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The Tribune

Volume:116 No.110, MAY 31ST, 2019

Established 1903

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WEEKEND: ANTHEA STUNS WITH STATESIDE SHOWCASE

Strike crisis HOTEL workers overwhelmingly backed a strike during an official Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union’s poll yesterday.

Up to press time last night more than 2,000 workers had voted in favour of striking, union president Darron Woods said, and fewer than 30 voted against industrial action.

Mr Woods said that, based on the unofficial tally, 1,594 Atlantis workers supported a strike, 14 voted against it, 41 left their ballots blank and six had spoiled ballots. About 4,000 Atlantis workers are part of the BHCAWU. Mr Woods also said 538 employees from Melia

FORMER Bahamas Bar Association President Ruth Bowe-Darville was sworn in as the newest Supreme Court justice yesterday–– just a few days before she reaches retirement age.

Her 65th birthday on Monday suggests Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will have to immediately consult Official Opposition leader Philip “Brave” Davis

SEE PAGE SEVEN

BALL

Pages 14-15

Hollywood chic

A COMIC’S VIEW

DON’T LET OUR MARIJUANA OPTIONS GO UP IN SMOKE

TAX BREAKS ON IMPORTS COST $1.3BN

Nassau Beach, British Colonial Hilton, Lyford Cay Club and the Towne Hotel voted “yes” to a strike; only seven voted “no”.

Forty-four employees of Harbourside Resort voted in support of a strike, none voted no. And 56 employees of the Ocean Club voted in favour of a strike, with only one voting no.

Mr Woods said he still hopes to avert a crippling stoppage. “We will get together with hotel operators and start talking,” he said. “The voice of the people is clear. It’s now about getting together to resolve the issues.”

The Bahamas Hotel Employers Association (BHEA) recently presented hotel workers with its proposed industrial agreement.

A viral video captured SEE PAGE FIVE

about extending her tenure to 67.

In an interview this week, Mr Davis appeared opposed to that idea.

“To appoint a judge to a substantive post with only what I’d call the residual two years left - which requires an extension at the behest of the prime minister after consultation with me - I think on the matter of principle, is rather unfortunate,” he said.

BELLES OF THE

SEE PAGE EIGHT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE government gave up more than $1.3bn in Customs duties during the 2015-2016 fiscal year due to the multiple tax breaks afforded investors and corporate entities.

The Auditor-General’s report for that period, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, revealed that Customs collected just $4.138m on more than $6bn worth of imports covered by investment incentive legislation.

FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS

BUDGET’S WINNERS AND LOSERS

WILL YOU STILL NEED ME WHEN I’M 65?

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

puzzles

Audrey Hepburn inspires local designer Pages 8 & 9

Hotel workers signal massive vote for action

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Friday, May 31, 2019

history pop culture garde ning

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net

SUPPORT for a strike looked likely as the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union went to the polls yesterday.

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

THE Department of Social Services’ uniform assistance programme will receive considerably more money in the upcoming fiscal year in an apparent effort to curtail the anger government received last cycle for allotting what many saw as insufficient to cover the needs of dependents. Government estimates that $462,000 will go toward the social assistance benefit.

SEE PAGE SIX

FAMILY GRIEVES OVER MIAMI MURDER

By RIEL MAJOR Tribune Staff Reporter rmajor@tribunemedia.net

THE murder of a Bahamian educator in Miami, Florida has shaken her family at home in Nassau.

The victim was 41-year-old, mother-oftwo, Kameela Russell who was last seen alive by family on May 15 in Miami.

Her mother, Linda Russell, and other relatives gathered at the family home yesterday awaiting more

VICTIM: Kameela Russell information from US police on their investigation.

“Knowing her and the

type of person she was, I just don’t understand it,” Ms Russell told Local 10 News, a Florida news outlet. “I don’t understand it at all.”

Miami police found Mrs Russell’s decomposed body in a canal last Saturday, a few blocks from where she disappeared. According to Miami officials, the cause of death was a blunt head injury and the matter is now being treated as a homicide.

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

SEE PAGE THREE

DIANE PHILLIPS A LACK OF PRIDE LAID BARE FOR ALL TO SEE

SEE PAGE TEN

PAGE 2, Friday, May 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

37-YEAR-OLD JAILED FOR TWO YEARS AFTER HE ADMITS CARRYING COCAINE

LUCAS Lewis outside court yesterday

Photo: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

A 37-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after he pleaded guilty to drug related offences.

Lucas Lewis, of Grand Bahama, was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court, on cocaine possession charges.

He was arrested at Lynden Pindling International Airport earlier this week with 10 pounds of cocaine in his luggage, valued at more than $60,000.

He was charged with

possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply, conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs, importing dangerous drugs and conspiracy to import dangerous drugs.

He claimed in court that he was paid $12,000 by a woman in Suriname to transport the drugs. Lewis was sentenced two years on each count, to be served concurrently.

According to a police report, shortly after

2pm on Tuesday, Drug Enforcement Unit officers observed a male in the customs hall who, upon seeing them, begin acting in a suspicious manner. The officers conducted a search of the man and his bag and recovered a package which contained suspected cocaine.

The man had just arrived from Suriname through Jamaica via Caribbean Airlines, police reported.

Lost (not) at sea LEFT: Richard Thompson hasn’t seen his family in Nassau since 2016. Photo: Catou MacKinnon/CBC; TOP: Vyacheslav Borshcheskij and Richard Thompson take turns cooking, alternating one week at a time. Photo: CBC; RIGHT: The MV Ethan was sold in July 2016 to D&D Maritime, a company partly owned by Chuck Deal in The Bahamas.

Photo: Bruno Giguère/Radio-Canada

No end in sight to 30 months of misery for sailors stranded in Quebec City port

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net AFTER spending 30 months on a ship docked at a port in Canada, veteran Bahamian sailor Richard Thompson is packing up to come home.

Mr Thompson, 59, travelled to Quebec City in 2016 as part of a crew commissioned to get the MV Ethan ready to sail after it was purchased by Bahamian company D&D Maritime.

But the ship never left the city port due to financial challenges that left the crew unpaid. Vyacheslav Borshchevskij lives on the ship with Mr Thompson.

The pair’s nearly three-year struggle was reported by CBC News, which revealed the ship that was purchased for more than $750,000 US cash was sold for $150,000 earlier this month.

“It hasn’t been like some destitute island,” Mr Thompson said.

“Honestly it’s nowhere near like that. The real problem is just the fact that if you decide to sell a ship, the crew onboard needs to be dealt with and that didn’t happen. The court wasn’t informed we were onboard the ship. The problem lies here in Canada not in The Bahamas.”

Although most of them left in 2017, Mr Thompson and Mr Borshchevskij, a Ukrainian, opted to stay because they believed they would eventually get paid but also because the ship would rapidly deteriorate without constant maintenance.

Mr Thompson is owed $110,000 US in wages, according to CBC, and has used his personal savings to pay for expenses and some of the crew’s salaries.

“The real story is basically the guys ran out of money because

they were given a bill that was really outrageous and that created the whole issue,” Mr Thompson told The Tribune.

“They did what they could, they lost a hell of a lot because everything they did with cash, and I’m not going to be continue to be part of a story that is going to bring down The Bahamas - that hits my home.

“I know the company did what they could, that they went broke trying to get this ship out.”

Ownership of abandoned vessels is automatically transferred to the Canadian government, according to the news agency, which reported the Port of Quebec successfully obtained an order from a Federal Court judge to force the sale of the MV Ethan last month.

It furthered D&D Maritime had not paid its port fees in more than a year, adding its owner

Chuck Deal stated his intention to appeal the Federal Court ruling.

Mr Thompson and Mr Borshchevskij have also filed a protest to be considered as creditors because the men were left out of the court’s ruling as if the ship had been abandoned.

Mr Thompson told The Tribune he was eager to put the ordeal behind him as he pushed back against international reports that painted his countrymen in a negative light.

