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VOLUME:114 No.140, JUNE 14TH, 2017

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SPORT: GB BASKETBALL HERO ORAL ‘BIG O’ JONES DIES, AGED 51

‘Get serious’ on jet ski rules Tourism minister wants action after sex attack report

By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net TOURISM Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar yesterday said the government must “get serious” on its plans to regulate the water sports industry, a day after a jet ski operator was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a Canadian visitor near Paradise Island on Monday.

“We can no longer run from this or step around this particular problem,” Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune when contacted

WHEN THE STUDENTS BECOME THE TEACHERS

THE Christie administration created the National Intelligence Agency after considering a number of serious, terrorist-like threats that threatened the Bahamas, former State Minister for National Security Keith Bell claimed yesterday, warning the Minnis administration that it is making a “grave mistake” disbanding the agency.

HURRICANE INSURANCE:

Are you Covered?

ATTORNEY and Save The Bays director Fred Smith yesterday stated that the environmental group has never made a political donation of any kind as he denied “mischievous” suggestions concerning the organisation’s relationship with the Free National Movement administration.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Smith sought to make a clear distinction between his personal donations as a private citizen and his executive position with STB. SEE PAGE SIX

EX-SPEAKER IS SURPRISED AT END TO APPEAL YOUNGSTERS taking part in the Primary Years Programme Grade Five Exhibition at St Andrew’s School Hall under the theme “Sharing the Planet” yesterday. The students spent nine weeks preparing for the exhibition, at which they presented their findings. See page two for more.

Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

BAHAMAS RANKS HIGH FOR TOLERANCE OF VIOLENCE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas ranked high among countries in the Caribbean that have tolerance or understanding for hitting women or correcting children with physical punishment, according to an Inter-American Development Bank study.

Covering The Bahamas for 40 years.

Nobody Does it Better!

THE amount of missing money from Bahamas Power and Light has ballooned to nearly $3m, The Tribune understands.

According to a source close to the matter, four BPL employees remain on suspension and several other employees are expected to be suspended this week.

“Some external auditors were called in and the number has gone up to about $3m,” the source said.

“This goes deeper and longer than any of us could have expected. This was a calculated effort to (allegedly) steal from the company.”

SEE PAGE FIVE

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SEE PAGE FIVE

On Monday, National Security Minister Marvin Dames announced that the NIA has been disbanded, saying the unit was isolated from other law enforcement units and had not functioned like an intelligence agency.

But Mr Dames, countered Mr Bell, should have in his possession “unequivocal” and “indisputable” evidence showing that the NIA served a meaningful purpose.

SEE PAGE SIX

By SANCHESKA DORSETT Tribune Staff Reporter sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SAVE THE BAYS ‘GAVE NOTHING TO THE FNM’

for comment.

The Free Town MP warned that the country was “treading dangerous ground” when it comes to visitor safety, contending that successive governments have avoided implementing proper oversight and regulation to the detriment of the country’s overall tourism product.

He went on to call for an immediate “plan of action” to prevent similar cases from occurring; a plan he said he was prepared to organise himself.

BELL: TERROR-LIKE THREATS MAKE SCRAPPING NIA A GRAVE MISTAKE

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MONEY MISSING IN BPL THEFT RISES TO $3M

The data is detailed in the report “How safe are Caribbean Homes for Women and Children? - Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence and Corporal Punishment.”

When asked if they would approve of a husband hitting a wife who is unfaithful, 7.7 per cent of Bahamians surveyed said they would approve while 29.5 per cent said they would not

approve, but understand.

However, when asked if they approved of a husband hitting his wife if she neglected household chores, only 2.4 per cent of Bahamians surveyed said they would approve while 20.5 per cent said they would not approve but understand, the report released in December 2016 said.

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SEE PAGE SIX

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net FORMER House Speaker Dr Kendal Major yesterday said he was surprised by the government’s decision to drop its appeal of the Supreme Court ruling on parliamentary privilege rather than allow the matter to be fully aired in the courts.

Dr Major underscored that such a critical ruling would better serve both jurisprudence and parliamentary privilege if it was reviewed by a cadre of judges at the highest level of the court system as opposed to a single Supreme Court judge.

SEE PAGE SIX

PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

WHEN THE STUDENTS BECOME THE TEACHERS

YOUNGSTERS taking part in the Primary Years Programme Grade Five Exhibition at St Andrew’s School Hall under the theme “Sharing the Planet”.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

MASSIMO D’Alessandro and his parents along with Robert Stitch, St Andrew’s School principal, and Jessica Waugh, St Andrew’s School VP and Head of Primary, at Massimo’s exhibit titled ‘The Lionfish Invasion’.

FIFTH grade students at St Andrew’s International School hosted an exhibit yesterday under the theme, “Sharing the Planet”.

The students spent the past nine weeks researching, writing, co-operating and rehearsing for the exhibit culminating with the opening of

the event Monday night, the school’s Head of Primary Jessica Waugh said.

She added that students tailored their projects to focus on local issues such as hunger, poverty, coral reef destruction, overfishing and ocean pollution.

“Each child took action

in the local community to help alleviate the problem they were studying,” Ms Waugh also said. “Students raised awareness, donated their time and resources, held food and book drives, hosted bake sales, special events and cleaned up our local coastline.”

A SMILE from a youngster during the exhibition.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 14, 2017, PAGE 3

Gibson says PLP govt hired 39 in Long Island ahead of election vote

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson has accused the former Christie administration of hiring nearly 40 people in the run up to the May 10 general election with the aim of “influencing” voters.

Mr Gibson said 39 persons were hired “in the last two weeks or so before the election, and in the case of one of them, the day before.” The requirements for being hired, Mr Gibson said, were to be “open PLP supporters” and to “show loyalty in a tangible way”.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Monday, Mr Gibson said that those hired, “barring a small handful”, were poll workers at divisions one through nine for the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for Long Island Glendon Rolle.

Mr Gibson further claimed that Mr Rolle and a “contracted Ministry of Finance employee” were the ones “galvanising and leading the charge” in a “government vehicle” to hire the 39 persons.

Mr Gibson also questioned the hiring of eight persons to work as security guards at the island’s Stella Maris airport, four of whom he claimed were hired “a week or two before Election Day.” To substantiate his claims, Mr Gibson produced the master payroll for 39 persons enrolled on the “National Empowerment Placement Programme” for Long Island, which was tabled in Parliament.

“Can you imagine that, Mr Speaker?” Mr Gibson asked. “A candidate, and a Ministry of Finance officer handpicking whom he desires to employ, notwithstanding the fact that he himself had not yet received a single vote.

“How does one justify the $734,351.20 per month of salaries from the public purse?” he asked. “As it stands, none of these 39 persons have letters of ap-

ADRIAN GIBSON, pictured during campaigning in Long Island. He claimed yesterday that 39 people were hired by the PLP govt in the election run-up. pointments, and heads of government offices tell me that they were afraid of victimisation and had to accept this.

“So now you have respective departments overloaded. I have spoken to department heads. There’s no written evidence of any hirings that was authorised by a permanent secretary or director. “…Mr Speaker, this was a clear intent of influencing the electorate,” Mr Gibson said. “The public purse was clearly used as a piggy bank to influence the results.

This is one of the most egregious examples of an abuse of the public purse.”

In response, Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin, former minister of transport and aviation, denied the claims, asserting that while those persons “might have been posted at the air-

port”, they would not have been hired to work as security guards “in the absence of proper training”.

“There is no officer that was hired by the Department of Civil Aviation or any aviation entity to work at the airport within days of the election,” she said. “What the member laid in this Parliament does not support what he has asserted. What he laid was that people were hired under a job programme and were posted at varied places.

That’s not what he told this Parliament.”

