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VOLUME:115 No.133, JUNE 5TH, 2018
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WOMAN: BRINGING BLING BACK TO THE BEDROOM
‘Better VAT than risking disaster’ WE LOST SO MUCH
Minnis fears doing nothing is greater risk than rate rise By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net AS the nation shudders from the shock of the 12 percent value added tax hike, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis reportedly told a Cabinet minister it is “better to lose an election than to lose a country.” Those words came in a private conversation with Health Minister Dr Duane Sands, who yesterday defended his pre-election political stance, and that of the Free National Movement, against VAT. Meanwhile, a source told The Tribune the government is considering
reducing the VAT rate if it can achieve set targets over the next three years. The source explained the short-term goal was not to pay off the debt but to bring in a surplus budget that would allow the government to start paying down on its debt. For his part, Dr Sands said he still considers VAT to be a regressive tax that disproportionately affects the poor; however, he said it was the only palatable alternative in the face of fiscal circumstances of life or death - like potential bankruptcy at the National Insurance Board.
By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net ONE man died and two others were injured when their speedboat smashed into a reef just off the coast of New Providence late Sunday night. The 20ft Boston Whaler was passing through Long Cay just off Arawak Cay around 11pm when the vessel ripped into rocks. The force of the impact threw five people on board into the water among which was an eight-yearold boy. In the darkness, the vessel’s captain is believed to have struck out for shore to try and raise help. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force was alerted to the accident and patrol craft P-40 went to investigate. SEE PAGE THREE
FLEEING ROBBER SHOT BY OFFICERS By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net
SEE PAGE SIX
FNM MPS KEPT IN DARK ON INCREASE By KHRISNA RUSSELL Deputy Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net THE government’s proposed value added tax increase was not only a shock to the nation but completely blindsided several Free National Movement members of Parliament who told The Tribune yesterday it appeared the decision was kept within the confines of Cabinet.
BOATER DIES AS VESSEL HITS REEF
POLICE shot a man in his legs yesterday after he allegedly robbed a woman of her handbag containing cash and other items. Paramedics took the suspect to hospital where he is listed in stable condition under heavy guard, police said. Shortly after 2pm, police said the man, armed with a gun, robbed a woman of her belongings as she was leaving a business on Mt Rose Avenue. As the suspect was running from the scene, police officers on patrol in the area saw him and a chase followed. SEE PAGE SEVEN
Pineridge MP Frederick McAlpine and Fort Charlotte MP Mark Humes, in separate interviews with The Tribune, said they were caught by “surprise” when Finance Minister K Peter Turnquest made the announcement last week. North Eleuthera MP Rickey Mackey said he was not completely caught off guard but said he did not SEE PAGE SIX BAHAMAS Financial Services Union president Theresa Mortimer spoke to The Tribune yesterday about the Labour Day March tragedy. See page five for the full story. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
AND THE NATIONAL HONOUR GOES TO... By FARRAH JOHNSON
THE Advisory Committee for National Honours is calling on the public to submit nominations of notable Bahamians to be considered for a national award. In accordance with the National Honours Act of 2016, the ten-member committee is inviting Bahamians to
NOMINATIONS can also be awarded posthumously - could Pastor Myles Munroe be a nominee?
“make recommendations” of noteworthy individuals worthy of national recognition. The awards will highlight citizens who have excelled in their respective fields and have contributed to national development in a significant matter. Announcing the various categories, Mark Humes, Fort Charlotte MP and SEE PAGE NINE
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FELICITY INGRAHAM:
LEADING A PATH AWAY FROM VIOLENCE
SEE PAGE EIGHT
PAGE 2, Tuesday, June 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Prayers before storm season
THE NATIONAL Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) hosted a church service at the New Providence Community Centre Church on Sunday. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis was among those in attendance, right, while NEMA director Captain Stephen Russell spoke to the media about the work of the agency, below. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, PAGE 3
WHEELCHAIR DONATION TO CHANGE TRINITY’S LIFE By FARRAH JOHNSON A POLICE officer went above and beyond the call of duty last Tuesday by making a generous donation to a student in need. Constable 3953 Stephen Miller donated a brand new wheelchair and walker to Trinity Turnquest, a physically challenged student at Centreville Primary School. Jacqueline Sands, principal of Centreville Primary School, commended the officer for his generosity, adding the incident is a “heartwarming story” worth sharing with the rest of the nation. Const Miller met Trinity attending a community function, she said, and was guided by God to bless the little girl when he noticed she had a walker. “He inquired of what school she attends and she said Centreville Primary, and so then he came by the school – she didn’t have a wheelchair she just had a
walker, and so he said ‘I’m going to bless you,’” Mrs Sands said. “He met her about three weeks ago and then he said he was waiting for payday. So when he was paid, he purchased a wheelchair and a walker and he came by the school and presented it to her,” the principal said. In response to the officer’s kindness, Trinity wrote a heartwarming letter of
gratitude. Describing Trinity’s character Mrs Sands said: “First of all she’s a brilliant young girl, she’s very confident because even though she cannot walk without the aid of the cane, she doesn’t look for sympathy, she doesn’t look for pity. She’s very confident, she’s very independent and she’s articulate. (A) brilliant little girl.”
A HUG for Constable Stephen Miller from Trinity Turnquest as she receives her new wheelchair.
Driver who struck biker must pay family $30,000 By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A MAN ordered to pay an interim sum of $30,000 in financial assistance to the family of a motorcyclist he killed after hitting him from behind with his truck nearly three years ago has had his legal bid to get out of paying that sum dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Appellate Justices Stella Crane-Scott, Milton Evans, and acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs dismissed Thomas Baldwin’s appeal of a judge’s order to pay $30,000 to Daniel Bethel’s widow and two children – one of whom has special needs – for causing their loved one’s death in December 2015. According to the ruling, sometime around 8.20pm on December 14, 2015, Bethel was riding his Yamaha motorcycle on Centre Lane Road in Hope Town, Abaco, when Baldwin, driving his 1996 Ford Ranger truck, struck him from behind. The impact caused Bethel to be thrown from his motorcycle and killed. When arraigned in Magistrate’s Court, Baldwin pleaded guilty to killing in the course of dangerous driving. In their statement of claim filed on November 23, 2016 in the Supreme Court,
Bethel’s widow, Rhiannon Thomas, as well as their two children, claimed the accident and death were caused as a result of Baldwin’s negligence and consequently sought damages under the Fatal Accidents Act, 1976 for bereavement, interest and costs. In his defence filed on December 6, 2016, Baldwin denied that Ms Thomas and her two children were entitled to damages. He claimed that Bethel’s accident and death were “wholly caused,” or alternatively, contributed to by Bethel’s “negligence and/ or his own failure to have any or any sufficient regard and/or care for his own safety”. On December 8, 2016, Ms Thomas and her children applied for a court order that Baldwin, within seven days of the order, make an interim payment on account of the damages claimed in the substantive action under the Fatal Accidents Act, 1976, in the amount of $150,000. According to the ruling, Ms Thomas said it had become “particularly difficult” for the family to function without her husband’s support, as one of the children is diagnosed with a “chromosome abnormality and developmental delay.” Ms Thomas said although
BOATER DIES AS VESSEL HITS REEF from page one Once quickly on scene, the crew members were able to pull four people on board who were rushed back to the mainland while a search immediately began for the missing captain. On arrival at hospital, one of the passengers succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash while two others were detained and reported to be in a stable condition.