“I see a company who I knew put every dollar they had into a ship and a bill was placed on them.

They fought and fought,” Mr Thompson continued, “they tried their best. I really don’t appreciate it. When they talked to us we told them straight and plain the company does do what they can.

“We were owed wages but even during that time they were sending money to Ukraine for the

chief’s family and they were giving my family some money in Nassau, so they didn’t abandon us. They couldn’t pay us our full salary.

They were trying to get funds to take the ship out and would have paid us.”

Mr Thompson continued: “It’s a matter of what the court’s final position is as to what happens with proceeds with the ship, when that happens we’ll know. At this time I’m getting ready to come home. I’m not going to wait here, the matter has been taken care of so I guess we’ll hear the end result.”

The Tribune attempted to contact D&D Maritime but was unsuccessful at reaching anyone at their Caves Professional Plaza location. A company search yesterday did not produce any results for that name. On its website, the company also lists a US location in Detroit, Michigan.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 31, 2019, PAGE 3

Family grief over murder of mother in Miami Arresting Jamaican woman was a ‘national security matter’, officer tells court from page one

Another family member said the murder was senseless and an extremely painful blow to their family, telling The Tribune: “Kameela was gentle, soft spoken with a heart for underprivileged and hurting children. She’s the only child of her mother and the first of my deceased brother Michael Hall.

“She always had a smile and always seemed so full of joy. She’s an accomplished violinist and played in Carnegie Hall.”

The relative added that she hopes the murderer is captured and immediately removed off the streets, so this tragedy doesn’t happen to another family.

She said: “I hope [the murderer] finds Jesus in all this because they clearly need Him and don’t have Him. I can’t imagine what her mom and children are experiencing now but I know they need our prayers. No one knows the pain they are experiencing now and the myriad of

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net ARRESTING a Jamaican woman who was allegedly raped by a senior immigration officer five years ago was directly related to “the sovereignty of The Bahamas”, a senior police officer insisted yesterday.

Superintendent Adrian Curry, testifying before Justice Indra Charles, said based on what he knows, Claudia Edwards Bethel’s arrest was a “national security” matter. However, he did not clarify what he meant.

Supt Curry also denied assertions that a certain portion of his official statement, that mentioned Mrs Bethel and others were taken into custody for “safe keeping”, meant they were potential victims of human trafficking.

Nonetheless, Supt Curry said the arrests of all of the women—Mrs Bethel included—at the Twilight Bar in Montell Heights on December 13, 2014 related to national security matters.

He said Mrs Bethel was specifically arrested because she appeared to be “in control” of the other women, most of whom were scantily clad, and who he suspected of being illegal immigrants.

Supt Curry said given what he saw after entering the bar: women donned in “skimpy clothing” and underwear; some of them sweating; a stage and a pole, he knew some sort of “exotic dancing” had taken place.

Given that Mrs Bethel was the bartender, according to the evidence, Supt Curry said he suspected that she was in charge of the “strippers” and was thus allowing them to engage in gainful employment in contravention of the Immigration Act. He asserted that the information he received from former Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, that illegal immigrants were engaging in “exotic acts” at the bar in question, was “right on key”.

Nonetheless, Supt Curry doubled down on his previous evidence that Mrs

Bethel was not one of the women he saw wearing “skimpy clothes”.

The senior police officer also said he did not actually see anyone dancing, dancing lewdly, being naked, or engaging in any acts of obscenity or disorderly behaviour.

However, he said that was attributed to the fact that when he first entered the bar, only “neon lights” served as a light source.

Supt Curry said when he ordered the lights to be turned on and the music to be turned off, he noticed that the patrons were standing still.

He said he then separated the men and the women by having them stand on either side of the club. He said he made it a point not to interact with any of the women in the club to prevent any possibility of accusations of improper behaviour on his part ever arising.

While being cross

examined, Supt Curry also agreed that Mrs Bethel’s initial statement to police bears more of a similarity to a witness statement as opposed to that of a suspect in custody. Thus, he questioned, without being provoked, how what appeared to be a witness statement to him could be taken from someone regarded as a suspect.

“How is it that a witness statement is recorded from a suspect in custody? I’ve never heard of that,” he said, adding that something like that “should not be”.

Supt Curry’s testimony came in Mrs Bethel’s civil suit against the government over senior immigration officer Norman Sylvester Bastian allegedly raping her on two occasions between December 15 and 16, 2014, and also forcing her to perform oral sex on him on two occasions.

The civil suit comes years

emotions going through that sweet mother’s soul now.

“She didn’t deserve that death but she’s resting in Jesus’ care now until a more glorious day and I pray our family heals from this quickly.”

Meanwhile, Ms Russell is now said to be caring for her murdered daughter’s children, who are six and 15-years-old.

As news of the discovery spread on social media earlier this week, many friends and loved ones expressed their grief.

Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, called it “an unbearably painful week”.

He posted to Facebook on Wednesday: “We ache for Kameela Russell’s grieving loved ones and pray they find the strength to bear the pain of this heart-breaking loss.

District crisis team has been deployed to Miami Norland Senior High School to help students and staff during this difficult time.”

Russell was a test administrator at Miami Norland Senior High School.

after the rape case against Mr Bastian was tossed out of the Magistrate’s Court following a no-case submission by his attorneys at the time.

According to the evidence, after being arrested and transported to the Central Police Station on December 13, 2014, Mrs Bethel was turned over to immigration officials and detained at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre (CRDC) for a stint.

She was subsequently released into Mr Bastian’s custody for “continuing investigation” on December 15, 2014.

She claims she was eventually taken to his house, and raped twice between December 15 and 16, 2014,

with Mr Bastian using a condom in the latter incident. She said he also made her perform oral sex on him on two occasions.

Mr Bastian has denied the rape and maintains the sex was consensual.

Fred Smith, QC, and Crispin Hall represent Mrs Bethel.

Wayne Munroe, QC and Alex Morley represent Mr Bastian.

Kayla Green-Smith, Ashley Sturrup and Rasheed Edgecombe represent the Crown, namely the attorney general, the minister and director of immigration, and the commissioner of police.

The matter has been adjourned to a date to be determined by the court.

PAGE 4, Friday, May 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

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Why limit our options with red tape?

WE’RE not sure whether we should be wishing Ruth Bowe-Darville congratulations on her new job or happy 65th birthday – but the arrival of both at once has caused a few to raise questions.

First, let us be clear – experienced heads are invaluable and Mrs BoweDarville is certainly one of those.

It is the timing of her appointment as the newest Supreme Court justice that is unfortunate – for Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis will immediately have to seek to grant her an extension beyond her retirement age.

Such extensions have been granted before – but usually for people already in post for a considerable time, not – as in this case – when Mrs Bowe-Darville has been appointed just four days earlier.

But are we asking the right questions in querying such an appointment?

After all, Mrs Bowe-Darville has presumably been chosen precisely because of the experience she can bring to bear as a Supreme Court justice. And clearly she is willing to take on the role and isn’t hankering for retirement. Ought we to let paperwork get in the way of such a decision?

In fact, with a seeming shortage of judges showing in the length of time it takes for so many court cases to be

heard, are we missing out on the chance to expand the numbers in our judiciary by pushing talented judges out the door when they hit 65?

Might, indeed, we consider lifting the retirement age – for those who want to continue working – to 70 so we might make the most of these experienced heads?

Certainly, many working in such roles have shown commitment and dedication for years – often at the expense of their own pocket when they could have been making much more in private practice, able to charge high prices for their work.

The frustration with Mrs Bowe-Darville’s appointment seems to come more from the red tape involved in appointing someone so close to their retirement age rather than any problem with her fitness for the role herself. So let’s cut the red tape.

There is certainly fair criticism for the Minnis administration – the length of time particularly it has taken to appoint people to roles such as chief justice or confirming the man who had been acting Supreme Court justice for two years.

But the kerfuffle over retirement extensions is one entirely of our own making – if someone is fit and well and able to bring a lifetime of experience, we’d be fools not to want their wisdom.

