax).

“There is nothing to celebrate here. If they were saying to me that they had brought down the level of expenditure to the point that they were saving ... then I would give them credit, then they would have something to celebrate. But all they have done is transfer the burden from them in borrowing - to you and I in expropriation in taxes.”

The FNM is expected analyse the 2016/2017 budget in the coming days.

Mr Turnquest told The Tribune that the party will be looking at the proposed expenditure to identify ways it could be contained.

“At the end of the day any additional revenue that is collected, the government has promised that they were going to pay down the national debt. The national debt has grown by $1.6bn over the last four years,” he said.

“We are now well into the danger zone of 76.3 per cent debt to GDP and ... that is a worry for all of us. So we have to find out how we can further tighten up on the revenue measures, while finding ways to cut that expenditure so that we truly end up with a financial situation that we are proud of.”

PAGE 8, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Chinese whispers as Christie speaks in riddles

A Young Man’s View

By ADRIAN GIBSON

I

N YET another filibusterous performance in the House of Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Perry Christie opened the 2016/2017 budget debate with a prevaricating talkathon that, generally, lacked substance or radical reforms.

Beyond the lack of substance, the four-hour communication - that began an hour late - was so unimpressive and visionless that it could demonstrably be seen as the sure fire cure for insomnia.

Mr Christie’s statements launched the Progressive Liberal Party’s 2017 general election campaign, prefacing the presentation of a budget that likely features a number of politically convenient carrots that will be dangled at the right time.

We are in an election year and the utterances of members of Mr Christie’s caucus were demonstrative of their keen awareness of that.

When you hear grown men and women shouting from their seats to the Opposition, with comments such as “y’all take dat!” and “ya thought you’ll had us aye” (or some variation of the same), then there is no wonder why youngsters observing such scenes sometimes behave in a disorderly manner. This is all demonstrative of the moronic political charades that lie ahead.

During yesterday’s communication, Mr Christie read and tabled a vacuous statement, announcing with much hyperbole that the Export Import Bank

‘

of China (EXIM) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) have entered into a “framework agreement” to complete the stalled Baha Mar resort “as expeditiously as possible”. He said the agreement was brokered following two days of “successful meetings” between Bahamian government officials, the EXIM Bank and CSCEC, which is the parent company of the resort’s general contractor China Construction America (CCA) Bahamas.

According to Mr Christie, he was reading from a joint statement by the EXIM Bank and CSCEC. Exactly what is a framework agreement? Can I see a copy of one please, a precedent if you will?

According to that statement, “the arrangement provides for a framework for putting in place the financing required for completion of the project and for CSCEC’s indirect subsidiary, CCA Bahamas, to re-mobilise and restart construction to finish the project as expeditiously as possible.”

So, CCA Bahamas, which also owns The Pointe on downtown Bay Street, will once again be allowed to build the resort when, according to the developer, “there is nothing in CCA’s past performance at Baha Mar that should lend confidence that they can complete Baha Mar on any schedule they provide and refrain from re-engaging in deceitful business practices, including overbilling and

Prime Minister Christie ought to have been ashamed to read a statement in the House that makes no mention of firm timelines or financing or a possible buyer or who will manage and operate the Baha Mar resort if and when it opens or the hotel brands that will now be involved or what happened to the original hotel brands that were involved or what further concessions were given to the Chinese or how many people would be rehired and when or if they had entirely dismissed Sarkis Izmirlian.’

PRIME Minister Perry Christie, centre, in full costume in 2013 as Valley Boys rushed along Bay Street with a Chinese theme. substituting inferior materi- consider the requirements would their further partici- saying that was a “nonals and systems to the detri- (ie payments, etc) of Baha- pation in the construction negotiable position” for his ment of the potential of this mian creditors. They gave process be and how does government. no firm commitment to that engender the confiresort.”

Mr Christie has never adWho will independently anything, just fancy words dence of prospective buy- dressed the other aspects test and supervise CCA? about what they will con- ers? of the purported letter, nor Surely not the Ministry of sider or propose to do. has he confirmed or denied his week, we heard that such a letter was not reI guess the PM’s view is Works, right? reports of demands ceived by him. We need to The fact that developer that help and hope is on the

by CCA whereby ensure that he answers that Sarkis Izmirlian was not way, but one ought not ask even mentioned means him how and when because, they purportedly wrote to very important question. that he has been put out it appears, he doesn’t know. the government requesting Here we have a situation Prime Minister Christie that the resort’s current de- where Attorney General to pasture and given the cold shoulder. Clearly, Mr ought to have been ashamed veloper Sarkis Izmirlian not Allyson Maynard-Gibson Izmirlian has been shafted to read a statement in the be involved with the pro- and senior policy adviwith a dirty political cutlass House that makes no men- ject, demanding a 30-year sor Sir Baltron Bethel flew and thrown out of the boat tion of firm timelines or fi- exclusivity with regards to first-class to China but the without a life vest. It ap- nancing or a possible buyer its casino licence, a 30-year most they could come up pears that both the govern- or who will manage and op- Value Added Tax exemp- with is a non-committing ment and the EXIM bank erate the resort if and when tion, a 25 per cent increase joint statement. Is there a have colluded and decided it opens or the hotel brands in concessions currently direct correlation between that they will have nothing that will now be involved or enjoyed by the resort, and the Attorney General’s curwhat happened to the origi- the granting of 500 citizen- rent trip and ongoing CCA to do with him.

