05292017 news

MONDAY i’m lovin’ it!

HIGH 93ºF LOW 76ºF

The Tribune Established 1903

24/7 BREAKING NEWS ON TRIBUNE242.COM

Biggest And Best!

VOLUME:114 No.130, MAY 29TH, 2017

HO US E & 16 THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: $1

SPORTS: SHAUNAE BREAKS 200M NATIONAL RECORD

PAGES

Hurricane fund claim disputed

KWASI Thompson is facing pushback from his predecessor in the Ministry of Grand Bahama following his claims that the previous administration spent hurricane relief funds in a “disturbing” way.

The senator and state minister for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister claimed Friday that following a preliminary assessment of the matter, he found that over $1m in hurricane relief funds was spent without proper protocols.

However, former Minis-

ter of Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville has called on Mr Thompson to quit making explosive accusations prior to the completion of his ministry’s audit.

Mr Thompson alleged on Friday that it was “alarming” that “funds to the tune of well over $1m were paid to one particular person for clean up without any scope of works on file, no bids submitted and no written verification from the Ministry of Works that the work was performed for the money spent.”

He also said contracts up to $200,000 were issued to repair public buildings without Cabinet approval,

A MAN was shot dead in the Carmichael Road area yesterday, bringing the country’s murder count for the first five months of 2017 to 58, according to The Tribune’s records.

The murder count is now 14 per cent higher than it

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Power and Light is at a “critical stage” and if the company does not get new equipment immediately, the summer will be plagued with power outages, according to President of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Paul Maynard.

SEE PAGE SIX

SEE PAGE SIX

LATEST MURDER BRINGS TOTAL 14% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BPL ‘CRITICAL’ WITHOUT NEW EQUIPMENT

Faces of the future

Darville rejects accusations over $1m spending

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOME

was at this point in 2016 when the country had recorded 51 homicides, according to The Tribune’s records.

The count is also seven per cent less than it was at this point in 2015, the year when the country had a record number of 146 murders.

SEE PAGE FIVE

THE BAHAMAS Primary School Student of the Year Foundation held a ceremony at St Agnes Anglican Church on Friday, where 121 students received their medals of honour. See page 14 for more photographs.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

FOULKES: NO WORK PERMITS WHERE BAHAMIANS ARE QUALIFIED FOR JOB

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has directed government officials to ensure that no foreigner should get a work permit where there are qualified Bahamians to fill that position, Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes said yesterday.

Speaking about the Free National Movement’s position on the issue yesterday, Mr Foulkes said the Minnis administration is committed to maximising Bahamian employment where possible adding that the government is in talks with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for a $20m loan for apprenticeship and workforce training.

Mr Foulkes made the comments as a guest on the 96.9 FM show The Political Review with host Quincy Parker yesterday.

Senator Foulkes said since assuming his post after the May 10 election, he has been “very strict” in approving labour certificates for work permits and has denied or SEE PAGE 12

$30,000 PAYOUT FOR INCORRECT WANTED POSTER

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Supreme Court awarded $30,000 in damages to a woman after police erroneously reported that she was an armed rob-

bery suspect and circulated wanted posters of her in 2010.

On March 23, 2010, Nautrell Kemp went to the Central Detective Unit (CDU) to make a housebreaking complaint.

Not long after, police issued a wanted bulletin of

her, which was published in The Punch and other media, claiming she was armed and dangerous. Ms Kemp complained to top officials about the matter.

Former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE SIX

OVERTIME PAY FOR POLICE TO BEGIN TODAY

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net POLICE officers are expected to begin receiving the first instalment of their long-sought overtime pay today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that the provisions were made for their payments to begin today.

Officers were alerted yesterday that cheques for overtime will be issued at the Police Training College from today until Wednesday, between 9am to 4pm.

A source familiar with the matter said a list of SEE PAGE 12

PAGE 2, Monday, May 29, 2017

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

MOTHER AND SON ARRESTED OVER STABBING AT YELLOW ELDER SCHOOL

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE arrested a 51-year-old mother and her 25-year-old son in connection with the stabbing incident at the Yellow Elder Primary School campus on Thursday afternoon.

According to officer-incharge of the Central De-

tective Unit, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash, the four people involved in the violent argument were treated at the Princess Margaret Hospital and later released.

However, after the initial stages of their investigation, police took the mother and son into custody for further questioning.

Aspects of the incident

were captured on cellphone cameras and then shared across social media. In a 30-second clip posted to Facebook, a man in a blue shirt could be seen running toward an ongoing argument between a man and two women. The two men then engaged in a scuffle, resulting in the pair falling to the ground.

As this transpired, people nearby attempted to defuse the situation between the two women, with others off-camera indicating that that they could see one of the men attempting to stab the other.

CSP Cash said investigations are continuing and police will update the public as more information becomes available.

THE TRIBUNE

MAN DIES IN BIKE CRASH

A YOUNG man died on Friday afternoon after a motorcycle accident on Marathon Road, police have confirmed.

Police reported that shortly after 1pm, the man was riding a 450cc trail motorcycle when he struck a Toyota car driven by a woman who was trying to make a turn off Marathon Road.

The motorcyclist received serious injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

• 2Pc. Thigh & Leg • 2 Spicy Strips • Coleslaw • Individual Fries • Biscuit • 22oz. Pepsi®

10

$

(INCL. VAT)

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 29, 2017, PAGE 3

Roberts: Minnis deceptive over pledges on VAT and healthcare BRADLEY Roberts has accused Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis of “deceiving” the Bahamian people with campaign promises to repeal value added tax (VAT) on electricity, healthcare and breadbasket items only to “back peddle” from these pledges in the Speech from the Throne.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) chairman also accused Dr Minnis of “duping” voters into supporting the Free National Movement (FNM).

“Dr Minnis is beginning his term in office on a losing wicket because he deceived the Bahamian people when he campaigned on promises to repeal VAT on electricity, healthcare services and breadbasket items only to back-peddle and move away from those campaign promises in the Speech from the Throne after duping tens of thousands of Bahamian voters into supporting the FNM. He stands on a shaky foundation of broken promises and electoral deceit.

“These broken promises represent electoral fraud of the worst kind. Minnis’ message to the Bahamian electorate was fake news all along.”

Before the election, Dr Minnis promised that the FNM would remove VAT on breadbasket items, education, water and light bills, medicine, healthcare and insurance.

However in the Speech from the Throne, read at the opening of Parliament on Wednesday, it was noted that the government intends to reduce VAT on breadbasket items, but not to repeal the tax on these items, or the other areas repeatedly mentioned by Dr Minnis.

When contacted about this last week, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest said the government is

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and his wife Patricia Minnis at the opening of Parliament and the Speech From The Throne. Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff “committed” to the promises made ahead of the election.

“I won’t speak to the wording (of the statement about VAT made in the Speech from The Throne),” Mr Turnquest said on Thursday. “We are committed to the promises (we made during the campaign). We want to live with that commitment.”

Meanwhile, Mr Roberts took issue with items he said were missing from

Wednesday’s speech.

“Further, as significant as Baha Mar is to the economy of the Bahamas and was to the Minnis election campaign message, an FNM policy on Baha Mar was noticeably absent from the Speech from the Throne.

Why was that? Did Minnis still not want to offend one foreigner after receiving an overwhelming electoral mandate from tens of thousands of Bahamians? Why is that?

“The PLP promised to place a cap on the interests and fees charged to civil servants who secure loans from local commercial banks on salary deductions.

This policy proposal will benefit tens of thousands of Bahamians and protect them from onerous and burdensome bank fees. The PLP publicly challenges the FNM government to adopt and implement this policy because after all, it is the people’s time.”

UB CONFERS HONORARY DEGREE ON SIR LYNDEN PINDLING SIR Lynden Pindling envisioned that one day the College of The Bahamas would become the University of The Bahamas, a dream realised with the university’s charter on November 10, 2016.

At its historic inaugural commencement held on May 25, the university posthumously conferred upon Sir Lynden its first honorary degree.

Acting on behalf of UB trustees, upon the recommendation of faculty, UB President Dr Rodney Smith presented the degree, Doctor of the University Honoris Causa, to Sir Lynden’s daughter Monique Pindling.

According to a press release from the University of The Bahamas, Sir Lynden “deserved the honour because he served the country with distinction as prime minister; he became the ‘father of the nation’ and under his leadership sov-

ereignty for The Bahamas came to fruition July 10, 1973; and as a significant part of his vision for a better Bahamas and its citizens, he spearheaded the establishment of COB which has transitioned to the University of The Bahamas.”

The release continued: “This year, UB started a new tradition of conferring honorary degrees upon deserving Bahamians who have contributed significantly to the development of the University of The Bahamas and made a lasting impact on the country.

“One of the longest serving heads of government in the commonwealth, Sir Lynden served as prime minister of The Bahamas for nearly 26 years, during which he led the country to independence from Great Britain on July 10, 1973.

Additionally, he served as a member of the House of Assembly for 41 consecu-

tive years.

“The grandson of a Bahamian seaman and son of a retired policeman (Arnold F Pindling), Sir Lynden was born March 22, 1930. He attended Government High School from 1943 to 1946.

At the age of 18, Sir Lynden left The Bahamas to attend King’s College London, where he received his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1952.

He was called to the English Bar, Middle Temple, in January 1953 and to the Bahamas Bar in August of the same year.

“Sir Lynden joined the minority Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) shortly after its formation in 1953 and in 1965 was elected to the House of Assembly for the Southern District, New Providence. He was elected senior member for the South Central District in 1962 and the following year became chairman of the PLP. “In the general election

of 1967, he chose to run in an Out Island constituency and his victory helped secure a majority for his party, without which, the formation of a government would have been impossible,” the press release noted.

“Under Sir Lynden’s leadership, The Bahamas became a sovereign nation on July 10, 1973. The following year, the College of The Bahamas was established through an Act of Parliament and in February 1977, Sir Lynden officially opened the institution, foreshadowing that it would one day become the University of The Bahamas.

“Sir Lynden led the PLP to election victories in six successive polls: 1967, 1968, 1972, 1977, 1982 and 1987.

On July 9, 1997, one day before the 24th anniversary of independence, Sir Lynden resigned from Parliament, bringing to an end a political era in The Bahamas,” the university noted.

US EMBASSY CLOSURE FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY THE United States Em- the US Citizens Services bassy will be closed to- Unit of the US Embassy’s day in observance of the US Consular Section at 242Memorial Day holiday.

322-1181.

The embassy will resume General information on normal business operations consular services, includTuesday at 8am. ing obtaining or renewing a For any emergencies in- passport or visa, is available volving US citizens, the on the US Embassy’s website 29th May 2017 public is advised Monday, to contact at https://bs.usembassy.gov.

"Buy a gallon or 5 qt. bottle of CASTROL GTX get a *FREE 'GUNK' FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER!" Available at A.I.D, JBR, TOPS, VARIETY AUTO, WHIM, WONG'S and here at BSG.

“QUOTE OF THE DAY” Distributed By

BAY STREET GARAGE Dowdeswell Street

*(Certain restrictions apply).