Mrs Hanna Martin said that security officers hired to work at any airport in The Bahamas would only be “people who are trained and vetted” by the relevant officials and persons who are “trained to operate in a specific way in this country at ports of entry”. “…They would not have

GALANIS BACKS DAVIS AND SAYS SOME MINISTERS SHOULD NEVER RETURN

By KHRISNA VIRGIL Deputy Chief Reporter kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THERE are certain former Progressive Liberal Party Cabinet ministers who should never be allowed to hold an office in the PLP or return to front line politics on the party’s ticket, as these persons were instrumental in the organisation’s crippling defeat in the 2017 general election, according to former MP Philip Galanis yesterday.

Together, Mr Galanis said, these former politicians showed arrogance and helped cause the PLP to be characterised as corrupt and detached from the people who voted them to office.

While he would not name to whom he referred, Mr Galanis told The Tribune that under the PLP’s watch there were several scandals and key mistakes, including the issue of privilege which arose after former Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald read private citizens’ personal emails in Parliament.

Other controversies were the handling of the Rubis gas leak in Marathon where Mr Fitzgerald was the MP, and the revelation that the Bahamas ambassador to China had proposed a $2.1 billion agri-fisheries deal for Andros with Chinese investors. Former Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister V Alfred Gray admitted last year that he gave the Bahamas Embassy in China the go-ahead to discuss this controversial

proposal with Chinese investors.

But now that these issues are behind the PLP, Mr Galanis said he believes Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis is best suited to lead the PLP and restore it to a party with appeal to Bahamians.

He said: “I think that of the persons in the House right now, given his longstanding history in the party and also given the fact that he served right next to the former leader, I think he has what it takes to reform the party and help us to reengineer ourselves so that we could become more relevant to Bahamians. I believe that of all the persons in Parliament that he is best suited.

“I think he won the deputy leadership by a significant majority. He has conducted himself in a manner that has been transparent in most cases. He has assisted a lot of people both PLP, FNMs and independents and those who weren’t necessarily aligned to the party. He is always willing to listen. He doesn’t make promises that are idle and I think, as I said, he really stands head and shoulders above all of the others who are there.

“That he won his seat, I think is a manifestation of the fact that persons in his constituency felt that he was worthy of being returned although many of the people who were there previously and who sat around the table with him did not live up to that expectation.

“So I am fully supportive of Mr Davis. I think he

needs to be given a chance.

Whether or not he takes us into elections in 2022, I think that’s a long, long time away and it’s hard to say whether or not anyone in Parliament now will emerge as the most likely person to succeed because we are just so far away from that.”

Asked to point out what caused the party to lose the election, Mr Galanis said there were far too many key mistakes and a lack of transparency.

“I am talking about (former) Cabinet ministers. We know who they are and they know who they are. They know what damage they did to the party and I hope we see their backs and we don’t ever see them in front line politics ever again because they don’t deserve to be,” Mr Galanis said.

Before the election, The Tribune revealed that Mr Fitzgerald unsuccessfully sought lucrative contracts for his family’s business from Baha Mar developer Sarkis Izmirlian.

Also shortly before the election, it was revealed that former Minister of Labour Shane Gibson had received tens of thousands of dollars from Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard between August 2011 and January 2013. The payments, made to a US bank account, totalled $94,131.10.

In his defence, Mr Gibson said the money was used as a contribution to his 2012 election campaign and for community initiatives in the Golden Gates constituency such as scholarships to students.

been deployed as airport security officers in the absence of proper training,” she added. “They might have been posted at the airport, but they would not have been engaged as airport security officers, and what the member has laid before this Parliament does not support his assertion.”

In April, Mr Rolle denied claims made by former Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner that he and the PLP had “hand-picked” nearly 30 people out of the constituency for new employment opportunities in an attempt to attract sup-

port on the island.

Earlier that month, Mrs Butler-Turner blasted the Christie administration over the reported launch of a jobs programme in

her former constituency, claiming at the time that 28 people were handpicked for new employment as the election was approaching.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

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‘Brave’ Davis ‘witch hunt’ claim IN the House of Assembly, former deputy prime minister Philip “Brave” Davis, who now leads an Opposition of three, seemed to have left his memory at the door when he entered the chamber last week.

He rose to his feet, pulled himself up to the full height of his small stature, and declared that there were apparent signs that the Minnis administration was on a “wholesale witch hunt”. The victim this time was apparently Ms Agatha Marcelle, executive director of the National Training Agency. Ms Marcelle has spent almost a lifetime in public service, and in 2002 was elected an MP for the South Beach constituency. She has a credible record of public service and a good academic background.

However, over the years she has kept a low profile and so none of us at The Tribune knew much about her or had heard any report of her being “witchhunted” from her office — the suggestion being that she was to be victimised because of her politics. And so a reporter was quickly assigned to check on the condition of Ms Marcelle.

However, the reporter was unable to speak with her, because although she has completed her government contract, she was at the time of the telephone call in a board meeting and still on the job. Up to this morning, she was still on the job. So whether she is now retiring from public service, or not being rehired by the Minnis government is not clear.

But, whatever it is, it does not seem that she is being rushed from her office.

Mr Davis was later interviewed by reporters after the morning session of the Assembly. He told them that if in fact Ms Marcelle was being relieved of her duties it would be an “egregious act, because she is a talented person who has led the agency from its inception. She would have institutional knowledge. She has done such a wonderful job there and it would be quite a shame that this government will rob the institution of such a talent.”

However, Mr Davis’s loss of memory has allowed him to forget that in 2012 when his PLP government took over the administration, Freeport in fact was denied the services of another talented lady and this time no one made any bones about it — it was indeed because she was FNM and not PLP. As with many

PLP appointments seldom have they been based on ability. As long as one is a card-carrying PLP — academic achievements or experience do not count — being PLP is sufficient qualifications for a government appointment. Mediocrity has always been pandered to, ending up with persons in positions for which they are not qualified. No wonder The Bahamas is in such a downtrodden state.

It won’t be long now before we have a lot of information coming out of Freeport about the administration of Urban Renewal.

When the PLP won the government in 2012, Ms Tirzah Carey headed Urban Renewal and from what we understand, not only was she qualified for the post, but was doing a commendable job. Ms Carey at the time of her appointment was a graduate of Barry University in Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in social work. By then, she had had 15 years experience as a welfare officer in the Department of Social Services and the Grand Bahama Probation Department. From 2008 to 2012, she had successfully managed seven Urban Renewal centres with a staff of 30 during which time she developed community-based programmes for seniors, youth and the unemployed. Space will not allow the inclusion of all of her achievements. However, she did not have the most important qualification of all – she was not PLP. And so, without ceremony on the arrival of the Christie government, Ms Carey was removed and replaced by Ms Michelle Reckley, a cook. Ms Reckley might be an excellent chef, but when asked by The Tribune what made her think she was qualified for her new job, we got the glib reply that because she “lived urban” she was fully qualified to head Urban Renewal.

Since then, all we have heard in the past five years have been bitter complaints about “Miss Urban”. She has now been suspended from her position by the FNM government. Maybe, Mr Davis can explain her appointment. It would seem that the PLP, knowing that she did to have the required qualifications for the position, set her up for failure. Maybe, Mr Davis is the one who should be explaining her failure. From what we hear from Freeport, we do not think that this is the end of the Urban Renewal story.

Wishing for some bare cupboards?

EDITOR, the Tribune.

PLEASE publish this open letter to Mr Chester Cooper, PLP MP for Exuma, Mr Chester Cooper: I read with amusement a news item in which you likened the FNM Government’s position to “bare cupboards,” and being “broke” and “unemployed” in what sounded like a jeering tone.

While reading the front page story, I thought about the fact that I resigned from the Public Service nine months ago in utter disgust!

I also thought about how the political party that you are a part of used nasty delay tactics to hinder the payment of the gratuity and salary arrears that the Government of The Bahamas owes to me.

Perhaps, your political party was wishing for bare

cupboards. Mr Cooper, be careful what you wish for.