The PM also said that nal hotel brands that were ships to Chinese nationals negotiations? talks were underway be- involved or what further attached to the project in What kind of skulduggery tween CCA Bahamas and concessions were given to various capacities. is afoot and why haven’t we The nation was livid. been informed of the dethe resort’s court-appointed the Chinese or how many receivers to agree to appro- people would be rehired Upon hearing of this, I tails surrounding these sepriate terms for construc- and when or if they had en- wondered if a Chinese gov- cret negotiations? tion to recommence and tirely dismissed Izmirlian. ernment entity would ever I think I’m going to learn to prepare a construction Whilst the devil may be in write to the State Depart- Mandarin. At the rate that agreement to provide the the details, we got none. ment of the United States we’re being outmanoeuvred timeline for the project’s Sir, the public is more con- and make such unreason- and out-negotiated by the fused today than we were able, far-fetched and crazed Chinese, at the rate that our completion. requests. Surely, they would country is being sold, I will What’s more, whilst the on Tuesday.

And, why was CCA be tossed out on their back- need to know it to survive in statement claimed that the EXIM bank and CSCEC brought back in when the sides. the new Bahamas (ChinaAlas, this is tantamount hamas). will re-mobilise at some developers have already point (when? Only they complained of their inces- to a Chinese test where they Mr Christie also borknow!), they - like the big- sant delays and there were see how far they could push rowed some of the Attorney ger bosses that they have concerns about shoddy con- the government.

General’s talking points, Mr Christie, on Monday proclaiming that swift jusbecome - said that they will struction work? What value night, described it as an tice has been a success. “absolute lie” that citizen- Look around you Sir, have ship in return for foreign in- you no shame! Swift justice vestment had been agreed, is an abject failure. Swift

T

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 9

‘

PARLIAMENTARIANS outside the House of Assembly yesterday ahead of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s Budget communication. justice should not be about convictions or winning cases for political mileage or issuing nolle prosequis to reduce the backlog.

This is possibly the last budget of Mr Christie’s career. It was painfully short on vision, creativity and progressive thought. It was a painfully disappointing communication. It was like watching toenails grow. It was tedious, slow and boring.

I hoped that the PM would have put deep consideration into the generation of this budget so that he can one day claim to have significantly altered the Bahamas. There was no evidence of that. Nothing that made you go “wow”.

Just a load of fluff and self praise.

Sir, you said that “BAMSI will continue to transform the agricultural sector”. How can BAMSI continue something it hasn’t yet started? Are we going to hear the same false praise for National Health Insurance as well? Clearly, there is an imaginary world out there somewhere.

I think I’m going to learn Mandarin.

At the rate that we’re being outmanoeuvred and out-negotiated by the Chinese, at the rate that our country is being sold, I will need to know it to survive in the new Bahamas (China-hamas).’

Interestingly, Mr Christie’s signature project is a re-working of former PM Hubert Ingraham’s 52week job programme. I recall the governing party roundly criticising the former government about that programme and yet now here they are. The government’s new apprenticeship/ job programme is meant to falsely reduce the employment rate. They are selling false hope. This is meant to swing the electorate and win the election. No doubt, friends, family and lovers will be the first to benefit.

The freebooters are coming out!

M

r Christie also promised to relaunch his mortgage relief plan. The mechanics of such a relaunch I will await the details of, but this time around I hope that

more than five people could be assisted. Mr Christie has again proffered the same reasoning for the relaunch as he did when they launched mortgage relief 1.0 and so we shall how many delinquent borrowers will qualify for the new programme, how effective the government’s fiscal responsibility programme relative to the applicants will be and if applicants will indeed see large reductions in monthly payments. I would also like to know whether the task force that will be established to administer the programme will be a statutory body?

I smell another election time ploy.

In his communication, the PM failed to properly address crime.

He did not satisfactorily address the issues that are important to Bahamians - crime, the economy and

jobs. He did not satisfy the hundreds of thousands of Bahamians who are gasping for air.

The speech reminds me of a pitcher in the late innings of a baseball game.

We are left feeling that we should have pulled him out at the end of the game and gone with the relief pitcher.

The PM did not address our concerns about Bahamian sovereignty, what it is to be Bahamian and the requirements to become one (and hopefully it’s not just building a hotel on Cable Beach). Given the mess we see with Baha Mar, the Bahamian public should now expect that many of the other contracts and agreements made between this government and foreign entities may need to be renegotiated in our best interest.

Unfortunately, that does not send the ideal message to future investors but it is the reality of what we are faced with. CCA is as complicit in the Baha Mar disaster as the government.

The Chinese are doing what colonising powers do best. At present, their hands

Photo: Peter Ramsay/BIS are wrapped around our national balls and they are squeezing ... hard. They can see the desperation of our political leaders; they know that they are only looking for a meal and a few service jobs.

They know that some of our leaders will sell our birthright on the altar of re-election.

They know that there are some who lead us who think that we’re fools, that we are - in the words of Rodney Moncur - “picky teeth Montobies!”

Mr Christie also announced that the government plans to own a majority stake in the new mobile carrier, ie Cable Bahamas.

Why is the government dabbling in the private sector?

When will we ever see true competition in this country? Why does the government need to own shares in BTC and Cable Bahamas’ mobile carrier? What the heck is this?

What about the details of National Health Insurance Mr Christie? You have still not said anything of substance.

I admit that I was pleased to see that the government

is developing a master plan for the development of Andros. Andros is a beautiful, vast space that should become an economic hub and, perhaps, either our economic or political capital one day.

Moreover, I commend Greg Moss for his Homeowners Protection Bill. He is the only MP who proposed such an independent member’s bill. I am thrilled that the government has decided to adopt such a noble bill and incorporate Mr Moss into the drafting and revising of his original bill.