A strike vote doesn’t need to mean strike action AT THE time of writing, union officials are busily counting votes to determine whether there is support for a hotel worker strike.

There is strong emotion from workers – not least because they are concerned employers are looking to take away the gratuities that play a large part in supplementing often quite low incomes and at a time when we are told the tourism industry is on the rise.

Should the vote be in favour of action, we would however add that it is important to remember that just because you

have a mandate to strike, it doesn’t mean you have to.

We would hope that such a demonstration of feeling can be presented to employers with the goal of talks to move on from the first proposal.

We’ve said before – renewed negotiations would be the likely outcome of any strike anyway, so we hope officials keep the mandate for action in their back pocket. We also hope employers recognise how serious the concerns of workers are. It truly is time to sit down and talk.

We need figures on who does the work EDITOR, The Tribune COCO Cay - Ocean Cay - South Eleuthera - Carnival/Freeport these cruise lines destinations might have some economics but we need explanations.

Coco Cay…without doubt extravagant $250m development…RCL says 250 Bahamians, PM says 400 who is correct? So this development was not built miraculous but not a single word of the participant of Bahamian Construction

Cos and Bahamian Construction workers? We concede so much and then exempt that least let’s see the value to Bahamian Construction and employment or I suggest these islands are a one-way economic street and our way is against traffic!

MSC is close to completion of Ocean Cay…it is known a French Contractor won that deal but how many Bahamians were employed and what was the value? Secrets as usual.

We need to know upfront the Bahamian participation in construction for the upcoming Disney/ Eleuthera deal - Carnival/Freeport - RCL/Our Lucaya deal…are any Bahamians benefiting from the construction side? If they were I am sure PM Minnis would have been talking that up, but he doesn’t?

leave side would accept their arguments were heavily over stated and the over 60’s swallowed the talk and many voted for the first time.

The EU cannot be described as having felled a UK Prime Minister as PM May and her Government exercised Article: 50 and applied to the EU to be advised on what terms would they accept UK’s departure? The EU gave them the terms - the UK Parliament and clearly PM May could not get approval

of the UK Parliament blame lies totally at the feet of the UK. UK was never European - EU made a mistake allowing UK to retain Sterling - stayed outside of Schengen which is the core of EU…the free movement of EU citizens throughout EU. Halloween UK will leave the UK, agreement or not…their choice!

W THOMPSON Nassau May 28, 2019

Cameron put May behind high wall EDITOR, The Tribune YOUR columnist article: EU felled UK PM is interesting but for accuracy has to be rebutted.

Election-Referendum under Conservative PM Cameron which resulted in his resignation and the appointment of Theresa May as PM put the incoming PM behind a high wall as Cameron had accepted the results of the referendum as binding. Even the most biased commentator of the referendum on the

PJ KNOWLES Nassau May 28, 2019

Taxi drivers’ open letter to Renward Wells, MP EDITOR, The Tribune

Please allow the Taxi Driver’s Grievance Committee to address the following open letter to the Minister of Transport Renward Wells, MP, it is the people’s time.

Dear Minister WITH no prejudice intended to anyone, the Taxi ‘Driver’s Grievance Committee is made up of a group of taxi cab drivers who work regularly from the Royal Towers Taxi Stand. We came together as a group to address the issues that are affecting us negatively and to have them resolved peacefully.

We took this course of action because of the fact that the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union refused and/or failed to represent our interest, notwithstanding we are members and supporters of the Union.

We started our campaign by way of writing letters to Atlantis Senior Management and the national media. With the help of The Tribune newspaper on April 5, 2016 The Taxi Driver’s Grievance Committee highlighted its concern and grievances that it has with the Atlantis Royal Towers Hotel (eg) the appearance of unfair competition taking place in its ground transportation services against taxi drivers. We thank The Tribune for publishing our grievances this alone may have been the catalyst for Atlantis Senior Management’s decision to meet with a delegation sent by the Grievance Committee, to meet with them (eg) Atlantis Senior Management.

Because of the meetings and debates with the Atlantis management, the Committee found out that Atlantis is in possession of a letter from the Road Traffic Department that authorises Atlantis to have three luxury cars available and ready to serve 24

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net hours a day and seven days a week. The Committee is of the view that the said letter of Authorisation is not authentic even, though VP Mr Ed Fields said that it is. He, Mr Fields, allowed us to see and read the document.

The Taxi Union never informed taxi cab drivers about this. The purported authorisation was issued in 2004 and signed by then Controller Mr Brensil Rolle.

Taxi Cab Drivers have asked for the Hon Minister to speak to this issue.

Notwithstanding that you were not the minister in 2004. Eg. Is the Letter of Authorisation authentic?

Is this Authorisation legal?

And, when will it expire? It can be interpreted that the Authorisation is being used against taxi drivers.

If the letter of Authorisation is authentic our grievances start with the notion that Atlantis maybe in breach of the three luxury cars authorisation (ie) there were too many times in the past when there were more than three luxury cars parked on the Royal Towers front door and no one in management is enforcing the three luxury cars Authorisation, especially after l0pm but they are enforcing rules on Taxi Cab Drivers 24-7. (ie.) is there a designated parking area for the luxury cars like the one they have for taxi cabs?

This is what taxi cab drivers are complaining about that they are not getting their rightful share of Taxi fares. The town cars and limousine drivers are being allowed to park their vehicles on or near the ambulance parking and other areas near to the Royal Towers front door as possible. This is unfair

competition because of the fact that Taxi Cab Drivers do not get this kind of special arrangement from Atlantis (ie) the showcasing of the luxury cars. (eg) the limousine and town cars being seen by their guests as the recommended choice over the taxi cabs. That is our perception.

The other concern is dispatchers, we never ask for dispatchers to be placed on the door at the Royal Towers. This notion of dispatchers is nothing but a smoke screen design to attract attention away from Taxi Cab Driver Grievances (ie) what is the dispatcher’s job description are they in our best interest, who is paying for their services? Why there is no dispatcher schedule at 6am in the mornings when the airport jobs and tours are leaving, why there is no dispatcher schedule at l0pm at the Royal Towers?

Cab drivers are of the view that the sitting President of the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union may have compromised the integrity of our union. When he supported Atlantis’ notion of using dispatchers on the Royal Towers Hotel front door and being quite aware that the Union cannot pay for dispatcher services.

Cab drivers are calling it a conflict of interest. We are now looking to move on to further debates with Atlantis.

We will continue to write Atlantis Senior Management requesting to have a meeting with them so that we can move forward on this matter.

We thank you very much.

EDIE DAWKINS Jr The Royal Towers Taxi Drivers Grievance Committee Royal Towers Taxi Stand Paradise Island, Bahamas Nassau May 27, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 31, 2019, PAGE 5

EX-BANKER NOT TOLD HE HAD BREACHED COMPANY POLICY

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net

PAUL Major, the former First Caribbean International (FCIB) banker fired for his role in collecting and then depositing a cheque into the local account of disgraced FIFA executive Charles Blazer, was not explicitly told by banking executives that he breached company policy at the time of his termination, a Supreme Court Justice heard yesterday.

In testimony before Justice Keith Thompson, FCIB Managing Director Marie Rodland-Allen conceded she never specifically expressed that it was determined through an internal investigation that Mr Major had breached the bank’s US Person’s Policy

by collecting a cheque from Mr Blazer on US soil.

Ms Rodland-Allen insisted the same would have been communicated to Mr Major in the lead up to a June 2015 termination meeting, and subsequently in his letter of termination.

She stressed Mr Major was very aware of his actions and the consequences such acts would incur, citing the company’s long standing US Person’s Policy.

However, despite her initial stance, Ms Rodland-Allen in cross examination later acknowledged that she never personally communicated to Mr Major the exact offence he was being fired for, and further accepted that those details were not divulged in the termination letter given to Mr Major as she claimed.

According to the minutes of Mr Major’s termination meeting, he at three specific points asked Ms Rodland-Allen to specify the offence he had supposedly breached.