322-2434 • 322-2082 446

He also said: “Other noticeable policy absentees from the Speech from the Throne were energy reform, food security, and the very important plans for the economic recovery of Grand Bahama. What is the policy of the FNM on the sale of the three hotels in Lucaya, a new casino operator, duty free concessions for businesses in east and west Grand Bahama and the cruise port for East

Grand Bahama? The PLP government left a strong foundation of progress for Grand Bahama’s future with several projects in the advanced stages of development. “ . . . If the FNM has a plan for the future growth and development of Grand Bahama, the people must hear it from Minnis. To date, the FNM appears not to have a plan for Grand Bahama,” Mr Roberts said.

PAGE 4, Monday, May 29, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

jrolle@tribunemedia.net

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991

EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

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

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES

News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

(242) 322-1986 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com

@tribune242

tribune news network

Brave Davis’ attempt to keep the PLP relevant IN an attempt to keep his party relevant in the eyes of the public, PLP Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis promises to give us a frequent chuckle.

“It is also important,” Mr Davis said last week, “to ensure that the favoured few who provided funding for this government (the FNM) don’t end up being the main beneficiaries of this government. While the FNM speaks the words of the protection of the poor, we will ensure that the benefits do not go to the wealthy.”

What a shame this light of wisdom did not switch on in Mr Davis’s brain during his party’s five-year administration so that he could have given such worthwhile advice to his colleagues, thereby preventing their self destruct. Or, perhaps, neither he nor his defeated colleagues are yet fully aware of the root cause of their catastrophic defeat at the polls on May 10. Former prime minister Perry Christie’s main failing was that he was not strong enough to reign in his ministers before the wheeling-and-dealing of some of them became publicly offensive.

The “all for me baby” choristers have sung the “all for me” theme — as though it were their Bill of Rights — for far too long, dating from the days of the late Sir Lynden Pindling. It is now time that they face the truth, and help repair the damage.

According to Mr Davis, the Speech from the Throne — read by the Governor General outlining the FNM government’s plans for its administration — “is an acknowledgement of the transformative foundation already constructed by the PLP government.” Already the PLP’s muffled cry seems to be: “You guys done tief my t’ings!”

What are the “transformative foundations” about which the good gentleman speaks? Foundations so poorly laid in so many ventures that it is going to take the FNM government the greater part of its administration to correct the flaws before reconstruction can even start. Firstly, the new government has to find out where all of the people’s money has gone. Until that is done they will not know what they can afford to spend— or borrow, if in fact borrowing is still an option. Every government department has to be audited and checks and balances have to be established under proper supervision. And while the FNM are at it, the Auditor General has to be given a competent — and sufficient number of staff — to be able to have the country’s finances laid on the table of the House at the end of each fiscal year. This is required by law, but seldom adhered to in practice.

Now let us look at some of the PLP’s ideas to improve the standard of living while cutting costs.

BAMSI – the Bahamas Agricultural and Maritime Institute — was former prime minister Christie’s dream for the country to produce its own food and reduce the nation’s $1.1 billion import bill. It was a good idea, but poorly executed. It was no less a person than Mr Davis himself who had to admit to the House that it was his ministry that had overlooked the fact that the contractor had failed to pay the annual insurance premium on the building and so when one of the dormitories was burned to the ground — even before BAMSI had time to open – there was no insurance for rebuilding. The Bahamas is still pay-

ing its high import bill on its food supply and BAMSI has failed where it should have succeeded.

NHI Bahamas was launched with free primary care. Here patients can choose their private doctor at no cost to the patient. On making the announcement, it was let slip that the PLP was still uncertain of how this was to be paid for — something left to the Minnis government to figure out.

The indigent could always get free primary care at the Princess Margaret Hospital, which is where one would have thought the first emphasis on raising standards would have been focused.

This is probably where one will hear the loudest complaints from patients expecting to receive superior care, only to find longer lines and extended waiting hours.

And then there is Baha Mar - although the Christie government celebrated a partial opening before the May 10 election –it introduced a new meaning to the word “open” in the context of a hotel. In fact it was “open” to non-paying guests. We understand many employees can still be seen today, but no guests are in sight. It also has been suggested that the reason for this is that all the “back of office” has not been completed, therefore, as yet, no guests can be billed.

Not to be left out, Bradley Roberts, PLP National Chairman, sent in a press release yesterday asking if Prime Minister Minnis has handed this country to “Sarkis Izmerlian and for what price”.

“His very public and ill-conceived alignment with disgruntled foreign investor Sarkis Izmerlian who has inserted himself into the politics of The Bahamas with aid and comfort from Minnis and the FNM, raises questions about the FNM’s spurious slogan, the people’s time. We ask again, ‘which people?’” questioned Mr Roberts.

This question was asked probably because Mr and Mrs Izmerlian were among the many guests who attended the opening of parliament. We understand that they were there at the prime minister’s invitation. Mr Izmerlian is the resident investor, who was the developer of the $3.5 billion Baha Mar, only to lose it under circumstances that will only be fully known when the agreement is unsealed by the courts. The agreement was sealed at the request of the Export Import Bank of China.

But isn’t this a strange question for Mr Roberts to ask in view of the fact that Peter Nygard of Nygard Cay fame boasted that he had donated $5m to the PLP’s 2012 campaign and had a video posted on YouTube right after the victory declaring: “Nygard takes the Bahamas back”? The video shows Nygard with a raised glass of champagne, shouting “Victory! Victory! Take our country back!”

Since then, the Christie government and the court system have been plagued with the woes of Peter Nygard and Nygard Cay. Before asking any more questions about Mr Izmerlian, we think that Mr Roberts and the Christie government have left many shadows behind them. These need explanation —especially the Izmerlian situation. If this country is to ever again attract worthwhile investors the Izmerlian issue must be justly settled.

We shall return to this subject later.

Armed teenager EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE headline “Police kill boy as he steals cigarettes” … surely the second headline “Officers return fire in shootout” says exactly what occurred, so why did The Tribune run with the big headline, which was miles away from the truth?

As usual selling newspapers!

The boys entered the pharmacy armed with guns, illegal, threatened the store employees, robbed customers in the store and left with

cigarettes, money etc … exiting they met the police and fired at the police.

So The Tribune thinks the police did wrong to aim and fire in self defence?

I presume the headline would have been, if the police did not fire and one was shot and killed, “Police get in way of fire from teenage students and dies!”

When a teenager arms himself and fires at the police, in my eyes he becomes an adult big time. So please Tribune editorial, stop this unacceptable descriptive

headline when it is a mile away from truth.

Thank God there were no further persons injured or killed. Teenagers firing at law enforcement ... in any language that teenager suddenly became an adult and he is playing an adult game of life and death. Yesterday that teenager lost out.

Write the correct accurate headline please. This is serious stuff.

H KNOWLES Nassau May 24, 2017

The future plans for the DNA EDITOR, The Tribune.

IN 2012, amid much excitement and fanfare, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Branville McCartney entered the race to become the government of The Bahamas.

They neither won the government nor any seats but many say that their presence played a pivotal role in the election’s outcome.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by Perry Christie, won the government by a slim margin, albeit they won 29 of the 38 seats. By closely analysing the number of votes cast, we can infer that the DNA changed the outcome of many of the constituency races. There are a lot of upset Bahamians even today who believe that the DNA inadvertently helped the PLP to win the 2012 general elections.

Fast forward to the 2017 general elections and the results paint a totally different picture. Free National Movement (FNM) candi-

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net dates obliterated their incumbent PLP adversaries and all the other candidates combined. It was a total beat down. In 2012, if you combined the FNM and DNA votes, in many constituencies you would have totalled more votes than the PLP. In 2017, if you added the PLP and DNA votes, the outcome of the election would still be the same.

The DNA received about 50 per cent less votes in 2017 than in 2012. They had a perfect opportunity to gain more supporters. The then governing PLP was riddled with scandals and the FNM was in a long, bitter and bloody public battle to secure the party’s leadership.

A costly mistake the DNA made was for McCartney to accept a Senate post from Loretta ButlerTurner, who had recently wrestled the title of Official

Opposition Leader from Dr Hubert Minnis. This caused many Bahamians to look at the DNA differently and I felt that this would cost them a lot of votes in the general elections. It probably did.

Dr Minnis and the FNM have essentially forced Christie into retirement.

But there should be others.

McCartney should also do the honourable thing and resign as DNA leader. He has been rejected in two consecutive general elections.

The people have placed overwhelming confidence in the FNM to govern this country, but we still need effective opposing forces.

The DNA played no significant role in the 2017 general elections. If they are to return to relevancy, they must start the rebuilding process quickly.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS Nassau May 28, 2017

Raise limit on small claims EDITOR, The Tribune DOES anyone in this country owe you a small amount of money and refuses to pay?

Yes? No? And if “yes” what can you do about it?

I have a suggestion: why don’t you conscript their appearance in small claims court so that you can sue them for your money. It only makes sense. After all, that is what (some of) these courts in The Bahamas are there for.

However, what do you call a small amount of money? The term “small” is relative. What might be

small to you might not be considered small to others. And more importantly, what does the Government consider “small”?

As far as I know the Government has placed a limitation on how much one can sue for in small claims court in this country - $5,000.

And the lawsuit proceedings are held in a Magistrate’s Court. If you want to sue for more than that amount, your case would have to be heard in Supreme Court.

It seems counterproductive to have such a small limitation imposed on these magistrates of small claims courts. It only serves as a

(negative) catalyst to inundating the Supreme Courts with frivolous matters. As a result, it would be my humble suggestion to the Government that it initiate all machinations available to it to precipitate an outcome whereby the limitation of $5,000 would be raised to $25,000.

That amount should be enough to alleviate some congestion in the Supreme Courts so that they can hear and dispense with more serious cases.

MARVIN G LIGHTBOURN Nassau May 26, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 29, 2017, PAGE 5

Barber found dead inside vehicle in Grand Bahama

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE SCENE in Freeport where a barber was found shot dead.

Photo: Vandyke Hepburn/BIS

GRAND Bahama police are actively investigating the murder of a young barber known as “Ace” who was shot dead in Freeport last Thursday.

A bow was placed on the door of the Kutting Stylez Barber Shop in the Gwen’s Shopping Plaza on East Atlantic Drive, where the victim had worked for the past four years.

The shop was closed on Friday, but persons working in the plaza and those who were hanging out in the area were saddened by the news.

“He was inside here (Thursday), and I am shocked,” said a young fe-

male cashier employed in an eatery in the plaza.

A young man hanging outside the plaza said he knew the barber only as “Ace”. “We sad to hear the news. The owner of the barbershop is also upset about it, and he closed the store and left,” he said.

A storeowner who knew the victim said he was always in her store. He said he was a very nice person.

This incident is the island’s sixth homicide of the year. According to reports, police were called to an area behind East Sunrise Plaza around 11pm Thursday, where the body of a man was discovered in a vehicle with gunshot wounds to the head. The victim had died at the scene.

Grand Bahama recorded

its first and second murders on February 1 when two men - Stephon LaFrance, 25, and Joseph Bain, 27 - were shot outside the Game Time Bar on Logwood Road shortly after 1am following an argument with a group of men.