Mr Christie also announced that the government will borrow $99.6 million to cover the disparity between revenue and expenditure. I will follow up on this in a later column.

I encourage Auditor General Terrence Bastian to keenly review all of these programmes by the end of the year. I expect to see much wastage, some “tiefin” and lots of political exploitation.

Comments and responses to ajbahama@hotmail.com

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PAGE 10, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

Cash: It is time for new leadership

from page one “More specifically, it goes to the leader Hubert A Minnis,” Mr Cash said.

“It is time for the leader to seek a fresh mandate.

I will elaborate on this in the course of the coming weeks, but it is clear to me that Dr Minnis has become the issue for the FNM. The mantra ‘Minnis can’t win’ has gained disheartening traction over the last 18 months. But I submit that this issue is secondary to the larger issue of party unity. Can Minnis pull the FNM together? That is the larger question. The evidence appears to be no.

“If our party leader has answered my earlier call for a ‘come to Jesus’ event, he has certainly taken the circuitous route. I have not seen it happening, and neither have thousands of anxious and dispirited FNMs. Evidence to the contrary is obvious. For far too long the FNM has been in perpetual decline. It is past time for

the hemorrhage of support and goodwill to end.”

Mr Cash said waiting for a November convention would be considered “cruel and unusual punishment”.

“An early and full national convention can now be the only place to resolve this untenable position.

Anything else would be the equivalence of shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic,” Mr Cash said.

Mr Cash referenced a recent scandal in the party that forced former Senator Lanisha Rolle to resign from her post. As reported exclusively by The Tribune earlier this month, an investigation was launched into comments made by Mrs Rolle during a private meeting with FNM political hopeful Lincoln Bain.

A purported audio recording of the meeting was circulated, and as reported

by The Tribune, Mrs Rolle was heard making disparaging remarks about FNM MPs, which drew ire from many in her party. She re-

signed days after The Tribune broke the story.

“Just over a week ago, before the most recent revelations, I suggested that our leader should seriously consider taking decisive steps to cut the FNM MPs who are not supporting him. I had no hesitation about giving the leader the benefit of the doubt. But now, the FNM version of the ‘Watergate tapes’ has changed all that.

“Now, it looks as if the MPs have been on solid grounds in having serious concerns about their leader and how he operates. According to the then ‘senior senator’, the leader seems to lack confidence in his team, and this begs the question, which one of them really has the power?

“It is now fair to say that there is a crisis of confidence in the FNM leader,” Mr Cash said. “The only meaningful course available to the leader of the FNM is one that reveals true leadership.

“He must go before a full FNM convention with a fresh

set of delegates to give an account of the party under his leadership. Given everything that has and has not transpired under his term in office, it is time for Dr Minnis to seek a fresh mandate.

As the FNM Central Council meets to deliberate our party’s date for convention, I paraphrase Lady Macbeth, ‘If it were done, then best it were done quickly.’”

In April, former Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette admitted to The Tribune that he would have liked to see an earlier date set for the FNM’s convention.

He also suggested that if party members presented “practical” reasons to reschedule the event sooner in the year, some consideration could be given.

The FNM’s convention is expected to run from November 15 to 19. At this time all positions, including that of leader, are expected to be open for challenge.

• Read Darron Cash’s full statement in Your Say on page 12.

ing the party into the next general election.

Mr Bannister, who was ratified as a candidate by the party on Monday, said he hopes the convention scheduled for November - will unify the party and restore confidence in the public of the FNM’s ability to govern.

“Bahamian people are looking for an alternative to the current government and they are telling me everywhere I go, they are seriously looking for it,” said Mr Bannister, who served

as a Cabinet minister in the last Ingraham administration.

“The FNM will be that alternative if we give Bahamians the confidence that we can govern. We have to pull together and show our fellow countrymen that we are capable of leading. I’m hoping that from the convention we will see that togetherness in the party that gives Bahamians the confidence in the organisation.

“Desmond Bannister has no intention of running for

leadership,” he added. “My interest is the people of Carmichael. I want to serve them and do the best I can.”

The FNM plans to hold its national convention in November; however, some members have called for an earlier date to address the deepening divide in the party over its leadership.

Yesterday, Mr Bannister said that although Dr Minnis has been the subject of intense criticism, the Killarney MP enjoys a high degree of respect from the public.

DARRON CASH

BANNISTER ‘WILL NOT SEEK LEADERSHIP POST’ AT CONVENTION

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) candidate for Carmichael Desmond Bannister yesterday said he would not seek a leadership post in the party at its next convention.

Instead he pointed to current leader Dr Hubert Minnis and former Deputy Leader Loretta ButlerTurner as qualified and respectable candidates, who were both capable of lead-

Career Opportunity Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited is seeking the services of a

Marketing Manager Position Summary: The Marketing Manager, Caribbean North provides complete marketing support including communications and public relations to the business in the district countries with primary focus on The Bahamas, this position also supports the marketing efforts of the Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands and works under general supervision on the execution of regional integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns that support growth, build portfolio balances and achieve loyalty objectives for the Bank’s business lines.

The incumbent will provide support to the following tasks: the ideation, production, implementation and execution of all marketing related activities, media planning for regional advertising campaigns and campaign budgets, help drive the communication strategy, enable the on-time, on budget and effective delivery of prospects-focused communications across all channels.

Key Accountabilities for this role include: 1. Development and delivery of campaigns and activities against the Annual Country Marketing Plans to support the achievement of Business Line Marketing Strategies and communication programs.