The minutes showed that at each request by Mr Major, Ms Rodland-Allen directed him to his termination letter without explicitly clarifying the offence.

Mr Major’s lawyer, Krystal Rolle, has argued her client was at no point informed he was being investigated for an offence, nor was it communicated to him that he had erred in travelling to New York to collect a $250,000 cheque from Mr Blazer, his client at the time.

The bank has contended that it US Person’s Policy prohibited

employees from carrying out such acts. In continued testimony, Ms Rodland-Allen claimed the policy was instituted in December of 2005; a claim Mr Major and his attorney have contested from the onset of the case.

Mr Major has claimed the policy only came into existence in 2013, some two years after he would have travelled to New York and collected a cheque from Mr Blazer.

Mr Major, through his attorney, has further claimed the policy was only pulled together from policy aspects formerly used to govern its securities unit that may have done business with US citizens.

He suggested the policy was only first introduced to him in 2013, via an email from the bank’s

Managing Director of Wealth Management Dan Young, who in a company-wide email called attention to the policy with a note that suggested it was now a policy for all of the bank’s employees, and would “supersede” any “policy elements” used previously.

Ms Rodland-Allen has contested the policy had been in place since 2005, and was made available to all of the bank’s employees via the institution’s Intranet database.

She testified the policy spoke exclusively to how all of the bank’s employees should approach their work related to US clients.

Attorney Ferron Bethel represents FCIB in the proceedings.

The unfair dismissal case will continue next month.

Vote favours action from page one

the angry reaction workers had to the proposal, with some burning the document during a recent meeting as one man shouted: “Burn this proposal, it’s not good for the people.”

The proposal would eliminate the automatic 15 percent gratuity employees receive. Workers’ holiday benefits would be adjusted; the Christmas bonus would be tied to a hotel’s performance and paid in January, not December. Ham and turkey gifts wouldd no longer be guaranteed.

The proposal comes despite performance indicators for major Nassau/ Paradise Island hotels increasing by double digit amounts during the first quarter of this year, with room revenues up 37 percent. Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar has said the industry is “firing on all cylinders,” with stopover bookings from April to June about nine percent ahead of 2018.

The last industrial agreement between the BHEA and the union expired in 2013 and its terms are being treated as if they are still in effect after the union missed the October 8, 2012 deadline to submit a new proposal for an industrial agreement. BHCAWU leadership has felt pressure to deliver a new industrial agreement. Mr Woods and his leadership team made securing a deal their top priority when they took office a year ago.

The BHEA represents Atlantis, the Reef, the Cove, Harbourside Resort, Melia Nassau Beach, British Colonial Hilton, Lyford Cay Club, the Ocean Club and Towne Hotel.

Amid the rancor, BHEA officials have emphasised that industrial agreement negotiations have only just began.

Earlier this week, Mr D’Aguilar urged the hotel union and industry officials to allow “calmer heads to prevail”, insisting that a strike at this time would have a devastating impact on soaring tourism numbers.

“Get into a room and ensure they come to an amicable solution,” the minister said.

Editorial View - Page 4

WORKERS cast their votes at Thomas A Robinson and BCPOU hall.

Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff

UB LAUNCHES NEW SYSTEM FOR RADIATION INVENTORY

By FARRAH JOHNSON

THE University of The Bahamas has announced its plan to partner with a number of ministries to implement a new Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS) software, which will facilitate the management and inventory of all radiation sources in the country.

The multi-agency initiative includes 14 representatives from the Bahamas Department of Environmental Health Services, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, which will be trained to create the inventory nationally.

“This initiative is something that is going to affect all Bahamians in the sense that this about the management of radiation sources within The Bahamas,” said Danny Davis, UB assistant vice president, on Wednesday.

“Right now that inventory exists but it exists on maybe an Excel spreadsheet here, or some papers here and there. [Now] we’re going to have one centralised approach to the inventory across the whole country,” he explained.

Mr Davis added that while The Bahamas does not have any “nuclear

weapons or reactors,” there are still a number of radiation sources within the country that are used “as a part of everyday life.”

“If you think about x-rays at the dentist office [and] x-rays at the hospital, they all involve radiation sources...so this is another factor [in which] we can see where the management of these sources become important for us as a country,” he said.

Mr Davis said the university is “happy” to know that officials now have a server installed with software that will allow them to manage the inventory efficiently.

He explained that the RAIS Software, which is used in 85 countries across the globe, will allow them to “improve their licencing processes,” as well as help the group “track radiation sources from cradle to grave.”

“It allows us at any given point in time to know what we have in [the] country and what’s leaving the country. It allows us to know at any given point in time where [radiation] sources are [and whether] they’re in service or they’re decommissioned...so we don’t have a case where at the end of the life of a piece of equipment its improperly disposed of.

“We’re ensuring now from the time it lands in the country to when it goes out of service its fully managed,” he explained.

Dragan Avramovski, an information systems specialist for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), explained that the RAIS software was created by the agency to “assist member states in managing their regulatory control programme radiation sources.”

He explained that while the system does offers a “common and consistent approach to managing radiation,” it is also flexible enough to be adjusted “to fit to the local needs of the member states.”

Mr Avramovski furthered that “nearly three quarters” of the countries that have the software have already performed various “customisations,” adding that the software installed at the university has also been adjusted to suit “local needs.”

“With this training actually we are bringing this expertise to The Bahamas to all the stakeholders [and] to various institutions and agencies to successfully collect this essential information on establishing a national registry of sources,” he said.

PAGE 6, Friday, May 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

BUDGET 2019/20

By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net WHILE the government boasts of having slashed arrears payments considerably over the last 10 months, one debt owed has yet to be satisfied at all.

According to Finance Minister K Peter Turnquest this $39m debt is related to the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s legacy Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

It is based on the terms of the Shareholders’ Agreement between government and Cable & Wireless Communications, BTC’s parent company.

The deputy prime minister said the 2019/2020 budget makes provisions for $3m to be put towards this

TURNQUEST CONFIRMS $39M DEBT RELATED TO BTC PENSION debt, but he did not make clear what the government’s plans were to fully satisfy it moving forward.

“While the government continues to make good progress in settling the outstanding arrears, the level remains a significant percentage of outlays in the upcoming fiscal year,” Mr Turnquest said in the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

“One important obligation yet to be factored into future arrears payments is the requirement for the

government to meet obligations relative to the BTC legacy Defined Benefit Pension Plan, based on the terms of the Shareholders’ Agreement between the government and Cable & Wireless Communications.

“It has been determined that the government never provided the $39m to the Feeder Trust that was created to assist in meeting its obligations to the plan, when the corporation was sold to Cable and Wireless for $210 million in April 2011.

“To commence meeting these obligations, the government has provisioned $3m in the FY2019/20 budget and over the course of the year will seek to devise a multi-year comprehensive strategy for settling the balance, once the full obligation has been determined. The government will seek to provide an update on this matter in the upcoming Fiscal Strategy Report.”

Recently Dino Rolle, the Bahamas Communications

and Public Officers Union’s (BCPOU) president, told Tribune Business he saw the company’s 2011 privatisation as a “colossal failure”.

Further, he said all BTC staff - not just his members - viewed as “extremely offensive” warnings by the company’s chief executive that unproductive employees should be “anxious” over their job security.

The line staff union’s chief argued that Garfield

Budget winners & losers

from page one

This is 71 percent more than the department’s $270,000 in fiscal year 2018/2019. Additionally, a little over $2m more will go to the food assistance programme. The new budget is $14,158,360 when it got $12,819,150 previously.

The foster care programme is also set to receive a larger budget of $605,150 compared to the $452,750 it got the year before.

However. the department’s overall social assistance benefit has been cut by more than half from the previous year. In the approaching fiscal year the budget for this item is

$488,951; it was $1m in the 2018/2019 fiscal year.