The third homicide occurred on Valentine’s Day when 49-year-old Margaret Smith was fatally stabbed at Eight Mile Rock. The incident occurred shortly after 5 pm at Seagrape.

On April 1, police officer Theresa Thompson was fatally shot at a nightclub on Oat Street, Freeport. The incident occurred around 9 pm. There has been no arrest in Thompson’s death.

On April 23, a man was shot dead in Freeport while in the area of Amberjack Street.

Stabbing Grand Bahama police are also investigating a stabbing incident that left a man hospitalised with serious injuries on Thursday evening.

According to police, shortly after 10 pm, a man was reportedly involved in an argument with another man in the Fawcett Lane area when he was stabbed in his body. He was taken by private vehicle to the Rand Memorial Hospital, where he is listed in serious condition. A 20-year-old male resident of Oates Lane is assisting police with their investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Detective Unit in Grand Bahama at 350-3107-12, 919, 911, or the nearest police station.

THE BODY of a man who was fatally shot on Boatswain Hill off Carmichael Road West.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/ Tribune Staff

LATEST MURDER BRINGS TOTAL 14% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR from page one

Police said officials responded to the shooting incident at Boatswain Hill, west of Carmichael Road around 12.20pm.

On arrival they found a man’s lifeless body midway through the corner.

“The only information we’re working with thus far is that persons who reside in the area, they heard several gunshots, when they came to the outside they observed a white Honda ve-

hicle speeding off and later they found the deceased laying in the road,” Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash told the media at the crime scene.

“We don’t know the motive for this latest homicide, however we are appealing to members of the public who may have any information in connection to this incident to feel free to contact the police and give us that information.”

As officers processed the crime scene, a woman, overcome by emotion, screamed

repeatedly.

Last Thursday, a young barber in Grand Bahama known as “Ace” was shot dead in Freeport.

The victim had worked at Kutting Stylez Barber Shop in the Gwen’s Shopping Plaza on East Atlantic Drive for four years.

The identity of the latest murder victim has not been confirmed.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call police at 919, 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS.

SUICIDE SUSPECTED AS 72-YEAR-OLD MAN IS FOUND DEAD

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net ABACO police are investigating the apparent suicide of a 72-year-old man who was found dead at a residence in Treasure Cay over the weekend.

The victim, whose last name is Albury but first name is not known, was discovered shortly after 8am on Saturday. Police were called to a residence in Treasure Cay where the lifeless body of a Caucasian male was found with a gunshot wound to the body.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor.

Inspector Terecita Pinder said that foul play is not suspected in the matter, and police are continuing the investigation into what was initially termed a sudden death.

MAYNARD-GIBSON REJECTS CLAIM OF COURT REPORTER CONTRACT TO GOVT FORMER Attorney General Allyson MaynardGibson has denounced “fake news” circulating on social media which alleged that she formed an “employment service” to provide court reporters to the government on a contractual basis.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson released a statement condemning the rumours yesterday.

She claimed that the per-

son circulating the allegations on social media was identified as a member of the Free National Movement.

“I am not now and have never been associated with any ‘employment service’ for the engagement of court reporters or otherwise,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson noted in a brief statement.

She said the person spreading the information “could easily have verified

that the court reporters who are engaged on a contract are now contracted to the government of The Bahamas.”

The former senator added: “Prior to 2013/14 most court reporters who were engaged on contract were engaged by a known FNM supporter. This is also a very easily verifiable fact.

“I have referred this matter to my attorneys for appropriate action.”

At Honda We Care About

YOUR SAFETY ATTENTION HONDA & ACURA DRIVERS: Please be aware that we have a recall under way to repair airbag inflators, at no cost to you, in certain Honda and Acura vehicles.

If you have a Honda or Acura vehicle that is within the year range listed below, please contact us to see if your vehicle needs immediate attention. Thank you from the Honda Family.

CONTACT INFORMATION DISTRIBUTOR’S NAME

Nassau Motor Company Limited CALL

(242) 302-0130 ext. 1 EMAIL

service@nassaumotor.com VISIT

www.hondabahamas.com/recalls Find us on

HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY - FRIDAY

7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

*Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.

SAFETY 2001-2016 CERTAIN AFFECTED MODELS

AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL

PAGE 6, Monday, May 29, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

NEMA calls for resilience as hurricane season nears THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is bracing for the start this week of another hurricane season, focusing on the watchwords “Maintaining Disaster Resilience Throughout the Communities.”

The agency has set aside June 11 to 18 as ‘National Disaster Preparedness Week’ and is urging the public to do their part in preparing for any disaster, natural or manmade, this season.

The official Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Captain Stephen Russell, director of NEMA, said that he is mindful that communi-

ties are still rebuilding from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew, which struck the country last October leaving damage in the millions in its wake throughout the northwest Bahamas.

The islands mostly impacted were New Providence, Grand Bahama, Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera, Bimini and the Berry Islands.

On Friday, the national disaster committee held its regular monthly meeting during which representatives of the Emergency Support Function (ESF) groups reported on their respective levels of readiness ahead of the hurricane season.

“Most communities are

still in recovery phase post Hurricane Joaquin (2015) and Hurricane Matthew (2016),” Capt Russell said.

“We are encouraging residents to be mindful of the 2017 hurricane season and they must be prepared for what might occur during the upcoming season.”

Occasionally, storms can form outside the official season as happened this year with Tropical Storm Arlene, which formed in April. Although it posed no threat to land, the Meterology Department through NEMA kept the public informed of its movements.

Capt Russell emphasised the importance of lessons

learned from Hurricane Mathew last year. “People must adhere to warnings issued by the disaster management officials, particularly if it relates to evacuating certain areas; and take measures in a timely manner to safeguard their properties as best they can.

Residents also need to have an a disaster plan for their families and not wait until the last minute to find out where they have to go, in the event their homes would be compromised.”

Capt Russell reminded local government officials in the Family Islands that they should have already met with their respective

HURRICANE FUND CLAIM DISPUTED from page one

without a public bidding process and without documentary evidence showing proper verification was done before monies were paid out.

But Dr Darville, who was recently appointed as opposition senator, said no million-dollar contract was ever issued during cleanup and restoration exercises on Grand Bahama.

“Before every natural disaster, heavy equipment operators are identified and put on notice of the possible need to utilise their service, sometimes during, and in some instances immediately following the disaster,” Dr Darville said. “In none of these cases does the government require or request bids. Instead, rates are set by the Ministry of Works and all persons with heavy equipment are used, if the magnitude of the disaster requires massive assistance, as was the case with Hurri-

KWASI THOMPSON cane Matthew.” wrongdoing.

Dr Darville did not say “I do have a problem with whether Cabinet approved the way this administration contracts worth up to is trying to create the im$200,000. pression that something un“It is very unfortunate toward happened without that the minister of state factual information to subwould issue a press state- stantiate such allegations.” ment, prior to the comple“The minister of state’s tion of a full and thorough so-called ‘troubled findings,’ investigation,” he said. “I which suggest to the public fully support an audit be- some evidence of wrongdocause I am confident that ing, will be inconsistent with the findings would prove no any auditor’s report.”

Dr Darville also said Mr Thompson is being premature and reckless with this statements.

“It sets a dangerous precedent for this FNM administration,” Dr Darville said.

“I admonish the minister to get on with running this country and move on from their stop, review and cancel policies,” Dr Darville said. “I’m advised that since coming to office, the Hurricane Relief and Restoration Programme was put on hold. I’m also told that the government has stopped the distribution and honouring of all coupons and the various bonded warehouses on the island, affecting hundreds of residents who need immediate relief and home repairs.”

When contacted by The Tribune, Mr Thompson countered yesterday that the Hurricane Relief and Restoration Programme has not been halted, noting that on Friday he said in a statement that he instructed administrators on Grand

disaster consultative committees regarding level of preparedness.

NEMA also intends to upgrade its social media mechanism of alerting the public through Facebook, text messaging, Instagram and other means.

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project Outlook, headed by Dr Phil Klotzbach, predicted in April a below average Atlantic hurricane season season of 11 named storms, four hurricanes, of which two could become major hurricanes.

However, on Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-

Arlene Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irma Jose Katia

tion (NOAA) issued its prediction of a 45 per cent chance of an above average season with 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes, of which two to four could become major hurricanes.

“The outlook reflects our expectation of a weak or non-existent El Nino, nearor above-average sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and average or weaker-thanaverage vertical wind shear in that same region,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

2017 STORM NAMES

Bahama to notify people in the east, west and Freeport area to provide his office with information about who has yet to be assisted.

As for coupons, he claimed the institutions which previously took vouchers stopped honouring them prior to the election “because the PLP government did not pay the companies.”

He stood by his decision to comment on the handling of money in his portfolio before the scheduled audits are complete.

“The facts are the facts and the people have a right to know how their money was spent,” Mr Thompson told The Tribune yesterday.

“I stand by my statement.

The audit will go forward

Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rina Sean Tammy Vince Whitney

and the law will take its course.”

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has made fiscal responsibility and accountability important themes of his young administration.

He has ordered a forensic audit into Urban Renewal, the Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) and the Bank of the Bahamas (BOB).

He has also called on his ministers to audit their ministries and departments and he has pledged to increase the resources for the Office of the Auditor General.

The Minnis administration has also said that where there is evidence of a crime or wrongdoing, the law will take its course.

BPL ‘CRITICAL’ WITHOUT NEW EQUIPMENT from page one

Mr Maynard told The Tribune on Friday that the “engines are shot” and even with the added power from the rental engines, it will not be enough to stop the outages. However, he said, Bahamas Electrical (BPL) workers are professional and will do all they can to ensure the outages are not long.

Mr Maynard’s comments came a day after a night of outages in New Providence on Thursday. Some customers complained about up to three outages in a 24-hour period.

“The problem is now critical,” Mr Maynard said. “We need new equipment, there will continue to be blackouts throughout the summer if we do not get them immediately.

The engines are tripping because the load has increased because it is summer. Everyone has their air conditioning on and so the ancient engines are overloaded.

“The engines are shot and, so until we get new equipment, this is what you can expect. We are professionals at (BPL) and we will do what we have to do, the power will go off but it will not be for a long period of

time. We will do our best to keep the power on but there is only so much we can do, even with the rentals it will not be easy.”

On Saturday, BPL advised on its Facebook page that crews were working to restore power to the Pride Estates area “after severe damage was done to our distribution network, which has resulted in poles needing to be changed.”

Meanwhile, several customers vented their frustration on social media last week about frequent outages.

“BPL/BEC are you guys trying to break some type of record tonight? This is

NOTICE Water Connection Deadline:

Pinewood Gardens, Coral Lakes and Boatswain Hill

The Water and Sewerage Corporation advises residents of Pinewood Gardens, Coral Lakes and Boatswain Hill that the deadline to submit applications to connect to the new water supply system in the respective subdivisions is June 2, 2017.

Residents who have not applied are advised to call the Corporation immediately.

Tel: (242)302-5599 or Toll Free (242)300-0150 Find out more on

or our website www.wsc.com.bs

ridiculous,” one person wrote. “This is the fourth time current turn off in the past three hours. This gonna be a long summer. When are you guys going to get it together (sic).”