2. Media planning and management for local and regional campaigns and marketing tactics.

3. Execution and maintenance of the Bank’s comprehensive and integrated merchandising strategy that creates a positive sales environment in keeping with guidelines for display materials to support sales objectives, campaigns and periodic themes.

4. Assisting in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive base of market intelligence required to enable effective management of advertising activities through researching and tracking competitor positioning, messaging, advertising, promotions and other related activities .

5. Development and execution of internal and external communication strategies including the effective use of digital and social media to support campaigns and sales objectives across business lines while driving user engagement.

Required Skills: • Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

• Must simultaneously contribute to a multitude of projects and support activities across many stakeholder groups, for the district countries.

• A strong customer-focused orientation is required to interact with project stakeholders.

• Multi-tasking and time-management abilities to handle multiple concurrent initiatives with different time requirements.

• High level of creativity is required, as this role contributes to planning, development and implementation of marketing strategies.

• Strong communication and relationship building skills and ability to contribute to the campaign execution process engaging multiple internal and external partners.

Qualifications: • A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related discipline and 2-3 years of relevant experience.

• Experience in media planning and management, event planning and execution, merchandising material production and distribution.

• Working knowledge of brand and communication guidelines.

Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before June 2, 2016.

Please note that only those individuals short-listed for an interview will be contacted.

Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable).

®

“We focus on leaders,” he said. “Dr Minnis is the current leader and he has had a difficult position as leader for over four years in the party. It must have been an incredible strain and he has proven in personal life that he has been able to handle any number of challenges that he has faced.”

Mr Bannister added: “As for the other persons who at any stage sought (to be) leader, Loretta ButlerTurner is also extremely capable and highly regarded.

Whoever becomes leader,

whether Dr Minnis remains or she becomes leader, the party will have a firm leader that people have a high degree of respect for. None have been involved in any scandalous conduct, which requires them to explain themselves. They are citizens above reproach.”

Mr Bannister represented the Carmichael constituency from 2007 to 2012. He ran unsuccessfully in the North Andros constituency in 2012. He also served as an FNM senator this term until he resigned in 2013.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 11

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PAGE 12, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

It’s time for convention - Now!

Your Say

By DARRON CASH THE Free National Movement has become a shadow of its former self.

The party I love should be at a high watermark comparable to its position on August 19, 1992, the day of our first general election victory. Instead, our great FNM risks being washed away in a tide of obscurity and irrelevance, being sunk by an anchor of leadership that has been found wanting.

It is time for a change in the FNM. I use the word, “leadership” deliberately. There are many people who share responsibility for this unfortunate position, but there is no escaping the harsh reality - the current dismal state of the FNM goes to leadership. More specifically, it goes to the leader, Hubert A Minnis.

It is time for the leader to seek a fresh mandate. I will elaborate on this in the course of the coming weeks,

but it is clear to me that Dr Minnis has become the issue for the FNM. The mantra “Minnis can’t win” has gained disheartening traction over the last 18 months.

But I submit that this issue is secondary to the larger issue of party unity.

“Can Minnis pull the FNM together?” That is the larger question. The evidence appears to be … no.

If our party leader has answered my earlier call for a “come to Jesus” event, he has certainly taken the circuitous route. I have not seen it happening, and neither have thousands of anxious and dispirited FNMs. Evidence to the contrary is obvious. For far too long the FNM has been in perpetual decline. It is past time for the hemorrhage of support and goodwill to end.

Our leader, Dr Minnis, must be called upon to give a full accounting of his stewardship of the FNM. So too must everyone on his leadership team. A full

THEN FNM chairman Darron Cash, second left, pictured in Rawson Square with Loretta ButlerTurner and Leader of the Opposition Hubert Minnis. convention with all the accountability factors built in is the right way for that

to happen. That convention has to happen within the next 90 days. Waiting for a November convention would be the equivalent of what the Americans call “cruel and unusual” punishment. It needs to happen now. Consider only the most recent evidence of this: The Tribune headline says “FNMs up in arms at Rolle comments”. Then it goes on to quote unidentified “up in arms” FNM MPs. In reading the accounts of the FNM’s “Watergate Tapes” one got the distinct impression that Senator (Lanisha) Rolle spoke for the leader. It is not hard to arrive at that conclusion.

When Senator Rolle publicly criticised her elected parliamentary colleagues in an ill-considered and personal way and did not receive so much as a slap on the wrist from the party leader or the executive committee, it gave the clear impression that she was a sacred cow - her so-called youth and inexperience notwithstanding.

Senator Rolle was emboldened after her shock jock style comments on radio. So it was easy for MPs and many others to get the impression that when she spoke, she spoke for the leader.

What is most disturbing in the tapes from the sting operation is the continuing suggestion about the existence of some “shadow” executive team that is off somewhere meeting and determining the fate of the FNM to the exclusion of the elected parliamentary team and elected executive committee. One can now understand the thinking behind St Anne’s MP Hubert Chipman’s comments in the recently leaked email stream when he stated ... that the leader should “listen to voices that matter”. Clearly if one takes then Senator Rolle’s comments at face value, the leader does not consult, listen to, and has no time for his parliamentary colleagues. My party must now ask itself the hard question: what if the par-

liamentary team no longer has any time for the leader of the opposition? This is an untenable position for our party.

I will reiterate a previous statement; an early and full national convention can now be the only place to resolve this untenable position. Anything else would be the equivalence of shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

Just over a week ago, before the most recent revelations, I suggested that our leader should seriously consider taking decisive steps to cut the FNM MPs who are not supporting him. I had no hesitation about giving the leader the benefit of the doubt. But now, the FNM version of the “Watergate Tapes” has changed all that.