The search for the missing captain continued through the night and it was not until mid-morning yesterday police were able to confirm he had been found alive. Superintendent Shanta Knowles, Royal Bahamas Police Force press liaison officer, said: “He is in good health and is assisting police with the investigation.” No identities of any of the people involved in the accident nor the name of their vessel have been released.
that child’s gross motor skills are average, she falls frequently and is unable to attend to basic needs such as bathing and getting dressed without assistance, and also requires supervision and assistance in other areas. Additionally, Ms Thomas said the child has no speech, mild hearing loss and communicates primarily through sign language. Ms Thomas said the child was dependent on both her and her deceased husband as primary caregivers, but with his death, help from family members as well as hired help has become a “necessity adding to the financial strain.” Ms Thomas said before her husband’s death she worked as a property manager making $1,500 per month on average. However, because of the present issues she had to give up her job to properly care for both children. She said she tried to cut her losses by gaining employment as a real estate agent, as the hours offer greater flexibility. However, she said because remuneration is based “almost
entirely” on commission from property sales she does not make a regular salary. Stating that she recognised that a “significant period of time” would likely pass before she would be able to recover a final payment from Baldwin, and that it is “imperative” that she obtain financial assistance before that time, Ms Thomas requested the sum of $150,000 to assist with living and medical expenses. The summons was heard on February 13, 2017, as a contested application. On February 22, 2017, Justice Indra Charles delivered an oral judgment and made an order awarding an interim payment of $30,000. Justice Charles said while she accepted that Ms Thomas and her children have been “disadvantaged” by Bethel’s death, a court order for interim payments must be supported by evidence and “ought to be reasonable in the circumstances” given that the trial has yet to commence. Nonetheless, Justice Charles said she felt that
$30,000 would be a “reasonable sum” that would allow Ms Thomas to take care of herself and her two children, also taking into consideration other expenses such as food, funeral expenses as well as the “one time lawn care service.” Justice Charles also noted that she ordered a “speedy hearing” of the matter which “hopefully will take place within a reasonable time”. The judge also noted that in her opinion, Ms Thomas has a “good case,” and said she “will succeed at the trial.” Baldwin consequently appealed Justice Charles’ decision on six grounds. Concerning his primary challenge to Justice Charles’ decision, Baldwin charged that his conviction was not conclusive of liability, notwithstanding the fact that he pleaded guilty. Baldwin further contended that evidence available before the appellate judges, that was not before Justice Charles, showed that Bethel was “intoxicated” at the time of the accident, and that such evidence could rebut
the presumption of liability or at the very least reduce the amount of damages awarded at trial. Ms Thomas and her children responded by submitting that the new evidence did not prove that Bethel was not in control of his motorcycle at the time of the accident, and that the new evidence does not change the evidence concerning the manner in which Baldwin and Bethel drove on that night. The appellate judges, in deliberating on the matter, noted that it is “well established in law” that an appellate court will not interfere with the exercise of a judge’s discretion unless it is “clearly satisfied” that the discretion has been exercised on a wrong principle, or if there has been a miscarriage of justice. However, they agreed with the submissions by counsel for Ms Thomas and her children that based on the facts of the present case, it cannot be said that the interim payment order made by Justice Charles was an improper exercise of her discretion.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, June 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
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Public consultation needed on offshore oil PEOPLE familiar with The Bahamas who have also travelled to other comparable holiday places know we have something special to offer here. We are blessed with the beauty of nature and an equable climate with fine beaches surrounded by what those who have been to the Exumas claim to be the clearest waters on the planet. As well as sun, sea and sand in abundance, we offer luxurious hotels and an interesting mix of an unusual history and culture and untold opportunities for ecotourism with varied flora and fauna as well as fishing, boating, diving and snorkelling together with all manner of other sporting activities. Some claim the mix is unsurpassed elsewhere in the world for this type of tourist destination. The Bahamas also provides a variety of sophistication and remoteness - from Atlantis and the newly-opened Baha Mar in New Providence to a fishing lodge in far-off Crooked Island where the dedicated fisherman can indulge himself in solitary splendour. But what also differentiates us from others is our geographical location that makes us accessible and affordable to visitors from our giant neighbour and the largest economy in the world who come here in droves. It follows that our nation’s priority should be to protect and preserve the unique environment that make us such an attractive place to visit, and we are fortunate to have an effective Bahamas National Trust as well as other bodies like Save the Bays together with those grouped under the relatively new Environmental Alliance. They play an important role and have recently opposed construction in Bimini, the planned Oban oil refinery in Grand Bahama and now the proposal for offshore oil drilling in Bahamian waters. They are against fossil fuels when significant opportunities for renewable energy exist and are also concerned about climate change and the potentially disastrous effects of rising ocean levels on parts of our island chain. They may be right about the potential risks to the marine ecosystem of an oil refinery in Grand Bahama and have chided the Government for the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). They are similarly opposed to the LNG power plant at Clifton. We do not believe, however, that their opposition to offshore oil can be justified because the risks of potential pollution and other damage are minimal and the economic and social benefits are potentially enormous. While alternative renewable sources are gradually being developed, the hard fact is that oil is currently
essential to the world economy. The demand is huge because it is the primary fuel source for transportation and crude oil is used for manufacture of a variety of products like plastics and fertilisers. Nonetheless, even though the risks are small and the Grand Bahama Bank would anyway protect our other islands from the effects of any oil slick, if the exploratory drilling by the Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) results in the commercial production of oil, it is important that safeguards against possible pollution and the effects of possible oil spills should be in place. Drilling is in a relatively small area across the Old Bahamian Channel more than 100 miles southwest of the island of Andros. Reportedly, an EIA has already been done followed by an Environmental Management Plan covering the potential impact on the environment. Moreover, although oil spills, especially from collisions or other accidents involving oil tankers, can never be ruled out, to date there have been no serious incidents involving the many tankers which regularly pass through Bahamian waters. It is likely offshore oil, if managed properly, would transform the Bahamian economy. Over the years, successive governments have been guilty of economic mismanagement that has led to increasing deficits and an unprecedented level of national debt; and the poor state of the economy was highlighted again in last week’s Budget. In such circumstances, it would be foolhardy for any government to fail to take advantage of a potential oil bonanza, particularly when the risk to the environment is judged to be so low. But the views of those who oppose it on environmental grounds should not be dismissed, and a measure of consensus is desirable on such an important issue. We believe, therefore, that even though the Government has already granted leases for exploratory drilling, it would nonetheless be wise to mount some sort of national consultation exercise in order to achieve public support. If it turns out that oil can be produced in commercial quantities, the greater public concern is likely to be about the scope for backhanders, kickbacks and dubious consultancy fees. So, to fulfil the Prime Minister’s promises about transparency in the fight against corruption, it will be essential to establish a framework and mechanism of guarantees and checks and balances to ensure the public purse benefits as it should – given our history, this means keeping the hands of the political class well out of the cookie jar.
Majority Rule EDITOR, The Tribune.
Focus on Oban EDITOR, The Tribune ABRACADABRA! I never thought in my wildest imagination that provisions would have been made for me to finally get a helicopter. This proves that dreams do come true. But, come on man, have we ever in generations seen such a profound disregard and disrespect for a people. Have we ever seen anything so brazen being played in such a callous way. Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest could care less if he was exposed to be taking care of himself by making sure his business was comfortable. But what did in fact happen was the masters made sure that the distance between the have and have not, widened. In an effort to control the people easier, the best way
to do it was to keep them poor. But I never thought that it would be so blatant. PM Minnis made sure the wealthy was served generously on a silver platter. Is it true that Jaws Beach would be used to build condominiums? Just asking! The big car dealers pay no duty until the cars are sold, but the small used car businesses were literally strangled. I am sure this was designed to completely suffocate them until they succumb. There are other points that I would love to expound on but that’s for another time. The real concern is that the 12% increase on VAT, I believe, was earth shattering enough to cause all of the attention to be removed for the elephant in the room. We must not lose focus. The OBAN Land Grab Deal must remain
front and centre. We must, therefore, not let the side show, distract us from the big show. The ball of confusion, has caused all to start scampering to and fro, but we must remain vigilant, stay awake, the thief is coming in the night, when you rest your head. East Grand Bahama, brace yourselves, a new very high upscale gated “Lyford Cay style community may be coming your way. The real estate is the prize, not the oil. Keep your head in the game. Truth is stranger than fiction. Nothing could be done with a man who is at peace with himself and fears God only. IVOINE INGRAHAM Nassau, May 31, 2018.
W.