Another person wrote: “Worthless I say! I do not care who is the new government, this needs to be fixed. Bahamas Power and Light, this island is 21 by 7, why can’t you fix this problem?”

Earlier this month, with the hot summer months approaching, BPL expressed “confidence” in its readiness to take on the peak period with its higher power generation capability.

In a statement, BPL said while it expected the needed power generation this summer to peak at 255 megawatts, its current generation availability is over 345mw. This is 90mw higher than the demand expected this summer.

In addition, the electricity provider said transmission cables between Blue Hills Power Station and the Big Pond Sub-Station have been replaced and upgraded to improve the capacity and reliability of the transmission system.

Pointing to the period from June to September last year, in which BPL experienced challenges due to

low generation availability and reliability, the company said it wanted to ensure Bahamians would not suffer from the same issues this summer.

American company PowerSecure was contracted to take over management at the government-owned utility provider in early 2016.

The new management deal was promoted by the Christie administration as being the answer to sub-par electricity service and high electricity bills.

However the country has still been plagued with repeated power outages, especially in the summer months.

$30,000 PAYOUT FOR INCORRECT WANTED POSTER from page one Leon Bethel and ACP Clayton Fernander then apologised to her in person.

A retraction and apology were also broadcasted on ZNS, with Senior ACP Stephen Dean, then a superintendent, apologising for the “inconvenience and the distress that have been caused by the publication.”

“It was an honest mistake by our officers and we wish to rectify that and we wish to publicly say that she is not wanted by us for any outstanding matters,” Senior ACP Dean had said earlier.

However, no retraction was published in The Punch.

Ms Kemp took legal action.

Last week, the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court Camille Darville Gomez ruled that the government’s approach to the matter and the defence it offered rendered the prior apology disingenuous.

Attorneys for the government did not admit guilt and moved to assess damages when they filed their

arguments in the case.

Accordingly, opportunities to discount the amount of damages awarded to Ms Kemp were lost because Mrs Gomez found that the effect of the original apology was diluted by the government’s defence.

Mrs Gomez noted in her judgment: “…Defendants sought to defend the action by way of defence which was filed on February 7, 2011 and therein they adopted the defence of qualified privilege and fair comment and they brought up the fact that the plaintiff was charged with the offences of grievous harm in 2007 and causing harm in 2009.

“It is also noteworthy to mention that nowhere in its defence did the defendants acknowledge that an apology was made to the plaintiff on behalf of the defendants. It is our submission that in this regard the defendants subsequent conduct in its drafting and filing of the said defence diluted whatever apology was offered on an earlier occasion.”

Mrs Gomez also considered that the apology was not published as widely as

the defamatory bulletin because it was not included in The Punch, which she said “arguably has a wider circulation and audience than the apology which was effected by the defendants on national television”.

Attorneys for the government had also argued that Ms Kemp’s “general bad reputation” should mitigate an award of damages to her.

However, Mrs Gomez said no evidence proving Ms Kemp to be of “bad character” was presented.

“Therefore, the court will assume her to be of good character,” Mrs Gomez said.

Ms Kemp had alleged that she suffered financially because of the wanted poster.

She said she was refused work at the Atlantis resort because of this.

However, Mrs Gomez found that while Ms Kemp was entitled to compensation because of the personal and social injury she suffered, the alleged financial impact on her life was negligible.

Ms Kemp was represented by attorney Christina Galanos in the matter.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

insight@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017

Brave new world?

T

oday marks 19 days since this country has been rescued from the clutches of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and its out-of-control corruption and arrogance.

The party that had stood as the champions of the downtrodden and less fortunate had morphed into a cancerous, self-serving, wheeling-dealing plague, and the people saw it for what it was.

Constituencies that had remained within the column of the PLP for decades flipped to the Free National Movement (FNM) on May 10. No one saw it coming.

Yes, there was an overall feeling of anger and, yes, even hate for the PLP in some quarters, but no one predicted the cut-hip that the Bahamian people had in store for their Government.

They had had enough, and were prepared to show the PLP the door.

Seats that the FNM were not predicted to win, they won - and in handsome fashion. It was an historic victory for the people.

Their oppressors had been vanquished and “good days” were ahead.

Alas, the PLP has not learned the one crucial message that was being delivered to them by the populace. They have once again buried their heads in the sand and are unwilling to face up to the reality of their defeat. The people did not want Perry Christie any longer. They did not want anyone associated with Christie - his gang of swindlers - any more. The arrogance of the PLP, with their inside deals, contracts to their cronies and rampant corruption was too much for the public to stand. They had to get rid of Perry Christie and his whole team.

But is the PLP listening?

The initial evidence points to the negative. A case in point is their sad but predictable excuse that money swung this election. What utter garbage.

The PLP not only had the funding of their Chinese allies, they had the webshops behind them and the full access to the public treasury.

The FNM, in contrast, had to scrap for funding whereas the PLP could afford to throw free parties with food and drink, replete with performances by international recording artists. It was a spectacle to behold. But in

It does not appear the Progressive Liberal Party are heeding the lessons of their election rout. Malcolm J Strachan offers some advice their twisted minds, money was used to sway voters to either vote for the FNM or refrain from voting for the PLP. It is truly sad when you contemplate it. The PLP is, by its own proclamations, saying that their countrymen are too stupid to vote on the issues, but were instead bought like cattle at auction in the year of our Lord, 2017.

What the PLP fails to realise is that the people of this country had more than enough reasons to vote against them. Here are a few examples: 1 The Bahamian people voted against the legalisation of webshops in what the Government first proposed was a referendum, only to later - and disgracefully - say was just an opinion poll. The Prime Minister promised in Parliament that the will of the people would be followed, but instead ignored that will and granted his horses in the race their licences.

2 The Bahamian people endured the implementation of the most painful and regressive of taxes through the roll out of Value Added Tax (VAT). The Bahamian people were promised that this tax would be used to pay down on the national debt, which turned out to be yet another blatant lie.

The debt instead increased, as did the Government’s spending and borrowing.

3 The Government proposed a Gender Referendum that the Bahamian people once again voted against in dramatic fashion.

The people were met with vitriol from some members of the Government for voicing their democratic rights.

4 The Government actively fought with, and drove into liquidation, Baha Mar, the largest single phased resort development in the history of the country, costing the jobs of over 2,500 Bahamians. They then proceeding to fight with the developer and publicly sided with the Chinese over offers that would have increased the Bahamian participation in

that resort development.

5 And last, but not least, were the many scandals involving individual Ministers of the Government, from Shane Gibson and the transfer of money into his US bank accounts, to V Alfred Gray interfering with the judiciary, to the Attorney General granting nolle prosequis left, right and centre.

So instead of creating bogeymen and coming up with conspiracy theories, the PLP should call a spade a spade and admit that they were their own worst enemies at the polls. No one wanted to see Perry Christie returned to office - be that in his capacity as Prime Minister or even as a member of Parliament. So, the PLP would be better suited in this time to truly examine why they lost and stop insulting the Bahamian people.

Maybe next time they won’t get up on a platform

APPOINTING Philip ‘Brave’ Davis as leader, even in an interim capacity, will not provide the new, youthful leadership the Progressive Liberal Party needs after its rejection by the people. Photo/ SHAWN HANNA stage and invoke the spirit of Sir Lynden Pindling when half of the voting population has no idea who the man is. Maybe next time they will have candidates who come from the constituencies they are seeking to represent.

But you cannot begin to do any of these things if you start off by making Philip ‘Brave’ Davis the leader of the party (even if only in an

Anyone who can recall their “times with Pindling” should be put on the shelf and allowed, where only applicable, to give guidance from the bench.

interim capacity). The PLP needs new, youthful leadership at all levels. They must turn the page on people like Bradley Roberts and Minkey Issacs. They must turn the page on Fred Mitchell and all who think and act like him with their bitterness and vitriol.

Anyone who can recall their “times with Pindling” should be put on the shelf and allowed, where only ap-

plicable, to give guidance from the bench.

The Bahamas of 2017 needs to, and will, be engaged by a new generation of leaders, whether the PLP like it or not.

So, to our PLP readers we offer you today this free advice; get it together or face not even being the Official Opposition in 2022. Do your base the credit of being able to see through your window dressings and give them the real change that they have asked of you. The choice is yours.

• Comments and responses to insight@ tribunemedia.net

PAGE 8 MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017

INSIGHT

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

May expected to win UK election as opinion polls tighten Britain’s general election may be about ‘Brexit’ but, Peter Young writes, domestic issues matter as well

C

ampaigning for the General Election in Britain on June 8 has been in full swing but has inevitably been overshadowed by last week’s terror attack in Manchester.

Electioneering was suspended for some days but has now resumed and there is renewed focus on the manifestos of the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, which had already been published.

These describe their respective positions on a range of policy issues affecting many aspects of life in Britain and are of major concern to voters, even though this election is mainly about the nation’s departure from the European Union (EU) following the referendum last June. So, with each party having set out its stall, this is an interesting moment to take stock of developments.

In the normal cycle, following David Cameron’s victory for the Tories in 2015, the next election would have been in 2020. But Prime Minister Theresa May has called this latest poll in order to achieve greater stability, unity and certainty across-the-board, and also, specifically, to strengthen her negotiating hand in the forthcoming ‘Brexit’ negotiations.

The main conclusion from her stance on these is that, assuming the Tories win the election, ‘Brexit’ is going to happen for sure despite the earlier uncertainty. Mean-

while, Labour’s position on Europe remains unclear though it is apparently in favour of ‘Brexit’ generally.

Until last week, the Tories had a substantial lead over Labour and most pundits were anticipating a landslide victory next month. The gap has now narrowed, with Labour surging ahead in the latest opinion polls despite accusations of a weak response to the terror threat after the Manchester attack, partly because of a backlash against controversial social care provisions in the Conservative manifesto.

It is clear from Labour’s manifesto that the Left has tightened its grip on the party, which is now committed to huge tax and spending increases. These include higher social benefits and other public expenditure, which would also require substantial capital borrowing together with a raid on businesses and the betteroff in society. It also plans nationalisation of the rail, energy and water industries and would institute a defence review which could result in the abandonment of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Seen as lacking economic competence, today’s Labour Party appears now to be set on turning the clock back to the bad old days of the 1970s in wholesale rejection of the stance adopted by New Labour which brought Tony Blair to power in an overwhelming victory in the 1997 election.

The indications are that

DURING a break in campaigning for the UK general election on June 8, British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses a news conference in Sicily on Friday at a meeting of the G7 leaders. Photo/AP all this does not resonate well with large numbers of people who also consider that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn lacks the qualities required of a Prime Minister and could not anyway realistically lead the ‘Brexit’ negotiations - not least because Labour would have to enter some sort of coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party and would be stymied by them because of their preference to remain in the EU. As such, Labour’s immediate future looks bleak and, barring some unforeseen development, the Conservatives are still expected to win the election comfortably, if not by the landslide predicted earlier.