Now, it looks as if the MPs have been on solid grounds in having serious concerns about their leader and how he operates. According to the then “Senior Senator”, the leader seems to lack confidence in his team, and this begs the question, which one of them really has the power?

It is now fair to say that there is a crisis of confidence in the FNM leader. ‎The only meaningful course available to the leader of the FNM is one that reveals true leadership. He must go before a full FNM convention - with a fresh and representative set of delegates to give an account of the party under his leadership. Given everything that has and has not transpired under his term in office, it is time for Dr Minnis to seek a fresh mandate.

As the FNM Central Council meets to deliberate our party’s date for convention, I paraphrase Lady Macbeth, “If it were done, then best it were done quickly.”

Darron Cash served as FNM chairman from 2012 to 2014. He is also a former FNM senator.

THE TRIBUNE

Trio are cleared of human trafficking

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net TWO men and a woman were cleared of nearly a dozen human trafficking related charges in Magistrates Court this week.

Terrance Williams, Mariska Williams and Michael Parrila appeared before Magistrate Constance Delancy for a decision in their trial concerning the alleged trafficking and harbouring of five women for sexual exploitation in January, 2015.

Then Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, who presided over their case, has since been appointed to the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday afternoon, Magistrate Delancy informed the trio that they were formally discharged over the charge of conspiracy to engage in trafficking in persons, five counts of harbouring for the purposes of exploitation and five counts of transfer for the purpose of exploitation.

David Cash, a representative of the Office of the Attorney General, indicated the Crown’s intent to file an appeal and sought a stay of the effects of the ruling.

The latter was granted pending the outcome of the appeal. The three remain on bail.

The five complainants did not appear at trial to give evidence concerning the allegations against the three accused. However, their statements to police were allowed into the record through Section 66 of the Evidence Act, which gives the court the discretion to allow the statements of witnesses who are dead, cannot be found or are too sick to testify into evidence.

The statements revealed that the five women knowingly came to The Bahamas to engage in exotic dancing but were not brought to the capital by the accused.

Though they claimed that they were not allowed to leave the apartment where they stayed unaccompanied, there were no claims of their passports being taken from them or being forced to have sex with anyone against their will.

The presiding trial magistrate had found that the Crown had not made out a sufficient case to warrant a conviction.

The accused were defended by Tonique Lewis and Keith Seymour.

MURDER TRIAL JURY IS EXCUSED FOR DISCUSSIONS

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JURY sworn to hear evidence in a murder trial has been excused for several days while prosecution and lawyers for the accused hold legal discussions with the presiding judge.

Justice Milton Evans ordered the 12-member jury to return to the Supreme Court on Monday, May 30, as the discussions concerning the case of 24-year-old Dyon Henry will last for the rest of the week.

Henry, alias “Studda”,

faces one charge of murder, which he denies.

He is alleged to have intentionally caused the death of Robert McIntosh on August 31, 2013.

McIntosh was shot and killed in Freeman’s Subdivision as he was walking home.

The Tribune understands that he was a witness to a murder.

Henry has been in custody since his arraignment in Magistrates Court in January 2014.

Terrel Butler represents him. Koschina Marshall is prosecuting the case.

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 13

SIR FRANKLYN’S DAY AT THE PALACE SIR Franklyn Wilson at Buckingham Palace, London, on Friday following his investiture as a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for his services to business and philanthropy in the Bahamas.

The ceremony was held by the Prince of Wales.

Photo: Caribbean Investment Profiles

PAGE 14, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

PASTOR URGES ‘NO’ VOTE IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net WHILE in Grand Bahama yesterday, Pastor Cedric Moss spoke to a number of Bahamians about why they should vote No to three of the Constitutional Amendment Bills in the gender equality referendum on June 7.

Pastor Moss, who is with the Think Bahamas group which supports only the first Bill, came to encourage those in Freeport who support the “No” campaign and to share their views on the bills so people can cast informed votes.

He was a radio guest on Dove Radio at noon and also spoke to a number of residents at a meeting at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock.

“This is the right fight.

Right is on our side and truth is on our side. The Constitutional Commission and the “Yes” Campaign simply want Yes votes; they don’t care how they get them, and a lot of the commercials they are running are half truths and in some cases outright lies,” claimed the Nassau pastor of Kingdom Life Church.

Pastor Moss explained that Think Bahamas is a little different from the other vote “No” groups because they support bill one, which seeks to give Bahamian women who are married to foreign men the right to pass on their Bahamian citizenship to any child of that union no matter where that child is born. “We encourage voters to support it because we think it is good, but we do not support the others,” he said.

He believes that citizenship should not be based on marriage. “We do not think it should be a constitutional entitlement … and we also do not believe a person should be able to get citi-

Graduating with honors from The College of The Bahamas with his BBA Banking and Finance with a Foreign Language Award & School of Business Award.

Also obtains the highest GPA in the degree program.

From mom, Myrtle Stubbs; father, Milton Hilton Sr.; sisters, Sonia, Joletha, Sheena, Lashan; brothers, Cohen, Joe Jr.; brother-in-law, Leonard Ramsey; nieces, Joviah, Rodrika, Jada, Jude, Jasmine; grandparent, Cynthia Armbrister; aunts, uncles and friends.

We wish you all the best as you climb to higher heights. May God continue to lead, guide and direct your path.

We love you and God bless.

CEDRIC MOSS zenship without renouncing other citizenships they hold.”