IN a letter to the editor “the Graduate” answered my article about Majority Rule in The Bahamas. I seldom answer such letters because the writer has not got the moral courage to use a proper name. So in this article I will refer to “the Graduate” as “He/she/ it” which will cover all the possibilities of identifying the person or beast. In my article, I said that the German Goebbels used the tactic of repeating a lie often enough so that people assumed it was the truth. The Bahamian Goebbels repeated a lie about Majority Rule long enough so that people assumed it was the truth. The German Goebbels and the Bahamian Goebbels had different motives but both used the same means ... a repeated lie. “He/she/it” seems to claim that the colour card was not the basis of the PLP argument. This sounds like the modern day Goebbels saying that the Holocaust never happened in Germany. Either “He/she/it” is outright lying or was either not born, not here, or never ducked the rocks. The PLP maintained that the formation of the House of Assembly must be based on colour lines, no more than 15% white and at least 80% black. Anyone who denies that is trying to bury the truth. I believe the House of Assembly should be comprised of 100% QUALIFIED Bahamians. I said that IF the colour card were used in US elections Barack Obama would never have been elected because the MAJORITY of voters in the US were white. It was as simple as that, and that is a FACT. I said that simply to say that the colour card SHOULD NOT be used in elections in The Bahamas. “He/she/it” is trying to twist my words. That is typical In 1962 I was a candidate for the “Far East”. In those days there were two representatives in the House of Assembly for the Far East. The boundaries for that constituency stretched from East Street in the West to East End in the East. AD Hanna and Arthur Foulkes were running in that Constituency for the PLP, Geoffrey Johnstone for the UBP, and I was an Independent. AD Hanna and Geoffrey Johnstone won. I lost. I didn’t blame it on gerrymandering, a lightning strike or anything else. I lost. The people didn’t want me and so they voted for AD Hanna and Geoffrey Johnstone. That’s not hard to understand, is it? Although I was very involved in politics I stayed out of front line politics for twenty years. When I decided to run in 1982 I surrounded myself with the
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net greatest, most hardworking, and the best organised team the country has ever seen. That TEAM had me elected to the House of Assembly for the next 25-years. While there I kept my nose clean and let my conscience be my guide. Just before the 1997 election we were called in individually to discuss possible changes in the boundaries of the constituency. I was told that my constituency would not be changed, except for one small polling division “to help out your neighbouring colleague”. I agreed and left. Just hours before the final boundaries were signed, a meeting of all FNM candidates was called and the election was discussed. As the meeting was drawing to a close the PM strode over to a map of New Providence, which was hanging on the wall and said: “There will be no discussion on this and these are the new boundaries for Shirlea”. He took a black marker and COMPLETELY redrew the boundaries of Shirlea, putting in Kemp Road, St James Road, the Five Pound Lot, etc, all known PLP strongholds. I started to say something and the PM responded, “I said there will be no discussion” and the meeting ended. It was clearly gerrymandering. I didn’t cry about it, I faced facts, either not nominate or fight it. Discussing it with my team we decided to fight it. We did and we won. It had been a PLP stronghold. My philosophy always was that you were a PLP or FNM only until the Polls closed on election day. After that you became one people, one constituency. After winning I saw what was needed and moved in to accomplish it. I started food programmes, after school classes, and with the help of a few friends I personally built a new house for a paraplegic whose leg had been amputated. She, by the way, was a PLP and had voted against me! I fell in love with the people of the new constituency. Rather than it being my downfall, which was planned by some, it became the most invigorating experience of my political life. And so now I say thank you to those who tried to destroy me. “He/she/it” would have you believe that gerrymandering was a UBP thing. It is wrong but it is not exclusive to the UBP. It is used in the USA; it was used by the PLP; it was used by the FNM. Buying votes is also wrong, but it was not exclusive to the UBP. It is done
in the USA; it was done by the PLP; it was done by the FNM. Many times boundaries cut through houses, one bedroom in one constituency the other in another constituency. But people, not lines, vote. “He/she/it” must have been sleeping lately or has “head in sand” syndrome. So to indicate that it was only the UBP who used these tactics is dishonest and wrong. When you enter the race, you accept the ground rules. In the USA the person who gets the most votes in the Electoral College becomes President, thus Donald Trump not Hillary Clinton won the recent US election. In The Bahamas, the Party which has the most seats in the House of Assembly becomes the Government and is the Majority to Rule. In 1962 women were given the right to vote. That is known as Universal Suffrage. Rather than declaring January 10th Majority Rule day, the big day should be in November when women were allowed to vote. Again the PLP claims to have been the champion of the women’s right to vote. Not true. I remember as a teenager (and long before the PLP was formed) people like Mrs. Mary Ingraham and a group of women meeting and agitating for the women’s right to vote. Some were big supporters and constituents of Sir Stafford Sands. It is true the PLP jumped on the bandwagon, but it is not true that they created the wagon! It is true that someday a white, brown or yellow person will lead the Party which wins the majority of seats in the House of Assembly, but to say that it was the PLP’s position is simply not true. I have faith in the young Bahamians who are learning and preaching that colour does not matter, and these same young people will ensure that the colour card will be buried never to enter Bahamian politics again. Although I did not support them, I was very impressed that the PLP under the leadership of Perry Christie fielded a number of young white candidates in the last election. I have always found Perry Christie to be a decent man. He was, in my opinion, not a very successful Prime Minister, but that does not mean he is not a decent man. Now that “Brave” Davis is leading the PLP, I think you will see emphasis placed more on quality of the candidate than anything else. For the country’s sake, I hope. PIERRE V L DUPUCH Nassau, May 28, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, PAGE 5
We lost so much By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
THERE has been no moment in the past four days void of a tearful reminder of what the Labour Day tragedy took away, according to Bahamas Financial Services Union President Theresa Mortimer. In an interview with The Tribune at her Horseshoe Drive office, Mrs Mortimer said the anguish and pain of last Friday’s tragedy are rooted within her union. Nursing injuries of her own, Mrs Mortimer yesterday worked her way through call after call. Family, colleagues, wellwishers were given what has become her tag-line in the wake of the tragedy – “We have to be strong, for them and for us.” The BFSU marched in Friday’s parade under the theme: “Workers’ United: An injury to one is an injury to all.” Referring to that theme yesterday, Mrs Mortimer called it “fitting”. All of the dead - Tabitha Shelley Haye, Katherine Augusta Fernander, Tami Patrice Gibson and Diane Elizabeth Gray-Ferguson – the injured and those traumatised, are either members of her union or connected to those she marched with last Friday. They were hurt when a truck ploughed through a crowd at the parade shortly after the driver got out of the vehicle, police said. About two dozen people were injured, police said. Yesterday, ACP Ken Strachan said the driver is not in police custody, but is still assisting with the investigation. He said the investigation could take several weeks to complete due its complexity. “I told someone yesterday, talking about it is too hard,” she said from her desk with her head tilted back. “The councillors told me I have to talk about it. They said I need to let it out.” Glancing over at a secretary seated in the office, she said: “I told them, I can
BAHAMAS Financial Services Union president Theresa Mortimer pointing to a photogrph of Tami Gibson on her wall. walk through the pain; but I can’t relive it.” “I basically see it as an accident ... It is an accident. And I have to accept it as an accident. We have to live with it as an accident.” According to Mrs Mortimer, the driver of the truck in last week’s incident is the son of a BFSU officer. Mrs Mortimer said her religious upbringing taught her that circumstances similar to what occurred Friday must be viewed through the prism of faith. “I am not saying God planned for it to happen this way; but I think it was His will. This was His plan,” she said. “This hurts, I am not going to lie to you. This hurts more than I can say. Each of the lives we lost and the others impacted are of value to me and this union,” she said.
Pointing to a picture next to her desk, Mrs Mortimer added: “This lady, Tami Gibson, she was actually the assistant secretary general of our union. “She was going to do her first real case this week for the union,” she said, pausing several times. “She retired from the bank in November, and between the union, she wanted to start school in September to chase a degree in theology. She said to me, ‘Madam President, I am going to be an evangelist missionary.’ “So it was an accident that took so much from me, this union, this country and this world.” She added: “The young lady, Kathleen Fernander, she isn’t even a part of the union; she’s a supporter of the union. She is my close friend. She is like a sister to me.