In these circumstances, the Conservative manifesto deserves greater scrutiny as an indication of how the country is likely to be governed during the next five years. Those looking for similarities between Mrs May’s approach and that of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher may be surprised by the explicit rejection in the manifesto of ‘untrammelled free markets’ and of the ‘cult of selfish individualism’ together with a commitment to embrace a classless society by positively doing away with social division, injustice, unfairness and inequality (surely a Utopian dream) in a form of Toryism which places greater emphasis on the community

termed ‘the just about managing’.

This may reflect the current mood of the country, but many of her own party believe that the individualism which she rejects is the wellspring of the profit motive which drives capitalism.

O

pposition has grown to the Tories’ proposals for reform of certain social care, including forcing the elderly to fund the entire cost of long-term care (now modified with introduction of a possible cap), means testing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and scrapping the so-called triple lock on annual increases of the state pension. While this approach may lose some Tory

Less ideological and more pragmatic than Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May’s aim seems to be to spread opportunity, promote workers’ rights and increase the power of the state, including a bigger role in the lives of what she has termed ‘the just about managing’. and social cohesion and on the good that government can do in people’s lives.

Compared to Lady Thatcher’s fundamental belief in libertarianism, free markets, tax cuts, nationalism, privatisation and deregulation, Mrs May has already shown herself to be less pro-business and more interventionist. Less ideological and more pragmatic, her aim seems to be to spread opportunity, promote workers’ rights and increase the power of the state, including a bigger role in the lives of what she has

votes, the question remains whether, as a leader on the centre left of politics, Mrs May will be able to maintain the strength, stability and unity of her party which is her declared aim in calling a snap election.

Notwithstanding the importance of such domestic matters, ‘Brexit’ remains the prime issue which will define the success or failure of her government - and, with the resumption of campaigning, she is almost certain to return to the core message that only a Conservative government can provide the

‘strong and stable’ leadership needed for the ‘Brexit’ negotiations.

Since the referendum was relatively close - 52 to 48 per cent in favour of leaving the EU - there has been a long rearguard action by the ‘Remainers’. But the government has made it clear that it will not fudge the issue and be half-in and half-out of the EU, so it should come as no surprise that the manifesto contains a commitment to take Britain out of the single market and the customs union and thus take back control over immigration which should be reduced to sustainable levels while still admitting the skilled workers which the country’s economy needs.

The government is also committed to ensuring restoration of the sovereignty of the UK Parliament and leaving the European Court of Justice so that its own laws will be made in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and interpreted by judges across the UK and not in Luxembourg.

The Prime Minister has said that obtaining the best deal possible for Britain outside the EU is the most important challenge facing her government over the next few years. This was essential for the nation’s prosperity, but no deal was better than a bad deal. Leaving the single market would mean the UK could champion free trade worldwide and should be able to secure its own bilateral trade agreements with other countries as well as with the EU itself.

Fighting the coming election on such a strong ‘Brexit’ platform should stifle any lingering opposition on the subject within the Tory Party. But Mrs May has emphasised the importance of continuing to co-operate with the 27 remaining EU member states in a wide range of areas like counter terrorism and crime, specific European programmes and scientific collaboration as well as many others.

Once the British people had spoken in the referendum, a so-called hard ‘Brexit’ was almost inevitable.

Having declined to participate in the Schengen agreement abolishing internal EU borders or in the eurozone single currency, and as EU leaders press forward inexorably towards ever-closer political union and a federal state, Britain was bound to step aside from the bloc sooner or later.

Overall, the Tory manifesto will reassure ‘Leavers’ as reinforcing the steps that Mrs May has already taken towards ‘Brexit’. Whether the voters as a whole will agree - with numbers of ‘Remainers’ also perhaps now supporting her - will be revealed on June 8.

• Peter Young is a retired British diplomat living in Nassau. From 1996 to 2000 he was British High Commissioner to The Bahamas. Comments and responses to insight@tribunemedia.net

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

INSIGHT

MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017 PAGE 9

Competition for benefits of second citizenship is global C

World View

ITIZENSHIP

by Investment Programmes (CIPs) in the Caribbean have been the subject of much criticism, even though the financial and economic benefits of the programmes are unde- By SIR RONALD SANDERS niable. These programmes are operated by Antigua purpose of them. and Barbuda, Dominica, In 2012, Australia inGrenada, St Kitts-Nevis troduced a ‘golden ticket’ and St Lucia. investor visa for US$3.8 Are those detractors million that has atright to decry the CIP? tracted more than 1,300 Do they pose dangers to millionaires. It also has other nations? And,are a cheaper programme any such dangers poten- at $770,000 that allows tially worse from Carib- temporary residence and bean countries than from takes longer to get a perothers that operate similar manent visa. programmes? To answer For 27 years, the United these questions, a tour of States has been operating CIPs - by whatever name what is called an ‘EB-5’ they are called - might be programme. It requires a useful. $500,000 investment for People all over the a two-year visa which can world have always sought be turned into permanent citizenship of coun- residence and eventually tries other than those in citizenship. Since 2012, which they were born. the programme has genHistorically - and at the erated at least $8.7 bilpresent time - the ma- lion for the US economy. jority of such people are While, originally, it was economic migrants; peo- meant to help finance ple who leave projects in lowtheir birth coun- ‘Last year income areas, it tries, seeking has been used to a record opportunities attract Chinese elsewhere. But, 82,000 millionaires to migration is no millionaires invest in highlonger limited to end real estate the poor or the acquired projects. desperate; today a second Until there are tens citizenship.’ three years ago, of thousands of Canada was millionaires who the third highare also seeking alterna- est beneficiary of visative citizenships. investment programmes.

CIPs are not restricted Canada scrapped the to a handful of Caribbean programme in 2014, but countries nor do they en- two months ago, Quejoy exclusivity in the field. bec announced that, toLike virtually everything day, it will launch the else in the world, the mar- Quebec Immigrant Inket for second citizenships vestor Programme. For is global and extremely CAN$800,000 that procompetitive. gramme provides permaFor instance, last year nent residence leading to a record 82,000 million- citizenship in Canada. aires acquired a second Not surprisingly, the procitizenship. The number gramme, while open for of millionaires moving to 1,900 applicants, is proanother country jumped viding for 1,330 appli28 per cent in 2016 over cants from the People’s 2015, reaching the high- Republic of China. est level in history. MilIn the Australia prolionaires were enticed, gramme, nearly 90 per courted and encouraged cent of the 1,300 who by a number of countries, signed-up were from Chiincluding Australia, the na.

United States, Spain, The point is many of Portugal, Malta and Cy- the governments that exprus just to name a few. press concern about CarThis year, the number is ibbean CIPs run such more than likely to be programmes themselves, higher. earning billions of dollars The point is: there is and targeting the same a demand in the global millionaire communities market for second citi- as do the Caribbean juriszenships. It is a demand dictions. worth billions of dollars, The Caribbean has and many governments, a right to a share of the including some who criti- feast on the global tacise the Caribbean for its ble, and not just to the CIPs, are very much in- crumbs that remain after volved in it. others have fed themThe world’s top desti- selves. Those who connation for millionaires tinuously condemn the seeking another citizen- CIPs also fail to acknowlship is Australia. The edge that all the governsecond is the United ments, including those States. And, neither of in industrialised nations them has been a passive that operate these prorecipient of millionaires grammes - by whatever and their money. Both name they are called - do have active programmes, so as a means of bringdesigned to lure mil- ing revenues and investlionaires to their shores. ment into their countries.

These programmes are Small Caribbean councast as schemes for per- tries have the same motimanent residence lead- vation; they have adopted ing to citizenship; they these programmes out of differ only in the length economic necessity. of the process, not in the But, having said all

that, Caribbean countries with CIPs should be aware that the critics hang their disapproval of the programmes on the peg of money laundering, tax evasion and terrorism.

They claim that CIPs can be used for these purposes, even though they have failed to explain how or to produce evidence of instances where it has occurred.

That is why what is crucial to the success of these programmes and their acceptability is vigorous, intense and transparent scrutiny of the applicants for citizenship. For the programmes to be successful, they certainly need applicants of high worth - and, in this regard, Caribbean jurisdictions must create new and exciting reasons why their citizenship is competitive and desirable - but they also require great comfort by the governments of countries to which the successful applicants will travel.

This demands that the process of vetting applicants must be constantly reviewed and regularly strengthened. No other country should have doubts about them, not in a world where almost everything is capable of cross-border movement.

The five Caribbean governments must invest just as strongly in the robustness of their vetting system as they invest in the promotion of their citizenship.

Already, some Caribbean countries operate stringent vetting processes for CIPs, including referrals to Interpol and the Joint Regional Communications Centre, based in Barbados, that is connected to agencies in the European Union, Canada, the US and the United Kingdom.

All the countries in the Caribbean should follow this pattern; by doing so, they would strengthen the confidence of other nations in the integrity of their system and give those nations comfort in not applying visa requirements. In this way, the value of CIPs to Caribbean economies will endure and their native people will have reassurance in the worth of their own passports.

• Sir Ronald Sanders is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States.

He is also Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own.

Responses and previous commentaries: www. sironaldsanders.com.

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

Senior Finance Analyst, Financial & Management Reporting Position Summary: The Senior Finance Analyst is expected to contribute to the efficient and profitable operation of the Caribbean North (CN) Regional District of Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited (the Bank), which includes The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands and The Cayman Islands.

The role of the Senior Finance Analyst is to provide effective support to contribute to sustainable earnings growth for the Retail and Trust operations of the Bank, specifically in The Bahamas, but also for the District as a whole. The incumbent is responsible for: ensuring the integrity of financial and management reporting through the implementation of adequate controls; and accounting policies performance measurement and monitoring including but not limited to monthly and quarterly reporting functions; annual profit planning, profitability modelling, and taxation.

Key Accountabilities for this role: • Ensuring that adequate controls over the month end close process are in place in support of internal and external financial reporting; • Monitoring and analyzing financial results and preparing monthly reporting packages; • Leading, coordinating and managing all External Audits along with preparation of all finance related board papers within stated timelines; • Coordinating and preparing all tax returns where applicable, including but not limited to stamp tax and VAT; • Maintaining awareness of all local accounting / taxation changes and informing all relevant stakeholders; • Maintaining an understanding of all BNS IFRS requirements to interpret and implement processes to ensure reporting is BNS IFRS compliant; • Developing strategic partnerships with business leaders and peers; • Ensuring compliance with the anti-money laundering/anti-terrorist financing policies and procedures of the Bank and Regulatory Agencies, for all products, services and customer transactions provided by the Bank.

Educational Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a Finance related discipline and / or a recognized accounting qualification (i.e. CPA, ACCA, CGA etc.); • Minimum five years of working experience in a finance role.

Functional Competencies: • Strong analytical skills and a desire to learn and adapt to changing requirements; • Excellent ability to manage a variety of responsibilities in a fast paced, challenging environment; • Strong interpersonal skills to effectively address and discuss identified issues with stakeholders; • Strong time management and organizational skills; • Strong written and oral communication skills; • Good decision making skills and strong administration capabilities.

Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: The Human Resources Dept., Scotiabank: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before June 9, 2017.

Please note: Only candidates short-listed will be contacted.