In regards to bill three, Pastor Moss explained that even though they agree that unmarried Bahamian women should be able to pass on their citizenship to a child born in the Bahamas or abroad, they do not believe that the same right should be given to unmarried Bahamian men who father children with foreign women. He said the child should take citizenship of the mother and apply for his Bahamian citizenship at 18.

Pastor Moss believes that bill four will radically change Bahamian society.

“The proper thing right now is to put a pause on it, but the government, in my view, has some agenda with bill four.”

He noted that the Bahamas should have adopted the approach taken by Jamaica when it amended its constitution. “Jamaica’s approach was different in that they did not use the word sex. They said you will be protected from discrimination for being male or female. In addition, they did not add that prohibition with the others like race, political opinion, colour, creed or class, they put it in

a separate clause because they recognise you do treat men and women differently, equal but differently.

I think we can follow the model of Jamaica and do it properly,” he said.

Pastor Moss also claims that the government rejected recommendation 25 of the Constitutional Commission. “That would have been protective in that it would stave off any constitutional challenge about same sex marriage and would have made the position clear that same marriage is not permitted under the Constitution or current law,” he said.

“That is on page 125 of the Constitutional Commission’s report and the commission is trying to hide it from people … They recommended something that got rejected and it seems to me (the government) rejected it because they want to set the stage for same sex marriage by rejecting that,” he claimed.

Mr Moss also claims that the Yes campaign is not being honest in their discussions. “They are saying because I am voting no to bill four, I am against women and do support equality for women. I support equality for women,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 15

Suspended radio host Russell accuses PLP of victimisation

By SANCHESKA BROWN Tribune Staff Reporter sbrown@tribunemedia.net

ZNS Radio talk show host Phillippa “Lady” Russell has accused the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) of victimisation after her show was suspended by the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) last month.

Ms Russell claimed she was “warned” to stop campaigning against the constitutional referendum on her show by management at the BCB as the government is backing the YES Bahamas campaign. After she refused to do so, Ms Russell said she was sent a letter telling her the show had been “suspended until further notice”.

Ms Russell told The Tribune she was told the reason for the suspension was “lack of sponsorship” but she claims she has had “the same number of sponsors” since 2013.

“I got two letters from

BCB,” she said. “In the first letter on April 28 it said effective April 26, the show will be suspended until Friday May 6 or until further notice. It also noted that I would be paid the normal rate of pay. On Monday May 9, when I went in, I was given another letter that said the show was further suspended until June 14, which just so happens to be after the constitutional referendum.

“They said the show had not been sponsored properly but it is the same set of sponsors I had over the last three years. William Thompson, the chairman of the BCB, called me into a meeting in early April and said all of the people on the talk shows have to toe the government’s line of conversation and I said ‘no’. I am going to continue to advocate against the four bills because I do not believe in what they are trying to change.”

Ms Russell said she does not support the changes to the Constitution because

they go against the country’s “Christian and moral values”.

“Our values need to be preserved more than some social experiment,” she added. “I have an issue will all of the bills, particularly the fourth one, but they all challenge our Christian values.

Bill three speaks to having a child out of wedlock, bill two challenges the roles of husband and wife and what the Bible said a husband should be. I mean if a woman marries a foreign man then he should take her out the country and if he wants to stay, citizenship should not even be on the table,” Ms Russell said.

“We are not in the business of giving away our citizenship. I kept acknowledging on the show that any country that has inserted the equality clause in their constitution ended up having to acknowledge homosexual marriage and transgender rights and I am not for that.”

Ms Russell also alleged that she was “banned” from the launch of the YES Bahamas campaign at the Harry C Moore Library by Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin and Attorney General Alyson Maynard-Gibson because she had a ‘no’ sign. She added that she was told she had to hold a ‘yes’ sign if she wanted to remain at the event.

Ms Russell told The Tribune she has always been an “avid supporter” of the PLP and is “taken aback” by what is happening. She also said she believes her show will be cancelled “when the referendum fails”.

Calls to management of the BCB were not returned up to press time.

The referendum is set for June 7. The first three referendum bills will deal with issues of citizenship, while the fourth seeks to end discrimination in the Constitution based on sex, which has been defined as being male or female.

PHILLIPPA ‘Lady’ Russell showing her opposition to the constitutional referendum during the launch of the ‘Yes’ campaign at the College of The Bahamas. She is pictured with her personal assistant, Sylvia Lynden.

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

discrimination and impact constitutional rights negatively.

Adding to the mounting scepticism over the success of the June 7 gender equality referendum, Mr Bannister said a resounding ‘yes’ vote was unlikely.

“People overwhelmingly tell me they’re going to vote against it,” he said. “This government had a wonderful opportunity. In 2002 they said they weren’t against the issues but the process, that they did not see the process being fair. But you have the very same thing, a process put forward that the government is pushing and a group of highly-respected Bahamians want to push an opposition.

“Why would any government finance a ‘yes’ vote in

the manner this government is doing, and not provide the mechanism by which the other side can be heard? You see billboards, commercials, people on the radio saying that they are being paid. If we want a real education campaign we ought to provide an opportunity for all sides to be heard.

“In that respect it’s unfair what the government has done. They’re pushing the ‘yes’ vote to the detriment of public education and a deepening of democracy.”

Several campaigns against the June 7 referendum have made requests to the government for funding but were not acknowledged.

Last month, Save Our Bahamas - the group that opposed the 2013 gambling referendum - submitted a

letter to Mr Christie, requesting initial seed funding of $100,000 for its campaign.