I will discover shortly whether the present Government is any better.

While continuing to read the news item, I thought about the PLP Government’s investment of National Insurance Board funds in an insurance company whose stock value in my opinion could no longer be deceitfully inflated.

The flailing company was placed on life support with an injection of ten million dollars from the National Insurance Board. The injection was labeled “an investment”.

Mr Cooper, would the Office of the Opposition in the Bahamas House of Assembly investigate whether the ten-million-dollar investment yielded any subsequent bona fide returns after some five years.

Further, Mr Cooper,

would the Office of the Opposition inform the Bahamian public of any additional investments that the previous Government injected into that same insurance company from the Public Purse in the name of “investment”?

Also, Mr Cooper, would you advise aspiring entrepreneurs in The Bahamas on how not to procure vicariously from the Public Treasury via the National Insurance Fund and Bank of The Bahamas in the name of “investment”.

And finally, Mr Cooper, would you advise the public on how not to loot the Public Treasury for the purpose of pretending to be “somebody”.

Very sincerely, AVA M. CARGILLCAMPBELL (Mrs.) Nassau, June 13, 2017.

Oh Cat Island, can you hear me?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE historical aspect of Cat Island culture is not readily apparent, even with the brief outlines presented in the touristic flyers.

Visitors are expected to find their own way around the sites of plantation ruins and surmise their own story of how the planters arrived, set up their operations, and eventually failed.

Included in this would be the remains of a portion of the old railway used for the transport of the harvested and processed sisal from the plantings to the waiting vessels off the deep water Atlantic coast.

Also remaining are the rock walled pans in the salinas where at one time the salt water was evaporated by the sun to leave the sea salt deposits for raking and harvesting for sale.

It was not until I returned to Abaco did I read about the very significant impact made by Father Jerome on the religious aspect (Tribune weekend supplements), with construction of many churches throughout the island, all showing his distinctive architectural style and use of native stone.

The hermitage on top of Como Hill (Mount Alvernia) is his most visual achievement, where he eventually retired and tried to live in total seclusion with his God. The expression of the Rake and Scrape and associated dance of Quadrille and others, inherited by the people from the planters is nowhere to be found, unless searched for by talking to the local people. Then it comes to light, but only

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net in the memories of stories handed down from previous generations to great grandmothers of the now active members of the community, who talk with nostalgia of this aspect of their culture. In all I was shocked to find that no profile of this is actively presented to the visitor.

Cat Island has a wealth of history and culture waiting on the sidelines to be exposed and understood.

This should be taken advantage of because cultural and ecological tourism is becoming more and more sought after by both the international and Bahamian visitor to the island.

For example, I only found out in discussion with a senior member of the National Trust that Fernandez Bay is (to be?) designated a protected area in order to preserve the fauna and flora (marine included) of the area. It is interesting to note that the descendants of the now ruined Armbrister Estate have developed the Fernandez Bay resort at the site, complete with the traditional thatched roofing done by a local craftsman still expert in this style of craftsmanship.

Every effort needs to made to showcase these aspects of Cat Island and must include all of the traditions handed down from previous generations, including the churches extant today, and the slash and burn agriculture practised throughout the island. The religious

culture even dictates that all local business is closed on a Sunday, except of course, the churches.

It is incumbent that local communities, councils, administrators contribute to this, with the assistance of the Bahamas National Trust, Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Monuments, Ministry of Education and Culture. Developing a package which is well researched, documented, and physically expressed will do wonders for the tourism of the island.

For example, the Deveaux Estate could be partially restored and demonstrations and shows of a bygone era, accompanied by a sound and light performance,and costume, would do wonders to educate and instruct both the foreign and the local visitor.

Travellers would leave the island that much wealthier in knowledge, accompanied by local craftwork such as straw products, jewellery, cane juice, sugared cassava sweets, for example.

Ecological tours and bird watching would do the same for its natural history.

Meanwhile the people of Cat Island will gain more wealth from exposure to other people, and learn how to welcome the visitor; all while proudly exposing a culture and a history which up to now remains hidden in the past.

As an aside, this theme could be used in other island promotions throughout the archipelago.

JOHN HEDDEN Abaco, June 13, 2017.

Post service EDITOR, The Tribune

I RECENTLY wrote to the your paper about the disgraceful mail service we have been receiving.

Today I went to the post and had a total of 14 locally

mailed letters which were postmarked between the 2nd and 11th of May. Every one took over one month to be delivered. This is outrageous and totally unacceptable.

I would encourage the Minister to take the ap-

propriate action since the person(s) in charge are apparently unable or unwilling to do anything about it.

MIKE LIGHTBOURN Nassau, June 13, 2017.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 14, 2017, PAGE 5

Pilot project for unified bus system expected to be launched ‘shortly’

By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net THREE companies have responded to a request for proposals to manage the pilot project for a unified busing system in New Providence, with this project expected to commence “shortly,” Transport and Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell has said.

Mr Campbell, during his recent contribution to the budget debate, said his ministry, along with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is financing the project, will “soon engage” in “discussions with respect to the identification of the company selected to move the

project forward.”

Mr Campbell also said revisions to the country’s Road Traffic Act are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and that officials in his ministry are currently examining the bill “with a view to providing additional information to complete the final draft”.

The Southern Shores MP also said that the Law Reform Commission is simultaneously “reorganising” the amended bill to “ensure that it is easy to follow by all users.”

Regarding the unified busing system, Mr Campbell’s statements confirm that the number of respondents to the RFP has increased by one.

In February, senior of-

ficials in the Ministry of Transport told The Tribune that the ministry had sent out RFPs to five firms for the provision of “oversight” of the unified busing system, and were in the process of analysing the responses of the two firms that “indicated a desire to participate”.

“The Ministry of Transport via the IDB published terms of reference for interested companies to submit expression of interest in managing the day-to-day operation of the pilot programme,” Mr Campbell said on Monday.

“Three companies have responded and the ministry and the IDB are soon to engage in discussions with respect to the identification of the company se-

lected to move the project forward.”

He added: “This is a project that we would have met in place, and I’m prepared to advance with this project. I would have indicated the persons that I’ve spoken with thus far, is that my only apprehension is ensuring that all stakeholders, including franchise owners, bus drivers and the passengers have had an opportunity to have a say.”

Turning his attention to the current Road Traffic Act, Mr Campbell said amendments to that piece of legislation are expected to be completed “by the end of” 2017.

He also said that once completed, the new Road Traffic Act will be more de-

tailed than the former and will be accompanied by new features that will “improve road safety and the efficiency of road traffic matters”.

“The new legislation seeks to address all of the mentioned issues and will provide a modern framework for ground transportation, both public and private, so as to promote order and enhance safety on the streets of New Providence and indeed The Bahamas,” he added.

The proposed unification of the public bus system is part of the New Providence Road Improvement Programme (NPRIP), funded by the IDB, which also involved the upgrading of New Providence’s road network.

The project, which is be-

ing financed by $500,000 from the IDB, and an additional $230,000 from the Ministry of Finance, is an attempt to encourage jitney operators and franchise holders to take the next step towards reform, and overcome what appears to be entrenched stakeholder resistance.

An IDB paper, obtained

by Tribune Business in the early part of last year, revealed that little progress towards practical jitney/bus industry reform has been made despite numerous reports and studies being presented to the government, some of which date back to 1992.

According to the IDB, around 280 buses serve the Bahamian people on 23 different routes.

MINISTER: TIME TO ‘GET SERIOUS’ ON JET SKI RULES from page one

Shortly after his interview with The Tribune, a statement released by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation said “combined efforts by the public and private sectors will be stepped up to ensure that our visitors can enjoy our water sports attractions without fear for their safety or well being.”

The statement said the Ministry of Tourism is committed to working with the Ministry of Transport “to take extreme measures to implement stringent regulations for the water sports industry.”