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

0 MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017 PAGE 10, Monday, January 23, 2017

INSIGHT

PAGE 10 MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017

WEEK IN RIBUNE

day - Supervalue rt Roberts is overnment to VAT policy rertnell reports e Bahamas nachampionships or The Bahay; plus Fourth s. latest propernd rent in the s’ Guide

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net A9INS

EMAIL: insight@tribunemedia.net

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

GAIN AN GAIN EDGAN

GAIN AN EDGE A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HIGHER EDUCATI A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON

A prescription for Why diversified College graduation is Making colle a brighterisfuture education key just the beginning a parent’s p to social equity R F M

sday “THE past two years nd Health ce on taking have flown by. Even now mind and body that I’m about to graduate, making waves the fact that I’ve been able to attend university at all as Box sporting seems surreal,” says Stephnigo “Naugh- anie Stubbs, who will soon have her Associate’s Deaya OCHELLE Failure to have both gree in Medical Laboratory rom experience, Smith had The Bahamas is home. I Lyford Cay Scholar Technology from Keiser TVET and traditional nesday Charlotte Knowlesprayed long and went off to earn an educaUniversity in Florida.

Angelika Wallacech - a weeklyhard about what Thompson will tell academics available in tion to equip myself with of 39 Ly’s she newwanted in the to doStephanie with heris one you that you can Whitfield embarks the tools I needed to make allwho school ford Cay Scholars will programmes nology life. afford college with careful an impact here. Not coming believed in her potential Stephanie’s ultimate goal on her career graduate this year join Smith’s is aand disservice to to invest in her. It is to return to The She forthwas in the 11th grade planning. back was never an option. enough Bahamas the thousands Scholars Calland column a decision regarding the of As aestabwidow, Mrs Knowlesour children and ANY think was the boost she needed to and partner with an who been able to comtrajectory of her lifehave needed Thompson to of hard college You often hear the term believe in herself and pur- lished laboratory companyworked country, Remiska plete theirin-college educa- says rsday to be made. She would ensureto that hergraduation two children as “Brain Drain” here in the sue her own dreams. to expand its business intion either locally or interand Religion, Wildgoose, English form her mother tonight. graduated fromthe CR Walker end of the Bahamas.

Why do you Stephanie is convinced clude more diverse medical nationallyapover instructor the past 45 at BTVI ew As she reluctantly Senior High School and was story, but it is actually the think graduates should rethat college has unlocked a technology services.

Her years through the generosook’, a weekly proached Mrs Smith, she determined that theyofwould start of a lifetime goalturn home? whole new world for her and hope is that her training of donors toschool the Lyford ng could in The Ba- theity TVET is a first option for go does not out.a path sense exhaustion. tocloser college no achievematter way haveout encouragement from a setting, personal Opportunities may seem setwork her on towards will help the country but that only comes Cay Foundations. some is an important step what. as a society, Mrs Smith worked hard - Unfortunately, success. group of people like Lyford ment and professional sucplentiful elsewhere but for She has used every provide a wider array of from having a college detowards progression. The we road place to whitemoment collar jobs both parents did,Although for they the Cay Foundation staff mem- a change to happen here in Currently, cess. of her Associate’s medical laboratory services her son Blaine gree.” graduation has not been an day that is talented with Our educa- child wanted the best for their on a pedestal. programme aLyford Computer Scholar An- bers. And it’s wonderful to our country, we have to be explore all locally withoutis having toCay Information al- separates the to their a 28-page hands is just as intel- Systems major at the Unitionalhas system children.sec- easy one, Stephanie knowdid that thehelp Foundations’ gelika labWallace-Whitfield How the ones that provide the aspects of the little-known send the more complex you your ways kept her focus on the to the best in ligent as the child who aspoten“Mummy, I’ve made a de- students with “great donors believe in you and field of medical technology. oratories abroad for testing. versity of The Bahamas will graduate this summer, platform of new opportunichildren select the best colgraduating fashion, pires to pursue medicine. and for those students cision. food, I want toshining do hair prize and -tial”, yourprogrammes career goalsfor enough to ties for the upcoming gen“It’s an exciting field that She also hopeswhile to spread the and has already mapped out her daughter Blaire, a lege them? with a college degree that tainment, garSocial equity begins with we give our best. nails.” allows you to make sure word at home about you achieve them. theCay imher plan to Scholar, make anstudies impact help erations. That can’t be done “Throughout their school enable make a countries al matters, for the carpenter and Lyford suchareus, Vexed, fit-Mrswill Smith re-her toHowever, that doctors giving their portance of this Culinary critical field. in The Bahamas through from somewhere else.

Arts at Johnson & years, I encouraged my childifference in The Bahamas andplied, interviews the doctor both end up coneduca“Girl you crazy aye! as Finland, whose patients the right diagno“College has allowed me the What is your new job and art and education.

Wales University. dren to do activities that through medical technology.

View Naughtributing to the society as a rivals most, testing,” All- that money we plunk- tional system sis through she chance to really look toward how doexpose you think it will use Here she shares her read- would Do you have any advice After extensively them to caso many aspiring take on tothe whole. Thus, failure to have shows that 45 said. per cent of ing out put youLike in private Stephanie knows that the future and seek out opyour college education? vice for others who aspire for students who are thinksearching scholarship opstudents, Stephanie’s first reers so they could figure Bahamas both TVET and traditional a technical school and you say you wan’ students choose there are many portunities where couldn’tfor will be teaching middle toI attend college, success- outI their ing about college? her children, the road to although professional intere Finish Line,Girlmajor academics available in all portunities as opposed to the trado what?! you hurdle better ontrack physicians in see them before,”Mrs said Stephschool at approached Lyford Cay fully graduate and make a ests.

Do your best to narrow Knowles-Thompson a college education wasacademics*. fi- well-trained e local sports Asart they programmes is truly ditional What school get out my face and pray Bahamas, there is a anie. “This opportunity was Yes to Schol- Grade International Schoolitinwas the down your career choice. difference.

“Say nancial.

“I can still remem-whoThe nt about Stubbswhat to do 10, I knew a disservice to our children created if Joshua, can take a with your need for equally well- the just the first rung on a very Fall.to seriously begin preThen exhaust all options ber the momentcar thatapart I foundand great and ultimately our country. arships”, a Facebook forum time put it back life!” trained healthcare technoltall ladder.

I plan to continue providing I will using my college and opportunities to help Where you attend outretreated, I was awarded a scholcol- paring urdayRochelle forbecollege.

Together At this pivotal moment, focused ondid together, or Gabrielle, who ogy professionals. to climb and I’m going to coneducation daily in mythem ver- LYFORD college and what are your we you achieve those goals. from The une’s Top 5: arship resources for BahamiCay Scholar Blaire Thom researched to help there is no simple answer lege can Foundapaint nails like artwork heartbroken, despondAfter graduation, Stephtinue my education by any she shares the bal respected articulationand of accredlessons, career goals? tions,” she to reflected. was had the op- to solve our social and eco- ans. Here, deoent, review of determined find on a “I canvass, but was anie plans to pursue a means possible.” tipsI she lesson planning, and I’ll andWhat studied Historyalong and ited finalDepartment advice do you stunned!

Just moments opmake storiesherby mother has learned nomic ills. Nevertheless, universities. portunitybe-early on to bedegree proud.

Security so Bachelor’s in bio• “Gain An Edge” the passed pedagogical skills Ihave fore I learned that I’d been Philosophy for those looking gilShe on prayed www. long and hard seen as a success way.is a of Art at the use one of our answers lies in the Blaine five BGCfor who knew she would be safe.”for logical sciences or clinical weekly collaboration of I developed from college a scholarship, I was University of Kent. I’ve al- SEs, ways to become marketomand decided to awarded placing diversified educathey are, as opposed the will pursue medand automatically rebiology.to She also do the Lyford Cayways Foundacoursesfree andtuition from being in How calling the that dreamed of teaching, able did after college? inicine.

The Trib- contemplating expectations tion at the forefront. All Why such an emphasis on society ceived at Uniyou create a plan study to become a tions, Bahamasincluding Technicaleventually teach- the college classroom. college to tell them thatonto I further usiness, While you’re school, countries, especially de- going to college? projects them?

For As sports, Bahamians, we know versity of The Bahamas, a for your daughter in to afford certified specialist in hemaand Vocational Institute wouldn’t because d this Classifieds ing atmy thehouse, tertiary level.is no great institution right here college? use your summer vacations, veloping countries, need students like tology these, techstory all too well. be Wecoming “In there and microbiology. and University of The Bacouldn’t You landed a job offer Christmas best to I justthe any balanced development nical it.” vocational education giveguide our children best afford - college is man- at home.

I started breaks, lookingand when This combination of train- hamas aimed democracy at What promotFor Stephanie, being e, education real estate, before your official graduimpact didmy getting visitswere home to start 11. to make through all of the educa- datory.

(TVET) is because we have and training ing I didn’t give chilAfter talking with prothey in Grade Colwill allow her the versa- ing a national dialogue on education have ation ceremony. How were connections in your field. scholarship andhopes more.that theyawarded a college tional sectors in order to dren choice. tility to pursue career will becomea first the option of saying “I fessionals in the culinary lege is not cheap, so I would fields higher education.

To share REMISKA WILDGOOSE meant that there were peoingdoctors news and you ableBlaire to do that on so advise on you?

Volunteer where make significant progress don’t want to go to college”. industry, While therethatare still and lawyers. Cardecided to necessary, start rerange from pathology your thoughts, email gainSTEPHANIE STUBBS, Keiser University Graduate and network, Lyford families Cayand make ple out there, along with her your mobilequickly?

In terms of my career yourself in terms of national devel- and be made penters and massage ther- changes neededtotopublic I’ve seen the struggles searching early! results, Johnson & Wales Univer- duce well-diversified educational instantaneous look to 2027, when our and allied health. anedge@tribunemedia.net. scholar. family, who ne242.com Itbecause wasn’t anwould overnight (Bennell,1996). one goals, college opened doors memorable (especially as it our educational system, opment apists should own only supportive be the in faces without a college Once we decided sity it give system is one small but sigit is an alternative thatwhere will educational system prosuccess story. that couldn’t have been pertains to your field). alternative when medical embracing the fact that We must see beyond 2017 degree and I than did not want nificant Blairea would attenddiffercollege her exposure to diverse cul- make step towards longtremendous duces more enough I spent the two years pri- ence. opened before. youcost return andThen foundwhen out the of this to happen to citizens them. I term tures.

We toured the North economic prosperity qualified, visionary or to going off to school, as LYFORD Cay Scholar Angelika Wallace-Whitfield is embarking on a teaching career.

Just as importantly, I was home, you’ll find that these I looked foratscholdidn’t want my to in Miami campus, met the tuition, our nation. who could buildchildren a world For many students the well as my school breaks, Bahamas ableprey to travel see the Dean connections been faarships in Technical herhave specific disWhile investment offurther Academic Affairs fall tothat theand social ills class resort would rival and working and networking world and experience difcilitated and nurtured for cipline. I calculated all the and developing even visitedour theeducaSafety Vocational of ourImplementing country. There is a into most.