Mr Bannister said: “The issues before the Bahamian people, amending the Constitution, is not something you take lightly. You have a mature group that have opposed. They asked the government in a mature manner to voice their views through government assistance and they are not afforded that respect. I think when you have a mature democracy, you pull them in and say we’re spending this much on a ‘yes’ campaign, now we can’t give you this much but here is what we can do.”

Mr Bannister declined to give his personal stance on the referendum bills. However, he took issue with the

Status of Children Amendment Bill, a provision that limits the type of evidence to DNA that can be used to prove that an unmarried Bahamian is the father of a child. The bill was passed in Parliament along with the four Constitutional Amendment Bills.

Mr Bannister criticised the inclusion of ministerial discretion that would ultimately make the final determination on fatherhood from DNA evidence.

“In the Ingraham Cabinet,” he said, “if you look at legislation passed, ministerial discretion was never a part of legislation. In other words the minister was not given discretion to discriminate against people.

“They put a clause that says the minister shall look

BANNISTER: PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN UNDERMINING REFERENDUM

FORMER Education Minister Desmond Bannister yesterday accused the government of undermining the success of the gender equality referendum through its myopic approach to public education.

Mr Bannister said the Christie-led administration botched a “wonderful opportunity” to bring reform by launching an unfair and undemocratic campaign that did not explore all provisions to allow Bahamians to fully understand the impact of their vote.

He contended that the accompanying amendment to the Status of Children Act would in fact create

at evidence and make a determination. DNA is a science, if there is 99.9 per cent, it’s highly probability.

Between 0 and 99 per cent is inconclusive. What they should have done is say if there is DNA evidence matching 99.9 per cent then the person is considered the father. What we have now the minister can decide whether you are the father, that’s wrong.

“That has to be amended because if it passes that will take away a right granted by the Constitution. We have to look at the broader provisions, even if the amendment passes, and based on what I’ve seen it doesn’t seem like it’s going to pass.

These are provisions that will negatively impact Bahamians.”

PAGE 16, Thursday, May 26, 2016

THE TRIBUNE

GOVERNOR GENERAL WELCOMES NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

GOVERNOR General Dame Marguerite Pindling yesterday heralded the appointment of a new Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas as a step towards

strengthening “the friendship and relations between the Bahamas and China”.

She spoke at a ceremony at Government House yesterday morning, at which the Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Huang Qinguo was presented with his letters of credence.

Dame Marguerite said the appointment is a continuation of the “commitments made by both countries to work jointly in many spheres for our mutual benefit”.

“I am informed that you (Mr Qinguo) are the eighth ambassador to the Baha-

mas and that, in Chinese culture, this number has a significant meaning,” she said. “This augurs well, therefore, for the fruition of your efforts to strengthen the friendship and relations between The Bahamas and China.”

She added: “The Baha-

mas and China established diplomatic relations 19 years ago, a short time in reality, but much has been attained in those relations through the commitments made by both countries to work jointly in many spheres for our mutual benefit. The Bahamas hopes to

celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in May 2017 in a memorable way, not only here in Nassau but also in Beijing.”

Mr Qinguo succeeds former ambassador Yuan Guisen, who left the country earlier this year.

Handful of protestors oppose talks with Chinese investors

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE yesterday blocked a small group of demonstrators from Rawson Square because it did not have permits to publicly oppose the government’s negotiations with Chinese investors over Baha Mar. Led by Ali McIntosh, the “chief servant leader” of the Bahamas Constitution Party (BCP), the group is opposing alleged requests for concessions by Chinese investors to jumpstart the stalled Cable Beach resort project.

The protestors were asked to stop their impromptu demonstration in Rawson Square yesterday morning, as officers moved to “sanitise” the immediate area.

Shortly after 10am, officers acting on command, blocked off access to the square for all non-essential people.

Dozens of barricades were erected around the perimeter of the square in preparation for the arrival of parliamentarians at the House of Assembly for the 2016/2017 Budget Communication.

The small group - at that

point only three protestors - was ushered away from Rawson Square. Approximately 20 minutes later, members of the group returned without placards and were allowed to enter the square.

Addressing members of the press in Rawson Square, Ms McIntosh lambasted the government for allegedly intending “to sell out the Bahamas and its people”.

“This is repugnant, it is unacceptable,” said Ms McIntosh.

She was referring to rumours that Chinese investors requested the removal of the resort’s current developer, Sarkis Izmirlian; a 30-year exclusivity with regards to Baha Mar’s casino licence; a 30-year Value Added Tax exemption; a 25 per cent increase in concessions now enjoyed by the resort and the granting of 500 citizenships to Chinese nationals attached to the project in various capacities.

The speculation came after radio talk show host Steve McKinney revealed the contents of a purported letter addressed to the Prime Minister from China Construction America, the resort’s general contractor, during a recent segment of

MEMBERS of the Bahamas Constitution Party speaking to The Tribune during their protest on Bay Street yesterday.

Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff his “Hard Copy” talk show on Peace 107.5FM. Firing back at these claims, Mr Christie on Monday night described it as an “absolute lie” that citizenship in return for foreign investment had been agreed, saying that was a “non-negotiable position” for his government.

However, he did not

speak about the other alleged requests.

The BCP is angered by the claims. “The government of The Bahamas and the government of China signed bilateral agreements in 2009 and one of those of those agreements said the government (of The Bahamas) must protect the investments of China in (The

Bahamas),” contended Ms McIntosh.

“If that is so, (we believe) the government of The Bahamas would make a deal to protect the investment of China or they can sue us.

So we must protest, we must say no, we must show our faces and our voices (must be heard) for the thousands and thousands of Bahamians who cannot speak for themselves,” she added.