Meanwhile, Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune he would look to meet with both National Security Minister Marvin Dames and Transport and Aviation Minister Frankie Campbell in the next 24 to 48 hours on the matter.

“Everyone in the sector is worried when we see and hear of reports of this nature,” the tourism minister said. “While it is still an alleged incident, we have been down this road before and had issues of this nature before.

“We are fooling ourselves if we are not ready to get serious on the issue because we all know what tourism means to this country. It behooves this government, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of National Security to form a concrete plan once and for all because we are literally, and I mean literally, risking our economy when matters

MINISTER of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar. of this nature arise.

“We cannot let a group of individuals that operate on our beaches jeopardise the safety and security of our people and our visitors. That is a stain on the image of The Bahamas, one that we cannot risk. We will develop a plan that will involve a lot more oversight.

There needs to be more control on who has the privilege and right to service our guests,” Mr D’Aguilar told The Tribune.

He said his office intends to work with Paradise Island officials to erect the “necessary and essential” signage around the area to

“better inform” visitors on what they may meet there.

He also mentioned plans to increase security and police presence in areas where visitors frequent and occupy.

On Monday, police said a Canadian woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a Jet Ski operator. The incident took place shortly after 1.30pm on a cay near Cabbage Beach.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said the victim alleged that a male Jet Ski operator took her on a ride from Cabbage Beach to Athol Island off Paradise Island where he allegedly

sexually assaulted her.

Police said the man returned the woman to Cabbage Beach. He was arrested a short time later.

Claims of sexual assault and other offences against tourists have plagued the tourism industry in recent years.

In 2016, The Cove at Atlantis warned its guests against renting Jet Skis on Cabbage Beach, adding that doing so is “at your own risk.”

A copy of a letter to guests of The Cove noted: “We are also concerned about your safety and security and are therefore obli-

gated to bring to your attention a matter related to the use of the beach.”

The letter told guests that water sports operators are not associated with the hotel and their industry is “minimally regulated.”

In March of this year, the US Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) cautioned US citizens travelling to The Bahamas for spring break to “avoid Jet Ski operators” because these individuals “continue to commit sexual assaults and other crimes against tourists, including US citizens.”

The OSAC also cautioned US Embassy personnel not to use Jet Ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Island, including Cabbage Beach and Cable Beach. The department also “strongly” recommended they “avoid patronising Jet Ski rental operations”.

Last year, a 29-year-old Jet Ski operator was remanded to prison without bail after being charged with the sexual assault of a 24-year-old woman on Athol Island sometime on Saturday, January 2, 2016.

As a result of that incident, the US Embassy in Nassau also “prohibited” its employees from using Jet Ski rentals in Nassau.

In December 2015, police arrested a Jet Ski operator in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a female visitor. That incident allegedly took place at Cabbage Beach.

In 2014, an American woman claimed she had developed post-traumatic

stress disorder following an encounter near Paradise Island with Jet Ski operators who allegedly tried to sexually assault her.

Oversight Asked what he thought needed to be done with the industry, Mr D’Aguilar called for more “responsibility and onus” on the part of operators in the industry.

He stated: “They are aware of what the industry means to them and their family. This is their livelihood and they are this country’s first line of defence in this fight, we need them to do the best job of policing themselves.”

He continued: “Like the government and the ministers respectively, those that manage and operate within this industry, they have to face some level blame if this continues. “(Owners) are doing the hiring. Why aren’t they checking the backgrounds of the people they are employing? Why aren’t they ensuring that their businesses are in better hands?

This is absolutely reprehensible.

“I’m not calling for the end of this industry. I am of the view that this sector can operate, but there has to be more oversight and management by all involved. There needs to be a regime in place to ensure that when people go out on the beaches and in to environments in this country, that they are not walking into the Wild West.

“We need to get a handle on this now, not later,” he said.

MONEY MISSING IN BPL THEFT RISES TO $3M from page one Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said while police have not made any arrests to date, “there is no doubt that someone will be charged.”

“This is not a matter where we just go in and pick up people,” ACP Fernander said.

“We are doing a lot of background work on these employees and so when we target individuals based on what we gather, the case will be well thought out.

The investigation is still very much ongoing. “They are still doing some things at the corporation so I cannot confirm at this time what the total figure is that is missing. There is still a line of inquiry going on and that has to be concluded before we start bringing people in. When that is done, then you will see a number of persons being brought in for questioning. I am sure it is coming, there is no two ways about that.”

Last month, four BPL employees were suspended and one person was terminated pending the outcome of the theft investigation.

Employees were accused of “orchestrating an elaborate scheme” over the course of one year, that allegedly involved fake companies and forged cheques.

Allegedly at least one bank employee was also involved in the plot and is being investigated, a source told The Tribune.

“BPL uses external vendors frequently,” a source told The Tribune last month. “What we understand is that the employees are accused of sending in invoices from fake companies, getting a cheque for the amount and then using someone in the bank to cash the cheques.

“This is an elaborate

scheme that has been going on for almost a year, that we know of,” the source said.

Last month, President of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union Paul Maynard said “there will be hell to pay” if his union members remain on suspension during the investigation, while managers at the power company “go unscathed.”

Mr Maynard said he will not stand by and let his members be railroaded when those of higher rank, whom he claims are alleg-

edly the only ones who have access to the funds in question, remain at work.

He also previously demanded that BPL hire a forensic accountant from

outside the power company because “rats cannot investigate rats”.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

BELL: TERROR-LIKE THREATS MAKE SCRAPPING NIA A GRAVE MISTAKE

from page one

Mr Bell avoided discussing either the threats he said The Bahamas has faced or the evidence he said proves the NIA’s importance.

“I hope the minister and the prime minister and the attorney general would have had a very strong and sober meeting in which the law enforcement agencies indicated to all of them the reality which the country is facing,” he said.

For years, the Christie administration was criticised for forming the NIA without accompanying legislation.

While officials in the former administration often suggested that in the absence of legislation, the NIA played a useful but benign role in the country’s law enforcement system, Mr Bell struck a different tone when discussing the role of the agency yesterday, claiming it was critical in helping The Bahamas respond to terrorism-like threats. Indeed, he said the NIA was focused on international

FORMER State National Security Minister Keith Bell. crimes related to terrorism and not more typical domestic crime matters.

“We’ve had enough threats to cause us to move into action at times,” he said.

“I cannot disclose the threats in the interest of national security but I’m sure the minister and the prime minister have been briefed properly.

If not, then I am prepared in the interest of national security to brief them.”

When contacted, Mr Dames said yesterday that he is satisfied after a thorough review of the matter that there was no meaningful “connectivity” between

the NIA and the wider law enforcement community.

“We couldn’t justify its existence,” Mr Dames told The Tribune. “We don’t want a situation in this small country of ours where you have units operating and there is no co-ordination and partnership because that lends to all sorts of stuff.”

However, Mr Bell suggested that one threat The Bahamas faces comes from criminals deported here from the United States.

“They come back with a variety of expertise,” he said.

“There are criminals in our

midst who have been trained in all kinds of sophisticated weapons, some even trained by the US military.

“I’m very concerned that given what’s going on around us and around the world, the government would appear to just come into office a few weeks ago and arbitrarily end this. When you stop something, it’s more difficult to start it again and get the momentum and drive that it takes. It’s always better to work in a state of preparedness. Every country that has experienced these major incidents, it’s better to prepare and given the climate of what’s going on in the region, we know too well that what we started was a good thing.”

When asked why the former administration failed to bring legislation governing the NIA if the agency was so important, Mr Bell said the Christie-led government wanted to get the legislation right and spent time benchmarking it against other ones in the region.

He also suggested that because of the criticism the former administration faced over the NIA, the previous government want-

ed to make sure it got the timing of tabling the legislation right.

He insisted that the methods the NIA used to collect intelligence were legal, even as he refused to discuss the nature of those methods.