While many of the key social assistance areas are set to get more money, the Department of Social Services’ overall budget is marginally less for 2019/2020. In the approaching year it will receive $39,090,505 whereas it was given $39,757,411 in 2018/2019.

The Ministry of Health is also set to get a financial boost. The Minnis administration is planning to earmark $301,973,034 for the ministry, a little over $8m more than it got in 2018/2019. That year, it received $293,915,388.

The Public Hospitals Authority’s budget also increased to $223,455,825

“Garry” Sinclair lacked sufficient evidence to judge which BTC employees were failing to add value because the carrier had lacked performance management metrics “for the last three to four years” prior to the recent introduction of its Pearl system.

Mr Rolle blamed BTC’s plight on Cable & Wireless Communications’ (CWC) failure to properly prepare the incumbent carrier for competition and find new growth opportunities since acquiring a controlling interest in the company.

He added that CWC had “shrunk not only the workforce but BTC’s ability to compete” with upstart rival Aliv, which has already seized more than one-third mobile market share in just two years since its November 2016 launch.

PETER Turnquest addressing the House on Wednesday.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

from $216,000,000. Further, PHA building maintenance will have more money to work with at $448,659 allocated, up from $100,000.

Equipment maintenance, maintenance of generators, A/C and other machinery, grounds maintenance, and office furniture upkeep seem to be new line items all receiving $31,100; $279,050; $1,195,425 and $20,000 respectively.

In his three-hour long budget communication, Finance Minister K Peter

Turnquest explained the government’s need to exercise fiscal restraint. He said: “Our estimates for the 2019/20 budget are framed within the projected outcomes of the 2018/19 fiscal year and the current and projected economic climate. Although the economy is expanding, the reality is that recovery is not occurring at the pace previously projected, against the backdrop of a number of global factors.

“We are fully sensitive to the fact that a

further improvement in our fiscal outcomes, and the attainment of the legally binding fiscal objectives, is contingent on both ongoing expenditure discipline and the further enhancement of revenues. On the revenue front, we note that the revenue yield of our taxation system amounted to some 18.8 percent of GDP in 2018/19. A number of factors are expected to contribute to a further enhancement of that yield in 2019/20 and beyond.”

He also said uncovering a history of over-budgeting has allowed the Minnis administration to trim its budget, especially with respect to spending on personal emoluments. As a result dozens of departments, organisations and ministries will have less money for the new fiscal year.

Ministry of Finance’s new 2019/2020 budget is $221,593,097 down from $360,724,262 while the Department of Inland Revenue has gone from a budget of just over $19m to $6.1m and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has gone from a budget of $28.1m in 2018/2019 to $22.8m.

Further, Over-the-Hill Initiative is set to receive $2.8m in the new fiscal year when it previously got $5m.

The Royal Bahamas Police force will have a budget of $123.7m down from the previous $127.9m while the Road Traffic Department’s budget is $4.6m, down from $5.2m.

Several others have also been reduced.

See the Ministry of Finance’s website at www. bahamas.gov.bs/finance for all Budget details.

implementing the system.

During his communication, Mr Turnquest noted in the first ten months of the fiscal year, aggregate revenue increased by $272.6m to $1.9bn. “All told, we project that the remaining two months of the fiscal year will perform positively,” he said. “For the fiscal year as a whole, revenue is estimated to come in at about $2.4bn, some $238m or 9.0 percent lower than what was budgeted at the start of the fiscal year.”

During the PLP’s press conference immediately following Mr Turnquest’s presentation, Mr Cooper said: “In the face of the minister’s transparency soap box, we question how the minister will collect an average of $250m per month in the last two months when it only received an average of $190m over the first ten months.”

When asked about this yesterday, Mr Turnquest said: “In the mid-year budget statement, I foreshadowed that we were going to be short of our projected total revenue as a result of concessions in the two industries that I mentioned as well as some other global facts that slowed down some things.

We do not anticipate that we’re going to collect the full amount of that deficit in the next two months. That is ridiculous.

“And it’s really—Mr Cooper knows better. What we are saying though is that we project that we will have a steady stream or a consistent stream of revenue, given regard to the last six months or since January in particular, and consistent with previous years. So we don’t anticipate any change in the rate of collections this last two months as compared

to last year. So we do not anticipate to fill the hole.

That’s impossible. It’s a silly suggestion to even make.”

During the communication, Mr Turnquest said the Public Procurement Bill, 2019, provides the legislative framework for electronic government procurement.

“Once this component is complete, all national procurement will be executed through the E-Procurement and Supplier Registry System,” he said then.

“Thus, the procurement process will not only be more efficient, but more transparent, as every step of the process will be done in the open. All jobs will be advertised publicly, and every contract awarded will be published online and in the newspaper.”

Regarding this system, Mr Davis told The Tribune: “First of all, I want to see

what they truly mean by that. But quite frankly we have to appreciate that… a lot of our vendors are still needing to appreciate and understand how to deal with online issues.

“We were considering e-procurement. But we appreciated very quickly that a lot of our small vendors whom we wanted to engage were deficient in computer and the e-world, as it were. So we had embarked upon an exercise to try to start training them one by one and then bringing them on to it.

In response to this, Mr Turnquest yesterday said: “We’re still engaged in the registration process and I think that - I can’t remember the number of vendors that have been registered, but there have been several sessions to educate the suppliers on the use of the system and how to get registered.”

MR COOPER SHOULD KNOW BETTER, SAYS DEPUTY PM

By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net DEPUTY Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday defended the Minnis administration’s 2019/2020 Budget against the Official Opposition’s critiques.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Turnquest directly responded to Progressive Liberal Party deputy leader Chester Cooper’s insinuation that the government believes it can collect $500m in the last two months of the fiscal year.

Mr Turnquest called this notion “ridiculous” and a “silly suggestion”, adding

Mr Cooper “knows better”.

Mr Turnquest also responded to PLP leader Philip “Brave” Davis’ concerns regarding the functionality of the E-Procurement and Supplier Registry System — a programme Mr Turnquest promoted during Wednesday’s Budget communication as being a tool to boost transparency.

On Wednesday, Mr Davis told The Tribune this system is something the last PLP administration considered, but felt many small vendors required training in computer literacy. Mr Davis therefore underscored the importance of phasing in such steps before

Death Notice For Philip Jerome Rahming, 49

of Palmbeach Street died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, 26th May, 2019.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 31, 2019, PAGE 7

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net GRAND Bahama union leaders continue to express strong concern about the widespread casual employment of Bahamian workers by companies throughout the island.

They believe that the practice is unfair and is the cause for the downturn of the island’s economy and depopulation. They also believe the issue has gone on for too long, unaddressed by successive governments, only to the detriment of Bahamian workers.

The issue of casual employment is among the many labour issues that the unions intend to address at the upcoming Labour Day march and rally on June 7.

The procession will start at 8.30am at Lucayan/Freeport Harbour, and proceed through the communities of Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard, and to the YMTA Centre in Hunters, where a labour rally will take place.

Casual working ‘wreaking havoc in Grand Bahama’ Kirkland Russell, vice president of the Bahamas Managerial Hotel Union, and vice president of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress, said this year’s theme, “One For All, All For One” is a very significant and timely one for the labour movement.

He stressed that casual employment is something that the unions do not support because it does not provide casual workers benefits to which other workers are entitled under the labour laws.

An eight-page position paper was sent on behalf of the Coalition of Trade Unions in Grand Bahama to Minister of State for Grand Bahama

Kwasi Thompson, in which the unions outlined a number of labour issues and concerns facing workers.

“We believe that through dialogue and legislation change, they ought to immediately address the casual workforce phenomenon that is rampant in Grand Bahama. We believe casual labour is wreaking havoc on the workforce in GB, adversely affecting a person’s ability to get loans, to be protected, and we believe it is a form of union busting,” Mr Russell said.

Mr Russell believes that government should appoint a select committee or even a commission as soon as

possible to investigate and analyse the negative effects that the casual workforce is having on the Bahamian worker and the economy.

“We see this situation as one of the catalysts behind the downturn and depopulation of Grand Bahama.