TVET Institute, TVET withinsystem my field. sum- is years. ferent cultures forms You’ll alsobecause find that mayI spent not proprogrammes and and having a tional their only choice of art. I believe that these mers working at the Nation- it is you would what theyhave love. already As lead-esexperiences will come to- al Art Gallery’s Mixed Me- ers, tablished a great teachers, and reputation parents, gether to allow me to be the dia Summer Camp, so when it for yourself that to accompany is incumbent we conmost thorough and well- the opportunity for Lyford tinue yourtonew degree. embrace TVET as Cay International School an alternative informed teacher possible.

• “Gain at anallEdge” is a levels so came up, I had both the ex- allweekly

collaboration individuals can become of THE Banklike conWhatCentral has it been to perience and references to valuable the Lyford Cay Foundacontributing memtinues to ease exchange support the application. be a Lyford Cay Scholar? tions, Bahamas Technical bers of society. controls.

This isyou a good As a Scholar, foster and StoriesVocational like that ofInstitute Rothing.

However, with I againother ask With your skills, you chelle, relationships and University of Thehas Bawhose name why the fear of completely hardworking, motivated must have had many op- been hamas aimed changed for atthepromotpruremoving conPosition Summary: Bahamiansexchange who are all in portunities outside of the pose ing aofnational dialogue this article, areon trols? country.

Why did you want pursuit of an education. higher education.

To share much too common.

Like The Finance Manager, regulatory reporting is a member of the Finance Team of the Managing Thoseyou’re against the When away in elimischool to come home after gradu- soyour thoughts, gainmany others, email medical Director’s Office for Caribbean North (CN) Regional District of Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited, nation of exchange controls ation? working hard, it’s nice to anedge@tribunemedia.net.

By JOHN ISSA school did not work out.

In which includes The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands and The Cayman usually frighten the public the end, she still pursued Islands; but is responsible for key duties specifically for Bahamas and TCI operations. and government officials what she loved - beauty The role of the Finance Manager, Regulatory reporting is to provide management oversight of all with the fear of currency haven for all currencies as trades. maican banks held by Jaregulatory reporting requirements and ensuring that all changes are communicated to the relevant flowing out of the country well as precious metals. maicans are held in foreign stakeholders, and appropriately implemented within required timelines. The incumbent has like a fast moving river. We An example closer to currencies.

Sources The removal of responsibility to lead and implement all Regulatory initiatives, new guidelines and requirements should learn from history. home is Jamaica. Since re- exchange controls (2012). has not *Mark Phillips and managing and developing the regulatory reporting team to ensure improvements and When the UK had exchange moving exchange controls, Why we the carepanic aboutto onlyshould stopped sustainment in the area of regulatory reporting, including regulatory capital management, Today controls foreign currencies foreign exchange has flood- Vocational get moneyEducation? sent overseas but planning and stress testing/scenarios.

Business - P the new govstayed off shore. After their ed back to Jamaica. Almost has **Bennell, (1996). seen Jamaicans bringernment’s VAT plans are versus vocational removal the UK has been a half of the deposits in Ja- General ing their overseas funds Key Accountabilities for this role: coming education under increasing secondary in defire, Neil Hartnell veloping country: A reports review • Provide management oversight and direction for all regulatory reporting for all assigned Sports - Shaunae Millerof rates of return evidence. entities which include all filings with the two (2) main banking regulators (Central Bank of the Uibo breaksofthe national The Journal DevelopBahamas and Turks & Caicos Financial Services Commission); ment Studies.

200m record and beats the • Review and facilitate the remediation of issues from regulatory inspections where applicable; • Interpret and implement all regulatory reporting requirements; “Gain An a Olympic andEdge” world ischam• Manage planning of stress testing in line with internal policies and Central Bank guidelines; weekly of pions. collaboration Plus Dan Marino • Ensure that there is adherence to and adequate documentation of regulatory reporting the Lyfordand Cay Foundaweekend Fourth Quarprocedures and processes; tions, Bahamas Technical ter Press.

• Implement processes to continuously enhance productivity and controls in the area of and Plus Vocational Institute the latest properregulatory reporting; and of The Ba-the tiesUniversity for sale and rent in • Provide representation internally and externally, as a Regulatory reporting specialist and play hamas promotHome aimed Buyers’atGuide a lead role in any Central Bank initiatives, new guidelines/requirements for comment and ing a national dialogue on Tuesday responses to surveys; higher education. share Woman and To Health • Independently develop proposals based on emerging regulatory reporting requirements and your thoughts, email weekly advice on gaintaking TECHNICAL vocational education and training is important to make recommendations to the Finance Director regarding implementing reporting, procedural anedge@tribunemedia.net. care of your mind and body help students, says Remiska Wildgoose. or systems changes; and women making waves • Implement strategies to motivate both individual and team excellence and provide coaching to in the Bahamas direct reports; The Press Box sporting • Ensure compliance with all regulatory anti-money laundering/anti-terrorist financing and bank thoughts of Inigo “Naughpolicies and procedures, for all products and services and customer transactions, are met in ty” Zenicazelaya accordance with Scotiabank policies.

Wednesday Tribune Tech - a weekly Educational Requirements: look at what’s new in the world of technology • Formal Accounting Designation or equivalent financial reporting experience; Plus Alicia Wallace tack• Thorough knowledge of a broad range of financial disciplines with focus on regulatory les social and political isreporting and, accounting policies, application systems and corporate governance. sues of the moment in the Bahamas in her Culture Functional Competencies: Clash column Thursday • Strong analytical skills and a desire to learn and adapt to changing requirements; Obituaries and Religion, • Strong understanding of the regulatory reporting requirements in The Bahamas and Turks and a weekly review Caicos; • Strong Analytical skills; Mental Health of the Na• Excellent time management and organizational skills; tion, by Dr Mike Neville • Excellent written and oral communication skills; ‘On da Hook’, a weekly • Excellent interpersonal skills and proven leadership ability to coach and develop staff; look at fishing in the Baha• Excellent understanding of the financial markets and local economic, political, social, mas investment and business environments;

Every day in The Tribune Qualified candidates should submit C.V. via email to: The Human Resources Dept., News, business, sports, Scotiabank: hrbahamas@scotiabank.com on or before June 9, 2017. weather and Classifieds Please note: Only candidates short-listed will be contacted.

Trader - the best guide to cars for sale, real estate, help wanted and more.

Plus breaking news and ®Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence (where applicable). updates on your mobilefriendly tribune242.com

A Lyford Cay Foundations scholar aims to serve through medical technology

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

Finance Manager, Regulatory Reporting

Debunking the myth View from afar

THIS WEEK IN THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, May 29, 2017, PAGE 11

Jurors hear closing arguments in Kofhe Goodman retrial

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net

CROWN prosecutors on Friday urged Supreme Court jurors to not allow anyone to “offend” their “intelligence” as the prosecution and the defence launched their final submissions on why Kofhe Goodman is guilty or not guilty of the September, 2011, murder of 11-year-old Marco Archer.

Garvin Gaskin, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said there are “reasonable inferences” that point to Archer’s death at the hands of Goodman, and that the prosecution “absolutely disagrees” with the defence’s submissions that the Crown must unequivocally prove through evidence that Goodman did murder the boy.

To validate his claims, Mr Gaskin confirmed that Archer had “no authority” from his mother, Tryphemia Meadows, to go anywhere but the neighbourhood store where he went to purchase candy in September, 2011, and that, similarly, no one was given any authority by his mother to take Archer from Brougham Street to Yorkshire Street, where he was later found dead by authorities.

This, the DPP said, along with other facts relative to the case, such as an alleged “makeover” of Goodman’s apartment on Yorkshire Street, and cleaning agents like Clorox bleach allegedly found in a 1998 Nissan Maxima supposedly belonging to Goodman, drove home his assertion that one doesn’t have to see something happen in order to “reasonably conclude” that it actually did happen.

Prior to Mr Gaskin’s submissions, Goodman’s attor-

KOFHE GOODMAN, pictured outside court previously. ney Wayne Munroe, QC, other party’s submissions. had requested that mem- This, Mr Munroe posited, bers of the jury use their was because the retrial con“common sense” in delib- tained nothing but circumerating on a verdict, as he stantial evidence against his challenged a case and sub- client, as opposed to direct missions from the prosecu- evidence that could position that were based “com- tively link him to the crime.

Mr Munroe also called pletely” on “circumstantial evidence” against his client. on the jury to make a deTo illustrate his point cision only once they were about ‘circumstantial evi- completely satisfied that the dence’, Mr Munroe noted Crown had “closed every that Goodman’s retrial, door” and “closed every which started on Monday, window” concerning their has been a “relatively short submissions and presencase” because the defence tation of evidence. This, and the prosecution did the Queen’s Counsel said, not “row” over any of the would need to happen in

order for the jurors to “honour” their oaths before the Court.

The matter was adjourned to today at 11am at which time Justice Carolita Bethel will sum-up the case to the jury.

Friday’s proceedings marked the fifth day of Goodman’s Court of Appeal-ordered retrial over Archer’s murder five and a half years ago.

It is claimed that between September 23 and 28, 2011, Goodman, of Yorkshire Drive, caused the death of Archer, who disappeared

from Brougham Street on September 23 and was found dead days later.

Archer, a sixth-grade student of Columbus Primary, was reported missing by his family on September 23 after failing to return home from a neighbourhood store where he went to purchase candy. His family begged for help in ensuring that he was returned home safely.

However, on the morning of September 28, police discovered Archer’s body in bushes behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive.

Goodman was found guilty of killing Archer on August 2, 2013. He was later sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Bernard Turner on October 29, 2013.

However, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and sentence, ordering a retrial for as soon as possible because of the “lurking doubt about the fairness of the trial” brought on by adverse pretrial publicity, misconduct of Goodman’s then-defence lawyer Geoffrey Farquharson and the then-jury’s irregularity.

PAGE 12, Monday, May 29, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Robinson-Blair selected as top travel award finalist

A BAHAMIAN writer has been chosen as a finalist in next month’s Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) 2017 Travel Media Awards for American and Caribbean journalists.

Judges selected Etienne Dupuch Jr Publication’s writer Tosheena RobinsonBlair as a finalist in the No Anansi Story category for her piece ‘The life and times of a master hotelier’, which spotlights SuperClubs Breezes CEO and President John Issa and his contributions to tourism locally and regionally. It was published in the 2016 Bahamas Handbook & Businessman’s Annual.

Travel writers and photographers are vying for ten media awards and from the winners of those categories judges choose a winner for the Best of the Best Award. The No Anansi category takes its name from an African folktale character, which takes the shape of a spider, Anansesem, or “spider tales,” and encompasses all types of fables.

CAREER journalist Tosheena Robinson-Blair hopes to win a top travel media award.

A career journalist since called upon to serve (tem1998, Ms Robinson-Blair porarily) as an anchor for has worked as a senior re- the Guardian News Netporter for The Tribune and work and Peace 107.5FM. Jones Communications Occasionally, she appears Network. As a freelance as a guest co-host on Ed broadcaster, she has been Fields Live on Kiss 96 FM.

A former Associated Press stringer, Ms Robinson-Blair hopes to not only snag her category, but also the top award.

“At Dupuch Publications we produce tourism and financial publications that we believe are second to none.