“None of the actions I’m aware of would’ve required legislation to make them lawful,” he said. “They exercised authority that existed under existing legislation.

The defence force officers were empowered to act under the Defence Act, for instance; police were empowered to conduct searches under the Police Act; the commissioner had powers under the Listening Devices Act to authorise the interception of communications if necessary; the NIA was an amalgamation of authorities and powers already existent in the country.”

For some time, former Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Commodore Clifford Scavella headed the NIA. After he stepped down, he was replaced by a lieutenant in the defence force, Mr Bell said.

“The individual we had

EX-SPEAKER IS SURPRISED AT END TO APPEAL from page one

He was responding to statements by attorney Wayne Munroe, who forecast that the government’s handling of judicial matters involving the group will be the first test of the new administration’s commitment to transparency.

Mr Smith said: “On behalf of Save The Bays, I categorically deny that Save The Bays has made any political donations to anybody and it is a political mischief on behalf of Mr Munroe to say such things when he knows it to be otherwise.

“Save The Bays is a nonpartisan organisation that promotes reform in society and is in no way affiliated with any political party.

There is therefore nothing for Save The Bays or the FNM party to explain to the public, except to make the record clear that there were no political contributions to the FNM party or

any candidate.”

Mr Smith continued: “As to me personally, my personal decision to make a financial political donation should not be mischievously conflated or mixed up with Save The Bays. I feel that his comments are purposefully mixing up Save The Bays with the personal or otherwise arrangement Fred Smith might make for political donations. So, I want the record to be absolutely clear that Save The Bays has made no political donations to any campaign.”

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr Munroe, QC, called on the government to disclose whether any Cabinet minister had benefitted from contributions from the group, and if so, to explain the nature of the contribution and whether it constituted a conflict of interest.

Mr Munroe added that the test applied to matters concerning affiliated groups like the Grand Bahama Human Rights Asso-

ciation, of which many STB directors also hold executive posts.

Mr Smith is the president of the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association, and its vice-president Joseph Darville is the chairman of STB. The environmental group has four sets of judicial review proceedings in relation to alleged unauthorised construction and Crown land reclamation activities of Lyford Cay fashion mogul Peter Nygard at Nygard Cay, and the failure of the government to take appropriate action, including the prime minister, deputy prime minister, the Town Planning Committee, the director of physical planning and others.

Additionally, several STB directors and a pastor are plaintiffs in the murderfor-hire lawsuit filed against Mr Nygard and his lawyer, Keod Smith last year.

The lawsuit ignited controversy over whether FNM

executives were involved in the murder-for-hire lawsuit waged against Mr Nygard, who has billed himself as a major financial supporter of the Progressive Liberal Party.

Marathon MP and Minister of Environment Romauld Ferreira, who previously served as a director for Save The Bays but stepped down from the post before the general election, is a plaintiff in the matter.

Mr Ferreira was also part of a petition filed last year by the GBHRA to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which requested that the Bahamas government adopt precautionary measures to prevent irreparable harm to their lives.

Mr Smith told The Tribune that he had not spoken with Mr Ferreira about the case since the May 10 election and did not know whether the latter planned to continue as a plaintiff given his new ministerial

portfolio.

Marco City MP and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard resigned as FNM senator and chairman last year, after it emerged that he was involved in the investigation of the alleged murder plot connected to Mr Nygard.

Mr Pintard maintained that his resignation was “not an admission of guilt”, but rather he did not want the FNM “to be distracted in our effort to defeat an incompetent and unethical government.”

On the day of Mr Pintard’s resignation, Dr Minnis revealed to The Tribune that he had met with one of the key witnesses of the case, Livingston “Toggie” Bullard, on several occasions at his home. Dr Minnis said the two did not discuss Mr Nygard, but added that the man did tell him that he had a warning for Mr Pintard.

Dr Minnis was adamant that he did not know of

SAVE THE BAYS ‘GAVE NOTHING TO THE FNM’

from page one

He said he was looking forward to the result of the status hearing on June 26 when the government is expected to give formal notice of its intent to drop the appeal, and a final decision is made on the matter.

“I’m surprised,” Dr Ma-

jor said, “it raised some eyebrows. I’d like to see the result of the status hearing.

“I think I understand the concerns of the public, of even the plaintiffs and the House at the time tried to address it with my explanation that the House must be able to govern itself and police itself in order to protect the public in the future, rec-

ognising that what was done was done in error.

“However this is a matter that perhaps does good for the jurisprudence for it to extend beyond the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal, and then to the Privy Council so it could be fully aired and documented and so that [the judgement] is the precedent to be used go-

ing forward. Regardless of the outcome, for either side, academically it does justice for both jurisprudence and parliamentary privilege. You can’t just take a single judge on this, another judge may have the same ruling but a different explanation, another may have a different ruling with a different explanation.”

He added: “When I look at the nuances and the angle the judge took, it ought to be looked at by a group of judges and then let’s open discussion on it.”

Supreme Court Justice Indra Charles ruled last year that then-Marathon MP and Cabinet minister Jerome Fitzgerald could not be protected by parliamentary privilege, and ordered him to pay $150,000 in damages for the breach – a decision the former Marathon MP contended was made in error because he was “at

all times acting in the public interest.”

The matter stemmed from Mr Fitzgerald’s tabling in Parliament of the private emails of the environmental action group Save The Bays.

Attorney General Carl Bethel stated that he made the decision to drop the case after discussions with counsel, and a full consideration of the costs associated with a full hearing.

Save The Bays’ lawsuit filed by the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay was made against the government; however, Mr Bethel would not confirm whether the Public Treasury would be paying the $150,000 fine imposed by the Supreme Court.

Mr Fitzgerald has indicated that he would not be making a private appeal.

In the House of Assem-

heading the centre was one of the persons trained by the regional intelligence centre for a number of years,” he said. “He was a highly trained individual. He could tell of the very real threats the nation faced. They are not things you want to talk about and can talk about, but citizens expect the ministry and the minister to protect them.”

Mr Bell said the NIA did not require legislation to function.

“The lack of legislation did not prohibit it from operating in a way that would be beneficial,” he said. “It’s not the first agency where legislation comes behind.

The forensic lab in the police force; the explosions and technicians unit in the police force formed some time ago are other examples.”

He added: “I think (the administration is) making a grave mistake given what’s going on around us. My humble suggestion would be to continue building on what we started and quickly review the legislation because it’s finished.”

the allegations against Mr Nygard until The Tribune published them in March 2016.

In March last year, Mr Ferreira stated that he was not being financially compensated in his capacity as a director with the environmental group, adding that any earnings from STB came as a result of legal work done for the organisation.

Mr Ferreira said as far as he knew, none of the organisation’s directors were receiving salaries for their posts.

At the time, State Minister for the Public Service and National Insurance Brensil Rolle, then acting FNM chairman, said he was unsure whether the party had received money from the environmental lobby group but noted the party did receive a donation from the law firm of one of its top directors, Callenders & Co. Mr Smith is a managing partner at Callenders & Co.

bly on Monday, Official Opposition Leader Philip “Brave” Davis suggested that this decision was made as a favour to STB legal director Fred Smith for his financial contributions to the governing Free National Movement (FNM).

Mr Davis argued that his privilege as a member of Parliament had been “egregiously” breached by the government’s action, as he called on House Speaker D Halson Moultrie to investigate the matter.

However, Mr Smith yesterday called this argument a “red herring,” insisting that the organisation’s case argued that Mr Fitzgerald’s communication was made on behalf of Cabinet and the government. As such, Mr Smith underscored the court did not deprive members of Parliament of their parliamentary privilege.

BAHAMAS RANKS HIGH FOR TOLERANCE OF VIOLENCE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN from page one

It also noted: “Tolerance for hitting a woman is higher if she is unfaithful; one in three Caribbean residents would approve or understand — 39 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women— in this scenario.