“In the last five years she has been like a shadow; wherever I’ve been she was there. So, to lose her, I lost a part of my heart. Honestly.” She added: “Dianne Ferguson, she is a mother of one of the officers, but she was going with us in the next five days to a conference in Liverpool. You see, that’s what this union is. We are a family; across the board, we all come together to form one big and interactive family. So, I have to accept this as an accident. If I don’t accept that, this is going to break me and I can’t let that happen. “It is God’s plan and I have to build on the memories I have with these women to make the best step moving forward. I have to be strong. I have to be strong for them, for the union, for the country. I don’t think these women
Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
would have wanted us as a union to stop or slow down. They all would have encouraged us to push through and go on.” Mrs Mortimer said her legacy as BFSU leader is now eternally attached to the legacy of the women who died Friday. Asked by The Tribune how the union intends to move forward, she said: “I don’t know exactly, but we will, we have to. “This isn’t the first tragedy we’ve dealt with. In 2009, we lost two officers in the space of six months. I know that isn’t anything like this but the same spirit we used then, we are calling on that now to get us through. We bounced back then. We have to do the same thing now. “We depend on one another; we grieve together. “Perhaps those two in
2009 prepared us for this. But we will come out on the other side,” she said. In a prepared statement she also shared yesterday, Mrs Mortimer thanked several public entities and agencies that assisted the BFSU during and after Friday’s tragedy. That statement read: “We are grateful and thankful to all the responders who sought to save lives, console us, and protect the dignity of those impacted. This includes: the nurses and doctors’ unions, fellow unionists, PMH administrators and staff, staff of Doctors Hospital, the leaders of our fellow trade unions and their members, the management and staff of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Senator Dion Foulkes, the minister of labour, and the Minister of Health Dr Duane Sands.”
MUNROE: HAS OFFICER BEEN INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS? By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEY Wayne Munroe wants to know if the police officer responsible for the death of 20-year-old Deangelo Evans has been involved in other fatal police shootings this year. Mr Munroe is representing the Evans family and is expected to start reaching out to the coroner as early as today. He told The Tribune his question about the officer springs from information he has received from his police sources. “If the officer who is involved has in fact killed before this year, in my view it is improper for him not to be on administrative duties with an outstanding matter,” he said. Evans was killed more
than a week ago. At the time, police said officers were responding to an armed robbery and shot an assailant who allegedly produced a firearm. Police said a gun was recovered from the deceased at the scene. Police could not be reached for comment last night on Mr Munroe’s assertions. Meanwhile, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has still not completed investigations into incidents captured on camera of people being slapped by police officers, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour, who spoke to The Tribune in an earlier interview. A video of a police officer’s physical attack of a man went viral on May 2. In the clip, an officer strikes a man in the face, prompting the man to cry as the officer continued to strike him.
The video was shared hundreds of times on Facebook. In late April, another video of an officer slapping a man across the face, causing that man to stumble more than once, went viral. Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson said the matter is being investigated by DCP Seymour. Yesterday, DCP Seymour could not give an update on the status of the investigation into either matter. Asked what is generally needed to investigate matters like slapping incidents, he declined to divulge details on that as well, saying: “The investigator goes where the investigation leads.” He said the RBPF feels no pressure to treat matters that spark outrage from the public as a priority. “All investigations will be given the attention it rightly deserves,” he said.
He would not say if police will release a statement once the investigations are done. The RBPF has been criticised for its history of not being transparent about matters relating to the
conduct of its officers. Attorney Christina Galanos said yesterday the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the police investigations into the slapping matters speaks to a larger problem.
“If the police killing people and the investigations, here we are six, seven, eight years and still no coroner’s inquest, what you think about the slaps?” she asked. “The slaps rank (low) on the totem pole.”
PAGE 6, Tuesday, June 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
‘Better VAT than risking disaster’ from page one The health minister claimed the tax burden on the poorest 75,000100,000 Bahamians will likely remain unchanged given that VAT concessions have been budgeted to offset the more than 50 percent increase in the VAT rate. His claim has drawn scepticism from people like Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants President Gowon Bowe, however. Mr Bowe noted yesterday the government has produced no economic impact study showing how the combination of VAT’s rate hike and the new concessions will impact poor Bahamians. Among other things, Mr Bowe said the government’s position restricts the freedom of choice of poorer Bahamians and assumes they won’t buy many items outside the bread basket. “The prime minister has said it before: you got to decide whether you want to save the country; it’s better to lose an election than to lose a country,” Dr Sands told The Tribune. “The funds for NIB is about to go bankrupt. We are not prepared to let that happen. What it means is NIB has to be paid what it’s owed and people are going to have to make the kind of contributions needed to sustain it.” “We’ve been served a s*** sandwich,” Dr Sands continued, “do we like it no, but I’m sure that we will stand firm and do what
needs to be done to turn this country around and then people will either roll us out, or cuss us forward, or say okay you did what you were supposed to do which is different than what other administrations have done.” Critics have raked the Minnis administration for the tax hike given their staunch opposition to the introduction and administration of the tax under the former Progressive Liberal Party government; but also, for planning to increase the VAT rate without seemingly consulting stakeholders or citing analysis that justifies the decision. Yesterday, Dr Sands insisted the VAT increase is in line with the FNM’s “rhetoric, language, and comments” over the past year. “I think we all would rather have a situation where the economy is able to thrive and get out of this mess without imposing an issue of tax,” he said, “but we’ve had a year to find out where all the bodies are buried and the situation is grim. “To have $360m of unpaid bills accumulated over a period of ten to 20 years, to have to pay financing costs of $1bn a year, to have interest payments of $380m in this upcoming year, and an accumulated national debt of almost $8bn. “If you look at the game - rock, paper, scissors, there are times when paper covers rock, and rock breaks scissors, so a position that you would have held doesn’t mean that you
don’t believe that at all. “It basically means there is a new reality of which you’re now cognizant and you have to make a decision. However painful for me, this is not so difficult because I sometime have to tell people I have to cut their leg off, or take out one of their lungs or perform surgery that may result in death in order to save their life. This country - we’re at that moment.”
DR DUANE SANDS While in opposition, said: “I still believe that Dr Minnis formed a spe- the (2014) criticism stands. cial commission within the Bear in mind we also have Free National Movement a moving target because to evaluate where the party we are moving to maintain could repeal VAT. economy in face of changAs for Dr Sands, in 2014 ing world reality. We have he said: “To say you’re to reduce import duties. I going to put this yoke would prefer, none of us around the workers and enjoy the idea that in order businesses of this country to stabilise this economy and on the backs of the poor that we have to increase people, is unconscionable.” taxes but the alternative is When confronted with his more unpalatable.” earlier critique, Dr Sands He added: “We have
considered all the options.” Attorney General Carl Bethel, then an opposition senator, also rejected the Progressive Liberal Party’s bill to introduce VAT. He told The Tribune yesterday he would reserve his comments for his Senate contribution. Senator Ranard Henfield, who said his organisation We March had opted to voice its position during his Senate contribution, said the same.