“They cannot give away this country. They cannot sell it for cheap. And they cannot approve this deal.

We demand that they do

not put that on the table of the House (of Assembly) because it is unacceptable

by Bahamians,” she said.

Ms McIntosh said the public should view Mr Christie’s assurances on the matter as disingenuous.

“So he can tell us that it is a lie, but he has the capacity as the Prime Minister and as a government to do so (grant citizenships). So he can tell us that willy-nilly and we can hear that, but we want the truth. We want the truth that 500 Chinese persons would not get citizenship.”

ANNUITANT VERIFICATION As part of its verica�on of benets procedure, Colina Insurance Limited requires all recipients of annuity payments to produce evidence of their con�nuing eligibility to receive such payments twice each year — during the months of May and November.

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Colina Insurance Limited 21 Collins Avenue, P. O. Box N‐4728 Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas Annuitants who fail to verify on or before May 31, 2016 will have their payments suspended un�l such �me as this process is completed. Should you require addi�onal informa�on, please contact our Customer Service Centre at 356‐8300.

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THE TRIBUNE

‘THE PEOPLE’S PAPER’

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 17

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PAGE 18, Thursday, May 26, 2016

University Bill tabled in House

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net EDUCATION Minister Jerome Fitzgerald tabled the long-awaited University of the Bahamas bill yesterday.

The bill, which would repeal the College of the Bahamas Act, would make the institution largely independent from the government, a move the college’s President Dr Rodney Smith has said will unleash its potential to attract greater sources of revenue that would spur development.

The university, according to the bill, would be run by a board of trustees. That board will replace the College Council and it would

have vast powers to dictate the direction of the university.

“There shall be a board of trustees which shall,” the bill says, “be free from undue influence from political, religious, or other external bodies and shall protect the institution from such influence.”

The board would consist of “not less than nine and not more than 21 members appointed by the Governor General”.

These members must include the university’s president, someone selected by the Prime Minister, one selected by the leader of the opposition, one by the minister responsible for finance and one by the minister responsible for education.

The board must also include the president of the Alumni Association; someone elected by faculty who has been employed for five or more consecutive years; a staff employee elected by staff who is employed with either line or managerial staff for five or more consecutive years; a full-time student elected by the student body; a member of the Alumni Association selected by the aforementioned members; and a member of the Retired Faculty Association selected by the first nine members.

The bill does not require that a member be a representative of the Union of Tertiary Educators (UTEB), unlike the College of the Bahamas Act.

THE TRIBUNE

The university president notwithstanding, none of the board’s members can hold office for more than two consecutive four-year periods.

The university would also have an ombudsman who would be responsible for investigating complaints and “resolving problems and disputes brought to the attention of the ombudsman by an aggrieved party,” along with other duties granted by the board.

In addition to having the power to borrow money, the university would be required to present the Minister of Education with a report that details a wide range of matters related to the institution.

BAHAMAS National Spelling Bee champion Donovan Butler on stage yesterday in the third round of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland.

SPELLING BEE CHAMP MISSES OUT ON FINAL

DONOVAN Butler, the Bahamas National Spelling Bee champion, took to the stage yesterday afternoon in his bid to reach the finals at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland.

The 13-year-old eighth grade student at St Augustine’s College correctly spelt ‘Azulejo’ and ‘Agribusiness’ in the preliminary rounds at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbour but fell short of a place among the 45 finalists who achieved the required 27 points after his written test was taken into consideration.

Among the 284 spelling champions participating in this year’s competition, one is doing so for the fourth time. There are eight threeyear repeaters and 61 twoyear repeaters.

Donovan won the Bahamas National Spelling Bee at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on March 20 when he beat 19 other finalists.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running educational promotion in the United States and The Bahamas has participated in the annual event since 1998.

BAHAMAS National Spelling Bee champion Donovan Butler (left) with his parents, David and Laurieann, bother Daunte and sister Darnelle at the Gaylord National Resort in New Harbour, Maryland, yesterday, where he is competing in the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

READERS SCEPTICAL OVER BAHA MAR FRAMEWORK DEAL PRIME Minister Perry Christie’s announcement yesterday that the Export Import Bank of China (EXIM) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) have entered into a “framework agreement” to complete the Baha Mar resort was met with scepticism by readers on tribune242.com.

Kaytaz responded with: “The devil will be in the details ... don’t celebrate Bahamas until you read the fine print.”

ThisIsOurs said: “he didn’t tell us anything ... the country could already be sold, all so he can feel good on the campaign trail for the election they will lose.”

Publius wasn’t impressed: “All he gave was a ‘I have nothing to announce, so I need to make my nothingannouncement sound like a something-announcement’.”

Honestman thought it would be a while until Baha Mar opens: “Getting CCA Bahamas to complete the construction on the cheap is one thing. Getting a new managing company and developing a business plan will take much longer. It will be a while before this resort opens to the public. I

am assuming that CCA has been given the green light by government to purchase.

Imagine being rewarded for dreadful workmanship!”

And there was this from SP: “Firstly, EXIM and CSCEC, having an ultimate single central chain of ownership, are one and the same entity! Secondly, this jackass bumbaclot Christie expects anyone to believe EXIM and CSCEC have entered into a “framework agreement” to complete Baha Mar at their own expense and not have interest in also owning the property?

“PM Christie has obviously sold the country out to the Chinese and now attempting to ‘piece meal’ the asinine deal to us. Totally unacceptable Christie!

We would prefer to further tighten our belts and forget about Baha Mar than sell our souls to the Chinese.”

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

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, May 26, 2016, PAGE 19

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THE TRIBUNE

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