“Acceptance is highest in Suriname where nearly half, 46.5 per cent, of adults would approve of or understand hitting a woman under these circumstances.

Again, Caribbean adults were significantly more likely than were Latin Americans to tolerate violence against women if she is unfaithful, 5.7 percentage-point difference. Outright approval was highest in Guyana, 10.2 per cent, Suriname, 8.3 per cent, and

The Bahamas, 7.7 per cent.”

Other countries included in the study included Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Latin America.

In response to the question of whether to correct a child who misbehaves was it necessary to hit or physically punish a child, more than 70 per cent of Bahamians said it was “always” or “most often” or “sometimes” necessary.

Nearly 80 per cent of Bahamians said they had “always,” “most often” or “sometimes” been hit or physically punished as a child to correct bad behaviour.

The report said the impact of violence on different gender groups (men, women, boys, and girls) is still understudied particularly in contexts—such as

those of many Caribbean countries — characterised by high levels of urban violence. In these contexts, emphasis is often placed on homicide and violent criminal activity, which have predominantly male victims.

However, women and children suffer disproportionately from different kinds of violence than adult men—including intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, family violence, and child abuse, the report said.

It also noted that nearly one in three women in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region will experience violence in her lifetime, typically at the hands of an intimate partner.

The report is available on the IDB’s website.

PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Our votes are not the only way we can use our voices T

HE past few years in The Bahamas have given us many things to think about. Our dissatisfaction mounting, too many of us found ourselves unable to act.

Members of Parliament did not disclose, and we were outraged. We made the time and effort to vote in the gambling opinion poll — which was framed as a referendum — only to be ignored and disrespected.

There was resolve to get rid of the PLP administration and desire for more participatory governance.

There was anger and disappointment. We must figure out how to move beyond it to make progress and demand better of our representatives. It is critical that we activate and assert our citizenship outside of election season, and recognise its power on any given day.

We are underutilising our citizenship. Our conversations about citizenship are often limited to passports and work visas, seldom delving into the properties of citizenship and its direct link to government and governance.

Citizenship, at its best, is not passive. It is not wearing the title “Bahamian” and having a passport declaring our relationship with the country. It is not even at its peak when we cast our ballots every five years to elect representatives and, subsequently, the leader of the country.

Citizens have the right to live, receive an education, work, and vote here.

Those things come along with citizenship, but they are not the beginning and the end.

What are the responsibilities of a citizen? What are the things we should be doing to both honour and fully exercise our citizenship?

It is our duty to participate in Bahamian democracy, to monitor the work (or lack thereof) of our elected (and paid) officials, to engage one another on issues of national concern, and to

A VOTE No parade at the time of the gaming referendum last year. Voters said no to both a national lottery and the regulation and taxation of webshops in the vote, but the government went ahead with legalising webshops.

agitate for the changes we need.

Regardless of how our representatives would like to posture and feign unmitigated authority, it is our duty to question. We have to challenge the systems that do not work for us, and those that are being abused to such an extent that any supposed benefit is lost on us or pales in comparison to the perks they afford to the privileged. We have to pay attention. We need to be prepared to speak open-

ly about what we see and hear, and to make recommendations for Bahamian citizens as a collective to respond.

What can citizens do, from the ground, to effect change?

Politicians benefit from the popular idea that they are in charge. They have led us to believe that we elect them to lead and make decisions for us. They depend on our laziness and willingness to pass off our duties as citizens, allowing

them to do as they wish.

In truth, we are their employers, and their job is to represent us. Our issues should be at the front of their minds, and potential solutions should be rolling off their tongues.

Unfortunately, too many of us cast our votes and almost immediately disengage, content that someone else will deal with the running of the country. Some of us are busy, some of us are tired, and some of us are just not interested enough.

For those of us who care about our country and its future, it is imperative that we remain alert, communicative, and ready to act.

There is a broad range of actions any citizen can take to protest, change, and create. We know our challenges, and we hold the solutions. In recent years, we

have become more willing sources in limited supply, to share needs, experiences, especially for nonprofit iniand ideas. We communicate tiatives. We ask ourselves in a variety of ways, from why anyone would give the sometimes freely of these incisive, some- Unfortunately, resources, and times enlighthow long it too many of us ening letter to will take for the editor to cast our votes them to be the hilariously and almost bought (as we relatable and may have seen catchy song. immediately recently).

We are crea- disengage, content Another tive people, that someone else major roadconstantly block is the finding new will deal with the divisiveness ways to raise running of the that inevitably issues, share country. Some of comes from knowledge, difference in and invite peo- us are busy, some identity or ple to the con- of us are tired, opinion, comversation. deand some of us are pletely Talk radio tracting from has given us just not interested the shared vispace to think enough. sion. aloud, hear Theoreticalfrom fellow ly, many of us Bahamians, and form opin- want the same things, but ions that need not depend are prepared to forgo rights solely on our individual to ensure that someone experiences. We now have else does not gain access to access to the realities of those (or other) rights (as people we do not know, we saw in the June 2016 refand may not even know of erendum). if we did not hear them on There is tremendous the radio, telling their own value in the conversations stories. we have on a daily basis on We have spent years radio talk shows, Facebook, honing and exercising the- and themed panels and ses skills, and desperately fora. need to get to the next We head-nod, clap, and step. Some of the easiest like each other’s comments, things we think to do are and sometimes dive right writing letters to news- into actions like petitions paper editors, calling in and protests. Collective to radio talk shows, and action must come, but all share our thoughts on so- participating citizens need cial media. to understand why we are How do we move from there, together, despite difconversation to collective ference. This requires a action? shared vision. There must Social media — specifi- be something we can all cally Facebook — has taken agree on, commit to workus beyond one-way com- ing toward, and recognise munication. It allows us as more importance than to organise ourselves into differences in identity and groups and discuss issues personality. We must shift relevant to our shared val- the way we engage one anues. What do we do with the other. perspective we gain from Social media can be a this? How do our positions tool for organising, but it’s change based on new infor- up to us to drive the convermation? sation toward indisputable One of the road blocks to consensus that can serve as effective collective action a foundation and driver for is lack of buy-in. This issue citizen-led action. exists for a number of reaLet’s keep the conversasons including lack of trust. tion going, but more meanWe ask ourselves about ul- ingfully and constructively terior motives and question toward action. At some the methods of people we point, we have to put our do not know. True activ- citizenship to work, and ism and advocacy require that means doing sometime, energy, and other re- thing — not just voting.

To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394

PAGE 10, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

CALL FOR REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY COST IN GRAND BAHAMA

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Coalition of Concerned Citizens is calling on the newly elected Minnis administration to intervene in getting the cost of electricity reduced in Grand Bahama to help stimulate the Freeport economy.

Edward Victor, chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens( CCC), indicated that Grand Bahama has the highest electricity base rate in the country which has negatively affected residents, businesses, and hinders potential investment to the island.

“There is a need for immediate action to revitalise and transform the Grand

Bahama economy,” he said in a statement. “The Coalition of Concerned Citizens believes that one of the primary factors needed to revolutionise this economy and the energy sector is to lower the cost of electricity.”

The CCC has been agitating for lower electricity rates for the past several years, holding protests, organising petitions, and boycotts against the Grand Bahama Power Company, which is the sole energy supplier for the island.

Despite the concerns expressed by CCC and other groups, the sector’s regulators at the Grand Bahama Port Authority approved the company’s application for a base rate increase in 2015.

The CCC is calling on the government to intervene in the energy sector by establishing an Independent Regulatory Committee under the oversight of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA).

Mr Victor said that the present regulator is not protecting customers.

The organisation is also asking the government not to renew the East End Agreement and West End Agreement between the Grand Bahama Power Company and the government, which are due to expire in 2018.

“We believe that this represents a critical point to introduce new and additional energy companies to stimu-

late competition and more efficiency for consumers on Grand Bahama island,” Mr Victor said.