‘WE KEPT RISE SECRET TO AVOID DISRUPTION’ By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest said the government withheld its intention to increase value added tax until last week because it did not want to influence the consumer behaviour of Bahamians. People everywhere have lamented the short time they have to prepare for VAT’s hike to 12 percent from 7.5
percent. Why the Minnis administration gave just a month’s notice about the increase has been one of the outstanding questions since last week’s announcement. The Tribune spoke to Mr Turnquest about the matter after his appearance on the Kiss FM 96.1 radio show, “Ed Fields Live”, where he also addressed the issue. He said: “When it comes to government revenue measures, you have to be very careful about what you say. Yes, it would be nice if we could have open
consultation but that comes with risk in terms of persons wanting to engage in arbitrage, trying to take advantage of the situation, which could cause a run on the bank literally when people want to buy import materials or goods or even services at the lower rate. That could cause a run on the foreign reserves. Fortunately, we do have a high foreign reserve at the moment but you can’t take that kind of risk. Similarly, if the rate is going down, people wouldn’t buy
anything so all of a sudden, your tax revenue falls out of the bottom. Governments have historically held revenue measures very close to the chest as a hedge against that kind of activity. “Even now, we’ve given a month’s notice that the VAT rate is going up,” he continued. “You could imagine what’s happening between now and then and that’s a risk we have to take in the particular circumstance because again we recognise that merchants have to change their systems and then there are people who are making contracts that need time to transition to the new rate. Ordinarily you wouldn’t want to do that because it can cause a bit of a problem for you and you may not earn the return that you thought you would earn because everyone has front loaded you.”
VAT’s rate is increasing by 60 percent in the next fiscal year and the Minnis administration’s budget forecasts a simultaneous 60 percent boost in revenue that will be gained after the hike. Mr Turnquest said though VAT was originally implemented after a lengthy consultation period, that can’t be compared to the current situation. “When VAT was first introduced it was a new tax altogether and so that would have required a lot of consultation,” he said. “It’s the same as if we were to introduce corporate tax, you would have to have a long consultation period with respect to that because you’re talking about a whole new taxation model. What we are doing is changing the rate.”
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Federation has said it cannot support a tax hike without a comprehensive economic analysis report, but Mr Turnquest does not believe the government needed to commission such a study. “We’ve done our internal modelling,” he said. “We have our own economist and this isn’t about a wholesale introduction of a new tax, this is an adjustment of a rate and we do this all the time. Yes in a perfect world we can go out and get the dynamic modelling and all of it. In this particular circumstance, we feel comfortable with the data we have and the modelling we’ve done.” Asked if the administration will release its internal reports, he said: “We’ll have to consider. We’ll see.”
FNM MPS KEPT IN DARK ON INCREASE from page one know the increase would be as much as 12 percent. However, he said he was in complete support of the increase because the country had no other choice. Two other members of Parliament who asked for anonymity said they were blindsided, telling this newspaper it was “shameful” the hike was not even revealed during a parliamentary caucus meeting held the night before Mr Turnquest’s budget communication. This was because the decision was apparently considered “sensitive” information, which supports the view that there was virtually no consultation ahead of the announcement, The Tribune was told. Last Wednesday, the deputy prime minister revealed effective July 1, VAT will increase to 12 percent from the existing rate of 7.5 percent. “I was caught off guard, but I understand why it came the way it did,” Mr Humes said yesterday when he was contacted. “There are some things that are pretty sensitive. “I understand things have to be held close to their chest and in understanding that I know why the decision was made. With that I am okay with the government doing it the way they did.”
Mr McAlpine also confirmed he was completely “taken aback”. For his part Mr Mackey said: “I may have known maybe a little more than the general public, but based on the current financial need I see a need for it. It’s not something you want to do but we are at a place where we either deal with the issue or we may end up like Barbados.” Recently, Barbados’ newly-elected Prime Minister Mia Mottley said she planned to meet with the International Monetary Fund in an emergency plan to tackle the country’s massive debt. Mr Mackey continued: “No one likes to pay more, but the current financial situation demands more. You can’t continuously run deficits and don’t think it will catch up with you. “Overspending, justified or not now requires more of us as a nation. Moving forward I would say with the need for us to pay there is a need to demand more of our government to ensure wastage ceases or stops. “I won’t say specifically I knew it would be a substantial increase but I had been having conversations with the minister of finance because of some developments in my constituency. This was hard for them. “He said to me we have to make hard decision that will alienate every sector, but there are no choices in the matter.”
In his budget address to Parliament last Wednesday, Mr Turnquest noted a string of changes to the country’s tax regime, which would benefit thousands of families and businesses. Then came the price for paying for these measures: VAT nearly doubling. The government projects the VAT increase will help it reap $1,115,007,455 in revenue in the next fiscal year, a 60 percent increase compared with the forecasted VAT revenue for 2017-2018. Mr Turnquest said this was indicative of the government choosing not to wait until it is too late to shore up the economy, but opting to act now and act responsibly. The decision attracted the fury of opposition members in the House of Assembly who shouted “shameful” from their seats, while others asserted the government was “trying to kill the Bahamian people”. Later during a press conference, the Progressive Liberal Party warned the move would spark a recession as it poured doubt on Mr Turnquest’s economic growth projections. Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants President Gowon Bowe also believes the government’s plan to increase VAT will create further distancing between the “haves and have-nots” and possibly create the conditions for class unrest, he told The Tribune.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, PAGE 7
Two cleared of murder By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court jury has acquitted two Dorsett Alley residents of last year’s murder of another man in the Farrington Road area. The jury unanimously acquitted both Jamaal McSweeney and Jamaric Green of the December 8, 2017 shooting death of Javan Forbes. According to police, sometime after 9.40pm on
FLEEING ROBBER SHOT BY POLICE OFFICERS
the day in question, police were called to the report of a shooting off Farrington Road. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a white Honda vehicle parked on the western side of the street with a male lying inside. Upon examination, officers discovered the male had sustained several gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services personnel were summoned and upon arrival pronounced him dead on the scene.
Based on the information they had at the time, police said shortly after 9.40pm, two males were sitting in the car with two other people when a Japanese-style vehicle pulled up behind them. A gunman emerged from the vehicle and opened fire. According to the evidence of Craig Nichols, a store clerk at 3T’s Convenience Store, sometime around 6pm he went to work to cover the 6pm to 10pm shift.
Sometime around 9.30pm, he went in the back of the store, also known as the Big Ten, to get a mop to start cleaning up ahead of closing. After retrieving the mop and returning to the front of the store, he looked out the store’s glass doors and observed a white car parked in front of the fence between the shop’s parking lot and another property to the right. He said he didn’t pay it any attention at first, but then he noticed a
silver-coloured car pull up next to the white vehicle. At that moment, Nichols said he thought maybe the person in the silver car was stopping to hail the occupants of the white car, so he started to mop. However, he said he heard about five to six gunshots, and upon looking through the glass door, saw “sparks” in the area between both cars. He said he subsequently turned the lights off in the shop and told the cashier to
hand him the store key to lock the door, which he did. When he exited the store, Nichols said police officers were already putting up police tape. However, he said he did not see who the shooter/ shooters were, as he ducked down when he heard the shots. David Cash represented Green, while Glendon Rolle represented McSweeney. Linda Evans prosecuted the matter. Senior Justice Vera Watkins presided.
WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR GB PROPERTY FIRM
from page one
Police said during this chase, the man fired his weapon in the direction of the officers, who in fear for their lives, returned fire, shooting the suspect in his legs. The suspect’s weapon - a .40 pistol - along with six rounds of ammunition and the woman’s handbag were recovered from the scene. Police also said shortly after 11am yesterday, officers from the southwestern division recovered a .357 revolver with two rounds of .357 ammunition and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition from an abandoned building on Gladstone Road. No arrests were made in this incident. Investigations are continuing, police said.
THE NEW-look Lusco website. GRAND Bahama Development Company Limited’s (DEVCO) property maintenance firm has launched a new website to improve customer engagement and overall service. The non-profit organisation, Lucaya Service Company Limited (LUSCO), will be offering a 25 percent discount on all existing service charge balances in arrears
and a similar discount on all service charges for the years 2019 to 2021. However, those customers will be required to pay the full three years’ discounted service charges by way of a lump sum in advance. LUSCO is responsible for the maintenance of properties in subdivisions developed or to-be-developed in the future, by DEVCO.