We hope that when we meet with the minister on June 6 that we not only have productive conversation, but he comes with resolution to situations and issues affecting the public service, the hotel as it relates to when will voluntary separation packages be ready for the managers at Grand Lucayan, and other labour matters for all the unions,” he said.

Another vexing issue,

according to Mr Russell is the use of stall tactics by employers as it relates to the completion and execution of industrial agreements.

Quinton Laroda, Bahamas Union of Teachers area vice president and fourth vice president of the NCTUB, said that workers at the post office and court house buildings in Grand Bahama are still awaiting repairs to be completed.

In education, Mr Laroda said that they have some concerns about the policy direction of the Ministry of Education.

“I appreciate the minister’s focus on early childhood education and

the future of technology, but a tablet in the hand of every child is not a solution to all the problems in education. We don’t just have kids in the preschool and primary school, we have kids from grades nine to 12; we have the entire education to fix.

So it is a good start, but that is not the end all,” he said.

For her part, Grand Bahama Taxi Union representative Carla Rose said taxicab drivers are facing a number of issues which they have put to the government, including a taxi fare rate increase, the problem of soliciting at the harbour, as well as issues at the hotels and airport.

Supreme Justice sworn in days before her 65th birthday from page one “It doesn’t speak well to the process. I know Mrs Ruth Bowe-Darville very well, this has nothing to do with her, but this is a rather strange phenomenon and goes against principle.”

The situation has sparked murmurs in legal circles and prompted critics to question the independence of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which has the constitutional authority to make Supreme Court appointments.

Mrs Bowe-Darville has been an advisor to the FNM and once served as senior executive assistant to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

Former Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez, QC, said yesterday: “I have been consistently a legal representative for the PLP. I have never been to a recount that Ruth was not present for the FNM. But I don’t mind her politics.

The problem is that at 64, four days before her 65th birthday, how is it that a reasonable body of persons could appoint her to a position on the bench knowing

the date of her retirement?

I love Ruth, I’ve voted for her as president of the Bar before, but I am just flabbergasted.”

During her accomplished career, Mrs Bowe-Darville has acted as a stipendiary and circuit court magistrate, served as chairperson of the Women’s Advisory Council, Prices Control Commission and the Nursing Tribunal and as an associate tutor at the Eugene Dupuch Law School. She was recently the managing partner of Commonwealth Law Advocates. On Wednesday, a government source said her appointment had been delayed and should have taken place months ago.

When contacted, Attorney General Carl Bethel added that she previously acted as a Supreme Court judge “and has vast legal experience”.

“She is a fit and proper person for consideration and for appointment as a Supreme Court justice,” he said.

However, Mr Gomez expressed concerns about the government’s approach toward the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the system of justice.

“The appointment of people who are on the eve of retirement does not signal that the government is treating these institutions with any degree of seriousness,” he said. “The whole stew of issues relating to access to justice and systemic change in civil litigation procedure are left unattended basically because these elderly people are more comfortable dealing with what they know than plowing the fields and we really have a major problem in the Supreme Court that can only be fixed if persons with time to do it are enabled to do the job that’s required.

“If you chart the time that it takes to get a matter from a writ to getting a judgement, we are notorious for failing to deliver to litigants in a reasonable time. We are really struggling and it’s not like we don’t have judicial talent in the under 65 area, we do so you don’t have to appoint people who are 64 and 65.

And the level of regularity with which it is being done now, I expect the public to sit back and wonder what’s going on. For instance, Justice Keith Thompson was

Ship and logistics company, seeks an experienced, proven leader to join its team.

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Include Nassau in the Subject Line.

RUTH Bowe-Darville was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court by Dame Marguerite Pindling yesterday.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS appointed pretty much just before his retirement from the Industrial Tribunal. I could understand rewarding a labour judge who has served the country with some distinction. But that should be exceptional. You can’t do it for everyone.

Ruth for instance served as Bar president for a long time. Having just done it for Keith, why would you do it again so soon?”

In February, The Tribune revealed that Brian Moree, QC, is expected to be appointed as the country’s next chief justice. It is understood the soon-to-be 64-year-old will be officially appointed in the coming days. “He is coming to the end of his career,” Mr Gomez said. “You end up in a situation where you’re not going to get the best out of people because they’ve already given their best.

Under the previous administration, my uncle, Roger Gomez, was like Justice Keith, he was chief magistrate, he was 64 and he was

appointed to the bench.

But his tenure was not extended. It was literally an appointment to honour him for the service he contributed to the judiciary as chief magistrate.

“He and Ruby Nottage I think were the two most elderly people appointed under that administration.

Nottage was in her 60s but most our our judges were in their 50s or 40s, Renae McKay, Deborah Fraser, Justice Evans, Bernard Turner, Carolita Bethel, these were people who had time. I think we need a real policy with respect to the judiciary and these appointments fly in the face of the fact that we do have talented lawyers who can be appointed and who are young enough to give the country years of service that would be effective in giving Bahamians access to justice. No one is saying the people they are choosing are academically unfit, all we’re saying is it’s inappropriate to appoint someone

at 65 to the bench. The last thing we need to be doing is making a mockery of the only non-political institution that’s left.”

Mr Gomez also questioned why Acting Supreme Court Justice Andrew Forbes, who served in the acting role for about two years, has not been confirmed in the substantive post. “Justice Forbes,” he said, “has been acting for almost two years. Why not confirm his appointment?

If you don’t confirm him, he reverts to his substantive post as deputy chief magistrate. We should get some explanation as to why they feel it’s necessary to confirm an outside 64-yearold on the eve of her 65th birthday when you have an able-bodied person in the position acting. Are the people on the commission really attending to their responsibilities? This really calls into question the independence of the JLSC.” Editorial View - Page 4

PAGE 8, Friday, May 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

SEN. HEATHER STEANS, centre, D-Chicago, and Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, celebrate after the Illinois Senate vote on their bill to legalise marijuana during a spring session at the State Capitol in Springfield on Wednesday.

Don’t let the opportunities given to us by marijuana go up in smoke I’VE noticed over the past few weeks, especially on the talk show circuit, that the narrative of those against the legalisation and decriminalisation of marijuana in the Bahamas is starting to change, with talking points becoming far more objective.

If one looks at the big picture, the benefits of the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana in the Bahamas are in abundance.Provided we have the right legislation and laws in place.

We can’t continue to stick our heads in the sand hoping for a solution.

We must continue to dialogue, taking the concerns

of both those ‘pro’ and ‘con’ into consideration before submitting the final legislation.

Legislation that will be beneficial to the Bahamas, and all Bahamians moving forward.

In previous columns I have touched on international models, that may be helpful or inspirational in constructing our own legislation, regarding the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana moving forward.

Here is another excellent example from the state of Illinois, it’s a model that offers many beneficial components, for those for the legalization and

decriminalization of marijuana and those against it.

(Very similar to us here in the Bahamas, in relation to those for and against.)

It also has a clear cut definition, in regards to medical and personal usage.

On Wednesday past, the Illinois State Senate passed a bill legalizing a regulated cannabis industry, along

with consumption, possession, and sale for residents 21 years and older.

The plan, which will now go to the House for approval, was part of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s campaign promises.

Pritzker told the press that he was in serious dialogue with other policy makers about the format of legalization and decriminalization.

Pritzker is set on making this bill his legacy.

“Illinois is poised to become the first state in the nation that put equity and criminal justice reform at the heart of its approach to legalizing cannabis, and I’m grateful that the Senate has taken this important step with a bipartisan vote.”

The bill has provisions

for the instruction for social equity programs that will prioritize industry leadership by people from communities that have been negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.

There are calls for pardons for people who were targeted by the War on Drugs. ( A priority of Pritzker.)

Offenders with past offenses of up to 30 grams will be eligible for clemency, if the crimes were not violent.

Offenders with past offenses that involve possession of over 500 grams will require an official petition by the individual or their attorney.