Our progression to the finals speaks to the fact that we set a standard, not only for a local market but also regionally. A best of the best win would confirm what we already know; that our content, design and production can go head-to-head with similar international publications,” she said.

“On a personal level, if I were to win I’d like to dedicate it to the memory of our former managing editor, Ralph Deans, who passed away this year. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye but his rigorous editing process brought out the best in me as a writer. It forced me to up my game and write in such a way that he would be hard-pressed to find fault in my copy. This would have tickled his fancy.”

Submissions were assessed by a judging panel consisting of regional and international experts in media. Winners will be announced at the Caribbean Tourism Awards luncheon on June 8, part of the programme for Caribbean Week New York organised by the CTO. Taking place from June 3 to 10, as a celebration of the sights, sounds, colour and culture of the Caribbean, the week combines business sessions and consumer-oriented events with Caribbeaninspired food, lively entertainment and networking opportunities.

Caribbean Week New York is the largest regional tourism activity in the New York area. Artists, performers, celebrity chefs, investors and other strategic partners join government officials and the media as all converge on New York for a week that showcases the diversity and vibrancy of the region.

The categories for travel writers and photographers

include: No Anansi Story!

(Best Feature by a Caribbean Journalist in Caribbean Media); Been There, Wrote That – Best Feature Article In A Consumer Magazine; I Couldn’t Have Written It Better Myself Best Feature In A Consumer Newspaper; Inner Circle King/Queen - Best Feature Article In A Trade Publication; Virtual Visitor Award - Best Online Feature; Golden Mic - Best Broadcast Feature; From Infinity … And Abroad! (Best Feature by a foreign Journalist in US or Caribbean Media); Oh Snap! - Best Photograph accompanying a feature, and Oh My Word, I Blogged! (Best Blog Post).

Aside from the Bahamas Handbook, Dupuch Publications also produces the full-colour Welcome hardback books circulated in hotel rooms throughout New Providence and Grand Bahama; The Bahamas Investor magazine; What-todo magazines; Dining & Entertainment Guide; and Bahamas Trailblazer Maps.

FOULKES: NO WORK PERMITS WHERE BAHAMIANS ARE QUALIFIED FOR JOB

from page one

deferred many of them.

“The prime minister has given me directions to ensure that no foreigner gets a permit where there is a Bahamian available to do the job,” Mr Foulkes told the show’s host.

“I have given directions to the director of labour and we are represented on the Immigration Board and no work permit can be issued without what is commonly known as a labour certificate, we call them notice of vacancies, unless there is a heads of agreement between the government and the developers or owners of a resort that says the general manager, financial officer or somebody else you can get work permits for them.

“For example, Atlantis has an agreement where they are capped off with a certain number of permits . . . normally if you have an investor come in he would want persons that he has been working with to enhance his investment and that is understandable. But where that is not the case we have to ensure, because we have a serious unemployment problem, and it goes back to what was in the Speech from the Throne, we are going to begin a massive training and retraining programme.

“We are in negotiations with the IDB now to secure a $20m loan to concentrate on hard skills development and training and apprenticeship.”

When asked about the perception that this may mean no more work permits will be given under this administration, Mr Foulkes said: “We will im-

DION FOULKES, Minister of Labour, with Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.

Mr Foulkes also referred are sending some of them plement our policy and wherever there is a Baha- to a recent incident where to that hotel to be intermian who is qualified to do he had to refuse a request viewed,” he said, adding the job and a foreigner or from a hotel because there that this incident happened an expat is applying for that are unemployed Bahami- about a week ago.

He said the Bahamas has position, we will refuse the ans who can fill the position where a foreign worker was adopted a policy that where application.” a specialised foreigner is He added that in many being sought.

“We had an application required, the government cases, however, members of the public may assume from a major hotel for a has mandated that the eman expat is in the country food and beverage direc- ployer identify a Bahamian on a work permit, when in tor. I declined it, because who has skills in that area fact the person has married there are Bahamians who to train for this post for a a Bahamian and has per- are trained in food and bev- period of time to learn the manent residence with the erage in this country who skill and eventually take right to work in the Baha- are unemployed and we over the post from the formas. know who they are and we eign worker.

Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff He admitted that the have to demonstrate to us government has to be more why they are doing that. vigilant in regard to the For example, say you want work permit process, add- a front desk manager at one ing that employers often of the hotels, but (the cantry to come up with differ- didate) must be fluent in ent schemes to get around four languages. That’s absoprotocol. lutely ridiculous. What that “Now what some of the means is they have somecompanies do, they put body at their head office criteria in it (job vacan- who speaks four languages cies) that makes it almost and they want to bring to impossible for a Bahamian Nassau.”

Mr Foulkes held the post to meet that criteria or very few Bahamians. What we of minister of labour in the do in those cases is we call last Ingraham administrathe persons in and they tion.

OVERTIME PAY FOR POLICE TO BEGIN TODAY from page one

officers who will be paid today were 1,799 people from the rank of constable to inspector.

This number doesn’t include reservists or officers who have since died since working overtime and are entitled to compensation.

Ultimately, it’s unclear how many people will be paid and what process was undertaken to determine who is eligible to receive compensation.

It had been unclear

whether the Minnis administration would even be able to meet the May 29 deadline for the first tranche of payments as promised by the Christie administration before the general election.

The new government had to make its own provisions for the payments.

While Mr Turnquest previously said some amount of borrowing would be required to make the payments, it’s unclear exactly what arrangements were made.

Mr Turnquest said yesterday that the payments

will be made in four instalments.

He could not say offhand how much money will be paid overall or how much will be paid in any tranche.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had said during a campaign rally earlier this month that no matter which party won the May 10 general election, the government would be unable to pay officers today because “the money ain’ there” in the Public Treasury.

The decision to pay officers overtime was made by

the Christie administration after years of wrangling over the overtime issue.

It came after officers worked 12-hour shifts at different periods in 2013 and 2014 to combat mounting crime.

After officials of his administration insisted that officers would not be paid overtime, former Prime Minister Perry Christie announced during a campaign rally at RM Bailey Park that the officers will be paid, with one payment coming on May 29 and another at an unspecified date

in the next budget cycle.

He made the announcement days before officers were set to vote in the election’s advanced poll.

Critics called his decision “a political ploy”.

Last May, the Court of Appeal upheld Supreme Court Justice Milton Evans’ ruling that a Force Order issued by former Police Commissioner Paul Farquharson in 2003 was relevant to the matter as it mandated that public officers be paid when they work for more than 40 hours in a normal work week.

At the time, the PSA had estimated that if money is given to officers, the government would end up paying as much as $16.4m in overtime pay. The court’s ruling, however, allowed the government to either give the officers time back or give some combination of financial compensation and time-off.

The Police Commissioner decided last year to give officers time off and to give financial compensation only to those who worked overtime during the time period but since retired or died.

PAGE 14, Monday, May 29, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Lloyd to be speaker at Atlantic College graduation

By TANEKA THOMPSON Tribune News Editor tmthompson@tribunemedia.net MINISTER of Education Jeffrey Lloyd will be the keynote speaker at Atlantic College’s 22nd anniversary graduation ceremony at the Melia Ballroom tonight at 7pm.

Under the theme, “Global Competence for an Inter-

connected World”, some 52 graduates will receive their associate and business degrees in a variety of areas including accounting technology, business administration, business management, Christian counseling, Christian education, computer information technology, criminal justice, human services, public administration and theology.

Atlantic College, which is a part of the Mission Baptist Church, was founded to educate people in the inner city.

The school was started 22 years ago in Grant’s Town.

Mission Baptist Church was founded by Rev Dr R E Cooper Sr and has been continued by Dr R E Cooper Jr, a top educator, who established the school to educate “our people.”

“We have seen the need for education in our inner city as we live here daily,” said Dr Cooper Jr. “Our mandate is to educate our people and we have been doing just that for the past 22 years. Many people outside of the inner city still don’t know that we exist and have been playing this pivotal role for this long.”

As president of Atlan-

tic College, the Theological Seminary as well as the Interactive School of Learning, Dr Cooper is ably assisted by Dr Melony Thompson as vice-president of administration and fiscal affairs. Dr Thompson was recently lauded

by Punch columnist Nicky Kelly in an article about her unique method of teaching, the school said.

Ms Kelly in her article went on to say that the Ministry of Education should adopt this practice and will therefore yield better results in public schools, according to a press release from Atlantic College.

Professor Wilston Anderson is the vice-president of academic affairs.

The school is located on East Street and Hay Street.

Celebrating star students

THE BAHAMAS Primary School Student of the Year Foundation held a ceremony at St Agnes Anglican Church on Friday where 121 students received their medals of honour.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

MEMBER of Parliament for Bain and Grants Town Travis Robinson, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, speaking on Friday as he challenged the students to soar like eagles and not listen to the noise in the market, referring to a story he told of a chicken who dreamed to fly with eagles but was discouraged by other chickens.

PAGE 16, Monday, May 29, 2017

DRUGS SEIZED IN ELEUTHERA

POLICE in Eleuthera took two men into custody following the seizure of a number of marijuana plants on Saturday.

According to a police report, shortly before 11am, a team of officers assigned to the Eleuthera District acting on intelligence executed a search warrant on a home located in Lower Bogue, where they uncovered 40 plant pots, each containing several small marijuana plants.

Two male residents of the home were taken into custody in connection with this

discovery.

Police also reported that two men were arrested after a handgun was found during a search of a public service bus on Sunday.

Around noon, officers assigned to the Mobile Division acting on information intercepted the bus on Prince Charles Drive near Fox Hill Road.

A .45 Springfield pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition was uncovered and two men were taken into custody for questioning.

Investigations continue.

THE TRIBUNE

POLICE SEARCH FOR SUSPECTS AFTER TWO SEPARATE ARMED ROBBERIES POLICE are seeking the public’s help in finding two male suspects responsible for two separate armed robberies that occurred on Sunday.

In the first incident, shortly after noon a man was about to make a deposit at a local bank on Madeira Street in Palmdale when a man armed with a handgun approached and robbed him of a deposit bag

containing an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect then fled in a waiting Honda CRV vehicle being driven by another man, police said.

Then shortly after 1pm, a man armed with a shotgun robbed a business on Mermaid Boulevard off Carmichael Road of a large amount of cash before fleeing on foot.

Police also reported that

three Bahamians were taken into custody after they were found in possession of a quantity of dangerous drugs at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on Friday.

According to reports, shortly before 8am the man and two women, who were travelling to the US, were detained by United States Customs and Border Protection officials at the

Pre-Clearance Departure Lounge at LPIA after 16 taped packages of cocaine were discovered in their luggage. The estimated weight of the cocaine is four pounds.

The three suspects were handed over to Drug Enforcement Unit officers and are expected to appear in court early next week to be formally charged.

Investigations continue.

GLOBAL DONUT DAY JUNE 2ND

Get a FREE donut with any beverage purchase. www.dunkinbahamas.com @dunkinbahamas

VALUE LOVER’S 99 ONE-TOPPING $ LARGE PIZZA DEAL

11

(INCL. VAT)

TEL: 603-3333 www.pizzahutnassau.com