A press release read: “The company is mindful of the challenging economic times we currently face, particularly, the property owners of Lucaya. With this in mind, Lusco will be offering a 25 percent discount on all existing service charge balances in arrears. “In addition, LUSCO would like to show its appreciation to all customers whose accounts are
presently current. Accordingly, it will be offering a similar 25 percent discount on all service charges for the years 2019 to 2021. Customers will be required to pay the full three years discounted service charges by way of a lump sum in advance (ie 2019 thru 2021). “The new website will provide information showcasing what LUSCO does; which areas it services; and
all new initiatives relevant to LUSCO’s customers.” The window for discount programs will end on September 3. To participate, contact cvanderlinde@gbdevco. com; ikemp@gbdevco.com, telephone 350-9310/11 or visit The Grand Bahama Port Authority Headquarters on East Mall Drive. Interested persons can visit www.LUSCO.org.
PAGE 8, Tuesday, June 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Witnessing tears and violence drove Elaine to show a brighter path Face to Face
By FELICITY INGRAHAM
W
HY do we hurt the ones we say we love? I believe somewhere in our hearts and minds when we hurt others, it’s because we were not loving ourselves. The love we say we have for others must be felt within the very core of our being. Once safe and secure in our own personal love, then we can have healthy, loving relationships that edify us rather than destroy us. In love, passion should create something positive and edifying in the relationship. Passion should not be seen as an acceptable reason for violence against a partner. However, more than 1,200 people become victims of domestic violence each year in The Bahamas and many people still say, “That’s man and woman business”. But when children are seeing this violence in the home, and when spousal violence turns deadly, we must start making it our business. Elaine Sands has seen this first-hand for decades. No matter how many times she was called to visit a murder scene, it felt the same every time – chilling… jarring… heartbreaking. “I visited the (murder) scenes and listened to the cry of family members,” she shared. “I don’t want to hear the cry of another mother, brother or sister… family members who come to the scene of a murder. It’s heartbreaking, especially when you see the children
of the victims. It’s traumatic. Nobody wins. One parent dies and the other is sent to prison. “Regardless of who it is, their children don’t get the same attention anymore when both parents are gone. Extended family members do their best but it is still hard for the children. Who is coming to the school when they get an award? Who will take them for ice cream or a special treat? I have seen so many disturbed children and these traumatic incidents put them at risk of becoming a perpetrator or a victim in the future.” For 40 years, Elaine served as an officer of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and moved up the ranks from Constable to Superintendent. She was still a teenager when she took the oath to “serve and protect” the Bahamian public and has done so with distinction. Under the command of former Commissioner Bernard K Bonamy, known as the “no-nonsense police chief”, she was sent to the University of the West Indies, Jamaica to be trained specifically in Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention. She went on to the Harrel Centre for the Study of Family Violence at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Davie, Florida. Upon her return to The Bahamas, Commissioner Paul Farquharson was in charge and with his support,
ELAINE Sands as Supt of Police taking part in the Urban Renewal Programme, top, with her family, and, bottom right, presenting her book to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling. From left at the book presentation, pastor Leo Rolle, Edmund Lewis, Jeraldine Lewis, Bernadette Lewis, Dr Sandra Patterson, Elaine Sands, Governor General Dame Maguerite Pindling, Bishop Arnold Josey, Dr Novia Carter, Pastor Peter Joseph, Leevan Sands Sr, Antoinette Rolle. Below, her son, Olympic bronze medalist Leevan Sands Jr. she gathered a team and opened the Domestic Violence Unit of the RBPF in the Community Policing Division. “As a commander, I had to visit all of those murder scenes related to domestic violence and I had to respond to the matters in my area,” she said. “I started to zero in on matters pertaining to domestic violence. Even when I was sent out to command those divisions, that was one of the most important aspects of my role. I
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noticed how it was affecting families. The physical and emotional violence was sometimes escalating up to murder. So I continued to push hard, working with not only the victims, but also the perpetrators. “With victims, I would look closely at their matters, taking each case seriously, whether it was a male and female perpetrator. I engaged my fellow officers to take the matter seriously. I would refer the victims to different agencies to assist with problem solving, securing lodging if necessary because of threats of harm, seeking psychological help for them and just making sure they were safe.” “If we were called to a scene that had not escalated to violence, we would try to intervene, listening to perpetrators. A lot of man hours are put into these matters. It’s important to try to have understanding for their point of view, show empathy and make them understand the consequence of actions. “I wanted to hear their problem - what is causing this matter what could be done to change their whole attitude in the relationship? There’s a number of factors that contribute. Controlling behaviour for example – the perpetrator wants to totally control the victim. What you wearing, where you go, who you talk to. Sometimes the problems stem from lack of finances, or the ego. In some cases, both parties are competing against each other; like a competition between them - no one wants to take the high road and listen to one another and talk it out and not in a hostile way.” Elaine gained vital skills and devoted her entire career to helping stem the tide of domestic violence in the country. She kept an oath to protect and serve and took it to another level. She has a big heart and shares it with every victim, or potential victim of domestic violence, organizing countless prevention seminars over the years. I had the pleasure of first meeting Elaine at one of these seminars. I was, at the time, reporting for ZNS news. I was so moved by the passion with which the-Inspector Sands spoke to victims, potential victims and others that I felt compelled to take her telephone number. That led to a close camaraderie as she knew she could count on me to make sure her messages of violence prevention got to the masses. As we grew closer, she
heard of my personal testimony of having been a victim in the past and moved immediately to have me become a part of her campaigns against domestic violence. I attended several of those seminars to share my story of how I overcame these challenges and completely changed the course of my life by taking back my power. Elaine always encouraged me and it gave me the courage to continue to share my story with others and show them a path to a brighter future. Elaine is now retired but has no intention of letting up - as long as there are still volatile situations out there and people who are standing by and doing nothing about it. Yesterday Elaine took her first publication “Seven Tips to Enlighten & Empower Those Living in Abusive Relationships” to Government House. There, she gave Dame Marguerite Pindling the very first copy. The purpose of the book is to: “Firstly, identify the abuse and secondly, to blow the whistle on the perpetrator of the abuse. It’s to advise victims that violence in a relationship is unacceptable and criminal; blaming oneself for the violence is a fallacy, and the victim’s behaviour does not justify acts of violence.” The booklet looks at understanding the feelings involved; partner “let down”; the signs of an abusive relationship; threatening and violent behaviour; controlling behaviour; and protecting the moments that matter the most. The booklet provides the pertinent areas of law on domestic violence at your fingertips, with a layout of exactly what to do to seek help if you are in an abusive relationship. It also gives Biblical references of “spiritual guidance for refuge” and “spiritual guidance for self love”. “Abuse does not have a particular profile – anyone can be a victim,” she said. “No relationship is perfect and so when you open your heart to love, open your heart for disappointment, differing opinions and mistakes. Exercise restraint from physical abuse as there will be ‘partner let down’. Empowerment comes when you identify the abuse, value your life and decide to break the silence.” Elaine seemed destined to a life of discipline and service to others. Although she was born in New Providence to the Rosanna Munnings, a long-time worker in the hospitality industry, she was soon
sent to Cat Island and was raised by her aunt and uncle for several years. Leon and Lucinda Bannister were devout members of the Seventh Day Adventist church in Bennet’s Harbour, Cat Island, where Leon served as a Constable. With this great example of a healthy relationship, Elaine flourished, although life was strict. They would have to attend morning masses at 5am before going to school and spent Friday nights and Sabbath in church also. From the loving hands of the Bannisters, Elaine was returned to Nassau to the care of her father, Edmund Lewis Sr and his sisters – a big family of Androsians filled with the good ole’ island training that she feels could help save the nation’s families today. With her father also serving as an officer in the capital, it seemed these two great role models that helped mould her life led her to follow the same path and become a police officer. But Elaine has always been more than that. She is a great mother and wife. She and her husband, Leevan Sands Sr, have four children and 36 years of marriage to be proud of. Olympic medallist, triple jumper Leevan “Superman” Sands calls this couple “mom” and “dad”. So does former Miss Earth Bahamas Vandia Sands, who in representing the Bahamas at the international competition in the Philippines in 2013, won best costume. Meanwhile, the Sands’ son Deangelo recently graduated from university and their daughter Bria is performing well in her tertiary studies. As Elaine prepares for this new course in her life, she called together key players in the national campaign against domestic violence to celebrate with her as she presented the first copy of her book at Government House. Dame Marguerite, she noted, was keenly interested in the subject and sat and listened to them for half an hour, giving sound advice and encouraging them in their endeavours. Those key players included: Bishop Arnold Josey for the National Child Protection Council; Dr Novia Carter of the Ministry of Education’s School Psychological Services Section (who wrote the foreword of the booklet); Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson of the Crisis Centre; and Pastor Peter Joseph of the Centerville Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which Elaine is a member. The paperback booklet can be found on Amazon at a cost of $12. You may reach Elaine Sands at lousands9@hotmail.com.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, PAGE 9