The state’s Prisoner Review Board will be advising the governor, on all pardons issued.

The bill would make it legal to possess thirty grams of bud, five grams of concentrate, or cannabis products containing 500 milligrams of THC. Separate limits are established for visitors who are not official state residents, like a 15 gram cap on bud

possession. (In our case, tourists.)

The bill would also authorize five at-home plants for the state’s 65,000 medical marijuana patients, but not for recreational users.

There would also be a “zero tolerance” policy for marijuana in the workplace, and the Illinois State Police will be in charge of examining ways to institute DUI laws for cannabis users, similar to those for alcohol consumers.

Sadly the present Minnis administration, has talked about the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, but they haven’t walked the walk to match up with all their talks.

Either way the FNM needs to stop blowing smoke, and address this controversial issue once and for all.

Weigh out all the options good and bad, decide which way the nation wants to go, and deal with the matter, before any options we have as a nation, to profit off such a monumental move, go up in smoke!

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 31, 2019, PAGE 9

Biometrics key to overcoming immigration fraud - Symonette

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FINGERPRINTING has proven to be the Immigration Department’s best defence against fraud, according to Immigration Minister Brent Symonette, who spoke of the stunning accuracy of fake documents being generated.

The use of biometrics has ensured officials can net repeat offenders who smuggle themselves back into the country after deportation, and officials are seeing greater efficiency in concert with the department’s wider digitisation programme.

“The trouble nowadays with computers, the lifting of documents and being able to produce very good looking fakes is a big problem. We have two guys, same birth certificate, one was deported and the other was given citizenship. When you look at the file closely the same scratches on the birth certificate are on the other one, they were identical.

“Now we have to find out which is the right person,” Mr Symonette said.

“We’re fingerprinting now, it’s a big problem.”

Mr Symonette underscored challenges facing the department, and gave an update on digitisation efforts during a recent interview with The Tribune.

He also provided a tour of a new facility to process citizenship and permanent residency applications.

Once completed, applicants will no longer have to trek to Hawkins Hill as the building will also contain suites for interviews and the swearing-in process.

Since April, all applications are now being processed digitally with officials scanning and returning original copies instead of collecting them.

Work permits now take about two weeks to process, and legacy files have been indexed.

“It’s going very quickly,”

Mr Symonette said of the department’s backlog.

“If you go into (Department of) Immigration, you can see not many files are being physically moved around. I’m comfortable with short-term work permits, work permits, resident spouse permits to an extent.

“I’m not comfortable about fraudulent marriages but renewals they are all moving. I’ve given a dictate on how to deal with that, so if you’ve had a spousal permit before we’ll just renew it until we get caught up. So all that backlog should be out of the way.”

Applicants for first time spousal permit will still be investigated, he underscored.

As for those switching from spousal permits to citizenship, Mr Symonette said: “We’re working from ten years out and then we are working our way back.

So in 2019 you would have been married in 2009, so we have those in the year that you come up. We’re hitting ten years, when I was last year we were down to five years.

“We have a backlog to clean up,” he said.

Cabinet meets as an immigration office every week to ratify recommendations on various applications, most notably citizenship.

The government’s Citizenship Committee has now processed about 1,000 applications since it was formed last year February to drill down on a backlog that has seen people wait more than 10 years for a decision.

The committee meets every two weeks to review applications of people who have a clear constitutional right – ie they were born in the Bahamas and applied between the ages of 18 and 19 – to be registered as citizens.

Despite internal efforts, Mr Symonette said the department was still hindered by a lack of public engagement.

The department has some 500 incomplete applications for citizenship on file, but there has been limited response to outreach.

“We’re having a slow trickle of those (500 incomplete applications),” Mr Symonette said, “We’ve put their names in the newspapers already asking for more documents. When I do letters that I have no addresses for them, we send them to the various consulates.

“If you are to ask me now what the backlog is I have no idea,” he continued, “and I defy any of my predecessors to have any idea. I know its 1,000, beyond that I’ve been in the newspaper, on the radio, giving my cell number out.”

Mr Symonette said: “Surprisingly the response to that has not been great so if there is anyone else that thinks they should come into Hawkins Hill. We are trying to work on this backlog to get that over behind us.

“With all the articles backwards and forwards and Rights Bahamas, and it hasn’t driven people to (Department of) Immigration,” Mr Symonette said, “I can’t help them. This immigration thing since I’ve been here we’ve had full frontal newspaper, social media screaming, hollering. So if no one is coming, it’s their own, and they should be guided accordingly.”

When asked whether there has been any noticeable impact of system upgrades, Mr Symonette said: “I’m seeing less people contacting me, because they contact me at my constituency office and at (Department of) Immigration. I couldn’t say that scientifically, I hope so. With the computerisation we should make progress and time will tell.

“Someone else will get the benefit for it,” he added, “I won’t be around.”

IMMIGRATION Minister Brent Symonette talking to The Tribune this week.

Founded in 1948, St Andrew’s has a long and proud tradition of providing the highest quality education to our students. St Andrew’s is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and was the first school in The Bahamas to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Diploma (IBDP) Programmes. We are a diverse community of international and Bahamian life-long learners.

The School invites applications from qualified and experienced Bahamian candidates and Permanent Residents for the following teaching vacancies with effect from August 2019.

Primary School Vacancies Teachers qualified to teach Kindergarten Grade 5 Learning Support Teacher

Secondary School Vacancies

History Teacher Geography Teacher Chemistry Teacher Learning Support Teacher Mathematics Tecaher Physical Education Teacher (Ability to offer a 2nd subject would be an advantage)

Whole School Vacancies Learning Support Teacher Handyman

GENERAL INFORMATION Candidates must be qualified teachers (holding a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a teaching qualification) with at least two years teaching experience. For the primary role, previous experience teaching the Primary Years Programme is an advantage.

Candidates must have experience working with students with diverse learning needs and abilities. Applications from teachers with experience in an independent and/or international school are particularly welcome.

APPLICATION PROCESS Interested candidates should submit their application by email to sandrews@standrews.com.

Please save your application as one pdf document entitled ‘Application from your name’.

All applications MUST include the following: ● Letter of Application. One page. ● Curriculum Vitae. No longer than two pages and should include the contact details of at least three references. One of these should be your current line manager. We will seek your permission before contacting referees. ● A recent photo Failure to provide all this information may result in your application not being considered.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of making an application, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 11th June, 2019. Short listed candidates will be invited to interview at the School.

No applications will be considered after the closing date.

St Andrew’s School Business Office P.O. Box EE 17340 Nassau, The Bahamas Email: sandrews@st-andrews.com Fax: 1 242 324 0816 For more information please see the School’s website

www.standrewsbahamas.com

PAGE 10, Friday, May 31, 2019

THE TRIBUNE

SHABBY STATE OF AIRPORT IN STARK CONTRAST TO $250M REDEVELOPMENT AT COCO CAY

A lack of pride laid bare for all to see YOU can blame it on whatever or whomever you want. You can point fingers at the Airport Authority or the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation or the Ministry of Works but the real problem with what is supposed to be an international airport at Great Harbour Cay is a lack of pride.

On Friday last, that lack of pride was on display for all to gasp at. There was no hiding the filth, the peeling paint, hanging electrical wire, exposed meter boxes, an uncovered electrical box that served as a

repository for empty beer bottles, massive holes in the roof through which a large tree grew. The tree’s height and branches told the story – this did not happen yesterday. Yet for years, few local eyes paid

much attention to the airport at Great Harbour Cay, capital of the Berry Islands, and the many visitors who passed through probably just shook their head and accepted it, knowing the waters they came to enjoy

or the leisure time in a quiet island was just around the corner.

This time was different.

The airport dressed in all its dilapidation was laid bare before a crowd of dignitaries and media en masse. The occasion was the official opening of PerfectDay@Coco Cay following a $250 million redevelopment by Royal Caribbean International that transformed a sleepy island into the number one choice of cruise passengers out of 235 destinations Royal Caribbean serves.