The CCC also wants the government to end the monopoly of the Grand Bahama Power Company by allowing another energy provider in Freeport, including West and East Grand Bahama.

Mr Victor said another option is to find a buyer for the existing power company which will partner with the government to provide lower affordable electricity rates.

“We firmly believe that the government acting decisively to reduce the cost of electricity will help to stimulate and transform the economy of Grand Bahama,” he said.

The civic leader stressed that the island’s economy continues to struggle, and has been in a crisis for some time. He noted that the crisis has become more evident since Hurricane Matthew.

Mr Victor said that the job market has further contracted and unemployment has increased.

He claimed that the 2015 rate application for a base rate increase submitted by the Grand Bahama Power Company to the GBPA was approved at a time when the price of oil was plundering the global markets.

“Our coalition mounted an aggressive opposition to stop the further injustice of higher electricity rates placed upon the people and businesses of Grand

Bahama. We were able to get hundreds of citizens to write letters and emails to the Regulatory Committee of the Grand Bahama Port Authority opposing the suggested rate increase,” Mr Victor said.

Mr Victor said the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, hotels, and businesses were also opposed to the proposed increase in the electricity base rate.

“Despite all our efforts and the overwhelming voices from the private and business sector opposing any rate increase, the Regulatory Committee approved the increase in the base rate of electricity,” he stated.

Although contacted, the GBPC did not comment up to press time.

Man guilty of killing his mother misses deadline for appealing his conviction

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net A MAN recently sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for matricide missed his 21-day deadline to contest his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal, The Tribune understands.

Last month, Jerome Butler, 57, appeared before Justice Indra Charles to learn his fate after his lawyer David Cash suggested that he receive a lesser sentence within the 30-60 year range set out by the Court of Appeal in the case authority of Larry Raymond Jones.

Prosecutor Uel Johnson had recommended a 40year penalty for the killing of Butler’s 81-year-old mother, Princess Butler.

Justice Charles, at the May 4 sentencing hearing, found that the mitigating and aggravating circumstances of Butler’s case warranted a sentence of 35 years at the Department of Correctional Services to take effect from the

date of conviction, January 27.

However, the time was reduced to 33 years after the two years spent on remand were taken into account.

Justice Charles further ordered that Butler undergo counselling during his incarceration.

Butler had the right to lodge a challenge against both his conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal within 21 days but an appeal was not filed within time, The Tribune has learned.

As he missed the 21-day deadline for filing an appeal after sentencing, he must first file an extension of time application for permission to be heard on appeal, which could be granted if he is able to convince the court that the challenge is likely to be successful.

Butler stood trial for 10 days in front of Justice Charles concerning the February 4, 2015, murder.

Mrs Butler was found dead in her home at Petersfield Road in High-

bury Park shortly after 8am. An autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxia and as a result of finding facial bruises and internal injuries about her body, police launched an investigation.

Her son was arraigned in Magistrate’s Court 12 days later in connection with the death. He pleaded not guilty to murder when formally arraigned in the Supreme Court three months later.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from Corporal Chris Pickstock who presented photos and videos extracted from a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, allegedly owned by Butler.

According to Cpl Pickstock, the videos and photos were taken on February 4 at 6.30am and 6.34am.

During cross-examination by Mr Cash, Cpl Pickstock acknowledged that there were “a lot” of other videos and photos in the phone.

Crime scene investigator Constable 1800 Levar

Neely said he took photographs of the crime scene on February 10. One of the photographs showed a suspected bloodstain on the bedroom floor, the jury was told.

The jury also heard testimony from Dr Austin Davis, who examined the body and said the initial death certificate indicated that the victim had died of natural causes, as he had found nothing peculiar about the body, except for a bloodstain on the sheet.

Sergeant 527 Basil Evans testified that he had questioned the 57-year-old at the Central Detective Unit on February 12, 2015, concerning his alleged involvement in his mother’s murder.

During his video recorded interview with police, Butler denied suggestions that he had physically attacked his mother and choked her to death because of an argument over money he had spent on his girlfriend.

Mr Johnson and Alicia Delancy prosecuted the case.

JEROME Butler at a previous court appearance.

MURDER TRIAL TO BE DROPPED AFTER SUSPECT IS SHOT DEAD

By LAMECH JOHNSON Tribune Staff Reporter ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MURDER trial is expected to be vacated after the Supreme Court is supplied with the proof that a

man who was awaiting trial for murder was shot dead last month.

In a status hearing before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs yesterday, prosecutor Darnell Dorsett informed the judge that Keno John-

son died on May 12 and that a death certificate would be produced for the court verifying his death as early as Thursday.

Johnson, 32, was awaiting trial in the November 2012 murder of Kyhliliee Wal-

lace.

It was claimed that between November 15 and November 28, 2012, he intentionally caused the death of Wallace, whose partially decomposed body was discovered by police off

Marshall Road on November 28 of that year.

Johnson pleaded not guilty to the murder charge when he was formally arraigned in the Supreme Court in August 2013 and was released on bail three

months later.

A month ago, on May 12, Johnson was found shot and killed while sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle around 12.30am at Whitaker Close off Carmichael Road.

SMITH: SAVE THE BAYS CONSTANTLY DENIGRATED

By DANIELLE BARNES

THE members and supporters of Save the Bays were constantly cast in a negative light and denigrated, the group’s legal director Fred Smith, QC said in a presentation to the Waterkeeper Alliance last Friday.

“The most effective but unwarranted criticism of us was that [we] were a crew of racist elites, depriving people of jobs, obstructing good governance and economic opportunity for ordinary Bahamians,” he said.

During his presentation, Mr Smith addressed the abuse and exploitation of the marine and land environments which he said are severely challenged by pol-

lution, urbanisation and destruction.

Mr Smith also denounced the country’s tourism motto saying “everything is not Better in the Bahamas.”

“The executive branch of the government under the past PLP administration rode roughshod over the rule of law, due process human and environmental rights,” he said.

“Through unregulated development, the executive branch, through the Office of The Prime Minister entered into . . . heads of agreements in which the government gave away hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and Crown land for a pittance in consideration for what they called ‘anchor projects.’”

Mr Smith also said: “The

Bahamas has become littered with the rotting carcasses of white elephant anchor projects.”

He said over the past few years, activists have been thwarted by opponents— ”corrupt politicians and developers” he dubbed as “the exploiters.”

“They discouraged business from coming our way,” he claimed. “No permits, no licences, no approvals.

“They sought to repeal some of the good legislation protecting the environment through planning, development and permitting law.

We were forced to and ran a very successful resistance to the repeal.”

Mr Smith expressed hope that the new Minnis administration would promote good governance.

TOWN HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS BIMINI FUTURE A TOWN hall meeting is set for Thursday in Bimini to review ongoing environmental concerns and map a way forward for the future of the island.

The town hall, organised

by Waterkeeper Bahamas in conjunction with environmental advocacy group Save The Bays, will feature several prominent presenters, including the Pakeisha Parker Edgecombe, MP for West End and Bimini; Save The Bays Director of Legal Affairs Fred Smith, QC; dive master Neal Watson II, and representatives from both the Ministry of Environment and Resorts World Bimini.

The meeting, open to the public, is set for Louise McDonald High School at 7 pm and will include light refreshments.

“Concerns about Bimini’s environment surfaced in 2014 when RAV and Resorts World Bimini (RWB) brought in massive dredging equipment that observers said destroyed some of the world’s most famous coral reefs to make way for a ferry dock to deliver guests from a Florida port right to RWB’s door,” a press release from Save the Bays noted.

“Spokespersons for the resort said the development would provide jobs and boost the Bimini economy.

Environmentalists said the destruction of reefs once teeming with tropical fish was irreparable and the resort could have been built with more attention to Bimini’s famous fishing grounds,” the press release added.