And the national honour goes to... from page one committee chairman, said: “The established awards under Section 5 of the Act are as follows: The Order of National Hero, the Order of Nation, the Order of The Bahamas, the Order of Excellence, the Order of Distinction, the Order of Merit, the Order of Lignum Vitae, any other honour constituted by the governor-general by order.” Mr Humes added the committee will also be accepting nominations for “Distinguished Service Medals for citizens of The Bahamas in recognition of exceptional service in public service or the civil society, Badges of Honour for persons in the civil society who perform exceptional service to The Bahamas, and Medals for Bravery undertaken in The Bahamas by any person.” Idris Reid, committee advisor and consultant, said there is no limit for the number of nominations that can be submitted. He also said the committee will receive and select nominations and then make recommendations. “In as much as this is the
MARK HUMES, Fort Charlotte MP, who is the committee chairman for the national honours. launch of the first National Honours System for The Bahamas, naturally great care will be taken by the committee to include in the persons being honoured … the best of the best,” he said. Mr Humes added the nominations do not include a particular age limit. The chairman said: “We’re
looking for visionary pioneer leadership in various areas where persons have made extraordinary achievements obtaining excellence in the country… some of the awards can (even) be awarded to persons who are no longer with us.” When asked what would be considered a significant contribution to national
development made by potential nominees, Mr Humes told The Tribune: “The person must have made – and this is one of the highest honours – seminal contributions to The Bahamas and the contribution (must have) altered the cause of the history of the Bahamas in positive ways.” Senator Fred Mitchell,
READERS REACT TO VAT INCREASE
AFTER Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants President Gowon Bowe said he believes the government’s plan to increase VAT will create further distancing between the “haves and have-nots” and possibly create the conditions for class unrest, readers gave their reaction on tribune242.com. BahamaPundit said: “The Government should have held a series of consultations with the private sector over many months before raising VAT. That’s just so obvious, makes me think they are running the country by the seat of their pants, while cooking stew fish.” Jackbnimble offered this comment: “Business owners will just use this as another excuse to price gouge. They’re going to say, our costs have increased, but truthfully VAT is still a consumer tax. The persons using the service have to pay it, not the person giving the service. In fact, to my knowledge, the business owners get their money back on any VAT paid on their utilities. The only expenditure that I believe that is incurred is adjusting their computer systems to calculate the new VAT rate at the point of sale.” John had this to say: “There is some underhanded wickedness to totally disenfranchise Bahamians economically. Because of the constant increases in the cost of living, less and less Bahamians are able to become homeowners. In fact more Bahamians are losing their homes. And even though the taxes continue to increase, so does the National Debt. So Bahamians are losers both on the personal and national level.” Sheeprunner12 asked: “Do Bahamians understand that they have to pay for the Government bills??? Who else must pay for these bills??? Either we pay via VAT or we pay via more borrowing . . . and the interest on the national debt is already $400 million now. This 12% VAT is the easiest pill to swallow for the short term relief of our indebtedness. If a person has 6-10 basic/utility bills to pay + rent + car payment + credit card + school fee, who must pay it if there is no income???? Either get a second job (VAT) or borrow some more.” Prompting this response from Well_mudda_take_sic: “If you’re fool enough to extend significant amounts of credit to a virtually bankrupt government, then you should suffer the consequences and stop looking to us taxpayers to bail you out. With all of the waste, fraud and corruption at every level of our government, it is unlikely we taxpayers derived any benefit
of consequence from the unpaid and no doubt heavily padded bills that Minnis and Turnquest would have us believe should be settled at 100 cents on the dollar with minimal if any verification of their authenticity in terms of value received by the government. “We need serious belt tightening in the form austerity measures aimed at
significantly reducing the size of our grossly overbloated and non-productive public services sector. We should not be giving a spendthrift government more taxes to grow the size of government. We’ve been there and done that with the initial 7.5% VAT. And the same will happen to the additional 4.5% VAT because Minnis and Turnquest have steadfastly refused to make good on their many election campaign promises to address the horrendous size of our public services sector in a meaningful way. Until they do so, more taxes only add
more fuel to the fire of uncontrolled government growth.” And in The Tribune’s online poll, we’ve been asking readers to grade the government’s 2018/2019 Budget. At the time of going to press, an F grade was leading the votes with 29 percent, followed by B, D and U (15 percent), C (12 percent), A (9 percent) and E (5 percent). • The poll is still open so don’t miss your chance to vote and join the debate on tribune242.com.
a representative for the opposition on the advisory committee, also explained the significance of having a National Honours system. “This Act is the culmination of 20 or more years of advocacy by the National Heroes Day Committee …
we’ve borrowed the British Honours for long enough and we’re now at year 45, so this is an appropriate time to actually indigenise the honours,” he said. Nominations forms are available at the Cabinet Office in New Providence and at the Office of the Administrator in all Districts of the Family Islands. They are also online at www.bahamas.gov.bs. Completed nomination forms should be submitted to the secretary of the National Honours Secretariat, Cabinet Office no later than June 11. Nomination forms must include in-depth details outlining the reason the nominee should be considered for an award. Under no circumstances should the nominee be made aware of their nomination. Mr Humes said: “This award is going to be very much like what we would find with the Queen’s Honour. It won’t be an award that everybody will get, but when you do get an award it will be because of your excellent contribution to nation building.”
PAGE 10, Tuesday, June 5, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
The Budget’s socialist absurdities I SEE the new VATfree Bread Basket will now include mustard. Why not ketchup? How did the Government’s expert nutritionist decide which flavouring is essential in the diet for the cash-strapped family? Also cheese: does that include brie, camembert and roquefort? Or just contrast, casinos pay fedwholesome American eral income tax at the same slices? More nit-picking rates as all other businesses. decisions from Government Possibly more Bahamians and paperwork at every now play these legally regufood store is inevitable, all lated wagering games than with a cost. Will the careful voted the FNM into office. housewife shopper really Similar questions see the subsidised purchases arise about other of a dictated bunch of sta- hidden-agenda measures: ples compensate for the 60 why favour residential percent across-board-the- property insurance preboard VAT miums over increase to her ‘Instead of business proptotal food bill? erty? On holding the Minister import duties, Turnquest’s general tax level why favour message is to the minimum, clothing and full of measshoe stores, or ures like this, Government printing prodreflecting the raises it and ucts, or tiles? hidden politi- then carves out Or imports of cal message whole salmon of “soak the exceptions to suit and frozen fish rich”. Clearly, its own views fillets, however he loathes the about desirable tasty they may web shops be? In short, and sees them objectives, a through its as the prime policy generally taxing power, target for cash Government known as extraction — is intruding probably our socialism.’ into every most profitaspect of our able industry economy. employing 3,000-4,000 Instead of holding the people and already general tax level to the minpaying substantial gov- imum, Government raises it ernment taxes. Their and then carves out exceppercentage tax rate will rise tions to suit its own views as gross revenues rise, the about desirable objectives, only industry so treated. a policy generally known In the United States, by as “socialism”, a word that
is anathema here but leaves ever deeper traces. Minister Turnquest argues argues the abrupt VAT increase from 7.5 percent to 12 percent is the only way to amortize a pile of debt left by the profligate PLP and maintain our credit ratings and good standing with the IMF. But a legitimate question can be asked whether he is going about it the right way. We see barely a nod toward true capitalist measures to grow the economy. I could see nothing about reducing or adjusting business licence fees. Not a word about privatising BahamasAir, BEC or ZNS. Shifting to a contributory pension scheme for public employees is another can just kicked down the road, while unfunded liabilities balloon into the billions. Government’s 100 percent contribution to their pensions — a vanishing practice in modern economies — is a major drag on the Treasury, real but never publicised. We all must obey the law and pay enacted taxes. But before the July 1 effective date, public opposition may be strong enough to cause radical modification of this slanted budget.