On hand was Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Minister of Tourism & Aviation, Dionisio D’Aguilar, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Frankie Campbell, MP for North Andros and the Berry Islands Carlton Bowleg. Also on hand was president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley and a team of executives and local managers – all representing a company that prides itself on living up to its name, PerfectDay, perfect experience.

Performers from two Junkanoo groups flown in from Nassau welcomed the official party, distracting them momentarily from the shameful sight.

But even an optically challenged observer could not help but notice the grunge.

In what was intended to be a “departure lounge,” one small air-conditioner could not keep pace with the heat from a door that was constantly being opened. The check-in area for LeAir, the main carrier, was a desk in a corner with everyone crowded around the single woman who sat behind it. A sagging book shelf served as the filing system. A LeAir sign rested on a chair. If mould and dilapidation were colours, the Great Harbour Cay airport would be considered one of the most colourful spots in The Bahamas.

The minister responsible for aviation told reporters government was going to spend more than $10 million to upgrade the structures and the runway.

A contract for reconstruction will be signed soon, he

Death Notice For

June Harley Hall, 79

of Brooklyn Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas, passed away peacefully at Doctors Hospital, Collins Avenue, Nassau, on Thursday, 23rd May, 2019.

June was predeceased by her husband, Charles (Chuck/ C.R) Randolph Hall, Jr. June was born in Old Stanmore, England. She came to The Bahamas as a Dance Instructor with Patsy Myers Dance Studio. It was here in The Bahamas she met and married C.R. in 1962.

For many years June worked for Brass and Leather and Fendi, until her retirement.

June was a Founding Member of The Bahamas Kennel Club and its President for many years.

June is survived by many family and friends both in The Bahamas and in England.

Anyone wishing to remember June can do so by making a donation in her name to The Cancer Society of The Bahamas, P.O. Box S.S. 6539, Nassau or Lend A Hand Bahamas Program.

At her request Funeral Arrangements will be private.

pledged, and improvements should be visible within a year.

Even the island administrator Lawrence Rolle said the airport had to go. I called Paul Aranha, the airman’s airman, a man who knows airports around The Bahamas like sailors know the seas. He was shocked at the photos I shared, said it had been more than 20 years since he flew there on a somewhat regular basis, but recalled Great Harbour Cay airport as being a cut above most in the Family Islands.

“When I used to fly, it was quite a nice airport, better than most. It had Immigration and Customs. Some islands had no buildings, others had a little shed.

But when you got to Great Harbour Cay, it felt like you were in modern society,” he said.

Blame government if you want. But when are we going to be mature enough to accept responsibility to keep up our own property?

It is not just for visitors whose time in our airports is their first and the final impression. It is for us as a people to look around and say, “I contributed to that effort. I left it better than the way I found it.”

Stop casting blame and pick up a paint brush, hammer and shingles.

Two Fly Free ups energy this year KUDOS to those at the Out Island Promotion Board (OIPB) and the Ministry of Tourism connected with the promotion of domestic tourism.

Although the ‘fly free’ has been ongoing in the summers for several years, this year’s Two Fly Free promotion seems to have stepped up energy and a renewed sense of excitement.

Congrats, too, to those hotels that participate and make it possible by their contributions to the OIPB. You can order whatever material goods you want online without visiting Dadeland or Disney World, but all the grocery baskets piled high with goods and supplies can’t begin to beat the experience of an early morning walk on the beach in Eleuthera or gathering around a guitarist, singing by a beach bonfire on Cat Island, dinghy darting between Abaco cays in search of the softest sand and the best shells or tasting a fresh conch salad with sweet meat that only an hour before was in the sea in Exuma.

THE TRIBUNE

Friday, May 31, 2019, PAGE 11

PEOPLE watch as a sonar is used at Margaret Bridge during a search operation on the River Danube in Budapest yesterday following a collision of a hotel ship and a smaller cruise ship on the previous evening.

21 PEOPLE STILL MISSING FROM SUNKEN TOUR BOAT BUDAPEST, Hungary Associated Press

RESCUE crews were gearing yesterday to raise a sightseeing boat from the bottom of the Danube River in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, as search teams scoured

the waters for 21 people still missing after the vessel, packed with tourists, collided with a larger cruise ship and sank. Seven people are confirmed dead and seven have been rescued, all of them South Koreans.

Officials said preparations to bring up the 70-year-old boat,

Trump blasts: I got me elected WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump angrily assailed special counsel Robert Mueller’s motives yestertday, a day after Mueller bluntly rebuffed Trump’s repeated claims that the Russia investigation had cleared him of obstructing justice.

The president also offered mixed messages on Russia’s efforts to help him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 campaign. Early in the day, Trump tweeted he had “nothing to do with Russia helping me get elected.” That was the first time he seemed to acknowledge that Russia tried to help his campaign. Then on the White House South Lawn, Trump told reporters: “Russia did not help me get elected. You know who got me elected? You know who got me elected? I got me elected. Russia didn’t help me at all.”

Mueller’s report said Russia interfered in the election in hopes of getting Trump elected, but his findings and intelligence officials have stopped short of saying the efforts

contributed to Trump’s victory. Trump’s 20-minute eruption underscored that he remains deeply distressed over the probe that has shadowed his presidency for nearly two years, even after Mueller announced his resignation and the closure of his office.

Democrats are mulling the possibility of impeachment proceedings.

Trump insisted that he’s been tough on Russia and that Moscow would have preferred Clinton as president. But that’s not what Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. When asked last year in Helsinki whether he wanted Trump to become president, Putin replied: “Yes, I did.”

On Wednesday, Mueller, in his first public remarks on the Russia investigation, rejected Trump’s claims that the special counsel’s investigation cleared him of criminal activity and was a “witch hunt.” Mueller emphasised he had not exonerated Trump on the question of whether he obstructed justice, but said charging Trump with any crime was “not an option” because of Justice Department rules.

PAIR RESCUED AFTER CLINGING TO BOAT FOR THREE HOURS

ATLANTIC CITY Associated Press A MAN and a woman who spent three hours clinging to their capsized sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean about 65 miles off Atlantic City are safe.

The Coast Guard received a satellite distress signal from the 55-foot vessel Bertie on Wednesday evening. Coast Guard Petty

Officer Andy Kendrick says the sailboat was headed to New York from The Bahamas when it encountered stormy conditions.

Kendrick says a rescue swimmer found the two hanging onto the capsized boat. They were hoisted aboard the helicopter.

The pair, who have been sailing around the world for the last two years, were transported to hospital.

which was built in the former Soviet Union, could take days. Police, who launched a criminal investigation into the incident, said they had detained the Ukrainian captain of the larger vessel. The 64-year-old is suspected of endangering water transport leading to a deadly mass accident.

R. KELLY CHARGED WITH 11 NEW SEX-RELATED CRIMES CHICAGO Associated Press R&B singer R. Kelly was yesterday charged with 11 new sex-related counts, including some that carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, making them the most serious against him.

Cook County prosecutors charged the Grammy awardwinning singer with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim who was at least age 13 and under 17 at the time, The Chicago SunTimes reported.

The four aggravated criminal sexual assault counts carry maximum terms of 30 years in prison.

Kelly was already facing 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four women years ago, three of whom were minors when the alleged abuse occurred.

The new charges apparently pertain to a single victim, identified in the court filing by the initials “J.P.” Prosecutors didn’t specify in the court filing

SINGER R. KELLY if she is the same person as one of the original four accusers who was also identified as “J.P.,” but Kelly’s defense attorney, Steve Greenberg, seemed to suggest that they are the same person in a tweet Thursday.

Greenberg didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment left by The Associated Press. The AP also couldn’t immediately reach Kelly for comment about the new charges. He pleaded not guilty to the original charges and denied any wrongdoing after his February arrest.

According to the new court filing, the first eight counts are from encounters that allegedly occurred between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2010. Three others pertain to alleged encounters between May 1, 2009, and Jan. 31, 2010.