“We have always said

you do not have to choose between the environment and the economy,” said Joe Darville, chairman of Save The Bays. “You can develop with care and by preserving the environment that made that destination desirable to begin with, you can enhance the beauty that nature provided and preserve it for future generations. We are very eager to hear what the good people of Bimini have to say and we are going into this town hall meeting with an open mind and a willingness to assist in compiling ideas and developing a strategy for how best to move this little island with so much underwater beauty forward.”

The town hall will also feature a short video and a public brainstorming session.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 14, 2017, PAGE 11

FROM left, pageant founder/organiser Darold Stubbs; Makel Yallop, Miss Teen Grand Bahama; Hailey Adderley, Miss Teen Grand Bahama International; Sasha Miller, Miss Teen Goodwill Ambassador; and Malik Bowe, Miss Teen Universe/Commonwealth Bahamas, and pageant founder/organiser Dominic Russell.

Photo: Jade Adderley

Winners unveiled as Grand Bahama holds its first Miss Teen pageant

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the lack of sponsorship, the Miss Teen Grand Bahama pageant franchise pulled off its first pageant event in Freeport and officially unveiled its five beauty queens over the weekend.

The event was held at the Grand Lucayan Ballroom on May 21, with some 14 contestants competing – five in the international category and nine in the teen category.

Hailey Adderley, 17, won the title of Miss Teen Grand Bahama International and Makel Yallop won the title of Miss Teen Grand Bahama.

The other three runnerups were also awarded titles: Sasha Miller was crowned Miss Teen Goodwill Ambassador; Ariel Munnings was crowned Miss Teen Grand Bahama Gem, and Malik Bowe was crowned Miss Teen Universe/Commonwealth Grand Bahama.

Pageant organisers Dominic Russell and Darold Stubbs said the Miss Teen Grand Bahama Pageant is new on the pageant scene in Grand Bahama and they encountered difficulty securing sponsors from the community.

“There was a lack of sponsorship and support from the community and local businesses, but we were determined to make it happen, and we thank sponsors such as BTC, and several silent supporters who came forth,” Mr Russell said.

“We feel the franchise will continue and in 2018 when we hope to get more

support because all of the girls are 3.0 students and we would have loved for them to be walking away with a scholarship.”

Mr Russsell said all of the queens are honour students.

“Two of them will be graduating this year with honours, and so if anyone can assist in getting these girls scholarships we would greatly appreciate it,” he said.

“We wanted to introduce them to the public because we are very proud of them and we would like to thank the parents and our family and friends for their support.”

Mr Russell said that Ms Adderley, Ms Yallop, and Ms Bowe were presented with new cell phones, laptops, teeth whitening kits along with makeovers and other prizes.

Ms Adderley, the overall winner of Miss Teen Grand Bahama International, said that competing in the pageant raised her self-esteem.

“Pageantry was a new experience for me. I learned a lot about myself,” she said.

“I was able to build my selfesteem, and my platform is to help other girls who suffer from low self -esteem.”

Ms Yallop, Miss Teen Grand Bahama, enjoyed her experience and plans to compete in other pageants.

“It was hard in the beginning, but it was a good experience overall getting to meet all the other girls and to work with Mr Russell and Mr Stubbs,” she said.

Ms Miller was awarded the title of Miss Teen Goodwill Ambassador because she performed the most community service hours

than all the contestants.

She was very nervous about the idea of competing in a pageant but was able to overcome her fear.

“When I told my sister that I was participating in the pageant they were very shocked because they knew I am a very shy girl, but I went on the stage and I did it. I was able to build up my self-esteem, and I got to meet a lot of new girls,” she said.

Miss Teen Grand Bahama Gem Ariel Munnings was the most improved young lady who overcame many struggles during the pageant.

“The experience was uplifting, and it was exciting meeting all the young women. When I joined, I was shy and a tomboy, but participating in the pageant I was able to interact with other people and learn to have a positive attitude towards myself,” she said.

Ms Bowe said although it was her first time competing in a pageant, she learned the ropes quickly.

“It is something I would do again in the future. I also got the chance to share my platform which is peer pressure, and hope to educate young ladies about what peer pressure is, how to identify it, and avoid it.”

Mr Russell said Miss Bowe would be going to Guatemala to compete in the Miss Teen Universe pageant in July.

He also stated that Ms Bowe would be the reigning queen in a separate pageant, the Miss Teen Commonwealth Bahamas pageant which will be held next year April in Grand Bahama.

CITI BAHAMAS CELEBRATES 12TH ANNUAL GLOBAL COMMUNITY DAY CITI Bahamas celebrated its 12th annual Global Community Day on June 10 with approximately 250 Citi volunteers in Nassau joining the efforts of nearly 100,000 of their colleagues, family and friends in 500 cities in 91 countries and territories to engage in service activities in their local communities.

In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, Citi volunteers participated in more than 1,500 service projects ranging from urban revitalisation to mentorship and job skills training, literacy and education, environmental conservation and disaster relief.

Global Community Day offers a wide range of opportunities to work alongside community and non-profit partners to help improve our cities and neighbourhoods. This year Citi partnered with the Bahamas Crisis Centre by holding a fun fair, stock-

ing their pantry with food items, preparing care packages for some of the families, doing a makeover of the playroom and holding a financial planning session for the parents.

Citi Country Officer for the Bahamas Margaret Butler said: “Citi Bahamas is fully committed to volunteerism and to promoting activities which contribute and support the development of our neighbourhood communities, as we are doing here today.”

“Citi’s annual Global Community Day is an important event for our firm and one I always look forward to,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat. “It provides an opportunity to deepen our relationships with communities we serve, which is absolutely vital to our business success. And it shows the impact we can have when our people show up in force—nearly 100,000 strong this year.”

Since the inaugural Glob-

al Community Day in 2006, Citi volunteers have contributed more than three million hours of service to Global Community Day projects in hundreds of cities. This year, Citi volunteers will lead hundreds of community projects across the world.

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PAGE 12, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

SOME of the wild horses in Abaco, above and below. Approval has been given to clone an extinct sub-breed of Spanish horses to bring them back to Abaco.

Cloning to revive Abaco wild horses ON April 4, the government approved a proposal to restore life to an extinct sub-breed of Spanish horses through cloning, according to a press release from the Wild Horses of Abaco Preservation Society (WHOA).

The WHOA said government approval of the proposal to initiate the cloning process and to bring the horses back to Abaco enables it and another group, Arkwild Inc — a charity in the US — to begin major fundraising to make the restoration a reality by restoring the horses’ preserve to excellent condition prior to the arrival of the clones.

“The Abaco island horses thrived on the island of Abaco...when they were imported in the late 1800s,” the press release noted.

“Human intrusions and an

increasingly toxic environment led to a decline. A 25year effort to save the horses ended on July 23, 2015 when the last mare died.

“Living tissue was saved from that last mare and in a dramatic series of events — worthy of an international suspense thriller — the tissue was airlifted to the US where ViaGen, a Texas firm engaged in cloning, found the cells viable and nurtured enough to clone two mares.

“Pro bono services valued at close to $2m have been pledged to the cloning effort by companies and individuals in the US.” The group also explained its plans for the horses’ preserve.

“Along with the dramatic restoration of the herd, the horses’ preserve will be-

come a showcase for equine assisted therapy, alternative energy systems, ecotourism and many related activities consistent with UN (United Nations) sustainable development goals.

“In an environment that is unique in the world, a unique horse once again will roam the pine forests of Abaco, 200 miles out at sea.

“Genetically unique after over a hundred years of isolation on Abaco, the Abaco horses were direct descendants of the distinctive horses of the Conquistadores who led the first major forays into the ‘New World.’

Those June 12, 2017 horses could best be described as ‘Jeeps,’ being tough, steady, sturdy and needing far less water and feed than standard domestic horses,” the preservation society noted.