PRESIDENT of Baha Mar Graeme Davis, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and Rosewood President Radha Arora cutting the ribbon. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
IT’S GRIM UP NORTH
The decision of Barbados’ brand-new lady prime minister to abruptly call on the IMF for one of its standard visits by experts and “offers to help” really amounts to a declaration of national bankruptcy. Since she was elected with 100 percent political support, there will be no official opposition to argue against this move. It will take time to understand what led to this crisis and whether an IMF bail-out, with the usual conditions, is the best solution. One grim prospect is her announcement that principal payments on domestic debt will be deferred. At least The Bahamas can be grateful that our foreign exchange reserves are much stronger than Barbados’ so we have more room to manoeuvre.
ROSEWOOD GIVES NEW TOUCH TO BAHA MAR
The Rosewood opening ceremony recently gave a new touch to the vast Baha Mar complex. The event itself set a special standard. Unlike the jolly mob scenes that announced Hyatt and SLS, only a dignified group of local leaders were seated for addresses by the PM and dignitaries, then were offered non-stop champagne and led through the public rooms. The most popular gathering spots became the wood-panelled bar and adjacent lounge, which gave elbow-room to enjoy classic caviar, black, fine-egged — and plentiful. With Rosewood - the
last of the three hotels already accepting guests, the resort’s grand threein-one concept becomes clear: the giant Hyatt will appeal to solid middlebudget American family vacationers, with next-door SLS using Vegas and Miami glitz to attract younger swingers, while Rosewood will stay a bit aloof (and pricey) to draw lovers of sophisticated elegance like New York’s Carlyle and the Crillon in Paris. All will be served by a medley of exceptional restaurants, an all-games casino, spa, golf course, convention centre — and here in Nassau, don’t forget the beach! There’s even an art gallery, with working studio for anyone to try budding artistic ambitions. The imperturbable Baha Mar President Graeme Davis and his Bahamian deputy Sandy Sands have their hands full juggling all these balls: three hotels and many other ventures, each with its own brand and profit target, needing to earn while leaving enough to pay the Hong Kong owner Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) a return on its $4bn investment. Somewhere deep out of sight a regiment of computers must be handling the endless cash flow from over 2,000 guests and sorting it out to even more staff and innumerable suppliers, always deducting the percentages due to the house. Mr Davis moves like a decisive diplomat, resolving daily crises without ruffling a hair. Possibly he never met the sharp-eyed reporter whom Bloomberg News sent down to cover the scene just two weeks before the Rosewood launch. While
observing that the enterprise is “booming”, with $21 drinks priced at a level for “plenty of revenue to be made”, she wrote a few waspish comments that “It looks like heaven. It can sound like hell... a cacophony of hospitality”. And “the only unifying thread is Instagram!” – as guests keep themselves busy snapping selfies. “Without the background noise, they’ll look vivid and serene.” Probably such minor snipes don’t bother Mr Davis, as Baha Mar is well on the path from a conflicted history to future success. Few indeed are the resort projects that were conceived, planned and 90 percent-built by one owner, went bankrupt and soon started operating under a new owner, with one political party backing the shift while the other opposed it. Now the opposition is in control, and Tourism Minister D’Aguilar is nimbly adjusting his allegiances, like any sensible politician. Fortunately, those colourful past disputes can be swept under the rug. The saving grace for Baha Mar is the quality of its staff. I have met quite a few of them by now, all immaculately uniformed, efficient, friendly and helpful, cheerfully performing a wide variety of tasks. Of course, some foreign training was required, particularly for the culinary specialties, but that would have failed without the bed-rock of Bahamians’ individual charm and character. When Henry Cheng, principal of family-owned CTFE, next visits Nassau, I hope he can tell me how content he is with his Bahamian investment.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, June 5, 2018, PAGE 11
BAKER WINS CASE OVER GAY WEDDING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled yesterday for a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple in a limited decision that leaves for another day the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gay and lesbian people. The justices’ decision turned on what the court described as anti-religious bias on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission when it ruled against baker Jack Phillips. The justices voted 7-2 that the commission violated Phillips’ rights under the First Amendment. Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion that the larger issue “must await further elaboration” in the courts. Appeals in similar cases are pending, including one at the Supreme Court from a florist who didn’t want to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. FIREFIGHTERS and police flee as they evacuate a search and rescue effort with the Volcan de Fuego, or “Volcano of Fire”, continuing to spill out smoke and ash in Escuintla, Guatemala, yesterday. Photo: Oliver de Ros/AP
62 DEAD AS GUATEMALA VOLCANO ERUPTS EL RODEO, GUATEMALA Associated Press
RESCUERS pulled survivors and bodies yesterday from the charred aftermath of the powerful eruption of Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire, as the death toll rose to 62 and was expected to go higher from a disaster that caught residents of remote mountain hamlets off guard, with little or no time to flee to safety. Using shovels and backhoes, emergency workers dug through the debris and mud, perilous labor on smoldering terrain still hot enough to melt shoe soles a day after the volcano exploded in a hail of ash, smoke and molten rock. Bodies were so thickly coated with ash that they looked like statues, and rescuers were forced to use sledgehammers to break through
the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their rooflines to try to see if anyone was trapped inside. Fanuel Garcia, director of the National Institute of Forensic Sciences, said 62 bodies had been recovered. “It is very difficult for us to identify them because some of the dead lost their features or their fingerprints” from the red-hot flows, Garcia said. “We are going to have to resort to other methods ... and if possible take DNA samples to identify them.” Hilda Lopez said her mother and sister were still missing after the slurry of hot gas, ash and rock roared into her village of San Miguel Los Lotes, just below the mountain’s flanks. “We were at a party, celebrating the birth of a baby, when one of the neighbors shouted at us to
come out and see the lava that was coming,” the distraught woman said. “We didn’t believe it, and when we went out the hot mud was already coming down the street.” “My mother was stuck there, she couldn’t get out,” said Lopez, weeping and holding her face in her hands. Her husband, Joel Gonzalez, said his father had also been unable to escape and was believed to be “buried back there, at the house”. Guatemalan authorities say they had been closely monitoring the Volcano of Fire, one of Central America’s most active, after activity picked up around 6am on Sunday. A spokesman for Guatemala’s disaster agency, Conred, David de Leon, said that around 2pm the volcano registered a new, more powerful explosion. Soon, searing flows of lava, ash
and rock mixed with water and debris were gushing down the volcano’s flanks, blocking roads and burning homes. “It traveled much faster. It arrived in communities right when the evacuation alerts were being sent out,” de Leon said. Authorities scrambled to issue an evacuation order. Some communities emptied out safely. But in places like Los Lotes and the village of El Rodeo, about eight miles (12 kilometers) downslope from the crater, it was too late for many. The fast-moving flows overtook people in homes and streets with temperatures reaching as high as 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (700 Celsius), and hot ash and volcanic gases that can cause rapid asphyxiation. Emergency crews in helicopters managed to pull at least ten people alive from areas cut off by the flows. Conred said 3,265 people had been
SAUDI ARABIAN WOMEN GET FIRST DRIVING LICENCES DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia issued its first driver’s licenses to ten women yesterday as the kingdom prepared to lift the world’s only ban on women driving in three weeks, but some who campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest. A government statement said the ten women who were issued licenses already held licenses from other countries. They took a brief driving test and eye exam before being issued the licenses. The surprise move came as activists who had campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest, facing possible trial. 17 people had been detained in recent weeks on suspicion of trying to undermine security and stability.
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